《Genius Club》
Chapter 1: The Beginning
¡°Are you telling me you have the same dream every night, waking up precisely at 00:42?¡± The man¡¯s voice, slightly muffled by his cartoon cat mask, held a mix of amusement and disbelief. He stared at Lin Xian. ¡°Man, that¡¯s wild! You could do anything¡ªtake out bad guys, engage in all sorts of risky escapades. Just the thought of it gives me a rush!¡±
Click.
The man smoothly inserted a magazine into his handgun and cocked it. ¡°But tonight, forget those dreams. I¡¯m about to show you some real excitement.¡± He gestured across the street to a bank. ¡°My crew has already cracked the door open. Let¡¯s make our move!¡±
Lin Xian adjusted his Ultraman mask and stood up. ¡°What should I call you?¡±
¡°Everyone in the underworld knows me as Big Cat Face,¡± he said with a grin, his mask squeezing his cheeks into a cartoonish bulge. ¡°But you, you can call me Brother Face.¡±
¡°What¡¯s my role tonight, Brother Face?¡±
¡°Your time as a password expert hasn¡¯te just yet. For now, just stick close and don¡¯t wander off.¡±
Shuffling footsteps filled the air as Lin Xian followed Big Cat Face to the bank¡¯s entrance. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± Big Cat Face inquired of one of his men, who nodded in confirmation.
Without warning, Big Cat Face pressed his gun against the man¡¯s forehead and fired.Blood sttered against the wall.
He casually wiped the gun¡¯s muzzle, then pped Lin Xian on the back. ¡°One less share to distribute.¡±
¡°Wasn¡¯t he one of your guys?¡±
¡°He had sticky fingers. Couldn¡¯t risk it,¡± Big Cat Face said, leading the way inside.
As they reached a corridor fork, another masked man was tampering with an electrical box.
¡°Is it disabled?¡± Big Cat Face pressed.
Click.
¡°Done. The rms are off,¡± the man confirmed.
Bang!
Another gunshot went off, sttering blood over the electrical box.
¡°Brother Face, you¡¯re really making me nervous,¡± Lin Xian noted, eyeing the fallen body.
¡°This one was clean, but he fancied my wife and kept hitting on her. Couldn¡¯t let that slide.¡±
¡°Must be tough being you.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t sweat it! One less share. Isn¡¯t that great?¡±
Lin Xian shrugged off his arm. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to off me too for all the money, right?¡±
¡°Of course not!¡± Big Cat Face thumped his chest, handing Lin Xian a bundle of C4 explosive. ¡°Here, if you think I¡¯ll double-cross you, just trigger this and take us both out. Fair enough?¡±
¡°Fair enough,¡± Lin Xian nodded, epting the explosive.
They proceeded until another aplice approached. ¡°Boss, the main power is cut¡ª¡±
Bang!
Yet another casualty as brains sttered everywhere.
¡°Brother Face, just how many are we splitting this with?¡±
¡°Just us now, buddy! Hehehe, just us!¡± Big Cat Face hustled Lin Xian forward. ¡°Here¡¯s the vault! Time for you to work your magic.¡±
Before them stood a robust ck wall with a silverbination lock.
¡°The code?¡±
¡°If I knew that, why would I need you?¡± Big Cat Face checked his watch. ¡°Hurry, we¡¯re on the clock! Once power¡¯s restored and the rms go off, we¡¯re done for!¡±
¡°I get it, rx.¡± Lin Xian started on the lock.
¡°How long?¡± Big Cat Face paced anxiously.
¡°Ten.¡±
¡°Ten minutes!?¡± He balked.
¡°Nine¡ eight¡ seven¡¡± Lin Xian quickly counted down.
Panicked, Big Cat Face watched as Lin Xian sprinted away, the C4 taped to the lock with a ticking timer!
¡°Shit!¡±
He dove as the explosion roared!
Boom!!!
Debris rained down on him as he coughed out dust and blood.
¡°What in the¡ Is this your idea of cracking codes!?¡±
¡°Just admit it, effective, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Xian, covering his ears, gestured to the now-open vault.
Groaning, Big Cat Face staggered up. ¡°Experts¡ so unreliable.¡±
Stepping into the breached vault, Lin Xian¡¯s expectations of riches were dashed.
¡°Empty? No cash, no gold?¡±
Instead, rows of safety deposit boxes lined the walls, eachbeled with names¡ªWang Shuo, Liu Liping, Wei Shengjin, and shockingly, Lin Xian.
Retreating, Lin Xian stared at the box bearing his name. ¡°Why is my name here?¡±
Click.
The cold barrel of a gun pressed against his head.
¡°Brother Face, easy¡¡± Lin Xian raised his hands. ¡°Come on, no tricks, no stealing, no wife issues. It¡¯s not on me!¡±
¡°Alright, I lied. I¡¯m no password expert. Just got caught up in your scheme because of this mask!¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°If you had a real expert, they¡¯d still be workinge morning!¡±
Behind him,ughter chimed, and the gun withdrew.
Turning, Lin Xian saw a slender woman in an identical Ultraman mask, pointing at Big Cat Face¡¯s lifeless body on the floor.
¡°You killed him?¡±
¡°For our safety. He was nning to betray us all.¡±
¡°This team¡¯s a mess¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t lump me with them. This was my first, andst, time meeting him.¡± She approached the boxbeled ¡®Lin Xian,¡¯ discarding her equipment for the mechanical lock.
¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Lin Xian peered over.
¡°Don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°You know this Lin Xian then?¡±
¡°Nope.¡±
¡°Why open his box?¡±
¡°Too many questions,¡± she dismissed him, focusing on the lock.
Lin Xian suggested, ¡°Try 19990320.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°My birthday?¡±
She paused at the odd reply, then tried thebination anyways.
Click!
Nothing.
¡°I should¡¯ve let him shoot you,¡± she muttered.
As they bickered, power restored and rms red.
¡°Time¡¯s up,¡± Lin Xian checked his watch. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll try again tomorrow.¡±
¡°There won¡¯t be a tomorrow here,¡± she scoffed.
¡°There will for me,¡± Lin Xian grinned. ¡°I can return every day.¡±
With a sh of white light, the world vanished.
¡
A night breeze fluttered the curtains. Moonlight streamed in, and distant sounds of nightlife filled the air. Nearby, water ran through pipes.
Lin Xiany in bed, checking the time with the electrical clock on his bedside table¡ª
[00:42:01]
¡
[00:42:02]
¡
[00:42:03]
¡
[00:42:04]
Chapter 2: Cat
¡°What was up with tonight¡¯s dream? So chaotic¡¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his arms, shivering as the cold night wind crept through his room. He had just awakened from a bewildering dream featuring Big Face Cat, an Ultraman mask, and a captivating secret agent. It was a mix of amusement and annoyance.
¡°It felt like being in a movie directed by a bunch of clowns¡ cough, cough.¡± He coughed, realizing the chill might be more than just a dream residue. Last night, he had forgotten to close the window, and the brisk early winter breeze was unforgiving.
Securing the old sliding window, he muffled the lively market sounds from below. With the wind barred, the room grew slightly warmer. Lin Xian poured himself a cup of hot water, sipping slowly as he gazed at the glowing full moon.
¡°What on earth is inside that safe with my name on it?¡± he wondered aloud.
Since he could remember, Lin Xian had been haunted by the same dream, night after night. Regardless of his age, whereabouts, or daily events, he always found himself in a familiar, yet inexplicable square once he drifted into sleep.
It was peculiar because Lin Xian was certain he had never visited this square in reality. Yet, it felt intimately familiar; after more than twenty years, he knew every nook and cranny¡ªeach child ying, every tree lining the paths, even each de of grass seemed like an old friend.
Initially, the recurring dream terrified Lin Xian. The same faces, the same cityscape, the same scenarios reying endlessly. It felt like a prison from which he could not escape. Acquaintances would be strangers, and the deceased greeted him anew each day. No matter the upheavals he caused, the dream realm reset itself by the next cycle. He was trapped in a perpetual loop.
He had discovered early that this dream world always ended at exactly 00:42, at which time he would awaken. So, he devised a strategy: if he stayed awake until 00:42, the dream would elude him.This method proved effective during his childhood, keeping the dreams at bay as he stayed upte. However, as he matured into his teenage years, his perception shifted. He began to embrace the dream¡¯s constancy. In the real world, he was bound by rules and consequences, but his dream world offered a liberating chaos. He could engage in reckless driving, confrontational brawls¡ªfree from repercussions. This nightly escapade became his secret yground.
As he grew ustomed to the dream, it evolved from a nightmare into an enticing adventure. While his peers were engrossed in simple online games, Lin Xian was diving into intense scenarios like ¡®Extreme Sports,¡¯ ¡®Sleeping Dogs,¡¯ and ¡®Stalker 3¡ä in his sleep.
With this newfound appreciation, Lin Xian no longer resisted sleep. He would rush through his homework just to return to his nocturnal adventures, much to his parents¡¯ delight, who mistakenly thought he had be more disciplined.
Interestingly, Lin Xian realized that if he died in the dream, he would snap back to reality immediately. This phenomenon became a frequent urrence through his middle school years, whether he was shot by police, targeted by snipers, or caught in high-stakes chases. These experiences inadvertently honed his real-life agility, helping him clinch the city youth parkour championship thrice during high school.
Now, at 23, though no longer indulging in virtual misdemeanors, Lin Xian still relished his nightly excursions in the dream world, ying out various roles and exploring ever-changing scenarios. Despite his familiarity, the dreamndscape always had something new to offer.
The previous night¡¯s dream had been a first, however¡ªbreaking into a vault filled with safes, one of which bore his name. He wasn¡¯t shocked to see his name; after all, it was his dream. But why wouldn¡¯t the usual password work?
Lin Xian pondered as he finished his water, feeling a bit warmer. He set the cup down, still puzzled. His passwords were typically straightforward¡ªhis birthday, 19990320, a sequence easy to remember andmonly used. Yet, the safe remained locked.
Ding-dong. A message notification lit up his phone. It was from his work¡¯s group chat.
Design Team Leader Li Juan: @everyone, meeting at 9 AM tomorrow in the third-floor conference room. Mr. Zhao will personally review your proposals! No one bete! Reply to confirm!
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! A flurry of ¡°Received!¡± messages followed.
¡°Do these people ever sleep?¡± Lin Xian muttered, noting the time¡ª1 AM. Despite his grumbles, he typed, ¡°Received!¡±
¡°Better catch some sleep. Big day tomorrow,¡± he thought, setting his rm and cing his phone on the nightstand.
Bang!
The next morning, Li Juan mmed a folder onto the conference table. ¡°I told youst night! Mr. Zhao wants to review your proposals today! Look at this mess!¡±
Silence enveloped the third-floor conference room as everyone lowered their heads in dread. Li Juan was livid. She picked up a design and pped it back down.
¡°Our new brand is supposed to appeal to a youthful, feminine audience! Why is there a fox in ck stockings wagging its tail?¡±
She turned her re to the girl beside Lin Xian. ¡°Do you even understand our brand direction? The bunny you designed is cute, but why the floral scarf and cotton coat? My grandmother dresses more stylishly!¡±
Li Juan continued, ¡°Mr. Zhao has made it abundantly clear repeatedly¡ªwe want a brand image akin to Hello Kitty! Everyone knows Hello Kitty!¡±
Beside Lin Xian, a burly colleague muttered, ¡°For this sry, they expect Hello Kitty¡¡±
¡°What was that, fatty?¡± Li Juan snapped.
¡°N-nothing, Miss Li! I meant Hello Kitty is perfect, truly the best!¡± he stammered nervously.
As Li Juan ranted, Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts drifted back to the safe in his dream. An eight-digit password¡ what could it be? What was inside? Perhaps something rted to Hello Kitty? Or a cat?
Amidst the chaos, Lin Xian found himself doodling on his notepad¡ªa simple, yet charming cartoon cat, reminiscent of the mask on Big Face Cat¡¯s face. The irony of that mask¡¯s simplistic yet lively sketch hadn¡¯t escaped him.
¡°Hey?¡± His colleague leaned over. ¡°What are you drawing, Lin Xian?¡±
Chapter 3: Time
¡°Kitty cat? Wow, it¡¯s so cute!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s colleague eximed as she admired the simple sketch he had drawn. Her excitement was palpable.
¡°Lin Xian, why haven¡¯t you shown this fantastic design to Sister Juan?¡±
¡°What???¡± Lin Xian was taken aback.
The room¡¯s focus instantly shifted to them, especially the design department colleagues, whose eyes widened with anticipation.
¡°What? Let me see!¡± Quick footsteps approached as Li Juan hurried over, her usual calm demeanor reced by thinly veiled anxiety.
Though Director Zhao remained silent, her stern expression conveyed her displeasure.
Snap!
Li Juan snatched the draft from Lin Xian¡¯s hands. Her expression softened as she examined the sketch, her breath steadying, and the initial fury in her eyes dying down.
¡°You¡ this is¡¡± Li Juan struggled to find the right words. ¡°This¡ I think it¡¯s quite good!¡±The room fell silent, shocked by Li Juan¡¯s sudden praise, given her reputation for being notoriously critical.
She walked over and ced the draft in front of Director Zhao. ¡°Director Zhao, take a look. This is Lin Xian¡¯s design for our new brand.¡±
As sheid the draft down, everyone craned their necks to get a better look. The sketch depicted a cartoon cat¡¯s head, simple yet expressive. Despite being just a drawing in ck pen, the cat¡¯s personality seemed to leap off the page.
¡°Wow, Lin Xian¡¯s design has a unique charm and delicacy.¡±
¡°I think it¡¯s even cuter than Hello Kitty. Kitty is too prim and doesn¡¯t have a mouth, but Lin Xian¡¯s cat has a youthful, vibrant vibe.¡±
¡°Young, girlish, ageless, energetic¡ it perfectly matches our new brand¡¯s essence! Lin Xian, why didn¡¯t you show us this sooner?¡±
¡°A good brand image must be simple but recognizable, and easy to spread. Lin Xian¡¯s cat rivals icons like Kitty, Mickey Mouse, and Doraemon.¡±
The room erupted into enthusiastic discussions, praising the design. Li Juan breathed a sigh of relief and looked expectantly at Director Zhao.
Zhao Ying Jun, founder of MX Company, had built a reputation for her sharp business acumen. Now, she considered the sketch thoughtfully.
¡°Not bad,¡± she finally said.
¡°Right, Director Zhao! See, we do have real talent here!¡± Li Juan beamed, seizing the moment to highlight Lin Xian¡¯s creativity. ¡°Lin Xian is our secret weapon, our ace!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun then turned to Lin Xian, curiosity in her gaze. ¡°How did youe up with this design? What inspired it?¡±
¡°I dreamt it,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly.
Li Juan sighed, exasperated by his simplicity, while some colleagues chuckled.
Zhao Ying Jun, however, smiled approvingly. ¡°What we think about during the day oftenes to us in dreams. Many great inventions were conceived this way. Dmitri Mendeleev dreamt up the Periodic Table; Einstein conceptualized the theory of rtivity. But without hard work and prior knowledge, dreams alone aren¡¯t enough.¡±
The room apuded Lin Xian, who felt slightly overwhelmed by the praise.
¡°However,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added as the apuse faded, examining the cat sketch again, ¡°a head alone isn¡¯t enough. We need a full-body image for branding purposes¡ªlimbs, clothes, everything.¡±
She ced the sketch down, fixing her gaze on Lin Xian. ¡°Can youplete the cat¡¯s body and outfit?¡±
Realizing the challenge, the room¡¯s mood shifted from celebration to anticipation, all eyes on Lin Xian.
He took a sip of tea, thinking. The mask Big Cat Face wore only showed the cat¡¯s head; the body was still a mystery.
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian replied confidently, putting down his tea cup. ¡°The design drafts are at home; I¡¯ll bring them tomorrow.¡±
That evening, as he prepared for bed, Lin Xian checked the time¡ª9:01 PM. Yesterday¡¯s dream had rified everything¡ª
It began with Big Cat Face and a female password expert nning a bank heist. They used masks as a code; Big Cat Face wore a cat mask, and the expert an Ultraman mask. By chance, Lin Xian had picked up an Ultraman mask, leading Big Cat Face to mistakenly involve him in the heist.
¡°So tonight, if I wear the Ultraman mask again, Big Cat Face will surely appear.¡±
He closed the windows to keep out the cold and added an extra nket. Setting his rm, he ced his phone on the bedside table and turned off the light.
¡°Time to sleep.¡±
A hot summer breeze stirred as he woke, carrying the fresh scent of green leaves. Lin Xian opened his eyes to find himself in a brightly lit square filled with ying children.
¡°Hehe, catch me! Catch me!¡±
¡°Take this! Ultraman slide tackle!¡±
¡°I want candied hawthorn! Waaaah!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to go home! I want to y more!¡±
¡°Mommy, I want to ride a bike!¡±
Lin Xian nced up at the electronic billboard disying the time:
[August 28, 2624]
[21:37:17]
[21:37:18]
[21:37:19]
[21:37:20]
Chapter 4: Coco
Lin Xian always found one aspect of his dreams particrly absurd: they were set on August 28, 2624¡ªa date 600 years in the future. Despite this, the lifestyle and technology mirrored those of 2022. How could human progress remainpletely stagnant for six centuries?
In his dreams, he scoured libraries and the inte for answers, but all historical information was frustratingly vague. There were no detailed records of lottery numbers, ancient events, or significant news stories. The avable histories felt as flimsy and fictional as poorly written novels, failing to satisfy his curiosity.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s because your imagination is limited,¡± his friend suggested during one of their discussions. ¡°Dreams are constructed by the brain using what it knows. It can¡¯t create what you don¡¯t know. Maybe watching more sci-fi movies would expand your horizons.¡±
Lin Xian found this exnation reasonable. Yet, even after immersing himself in countless sci-fi films, his dreams remained unchanged. He eventually reconciled with the illogical setting, musing, ¡°Dreams, by nature, are fictional. Perhaps their irrationality is what actually makes them rational.¡±
Yesterday, he had arranged to meet Big Cat Face at ten o¡¯clock. Now, it was time to take action. Lin Xian approached two boys engrossed in their game, shouting ¡°Ultra Kick!¡± and ¡°Ultra Elbow!¡± as they yfully chased each other, their masks asionally slipping from their faces.
Lin Xian seized an Ultraman mask that had fallen to the ground and slipped it on. Suddenly, two sharp whistles cut through the air. Before he could react, a strong hand mped onto his arm and yanked him forward.
¡°Found you, bro! This square is swarming with kids wearing Ultraman masks; you¡¯re a tough one to find!¡± Lin Xian looked up into the familiar cat mask, recognizing the face beneath it.
¡°Come on, follow me! The car is over there, and my buddy is already at the bank,¡± Big Cat Face urged. Lin Xian hesitated.
¡°Hold up Brother Face, I have a question,¡± he said.¡°Shoot,¡± Big Cat Face invited.
¡°That cartoon character on your mask, what¡¯s its name?¡±
¡°This?¡± Big Cat Face pointed at the caricature on his mask. ¡°It¡¯s Coco Cat. Haven¡¯t you heard of it? It¡¯s pretty popr.¡±
¡°You¡¯re surprisingly up-to-date for your age,¡± Lin Xian teased.
¡°My daughter adored this cat. Bought her all the toys,¡± Big Cat Face reminisced.
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian responded, releasing Big Cat Face¡¯s hand. ¡°I forgot something. You head to the car; I¡¯ll catch up in a minute.¡±
As Lin Xian turned to leave, a heavy hand suddenlynded on his shoulder.
¡°Have we met before?¡± Big Cat Face asked, his gaze piercing.
¡°No, this is the first time,¡± Lin Xian replied smoothly.
¡°Then why call me Brother Face?¡± Big Cat Face inquired with a mix of curiosity and challenge.
The atmosphere tensed as a hot summer breeze whisked around them, the nearbyughter of children creating a stark contrast to their standoff. Big Cat Face rested his hand on his waist, poised for conflict.
Lin Xian faced him squarely, Ultraman staring down Coco Cat. ¡°You want to know?¡± he asked.
¡°I do,¡± Big Cat Face confirmed.
¡°Because your face is so big,¡± Lin Xian blurted out, unable to suppress a grin.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face scowled, his mask contorting.
¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t overlook the obvious. If it bothers you, I¡¯ll call you something else,¡± Lin Xian offered, half-joking.
Big Cat Face burst intoughter. ¡°You guessed right! Everyone calls me Big Cat Face. ¡®Brother Face¡¯ works too. Now hurry up and get your stuff. We¡¯re on a tight schedule!¡±
Lin Xian waved him off and entered a nearby toy store. ¡°Hello,¡± he greeted the clerk. ¡°I¡¯d like to buy a Coco Cat doll.¡±
¡°Right this way, sir,¡± the clerk directed him to a shelf brimming with Coco Cat dolls, proving Big Cat Face¡¯s point about their poprity.
Lin Xian selected a basic model and scrutinized its design and details, noting its structure, proportions, and clothing. He needed to remember these features to sketch them when he woke up at 00:42. The doll was as adorable as Hello Kitty, he mused, questioning the ethics of replicating something from his dream. ¡°Is it giarism if I copy from my own dream? Since everything in my dream stems from my imagination, I¡¯m the original creator, right?¡±
¡°What are you doing? We don¡¯t have all day!¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s booming voice startled him as he approached, practically dragging Lin Xian out of the store. He pped a thousand-yuan bill on the counter, dering, ¡°Keep the change!¡± and ushered Lin Xian into the car parked just outside.
As the car roared to life, Big Cat Face nced at the doll in Lin Xian¡¯s arms. ¡°You think that¡¯s going to help you crack the code?¡±
¡°Just give it to your daughter,¡± Lin Xian suggested, cing the doll on the dashboard.
Big Cat Face¡¯s demeanor changed abruptly; his fierce look softened, and he fell silent, focusing on the road ahead. After a few tense seconds, he spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°Did your daughter grow up?¡± Lin Xian asked casually, resting his chin on his hand.
¡°She died,¡± Big Cat Face responded, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°Been dead for years. Only made it to six.¡±
¡°Was it an ident?¡± Lin Xian inquired softly.
¡°No,¡± Big Cat Face replied abruptly, mming on the brakes. ¡°She was murdered.¡±
¡°Why would anyone¡ª¡± Lin Xian started, but Big Cat Face cut him off, pointing to the bank across the street.
¡°Brother, we¡¯re here. Time to focus. Let¡¯s rob this bank, and I¡¯ll finally avenge my daughter. We can talk moreter.¡±
He loaded his gun, adjusted his mask, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s do this, brother! Get the job done!¡±
Big Cat Face exited the car swiftly, heading towards the bank with a determined stride.
Lin Xian remained in the vehicle, watching Big Cat Face disappear into the distance. Beside him, the Coco Cat doll sat silently, a stark reminder of the day¡¯s gravity. Lin Xian recalled a detail from his dream the previous night: ¡°The bank vault is full of safety deposit boxes, not a single penny in cash, Big Cat Face¡¡±
Chapter 5: The Deal
¡°Come on, get out of the car already, brother! Why are you dragging your feet?¡± Big Cat Face called out impatiently, noticing Lin Xiangging behind.
Rushing back, Big Cat Face yanked open the car door, urging Lin Xian, ¡°It¡¯s almost midnight, man! We need to move!¡±
Lin Xian sighed heavily. His original n for the night was simply to sketch the Coco Cat mascot, not to partake in a bank heist. However, Big Cat Face had other ns and managed to drag him along.
Resigned, Lin Xian muttered, ¡°Well, since I¡¯m here,¡± and jumped out of the car to follow hispanion.
As they approached the bank¡¯s entrance, the night was alive with rustling sounds. ¡°Is it done?¡± Big Cat Face inquired, addressing one of his men who nodded affirmatively in response.
A sudden loud bang reverberated through the air, and blood sttered against the wall. Casually, Big Cat Face wiped his gun clean, remarking, ¡°Now there¡¯s one less person to split the money with.¡±
Lin Xian gave a nonchnt nod. ¡°People like him, who can¡¯t be trusted, are better off not sticking around.¡±
Big Cat Face froze for a moment, then turned to Lin Xian, puzzled. ¡°How did you know?¡±
¡°Just look at his face. It practically screams ¡®untrustworthy.''¡±¡°Really, brother?¡± Big Cat Face scratched his head, still confused. ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s keep moving.¡±
They reached a corridor junction where another masked aplice was busy cutting wires. ¡°rm system is now disabled!¡± he dered triumphantly.
Another loud bang ensued, and the electrical box was stained with blood. Lin Xian sneered, ¡°That guy, always hitting on his boss¡¯s wife, got what he deserved.¡±
Big Cat Face jumped, startled. ¡°You knew about that too? Who¡¯s been leaking these things?¡±
¡°It¡¯s obvious, no one needed to leak it. His face was an open book.¡±
¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? His face gave away that much in the dark?¡±
¡°I¡¯m giving you a way out here. Take it, or I¡¯ll spill everything.¡±
¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s move. We don¡¯t have all night.¡±
They continued, encountering a heavyset man emerging from an underground passage. ¡°Boss¡ª¡± he began.
Bang! Before he could finish, Big Cat Face shot him, turning to Lin Xian, who remained silent.
¡°Do you understand why I had to do that?¡± Big Cat Face queried.
¡°No clue,¡± Lin Xian replied, shaking his head.
¡°He was nning to double-cross us, had his own escape nned and everything. Was I wrong to stop him?¡±
¡°You two really are cut from the same cloth¡¡± Lin Xian muttered as they moved closer to the bank vault.
They stood before a formidable ck wall with a silver-coded lock. ¡°Your turn, brother!¡± Big Cat Face urged. ¡°Crack this code quickly. Once the main power is back, the rms will go off.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll only take ten seconds.¡±
¡°Seriously?!¡± Big Cat Face eximed in disbelief.
Lin Xian reached for Big Cat Face¡¯s waist. ¡°What are you doing?¡± thetter balked.
¡°Just borrowing your C4,¡± Lin Xian replied, attaching the explosive to the door and setting it off.
¡°Run!¡±
The resulting explosion was deafening, shattering the silence as debris rained down. Smoke and dust filled the passage.
Coughing, Big Cat Face climbed to his feet, spitting out dust. ¡°This is your idea of cracking codes? Where¡¯s the finesse in that?¡±
¡°Just appreciate the efficiency,¡± Lin Xian retorted, stepping through the now-clear passage.
¡°You just vaulted over the wall! How?¡±
¡°It¡¯s called parkour.¡±
As the dust settled, they saw the vault door obliterated, revealing a massive hole. Big Cat Face rushed inside, followed by Lin Xian.
Frantically searching, Big Cat Face shouted, ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡±
¡°Who are you asking?¡± Lin Xian shot back.
¡°I¡¯m asking you! You promised piles of money and gold bars!¡±
The room was barren, except for the safes lining the walls.
Enraged, Big Cat Face grabbed Lin Xian by the cor, pressing a gun to his temple. ¡°You yed me! You said there¡¯d be money!¡±
¡°I never said that!¡±
¡°I did,¡± came a clear female voice from behind them. Big Cat Face turned to face her¡ª
Bang! Lin Xian felt a sharp pain on his shoulder as blood and bone fragments sttered him.
¡°Thrilling,¡± Lin Xian muttered, wiping his ear as adrenaline surged through him.
He pushed Big Cat Face¡¯s body aside, the metallic taste of blood lingering. Unlike his dreams where he¡¯d been shot at by snipers, experiencing it in reality was starkly different.
A woman approached with light footsteps.
¡°Why did you lie to Big Cat Face?¡± Lin Xian inquired, confronting her.
¡°What lie?¡± the woman responded tersely, her gaze sharp.
¡°You told him there would be money and gold here, but you were really after the safes, weren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Just mind your business,¡± she snapped back, turning away to focus on a particr safe.
Lin Xian rubbed his neck, recalling his dream where this very woman had saved him from Big Cat Face. Here she was again, intervening at a critical moment. It was curious why this ruthless woman would save him not once, but twice.
¡°Why did you save me?¡± Lin Xian pressed.
¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± she retorted coldly.
¡°You¡¯re not making this conversation any more enjoyable,¡± Lin Xian remarked, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Ignoring him, the woman proceeded to a safe that bore Lin Xian¡¯s name. She set aside her smallputer and began tampering with the lock.
¡°Let¡¯s make a deal,¡± Lin Xian proposed, stepping closer. ¡°Tell me why you saved me, and I¡¯ll open this safe for you. It¡¯s a win-win.¡±
The woman chuckled. ¡°You think wearing an Ultraman mask makes you a password expert?¡±
¡°I¡¯m better than a password expert,¡± Lin Xian countered confidently.
¡°Why should I trust you?¡±
¡°Because,¡± Lin Xian said, removing his mask and meeting her gaze squarely, ¡°I am Lin Xian.¡±
Chapter 6: CC
The room was heavy with silence, and the atmosphere was tense and ufortable.
¡°Actually¡¡± the woman spoke first, breaking the quiet. ¡°Ever since I saw you impersonate me in the square and jump into the car with Big Cat Face, I thought you were crazy.¡±
¡°Has the misunderstanding been cleared up now?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Now, I¡¯m even more convinced!¡± she replied, her tone dripping with disbelief.
Lin Xian spread his hands in resignation. ¡°So, you still don¡¯t believe me? But since you¡¯re here to steal Lin Xian¡¯s safe, you must have done some homework on him, right? Don¡¯t you know what he looks like?¡±
He pointed to his face. ¡°Take a good look. Compare my face to the photos from your research. See if they match.¡±
The woman shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t research the owner of this safe. I have no idea what Lin Xian looks like.¡±
Lin Xian was at a loss for words. He never imagined proving his identity would be so challenging.
¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter who you are,¡± she continued, her arms crossed as she stared at the formidable mechanical lock. ¡°If this were an electronic lock, I could crack it in minutes. But it¡¯s an 8-digit mechanical lock, and neither brute force nor listening techniques will open it quickly.¡±She faced Lin Xian. ¡°So, your identity is irrelevant. You could be anyone. But if you can open this safe, you¡¯re my partner.¡±
¡°Deal,¡± Lin Xian extended his hand. Despite his desire to verify her story first, he had no means to prove he was Lin Xian. He had topromise.
¡°What should I call you?¡± he inquired.
¡°CC,¡± she replied, shaking his hand briefly. ¡°Just call me CC.¡±
Lin Xian noted theck of normal names among the characters in his dream.
¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± CC asked, looking at him intently.
¡°Let¡¯s try important dates from my life,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°We¡¯ll go through them one by one.¡±
Together, they tried every significant date Lin Xian could recall while CC manipted the lock. But sess eluded them.
¡°Not even my mom¡¯s birthday¡¡± Lin Xian muttered, disheartened.
CC shook her head. ¡°How about your grandmother¡¯s birthday next?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t even know my grandmother¡¯s birthday,¡± Lin Xian confessed.
¡°Can¡¯t you tell I¡¯m being sarcastic? We¡¯ve already tried the birthdays of your seven aunts, your uncles, and even your dog! Think of something else,¡± CC chided him.
¡°Why does it have to be a date? An 8-digit code could be anything,¡± she added, looking puzzled.
¡°No, it has to be a date. Trust me, it¡¯s a habit of mine when setting passwords,¡± Lin Xian insisted.
¡°Are you still pretending to be Lin Xian?¡± CC¡¯s skepticism was palpable.
¡°I¡¯ve told you a hundred times,¡± Lin Xian sighed heavily. ¡°I¡¯m not pretending to be Lin Xian. I am Lin Xian! Can you stop interrupting?¡±
¡°Your role-ying is impressive,¡± CC retorted sarcastically. ¡°The dates you¡¯ve mentioned belong to centuries past. If I didn¡¯t need your help, I wouldn¡¯t bother with this nonsense! Is your family a bunch of immortals or something?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. He needed to dig deeper. There must be a date he had overlooked.
As they exhausted every possible date, Lin Xian began to doubt the situation. Was this really his safe? But it was his dream, wasn¡¯t it? How could someone else¡¯s safe appear in his dream?
He remembered a friend¡¯s advice: ¡°Your dream will never include anything beyond your own knowledge.¡±
So the 8-digit password had to be within his memory. What was he missing?
As he pondered, a sharp electronic beep pierced the silence, followed by a deafening rm sounding off around them.
¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Xian cursed, kicking the safe in frustration.
¡°Think faster!¡± CC yelled as the rm red, sounding like a countdown to doom.
¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± Lin Xian eximed, scratching his head in desperation.
His brain felt like it was overheating, his world spinning as memories shed rapidly before his eyes.
¡°If you don¡¯t figure it out, the police will arrive soon! I never should have trusted you!¡± CC screamed above the noise.
Lin Xian nced at his watch: [00:41:27].
The dream was ticking down, with only 33 seconds remaining.
¡°Can you do this or not?¡± CC demanded. ¡°Where¡¯s all that bravado now?¡±
¡°Shut up!¡± Lin Xian shot back, the rm growing louder.
His head throbbed painfully as memories surged. Then, a forgotten memory surfaced.
¡°I used to like a girl¡¡± Lin Xian muttered, his voice strained.
¡°Are you mad? I don¡¯t care about your love stories!¡± CC shouted over the rm.
¡°She was my ssmate¡¡±
¡°I! Don¡¯t! Care!¡±
¡°I¡¯m not thrilled to share this, but it¡¯s for the best!¡± Lin Xian shouted back, pointing at the safe. ¡°19990707! Her birthday!¡±
He felt foolish, revealing such a personal secret.
¡°Hurry!¡±
CC quickly dialed the code and yanked thetch.
It didn¡¯t open.
¡°The code¡¯s wrong!¡±
The rm continued: [00:41:47].
¡°20150609!¡± Lin Xian yelled, covering his ears.
¡°What¡¯s this date now? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s the day you confessed!¡± CC shouted over the noise.
¡°Just enter the code!¡±
¡°It¡¯s done!¡±
[00:41:56].
CC gritted her teeth and mmed thetch with all her might.
It still didn¡¯t open.
Lin Xian felt his energy ebbing away, his vision blurring as he stared at CC by the safe. She turned to him, her eyes filled with contempt.
¡°Liar.¡±
[00:42:00].
BOOM!!!
A blinding white light enveloped everything¡
Lin Xian awoke in a clean, orderly bedroom, early on a winter morning. He opened his eyes, the vivid memories of the dream still lingering.
Chapter 7: Analysis
Tonight was unusually quiet.
Perhaps it was due to the cooler weather or the early closure of the street market below.
Lin Xiany awake, staring at the ceiling, enveloped in his nket, reluctant to expose any part of his skin. The sensation of beingid bare, his deepest and most embarrassing secrets visible to all, sent shivers across his skin.
Restlessly, he wrapped the nket tighter around himself. Memories of adolescent blunders, particrly those involving first crushes and young love, resurfaced¡ªmemories he preferred to forget.
¡°That¡¯s so damn embarrassing,¡± he muttered.
He wouldn¡¯t have revisited those memories if it hadn¡¯t been absolutely necessary. Thankfully, it was all just a dream. Tomorrow, everything reset; no one would remember. Yet, the incorrect code for the safe in his dream made him question if it was even his.
¡°Forget it,¡± he decided, throwing off the nket and sitting up. ¡°Time to get to work.¡± After all, dreams weren¡¯t real; the real world demanded his attention.
Slipping into his pajamas, he turned on his deskmp and started sketching the Coco Cat from his dream. Its design was simple yet elegant, allowing him to quickly produce detailed sketches from various angles¡ªfront, side, and back. He meticulously captured every detail from his dream, from the limbs to the outfit.
¡°Perfect,¡± he remarked, cleaning his workspace. ¡°This is ready to submit tomorrow.¡±As he sketched, thoughts of Big Cat Face surfaced. Over thest few nights, Lin Xian had pieced together the conflict between Big Cat Face and the password expert, CC. He started a new sheet:
[Story Outline]
Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter, only six, was murdered. He sought revenge and needed a lot of money.
CC, the password expert, needed to ess a bank vault to retrieve something from Lin Xian¡¯s safe.
CC tricked Big Cat Face into thinking the bank held a fortune. They nned to rob it together.
Big Cat Face intended to eliminate the others to keep all the money for himself. CC nned to betray Big Cat Face once inside, as there was actually no money in the vault.
Ultimately, Big Cat Face gained no money, and CC failed to open the safe¡ªa mutual loss.
Reviewing his notes, Lin Xian reflected on how this story of Big Cat Face and CC repeated nightly, like NPCs in a video game, unchanged for over twenty years without his intervention.
¡°But¡¡± he mused, tapping his pen on the paper. ¡°I am the only variable.¡±
In his dreams, Lin Xian treated everything like an RPG game, an engaging escape where everyone was an NPC with their own stories and quests. He could alter oues and explore endlessly since dreams allowed for resets and multiple attempts, presenting few unsolvable challenges.
However, this time was different.
¡°The difficulty is quite high; too many things are unclear,¡± he noted on another sheetbeled [Unsolved Mysteries]:
What¡¯s inside the safe?
What¡¯s the safe¡¯s code?
Why did CC save him? Her attitude was puzzling and ambiguous.
¡°These are the main issues for now,¡± Lin Xian considered. The first two questions were still mysteries, but the third¡
Why did CC save him? Did she know him from before?
¡°Maybe she¡¯s met me before, or maybe not. Either way, she trusts me enough to try numerous codes.¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to tell. Maybe it¡¯s just a desperate move?¡±
With thoughts scattering, Lin Xian yawned. ¡°Time for sleep. I can¡¯t take dreams too seriously; they¡¯re full of irrational elements.¡±
The next day, at thepany meeting room, everyone was stunned by the sketches spread across the table.
¡°This¡ wasn¡¯t it just a rough sketch yesterday? How did heplete all these detailed views overnight? They¡¯re production-ready!¡± one colleague eximed.
¡°Are you kidding? Just because Lin Xian only showed us a rough sketch yesterday doesn¡¯t mean he hadn¡¯t started much earlier! With this level of detail, he must have been at it for months,¡± another added.
¡°It¡¯s adorable! I¡¯ve never seen such a cute cat design! I told you yesterday that Lin Xian¡¯s cat has potential. Once it¡¯s refined and colored, it could rival Hello Kitty!¡±
¡°From a professional standpoint, this cat¡¯s design is decades ahead. No girl could resist this charm! Lin Xian has truly outdone himself,¡± another colleague remarked.
Typically, with President Zhao Ying Jun present, discussions were subdued. But today, Lin Xian¡¯s designs sparked an uproar of excitement.
First, the speed of his work; then, the quality. Some might suspect giarism if they didn¡¯t know Lin Xian better.
Today, Zhao Ying Jun, dressed in sharp ck officedy attire, exuded a sharp presence. Yet, as she reviewed the drafts, a smile of satisfaction spread across her face.
¡°This is an exceptionally excellent brand image, far exceeding my expectations,¡± she dered. ¡°It¡¯s clear Lin Xian dedicated a lot of effort to this cat¡¯s design. It seems a waste to use it merely as a mascot or in advertisements. I have some new ideas.¡±
¡°But first¡ we need to name this adorable cat.¡± Zhao Ying Jun turned to Lin Xian, her eyes approving. ¡°Since you designed her, you should name her!¡±
All eyes turned to Lin Xian. His colleagues in the design department discreetly gave him thumbs up.
¡°This cat¡¯s name¡¡± Lin Xian pondered, noting the banner reading ¡°Rhine Brand Image Design 7th Discussion Meeting.
¡°Since our new brand is Rhine¡ let¡¯s call her ¡®Rhine Cat.¡¯¡±
Chapter 8: Rhine
¡°Rhine¡ Rhine Cat?¡±
Could it be that simple? That casual?
Murmurs swirled among the colleagues.
¡°Isn¡¯t Rhine Cat perfect?¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°When crafting a brand image, the name should enhance the brand¡¯s recognition. I can¡¯t think of a better name than Rhine Cat.¡±
¡°Indeed, Rhine Cat is excellent,¡± Zhao Ying Jun concurred. ¡°Linking this cat with our brand gives us a significant edge.¡±
¡°We won¡¯t overlook your talent for this contribution,¡± she added, then pped for attention.
¡°I have an important announcement about a new personnel appointment!¡±
A personnel appointment?
The room quieted, everyone tensing in anticipation.Zhao Ying Jun held up the Rhine Cat design draft. ¡°The potential value and prospects shown by Lin Xian¡¯s Rhine Cat design are undeniable. Using it merely as a promotional mascot would be a waste.¡±
¡°I n to establish a dedicated department for the IP development of Rhine Cat. From now on, Rhine Cat won¡¯t just represent Rhine Cosmetics but will stand as an independent IP entity.¡±
¡°We envision Rhine Cat merchandise, animations, dolls, clothing, and various licensed products. This expansion will boost our brand¡¯s influence, benefiting our cosmetics market.¡±
¡°This new department, temporarily named the Rhine Cat IP Development and Operations Group, will operate at the same level as our formal departments and report directly to me. And the leader of this group¡ will be Lin Xian!¡±
Boom¡ª
Lin¡ Lin Xian?
A key department under President Zhao¡¯s direct supervision led by someone as young and inexperienced as Lin Xian?
Yet, after the initial shock, everyone reconsidered¡
Wasn¡¯t this exactly what Lin Xian deserved? He had created Rhine Cat and demonstrated his abilities for this role.
Thunderous apuse filled the room!
Colleagues swarmed Lin Xian with enthusiastic congrattions:
¡°Fantastic, Lin Xian! You¡¯re a team leader now! Transfer me to your department; I¡¯ll work under you!¡±
¡°Lin Xian, you owe us a celebration tonight! Your status and benefits are now on par with Sister Juan¡¯s, and your sry must have tripled!¡±
¡°At the team leader level, who cares about sry! Think of the performance bonus¡ several times the sry! And don¡¯t forget thepany policy that grants you copyright revenue too! So, no excuses, Lin Xian, tonight you treat!¡±
¡°Team Leader Lin! Remember us when you¡¯re rich and sessful! You¡¯re now the youngest team leader in ourpany, with a limitless future!¡±
Surrounded by excited colleagues, some were nearly ready to lift him into the air in celebration.
¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll treat everyone. Let¡¯s calm down.¡±
Honestly¡
Even Lin Xian was surprised by Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s decision. His tenure at thepany was less than a year.
¡°Do your best, Lin Xian.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun approached, her smile warm. ¡°I¡¯m really impressed by the cat you designed and have great faith in your talent. I hope you can help MX Company explore newmercial frontiers.¡±
¡°Cosmetics are ultimately receable consumer goods, but culture and art endure through history.¡±
¡°Perhaps centuries from now, people may no longer use MX Company¡¯s cosmetics, but they will still remember Rhine Cat.¡±
With those parting words, Zhao Ying Jun left.
¡°I look forward to seeing your results. Good luck.¡±
¡
By the time Lin Xian got home, it was past ten.
The dinner was lively, a genuine celebration of his promotion. Lin Xian was well-liked, and his rise was a festive affair.
During the meal, some senior colleagues discussed Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s bold and assertive management style:
¡°Our MX Company¡¯s meteoric rise and nationwide reputation within just two years are deeply tied to President Zhao¡¯s radical approach to talent management.¡±
¡°Though, cough, let¡¯s not forget, when ites to dismissals, President Zhao is equally ruthless! Stay vignt¡¡±
After a bath, Lin Xian poured himself a ss of yogurt¡ªa good remedy for sobering up, leaving him feeling refreshed.
¡°Who would¡¯ve thought¡ dreams could be this powerful.¡±
All his life, Lin Xian¡¯s dreams had been filled with carefree adventures, never thinking to harness them until now.
¡°Even though dream material is fictional, in art and design, there¡¯s no true divide between reality and fiction.¡±
He recalled Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words.
Mendeleev had dreamt up the Periodic Table, and Einstein found inspiration for the Theory of Rtivity in his dreams.
So, it made sense that he had dreamt up Rhine Cat too.
¡°Actually, it was Coco Cat in the dream.¡±
Lin Xian yawned, ¡°But Rhine Cat does sound better¡¡±
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he headed to bed.
¡
Whoosh!
The familiar dry summer breeze, the fresh scent of young leaves greeted him.
Lin Xian opened his eyes.
He was back in the familiar za.
Everything was unchanged.
But tonight, he had gone to bedte, so the za was quiet; the children had probably all gone home.
Lin Xian looked toward the road.
Big Cat Face¡¯s van was absent.
At this hour¡ he must have already met up with CC and headed to the bank.
¡°What should I do?¡±
Lin Xian nced around and noticed the toy store he had visited before was still open.
¡°Let¡¯s check out the Coco Cat dolls again, see if there are any new styles.¡±
With Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s high expectations, he couldn¡¯t afford to disappoint at work.
That toy store had a whole shelf dedicated to Coco Cat dolls, in various sizes and styles, along with keychains, pendants, and stationery.
As the head of the IP Development and Operations Group¡ how could he pass up such a perfect ¡°stocking up¡± opportunity?
Lin Xian walked straight into the toy store, heading for the Coco Cat shelf.
However¡ª
¡°Where are the Coco Cats?¡±
On the shelf before him, there wasn¡¯t a single Coco Cat in sight!
All he saw were various unfamiliar dolls.
A chill ran down Lin Xian¡¯s spine.
An indescribable fear spread through him.
It had changed¡
The dream had changed!
For over twenty years, thousands of nights, every dream had been exactly the same.
Children always fell at the same spot, the broadcast repeated the same news, even the leaves blown down by the windnded in the same ce, without deviation.
But now.
The toy store was the same.
The shelf was the same.
But the Coco Cat dolls that should have been there were all gone!
The sudden unfamiliarity was suffocating.
¡°Is this still my dream?¡±
Lin Xian turned around quickly.
He saw the shop assistant standing behind him, smiling.
¡°Sir, how can I help you?¡±
¡°¡I¡¯m looking for a Coco Cat doll. It used to be disyed right here.¡±
¡°Coco Cat?¡±
The shop assistant tilted her head, puzzled.
¡°Sir, you must be mistaken.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve never sold any Coco Cat dolls in this store!¡±
Chapter 9: Change
¡°Have you ever heard of Coco Cat?¡± Lin Xian asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
¡°Uh¡ never heard of it,¡± the sales clerk replied, scratching his head in confusion. ¡°Are you sure about the name? We have all sorts of toys here. Maybe describe it for me, and I can help you find it.¡±
Lin Xian paused, then exaggerated his facial expression to mimic that of Coco Cat. ¡°It looks like this.¡±
Recognition lit up the clerk¡¯s face. ¡°Ah, now I know what you¡¯re talking about! Follow me, we¡¯ve got it right here.¡± He led Lin Xian to a towering, brightly lit shelf in the center of the store.
¡°Here you go! All of these!¡±
The shelf, stacked ten levels high, was brimming with plush toys.
¡°Is this the cat you meant?¡± The clerk beamed, pointing at the toys. ¡°This one¡¯s our best-seller! Been popr for a century and it¡¯s still in high demand. But you¡¯ve got the name mixed up. It¡¯s actually called¡ª¡±
¡°I see it.¡±
In that moment, Lin Xian felt a chill as if doused in ice water. He stared at the hundreds of identical toys on the shelf, each one returning his gaze. Arge sign proimed: Centennial Best Seller! Century-long Hit¡ªRhine CatOutside, the early morning square was deserted. Shops around were dark, their lights off, doors shut. Only the hum of nocturnal insects and the distant cries of cicadas filled the warm night air, lending it an eerie tranquility.
Sitting on a bench, Lin Xian felt a profound disconnect from everything around him. Everything seemed surreal, out of ce.
He opened his hand to look at a Rhine Cat keychain, the only item he could afford. It was a perfect replica of the Coco Cat from his dreams, except for the name.
¡°Why did it change?¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself, his unease growing. This wasn¡¯t just fear or dread¡ªit was a disorienting sense of loss, of not being in control anymore.
He had always seen himself as a god in his dreams, where he was all-powerful and the world bent to his will. Now, he felt like a character in The Truman Show, trapped and observed.
Suddenly, at exactly 00:42, the world shed with a blinding white light, and everything seemed to burn away.
The night wind blew, stirring the curtains wildly. Lin Xian realized he had forgotten to close the window.
¡°Forgot to close the window again¡¡± he murmured, pulling his nket closer, but it did little to ward off the internal chill.
For a dream that had remained consistent for years¡ change was the ultimate terror.
Lin Xian grabbed his phone and dialed a number.
¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Gao Yang, something¡¯s wrong.¡±
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Gao Yang¡¯s voice was sharp, alert.
¡°My dream¡ it changed.¡±
¡°That¡¯s actually great news!¡± Gao Yang¡¯s enthusiasm was palpable. ¡°It means you¡¯re evolving! Didn¡¯t I say? More sci-fi movies, more novels, and your dream world would expand! Did you dream about spaceships or something?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that kind of change¡¡± Lin Xian sighed, sitting up as he heard the background noise of a lively crowd. ¡°Where are you?¡±
¡°At a bar, watching the World Cup in Qatar. It¡¯s not far from you. Wannae over?¡±
Checking the clock, which showed past one AM, Lin Xian felt too restless to stay home.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±
As Lin Xian entered the bar, the cheers and roars of football fans hit him before he even saw the crowd. Normally a quiet spot, the World Cup had transformed the bar into a buzzing hub of excitement.
¡°Over here, Lin Xian!¡± Gao Yang called out from a small table in the corner, his figure conspicuous as he maneuvered through the crowd.
¡°Watch here. I¡¯ll grab us some beers.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯te for the game,¡± Lin Xian said, although the noise made it hard to be heard.
¡°We can talk over the game!¡± Gao Yang vanished into the crowd.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang had a deep-rooted friendship; their parents had worked together, and they had grown up in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools from kindergarten through high school. Lin Xian had gone on to Donghai University, thanks to his skills in sketching and academics, while Gao Yang had studied at a technical college up north. After college, Gao Yang had moved to Donghai City and started selling cars.
Lin trusted Gao Yang deeply. He had only ever shared the secret of his recurring dream with him.
¡°Here we go!¡± Gao Yang returned with beers, cing them on the table and popping them open. ¡°Drink up, it might calm you down. Now tell me, what¡¯s happening.¡±
They clinked bottles and took a long drink, the cold beer briefly grounding Lin Xian.
¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Lin Xian started, setting down his beer. He recounted his journey, from the encounter with Big Cat Face, to creating the Rhine Cat based on his dream, to his shock when everyone in his dream had overnight forgotten Coco Cat, now only recognizing Rhine Cat.
¡°Uh-huh, uh-huh,¡± Gao Yang nodded, his face tense yet thoughtful as he sipped his beer. ¡°So, you sketched a cat, and it showed up in your dream.¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t get it at all!¡± Lin Xian eximed, frustration evident. ¡°I¡¯ve been exining this whole time and that¡¯s what you took from it?!¡±
Suddenly, Gao Yang leapt up, yelling and pounding the table like an excited sports fan.
¡°Whoa, calm down!¡± Lin Xian stepped back, only to see the whole bar erupt in cheers.
¡°He scored! Messi is amazing!!¡±
¡°Great job, Argentina!¡±
¡°Messi! AAAAAH!!!¡±
Lin Xian turned just in time to see the bar¡¯s big screen rey a goal.
¡°You weren¡¯t listening at all!¡±
¡°I was, I swear!¡± Gao Yangughed, sitting back down. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve known each other twenty years. You¡¯ve told me about your dreams hundreds of times. It¡¯s always the same!¡±
¡°The point is, why did it stay the same for twenty years and only change today?¡± Lin Xian pressed.
Gao Yang drained his beer and set the cup down with a thud, fixing Lin Xian with a serious look. ¡°Let me tell you why.¡±
Chapter 10: The Suit
¡°Have you ever watched the movie Inception?¡± Gao Yang asked, pouring himself a drink.
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s one of my favorites,¡± Lin Xian replied, curious about the sudden reference.
¡°A person¡¯s dreams are controlled by their subconscious. You know what the subconscious is, right? It¡¯s that part of your mind you¡¯re not actively aware of, but it still influences your actions, feelings, and dreams.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°So, our subconscious impacts our dreams without us realizing?¡±
¡°Exactly. People can deceive their hearts, even their minds, but¡ª¡± Gao Yang paused dramatically, ¡°¡ªthey can never deceive their subconscious!¡±
Gao Yang nced at the big screen behind him, then back at Lin Xian. ¡°Does that make sense?¡±
¡°Sure, I get the concept,¡± Lin Xian affirmed. He understood Inception well, but he wondered how it rted to his own dreams.
¡°Here¡¯s the thing¡ªyour subconscious has evolved!¡± Gao Yang eximed, finishing his beer. ¡°Tell me, what would you name this cat now, in your subconscious?¡±
¡°Rhine Cat,¡± Lin Xian responded after a thoughtful pause.¡°Right! If your subconscious aligns with that, then the dream version must update too!¡±
¡°Is it that straightforward?¡± Lin Xian asked skeptically.
¡°Just that simple,¡± Gao Yang confirmed.
Still unsure, Lin Xian queried, ¡°Can we really rely on movie logic for this?¡±
Gao Yangughed, showing his phone. ¡°It¡¯s not just movie stuff. This client of mine, a well-known psychologist from Donghai, shares insights on social media. I¡¯ve learned a lot from her posts.¡±
Lin Xian nced at the psychologist¡¯s social media page, filled with professional insights.
¡°Really, you might be overthinking it,¡± Gao Yang said nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯smon for real-life elements to blend into dreams. It¡¯d be more concerning if it were the other way around!¡±
With that, Gao Yang left to catch the game¡¯s continuation. The bar erupted as Argentina scored once more.
Left alone, Lin Xian pondered Gao Yang¡¯s words. His beer warmed in his hand, reflecting his slowly changing thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, he was making too much out of a simple dream detail.
¡
Eventually, Argentina clinched the victory. As the bar cleared out amidst celebration, Gao Yang beamed with joy.
¡°That was fantastic! I hope Argentina takes the championship!¡± he eximed, energized by the win and the brisk night air. ¡°Oh right, I heard about your promotion.¡±
¡°Just to team leader, but it¡¯s a direct report, equivalent to a department head.¡±
¡°Big time, brother!¡± Gao Yang pped him on the back. ¡°Make sure you rake it in! And buy your next car from me!¡±
¡°I will, next time.¡±
¡
The following day at MX Company, everything was ready for Lin Xian. His new office was set up with arge desk, a top-spec Appleputer, and his own bookshelf¡ªperfect for a department head.
Energized, Lin Xian headed to the 22nd floor with histest Rhine Cat design draft to meet Zhao Ying Jun, whose office required a double password for entry.
¡°Come in,¡± Zhao Ying Jun buzzed him through the secure door.
Her office was as pristine as the rumors suggested: minimalist and orderly, with arge window and adjacent restrooms.
Today, she looked different¡ªher usually tied-up hair was softly curled, framing her face, making her appear more essible.
¡°Very good,¡± she nodded after reviewing the draft. ¡°Send it to production. We¡¯ll promote it with our main Rhine brand products.¡±
¡°And bring me a sample of the toy; I¡¯m quite fond of this Rhine Cat.¡±
¡°Will do,¡± Lin Xian replied, turning to leave.
¡°Wait, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun called him back. ¡°You graduated from Donghai University, right?¡±
¡°Yes, Miss Zhao.¡±
¡°Do you own a suit?¡±
¡°Just one for interviews.¡±
¡°Go next door to the Brioni store and pick out a new one,¡± she instructed, rifling through some papers. ¡°There¡¯s a science fundraising dinner tonight. You¡¯re apanying me. I¡¯ll text you the details.¡±
Stunned, Lin Xian found himself outside her office with the door closing sharply behind him.
Why was he chosen to apany her? Whatever the reason, it seemed to be part of his new leadership role.
In his office, Lin Xian quickly delegated tasks to his team before heading to the upscale mall Zhao had mentioned. Inside the Brioni store, he was greeted by an elegant saleswoman who informed him of the brand¡¯s prestigious history.
Lin Xian chose a sleek ck suit, marveling at the qualitypared to his interview attire.
¡°How much is this one?¡±
¡°Ny-six thousand yuan,¡± the saleswoman replied.
Lin Xian almost gasped. The price was staggering.
Just then, a senior manager approached, apologizing for any confusion. ¡°Miss Zhao has arranged everything. Please, follow me to see our premium selection.¡±
Relieved yet overwhelmed, Lin Xian followed, stepping further into the world of the elite.
Chapter 11: The Banquet
The sales associate was promptly dismissed by the female manager, who then ushered Lin Xian towards a secluded back room of the store. This hidden space was tucked away at the end of a long corridor, marked by a door with no sign, just a sophisticated password lock.
¡°Mr. Lin, please, after you,¡± the manager gestured, unlocking the door and allowing Lin Xian to enter first.
The room they entered was awash with bright lights, highlighting the European-style wooden furniture that adorned the space, exuding a vintage charm. Dominating the center were three ss cases, each showcasing a finely crafted suit.
¡°These are the crown jewels of our collection, each crafted by over eighty artisans through more than two hundred meticulous processes,¡± the manager exined with a hint of pride. ¡°Given your expertise, I¡¯ll spare you the mundane details. Which one catches your eye? I¡¯d be happy to arrange a fitting.¡±
She continued, ¡°Ms. Zhao mentioned you¡¯re apanying her to a banquet tonight. I¡¯d rmend the suit on the left for the asion¡ªit¡¯s vibrant yet informal.¡±
Lin Xian considered the leftmost suit, a deep blue-ck ensemble that radiated quality far surpassing those on general disy.
¡°I¡¯ll try this one,¡± he decided, trusting the manager¡¯s rmendation.
Once dressed, Lin Xian examined his reflection in the mirror. The suit transformed him, making him feel like he belonged to the upper echelons of society.
¡°This will do nicely. Please pack it up,¡± he affirmed.¡°Certainly, Mr. Lin! May I suggest a tie toplement your suit?¡±
¡°Yes, please,¡± Lin Xian agreed.
Later, as Lin Xian left the store with the suit neatly boxed¡ªa precaution to prevent wrinkles and damage¡ªhe marveled at the care taken for such premium attire.
¡°It¡¯s really delicate,¡± he mused, almost as if he were carrying a treasure.
Curious about the cost, Lin Xian remembered the prices were unlisted, and the purchase had been charged to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ount. Considering the prices of the basic suits, he estimated this one to be significantly more expensive.
By 7 p.m., Lin Xian arrived at the banquet venue, a magnificent mansion that stood as the pinnacle of luxury in Donghai City. A doorman opened his taxi door with a courteous gesture.
¡°Sir, please watch your step.¡±
Navigating through the hall, Lin Xian exchanged polite nods and smiles with the other guests. The mansion boasted an elegant European decor, its sophistication evident in every detail. Violin and piano melodies floated down from the second floor, setting a serene ambiance reminiscent of a scene from the movie Titanic.
Soon, Lin Xian spotted Zhao Ying Jun. She was striking in a dark red gown, her hair pinned up formally,plementing her attire with crimson earrings.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re here,¡± she greeted him, eyeing his new suit approvingly. ¡°Excellent choice; it suits you well.¡±
She stepped closer to adjust his tie, her hands skilled and sure. ¡°Remember, a suit is a man¡¯s armor, and the tie his sword. Make sure it¡¯s tight.¡±
¡°Acknowledged,¡± Lin Xian responded, slightly embarrassed.
Zhao Ying Jun then guided him further into the gathering. ¡°This event is a fundraiser for scientific endeavors, organized by Chu Shan He, president of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce.¡±
She pointed towards a robust man engaged in lively conversation at the base of the grand staircase. ¡°That¡¯s Chu Shan He, a prominent figure around here.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard of him,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged. Chu Shan He¡¯s reputation was well-known; his influence and power were unmatched in Donghai City.
¡°In college, I heard legends about Chu Shan He¡¯s extravagance, especially regarding his daughter. Is it true he dotes on her excessively?¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed lightly. ¡°Absolutely. He treats her like a rare jewel.¡±
¡°Typically, he brings her to every event. Strange she¡¯s not here tonight. She¡¯s quite beautiful,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added, scanning the room.
Lin Xian nodded, disinterested in local gossip.
¡°Look there,¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed to a man standing alone, dressed casually with unkempt hair and fogged sses.
¡°That¡¯s Professor Xu Yun from Donghai University. Ever heard of him?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian admitted. Donghai University was vast, and he barely knew the professors from his own department.
¡°Professor Xu Yun has been chasing a pipedream¡ªresearching hibernation pods. Despite years of effort, he¡¯s barely scratched the surface theoretically, let alone made any practical breakthroughs.¡±
¡°Is he the only one pursuing this research? It sounds quite futuristic,¡± Lin Xian remarked.
¡°He is,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°Because of his oundish focus, he¡¯s been marginalized in the academicmunity. Even his students and colleagues have abandoned him.¡±
¡°Despite everything, he holds onto his deputy professorship, continuing his research in obscurity.¡±
¡°But, life has a way of surprising us,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, her tone shifting as she swirled her wine. ¡°Recently, while failing yet again, he stumbled upon a new chemicalpound.¡±
¡°Thispound, when mixed with water, creates a breathable, water-resistant film,pletely safe for skin contact.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun picked up a fresh ss of wine, her eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°This might be a setback for his pod research, but Lin Xian, do you understand what this could mean for our skincare industry?¡±
Chapter 12: Science
¡°Breathable and water-locking¡ isn¡¯t this just a moisturizer?¡±
Lin Xian, working in MX Corporation¡¯s design department, knew a bit about cosmetics and skincare despite his primary focus being design. The chemical substance identally developed by Professor Xu Yun seemed underwhelming at first. In today¡¯s industrial sector, many materials and coatings already offer 100% waterproofing and breathability. Thus, this substance seemed nearly worthless industrially.
However, in the skincare field, it was a different story.
The three primary demands of skincare products are whitening, wrinkle removal, and moisturizing. No product on the market currently offers longsting moisture retention. You can¡¯t smear industrial material on your face, can you? Typically, moisturizing involves multiple steps: ayer of essence water, ayer of lotion, and ayer of moisturizing cream. This not only feels cumbersome and heavy but also ufortable.
Professor Xu¡¯s chemical, however, addressed these issues:
1.Thin enough: A single molecryer retains moisture and allows the skin to breathe without any noticeable residue.
2.Self-repairing: The substance isn¡¯t inherently waterproof or breathable; it forms a film only when it interacts with water molecules. This means that even if some is rubbed off during daily activities, it automatically repairs itself by bonding with water molecules in the air.
3.Absolute waterproofing and breathability, zero evaporation: While not essential for daily use, such efficiency is highly beneficial.
4.Harmless to the skin: This is especially crucial for users.Consequently, what seemed useless in scientific and industrial contexts bes a revolutionary product in the skincare market. It was bound to be a hit.
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian said slowly. ¡°If we can secure the rights to this substance and use it as the gship product for our new brand, Rhine Cat, it could redefine the skincare market. We¡¯d be unmatched in moisturizing.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°Several global beauty giants have offered Professor Xu astronomical sums. Some have even proposed a million-dor licensing fee.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath. A million dors just for licensing was indeed significant. As an industry insider, he recognized the substance¡¯s potential value. Securing exclusive rights could potentially monopolize the moisturizer market.
¡°Actually, MX Corporation has proposed even more favorable terms,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, smiling wryly. ¡°But Professor Xu has ignored our offers. Fortunately, he hasn¡¯t epted any others either, so there¡¯s still a chance.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s meet Professor Xu,¡± she suggested, leading the way.
Lin Xian followed Zhao Ying Jun, holding a ss of wine. They approached Professor Xu Yun, who, upon noticing Zhao Ying Jun, turned to leave.
¡°Professor Xu, long time no see!¡± Zhao Ying Jun greeted him cheerfully.
Professor Xu reluctantly turned back and forced a smile. ¡°Congrattions, Professor Xu,¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised her ss. ¡°Your research breakthrough is phenomenal. It will truly shine when used appropriately.¡±
Professor Xu didn¡¯t reciprocate the toast but chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°You mean that ridiculous failure? I¡¯ve been ridiculed enough.¡±
¡°No, Professor Xu! I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a failure at all. You should value your work¡ª¡±
¡°Miss Zhao,¡± Professor Xu cut in, his expression serious. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re here today. If it¡¯s to support scientific research, I¡¯ll dly join you. But if you¡¯re here for my ¡®failure,¡¯ I must decline. My dignity as a scientist won¡¯t allow it.¡±
Lin Xian noted Professor Xu¡¯s reluctance to engage with beautypanies.
¡°You misunderstand, Professor Xu. I¡¯m here to support scientific research and researchers, nothing more,¡± Zhao Ying Jun maintained herposure.
¡°That¡¯s admirable. On behalf of Donghai City¡¯s researchers, thank you, Miss Zhao!¡± Professor Xu finally raised his ss, and Zhao Ying Jun slightly lowered hers.
Clink!
After the toast, both finished their drinks. Professor Xu wiped his mouth and looked directly at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Miss Zhao, I¡¯d prefer to see you more in these circles and less in myb.¡± With that, he departed.
Zhao Ying Jun dabbed at her lips with a handkerchief. ¡°See, Lin Xian? He¡¯s always like this. Today was a good day,paratively.¡±
Lin Xian had never really interacted with Zhao Ying Jun before and had always thought of her as somewhat aloof. However, he now saw her challenges firsthand. She had to maintain her poise and negotiate, despite personal feelings.
Thepany needed to grow, and employees depended on it. At 23, navigating the business world was no easy feat, yet her colleagues only saw her power, not her struggles.
¡°Why doesn¡¯t Professor Xu trade his ¡®failure¡¯ for funding?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud. ¡°With financial backing, he could better his research conditions and potentially make significant discoveries.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun sighed. ¡°It¡¯s his pride and stubbornness. After facing long-term mockery, he can¡¯t bear tomercialize his work.¡±
¡°The scientificmunity often shuns greed for money and power,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined. ¡°To them, integrity and breakthroughs matter more than financial gain. To Professor Xu, this substance might represent a painful reminder, not a treasure.¡±
She looked at Lin Xian thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re a Donghai University grad. Can you think of a way to help?¡±
¡°Me?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback. He recalled a scene from Journey to the West where a minor character is hopelessly outmatched.
What could he, a junior employee, offer against industry giants?
¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± he replied, understanding why Zhao Ying Jun brought him to the banquet. She hoped his alumni status might bridge a connection with Professor Xu. Maybe she had overestimated his influence, but he was determined to try.
After all, he couldn¡¯t just dream up solutions¡ªhe had to make them happen.
Chapter 13: Chu Shan He
The banquet began promptly. As thest note from the violins faded, conversations hushed, and all eyes turned to the grand staircase at the center of the hall.
Chu Shan He made his descent with a broad smile, wine ss in hand, sweeping his gaze across the room. ¡°Wee, everyone! Tonight, we¡¯re graced with the presence of esteemed scientists and brilliant entrepreneurs. It¡¯s truly an honor for my humble home! Hahaha¡¡±
The hall burst into apuse.
Lin Xian, who had only seen Chu Shan He from behind earlier, now observed his full demeanor. Sharp eyes set above a square, distinctly chiseled face gave him a striking appearance. His youthful looks had aged into a dignified charm. Despite being over fifty, Chu Shan He radiated a vigorous energy. His warm smile was backed by a quiet authority thatmanded respect effortlessly.
As the apuse waned, he advanced to the hall¡¯s center, his voice resonant andmanding. ¡°For years, I¡¯ve held that science and technology are the pirs of productivity! Our lifestyle and national prosperity owe much to scientific progress and the relentless dedication of researchers!¡±
He continued, ¡°The advancements in every industry are underpinned by science. The unsung heroes, thoseboring behind the scenes, deserve our utmost respect and recognition!¡±
¡°I consider myself merely a fortunate man, having made my mark in Donghai. My contributions pale inparison to those of our esteemed researchers.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why tonight¡¯s gathering is not just a banquet but a fundraiser for science! I hope the young entrepreneurs among us will join in supporting scientific advancements. Let¡¯s bolster our nation¡¯s scientific pursuits!¡±
¡°Enough talk¡ª¡± With a flourish, Chu Shan He set down his ss and raised an index finger. ¡°The Shan He Group will donate 100 million to the Donghai City Science Development Fund!¡±The announcement left the room in stunned silence, followed by a surge of apuse and cheers. President Chu¡¯s generosity was beyond expectation.
Once the apuse settled, he picked up the microphone again, his smile widening. ¡°That was on behalf of the group. Now, personally, I will contribute an additional 100 million!¡±
The hall erupted again with excitement. Two hundred million! The energy in the room skyrocketed as the young entrepreneurs apuded with admiration and aspiration.
Chu Shan He¡¯s status in Donghai was unmatched, his respect well-earned and heartfelt. The apuse lingered long after.
Lin Xian noticed even the typically reserved Professor Xu Yun pping with enthusiasm, a look of admiration in his eyes. ¡°This is unexpected,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t admire Chu Shan He?¡±
¡°But it¡¯s more than just admiration. Professor Xu respects him deeply because of his consistent support for the sciences. He¡¯s invested in research, funded schrships, supported students, backed niche projects, and helped scientists return from abroad. Hismitment has earned him immense respect among academics.¡±
¡°And do you know who¡¯s been financially supporting Professor Xu¡¯s research all these years?¡±
Lin Xian now understood the full picture. He had initially felt Professor Xu was out of ce at this event, but it all tied back to Chu Shan He. From Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words, it was evident Chu Shan He was a significant benefactor. It was no wonder he held such high status andmanded great respect.
The donation round followed, with each entrepreneur contributing significantly. Zhao Ying Jun herself donated ten million. The circle Chu Shan He moved in was elite, where wealth and nobility were merely the entry requirements. Zhao Ying Jun had yet to even speak directly to him.
As the traditional dance portion began, the center of the hall cleared for dancing, while high-end snacks were served at tables around the edges. The orchestra resumed, their music filling the elegant space.
Chu Shan He had slipped away, and Professor Xu Yun had left at the dance¡¯smencement. Most guests took to dancing. A few lingered at the tables, enjoying refreshments and conversation.
Zhao Ying Jun sat at a dining table, elegantly nibbling snacks and sipping wine. Lin Xian stood behind her, noting how many guests seemed keen to invite her to dance. Realizing his presence, they smiled and turned away.
¡°Should I move further away?¡± Lin Xian whispered.
Zhao Ying Jun dabbed her lips with a napkin, her eyes still closed. ¡°If you move away, what was the point of bringing you here? Sit, eat something.¡±
The rest of the evening passed quietly. Zhao Ying Jun remained contemtive, likely strategizing on how to win over Professor Xu Yun. Her significant donation seemed aimed at currying favor.
Lin Xian felt it was a futile effort; Professor Xu Yun was notoriously stubborn. Perhaps if Chu Shan He intervened¡ But given his stature, he was unlikely to plead on Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s behalf. They simply weren¡¯t on the same level.
Lin Xian ceased his musings. In the realm of these giants, he felt like a minor, inconsequential figure, unable to influence or impress. In his dreams, he was a powerhouse in the city. But here in Donghai, he was just another face in the crowd¡
Chapter 14: Breaking the Deadlock
The evening banquet wrapped up around 9 PM.
Lin Xian returned to his apartment, discarded his formal attire, and refreshed himself. Seated quietly at his desk in his bedroom, he was lost in thought.
The day¡¯s events had left a deep impression on him. Despite residing in the same city of Donghai, the disparity in lifestyles was stark. Billions were tossed around as mere pocket change in discussions. Their lives seemed like scenes from a fairy tale, each person ying the role of royalty. It was all very real, yet felt more fantastical than any dream.
A realization struck Lin Xian. The true outsider in that opulent Golden Hall wasn¡¯t Professor Xu Yun¡ªit was himself. Professor Xu belonged there with his remarkable talents and des. On the other hand, Lin Xian fit into that world only by virtue of the expensive suit he wore¡ªa gift from Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°I¡¯m way out of my league,¡± he whispered to himself.
He remembered Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s question: ¡°Which man wouldn¡¯t want to be Chu Shan He?¡±
Indeed, who wouldn¡¯t envy Chu Shan He? The man spentvishly yetmanded immense respect and wielded influence that could shake the globe. Every man dreams of leveraging wealth to perform grand acts for their nation and people, aspiring to be heroes celebrated by all. Yet, many falter at the initial hurdle ofcking wealth.
Clutching his head, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes wandered to two white papers on his desk, remnants of a recent analysis involving the mysterious Big Cat Face and CC from his dreams. One paper wasbeled [Story Flow], outlining the conflicts and disputes between the two. The other, [Unsolved Mysteries], posed three puzzling questions:
1.What exactly is hidden in the safe?2.What is thebination to the safe?
3.Why did CC save me? Her demeanor towards me is oddly subtle and peculiar.
The first question was an enigma. Even in his own dream, Lin Xian was clueless about what could be so crucial to lock away in a bank vault. Yet, CC¡¯s actions indicated its immense importance to her.
¡°What could be inside?¡± he pondered. Since it was his dream, the contents should be within his knowledge, but nothing came to mind.
The second question was equally perplexing. A password is straightforward; it either works or it doesn¡¯t. Despite trying every conceivable eight-digitbination, nothing had opened the safe. How was it that he couldn¡¯t crack his own safe?
The third question was the most troubling. He read the note again: Why did CC save me? Her behavior towards me is oddly nuanced andplex. This query had potential leads¡ªCC knew the answer but wasn¡¯t sharing.
¡°CC.¡± The thought of her, always behind that Ultraman mask, stirred a mix of emotions. Recalling how he had embarrassingly divulged his secrets in an attempt to crack the safe¡¯s password made his skin crawl.
Reflecting on CC¡¯s familiar-sounding voice, Lin Xian considered, ¡°Is it just a trick of the mind?¡± Many people share simr vocal tones. ¡°There are numerous girls on Douyin with voices like Lazy Sheep¡¯s.¡±
Brushing aside these thoughts, he refocused on the lingering question: Why did CC save me? To her, both he and Big Cat Face were criminals. There was no logical reason for her to eliminate Big Cat Face yet spare him, especially since he was the mastermind behind the bank explosion.
With a red pen, Lin Xian circled the third question vigorously. To uncover the truth, he needed to confront CC directly. But that was the catch-22: CC held the answers but would only reveal them if he helped open the safe¡ªyet he didn¡¯t know thebination. It was a ssic deadlock.
Then it struck him.
¡°Breaking the deadlock!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed with newfound resolve. He realized straightforward methods wouldn¡¯t work with someone as cunning and equipped as CC. He needed a different approach, one involving deception and strategy.
He devised a n:
1.Connect with Big Cat Face, earn his trust by revealing the deception he fell for.
2.Form an alliance with Big Cat Face to set a trap for CC at the bank¡¯s warehouse.
3.When CC shows up, use tactical advantage to overpower her and extract the information.
¡°I can¡¯t do this solo, but with Big Cat Face on my side, we could manage a two-on-one confrontation,¡± he thought, spinning the pen between his fingers. His objective wasn¡¯t to harm CC but topel the truth from her. Once he had his answers, they could part ways amicably.
ncing at the clock, it read 9:45 PM. He usually met Big Cat Face around 10 PM, so there was still time if he managed to drift into sleep swiftly. He turned off his bedsidemp andy down, eyes closing in anticipation.
¡
A familiar hot summer breeze brushed against Lin Xian¡¯s face, carrying the dry scent of the season. He opened his eyes to a familiar scene, lit by the glow of an electronic disy reading 9:54 PM.
¡°I need to get the Ultraman mask quickly,¡± he thought, watching two boys ying nearby, shouting ¡°Ultraman kick!¡± and ¡°Ultraman elbow!¡± as they sparred.
These kids were old acquaintances from Lin Xian¡¯s childhood. Back when he was smaller, he¡¯d often join them in their superhero games, always ending up as the underdog. Now, towering over them, he felt like their elder brother, although the boys remained engrossed in their timeless game.
¡°Ultraman kick!¡± ¡°Ultraman elbow!¡± The boys continued their y, leaving their masks momentarily unguarded on the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xian stepped forward and picked up the Ultraman mask.
¡°Key item, get!¡±
Chapter 15: Murder
Lin Xian adjusted his rubber band and donned his mask. From that moment, he became the code expert, a persona necessary to intercept Big Cat Face before the real expert, CC, could intervene.
He spied the spot where Big Cat Face had parked and saw a stout figure in the recognizable Rhine Cat mask scanning the surroundings.
¡°Big Cat Face!¡± Lin Xian called out as he approached.
Big Cat Face spun around, startled. ¡°How do you know who I am? I didn¡¯t tell¡¡±
¡°Listen,¡± Lin Xian cut in, closing the distance. ¡°I know your name, and I also know you n to betray everyone, keeping all the money for yourself.¡±
¡°I would never do such a thing!¡± Big Cat Face retorted.
¡°But you¡¯ve been deceived by the code expert. There¡¯s nothing in that bank vault; you¡¯re being manipted.¡±
¡°And who exactly are you?¡± Big Cat Face reached for his waist, panic evident.
Lin Xian was quicker, his hand pressing down on the gun at Big Cat Face¡¯s side. ¡°If you¡¯re seeking justice for your daughter, you need to trust me. I know where the real money is in this city.¡±¡°You know about my daughter?¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s voice wavered, caught off guard.
Lin Xian swiftly confiscated the gun and tucked it into his own pocket. ¡°Get in the car.¡±
As they sped along the highway, Big Cat Face frequently nced at Lin Xian through the rearview mirror, the tension palpable.
¡°Um¡ brother,¡± Big Cat Face began uneasily, ¡°what¡¯s really going on? Are you the code expert or not?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Lin Xian confessed after a pause.
¡°Then what the hell¡ª¡± Big Cat Face started, anger ring up.
¡°I can help you get the money, the money you need for your daughter¡¯s sake.¡±
¡°Continue,¡± Big Cat Face said, focusing on the road.
¡°Did the code expert promise you riches in the bank vault?¡±
¡°Yes, even gold bars!¡±
¡°She lied. The vault only contains safety deposit boxes. She used you to breach security. Once she¡¯s done, she might even eliminate you.¡±
¡°Your story doesn¡¯t make me trust you any more than her.¡± Big Cat Face shrugged.
¡°I¡¯m here to save you. You¡¯ll see for yourself once we¡¯re inside the vault.¡±
¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Big Cat Face asked, turning briefly to face him.
Lin Xian sighed, his breath visible against the mask. ¡°It¡¯s not just about you. I have my own reasons. I need your help to confront CC¡ªthe real code expert.¡±
¡°But I have two questions!¡± Big Cat Face interjected.
¡°Go ahead.¡±
¡°How will we ess the vault without the real expert?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian grinned. ¡°I¡¯m better than an expert. Give me ten seconds.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Big Cat Face seemed skeptical. ¡°And about the money for my daughter¡ªcan you really help?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian confirmed. ¡°There are better ways to get what you need in this city, far safer than robbing a bank.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve known these streets a long time. I can manage the risks,¡± Lin Xian assured. ¡°But we¡¯ll need to wait until tomorrow.¡±
¡°What¡¯s one more day?¡± Big Cat Face chuckled, steering the van. ¡°Tomorrow it is then! Today, I¡¯m with you, brother. Lead the way!¡±
They pulled up near the bank, with one of Big Cat Face¡¯s men tampering with the lock.
¡°There he is, working on the lock. Let¡¯s move,¡± Big Cat Face urged.
¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xian restrained him, a question lingering. ¡°About your daughter. I heard she was murdered at six. Why? Who would kill a child?¡±
Big Cat Face looked away, troubled. He lit a cigarette, the mask still covering his face.
¡°It¡¯s a tough memory,¡± Lin Xian continued gently. ¡°But maybe I can help more than you think. Not just with the money.¡±
The van filled with smoke, creating a somber atmosphere.
¡°It¡¯s hard to talk about,¡± Big Cat Face finally said, his voice hoarse. ¡°But we¡¯re out of time now.¡±
¡°Tell me,¡± Lin Xian insisted. ¡°I¡¯ve cracked this bank before. We¡¯ll make up for any lost time. Trust me.¡±
¡°It was years ago,¡± Big Cat Face began, his tone filled with grief. ¡°Despite my appearance, my father was a celebrated mathematician, a Fields Medal winner.¡±
¡°I was often away for work. My daughter stayed with him. One night, she developed a sudden fever. In a rush to the hospital, they were hit by a truck. It was no ident but a deliberate murder!¡±
¡°My father was the target, and my daughter was coteral damage. Why would anyone want him dead? He was just a schr.¡±
Lin Xian ced aforting hand on his shoulder. ¡°Who was behind it? You mentioned an organization.¡±
¡°It¡¯s an elusive group,¡± Big Cat Face exhaled another puff of smoke. ¡°After all this time, I only know their name.¡±
¡°And that name?¡± Lin Xian prompted.
Big Cat Face crushed the cigarette underfoot, bitternesscing his words. ¡°Genius Club.¡±
Chapter 16: Speed Run
¡°Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the name. It sounded more like a pretentious academic group than a criminal syndicate.
¡°What exactly is this organization? What do they do?¡± he asked.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Big Cat Face responded, shaking his head.
¡°How many members does it have? Are they all high-IQ geniuses?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Big Cat Face repeated, his head shaking more vigorously. ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything about them. I couldn¡¯t find out anything!¡±
He looked serious. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for a random tip-off, it¡¯s like they don¡¯t exist at all! I can¡¯t figure out how they¡¯ve managed to stay so hidden.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been investigating for years! But now, I have no idea who they are, where they are, or what they¡¯re nning. The only thing I¡¯ve heard is¡ª¡±
He turned to Lin Xian, his eyes solemn. ¡°The rumor is that only the richest, the most brilliant geniuses, and the most influential people get an invitation to join the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Ah, I see,¡± Lin Xian nodded, grasping the severity of the situation. ¡°So you robbed the bank to get the funds, but your ultimate goal is to secure an invitation from the Genius Club to infiltrate their headquarters and seek revenge for your daughter.¡±¡°But honestly, Big Cat, if the entrance criteria are as strict as you say, just robbing a bank might not be enough.¡±
Big Cat Face sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a gamble. That rumor isn¡¯t even confirmed; it¡¯s all hearsay. But what other choice do I have?¡±
¡°I know robbing a bank alone won¡¯t cut it, but with that money, I might be able to orchestrate something bigger. It¡¯s a sliver of hope for revenge.¡±
He checked his watch. 00:07. His expression darkened. ¡°Are you sure we still have time?¡±
¡°I trust you, but I want to check the warehouse to make sure there¡¯s really no money there.¡±
Lin Xian pulled out his gun, checked the magazine, and reloaded. ¡°Rx, Big Cat. I promised to make up for lost time.¡±
¡°Can you run? Follow me!¡±
They jumped out of the car, Lin Xian leading with Big Cat Face close behind.
Lin Xian loaded his gun and aimed at the guard by the door¡ªBang!
¡°Ahhh!¡± screamed Big Cat Face.
¡°Can¡¯t leave dishonest guys alive,¡± Lin Xian muttered, heading towards the bank.
¡°Wait, why did you shoot my man?!¡±
Another shot rang out¡ªBang! Blood sttered over the control panel.
¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± Big Cat Face grabbed his head in horror.
Lin Xian nced at the body disdainfully. ¡°Flirting with the boss¡¯s wife earns you a bullet.¡±
¡°How do you know everything?! Who told you this?!¡± Big Cat Face was in disbelief.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t stop, heading down the corridor.
¡°Wait! Slow down!!¡±
Pale-faced, Big Cat Face caught up. ¡°I¡¯m suddenly not in such a hurry! Slow down, okay?! I¡¯m not feeling safe!¡±
Bang!
As they entered the underground passage, another bodyy before them.
¡°Bro! Stop the killing! This isn¡¯t how you clear house!¡±
Lin Xian helped Big Cat Face up. ¡°The warehouse is just ahead.¡±
Despite his shock, Big Cat Face followed, impressed. ¡°Bro, your shooting is like that of a marksman!¡±
¡°I saw you fire three shots without aiming, and you hit each time¡ how long have you been using guns?¡±
¡°Over ten years,¡± Lin Xian replied casually. ¡°I used to engage in nightly shootouts with the police.¡±
¡°With the police?!¡±
¡°And sniper duels, though I never won those. Sniper rifles are trickier.¡±
¡°Sniper duels?!¡±
Big Cat Face was astounded.
¡°You mean in video games, right? Like those shooting games?¡±
Soon, they reached the warehouse.
Lin Xian took some C4 from behind Big Cat Face and ced it on the code-locked door.
¡°Run!¡±
They sprinted away as explosions rocked the door¡ªBoom! Boom!
When the dust settled, Lin Xian checked his watch. 00:09.
¡°I did okay, right, Big Cat? I think that was the fastest route.¡±
¡°Excellent! Let¡¯s never do this again!¡±
Jumping into the warehouse, Big Cat Face cursed loudly. ¡°That code expert lied to me! Not a penny here! What now?¡±
Lin Xian motioned towards the passage. ¡°First, we move your henchman¡¯s body from there. He¡¯s about your size.¡±
They dressed the corpse in Big Cat Face¡¯s clothes and ced the Rhine Cat mask on it.
¡°All set,¡± Lin Xian pped his hands, pleased with their disguise.
¡°You¡¯re a genius, bro!¡± Big Cat Face, now unmasked, had a red mark on his face from the mask.
¡°What¡¯s my next task, bro?¡±
Lin Xian handed him a handgun. ¡°Take this, hide behind the safe, and wait for my signal.¡±
Everything was ready, just waiting for the target to appear.
Lin Xian paced, checking his watch. At 00:20 in his previous dreams, CC had shown up.
At 00:21, he shouted into the darkness. ¡°Come out! I know you¡¯re there!¡±
Secondster, a slim figure in an Ultraman mask appeared, tilting her head as she looked at Lin Xian.
¡°And who are you?¡±
Chapter 17: The Gambler
¡°I¡¯m your friend.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t recall having a friend like you,¡± CC replied coldly.
Thud!
Lin Xian kicked the corpse on the ground. Blood trickled from the Rhine Cat mask, pooling beneath it. He stepped aside, giving CC a clearer view.
¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡±
CC remained silent, her gaze fixed on the Rhine Cat mask adorning the corpse, taking in every detail.
¡°You lured Big Cat Face here with tales of hidden money and gold bricks in the warehouse,¡± Lin Xian circled around to the other side of the body, facing CC. ¡°Once the truth was revealed, a showdown was inevitable. It was uncertain who would survive.¡±
¡°Now that I¡¯ve eliminated this threat for you, doesn¡¯t that make me your friend?¡±
CC clutched her gun, her stance tense. ¡°Why should I trust you?¡±Lin Xian gave a slight smile, slowly lifted his gun, then flipped it, presenting the handle toward her. He tossed it across the warehouse floor. ¡°Does this demonstrate my sincerity? Now, I want to see yours.¡±
¡°We share amon goal¡ªto crack open Lin Xian¡¯s safe. You can take whatever you find inside; I just want the information.¡±
¡°You need to decide quickly. The power will be back soon, and once the rm sounds, our window closes.¡±
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, CC mimicked Lin Xian, throwing her gun away as well. It arced gracefully¡ªThud.
Her gun struck the safe with a dull ng and rolled to a stop.
Click!
A gun barrel pressed against the back of CC¡¯s head. Big Cat Face slowly emerged from his hiding ce behind a cab.
¡°Liar.¡± CC stared at Lin Xian through her mask, her eyes filled with deep disappointment.
¡°You¡¯re the real liar!¡± Big Cat Face yelled, enraged. ¡°If my brother hadn¡¯t seen through your scheme, I¡¯d be dead because of you!¡±
His grip on his gun tightened as he seethed. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my brother holding me back, you¡¯d already be dead!¡±
Lin Xian gestured for calm and addressed CC seriously, ¡°Let¡¯s reassess the situation. I have no intention of harming you or anyone else. I just need an answer from you. After that, you can do as you please with the safe. We won¡¯t interfere. And I promise, I¡¯ll help Big Cat Face secure the funds he needs. We¡¯re all here driven by our interests; let¡¯s avoid unnecessary conflict.¡±
CC, always pragmatic, recognized the truth in his words. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± she asked quietly.
Lin Xian loosened the strap of his mask and removed it, taking a deep breath as he looked directly at CC. ¡°Do you know me?¡±
¡°No.¡± CC shook her head.
¡°Have you ever seen or heard of me before?¡±
¡°No,¡± she replied again.
Lin Xian rubbed his temple, puzzled. ¡°Think about this¡ªwhen you see or hear me, does anythinge to mind? A person, an event? Is there a reason you treat me differently? You could easily have eliminated Big Cat Face, but you hesitated with me.¡±
Even Big Cat Face, despite his anger, couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle. The situation seemed overly dramatic, like a soap opera. Yet CC remained impassive, not reacting like Big Cat Face. Her gaze was fixed on Lin Xian, inscrutable behind her mask.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed; he sensed a breakthrough. CC must have recognized something in him, which exined why she saved him in their past encounters and refrained from killing him.
¡°Speak!¡± Big Cat Face demanded. Silence followed. CC didn¡¯t respond.
¡°Is this secret worth more than your life?¡± Lin Xian asked, his tone a mix of frustration and curiosity.
¡°Humph¡¡± CC scoffed, her expression one of disdain. ¡°That depends on whether you¡¯re brave enough to end my life.¡±
¡°Damn you! Do you think I won¡¯t?¡± Big Cat Face, unable to contain himself, aimed his gun at CC¡¯s temple with renewed vigor.
CC raised her hands slowly, cing them behind her head. ¡°Big Cat Face,¡± she began softly.
His anger peaked. ¡°There¡¯s no cash here, but that safe holds something crucial for you.¡±
¡°What¡ what did you say?¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s eyes widened in panic. ¡°Something crucial for me?¡±
CC¡¯s smile was cryptic as she watched him. ¡°Consider this¡ªif the safe had nothing of value to you, why would I involve you? I want to open it for both our benefits.¡±
In an instant, realization dawned on Big Cat Face. ¡°An invitation!¡± he eximed. ¡°Are you saying it contains an invite to the Genius Club?¡±
CC remained silent, her smile enigmatic.
¡°Don¡¯t listen to her!¡± Lin Xian intervened, seeing Big Cat Face¡¯s confusion escte. ¡°She¡¯s bluffing. She doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s in the safe any more than any of us!¡±
¡°Do you dare to bet?¡± CC challenged Big Cat Face directly, her eyes piercing. ¡°This could be your only chance.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s face flushed with a mix of doubt and anticipation. He nced between CC and Lin Xian, then back at the safe, unable to decide whom to trust.
Bang!!!
A deafening gunshot echoed through the warehouse.
Big Cat Face¡¯s head burst open, his body copsing like a felled tree!
Lin Xian staggered back in shock¡
CC¡¯s hair flowed loosely around her shoulders, the red ribbon that had bound it fluttering slowly to the ground. In her hand was a gun, previously concealed within her hair.
Thud.
Big Cat Face¡¯s body hit the ground heavily.
¡°Take a guess¡ will I kill you?¡± CC advanced toward Lin Xian, gun aimed and ready.
Chapter 18: The Genius Club
Click.
Lin Xian felt the searing heat of a gun barrel pressed against his forehead and sighed in resignation. Big Cat Face was proving to be a monumental fool.
The situation had quickly spiraled out of control. Cornered, CC had bluffed in a desperate attempt to extract information from Big Cat Face. To everyone¡¯s surprise, he had taken the bait.
CC didn¡¯t actually know what was inside the safe or Big Cat Face¡¯s true intentions. Yet, in a moment of pressure, he blurted out, ¡°An invitation! Is the safe holding an invitation to the Genius Club?¡±
His slip-up was ring, exposing his involvement. Considering his father was a Fields Medalureate, hisck of sharpness was shocking. Following his inadvertent revtion, Big Cat Face seemed to freeze up.
Meanwhile, CC, while appearing to surrender with her hands behind her head, was stealthily reaching for the gun concealed in her hair bun, prepared to end the standoff.
¡°Go ahead, shoot,¡± Lin Xian urged, weary. His n had crumbled; any further dy seemed futile.
¡°You¡¯re the most reckless person I¡¯ve ever met,¡± CC dered from behind her Ultraman mask. ¡°First, you impersonated me, got into his car, and now this mess. Aren¡¯t you afraid of dying?¡±
¡°Enough talk. Just do it,¡± Lin Xian said, closing his eyes, resigned to his fate, but then added, ¡°But I still want an answer to my question. Since you¡¯re about to kill me, can¡¯t you let me die knowing?¡±¡°What do you want to know?¡± CC inquired, still aiming her gun at him.
¡°I need to understand if there¡¯s any connection between us,¡± Lin Xian said, opening his eyes to look into hers. ¡°It¡¯s obvious we¡¯ve met before, right? There must be a reason you haven¡¯t killed me yet. If you kill me now, I won¡¯tin. So, can you tell me honestly¡ª¡± his gaze fixed intensely on CC, ¡°Have we met before?¡±
CC lifted her gun slightly, eyeing him seriously. ¡°No.¡±
Bang!!!
The gunshot echoed loudly. The sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air, and a ringing noise engulfed Lin Xian¡¯s ears. Pain surged through his ear¡ªbut just his ear?
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flew open¡ He wasn¡¯t in his familiar bedroom; he was still in the warehouse surrounded by safes. The gun had shifted at thest moment, the bullet grazing his ear and embedding in the wall behind him. Blood trickled from his ruptured eardrum.
¡°You still won¡¯t kill me?¡± Lin Xian was baffled. After all his provocations, she had killed Big Cat Face without hesitation. Why spare him?
This seemed like a scene from a martial arts drama¡ªperhaps this viiness harbored a secret love for him!
¡°Leave. Don¡¯t interfere with my work,¡± CC said as she turned away, holstering her gun, and resumed working on the safe.
Lin Xian stood silently¡ Soon, a click signaled the main power had been restored.
Wah! Wah! Wah! Wah! The rms red. Frustrated, CC punched the still-unopened safe.
Lin Xian stepped closer. ¡°I have a question.¡±
¡°Why so many questions!¡± CC snapped, clearly annoyed.
¡°Just one more,¡± Lin Xian insisted, raising a finger and forcing a smile, feeling slightly guilty for misjudging her intentions, even in such a surreal scenario.
¡°Is there really an invitation to the Genius Club in that safe?¡±
Amid the ring rms, CC walked towards a hole in the wall, not looking back.
Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!! A blinding white light engulfed everything, reducing it all to ashes.
¡
Sigh¡
Lin Xiany in his bed, the quilt unusually heavy, pressing down on him.
Why did his encounters with CC always leave him with mixed feelings? He wished all his dream characters were clear-cut viins, easily justifiable targets. He enjoyed dealing with ruthless individuals like Big Cat Face and his unscrupulousckeys.
But CC was different. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡¡± Lin Xian rubbed his eyes, drained from the day¡¯s work and these vivid, unsettling dreams. His imagination impressed him; if it were a novel, it would surely be a bestseller.
¡°Time to sleep, got work tomorrow.¡± Lin Xian turned over for a dreamless night.
¡
The next day.
At the reception, Lin Xian met a colleague from the production department. ¡°Lin, your sample of the Rhine Cat plush toy is ready. Here¡¯s the first one.¡±
The colleague handed him a meticulously crafted toy, its fluffy tail particrly charming.
¡°It¡¯s excellent,¡± Lin Xian praised, promising to collect more for his officeter.
¡°Hey, Lin! Heading to Zhao¡¯s office?¡± the receptionist called out.
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Ady left an invitation for Zhao this morning. Could you take it?¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
Lin Xian epted the dark red card, sealed with red wax, its intricate seal impressive.
¡°Is Zhao invited to a wedding?¡± he wondered. Turning the invitation over, a chill ran through him as he remembered Gao Yang¡¯s words: ¡°What¡¯s so strange about seeing things from reality in your dreams?¡±
¡°Wait until something from your dreams appears in reality. That¡¯s when it really gets interesting!¡±
With a sense of foreboding, Lin Xian read the embossed golden words on the back of the card¡ªGenius Club Invitation.
Chapter 19: The Invitation
Genius Club¡
The moment Lin Xian read those words, everything around him seemed to fade away. The bustling hall around him vanished, reced by an endless ringing in his ears. His breathing grew heavy, as if he were a dolphin diving deeper into the icy depths of the sea, burdened by weights.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
¡°What¡¯s up? Why are you just standing there?¡±
Snapped back to reality by a familiar voice, Lin Xian turned to find Zhao Ying Jun standing behind him. She was d in a sleek ck coat, her diamond earrings glinting under the light.
¡°Rhine Cat? Is it finished?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took the Rhine Cat plush from Lin Xian¡¯s hands, inspecting it closely. ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s even cuter than I imagined. The craftsmanship is impressive. We might consider a long-term partnership with this factory.¡± She yfully flicked the little tail attached to the plush.
Noticing Lin Xian¡¯s distracted demeanor, Zhao Ying Jun pointed to the dark red card he held. ¡°Is this for me too?¡±
¡°Huh? Oh, yes¡¡± Lin Xian, momentarily disoriented, handed her the card reflexively. She examined it thoroughly before heading towards the elevator, Rhine Cat plush in tow.¡°President Zhao looks stunning today!¡±
¡°Yeah, and she never wears the same outfit twice! Always so stylish!¡±
¡°Her elegance is natural, something we can only dream of.¡±
¡°And above all, she¡¯s incredibly talented and capable! She¡¯s just perfect!¡±
After Zhao Ying Jun disappeared into the elevator, the receptionists at the desk whispered among themselves, their tones a mix of admiration and envy. Lin Xian stared at his empty hands, the texture of the dark red card still lingering in his memory.
¡°What if it¡¯s not an invitation?¡± He tried to reassure himself. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just an advertisement? Or a wedding invitation?¡±
Later, in the office, Lin Xian gathered thetest design drafts and went to report to Zhao Ying Jun. Standing before the formidable security door on the 22nd floor, he paused for a moment.
¡°Come in.¡±
As the door unlocked, he entered the familiar, sterile office. It seemed Zhao Ying Jun rarely used the sofa or any personal touches; the only sign of upancy was the desk cluttered with documents.
¡°Good, keep moving forward with these.¡± Zhao Ying Jun quickly reviewed the materials, showing trust in Lin Xian¡¯s work as she handed them back.
¡°By the way,¡± she said as Lin Xian took the folder, ¡°did you find out about Professor Xu Yun?¡±
¡°I did some digging.¡± Lin Xian had spent his subway ride that morning calling his former advisor to learn about Professor Xu Yun.
¡°I contacted my advisor and some grad students at the university,¡± he continued. ¡°Professor Xu Yun is somitted to the hibernation pod project because of his paralyzed daughter.¡±
¡°Professor Xu Yun¡¯s only child was left paralyzed from the neck down and in aa after a tragic ident at an amusement park. She¡¯s been in that state for nearly ten years at Donghai University Hospital, with no hope of recovery, ording to both domestic and international experts.¡±
Lin Xian swallowed, his voice heavy. ¡°Many have advised Professor Xu Yun to move on, but he¡¯s determined to keep researching the hibernation pod, hoping future technology might heal his daughter.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun listened intently, then sighed. ¡°It reminds me of ¡®The Three-Body Problem,¡¯ a sci-fi novel about a character who waits in hibernation for a cure for their incurable disease. It¡¯s tragic that real life has struck Professor Xu Yun so harshly.¡±
¡°But scientific advancement is incremental. Without a solid foundation, how can we expect sudden breakthroughs? Professor Xu¡¯s hopes are more fiction than science. He¡¯s blinded by his love,¡± shemented, returning to her documents.
¡°Lin Xian, buy some gifts and visit Professor Xu¡¯s daughter in the hospital when you can.¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Lin Xian turned to leave, but he had another motive for this meeting. The design drafts were just a pretext; he needed to understand the true purpose of the ¡°Genius Club¡± card. Was it an invitation, an advertisement, or a mere prank?
¡°Oh, President Zhao, one more thing,¡± Lin Xian said, feigning a sudden recall.
¡°This morning, you left in a hurry, and I forgot to mention¡¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked up from her writing.
¡°That red card you took with the Rhine Cat plush,¡± Lin Xian exined, ¡°wasn¡¯t mailed; a woman delivered it in person.¡±
¡°Oh, that.¡± Zhao Ying Jun resumed her writing without much concern.
¡°Is it¡ an invitation?¡± Lin Xian asked tentatively.
¡°It¡¯s an invitation,¡± she replied nonchntly, then continued signing documents.
¡°Anything else?¡±
¡°No, nothing.¡±
With a bang, the heavy security door closed behind him.
Outside, Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced with excitement. It was indeed an invitation! Just as he had dreamt the previous night, it hade to pass. What could this mean for him?
Chapter 20: Contradictions
Lin Xian¡¯s mind was in turmoil. He was absolutely certain he had never encountered the ¡°Genius Club¡± before¡ªnot in real life, and certainly never received an invitation from such an organization. The name had first been whispered to him inst night¡¯s dream by Big Cat Face. He had dismissed it as a figment of his overactive imagination¡ªa bizarre concoction cooked up in his dream. But now, hearing about it in the waking world unsettled him deeply, making him feel like a character in a prewritten y, his strings pulled by unseen hands.
¡°No, I have to uncover the truth,¡± he resolved.
Back at his office, Lin Xian shut the door and began piecing together his thoughts. The journey into this mystery had started withst night¡¯s dream where he first met Big Cat Face, who painted the Genius Club as a secretive society, buried in the annals of history without leaving a trace.
With a deep breath, Lin Xian recalled more details shared by Big Cat Face: The Genius Club was responsible for the death of Big Cat Face¡¯s father and daughter. Their primary target had been his father, a distinguished mathematician and a recipient of the Fields Medal.
The club remained shrouded in secrecy. Despite years of dogged investigation, Big Cat Face had unearthed little about its hierarchy, members, goals, or whereabouts. Rumors suggested that only the wealthiest billionaires, the brightest geniuses, and the most powerful figures were granted invitations to this elusive club.
All the information Lin Xian had was secondhand from Big Cat Face, its reliability uncertain. From what he gathered, the Genius Club seemed to be an elite, mysterious, and powerful group. Whether they were outright criminals was up for debate, but given their involvement in premeditated murder, they were hardly angels.
Delving deeper, Lin Xian pondered if the Genius Club targeted intellectual giants, given Big Cat Face¡¯s father was a Fields Medalist. The hypothesis was a stretch but not imusible. Everyone knew the Nobel Prize was the pinnacle of scientific de, except in mathematics, which celebrated the Fields Medal as its highest honor¡ªoften dubbed the Nobel of math.
Math, the bedrock of modern science, awarded its best with the Fields Medal. Thus, a recipient was undeniably a genius. But this raised a ring contradiction.
Lin Xian spun in his chair, lost in thought. ¡°Big Cat Face mentioned the Genius Club sends invites to the foremost geniuses. So, what¡¯s their true stance on these intellectuals? Why would they target them for elimination and simultaneously invite them to join?¡± He was baffled. ¡°And there¡¯s another inconsistency.¡±Frowning, Lin Xian felt increasingly perplexed. If Big Cat Face was correct, only the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me¡ªbillionaires, geniuses, and power brokers¡ªreceived invites to the Genius Club. How then did Zhao Ying Jun qualify? Though a promising young entrepreneur, she didn¡¯t fit the bill of a top billionaire, an unparalleled genius, or a significant power wielder. Even in Donghai City, figures like Chu Shan He didn¡¯t meet such lofty criteria, let alone Zhao Ying Jun. Yet, she had an invitation, which she unted right under Lin Xian¡¯s nose. The contradiction was ring!
Rubbing his temples, Lin Xian felt overwhelmed by these puzzling contradictions and logical dead ends.
Contradictions¡ Contradictions¡ Contradictions¡
Whether fact or fiction, every piece of information about the Genius Club brimmed with contradictions.
¡°No, these contradictions aren¡¯t the crux of the matter.¡± Lin Xian opened his eyes. ¡°The tales from Big Cat Face might just be figments of my dream, their truthfulness debatable. Plus, Big Cat Face is known for his deceptive practices; he might be misleading me. The most pressing, fundamental question remains¡ªwhy did something I fabricated in a dream materialize in reality?¡±
This enigma troubled Lin Xian immensely, almost seeming supernatural. He picked up his phone and dialed Gao Yang.
¡°Hello?¡± came Gao Yang¡¯s voice.
¡°Gao Yang, we need to talk,¡± Lin Xian said with urgency.
¡°What¡¯s up now, bro? Is it about that bizarre dream again?¡± Gao Yang¡¯s voice was drowned in background noise akin to a bustling marketce. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before¡ªdreams are just dreams! They¡¯re figments of your subconscious! Unless they start leaping into reality, they don¡¯t matter!¡±
¡°That¡¯s exactly what¡¯s happening!¡± Lin Xian sighed, feeling the irony.
Themotion on Gao Yang¡¯s end came from customers negotiating at a car dealership where he likely was making sales. ¡°Look, I¡¯m swamped right now; I¡¯ll swing by tonight, and we¡¯ll sort this out,¡± Gao Yang quickly wrapped up and hung up.
Throughout the day, Lin Xian sat at his desk, spinning a pen in his fingers. His curiosity about the Genius Club was piqued¡ªnot just as a figment from his dream, but now as a tangible mystery. Was there any link between Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s real-life invitation and the Genius Club from his dreams? Were they one and the same? To verify this, he needed to inspect the invitation Zhao had received. The truth would then unveil itself.
Unfortunately, another chance to see that invitation seemed unlikely. That morning, Lin Xian had watched Zhao Ying Jun secure the invite in her office drawer, guarded by two password-protected locks. He wasn¡¯t a real-life hacking expert; sneaking in was out of the question. In his dreams, he might have used C4 to breach the office, but real-world consequences were far more severe.
¡°What other way can I see that invitation?¡± Lin Xian pondered, still clueless.
Chapter 21: The Lottery
9:00 PM
After a long day of overtime, Gao Yang arrived at Lin Xian¡¯s apartment and copsed onto the sofa with a heavy sigh.
¡°Okay, Lin Xian, let¡¯s hear it. What¡¯s the scoop?¡±
Lin Xian, seated across from him, began from the top. He exined how he had persuaded Big Cat Face to join his cause during a dream sequence, uncovered the heart-wrenching truth about his daughter¡¯s death, and discovered the existence of the sinister Genius Club responsible for her murder. He detailed Big Cat Face¡¯s bank heist strategy to secure an invitation to this elusive club, climaxing with Lin Xian spotting an invitation himself at his workce.
¡°Mhm, mhm,¡± Gao Yang nodded, sipping his water, his face a mask of pensiveness and tension.
¡°I get it,¡± he said.
¡°You get it?¡± Lin Xian repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Bang.
Gao Yang mmed his ss down, fixing Lin Xian with a serious gaze.¡°It¡¯s fundamentally about the subconscious!¡±
¡°The subconscious, really?¡± Lin Xian scoffed. ¡°When in doubt, me quantum mechanics? Can¡¯t exin something, me parallel universes? I¡¯ve been talking for an hour, and you boil it down to ¡®the subconscious¡¯?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not the same!¡± Gao Yang cut in, eager to exin. ¡°Remember that time at the bar? I was in a rush because of the World Cup and didn¡¯t rify. The subconscious is moreplex than you think!¡±
¡°Simplify it for me.¡±
¡°Think about it¡ªsometimes you see or hear something, then it slips your mind. But is it really forgotten? No, it lingers in your subconscious. That¡¯s why you have feelings of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.¡±
Lin Xian stood, dismissing the notion with a wave of his hand.
¡°That¡¯s too far-fetched. Save it for a novel. I¡¯m done with this conversation.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not pseudo-science!¡± Gao Yang insisted, pulling Lin Xian back to the sofa. ¡°Let me give you an example.¡±
¡°Go on.¡±
¡°Ever had a song feel familiar, but you can¡¯t remember where you heard it?¡±
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s happened.¡±
¡°Or seen a stranger who seems familiar, or a ce that feels oddly recognizable?¡±
¡°Sometimes, yes.¡±
¡°During your dailymute, you see countless faces. Over the years, you¡¯ve had numerous ssmates. Can you remember every face or the passengers from this morning¡¯s subway ride?¡±
¡°Of course not, who could?¡±
Smack!
Gao Yang pped his thigh, pointing at Lin Xian emphatically.
¡°That¡¯s it! Human memory is unreliable, especially with distant memories. But the subconscious holds onto much more, like faces, music, ces. That¡¯s why things sometimes feel familiar.¡±
¡°So, what¡¯s your point¡ª¡±
¡°You must have encountered the Genius Club before, maybe just a whisper in an elevator or a glimpse in a subway ad. That¡¯s why you dreamed about it.¡±
Lin Xian eyed Gao Yang skeptically.
¡°Where did you learn all this? The subconscious and d¨¦j¨¤ vu¡ sounds dubious.¡±
¡°Haha, remember those posts by the psychologist I showed you on social media?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, unconvinced.
¡°But that doesn¡¯t address my main issue. I¡¯m not puzzled by dreaming of the Genius Club; it¡¯s about why elements from my dream appear in reality.¡±
¡°Justst night, I dreamed about the Genius Club and Big Cat Face discussing the invitation, and this morning, I saw it in real life! How do you exin that?¡±
¡°That¡¯s perfectly reasonable,¡± Gao Yang replied, lighting a cigarette. ¡°Many people report precognitive dreams, but often it¡¯s just coincidence.¡±
¡°How can you dismiss it as coincidence? My dream outlined the entire backstory of the Genius Club!¡±
¡°And I¡¯ve dreamed of calculus forms that matched real textbooks, despite never studying calculus in college. You¡¯re not suggesting I can dream up theories beyond Gauss?¡±
¡°So what?¡± Gao Yang shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t seriously believe your dreams predict the future, or that they¡¯re glimpses into a real future, 600 years from now?¡±
¡°I have considered it,¡± Lin Xian admitted.
They exchanged a long look, contemting the implications.
¡°Alright.¡± Gao Yang exhaled a plume of smoke and reached into his pocket.
¡°You think your dreams predict the future?¡±
¡°It¡¯s possible.¡±
Smack!
Gao Yang ced a lottery ticket on the coffee table.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡±
¡°A football lottery ticket,¡± Gao Yang exined casually, exhaling smoke. ¡°Tonight, Qatar World Cup semifinals: Argentina vs. Croatia at 3 AM.¡±
¡°Go to sleep now, dream the result, and wake me at 00:42 with the winner!¡±
Gao Yang flicked ash, a grin ying on his lips.
¡°You believe your dreams reveal the future, right? Prove it!¡±
Lin Xian picked up the ticket. Listed were the details: 3 AM, Argentina vs. Croatia, with a 100 yuan bet on Argentina at 2.3 odds¡ªa win would 230 yuan.
To truly test if his dreams could foresee the future, this lottery would be conclusive evidence¡ªfar morepelling than any other experiment.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡±
Lin Xian headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
¡°Keep it down out here. Don¡¯t interrupt my sleep.¡±
¡°Make sure you get it right!¡± Gao Yang called after him. ¡°And try to dream the exact score too¡ªwe could win big!¡±
¡°¡If I can find it in the dream. Don¡¯t hold your breath.¡±
¡°You can look it up online in your dream! It takes a second.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve tried that. You think I¡¯ve been idle for twenty years?¡±
Lin Xian rinsed and spat out the toothpaste foam.
¡°I experimented with the lottery in middle school, trying to dream up winning numbers.¡±
¡°And?¡±
¡°Nothing! I found nothing useful¡ªno lottery, current news, or stock info¡ The inte in dreams is useless.¡±
¡°I see¡¡±
Gao Yang grabbed a snack and turned on the TV, lowering the volume.
¡°Logically, online information should be archived forever. There should be traces. But since your dream is fictional, it figures.¡±
Lin Xian dried his face.
¡°My dream isn¡¯t that simple. There¡¯s too much I don¡¯t understand.¡±
¡°Facts will prove everything! Go dream!¡±
Completing his routine, Lin Xian retired to his bedroom.
He turned off the light, cocooning himself in his nket.
¡°Let¡¯s see.¡±
A familiar summer breeze whispered through the room as Lin Xian closed his eyes.
He awoke in the familiar za, surrounded by the usual bustle and the chirping of cicadas.
Lin Xian nced around. The electronic billboard disyed the date:
August 28, 2624
21:54
Lin Xian scratched his head, wondering.
¡°Where can I find the results of the 2022 Qatar World Cup?¡±
Chapter 22: The Truth and the Illusion
Lin Xian scanned the park and noticed a middle-aged man kicking a ser ball around with his kid. Dressed in cleats and a team jersey, the man was clearly a huge ser fan. Lin Xian thought he might be able to help with his question.
¡°Hey,¡± Lin Xian called out as he approached. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but could you help me with something about ser? I¡¯m especially curious about the World Cup.¡±
The man chuckled and pointed at his jersey. ¡°You¡¯ve asked the right guy! I¡¯ve been a ser fan all my life. Haven¡¯t missed a single World Cup game as long as I can remember!¡±
¡°Ask away, little brother. yers, games, or even the juicy gossip¡ªI¡¯m your man!¡±
Perfect. This guy seemed both knowledgeable and eager.
¡°Thanks! Could you tell me who won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar? Was it Argentina?¡±
The man¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a sharp re. ¡°What are you ying at? How would I know something from hundreds of years ago? You can¡¯t even find that info online!¡±
¡°Please, calm down,¡± Lin Xian reassured him politely. ¡°I¡¯m working on a school project and I just need some historical background. Any idea where I could find those records?¡±
The man shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s a tough one. You might try the library.¡±With that, the man walked off with his child.
The library¡ Lin Xian looked up at the bright moon. Toote for that¡ªit was already closed. Maybe a bookstore would still be open.
Since his dream was set in the year 2624, finding results from a ser match 600 years ago meant digging through history books.
¡°Bookstore¡¡± Lin Xian muttered, trying to remember. He knew the city well, having explored most of it over thest two decades, but most bookstores would be closed by now. He needed one that was open 24/7.
Then he remembered one on Sky Street. ¡°It¡¯s opente,¡± he recalled.
Decided, he hurried to the bus stop.
Bang!
¡°Ouch!¡±
Lin Xian bumped into a burly man wearing a mask with a giant cat face on it, who growled, ¡°Watch it!¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Lin Xian responded casually.
Recognizing the man, Lin Xian smiled and patted his shoulder. ¡°You should watch your back too. Don¡¯t want to be caught off guard again.¡±
¡°What?¡± The man looked around nervously, patting his waist, but finding nothing.
¡°Who are you?¡± he shouted, but Lin Xian was already sprinting away.
Lin Xian rarely used the bus in his dreams. He typically preferred the thrill of stealing a car and racing through the streets, like in video games, but that usually ended in either a police chase or a dramatic crash.
Today, he wanted to keep it simple. The bus ride to the bookstore took an hour and a half.
Upon entering, the clerk barely looked up from their phone.
Lin Xian quickly found the sports section but the results of the 2022 World Cup were elusive. The sports books were mostly recent newsptions, and the history books were like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Then, a spine caught his eye: ¡°Interesting Ser Facts 7: The History of the World Cup.¡±
It was a children¡¯s book, with simplenguage and illustrations. Flipping to an appendix, he found a list of World Cup champions.
¡°Atst,¡± he breathed a sigh of relief.
The champions were listed in reverse chronological order. He flipped to thest page and found the entry for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
¡°Argentina won the championship after defeating France in a penalty shootout!¡± it read.
¡°Penalty shootout? What¡¯s that?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud. He wasn¡¯t well-versed in ser, but at least he knew Argentina had clinched the title.
¡°If they reached the finals, they must have beaten Croatia in the semifinals too,¡± he reasoned.
He returned the book and checked the time¡ª12:42 AM.
Suddenly, a blinding white light engulfed everything, burning it away.
Lin Xian awoke to the flickering light from the TV seeping through his bedroom door. Gao Yang must still be watching something in the living room.
Yawning, he wrapped himself in a thick robe and opened the door.
¡°Did you find out?¡± Gao Yang looked up, surrounded by a sea of beer cans and snack tes.
¡°Argentina won, I think,¡± Lin Xian replied, still groggy.
¡°Don¡¯t ¡®think¡¯! What was the score?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know the exact score. I only know the finals were between Argentina and France, and Argentina won the cup.¡±
¡°Alright then.¡± Gao Yang stood, grabbed his jacket from the couch. ¡°I¡¯m off to buy more lottery tickets.¡±
¡°You already bet on Argentina?¡±
¡°Just a hundred! If you dreamt Argentina won, I should up my bet.¡±
¡°But it was just supposed to be a fun bet!¡±
¡°Go big or go home!¡±
Gao Yang zipped up his jacket and headed out the door.
¡°Hey! It¡¯ste. Aren¡¯t the lottery shops closed?¡±
¡°Some of them pre-print tickets to sell during the game. I¡¯ll find one of those.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t go overboard. It¡¯s not guaranteed.¡±
¡°I know, I know!¡±
Bang!
The door mmed behind him.
Soon, Gao Yang returned, out of breath, clutching a stack of tickets.
¡°Five thousand yuan! That¡¯s my whole month¡¯s pay. If I win, it¡¯s champagne and car models at night; if I lose, I¡¯m on dock duty!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°From a fun bet to all-in¡ªthat escted quickly.¡±
Gao Yang flopped down and turned the TV back on.
¡°Come on, big win! Messi, don¡¯t let me down!¡±
Chapter 23: Getting Rich
The match between Argentina and Croatia began with Argentina showing dominance, securing a 3-0 victory and advancing to the finals.
¡°Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!¡±
Messi fell to his knees on the field in joy.
¡°!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh¡± Gao Yang echoed the excitement, rolling across the living room floor in ecstasy.
¡°We won! Holy crap! Lin Xian, we¡¯re rich!!¡± Gao Yang jumped up and grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s hand enthusiastically. ¡°Comrade Lin Xian! Our bright future is in your hands now!¡±
Lin Xian pulled his hand back. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who just said my dreams were nonsense, not actual glimpses into the future?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Gao Yang scratched his head, ncing at the heap of lottery tickets on the coffee table. ¡°I guess I need more evidence before making any conclusions. So, what about tomorrow¡¯s semi-final between France and Moro? Who¡¯s winning?¡±
Lin Xian thought back to his dream. ¡°Argentina will clinch the championship by defeating France in a penalty shootout. That means France is winning tomorrow. Are you really nning to bet again? Maybe you should quit while you¡¯re ahead.¡±
Gao Yang shed a mischievous grin as he gathered the lottery tickets. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve got this figured out. I¡¯ll be here tomorrow for the match!¡±¡°Please don¡¯t¡ I need some sleep.¡±
¡°Oh,e on, you¡¯ll be awake at 00:42 anyway. Stay up and we can verify your dream!¡±
The following night, Gao Yang showed up as promised, unting a thick stack of lottery tickets.
¡°Look at this! The tickets from yesterdayted over ten thousand! I put in another thirty thousand today betting on France! Lin Xian, if France wins, we could be looking at seventy to eighty thousand!¡±
¡°And if they lose?¡±
¡°Quiet! Don¡¯t jinx it!¡±
By three in the morning, with Lin Xian struggling to keep his eyes open, France delivered a relentless performance and secured a 2-0 win, advancing to the finals.
¡°Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!¡± Gao Yang became a whirlwind of joy, sliding around Lin Xian¡¯s living room.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re a genius! We did it! We made a year¡¯s sry overnight!!¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t we missing the whole point here?¡± Lin Xian wondered, watching Gao Yang¡¯s ecstatic disy. ¡°I invited you over to talk about my dreams, not to binge-watch the World Cup.¡±
¡°Haha¡¡± Gao Yang stopped his antics and paced thoughtfully. ¡°I still can¡¯t wrap my head around the idea that your dreams can predict the future. It seems far-fetched. But if Argentina wins the final as your dream predicted, then maybe there¡¯s something to it!¡±
¡°The final¡¯s in a few days. I¡¯lle over again!¡±
Lin Xian sighed in frustration. ¡°We don¡¯t need more tests. And please, don¡¯te over again. Even a football newbie like me could¡¯ve guessed these oues. The skill difference is clear.¡±
¡°Hey, next time you should buy some lottery tickets too. It wouldn¡¯t be fair for me to be cruising in a new car while you¡¯re still struggling. Let¡¯s bet everything on Argentina for the final!¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see, I¡¯m not really feeling it.¡±
After Gao Yang left, Lin Xian slept through to lunchtime. It was the weekend, and he had no workmitments, so he indulged in the extra sleep. However, he had ns for the afternoon. Lin Xian intended to visit Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter in the hospital.
Zhao Ying Jun had recently tasked Lin Xian with making this visit. ording to his investigation, Professor Xu Yun only visited the hospital on weekends due to his weekdaymitments at theb. The weekend was thus the optimal time to meet him.
Post-lunch, Lin Xian picked up some gifts and took a taxi to Donghai University¡¯s affiliated hospital.
Recognized as one of the top medical facilities in the city, Donghai University Hospital was the referral center for cases that were deemed untreatable elsewhere in the country. If the experts here believed there was no hope for Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter, then her prognosis was grim indeed.
Contemting the fate of a girl who had been in a vegetative state since early childhood was profoundly saddening. Lin Xian puzzled over why Professor Xu Yun wouldn¡¯t capitalize on his failed experiments to secure more funds for his daughter¡¯s care or better treatment. Could a scientist¡¯s pride truly outweigh such needs?
The inpatient building soared above twenty floors, with Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter located on the 17th. Lin Xian quickly navigated to her room, marked by a doorte reading ¡°Xu Yiyi.¡± The door was ajar.
Lin Xian tapped gently on the door, which swung open to reveal a room crowded with high-end gifts and floral arrangements, each bearing cards from major global cosmetic brands. It appeared Zhao Ying Jun was right; despite considering his discovery a failure, the wider industry valued it highly.
By the window, a multi-functional hospital bed held a frail girl, her limbs thin and muscleless, resembling a delicate porcin doll.
Lin Xian stood silently at the doorway, absorbing the sight. Even with regr stretching, the girl¡¯s muscles would have atrophied beyond functional recovery.
As Lin Xian watched, Professor Xu Yunpleted a series of rehabilitation exercises with his daughter before turning to face him.
¡°Take the gifts away; this room is overflowing as it is.¡±
Lin Xian ced his gifts by the door, addressing the professor softly, ¡°Please look after yourself as well. These supplements are for you.¡±
Professor Xu adjusted his sses and scrutinized Lin Xian. ¡°Are you a student at Donghai University?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, curious about the professor¡¯s intuition. ¡°Yes, I graduated from there.¡±
¡°Did you host the anniversary and freshman wee events?¡±
Again, Lin Xian nodded, impressed by the professor¡¯s memory. ¡°Yes, that was me for three years.¡±
Professor Xu¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I thought you looked familiar. I recall seeing you at Mr. Chu¡¯s banquet.¡±
Perhaps due to a natural affinity for his students, Professor Xu¡¯s demeanor was unexpectedly warm today. He gestured for Lin Xian toe closer to the bed¡ªa surprising invitation, as Lin Xian had braced for a quick dismissal.
Approaching the bedside, Lin Xian gazed at the pale girl lying there.
¡°Young man¡¡± Professor Xu addressed him solemnly, ¡°Do you know why I refuse to sell that so-called failed product?¡±
Chapter 24: For My Daughter
Lin Xian shook his head, uncertainty clouding his expression. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Professor Xu. At the banquet, you mentioned that your principles prevent you from endorsing a wed product. But I feel there¡¯s more to it than just that.¡±
Professor Xu fell silent, removing his sses and cleaning them with his shirt. ¡°When my daughter was four, she had a terrible ident on a slide and became a high-level paraplegic, essentially leaving her in a vegetative state. Experts worldwide told us there was no hope for her recovery.¡±
He paused, locking eyes with Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s why I started researching the hibernation chamber. It sounded far-fetched, even absurd, but someone had to try.¡±
¡°If I don¡¯t continue with the hibernation chamber, it might take decades, even centuries, before someone else picks it up. But my daughter doesn¡¯t have that time. She¡¯s been bedridden for ten years. How much longer can she wait?¡±
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°Before I developed that unsessful prototype, no one was interested in hibernation research or even visited my daughter at the hospital.¡±
¡°Now, they visit every day. Cosmeticpanies are pouring money into my research. But do they really care about the science? No¡ they¡¯re just after the profits from the chemicals.¡±
¡°Professor Xu, maybe that isn¡¯t entirely bad,¡± Lin Xian interjected, finding an unexpected connection with Xu Yun. ¡°Selling that chemical could provide the funding you need for more research, better equipment, and advancedbs. Wouldn¡¯t that ultimately benefit your work?¡±
Xu Yun shook his head resolutely. ¡°You underestimate theplexity.¡±
¡°I know my limits. A groundbreaking project like the hibernation chamber, capable of revolutionizing the world, can¡¯t be achieved by one person, oneb, or even one country alone.¡±¡°I never expected to seed with the hibernation chamber by myself. That would be delusional. My aim is to spark interest, to show that solving the hibernation problem is achievable.¡±
¡°If I can resolve even oneponent, like the chamber¡¯s filling fluid, it could attract more scientists and institutions to the field. That¡¯s when the hibernation chamber might be a reality within a few decades.¡±
¡°And my role is to ignite that spark.¡±
Leaning down, Xu Yun tenderly adjusted his daughter¡¯s nket, tucking her in carefully. ¡°But what would happen if I marketed that wed product?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, hisck of deep scientific knowledge evident.
¡°Years ago, several students helped me with this research,¡± Xu Yun continued, his toneced with regret.
¡°They were bright, promising minds. While we didn¡¯t make major breakthroughs, their presence made the solitary journey of hibernation research more bearable.¡±
¡°But then, profitable by-products appeared during our experiments. Initially, I didn¡¯t think much of it, but aspanies became involved, theb¡¯s focus started to fragment.¡±
¡°Each student had their ideas, and soon, they shifted their research toward immediately profitable projects, like drug patents or cosmetic enhancements. They were offered lucrative jobs by cosmetic and pharmaceuticalpanies.¡±
¡°Predictably, they all left. Not one stayed.¡±
Xu Yun¡¯s smile was wry. ¡°They have their own ambitions. I can¡¯t me them for being practical. Everyone is seeking a better life. The draw of profit in research, though distasteful to me, is a reality. More and more young researchers choose lucrative paths.¡±
Lin Xian began to understand the depth of Professor Xu¡¯s disillusionment. Though an outsider to academia, he recognized the widespread corruption within it. Dedicated scientists like Xu Yun, who tirelessly pursue unexplored areas despite continuous setbacks, are rare and admirable.
¡°I get it, Professor Xu,¡± Lin Xian said earnestly. ¡°You¡¯re worried that selling the chemical will only further corrupt the academic environment. Already, few young schrs want to engage in long-term, unprofitable research like the hibernation chamber.¡±
¡°If they see quick profits in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, they might opt for those fields over spective projects like hibernation research, which offers no immediate rewards or guarantees.¡±
Professor Xu nodded, grateful for Lin Xian¡¯s understanding. ¡°Exactly¡ªour problem is theck of dedicated talent.¡±
¡°As I¡¯ve said, developing the hibernation chamber isn¡¯t just one person¡¯s or one country¡¯s job. It needs a global effort. If the brightest minds are lured to profit-driven projects, who will tackle daunting challenges like hibernation?¡±
¡°Right now, no one wants to invest in hibernation research. It doesn¡¯t provide instant satisfaction, visible results, or immediate hope.¡±
Lin Xian saw the vast scope of Professor Xu¡¯s vision. Yet, he felt that Xu Yun¡¯s resolute stance might not be enough to shift the profit-focused academic culture.
¡°Maybe I¡¯m wrong, Professor,¡± Lin Xian cautiously suggested, ¡°but your integrity alone might not be enough to redirect focus from profit to pioneering science.¡±
¡°Why not sell the chemical? Show that there can be profits in advancing hibernation technology. Maybe that will bring young researchers back to this field.¡±
But Xu Yun remained steadfast. He patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, his voice heavy with meaning. ¡°You might think I¡¯m stubborn or outdated, but I must protect my daughter. I can¡¯t risk the scenario you propose.¡±
¡°If researchers start with a profit motive, how long will they staymitted without seeing results, possibly for years or decades?¡±
¡°The hibernation project won¡¯t yield quick breakthroughs. I¡¯ve worked alone for ten years without theoretical progress. I understand the hardships of this path better than anyone¡¡±
¡°Unless I¡¯mpletely defeated, I won¡¯t sell the chemical. If young researchers join the hibernation study, I hope their motives are pure.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I need to save my daughter. That¡¯s my priority. We need to attract more dedicated, altruistic talents to this research. Only then might we find a solution soon. My integrity may not change much, but I refuse to let corruption start with me.¡±
¡°One day, you¡¯ll be a father, and you¡¯ll understand. Please tell President Zhao to stop bothering me. I believe she¡¯ll understand.¡±
¡°I hope¡ this is ourst conversation.¡±
Chapter 25: All In
After finishing his speech, Professor Xu Yun courteously asked Lin Xian to leave.
¡°Take care of your health, Professor,¡± Lin bid farewell without dy. Through a slight opening, he caught a final glimpse of the professor by the hospital bed, tenderly holding his daughter Xu Yi Yi¡¯s frail hand and sharing lighthearted stories from the past week.
The following day, Lin Xian arrived early at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office to discuss his encounter with Professor Xu Yun.
¡°Professor Xu Yun is even more obstinate than we anticipated,¡± Zhao Ying Jun remarked, propping her head on her hand and knitting her eyebrows together.
¡°Yes, he¡¯s far too overly cautious,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°While his concerns have some merit, they aren¡¯tpletely rational. I attempted to persuade him, but he steadfastly refused to sell the chemicalpound unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary. He¡¯s unwilling to initiate the profit-driven trends in scientific research.¡±
¡°Under such stress, it¡¯s hard for him to trust, which exins his rigid views,¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed deeply, her eyes briefly closing. ¡°People can¡¯t always choose wisely. Sometimes, you don¡¯t realize a path leads nowhere until you¡¯ve walked its length.¡±
¡°But let¡¯s not be quick to judge since we¡¯re only outsiders. From his perspective, what he¡¯s doing to save his daughter may seem justified,¡± she remarked, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s eyes with resolve. ¡°We should drop the matter and not trouble Professor Xu Yun further.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement. Since they couldn¡¯t assist with Xu Yi Yi¡¯s treatment, it was best to ease the professor¡¯s burden.
¡°We should rethink the initial products for the Rhine brand,¡± Zhao Ying Jun pondered aloud. ¡°You¡¯re free to go, Lin Xian. Thanks for your effort.¡±¡°As for the Rhine Cat plush toys, they¡¯re in full production,¡± she added. ¡°Next, we need to develop 3D models for future animations and ads, and finalize its voice, slogans, and personality traits.¡±
Lin Xian noted down her directives and exited the office, the security door closing with a resonant thud behind him.
Facing the formidable door, Lin Xian reflected on the unattainable Genius Club invitation. His status was leagues apart from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s, granting him no right to inquire further. Probing into personal matters unrted to work would be intrusive and improper.
In the subsequent days, Lin Xian dedicated himself to expanding the Rhine Cat intellectual property. His team focused on two primary objectives: designing 3D models for the cat and borating on its expressions, actions, outfits, slogans, and dialogues. Inspired by the myriad of Rhine Cat toys and books from the dream world¡¯s toy store and a 24-hour children¡¯s bookstore, Lin Xian was flooded with creative ideas. Despite delving deep into Rhine Cat¡¯s lore, the true origin of its creator remained a mystery, the tales varying widely over six centuries.
During this creative surge, Lin Xian¡¯s passion for the charming cat was evident, knowing a sessful toy line could trante to substantial ie.
As usual, Lin Xian found himself lost in his dream world of toy stores and bookstores. Though he did not engage in Big Cat Face and CC¡¯s adventures, he asionally glimpsed them from the toy store¡¯s window, humorously mismatched as they entered a van together¡ªa lean Ultraman and a rotund Rhine Cat side by side.
Unbeknownst to bystanders, these innocuous cosyers were on the brink of a perilous showdown in a bank vault.
¡°This world is strange indeed,¡± Lin Xian mused, his work serving as a distraction from the enigmas of CC, the Genius Club, and his dream¡¯s reality. Perhaps he was avoiding facing something¡
On the morning of the much-anticipated World Cup final between Argentina and France, Lin Xian and Gao Yang shared a meal before heading to a lottery shop to purchase football tickets. Buoyed by his recent winnings, Gao Yang strutted confidently, ready to gamble big.
¡°All in! Betting on Argentina to win!¡± Gao Yang dered, transferring 60,000 yuan to the shop owner without a second thought.
¡°Going all in again?¡± Lin Xian questioned, skeptical of Gao Yang¡¯s newfound confidence as a betting guru.
¡°Why not? Sometimes, you just have to trust your instincts!¡± Gao Yang chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t your dream show Argentina clinching the World Cup?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, recalling the dream¡¯s book. ¡°Yes, it said Argentina triumphed in a penalty shootout against France.¡±
Bang!
Gao Yang¡¯s hand mmed onto the lottery machine, startling the owner. ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t print that ticket yet!¡±
Pulling Lin Xian outside, he asked urgently, ¡°Did you mention a ¡®penalty shootout¡¯?¡±
¡°Yeah, why?¡± Lin Xian responded, puzzled by his friend¡¯s sudden anxiety.
Taking deep breaths, Gao Yang¡¯splexion lightened with relief. ¡°Good thing you mentioned that¡ I almost lost everything!¡±
¡°Just a bit more and my 60,000 yuan would have been gone!¡±
Chapter 26: Reasonable or Not?
Gao Yang lit a cigarette and began exining to Lin Xian.
¡°If Argentina and France end up in a penalty shootout, we shouldn¡¯t bet on Argentina to win. Instead, we should bet on the game ending in a draw!¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian asked, clearly puzzled.
Gao Yang used his hands to emphasize his point. ¡°A ser game has three stages: regr time, extra time, and penalty shootouts. A win during regr time ends the game. If it¡¯s a draw, they go into extra time. If it¡¯s still unresolved, it goes to penalties, and they keep shooting until there¡¯s a winner. But bets on ser are typically settled based on the score at the end of regr time!¡±
Realization hit Lin Xian. ¡°So, if it goes to a penalty shootout, it means regr time ended in a draw. That¡¯s why we should bet on a draw?¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Gao Yang nodded, giving a thumbs up. ¡°You catch on quick! This bet has excellent odds. Look, I¡¯ll cover the losses. You¡¯ve already helped me win a lot. If we win, the money¡¯s yours; if we lose, I¡¯ll handle it.¡±
Despite his initial hesitation, Lin Xian was swept into the betting shop by Gao Yang¡¯s excitement. Under his friend¡¯s persuasive insistence, Lin Xian reluctantly ced a bet of 30,000 yuan on the match ending as a draw. Gao Yang, ever enthusiastic, took Lin Xian¡¯s phone and confirmed the hefty bet using facial recognition. Gao Yang himself gambled 60,000 yuan, doubling down on their joint venture.
The odds were set at 3.7, meaning if the match ended in a draw during regr time, Gao Yang would 220,000 yuan and Lin Xian, 110,000 yuan.
The match began at 3 a.m., and Lin Xian struggled to stay awake through the initial minutes. Argentina quickly gained the upper hand with an early penalty, followed by another goal. By the 80th minute, they werefortably ahead at 2-0.A sheen of sweat coated Gao Yang as anxiety took over. ¡°What¡¯s happening, Lin Xian? This isn¡¯t what we predicted! Unless France pulls off a miracle, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll equalize in just ten minutes!¡±
Suddenly, France¡¯s star yer Mbappe found the. Before Gao Yang could even react, Mbappe struck again, scoring a rapid second goal!
In moments, Mbappe had leveled the scores, overturning the anticipated oue of the match.
Gao Yang was ecstatic, his excitement manifesting in loud, joyous shouts as he jumped around the room.
When the final whistle blew, Argentina triumphed in the penalty shootout, with Messi lifting the World Cup trophy. Gao Yang gleefully brandished his 220,000-yuan ticket at Lin Xian, eximing, ¡°Godfather!¡±
¡°Get out of here!¡± Lin Xianughed, yfully pushing him away.
Once the excitement settled, Gao Yang turned reflective. ¡°Now, it seems¡ your dream might actually be something special. Predicting Argentina¡¯s y is one thing, but calling a draw at regr time, then extra time, and a win in the shootout? That¡¯s amazing.¡±
Lin Xian pondered. ¡°Broadly speaking, it seems my dream might really be a glimpse into the actual future, 600 years ahead.¡±
Yet, doubts persisted. Sessfully predicting ser oues was hardly conclusive proof of foreseeing the future.
¡°Ser betting only has three possible oues: win, lose, or draw. Someone could guess right several times by chance; it doesn¡¯t prove any predictive power,¡± Lin Xian reasoned.
¡°Honestly, Lin Xian, I still can¡¯t fully ept that your dream is real,¡± Gao Yang admitted, looking serious. ¡°Even with three urate predictions, the logic behind your dream is too fragile. It¡¯s hard to believe it mirrors the actual future.¡±
¡°You said time in your dream never advances? It¡¯s stuck on the same day?¡± Gao Yang probed.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Each time I dream, it resets. People who died yesterday are alive today; friends from yesterday don¡¯t remember anything today; leaves fall in the exact same patterns, repeatedly. It¡¯s like reying a movie.¡±
¡°And the technology levels, they¡¯re simr to now, in 2022¡ How do you make sense of that? Do you really think the world 600 years from now won¡¯t have evolved?¡±
Confused, Gao Yang shook his head, then made a sudden decision. ¡°Stop! Let¡¯s sort this out!¡± He grabbed paper and a pen from Lin Xian¡¯s bedroom, determined. ¡°This is too chaotic¡ Let¡¯s organize our thoughts to figure out your dream!¡±
¡°How?¡± Lin Xian asked, reaching for the paper.
¡°Just like we discussed¡ªdreams don¡¯t have to be logical, but reality does. The real world is logical, orderly, and verifiable.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s list the illogical aspects of your dream. Write them down one by one.¡±
¡°If these points don¡¯t hold up under scrutiny, contradict themselves, or fail to cohere logically¡ then we can definitively say it¡¯s just a dream. All coincidences.¡±
Nodding, Lin Xian took the pen, a sound method to apply reverse reasoning at hand.
He titled his paper¡ªIllogical Aspects of the Dream
As he began writing, he felt a surge of inspiration. He¡¯d always dismissed the inconsistencies in his dream because, after all, it was just a dream.
Now, trying to align the dream world with the real world, the irrational elements stood out more starkly than ever!
Chapter 27: Sharing the Spoils
Lin Xian and Gao Yang wrapped up their discussion, summarizing the key questions they¡¯d listed. They deleted some trivial issues that could be logically exined, leaving the following points:
Illogical Phenomena in the Dream:
1.The dream world is stuck on August 28, 2624, and is destroyed at 00:42 every day, repeating this day indefinitely.
2.You can¡¯t find news, lottery results, or information from hundreds of years ago on theputerwork.
3.Technological development in the dream mirrors 2022, with unchanged living standards and lifestyles. What have scientists been doing for 600 years?
4.No matter the destruction, even if the city is blown to pieces, everything resets the next day, and the city appears brand new.
5.Humans are unaware of the catastrophic event at 00:42. Everything happens suddenly, with no preparation.
The more they looked at the unreasonable aspects on paper, the more absurd they seemed.
¡°Your dream has way too many bugs!¡± Gao Yang eximed, pointing at the first issue. ¡°Time can¡¯t just stop and loop the same day infinitely. This alone proves your dream can¡¯t be a real world.¡±He moved to the second point. ¡°Erasing all data from the inte is impossible. Anything that¡¯s ever been online leaves traces. Otherwise, how would people dig up celebrities¡¯ scandals?¡±
Next, he pointed at the third issue. ¡°I take back what I said earlier; this one is the most absurd! Six hundred years and no technological advancement at all? That¡¯s impossible. Even in sixty years, our lifestyle would change drastically!¡±
Then he pointed at the fourth issue. ¡°This defies thews of energy and material conservation! If such a city existed, where everything resets no matter how much it¡¯s destroyed¡ it¡¯s like something out of Hogwarts!¡±
Finally, he pointed at thest issue. ¡°With our current astronomical technology, we can urately calcte meteor trajectories, sr aging, and cosmic radiation. How could we be unaware of a catastrophe that would destroy the Earth? Have all the astronomers died?¡±
Gao Yang spread his hands, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°I think there¡¯s no need to worry anymore. There are too many unreasonable things in your dream that don¡¯t make sense in reality!¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t speak. He agreed that these illogical phenomena couldn¡¯t exist in a real world. But many details in his dream suggested it wasn¡¯t a fabricated illusion. There were things beyond his understanding, knowledge he had never learned, and objects he had never seen but felt incredibly real.
¡°This can¡¯t just be a fictional dream.¡±
¡°You know, Lin Xian, you always overthink everything. Why live so stressed? Some things just fade away if you let them be.¡±
Gao Yang hummed a tune and began cleaning the table, throwing bottles and packaging into the trash. ¡°Like predicting World Cup results, isn¡¯t that a great thing? Tomorrow, make sure to check who wins the 2026 World Cup for me! We can get rich in four years!¡±
Lin Xian waved him off. ¡°Ask me in four years. Who knows if the dream will change? The Coco Cat already turned into Rhine Cat; maybe the results will change too.¡±
¡°True.¡± Gao Yang packed up the remaining trash and waved at Lin Xian from the door. ¡°See you.¡±
¡°Yeah, see you.¡±
The next day, Gao Yang came to Lin Xian with a bag of money.
Thud!
The ck bagnded heavily on the coffee table. Lin Xian opened it to see sixteen bundles of hundred-yuan notes, totaling 150,000 yuan.
¡°Why give me so much?¡±
Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang. He had only bought lottery tickets worth 30,000 yuan and won 110,000.
¡°Half for each of us.¡±
Gao Yang chewed gum, adjusted his gold chain, and ced his new AJ sneakers on the table. ¡°We bought those tickets together, so let¡¯s split the 300,000 winnings evenly. No need to be so precise.¡±
Lin Xian was unconvinced. He took out five bundles of money and threw them back to Gao Yang. ¡°Even brothers should keep ounts clear. Besides, my sry is much higher than yours now; I don¡¯t need this money.¡±
¡°Wow, so tough!¡±
Gao Yang rolled up his Givenchy sleeves, revealing his Longines watch, and ced histest iPhone on the table, adjusting his Montnc belt.
¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t stand it, waving his hand to stop Gao Yang. ¡°What are you doing? Showing off in front of me? Can you tone down your nouveau riche act?¡±
¡°Hehe, you don¡¯t get it, Lin Xian. We¡¯ve got money now, so we need to show some ss! How does my outfit look? First impression?¡±
¡°Like a Christmas tree.¡±
Gao Yang shook his head. ¡°Forget it. No point arguing with you. Your fashion sense is still stuck ten years ago.¡±
¡°Who looks like they¡¯ve traveled from ten years ago?¡±
Gao Yang took off his sunsses, looking serious. ¡°Enough joking! I came to talk business.¡±
¡°Business? About my dream?¡±
¡°Exactly!¡±
Snap!
Gao Yang snapped his fingers, smiling confidently, and pointed at Lin Xian. ¡°Trust me!¡±
¡°This time, I have a foolproof way to uncover the truth about your dream!¡±
¡°What¡¯s your brilliant idea now?¡±
Seeing Gao Yang¡¯s confidence, Lin Xian was amused. Honestly, he had lost hope in Gao Yang¡¯s ideas about his dream¡¯s truth.
¡°Forget it, Gao Yang.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand, not wanting to discuss it further. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I have my ns; just leave me be.¡±
¡°Wait! Trust me one more time! Just once more!¡±
Gao Yang pleaded, holding up his right index finger. ¡°I swear! This time, it¡¯s foolproof! It will definitely prove your dream is fake!¡±
Chapter 28: The Psychologist
¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about this, Lin Xian,¡± Gao Yang said, his expression serious as he grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm. ¡°In psychology, I¡¯m just an amateur. Everything I told you before came from my WeChat. Remember that psychologist I mentioned before? I sold her a car once and showed you her posts.¡± Gao Yang reminded him as he pulled out his phone and opened WeChat to disy a photo of a middle-aged woman in a whiteb coat. She had a warm smile, gray hair, and a fresh appearance that made her seem kind and approachable.
¡°So, you want me to see this psychologist?¡± Lin Xian guessed, blinking.
¡°Exactly!¡±
¡°No, no, that¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯m not sick, so stop worrying about me,¡± Lin Xian waved off the suggestion. He knew Gao Yang might think he had a serious problem, but he felt confident in understanding his own situation.
¡°Come on, it won¡¯t hurt to listen! Dr. Liu is a professional!¡± Gao Yang argued, opening a webpage and searching for Dr. Liu¡¯s name to show Lin Xian her impressive resume.
¡°Look! Dr. Liu specializes in subconscious, dream, and cognitive studies. Instead of us guessing every day, it¡¯s better to let an expert exin it,¡± Gao Yang insisted.
¡°You have to trust science and authority! Dr. Liu charges 3,000 yuan an hour for consultations, which reflects her expertise and authority!¡±
¡°3,000 yuan an hour?¡± Lin Xian stood up, astonished. ¡°Why not just rob a bank?¡±
¡°Is now really the time to worry about money?¡± Gao Yang retorted, pulling Lin Xian back into his seat. ¡°I¡¯ll cover this cost for you! I made a lot of money from the World Cup thanks to you. For your mental health, this expense is worth it! I¡¯ve already booked the appointment. Let¡¯s go!¡±An hourter, Gao Yang dragged Lin Xian to Dr. Liu¡¯s psychology clinic, located in a serenekeside vi near the university town¡¯s scenic area.
¡°I heard each vi here costs a billion,¡± Gao Yang whispered. ¡°Psychologists really make money!¡±
¡°Well, people like you are eager to give them money,¡± Lin Xian responded helplessly. He knew Gao Yang meant well, but this seemed excessive.
¡°We¡¯re here, Lin Xian. The money¡¯s paid, so let¡¯s just go in and listen,¡± Gao Yang said as they walked into the vi decorated in a European style,plete with natural wood furniture and a cozy firece.
¡°Are you Mr. Gao? Pleasee to this room,¡± a gentle, elegant voice called from a nearby room.
They entered a spacious room bathed in sunlight, with a wooden recliner at its center and several chairs in the corner. A redwood desk stood by the window where Dr. Liu, smiling warmly, greeted them.
Lin Xian, studying Dr. Liu, noticed she seemed even kinder than in her photo.
¡°Mr. Lin, please lie on the recliner and rx your body and mind. Let¡¯s have a simple chat,¡± Dr. Liu invited.
Lin Xianplied, lying down and taking deep breaths to rx as they began discussing his age, work, family, and rtionships. He answered truthfully, seeing no need to hide anything, but he was more reserved when discussing his dreams.
Dr. Liu chatted and took notes until she finally asked, ¡°Mr. Lin, are you sure you can distinguish between reality and dreams?¡±
Lin Xian nodded confidently. ¡°No problem at all, Dr. Liu. I never confuse dreams with reality.¡±
¡°How do you determine and differentiate between the two?¡± Dr. Liu pressed.
Lin Xian paused, surprised by the question. ¡°Honestly, Dr. Liu, I¡¯ve never seriously considered this. I instinctively think¡ that the time after waking up is the real world. Isn¡¯t thatmon knowledge?¡±
Dr. Liu smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this question. Even today, there isn¡¯t aplete theoretical method to urately distinguish between reality and dreams. Most recognition and judgment stille from human intuition.¡±
¡°In psychology, we call awareness during a dream a lucid dream. Almost no one realizes they¡¯re dreaming. Only a few people, in very rare cases, might be aware they¡¯re dreaming.¡±
Aware of dreaming? Lin Xian had never considered this. He always knew when he was dreaming because his dreams were distinct, always reying that day. As soon as he stood in the square, he knew it was a dream.
Lin Xian turned to Gao Yang. ¡°You never realize you¡¯re dreaming?¡±
¡°Of course not!¡± Gao Yang answered. ¡°I¡¯m normal, unlike you! Normal people don¡¯t realize they¡¯re dreaming unless they wake up.¡±
¡°Honestly, sometimes my dreams are absurd, like going back to high school or being chased by dinosaurs¡ But no matter how ridiculous, I don¡¯t realize I¡¯m dreaming until I wake up,¡± Gao Yang exined.
Dr. Liu nodded, taking notes. ¡°Gao Yang is right. Most people¡¯s dreams are chaotic and absurd, like disjointed snapshots. Yet, most still don¡¯t realize they¡¯re dreaming.¡±
¡°But Mr. Lin, your case is highly unusual. You not only realize you¡¯re dreaming every time, but you also remember how your dream starts each day, and your dreams aren¡¯t absurd, almost identical to reality.¡±
She looked at Lin Xian seriously. ¡°This is a dangerous signal. Both worlds are real enough that if one day you lose the reference to distinguish between reality and dreams¡ you know what will happen, right?¡±
¡°At that point, you won¡¯t be able to tell reality from dreams.¡±
Chapter 29: Breakthrough
Dr. Liu¡¯s concern was clear, and Lin Xian understood why. He hadn¡¯t shared the full extent of his experiences with her, which made his situation appear more dire than it was.
Deciding to steer the conversation towards more practical matters, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Dr. Liu, how can I be sure that my dreams are just that¡ªdreams, and not reality?¡±
Dr. Liu responded with a reassuring smile. ¡°It¡¯s actually quite straightforward. While it¡¯smon to confuse dreams with reality while asleep, most people can distinguish between the two once they¡¯re awake.¡±
Curious, Lin Xian pressed, ¡°Why is that?¡±
¡°Dreams often include familiar people but depict them acting out of character,¡± Dr. Liu exined. ¡°When you wake up, you can simplypare their behavior in your dreams with their real-life actions to see the discrepancies. This is a simple yet effective way to differentiate.¡±
To illustrate her point, Dr. Liu gestured towards Gao Yang with her pen. ¡°For instance, if you dreamt Gao Yang suddenly became a woman and proposed to you, would you still think that was real once you woke up?¡±
Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Definitely not. That would be aplete nightmare.¡±
Dr. Liu chuckled before continuing, ¡°Here¡¯s another scenario: imagine waking up to find out your cosmeticpany has switched to manufacturing rockets and spaceships. Would that seem usible to you?¡±
¡°Not at all. I¡¯d have to be out of my mind to believe that,¡± Lin Xian replied, catching on.He realized that for most, distinguishing dreams from reality was simple. They just needed to wake up, reflect on the absurdity of their dreams, and immediately recognize the fiction.
However, Lin Xian¡¯s situation was unique. His dreams never included anyone he knew from real life, a fact he hadn¡¯t considered significant until now. Over two decades of dreaming, and not once had a familiar face appeared, not even his childhood friend, Gao Yang. Why?
Dr. Liu¡¯s soft voice broke his reverie. ¡°In all your years of dreaming, have you truly never encountered someone familiar?¡±
Shaking his head, Lin Xian replied, ¡°No, everyone in my dreams is a stranger.¡±
With a thoughtful look, Dr. Liu pressed, ¡°Not a single person? Think hard. Not even once?¡±
Lin Xian was certain. ¡°Absolutely no one. My dreams are always popted with strangers, never friends, colleagues, or family.¡±
Gao Yang chimed in, pointing at himself in mock offense, ¡°Not even me? We¡¯ve been inseparable since we were kids. How could I not show up even once?¡±
¡°I swear, you haven¡¯t,¡± Lin Xian assured him.
Puzzled, Gao Yang scratched his head. ¡°That¡¯s odd. They say you dream about what¡¯s on your mind. You dream about the Rhine Cat, but not me? Am I less memorable than a cat?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not,¡± Lin Xian reassured him.
Gao Yang recounted his own dreams, ¡°I dream about you all the time. We¡¯re always getting up to no good. Justst week, I dreamt we hit the jackpot and partied on a yacht!¡±
Dr. Liu paused her note-taking, her expression one of mild surprise. ¡°It¡¯s unusual not to dream about any familiar faces over such a long period. Even acquaintances or work colleagues¡ Have they ever appeared in your dreams?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s answer was a resolute ¡°No.¡±
¡°And what about fictional characters or celebrities? Have they ever featured in your dreams?¡±
The room sunk into a thoughtful silence after the question, which now weighed on their shoulders.
Attempting to lighten the mood, Gao Yang joked, ¡°Dr. Liu, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. Lin Xian isn¡¯t being difficult on purpose. I¡¯ve known him a long time, and he¡¯s usually pretty grounded in reality.¡±
Dr. Liu removed her sses, cleaning them before looking warmly at the two. ¡°I believe you both. Each case is unique, and it sounds like Lin Xian¡¯s is particrlyplex. A breakthrough is often needed to help patients distinguish dreams from reality.¡±
She continued encouragingly, ¡°That breakthrough usually involves a memorable person from the dreams. Lin Xian, think back¡ªcarefully and thoroughly. Is there anyone who seems even remotely familiar?¡±
Taking a moment, Lin Xian closed his eyes, delving into his memories.
Then, it hit him¡ªthe masked girl, CC. He didn¡¯t know her face, but her voice struck a familiar chord. He couldn¡¯t pinpoint where he¡¯d heard it before, amid the daily noise, but it was a clue.
Opening his eyes, Lin Xian dered, ¡°There¡¯s someone whose voice seems familiar. Tonight, in my dream, I¡¯ll find out who she is behind that mask.¡±
Chapter 30: QQ
Snap!
Gao Yang snapped his fingers, his face lighting up. ¡°I get it!¡±
¡°You get it again?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
¡°Absolutely! If someone in your dream looks exactly like someone you¡¯ve seen before, it confirms the dream isn¡¯t real. Guaranteed!¡±
¡°Echoing my thoughts from five minutes ago?¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
Dr. Liuughed and nodded at Gao Yang¡¯s excitement. ¡°Exactly right, Gao Yang.¡±
¡°If we dream about someone and they exist just like that in real life, we simplypare and analyze their actions. It¡¯s straightforward to discern the reality of the dream,¡± Dr. Liu exined.
¡°It¡¯s not thatplex, Gao Yang. Help Lin Xian apply this when you get back. I¡¯m confident it¡¯ll address his psychological issues effectively.¡±
Gao Yang pped Lin Xian on the back, grinning. ¡°Though I wish your dreams were real¡ if this clears your mind, it¡¯s worth it.¡±¡°Hopefully,¡± Lin Xian sighed, feeling a mix of hope and resignation.
After wrapping up their session, Lin Xian and Gao Yang left Dr. Liu¡¯s office.
¡°So, was the 3000 yuan well-spent?¡± Gao Yang asked as they walked out into the sunlight, his grin infectious.
¡°I told you, Dr. Liu is the expert! We¡¯ve wasted so much time with ineffective methods. She figured it out instantly.¡±
Lin Xian gave a resigned smile. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Just shows it¡¯s easy to make money from the wealthy.¡±
He had already anticipated needing to confront CC about her mysterious persona, regardless of any advice.
Gao Yang nced at his new Longines watch. ¡°Let¡¯s grab some food and talk more.¡±
They caught a cab to their favorite BBQ ce, ordered a round of skewers and beers, and settled into a rxed chat.
As they sipped their drinks, Gao Yang recounted odd encounters from his car sales job, while Lin Xian mulled over how to persuade CC to reveal her true self. He felt confident about approaching her without causing conflict, but dealing with Big Cat Face was a different challenge. His presence could derail even the bestid ns.
¡°I need to find a way to sideline Big Cat Face¡¡± Lin Xian pondered, biting into his skewer, yet no clear strategy emerged.
¡°Hey!¡± Gao Yang suddenly eximed, breaking Lin Xian¡¯s train of thought.
¡°Why the shout?¡± Lin Xian asked, slightly annoyed.
Gao Yang pointed his skewer at him. ¡°You¡¯re zoning out. Are you even listening?¡±
¡°What was it?¡±
¡°I was saying, Lunar New Year¡¯s in two months. It¡¯s been five years since we graduated high school. Shouldn¡¯t we n a reunion?¡±
¡°Oh, that.¡± Lin Xian casually picked up some peanuts. ¡°You were our ss president. You decide.¡±
Gao Yang, not academically inclined but a people person, had been a popr ss president throughout high school.
¡°Wonder if people would be interested¡¡± Gao Yang mused. ¡°They say reunions are awkward for the underachievers and just a brag-fest for the sessful, ending in drama.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been five years. I guess anyone doing better than a simple car salesman like me shouldn¡¯t feel too embarrassed toe.¡±
Lin Xian smiled wryly. ¡°Hard to predict, really.¡±
¡°Back then, we wouldn¡¯t expect a ¡®Dragon King¡¯ or ¡®Asura Chen Bei Xuan¡¯ to show up. But five years can change a lot. If you organize it, I¡¯ll be there to support you.¡±
Lin Xian took a gulp of beer, then eyed Gao Yang thoughtfully. ¡°The real challenge is¡ do you even have everyone¡¯s contact info? How will you notify them?¡±
¡°Through our old QQ group, you caveman!¡± Gao Yang looked at him with yful disdain. ¡°Remember? We all used it back in high school, though it¡¯s been quiet for years.¡±
¡°Oh, right. I haven¡¯t logged in forever,¡± Lin Xian admitted, focusing back on his skewers. After starting his job, he hadn¡¯t felt the need to check QQ.
Gao Yang continued, reminiscing as he wiped beer foam from his lips. ¡°You were quite the show-off with your QQ ount in elementary school. Everyone had nine-digit numbers, but you snagged an eight-digit one with a sun icon!¡±
Lin Xianughed, remembering. ¡°That was from my cousin in the city. He got into QQ early and grabbed all these short numbers.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s beer mug mmed down, startling Gao Yang with a ssh.
¡°Are you okay?¡± Gao Yang dodged the droplets, puzzled by his friend¡¯s sudden intensity.
But Lin Xian was deep in thought, his eyes fixated on the disappearing foam.
Eight¡ digits¡ Eight-digit number.
A realization dawned, connecting to the safe with eight dials he¡¯d been puzzling over.
¡°I see¡ now¡¡±
Chapter 31: The Code
As Lin Xian experienced a sh of insight, it felt as if he had stepped out of a dense fog into clear daylight.
In his persistent dreams, a bank vault always needed opening. This vault had eight numbered dials. Lin Xian had long believed the code was tied to a personal date¡ªa birthday, an anniversary, or another significant asion. Yet, he had missed a more evident possibility¡ªQQ numbers.
QQ was a foundational part of digital life for Lin Xian¡¯s generation from elementary through middle school. Back in the ¡¯80s, early inte users secured QQ numbers consisting of just eight digits. Was it just a coincidence that the vault in his dreams used a simr code? It seemed highly unlikely.
While lost in these thoughts, Gao Yang waved his hand in front of Lin Xian, breaking his concentration. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up with you? You¡¯ve zoned out. What are you mumbling about?¡±
Lin Xian brushed it off with a quick shake of his head, reaching for his wine ss. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. Let¡¯s just focus on our meal.¡±
After dinner, they went their separate ways. Gao Yang opened a taxi door for Lin Xian, saying, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re heading in different directions. Take care of yourself.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, settling into the taxi and rolling down the window to wave. ¡°See you soon.¡±
As Gao Yang flicked away his cigarette, he gripped Lin Xian¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°Let me know when you wake up from that dream. If it¡¯s all just a dream, I¡¯ll stop worrying.¡±
¡°Sure, see you,¡± Lin Xian responded, somewhat distracted.Home by eight, Lin Xian had time to ponder Dr. Liu¡¯s hypothesis further. A refreshing shower helped him think clearer, reinforcing his belief that he had previously met CC, or at least heard his voice, even if his conscious mind had forgotten. Gao Yang was right; his subconscious was indeed trying to remember through his dreams.
While showering, Lin Xian hatched a n to confront CC:
He would need to iste Big Cat Face. With fewer participants, the n would simplify¡ªtoo many would onlyplicate matters. CC was known for being cautious; without leverage, revealing his identity prematurely was too risky. The best approach would be to disguise himself as Big Cat Face, luring CC into the robbery and maintaining the deception. Recognizing each other by masks rather than faces would keep his true identity safe. Quick action to neutralize Big Cat Face would ensure his cover remained unblown. Inside the vault, he could thenpel CC to reveal herself by using the correct code.
Reflecting on his past experiences with disguises, from an Ultraman mask to now a Rhine Cat mask, Lin Xian marveled at his evolving mastery over deception. ¡°Life sure is unpredictable,¡± he mused aloud.
The essence of his n relied on the fact that Big Cat Face and CC didn¡¯t truly know each other¡ªthey didn¡¯t even know their real names. Their rtionship was based on temporary convenience, likely filled with ns of mutual betrayal. Thisck of familiarity would allow Lin Xian to manipte them both with just his mask.
Settling into bed, Lin Xian resolved, ¡°Tonight, this story ends.¡±
He closed his eyes, slipping into sleep, but was soon greeted by a dry summer breeze¡ªan abrupt change from the chill he felt post-shower. ncing at a nearby electronic billboard, the time read 21:11.
Neither Big Cat Face nor CC was expected until about 10 PM, based on previous encounters. Time was short.
Noticing a police kiosk nearby, manned by two officers, Lin Xian recognized the usual police gear¡ªbatons, stun guns, riot shields. Though he wasn¡¯t sure of the official terms, their uses were familiar from his dreams.
Approaching the kiosk, he prepared his story. ¡°Officers, urgent help needed! That man over there,¡± he pointed to the figure emerging from a van wearing a Rhine Cat mask, ¡°just stole my mask!¡±
The officer chuckled dismissively. ¡°Seems minor, but we¡¯ll handle it.¡±
¡°But he has a gun!¡± Lin Xian blurted out, adding urgency.
The officer¡¯s demeanor instantly changed, radioing for backup as they cautiously approached Big Cat Face. ¡°Freeze! Hands where I can see them!¡±
Within moments, Big Cat Face was subdued, and Lin Xian, escorted by another officer, watched as they uncovered a gun and C4 explosives. ¡°This is serious; stay down while we get more help,¡± the officer ordered, now fully alert.
Lin Xian, witnessing the swift esction, asked quietly, ¡°Can I get my mask back?¡±
The officer yanked the Rhine Cat mask from the arrested suspect and tossed it to Lin Xian. As Big Cat Face began to protest, a ck hood muffled his objections.
Mask in hand, Lin Xian whispered, ¡°Key item acquired.¡±
Pulling the mask over his face, he adjusted it for a snug fit. ¡°From this moment on, I am Big Cat Face.¡±
Chapter 32: Playing a Role
Lin Xian made his way to the za¡¯s western edge, aiming to meet up with CC at their designated spot. It wasn¡¯t hard to spot her¡ªshe was dressed in ck, form-fitting attire beneath a id trench coat. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail, secured with a red satin ribbon, and she wore an Ultraman mask. It was unmistakably CC.
Thest time they¡¯d met, in the bank vault, she¡¯d looked more like a covert operative, entirely in ck. Today, she seemed to have added the trench coat to blend in better at the za. Her hair wasn¡¯t just stylish but functional; hidden within that voluminous ponytail were two guns¡ªone at her waist, the other ingeniously concealed within her hair.
¡°What a dangerous woman,¡± Lin Xian thought as he approached, scrutinizing her meticulously. She was slender, around 165 cm tall. Yet, something felt off¡ No spark of recognition, no familiarity. Had he really met her before? The contradiction puzzled him. He was certain he¡¯d heard CC¡¯s voice before, yet he couldn¡¯t fathom forgetting someone with such a distinctive presence.
¡°Best not to dwell on it,¡± Lin Xian decided. He continued his approach. Ghost or not, her true identity would be clear once the mask was removed.
¡°Hi,¡± Lin Xian greeted her from behind, watching as she turned to face him.
¡°Password expert?¡± he inquired.
CC surveyed him from head to toe but remained silent. After a moment, she gave a slight nod. ¡°What should I call you?¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Everyone calls me Big Cat Face. You can call me Brother Face,¡± he responded, pointing to a van parked nearby. ¡°The car¡¯s over there. Follow me.¡±
As he started to walk back, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.¡°You¡¯re called Big Cat Face?¡± CC questioned.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian replied, without turning.
¡°And everyone calls you that?¡±
¡°Correct.¡±
CC continued to scrutinize him. ¡°But your face isn¡¯t big at all. Why would anyone call you Big Cat Face?¡±
A gentle summer breeze lifted the red ribbon on CC¡¯s head and fluttered the corner of her trench coat. Silence hung between them, the tension palpable. Lin Xian suddenly realized theplexity of his pretense as Big Cat Face. This role wasn¡¯t something a mere mask could conceal. CC was sharper and more cunning than Big Cat Face, whose identity had been easily fooled due to his naivety.
Even without knowing Big Cat Face¡¯s exact appearance or voice, CC¡¯s instincts signaled that Lin Xian didn¡¯t fit the profile of a typical desperado, much less a bank robber. Fortunately, she was only suspicious for the moment; he hadn¡¯t been fully figured out. There was still a chance to turn things around.
Lin Xian stood tall and slowly faced her. CC¡¯s hand was still on his shoulder, her other hand inching towards her gun¡
¡°Does being called Big Cat Face mean I have to have a big face?¡± Lin Xian challenged her gaze.
¡°And what should it be?¡± CC countered.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked.
¡°CC.¡±
¡°By your logic, shouldn¡¯t you be called AA instead of CC?¡±
Lin Xian brushed off her hand and walked decisively towards the van, slipping his hands into his pockets.
¡°Come if you want! I can still blow it open with C4, with or without you.¡±
He climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, mmed the door shut, and floored the elerator.
¡°Wait!¡± CC hurried over, climbing into the passenger seat and crossing her arms, still visibly irked.
Lin Xian extended his hand, ¡°Give me the gun.¡±
¡°What will I use if I hand it over to you?¡± she retorted.
¡°You have the one in your hair.¡±
CC¡¯s eyes widened. After a moment, she pped the gun from her waist into Lin Xian¡¯s hand and then untied the red ribbon, letting her hair cascade down like a waterfall, revealing another ck gun. She bit the ribbon, gathered her hair, and tied it back up.
Lin Xian watched silently, realizing why she opted for a ribbon instead of a hair tie¡ªit allowed for quick ess, a necessity he recalled from a previous confrontation. Skillfully, he ejected the magazine from the gun, checked the bullets, reloaded, cocked the weapon, and tucked it into his waistband¡ªall within seconds. Then, he drove on in silence, relieved yet thoughtful.
His advantagey in the countless scenarios he had rehearsed in his dreams, allowing him to gather near-omniscient knowledge. Reflecting on his initial blunders when facing Big Cat Face and CC, he knew he was now far more prepared. This slight deviation from his n didn¡¯t matter. He had not only survived the encounter but also gained a critical tool¡ªa gun, essential for dealing with the imminent threats.
The drive continued in silence. The odd pair, Ultraman and Rhine Cat, focused ahead, giving nothing away to the asional curious passerby. Soon, they arrived at their destination. Lin Xian drew the gun and signaled CC to follow with herptop. Exiting the van, they approached the bank entrance quickly. A henchman fiddling at the door looked up in confusion at Lin Xian.
¡°You¡ª¡±
Bang! A bullet struck his forehead, sttering blood across the wall.
¡°Nice shot,¡± CC remarked, impressed by the swift, precise action. ¡°But why did you kill your own man?¡±
¡°He was dishonest. Can¡¯t keep those around,¡± Lin Xian stated simply.
As they rounded a corner, another masked figure rose in surprise.
¡°You¡ª¡±
Bang! Another clean headshot!
¡°And him?¡± CC asked.
¡°He messed with the boss¡¯s wife. Think we can trust him?¡±
CC looked stunned.
¡°He¡ betrayed you?¡±
¡°No, the other boss. Our mutual boss,¡± Lin Xian rified as they advanced, a shadow darting from the basement.
Bang! CC instinctively stepped back as Lin Xian executed another perfect shot.
¡°How did you be so good?¡± she asked, touching her own weapon.
¡°No secret. Just a lot of practice,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding towards the silver vault door. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn, password expert.¡±
Chapter 33: Confession
CC hesitated only for a moment before holstering her pistol and approaching the coded door with herpactputer in hand. She skillfully pried open the lock cover to reveal the circuit board inside. After some adept tinkering, she connected the wires and began typingmands into herputer. About ten minutes passed¡
Beep beep!
A soft sound signaled the password light changing from red to green, and the heavy steel door swung open.
CC stood up, gesturing toward the now ajar door. ¡°It¡¯s open. You go first.¡±
¡°You go first,¡± Lin Xian insisted politely, aware that entering first could mean walking into a trap.
¡°No, you first. Your role is more important,¡± CC countered, motioning him forward.
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian waved dismissively. ¡°Your skills are crucial here. You should go first.¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you the one in desperate need of money? Go ahead, take what you need.¡±
¡°Ladies first, always.¡±¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t carry the gold bricks.¡±
¡°Then start with the lighter gold bars.¡±
¡°In that case, I should find a bag first to carry more.¡±
¡°Now that you mention it, I left my bag in the car too. How careless of me.¡±
¡°If you really need the money, don¡¯t be so modest.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that urgent, actually.¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
They stood facing each other, neither willing to step in first. Lin Xian was concerned CC might shoot him, and CC was equally wary of Lin Xian¡¯s formidable marksmanship. Yet, they both knew the warehouse was empty of any money.
¡°Let¡¯s stop pretending. How about a confession session?¡± Lin Xian broke the stalemate, dropping a truth. ¡°I¡¯m not Big Cat Face.¡±
CCughed softly. ¡°Did you think you were convincing? Youcked a gun and C4, and you were clumsy with the gas pedal. It¡¯s obvious you don¡¯t drive that car often. I haven¡¯t met Big Cat Face, but we¡¯ve talked online. I know you¡¯re not him. So, who are you?¡±
CC crossed her arms, scrutinizing Lin Xian through her Ultraman mask. ¡°You seempletely unprofessional, like a college student on a bank robbery whim. Yet, your shooting skills are exceptional, beyond what an ordinary person would possess. There¡¯s only one other person whose shooting matches yours.¡±
¡°Oh? Another expert?¡± Lin Xian twirled his gun. ¡°I¡¯d like to meet them sometime.¡±
Silence filled the space, broken only by the sound of Lin Xian twirling his gun.
¡°How about we work together?¡± Lin Xian proposed.
¡°On what?¡±
Lin Xian pointed to the half-open coded door. ¡°I know you¡¯re here to open a specific safe¡ªthe one with Lin Xian¡¯s name on it.¡±
¡°You know a lot. Why don¡¯t you tell me what¡¯s inside?¡±
¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t need to be here.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s inside, but I know thebination,¡± Lin Xian confessed. They hade this far; there was no reason for deception. Besides, he found CC quitemunicative, based on their prior interactions.
¡°What are your conditions? You won¡¯t just give me the code for free, right?¡± CC asked.
¡°Just one condition.¡± Lin Xian, through his Rhine Cat mask, stared at the Ultraman before him. ¡°We both take off our masks and see each other clearly.¡±
¡°You mean, if I take off my mask, you¡¯ll give me the code?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
CC chuckled. ¡°This sounds like a bad deal. We both unmask, I get the code, and what do you get?¡±
¡°I want mutual trust.¡± Lin Xian lied smoothly, unable to reveal his true motives.
¡°Deal.¡± CC turned and kicked the door wider open, walking inside. She paused at the safebeled ¡°Lin Xian¡± and saw the eight-digit mechanical lock. Dropping herputer, she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a mechanical lock. Are you sure you know thebination? This safe looks ancient.¡±
Lin Xian nodded confidently. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time.¡±
He removed the stic band from his head, discarding the small Rhine Cat mask. Facing the Ultraman-masked CC, he questioned, ¡°Do I look familiar to you?¡±
CC shook her head nkly. ¡°Should I recognize you?¡±
Lin Xian decided not to dwell on it. It was clear CC had seen him before but was ying coy.
¡°Your turn,¡± he urged.
CC nced around the warehouse¡ªno cameras. She holstered her pistol and reached behind her head, slowly pulling off the stic band. The mask slid off, revealing her youthful face framed by dark brown bangs. Her delicate eyebrows and bright eyes gave her a cold but lively look, enhanced by a small beauty mark by her left eye.
Her unmasked appearance revealed a high nose and lightly closed lips, her natural beauty evident without makeup, making her look unexpectedly young, perhaps a high school girl.
Now fully unmasked, the answer Lin Xian sought stood right before him.
Who is she?
Lin Xian stared at CC, temporarily stunned. He had expected a familiar face, something to refute his suspicions. But he recognized no one.
Yet, her voice was familiar. How could that be?
¡°Hey, why are you just standing there?¡± CC frowned, ring at Lin Xian. ¡°Now, tell me thebination to the safe.¡±
Chapter 34: Temporal Butterfly
CC nced at her watch, her patience wearing thin. ¡°Can you stop daydreaming? It¡¯s already 12:30! We¡¯ve wasted enough time!¡±
Lin Xian snapped out of his reverie, shaking off his thoughts. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m a man of my word.¡±
He stepped forward, his fingers hovering over the safe¡¯s dials. ¡°I should have realized this sooner. You¡¯re right; I shouldn¡¯t have just thought about dates. Common eight-digit numbers aren¡¯t that rare.¡±
CC looked at him, puzzled. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡±
Click, click, Lin Xian expertly adjusted each dial. ¡°In my life, I really only remember two long numbers: my phone and QQ numbers, and weirdly, MC Stone¡¯s QQ number too.¡±
CC¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°Who exactly are you talking to?¡±
Click.
Lin Xian turned the final digit and faced CC with a slight grin. ¡°I think I¡¯ve figured out what¡¯s in the safe.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and skepticism.¡°It¡¯s probably some cringe-worthy memento from my teenage years.¡± Lin Xian chuckled, remembering his embarrassing QQ statuses. ¡°If the password is indeed my QQ number¡ it would make sense that those things are in there.¡±
CC looked at him like he was insane. ¡°Are you nuts? If my appearance scared you, I apologize. Do you need an ambnce? I can dial 120.¡±
Lin Xianughed and shook his head. ¡°Once the safe is open¡ you¡¯ll see.¡±
With that, he clenched his fist and struck the lock¡ª
BANG!!
CC held her breath, her anxiety palpable.
¡
¡
The safe remained shut.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was perplexed.
He rechecked the eight-digitbination. It was definitely his QQ number! He struck the lock again, twice, but the safe stayed closed.
After triple-checking thebination, he tried pressing the lock from a different angle. Still nothing.
Lin Xian was stumped. ¡°This¡ shouldn¡¯t be happening. An eight-digit password, not a date, not a QQ number, what else could it be?¡±
Meanwhile, CC was shaking with frustration, her grip on the gun turning her hand red. It was clear she was fighting the urge to shoot. ¡°Why are you putting on a show?!¡±
¡°Just shut up!¡± Lin Xian held his forehead and motioned for CC to be quiet. ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡±
¡°You¡¯re the problem here! I can¡¯t believe I trusted you!¡± CC pointed her gun, taking deep breaths to control her anger. ¡°Move!¡±
She pushed Lin Xian aside and pressed her ear to the safe, meticulously turning the dials.
¡
Lin Xian stepped back, leaning against the wall, deep in thought. He was sure the password was foolproof. He¡¯d tried every conceivable date, even those from his dreams and the day Rhine Cat was renamed. The QQ number was hisst resort! If it¡¯s not this¡ then maybe this isn¡¯t his safe! And this isn¡¯t his dream!
¡°Then where is this ce?¡±
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
The ring rms were deafening, and a blinding white light engulfed everything, reducing everything to ashes.
¡
¡
Lin Xian awoke with a start, sitting up in bed, soaked in sweat. He threw open the window, letting the icy winter wind refresh his mind.
¡°Dr. Liu was wrong,¡± he muttered, staring into the dark, starless sky. ¡°Gao Yang too.¡±
Lin Xian was convinced¡ªhis dreams were not mere figments of imagination but visions of a potential future 600 years ahead. Although predicting ser oues waspelling, it wasn¡¯t conclusive proof. If only he could check a few Double Color Ball periods. But sadly, his dream inte offered no current data or lottery numbers. It was perplexing.
Clearly, he needed a new strategy to verify the reality of his dreams.
Lin Xian closed his eyes, thinking. The chill sharpened his thoughts. He could set aside all mysteries for now¡ªCC, Big Cat Face, the Genius Club, the safe.
His top priority was to find definitive proof that his dream world was the real future. He needed an indisputable answer!
Opening his eyes, his gaze fell on the papers scattered across his desk, designs for Rhine Cat fluttering in the night breeze. Rhine Cat, formerly Coco Cat. This was the only change in his two-decade unchanging dreams. Lin Xian believed this was a crucial clue. He needed to re-evaluate it.
He picked up a sketch, examining the lifelike Rhine Cat. The design might be copied, but the name change was his doing. If this was a sessful temporal butterfly effect¡ it suggested he could use dream information to alter reality, thereby changing the future and affecting the dream world.
If he could test this theory again, it would prove beyond doubt that his dreams were indeed the real future world!
¡°Relying on heaven and earth is less reliable than relying on oneself.¡± Instead of waiting for known future facts, it was better to trigger a temporal butterfly effect himself, causing the dream to change because of his actions!
This would be the definitive proof!
Lin Xian gazed at the solitary full moon. ¡°This time, I¡¯m taking the initiative.¡± He resolved to trigger a temporal butterfly effect once more, to change the future!
Chapter 35: Morning Meeting
Despite the setback in the dream validation experiment, it inadvertently opened a new avenue of opportunity, proving not to be aplete failure.
Lin Xian felt as though he had evolved from a leaf aimlessly floating down the stream to a butterfly poised to start a storm. Now, in 2022, even a subtle flutter of his wings could set off a transformative tornado 600 years in the future!
The astonishing power to traverse time and reshape the future was now within his grasp.
¡°Is it actually possible?¡± Lin Xian pondered, staring at his empty right hand before clenching it into a fist. ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out.¡±
He shut the window, and warmth slowly reimed the room. Ovee by drowsiness, Lin Xian yawned. ¡°I¡¯ll tackle this tomorrow. Today¡¯s Monday, and I have a morning meeting to attend.¡±
Switching off the light, he nestled into his bed, quickly sumbing to a deep, dreamless sleep.
The following morning, MX Company¡¯s senior meeting room, situated on the 10th floor, bustled with the presence of over twenty mid-to-high-level executives gathered for the routine Monday morning meeting.
Zhao Ying Jun, thepany¡¯s founder, mandated that all team leaders and senior managers attend these meetings to report on the prior week¡¯s activities and strategize for the uing week.
Previously, Lin Xian, merely a regr employee, would not have been invited to such high-level meetings. However, now as the head of the Rhine Cat IP Development Team, he reported directly to Zhao Ying Jun and sat alongside other department heads.At the long conference table, Zhao Ying Jun presided at the center, nked by three vice presidents, with department heads and team leaders arrayed around. As the newest and least experienced leader, Lin Xian upied a seat at the far end of the table.
Suddenly, Wang, the marketing team leader, mmed his hand on the table, disrupting the silence. ¡°I disagree!¡±
¡°President Zhao, we¡¯ve invested heavily in theunch of the Rhine brand centered around Professor Xu Yun. How can we just abandon this strategy?¡±
¡°Global cosmeticpanies are moring for Professor Xu Yun¡¯s exclusive authorization. If it¡¯s still up for grabs, why retreat now?¡±
The room fell silent under the weight of these arguments. Everyone¡¯s eyes darted nervously to Zhao Ying Jun, who had just stunned everyone with her announcement. Lin Xian sat quietly, spinning his pen.
Just moments before, after all reports had been presented, Zhao Ying Jun had dered a significant shift: thepany would discontinue the Professor Xu Yun Moisturizing Cream initiative and instead focus on developing an entirely new product line.
This pivot away from a n that had been central for months¡ªleveraging a revolutionary chemical discovered by Professor Xu Yun to produce a unique moisturizing cream as the gship Rhine brand product¡ªshocked everyone. This strategy was expected to secure a global monopoly for thepany.
However, without a detailed exnation, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s abrupt decision sparked discontent.
Though MX Company was entirely owned by Zhao Ying Jun, making her decisions final, Wang, a forthright founding member, openly challenged her. ¡°Without Professor Xu Yun¡¯s chemical, how will the Rhine brandpete? Are we shifting to toy manufacturing with just our Rhine Cat mascot?¡±
Murmurs of agreement followed, and the vice presidents, smiling encouragingly, joined the fray:
¡°President Zhao, perhaps we should rethink this?¡±
¡°If it¡¯s a matter ofpensation, we could increase our offer. It would be worthwhile.¡±
¡°Indeed! Gaining exclusive rights would effectively give us control over the global moisturizing cream market. The potential profits are enormous.¡±
For a brief moment, it seemed Zhao Ying Jun was alone in her decision, except for Lin Xian, who remained engrossed in his notebook. Only he and Zhao knew that Professor Xu Yun had categorically refused to sell the chemical.
Yet, hearing Professor Xu Yun¡¯s name again sparked an idea in Lin Xian¡¯s mind regarding his ¡°Rewrite the Future n.¡± He remembered the professor, who had endured personal tragedies and professional skepticism but never ceased his research in cryogenics, hoping to someday revive hisatose daughter.
¡°Maybe I can assist Professor Xu Yun,¡± Lin Xian mused, eyes narrowing. He might be uniquely positioned to aid the professor. In the future, even if cryogenic technology is still emerging, there could be significant theoretical advancements.
Helping Professor Xu Yun could not only potentially save his daughter but also elerate technological progress in the future. It was a scenario where Lin Xian¡¯s theories could be tested: The dream world truly represents the future 600 years ahead. The butterfly effect in time is real; changes now could reshape the future. It was a win-win-win situation!
Suddenly, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s forceful bang of her folder on the table silenced everyone. ¡°We needn¡¯t discuss this further.¡±
She stood, asserting, ¡°If the Rhine brand¡¯s highlight is merely a cream, it¡¯s not worth our focus. We aspire to establish aprehensive beauty empire, not just sell moisturizers. Professor Xu Yun might aid us once but can¡¯t sustain us indefinitely. We must develop our own core technologies. R&D, elevate your efforts, find our unique edge.¡±
¡°Meeting adjourned!¡±
With that, she strode towards the door, her heels echoing authoritatively. As she reached the doorway, she paused, the tension palpable.
She turned, her gaze sweeping across the room to the far end. ¡°Lin Xian,e to my office.¡±
Chapter 36: The Seal
Tap-tap-tap-tap¡
The sound of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s high heels echoed through the hallway as she exited the meeting room, leaving behind a tense silence that felt like it squeezed the air out of everyone¡¯s lungs. The tension only eased once the elevator doors closed behind her, and the team collectively sighed in relief.
¡°Phew¡ That re could cut ss. Brother Wang, you¡¯re the only one brave enough to stand up to her like that. Seriously impressive!¡± an employee remarked, breaking the silence.
¡°Brother Wang, you really said what we were all thinking. Why scrap a perfectly good n? Professor Xu Yun hadn¡¯t finalized anything with any otherpany, so we still had a shot,¡± another chimed in.
¡°We¡¯re on a tight schedule with theunch of the Rhine brand. Developing a new product at this stage is impossible. Everything was nned around Professor Xu Yun¡¯s moisturizing cream form.¡±
¡°Without his authorization to produce the revolutionary new moisturizing cream, I¡¯m worried the Rhine brandunch could flop. Such a shame for the adorable Rhine Cat mascot¡¡±
The mood in the meeting room grew somber and tense, a mix of disappointment, confusion, and helplessness hanging in the air. One by one, the employees sighed deeply and left the room, their morale visibly deted.
After the room cleared, Lin Xian quietly collected the Rhine Cat figurines from the table and returned to his office. He then boarded the elevator and pressed the button for the 22nd floor, feeling apprehensive about the reason behind Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s summons.
Standing before the familiar double-locked door, he heard her tired voice through the inte.¡°Come in.¡±
The door clicked open, and Lin Xian stepped inside, closing it softly behind him. The office was as he remembered¡ªimmacte yet somehow stagnant, like a well-preserved relic.
Bypassing the sofa and coffee table, he noticed a thinyer of dust on the ss surface, a testament to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s relentless work ethic. Everything seemed ornamental except for her cluttered desk.
She was busy with paperwork when Lin Xian approached.
¡°Ms. Zhao, you wanted to see me?¡±
Finishing her signature on a document, she looked up and motioned for him to sit.
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve gone over the 3D design for the Rhine Cat you submitted. It¡¯s technically proficient. However, I find the character design and dialogue too juvenile¡ªakin to something from a children¡¯s book.¡±
Lin Xian managed a wry smile. After all, he had based it on a children¡¯s picture book. In the dream world, the Rhine Cat was a children¡¯s toy, and the associated literature was juvenile by design. In reality, the Rhine brand and its history had faded into obscurity, along with Lin Xian¡¯s recognition as its creator¡ªa fact that frustrated him deeply.
¡°I understand your concerns,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, rifling through more papers. ¡°We¡¯re not marketing these as toys. Rhine Cat is our mascot for a cosmetics line aimed at women aged 18 to 28. It needs to be trendy, spirited, and sophisticated, not childlike. Do you see what I mean?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Absolutely.¡±
She murmured to herself as she searched her documents. ¡°I put your annotated design here somewhere¡¡±
Suddenly, a stack of documents toppled to the floor.
The desk was overwhelmed with papers, and as she dug through them, another pile cascaded down, scattering sheets across the floor.
Lin Xian bent down to help, neatly stacking the papers. As he did, he spotted a small, intriguing item. His pulse quickened as he discreetly slid it into his hand and continued tidying.
Once the papers were back on the desk, he slipped the item into his pocket without drawing attention.
Zhao Ying Jun brushed aside the mess with an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry, my desk is a disaster. I just haven¡¯t had the time to sort it out.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Perhaps a secretary could help manage these things.¡±
She flicked her hair back, dismissing the idea. ¡°I prefer handling it myself.¡±
Finding the document she was looking for, she handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°Here, take this and make the necessary adjustments. Let me know when you¡¯ve updated it.¡±
After leaving her office, Lin Xian felt a distinct divide between their worlds. As he walked to the elevator, he fondled the object in his pocket¡ªa significant find.
He couldn¡¯t resist a smile; it was the first time he had taken something tangible like this, and it was exhrating.
Back in his office, he locked the door and exhaled deeply.
¡°First time stealing something in real life¡ quite the rush.¡±
He extracted a small, t, red wax seal from his pocket. Holding it up, he noted it was slightlyrger and thicker than a coin, not entirely round.
This was the seal from the Genius Club invitation he had briefly held before Zhao Ying Jun reimed it. Made typically from a resin and paraffin blend, such seals were used for closing letters and invitations with a distinctive personal touch.
Flipping the seal over, he braced himself for what might be revealed¡ªa link to another realm, a glimpse into a mysterious, possibly darker world.
The front bore a simple circr stamp, a right hand pointing upward etched within it, and two words clearly inscribed below: Genius Club.
Chapter 37: Daytime Dreams
Lin Xian¡¯s English was wless in this case.
¡°Genius Club¡¡± he murmured, turning the wax seal between his fingers. He moved to the window, inspecting it under the sunlight. The seal glowed a deep red, featuring a design of a strong hand with an outstretched index finger pointing directly at the sun, as if piercing the zing orb.
It was unsettling yet strangely assertive.
¡°This must be their emblem,¡± Lin Xian mused, clutching the wax seal tightly. Since receiving the invitation, this was his first tangible encounter with anything from the Genius Club, marking his closest brush yet with the secretive organization.
What could this symbol represent?
Mimicking the emblem, Lin Xian extended his right hand, palm facing him, and pointed his index finger skyward. It felt like a professor stressing a critical point, yet it carried an undeniablemand, as if it could order the world to kneel.
He slipped the seal into his jacket pocket. Keeping the seal at the office wasn¡¯t safe; it was better hidden at home. A troubling thought then struck him:
¡°If the wax seal is separated from the invitation, it means¡ Zhao Ying Jun has already opened and read it.¡±
Lin Xian gazed out at the sprawling city skyline, deep in thought. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun had seen the invitation¡ Was she indifferent? Curious? Or possibly¡ has she already agreed to join the Genius Club?¡±A shiver ran down his spine. If Big Cat Face¡¯s information was urate, the Genius Club was undeniably sinister. What could possibly motivate Zhao Ying Jun to join such a group? What were her intentions and ns?
The room seemed to grow colder. Yet, Lin Xian reminded himself not to dwell on these suspicions just yet. His views of the Genius Club were solely based on Big Cat Face¡¯s ims. Given Big Cat Face¡¯s shady background, taking his word as the absolute truth wasn¡¯t wise.
¡°I should verify the credibility of the dream first.¡±
The dream¡¯s nature was still unclear, as were Big Cat Face¡¯s statements. It was too early for conclusions; he needed to proceed cautiously.
¡°Right now, the priority is to aid Professor Xu Yun in his research and alter the future!¡±
Lin Xian leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen, plotting his next moves. From his thoughts from the previous night, the objective was clear: to discover information on hibernation technology in the dream and ry it to Xu Yun.
He reasoned that although the dream¡¯s scientific level mirrored that of 2022, it was set 600 years ahead. Surely, there must be some advancements in hibernation, even ifplete hibernation pods were yet to be developed. There could be progress in theoretical understanding,ponents, or initial technologies.
Although not a scientist himself, Lin Xian believed that finding relevant literature could inspire Professor Xu Yun. Such insights could lead to groundbreaking advancements in hibernation technology, sparking global interest.
¡°If all goes well, this will also confirm the dream¡¯s reality and possibly trigger a time-space butterfly effect.¡±
Lin Xian continued to ponder¡
¡°If I sessfully alter the future, what kind of time-space changes would that butterfly effect create?¡±
¡°Firstly, Xu Yun¡¯s personal history would change.¡±
He would emerge as a pioneer in hibernation research, a figure as significant as Prometheus bringing the gift of immortality. Such a groundbreaking scientist would certainly be documented in future history texts. If sessful, Lin Xian might soon find Xu Yun mentioned in the history books 600 yearster.
¡°Secondly, the dream world itself would transform.¡±
The stagnant scientific development in the dream was a puzzle for Lin Xian. Yet, if he could initiate hibernation technology 600 years early, it would unleash a profound time-space butterfly effect, reshaping the technologicalndscape of the future world.
While he couldn¡¯t predict the exact evolution of future technology, one thing was certain¡ªit wouldn¡¯t remain in its current stunted state.
If these ¡°time-space changes¡± unfolded as anticipated, it would validate his theory: his dream was indeed a genuine glimpse into the future.
Lin Xian continued spinning his pen, contemting:
¡°Finding literature on ¡®hibernation technology¡¯ shouldn¡¯t be difficult. If such data exists in the dream world, it¡¯s likely housed in the library.¡±
Libraries, being non-profit entities, often held rare, specialized books, serving as reservoirs of knowledge. Lin Xian was familiar with the library¡¯s location in the dream world; he had passed the imposing, round, twin-towered structure many times, a quietndmark in the dream city.
The library closed early, around five or six in the evening. Nighttime research wasn¡¯t an option; he had to visit during daylight hours.
¡°It looks like I¡¯ll need to dream during the day.¡±
Lin Xian recalled the earliest time he could enter the dream world from his youth¡ª12:42 PM.
Before this, no matter how early he went to sleep, he wouldn¡¯t dream at all, enjoying only deep, dreamless slumber. But at 12:42 PM, he¡¯d immediately be transported to the dream world, standing in a familiar square.
12:42 PM to 12:42 AM.
These 12 hours were the only time Lin Xian could spend in the dream world each day. Outside this window, he couldn¡¯t dream.
After delegating some tasks at his team¡¯s office, Lin Xian took a leave of absence and headed home. He grabbed a quick lunch along the way.
Once home, he quickly freshened up andy down for a nap. ncing at the clock, it read 1:20 PM.
¡°The library in the dream probably closes around five or six. If I sleep now, I have about four hours there, which is plenty.¡±
He drew the curtains, darkening the room. Lin Xian nestled into the nket, closed his eyes, and whispered:
¡°Sleep, and let¡¯s get started!¡±
Chapter 38: The Library
As Lin Xian stepped into the dream, a wave of intense heat enveloped him. The sudden rise in temperature made his skin tingle, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
¡°It¡¯s so hot!¡± Lin Xian muttered, blinking against the bright light. The loud chirping of cicadas filled the air, and the sun zed fiercely overhead, causing the shadows at his feet to shrink away.
He squinted up at the sky. The sun dominated, too brilliant to gaze into without seeing spots. Rubbing his eyes, Lin Xian dropped his gaze. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a daytime dream in ages. Not used to this heat at all.¡±
He guessed the temperature soared above 40 degrees Celsius, a sharp contrast to the wintry chill of the real world. He hurried to the shade of a nearby tree, weing the slight relief from the sun.
ncing at an electronic bulletin board, he noted the date and time: August 28, 2624, 13:33
¡°Only half past one. Plenty of time left,¡± Lin Xian thought, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve. He was keen to reach the library, anticipating thefort of its air conditioning.
The normally bustling square was eerily quiet, likely due to the oppressive heat. Lin Xian walked in the shade to the bus stop and caught a bus to the library.
Despite spending 23 years visiting this dream, Lin Xian rarely frequented the library. With only three to four hours of dream time daily, he preferred engaging in more thrilling activities or tackling significant challenges rather than browsing through books.
The few times he had visited, it was to investigate why technological advancement seemed stalled in this dream reality. He had first noticed this anomaly in middle school and had since attempted various approaches to uncover the truth.Numerous reports, historical records, critiques, and news articlester, he found amon scapegoat: societal issues. Comints like ¡°A wed education system fails to recognize true genius¡± and ¡°Schools don¡¯t teach anything useful, wasting potential talent¡± were rampant. Other criticisms pointed to theck of young scientists and how academic cliques often sidelined talented schrs.
Though many echoed these sentiments, Lin Xian remained skeptical. He couldn¡¯t ept that not a single genius would rise above systemic constraints over six centuries.
With a shake of his head, he dismissed these thoughts. ¡°There¡¯s more to this. I¡¯m determined to uncover the real reasons behind this technological stagnation.¡±
Upon entering the library, Lin Xian headed straight for the electronic reading room. At aputer, he typed into the search bar: ¡°Has the hibernation pod been developed yet?¡±
Theputer whirred as it processed his question, and soon, a multitude of results appeared. The first one caught his eye: ¡°To date, the hibernation pod has not been developed.¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised; the technology in his dream world had long been static. He clicked on the article, which, despite being cluttered with marketing fluff, provided valuable insights:
¡°Post-21st century, global research on hibernation technologygged significantly. It wasn¡¯t until 2477 that American scientist Dr. Michaelson developed a high-oxygen fluid that maintained vital body functions and prevented ice crystal formation in cells during cryopreservation. This breakthrough inspired hope but remained the pinnacle of hibernation research for the next century. Dr. Michaelson is now revered as the ¡®Father of Hibernation.¡¯¡±
Lin Xian smirked, almost as if he had predicted this oue. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Michaelson, from Professor Xu Yun and myself,¡± he quipped to theputer screen, feigning a bow.
¡°Next, to find Dr. Michaelson¡¯s rted papers and academic reports,¡± Lin Xian murmured, closing the webpage and essing the library¡¯s book management system. He searched for ¡°hibernation¡± and quickly located several relevant titles.
His eyes settled on one particr entry: ¡°An Analysis and Prospects of Hibernation Technology¡± by Bill Michaelson
¡°That¡¯s the one,¡± he said, noting the location: 3rd Floor, Science Literature, Section C, Shelf 67, Level 7.
He ascended to the third floor and found the book precisely where it was supposed to be.
¡°¡®An Analysis and Prospects of Hibernation Technology,¡¯¡± Lin Xian read aloud, hoping the material would beprehensible.
The book was old yet well-preserved, indicating it was seldom read. Lin Xian settled into a seat by the window and began to read, intently focusing on retaining crucial information for Professor Xu Yun.
The text simplifiedplex terms and chemical processes, making them essible. It exined that human hibernation involved reducing physiological and cellr activities to a minimum, utilizing low-temperature freezing techniques. However, the primary challenge was preventing ice crystal formation, which could destroy cell structures during freezing.
As he turned the page, Lin Xian pondered, ¡°How can we ovee the ice crystal issue?¡±
He continued reading, eager to find a solution that could revolutionize hibernation technology.
Chapter 39: Ice Crystals
ording to the pages, Dr. Michaelson, renowned as the ¡°Father of Hibernation,¡± revealed a groundbreaking solution to preventing ice crystal formation in cells at subzero temperatures. His innovative approach involved a high-oxygen liquid that, when inhaled, permeates the bloodstream and integrates deeply with the water molecules within cells. This integration prevents the water from freezing, even at temperatures as low as -200¡ãC, thus significantly reducing cellr activity and addressing the critical ¡°ice crystal problem¡± in hibernation science.
¡°Impressive, truly groundbreaking,¡± Lin Xian marveled, though the sciencergely eluded him.
On the following page, Dr. Michaelson borated further: ¡°The resolution of the ice crystal issue brings us a step closer to perfecting the liquid solution for hibernation pods. However, the full development of hibernation technology is still beyond our immediate reach. This technology, with its potential to alter global dynamics, cannot be realized by any single nation or institute alone. It requires a coborative global effort and significant investment to achieve breakthroughs within a decade or more.¡±
Lin Xian reflected on these words as he gazed out the window. ¡°No wonder Professor Xu Yun insisted that developing hibernation pods demands international cooperation,¡± he mused. Scientific progress is a slow and steady umtion of knowledge, fraught with missteps and detours.
He spected whether the technological stagnation in the dream world over six centuries might stem from misguided efforts.
After over two hours of intensive reading, Lin Xian managed to identify key elements in the preparation of the hibernation pod¡¯s liquid. Although the concepts wereplex andrgely beyond his grasp, his goal was notpleteprehension but rather to ¡°scan and copy¡± the information with his eyes for application in the real world.
¡°How much of this Professor Xu Yun can understand and utilize will depend on his expertise,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself, acknowledging his own limitations in the sciences.
He remained in the library until six in the evening, just as the staff began closing up. Seizing a moment of inattention, he discreetly tucked the book under his clothes and smuggled it out. He then settled in a nearby tea shop to continue his studies into the night, recalling thest time he had worked this hard was during his preparations for his art school entrance exams.
At 12:42 AM, Lin Xian awoke in his own bed, the familiar white light signaling the end of his dream. Quickly, while the details were fresh in his mind, he scribbled down the theories, forms, and equations he had memorized onto scratch paper. This routine continued for four days, transferring crucial information from the book ¡°Analysis and Prospects of Hibernation Technology¡± from his dreams to reality.This task was challenging for Lin Xian, an art design student with limited background in physics and chemistry. He found himself unable to fully understand many of the chemical equations and forms; they were merely patterns to be copied. However, he managed the textual descriptions with more ease.
By the fourth morning, Lin Xian hadpiled approximately twenty pages of handwritten notes, a testament to his diligent efforts in his dreams. Although unsure of their uracy, he was hopeful that Professor Xu Yun might glean some useful insights from them.
¡°Better deliver these to Professor Xu Yun immediately,¡± he resolved. After binding the pages together, Lin Xian left his house, hailed a taxi, and headed directly to the university district.
Since graduating six months ago, Lin Xian had returned to his university only once to collect his academic records. Now, he was back for the second time. During hisst visit in September, he had observed the freshman military training ceremony.
¡°Here we are, young man,¡± announced the taxi driver, pulling up across from the gate of Donghai University. Lin Xian paid and exited the taxi, his attention caught by three sleek ck cars lined up at the entrance, each guarded by two men in ck suits and sunsses.
¡°What¡¯s going on here? A movie shoot?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, observing thevish vehicles: two ck Lexus SUVs and a stately ck Maybach sedan.
He didn¡¯t know the specific model, but the Maybach exuded a discreet air of luxury.
¡°Is some wealthy student arriving today?¡± Lin Xian pondered, his curiosity piqued.
Just then, the rear door of the Maybach opened, and a robust, dynamic middle-aged man emerged, adjusting his attire.
It took only a moment for Lin Xian to recognize him: Chu Shan He, president of the Donghai City Chamber of Commerce, renowned for his 200 million yuan donation at the science development fundraiser.
¡°What¡¯s he doing at Donghai University?¡± Lin Xian wondered, recalling Chu Shan He¡¯s longstanding support for Professor Xu Yun and the professor¡¯s deep respect for him.
A realization struck him: Chu Shan He might also be seeking Professor Xu Yun today.
Concealing himself behind a tree, Lin Xian remembered the wax seal bearing the Genius Club emblem and Chu Shan He¡¯s generous contribution at the fundraiser.
¡°If Zhao Ying Jun received an invitation from the Genius Club, then surely Chu Shan He, with his influence, did too.¡±
Gripping his manuscript, Lin Xian watched Chu Shan He¡¯smanding presence beside the Maybach. ¡°Why hadn¡¯t I noticed this crucial detail earlier? If anyone in Donghai City is worthy of the Genius Club, it¡¯s definitely Chu Shan He!¡±
¡°Why is Chu Shan He here now?¡± Lin Xian mused, sensing an undercurrent of danger. ¡°What is his true intent?¡±
Chapter 40: The Princess
The Genius Club remained shrouded in mystery, its secrets closely guarded. Lin Xian¡¯s only clue was the invitation Zhao Ying Jun had received. Spotting Chu Shan He in such an unexpected ce, Lin Xian felt like an ant caught in a dark vortex, utterly disoriented.
¡°Let¡¯s just watch and see what Chu Shan He is up to,¡± he thought, concealing himself behind a tree to observe unnoticed.
Many Donghai University students were also present, making it easy for Lin Xian, a recent graduate, to blend in. Unlike him, they showed no surprise at the arrival of three luxury cars and the appearance of Chu Shan He¡ªthey were quite ustomed to it.
¡°Chu Shan He is here to drop off his daughter again. He really spoils her,¡± one studentmented.
¡°Why doesn¡¯t he just drive onto campus? With his status, no security would dare stop him,¡± another wondered aloud.
¡°It must be because his daughter opposes it. Otherwise, given how much he dotes on her, he¡¯d drop her right at her dorm door,¡± another added.
¡°Having such a clingy father must be annoying, even if he is a domineering CEO,¡± a girl remarked.
¡°Chu Shan He¡¯s influence goes beyond that of a typical CEO. He¡¯s practically untouchable in Donghai City, but his daughter seems to be the only one who can sway him,¡± another girl noted.
Lin Xian eavesdropped on these exchanges, realizing he had misunderstood Chu Shan He¡¯s presence; he was not there for Professor Xu Yun but to drop off his daughter.Lin Xian had previously heard Zhao Ying Jun mention Chu Shan He¡¯s fatherly affection at a party, but he knew little about Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter and had no particr interest in her until now.
From the students¡¯ conversations, especially the girls, Lin Xian learned that this ¡°little princess¡± had just started her first year at university. She appeared to have a good reputation, being easygoing and unpretentious. If not for Chu Shan He¡¯s conspicuous appearances, no one would have guessed she was his daughter.
Driven by curiosity, Lin Xian stepped closer for a better view.
Across the road, a scene unfolded that contrasted sharply with Chu Shan He¡¯s usual demeanor. The typically imposing man was now smiling warmly, walking around the car to personally open the door, his face showing a doting expression.
Seeing this contrast made Lin Xian chuckle. The rumors were true, perhaps even understated.
Chu Shan He, the most formidable figure in Donghai City, known for his influence both overt and covert, was disying tender fatherly love. It was a remarkable sight.
Finally, the ¡°little princess¡± appeared ready. Chu Shan He took her school bag, slung it over his arm, and stepped back with a smile.
A fluffy high ponytail was the first thing to emerge from the car. Her hair was smooth and shiny, slightly curled, tied up high, giving her a youthful, energetic look. She wore a red cashmere scarf and a long white coat. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see her lower half because of the angle.
High ponytail, red scarf, white coat¡ªnothing particrly surprising. Such attire wasmon among university girls; it was popr even when Lin Xian was in college.
This ¡°little princess¡± seemed quite ordinary, just a regr new university student.
¡°She seems pretty low-key, doesn¡¯t unt her status, seems like a good girl,¡± Lin Xian reflected.
He had wondered about Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter, and what he saw was both unexpected and fitting. It seemed Chu Shan He had raised her well, pampered but not spoiled.
Across the road, Lin Xian watched as she took the school bag from her father and waved goodbye, then jogged towards the campus gates. Her bouncy ponytail captured his attention, and he watched until she disappeared inside.
Once she was gone, the smile vanished from Chu Shan He¡¯s face, reced by his usual stern expression. He signaled to his bodyguards, who got into the cars. The three luxury vehicles then departed in formation.
The surrounding students started talking louder, many joking that whoever could win the ¡°little princess¡¯s¡± heart would have a bright future. They encouraged each other to try, but their words were cautious, respecting Chu Shan He¡¯s authority.
¡°Alright, show¡¯s over, back to business,¡± Lin Xian muttered, holding the document as he walked into the campus with the crowd.
With his misunderstanding about Chu Shan He resolved, Lin Xian felt relieved. The enigma of the Genius Club could wait. His priority now was to deliver the hibernation materials to Professor Xu Yun, rewrite the future, and alter his dreams.
Riding a campus bike, Lin Xian quickly located theboratory building. After confirming with the security guard, he went to the second floor and found Professor Xu Yun¡¯sb. Through the window, he saw the disheveled man working at a microscope, wearing ab coat and thick sses, just as he had in the hospital.
Professor Xu Yun was deeply absorbed in his work, oblivious to Lin Xian¡¯s presence. Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian approached the slightly openb door and knocked.
¡°Knock, knock!¡±
Chapter 41: The Manuscript
The wooden door creaked as Lin Xian gently pushed it open, the sound slicing through the silence of theb. Professor Xu Yun, deeply absorbed in his research, nced up with a frown, perturbed by the interruption. Lin Xian, feeling a touch embarrassed, offered a polite bow and a sheepish smile.
An unweing re met him from across the room. ¡°Young man, didn¡¯t I make myself clear at the hospital? How do you not understand?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head as he entered. ¡°Professor Xu, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I¡¯m not here regarding the chemical substance, nor am I representing MX Company. Our CEO rified in the meeting that our new productunch will amodate other products, so we won¡¯t bother you about this matter anymore.¡±
Hearing this, Professor Xu Yun¡¯s expression eased slightly. He lowered his gaze back to the microscope, delicately adjusting the fine focus knob. ¡°Then I appreciate yourpany¡¯s understanding. If only every cosmeticspany had someone as considerate as Miss Zhao.¡±
Lin Xian stepped forward, cing the neatly arranged documents on theb table. ¡°Professor Xu, I brought these documents about hibernation pod fillers for you. When you have a moment, perhaps you could review them. The information might inspire and support your research.¡±
Professor Xu Yun was taken aback. Adjusting his sses, he looked incredulously at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¡±
He paused, then continued, ¡°You mentioned you graduated from the School of Art and Design?¡±
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±
¡°You understand the field of hibernation?¡±¡°Only the basics¡¡±
¡°Then where did these documentse from?¡±
Lin Xian paused before answering slowly, ¡°That, I cannot reveal.¡±
Professor Xu Yun sighed and chuckled. ¡°Young man, I appreciate your intentions. But science is aplex field, especially scientific research, which cannot be reduced to simple terms or quick breakthroughs.¡±
¡°I suspect you sourced these documents from the inte or some amateur, correct? Such sources are unreliable¡ Please take them back.¡±
Professor Xu Yun waved dismissively and returned his attention to the microscope. ¡°I will save my daughter myself.¡±
¡°But Professor Xu, you really should look at the manuscript,¡± Lin Xian persisted. ¡°It contains a solution to the ¡®Ice Crystal¡¯ problem, a challenge you¡¯re certainly grappling with, right?¡±
¡°You know about Ice Crystals? It seems you did some research, but that topic is widely discussed online,¡± Professor Xu Yun responded, still skeptical.
Feeling somewhat helpless, Lin Xian knew his limited understanding made it difficult to convince Professor Xu Yun, who was stubbornly scientific, skeptical of mysticism, and heavily reliant on empirical evidence.
He pushed the manuscript he had meticulously copied closer to Professor Xu Yun. ¡°Please, when you have time, just take a nce. It won¡¯t take much.¡±
Professor Xu Yun, still engrossed in his work, nodded absentmindedly, signaling Lin Xian to leave. Lin Xian didn¡¯t linger, turned around, and exited, closing the door softly behind him.
Stepping out into the warm sunshine, Lin Xian stretched, uncertain whether the resolute Professor would ever spare a moment for the manuscript. There was nothing more he could do but respect the professor¡¯s decisions.
¡°Respect others¡¯ destinies,¡± he muttered to himself.
The days spent transcribing the manuscript had been physically and mentally draining. If Professor Xu Yun chose not to review it, Lin Xian had done all he could.
Inhaling deeply, Lin Xian savored the fresh air of Donghai University onest time before heading back to his duties at thepany.
Since Zhao Yingjun had shelved the ¡®Professor Xu Yun Moisturizing Cream n,¡¯ not only did product development need to start anew, but also the marketing and copywriting for the Rhine Cat brand needed reevaluation.
¡°Trouble upon trouble¡¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°Without the cream as our spearhead, can this new Rhine brand truly make its mark?¡± He wasn¡¯t certain.
In the days that followed, Lin Xian devoted his time at MX Company to redesigning Rhine Cat, and his nights to exploring the dream world, visiting various bookstores and video stores in search of more material on Rhine Cat, seeking inspiration.
As theunch date for the Rhine brand¡¯s new product neared, the pressure mounted across all departments, with Lin Xian feeling it acutely.
One night, back at the Donghai Universityboratory, Professor Xu Yun, drenched in sweat and with his heart racing from excitement, scrutinized the microscope in what was yet another grueling experiment¡ªhis final attempt to conquer the ¡®Ice Crystal Challenge.¡¯
Wiping sweat from his brow, he removed hisb coat, threw it over a chair, and stretched before resuming his observation. Theputer beside him disyed a steadily decreasing temperature.
As the temperature dropped, ice nuclei began forming at the edges of the microscope¡¯s view, and from these nuclei, beautiful, sharp ice crystals started to crystallize.
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s heart raced. He sped his chest, eyes glued to the living cell in the microscope¡¯s field. The cell was still moving; its membrane intact, its fluid flowing slowly.
¡°Don¡¯t freeze¡ Don¡¯t freeze¡¡± he whispered a prayer.
The temperature continued to drop, hitting -16 degrees Celsius. Suddenly, tiny ice nuclei formed inside the cell, quickly giving rise to six symmetrical, snowke-shaped ice crystals that rapidly spread, piercing the fragile cell membrane. The plump, active cell instantly deted like a punctured balloon¡ its fluids turning to ice.
Everything froze. The once lively cell was now a frozen specimen, sealed amidst a field of snowke crystals.
Thump. Professor Xu Yun copsed into the chair, spent. He stared nkly at the ceiling, his voice hoarse with defeat. ¡°Failed again¡¡±
Removing his sses, he set them aside and leaned forward, rubbing his eyes. As he reached for something to wipe them with, his gaze fell upon the stack of manuscript papers on his desk¡ªmessy yet meticulously written, with the words ¡°Ice Crystal¡± starkly prominent at the top of the first page. As if drawn by a force, he reached out and picked up the manuscript.
Chapter 42: Stealing and Theft
Xu Yun picked up the manuscript, his actions tinged with a sense of desperate irony. ¡°Desperate times call for desperate measures,¡± he murmured to himself.
The idea that a student from an art college might solve theplex ice crystal issue was as ludicrous as imagining Van Gogh repairing a lithography machine. Nevertheless, Xu Yun adjusted his sses and began to pore over the manuscript with intense focus.
Initially, he thought the young man had simply conducted a decent amount of research. However, as he delved deeper, his expression grew more serious.
¡°He understands this? How did hee up with this?¡± Xu Yun muttered in disbelief.
He cleared his clutteredb table, ced the manuscript squarely in front of him, and sat up straight, ready to delve into the finer details.
¡°Something is missing here,¡± he mumbled, puzzled. ¡°How did he arrive at this conclusion? The process seems a bit disjointed, but it somehow connects.¡±
The manuscript appeared fragmented and somewhat iplete. He flipped through it carefully, checking for any pages that might have been misced or bound incorrectly. Finding none, he scratched his head and continued his analysis.
Beads of sweat formed on Xu Yun¡¯s forehead as he progressed. ¡°This manuscript¡ it¡¯s truly remarkable!¡±
As a seasoned professional, he recognized from just the initial pages that, despite its logical leaps and asional ws, this was a legitimate piece of research. It wasn¡¯t a fabrication or the work of a novice; it was underpinned by experimental data and real scientific parameters.The first part of the manuscript was straightforward, covering basic concepts. Yet, thetter sections introduced ¡°novel ideas¡± that Xu Yun had never contemted.
He turned another page, revealing sections dense with chemical equations, forms, molecr structures, and experimental data¡ªthis was the treasure he had been seeking!
Without hesitation, Xu Yun sprang into action. He cleared his mind and began meticulously following the experimental data and procedures outlined in the manuscript. It provided detailed parameters and reaction forms, which facilitated straightforward replication.
Though some equations seemed disjointed and there were noticeable gaps in the methodology, Xu Yun¡¯s extensive background in this field allowed him to bridge these gaps intuitively.
It didn¡¯t take long for him to prepare the anti-ice crystal substance, reputed to bond deeply with water molecules. Xu Yun set up a microscope and a freezing box, prepared to conduct a live cell experiment.
Taking a deep breath, he initiated the temperature reduction in the freezing box.
3¡ãC, -8¡ãC, -17¡ãC, -27¡ãC¡
As the temperature plummeted, Xu Yun¡¯s heart raced. Ice crystals began to form on the ss walls of the freezing box, but the live cells under the microscope remained active. The cytosm still flowed slowly, showing no signs of freezing or crystallization.
Xu Yun was astounded. ¡°Bring in the liquid nitrogen!¡± he eximed, then remembered he had no assistant. He dashed to the storage room, grabbed a bottle of liquid nitrogen, and cautiously introduced it to the system.
Liquid nitrogen, with its temperature hovering around -200¡ãC, represents an extreme cold that few substances can withstand. As Xu Yun carefully incorporated it into the freezing box, the temperature disyed on theputer screen plunged.
-87¡ãC, -156¡ãC, -187¡ãC¡
Finally, the temperature stabilized at -191¡ãC. Under the microscope, the live cells had almost ceased movement but remained unfrozen. Minute movements were still detectable, and the intracellr fluid showed no signs of crystallization; it flowed exceedingly slowly.
¡°No ice crystals¡ no ice crystals!¡± Xu Yun eximed, almost incoherently thrilled. ¡°At -200¡ãC, the cells are still active without forming any ice crystals!¡±
Ovee with emotion, Xu Yun copsed onto the floor. Years of frustration, countless failures, and a decade of professional istion flooded his mind. He thought of his daughter, frail and bedridden.
¡°Yi Yi¡ Dad finally seeded¡¡±
It took a moment for Xu Yun topose himself. Standing up, he cradled Lin Xian¡¯s manuscript like a sacred text. The experiment had validated its uracy.
¡°Solving the ice crystal problem means we¡¯re just one step away from perfecting the hibernation chamber fluid,¡± he realized excitedly. ¡°This manuscript took just two pages to resolve the ice crystal issue¡ the remaining pages must contain the form and method for preparing the chamber fluid.¡±
But arger question loomed in his mind.
¡°Where did this manuscript originate?¡±
Xu Yun knew instantly that Lin Xian, who had delivered the manuscript, was not the original researcher. It was too sophisticated for someone simply rying information.
¡°I remember¡ that young man¡¯s name was Lin Xian?¡±
Recalling his conversation with Lin Xian:
¡°Do you understand hibernation technology?¡±
¡°Just the basics¡¡±
¡°Where did you get this information?¡±
¡°That¡¯s something I can¡¯t disclose.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t disclose?¡±
Xu Yun paced around theb, deep in thought. Lin Xian had never imed the research as his own and admitted his limited knowledge.
So, the manuscript had to havee from another source.
¡°It must be that Lin Xian received this from someone else,¡± Xu Yun spected.
He considered two possibilities:
1.Lin Xian was entrusted by someone to deliver the manuscript.
2.Lin Xian had illicitly copied confidential data from a foreign research institute.
¡°Both scenarios seem imusible.¡±
Xu Yun frowned, continuing to ponder. He knew no other domestic research into hibernation technology besides his own. If a leading scientist wanted to assist him, why use such a roundabout method?
And stealing secrets from a foreign institute? Lin Xian was no spy capable of such feats.
For now, these mysteries remained unresolved.
Xu Yun returned his attention to the manuscript, focusing on the chemical and molecr forms. If he followed the steps exactly¡
¡°Can I really create the hibernation chamber fluid in one attempt?¡±
Chapter 43: The Unexpected Visitor
Xu Yun was determined to save his daughter. The moral implications of other issues, like possibly stealing Lin Xian¡¯s manuscript, seemed trivial. His primary focus was preparing the hibernation chamber¡¯s filling fluid, an urgent necessity given his daughter¡¯s dire condition.
With resolve, he set up the experiment ording to the manuscript¡¯s instructions.
But problems emerged soon.
¡°This chemical equation isn¡¯t right,¡± he muttered under his breath.
As dawn painted the sky with streaks of light, Xu Yun, scratching his head in confusion, struggled with the stubborn chemical form. He tried several adjustments, but each attempt failed. Even skipping steps to proceed with the next part of the process proved fruitless.
¡°This chain reaction is inevitable, but it¡ it seems incorrect.¡±
His sses fogged over as he pondered. The manuscript had proven urate in earlier tests¡ªlike the sessful crystallization experiment. However, this particr reaction refused to behave as expected in theboratory setting. What was the issue?
Xu Yun considered two possibilities based on his extensive research experience: the chain reaction¡¯s form might be iplete, perhaps missing some initial steps or specific conditions that Lin Xian hadn¡¯t documented, or the equation itself could be incorrect, possibly misrecorded by Lin Xian.
¡°What should I do?¡± he pondered aloud.He debated whether to solve the puzzle independently or to seek rification from Lin Xian.
Despite the all-nighter, fatigue hadn¡¯t touched Xu Yun. He paced back and forth in theb, deep in thought. Eventually, his concern for his daughter, teetering on the brink of respiratory failure, hastened his decision.
¡°I must get Lin Xian¡¯s assistance.¡±
After a moment of contemtion and cleaning his sses, Xu Yun resolved, ¡°However, I need to keep this data under wraps. Regardless of his motives, Lin Xian meant well. I can¡¯t let this drag him down.¡±
Unfortunately, Xu Yun didn¡¯t have Lin Xian¡¯s direct contact and barely remembered that he was employed at MX Company, under Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s leadership.
¡°It seems I¡¯ll need to visit MX Company to locate Lin Xian.¡±
ncing at his phone, he noted the time¡ª8:30 AM. He quickly donned his coat and drove towards the city.
An hourter, he arrived at the bustling reception of MX Company.
¡°Hello,¡± he greeted politely.
The receptionist noticed a middle-aged man, his sses thick, approaching with a slight pant. ¡°I need to see Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Do you have an appointment, sir?¡± the receptionist inquired with a courteous smile.
¡°Uh, no,¡± Xu Yun stammered. ¡°Just tell him that¡ª¡±
¡°Professor Xu Yun!¡± A surprised shout cut through the lobby. All eyes turned as Wang, the marketing manager of MX Company, exited the elevator, his expression one of shock.
Hurrying over, Manager Wang grasped Xu Yun¡¯s hands with evident excitement. ¡°Professor Xu Yun, what an honor! If we had known, we would¡¯ve arranged a special wee!¡±
¡°I¡¯m not here for pleasantries,¡± Xu Yun replied, shaking off his hand with slight impatience.
¡°Understood, you wish to see our CEO, Zhao. Please, enjoy some refreshments in the VIP room while I notify her.¡±
Manager Wang, having met Xu Yun previously with Zhao Ying Jun, understood his importance. Xu Yun was a coveted contact for major cosmetic firms globally; even Zhao had considered it a lost cause to secure his coboration recently. Yet, here he was, unexpectedly.
¡°We must ensure he¡¯s well cared for.¡±
¡°Please, make yourselffortable, Professor Xu. I¡¯ll inform Zhao immediately.¡±
Xu Yun wanted to rify his purpose but was swiftly escorted to the VIP room by the chattering Manager Wang.
Resigned, Xu Yun sat, his mind on finding Lin Xian for urgent discussions. Yet, without knowing Lin Xian¡¯s exact location within thepany, perhaps starting with Zhao Ying Jun might be more tactful.
Manager Wang, after ensuring Xu Yun¡¯sfort, hurriedly called Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Ms. Zhao, pleasee to the lobby immediately! It¡¯s urgent!¡±
¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice was steady.
¡°It¡¯s Professor Xu Yun¡ªhe¡¯s here, unexpectedly!¡±
On the 22nd floor, Zhao Ying Jun stood abruptly. ¡°Are you certain?¡±
¡°Absolutely! Please hurry! This could be pivotal for ourpany!¡±
Minutester, Zhao Ying Jun, nked by three vice presidents, strode into the VIP room, her team tense with anticipation. Xu Yun represented a significant opportunity for their uing Rhine brandunch.
¡°Why has Professor Xu Yune?¡± Zhao queried as she approached Manager Wang.
¡°No clue, Ms. Zhao. He just showed up without prior notice!¡±
Nodding, Zhao turned to her vice presidents. ¡°Let¡¯s not mention our intent to purchase the chemicalpound authorization just yet. Let¡¯s hear him out first.¡±
The vice presidents agreed, sensing the gravity of Xu Yun¡¯s unexpected visit.
¡°Flexibility is key,¡± one whispered.
As Zhao Ying Jun entered the VIP room with a weing smile, Xu Yun rose to greet her. ¡°Ms. Zhao, I apologize for my sudden appearance.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need, Professor Xu,¡± Zhao replied graciously. ¡°How can we assist you today?¡±
¡°I urgently need to see Lin Xian. Could you direct me to him?¡±
Zhao was taken aback, not expecting Xu Yun¡¯s urgent request to see Lin Xian, especially given his exhausted demeanor. Maintaining herposure, she reached for her phone.
¡°Of course, Professor. Please have some tea while I contact him.¡±
¡°No, please,¡± Xu Yun interjected earnestly, standing. ¡°Take me to him directly. I need a private conversation.¡±
The vice presidents exchanged puzzled looks. What could be so urgent about meeting Lin Xian directly?
Chapter 44: History
Zhao Ying Jun was taken aback.
Just days earlier, during a visit to the hospital to see Xu Yi Yi, she had witnessed Professor Xu Yun sternly instruct Lin Xian never to approach him again.
She had assumed that was the end of their interaction.
Yet now, the respect and politeness in Professor Xu Yun¡¯s demeanor towards Lin Xian were confounding.
Initially, Zhao Ying Jun had thought to dissuade Xu Yun, but his apparent eagerness changed her mind.
¡°Alright, Professor Xu, please follow me,¡± she said, stepping aside to let him exit the VIP room.
¡°We¡¯ll head to Lin Xian¡¯s office on the 17th floor.¡±
Xu Yun nodded.
With no hesitation, he followed Zhao Ying Jun into the elevator.As the elevator doors shut and began to ascend, three deputy managers and Team Leader Wang were left gaping at the VIP room door, struggling to process the scene.
The group exchanged puzzled nces.
¡°What¡ what exactly is happening?¡± one deputy manager finally blurted out.
¡°Professor Xu Yun is always soposed and revered. Seeing him this agitated, it¡¯s as if he¡¯s seen a ghost,¡± another added.
¡°Before, just getting an appointment with Professor Xu Yun was an ordeal. And now he¡¯s here in person? It¡¯s unprecedented.¡±
¡°And he¡¯s personally seeking out Lin Xian? What could this mean?¡±
¡°It couldn¡¯t possibly be about that Rhine Cat project, could it? That seems far too trivial¡¡±
Ding¡ª
The elevator reached the 17th floor, its doors opening with a chime.
Zhao Ying Jun led Professor Xu Yun straight to the open door of Lin Xian¡¯s office.
¡°Lin Xian, Professor Xu Yun is here to see you,¡± she announced.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Lin Xian, who had been fine-tuning a model of the Rhine Cat on hisputer, looked up to see Professor Xu Yun wearing aplex expression.
Anticipating the professor¡¯s intentions, Lin Xian greeted him with a slight smile.
¡°Hello, Professor Xu. Long time no see. How¡¯s your research going?¡±
¡°It¡¯s progressing well, quite well,¡± Xu Yun responded, seeming momentarily lost for words.
Zhao Ying Jun, catching the cue, formally introduced them again.
¡°Professor Xu Yun, this is Lin Xian. You¡¯ve met before.¡±
She added, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two. Call if you need anything. I¡¯ll be outside.¡±
After exiting and closing the door, Xu Yun secured the lock and approached Lin Xian.
¡°Lin Xian, thank you for still calling me ¡®teacher¡¯¡ I hope you won¡¯t hold my previous behavior against me.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, signaling no hard feelings.
¡°Professor Xu, since you¡¯re here, I assume you¡¯ve read the manuscript I sent. How did you find it? Was it helpful?¡±
Xu Yun nodded, recounting his experiences from the night before.
¡°Your manuscript was spot on. Itpletely resolved the ice crystal issue we were facing. We¡¯re now just a step away from perfecting the hibernation pod liquid.¡±
¡°But¡¡±
A troubled look crossed Professor Xu Yun¡¯s face, hinting at an unsaid concern.
¡°What¡¯s the matter, Professor? It¡¯s just us here. You can speak freely.¡±
After a brief pause, Xu Yun looked earnest.
¡°Lin Xian, I must ask¡ªwhere did that manuscripte from?¡±
Lin Xian fell silent, knowing he couldn¡¯t disclose the truth about his prophetic dreams.
After a moment, he replied cautiously, ¡°Professor Xu, if you desire more information, it¡¯s best to ask fewer questions.¡±
Xu Yun¡¯s mind raced with ominous possibilities.
¡°I¡ I understand,¡± he said, swallowing his curiosity.
As long as the data was urate, the source was secondary.
¡°Thank you for your willingness to assist, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry. Whatever happens, I¡¯ll take full responsibility and ensure you¡¯re not implicated.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, appreciating the assurance.
¡°Professor Xu, you mentioned a remaining issue with the hibernation pod liquid. What seems to be the problem?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Xu Yun answered quickly. ¡°In the final stages, there seem to be errors in the chemical form from the manuscript.¡±
¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Lin Xian replied nonchntly. ¡°Point out the problematic parts, and I¡¯ll help you verify them.¡±
Xu Yun was taken aback by Lin Xian¡¯s immediate readiness to help, having not even formally requested it yet.
Feeling isted in his years of research, Xu Yun was profoundly touched.
¡°Lin Xian¡ I can¡¯t thank you enough.¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing, Professor Xu.¡±
Sighing, Xu Yun said, ¡°You¡¯ve been a tremendous help to both me and Yi Yi. I¡¯ll find a way to repay you.¡±
Then, remembering something, he added, ¡°Oh, yourpany, MX, was interested in that moisturizingpound, wasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°I assure you, once the pod liquid is finalized, I¡¯ll have no qualms about handing over that failed product.¡±
Xu Yun then presented a manuscript marked with several errors circled in red.
Lin Xian took it, promising to review and return with corrections soon.
This validated his visions of a future world 600 years ahead and the ¡°time-space butterfly effect.¡±
After further discussion, Lin Xian escorted Xu Yun out.
Zhao Ying Jun, waiting outside, inquired, ¡°Professor Xu, is everything settled?¡±
Xu Yun smiled as he stepped out.
¡°Apologies for any disruption today.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head, looking towards Lin Xian.
¡°No issue at all, Professor Xu. MX always wees you. We¡¯ll arrange your transport back to the university and keep your business card handy for future contacts.¡±
¡°Thank you, but I drove myself.¡±
As Xu Yun prepared to leave, he feltpelled to add, ¡°Miss Zhao, as I told Lin Xian, I¡¯ve gained significant insights from his assistance. If my research leads to a major breakthrough, I¡¯ll freely provide that chemical substance to yourpany.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun was momentarily stunned by this revtion.
She nced at Lin Xian, her expression filled with unanswered questions but quickly regained herposure and smiled.
¡°That¡¯s excellent news, Professor Xu. MX is honored to receive your endorsement. We sincerely hope your research seeds.¡±
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun then escorted Xu Yun to his car, watching as he drove away.
As the vehicle turned the corner, Zhao Ying Jun turned to Lin Xian with a chuckle.
¡°How did you manage that?¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t say much,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Just a few words.¡±
¡°A few words?¡± Zhao Ying Junughed. ¡°Since when is Professor Xu Yun so easily swayed?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, looking towards the winter sun.
¡°People change, don¡¯t they?¡±
¡°What in this world doesn¡¯t? Hearts, society, the present, history, the future¡ all are in flux.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded thoughtfully.
¡°You¡¯re right, but one thing remains constant.¡±
A gust of wind swept past, stirring the fallen leaves.
¡°History doesn¡¯t change,¡± she murmured. ¡°It¡¯s written by the victors.¡±
Her ck coat billowed as she walked back to the building.
¡°History never changes.¡±
The cold winter wind whipped up the leaves and debris, forming swirling patterns.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s high heels clicked in the distance, fading as she rounded the corner of the parking lot.
Lin Xian watched her depart in silence.
¡°History does change,¡± he whispered, his eyes fixed on the swirling leaves.
He wasn¡¯t just speaking of the known past but of a future stretching from 2022 to 2624.
Now, with the time-space butterfly effect confirmed, for a future 600 years ahead, one thing was clear¡ª¡±I am history.¡±
Chapter 45: Confirmation
Leaves swirled on the ground, scattered by the wind, and drifted away. Lin Xian turned and left the parking lot, his thoughts already shifting to his next steps.
Back at the office, Lin Xian headed straight for his desk, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a manuscript marked by Professor Xu Yun. The document was speckled with red circles highlighting potential errors and omissions in the copied chemical reaction forms.
Deciding against returning to work that afternoon, Lin Xian nned a unique endeavor¡ªhe would enter his dream world during the day and correct these mistakes at the library within his dream.
¡°And¡ there¡¯s something more important I need to confirm.¡±
Pacing around his office, manuscript in hand, Lin Xian was deep in thought. Professor Xu Yun had solved the ice crystal problem, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the news spread. This solution would alter the trajectory of history, necessitating a rewrite of future developments.
¡°If my previous hypothesis is correct, then the future world in my dream should exhibit some detailed changes. Just like how the Coco Cat in my dream turned into the Rhine Cat after I renamed it in the real world.¡±
Pausing by the window, Lin Xian gazed out at the bustling street below. In the original timeline, Dr. Michaelson solved the ice crystal problem in 2477. However, in this altered timeline, Professor Xu Yun had made the breakthrough in 2022. This change posed a significant question: Would Dr. Michaelson still be revered as the ¡°Father of Cryonics,¡± or would he now share this recognition with Professor Xu Yun?
A sense of certainty filled Lin Xian: ¡°The history books in my dream will undoubtedly change. This will confirm that I can alter history and reshape the future.¡±
As the cold wind howled outside, shaking the steel window frames, a butterfly appeared at the periphery of Lin Xian¡¯s vision. Its slight flutter seemed capable of stirring a storm across centuries.Once home, Lin Xian ordered takeout, ate quickly, and prepared to dive into his dream world to verify his theory. Was the butterfly effect in motion? Had history and the future truly been rewritten? His uing dream promised answers.
After reviewing the corrections marked by Professor Xu Yun, Lin Xiany down, his mind focused on the task ahead.
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
He closed his eyes, turning into sleep.
Upon waking in his dream, Lin Xian felt the scorching summer heat and immediately sweat formed on his brow. He rushed to the bus stop, rode to the library, and went directly to the science section on the third floor¡ªa ce he had be well acquainted with.
At the spot where Dr. Michaelson¡¯s book ¡°Cryonics: An Analysis and Outlook¡± once stood, Lin Xian found nothing.
¡°It¡¯s not there.¡±
He smiled, recognizing the implications. If Professor Xu Yun had resolved the ice crystal issue in 2022, Dr. Michaelson would likely not be celebrated as the ¡°Father of Cryonics¡± four centuriester. Lin Xian double-checked, scanning the shelf again.
¡°Definitely not here!¡±
Relief washed over him. His hypothesis was correct.
¡°This dream truly reflects a future world 600 years from now! Moreover, my actions in the real world can indeed rewrite the future and alter the dream world!¡±
This revtion was thrilling; his exploration of the dream world had deepened, uncovering its truths. Yet, it also confirmed something unsettling¡ªthe Genius Club is real.
Since 2022, this shadowy group had been manipting historical currents. The mere thought of its name sent a shiver down Lin Xian¡¯s spine, feeling as if a giant, ominous hand loomed over him.
He remembered Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s invitation to join the Genius Club. ording to Big Cat Face, it was a nefarious organization. What were their goals? What urred during their meetings? What would happen if he joined, or if he declined? Why was Zhao Ying Jun invited, despite not being a typical ¡°genius¡±?
¡°The Genius Club is shrouded in mystery, a dark abyss beckoning to swallow anyone who peers too closely¡¡± Lin Xian quickly shook off the chilling thoughts, ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on it. After all, the invitation was for Zhao Ying Jun, not me¡ why should I be so concerned?¡±
With Dr. Michaelson¡¯s book gone, Lin Xian needed a new angle. He believed someone would eventually step into Dr. Michaelson¡¯s shoes, solving cryonics for good. Science never regresses, after all.
He returned to the library¡¯s first floor, found an avableputer, and searched for the ¡°current state of cryonics technology.¡±
Theputergged, caught in a battle with its antivirus software. Eventually, the page loaded, revealing that a significant advancement in cryonics urred around 2200 when Academician Gao Wen developed a crucial fluid for cryogenic chambers, but no other breakthroughs had followed.
¡°As expected, the cryogenic chamber itself hasn¡¯t been perfected yet.¡±
This result didn¡¯t surprise Lin Xian; the wed information he provided Professor Xu Yun had minimal impact, merely elerating some developments by two centuries.
¡°Academician Gao Wen.¡±
This new titleholder intrigued Lin Xian. Perhaps in his next dream, Professor Xu Yun would be recognized as the true pioneer.
¡°The wheel of fortune turns. When I bring back Academician Gao Wen¡¯s papers, perhaps next time, Professor Xu Yun will be acimed as the Father of Cryonics.¡±
Imagining a future where Xu Yun¡¯s discoveries in 2022 led to starships and interster travel 600 yearster, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but think: ¡°By then¡ The world in my dream will certainly be more intriguing, right?¡±
Chapter 46: Token of Appreciation
Lin Xian was brimming with excitement to explore the new dream world.
For over twenty years, he had been revisiting the same dream. Despite its depth, its allure had diminished. Now, with confirmation that this dream represented a real future world six centuries away, concerns about CC and the mysterious safe had faded.
CC was a stranger from a distant future, separated by 600 years. Perhaps, the familiarity in the voice was merely coincidental.
Regarding the safe in the bank vault¡
¡°No wonder I couldn¡¯t crack the password,¡± Lin Xian mused, scratching his head. ¡°It might not even be my safe. It would be strange if I could guess the password just like that.¡±
The name Lin Xian wasn¡¯t unique; it was quitemon. It was anyone¡¯s guess which Lin Xian from history the safe might belong to.
He closed the webpage and essed the library¡¯s book management system, searching for Gao Wen¡¯s publications. He discovered four titles:
¡°An Overview of Hibernation Technology¡±
¡°Prospects and Technical Challenges of Hibernation Pods¡±¡°Detailed Exnation of Hibernation Pod Fillers¡±
¡°Prospects of Hibernation Technology By-products¡±
The third title was exactly what he needed. The catalog provided the book¡¯s location on the third floor, albeit on a different shelf.
After jotting down the location, Lin Xian rode the elevator to the third floor and quickly located Gao Wen¡¯s ¡°Detailed Exnation of Hibernation Pod Fillers.¡± He settled at an empty table and began to read.
The concepts in Gao Wen¡¯s work paralleled Dr. Michaelson¡¯s research. It seemed this was the universal approach to hibernation pod fillers. Lin Xian quickly identified the critical chemical form involved in the necessary chain reaction.
¡°Just as I suspected, I had mixed it up with other forms.¡±
Identifying the keyponents made the remaining corrections straightforward.
¡
After two diligent days, Lin Xian corrected all transcription errors and updated the essential chemical forms he had previously overlooked.
¡°Phew¡¡±
With the final word penned at his bedroom desk, Lin Xian exhaled deeply and leaned back in his chair.
¡°All done.¡±
He lifted the three pages of the revised manuscript from his desk, confident in their uracy. ncing at his phone, he noticed it was past 4 AM.
¡°It¡¯s Monday, and there¡¯s a morning meeting¡ Should I even bother sleeping?¡±
Contemting the importance of MX Company¡¯s morning meetings, Lin Xian was concerned about oversleeping.
He opened WeChat.
Professor Xu Yun had been in regr contact, politely checking on his progress. Lin Xian could sense the professor¡¯s mounting anxiety. Every day, the reminder was the same: ¡°Once you have thetest manuscript, let me know immediately¡ªanytime, anywhere!¡±
Considering the hour, Lin Xian hesitated but decided to reach out.
¡°Professor, are you awake?¡±
Instantly, his phone rang.
As expected.
On the line, an ted Professor Xu Yun inquired about the manuscript. He was already in hisb, unable to divert his thoughts from the forms. If Lin Xian was ready, the professor wanted the manuscript immediately.
¡°I¡¯ll bring it over, Professor. You needn¡¯t drive; you¡¯ve hardly slept.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll drop off the manuscript, grab some breakfast, then head to thepany. It won¡¯t dy anything.¡±
Dressed and manuscript in hand, Lin Xian hailed a taxi to Donghai University.
¡
As dawn approached, the city stirred. The streets to the university were clear, and they swiftly arrived. Lin Xian went directly to Professor Xu Yun¡¯sb to deliver the manuscript.
¡°Hmm¡¡±
Professor Xu Yun eagerly reviewed the manuscript, asionally voicing his approval.
¡°No errors this time, absolutely perfect!¡±
His excitement was palpable as he rubbed his hands together.
¡°Lin Xian, your earlier drafts, despite the experimental setbacks, had wless theory.¡±
¡°From what I see, these reaction forms are spot on.¡±
¡°We¡¯re close to a breakthrough with the hibernation pod filler.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, pleased for the professor.
¡°Congrattions, Professor. Your relentless work is about to bear fruit.¡±
¡°With the development and publication of this hibernation pod filler, research in the field will ignite globally. Soon, hibernation pods will be a reality.¡±
¡°And then, Xu Yi Yi can use one to seek future treatments. I¡¯m confident future medical technology will be capable of healing vegetative states.¡±
The mention of his daughter sparked hope in Professor Xu Yun¡¯s eyes. Gratefully, he sped Lin Xian¡¯s hand, expressing his deep appreciation.
¡°I won¡¯t keep you any longer, Professor.¡±
Lin Xian collected his coat, ready to leave.
¡°I¡¯ll grab breakfast then head to thepany. If there¡¯s any issue with the manuscript, just call me.¡±
¡°Wait, Lin Xian,¡± the professor called, retrieving a thick document bag from his cluttered desk and handing it over.
¡°This is a token of my appreciation.¡±
Curious, Lin Xian epted it, noting its weight.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked, intrigued.
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s smile held a hint of mystery.
¡°Open it. I believe you¡¯ll find it very useful.¡±
Useful? Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity peaked as he untied the bag and sifted through the contents. At the top was a handwritten ¡°Exclusive Authorization Letter¡± stating:
¡°This authorizes Mr. Lin Xian¡ exclusively¡ free of charge¡¡± signed by Professor Xu Yun.
¡°This is¡¡±
Lin Xian was stunned.
¡°This grants me exclusive rights to a chemicalpound coveted globally!¡±
Though unofficial, the handwritten document was legally binding. Surprisingly, the exclusive rights weren¡¯t for MX Company or Zhao Ying Jun; they were bestowed upon him.
¡°Professor¡ are you sure about this?¡±
Chapter 47: Authorization
Lin Xian was a bit baffled.
He pulled out the first page of the authorization document, unveiling several experiment data and reports underneath, as he had anticipated. These were instructions for crafting a specific chemicalpound.
¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that we should only consider marketing this chemical once the hibernation chamber¡¯s liquid is fully developed?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
Professor Xu Yun chuckled, patting Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°As a seasoned scientist, I immediately recognized the authenticity of your earlier manuscript. Moreover, now that you¡¯ve helped pinpoint and amend errors in the forms, I canplete the hibernation chamber¡¯s liquid soon. Perhaps even tonight, you¡¯ll hear some promising news from me.¡±
¡°So, finalizing the hibernation chamber liquid is just a matter of time. What¡¯s the harm inunching this product now or a few dayster?¡±
Lin Xian then turned back to the ¡®Exclusive Authorization Letter.¡¯ ¡°But Professor Xu, there¡¯s no mention of pricing or revenue sharing in this authorization letter. And the authorizer here¡¡±
Professor Xu Yun folded the authorization letter, gathered the other documents, and ced them into a file bag, which he then handed to Lin Xian. ¡°Since I¡¯ve given you exclusive rights, everything now fully belongs to you, including all profits. You set the selling price.¡±
¡°As for what I sold it to you for¡¡± Professor Xu tapped the manuscript Lin Xian had brought. ¡°Haven¡¯t you already paid me? Quite generously, too!¡±
Soon after, Professor Xu stopped Lin Xian from saying anything more and ushered him out of theb. ¡°We¡¯ll sort out the formal authorization letterter. Take these documents to yourpany¡¯s R&D; they¡¯ll make sense of them.¡±With that, he closed theb door behind him and resumed his work.
Holding the substantial file bag, Lin Xian was stunned by his sudden fortune. ording to Zhao Ying Jun, just one such authorization could fetch a million dors, not to mention future profits. Bing a multimillionaire overnight was something he hadn¡¯t anticipated.
Yet, this was also a show of kindness, perhaps even gratitude, from Professor Xu Yun. Refusing outright would be rude. Besides¡
¡°Once Professor Xu Yun sessfullypletes the hibernation chamber liquid, he might win a Nobel Prize or receive a national grant. The world will value him as a treasure, and he¡¯ll hardlyck funds.¡±
After mulling it over, Lin Xian decided to ept this generous offer. Clearly, good deeds eventually pay off.
Lin Xian grabbed a taxi back to thepany to make the morning meeting.
¡°I should have taken the subway.¡± He underestimated the Monday morning traffic near the university. Opting for a taxi to save time, he ended up stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour.
When he arrived, the morning meeting, led by Zhao Ying Jun, was already in progress.
¡°¡I¡¯mte, after all.¡±
Lin Xian cautiously knocked on the meeting room door, and the finance team leader, mid-report, stopped abruptly. Lin Xian pushed the door open, meeting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gaze.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Zhao, I¡¯mte.¡± He gestured with the file bag. ¡°I went to¡ª¡±
¡°Sit down for now, and exin during your turn,¡± Zhao Ying Jun interrupted, then nodded at the finance leader to continue. The finance leader resumed her report.
Lin Xian quietly closed the door and made his way to a seat at the back of the room, sitting discreetly.
¡°Bold to bete for the morning meeting, bro.¡± The logistics team leader whispered to him, focusing on the front, pretending to listen.
Lin Xian could only offer a wry smile. He hadn¡¯t intended to bete, but the traffic had been unpredictable.
Soon, the finance leader finished, and it was the R&D team leader¡¯s turn. Heined about the impossibility of developing apetitive new product on such a tight schedule, especially since their efforts had been centered on Professor Xu Yun¡¯s moisturizer form, which had been abruptly dropped.
The marketing, publicity, and advertising leaders echoed this sentiment, worried about the Rhine brand fading into obscurity without Professor Xu Yun¡¯s backing.
Thepany¡¯s legal advisor added more grim news. ¡°Abandoning the previous form means starting over with approvals¡ If we rush theunch, it won¡¯t be ready on time.¡±
The atmosphere in the meeting room was despondent, filled with sighs. However, Zhao Ying Jun remainedposed, listening patiently to each team leader and taking diligent notes.
Lin Xian watched her, admiring her calmness. He had always respected Zhao Ying Jun, who had treated him well and fostered a positive atmosphere at MX Company. This time¡ He decided to lend her a hand.
He nned to mize the authorization anyway, and selling it to anotherpany made less sense than offering it to Zhao Ying Jun. Plus¡ Lin Xian was curious about the contents of the Genius Club invitation Zhao Ying Jun had received.
This was his chance to deepen Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s trust in him. If one day she trusted him enough, perhaps he¡¯d learn the office¡¯s password or even stay alone in that office. Then, he could sneak a look at the invitation.
Yes, Lin Xian intended only to take a covert nce, never to expose his curiosity to Zhao Ying Jun. Considering the worst case¡
If Zhao Ying Jun was already a member of the Genius Club, and if it was an organization that needed to remain hidden, then showing overt interest could be risky.
Safety first. Survival was paramount.
After the logistics report, Zhao Ying Jun turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s your turn. What do you have to say?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, pushing the hefty file bag to the center of the table. ¡°Everyone has misunderstood President Zhao. We¡¯ve been advancing this quietly, and you all know about Professor Xu Yun¡¯s recent involvement with ourpany.¡±
¡°This morning, I secured exclusive rights to his chemicalpound at Donghai University.¡±
The room went silent, all eyes on him, wide with astonishment.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°We can now resume the ¡®Professor Xu Yun Moisturizer Project¡¯.¡±
Chapter 48: The Safe
Lin Xian¡¯s deration hung heavily in the air, sending a ripple of tension through everyone present. The Vice President shot up from his seat, his voice tinged with urgency. ¡°Lin Xian, are you certain about this?¡±
Lin Xian nodded confidently, and the Vice President scrambled forward, clutching a document bag. With careful hands, he drew out an ¡®Exclusive Authorization Letter¡¯. ¡°This signature¡ it¡¯s definitely Professor Xu Yun¡¯s. It¡¯s authentic!¡±
He pored over the letter with growing excitement. It explicitly transferred all rights and interests in a chemicalpound to Lin Xian at no cost, making him the sole decision-maker. The Vice President¡¯s expression turned to one of stunned disbelief as he faced Lin Xian. ¡°Lin¡ Lin Xian, this letter gives you full rights!¡±
¡°It¡¯s merely a preliminary draft,¡± Lin Xian remarked, downying the significance. ¡°Professor Xu Yun has been preupied and delegated this to me.¡±
¡°He trusts us to use it first. We¡¯ll revise the formal documents when he has the time.¡±
This rification settled over the room, making sense of the situation and earning Lin Xian nods of respect for securing Professor Xu Yun¡¯s endorsement and averting a crisis at MX Company.
¡°It¡¯s too generous of you all,¡± Lin Xian modestly brushed off the wave of praise from the team leaders and the Vice President, insisting his contribution was minor. However, his humility only fueled their admiration, and apuse filled the meeting room for a prolonged period.
The R&D team leader, engrossed in thick stacks of research data and notes, eventually looked up to confirm, ¡°It¡¯s all urate, Ms. Zhao. This includes the chemical¡¯s preparation and safety measures¡ It aligns perfectly with our initial findings. We can proceed with all prior approvals and ensure the productunch is on track.¡±
In moments, the meeting room¡¯s atmosphere had transformedpletely. A surge of renewed energy propelled everyone, their morale skyrocketing as they prepared to dive back into their work with renewed vigor.On the 22nd floor, Zhao Ying Jun leaned back in her office chair, addressing Lin Xian across the desk. ¡°You¡¯ve not only resolved a major issue for thepany but for me personally as well. I can¡¯t thank you enough.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, ying down his role. ¡°I didn¡¯t do much, honestly. Perhaps Professor Xu Yun ces a lot of trust in our mentor-mentee rtionship.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s smile held a hint of mystery. ¡°I just spoke with Professor Xu Yun, and his ount doesn¡¯t quite match your version at the meeting¡¡±
As Lin Xian started to exin, Zhao Ying Jun cut him off, ¡°He made me promise not to delve into your matters. No need for exnations, Lin Xian. I¡¯m not one to pry.¡±
She continued, ¡°He sent me to finalize a formalmercial authorization contract with you.¡±
¡°Whether you choose to grant these rights to MX Company or to others in the future, you holdplete control over thispound.¡±
¡°MX Company willpensate you with a one-time fee and ongoing royalties based on sales,¡± she added, sliding a contract across to him and pointing to the line for his signature. ¡°If you agree, please sign here. It will be effective immediately.¡±
Lin Xian reviewed and signed the document swiftly. Zhao Ying Jun, observing him closely, questioned, ¡°What are your ns moving forward? Start your own licensing business or retire to a life of leisure?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t really nned anything¡¡± Lin Xian confessed. ¡°I¡¯ve actually be quite fond of working on the Rhine Cat project. If possible, I would like to continue leading this team.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s smile widened. ¡°That sounds perfect, though there might be a few changester. With your vast contributions, we can¡¯t just let that go unrecognized.¡±
After Lin Xian finished signing, Zhao Ying Jun stamped both contracts and handed one back to him. ¡°Do you have a safe in your office?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian responded, recalling only the finance and Vice President¡¯s offices had safes.
¡°I¡¯ll arrange for one to be installed,¡± she said, making a call. ¡°Keep these documents, the contract, and the authorization letter locked up. Losing them would cause serious issues.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all for now. You can return to your work,¡± she concluded.
With the heavy security door closing loudly behind him, Lin Xian left the office. He sighed, wondering about his continued involvement with the Genius Club. Staying with thispany kept him connected to that circle.
Two dayster, several employees from a safepany arrived at his door. ¡°Hello, Mr. Lin.¡±
They installed a meter-tall steel safe. ¡°This uses a dual-lock system, needing both a key and a dial to open. It¡¯s very secure,¡± one employee exined, handing him the keys.
¡°What if I lose the key or forget thebination?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°If you lose the key, a locksmith might help, but if you forget thebination, opening it would be nearly impossible,¡± the employee chuckled. ¡°Its internal mechanisms are quiteplex.¡±
Lin Xian tapped the safe thoughtfully. ¡°And if I forget? What if the contents are vital?¡±
The employee scratched his head, ¡°Well, there¡¯s onest option¡¡±
Chapter 49: Hibernation Pod
¡°What method?¡± Lin Xian inquired, his curiosity piqued.
¡°Destructive force,¡± the technician from the safepany exined. ¡°We once had a client with a simr problem. Their financial manager was involved in a car ident, and thepany urgently needed to ess the documents inside their safe. So, they transported the entire safe to a scrapyard and used an oxy-acetylene cutting torch to open it.¡±
¡°This safe is constructed from solid steel. Ordinary tools or crowbars won¡¯t do the trick, and even explosives can¡¯t breach it. Only an oxy-acetylene torch, with its intense high-temperature me, can cut through it. It¡¯s ast-resort solution.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s interest was clearly aroused. ¡°What kind of torch did you mention again?¡±
¡°An oxy-acetylene torch. It uses high-pressure acetylene gas to produce a me that can reach up to 3000 degrees Celsius, capable of melting and cutting through steel. It¡¯s amon tool in industrial applications.¡±
After the exnation, the technicians handed Lin Xian a form to sign, left a manual and a contact number, and then departed.
¡°Oxy-acetylene torch¡¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
The dream safe, with his name inscribed on it, was rusty and peeling, clearly made of steel. A me that reached 3000 degrees would render it as fragile as tofu.
Lin Xian had hoped to enter his dream soon and use the torch to cut open the safe, but his ns were thwarted by an unexpected rush of work. He found himself swamped, often workingte into the night, leaving no chance for dreaming. Days passed without a single dream.It wasn¡¯t just him feeling the strain. The entirepany was under pressure, with everyone pulling all-nighters. Even Zhao Ying Jun, usually so impable, now sported faint dark circles under her eyes.
One afternoon, just as Lin Xianpleted a task, his phone rang. He was surprised to see the caller ID. ¡°Professor Xu Yun?¡±
It had been several days since theirst conversation. Could there be new developments?
Lin Xian answered the call eagerly. ¡°Professor Xu Yun?¡±
¡°Lin Xian! Do you have time right now?¡± Professor Xu Yun¡¯s voice was brimming with excitement. ¡°I need you to witness a historic moment!¡±
A historic moment? Had Professor Xu Yun finally perfected the fluid for the hibernation pod?
ncing at the clock¡ªit was almost 2 PM¡ªLin Xian wasn¡¯t particrly interested in scientific milestones, but he didn¡¯t want to dampen Xu Yun¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Of course, Professor Xu. I¡¯ll head over to Donghai University immediately.¡±
After delegating his remaining tasks to his team, Lin Xian caught a cab to the university.
Upon his arrival at Professor Xu Yun¡¯sboratory, Xu Yun eagerly ushered him towards a sealed pod. ¡°Look at this. This white mouse has been in deep sleep at -60 degrees Celsius for over 40 hours.¡±
¡°For the entire duration, it has remained in a state of deep sleep. Though it appears lifeless, it hasn¡¯t needed to eat or excrete, and its vital signs are stable!¡±
Lin Xian leaned in closer to the pod, which was ice-cold and emitted a chilly mist. Inside, submerged in a light blue liquid, was a curled-up white mouse, outfitted with monitoring electrodes and tubes.
The mouse looked utterly still, almost like it was dead. However, Lin Xian noticed slight movements in its abdomen¡ªa sign it was alive.
Professor Xu Yun pointed to the monitoring screen, exining the readings. ¡°Normally, a mouse¡¯s heart beats between 500-700 times per minute, and it breathes about 150 times per minute. Their rapid metabolism contributes to their short lifespans, typically just three to four years.¡±
¡°But now, look at these figures,¡± Professor Xu Yun continued, indicating the screen:
¡°Heart rate: 21 beats per minute¡±
¡°Breathing rate: 7 breaths per minute¡±
¡°See? Both its heart rate and breathing have slowed down by a factor of thirty! Its metabolic rate has decreased simrly. In this low-temperature pod, the mouse¡¯s aging process is effectively slowed by the same factor.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding the concept. In sci-fi films, characters enter hibernation pods, sleep for centuries, and emerge unchanged. However, real scientific progress is incremental.
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s invention, though primitive, was a significant breakthrough¡ªit could reduce metabolic activity by thirty times. If this proved stable, external time would pass thirty years while the mouse aged just one year, effectively allowing it to ¡®travel¡¯ to the future.
Yet, the real challenges in hibernation technology were not just about inducing freezing but also about ensuring sessful thawing and reawakening.
¡°The true test isn¡¯t just freezing, it¡¯s about the revival process,¡± Professor Xu Yun borated. ¡°Now, you¡¯ll witness a genuine historic moment. We¡¯re about to revive this mouse that has been in hibernation for 40 hours at -60 degrees Celsius.¡±
Lin Xian watched intently as Professor Xu Yun carefully adjusted the controls, gradually warming the pod. After about half an hour, the temperature inside the pod reached ten degrees Celsius. The mouse began to move, wing at the walls of the pod in a frenzy.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± reassured Xu Yun. ¡°The liquid¡¯s high oxygen solubility supports normal breathing, even when inhaled, though it feels quite ufortable. It¡¯s designed to ensure the animal can breathe without suffocating, though I haven¡¯t tested this personally.¡±
Then, Xu Yun drained the pod and gently removed the mouse, detaching all the electrodes.
Now free, the mouse shook off the remaining liquid and energetically darted around theb.
¡°Amazing,¡± Lin Xian eximed, astonished. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe it was in a near-death state for 40 hours at -60 degrees.¡±
The marvels of science were evident. A human would not survive such conditions, yet here was this lively mouse, bounding about.
Xu Yun smiled, a mix of relief and triumph on his face. ¡°There are many hurdles yet to ovee, but the sessful hibernation and revival of this mouse validate the effectiveness of the pod and the fluid. The theoretical foundation is solid.¡±
Seeing Xu Yun¡¯s joy, Lin Xian was moved, knowing this could bring hope for hisatose daughter. Curiously, he asked, ¡°Professor Xu, how long do you think it will take to develop a fully operational hibernation pod?¡±
Xu Yun pondered the question thoughtfully. ¡°Difficult to estimate. Perhaps decades, maybe less. But today, we¡¯ve taken an essential first step.¡±
Chapter 50: The Dream Project
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake the worry that gued his mind. The haunting image of Xu Yi Yi lyingatose in a hospital bed constantly intruded on his thoughts. His greatest fear was that she might never witness the realization of the hibernation pods.
Professor Xu Yun, however, appeared remarkablyposed. With a light-hearted chuckle, he said, ¡°Creating the kind of hibernation pods you see in sci-fi movies, the ones that allow for centuries of sleep, is going to take us quite a while.¡±
¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s a lost cause. Most people aren¡¯t preparing for long space trips. Someone like my daughter, Yi Yi, or cancer patients in critical stages only need another decade or two¡ªjust enough time for medical advancements to catch up.¡±
Pausing to watch a mouse scurry across the floor, Xu Yun continued, ¡°ording to my calctions, with adequate funding from the government, we could have a prototype in two to three years that would slow human biological processes by tenfold.¡±
¡°Reducing biological activity by ten times is a significant achievement. For Yi Yi, spending ten years in such a pod would mean she¡¯d only age one year. Meanwhile, medical science might advance enough to even enhance the pod¡¯s capabilities.¡±
Impressed, Lin Xian nodded. ¡°When do you n to go public with these findings, Professor Xu?¡±
¡°Not for another week at least,¡± replied Xu Yun, shuffling his papers. ¡°But expect an announcement soon.¡±
He then handed Lin Xian a document. ¡°While researching, I discovered a byproduct and sent it for verification to a colleague at the National Aerospace Research Institute.¡±
The document was filled withplex molecr forms that were beyond Lin Xian¡¯sprehension. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked.¡°It¡¯s a novel aluminum-basedpound. This could lead to new, highly durable, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant aluminum alloys, pivotal in aerospace technologies. I n to publish these findings too. The potential applications could revolutionize several technological fields.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged, recognizing the significance of such interdisciplinary progress. ¡°I¡¯ll let you get back to your research then. I¡¯m looking forward to your publication.¡±
A few dayster, three pieces of exciting news circted.
First, headlines across various media tforms announced, ¡°Professor Xu Yun from Donghai University cracks major hibernation technology challenge.¡± This breakthrough indicated that such futuristic technology, typically reserved for science fiction, might soon be a reality.
Every major news outlet featured Xu Yun:
¡°National Aerospace Research Institute to announce new aerospace material by Professor Xu Yun.¡±
¡°The United States ns to establish a top-tierb for advanced hibernation technology.¡±
¡°The Nobel Prizemittee shows interest in Professor Xu Yun¡¯s work, considering a nomination if his findings hold.¡±
¡°A Father¡¯s Decade: The Untold Story of Xu Yun.¡±
After years of tireless work, Professor Xu Yun had evolved from an obscure academic to a globally recognized innovator.
The second thrilling announcement was about MX Companyunching a new product under the newly unveiled Rhine brand. The initial moisturizer product exceeded sales expectations, and the apanying Rhine Cat plush toy became a viral sensation.
Thanks to Xu Yun¡¯s newfound fame, pre-orders for the moisturizer soared, firmly establishing the Rhine brand as a leader in the beauty product market.
The third piece of news concerned Lin Xian¡¯s own promotion.
In her office, Zhao Ying Jun began, ¡°Lin Xian, the Rhine Cat¡¯s online sess has been phenomenal. The fashion world is buzzing about your design.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve received numerous coboration requests, both domestically and internationally. To manage this, I n to expand your Rhine Cat IP development team to about thirty members.¡±
¡°And you, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, her arms crossed, ¡°will haveplete control over personnel decisions. Hiring, firing, sries, and performance reviews¡ªit¡¯s all in your hands now.¡±
This was an unprecedented move for a team leader. Previously, only three vice presidents and Zhao Ying Jun herself had held such authority.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s smile widened. ¡°This shows our trust in and recognition of your capabilities. You¡¯ll remain the team leader for Rhine Cat, but you¡¯ll enjoy the benefits and sry of a vice president, including annual stock options.¡±
A vice president¡¯s benefits? Lin Xian had yet to cash his first paycheck as a team leader, yet he was already stepping into a vice president¡¯s shoes.
He felt like a character in a video game, leveling up rapidly, his attributes skyrocketing with each achievement.
But he knew Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s strategy. She offered him immense power to keep him at MX Company, aware that he might otherwise consider leaving.
However, Lin Xian had no intention of leaving. He valued MX Company and respected Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s leadership.
Moreover, leaving would mean losing the only connecting clue to the coveted invitation to the Genius Club and the mysterious organization behind it.
Until he explored what the invitation entailed, he decided to stay with MX Company.
¡°Onest thing,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added, ncing at Lin Xian, ¡°your new office on the 20th floor is ready. It¡¯s muchrger than your previous one. Feel free to check it out.¡±
With that, she dismissed him.
Exiting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, Lin Xian felt the world shift around him. His team had expanded, he had full control over personnel decisions, his sry matched that of a vice president, and a spacious new office awaited him,plete with a safe and potential royalties from the new chemical discovery.
¡°Leveling up too quickly,¡± Lin Xian mused, rubbing his neck as he approached the elevator.
The elevator doors opened on the 20th floor, revealing his new office. It was triple the size of his previous one, featuring a separate resting area, arge coffee table, a long sofa, bookshelves filled with greenery, a luxurious desk, a high-end desktop, and aptop.
Everything was a significant upgrade from his setup on the 17th floor.
Lin Xian moved his personal items into his new office, adding personal touches to make it feel like home. Settling into the executive chair, he rxed and thought, ¡°No morete nights.¡±
¡°Tonight, I can finally dive into the dream and open that safe!¡±
Chapter 51: Unity is Strength
Previously, Lin Xian discovered from the safepany staff that an oxy-acetylene torch could forcefully cut open a safe. This revtion meant that the safe in his recurring dream was also vulnerable to this method.
He booted up hisputer and began his research. ording to online resources, the oxy-acetylene torch is a popr high-temperature gas cutting tool used across various industries. Its primary use is in cutting through irregr steel shapes like coils, ingots, and frames, which are often tricky to secure. The process involves two high-pressure liquefied gas tanks¡ªone containing acetylene and the other oxygen, the primary fuel for the torch. These tanks connect via a hose to a high-pressure spray gun. When adjusted to the correct pressure and gas ratio, and ignited, it produces a potent ¡°me de¡±¡ªakin to the me from a windproof lighter, but significantlyrger and longer.
At the center of this high-speed jet me, temperatures soar to 3000 degrees Celsius, well above steel¡¯s melting point of 1500 degrees Celsius. This intense heat easily melts steel, allowing for swift, effective cuts. Lin Xian watched several videos on video-sharing tforms demonstrating safe cutting with oxy-acetylene torches. In every instance, the torch¡¯s white-hot me sliced through the safes effortlessly, emitting a shower of tiny, glowing metal sparks. Within mere seconds, the safes were breached.
The edges of the cuts, glowing with residual molten steel, seemed almost to concede defeat to the overpowering heat. Lin Xian knew the safe from his dream well. Its paint was mostly chipped off, revealingyers of rust beneath¡ªa clear sign of its steelposition and age. Given steel¡¯s melting point, cutting the dream safe with an oxy-acetylene torch would pose no difficulty.
Further research confirmed the widespread avability and mature technology of oxy-acetylene torches. They could be found at construction sites, steel markets, and even online. Small roadside shops crafting steel frame billboards typically possessed such equipment.
¡°If it¡¯s thismon, it should be easy to find one in the dream too,¡± Lin Xian mused. He recalled how, during elementary school, he and his friend Gao Yang would pass a street lined with billboards. The workers there used both electric welders and oxy-acetylene torches. The intense light and heat from these tools forced the workers to wear heavy goggles. The idental nces Lin Xian and Gao Yang stole at the mes left spots in their vision, simr to looking directly at the sun.
Finally shutting down hisputer, Lin Xian began contemting his strategy for that night¡¯s dream:
¡°Locating an oxy-acetylene torch in the dream should be manageable. The challenge lies in transporting such bulky andplex equipment to the bank vault.¡±
The tanks were hefty, requiring two people to carry each one¡ªhence, a minimum of four individuals was needed for the task. Additionally, hoses, spray guns, and goggles were essential, meaning five or six participants were necessary to execute this n.¡°Five or six people¡ Where can I find so many allies in the dream?¡± He considered his potential allies¡ªBig Cat Face and CC. Even if they set aside their past conflicts and coborated, they would still fall short in numbers.
¡°Should I involve Big Cat Face¡¯s unreliable underlings?¡± Lin Xian reflected on Old One, Old Two, and Old Three¡ªtheir earlier demise in the story due to their respective ws: greed, lust, and treachery. ¡°Can I depend on such wed characters?¡± Despite his reservations, he recognized that he had little choice but to risk it.
¡°To pull this off, I¡¯ll need to unite these self-serving, unreliable individuals and coax them into cooperation¡ This is going to be quite the undertaking.¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, envisioning the n for the forting dream¡ªthe ¡°aggressive safe-cracking operation¡±:
Convince Big Cat Face and CC to resolve their differences and coborate.
Lead them to secure the oxy-acetylene torch equipment, load it into a van, and transport it to the designated bank.
Prevent Big Cat Face from dismissing his underlings, utilizing them instead asbor to transport the heavy gas tanks to the vault.
Assemble the torchponents and employ the high-temperature me to breach the safe effectively.
¡°Yes, this n is logically sound.¡±
With the 3000-degree Celsius oxy-acetylene torch at his disposal, traditional passwords were irrelevant.
After a routine day at work, Lin Xian returned home for a rare on-time departure. He ate a simple dinner, watched some television, and prepared for his nightly adventure. Having navigated this dream for over two decades, he knew precisely where to find construction markets and advertising shops to acquire an oxy-acetylene torch. The real test would be ensuring Big Cat Face and CC¡¯s cooperation. With his extensive knowledge of the dream world and enough leverage, persuading them seemed feasible. Afterpleting his nightly routine, he switched off the lights and settled into bed.
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
A familiar summer breeze caressed his face as he entered the dream. It had been some time since Lin Xian had felt such warmth in a dream, his body instantly responding to the temperature. He nced at a nearby electronic sign:
[August 28, 2624]
[21:42]
Everything around him¡ªpeople, scenes, and the environment¡ªremained unchanged. However, Lin Xian anticipated significant developments once Professor Xu Yun¡¯s research was published, propelling human technology forward. He spected about the potential transformations in the square, envisioning changes in technology levels, building architectures, lifestyles, and even children¡¯s toys.
¡°The dream that has been consistent for 23 years is finally on the cusp of transformation.¡± ¡°Will this square still exist? What will the surroundings look like?¡± As he pondered the inevitable changes, a sense of reluctance washed over him. ¡°While there¡¯s still time¡ let¡¯s open the safe. I¡¯m quite curious about what¡¯s inside.¡±
He noticed two boys abandoning their Ultraman role-y nearby. Lin Xian stepped forward, picked up a discarded Ultraman mask, and donned it. Approaching a burly figure disembarking from a van, he called out: ¡°Big Cat Face!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± The figure, masked as Rhine Cat, turned. Lin Xian ced his hand on Big Cat Face¡¯s shoulder, leaning in to whisper:
¡°Listen carefully, I have something important to tell you¡¡±
Chapter 52: The Three of Us
¡°Come on, hurry up!¡± Lin Xian called out.
¡°She tricked me!¡± Big Cat Face eximed from inside the van, turning to Lin Xian, who was adjusting an Ultraman mask. ¡°Brother, you know about my family and my three underlings. I can tell you¡¯re no ordinary person. I trust you! But you mentioned leading me to a massive stash of gold bars. Is that really true? I¡¯m not doubting you, but where in this city could we possibly find so much gold?¡±
Earlier, Lin Xian had intercepted Big Cat Face in the square, inviting him into the van for a detailed conversation. Armed with superior knowledge, Lin Xian quickly earned Big Cat Face¡¯s trust. The next step was to persuade him to set aside past grievances and coborate on his n.
Facing Big Cat Face, Lin Xian nodded, ¡°Why would I lie after sharing so many secrets with you? I know this city inside out. I know exactly where the hidden money is. There are people here whose wealth isn¡¯t stored in banks, and they wouldn¡¯t dare report a theft to the police. Stealing from them is our safest bet.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Lin Xian nced at his watch and shook his head, ¡°At this hour, it¡¯s toote. We¡¯ll have to make our move tomorrow.¡±
¡°What¡¯s one more day?¡± Big Cat Faceughed heartily, pping Lin Xian on the back. ¡°Tomorrow it is! So, what¡¯s the n for today?¡±
Lin Xian opened the van door and stepped out. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll fetch our password expert. Remember our agreement: I¡¯ll lead you to the money tomorrow, and you can settle your score with her, but today, you follow my orders.¡±
After leaving Big Cat Face¡¯s van, Lin Xian closed the door behind him and adjusted his mask. He crossed the square and soon spotted CC. She looked the same as always, dressed in a long ck trench coat, her hair pulled back tightly, slender as a model, with the Ultraman mask as their secret signal.
¡°CC,¡± Lin Xian approached her directly, ¡°let¡¯s keep this brief. Our goal is to crack open the safe in the bank vaultbeled ¡®Lin Xian.¡¯ This won¡¯t be easy. Your portableputer can bypass the vault¡¯s electronic lock, but the safe has an old-fashioned mechanical lock, which makes your hacking skills irrelevant. We won¡¯t manage to open it before the main power is restored.¡±¡°Trust me, I know that warehouse and that safe better than you. I know how to get it open, and I¡¯ve already handled Big Cat Face. If you want into that safe¡ join my team. Let¡¯s work together.¡±
CC eyed Lin Xian warily but listened intently. Then, stepping back, she assessed him once more.
¡°Do you know the safe¡¯sbination?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Lin Xian admitted candidly, ¡°But we don¡¯t need thebination to open it. I n to steal a set of oxyacetylene cutting torches from the building materials market. With the torch¡¯s high-temperature me, we can cut the safe open¡ªmuch faster and more reliable than cracking the code. So¡ are you in or out?¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch, showing CC the time. ¡°If you don¡¯t join us, we might get dyed at the warehouse¡¯s electronic door, but we could still st it open with C4 explosives. Our time is limited. You have 30 seconds to decide.¡±
CC paused, reflecting for a moment. ¡°I have one question.¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡±
CC faced Lin Xian. ¡°You seem to know a lot. Since you¡¯re also after the safebeled ¡®Lin Xian¡¯¡ how much do you actually know about Lin Xian?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°There are many people named Lin Xian. I can¡¯t confirm if the one on the safe is the one I know.¡±
¡°And the Lin Xian you know, what kind of person is he?¡± CC pressed, gazing intently at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m curious why you¡¯re so eager to open this safe. What¡¯s your real goal?¡±
Lin Xian smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t have a specific goal¡ªI¡¯m just curious. Aren¡¯t you hiding something as well? How about we exchange information? I¡¯ll tell you about the Lin Xian I know, and you tell me why you want to open the safe. Deal?¡±
As expected, CC remained silent again. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised. Her reticence about her motives and the safe had always been a guarded secret.
Lin Xian checked his watch again. ¡°Five seconds left.¡±
¡°I¡¯m in,¡± CC finally responded, crossing her arms. ¡°But only if you¡¯ve really dealt with Big Cat Face. He¡¯s not someone to take lightly.¡±
Lin Xian lowered his arm, gesturing towards the van parked nearby. ¡°Wee aboard. Let¡¯s go; I¡¯ll introduce you to our third teammate.¡±
With his advantage in intelligence, everything proceeded smoothly. Lin Xian slid open the van¡¯s rear door, gestured for CC to enter first, then climbed in after her, pulling the door shut from the inside.
Bang! The rickety door closed, causing the whole van to shake. For a moment, no one spoke. Three unlikely characters sat silently together in a van. Big Cat Face peered into the rearview mirror, observing the backseat. He saw two stern Ultraman masks facing forward, and in the corner of the mirror, a distorted Rhine Cat mascot squeezed into a smile amidyers of fat.
This trio was absurdly mismatched!
¡°Ahem!¡± Big Cat Face cleared his throat and turned around, peering through the small holes in his mask at the twin Ultramans. ¡°So¡ can someone exin what¡¯s happening? Female Ultraman, you don¡¯t need to be so guarded. Our issue is resolved, and as for the money, the male Ultraman said he¡¯d handle it.¡±
¡°Male Ultraman, aren¡¯t you leading us tonight? Why don¡¯t youy out the n?¡±
Lin Xian collected his thoughts and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the small talk and get to work. Big Cat Face, you head to the east side¡¯s building materials market first. We need to find that oxyacetylene cutting torch. If it¡¯s not there, circle back to the south¡¯s advertising market. We need the equipment to cut open the safe.¡±
Vroom¡ªthe van started up, heading towards the building materials market. Throughout the journey, no one uttered a word. Lin Xian sat calmly. He sped his hands over his stomach, watching the streetlights recede steadily, like the passing of time, like a recurring dream.
Chapter 53: The Motley Crew
After an exhaustive search, the trio finally located an oxy-acetylene cutting torch at an advertising store.
With a cylinder each of liquid acetylene and liquid oxygen, Lin Xian and Big Cat Face made two trips to load the heavy tanks into their van. Meanwhile, CC gathered the gas hoses and the torch, managing to nab three welding masks from a neighboring store to ensure clear visibility during the cutting and prevent any retinal damage.
¡°I grabbed a lighter too. We¡¯re all set,¡± she announced.
Lin Xian checked his watch, noting the time they had lost. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the bank!¡±
He, Big Cat Face, and CC climbed back into the van, fastening their seatbelts. Everything was proceeding smoothly.
Boom¡ª
The van vibrated as it restarted.
During the drive, Lin Xian reminded Big Cat Face of an important detail: ¡°Cat Face, remember, there¡¯s no cash in that bank vault. Hold off on taking out your three guys. We need them alive for now. We can¡¯t lug these cylinders by ourselves. We need your guys to help carry them.¡±
Big Cat Face nodded, his hands steady on the steering wheel. ¡°Everything¡¯s arranged. Don¡¯t worry. But keep it under wraps that the vault¡¯s empty. They¡¯re here for a payday. If they suspect there¡¯s no loot, they won¡¯t stick their necks out for us. Just follow the n, and I¡¯ll manage my crew.¡±¡
Soon, they pulled up at the familiar bank entrance. Checking his watch again, Lin Xian frowned at thete hour caused by their equipment hunt. He swung the van door open. Three masked aplices were already there, waiting.
Two of them grabbed the acetylene cylinder while Big Cat Face and another hoisted the oxygen cylinder. Lin Xian juggled three welding masks in one hand and the torch and hose in the other. CC, carrying only the password-crackingputer, appeared travel-light byparison.
The six of them stood ready at the bank¡¯s entrance.
¡°Go!¡± Big Cat Facemanded.
The hastily formed eclectic group marched into the bank. They reached the vault door without issue, the silver keypad ominously illuminated.
The three masked men chattered excitedly:
¡°Once this job¡¯s done, I¡¯m heading straight home to get hitched!¡±
¡°Face, you got an escape n for us? Are we sticking around?¡±
¡°Focus, you two! Whether it¡¯s gold or cash,undering¡¯s the tricky part, but I¡¯ve got that figured out. I¡¯ll move the money.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled to himself listening to them. Always thinking about the next step! Each harbored their selfish desires¡ Big Cat Face¡¯s team was a handful. That was also Big Cat Face¡¯s doing. As their leader, he hadn¡¯t set a strong example.
With a chuckle, Big Cat Face moved forward. He yfully tousled one underling¡¯s hair and slung his arms around the others.
¡°Life¡¯s been tough with me, hasn¡¯t it? If there¡¯s a next life, let¡¯s skip the danger. We¡¯ll just wander the streets, carefree, living simple lives like when we were young punks. It wasn¡¯t so bad then.¡±
Tears welled up in the underlings¡¯ eyes as they embraced their boss.
¡°Alright, set up those cylinders by the wall. We¡¯ll celebrate properly once this is over!¡± Big Cat Face¡¯sughter echoed as he directed them towards the wall.
¡°The best is yet toe! Hahaha!¡±
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As the underlings turned, Big Cat Face swiftly drew his gun and executed each with a shot to the head!
Thud, thud, thud¡
Their bodies copsed, blood pooling around them, their eyes vacant.
Click!
CC recoiled, pointing her gun at Big Cat Face, her stance tense and eyes alert.
¡°Take it easy,¡± he said calmly. Spinning the gun, he holstered it again. Removing his mask, he took out a cigarette and lit it, exhaling a stream of smoke.
¡°House rules. Just keeping my guys in line. It doesn¡¯t change our ns.¡±
CC¡¯s grip on her gun rxed slightly as she nced at Lin Xian. He gestured reassuringly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, CC. Go work on the vault door. A wise man doesn¡¯t get involved in family matters. His crew, his rules.¡±
CC paused, then holstered her weapon and turned to the vault door, herputer in hand. Lin Xian observed Big Cat Face, who was flicking ash off his cigarette.
Kicking at a corpse, he finally asked the big man: ¡°Have you always been this hard? Or did it start after your daughter died?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t recall¡¡± Big Cat Face bit his cigarette, grinning wryly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t like this as a kid. Neither were they.¡±
He gestured towards the dead men. ¡°Back in our vige, we were brothers. Sure, we weren¡¯t saints, but we weren¡¯t heartless either. But the world changes people. Moneyplicates loyalties. When we were broke, we were brothers; with money, everyone¡¯s motives emerged.¡±
He paused, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right. If my daughter were still here, maybe things would be different. If she were alive, I¡¯d live a decent life, be there for her school meetings.¡±
¡°But there are no ¡®ifs¡¯ in life. It¡¯s just this¡ªliving for revenge. Nothing else matters.¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent as Big Cat Face snuffed out his cigarette. Life can change.
With Professor Xu Yun¡¯s paper poised to advance hibernation technology significantly, the future and reality might shift dramatically. When the butterfly effect in time and space activates, not just for Big Cat Face, but For CC, everyone in this heist, the future six centuries ahead, even the entire dream world, things will be radically different.
Will Big Cat Face remain a merciless criminal? Will CC still be a code cracker? Will the Otter Brothers keep dueling in the square as usual?
Uncertainty reigns. But change is inevitable.
¡
Beep, beep.
The vault door beeped twice, then clicked as the lock indicator turned from red to green, swinging the heavy door open.
CC looked back at the men. ¡°The door¡¯s open!¡±
Chapter 54: A Different CC
CC skillfully decoded the lock mechanism, flung open the door, and surged forward. Trailing behind her, Big Cat Face hefted an acetylene canister, while Lin Xian entered with caution. Stepping into the bank vault, Lin Xian froze in surprise.
¡°What?¡± he gasped, eyes sweeping across the rows of gleaming, new safes mounted along the walls. ¡°What¡¯s happened here? When did they change?¡± His memory painted a picture of old, chipped, and rusted safes, a stark contrast to their current pristine condition.
He hurried to a safebeled with his name, tracing his fingers across its sleek, polished exterior.
Thump!
Frustration boiled over, and Lin Xian struck the safe, his thoughts echoing Professor Xu Yun¡¯s discovery: ¡°In my research, I stumbled upon a byproduct. I sent it to a colleague at the Aerospace Institute, who confirmed its properties. It¡¯s an aluminumpound, forming an alloy that is extremely hard, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant, potentially useful in aerospace. I¡¯d nned to publish this data on the aluminum alloy. While its exact applications are not yet clear, it could revolutionize various technologies.¡±
ng!
His mask and torch ttered to the ground. ¡°We¡¯ve been duped.¡±
CC and Big Cat Face looked at him, confused. ¡°Duped? By whom?¡±
Pointing at the namete on his safe, Lin Xian sighed. ¡°We were tricked by Lin Xian himself.¡±Big Cat Face and CC exchanged bewildered looks, but Lin Xian grasped the implications of this time-space anomaly and the resulting butterfly effect. ¡°Time-space changes are unpredictable,¡± he realized. Although he intended to alter the future, the results were not always beneficial. In this case, his earlier interventions had unexpectedly led to the current predicament. The brand-new safes were a direct consequence of his actions 600 years prior, which had inadvertently triggered a time-space shift.
Originally, the safes in the bank vault were made of aged iron, their paint nearly chipped away, and their interiors rusty, easily qualifying as museum artifacts without proper care. However, his historical meddling led Professor Xu Yun to discover a new aluminum alloy during his research on hibernation fluids. Although Lin Xian was unfamiliar with the exact properties of this alloy, Professor Xu Yun had described it as highly durable, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant¡ªqualitiester affirmed by the Aerospace Institute.
If this patent went public, industries, including safe manufacturers, would swiftly adopt the new aluminum alloy. Observing the untouched, shiny safes, Lin Xian understood the rming logic: his past actions had rebounded disastrously in the present.
But why did the new aluminum alloy prompt a time-space shift, whereas the hibernation fluid did not? What was the critical difference?
¡°Hey, snap out of it! Bring the torch over here!¡± Big Cat Face was setting up the oxygen tank, retrieving the torch and hose Lin Xian had dropped to begin connecting them. CC, still puzzled, approached Lin Xian. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say this high-temperature cutting torch could reach 3000 degrees, enough to melt any metal?¡±
Lin Xian, speechless, mused, ¡°It can definitely melt steel, which has a melting point of 1500 degrees. But if this alloy¡¯s melting point exceeds 3000 degrees¡¡± He scratched his head, grappling with the irony of having outsmarted himself.
Whoosh¡ªBig Cat Face ignited the torch, its me turning a sharp blue with a white core, the kind needed to slice through steel. CC, setting aside further questions, removed her Ultraman mask, reced it with a welding helmet, and joined Big Cat Face as he adjusted the acetylene and oxygen mix. The me intensified, focusing into a thin, white core.
¡°Ready!¡± Big Cat Face dered, putting on his welding helmet and gearing up to cut. CC pointed to a nearby safe. ¡°Let¡¯s start with this one. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s inside, but we¡¯ll cut into it gradually from the side.¡±
¡°Okay, step back,¡± he directed.
Big Cat Face positioned the torch near the safe, its 3000-degree me hissing intensely. The room¡¯s temperature seemed to spike. Yet, contrary to expectations, no sparks flew; only the fierce roar of the me against the metal filled the silence.
After several tense minutes, Big Cat Face withdrew, lifting his welding helmet to inspect the safe¡ªunblemished and intact.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he spat on the safe¡¯s surface, and the saliva sizzled away instantly, indicating the metal had reached 3000 degrees yet remained unchanged.
¡°What is this material!¡± Big Cat Face eximed, ¡°Is it designed for spaceships!?¡±
Lin Xian nodded gravely, ¡°That might be one of your rare urate guesses¡ Are safes usually this tough?¡±
¡°Absolutely not!¡± Big Cat Face was bewildered. ¡°I¡¯ve cracked many safes, and none were this resilient!¡±
Lin Xian pondered¡ His assumption was wed. Even with time-space anomalies, typical safes wouldn¡¯t need ¡°spaceship armor.¡± What made these safes so unique that they required such advanced materials?
He didn¡¯t know the cost of the new aluminum alloy, but it seemed prohibitively expensive. Ordinary safes wouldn¡¯t justify this expense, hence Big Cat Face and CC¡¯s astonishment.
Ignoring their surprise, CC took the torch: ¡°Let me try.¡± Again, the intense me filled the room, but regardless of the angle or duration, the safes remained intact, unyielding like timeless relics.
¡°This is bizarre!¡± Frustrated, Big Cat Face loaded his gun and fired twice at another safe. Closer inspection revealed not a scratch; the surface was still pristine. ¡°This stuff is too tough!¡±
ng!
CC dropped the torch and helmet, wiping sweat from her brow. They all recognized the futility of their efforts.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, this is my fault,¡± Lin Xian admitted.
However, CC shook her head, her gaze not ming but understanding as she looked at Lin Xian: ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I see how much you wanted to open this safe, but it just wasn¡¯t possible.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback; he had expected CC to re at him and use him of lying, as she had in the past. This was the first time she had spoken to him so kindly, suggesting her feelings for him were quite positive this time.
Removing his mask, Lin Xian faced CC: ¡°It seems impossible to break the safe by force. Guessing the password is our only option. I can¡¯t exin everything now, but I understand more, have more chances, and am closer to the correct answer.¡±
¡°So, CC, can we share information?¡± Lin Xian stepped closer, his expression earnest. ¡°Our goal is the same¡ªto open this safe. I can answer your earlier questions and tell you about the Lin Xian I know. In return, can you share any clues, information, or hints about this safe? If you provide critical tips¡ perhaps I can guess the password!¡±
After a moment of contemtion, CC nodded slowly through her Ultraman mask: ¡°Okay.¡±
Chapter 55: The Revelation
CC¡¯s sudden shift in attitude took Lin Xian by surprise. For the first time, she appeared genuinely patient and open.
This change was likely due to the recent developments between them. Their previous interactions had been marked by tension, suspicion, and conflict, making any peaceful exchange seem improbable. However, now united by a shared objective, they experienced an unexpected camaraderie.
Despite their failure to unlock the vault, they had acquired something much more significant: CC¡¯s trust. She was now prepared to divulge information, something she had previously withheld.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start,¡± Lin Xian began, leaning against the cool metal of the vault. He embarked on a narrative of his life, starting from his college graduation to his everyday work routine. However, he was only halfway through when CC stopped him.
¡°That¡¯s enough. You don¡¯t need to continue,¡± she interrupted, shaking her head. ¡°The Lin Xian you know isn¡¯t the same person who owns this vault.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled. He harbored doubts about whether the vault was truly his. Yet, a part of him hoped it belonged to him, possibly from the years 2032 or even 2042. This seemed usible, considering the current year was 2022, and he had never used the vault. Therefore, he wouldn¡¯t know the password.
But CC was resolute. ¡°Because¡ it¡¯s too mundane,¡± she sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know the real Lin Xian. I don¡¯t know any Lin Xian at all. But I can tell that the one you describe isn¡¯t the owner of this vault.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Since you¡¯re not interested, it¡¯s your turn to answer my question.¡±
CC nodded and leaned back against the vault. ¡°I don¡¯t know where to start. My memories have been a jumble since childhood. It feels like my mind contains memories that aren¡¯t mine, yet they are part of my life. It¡¯s as if¡ there¡¯s another version of me from a different world.¡±¡°Is it a dream?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
CC shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s definitely not a dream. These memories are fragmented and unclear, but they are certainly not dreams.¡±
¡°Could it be parallel worlds?¡± Lin Xian pressed on.
CC paused for a moment before nodding slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s hard to exin. I¡¯ve consulted doctors, and they suggested it might be delusions or dissociative identity disorder. But these fragmented memories feel too real to be mere fantasies. That¡¯s why I wanted to prove their validity.¡±
She turned and pointed at the vault bearing Lin Xian¡¯s name. ¡°In those memories, a middle-aged man with long, messy hair and a bushy beard told me he left something for me in this vault. He said¡ª¡±
Click! The circuit reconnected with a sharp sound.
Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!
A piercing rm suddenly red.
¡°Damn it, the main circuit¡¯s back on, and it triggered the rm!¡± eximed Big Cat Face, who had been engrossed in the conversation. ¡°We need to run!¡±
CC quickly stood up, grabbed her mask, and turned to leave.
¡°Wait!¡± Lin Xian grabbed CC¡¯s arm. ¡°Finish what you were saying! Just one more sentence won¡¯t hurt!¡±
CC turned back to him. ¡°The man said, ¡®If you want to know the whole truth, open the vault.¡¯ He was about to tell me the password but didn¡¯t. Maybe it¡¯s because the memory is iplete.¡±
Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!
As the rm continued, CC pulled away from Lin Xian. ¡°One more thing,¡± she said, turning back with a rare smile. Her eyes twinkled like crescents, and dimples appeared on her cheeks. ¡°The man¡¯s voice sounded a lot like yours. That¡¯s why I agreed to work with you today. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t havee.¡±
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blinding white light engulfed the room, obscuring everything.
¡
¡
Thud, thud, thud¡
The harsh wind rattled the windows. Lin Xian awoke in his bedroom, the cold wind whipping against the ss. He sat up, threw off the covers, and reflected on CC¡¯s words from what seemed like a dream. Although they hadn¡¯t opened the vault, he had gleaned significant insights.
Stepping into his slippers, Lin Xian walked to his desk, turned on themp, and picked up a pen. ¡°This dream provided valuable information. I need to organize my thoughts,¡± he mused.
He began to jot down his revtions on a nk sheet of paper:
Time-Space Shifts Are Uncontroble
This realization had caused Lin Xian considerable trouble. He had believed that leveraging future resources could benefit him and improve the future. However, reality proved otherwise. ¡°Changing the future is unpredictable¡ it might backfire and harm me,¡± he noted, resolving to consider the consequences more carefully before attempting to alter reality again.
Time-Space Shifts Require an Irreversible Anchor Point
Lin Xian pondered why Professor Xu Yun¡¯s new aluminum alloy had triggered a time-space butterfly effect while the hibernation chamber fluid had not. The answer was simple: ¡°You can¡¯t unspill water.¡±
The aluminum alloy had been dispatched to the aerospace research institute, destined to influence various industries over the next 600 years. Even if the institute attempted to monopolize it, it would inevitably seep into the public domain. From the moment it was shared, it became an irreversible anchor point, initiating the time-space shift.
Conversely, the hibernation fluid remained unpublished, existing in a ¡°Schr?dinger state¡± with only Xu Yun holding the original paper. There were multiple ways to prevent its publication. Lin Xian himself could persuade Xu Yun to alter the disclosure method. Xu Yun had previously sought his opinion, and Lin Xian believed Xu Yun would heed his advice. Therefore, the hibernation fluid had not yet been ¡°spilled,¡± and no time-space shift had urred.
¡°Time-space shifts need an irreversible anchor point¡ interesting. I thought it would be real-time changes,¡± Lin Xian contemted, sensing more rules and principles governing these shifts.
CC Has Memories That Don¡¯t Belong to Her
This was a challenging concept, but Lin Xian understood it, having experienced simr confusion in his dreams. He was uncertain if CC suffered from delusions or a dissociative disorder. Her memories were iplete, fragmented shards. To ascertain their reality, CC risked opening the vault.
¡°This parallels my own quest to verify dreams, seeking truth and answers,¡± he reflected.
The Bearded Man in CC¡¯s Memories Sounded Like Him
This revtion was pivotal. ¡°No wonder CC didn¡¯t harm me before and exhibited a strange trust¡ it¡¯s because of my voice,¡± Lin Xian realized. This rified her prior behavior. Although CC did not know him, his voice resembled someone from her memories, inciting her curiosity and trust.
Yet, Lin Xian was certain the bearded man wasn¡¯t him. ¡°Firstly, I can¡¯t live for 600 years. Secondly, many people have simr voices. Her voice is familiar to me too. Lastly, and most importantly¡ª¡±
Lin Xian touched his clean-shaven chin, frowning slightly. ¡°I would never grow long hair and a beard¡ never.¡±
Chapter 56: An Qing
Lin Xian sat in his office, reflecting on how he would look with messy hair and a burly beard. Resting his chin on his hand, he thought deeply. ¡°Could it really be that the safe isn¡¯t mine?¡± he wondered.
He had tried every conceivable eight-digitbination¡ªimportant dates, strange sequences like 26240828, 0042, and various others, even backward and in random orders. Yet, he hadn¡¯t missed a single date.
¡°People don¡¯t set passwords they can¡¯t remember, especially not just a string of numbers. There must be some meaning behind it,¡± he reasoned.
¡°If this safe really belongs to some other Lin Xian who just shares my name, I¡¯ll never crack the code in my lifetime.¡±
Yawning widely, Lin Xian struggled with the fatigue from countless sleepless nights. Barely managing to sit up straight, he felt a wave of drowsiness crash over him. His eyelids grew heavy.
¡°I should get some sleep,¡± he mumbled to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it more at work tomorrow.¡±
The next morning, Lin Xian arrived at work on time. The office was abuzz, the atmosphere reminiscent of a New Year celebration. Following the sessfulunch of the Rhine brand, all sectors of MX Company had seen explosive growth, resulting in pay raises for everyone. This sparked a festive spirit, almost like a golden age had begun.
These days, work was light, and everyone looked forward to the celebratory banquet at the Victoria Club on Saturday night. The Victoria Club, one of the top three venues in Donghai City, was entirely booked by Zhao Ying Jun. All employees connected with the Rhine project were invited to this grand event. The buzz was well-deserved.
The presales of the Rhine moisturizing cream alone had helped MX Company surpass its sales targets for the first quarter of 2023 before the New Year had even arrived. They had already achieved their sales goals for the next year¡¯s first quarter, a tremendous feat.Lin Xian, now dubbed the ¡°Father of the Rhine Cat,¡± briefly became an inte sensation. But such fame was fleeting. In the shadow of the adorable Rhine Cat mascot, Lin Xian¡¯s identity was of little consequence¡ªmuch like the unknown designer of Hello Kitty.
Upon reaching his floor, Lin Xian pressed the elevator button for the 20th floor. The logistics department had just finished setting up his new office. When the doors slid open, he found the 20th floor much quieter than the bustling 17th floor. This floor was reserved mainly for those reporting directly to the vice presidents.
Stepping into his office, Lin Xian admired the upscale furnishings andyout. He was particrly pleased with the expanded space and additional features in the reception area, such as a tea machine, a small tea table, and various potted nts. The resting area even boasted a bed with a high-end mattress, still wrapped in stic and emitting a faint formaldehyde scent.
¡°Better air this ce out a bit,¡± Lin Xian thought.
He fully opened the window in the resting room, then closed the door behind him and settled into his new leather chair.
¡°Nice.¡±
The soft leather chair was far morefortable than his old ergonomic one. As he reclined, it made him feel instantly drowsy¡ªperfect for a quick nap.
After ying around with his new office gadgets, Lin Xian sat up straight, twirling a pen as he pondered over the previous night¡¯s dream. Sometimes he wondered if he was making things moreplicated than they needed to be.
If that safe wasn¡¯t his and CC was merely a figment of his imagination¡ªa split personality¡ªthen maybe none of this was his concern. Maybe he was just an outsider stirring the pot.
Still, one clue nagged at him, and he couldn¡¯t shake it off: ¡°I¡¯ve definitely heard CC¡¯s voice somewhere before, and she has heard my voice in her memories too. Could it really just be a coincidence?¡±
It was hard for Lin Xian to convince himself. If only one of them had recognized the voice, perhaps it could be dismissed as chance. But since both had the same reaction, it seemed too significant to ignore.
At least CC could describe the middle-aged, bearded man who sounded like him in detail. But Lin Xian had no memory of where or when he might have heard CC¡¯s voice.
¡°Where did I hear CC¡¯s voice¡¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, twirling a pencil in thought. He remembered thest scene from his recent dream: CC smiling at him unexpectedly.
He had never expected this cold and detached female assassin to smile. Yet when she did, her smile was surprisingly sweet, her eyes curving into crescent moons and revealing two charming dimples.
The pencil in Lin Xian¡¯s hand ceased its twirling. Almost instinctively, he began to sketch on a nk sheet of A4 paper. The rhythmic scratching of pencil on paper filled the quiet room.
He sketched the outline of her face first¡ªsharp jawline, small oval face, strands of hair by her ears, long eyshes, upturned corners of her mouth, eyes shaped like crescent moons brimming withughter, faintly visible dimples. The details on the paper became more refined as CC¡¯s smiling face gradually emerged.
As Lin Xian sketched, he marveled at his undiminished skill. Back in high school, he had been an art student, one of the top sketchers in his province. Whether it was innate talent or the result of relentless practice, he had spent countless nights honing his skills, even dreaming of ces to practice drawing.
The pencil continued to scratch the paper until Lin Xian¡¯s drawing wasplete. The girl on the paper had her hair neatly tied back, eyes like crescent moonsplemented by a teardrop-shaped mole. Her small face and infectious smile rendered her lively and endearing. The sketch was so detailed it could rival a ck-and-white photograph, perhaps even more three-dimensional.
Suddenly, the office door banged open.
¡°Lin Xian, deliver this invitation to Professor Xu Yun,¡± said Zhao Ying Jun as she entered without knocking.
Lin Xian looked up, startled. It was typical of Zhao Ying Jun¡ªshe was one of the few who dared enter offices unannounced.
¡°Oh, okay,¡± Lin Xian replied, standing to take the red invitation. Zhao Ying Jun nced at the sketch on the desk and nodded.
¡°Nice drawing,¡± shemented.
¡°Thanks,¡± Lin Xian responded, a bit puzzled.
¡°It looks just like her,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added, almost as an afterthought.
Lin Xian stepped back, bewildered.
¡°You know who I drew?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked up, a hint of surprise in her tone.
¡°Are you joking, Lin Xian? Everyone in the Donghai business circle knows who she is,¡± she continued, pointing at the smiling girl on the paper. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter¡¡±
¡°Chu An Qing?¡± Lin Xian finished, his voice tinged with astonishment.
Chapter 57: Side Effects
¡°This is Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter?¡± Lin Xian asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Zhao Ying Jun nced at him as if he had said something incredibly stupid. ¡°Why are you so surprised? Didn¡¯t you sketch this yourself?¡±
¡°No, no¡ I didn¡¯t sketch her!¡± Lin Xian quickly rified, waving his hands to emphasize his point. ¡°I don¡¯t even know Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter. I¡¯ve never met her, so how could I possibly know what she looks like? Why would I draw her?¡±
To clear up any confusion, Lin Xian rotated the drawing ny degrees so Zhao Ying Jun could see it properly. Pointing to a tiny detail in the sketch, he said, ¡°See? There¡¯s a teardrop mole right here by her eye.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, still looking puzzled. ¡°Chu An Qing does have a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. What are you trying to say?¡±
Frustrated by the misunderstanding, Lin Xian exined, ¡°President Zhao, I honestly don¡¯t know Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter. This is actually the first time I¡¯m hearing her name from you. You mentioned her once at the science fundraiser, but she wasn¡¯t there that evening. I¡¯ve never seen her and have no idea what she looks like.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly, realizing her mistake. ¡°Alright, I misunderstood.¡±
She then pointed at the invitation in Lin Xian¡¯s hand, changing the topic. ¡°This is the invitation to Saturday evening¡¯s celebration banquet. You should give it to Professor Xu Yun immediately. If he¡¯s attending, we¡¯ll need to arrange his transportation.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, examining the high-quality invitation with the MXpany logo printed on the back. ¡°I¡¯ll deliver it to him right away.¡±As Zhao Ying Jun turned to leave, she paused and looked back at Lin Xian. ¡°By the way, although I¡¯m not a fan of office romances, we do have some nice girls at ourpany. If you¡¯re considering dating, maybe think about someone more achievable.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback, realizing Zhao Ying Jun assumed he had a romantic interest in Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter.
He quickly tucked the drawing into his ck notebook. ¡°I really have no intentions like that, President Zhao. I just felt like sketching because I hadn¡¯t done so in a while. If they look simr, it¡¯s just a coincidence.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t respond, merely nodding and saying, ¡°Alright, get back to work, Lin Xian.¡±
She offered him onest look before exiting the office and closing the door behind her.
Lin Xian sat down heavily on the sofa, pressing his forehead in his hands. Despite Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s instruction to get back to work, her eyes seemed to say, ¡°Stop chasing fantasies.¡±
¡°Do they really look that alike?¡± he wondered aloud. He was certain he had never met Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter, aside from possibly seeing a girl with a high, bouncy ponytail near the school gate once.
¡°They can¡¯t be identical twins. How could they look exactly alike? CC and Chu An Qing are separated by 600 years and countless generations,¡± Lin Xian mused.
He considered the mysterious [Hibernation Chamber]¡
¡°But in CC¡¯s future, hibernation chambers don¡¯t exist. It¡¯s impossible for Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter to use one to survive until 600 yearster.¡±
Before changing Coco Cat to Rhine Cat, the dream had always featured only Coco Cat, not Rhine Cat. Even if Professor Xu Yun invented the hibernation chamber tomorrow, it wouldn¡¯t exin CC appearing in yesterday¡¯s dream.
[The butterfly effect from a time-space shift cannot ur in the future before the shift.]
Yet, nothing was certain. ¡°I need to verify this before drawing any conclusions.¡±
Whether it was confirming with CC or Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter, Lin Xian felt there was more to uncover. The fragmented and ¡°unbelonging¡± memories CC had mentioned could hold the key.
Standing up, he picked up Professor Xu Yun¡¯s invitation and inspected it. The unsealed invitation revealed Professor Xu Yun¡¯s name prominently at the top, with the details of the banquet boldly emphasized.
The event was set for 8:30 PM the day after tomorrow at Victoria Hall in Donghai City.
¡°I should deliver this to Professor Xu Yun and confirm his attendance.¡±
¡
Lin Xian took a taxi to Donghai University. With Xu Yun¡¯s rising fame, security at the gate had tightened, barring media and journalists to prevent disturbances.
Thanks to his youthful appearance, Lin Xian managed to slip through security. Upon reaching Professor Xu Yun¡¯sb, he found it deserted. A phone call revealed that Xu Yun was at the hospital with his daughter.
Holding the invitation, Lin Xian decided it was best to deliver it personally rather than by phone, out of respect for Xu Yun¡¯s recent achievements and his more avable time with his daughter, thanks to thepletion of the hibernation chamber¡¯s fluid.
He took another cab to the affiliated hospital and found Xu Yun in his daughter¡¯s immacte room, performing stretches on her limbs, all the while smiling and discussing his research with her. He shared that the first simple hibernation chambers would soon be ready, potentially allowing her to wake in a future where she could be healed and live a full life.
Upon Lin Xian¡¯s entry, Xu Yun greeted him warmly and introduced him to his daughter, ¡°Yi Yi, this is Lin Xian, to whom we owe much. He¡¯s been crucial in both my research and your future chances of waking up.¡±
¡°Yi Yi, when you wake and start anew, I might not be here. Make sure to visit Lin Xian often. Or, if you wake after a long hibernation¡ you might have to call him Uncle Lin Xian.¡±
Both men chuckled at the thought, pondering how long Yi Yi might sleep¡ªshe could even end up calling Lin Xian ¡®Grandpa¡¯ if decades pass.
¡°Professor Xu, why not consider hibernating alongside Yi Yi? Then, you could both enjoy the future together.¡±
Xu Yun¡¯s response was gentle but tinged with sadness. ¡°There¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told anyone yet. It will be public once my research is published and peer-reviewed¡¡±
He looked solemnly at Lin Xian. ¡°Do you know¡ what the biggest side effect of hibernation is?¡±
Chapter 58: Storm Approaching
Lin Xian shook his head, puzzled by the question. ¡°Hibernation has side effects?¡±
The notion was unfamiliar to him. In science fiction films, hibernation was depicted as a miraculous cure-all¡ªsleep for centuries without any issues. However, after listening to Professor Xu Yun¡¯s insights, Lin Xian realized it was moreplicated than he initially thought.
¡°Every medical procedure carries some risk. Can you name a treatment that doesn¡¯t have side effects? Especially something as intricate as human hibernation¡ªit¡¯s bound to have its challenges,¡± the professor remarked.
¡°I¡¯m not sure, Professor Xu,¡± Lin Xian responded. ¡°What exactly are the side effects of hibernation? Do they impact bodily functions?¡±
Professor Xu shook his head, tapping his temple thoughtfully. ¡°The most significant risk is memory loss due to the prolonged inactivity of brain signals,¡± he exined. ¡°Physically, there are no adverse effects; even muscle degradation can be countered with physical therapy. However, memory impairment from brain dormancy is unavoidable. Our current understanding suggests that hibernation significantly slows down physiological responses, but brain activity relies on intricate neural stimuli. The longer the hibernation, the more severe the memory loss. Typically, any hibernation exceeding twenty years could result inplete amnesia.¡±
Stunned by this revtion, Lin Xian pondered the implications. Although his expertise was in humanities, the concept of memory loss seemed logical, and it was a subject seldom explored in his favorite sci-fi stories. ¡°Science fiction doesn¡¯t always align with reality,¡± he realized.
Professor Xu gently stroked his daughter¡¯s delicate arm, smiling tenderly. ¡°Honestly, it doesn¡¯t matter if Yi Yi forgets me. She¡¯ll start afresh, whether or not she remembers her aging father.¡±
¡°But the thought of forgetting her is unbearable for me,¡± he confessed, his voice tinged with emotion. ¡°Yi Yi was full of life in her youth. My memories of her are precious and far too scarce; losing any would be devastating.¡±
¡°And what about our emotions? Waking up as strangers, devoid of any past connections¡ªthat¡¯s a terrifying prospect.¡±Xu Yun offered Lin Xian aforting smile. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯ve decided against hibernation. I¡¯ll treasure my memories of Yi Yi for as long as I live. Every moment will be dedicated to perfecting the hibernation technology for her future.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, if you¡¯re around when Yi Yi wakes up¡ please look after her.¡±
Lin Xian quickly objected, ¡°No, no, no. I can¡¯t take on such a responsibility!¡±
¡°Professor, don¡¯t be so dark,¡± Lin Xian tried to reassure him. ¡°The future of science is unpredictable. Maybe they¡¯ll find a solution to the memory problem. You need to stay healthy¡ what father wouldn¡¯t want to see his daughter¡¯s life unfold?¡±
Professor Xu smiled warmly but remained silent.
¡°So, Lin Xian, what brings you here today?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, producing an invitation. ¡°This Saturday night, MX Company is hosting a grand celebration, and they would be honored if you could attend.¡±
Expecting a polite decline, Lin Xian was surprised when¡
¡°Certainly,¡± Xu Yun agreed, grinning as he patted Lin Xian on the back. ¡°You¡¯ve been a great help. I owe it to you to support this event. Besides, I could use a bit of fun¡ªit¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve felt this light-hearted. We¡¯ll definitely share a toast that night!¡±
That evening, severalpany executives took Lin Xian out for a night on the town, which stretched into the early hours.
The next day, he reported Xu Yun¡¯s eptance to Zhao Ying Jun. She smiled knowingly, ¡°Sending you with the invitation was perfect. Had we approached him directly, he might have declined.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have any special influence,¡± Lin Xian confessed. ¡°It¡¯s just that the professor is in good spirits and eager to rx.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun handed him several more invitations from her desk. ¡°Here, take these extra ones. Feel free to invite family, ssmates, or friends.¡±
Lin Xian took just one. ¡°One is enough. I only have one friend in Donghai.¡± He had promised Gao Yang not to forget him should he be wealthy. His indulgent friend wouldn¡¯t want to miss avish banquet.
¡°Is this event exclusive to ourpany, aside from Professor Xu?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Zhao Ying Jun confirmed, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s primarily an internal gathering. I kept it small to maintain a rxed atmosphere.¡±
¡°But this morning, an influential figure asked to attend, wanting to extend his congrattions.¡±
¡°Who might that be?¡± Lin Xian inquired, intrigued.
¡°Someone you know,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, her smile broadening. ¡°Chu Shan He.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°Chu Shan He? His attendance is unexpected.¡±
¡°Not for us,¡± Zhao Ying Jun rified, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Chu Shan He isn¡¯t just interested in our modest achievements. He¡¯sing primarily to honor Professor Xu.¡±
¡°He¡¯s been a long-time supporter of the professor¡¯s work. As a passionate advocate for science, he¡¯s eager to personally congratte him.¡±
¡°He won¡¯t stay long, though. Chu Shan He is alwaysposed and dignified. Likely, he¡¯ll give a brief speech, pay his respects to the professor, and leave before the meal.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding the dynamics. Chu Shan He¡¯s attendance was a tribute to Professor Xu and a testament to his respect for the scientificmunity.
¡°This MX Company banquet is certainly attracting notable figures,¡± Lin Xian remarked. ¡°Having Professor Xu was impressive enough. Chu Shan He¡¯s presence adds significant prestige.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun paused, giving Lin Xian a meaningful look. ¡°Indeed, our banquet is of great significance.¡±
¡°Remember the science fundraiser? Chu Shan He often brings his beloved daughter to major events, almost as if he¡¯s showcasing her¡ ensuring everyone recognizes her beauty.¡±
¡°And so¡¡±
She nced at Lin Xian. ¡°Chu Shan He won¡¯t be arriving alone. He¡¯s bringing his daughter, Chu An Qing.¡±
Chapter 59: The Gathering
¡°Chu An Qing ising too?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, feeling more like he was organizing a mahjong team than a simple dinner.
What had begun as a modest celebration was rapidly turning into a major event, with an eclectic mix of attendees.
Traditionally, inviting family members to such a gathering was a sign of respect and underscored the event¡¯s importance. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Chu Shan He would bring his daughter. What did seem odd was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s knowing smirk. Clearly, the confusion surrounding that drawing hadn¡¯t been resolved.
¡°Ms. Zhao,¡± Lin Xian began, feeling it necessary to rify things, ¡°I think we should address this directly to avoid any future misunderstandings.¡±
¡°Go ahead,¡± Zhao Ying Jun encouraged.
¡°That painting was something I did casually. Any resemnce to Chu An Qing is purely coincidental. Plus, we all know who Chu Shan He is. His daughter is so young¡ I wouldn¡¯t dare have such thoughts.¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed. ¡°I understand. Just be aware of the potentialplications. Chu Shan He isn¡¯t just a business leader; he wields considerable influence. He¡¯s not someone you want to offend in Donghai City.¡±
¡°And as for whether Chu An Qing looks like your drawing¡ you can see for yourself at tomorrow¡¯s celebration dinner.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, curious about this coincidence. He would find out soon enough at the dinner.After leaving Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, he went back to work.
That afternoon, after finishing work, Lin Xian met Gao Yang at their favorite small restaurant.
Gao Yang, bursting with enthusiasm, removed his coat and eximed, ¡°Is it true, my friend? Are you taking me to the Victoria Club for dinner? Their buffet is famously expensive!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, brandishing the red invitation card. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡±
Gao Yang grabbed the invitation, his eyes lighting up as he read it. ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered what delicacies the wealthy indulge in to justify such prices!¡±
¡°By the way, Lin Xian, we¡¯ve both been swampedtely. I never got to ask about yourst psychiatrist visit¡¡±
Gao Yang pocketed the invitation, turning to Lin Xian with curiosity, ¡°Did you get to the bottom of it? Did you uncover anything about that girl?¡±
Lin Xian paused, setting down his chopsticks, and nodded. ¡°Yes, I did. Dr. Liu confirmed it. My dreams are just dreams, nothing more.¡±
He lied, preferring not to involve his friend in the darker truths. Acknowledging the reality of his dreams meant admitting to the existence of the Genius Club, shrouded in the mists of history and perhaps lurking nearby. It was better for Gao Yang to remain blissfully unaware.
¡°That¡¯s a relief, haha! Just a false rm!¡± Gao Yang raised his ss, chuckling, and clinked it with Lin Xian¡¯s, both men downing their drinks. ¡°Too bad! I was hoping those dreams might lead us to a fortune!¡±
Their catch-up extended beyond dinner. After a hearty meal, they continued their evening at their preferred bar, chatting until the wee hours.
The next day was Saturday, allowing them to sleep in before the big dinner.
On December 31, 2022, thest day of the year, Donghai City experienced an unusual snowfall, nketing the city in pristine white and heralding a promising new year.
Lin Xian opened a rarely used window, extending his hand to feel the snowkes dissolve on his fingertips.
¡°It¡¯s snowing,¡± he observed.
Unlike the north, snow was rare in Donghai, and heavy snow was even rarer. The snow barely umted on the ground, quickly turning to slush underfoot.
With winter days being short, it was nearly dark by the time Lin Xian, dressed and ready, left his house around 7 PM.
He arrived at the Victoria Club, immediately struck by the warmth and opulence of the venue, surpassing even Chu Shan He¡¯s previous gatherings in its modern luxury.
In the center of the hall was a small stage, surrounded by buffet tables and chairs, though the food had yet to be served. The d¨¦cor featured an abundance of Rhine Cat plush toys¡ªon stairs, tables, and even at the gift counter, their cute designs capturing attention.
As the clock neared 8:30 PM, Lin Xian checked his watch. Thete start was deliberate, given it was New Year¡¯s Eve and many guests were young and single, nning to stay for the midnight countdown.
¡°Lin Xian, Professor Xu Yun will be here soon. Let¡¯s go greet him,¡± Zhao Ying Jun called from the inner hall.
Lin Xian nodded and followed her, admiring her striking presence in a dark red gown that made her resemble a tall ss of wine, her essories gleaming with each step.
¡°How is Professor Xu Yun arriving?¡±
¡°He opted for a taxi,¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed. ¡°I had arranged a car to pick him up, but he preferred to keep a low profile, especially with the media frenzy outside.¡±
¡°That¡¯s typical of him.¡±
They stepped outside, where the cold bit sharply. Two attendants quickly opened ck umbres to protect them from the falling snow.
Zhao Ying Jun nced at her watch, rubbing her arms, ¡°He should be here any minute. He was at thest intersection when I called.¡±
She smiled at Lin Xian, ¡°Getting Professor Xu Yun to attend is quite an achievement. Apart from Chu Shan He, only you could have managed it.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done for Professor Xu Yun, or why he feels so indebted to you, but I¡¯m grateful for your help during MX Company¡¯s difficult period.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head modestly. ¡°I¡¯m just doing my part for thepany.¡±
A taxi turned the corner and approached. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun stepped away from the shelter of the umbre as the taxi halted.
¡°Professor Xu, wee,¡± Lin Xian greeted, opening the taxi door.
Professor Xu Yun shook hands with them both. ¡°Miss Zhao, thank you for this kind invitation.¡±
¡°It¡¯s our pleasure, Professor,¡± Zhao Ying Jun returned the smile. ¡°Please, let¡¯s go inside. It¡¯s chilly out here.¡±
Looking dapper in his suit, Professor Xu Yun stomped the snow from his shoes on the red carpet before heading inside with them.
Lin Xian followed, casting a nce back at the taxi and the snowden tracks it left behind.
Something felt amiss, but he couldn¡¯t quite ce what it was.
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice called him back to the moment.
He turned to find her and Professor Xu Yun waiting.
¡°Come on in,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, motioning towards the cheering crowd inside, ¡°The banquet¡¯s about to begin.¡±
Chapter 60: The Princess and the Dream
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s arrival electrified the atmosphere. With the main guest present, the celebration could officially begin.
Initially, Zhao Ying Jun nned for Professor Xu Yun to deliver a few words, but the professor politely declined. So, Zhao Ying Jun took the stage to deliver the opening remarks, highlighting the remarkable sales and achievements of the new Rhine brand and expressing gratitude to every employee for their hard work.
¡°Today¡¯s sess of MX Company and the Rhine brand¡¯s fantasticunch wouldn¡¯t be possible without the efforts of every one of you. But if we had to name the person we owe the most gratitude to¡ I believe we all have the same answer in our hearts.¡±
As Zhao Ying Jun finished speaking, the room erupted in apuse. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward Lin Xian, filled with recognition and admiration. They knew that without Lin Xian, there would be no celebration today. Whether it was designing the Rhine Cat or securing Professor Xu Yun¡¯s authorization, Lin Xian¡¯s contributions to MX Company were undeniable.
Now, the entirepany saw Lin Xian as the ¡°vice president,¡± and many even felt that Zhao Ying Jun was too conservative in not promoting Lin Xian directly to the vice president¡¯s position. As the apuse died down, Zhao Ying Jun extended her arm toward Lin Xian:
¡°Now, let¡¯s wee Team Leader Lin Xian to the stage to deliver our New Year¡¯s greeting.¡±
Amidst cheers and apuse, Lin Xian walked up to the stage, smiling as he took the microphone:
¡°Thank you, leaders and colleagues, for your recognition. First, I must rify¡ the sess of the Rhine brand belongs to everyone here. There is no distinction of greater or lesser contributions. Like everyone else, I just did my job.¡±
¡°Because we all did our jobs well, the Rhine brand could have such a sessfulunch. Therefore¡ each one of us is a hero of today¡¯s celebration!¡±¡°2022 is about to end, and in this year¡¡±
Having served as a host during his university years, Lin Xian¡¯s stage presence was solid. Coupled with his trained voice, everyone listened intently, deeply moved.
When Lin Xian finished his New Year¡¯s address, the hall was filled with another round of enthusiastic apuse, expressing admiration and respect for the youngest team leader and thepany¡¯s brightest young star. Then came the banquet. Exquisite dishes, fine wines, and an array of desserts were brought in by the waiters and neatly ced on the long tables.
The luxury and delicacy left everyone in awe.
Abalone and lobster were merely appetizers in the grand feast at the Victoria Club. Top-tier ingredients, prepared by world-renowned chefs, filled the air with mouth-watering aromas. Professor Xu Yun, though not ustomed to such asions, couldn¡¯t help but be infected by the joy around him. A few sses of wine and the relief of having achieved significant results in his research quickly immersed him in the festive mood, sharing many stories from his younger days with Lin Xian.
Shortly after the feast began, Gao Yang finally arrived, fashionablyte.
¡°Respect!¡± he shouted in greeting as he hurriedly made his way to Lin Xian, then dashed towards the lobsters to start eating. He had meticulously nned his route through the buffet to make the most of his stomach space and savor the finest delicacies.
¡°Can I sneak away with two bottles of red wine?¡± Gao Yang whispered to Lin Xian while holding a lobster w.
¡°¡If you pretend you don¡¯t know me,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly. ¡°Just don¡¯t get caught, or don¡¯t mention me if you do.¡±
¡°But I already told the receptionist we¡¯re good friends!¡± Gao Yang slurped on the lobster meat. ¡°We even added each other on WeChat. Though she seemed more interested in you, asking if you have a girlfriend.¡±
¡°Just keep it clean and don¡¯t embarrass me,¡± Lin Xian retorted.
At that moment, Market Team Leader Wang approached Zhao Ying Jun urgently.
¡°Director Zhao! Chairman Chu Shan He¡¯s car just arrived at the gate!¡±
His voice was loud, and as soon as people heard Chu Shan He¡¯s name, they fell silent¡
Chu Shan He¡¯s name was well-known in Donghai City, a frequent subject of news headlines. However, few had the chance to see him in person. Especially for ordinary people, encountering him even once in their lifetime would be rare. So, everyone instinctively cleared a path, eagerly awaiting Chu Shan He¡¯s arrival, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man himself.
Finally¡
The doors of the venue were pushed open by the attendants. A hearty, boomingugh echoed through first¡ª
¡°Hahaha¡ Congrattions! Congrattions to you all! Happy New Year!¡±
Chu Shan He, in a white suit, looked even more imposing and powerful. He greeted the crowd with sped hands, his smile radiant, his joy unmistakable, as he made his way to the center of the hall.
Behind him, a petite figure waved and smiled politely at the crowd. She wore a beige long gown, her fluffy brown hair tied tightly at the back, exposing her delicate, sculpted neck and jawline. Without any excessive makeup, her naturally beautiful face, coupled with a breezy smile, outshone any heavy makeup.
Following her father, she waved and smiled at the crowd. Her beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons, her dimples appearing faintly at the corners of her mouth, a sight to behold. The beauty mark at the corner of her left eye was the finishing touch, adding a striking elegance to her already stunning appearance.
For a moment, Lin Xian held his breath, unable to believe his eyes!
CC.
It was unmistakably CC!
The same hair color and style, the same crescent-shaped eyes, the same demeanor, the same sweet smile, the same slender, adorable figure, even the same dimples and beauty mark!
Finally, he understood¡
Why Zhao Ying Jun had instantly recognized CC¡¯s sketch, saying it was Chu An Qing¡ Because these two girls were simply identical!
No. Not just simr, not just alike, They were exactly the same!
Chu An Qing, walking towards him, was a perfect match for the CC who had smiled back at him in his dreams!
What was going on?
How could there be two people in the world who looked like they were copied and pasted? Moreover, separated by 600 years of time!
A myriad of mixed voices echoed chaotically in Lin Xian¡¯s mind¡ª
¡°Mr. Lin, are you sure you can distinguish reality from dreams?¡±
¡°CC, just call me CC.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t the girl you drew Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter¡ Chu An Qing?¡±
¡°Liar.¡±
¡°Do you know¡ what the biggest side effect of hibernation is?¡±
¡°At that time, you won¡¯t be able to tell reality from dreams.¡±
Under the bright lights of the hall, Lin Xian¡¯s vision blurred.
He stared at the approaching, smiling girl, their eyes meeting as Chu An Qing waved at him¡ And she gave him a sweet smile.
Chapter 61: Ive Seen You Before
Lin Xian observed the woman in front of him. Her sweet, charming smile was so genuine that it reminded him of the smile CC had worn in his dream.
However, Chu An Qing¡¯s nce at Lin Xian was brief. She quickly shifted her attention back to the others, smiling and waving with grace.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian realized Chu An Qing seemed unaware of who he was, treating him with the same polite, detached manner she extended to any other guest.
The resemnce to CC was uncanny, almost as if copied and pasted, causing Lin Xian to question his initial impressions.
Before he could ponder further, Chu Shan He, apanying Chu An Qing, approached with a boomingugh.
Zhao Ying Jun was the first to greet him. ¡°Mr. Chu, your presence honors us, especially considering your busy schedule.¡±
Chu Shan He, in a jovial mood, replied with augh. ¡°Not at all. The weather was terrible, and the traffic even worse. Please ept my apologies for our tardiness.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun then turned to Chu An Qing. ¡°An Qing, it¡¯s been a while. How¡¯s university life treating you?¡±
Chu An Qing giggled, her eyes sparkling, her smile radiant. ¡°Thank you for asking, sister. It¡¯s been fantastic.¡±Her father nced at her affectionately, then addressed Lin Xian. ¡°This young man seems quite promising. Is he a key member of your team?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled and nodded. ¡°Mr. Chu, you tter us. This is Lin Xian, the mind behind the Rhine Cat. He¡¯s our youngest department head. It¡¯s quite the coincidence. Lin Xian also graduated from Donghai University this fall, just like Professor Xu Yun and An Qing. Fate seems to have brought us together today.¡±
Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s university, Chu Shan He¡¯s eyes lit up with approval. ¡°Just graduated, young man? Which department?¡±
¡°The School of Art and Design,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly.
¡°What a small world!¡± Chu Shan Heughed heartily. ¡°An Qing is also in the School of Art, majoring in dance. She¡¯s been passionate about it since she was little and even performed at the freshman wee event¡ª¡±
¡°Dad!¡± Chu An Qing interjected, her cheeks coloring. ¡°Please, don¡¯t bring up such minor details¡¡±
She then turned to Lin Xian with a bright smile. ¡°Hello, Senior Lin Xian. I¡¯m a freshman this year. My name is Chu An Qing.¡±
Lin Xian returned her smile and nodded. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±
After exchanging more pleasantries with Zhao Ying Jun, Chu Shan He led his daughter to Professor Xu Yun, with Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian, wine sses in hand, trailing closely.
Upon spotting his benefactor, Professor Xu Yun was visibly pleased. He quickly set down his ss and warmly shook Chu Shan He¡¯s hand.
¡°Professor Xu, congrattions! Your perseverance has finally borne fruit, and your research has seeded!¡± Chu Shan He offered his congrattions first.
Professor Xu Yun, looking at him with gratitude and admiration, responded, ¡°Mr. Chu, your generous support over the years has been invaluable. I will find a way to repay your kindness when the opportunity arises.¡±
Chu Shan He waved away the gratitude. ¡°Your contributions to science and our nation are far more significant than any support I provided. Congrattions again, Professor Xu. Here¡¯s to even greater achievements!¡±
He then took a ss of red wine from a passing waiter and raised it in a toast.
After the toast, Chu Shan He introduced his daughter to Xu Yun. ¡°Professor Xu, this is my daughter, An Qing. I believe you¡¯ve met before.¡±
¡°Hello, Professor Xu,¡± Chu An Qing greeted him respectfully, bowing slightly with a smile.
Professor Xu nodded, regarding her thoughtfully. ¡°Thest time I saw An Qing, she was still in middle school. Time flies; now she¡¯s a university student.¡±
¡°Mr. Chu, my research has kept me so busy that I couldn¡¯t attend An Qing¡¯s enrollment,¡± Chu Shan He responded, shaking his head and smiling. ¡°Your research is far more crucial than school enrollment, though. An Qing has excelled in her studies. She even spoke as the freshman representative at the opening ceremony and performed at the wee event¡ª¡±
¡°Dad!¡± Chu An Qing interrupted, her face flushing. ¡°Must you keep mentioning that? It never ends!¡±
Chu Shan He chuckled and continued chatting with Professor Xu Yun.
Freshman representative speech? Opening ceremony?
Lin Xian seized on these details.
That exined it¡
No wonder CC¡¯s voice had seemed so familiar. He had heard it before. And earlier, Chu An Qing¡¯s voice had also sounded familiar, but he couldn¡¯t ce it.
Until now, he hadn¡¯t met or spoken to Chu An Qing in person.
The puzzle pieces now clicked into ce.
It was during the freshman military training opening ceremony at Donghai University this fall.
In early September, Lin Xian had returned to his university to collect some documents from his advisor.
As he passed the yground, the opening ceremony for the freshman military training was underway, bustling with new students in uniform.
He had paused to watch and listen for a while.
The speaker had been Chu An Qing, delivering her speech as the freshman representative.
That¡¯s when he had heard her voice through the loudspeakers¡ But since he hadn¡¯t seen her face, the memory hadn¡¯t solidified, and he hadn¡¯t connected the dots until now.
¡°This makes things even more interesting¡¡± Lin Xian swirled his wine ss, pondering.
It appeared that CC and Chu An Qing weren¡¯t just physical doppelg?ngers; their voices matched perfectly too.
And they seemed to be about the same age, seventeen or eighteen.
To im they weren¡¯t the same person¡ Lin Xian found such a coincidence hard to ept.
Even considering futuristic technologies like cryo-sleep capsules, which might exist 600 years from now, provided no rational exnation.
But¡
There had to be another exnation, which he needed to investigate further before drawing any conclusions.
For now, he resolved to enter the dream world and find CC as soon as possible.
As Chu Shan He and Professor Xu Yun continued their spirited discussion, Zhao Ying Jun suggested to Chu An Qing.
¡°An Qing, shall we grab some snacks?¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
As they prepared to move, Zhao Ying Jun turned to Lin Xian.
¡°Come along, Lin Xian. Let Mr. Chu and Professor Xu have their discussion.¡±
¡°You and An Qing share the same university and department. As her senior, you might have some experiences to share with her.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
He had little to contribute to Chu Shan He and Professor Xu Yun¡¯s conversation and felt out of ce just standing there. He had been looking for an opportunity to excuse himself.
He followed the two women.
From his vantage point, he could see Chu An Qing¡¯s fair neck and soft shoulders. Her off-shoulder dress revealed smooth, jade-like skin.
On Chu An Qing¡¯s delicate left arm, Lin Xian noticed a small, shallow scar about the size of a coin¡ªthe only imperfection on her otherwise wless skin.
Such a scar was a typical remnant of childhood BCG vinations in the country, varying in size with individual physiology.
This distinctive, vine-induced mark could serve as a reliable identifier.
¡°Senior Lin Xian.¡± Chu An Qing turned around, her bright smile catching Lin Xian off guard.
He quicklyposed himself and returned her smile politely. ¡°What can I do for you, Miss Chu?¡±
¡°Just call me An Qing.¡± Her eyes clear, she looked up at him and blinked, ¡°I¡¯ve actually seen you before!¡±
Chapter 62: 00:42
¡°I¡¯ve actually seen you before!¡±
This revtion caught Lin Xian off guard.
Logically, their paths should never have crossed. They both attended the same university, but Lin Xian graduated in July, and Chu An Qing started in September¡ªa nearly perfect misalignment.
Before today, the closest they likely were was the distance from the stage to the outer wall of the field during the military training opening ceremony.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t recall any other time their paths might have crossed.
¡°I¡¯ve actually seen you before¡¡± Lin Xian echoed, his brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Where could that have been?¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t in person¡¡± Chu An Qing exined, her voice soft, smile gentle. ¡°In our stage performance sses, our teacher often shows us recordings of past performances by our seniors. These include various school celebrations over the years. Before each performance, there¡¯s always an emcee introducing the acts, and one male emcee appeared quite frequently.¡±
¡°The moment I saw you today, I thought you looked familiar, and even your voice seemed known to me. I just remembered now¡ªthe male emcee was you!¡±
¡°Senior Lin Xian, did you often host these school events? I have a good memory, so I usually don¡¯t get it wrong.¡±Lin Xian then understood their connection.
¡°Yes, that was probably me,¡± he responded with a smile. ¡°During my four years at Donghai University, I frequently hosted various campus events. The teachers back then gave me many opportunities to practice.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too modest, Senior!¡±
Their conversation then flowed effortlessly. They chatted about school, teachers, campus anecdotes, and gossip¡ªthere seemed to be no end to their topics.
As they talked, Lin Xian felt somewhat dazed. It was as if he wasn¡¯t talking to Chu An Qing, but to CC. In his dream, he and CC leaned against the safe, chatting like old friends. For CC, Lin Xian might have been a temporary teammate, but for Lin Xian, the repeated encounters with CC felt like talking to an old friend.
And now, chatting with Chu An Qing felt just as natural and uninhibited. It was indeed surprising. Was it because this affluent girl was naturally friendly, or was he seeing her as a reflection of CC?
He couldn¡¯t figure it out, but chatting with her felt quite natural. That was until Lin Xian inadvertently looked up and saw Zhao Ying Jun watching them with a kind, maternal smile that only a father would show when encountering a boy he deemed a threat!
Lin Xian quickly masked his own smile and looked around, trying hard to find something to move them out of the way. He noticed the Rhine Cat mascots ced nearby and got an idea.
¡°There are many Rhine Cat mascots over there, An Qing. Would you like to pick some to take home?¡±
¡°Can I?¡± Chu An Qing looked around at the various Rhine Cats with interest. ¡°I see many styles that aren¡¯t avable in stores.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°An Qing, pick the ones you like, and I¡¯ll have them sent to your car.¡±
¡°Hehe, then I¡¯ll gratefully ept!¡±
Chu An Qing took Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand and walked to the outer area.
¡°I¡¯ve always liked the Rhine Cat, but I couldn¡¯tplete my collection of the first seven designs¡¡±
Watching them walk away, Lin Xian breathed a sigh of relief and nced to the other side.
Professor Xu Yun and Chu Shan He were still deep in conversation.
¡°I probably don¡¯t have anything else to do here.¡±
Lin Xian stopped paying attention to the events and went to find Gao Yang, who was enjoying the food and drinks.
¡
Chu Shan He and Chu An Qing didn¡¯t stay long. At Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s invitation, Chu An Qing participated in the raffle and won arge Rhine Cat mascot before leaving with Chu Shan He.
After they left, the banquet moved to the next phase. People stopped mingling, sat down, and enjoyed performances while waiting for the New Year.
As the midnight bell rang and everyone counted down¡ 2022 came to an end.
¡°A new year, new beginnings.¡±
Professor Xu Yun raised his ss. ¡°I wish everyone a prosperous and smooth 2023!¡±
Everyone around followed suit, toasting and exchanging New Year greetings.
After chatting for a while longer, Professor Xu Yun decided to leave first. ¡°You young folks have more energy, keep enjoying yourselves. This old guy needs to go rest.¡±
Not wanting to dampen everyone¡¯s spirits, he quietly exited through the back door of the hall, heading to a small road with no traffic.
¡°Professor Xu, let us arrange a ride for you. Don¡¯t rush off.¡± Lin Xian tried to stop him, but Xu Yun insisted on not troubling them and nned to take a taxi.
He pointed to a taxi parked by the side of the road. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a taxi right there. I¡¯ll take that. No need to trouble you with a ride. It¡¯s convenient.¡±
Xu Yun patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, urging him not toe out into the snow. ¡°Go back, Lin Xian. Don¡¯t worry about me. I had a great time tonight. A new year, let¡¯s hope things get better!¡±
Seeing he couldn¡¯t persuade him, Lin Xian relented, smiling slightly. ¡°Thank you, Professor Xu. I wish you a smooth and prosperous year too. Please take it slow and stay safe.¡±
Xu Yun waved and walked towards the taxi.
The front door didn¡¯t open.
The back door didn¡¯t open either.
Just then, the passenger window rolled down, and the driver called out.
¡°The right-side doors are broken, please get in from the left.¡±
Xu Yun didn¡¯t mind.
He walked around the taxi to the left side, heading towards the road¡ª
Tap, tap, tap.
Behind him, Zhao Ying Jun jogged out, holding a few gifts. She had gone to get New Year presents for Professor Xu.
She looked helplessly at Lin Xian.
¡°Is Professor Xu still insisting on taking a taxi?¡±
Lin Xian sighed.
¡°Yes, it¡¯s alreadyte¡¡±
Instinctively, he raised his left wrist to check his watch.
[00:42]
Lin Xian paused.
Boom!!!!!!!!!
A loud crash and a violent impact came from the front! A dark car suddenly appeared in the night!
At a crazy speed, it hit Professor Xu Yun, sending him flying several meters away!
Thud.
Hended heavily on the ground, motionless.
¡°Professor Xu!¡±
¡°Professor Xu Yun!¡±
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun shouted in shock.
Zhao Ying Jun, in her high heels, ran towards Professor Xu.
Lin Xian looked at the taxi driver.
Mask!
Hat!
Sunsses!
Completely covered!
It was the same person who had driven Professor Xu here!
¡°Get out of the car!¡±
Vroom¡ªroar!!!
Before Lin Xian could approach, both the dark car and the taxi sped off, tires screeching, quickly disappearing around the corner.
Lin Xian ran towards Xu Yun. ¡°Professor Xu!¡±
His heart ached, and his vision blurred.
A gruesome gash ran from Xu Yun¡¯s head to his abdomen¡ his split skull showing no signs of life,rge amounts of blood gushing from his body¡
¡°Professor Xu¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was hoarse.
The spreading blood stained the snow red.
Xu Yun¡¯s pupils were dted with no signs of breathing¡
Chapter 63: The Culprit
¡°Professor Xu!!¡±
The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, making Lin Xian¡¯s scalp tighten. A strange sense of detachment washed over him, and a sharp ringing in his ears drowned out all other sounds.
Despite witnessing countless bloody scenes in his dreams, seeing a familiar person die in front of him¡ªtheir lifeless body sprawled on the ground¡ªwas something Lin Xian could never get used to.
This was reality.
There were no resets or do-overs here. Once someone died, they wouldn¡¯t be back the next day with a smile.
The man on the ground had just begun to see hope for his daughter¡¯s awakening¡ but before he could enjoy any joy, he departed this world in sorrow.
At the hospital, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun sat silently on a bench outside the emergency room, both frowning deeply.
Bang.
The door of the emergency room swung open, and a masked doctor in surgical scrubs emerged.¡°Doctor, how is Professor Xu Yun?¡± Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun hurried over.
The doctor closed his eyes and shook his head. He then read from a report:
¡°The injuries were too severe. His skull shattered, his brain and chest cavity exposed, deep wounds all over, massive blood loss¡ By the time the ambnce got to him, he was already dered dead at the scene.¡± He handed over a form and looked at them. ¡°Which one of you is family? I need a signature here.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Doctor, neither of us is family. Professor Xu Yun¡¯s parents died when he was young, his wife sumbed to an amniotic embolism, and his only rtive, his daughter, has been in a vegetative state for many years at the affiliated hospital of Donghai University.¡±
¡°Then who are you?¡± the doctor inquired.
¡°I was Professor Xu¡¯s student,¡± Lin Xian replied.
The doctor sighed. ¡°A student¡¯s signature won¡¯t suffice. Contact the university and have someone in chargee over to sign.¡±
Half an hourter, the police arrived with the vice principal of Donghai University.
¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± The vice principal looked distraught, his hands trembling. The doctor led him away toplete various formalities.
Three policemen approached Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun, and the lead officer saluted them. ¡°Hello, we need a brief statement to understand the situation.¡±
Following this, Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian recounted the events truthfully. Lin Xian emphasized the odd details:
¡°The taxi driver wore a mask, sunsses, and a hat¡ it was very suspicious.¡±
¡°The right-side doors of the taxi wouldn¡¯t open. Professor Xu Yun had to enter from the left, leading him into the middle of the road where a ck Audi suddenly sped out and struck him¡ both drivers fled the scene.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t catch the Audi¡¯s license te, but the taxi¡¯s te ended in 76. Professor Xu was also brought to the banquet by that taxi; you can check the surveince footage.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun confirmed Lin Xian¡¯s ount and provided additional details from the banquet. The police closed their notebooks and cautioned:
¡°Based on your statements, this doesn¡¯t seem like a simple hit-and-run. But we need more evidence to support our investigation, and our final conclusions will depend on further inquiries. The results will be detailed in a police report.¡±
¡°Professor Xu Yun was a public figure, so we will prioritize this investigation. Here¡¯s my contact information. If you recall anything else, please reach out.¡±
The police then left to speak with the hospital administrators.
A gurney covered with a white sheet was wheeled out of the emergency room, rolling down the corridor toward the morgue.
Seeing this, Lin Xian was overwhelmed by guilt:
Would he havee if I hadn¡¯t personally invited Professor Xu to the celebration?
If I had insisted ourpany driver take him home, would he still be here?
Suppose I hadn¡¯t helped and given him information from my dreams, allowing him to spend his life chasing breakthroughs. Would he have avoided this tragic end after his recent sess?
Lin Xian¡¯s face was a picture of distress. Zhao Ying Jun patted his shoulder, trying tofort him:
¡°Lin Xian, don¡¯t me yourself. This wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± She saw through his turmoil. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t gone, I would have invited him myself. Whatever the reason for his death, it¡¯s not on you. No one wanted this to happen.¡±
She gestured to the parked Alphard minivan outside. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll have the driver take you home.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You go ahead, Ms. Zhao. I need to stay here a bit longer.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun sighed and left. ¡°Take the day off, rest at home. I¡¯ll handle things for Xu Yi.¡±
Her high heels clicked as she exited the hospital lobby, stepping into the parking lot and driving away.
A cold wind blew through the gap in the ss doors, dropping the temperature several degrees. Lin Xian didn¡¯t feel the chill despite hisck of a coat. Perhaps his body and soul were already frozen.
He leaned against the hospital¡¯s white wall, slowly sliding down until he was sitting on the cold floor, staring nkly at the patterned tiles.
¡°Lin Xian, there you are!¡± The ss door opened again. Gao Yang hurried over, attempting to pull Lin Xian up. ¡°What are you doing sitting here? Get up!¡±
But Lin Xian was immovable, like a dead fish. Gao Yang sighed and sat down next to him.
¡°Don¡¯t be so sad, Lin Xian. You¡¯re making me feel down too. Professor Xu Yun¡¯s sudden death is a great loss. But idents like this¡ no one can control them.¡±
¡°No¡¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°This wasn¡¯t an ident¡¡±
Now, he finally understood.
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s death was likely a consequence of his own actions¡ªaltering reality and rewriting the future.
Had he not interfered with the course of history, Professor Xu would have remained a ridiculed, mediocre ¡°clown scientist,¡± unlikely to achieve anything significant. No one would have bothered to kill such an inconsequential man.
But with Lin Xian¡¯s help, Professor Xu hadpleted the cryostasis fluid centuries ahead of its time, nning to make it freely avable to the world. Under these circumstances, there were too many reasons and motives for someone to want him dead.
¡°This wasn¡¯t an ident¡¡± Lin Xian repeated, clutching his head in agony. ¡°The real culprit behind Professor Xu¡¯s death¡ it might be me!¡±
Chapter 64: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
¡°You! What are you even talking about, Lin Xian? This isn¡¯t your fault!¡± Gao Yang patted Lin Xian on the back, trying to snap him out of his daze.
¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up. Not everything is your responsibility. The police will catch whoever did this. Just wait and see.¡±
Lin Xian looked up but remained silent. Gao Yang didn¡¯t know the full story, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t fully understand. Lin Xian chose not to share too much; he sensed danger ahead and didn¡¯t want to pull Gao Yang into it.
¡°Come on, Lin Xian, you¡¯ll catch a cold if we stay here any longer.¡± Gao Yang helped Lin Xian to his feet and brushed off his clothes. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian whispered.
Gao Yang called a taxi and escorted Lin Xian back to his apartment. Concerned, he made sure to apany him all the way to his door.
¡°Feeling any better, Lin Xian? Don¡¯t me yourself. Inviting Professor Xu to the celebration was a thoughtful act! You need to stay strong!¡±
¡°If you really want to help, try to remember everything about the incident: the license te, the driver¡¯s appearance. Help the police find the killer and get justice for Professor Xu!¡±
Lin Xian nodded. During the ride home, he had some time to think. Like Gao Yang suggested, instead of dwelling on what he couldn¡¯t change, he decided to transform his grief into determination and help find Professor Xu¡¯s murderer and whoever was behind it.He knew more than the police and was closer to the truth, capable of spotting clues they might overlook.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m feeling better now,¡± Lin Xian assured him.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave then.¡± Gao Yang waved goodbye and advised Lin Xian to get some rest soon.
But Lin Xian didn¡¯t go to bed. He wasn¡¯t tired at all. Instead, he took a cold shower, the icy water sharpening his senses.
¡°Who killed Xu Yun?¡± Lin Xian mused as he dried off, got dressed, and sat at his desk.
Normally, those threatened by Professor Xu¡¯s invention of the hibernation chamber, such as pharmaceutical giants and capitalists, were prime suspects. Xu Yun¡¯s breakthrough could disrupt their markets significantly.
But¡
¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Lin Xian mused, shaking his head. These capitalists are shrewd¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t make a move against Xu Yun unless it was beneficial.
He recalled something Big Cat Face had once shared:
¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by my appearance. My father was a renowned mathematician and even won the Fields Medal. When I worked away from home, my daughter stayed with him. One night, she fell ill, and he rushed her to the hospital. But then¡¡±
¡°But then¡ they were hit by a truck. It was no ident¡ªthey were targeted.¡±
¡°My father was a schr, never involved in any disputes!¡±
¡°They are a secretive group, elusive, leaving barely a trace. I¡¯ve searched for ages and found only a name.¡±
Lin Xian turned on his deskmp, his mind racing. A mathematician, a midnight ident. Now, a scientist, an ident at 00:42.
The people, the timing, the circumstances¡ªeerily simr.
Was it merely a coincidence?
Or was it orchestrated?
And if it was intentional, why at that specific time?
Lin Xian pondered but couldn¡¯t draw a definitive conclusion.
He couldn¡¯t be certain about Big Cat Face¡¯s reliability.
He could be lying, or he might actually be onto something.
This uncertainty stalled Lin Xian¡¯s deductions.
¡°If Big Cat Face made it all up, then I¡¯m just overthinking.¡±
¡°But if he¡¯s telling the truth¡¡±
It was conceivable¡ª
That the deaths of Xu Yun and Big Cat Face¡¯s father were orchestrated by the same group or killer.
While Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if the Genius Club was directly involved, it was clear they were connected to these deaths.
¡°So, the focus should be on Big Cat Face.¡±
¡°I need to verify his ims about the Genius Club before proceeding with my investigation.¡±
The most pressing task was to find Big Cat Face in the dream world and verify the truth about the Genius Club!
The sky was beginning to lighten. The neighborhood buzzed with activity as people started their day.
¡°Better get to work. Dwelling here won¡¯t help. I¡¯ll catch up on sleep tonight and look for Big Cat Face in the dream world then.¡±
After grabbing a quick breakfast, Lin Xian headed to the subway. The news disys mentioned Professor Xu Yun¡¯s death as an ident, but nobody seemed to pay much attention. Everyone was wrapped up in their own routines.
Most people are indifferent to scientific advancements. Even in the dream world¡¯s future, everyday concerns overshadowed scientific progress.
¡°It¡¯s always been this way,¡± Lin Xian thought as he boarded the train, feeling the weight of history.
At work, his colleagues briefly expressed their condolences for Professor Xu¡¯s passing, but soon, other topics like new productunches and bonuses took precedence.
That evening, Lin Xian had dinner early and prepared for bed. ncing at the clock¡ª21:35¡ªhe knew it was the perfect time to try and intercept Big Cat Face in the dream.
¡°I need to find out whether Big Cat Face is being truthful about the Genius Club.¡±
If Big Cat Face had lied, that would narrow down Lin Xian¡¯s search.
But if the story was true¡
If the Genius Club really was behind his father¡¯s murder, if his father really was a Fields Medalureate, if the timing of the ident was precise¡
Lin Xian turned on the bathroom light, contemting.
¡°Then at least I have a starting point to uncover Xu Yun¡¯s true killer.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s information could be the key, indicating a connection to his father¡¯s death.
After his nightly routine, Lin Xian got into bed and turned off the lights.
Whoosh!
He was greeted by the familiar summer breeze, the familiar heat, the familiar sound of cicadas.
Lin Xian opened his eyes in the dream world, just as he had left it.
¡°Ultra kick! Ultra elbow!¡± Two kids in Ultraman masks tussled in the square, their masks falling to the ground.
Lin Xian walked over, picked up a mask, and put it on.
Then he spotted the burly figure stepping out of a van.
¡°Big Cat Face!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± The man, his face round and wearing a Rhine Cat mask, turned.
¡°Uuughhh¡¡± Lin Xian sighed deeply. He was tired of having to repeat the same conversation.
¡°What do you want? How do you know me?¡± Big Cat Face looked at Lin Xian, reaching toward his waist¡ª
Smack!
Lin Xian caught his hand.
¡°I hope this is thest time I have to say this. Listen carefully¡¡±
Chapter 65: Genuine
¡°Hurry up!¡±
Inside the van, Big Cat Face pounded on the steering wheel in frustration. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she tricked me!¡±
He turned to Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯ve known about my three underlings since we met. That¡¯s when I realized you¡¯re no ordinary guy. I trust you!¡±
¡°But you said we¡¯re heading to a stash of gold bars. Is that for real? I¡¯m not doubting you, just wondering where we could find so much gold in the city.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and pointed ahead, signaling Big Cat Face to keep driving. ¡°It¡¯s real. I wouldn¡¯t lie to you. We¡¯re both after the same thing, really.¡±
Money, right?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian corrected with a shake of his head. ¡°Money is just a means to an end. My ultimate aim aligns with yours. We both seek¡ª¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s face lit up with realization. ¡°Wait, you mean you¡¯re also after an¡ª¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian confirmed. ¡°I too need an invitation to the ¡®Genius Club¡¯!¡±¡°Pfft!¡± Big Cat Face choked on his drink, the van swerving to a stop at the roadside. ¡°What the heck is that?¡± he scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m chasing an invite to the Genius Club?! Genius! What¡¯s this Genius Club you¡¯re talking about?¡±
Lin Xianughed softly. ¡°Calm down, why so tense? I know even the grim details of your father¡¯s death, right? Obviously, I¡¯m aware of the club¡¯s real name.¡±
¡°You know about my dad?¡±
Lin Xian studied Big Cat Face¡¯s reactions carefully. ¡°Yes, your father was a physicist, murdered by someone driving a car from the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Nonsense!¡± Big Cat Face snapped. ¡°He was a mathematician! A Fields Medalureate! And it was a truck, not a car! Man, can I trust you at all? Your facts are all messed up!¡±
Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Your daughter is dead too.¡±
Mention of his daughter made Big Cat Face¡¯s expression freeze. He eyed Lin Xian warily. ¡°You know about my daughter as well?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian affirmed. ¡°Your father was taking her to school one morning when they were both struck by a truck.¡±
¡°At school? No way!¡± Big Cat Face exploded. ¡°It happened at night!¡±
¡°Now I see. You¡¯re a fraud! I actually fell for this!¡±
¡°You lured me here under false pretenses! What¡¯s your real game? I¡¯ll shoot you¡ª¡±
Enraged, Big Cat Face reached for his gun, only to find it missing.
¡°Looking for this?¡±
Lin Xian twirled the gun in his hand. ¡°Sorry, Big Cat Face, I misunderstood you. You¡¯re more honest than I thought. My bad for doubting you.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t even know you before! I never lie!¡± Big Cat Face seethed. ¡°I¡¯m always the one deceived, never the deceiver!¡±
Lin Xian was content; he¡¯d gotten his proof.
He had intentionally given false information to provoke Big Cat Face, testing him. The goal was to confirm the truth of Big Cat Face¡¯s earlier statements about the Genius Club and his family¡¯s murder.
His logic was simple:
If Big Cat Face had fabricated the story about the Genius Club, he wouldn¡¯t recall the details from their previous encounter urately. Any deviation would expose his lies.
But if Big Cat Face, despite the misleading setup, repeated the exact same details, it would validate his honesty. Everything he had said about the Genius Club and his father¡¯s murder was true.
¡°Answer me!¡± Big Cat Face demanded, mming the steering wheel, ready to turn the van around.
Lin Xian snapped back to the present.
Click!
He cocked the gun and aimed at a grand estate ahead. ¡°Park here. We¡¯re going on foot now.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Big Cat Face mmed on the brakes.
¡°To make some cash.¡± Lin Xian stepped out of the van, eyeing akeside vi. ¡°Cat Face, think about it. How much can a bank vault hold? Forget that. Truly rich people don¡¯t stash their wealth in banks.¡±
He grinned at Big Cat Face, who looked bewildered. ¡°Today, you¡¯ll learn what real wealth looks like!¡±
¡°Wait, wait!¡± Big Cat Face hurried after him, grabbing Lin Xian¡¯s arm. ¡°Slow down, my head¡¯s spinning!¡±
¡°Stay here, and I¡¯ll exin everything.¡± Lin Xian pulled him behind a wall, pointing at the vi. ¡°See that ce?¡±
¡°I see it.¡±
¡°Who¡¯s the wealthiest guy around here?¡±
¡°Li Cheng,¡± Big Cat Face answered promptly. ¡°He¡¯s the richest in the city and one of the richest in the country!¡±
¡°Wrong,¡± Lin Xian corrected. ¡°Officially, yes. But include his secret assets, and he¡¯s among the world¡¯s wealthiest.¡±
¡°Li Cheng isn¡¯t as clean as he seems. He¡¯s involved in human trafficking, drug dealing, among other crimes. He deserves the death penalty.¡±
Big Cat Face was stunned. ¡°No way! That scumbag is into all that?! No surprise he¡¯s loaded. He¡¯s making a killing!¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Such dirty money wouldn¡¯t be safe in a bank. The gold bars in that vi are just a fraction of his wealth, but enough to fill your van.¡±
¡°And with money like that, you grab it and don¡¯t look back. He wouldn¡¯t darein or even peep about it.¡±
Lin Xian pointed at a ck car by the vi. ¡°Li Cheng always has bodyguards, but when he visits his mistress, it¡¯s just him and his trusted driver.¡±
¡°The mistress is in on it too, involved in his crimes for years.¡±
¡°We just handle the driver, control Li Cheng and his mistress, and take what we want.¡±
Big Cat Face snapped his fingers. ¡°Got it. Solid n! You sure know your stuff, bro!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve hit this ce before, it¡¯s like an ATM to me.¡±
¡°So are we ying Robin Hood tonight? Taking down viins?¡±
Big Cat Face chuckled. ¡°Feels great! Sometimes I dream of being a hero, fighting for justice. It¡¯s a rush!¡±
Lin Xian waved him on. ¡°Tonight, you won¡¯t need to dream. We¡¯re making it happen.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
Chapter 66: The Ruthless Bandit
Lin Xian moved forward, his gun poised and ready.
¡°Hey¡ hey! Are we really just walking up like this?¡± Big Cat Face widened his eyes in disbelief but followed Lin Xian without hesitation.
Lin Xian halted in front of a sleek ck sedan.
Bang!
He fired suddenly!
The action was incredibly swift!
Before anyone could react, Lin Xian¡¯s precise marksmanship shattered the car window, the bullet finding its mark in the driver¡¯s head!
¡°Holy crap! Who shoots like that?¡± Big Cat Face eximed, astonished.
The driver wore a look of confusion, unaware of how his life had ended so abruptly.¡°Catch.¡±
Whoosh¡ª
Lin Xian tossed the handgun to Big Cat Face.
Then, he opened the car door and removed a ck pistol from the driver¡¯s belt.
¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡±
The vi wasrge, yet Lin Xian navigated it with ease, quickly arriving at a bedroom door.
Bang!
He kicked it open.
¡°Ah¡ª!¡±
¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡±
A man and a woman in bed screamed, startled.
¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Lin Xian ordered, aiming his gun at them.
After securing the room, Big Cat Face quickly tied the couple with a bedsheet.
Lin Xian sat down on the bed, ¡°Cat Face, bring the van around. Check the garage, basement, wine cer, and the underground pool¡ they¡¯re full of gold bars, bundles of cash, and jewelry. Load them up and let me know when you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll keep watch here.¡±
¡°Got it!¡± Big Cat Face grabbed the keychain from a table and dashed downstairs.
Lin Xian checked his watch. It was just past midnight.
Their mission for tonight was nearlyplete, and they would leave by 00:42. Though Big Cat Face was loading up, Lin Xian knew that the world would end in 42 minutes. But avenging his daughter was Big Cat Face¡¯s lifelong pursuit, and Lin Xian allowed him to savor this moment.
With time to spare, Lin Xian took in the room¡¯svish decor.
The bedroom wasrge, ornately furnished.
In one corner, a desk disyed several photo frames featuring Li Cheng with various globally recognized figures.
Lin Xian was familiar with Li Cheng¡ªan old ATM¡ªno, an old friend. He had known him for the past twenty years and had often seen these photographs.
Among them were many prominent individuals.
Lin Xian vaguely remembered one significant photo: Li Cheng with a world leader.
Global stars and athletes were also featured, faces Lin Xian recognized from magazine covers, all photographed with Li Cheng.
Even including the world¡¯s top¡ª
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts halted.
He narrowed his eyes, rose from the bed, and approached Li Cheng¡¯s desk, rifling through the photo frames.
Then, a memory clicked.
There was a peculiar photo here!
At the time, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t given it much thought, unaware of the Genius Club.
But now¡
¡°Got it.¡±
Lin Xian picked up a frame, scrutinizing the photo¡
In it, Li Cheng sat sternly, his right hand raised to his forehead, his index finger pointing skyward¡ªa peculiar and arrogant pose.
That gesture¡
Lin Xian recognized it from the wax seal on the Genius Club¡¯s invitation.
The emblem on the seal exactly matched Li Cheng¡¯s gesture in this photo!
A cool breeze from the air conditioner brushed against his leg.
Lin Xian slowly turned to face Li Cheng, who was bound on the floor. Big Cat Face¡¯s earlier words echoed in his mind:
¡°They say only the most elite billionaires, the ultimate geniuses, the most influential figures¡ receive invitations to this club!¡±
Bang!
Lin Xian mmed the photo frame down on a stool in front of Li Cheng.
He cocked the gun.
¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll do anything! Please, I¡¯ll do anything! Just don¡¯t kill me!¡± Li Cheng pleaded, hisplexion pale, his eyes trembling with fear.
¡°I just want to know one thing,¡± Lin Xian said calmly.
Li Cheng nodded frantically. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you! I¡¯ll tell you anything!!¡±
Lin Xian squatted down, his gaze piercing. ¡°Tell me. What exactly is the Genius Club?¡±
¡°Wh¡ what club?¡± Li Cheng stammered.
¡°The Genius Club.¡±
¡°Ge¡ Genius what?¡±
Bang!!
¡°Ah¡ª!¡±
Lin Xian fired, sending Li Cheng into a scream of terror!
But he wasn¡¯t hit.
His eyes shifted and saw his mistress had somehow freed herself from the ropes, her lifeless body now slumped over the nightstand with a bloody hole in her head.
In the half-open drawer of the nightstand, the silver handle of a handgun was visible¡
Lin Xian pressed the hot gun barrel against Li Cheng¡¯s forehead.
It was scorching!
Faced with this merciless assant, Li Cheng dared not move.
¡°I-I-I¡¯m not lying to you! I really haven¡¯t heard of this club you mentioned!¡±
¡°She-she-she freed herself and tried to grab the gun! It had nothing to do with me! I¡¯m being honest! Ask me anything, I¡¯ll tell you! Take whatever you want!¡±
Now Li Cheng understood.
His mistress had somehow untied the bedsheet around her hands and reached for the gun¡
But who could have predicted!
The bandit¡¯s shooting was too fast and precise!
He hadn¡¯t even seen any movement to raise the gun¡ not even a nce, just a split-second headshot!
¡°Ge¡ Genius Club, right? Let me think! Let me think!¡±
Li Cheng¡¯s face was drenched in sweat.
His hands tied behind his back, he couldn¡¯t wipe away the sweat, and dared not move as he recalled rapidly¡
¡°Genius Club¡ Genius Club¡¡±
His expression twisted in agony as he kept muttering.
Eventually, he opened his eyes, tears streaming.
¡°I¡ I really can¡¯t think of anything, I¡¯ve never heard of this club¡¯s name!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been to many clubs, all sorts¡ but this one you mentioned, I really have no memory of! I¡¯m not lying! I¡¯m genuinely scared! I¡¯m tied up like this¡ why would I lie to you?!¡±
¡°Still pretending?¡± Lin Xian sneered coldly, ¡°Fed up with living? This photo is irrefutable proof of the Genius Club!¡±
¡°Wha¡ what?¡±
Li Cheng¡¯s head throbbed, he squinted at the photo.
¡°This, this, I really don¡¯t know what you mean!¡±
Li Cheng was on the verge of tears.
¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re asking! Can you give me a hint? If I knew what you were asking, I would definitely tell you!¡±
¡°Li Cheng, I¡¯m giving you onest chance to exin.¡± Lin Xian pointed to the frame, at Li Cheng¡¯s hand pointing straight to the sky. ¡°What does this gesture mean?¡±
Chapter 67: Farewell
¡°That¡¯s just a normal photo pose!¡± Li Cheng sobbed, tears mingling with streams of snot as he desperately pleaded, ¡°I swear, I¡¯m innocent! If I¡¯ve wronged you, then kill me! But I honestly know nothing about this so-called Genius Club!¡±
Lin Xian regarded him with a cold, unyielding gaze. He knew Li Cheng well; their paths had crossed many times. Li Cheng was unmistakably a coward.
Yet, his mistress disyed fierce loyalty to him, repeatedly risking her life to protect him. Despite this, Li Cheng never once reciprocated her sacrifices, staunchly adhering to the belief, ¡°Each bird flies its own way in times of trouble.¡±
Extracting information from Li Cheng proved straightforward. A threat to his life was all it took for him to divulge everything he knew, often preempting the questions. His current state of terror suggested he was genuinely clueless.
Suddenly, Li Cheng¡¯s face lit up with recollection. ¡°I remember now! There was a whole set of photos! A renowned international photographer took them. There¡¯s an entire album! Do you want to see it? It¡¯s in that cab, bottom drawer! I swear, I¡¯m telling the truth!¡± His voice wasced with genuine fear as he pointed frantically toward the wardrobe.
¡
Lin Xian approached the cab, opened the drawer, and discovered the album Li Cheng had mentioned. It was borate, adorned with gold and silver threads, and featured an indecipherable signature on the title page.
As he flipped through it, each page revealed Li Cheng in various ¡®boss¡¯ poses. Li Cheng hadn¡¯t lied¡ªthe photos matched the one in the frame in terms of clothing, background, and lighting.
Photos depicted him seated, standing, arms crossed, hands in pockets, standing straight, and even pointing skyward. Were they professional photos? Headshots? Portraits? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure what to call them, but they resembled the types of photos typically used by sales consultants¡ªreal estate agents, car dealers, insurance brokers, credit card agents¡ªall had them.Lin Xian turned to the page where Li Cheng pointed to the sky. Indeed, within the context of the entire album, that pose lookedpletely normal.
¡°What do you hope to learn from this?¡± At that moment, Big Cat Face, covered in dust, entered the room.
¡°Let me handle this.¡±
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Four shots consecutively struck Li Cheng¡¯s legs.
¡°Ahhhhh!!!¡± Li Cheng¡¯s screams filled the mansion, the carpet quickly staining red.
¡°Will you talk now?¡± Big Cat Face aimed the gun at Li Cheng¡¯s forehead.
¡°I¡ªI¡ªI really don¡¯t know! I swear, I¡¯ve never even heard of any Genius Club!¡±
Bang! Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, another shot rang out, the white bedsheet turning red, and silence ensued.
¡°He really didn¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian confirmed, understanding Li Cheng better than Big Cat Face did. If Li Cheng hadn¡¯t confessed by now, he truly was ignorant.
Big Cat Face nced at Lin Xian and shrugged. ¡°Looking for info on the Genius Club? That¡¯s no easy task¡ I¡¯ve been on it for ages and all I have is a name. Nothing more.¡±
¡°Are you certain it was someone from the Genius Club who killed your father?¡± Lin Xian inquired, his gaze piercing. ¡°What have you found out?¡±
¡°Just this name,¡± Big Cat Face muttered, ring at Li Cheng¡¯s lifeless body. ¡°If they weren¡¯t involved, why would I stumble upon their name?¡±
¡°Hey, this isn¡¯t the time to chat!¡± Big Cat Face kicked Li Cheng¡¯s corpse and gestured for Lin Xian to follow him downstairs. ¡°We need to leave! The van¡¯s already packed!¡±
¡°You¡¯re quite a character,¡± Lin Xian observed as he caught up. ¡°Sometimes foolish, sometimes loyal, and sometimes downright ruthless.¡±
¡°Pah!¡± Big Cat Face spat indignantly. ¡°Li Cheng deserved worse!¡± His anger was palpable. ¡°After what he did, as a father, how could I forgive? He deserved every bit of what he got. When you have a daughter, you¡¯ll understand. You¡¯d want to kill him yourself.¡±
¡
Bang! Outside, Big Cat Face mmed the van door shut. He looked over the van, nowden with gold bricks, jewelry, and cash.
¡°I should have checked the tires before loading up. They¡¯re nearly t from all this weight. This guy was loaded. Even a truck might not have sufficed. Here, catch this,¡± he said, tossing something to Lin Xian.
Whoosh¡ª Lin Xian caught arge, heart-shaped blue gemstone, its facets sparkling beautifully.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t leave empty-handed,¡± Big Cat Face chuckled. ¡°This gem might be worth more than all the gold in this van, though it¡¯s a tough sell. Take it, maybe for your girlfriend.¡±
He circled the van, climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, and started the engine. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want a ride, brother?¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. Time was running out; it didn¡¯t matter anymore. Besides, with the van so full, he wouldn¡¯t fit.
¡°Keep it.¡± Lin Xian tossed the gem back through the window. ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡±
¡°Hey! You¡¯re too kind, brother! Now you¡¯re making me feel guilty!¡± Big Cat Face grinned at Lin Xian. ¡°Thanks, brother! Now I¡¯ve got what I need to move forward, to seek justice for my daughter and father! If we ever meet again¡ I¡¯ll invite you over for a meal! You¡¯ve got to try my wife¡¯s cooking!¡±
¡°Haha¡¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°What¡¯s her specialty?¡±
¡°Dumplings! They¡¯re the best!¡± They shared a heartyugh, though both knew¡ªthere might not be a next time. Those were dumplings they would likely never taste.
¡°Take care, brother!¡±
¡°Take care.¡± Lin Xian waved.
Vroom¡ª The van rumbled to life, its engine roaring as the tires slowly started to turn.
¡°Hey!¡± Lin Xian called out.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face hit the brakes and leaned out the window. ¡°What¡¯s up, brother?¡±
Lin Xian stuffed his hands in his pockets. ¡°Just onest question. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°Hey, we¡¯re brothers! Ask away!¡±
In the background, midnight cicadas sang their mournful tune, while the courtyard pond rippled quietly.
Lin Xian fixed his gaze on Big Cat Face. ¡°Do you remember¡ exactly when your father and daughter were hit?¡±
¡
Big Cat Face¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a somber expression. He pulled out a cigarette, ced it between his lips, and lit it. Taking a deep drag, he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
After a long pause, he spoke, his voice breaking, ¡°I¡¯ve watched the surveince footage at the intersection over and over.¡± He clenched the cigarette tightly. ¡°So, the exact time of the ident, the moment they died¡ I will never forget. Every minute, every second.¡± He exhaled another swirling cloud of smoke and nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s just about now.¡±
Lin Xian raised his watch, and in unison with Big Cat Face¡¯s solemn tone, ¡°00:42¡±
Boom!!!!!!
A blinding white light engulfed everything.
¡
¡
In a corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes.
Chapter 68: Truth and Lies
Lin Xian rose from his bed and flicked on the light switch. He made his way to the bathroom, sshed water on his face, and looked at himself in the mirror.
¡°How unexpected,¡± Lin Xian murmured, ncing at the clock. ¡°It¡¯s already 12:42 AM.¡±
This revtion was both surprising and somewhat expected. He dried his face and returned to his bedroom, settling at his desk. Twirling a pen between his fingers, he became lost in thought.
This dream had been particrly enlightening, sharpening all the clues and ideas he had.
¡°First, I need to confirm the authenticity of the information.¡±
One fact was undeniable: Big Cat Face¡¯s story about his mathematician father and daughter being killed by a truck at 12:42 AM was true. However, the im that ¡°only the wealthiest, most brilliant, and most powerful individuals receive invitations to the Genius Club¡± was false.
Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced with thoughts, ¡°With this verified information¡ I can uncover many truths.¡±
He switched on his deskmp, pulled out an A4 sheet of paper, and began writing:
Deduced TruthsProfessor Xu Yun¡¯s death is definitely linked to the Genius Club.
Lin Xian was convinced that both Xu Yun¡¯s death and the tragedy of Big Cat Face¡¯s father were connected to the Genius Club. The fact that Big Cat Face mentioned the ¡°Genius Club¡± was no mere coincidence.
Earlier, Lin Xian had scoured the inte and found nothing substantial about the Genius Club. The search results were cluttered with game references and simrly named TV shows¡ but nothing rted to the Genius Club as mentioned by Big Cat Face.
¡°I¡¯m really curious how Big Cat Face stumbled upon this name,¡± Lin Xian pondered. He nned to probe Big Cat Face more thoroughly in the next dream.
In a previous dream, Big Cat Face was in a hurry to flee. Lin Xian had asked multiple questions, but Big Cat Face insisted they would talkter as escaping was more urgent. Clearly, he was desperate to secure his safety.
Nevertheless, the death of Big Cat Face¡¯s father was definitively connected to the Genius Club; there was no doubt about it.
So¡ a mathematician dies in a truck ident at 12:42 AM, and a scientist dies in a car ident at 12:42 AM. Despite these two incidents urring 600 years apart, the identical timing and the victims¡¯ profiles suggest a high likelihood of the same perpetrator.
Thus, Xu Yun¡¯s death is likely connected to the Genius Club as well.
Now, the question was, what was this ¡°connection¡±?
Did the Genius Club orchestrate these murders, or was there another reason that led Big Cat Face to discover the Genius Club¡¯s name from the murderer?
Although Big Cat Face was convinced the Genius Club was responsible for his father¡¯s death, Lin Xian felt it was essential to remain skeptical. Without concrete evidence, a person bent on revenge might grasp at any clue, convincing themselves of its truth. Big Cat Face¡¯s reasoning might be clouded.
Another aspect didn¡¯t add up.
¡°The killers attempted to mask the murder of scientists as idental car crashes, yet they insisted on the idents happening at 12:42 AM¡¡±
Lin Xian was baffled. What was the significance? If the intention was to disguise the deaths as idents, why choose such a specific time? It seemed contradictory.
¡°It feels like¡ an arrogant gesture, as if it¡¯s deliberately done to taunt someone.¡±
The timing was peculiar indeed, coinciding precisely with the end of his dream: 12:42 AM. What was it? What did it signify? What was its special meaning?
¡°Actually, this isn¡¯t even the hardest part to understand.¡±
Lin Xian spun the pen in his hand. How could they ensure the death urred exactly at 12:42 AM? This seemed imusible. Were they staking out every day, aiming to kill at 12:42 AM, or was there an insider coordinating, strictly controlling the timing?
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts wandered further. The 12:42 AM timing was unusual, but there were no leads to explore it further now.
He continued writing in his notebook:
Membership in the Genius Club isn¡¯t solely based on wealth and power; there must be other essential criteria.
¡°This actually makes sense,¡± Lin Xian mused.
He had doubted the ¡°rumor¡± many times before. iming that only the richest, most brilliant, and most powerful could join the Genius Club didn¡¯t seem realistic or genius-like. Although the rumored entry threshold appeared high, from a historical perspective, it was absurdly low. There¡¯s a new richest person, a new powerful figure, a new Nobel Prize winner every year. If invitations were issued based on this criterion, dozens to hundreds would be sent out annually, and the Genius Club would have thousands of members. Such an organization couldn¡¯t possibly remain concealed throughout history without leaving any trace. This was absolutely impossible.
Perhaps it was better to consider that wealth, status, and intelligence are merely the basic conditions for joining the Genius Club, not the deciding factors.
¡°Those who receive invitations to the Genius Club must possess a crucial ability, some more mysterious reason.¡±
¡°Over 600 years of history¡ perhaps only a few, a dozen people have met the membership standards. That¡¯s why this organization has remained so secretive, leaving no traces.¡±
Genius Club members must be very few; otherwise, it would have been exposed long ago.
Thinking this way, everything made more sense. Zhao Ying Jun receiving an invitation could also be exined. If we adhered to the previous rumor¡¯s logic, since Zhao Ying Jun received an invitation, then sessful individuals like Chu Shan He or wealthy ones like Li Cheng would definitely qualify for an invitation.
But it turned out, Li Cheng knew nothing about the Genius Club. As for Chu Shan He¡ Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure, but he suspected Chu Shan He was probably not a member of the Genius Club either. If the goal was to suppress Hibernation Technology, why would he fund Xu Yun for ten years?
But, on the other hand¡
¡°Then Zhao Ying Jun¡¡±
Thinking of his boss, who was heroic and naturally beautiful, Lin Xian was puzzled: ¡°What special quality does she have¡ to receive an invitation from the Genius Club?¡±
With this in mind, Lin Xian picked up his pen again and wrote the third deduction in his notebook:
Zhao Ying Jun did receive an invitation from the Genius Club, but whether she joined or participated in this murder remains unclear.
Actually, this conclusion had urred to him earlier. Lin Xian just hadn¡¯t thought deeply about it before. The previous information about the Genius Club was unclear, difficult to differentiate between truth and falsehood, and filled with contradictions, making it hard to judge urately.
But now things were different. Although 99% of the Genius Club¡¯s mysteries remained hidden, at least 1% of the information was clear. And it was this precious 1% that allowed Lin Xian to deduce these three crucial clues in his notebook.
¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡¡±
He stared at the familiar name in the third conclusion.
¡°Why did she receive an invitation?¡±
Lin Xian rested his chin in his hand, pondering¡ There must be some special reason why this mysterious and small-membered Genius Club acknowledged Zhao Ying Jun.
Thinking about it, Zhao Ying Jun was indeed mysterious. Lin Xian had interacted with her frequently, but when it came to knowing her¡ He knew nothing besides her age and name. Lin Xian was surprised to realize how little he actually knew about Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°To uncover the reason behind Xu Yun¡¯s death, to further rify the Genius Club¡¯s purpose and nature, there¡¯s only one way¡¡±
He opened the drawer. From the deepest part, he pulled out a wax seal with the Genius Club emblem. The round wax seal glowed a strange crimson under the deskmp, reminiscent of blood, like the setting sun.
¡°What was written on that Genius Club invitation?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
What¡¯s the content? Where¡¯s the meeting ce? When¡¯s the meeting time? What¡¯s the club¡¯s purpose?
Gazing at the hand pointing straight to the sky on the wax seal, Lin Xian squinted his eyes: ¡°I must find a way¡ to see that invitation!¡±
Chapter 69: Trust
Despitecking concrete evidence, the Genius Club remains the prime suspect in the murders of Big Cat Face¡¯s father and Professor Xu Yun. Known for their secretive operations spanning six centuries, their consistent execution methods suggest their involvement in these recent killings.
With this suspicion in mind, Lin Xian decided to proceed with caution.
¡°The Genius Club is my starting point,¡± he resolved. ¡°If they¡¯re innocent, I¡¯ll find inconsistencies to clear their name as I investigate. This isn¡¯t just about a misunderstanding; it¡¯s about murder, and I need to find the killer.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s only lead was an invitation from the Genius Club, found in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office drawer. It was unclear if Zhao was a member, but examining that invitation could reveal many answers.
¡°This is the only way forward,¡± he murmured to himself.
He returned the wax-sealed invitation to the drawer and began to strategize. It was critical to ess the invitation without raising Zhao¡¯s suspicions. If the Genius Club was indeed involved in the murder, even a slight hint of his investigation could be perilous.
¡°If Zhao isn¡¯t a club member, my investigation carries less risk. But if she is, any error could be fatal,¡± he thought, nning his next moves discreetly.
Lin Xian grabbed an oven tray from the kitchen, burned all documents and notes rted to the Genius Club and his investigations, and disposed of the ashes in the toilet.
¡°Extreme caution is necessary. Leave no trace,¡± he reminded himself sternly.Feeling rtively safe, Lin Xian appreciated the precautions Professor Xu Yun had implemented. The professor had deemed the manuscript dangerous and had protected Lin Xian by keeping no records in his name. The original manuscript was destroyed, and Lin Xian was never mentioned to outsiders.
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s cautious approach had inadvertently shielded Lin Xian, who felt lucky that their private meetings had remained secret.
¡°I must continue to be careful. My safety this time might just be luck,¡± he thought, closing his eyes to focus.
His n was clear:
Assume the Genius Club¡¯s involvement in the murder.
Start the investigation with the invitation from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s drawer.
essing Zhao¡¯s office undetected meant cracking the code to her security door, known only to her.
¡°To gain her trust and get the code, she must see me aspletely dependable. But why would she?¡± Lin Xian chuckled at the idea.
¡°What makes me special enough for her to share such sensitive information?¡± he wondered, pondering the unlikely possibility of forming a close bond with the work-centric Zhao Ying Jun.
He resolved to build her trust gradually. ¡°I¡¯ll take it slow,¡± Lin Xian decided as he prepared for bed.
Before sleeping, he checked thetest news about Professor Xu Yun:
¡°Donghai City officials have announced a memorial service for Professor Xu Yun tomorrow morning at Donghai Funeral Home.¡±
¡°Dragon Space Research has expressed deep condolences for Professor Xu Yun. In line with hisst wishes, all data on the new aluminum alloy will be made public.¡±
¡°Donghai University is currently organizing Professor Xu Yun¡¯s research and unfinished papers for publication as per his final instructions.¡±
Lin Xian was relieved that Professor Xu Yun¡¯s legacy would continue through his work, potentially leading to the development of the first generation of hibernation pods within a few years.
¡°A silver lining amidst this tragedy,¡± Lin Xian sighed, turning off his phone.
If the Genius Club was behind the murder, why hadn¡¯t they interfered with the publication of his research? They could have destroyed hisb or stolen his data. Perhaps the killers, if indeed members of the Genius Club, preferred to make the deaths seem idental rather than obstruct the research.
Lin Xian considered this, realizing that the Genius Club¡¯s main goal might be to stay hidden; overt actions against the research would have drawn unwanted attention. By merely orchestrating the murders and leaving the research untouched, the deaths looked idental, keeping the Genius Club¡¯s existence secret.
¡°Hopefully, the police will soon catch the culprit and shed some light on these events,¡± Lin Xian thought as he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, he was called to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, where the finance team leader was also present.
¡°Lin Xian, here¡¯s your authorization fee and the first batch of product sales figures. Please review,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, sliding two documents across the table.
Lin Xian examined them: one showed a one-time payment of 26 million, and the other disyed a 15 million salesmission.
Seeing the amounts, he was momentarily stunned. He knew the 26 million was the authorization fee MX Company had initially offered Professor Xu Yun, but the salesmission exceeding 10 million was unexpected. The presale of the moisturizer had clearly been a huge sess.
¡°You won¡¯t receive all of it,¡± the finance leader rified, pointing at the 15 million. ¡°We¡¯ll deduct personal ie tax for the salesmission and deposit the amount in your bank ount. The 26 million will be transferred directly, but you¡¯ll need to report it in your personal ie tax app by March.¡±
¡°The presale numbers were outstanding. It might take a few months to fulfill all the orders, but you¡¯re essentially set for life,¡± the finance leadermented with a grin.
¡°Retirement?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Not yet. There¡¯s still much I want to achieve.¡±
His real motive remained hidden; seeing the invitation was crucial. He couldn¡¯t let Zhao think he was disinterested in further work, which was key to gaining her trust and essing her office.
¡°Lin Xian, prepare yourself,¡± Zhao Ying Jun instructed. ¡°We¡¯re attending Professor Xu Yun¡¯s memorial service this morning. All executives will be there. Go home, change, and wait for my call.¡±
As she reached for her coat, her sleeve identally knocked over a stack of documents. As they bent down to collect the papers, Lin Xian nced at them, but found nothing of value.
¡°Ms. Zhao, isn¡¯t it time to hire a secretary?¡± the finance leader suggested. ¡°Someone to help organize your files and keep your office in order. It would save you a lot of time.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been burned before, so I¡¯m cautious now,¡± Zhao replied with a resigned smile, dismissing the idea of trusting someone new so easily.
¡°Dismissed,¡± she said as she left to change.
As the heavy security door thudded shut, Lin Xian and the finance leader descended in the elevator. Lin Xian thought, ¡°If I could be Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s secretary, that would be the safest and most convenient way to ess the invitation and investigate the Genius Club.¡±
He didn¡¯t actually desire the secretary position, but it was undoubtedly the best way to monitor Zhao¡¯s activities, learn the security code, and keep an eye on her actions.
¡°Ms. Zhao must have had a serious reason for her distrust,¡± Lin Xian mused, turning to the finance leader. ¡°What happened that made her so wary of hiring a secretary?¡±
As his curiosity peaked, he awaited the response, eager to understand more about the woman whose trust he needed to gain.
Chapter 70: The Genius
The head of the finance department had been with MX Company since its inception, working alongside Zhao Ying Jun from the very beginning. Most of the vice presidents and middle managers were seasonedpany veterans too. MX was a youngpany, and rapid advancements like Lin Xian¡¯s, who had only been with thepany for a few months, were rare.
¡°Ah, regarding that¡¡± The finance head chuckled softly. ¡°Actually, the specifics are a bit unclear. When thepany started, President Zhao had a young female secretary who was fresh out of college. She was highlypetent, and President Zhao held her in great esteem and trust.¡±
¡°But then, something happened¡ President Zhao abruptly dismissed her. She was furious then, and we were too apprehensive to inquire.¡±
¡°Subsequently, she installed a password-protected door in her office, the code known only to her, and she hasn¡¯t appointed a new secretary since.¡±
¡°We privately suspect that the youngdy did something to let President Zhao down. Perhaps she stole trade secrets, embezzled funds, orpromised President Zhao¡¯s personal privacy?¡±
¡°We¡¯re not certain¡ What¡¯s evident is that President Zhao prefers to manage her cluttered, dusty office on her own rather than hire another secretary. Despite our attempts to convince her otherwise, she remains adamant.¡±
Ding¡ª
The elevator doors slid open on the 17th floor, catching Lin Xian off guard as he realized he hadn¡¯t pressed the button for his destination.
After the finance head exited, Lin Xian pressed the button for the 20th floor and returned to his office, pensively twirling his pen.If he could secure the role of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s secretary, it would be an ideal position to discreetly and effectively delve into the Genius Club. Yet, it seemed Zhao Ying Jun was not ready to trust anyone enough to fill that position.
¡°So, back to square one¡¡± he muttered. ¡°I need to devise a strategy to gradually gain Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s trust.¡±
Half an hourter, Zhao Ying Jun, three vice presidents, and Lin Xian climbed into an Alphard business car and headed to the Donghai City Funeral Home.
Upon arrival, Lin Xian spotted a group of fashionable young people at the entrance, each clutching an elegantly bound book.
What¡¯s going on here?
A funeral home, stylish youths, a best-selling book, Xu Yun¡¯s memorial service¡ These elements seemed incongruous.
¡°What are they doing over there?¡± inquired one of the vice presidents, also noticing the unusual scene.
These young individuals didn¡¯t appear to be typical attendees of a memorial service. Were they fans perhaps?
Lin Xian spected. He approached for a closer look.
The young people held copies of ¡°Broken Bridge,¡± a renowned mystery novel Lin Xian had enjoyed in college. It was an exceptional read, and he had learned it waster adapted into a Hollywood film featuring a ster cast.
The anticipation in their eyes was unmistakable; they were undoubtedly fans waiting for the author.
Lin Xian recalled the author was a young man, described as a ¡°genius mystery novelist¡± on the book jacket, though he hadn¡¯t noted the author¡¯s name, only the book¡¯s title.
¡°Oh, these must be Ji Lin¡¯s fans. They¡¯re probably here for Ji Lin,¡± another vice presidentmented.
¡°Ji Lin?¡± Lin Xian turned to the vice president. ¡°Have you read his books?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t read the book,¡± the vice president smiled, ¡°but Ji Lin is more than just a bestselling author. You might¡¯ve missed it in the entertainment news. His novel ¡®Broken Bridge¡¯ was turned into a movie and received several Oscar nominations.¡±
¡°And he himself was nominated for Best Screeny, standing a strong chance of winning. Ji Lin holds substantialmercial appeal, maintains good rtionships with prominent Oscar directors, and has an extensivework.¡±
¡°He typically keeps a low profile, rarely appearing in public. He even has others ept his awards on his behalf. It¡¯s rare for him to show up, especially at Xu Yun¡¯s memorial. It seems like they belong to different circles.¡±
Lin Xian was not well-versed in Professor Xu Yun¡¯s personal life. Xu Yun had never mentioned an affinity for mystery novels or having a writer as a friend.
However, if this acimed screenwriter and genius mystery novelist came specifically for Xu Yun¡¯s memorial, their private connection must have been meaningful. Whether they were rtives or friends was still uncertain.
¡°Come on, Lin Xian. It¡¯s our turn,¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice pulled Lin Xian back to the moment. He followed her into the funeral home.
They entered the memorial hall, surrounded by wreaths, with a grayscale photograph of Xu Yun at the center. The man in the photo wore a bright smile, dressed impably. Lin Xian didn¡¯t know when the photo was taken, but it clearly dated back several years.
The man looked much younger in the photo than Lin Xian had ever seen him, and Xu Yun hadn¡¯t smiled like that in years.
Sess hade to him, but it was met with a memorial hall filled with wreaths rather than apuse. It was a sorrowful reality.
¡°Bow once!¡±
Lin Xian joined Zhao Ying Jun and the vice presidents, bowing deeply.
He had read that morning¡¯s news. The culprits responsible for Xu Yun¡¯s death were still atrge, with the police seeking information from the public. They hadn¡¯t managed to locate the culprits or even the vehicles involved¡ªit was as if they had vanished.
¡°Bow twice!¡±
Lin Xian looked at Xu Yun¡¯s grayscale photo again, bowing deeply. He felt a profound responsibility towards Xu Yun and his daughter, Xu Yi Yi.
While others insisted it wasn¡¯t his fault, Lin Xian knew better. Xu Yun¡¯s demise was a direct consequence of his own actions, which had altered the course of time and space, transforming the world and impacting Xu Yun¡¯s destiny.
Lin Xian was uncertain of what he could do for Xu Yun. Perhaps his only recourse was to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that Xu Yi Yi could rest peacefully in her cryogenic chamber as nned.
¡°Bow thrice!¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes and bowed once more.
Suddenly, the group of Ji Lin¡¯s fans outside erupted into excited chatter, their voices loud and energetic. This lively atmosphere starkly contrasted with the solemn music inside the memorial hall.
Lin Xian turned around, his expression somber.
A ck business car door swung open, revealing a young man with slightly curly hair, a distant gaze, pale skin, and a weary demeanor.
Their eyes met, and the half-lidded eyes of the young man stared back intently at Lin Xian.
Chapter 71: Butterfly
¡°He¡¯s so handsome! Even better than in the photos!¡±
¡°Mr. Ji Lin, can we have your autograph?¡±
¡°Congrattions, Mr. Ji Lin! I love your work, Broken Bridge!¡±
¡°Can we take a photo with you?¡±
As soon as Ji Lin stepped out of the car, he was immediately encircled by a swarm of young fans, all vying for his attention.
He paid them no mind and headed straight for the funeral hall. Behind him, a few staff members from the funeral home hurried to keep the crowd in check, preventing any disruptions.
¡°Quiet, please¡ Please don¡¯t gather here.¡±
¡°This is a memorial service; please show some respect.¡±
¡°Respect the deceased and keep the noise down.¡±Once inside the funeral home, the mor from outside began to fade. Ji Lin walked through the hallway, his eyes locked on Lin Xian. Hands in his pockets, he slouched as he moved, his face expressionless.
Lin Xian returned the gaze. As the fans had pointed out, Ji Lin was strikingly handsome. Despite Lin Xian¡¯s aversion to such delicate terms, he found it apt for the boy approaching him with his sharp, clear features.
Ji Lin was not particrly tall, standing around 1.75 meters, and was quite slender. His posture made it difficult for Lin Xian to gauge his true height. Pale as snow, hisplexioncked any hint of a healthy flush, lending him a frail,nguid look. His long, slightly curly ck hair partly obscured his eyes, adding a touch of disheveled grace.
His pace was slow, his expression nk. Yet, his gaze never strayed from Lin Xian, his eyelids half-lowered as if he were barely awake, exuding an air of fatigue and indifference. He resembled a fading sea otter, sinking slowly into the depths of the ocean¡ªand he wasn¡¯t sinking alone. His empty, weary eyes seemed like a, dragging Lin Xian down into a dark abyss¡
¡°Lin Xian?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gentle voice snapped him back to reality. He turned to see Zhao, a few steps ahead, beckoning him.
¡°Stop daydreaming; we need to go.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and followed the vice presidents through another corridor. Before rounding the corner, he looked back at Ji Lin, who continued his slow trek toward the funeral hall, hands still in his pockets, his hunched figure moving step by step, his gaze fixed forward, unchanging.
¡°¡¡¡±
Lin Xian realized he had been mistaken. That guy hadn¡¯t been staring at him. His eyes weren¡¯t drowsy or myopic. It had all been Lin Xian¡¯s own misinterpretation.
Later that evening.
¡°Hey-yo!¡±
Gao Yang threw an empty beer can into the river with all his might. Plop. The can made a small ssh as it hit the water, then floated away with the current.
¡°How about that, Lin Xian! Hehe~ How would you rate that?¡± Gao Yang chuckled triumphantly.
¡°Rate what?¡± Lin Xian, feeling chilly, shivered.
¡°Your manners?¡±
¡°Rate this dinner!¡±
Gao Yang snickered at Lin Xian, who was notoriously unromantic, as he vigorously fanned the small barbecue grill.
¡°I knew you were feeling down, so I nned this little riverside barbecue to lift your spirits.¡±
¡°In winter? What happened to doing this in summer?¡±
Lin Xian was exasperated. He zipped up his jacket, warming his hands over the meager fire,peting with the half-cookedmb skewers for heat.
¡°You promised me a barbecue, so I wore lighter clothes to keep them from smelling.¡±
¡°Just confirm whether it¡¯s a barbecue!¡±
Gao Yang popped open another beer and handed it to Lin Xian, who set it down immediately.
¡°It¡¯s ice-cold¡ How does freezing me help?¡±
¡°Hahaha, drink something cold to forget your troubles!¡±
Gao Yang grabbed a handful ofmb skewers and offered them to Lin Xian.
¡°Feeling any better these days?¡±
¡°Much,¡± Lin Xian replied, taking a bite. ¡°Professor Xu Yun is gone; mourning won¡¯t change that. The best I can do is visit his daughter often.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Gao Yang picked up some fish tofu to grill. ¡°I hope they catch whoever caused Xu Yun¡¯s death soon. Whoever they are, they deserve the worst. Why did it have to be someone so brilliant?¡±
¡°I¡¯d nned to try hibernation technology and visit the future. Now, I¡¯m not so sure.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not the end of it,¡± Lin Xian countered. ¡°Losing Xu Yun is a blow, but the push for hibernation tech will go on. Others will take up his work. It¡¯s unstoppable now.¡±
¡°And why the future?¡±
Lin Xian finished his skewer, rubbing his hands for warmth as he faced Gao Yang.
¡°A hibernation pod isn¡¯t a time machine. Once you go to the future, there¡¯s noing back. No second chances.¡±
¡°Just thinking out loud. Even if it were possible, I wouldn¡¯t use it.¡±
Gao Yang flipped the fish tofu, opened another beer, and offered a toast.
¡°To Professor Xu Yun!¡±
Clink. After toasting, Gao Yang downed his beer, then crushed the can and tossed it across the Huangpu River¡ª
Ssh. It flew farther this time, making arger ssh before sinking.
¡°Let¡¯s toast to your manners first.¡±
The riverside barbecue wrapped up early. Neither could stand the cold, and they soon called it a night.
Back home, Lin Xian felt dizzy and sniffled.
¡°Shit¡¡± he muttered. ¡°Am I getting a cold?¡±
He quickly showered in hot water and drank two packets of herbal tea. Then, turning off the lights, he went to bed.
Lin Xian pondered. Where was the hot, dry summer breeze he¡¯d known for over twenty years? Where were the cicadas and the yful children in the square he¡¯d heard for so long? Why was it so quiet tonight?
He opened his eyes¡ªBrick walls, low houses, narrow alleys,nterns, stone tiles, moss¡ All around him were makeshift homes, haphazardly packed together. Crowded, outdated, silent, deste¡ It looked like a poor, backward vige.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
Lin Xian looked around, startled by the flickering tungsten bulb in a nearby window. Everything had changed. No square, no children ying, no bustling shops, no electronic billboards, no bright streetlights.
¡°Where am I?¡±
He turned, finding himself still on a winding stone road lined with uneven, low-built houses. The narrownes seemed designed without any thought for vehicles. He looked around, but the chaotic buildings blocked any broader view.
¡°Could it be¡¡±
His heart sank. Had he traveled to another timeline? Another world? What year was it?
Lin Xian turned and spotted a small corner shop lit by arge yellow bulb, reminiscent of scenes from 80s and 90s TV shows. He hurried inside. An elderly man in a white vestughed, munching sunflower seeds, fanning himself, and watching a bulky television.
¡°Dear viewers, the evening news brings you the time!¡±
On the low-resolution TV screen, a smartly dressed female news anchor smiled at Lin Xian and announced:
¡°The current time is August 28, 2624! Ten o¡¯clock sharp!¡±
Chapter 72: Disruption
August 28, 2624¡
It was the same day, but time within the dream remained unchanged, even though the entire dream had transformed dramatically.
¡°Hold on a second.¡±
Lin Xian leaned against a moss-covered stone wall, pressing a hand to his forehead as he thought intensely.
The Butterfly Effect of Time and Space was at y again. The dream had experienced Temporal Changes. But what had triggered these changes? What was the source? Where was the anchor point? When had the butterfly pped its wings?
He opened his eyes, recalling the news he had watched before falling asleep the previous night:
¡°Donghai University is currently processing and organizing the research materials and unfinished papers of Xu Yun, which will be published globally ording to Xu Yun¡¯sst wishes.¡±
¡°Perhaps this is the reason,¡± he mused. His heartbeat slowed, and a sense of security that had briefly slipped away began to return. This was still his dream, undoubtedly. Although he hadn¡¯t checked today¡¯s news, it appeared that Donghai University had indeed published Xu Yun¡¯s research.
¡°Even if it hadn¡¯t been published yet, just the fact that an official organization had taken charge of Xu Yun¡¯s research would make that moment an Irretrievable Anchor Point,¡± he reasoned. Official organizations are extensive and reliable; the publication of Xu Yun¡¯s research seemed inevitable. Without their involvement, the research and iplete papers might have stayed in theb, unbacked-up and vulnerable to sabotage.Yet, the butterfly had still pped its wings, leading to temporal changes. This time, the butterfly¡¯s wings pped so vigorously that they triggered a storm, transforming the future world 600 yearster into something entirely new.
From a temporal logic perspective, this was understandable. But the issue was¡ª
¡°Why has the future¡¯s technological level regressed?¡± Lin Xian looked around. The technology, economy, and living standards here were far too primitive. In previous dreams, although they were also slightly behind, they resembled the modern metropolis of 2023 that he knew. But now¡ even his grandfather¡¯s house from his childhood had more advancements! At least his grandfather had paved roads.
Here, the winding stone paths were too narrow for cars, and even riding a bicycle would be a challenge. Inside the small shop, everything was wrapped in old, greasy paper: tungsten light bulbs, thermos liners, shoces, crude hardware, colorful shampoos, and a variety of unappetizing snacks.
What had happened? How did the year 2624e to resemble the 1980s or 90s? If, after Xu Yun¡¯s paper was published, the dream world had evolved with starships and space elevators, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have been surprised. That would make sense. Even Professor Xu Yun had suggested that once the hibernation pod was introduced, the world order might be rewritten, and human technology would advance rapidly, leading to unimaginable futures.
But instead of rapid advancement¡ why the regression? Lin Xian couldn¡¯t convince himself or ept the reality before him. Even if the technological level had remained the same after Xu Yun¡¯s paper was published, and he was still ¡°born¡± in that square, he could ept it. But the publication of the paper leading to a technological regression of decades!
¡°What happened over these 600 years?¡±
Inside the small shop, an elderly man in a vest stopped fanning himself and looked at the tall, uncertain young man at the door: ¡°What¡¯s the matter, young man? Looking to buy something?¡±
¡°No, no¡¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°Sir, I wanted to ask¡ª¡±
Crash.
During their conversation, a man in ck suddenly dashed out from behind Lin Xian, wearing a ck hat. He moved quickly, knocking over shelves outside, grabbing the cash box from the ss counter, and running!
¡°Hey!¡± The old man leapt up, grabbing the thief¡¯s arm. ¡°Drop it! Drop it! Ah¡ª¡±
The thief kicked the old man in the stomach, causing him to copse beside the ss counter, grimacing in pain. Pointing at the fleeing thief, the old man looked at Lin Xian: ¡°Young¡ young man¡ help me¡ catch him¡¡±
¡°Uh, okay.¡± Lin Xian turned and sprinted after the shadowy figure. He had many questions for the old man, so helping to retrieve the cash box might make him more willing to talk.
The thief was clearly familiar with the area. He weaved through the narrow paths with ease, almost outpacing Lin Xian. But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t a novice either. His years of parkour training hadn¡¯t been in vain. With agile maneuvers, he caught up to the thief!
¡°Gotcha!¡± A flying kick sent the thief sprawling. Lin Xian quickly pinned him down, grabbed the cash box, and began to tie him up¡ª
Sss!
The sound of a knife sinking into flesh. Lin Xian¡¯s vision blurred with red as he looked down at his chest¡ The thief had a knife hidden at his waist! It was now deeply embedded in Lin Xian¡¯s heart!
Splurt! As the thief pulled the knife out, blood sprayed from the wound, propelled by high pressure. Lin Xian felt a wave of weakness, struggling to stand¡
¡°Damn you, mind your own business! Mind your own business!¡±
Sss! Sss! Sss! Sss! Sss! The thief struck repeatedly, targeting Lin Xian¡¯s vital points, stabbing his neck and head!
Thump¡ª
Lin Xian jolted awake, sitting up in his bed! He was breathing heavily, clutching at his chest. His heart was racing, refusing to calm down! Gritting his teeth, Lin Xian reached for themp on his bedside table, flicking the switch¡ª
¡.
Click.
In akeside vi in the suburbs of Donghai City, a massive crystal chandelier brightened the living room to daylight brightness.
¡°If you¡¯re home¡ then turn on the lights¡¡±
A wrinkled, dry hand moved away from the light switch. The elderly man closed the door, walked in, and looked at the pale young man squatting among scattered books: ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times, this is bad for your eyes¡ Your nearsightedness is already severe. Or do you think reading by moonlight is cool? You should be past that age by now¡ Ji Lin.¡±
Ji Lin was engrossed, not saying a word. He held a Mathematics Monthly magazine in one hand, a pencil in the other, swiftly scribbling on the side pages.
Swish¡ª He quickly finished, tossing the magazine aside. He then picked up the February issue of Mathematics Monthly.
The old man stepped forward, picking up the discarded magazine. It was the January 2022 issue of Mathematics Monthly. Since no one had lived in the vi for a long time, the ordered magazines and newspapers were neatly piled in the living room. The old man turned to the page Ji Lin had been writing on¡
It was a Sudoku Puzzle, a very challenging mathematical game. A Sudoku grid has nine squares, each divided into nine smaller squares. Given certain known numbers and solving conditions, using logic and reasoning, you fill the remaining squares with numbers 1-9. Each number must appear only once in each row, column, and square. It¡¯s a game that tests intelligence and mental calction, even world-ss experts take three to four minutes to solve such high-difficulty puzzles.
Whoosh¡ª Ji Lin tossed the February issue over. The old man looked down¡ The page also featured an irregr high-difficulty Sudoku, and in the time it took to pick up and flip through the magazine¡ Ji Lin had already solved it.
Looking up, under the moonlight, Ji Lin had picked up the March issue of Mathematics Monthly, flipped to the side page, and began solving a new Sudoku.
¡°Actually, even if you hadn¡¯te to Xu Yun¡¯s memorial, I nned to bring you to Donghai,¡± the old man seemed ustomed to Ji Lin¡¯s indifference, speaking to himself. ¡°Xu Yun¡ He shouldn¡¯t have died.¡±
¡°If he shouldn¡¯t have died, then how did he die?¡± Ji Lin¡¯s pencil moved across the magazine, not lifting his head, responding quietly for once.
¡°Because someone killed him!¡± The old man¡¯s voice was hoarse with gritted teeth. ¡°I know Xu Yun too well¡ He¡¯s a good person but not very talented. Not even ten Xu Yuns, a hundred thousand Xu Yuns, could ever have developed the hibernation pod solution in their lifetime!¡±
¡°So?¡± Ji Lin blinked, tossing the March issue to the ground, the Sudokupleted without any erasures.
¡°So, someone tampered with everything!¡± The old man pulled a rolled-up list from his pocket and tossed it to Ji Lin. ¡°I suspect someone is¡ Disrupting History!¡±
Chapter 73: A Good Person
Ji Lin didn¡¯t reach for the list on the table. Instead, he spun his pencil around, pulled out the April issue of Math Monthly from his backpack, and flipped straight to the Sudoku page. He began penciling in numbers methodically.
¡°You know, I¡¯ve always found the way you talk a bit odd,¡± he said quietly, his eyes not leaving the page. ¡°You always speak about the future, yet you keep referencing history.¡±
¡°That¡¯s just how I talk; it¡¯s not really important,¡± the old man responded, wandering over to the floor-to-ceiling window. He stared out at the moon, a hint of redness in his eyes. ¡°Xu Yun¡ he was the most cherished student I ever had.¡±
¡°I can see that,¡± Ji Lin muttered, his attention still on his Sudoku. ¡°You even promised him your daughter¡¯s hand in marriage. To ensure he¡¯d ept, you told him she was your niece. But that wasn¡¯t entirely a lie, was it? Because she doesn¡¯t know she¡¯s actually your daughter from a careless youthful affair.¡±
The old man spun around, his eyes wide in shock. ¡°How did you find out? I¡¯ve never told anyone that.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Ji Lin put down the magazine, his face serious. ¡°Ever since you adopted me, my ¡®sister¡¯ has taken care of me. Though I call her sister, she¡¯s been more of a mother to me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not hard to see she¡¯s your illegitimate daughter. You¡¯ve kept it well hidden, though. Even she doesn¡¯t know the truth.¡±
¡°Have you told her?¡± the old man asked, his gaze intense.
¡°No, why would I?¡± Ji Lin shrugged, grabbing the May issue of Math Monthly and turning to the puzzles. ¡°She onceined to me about how you were forcing her to marry Xu Yun, calling him a bookworm she disliked.¡±¡°But after they spent more time together, she started to find him quite pleasant, and they ended up marrying. You really went all out for their wedding.¡±
The old man was silent for a long moment before sighing deeply. ¡°Xu Yun¡¯s death¡ it pains me more than anyone could know. I must find the person responsible!¡±
¡°When your sister died in childbirth, Xu Yun threw himself into his research on the hibernation chamber. I tried everything to dissuade him, but he wouldn¡¯t listen.¡±
¡°Frustrated, I kicked him out, hoping he¡¯d return eventually. But his death¡ªit was that meddler, someone who disturbed history!¡±
¡°Xu Yun wasn¡¯t destined to solve the hibernation chamber¡¯s fluid problem. Not even the world¡¯s top scientists could manage that alone!¡±
¡
Ji Lin set aside the June issue and picked up the July one. ¡°I actually liked Xu Yun. He often visited when I was a child, always bringing books.¡±
¡°My sister used to mock him, saying nobody gifts books to kids and calling him a stubborn bookworm.¡±
¡°But I loved the books he brought. Xu Yun might not have been the brightest in research or feelings, but like my sister, I liked him.¡±
¡°The first time we met, he gifted me a copy of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. He said it was for children, but it was the full version. I cherished that book, always eager for his next visit and the next book he¡¯d bring.¡±
¡°But then, after Xu Yi Yi¡¯s incident¡ everything changed, and he never visited again.¡±
The old man chuckled, a twinkle of nostalgia in his eyes. ¡°So, Xu Yun was your literary mentor? He never told me that.¡±
¡°No wonder you, normally so reclusive, traveled all the way to Donghai for his memorial when you heard of his passing.¡±
¡°That wasn¡¯t typical for you. You didn¡¯t even try to avoid the press. I saw the news; you were swamped at the airport, with reporters snapping pictures. Now, the entertainment sections are filled with stories about you and Xu Yun.¡±
¡
¡°What does it matter if they took photos?¡± Ji Lin tossed aside the July issue and picked up the August one, beginning another Sudoku puzzle. ¡°I¡¯m not hiding; I just prefer solitude.¡±
¡°If something catches my interest, or if I meet interesting people, I¡¯m willing to interact.¡±
¡°But with my sister gone and Xu Yun alienated by you¡ I lost the desire for social engagements.¡±
¡°After realizing Xu Yun would never return, I felt a profound sadness. Despite hisck of scientific brilliance, his knowledge and passion inspired me as a child.¡±
¡
The old man¡¯s expression darkened once more. ¡°Things shouldn¡¯t have turned out like this¡¡±
¡°I always hoped Xu Yun would return. Many investors wanted to back his research, but I turned them all away.¡±
¡°I thought he¡¯d hit a dead end ande back. Even though your sister passed away, I treated Xu Yun like my own son.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no difference to me. You¡¯re adopted, and if I had my own child, I would treat him no differently than I treated Xu Yun.¡±
¡°When Xu Yi Yi had her ident, I was devastated, perhaps even more so than Xu Yun. Since you know all this, I¡¯ll be straightforward. She was my granddaughter, and I wanted only the best for her.¡±
¡°I flew in every expert I could from around the world to Donghai City. But not one could offer hope for her recovery.¡±
The old man closed his eyes and bowed his head.
¡
The Sudoku puzzle in the August issuey untouched as it fell to the floor.
¡°So, can you tell me now?¡± Ji Lin picked up the September issue but didn¡¯t open it. For the first time, he stopped his routine and faced the old man directly.
¡°Why¡ did you kill Xu Yun?¡±
Chapter 74: The Wrong Problem
¡°Because¡¡± The old man gritted his teeth and dered, ¡°Because Xu Yun also¡ disrupted history.¡±
¡°No, no, I¡¯m not asking you that. Don¡¯t you think I already know?¡± Ji Lin twirled the pencil in his fingers, his gaze fixed on the old man. ¡°I¡¯m asking why you feel the need to eliminate these people who disrupt history.¡±
The old man was silent for a long stretch before he finally spoke. ¡°Ji Lin, you¡¯re unusually chatty today. You¡¯ve never probed this deeply before.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because it wasn¡¯t Xu Yun who died before.¡±
Ji Lin nced at the rolled-up list on the floor. ¡°You gave me this list to identify the history disruptors, right? It seems excessive.¡±
¡°There are only two or three hundred names here. Why not just eliminate them all? Why bother identifying the specific culprit? This meticulous approach doesn¡¯t suit your usual style.¡±
¡°No!¡± The old man¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°We cannot harm the innocent!¡±
Ji Lin chuckled.
He opened the September issue of Mathematics Monthly, flipped to the Sudoku page, and resumed his puzzle. ¡°See¡ there¡¯s still something you¡¯re not telling me.¡±¡°With all your talk of righteousness, one might mistake us for some justice league.¡±
He paused his pencil, staring up at the old man. ¡°You killed my parents, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Ji Lin!¡± The old man¡¯s voice escted. ¡°I¡¯ve told you countless times! I didn¡¯t kill your parents! It wasn¡¯t me, even if it wasn¡¯t an ident!¡±
¡°Stop lying.¡± Ji Lin smiled, his head bowed as he continued with the Sudoku. ¡°I¡¯ve uncovered the truth.¡±
¡°Then you need to dig deeper!¡± The old man was livid, his veins prominent. ¡°If this is the quality of your investigations, I suggest you give up your career as a detective novelist! What a joke!¡±
The room fell silent.
Only the sound of the old man¡¯sbored breathing and Ji Lin¡¯s pencil moving across the paper filled the air.
¡°Enough.¡±
The old man waved dismissively. ¡°Stop ying games, Ji Lin. I won¡¯t divulge more.¡±
¡°But I can assert one thing¡ªthis is the only way it must be done! We have to adhere strictly to achieve our ultimate objective¡ª¡±
¡°To secure an invitation to the Genius Club!¡±
Swish.
Ji Linpleted another Sudoku puzzle, tossed the magazine to the floor, and grabbed the October issue of Mathematics Monthly.
¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±
¡°Then don¡¯t try to!¡± The old man cut him off sharply. ¡°Understanding isn¡¯t necessary! Ji Lin! Just follow my orders!¡±
¡°If you really seek an invitation to the Genius Club, then heed my advice¡ª¡±
¡°Identify the person who has altered history!¡±
His frail frame trembled as he sat down, coughing dryly.
¡°We must confirm someone is actually tampering with history before we can proceed.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t question¡ don¡¯t overthink¡ just obey.¡±
Swish.
Ji Lin discarded the October issue of Mathematics Monthly.
This Sudoku was too simple; he solved it in a few strokes.
The stack of magazines to his right had dwindled to just two.
He picked up the November issue, turned to the Sudoku page, and pondered the puzzle.
¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll defy you because I feel cornered.¡±
He stared at it momentarily before flipping his pencil and starting to fill in the numbers.
¡°I tried probing into the Genius Club but turned up nothing¡ It¡¯s bizarre. I always thought nothing in this world couldpletely evade detection.¡±
¡°It surely exists, yet it leaves no trace. Despite years of searching, I found no clues. The inte mentions it, but only in contexts like games or films¡ certainly not the enigmatic club you speak of.¡±
¡°In fact¡ the term ¡®Genius Club¡¯ was one I extracted from you as a child. Decadester, that¡¯s all I have. You¡¯ve kept your lips sealed, which I respect.¡±
The old man massaged his temples, sighed, and scowled. ¡°It¡¯s not that you couldn¡¯t trick the information out of me, Ji Lin. Apart from the name, I too know nothing about the club.¡±
¡°Where they are, their activities, their purpose, their members¡ I¡¯m clueless about all of it. So cease your attempts to extract more. If I knew more, you would have gotten it from me long ago.¡±
¡°But one thing I am sure of¡ª¡±
The old man looked at Ji Lin, absorbed in his Sudoku.
¡°This club is mysterious and influential enough¡ They can do anything; they control everything¡¡±
¡°I possess slightly more knowledge than you, so trust our path. Follow my instructions¡¡±
¡°Pinpoint the history disruptor¡ Once verified, I¡¯ll arrange for their removal!¡±
¡°Every death paves our way into the Genius Club. Our goals align in this.¡±
¡°You are the brightest mind I¡¯ve ever encountered, the ultimate genius. I¡¯ve always believed you¡¯re closest to reaching the Genius Club. So¡ aid me, Ji Lin, and in doing so, you aid yourself.¡±
Swish.
Ji Lin dropped the November issue of Mathematics Monthly and rose slowly¡
¡°I¡¯ll locate that individual.¡±
He raked his tousled hair and walked toward the bedroom.
The old man exhaled slowly.
He nced at the November issue on the floor¡
To his astonishment, the Sudoku puzzle was iplete.
Only about half the numbers were filled in, with several errors, yet the puzzle remained unsolved.
¡°How strange¡¡± The old man sighed. ¡°A Sudoku you couldn¡¯t finish?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that I couldn¡¯t solve it. The puzzle was wed.¡± Ji Lin yawned, rubbing his eyes. ¡°If the puzzle is incorrect, it¡¯s unsolvable.¡±
The old man was intrigued.
He picked up the December issue of Mathematics Monthly, turned to the Sudoku page.
Prominently disyed was an ¡°Apology Statement¡± from the magazine, apologizing for the previous issue¡¯s printing error and correcting the numbers.
The old man smiled triumphantly, setting aside the magazine.
¡°As expected¡ You¡¯ve never let me down! If only you weren¡¯t so slothful, you¡¯d be quite the favorite.¡±
¡°Sloth.¡± Ji Lin opened the bedroom door and entered. ¡°I despise that codename. I wasn¡¯t thest to join the organization. Why didn¡¯t you assign me something nicer? I dislike ¡®Sloth.''¡±
¡°Then strive harder!¡± The old man¡¯s patience had waned tonight.
¡°Understood¡¡± Ji Lin yawned once more, closing the bedroom door. ¡°Goodnight, Pride.¡±
Chapter 75: Changes and Anchors
Thud, thud, thud¡
Lin Xian paced back and forth in his bedroom, his mind now calm and focused as he pieced together crucial insights.
First, he confirmed:
The dramatic shifts in the dream world were triggered by the release of Professor Xu Yun¡¯s research papers, creating a time-space butterfly effect and a [Temporal Shift].
He had checked his phone for news.
Just the previous night, Donghai University had released all of Xu Yun¡¯s research data as nned. This included solutions to the ice crystal issue, iplete papers on hibernation pod liquids, and experimental data on hibernation byproducts.
Now, this data was essible worldwide.
This had been Professor Xu Yun¡¯s intention, and following his passing, Donghai University had honored his wishes.
The release incited a global scientific frenzy, withbs everywhere racing to verify the data.The data was urate; the form for the hibernation pod liquid was swiftly replicated. Despite the ipleteness of Xu Yun¡¯s papers, the essential data and records were avable, enabling the world¡¯s top scientists to fill in the gaps easily.
Just two hourster, the country¡¯s Academy of Sciences had sessfully synthesized the hibernation pod liquid and began mouse experiments.
Soon,bs worldwide confirmed Xu Yun¡¯s findings and the groundbreaking nature of his invention.
Even now, nearing midnight, the inte buzzed with updates.
The United States reported sessful hibernation and thawing experiments on mice, with all vital signs normal. Many institutes shifted their research focus to hibernation technology.
The Academy of Sciences also announced the creation of a hibernation research institute in Xu Yun¡¯s name, promising significant investment to develop the technology and produce practical hibernation pods within a few years.
Numerous awards, nominations, and other acknowledgments from various research entities followed.
Everything unfolded as Professor Xu Yun had envisioned.
Though he was no longer alive, the spark of hibernation technology he ignited was now a widespread ze.
With global coboration on developing hibernation pods, Lin Xian was confident they would soon be a reality.
He believed in human potential and unity.
But¡
¡°Why, despite the rapid advancement of hibernation technology, has the technological level in the future regressed?¡±
This perplexing fact puzzled Lin Xian.
It was his second confirmed fact¡ª
Due to the time-space butterfly effect, the dream world, or future world 600 years hence, had technologically regressed to the 1980s and 90s level.
Despite the seeming illogicality, the facts were undeniable. He had experienced and seen them firsthand.
Assuming his geographic coordinates in the dream remained consistent¡
His original ¡°birthce¡± was a za surrounded by bustlingmercial streets and skyscrapers¡ªa modern cityscape.
That city in the dream was also named Donghai City.
That¡¯s why Lin Xian chose to attend Donghai University¡ªto see the city himself.
Yet, upon arriving at Donghai City for his university studies, he found no resemnce to his dream vision. At first, he dismissed it as just a dream.
Reflecting now, it wasn¡¯t surprising. Even if his dream city was indeed Donghai City 600 years in the future, most modern structures wouldn¡¯tst that long, likely demolished or redeveloped.
¡°These things don¡¯t matter.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, gazing out at the brightly lit Donghai nightscape.
¡°What¡¯s important is¡ why did technology regress, and why did the bustling Donghai City devolve into a backward vige?¡±
He could ept stagnant or slightly regressed technology.
But widely used products couldn¡¯t just vanish from production lines.
Recalling the old man¡¯s shop¡
The bulky television sets, which he hadn¡¯t seen in years, disyed full-screen mosaics, technology that should have been obsolete.
It wasn¡¯t just the TVs.
Tungsten fment bulbs, metal parts wrapped in oil paper, matches¡ªthese relics of bygone eras shouldn¡¯t exist in a world 600 years advanced.
¡°Unless¡¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian considered a possibility:
¡°Unless there was a world-scale war, or a global catastrophe that nearly erased human civilization. In the aftermath, all technology had to be rebuilt from scratch.¡±
¡°But that seems too unrealistic.¡±
Eventually, Lin Xian dismissed these wild theories.
Since the dream had already changed due to the time-space butterfly effect, pondering the reasons now seemed futile.
Temporal shifts were irreversible.
Instead of specting, he nned to enter the dream the next day and seek answers directly.
That would be the most reliable and efficient approach.
¡
Exhausted from pacing, Lin Xian sat at his desk, summarizing the third fact he had realized.
Temporal shifts indeed had precise [Anchors]. These specific events at particr times determined the urrence of temporal shifts, following a recognizable pattern.
Simply put, it¡¯s when the time-space butterfly ps its wings.
Only when the butterfly ps its wings at a certain moment can it stir up a future tornado of ¡°change¡± 600 yearster.
This concept wasn¡¯t difficult to grasp.
The first temporal shift¡¯s anchor was when Lin Xian renamed Coco Cat to Rhine Cat. At that moment, the time-space butterfly pped its wings, rewriting the future and triggering a temporal shift.
The second shift¡¯s anchor was unclear, but he suspected it was linked to when he ced the manuscript in Xu Yun¡¯sb, or when Xu Yun first conducted the initial experiment. From that moment, the time-space butterfly pped its wings again, and the Father of Hibernation changed from Academician Gao Wen.
The third shift¡¯s anchor was when Xu Yun sent the new aluminum alloy sample to the Aerospace Research Institute. From that moment, time, history, and the future began shifting, affecting even the material of the safe in the dream.
The fourth shift¡¯s anchor was when Donghai University¡¯s research institute received, organized, and released Xu Yun¡¯s research data and iplete papers. Once official organizations became involved, the possibility of the data being lost or stolen was nullified, making the event ¡°irreversible.¡±
This time, the temporal shift was extensive and transformative.
Unlike previous minor shifts, this one had a broad scope and a significant impact, essentially resetting the future world without a trace of its original state.
Lin Xian believed this shift was intense not just because of the hibernation pod liquid but also likely due to Xu Yun¡¯s miraculous chemical substance, the new aluminum alloy, and other interconnected events, causing a more potent time-space butterfly effect.
¡°Though I don¡¯t understand why technology regressed, the theories about temporal shifts are definitely correct.¡±
Resting his chin on his hand and twirling a pen, Lin Xian felt he had a faint grasp of the rules governing time, history, and the future.
These changes likely followed certain axioms, forms, patterns, orws.
¡°How should I summarize and ssify these concepts of the time-space butterfly effect, temporal shifts, and anchor points?¡±
If he could truly master these patterns, it would be a formidable power capable of transcending time!
Lin Xian pondered for a long time, then stopped twirling his pen.
He unscrewed the cap.
At the top of the nk sheet, he wrote¡ª[Temporal Laws]
Chapter 76: Laws of Time and Space
Lin Xian pondered the concept of thews of time and space, realizing it perfectly captured his musings.
¡°There must be numerous otherws of time and space that I¡¯ve yet to observe or deduce,¡± he thought. ¡°For now, I can only identify three¡¡±
He resumed writing, noting down the threews of time and space he had formted:
Laws of Time and Space
Temporal Butterfly Effect: Any action in the present can ripple through history, causing changes¡ªminor or major¡ªin the future. Small alterations might go unnoticed, while significant ones could transform the world.
Temporal Disturbance: Human interventions in history can disrupt the original timeline, leading to changes in the future. These disruptions are known as temporal disturbances and are unpredictable.
Disturbance Anchor Point: Certain times and events that reach a critical threshold can trigger visible temporal disturbances. These are known as disturbance anchor points.
Lin Xian reviewed thews he had documented. Something seemed off. He examined them again and pinpointed a potential conflict between the Temporal Butterfly Effect and the Disturbance Anchor Point.
¡°Does every action necessarily lead to a temporal disturbance?¡± he wondered.If every minor action could trigger a significant future disturbance, then his dream wouldn¡¯t have remained consistent for 23 years. For instance, winning the Youth City Parkour Championship for three consecutive years was impressive, yet it seemed to have no impact on the future. The world 600 yearster appeared unaffected by his victories.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes settled on the half-filled ss of water on his desk. He pondered, ¡°Would drinking this water now change the world 600 years in the future?¡±
¡°Certainly not,¡± he concluded. ¡°Unless I consumed an absurd amount of water right now, which would either be fatal or severely impair me. In that scenario, I wouldn¡¯t marry or have children, effectively ending my lineage. The absence of future Lin family scientists and criminals might indeed initiate a temporal disturbance.¡±
¡°It¡¯s about the magnitude of change. Not every butterfly effect is powerful enough to influence the future. Routine actions like washing my face, brushing my teeth, or taking a bath would dissipate over 600 years, creating no significant ripples.¡±
He realized he needed to introduce another principle to hisws of time and space. Lin Xian picked up his pen once more and added a fourthw:
Temporal sticity
Time and space possess an inherent sticity, meaning not every butterfly effect will trigger a disturbance. Only changes that umte sufficiently or are of significant magnitude can ovee this temporal sticity, causing disturbances that influence the future.
Lin Xian spected that the longer the timescale, the greater the temporal sticity, making it harder for disturbances and changes to manifest. This sticity also behaves with inertia, smoothing out over long time spans and bing less reactive.
However, since the concept of inertia wasn¡¯t fully proven, Lin Xian decided not to include it in his writings.
¡°That¡¯s it for now,¡± Lin Xian said as he capped his pen.
[Temporal Butterfly Effect]
[Temporal Disturbance]
[Disturbance Anchor Point]
[Temporal sticity]
These were the fourws of time and space he had identified so far. Perhaps morews awaited discovery as he delved deeper into his dream world.
¡°Maybe thesews are as potent as nes, tanks, and cannons in the realm of time and space,¡± Lin Xian mused. He closed his eyes and imagined bombing Donghai City with nes, tanks, and cannons, reducing it to ruins, and reverting human technology to thete 20th century¡ªhow challenging would that be?
Extremely difficult.
It isn¡¯t just about the firepower; even if Donghai City were destroyed with nuclear weapons, technology would eventually rebound. Moreover, if an adversary pursued such a strategy, they would face the country¡¯s formidable defenses. With strong air and sea defenses, could anyone truly devastate Donghai with conventional warfare?
But thews of time and space, these temporal tools, are different!
This is a war without visible battles. You can¡¯t see where the enemy is, don¡¯t know who the enemy is, and can¡¯t defend against their attacks. Temporal tools can strike from 600 years in the past, using thews of time and space to effortlessly alter history and the future, catching you unprepared.
Just like the earlier hypothesis.
How difficult is it to breach all defenses and devastate Donghai City? For someone who masters temporal tools and thews of time and space, it¡¯s not difficult at all. A single paper by Xu Yun is enough.
¡°This is warfare on a temporal scale,¡± Lin Xian thought as he stared at the sinct lines on the paper, sensing the immense potential to reshape the world. ¡°This is a temporal tool that only I control.¡±
A sudden thought struck him. If his temporal tool inadvertently led to a technological regression in the future, perhaps he could reverse it, propelling the future world forward by decades or even centuries.
¡°An interesting possibility,¡± he mused.
Lin Xian crumpled the paper he had written on and tossed it into the stove, lighting it with a lighter.
¡°But temporal disturbances are unpredictable. If I don¡¯t want my well-intentioned actions to backfire, I need to first identify the underlying cause of the technological regression in the dream world. Technological regression doesn¡¯t happen without a reason; there must be a specific trigger.¡±
Lin Xian was convinced. As long as he understood and mastered enoughws of time and space, he might one day be able to manage the butterfly effects and make temporal disturbances manageable.
Whoosh¡
The mes flickered. Each me danced unpredictably.
Lin Xian decided to enter his dream world earlier the next afternoon to explore as much as possible.
The following day.
While at his office, Lin Xian received an unexpected call from his university counselor. He was quite surprised. The counselor, a young man who had begun working after earning his master¡¯s degree, maintained a strong rapport with the students due to his approachability. Lin Xian had formed a good rtionship with him during his university years, and he was curious about the reason for the call.
Once connected, the counselor enthusiastically congratted Lin Xian, ¡°Rhine Cat has be incredibly popr, Lin Xian, especially among female university students. It¡¯s a huge hit.¡±
¡°By the way, do you have any free time these days, Lin Xian? The freshmen in our department learned that Rhine Cat was designed by an alumnus and are thrilled. I got a bit carried away and boasted that I could invite you to give a brief lecture at our college, sharing your experience in IP character design with the students.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. It was true that Rhine Cat was popr, but he hadn¡¯t designed it. What expertise could he possibly share? At best, he could discuss his dreams. However, the counselor was so enthusiastic, asking him as a favor to enhance his credibility with the freshmen. Lin Xian agreed, ¡°How about tomorrow afternoon?¡±
¡°Perfect, tomorrow afternoon it is.¡±
Since Lin Xian nned to delve into the dream world early that afternoon, he scheduled the lecture for the following day.
¡°Sigh,¡± Lin Xian sighed after ending the call. Nowmitted, he needed to prepare. He retrieved the ck notebook from his desk, drafted an outline for his talk, and decided to use it for his uing lecture.
After wrapping up his work, Lin Xian left the office early to enter his dream. He checked the time. It was not yet six o¡¯clock, giving him a full seven hours to explore¡ªan ample window.
After a quick wash, hey down on his bed and entered the dream world.
In this new dream, the summer heat persisted, but there was no stifling breeze. The chaotic, self-built houses around likely obstructed the winding paths, preventing any wind from prating.
Lin Xian opened his eyes. He was at the same ¡°starting point¡± as hisst dream. Brick walls, low houses, narrow paths,nterns, stone tiles, moss¡ Everything was as impoverished as before.
¡°Is this still Donghai?¡± he wondered, scratching his head.
But he could easily find out by asking someone.
¡°Thief! Catch the thief! Young man, please help!¡± Behind him, the anxious voice of a middle-aged woman called out.
Turning, he saw a well-dresseddy gasping as she pursued a fleeing thief. The thief, donning a ck hat, muttered curses under his breath. It was the same thief who had robbed the convenience store and killed Lin Xian with a knife the previous night!
¡°Can¡¯t you rob a different vige?¡± Lin Xian was exasperated. This thief consistently targeted the same vige, burrizing the old man¡¯s store at night and snatching thedy¡¯s handbag during the day.
¡°Get lost!¡± The thief elbowed Lin Xian aside and sprinted down a narrow path. Thedy, breathless, grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm.
¡°Young man, I can¡¯t run anymore! Please help¡¡±
Having been murdered by this thief the day before, would Lin Xian let him escape today? Obviously not!
¡°Okay, ma¡¯am, just wait here.¡±
Whoosh! Lin Xian activated his parkour skills, weaving through the paths, vaulting over walls, and quickly catching up to the thief.
¡°Take this!¡±
¡°Aah!¡±
A flying kick brought the thief to the ground, pinning him. This time, Lin Xian was cautious. Instead of immediately grabbing the handbag, he reached for the thief¡¯s waist, found a gleaming knife, and flung it far away.
ng. The knife ttered down some steps. Believing it was now safe, but¡ª
Swish! Another sh of cold steel¡ªthe thief had drawn a second dagger!
¡°Dual-wielding?¡± Luckily, Lin Xian was ready and quickly dodged backward.
What¡¯s with this world? In hisst dream, CC wielded two guns. Now, this thief brandished two knives. Does everyone feel this insecure?
¡°You!¡± The thief growled, rubbing his neck in pain, advancing with the dagger. ¡°Always interfering, huh?¡±
Lin Xian backed away and suddenly found himself at a dead end.
¡°Damn it!¡± The thief¡¯s face contorted with rage, his dagger waving threateningly. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡±
¡°Who do you think you¡¯re teaching a lesson to?!!!¡± A booming voice resounded from a nearby alley.
Boom!!! A stack of firewood at the alley entrance was kicked aside!
A burly figure, nked by three fierce-looking followers, emerged.
Swish! The leader flicked out a long baton.
¡°Spit!¡± He spat out his cigarette, his face twisted with anger as he red at the thief.
¡°Stealing on my turf¡ You¡¯ve got guts!¡±
Chapter 77: Brother Cat Face
¡°Big Cat Face!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Even in the tumultuous dream world, he found himself face-to-face with Big Cat Face. The surreal experience of encountering an old friend in such an unusual ce filled Lin Xian with an impulse to embrace him.
¡°Eh?¡± Big Cat Face squinted, eyeing Lin Xian with suspicion. ¡°You know who I am?¡±
¡°Damn!¡± The thief, realizing he was outnumbered, turned to flee.
¡°You think you can get away?¡± Big Cat Face swung his stick, tearing the thief¡¯s shirt, then swung again, disarming the knife from his grip.
¡°Nice moves!¡± Lin Xian eximed awkwardly, attempting to draw closer.
Behind them, three of Big Cat Face¡¯s followers lunged at the thief, pinning him to the ground. Big Cat Face picked up a handbag from the dirt and handed it to the burliest of his followers.
¡°This is Granny Li¡¯s bag. Return it to her. If we¡¯re taking protection money, we need to keep the peace around here.¡±
The burly follower nodded and scurried off.Lin Xian stared at Big Cat Face, astonished by his transformation into a somewhat heroic figure. As Lin predicted, the shifts in time-space not only alter historical events and future prospects but also reshape personal destinies.
Now, Big Cat Face appeared less like the ruthless bandit Lin Xian once knew and more like a rough-and-tumble neighborhood guardian, albeit one who still collected protection fees butmitted to good deeds.
Shing¡ª
A sudden sh of light startled everyone, and the two followers holding down the thief screamed.
¡°Boss! He¡¯s got another knife!¡±
Lin Xian spun around just in time to see the thief pull a second knife from his boot and dash off.
¡°Impressive¡¡± Lin Xian marveled, intrigued by the small vige¡¯s resident expert in multi-knifebat.
¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± Big Cat Facemanded, pping Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°Help us out, buddy. Cut him off!¡±
With that, he and his followers sprinted after the thief.
¡°Okay¡¡± Lin Xian agreed, still unsure of his role but buoyed by Big Cat Face¡¯s presence, which lent a bizarrefort to this dreamndscape. Engaging with local figures was part of navigating dreams, and the new Big Cat Face seemed a worthy acquaintance. His naive, straightforward nature made him an ideal source for information.
Lin Xian dashed ahead, outpacing Big Cat Face and his crew, and intercepted the thief.
¡°Wow?¡± Big Cat Face and his followers gaped.
¡°What was that move?¡±
¡°Boss! He¡¯s flying!¡±
Navigating the narrow alleyways, perfect for parkour, Lin Xian swiftly caught the thief again. ¡°Gotcha!¡±
¡°Ah¡ª¡± A flying kick sent the thief sprawling.
Lin Xian frisked him thoroughly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re a nine-knife master¡¡±
Luckily, he found no more weapons.
¡
Later, Big Cat Face and his trio delivered the thief to what appeared to be a police station. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t certain it was an actual police facility, but it resembled some form ofw enforcement office.
¡°Buddy, you¡¯ve got some serious skills,¡± Big Cat Face remarked, pping Lin Xian on the back. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°Lin Xian,¡± he replied coolly.
¡°Alright, Lin Xian,¡± Big Cat Face turned to his men. ¡°Let me introduce you. I¡¯m the boss around here, known as Big Cat Face. You can call me Brother Face. These are my guys: Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang.¡±
Lin eyed each follower. These were the same men Big Cat Face had inadvertently led to their deaths in a bank heist in another dream.
Ah Zhuang,pact and robust, had been the one caught for pilfering at the bank¡¯s entrance. Er Zhuzi,nky and gaunt, had met his end near the electrical box, implicated by an affair with the boss¡¯s wife. Lin gave him a second nce, noting nothing particrly notable beyond his height. The hefty San Pang had betrayed the group in the bank¡¯s underground passage.
Time-space alterations had reshaped their destinies as well. But had their inherent natures changed? Lin Xian eyed Er Zhuzi cautiously, concerned about the implications for Big Cat Face¡¯s operation.
¡°They call me Big Cat Face,¡± the boss reiterated, patting his chest proudly. ¡°But you can call me Brother Cat.¡±
¡°So, where are you from? I know everyone here, and you don¡¯t seem local,¡± Lin stated matter-of-factly.
¡°I¡¯m just a wanderer, passing through,¡± Lin responded.
Big Cat Face studied him intently but seemed to ept his exnation. Pointing to a nearby low wall, he inquired, ¡°Earlier, you moved like you were flying. Where did you learn those moves?¡±
¡°That¡¯s called parkour,¡± Lin exined.
¡°What¡¯s parkour?¡± Big Cat Face and his crew exchanged puzzled looks.
¡°It¡¯s hard to exin. Think of it as a mix of martial arts and agility. Just picture it that way,¡± Lin offered.
Big Cat Face nodded thoughtfully, eyeing a two-story stone wall. ¡°Do it again, let me see.¡±
¡°Brother Face¡¡± Lin chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not a circus performer. I can¡¯t just show off on demand.¡±
¡°Come on, show me,¡± Big Cat Face insisted, pping Lin on the back. ¡°If you do, I¡¯ll let you join my crew.¡±
¡°Ha?¡± Lin raised an eyebrow. ¡°You consider this a crew?¡±
¡°It¡¯s about quality, not quantity. Joining isn¡¯t easy,¡± Big Cat Face retorted.
¡°And the perks?¡± Lin questioned.
¡°Hehe¡¡± Big Cat Face chuckled. ¡°Join, and you¡¯re family. I¡¯ll take you home for dinner. You can meet my wife and kids!¡±
Kids? Did the alteration in time-space mean Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter was still alive? What about his father? If his father was still alive, that could mean he hadn¡¯t pursued his research, or perhaps the Genius Club didn¡¯t exist in this version of the world. Lin needed to see Big Cat Face¡¯s home.
¡°Joining your crew means I can meet your family?¡± Lin Xian grasped Big Cat Face¡¯s hand earnestly.
Big Cat Face nodded solemnly, then burst outughing with his men.
¡°Hahaha! Look at this guy¡ªhe actually fell for it!¡± Er Zhuzi¡¯sughter rang out, reminiscent of a cackling goose.
¡°I¡¯m joking, buddy. Meeting the family isn¡¯t the real perk,¡± Big Cat Face waved dismissively. ¡°The real perk of joining is¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Lin Xian dered decisively. ¡°No need for details, Brother Face, count me in.¡± He scaled the wall, flipped over, andnded smoothly. ¡°How¡¯s that, Brother Face? When do we go to your ce?¡±
Er Zhuzi straightened up, his face nching. ¡°Boss, we can¡¯t bring him!¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Big Cat Face questioned.
¡°He¡¯s after the wife! He¡¯s up to no good!¡± Er Zhuzi eximed, clearly distressed.
¡°Nonsense!¡± Big Cat Face dismissed the usation, draping an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I trust this guy! From now on, he¡¯s one of us, the Big Cat Face Gang!¡±
¡°Really, can¡¯t we just call it the Cat Gang?¡± He protested.
¡°Cat is the ideology, Face is the metaphysics.¡±
Lin Xian halted, baffled by Big Cat Face¡¯s use of such philosophical terminology.
In theirst encounter, Big Cat Face¡¯s English fluency was understandable in a modern cityscape. But here, in this backward, impoverished vige, such terms seemedpletely out of ce. Even if he misused them without understanding their actual meaning, it was still strange to hear them.
¡°Where did you pick up those terms?¡± Lin questioned.
¡°My dad mentioned them,¡± Big Cat Face replied, lighting a cigarette.
¡°Is your dad a philosopher?¡±
¡°He doesn¡¯t know the first thing about philosophy. He¡¯s just a primary school math teacher, but he¡¯s fixated on this old book he found in a tomb.¡±
¡°A book from a tomb?¡±
¡°Yeah, really old, surprisingly well-preserved,¡± Big Cat Face mused.
¡°What¡¯s it called?¡± Lin pressed, curiosity piqued.
Big Cat Face took a drag from his cigarette, scratching his head. ¡°I think it¡¯s called ¡®Introduction to the Universal Constant.''¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like an ancient text. It seems too sophisticated.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t ask me, I don¡¯t know much about it!¡± Big Cat Face appeared annoyed, ring at Lin Xian disdainfully. ¡°I see you¡¯re a bookworm too! Don¡¯t end up like my dad!¡±
¡°After he got into that book, he went mad. Quit his job, locked himself up at home, and kept muttering to himself like a lunatic.¡±
¡°Muttering what?¡± Lin gripped Big Cat Face¡¯s arm, his expression grave. If the Genius Club might have been involved in the disappearance of Big Cat Face¡¯s father, his research, that book, and the universal constant could be what they feared most. This information was crucial for his current predicament.
¡°What was your dad muttering?¡± Lin Xian pressed, shaking Big Cat Face¡¯s arm urgently. ¡°Quick, Brother Face, tell me.¡±
Chapter 78: Donghai
¡°Enough!¡± Big Cat Face shouted, shoving Lin Xian back. ¡°Do you ever stop? Question after question! Are you some kind of walking encyclopedia? Why do you need to know everything?¡±
Lin Xian recoiled but remained curious. ¡°Is your dad in good health?¡±
Big Cat Face snorted, taking an angry drag from his cigarette. ¡°He¡¯s fine! Just gone a bit mad with all his studies. Locks himself up all day!¡±
These schrs, the more they study, the crazier they be,¡± he continued, passing the cigarette to Ah Zhuang.
¡°Yeah,¡± Ah Zhuang agreed, taking a puff. ¡°Schrs just babble nonsense. Learning a trade is far better.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Er Zhuzi chimed in, taking a puff before passing the cigarette to San Pang. ¡°Schrs are unreliable, not straightforward.¡±
¡°It¡¯s better to start working early and marry well, like my sister-inw,¡± San Pang added, smoking thest of the cigarette.
Big Cat Face nodded. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t even want my daughter to continue her studies. It¡¯s better she starts working and finds a good match.¡±
Lin Xian realized the truth of the saying that economic foundations shape superstructures. In this impoverished area, limited perspectives prevailed. These four men were likely illiterate or semi-literate. He decided it was futile to press Big Cat Face further and thought it best to speak directly with his father. In this dream-like reality, Big Cat Face¡¯s father was still immersed in math.¡°Can I visit your father? I¡¯m also interested in math. I¡¯d love to learn from him.¡±
¡°Why not! You¡¯re a friend now; it¡¯s no trouble,¡± Big Cat Face replied, checking his watch. ¡°But it¡¯s toote today. He lives a bit far, and I promised my son I¡¯d bring home roast chicken for dinner.¡±
¡°You have a son?¡± Lin Xian was surprised.
¡°Yeah, my youngest¡ªhe¡¯s six. My daughter wanted a sister, but we had another boy instead,¡± Big Cat Face said, his face brightening. ¡°He can be a handful but also pretty cute.¡±
¡°Great!¡± Big Cat Face pped Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°You seem to be drifting. Why not stay at my ce? We¡¯ve got extra rooms, and you can join us for dinner.¡±
¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to see my dad on my motorcycle. You¡¯d never find his ce alone.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, grateful for Big Cat Face¡¯s hospitality. Dinner would be an opportunity to learn more about this world. Meanwhile, he was curious about ¡°An Introduction to the Universal Constant¡± and Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s obsession with it.
¡°Alright, tomorrow then,¡± Lin Xian agreed, nning to follow Big Cat Face¡¯s lead in the next cycle of this seemingly endless dream loop.
¡
After a bit more chatting, it was time to head home. Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang said their goodbyes, and Big Cat Face led Lin Xian back.
¡°Big brother¡¡± Ah Zhuang leaned in and whispered something to Big Cat Face, who nodded.
¡°Everything as usual,¡± Big Cat Face confirmed as the trio departed.
¡°You guys have ns tonight?¡± Lin Xian noted their secretive exchange.
¡°Just gang stuff,¡± Big Cat Faceughed it off. ¡°Let¡¯s go get that roast chicken.¡±
¡
Navigating the crowded, winding paths, Lin Xian felt ustrophobic, surrounded by endless houses. He looked at Big Cat Face, humming a tune as they walked.
¡°Brother Face, how do you support your family without a job?¡±
¡°Protection fees!¡± Big Cat Face proudly dered.
¡°Seriously¡¡± Lin Xian was skeptical. ¡°Is that even legal?¡±
¡°Watch it! I run this ce. They owe me those fees!¡±
¡°Or maybe you¡¯re actually collecting property fees?¡±
¡°Nonsense! Don¡¯t look down on me like that!¡±
¡
Arriving at Big Cat Face¡¯s house¡ªa three-story building like its cluttered neighbors¡ªLin Xian was weed by his hospitable and attractive wife. Lin Xian wondered how Er Zhuzi ever dared flirt with her. But perhaps that was just a past dream. Now, Big Cat Face seemed on the right path, though Lin Xian suspected the ¡°protection fees¡± might be more about property management, like a housing association using a security service.
¡°Dinner¡¯s ready~¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s wife called, setting out hot dumplings. The family gatheredughing and chatting. Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter was charming and bright, his son a mini-version of him.
As they enjoyed dinner, Lin Xian thought of Xu Yun¡¯s tragic fate and Xu Yi Yi¡¯s dire circumstances. Changing history had improved one family¡¯s life but disrupted another¡¯s. He hoped for a future where Xu Yi Yi could thrive like Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter, free from the constraints of their current reality.
Regrettably, the technological advancements needed, like the hibernation pod, seemed unachieved here.
¡°I don¡¯t want to work! I want to continue studying!¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter argued. ¡°If I don¡¯t study, what will my future hold? I don¡¯t want to end up like you!¡±
¡°Let it go, Brother Face,¡± Lin Xian interjected, clinking sses with Big Cat Face. ¡°Support her dreams. Knowledge can change fate. Does Niuniu want to be a mathematician or teacher like her grandpa?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to be a teacher,¡± she pouted.
¡°What do you dream of bing?¡±
¡°My only dream is to leave this ce! I want to live in New Donghai City!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s ss paused mid-air. ¡°New Donghai City?¡±
¡°No, just New Donghai City,¡± Big Cat Face corrected as he ate. ¡°Are you confused?¡±
¡°What do you mean by New Donghai City? Isn¡¯t this Donghai?¡±
¡°This is Old Donghai.¡±
¡°And where¡¯s New Donghai?¡±
Big Cat Face looked at Lin Xian as if he were clueless. ¡°Are you joking? You really don¡¯t know?¡±
¡°I truly don¡¯t,¡± Lin Xian insisted.
Sighing, Big Cat Face stood, pulling Lin Xian upstairs. ¡°You must be messing with me!¡±
On the rooftop, the reality of their location became clear. Below was the old, dpidated vige; in the distance stood a vibrant sci-fi city encased in steel. The stark contrast between their humble surroundings and the advanced metropolis was overwhelming.
¡°There! That¡¯s New Donghai City!¡± Big Cat Face pointed to the neon-lit skyline, where futuristic skyscrapers and flying vehicles illustrated a world apart from their own.
Stunned, Lin Xian absorbed the breathtaking view. This dream, blending past and futuristic realities, was a vivid reminder of the enduring power of human aspiration and innovation.
Chapter 79: The Moon
New Donghai City.
Lin Xian stood mesmerized, captivated by the awe-inspiring sight of advanced technology before him. Despite the changes in the timeline, technological progress had not only persisted but soared, fulfilling Professor Xu Yun¡¯s dreams.
Yet, Lin Xian believed that after six centuries, advancements should have been even more dramatic, surpassing the impressive state of New Donghai City. Nheless, this city was a leap ahead of his initial visions, boasting technology a century more advanced than anything he had ever imagined.
¡°This truly is a city of the future,¡± Lin Xian whispered in awe. ¡°It¡¯s breathtaking.¡±
¡°What¡¯s so breathtaking about it?¡± Big Cat Face retorted with a scoff. ¡°Maybe for them! We can¡¯t even touch what they discard.¡±
Turning, Lin Xian observed the dim lights of their own vige, a stark contrast to the vibrant neon glow of New Donghai City. The city seemed like a realm of fantasy.
¡°So,¡± Lin Xian began, addressing Big Cat Face, ¡°the hibernation pod is a reality now?¡±
¡°Hibernation pod? Yeah, I¡¯ve heard they have those in New Donghai City,¡± Big Cat Face replied dismissively. ¡°But what good is high-tech to us? They relish it while we get scraps.¡±
¡°Why has the world turned out like this, though?¡± Lin Xian pondered. ¡°Is it because the hibernation pod allows the affluent to extend their lives indefinitely, hoarding wealth and knowledge, leading to this disparity?¡±¡°Or perhaps the capable have chosen to hibernate, dying their contributions and causing society to regress?¡± Lin Xian mused aloud.
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Big Cat Face shook his head. ¡°All I know is, since my grandfather¡¯s days, the world has always been this divided.¡±
Lin Xian fell silent, recalling a saying: ¡°Death is the great equalizer. Only death can prevent the cementing of social strata and truly progress civilization.¡±
He nodded in agreement silently.
In Lin Xian¡¯s time, many cyberpunk games and films depicted futures not unlike his current reality. Where had the development skewed?
Not a historian nor a sociologist, Lin Xian could not unravel it. Yet, it was clear the technology had advanced as anticipated.
Reflecting on anomalies in the ¡°first dream,¡± Lin Xian had wondered if the Genius Club had stifled technological growth, perhaps even eliminating scientists.
Such a scenario seemed illogical; it benefited no one, not even the Genius Club. If the Earth were doomed at 00:42, as indicated by the ominous white light, wouldn¡¯t the Genius Club perish as well?
Why then stifle technological evolution rather than harness it to find a new haven or defend against potential invaders? It made no sense to curb human innovation.
But that was a past now overwritten. The ¡°first dream,¡± where technology stalled for six centuries, had given way to the ¡°second dream¡± ¡ª a future marked by rapid technological strides after the temporal shift.
Despite the evident social issues like wealth inequality, Professor Xu Yun¡¯s theories had undeniably catalyzed technological leaps.
From afar, Lin Xian eyed New Donghai City. Airborne vehicles darted across the sky, robots mingled amongst the popce, and imprable walls, standing a hundred meters tall, bristled with technology beyond his understanding.
This era could be good or bad. But one thing was clear: nothing was impeding technological progress now. The Genius Club likely didn¡¯t exist here.
Because¡
Had it existed, Big Cat Face¡¯s father would have long been deceased.
¡°About that towering wall¡¡± Lin Xian gestured towards the massive structure encircling New Donghai City and inquired, ¡°Is there a way in?¡±
Big Cat Face shook his head.
¡°None at all?¡± Lin Xian pressed. ¡°Your daughter dreams of living there. But even if she excels in her studies, she can¡¯t enter?¡±
¡°No, not unless you blow up that wall,¡± Big Cat Faceughed bitterly. ¡°Their world and ours might as well be differents.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Even if you never enter New Donghai City, you can still find happiness. Brother Face, you have children, your parents are alive, and you enjoy family life. Maybe you wouldn¡¯t even want to live there if you had the chance.¡±
¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Big Cat Face chuckled, dismissing the thought. ¡°I don¡¯t dwell on it much. Our life here isn¡¯t so bad.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, recalling that in the previous dream, Big Cat Face¡¯s family had been victims of the Genius Club. Overwhelmed by vengeance, he had turned to crime. This reality was undoubtedly better.
¡°At least the Genius Club probably doesn¡¯t exist anymore,¡± Lin Xian noted, gauging Big Cat Face¡¯s reaction. ¡°Ever heard of the Genius Club?¡±
¡°Nope,¡± Big Cat Face shook his head. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°They¡¯re rumored to be a secretive group,¡± Lin Xian exined, smiling slightly. ¡°Invitations are said to go only to the wealthiest and brightest, but that¡¯s just the surface. The real criteria are much stricter.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure of their purpose or activities. They¡¯re shrouded in so much mystery they might as well be mythical.¡±
¡°Sometimes I wonder¡ Is it really an evil organization? Or is it just misunderstood?¡±
Big Cat Face looked perplexed. ¡°What are you getting at? Can you simplify? What does this club do?¡±
¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°The only thing certain is their symbol.¡±
Raising his right hand, he pointed upwards. ¡°Their emblem is a right hand pointing to the sky.¡±
Big Cat Face scoffed. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding! I thought you were serious!¡±
Lin Xian looked at his hand, surprised. ¡°Have you seen this symbol?¡±
¡°Who hasn¡¯t? It¡¯s been around for centuries!¡±
¡°Where?¡±
¡°Just look up!¡±
Lin Xian followed his gaze upward.
August 28, 2624. Lunar calendar: July 16. A full moon hung in the sky, perfectly round like a polished disc.
And there, across the moon¡¯s surface, stretched a vast shadow from north to south, almost bisecting the moon.
The shadow formed the shape of a right hand pointing upwards.
Exactly like Lin Xian¡¯s gesture.
¡°Huh.¡±
Chapter 80: Concealment
Lin Xian stared at the Genius Club logo sprawled across the moon. It looked eerily like a gigantic ck hand, mocking him from the night sky.
Just moments before, Lin Xian had convinced himself that in this futuristic world, the Genius Club had either dissolved or been wiped out by the rapid advancements in technology. He was mistaken. Not only had they survived, they had be more audacious, etching their emblem directly onto the lunar surface.
¡°What is that?¡± Lin Xian asked, pointing toward the moon.
¡°The moon!¡±
¡°I mean the ck shadow on the moon. Is it a projection, or is there really a building thatrge spanning from the north to the south pole?¡±
¡°That¡¯s unclear,¡± Big Cat Face replied, shaking his head. ¡°The moon has looked like this for centuries. Ever since I was young, it¡¯s always had that mark, so it never struck me as unusual.¡±
¡°You¡¯re lucky today. The full moon on the sixteenth day of the lunar cycle makes the pattern quite visible. When it¡¯s not full, it¡¯s harder to see. Sometimes, the angle even makes it resemble a middle finger.¡±
¡°The problem isn¡¯t that, Big Cat,¡± Lin Xian said, gazing back up at the ominous moon. ¡°The problem is that even if the moon has looked like this since you were born, it¡¯s clearly artificial. Centuries ago, the moon certainly didn¡¯t look like this.¡±
¡°I know that!¡± Big Cat Face rubbed his arm, pulled out a cigarette from behind his ear, and lit it with a match.¡°The dark pattern on the moon is obviously man-made, but who did it and which nation they were from remains unknown.¡±
¡°There are various theories. Some suggest a nation built a colossal ck structure on the moon as a disy of power, shaped like an outstretched hand with an extended index finger.¡±
¡°Others think a wealthy artist created the design using a light-absorbing or non-reflective material to make it visible from Earth.¡±
¡°There¡¯s even a theory that it¡¯s the work of aliens¡ bute on! That¡¯s a tale for kids! Aliens with human-like hands? Five fingers? I don¡¯t believe it.¡±
Lin Xian let Big Cat Face¡¯s theories go in one ear and out the other.
Because he knew the truth. The sinister shadow on the moon was most likely the handiwork of the Genius Club. Bizarre and presumptuous, just like Lin Xian¡¯s impressions of this enigmatic organization. But such a massive lunar project couldn¡¯t have escaped historical documentation.
¡°Big Cat, aren¡¯t there any records in history books?¡±
¡°History books?¡± Big Cat Faceughed derisively.
¡°People like us aren¡¯t even privileged enough to know our own history¡¡±
He gestured toward the brightly lit New Donghai City, visible a few kilometers away.
¡°History and knowledge are monopolized by them. If you want ess to genuine history books, you¡¯d need to enter New Donghai City, where there are bookstores and all kinds of advanced technology.¡±
¡°So, young man¡¡±
Big Cat Face exhaled a stream of smoke, his gazeplex as he looked at Lin Xian.
¡°I don¡¯t oppose my daughter pursuing an education. If she could study in New Donghai City, I¡¯d sell everything I own, even myself, to support her!¡±
¡°But studying here in our vige¡ what¡¯s the point? Weck genuine knowledge or history here¡ Even if you go to school, what you learn is devoid of real substance.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding theplexities of familial decisions better than to offer unsolicited advice.
¡°I understand, Big Cat. My apologies.¡± He offered a reassuring smile. ¡°If I ever make it into New Donghai City, I¡¯ll st a hole in that steel wall. Then¡ you lead the vigers in to grab all the good stuff!¡±
¡°Hahaha, keep dreaming!¡± Big Cat Face pped Lin Xian on the back. ¡°Always the dreamer! Come on, let¡¯s get a drink!¡±
As they descended the stairs, Lin Xian took onest look at the cyberpunk-esque New Donghai City and the moon branded with the Genius Club logo before entering the house.
In the living room, Big Cat Face¡¯s wife and their children had already cleared the dinner table.
Lin Xian and Big Cat Face lingered, drinking more and discussing history, though no enlightening answers emerged.
No matter how much he probed, Big Cat Face¡¯s responses remained the same: the world had always been like this.
His knowledge of history was limited, vague at best, focused only on recent decades.
Even local bookstorescked records going back a century.
This puzzled Lin Xian.
Logically, every society, every world should have its historians, right? There should be records.
But recalling his initial dream, even there, essible historical records were nonexistent.
Could there be amon reason for this?
After a while, Big Cat Face checked his watch, smiled slightly, and threw an arm around Lin Xian.
¡°Let¡¯s hit the hay, little brother. There are plenty of rooms upstairs. My wife will prepare one for you. Don¡¯t be shy.¡±
¡°Who goes to bed this early?¡± Lin Xian protested.
¡°I¡¯m not a child, and it¡¯s not even ten yet.¡±
¡°Big Cat, you must be hiding something from me, right? Today Ah Zhuang mentioned you had some ns tonight. Since I¡¯m practically family now, you can¡¯t leave me out, whether it¡¯s good or bad!¡±
Lin Xian gripped Big Cat Face¡¯s hand.
¡°I¡¯m already part of your crew. We¡¯re in this together! So tell me, Big Cat¡ what¡¯s the big secret?¡±
Big Cat Face finished his drink and licked his lips.
¡°Kid, I admit, I¡¯ve been keeping something from you.¡±
Big Cat Face was genuinely trustworthy, which was why Lin Xian felt a connection to him.
¡°I am hiding something from you,¡± he repeated, filling Lin Xian¡¯s cup and then his own.
¡°But I didn¡¯t intend to keep it secret forever.¡±
He looked intently at Lin Xian.
¡°I knew right away you were decent. I trust my instincts.¡±
¡°So today¡ª¡±
¡°But not today,¡± Big Cat Face interrupted, his eyes firm as he raised his ss to Lin Xian.
¡°I¡¯d take you with me if I could, but it¡¯s not my call to make.¡±
¡°So¡ do me a favor today and hit the sack early. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll introduce you to the boss.¡±
¡°Trust me, your Brother Face here has influence. With my backing, the boss will definitely let you join.¡±
¡°But until then, don¡¯t ask too many questions. Every line of work has its rules. I can see you¡¯re sharp, but even sharp minds can¡¯t bend the rules.¡±
Since Big Cat Faceid it out so clearly, Lin Xian didn¡¯t press further.
He hadn¡¯t anticipated that in his previous dream, he used ¡°tomorrow¡± to fend off Big Cat Face¡ and now the roles were reversed, with Big Cat Face using ¡°tomorrow¡± on him.
But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t in a rush.
As long as he didn¡¯t trigger significant time-space shifts, this dream could extend indefinitely. He could afford to unravel these mysteries slowly. For now, he simply needed to collect information.
Lin Xian raised his ss.
¡°You have a boss above you?¡±
¡°Not a boss, the boss. We work for him,¡± Big Cat Face rified.
Clink.
They downed their drinks in one go.
Big Cat Face showed Lin Xian around the house, including the bathroom. After Lin Xian freshened up, he was guided to a clean, orderly bedroom.
¡°Get a good night¡¯s sleep. Don¡¯t wander around; it¡¯s unsafe out there,¡± Big Cat Face advised.
¡°Understood, Big Cat,¡± Lin Xian responded.
¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±
I¡¯ll definitely go out!
With such an obvious hint¡ not venturing out would be a disservice to his curiosity.
Besides, he was in a dream. Who sleeps in a dream?
He had tried before, and it was impossible to sleep in a dream.
¡°Goodnight, Brother Face.¡±
¡°Goodnight, little brother.¡±
Lying on the stone bed, Lin Xian kept his eyes open, attuned to every sound in the house.
Big Cat Face¡¯s wife seemed to be chopping radishes in the kitchen, likely preparing them for breakfast.
Their daughter and younger son were also chuckling and drifting off to sleep.
There was no noise from Big Cat Face; he must have already left.
Finally, when the house fellpletely silent, Lin Xian rose and quietly opened the door.
Chapter 81: In the Deep of Night
The house was eerily quiet, interrupted only by the gentle snoring of Big Cat Face¡¯s youngest son. The silence was otherwise unbroken.
Lin Xian crept cautiously down the stairs, striving to make no sound. He was certain Big Cat Face was concealing something. Though Big Cat Face had acknowledged this, he intended to introduce Lin Xian to his boss tomorrow and involve him in their ns. But Lin Xian couldn¡¯t wait until tomorrow.
At dinner, Lin Xian had nced at the calendar. It was still August 28, 2624. This confirmed that although he hadn¡¯t witnessed the apocalyptic white light at 00:42 yesterday, the world had likely been obliterated by it. The cycle persisted, the dream continued, and only the world had altered its facade.
Click. Click. Click.
Lin Xian tiptoed through the living room, navigating around the clutter left by Big Cat Face¡¯s boisterous son. Fortunately, Mrs. Face had managed to tidy up before bed. Yet, despite her efforts, the small, cramped nature of the house remained unchanged.
Finally, Lin Xian reached the front door.
Creak¡ª¡ª
The door squeaked open, causing Lin Xian to tense. He nced back, but there was no stir from Mrs. Face or the children.
Lin Xian carefully locked the door behind him. He didn¡¯t n to return, and it seemed prudent to deter any potential thieves.Turning, he embarked down the winding, uneven path, unsure of his destination in the disorganized sprawl of makeshift houses that blocked every view. No wonder he hadn¡¯t spotted the new Donghai City or the distant ck skyscraper during daylight.
¡°Living here too long would drive anyone mad,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
Disoriented without the moon¡¯s guidance and unable to discern east from west, he chose a direction at random and began to wander. Soon, he found himself at the small market where Big Cat Face had once purchased roast chicken. The area was bustling, hardly navigable for vehicles.
ording to Big Cat Face, all resources in this world¡ªknowledge, history, technology¡ªwere monopolized by the inhabitants of the new Donghai City. Lin Xian struggled to grasp the structure or rules of this world, unable toprehend such a convoluted development trajectory. The physical proximity of the old and new Donghai belied a vast cultural and technological gulf as if it were as distant as Earth from the Moon.
¡°In Big Cat Face¡¯s words, we might as well be aliens to each other without even the chance to exchange scraps,¡± Lin Xian recalled, unsure if Big Cat Face was exaggerating out of frustration or stating a bleak reality.
After aimlessly wandering for what felt like ages, Lin Xian considered giving up. Overturning this impoverished vige would likely yield nothing. There were no history books, no records. The children here grew up devoid of genuine knowledge, their ignorance perpetuated generation after generation.
Even a man as brilliant as Big Cat Face¡¯s father, once a Fields Medal-winning mathematician, now merely taught elementary school math in this surreal dream world.
¡°Forget it, there¡¯s no point in wandering aimlessly. This ce is abyrinth,¡± Lin Xian concluded, deciding against further exploration.
He faced two choices:
First, to seek out Big Cat Face¡¯s father early tomorrow to inquire about the ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± and decipher the cryptic phrase he often repeated. Lin Xian suspected that the father¡¯s research was what the Genius Club wanted to suppress, perhaps fearful of its implications.
Alternatively, Lin Xian could attempt to infiltrate the fortified new Donghai City to ess its historical records and unravel the strange evolution of this future. Though Big Cat Face had insisted it was imprable, Lin Xian was undeterred. In this infinite loop of dreams, he believed no ce was beyond reach, even if it meant risking his life repeatedly.
¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± Lin Xian resolved, vaulting over a wall. Landing on a higher stone wall, he pushed off, flipped over, andnded¡ª
Thud.
He found himself on a second-floor tform, then sprinted and leapt to a third-floor balcony, grasping the ledge and pulling himself up to the rooftop.
¡°Feels good,¡± he said, relishing the freedom from the cramped alleys below.
Looking up, Lin Xian saw the bizarre round moon directly overhead, with a dark hand-like shadow pointing ominously at the city below, sending shivers down his spine.
To the inhabitants of this world, such a moon was normal. It had always appeared thus, even in their ancestors¡¯ time. Generations had grown ustomed to this altered perception.
But Lin Xian, from 600 years in the past, knew the true appearance of the moon. What was this ck hand shadow? An enormous structure across the moon¡¯s poles? A light-absorbing material? Whatever it was, it transformed the moon into an ¡°art piece.¡±
Regrettably, to fullyprehend it, Lin Xian would need ess to the archives in new Donghai City. ¡°But it truly is an art,¡± he thought, admiring the moon from an artistic standpoint.
Due to tidal locking, the moon¡¯s rotation period matches its orbit around Earth. This means¡ ¡°The moon always shows the same face to Earth. We never see its far side.¡±
Thus, the emblem of the Genius Club could rise nightly, ever visible from Earth, a constant presence in the lunar cycle.
Lin Xian gazed towards the brilliantly lit, massive sci-fi city of New Donghai. Even at thiste hour, it buzzed with activity, a city that never slept. Did its residents not require sleep or rest? What kind of lives did they lead? Immortality? Eternal youth? Or had they reced their bodies with cybeic parts, like characters from films and games, bing fully mechanized?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know. ¡°But I have to see it for myself.¡±
He nced at his watch. 00:41:41
If this dream adhered to the rules of the ¡°first dream,¡± there were just 19 seconds left before the apocalyptic white light would obliterate everything, waking him in his bed. But with such advanced human technology, was it possible they were oblivious to this impending disaster without any means of prevention?
Lin Xian looked up at the bustling New Donghai City, everything as usual. He looked down at his watch¡ª00:41:57¡00:41:58¡00:41:59¡
Suddenly, a faint fragrance of camellias drifted through the night air.
Tap.
A hand rested on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder.
Chapter 82: The Vanishing Vehicles
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A blinding white light erupted with impable timing, consuming everything in its path.
Lin Xian opened his eyes and found himself in the corner of his bedroom. He turned to inspect his right shoulder, feeling as if a hand had rested there just before the white light exploded.
The light obliterated everything with such intensity that it was impossible to see clearly. Before he could even raise his head, all was destroyed.
Who could it have been?
Lin Xian sniffed the air, catching a faint scent of camellia. Although not a researcher himself, his work in cosmetics had made him familiar with various fragrances, and he recognized this one immediately.
Gao Yang had once mentioned, ¡°In this dream, the white light still obliterates everything, and humans remain blissfully unaware.¡± He had exined that modern astronomical tools were advanced enough to detect gravitational waves and extraterrestrial threats. ¡°Prevention might be another story, but we wouldn¡¯t bepletely blindsided like in the dream.¡±
Now, in his second dream, 600 years of technological evolution had birthed a cyberpunk metropolis like New Donghai City, with cars flying and robots scuttling. Yet, strangely, there seemed to be no advancement in astronomical observation.
¡°That¡¯s unrealistic,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.The eerie ck hand shadow on the moon suggested that humans in this future world had masteredrge-scale lunar constructions centuries ago. If they could leave such marks on the moon, why hadn¡¯t they ventured beyond the sr system or constructed space cities after so many years? It didn¡¯t add up.
Lin Xian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Even with time-space alterations and rapid technological strides, their level of advancement still seems underwhelming.¡±
Was building a sci-fi city like New Donghai City or creating a massive ck hand on the moon harder? Clearly, thetter. Yet, perhaps constructing a colossal structure on the moon using light-absorbing materials was more about cost and effort than about technological capability.
¡°Forget it,¡± he decided, dismissing his musings. ¡°It¡¯s better to visit New Donghai City directly to check historical records or consult a real-world astronomy scientist. That¡¯s more reliable than mere spection.¡±
He rose to use the bathroom. As water gushed from the faucet, Lin Xian sshed his face. Having slept from five in the afternoon to one in the morning, he felt rejuvenated.
Back in his room, he sat at his desk to consolidate what he had learned from the dream and to n his next moves.
Confirmed insights:
Following the publication of Professor Xu Yun¡¯s paper, technology in the dream world advanced dramatically. New Donghai City¡¯s tech level now surpasses our current era by decades.
The Genius Club still thrives in that future, bing even more influential.
Surprisingly, Big Cat Face¡¯s father is still alive, engaged in research titled ¡°Introduction to the Universal Constant.¡± This work might also exin his mysterious death in the ¡°First Dream.¡±
After the time-space alterations, not only did the entire future world transform drastically, but individual destinies shifted as well, though some patterns of inevitability seemed to persist.
To further unravel this new dream reality, be it through its knowledge base or historical context, Lin Xian realized he must infiltrate the heavily fortified New Donghai City. Only there could he ess the necessary books and records.
¡°Alright, that covers the main insights,¡± Lin Xian muttered, flipping on his deskmp.
Next steps for exploration, ranked by urgency and curiosity:
A priority discussion with Big Cat Face¡¯s father to understand the ¡°Introduction to the Universal Constant,¡± and to uncover the deeper agendas and secrets of the Genius Club.
1.Sneak into New Donghai City to uncover authentic historical records and to grasp the sequence of events and developmental milestones of this altered future.
2.If time permits, engage more with Big Cat Face to learn what he conceals, his activities, and the identity of his mysterious boss. This can serve as a secondary objective to deepen understanding of his character.
3.¡±The primary quests in this new dream are just these two or three. The third is merely a side quest and not crucial.¡±
Lin Xian concluded, reflecting on his newfound camaraderie with Big Cat Face, whom he now considered a friend despite their brief acquaintance.
¡°I¡¯m curious about what Big Cat Face is hiding, but it¡¯s probably nothing underhanded,¡± he pondered. The local vigers had warm rtions with him, and even the old man selling roasted chicken had asked him for help with a lightbulb, though Lin Xian suspected the fees collected were more about protection than property.
¡°Sleep now, I must visit Donghai University tomorrow to meet the counselor,¡± he muttered, switching off the light and settling into bed.
The next morning, Lin Xian took thetest Rhine Cat merchandise designs to report to Zhao Ying Jun. The dreams of the past had faded, and the toy store in his mind was nearly empty.
¡°Not bad, your design skills are as sharp as ever,¡± Zhao Ying Junmented, ncing over the materials and nodding in approval. ¡°Thanks to this adorable cat, our Rhine brand has be a hit among teenage girls, which is an unexpected boon.¡±
¡°Though they don¡¯t wield much spending power now, they will in the future. We¡¯re essentially securing future customers early, all thanks to this cute cat,¡± she added. ¡°Also, the royalties for Rhine Cat are settled quarterly, in line with factory schedules. You¡¯ll have to wait a bit for the first payment.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian responded calmly, feeling financially secure with his earnings far outpacing his expenditures. With the unfolding mysteries of the Genius Club, Xu Yun¡¯s demise, the Universal Constant, CC, and Chu An Qing, he was more focused on uncovering truths.
¡°In fact, this cat is quite popr among university students as well,¡± Lin Xian mentioned his need to visit Donghai University that afternoon. ¡°So our counselor has asked me to give a short lecture to the students, sharing my design experience.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a great opportunity,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied. ¡°Promote ourpany while you¡¯re there. If any students show interest in working with us, we can prioritize their applications. Thanks to you, I now hold Donghai University¡¯s top students in high regard. We need more talented individuals like you.¡±
She stood up, picking up her coat. ¡°You head to the university this afternoon. Just ensure thepany¡¯s affairs are in order. I¡¯m also out this afternoon; I have a gathering to attend.¡±
¡°A gathering?¡± Lin Xian thought of the vast ck hand shadow engulfing the moon in his dream world.
¡°Yes, an afternoon tea with a group of musicians,¡± Zhao Ying Jun rified, selecting a scarf from the cloakroom. ¡°I¡¯m discussing a theme song for Rhine Cat¡¯s marketing video with aposer. This cat¡¯s influence keeps growing, far exceeding our expectations. Any rted merchandise flies off the shelves as soon as it¡¯sunched, and our distributors are moring for more. Despite several factories working overtime, they can¡¯t keep up.¡±
¡°I¡¯m cautious not to dilute such a strong intellectual property, so I¡¯ve chosen only top-tier plush toy manufacturers, though few meet my standards,¡± she added, choosing a blue scarf and returning to her desk. ¡°You¡¯re giving a lecture at Donghai University, right? Have the logistics department deliver a truckload of Rhine Cat plush toys. Hand one out to each student attending your lecture as a gift.¡±
¡°No, really, that¡¯s unnecessary,¡± Lin Xian protested. ¡°It¡¯s just a small lecture organized by our counselor¡ at most a few dozen attendees, no need for so many toys.¡±
¡°Just take them. You don¡¯t have a car, so let logistics handle it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun insisted. ¡°Although you aren¡¯t officially representing thepany, we must consider your image. A business car will pick you up, and a small truck will carry the Rhine Cat toys. Think of it as a promotional opportunity and give them away for free.¡±
Unable to decline her generous offer, Lin Xian reluctantly agreed.
Boom.
The office¡¯s doubleyered security door closed behind him. Lin Xian grabbed his ck notebook with the speech outline and headed downstairs.
Sitting in the business car, he observed the familiar scenery along the route he had often taken to meet Xu Yun. Regrettably, he would never see Xu Yun again. Remembering the professor, Lin Xian felt a wave of nostalgia. Xu Yun was a good person, misunderstood by many but undeniably a dedicated scientist.
To this day, the culprit responsible for Xu Yun¡¯s ident remains atrge. The incident sparked widespread outrage online, putting immense pressure on Donghai¡¯s police force. Yet, they found no clues. In a city bristling with surveince cameras, it was baffling how those two cars had vanished without a trace.
Lin Xian rested his chin on his hand, puzzled. ¡°How did those two cars just disappear?¡±
Chapter 83: The Lecture
As Lin Xian gazed out the car window, the school gates came into view. Thanks to the counselor¡¯s foresight, the security guard promptly raised the barrier, allowing their cars to enter the campus without dy.
¡°Why are we heading to the auditorium?¡± Lin Xian asked as he caught up with the counselor, who was leading him toward thergest lecture hall in the art department, a grin on his face.
¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xian said, grabbing the counselor¡¯s arm. ¡°I thought you said this was going to be a small seminar.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a talk,¡± the counselor reassured him, continuing to pull Lin Xian forward. ¡°Does it really matter if it¡¯s for a few people, a few dozen, or a few hundred? You¡¯ve addressed thousands at the school¡¯s anniversary. This is no different.¡±
¡°I just didn¡¯t expect so many attendees. I figured a hundred at most, so I reserved a regr ssroom. But it turns out every girl from freshmen to seniors wants toe!¡±
¡°Actually, the entire audience is female. Not a single male,¡± the counselor revealed with a mischievous smile. ¡°Some are here for the Rhine Cat, and some might just be here for you!¡±
¡°Ha,¡± Lin Xian scoffed. ¡°Who woulde for me? What¡¯s so special about me?¡±
¡°What¡¯s not special?¡± the counselor assessed him. ¡°You¡¯ve got the looks, the height, the charisma! And how much are you making from those Rhine Cat royalties?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t seen a dime yet.¡±¡°It must be a significant amount! With the toys and merchandise flying off the shelves, you¡¯re definitely a millionaire¡ªand so young! Handsome, wealthy, a senior¡ªof course the girls are curious!¡±
¡°Enough with the ttery,¡± Lin Xian shrugged off the counselor¡¯s hand. ¡°You just didn¡¯t want me to back out. I¡¯m here now, I won¡¯t leave.¡±
¡°Fantastic! You¡¯re a lifesaver!¡± The counselor beamed, giving him a thumbs-up. ¡°Dinner¡¯s on me tonight! Thanks to you, I¡¯ll be a hero to all the freshmen!¡±
As they entered the lecture hall, the counselor pped his hands. ¡°Let¡¯s give a warm wee to the outstanding graduate of 2022, the star of our school¡¯s anniversary events, the creator of the Rhine Cat, and an executive at MX Company¡ªyour senior, Lin Xian!¡±
Apuse filled the packed hall as Lin Xian stepped forward, his smile broadening.
It felt like stepping into a spider¡¯s web. While the art department already had a female majority, he had never seen it this densely packed, filled with sweet perfume and vibrant enthusiasm.
¡°Hello, everyone,¡± Lin Xian greeted.
¡°Hello, senior!¡± The roomful of young women responded, their giggles mingling with the sight of waving Rhine Cat plushies.
After a brief introduction by the counselor, Lin Xian started his lecture.
¡°It¡¯s a privilege to be back at my alma mater to share my journey in design¡¡±
¡°Creating the Rhine Cat wasrgely inspired by a spontaneous idea, but if there¡¯s a method to it, it revolves around gathering and utilizing design elements from everyday life¡¡±
After thirty minutes of speaking and an additional forty minutes of Q&A, the ¡°Senior¡¯s Homing Lecture¡± concluded to enthusiastic apuse.
As the event ended, a group of girls quickly surrounded Lin Xian, effectively trapping him against the ckboard.
¡°Senior, could I add you on WeChat? I¡¯d love to ask some design questions!¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯m graduating this year. Could I get your WeChat for some career advice?¡±
¡°Senior, I¡¯d like to work at MX Company too! Can I send you my resume?¡±
¡°Senior, could you sign my Rhine Cat plushie?¡±
A familiar voice caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention. He turned to see a girl with crescent-shaped eyes, slight dimples, and her hair in a bouncy high ponytail.
CC.
No, wait¡ It¡¯s Chu An Qing.
Lin Xian chuckled. What was the city¡¯s little princess doing here? He was struck again by how much CC and Chu An Qing resembled each other¡ªthey could be a matched set in a game.
If there were another, they¡¯dplete the perfect trio.
Today, Chu An Qing looked like a typical college student, much more essible than her usual morous public appearances. She had the fresh, endearing vibe of the girl next door, her face bare and her ponytail secured with a simple hair tie, blending in yet slightly prettier and cuter than the others.
Just as Lin Xian was about to greet her, more girls mored for his contact.
¡°Alright, alright, everyone, just a moment,¡± he calmed the crowd. ¡°Let me get WeChat up.¡±
Bncing his ck notebook in one hand and his phone in the other, Lin Xian unlocked his screen.
Thud.
His notebook slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
¡°Senior, your notebook,¡± a girl said, picking it up and handing it back to him.
¡°Thanks.¡± Lin Xian ced the notebook on the lectern while he held up his phone for the girls to scan.
¡°Hey, senior, did you drop this paper too?¡± another girl asked as she picked up a folded sheet that had slipped from the notebook.
She unfolded it and gasped, ¡°Oh my gosh!¡±
Her exmation captured everyone¡¯s attention, drawing their eyes to the sketch on the paper.
Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened, her cheeks flushed with color.
Lin Xian inwardly cursed. He suddenly remembered the sketch he had made of CC, which Zhao Ying Jun had seen him drawing. In his rush, he had folded it and tucked it away, forgetting all about it.
And now, it had fallen out right in front of Chu An Qing and all these girls.
This is a disaster!
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian,¡± the girl holding the sketch stammered, her eyes darting between Chu An Qing and the drawing. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡ Chu An Qing?¡±
The familiar face on the sketch, with its crescent eyes, dimples, and distinctive beauty mark, was unmistakable. The girl was stunned, her voice trembling as she asked, ¡°Senior, did you draw this?¡±
Chapter 84: The Painting
Boom!
The hearts of the gossiping girls throbbed with excitement! Their eyes shimmered, sparkling as though adorned with pink blossoms.
¡°Isn¡¯t that An Qing? The drawing is stunning!¡±
¡°What¡¯s happening here? Could it be¡?¡±
¡°The details are so precise, just like An Qing! Is this a model sketch? Hehe, when did you sketch this?¡±
¡°Are Senior Lin Xian and An Qing¡?¡±
The girls stared at the flustered Lin Xian and the blushing Chu An Qing, their faces gleaming with mischievous grins.
Lin Xian felt a surge of panic. How could he possibly exin? He had drawn CC, but Chu An Qing and CC were identical! Moreover, CC wasn¡¯t even from this era. Even if he told the truth, who would believe him?
Honestly, he wasn¡¯t too worried about being misunderstood, as he had already graduated, and rumors wouldn¡¯t affect him much. But Chu An Qing was just a freshman, already known as the campus¡¯s little princess. If damaging rumors spread, how would her peers see her?Lin Xian knew all too well how crucial a girl¡¯s reputation was at school. Even baseless rumors could turn into sharp thorns, wounding innocent girls. He took a deep breath. Since he was the cause of the issue, he feltpelled to address it.
¡°Listen, everyone, this is¡ª¡±
¡°Oh, I asked Senior Lin Xian to draw this for me. I¡¯m sorry you all saw it.¡±
Chu An Qing smiled gracefully, retrieving the drawing from one of the girls.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be finished so quickly. I thought it would take a few more days.¡±
The girls widened their eyes, looking at Chu An Qing in confusion.
What was happening?
¡°It was during MX Company¡¯s celebration banquet a few nights ago.¡±
Chu An Qing folded the drawing, addressing her ssmates.
¡°My dad took me there because I enjoy lively events, and President Zhao of MX Company was very kind to my dad, allowing me to participate in their fun lottery.¡±
¡°And I won this~ hehe, the prize was a portrait by Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Though it was done as a little joke, Senior Lin Xian agreed immediately and promised to sketch me. I didn¡¯t expect it to be ready so soon.¡±
Chu An Qing waved the folded drawing, her smile bright and joyful.
¡°Thank you, Senior Lin Xian. I¡¯ll take the drawing now.¡±
¡°Mm.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°No problem.¡±
He was impressed by her cleverness! Whether she was academically brilliant or not, her emotional intelligence was exceptional! Clearly, she was saving him from an awkward situation.
She did attend the celebration and the lottery, but her actual prize was a giant Rhine Cat plushie, which Zhao Ying Jun had sent to Chu Shan He¡¯s car. She blended truth with a perfect, believable lie.
Lin Xian had assumed that such a wealthy youngdy would be naive, but Chu An Qing proved to be incredibly resourceful and truly a lifesaver.
¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what happened.¡±
Upon hearing this, the girls quickly understood. Everyone knew Chu An Qing was Chu Shan He¡¯s cherished daughter, the little princess of Donghai City. It wasn¡¯t surprising she attended the MX Company banquet.
Thepany¡¯s lottery often had quirky prizes, so this exnation fit perfectly. The girls quickly lost further interest. After all, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing were frompletely different worlds. If not for that banquet and today¡¯s lecture, they might never have crossed paths.
Given Chu Shan He¡¯s protective aura, no boy would dare approach Chu An Qing, unless they sought trouble. With that realization, the girls¡¯ curiosity waned, and they began requesting Lin Xian¡¯s WeChat.
¡°By the way, there¡¯s a van outside.¡±
Lin Xian pointed to a van parked next to a business car outside the teaching building.
¡°It¡¯s filled with ourpany¡¯stest batch of Rhine Cat plushies, including some new models. You can take one for free if you like.¡±
Excited by the offer of free Rhine Cat plushies, especially the new models, the girls hurried outside. Soon, only Lin Xian and Chu An Qing remained in therge ssroom.
¡°Sorry, Senior Lin Xian.¡±
Chu An Qing offered a gentle apology.
¡°I lied without your permission. I hope it didn¡¯t cause you any trouble.¡±
¡°Not at all, I should be thanking you for helping me out,¡± Lin Xian responded, relieved.
¡°Actually, this drawing¡¡±
¡°Hehe, you don¡¯t need to exin, Senior. I didn¡¯t misunderstand.¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes twinkled yfully.
¡°I know it¡¯s not me you drew. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that self-absorbed.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. Could she really be so understanding?
Chu An Qing unfolded the drawing again.
¡°Although it resembles me closely, I know it isn¡¯t me you drew.¡±
¡°We just met a few days ago. How could you have sketched me? You don¡¯t need to exin. You must have drawn someone else, right?¡±
She closed the drawing, giving Lin Xian a knowing look.
¡°Was it an old ssmate? Or just a random sketch?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head.
¡°It was an old ssmate.¡±
Lin Xian smoothly fibbed. Sometimes a lie was necessary to prevent awkwardness. Maybe Chu An Qing was intentionally giving him an escape.
¡°This drawing waspleted before I met you, over several days.¡±
¡°Her image just came to mind, so I sketched her. I didn¡¯t expect her to look so much like you¡ It was a surprise to me too.¡±
¡°Oh, I see,¡±
Chu An Qing nodded in understanding.
¡°That exins your puzzled look when I arrived at the banquet. I didn¡¯t think much of it then. Now I understand, hehe¡ you were reminded of your old ssmate!¡±
Lin Xianughed and nodded. Once a lie is told, it often leads to more lies to maintain it.
¡°In that case, I should return this to you, Senior Lin Xian.¡±
Chu An Qing handed the folded drawing back to Lin Xian, her smile warm.
¡°She must be very important and unforgettable to you¡ Here, you should keep this safe.¡±
Chapter 85: Another Time, Another You
¡°Understanding is key,¡± Lin Xian murmured as he carefully folded the painting and tucked it back into his ck notebook. He nned to dispose of it once he left, aware that keeping it could only invite trouble.
He found Chu An Qing genuinely easygoing¡ªhumble, considerate, and full of empathy. In his mind, Lin Xian awarded her personality top marks.
Whenever he embarrassed himself, she was there to assist, providing a graceful way out without a hint of smugness. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but envy Chu Shan He for having such a thoughtful daughter. He wondered if he might have one like her someday.
¡°Can you sign my Rhine Cat?¡± Chu An Qing asked with a giggle, offering a Rhine Cat doll. ¡°This bun-haired, cheongsam-wearing Rhine Cat is my favorite. Maybe someday, when you¡¯re a world-famous designer, this autographed cat will be worth a fortune! But I wouldn¡¯t sell it. Having the creator¡¯s signature makes it incredibly meaningful.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian responded, taking the Rhine Cat. He signed his name on the fabric tag,ughing, ¡°Honestly, this is the first time I¡¯ve signed a Rhine Cat. You¡¯re the first to ask. Usually, people just appreciate the cat and don¡¯t care about the designer.¡±
¡°Really? Could you add ¡®NO.1¡ä on it too? That would make it even more special!¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian said, his mood lifting. He added a small ¡°NO.1¡± below his signature, marking it as his first-ever autograph. However, he doubted there would be a second. Unlike novels, designers rarely drew attention outside their industry. Even with icons like Hello Kitty, few knew it was created by Yuko Shimizu or that it was a Sanrio product.
¡°Here you go,¡± Lin Xian said, handing back the Rhine Cat.
¡°Thank you, senior!¡± Chu An Qing took the doll and waved. ¡°I¡¯m off then.¡±¡°Take care,¡± Lin Xian replied, waving goodbye. He sighed in relief; having a rational, easygoing person like Chu An Qing around prevented potential misunderstandings. If she had been a spoiled brat, she might have made trouble by misinterpreting his actions.
¡°Chu Shan He raised his daughter well,¡± Lin Xian thought appreciatively.
At the celebration banquet, when he noticed Chu An Qing¡¯s striking resemnce to CC, Lin Xian entertained a thought¡ªcould it be that one day, with the development of hibernation pods, Chu An Qing would enter one and emerge 600 yearster as CC?
He initially dismissed the idea. In the future world of ¡°First Dream,¡± hibernation technology was undeveloped, and even the pod¡¯s filling solution wasn¡¯tpleted until around 2477. Where would Chu An Qing find a pod? Moreover, even if the technology existedter, Chu An Qing would be much older. How would she appear young again in the future?
Besides, why would a healthy person risk entering a pod, potentially losing memories and separating from family? Chu Shan He would never allow it. Yet, Xu Yun had mentioned memory loss as a side effect of hibernation pods. Lin Xian didn¡¯t know the specifics, but CC had also mentioned having memories that felt foreign.
This information left Lin Xian puzzled. CC¡¯s memories were fragmented, suggesting a life lived, yet not solely hers. If considered from the standpoint of parallel worlds, what exactly did that imply?
As of now, the connection between CC and Chu An Qing remained a mystery.
¡°Is CC¡ still out there?¡± Lin Xian pondered. After the temporal shifts, the dream world changed, altering everyone¡¯s fates, including CC¡¯s. In this new future world, was she still attempting to open that safe? Did the safe even still exist?
¡°That¡¯s uncertain,¡± Lin Xian concluded, shaking his head. Fate was enigmatic. Some people remained constants in your life, like Big Cat Face. Others, like CC, you might never encounter again. In such a vast,plex world¡
Lin Xian doubted he¡¯d meet CC again, unless destiny willed it.
After the lecture, his advisor suggested a celebratory drink, but Lin Xian declined. He had more pressing matters to attend to in his dreams tonight.
[Go find Big Cat Face¡¯s father and ask him about the Universal Constant. Try to uncover the secret of the Genius Club.]
Back home, Lin Xian freshened up quickly. It was only 5:10 PM, earlier than hisst dream entry, but starting early was advantageous. He drew the curtains, climbed into bed, and closed his eyes.
¡
¡
¡
Without the familiar summer breeze or the cicadas¡¯ piercing calls, Lin Xian felt uneasy. The self-built houses around him blocked out the sunlight, casting a cool shadow over the vige¡ªa surprisinglyforting atmosphere.
Opening his eyes, Lin Xian found himself sessfully back in the dream, in the narrow, crowded vige. He checked his watch: 5:32 PM. About ten minutes remained until the thief who would steal Granny Li¡¯s handbag appeared.
Hiding in an alley, Lin Xian leaned against a brick wall, waiting for the ¡°Three-Sword Style Master¡± to show. This was his quickest link to Big Cat Face. As time ticked by, finally¡
¡°Stop¡ªstop thief! Stop¡ stop the¡ thief!¡± Granny Li¡¯s panting voice echoed from outside the alley.
Lin Xian flexed his wrists, readying himself. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re here¡ Roronoa Zoro!¡±
Chapter 86: The Gang
¡°Help! Thief! Someone, help!¡± Mrs. Li¡¯s frantic cries echoed through the alley.
Whoosh!
A man dashed by, clutching a handbag under his arm, his head shaded by a ck hat. This was the notorious ¡°Master of Three des,¡± the very thief Lin Xian had been diligently tracking.
Emerging from the shadows of the alley, Lin Xian identally collided with Mrs. Li.
¡°Young man!¡± she gasped, clutching his arm for support.
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian assured her with a calm nod.
¡°My¡ my bag¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s handled.¡±
Carefully, Lin Xian helped her lean against the wall. ¡°Mrs. Li, please stay calm and wait here. San Pang will return with your handbag shortly.¡±With no further ado, Lin Xian deployed his parkour skills and vanished into thebyrinth of narrownes.
Left behind, Mrs. Li murmured, bewildered, ¡°I¡ I hadn¡¯t even finished speaking¡¡±
Lin Xian raced through the twisted alleys, predicting the thief¡¯s escape route with ease¡ªa path he had learned through past encounters. He could have apprehended the thief sooner but chose to wait until he reached a familiar dead-end alley. That¡¯s when Lin Xian made his move.
¡°Gotcha!¡±
¡°Ah¡ª¡±
A precise flying kick toppled the thief. Swiftly, Lin Xian disarmed him, confiscating a dagger from his coat, another from his belt, and a third from his boot, discarding each with a tter. He then used the thief¡¯s belt to secure his hands.
Boom!
Big Cat Face burst through a barrier of firewood that blocked the alley¡¯s entrance. ¡°Dare to steal in my territory!¡±
He advanced menacingly, nked by three formidable underlings. ¡°Damn¡ª¡±
His tirade halted abruptly as he stared in astonishment.
Before himy the man in the ck hat, now pantless, his hands tied with his belt, squirming on the ground. Beside him stood Lin Xian, looking rather pleased with himself, the gleaming daggers scattered at his feet.
¡°You¡¡±
Big Cat Face pointed first at the thief, then at Lin Xian. ¡°Which one of you is the viin here?¡±
¡°Big Face, catch.¡± Lin Xian tossed the handbag to him.
Big Cat Face caught it, verified it was Mrs. Li¡¯s, and handed it to San Pang. ¡°Take this back to Mrs. Li,¡± he instructed.
San Pang hurried off, while Big Cat Face, scratching his head, approached Lin Xian curiously. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard of your notoriety.¡±
¡°And my name?¡±
¡°Big Cat Face.¡±
¡°Then why call me Big Cat? Everyone else calls me Brother Face.¡±
¡°A cat represents philosophy; a face, something more enigmatic.¡±
¡°Wow!¡± Big Cat Face was visibly impressed. He gripped Lin Xian¡¯s hand, drawing him closer to his associates, Ah Zhuang and Er Zhuzi. ¡°This guy¡¯s sharp! A real find! What¡¯s your name, buddy?¡±
¡°Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, let me introduce you. These are my guys: Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and the one who just ran off, San Pang.¡±
Big Cat Face pped his chest proudly. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good eye! People know me as Big Cat Face, but you can just call me Big Face or Brother Face.¡±
¡°Where are you from, brother? I know everyone around, but you¡¯re new.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just passing through,¡± Lin Xian yed along, aiming to infiltrate Big Cat Face¡¯s crew, the Face Gang.
Gaining Big Cat Face¡¯s trust was key to meeting Cat Dad and uncovering the secrets of the Universal Constant.
Big Cat Face pondered, his look thoughtful yet full of camaraderie. Making a decision that seemed to go against deep-seated gang rules, he looked to Ah Zhuang and Er Zhuzi. ¡°I think we should let him join. Thoughts?¡±
¡°No way, Big Brother!¡± Ah Zhuang protested. ¡°Just because he¡¯s educated doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s trustworthy. Intellectuals can be the sneakiest!¡±
Er Zhuzi chimed in, eyeing Lin Xian skeptically. ¡°He¡¯s too polished, looks almost too delicate. If he joins, I worry for our safety!¡±
Two against.
Big Cat Face turned to the returning San Pang. ¡°Your vote?¡±
San Pang shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a bad idea.¡±
Big Cat Face sighed, his disappointment evident. He sped Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°I saw something special in you and wanted you in our gang. But the gang votes democratically. I¡¯m sorry.¡±
He fished out some money, handing it to Lin Xian. ¡°For catching the thief. If you¡¯re ever hungry, look me up.¡±
¡°Wait, Big Face,¡± Lin Xian interjected, puzzled by the turn of events.
He pointed to the subdued thief. ¡°I managed to bring him down solo. That proves my worth. My skills could benefit the gang. Let me demonstrate.¡±
With a quick movement, Lin Xian scaled a wall, executed a double flip, andnded gracefully on a second-story ledge.
¡°Wow!¡± Big Cat Face eximed, astonished.
¡°Big Brother, how¡¯d he do that?¡±
Lin Xian jumped down, dusted off, and shed a confident smile. ¡°So, Big Face, do you think I¡¯m cut out for this?¡±
Big Cat Face nodded, swayed by the disy. Ah Zhuang gave a thumbs up. ¡°Big Brother, he¡¯s got skills. We need someone like him.¡±
Er Zhuzi, however, remained unconvinced. ¡°He¡¯s too sneaky! Climbing into people¡¯s homes? No way!¡±
A split vote.
San Pang, now the deciding factor, nodded. ¡°He should join.¡±
¡°Done!¡± Big Cat Face dered, beaming. ¡°From today, you¡¯re one of us. I knew there was something about you. And those climbing skills are just what we need.¡±
Apologizing for the earlier confusion, he asked, ¡°Tell me your wish, brother. If it¡¯s within my power, it¡¯s yours.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s directness resonated with Lin Xian.
¡°Big Face, your father teaches elementary school math, right?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Does he study an ancient manuscript called ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯?¡±
¡°You know about that too?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m here out of admiration for him. I¡¯ll do anything you ask, but I have one simple request¡ Can you introduce me to your father? I have some math questions for him.¡±
Chapter 87: Dad Cat
¡°You want to meet my father?¡±
Big Cat Face was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected such a request from his youngpanion.
¡°My dad¡¯s not himself these days,¡± he exined. ¡°He¡¯s been overwhelmed by his research. Mom says he locks himself in his room all day, avoids us, and doesn¡¯t let anyone in. It¡¯s like he¡¯s somewhere else.¡±
¡°And¡¡±
Big Cat Face nced at his watch.
¡°And I promised my son I¡¯d pick up a roast chicken for him today. Tell you what: why don¡¯t you join us for dinner tonight? You don¡¯t have a ce to stay, so you can crash at mine. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to see my dad on my motorcycle.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s make it today, Brother Face!¡± Lin Xian tugged at his arm.
¡°It won¡¯t take much time. Just drop me at your dad¡¯s, then you can go get your son¡¯s chicken. You don¡¯t need to stick around.¡±
¡°I¡¯m really curious about math and have some questions for your father. It¡¯ll be quick, okay?¡±Brother Face pondered for a moment.
¡°Alright.¡±
He scratched his armpit absently.
¡°I did promise I¡¯d make it up to you. As your big brother, I can¡¯t break that promise.¡±
¡°Ah Zhuang, take this thief to the police. I¡¯m taking Lin Xian to meet my dad.¡±
Ah Zhuang approached, giving Lin Xian a quick nce, and whispered,
¡°Boss, what about tonight¡¡±
Big Cat Face gestured dismissively.
¡°Business as usual. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡±
¡
Big Cat Face led Lin Xian back home and uncovered his motorcycle, an old model yet meticulously clean, showing it was well cared for. In this economically depressed and technologicallygging vige, the motorcycle was a treasure.
¡°Put on the helmet.¡±
He tossed a helmet to Lin Xian.
¡°Really? This cautious?¡±
Lin Xian fastened his helmet, surprised by Big Cat Face¡¯s insistence.
A former bank robber now worried about helmet safety?
¡°I need to set a good example for my kids!¡±
Big Cat Face adjusted his own oversized helmet, the straps dangling loosely.
¡°I always preach safety to them. I need to live by my own rules.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, recalling theirst heist dream where Big Cat Face mentioned his daughter. He had said if she were still alive, he wouldn¡¯t be the man he was. He¡¯d still be attending parent-teacher conferences, giving speeches, mindful of his legacy. It was clear now; Big Cat Face¡¯s world hinged on his daughter¡¯s presence. Alive, he was a devoted and gentle father; absent, he became a bitter criminal.
It seems everyone¡¯s life might follow such a pattern.
¡
The motorcycle roared down the uneven dirt road, leaving the vige for an endless stretch of field. The cluttered, makeshift homes faded behind them, reced by the open sky and fresh air. Lin Xian looked ahead, spotting the imposing structure of New Donghai City, a behemoth rising between earth and sky.
It appeared alien¡ªa massive, foreboding structure spanning vast, with iron walls stretching endlessly, skyscrapers piercing the clouds. Some towers were so high they vanished into the sky, perhaps reaching thousands of floors.
Despite the clear day, the exterior walls revealed rust marks¡ªa stark contrast to the city¡¯s inner grandeur. To those inside, these blemishes were invisible, negating any need for upkeep.
Lin Xian estimated these walls to be around 200 meters high, considering theparison with the city¡¯s tallest buildings. It was a marvel of industrial might, the scale of which was unimaginable.
Neither Lin Xian nor Big Cat Face could fully grasp the extent.
As Big Cat Face put it, the iron barriers were as divisive as the Milky Way itself, with both sides viewing each other as alien.
¡
¡°We¡¯re here, little brother!¡±
Screeeeech¡ª
Big Cat Face braked with his slippered foot, stirring up a cloud of dust. The journey was not brief; even speeding, it left Lin Xian sore.
They stopped outside a two-story house. Big Cat Face pointed to a second-floor room with drawn curtains.
¡°That¡¯s where my dad¡¯s holed up, buried in his books.¡±
He parked the motorcycle and knocked on the door.
¡°Mom!¡±
Big Cat Face called out.
¡
No answer.
Bang bang bang!
¡°Dad!¡±
¡
Silence continued.
¡°This isn¡¯t right!¡±
Big Cat Face looked baffled, turning to Lin Xian.
¡°Mom going out is one thing, but Dad never leaves. Since he figured out that Universal Constant, he¡¯s barely left his room, except for necessities!¡±
He shook his head in disbelief, then inhaled deeply, puffing up his chest¡ª
¡°Dad¡ª¡±
¡°Keep it down, Big Cat!¡±
An elderly man appeared from the next house.
¡°Uncle Wang?¡±
Big Cat Face recognized the man.
¡°Where are my parents?¡±
¡°You silly boy¡ your folks were picked up this morning. Your family¡¯s heading for big times!¡±
Big times?
Big Cat Face and Lin Xian exchanged puzzled looks.
¡°Uncle Wang, who took my parents? Why wasn¡¯t I told?¡±
¡°They had to leave quickly. Someone invited your dad to a schrly forum. Your dad¡¯s about to bring great honor to your family!¡±
¡°Hah¡¡± Big Cat Face snorted. ¡°Uncle Wang, you made it sound like a lottery win! He¡¯s just going to a forum. You got me all excited over nothing.¡±
¡°Haha, you naive boy!¡± The old man fanned himself, chuckling with glee. ¡°This is better than any lottery, a million times better! For the first time in centuries, someone from here is invited into New Donghai City!¡±
¡°What?! New Donghai City?¡±
Big Cat Face and Lin Xian were shocked.
New Donghai City.
Lin Xian frowned. It was believed that no one from their area could enter that sprawling, futuristic city, separated by 200-meter-high iron walls.
¡°But¡ Uncle Wang! Are you serious? This isn¡¯t a joke, right?¡± Big Cat Face was incredulous.
¡°Why would I lie?¡± The old man¡¯s expression turned solemn, pointing to the distant, towering city. ¡°This morning, around seven, several cars descended from the sky! They courteously collected your parents! By now, they¡¯re probably enjoying avish feast over there!¡±
Chapter 88: The Universal Constant
Lin Xian stared at Old Wang, feeling an icy shiver crawl down his spine. In a recent dream, Big Cat Face¡¯s father had been awarded the Fields Medal for his work on ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± before his untimely death at the hands of the Genius Club. If the Genius Club was still operational in this dream, and Big Cat Face¡¯s father had indeed recalcted the Universal Constant, there seemed little doubt they would target him.
The invitation to enter New Donghai City now appeared less of a privilege and more of a deadly snare.
Lin Xian nced at Big Cat Face. ¡°You said it was impossible to enter New Donghai City.¡±
¡°That¡¯s absurd!¡± Big Cat Face responded, a mix of bewilderment and denial in his voice. ¡°For years, no one has breached the gates of New Donghai City! Not even in myths! My dad¡¯s just an elementary school math teacher. Why would they invite him? Our world and New Donghai City are realms apart. Surely they¡¯ve already solved whatever he¡¯s working on. What could he possibly offer them?¡±
Old Wang looked over dismissively at the troubled duo. ¡°Look at you two, panicking. You¡¯re never going to amount to anything!¡± He then turned to Big Cat Face. ¡°You should be thrilled. Maybe your dad will bring the whole family over once he¡¯s back. Soon you¡¯ll be looking down at us from behind those steel walls!¡±
He reached into his pocket and threw something.
¡°Catch!¡±
Big Cat Face caught it¡ªa set of keys.
¡°Your parents left these with me before they left. They¡¯ll return tomorrow and asked me to look after the dog and pig. But since you¡¯re here, you might as well handle it. Make sure they¡¯re fed until your folks are back.¡±With a wave of his fan, Old Wang disappeared inside.
Big Cat Face and Lin Xian looked at the keys in silence.
¡°This is unbelievable,¡± Big Cat Face muttered, shaking his head. ¡°If my dad has really been invited to New Donghai City, it¡¯s a monumental honor¡ªthe first in centuries!¡±
Lin Xian remained quiet, not wanting to stir further worry in his friend, yet aware from his earlier dream that Big Cat Face¡¯s father was probably in grave peril. Expecting his return tomorrow? That seemed unlikely. The circumstances suggested a dire oue.
Lin Xian had not reached Big Cat Face¡¯s father before the Genius Club. Worse still, Big Cat Face¡¯s parents were taken early in the morning, while Lin Xian had only entered the dream past noon. By then, Big Cat Face¡¯s father would already be in New Donghai City, beyond any help.
¡°What exactly is the Universal Constant?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud.
He was almost certain the reason for the father¡¯s abduction was his work on the Universal Constant, with the Genius Club likely involved. Understanding the Universal Constant was now critical.
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Big Cat Face admitted, still dazed. ¡°Dad has been poring over this ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ for years. It¡¯s an ancient manuscript found in a tomb, dating back over 600 years. He¡¯s dedicated so much time to it.¡±
Lin Xian eyed the tightly shut curtains on the second floor. What was the Universal Constant? What did it signify? Why did it terrify the Genius Club so much?
¡°Can I go inside? I want to check your father¡¯s room,¡± Lin Xian requested.
¡°Sure,¡± Big Cat Face replied, fitting the key into the lock. ¡°Normally, we can¡¯t enter my dad¡¯s room. It¡¯s always locked, and no one is allowed in. But since he¡¯s not here, you should take a look.¡±
They ascended the stairs, and Big Cat Face led the way.
¡°Dad has been absorbed in this research for years, never revealing any findings, so I have no clue what he was studying. But about half a month ago, he suddenly imed to have solved the Universal Constant. After that, he became erratic, shouting and repeating one phrase to anyone who¡¯d listen.¡±
¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Big Cat Face announced, pointing to a closed wooden door. ¡°This is his room. Go ahead and look.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and pushed the door open, the rusty hinges groaning.
Stepping back, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened.
¡°42¡ 42¡ 42¡¡± Everywhere¡ªon the walls, ceiling, furniture, even the floor¡ªthe number 42 was scrawled in various sizes. Large 42s encased smaller 42s, and within those, even tinier 42s filled the curves and lines.
¡°This is¡¡±
A chill ran through Lin Xian as he cautiously entered the room, surrounded by millions of 42s. Big Cat Face¡¯s father had descended into madness, marking the number everywhere, even on the bedsheets.
Lin Xian felt engulfed by the endless 42s.
¡°See? I told you he¡¯s gone mad,¡± Big Cat Face remarked, his expression somber as he followed inside. ¡°Lately, he¡¯s been grabbing everyone, obsessively repeating¡ª¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s expression nked, his gaze distant.
¡°42¡ It¡¯s everywhere.¡±
Chapter 89: The Mystery of 42
¡°Did I scare you?¡± Big Cat Face, initially intimidating, suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Look at you, all frightened! My dad was just like that. Ever since he delved into that universal constant stuff, he¡¯s gone a bit crazy. He used to grab random people on the street, all sweaty and shaking, and spout nonsense.¡±
¡°He scared so many kids around here. The neighborsined all the time, so my mom had to keep him inside for a while. Then, suddenly, he just shut down and locked himself in his room, refusing toe out.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve seen those numbers on the wall, right? It¡¯splete madness¡ I have no idea why those folks in New Donghai City invited my dad to their academic forum. It¡¯s like watching the sun rise in the west.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s revtions did little to calm Lin Xian¡¯s nerves. The whole situation was utterly bizarre and almost iprehensible. The only thing he could deduce was that the universal constant must be the number 42, but what did that mean? What was its significance? He waspletely baffled.
Given that Big Cat Face¡¯s father had been studying the book ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± for years without any problems, only to be taken away suddenly after a supposed breakthrough, something was clearly wrong. It appeared that there were people who wanted his research, possibly to keep it hidden.
It seemed that discovering the universal constant had deeply affected Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s mind. After arriving at the constant 42, he seemed to have descended into madness. With these limited clues, Lin Xian could only make basic guesses.
As for the deeper reasons, he was utterly lost.
¡°Big Cat, where is the book ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ that your father was studying? Where does he usually keep it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s normally on his desk¡ I haven¡¯t really noticed. Let¡¯s look around.¡±They searched the room thoroughly, but despite their efforts, they couldn¡¯t find the book. There was not a single piece of draft paper or any notes from his research.
¡°That¡¯s strange¡ This room has never been this tidy; it¡¯s always been cluttered.¡±
Big Cat Face scratched his head, puzzled, and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°If the book and the drafts aren¡¯t here, then my dad must have taken them, right? If he¡¯s going to an academic forum, he¡¯d need his materials and findings, wouldn¡¯t he? He wouldn¡¯t just leave without them.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement. That seemed the most likely exnation. The house showed no signs of a struggle or disarray, suggesting that Big Cat Face¡¯s parents had left willingly. Even his father¡¯s room, though empty of books and drafts, was neatly arranged, indicating he had packed up himself. Moreover, they had given their house key to their neighbor, Uncle Wang, before leaving¡ This all pointed to them trusting this so-called ¡°academic forum¡± enough to possibly walk into a trap.
¡°Hey, I need to go make some pig feed and feed the dogs.¡± Big Cat Face turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Do you want to stay here a bit longer, ore with me to prepare the feed?¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to stay here a bit longer,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Sorry, Big Cat. I just need some time to think. I¡¯ve got a lot on my mind right now.¡±
¡°Man, you intellectuals and your worries!¡± Big Cat Face scoffed and headed downstairs, his voice trailing off. ¡°Stay here and drive yourself mad for a while then¡ When I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll drive you home. My wife and kid are waiting for me to bring back some roast chicken!¡±
Soon after, the sound of chopping resonated from downstairs. Lin Xian closed the door. He surveyed the strange room. His eyes were drawn to the walls, stered with enigmatic numbers¡
The significance escaped him. If the universal constant Big Cat Face¡¯s father had calcted was truly 42, what profound meaning could it have? Constants were a familiar concept from basic education.
Pi is a constant, roughly 3.14. Gravitational eleration is a constant, about 9.8. The golden ratio is a constant, near 0.618. Most mathematical and physical constants involve intricate numbers, both integers and decimals, which are difficult to memorize. However, the universal constant 42 didn¡¯t fit this pattern.
Yet¡
Lin Xian was certain. If Big Cat Face¡¯s father, a renowned mathematician, had determined the universal constant to be 42, it must hold some significant meaning.
Furthermore¡
The moment his dreams stopped was at 00:42, and the exact time Professor Xu Yun was struck was also 00:42. No matter how he looked at it, the recurrence of the number 42 was too frequent to be coincidental!
¡°42 holds an extraordinary significance.¡±
Lin Xian sat down on the floor, his chin resting on his hand, fixated on the wall covered in 42s. He examined each one closely, even the smallest figures filling every crack. If Big Cat Face¡¯s father was merely insane, he wouldn¡¯t have cared about the precise size or cement of the numbers. He could have just scribbled randomly.
However¡
After studying the entire wall, Lin Xian made a shocking discovery¡ªnone of the 42s ovepped! No two 42s intersected. Though they appeared chaotic, they followed some pattern, some underlying principle!
¡°This isn¡¯t mindless scribbling. He hasn¡¯t lost his mind.¡±
A madman couldn¡¯t meticulously ensure that every tiny 42 was separate. There had to be a message here, some hidden truth!
Lin Xian moved closer, squinting, his eyes fixed on the wall of 42s. Big and small, each 42 meticulously ced. He leaned in, his eyes nearly touching the wall, staring at the smallest 42 in a crack:
¡°42¡ what¡¯s the secret?¡±
Chapter 90: Blind Spot
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lin Xian watched from a window as a gigantic ck hand bizarrely cleaved the moon in two. The spectacle never ceased to amaze him.
¡°How absurd¡¡±
No matter how often he saw it, the altered moon continued to frustrate Lin Xian. He had never imagined that the Genius Club would brand it with their emblem¡ªa concept beyond any scenario he could have conjured in his writings.
Yet, it was quite ¡°genius¡±¡ªpeculiar and bold, aligning with his perception of the Genius Club.
Their emblem now marked the moon, a right hand with the index finger pointing upwards, visible to anyone on Earth gazing skyward.
Baffling, yet impressive.
Reflecting on this, Lin Xian realized his limited knowledge about the Genius Club. A particr detail troubled him: they had killed Xu Yun but hadn¡¯t seized his research data. However, in the dream world, they had kidnapped Big Cat Face¡¯s father along with all his research¡
¡°This means¡ the Genius Club isn¡¯t interested in Xu Yun¡¯s research but fears what Big Cat Face¡¯s father discovered¡ªthe universal constant, the true meaning of 42.¡±
Lin Xian rose, his theory taking shape. Perhaps this universal constant, 42, was indeed the Genius Club¡¯s biggest vulnerability.Exiting the room, he ascended to the rooftop of the two-story building, a space cluttered with clotheslines and potted nts. Overlooking the neon-lit expanse of New Donghai City in the distance, he felt the weight of heaven and earth merging.
The universal constant 42 was still decipherable.
Surveying the glowing cityscape, Lin Xian thought, ¡°If the Genius Club systematically executes these scientists at exactly 00:42, it implies Big Cat Face¡¯s father will still be alive until 00:42 on August 29, 2624.¡±
¡°As long as we infiltrate New Donghai City before then and locate Big Cat Face¡¯s father, we can unlock the meaning of the universal constant 42.¡±
Another race against time had begun¡
Lin Xian connected the dots between his unique dream, the recurring white light that obliterated the world at 00:42, and the motives of the Genius Club¡ªall tied to the enigmatic number 42.
He looked at the moon, now marred by the ck hand, and then into the vast cosmos, echoing Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s oft-repeated words:
¡°42¡ it¡¯s everywhere.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s resolve hardened as he surveyed sprawling New Donghai City.
¡°It¡¯s crucial that I go to New Donghai City.¡±
After awakening from histest dream, Lin Xian had outlined two primary goals. One was to ascertain the significance of the universal constant 42 from Big Cat Face¡¯s father. The other was to delve into New Donghai City, seek the urate historical records, andprehend how this future world had evolved.
Now, with Big Cat Face¡¯s father taken to New Donghai City, these objectives seemed to converge.
Today¡¯s most significant revtion from his dream was that the universal constant was indeed 42.
But what did 42 signify? Why was it 42? What relevance did it hold?
These questions remained the foremost mysteries in Lin Xian¡¯s mind.
¡°Hey! What are you doing up there? Come down!¡±
He nced below.
Big Cat Face had finished tending to the pigs and dogs in the courtyard and was gesturing for Lin Xian to descend.
¡°Hurry up! We still need to pick up roast chicken for my son. Stop dawdling!¡±
With Big Cat Face¡¯s father absent and no further clues avable in the room, lingering was pointless. Lin Xian closed the windows, switched off the lights, and hopped onto Big Cat Face¡¯s motorcycle, securing his helmet as they rode off.
The motorcycle expelled a cloud of foul ck smoke as it rattled along the rough dirt road. They traveled in silence, Lin Xian deep in thought about the universal constant 42 and his strategy to infiltrate New Donghai City and find Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡
¡°Wait, there¡¯s another way.¡±
Lin Xian had a revtion.
¡°Big Cat Face!¡±
He shouted, leaning close to Big Cat Face¡¯s ear to ensure he was heard over the roaring wind.
¡°You mentioned your father¡¯s book, ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants,¡¯ is 600 years old? Are you certain?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Big Cat Face responded without turning. ¡°My dad has studied that book for years; it¡¯s nearly falling apart. It¡¯s definitely an ancient text, unearthed from a tomb.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s impossible, Big Cat Face,¡± Lin Xian countered. ¡°Unless preserved under specificb conditions, a book wouldn¡¯t survive 600 years and remain legible.¡±
¡°Even if it were well-preserved, it would need to be treated as a historical artifact; otherwise, it would disintegrate at the slightest touch. Yet, it¡¯s still intact after years of use by your father. Paper just doesn¡¯tst that long.¡±
As they reached the vige market, Big Cat Face slowed the motorcycle, allowing them to converse without shouting.
¡°Brother, you really know your stuff,¡± Big Cat Face admitted as he parked near the roast chicken vendor. ¡°My father¡¯s book is indeed a 600-year-old manuscript, but it¡¯s not the original! My son has a copy of ¡®Journey to the West,¡¯ but you wouldn¡¯t im it¡¯s from a thousand years ago, would you?¡±
¡°Clearly, it¡¯s a reprint! There¡¯s no way my father could have excavated a 600-year-old tomb. Even if he had, who would keep such a macabre item at home? He read about the tomb on the book¡¯s cover. Whether it¡¯s factual or not, who knows.¡±
Big Cat Face then proceeded to purchase the roast chicken, leaving Lin Xian to ponder.
The original ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± was authored 600 years ago by a mathematician, akin to how ¡°Journey to the West¡± was penned by Wu Cheng¡¯en during the Ming Dynasty. The versions people peruse today are reprints, not the originals from centuries past.
Simrly, the ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± was crafted 600 years ago, but the version in Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s possession was ater edition. This meant the book wasn¡¯t unique!
This insight provided Lin Xian a new lead to unravel the mystery of the universal constant 42.
The original author lived around 2024, roughly the same era as Lin Xian in 2023. This implied that the author might still be alive in Lin Xian¡¯s reality.
If Lin Xian could locate the original author, he might uncover the meaning of 42. Even if the author hadn¡¯t solved it, Lin Xian now knew the answer was 42.
Engaging with the author would surely yield critical insights.
Thus, the keyy in discovering the original author¡ªhis name, birthdate, location, upation, everything.
Lin Xian now had another path to pursue.
Big Cat Face returned with the roast chicken, and Lin Xian inquired directly, ¡°Big Cat Face, do you know who wrote ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯?¡±
¡°No idea. I¡¯ve never read it.¡±
¡°Where did your father acquire the book? Can we find it in bookstores?¡±
¡°High-end books like that aren¡¯t sold here!¡± Big Cat Face scoffed. ¡°We don¡¯t have ess to real history or knowledge. Only New Donghai City holds such advanced information.¡±
Lin Xian detected a slip in Big Cat Face¡¯s words.
¡°So¡ your father obtained the book from New Donghai City? How did he manage that? Isn¡¯t your vigepletely isted from the city?¡±
Big Cat Face mped his mouth shut, his face nching as if he¡¯d revealed too much.
¡°Oomph¡ Brother, I can¡¯t exin this to you.¡±
¡°Come on, Big Cat Face.¡± Lin Xian grabbed the roast chicken. ¡°Aren¡¯t we brothers? Why keep secrets from me? Tell me, does this have to do with your secret night missions with A Zhuang and Er Zhuzi?¡±
Big Cat Face fell silent, his gaze locked on the roast chicken, lost in thought. After a moment, he nodded resolutely. ¡°Brother, I admit, I¡¯ve been concealing something.¡±
Big Cat Face was always forthright.
¡°I didn¡¯t intend to keep it from you indefinitely. I nned to disclose it over dinner. Since you¡¯re asking now, I¡¯ll be upfront.¡±
¡°We have a superior, and we¡¯ve been working for him. I was set to introduce you to him tomorrow. If he approves, you can join our operations, and I¡¯ll reveal everything, including the book¡¯s origins. I¡¯m confident he¡¯ll value your skills. But until he approves, I can¡¯t say more. Please understand.¡±
Big Cat Face spoke earnestly.
It was the same story as before¡ªhe mentioned a superior, secret missions, and nned to introduce Lin Xian ¡°tomorrow.¡±
Tomorrow never seemed to arrive in this future world.
¡°No, I need to meet the superior today.¡±
Lin Xian was determined, gripping the chicken leg firmly. ¡°I¡¯m confident in my abilities. Take me to the superior tonight, and I¡¯ll join your operations.¡±
¡°Not tonight, brother! It¡¯s toote!¡± Big Cat Face pped Lin Xian¡¯s hand away. ¡°Hey! Let go of the chicken leg!¡±
Unperturbed, Lin Xian narrowed his eyes with a smirk and tugged slightly more at the chicken leg.
¡°Alright, fine. I¡¯ll take you, but first, we need to deliver this chicken.¡±
¡°Understood, Brother Face.¡± Lin Xian released the chicken leg and climbed back onto the motorcycle.
Despite the jesting, if someone like Er Zhuzi could pass the superior¡¯s test, Lin Xian was certain he could too. Once he met the superior and joined the secret missions, he¡¯d unearth the origin of the book. Then, he could locate another copy, identify the author, and track him down in 2023. This approach was arduous, but simpler than sneaking into New Donghai City to find Big Cat Face¡¯s father.
¡°Who was the genius who authored the ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ 600 years ago?¡±
The motorcycle halted in front of arge courtyard. Green tiles, red walls, and an imposing wooden gate radiated wealth. The grand courtyard stood out starkly in the impoverished vige, like an imperial pce among a slum.
¡°We¡¯re here, brother. That¡¯s our superior.¡± Big Cat Face led Lin Xian through the gate, calling out, ¡°Boss! I brought a new recruit to see you!¡±
A man watering nts turned around, his smile exuding schrly elegance.
Lin Xian looked up and couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.
¡°Li Cheng?¡±
Chapter 91: The Boss
As Lin Xian walked down the road, a whirlwind of questions surrounded him: Who exactly was the ¡°boss¡± that Big Cat Face had referred to?
He considered countless possibilities, each one casting the boss in a positive light. After all, in this dream world, Big Cat Face had morphed into a benevolent viger. Despite his rough exterior, his actions had won him the vigers¡¯ respect and affection.
It seemed clear that Big Cat Face had transformed into a champion of justice.
Therefore, it only made sense that his boss would be a figure of righteousness as well. Big Cat Face was known for his straightforward and honest nature,cking the cunning to y both sides.
However, the reality before Lin Xian was starkly different. Standing in front of him, with a friendly smile, was none other than Li Cheng¡ªthe infamous viin from his first dream, a man known for his immense wealth and wicked ways.
Despite Li Cheng¡¯s present aura of respectability, which contrasted sharply with his past as a mboyant nouveau riche, Lin Xian recognized him immediately. This was undeniably Li Cheng!
In the first dream, Lin Xian often stole money from Li Cheng¡¯s vi, where thetter conducted affairs with his mistress. When a car was needed for a high-speed chase, Lin Xian would head to the vi¡¯s underground garage, stocked with luxury vehicles.
Li Cheng, though a coward, was always cooperative, while his mistress showed fierce loyalty, often intervening to save him¡ªuntil she met her end under Lin Xian¡¯s gun.
Just a few days earlier, in Lin Xian¡¯sst journey through the first dream, he and Big Cat Face had stormed Li Cheng¡¯s vi. They had killed the mistress and, after attempting to extract information about the Genius Club from Li Cheng, Big Cat Face had executed him too.Now, seeing them converse like old friends required a significant mental adjustment for Lin Xian.
Still, considering that shifts in time and space could alter destinies, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible for Li Cheng to reform, much like Big Cat Face had, and align with justice.
Throughout five thousand years of history, many had been ¡°heroes in chaos and viins in peace.¡± Li Cheng had clearly thrived in both, rising to be a top boss.
¡°Hahaha! Bet you didn¡¯t see thating!¡± Big Cat Face¡¯sughter filled the air.
¡°Hey, my boss is none other than the famous Boss Li! I¡¯ve been working for him since I was a kid, along with Ah Zhuang and Er Zhu.¡±
Pride shone in his eyes as he spoke of Li Cheng.
So, Lin Xian had been right¡
In this second dream, Li Cheng had indeed transformed into a respected, virtuous person.
¡°Boss Li! This is my new little brother, Lin Xian. He¡¯s got some serious skills!¡± Big Cat Face introduced Lin Xian enthusiastically, giving him a hearty pat on the back.
¡°Hello, Boss Li,¡± Lin Xian greeted, managing a smile.
The irony was palpable. In the first dream, he had frequently held Li Cheng at gunpoint. Now, he was being introduced to him as a brother.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± Li Cheng appraised him with a smile. ¡°You seem quite talented! You must be well-educated. Big Cat Face, he must have other extraordinary qualities, right?¡±
¡°Of course! I have a good eye for talent!¡± Big Cat Face quickly led Lin Xian to the courtyard wall, gesturing excitedly. ¡°Quick, Lin Xian¡ Show Boss Li a flip! A difficult one!¡±
Lin Xian was momentarily speechless. His parkour skills had reduced him to performing flips for entertainment.
Nevertheless, to infiltrate their gang and learn more about ¡°An Introduction to Universal Constants,¡± he yed along.
Lin Xian climbed the brick wall using his fingertips, flipped onto the second-floor balcony, and then leaped to the third-floor rooftop,nding gracefully.
¡°Bravo!¡± Big Cat Face pped, looking to Li Cheng with pride. ¡°How¡¯s that, Boss Li? My little brother¡¯s got skills, right? Just the kind of talent we need!¡±
Li Cheng nodded approvingly. ¡°Indeed, quite impressive¡ With him, our operations will definitely be more efficient!¡±
As they spoke, Lin Xian had already returned to the ground, listening intently. The transformation of Li Cheng from an uneducated thug to a respectable leader was a lot to take in.
¡°So, Boss Li, does this mean you approve of Lin Xian joining our operations?¡± Big Cat Face was eager to see his new recruit epted.
Li Cheng ced a hand on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, his smile warm. ¡°Lin Xian, think it over carefully. Joining us won¡¯t necessarily improve your life or bring great wealth.¡±
¡°What we do isn¡¯t much different from petty theft. But¡ for the people of Old Donghai, for the world beyond the high walls, someone has to undertake these tasks.¡±
¡°We each work with the resolve to die, ready to sacrifice ourselves for these dangerous missions. The impact we make might be small¡ Perhaps a glimpse of history, a fragment of knowledge, or maybe nothing at all.¡±
¡°Our only support is our belief, our hope. If¡ you¡¯ve truly thought it through and are prepared for this, then¡¡± Li Cheng extended his right hand to Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, wee to our family!¡±
Without hesitation, Lin Xian shook Li Cheng¡¯s hand, understanding the nature of their work tied to history and knowledge.
Recalling Big Cat Face¡¯s words about history and knowledge being controlled, Lin Xian realized the scope of their mission.
Despite the potential risks in dreams, Lin Xian¡¯s main goal was to locate the author of ¡°An Introduction to Universal Constants¡± and discuss the universal constant 42 in the real world of 2023.
¡°Brother Face, can you now tell me where your father got that book, ¡®An Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯?¡±
Big Cat Face nodded, leading Lin Xian to the rooftop and handing him a telescope.
He pointed towards the distant, futuristic skyline of New Donghai City. ¡°Out here, weck advanced technology, useful knowledge, and real history. Everything is controlled in cities like New Donghai.¡±
¡°Are there other cities like this around the world?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Of course.¡± Big Cat Face gave him a wry look. ¡°You¡¯re like a zombie crawling out of a grave, howe you know nothing?¡±
¡°New Hangzhou, New Imperial City, New Shenzhen¡ These giant sci-fi cities have been built over the centuries, gradually dividing the world into two parts: inside the steel walls and outside.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know exactly how the world developed this way, because we don¡¯t have real history here. We don¡¯t know what happened. Education, knowledge, science, technology¡ many things are gradually being lost.¡±
¡°But luckily, there are great people like Boss Li, determined to change the world outside the walls¡ª¡± Big Cat Face gestured towards a section of the giant steel wall of New Donghai City. He urged Lin Xian to look through the telescope.
Lin Xian did so, focusing on the indicated area.
It was a garbage processing nt at the base of the wall. Inparison to the towering, extensive steel barrier, the nt seemed minuscule.
¡°But on closer inspection, several simr nts were visible, each ying a part in arger scheme of waste management.¡±
¡°That looks like a garbage processing nt? New Donghai City incinerates all its trash?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes, and they won¡¯t even let us scavenge their waste,¡± Big Cat Face confirmed, lighting a cigarette.
¡°And our task¡¡± He took a puff and continued, ¡°Is to sneak into nt 221 tonight and retrieve whatever useful items we can find. Any book, newspaper, even small toys¡ in our deprived area, these are treasures.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian nodded, grasping the situation more fully.
¡°So, Brother Face,¡± he turned back to Big Cat Face, ¡°that book, ¡®An Introduction to Universal Constants,¡¯ your father had, it was taken from New Donghai City, right?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Big Cat Face, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, grinned. ¡°But that book was actually pilfered from the garbage nt by Boss Li when he was younger. I was too young then to remember the details.¡±
¡°Are there more copies, or was it just the one?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Hard to say. You should check Boss Li¡¯s warehouse,¡± Big Cat Face suggested, pointing towards several nearby warehouses.
¡°Brother, this is the real benefit of joining us! We work for Boss Li, so we have ess to the items stored in the warehouse!¡±
¡°That warehouse over there is where Boss Li keeps the books. Over the years, through several generations¡¯ efforts¡ we¡¯ve managed to rescue quite a few books from the garbage nts. You might find an old copy of ¡®An Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ there.¡±
¡°Who knows¡ you might discover something valuable,¡± Big Cat Face added, his tone hinting at the potential treasures hidden within.
Lin Xian nodded, ready to explore the warehouse.
¡°Wait,¡± Big Cat Face halted him, pointing to another building.
¡°We need to go to that warehouse first,¡± he said with a chuckle.
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian was curious.
Big Cat Face grinned mischievously. ¡°Don¡¯t you n to join our operation tonight? As the first step¡ you need to pick a mask!¡±
Chapter 92: MX
¡°Mask?¡± Lin Xian asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.
¡°Why do we need masks if we¡¯re on the same team?¡± he questioned further. ¡°Is it really necessary, Brother Face?¡±
¡°Yes and no,¡± Big Cat Face replied with a shrug. ¡°Masks aren¡¯t really for safety. They¡¯re more about tradition.¡±
Big Cat Face flicked his cigarette to the ground and stamped it out. ¡°Around here, everyone wears cartoon masks. It¡¯s like an unwritten rule. You see someone with a cartoon mask, you know they¡¯re here for business, not trouble. It helps avoid any panic or confusion.¡±
¡°When we see someone else wearing a cartoon mask, we just nod and keep moving. No one bothers anyone else. We respect each other¡¯s space, whether we know them or not.¡±
¡°When in Rome¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, following Big Cat Face into another warehouse.
As night enveloped the sky, the lights of New Donghai City twinkled in the distance.
Click.
Big Cat Face flipped the warehouse light switch, illuminating piles of children¡¯s toys.¡°There are plenty of masks here¡ªUltraman and others. Pick any. It doesn¡¯t really matter.¡±
¡°What mask do you wear?¡± Lin Xian asked curiously.
In his first dream, Big Cat Face had worn a Rhine Cat mask. But what about now, 600 yearster? Was the Rhine Cat still popr?
¡°I wear this one.¡± Big Cat Face lifted a robot mask off the ground. It looked simr to a Gundam, though it was a different series.
¡°My son loves this robot-fighting show.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian noted, appreciating the personal connection in Big Cat Face¡¯s choice.
As Lin Xian sifted through the toy pile, his eyes caught on a cat mask.
¡°Rhine Cat.¡±
Seeing his own design, the Rhine Cat, in this strange new dream, filled him with a sense of deep nostalgia.
He cleaned the dust off the mask and polished it until the yful face of the Rhine Cat stared back at him.
A smile lit up his face, thrilled to find his creation so far from home. ¡°Are Rhine Cat toys still popr now?¡±
¡°They sure are!¡± Big Cat Face chuckled, scratching his armpit. ¡°The Rhine Cat is one of the few toys that has remained popr in both new and old Donghai. It¡¯s famous worldwide. My daughter was crazy about it when she was little. I used to pick these toys out of the junkyard and clean them up for her.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t put the Rhine Cat mask down, each detail reminding him of his craftsmanship. He made up his mind. ¡°I¡¯ll wear this one tonight.¡±
¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you a bit old for that?¡± Big Cat Face scoffed. ¡°A grown man in a Rhine Cat mask? It¡¯s almostughable! People will think I¡¯ve taken in a foolish child. No serious man would wear such a childish mask!¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s perfect,¡± Lin Xian countered firmly. ¡°If this cat has been popr for 600 years and is still a hit in New Donghai, then it¡¯s a powerful brand. Never underestimate the impact of a globally recognized icon.¡±
¡°It is well-designed and cute, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Big Cat Face conceded.
Lin Xian donned the mask, followed Big Cat Face out of the warehouse, and eyed hisrge silhouette.
¡°Face, you wouldn¡¯t guess who designed this cat.¡±
¡°How could I not know?¡± Big Cat Face turned around, his expression confident. ¡°Everyone on Earth knows it¡¯s the mascot of MX Company.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. He removed the mask and stared at Big Cat Face.
In his first dream, despite its advanced technology and lifestyle, no one knew the true origins of the Rhine Cat, its creator, or the history of MX Company. Lin Xian had scoured various records and online sources but found nothing about the founder of Rhine Cat, himself, or MX Company. There were many theories, but none were definitive.
He had been frustrated then. But he hade to ept that a 600-year historical gap was too vast. It was normal for him and MX Company to be forgotten, buried under the sands of time.
But now, hearing MX Company mentioned by Big Cat Face, and knowing Rhine Cat was their mascot, meant in the second dream, the history and fate of MX Company had also undergone time-space changes.
Lin Xian spected that after securing Professor Xu Yun¡¯s exclusive authorization, the Rhine brand¡¯s immense sess had catapulted MX Company into bing a global cosmetics giant.
Rhine cosmetics could have been wildly popr worldwide for centuries, making Rhine Cat famous for hundreds of years. Even now, girls around the world might still be using Rhine cosmetics, and MX Company might still be thriving!
¡°Face, is MX Company still around? It hasn¡¯t gone bankrupt, right?¡± Lin Xian asked, eager for confirmation.
¡°Are you kidding me, kid?¡± Big Cat Face looked at him as if he were naive. ¡°MX Company going bankrupt? The world could end, and it might still survive.¡±
¡°Thatpany must be over 600 years old, right?¡±
¡°Probably. I¡¯m not entirely sure,¡± Big Cat Face admitted, scratching his nose. ¡°But it¡¯s definitely one of the world¡¯s toppanies.¡±
¡°Is MX Company still making cosmetics?¡± Lin Xian pressed on.
¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± Big Cat Faceughed.
¡°They¡¯re a global powerhouse. New Donghai City was built by MX Company. Why would they still be making just cosmetics?¡±
Lin Xian stopped in his tracks, a chill running down his spine.
¡°What did you say?¡± He stared at Big Cat Face. ¡°You said this steel and sci-fi city, New Donghai, was built by MX Company?¡±
¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t thatmon knowledge?¡± Big Cat Face pointed to the colorful, neon-lit New Donghai City in the distance. ¡°See that tallest building in the middle, the twin towers? Look at the letters on it.¡±
Lin Xian followed his gaze.
At the heart of New Donghai City stood a pair of twin towers, soaring above the other structures. They stretched high into the clouds, their tops obscured.
But halfway up the twin towers, two enormous ck-and-white glowing logos were visible ¨C two letters: MX
Lin Xian squinted.
Those letters were all too familiar. He saw them daily at work ¨C on the building¡¯s roof, the reception¡¯s backdrop, the elevator stickers, the office stationery, and even on his ID badge.
Last time, he couldn¡¯t see these letters from Big Cat Face¡¯s rooftop due to the obstructing buildings. But now, from here, he could clearly see the giant white letters glowing against the night sky.
MX
No doubt about it.
The most central, majestic, and imposing twin tower in New Donghai City was the headquarters of MX Company.
To be precise, it was MX Company¡¯s headquarters 600 yearster.
It was colossal.
Magnificent.
Dignified.
The twin towers seemed like a giant anchor, stabilizing the massive city.
In 600 years¡
What changes could have transformed a modest domestic cosmeticspany into a global supergiant capable of building a futuristic city?
What was the history?
How did it get to this point?
Who now controlled Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s once sole proprietorship, thepany she built from scratch?
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened.
He thought of a terrifying possibility¡
The world now, in 2023, was vastly different.
With the advent of hibernation technology in 2023, humanity had entered an era of rapid technological advancement. No one could predict the future of technology or how the world would change.
Professor Xu Yun had optimistically estimated that within a few years, they could develop a hibernation pod reducing life activity efficiency by 90%.
But human potential is limitless.
Who could say for sure?
If the hibernation pod was developed soon, as per the most optimistic estimates¡
The more Lin Xian thought about it, the more terrified he became, feeling increasingly cold.
He looked up¡
At the moon split by a giant ck hand¡¯s shadow,
At the ck right hand pointing skyward,
At Big Cat Face¡¯s father, who died under a truck in the first dream,
At Xu Yun¡¯s corpse split in the snow at 00:42 on New Year¡¯s Day,
At Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Genius Club invitation,
At the mouse that sessfully hibernated for 40 hours and woke up in Xu Yun¡¯sb¡
¡°Face.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice was low, staring at Big Cat Face.
¡°Who is the current president of MX Company?¡±
Chapter 93: An Old Friend Returns
Lin Xian wrestled with a troubling thought. He couldn¡¯t decide whose name he wanted Big Cat Face to mention. Was it Zhao Ying Jun?
The idea that Zhao Ying Jun might still control the imposing twin skyscrapers of MX Company in New Donghai City unsettled him. He hadn¡¯t expected this possibility, yet it seemed entirely usible. After all, Zhao had founded MX Company and overseen its growth. Thepany¡¯s logo, unchanged, hinted at her enduring influence.
Furthermore, the development of hibernation pods between 2023 and 2624 suggested that Zhao could have used one to survive 600 years, further expand MX Company, and even contribute to the construction of New Donghai City.
Zhao Ying Jun was also a member of the Genius Club, a group influential enough to leave marks on the moon. For them, crossing 600 years would be a minor feat.
This led Lin Xian to wonder if the secretive Genius Club, known for its global reach and futuristic ventures, was orchestrating everything. Were they behind the mysterious ck handprint on the moon, the rise of cities like New Donghai City, and other extraordinary events beyond the steel walls?
The motives and ns of the Genius Club remained elusive to Lin Xian, addingyers to the mystery.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Big Cat Face confessed, shaking his head. ¡°We know so little about what¡¯s really happening inside New Donghai City. Despite all our efforts to gather intelligence, we¡¯vee up almost empty. Wait until you see the warehouse¡ªit¡¯s nearly bare, and most of the books are useless.¡±
Relieved that Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s name hadn¡¯te up, Lin Xian stared at the illuminated twin skyscrapers of MX Company and pondered. If not Zhao, then who was in charge? Why had a cosmeticspany shifted its focus to urban development? The questions multiplied.
¡°Big Cat, where might we find records on MX Company¡¯s history or apany profile?¡± Lin Xian asked.Big Cat Face pointed to the warehouse they had visited earlier. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if there¡¯s anything valuable in Boss Li¡¯s warehouse. Those books were salvaged from New Donghai City¡¯s waste management facilities. If we¡¯re lucky, there might be something about MX Company. But remember, we also need to find my dad¡¯s book, ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants.''¡±
¡°If we don¡¯t find what we need, we might have to abandon this quest. The real history books are probably only avable in New Donghai City¡¯s bookstores, which we can¡¯t ess. It¡¯s a dead end.¡±
¡°Maybe if we meet my dad sooner, he could bring some books back. Though, it¡¯s a long shot. It¡¯s amazing he was even invited to their seminar. They wouldn¡¯t let him take books out.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, and together, they re-entered the warehouse.
Creeeak¡ª
The rusty iron door screeched open, unleashing a foul stench reminiscent of ancient garbage mixed with decay.
¡°Ugh! It stinks!¡± Big Cat Faceined, pinching his nose as he switched on the light. ¡°Books from the trash are the worst! They¡¯re filthy, and you can¡¯t just wash them¡ªyou have to dry and scrape off the dirt.¡±
¡°Okay, Big Cat, that¡¯s enough,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, grimacing as he surveyed the sparse shelves. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on finding ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ and any material on MX Company.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Big Cat Face responded.
They split up and searched the limited shelves. Lin Xian quickly realized the warehouse was no library. Books were scarce, and even fewer held any value.
Given the advanced technologies like holographic sses, VR, and ultra-thin iPads that people used in the future, it made sense why books were rare in New Donghai City, and thus, in this warehouse.
After a while, Lin Xian found only cookbooks, exercise guides, and manuals¡ªnothing of real significance.
¡°Big Cat, did Boss Li already take the important books like ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Big Cat Face replied, still covering his nose. ¡°The truly valuable stuff went to those who could appreciate it. What¡¯s left is basically junk.¡±
Disheartened, Lin Xian joined Big Cat Face in a fruitless search. They found no useful books, materials, or clues.
After an exhaustive search, Lin Xian sighed. Their only option was to sneak into New Donghai City to ess the real history books, discover ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants,¡¯ find Big Cat Face¡¯s father, and uncover the true identity of MX Company¡¯s CEO.
¡°There¡¯s no shortcut to the truth,¡± Lin Xian realized. ¡°We need to find a way into New Donghai City.¡±
¡°Come on, bro, dinner¡¯s waiting. My wife kept the food warm,¡± Big Cat Face said, locking the warehouse and gesturing to the motorcycle. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, then meet back here at 10 PM for tonight¡¯s mission!¡±
Lin Xian climbed onto the motorcycle, and his interest in the uing ¡°Garbage Stealing n¡± at the waste treatment nt waned. He had seen enough to know what to expect.
However, he was now part of the group. He had met the boss, and it would be impolite to leave. Besides, his ultimate goal¡ªto prate New Donghai City¡ªremained.
At Big Cat Face¡¯s home, his wife warmly greeted them, reheating the dinner and serving it up. Big Cat Face opened a bottle of wine, iming it would fortify Lin Xian for his first mission.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian,¡± Big Cat Face chuckled, clinking sses with him. ¡°Just follow my lead. You¡¯ll meet Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang soon enough. They¡¯re all good guys.¡±
Lin Xian smiled inwardly. Not familiar? He knew them all too well¡
He had previously shed with thieving Ah Zhuang, seductive Er Zhuzi, and treacherous San Pang. It seemed Ah Zhuang and San Pang had reformed. Only Er Zhuzi remained unchanged, still eyeing Big Cat Face¡¯s wife.
As the night progressed, the children slept, and Big Cat Face¡¯s wife began preparing radishes in the kitchen for the next day¡¯s pickles. Big Cat Face checked his watch, finished his wine, and pped Lin Xian on the shoulder.
¡°Brother, grab your mask. It¡¯s time to go!¡±
Riding on Big Cat Face¡¯s motorcycle, they arrived at Li Cheng¡¯s house about twenty minutester. In the spacious courtyard, Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang were already masked, resembling cartoon animals. Big Cat Face donned a sleek mecha helmet.
Lin Xian held the small Rhine Cat mask in his hands, feeling a mix of emotions. For the moment, he was part of the Face Gang, Big Cat Face¡¯s philosophical ally, Li Cheng¡¯s trusted subordinate, and a martial arts expert recognized by Ah Zhuang and San Pang.
But this was temporary. Tomorrow, in another dream, these same individuals would be strangers once again, suspicious and cautious.
¡°If only time could keep moving forward,¡± Lin Xian sighed, yearning for just one more day in the present.
Once he re-entered the dream, he could approach Big Cat Face¡¯s house casually, call him ¡®Brother Face,¡¯ and ask for a motorcycle ride as if they were still old friends, enjoying the warmth of freshly kept food andughter.
Chapter 94: The Plan
A slender girl dressed in ck approached Li Cheng, removing her mask to reveal a delicate face that bore a striking resemnce to the woman beside him.
¡°Dad, this mask is really ufortable. Where did you put the one I was wearing yesterday?¡±
Li Chengughed, patting his daughter on the head. ¡°Your sister was ying with it and broke it. You¡¯ve got a keen eye, Ning Ning. I reced it with a simr one, but you still noticed.¡±
Ning Ning pouted. ¡°They might look alike, but the stic feels different. I knew it right away.¡±
¡°Please forgive your sister¡¯s antics,¡± Li Cheng said with a chuckle.
Ning Ning put her mask back on and turned to Lin Xian, examining him closely. ¡°And who is this?¡±
Big Cat Face stepped forward to introduce Lin Xian. ¡°Ning Ning, this is Lin Xian, our newest team member. He¡¯s just as skilled at climbing as you. Now you have a partner!¡±
He then turned to Lin Xian, ¡°This is Ning Ning, Li Cheng¡¯s eldest daughter and a key yer in our operations. She¡¯s our expert in scaling walls and snatching the loot while we manage the getaway.¡±
Ning Ning extended her hand, ¡°Nice to meet you, Lin Xian.¡±¡°Nice to meet you too,¡± Lin Xian replied, shaking her hand.
For a moment, Lin Xian mistook Ning Ning for CC because of her Ultraman mask and their simr statures. However, a closer look revealed Ning Ning¡¯s jet-ck hair, unlike CC¡¯s deep brown. Ning Ning¡¯s features were more mature and captivating, simr to her mother¡¯s, whereas CC and Chu An Qing looked more youthful and innocent.
Ning Ning¡¯s hand was calloused, unexpected for a girl from a wealthy family, indicating her frequent engagement in physical activities.
¡°Ready for a challenge?¡± Ning Ning asked, sizing up Lin Xian.
¡°The walls at the waste disposal nt are over eight meters tall. We form a human pyramid up to about five meters, but you have to climb the rest on your own. Typically, the lighter girls handle this. Think you can manage?¡±
Lin Xian nodded confidently. Although he wasn¡¯t sure of Ning Ning¡¯s training, his parkour skills made him adept at climbing uneven surfaces.
¡°Alright, everyone!¡± Li Cheng pped his hands to gather the group, his tone serious. ¡°Let¡¯s head out! Stay safe!¡±
The van trundled down the dirt road towards New Donghai City. Big Cat Face and his three lieutenants upied the front seats, while Lin Xian and Ning Ning sat in the back. As the city approached, Lin Xian was awed by the immense steel walls, over 200 meters high, that segmented the area.
The ride was rough, causing Lin Xian and Ning Ning to jostle against each other asionally. Lin Xian caught a whiff of roses from Ning Ning.
Is that her lotion, shampoo, or hand cream? he wondered, recognizing the distinct fragrance of roses from his work at a cosmeticspany.
¡°Everyone out!¡± Big Cat Face called, parking the van on a small hill. They disembarked a kilometer from the massive steel barriers, the smoke from the waste disposal nt barely visible in the distance.
Big Cat Face handed Lin Xian binocrs. ¡°Take a look at the nt. See that solitary worker in the control room?¡±
Lin Xian noticed a uniformed figure inside. ¡°Besides that worker, it¡¯s all automated. Robots handle the patrols, transport, incineration, and sorting,¡± Big Cat Face exined.
Lin Xian nodded, observing the industrious robots through the binocrs. The automation level didn¡¯t surprise him, given the advanced technology that allowed a single worker to oversee extensive operations.
¡°There are six drones patrolling the wall on fixed routes. Every 40 minutes, there¡¯s a one-minute blind spot, followed by a 30-second gap twelve minutester,¡± Big Cat Face continued. ¡°You and Ning Ning need to climb the wall during these openings. We¡¯ll be ready to assist your descent.¡±
Pointing at the high wall, Big Cat Face outlined their strategy. ¡°The optimal time to climb is between 00:04 and 00:05. We¡¯ll collect the goods from 00:17:00 to 00:17:30. Understood?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, impressed with the meticulous nning. ¡°Got it.¡±
¡°Good. If you hear this whistle¡ª¡± Big Cat Face whistled sharply, mimicking a bird, ¡°¡ªretreat immediately. Drop everything and regroup here, no matter what.¡±
They stealthily advanced through the woods towards the waste disposal nt. As the incinerators¡¯ roar intensified, Lin Xian noticed Ning Ninggging behind.
¡°Ning Ning¡¯s back there, boss,¡± Zhuang pointed out.
¡°Hurry up!¡± Big Cat Face urged. Soon, Ning Ning caught up.
Arriving at the high wall, Big Cat Face checked his watch. ¡°Remember, prioritize books, then electronics, and everything else as nned,¡± he reminded Lin Xian.
Lin Xian looked up at the imposing wall, which stood eight to nine meters tall¡ªa daunting challenge even without the patrolling drones.
Big Cat Face watched the drones, waiting for the perfect moment. ¡°Now!¡± he shouted.
He braced himself against the wall as his lieutenants quickly formed a human pyramid. Ning Ning sprinted up, her athletic frame agile and quick. The scent of camellia flowers drifted towards Lin Xian as she passed.
Wait. Lin Xian sniffed again. The scent had changed. This isn¡¯t Ning Ning¡¯s smell!
¡°Hey!¡± Lin Xian started to shout a warning, but the woman in the Ultraman mask had already scaled the wall and vanished over the top.
¡°Lin Xian, climb now! There¡¯s no time!¡± Big Cat Face urged, his face flushed with effort.
Gritting his teeth, Lin Xian dashed forward, climbed the human pyramid, and made his way over the wall. Hended amidst old furniture inside the nt, only to feel a gun pressed against the back of his head.
Chapter 95: The Vault
Buzz¡ Buzz¡ Buzz¡
A surveince drone hummed nearby, ending its temporary break in surveince. Before scaling the wall, Lin Xian had already sensed, through his sharp sense of smell, that the girl in the Ultraman mask was not Li Ning Ning.
Reflecting on recent events, Lin Xian recalled how Li Ning Ning had brieflygged behind during their forest trek, only to catch up quickly. Given her agility, it was unlikely she¡¯d fall behind even for a minor dy like tying a shoce withoutmunicating it to Big Cat Face and the others. Li Ning Ning was not one to act independently. This led Lin Xian to one conclusion: Li Ning Ning had been ambushed in the forest, and her attacker had stolen her mask to impersonate her!
This deception reminded Lin Xian of the time he had disguised himself as Big Cat Face. The woman who ambushed Li Ning Ning was meticulously prepared. Their simr statures and attire¡ªboth wearing ck, form-fitting clothes with their hair tied back¡ªmade the disguise simple. The Ultraman mask effectively concealed her face, especially in low light.
The impostor was cautious, avoiding speaking or moving to the front of the group, instead remaining quietly at the rear. Big Cat Face and the others were preupied with their watches and the drone¡¯s path, oblivious to Li Ning Ning¡¯s recement. The woman impersonating Li Ning Ning had a specific objective: using Big Cat Face and the others as human shields to infiltrate the waste treatment nt.
This scenario was something Lin Xian had encountered repeatedly in his ¡°First Dream.¡± Given her familiar build and skills, it was highly probable that the woman who ambushed and impersonated Li Ning Ning was CC. Then prompted by Big Cat Face, Lin Xian no longer hesitated; he sprinted and scaled the wall. Confirming his suspicion was crucial, even if his own life seemed inconsequential in his recurring dreams.
¡
As he leaped down from the wall, he felt a gun press against the back of his head. His earlier shout of doubt had tipped off the woman, revealing her cover. Although she might be CC, to Lin Xian, she was a known ally, someone he had worked with and even chatted with by a vault. However, to CC, Lin Xian was merely a stranger and an associate of Li Ning Ning. With her cover blown, she was in a precarious position and could fire at any moment.
¡°Don¡¯t be nervous,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°I¡ª¡±Whoosh¡ª
Before he could finish, the person behind him darted away like a rabbit, vanishing before he could even turn around.
Buzz¡ Buzz¡ Buzz¡
The drone¡¯s propellers grew louder as it neared. Big Cat Face had mentioned that all robots and equipment in this waste treatment facility were programmed for specific tasks and were essentially ¡°blind,¡±cking true perception. However, the drones possessed surveince and rm capabilities and patrolled within a 20-meter radius of the wall. Detection had to be avoided at all costs. The person who had just fled was clearly aware of the patrolling drones.
Lin Xian quickly darted deeper into the waste treatment facility, jumping and rolling until he found refuge under an overturned sofa, sessfully evading the drone¡¯s watchful eye. He nced at his watch; it read 00:05. There were 12 minutes left until his scheduled rendezvous with Big Cat Face.
Though curious about the ¡°imposter woman¡¯s¡± true identity¡ªwhether she was CC¡ªmore pressing issues demanded his attention. Searching for items like ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants,¡± ¡°History of MX Company,¡± or information on MX Company¡¯s CEO in this setting was akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. With no immediate option to infiltrate New Donghai City, he feltpelled to try.
Watching the drone¡¯s position carefully, Lin Xian moved a few steps further, exiting the 20-meter surveince zone near the wall. He nced toward the monitoring room at the center of the waste treatment nt. It was empty; the uniformed supervisor had likely gone to change shifts. A new supervisor would arrive at 00:20, giving him a narrow window to act.
Despite his disregard for his own life andck of ns to escape, he had only about 20 minutes to sift through the refuse. Though the supervisor was likely unarmed, Big Cat Face had warned that the drones¡¯ weaponry was lethal, not to mention the specialized security robots on standby.
¡°Go.¡±
With the surveince blind spot in his favor and the supervisor absent, he moved freely. Various robots and vehicles bustled past, engaged in their designated tasks, oblivious to his presence. The waste treatment facility wasrge, but the efficiency of the garbage processing meant there wasn¡¯t much umtion of waste. Lin Xian quickly climbed atop a pile of garbage and began his search.
The refuse was a mix of household waste, food scraps, and construction debris¡ªsmelly, sticky, and unappealing. Time was of the essence, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be choosy. As he turned over piles of garbage, he found nothing of value¡ªno newspapers, books, or relevant documents.
¡°Sigh¡¡±
Lin Xian sighed. As he suspected, the citizens of New Donghai City likely no longer relied on traditional media, opting for more advanced methods of essing information. He moved to another pile to continue his search, asionally ncing toward the area where the woman in ck had disappeared. There was no sign of movement. Her objectives for entering the waste treatment nt were evidently different from his own.
What could her purpose be? Lin Xian felt overwhelmed by an ¡°information explosion¡± since entering this new dream. He would need to sort it all outter. ¡°Find a book,¡± he hoped, even amidst the filth and odor, cherishing the simple thrill of discovering hidden treasures. He opened a found item¡ªit was a cookbook.
He resumed his search, disregarding other potentially valuable items, including the electronic products Big Cat Face had requested. He saw them but ignored them. The world was scheduled for destruction at 00:42; handing anything over to Big Cat Face seemed futile.
Whoosh¡ªWhoosh¡ª
Suddenly, an urgent bird call sounded from outside the wall. Lin Xian recognized it as the whistle signal Big Cat Face had taught him. But¡ wasn¡¯t it too early? He checked his watch; it was only 00:13, still four minutes before the agreed escape time.
Recalling Big Cat Face¡¯s instruction: ¡°Remember, no matter when you hear this sound, retreat immediately, climb over the wall, and run to the hilltop for a meetup. Don¡¯t hesitate!¡±
It seemed something unexpected had urred outside. There might be danger. Or perhaps¡ the real Li Ning Ning had escaped, and Big Cat Face and the others had discovered the impersonation, warning Lin Xian of the impending threat and urging him to retreat quickly!
Lin Xian took the whistle and blew a long note. It signaled that he had received the message and that they should retreat first. He didn¡¯t n to retreat now; the world¡¯s destruction was imminent. He decided to keep searching a bit longer.
He turned over a few more garbage piles but still found nothing. As expected. Finding the desired information in a garbage pile was too unrealistic. It seemed the only way was to break into New Donghai City, visit a bookstore, or explore other innovative devices to find the information he needed about MX Company¡¯s history, current CEO, and Big Cat¡¯s father¡¯s ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants.¡±
On the other side, a uniformed supervisor yawned as he walked over, sat in the monitoring room, and stared ahead nkly, asionallyughing. Lin Xian noticed he was wearing something like a Bluetooth headset. His eyes were wandering, as if looking at something a few centimeters in front of him. It must be some high-tech gadget, like a holographic projection. This guy was definitely not focusing on his job.
Boom¡ª
A massive steel door on the other side of the wall rose, the sound deafening. One after another, garbage trucks entered, dumping their loads in different areas.
Boom¡ª
The steel door mmed shut. Lin Xian looked over. These garbage trucks were bringing trash from the city¡¯s transfer stations to the waste treatment nt outside the city for processing. Lin Xian watched as the garbage trucks unloaded, dumping all kinds of trash just like the piles around him.
And then¡ª
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian saw a very familiar sight. Square, shiny, solid, and sturdy, looking almost new¡ They were the same safes with names written on them from the bank vault in his First Dream!
¡°Why are they on the garbage truck?¡±
Lin Xian was puzzled. He was too familiar with these safes. In the First Dream, he had tried countless times to crack their codes but never seeded. Later, he had nned to cut them open by force but ended up making them invincible due to uncontroble time-space changes, transforming their material into super-hardened aviation alloy.
He cautiously moved to a new hiding spot to continue watching. Unlike other garbage trucks, this one was dumping arge pile of aluminum alloy safes, with very little household trash. Moving a bit closer¡ Lin Xian saw more clearly. His earlier guess was right! The aluminum alloy safes had eightbination dials! He could faintly see names engraved on them!
¡°To find what you seek¡¡±
Lin Xian timed his move, sprinting to a closer hiding spot near the garbage truck. He was curious if these safes would still have his name on them. If they did¡ it might mean that the contents were extraordinary, surviving even the massive time-space changes of the future world.
Continuing forward, he moved like a motorized rat, using parkour skills, unafraid of dirt or stink, diving and hiding as needed. Finally! He reached a hiding spot closest to the garbage truck and the newly dumped safes¡ª
Click.
A small handgun emerged from behind the cover, pressed firmly against Lin Xian¡¯s forehead! The familiar scent of camellias, the familiar Ultraman mask, the familiar deep brown tied hair, the familiar slender figure in ck tight clothes, and the familiar voice:
¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±
A sweet voice, like that of a finch, came from behind the mask. A smooth, delicate hand lifted Lin Xian¡¯s Rhine Cat mask, pulling it off¡ª
¡°Humph.¡± The woman behind the Ultraman mask chuckled softly: ¡°It¡¯s really you!¡±
Chapter 96: Another Perspective
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A brilliant white light burst forth at 00:42, obliterating everything in its path, apanied by a sly smile.
¡
¡
¡
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes fluttered open in the stillness of his bedroom. Hey there, staring at the dark ceiling, the memory of those amused crescent-shaped eyes lingering in his mind.
¡°CC,¡± he whispered softly, his voice a mix of emotions¡ªnostalgia, perhaps, or thefort of reconnecting with an old friend in a strange ce. Regardless, he had encountered CC once more.
The world of his second dream had shifted dramatically. Many things were different, yet some familiarities remained. He struggled to understand these changes through the lens of space-time; maybe the ¡°patterns¡± and ¡°rules¡± were woven into the fabric of space-time, still beyond his grasp?
Lin Xian pondered why CC had appeared at the garbage disposal nt. Her goal was clear: to unlock the safe bearing his name.¡°Unyieldingly persistent, in every dream,¡± Lin Xian mused. This consistency suggested more than mere curiosity from CC; there was a deeper, personal story driving her determination to open that safe, even risking her life for it.
CC¡¯s mysterious presence was as imprable as ever. How did she know the safe would be at the garbage nt tonight? Lin Xian wondered, scratching his head. Whether she was impersonating Li Ning Ning or manipting Big Cat Face and Er Zhuzi as unwitting aplices, her actions were clearly calcted and deliberate.
Unlike the impulsive Big Cat Face and his crew, CC likely had specific knowledge about New Donghai City that led her to the safe¡¯s location tonight.
¡°And there¡¯s something else¡¡± Lin Xian recalled how CC had removed her mask just before the white light struck at 00:42, her smile warm as she eximed, ¡°I knew it was you!¡± Her voice carried the familiarity of a long-lost friend. This revtion suggested that for CC in this second dream, Lin Xian¡¯s face was not unknown¡ªit was as if she had recognized him from before.
This was both fascinating and unnerving. Lin Xian tossed off his covers and sat up. Where could CC have seen him before? Logically, this should have been their first encounter in this second dream, so why her confident recognition?
If CC indeed recognized him, it suggested she had encountered his likeness somewhere else. A chill ran down his spine at the thought. Could there be another individual in the second dream who resembled him?
Despite the seeming improbability, given the mysterious backgrounds of CC and Chu An Qing, nothing could be definitively ruled out.
¡°Forget guessing, I¡¯ll ask her directly in the next dream.¡± Lin Xian resolved to find CC in the next dream, reveal his identity, and seek direct answers from her. His questions were many, including whether she was the same as Chu An Qing, where she had previously seen him, and her insights on New Donghai City.
¡°The enigmas surrounding CC are numerous, but unraveling them is essential,¡± Lin Xian thought, standing up and stretching. This dream had been lengthy, spanning from around 5 or 6 in the afternoon until 00:42, yet he felt surprisingly refreshed and not at all tired.
This dream had been incredibly enlightening, offering a wealth of information and rifying numerous mysteries. His most significant revtion was the Universal Constant 42. Though Lin Xian was unclear about its significance or implications, he recognized it as a vital clue. Everything¡ªfrom the arrival of the white light at 00:42, to the secretive Genius Club, his recurring dreams, and the hiddenws of space-time¡ªseemed interconnected with this enigmatic number.
¡°Big Cat Face¡¯s father had explored the ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ extensively without issue, but after discovering 42, he was seized by operatives from New Donghai City,¡± Lin Xian recalled. This number evidently held great importance.
The Genius Club had eliminated Xu Yun but had disregarded his research. In contrast, they had not only executed Big Cat Face¡¯s father but also took meticulous steps to ensure no evidence remained. Lin Xian reasoned that if not for the potential of raising suspicion, the Genius Club might have even razed Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s home.
Yet, they refrained. It was well-known in the vige that Big Cat Face¡¯s father often mentioned, ¡°42 is everywhere.¡± Torching his home would have been too conspicuous. The Genius Club preferred the shadows, opting for concealment over overt actions.
Now, with no leads on the mystery of 42, Lin Xian¡¯s quest for answers continued. Fortunately, he had not only connected with Big Cat Face but also allied with Li Cheng. In this second dream, Big Cat Face and Li Cheng had united, coborating to pilfer historical knowledge from New Donghai City¡ªaforting alliance, despite their earlier antagonism in the first dream.
Big Cat Face¡¯s father had liberated the ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± from the garbage nt, thus essing profound knowledge. Lin Xian admired the old man¡¯s intellect; however, the book was likely just the beginning of his exploration into these themes.
Mathematics, driven purely by intellect and analytical thought, forms the bedrock of all sciences, essible only to the truest of geniuses. Unfortunately, Lin Xian had observed at the garbage nt that the residents of New Donghai City seldom engaged with books; they likely possessed more advanced means of gathering information.
Lin Xian had failed to find the ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± or any materials from ¡°MX Company¡± at the garbage nt. ¡°It¡¯s like searching for a needle in a haystack,¡± he concluded. In his next dream, he nned to coborate with CC to uncover ways to infiltrate New Donghai City and locate those elusive texts.
Reflecting on New Donghai City, Lin Xian envisioned the formidable X Twin Towers, the most striking feature of the second dream, even surpassing the mystique of the Universal Constant 42. Unlike the abstract concept of the Universal Constant, MX Company was concrete; Lin Xian had worked there for over six months and had risen to the position of vice president.
The fact that MX Company not only survived but thrived over 600 years, evolving into a behemoth capable of constructing a sci-fi metropolis, was astounding. ¡°It¡¯s almost unbelievable,¡± Lin Xian mused. Another troubling thought lingered: Could Zhao Ying Jun still preside over MX Company 600 years in the future?
Considering her receipt of the Genius Club invitation and the advancements in cryogenic technology, it wasn¡¯t beyond possibility that Zhao Ying Jun could be alive in the future. ¡°Moreover, the founding of the sci-fi New Donghai City by MX Company remains an enigma,¡± Lin Xian pondered. Why establish a walled city? Why focus on MX Company? What was the fate of New Imperial City and New Hangzhou City?
The second dream world held much for Lin Xian to explore. CC¡¯s unexpected reappearance had marked a breakthrough. He hadn¡¯t anticipated encountering her in this second dream; though he had hoped for it, the coincidence seemed almost too perfect.
It appeared as if time and history had certain inevitabilities that wove the future into a new narrative. Lin Xian suspected that the safe with his name had been in existence for centuries, surviving 600 years of history intact. ¡°Or perhaps it was ced not long before 2023,¡± he considered. ¡°Maybe my future self put it there, years or even decades from now.¡±
Lin Xian entertained the notion that if the safe was indeed set by his future self, deciphering the password might not be as challenging as it seemed. ¡°We¡¯re the same person; whyplicate things?¡± he chuckled. Even if it wasn¡¯t his usual password of 19990320, it should rte to him in some manner.
¡°If the safe was indeed ced by my future self, there¡¯s another way to discover the password,¡± Lin Xian resolved, ncing at the white paper that summarized his discoveries. He set it aside and picked up a fresh sheet, ready to pen a letter to his future self.
Chapter 97: Einstein
Lin Xian was deep in thought. He needed to figure out if the safe was truly meant for him or if the connection to his name was just a coincidence.
¡°All I need to do is send a message to my future self,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°If I ever set a new password for an aluminum alloy safe, it must always be the same. I wouldn¡¯t ignore advice from my younger self.¡±
Why argue with his own past?
Realizing that a letter might not be necessary¡ªas long as hemitted to this decision, his future self would likely follow through¡ªLin Xian still considered the importance of a written reminder. ¡°Writing it down might be wise, just in case I forget decades from now,¡± he reasoned, recalling Professor Xu Yun¡¯s warning about potential memory loss associated with hibernation. If he were to forget this agreement during such a time, today¡¯s decision would be futile.
So, he began to write:
¡°To my future self,
Hello.
This is Lin Xian from 2023. When you choose a password for an aluminum alloy safe in the future, please use 29990203.
You might steer clear of our usual birthday for security reasons, but I trust this password is secure enough.0203 is our lunar birthday, and 2999 adds a thousand years to our birth year. It¡¯s easy to remember.
Keep it simple for yourself!
If you are indeed the one who sets this safe¡¯s password in the future, remember 29990203!
Commit it to memory!¡±
After finishing the letter, Lin Xian capped his pen and reviewed his words. The whole exercise felt strange, even slightly absurd, but it served its purpose.
From that moment, he was resolute: ¡°No matter what happens or what significant dates I encounter, I will always set the aluminum alloy safe¡¯s password to 29990203!¡±
He reiterated thismitment to himself multiple times.
Okay. It was now firmly ingrained in his memory.
If the safe really belonged to him and his future self had set the password, the butterfly effect should begin now.
Tomorrow, in his dream, the safe with his name should ept the password 29990203.
He stood, folded the letter, and ced it in a small iron box in his wardrobe, a box that held many items dear to him over the years. The letter had now earned its spot among them.
¡°Trust my future self to honor this decision.¡±
After tidying up, Lin Xian returned to his desk. His dreams had revealed much but also left him with numerous puzzles to solve. He needed to strategize how to tackle them one by one.
His immediate task was to meet with CC to confirm her identity and attempt to open the aluminum alloy safe. Next, he aimed to devise a n to infiltrate New Donghai City.
He was also set on finding two specific books and locating Big Cat Face¡¯s father.
Hints abounded that the number 42 was a universal constant, critical and feared by the Genius Club. Understanding its significance could be key to deciphering the Genius Club¡¯s motives and possibly finding leverage to oppose them.
To Lin Xian, the number 42 seemed harmless. He couldn¡¯t fathom its threat or importance, despite its potential to influence time-space and trigger a future butterfly effect. But 42 was just a number. Big Cat Face¡¯s father had scribbled 42 all over his walls with no apparent effect. Lin Xian saw no special significance or power in the number.
The straightforward n would be to directly interrogate Big Cat Face¡¯s father, but that was also the most daunting task.
First, the challenge of safely entering New Donghai City loomedrge. The city, muchrger than the current Donghai City, made finding Big Cat Face¡¯s father in its vast popce seem nearly impossible. Moreover, given that he was likely detained and controlled by the Genius Club, the task became even moreplex.
¡°Given the Genius Club¡¯s capabilities, they are undoubtedly well-prepared.¡±
¡°But what resources do I have? Even if CC has a gun, storming a high-tech city with just that is out of the question.¡±
Discovering the original author of the book ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± in 2023 appeared to be a viable strategy. Lin Xian turned to the inte, searching for clues about the book described as a 600-year-old relic from 2624, meaning it would have been published around 2024. If it was important enough for someone to be buried with, it likely originated a few years earlier.
Academic works often take years, even a lifetime, toplete. Lin Xian hoped his online search might uncover some leads.
However, his search yielded nothing until a name caught his eye: Einstein.
¡°I remember now.¡±
Einstein was connected to the concept of a universal constant through his infamous cosmological constant, introduced in his younger days to ount for a static universe. This constant, inconsequential on a gctic scale but significant on a cosmic scale, waster renounced by Einstein himself, who considered it his greatest mistake.
One hand fighting the other¡ªapelling scientific narrative.
Yet, Lin Xian knew Einstein¡¯s cosmological constant had no connection to the universal constant 42. Suggesting to Einstein that ¡°the cosmological constant is 42¡± would be nonsensical.
This too led nowhere.
Lin Xian turned off his phone, realizing that understanding the true significance of 42 still necessitated infiltrating New Donghai City as nned.
He moved to the kitchen, crumpled up the A4 paper with his thoughts, ced it in a baking tray, and watched it burn.
Safety first. These notes revealed his intent to delve into the Genius Club and the universal constant 42, which opposed the Genius Club. If discovered, he could face a fate simr to Professor Xu Yun¡¯s orchestrated ident.
¡°Xu Yun was a distinguished scientist, warranting a meticulously nned ident at 00:42.¡±
¡°But what about someone like me? Who knows how they¡¯d deal with me.¡±
Considering the Genius Club¡¯s potential control over history, extreme caution was essential. Additionally, the positions of MX Company and Zhao Ying Jun remained ambiguous.
¡°Walking on thin ice¡¡±
After incinerating the papers, Lin Xian flushed the ashes down the toilet and headed back to bed for a nap.
The next morning, Lin Xian skipped work. After dining at a nearby mall, he visited a private cinema. Unlike regr theaters, this one offered private rooms where patrons could watch old films on demand.
After scanning a code to pay, the attendant smiled and handed him an iPad to select a film.
¡°What movie would you like to watch? We offer a broad range of old movies, all authorized, in HD,plete with official extras,¡± the attendant said.
¡°I¡¯ll watch this one, The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy.¡± Lin Xian responded, scrolling through the options.
Chapter 98: The First 42 in the World
¡°The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy¡± is a widely acimed and influential science fiction film that Lin Xian had seen many years ago. At that time, after a conversation about dreams with his friend Gao Yang¡ªwho had confessed to being unable to envision the future and thus unable to dream of it¡ªLin Xian had thrown himself into a marathon of sci-fi movies and novels, including this iconic film.
To be honest, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t found the film particrly engaging initially; it seemed rather mediocre, and he felt no inclination to watch it again. But something was different today.
After a vivid dream the previous night, he decided to revisit the film in his private cinema. His reason was specific: this film was where the number 42 first caught public attention.
With a drink in hand, Lin Xian entered his private screening room where the film was already ying.
¡°The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡± a 2005 adaptation of Dous Adams¡¯ novel, is known for its quirky humor and entric road-movie vibe. The early parts of the film, which depict the construction of an intergctic highway requiring the demolition of Earth, might now seemckluster. Following Earth¡¯s destruction, the protagonist joins an alien on a series of gctic adventures, which unfold in an episodic manner.
Lin Xian watched in silence until the film reached its most famous and widely discussed segment:
On a distant, a highly advanced civilization sought the ultimate truth of the universe. They built Deep Thought, the most sophisticated supeputer ever, to solve this mystery. Billions watched as the question was posed to Deep Thought: ¡°What is the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything?¡±
After several indicators shed, Deep Thought responded, ¡°This calction is immense. Please return in 7.5 million years.¡±
When the appointed time came, civilizations across the universe reconvened, eager for the answer. Amidst high anticipation, Deep Thought finally dered, ¡°The ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42.¡±The scene ended abruptly, plunging into silence before shifting to the next narrative arc.
¡°42¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, reying the scene. The film offered no further exnation about the significance of 42, abruptly cutting away¡ªa decision made because, humorously, the director had no exnation either.
This riddle of the universe was beyond any Earthling¡¯sprehension¡ªnot the director¡¯s, not the audience¡¯s, and not even Dous Adams¡¯, who left the question deliberately vague and enigmatic in his narrative.
Yet, Adams¡¯ intent was to craft a piece of humorous, nonsensical sci-fi, originally conceived for a children¡¯s TV program. Theck of a detailed exnation was meant to add ayer of intrigue and fun.
However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t convinced it was that simple.
¡°If Adams included the number 42 just as a whimsical twist, why choose that specific number? What¡¯s so special about it?¡±
Had Lin Xian not experienced so many extraordinary events, he might not have questioned a writer¡¯s arbitrary choice. But the recurring appearance of the number 42 in his life¡ªhis dream entries, the time of significant events, even the calctions of universal constants in his dreams¡ªsuggested a deeper connection.
The number appeared too frequently to be mere coincidence.
As the credits rolled and Dous Adams¡¯ name appeared, Lin Xian pondered deeply.
¡°Could Adams have known something? Or perhaps stumbled upon some secret that led him to choose 42 as the ultimate answer?¡±
With Adams having passed in 2001, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t seek answers from him. Adams was born in 1952 and wrote the novel in 1979. Could this mean the so-called Genius Club existed even before then, shrouded in the annals of history?
The thought sent shivers down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. If his theory was correct, understanding how the Genius Club had remained concealed throughout history without leaving a trace, and maintaining their enigmatic agenda over centuries, was daunting.
¡°All these mysteries¡ they must be linked to 42,¡± Lin Xian concluded as the movie ended and the room darkened.
He stood, determined to unravel the mystery. He needed to investigate further in New Donghai City, whether by finding the book ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± or tracking down Big Cat Face¡¯s father.
¡°The road ahead is long,¡± he muttered, rising from the sofa and pushing the door of the private room open.
¡.
Creak¡ª
The sound of a door opening at akeside vi in the outskirts of Donghai City broke the silence. Sunlight streamed in through the open door, casting beams across the dustden air, creating a dazzling effect.
¡°Don¡¯t open the windows during the day, don¡¯t turn on the lights at night¡ Ji Lin, when will you heed some advice?¡± an elderly manined as he entered, leaving the door ajar¡ªthe only source of light in the otherwise dark house. The natural light was a wee change from the artificial, he thought, as the warmth touched his skin.
The living room was more cluttered than before, with magazines and newspapers strewn all over the floor.
Ji Lin, sitting cross-legged among the piles, was absorbed in the glow of hisptop screen, which cast a ghostly pallor over his face. The sunlight narrowly missed his feet, leaving him enveloped in shadow.
¡°Are you glued to that floor? Need me to water you?¡± the elderly man quipped, his tone mixed with concern and irritation. ¡°I heard from the butler you haven¡¯t left the house in days, not since myst visit.¡±
¡°He mentioned you ordered some plush toys online? My gosh¡ you¡¯re turning into someone I don¡¯t recognize.¡±
¡°So, what are you working on, Ji Lin? Are you really working?¡±
Chapter 99: Pride’s Hypocrisy
Ji Lin kept his gaze fixed on theptop screen, scrolling through news articles with a steady flick of his mouse wheel.
¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the list you provided. None of the entries match,¡± he stated.
¡°The list must be incorrect¡ you need to dig deeper for more clues,¡± the old man responded, his tone exasperated yet filled with unwavering trust in Ji Lin¡¯s judgment.
Ji Lin¡¯s insights were beyond reproach. This young man had never erred or let him down. The old man continued, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve ruled out everyone on the list, it¡¯s time to find new leads. Track down this individual who¡¯s tampering with history. You won¡¯t solve this by sitting at home. Do you expect him to simply show up at our doorstep?¡±
Ji Lin let out a soft sigh, a slight smile appearing on his lips. ¡°Pride¡ you must really underestimate the person disturbing history to suggest that.¡±
¡°Why do you think that?¡± the old man questioned, his brow furrowing.
¡°You mentioned this person assisted Xu Yun with the hibernation pod fluid. Now, with Xu Yun¡¯s unexpected death, unless they¡¯re a fool, they¡¯ll be extremely cautious, avoiding any exposure.¡±
The old man turned away. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting we shouldn¡¯t rm him? You want him to lower his guard so he¡¯ll make a mistake?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not my point,¡± Ji Lin coolly retorted, shutting hisptop and facing the old man. ¡°I¡¯ve been pondering¡ how can we confirm someone is actually distorting history?¡±He paused, letting the question hang in the air for a moment before adding, ¡°How do we define the original course of history? And what constitutes a disturbance to it?¡±
¡°It¡¯splex, not easily summed up in a single sentence. Your guidelines stipte we cannot harm the innocent. If we mistakenly kill someone, we forfeit any chance of receiving an invitation from the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± the old man agreed. ¡°We must be absolutely certain that he¡¯s interfering with history and gather solid evidence before taking action.¡±
¡°Do you know the original historical timeline?¡± Ji Lin pressed, scrutinizing the old man.
¡°Of course not,¡± the old man admitted with a shake of his head. ¡°If I did, I wouldn¡¯t need your investigative skills. I could handle it myself byparison.¡±
¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re being arrogant,¡± Ji Lin remarked, spreading his hands. ¡°Without knowing the original history or its path, how can we ascertain someone is altering it? Are we to rely on mere intuition?¡±
¡°No,¡± the old man asserted. ¡°We need concrete proof.¡±
¡°See, that¡¯s an impossible demand,¡± Ji Lin chuckled, reopening hisptop and returning his attention to the screen. ¡°Youin about my slow progress yet provide no information or clues. I have to scour the inte thoroughly. Perhaps I¡¯ll stumble upon something in a forum.¡±
Realizing Ji Lin¡¯sughter, the old man frowned, finally understanding the youth¡¯s tactic. He didn¡¯t trust the old man¡¯s words, suspecting he was withholding information. This was Ji Lin¡¯s way of coaxing him into revealing more.
¡°Ji Lin, are you trying to provoke me into revealing more?¡± the old man asked as he pulled up a wooden chair and sat down. ¡°It¡¯s futile. I¡¯ve shared everything I know.¡±
¡°No, no¡ you haven¡¯t shared nearly enough,¡± Ji Lin countered, eyes flicking across the screen. ¡°There¡¯s much you haven¡¯t told me. For instance, your odd requirement for causing a car ident between 00:42 and 00:43.¡±
¡°This method is risky, indiscreet, and difficult to execute. Sometimes we wait months for the perfect opportunity to enact your n. 00:42, most people are asleep then. How do you expect us to orchestrate a car ident at that time?¡±
¡°Is it really that difficult, Ji Lin?¡± the old man leaned back, his smile returning. ¡°Every mission you¡¯vepleted was wless, despite the challenges. Didn¡¯t you pull off the most recent one?¡±
¡°With inside help,¡± Ji Lin calmly responded. ¡°I¡¯m curious, what exactly did you tell Xu Yun before he went to the celebration banquet?¡±
¡°Exactly what you instructed,¡± the old man¡¯s smile faded as he locked eyes with the young man. ¡°Ji Lin, do you see yourself as a moral person? Pretending reluctance to harm Xu Yun. Over the years, your hands are stained with blood. Trying to adopt a righteous stance now is toote.¡±
¡°Even though the idea to eliminate Xu Yun came from me, you executed it! You knew it would hurt me to proceed, so why do you continue to bring it up?¡±
¡°If you truly seek justice for Xu Yun, then identify the person distorting history! And think carefully! How can we prove he¡¯s actually doing so?¡±
¡°Let me ask you then, Pride,¡± Ji Lin said quietly. ¡°How did you prove Xu Yun was altering history?¡±
¡°He couldn¡¯t possibly have developed the hibernation pod fluid on his own. Hecked the expertise!¡± the old man eximed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that clear?¡±
¡°Is such a subjective assessment valid proof?¡± Ji Lin spread his hands. ¡°I could use anyone of distorting history. You forced Xu Yun into a rtionship with my sister, despite it being unsuitable. Isn¡¯t that also an alteration of history?¡±
The old man¡¯s expression darkened, and he remained silent. He didn¡¯t wish to discuss Xu Yun, as it resurrected painful memories he preferred to leave unaddressed, wounds that Ji Lin kept reopening.
¡°Speak up, Pride. Without clear standards, how can I begin my investigation?¡± Ji Lin chuckled, looking downward. ¡°You see, you¡¯re still concealing something crucial from me. Your knowledge about the Genius Club isn¡¯t as limited as you im.¡±
¡°Since you refuse to disclose more, let me guess.¡± Ji Lin stood up, paced towards the old man, and circled his chair.
¡°Every time you justify an execution with ¡®distorting history,¡¯ yet you never provide solid proof. It¡¯s as if you¡¯re shooting arrows without having drawn the targets, or perhaps¡ you don¡¯t actually know what the evidence is, what it means to distort history. Instead, someone has instructed you¡ª¡±
¡°This person is distorting history, go eliminate them.¡±
¡°And each time, your methods are strange, even oundish. You insist on car idents at precise times. It¡¯s as if you¡¯re deliberately drawing attention. So, I see two possibilities.¡±
Ji Lin paused, cing his left hand on the old man¡¯s shoulder, peering into his dry eyes.
¡°Either you¡¯re imitating someone else¡¯s methods, hoping to earn a spot in the Genius Club by doing so, blindly adhering to these tactics without understanding their purpose.¡±
¡°Or you¡¯re performing for an audience, making it evident you carried out these killings, like a test orchestrated by the Genius Club.¡±
The old man closed his eyes, maintaining his silence.
Ji Lin smiled, straightening up. ¡°There¡¯s a third possibility.¡±
He wrapped his arm around the old man¡¯s neck, cing three fingers on his carotid artery.
¡°These individuals you im are distorting history are targets assigned by someone within the Genius Club. They promised you something in return, which is why you blindly follow theirmands, like a dog obeying its master.¡±
The old man¡¯s heartbeat quickened as Ji Lin whispered in his ear. ¡°Pride¡ who are you serving like a dog in the Genius Club?¡±
Chapter 100: Cat and Mouse Game
¡°Enough, Ji Lin,¡± the old man murmured, slowly opening his eyes. ¡°Release my neck.¡±
With a gentle but firm motion, he removed Ji Lin¡¯s grip and stood up. He paused to gather himself before walking toward the expansive window. The soft click of his polished leather shoes punctuated the silence as he moved.
He gazed at the thick curtains, tracing the intricate silk patterns with his eyes before speaking softly, ¡°I don¡¯t want our rtionship to be marred by deceit and maniption.¡±
¡°Neither do I,¡± Ji Lin responded, his hands buried in his pockets. ¡°So why not just tell me the truth? Do you really think I¡¯d betray you after all these years? We¡¯re like grasshoppers tied to the same string.¡±
He paused, then continued, ¡°You raised me. Despite our differing goals, we¡¯ve both worked tirelessly to secure an invitation to the Genius Club. Doesn¡¯t that count for something? Doesn¡¯t it speak to our trust? Or are you worried that revealing the truth mightpromise our chances?¡±
A heavy silence fell between them.
Finally, the old man turned, his hands sped behind his back, and faced Ji Lin. ¡°I¡¯m unsure. But I cannot afford to take that risk.¡±
He swallowed before adding, ¡°You are brilliant, Ji Lin, truly a genius. But even geniuses can err. They misjudge situations and face problems they can¡¯t solve. You must trust that our actions are justified. Everything we have done is correct.¡±
Ji Lin scoffed. ¡°So we¡¯re the good guys now? Only children talk in terms of heroes and viins.¡± ¡°And what do adults talk about then? Convictions?¡± the old man replied, his gaze steady. ¡°It¡¯s about what you believe.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯d prefer to remain a child,¡± Ji Lin retorted, slumping into the chair the old man had vacated, crossing his legs. ¡°Convictions sound too much like hypocrisy to me.¡±
¡°But no one can stay a child forever, Ji Lin.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s eyes drifted to the crackling firece. ¡°If, as you im, eliminating those who distort history is right, does that make their actions wrong?¡±
¡°They aren¡¯t necessarily wrong either.¡± The old man removed his ck felt hat and ced it over a newspaper on a nearby table. The front page featured an obituary for Xu Yun, showing a photograph of him young and vibrant.
He sighed as he covered the image with his hat. ¡°That¡¯s why allowing them to die at 00:42 is the highest respect we can offer.¡±
¡°What exactly is 00:42?¡± Ji Lin asked, swinging his legs. ¡°And why 42? What¡¯s the obsession with this number?¡±
¡°You might want to find that out for yourself, Ji Lin.¡± The old man nced down. ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s the real key to the Genius Club.¡±
He pulled a chair up to the table and sat down. ¡°Can we get back to work now, Ji Lin? Have you identified the first suspect?¡±
Ji Lin nodded. ¡°Technically, we¡¯ve identified the first person to investigate. We stillck enough evidence to prove they¡¯re tampering with history.¡±
¡°Exactly, we need concrete proof. We can¡¯t afford to wrongfully use someone. One mistake, and the Genius Club will reject us permanently.¡± The old man nced at the newspaper hidden under his hat. ¡°Those two cars¡ you managed them well. The police haven¡¯t found them yet.¡±
¡°They never will,¡± Ji Lin exhaled sharply. ¡°It wasn¡¯t thatplicated. If they¡¯d watched ¡®Fast and Furious,¡¯ they¡¯d understand how those cars disappeared.¡±
¡°It¡¯s toote now. Even if they find them, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. With you, we can solve 90% of our problems.¡±
¡°I have a suggestion, though,¡± Ji Lin said, ying with his fingernail. ¡°Every action leaves a trace. If simr incidents keep urring, people will notice. We haven¡¯t attracted attention yet because there haven¡¯t been enough cases. Xu Yun is just the first. Can you vary the method? I know it has to be precisely between 00:42 and 00:43, but are there alternatives to car idents?¡±
¡°No,¡± the old man shook his head firmly. ¡°It has to be car idents.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re a copycat.¡±
¡°Call it what you will, Ji Lin, but I won¡¯t be provoked.¡±
¡°Onest question.¡±
Ji Lin looked at the old man, outlined against the moonlight streaming through the window. ¡°How do we prove someone is distorting history? It seems weck an original timeline forparison.¡±
¡°That¡¯s your challenge, Ji Lin,¡± the old man said, looking down. ¡°This person is different from the others. The previous disruptors were likely unintentional. But this one¡ I believe he¡¯s actively meddling with history. We don¡¯t yet know his motives or his intentions. Proving his interference is the hardest part. But I believe you¡¯ll figure it out. Maybe you already have.¡±
¡°You¡¯re good at shifting responsibility.¡±
Ji Lin didn¡¯t respond. After years together, they understood each other too well. ¡°But I might need to leak some information about us, about the Genius Club. Are youfortable with that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s eptable,¡± the old man replied, ¡°as long as it helps us prove his interference with history. Some sacrifices are necessary, but we must not harm the innocent. That is paramount.¡±
¡°I¡¯m tired of your inconsistent morals,¡± Ji Lin stretchedzily. ¡°This will be a challenging battle. We seem to have the upper hand, lurking in the shadows while he¡¯s exposed. But in reality, we¡¯re constrained by too many rules. We must substantiate his interference without alerting him to our motives. Otherwise, we might be the ones to fall. If he truly has the ability to alter history, eliminating us might not be difficult for him. Once we begin our investigation, he¡¯ll be aware and go into hiding. It¡¯s a reciprocal hunt.¡±
¡°I believe in you, Ji Lin.¡± The old man was confident. ¡°You¡¯re the brightest mind I know. This disruptor may have capabilities we don¡¯t understand, but he can¡¯t outsmart you. He probably hasn¡¯t sensed the danger yet. So¡ there¡¯s no reason we should lose this cat-and-mouse game.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too optimistic, and arrogant.¡± Ji Lin returned to his earlier spot, lying amid a stack of magazines. He rested his head on his hands and eyed the Rhine Cat mascot on the bookshelf. ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear. This cat-and-mouse game is mutual. In our hide-and-seek with this disruptor, whoever reveals their identity or intentions first¡ loses.¡±
The Rhine Cat¡¯s cheerful, cute expression, with its bun head and cheongsam, was striking.
¡°I do love ying games.¡± Ji Lin pinched the Rhine Cat¡¯s ear, lifting it in the air and observing its eyes wobble. ¡°In this cat-and-mouse game¡ Who¡¯s the cat, and who¡¯s the mouse?¡±
Chapter 101: The Beginning
¡°Sir, how was the movie? Did you enjoy it?¡± A young attendant greeted him with a warm smile as he stepped out of the private cinema lobby.
¡°It was fine,¡± Lin Xian replied, adjusting his sses. ¡°I watched it a long time ago and felt like seeing it again today.¡±
¡°You must love sci-fi! Check this out!¡± The attendant grinned, pulling a poster from under the counter. It featured a vibrant coge of famous sci-fi movie characters with arge, deep blue ¡°42¡± prominently in the background.
¡°Is this for me? Your service is impressive,¡± Lin Xian inquired, intrigued.
¡°No way!¡± The attendant quickly folded the poster back up. ¡°This is a collector¡¯s item! I just got it yesterday at the Donghai Exhibition Hall.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°They sell things like this at the Donghai Exhibition Hall?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± the attendant nodded eagerly. ¡°I¡¯m a huge sci-fi buff too. My favorite is ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy.''¡±
As they discussed their shared interest, the attendant became even more animated. ¡°Since you¡¯re here for an Adams film, you must be a dedicated fan, right? Most of our visitors prefer romances,edies, or Hollywood blockbusters. It¡¯s rare to meet someone who appreciates ssic sci-fi films. If you¡¯re a fan of ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡¯ you should definitely check out the Donghai Exhibition Hall. They¡¯re currently hosting a sci-fi exhibition with rare manuscripts and first editions from renowned authors, including some of Adams¡¯ notes and sketches.¡±
This piqued Lin Xian¡¯s interest. ¡°Dous Adams¡¯ original manuscripts? From ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy¡¯?¡±¡°Yes!¡± The attendant confirmed, ncing at his phone. ¡°Tomorrow is thest day of the exhibition, so you should go soon if you¡¯re interested.¡±
¡°Is there a special significance to the number 42?¡± Lin Xian asked curiously.
The attendantughed. ¡°Not really! Adams chose that number to add mystery and humor to the story. It doesn¡¯t have a deeper meaning, but it¡¯s be a popr sci-fi reference. For instance, in the Marvel movies, the main universe is numbered 42, and it¡¯s also mentioned in ¡®League of Legends.¡¯ And in ¡®Spider-Man 2: Across the Spider-Verse,¡¯ the spider that bites the protagonistes from Universe 42, marked with the number 42.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, impressed by the attendant¡¯s enthusiasm and detailed knowledge. ¡°Thanks for the suggestion. I¡¯ll try to visit if I can.¡±
¡°If you like movies this much, why not get a membership card? Then you can visit more often!¡±
¡°I¡¯ll consider it,¡± Lin Xian replied as he walked out into the bright midday sun.
The cycles of stars and the rotation of the moon and sun continued. Yet, in a dream world 600 years in the future, time was eternally frozen on August 28, 2624.
There, time did not flow. The world was perpetually stuck at 00:42, the moment of its destruction.
Again, 42. Why is it always 42?
Lin Xian had never noticed before, but ever since he stumbled upon the odd urrences in Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s room and discovered that the universal constant was 42, he felt surrounded by this number.
¡°It seems I need to visit the Donghai Exhibition Hall to see Dous Adams¡¯ manuscripts for ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy.''¡±
Lin Xian knew that the references to 42 in Marvel movies, ¡®Spider-Man,¡¯ and ¡®League of Legends¡¯ were merely nods to popr culture without real significance.
But the 42 in Adams¡¯ ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy¡¯ was not just a random choice.
After all, why did Adams choose 42 out of all possible numbers?
Lin Xian sensed there was more to uncover. Perhaps Adams had stumbled upon 42 somewhere, or maybe it had some connection to the Genius Club.
¡°There must be more to this. I need to see for myself.¡±
Lin Xian hailed a taxi and headed to the Donghai Exhibition Hall.
The Donghai Exhibition Hall, also known as the Donghai Exhibition Center, was a grand, historic building erected in 1955. It was one of Donghai City¡¯sndmark structures, designed in the Russian ssical style, simr to the Exhibition Hall in the capital.
This venue had hosted many international events and witnessed significant historical moments. When no major events were scheduled, the various halls were rented out for different public activities.
Lin Xian had never visited before. Upon arrival, he was slightly overwhelmed by the vastness of the ce, which included over 40rge exhibition halls, most of them upied by different events.
After some searching, Lin Xian located the hall mentioned by the cinema attendant: the ¡°World¡¯s Best Sci-Fi Works Exhibition.¡±
Being a weekday, the hall was not overly crowded. Compared to the bustling atmosphere in other exhibition halls, this one was rtively quiet.
Perhaps the audience for sci-fi works was still small in the country.
Lin Xian nced at the directory at the entrance and entered the exhibition hall. The disys were rich and diverse, featuring dedicated sections for many well-known sci-fi works,plete with concept art, original film reels, props, rare materials, and videos. It was a haven for sci-fi fans.
Excited shouts from young men echoed through the air, likely over discoveries that captivated them. There were a few women, but most appeared to be apanying their boyfriends and showed little interest in the exhibits.
After exploring several corridors, Lin Xian reached the section dedicated to ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy.¡¯
This area was smaller than others featuring more popr IPs. The movie wasn¡¯t very famous, except for the widely recognized 42 joke.
Lin Xian headed directly for the ss case disying Dous Adams¡¯ original manuscripts. Inside were many valuable items, with a bound replica avable for viewing.
Though the handwritten notes were in English, Lin Xian¡¯s proficiency allowed him to grasp their essence. Adams was a sci-fi writer, not a scientist, making the notes essible.
The content of the manuscripts was intriguing, reflecting Adams¡¯ quirky and imaginative mind.
Soon, Lin Xian found the notes about the number 42. Adams¡¯ exnation was straightforward:
¡°I can¡¯t exin it. When I was writing the stories in ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡¯ 42 was the first number that popped into my subconscious. It has no special significance to me or anything else. It was just the first number I thought of¡¡±
He described his intention for the supeputer¡¯s answer to be dramatic, surprising, and convincing. And 42 was the number that instantly came to mind.
From Adams¡¯ notes, it was evident that 42 was a random choice, a spur-of-the-moment decision meant to serve the story¡¯s twist.
But Lin Xian focused on a key term¡ªsubconscious.
He recalled Gao Yang¡¯s words:
¡°Do you understand the subconscious? It¡¯s something you aren¡¯t aware of, but it influences your actions, emotions, and dreams! You might think you¡¯ve forgotten something, but your subconscious remembers, leading to feelings of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.¡±
Lin Xian closed the manuscript replica and ced it back in the ss case. He gazed at a photograph of Dous Adams on the wall.
If Adams really thought of 42 from his subconscious, as Gao Yang¡¯s psychology suggested, it might indicate that Adams had encountered the universal constant 42 somewhere.
If that¡¯s true, the Genius Club¡¯s influence might stretch further back in history than Lin Xian had imagined.
Lin Xian closed his eyes, envisioning a river flowing eastward, culminating at 00:42 on August 29, 2624.
Where did it begin?
Lin Xian felt he was on the verge of uncovering something significant.
Chapter 102: The Sorrowful Genius
Lin Xian pondered how he could uncover when and where Mr. Adams first encountered the number 42 or the concept of the universal constant. He believed solving this mystery was vital.
However, Mr. Adams had died in 2001. Confirming whether he knew about the universal constant 42 was now impossible. The dead don¡¯t speak¡
¡°It seems I¡¯ll have to explore the dream world of New Donghai City, seek out Big Cat Face¡¯s father, or find the book ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ to truly understand what the universal constant 42 signifies,¡± Lin Xian mused.
He shook his head. This journey had been nearly fruitless, yielding no conclusive information.
He turned to leave¡ª
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°Hey!¡±
As he pivoted, he encountered a familiar face ¨C she had a fluffy brown high ponytail, bright, lively eyes, slightly parted lips expressing surprise, and a tear mole under her left eye like a unique signature.
¡°¡An Qing.¡± It took Lin Xian a moment to recognize and say her name.¡°Pfft¡ª¡±
Chu An Qing covered her mouth, suppressing augh. Her eyes transformed into crescent moons, and her cheeks revealed two adorable dimples.
¡°Senior Lin Xian, who did you think I was?¡±
¡°Ah¡¡± Lin Xian faltered, realizing she was joking. ¡°Did you think I was the girl you admired in high school?¡±
¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xian raised his hand to interrupt her. ¡°I did sketch that girl, but I never said I liked her. The drawing was merely for practice, and she and I had no connection.¡±
He sighed internally. One lie leads to many. He had actually sketched CC, but since CC wasn¡¯t from their era, he had invented a fictitious high school ssmate as a cover story.
Chu An Qing looked exactly like CC. Without this fabrication, exining the sketch would be impossible.
¡°So, are you here for the sci-fi exhibit too?¡± Lin Xian changed the subject.
¡°No,¡± Chu An Qing shook her head and pointed down the corridor. ¡°I was at the oil painting exhibition over there. I just happened to pass by this hall and thought I¡¯d look around. I didn¡¯t expect to bump into you. What a coincidence!¡±
Lin Xian nodded. It indeed was a coincidence. He nced toward the corridor where various oil paintings were disyed, confirming Chu An Qing¡¯s statement.
Turning back, he took a moment to notice her attire today. This was their third encounter: the first at MMMMMMX Company¡¯s celebration, the second at a Donghai University lecture hall, and now, unexpectedly, at the Donghai City Exhibition Hall.
Today, Chu An Qing wore a casual outfit. With the weather warming, she had shed her bulky winter clothes. She sported a bright, light blue hoodie paired with a gray short skirt and flesh-colored tights, giving her a vibrant, youthful look. Her slightly thick-soled boots made her appear taller and more slender than in their previous meetings.
¡°Did youe here alone?¡±
¡°Yes, I had no sses this afternoon, so I decided to visit. I¡¯ve always been drawn to painting¡ though I can¡¯t seem to master it, no matter how much I practice.¡±
Chu An Qing chuckled, ncing at Lin Xian. ¡°But you, Senior Lin Xian, have such a knack for drawing. Have you thought about trying other forms of art besides sketching?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not particrly passionate about drawing,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°But I don¡¯t mind it. I practiced sketching because it was part of the college entrance art exam. My academic scores weren¡¯t ster, so to get into a good university here in Donghai City, I had to take the art route.¡±
¡°Do you like Donghai City?¡±
¡°Not exactly like, more like curious about it, so I wanted to see it.¡±
Lin Xian spoke truthfully. He had always dreamt about a city named Donghai, and he wanted to see it in reality. However, the dream city had evolved drastically, turning into the impoverished and run-down Old Donghai, reced by the sci-fi megacity New Donghai, enclosed by 200-meter steel walls.
¡°I see,¡± Chu An Qing said, toying with the fuzzy ball on her hoodie strings. ¡°People always think the grass is greener on the other side.¡±
¡°I actually prefer your hometown, Hang City! I visited once; it was so beautiful, unlike Donghai, which feels crowded and tense.¡±
¡°Speaking of which, the Spring Festival is approaching. Are you going back home for the holidays, Senior Lin Xian, or staying in Donghai?¡±
¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be going home.¡± Lin Xian replied. Returning home for the New Year was a time-honored tradition. Moreover, Gao Yang was organizing a high school reunion that he nned to attend.
Chu An Qing turned towards the oil painting exhibition hall. ¡°Senior, there are many famous paintings in the oil painting exhibition, some even brought over from the British Museum. It¡¯s a rare opportunity. Do you want to visit it together?¡±
Famous paintings¡ Lin Xian was somewhat intrigued. After all, it was his field, and he had studied it in university. Viewing the masterpieces of legendary painters was certainly appealing.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a look.¡±
¡°Hehe, great! I have a guide now! You must know a lot about these paintings, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just a novice.¡±
¡
They wandered through the exhibition, exchanging thoughts andughter. As Chu An Qing mentioned, there were indeed several authentic works of modern European painters, which Lin Xian was seeing for the first time. The craftsmanship and historical allure were breathtaking.
Previously, he had only seen these oil paintings in textbooks or prints. The difference between t images and the tangible reality was significant. Oil paintings possessed a unique depth and texture, almost inviting one to step into the Renaissance era.
Chu An Qing, ever inquisitive like a livelyrk, had numerous questions. Luckily, today was Lin Xian¡¯s area of expertise; he could effortlessly exin the artists, styles, and contexts, impressing Chu An Qing.
¡°Senior, you¡¯re incredible! You know everything, so knowledgeable!¡±
¡°It¡¯s just luck.¡±
As they conversed and explored, they rounded a corner and encountered a ck-and-white painting on the wall. The disheveled old man depicted in it appeared so lifeless that they both recoiled in surprise.
¡°Hanging such a haunting painting in the corner¡ must be intentional.¡±
Lin Xian looked up to reassess the artwork. The old man portrayed was someone familiar to everyone¡ªa great physicist who featured in countless textbooks: Albert Einstein.
In the painting, Einstein appeared despondent, as if he had endured a great loss. His hair was unkempt, his face lined with wrinkles, and his eyes hollow, exuding a sorrowful aura.
To enhance the mncholic atmosphere, the painting utilized minimal colors, almost entirely in ck and white, creating the impression of a memorial portrait as though he were deceased.
¡°The Sorrowful Einstein.¡±
Chu An Qing read the painting¡¯s title aloud. ¡°This piece was created in 1952 in Brooklyn, New York, by the renowned American realist painter Henry Dawson¡¡±
She stepped back to examine the painting anew, observing Einstein¡¯s profound sadness and despondence, almost as if lifeless.
¡°Why¡ is there such a portrayal of Einstein?¡± She blinked and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Einstein was a sessful and respected scientist with high academic stature. Why does he appear so sorrowful and depressed in this painting? Do you know the background of this painting?¡±
Surprisingly, Lin Xian nodded once more!
This amazed her¡ªhow did this senior know everything? He was like a walking encyclopedia.
Lin Xian began to exin the artwork. This was one of the advantages of watching numerous sci-fi films; he had picked up a bit about nearly everything.
¡°Einstein¡¯ster years were indeed filled with mncholy and depression.¡± Lin Xian began narrating while studying Einstein¡¯s lifeless gaze in the painting. ¡°Einstein believed that his mass-energy equivalence form had opened Pandora¡¯s box, granting humanity ess to uncontroble nuclear energy, which led to the creation of nuclear weapons and the deaths of millions.¡±
¡°But his concerns extended beyond that. He worried about the future of humanity, fearing that if another global war erupted, countless nuclear weapons would be unleashed, potentially causing human extinction and the end of civilization.¡±
¡°Though his fears might seem exaggerated now, in 1952, such concerns were well-founded and reasonable.¡±
¡°Once these thoughts took hold, he couldn¡¯t escape the cycle of guilt and regret, which led to his reclusive and depressedter years.¡±
¡
Lin Xian¡¯s serene narration captivated Chu An Qing. Soon, they finished touring the exhibition hall and walked to the entrance of the Donghai Exhibition Hall to say goodbye.
¡°Thank you so much for today, Senior Lin Xian. I learned so much new knowledge!¡±
¡°It was nothing, really.¡±
After watching Chu An Qing get into a car, Lin Xian hailed a taxi to go home. After a simple dinner and wash, he checked the time.
Five-thirty.
It was the perfect time to sleep, and if he fell asleep quickly, he might catch the three-knife thief in his dream, join the Face Gang, and follow the plot to meet CC at the garbage disposal site.
Lin Xian changed into his pajamas,y down, and closed his eyes.
¡°Come on, CC,¡± he thought, imagining the smiling face of either Chu An Qing or CC.
¡°I have so many questions to ask you¡¡±
¡
¡
¡
Still not feeling any of the sweltering summer breeze, Lin Xian opened his eyes in the quiet countryside, surrounded by chaotic self-built houses.
He walked to the corner of an alley. In the distance, he heard Aunt Li¡¯s gasping voice, shouting:
¡°Catch¡ªthe thief! Catch¡ catch the¡ thief!¡±
Chapter 103: Shattered Memories
¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea,¡± San Pang said, nodding in agreement with Lin Xian¡¯s proposal to join the Face Gang.
¡°Alright! It¡¯s settled then!¡± Big Cat Face eximed, hisughter booming as he pped Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°Brother, from today, you¡¯re one of us! The first time I saw you, I knew we were meant to be allies! Our gang could really benefit from someone with your wall-climbing skills!¡±
¡°Sorry about the earlier misunderstanding, brother. To make it up to you¡¡± He paused, his eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°Tell me, what do you desire? Anything at all, as long as it¡¯s within my power, it¡¯s yours!¡±
¡°I want to meet Boss Li,¡± Lin Xian dered firmly. ¡°I want to be part of your operation tonight. I¡¯mmitted to preserving humanity¡¯s history and knowledge, and I¡¯m willing to risk my life for it. I just need to secure one more book for the people of Old Donghai.¡±
¡°Wow!¡± Big Cat Face pped Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder in admiration. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Boss Li will definitely see your dedication!¡±
The n proceeded wlessly. Having impressed them the day before by capturing a thief, Lin Xian had not only earned a ce in the Face Gang but also gained Li Cheng¡¯s approval to join their nighttime operation at the waste disposal nt.
As dusk approached, they gathered at Li Cheng¡¯s house. Lin Xian wore a Rhine cat mask, Big Cat Face sported a mech mask, and Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang were fully equipped.
Lin Xian surveyed the courtyard and noticed Li Ning Ning approaching, her elegant figure striking as she removed her Ultraman mask. ¡°Dad, this mask is ufortable. Where¡¯s the one I wore yesterday?¡±
Lin Xian observed Li Ning Ning, noting her model-like physique, simr to CC¡¯s¡ªwlessly slender.Despite the cold of winter, Chu An Qing, slightly curvier than CC, had stood out in her evening dress at a recent banquet.
Chu An Qing was considered more conventionally attractive, but both CC and Li Ning Ning had the ideal figures for runway models, albeit possibly too slender for some preferences.
Yet, these differences in appearance were trivial in the grand scheme.
Chu An Qing was adored as Donghai¡¯s princess, cherished by Chu Shan He who ensured she led a bnced and healthy life.
But CC¡
Lin Xian knew very little about her past or her family. Beyond her name, CC was an enigma.
Tonight, that might change.
ording to the n from the previous night, upon meeting CC today, Lin Xian aimed to:
Confirm if she was Chu An Qing, despite his reservations.
Discover where she had seen him before.
Learn how CC knew about the intelligence concerning New Donghai City and the safe being transported to the waste nt today.
These were his primary objectives for the evening.
If time allowed, he also nned to inspect the safe bearing his name.
Having left a note of advice for his future self, he trusted he wouldn¡¯t deceive himself and would handle this matter with the seriousness it deserved.
¡°Are you sure you can handle this?¡± Li Ning Ning asked skeptically.
¡°The wall at the waste disposal nt is over eight meters high. Even with the three of them forming a humandder, that only gets us about four meters up. We still need to scale another four meters¡ Normally, this task is suited for the lighter girls. Can you really manage it?¡±
Lin Xian gave her a reassuring smile, interrupting his train of thought. ¡°Of course, no problem. I¡¯ve climbed plenty of walls before. But you, um¡ just be careful.¡±
He thought about saying more but decided against it.
If Li Ning Ning became overly cautious and left no opening for CC to ambush her, he might not encounter CC that night, which would be a setback.
He studied Li Ning Ning¡¯s captivating face, noting the natural seductiveness simr to her mother¡¯s, which was immensely alluring.
No wonder she could have caused a stir among ancient nobility.
In contrast, CC and Chu An Qing exuded a pure, untouched beauty, like a lotus rising unstained from mud, pristine jade, or a freshly bloomed pear blossom.
Preferences varied.
Lin Xian preferred the ethereal beauty of CC and Chu An Qing, but if his friend Gao Yang had to choose, he would undoubtedly go for Li Ning Ning.
¡°If Ning is avable, choose Ning! If not, start over!¡±
Soon, both women would don masks, rendering facial recognition challenging. The real difference between CC and Li Ning Ning would be apparent through their hair color.
CC had meticulously dressed and styled herself to resemble Li Ning Ning exactly.
But the hair color? She likely deemed it unnecessary to alter her hair for just one night¡¯s operation, especially since distinguishing between ck and dark brown in the dark was challenging.
¡°Alright, everyone!¡±
Li Cheng pped his hands, calling for silence, his expression grave.
¡°Let¡¯s move out! Be careful!¡±
Boom¡ª
Big Cat Face steered the van toward the steel-walled waste disposal nt.
As they jostled along, the scent of roses from Li Ning Ning¡¯s perfume filled Lin Xian¡¯s nostrils.
He recalled that in his first dream, CC wore no scent or perfume.
Thus, the shift in time had changed some of CC¡¯s habits and lifestyle, though not everything remained consistent.
In all his dreams, the only constant was himself. And he¡ he was the singr variable in this endless cycle.
¡°An interesting ouroboros.¡±
Creak¡ª
The van halted on a hill. Lin Xian and the others disembarked, sprinting through the forest under the cover of night.
Big Cat Face and the three younger members led the way, Lin Xian ran in the middle, with Li Ning Ning following.
The dark forest, illuminated only by moonlight filtering through the dense canopy, cast flickering shadows, giving their run an old film reel aesthetic.
Lin Xian intentionally kept a distance from Li Ning Ning because he needed to provide CC with an opportunity to strike, enabling her to knock out Li Ning Ning and assume her identity, just as in the previous dream.
Ahead, the forest thickened, with taller, denser trees almostpletely obscuring the moonlight.
Suddenly, Lin Xian noticed the rustling sound behind him had ceased!
Continuing at his current pace, he nced back to see that Li Ning Ning had disappeared.
Perfect.
Everything was proceeding as nned.
CC had likely seized her opportunity in the darkness. She had been trailing closely, waiting for the right moment. Now, she had probably subdued Li Ning Ning and taken her mask.
¡°Hmm?¡± Big Cat Face turned his head. ¡°Where¡¯s Ning Ning?¡±
Ah Zhuang scanned the surroundings, pointing backward.
¡°Ning Ning¡¯s back there, boss.¡±
Big Cat Face waved dismissively. ¡°Hurry up, keep moving faster.¡±
Lin Xian then looked back, spotting a slim figure swiftly catching up. She wore the same tight ck clothing, donned the same Ultraman mask as Li Ning Ning, and sported the same hairstyle. However, the hair color had changed¡
Soon, they had emerged from the densest part of the forest, approaching the steel wall. The sparse trees here were likely stunted by the nt¡¯s pollution.
Thanks to the clearer environment, the moonlight revealed that the woman¡¯s hair had shifted from ck to dark brown.
¡°CC.¡± Lin Xian slowed his pace, drawing nearer to the woman in ck. ¡°I know it¡¯s you.¡±
She immediately halted, bending slightly, her gaze fixed on Lin Xian.
¡°Rx,¡± Lin Xian calmly removed his mask, allowing the moonlight to illuminate his face. ¡°You¡¯ve seen me before, right?¡±
Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s face, the woman¡¯s tense posture softened somewhat. She slowly straightened and nodded.
¡°You can talk.¡± Lin Xian gestured towards Big Cat Face and the others, who had advanced ahead. ¡°I¡¯m a recent addition, not really one of them. We probably share simr objectives¡ªessing that safe with my name on it.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t expose you. When they form the humandder, we¡¯ll climb over together. But I have many questions for you. Shall we exchange information?¡±
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
¡°Alright, but I get to ask first. I have many questions for you too.¡± Her voice sounded familiar.
Lin Xian was taken aback at how CC had agreed so readily. He had anticipated more resistance¡ but things were progressing smoothly.
¡°No problem, you go first,¡± Lin Xian said nonchntly.
He had numerous opportunities to gather information from CC; there was no rush. Besides, their questions probably ovepped.
Who initiated the conversation didn¡¯t matter. His direct approach might make her cautious, but it was a risk worth taking.
¡°Hey! What are you two doing? Hurry up!¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s distant shout echoed.
Lin Xian gestured forward. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this further away from them.¡±
A few minutester.
The group reached the waste nt¡¯s wall, concealed in the shadows of the trees about thirty to forty meters away.
They were slightly early, so they waited for the 00:04 surveince blind spot.
Big Cat Face focused intently on the patrolling drones. Six drones followed their predetermined routes, and he closely monitored for the blind spot.
He frequently checked his watch.
Despite consistent checks, the blind spot appeared daily at 00:04 for exactly one minute. But any deviation could prove disastrous.
Li Cheng had repeatedly warned Big Cat Face.
Never becent. Always verify the blind spot before taking action.
If the drones¡¯ patterns changed, it would spell disaster.
Thus, Big Cat Face watched diligently.
Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang stretched, readying themselves to form the humandder and catch the items tossed over the wall.
Lin Xian and CC stood about seven to eight meters behind them, close enough to avoid suspicion but far enough to converse privately.
Once assured of safety, CC moved closer, her gaze fixed on Lin Xian through the Ultraman mask. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you.¡±
¡°Where?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°It¡¯s difficult to describe, but I didn¡¯t encounter you in reality or a dream¡¡± Moonlight reflected in CC¡¯s eyes, revealing her perplexity. She lifted her head, gazing at Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s a memory¡ not from this world.¡±
Chapter 104: CC and An Qing
¡°Memories from another world?¡±
Lin Xian immediately recognized the phrase. It had first surfaced during his initial dream encounter with CC, where she mentioned having fragmented memories that seemed alien to her. One vivid memory stood out¡ªa long-haired, bearded middle-aged man whispering that all secrets were hidden in Lin Xian¡¯s safe.
This enigmatic memory connected CC to Lin Xian, and she had even remarked on the simrity of the man¡¯s voice to his.
That was all she had revealed at the time.
During their first meeting in the dream, Lin Xian had persistently questioned CC about whether she recognized him or remembered his face.
Her answer was always a firm ¡°No.¡±
Even when threatened with a gun, she adamantly denied knowing him.
However, during their second dream encounter, CC changed her story, admitting that she had seen him in her disjointed memories.
Was CC deceiving him during their initial meeting?Or was there a deeper truth she hadn¡¯t disclosed?
¡°Can you describe what you¡¯re experiencing?¡± Lin Xian asked, keen to understand CC¡¯s perspective.
¡°Since childhood, my memories have felt like a jigsaw puzzle,¡± CC exined softly. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to exin, but it¡¯s as if my mind contains memories that aren¡¯t mine, yet they seem as though I¡¯ve lived them in another world.¡±
¡°These disjointed memories have always felt real. I can see myself in them, but the scenarios and faces are unfamiliar, things I¡¯m certain I¡¯ve never experienced before. That is, until¡ª¡±
CC¡¯s eyes met Lin Xian¡¯s.
¡°Until I met you today. Now, some of my memories include you.¡±
¡°What kind of scenes are they?¡± Lin Xian inquired, intrigued.
¡°They¡¯re random and fragmented,¡± CC responded, ¡°mostly featuring you, me, and someone we call ¡®Big Cat Face¡¯ trying to open a safe with a methrower. We never seeded.¡±
¡°It¡¯s odd¡ I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve never experienced this, and it couldn¡¯t have happened in our reality. Yet, these memories strike me as extremely vivid, even though my rational mind rejects them. It¡¯s a contradiction.¡±
¡°And now, here you are, real and recognizable. How can these fragmented memories exist?¡±
Lin Xian remained silent, grappling with the implications.
He had considered various scenarios where CC might know him, but her retaining a memory fragment from their first dream was unexpected!
He observed ants scurrying from their nest, briefly touching antennae¡
The event CC described with the safe had urred in one of their earliest dream interactions.
For Lin Xian, it had been just days ago.
Yet, CC imed these memories had been with her since birth.
She had always dismissed these memories as mere fiction¡ªat least until the reality of Lin Xian challenged her long-held beliefs.
¡°Hey, say something,¡± CC urged, noticing his silence. ¡°About these fragmented memories? Do you know anything?¡±
¡°Do you also recall a memory involving a long-haired, bearded man saying that all truths and past events are locked in the safe?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes, you seem to know quite a bit,¡± CC responded, surprised. ¡°Do you understand more? Can you exin these memories to me?¡±
¡°I might, but give me a moment,¡± Lin Xian requested, needing time to think.
He pondered the information.
One thing was clear: the CC from the second dream had retained an actual memory from their first dream encounter.
This was remarkable.
In that dream, their cooperation and trust peaked during the safe-opening attempt.
That event had been pivotal, marked by a rare smile from CC.
Perhaps this memory influenced her current friendly and cooperative demeanor.
However, this raised more questions.
Why had CC retained only the memory of that specific scenario among the numerous cycles they had experienced in the first dream?
This mystery deepened.
Their interactions had covered at least five or six different scenarios.
Logically, this specific event shouldn¡¯t have stood out.
Despite experiencing numerous space-time alterations, no clear pattern had emerged.
The first dream had undergone multiple space-time shifts. Lin Xian had identified three but suspected more.
If each shift imprinted a memory in CC¡¯s mind¡
She should hold a multitude of memories from that first dream, not just this single fragment.
And even this memory was iplete.
On that day, CC had revealed much to Lin Xian.
Yet now, when he mentioned the bearded man, CC seemed surprised by his knowledge.
This indicated¡
Her memory was fragmented.
This anomaly puzzled Lin Xian.
¡°I¡¯ve thought it through,¡± he said, his eyes tracing the moonlit sky, shadows casting from it. ¡°As I see it, these memory fragments in your mind likely originate from other altered timelines¡ªprior to the changes.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t fully exin, but I believe your assumption is correct¡ª¡±
Lin Xian looked at CC, who listened intently.
¡°These memories indeed represent experiences of another version of you from another world. They are real. But why are these memories fragmented and iplete, and specifically, why this fragment¡ I still can¡¯t figure out.¡±
CC nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve considered this too, butcked any proof. After our conversation today¡ I think you might be right. That¡¯s also why I came here.¡±
CC turned toward the walls of the garbage disposal nt, where towering steel and skyscrapers of New Donghai City loomed into the clouds.
¡°I want to open that safe, to uncover the truth about everything, to understand my past, and to grasp what¡¯s happening to me.¡±
Lin Xian followed her gaze toward the skyscrapers piercing the clouds.
From their position, the MX Twin Towers at the center of New Donghai City were obscured. Yet, to Lin Xian, every skyscraper seemed as enigmatic and formidable as the MX Towers.
¡°But isn¡¯t it too dangerous for you?¡± Lin Xian voiced his concern. ¡°Isn¡¯t it irrational to risk your life just to satisfy your curiosity or discover a potentially irrelevant truth?¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± CC acknowledged calmly. ¡°But I have to do it.¡±
Her eyes, intense and piercing, seemed to prate through the walls, to the garbage trucks and the safe inside. ¡°I¡¯m not driven by mere curiosity. I need to confirm something essential to me.¡±
¡°More important than your life?¡± Lin Xian questioned.
¡°More important than my life,¡± CC affirmed without hesitation. ¡°What¡¯s inside that safe¡ might define the meaning of my life.¡±
Lin Xian contemted CC¡¯s words, trying to decipher their significance.
What could be inside that safe¡
The mystery deepened.
CC believed the contents of the safe were rted to her.
Lin Xian considered the safe his.
If both were correct, the safe might contain something he had ced there for the future, intended for CC.
But when had he done that?
Could he have used some method like a cryo-chamber to travel to the future?
What had he stored for CC?
Could the bearded man in her memory be him?
He nced back at the towering walls of the garbage disposal nt, recalling the aluminum-alloy safe being unloaded from the garbage truck the previous day.
He suspected the answers might well lie within that safe.
¡°Do you have any other questions?¡± Lin Xian asked CC.
CC shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s your turn. Ask away.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
He had many questions for CC.
But one was most pressing¡
¡°CC,¡± Lin Xian asked, his voice muffled by the mask of Rhine Cat, looking at the figure separated from him by 600 years and two timelines.
¡°Is your real name Chu An Qing?¡±
Chapter 105: Ning Ning
¡°Of course not,¡± CC blinked through the holes of her Ultraman mask. ¡°Why would you think that¡¯s my name? Your question is really odd.¡±
¡°Do you have clear and continuous memories from birth until now?¡± Lin Xian pressed on. ¡°For instance, do you know who your parents are, their names, where you were born, where you grew up? Do you have consistent memories of all the events in your life over the past few years?¡±
CC showed no particr reaction to the name Chu An Qing, which Lin Xian had anticipated. If she truly was Chu An Qing, who had traveled six hundred years into the future via a hibernation pod, she wouldn¡¯t recognize the name, considering Professor Xu Yun had mentioned that severe memory loss was a major side effect of hibernation.
Under such conditions, questioning CC about Chu An Qing, Chu Shan He, or events from six hundred years ago was futile. If she had indeed undergone hibernation for six centuries, she would have forgotten everything prior. Therefore, it was more sensible to assess the continuity andpleteness of her memories.
If CC was unsure about her memories from birth to adulthood, it could indicate hibernation. A significant gap would suggest this possibility. However, if CC had aplete and continuous recollection of her life, understanding her connection to Chu An Qing would necessitate a different approach.
CC chuckled. ¡°Yes, I know who my parents are, where I was born. Do you find my name strange, prompting these questions?¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t born here. My parents are overseas immigrants, and I grew up abroad. Brooklyn, that¡¯s my birthce and home.¡±
¡°I came to New Donghai City seeking Lin Xian¡¯s safe.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always lived in Brooklyn, adjacent to New New York City. In terms of living conditions, Brooklyn is simr to Old Donghai, but New Donghai City is obviously more thriving and modern than New New York City.¡±Lin Xian was familiar with Brooklyn, thergest of New York City¡¯s five boroughs and a significantmunity hub for immigrants in the U.S. Although he wasn¡¯t sure what Brooklyn would be like in this alternative reality six hundred yearster, from CC¡¯s description, it resembled Old Donghai¡ªa modest vige next to a futuristic metropolis like New Donghai City, New New York City.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t concerned with these specifics. Since CC imed to have aplete memory of her childhood and knew her parents, it suggested she was likely native to this futuristic world, possessing intact and continuous memories from birth to the present.
She had been born into Brooklyn¡¯s immigrantmunity over a decade ago and had grown up there. Thus, it seemed unlikely that CC was Chu An Qing or that she had traveled from six hundred years in the past via a hibernation pod.
Lin Xian paused to consider, then addressed CC again. ¡°Are you certain you¡¯ve never used a hibernation pod? Think carefully because it¡¯s known to cause memory loss. You might have used it and forgotten about it.¡±
¡°How could that be? I¡¯m not foolish. If I had used something like that, wouldn¡¯t I know?¡± CC retorted. ¡°Besides, those pods are only found in the new cities, right? How would I have ess to one? It¡¯s probably just a myth that they exist in the new cities¡ What odd questions are you asking?¡±
¡°Do you have any circr scars, indentations, or marks on your left arm?¡± Lin Xian inquired further.
¡°No, I¡¯ve never been injured. I don¡¯t have any scars on my body.¡±
¡°Do you no longer receive BCG vines?¡±
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± CC shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a vine¡ I thought you¡¯d ask me something more significant. Why all these personal questions?¡±
Lin Xian noted CC¡¯s growing impatience. Nheless, even if the conversation soured, they could reestablish understanding another day. Today¡¯s fallout wouldn¡¯t significantly impact him.
Thinking to himself, Lin Xian deduced that since CC denied hibernation andcked the BCG scar characteristic of Chu An Qing, two things were likely:
CC and Chu An Qing were probably not the same person, at least biologically.
CC might have many scattered memories not originally hers, yet this did not interfere with her ability to recall her ownplete and continuous life memories.
The mystery of why two entirely unrted girls, separated by six hundred years, resembled each other precisely down to moles and dimples, remained as perplexing as the universal constant 42. While Lin Xian knew the origin of this constant, thanks to Big Cat Face¡¯s father, the puzzle of CC and Chu An Qing remained unsolved.
Could the solution also be linked to that aluminum alloy safe? Likely. The bearded man seemed well-informed about CC, which was why he wanted her to open the safe.
Lin Xian sighed internally. How many secrets were concealed within that troublesome safe? Thankfully, he had pinpointed its location. Otherwise, with New Donghai City encased by towering steel walls, finding his safe would be daunting.
¡°Alright, I have no further questions for tonight.¡± Lin Xian stretched, eyeing the fence of Garbage Factory No. 221 before them. ¡°Anyway¡ tonight, our goal at this garbage disposal nt is the same.¡±
Lin Xian crossed his arms, observing the drones buzzing over the high walls. ¡°At least concerning the safe, our interests coincide.¡±
¡°Why are you after that safe?¡± CC questioned.
¡°I need to verify something very important,¡± Lin Xian responded cryptically, gazing at CC. ¡°How about we share our motives? Let¡¯s exchange what we¡¯re each looking for.¡±
¡°Sorry, I¡¯d rather not disclose,¡± CC refused bluntly. ¡°It¡¯s personal, my secret. I don¡¯t want to share it with anyone. Besides, as long as you don¡¯t obstruct my ess to the safe, I¡¯m indifferent to your reasons. You can have whatever¡¯s inside the safe. I just need to see what¡¯s there.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t press further. CC¡¯s response was expected; she was not easily swayed. It would be wiser to seek an opportunity to ¡°improve favorability¡±ter. In this second dream, increasing CC¡¯s favorability seemed simpler than in the first, due to her mysterious nature and retained memories, which included familiarity and goodwill towards Lin Xian. If he could enhance her trust, she might eventually confide in him fully.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian replied nonchntly, having gained substantial information and insights this evening. ¡°Happy cooperation.¡±
¡°Hey¡ª!¡±
Big Cat Face spun around, looking startled. He nced between CC and Lin Xian.
¡°What are you two discussing? And why are you standing so close? What¡¯s going on here?¡±
Big Cat Face pointed usingly at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, buddy, don¡¯t get any ideas about Ning Ning! She¡¯s the boss¡¯s daughter. And she¡¯s only eight or nine years old. Keep your distance!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was shocked by the revtion. ¡°Li Ning Ning is only eight or nine?¡±
So mature, yet with such an enticing gaze. Is she naturally charismatic?
¡°She appears that way at just eight or nine?¡± Lin Xian still couldn¡¯t believe it.
¡°Humph! It¡¯s all thanks to my sister-inw¡¯s natural beauty and good genes!¡± Er Zhuzi boasted proudly. ¡°Ning Ning¡¯s attractiveness is all inherited from my sister-inw! You, stay away from her! You were practically leaning on her!¡±
Ah Zhuang also scoffed, ring at Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s disgraceful, Lin Xian. How could you? It¡¯s disappointing! San Pang, what do you think?¡±
San Pang wisely shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right.¡±
Three votes against.
¡°You guys are really nosy¡¡± Lin Xian muttered, stepping to the right to distance himself from CC.
¡°Focus! We¡¯re approaching the surveince blind spot! Get ready!¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s shout quieted everyone down. Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang resumed their positions, either stretching or warming up, preparing for the uing action.
Big Cat Face also got ready, beginning to stretch his muscles. As the central figure of the human pyramid, he bore considerable pressure and responsibility. Despite his ws, Big Cat Face was a reliable leader for the group. He kept a vignt eye on the patrolling drones, watching as they approached, intersected, and moved away.
He checked his watch.
00:04.
¡°Now!¡±
The surveince blind spot appeared!
Big Cat Face yelled, his face reddening with exertion.
¡°Form the human pyramid!¡±
Chapter 106: Vital Intelligence
Big Cat Face sprinted toward the garbage disposal nt, his cheeks jiggling with each step, disying a strength akin to a wild beast. In no time, he was up against the ck wall of the nt, standing firm like a sturdy pir.
¡°San Pang!¡±
At the shout, San Pang leapt,nding solidly on Big Cat Face¡¯s broad shoulders.
¡°Amazing!¡±
Following his lead, Ah Zhuang climbed atop San Pang, bracing against the wall for support.
¡°Er Zhuzi!¡±
Quick and agile, Er Zhuzipleted the human tower with seamless precision.
Lin Xian watched in amazement. He had witnessed this ¡°team technique¡± before, but yesterday¡¯s flurry of activity hadn¡¯t allowed him to fully appreciate it. Today, with a clear view, his excitement surged, reminiscent of his favorite childhood cartoons where heroesbined to form a giant robot.
¡°Ning Ning, jump now! Hurry!¡±As Big Cat Face supported his teammates, his face flushed red from the strain. CC, wearing an Ultraman mask, caught Lin Xian¡¯s nod. She leaped gracefully,nding lightly on Er Zhuzi¡¯s shoulders. Then she crouched, tensed, and vaulted over the eight-meter-high wall.
¡°Lin Xian, your turn!¡±
Commanded by Big Cat Face, Lin Xian backed up, then charged forward, using his parkour skills. His approach relied on brute strength and momentum. With a powerful leap, he climbed to Er Zhuzi¡¯s shoulders, executed a double jump, and gripped the wall¡¯s crevices to flip over smoothly.
Thud. Hended safely.
Surveying the area, Lin Xian noted it was cluttered with old sofas and discarded furniture, much like the day before. The tall steel walls loomed ahead, their massive doors shut tightly, and the absence of garbage trucks made the silence unusual. Recalling yesterday¡¯s observations, Lin Xian deduced that the garbage trucks operated autonomously, hinting that New Donghai City might heavily utilize automation, potentially minimizing manualbor through robots and AI.
¡°Hide quickly, a drone ising.¡±
CC¡¯s urgent whisper snapped Lin Xian out of his thoughts. They darted behind a garbage mound for cover.
Buzz¡ Buzz¡
Secondster, a surveince drone scanned the area. They were safely hidden. Lin Xian checked his watch.
00:05
¡°There¡¯s plenty of time.¡±
He motioned towards the surveince room, currently unupied. Based on his observations from the previous day, the shift supervisor, easily recognized by his Bluetooth headset, would soon arrive and take his ce in the control room, often apanied byughter.
¡°We should position ourselves near the garbage truck unloading area; it¡¯ll save us timeter.¡±
Lin Xian pointed to a specific spot.
¡°Right there. Around 00:25, a convoy of garbage trucks will exit through those steel doors, one carrying the aluminum alloy safe we need.¡±
¡°How do you know that?¡± CC inquired, puzzled. ¡°The unloading spots for these trucks aren¡¯t fixed. They use real-time scanning to determine the best dumping spots¡ªit¡¯s all automated, nothing preset.¡±
¡°Just trust me. We¡¯re in this together; I wouldn¡¯t mislead you.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s reassuring tone underscored his reluctance to delve into technicalities, preferring to avoid arguments over strategy with CC and Big Cat Face.
¡°Let¡¯s move quickly. The new supervisor won¡¯t be here till around 00:20. Until then, we¡¯re free to move.¡±
Lin Xian had meticulously nned their approach. Waiting for the garbage truck to unload before moving would make them toote. Last time, by the time they reached the safe, it was already 00:42, and the white light had obliterated everything before they could attempt the safe¡¯sbination.
Tweet-tweet-tweet¡ª
A sharp bird call signaled from outside the wall. Lin Xian nced at the whistle Big Cat Face had entrusted to him earlier¡ªit was a signal to retreat immediately if heard.
¡°It seems Li Ning Ning has woken up,¡± CCmented.
¡°I figured as much.¡±
Having experienced this scenario before, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised. He blew the whistle forcefully, signaling Big Cat Face to initiate a quick retreat.
¡°What exactly did you do to Li Ning Ning?¡± Lin Xian asked CC, recalling how she had previously brandished a gun, even aiming it at him.
¡°Just this.¡±
CC produced a small handgun from her pocket, resembling more a toy than a weapon.
¡°What is this?¡±
¡°A veterinary tranquilizer gun.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow.
¡°That sounds worse than a gun.¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± CC replied, showcasing the tranquilizer gun. ¡°Vets use these for animals. The dosage isn¡¯trge, but it¡¯s potent enough to weaken humans. I used a minimal dose on Li Ning Ning¡ªenough to incapacitate, not render unconscious. It doesn¡¯t fire bullets or have much range; think of it more as a tranquilizer injector.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
epting her exnation, Lin Xian acknowledged that, in this dream, CC¡¯s ess to conventional weaponry was limited. This made sense¡ªif someone like Li Cheng couldn¡¯t obtain a firearm, how could she?
¡°Let¡¯s run; the new supervisor will arrive soon, and we can¡¯t afford to dy.¡±
With urgency, Lin Xian and CC dashed towards their designated hiding spot, racing against time to reach the safe before the new supervisor¡¯s arrival. As they moved, Lin Xian recalled the operation¡¯s timeline:
23:00 ¨C Big Cat Face¡¯s team leaves Li Cheng¡¯s house.
23:20 ¨C They reach a vantage point on a small hill, setting up and then advancing towards the garbage nt wall.
23:25 ¨C CC, using the tranquilizer gun on Li Ning Ning, dons her Ultraman mask and takes her ce.
00:00 ¨C The garbage nt supervisor exits the control room for a shift change.
00:04 ¨C The first surveince blind spot appears; Lin Xian and CC scale the wall into the garbage nt.
00:13 ¨C Li Ning Ning, rousing from the tranquilizer, finds Big Cat Face, who realizes the switch and blows the whistle to alert Lin Xian of impending danger.
00:20 ¨C The new supervisor arrives and settles in the control room,ughing as usual.
00:25 ¨C The steel doors open, and the convoy of garbage trucks, including one carrying the needed aluminum alloy safes, drives out.
00:28 ¨C The designated truck unloads the safes at the empty lot and departs.
The n was consistent unless Lin Xian chose to intervene. But his influence was limited; the trucks¡¯ programmed routes and the supervisors¡¯ set shift times were immutable. As they neared their hiding spot behind the garbage mound, Lin Xian noted the empty lot ahead where the safes would soon be dropped.
Counting down¡
Only 14 minutes remained until 00:42, when the dream would shatter under the white light, leaving scant time for Lin Xian and CC to crack the safe.
Boom¡ª
Behind them, the steel gate rumbled open. One by one, garbage trucks filed out, each navigating to its assigned spot. The truck carrying the safes approached, reversed, and adjusted its position. The axles groaned, and the massive hopper began to tilt.
ng! ng! ng! ng!
Dozens of shiny, brand-new aluminum alloy safes tumbled out, scattering across the lot. Each safe featured eightbination dials, crafted from the same material, with a silver namete engraved with both long and short names above the dials.
Chapter 107: Encounter
¡°You really guessed right.¡±
CC stared, wide-eyed, at the dozens of aluminum alloy safes scattered before her. She had doubted Lin Xian¡¯s judgment earlier, but now the proof was undeniable.
¡°How did you do this? I looked into it¡ The dumping locations for these garbage trucks are calcted in real-time. Sometimes, a single truck has to unload in two different locations. How did you manage to predict that?¡±
¡°It¡¯splicated to exin and not really important.¡±
Lin Xian nced toward the distant monitoring room, where a new supervisor was chuckling to himself. As long as they remained cautious, they should be safe.
¡°Quick, find Lin Xian¡¯s safe. We¡¯ve got only 14 minutes.¡±
¡°Why just 14 minutes?¡± CC asked, puzzled.
¡°That¡¯s alsoplicated¡ Just trust me on this.¡±
Lin Xian quickly crouched and hurried forward. Every second was precious; there wasn¡¯t time toy out the entire situation to CC. Besides, any exnation given today might just be forgotten by tomorrow, rendering it pointless.¡°You search that way; I¡¯ll look over here. Keep low so that the supervisor doesn¡¯t spot you.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
After witnessing Lin Xian¡¯s expertise, CC seemed to trust him more, dutifully crouching and heading in the opposite direction. They both began their search for the safe.
Wei Sheng Jin¡
Wang Shuo¡
In the chaos of the scattered safes, Lin Xian noticed two familiar names.
In the bank warehouse from the first dream, all the safes were embedded in the walls. These two safes were positioned right next to his own.
Especially Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s, which was immediately to the right of his.
Previously, CC had used an oxy-acetylene torch to cut open the safes, starting with Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s, cautious not to damage their contents.
However, to their surprise, the new aluminum alloy¡ªa robust aerospace material¡ªresisted the 3000-degree torch as if it were trivial.
Finding the safe turned out to be easier than Lin Xian had anticipated. A quick nce at the names was enough to rule out the incorrect ones.
Moreover, they were lucky; none of the safes were lying t with their nametes obscured, making their search much more efficient. Only two safes were face-down, but they were propped up on others, allowing the nametes to be visible by merely crouching.
They examined every namete.
Yet, Lin Xian still couldn¡¯t locate his own safe.
He looked over at CC, who was crouching and moving towards him.
¡°Did you find it?¡±
CC shook her head.
¡°No, I¡¯ve checked them all. Lin Xian¡¯s safe isn¡¯t here.¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
Lin Xian surveyed the number of safes around them andpared it with his memory of the bank warehouse.
¡°The numbers don¡¯t add up. There should be at least a hundred, maybe even two hundred.¡±
¡°That means the rest of the safes haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡±
Unlike Lin Xian, CC¡¯s voice was calm, as though she had anticipated this oue.
¡°The next batch of garbage trucks arrives at 00:57. The remaining safes should be on those trucks. Lin Xian¡¯s safe must be among them.¡±
¡°How do you know all this so precisely?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled. He had wondered for a while how CC knew there would be safes dumped here today. But they had been too busy with the safes earlier for him to inquire.
Now it seemed CC must have a unique source of information and probably knew a lot about New Donghai City! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know the exact time the garbage trucks arrived at the disposal site.
¡°How do you know all this?¡± Lin Xian removed the Rhine Cat mask from his face and stared intently at CC. ¡°And why do you know it down to the exact minute the garbage trucks arrive? That¡¯s too precise. Even the staff at the disposal nt wouldn¡¯t have such detailed information.¡±
¡°It¡¯s because of this.¡± CC pulled a small item from her pocket and opened her hand to show Lin Xian. It resembled a Bluetooth earpiece.
Lin Xian nced toward the supervisor in the middle of the disposal site, who was staring ahead,ughing at nothing. He wore the same device on his ear.
¡°What is this?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t really know what it¡¯s called,¡± CC inspected the earpiece-like gadget. ¡°But it¡¯s a piece of equipment every worker at the disposal nt wears. When worn on the ear, it projects a screen in front of their eyes that they can control with eye movements. It¡¯s quite advanced.¡±
Lin Xian realized it was simr to technology he had seen in 2023, like Google ss, VR sses, or holographic sses. While these devices disyed electronic information and sensed the user¡¯s gaze to interpretmands, the actual application of such technology was still rare.
However, the device CC held appeared far more advanced and high-tech. It was the size of a typical ear-hook Bluetooth earpiece, semi-circr and perfectly contoured to fit around the ear. Lin Xian was puzzled by its ability to project a ¡°screen,¡± but since CC imed it did, he believed her. It seemed the technology in New Donghai City from the second dream was significantly advanced, featuring high-tech products still unimaginable in 2023.
¡°How did you get this thing?¡±
¡°I stole it from a supervisor at another disposal nt a while ago,¡± CC replied nonchntly. ¡°To us, this might seem advanced, but for the people of New Donghai City, it¡¯s just an outdated, everyday work tool.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t it have security features? Can anyone use it if they steal it?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
¡°It has a password, but I cracked it,¡± CC said casually. Lin Xian was impressed; her skills as a password expert were undeniable, whether developed in the second dream or inherited from those memory fragments.
¡°I see.¡± Lin Xian examined the small device in CC¡¯s hand. ¡°So, this device allows the disposal nt staff to see the location, route, and specific tasks of each garbage truck?¡±
¡°Exactly. Knowing that a bunch of aluminum alloy safes would be dumped here tonight, I found a way to sneak in,¡± CC confirmed.
¡°It¡¯s not as borate as you think.¡± CC twirled the ¡°Bluetooth earpiece¡± between her fingers. ¡°After cracking the password, many features were still inessible. However, I could indeed view each garbage truck¡¯s routes, departure and arrival times, and some other disposal-rted details.¡±
¡°The bearded man from my memory said he stored a safe for me at Time Bank. He likely wanted to share the password too, but he didn¡¯t manage to say it¡ Maybe my memory is iplete.¡±
¡°Old Donghai doesn¡¯t have this bank, so it must be in New Donghai City, which I can¡¯t ess directly. I¡¯ve been hanging around here for a long time, trying different methods, sifting through newspapers and documents daily to find any useful leads.¡±
¡°Then I saw an announcement about Time Bank¡¯s bankruptcy and a notice for safe ims. If unimed by August 28th, the safes would be disposed of as garbage.¡±
¡°This might be my only chance, so I stole an earpiece from a nt supervisor. After cracking the password, I could ess the work schedules of all disposal sites in New Donghai City and track the garbage trucks¡¯ collection routes and timings.¡±
¡°The disposal of items from Time Bank is managed by this nt. The trucks that collect from Time Bank arrive either at 00:25 or 00:57. Only these two shifts pass by Time Bank.¡±
¡°So, if Lin Xian¡¯s safe isn¡¯t in the 00:25 batch, it must be in the 00:57 batch,¡± CC concluded, unaware of the gravity of their situation, staring at the nearby steel gate.
¡°We just need to keep hiding here until the 00:57 batch arrives. Lin Xian¡¯s safe will definitely be on those trucks.¡±
Seeing CC¡¯s confident and rxed demeanor, Lin Xian remained silent.
The next batch of garbage trucks was due at 00:57¡ but that was as likely as them arriving 2,000 years from now.
Because both were impossible.
This dream, this future world, would be obliterated by a burst of white light in a few minutes at 00:42, resetting everything and starting the day anew.
There would be no tomorrow here¡
The much-anticipated 00:57 would never arrive.
¡°Um¡ well¡¡±
Lin Xian hesitated. ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s talk about something else.¡±
He turned to CC.
¡°Since you¡¯ve been around here for a long time, can you give me any tips on how to infiltrate New Donghai City? Any clue that could help me get in¡ Even if it¡¯s risky, just tell me.¡±
¡°You want to enter New Donghai City?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I need to find two books and some materials there. These items probably aren¡¯t at the garbage disposal nt; they must be in New Donghai City, so I have to get there.¡±
¡°To find two books?¡±
CC blinked in disbelief at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯d risk your life to enter New Donghai City¡ just for two books?¡±
¡°Just as you do,¡± Lin Xian countered. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the difference between New Donghai City and here? Why is everyone so scared to go in?¡±
Lin Xian shifted his position, leaning against the stacked safes.
¡°Is New Donghai City heavily guarded? Or are there identity recognition devices everywhere that can instantly detect and eliminate outsiders?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± CC admitted, sitting atop an aluminum alloy safe and gazing up at Lin Xian.
¡°No one has sessfully infiltrated such a city. Or maybe some have¡ but they couldn¡¯t get out and died inside; no one really knows, at least I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡±
¡°Maybe, as you say, it¡¯s heavily guarded. Or maybe it¡¯s just an illusion. But who¡¯s willing to take that risk?¡±
CC chuckled, looking at the towering steel walls resembling a vertical abyss. ¡°Everyone has only one life; no one wants to gamble with it.¡±
¡°I think you¡¯re quite the gambler,¡± Lin Xian retorted.
¡°That¡¯s because I have reasons more important than life itself, so I must take the risk,¡± CC turned back to Lin Xian. ¡°But your reason for finding two books doesn¡¯t seem significant enough.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true,¡± Lin Xian smiled, gazing up at the vast, endless steel wall.
¡°My life isn¡¯t worth much; I can afford to gamble.¡±
¡°Not worth two books?¡±
¡°Not even worth a piece of paper.¡±
Pfft¡ª
CCughed, her eyes behind the mask curving into crescent moons. ¡°You¡¯re quite the joker. But honestly, it¡¯s a pity. If you had met me earlier today, you wouldn¡¯t need to think about breaking into New Donghai City to find those books.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Xian stood up straight, leaving the safe he was leaning against.
¡°What would have happened if I met you earlier?¡±
CC took out the small ¡°Bluetooth earpiece¡± and weighed it in her hand, smiling.
¡°If you had met me earlier, I could¡¯ve told you¡ At Garbage Disposal nt 314, arge batch of water-damaged books was to be delivered tonight. You could have found your books there.¡±
¡°Too bad¡ It¡¯s definitely toote now.¡±
¡°They must have been burned to ashes by now.¡±
Chapter 108: The Smiling Face
¡°Hold on a moment.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s demeanor shifted to one of seriousness as he fixed his gaze on CC. ¡°Are you telling me that tonight, a shipment of water-damaged books is headed to the 314 Waste Disposal nt? Can we trust this information?¡±
¡°Absolutely, it¡¯s trustworthy! Have you forgotten?¡± CC picked up a gadget resembling a Bluetooth headset and waved it before him. ¡°This device keeps tabs on the operations of various waste disposal facilities, including the routes of garbage trucks and their transportation schedules. How could it be wrong?¡±
¡°I make it a point to verify the task lists of several local waste disposal sites daily. I scrutinize them very closely and wouldn¡¯t miss a detail. The 314 Waste Disposal nt is nearby, right in the same district as the Time Bank, so it¡¯s particrly on my radar. Their schedulest night included a note about dispatching a special truck to collect water-damaged books.¡±
¡°Let me double-check that for you.¡± CC attached the device to her ear. Her eyes zed over, her pupils darting back and forth as if she were interfacing with something unseen.
¡°There we have it.¡± CC¡¯s eyes refocused, and she began to exin to Lin Xian: ¡°To put it simply, a major bookstore in the Eastern District had a pipe burst on the second floor, soaking the books below. They¡¯ve settled their issues with the insurancepany, and now they¡¯ve scheduled special trucks to haul away the damaged goods.¡±
¡°The time¡ let me check, the 314 Waste Disposal nt has arranged for fourrge trucks to handle the books. That implies a substantial quantity, needing four trucks.¡±
¡°Their departure time¡ and they¡¯re set to arrive at the nt at 23:19. I got the time a bit off. Given thete arrival, they likely haven¡¯t started the incineration process.¡±
¡°But you¡¯ve already missed the window for today¡¯s shift change at the supervisor¡¯s station. Even if we head to the nt now, it¡¯s toote. Besides¡¡± CC nced at the control room monitor showing the nt supervisor. ¡°Getting out of here still poses a challenge. I n to hide out until tomorrow¡¯s shift change, then make my escape. I¡¯m not sure what your ns are.¡±¡°Thanks for the info, it¡¯s a real lifesaver,¡± Lin Xian stood, resolute. ¡°About that safe¡ if I ever make it inside New Donghai City, I¡¯ll see what¡¯s inside for you.¡±
CC looked puzzled, tilting her head at Lin Xian. ¡°The next batch of garbage trucks is due soon. They¡¯ll be transporting the safe shortly. What are you implying?¡±
¡°I need to leave,¡± Lin Xian checked his watch.
¡°Where to?¡±
¡°Home.¡±
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At exactly 00:42, a brilliant white light erupted, incinerating everything in its path, casting a brief illumination before plunging back into darkness.
¡
Lin Xian awoke in the corner of his bedroom, taking deep breaths. He climbed out of bed, slipped into his slippers, and took a few sips of water from his desk cup. He was quite pleased with what he had learned from this dream. It was significant.
Despite CC¡¯s identity and her connection to Chu An Qing remaining mysteries, Lin Xian had ruled out several incorrect theories, refining his thinking. The striking resemnce between CC and Chu An Qing was too strong to be mere coincidence, but he needed more evidence to understand it fully. Considering CC¡¯s desperation to ess that safe¡ perhaps the answers were inside?
¡°Looking at this situation, what¡¯s in that safe seems increasingly intriguing,¡± Lin Xian mused as he set his cup down, wiping his mouth. Initially, he hadn¡¯t taken the safe seriously, having tried and failed to crack its code multiple times. He treated it more as a minor diversion¡ªa nice bonus if it opened, but no big deal if it didn¡¯t. His attitude was unlike CC¡¯s, who seemed obsessed.
But now, his view had shifted. The exchange of information in the dream suggested the safe might hold significant secrets, possibly even linking him to the mysterious bearded man, and the ties between Chu An Qing and CC.
¡°Full circle back to square one,¡± Lin Xian reflected. He was particrly keen to try the code 29990203 today. It was a hint from his future self, a key he had chosen for a reason. Surely, he wouldn¡¯t sabotage his own efforts. Whyplicate things unnecessarily?
Yet, fate seemed to have other ns. The first truckload brought by the garbage trucks did not include his safe¡ªa disappointment. Even more frustrating was that the second truck, which might contain his safe, wouldn¡¯t arrive at the waste nt until 00:57. It was uncertain, like Schr?dinger¡¯s garbage truck¡ªit might arrive, or it might not.
The only way to ess the safe was to infiltrate New Donghai City during daylight, locate the defunct Time Bank, and find the safe not yet removed by the garbage services.
¡°So, I need to break into New Donghai City after all.¡± ¡°At least it consolidates my main tasks into a single focus, streamlining my strategy.¡±
¡°But tomorrow night, I¡¯ll still take my chances at the 314 Waste Disposal nt,¡± Lin Xian sat back, pondering.
He remained curious about who would be the CEO of MX Company 600 yearster¡ It was directly relevant to his own history. It might also provide crucial insights into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s identity and motives, potentially revealing key information about the Genius Club. Given MX Company¡¯s prominence in New Donghai City, garnering details from various publications should be straightforward, though the locals likely favored digital media over traditional paper formats.
¡°But the 314 Waste Disposal nt is a different story,¡± Lin Xian recalled CC¡¯s words vividly. Arge bookstore¡¯s mishap led to a significant number of damaged books, necessitating the dispatch of four trucks. These could contain a wealth of diverse publications, including potentially valuable magazines and journals¡ªa real treasure trove for Lin Xian. Whether he could find the elusive ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± in such a vast collection depended on luck. Its rarity and whether it was still in print were uncertain.
¡°Still, it¡¯s worth a shot,¡± Lin Xian concluded, yawning. ¡°Better to search there than risk everything sneaking into New Donghai City¡ though that seems inevitable.¡± He then used the restroom, switched off his bedroom light, and returned to bed. Sleep beckoned.
¡
The following day, Lin Xian was roused by a frantic call from Gao Yang.
¡°Hey, man! Quick! Help me save face!¡± Gao Yang¡¯s voice conveyed urgency.
He exined that he had organized a high school reunion for the fifth day of the lunar new year at a hotel near their university, Hangzhou No.1 High School¡¯s new campus.
But!
He had posted the event in their ss QQ group, and no one had replied! Not a single person! He had been obsessively checking the group every minute for thest half hour, and the silence was deafening! As ss president, this was mortifying! He needed to save face!
¡°So, Lin Xian, please log into QQ right away and back me up in the group! Say you¡¯ll attend! Mention how much you miss everyone! Surely, they¡¯ll react if you do!¡±
¡°What standing do I have¡¡±
¡°The founder of Rhine Cat! Sure, you¡¯re not a celebrity, but your creation is famous! Who isn¡¯t aware of Rhine Cat now? Isn¡¯t that enough to make a ssh? Come on, don¡¯t leave your old ss president out to dry, making me look bad!¡±
Reluctantly, Lin Xian reinstalled the QQ app. After a series of verification challenges, he finally managed to prove his identity and logged in. Upon essing his ount, he was bombarded with spam messages frompromised ounts of ssmates and proceeded directly to the high school group chat.
The only message there was from Gao Yang: ¡°ss Reunion Notice.¡± Indeed, half an hour had passed, and there was not a single reply.
Following Gao Yang¡¯s instructions, Lin Xian crafted and sent a message: ¡°Hey, everyone, it¡¯s been too long! We definitely need to catch up! See you during the holiday!¡±
However¡ After waiting a few minutes, there was still no response. Lin Xian called Gao Yang back:
¡°Give it up. No one uses QQ anymore. You¡¯d be better off using WeChat and reaching out to people individually. You¡¯ll eventually get through to everyone that way.¡±
Gao Yang reluctantly epted this reality. Just as they ended the call, a QQ notification pinged. Someone had finally responded in the group.
Lin Xian checked the chat¡ª ¡°Absolutely, Lin Xian! I¡¯ll be there!¡±
The message was from an unknown name and profile picture. Following it was a simple, mysterious smiling face: ^^.
Chapter 109: Time Bank
Tang Xin.
Lin Xian stared at the unfamiliar profile picture and name on his phone.
¡°Who is this? Do we have a girl named Tang Xin in our ss?¡±
He scrutinized the profile picture again. It showed a cute kitty cat with the name Tang Xin. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t recall anyone by that name.
He tried to view the girl¡¯s photos on her QQ space but found it locked. Opting for a direct approach, he messaged Gao Yang on WeChat:
¡°Who is Tang Xin? I don¡¯t remember anyone by that name in our ss.¡±
¡°It¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t remember,¡± Gao Yang replied. ¡°She was a transfer student who only joined us for a few days in sophomore year before moving abroad. She joined the QQ group back then, and I didn¡¯t have the heart to remove her. She¡¯s been inactive all these years, so I forgot about her too.¡±
¡°Does someone who was only in our ss for a few days really need toe to the reunion?¡±
¡°Why not? The more, the merrier. She might have made friends with some of the girls in our ss. Everyone¡¯s wee. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re short on food.¡±¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian mused. If Gao Yang felt that way, he wouldn¡¯t dwell on it. Yet, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this girl¡¯s reply seemed directed at him specifically.
He had no memory of this girl and didn¡¯t see someone who was around for just a few days as a true ssmate.
He closed his phone without responding in the group chat, deciding it was best not to overthink.
¡°I wonder how many will show up to this high school reunion after five years.¡±
Truthfully, Lin Xian was excited. Many friends from high school had drifted apart after college, and he was eager to reconnect.
After preparing, Lin Xian headed to hispany to interview recent graduates. His team had a hefty workload, and Zhao Ying Jun had instructed them to expand to thirty or forty members, all chosen by Lin Xian.
The interviewssted longer than anticipated. As a recent graduate himself, he empathized with these new grads. He listened patiently to each candidate, promising to notify them within two days of their results, pass or fail.
He found seven or eight promising candidates to whom he nned to extend offers in theing days.
After wrapping up the interviews, Lin Xian returned to his private office, brewed some tea, and rxed. Sipping his tea, he gazed out at the bustling cityscape.
The business district where hispany resided thrived, surrounded by the headquarters of numerous renownedpanies and banks, all housed within impressive skyscrapers.
¡°Bank¡¡± Lin Xian recalled something from his dreamst night about CC mentioning Time Bank.
He remembered the name. CC had mentioned that aluminum alloy safes were transported from this bank. Time Bank had dered bankruptcy for unknown reasons, alerting safe owners to retrieve their belongings by August 28, 2624.
If unimed, the safes would be discarded, exining their appearance in the junkyard in his dream.
¡°When was Time Bank established?¡± Lin Xian pondered.
If the safe was indeed his, it must have been stored after Time Bank¡¯s founding. Even if the bank had undergone acquisitions, name changes, or restructuring, the name Time Bank remained a clue.
Lin Xian searched online for Time Bank. Predictably, there were no results.
¡°Time Bank.¡± He tried to remember the name from his initial dream. Due to the angle and dim streetlights, he couldn¡¯t recall the bank¡¯s name, only its location.
¡°Wait, the sign was in English.¡± He had driven CC there once. Thinking back, the unlit bank sign indeed read ¡°BANK¡± in English.
¡°Tim¡ TIE,¡± Lin Xian realized. ¡°TIEBANK, Time Bank, maybe!¡±
That made sense. The bank¡¯s vault contained no money or valuables because it wasn¡¯t a conventional bank. Its primary service was long-term storage, safes meant tost decades, centuries, or longer.
¡°Interesting,¡± Lin Xian marveled at the diversity of the world. A bank like this existing for 600 years was intriguing, even if it had eventually gone bankrupt.
He searched again for Time Bank but found nothing relevant, only references in games and movies. This bank didn¡¯t exist in reality.
¡°It hasn¡¯t been established yet,¡± he concluded.
But it might be soon. Lin Xian looked across the street at the toweringmercial bank headquarters. He felt that Time Bank might be established soon.
In his first dream, Big Cat Face had mentioned that aluminum alloy safes were rare and he had never seen them outside. CC confirmed this, suggesting that the safes hadn¡¯t be mainstream due to their cost.
If Time Bank advertised that all their safes were made of this unique aluminum alloy, it would be a unique selling point, aligning perfectly with their branding.
¡°Maybe¡¡± Lin Xian gazed at the warm sun. ¡°Maybe the time for me to store the safe ising soon.¡±
He wasn¡¯t sure when.
A few months? A year?
But it should be soon.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t dwell on this. He had written a letter to his future self, ensuring that no matter when or where he encountered the aluminum alloy safe, he would set the password to 29990203.
This was sufficient. With this time-space connection, the password for the safe 600 years in the future would likely be this.
The phone on his desk rang. It was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office number.
He answered, and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice came through:
¡°Lin Xian,e to my office.¡±
¡
On the 22nd floor, in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.
¡°Come in.¡±
The heavy double doors opened with a thud, and Lin Xian entered.
Everything was as usual. The thinyer of dust on the coffee table and sofa seemed thicker, and the piles of files on therge desk were as chaotic as ever.
Lin Xian felt that Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office had a magical power, preserving everything unchanged. The only difference was that some of the nts¡¯ leaves had turned yellow. He wondered if Zhao Ying Jun, as busy as she was, had time to water them.
She really needed a secretary but was more resistant to the idea than anyone else. Her previous secretary must have hurt her deeply, making it difficult for her to trust anyone.
Zhao Ying Jun took a sip of her tea and ced the ss cup on the desk.
¡°Lin Xian, I need you to prepare a document on Rhine Cat, detailing its image, style, and design background. I¡¯ll show it to theposers I¡¯ll be meeting.¡±
¡°Although Rhine Cat is very sessful and popr, someposers might misunderstand its image.¡±
Composers? Lin Xian recalled Zhao Ying Jun mentioning a meeting withposers to discuss creating a theme song for Rhine Cat.
¡°Did thestposer not work out?¡± Lin Xian asked.
She nodded and smiled wryly. ¡°He thought Rhine Cat¡¯s image was too childish and said he¡¯d never written a theme song for a cartoon character before. So, he declined.¡±
Childish¡ Though it stung a bit to hear Rhine Cat described that way, it was true.
Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s silence, Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°It¡¯s normal. Everyposer has different strengths and preferences. Coboration should be mutual.¡±
¡°Your Rhine Cat is perfect. Its poprity and sales in both the kids¡¯ and mature markets are proof. If we ever fail in the cosmetics market, we could easily pivot to toys.¡±
Lin Xian knew she was joking, so he didn¡¯t pursue it.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about the theme song. We have many moreposers to talk to.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took another sip of her tea and said, ¡°I hope to find the bestposer for Rhine Cat. I think it¡¯s worth striving for. I called you here to prepare all the information about Rhine Cat so we can present it well to the topposers.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian agreed. At that moment, he understood why Chu Shan He pampered his daughter so much. He also loved Rhine Cat and wanted only the best for it.
Back in his office, Lin Xianpiled all the information on Rhine Cat, focusing on its image and design background, and sent the electronic file to Zhao Ying Jun.
After that, he left work. He had important things to do in the dream world tonight.
Garbage Dump No. 314,
Four garbage trucks arriving at 23:19,
Carrying tens of thousands of water-damaged books,
A treasure trove of history and knowledge!
¡°I hope to find the two books I want most among them.¡±
Lin Xian washed up, turned off the lights, andy in bed.
He closed his eyes and turned over.
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
Chapter 110: Destiny
¡°I think we can pull this off,¡± San Pang said, nodding in agreement with Lin Xian¡¯s idea to coborate with the Face Gang.
¡°Fantastic! It¡¯s a deal then!¡± Big Cat Face cheered, pping his hands andughing loudly. He slung an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Brother, from today onwards¡ª¡±
¡°I get it, Brother Face. From now on, I¡¯m with the Face Gang, upholding the ideals of Cat Ideology and advancing the philosophy of Face. We¡¯ll fight for the preservation of human history and knowledge!¡±
¡°Wow!¡± Big Cat Face was taken aback. ¡°Brother, are you giving a speech? You nearly broke into song!¡±
¡°But¡¡± He erupted inughter. ¡°I admire your passion! You¡¯ve got ir! You speak right to my heart! A true soulmate!¡±
¡°So tell me, brother, what do you desire? Anything I can do, I¡¯ll make it happen!¡±
¡°I want to meet Boss Li,¡± Lin Xian stated earnestly.
¡°I¡¯ve got a crucial tip. Tonight, at Garbage Disposal nt No. 314, they¡¯ll be receiving arge delivery of water-damaged books. So, for tonight¡¯s mission, we should consider intercepting those books.¡±
¡°Really, brother?¡± Big Cat Face, always direct and trustworthy, readily believed Lin Xian, which Lin Xian valued.¡°Hmm¡ this is significant. I can¡¯t decide alone.¡± Big Cat Face paused, then made a decisive gesture. ¡°Let¡¯s go see Boss Li together. He¡¯ll make the call. If your info is right and there really are loads of books to recover, it¡¯ll be worth altering our n.¡±
¡°But if we switch targets, we¡¯ll need to scout the location early, adjust our route for the patrol drones, and spot the surveince blind spots.¡±
Half an hourter, they reached Boss Li¡¯s courtyard. After some deliberation and inevitable negotiations, Boss Li furrowed his brow, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
¡°Garbage Disposal nt No. 314, you say? That¡¯s quite a trek south of New Donghai City.¡±
¡°Distance isn¡¯t the problem. The real issue is whether we can rely on this information. It¡¯s not that I distrust you, Lin Xian, but as the head of our operations, I need to ensure the safety of my team. Whether you¡¯re a newbie or a seasoned member like Ah Zhuang or Er Zhuzi, I have to be cautious.¡±
Boss Li was understandably wary. Scaling the nt¡¯s walls on his own was impossible for Lin Xian, not to mention evading theplex drone patrols and on-site supervisors. He needed the Face Gang¡¯s assistance, especially their humandder.
Lin Xian needed to persuade Boss Li: ¡°Boss Li, I know it¡¯s risky to hit an unfamiliar nt. But my source is solid, and the potential reward is huge.¡±
¡°Especially since they¡¯re expected to deliver a significant number of water-damaged books to nt 314 tonight. This stash could include a wealth of historical and academic texts, far more than we¡¯d get in years of raiding.¡±
¡°Our usual target for tonight mostly deals with domestic and construction waste, including junk from defunct banks. It¡¯s a waste of our time if you trust me.¡±
¡°But at nt 314, I¡¯m certain about the time: 11:19 PM. Fourrge garbage trucks will drop off tens of thousands of water-damaged books. We can exploit the shift change at midnight to snatch arge number.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Lin Xian faced Boss Li. ¡°I know you¡¯re primarily concerned with safety, and you should be. A single error could be disastrous. Normally, you¡¯d prefer a familiar site.¡±
¡°But I assure you, Boss Li, there¡¯s no need to worry. The Face Gang just needs to help me over the wall. Then, you can pull back and return at the right moment to collect the books.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s words left Big Cat Face impressed. ¡°Are you serious, brother? The Face Gang never abandons one of our own!¡±
¡°I agree though, this is a gamble. You¡¯re obviously more capable than Ning Ning. So, Boss Li¡¡± Big Cat Face looked determinedly at Boss Li. ¡°Boss Li, I trust him! I support switching to nt 314 tonight. If you¡¯re concerned, we¡¯ll keep Ning Ning out of it. Let¡¯s see how Lin Xian does!¡±
Boss Li was still unsure when Er Zhuzi interjected. ¡°I disagree!¡± he eximed. ¡°Brother Face, you¡¯re too trusting! This kid might just be using us!¡± He turned to Boss Li¡¯s wife, standing elegantly behind him. ¡°Sister-inw, shouldn¡¯t we be more cautious?¡±
However, Boss Li¡¯s once mistress, now his wife, smiled gently. ¡°I think it¡¯s worth a shot. Risks and rewards, they go hand in hand. But as a woman, I¡¯ll leave the decision to you men.¡±
Boss Li nodded, smiling at Lin Xian. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s a tough call, but let¡¯s give it a go.¡±
¡°What?!¡± Er Zhuzi was dumbfounded. He pped San Pang on the back of his head. ¡°San Pang, what¡¯s your take?¡±
San Pang, looking wise beyond his years, shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s feasible.¡±
¡°I think it is!¡± came Ning Ning¡¯s crisp voice from behind. Dressed in a pink tracksuit, she looked youthful yet resolute. ¡°Dad, we should try nt 314. We¡¯ve faced danger before. If we were truly afraid of death, we wouldn¡¯t be in this business.¡±
Lin Xian admired her bravery, befitting of Boss Li¡¯s daughter. So, the decision was made: three votes for, two against.
¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled!¡± Boss Li pped his hands, signaling everyone to calm down, then walked over and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°Lin Xian, thank you for the valuable lead. Remember though, this is still a risky operation, fraught with uncertainties. So¡ tonight, follow Big Cat Face¡¯s orders, and don¡¯t go rogue. Safety first. If wee back empty-handed, so be it, but everyone must return safely.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. As he gazed at Boss Li, he recalled the timid viin from his first dream. The contrast was striking. But perhaps, with time, he¡¯d adapt.
Time changes the world, history, and everyone¡¯s destinies. Viins can be heroes, and heroes can turn to viins. Since Boss Li evolved from Donghai City¡¯s notorious viin to a noble figure, could Zhao Ying Jun¡
Lin Xian stared out at the steel and sci-fi skyline of New Donghai, bathed in the blood-red sunset. At the city¡¯s heart stood the imposing twin towers of MX Company. Could Zhao Ying Jun be the hidden dragon overlord over New Donghai? Or perhaps she was always a dragon, merely waiting for the perfect moment for Lin Xian to witness her true power?
Regardless, Lin Xian didn¡¯t relish seeing her name as the CEO of MX Company in future publications or news. But the facts were undeniable. Since she had received an invite to the Genius Club and likely joined, given the club¡¯s ties to Xu Yun¡¯s tragic end, the moon marked by the club¡¯s emblem, and the abduction of Big Cat Face¡¯s father to decode the Universal Constant 42, along with the sessfulunch of hibernation pods, and the towering MX Tower at the heart of New Donghai¡ It was usible for Zhao Ying Jun to emerge in future records. Quite expected, actually.
¡°Everyone, get ready to leave early!¡± Boss Li¡¯smand dispersed the group. The new target required preliminary scouting and adjustments to drone patrol patterns, necessitating an early start.
Night fell at 11:00 PM. Lin Xian, masked as Rhine Cat, had been hiding in the forest. The Face Gang, including Ning Ning, arrived near nt 314¡¯s imposing walls by nine to scout.
Big Cat Face and his trio lurked at the forest¡¯s edge, roughly thirty meters from the tall barrier, monitoring the six patrol drones above. He had mapped out their routes and blind spots, much like their previous target, and crafted a strategy for both infiltration and escape.
¡°But we need to verify it multiple times, at least three, before weunch the operation.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s meticulousness impressed Lin Xian. It seemed he had inherited some mathematical prowess from his father. Perhaps everyone has unique talents and gifts. Different times, circumstances, and encounters dictate whether these talents shine or fade. Indeed, circumstances make heroes.
The cool summer breeze rustled through the forest, carrying the fresh scent of leaves, the rose aroma from Ning Ning, and the acrid smell from the nt¡¯s incinerator.
Lin Xian nced at the girl beside him. Her silhouette reminded him of CC, especially in the ck bodysuit, slender and tall. Yet, she appeared noticeably younger and less seasoned.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ning Ning, donning an Ultraman mask, turned, her bright eyes meeting Lin Xian¡¯s through their masks.
¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Xian shifted his gaze to the formidable steel barrier ahead. What kind of lives did the girls of New Donghai lead? Luxurious? Noble? Wealthy? Certainly not like Ning Ning, in her prime years, crouching outside a foul-smelling garbage nt, risking her life for a few soggy books.
¡°I don¡¯t like this world as it is,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
¡°Me neither.¡± Ning Ning fiddled with the tree bark beside her. ¡°But this is our fate. What can we do if we don¡¯t like it?¡±
¡°Do you believe in fate?¡± Lin Xian questioned her.
¡°No.¡± Ning Ning peeled off arge piece of bark and regarded Lin Xian. ¡°If I believed in fate, would I be doing this?¡±
¡°I think we shape our own destinies. If you don¡¯t try, nothing changes. But if you do, you might change everything.¡± She tossed the bark at a passing drone. It was too light and thin, falling far short of its target.
Lin Xian watched the bark fall, initially crumpled but slowly unfolding due to its resilience. It mirrored Ning Ning¡¯s spirit.
¡°I like how you think,¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
¡°Thanks.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Big Cat Face turned, ring at Lin Xian. ¡°You! What are you liking? I¡¯m warning you, brother! Ning Ning is only ** years old, watch it!¡±
¡°Do you ever tire of this joke?¡± Lin Xian was annoyed. ¡°I was just talking to her! Must you always interfere?¡±
Er Zhuzi stood tall¡ª
¡°Shut it.¡± Lin Xian cut him off. ¡°Don¡¯t bring up the sister-inw.¡±
¡°Quiet!¡± Big Cat Facemanded, his face stern. He watched two approaching patrol drones, taking a firm stance. ¡°The surveince blind spot is nearing¡ focus¡ Get ready to move!¡±
Chapter 111: Heaven Envied Talent
¡°Er Zhuzi!¡±
Big Cat Face shouted, his face reddening from the effort.
Er Zhuzi leaped into the air andnded gracefully atop the humandder,pleting the final piece of their human pir.
This was true human art.
Despite it being the third time Lin Xian had witnessed this incredible performance, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the ingenuity and teamwork of the Face Gang. Their level of cooperation surpassed what any ordinary team could achieve.
¡°Ning Ning, you go first!¡±
Following Big Cat Face¡¯smand, Li Ning Ning adjusted her mask and dashed forward. With the agility of a cat, she made several quick jumps, using an external martial arts technique that Lin Xian couldn¡¯t identify, to vault over the eight-meter-high wall.
This wall served as a grand stage where each member showcased their unique talents. Perhaps due to her youth and lightness, Li Ning Ning was much more agile than CC or Lin Xian himself. Lin Xian relied on momentum and brute strength to scale walls, gripping the brick seams with his fingers, while CC primarily depended on technique.
Li Ning Ning¡¯s movements were a mystery to Lin Xian, a manifestation of her natural talent and the advantages of being young.¡°Lin Xian! Hurry up!¡±
With the strain evident in his voice, Big Cat Face called out, supporting the weight of two or three others above him. Lin Xian summoned his strength and speed, leaping over the wall with a powerful jump.
¡°Lin Xian, over here.¡± Having already found cover, Li Ning Ning waved Lin Xian over.
Once concealed, Lin Xian checked his watch: 23:47
They had infiltrated earlier than previous times. However, it wasn¡¯t yet time for the guard shift, so they had to wait. The shift change wouldn¡¯t happen until between 00:00 and 00:20. Big Cat Face had also mentioned that their escape¡¯s blind spot in the surveince wouldst only 30 seconds after 00:19.
Thus, Li Ning Ning and Lin Xian had only 19 minutes to rummage through the garbage.
Lin Xian was indifferent, but Li Ning Ning needed to depart by 00:19 because the new surveince guard would arrive at 00:20. Discovery would mean the end. The guard would trigger the rm, and escape would be impossible.
Hence, they waited for the current guard to leave for the shift change.
¡°Lin Xian, look over there! So many books! This is incredible!¡± Li Ning Ning eximed excitedly.
To her, those books were as precious as gold. She grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm, pulling him in the direction she had pointed.
Sure enough, there were four heaps of books. Thousands of books in various sizes and colors piled up, forming a small mountain. From their vantage point, they couldn¡¯t tell if the books were water-damaged; they saw only a mixture of colors.
CC¡¯s intelligence was spot on. At 23:19, fourrge garbage trucks had dumped these water-damaged books, offloading them into four distinct piles. This garbage disposal nt bustled with robots and automated machines sorting, transporting, and incinerating waste, but they hadn¡¯t yet processed these piles of water-damaged books.
In 12 minutes, the surveince guard would head to headquarters for the shift change. All the robots and automated machinery here were oblivious to human presence, allowing Lin Xian and Li Ning Ning free rein to explore the book heaps.
¡°Ning Ning, I need your help with something.¡± Lin Xian turned to Li Ning Ning, who was donning an Ultraman mask. ¡°There are two books that are very important to me. If you find them while searching, please call out to me or throw them my way.¡±
¡°Sure, what books?¡±
¡°One is titled ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants.¡¯ If you see a book with ¡®Universal Constants¡¯ on it, either throw it to me or call out.¡±
Li Ning Ning nodded,mitting the title to memory. ¡°And the other?¡±
¡°The other isn¡¯t a specific book. Look for anything rted to ¡®MX Company¡¯¡ªintroductions, histories, biographies of the CEOs¡ªanything at all. Better to grab too many than miss any.¡±
¡°Got it.¡± Li Ning Ning nodded decisively.
Seeing the piles of books, her admiration for Lin Xian grew significantly.
Finally, they waited patiently until 00:00. From a distance, they saw the surveince guard in the control room stand, stretch, and walk towards the steel high wall¡¯s sealed passage. The passage opened after identity recognition, and the guard entered before the door automatically closed behind him.
¡°It¡¯s safe now, let¡¯s go, Lin Xian.¡± Li Ning Ning quickly got up, her faint scent trailing behind as she ran off. Lin Xian followed closely, dodging oblivious robots, and rushed to one of the book piles to begin their search.
Textbooks, magazines, picture books, cookbooks, maps, encyclopedias¡ªthey were all here. Lin Xian had never felt so ted to be surrounded by books. Although water-damaged, most were nearly intact, showing only minor water stains.
Of course, these couldn¡¯t be sold as new. They would either go to second-hand dealers or, more wastefully, be discarded as trash, with insurance covering the loss.
¡°We have to go soon, Lin Xian. Hurry up! Don¡¯t be so picky!¡± Li Ning Ning worked swiftly, already amassing a pile of books and running back to the wall they had initially climbed. After checking the positions of the drones, she tossed the books over the wall one by one, then quickly returned to continue her search. ¡°Lin Xian, there are lots of textbooks and science books! Don¡¯t be picky.¡±
Li Ning Ning called out to Lin Xian as she sifted through her pile.
Lin Xian, however, was less attentive to her words. His mission was to find the ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ and any material rted to ¡®MX Company,¡¯ very specific targets.
Li Ning Ning resembled a busy bee, tirelessly transporting books, but it hardly mattered. At 00:42, everything would be obliterated by a burst of white light, resetting the cycle, and the actions of Li Ning Ning and Big Cat Face would have nosting impact.
However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t selfish enough to demand that Li Ning Ning focus solely on searching for his desired books¡ So, they each concentrated on their respective tasks.
Lin Xianbed through the piles swiftly. A mere nce was enough to determine if a book was what he was looking for. But still, locating two specific books amid this sea of books was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
¡°Lin Xian! I found one!¡± Li Ning Ning yelled, and Lin Xian quickly stood up. ¡°Which one?¡±
¡°¡®Me and MX,¡¯ looks like a biography. Do you want it?¡±
¡°Throw it over!¡±
Whoosh¡ thud. A small blue booknded near Lin Xian on the trash heap¡
Lin Xian¡¯s pulse quickened. If it was a biography, the front cover might feature a photo of the author! Could it be Zhao Ying Jun?
He gazed up at the sky, where the round moon was eclipsed by a giant ck hand shadow, pointing ominously towards the dark universe. Lin Xian picked up the book by its spine and flipped it over¡ª
Bald. White man. ck suit. On the cover, bold letters dered, MX Company CEO.
¡°Phew¡¡± Lin Xian exhaled, relieved at the unfamiliar face.
He opened the book to the author¡¯s introduction. Since 2617, this man had been the CEO of MX Company, his bio adorned with a lengthy list of titles and des. Lin Xian skimmed it without much interest.
The details in this book confirmed that, 600 yearster, the CEO of MX Company wasn¡¯t Zhao Ying Jun. For some reason, Lin Xian felt reassured by this. Deep down, he didn¡¯t want Zhao Ying Jun to be the antagonist, nor did he want to encounter an old acquaintance from 600 years ago in the future world. The thought was unsettling.
However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t disturbed that CC and Chu An Qing looked alike. Beyond their appearances, the two had almost nothing inmon. Just a brief conversation made it impossible to see them as the same person. The differences were stark!
They might look identical when still, but their movements and speech revealed immediate, clear distinctions. It was a strange sensation indeed.
¡°Hmm¡¡± Lin Xian contemted the bald man on the cover, pondering. Had he misunderstood Zhao Ying Jun and the Genius Club?
Despitecking definitive proof, he still believed the Genius Club was a nefarious organization. But would a benevolent group project its logo onto the moon? That seemed too audacious, too ¡°evil.¡±
Yet, this was merely Lin Xian¡¯s subjective judgment. The facts were unclear, and he couldn¡¯t jump to conclusions based on his prior knowledge. The ck hand shadow on the moon was certainly the work of the Genius Club. And Zhao Ying Jun, the CEO of MX Company, had received an invitation 600 years ago.
So, it seemed likely that the Genius Club-controlled MX Company was behind the construction of New Donghai City. The man who calcted the universal constant, Big Cat Face¡¯s father, had also been taken there. In his initial dream, Big Cat Face uncovered evidence linking his father¡¯s death to the Genius Club.
With all these clues ovepping, it was easy to infer that MX Company was essentially under the Genius Club¡¯s control, leading to the creation of a vast sci-fi city like New Donghai City.
But upon further reflection, this conclusion wasn¡¯t rigorously substantiated. There was still no concrete evidence. It was all Lin Xian¡¯s conjecture.
¡°Anyway, it seems that 600 yearster, MX Company has no ties to Zhao Ying Jun. But building a massive sci-fi city like New Donghai City couldn¡¯t have urred overnight. During that period, MX Company must have undergone several leadership changes and reorganizations.¡±
¡°So¡ when did Zhao Ying Jun lose control of thepany? Or did she maintain control over MX Company for a long time?¡±
Curious, Lin Xian opened the book to the preface.
¡°Me and MX¡±
The preface seemed irrelevant. At least to Lin Xian, it was. He wasn¡¯t interested in how this bald white man had grown MX Company. He was only interested in its history. Flipping through the pages, he finally reached the crucial information.
The book stated: MX Company was founded in 2020 by Zhao Ying Jun, who started from scratch in Donghai City, turning it into the colossal MX Company.
Under Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s wise leadership, MX Company rapidly ascended to prominence in the domestic cosmetics industry and began gaining international recognition. However, heaven envies talent.
This page ended here. Anxious, Lin Xian quickly turned the page.
What happened? Why did it end with ¡°heaven envies talent¡±?
Turning the page, the first sentence hit Lin Xian like a bolt of lightning:
Just as thepany was reaching new heights, Zhao Ying Jun was tragically killed in a shooting incident, dying at the age of 23.
Subsequently, MX Company was taken over by the Zhao family from the capital, undergoing significant personnel changes and business reorganization. From then on, MX Company embarked on a new path!
Chapter 112: The Choice
A shooting incident? An idental death?
Lin Xian stared at the ominous words.
¡°Did Zhao Ying Jun really die so young?¡±
He focused on the phrases [a beauty¡¯s passing], [died at 23] was a cruelly short lifespan.
Lin Xian scratched his head, uncertain of his emotions. idents and death were daily realities, yet it felt different when it involved someone he knew, someone he interacted with almost daily. They had even spoken in her office earlier that day. If the book had imed Zhao Ying Jun died at 30 or 40, it wouldn¡¯t have seemed so shocking. But 23? That was far too young.
More importantly, Zhao Ying Jun was 23 now¡
Was her death imminent? Lin Xian gazed at her name on the water-damaged book. He never imagined he would find a friend¡¯s death date written in a book from 600 years in the future.
Whistle! Whistle!
Outside the wall, a sound like a bird call echoed.Lin Xian checked his watch.
00:18:24
Big Cat Face was probably signaling that it was time to move. They had to leave before 00:19 when the surveince blind spot wouldst only 30 seconds.
¡°Lin Xian, we need to go! The surveince blind spot is only 30 seconds starting at 00:19!¡± Ning Ning called, rushing toward the wall with a stack of books.
Lin Xian quickly flipped through the biography again but found no further useful details. The book briefly mentioned the founding of MX Company and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s idental death, then reverted to a self-indulgent tone.
¡°Lin Xian! What are you doing? Hurry up!¡± Ning Ning ran back to drag him away. ¡°Stop reading! We can read it outside!¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback that Ning Ning hade back for him. He thought she would have already scaled the wall. He hadn¡¯t nned to leave, preferring to find a hidden spot to read the book thoroughly.
¡°Hurry, we¡¯re running out of time!¡±
Ning Ning grabbed his arm, pulling him through the trash heap. Lin Xian tucked the book into his waistband and followed.
However¡
Buzz! Buzz!
The buzz of a drone¡¯s propellers grew louder as it approached quickly! Ning Ning¡¯s return had dyed them; they were about to be caught in the drone¡¯s surveince range!
¡°You go first.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Ning Ning was startled. The next second, Lin Xian lifted her up and used himself as a makeshiftdder, boosting her over the wall.
¡°Climb over!¡±
With Lin Xian¡¯s help, Ning Ning scrambled over the high wall.
Thud.
There was no harshnding sound. Big Cat Face had assured them they would be caught safely outside.
¡°Lin Xian¡ª¡± Ning Ning¡¯s voice called from beyond the wall!
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Urgent rms grew closer rapidly! Lin Xian looked up to see several drones with red lights shing.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
¡
¡
Boom!
Lin Xian sat up in bed, panting heavily, rubbing his head. Was it all a hallucination? He had witnessed his own brain exploding¡ªa vivid, yet thrilling scene he hadn¡¯t encountered in dreams for years.
He nced at the clock.
00:22
Since his death had awakened him, it wasn¡¯t the usual 00:42. The time of death determined the wake-up time. Once dead, he couldn¡¯t return to the same dream; even if he slept again, he would be in a dreamless state until the next 12:42 pm cycle.
Lin Xian sat at his desk, turned on themp, and jotted down Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death details from memory:
Just as thepany was flourishing, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun was tragically killed in a shooting incident at midnight, dying at the age of 23.
Following her death, MX Company was taken over by the Zhao Group from the capital, leading to significant personnel changes and business restructuring. MX Company embarked on a new trajectory under the new leadership.
Lin Xian capped his pen, deep in thought.
Initially, he had theorized that Zhao Ying Jun received the Genius Club invitation, joined the club, used a hibernation pod to travel 600 years into the future, and founded New Donghai City with MX Company, remaining as its president 600 yearster.
But now, his theory waspletely off. The Genius Club might still be connected to the founding of New Donghai City, but Zhao Ying Jun yed no part in it. She had died too young at 23. After her death, MX Company was taken over by the Zhao Group, possibly changing hands multiple times over 600 years, unconnected to her.
¡°Zhao Group¡¡± Lin Xian spected it was her father¡¯s or family¡¯s business. Since MX Company was her sole proprietorship, only her parents could legally inherit her assets.
Then, returning to the matter of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death, Lin Xian stared at the heavy words on the white paper. Even without personal feelings, her deathplicated his investigation. The Genius Club invitation in her office drawer was his only lead. If it were lost, he would have no safe way to ess information about the Genius Club. The book was clear that after her death, the Zhao Group took over, altering thepany¡¯s strategy and personnel.
A new regime would likely rece the executives, including himself. Being fired wasn¡¯t a major concern; money wasn¡¯t an issue for him. But losing ess to MX Company meant losing ess to the Genius Club invitation.
The contents of that invitation were crucial. The nature and purpose of the Genius Club were shrouded in mystery, both in reality and in his dreams. Yet the existence of the club was undeniable, evident from the ck handprint on the moon and Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s abduction.
That invitation was his only connection between his reality and his dreams.
Lin Xian felt that all the mysteries might be linked to the Genius Club. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose this vital clue.
¡°I can¡¯t let Zhao Ying Jun die.¡±
Lin Xian lifted his gaze.
¡°Her death would severely hinder my investigation.¡±
He twirled the pen in his fingers. Losing Zhao Ying Jun would sever his only clue, his only link, his only chance to delve into the Genius Club. Moreover, he was curious whether preventing her death might alter the future. Would New Donghai City remain walled? Would the MX Company towers still dominate the city center? Lin Xian disliked the dystopian world of his second dream. Ning Ning and many others did as well. The twisted future seemed less appealing than the underdeveloped world of his first dream.
¡°So¡¡±
¡°If Zhao Ying Jun doesn¡¯t die young, could the future and New Donghai City change?¡±
Considering thews of time and space and the butterfly effect, Lin Xian saw a high probability. If he could prevent her untimely death, it would establish a temporal anchor point. If this temporal change could break the 600-year cycle, it might trigger a butterfly effect, altering the future and the dream world.
¡°It¡¯s worth a try.¡±
At the very least, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch her die. Professor Xu Yun¡¯s horrific death was still fresh in his mind. Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to witness another friend¡¯s demise. If Zhao Ying Jun were a viin, it might be different. But she had shown no signs of wrongdoing. He couldn¡¯t judge her based solely on a Genius Club invitation and Big Cat Face¡¯s suspicions.
Though Lin Xian regarded the Genius Club as a potential adversary, he entertained the possibility of misunderstanding both the club and Zhao Ying Jun. The true nature of the club and her alignment were still unknown.
Overall, saving Zhao Ying Jun outweighed the risks.
¡°But I must ensure my safety first.¡±
Lin Xian stopped twirling the pen, staring into the dark night outside.
¡°Zhao Ying Jun received the Genius Club invitation, and the club¡¯s nature remains unclear. I mustn¡¯t reveal my intentions or that I know her fate.¡±
¡°Dreams are my greatest secret and weapon. I can¡¯t expose my knowledge of the future.¡±
When nning to save Zhao Ying Jun, he needed to be cautious and discreet, adhering to three principles:
Don¡¯t inform Zhao Ying Jun of her impending death or reveal his foresight.
Avoid suspicious, abrupt actions to keep her safe.
Ensure she naturally and inconspicuously escapes the shooting incident.
Staring at the words ¡°idental death¡± on the paper, Lin Xian recalled Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s incident, Professor Xu Yun¡¯s tragedy, the future world with its ckened moon, and MX Company¡¯s towering buildings. He shivered.
Was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death truly an ident?
Chapter 113: The Judge of Life and Death
Lin Xian lifted his gaze to the sky, where the moon hovered, partially hidden by drifting clouds.
¡°Zhao Ying Jun,¡± he pondered, ¡°this woman is shrouded in too many mysteries.¡±
Though unassuming in appearance, she had received an invitation to the Genius Club. Herpany, MX Company, began as a modest cosmetics brand but had morphed into a massive conglomerate, pioneering the construction of steel cities in a future era. Moreover, there was the mysterious Zhao Group in the capital¡
¡°What web has she be entangled in?¡± Lin Xian whispered to himself as he propped his chin with his hands while sitting back in his chair, ¡°Zhao Ying Jun is a woman of many secrets, and these secrets are vital to me.¡±
To alter her destiny and change her predetermined end, he first needed to uncover the circumstances of her demise. The details of her death¡ªthe event, the time, the ce¡ªwere all crucial. Only with a clear understanding of these elements could he hope to save her with certainty.
In that moment, Lin Xian felt akin to a judge of life and death, yet his role was not to condemn but to rescue, to rewrite Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s fate as prescribed by the cosmic ledger of life and death.
He stared at the sparse lines he had jotted down on a sheet of nk paper. The information he had was scant. In the self-aggrandizing autobiography titled ¡°Me and MX,¡± the CEO spent 99.99% of the text glorifying his own achievements, leaving a mere 0.01% about MX Company. Within that sliver, only one sentence pertained to its founder, Zhao Ying Jun: ¡°Just as thepany reached its peak, Miss Zhao Ying Jun met a tragic end in a shooting incident at the stroke of midnight, at the tender age of 23.¡±
The specifics of her death¡ªwhen, where, why¡ªremained undisclosed¡
Had MX Company not thrived for 600 years, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s brief mention and her obscure demise would likely have been lost to the annals of history.¡°So, these critical details¡ I must investigate them myself.¡±
Solving a mystery with such scant information from 600 years in the future was no small feat. Yet, he clung to one vital clue.
Lin Xian circled the phrase ¡°at the age of 23¡± on his paper. It was a significant clue. Zhao Ying Jun was currently 23, the same age when Lin Xian had joined thepany the previous July. She wasn¡¯t immortal; she couldn¡¯t remain 23 indefinitely.
¡°If the record states she was 23 at her time of death, then her demise must ur before her 24th birthday.¡±
This logic seemed sound unless the historical record was wed, in which case, even divine intervention couldn¡¯t aid Zhao Ying Jun.
Lin Xian checked his phone for any information on MX Company and interviews with Zhao Ying Jun. Thepany had gained substantial domestic fame, and as a young CEO, Zhao Ying Jun attracted considerable media attention.
He quickly discovered her birth date¡ªJanuary 15, 1999.
¡°January 15? That¡¯s rmingly soon!¡± He nced at the digital clock on his nightstand.
It disyed: January 12, 2022
00:37
¡°¡What a coincidence?¡± Lin Xian mused, organizing his thoughts. The historical record explicitly stated that Zhao Ying Jun died at 23, a detail unlikely to be erroneous, especially considering it came from the boastful autobiography of MX Company¡¯s CEO. An error in documenting the founder¡¯s fate would be absurd.
Viewing it from another angle, given that Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death involved a shooting, it would be a major event in Donghai City, likely documented extensively by the police and reported widely due to her high-profile status.
Thus, the ¡°at the age of 23¡± detail was probably urate.
This meant that Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s demise and the shooting incident had to ur noter than January 14.
¡°After January 15, she would technically be 24, invalidating the ¡®dying at 23¡¯ detail.¡±
¡°Thetest possible date for Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death and the shooting incident is therefore January 14.¡±
Based on historical patterns, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death and the shooting would likely happen on January 12, 13, or 14.
To be conservative, January 15 might be considered, but Lin Xian preferred not to extend his spection too far. Unlike the recurring scenarios in his dream world, real life offered no opportunities for do-overs. Zhao Ying Jun had just one life, and he had one chance to save her. Any miscalction could cost her life and his chance to ess the Genius Club invitation.
¡°I should treat each day as potentially herst, leaving no room for chance.¡±
The potential dates for her death were thus narrowed down to these three days. The exact timing remained unknown, but the phrase ¡°at the stroke of midnight¡± provided a rough estimate.
Midnight was typically understood as around 12 a.m., not stretching beyond.
Given this, Lin Xian estimated the possible time of her death from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. This timeframe seemed reasonable.
Thus, it was concluded that Zhao Ying Jun might meet her untimely end on the nights of January 12, 13, or 14 ording to the original timeline.
The next task was to identify the circumstances leading to her death and ascertain why it urred.
Lin Xian considered whether her death, described as idental, might actually have been intentional, simr to the circumstances surrounding Big Cat Face¡¯s father and Professor Xu Yun.
However, he dismissed this line of thought. If the same individual responsible for Professor Xu Yun¡¯s death was involved, the timing would likely be ¡°early morning¡± rather than ¡°midnight,¡± and the cause would be a ¡°car ident¡± rather than a ¡°shooting.¡±
¡°I shouldn¡¯t wander down fruitless paths,¡± Lin Xian shook his head, deciding not to delve deeper.
His primary objective was her rescue, not solving a mystery. Ensuring her survival was paramount. Thus, whether it was an ident or not, he initially treated it as such. The shooting incident was a fact; its nature was secondary.
Now, having deduced the approximate time and cause of death, the final step was determining the ce of death¡ªthe location of the shooting.
Unfortunately, with the limited information avable, pinpointing the exact location of the shooting and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death was impossible.
¡°But that¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian set down his pen and stretched. With his previous deductions, even if the exact location remained unknown, it wasn¡¯t critical. He already had a general strategy to prevent Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death: disrupt the original historical trajectory by altering her schedule, thereby averting the shooting incident and consequently, her demise.
¡°Although I don¡¯t know where Zhao Ying Jun was originally nning to be on the nights of January 12 to 14, changing her ns to different locations should alter the historical trajectory.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in satisfaction. This approach was straightforward and potentially effective.
Assuming Zhao Ying Jun initially nned to be at locations A, B, and C on those nights, shifting her schedule to locations D, E, and F might prevent the shooting incident. After all, the shooting wasn¡¯t targeted at her; she was merely an unintended victim.
However, he needed to exercise caution, ensuring not to reveal his knowledge of future events or the secrets of his dreams to Zhao Ying Jun. His actions couldn¡¯t appear calcted.
How to proceed?
Lin Xian stood and paced his bedroom.
¡°I¡¯ve figured it out.¡±
¡
The next morning, Lin Xian arrived early at thepany. He organized his work materials, ready to present them to Zhao Ying Jun. Unfortunately, she was out for the morning and would not return until the afternoon.
He waited patiently until then.
On the 22nd floor, in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.
¡°Very good,¡± Zhao Ying Jun remarked after reviewing Lin Xian¡¯s report, nodding with approval. ¡°You continue to handle everything impably.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Xian responded evenly, his gaze fixed on Zhao Ying Jun, who seemed oblivious to her looming fate.
¡°Do you have time tonight?¡±
¡°Why?¡± Zhao Ying Jun inquired, tidying the files on her desk without looking up. ¡°Is there something you need?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded, his expression earnest. ¡°I¡¯ve reserved a table at a fine restaurant. I¡¯d like to invite you to dinner tonight.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun paused, a pencil slipping from her grasp and rolling off the desk. The spacious office fell silent, the only sound the rustling of dry leaves from a potted nt.
A breeze seemed to stir from nowhere.
¡°You want to take me to dinner?¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, setting aside her files. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at Lin Xian. ¡°Is there a special reason?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, ¡°I want to thank you for your support and the opportunities you¡¯ve provided. You¡¯ve yed a significant role in my career, and I wish to express my gratitude. You¡¯ve given me numerous chances to demonstrate my abilities, shaping my present circumstances.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Zhao Ying Jun resumed organizing her desk. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. Your achievements stem from your own efforts and talent, not my influence. If anyone should be grateful, it¡¯s me, for your contributions during MX Company¡¯s challenging times.¡±
¡°But there¡¯s another reason,¡± Lin Xian quickly added, anticipating her reluctance. He needed a morepelling justification.
¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked up, curiosity piqued. ¡°Go on.¡±
Lin Xian hesitated, then disclosed, ¡°I¡¯m considering leaving MX Company.¡±
Chapter 114: Something Special
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s smile vanished as she straightened up, fixing her gaze on Lin Xian.
¡°Leaving MX Company? That¡¯s rather sudden¡ Do you have other ns? Are you thinking about joining anotherpany?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly. ¡°I¡¯m considering starting my own venture.¡±
¡°Have you thought this through?¡±
¡°Notpletely,¡± Lin Xian admitted, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m a bit confused right now. A lot has happened recently. I¡¯ve gained some capital, but¡ I¡¯m unsure what to do next or how to proceed.¡±
¡°I admire your achievements in the business world at such a young age. I aspire to do something simr, so I¡¯m thinking of taking this chance while I¡¯m young and have the resources to start my own business. Of course, I¡¯m not saying I¡¯m quitting MX Company right away.¡±
Realizing he had piqued Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s interest, Lin Xian continued cautiously, ¡°I still feel Ick experience. I don¡¯t know much about business or management. Rushing into starting a business now wouldn¡¯t be wise.¡±
¡°I still want to learn more from you, acquire more skills. There¡¯s no rush to start a business, but having a n and direction beforehand is crucial.¡±
¡°That¡¯s actually why I wanted to have dinner with you. If you don¡¯t mind¡ I¡¯d like to discuss this with you tonight, to hear your opinions and advice.¡±Lin Xian used the possibility of leaving MX Company as leverage against Zhao Ying Jun. It was her major concern. He held half the copyrights of the Rhine Cat, and his departure might prompt a renegotiation of ownership.
Furthermore, Lin Xian¡¯s innovative designs were the real value behind the Rhine Cat. Additionally, Professor Xu Yun¡¯s authorization of a magical chemical substance was in Lin Xian¡¯s possession. He could withdraw MX Company¡¯s authorization at any time and grant it to other cosmeticpanies. This posed a real danger to MX Company.
These issues were manageable as long as Lin Xian stayed with MX Company. However, if he ever left, the timing and impact of these potential problems would be critical.
Lin Xian had no intention of leaving MX Company; he hadn¡¯t even received the Genius Club invitation yet. But without using this leverage, Zhao Ying Jun wouldn¡¯t have agreed to dinner. If she epted the dinner, her schedule would change, altering the course of events.
If the shooting happened tonight, Zhao Ying Jun could avoid it, thus changing the history that led to her premature death.
¡°Hmm¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Your concerns are valid. If you have ns for a business or ideas formercial development, I can certainly share some of my experiences¡ªthough they¡¯re more lessons learned from failures.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m sorry, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun leaned back in her chair. ¡°Tonight isn¡¯t possible. I already have an appointment.¡±
She pulled out some documents Lin Xian had prepared about the Rhine Cat. Zhao Ying Jun had mentioned showing them to otherposers.
¡°Tonight, I¡¯ve arranged a meeting with a top domestic music producer to discuss the Rhine Cat¡¯s theme song. We scheduled itte because he has another dinner first. I need to wait for him to finish before we can meet.¡±
¡°We must be humble since we¡¯re asking for a favor. This music producer is very skilled. Although I think the chances of him agreeing topose for a cartoon character are slim, it¡¯s still worth a try.¡±
¡°The Rhine Cat is ourpany¡¯s mascot and your brainchild, so I must ensure its sess. How about we meet tomorrow night instead?¡±
She smiled at Lin Xian. ¡°I had ns for tomorrow night too, but as my capable right-hand man, your concerns are more important. We can have a detailed discussion then.¡±
Lin Xian fell silent. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s suggestion was reasonable and seemed natural. Normally, anyone would dly ept rescheduling for the following night. After all, it was just a dinner to discuss future ns. Why rush? The fact that she was willing to meet was already a good sign.
But tomorrow could be toote.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know the exact date of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death. If it was today, it would be toote to have regrets tomorrow. The book stated that Zhao Ying Jun would die ¡°around midnight,¡± and she mentioned the music producer had another dinner before meeting her tonight¡
This was too risky.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take the chance. Reality didn¡¯t allow for retries. Everything had to be perfect. But insisting on dinner tonight and asking Zhao Ying Jun to cancel her meeting would seem too deliberate and suspicious.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s stance with the Genius Club was unclear, and Lin Xian couldn¡¯t afford to take that risk. He needed a wless solution, one that would prevent Zhao Ying Jun from meeting the music producer tonight and ensure they had dinner tomorrow night.
¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xian agreed cheerfully. ¡°I¡¯ll book the ce and send the details to your driver.¡±
¡°Zhao, you mentioned the music producer wasn¡¯t very interested inposing for the Rhine Cat?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°In our initial contact, he wasn¡¯t very enthusiastic. But I¡¯ll do my best tonight.¡±
¡°Honestly, it bothers me that the Rhine Cat is looked down upon. As its designer, it¡¯s frustrating,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Why not bypass theposers? We could create something ourselves.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun regarded him. ¡°Do you have a solution?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll write the theme song for the Rhine Cat,¡± Lin Xian dered confidently.
Zhao Ying Jun squinted at him and then burst outughing, covering her mouth. ¡°Sorry, but I think that¡¯s a bit far-fetched. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, Lin Xian¡¡±
She flipped her hair. ¡°We must admit thatposing music requires specific expertise. It¡¯s a specialized field.¡±
¡°I appreciate your talent, but expertise is necessary. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let your creation down. I¡¯ll find a topposer.¡±
Lin Xian coughed and said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m not just talking. I taught myself guitar in college.¡±
¡°Self-taught?¡±
¡°I actuallyposed a song that I think suits the Rhine Cat. I even wrote the lyrics while designing the character, but never showed it because I didn¡¯t think it was necessary,¡± Lin Xian lied convincingly.
¡°Really?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You wrote the lyrics too?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°That sounds¡ interesting,¡± she smiled, still skeptical. ¡°Why don¡¯t you grab a guitar from the storeroom and perform it for me?¡±
¡°Sure, why not.¡±
Lin Xian had already prepared for this. Momentster, the staff brought him a guitar. Lin Xian tuned it and yed a simple chord progression while Zhao Ying Jun watched, half-believing.
¡°I¡¯ll start now.¡±
Lin Xian was not aposer, and his guitar skills were basic. But he could manage a simple chord progression. His confidence stemmed from the ¡°mental pollution¡± of the first dream. He often visited a toy store in that dream and nearly memorized all the designs of the Rhine Cat.
The Rhine Cat was enormously popr in the future. Its merchandise filled store shelves, and a catchy theme song yed repeatedly in the background. Lin Xian knew the song by heart due to its incessant repetition.
It was an earworm, permanently lodged in his mind.
Under Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s attentive gaze, Lin Xian yed and sang the catchy and memorable song.
After finishing, Lin Xian set the guitar down and looked at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°How was it?¡±
Chapter 115: A Blank History
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s face was a canvas of emotions¡ªsurprise, joy, and confusion blending together. Finally, she nodded firmly.
¡°Lin Xian, I must admit, I¡¯ve underestimated you. Your talents span music, painting, and more.¡±
¡°Painting is just a hobby, nothing special,¡± Lin Xian replied, standing up. ¡°If you like this song, we could use it as the theme for ¡®Rhine Cat.¡¯¡±
¡°I¡¯d love to ensure it¡¯s well represented since I designed it,¡± he added.
Zhao Ying Jun saw no reason to object. As the CEO, she was aware of the risk of Lin Xian possibly branching out on his own.
¡°That sounds fine to me,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I do like it. And since it¡¯s your creation, you should have the final say.¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if her agreement was genuine or just for convenience, but she agreed nheless.
Following that, Zhao Ying Jun called the music producer¡¯s agent to cancel their nned meeting for that evening.
¡°So, Lin Xian, since my evening is now free, would you prefer to have dinner tonight or tomorrow?¡±¡°Tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian answered promptly. ¡°I should have mentioned it earlier today.¡±
With Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s schedule already cleared, pushing the dinner to tonight seemed pointless. It was better to wait until tomorrow to keep her safely away from the nned shooting incident.
¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Ying Jun stretched leisurely. ¡°I¡¯ll head home and rest then. It¡¯s been ages since Ist had a good night¡¯s sleep.¡±
¡°Make sure to find a studio tomorrow and get a professional recording of the theme song. We¡¯ll pass it directly to the singer afterward,¡± she instructed.
¡°Will do,¡± Lin Xian nodded, then exited her office.
Bang.
The sound of the heavy double-locked door echoed as it shut, dividing their worlds once more.
Around 5 PM, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s business car rolled out of thepany grounds, heading towards her home.
From behind the office blinds, Lin Xian watched.
She was leaving earlier than ever. Typically a workaholic, she packed every minute with tasks, handling almost everything personally.
However, today was different. Lin Xian¡¯s impromptu performance of the ¡®Rhine Cat¡¯ theme song had upended her schedule.
Her usual routine and historical trajectory had shifted.
If the assassination was set for tonight, the bullet would now miss its mark.
Neither the assassin nor Zhao Ying Jun would wait for the other.
Given her residence in a highly secure neighborhood in Donghai, she should be safe.
Lin Xian checked the time.
Almost 5:30 PM.
If he went home now, he¡¯d miss his chance to prevent the theft at the 314 garbage dump and miss the night¡¯s operation nned by Li Cheng.
¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the office.¡±
The office had a rest area, free from formaldehyde and odors, suitable for an overnight stay.
He needed to check the dream world at the 314 garbage dump to see if Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s history had altered.
¡°If tonight¡¯s the shooting, the autobiography should reflect changes. The butterfly effect might even erase the existence of the bald CEO, MX Company, or even New Donghai City.¡±
Lin Xian headed to the rest room, drew the curtains, and settled onto the new bed¡
¡°Lin Xian! I found it!¡±
Across a stack of books, Li Ning Ning called out.
¡°Throw it over!¡±
Whoosh¡
p.
The autobiographynded at Lin Xian¡¯s feet.
He had spent the night catching the three knife thief, joining the Face Gang, notifying Li Cheng about the 314 garbage dump, and now, here with Big Cat Face and the others, they had raided for books.
Picking up the autobiography, Lin Xian turned to the expected page, his heart sinking as he read:
¡°At the peak of thepany¡¯s rise, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun was tragically killed in a shooting incident, passing away at midnight at the age of 23. Subsequently, MX Company was overtaken by the Zhao Group from the capital, leading to significant changes in personnel and operations. Henceforth, MX Company embarked on a new path!¡±
¡°No change,¡± he muttered dryly.
Every word was the same as before.
The looming threat to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life remained unresolved. Tonight wasn¡¯t the designated time for her demise.
¡°If the shooting didn¡¯t ur tonight, then it must be scheduled for January 13 or 14.¡±
Thankfully, Zhao Ying Jun had agreed to dinner tomorrow, altering her usual routine and the historical sequence.
However, the dinner ns were not yet concrete, which meant changes were still possible, and the history recorded in the autobiography couldn¡¯t definitively exclude another assassination attempt tomorrow night.
¡°We¡¯ll see what tomorrow brings.¡±
Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ª
The retreat whistle red outside the 314 garbage dump. Li Ning Ning, clutching a stack of books, shouted to Lin Xian, ¡°We need to leave! Retreat starts at 00:19, and we have only 30 seconds to escape the surveince!¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Last time, a dy in retreating had nearly cost him his life, a mistake he was keen not to repeat.
Stashing the autobiography in his waistband, Lin Xian followed Li Ning Ning to the wall.
Buzz¡
Buzz¡
The drones were closing in; they had 30 seconds to make their escape!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Books flew over the wall as Lin Xian and Li Ning Ning made their escape.
¡°Ning Ning, go first,¡± Lin Xian urged.
Li Ning Ning scaled the wall and leapt to the other side.
Thud.
Big Cat Face and the others caught her safely.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± she called from beyond the wall.
Taking onest look at the towering book piles merging into the darkness, Lin Xian vaulted over.
¡°Hey!¡±
Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang were ready to catch him.
Lin Xian was pleasantly surprised¡
Er Zhuzi, often at odds with him, proved reliable in critical moments.
As long as you respected his boundaries, friendship with him was simple.
Unfortunately, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t quite earned Er Zhuzi¡¯s full trust¡ªperhaps due to his good looks?
¡°Run! We¡¯re still within 20 meters of the surveince range!¡±
As the drones zoomed closer, the group sprinted into the woods.
Buzz!!
The drones swept past, continuing their patrol.
¡°Phew¡¡±
Lin Xian exhaled deeply.
¡°That was thrilling.¡±
It was his first wless mission involving book theft.
Books secured,
No casualties,
Mission aplished perfectly.
¡°Perfect,¡± he whispered.
Feeling a sense of aplishment and pride, he savored the moment as if he had fought for human history and knowledge.
¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡± Big Cat Face asked, intrigued.
¡°Perfect.¡±
¡°Yo! You know foreignnguages too!¡± Big Cat Face chuckled. ¡°Teach me a few words!¡±
¡°Forget it; you¡¯re not the linguistic type.¡±
¡°Hey, don¡¯t underestimate me! I¡¯m great withnguages! Teach me something!¡±
¡°Shit.¡±
¡°Shit!¡± Big Cat Face echoed, smirking. ¡°Fancy!¡±
They lingered on the hill, basking in the sess of their haul,ughter filling the air.
Li Ning Ning remarked it was their most sessful raid in years.
Lin Xian sorted through the books scattered on the ground.
Science, textbooks, engineering blueprints, academic texts¡
Indeed, these were treasures for Li Cheng and those beyond the steel walls.
But¡
¡°Why no history books?¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t recall seeing any history books among the soggy heaps.
How could a massive bookstore, flooded with tens of thousands of books,ck even one history book?
¡°Ning Ning, did you see any history books in there?¡±
He knew it was a futile question¡ªif she had seen any, they would be here. ¡°Have you ever found history books at the dump?¡±
¡°No,¡± Li Ning Ning shook her head. ¡°Not a single one.¡±
Lin Xian frowned¡
This absence wasn¡¯t random.
In a chance search at the dump, missing history books could be overlooked.
But in a vast bookstore, with both of them searching, to find not one history book was beyond strange.
¡°This isn¡¯t normal.¡± Lin Xian nced at Big Cat Face, who was joking with Ah Zhuang and Er Zhuzi¡
The intel about history books in New Donghai City hade from Big Cat Face. Reflecting on it, he probably assumed too much.
He thought since New Donghai City had everything, it would naturally include history books. But now, it seemed they were all mistaken. History books were absent, not just here but seemingly everywhere in the future world.
¡°Why is this?¡± Lin Xian pondered.
He looked up at the full moon, noticing the ck silhouette of a hand pointing skyward:
¡°Does this world¡ have no history?¡±
Chapter 116: The Date of Death
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
At precisely 00:42, a blinding white light enveloped everything, consuming history as time itself swallows the past.
Lin Xian awoke to the musty scent of old furniture. Disoriented, he scanned the unfamiliar room, then sat up and drew back the curtains to reveal a nearly full moon.
Amid stacks of waterlogged books, not a single history book was to be found. This was bizarre. Were history books deliberately withheld from cirction? Was history being manipted to prevent people from learning about the past? What could be the purpose?
Rubbing his head in confusion, Lin Xian pondered, ¡°History has already urred. Its main roles are to educate, warn, and foster understanding. It¡¯s not considered ¡®useful¡¯ knowledge. Unlike engineering, physics, and other sciences, history has no productive or destructive power; it¡¯s static and unalterable.¡±
Then he remembered something Zhao Ying Jun had mentioned, ¡°History doesn¡¯t change.¡±
A chill breeze whisked through the sealed room, sending a shiver up Lin Xian¡¯s spine. What if history could be altered?Revisiting his previous thoughts, he considered that from a temporal perspective, history could indeed be destructive. For someone capable of changing history, it could be the ultimate weapon of time.
¡°Like me,¡± Lin Xian realized. With a precise and detailed history book documenting every significant event, time, location, and impact, he might reshape the future as he desired.
This was mere spection, yet even minor maniptions of the temporal butterfly effect could have terrifying consequences.
For instance, if Lin Xian disliked the future depicted in his second dream, with its towering walls in the new metropolis, he could trace its origins. He could identify who first proposed the metropolis concept and why, trace their lineage back to 2023, and determine who gave birth to this visionary centuriester. By preventing this individual¡¯s ancestors from meeting, he could obliterate the steel cities of 600 years hence.
While radical and challenging, Lin Xian knew it wasn¡¯t impossible. This was just one simple example. With detailed historical records, the possibilities were endless.
¡°Could it be that to prevent such alterations, the future world tightly controls history, creating historical gaps?¡±
This thought fascinated Lin Xian. He believed the true history was preserved somewhere, controlled or concealed as it might be. Even if fragmented and chaotic, traces of history must exist.
In his first dream, though details were vague, the list of World Cup champions had survived. Evencking specifics, that too was history¡ªa trace of the past.
¡°Perhaps the sample size of those waterlogged books was too small, or maybe the water damage spared the history section.¡±
Lin Xian felt it premature to draw conclusions. To verify the existence of history books in New Donghai City, a thorough investigation would be necessary.
Having slept from the afternoon until now had reversed his schedule. Not feeling tired, he got up, left thepany, grabbed supper, showered, and returned to bed.
That evening, in an upscale western restaurant, soft ssical music yed. Waiters glided around, serving exquisite dishes to the patrons. The ce was busy yet subdued, with guests conversing in hushed tones.
¡°Nice choice,¡± Zhao Ying Jun remarked, elegantly attired. Her emerald earrings sparkled under the warm lighting, adding a touch of sophisticated charm.
She had shed her dark green coat, revealing a sleek ck turtleneck. Sitting across from Lin Xian, she admired the restaurant¡¯s ambiance. ¡°I¡¯ve known about this ce for ages. It¡¯s near my home, but this is my first visit.¡±
¡°The caviar is reputed to be excellent,¡± Lin Xianmented, observing the ssical decor. ¡°It¡¯s my first time here as well.¡±
In the past, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have frequented such an establishment, not due to its cost, but because he didn¡¯t value the experience. Despite its prices, he had not acquired a taste for such cuisine. Most patrons came for business discussions rather than the food itself.
The meal progressed with several appetizers, quickly followed by entrees and desserts. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun chatted amiably, discussing the dishes, vors, and wines. Zhao Ying Jun, likely due to her upbringing, was knowledgeable yet never dwelt on topics beyond Lin Xian¡¯s understanding. Instead, she skillfully steered their conversation towards familiar subjects like art, movies, and college life.
Her demeanor was considerate, making Lin Xian feel rxed and valued. It seemed her elegance was not just a facade but a genuine aspect of her character¡ªlistening more than speaking, a rare quality.
¡°Honestly, I was hesitant when you mentioned leaving MX Company,¡± Zhao Ying Jun admitted after dessert, dabbing her lips with a napkin and looking earnestly at Lin Xian. ¡°I was surprised by your ambition. It¡¯s refreshing to see you taking initiative. Finding a purpose and striving for something worthwhile is indeed a blessing.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just challenging myself, trying to add meaning to my life,¡± Lin Xian responded, setting down his wine ss. ¡°I could livefortably on royalties andmissions, but earning my own money has shifted my perspective. I aspire to build something significant, much like you have.¡±
Lin Xian hoped to mirror Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s drive and insight, gaining her trust and possibly a closer role in her ventures. This could provide him opportunities to explore the Genius Club invitation further.
¡°But I acknowledge my current limitations. I¡¯m not yet ready to venture out on my own. For now, I¡¯mmitted to learning from you and gaining invaluable experience at MX Company.¡±
¡°I hope you can guide and mentor me. I have much to learn.¡±
Raising his ss, Lin Xian smiled at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m not the most eloquent, and maybe my words are clumsy. But I¡¯m truly fortunate to be part of MX Company and to have you as my mentor.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun raised her ss in response, smiling warmly. ¡°And I am fortunate to have a team member like you.¡±
They sipped their wine, then continued their discussion, touching on the Rhine Cat project, Xu Yun, and other topics.
Lin Xian learned that Zhao Ying Jun had postponed a meeting with a director to dine with him tonight. Her schedule was packed, meeting withposers one day, directors the next, and artists thereafter.
Reflecting on her hectic life, Lin Xian realized such a demanding routine was far from themanding CEO lifestyle he had imagined.
¡°Sometimes, taking it easy isn¡¯t so bad,¡± he thought but kept these thoughts to himself. Outwardly, he remained the ambitious professional, always prioritizing advancement at MX Company.
After dinner, Zhao Ying Jun offered Lin Xian a ride home, but he declined, citing ns with friends nearby. He had chosen the restaurant close to her home for safety reasons, ensuring she wouldn¡¯t have to travel far at night. Caution was always prudent.
¡°Then I¡¯ll be off,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said as her driver closed her car door.
Rolling down her window, she smiled at Lin Xian. ¡°Thanks for dinner. The caviar was indeed excellent.¡±
¡°Goodbye,¡± Lin Xian waved as her car pulled away. She was only a five-minute drive from home. Checking his watch, he noted it was just past 9 PM, far from ¡°midnight.¡±
¡°Tonight, everything should be fine.¡±
The next day, Lin Xian checked his phone for news about Donghai, scanning for any reports on shootings or rted incidents.
¡°Nothing.¡±
Shootings were rare and heavily reported in this country. If something had happened in Donghai City involving Zhao Ying Jun, it would have made the headlines.
This meant the predicted shooting incident that could have ended Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life hadn¡¯t urred.
Checking the date on his bedside clock, Lin Xian noted, January 14, 2023. ¡°Tonight¡ is Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s date of death.¡±
Chapter 117: The Pull of Fate
Lin Xian sat up in bed and pulled open the curtains to let the warm sunlight in. Despite the brightness, he felt a chill. He vividly recalled a book from 600 years in the future that foretold Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s fate: she was destined to die at 23 in a midnight shooting. Tonight, at midnight, she would turn 24.
¡°So, ording to history, Zhao Ying Jun won¡¯t live past tonight,¡± Lin Xian murmured to himself.
It was January 14, 2023, at 10:00 AM. Only 12 hours remained until Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s foretold demise. How could he save her?
Two days ago, on January 12, Zhao Ying Jun had nned to meet aposer but canceled to record the theme song for Rhine Cat. Yesterday, she intended to meet an animation director but instead had dinner with Lin Xian. Today, she was supposed to meet a female singer about the song. He couldn¡¯t keep making her cancel her ns. That would raise suspicions.
Lin Xian wondered if Zhao Ying Jun might be a member of the Genius Club. His life was at stake, too. But was there a way to save them both?
At MX Company¡¯s 22nd-floor office, time seemed frozen.
Two days prior, Lin Xian had yed the guitar on the sofa, wiping it down with a paper towel¡ªthe cleanest spot in the room.
¡°Is the demo ready? Did you finish it?¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked up from her documents.
¡°Almost,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°I spoke to the recording studio. They said it should be ready this afternoon.¡±¡°Good, get it as soon as you can,¡± she instructed, eyes back on her files. ¡°Do you want toe with me tonight?¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°Can I?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not a private meeting. There¡¯s a party in the entertainment circle tonight, and I arranged to meet the singer there. If the demo is ready, it would be perfect to let her listen to it directly.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re free,e along. It¡¯s your cat, after all. You have a say in who sings the theme song. Besides, your presence might help me avoid any trouble.¡±
Lin Xian remembered thest banquet. Zhao Ying Jun wanted him as her shield. At these events, it wasmon for men with various motives to ask her for a dance. Direct refusals might be rude, but dancing with them was not her preference. The best solution was to bring Lin Xian along. His presence would imply she wasn¡¯t avable, warding off potential suitors.
¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°I¡¯m free tonight. I¡¯lle and listen to the singer.¡±
Unexpectedly, the situation was clearer now. The shooting was supposed to happen at midnight, during Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s original ns. Changing the time and her route might prevent the incident. Lin Xian nned to keep the meeting short,pliment the singer regardless of her performance, and leave early¡ªaround 9 PM. This way, Zhao Ying Jun would be home by 10 PM, away from any danger. For extra safety, he¡¯d change her route home, having her driver drop him off first on a pretext.
¡°Do you drive?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked.
¡°A bit,¡± Lin Xian responded.
¡°Do you have a license?¡± She looked skeptical.
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian said, though he only had limited real-life driving experience. In his dreams, he¡¯d mastered driving for over a decade, including stunts and high-speed chases.
¡°Great,¡± she said, rummaging through her drawer. ¡°Today¡¯s event needs a bit of ir¡ This should do.¡± She tossed him a key.
Lin Xian caught it. ¡°Pick me up at 7:30 PM sharp. Don¡¯t bete.¡±
With instructions clear, Lin Xian went to the underground garage, found the designated spot with the remote, and revealed a blue convertible Bentley Continental GT. This rare car boasted a 6.0L twin-turbo engine with over 650 horsepower. Lin Xian, though not a car owner, was well-versed about this model. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s choice reflected her immense wealth. Why did she work relentlessly despite her fortunes?
Lin Xian started the Bentley, the engine¡¯s roar stirring memories of his dreamt driving adventures, which far surpassed this real-world experience. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± he muttered, shifting the car to manual and speeding out of the garage. He carefully turned on all the vehicle¡¯s systems, determined to return the Bentley unscathed. He thought about his promise to buy a car from Gao Yang¡¯s dealership, nning to keep it soon. Despite his dreams¡¯ thrills, real-world luxuries seemed less exhrating.
Driving to the recording studio, Lin Xian felt in control of the evening, poised to ensure Zhao Ying Jun escaped her predicted fate. Later, after picking up the demo, Lin Xian returned home to get ready for the party. At 7:30 PM, he picked up Zhao Ying Jun, who was dressed to match the blue Bentley.
¡°Why a convertible? It¡¯s not that warm,¡± Lin Xianmented, admiring her sapphire earrings and blue dress.
¡°This party is special. The car fits the theme,¡± she replied, setting her purse on herp.
¡°It¡¯s a casual business party. We¡¯re just meeting the singer. If you approve of her voice, we can finalize everything tonight,¡± she added as they drove off.
Lin Xian nodded, driving them to the venue. The location was remote, but light traffic allowed a smooth journey. As evening fell, Lin Xian parked the impressive Bentley at the entrance, opening the door for Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Ms. Zhao, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± he announced.
She elegantly exited, lifting her dress slightly, and entered the golden hall. Lin Xian checked his watch: 8:00 PM. Four hours remained until midnight, her 24th birthday, and her supposed escape from fate.
Chapter 118: Ordinary
As they entered the hall, Zhao Ying Jun immediately spotted the female singer they were scheduled to meet.
The meeting went smoothly. The singer, known on stage as Ilk, was actually named Miaoke. Lin Xian was familiar with her work; her melodious voice was an ideal fit for the Rhine Cat brand¡¯s theme song.
Zhao Ying Jun had meticulously nned this. Miaoke listened to the demo,vished praise on it, and was quite taken with the song. The coboration was agreed upon with enthusiasm, efficient and straightforward, just as Lin Xian had hoped.
Shortly thereafter, the formal portion of the ballmenced. Waltz music filled the air, and elegantly dressed couples took to the dance floor, twirling gracefully. Knowing Zhao Ying Jun typically avoided dancing at such events, Lin Xian prudently stayed at the sidelines with her, munching on snacks.
Zhao Ying Jun consistently turned down dance invitations, even from numerous distinguished men. With Lin Xian by her side, she didn¡¯t even need to directly refuse anyone. Most attendees, noticing her with a malepanion, respectfully kept their distance.
Lin Xian knew his role well; he was there to sit, eat, drink, and shield her. Yet, a few eager minor celebrities and models asionally approached to ask Zhao Ying Jun to dance. Lin Xian had to admit these men were quite charismatic and polished, resembling statues, some even being foreign models. It was clear they were drawn by Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s affluence, possibly looking for opportunities.
For those who were overly persistent, Zhao Ying Jun wouldn¡¯t even offer a nce, and Lin Xian would curtly decline for her: ¡°Sorry, President Zhao is quite exhausted.¡±
Those men reluctantly walked away, casting frustrated looks back at Lin Xian.
¡°Do you find this ball dull?¡± Zhao Ying Jun questioned, nibbling on snacks and sipping wine while observing Lin Xian, as the music intensified.Lin Xian didn¡¯t visibly react. ¡°It¡¯s alright, not much different from Chu Shan He¡¯s events.¡±
¡°The difference is vast; they¡¯re entirely different leagues,¡± Zhao Ying Jun corrected, her gaze sweeping over the dancers. ¡°Do you know the mostvish, high-profile event in Donghai City¡¯s business circle each year?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°It¡¯s the New Year¡¯s Eve banquet hosted by Chu Shan He on the 28th of the lunar month,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s where the real power yers gather. You should see it.¡±
Suddenly, the music halted abruptly. The dancers stopped, turning their attention towards the entrance. Several police officers, stern-faced, had blocked the entryway. The leading officer surveyed the crowd.
¡°Good evening,dies and gentlemen. Sorry for this interruption,¡± the officer announced. ¡°Please stay put and cooperate with our investigation for your safety.¡±
It was just past nine. Lin Xian had nned to continue his chat with Zhao Ying Jun a bit longer before driving her home. But why were the police here?
The crowd murmured. The officer asked for silence and continued:
¡°We¡¯ve received a tip-off that a female singer here is being targeted by a disgruntled fan who threatened her and himself after she announced her rtionship recently. Though often just idle threats online, this fan may be unstable¡ For safety, we are here to protect her and search the area. Please remain calm and cooperate.¡±
Miaoke, who had just secured a coboration with Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun, turned pale. She was renowned for her wholesome, sweet image, steering clear of the acting or variety show circuits, focusing purely on her singing.
She had recently made her rtionship public with her childhood sweetheart, also her manager, which was well-received by most fans. Celebrities¡¯ rtionships are usually epted nowadays and don¡¯t impact their careers significantly. Miaoke¡¯s career was about her talent, not just her image. Yet, controlling fans¡¯ reactions was impossible.
¡°I¡ I want to go home!¡± Miaoke stammered, visibly shaken.
The officer nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll ensure your safety. First, we need to secure this area and search it. Please, everyone, stay seated.¡±
After a thorough search that found no immediate threats, the crowd rxed. However, the festive mood had evaporated, and people began to leave.
¡°Let¡¯s go too, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested.
Lin Xian agreed, fetched his Bentley keys, and escorted Zhao Ying Jun to the parking lot. The incident had been unsettling. Fanatic fans had caused problems too often. Lin Xian suspected that in the original timeline, this event might have seen Zhao Ying Jun caught in a shooting. Such violent incidents were rare, making it even less likely for two to ur at the same event on the same day. Now it was evident: the target was not Zhao Ying Jun but Miaoke, in a warped act of ¡®devotion.¡¯
Lin Xian pondered that in the original timeline, the shooter might have seeded in killing Miaoke, with Zhao Ying Jun inadvertently involved. The nned shooting was a few hours away, around midnight, suggesting the assant was likely hidden, waiting for Miaoke. But that was for the police to handle.
His priority was to safely get Zhao Ying Jun home. They approached his luxurious blue Bentley Continental GT, a standout vehicle. Zhao Ying Jun climbed in, and Lin Xian followed, starting the car and driving off swiftly.
The V12 engine hummed. Lin Xian drove quickly, passing several intersections. Zhao Ying Jun looked out, watching the scenery, then turned suddenly.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going the wrong way?¡±
¡°Ah, really?¡± Lin Xian feigned surprise, checking the road signs. ¡°Looks like I am. Sorry, I was lost in thought.¡±
¡°You should¡¯ve taken the rightne to the highway,¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed out, amused. ¡°Now you¡¯ll need to detour.¡±
Lin Xian smiled sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this area and don¡¯t drive often.¡±
¡°I can tell,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°You need more practice.¡±
¡°Will do,¡± Lin Xian replied, merging onto another highway. The night breeze yed with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± she began softly, ¡°I really appreciate all your help recently. Without you, the Rhine Cat project, Professor Xu Yun¡¯s authorization, and the theme song coboration might not have been this sessful.¡±
She nced at him, her eyes reflecting the neon lights outside. ¡°You¡¯re very capable, not just talented, but in every way. I admire that.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, maintaining his speed. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to be appreciated by you.¡±
The powerful car smoothly merged onto the main highway. ¡°If one day you decide to leave MX Company, I¡¯ll support you,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, looking ahead. ¡°As you said, you have your ambitions. I respect that.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m curious,¡± she continued, her smile bright as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting the wind y with it. ¡°Honestly, I used to think you weren¡¯t very ambitious. You seemed soid-back and ordinary, just doing your job well, which was enough for me. Buttely, you¡¯ve been more proactive, more involved. It¡¯s like you¡¯ve found a goal. Can you tell me why?¡±
The speed limit was 80 km/h, but they were going faster. Lin Xian hesitated. Was Zhao Ying Jun testing him, suspecting his motives, or merely showing concern? He knew he had changed since Xu Yun¡¯s death. He wasn¡¯t a hero, but he feltpelled to uncover the truth and identify the killer. He was certain the killer was linked to the Genius Club. His actions were indeed calcted, aiming to gain Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s trust to ess the coveted invitation in her office. She was right; his transformation had a purpose. But how to articte this?
¡°I¡¯ve tasted sess,¡± Lin Xian finally said, eyes on the road. ¡°For 23 years, my life was ordinary. My biggest achievements were winning a city parkour championship in high school and hosting a few college events. Maybe I was content because I never had real aspirations. Now, I crave sess and don¡¯t want to live an ordinary life.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t immediately reply. She reclined in her seat, closing her eyes with a sigh. ¡°Alright.¡±
A few minutester, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s phone chimed. She checked the message. ¡°Miaoke is home safely,¡± she informed Lin Xian. ¡°I asked her to let me know when she arrived.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Lin Xian noted, focusing on the road.
¡°You know Miaoke?¡± a raspy voice suddenly inquired from behind.
On a high-speed highway, this was rming! Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun turned, shocked. A disheveled man emerged from the narrow back seat, clutching a crumpled bouquet of flowers. He produced an old double-barreled shotgun from among the flowers, aiming it at Lin Xian¡¯s head.
¡°Turn around and drive,¡± he demanded, his eyes wild and voice harsh. ¡°Take me to Miaoke now!¡±
Chapter 119: Speeding Wildly
BOOM!!
A blue Bentley raced down the elevated expressway like a missile.
Lin Xian felt the cold, hard metal of a double-barrel shotgun pressed against his forehead, sending shivers down his spine. He had often fantasized about such scenarios, but now, faced with the reality, he was frozen with fear.
¡°Turn back, you idiot!¡±
The ragged man cursed, pressing the gun barrel even harder against Lin Xian¡¯s forehead. His instability was palpable. Lin Xian wisely focused and kept driving.
¡°Calm down,¡± Zhao Ying Jun pleaded, her voice shaking. ¡°Let¡¯s talk this over. Just put the gun down.¡±
¡°Shut up!!!¡± The disheveled man yelled, pointing the shotgun at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°No more talking! Take me to Miaoke! I need to see her now!!¡±
The cold wind rushed past Lin Xian¡¯s ears as he skillfully steered the vehicle, sizing up the situation.
It became painfully clear¡The vulnerability of a convertible was obvious¡ªitsck of security! Remembering the police¡¯s advice at the party, Lin Xian put the pieces together:
Firstly, the singer Miaoke had gone public with her rtionship, which this crazed fan couldn¡¯t handle. Armed with an antiquated shotgun, his intention was to confront her, even at the cost of his life. Aware of Miaoke¡¯s schedule and her presence at the party, he concealed the gun within a bouquet of roses, wrapped in bright paper.
He likely nned to enter the party with the bouquet and then target Miaoke. However, the police were tipped off early and averted the attack. The man must have seen the police entering from the parking lot, so he quickly found a hiding spot¡ That spot turned out to be this luxurious Bentley Continental GT Convertible.
With other cars locked and covered, this convertible was his only option. The back seat of this sports car, meant for pets or small items, barely amodated the scruffy man as he hid under the seats to escape police detection.
His initial n was probably to wait for Lin Xian to park, then escape. But hearing Zhao Ying Jun mention that Miaoke was already home, and knowing they knew her¡ he enacted a desperate n, forcing them to turn around and drive to Miaoke¡¯s immediately.
At this moment, Lin Xian recalled a line from an autobiography written 600 years in the future¡
¡°Just as thepany was soaring, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun was tragically killed in a shooting incident, dying at midnight at the age of 23.¡±
Lin Xian understood the sequence of events. He had initially thought the shooting urred while Zhao Ying Jun was en route home from the party, inadvertently getting involved. But he was mistaken. The attack wasn¡¯t en route home but was nned near Miaoke¡¯s residence!
When the police showed up, the party abruptly ended around 9 PM, and everyone dispersed. The criminal, hidden in the back of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Bentley, went unnoticed. While driving, he emerged and, at gunpoint, demanded to be taken to Miaoke.
Upon arriving at Miaoke¡¯s residence, something went awry, and it likely resulted in Zhao Ying Jun and Miaoke being murdered by the man. Lin Xian¡¯s initial n to avoid the expected shooting by taking a different route, driving along the outer ring of Donghai to ensure safety, proved futile. The real threat had been with them the entire time in the back seat!
Now, they were in a perilous situation, with the criminal pressing the shotgun to Lin Xian¡¯s head, insisting they find Miaoke.
¡
¡°Hey, let thedy out of the car. I¡¯ll take you to Miaoke,¡± Lin Xian suggested as he took an exit off the elevated highway, preparing to make a U-turn.
¡°Standing up like this isn¡¯t safe; the police might see you. Why don¡¯t you sit in the passenger seat and keep the gun on me? Let thedy go first.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun widened her eyes, puzzled by Lin Xian¡¯s sudden n to safeguard her.
¡°Nobody gets out!¡± The criminal sternly adjusted the gun, tossing the bouquet onto the back seat and gripping the shotgun with both hands, aiming at Lin Xian¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t stop! Keep going! Hurry up!¡±
As Lin Xian slowed at a red light, the criminal jabbed him with the gun. With no other choice, Lin Xian elerated, made the U-turn, and re-entered the elevated highway. As he steered, he exchanged a nce with Zhao Ying Jun. Their eyes met, but their expressions were filled with uncertainty and fear. Unustomed to such extreme peril, Lin Xian hesitated to make any sudden moves.
However, he kept an eye on the road signs whizzing by, nning his next steps. The criminal seemed determined to die, indifferent to his own life or the lives of others, hell-bent on a deadly showdown with Miaoke.
Lin Xian suspected that upon reaching their destination, the criminal would likely kill him and Zhao Ying Jun immediately before confronting Miaoke. Facing certain death, what did it matter to him if he killed one or three?
Lin Xian needed a n. His experiences in dreams had sharpened his mental fortitude. Although real life offered no second chances, he had navigated numerous life-threatening situations in his dreams, and now he maintained hisposure.
He noted in the rearview mirror¡ The old double-barrel shotgun was quite outdated, loaded with two rounds of buckshot¡ªsufficient to kill small animals at close range and effective for hunting. But in abat scenario, it had two major drawbacks:
Itcked a magazine or clip; after each shot, the barrel had to be opened and manually reloaded. Its lengthy barrel required at least half a meter to effectively hit a target in close quarters.
He needed to exploit these weaknesses¡
¡°Drive faster! Don¡¯t try anything funny!¡± The criminal cursed, jabbing Lin Xian¡¯s head with the gun barrel once more. The barrel brushed past Lin Xian¡¯s right ear, briefly pointing in front of his eyes, then was swiftly pulled back.
Hmph. Lin Xian smirked internally, having formted a n.
¡°You want me to drive faster?¡±
¡°Shut up and floor it!¡±
ROAR!!!!!!!!
The twin-turbo engine roared like never before, unleashing its full 650 horsepower. The blue beast charged down the elevated highway like a leopard, like a tiger, roaring into the night. Finally, he could drive without restraint.
VROOM!!!!!!!!
The thrill of eleration! The fierce roar! The intense speed! The speedometer needle kept climbing¡ª
120¡
140¡
160¡
180¡
This was an 80-km/h city expressway, yet Lin Xian had pushed the car to 180! And the speed was still climbing!
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Zhao Ying Jun, her eyes squeezed shut against the wind, yelled in panic, ¡°Slow down! Slow down!¡±
190!
210!
230!!!
The roaring Bentley Continental GT continued to unleash the full power of its legendary 12-cylinder engine. At 230 km/h, it was twice the highway speed limit, but still far from the Continental GT¡¯s top speed!
¡°Hey!!!!!!¡± The breakneck speed and the razor-sharp wind left the criminal pale-faced in the backseat. ¡°Who told you to drive this fast!¡± He cursed, jabbing the back of Lin Xian¡¯s head with the gun.
This was the moment!
Lin Xian suddenly jerked his head to the left! The gun muzzle slid past his right ear and struck the dashboard!
Screeeeech¡ª Lin Xian mmed on the brakes, the brake pads instantly sparking!
Bang!! The gun went off, shattering the dashboard ss! The vehicle¡¯s warning lights lit up, and all the control systems and driving aids failed!
Due to the sudden stop, the criminal was thrown between Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Hold on tight!¡± Lin Xian shouted to Zhao Ying Jun, then floored the elerator again!
VROOM! VROOM! VROOM! The tires screeched, the smell of burning rubber filled the air! The 650-horsepower Continental GT shot forward like an arrow from a bow¡ª
Bang!!
The sudden eleration flung the shotgun away, and the criminal couldn¡¯t hold on, falling back into the rear seat.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Zhao Ying Jun saw the criminal pulling out a knife and quickly threw her handbag at him.
¡°Ignore him! Hold on tight!¡± Lin Xian had seen it all through the rearview mirror¡
The explosive eleration had pushed the speed to 200 km/h in seconds. Up ahead was a sharp left turn, impossible to make at this speed. Not turning would mean crashing into the wall! Turning would mean flipping over!
¡°Lin Xian! Look out!!¡± Zhao Ying Jun screamed as the guardrail rapidly approached.
¡°Hold on tight!¡± Lin Xian shouted onest time, then bit down and floored the gas! He yanked the steering wheel to the right¡ª
This was a move he had practiced countless times in his dreams! This was a skill he had perfected in his dreams!
The power was enough!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Bentley Continental GT mounted the curb and hit the noise barrier, sending the car body nearly vertical! But the speed kept climbing!
The end of the turn was approaching¡ª
Whoosh!
The car flew over the guardrail, soaring through the air!
Everything went quiet¡ No tire screeching. No collisions with the guardrail. No engine roaring. Just a blue Bentley convertible soaring through the night sky, illuminated by the bright moonlight, with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s screams filling the air¡ flying toward the opposite elevated highway.
They made it! Lin Xian gripped the steering wheel tightly, staring intently at the approaching highway¡ª
Snap.
¡°Huh?¡± Below the highway, a young man taking pictures of the moon with his girlfriend frowned at the photo he had just taken¡
Under the dark night sky, a convertible flew from one side of the elevated highway to the other, with a man and a woman inside. The man gripped the steering wheel tightly, and the woman covered her eyes. At the moment of the shot, their car had just leaped into the center of the full moon, turning the beautiful moonlight into a romantic backdrop, wild and spectacr.
¡°James Bond?¡± The young man scratched his head, looking up at the convertible that had flown over the moon and was crashing onto the other side of the elevated highway.
¡°Donghai 007?¡±
Chapter 120: The Leap Over Donghai
BOOM!
The $700,000 Bentley Continental GTnded with a heavy thud!
Despite its advanced suspension system, the harsh impact sent a shock through Lin Xian¡¯s tailbone. He mmed on the brakes and yanked the steering wheel sharply, causing the car to fishtail under the intense pressure.
Screech! Screech! Screech!
Unidentified parts scraped against the concrete, sending fierce sparks flying. Lin Xian gripped the steering wheel tightly, adjusting swiftly to keep the car from flipping. Once stable, he utilized the side friction of the tires to decelerate¡ªa technique he had mastered in his dreams over a decade; it felt almost instinctual.
Finally, the once roaring blue beast nowy silent, having skidded out a dramatic semi-circle beforeing to a halt.
¡°Phew¡¡±
Lin Xian exhaled deeply, his palms slightly sweaty as he released the steering wheel. He turned to check the back seat.
Empty.The thug had clearly been ejected during the chaos. Only a crumpled bouquet of roses remained, hanging from the back door and swaying gently against the metal. The colorful wrapping was torn, and multicolored ribbons fluttered in the breeze.
Lin Xian nced at Zhao Ying Jun. She was breathing heavily, eyes closed, clutching her chest.
¡°You¡ alright?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t respond immediately. Her face showed a mix of relief and disbelief, her breaths quick and shallow. After a moment, she slowly raised her head, staring at the overpass thirty meters away¡
They had just soared over it.
The road was initially a spiraling downhill exit, gradually descending. But Lin Xian had propelled the Bentley up the guardrail and sound barrier of the overpass at over 200 kilometers per hour,unching them through the air.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes widened. She couldn¡¯t recall the leap over the thirty-meter gap. All she remembered was the carnding with a crash and spinning wildly before stopping.
¡°You¡¡± Her breathing steadied, and she bit her lower lip, turning to Lin Xian: ¡°You said you weren¡¯t good at driving?¡±
¡°I might have exaggerated a bit.¡±
¡°This is a bit?¡± She chuckled weakly, clearly not amused. ¡°How could you? Are you crazy? Do you realize what you just did?¡±
¡°Of course, I do¡¡± Lin Xian shifted to ease his sore tailbone and shrugged: ¡°But we had no choice. That thug was desperate. He wasn¡¯t going to let us go easily.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. I feel a bit nauseous. I need to get out and walk.¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked pale, clutching her chest. She tried to open the car door, but it was jammed. She turned to Lin Xian: ¡°Open the door.¡±
Lin Xian attempted his door, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. He pointed to the damaged dashboard: ¡°Maybe something malfunctioned, or the door is damaged.¡±
¡°So how do we get out?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll have to climb out. Luckily, it¡¯s a convertible. That¡¯s probably the only advantage of this car¡ªyou can never get trapped inside.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a useful fact.¡± Zhao Ying Jun wiped sweat from her forehead, unbuckling her seatbelt. ¡°You climb out first, thene over and help me.¡±
Getting out was easy for Lin Xian, but more challenging for Zhao Ying Jun in her evening gown. Once outside, Lin Xian felt his muscles ache, likely strained from the ordeal.
The $700,000 Bentley Continental GT was clearly a total loss, its axles shattered. He circled to the other side, helping Zhao Ying Jun over the stuck door. ss shards littered the ground, and Lin Xian cleared a path for Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s bare high heels.
¡°Where¡¯s the thug?¡± Zhao Ying Jun seemed moreposed after stretching her legs.
¡°He must have fallen off mid-air.¡± Lin Xian pointed to the dark forest between the two overpasses: ¡°Probably down there.¡±
They examined the rear seat area, which wasn¡¯t very spacious butrger than typical convertibles, exining how the man managed to hide there. The parking lot was chaotic and dark, and in their rush to leave the ball, they hadn¡¯t checked the back seat.
Now, it was empty. The thief had vanished, leaving only the crushed roses hanging on the damaged car, swaying weakly in the evening breeze¡ªa silent testament to his escape.
¡°Lin Xian, call the police.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Lin Xian dialed the emergency line, providing a detailed ount of the incident and their location. The police promised to arrive quickly and advised them to stay put.
The cool night breeze picked up. Zhao Ying Jun leaned against the overpass guardrail, looking at Lin Xian: ¡°Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Yeah?¡±
¡°Thank you for saving me.¡± Zhao Ying Jun regained herposure, looking at the wrecked Bentley: ¡°I¡¯ve thanked you a lot recently, but thank you again for saving my life.¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was saving myself too.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked into Lin Xian¡¯s eyes, the neon lights from across the river reflecting in them: ¡°You always surprise me. These past few days, I¡¯ve seen a different side of you, and I like it. But I can tell you¡¯re feeling lost, like an ant caught in a whirlpool.¡±
She nced down at her high heels scuffing the cold road: ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot recently, and it¡¯s weighing on you. That¡¯s why you¡¯re striving for sess, to be extraordinary. But Lin Xian, I know how you feel. I¡¯ve been there too. If there¡¯s any advice I can offer, it¡¯s this.¡±
She looked up, her eyes catching the moonlight and city lights, creating a dazzling effect: ¡°Don¡¯t chase sess just to be sessful. Don¡¯t strive to be extraordinary just for the sake of it. I¡¯ve never told anyone at thepany about my family¡¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly, standing beside her. The night breeze lifted Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair, its soft strands brushing against Lin Xian¡¯s cheek, like a fleeting touch of time.
¡°My parents are influential in the capital. They¡¯ve always opposed what I do and tried to stop me many times. That¡¯s why I came to Donghai alone. They¡¯re waiting for me to fail. My dad thinks I¡¯ll go back to them to fix my problems. He doesn¡¯t believe I can seed. But in their eyes, no sess is enough. I don¡¯t live for their approval. I do what I love because I love it, not to prove anything to them. This is what I want to tell you, Lin Xian.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled, a rare rxed expression since their leap: ¡°Do what you love, something you¡¯re willing to risk everything for, not to prove anything, but because it¡¯s what you want. Even if you haven¡¯t found it yet, don¡¯t rush. You don¡¯t have to force yourself to be extraordinary. I believe in you.¡±
Their eyes met, reflecting the vibrant cityscape, ¡°You¡¯re destined to be extraordinary.¡±
Lin Xian said nothing, just looked into her eyes.
¡°It¡¯s nothing special,¡± Zhao Ying Junughed softly, as the shing red and blue lights of police cars and ambnces approached from the other side of the overpass. ¡°Just sharing some life lessons¡¡±
Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo.
Police cars and ambnces arrived, their lights bright against the night sky. Zhao Ying Jun turned around, leaning on the guardrail, looking up at the moon.
January 14, 2023.
Eight days until the Lunar New Year.
Seven days until New Year¡¯s Eve.
Five days until the Donghai Business Association¡¯s New Year G.
An ordinary day. A day with a beautiful moon.
¡°Tonight¡¯s moon is beautiful,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said softly.
Lin Xian stood behind her, looking at the bright moon.
¡°Yes,¡± he sighed sincerely, ¡°this kind of moon is indeed beautiful.¡±
Beep beep.
His digital watch beeped twice, marking the hour. Lin Xian checked it.
00:00
He breathed a sigh of relief. Midnight had passed. It was now January 15, 2023.
Zhao Ying Jun had safely made it through January 14, past her 23rd birthday, avoiding the recorded idental death. She might still face idents in the future¡
But for now, history had changed. She would no longer be remembered in a biography 600 yearster with the words ¡°died at 23.¡±
Today was the start of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s new destiny. And the first day of her 24th year.
Lin Xian stepped toward the wrecked Bentley, picked up the bouquet of roses left by the thug, and tidied it up.
Making the wrinkled, leafless roses look more presentable, the crooked paper and ribbons at least resembling a gift.
¡°Though it¡¯s not quite appropriate, but¡¡± Lin Xian handed the tidied bouquet to Zhao Ying Jun, smiling, ¡°Happy birthday.¡±
Chapter 121: Donghai 007
Zhao Ying Jun stood in surprise, staring at the crumpled bouquet. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she picked it up, gently cradling it in her hands.
¡°This is quite the surprise,¡± she remarked, her expression softening.
Carefully, Zhao Ying Jun examined the wilted roses, adjusting each stem to recreate a graceful arc. Lin Xian watched her, noticing a rxed smile on her face, something he wasn¡¯t used to seeing. She was usually so consumed with work, her brow perpetually furrowed in thought. To him, she often seemed more like a machine¡ªefficient, precise, wless. But now, as she smiled, she looked genuinely joyful, the smile transforming her into a vibrant 24-year-old.
A gentle breeze yed with her shoulder-length hair and made her crystal blue earrings glint like a constetion under the moonlight. After a moment, Zhao looked up at Lin Xian, her smile broadening.
¡°This might be the most unique birthday gift I¡¯ve ever received.¡±
¡°I¡¯m d you like it,¡± Lin Xian responded, smiling back. ¡°It¡¯s probably not as borate as the ones you¡¯re used to.¡±
Given Zhao¡¯s background as a wealthy heiress, her usual birthday gifts were nothing short ofvish and opulent.
¡°Those gifts¡¡± Zhao turned away, her gaze drifting to the shimmering reflection of the Pearl Tower on the water. ¡°I can barely remember them. There were just too many.¡±Her eyes snapped back from the waterfront. ¡°But this bouquet¡ I think I¡¯ll remember this one for a long time.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said abruptly, turning so quickly her hair swirled around her. The fragrance of her shampoo lingered in the air as her high heels clicked toward the police car.
The police quickly located the culprit and the discarded shotgun. Despite tumbling from the elevated bridge, the criminal survived with minor injuries but faced a lengthy imprisonment due to his actions.
A tow truck hauled away the mangled Bentley Continental GT, and a police car escorted Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian back to the station to give their statements.
¡°You two again?¡± the officer eximed, recognizing them immediately.
Lin Xian nodded at Officer Liu, the same officer who had taken their statements during the incident at the hospital involving Xu Yun.
¡°Do you two have some sort of ma for trouble?¡± Officer Liu joked as he settled down with his notebook.
¡°Do you mean¡ a Conan Syndrome?¡± Lin Xian quipped.
¡°That¡¯s the one,¡± Officer Liuughed. ¡°Just kidding, though. As a cop, I¡¯d prefer our paths crossed less often¡ªit¡¯s usually not under the best circumstances.¡±
They quickly recounted the evening¡¯s events, and their statements were soon recorded.
¡°Alright,¡± Officer Liu concluded, closing his notebook and standing. ¡°That¡¯s all for now. We have your contact info and will reach out if needed.¡±
¡°But I¡¯d suggest staying cautious for a while¡ avoid risky areas. There¡¯s always a chance of bacsh, though nothing¡¯s certain. We¡¯ll inform you if any threats emerge.¡±
Both nodded and exited the station. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s driver was already waiting with a sedan at the entrance.
¡°Get in, Lin Xian. We¡¯ll drop you off first.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
By the time Lin Xian arrived home, dawn was breaking. He stretched, his body aching, then took a hot shower and copsed into bed, staring at the ceiling. Reflecting on their wild drive over the bridge, the entire episode felt surreal. It was his daring, no-hesitation attitude that had made their escape possible. Any pause could have spelled disaster.
As sunlight began peeking through the curtains, Lin Xian thought back to their conversation at the railing. Zhao had unexpectedly opened up about her family, her parents, and her motivations for starting her business¡ªdetails she hadn¡¯t even shared with her closest associates.
¡°She trusts me,¡± Lin Xian realized. ¡°Our rtionship is definitely evolving.¡±
¡°One step at a time,¡± he thought, turning off the light and drifting off to sleep.
Lin Xian¡¯s sleep was interrupted around noon by his ringing phone. Gao Yang¡¯s name shed on the caller ID.
¡°Hello?¡± Lin Xian answered, still half asleep.
¡°Donghai 007!¡±
¡°Scram.¡±
¡°James Bond Xian!¡±
¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing important, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±
¡°Wait, wait! Don¡¯t you know you¡¯re famous now?¡±
Lin Xian sighed, frustrated. ¡°Of course, I know. Saw it this morning¡¡±
While taking a break in the restroom, Lin Xian scrolled through his phone and noticed several group chats buzzing with short videos that seemed straight out of a Hollywood action flick.
The clips were shot from various angles¡ªsome from surveince cameras, others from high-rise buildings, and a few from underneath an elevated bridge. Despite the differing viewpoints, they all captured the same jaw-dropping scene: a blue Bentley Continental GT convertible soaring across an elevated bridge under the moonlight.
The most popr video, which was slightly blurry, was filmed from below the bridge. It showed a man and a woman in the car. The person who posted it said they were taking moonlit pictures of their girlfriend when they identally caught this ¡°epic moment.¡±
His iPhone¡¯s video feature had captured the spectacle: the blue Bentley Continental GT convertible rocketing over the Donghai City suburbs¡¯ elevated bridge against the backdrop of a full moon. It resembled a scene from a romantic fairy tale or an exhrating anime.
Thements section was filled with humorous reactions:
¡°Wow! Donghai 007! James Bond has arrived!¡±
¡°Oscar-worthy ¡®Leap of Donghai.''¡±
¡°This is real ¡®Drive Wild¡¯! How can yesterday¡¯s fishmonger film evenpare?¡±
¡°Donghai now has its own Hollywood!¡±
¡°What were those two thinking? Risking it all for love? Did she say yes?¡±
¡°Using a $700,000 Bentley Continental GT with a V12 engine for stunts like this?¡±
The event had made ¡°Donghai 007¡± a viral sensation.
Fortunately, it was nighttime and the videos were too unclear to identify the individuals in the car. But for those familiar with Lin Xian and the car, there was no mistaking it.
As Gao Yang put it, ¡°I¡¯ve known you so long I could spot you even if you were ashes! Even pixted, I¡¯d recognize those color blocks!¡±
¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up,¡± Lin Xian interjected.
¡°Wait, wait! There¡¯s something else I need to ask about your New Year ns.¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s voice grew serious. ¡°This year, I¡¯m going back home alone. You won¡¯t see me there.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°An uncle of mine passed away yesterday, so I¡¯m heading back today. I¡¯ve taken some leave and won¡¯t return until after the Spring Festival.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite a break,¡± Lin Xian yawned, not really thinking much of it. Donghai and their hometown of Hangzhou were close, and with Gao Yang having family issues, it made sense for him to leave earlier.
¡°Alright, go ahead. I have to be at the office this afternoon, so I won¡¯t be able to see you off.¡±
¡°Okay. And don¡¯t forget the ss reunion on the fifth! Lots of girls have been asking about you!¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Lin Xian replied before Gao Yang ended the call.
Lin Xian checked his calendar. It was January 15, 2023. The twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month. The Spring Festival was just about a week away, and Gao Yang had left quite early.
The high school reunion was scheduled for the fifth day of the first lunar month, still some days away.
Ding-dong.
As he put down his phone, WeChat pinged again. It was a message from Chu An Qing.
Chu An Qing: Video
Chu An Qing: Lin Xian, senior! Is that you and Zhao Ying Jun in the video? I¡¯ve seen her driving that blue car!
Without even opening the video, Lin Xian knew which scene it was¡ªhe had seen that moonlit Bentley and elevated bridge image far too many times. He filled Chu An Qing in on the situation.
Chu An Qing was astounded. ¡°This¡ this is more thrilling than a movie! No wonder everyone¡¯s calling you Donghai 007! Are you good at driving?¡±
¡°Just a bit.¡±
¡°Haha! Could you take me for a spin sometime?¡±
¡°You¡¯d have to ask the Bentley first.¡±
¡°What does the Bentley say?¡±
¡°The Bentley¡¯s totaled.¡±
¡°¡.¡±
After wrapping up the chat with the always-cheerful Chu An Qing, Lin Xian prepared for work.
At the office, the buzz was all about ¡°Donghai 007¡± and ¡°Leap of Donghai.¡± Everyone had seen the car in the parking lot and figured that Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian were the daredevils involved.
As Lin Xian entered, he felt every eye on him, their faces wearing mischievous grins.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, uneasy under their stares.
¡°You¡¯re a legend,¡± said Wang from marketing, pping Lin Xian on the back. ¡°Zhao is usually so punctual¡ Today, she¡¯ste because of you.¡±
¡°What do you mean ¡®because of me¡¯? I was a victim too¡¡± Lin Xian retorted. The criminal had jabbed him several times with the shotgun, and his head was still throbbing.
¡°Zhao went to the hospital,¡± mentioned Sister Juan from design, passing by with a smile. ¡°She hurt her leg, but it¡¯s nothing serious. She should be backter today.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Must be from the crash.¡±
¡°You crashed into her?¡± Wang leaned closer.
¡°The car crashed¡¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Why does everything sound so twisted when you say it, Wang?¡±
¡°It was a close call, and I just couldn¡¯t stop the car. I never nned to jump the bridge; it wasn¡¯t a game¡¡±
Wang chuckled and pulled Lin Xian aside, lowering his voice. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve been with Zhao from the start. She¡¯s never been out alone with any man before you! You¡¯re the first!¡±
¡°The driver doesn¡¯t count?¡±
¡°The driver is just the driver, and you¡¯re you. Don¡¯t you see? I¡¯m not saying Zhao loves you!¡±
¡°Then what are you trying to say?¡±
¡°Zhao trusts you! That¡¯s a big deal!¡± Wang¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°I have some news for you.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°I visited Zhao at the hospital this morning. She mentioned that with thepany expanding, she¡¯s thinking about promoting a secretary!¡±
Wang grinned and pped Lin Xian on the back. ¡°She¡¯s very interested in you!¡±
Chapter 122: The Weight
¡°Secretary?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise as he faced Brother Wang. ¡°Boss Zhao has always been against hiring a secretary. Did she change her mind?¡±
¡°It seems she¡¯s been considering it for a while but couldn¡¯t find anyone she trusts enough,¡± Brother Wang exined, a knowing smile ying on his lips. ¡°You might have heard about herst secretary¡ªthough we don¡¯t know the details, it likely involved leaking sensitivepany information.¡±
¡°Since then, Boss Zhao put a password lock on her office and banned everyone from entering, even the cleaners. She¡¯s the only one who knows the code. Clearly, she doesn¡¯t trust easily!¡±
¡°But maybe because you¡¯ve been solving a lot of her problems recently, she seems to trust you more. We¡¯ve been around long enough to see that she really values your contributions.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Brother Wang draped an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders and chuckled. ¡°Seize this opportunity, Lin Xian! Making money might be easy for you now, but keeping it is another story. Without sound nning and business skills, money can disappear quickly.¡±
¡°Many heirs waste their fortunes on frivolous pursuits. But when they try to invest or start businesses, they usually fail and lose it all. It¡¯s not unusual.¡±
¡°Boss Zhao is a savvy businesswoman. Working as her secretary, you¡¯d gain invaluable business insights and experience. That¡¯s crucial for you right now.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t set in stone yet. She¡¯s still thinking it over. Just keep this between us, okay?¡±After their conversation, Brother Wang left.
Lin Xian headed straight to his office on the 20th floor and settled into his chair.
¡°Unexpected benefits,¡± he mused. ording to Brother Wang, Zhao Ying Jun was considering appointing him as her secretary. Given his current position, this was indeed wee news.
He had been striving to earn Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s trust. Following yesterday¡¯s risky car race, which seemed to significantly increase her trust in him, and the surge in business with theunch of the new Rhine brand, she likely needed more help.
So, she thought of him for the secretary role.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t privy to what Zhao Ying Jun and Brother Wang had discussed, but since it was mentioned, Zhao Ying Jun would likely discuss it with him soon. All he could do was wait.
¡°Finally, a chance to see that Genius Club invitation!¡± Lin Xian leaned back, deep in thought.
For too long, the investigation into the Genius Club and Professor Xu Yun¡¯s murder had stalled, gued by uncertainties. Seeing the invitation could clear up many mysteries.
He imagined what the invitation might contain¡ªa basic introduction certainly, but even a brief one would be critical. It could reveal the nature, purpose, and members of the Genius Club.
Would it also specify the time and ce of their meetings?
¡°The more information, the better,¡± Lin Xian reasoned as he opened his eyes. The enigma of the Genius Club wasn¡¯t just an abstract concept; the mysterious ck moon in the sky, 600 years in the future, also puzzled him.
Was the 2023 Genius Club the same as the 2624 one? Did they share the same goals? What kind of long-term, significant n could span 600 years?
Where exactly was the Genius Club based? How long had it existed?
¡°I hope Zhao Ying Jun gives me the office password soon.¡± Thinking of passwords, Lin Xian also considered the aluminum alloy safe in his dream and the determined CC. The only way to open the safe bearing his name was to infiltrate Time Bank in New Donghai City and crack the code before it was carted away by the night garbage truck.
He was confident about the password, 29990203. He had been reinforcing this number daily, conditioning himself to ensure that his future self would set the safe¡¯s code to this number. He even wished to set the office safe¡¯s password to 29990203, but it required a six-digitbination, not eight.
¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll continue to seek out CC.¡± Lin Xian quickly finished some work and assigned tasks to his team before preparing to leave.
Given the altered fate of Zhao Ying Jun and the rewritten history, he wondered if the MX Company still existed in the future world 600 yearster or if New Donghai City still stood.
After eating a simple meal at home, Lin Xian checked the time¡ªit was perfect to catch up with the plot involving the Three-Knife Thief and meet Big Cat Face.
Hey on his bed and closed his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
¡°Brother Face,¡± Lin Xian stood on the roof of Li Cheng¡¯s house, pointing towards the dark, unlit silhouette of New Donghai City.
This time, after entering the dream, he followed the usual speedrun protocol, taking the optimal route to quickly join Face Gang, earning Li Cheng¡¯s recognition and bing part of the team.
He had just selected masks with Big Cat Face in the warehouse. It was the same Rhine Cat mask. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised; this item was popr across time, a hit even 600 yearster, a legacy more enduring than some historical artifacts.
After securing the mask, Lin Xian climbed to the roof of Li Cheng¡¯s house to view the steel sci-fi city, New Donghai City, several kilometers away. But since it was still early, the city lights hadn¡¯t yet illuminated.
This obscured his view of the letters on the twin towers at the city center.
¡°Brother Face!¡± Lin Xian called out to Big Cat Face, who was smoking in the courtyard below.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face looked up, squinting towards Lin Xian on the roof.
¡°The tallest building in New Donghai City, the twin towers in the center,¡± Lin Xian pointed out. ¡°What letters are on that building? I can¡¯t see them clearly.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll see them when the lightse on.¡±
¡°Just tell me now. Aren¡¯t you in a hurry to get home to buy roast chicken for your son? When we get to your ce, we won¡¯t see it from that angle.¡±
¡°LIIT.¡± Big Cat Face spelled it out. He couldn¡¯t pronounce it, but he had seen it often enough to recognize it.
¡°Is it apany? A major corporation?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yeah,¡± Big Cat Face nodded, taking a final drag from his cigarette before stamping it out. ¡°New Donghai City was built by them¡ Where have you been living? Even my son knows more than you!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Good. As long as it doesn¡¯t say MX, I don¡¯t care what it says.¡±
This meant the minor time-space changes had indeed urred. History had been altered somewhat. ¡®Minor¡¯¡ªLin Xian struggled with this concept. For the vast timeline of history and the future world 600 yearster, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life and death might indeed seem minor.
It was so minor¡ it felt like something had changed, yet nothing had changed. New Donghai City still existed. The world continued its distorted development. Inside and outside the steel walls remained twopletely different worlds. Big Cat Face still collected property fees. Li Cheng still fought for humanity¡¯s history and knowledge.
Nothing had changed. However, for individuals and the rtionships between individuals, many lives have changed because of this. At least, the MX Company likely didn¡¯tst 600 years.
¡°Interesting,¡± Lin Xian thought, reflecting on the fateful father-daughter duo.
¡°But¡ it¡¯s not bad.¡±
Thud!
Lin Xian jumped off the roof, using the window ledge to slow his descent,nding steadily. He stood up and faced Big Cat Face. ¡°Brother Face, does the MX Company still exist in this world?¡±
¡°MX Company?¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s face jiggled as he shook his head. ¡°Never heard of it.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t this Rhine Cat the MX Company¡¯s mascot?¡± Lin Xian shook the Rhine Cat mask. ¡°What¡¯s the origin of this Rhine Cat then?¡±
¡°I think it¡¯s just a toy¡¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s eyes were clear. ¡°I never looked into its origin. This thing is quite popr in New Donghai City. I used to steal some toys and clean them up for my daughter.¡±
¡°As for it being apany¡¯s mascot¡ I¡¯ve never heard of that.¡±
Well. It was the expected answer. In the future world, the Rhine Cat had reverted to its state from the first dream. Its history, founders, and the MX Company had all faded into oblivion.
¡°Let¡¯s go, bro! Hurry home for dinner! We still have work to do tonight!¡± Big Cat Face pulled Lin Xian onto the motorcycle and handed him a helmet. ¡°Buckle up!¡±
¡°Got it,w-abiding citizen.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
Vroom!
Big Cat Face¡¯s rickety motorcycle sputtered out ck smoke as they left Li Cheng¡¯s courtyard.
As silence enveloped the area, the green bamboo leaves rustled in the summer breeze, sparrows hopped around the brick cracks, and two cats jumped from the second-floor balcony, chasing the fluttering sparrows.
Thud!
A soft sound, a slight tremor of the green tiles. A slim girl, dressed in ck with her brown hair tied back, crouched like a cat on the roof corner. Her gaze followed the fading ck exhaust, locked on the man holding the Rhine Cat mask.
Chapter 123: Time Reversal
¡°Whatever happens tonight, our goal is the same.¡±
It was midnight.
Outside Disposal nt No. 221, Lin Xian stood beside CC, watching the patrolling drones flutter above.
In recent events, Lin Xian had sessfully connected with CC. This time, he refrained from asking personal questions¡ªhe already knew what he needed to know. Instead, he fielded many of CC¡¯s questions, increasing her goodwill toward him.
He turned to her, ¡°You mentioned you have something crucial to confirm, which is why you¡¯re intent on opening Lin Xian¡¯s safe. You believe what¡¯s inside could define the purpose of your life¡¡±
¡°Can you share what¡¯s so important? I might have information you don¡¯t, perhaps we can crack the password together.¡±
¡°Sorry, I¡¯d rather not say.¡± CC¡¯s response was the same as before, her head shaking, ¡°This is my personal secret, and I¡¯m not ready to share it with anyone. Besides, since you also want to open the safe, everything will be clear once we see what¡¯s inside.¡±
Lin Xian sighed inwardly. She remained tight-lipped. It appeared that enhancing her goodwill wasn¡¯t the solution. If CC considered the contents of the safe as significant as her life¡¯s meaning, then they were paramount.He realized he still needed to figure out how to ess the safe. However, ording to the current plot, there was no direct ess to the safe¡ªno chance even to glimpse it, much less try passwords.
¡°I won¡¯t keep anything from you any longer.¡±
Lin Xian crossed his arms, watching Big Cat Face practice martial arts moves some yards away. He whispered, ¡°The safe won¡¯t arrive at the disposal nt until 00:57.¡±
¡°I knew that.¡±
CC responded tly, ¡°There are two batches of garbage trucks headed to Time Bank today, delivering safes to the nt. It¡¯s predictable which truck has Lin Xian¡¯s safe. We just have to wait a bit inside.¡±
Lin Xian grinned, ¡°You can¡¯t wait.¡±
¡°Why not?¡±
¡°Because the world will end at 00:42.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± CC chuckled, turning to him, ¡°You must be joking.¡±
¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who dismissed your memory fragments as a joke?¡± Lin Xian retorted, ¡°You¡¯ve epted bizarre fragments from another world. Why can¡¯t you believe the world might end at 00:42?¡±
¡°Given all you¡¯ve disclosed and appeared in your memory fragments, you should know I¡¯m not joking.¡±
Lin Xian concluded, but CC appeared indifferent, ¡°Even if it¡¯s true, what difference does it make? Can you stop the apocalypse at 00:42?¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°Then why worry about it?¡±
CC blinked, eyeing Lin Xian, ¡°Or do you have another method to open the safe?¡±
¡°I do.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s smile broadened, ¡°If I can infiltrate New Donghai City this afternoon and locate Time Bank, I can find the safe with Lin Xian¡¯s name and attempt to open it.¡±
¡°This afternoon?¡±
CC frowned, ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±
¡°There¡¯s much I can¡¯t exin, but I possess that capability. So¡ do you have any tips on how to infiltrate New Donghai City?¡±
¡°No.¡± CC shook her head, ¡°No one in their right mind would dare enter New Donghai City. Even if you manage to get in, what next?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not like leaping over the dragon gate. Entering New Donghai City doesn¡¯t grant you residency. To them, you¡¯re less than human. They¡¯d dispose of you like vermin.¡±
¡°How will I know unless I try?¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands nonchntly, ¡°What if New Donghai City isn¡¯t the fortress everyone assumes, but merely a facade?¡±
¡°You really aren¡¯t afraid to die,¡± observed CC.
¡°Likewise.¡±
After a pause, CC sighed and turned to Lin Xian, ¡°If you truly intend to enter New Donghai City, I might know something that could help.¡±
¡°Hey¡ª!¡±
Before Lin Xian could inquire further, Big Cat Face spun around, his expression shocked at their conversation, ¡°What are you two discussing? And¡ª¡±
¡°Keep your eyes on the drones, Face! I¡¯m not too close today!¡±
Lin Xian turned back to CC, ¡°What info? About infiltrating New Donghai City?¡±
CC nodded, ¡°But¡ I need to confirm the safe isn¡¯t in the first batch of trucks before I trust you.¡±
¡°No problem.¡±
Lin Xian was casual. The night was proving fruitful. Even if it meant dying with CC again, gaining insight on New Donghai City was worth it.
There were only two leads Lin Xian was pursuing:
The Genius Club invitation in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.
The bookstore, Time Bank, and the whereabouts of Big Cat Face¡¯s father in New Donghai City.
Both avenues were moving slowly. If he pursued both simultaneously, he might solve the mysteries sooner.
¡°It¡¯s time!¡±
Big Cat Face shouted, charging ahead like a bull.
¡°Ah Zhuang!¡±
¡°Er Zhuzi!¡±
¡°San Pang!¡±
They quickly formed a humandder, and Lin Xian and CC climbed over it, waiting at the designated spot for the garbage truck.
¡
¡°Nothing.¡±
CC surveyed the area, inspecting all the aluminum alloy safes, then turned to Lin Xian with newfound trust, ¡°Just as you said, Lin Xian¡¯s safe isn¡¯t here¡ and the names on the other safes checked out. I confirmed them all.¡±
¡°Now you believe me?¡± Lin Xian smiled warmly.
As they scaled the wall, Lin Xian had urately predicted the garbage truck¡¯s arrival, unloading times, and locations. He had even listed the safe owners¡¯ names for CC to verify while searching. He had described the arrangement of the safes post-unloading¡ªwho¡¯s would be on top, whose underneath, and which two would face down¡ªall with precision.
CC was astounded.
She struggled to grasp how such a random event could unfold exactly as Lin Xian predicted.
But¡
Reality was undeniable.
Seeing the safes arranged just as Lin Xian had described, CC seemed to believe in his ¡°superpower.¡±
¡°Alright, I concede you have abilities beyond my understanding.¡±
She lowered her head, her chin resting on her hand, pondering Lin Xian¡¯s words seriously, ¡°If the world will end at 00:42, we can¡¯t wait for the trucks arriving at 00:57.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just about waiting for the trucks. It¡¯s alreadyte. We have only ten minutes left until 00:42. Whatever we n, it¡¯s toote now.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian nodded, looking at CC, ¡°That¡¯s why I said earlier¡ªif we want to open that safe, we must infiltrate New Donghai City by noon today, get to Time Bank in time, and open the safe.¡±
CC removed her mask, her sweat-drenched bangs sticking to her forehead. She used the mask as a fan to cool down. This was the first time in the second dream that CC had removed her mask. She still looked just like Chu An Qing.
¡°But it¡¯s already night.¡± CC was puzzled, ¡°How can we turn back time to noon? It¡¯s impossible¡ Besides, if you really could turn back time, why not go back further, to hundreds of years ago, when the safe was first stored?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t exin now. We don¡¯t have the time.¡±
Lin Xian checked his watch.
00:30
Only 12 minutes remained before the dream ended. He urgently needed CC to disclose how to infiltrate New Donghai City.
¡°Now that you¡¯ve confirmed it, can you tell me? How do we infiltrate New Donghai City?¡±
CC nodded. She had made a promise to Lin Xian, and she wouldn¡¯t break it. She pulled out a ¡°Bluetooth earpiece¡± from her pocket, identical to those worn by monitors in the disposal nt¡¯s central control room.
Every worker at the disposal nt had one of these devices formunication, task assignment, and updates.
Lin Xian surmised it worked like a phone but operated differently.
¡°I swiped this from the disposal nt before.¡±
¡°You can skip that part, just get to the point.¡±
¡°Every time the garbage trucks return to New Donghai City, they pass through a checkpoint.¡±
CC pointed to the rising steel gate on the steel wall. The disposal nts were fully automated, with robots, unmanned vehicles, and drones operating around the clock in an orderly fashion. The garbage trucks returned to New Donghai City after unloading to collect new trash.
CC continued, ¡°Aside from the steel gate, there¡¯s an internal security door. All garbage trucks undergo a live detection process to prevent stowaways from sneaking into New Donghai City.¡±
¡°Is this information reliable?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Absolutely!¡± CC rolled her eyes at Lin Xian, holding up the Bluetooth earpiece, ¡°I was about to exin, but you interrupted¡ The garbage processing protocols are detailed in the work manual. Though I haven¡¯t been inside, this device contains daily security check logs.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, ncing at his watch again.
00:32.
The dream would end in ten minutes. He needed CC to speak quicker.
¡°Since you mentioned that, it implies you have a way to bypass or evade the live detection.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± CC looked at Lin Xian, ¡°but only I can do it, you can¡¯t.¡±
Chapter 124: CCs Secret
¡°Well, let¡¯s hear it. Can you do it or not?¡±
Time was running out; the dream was about to end. Lin Xian was growing impatient with CC, pressing her to reveal her ns.
CC twirled a device in her hand that resembled a Bluetooth headset. ¡°This gadget can remotely connect to the biometric security door. It needs to be within a certain distance, but as long as we can crack the password quickly, we¡¯re in.¡±
¡°Once we get the door¡¯s password, we can skip the security check. It seems like it¡¯s meant for internal use.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding the situation. CC¡¯s n involved sneaking into New Donghai City by hiding in a garbage truck and entering through the steel gate. Although there was a biometric security door inside, CC, a skilled password cracker, could use the headset-like device to hack the door¡¯s password remotely. If they managed to crack the password before the biometric system activated, they could safely enter New Donghai City.
The n was fraught with danger. Any slip-up could be fatal. However, Lin Xian valued his life less than the possibility of sess. He was prepared to take endless risks in the dream world if it meant a chance at sess.
¡°I get it,¡± Lin Xian said, taking off his Rhine Cat mask and standing up. He stared at the distant steel gate. ¡°Your n is logical,¡± he began. ¡°The real challenge is¡¡±
¡°We need someone who can crack the password.¡± He gazed at CC. ¡°That¡¯s where youe in.¡±¡°Don¡¯t look at me,¡± CC replied, her smile mischievous as she shook her head. ¡°I just shared the method. I didn¡¯t say I¡¯d join you. I told you because we traded information earlier, nothing more.¡±
¡°You said this safe was more important than your life.¡±
¡°It¡¯s one thing to risk your life, another to throw it away.¡± CC brushed her bangs back, looking earnestly at Lin Xian. ¡°Maybe I wasn¡¯t clear before. Cracking a password isn¡¯t always possible within our time limit. I know how the garbage trucks operate because of the data on this device. I¡¯ve never been inside. I don¡¯t know the exact security procedures or the biometric system.¡±
¡°In theory, bypassing the biometric scanner by hacking the password could work. But can we be sure it¡¯ll seed?¡±
Lin Xian sat next to CC on the safe. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, eyeing him suspiciously and scooting away.
¡°I¡¯m thinking¡¡± Lin Xian stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯m considering how to convince you that the world ends at 00:42, that time can reset, and there¡¯s no tomorrow, just endless todays.¡±
¡°Why does sitting next to me help? Can¡¯t you think over there?¡±
CC stood and leaned against a stack of safes, watching Lin Xian. Trust was the issue here.
Lin Xian sighed internally. Gaining CC¡¯s trust was vital, not just now, but also in her past iterations from earlier in the day. It was a formidable challenge.
He trusted the uracy of CC¡¯s information. Yet without her expertise, they couldn¡¯t hack the security door. Was learning hacking himself in a few months feasible? Unlikely. Even if he picked up the skills quickly, obtaining CC¡¯s specialized device was another barrier.
It seemed simpler to convince her to trust him.
¡°CC,¡± Lin Xian said earnestly, ¡°the man in your fragmented memories, the bearded, long-haired middle-aged man, it might be me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± she scoffed.
¡°Then why does the voice fit?¡±
¡°Lots of people sound alike.¡±
¡°My name is Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Maybe you should just call yourself Safe, then. It¡¯d be more straightforward.¡±
Lin Xian threw up his hands in frustration. CC was tough to reach, quite unlike the approachable Chu An Qing.
¡°Let mey it out one more time,¡± he said.
Sincerity can bepelling. Lin Xian decided to be as straightforward as possible, hoping to sway CC.
He looked up. ¡°First, the world ends at 00:42, in just a few minutes. A white light will erase everything. You¡¯ll wait endlessly for the 00:57 garbage truck, but it¡¯ll never arrive. Your detailed ns are futile against the 00:42 white light.¡±
¡°And I have the power to reset time, to relive August 28th, 2624, over and over. It sounds crazy. But haven¡¯t we seen enough madness already?¡±
¡°You know those memory fragments aren¡¯t from this timeline. And I¡¯m not from this world either, yet I jumped here from another. Isn¡¯t that wild? Knowing where the garbage truck unloads wasn¡¯t crazy, nor was predicting the safes¡¯nding spots.¡±
¡°CC, realize that this world is inherently bizarre. There are many things beyond our understanding. But ignorance of them doesn¡¯t negate their existence.¡±
¡°To open the safe, our goals align. I¡¯ve told you repeatedly, the only way to open it and discover what¡¯s inside is to infiltrate New Donghai City today, locate the Time Bank, and ess the safe before the garbage truck arrives.¡±
¡°This is our only option. If you believe me, we have a chance. If not, you¡¯ll regret it forever in an endless cycle of destruction.¡±
Lin Xian checked his watch.
00:37
¡°That¡¯s all I have to say.¡±
He watched CC, who was leaning against the safe.
¡°You have five minutes to decide. Trust me or not, it¡¯s your call.¡±
The silence was palpable. In the cluttered junkyard, there was no sound of summer cicadas, only the distant hum of garbage trucks and robots, asionally punctuated by the stench of burning trash.
Eventually, CC¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Even if I believe you, what then?¡± she asked. ¡°As you said, you need not just my current trust, but also that of my earlier selves.¡±
¡°So even if I believe you now, how can I persuade my past selves to trust you?¡±
Lin Xian smiled, sensing a shift. Sincerity was having an effect; CC was hesitating.
¡°If you¡¯re willing to believe me, figuring that out is your task,¡± he said.
¡°You know yourself better than anyone. You¡¯ll know what to say or do to convince yourself.¡±
¡°If you can trust me now, then likely, your past self can too.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re ready to try working together, then we need a secret of yours.¡±
¡°A secret?¡± CC tilted her head.
¡°What kind of secret?¡±
¡°Something only you know, crucial to you. If someone else mentions it, you¡¯d trust them without question.¡±
Lin Xian exined further to make sure she understood.
¡°This afternoon, I¡¯ll find you and reveal this secret. If your earlier self hears it and trusts me, then we can proceed with our n to infiltrate New Donghai City.¡±
¡°So, this secret is the key to gaining your trust. Think carefully about what you hold most dear. I don¡¯t need personal details, just something that, if mentioned urately, would convince you to trust me.¡±
¡°Can you think of any secret that would make you risk everything to sneak into New Donghai City?¡±
CC pondered deeply. Perhaps she already trusted Lin Xian. Maybe she was just seeking a lucky break. For the current CC, sharing a convincing secret wasn¡¯t a burden.
¡°VV,¡± she finally said, looking up at Lin Xian. ¡°The bearded man¡¯s name is VV.¡±
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian echoed. ¡°If I tell your earlier self this name, she¡¯ll trust me?¡±
¡°She should,¡± CC nodded. ¡°This name means a lot to me. If you mention it now, I¡¯d trust you.¡±
¡°So I think my past self would too.¡±
¡°Good.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Thanks for the secret. Where will you be this noon and afternoon?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be hiding in the woods behind Li Cheng¡¯s house.¡± CC chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m buying into your story. You¡¯d make a great speaker or host. Your words are strangelypelling.¡±
¡°You have good judgment,¡± Lin Xian replied, checking his watch.
00:41:37
Just in time. He had 23 seconds before the world ended to secure CC¡¯s trust.
¡°Look at your watch,¡± he urged. ¡°In 20 seconds, the world ends.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± CC murmured, yet she raised her wrist and watched the second hand tick. ¡°Counting down to the world¡¯s end is bizarre¡ it feels like this world is unreal.¡±
¡°Ever seen The Truman Show?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± CC appeared puzzled.
¡°A movie.¡± Lin Xian smiled and waved. ¡°If we never meet again, good morning, good afternoon¡ and good night.¡±
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!!
As predicted, a blinding white light enveloped everything.
00:42:00
Lin Xian awoke in the corner of his bedroom.
Chapter 125: The Invitation
Recently, the weather had warmed up, prompting Lin Xian to switch his heavy bedding for something lighter. This morning, he easily tossed aside his thin quilt, slid into his slippers, and stood up from his bed.
¡°VV,¡± he murmured, the name lingering in his thoughts.
The name VV wasn¡¯t too surprising when CC mentioned it, fitting well within their world of mysteries. However, the real conundrumy in CC¡¯s description of VV as a middle-aged man with long hair and a beard.
At times, Lin Xian wondered if this man could be him in the future. It was a wild guess,cking any solid proof, just pieced together from the cryptic name and a voice eerily simr to his own. The scant details made the image fuzzy, yet CC¡¯s intense reaction suggested a deeper significance.
¡°This VV character is crucial to CC for some reason,¡± he pondered.
Perhaps this mystery was linked to the secret CC fiercely protected, the one she hesitated to share.
¡°Let¡¯s not get too caught up in this now,¡± Lin Xian whispered to himself, taking a drink from his desk and screwing the cap back on tightly.
Each dream revealed fragments of information, pulling minor confessions from CC. He was satisfied with these incremental insights. Histest strategy was to leverage the name VV in their uing meeting on August 28, 2624, to strengthen their partnership faster.Gaining her trust and demonstrating his genuine intentions, he hoped to utilize her skills as a password cracker to ess New Donghai City.
¡°We¡¯re finally making progress,¡± Lin Xian thought, pacing his room with his hands behind his back.
Since his second dream about New Donghai City, he had been fixated on exploring it. After many days of nning, his strategy to infiltrate the city was nearly perfected. He was convinced that the answers he sought were hidden within its confines.
Lin Xian closed his eyes briefly, organizing his goals for the city:
With CC¡¯s help, find the abandoned Time Bank and crack its safe.
Search bookstores for historical texts to understand the developments over the past 600 years and uncover the identity of the mysterious figure on the moon.
Locate the book ¡°Introduction to the Universal Constant,¡± note the author¡¯s details, and find him in 2023.
Investigate the whereabouts of Big Cat Face¡¯s father and delve into the enigma of the universal constant 42, potentially exposing the secrets of the Genius Club.
After addressing some concerns with MX Company and Zhao Ying Jun, Lin Xian felt lighter and more immersed in his dream explorations. Simultaneously, his real-world investigations into the Genius Club were progressing steadily. He was on the brink of cracking Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office password.
The possibility of soon unveiling truths in both his dreams and reality gave Lin Xian a sense of impending rity.
¡°It¡¯s time for another dream,¡± he yawned, settling back into bed and snugly wrapping himself in the quilt before closing his eyes.
The next day, Lin Xian decided to skip work. He had received a WeChat message from Zhao Ying Jun about Miaoke recording the theme song for Rhine Cat, and the mysterious Director V would be attending. Zhao encouraged Lin Xian toe and share his creative insights.
Lin Xian caught a taxi to the studio, a rare choice given the terrible morning traffic in Donghai City, starkly different from his usual subway rides. Stuck in a cab during rush hour, he felt the full brunt of the city¡¯s congestion.
¡°I should buy a car from Gao Yang¡ though I¡¯ll need to wait until after New Year since he¡¯s currently out of town,¡± Lin Xian considered.
After a lengthy 40-minute drive, Lin Xian arrived at the studio slightlyte. Miaoke was already inside the soundproof booth, headphones on, intently focusing on her music sheets as she sang. The booth was so well insted that not a single note escaped. Outside, the studio was quiet, save for the soft murmurs of the few staff members present.
Upon his arrival, all eyes turned to him. Zhao Ying Jun acknowledged him with a nod.
¡°Lin Xian, good you¡¯re here,¡± she said, greeting him warmly.
Lin Xian nodded back, closed the door, and entered. The studio was refreshingly cool, and Zhao had already removed her coat, looking impably put-together. Her hair was neatly styled, and her dark silver earrings twinkled with her movements. Lin Xian guessed she wore her usual grey coat outside.
¡°She¡¯s such a perfectionist,¡± he thought, amused. Anyone trying to impersonate Zhao Ying Jun would be instantly betrayed by her meticulous habits. Today, she wore a ck sweater that highlighted her figure and grey trousers that made her legs appear longer. Her signature ck high heels seemed almost a permanent fixture on her feet; Lin Xian had never seen her in any other shoes.
¡°Feeling better?¡± Zhao inquired, her focus on him.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian, caught off-guard by her attire, hadn¡¯t quite caught her question.
Zhao gestured towards his lower back. ¡°Your back. Is it feeling any better? You seemed a bit off when you got out of the car the other night. Did you hurt it somehow?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding. ¡°I was really tense that night and ended up pulling a muscle. But it¡¯s much better now, hardly noticeable.¡±
A couple of staff members nced over, puzzled by their conversation.
What an odd exchange¡
Recalling Sister Juan¡¯s words from the day before, Lin Xian remembered Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s recent hospital visit for a leg injury. Brother Wang had even discussed a potential promotion with her during his visit. Considering the severity of the Bentley crash off the overpass, it was miraculous she could walk at all. Concerned, he asked, ¡°And how¡¯s your leg? Nothing too serious, I hope?¡±
¡°Just some soft tissue damage on both knees,¡± Zhao replied, looking down and slightly bending her knees. ¡°The car impact was pretty harsh.¡±
The four staff members in the room stared in shock. Such a frank discussion in public? The young tea server blushed, hiding behind her tray. Openly talking about soft tissue damage?
Zhao noticed their stunned expressions and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡±
¡°Nothing, Miss Zhao, absolutely nothing!¡± The studio manager quickly interjected, pointing towards Miaoke who had just taken off her headphones. ¡°Miaoke has finished her session. Would you like to listen to it? We can redo it if it¡¯s not up to par.¡±
¡°Let Lin Xian have a listen,¡± Zhao suggested, crossing her arms and turning to him. ¡°It¡¯s your project, after all.¡±
Lin Xian took the offered headphones and listened to the freshly recorded song. The intro was catchy, and Miaoke¡¯s clear, sweet vocals added aforting spring vibe, perfectlyplementing the lively and adorable theme of Rhine Cat. It was even better than he had dreamed, confirming they had made the right choice in selecting her as the singer.
¡°I think it¡¯s good,¡± Lin Xian stated, removing the headphones.
Zhao nodded in approval and instructed the studio manager, ¡°Go with this version, then.¡±
The manager seemed surprised. Miss Zhao hadn¡¯t even listened to it herself but trusted Lin Xian¡¯s judgment so implicitly? This level of confidence was telling. Nheless, he was relieved to wrap up the task sessfully. The quality of the song and the singer was indeed exceptional.
Afterward, Lin Xian met with Director V and the animators in the tearoom to outline the specific visual elements for Rhine Cat. These were scenes and motifs he had already seen in his dream. Lin Xian had absorbed a plethora of animations and visuals rted to Rhine Cat, and now he simply needed to trante these vivid memories into instructions for the director and animators.
But this tapped out his reservoir of ideas. All the designs, toys, and sketches he had provided were thest remnants of his memories rted to Rhine Cat. ¡°I hope there¡¯s a Rhine Cat toy store in New Donghai City,¡± Lin Xian thought, weary from creative exhaustion.
After the meeting, Director V and the animators approached Zhao Ying Jun, praising Lin Xian¡¯s contributions: ¡°Miss Zhao, you¡¯ve got a real gem here! His creativity and ideas¡ truly remarkable!¡±
¡°And heposed the theme song himself? What a versatile talent¡ Your team really is stacked!¡±
Zhao smiled faintly, her eyes on Lin Xian, who was chatting with staff in the adjoining room. ¡°Yes¡ I am indeed fortunate.¡±
Later, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun headed back to the office. With the Spring Festival holiday approaching, there was much to organize and finalize. Lin Xian found himself unusually busy, moving from the recording studio to the office and working until past six in the evening to clear the backlog. Now overseeing a team of over forty, the workload was immense, a testament to Rhine Cat¡¯s immense poprity.
Even in a world where the future was uncertain and history possibly rewritten, Rhine Cat¡¯s allure remained undiminished. ¡°I am not history,¡± Lin Xian mused, reclining in his chair and gazing at a Rhine Cat figurine on his desk. ¡°You are history.¡±
The phone rang just as he finished his thought. The caller ID indicated it was from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. ¡°Lin Xian,e to my office,¡± her voice came through, sounding cheerful.
¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xian responded, hanging up.
Was she calling to discuss the new secretary appointment?
On the 22nd floor, a soft thud echoed as the heavy, doubleyered security door opened. ¡°Come in,¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice directed through the inte.
Lin Xian entered her stark office. The sun had set, the sky was a deepening gray, and night was encroaching. Bright lights in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office contrasted sharply with the gloomy Donghai City skyline outside. He passed a dusty tea table and a sofa, the potted nts bearing withered leaves, and approached her desk.
¡°Miss Zhao, you called for me?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, sliding a dark red folded card across the desk¡ªsquare, adorned with dark golden patterns, and sealed with wax.
¡°This is¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in curiosity.
¡°Congrattions, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, a slight smile ying on her lips. ¡°This is your¡ invitation!¡±
Chapter 126: The Trap
Bright white incandescent lights flooded the room, casting a glow on the dark red invitation card. The wax seal reflected an eerie red hue, making it difficult for Lin Xian to discern the emblem¡¯s details.
Lin Xian,posed as ever, nced over at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Is this meant for me?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she responded, her earrings catching the light and sparkling. A yful glimmer lit her eyes. ¡°Are you surprised?¡±
¡°A little,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged, stepping forward to retrieve the invitation. Upon touching it, he realized something was off. This wasn¡¯t a standard Genius Club invite like Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s; this one felt more opulent, crafted from something beyond mere cardstock.
He examined the embossed seal closely, quickly recognizing the prestigious name: Donghai Chamber of Commerce.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect Chu Shan He to send you an invite,¡± Zhao Ying Jun mused, leaning back in her chair and resting her chin on her sped hands. ¡°Their New Year¡¯s G is quite the event, normally exclusive to chamber members.¡±
¡°Well, it¡¯s not strictly limited. Chu Shan He does extend invites to a select few social leaders and influential figures around Donghai. It¡¯s his event, after all; he has the freedom to invite whomever he pleases. But you getting one¡¡± She paused, smiling wryly. ¡°I¡¯m puzzled. Do you have some sort of personal connection with Chu Shan He?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Lin Xian replied, equally baffled. Why would Chu Shan He invite him? He wasn¡¯t a chamber member, a renowned figure, nor did he have any personal ties to Chu Shan He. Their only interaction had been a brief encounter at an MXpany event, a mere formality due to Zhao Ying Jun. Such a minor exchange couldn¡¯t possibly warrant an invite.It surely couldn¡¯t be linked to his recent escapade on the overpass. Lin Xian dismissed the notion. Chu Shan He wouldn¡¯t extend an invite over such a trivial matter.
¡°I¡¯m at a loss,¡± Lin Xian admitted, shaking his head. ¡°Could it possibly be rted to you?¡±
¡°Unlikely. What are you thinking, Lin Xian?¡± Zhao Ying Junughed lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t wield any influence over Chu Shan He.¡±
¡°But it is definitely intended for you. This afternoon, someone from the Shan He Group delivered my invite and specifically handed over this one for you.¡±
¡°Open it,¡± she encouraged him.
Breaking the wax seal, Lin Xian unfolded the invitation. It was formally worded, providing the specifics of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce¡¯s New Year G at Chu Shan He¡¯s private club, scheduled for 7 PM the day after tomorrow. His name was prominently disyed in bold, calligraphic strokes, though he couldn¡¯t confirm if it was Chu Shan He¡¯s own handwriting.
¡°Quite borate,¡± Lin Xianmented, closing the invitation. He wasn¡¯t inclined to attend. Events like these didn¡¯t interest him, and as an internal gathering, he¡¯d likely feel out of ce. Nevertheless, he had cultivated an image of ambition for Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s sake¡ªa refusal might conflict with that persona.
¡°Since it¡¯s from Chu Shan He, it would be impolite to decline,¡± he concluded, waving the invitation lightly. ¡°And I happen to be free that evening.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded in agreement. ¡°Rubbing shoulders with such prominent figures could be advantageous for your career.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll see you at the g.¡±
Bang.
The heavy security doors to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office closed with a thud as Lin Xian exited. He frowned, pondering why Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t yet announced his new role as her secretary. With the New Year fast approaching, would he have to wait until after the holidays to see the Genius Club invite?
¡°Probably not,¡± he reassured himself. Zhao Ying Jun was known for her decisiveness and efficiency. A decision would likely be enacted swiftly.
Ding¡ª
The elevator doors slid open¡
Meanwhile, in akeside vi on the outskirts of Donghai, aged, wrinkled hands pushed open an ornate redwood door. Inside, a pale young man sat by a floor-to-ceiling window under the moonlight, his figure haloed by the eerie blue glow from hisptop screen, rendering him almost statue-like.
¡°¡¡± The elderly man sighed deeply at the scene. ¡°This cat-and-mouse game you¡¯re ying is futile. You¡¯ve won, Ji Linpletely. But a cat can¡¯t catch a mouse that won¡¯t leave its hole. Mice live brief lives. Do you n to oust the cat? Or are you waiting for me to pass before you go outside?¡±
¡°Perfect timing, Pride,¡± Ji Lin remarked without looking up from his screen. ¡°I need your help.¡±
¡°What for?¡±
¡°I need an invite to the Donghai Chamber of Commerce¡¯s New Year G. Do you know their president, Chu Shan He?¡±
Pride shook his head dismissively. ¡°That upstart¡ doesn¡¯t capture my interest.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t underestimate him, Pride. Didn¡¯t you begin your ascent in Donghai?¡±
¡°True, but by the time I made my mark, Chu Shan He was still a youngster. We operate on different levels.¡±
¡°Regardless, I need that g invite.¡±
¡°That¡¯s easy enough,¡± Pride responded nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s just an invite. Consider it done.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re finally prepared to confront the cat?¡± Pride asked, a smile creeping across his face.
¡°Something like that,¡± Ji Lin affirmed, setting aside his mouse and stretching. ¡°It¡¯s time I made a public appearance.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Pride nodded, satisfied. ¡°I can leave Donghai with a clear conscience. I might be away for several months. I¡¯m hoping for good news upon my return.¡±
¡°Why so long?¡± Ji Lin questioned, ncing up. ¡°Heading back to Brooklyn?¡±
Pride nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the New Year. I need to visit Brooklyn, but there are other matters to address. The fallout from Xu Yun¡¯s research has been extensive¡ much remains to be done.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve always had a fondness for Brooklyn,¡± Ji Lin observed.
¡°I have old friends there,¡± Pride admitted, tipping his hat. ¡°I owe them my respects.¡±
¡°For as long as I can remember, you¡¯ve visited Brooklyn every year at this time,¡± Ji Lin noted.
¡°Indeed,¡± Pride¡¯s voice softened, tinged with age and mncholy. ¡°Since the summer of 1952. It¡¯s been many years.¡±
¡°I can barely remember their faces, but the memories of our time together remain vivid, as if it were just yesterday.¡±
Ji Lin noted the wistfulness in Pride¡¯s tone. ¡°You seldom talk about friends. I assumed Xu Yun was your only one.¡±
¡°Everyone needs friends, Ji Lin, even you,¡± Pride said, opening the door to leave. Warm yellow light from the courtyard enveloped him as a ck-suited driver waited by a running Lincoln, signaling the brief nature of Pride¡¯s visit.
¡°Onest thing,¡± Pride turned back, his silhouette framed by the golden glow. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Envy to assist you in my absence.¡±
¡°Assist or supervise?¡± Ji Lin inquired.
¡°Assist, Ji Lin. Despite my grumblings, you¡¯ve earned my approval.¡±
¡°Appreciate the endorsement,¡± Ji Lin said, cing a Rhine Cat plush on the desk and facing the door. ¡°But could you send someone else? I¡¯m not fond of Envy.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Pride chuckled. ¡°Envy isn¡¯t fond of you either. But it¡¯s your job to get along.¡±
Ji Lin yawned and scratched his head. ¡°So, when is Envy arriving?¡±
¡°Not now,¡± Pride replied. ¡°Envy will join you after the New Year.¡±
¡°After the New Year?¡± Ji Linughed. ¡°Our evil organization takes holidays?¡±
¡°If only you showed such enthusiasm more often, Ji Lin,¡± Pridemented, stepping out. ¡°Envy is home for a ss reunion.¡±
With a dry, wrinkled hand, Pride closed the door behind him.
Chapter 127: CC and VV
Lin Xian stepped back into his office, clutching an invitation. He couldn¡¯t understand why Chu Shan He had sent it. From every perspective, he didn¡¯t see himself as qualified to attend the New Year¡¯s Eve banquet at the Donghai Chamber of Commerce. He felt unworthy of such recognition.
Yet, deciding to attend wasn¡¯t a bad move. It was crucial to uphold his image as the ¡°Tiger of MX¡± in front of Zhao Ying Jun.
He nced at his watch¡ªit was already 6:30 PM. Even if he dozed off right now, he wouldn¡¯t make the scene involving the ¡°Three-Knife Thief.¡± Lately, his dreams had diminished in value. His exploration in the second dream had progressed to a new phase¡ªbreaking into New Donghai City.
¡°Looks like noon naps are in my future,¡± he mused.
In his previous night¡¯s dream, CC had said she would wait in the woods behind Li Cheng¡¯s house until evening. By using the code word ¡°VV,¡± he could connect with her, and they¡¯dmence their n to enter New Donghai City.
¡°Tonight, I¡¯m taking a well-deserved break,¡± Lin Xian resolved.
He stretched, switched off the lights, and exited his office.
¡The following day, around noon.
After a simple lunch at home and some television, Lin Xian felt sleepy. He checked the time: 2:30 PM. His usual time for entering dreams was 12:42 PM. To make sure he could nap today, he had stayed upte the previous night. Falling asleep took longer than usual since he wasn¡¯t ustomed to daytime naps.
He closed the curtains,y down, and shut his eyes.
¡
¡
¡
A harsh summer heat beat down, the cramped, makeshift houses blocking any breeze.
Despite the sweltering heat of noon, Lin Xian opened his eyes and hurriedly moved to the shade, feeling the temperature significantly drop. He checked his watch: 2:51 PM. Falling asleep at noon took longer than expected.
¡°First order of business, I need to locate CC in the woods behind Li Cheng¡¯s house.¡±
Lin Xian surveyed his surroundings. Li Cheng¡¯s house was a fair distance away. Running there would take too long.
¡°Guess I¡¯ll be the Good Citizen of Los Angeles today,¡± he muttered, heading towards Big Cat Face¡¯s ce.
Big Cat Face¡¯s motorcycle, although old and rickety, was still a bike. In this dpidated vige, it was as esteemed as a Ferrari. Big Cat Face, the local tough guy, always left the key in the ignition, confident that no one dared steal it.
¡°Time to give Big Cat Face a lesson in security,¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°He¡¯ll learn what ¡®it¡¯s hard to guard against a thief in one¡¯s own home¡¯ really means.¡±
Thud!
Exiting the alley, he collided with a man in a ck hat.
¡°Move!¡± the man snapped, shoving Lin Xian against the wall before grabbing his fallen wallet and rushing away.
¡°Damn,¡± Lin Xian muttered, recognizing the man as the Three-Knife-Style Thief who had been targeting locals.
¡°What¡¯s with this vige?¡± Lin Xian pondered. The thief¡¯s relentless devotion to his work reminded him of CC. No matter the changes in the world, her objective remained unchanged: cracking Lin Xian¡¯s safe. This thief seemed to harbor a deep love for the vige, stealing relentlessly, day and night.
¡°He even uses the same escape routes¡¡± Lin Xian sighed, continuing towards Big Cat Face¡¯s residence. He was met by several burly men.
Big Cat Face, nked by three cronies, approached Lin Xian, breathing heavily, and pped him on the shoulder.
¡°Hey, kid! Seen a guy in a ck hat?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xian responded.
¡°Which way did he go?¡±
¡°That way,¡± Lin Xian pointed in the direction the thief had fled.
¡°After him!¡± Big Cat Facemanded. ¡°No one steals on my turf and gets away with it!¡±
The group charged down the alley, leaving Lin Xian with a clear path to the motorcycle.
¡
Lin Xian approached Big Cat Face¡¯s house. Checking that the coast was clear, he climbed onto the bike, turned the key, and kicked the starter.
The engine coughed but didn¡¯t start. He tried again, to no avail.
¡°Why are Big Cat Face¡¯s vehicles always junk?¡± Lin Xian grumbled. His first dream involved a van with a terrible gearbox, and now this motorcycle was no better.
He remembered seeing Big Cat Face start it effortlessly every time. Maybe it needed a special touch.
¡°Mom! Someone¡¯s trying to steal the bike!¡± a young girl¡¯s voice yelled from a window.
¡°Brother! Get him!¡± she shouted.
Inside, there was a tter of pots and loud voices.
Boom!
The door flew open, and a younger version of Big Cat Face barreled towards Lin Xian, only to collide with a grape trellis post, sporting a quickly swelling bump on his forehead.
¡°Waahhh!!!¡± the boy cried, sitting on the ground.
The bike finally roared to life, emitting a plume of ck smoke.
¡°Take care, little Big Cat Face,¡± Lin Xian said, cing a helmet on the boy¡¯s head. ¡°Your uncle has to go now.¡±
He revved the engine and zoomed out of the yard.
¡
Arriving at Li Cheng¡¯s house on the vige¡¯s edge, Lin Xian remembered the extensive yard from previous visits with Big Cat Face.
He parked the bike, noting the nearly useless brakes, thankful for the soft dirt path that helped slow him down.
Stepping off, he entered the cool, dense woods behind the house.
¡°CC!¡± he called out.
Silence.
¡°CC!¡± he tried again.
Still nothing.
¡°I¡¯m VV!¡±
After a moment, a figure dropped from the trees, leaves swirling. Lin Xian saw her distinctive oval face, the mole under her left eye, and her slender frame.
It was CC.
Startled, CC asked, ¡°Are you VV?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian admitted truthfully.
¡°How do you know the name VV then?¡± she demanded.
¡°The you from tonight told me,¡± Lin Xian exined, recounting their uing interactions, including her nned disguise as Li Ning Ning, the humandder trick, and the awaited but never arrived safe at the junkyard.
He detailed the junkyard¡¯s traffic patterns and described fragments of her memory.
The key was that VV, the name, was a code given by her future self to build trust.
¡°VV is that long-haired, middle-aged man, right? He probably sounds like me. I think he might be me, but I can¡¯t prove it yet,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Any questions? If not, let¡¯s n our next move.¡±
CC pondered for a long while, about ten minutes. Lin Xian waited patiently; such an unbelievable situation needed careful consideration. For CC, switching from a carefullyid n to trusting a stranger was daunting.
¡°So, you¡¯re saying the safe with my name arrives at the junkyard at 12:57, but this world ends at 12:42?¡± CC asked, her brow furrowed.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Exactly. You¡¯ve almost got it right. Whether you believe me or not, I need to break into New Donghai City to ess that safe. Waiting at the junkyard is pointless; there¡¯s no reason for me to lie about that.¡±
After a moment, CC nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely convinced, but you knowing the name VV and details about the junkyard that were only released this morning is persuasive.¡±
She extended her hand. ¡°Shall we team up? I need your skills to enter New Donghai City.¡±
CC hesitated, then shook his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve predicted many of my actions. I¡¯ll trust you.¡±
¡°But the real challenge now¡¡± CC crossed her arms, looking towards the distant, barren cityscape. ¡°To sneak into New Donghai City using the garbage trucks, we first need to enter the junkyard.¡±
¡°Locals like Li Cheng and Big Cat Face live off stealing from the junkyard using the humandder method. It¡¯s clunky but effective.¡±
¡°But just the two of us¡¡±
¡°How do we build a humandder and scale the eight-meter wall of the junkyard?¡±
Chapter 128: The Growing Gang! New Members!
¡°Who said it¡¯s just the two of us?¡± Lin Xian grinned at CC, pointing to the motorcycle behind them. ¡°Hop on.¡±
¡°Where are we going?¡± CC asked, a mix of curiosity and worry in her eyes.
¡°To meet our big boss.¡±
Vroom¡ª
Lin Xian started the motorcycle with a swift kick. He nced at CC. ¡°Just follow my lead and do exactly as I tell you.¡±
¡°What do you need me to do?¡± she asked.
¡°Not much,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°Our gang members are easygoing. They¡¯ll believe whatever we say. Just stick close.¡±
Put-put-put-put-put!The motorcycle sputtered ck smoke as they bounced along the rugged dirt road.
Earlier, CC had informed Lin Xian that at 9:11 PM, two garbage trucks would leave the waste processing nt, taking their usual route past the abandoned Time Bank.
Lin Xian mentally noted the time. That meant if they managed to sneak onto the garbage truck by 9:11 PM, they could hitch a ride into New Donghai City and get dropped off near the Time Bank.
Of course, this depended on CC cracking the password in time, bypassing the biometric scanner, and safely unlocking the security door.
This mission could very well be a one-way trip for both of them.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t seem to care; he didn¡¯t ce much value on his life.
But CC¡¯s willingness to risk everything for this operation surprised him. It seemed the name VV meant more to her than her own life.
Thump!
A sudden bump nearly sent CC flying off the motorcycle. She quickly grabbed onto Lin Xian, then leaned back to maintain some distance.
¡°Can you tell me about you and VV?¡± Lin Xian shouted above the wind¡¯s roar.
¡°No, I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± CC replied coldly.
¡°Don¡¯t be so distant,¡± Lin Xian coaxed with a smile. ¡°Actually, the future you spilled some beans earlier, just not the whole story. Maybe VV is connected to me too.¡±
¡°Humph! Nice try,¡± CCughed softly. ¡°I would never reveal secrets about VV. Lying will only make me trust you less.¡±
¡°I believe you because you mentioned VV¡¯s name, and that was shock enough. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have believed your tale.¡±
¡°But even if I were to believe what you said, I wouldn¡¯t divulge more about VV.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian refocused on the road, letting the conversation drop.
Despite the time difference, past and future, CC was sharp enough to catch his lie.
The past involving VV was clearly her most treasured and painful memory. He couldn¡¯t guess the secrets hidden there, but they likely weren¡¯t joyful.
CC obviously held some resentment towards VV. Given her reluctance to discuss it, Lin Xian would have to rely on piecing together future bits of information.
The motorcycle sped onward.
Thump, thump, thump!
Three more bumps had CC clinging to Lin Xian again.
¡°Can you drive more smoothly?¡± CCined.
¡°Stop clinging so tight!¡± Lin Xian retorted. ¡°Your hair¡ it¡¯s tickling my neck.¡±
¡°You think I want to?¡± CC grumbled, pushing herself away once again.
However¡
Thump!
Another bump.
Once more, they found themselves pressed together.
¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± CC scowled.
¡°You¡¯re so self-centered¡ What would I gain from this?¡± Lin Xian muttered.
Thud!
A small fist thumped Lin Xian¡¯s back.
¡°Why don¡¯t you drive, and I¡¯ll sit at the back?¡± Lin Xian suggested irritably. ¡°Can you just cooperate a bit?¡±
CC huffed but remained silent.
¡°I know someone who looks just like you,¡± Lin Xian shouted over the wind.
¡°That¡¯s the oldest pickup line ever.¡±
¡°See! That¡¯s what I wanted to say! You know the biggest difference between you two?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it,¡± CC cut him off sharply.
¡°The biggest difference is you¡¯re so self-centered and arrogant!¡± Lin Xian yelled into the wind. ¡°She was a princess, beloved by the entire city. Yet, she never acted as vain as you! She never assumed every man was out to get her.¡±
¡°No need to beat around the bush,¡± CC propped herself up on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders, smirking. ¡°So, you like her? Think all girls should be like her?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Lin Xian swerved to avoid a pothole. ¡°Don¡¯t twist my words. I¡¯m just saying we need to work together for a while. Better to clear the air now.¡±
¡°This bike is old, and the road is rough. Either hold on tight or get off and walk.¡± Lin Xian refused to coddle her.
People aren¡¯t always what they seem¡ Even with the same face, their true nature can differ drastically.
Thump!
Another bump.
CC pressed against him once again.
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
The rocky ride continued, with CC alternating between gripping Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders and hugging him for stability.
Finally, they reached their destination.
Lin Xian parked the motorcycle and led CC into a nearby alley.
He checked his watch.
Just after five-thirty.
In under ten minutes, the notorious three-knife thief was due.
¡°What are we waiting for?¡± CC asked, her curiosity piqued.
¡°A three-knife thief.¡±
¡°A what?¡± CC looked bewildered.
Suddenly, the distant cries of Mrs. Li echoed through the air: ¡°Catch¡ªcatch the thief! Catch¡ catch the¡ thief!¡±
Whoosh!
A thief wearing a ck hat sprinted past the alley¡¯s entrance.
Lin Xian stepped forward,ing face to face with the frantic Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li clutched Lin Xian¡¯s arm as if holding onto a lifeline. ¡°Young man¡¡±
¡°Alright, wait.¡± Lin Xian dashed after the thief without hesitation.
¡°Hey!¡± CC, unsure of her role, quickly followed, watching Lin Xian¡¯s expert maneuvers.
¡°Gotcha¡ª¡±
¡°Ah!¡±
Like a seasoned assembly line worker, Lin Xian swiftly confiscated three knives from the thief, then used the thief¡¯s belt to tie his hands behind his back.
CC watched, amazed by the smooth sequence, blinking at Lin Xian. ¡°How are you so good at this?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve done it so many times¡ I could do it blindfolded.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the thief, whoy on the ground, pants around his ankles, writhing like a fish out of water, then dusted off his hands.
¡°Now, we just wait for our boss. You hide in the alley.¡±
CC nodded, remembering Lin Xian¡¯s earlier mentions of time loops, the future, and the looming destruction at 00:42¡
She took cover in the alley, stealing onest nce at Lin Xian.
¡°If you can really manipte time¡ why not bring me here directly? Seeing the future would convince me more.¡±
¡°Good point.¡± Lin Xian acknowledged her suggestion.
CC was right. Mentioning VV was just a way to build trust. To fully earn CC¡¯s trust, he needed to show his control over the future.
Next time, he could skip the exnations and directly expose her to future events to convince her.
Crash!!
A stack of firewood at the end of the alley toppled over, and Big Cat Face appeared as expected.
¡
¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea.¡±
San Pang nodded wisely, supporting Lin Xian¡¯s decision to join the gang.
¡°Alright! That settles it then!¡±
Big Cat Faceughed heartily, draping an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders. ¡°From today, you¡¯re one of us!¡±
¡°Brother Face, this capture wasn¡¯t all my doing.¡± Lin Xian pointed to the grounded thief. ¡°I have a skilled partner who can climb walls as well as I can. She has extensive knowledge of New Donghai City¡¯s waste processing nt. She¡¯s truly talented. How about letting her join the gang too?¡±
¡°Oh? A talent!¡± Big Cat Face nodded. ¡°We always wee talent, but¡ even with your rmendation, she must undergo our initiation process and secure a majority vote.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian motioned to CC, who was lurking in the shadows. ¡°Come on out, CC. This is our big brother, Big Cat.¡±
CC, dressed in a sleek ck outfit, stepped forward with graceful movements. Her model-like stature cast a long shadow in the setting sun.
She smiled, her eyes forming graceful crescents, and faint dimples appeared. Her delicate features resembled a blooming white pear blossom. She raised her slender right hand and waved to everyone.
¡°Hello.¡±
San Pang stood up straight, his nostrils ring like a steam engine. He stepped forward and firmly shook Lin Xian¡¯s hand, eagerly asking, ¡°Is she your girlfriend?¡±
¡°No.¡±
San Pang sneered, eyeing CC with skepticism. ¡°We don¡¯t wee women in the gang. This is a joke! Other gangs would mock us! I vote no to her joining.¡±
Big Cat Face nodded in agreement. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xian¡¯s partner to be a woman.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with women?!¡± Ah Zhuang stepped forward, his voice rising. ¡°Change is necessary! If we don¡¯t evolve, we¡¯ll be extinct! I vote yes! Let this heroine join!¡±
¡°Damn!¡± Big Cat Face was taken aback, tapping Ah Zhuang on the head. ¡°Where did you pick up such words? That¡¯s not your usual style!¡±
San Pang nced at CC, then at her charming smile, and nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea.¡±
Big Cat Face turned and thumped San Pang on the head. ¡°You agree again? Learned to make quick decisions, huh?¡±
In short¡
Two votes in favor, one against.
¡°Alright.¡± Big Cat Face nodded reluctantly. ¡°We¡¯re a democracy. So, wee to the gang! What¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°CC.¡± CC couldn¡¯t help butugh, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°Your friends are entertaining. Why not call it the Cat Gang instead of the Face Gang?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a deep philosophical question,¡± Lin Xian whispered, joining Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, and San Pang in a round of apuse.
¡°Wee to the gang!¡±
¡°Thank you, I¡¯m honored.¡±
¡
¡°Hmm¡ this gadget does look like something the waste nt supervisors use.¡±
In the courtyard of Li Cheng¡¯s residence.
The burly Li Cheng examined the Bluetooth earpiece-like device and handed it back to CC. ¡°You cracked this? You can monitor all the operations at the waste nts in New Donghai City?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± CC exined, ¡°You can track the departure and arrival times of all the garbage trucks, along with their tasks.¡±
¡°Tonight at 11:19, a shipment of water-damaged books will be transported to the waste nt,¡± Lin Xian informed Li Cheng, getting straight to the point. ¡°Boss Li, this is a golden opportunity. While they may not be historical texts, there are many other valuable books and materials. The drone patrols are the same as usual. It¡¯s the perfect time for you to steal the books.¡±
Li Cheng nodded. Seeing the Bluetooth-like device, he had no doubts about their ims.
¡°Thank you for this crucial information. What do you need from us? I¡¯ll assist with whatever I can.¡±
Lin Xian and CC exchanged looks andid out their n.
They aimed to infiltrate Waste nt 221, a facility that Big Cat Face and his crew had long targeted. Two garbage trucks would leave at 9:11 PM, offering an ideal chance to sneak into New Donghai City. If they managed to bypass the security door, the truck would transport them directly to Time Bank, where they could disembark and crack the safe.
All they required was some manpower and a humandder. Big Cat Face and Li Ning Ning didn¡¯t need to join them on the perilous mission.
Once they were inside, Big Cat Face and Li Ning Ning could head to Waste nt 314 to pilfer the books.
It was an exchange of information for aid.
Li Cheng was taken aback by their daring n to breach New Donghai City, but after witnessing their resolve, he consented.
¡°See, we¡¯ve got ourdder,¡± Lin Xian told CC.
CC bit her lip and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re impressive. At first, I doubted you were really Lin Xian¡ but now, with all these incredible events unfolding, you might actually be him.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Xian grinned. ¡°While we should rely on science, phenomena that defy exnation aren¡¯t necessarily unscientific. Maybe the safe and VV in your thoughts are both connected to me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± CC shook her head confidently. ¡°You¡¯re nothing like VV.¡±
Not alike?
CC¡¯s words brought Lin Xian back to his thoughts of her and Chu An Qing¡
Identical in appearance, different in personality, not the same individual.
If so, what about the middle-aged man with the beard and himself?
Could they be the same?
Same voice, possibly simr in other ways, but not the same person.
What could it mean?
Clones?
Lin Xian shook his head, puzzled.
But he sensed that if he could unravel the mystery between CC and Chu An Qing, he might also discover the secret of his own enigma with the bearded man.
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±
Chapter 129: Safe and Sound
Big Cat Face signaled for everyone to don their masks and climb into the van. Lin Xian effortlessly fixed his well-worn Rhine Cat mask over his face. CC opted for an Ultraman mask, the same one he¡¯d worn during theirst adventure.
This ritual whisked Lin Xian back to their first dream, where the trio had first squeezed into this van¡ªa memory he cherished dearly. Yet, today, the van felt even more cramped, bustling with Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, San Pang, and Li Ning Ning. Li Ning Ning chose an Ultraman mask too, albeit slightly different from CC¡¯s. She positioned herself next to Lin Xian, with CC on his other side.
As they jolted along the dirt road, the van swaying, a mix of white camellia and rose scents filled the air, lulling Lin Xian towards sleep. He reminisced about their second dream. At precisely 00:42, a hand had rested on his shoulder, carrying the delicate scent of white camellia. That had to be CC. Logically, CC should have been at disposal nt 221 then, overseeing the unloading of the safe. Only one possibility remained¡
Had he not joined the Face Gang, neither Li Ning Ning nor Big Cat Face would have faced dys, preventing CC from intervening. This could have jeopardized a n back in old Donghai. Sure, other factors could have derailed Big Cat Face¡¯s ns,pelling CC, upon recognition, to act.
¡°We¡¯re here. Everyone out!¡± Big Cat Face announced as he parked the van on a dirt slope. They all got out. Masked, the group lined up to gaze at the distant neon lights of New Donghai City. To Lin Xian, it mirrored scenes from his favorite tales¡ªlike the Akatsuki attacking Konoha or Zhang Mazi battling bandits.
Sometimes, he felt privileged. It was as if he had ess to another dimension, a fantastical realm where adventures were limitless. This was an experience he could never have in real life, yet now he was living it daily on the fringes of New Donghai City. He wondered about the purpose of this unique dream.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words under the moonlight resonated with him: ¡°Follow your passion, something you¡¯re devoted to, not to prove anything to others, but because it¡¯s worth your very life.¡± Was there truly such a calling for him?
Recently, Lin Xian¡¯s outlook had begun to shift. He had previously regarded many things as trivial, like the recurring dream, the impending apocalypse, the elusive tomorrow¡ These concepts had seemed distant. 600 years away. Why should they matter to him? Whether they entailed destruction, deformation, joy, or pain¡ªhow did they affect him?As long as he was satisfied and free, that was enough. As long as he could explore and express himself, that was enough. But now¡ his perspective was evolving. Immersed in the events, new insights emerged¡ªhe had once seen Big Cat Face and CC as mere NPCs, devoid of emotion. But now, he inexplicably viewed them as friends, real beings with feelings and lives.
And not just them. Many others as well. At disposal nt 314, despite knowing that everyone would perish at 00:42, he still dashed through the drone¡¯s fire to assist Li Ning Ning over the wall, saving the defiant girl who refused to ept her fate. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t exin his actions. Even aware of their inevitable doom, why risk everything to save someone who had mere minutes left?
He questioned himself. Would he make the same decision again? The answer was yes. Even if the scenario had been repeated ten thousand times, he¡¯d still have saved Li Ning Ning despite knowing the oue. To him, it was just a few more minutes. But for Li Ning Ning, she was alive, teeming with life. She spent her days amidst filth, just to toss a few books over a high wall. People have hearts. Considering the lives of girls her age in the real world, how could he not empathize? Li Ning Ning could have lived like Chu An Qing, almost like a princess. But she rejected her predestined fate. She sought to alter her reality.
A piece of bark falling and gradually unfolding¡ªit illustrated to Lin Xian the defiance of life. And CC. And Big Cat Face. They were all striving, resisting, refusing to sumb to their destinies. Lin Xian no longer regarded this dream simply as an escape. By day, he missed these friends. In his dreams, he eagerly anticipated their next meeting.
He adored Big Cat Face¡¯s straightforward, earnest foolishness. He valued the strategies of Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang. He savored the dumplings made by Sister Face. He worried about Big Cat Face¡¯s parents, whose fates were uncertain, but he never dared to ask. He admired Li Ning Ning¡¯s stubbornness. He respected Li Cheng¡¯s courage in allowing his daughter to undertake such perilous tasks. And CC, the mysterious, incredible girl who thrived on their yful exchanges.
Lin Xian hade to cherish all of it. He often wished¡ that the dream couldst just one more day. How wonderful that would be. He wouldn¡¯t need to reintroduce himself to these friends; he could simply approach them and embrace them, dering: ¡°Hey, I¡¯m back!¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, finding the neon lights of New Donghai City seemingly etched onto his retinas. If someone had told him a few months ago: ¡°Lin Xian, there¡¯s a way to save the world 600 years from now, to prevent everyone from perishing, to let time flow once more. Will you take the risk?¡± He would have responded without a second thought: ¡°Not my problem. Let someone from 600 yearster handle it.¡±
But now, if asked the same question, Lin Xian believed he might answer: ¡°I want to try.¡±
¡°What?¡± Beside him, Li Ning Ning looked up at the tall man muttering to himself.
¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Xian smiled, patting her head: ¡°Just thinking about some things¡ I suddenly want to try.¡±
¡°Hey¡ª!¡± Big Cat Face turned around, startled, looking at Lin Xian: ¡°You kid, what are you up to! I¡¯m warn¡ª¡±
¡°Shut up!¡±
¡
20:42
The seven of them crouched outside the high wall of disposal nt 221, silently waiting for the drone¡¯s blind spot.
¡°Here, take this.¡± Li Ning Ning pulled a small sachet from her pocket, handing it to Lin Xian.
He examined it. It was a small, handmade sachet, about half the size of a bank card, slightly hard, as if filled with tiny grains. On both sides of the sachet, the words ¡°Safe and Sound¡± were neatly embroidered. The creator clearly possessed excellent sewing skills.
¡°I really admire your courage,¡± Li Ning Ning whispered. ¡°Over the years, I¡¯ve heard countless people boast about venturing into New Donghai City and aplishing various feats¡ but you¡¯re the first I¡¯ve seen who truly dared to try.¡±
¡°I wanted to convince you not to go. It¡¯s very dangerous. But my dad tried to dissuade you for ages, and you still insisted¡ which means entering New Donghai City must be incredibly important to you. Maybe¡ even more important than your life.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Li Ning Ning smiled, looking at the sachet in Lin Xian¡¯s palm: ¡°This was sewn by my mom. I¡¯ve had it for many years, and it¡¯s always kept me safe.¡±
¡°It¡¯s too precious. You should keep it.¡± Lin Xian attempted to return the sachet to Li Ning Ning. But Li Ning Ning shook her head. Her slightly rough hands enveloped Lin Xian¡¯srger ones, gripping them tightly around the sachet embroidered with ¡°Safe and Sound.¡±
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Li Ning Ning gazed up at him, ¡°Stay safe.¡±
Chapter 130: Doraemons Dream
¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Xian said, epting the small, calming pouch with a nod. He slipped it into his coat pocket, offering a warm smile. ¡°Is there anything you want from New Donghai City, Ning Ning? I could bring you a gift.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care about that,¡± Li Ning Ningughed lightly. ¡°I just want to blow this city up.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Lin Xian responded softly.
He looked up to see CC standing with her arms crossed, wearing an Ultraman mask. Her eyes sparkled warmly through the mask¡¯s eyeholes.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Nothing,¡± CC replied with a chuckle, looking away. ¡°It just seems you¡¯re quite popr with the girls.¡±
¡°Focus! We¡¯re near a surveince blind spot!¡± Big Cat Face interjected, hismand bringing silence to the group.
They tensed, watching a drone fly by before moving on.¡°Now!¡±
¡°Ah Zhuang! San Pang! Er Zhuzi!¡±
With swift coordination, Er Zhuzipleted their makeshift humandder.
¡°Hurry up and climb, you two! Watch for guards!¡± Big Cat Face yelled, his face turning red.
Lin Xian and CC exchanged a quick nce, nodded, and climbed the human structure, vaulting over¡ª
Thud. Thud.
Theynded safely atop a heap of discarded furniture, then sprinted twenty meters to a safer spot, away from the drone¡¯s reach.
¡°Safe,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
He peered into the monitoring room. Inside, the guard was unaware of any disturbances, the noisy junkyard masking their movements.
Lin Xian blew a few short bursts on his whistle.
Tweet¡ªtweet tweet¡ª
Big Cat Face quickly responded.
Their next mission after reaching disposal nt 221 was to infiltrate nt 314 to steal books.
¡°You¡¯re pretty agile,¡± CC noted, eyeing Lin Xian. His leopard-like speed and agility were surprising.
¡°I¡¯m actually better with firearms,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°But without guns here, I can¡¯t show you.¡±
¡°I have an animal injector, but it¡¯s non-lethal, just injects through the skin.¡±
¡°Keep it. It¡¯s our only weapon.¡±
Boom¡ª
As they spoke, the steel gate of the wall opened¡
Garbage trucks, loaded to the brim, began to exit.
¡°This batch of trucks is our target,¡± CC dered, attaching a Bluetooth-like device to her ear. ¡°After dumping, they¡¯ll return to New Donghai City by 9:11 PM. We just need to pick one.¡±
She pointed to a nearby truck, ¡°Let¡¯s take that one. It¡¯s close, and there¡¯s no risk in sneaking in.¡±
Lin Xian checked the monitoring room again. The distracted guard hadn¡¯t noticed them.
¡°Go!¡±
They scrambled through the garbage, weaving between cover, until they reached the truck.
The trucks wererge, the gaps in the dump bed just wide enough for concealment but cramped for two.
¡°You go in first,¡± Lin Xian directed CC towards the gap.
¡°Me on the bottom?¡± she asked.
¡°Do you have a preference?¡± Lin Xian looked puzzled.
¡°It¡¯s not about preference¡¡± CC exined, holding up the device. ¡°I need space to use this, to see the holographic screen and crack the password. I should be on top.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now,¡± Lin Xian urged. ¡°Get in first, we¡¯ll adjust inside. Hurry, the truck¡¯s leaving.¡±
CC stored the device, climbed up, and squeezed into the gap.
Lin Xian followed, his taller frame barely fitting. He propped himself in a half-suspended position.
¡°Are you¡fortable like that?¡± CC inquired, noting his awkward position.
¡°Do I lookfortable?¡±
¡°If you need to, just press down.¡±
¡°Forget it. I¡¯m good with push-ups.¡±
The truck¡¯s electric engine hummed as they started moving.
Lin Xian, looking through a gap, noted the direction they were headed.
The target was the steel gate ahead.
Boom¡ª
As they approached, the gate rumbled open, the convoy entering a sloping ramp.
Lin Xian clenched his fist. They were inching closer to the truth.
Beep beep.
CC¡¯s device beeped twice.
¡°Connection established,¡± she murmured, eyes flickering as she scanned the air.
¡°Cracking the security door¡¯s code?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes,¡± CC focused, brow furrowed. ¡°It¡¯s a dynamic key¡ each truck has a different one!¡±
Boom!
As the first truck passed through the security door, it closed again. Scanners checked each truck thoroughly.
Their truck, fifth in line, approached the checkpoint.
¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Still working¡ These dynamic keys are linked to each truck¡¯s ID. I need to ess the database,¡± CC sweated under pressure.
¡°So, no progress?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback.
¡°Quiet!¡± CC snapped, concentrating.
As their truck reached the security door, CC eximed, ¡°Done!¡±
The door rumbled open, scanners frozen.
¡°Nice job,¡± Lin Xianplimented, giving her a thumbs-up. ¡°You¡¯re an expert.¡±
CC removed the device and sat up, surveying ahead.
The area was barren, designated only for trucks. No buildings or pedestrians in sight, except for two uniformed workers emerging from a building, chatting andughing.
¡°There¡¯s a manual check?¡± Lin Xian turned to CC.
¡°Didn¡¯t your n cover this?¡± CC shook her head. ¡°The outer junkyard and the city have separate systems. What now?¡±
Lin Xian peered out, observing the ¡°entry inspectors¡± casually checking trucks.
¡°They won¡¯t miss us,¡± he realized.
This deviation from his n¡ªriding directly to Time Bank¡ªwas thwarted by unexpected tight city security; the outer junkyards were just a facade.
¡°We need to take action,¡± Lin Xian decided, noticing CC holding the animal injector.
¡°That¡¯s too slow and non-lethal¡ they have real guns, put away your toy,¡± he advised.
¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± CC asked.
¡°We eliminate them,¡± Lin Xian suggested with a grim gesture.
¡°They¡¯re rxed, unaware of any danger¡ this is our chance for a surprise attack.¡±
¡°If we seed, we take their weapons and uniforms to infiltrate the city.¡±
¡°And if we fail?¡± CC considered the risks.
¡°Then we try again tomorrow. No big deal,¡± Lin Xian grinned, unfazed. ¡°Got a knife or something?¡±
CC pulled out a sharp knife from her waist and another small one hidden within her hair tie, camellias scenting the air.
¡°Are you Doraemon?¡± Lin Xian joked.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°Never mind, it¡¯s not important,¡± Lin Xian dismissed, taking the regr knife and leaving the smaller one for CC.
¡°The guy checks from the left, the woman from the right. We¡¯ll ambush them at the truck¡¯s blind spot. I¡¯ll take the guy, you handle the woman. Quick and lethal!¡±
¡°Understood,¡± CC nodded, positioning herself.
Lin Xian had no doubts about her; she was a skilled killer, unfazed by danger.
Himself? He was equally confident.
The inspectors approached, chatting about office politics.
Reaching the truck, they split to check each side.
¡°If this leaks, it¡¯s bad for his promotion.¡±
¡°Once one knows, everyone knows,¡± theyughed, unaware of the imminent threat.
¡°Ugh!¡±
¡°Pfft¡ª¡±
Two muffled thuds! Lin Xian and CC struck swiftly, shing the inspectors¡¯ throats before they could react.
Blood sprayed, marking the truck like cyberpunk graffiti.
¡°How about you, CC?¡± Lin Xian checked.
¡°No issues here,¡± she confirmed, the threat neutralized.
¡°These guys were toocent,¡± Lin Xian observed. ¡°Never expected intruders.¡±
¡°Yeah¡ it¡¯s been centuries since anyone dared enter. Plus, the live scan at the gate makes it nearly impossible,¡± CC added, peering through the gap.
¡°So, what¡¯s next? Change into their uniforms and sneak in?¡± she proposed.
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian confirmed, securing a gun and feeling a surge of confidence.
He looked toward the neon-lit city skyline.
¡°It¡¯s time to shake things up.¡±
Chapter 131: Introduction to the Universal Constant
In his second dream, Lin Xian felt an odd sense offort holding a gun, like it was part of him. He and CC were dressed in guard uniforms, stained with blood that blended into the dark fabric, leaving an annoying stickiness behind.
¡°We need a better way to hide blood next time,¡± Lin Xian mused thoughtfully.
CC nced over, her mind elsewhere. Lin Xian¡¯s predictions about the future had been unsettlingly urate. Initially skeptical, CC¡¯s doubts were slowly fading.
After cleaning up quickly, Lin Xian checked their electronic badges. He flipped through a magazine, surprised that bullets hadn¡¯t changed much in 600 years. They were a bit different in size but still kic, not the futuristicsers or energy beams he had imagined.
¡°Maybe my theories were right,¡± Lin Xian whispered.
¡°What do you mean?¡± CC asked, intrigued.
¡°This ce, New Donghai City¡ it might just be a facade,¡± Lin Xian spected, gazing at the horizon. Vehicles of various sizes flew through the sky in organizedyers, like fish in a tank. The scene looked advanced but superficial.
Reflecting on this, Lin Xian realized that the city, projected 600 years into the future, didn¡¯t showcase technologies beyond his understanding. Buildings were taller, cars flew, and machines were smarter, but fundamentally, the progression of technology wasn¡¯t as revolutionary as he expected. If this were 2064, such advancements would seem usible, but in 2624?Lin Xian felt a pang of disappointment with New Donghai City. It wasn¡¯t the futuristic utopia he had envisioned. It seemed as though someone, perhaps the Genius Club, was intentionally suppressing technological development.
Lin Xian looked up at the moon, noting the dark silhouette of a hand pointing skyward. What was their ultimate goal?
With a loud ng, the gate swung open after they swiped their badges. Lin Xian and CC entered New Donghai City, surrounded by skyscrapers stretching into the clouds. Even the shorter buildings were imposing, making Lin Xian feel small, like a frog at the bottom of a well, unable to see the full picture. It was overwhelming.
New Donghai City felt simr to the old one, perhaps even more ustrophobic. The intense light pollution filled the cramped urban space, nearly blinding. Lin Xian marveled at how adaptable humans are; the residents seemed to have grown ustomed to, or even prefer, this blinding urbanndscape.
¡°Look at those people,¡± CC whispered, pointing to the passersby. ¡°Their fashion is quite odd.¡±
¡°It¡¯s probably due to cultural istion,¡± Lin Xian suggested, though he knew that wasn¡¯t quite the correct term.
As he suspected, centuries of istion had shaped a distinctive culture and fashion standard in New Donghai City. Men of all ages sported mboyant opera attire, as if ready to turn any street into a stage, while women¡¯s fashion disyed a quirky, youthful twist. Their entire look¡ªclothes, hairstyles, essories¡ªoozed a childlike charm, reminiscent of middle school or even elementary school styles.
CC frowned. ¡°There¡¯s something unsettling about it.¡±
¡°Fashion trends evolve,¡± Lin Xian reasoned, recalling his cousin who was once a prominent figure in their town¡¯s ¡°Shamate¡± subculture. The women around him had dressed just asvishly as those in New Donghai City. Nowadays, it¡¯s referred to as Harajuku style, though Lin Xian preferred to call it ¡°Christmas tree¡± style, due to the excessive decorations reminiscent of the Victorian era.
¡°Something else is off,¡± Lin Xian observed, studying the men and women around them. ¡°Have you noticed how unusually attractive everyone is, almost like statues¡ unnaturally so.¡±
¡°True,¡± CC agreed, her initial focus on their attire shifting as she noticed their exceptional beauty. Such appearances should be rare, but here, everyone was stunning. Lin Xian felt an eerie sensation¡
Were they even human? In 2023, cosmetic enhancements were advanced. It was not surprising that 600 yearster, such incredible beauty technologies were prevalent, making it difficult to guess anyone¡¯s real age.
¡°It seems there are no elderly people here,¡± CC noted quietly. ¡°Not on this street, anyway.¡±
¡°Or perhaps¡ they¡¯re all old,¡± Lin Xian spected, finding the city stranger by the minute. Dating here must be moreplex than ying a game of Werewolf. Luckily, their uniforms helped them blend in, avoiding the curious stares of the locals.
In the distance, they spotted patrol robots and mechanical dogs. Unsure of their purpose, Lin Xian and CC quickly ducked into an alley.
¡°How do we get to Time Bank? Do you have GPS on that earpiece?¡± Lin Xian asked.
CC shook her head. ¡°No, just basic route info. After I cracked the password, a lot of functions stopped working. Now it¡¯s mostly good for essing junkyard data and cracking other passwords.¡±
¡°That¡¯s still quite useful,¡± Lin Xian considered their next move. New Donghai City was vast, and wandering aimlessly wouldn¡¯t help them find Time Bank. They needed directions or a map.
¡°We could ask around. If direct questions fail, maybe we could inquire at a bookstore for a map.¡±
¡°What about the blood smell?¡± CC tugged at her cor, wrinkling her nose. ¡°These clothes reek of blood. It¡¯s bound to raise suspicions.¡±
¡°We could try asking children; they might be less observant.¡±
¡°Just make sure they¡¯re actually kids,¡± CC chuckled. ¡°And not adults who¡¯ve reversed their aging.¡±
Before they had to resort to questioning a child, they stumbled upon arge bookstore, three stories high, brimming with books but closed.
Lin Xian and CC approached the entrance, facing the thick ss doors. ¡°Electronic lock?¡± Lin Xian was surprised. ¡°Can you crack it?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot,¡± CC adjusted her Bluetooth-like device and got to work. After a few minutes, she announced, ¡°Connected. Once it¡¯s connected, it¡¯s a piece of cake.¡±
¡°Guess electronic locks aren¡¯t as secure as they seem,¡± Lin Xian mused, recalling the eight-dial password lock on the aluminum alloy safe. If that safe had been electronically secured, CC would have breached it long ago. In this high-tech era, traditional mechanical locks remained the most robust.
Beep beep.
The bookstore¡¯s ss door clicked open.
¡°Cracked it,¡± CC stated, removing the Bluetooth device, flipping her hair back, and pushing the door open. ¡°Let¡¯s find that map quickly.¡±
They soon located a map of Donghai City, pinpointing their position and Time Bank¡¯s location.
¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯re not in luck. Time Bank is on the other side of the district, about five kilometers away.¡±
¡°Five kilometers¡ not too bad,¡± Lin Xian calcted. Walking would take about 30-40 minutes, and they could possibly hijack a car, although he wasn¡¯t sure about piloting the flying models.
Since it was only ten-thirty, Lin Xian decided they should linger in the bookstore for a bit longer.
¡°CC, there should be a book search system at the counter. You¡¯re great withputers, could you look up a book for me?¡±
¡°What¡¯s the title?¡±
¡°Introduction to the Universal Constant.¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
¡°And check for any history books. I¡¯ll browse around here.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± CC quickly headed for theputer at the counter.
Lin Xian scanned the signs hanging from the ceiling¡ Drawing Area, Children¡¯s Area, Textbook Area, Video Area¡ He toured the first floor but found nothing rted to history.
Returning, CC reported, ¡°Any history books?¡±
¡°None,¡± CC replied, shaking her head. ¡°Odd¡ Such arge bookstore, yet no history section. I even searched the database¡ªthere¡¯s not a single history book.¡±
¡°What about Introduction to the Universal Constant?¡±
¡°Found it. Second floor, ancient books section, shelf three, level three.¡±
Ancient books? Lin Xian was puzzled. This should have been categorized under academic materials. Knowledge shouldn¡¯t bebeled as ancient or modern.
With questions swirling in his mind, Lin Xian and CC ascended to the second floor and quickly located the book. The cover featured a conspicuous review¡ª ¡°This is a worthless, error-filled academic work, but it miraculously survived in an ancient tomb for 600 years without decaying¡ Perhaps it¡¯s a miracle of love, a testament to an undying affection from six centuries ago.¡±
¡°What is this nonsense?¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand. A schrly work, dismissed as a romantic relic? He noted the harsh words on the cover: Worthless. Error-filled. Was this book truly that wed? Had it been demoted from academic relevance to an ancient curiosity due to its supposed inuracies?
Had Big Cat¡¯s father pursued his studies in vain? Lin Xian found this hard to ept. He removed the stic wrap, opened the cover, and checked the author¡¯s bio¡ The picture showed a young academic, about 25 or 26 years old, with ck-rimmed sses, resembling a university student.
The bio read: Liu Feng, born April 1996 in Shanxi, X Country. Entered Shanxi University¡¯s Mathematics Department in 2014, earned a master¡¯s degree in 2021, and then dedicated his career to studying the Universal Constant, culminating in this publication.
Born in 1996¡ Just as Lin Xian suspected. The original author of Introduction to the Universal Constant was from his own time.
This was an exciting discovery. If Lin Xian could reach out to the original author with his knowledge about the Universal Constant 42, perhaps he could unlock more secrets.
Despite the disparaging review, Lin Xian remained skeptical. As Big Cat once remarked¡ how credible are most experts? The Genius Club¡¯s involvement in the murder of Big Cat¡¯s father was the ultimate academic indictment.
Lin Xian flipped through the book, absorbingplex theories, until he reached thest page¡ where he found a printed card, seemingly included with the book. Had this card also been unearthed from the tomb?
He pulled out the card¡ The handwriting was delicate but shaky:
Dear Feng Feng,
Although I missed the meteor shower¡ I¡¯ll still make a wish for you from the heavens. One day, everyone will recognize the significance of the Universal Constant. It¡¯s unfortunate I won¡¯t be there to see it. Take care of yourself.
¡ªForever loving you, Qi Qi
Chapter 132: A Miracle Spanning 600 Years
¡°What is this?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, turning the card over to read the back. It exined that the book had been discovered in an ancient tomb with this card inside,ter restored and printed with the book. The tomb contained the remains of a young woman who archaeologists believed had written the card as a farewell to her lover before dying of an illness.
Lin Xian flipped the card back to its front. The handwriting was delicate yet firm, filled with deep sadness. The woman¡¯s wish was simple: she wanted recognition for her book, Introduction to Universal Constants. Sadly, even 600 yearster, as the world faced an impending apocalypse, schrs still dismissed the book as wed and unimportant. Yet, their enduring love and the book¡¯s preservation touched many hearts.
¡°Qi Qi¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, thinking it might be her name. He wondered if she had somehow survived into 2023. He nned to visit Liu Feng, the book¡¯s original author, in Shanxi after New Year¡¯s, hoping to meet this resilient girl, Qi Qi. But if the book had been published, why was there no trace of it online?
Suddenly, rms red through the bookstore.
¡°Lin Xian, we need to go!¡± CC shouted.
Nodding, Lin Xian dropped the book and sprinted with CC towards the ground floor. As they exited, two robotic police dogs leaped at them!
Bang! Bang!
Lin Xian drew his gun and fired, the dogs¡¯ heads exploding in sparks and metal, their bodies twitching on the ground. CC, wide-eyed with her gun still holstered, watched in shock. Then¡ª
Bang!Another shot rang out.
¡°Get down!¡± Lin Xian shouted, pulling CC aside in a swift motion.
Crash! Crash!
A jet ski-like vehicle crashed down, its uniformed rider bearing a fatal wound, blood and brain matter sttered around.
¡°Get on!¡± Lin Xian unfastened the rider¡¯s seatbelt and pushed the body off the vehicle.
¡°Do you know how to drive this?¡± CC asked, climbing onto the back seat.
¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±
Lin Xian hopped into the driver¡¯s seat, grabbed the handlebars, and figured it resembled an electric scooter.
¡°Hold tight!¡±
CC wrapped her arms around Lin Xian. He revved the throttle and yanked the handlebars¡ª
Vroom!
The vehicle surged with power, lifting them skyward!
¡°Woohoo!¡± Lin Xian yelled, exhrated.
¡°Lin Xian! Look behind us!¡±
CC, still holding onto Lin Xian, turned to see drones with green lights approaching fast.
¡°Hold on tight!¡±
Lin Xian maxed out the throttle. The vehicle sped forward, weaving through buildings at breakneck speed.
Buzz! Buzz!
The relentless drones closed in, their greensers trained on them. Lin Xian dove into the bustling traffic below, narrowly avoiding collisions thanks to some auto-avoidance tech.
¡°Auto-avoidance?¡±
Lin Xian was initially puzzled but quickly understood; such technology was already in development in 2023. Suddenly, the vehicle became uncontroble, ascending away from the traffic flow.
Despite Lin Xian¡¯s efforts, the handlebars wouldn¡¯t respond. He turned to see CC¡¯s terrified face, greenser dots reflecting off her, mirroring those on his own face.
¡°It looks like this game is over. See you tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian managed a resigned smile.
¡°What?¡± CC was confused.
¡°Actually, I have a banquet tomorrow¡ maybe after the New Year.¡±
Swoosh!
Everything turned a blinding green, then darkness enveloped them.
Lin Xian gasped, sitting upright in bed! He clutched his chest and scrambled to his desk, grabbing a pencil with shaky hands to write down:
¡°Liu Feng, born April 1996 in Shanxi, attended Shanxi University in 2014, graduated with a master¡¯s degree in 2021. Meteor shower, Qi Qi.¡±
Forcing one eye open, he scribbled the crucial details. After calming down, he sighed in relief, thinking, ¡°Though I didn¡¯t find the safe in New Donghai City, finding the Introduction to Universal Constants is a major breakthrough.¡±
Staring at Liu Feng¡¯s name on the paper, Lin Xian noted he¡¯d be almost 27, likely still alive. He tried searching online using various keywords¡ªLiu Feng, universal constants, Shanxi University¡ªbut found nothing.
¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Lin Xian scratched his head. If the book had indeed been found and published, even privately, there should be some record. ¡°I¡¯ll visit Shanxi after the New Year. I¡¯ll find Liu Feng at the university and speak with him.¡±
Lin Xian stood, opened the curtains, and watched as early evening darkness gave way to the bright lights of Donghai City. Tomorrow was the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, signaling the New Year¡¯s banquet hosted by the Donghai Chamber of Commerce. It was time to get ready for the festivities.
The following evening, at 6:30 PM, Lin Xian dressed in his banquet suit, tied his bowtie, and styled his hair before catching a cab to Chu Shan He¡¯s exclusive venue. Along the way, he observed the festive streets, adorned with glowing decorations.
¡°New Year,¡± he whispered softly.
The past year had been a rollercoaster but fruitful. Sincest December, Lin Xian had undergone countless experiences. The two cars that struck Xu Yun remained untraced¡ Initially, many online users urged the Donghai police to solve the case. However, as time passed, public attention shifted to other events. While Xu Yun had once dominated headlines, now a new TV series, Crazy, captivated viewers with its thrilling climax, overshadowing the tragic New Year¡¯s Day ident of 2023 that imed Xu Yun¡¯s life.
¡°Who killed Xu Yun?¡±
Lin Xian frowned, renewing his vow to uncover the murderer, although still uncertain of where to start. When would Zhao Ying Jun appoint him as her secretary and reveal the vault¡¯s password?
¡°We¡¯re here,¡± announced the cab driver, his sunsses oddly in ce despite the night.
¡°Can you really see with those on at night?¡± Lin Xian asked while paying.
¡°Too many high beams!¡± the driver grumbled.
Lin Xian stepped out of the cab, greeted by the brilliant lights of a grand clubhouse. Familiar faces from TV and newspapers were everywhere, mingling andughing as they entered. It hadn¡¯t been long since hisst visit to one of Chu Shan He¡¯s charity gs, yet here he was, poised among them once more.
A soft, manicured hand tapped his shoulder. ¡°Why are you just standing here?¡±
Lin Xian turned around and was immediately struck by the scent of Chanel¡¯s jasmine rose perfume. The light caught the diamond and ruby earrings that Zhao Ying Jun wore, making them sparkle brilliantly. She passed by him in a rose-red, off-shoulder evening dress, her heels clicking on the floor.
¡°I noticed you were lost in thought when I got out of the car. What was on your mind?¡±
¡°Nothing much,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile, catching up to her. ¡°Just marveling at how quickly time passes. It¡¯s almost the New Year already.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Ying Jun agreed, walking beside him into the hall. ¡°It¡¯s been six months since you graduated from Donghai University. You probably didn¡¯t expect to aplish so much so soon.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Just six months earlier, he had started at MX Company as an intern and had quickly been promoted to a full-time position. The sess of the Rhine Cat mascot had catapulted his career forward unexpectedly. He was excited to see the surprise on his rtives¡¯ and friends¡¯ faces when he returned home for the New Year.
The hall was alive with activity. Soon, Chu Shan He and his wife made their entrance, dressed elegantly, signaling the official start of the banquet.
¡°In the past year, we¡¯ve said goodbye to old friends and weed new ones. We live in times of constant change¡¡±
Chu Shan He¡¯s deep voice filled the room as he delivered his New Year¡¯s speech. He reflected on the year¡¯s highs and lows, achievements, and poignant moments, even mentioning Xu Yun with deep emotion. His words held the audience captivated, their faces showing nothing but respect.
Lin Xian observed Chu Shan He¡¯s wife, Su Xiu Ying, standing gracefully behind him, her expression one of pride and joy. As his loyal partner, she kept a low profile, focusing mainly on their home. Chu Shan He was known for his strong family values, which made him seem more approachable and sincere.
Although Lin Xian didn¡¯t know much about Chu Shan He¡¯s family life, the couple¡¯s warm interaction suggested a deep and loving rtionship. This close family bond likely yed a role in shaping their daughter Chu An Qing¡¯s generous nature, as parents are indeed a child¡¯s first role models.
Following the speech, the room burst into apuse. Other prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce spoke and then came the award presentations, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. As the official proceedings concluded, music began to y and servers distributed exquisite dishes. The center of the room was cleared for dancing.
It was time for the traditional dance. Most attendees had brought their partners or families and gathered on the dance floor, eager for the music to start.
Up on the second floor, the orchestra conductor gave the signal, and the music intensified, with strings and brass instruments heightening the excitement.
¡°Tango?¡±
Lin Xian recognized the melody of ¡°Por Una Cabeza,¡± a ssic tango tune. The lively song brought back memories. He had expected the evening to start off slow, but the upbeat tango was perfectly suited for a celebration focused on joy. The guests were already familiar with each other, so there was no need for a slow dance to break the ice.
But Lin Xian was there primarily as Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s plus-one, her protective escort for the evening. He was quite happy to sit on the sidelines, munching on snacks and politely declining any dance requests.
¡°Hey.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun called out to him.
¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xian turned to her.
Under the ornate ballroom lights, intricate shadows yed across her gown, her earrings swinging gently, mimicking the movements of dancers. She stood before him, her eyes shining with anticipation as she looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Can you dance?¡±
Chapter 133: Girlfriend
The deep, resonant sound of a cello melded with the trembling vibrato of a violin, elevating the mood and making Golden Hall¡¯s atmosphere resonate.
Several couples twirled past, their flowing gowns whispering against each other, leaving a trail of perfume and soft light in their wake.
Lin Xian was slightly taken aback. Zhao Ying Jun had never danced before.
¡°I know a bit,¡± he responded.
¡°Would you dance with me?¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun tiptoed forward, cing her left hand on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder before gliding past him, spinning halfway.
Lin Xian stepped to the left, extending his left arm to support Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s waist,pleting the elegant turn.
The cello¡¯s sound softened as the solo violin¡¯s strings pulled at the heartstrings, with Zhao Ying Jun moving deftly to the rhythm, each step timed perfectly.Lin Xian followed seamlessly, his right hand on her slender waist, their left hands sped, gliding effortlessly across the dance floor.
Learning tango isn¡¯t hard. At Donghai University¡¯s School of Arts, ballroom dancing was a popr elective, quickly filling up due to its demand.
The School of Arts had a higher female to male ratio, making the few male students quite popr as dance partners, perhaps contributing to the course¡¯s poprity.
Lin Xian managed to enroll during his sophomore year, spending that year as a frequent dance partner. Perhaps because he was a well-liked host, had good looks, and was tall, many girls preferred practicing with him, often waiting in line for their turn. That year was exhausting.
From the moment he entered the dance studio until ss ended, it was a constant whirl of spinning and supporting. He thought he had danced all the tangos of his life in that semester. Yet, today brought another opportunity.
¡°You dance really well,¡± Lin Xian genuinelyplimented.
Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°You¡¯re not too shabby yourself.¡±
Their dance steps were skilled and intense, yet their bodies never touched, a testament to the essence of tango, which lies in the pull and push of the steps. A master¡¯s tango resembles ying the piano, while a novice¡¯s is more akin to practicing Wing Chun.
¡°Does Donghai University teach tango?¡±
¡°They teach the basics, nothing thisplex,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly.
¡°Then how did you get so good?¡±
¡°This dance piece is famous,¡± Lin Xian exined, pulling them back to the center of the dance floor. ¡°It¡¯s been used in many movies. Directors love this piece. If there¡¯s a tango scene, it¡¯s often to this song, ¡®Por Una Cabeza.¡¯ I¡¯ve watched it enough times to learn.¡±
¡°Like which movies?¡± Zhao Ying Jun inquired, looking up.
¡°Scent of a Woman,¡± Lin Xian answered. ¡°A great movie with an iconic dance scene.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, watching the other dancing couples. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that movie. The lead actress is beautiful.¡±
¡°Gabrielle Anwar,¡± Lin Xian noted. ¡°Though she¡¯s aged since then.¡±
¡°Everyone ages. No one stays young forever.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun released Lin Xian¡¯s left hand, spinning gracefully on her high heels to the music, then rejoining his hand. ¡°It seems you really enjoy movies. You know a lot about them. Are you particrly interested in film?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± he replied as the music was reaching its crescendo, the solo violin gently fading out. ¡°I¡¯ve just watched a lot of movies.¡±
¡
The violin¡¯s vibrato ceased abruptly, concluding the piece. The dancers either chatted or pped softly.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun moved to a nearby table, where a waiter brought utensils and wet towels. Zhao Ying Jun silently nibbled on a snack while lost in her own thoughts. Lin Xian rested his elbow on the table, gazing at the neon-lit nightscape of Donghai City, pondering the new Donghai City in his dreams.
¡°Hee hee, Lin Xian!¡±
A suddenugh disrupted his thoughts.
¡°Ying Jun, it¡¯s been a while!¡±
A beautiful girl greeted Zhao Ying Jun with a bright smile. Her light blue evening dress flowed gracefully, reminiscent of a stream cascading down a mountain, adorned with dancing fairies. Her elegantly styled dark brown hair and exquisite headpiece gave her the appearance of a Disney princess.
But¡ she was indeed a princess, not of Disney, but of Donghai City.
¡°An Qing, why are you justing out now?¡± Zhao Ying Jun pulled Chu An Qing to sit, admiring the intricately dressed young woman. ¡°This dress is stunning, and your hairstyle is unique. Where did you get it done?¡±
¡°It was a bit of a hassle!¡± Chu An Qingughed joyfully, shaking her headpiece. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how it was done. My dad hired a stylist for me. It took forever. What do you think, Lin Xian? Does it look good?¡±
¡°It looks fantastic,¡± Lin Xian sincerelyplimented. Comparisons can be harsh, but after dealing with CC¡¯s challenging and stubborn nature in his dreams, Chu An Qing seemed even more delightful.
Her outfit exuded elegance, and as someone familiar with fashion, Lin Xian could tell at a nce that her attire was expensive. Given she was Chu Shan He¡¯s prized ¡°treasure,¡± it was fitting for such a significant event as the Donghai Business Association¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve party.
¡°My dad kept pulling me away to greet everyone,¡± Chu An Qing exined, holding Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand. ¡°I saw you two earlier and wanted to say hello, but couldn¡¯t get away until now.¡±
Chu An Qing then turned to Lin Xian with a yful smile. ¡°Everyone at school¡¯s calling you Donghai¡¯s 007 now! It¡¯s all over. You have a lot of younger fans hoping for another lecture from you.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, recalling thest time when no younger students showed up. ¡°It¡¯s not something to brag about. I¡¯d rather not try that again.¡±
¡
Zhao Ying Jun smiled, watching the lively exchange between the two. Women understand women best. She surmised the origin of Lin Xian¡¯s invitation the moment Chu An Qing approached him.
Normally, Lin Xian, not being a member of the Donghai Business Association, would have raised eyebrows. But Chu An Qing seemed to expect him here.
Watching their interactions, Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°An Qing, with such a lively atmosphere, why not join the dance?¡±
¡°No one invited me,¡± Chu An Qing admitted, spreading her hands. ¡°It¡¯s the same every year. No one dares to ask me to dance.¡±
Both Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Junughed. Indeed, in a school setting, it might be different. But at an event hosted by Chu Shan He, under his watchful eye, asking his young daughter to dance would require audacity.
Even if someone dared, Chu Shan He might not mind as he wasn¡¯t overly petty. But who would risk it? Engaging with a dragon¡¯s favored one is risky; touching a dragon¡¯s scale could spell disaster, yet no one dares to try.
Lin Xian imagined himself in Chu Shan He¡¯s position¡ if he had a beautiful, beloved daughter about seventeen or eighteen, and a boy held her close for a dance¡
His blood pressure surged just thinking about it.
¡°An Qing, if you don¡¯t mind, why not let Lin Xian dance with you? He¡¯s quite skilled,¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested.
¡°Ah?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s blood pressure normalized as he looked at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Huh? Can I?¡± Chu An Qing blinked at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Ying Jun turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Is that okay?¡±
Lin Xian looked at Chu An Qing, and she returned his gaze. ¡°Is it?¡±
It seemed they had nned this. Lin Xian had no choice but to agree with a smile. ¡°Sure, as long as you don¡¯t mind myck of skill, An Qing.¡±
Since both women suggested it, he couldn¡¯t decline outright. He resigned himself to being a mere dance partner without emotion.
¡°I mainly learned traditional dance; I¡¯m not that good at ballroom,¡± Chu An Qingughed, stepping closer to Lin Xian. ¡°I might need you to teach me!¡±
As the previous song ended and a new one began, the hall lights dimmed, and the warm lights swirled around.
The lively, brisk violin ensemble began, apanied by trumpets and trombones, creating a cheerful atmosphere.
The ¡°Voices of Spring Waltz,¡± a ssic waltz, started.
Chu An Qing looked up at Lin Xian, who was a head taller. The rotating lights danced in her eyes, drawing bright star rings.
Lin Xian extended his right hand, and Chu An Qing¡¯s elegant fingertips touched his as they stepped onto the dance floor.
The light, crisp plucking of the violin strings filled the hall with the essence of spring, like the song of a nightingale.
As couples on the dance floor twirled, cellists joined the apaniment, enriching the spring motif.
Even though Chu An Qing modestly imed she wasn¡¯t good at ballroom dancing, the gap between amateur and professional was evident. Her ¡°not good¡± seemed master-level to Lin Xian. Dancing with her was far more challenging than with Zhao Ying Jun.
But fortunately, the waltz was simple, requiring minimal footwork, mostly turning, with anyplex moves falling to the female partner. Lin Xian only needed to provide a stable ¡°frame.¡±
Gradually, more people noticed the professionalism on the dance floor, making way for the little blue princess to showcase her skills. Her light blue dress flowed in the air, her graceful movements painting a vivid scene. It was breathtaking.
¡
In a corner of the hall, Zhao Ying Jun held a ss of red wine, swirling the vivid liquid, smiling as she watched the blue flower dancing in the center.
¡°May I have this dance?¡± A young voice called from behind.
¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a bit tired,¡± Zhao Ying Jun declined without turning around. But something felt off. The voice sounded too young. She turned, seeing a young man with slightly curly hair, dressed in a ck suit and bow tie, looking somewhat weary, half-bowing with a smile.
Zhao Ying Jun was taken aback; this was someone unexpected. ¡°Ji Lin?¡±
She stood up politely, noticing the young man standing straight. Even with her heels, she was taller. ¡°What a surprise to see you here.¡±
¡°You recognize me?¡±
¡°Mr. Ji, you¡¯re a celebrity now. There have been many reports about you recently.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a coincidence, Miss Zhao, I recognize you too.¡± Ji Lin smiled, holding up his keychain with a cute Rhine Cat charm. ¡°I love yourpany¡¯s cat. I want to write a story for it, so I came to ask for your authorization. Can I have it?¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Zhao Ying Jun caught the joke in his voice, responding yfully. ¡°But Rhine Cat¡¯s authorization isn¡¯t cheap¡ if you take it to the Oscars, I can offer a discount.¡±
¡°That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Ji Lin chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to ept the award myself. But if you could pass a message to the designer, asking for a Gothic style Rhine Cat, I¡¯d appreciate it.¡±
¡°Why not tell him directly?¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed to Lin Xian, dancing with the little blue princess. ¡°He¡¯s the creator of Rhine Cat. You can talk to him directly. He likes you and might take your suggestion.¡±
¡°Oh, it¡¯s him,¡± Ji Lin squinted at Lin Xian, dancing happily with Chu An Qing, then turned to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he dancing with you earlier?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°Then may I boldly ask¡¡± Ji Lin pointed at Chu An Qing, intrigued. ¡°Which one of you is his girlfriend?¡±
Chapter 134: Hypocrisy
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, ncing at Ji Lin. ¡°President Chu Shan He invited you here, and you don¡¯t even recognize his daughter, do you?¡±
¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been overseas for quite a while and haven¡¯t really kept up with the local scene in Donghai,¡± Ji Lin replied, meeting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gaze. ¡°So, are you his girlfriend?¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed softly, crossing her arms. ¡°Mr. Ji Lin, it¡¯s quite rude to pry into someone¡¯s personal life. Is this amon trait among mystery writers?¡±
¡°It seems to be a popr belief, but maybe I¡¯m just naturally curious.¡±
¡°Unfortunately, your curiosity is off the mark this time,¡± Zhao Ying Jun remarked, leaning back and sipping her wine as she observed Lin Xian and Chu An Qing dancing andughing. She shook her head slightly. ¡°I¡¯m just his boss.¡±
Upstairs, the orchestra conductor¡¯s hand danced with intensity. Amid the robust drumbeats and rapid violin strings, ¡°Voices of Spring¡± climbed to its climax and concluded with a definitivest note.
The dancing stopped, and the crowd burst into enthusiastic apuse for Chu An Qing, who stood at the center in her elegant gown. While some pped just to tter, her performance truly deserved the praise.
Lin Xian felt slightly awkward. After waving to the crowd with Chu An Qing, they headed towards Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s table.
¡°Lin Xian, you dance so well!¡± Chu An Qing eximed. ¡°You¡¯re not just talented in design and hosting, but in dancing too!¡±¡°Let¡¯s not exaggerate,¡± Lin Xian responded with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not that great at dancing.¡±
¡°Oh, please, you¡¯re just being humble!¡± Chu An Qing teased, walking backwards in front of him with her hands sped behind her. ¡°After your talk at our academy, all the upperssmen couldn¡¯t stop talking about you! They said you were quite popr, with lots of girls interested in you. Why didn¡¯t you date anyone? What kept you so busy?¡±
Lin Xian was caught off guard. What had kept him so busy in college? Those four years seemed to have just flown by.
¡°Probably lost in my dreams,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Dreams can be quite captivating.¡±
¡°Do your dreams include a golden house?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian answered.
¡°And beautiful women?¡±
¡°Well, sort of,¡± Lin Xian pondered, thinking of CC and Li Ning Ning.
¡°I¡¯m jealous; your dreams sound wonderful,¡± Chu An Qing sighed. ¡°I often have nightmares.¡±
¡°What kind of nightmares?¡±
¡°All sorts, but I usually forget them when I wake up. They¡¯re quite scary, though. I wish I could dream like you.¡±
As theyughed and talked, they reached Zhao Ying Jun.
Lin Xian noticed a new face behind Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Miss Zhao, who¡¯s this?¡±
¡°Let me introduce him,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said as she set her wine ss down. ¡°This is the brilliant detective I mentioned earlier, Mr. Ji Lin. You might have seen him at Professor Xu Yun¡¯s memorial, but you probably didn¡¯t notice each other then.¡±
¡°Ji Lin, meet Lin Xian, the genius behind Rhine Cat and ourpany¡¯s leading creative mind. He¡¯s the brains behind everything Rhine Cat.¡±
¡°Hello,¡± Ji Lin extended his hand.
¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Lin Xian shook his hand, noting its softness, much like a woman¡¯s.
¡°I¡¯m a huge fan of your Rhine Cat design,¡± Ji Linmented, holding up a keychain with a Rhine Cat doll wearing a cheongsam and bun. ¡°Could I get your autograph?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Just call me Lin Xian. We¡¯re about the same age; no need for formalities.¡±
After signing the keychain, Chu An Qing giggled at the Rhine Cat doll. ¡°Great minds think alike! I love the cheongsam and bun style too! But you have Lin Xian¡¯s second autograph. I got the first one, marked NO.1!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Ji Lin looked at Lin Xian.
Lin Xian nodded and signed the doll¡¯s tag. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize there would be a second one. You¡¯re both too kind.¡±
¡°Could you write NO.2 for me as well?¡±
¡°You two really are something,¡± Lin Xianughed, obliging with the request.
After handing back the pen and keychain, Lin Xian remarked, ¡°I¡¯ve read your ¡®Broken Bridge,¡¯ an excellent mystery novel. Next time we meet, I¡¯ll want your autograph.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll definitely see each other again,¡± Ji Lin replied, pocketing the items. ¡°I¡¯m nning to stay in Donghai for a while.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, have you thought about creating a gothic-style Rhine Cat? It could be an interesting contrast.¡±
A gothic style? Lin Xian hadn¡¯t seen such a design in his dream toy store, and it seemed too dark for a children¡¯s toy.
¡°Not at the moment,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°We designed Rhine Cat to be a joyful mascot for the Rhine brand.¡±
¡°That¡¯s too bad.¡±
Just then, several middle-aged men approached quickly. ¡°Mr. Ji, we¡¯ve been looking for you. Can we talk inside?¡±
¡°Mr. Ji, here¡¯s my business card.¡±
Ji Lin gathered his keychain and pen, waved at the men, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head over. See you.¡±
¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
As Ji Lin left with the men, Lin Xian turned to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Who were those guys?¡±
¡°Publishers and media executives, probably looking for Ji Lin¡¯s insight.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Lin Xian nodded, not surprised.
¡°I should get going too, Lin Xian. Thanks for the dance,¡± Chu An Qing waved, then disappeared into the crowd like a wisp of smoke.
Zhao Ying Jun took another sip of wine, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. ¡°I think I know why Chu Shan He invited you.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied with a knowing smile.
Lin Xian stayed silent, looking at the silverware in front of him. Was it really that obvious?
Many truths are understood but remain unspoken. The adult world is full of hypocrisy. Everyone pretends not to know what they clearly do.
Did Zhao Ying Jun really believe the sketch wasn¡¯t Chu An Qing¡¯s? Did Chu An Qing actually think she didn¡¯t draw it?
Lin Xian was no fool, and neither were they. It was all just a facade.
The only one who truly believed everything was Big Cat Face. No time for dreams today.
Lin Xian missed Big Cat Face. If they could share the same timeline one day, he would dly befriend Big Cat Face.
As the banquet wrapped up,ughter and well-wishes filled the air as people began to leave.
¡°Did youe by taxi?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked Lin Xian.
He nodded.
¡°I drank, you drive,¡± she tossed him a red and ck car key.
Catching it, Lin Xian recognized the ssic design. Ferrari keys always had this old-fashioned look, less sophisticated than even electric bike keys.
It was unexpected. He hadn¡¯t thought Zhao Ying Jun would drive such a conspicuous car to a business event, or that she wouldn¡¯t have her driver today.
In the nearly empty parking lot, a red Ferrari LaFerrari stood out, low and sleek.
¡°Nice car,¡± Lin Xian admired.
He thought the Bentley Continental GT was impressive, but the LaFerrari was something else. Limited to just 499 units worldwide, it was valued at over 20 million yuan, often fetching even higher prices on the resale market.
Its V12 engine outssed the GT¡¯s, boasting over 900 horsepower and capable of reaching 60 mph in just three seconds.
¡°With your driving skills, you deserve to drive a great car,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, walking around the LaFerrari as its scissor doors lifted slowly. ¡°Take me for a spin, show me what you can do.¡±
Lin Xian walked around the car, ensuring no one was lurking nearby. He climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, still cautious from past experiences.
¡°Where to?¡±
¡°Anywhere,¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s face was slightly flushed from the wine. ¡°I drank a bit too much, need some fresh air.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t quite read her. Tonight, Zhao Ying Jun seemed different, as if burdened by something. Even during their conversation, her responses were sometimes hesitant.
He nned to drop her off and head home early. Now, she wanted to go for a drive?
The Ferrari¡¯s naturally aspirated engine roared to life, its distinct sound a stark contrast to turbo engines. Ferrari¡¯s designers had always favored naturally aspirated engines for their unmatched auditory experience.
The red taillights streaked through the night as the LaFerrari sped down the road, heading towards the outskirts of Donghai.
¡°Is your hometown Hangzhou?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked.
By the Huangpu River, where Gao Yang had once taken Lin Xian for a barbecue by theke, the LaFerrari, doors up, was parked nearby. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun leaned against the railing, watching the river flow.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°When do you n to go back?¡±
¡°In a couple of days, after I pick up a few things.¡±
¡°That makes sense. Donghai and Hangzhou are close; there¡¯s no need to n too far ahead.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun pulled her coat tighter, looking up at the moon obscured by clouds. The weather was turning, with low clouds hinting at an impending rainstorm.
After a long silence, Zhao Ying Jun turned to him. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about something for days, wondering how to bring it up given your current circumstances¡ it¡¯s a bit difficult to say.¡±
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°About your job change.¡±
A distant lightning bolt split the sky, followed by a rumble of thunder. The thick clouds swirled, blocking the remaining moonlight. Donghai darkened, the riverside lights struggling to cut through the gloom.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised her gaze to his, her dark eyes mirroring the starless night. ¡°Would you¡ consider being my secretary?¡±
Chapter 135: Zhao Ying Juns Password
¡°I don¡¯t mean to make you my full-time secretary,¡± Zhao Ying Jun quickly rified, seeing Lin Xian¡¯s initial surprise.
She looked earnest as she exined, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about this quite a bit. You¡¯re financially independent. Your quarterly ie surpasses that of manyrgepanies¡¯ annual earnings. It wouldn¡¯t be right to just have you as a secretary. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve hesitated to bring this up.¡±
¡°Though you¡¯re technically under me at MX Company, you might as well be the real boss considering everything you¡¯ve contributed. I¡¯ve wondered what we¡¯d do if you left¡ how thepany would evolve. But that¡¯s a separate issue.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve discussed your ambitions to start your own business, to learn business strategies, gain experience, and avoid needless mistakes. It¡¯s crucial, and I support you. The best way to learn is undoubtedly as a CEO¡¯s secretary.¡±
¡°A secretary, like a CEO, handles tons of business data, including confidential information. You¡¯d be involved in decision-making and strategic nning. Often, a minor decision could dictate thepany¡¯s future. You can¡¯t learn this stuff in any other role¡ only through hands-on experience. Even I and Chu Shan He learned by constantly trying and failing.¡±
¡°Since I¡¯ve brought this up today, I want to give you some advice from the heart. You¡¯ve been a huge help recently, so sharing my insights and experiences with you is only fair to help you on your entrepreneurial path.¡±
¡°Think about this proposal. If you¡¯re interested, maybe you could try being my part-time secretary. It wouldn¡¯t disrupt your daily activities.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun spoke sincerely. Lin Xian had never heard her speak so extensively at once. It was clear she had mulled over this conversation for a long time.
She made apelling point. From an outsider¡¯s view, asking someone as wealthy and skilled as Lin Xian to be a secretary might seem ridiculous. That exined her hesitance and concern about his potential misinterpretation or feeling undervalued.A part-time secretary. Zhao Ying Jun had indeed thought this through. She wouldn¡¯t demand all his time, mostly needing help with confidential tasks, allowing him flexibility. Recognizing his desire to learn and advance, Zhao Ying Jun offered him this role.
Lin Xian had been anticipating an opportunity like this.
¡°I¡¯d be honored,¡± Lin Xian responded with a smile. ¡°I appreciate your trust, and I¡¯m confident I¡¯ll perform well.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled softly, turning to view the colorful night scene across the river, visibly relieved. She rxed her arms, resting them on the riverbank railing.
¡°I thought you might say no.¡±
¡°I might have before,¡± Lin Xian confessed quietly. ¡°But now, I see things differently. I want to acquire genuine skills, and working as your secretary is definitely the quickest way to learn. What should I start with?¡±
¡°Just keep up your current duties,¡± Zhao Ying Jun answered, facing him. ¡°But I might need you more often. With thepany growing, I can¡¯t handle everything myself. I¡¯ll rely on you for many tasks.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll also start involving you in some confidentialpany issues. We have an initial n, but we¡¯ll fine-tune the detailster.¡±
¡°And if you find the time, I¡¯d appreciate your help in organizing the office. Not constantly, just when possible. A tidy office improves the atmosphere. Just make sure it¡¯s only us who go in there. We need to be careful.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±
¡°By the way, remember the office door¡¯s password,¡± Zhao Ying Jun mentioned, rubbing her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s 32375246.¡±
¡°That seemsplex. Any special significance?¡± Lin Xian thought about recording it on his phone but decided against it for security reasons, repeating the number internally to memorize it.
¡°It¡¯s just random,¡± Zhao Ying Jun gave a faint smile. ¡°Meaningful passwords are too predictable and easy to crack. An arbitrary one is much safer.¡±
¡°That¡¯s hard to believe, but I guess you just picked it randomly.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian repeated the number to himself a few more times. Zhao Ying Jun was correct; it was tough to remember.
This password seemed more to protect against oneself than intruders. If he didn¡¯t review it nightly, he might forget it by morning.
¡°Understood,¡± he assured her. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it confidential.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone else, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun warned, noting the approaching storm clouds. ¡°Only we two should know this.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll keep it secret,¡± Lin Xian promised. ¡°Come the New Year, you¡¯ll find your office spotless.¡±
¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it,¡± she replied, smiling.
Boom! A thunderp erupted nearby, followed by a sudden downpour.
¡°We should head to the car,¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested.
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
They rushed to the car, rain pounding heavily against the windshield, the wipers barely keeping up.
¡°Why did it start pouring so suddenly?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud.
¡°That¡¯s just typical for this season,¡± Zhao Ying Jun answered.
For safety, Lin Xian drove cautiously. When he dropped Zhao Ying Jun off at her ce, it was nearly midnight.
¡°Drive safely,¡± Zhao Ying Jun advised as she exited. ¡°Take the car home for the holidays. It¡¯ll be more convenient.¡±
¡°That¡¯s too shy for me,¡± Lin Xian declined. ¡°I¡¯ll just park it in thepany garage and leave the keys in your office.¡±
¡°Do you remember where I keep the keys?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°As my secretary, these decisions are yours now. Help me organize the office asionally, and keep track of everything.¡±
¡°Will do.¡±
The LaFerrari roared as Lin Xian drove through the storm.
¡°32375246,¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°Finally¡ it¡¯s within my reach.¡±
A grin spread across his face, his heart racing like the car¡¯s V12 engine. The invitation to the Genius Club hidden in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office was now essible. The secretive organization that had been around for over 600 years was about to unveil its mysteries.
He couldn¡¯t understand why Zhao Ying Jun was eligible for such an invitation, but now, he was just a step away from discovering why.
Screech. The Ferrari halted in thepany¡¯s underground garage, the rain washing away the dust, leaving it shining anew.
After parking, Lin Xian took the elevator to the 22nd floor.
ng. ng. ng.
The midnight elevator was ominously quiet, each cable¡¯s friction echoing loudly. It was past 12:30 AM, and thepany was deserted. Even if someone was around, it didn¡¯t matter. As Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s secretary, it was reasonable for him to be in her office anytime. Besides, she valued privacy, so there were no cameras in the 22nd-floor corridor or her office.
No one knew his intentions.
As the elevator doors slid open, Lin Xian stepped out into the dimly lit corridor, the keypad¡¯s blue light glowing in the darkness.
He approached the door, each step echoing on the floor. The short walk felt like an eternity, from the first time he saw the invitation to entering the password now.
He typed the eight-digit password: 3, 2, 3, 7, 5, 2, 4, 6.
Click! The doubleyered door opened with a familiar thud.
Pushing open the heavy door, he stepped into the dark office, the rain drumming on the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the space with a metallic scent.
No lights. No moonlight. Only the standby white dot on theputer monitor flickered.
Boom! Lightning momentarily illuminated the room like daylight, the rain turning the windows into a blurry screen.
Inhaling the damp air, Lin Xian walked straight to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s desk. He remembered the Genius Club invitation was in the right drawer.
He pulled it open, rifling through the contents.
Empty.
He tried another drawer.
Still empty.
Bending down, he opened the file cab beside the desk.
¡°Ha¡¡± A woman¡¯s softughter echoed behind him.
Boom! Another lightning strike.
Lin Xian spun around.
On the side sofa, a woman with crossed legs and swinging high heels watched him.
She wore a trench coat, her blue earrings swaying lightly, a smile ying on her lips.
¡°Lin Xian, what are you looking for?¡±
Chapter 136: The Yellow Finch
A sh of lightning briefly illuminated the room.
Lin Xian jumped up, heart pounding, as he recoiled in shock.
Someone else was lurking in the office!
Initially, the sight of high heels and earrings led him to believe that Zhao Ying Jun was waiting for him, possibly as part of a trapid by the Genius Club. However, a closer look at the woman¡¯s face made him realize she was not Zhao Ying Jun.
She was fuller and appeared older, likely in her thirties, contrasting sharply with the 24-year-old Zhao Ying Jun.
Though her face wasn¡¯t clear, her beauty was undeniable, especially her crystal blue eyes that seemed almost otherworldly, their depth akin to endlessly flowing molten ss.
Relieved that she wasn¡¯t Zhao Ying Jun, Lin Xian found the prospect of confronting a stranger less daunting than someone familiar. It seemed less threatening.
But then he wondered¡
Zhao Ying Jun had secured the office with aplex password known only to them.How then had this mysterious woman gained entry?
Her presence raised questions about her intentions and whether she was an ally or adversary.
Lin Xian remained silent, observing her as she sat on the sofa.
Outside, the sound of rain against the ss began to wane.
As the rain let up, the curtain of raindrops cleared from the window, and the clouds parted.
The obscured waning moon emerged, casting a nted beam of moonlight into the office, illuminating the rhythmic sway of the woman¡¯s high heels.
¡°Are you looking for this?¡±
Her voice broke the silence as she picked up a dark red invitation from the sofa, waving it nonchntly.
The invitation, half-opened, fluttered like a mshell.
It bore no wax seal.
Golden characters on the back glimmered faintly in the moonlight.
She remained shadowed, the moonlight slowly traversing, revealing only her high heels and the edge of her draped clothes¡
Lin Xian was puzzled by her familiarity with him.
Though they had never met, she knew his name.
He hadn¡¯t uttered a word, yet she knew he was here for the Genius Club¡¯s invitation.
How did she know he woulde today?
¡°There¡¯s no need to be so tense, Lin Xian. I¡¯m not your enemy,¡± she assured him with a smile, tossing the invitation onto Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s desk.
¡°That invitation is fake.¡± As Lin Xian reached for it, her tone deepened, ¡°I left it at the front desk.¡±
¡°Fake?¡± Lin Xian, bewildered by the moonlight, asked, ¡°Why would you leave it there?¡±
¡°To pique your interest.¡± She shifted, her leg draping over the side of the sofa, ¡°Securing a real Genius Club invitation isn¡¯t easy, but it¡¯s not too hard for someone like you¡¡±
¡°Well, sorry, but your n didn¡¯t work,¡± Lin Xian retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in joining the Genius Club, and I don¡¯t think much of it.¡±
¡°You¡¯re already in too deep¡¡± She leaned forward, her face still concealed, her gaze locked on him, ¡°Lin Xian, you can choose to stay in this whirlpool of mysteries, remain static, or drift like an ant. But you can¡¯t avoid being pulled in¡ History is relentless; you can neither resist nor escape it. To find the answers¡ the simplest path is to secure a real Genius Club invitation.¡±
¡°Why should I believe you?¡± Lin Xian stepped closer in the moonlight, ¡°From your words, it sounds like the Genius Club is some sort of noble organization?¡±
¡°That¡¯s for you to discover and judge,¡± she replied calmly.
¡°Or I could choose not to explore, not to judge.¡± Lin Xian shrugged, smiling, ¡°Honestly, most of this doesn¡¯t concern me. Why should I get involved?¡±
¡°Even if you don¡¯t seek trouble, trouble will find you. Maybe you haven¡¯t realized it yet¡ but your cat-and-mouse game has already begun,¡± she stood up from the sofa.
She walked toward the window where Lin Xian stood, picked up the dark red invitation from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s desk with two fingers, and stepped into the moonlight.
Her crystal blue eyes glowed once more in the moonlight¡ Suddenly, they were inches from his own.
The dark red invitation was pressed to her chest as Lin Xian reached out to catch it.
¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the Genius Club.¡± Her smile was captivating, her fragrance lingering in Lin Xian¡¯s nostrils: ¡°Don¡¯t keep me waiting too long.¡±
With that, she turned to leave. Her silky hair brushed against Lin Xian¡¯s cheek, carrying the sweet scent of white camellias.
Lin Xian inhaled deeply.
This scent¡ although slightly different from CC¡¯s, was unmistakably white camellia.
¡°What exactly is your purpose?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡±
¡°How can I get a real invitation?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t say.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, tossing the invitation onto the desk: ¡°If you won¡¯t tell me anything, then you can wait at the Genius Club forever.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to tell you, Lin Xian.¡± She paused, turning her head, ¡°I just can¡¯t. You¡¯re already very close to the answer¡ Instead of questioning here, why not go back and ponder thews of space-time? Thews of space-time are much more crucial and stringent than you think. Almost all the answers are hidden within them¡ But for now, your grasp of space-timews is too superficial. Especially thew of space-time sticity¡ It¡¯s a criticalw, why not delve deeper into it?¡±
Listening to her words, Lin Xian felt his certainty ebbing once more.
The term ¡°space-time sticity¡± was his own creation, something he had theorized and summarized himself. No one else had mentioned it before. Yet this woman knew it intimately.
¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Lin Xian squinted at her retreating figure.
¡°A mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the yellow finch behind¡¡± She smiled, opening the coded door: ¡°Next time we meet, just call me Yellow Finch.¡±
Bang!
The heavy coded door closed firmly.
The moonlight finally broke fully through the clouds, flooding the office with a frosty glow.
The digital clock on the desk disyed the time¡ª00:42
End of Volume One: The Yellow Finch, to be continued.
Chapter 137: Happy New Year
The office of Zhao Ying Jun was enveloped in silence, broken only by the methodical ticking of a clock. Under the gentle wash of moonlight, Lin Xian scrutinized an invitation from the Genius Club.
¡°Dear Ms. Zhao Ying Jun,
You are cordially invited to¡ witness¡ the unveiling of a new product¡
Included below were a URL and a QR code.¡±
Lin Xian extracted his phone and scanned the code, which redirected him to the Apple 2023 Spring Launch Event page.
¡°Damn it,¡± he whispered under his breath.
His efforts to infiltrate Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office now seemed futile; the invitation was nothing but a clever ruse.
In recent days, Lin Xian had harbored doubts about the legitimacy of the invitation and its recipient, Zhao Ying Jun, whose credentials appeared mismatched for such an event. The thought of an ancient, ndestine organization distributing invitations in such a haphazard manner was highly unlikely.
Only now did he acknowledge the invitation¡¯s falseness, feeling a sting of foolishness.¡°That woman. ¡®Yellow Finch,''¡± he muttered, contemting the clearly fabricated name. Names, whether genuine or not, are merebels.
It was evident now that this woman¡¯s intention in delivering the fake invitation was to pique his curiosity about the Genius Club. Regardless of whether Zhao Ying Jun disclosed the invitation¡¯s contents or he discovered them on his own, the oue would be the same¡ªthe mention of the Genius Club aligned too neatly with his recent dream.
But the lingering question was her identity and her motives. She had professed neutrality, yet she offered neither aid nor information.
Lin Xian paused, reflecting on the residual warmth of the couch¡ªa sign of her prolonged presence.
Initially, he mistook her for Zhao Ying Jun during a sh of lightning. Although they shared simrities, subtle differences marked their appearances. Zhao Ying Jun possessed an elegant oval face, while this woman¡¯s features were rounder, her eyes a striking blue amidst distinctly Chinese features, suggesting a mixed heritage. Her mature demeanor contrasted with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s youthful 24 years.
¡°Who is she?¡± Lin Xian pondered, unable to deduce her identity.
From their conversation, several facts were clear:
She was intimately acquainted with him, aware of his secrets and his theories on temporal mechanics.
The invitation, albeit counterfeit, bore a genuine wax seal¡ªevidence of a darker influence from the dream world.
She promised a future meeting at the Genius Club, hinting at her membership.
Her intentions did not seem malevolent; had they been, he might not have survived their encounter.
Perhaps the Genius Club was not involved in Xu Yun¡¯s demise. If she was privy to his secrets, she would know about his data transfer to Xu Yun. Had she intended harm, sparing him would not make sense.
Was the true perpetrator someone else?
And what of Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s untimely death? Was the Genius Club uninvolved?
Lin Xian grappled with these thoughts, his once orderly theories now a jumble of confusion.
¡°Tooplicated,¡± he sighed, returning the bogus invitation to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s drawer.
¡°Insufficient evidence, neither in reality nor in dreams. We¡¯re all clueless, and misinformation abounds.¡±
Echoing Yellow Finch¡¯s earlier advice seemed prudent now: ¡°Securing a legitimate invitation from the Genius Club is the simplest path to the truth.¡±
With a decisive thud, he shut the drawer, ced the Ferrari key inside, exited the secured room, and cast a final nce at the moonlit desk and the recently upied couch. He then closed the door behind him.
Bang!
The following day, Zhao Ying Jun entered her office through the double security doors, her eyes adjusting to the immactely tidy space. Lin Xian, who had arrived early to erase any traces of the previous night and to ensure nothing was inadvertently left behind, was now watering the nts.
¡°Remarkable¡ your efficiency is impressive,¡± shemented.
Lin Xian smiled, cing the watering can aside. He had tidied the office thoroughly¡ªsweeping, wiping down surfaces, and organizing¡ªefforts befitting a diligent part-time secretary. He nned to address any remaining tasks after the New Year.
¡°Do you need these?¡± he gestured towards a pile of misceneous items on the coffee table, the fake invitation lying atop.
Zhao Ying Jun skimmed through the pile, then shook her head dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s all redundant. Dispose of it as you see fit. Thepany is officially on holiday now. You should leave early to avoid the holiday traffic.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
As he disposed of the trash, Lin Xian retained the counterfeit invitation, considering its potential insights.
At the train station, Lin Xian felt a surge of anticipation. Although Donghai and Hang City were merely a short distance apart, he hadn¡¯t visited home in a year. Laden with fine wine, cigarettes, and an assortment of gifts for his parents, he prepared for a festive reunion. At home, he skirted around specifics of his financial sess, knowing his parents¡¯ modest inclinations.
He proposed buying them a city apartment for retirement, but they preferred the familiarity of their neighborhood. Nheless, he left them with a bank card, which his mother swiftly concealed.
With the advent of New Year¡¯s Eve, Lin Xian immersed himself in the festive preparations, a brief respite from his convoluted pursuits. As the celebrationsmenced, he hoped to avoid any unintended consequences that might ripple through time.
As the clock struck midnight, fireworks illuminated the sky, heralding the traditional Chinese New Year. His phone vibrated with a message from Zhao Ying Jun: ¡°Happy New Year.¡±
Simple yet timely. As he prepared to respond, his phone buzzed with additional messages from colleagues, allmenting on Zhao¡¯s unprecedented New Year¡¯s greeting.
Recognizing it as a group message, Lin Xian replied courteously: ¡°Happy New Year to you too!¡±
He then stepped outside, the sky aze with colors, as Hang City celebrated the lifting of the fireworks ban. Amidst the spectacle, another message from Zhao Ying Jun appeared on his phone, unnoticed as it blended into the night¡¯s festivities, the screen eventually fading to ck.
Chapter 138: High School Reunion
New Year¡¯s Day
The small town buzzed with New Year¡¯s festivities. Lin Xian stood in the courtyard, responding to Chu An Qing¡¯s New Year¡¯s greeting when¡ª
¡°Hey, bro!¡±
Gao Yang burst in with a loud ¡°Happy New Year!¡± and yfully bumped bellies with Lin Xian.
¡°Done with family celebrations?¡± Lin Xian asked, seeing Gao Yang for the first time in days, despite them living in the sameplex.
¡°Yeah, just finished a marathon of traditions and visits,¡± Gao Yang confirmed.
Lin Xian¡¯s mother invited them inside and offered snacks,menting on their appearances.
¡°It¡¯s been a year since Ist saw you two. Lin Xian, you¡¯ve kept in shape. But Gao Yang, you seem to have put on a few pounds!¡±
¡°Auntie, you always know just what to say!¡± Gao Yangughed, throwing an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Lin Xian has to stay fit; he¡¯s the top male model at hispany. The female executives love him!¡±¡°Stop spreading rumors,¡± Lin Xian warned, shrugging off Gao Yang¡¯s arm to avoid any misunderstandings about his career.
Lin Xian¡¯s motherughed and said, ¡°You boys are at the right age to start looking for partners. They don¡¯t need to be from Donghai City; traveling is so easy these days.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Auntie!¡± Gao Yang said, grabbing some sunflower seeds. ¡°Lin Xian has plenty of options. At our uing high school reunion, several girls were asking about him! Tang Xin, Wen Jing, Li Ling¡¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not gossip,¡± Lin Xian cut in. ¡°Is everything set for the reunion on the fifth? How many areing?¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to say exactly; people are indecisive, but about thirty have confirmed, including our ss advisor.¡±
Thirty was a good number, considering their ss had about fifty to sixty students. In college, Lin Xian had forgotten many faces and remembered only a few names. He was curious about Tang Xin, who had moved abroad soon after school started. Why would she attend a reunion after such a brief time with them?
¡°Do you remember Tang Xin?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°What does she look like now?¡±
¡°No idea,¡± Gao Yang shrugged. ¡°I just know she¡¯s female.¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t ask anyone about her?¡±
¡°Who to ask? She wasn¡¯t well-known to us.¡± Gao Yang casually tossed some sunflower seed shells. ¡°Why the interest? You¡¯ll see her at the reunion.¡±
¡°Fair enough.¡±
New Year¡¯s Festivities
The following days were filled with visits to rtives, traditional activities, andte-night sessions of drinking and card games. Needing some rest, Lin Xian went to bed early on the third day.
That night, he dreamt of a quiet, poor vige. He borrowed Big Cat Face¡¯s motorcycle to enjoy the night scenery of New Donghai City from afar. Arriving at their usual spot near the garbage treatment nt, he found it unusually empty, wondering if Big Cat Face and the others had changed their ns or if something unexpected had happened.
¡°Not impossible,¡± he thought, though it wasn¡¯t crucial to his ns. Soon, CC would join their group as the sixth ¡®Saint Seiya,¡¯ reuniting their odd crew from his initial dream.
January 5th, Evening, Guihe Hotel
¡°Hey, Xia Lin Xian, Xia Yuan! You twins have bulked up together!¡±
Gao Yang yfully teased the twins as he marked their names on his attendance list.
¡°Alwayste, just like in school!¡± The twinsughed. Despite their identical looks, Lin Xian could still tell them apart, their subtle differences now more evident.
¡°Expecting more people?¡± Xia Yuan asked.
¡°A few more,¡± Gao Yang replied. ¡°Go ahead and mingle; Lin Xian and I will wee the others.¡±
As the twins went to the main gathering, Lin Xian and Gao Yang greeted several more female ssmates, directing them upstairs.
Watching them go, Gao Yang grinned. ¡°Notice the changes? Four years of college really adds some polish!¡±
¡°They¡¯ve learned to use makeup and dress well; it¡¯s quite normal,¡± Lin Xian observed.
¡°You should consider your options, Lin Xian. None of our ssmates are married yet.¡±
¡°That¡¯s expected¡ we just graduated. Who¡¯d be married already?¡±
¡°True enough,¡± Gao Yang agreed, checking his nearlyplete list. ¡°It¡¯s amazing; everyone pursued further education, regardless of the school¡¯s prestige. It¡¯s different from some other sses where people stopped after high school.¡±
¡°Just two left to arrive¡ Tang Xin and Zhou Duan Yun. What¡¯s holding them up?¡±
¡°Should I call Tang Xin? She might need directions, being barely acquainted with us,¡± Lin Xian suggested.
¡°Good idea,¡± Gao Yang agreed, reaching for his phone, but just then¡ª
¡°Hi, Lin Xian.¡± A soft, melodious voice stopped them.
They turned to see a tall woman with short hair in a stylish brown coat, exuding the confidence of a TV presenter.
Gao Yang gave Lin Xian a knowing look.
¡°Remember me?¡± she asked, her voice gentle as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile shy. ¡°I¡¯m Tang Xin.¡±
¡°Oh¡ªoh oh oh oh!¡± Gao Yang exaggerated his reaction,ughing. ¡°Of course, we remember you! How could we forget someone like you? Right, Lin Xian?¡±
Lin Xian smiled and nodded. Whether he remembered her or not, he couldn¡¯t be impolite to Tang Xin.
¡°It¡¯s been so long. I hardly recognized you at first; you left for overseas studies so soon. When did you get back?¡±
Lin Xian feigned familiarity, relying on the little he remembered.
¡°I¡¯m surprised you remember me,¡± Tang Xin said, clearly pleased, her gaze locked on Lin Xian. ¡°I thought I¡¯d been forgotten.¡±
¡°How could I forget? We were ssmates, after all.¡±
¡°I just got back a few days ago,¡± Tang Xin shared, her eyes sparkling. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve made quite a name for yourself in Donghai City, even bing a VP at a majorpany. That¡¯s impressive.¡±
¡°Just luck,¡± Lin Xian downyed.
¡°I n to move to Donghai City after the New Year,¡± Tang Xin revealed, adjusting her bag. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely need your guidance since I¡¯m not familiar with the area.¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Lin Xian assured her, patting Gao Yang on the shoulder. ¡°Gao Yang is there too. Feel free to reach out. We¡¯re ssmates, after all; don¡¯t be a stranger.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Tang Xin responded, her smile sweet. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all, Lin Xian. I recognized you right away.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite a memory¡¡±
Tang Xin¡¯s warmth was disarming, especially since Lin Xian had no recollection of her. Yet, she remembered him clearly from their brief days as ssmates five years earlier.
¡°Absolutely! You made a strong impression,¡± Tang Xin giggled, showing a bright, confident smile. ¡°Do you remember¡¡±
¡°Whoa! Lin Xian, look! A Rolls-Royce! Whoa!¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s sudden shout drew their attention. Lin Xian turned to see a striking ck and purple Rolls-Royce Phantom arriving at the hotel.
Hotel attendants quickly approached as a man in a sleek suit with slicked-back hair stepped out, adjusting his cor confidently.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Dragon King Asura Chen Beixuan is here,¡± Gao Yang whispered.
¡°Who?¡± Lin Xian whispered back.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun! Don¡¯t you recognize him?¡±
Lin Xian blinked in surprise. Zhou Duan Yun, once a quiet, simply dressed student, was now unrecognizable as a polished businessman.
¡°Gao ss Rep,¡± Zhou Duan Yun greeted Gao Yang warmly, extending his hand.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun! You¡¯ve really made it big!¡±
¡°Just business. Didn¡¯t have time to change. Didn¡¯t want to be ridiculed for my appearance.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun then turned to Lin Xian with a smile, offering his hand. ¡°Lin Xian, long time no see. You¡¯re still as sharp-looking as ever.¡±
¡°And you seem more mature than any of us,¡± Lin Xian noted.
It seemed everyone remembered him distinctly. Was he genuinely that memorable?
¡°So, where are you working these days?¡± Zhou Duan Yun inquired.
¡°In Donghai, just making a living,¡± Lin Xian replied casually.
¡°Really?¡± Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s smile broadened. ¡°I¡¯m nning to move to Donghai City after the New Year too!¡±
Chapter 139: The Mentor
¡°Hey! Looks like everyone¡¯s moving to Donghai!¡± Gao Yang burst outughing when he learned Zhou Duan Yun was nning to start his career there too.
¡°Everyone¡¯s showing up! Haha, we can even y a full game of Mahjong now!¡±
¡°Alright, you two are thest to get here. Now that we¡¯re all together, let¡¯s head upstairs. The biggest private room at the east end of the second floor¡ªit¡¯s packed with our ssmates!¡±
Zhou Duan Yun turned to Tang Xin with a smile. ¡°And who might this lovelydy be?¡±
¡°Hi, I¡¯m Tang Xin,¡± she replied with a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Duan Yun.¡±
¡°Oh! Tang Xin!¡± Duan Yun eximed, his face lighting up with recognition. ¡°I remember you! You joined us in our sophomore year but then left for abroad after just a few days.¡±
Lin Xian and Gao Yang shared a look, both impressed by Duan Yun detailed memory. ¡°What kind of memory wizard is this guy? It¡¯s like he¡¯s from that ¡®The Brain¡¯ show,¡± Gao whispered.
Tang Xin seemed pleasantly surprised andughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯m actually ttered. I was worried abouting to this reunion, thinking maybe no one would remember me.¡±
¡°Haha, beautiful people are always memorable. Ladies first,¡± Duan Yun said, showing a genuine smile as he held back the curtain, inviting Tang Xin to enter first.¡°Thank you,¡± Tang Xin acknowledged, then waved to Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with you in a bit, Lin Xian.¡±
Watching the two enter the elevator, Gao Yang teased Lin Xian with a mischievous grin. ¡°You¡¯re really lucky, Lin Xian! Tang Xin didn¡¯t even nce at me once! She¡¯s clearly here for you!¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet, knowing Gao Yang well enough not to need formalities. He was aware of Tang Xin¡¯s interest, which was obvious to anyone paying attention. But what was her real motive?
He recalled Tang Xin trying to speak to him earlier, only to be cut off by Gao Yang¡¯s loud interruption. ¡°You¡¡±
Lin Xian sighed, turning to Gao Yang who was holding a crumpled list. ¡°Did you check that list? Is everyone ounted for?¡±
Gao Yang gave the list one final check and nodded, tucking it away in his pocket. ¡°All 41 of us are here, even more than I expected. Thankfully, the room is big enough for everyone.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s head up then.¡±
Therge private room on the second floor buzzed with excitement. ssmates, not seen for five years, happily caught up. They gathered in their usual groups, filling four tables withughter and chatter.
Zhou Duan Yun was surrounded by ssmates in the center of the room. ¡°Duan Yun, is that Rolls-Royce outside yours? We saw it from the window. You must be doing well!¡±
¡°Hey, Duan Yun, how did you make so much money so fast? Someone said you won the lottery right after graduation. Is that true?¡±
¡°And I heard you dropped out to join some pyramid scheme¡ Any truth to that? If you¡¯ve got a legit way to make money, you gotta share with us, man!¡±
Zhou Duan Yun maintained his calm demeanor, gently patting a ssmate on the back. ¡°I wasn¡¯t very social in high school, which led to a lot of rumors. Yes, I¡¯ve made some money, but it¡¯s all been above board. I believe in earning money honestly.¡±
Duan Yun skillfully dodged the more probing questions with his responses. Lin Xian, curious about Duan Yun¡¯s sess, listened closely. Duan Yun was a quiet student with poor grades, few friends, and hardly the type to stand out.
Lin Xian was surprised Duan Yun even remembered him¡ªthey had barely interacted during high school. ¡°Alright, everyone! Let¡¯s find our seats!¡± Gao Yang announced, directing the group.
He seated Tang Xin next to Lin Xian. ¡°Tang Xin, sit here beside Lin Xian. You don¡¯t know many others, so you guys can chat.¡±
¡°Thank you, ss president,¡± Tang Xin said with a natural smile, taking her seat beside Lin Xian.
The tables filled up quickly. Two were upied by male ssmates, one by females, and the fourth, a mixed table, included Lin Xian, Gao Yang, Zhou Duan Yun, Tang Xin, the Xia twins, and four others who were close back in high school.
Following Gao Yang¡¯s spirited introduction, the reunion officially started. Everyone briefly reintroduced themselves, and the waitstaff began serving the pre-ordered dishes and drinks. The room¡¯s atmosphere became even more lively.
As thest of the hot dishes was served, the waiters topped off everyone¡¯s tea before leaving and closing the door behind them, allowing the group to reminisce in private.
¡°So, Tang Xin, what are you doing in the States? Still studying?¡± one ssmate asked after a few rounds of drinks.
¡°I¡¯m working at a research institute with my university mentor,¡± Tang Xin answered, her cheeks pink from the wine. ¡°But I¡¯m moving back to Donghai after the New Year. A prominent figure in the medical field has invited me to join his research institute. It took me a while to decide, but I¡¯ve agreed to go.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡± Gao Yang eximed, raising his ss. ¡°Wee back, scientist!¡±
¡°ss president, I¡¯m hardly a scientist¡ªjust a researcher.¡±
¡°Even so, wee back! It¡¯s important that our achievements benefit our country. Cheers to Tang Xin!¡±
Always the life of the party, Gao Yang used any excuse to toast. Whether it was the New Year, an anniversary, or just because it was Thursday, his table always ran out of drinks first.
Lin Xian raised his ss, looking at Tang Xin. ¡°What area of research are you in?¡±
¡°Hibernation,¡± she replied.
Lin Xian paused with his drink halfway to his mouth. ¡°Hibernation? Like the work Professor Xu Yun did?¡±
¡°I¡¯m nowhere near Professor Xu Yun¡¯s level,¡± Tang Xin said, taking a sip of her wine. ¡°His innovations have revolutionized multiple fields. Lin Xian, you might not keep up with this, but there¡¯s a lot of excitement in the scientificmunity¡ªnew discoveries and breakthroughs every day.¡±
¡°My focus is on pharmaceuticals, specifically the side effects of hibernation. It¡¯s a narrow field, but I owe a lot to Professor Xu Yun. Without his pioneering work, I wouldn¡¯t have the opportunities I have today.¡±
¡°Side effects of hibernation,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°Can your research help with memory loss?¡±
Tang Xin looked surprised. ¡°Lin Xian, I didn¡¯t know you followed hibernation research.¡±
¡°Do you think your work might address memory loss?¡± He pressed.
¡°If it could, I might be in line for a Nobel Prize,¡± Tang Xinughed. ¡°But unfortunately, memory loss is a deep, neurological issue beyond what drugs can fix. Besides, memory loss isn¡¯t considered a major side effect in our field. It¡¯s rtively harmlesspared to other issues.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian nodded, understanding the different perspectives. To Professor Xu Yun, memory loss was a critical issue, but to medical researchers like Tang Xin, it was less concerning.
¡°So, there are other, more harmful side effects?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Tang Xin confirmed. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m honored to be joining this research institute in Donghai.¡±
¡°They should be honored to have you.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too kind, Lin Xian. This institute is very special,¡± Tang Xin¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Guess who invited me. It¡¯s his private institute, but it¡¯s as prestigious as many national institutes.¡±
¡°An important international expert?¡±
¡°More than that,¡± Tang Xin leaned in, whispering, ¡°He was Professor Xu Yun¡¯s mentor.¡±
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s mentor? Lin Xian remembered Zhao Ying Jun mentioning how Xu Yun had been marginalized for his focus on hibernation pods, which eventually led to his downfall. How could this mentor now take credit?
¡°Did you ever ask him why he pushed Xu Yun out?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I couldn¡¯t bring myself to ask,¡± Tang Xin admitted with a wry smile. ¡°But I sense he deeply regrets it.¡±
¡°What are you two whispering about over there? Time for another toast!¡± Gao Yang¡¯s booming voice interrupted them. Lin Xian and Tang Xin looked up to see everyone waiting, sses raised.
¡°Didn¡¯t we just toast?¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°What¡¯s the asion now?¡±
¡°To this moment!¡±
¡°And the next moment?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll toast to that too!¡±
Amidstughter, they all raised their sses, celebrating the moment with another round of drinks.
They had indeed had quite a few drinks. Just as Gao Yang burped, a waiter approached him. ¡°Mr. Gao, we need to confirm, are you sure you ordered 41 bowls of bird¡¯s nest porridge?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Gao Yang replied, confused. ¡°One bowl per person, 41 bowls. What¡¯s the issue?¡±
¡°But¡¡± the waiter hesitated, looking around the bustling room. ¡°There are clearly 42 people here¡¡±
Chapter 140: Curiosity
Gao Yang mmed his hand down on the table, clearly frustrated. ¡°This is ridiculous! Our ss reunion was supposed to have exactly 41 people! Who¡¯s this 42nd person? Is a ghost going to show up next?!¡±
Next to him, Xia Yuan coughed sharply and grabbed Gao Yang¡¯s arm. ¡°Rx, Gao Yang. It¡¯s New Year¡¯s, no need for ghost stories.¡±
Lin Xian perked up, intrigued by the mysterious number. He squinted at Gao Yang. ¡°How many people are actually here today?¡±
Gao Yang stood up quickly. ¡°41, of course! It would be the same even if the king showed up!¡± He pulled a crumpled list from his pocket and handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°See for yourself.¡±
Lin Xian looked over the wrinkled paper, which had names checked off in three columns, ending at 41. Everyone was ounted for.
¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Gao Yang began counting out loud, pointing at each table. ¡°1, 2, 3¡ 39, 40, 41!¡± He red at the waiter. ¡°See? Exactly 41!¡±
Lin Xian sighed and turned to Gao Yang. ¡°Did you count yourself in that?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Gao Yang scratched his head, then realized his mistake. Laughter filled the room. Lin Xian pointed out that Gao Yang had left himself off the list.
¡°You never cease to amaze,¡± Lin Xianughed.Gao Yang chuckled awkwardly and sat down. ¡°Oops, my bad! Waiter, we need 42 sets, please! Ha!¡± He raised his ss. ¡°Let¡¯s toast to our reunion!¡±
¡°And you owe three drinks for that mistake, ss president!¡± another ssmate shouted, sparking moreughter.
Lin Xian smiled as well, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The number 42¡ªit was an error this time, but it kept appearing. Was it still just a coincidence?
Two people at the reunion seemed out of ce: Tang Xin and Zhou Duan Yun. Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s presence made sense¡ªthey hadn¡¯t been close in high school, but a lot can change in three years. Lin Xian¡¯s vague recollection of him wasn¡¯t unusual.
But Tang Xin was a different story. They had only shared a few days as ssmates, practically strangers. Yet, Tang Xin recognized him immediately and with confidence. It puzzled Lin Xian.
It reminded him of his visit to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. There, Yellow Finch knew everything about him, even things he hadn¡¯t shared, like details about space-timews. What was happening? Could people read his mind? Or was his life broadcasted like in ¡°The Truman Show¡±?
Encouraged by Gao Yang, Lin Xian took another drink as a fruit tter arrived. He¡¯d drunk too much; his head spun. The mix of alcohol and swirling thoughts pushed him to act. He¡¯d been too passive, ensnared in various schemes.
With the Genius Club clues exhausted and Yellow Finch warning of imminent danger in a ¡°cat and mouse¡± game, Lin Xian¡¯s only lead was the recurring number 42.
He wasn¡¯t sure if the earlier miscount was a hint, but it was time to explore more. He nned to visit the university to meet the author of ¡°Introduction to the Cosmic Constant.¡±
Who was the 42nd ssmate? Lin Xian bit into a watermelon slice, amused. Was it Gao Yang, who forgot to count himself? Tang Xin, barely a ssmate? Or Zhou Duan Yun, thest to arrive?
¡°What¡¯s up, Lin Xian? Why the smile?¡± Tang Xin grinned at him, and Lin Xian shook his head with a smile. ¡°Just reminiscing about our school days and everything that¡¯s passed.¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Gao Yang eximed, mming the table and lifting his ss. ¡°To our youth!¡±
Lin Xian mused that perhaps Gao Yang was a genius after all. ¡°Let¡¯s drink, Lin Xian. We haven¡¯t yet today,¡± Zhou Duan Yun approached with a smile, raising his ss. They clinked sses. ¡°I always looked up to you in school.¡±
¡°What¡¯s there to admire?¡± Lin Xian replied modestly. ¡°You¡¯re the sessful one now.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said, looking nostalgic. ¡°In high school, you were a parkour champ, liked by everyone. You stood for what was right, and I admired that.¡±
¡°It might seem silly, but I wanted to be like you¡ªrespected and liked,¡± Zhou Duan Yun continued.
Zhou Duan Yun¡¯spliments left Lin Xian uneasy, more so than the mboyant disy of his Rolls-Royce had. He had assumed Zhou Duan Yun was just showing off, but now he wasn¡¯t so sure.
¡°In high school, I was just good at sports. Real life is different,¡± Lin Xian responded modestly. ¡°Now, I¡¯m just an ordinary guy, while you¡¯ve really made something of yourself.¡±
Lin Xian offered Zhou Duan Yun a friendly smile. ¡°Trust me, if we swapped lives, you wouldn¡¯t want mine.¡±
¡°I would,¡± Zhou Duan Yun insisted, slightly drunk but sincere. ¡°I¡¯ve spent years trying to match people like you.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve had too much to drink,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, patting Zhou Duan Yun on the shoulder as they returned to their seats.
He understood Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s feelings. For some, adulthood is about oveing their childhood struggles, while others find strength in those early years. For Zhou Duan Yun, who grew up poor and insecure, owning a Rolls-Royce now might not mean as much as a new pair of sneakers back then.
Lin Xian remembered how Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s clothes were always hand-me-downs, his shoes worn and patched. He used to stay at his desk, hoping no one would notice his tattered shoes. Even though their ssmates were kind, sometimes their kindness felt like a sharp jab¡ªwell-intended but painful.
But Zhou Duan Yun had seeded. He was the star of the reunion, his luxury car erasing any memories of past embarrassments. Yet, it seemed he was the only one who still remembered those hard times.
As the night went on and ssmates began to leave, those who remained gathered at one table, talking into the early hours. The girls had all left, except for Tang Xin, who sat quietly next to Lin Xian, smiling asionally, content to stay until the end.
Eventually, the party wound down, everyone quite tipsy thanks to Gao Yang, the night¡¯s enthusiastic emcee. Zhou Duan Yun, with a driver, offered rides to some ssmates, while others called for taxis or rideshares.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang were among thest to leave. Gao Yang went to settle the bill, leaving Lin Xian to escort Tang Xin to the restaurant door.
¡°How did you get here tonight?¡± Lin Xian asked Tang Xin as they reached the entrance.
¡°I came by taxi,¡± Tang Xin replied, pointing to a waiting cab. ¡°I¡¯ll take one back, too.¡±
She waved, her smile warm. ¡°I¡¯ll see you back in Donghai City!¡±
Lin Xian nodded and smiled back. ¡°Take care getting home¡ªit¡¯ste.¡±
Out of habit, he nced at his watch. 00:41. Suddenly anxious, Lin Xian quickly grasped Tang Xin¡¯s delicate wrist.
¡°Hey?¡± Tang Xin looked back in surprise, puzzled as Lin Xian held her wrist a bit too tightly.
Lin Xian, still feeling the effects of the alcohol, managed a smile. ¡°Actually¡ there¡¯s something I want to discuss.¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Tang Xin replied, her demeanor still graceful despite the suddenness. ¡°Should we find a different spot, or¡?¡±
¡°Here is fine,¡± Lin Xian said, carefully keeping her away from the curb as he let go of her wrist. Recalling Professor Xu Yun¡¯s untimely death, he felt a protective instinct surge. It was nearly 00:42, and given Tang Xin¡¯s research on hibernation, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake a nagging worry.
With the taxi driver distracted and no other cars in sight, Lin Xian¡¯s caution might have seemed excessive.
But just to be safe, he decided to wait until after 00:42. If his suspicions were correct, the killers struck only within a minute-long window each night. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lin Xian?¡± Tang Xin asked, ying with her short hair and rocking on her heels, smiling curiously at him.
Lin Xian refocused, meeting her gaze. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been curious about.¡±
¡°Oh? What is it?¡±
¡°You mentioned earlier that the side effects of hibernation aren¡¯t just about memory loss but something more severe.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Tang Xin chuckled lightly, rxed. ¡°Are you really that curious?¡±
¡°Just a bit,¡± Lin Xian admitted with a smile. ¡°Could you exin it to me?¡±
Chapter 141: Completely Wrong
¡°Right now, it seems like there are still plenty of side effects from hibernation,¡± Tang Xin noted, smiling slightly.
¡°However, the international researchmunity holds Professor Xu Yun¡¯s work in high regard. They tend to downy the side effects to avoid public confusion.¡±
¡°It¡¯s typical for pioneering work in a new field to have its ws. If it were perfect, what would be left for scientists like us to do? But that¡¯s hard for the general public to grasp¡ People prefer to hear about sesses and idealize figures like Professor Xu Yun.¡±
Tang Xin tapped her temple. ¡°You know, long-term hibernation, due to theck of ongoing stimtion to the brain and nervous system, leads to decreased brain activity and varying levels of memory loss.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s more severe than just memory loss. Hibernation isn¡¯t like dreaming; it drastically reduces bodily functions in an unnatural way. If the brain and nervous system are unstimted for too long, they will suffer irreversible damage and decay.¡±
¡°So¡ I¡¯ll cut to the chase, Lin Xian. If someone hibernates for over ten years, they¡¯ll face more than just memory loss. They could be¡ mentally impaired.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Mentally impaired?¡±
This was an oue he hadn¡¯t considered. Perhaps even Professor Xu Yun hadn¡¯t foreseen such drastic side effects, possibly because he died too soon to explore further. He was right about one thing, though: without electrical stimtion, the brain¡¯s nervous system could sustain irreversible harm.
Muscles might atrophy and then recover with rehabilitation, but nerve cells and brain cells¡ they don¡¯t regenerate.Once they die, they¡¯re lost forever. You¡¯re born with a certain number of brain cells, and once lost, they don¡¯t regenerate.
It seems Tang Xin¡¯s assertion about the most significant side effect of hibernation¡ªirreversible damage to brain cells and neurons¡ªmight be urate.
¡°But mental impairment isn¡¯t the worst oue,¡± Tang Xin continued, still smiling at Lin Xian. ¡°If the hibernation extends to around 20 years, the individual will most likely be¡ a vegetable.¡±
¡
A vegetable.
Those somber words jolted Lin Xian slightly. His thoughts turned to Xu Yi Yi.
Professor Xu Yun¡¯s primary motivation for developing hibernation technology was to rescue his daughter, Xu Yi Yi, who was in a vegetative state. But now, ironically¡ Tang Xin¡¯s research suggests prolonged hibernation could render individuals vegetative, with no hope of awakening.
This¡
Lin Xian was speechless. Yet, Tang Xin¡¯s casual demeanor suggested her research might have uncovered solutions to these issues.
¡°Bing a vegetable¡ that¡¯s quite troubling,¡± Lin Xian said with a soft chuckle. ¡°Many use hibernation pods to leap forward decades or even centuries in hopes of curing diseases. Some are already vegetative. It¡¯s like fate ying a cruel joke.¡±
¡°But¡ does your research actually solve these side effects?¡±
¡°It¡¯s still theoretical,¡± Tang Xin chuckled. ¡°But I¡¯m optimistic. My work on Alzheimer¡¯s drugs was nearly my academic downfall¡ My thesis was almost rejected.¡±
¡°But thanks to Professor Xu Yun¡¯s trailzing efforts, my seemingly irrelevant research gained attention. I¡¯m truly grateful and hold great respect for him.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian nodded, gaining a better grasp of Tang Xin¡¯s work. Life certainly has its unexpected twists.
¡°Good luck with your research.¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch. 00:53. Well past his usual anxious checkpoint at 00:42, his worries eased. He had been vignt, watching for any odd vehicles. The taxi driver was still there, idle and scrolling through his phone.
Perhaps he was just overly cautious. As Tang Xin mentioned, scientists around the globe are now studying hibernation¡ they can¡¯t possibly eliminate everyone, right?
Advancements are happening every day due to Xu Yun¡¯s discovery. Tang Xin is just one among many researchers.
Lin Xian and Tang Xin walked to the taxi. He opened the door for her. She got in, rolled down the window, and waved goodbye.
¡°I¡¯m off, Lin Xian. See you in Donghai.¡±
¡°See you in Donghai.¡±
The taxi fired up and rounded the corner, vanishing from sight.
¡°Ha-ha-ha!¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s forced cough came from behind. Lin Xian turned to see Gao Yang sporting a mischievous grin.
¡°He-he-he, that went well, Lin Xian! You¡¯ve got some charm! Tang Xin definitely has a thing for you!¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t contest it. They were no longer teenagers. It would be silly to ignore the obvious. Tang Xin¡¯s open enthusiasm was evident, and denying it would just be awkward.
¡°So, Lin Xian, what did you do to make such a memorable impression? Any ideas?¡±
Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang with a hint of annoyance. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t interrupted, Tang Xin might have borated when Zhou Duan Yun arrived¡ I¡¯m as curious as you.¡±
¡°Well, you¡¯ll have plenty of time to get close in Donghai and ask her then!¡± Gao Yang, his face flushed,ughed and pped Lin Xian on the back. ¡°Let¡¯s head home! The night was a sess!¡±
¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡±
¡
February 8, 2023.
Shanxi Province, Xi¡¯an City, Beilin District, Friendship Road.
Lin Xian stood at the entrance of Shanxi University, watching students return to sses after the Lantern Festival. He had waited until the holiday was over to travel to Shanxi.
Firstly, he had to manage several home matters. With some financial flexibility, even against his parents¡¯ wishes, Lin Xian had improved their living conditions. Secondly, the only clue to the author of ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± was Liu Feng¡¯s educational background. To track him down, Lin Xian needed to ess Shanxi University¡¯s library, which wouldn¡¯t open until after the break.
During his spare moments, Lin Xian often scoured online for details about ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± and Liu Feng. He was diligent but uncovered nothing significant. He couldn¡¯t grasp why some information seemed inconsistent.
If the book didn¡¯t exist in 2023, how did it surface 600 yearster?
It wasn¡¯t usible that it was published in 2024 and then immediately sealed in a coffin, right? Such a coincidence seemed far-fetched.
Moreover, if experts 600 yearster still deemed the book inurate and trivial, it was likely dismissed simrly in 2023. What publisher would bother printing a book deemed worthless?
So, where did this book originate? Why was it buried in a coffin? And why, despite being considered insignificant, did Big Cat Face¡¯s father find something substantial in it?
The answers probablyy with the author, Liu Feng.
Lin Xian held a small note with Liu Feng¡¯s details: born in April 1996 in Shanxi, entered Shanxi University in 2014, and obtained a master¡¯s degree in 2021. At 28 years old, Liu Feng was just four years Lin Xian¡¯s senior.
Using a book from 600 years in the future to trace its author 600 years in the past was an intriguing prospect.
Merging with the flow of returning students, Lin Xian blended into the campus crowd, heading straight for the library. The library maintained annual ¡°Graduation Yearbooks,¡±piled by departments, containing student names, photos, and faculty details.
Due to their fewer numbers, the graduate student yearbooks had moreprehensive information. This was why Lin Xian targeted the library.
Quickly, he located the ¡°2021 Graduate Yearbook of the School of Mathematics¡± and found Liu Feng¡¯s name along with his advisor¡¯s group photo.
The photo wasn¡¯t crowded. Apart from the smiling advisor at the center, a few students in graduation gowns clustered around.
Lin Xian immediately recognized Liu Feng. Short, stern-faced, clutching his diploma, and standing on the periphery. His appearance matched the image from Lin Xian¡¯s dream: bespectacled, sporting a simple haircut, embodying the typical top student but somewhat detached, fitting Lin Xian¡¯s image of academic researchers.
Lin Xian snapped a photo of the page with his phone. He then noted the advisor¡¯s name: Associate Dean of the School of Mathematics, Qi Yan.
¡°Hmm¡¡±
Lin Xian pondered for a moment. Given that Qi Yan was still the associate dean in 2021, it was likely he hadn¡¯t retired yet, since it was only 2023. Approaching him to learn more about Liu Feng seemed wise, and with some luck, he might even get Liu Feng¡¯s address or contact details for a direct visit.
¡
Upon reaching the School of Mathematics building, Lin Xian saw Qi Yan¡¯s official photo on the first-floor bulletin board. He appeared rtively young, definitely under 60.
Following the leads, Lin Xian located Qi Yan¡¯s office, where the associate dean was busy grading papers. Lin Xian introduced himself and his purpose¡
Surprisingly, the associate dean warmly weed Lin Xian for a chat. Lin Xian had braced for a cold shoulder, but perhaps because he was a recent graduate, the older professor naturally felt a connection with students.
¡°Liu Feng was an exceptionally talented student. I taught him since his undergraduate days,¡± Qi Yan recounted, sipping his tea and sighing. ¡°It¡¯s a shame. I always told him that there wasn¡¯t a promising future in pure math research, especially for someone from a modest background like his. He would have been better off focusing on applied math, settling down, and building a stable life.¡±
¡°But he was fixated on Universal Constants, determined to study them¡ Not even Einstein, who dismissed the existence of Universal Constantster in his life, could sway him. The academic world remains divided on whether Universal Constants even exist.¡±
¡°So you see, dedicating oneself to a concept whose existence is uncertain¡ What¡¯s the point? If Liu Feng had made a breakthrough, it would be a different story, but after three years of indulging him in graduate school, he still came up empty.¡±
¡°Professor Qi, what exactly is a Universal Constant? Is it the same thing that Einstein rejected?¡± Lin Xian inquired, genuinely curious.
¡°Not at all,¡± Qi Yan shook his head, taking another sip of tea. ¡°That¡¯s what frustrates me the most. I have no idea what he was researching.¡±
¡°Not just me¡ªLiu Feng himself didn¡¯t fully understand what the Universal Constant was.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s not the most significant issue,¡± Qi Yan turned to Lin Xian, his eyes reflecting a deep regret. ¡°Liu Feng¡¯s theory¡ ispletely wrong.¡±
Chapter 142: A Genius Beyond Time
Lin Xian heard the phrase again: pletely wrong.¡±
In six hundred years, math experts wouldbel The Introduction to Universal Constants the same way Professor Qi Yan had dismissed Liu Feng¡¯s work: as a pletely wrong.¡±
Those words could devastate any schr.
But then, Lin Xian thought, perhaps because everyone believed The Introduction to Universal Constants was incorrect and worthless, it survived for 600 years, even avoiding the Genius Club¡¯s attention. Had the Genius Club deemed it significant, Liu Feng¡¯s drafts wouldn¡¯t have endured.
From this angle, maybe even the Genius Club didn¡¯t fully grasp the Universal Constant or the significance of the number 42. It wasn¡¯t until the year 2624 that Big Cat Face¡¯s father solved the mystery of 42, finally understanding its truth and power.
It¡¯s intriguing that something deemed incorrect could actually be the most urate.
The result, being 42, wasn¡¯t the crucial part. The real questions were why 42 and what it represented.
Undoubtedly, the one who could unravel this mystery was Big Cat Face¡¯s father, the only one in history who truly understood. The next best source might be the original author, Liu Feng.
Since Professor Qi Yan also regarded The Introduction to Universal Constants as wed, Lin Xian saw no point in arguing. He got Liu Feng¡¯s address and departed. He also discovered that Liu Feng and Li Qi Qi, both from underprivileged backgrounds simr to orphans, met and fell in love while working part-time during their studies at Shanxi University.After graduating, Liu Feng pursued further education while Li Qi Qi worked to support him. Tragically, just as Liu Fengpleted his master¡¯s and they were nning their wedding, Li Qi Qi was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, often called the king of cancers due to its bleak survival rates.
No wonder, Lin Xian thought, recalling the small note in The Introduction to Universal Constants 600 yearster¡ªit must have been Li Qi Qi¡¯s farewell message.
¡°I hope I can still meet a living Li Qi Qi,¡± Lin Xian mused, clutching Liu Feng¡¯s address.
¡
Liu Feng¡¯s home was in a remote part of the county, indicative of his modest means. It was dark by the time Lin Xian arrived.
Navigating through a maze of makeshift homes, Lin Xian struggled to locate Liu Feng¡¯s ce. Then, an iron gate creaked open, revealing a man in a yellow helmet and vest, pushing a motorbike with arge delivery box.
The uniform was unmistakably that of a food delivery worker.
As the man adjusted his helmet, Lin Xian recognized him.
¡°Liu Feng?¡± Lin Xian called out, surprised to find a master¡¯s degree holder in a delivery outfit.
Liu Feng, looking puzzled, responded, ¡°Who are you?¡±
Lin Xian stepped forward, extending his hand. ¡°Hi Liu Feng, I¡¯m Lin Xian.¡±
After a brief handshake, Liu Feng¡¯s confusion lingered. ¡°Do I know you?¡±
Lin Xian exined his visit, ¡°I met your professor, Qi Yan. I¡¯m interested in your research and want to help fund it.¡±
¡°Which project?¡± Liu Feng inquired, his interest piqued.
¡°The Universal Constant,¡± Lin Xian rified. ¡°Despite many saying your theory is incorrect, I believe it holds potential. I¡¯d like to offer you ab and funding to continue your work.¡±
Liu Fengughed softly, then nced at his phone. ¡°Thanks, but¡ sorry, the Universal Constant doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore.¡±
¡°Is it because of Li Qi Qi?¡± Lin Xian asked bluntly. ¡°I can cover all her medical expenses too. Don¡¯t underestimate me because I¡¯m young; I¡¯m quite wealthy.¡±
¡°Did Professor Qi tell you all this?¡± Liu Feng scrolled through his phone. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You¡¯re delivering food to make ends meet, right?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Liu Feng sighed. ¡°Qi Qi¡¯s treatment is costly¡ªspecial medications, regr treatments. I tutor and deliver food in my spare time. A regr job just doesn¡¯t cover it.¡±
¡°So,¡± Lin Xian ced a hand on Liu Feng¡¯s shoulder, ¡°think about my offer? I can support your research and take care of Qi Qi¡¯s medical needs. It¡¯s beneficial for both of you.¡±
¡°Thank you, but I¡¯ve moved on from the Universal Constant,¡± Liu Feng said as his phone alerted him to a new order.
He added, ¡°Professor Qi told you quite a bit, but not everything. Qi Qi sacrificed a lot for my education. Her health suffered because of it. In hindsight, Professor Qi was right. Kids like us should focus on survival first. My stubbornness has cost us dearly.¡±
Looking solemn, Liu Feng continued, ¡°Qi Qi is in thete stages of her illness. She doesn¡¯t have much time left. I want to spend these final moments with her.¡±
Lin Xian noted the despair in Liu Feng¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find out if your Introduction to Universal Constants is correct?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Liu Feng replied firmly. ¡°Both in theory and in practice, it¡¯s wed.¡±
¡°Sorry, I have to go,¡± he said, hopping onto his motorbike and disappearing into the night, leaving Lin Xian alone with his thoughts.
Lin Xian considered that Liu Feng once harbored hopes and ambitions, but life¡¯s harsh realities had shattered his dreams. Not every struggling artist bes celebrated like Van Gogh after death; Van Gogh himself wasn¡¯t recognized during his lifetime.
Perhaps Liu Feng¡¯s work was too pioneering, misunderstood even 600 yearster, deemed a sentimental relic rather than a piece of schrly work.
.
Lin Xian remembered a quote about the gic pioneer Mendel: ¡°A genius beyond time often faces loneliness and disdain.¡±
In this world, it seemed Lin Xian was the sole believer in The Introduction to Universal Constants. Even Liu Feng had lost faith after facing continuous rejection.
The clouds parted, and moonlight shone over the deste suburb. Most of its inhabitants wereborers, and the area was quiet at this usually bustling hour.
Then, from Liu Feng¡¯s humble home, a door creaked open, and momentster, a wheelchair emerged. A frail girl in a white beret and coat, wrapped in a nket, struggled to wheel herself to the courtyard¡¯s center, her gaze lifting to the night.
When she noticed Lin Xian, she smiled weakly and nodded.
This fragile figure, barely more substantial than a shadow, had to be Liu Feng¡¯s partner, Li Qi Qi.
Lin Xian smiled back, standing by the low wall, maintaining distance. ¡°Hello, Qi Qi. Can we talk?¡±
Chapter 143: Waiting for a Meteor Shower
¡°Who are you?¡±
Li Qi Qi, sitting in her wheelchair, blinked at Lin Xian. Her voice was soft, and she looked fragile. The moonlight made her face seem even paler.
¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian, a friend of Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian introduced himself. ¡°Actually, we just met recently.¡±
Li Qi Qi tilted her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard Liu Feng mention you. When did you two meet?¡±
¡°Just now,¡± Lin Xian answered honestly. ¡°About ten minutes ago.¡±
Li Qi Qi chuckled, her smile making her seem more approachable. ¡°You really are interesting. Not many people want to be friends with Liu Feng. He¡¯s a good guy, but he¡¯s a bit odd.¡±
¡°I heard about you from Teacher Qi Yan,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°So¡¡±
Li Qi Qi listened patiently and then smiled at him. ¡°So, you also believe that Liu Feng¡¯s ¡®Theory of Universal Constants¡¯ is correct?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°We might be the only two who believe that. I¡¯m curious, though. Why does Liu Feng, the creator of the theory, not believe in his own research? When I mentioned it to him earlier, he just calmly admitted it was wrong. That¡¯s not how a schr should feel about their own work.¡±¡°Because¡ it really seems to be incorrect,¡± Li Qi Qi said, looking down. ¡°Proving a theory correct in all situations is very difficult. But proving it wrong is easier¡ªjust one incorrect instance is enough.¡±
Her words surprised Lin Xian. He had thought that since she wrote those words on the card, she must firmly believe in the theory, even irrationally. But hearing her now, she didn¡¯t seem so certain.
¡°Do you think the theory is wrong?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wrong,¡± Li Qi Qi shook her head. ¡°But Liu Feng and Teacher Qi have conducted many experiments, and every time, the results were the same¡ proving the theory wrong.¡±
¡°Even after graduation, Liu Feng researched it for a long time, but no matter how many times he tried, the results were always wrong, never right.¡±
Lin Xian understood now why Liu Feng had that attitude. He had thought Liu Feng, like Professor Xu Yun, was misunderstood and unsupported. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Both Liu Feng and Teacher Qi had tried countless times to verify the theory, but all results were disappointing, proving it wrong.
Liu Feng¡¯s problem wasn¡¯t about sponsorship, funding, orbs. It was that his theory was fundamentally incorrect. Like waiting for a ne at a dock, Liu Feng¡¯s research direction was wrong and would never yield the right answer.
But if everyone thought the theory was wrong, why did Li Qi Qi still believe it was correct?
¡°You still believe the theory is correct despite all the evidence?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes, because the derivation of those Universal Constants is just too beautiful,¡± Li Qi Qi smiled sweetly. ¡°I can¡¯t understand all of it, but it feels like music.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t major in math, but in astronomy, we use a lot of math and physics. All correct forms are beautiful¡ªEuler¡¯s form, the Pythagorean theorem, the mass-energy equivalence¡ they are all so elegant.¡±
¡°Like they¡¯re crafted by someone. Liu Feng¡¯s derivation is just like that.¡±
Talking about Liu Feng made Li Qi Qi¡¯s face glow with pride and happiness. ¡°Even if experiments say otherwise, maybe it¡¯s not the Universal Constants that are wrong but our current understanding.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s hard to exin this intuition,¡± she added, embarrassed. ¡°I know it¡¯s silly to define correctness by beauty, but nature and the universe are beautiful, so I think it should be like this.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Li Qi Qi¡¯s thoughts were indeed interesting. In physics and math, all correct forms are beautiful. This beauty is hard to describe¡ªmaybe it¡¯s the romance of a science student.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know where the problemy with the ¡®Theory of Universal Constants.¡¯ Everyone thought it was wrong, but it seemed correct. Was it really our understanding that was wed?
¡°I¡¯d like to support Liu Feng¡¯s research. Can you help me convince him?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Since we both believe in the theory, maybe with more funding and a betterb, Liu Feng could achieve something.¡±
¡°I mentioned this to him, but he refused. I don¡¯t get it,¡± Lin Xian said, spreading his hands. ¡°He¡¯s working so hard to make money, so why not ept my support and focus on research?¡±
Li Qi Qi sighed. ¡°Liu Feng has been through a lot, and with my illness¡ he doesn¡¯t believe in his own research anymore, so he can¡¯t ept your help.¡±
¡°To be honest, Liu Feng hasn¡¯t done any math research in nearly a year. He works nonstop, like a broken clock. The hands are moving, but the rhythm is wrong.¡±
¡°I wish I could help him, but as you can see, I can¡¯t do anything. Maybe the best thing I can do is leave this world soon so I won¡¯t hold him back.¡±
¡°No, don¡¯t think like that,¡± Lin Xian said quickly. ¡°Have faith in current scientific progress. Countries are researching hibernation chambers. Maybe in a year or two, there will be prototypes. You could hibernate and go to the future for treatment.¡±
Li Qi Qi just smiled softly. ¡°I don¡¯t think that far. My only wish is to see a meteor shower before I die.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always loved meteor showers, but I¡¯ve only seen them on TV, never in real life. I even chose astronomy in college because of my love for meteor showers.¡±
¡°But after studying astronomy, I realized real meteor showers aren¡¯t like on TV. Meteorsst only a second or two, so meteor showers are more imagination than reality.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything. He knew she was right. Meteor showers in astronomy aren¡¯t like what people imagine. A meteor burning in the atmospherests a second or less. Even a few seconds is rare. And meteor showers have small volumes. Seeing a few dozen or nearly a hundred in an hour is considered arge shower.
You could watch the sky all night and see nothing, or miss one in the blink of an eye. The ideal is very different from reality.
Li Qi Qi, studying astronomy, knew this. She¡¯d never see the meteor shower she imagined, just like Liu Feng¡¯s ¡®Theory of Universal Constants¡¯ would always be seen as worthless and wrong.
Lin Xian thought of the card Li Qi Qi wrote to Liu Feng, mentioning a meteor shower. ¡°If you could see a meteor shower, what would you wish for?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I¡¯d wish for the world to recognize the importance of the Universal Constants and see Liu Feng¡¯s correctness,¡± Li Qi Qi said, smiling at the dark, starless sky.
It matched the card in the book. Lin Xian sighed, looking at the night sky with her. ¡°Has Liu Feng¡¯s ¡®Theory of Universal Constants¡¯ ever been published?¡±
¡°No,¡± Li Qi Qi shook her head. ¡°He didn¡¯t even try to send it to a publisher. He thinks it¡¯s wrong, so he wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±
¡°Right,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Liu Feng doesn¡¯t believe in himself, so he wouldn¡¯t seek recognition or be interested in my support.¡±
But if the book wasn¡¯t published, where did the copy from 600 yearstere from?
¡°Sorry, I need to go back inside,¡± Li Qi Qi said, coughing weakly.
¡°Take care,¡± Lin Xian waved. ¡°Goodnight.¡±
At 2 AM, the sound of a motorcycle approaching filled the yard. Liu Feng entered the house, taking off his delivery helmet.
¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Li Qi Qi turned her wheelchair to face him, smiling. On the table were two simple dishes and a bowl of porridge.
¡°You should rest earlier. You don¡¯t need to prepare food for me. I can eat anything,¡± Liu Feng said, hanging his helmet on the wall and taking off his delivery vest.
¡°I slept all day. I can¡¯t sleep all the time,¡± Li Qi Qi said, inviting him to sit. ¡°The food¡¯s been reheated several times.¡±
Liu Feng sat down, taking the chopsticks she handed him and started eating. ¡°It¡¯s going to get colder soon. If you go outside, wear more clothes.¡±
Li Qi Qi nodded, watching him eat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of myself. By the way, I met an interesting person tonight and had a nice chat.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t talk to strangers. It¡¯s not safe,¡± Liu Feng said, eating a slice of cucumber.
¡°I¡¯m not a child,¡± Li Qi Qi said, annoyed. ¡°And he wasn¡¯t a bad person. He was very nice.¡±
¡°How do you know he¡¯s nice?¡±
¡°He said the ¡®Theory of Universal Constants¡¯ is correct,¡± Li Qi Qi said happily.
Liu Feng¡¯s chopsticks paused mid-air, a piece of potato dangling. After a moment, he resumed eating. ¡°Believing the theory makes him a good person?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Li Qi Qi nodded. ¡°To me, it does.¡±
¡°You¡¡± Liu Feng sighed, smiling weakly. ¡°By that standard, the whole world is bad. Including me.¡±
Chapter 144: A Gift for Qi Qi
¡°Isn¡¯t his name Lin Xian?¡± Liu Feng asked, pausing to swallow his food and take arge sip of porridge.
¡°Yeah, that sounds right,¡± Li Qi Qi nodded. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s from around here. Maybe he¡¯s from one of the southern provinces.¡±
¡°Probably Suzhou or Hangzhou,¡± Liu Feng agreed. ¡°I had a college roommate from there, and Lin Xian¡¯s ent is simr. But why would he travel all the way to Shanxi? Do you think he came looking for you?¡±
¡°Definitely not,¡± Liu Feng chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m no renowned scientist. My research has been disproved over the years. I appreciate Lin Xian¡¯s gesture, but I can¡¯t ept his help. It¡¯s not right to take funding for something that¡¯s incorrect.¡±
¡°Besides, as Professor Qi Yan used to say, even if my Universal Constant theory was correct, what good would it do? It has no practical application, not here and not even on a cosmic level.¡±
¡°Professor Qi used to joke that my work was too futuristic, advising that humans shouldn¡¯t worry about the Universal Constant until we can venture beyond the Milky Way.¡±
¡°I still hope you¡¯ll keep working on the Universal Constant,¡± Li Qi Qi murmured, watching Liu Feng devour his meal. ¡°It¡¯s such a beautiful theory; it can¡¯t be wrong. Maybe you just need a little more time to prove it.¡±
Liu Feng sighed deeply. ¡°Math isn¡¯t a marathon. Stubbornness won¡¯t make a wrong calction correct. In mathematics, if something is proven wrong, then it simply is.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s drop this topic,¡± Liu Feng said, setting his utensils down and smiling. He took Li Qi Qi¡¯s hand. ¡°I saw thetest forecast from the observatory. There¡¯s going to be a Geminid meteor shower on December 14th, with up to 150 meteors an hour! And it¡¯ll be dark enough without much moonlight to spoil the view.¡±¡°It won¡¯t be as dazzling as you might hope, but it¡¯ll be the most significant meteor shower in years. Just take care, and we¡¯ll go somewhere high up to watch it!¡±
Li Qi Qi smiled weakly. ¡°December 14th¡ that¡¯s so close to the year¡¯s end. The doctors said I might notst till then¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t listen to them,¡± Liu Feng cut in, gently wiping her tears. ¡°You can make it. This meteor shower could be just for you. Don¡¯t give up, Qi Qi.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± she whispered, squeezing his hand tightly.
The next morning, Liu Feng dressed in his clean uniform, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and started his motorcycle to head to his tutoring job.
¡°Hey, good morning.¡±
He looked up to see Lin Xian leaning casually against the wall near the gate.
¡°Lin Xian.¡± As Liu Feng approached the tall figure, he asked, ¡°Do you live around here?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I came here just to find you.¡±
¡°Are you nning on visiting me three times?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t think like that,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll seed in just two tries.¡±
¡°I appreciate your recognition, but I need to be honest,¡± Liu Feng looked up earnestly. ¡°The Universal Constant theory is wed. It¡¯s fundamentally wrong, like saying 1+1 equals 3. It can¡¯t ever be proven correct.¡±
¡°I get that you want to help, and I¡¯d love to continue my math research. But with everything going on, I can¡¯t in good conscience ept your support.¡±
¡°Besides, Qi Qi doesn¡¯t need much now that she¡¯s back home from the hospital. You know what that means. We need stability more than anything else.¡±
¡°You¡¯re mistaken, Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian stated firmly. ¡°1+1 can indeed equal 3 in many contexts.¡±
¡°Are you kidding?¡± Liu Feng looked puzzled.
¡°Not at all. For instance, mix one kilogram of water with one pound of water¡ªhow many pounds is that? Or think about endpoints when you add one line segment to another.¡±
¡°There are plenty of examples. I¡¯m not trying to argue but to show that things aren¡¯t always ck or white. Sometimes, a wrong-looking approach may be right from another angle.¡±
¡°You clearly don¡¯t understand math. I don¡¯t want to argue,¡± Liu Feng said, turning to put on his helmet.
¡°What if the Universal Constant isn¡¯t just a math problem?¡± Lin Xian suggested, cing his hand on Liu Feng¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Then what is it? A philosophical one?¡± Liu Feng shot back.
¡°Possibly,¡± Lin Xian met his gaze. ¡°Did you ever figure out what the Universal Constant should be?¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°What do you think it is?¡±
Pausing, Liu Feng replied softly, ¡°Einstein thought it should be a very small, almost non-existent number, consistent across the universe.¡±
¡°And your view?¡± Lin Xian pressed.
¡°Einsteinter dismissed it, but I continued the research. Perhaps I see something he didn¡¯t.¡±
Lin Xian was ready for this. ¡°Is the Universal Constant important to you? Despite everyone, even Einstein, denying it, why do you believe in it?¡±
¡°Because I know the answer,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°I know what the Universal Constant is.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the biggest joke I¡¯ve heard,¡± Liu Feng scoffed, turning away. ¡°Whye to me if you know the answer?¡±
¡°You¡¯ll see why soon. For now, trust me, I wouldn¡¯t travel this far for a joke.¡±
¡°I know you¡¯re worried about Qi Qi, but think about what she really wants.¡±
Lin Xian stepped closer. ¡°You two are like the couple in O. Henry¡¯s ¡®The Gift of the Magi,¡¯ focusing on the wrong things.¡±
¡°She wants to see you thrive, return to your research.¡±
¡°You say that easily,¡± Liu Feng bristled, revving his bike. ¡°What else can I do? Cure her? Make the meteors fall sooner? You know what the doctors said.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not Qi Qi asking me to research. It¡¯s you. If research could conjure meteors, I¡¯d never stop. But right now, what use is math? What can you offer but words?¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Why does Qi Qi want to see the meteors?¡±
¡°Because she¡¯s loved them since she was a child. It¡¯s her dream.¡±
¡°And?¡±
¡°What more is there?¡± Liu Feng red.
Lin Xian was silent, knowing something Liu Feng didn¡¯t: Li Qi Qi wanted to see the meteors to make a final wish for him before her time ran out.
¡°Fine, it¡¯s just a meteor shower.¡±
Then, Lin Xian lifted the delivery box on Liu Feng¡¯s bike and dropped a heavy bag filled with cash inside.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Liu Feng tried to remove the money.
¡°Just stay home with Qi Qi,¡± Lin Xian insisted, pressing down on the box. ¡°Forget tutoring and deliveries for now. Wait for my call.¡±
¡°Wait for what?¡±
¡°Wait for me to give Qi Qi a real meteor shower,¡± Lin Xian said, pointing upwards with a hopeful smile.
Chapter 145: Make a Wish
The next day, Liu Feng skipped ss and his usual delivery job.
¡°Today¡ you¡¯re staying in?¡± Li Qi Qi, seated in her wheelchair, eyed him with curiosity.
For thest two years, Liu Feng hadn¡¯t missed a single day of work. He was always on the move, like a machine that never stops.
Li Qi Qi had often urged him to take a break, but to no avail. Seeing him at home today was as surprising as the sun rising from the west.
Liu Feng smiled and shook his head as he bustled about the kitchen, whipping up a meal for Li Qi Qi.
¡°I¡¯m staying home for a few days. I¡¯m worried about your safety with that lunatic bothering us.¡±
Li Qi Qi chuckled. ¡°You mean Lin Xian? He doesn¡¯t strike me as dangerous. If he were, he would¡¯ve shown his true colors by now.¡±
¡°And besides, what do we have to steal? We¡¯re broke.¡±
¡°I know, it¡¯s weird,¡± Liu Feng said, lowering the heat under the porridge and taking off his apron. ¡°He¡¯s fixated on that ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ book. I don¡¯t see where his confidence ising from.¡±¡°I¡¯ve told him he¡¯s wrong, but he won¡¯t ept it. It¡¯s bizarre.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give back that money he left us next time I see him. Since I can¡¯t help him, I shouldn¡¯t keep his money.¡±
¡°What did he talk about with you yesterday?¡± Li Qi Qi asked, maneuvering her wheelchair to help set the table. She had watched their conversation from the window.
Liu Feng paused, then continued setting the table without a word.
¡°Just small talk,¡± he replied eventually.
That day, staying home with Li Qi Qi, Liu Feng noticed just how much her condition had deteriorated.
She consumed painkillers constantly, like they were mere snacks, but still, her pain would resurface, leaving her pale and sweating. Liu Feng hadn¡¯t realized it had gotten this severe.
Filled with regret, he picked up the nearly empty bottle of painkillers and shook it.
¡°Qi Qi¡¡± His voice wasden with sorrow. ¡°When did it get this bad?¡±
Li Qi Qi coughed weakly and managed a smile. ¡°Cancer does that. It¡¯s just some pain, nothing more.¡±
¡°You should have told me,¡± Liu Feng said, his face etched with concern.
¡°It¡¯s really not always this bad. Today¡¯s just worse, and you happened to be here.¡±
Liu Feng turned away, heart heavy.
They had been together since university; he knew her too well. This was just a kind lie. She had been enduring her pain quietly, always showing her best side whenever he was home.
He now understood the sad look she had when she talked about the uing meteor shower.
With her condition¡ she might not make it that far. Her situation was worse than what the doctors had indicated.
¡°I was thinking¡¡± Liu Feng choked up as he took her hand, ¡°of proposing during the meteor shower.¡±
¡°We¡¯re not kids anymore. Why bother proposing?¡± Li Qi Qiughed softly, leaning in to embrace him. ¡°I can¡¯t hold you back¡¡±
That evening, Liu Feng wheeled Li Qi Qi out to the yard. They gazed up at the sky, knowing well that no meteor shower was expected. No amount of looking could change that.
Meteor showers are caused byet debris burning up in the atmosphere, a natural spectacle. But they don¡¯t just happen randomly.
Both remained silent. Liu Feng hadn¡¯t mentioned Lin Xian¡¯s ims about artificially creating a meteor shower, knowing how unrealistic it sounded, even though Lin Xian had believed in it as much as he believed in the wed physics book.
But now, Liu Feng, a staunch believer in the unchangeablews of mathematics and physics, held a faint hope that Lin Xian might prove himself right.
It was irrational, but if it could grant Qi Qi¡¯sst wish, Liu Feng was ready to believe in miracles.
¡°Let¡¯s head back inside, Qi Qi. It¡¯s getting cold,¡± he murmured gently.
¡°Okay,¡± Li Qi Qi agreed, closing her eyes as they moved.
Over the next few days, Lin Xian was nowhere to be seen. The man who had been a constant presence suddenly disappeared. Each morning, Liu Feng looked out at the usual spot where Lin Xian hung around, hoping yet not hoping.
Then another week passed.
Liu Feng wasn¡¯t sure if it was just his perception, but Qi Qi seemed to be fading faster than before. She was like a worn-out instrument, a candle struggling against the breeze.
¡°Maybe I should have spent more time with you,¡± Liu Feng confessed, embracing her from behind as she sat in her wheelchair, feeling her growing frailty.
¡°I think I made a mistake,¡± he whispered. ¡°I worked so hard to afford your treatment, but I missed out on our time together.¡±
¡°It turns out I chose the worst option.¡±
¡°Life isn¡¯t a math problem. There¡¯s no definite answer,¡± Li Qi Qi replied, her hand trembling as she touched his cheek. ¡°Not every problem has a solution, and not everything can be split into right and wrong.¡±
At dinner, she didn¡¯t eat a thing. She couldn¡¯t.
Outside, the moon rose, casting a luminous glow. It wasn¡¯t a good night for star watching.
¡°I really¡ want to see a meteor shower¡¡± Li Qi Qi murmured, tears streaming down her face, absorbed by the soft fabric of her cor.
She wanted to make a wish.
It was all she could do for Liu Feng.
Suddenly, the Phone Rang
Liu Feng nced at the vibrating phone on the table. An unfamiliar number from Donghai in Long Country shed on the screen. Could it be¡?
Eyes wide, he answered the call.
¡°Liu Feng, bring Qi Qi outside,¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice crackled through the poor connection. ¡°Look towards the south.¡±
The call ended abruptly. Liu Feng and Li Qi Qi exchanged puzzled looks, but he did as instructed, bundling Qi Qi in a thick nket and wheeling her into the yard.
They looked southward, the moonlight dulling the night sky.
Liu Feng was skeptical. How could anything be visible under such bright moonlight? Even if a meteor shower urred, spotting it would be challenging.
But then, the wheelchair under his hands trembled.
¡°Feng Feng¡ look! A meteor! It¡¯s a meteor!¡± Qi Qi¡¯s voice broke through her sobs.
Liu Feng looked up, astonished. A slow-moving, yellow-tailed meteor streaked across the sky, its brilliance ousting any typical meteor.
One meteor.
Three meteors.
Five meteors.
Ten meteors.
Dozens.
Hundreds!
A cascade of yellow meteors filled the sky, their long tails resembling fireworks, illuminating the night. Liu Feng and Li Qi Qi were speechless, their eyes wide with wonder.
This was no ordinary meteor shower. It was like something out of a fairy tale, either heralding the end of the world or fulfilling a heartfelt wish.
¡°Meteor shower¡¡± Li Qi Qi¡¯s vision blurred with tears, the meteor light shimmering off the droplets, casting a sacred glow around her.
¡°Make a wish! Quick, make a wish!¡±
Qi Qi closed her eyes, her hands sped at her chest, whispering fervently. Liu Feng watched in awe, mesmerized by the shower of meteors.
He couldn¡¯t fathom how Lin Xian had achieved this. This artificial meteor shower was more spectacr than any natural one. No natural meteor shower could send hundreds of meteors cascading across the sky, eachsting nearly a minute.
Even after Qi Qi made her wish and opened her eyes, the meteor shower persisted. The meteors wove a dream catcher in the sky, capturing the girl¡¯s wish.
¡°This isn¡¯t a real meteor shower¡¡± Liu Feng, ever the scientist, feltpelled to acknowledge the reality.
But Qi Qi, with her background in astronomy, knew this too. Yet, at that moment, all her pain seemed to vanish. She smiled, took Liu Feng¡¯s hand, and ced it on her cheek.
¡°This is a real meteor shower,¡± she said joyfully. ¡°Just as I imagined.¡±
¡°So wonderful, letting me make such a long wish.¡±
Liu Feng looked down at Qi Qi. ¡°What did you wish for?¡±
Qi Qi shook her head. ¡°If I tell you, it won¡¯te true.¡±
She smiled, her eyes reflecting the fading meteors. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you for a long time, but I never found the right moment to give it to you.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Liu Feng was taken aback.
¡°Wait a second. No peeking!¡± Qi Qi wheeled herself into the house.
Chapter 146: Miracle
Zion People¡¯s Park
Children ran around excitedly, tugging on their parents¡¯ sleeves and pointing upwards with wide eyes.
¡°Look, a shooting star! The sky¡¯s filled with them!¡± shouted one child.
¡°Wow! This meteor shower is even cooler than the ones in cartoons!¡± another added enthusiastically.
¡°One, two, three¡ there are too many to count! There must be over a hundred!¡± a little girl eximed.
¡°These shooting stars are awesome! They don¡¯t look anything like what our teacher described¡ they¡¯re like a giantb!¡± a boy noted.
sh West University, yground
Students on the track and grass stopped their activities, mesmerized by the breathtaking meteor shower above.
¡°Where did all these shooting starse from?¡± one student wondered aloud.¡°Was there a meteor shower predicted today? I don¡¯t think I heard anything about it¡ and something this big would have been in the news!¡± another responded.
¡°Are these even real shooting stars? They¡¯re toorge,st too long, and move too slow¡¡± a third student observed.
¡°They look way too close, and the angle is all wrong. What¡¯s going on?¡± another puzzled student asked.
Videos of the meteor shower quickly went viral on social media. Residents of Zion buzzed with excitement, but those in other regions were baffled,paring the stunning disy on their screens to their own clear night skies.
¡°Why can¡¯t we see the meteor shower? Aren¡¯t they supposed to be visible across the northern hemisphere?¡± someone posted online.
¡°Nothing here either! Is Zion using special effects or something?¡± another person spected.
¡°This is weird! Is the meteor shower only over sh West? Did some millionaire set this up?¡± someone else guessed.
¡°Meteor showers aren¡¯t something you just create, right? What¡¯s happening? Is there an official statement?¡± another person questioned.
Meanwhile, in the sky south of Zion, 4000 meters up
Several Big Bear 100 nes flew in formation. In the lead ne, Lin Xian sat in the cockpit, listening to the radio.
¡°All wingsuit pilots have exited the ne. All nes, proceed with return protocols.¡±
Lin Xian exhaled deeply, turning to look out the cockpit window. He watched the ¡°shooting stars¡± glide toward their targets. The n had worked wlessly. He smiled as he saw the sparks on the wingsuit pilots¡¯ suits flicker out and vanish into the night. This man-made meteor shower was more stunning than any natural one.
Half a month earlier, after leaving Liu Feng¡¯s house, Lin Xian had begun nning this meteor shower. Li Qi Qi¡¯s lifelong dream was to witness a meteor shower, hoping to make a wish for Liu Feng¡¯s theory on the universal constant to gain global recognition. Liu Feng¡¯s deepest wish was for Li Qi Qi to experience a meteor shower by year¡¯s end. He didn¡¯t know she wanted to make a wish, but he felt the same regret and longing.
Lin Xian and Li Qi Qi shared a goal: to motivate Liu Feng to resume his work on the universal constant. They were the only two who truly believed in its uracy. Lin Xian, haunted by the Genius Club¡¯s murders in the future, knew the significance of the universal constant, number 42. Driven by love, Li Qi Qi believed in the beauty and correctness of such a form.
To rebuild Liu Feng¡¯s confidence, this meteor shower was essential. Lin Xian, a former city parkour champion, was familiar with extreme sports. He recalled Red Bull¡¯s sponsored wingsuit events, including one that simted a meteor shower, where athletes glided with fireworks, mimicking shooting stars.
The concept was straightforward. The challenges were securing permissions, coordinating with authorities, and recruiting willing athletes. Fortunately, Lin Xian¡¯s sponsorship appeal drew many thrill-seekers. With substantial funding, gaining official approval was simpler, especially since Zion was aiming to establish a premier extreme sports hub, making Lin Xian¡¯s event a perfect inaugural spectacle.
As the Big Bear 100 nes began their descent, Lin Xian checked his phone. His bank bnce had plunged by nearly 30 million, reducing it to 70 million. But the expense was justified. With his Rhine Cat brand and its popr moisturizing cream, he¡¯d recover the costs in months. Liu Feng, author of the ¡°Theory of Universal Constants¡± and one of the few who approached the truth of 42, was worth every cent.
¡°Here¡¯s hoping Liu Feng finds his way back soon,¡± Lin Xian mused, locking his phone. He took onest look at Zion¡¯s outskirts, where Liu Feng and Li Qi Qi were surely marveling at the meteor disy. Li Qi Qi¡¯s regret was likely softened. If Liu Feng revisited his ancient book, the message on the little card would change.
But¡
¡°When did Li Qi Qi write that card?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
In the sky, thest spark on a wingsuit pilot went out. He deployed his parachute, descending gently as calm returned to the night.
In a small courtyard on the outskirts
Liu Feng peered southward, having realized the truth about the meteor shower. If he looked closely, he could spot the nes¡¯ flight formations and navigation lights.
Creak¡ª
The door opened behind him, and Li Qi Qi appeared in her wheelchair. Liu Feng rushed to assist, pulling the door wider.
¡°What¡¯s the surprise? You¡¯ve been so secretive¡¡± Liu Feng asked.
Li Qi Qi smiled at the now peaceful sky and pulled a beautifully bound book from under her nket. She handed it to Liu Feng, her hands trembling as if it took all her strength.
¡°This is¡¡± Liu Feng gasped, seeing the gold-embossed title: ¡°Theory of Universal Constants¡± by Liu Feng.
How was this possible? He had never approached any publishers because his theories were considered incorrect¡ªno one would dare publish them.
He opened the book to find his photo and a brief biography on the title page: ¡°Liu Feng, born in 1996, entered Shanxi University¡¯s Mathematics Department in 2014. Graduated with a master¡¯s in 2021, focusing on universal constants, culminating in this book.¡±
Yet, the publishing page was nk. No publisher, no pricing¡
¡°Hehe, I had it printed through Taobao,¡± Li Qi Qi confessed, sticking out her tongue yfully, her breath weak, her eyes half-closed as she looked up at Liu Feng.
¡°Right now, no one wants to publish it, no one believes in it, and this is the only copy in the world¡¡±
¡°But I believe that one day¡ this book will be tranted into manynguages, found in every bookstore alongside works like ¡®Rtivity,¡¯ ¡®A Brief History of Time,¡¯ and ¡®From One to Infinity.''¡±
¡°I believe it will,¡± Li Qi Qi forced a smile, leaning back in her wheelchair, looking at Liu Feng with blurry eyes.
¡°Because I¡ made a wish¡¡± Li Qi Qi whispered faintly.
Liu Feng¡¯s hands trembled as he turned to thest page. A small card was tucked there, its ck ink still fresh, obviously written by Li Qi Qi just moments before.
Reading it, Liu Feng¡¯s tears flowed freely. He quickly ced the card back, afraid his tears would smudge the fading ink.
¡°Feng¡ I¡¯m so cold¡¡± Li Qi Qi whispered faintly.
Liu Feng moved to push her back inside, but as he wrapped her icy hands under the nket, he realized something.
¡°Feng¡ hold me¡¡± she murmured.
Kneeling beside the wheelchair, Liu Feng hugged the frail, weightless Li Qi Qi tightly.
¡°So beautiful¡¡± Li Qi Qi murmured, gazing up at the sky, her eyes losing focus.
She seemed to envision the meteor shower from moments ago, and rows of ¡°Theory of Universal Constants¡± disyed in bookstores, its neat, elegant forms lining the shelves.
¡°So beautiful¡¡± With a serene smile, Li Qi Qi slowly closed her eyes.
Chapter 147: The Closed Loop
Just outside a small town, in a secluded dip in thend, was a natural forest. Its variety of trees and early spring flowers made it seem almost like paradise.
Lin Xian and Liu Feng stood beside a freshly dug pit holding a wooden coffin. Inside, Li Qi Qiy still, her face set in a peaceful smile.
Liu Feng had hired a funeral servicepany to handle the burial. Using modern equipment, they dug the pit, transported, and buried the coffin efficiently. In this fast-paced, industrial world, even the solemnity of death had be transient, like dust in the wind.
After the funeralpany left, Liu Feng and Lin Xian stood by the grave with shovels nearby forter use.
¡°This is the spot Qi Qi chosest year,¡± Liu Feng said, his eyes red and swollen from crying. Li Qi Qi had been his only family. Somehow, the human mind finds a way to shield itself, allowing for a strange calm in the midst of overwhelming grief. Liu Feng¡¯s voice was steady, emotionless, as if he was either instructing Lin Xian or just talking to himself.
¡°In our country, it¡¯s traditional to return to one¡¯s roots after death. But Qi Qi, who grew up in an orphanage, had no roots. My family has an ancestral grave, but since Qi Qi and I weren¡¯t married, she couldn¡¯t be buried there.¡±
¡°Qi Qi had been weak since she was a child. No one wanted to adopt a sick child, so she stayed at the orphanage until she went to university. She never really had a ce she could call home,¡± Liu Feng exined.
¡°I thought you two were married,¡± Lin Xian quietly said from behind.
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°I proposed several times, and we almost got married after graduation. But once Qi Qi was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she turned down every proposal.¡±¡°She knew her time was limited and didn¡¯t want to be a burden,¡± Lin Xian suggested, stepping closer to look at Li Qi Qi¡¯s serene expression in the coffin.
¡°That¡¯s exactly what she said,¡± Liu Feng admitted, looking down, his messy hair hiding his eyes. ¡°But I always hoped she¡¯d have a real home. Now, even in death, she has nowhere to belong.¡±
¡°Qi Qi was afraid of cremation. She wanted a quiet burial here, without any ceremony, and hoped I would visit when I could. She picked this spot after the doctor told her she didn¡¯t have much time left,¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice broke.
Lin Xian listened quietly, allowing Liu Feng to express his grief. He knew that grief could make people either withdraw or talk nonstop, as Liu Feng was doing now.
¡°My condolences,¡± Lin Xian offered, cing a hand on Liu Feng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You must live well, carrying Qi Qi¡¯s regrets and hopes. That¡¯s why I came here today.¡±
Liu Feng seemed so distraught, one might worry he¡¯d follow Qi Qi to the grave. But he had to keep going. Lin Xian had spent 30 million yuan on a meteor shower to show Liu Feng how deeply Qi Qi had loved him, hoping it would inspire him to continue living. He hadn¡¯t expected Qi Qi to pass away so suddenly.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything rash,¡± Liu Feng assured him, looking up. ¡°I have to live well, for Qi Qi¡¯s sake.¡±
Then, Liu Feng pulled a book from his bag and handed it to Lin Xian. The title, ¡°Introduction to the Universal Constant¡± by Liu Feng, surprised Lin Xian. The cover was elegantly designed.
¡°Wasn¡¯t this book unpublished?¡±
¡°Qi Qi had it specially made. It¡¯s not officially published, just a personal project, like printing a photo album. This is the only copy,¡± Liu Feng exined.
Lin Xian held the book, feeling its emotional weight. He opened it and saw Liu Feng¡¯s author introduction, which he remembered from his dreams.
He turned to thest page, where a small, white card with delicate, slightly smeared handwriting rested¡ªlikely blurred by tears. Lin Xian knew it was Qi Qi¡¯s final message to Liu Feng, one he had seen 600 years in the future. Originally, the card expressed regret over missing the meteor shower, but that message should have changed now that Qi Qi had witnessed it.
With Liu Feng¡¯s nod, Lin Xian read the card. The writing was tender and shaky. At that moment, the past and present seemed to merge, showcasing the enduring power of love across centuries:
¡°Dear Feng Feng,
Hee hee, I¡¯m so happy! I got to see such a beautiful meteor shower. I know it¡¯s fake, but it feels more real than anything else to me. Feng Feng, I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t stay with you, but I eagerly await the day when the Universal Constant is globally recognized. It will happen. Thank you to the one who arranged this meteor shower. Follow him, Feng Feng. Perhaps he¡¯s your star, meant to guide you to brighter skies. I¡¯ll be watching over you from above. Our distance is not so far anymore.
¡ªForever loving you, Qi Qi¡±
Lin Xian carefully ced the card back inside the book. He had once doubted the notion of this book being a testament to a love that would span 600 years, but now, he fully understood its significance.
After handing the one-of-a-kind book back to Liu Feng, who gently set it beside Qi Qi in the coffin, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you keeping it as a keepsake?¡±
Liu Feng shook his head resolutely. ¡°It belongs with Qi Qi.¡±
With a decisive thud, the lid of the coffin was closed. Liu Feng began to shovel dirt back onto the coffin lid, symbolically marking the divide between life and death. This action also seemed to close a historical loop. The very presence of this unique book wouldter help Lin Xian make sense of its origins 600 years in the future. Archaeologists would eventually uncover Qi Qi¡¯s burial site, preserving both the coffin and the book inside. Although filled with inuracies, the book would eventually be discarded, falling into the hands of Big Cat Face¡¯s father, which led to the pivotal calction of the Universal Constant¡ª42.
As they filled the grave, Lin Xian felt the profound impact of this moment on history. Within a few days, and after a heavy rain, there would be no trace of the burial site left.
In the quiet that followed, Liu Feng wept, confronting the reality of Qi Qi¡¯s permanent absence.
Lighting a cigarette, Liu Feng inhaled deeply, watching the smoke fade into the air. ¡°Want one?¡± he offered to Lin Xian.
¡°No, you go ahead,¡± Lin Xian declined, settling next to Liu Feng on a nearby rock, both watching the sunset paint the sky with fiery hues.
¡°Thanks for being here today,¡± Liu Feng said, his eyes not leaving the sunset. ¡°I haven¡¯t smoked in a while. It tastes as bitter as I remember.¡±
¡°It gets easier,¡± Lin Xian smiled lightly. ¡°Some people I know treat smoking like it¡¯s nothing.¡±
Liu Feng chuckled and after a few more puffs, stamped out the cigarette. ¡°You¡¯re really here for the Universal Constant, aren¡¯t you?¡± he inquired.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian confirmed.
¡°Why is it so important? Can you exin it to me?¡± Liu Feng asked, the fading light illuminating his face.
¡°Everyone, from teachers to Einstein, has deemed it incorrect. I¡¯ve run countless tests myself¡ªall inconsistent, all failures. It seems like a schrly mistake, yet you¡¯re so invested in it. Why?¡± Liu Feng pressed.
Lin Xian looked towards the horizon where the sun was nearly set and said, ¡°Like you mentioned, I don¡¯t fully grasp the math or the Universal Constant itself. Academically, once something is disproved, it¡¯s usually epted as wrong. However, I believe not everything in the universe operates on absolutes. Some phenomena, even after failing thousands, millions, or billions of times, might only need to seed once to be considered valid.¡±
¡°Like what?¡± Liu Feng questioned.
¡°Many things,¡± Lin Xian replied, listing on his fingers. ¡°The origin of life on Earth, the formation of the first amino acid¡ªall these were the result of endless reactions over billions of years, sessful just once, yet they sparked life. Even if it was a chemical anomaly, it still led to life.¡±
¡°Right and wrong are rtive,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°In any case, life emerged on Earth, both miraculously and incidentally. It just needed to happen once.¡±
¡°It only needs one instance,¡± Lin Xian added, his expression earnest as he faced Liu Feng. ¡°I believe the Universal Constant is simr. Even if everyone says it¡¯s incorrect, even if it remains so for decades, centuries, or fundamentally so, it doesn¡¯t matter. It just needs to be right at a crucial moment.¡±
Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian, perhaps swayed by his unconventional reasoning, or maybe just puzzled. ¡°If the Universal Constant is right just once, what¡¯s the use?¡±
¡°That¡¯s hard to pinpoint,¡± Lin Xian mused, reflecting on the beginnings of life, the survival of species post-extinction events, the evolution of early hominids, the rise of technology, and a future 600 years away when a white light reshapes the world.
¡°Perhaps your Universal Constant needs to be urate just once¡ªto save the world,¡± Lin Xian murmured, closing his eyes as he spoke.
Chapter 148: Straight Ball
Liu Feng gazed at Lin Xian, speechless.
He had never thought his exnation of the Universal Constant was anything special, let alone something that could save the world. Yet the man before him always seemed wrapped in mystery and intrigue.
Reflecting on that extraordinary meteor shower, although Liu Feng was skeptical about Lin Xian¡¯s ims, he was somewhat persuaded.
¡°Can you exin what the Universal Constant is?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Well, I know Einstein described it as just a regr constant in his gravitational field equations. But do you really buy that?¡± Liu Feng replied.
¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Liu Feng dered firmly. ¡°I think¡ Einstein was not being truthful.¡±
¡°Not truthful?¡± Lin Xian raised his eyebrows in surprise.
¡°Einstein eventually renounced the Universal Constant, calling it his biggest blunder. Are you suggesting he intentionally misled us? That he was hiding something?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Liu Feng affirmed, nodding. ¡°It makes no sense that Einstein would dismiss the Universal Constant outright. His original research neither proved nor disproved its existence.¡±¡°Why deny it so vehemently? Einstein¡¯s behavior in hister years was odd, not typical of a scientist.¡±
¡°Some say it was because he was older, facing hardships and persecution, which led him to act irrationally toward the end.¡±
¡°But¡ I can¡¯t shake this feeling that Einstein was deliberately evasive about the Universal Constant. Sometimes, it seemed like he was trying to mislead us.¡±
¡°You¡¯re veering off topic,¡± Lin Xian interjected, reiterating his main concern. ¡°What I really need to understand is, what exactly is the Universal Constant? What does it mean?¡±
Liu Feng fell silent for a long moment before shaking his head. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t exin it either. My experiments suggest the Universal Constant might not be correct. Honestly, I¡¯m not sure it exists or what its purpose is.¡±
¡°Perhaps, as you mentioned, only by verifying the Universal Constant can we begin to unravel its mystery.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised by this revtion. Aware of Liu Feng¡¯sck of progress, he continued, ¡°So, even if I revealed the solution to the Universal Constant now, you couldn¡¯t confirm it?¡±
¡°Correct,¡± Liu Feng confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s like pi. The number itself isn¡¯t the focus. What matters is what it represents. Pi is known as 3.14, but it¡¯s not called pi because it equals 3.14.¡±
¡°The Universal Constant is simr. It could be any number¡ But without understanding why, what¡¯s the point? In mathematics, knowing the answer outright is useless. The journey is more significant than the destination.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian stood up, outlining his n. ¡°I¡¯ll set up a specializedb for you in Donghai City with ample funding and resources to continue your research on the Universal Constant.¡±
¡°But for now, you¡¯ll need to keep working from home. Wait for my call. Once everything is in ce, I¡¯ll bring you to Donghai City.¡±
¡°What do you have to sort out first?¡± Liu Feng asked, curious.
¡°I¡¯m gearing up for a strategic game,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not even sure what my own strategy is. But for our safety, I need to ensure there¡¯s no imminent danger before you start your research.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts turned to the unresolved murder of Professor Xu Yun. How could he allow Liu Feng to delve into the Universal Constant with such a mystery hanging over them?
They were now bound by amon cause. If Liu Feng were targeted due to his research, Lin Xian could be next.
Perhaps the threat didn¡¯te from within their Genius Club.
Yet, as Yellow Finch had ominously noted in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, ¡°Even if you avoid trouble, it finds you. Maybe you haven¡¯t noticed¡ but your game has already begun.¡±
Lin Xian decided to wait for the right moment to uncover any hidden threats. Only by eliminating them could he proceed safely.
He hoped the mysterious enemies and Xu Yun¡¯s killers were the same group. He had deduced their pattern: as long as he stayed off the streets at 00:42, he could avoid harm.
Yet, he remained vignt.
To date, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t pinpoint why they targeted him. The only link he suspected was the manuscript he¡¯d given Xu Yun.
But since Xu Yun had destroyed that manuscript, there shouldn¡¯t have been any exposure. So, what drove their focus on him?
Lin Xian was still puzzled.
¡
After ensuring Liu Feng was well-funded andmitted to the project, Lin Xian left Shanxi and returned to Donghai.
He kept a close watch over Liu Feng¡¯s condition for a few days. Turning his sorrow into motivation, Liu Feng was now fully dedicated to unlocking the secrets of the Universal Constant.
This dedication was a tribute to Li Qi Qi¡¯s unfulfilled dreams and softened the blow of her losspared to the original timeline.
Lin Xian had also instructed Liu Feng to keep the research results confidential, regardless of their nature. They would discuss everything once theb in Donghai was operational.
Agreeing, Liu Feng noted that since Lin Xian was funding him, he would naturally follow his directives. His sole aim was to validate the Universal Constant, even if only once, to honor Li Qi Qi.
The engines of the Boeing 737 roared as the ne departed Shanxi, heading towards the bustling metropolis of Donghai.
Uponnding, Lin Xian rushed to MX Company to tackle the backlog of work. Having been ¡°away¡± for an extended period, no one dared rush him, not even Zhao Ying Jun, who had inquired only once about his safety before letting him manage his schedule.
Lin Xian nned to spend a couple of days clearing his workload, then carve out time to connect with CC in his dreams and continue their exploration of New Donghai City for the safe.
Navigating New Donghai City in his second dream wasplex. Missing the Three-Knife thief scenario would prevent him from joining the Face Gang, making precise timing crucial.
Before he could align with the Face Gang, he needed to persuade CC in the small forest behind Li Cheng¡¯s house, starting preparations by noon.
¡°This is bing tooplicated,¡± Lin Xian sighed, surveying the mountain of paperwork in his office.
Challenges loomed in both his dreams and reality.
No longer needing to stay at MX Company, especially since the invitation had been a misunderstanding, Lin Xian considered resigning.
He wasn¡¯t concerned about losing contact with Yellow Finch. Clearly, she wanted him in the Genius Club. Although he didn¡¯t grasp her motives, Lin Xian felt that when necessary, Yellow Finch would reach out to him.
For now¡ He would y it by ear.
Everything would unfold once the cat and mouse gamemenced¡ to see who would reveal their intentions first.
Ding dong
As he reviewed documents, his phone buzzed with a WeChat message.
Lin Xian saw it was from Tang Xin.
Tang Xin: Hey Lin Xian, I heard from Gao Yang that you¡¯re back from Shanxi. Hehe, do you have time tonight? I want to have dinner with you.
Tang Xin, huh.
It seemed she had settled in Donghai and joined the research institute where Xu Yun had worked. The dinner was amitment he had made during their ss reunion, making it hard to decline.
Lin Xian responded, ¡°Let me treat you. As the host, it¡¯s my duty.¡±
Originally, Lin Xian had nned a dinner with Gao Yang, Tang Xin, and Zhou Duan Yun, since his two ssmates were also making their way in Donghai City, and he and Gao Yang, having been there longer, should wee them.
But Gao Yang had imed he¡¯d be workingte.
¡°Are you really working, or is it just an excuse?¡± Lin Xian knew Gao Yang well enough to suspect thetter.
¡°Oh,e on! Can¡¯t you see? If I¡¯m there, wouldn¡¯t Tang Xin get annoyed? Even if it¡¯s fake overtime, today it has to be real!¡±
Beep beep.
Gao Yang hung up.
So, it would be just him and Tang Xin tonight.
Lin Xian was no fool. He knew Tang Xin harbored feelings for him. But he couldn¡¯t fathom why¡
They had only been ssmates for a brief period in high school. Was he really that memorable?
Tonight would reveal what Tang Xin wanted to discuss.
¡
That evening.
They met at a well-known western restaurant near Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house, famous for its quality and vor. Lin Xian had made the reservation.
¡°This is delicious,¡± Tang Xin remarked, enjoying the caviar and smiling at Lin Xian.
¡°It¡¯s better than the Western food overseas.¡±
¡°That means it¡¯s not authentic,¡± Lin Xian teased.
¡°It¡¯s tasty because it¡¯s not authentic!¡± Tang Xin was in high spirits, looking particrly attractive tonight. Her makeup was wless, her outfit carefully selected, and she had even switched to high heels.
She must have gone home to change after work, unlike Lin Xian, who hade straight from the office in casual attire.
¡°You have no idea how awful the food is overseas!¡± Tang Xin continued. ¡°For international students, missing food from the home country is a big deal. Every time Ie back, I order loads of takeout and eat until I¡¯m stuffed. And I visit all the food stalls near the school.¡±
¡°Which school? Hangzhou No. 1 High?¡± Lin Xian cut into his steak, looking at Tang Xin.
¡°The food stalls outside our school were top-notch. They had to be excellent to survive thepetition.¡±
¡°Yes! Even though I wasn¡¯t at Hangzhou No. 1 High for long, I missed those stalls for years!¡±
Reflecting on the past, Tang Xin¡¯s eyes lit up.
¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t want to transfer at that time¡ but I was too young to decide, and my parents moved me to the U.S. even though I cried a lot.¡±
¡°But Lin Xian, I was really surprised you remembered me! I thought you wouldn¡¯t recognize me at all. I was so nervous about the reunion, I almost didn¡¯t go¡ but I really wanted to see you.¡±
¡°Oh? Was I that memorable?¡± Lin Xian saw Tang Xin steering the conversation back and yed along.
With Gao Yang absent, no one would interrupt their chat.
¡°Hehe, I guess you forgot,¡± Tang Xin rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Lin Xian without a hint of disappointment.
Lin Xian chuckled awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Did something happen between us?¡±
¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing major, really. You probably wouldn¡¯t recall,¡± Tang Xin paused, then added, ¡°But it¡¯s something I¡¯ve remembered for a long time.¡±
Tang Xin lifted her head, smiling at Lin Xian. ¡°During a PE ss, I got my period unexpectedly. It was my first time, and I wasn¡¯t prepared, so I panicked, not knowing what to do.¡±
¡°It was summer, and my pants quickly showed the stain. I didn¡¯t know what to do, so I stood against the wall, too embarrassed to tell anyone since I was the new student.¡±
¡°But then you saw me and without a word, took off your jacket, wrapped it around my waist like a skirt to cover the stain, and went back to ying ball.¡±
¡°Really¡ you probably don¡¯t remember this, but for a young girl, it was an embarrassing and distressing moment. Your jacket felt like it saved my life.¡±
Lin Xian felt a bit embarrassed after hearing Tang Xin¡¯s story. ¡°I did that?¡±
Heughed awkwardly. Although Tang Xin recounted it vividly, Lin Xian had no memory of it. He didn¡¯t consider it significant. Helping ssmates, especially girls, was normal behavior for him.
But such acts were typical of him.
¡°You¡¯re making it sound more heroic than it was,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile. ¡°It was just ssmates helping each other, nothing extraordinary.¡±
¡°Maybe I just happened to be there. Many ssmates would have helped you. Everyone was kind.¡±
¡°The girls especially. They were all wonderful. Even the guys, like Gao Yang, would have stepped in if they saw you in trouble.¡±
Was she still thinking about him because of that incident? Lin Xian considered it trivial.
However¡
Tang Xin giggled, resting her cheek on her hand. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s not a big deal. Many people would have helped.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Tang Xin yed with her fork on the table, her cheeks flushed from the wine, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°But at that moment, it was you I encountered.¡±
Chapter 149: Returning to New Donghai
Lin Xian set his fork down and picked up his wine ss, taking a sip. He was a bit taken aback by Tang Xin¡¯s forthrightness. Was this normal behavior for someone returning from abroad?
It was undeniable that Tang Xin was straightforward; she shared her thoughts freely and without hesitation. It was evident she held a special fondness for him and didn¡¯t shy away from expressing it. Her feelings were simr to those of Zhou Duan Yun and many others; they all cherished vivid memories of their teenage years, some of which were unforgettable.
As Zhou Duan Yun had exined, his current endeavors were an attempt to ovee the feelings of inadequacy he had experienced in high school. For Tang Xin, a simple act of kindness Lin Xian had shown back then had be a cherished memory of her youth, one she still held dear. This was likely what people referred to as the ¡°white moonlight¡± effect. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected to be someone¡¯s ¡°white moonlight.¡±
¡°We were ssmates; helping each other was natural,¡± Lin Xian remarked, setting his wine ss back down and smiling at Tang Xin. ¡°It was true back then, and it remains true now. Since you¡¯re new to Donghai City and still finding your way around, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out to either me or Gao Yang for help. We¡¯ll do our best to assist you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m relieved to hear that,¡± Tang Xin chuckled, sitting up straighter as she continued enjoying her meal. ¡°As you mentioned, I don¡¯t have many friends or rtives here in Donghai¡ and after being abroad for so long, I¡¯m still adjusting to being back. But my colleagues are wonderful; they¡¯ve been very supportive and helped me settle in.¡±
¡°What do you usually do in your free time?¡± Lin Xian inquired casually. ¡°Like, after work, how do you spend your time?¡±
¡°One of my colleagues found out I y the violin well, so they introduced me to the Donghai Symphony Orchestra. They were looking for violinists.¡±
Tang Xin took a bite of her sd and nced at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯ve been ying the violin since I was young and was part of the school orchestra while studying abroad. The interview with the Donghai Symphony Orchestra went smoothly, and they invited me to join their rehearsals. So, I spend my spare time practicing the violin and attending orchestra rehearsals. I really love music; it makes me happy.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fantastic,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You are very talented. Being part of the Donghai Symphony Orchestra shows your violin skills are quite impressive.¡±¡°Hehe, I won¡¯t be modest about that,¡± Tang Xin giggled. ¡°If you¡¯d like, I can y for you sometime. I¡¯m quite confident in my violin skills!¡±
¡°Sure, that sounds great,¡± Lin Xian replied politely.
Their dinner ended on a pleasant note. Since it was still early, Tang Xin suggested they take a walk by the river, and Lin Xian agreed enthusiastically. They spent an hour strolling along the Huangpu River, reminiscing about the past and sharing stories. Afterwards, Lin Xian hailed a cab to take Tang Xin home.
¡°Bye, Lin Xian, see youter!¡± Tang Xin waved as she stepped out of the car.
¡°Bye.¡±
Soon after Lin Xian got home, Gao Yang called, bursting with curiosity. After a series of questions, he gave his approval.
¡°I approve of this rtionship.¡±
¡°You approve of what?!¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
¡°What? Aren¡¯t you pleased with Tang Xin?¡± Gao Yang pressed. ¡°Tang Xin is attractive, has a great personality, and has always had feelings for you! Where else will you find someone so ideal?¡±
¡°That¡¯s true¡¡± Lin Xian scratched his head and gazed at the moon outside his bedroom window. Tang Xin was indeed remarkable in many ways,bining Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s elegance with Chu An Qing¡¯s sweetness. She was truly extraordinary. However, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t really considered a romantic rtionship with her.
¡°You should think about it,¡± Gao Yang suggested over the phone. ¡°We¡¯re not kids anymore. Rtionships are natural, and Tang Xin has been very upfront with you¡ almost too obvious. Wouldn¡¯t it be rude to keep her waiting for an answer?¡±
¡°You might be right,¡± Lin Xian agreed. In rtionships, you should eithermit or be clear about your intentions. Leading someone on was unfair. But Lin Xian was in a difficult position. While he recognized Tang Xin¡¯s qualities, he hadn¡¯t developed romantic feelings for her yet. Despite Tang Xin¡¯s years of admiration, this was only their second encounter since high school. They barely knew each other now, and he hadn¡¯t yet formed any feelings.
Additionally, there were other pressing concerns. ording to Yellow Finch, a dangerous game had already begun, posing unknown threats. With adversaries lurking and various tasks demanding his attention, dating was not his priority.
¡°And there¡¯s the dream to consider.¡± Thinking about his perilous situation in New Donghai City gave Lin Xian a headache. He had been too preupied recently and hadn¡¯t managed to enter the noon dream to meet CC. They needed to approach Time Bank soon, their entry point into the operation.
The next day, after finishing his morning duties, Lin Xian had a quick lunch and returned home. Lying on his bed, he quickly fell asleep. In the dream, he followed the usual routine: first finding CC in the woods behind Li Cheng¡¯s house. After convincing her, they headed back to Old Donghai, joined the Face Gang, persuaded Li Cheng to build a humandder, hid in a garbage truck, and sessfully infiltrated New Donghai City¡
¡°There¡¯s still a lot of blood on the clothes,¡± Lin Xian noted as he and CC changed into the uniforms of two inspectors they had just assassinated at a checkpoint. Despite his carefulness while slitting their throats, he couldn¡¯t avoid staining the uniforms with blood. It was sticky and ufortable.
¡°It¡¯s unavoidable when you slit throats,¡± CC remarked from the other side of the garbage truck, now dressed in the female inspector¡¯s uniform and tucking a handgun into her waistband.
¡°This is too conspicuous. We¡¯ll be discovered sooner orter,¡± Lin Xian mused, scratching his chin. When he had escaped on a flying motorcycle previously, he had noted the busy area near Time Bank, filled with people and vehicles. If they walked around in these bloodied uniforms, they¡¯d definitely attract attention.
Moreover, the security system in New Donghai City was more stringent than he had anticipated, with patrols of mechanical dogs and guards in many areas. Having gone through so much trouble to enter the dream, Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to be shot and wake up midway through his mission. At least he needed to try the password at Time Bank.
He looked over at the neatly parked garbage trucks in the yard and had an idea.
¡°We could continue hiding in the garbage truck,¡± Lin Xian suggested to CC. ¡°These trucks are programmed to go to Time Bank. They only stopped here for the inspection. So, we just need to find the switch or the corresponding control to let the trucks continue their journey.¡±
¡°Then we can hitch a ride in the garbage truck and get to Time Bank without any risk,¡± CC agreed.
¡°That¡¯s a good n. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard,¡± she replied, heading toward the control room.
Chapter 150: Hide and Seek
Everything was going ording to n.
CC, the password expert, quickly navigated theputer systems. Once he confirmed the actions, the checkpoint gates began to open slowly. The idle garbage trucks rumbled to life, lined up neatly, and rolled out of the gates.
¡°Quick, get in,¡± urged Lin Xian. He and CC squeezed under the dumping section of a garbage truck, heading towards Donghai City.
As they progressed, the garbage trucks veered off the nned route. Eventually, only two trucks continued towards the Time Bank.
Screech¡ª
After about 20 minutes, their heavy truck came to a sudden stop. The force of the stop pushed Lin Xian and CC together. They peeked out; the truck ahead was stopped right at the bank¡¯s entrance, theirs just behind. Above, therge sign reading ¡°Time Bank¡± loomed, with some English beneath. The sign was off, unlike the other illuminated signs around, adding a neglected feel to the scene.
¡°We¡¯re finally here,¡± Lin Xian sighed after their rough ride.
CC blinked, puzzled. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that smooth? It actually went really well.¡±
¡°It cost me countless lives to get here,¡± Lin Xian said with a dryugh.For CC, it was a straightforward task. But for Lin Xian, starting from the garbage dump, he had ¡®died¡¯ many times to finally reach this point.
They climbed out quietly and peeked from behind the truck towards the bank¡¯s entrance. In front of them, several robots were busy moving aluminum alloy safes from a warehouse, loading them onto other trucks. A man, likely the supervisor, sat smoking nearby, his legs crossed.
¡°The gunfire would be too loud; it might draw the patrol mech dogs,¡± CC whispered, pulling out a tranquilizer dart from his pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±
¡°Okay, show me what you¡¯ve got,¡± Lin Xian said, confident in CC¡¯s abilities.
CC crouched and moved silently, sticking close to the walls as he approached the smoking man from behind.
¡°Mm¡ª!¡± In a swift motion, CC covered the man¡¯s mouth and nose and pressed the tranquilizer dart against his neck!
After about twenty or thirty seconds, the man¡¯s body ckened. CC held him until he waspletely unconscious, then gentlyid him against the wall.
¡°No wonder this tranquilizer is so potent,¡± Lin Xian remarked as he joined CC.
In hospitals, surgical anesthesia, except for the inhaled type, usually takes time to take effect, and the dosage needs careful control. But with animal tranquilizers, high doses seemed to do the job quickly.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Lin Xian.
They sneaked past the robots loading the safes and entered the bank¡¯s warehouse. Since the bank had been bankrupt for some time, most valuable items had already been removed. After today, the remaining safes were essentially unimed.
The robots,cking an rm system, automatically avoided obstacles and people, showing advanced user-friendliness. They quickly reached the area filled with safes.
¡°Long time no see,¡± Lin Xian murmured, looking at the gleaming safes. He felt nostalgic; he had dealt with these daily in his first dream. Today, he hade full circle.
Originally, these safes were embedded in the walls, but now theyy scattered on the floor. They made their way to the back of the warehouse, and soon, they found the safebeled with Lin Xian¡¯s name.
¡°This is it!¡± CC eximed, crouching to work on thebination lock.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Lin Xian listened to the sounds of the lock, but each attempt ended with a thud¡ªthe lock refusing to open. CC tried numerousbinations, all to no avail.
¡°Let me try,¡± Lin Xian offered, taking over.
He set thebination to 29990203, took a deep breath¡
Thud!
He pressed down hard on the lock!
¡
It didn¡¯t open.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian chuckled, unsurprised.
Well, despite all his efforts, he was not confident. He had tried this safe so many times unsessfully, his confidence had dwindled. He tried the password for Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office door as well, but to no avail. He also tried every password rted to 42 he could think of¡ still no sess.
¡°Forget it, your turn,¡± Lin Xian stepped aside, letting CC try as he watched the safe.
If 29990203 couldn¡¯t open it, there were two possibilities: either this wasn¡¯t his safe, or his future self didn¡¯t want his present self to open it.
¡°The future me must have set an unbreakable password,¡± Lin Xian mused. If that was the case, further attempts were pointless. The person who knew him best was himself. If his future self really didn¡¯t want his present self to open the safe, with all his thoughtsid out¡ it would be impossible.
As Zhao Ying Jun had said, a password without any logical pattern is the hardest to crack, unless brute force is used. But to brute-force an 8-digit password, with only a few minutes each day after an arduous journey, could take decades.
Lin Xian suddenly had an idea and turned to CC: ¡°Since this safe was left for you by that bearded man, why not try your birthday or rted dates first?¡±
CC chuckled, ¡°I tried my birthday right away, even every year¡¯s¡ made me feel overly sentimental.¡±
¡°It¡¯s unlikely to be a date rted to me, because ording to him, he put the stuff in the safe a long time ago, not specifically for me.¡±
¡°You keep trying here, I¡¯ll look for the bank¡¯s records,¡± Lin Xian said, heading upstairs to the second floor of Time Bank. The second floor housed mostly offices, but most things had been cleared out, leaving only dusty remnants.
Lin Xian knew trying the passwords one by one was a long shot, like finding a needle in a haystack. It was better to look for clues elsewhere. He rummaged through the office trash bins, finding some printed waste paper, some bills, some empty boxes¡
He searched many offices but found nothing of value until the second-tost office, where he found a torn draft of a speech in the trash. Surprisingly, despite the advanced audiovisual tech 600 yearster, leaders still preferred reading from scripts, perhaps for the sense of formality.
He picked up the speech, and the beginning read:
¡°Since Time Bank was founded in 2023, it has endured 600 years of ups and downs¡¡±
¡°2023?¡± Lin Xian noted the familiar year!
Wasn¡¯t that the year he lived in the real world?
He read the speech again carefully but found no other useful information, just sentimental words from the bankruptcy ceremony. However, the founding year of Time Bank was crucial.
¡°If Time Bank was founded in 2023¡ when did I store things in the safe and set the password?¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if he was one of Time Bank¡¯s first customers, but it was a possibility. Lin Xian had searched the inte before but found no information about Time Bank.
That means maybe in theing months, Time Bank will be established noter than New Year¡¯s Day 2024.
¡°This might be the link that connects 600 years of time!¡±
Lin Xian had always wondered if there was a way to hide something from 600 years ago and retrieve it 600 yearster. But in the first dream and real life, there were nomon coordinates, no corresponding ces. Even if he buried something, it would be in vain. The second dream was even more different from the real Donghai.
But now it was different.
As long as Time Bank was founded in 2023, he could open a safe there, easily transporting items from 600 years ago to 600 yearster! Though he couldn¡¯t think of anything that would be useful after 600 years, having a link was better than none.
¡°If only there was a way to send something from 600 years in the future back 600 years, but¡ time doesn¡¯t flow backward.¡±
Lin Xian leaned against a dusty metal cab, pondering his next steps.
For now, the safe couldn¡¯t be opened. But Lin Xian didn¡¯t mind.
One, Time Bank would be founded soon, and the answer would be revealed. Two, if his future self didn¡¯t want his present self to open the safe, there must be a good reason. Lin Xian believed his future self wouldn¡¯t deceive himself; he must have a purpose, so he deliberately set an unbreakable password.
¡°So, I¡¯ll put the safe aside for now and patiently wait for Time Bank to be established in 2023.¡±
¡°The focus now is on the cat-and-mouse game Yellow Finch mentioned and the Genius Club invitation.¡±
These two things. One was a crisis he faced, the other was the key to solving all mysteries. Both were equally important. But both were also without any leads, not knowing where to go or what to do next.
Clearly, Yellow Finch knew all the answers. She spoke with certainty but chose to be cryptic.
Of the two, Lin Xian was more concerned about the cat-and-mouse game. A cat-and-mouse game, essentially, is hide-and-seek. Since Yellow Finch gave him this hint, it meant he was about to, or already, fall into some danger.
Lin Xian was somewhat aware of this.
If the cat referred to the person who killed Xu Yun, they could easily trace the ¡°interest rtionship¡± between him and Xu Yun. Although these interests didn¡¯t directly prove anything, they indicated some undisclosed secrets between them. Those secrets might be what the killers cared about most.
Fortunately, Xu Yun had destroyed the manuscript he gave Lin Xian, so the killers shouldn¡¯t find direct evidence of his research assistance. But that wouldn¡¯t stop them from suspecting him.
Why did they kill Xu Yun? Unknown.
Would they kill him at 00:42 too? Uncertain.
¡°But at least one thing is certain,¡± Lin Xian thought, looking out the window at the robots loading safes onto the garbage trucks. He recalled the hide-and-seek games he yed with friends in the residentialplex as a child. ¡°Since it¡¯s hide-and-seek, they¡¯lle out to find me, right? They¡¯ll have some contact with me?¡±
He closed his eyes, recalling the people who had recently appeared around him, either actively or passively.
¡°Who could it be?¡±
Chapter 151: Showdown
Lin Xian¡¯s mind swirled with memories of countless faces¡
Ever since Xu Yun¡¯s death, Lin Xian had met many new people. He interacted with designers, industry experts, business associates, and attended school reunions, meeting old friends and strangers alike. With so many new contacts, it was hard to tell who was truly friendly and who had hidden agendas.
¡°I need to see things differently,¡± Lin Xian mused, closing his eyes for a moment. In thisplex game of hide and seek, he felt at a disadvantage. As Yellow Finch had pointed out, while he was out in the open, his adversaries lurked in the shadows.
¡°It¡¯s easier to dodge a threat when you can see it. How can you consistently protect yourself from an unseen thief? To win this game, I have to outsmart them first.¡±
Time was of the essence. Lin Xian reopened his eyes, resolute. ¡°The first one to reveal themselves loses.¡±
Outskirts of Donghai City
Tonight, a usually dimly lit vi was fully illuminated. Ji Lin was sorting through a heap of printed papers. These were documents from Donghai University, retrieved from Xu Yun¡¯sb. After Xu Yun¡¯s sudden death, the university decided to digitize and release his documents publicly, as per hisst wishes. Among these, Ji Lin focused on the handwritten notes.
A Rhine Cat doll signed by Lin Xian sat on the nearby table. The signature, magnified, showed a mix of Chinese characters, English letters, numbers, and symbols. Handwriting, much like fingerprints, is unique. The way one applies pressure to strokes, curves numbers, connects letters, and sequences their writing can reveal their identity¡ªmaking it a powerful tool in criminal investigations.
Ji Lin squinted at thest document on the table, analyzing every mark. Exhausted, he flung the document onto the floor and reclined in the sea of papers, hands behind his head, gazing up at the opulent crystal chandelier.Beep beep.
A buried phone vibrated with a new message. Ji Lin retrieved it. The message from Envy read: ¡°He¡¯s back in Donghai.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s fingers flew over the keyboard to reply: ¡°Begin.¡±
Next Few Days
Lin Xian had been busy wrapping up all the umted work since the term started. He managed his tasks and those assigned by Zhao Ying Jun. Despite being her part-time assistant, Lin Xianmitted to his role wholeheartedly.
Zhao Ying Jun ced great trust in him, sharingpany secrets and business insights generously. For Lin Xian, who had never been involved in high-level business dealings before, her mentorship was like learning a secretive martial art¡ªtypically, such knowledge is guarded closely in thepetitive business world. Lin Xian was deeply appreciative of Zhao Ying Jun for this invaluable training.
These business skills were essential for his current predicament. He had ns, including costly research by Liu Feng, requiring significant financial backing¡ªsomething royalties and licensing fees alone wouldn¡¯t cover. Eventually, Lin Xian would need to leave MX Company to generate substantial ie to support Liu Feng¡¯s research on the Universal Constant 42.
What exactly the Universal Constant and 42 represented remained unclear even to Liu Feng. In the future, Big Cat¡¯s father would extend Liu Feng¡¯s initial research over more than a decade to unravel 42. Lin Xian didn¡¯t expect immediate breakthroughs but knew the sooner they uncovered these secrets, the better. Understanding the mystery of 42 would arm Lin Xian with a powerful tool against the Genius Club, helping solve many puzzles and ensuring his safety.
However, before he could fund Liu Feng or seek justice for Xu Yun, he had to eliminate the hidden threats lurking around him. The memory of Xu Yun¡¯s tragic demise haunted him still. For now, Lin Xian knew he must tread carefully. Bing wealthy too quickly or using novel methods from his dreams to make money could expose him to grave risks.
So, Lin Xian devised a careful three-step strategy for himself:
Stay low-key at MX Company, not altering history or using insights from his dreams until his enemies make a move.
Act immediately upon any hint regarding Xu Yun¡¯s killer or the elusive ¡°cat¡±, aiming to neutralize the threat swiftly.
Once all threats are mitigated and he has adequate self-protection, leverage his dream-derived knowledge to amass wealth and construct the state-of-the-artboratory for Liu Feng to explore the Universal Constant 42.
This n was the safest bet. At MX Company, on the 22nd floor, inside Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, Lin Xian stood behind her, absorbing her exnations of document details while jotting notes in his ck notebook. He was seriously learning,ying the groundwork for his future business ventures. Without this base, even dream-derived innovations could leave him vulnerable in the ruthless business world.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re catching on incredibly fast,¡± Zhao Ying Junmented with a turn and a smile as he scribbled away. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days, and I already feel I can trust you with a lot.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re an excellent teacher,¡± Lin Xian responded, snapping his notebook shut. ¡°Is everything arranged in the office to your liking?¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Zhao Ying Jun admired her neatly arranged desk and the organized files. ¡°My office has never been this orderly. A good work environment really lifts my spirits every day.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze drifted to the sofa near the cab. That was where the woman who called herself Yellow Finch had been seated that night. He still puzzled over how she had managed to enter the office.
Zhao Ying Jun cherished her privacy, and notably, there were no security cameras on the 22nd floor. Thus, the mystery of Yellow Finch¡¯s entry persisted. Zhao Ying Jun had assured him that only they knew the security code to the door, yet somehow Yellow Finch had it too.
This was baffling. Was Yellow Finch a master at cracking codes, or had she obtained the code through some other means? Given Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s usual caution, it was unlikely she had inadvertently disclosed the password.
But Yellow Finch was a mysterious figure. Lin Xian had never shared his knowledge of space-timews with anyone, yet she was aware of them. Considering this, it wasn¡¯t too surprising she knew Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s password as well. Could she possess some kind of superpower, like mind-reading or irvoyance?
Lin Xian had braced himself for the fact that members of the Genius Club were no ordinary people, but superpowers seemed a bit far-fetched. It wasn¡¯t as if they were part of the Avengers. How could there be so many extraordinary abilities?
The next day, Gao Yang called, announcing that both Duan Yun and Tang Xin were avable that evening. ¡°The Donghai crew needs a reunion! Let¡¯s make it a wee back celebration for you.¡±
Lin Xian agreed. It had been in the works for a while.
Evening
Gao Yang selected a cozy Hunan restaurant, not upscale but perfect for their intimate gathering, featuring home-style dishes and a small private room. Tang Xin looked as charming as ever, and Duan Yun was dressed in his usual suit. Compared to them, Lin Xian and Gao Yang felt underdressed, like minions next to royalty.
Gao Yang leaned in and whispered to Lin Xian, ¡°What¡¯s with them? It¡¯s like they¡¯re dressing for tea with royalty.¡±
¡°Maybe the suit is just Duan Yun¡¯s true skin,¡± Lin Xian whispered back, amused.
The four enjoyed their time in the secluded room. Whether by chance or design, Gao Yang seated Duan Yun next to him, leaving Tang Xin next to Lin Xian. As they drank, Duan Yun was in high spirits, sharing tales from his life. He had attended a prestigious university but dropped out tounch his own business, which had thrived significantly.
¡°So, what are you into these days?¡± Gao Yang inquired.
¡°A bit of everything,¡± Duan Yun replied with a grin.
¡°You missed our graduation photo shoot¡ Rumor had it you won the lottery. Is that true?¡± Gao Yang asked after a few drinks.
Duan Yun finished his drink and wiped his mouth, ¡°Between us, yeah, I got lucky with the lottery. Used that to kickstart my business.¡±
¡°I¡¯m so jealous!¡± Gao Yang raised his ss in a toast, ¡°Pass some of that luck our way!¡±
¡°Yeah, share some of that good fortune!¡± Tang Xinughed, lifting her ss. They all toasted.
¡°And what about you, Tang Xin?¡± Duan Yun turned to her.
¡°I work at the Donghai Revival Pharmaceutical Research Institute,¡± she replied.
¡°Oh,¡± Duan Yun chuckled, ¡°I know your boss!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Tang Xin was surprised. ¡°He¡¯s a big name, used to mentor Professor Xu Yun. You know him?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve done some deals. But honestly, I find him too arrogant,¡± Duan Yun stated bluntly.
¡°I¡¯ve heard different,¡± Tang Xin shrugged. ¡°I think he¡¯s alright.¡±
¡°If he¡¯s so great, why did he abandon Xu Yun?¡± Lin Xian chimed in, unable to hide his disdain. He was deeply aware of Xu Yun¡¯s struggles and held no fondness for his mentor.
¡°You seem to hold a grudge against this man,¡± Tang Xin observed. ¡°Were you close to Professor Xu Yun?¡±
¡°Somewhat. Xu Yun taught at Donghai University, not directly to me, but mypany did business with him. I met him a few times,¡± Lin Xian shared, his gaze fixed on his drink. ¡°He also has a daughter in aa. Sometimes, it feels like misfortune follows him.¡±
Bang!
Gao Yang mmed his fist on the table. ¡°That reminds me! It¡¯s been a while since the New Year, and they still haven¡¯t caught Xu Yun¡¯s killers!¡± Clearly inebriated, Gao Yang cursed loudly. ¡°Those scumbags! Killing an innocent scientist? They should go after the real criminals! If they catch them, it shouldn¡¯t just be a quick execution¡ªthey deserve to be tortured!¡± He looked around at his friends, seeking agreement, ¡°Right? Isn¡¯t that right?¡±
Chapter 152: The Plan
¡°I agree with you!¡± Zhou Duan Yunughed heartily, pouring more wine for Gao Yang. They clinked sses and drank up.
¡°They sure can hold their liquor,¡± Tang Xinmented with a smile, looking over at Lin Xian¡¯s wine dispenser. ¡°You¡¯ve had quite a bit too. Are you doing alright?¡±
¡°I can handle it. My tolerance is pretty high,¡± Lin Xian replied, pouring himself another ss.
¡°No wonder you¡¯re so into hibernation technology, Lin Xian. Is it because of Professor Xu Yun?¡± Tang Xin asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
¡°Not exactly,¡± Lin Xian said as he refilled his cup. ¡°I just feel bad for Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter. I hope she lives to see the day when the hibernation chamber bes avable. Here¡¯s to the sess of your project. A lot of patients are counting on it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give it my all,¡± Tang Xin promised, raising her ss to meet Lin Xian¡¯s.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected Tang Xin to drink tonight since she was the only woman there and it wasn¡¯t a business meeting. He thought she might not feel the need to drink, but she proved to be quite a drinker herself.
Zhou Duan Yun and Gao Yang, clearly tipsy, kept the drinking going. After finishing two bottles of baijiu, Zhou had the driver bring over two more, with no signs of stopping.
Having reached their limit, Lin Xian and Tang Xin left the others to their drinks and started chatting.Tang Xin talked about her orchestra¡¯s uing performance at the Donghai City Music Festival and invited Lin Xian toe. Although symphonies weren¡¯t really his thing, Tang Xin was so enthusiastic, especially about the performances by many stars, that he agreed to attend.
It wasn¡¯t until the restaurant staff informed them it was closing time that Gao Yang and Zhou Duan Yun called it a night. They had been drinking since 8 PM and continued into the early hours of the morning, clearly well-matched in their drinking stamina.
Downstairs, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s driver held the door of a Rolls-Royce Phantom open for him and Gao Yang. Since the car had four seats, Duan Yun offered Gao Yang a ride. Lin Xian nned to take a cab with Tang Xin.
¡°Lin Xian! When are you going to buy a car from me?¡± Gao Yang called out from the Rolls-Royce.
¡°When I find the time. Don¡¯t worry, I keep my promises,¡± Lin Xian waved back.
¡°Let¡¯s grab a cab,¡± Tang Xin suggested, pointing to a taxi by the curb.
Lin Xian¡¯s vision was slightly blurry from the alcohol, making everything feel a bit dyed, like the world had slowed down. The street was quiet, and once Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s Rolls-Royce drove off, there was little sound other than the restaurant staff cleaning up.
As Tang Xin reached for the taxi door¡ª
Smack!
Lin Xian grabbed her hand.
¡°Huh?¡± Tang Xin turned, surprised by Lin Xian¡¯s grip. His hand was warm, and she noticed his wristwatch showing 12:42 AM.
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Tang Xin blushed, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.
¡°How about we chat a bit more?¡± Lin Xian suggested with a smile.
¡°Sure,¡± Tang Xin replied, looking down the road. ¡°Should we find a quieter ce?¡±
¡°Here is fine.¡±
¡°Here?¡± Tang Xin looked around, puzzled. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like a great spot for a chat. I know a quiet bar nearby. Want to try there?¡±
Lin Xian checked his watch again.
12:43 AM.
¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡±
He let go of her hand and opened the taxi door for her. Then he got into the front passenger seat.
Maybe he was just being overly cautious?
Inside the cab, he looked at the driver¡ªa perfectly ordinary middle-aged man.
¡°Where to?¡± The driver flicked his cigarette away and awaited their destination.
¡°Here,¡± Tang Xin showed the driver an address on her phone.
¡
In the music bar, a singer softly yed guitar and sang a folk song. Lin Xian and Tang Xin found a quiet corner, sipping their drinks while Tang Xin shared stories about her life, work, and humorous anecdotes.
Lin Xian mostly smiled and nodded, still thinking about the quiet road and the normal taxi.
All signs indicated he had been overly paranoid about the significance of 12:42 AM.
From his point of view, either he or Tang Xin could be targets. He was always alert. But both the reunion and tonight proved to be harmless.
He realized how impractical it would be tomit a crime precisely at 12:42 AM. The timing had to align perfectly, and the target needed to be just right¡ªa fleeting 60 seconds where everything must go as nned seemed unlikely.
If either of them had been the target, a car should have sped up just as she reached for the taxi door. But nothing happened. The taxi driver was ordinary, the door opened smoothly, and even if he hadn¡¯t intervened, Tang Xin would have safely entered the taxi.
Maybe he was just too cautious.
This constant vignce was wearing him out.
After more conversation, they decided to leave.
Outside the bar, Tang Xin pointed across the street.
¡°I called a Didi. It¡¯s way better than Uber. I just learned how to use it.¡±
Tang Xin insisted on dropping Lin Xian off first.
¡°Goodbye, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°See you,¡± Lin Xian waved as the Didi car vanished into the night.
¡
The next day, Gao Yang¡¯s rumor mill was in full swing:
¡°Hey hey hey, aboutst night¡¡±
¡°Nothing happened,¡± Lin Xian cut him off, adjusting a model of the Rhine Cat in his office.
¡°Can¡¯t you think of anything clean?¡±
¡°Hey! Zhou Duan Yun and I saw everything!¡±
Gao Yang persisted, ¡°We had just left, and you two were holding hands! We saw it clearly in the rearview mirror! Don¡¯t deny it!¡±
¡°I was just making sure she crossed the street safely.¡±
¡°Yeah right! Do you think she¡¯s a toddler or an elderly woman? You were holding her hand to cross the street?¡±
¡°Enough, goodbye.¡±
Beep beep.
Lin Xian hung up.
Ring ring ring ring!
The phone immediately rang again.
Gao Yang was relentless.
Lin Xian nced at the caller ID, surprised to see a different name¡ªChu An Qing.
What did this princess want now?
He answered, hearing her sweet voice: ¡°Lin Xian, are you at your office? I¡¯m nearby and want to drop something off!¡±
¡°I¡¯m here, on the 20th floor. I¡¯ll have the receptionist meet you.¡±
¡°No need, I can find my way!¡±
A few minutester, the princess from Donghai University arrived, bringing the scent of academia with her.
¡°What brings you here?¡± Lin Xian asked, handing her a ss of water.
¡°I have a ticket for you!¡±
Chu An Qing beamed, pulling out a delicate ticket.
Lin Xian took it and saw a VIP ticket to the Donghai City Music Festival.
He had just discussed this with Tang Xin, and now Chu An Qing was handing him a ticket? What a coincidence!
¡°Are you performing?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Chu An Qing nodded excitedly. ¡°I have a ballet performance. I wanted to thank you for dancing with me at my dad¡¯s New Year¡¯s party. This festival is incredible!¡±
¡°Not just me, but several acts from Donghai University! Famous singers and orchestras too! You¡¯ll love it!¡±
Lin Xian smiled. Did the waltz at the party give her the wrong impression about him? He wasn¡¯t much into musical performances; most of his musical knowledge was from movies, and he wasn¡¯t particrly skilled at dancing.
¡°Thanks for the ticket. I¡¯ll try to make it.¡±
¡°Great! See youter, Lin Xian!¡±
She left as quickly as she arrived, waving goodbye.
Lin Xian examined the VIP ticket. Given Chu Shan He¡¯s influence, it wasn¡¯t surprising she could secure such a ticket. Her ballet performance was probably helped by connections too.
¡°But maybe not,¡± Lin Xian thought. He shouldn¡¯t judge too quickly.
Her excellent dancing at the New Year¡¯s party showed she had real talent. If given the perfect stage, she could truly shine.
¡
Later, at a fancy French restaurant, Tang Xin ced her handbag on the seat next to her, facing Zhou Duan Yun across the table.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to invite me to dinner.¡±
¡°Just ssmates catching up,¡± Zhou Duan Yun replied, signaling the waiter to begin serving the appetizers.
¡°You mentioned something about Lin Xian?¡± Tang Xin probed.
¡°Why the rush? The appetizers aren¡¯t even here yet,¡± Zhou Duan Yun teased.
¡°Don¡¯t tease me,¡± Tang Xin said, unfolding her napkin. ¡°Just tell me what you wanted to discuss.¡±
¡°Do you like Lin Xian?¡± Zhou Duan Yun asked directly, looking her in the eye. ¡°Sorry to be blunt, but it seems like you do. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°There¡¯s nothing to hide,¡± Tang Xin responded softly. ¡°I¡¯m not a teenager. Liking someone is normal at my age. It¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of.¡±
¡°I do like Lin Xian,¡± she admitted, pushing her hair back. ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to take such an interest. We haven¡¯t known each other long, only met a few times. I thought you¡¯d be busy.¡±
¡°We¡¯re old ssmates,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said, lifting his ss. ¡°I¡¯m not just gossiping. I want to help you.¡±
¡°Help me?¡± Tang Xin was taken aback. ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I think rtionships are something personal. No need for outside help.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t understand the dynamics of the Donghai business circle,¡± Zhou Duan Yun sighed. ¡°You have no idea how many women are interested in Lin Xian. You don¡¯t know yourpetition.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun shook his head, ¡°Let me be honest¡¡±
He set down his ss and looked seriously at Tang Xin.
¡°You don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±
¡
The two sat in silence for a moment.
The waiter quietly brought the first appetizer and left.
Tang Xin sniffed, crossing her arms and leaning back.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun, that¡¯s quite rude. Did you invite me just to insult me?¡±
¡°Not at all. You misunderstand,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said, sping his hands on the table. ¡°I care because we¡¯re ssmates. I¡¯m on your side.¡±
¡°Then what do you mean?¡±
¡°I want to help you,¡± Zhou Duan Yun smiled. ¡°I have a n that will guarantee you win Lin Xian¡¯s heart¡ Interested in hearing it?¡±
Chapter 153: Good and Evil
¡°Are you new to Donghai City? How do you know so much about Lin Xian?¡± Tang Xin asked, curiosity clear in her gaze as she looked at Zhou Duan Yun.
Zhou Duan Yun paused, taking a bite of his meal before answering. ¡°Well, whether you¡¯re in Donghai City or anywhere else, business gossip travels fast. I may be new around here, but I¡¯ve picked up quite a bit from what people say.¡±
¡°Lin Xian is a known figure in the Donghai business scene, but it¡¯s not really for his skills. It¡¯s mostly about thepany he keeps,¡± he exined, offering a knowing smile.
Tang Xin became attentive as she perked her ears.
Zhou Duan Yun cleaned his mouth with a napkin, then continued, ¡°Lin Xian¡¯s boss, Zhao Ying Jun, is the CEO of MX Company and the sole heir of the powerful Zhao family from the capital. Despite their different backgrounds, there¡¯s a lot of spection about their rtionship.¡±
¡°They were seen dancing together at the New Year¡¯s Eve party. Zhao Ying Jun isn¡¯t known to dance with just anyone, and yet she chose Lin Xian. It¡¯s quite telling,¡± he remarked.
¡°Given your interest in Lin Xian, I looked into it and found something interesting.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun nced up at Tang Xin. ¡°Lin Xian now serves as Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal secretary, a role she hasn¡¯t needed filled in years. Most folks at MX Company think there¡¯s more than work between them. Where there¡¯s smoke, there¡¯s usually fire. Even if they¡¯re not openly dating, it¡¯s clear thedy has a soft spot for Lin Xian.¡±
Tang Xin remained silent. She hadn¡¯t heard any of this from Lin Xian, and she hadn¡¯t asked either.¡°That¡¯s Lin Xian¡¯s private life,¡± she eventually spoke, her gaze drifting towards the neon lights outside the window.
¡°I don¡¯t think Lin Xian has romantic feelings for Zhao Ying Jun,¡± Zhou Duan Yunmented, smiling.
¡°Do you know Lin Xian well?¡± Tang Xin turned back, facing him. ¡°You two don¡¯t seem very close.¡±
¡°True,¡± Zhou Duan Yun acknowledged with a nod. ¡°But we were high school ssmates for three years, and we had a long conversation yesterday when I dropped off Gao Yang. I¡¯ve gotten a pretty good read on him.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡¯s biggest strengths are his kindness and willingness to help others. He¡¯s always been like that, even back in high school. But that¡¯s also his greatest weakness.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun paused, squinting a bit. ¡°Lin Xian is too generous. He finds it hard to refuse anyone. He often takes on more than he should because he wants to help, which sometimes puts him in tough spots.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a w,¡± Tang Xin replied, smiling.
¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Duan Yun smiled back. ¡°In high school, he was always the one others turned to for help. He helped me a lot too. I was from a poorer family, sat at the back of the ss, and was quite introverted. Not many noticed me.¡±
¡°But Lin Xian did, especially when I felt overlooked. He always made an effort to include me.¡±
Tang Xin chuckled. ¡°So, you owe him a lot then?¡±
¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± Zhou Duan Yun admitted, taking arge sip of his drink before setting the ss down. ¡°Looking back, I¡¯m grateful. But at the time¡ I wasn¡¯t too keen on people like Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Tang Xin asked, intrigued.
¡°It¡¯s hard to exin,¡± Zhou Duan Yun leaned back, arms crossed. ¡°Lin Xian was popr, athletic, a legend at our school. Everyone wanted to be him.¡±
¡°I was the opposite, hiding in the back, too shy to even make eye contact. Being ignored felt safer. School felt like a prison, and I despised it.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡¯s kindness sometimes felt like a spotlight that highlighted my insecurities. It made me feel awkward and out of ce, like I was being thrust into the limelight against my will.¡±
They fell into a thoughtful silence.
Tang Xin could rte, having been a transfer student herself once.
¡°But that¡¯s history. Now, I¡¯m truly thankful for Lin Xian,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said with a renewed smile. ¡°That¡¯s why I care about him¡ªand you. If you two ended up together, it would be my way of giving back.¡±
¡°I usually don¡¯t share these personal stories. They¡¯re awkward teenage memories, but I thought you should know.¡±
Tang Xin shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you shared all this. At the ss reunion, you seemed so sessful and confident. You never hinted at any of this.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s candidness brought them closer.
¡°I want to help you both,¡± he dered, raising his ss for the evening¡¯s first toast. ¡°So, are you ready to hear my n?¡±
Tang Xin smiled, straightening up and lifting her ss. ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡±
They clinked sses and drank.
That night, in a dream.
Lin Xian¡¯s exploration of New Donghai City was advancing. CC had expertly cracked the password to arge chain bookstore. With the right code, Lin could stay there all night without triggering any rms.
Books are treasures in any era, and though the bookstorecked the historical volumes he needed, he believed history leaves traces in all kinds of books. Even if major events were obscured, he could still piece together the general timeline from smaller details.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t a superhuman AI; poring over books for clues felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
He also tried getting closer to the city center, intrigued by the towering, illuminated skyscraper and the powers ruling New Donghai City. However, he encountered two significant obstacles¡
First, security increased nearer to the center, with many real police officers patrolling. As an ¡°outsider,¡± he stood out from the ¡°locals¡± due to differences in appearance, behavior, and attire. Even in their clothes, he still looked out of ce.
New Donghai City had evolved in istion for centuries, developing its own unique culture and norms. Bypassing mechanical dogs and robots was one thing, but real police posed a different challenge. Lin Xian¡¯s attempts to blend in kept failing.
Second, he tried stealing a flying bike to prate deeper into the city but invariably set off rms at a certain point. He suspected a localized detection system. On the ground, high walls separated different districts, barring passage.
¡°I¡¯m stuck,¡± Lin Xian muttered, scratching his head. It felt like ying a game and getting stuck on a level or lost in a maze. Progress had stalled, and there were no guides to assist. Trial and error, marked by numerous failures, seemed the only path forward, but it was slow and frustrating.
¡°I guess I¡¯ll spend more time at the bookstore,¡± he decided. The bookstore housed many books about New Donghai City, covering various aspects. Perhaps he could unearth details about the security system.
As for CC, they usually split up after passing through the checkpoint, each focusing on their tasks. Lin Xian had tried bringing CC to hack the city walls¡¯ security, but the equipment was too advanced for CC¡¯s ¡°Bluetooth headset¡± to connect, let alone breach the defenses.
That afternoon, Lin Xian was idling in MX Company¡¯s office.
Ding-dong.
A message from Tang Xin appeared on WeChat.
¡°Do you have time tonight, Lin Xian? I have something I want to give you.¡±
Chapter 154: Within the Light Cone
As they stepped out of the movie theater, Tang Xin stretched and beamed. ¡°That movie was amazing! My coworkers were right on the money with their rmendation!¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, it was even better than the first one.¡±
Tonight was Tang Xin¡¯s way of thanking Lin Xian for a favor he¡¯d done for her recently. After a lovely dinner, she had surprised him with tickets to ¡°The Wandering Earth 2.¡±
Lin Xian had been thrilled. He had wanted to see the movie during New Year¡¯s but couldn¡¯t find the time. After the holiday, he had been busy with Liu Feng in Shanxi, then back in Donghai. Now, he finally had a moment to rx.
The film was a true sci-fi spectacle, depicting a future where, by 2075, humanity had harnessed fusion engines to propel Earth through the cosmos. In stark contrast, the real future, 600 yearster in New Donghai City, seemed much less advanced with its Victorian-era cosy.
Lin Xian noticed that the technological level in New Donghai City had improved somewhat since 2023, but it was hardly what he had hoped for. He had imagined a steel city mastering controlled nuclear fusion, tapping into limitless energy. Yet, the reality was a letdown.
Local bookstores still sold books that imed controlled nuclear fusion was a distant dream. Today¡¯s use of nuclear energy was limited to nuclear batteries. While both nuclear batteries and controlled nuclear fusion tapped into nuclear power, the difference was massive¡ªlikeparing arge battery to one that never ran out of charge.
Back in 2023, nuclear batteries were already powering things like the Voyager 1 space probe,unched in 1977. Over 600 years, humanity seemed to have only polished old technologies rather than breaking new ground.
Lin Xian suspected a hidden force was stifling technological growth. Was it the Genius Club? The ones behind Xu Yun¡¯s death? Or someone else? He felt he was close to finding out.¡°If the apocalypse really hits, what will we do?¡± Tang Xin pondered aloud, looking up at the cloudy sky. ¡°Even though the helium sh in ¡®The Wandering Earth¡¯ isn¡¯t due anytime soon, no one can predict the future. How would we handle the end of the world?¡±
Lin Xian thought about the destructive white light he¡¯d learned about from 600 years in the future.
¡°Most people wouldn¡¯t even see iting,¡± he replied quietly. ¡°If we can see and prevent a disaster, maybe we can survive¡ªlike in the movie, moving Earth. But if it¡¯s something sudden and unpredictable, worrying won¡¯t help. We¡¯d never see iting, and by the time we did, it would be toote. People would just disappear in their sleep.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a scary thought,¡± Tang Xin admitted with a nervous smile. ¡°In most sci-fi, we always know about the doom beforehand, like the helium sh or alien invasions. But what if it¡¯s something we can¡¯t see or predict?¡±
¡°With what we know now, we could even predict and stop a massive asteroid,¡± Lin Xian pointed out. ¡°Only something as fast as light could hit us without warning.¡±
¡°Right,¡± he continued, ¡°If a crisis traveled at light speed, we wouldn¡¯t know until it was toote. Light speed is the ultimate speed¡ªonce we see it, it¡¯s already here. We couldn¡¯t do anything to stop it.¡±
¡°So, we¡¯d be powerless,¡± Tang Xin sighed. ¡°The more you learn about science, the more you realize how small we are. Earth is a speck in the universe, and we¡¯re just specks on Earth.¡±
¡°If we faced a light-speed apocalypse, we¡¯d have to just ept it,¡± Tang Xin reflected. ¡°Everything within the light cone is fate.¡±
Lin Xian was quiet, thinking about her words. If the cataclysmic white light from 600 years in the future was indeed traveling at light speed, there would be nothing anyone could do. Light speed was absolute.
Tang Xin¡¯s mention of ¡°everything within the light cone is fate¡± was a line from ¡°The Three-Body Problem 2: The Dark Forest.¡± It turned out she was a big sci-fi fan too. Lin Xian had thought researchers like her wouldn¡¯t care for sci-fi, but it seemed many of her colleagues enjoyed it as well.
Things within the light cone were inevitable, already set in motion. But what about those outside it? The only thing Lin Xian could think of was the universal constant: 42. This mysterious number even the Genius Club feared. He hoped to untangle the current crisis soon and discover what 42 really meant.
¡°Oh, did you say you had something for me?¡± Lin Xian asked as they walked toward the road.
¡°Oh, right! I nearly forgot with all this talk about the universe and destiny,¡± Tang Xinughed. She pulled out a beautifully printed ticket from her coat pocket and handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°Here, this is for you!¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. He recognized the size and design of the ticket¡ªit was for the Donghai City Music Concert! He had received a simr one from Chu An Qing just days ago, which was still in his drawer.
¡°I know it¡¯sst minute, but I wanted to get you a better seat,¡± Tang Xin exined, tucking her hair behind her ear and smiling shyly. ¡°I hope you can make it the night after tomorrow. Our symphony has been practicing hard, and I¡¯m the lead violinist this year¡ If you¡¯re free, pleasee and watch.¡±
Taking the ticket, Lin Xian noticed it was a special seat. Usually, performers got regr seats, but Tang Xin had managed to secure something special. Unlike Chu An Qing, the local princess with her influential dad, Chu Shan He, Tang Xin had to work hard for such perks.
Had she not mentioned it, Lin Xian might have forgotten. ¡°I¡¯ll be there,¡± he assured her with a smile. ¡°Even though I¡¯m not big on music, I wouldn¡¯t miss supporting an old ssmate.¡±
¡°Hehe, then I better y well!¡± Tang Xin¡¯s face lit up with joy. Lin Xian pocketed the ticket, now holding two special seats for the concert, including the one from Chu An Qing. He decided to bring Gao Yang to avoid any awkwardness, hoping to arrange adjacent seating.
Whether from Chu An Qing or Tang Xin, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t turn down such kindness.
The next day, Lin Xian ced both tickets in his office drawer before heading to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office with some files for their regr meeting. They had a lot of confidentialpany matters to discuss.
Entering Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, they got straight to work. Lin Xian¡¯s frequent visits had be routine, and working together, they were more effective, with Zhao Ying Jun seeming less stressed recently, a change noted by many around the office.
A person¡¯s mood really does reflect in their emotions. When work calms down, so does the stress. ¡°Lin Xian, are you into music and dance?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked unexpectedly.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was caught off guard. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I suppose.¡±
Why was Zhao Ying Jun asking about this now? Did she know about Chu An Qing giving him a concert ticket? Perhaps Chu An Qing had told her. They were known to be close, and it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Chu An Qing had invited her as well.
¡°Someone gave me two tickets to the Donghai City Music Concert, tomorrow night at the Oriental Art Center.¡± Zhao Ying Jun pulled out two familiar-looking tickets from her drawer and ced them on the desk, smiling at Lin Xian. ¡°Would you like to go with me?¡±
Chapter 155: The Battlefield
Lin Xian was at a loss for words.
What was going on?
Previously, both Chu An Qing and Tang Xin had given him tickets to the same concert, which was already a delicate situation¡
Since they were both performers, he just had to sit in the audience, so there wasn¡¯t much conflict, and he could handle it.
He figured he could bring Gao Yang along, using both tickets, which seemed reasonable enough.
¡°Since I had an extra ticket, I brought a friend.¡±
Why not?
But now, things were bing moreplicated¡
Zhao Ying Jun had also given him a ticket, and clearly, she wanted to attend the concert with him!There was no avoiding it!
Moreover, rejecting her wasn¡¯t an option because he had already agreed to go with Chu An Qing and Tang Xin. If Zhao Ying Jun saw him there, it would be incredibly awkward.
Ugh.
What a mess.
Lin Xian felt unjustly burdened.
He hadn¡¯t done anything to deserve this, so why was he caught up in such problems?
But¡
¡°Sure, I have nothing nned for tomorrow night.¡± Lin Xian took the ticket from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand.
As expected, it was a special seat, seemingly designed toplicate his life even further.
He decided to ept it for now and figure out a nter.
Zhao Ying Jun smiled with satisfaction. ¡°See you tomorrow night then.¡±
¡
¡°Hahahahahahahaha!!!¡±
In the small fried rice restaurant, Gao Yangughed uncontrobly, showing no sympathy.
¡°This is a battlefield! I want to see chaos!¡±
He mmed his hands on the table, as thrilled as a baboon might be after a victorious fight.
¡°Getting three tickets at once is just too absurd! Being popr isn¡¯t always great!¡±
Lin Xian looked at the three tickets lined up on the table, feeling the irony of the situation.
¡°So what¡¯s your n? Where are you going to sit?¡± Gao Yang asked, eagerly anticipating the drama.
¡°There are three tickets, but only one me. I can only sit in one ce.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I need your help.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Gao Yang suddenly stoppedughing, his expression turning serious as he caught on to Lin Xian¡¯s n.
¡°I get it. You want me to use two of the tickets.¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°It would be best if you could bring someone else too. Since I promised Zhao Ying Jun, I have to sit next to her.¡±
¡°And since Zhao Ying Jun and Chu An Qing know each other, I don¡¯t need to lie. I¡¯ll just be honest. If I run into Chu An Qing, I¡¯ll tell her thepany gave me a ticket, so I passed my original one to a friend¡ªyou.¡±
¡°As for Tang Xin¡¯s ticket¡ that¡¯s a bit tricky. Among the three, Tang Xin probably had the hardest time securing a special seat since she¡¯s not as well-connected. But fortunately, she doesn¡¯t know Chu An Qing or Zhao Ying Jun, so you can bring any friend or colleague to take her seat. If she asks, I¡¯ll figure out how to exin.¡±
¡
¡°Impressive.¡± Gao Yang gave a thumbs up, admiring Lin Xian¡¯s strategic thinking.
¡°You¡¯re a real schemer¡ªthoughtful, well-nned, covering all bases.¡±
¡°Schemer, really?¡± Lin Xian touched his forehead and sighed.
¡°There¡¯s no better option. Otherwise, I¡¯d find an excuse to skip tomorrow night.¡±
¡°But honestly, I don¡¯t feel guilty. I¡¯m not in a rtionship with any of them. Why should I feel like I¡¯m hiding something?¡±
¡°That just shows you¡¯re conflicted,¡± Gao Yang pointed out, turning philosophical.
¡°If those three had given me tickets, I¡¯d sit wherever I wanted, worry-free. That¡¯s true peace of mind! Since you¡¯re worried, it means you feel something.¡±
Gao Yang took on the role of a life coach.
¡°They say those involved can¡¯t see clearly, while outsiders have a better view. From my perspective¡ other than being honest with Chu An Qing, your feelings towards Zhao Ying Jun and Tang Xin aren¡¯t straightforward.¡±
¡°Maybe you don¡¯t realize it, but that¡¯s why I say outsiders have rity¡ People aren¡¯t machines. It¡¯s clear these two like you. They¡¯re both attractive. What man wouldn¡¯t feel something? You¡¯re not a monk; there¡¯s no need to reject natural feelings.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right¡¡±
Lin Xian stared at the hot and spicy chicken just served by the waiter, the steam rising.
You¡¯re right.
But in his current situation, he was too preupied to dwell on these thoughts.
He was possibly being targeted by an unknown killer or the elusive ¡°cat¡± shadowing him.
Remembering Xu Yun, who died tragically in the street, and his precious daughter, who perished with Big Cat Face in his initial dream¡
Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to repeat that tragedy, pulling others into danger with him.
That¡¯s why he hadn¡¯t told Gao Yang about recent events or his troubling dreams¡ªto keep his friends safe.
¡°Regardless, you should be clear with Tang Xin.¡±
Gao Yang picked up peanuts with his chopsticks, popping them into his mouth one by one.
¡°We¡¯re adults now. ying dumb isn¡¯t appropriate. At our age, we can handle anything. Even if you tell Tang Xin you don¡¯t have feelings for her, she won¡¯t break down¡ Knowing her, she¡¯d probably just smile and move on.¡±
¡°Actually, Lin Xian, sometimes I don¡¯t understand your hesitation. Tang Xin is fantastic in every way. It¡¯s just dating, not amitment to marriage. Why so cautious? You¡¯re old ssmates; give it a try, what¡¯s the risk?¡±
¡°Mm,¡± Lin Xian murmured in agreement.
Indeed, he needed to directly address Tang Xin¡¯s feelings just as Gao Yang suggested.
Avoiding a clear response was indeed rude.
At that moment, for the first time, Lin Xian put aside his theories about the universal constant 42, his caution around the Genius Club, his fears about the cat-and-mouse chase with the unknown killer, his curiosity about the CCVV safe and New Donghai City from his dreams¡
He focused solely on considering his feelings for Tang Xin.
Did he dislike her?
Absolutely not; there was nothing about her that he disliked.
Did he have feelings for her?
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure.
Although popr in high school and college, the thrill of his dreams had always been more appealing. Thus, he had never dated and was unclear about his romantic feelings.
¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Lin Xian looked up at Gao Yang.
¡°It¡¯s time to give Tang Xin an answer.¡±
¡
The next day, evening.
The concert was set to start at 8:30 PM.
But Lin Xian arrived early, around 7 PM. The vast venue was still mostly empty, with just a few people scattered around.
He checked the special seating area¡ and realized his worry was unnecessary.
Althoughbeled as special seats, the first 20 rows were all designated as such, providing a wide range. It took Lin Xian quite a while to locate his seat.
¡°I¡¯m being overly cautious. Chu An Qing and Tang Xin might not even know where their tickets ce me.¡±
That¡¯s why Lin Xian arrived early, knowing Tang Xin had to rehearse and do her makeup in the afternoon. He nned to meet her backstage.
Led by Tang Xin, Lin Xian smoothly made his way to the performers¡¯ backstage area.
Today, Tang Xin was dressed in a ck evening gown, her makeup refined, perfectlyplementing her role as a violinist.
¡°Our piece is the ninth one, rtively early in the program.¡±
Tang Xin greeted Lin Xian with an unwavering smile.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I saw the program. Your performance is the longest, quite prominent.¡±
¡°Hehe, I hope I do well tonight.¡±
¡°You will.¡± Lin Xian reassured her.
¡°You joined the orchestra and became the lead violinist. That speaks volumes about your talent.¡±
¡°Actually, it¡¯s strange to me.¡± Tang Xin chuckled softly.
¡°I don¡¯t know why everything has gone so smoothly, from the auditions to the rehearsals, joining the official team, and bing the lead violinist. Even I can¡¯t believe it.¡±
¡°Maybe you¡¯re just lucky.¡± Lin Xian joked.
¡°Anyway, things going well is always a good thing.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡ Could you wait for me at the theater entrance after the performance tonight?¡± Tang Xin¡¯s voice softened, a hint of shyness as she scratched her cheek.
¡°I have something to give you.¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Lin Xian agreed without hesitation. He had something to discuss with her as well.
¡°It might take a while.¡± Tang Xin smiled apologetically.
¡°After the curtain call, I need to pack up, remove my makeup, and change clothes¡ It could take some time.¡±
¡°No problem, I¡¯ll wait at the theater entrance.¡±
¡°Lin Xian senior!¡± An unexpected voice interrupted their conversation.
Lin Xian turned his head, looking past Tang Xin¡
Sure enough, it was Chu An Qing, her voice light and pleasant.
¡°Aren¡¯t you performing today?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°My solo piece was rehearsed yesterday.¡± Chu An Qing chuckled.
¡°Today¡¯s rehearsal is for group performances, and wearing the ballet costume too early would wrinkle it.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Lin Xian nodded.
Tang Xin nced between them, then back at Lin Xian, curious.
¡°Lin Xian, who is she?¡±
¡°Ah, let me introduce you.¡±
Lin Xian gestured toward Chu An Qing, then turned to Tang Xin.
¡°This is my junior at Donghai University, Chu An Qing.¡±
Then he pointed at Tang Xin, addressing Chu An Qing.
¡°And An Qing, this is Tang Xin, a violinist in the Donghai Symphony Orchestra and my¡ high school ssmate.¡±
Chapter 156: Tang Xin
¡°Hey, Tang Xin!¡± Chu An Qing grabbed Tang Xin¡¯s hand, her smile bright and warm. ¡°I had no idea you were Lin Xian¡¯s high school ssmate! What a small world!¡±
Tang Xin smiled back. ¡°So, you¡¯re the ballet dancer everyone talks about. They were right; you are as beautiful as they said!¡±
¡°Hehe, you¡¯re too kind, Tang Xin.¡±
Just then, a staff member approached and signaled to Lin Xian.
¡°Sir, it¡¯s time to start. Please take your seat.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and excused himself from the two girls. Tang Xin and Chu An Qing, now chatting eagerly, bonded over their mutual connection to Lin Xian.
Though their acquaintance with Lin Xian was brief, discussing him energized their conversation.
¡°By the way, Tang Xin, can I ask you something?¡±
¡°Sure, what is it?¡±¡°It¡¯s a bit embarrassing. I¡¯m not sure if I should ask, but I¡¯m really curious.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Tang Xin encouraged, finding herself liking the lively girl. ¡°Go ahead.¡±
Chu An Qing took a deep breath and tied her hair back, revealing her elegant neck. Striking a pose like one from a sketch, she beamed, her cute dimples on disy.
¡°Tang Xin, was there a girl in your high school ss who looked like me?¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Tang Xin was taken aback. After a pause, she studied the radiant girl in front of her. Chu An Qing was strikingly beautiful, more so than any young girl Tang Xin had encountered before.
She had a pure and refreshing presence that made her instantly likable. Tang Xin thought back to her high school ssmates, trying to recall faces from past reunions.
¡°I don¡¯t remember anyone like that.¡±
¡°Really? No one?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s face flushed, her heart rate picking up. ¡°Are you sure?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t recall,¡± Tang Xin said with a reassuring smile. ¡°If there had been someone as pretty as you, I definitely would have remembered.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s been a while, and I transferred schools just a few days after starting. So, I might not be the best person to ask. Why do you ask?¡±
¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing really! I just heard Lin Xian mention it once,¡± Chu An Qing quickly changed the subject and excused herself. ¡°I need to get ready for makeup and hair.¡±
¡°Okay, see youter.¡±
Tang Xin waved her off, smiling, without giving the conversation much more thought.
Lin Xian returned to his special seat as the audience began to filter in. Soon after, Zhao Ying Jun arrived, sitting beside him with her handbag.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re here early.¡±
¡°Yeah, I wanted to say hi to a high school friend who¡¯s performing today.¡±
¡°Which performance?¡±
¡°The symphony orchestra. She¡¯s a violinist.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nced at the program. ¡°She¡¯s performing ninth, right before An Qing¡¯s ballet?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± For a moment, Lin Xian was at a loss for words. Feeling a bit awkward, he decided to concentrate on the performances.
The concert kicked off, and each performance was impressive. Even Lin Xian, who typically wasn¡¯t keen on ssical music, felt the enchantment of the event.
Tang Xin¡¯s symphony orchestra yed various pieces, showcasing diverse styles. Although Tang Xin was the lead violinist, she blended seamlessly with the other musicians. Lin Xian didn¡¯t find anything particrly standout about her performance.
In contrast, Chu An Qing¡¯s ballet solo captivated everyone. The stage was hers alone, with only a piano apanying in the background. Without Lin Xian¡¯s presence, Chu An Qing¡¯s true talent shone brightly.
She performed with professionalism and grace, earning a roaring apuse from the audience. Lin Xian pped earnestly, recognizing that Chu An Qing¡¯s skill was authentic and not just a result of nepotism.
Somewhere in the VIP seating, Chu Shan He was likely pping just as hard. Knowing Chu An Qing was performing, he wouldn¡¯t have missed it. Yet, the expansive seating made it difficult to locate him.
The subsequent performances also kept Lin Xian absorbed. Backstage, Chu An Qing joined Tang Xin in the symphony orchestra¡¯s rest area. Their simr dispositions made it easy for them to strike up a friendship.
Chu An Qing¡¯s curiosity about Lin Xian¡¯s high school days dovetailed with Tang Xin¡¯s interest in his current life, sparking an engaging conversation.
Eventually, the concert concluded sessfully. As the performers packed up and changed, Chu An Qing and Tang Xin continued their animated chat. The audience began to exit in an orderly fashion.
Lin Xian stretched, feeling worn out from the three-and-a-half-hour concert.
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯m heading out,¡± Zhao Ying Jun called out at the theater entrance, heading towards the parking lot.
Lin Xian exined he had a small gathering with his ssmates afterwards, so he wouldn¡¯t join her.
People gradually left the theater, making their way to the parking lot and driving off. Gao Yang also bid farewell before leaving with his colleagues.
Lin Xian lingered at the theater entrance, watching the dispersing crowd, waiting for Tang Xin to finish changing.
He wondered what Tang Xin intended to give him, guessing from her straightforward nature.
After a while, Tang Xin, now wearing a coat, hurried towards him.
¡°Sorry to keep you waiting!¡±
¡°No, I didn¡¯t wait long at all.¡±
¡°Hehe, how was my performance? Was my violin ying good?¡± Tang Xin seemed thrilled with her own performance.
¡°It was great,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°So, what do you want to give me?¡±
Tang Xin nced at her watch.
¡°Oh no, it¡¯s still not here. Zhou Duan Yun is so slow!¡±
¡°Zhou Duan Yun?¡±
Lin Xian was surprised by the name. Were they nning something together?
Beep beep!
A car horn sounded across the street. It waste, and the street was mostly empty, the sound distinctly noticeable.
They looked up to see a Rolls-Royce Phantom parked by the sidewalk. Zhou Duan Yun stepped out and waved, grinning.
¡°Hehe, speaking of him, here he is,¡± Tang Xin turned to Lin Xian with a delighted expression. ¡°Wait here; I¡¯ll go get it!¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian was puzzled, not sure what they were up to or how they had grown so close. But they were all ssmates and had shared meals, so it wasn¡¯t that strange.
Tang Xin ran towards the car.
Behind him, he heard the sound of running footsteps. Lin Xian turned to see Chu An Qing, now changed, holding a red phone.
¡°Lin Xian, where¡¯s Tang Xin?¡± Chu An Qing approached breathlessly.
¡°She just went to get a call and forgot her phone,¡± Lin Xian exined, pointing to Tang Xin, who was crossing the street.
¡°Tang Xin!¡± Chu An Qing called out and chased after her.
Suddenly, Lin Xian saw a speeding taxi at the end of the road,ing fast with its lights off. He realized the imminent danger.
¡°Get back!¡± he shouted, but it was toote.
As Lin Xian yelled, Tang Xin was already in the middle of the street, turning to look back at Chu An Qing.
Boom!!!
Lin Xian used all his strength to pull Chu An Qing back onto the sidewalk. But in that next moment, Tang Xin was hit by the speeding taxi, thrown into the air.
¡°Tang Xin!!¡± Lin Xian and Chu An Qing fell onto the sidewalk, sttered with blood. Chu An Qing looked at the blood on her white dress and fainted.
Lin Xian felt as if the world had gone silent. Then¡ª
Thud.
Tang Xin¡¯s body hit the cement road, blood pooling around her.
¡°Tang Xin!!!¡± Lin Xian scrambled to his feet, rushing to her side, his heart breaking. He cradled Tang Xin¡¯s broken body.
The taxi didn¡¯t stop, vanishing around the corner.
¡°Tang Xin¡¡± Lin Xian felt her body go limp in his arms. He looked into her eyes, seeing them darken, much like Xu Yun¡¯s that New Year¡¯s Eve.
Slowly, Tang Xin¡¯s broken left hand lifted, brushing against Lin Xian¡¯s face.
¡
Her arm dropped, lifeless, leaving only bloodstained marks on Lin Xian¡¯s cheek.
Chapter 157: Birds of a Feather
Hospital
A gurney covered with a white sheet rolled through the hospital lobby, its wheels ttering softly on the tiled floor.
Gao Yang, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed up to the doctor, bombarding him with questions.
Lin Xian sat on a hospital bench, his face buried in his hands, elbows propped on his knees. He remained still, overwhelmed by his emotions, yet his thoughts were beginning to crystallize.
Ever since Tang Xin was struck by that taxi, a deep-seated rage Lin Xian thought he had extinguished long ago red up again. It was an irrational, fierce anger!
Tang Xin¡¯s death mirrored Xu Yun¡¯s exactly. She died at the same time, in the same way.
Lin Xian had always suspected that he might be the target of these killers, but he never imagined that Tang Xin was their real target all along!
However, this case differed from Xu Yun¡¯s.
Due to his close rtionship with Tang Xin and their regr interactions, Lin Xian could piece together the clues more easily.Initially, Lin Xian had noticed many odd things about Tang Xin, but at the time, he hadn¡¯t thought much of them. But now, if he connected all these strange details¡
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open, haunted by Tang Xin¡¯s words from the past:
¡°After New Year¡¯s, I¡¯m heading back to Donghai. A well-known figure in the medical field has invited me to his research institute. I hesitated for a long time¡ but finally agreed.¡±
¡°You¡¯d never guess who invited me. It¡¯s Professor Xu Yun¡¯s old mentor!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been working on Alzheimer¡¯s research for a while without much luck¡ But Professor Xu Yun pioneered new hibernation research. Suddenly, my previously unnoticed work is gaining attention.¡±
¡°A colleague, who knew I yed the violin, rmended me to the Donghai Symphony Orchestra. They just happened to need a few violinists.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know why, but everything¡¯s been falling into ce¡ªfrom the orchestra audition to the rehearsals, and now I¡¯m the lead violinist. It all seems too good to be true.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡ can you meet me at the theater entrance after tonight¡¯s concert?¡±
¡°Oh, why hasn¡¯t it arrived yet? Zhou Duan Yun is so slow! Lin Xian, wait here while I fetch it!¡±
¡
Everything seemed perfectly normal. Just a graduatending a job. She benefited from Xu Yun¡¯s research, which made her once-ignored thesis now crucial for addressing the side effects of hibernation.
She just happened to move to Donghai, met Zhou Duan Yun at a reunion, and they nned a surprise gift together.
Was all this mere coincidence?
Absolutely not!
¡°This was a meticulously nned murder from the start!¡±
Lin Xian clenched his fists.
These killers had the ability to precisely control the time of death to 00:42¡
Their nning was secretive, long-term, and intricate.
They never acted on impulse, but meticulously ensured they could execute a murder exactly at 00:42, nning months ahead to leave nothing to chance.
Tracing back from this event, the n likely began when Xu Yun¡¯s former mentor invited her to Donghai for research.
The well-meaning colleague who introduced her to the Donghai Symphony Orchestra was part of the n to lure her to the designated ce of her death.
The smooth interview and her role as lead violinist ensured she would be at the concert.
And Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s call to Tang Xin guaranteed she would be at the theater entrance right on time. His Rolls-Royce Phantom parked across the street pinned down Tang Xin¡¯s timing on the road at 00:42.
Everything was seamlessly coordinated, intricately linked!
No wonder they managed to control the exact time of death at 00:42. The killers¡¯ nning was disturbingly precise!
Reflecting on New Year¡¯s Eve, when Xu Yun died tragically on the street.
Was there an inside job then as well?
Why did Xu Yun leave at that exact time? Did someone call him or set up a meeting?
Linking it with Tang Xin¡¯s incident, one person connected both events¡ª
Xu Yun¡¯s former mentor!
Or¡
¡°Zhou Duan Yun.¡±
Lin Xian whispered the name he couldn¡¯t believe.
Although it¡¯s hard to prove Xu Yun¡¯s death was linked to Zhou Duan Yun¡ but at least for Tang Xin¡¯s death, Zhou Duan Yun is clearly implicated.
Others, even the police, couldn¡¯t see it.
But Lin Xian was certain.
If Tang Xin¡¯s death was indeed a meticulously crafted n, then Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s timing was crucial! Only he could have precisely determined Tang Xin¡¯s moment of death!
¡°Gao Yang¡¡±
Lin Xian looked up as the stout figure approached with a heavy sigh.
¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Duan Yun?¡±
Donghai Suburbs
Lakeside Vi
The mahogany door burst open!
Click.
The light switch flipped, pulling the pale-skinned boy from his pile of books, shifting from moonlight to the chandelier¡¯s bright glow.
Hmph¡
The man at the doorway snorted coldly: ¡°Tang Xin is dead.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Ji Lin responded quietly from among the books.
¡°When will you kill Lin Xian?¡±
¡°When we find proof he tampered with history,¡± Ji Lin didn¡¯t look up.
¡°Why is it so hard with Lin Xian?¡±
The man at the door frowned.
¡°Why could we kill Tang Xin so easily, but need to gather evidence for Lin Xian?¡±
¡°Zhou Duan Yun, if you have a problem, talk to Pride,¡± Ji Lin looked up, his gaze sharp:
¡°Actually, if you¡¯re dissatisfied, you don¡¯t need toe to Donghai or be part of this n.¡±
¡°Ha!¡± Zhou Duan Yun scoffed. ¡°Could you have killed Tang Xin at 00:42 without me?¡±
¡°Why not? It just takes more effort,¡± Ji Lin replied coolly. ¡°Your main role wasn¡¯t just to call Tang Xin at 00:42¡ I have subtler ways to ensure she stands on the road at 00:42 without exposing you.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s expression darkened, his re intensifying.
¡°I intentionally made Lin Xian suspect you,¡± Ji Lin stood, his hands in his pockets, walking over to a table with a ss of water. ¡°Your biggest role¡ is to be Lin Xian¡¯s target.¡±
¡°You used me as bait?¡± Zhou Duan Yun cursed.
¡°You act so well, isn¡¯t it a waste not to be the bait?¡± Ji Lin picked up the ss, smiling at Zhou Duan Yun. ¡°I must admit, even though I don¡¯t like you much, you¡¯re the most deceitful person I¡¯ve ever met. Have you seen the movie ¡®Catch Me If You Can¡¯ with Leonardo? You can deceive better than the protagonist¡ There¡¯s nothing genuine about you. I guess Pride spared you because of this.¡±
¡°You think you¡¯re all that, huh?¡± Zhou Duan Yun sneered, his veins throbbing, feeling deeply insulted. ¡°Why bother gathering evidence to kill Lin Xian? If it weren¡¯t for him aiding Xu Yun, why would Xu Yun¡¯s research be in his hands? It¡¯s so obvious! Why do we need evidence? Just kill him! Cowards!¡±
¡°Then go ahead, no one¡¯s stopping you,¡± Ji Lin spread his hands. ¡°See if Pride lets you off again.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes at Ji Lin: ¡°Now I understand¡ why I disliked you from the start.¡±
¡°Is it because I pitied you and didn¡¯t let Gluttony shoot you?¡±
¡°It¡¯s because your attitude is just like Lin Xian¡¯s!¡± Zhou Duan Yun red at Ji Lin, ¡°Disgusting.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Ji Lin shook his head, a small smile ying on his lips, ¡°Even though I only met Lin Xian once, I think he¡¯s a decent guy, aside from our conflicting interests.¡±
¡°Ha, you two could definitely be friends.¡± Zhou Duan Yun stormed out, mming the door behind him, ¡°Birds of a feather.¡±
Chapter 158: Declaration of War
¡°Zhou Duan Yun chased that taxi,¡± Gao Yang sighed. ¡°You were so caught up with Tang Xin back then, you probably missed it. The moment the taxi left, Duan Yun jumped into another car and instructed the driver to follow.¡±
¡°I reached out to him earlier. He said he couldn¡¯t catch up, and the taxi got away, but he recorded a lot on his dashcam. He ns to take the footage to the police. That should help them track the taxi down.¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet. He was almost sure Zhou Duan Yun had a hand in the attack on Tang Xin. But they were smart about it. Duan Yun had neither a clear motive nor direct actions linking him to Tang Xin¡¯s murder, so even a police investigation would likelye up empty.
Sharing his suspicions with the police would only be seen as conjecture without solid proof.
If Zhou Duan Yun and Xu Yun¡¯s mentor were behind the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, then they were also toying with him. Like Xu Yun and Tang Xin before him, he was on their hit list, just a matter of time.
What baffled Lin Xian was his own involvement. Xu Yun and Tang Xin were renowned scientists specializing in hibernation; he wasn¡¯t a scientist and had little inmon with them. Was his knowledge of the future, used to assist Xu Yun, the reason he was targeted too?
He recalled Tang Xin¡¯s cheerful smile, her timid nces, her boldness, and her admiration for him.
¡°I absolutely cannot let them get away with this!¡±
The next day, at Chu An Qing¡¯s hospital room.Lin Xian pushed the door open.
Sitting up in bed, Chu An Qing brightened. ¡°Senior Lin Xian, you¡¯re here. I was just about to call you.¡±
Lin Xian set the get-well gifts on the bedside table. ¡°No worries. Just focus on getting better. How are you feeling?¡±
Chu An Qing scratched her head, a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m actually fine. I just faint at the sight of blood. My dad¡¯s making a fuss, insisting on all these tests. But really, I¡¯m okay.¡±
Her expression then shifted as she looked at Lin Xian. ¡°What about Tang Xin?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°She didn¡¯t survive. She died in the ident.¡±
Chu An Qing sighed. ¡°My dad mentioned the police are on it. They have the escape route and car footage. They¡¯ve found some leads.¡±
Lin Xian remembered Gao Yang¡¯s words about Zhou Duan Yun providing the footage. He had expected the car involved to vanish like the one used in Xu Yun¡¯s murder. But ording to An Qing, the police had significant leads this time.
¡°That¡¯s unexpected,¡± Lin Xianmented. ¡°What else did your dad say? Can the police catch the killer?¡±
¡°My dad said they¡¯ve been struggling with Xu Yun¡¯s case, so there¡¯s extra pressure. They¡¯re trying everything¡¡± Chu An Qing stood up. ¡°Especially since Tang Xin¡¯s case might link back to Professor Xu Yun. They¡¯re desperate. They even brought in a top external investigator.¡±
¡°An external investigator?¡±
¡°Yes, my dad didn¡¯t share much, just that it¡¯s confidential for now. The police are keeping it under wraps.¡±
¡°But he did say the investigator is sharp and quickly mapped out a solid n to catch the killer. They might nab them soon!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian scratched his head, feeling like he was in a detective novel. Buting from Chu Shan He, it had to be true. His influence in Donghai City meant he had ess to insider information.
And with his daughter nearly caught in the crossfire, he¡¯d be determined to see the case thoroughly investigated.
¡°By the way, Senior Lin Xian, my dad is really thankful to you!¡± Chu An Qing smiled. ¡°He wants to thank you in person once I¡¯m out of here.¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°I just did what anyone would. It wasn¡¯t a big deal. Actually, I wanted to ask about when Tang Xin left the dressing room.¡±
He paused, then continued, ¡°Could you tell me everything from when you left the stage until Tang Xin departed?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Chu An Qing nodded. ¡°After our performance, we chatted, took off our makeup, and got changed. Then, someone called Tang Xin. She hurriedly grabbed her stuff and left.¡±
¡°Do you know who called her or what was discussed?¡±
Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t. After she left, I noticed she forgot her phone. I grabbed it and ran after her. You know the rest. I almost caught up to give it to her when you pulled me back.¡±
¡°Did the police take the phone?¡±
¡°I think so¡ I was out cold at the hospital and don¡¯t know what happened during that time.¡±
Lin Xian had hoped to check the phone¡¯s call logs or messages. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust the police, but he had his own ns.
He suspected Zhou Duan Yun had made that call, urging her to the theater entrance.
¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Lin Xian stood, ready to leave. ¡°Rest up. I¡¯ll let you be.¡±
¡°Senior Lin Xian¡¡± Chu An Qing caught his sleeve, looking up at him. ¡°Thank you for saving me. If it hadn¡¯t been for you¡¡±
She thought of Tang Xin¡¯s tragic fate and lost her words. She knew Tang Xin was Lin Xian¡¯s high school friend, and his grief must be deep. She had survived, but Tang Xin had not.
If she hadn¡¯t been there, would Lin Xian have saved Tang Xin in time?
Feeling guilty, she paused.
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian reassured her, seeing her troubled look. ¡°Everything wille to light soon.¡±
Two dayster, Tang Xin¡¯s parents came from Hang City. They organized her funeral and collected her ashes from Donghai City¡¯s crematorium.
Her parents, still young and once vibrant, were now heartbroken, initially weeping uncontrobly, then numbed by their loss.
Tang Xin¡¯s younger brother, still in college and three years her junior, took care of the formalities. With his sister gone, he had to stay strong.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang spoke with Tang Xin¡¯s family, though the conversation felt hollow. The dead couldn¡¯t return.
A few dayster, Tang Xin¡¯s ashes were interred. The sound of the funeral receded across the fields, and bits of burnt paper money fluttered away in the spring breeze.
In just days, the lively girl had be a mound of earth, soon to be forgotten.
Decades might pass, and many ssmates might forget Tang Xin.
She hade and gone in a sh.
Alone in the field, Lin Xian walked towards a small, barely half-meter-high mound, one of the few marked graves in the area.
With policies to preserve farnd, more graves would eventually merge back into the earth.
Standing in the muddy field under a blood-red sunset, Lin Xian gazed at the grave.
After a long moment, he bowed his head and spoke softly, ¡°Tang Xin¡ your research could have changed the world for the better.¡±
¡°But there are those who oppose change. They see science and uncertainty as threats.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know their motives,¡± Lin Xian stared at the setting sun. ¡°But no matter their reasons, they aren¡¯t justified.¡±
Heid a bouquet on the grave and stood up.
¡°Wait for me,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll expose them, and then I¡¯lle back to visit.¡±
He turned, leaving the crimson sky behind.
The spring wind caught the edge of Lin Xian¡¯s jacket, rustling the young crops, swaying the green willows by the field, and stirring the lilies on the grave as if in agreement.
Chapter 159: The Gift
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡±
The day after returning from Hangzhou to Donghai, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom rolled up in front of MX Company. He walked into Lin Xian¡¯s office and settled onto the sofa, his gaze locked on Lin Xian.
¡°I know you¡¯re hurting, but¡ these things happen. I¡¯m really shaken up by Tang Xin¡¯s passing too.¡±
Duan Yun sighed heavily, his hands sped together.
¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you earlier because I thought it might upset you more¡ but Tang Xin had a present for you that night. I helped her choose it and left it in my car. That¡¯s why she was outside when the ident urred.¡±
Taking a deep breath, Duan Yun continued, ¡°Honestly, if anyone is to me, it¡¯s me.¡±
Lin Xian sat silently at his desk, resting his cheek on his left hand while absentmindedly spinning a pen with his right. He remained quiet.
Meanwhile, Gao Yang and Tang Xin¡¯s brother were at the Donghai Public Security Bureau, delving deeper into her death.
To them, Tang Xin¡¯s death suggested a broader conspiracy, as if several plots were converging on her. Yet, in the grand scheme, Tang Xin was just one of many victims.In this city alone, about 500 car idents ur daily, resulting in four deaths and 30 injuries. That¡¯s just one city. Globally, around 3,200 people die from car idents each day.
Tang Xin was merely one of them.
Her death seemed minorpared to the enigmatic demise of Professor Xu Yun. Without the parallels to Xu Yun¡¯s case, Tang Xin¡¯s death might have gone unnoticed in Donghai.
No one ponders about the other 3,199 people who die in car idents each day, their whereabouts, or their moments.
Gao Yang and Tang Xin¡¯s brother found out from the police that the suspect vehicle was still atrge, and there was insufficient evidence to proceed. They were advised to wait for the final police report.
Lin Xian and Zhou Duan Yun had also been interviewed by the police, and they had been forthright.
It seemed to be a straightforward case of a girl getting hit by a car while retrieving a gift, resulting in a tragic ident¡
But that was only because of the prior unresolved case of Professor Xu Yun.
Without Xu Yun¡¯s mystery, Tang Xin¡¯s case might have easily been dismissed.
But could there be a link between Tang Xin¡¯s and Xu Yun¡¯s cases?
The police were unsure because, again, there was no concrete evidence.
Investigations depend on evidence. Without it, it¡¯s impossible to determine the nature of a case unless someone confesses, making their confession the evidence.
Xu Yun was struck by a ck Audi at 00:42:02. A taxi fled the scene.
Tang Xin was hit by a taxi at 00:42:41, with no other vehicles fleeing.
One might suggest there¡¯s a pattern, a simr operation.
But that¡¯s spective, and the police aren¡¯t convinced by conjecture alone.
So, it boils down to evidence.
These days, Lin Xian often stands at the curb at 00:42, testing his safety.
But nothing out of the ordinary happens. No surprises.
If Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t alerted him that the ¡°cat and mouse game¡± had begun, he wouldn¡¯t have suspected he was a target.
He¡¯s not a scientist; he doesn¡¯t study hibernation, so why would he be a target?
Yet, Lin Xian trusts Yellow Finch¡¯s warning. Clearly, he¡¯s being observed by these assassins, but they aren¡¯t ready to strike just yet. Perhaps for the same reasonck of evidence.
Lin Xian stopped spinning the pen and faced Zhou Duan Yun.
Maybe his theory was right¡ªthey can¡¯t find evidence linking him to Xu Yun and Tang Xin¡¯s deaths, and they can¡¯t prove his involvement with Xu Yun!
In this tug-of-war¡ the first to gather evidence and expose the other will lose this lethal game!
That was the crux of the cat and mouse game Yellow Finch referred to.
Lin initially thought it was merely about dodging.
But now he realizes it¡¯s moreplex!
The roles of predator and prey are not fixed. It¡¯s a race against time and each other. Although he¡¯s currently on the defensive¡
Lin Xian nced at the line of Rhine Cats on his desk.
If the mouse is clever enough, it might just reverse the roles and chase the cat!
Seeing Lin Xian deep in thought, Duan Yun stood up, adjusting his suit.
¡°Lin Xian, Tang Xin¡¯s gift is still in my car. Do you want it? If so, I¡¯ll have my driver bring it up¡¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Get rid of it.¡±
At this moment, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t trust Zhou Duan Yun. Who knew if the so-called gift was genuine?
And even if it was real, what significance would it hold now?
Tang Xin was dead, likely murdered, and Lin Xian suspected his former ssmate might be involved.
What good is a gift stained with blood?
¡°Huh?¡± Duan Yun looked puzzled. ¡°Are you sure?¡±
¡°I watched Tang Xin die. How could I ept herst gift?¡± Lin Xian leaned back, chuckling softly as he scrutinized Duan Yun.
¡°One day, when I visit Tang Xin¡¯s grave, I¡¯ll bring her a true gift.¡±
¡°You might not know, Lin Xian,¡± Duan Yun shook his head, a wry smile on his face, ¡°but Hangzhou now promotes civilized funerals. You can¡¯t burn paper money anymore.¡±
¡°Really,¡± Lin Xian responded tly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll burn something else.¡±
Duan Yun was left speechless.
Was the point really about what was burned?
The point was the act of burning something!
After a while, Duan Yun left.
Lin Xian watched him leave the parking lot through the blinds.
This guy¡
What was he truly after?
Everyone, including Lin Xian himself, used to think of him as sessful. But sessful in what?
Reviewing their shared past, he realized he knew very little about Duan Yun.
Whether it was his reserved, withdrawn days in high school or his current sess, Lin Xian knew almost nothing concrete about him.
He didn¡¯t believe in inherent evil.
If Zhou Duan Yun had truly gone from a poor kid to a potential murderer, something must have triggered that change, and that trigger could be the key to everything!
Ding-dong.
A few minutes after Zhou¡¯s departure, Lin Xian¡¯s phone buzzed with a message from WeChat.
It was from Chu An Qing¡ª
¡°Senior Lin Xian, are you free for lunch tomorrow? My dad wants to invite you over. He said he wants to share a drink with you. My mom¡¯s preparing a feast!¡±
Chu Shan He inviting him over?
That was unexpected.
In a world where dining out ismon, home invitations usually mean one of two things:
Either it¡¯s too costly to eat out, or the rtionship is particrly close and personal.
Clearly, Chu Shan He wasn¡¯t trying to save money.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Xian replied:
¡°Sure, I¡¯m free tomorrow.¡±
Chu Shan He¡¯s influence in Donghai City was unmatched.
He even knew about the secret agents the local police hired.
Since Chu Shan He felt indebted and wanted to thank him, Lin Xian saw no reason to decline. epting might provide valuable insightster on.
Perhaps, at some point, Chu Shan He could offer Lin Xian exceptional help in navigating Donghai¡¯splexities.
Chapter 160: An Outsider
The Next Day at Noon
A business car pulled up to Lin Xian¡¯s neighborhood, sent by Chu Shan He. As the car arrived at Chu Shan He¡¯s impressive estate, Lin Xian stepped out, greeted warmly by Chu Shan He, his wife, and their daughter.
¡°Wee, wee! Lin Xian, my wife has been looking forward to meeting you,¡± Chu Shan He said warmly.
¡°Hello, Auntie,¡± Lin Xian replied, smiling at the elegant woman. He had met Su Xiu Ying, Chu Shan He¡¯s wife, at the New Year¡¯s banquet hosted by the Donghai Chamber of Commerce.
Su Xiu Ying, dressed in an apron and clearly busy with cooking, stood next to her husband and daughter, radiating a warm and inviting aura.
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve been eager to meet you,¡± Su Xiu Ying said with a bright smile, inviting him inside. ¡°An Qing always talks about you. It¡¯s great to finally meet you in person. You truly live up to your reputation.¡±
Chu Shan He gave Lin Xian a quick tour of the home, showcasing his collection before leading him to the tea room. ¡°Lunch will be ready soon, but first, let¡¯s enjoy some tea and talk,¡± he suggested.
Once the tea room door was closed, Chu Shan He skillfully handled various tea tools to brew a pot, exining the tea¡¯s origin and his insights on tea culture.
After some light conversation, Chu Shan He put down his cup and turned to Lin Xian seriously. ¡°Lin Xian, there¡¯s something I need to discuss with you. I hope you won¡¯t refuse.¡±¡°What is it, Mr. Chu?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Chu Shan He ced a bank card with a note beside Lin Xian¡¯s teacup. ¡°This is a small token from me and Auntie Xiu Ying. It¡¯s not much, but please let us know if you ever need anything. We¡¯ll do whatever we can to assist you.¡±
His implication was clear: ept the money, but remember the favor. Feel free to ask for help anytime. Lin Xian understood but slid the card back. ¡°Mr. Chu, I appreciate your kindness, but I can¡¯t ept this money.¡±
Lin Xian faced Chu Shan He. ¡°An Qing and I are just ssmates and friends. It was natural for me to help her. I don¡¯t think such help between friends should bepensated. Also, An Qing might not have mentioned, but the girl who passed away was a close friend from my high school. I even attended her funeral in Hangzhou.¡±
Chu Shan He nodded, understanding the situation¡¯s gravity.
¡°So, I thank you for the offer, but I really can¡¯t ept it,¡± Lin Xian said earnestly.
Chu Shan He poured more tea for Lin Xian, then smiled with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re as noble and talented as An Qing described. It¡¯s rare to find young people like you these days.¡±
¡°I respect your feelings, but you saved my daughter¡¯s life. I can¡¯t overlook that. It would be rude not to acknowledge it. But since you insist, I won¡¯t press the issue. I¡¯ll find another way to thank you. And remember, if you ever need help in Donghai, I¡¯m here.¡±
Chu Shan He took another sip of his tea, then continued. ¡°The girl who died, Tang Xin, was often mentioned by An Qing. It¡¯s tragic, especially because she was so young and a researcher. I¡¯ve been closely following the investigation.¡±
¡°To be honest, the Donghai police haven¡¯t linked Tang Xin¡¯s case with Xu Yun¡¯s publicly, but they have internally. They¡¯ve even formed a special team.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, realizing Chu Shan He could be a valuable source of information. This wasn¡¯t shared publicly, even when Gao Yang and Tang Xin¡¯s brother had asked.
Chu Shan He appeared reluctant but then said, ¡°There¡¯s more I should share. Since you¡¯re my daughter¡¯s hero and Tang Xin¡¯s friend, it¡¯s appropriate.¡±
Lin Xian leaned in, attentive. ¡°What is it, Mr. Chu? I promise to keep it confidential.¡±
Chu Shan He looked conflicted but continued after pouring more tea. ¡°The investigation concluded. They¡¯ve identified the killer.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°If it¡¯s solved, why hasn¡¯t it been announced?¡±
¡°Because the details behind the case are quite sensitive,¡± Chu Shan He exined, looking at Lin Xian seriously. ¡°I hesitated to tell you because I didn¡¯t want to tarnish your view of Tang Xin.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Xian was confused. Tang Xin was the victim; how could her image be tainted?
¡°Initially, the police thought the same person was behind both Tang Xin and Xu Yun¡¯s murders. However, after further investigation, they found the cases seemed simr but weren¡¯t connected.¡±
¡°A dashcam from a Rolls-Royce captured crucial footage. Although the hit-and-run car wasn¡¯t found, they identified a suspect. When they unlocked Tang Xin¡¯s phone, her chat logs revealed a lot.¡±
Chu Shan He paused. ¡°Tang Xin¡¯s death was a crime of passion.¡±
¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Lin Xian objected, finding it unbelievable.
¡°I know it¡¯s hard to ept,¡± Chu Shan He said, ¡°but the evidence suggests Tang Xin¡¯s personal life wasplex. I haven¡¯t told An Qing because, to her and you, Tang Xin was an exemry woman. This conclusion is difficult to ept.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t just difficult¡ªit¡¯s unbelievable,¡± Lin Xian said, his world turning upside down. ¡°Tang Xin wasn¡¯t promiscuous. How could the police draw such baseless conclusions?¡±
Lin Xian knew Tang Xin well enough to refute such ims. He wondered if Chu Shan He thought he was just another one of her admirers.
¡°Mr. Chu, I can¡¯t ept these findings. I knew Tang Xin well. Besides, chat logs alone can¡¯t be definitive. Could they have been tampered with? Is there no chance someone is trying to defame her?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s suspicion deepened. If Tang Xin¡¯s death marked the end of her story, why would anyone attempt to damage her reputation now?
As for the dashcam and chat logs provided by Zhou Duan Yun, Lin Xian doubted their authenticity. For someone who had meticulously nned a murder, fabricating evidence would be straightforward.
¡°You¡¯re correct, Lin Xian. That¡¯s why the police haven¡¯t released the findings,¡± Chu Shan He nodded. ¡°But I believe the truth will eventuallye to light. An Qing probably told you, she¡¯s terrible at keeping secrets. The Donghai police have brought in an outsider to help with the investigation.¡±
¡°This person is incredibly skilled. Since joining, he¡¯s solved many unresolved cases and gained everyone¡¯s trust. He¡¯s leading the Xu Yun and Tang Xin investigations and is extremely capable.¡±
¡°Can you tell me who this outsider is?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°I¡¯ve said so much already, so I might as well tell you. You might know him by name,¡± Chu Shan He said with a grin. ¡°He¡¯s a young, bestselling author, renowned as a genius detective¡ªJi Lin.¡±
Chapter 161: Family
¡°Ji Lin?¡± Lin Xian echoed, surprised to hear the name.
¡°Are we diving into a ¡®Detective Conan¡¯ plot now? How can a detective, who rarely leaves home, really help the police solve crimes?¡± It seemed like a desperate move.
But¡
Listening to Chu Shan He, it became clear that Ji Lin was highly respected by the Donghai Police Department for solving numerousplex cases, showcasing his significant crime-solving skills.
¡°The Donghai police trust Ji Lin for a reason,¡± Chu Shan He noted, seeing Lin Xian¡¯s skepticism. ¡°Ji Lin has been assisting our domestic police for some time. Previously, he was active internationally, aiding our police in several cross-border cases. The Donghai police sought his help again, and the results have been positive.¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet, absorbing the information. He trusted Ji Lin¡¯s capabilities¡ªthe Donghai police¡¯s confidence in him was proof enough. However, Lin Xian was certain that Tang Xin wasn¡¯t capable of deception.
Though his judgment was subjective¡
Given the mysterious and unlikely circumstances surrounding Tang Xin¡¯s death, the cause was hard for Lin Xian to believe. The main concern was Chu Shan He mentioning the police had solid evidence and identified a suspect. Where had this evidencee from?
Had Lin Xian misread Tang Xin, or was the evidence crafted so perfectly that it deceived both the Donghai police and Ji Lin?¡°Sometimes, we¡¯re fooled by illusions,¡± Chu Shan He sighed, continuing, ¡°Even with my experience in business, I¡¯ve often misjudged people. It¡¯s inevitable. Our emotions can cloud our judgments.¡±
¡°I know it¡¯s tough to ept what happened to Tang Xin, but the police rely on hard evidence. I haven¡¯t seen the details myself, but I¡¯m confident that when everything is revealed, the truth will be clear.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s tragic about your ssmate, but you shouldn¡¯t feel guilty, as if it¡¯s your fault. Life is full of such disappointments. As you grow older, you¡¯ll face more of these situations. It¡¯s important to move on and not dwell too much on the past.¡±
Chu Shan He gestured for Lin Xian to take out his phone. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange numbers. You saved my daughter, and I owe you one. If you ever need anything, just call me. In Donghai, there¡¯s little I can¡¯t handle. I¡¯ll do my best to help you.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and exchanged contacts with Chu Shan He, realizing the value of this connection.
In this intricate game, Lin Xian felt outmatched, challenging him at every turn. His resources were limited; hecked superpowers or significant influence. Winning this game would require outside help.
And in Donghai, his most reliable and powerful ally was Chu Shan He¡ªa businessman by day and a powerful figure by night. When needed, Chu Shan He would be his trump card.
At first, Lin Xian suspected him of being involved with the Genius Club. But after Xu Yun¡¯s death and discovering Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s fake invitation, both Zhao Ying Jun and Chu Shan He, who had supported Xu Yun for a decade, proved to be trustworthy.
After more conversation, Su Xiu Ying and Chu An Qing brought out the food, joining them with smiles. Chu Shan He opened a fine bottle of wine, ready to share a few drinks with Lin Xian. Su Xiu Ying, grateful for Lin Xian¡¯s help, was very hospitable.
¡°Lin Xian, try these ribs.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, this fish is my specialty. Have some more.¡±
Su Xiu Ying was an excellent cook; every dish was a treat. The steamed fish, in particr, was the best Lin Xian had ever tasted.
¡°It¡¯s really good,¡± Lin Xianplimented sincerely after tasting the fish.
¡°See, I told you fish is my specialty!¡± Su Xiu Ying beamed, pushing the fish te closer to Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯ve always been good at cooking fish, but my family doesn¡¯t like it much. Please, have more!¡±
Lin Xian smiled, appreciating her cooking skills.
¡°Lin Xian, I made this dish! How does it taste?¡± Chu An Qing asked, pointing to a slightly burnt te of c chicken wings. ¡°I might have added too much soy sauce.¡±
¡°It¡¯s good,¡± Lin Xian reassured her after a bite. C chicken wings were hard to ruin, especially under Su Xiu Ying¡¯s watchful eye, so they tasted fine.
Chu Shan He, sharing drinks with Lin Xian, discussed everyday things, creating a warm, family-like atmosphere. Though an outsider, Lin Xian enjoyed this family vibe.
A loving home breeds sess, as seen in Chu Shan He¡¯s life. This exined why Chu An Qing was so cheerful and likable; only a nurturing family could raise such a person. Lin Xian¡¯s respect for Chu Shan He grew as he witnessed his deep family values, despite his hectic schedule.
In Donghai, Chu Shan He held significant power, but at home, he was humble and engaging. He joked with Su Xiu Ying and let Chu An Qing tease him, yfullymenting his low standing in the family while clinking sses with Lin Xian.
This warm atmosphere reminded Lin Xian of Big Cat Face¡¯s home, bringing himfort.
¡°Lin Xian, are you from Hang City?¡± Su Xiu Ying inquired, passing him a bowl of rice.
¡°Yes, Auntie, but not directly from the city, from a nearby county.¡±
¡°Hang City¡¯s beautiful,¡± Su Xiu Ying remarked. ¡°I haven¡¯t visited in years. Are your parents still there?¡±
¡°Yes, they used to work in state enterprises but retired after restructuring. Now they run a small business,¡± Lin Xian shared.
¡°Are you an only child? Any siblings?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m the only one.¡±
¡°Mom!¡± Chu An Qing, who had been restraining herself, finally spoke up, frowning at Su Xiu Ying. ¡°Why are you asking him so many personal questions?¡±
¡°What¡¯s the harm in chatting? It¡¯s not that personal,¡± Su Xiu Ying retorted, giving Chu An Qing a look to quiet down. She turned back to Lin Xian, smiling. ¡°Are you seeing anyone, Lin Xian? Do you have a girlfriend?¡±
Chu An Qing choked on her rice at this question!
Chapter 162: Su Su
¡°No, Auntie,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°I just graduated six months ago and recently started working. I really don¡¯t have time for a rtionship right now.¡±
Cough, cough¡ cough!
Chu An Qing quickly took a sip of water, trying to stop the rice that had gone down the wrong way. She elbowed her mother gently. ¡°Mom, stop asking! Senior Lin Xian might get embarrassed!¡±
¡°Hehe, men should focus on their careers, but family is equally important,¡± Chu Shan He said, raising his ss to clink with Lin Xian¡¯s. ¡°However, you can¡¯t rush these things. Starting a family is a major step, and it¡¯s all about destiny.¡±
Chu Shan He then smoothly switched the topic, and the meal continued joyfully. During this time, Lin Xian observed another facet of Chu Shan He¡ªa caring father and husband. This deepened his respect and admiration for him. He came across as warm and responsible, and it was clear why he was so respected.
After they finished eating, Lin Xian excused himself, saying he had work to do in the afternoon and left. Chu Shan He had his driver take Lin Xian home, and the trio waved him off at the vi¡¯s entrance.
¡°Lin Xian, call me if you need anything,¡± Chu Shan He offered.
¡°Do visit us often! I have many more recipes to share with you,¡± Su Xiu Ying chimed in.
¡°Drive safely, Senior Lin Xian!¡± Chu An Qing called out.Lin Xian waved back as the car pulled away from the estate. Watching the car disappear around the corner, Chu Shan He nodded in approval.
¡°He¡¯s a good kid¡ªethical, kind, well-mannered, and polite. No wonder Zhao Ying Jun thinks so highly of him. He truly is a rare talent.¡±
¡°Right?¡± Chu An Qing grinned, feeling proud. ¡°I told you, Senior Lin Xian is impressive! Many seniors and teachers at our school look up to him. He¡¯s a celebrity at Donghai University! He used to host all the events there. Even the current hosts were trained by him!¡±
¡°Yes¡¡± Chu Shan He agreed, nodding. ¡°He certainly has the poise and charisma of a great host. Talent really does stand out, no matter where you are.¡±
¡°I like him too,¡± Su Xiu Ying added, then turned to Chu Shan He. ¡°Remember what I mentioned earlier. If there¡¯s a chance, try to set them up.¡±
¡°What?¡± Chu An Qing nearly leaped up, flustered. ¡°Set up who? I¡¯m still¡ª¡±
¡°Your aunt,¡± Chu Shan He rified calmly. ¡°She¡¯s not getting any younger, and she¡¯s always causing trouble, making us worry. She¡¯s fantastic in many ways but a bit too reckless. A stable man might calm her down.¡±
¡°Huh? My aunt?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not seriously considering setting up Senior Lin Xian with my aunt, are you?¡±
¡°What¡¯s gotten into you today?¡± Su Xiu Ying gave Chu An Qing a puzzled look. ¡°Such udylike behavior! I asked Lin Xian about his situation because he¡¯d be a good match for your aunt. They¡¯re close in age, just a few months apart. Normally, no guy can handle your aunt¡¯s strong personality, but I think Lin Xian could. He¡¯s dependable andpassionate.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not saying there¡¯s anything wrong with Lin Xian!¡± Chu An Qing protested, overwhelmed. She turned to her father. ¡°It¡¯s my aunt who¡¯s the issue! Dad, you can¡¯t do this to Senior Lin Xian! She doesn¡¯t deserve him!¡±
¡°Oh, please. It¡¯s up to them, not you,¡± Chu Shan He chuckled, dismissing her concerns. ¡°We¡¯re just introducing them. Whether it works out is their decision. Besides, Lin Xian isn¡¯t getting any younger. He should think about settling down. He¡¯s an only child, and his parents are retired. They¡¯re probably looking forward to grandchildren.¡±
¡°And your aunt, always stirring up trouble, needs to settle down too. She¡¯s only four years older than you. I¡¯ve known her all her life, since I practically raised her alongside you. How could I not care about her?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s head inside. Next time I see Lin Xian, I¡¯ll bring it up. Xiu Ying, why don¡¯t you talk to Su Su about him, and we can arrange for them to meet?¡±
Su Xiu Ying nodded and began walking inside with Chu Shan He.
Snap.
ck.
Chu An Qing grabbed hold of Chu Shan He¡¯s shirt with one hand and Su Xiu Ying¡¯s arm with the other. They turned to see her serious expression.
¡°I disagree!¡±
¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± both Su Xiu Ying and Chu Shan He asked, amused by her reaction.
¡°Senior Lin Xian saved my life! I can¡¯t let you throw him into the fire pit!¡± Chu An Qing sighed, looking at her parents earnestly. ¡°You both know what my aunt is like¡¡±
¡.
A blood-red McLaren tore down the highway like lightning. The sleek, low car weaved through traffic like a phantom, its roaring engine forcing other cars to make way.
¡°Su Su! Slow down!¡± the girl in the passenger seat pleaded. ¡°There¡¯s a police car chasing us!¡±
¡°Haha, that makes it even more exciting,¡± Su Suughed. She had bright yellow hair whipping in the wind and wore a perfectly made-up face. She chewed bubblegum, resting her left arm on the window, and steered with her right.
¡°You¡¯re way over the speed limit!¡± The passenger stared at the dashboard, her face turning pale.
¡°If I slow down, they¡¯ll catch us,¡± Su Su stated nonchntly.
¡°But they have cameras!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Su Su blew a bubble and suddenly swerved off the highway. ¡°My brother-inw will handle it.¡±
¡.
¡°Name?¡±
¡°Su Su.¡±
¡°upation?¡±
¡°Living off my family.¡±
At the Donghai City Police Department, Su Su sat in a chair while a policeman questioned her, taking notes.
¡°Living off your parents isn¡¯t a job. If you¡¯re unemployed, I¡¯ll write that down.¡±
¡°Then write unemployed,¡± Su Su shrugged.
A few minutester, an officer unlocked the detention room door and released Su Su and her friend. ¡°Su Su, how many times has this been now? If you want to race, go to a track. It¡¯s too dangerous on the highway!¡±
He handed her a phone. ¡°Mr. Chu wants to talk to you.¡±
Beep.
Su Su immediately hung up the phone and grabbed her friend¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
¡°Hey! You¡!¡± The officer sighed, shaking his head as he redialed Chu Shan He.
Su Su led her friend through the police station to the parking lot.
¡°Su Su, you know this ce so well,¡± her friend remarked, amazed.
¡°I¡¯ve been here often, almost like home,¡± Su Su replied, popping another piece of gum into her mouth.
Ahead, a group of officers surrounded a thin, pale boy.
¡°Ji Lin! Thanks to you, we solved this decade-old case! We never expected the culprit to be in such an unexpected ce¡¡±
¡°Ji Lin, can you help me with this old case? It¡¯s been unsolved for years, and I¡¯d like to close it before I retire.¡±
¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to help us first?¡±
¡°Come on, guys! Don¡¯t forget why Chief invited Ji Lin. We need to focus on Professor Xu Yun¡¯s case!¡±
Su Su¡¯s friend, amazed by themotion, stepped aside, watching the boy surrounded by officers.
¡°Wow, he¡¯s so handsome¡ Su Su, did you see him? He looks like he stepped right out of a manga!¡±
¡°Handsome, sure,¡± Su Su replied, without even looking back. ¡°But too girly for my taste.¡±
In the parking lot, Su Su started the red McLaren with a roar, speeding toward the exit.
¡°Why are you speeding here?¡± her friend yelled.
¡°I don¡¯t like driving slow.¡±
¡°Stop! The barrier is still down!¡±
Her friend screamed as the McLaren didn¡¯t slow down. Instead, it sped right under the barrier, which was too high for the low car.
The security guard came out, scratching his head in confusion. ¡°How am I supposed to handle the parking fee¡¡±
¡°Haha! See? Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± Su Suughed, patting the steering wheel. ¡°That¡¯s why I love this car¡ªit¡¯s low enough to go under barriers!¡±
Her friend, teary-eyed, replied, ¡°I want to go home.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be silly. I booked a hotel. Let¡¯s rest and head out again tonight.¡± Su Su yawned, merging back onto the highway.
¡°By the way, Su Su, won¡¯t it be a problem that you hung up on Mr. Chu?¡± Her friend looked concerned. ¡°He¡¯s your brother-inw, but he¡¯s still Chu Shan He! Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll get mad?¡±
¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Su Su said with a smirk. ¡°I was his first investor. He wouldn¡¯t get mad at me.¡±
¡°What?¡± Her friend was puzzled. ¡°He¡¯s been sessful for years¡ how could you be his first investor? And the Shan He Group isn¡¯t even publicly traded.¡±
¡°That was nearly twenty years ago,¡± Su Su exined, blowing a bubble. ¡°Back then, Chu Shan He was struggling. He had married my sister, but his business failed, and he lost all their money, including my sister¡¯s dowry. He owed a lot, but he always treated me well, buying me things and taking me out. So, I broke my piggy bank and gave him all my savings.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t much, just a few thousand yuan. I remember he got teary-eyed, picking up the coins with me. He promised that no matter how sessful he became, I¡¯d always have a share. I thought he was just saying that, but he kept his word. Now, I can¡¯t even spend all my annual dividends.¡±
Her friend gasped. ¡°Wow, your brother-inw is really incredible, keeping such a promise. Most adults wouldn¡¯t take a child¡¯s piggy bank seriously.¡±
¡°Yeah, he¡¯s a decent guy,¡± Su Su admitted, turning onto another highway. ¡°But he can be a real nag. It¡¯d be better if he didn¡¯t.¡±
Chapter 163: The Bait
MX Company, 20th Floor, Lin Xian¡¯s Office
Lin Xian sat at his desk, spinning a pen thoughtfully, mulling over what Chu Shan He had said earlier.
The current evidence held by the Donghai City Police suggested that Tang Xin, a woman with aplicated personal life, was the victim of a revenge killing. Dashcam footage and chat logs from Tang Xin¡¯s phone seemed to support this idea, making it appear legitimate. But what if¡ What if all that evidence was fabricated? Could Zhou Duan Yun and his partners be behind it?
That raised another question¡ªWho were Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s partners? So far, Zhou Duan Yun had avoided all me. Aside from Lin Xian, no one suspected him. But Lin Xian¡¯s suspicions were just theories, without solid proof. He needed more clues. Lin Xian tapped his desk rhythmically.
For now, he seemed safe. Maybe Zhou Duan Yun and his partners had marked him but hadn¡¯t decided to move against him yet. What were they waiting for? He had to act fast. The keyy in the fake evidence used against Tang Xin.
¡°I need to see that evidence myself,¡± Lin Xian thought, eyes closed.
Approaching the police directly wouldn¡¯t work; they wouldn¡¯t listen to him, much less show him confidential evidence. So¡ ¡°Maybe I can talk to Ji Lin directly.¡±
Lin Xian had only met Ji Lin once, but they had a good chat at the Donghai Chamber of Commerce¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve party. Ji Lin was a fan of the Rhine Cat brand, and Lin Xian admired his books. Perhaps Ji Lin could offer insights the police couldn¡¯t.
Lin Xian opened his browser and started searching for news about Ji Lin. With the uing Oscar ceremony, Ji Lin was often in the entertainment news. Everyone was wondering if he could win the Best Screeny Oscar. This was unprecedented for someone from the country.As he scrolled, Lin Xian noticed Ji Lin had been more socialtely, attending many events in Donghai City. His promoters were likely boosting his visibility. Lin Xian learned from a past coborator that Ji Lin would be at a book fair soon. He nned to meet him there.
Two Days Later
Outside the Donghai City Library, the book fair was lively. After the events, Lin Xian followed a publisher backstage and found Ji Lin.
¡°Hi, Ji Lin.¡±
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Ji Lin turned, surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡±
¡°Do you have a moment?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I¡¯d like to talk privately. If you¡¯re busy, we can find another time.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine. Follow me.¡±
Ji Lin led Lin Xian to a meeting room and invited him to sit. Lin Xian got straight to the point. Ji Lin nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard. My involvement with the Donghai City Police was bound to be revealed. It¡¯s no big deal.¡±
¡°I¡¯m d,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Tang Xin was my high school friend. We were close. I know the investigation results, but she wasn¡¯t like that. I wanted to discuss it with you.¡±
¡°Of course, I understand your position. I know you¡¯re bound by confidentiality, but this is about Tang Xin¡¯s reputation. Her family deserves the truth.¡±
Ji Lin gave a gentle smile. ¡°You¡¯re kind, Lin Xian. I understand. You doubt the police evidence and think someone falsified it against Tang Xin.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°I see,¡± Ji Lin said, adjusting his posture. ¡°I came to Donghai for a simr reason.¡±
¡°For what reason?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°To seek justice for a friend.¡±
¡°A friend?¡±
Lin Xian remembered Ji Lin at Professor Xu Yun¡¯s memorial. ¡°Was Professor Xu Yun your friend? You seemed quite different in age. Was it a cross-generational friendship?¡±
¡°No.¡±
Ji Lin shook his head. ¡°Xu Yun was my sister¡¯s husband.¡±
¡°So, your brother-inw,¡± Lin Xian rified.
¡°Technically, yes. But I never called him that. He was a friend first.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°I¡¯m adopted. My sister and I aren¡¯t blood rtives.¡±
¡°I see.¡± Lin Xian pondered Ji Lin¡¯splex family ties. ¡°So, you¡¯re here to find Xu Yun¡¯s murderer?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Lin confirmed. ¡°Though not rted by blood, Xu Yun was like a brother. He inspired me a lot as a kid. I owe it to him.¡±
¡°I grew up with few friends. Besides my sister, Xu Yun was significant to me. Sadly, he¡¯s gone, and his murderer is free. I stayed in Donghai to solve this.¡±
Lin Xian now understood Ji Lin¡¯s sudden involvement in the police investigation and his connection to Xu Yun.
¡°That¡¯s why I get where you¡¯reing from,¡± Ji Lin said, turning to Lin Xian. ¡°Seeing Tang Xin maligned and murdered must be hard for you. The police haven¡¯t gone public with the information yet.¡±
¡°But facts are facts, and evidence is evidence. Once the murderer is found, the truth wille out.¡±
¡°If you doubt our work, I can show you the unpublished files. See for yourself.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian was startled. He hadn¡¯t expected ess to confidential police information.
¡°Technically, no,¡± Ji Lin smiled. ¡°But for you, I¡¯ll make an exception.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°Honestly, even if you hadn¡¯te to me today, I¡¯d have reached out to you.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°There are aspects of Xu Yun¡¯s case that tie back to you. I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re involved, but there are odd connections. I need to know¡ why are all profits from Xu Yun¡¯s chemical research under your name?¡±
Chapter 164: Getting Involved
¡°Is this an official interrogation?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Truthfully, Lin Xian had always regretted one particr decision. If he had not epted Professor Xu Yun¡¯s authorization back then, he might be in a much better situation now.
It wasn¡¯t a criminal matter or anything requiring an exnation, but with Professor Xu Yun no longer alive, justifying the authorization for this chemical substance was difficult.
In reality, he had exchanged a manuscript for a hibernation fluid from the future to get this authorization. Revealing this could likely cost him his life.
This was the main reason Lin Xian felt trapped in this ¡°cat-and-mouse game.¡±
He had reflected on this several times in recent days. If only he had not taken that authorization. But dwelling on the past was pointless. Moreover, he had been in close contact with Xu Yun before his death. Even without the authorization, suspicion would likely still fall on him.
Fortunately, Xu Yun had managed to destroy his manuscript, which kept Lin Xian safe from exposure.
¡°Of course not,¡± Ji Lin replied with a slight smile, looking down.
¡°If there¡¯s something you can¡¯t discuss, you don¡¯t have to. It¡¯s your personal matter, and you have the right to privacy.¡±¡°I must admit, this isn¡¯t a criminal issue, so even the Donghai police can¡¯t force you to respond. You have the right to refuse.¡±
¡°My question is just casual conversation between friends. It¡¯s not official, simr to how I bent the rules to show you the evidence about Tang Xin. Tang Xin matters to you, and Xu Yun matters to me. To find his killer, I don¡¯t want to overlook any potential clues.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s tone was friendly but direct. He implied that if Lin Xian wanted to ess confidential information about Tang Xin, he would need to cooperate. This was an informal agreement, not a formal interrogation.
Lin Xian understood this. He wasn¡¯t a suspect or guilty of any crime, so he didn¡¯t have to exin anything about Xu Yun¡¯s authorization to anyone. Yet, he was not afraid to discuss it. He had anticipated such a situation and had a response ready.
¡°To be honest, I¡¯d rather not discuss it,¡± Lin Xian said, turning away as if troubled.
¡°In truth, the reasons are not exactly honorable, and I haven¡¯t shared them with anyone until now. It¡¯s a secret between me and Professor Xu Yun.¡±
Ji Lin narrowed his eyes at Lin Xian, waiting for his response.
¡°Do you know about Xu Yun¡¯s daughter, Xu Yi Yi?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Ji Lin nodded. He was aware of her. It was Xu Yi Yi¡¯s ident that led to Xu Yun and his wife separating. Since then, Ji Lin had lost contact with Xu Yun, his old friend.
¡°Professor Xu Yun never intended for Xu Yi Yi to undergo hibernation,¡± Lin Xian started with a half-truth, the safest and most difficult to dispute lie.
¡°He didn¡¯t want to forget her and nned to dedicate his remaining years to researching the hibernation capsule. However, he faced a dilemma:¡±
¡°When Xu Yi Yi awoke in the future, Xu Yun would no longer be there. Mentally, she would be like a four or five-year-old child with no family. Xu Yun was deeply concerned and asked me for a favor.¡±
¡°He hoped I would look after Xu Yi Yi once she awoke, at least to help her adjust to life. Although future medical advances might heal her condition, someone would still need to guide her young mind.¡±
¡°I initially refused. No one knew how long Xu Yi Yi¡¯s hibernation wouldst. A few decades, maybe, but centuries? That was too uncertain. Butter, moved by Professor Xu Yun¡¯s sincere request and the fact that he offered the authorization for free, I agreed out of emotional and logical reasons. You could say I was tempted by the financial gain. It felt like a worthwhile risk to potentially hibernate alongside Xu Yi Yi.¡±
This lie was well-crafted by Lin Xian in anticipation of such inquiries, a necessary blend of truth and fabrication. The request from Xu Yun to care for Xu Yi Yi was real, making the story partly true and quite convincing.
¡°I see,¡± Ji Lin responded. ¡°That makes sense. It¡¯s a reasonable exchange. The potential side effects of hibernation technology are still unknown, and the risks you¡¯re willing to take align with the benefits the authorization offers.¡±
¡°It seems Xu Yun really trusted you to entrust his daughter¡¯s future to you. Were you his student?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°I only met Professor Xu Yun a few times professionally. I think his trust stemmed from how my employer handled his authorization. When otherpanies were aggressively seeking it, ourpany respected his wishes and backed off. Perhaps that¡¯s why he appreciated me.¡±
Lin Xian was entirely truthful here. These facts were verifiable, and lying would have been risky.
Ji Lin nodded and checked his watch.
¡°It¡¯s time for me to head back to the Donghai Police Station. Want toe along? I promised to show you the evidence in Tang Xin¡¯s case.¡±
Lin Xian agreed and joined Ji Lin in his car. Everything was unfolding smoother than expected¡ªmeeting Ji Lin, managing the discussion about Xu Yun¡¯s deal, and now heading to the police station to see evidence regarding Tang Xin. It all went ording to n.
As the car drove silently, Lin Xian reflected on Tang Xin¡¯s words and his own experiences.
¡°I don¡¯t understand why everything¡¯s going so smoothly,¡± Tang Xin had said about her surprising sess.
Lin Xian pondered this as Ji Lin¡¯s car entered the police station, the parking barrier moving like a guillotine.
At the special investigation unit, Ji Lin handed Lin Xian a stack of categorized documents.
¡°These chat records are from Tang Xin¡¯s phone. You can¡¯t take photos or remove them, but feel free to examine them here as much as you need.¡±
Lin Xian was suddenly struck by a realization!
Just like Tang Xin, he might be unwittingly caught in someone else¡¯s meticulouslyid ns, manipted into actions that felt like his own decisions.
As Ji Lin¡¯s car turned into the Donghai Police Station, a chill of foreboding settled over Lin Xian. What if his current path was also part of arger, hidden agenda?
In this moment of rity, Lin Xian knew he had to stay vignt, parsing every detail for signs of maniption or control, much like the orchestrated events in Tang Xin¡¯s life.
Chapter 165: The Trap
Lin Xian picked up the stack of documents and flipped through them. They were mostly printed WeChat conversation records, neatly organized by date. His conversations with Tang Xin were included.
Clearly, these were from Tang Xin¡¯s phone.
But something didn¡¯t add up.
His own chats seemed normal, but the conversations Tang Xin had with other men were startling. She appeared to be apletely different person in those exchanges.
Lin Xian scanned for any inconsistencies but found it difficult.
The typing style, punctuation, and even the emojis she often used matched perfectly. Just from looking, it was impossible to discern if they were genuine or fabricated.
It was hard to believe if these were all fabricated, the amount of effort Zhou Duan Yun and his team must have put into making them look authentic was staggering.
However, as Lin Xian continued to read, he finally spotted an error!
At exactly 00:42, he remembered a night when Tang Xin was supposedly chatting intimately with a man. These messages were exchanged nightly at exactly 00:42.But Lin Xian clearly recalled on the night of their ss reunion, he was with Tang Xin at 00:41, talking to her for a while. During that time, she couldn¡¯t have possibly used her phone!
Also, during a dinner in Donghai City with Gao Yang, Zhou Duan Yun, and Tang Xin, he had pulled Tang Xin aside at precisely 00:42 for a brief chat. She didn¡¯t use her phone until they got into a taxi, where she then showed the driver directions to the bar.
So the question arose¡ªif Tang Xin didn¡¯t use her phone around 00:42 on those nights, how could she have sent those messages to another man?
Obviously, they were forged.
Lin Xian turned to thest page of the documents.
More suggestive messages were there, some even between Tang Xin and Zhou Duan Yun, where he mentioned preparing a gift for herter that evening.
That was the end of the stack.
Given the false messages at 00:42 on those specific nights, Lin Xian was certain all these records were fabricated.
Yet, he kept his thoughts to himself.
Something felt off.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ji Lin noticed Lin Xian¡¯s quiet demeanor.
¡°Is it hard to ept that Tang Xin had a hidden side? You saw your chats with her. They weren¡¯t explicit, but there was a bit of flirting.¡±
Lin Xian remained silent, not willing to argue.
Those were the facts.
He was still processing the fabricated chats and pondering Ji Lin¡¯s involvement in today¡¯s events.
¡°As you mentioned, Lin Xian, chat records aren¡¯t conclusive proof. If something feels off, let us know. We can investigate further.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and requested, ¡°Can I look through them again? I didn¡¯t review them thoroughly before.¡±
¡°Of course, take your time,¡± Ji Lin responded, leaning back, arms crossed, watching Lin Xian closely.
Lin Xian noticed Ji Lin¡¯s intense gaze but pretended otherwise, carefully flipping through the documents again.
He seemed meticulous about each page¡ but his real focus was on just two pages, though he had to appear casual to avoid raising suspicions.
Finally, he reached the records from their ss reunion.
Chats with Gao Yang and several other men were there.
This time, Lin Xian clearly saw it.
At 00:42:12, Tang Xin sent an extremely explicit message to a man:
¡°I miss you so much, can¡¯t wait to see you.¡±
He quickly flipped the page.
That message had to be false.
At that moment, Tang Xin was with him, holding his hands. How could she have sent that message?
Since this message was fake, it validated his suspicions about the others.
Lin Xian continued to flip through the documents consistently until he reached the night they dined in Donghai City.
The same scenario unfolded¡
00:42:47.
Tang Xin supposedly sent another message to the same man:
¡°Having dinner with ssmates tonight, can¡¯t see you. Haha, I¡¯ll see you early tomorrow.¡±
She even used an emoji that was typical for her.
At that moment, Lin Xian had just escorted Tang Xin back from the taxi. They were deciding their next move on the sidewalk. Tang Xin hadn¡¯t touched her phone then.
Flip.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t dwell on this page and continued.
By now, he was convinced.
He could easily clear Tang Xin¡¯s name. All he needed to do was tell Ji Lin that Tang Xin was with him during those times, clearly not using her phone. He knew that from 00:41 to 00:43, Tang Xin hadn¡¯t used her phone at all.
He was the only one who could confirm this, the only one who recalled the time so precisely.
Only him.
Flip.
Lin Xian maintained a steady pace flipping through the documents.
But internally, he was racing.
Only him¡
But that was the issue.
Why did he remember 00:42 with such rity?
Normally, he wouldn¡¯t remember what he was doing at a specific minute. But at 00:42 on the roadside, he remembered everything, every time.
Before Tang Xin¡¯s death.
In reality, no one would pay special attention to 00:42.
Because without a specific incident, Xu Yun¡¯s death at 00:42 was just a normal time, nothing noteworthy. No one would take note of it.
He only noticed because Big Cat Face¡¯s father also died at that time in his dream, giving it significance byparison.
Thus, this was a setup!
If he now told Ji Lin that Tang Xin hadn¡¯t used her phone at 00:42, it would seem suspicious!
Ji Lin might inquire: ¡°Why do you remember 00:42 so vividly on those days? Is this time significant to you?¡±
Before Tang Xin¡¯s demise, exining this would be challenging. Only Xu Yun had died at 00:42, with no reason to remember it specifically.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take that risk.
After Tang Xin¡¯s passing, he had a reason to remember the time. But before her demise, he had no reason to care about it unless he revealed he knew about Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s simr death time.
Thump.
Lin Xian closed thest page, returning the thick stack of papers to the desk, and sighed deeply.
¡°I have nothing to say.¡±
¡°Feeling down?¡± Ji Lin inquired.
¡°A bit,¡± Lin Xian admitted.
¡°I¡¯m surprised. I don¡¯t know what to think, seeing my chats are in there too¡ I don¡¯t know what Tang Xin thought of me.¡±
Ji Lin scrutinized Lin Xian but remained silent.
¡°Thanks for today.¡±
Lin Xian stood and headed for the door.
¡°It¡¯s better to face the truth, even if it¡¯s tough.¡±
He exited swiftly.
To retreat in order to advance, that was Lin Xian¡¯s strategy.
He pondered how Ji Lin, with such brief acquaintance, would show him police secrets.
What was Ji Lin¡¯s goal?
Did he suspect Lin Xian and sought to catch him unprepared? To find a w?
Or was there another motive?
Regardless, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take the risk.
¡°Goodbye.¡±
He opened the office door and left.
If Ji Lin had an ulterior motive, he should have stopped him. Lin Xian¡¯s earlier exnation linking him with Xu Yun had vulnerabilities, but Ji Lin didn¡¯t probe them.
Lin Xian found Ji Lin puzzling.
On his way, he reflected¡
Yellow Finch had indicated his cat-and-mouse game had begun, with him as the mouse.
So, who was the cat?
Zhou Duan Yun was definitely involved.
What about Ji Lin?
ording to his hypothesis, the cat would eventually find him. If the murders tied to ¡°hibernation research,¡± they might seek to confirm his involvement with Xu Yun.
Xu Yun died because of hibernation research, Tang Xin for the same reason. If proven he was also involved, would they target him next?
But many researchers worldwide studied hibernation. They couldn¡¯t eliminate them all. What were the criteria for the assassins?
At the entrance of the Donghai City police station, Lin Xian hailed a cab.
He wasn¡¯t sure if Ji Lin was part of the ¡°cat.¡±
But he believed if Ji Lin was the cat, he would encounter him again.
If not, they likely wouldn¡¯t meet again.
Donghai City was vast.
Without a specific reason, crossing paths with someone was unlikely.
¡°I hope you¡¯re not.¡±
The taxi moved off, Lin Xian nced back at the receding police station.
He admired Ji Lin¡¯s books.
They say a writer¡¯s personality is evident in their work. Ji Lin¡¯s books portrayed him as a decent person, not a ruthless killer.
But who could be certain?
In the suburbs of Donghai City, by akeside vi.
¡°Did you fail?¡± Zhou Duan Yun sat on the sofa, spinning his car keys, taunting Ji Lin, who was surrounded by a pile of books.
¡°Is this mouse so elusive?¡±
¡°He¡¯s smarter and more cautious than I anticipated,¡± Ji Lin responded softly.
¡°But also more vulnerable than I expected¡ I thought he had the capability to silently alter history.¡±
Ji Lin nced up at Zhou Duan Yun.
¡°Yet here you are, safe and sound. I thought Lin Xian might try to eliminate you.¡±
¡°You!¡± Zhou Duan Yun hurled his keys in frustration.
¡°Don¡¯t tell me you miscalcted! I wouldn¡¯t have coborated with you if not to eliminate Lin Xian!¡±
¡°There are two possibilities,¡± Ji Lin lowered his head.
¡°One, I was wrong. The person altering history isn¡¯t Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Two, it is Lin Xian, but his powers are limited. He can¡¯t act freely and is still bound by the realities andws of our world.¡±
¡°What do we do now?¡± Zhou Duan Yun asked impatiently. ¡°He¡¯s cautious, and we don¡¯t know the original history. How can we prove he altered it? It¡¯s an impossible task!¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Ji Lin stood from his heap of books. ¡°If we can¡¯t ascertain the original history, then let¡¯s fabricate a history of our own¡¡±
Chapter 166: A Fake History
¡°A fake history?¡± Zhou Duan Yun asked, puzzled. ¡°What do you mean? How can history be fake?¡±
¡°History is just a record of events that have already happened,¡± replied Ji Lin. ¡°But when Pride talks about making history, he¡¯s really nning future events.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun nodded, understanding now. Pride, the powerful old man, always talked about history as if it wasn¡¯t tied to the past. Zhou Duan Yun suspected Pride was following someone else¡¯s orders, but he never dared to ask. He knew Pride was capable of destroying anyone who crossed him.
Pride¡¯s actions were always mysterious to Zhou Duan Yun. It seemed like he was either killing people or nning to kill more. Yet, Zhou Duan Yun wasn¡¯t overly concerned. Working with Pride had given him opportunities he had always dreamed of. He felt he deserved these opportunities and saw working for Pride as a means to gain more.
¡°I get it,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said finally. ¡°You want to create an event from nothing and make sure it happens. Then, in the future, it will be remembered as history.¡±
¡°Exactly. It has to happen to be real history,¡± Ji Lin agreed.
¡°But how can you be sure Lin Xian will get involved?¡± Zhou Duan Yun asked. ¡°He¡¯s very cautious now. He might just ignore your fabricated events to stay safe.¡±
¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Ji Lin assured, looking at the fake chat logs on the table. Both were crafted messages from Tang Xin, sent at 00:42, suggesting a secret affair.
¡°If Lin Xian finds out that someone will die on the streets at the same time as Xu Yun and Tang Xin, he can¡¯t ignore it. That¡¯s just who he is.¡±Zhou Duan Yun chuckled. ¡°What if he isn¡¯t thatpassionate?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not aboutpassion,¡± Ji Lin corrected him, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s about the challenge. If we give him a chance to catch us, he won¡¯t let it slide.¡±
Meanwhile, at MX Company, Lin Xian was in his office on the 20th floor, looking into the research institute where Tang Xin worked. He was trying to find information about its director but wasing up empty.
Thinking it over, he decided to change his approach. Tang Xin had once mentioned that the person who invited her to Donghai was Xu Yun¡¯s former mentor. So, Lin Xian started searching online for ¡°Xu Yun¡¯s teacher.¡±
The search results were overwhelming. Numerous people imed to be Xu Yun¡¯s teacher, some even giving interviews about it. Elementary teachers, middle and high school teachers, college professors¡ªthe list was exhaustive.
¡°They¡¯re all seeking attention,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
Realizing he needed a more targeted search, he opened Xu Yun¡¯s verified professional profile. Xu Yun had not attended Donghai University for his undergraduate studies. Instead, he went to a university in the northwest andter attended Donghai University for his graduate studies, where he eventually became a faculty member.
¡°The person Tang Xin met must be Xu Yun¡¯s mentor from his graduate or doctoral studies,¡± Lin Xian concluded. ¡°People usually refer to their undergrad teachers as ¡®teachers,¡¯ but they call their graduate or doctoral advisors ¡®mentors.¡¯¡±
He found Xu Yun¡¯s graduation years: a master¡¯s in 2004 and a PhD in 2007. Lin Xian¡¯s next step was simple¡ªcheck the graduation photos and records from those years in the university library.
Taking a taxi to Donghai University, Lin Xian faced an obstacle at the entrance¡ªthe security guard wouldn¡¯t let him in without a student ID.
¡°Security has really tightened,¡± Lin Xian noted. He needed a student ID to ess the library, so he called Chu An Qing for help.
Soon enough, Chu An Qing arrived, her high ponytail bouncing. ¡°Hey, Lin Xian! What brings you here?¡±
¡°I need to check something in the library,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°Funny, they call it our university for life, yet they lock us out after we graduate.¡±
Chu An Qingughed and guided him inside the university and to the library. She was popr among the students working there, which made their search much easier.
¡°What year are you looking for?¡± she asked.
¡°2004 and 2007,¡± Lin Xian answered. ¡°Just the master¡¯s and PhD records.¡±
As they sifted through the dusty, disorganized records, Chu An Qing struck up a conversation. ¡°By the way, has my dad been in touch with you recently?¡±
¡°President Chu?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No, why? Is there something he needs?¡±
¡°Well,¡± Chu An Qing hesitated, not wanting to bring up her aunt¡¯s matchmaking schemes. ¡°My parents might want to introduce you to someone.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°I¡¯ve never been set up before.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve never been on a blind date?¡± Chu An Qing asked, intrigued.
¡°No, I only graduatedst year. Plus, I don¡¯t have any family here.¡±
¡°So, what kind of girls do you like?¡± Chu An Qing leaned in, thinking of her bold aunt. ¡°Do you like cool girls?¡±
¡°Cool girls?¡± Lin Xian thought of CC, then looked at Chu An Qing, who reminded him of her. ¡°Yeah, cool girls are interesting.¡±
Chu An Qing cleared her throat. ¡°I mean, girls who like racing, are quick-tempered, argue a lot, and are confrontational.¡±
Thinking of CC¡¯s feisty nature, Lin Xian found it annoying but somehow endearing when looking at Chu An Qing¡¯s sweet expression. ¡°It¡¯s fine, as long as they¡¯re good people.¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s heart fluttered. Could Lin Xian really be interested in someone like her aunt?
¡°Found it,¡± Lin Xian announced, flipping to a graduation photo from Xu Yun¡¯s PhD ceremony. The faded picture showed a younger Xu Yunughing, standing next to an older man with white hair who looked at him with pride.
¡°This must be Xu Yun¡¯s mentor,¡± Lin Xian mused, noting the name under the photo: Ji Xin Shui.
Chapter 167: Thief Shouts Catch the Thief
¡°Ji Xin Shui?¡± Lin Xian repeated the name, finding it unusual.
¡°Ji Xin Shui,¡± Chu An Qing confirmed, her eyes widening. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that name before!¡±
¡°You know him?¡± Lin Xian asked, curious.
Chu An Qing nodded. ¡°Yeah, my dad talked about him once. His name stuck with me because it¡¯s so unique. My dad loves science and follows a lot of scientists, especially those from Donghai City. He practically knows every one of them.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s interest grew. ¡°Did your dad ever support Ji Xin Shui¡¯s research financially?¡±
Chu An Qing shook her head and smiled. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t need funding from my dad. Mr. Ji Xin Shui is actually pretty wealthy, maybe even more so than my dad.¡±
Wealthier than Chu Shan He? Lin Xian blinked in surprise. That was saying something. If he was richer than Chu Shan He, he must be among the country¡¯s wealthiest. Though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure about Chu Shan He¡¯s exact fortune, he knew there were many rumors about his wealth.
Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s intrigued expression, Chu An Qing continued, ¡°My dad told me Ji Xin Shui had a rough start. He wasn¡¯t well-respected in the researchmunity and was even shunned by some at Donghai University. But he eventually made a breakthrough. He published a bunch of important research papers and really made a name for himself in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. He even became the head of the research institute at Donghai University.¡±
So, it¡¯s one of those ssic rags-to-riches stories, Lin Xian mused. Never underestimate someone young and struggling. Ji Xin Shui¡¯s journey reminded him of Xu Yun, who also faced academic exclusion butter rose to prominence.¡°If Ji Xin Shui was Xu Yun¡¯s mentor from his grad student days to his research career, they must have been really close. In this graduation photo, Ji Xin Shui looks at Xu Yun with such affection, almost like he¡¯s looking at his own son,¡± Lin Xian observed.
Chu An Qing nodded. ¡°Exactly. My dad mentioned that Xu Yun and Mr. Ji were like family. Mr. Ji even introduced Xu Yun to his future wife, who was his niece.¡±
That exins a lot, Lin Xian thought as he listened to Chu An Qing. Chu Shan He¡¯s strong rtionship with Xu Yun was well-known. He had supported Xu Yun financially for ten years, and Xu Yun was deeply grateful. The details Chu An Qing shared probably came straight from Xu Yun.
But one piece of the puzzle was missing. If Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui were so close, why did their rtionship deteriorate over hibernation research, leading to a decade-long silence?
¡°Why did their rtionship deteriorate if they were so close?¡± Lin Xian asked directly.
Chu An Qing shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. My dad didn¡¯t go into details; he just mentioned it in passing. I know that Mr. Ji Xin Shui left Donghai University at some point, maybe to start his own business or pursue other research. My dad said he became very powerful and influential.¡±
Lin Xian took out his phone and searched for Ji Xin Shui. Several old news articles popped up, the most recent one from two years ago. It seemed that as he aged, Mr. Ji preferred to stay out of the limelight.
Lin Xian clicked on a news article about an international medical conference where Ji Xin Shui was a prominent figure in the front row. Clearly, his status was still significant. Zooming in on the photo, he noted Ji Xin Shui looked much older than in the graduation photo. His hair was nearly gone, and what remained was white. His face bore wrinkles, and his skin seemed dry and aged.
Time spares no one. Lin Xianpared the aging man in the photo to the young man from the graduation picture. Ji Xin Shui now appeared at least twenty years older, likely in his eighties.
Remembering that Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui shared a surname and Ji Lin had mentioned that Xu Yun was his sister¡¯s husband and that he was adopted, Lin Xian connected the dots. These people were all intertwined. Their rtionships wereplex.
Deciding to organize his thoughts, Lin Xian took a picture of the graduation photo, bid Chu An Qing goodbye, and headed home. At home, he spread out a piece of paper and started to map out the rtionships.
From the information he gathered, Lin Xian deduced the following:
Ji Xin Shui was a highly sessful, influential figure who suddenly rose to prominence. When he met Xu Yun, he was already heading the research institute at Donghai University. Their bond was deep, almost father-son like. Ji Xin Shui even introduced his niece to Xu Yun, leading to their marriage and the birth of their daughter, Xu Yi Yi.
The niece had a younger adopted brother, Ji Lin. Since Ji Lin referred to Xu Yun¡¯s wife as ¡®sister,¡¯ she must have been adopted by Ji Xin Shui¡¯s brother, thus sharing the same surname.
Initially, everyone was content. Ji Xin Shui and Xu Yun grew closer through family ties. Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui¡¯s niece formed a loving couple, and young Ji Lin became friends with Xu Yun, enchanted by his stories and the books he shared.
Then tragedy struck. Xu Yun¡¯s wife passed away from a rareplication during childbirth. Surprisingly, this event didn¡¯t strain Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui¡¯s rtionship. Their fallout happenedter when Xu Yi Yi, around four or five years old, had a severe ident and fell into aa. Xu Yun¡¯s determination to pursue hibernation technology led to their separation.
For ten years, they lost contact. Xu Yun relentlessly pursued his research, which tragically led to his death after Lin Xian handed him a manuscript that resolved a critical issue with the hibernation chamber.
Xu Yun¡¯s death triggered a series of events. Tang Xin arrived in Donghai City at Ji Xin Shui¡¯s invitation for research. Ji Lin sought revenge for Xu Yun, and Yellow Finch warned Lin Xian about a deceptive game, hinting at Tang Xin¡¯s imminent death, likely implicating Zhou Duan Yun as one of the conspirators.
Lin Xian set his pen down. ¡°That¡¯s roughly how these people are connected.¡±
Yet, something still didn¡¯t quite make sense. Lin Xian had suspicions about Ji Xin Shui and Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s involvement in Tang Xin¡¯s murder. But if Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui were as close as father and son, could Ji Xin Shui really harm Xu Yun?
¡°Maybe,¡± Lin Xian thought, realizing it was futile to look for humanity in a killer. If one could murder a stranger for a cause, they might kill a family member for greater gains.
Continuing this thought, if Ji Xin Shui did harm Xu Yun, then Ji Lin¡¯s quest for revenge in Donghai City was either because he was kept in the dark or he was knowingly pretending.
Lin Xian pondered this for a long time. Ji Lin wasn¡¯t naive. He was a globally recognized genius detective who had assisted the Long Kingdom police in solving several international cases and had quickly resolved manyplex cases in Donghai City.
¡°So, if even I, an average person, can suspect Ji Xin Shui and Zhou Duan Yun, how could Ji Lin, with his superior intelligence and investigative skills, not see it?¡±
Lin Xian mmed his pen down on the table. Suddenly, everything clicked. He had uncovered the biggest oversight in the entire case. With all the obvious clues, Ji Lin hadn¡¯t used Zhou Duan Yun or Ji Xin Shui. He hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of fake chat records and used them to test him!
Thankfully, Lin Xian had been cautious and hadn¡¯t cleared Tang Xin¡¯s name prematurely. It was a deep trap, crafted to ensnare him.
¡°It seems the Donghai City police aren¡¯t as inept as I thought,¡± Lin Xian mused, calming himself and staring into the dark night sky. ¡°Someone is deliberately misleading the investigation¡ A thief shouting ¡®Catch the thief!''¡±
Chapter 168: Zhou Duan Yun
Lin Xian stared at the paper filled with his intricate reasoning. He couldn¡¯t guarantee all his subjective spections were correct. After all, all his deductions hinged on one hypothetical premise¡ªXu Yun¡¯s death involved Ji Xin Shui. If this was true, all his deductions were valid. If not, all his theories were mere paper talk.
To prove this premise, there was one direct breakthrough. If he could prove Zhou Duan Yun had a close rtionship with Ji Xin Shui, they were likely aplices. Because currently, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s suspicion couldn¡¯t be cleared. So, whoever was associated with Zhou Duan Yun was also suspect.
¡°Directly investigating Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin is difficult. Right now, I don¡¯t have the capacity to confront them head-on. In contrast, investigating Zhou Duan Yun is much simpler,¡± Lin Xian thought as he propped his chin up.
After all, he and Zhou Duan Yun were ssmates, and many people in Hangzhou knew Zhou Duan Yun well, making the investigation easier. If his reasoning was correct, then Zhou Duan Yun and Ji Lin were both pretending to be kind while waiting for him to slip up. Their seemingly good intentions were just a facade.
Since the enemy had already targeted him, there was no point in hiding any longer. Objectively, Lin Xian still had three advantages:
Ji Lin¡¯s attempts to probe him indicated they hadn¡¯t found any evidence of his involvement in Xu Yun¡¯s hibernation research. Thus, he was temporarily safe.
He knew they only killed through car idents at 00:42. This specific method was easy to avoid. Just stay indoors at night.
He had some powerful cards to y¡ªwhether it was his 600-year-old dreams or the massive favor owed by Chu Shan He. At the right moment, these could turn the tables. In Donghai, Chu Shan He¡¯s word wasw; even Ji Xin Shui wouldn¡¯t dare challenge him.
¡°Once I deal with these people, I need to quickly develop my own influence.¡± Now, Lin Xian had a rough n for the future. Develop himself, ensure Liu Feng could safely research the Universal Constant 42, find a way to get an invitation to the Genius Club, and use his dreams to gather more intelligence and control. But to implement these ns, he needed to win this urgent cat-and-mouse game.He recalled what Yellow Finch had said in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. She said she couldn¡¯t tell him how to get an invitation to the Genius Club. But she appeared at the perfect time and hinted at the cat-and-mouse game. Perhaps¡ this game was the key to the Genius Club invitation!
¡°I must find a way to win this game,¡± Lin Xian muttered as he took arge baking tray from the kitchen and burned all his reasoning papers. As the mes spread through the paper, Lin Xian smelled the distinctive stench of cremation¡ªa smell etched into human genes as a warning, signaling danger.
In just two or three months, Lin Xian had smelled it twice. He and Gao Yang stood by when Tang Xin¡¯s brother received his sister¡¯s ashes from the funeral staff. It was Lin Xian¡¯s first close encounter with cremation. He never imagined a human body would take two hours to burn to ashes at such high temperatures. Every minute of those two hours was unbearable. A living ssmate reduced to half a jar of ashes.
What could make Zhou Duan Yun abandon his humanity to kill one ssmate and attempt to kill another?
¡°Wait for me.¡± Amid the flickering mes, Tang Xin¡¯s smiling face emerged. Lin Xian spoke slowly and clearly: ¡°None of you will escape!¡±
¡
The next day, he handled hispany affairs remotely, then returned to Hangzhou, heading straight to his old high school to find his former homeroom teacher. Five years had passed, but his teacher was still energetic and enthusiastic, leading a graduating ss.
¡°Ah, Lin Xian! You were the most memorable student of your year!¡± His teacherughed, patting Lin Xian on the back. ¡°You won the city¡¯s parkour championship three years in a row, a legend among your juniors. But what amazed me most was you getting into Donghai University! Your grades were mediocre, yet you made it into a top university¡ Your improvement was remarkable, proof that hard work pays off!¡±
Lin Xian smiled. Indeed, studying during the day and pulling all-nighters in dreams couldn¡¯t go unrewarded, right?
After some small talk, Lin Xian got to the point: ¡°Sir, I remember you once shared good news in our ss group. You said all of us had gotten into universities, not a single dropout, and you even made a spreadsheet of which school each person got into. Do you still remember?¡±
This was why Lin Xian sought his high school teacher. He wanted to know which university Zhou Duan Yun got into, so he could investigate why he dropped out and how he made so much money in such a short time.
ording to Zhou Duan Yun, his life experiences in the past few years were enough to write a book. First, he won the lottery after graduating, then he got into a university despite poor grades, andter dropped out to be a sessful businessman. No one could have predicted the poor, self-conscious boy from high school woulde this far. His story was almost as incredible as Ji Xin Shui¡¯s life.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t jealous of Zhou Duan Yun. But such a legendary life, if not fabricated, had to involve some sort of protagonist aura or awakening system.
¡°Of course, I remember! Your year made me proud!¡± The teacher chuckled, pulling out a file box from a drawer and sifting through it. ¡°Each year seems worse than thest. Your ss was my proudest achievement! Imagine, every student got into college, not a single failure!¡±
Soon, the teacher found the spreadsheet, evenminated it. Lin Xian scanned the list while the teacher reminisced: ¡°I took photos of everyone¡¯s eptance letters for keepsakes! I was so happy for each of you when I asked for those photos andpiled the list.¡±
Lin Xian browsed through it: ¡°Everyone did pretty well, went to good schools.¡±
¡°Except Gao Yang. He didn¡¯t do well on the exam.¡± The teacher sighed. ¡°You two were close, weren¡¯t you? Gao Yang was a great ss president, just didn¡¯t perform well in the exams, or he could¡¯ve gotten into a good university.¡±
Finally, Lin Xian found Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s name, with ¡°Hunan University¡± next to it.
¡°Hunan University?¡± Lin Xian was surprised. ¡°Zhou Duan Yun got into such a good school?¡± Hunan University was a prestigious 985 and 211 school!
Lin Xian¡¯s mediocre grades getting him into Donghai University was already considered a miracle. Zhou Duan Yun, consistently at the bottom of the ss, getting into a 985 university without any special talents¡ This was beyond miraculous.
¡°Sir, howe you never mentioned such an amazing feat?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled. Knowing his teacher¡¯s personality, he would have boasted about such a gifted student, maybe even inscribed Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s name on the ckboard to show off his teaching prowess. Yet, he never did. Why?
The teacher pursed his lips, silent. He walked to the office window, opened it, and lit a cigarette. After a few puffs, he flicked the ash outside and seemed to make a decision, sighing: ¡°Lin Xian¡ Since you asked, I can¡¯t lie. This has been weighing on my mind for a long time.¡±
He turned, looking at Lin Xian: ¡°Do you remember Zhou Duan Yun? Poorly dressed, from a poor family. His father died early, and his mother raised him alone. I¡¯ve seen her bring him bedding. A skinny rural woman, also bullied in her vige¡ They were really pitiful.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He had heard about this. But he remembered no one in ss bullied Zhou Duan Yun; everyone was quite friendly.
¡°Such kids need face and value their dignity.¡± The teacher took another puff and continued: ¡°When I collected the eptance letters, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mother personally brought Hunan University¡¯s letter to me.¡±
¡°She didn¡¯t know how to use a phone, so she took a long bus ride to the school. She brought a big bag of eggs and a sack of peanuts.¡±
The teacher¡¯s hand shook slightly as he spoke: ¡°To this day, I don¡¯t know how that tiny woman carried those heavy bags so far¡ But she was so happy, so proud. She kept talking about Hunan University, saying her son finally seeded and wouldn¡¯t be bullied anymore.¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly as the teacher¡¯s face darkened. He stubbed out the cigarette: ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to say. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to tell the truth. Watching a mother, who raised her child alone through so much hardship, be so excited and proud¡ I just couldn¡¯t.¡±
¡°You mean¡¡± Lin Xian was at a loss for words. He had guessed the truth.
The teacher nodded, looking at Lin Xian: ¡°As teachers, we knew your exam results before you did. Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s score was only 300-something¡¡±
Chapter 169: Mother
¡°Only 300 points?¡±
Lin Xian remembered clearly that when it was their turn for the college entrance exams, scoring just over 300 wouldn¡¯t even secure a spot in a vocational college, let alone Hunan University.
¡°Yes,¡± the homeroom teacher confirmed, his eyes showing a hint of sadness. ¡°That year, everyone submitted their applications online. With his score, he didn¡¯t even meet the cutoff for vocational colleges, so he couldn¡¯t apply anywhere. Getting into Hunan University was impossible. No university would have epted him.¡±
Lin Xian understood the gravity of the situation.
He sifted through the file box, stuffed with printed photos of college eptance letters. He recognized many familiar names and found his own, along with Gao Yang¡¯s vocational college eptance letter.
At the very bottom, there was a single folded piece of paper.
Lin Xian unfolded it¡
Just as he suspected.
It was Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s eptance letter.Hunan University, Computer Science.
From just the printed photo, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t determine if it was authentic or counterfeit. It had all the essential features, including the principal¡¯s signature and the school¡¯s red seal.
But in this digital era, creating a fake eptance letter is easy¡ªjust some Photoshop skills and a color printer.
However, a counterfeit eptance letter is pointless¡
Bringing the letter to the school is merely a formality. The crucial aspect is whether the school has your eptance information on file. Even if you lose the letter, you can still enroll at the university.
Thus, Lin Xian began to piece together the story about Zhou Duan Yun¡ª
He probably forged the eptance letter either out of pride or some other motive.
Since Zhou Duan Yun wasn¡¯t very social in ss and kept to himself, nobody really paid attention to him.
When the homeroom teacher requested photos of everyone¡¯s eptance letters, Zhou Duan Yun likely hesitated to share his.
However, his mother discovered the letter and traveled a great distance, beaming with pride, to show her son¡¯s eptance letter to the homeroom teacher.
The homeroom teacher knew the eptance letter was forged because he was aware of Duan Yun¡¯actual scores.
Yet, facing a joyful and excited mother who had endured so much, he found it too hard to expose the truth and let it pass.
¡°Later, I tried to learn more about Zhou Duan Yun from some ssmates,¡± the homeroom teacher added. ¡°Since his eptance letter was fake, he couldn¡¯t attend university. I was concerned he might stray off the path, so I discreetly inquired.¡±
¡°But nobody really knew much about him. They all thought he went to university. Some even imed he won the lottery post-exams, splurged on designer clothes, an Apple phone, a high-endputer, and an expensive belt.¡±
¡°But actually¡ even that lottery story is made up.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s fake too?¡±
Is anything about Zhou Duan Yun genuine? Everything appears fabricated.
¡°I¡¯m certain the lottery story is false because when his mother showed me the eptance letter, we spoke extensively. She had worked hard all her life and saved just a little. When Zhou¡¯s father passed away, there was somepensation, which she reserved for Duan Yun¡¯s university education. Believing her son had been admitted to a prestigious university, she handed over all the money.¡±
¡°The designer items, phone, andputer Duan Yun purchased were all bought with that money. As for why everyone thought he won the lottery, I¡¯m not sure. Maybe he himself spread that rumor.¡±
¡°Afterwards, you all moved on, and Duan Yun left his hometown too. Sometimes when former students visit, I ask about him. Most are unaware of his current whereabouts. Some have heard rumors of him getting involved in pyramid schemes, dropping out, or bing sessful. There are various stories, but the truth of his situation is unclear.¡±
Lin Xian remained silent.
From the homeroom teacher¡¯s ount, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s life was not as morous as it seemed; it was actually quite sad. But despite the fake eptance letter and the lottery lie, that Rolls-Royce Phantom wasn¡¯t fake, right?
Even renting such a car costs a fortune daily, and Duan Yun drives it regrly, indicating it¡¯s his.
Now, it seemed Zhou Duan Yun had indeed found sess. That was undeniable.
But the path he took to achieve this sess remained a mystery¡ªa mystery Lin Xian was determined to unravel.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun is doing well now,¡± Lin Xian affirmed truthfully. ¡°He¡¯s quite wealthy, likely a big boss, and drives a Rolls-Royce Phantom with a personal driver.¡±
¡°Really?¡± The homeroom teacher, pleased with the news, responded, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯m relieved!¡±
¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°We saw him at our ss reunion. He¡¯s the most sessful among us.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great¡ that¡¯s really great¡¡± The homeroom teacher rxedpletely, lighting up a cigarette with a smile. ¡°No matter what, you students are like my own kids. Teachers always hope for your sess. Whatever happened in the past¡ as long as you¡¯re doing well now, that¡¯s all that matters! Duan Yun was a poor kid, and I can understand why he did what he did.¡±
Lin Xian inquired where the homeroom teacher had heard the rumors about Duan Yun winning the lottery and getting involved in pyramid schemes.
His instincts told him perhaps these disheartening stories were the true reflection of Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s life.
Life often contains more failures than sesses; mour and legends are exceptions. Even autobiographies of the famous selectively reveal truths, let alone the life of an average person.
The homeroom teacher informed Lin Xian that he had heard these details from Zhou Le.
Zhou Le and Zhou Duan Yun grew up in the same vige, attended a local college in Hang City, and worked in the county after graduating. He often kept in touch with the homeroom teacher.
After bidding farewell to the homeroom teacher, Lin Xian reached out to Zhou Le.
Zhou Le had missed the ss reunion due to New Yearmitments, so Lin Xian used the opportunity of passing through to invite him for a meal.
Lin Xian was well-liked in high school, and Zhou Le was excited to meet. They found a quiet spot for a drink at noon.
ssmates always have endless stories to share.
Zhou Le was curious about the reunion, and naturally, the conversation drifted towards Zhou Duan Yun¡ the star of the reunion.
¡°You¡¯re from the same vige?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Yes, though we share the surname, we¡¯re not from the same family line,¡± Zhou Le rified after a sip of his drink. ¡°Zhou¡¯s father died young from illness¡ their family was very poor. In rural areas, without a strong family head, they were often victimized.¡±
¡°I only learned about thister. Zhou¡¯s family¡¯s fields were gradually seized by neighbors, almost forcefully. Every time they plowed, they¡¯d encroach a bit more, leaving Zhou¡¯s family with very little.¡±
¡°The same happened with their house plot. Neighbors took advantage when Zhou¡¯s family couldn¡¯t afford to build. But what could Zhou and his mother do? They had no support and were consistently bullied.¡±
¡°How did they manage to survive?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Hearing Zhou Le¡¯s story, Lin Xian understood why Zhou Duan Yun had been so impoverished back then, evencking decent clothes.
Land disputes aremon in rural areas, often leading to conflict. But without a father, Zhou had no way to stand against aggressive neighbors.
¡°Duan Yun¡¯s mother was incredibly strong¡¡± Zhou Le sighed deeply. ¡°She cultivated abandonednd nobody else wanted, nting peanuts.¡±
¡°After some time, when thend became fertile, others would im it back, and she¡¯d have to start over with new abandonednd¡ That¡¯s how Duan Yun¡¯s mother tirelessly worked to support him.¡±
¡°She grew peanuts, one by one, just to provide for Duan Yun.¡±
Chapter 170: Good Night
Lin Xian leaned back in his chair, setting down his chopsticks, and fell into a thoughtful silence. In front of him, a te of boiled peanuts mixed with sesame paste gluten noodley untouched. The sight made him think of how a poor rural woman, constantly bullied, managed to make a living from barrennd to raise her son, Zhou Duan Yun. It sounded like a sad story, but it was a harsh reality showing a mother¡¯s fierce determination.
¡°Did he really win the lottery?¡± Lin Xian asked carefully.
¡°Absolutely!¡± Zhou Le replied eagerly without hesitation. ¡°He definitely hit the jackpot! How else do you exin his sudden wealth? You wouldn¡¯t believe how rich Zhou Duan Yun became!¡±
¡°Did Zhou Duan Yun himself ever admit to winning?¡± Lin Xian asked further.
¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Zhou Leughed, refilling his cup and taking a big gulp. ¡°Who would admit to winning the lottery? Everyone would be on your doorstep asking for money! The whole vige believed he won, even though he denied it. His denials only made us more convinced he was lying.¡±
¡°That must have been a turning point in his life,¡± Zhou Le mused, munching on some peanuts. ¡°Luck has a way of kicking in when you hit rock bottom. He got into a prestigious university and won the lottery, turning into a local celebrity. No one dared to bully him then. Instead, people started giving him gifts, hoping he¡¯d remember them when he made it big.¡±
¡°What a dramatic turn of events,¡± Lin Xianmented thoughtfully. ¡°Weren¡¯t you skeptical about his university eptance? His grades were terrible; how did he manage to get into such a good school?¡±
¡°At first, we were all skeptical,¡± Zhou Le admitted. ¡°But then our teacher sent out a message congratting everyone on their school cements. It seemed legitimate.¡±
That exnation shed light on the dramatic changes in Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s life. His lies, initially meant to protect him and his mother from ridicule, hadpletely altered how the vigers treated them. They went from being outcasts to being respected almost overnight. In essence, nothing had changed about their circumstances, yet everything had changed in the vigers¡¯ eyes.Life was peculiar in that way. Admit to winning the lottery, and no one believes you. Deny it, and everyone assumes you¡¯re hiding something. Lin Xian pondered how Zhou Duan Yun must have felt, living a life based on lies, epting gifts, and pretending to attend university.
Was it the sweet taste of deceit that colored his sess? Or did the changing attitudes of the vigers reveal their true character to him? Zhou Duan Yun seemed to be a man living behind several masks.
¡°So what happened after that?¡± Lin Xian asked, eager to know more.
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Zhou Le shrugged, sipping his drink. ¡°Zhou Duan Yun and I weren¡¯t really friends. Lots of people in the vige bullied him, and I¡ I never stood up for him. We weren¡¯t close.¡±
¡°Looking back, I feel guilty. We were ssmates; I should¡¯ve helped him. But you know how it is¡ªby the time you realize you should¡¯ve done something, it¡¯s toote.¡±
¡°Some things seem significant when you¡¯re young, but trivial as an adult. And sometimes, it¡¯s the opposite.¡±
Zhou Le set down his cup, wiping his mouth. ¡°Got nothing to do this afternoon? Come over to my ce.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll pass,¡± Lin Xian declined casually.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go see Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mansion!¡±
¡°Mansion?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s interest was piqued.
¡°Yeah, he built itst year after making it big. He bought thend next door and built a nine-story mansion for his mom! It¡¯s like a castle!¡±
Curiosity won over Lin Xian. He hadn¡¯t discussed enough with Zhou Le and wanted more details about Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s life post-university, the years that still remained shrouded in mystery. Lin Xian knew the stories about the lottery win and the university were lies. Zhou Le didn¡¯t know, but Lin Xian did. The supposed startup money from the lottery was another lie.
Layer uponyer of lies¡ªthat seemed to define Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s life. Everything appeared fake, but surely there had to be some truth somewhere?
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian motioned for the waiter to bring the bill. ¡°Let¡¯s head to your ce then.¡±
The journey to Zhou Duan Yun and Zhou Le¡¯s remote vige involved an hour on a bumpy bus followed by a taxi ride.
As they approached the vige, Lin Xian could already see the towering structure from a distance.
It was enormous, not just a vi but a veritable castle, rivaling even the grandeur of Chu Shan He¡¯s private club from the outside¡ªthough the inside might tell a different story.
¡°Isn¡¯t it spectacr?¡± Zhou Le beamed, pointing at the structure as they exited the taxi. ¡°Now, Duan Yun¡¯s family¡¯s status in the vige is unmatched. After Zhou Duan Yun made it big, he didn¡¯t forget about his roots. He improved roads, built temples, and helped the vigers make money. To them, he¡¯s more important than the vige chief!¡±
In a world driven by self-interest, Lin Xian mused, those who bring prosperity are kings.
As they neared the castle, they saw arge courtyard, almost bare except for a small, white-haired woman tending to it.
¡°Auntie!¡± Zhou Le called out warmly.
The woman, d in clean but faded clothes, straightened up with a smile, her face creasing into a web of wrinkles. ¡°Ah, Zhou Le!¡±
¡°Lin Xian, this is Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mother,¡± Zhou Le introduced them. Then to her, he added, ¡°Auntie, this is our high school ssmate, Lin Xian. We were just passing by and thought we¡¯d say hello.¡±
Her eyes lit up at that. Standing up, she wiped her hands on her apron and opened the gate. ¡°Oh, a ssmate of Duan Yun! Come in,e in!¡±
¡°No need, Auntie,¡± Lin Xian began, intending only for a quick visit.
But Zhou Le had other ns and soon they were inside. The house was immacte but felt too vast,cking warmth.
¡°Auntie, weren¡¯t there a lot of servants here before?¡± Zhou Le asked.
¡°I¡¯m not used to having so many people around,¡± she replied, smiling as she brought them water. ¡°After the New Year, I let them go. It¡¯s quieter now, but cleaning this big house is a challenge.¡±
Lin Xian surveyed the opulent living room, his eyes catching on various expensive-looking paintings and calligraphy. However, one spot held a framed, wrinkled A4 printout, starkly contrasting with the surrounding luxury.
He walked over to it, unsurprised to find it was the framed copy of Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s university eptance letter.
To her, this was the most precious item in the house. The other frames were dusty, but this one was immacte, cleaned diligently.
Lin Xian stood there, staring at the forged eptance letter, pondering how long she spent each day admiring it, how many years she had felt pride in it.
¡°Which university did you graduate from?¡± she asked him.
¡°Donghai University,¡± Lin Xian responded.
¡°Donghai¡ That¡¯s far from Hunan University, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. To someone who had perhaps never left the vige, the distance seemed vast. To her, Hunan University was the pinnacle of academia.
¡°Did Zhou Duan Yune home for the New Year?¡± he asked.
¡°Not this year,¡± she replied, shaking her head. ¡°He¡¯s been very busy. He usuallyes home every year, not just for the New Year, but often. He¡¯s a very filial son, always calling me, buying me things, and sending goodnight messages every night. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone else¡¯s child doing that.¡±
¡°Every night?¡± Lin Xian was surprised. ¡°Every single night?¡±
He himself found the idea daunting. He knew his own mother would appreciate it, but it felt somewhat awkward to him. In this regard, he admired Zhou Duan Yun. Sending a nightly goodnight was perhaps harder than building a nine-story mansion.
¡°Yes, every night! Look!¡± she eximed, showing him her phone and the WeChat chat with Zhou Duan Yun.
Lin Xian took the phone. Every night without fail, a message read: ¡°Mom, good night.¡±
Sometimes, ¡°Rest early, Mom.¡± or ¡°I¡¯m going to bed, Mom.¡±
He scrolled quickly through the chat history. The conversation was repetitive, almost exclusively goodnight messages. For anything important, they would call. Who uses WeChat to chat with their mom all day? Certainly not Lin Xian.
¡°Every night, without fail,¡± Lin Xian muttered, scrolling back through the messages, which soon blurred into a sea of simr short texts. He was already back to July 2022, and still, it was just goodnight messages.
Curious, he continued scrolling, eager to see when this routine started.
¡°I wait for his goodnight every night before I sleep,¡± she said, her smile broadening as she looked at Zhou Le. ¡°I always tell him, Zhou Duan Yun is the best child in the world!¡±
Lin Xian reached back to 2021, still encountering the same nightly messages. It seemed endless.
Then, suddenly, amidst the short texts, two long messages stood out. Lin Xian stopped scrolling and went back.
He was intrigued. Why these long messages all of a sudden?
He found them from October 17, 2021, at 4:26 PM:
¡°Mom, I can¡¯t hide anymore¡ Call the police for protection! The person trying to kill me is Ji Xin Shui!¡±
Chapter 171: The Truth Comes to Light
Lin Xian¡¯s thumb hovered over the phone screen. ¡°Mom, the person who wants to kill me is Ji Xin Shui!¡± He stared at the message Zhou Duan Yun had sent his mother at the end of 2021, utterly shocked.
He had pictured countless scenarios about how Zhou Duan Yun and Ji Xin Shui might be connected. Logically, shouldn¡¯t they be partners, aplices, or even boss and subordinate? But this suggested they were enemies.
Lin Xian read on. Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mom hadn¡¯t responded right away, probably because the message was sent in the afternoon. Two hourster, Zhou Duan Yun sent another text: ¡°Mom, I was just ying a game of Truth or Dare with my friends. Don¡¯t take it seriously.¡±
Then, their usual nightly goodnight texts continued, with nothing seeming out of the ordinary.
Lin Xian scrolled up and down a few more times but found no other useful information. He exited the chat and handed the phone back to Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mom without a word. She was happily chatting with Zhou Le.
Walking around the room, Lin Xian thought about the two messages he had just seen: ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t escape¡ call the police for protection! Ji Xin Shui is trying to kill me!¡± and ¡°Mom, it was just Truth or Dare, don¡¯t worry about it.¡±
No way this was just a game.
Zhou Duan Yun was a devoted and caring son, as his mother described. He wouldn¡¯t joke about something this serious. Any decent kid wouldn¡¯t make up something that would cause their mom such stress. And no mother would want to get a message like that.
Plus, even if Zhou Duan Yun had yed a bad joke, he wouldn¡¯t have waited two hours to exin it. Usually, he¡¯d clear things up in ten minutes. So, Lin Xian concluded: ¡°Zhou Duan Yun lied!¡±But this lie must have been forced. At that time, he was in serious danger. He either made Ji Xin Shui mad or got caught doing something wrong. Around 4 PM when the first message was sent, Zhou Duan Yun truly thought Ji Xin Shui was out to kill him. He urgently warned his mom about the danger, named the supposed killer, and told her to call the cops.
This was typical for Zhou Duan Yun. He adored his mom. After making some money, his first move was to better her life. When in trouble, her safety was his priority.
But then, something changed in those two hours. Zhou Duan Yun got out of immediate danger from Ji Xin Shui.
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian thought, ¡°he didn¡¯t just escape. If he had just fled, he could hide temporarily but not forever. And what about his mom? If Zhou Duan Yun had truly escaped, why was he still openly walking around in Donghai City, almost challenging Ji Xin Shui? It didn¡¯t add up.¡±
Thus, it seemed Zhou Duan Yun didn¡¯t escape from Ji Xin Shui; perhaps they struck a deal, became aplices, or Ji Xin Shui spared him but made him a follower.
¡°This exins everything,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. The chat records on Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mom¡¯s phone today tied all the clues together, forming aplete logical framework. Thinking back to dinner with Zhou Duan Yun, Tang Xin, and Gao Yang, Lin Xian recalled Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s conversation with Tang Xin:
¡°What¡¯s Tang Xin doing now?¡±
¡°I work at the Donghai Revival Pharmaceutical Research Institute.¡±
¡°Oh, I know your boss!¡±
¡°Really?! He¡¯s a big deal¡ he used to mentor Professor Xu Yun! You know him? Are you close?¡±
¡°Not really, we¡¯ve done some business, but I don¡¯t like him. He¡¯s too arrogant.¡±
This clue matched! The institute¡¯s boss and Xu Yun¡¯s mentor were one and the same: Ji Xin Shui. He hired Tang Xin in Donghai and also tried to kill Zhou Duan Yun. Zhou Duan Yun acknowledged Ji Xin Shui but found him arrogant.
Theirplicated rtionship fit Lin Xian¡¯s deductions perfectly.
Lin Xian nced at the fake Hunan University eptance letter encased in ss¡ Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s life post-exam was woven with lies. But often, the truth was hidden among these lies, intricately linked.
From the evidence, Lin Xian figured out that Zhou Duan Yun and Ji Xin Shui had a tangled rtionship. In Tang Xin¡¯s murder, they were surely aplices. Ji Lin, despite his smarts and investigative skills, never suspected Zhou Duan Yun or Ji Xin Shui. Given his closeness with Ji Xin Shui, he was probably in on the conspiracy behind Tang Xin¡¯s murder.
The killers of Tang Xin and Xu Yun were clearly the same people. So, Ji Xin Shui, who Xu Yun saw like a father, and the admiring young Ji Lin, were the murderers.
This realization gave Lin Xian the creeps. He had always believed everyone had some decency, enough to avoid hurting their own family. But clearly, Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin were nothing short of monstrous.
Lin Xian was sure Zhou Duan Yun might risk Tang Xin¡¯s life or even his own someday, but he would never hurt his own mother. However, Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui¡
¡°What could possibly justify their murdering someone as close as Xu Yun? What benefit did killing Xu Yun bring them?¡± Lin Xian pondered, confused.
But ultimately, the why mattered less than the what. He now fully understood what Yellow Finch meant by: ¡°You don¡¯t have to seek trouble; it will find you. You might not see it yet¡ but your cat-and-mouse game has already started.¡±
Indeed, trouble had found him, and it was now a constantpanion. Zhou Duan Yun, a seemingly friendly ssmate, was practically glued to his side. Ji Lin, a genius with high IQ posing as a friend, had infiltrated the Donghai police and earned their trust. Ji Xin Shui, a globally influential figure, was too powerful for Lin Xian to confront directly.
And these were just the enemies he knew about. Who knew how many other unseen threats were out there?
This cat-and-mouse game was daunting. The power imbnce was severe. He felt like a mouse on thin ice, surrounded by cats with glowing eyes, waiting for him to slip so they could pounce.
His situation was dire, but at least now he knew who the murderers were, preventing him from falling into their traps. He had gained some leverage.
The next step was figuring out how to turn the tables, bring these murderers to justice, and avenge Professor Xu Yun and Tang Xin!
Soon, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mom finished her chat with Zhou Le, who then stood up to leave with Lin Xian. Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mom brought out arge bag of peanuts, insisting Lin Xian take them home.
¡°Auntie, we young people don¡¯t really cook. They¡¯d just spoil if I took them. Better you keep them,¡± Lin Xian said politely.
But Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s mom followed them to the yard, cing the big stic bag in Lin Xian¡¯s hands: ¡°Auntie¡¯s peanuts are tasty, take them home for your family!¡±
She gestured to the vast yard full of peanut nts: ¡°I grow so many just to stay busy. Haven¡¯t eaten a single one in ages.¡±
Recalling how she and her son had eaten unsold peanuts that were nearly spoiled during tough times, she smiled: ¡°We ate so many back then, I feel like I¡¯ve had my fill for a lifetime¡¡±
Finally, unable to reject her kindness, Lin Xian epted the peanuts. After a brief visit and some light conversation at Zhou Le¡¯s house, Lin Xian caught a cab to the train station, carrying therge bag of peanuts onto the high-speed train back to Donghai.
Stepping out of the station, the sky was dark, and a light rain was falling. Standing in the rain, Lin Xian looked towards the brightly lit Donghai City in the distance¡ It seemed this game of hide and seek had truly begun!
Chapter 172: The Dead Man
It was a dark night on the outskirts of Wolfsburg, Germany.
Beep. Beep.
The parking lights of a white Volkswagen flickered briefly, apanied by the soft click of the doors unlocking.
A man in a whiteb coat with a scruffy beard emerged from a nearbyboratory. He opened the car door and drove off into the night.
The road ahead was dark, illuminated only by the car¡¯s headlights and the asional reflective road sign. In these sparsely popted areas, the infrastructure was minimal, the roads stretching wide and straight with hardly any traffic.
This was a familiar scene for the man; histe work hours meant he rarely saw other vehicles. Compared to the bustling cities of Asia, Europe¡¯s poption density was quite low.
Suddenly, a warning light on the car¡¯s dashboard shed on. The tire pressure monitor indicated that the right rear tire was rapidly losing air.
¡°Could it be a t tire? Maybe I ran over a nail,¡± he thought.
He pulled over, switched on the hazard lights, and stepped out to inspect the tire using his phone¡¯s shlight. A nail was indeed embedded in the tire.But this wasn¡¯t a major issue for him. In Wolfsburg, the hometown of Volkswagen, changing a tire was a skill shared universally, almost as instinctive as a baby knowing how to nurse.
He opened the trunk, grabbed the car jack, and began changing the tire.
Boom!
Out of the darkness, a Hummer with its lights off sped towards him, smashing into him and pinning him between the two vehicles. Blood sttered everywhere as his body was gruesomely crushed.
Boom¡
The Hummer reversed and disappeared down the dark road.
From a nearby rooftop, an old man and a young man observed the scene in silence.
Ji Xin Shui checked his wristwatch.
00:42:58
00:42:59
00:43:00
¡°Operating abroad has its advantages,¡± the old man remarked, his voice raspy. He disliked the climate, preferring more humid environments at his age.
¡°Indeed,¡± Ji Lin responded calmly. ¡°There¡¯s more space, fewer people. The privacyws here mean surveince isn¡¯t as intense, which saves us a lot of trouble. Plus, the local police aren¡¯t as thorough.¡±
He sniffed the air, ncing at the abandoned white Volkswagen, its hazard lights still blinking in the darkness. ¡°If I had to choose a ce to retire, it would definitely be somewhere else.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Xin Shui nodded. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the need to draw Lin Xian out, I wouldn¡¯t have involved Tang Xin in a killing in Donghai. Two simr events in one city would certainly raise suspicions. But it¡¯s good you took control of the Donghai Public Security Bureau.¡±
¡°Lin Xian is overly cautious,¡± Ji Lin mused, shaking his head. ¡°He didn¡¯t fall for the trap with Tang Xin. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s on high alert. It¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll find any proof of him meddling with history now.¡±
¡°He didn¡¯t take the bait with Zhou Duan Yun either?¡± Ji Xin Shui inquired.
¡°No,¡± Ji Lin replied softly. ¡°Zhou Duan Yun was just bait, but Lin Xian didn¡¯t bite. He is still alive.¡±
¡°What is Lin Xian thinking? Does heck the supernatural abilities we suspect, or is he just being overly cautious?¡± Ji Xin Shui pondered.
¡°Never mind that. Zhou Duan Yun was expendable,¡± Ji Xin Shui dismissed with a scoff. ¡°He was kept alive specifically for this purpose.¡±
¡°You¡¯re always so cautious,¡± Ji Lin noted, turning to face Ji Xin Shui. ¡°Even though we captured him in international waters, eliminating him wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. The Genius Club wouldn¡¯t be aware of such a minor detail.¡±
¡°We can¡¯t afford risks,¡± Ji Xin Shui said, his wrinkled face stern. ¡°The Genius Club is formidable, to the extent that it makes one question the very fabric of this world.¡±
¡°Pride, the man you just killed was a member of the Genius Club, wasn¡¯t he?¡± Ji Lin asked once more.
Ji Xin Shui remained silent; there was no need for words. Ji Lin already knew about his contact within the Genius Club.
¡°This method of killing without evidence, just like with Tang Xin, it must be someone else¡¯s directive,¡± Ji Lin remarked, looking down and smiling. ¡°Yet with Lin Xian, it¡¯s different. No one ordered his death directly. It¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to impress someone, like a student eager to show off in ss. That¡¯s why you¡¯re desperate for evidence to prove Lin Xian is altering history. Why not be straightforward? Is joining the Genius Club really about catching someone altering history?¡±
¡°You¡¯re mistaken, Ji Lin,¡± Ji Xin Shui countered, shaking his head. ¡°Stop trying to pry. I¡¯m simply doing my job. You should focus on finding proof against Lin Xian.¡±
¡°If we¡¯re sessful, we¡¯ll get our answers naturally,¡± Ji Xin Shui concluded. ¡°By the way, why are you here in Germany? We¡¯ve already dealt with Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s research, and no one else knows about his secret work.¡±
Ji Lin unrolled a document. It was about Dr. Ponsmike: 47 years old, unmarried, living alone, no children. Though just a regr researcher at theb, he conducted peculiar experiments at home that he didn¡¯t want to share, hoping to gain recognition and wealth from his potential patents.
His project was controversial ¡ª a ¡°room-temperature superconductor.¡± Normally, superconductors work at extremely low temperatures, but a room-temperature version was considered impossible.
However, Xu Yun¡¯s new aluminum alloy had significantly advanced Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s research. Neither Ji Lin nor Ji Xin Shui fully grasped the scientific details, which confirmed Ji Lin¡¯s suspicion that Ji Xin Shui was affiliated with the Genius Club.
¡°I¡¯m curious, Pride,¡± Ji Lin said, examining theplex documents. ¡°If Dr. Ponsmike was working secretly, how did the Genius Club find out? How did they know so quickly?¡±
¡°His research, like Tang Xin¡¯s, was nascent. How did the Genius Club recognize its potential and predict its sess?¡±
¡°That¡¯s their strength. Their mystery!¡± Ji Xin Shui dered, his eyes glowing with respect. ¡°They¡¯ve never failed, never been wrong. My sess and position are testament to that.¡±
¡°You¡¯re quite the enigma,¡± Ji Lin chuckled. ¡°Same lines, over and over. Well, my visit is over. Make sure to erase all traces of Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s work, especially any documents rted to room-temperature superconductors.¡±
¡°No problem. We¡¯re professionals,¡± Ji Xin Shui replied dryly.
¡°Onest thing,¡± Ji Lin added, looking intently at Ji Xin Shui. ¡°You¡¯re certain it¡¯s eptable to sacrifice our own if needed, but not harm innocents?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Xin Shui nodded. ¡°They were already doomed. Envy, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath¡ I resurrected them. Except you, they¡¯re dispensable.¡±
¡°Death was their destiny. Their current lives interfere with history, much like Xu Yun and Tang Xin, albeit to a lesser degree.¡±
¡°I gave them a second chance. I understand this better than anyone,¡± Ji Xin Shui stated.
Ji Lin nodded, aware of Ji Xin Shui¡¯s ruthless streak. He refrained from killing unnecessarily, concerned it might jeopardize his standing with the Genius Club. But his logic was sound; the others were supposed to be dead, their lives now merely granted by Ji Xin Shui.
¡°Pride, have you forgotten your origins?¡± Ji Lin suddenly asked.
¡°Hmm?¡± Ji Xin Shui looked puzzled.
¡°Remember, you were once an unknown at Donghai University,¡± Ji Lin smiled. ¡°Your life was transformed by the Genius Club.¡±
¡°What are you getting at?¡± Ji Xin Shui frowned.
¡°Isn¡¯t it clear?¡± Ji Lin continued, gazing at the distant blinking Volkswagen. ¡°You altered the lives of Envy and Greed, making them expendable. But what about you? To the Genius Club, are you also just a pawn?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not like them!¡± Ji Xin Shui¡¯s voice rose. ¡°Stop trying to trap me, Ji Lin.¡±
¡°Why not test it with Lin Xian¡¯s case?¡± Ji Lin suggested, waving the research documents. ¡°I may not understand Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s work, but I recognize its potential. Do you realize what room-temperature superconductors could lead to? The ultimate breakthrough.¡±
¡°What would that be?¡± Ji Xin Shui asked, his brow furrowing.
¡°Controlled nuclear fusion,¡± Ji Lin dered, his eyes fixed on the industrialndscape of Wolfsburg.
Chapter 173: Forged History
¡°Controlled nuclear fusion¡¡± Ji Xin Shui paused, searching for the right words. ¡°You mean using a room-temperature superconductor to create a strong maic field, and using that field to contain the scorching sma, tackling the issue of managing the intense heat from nuclear fusion?¡±
Despite being out of active research for years, Ji Xin Shui, once a respected schr, still understood theplexities of controlled nuclear fusion.
The use of tritium as a fuel for nuclear fusion was nearly perfected in theory. The main hurdle was managing the immense heat generated by the fusion process, as no existing material could withstand such extreme temperatures. The best approach seemed to be using a strong maic field to contain the superheated sma, allowing the reaction to ur without any material contact.
However, another challenge presented itself. To maintain a strong maic field, superconductors needed to be kept below minus 100 degrees Celsius. Any higher and the superconductivity would cease. Thus, the challenge was to simultaneously maintain a system with sma at millions of degrees and another with superconductors at sub-zero temperatures.
If room-temperature superconductors were developed, it would simplify the entire system significantly, making sustainable, controlled nuclear fusion a real possibility. While other problems would undoubtedly emerge, if Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s research into room-temperature superconductors proved sessful, it would mark a major advancement in achieving controlled nuclear fusion.
¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±
Knowing Ji Xin Shui¡¯s academic background, Ji Lin didn¡¯t delve further.
¡°Even though it¡¯s a minor breakthrough, once this material is unveiled, it will cause as much buzz globally as Xu Yun¡¯s invention of the hibernation chamber fluid.¡±
Ji Xin Shui turned to Ji Lin.¡°So, you¡¯re nning to use this to lure out Lin Xian? Is this your ¡®forged history¡¯ n?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Lin confirmed.
¡°Right now, ording to the actual timeline, Dr. Ponsmike secretly developed the room-temperature superconductor. But since we¡¯ve eliminated him, only we and the Genius Club members are aware of this. You¡¯re great at keeping secrets, and you wouldn¡¯t share unnecessary details with Gluttony and Envy. Even Gluttony, who was merely our driver for the operation, doesn¡¯t know this real piece of history. Based on this, we can fabricate a false history.¡±
Ji Lin raised a document in his hand.
¡°We¡¯ll introduce someone as the pioneering scientist behind the room-temperature superconductor, then replicate Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s assassination at 00:42.¡±
¡°Controlled nuclear fusion could revolutionize human civilization. The murder of such a pivotal figure will certainly make history. If Lin Xian, as we suspect, can manipte historical events, he¡¯ll discover this fake scientist¡¯s death.¡±
¡°In that case, Lin Xian will probably use this setup to try and trap us. Each time a scientist arrives, and every night at 00:42, Lin Xian will be vignt, waiting for our move so he can apprehend us.¡±
Ji Xin Shui nodded in understanding.
¡°If we invent a scientist and Lin Xian still manages to save him, it suggests he indeed possesses some extraordinary ability to foresee or alter the future.¡±
¡°To ensure we collect solid proof, we¡¯ll add two moreyers of security on the day we execute the fake scientist,¡± Ji Lin whispered.
¡°Pride, use your connections to bring two real scientists to Donghai City that night. We¡¯ll have our impostor and the two legitimate scientists appear in three different ces. Let¡¯s see which one Lin Xian tries to save.¡±
¡°If he rescues the impostor to catch us, then our suspicions about him are confirmed.¡±
Ji Xin Shui chuckled.
¡°Ji Lin, this is why you¡¯ve been provoking Lin Xian, right? By murdering Tang Xin right before his eyes and challenging him openly, you¡¯re forcing him into a confrontation. Otherwise, if he remains hidden, we can¡¯t touch him.¡±
Ji Lin nodded.
¡°Now the question is, who will pose as this fake scientist?¡±
¡°Greed,¡± Ji Xin Shui suggested casually.
¡°He¡¯s a chatan in academic circles. I turned his life around, made him rich and famous, but he¡¯s just a shallow man. After all the benefits he¡¯s reaped, it¡¯s time he paid his dues.¡±
¡°Has Gluttony met Greed before?¡± Ji Lin asked.
¡°No,¡± Ji Xin Shui smiled.
¡°He¡¯s insignificant, just a thug who kills with a car. Let¡¯s use him this time. If sacrificing these two leads us to proof of Lin Xian meddling with history, it¡¯s worth it.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make the arrangements for them toe to Donghai.¡± Ji Lin gestured and started walking towards the rooftop stairs.
¡°Donghai¡ won¡¯t be peaceful again,¡± Ji Xin Shui mused, turning away from the railing.
¡°After all these years, it¡¯s still one of my favorite ces, next to Brooklyn. I hate to see it tainted with so much blood.¡±
¡°There won¡¯t be much more bloodshed.¡±
Ji Lin opened the stairwell door and stepped through.
¡°After this staged y at 00:42¡ it¡¯ll be Lin Xian¡¯s turn next.¡±
He vanished into the shadows of the stairwell, the iron door mming shut in the night wind¡ª
Bang!
¡
Inside Chu Shan He¡¯s mansion, the door was suddenly kicked open.
¡°Su! Xiu! Ying!¡± Su Su yelled, ring at the woman lounging on the sofa, infuriated: ¡°Why did you freeze my card?¡±
Su Xiu Ying leisurely sipped her tea before setting the cup down. She calmly met Su Su¡¯s enraged gaze: ¡°Your brother-inw told you to go on a blind date. You hung up on him. Freezing your card seems fair.¡±
¡°Why do you have the right to freeze my card? What gives you the authority?¡± Su Su demanded, pacing around the sofa, hands on her hips. ¡°You and Chu Shan He think you¡¯re above thew? Just freezing someone¡¯s bank card on a whim?¡±
¡°Hmph,¡± Su Xiu Ying scoffed.
¡°Calling your brother-inw by his name so disrespectfully? Shan He is more patient than I am. If I were him, I¡¯d take away all your shares. Who else would count the few thousand dors in your piggy bank as shares?¡±
¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable. I¡¯m done talking to you!¡± Su Su stormed off but quickly returned.
¡°Where¡¯s my brother-inw?¡±
¡°Not home,¡± Su Xiu Ying replied coolly.
¡°Unfreezing the card isn¡¯t hard. Just listen to us and go on the blind date.¡±
¡°Su Su, you¡¯re my sister, only four years older than An Qing. I¡¯ve practically raised you. Why would I harm you? Look at you, wasting your time. How long do you n to justze around?¡±
¡°I have money; why should I work?¡± Su Su copsed onto the sofa, looking defeated.
¡°Please, sis! Just leave me alone, okay? I¡¯m only 23. Why rush to get married?¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t get married and have kids, who will take care of you when you¡¯re older?¡±
¡°An Qing, of course!¡± Su Su responded confidently. ¡°Instead of finding me a date, find An Qing a good match! When I¡¯m old, I¡¯ll live with her, and her kids can call me godmother. They¡¯ll take care of me. See, I have it all figured out. Just waiting for An Qing to have kids. The more, the better.¡±
Bang!
Su Xiu Ying grabbed a sofa cushion and hurled it at Su Su.
¡°Great n! Depending on the old, then depending on the young, huh?¡±
¡°I¡¯m warning you, Su Su¡ª¡±
Su Xiu Ying red at her troublesome sister.
¡°You¡¯re going on this blind date, whether you like it or not! I¡¯ve found a good candidate. He¡¯s tall, handsome, and has great character! If he likes you, consider yourself lucky!¡±
¡°I¡¯m not forcing you to marry him, but at your age, it¡¯s time you met decent men, learned to be a good woman, a suitable wife, and did something meaningful.¡±
¡°If you want your card unfrozen, you¡¯ll go on this date tonight! Your brother-inw set it up, so no tricks!¡±
She handed Su Su a business card for the restaurant.
¡°7 PM, second floor, don¡¯t bete!¡±
Su Su turned away, annoyed. But she knew arguing or being stubborn wouldn¡¯t work with her sister. To get her card back, she had to go on this date. She grabbed the card.
¡°I¡¯ll go, but if I don¡¯t like him, don¡¯te crying to me!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so full of yourself,¡± Su Xiu Ying scolded.
¡°He might not even like you.¡±
¡°You¡¯re joking!¡±
Su Su flipped her bright yellow hair andughed.
¡°Do you know how many guys are after me?¡±
¡°Are they decent?¡± Su Xiu Ying looked skeptical.
¡°I don¡¯t even give them a second look! They¡¯re not worth it!¡±
¡°Are they decent?¡± Su Xiu Ying pressed.
¡°You know what they want, right?¡±
¡°Obviously!¡±
Su Su shrugged.
¡°All they see are my looks and my money. What else could they want? Maybe they¡¯re hoping to get close to my brother-inw. You think your choice is any different?¡±
¡°This one¡¯s different,¡±
Su Xiu Ying smiled confidently.
¡°He¡¯s noble, not greedy, exceptional in every way. You¡¯ll see. Don¡¯t mention our rtionship. Your brother-inw kept your identity a secret to avoid pressure. Just say you¡¯re a friend¡¯s daughter.¡±
Su Su snorted, looking at the restaurant card. She knew the ce; the caviar was excellent, a favorite spot among her friends.
¡°Fine, but you better unfreeze my card after. Who is he, and what does he do?¡±
¡°He¡¯s the deputy general manager of MX Company, young and promising!¡±
Su Xiu Ying beamed.
¡°His name is¡ Lin Xian!¡±
Chapter 174: The Blind Date
7 PM.
Lin Xian sat in a familiar Western restaurant, a ce he¡¯d visited twice before. First, he¡¯de with Zhao Ying Jun, and the second time, he¡¯d dined with Tang Xin. Now, he was back again, this time for a blind date arranged by Chu Shan He.
What a twist of fate!
That morning, Chu Shan He had woken Lin Xian with a phone call. Curious, Lin Xian answered and found Chu Shan He getting straight to the point. He had a friend¡¯s daughter around Lin Xian¡¯s age and thought they¡¯d make a good match.
¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s time you thought about settling down. Building a career and finding a partner can go hand in hand. You¡¯re alone in Donghai, and my friend¡¯s daughter is both beautiful and from a good family. It could be good for you two to meet. If it clicks, great. If not, no harm done.¡±
So, it was a blind date.
Rubbing his eyes, Lin Xian sat up in bed, pondering this unexpected setup. His only knowledge of blind dates came from over-the-top skits online, which depicted them as near-apocalyptic encounters.
Currently, his life was a whirlwind of personal challenges and dangers. How could he even consider dating?
Yet, declining Chu Shan He¡¯s well-intentioned offer without giving it a chance seemed impolite, especially given Chu Shan He¡¯s status. Plus, building a good rtionship with someone as influential as Chu Shan He could only help him as he was still establishing himself in Donghai.Considering the pros and cons, Lin Xian agreed to the date.
After all, a blind date was merely dinner with a stranger¡ªno strings attached.
¡°Haha, excellent,¡± Chu Shan He responded cheerily over the phone. ¡°Let¡¯s set it for 7 PM. I¡¯ve reserved the entire second floor of the restaurant for privacy. Just go, talk, and order whatever you like. No pressure.¡±
Lin Xian appreciated Chu Shan He¡¯s approach, respecting his feelings without making him feel obligated.
After hanging up, Lin Xian sighed. He was too kind-hearted, a trait his friend Gao Yang often pointed out as both a virtue and a w.
After a short nap, Lin Xian washed up and headed to the restaurant. He was familiar with the first floor from his previous visits but had never been to the second floor, which boasted a simryout with an expansive view from its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Upon his arrival, the manager greeted him warmly, ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, wee. Mr. Chu has arranged everything. The entire second floor is yours tonight. Let me know if you need anything.¡±
Nodding, Lin Xian checked his watch. It was 7 PM, but his date hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Given Donghai¡¯s notorious rush hour, a dy was understandable.
He passed the time watching cars stream into the parking lot below.
It was early spring, the days were lengthening, and by 7 PM, dusk was giving way to night. The restaurant buzzed with activity, luxury cars filled the first floor, while the second floor remained a quiet enve for his private event.
Finally, as darkness enveloped the sky and the restaurant¡¯s lights twinkled on, footsteps echoed up the spiral staircase.
Tap, tap, tap. They were steady, confident steps.
The first thing he saw was bright yellow hair and a bubble of gum popping loudly. A young woman dressed casually in a baseball cap, white T-shirt, light jacket, and denim shorts made her way up.
Lin Xian felt a breath of summer as she approached.
Screech¡ª
She walked directly to Lin Xian¡¯s table, pulled out a chair, and sat down with a confident air.
¡°You¡¯re Lin Xian, right?¡± she asked.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yes, hello, Su Su.¡±
Despite her tardiness, Lin Xian was unperturbed. Life happens.
The attentive manager soon arrived with menus. Lin Xian handed one to Su Su, saying, ¡°Take a look and see if there¡¯s anything you¡¯d¡ª¡±
¡°We¡¯re not suitable,¡± Su Su interrupted bluntly.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian stared at the girl in front of him, puzzled.
Is dating always this quick nowadays?
The manager was equally baffled, looking back and forth between Su Su and Lin Xian, unsure of what to say. He had witnessed many blind dates here, but none had concluded so swiftly.
¡°So¡ should we still order?¡± Lin Xian asked, feeling a wave of relief. He had been dreading how to kindly reject her without offending Chu Shan He. But now, it seemed unnecessary. She wasn¡¯t interested in him either. Problem solved!
Su Su whipped out her phone, snapping a few pictures of Lin Xian, the surroundings, and the manager, as if she were collecting evidence. Then, satisfied with her work, she nodded.
¡°Bye,¡± she said, swiftly grabbing her bag and exiting.
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian and the manager exchanged looks of astonishment.
She hade and gone in a sh. Lin Xian never anticipated his first blind date would end so abruptly.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian¡ since you¡¯re already here, why not stay for dinner?¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xian picked a few dishes he liked and handed back the menu. ¡°These will do.¡±
Meanwhile, the lobby on the first floor was bustling, with a long line forming.
Outside, a sleek ck Alphard pulled up at the entrance. The driver stepped out and opened the door for Zhao Ying Jun, who emerged in high heels.
The first-floor manager hurried over.
¡°Miss Zhao, wee!¡±
Miss Zhao had been a frequent visitortely and had upgraded her membership, earning the manager significantmissions, so he remembered her well.
However, he looked troubled today as he spoke to Zhao Ying Jun, ¡°If you had called me earlier, I could have saved you a spot. But now, we¡¯re fully booked, and the wait might be long. Maybe you could try another restaurant tonight?¡±
¡°No tables?¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow.
¡°Really? My driver checked, and the second floor looked empty. How can there be no tables?¡±
The manager bowed apologetically. ¡°Miss Zhao, the entire second floor is reserved tonight. Only the first floor is open to the public. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡±
¡°We only received the reservation request this afternoon. If you still want to dine tonight, I can put you on the waitlist and call you as soon as a table is ready.¡±
Reserved?
Zhao Ying Jun scoffed, folding her arms. Such a dramatic setup¡ it must be some rich young man trying to impress his girlfriend or celebrating her birthday.
¡°So romantic,¡± she remarked, observing the crowd exiting the restaurant.
Among them was a girl with vibrant yellow hair, chewing gum and wearing shorts.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Zhao Ying Jun told her driver with a grin. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t interrupt someone¡¯s special night.¡±
She climbed back into the Alphard, and the driver began to pull away.
Through the car window, Zhao Ying Jun nced at the brightly lit second floor¡
Indeed, it was empty, except for one man at a window table¡ a very familiar figure!
¡°Stop the car!¡±
She rolled down the window and peered at the restaurant¡¯srge ss wall.
The view was clear, showing the inside of the restaurant.
She wasn¡¯t mistaken!
The lone man upstairs was her secretary¡ª
Lin Xian!
What was going on?
Zhao Ying Jun blinked, confused. Renting out an entire restaurant didn¡¯t seem like Lin Xian¡¯s style. She thought she knew him well after all this time. He was typically low-key and not one to squander money like those wealthy young men.
¡°You go park. I¡¯ll check this out.¡± Zhao Ying Jun instructed her driver, grabbed her purse, and entered the restaurant.
Meanwhile, in the parking lot, a red McLaren¡¯s scissor door lifted. Su Su, still on the phone, climbed in, bncing the phone between her neck and shoulder.
¡°I¡¯m done here. I¡¯lle find you,¡± she said.
¡°You¡¯re too quick!¡± her friend eximed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just go in for the blind date? How are you done already?¡±
¡°Haha, I told him we¡¯re not suitable and left!¡± Su Suughed triumphantly. ¡°I even took pictures as proof! My sister just wanted me to go on the date, then she¡¯d unfreeze my card. I went, didn¡¯t like him, totally normal! Problem solved!¡±
¡°Haha¡ but isn¡¯t that awkward? At least have dinner first! The guy must be hurt and disappointed.¡±
¡°Who cares!¡± Su Su chewed her gum, recalling the polite young man. ¡°Though¡ he did seem kind of quiet, maybe a bit sensitive.¡±
¡°Then gofort him!¡±
¡°No way!¡± Su Su started the roaring McLaren and nced at the second floor¡¯s ss windows. ¡°If he¡¯s upset, he¡¯ll get over it. I¡ª¡±
She spat out her gum.
¡°Wah?!¡± Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°This guy¡¯s a yer! He¡¯s on another date already!¡±
From her vantage point¡ the spacious second-floor restaurant, Lin Xian was still seated there.
But now, a poised, attractive woman was opposite him!
The woman was also dressed up, clearly there for a date!
The worst part, Lin Xian was talking andughing with this woman! Even the food had arrived!
What was this, a speed-dating event?
Were there girls lined up downstairs? Was he picking brides? Did he think he was a king?
¡°So low!¡± Su Su gagged. ¡°I¡¯m disgusted! Am I just a backup?¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on, Su Su?¡± her friend asked.
¡°My blind date! He¡¯s got another girl lined up! Wow¡ I thought I¡¯d only see this in dramas. Turns out, it happens in real life!¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Yes! I¡¯m watching from downstairs! I just left, and he¡¯s already on another date! This guy¡¯s a master at time management, not wasting a minute!¡±
¡°Haha, you got yed.¡±
¡°yed my foot! I¡¯m pissed!¡±
Bang!
Su Su mmed the door and stomped back towards the restaurant.
This was too much!
¡°Hanging up!¡± she told her friend angrily, ring at the coupleughing and chatting on the second floor.
¡°If they hit it off¡ I¡¯ll change myst name from Su!¡±
Chapter 175: No Taking Leave
Ten minutes earlier, the sharp clicks of high heels echoed through the empty second floor of the restaurant. Lin Xian nced toward the staircase.
Why is she back? Did she forget something?
He peeked at the table where Su Su had just been. There was nothing left behind. She hadn¡¯t even set down her handbag or removed her coat. Clearly, she didn¡¯t n to stay.
He wasn¡¯t troubled. It meant he didn¡¯t have to exin anything to Chu Shan He. Having her uninterested was actually a relief.
The sound of high heels grew louder, and Lin Xian looked up at the staircase again.
¡°Huh?¡± He blinked in surprise, ¡°Ms. Zhao?¡±
This was unexpected¡ Lin Xian thought Su Su was returning, but it was his boss, Zhao Ying Jun.
Today, Zhao Ying Jun looked particrly sharp in a sleek ck outfit with a white coat draped over her shoulders. And those must be silver earrings¡ Lin Xian¡¯s gaze subtly shifted to her earrings. Just as he thought, the anti-counterfeitingbel was intact.
Zhao Ying Jun had dressed up formally for dinner. She probably came straight from work. The restaurant was near her house, so stopping by for dinner made sense.As for why she headed directly to the second floor¡
Lin Xian nced at therge floor-to-ceiling window beside him. The view outside was clear; she must have seen him from downstairs.
While pondering this, Zhao Ying Jun approached him.
¡°Waiting for someone, Lin Xian?¡±
¡°No, just myself.¡± Lin Xian stood up, smiling.
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, ¡°Just you? Booking such a big space?¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Lin Xian exined, ¡°Chu Shan He booked this ce. He wanted to introduce me to a friend¡¯s daughter. But¡ it seems she wasn¡¯t interested. She left as soon as she sat down.¡±
¡°Hehe,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly. ¡°This girl has no taste, not even giving you a chance.¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Considering she¡¯s from Chu Shan He¡¯s circle, her family must be wealthy. It¡¯s normal for her not to be interested in someone like me. I expected this might happen.¡±
¡°So¡ the blind date is over now?¡± Zhao Ying Jun gestured toward the chair Su Su had been sitting in. ¡°Mind if I join you? It¡¯s crowded downstairs.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian gestured for Zhao Ying Jun to sit. ¡°Order whatever you like. It¡¯s on Chu Shan He tonight.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun removed her coat, and the manager promptly took it, hung it on a nearby coat rack, and pulled out a chair for her. He then handed her a menu.
¡°Ma¡¯am, what would you like to order? I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t look at the menu and directly ordered a few dishes, then smiled at Lin Xian.
¡°Since you brought me herest time, I¡¯ve beening often. I even got a membership card. It¡¯s close to my ce, and I really enjoy a few of their dishes. So, when I workte, Ie here to eat.¡±
¡°No wonder,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I was surprised to see you here today. The food is indeed good.¡±
They chatted for a few minutes, and the appetizers arrived quickly. It was clear the manager was right; they reserved the best ingredients and chefs for the second floor, especially since Chu Shan He had booked it. Special treatment was expected.
In Donghai, Chu Shan He¡¯s name was a golden ticket.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were enjoying their meal, chatting andughing, when suddenly¡ª
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
A blonde woman burst in, mming her hands on the table.
Bang!
Lin Xian looked up at the unexpected guest. It was Su Su.
¡°Humph!¡± Su Su sneered, ring at Lin Xian. ¡°Are you on a blind date or holding auditions? I just left, and you¡¯ve already got someone else. Isn¡¯t that disrespectful?¡±
She turned to Zhao Ying Jun, pointing at Lin Xian.
¡°Watch out! This guy is a yer! Believe it or not, he probably has more dates lined up. He¡¯s a total jerk!¡±
Lin Xian stood up, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. This is¡ª¡±
¡°No need to exin!¡± Su Su cut him off, annoyed. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re still single! How can you juggle dates like this? At least change locations before your next date! You¡¯re just being gross!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t find it gross,¡± Zhao Ying Jun interjected.
Lin Xian and Su Su both looked at her, puzzled. Zhao Ying Jun calmly sipped her tea, eyeing Su Su.
¡°Quick dating isn¡¯t a problem. If one doesn¡¯t work out, move on to the next. If I¡¯m not mistaken¡ your blind date is over, right? If not, please don¡¯t disrupt my meal.¡±
Lin Xian was stunned. Boss! Why are you ying along? You¡¯re just here for dinner, not a date!
He was utterly speechless. Whether Zhao Ying Jun was trying to support him or simply didn¡¯t want to deal with the rude interruption, she fully yed the part. Now that Zhao Ying Jun had ¡°admitted¡± it, Lin Xian didn¡¯t need to exin further. Even if he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t.
Zhao Ying Jun looked Su Su up and down, noting her trendy outfit¡ªwhite shorts showing off her legs and a cropped T-shirt revealing her navel. She picked up her teacup again.
¡°Besides¡ your outfit is a bit out of season.¡±
¡°You!¡± Su Su red, frustrated! She came to call out a yer, but the woman didn¡¯t appreciate her warning! She turned back to Lin Xian¡ They were a perfect match. Two peas in a pod.
Embarrassing!
If Lin Xian had changed venues for his date, she might have overlooked it, but using the same spot without even switching tables? That was a p in her face!
¡°Who said my date was over?¡±
Su Su pulled out a chair, sat down with her arms crossed, and crossed her legs.
¡°I just went downstairs to get something. Our date hasn¡¯t even started!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked out at the distant neon lights, smiling, leaning back in her chair, and crossing her legs too.
¡°You left, but now you¡¯re back?¡±
¡°That¡¯s none of your business! I was here first!¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Zhao Ying Jun folded her arms, watching the two like an amused spectator. ¡°Continue your date. I¡¯ll just sit here and wait.¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you being a nuisance?¡±
¡°Just pretend I¡¯m not here.¡±
Lin Xian felt helpless. What was happening? He had done nothing and said nothing, yet he was caught in this mess. This was ridiculous.
One girl clearly didn¡¯t want the date, treating it as a formality; the other came just for a free meal. Why were they suddenly at odds? This wasn¡¯t supposed to be a ¡°live blind date with three people¡±! What a bizarre scenario!
But Lin Xian didn¡¯t know what to say. One girl was introduced by Chu Shan He, so he had to show respect. The other was his boss, who was clearly backing him up. He couldn¡¯t expose her lie; that would embarrass her.
Though Lin Xian kept smiling, he sighed inwardly¡ This situation was tooplicated. It was easier dealing with his usual enemies of Ji Lin and Duan Yun.
The nearby manager, doubling as a waiter, had been standing there for a while¡ He could see the situation was tense! Chu Shan He had specifically instructed him to take good care of Lin Xian, so he felt obligated to act. But now¡ the atmosphere had grown tense!
This was too much. He had to do something to ease the awkwardness. He approached with a menu, smiling, and handed it to Su Su.
¡°Miss, would you like to order something?¡±
¡°No need for a menu!¡± Su Su pushed it away, looking at the waiter. ¡°Bring me everything on the menu!¡±
She huffed. This guy had yed her, so she¡¯d make him pay.
¡°But, but¡¡± The manager was sweating. ¡°Miss, the three of you can¡¯t possibly eat that much. Our country promotes not wasting food¡ Besides, the table can¡¯t hold that many dishes.¡±
¡°Then bring the most expensive items and fill the table!¡± Su Su red at the waiter. ¡°Hurry up!¡±
¡°Alright, but¡¡± The manager looked at Lin Xian, unsure of what to do.
¡°Just do as she says,¡± Lin Xian said, still smiling. It¡¯s not much money¡ Besides, Chu Shan He was covering the bill tonight.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare it!¡± The manager quickly left. He realized it was better not to get involved. Standing there, he¡¯d only be a tool for the angry girl and make things harder for the guy.
¡
Soon, the food was served. Zhao Ying Jun quietly ate her ordered dishes, intending to watch the drama unfold, but the other two remained silent.
Su Su was still fuming, eating in silence, her knife and fork shing loudly. Lin Xian had given up¡ If they weren¡¯t talking, neither would he. He focused on his meal.
The whole second floor of the restaurant was silent, except for the sound of shing cutlery, creating the illusion of a fierce battle. The manager hid in a corner by the stairs, not daring to approach¡ The intense sound of shing cutlery made it seem like a fight could break out at any moment!
Please, don¡¯t let them fight¡ Those knives and forks were sharp!
¡
Soon, Zhao Ying Jun finished her meal. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, closed her eyes, and said: ¡°At this rate, it seems I won¡¯t get my turn today, huh?¡±
Su Su said nothing, her cutlery still shing loudly.
¡°I¡¯m full. You two carry on. I won¡¯t interrupt.¡± Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t hold back herughter anymore.
¡°Huh?¡± Su Su looked up, confused, at Zhao Ying Jun. Thetter stood up, speaking softly. ¡°I just joined the table for dinner. I¡¯m not here for a blind date. Lin Xian isn¡¯t the type you think he is. So, no need to be angry. It¡¯s just a blind date. If it works, great. If not, no hard feelings. Part ways amicably.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not here for a blind date!?¡± Su Su was stunned. ¡°Then why are you sitting here? What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun put on her coat, looking down at Su Su, ¡°I¡¯m his boss.¡±
¡°You two yed me!¡± Su Su jumped up.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun ignored Su Su, putting on her coat, grabbing her handbag, and looking at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯ve missed many days of work. There¡¯s a lot waiting for you.¡±
She pointed at Lin Xian with her index finger. ¡°Be in my office tomorrow morning. No taking leave.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xian replied.
Satisfied, Zhao Ying Jun hummed lightly, pleased, and walked away in her high heels.
Chapter 176: Go Ahead and Try If You Think You Can!
Watching the woman who imed to be Lin Xian¡¯s boss walk away with a smirk, Su Su felt both frustrated and humiliated. It was clear that the two had teamed up to mess with her, especially that arrogant woman. Since she was Lin Xian¡¯s boss, he obviously wouldn¡¯t dare ask her to y along in a charade. That whole act was her own improvisation, meant to embarrass Su Su!
It made her look ridiculous¡ like she was jealous over a man! What a joke! Su Su felt as if ants were crawling all over her skin. She had never been so embarrassed.
¡°She only came up because the first floor of the restaurant was full, and she saw me eating here on the second floor,¡± Lin Xian exined without prompting. He was introduced to her by Chu Shan He for a blind date. Out of respect for Chu Shan He, Lin Xian feltpelled to rify. ¡°You had just left, so she didn¡¯t see you and thought I was eating alone. It¡¯s just a coincidence and a misunderstanding, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±
¡°Is she really your boss?¡± Su Su asked, looking intently at Lin Xian.
¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xian confirmed. ¡°She¡¯s the CEO of MX Company.¡±
¡°She¡¯s so young!¡± Su Su eximed. She knew of MX Company¡ªshe used their moisturizing cream, which was far superior to the expensive luxury brands she had before. It was a breakthrough in skincare technology. But she never paid attention to business news, and her friends, all spoiled rich girls, didn¡¯t discuss such things. Learning that the CEO of MX Company was about her age was a shock.
¡°And so pretty.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian agreed. Zhao Ying Jun had stood up for him today, so he felt it was right to praise her a bit. ¡°And she has a great personality. Everyone at ourpany admires her.¡±¡°Hmph.¡± Su Su red at Lin Xian. ¡°Are you trying to say I have a bad personality? You two don¡¯t need to pretend to be nice! Just by looking at you, I can tell there¡¯s something shady going on! Be honest, do you want to mooch off a rich woman?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled but didn¡¯t respond. People are hard topare without contrasts, he thought. Before, he thought Chu An Qing had a great personalitypared to CC. But now,pared to Su Su, Chu An Qing seemed like an angel with her high emotional intelligence and charm.
Talking to Chu An Qing was always pleasant; she never made anyone ufortable. Even when he lied about that sketch, she had covered for him seamlessly. Su Su, on the other hand, was like a firecracker¡ very hard to get along with. Anyone who married her would have their hands full.
¡°What¡¯s that look for!¡± Su Su straightened up, sensing Lin Xian¡¯s disdain. ¡°Are you going to deny it?¡±
¡°Hey¡¡± Lin Xian sighed, looking at her helplessly. ¡°Since your father is friends with Chu Shan He, you should know Chu An Qing, right?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Su Su responded without hesitation. ¡°How could I not know An Qing? I am her¡ª¡± She stopped abruptly, remembering her sister¡¯s warning not to reveal her true identity to Lin Xian. It was crucial for unfreezing her bank ount; she couldn¡¯t mess it up.
¡°Hm?¡± Lin Xian looked at Su Su. ¡°Go on, what are you to An Qing?¡±
¡°I-I was introduced by her father for this blind date,¡± Su Su stammered, trying to cover up.
Lin Xian was speechless. ¡°You really are a repeater, repeating exactly what I said.¡±
¡°Why did you bring up An Qing?¡± Su Su quickly changed the subject.
¡°I just meant that An Qing has a great personality, very likable. You could be friends and chat more.¡±
Bang!
Su Su mmed her hand on the table. ¡°I¡¯m not short on people who like me! And I warn you, don¡¯t even think about hitting on An Qing, or Chu Shan He will throw you into the river to feed the fish!¡±
Lin Xian decided there was nothing more to say. He asked, ¡°Are you full?¡±
¡°I¡¯m full of anger because of you!¡±
¡°Then shall we go home?¡±
¡°You!¡± Su Su was fuming. This blind date had made her feel like a clown from start to finish. She had nned to leave gracefully, but this jerk had dismissed her first.
¡°If you don¡¯t want to go home yet¡ we could catch a movie,¡± Lin Xian suggested.
¡°Watch a movie? No way! Goodbye!¡± Su Su grabbed her handbag and stormed out.
Lin Xian sighed inwardly. Blind dates are like opening mystery boxes; no wonder so many people dread them. He followed Su Su downstairs. Outside the restaurant, they walked in opposite directions. Su Su headed to the parking lot, while Lin Xian continued to the street to hail a cab.
¡°Hmm?¡± Su Su retraced her steps and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯re not driving?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have a car.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have a car!?¡± Su Su stared at Lin Xian as if he were a caveman discovering fire. ¡°I thought you were the vice president of MX Company! What kind of stingy boss doesn¡¯t even give you a car?¡±
Seizing the opportunity to turn the tables, Su Su¡¯s confidence soared. ¡°What¡¯s the point of working for such a cheap boss? No fun at all!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not so bad¡¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°I¡¯m pretty happy.¡±
¡°Men without cars are hopeless,¡± Su Su dered, feeling triumphant. ¡°A car is a man¡¯s face!¡±
¡°Whatever you say¡¡± Lin Xian was puzzled by her sudden enthusiasm for cars and started to walk away.
¡°Hey, don¡¯t go!¡± Su Su grabbed Lin Xian, pulling him toward the parking lot. ¡°Come on, let me show you my car!¡±
¡°No need, really¡¡± Ignoring him, Su Su dragged Lin Xian to a red McLaren. Bang, bang, bang! Su Su proudly patted the McLaren¡¯s carbon fiber body. ¡°How about it? Isn¡¯t my car cool?¡±
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly. It was a McLaren Sabre, also known as the Child of the Wind or Ghost Child. Lin Xian knew a lot about cars. This one was very rare, supposedly only 15 in the world. Whether that was true, Lin Xian didn¡¯t know, but this was his first time seeing one in real life. The design was very futuristic, with exaggerated aerodynamic features, including sharp headlights, arge front splitter, and hood grooves. Its aggressive look matched Su Su¡¯s personality.
The McLaren¡¯s price was over 20 million yuan, but with its rarity, the real value was hard to determine. However¡ Su Su frowned. Lin Xian¡¯s calm reaction didn¡¯t meet her expectations. Most guys would be thrilled or at least surprised by such a car! But this guy was just too calm.
¡°You don¡¯t know much about cars, do you?¡± Su Su guessed.
¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± Lin Xian smiled.
¡°This McLaren Sabre has the most powerful twin-turbo V8 engine, with 824 horsepower! It can go from zero to 100 in just 2 seconds!¡±
¡°Impressive,¡± Lin Xian pped lightly.
¡°Do you know what that means?¡± Su Su raised her eyebrows and waved her hand. ¡°Never mind, you wouldn¡¯t understand. Get in!¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian was confused. ¡°I thought we were just looking at the car?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll drive you home!¡± Su Su volunteered. ¡°And you can experience the car¡¯s performance firsthand! You can¡¯t appreciate it just by looking; you need to feel the eleration and wind pressure!¡±
¡°I¡¯d rather take a cab.¡±
¡°Oh,e on! You should seize this opportunity. Most people never even see a car like this!¡± Practically shoving him, Su Su opened the scissor door and pushed Lin Xian inside.
Resigned, Lin Xian fastened his seatbelt. He had to admit, the interior was top-notch, designed for luxury and speed. But after years of driving dream cars in his sleep, he was immune to the thrill. He just wanted to go home.
Roar!
Su Su started the McLaren Sabre and even lowered the window so Lin Xian could hear the engine¡¯s thunderous roar. ¡°How¡¯s that? Awesome, right?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a bit loud. Can you close the window?¡±
¡°That¡¯s called engine noise! It¡¯s supposed to be loud! You¡¯re so ignorant.¡±
Su Su floored the gas pedal,unching the car with a burst of speed! She didn¡¯t even wait for the parking gate to lift, just sped under it thanks to the car¡¯s low profile. She nced at Lin Xian¡ nothing! No reaction at all! Didn¡¯t this maneuver deserve some surprise?
Gritting her teeth, Su Su vowed to make him gasp. She turned onto the highway.
¡°Wait, this isn¡¯t the way to my ce. You¡¯re going the wrong way,¡± Lin Xian reminded her.
¡°Shut up. There¡¯s too much traffic over there.¡±
¡°But what does that have to do with taking me home?¡± Lin Xian was exasperated. What was she up to?
Roar!
The McLaren¡¯s engine roared as it sped up, heading for the less crowded outskirts. The speedometer climbed rapidly! 120, 140, 180, 200 kilometers per hour! At 200 km/h, the wind outside was like a sharp de!
Su Su squinted her eyes and nced at Lin Xian. Now he must be panicking, right?
¡°Move left,¡± Lin Xian saidzily, half-asleep, leaning against the window.
¡°Huh?¡± Su Su was speechless. Wasn¡¯t he too calm? This was the city highway, and they were going 200 km/h! At 160 km/h, her previous passengers were terrified. And yet, this guy seemed ready to doze off.
However, something more surprising happened! Zoom¡ª Even at 200 km/h, a red car overtook them like a ghost! Its speed was impressive! Both Su Su and Lin Xian were stunned. That car must be going at least 240 km/h! Who was so fearless?
The red car overtook them, then provocatively slowed down, shing its indicators. Lin Xian recognized it. It was a Ferrari LaFerrari, just like Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s. Seeing the license te¡
¡°What the heck?¡± Lin Xian straightened up. What was going on? That Ferrari was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s! He had driven it in the rain before! Was Zhao Ying Jun not home? She couldn¡¯t have gone back to the office just to take out the Ferrari for a joyride, could she? That was impossible.
Up ahead was a left turn. At 200 km/h, any turn was sharp. Su Su braked hard. But the Ferrari didn¡¯t slow down¡ it drifted around the corner, tires screeching!
¡°What the heck!¡± Both Su Su and Lin Xian eximed simultaneously. That driving skill was incredible! Now Lin Xian was sure the Ferrari driver wasn¡¯t Zhao Ying Jun. She didn¡¯t have those skills! Whoever was driving was a master. Who was it?
The Ferrari¡¯s key should be in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office drawer. Only he and Zhao Ying Jun knew the code. ¡°Wait!¡± Lin Xian realized. There was one more person who knew the code! Yellow Finch! The mysterious woman from that rainy night in his office! The person in that Ferrari was likely Yellow Finch!
¡°Catch up with her!¡± Lin Xian shouted. He had many questions for Yellow Finch and couldn¡¯t let her get away.
¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do! I was going to chase her anyway!!¡± Su Su, infuriated by the day¡¯s events, floored the gas pedal, following the red Ferrari.
¡°You¡¯re doing it wrong,¡± Lin Xian said as Su Su struggled with another turn. ¡°You¡¯re losing speed in the curves. You need to drift to keep up.¡±
¡°Shut up!¡± Su Su was sweating, gripping the wheel tightly as she overtook two cars.
¡°You can¡¯t overtake like that!¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but advise. ¡°You¡¯re slowing down too much! Look at the Ferrari; they¡¯re cutting in smoothly. Why are you driving so cautiously?¡±
¡°What are you yelling about!¡± As the Ferrari pulled further away, Su Su couldn¡¯t take it anymore and mmed her hand on the wheel. ¡°If you think you can do better, go ahead and try!¡±
Chapter 177: Yellow Finchs Purpose
¡°Absolutely!¡± Lin Xian eximed with enthusiasm.
He had been eagerly waiting for this chance! Earlier, while watching Su Su¡¯s questionable driving, he had nervously seen the Ferrari disappearing into the distance. He had been itching to take the wheel himself and chase after Yellow Finch.
But he couldn¡¯t just seize control; it was Su Su¡¯s car, after all. Now that she had offered him the chance, Lin Xian was more than ready.
¡°Quick, pull over and let me drive.¡±
¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Su Su stared at him like he had gone crazy. ¡°This isn¡¯t a toy. Driving isn¡¯t as simple as just hitting the elerator.¡±
¡°Oh, please, just pull over!¡± Lin Xian urged, pointing to where the red Ferrari had vanished around the corner. ¡°If you dy any longer, we¡¯ll never catch them. Can you live with that humiliation? Will you be able to sleep tonight if we don¡¯t catch them?¡±
Su Su was momentarily speechless. He had a point. She had never felt so insulted. No one had ever dared to be so bold in front of her. She needed to overtake them.
Complying, Su Su slowed the car and pulled over. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smirk internally. Su Su was predictable. Logic and reason were futile with her; a bit of reverse psychology worked perfectly.Click.
Su Su unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. She gave Lin Xian a stern look as he settled into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You better not mess this up.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll restore the honor of your Wind God!¡± Lin Xian reassured her as he buckled up and watched her close the car door.
Vroom!!!!!
The engine roared as Lin Xian mmed the gas pedal, the force pinning them back in their seats. In that moment, Lin Xian felt a deep connection with the car, perfectly in tune with its immense power and sensitive steering.
Years of dream racing had honed Lin Xian¡¯s instincts. He was inpletemand, managing the car¡¯s power and reaction time with ease.
The McLaren Wind God burst forward like a sprinting antelope, elerating rapidly into the traffic ahead.
¡°Watch out! There¡¯s a car right there!¡± Su Su screamed. They were in the slowne after pulling over, and several sluggish vehicles blocked their path to the left. elerating this aggressively in such traffic was risky.
To Su Su¡¯s amazement, Lin Xian swiftly turned off all driving aids on the dashboard. The car switched to full manual mode, even the basic stability control was disabled.
Despite the hectic traffic, Lin Xian kept his foot on the gas. The McLaren weaved through cars like a swift snake, dodging obstacles at high speed and still elerating.
Su Su was stunned. This was still her car, but it now behaved like an entirely different beast, skirting through traffic faster than she could have ever imagined. It surpassed any racing game she had yed.
Quickly, the McLaren Wind God shifted from the slowne to the fastne, now reaching speeds of 160 kilometers per hour and still increasing.
Ahead was a sharp left turn. Lin Xian showed no signs of slowing down.
Su Su tightened her seatbelt, a mix of fear and excitement taking hold. Being a passenger was drastically different from driving. At this speed, she wasn¡¯t sure how they¡¯d make the turn safely.
She looked over at Lin Xian. He appeared calm and collected, his face showing no sign of stress.
His hand movements were quick and precise, almost like a martial artist, barely visible to the eye.
¡°Hold on,¡± he said calmly. The strong centrifugal force pushed Su Su against the door.
The McLaren clung to the inside curve, drifting through the turn with a smooth, almost artistic arc.
Su Su had never seen a car elerate through a drift before. She had never driven her own car beyond 200 kilometers per hour, and now the speedometer showed 240. At this speed, the surroundings blurred into streaks.
Was it even possible to drive like this?
Su Su¡¯s perspective on driving shattered. Next to Lin Xian, her straightforward driving felt like a kiddie ride at a fair.
By the time they emerged from the turn, the speed had risen to 260 kilometers per hour. They weren¡¯t on a racetrack; this was just an ordinary overpass in the suburbs of Donghai City. Speeding like this was dangerously close to reckless.
Su Su felt slightly sick. She held her breath, her heart racing. The man beside her remained asposed as ever, his limits unreadable.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were fixed on the red Ferrari ahead, skillfully navigating through traffic. He was sure it was Yellow Finch driving. She had imed she wasn¡¯t his enemy, and Lin Xian believed her. She knew too many of his secrets. If she were hostile, he would have been in danger long ago.
¡°She¡¯s leading us somewhere,¡± Su Su yelled, pointing at the Ferrari just a few car lengths away. ¡°Overtake her!¡±
For someone aspetitive as Su Su, nothing was more thrilling than passing the car that had mocked her. She leaned forward, tapping Lin Xian on the shoulder.
¡°Quick! Pass on the left and roll down the right window!¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°I want to give her the finger!¡±
Lin Xian said nothing in response. Overtaking the Ferrari on a straight stretch was easy for the McLaren, given its superior power.
As the right window rolled down, they slowly passed the Ferrari. Su Su extended her middle finger out the window, a gesture of defiance.
¡°That felt great!¡± Su Su eximed, a proud smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re incredible! I owe you one. I wouldn¡¯t have slept tonight if we hadn¡¯t caught her. Here, have some gum.¡± She offered a piece to Lin Xian.
¡°No thanks,¡± Lin Xian replied, his attention still on the rearview mirror.
He knew Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t just racing for fun. She had a purpose.
Indeed, the Ferrari suddenly slowed down, indicating a right turn and exiting the overpass.
Lin Xian promptly followed.
Ahead, the sign for Donghai University Affiliated Hospital glowed in white letters.
Why was Yellow Finch leading him here?
A red light halted Lin Xian as the Ferrari disappeared into the hospital¡¯s parking lot. Lin Xian had been here twice before, both times visiting Xu Yi Yi¡¯s ward and Xu Yun.
Was Yellow Finch¡¯s visit connected to Xu Yun or Xu Yi Yi? She always seemed to lead him to something significant, never revealing her intentions directly.
As the light turned green, Lin Xian drove into the hospital parking lot. He wasn¡¯t concerned about losing Yellow Finch; she was clearly guiding him.
He parked near the hospital entrance. The red Ferrari was already there.
Lin Xian got out of his car.
¡°Hey, where are you going?¡± Su Su called from the passenger seat.
¡°I¡¯m visiting someone. Thanks for the ride. I¡¯ll head home on my own. Bye.¡±
¡°Wait!¡± Su Su¡¯s voice trailed off as Lin Xian walked briskly away, leaving her sitting in the car, her expression uncertain.
¡
Lin Xian approached the Ferrari quickly. The door was unlocked. He pressed the handle, and it swung open automatically.
The car was empty, no sign of Yellow Finch.
¡°Always so mysterious,¡± Lin Xian muttered, feeling the warm leather seat, proof that Yellow Finch had just departed. The car keys were left on the dashboard, secured under a napkin.
He picked up the napkin. Written in lipstick on it was a message: ¡°Remember to return the car.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. Yellow Finch really treated Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office like her own, taking keys and driving cars freely, simr to his actions with Li Cheng in the dream world.
Stepping out of the car, he scanned the area. Yellow Finch was nowhere to be seen. Finding someone in the dark was nearly impossible, especially someone as elusive as Yellow Finch.
Yet, he was certain she had brought him to Donghai University Affiliated Hospital for a reason, likely to provide some crucial information, as she had before.
The only person in the hospital connected to him was Xu Yi Yi. Lin Xian remembered the frail girl, a shadow of her former self, lying in her hospital bed. After Xu Yun¡¯s death, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t visited her, though he knew Zhao Ying Jun would take good care of her. His guilt and remorse had kept him away.
He had promised himself he¡¯d visit her once he caught Xu Yun¡¯s killer, to share the news. He also vowed to ce her in a hibernation chamber once it was invented, fulfilling Xu Yun¡¯sst wish.
But these were just his excuses for dying the inevitable.
¡°¡.¡± He sighed deeply. He should have visited Xu Yi Yi long ago.
¡°No matter what,¡± Lin Xian thought, looking up at the lit windows on the 17th floor. ¡°I should visit Xu Yi Yi¡¯s ward.¡±
Chapter 178: Bury Me on the Moon
Lin Xian walked into the hospital and took the elevator to the 17th floor. As the doors closed, he remembered hisst visit to Xu Yi Yi¡¯s hospital room on December 29, 2022.
Two dayster, during the New Year¡¯s Eve party, Professor Xu Yun was tragically killed at 12:42 AM, right in the street. Since then, Lin Xian had focused on tracking down the killers. Over the months, his efforts paid off. He uncovered hints about something called the Universal Constant 42.
Though he didn¡¯t fully understand what 42 meant or how it was used, the fact that Big Cat Face¡¯s father died 600 yearster because of it hinted at a terrifying secret. He even tracked down the author of ¡°Introduction to the Cosmic Constant.¡± It was only a matter of time before he cracked the mystery of 42.
Once everything was safe, his n was to bring Liu Feng to Donghai City, set up ab for him, and let him delve into the secrets of 42. With that knowledge, Lin Xian would be ready to face his enemies.
For now, he had pinpointed the killers: Zhou Duan Yun, Ji Lin, and Ji Xin Shui were definitely behind Xu Yun¡¯s murder. He just needed solid proof to bring them to justice.
Ding¡ª
The elevator stopped at the 17th floor, and Lin Xian headed straight to Xu Yi Yi¡¯s room.
¡°Huh?¡±The door was slightly open. Inside, a stranger stood by Xu Yi Yi¡¯s bed, doing rehab exercises on the sleeping Xu Yi Yi. Lin Xian could only see his back. The man wasn¡¯t tall but looked strong, like someone used to physical work. His hair was neatlybed, and he had a hint of stubble on his clean-shaven chin. He carefully lifted Xu Yi Yi¡¯s thin leg, bending and stretching it gently, just like Professor Xu Yun used to do.
Lin Xian watched silently. The man¡¯smitment to Xu Yi Yi¡¯s rehab made Lin Xian think he might be a nurse hired by the hospital. But then again, he didn¡¯t really look like a nurse.
Soon, the man finished the exercises and noticed Lin Xian at the door.
¡°Sir, who are you?¡± he asked politely in broken Mandarin.
¡°I¡¯m a friend of Professor Xu Yun,¡± Lin Xian replied, pointing to the bedridden Xu Yi Yi. ¡°I came to visit Xu Yi Yi. And you are¡?¡±
The man smiled, turned around, and nodded.
¡°I¡¯m Zheng Cheng He, a rtive from the next room.¡± He pointed to the left wall. ¡°My sister has been sick and in the hospital for years. Because our rooms are next to each other, we got a lot of help from Professor Xu Yun. Professor Xu Yun was a big help to us. Recently, he shared many of his techniques with us. My sister and I are very thankful to him.¡±
He looked at Xu Yi Yi with concern. ¡°After Professor Xu Yun¡¯s ident, I worried Xu Yi Yi might feel lonely, so my sister and I oftene to chat with her and help with her rehab.¡±
Lin Xian nodded politely. Zheng Cheng He and Professor Xu Yun shared amon struggle¡ªone with a long-term hospitalized sister; the other, a daughter in a vegetative state. Clearly, Professor Xu Yun was kind to this brother and sister, inspiring Zheng Cheng He to help with Xu Yi Yi¡¯s rehab.
As Lin Xian got closer to the bed, he noticed the left side of Zheng Cheng He¡¯s face was covered in scars. Some scars ran from his neck to his ear, looking pretty scary. Even though they had healed a long time ago, they were still raised and red. In contrast, the skin on his right side was unmarked.
¡°What happened to your face?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Oh, I was bitten by a dog when I was a kid,¡± Zheng Cheng He replied, touching the scars with a smile. ¡°I was careless and got bitten by a neighbor¡¯s dog.¡±
¡°That looks pretty serious.¡±
¡°It was serious back then, but I healed. It just looks scary and a bit ugly, but it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± a young voice suddenly shouted from the doorway.
Lin Xian turned to see a girl in hospital clothes. She was very pale and looked frail. She had long hair and was very thin, probably about thirteen or fourteen years old.
¡°My brother isn¡¯t careless. He protected me! He¡¯s a hero!¡± The girl stubbornly clutched Zheng Cheng He¡¯s coat and looked up at Lin Xian.
Lin Xian smiled, squatting down to her level. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°I¡¯m Zheng Xiang Yue,¡± she replied with a bell-like voice.
¡°Zheng Xiang Yue? That¡¯s a lovely name,¡± Lin Xian said, surprised. He looked up at Zheng Cheng He. ¡°Both of you have great names. Your parents must have been very cultured.¡±
However, Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s expression suddenly darkened.
Lin Xian realized he might have said something wrong.
¡°I¡¯ve never met my parents¡¡± Zheng Xiang Yue said sadly. ¡°They died when I was very young.¡±
¡°Xiang Yue, don¡¯t say that. You don¡¯t remember, but they loved you,¡± Zheng Cheng He said, smiling awkwardly and stepping in front of Xiang Yue. ¡°Sorry, kids sometimes say things without thinking. Over ten years ago, our parents had some issues with the vigers and were identally killed during a dispute¡ But that¡¯s all in the past now. The people responsible were brought to justice.¡±
Lin Xian noticed Zheng Cheng He¡¯s hesitation and didn¡¯t press for more details. Everyone has their secrets, and it¡¯s not right to make someone relive painful memories. And the scars on Zheng Cheng He¡¯s face¡ Given Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s story, those scars might not be from a dog bite but from the same conflict that took their parents¡¯ lives.
Zheng Cheng He appeared strong but spoke with humility and respect, shaped by the hardships of raising his sister alone after their tragedy. Hardships had clearly softened this man¡¯s edges.
Based on his appearance, he seemed to be in his thirties, which meant a big age gap between him and his sister. If Xiang Yue didn¡¯t remember her parents, she must have been very young, maybe two or three, when they passed. At that time, Zheng Cheng He would have been around twenty. He nced at Xiang Yue in her hospital gown¡ What a tragic story.
Lin Xian remembered a saying: when life feels tough, go to a hospital to see how fortunate you are not to be ill. This was definitely true here. Everyone here was fighting some illness.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xiang Yue?¡± Lin Xian asked, looking at Zheng Cheng He. ¡°She looks fine.¡±
¡°Xiang Yue has a severe congenital heart condition,¡± Zheng Cheng He exined, gently stroking his sister¡¯s hair. ¡°When she was born, doctors doubted she¡¯d live long¡ And her rare blood type makes finding a heart for transnt nearly impossible.¡±
¡°But I believe she¡¯ll get better one day,¡± he added, his voice brightening as he lifted the frail Xiang Yue into his arms. ¡°Xiang Yue is strong! Despite doctors saying she wouldn¡¯t see another birthday, she proves them wrong every year. She¡¯s a fighter.¡±
¡°Speaking of birthdays, Xiang Yue, your fourteenth is next month. What gift would you like? I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±
¡°Hehe, I don¡¯t want gifts,¡± Xiang Yue said yfully. ¡°I¡¯ve always had one wish. You know what it is, but you always say no.¡±
Zheng Cheng He¡¯s face turned serious as he shook his head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t agree to that wish because I believe you¡¯ll get better.¡±
¡°But what if I don¡¯t? Please promise me!¡±
¡°No, I can¡¯t. I¡¯ll do everything to cure you, no matter what.¡±
Their exchange caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask Xiang Yue: ¡°What¡¯s your wish?¡±
Xiang Yue looked at him with hopeful eyes and smiled. ¡°I want my brother to bury me on the moon when I die.¡±
This left Lin Xian speechless. Was this just a child¡¯s innocence, or did she not understand the reality of death? No wonder Zheng Cheng He couldn¡¯t agree. No brother would make such a promise. As long as there was hope, he would keep fighting.
Lin Xian took a deep breath and held Xiang Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°You probably won¡¯t need to go to the moon.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Xiang Yue asked, surprised.
¡°Because soon, the first hibernation chambers will be avable,¡± Lin Xian exined, smiling. ¡°Do you know about hibernation chambers? Professor Xu Yun invented them. Once you go to sleep in one, you could wake up decades or even centuriester.¡±
¡°Right now, we can¡¯t cure your illness, but in the future, with advances in science and medicine, it will probably be easy to treat.¡±
He nced at the frail figure of Xu Yi Yi. ¡°Professor Xu Yun nned to send Xu Yi Yi to the future for her treatment. You could go together and be friends when you wake up.¡±
¡°So, don¡¯t give up on yourself, Xiang Yue. Talking about death upsets your brother.¡±
At that moment, Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes seemed incredibly mature, making her seem wise beyond her years. She sighed softly, looking out at the moon.
¡°But¡ I really want to go to the moon¡¡±
¡°Why the moon?¡± Lin Xian asked, intrigued.
¡°Because my brother told me that¡¯s where our parents are,¡± Xiang Yue replied, biting her lip and blinking back tears. ¡°I really want to see them¡¡±
Chapter 179: Taxi
Exining that your parents live on the moon isn¡¯t easy. That¡¯s what Lin Xian found out as he tried to make sense of Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s unusual belief.
Zheng Xiang Yue, nearly fourteen, seemed to think like a much younger child, around seven or eight years old. Could it be because she¡¯d spent most of her life in the hospital, never going to school or exploring the world outside? It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t smart; Zheng Xiang Yue was actually quite clever.
¡°Xiang Yue, time for your check-up!¡± a nurse called from outside the room, signaling that it was time for her to go. Zheng Cheng He carefully set his sister down, and she waved cheerfully at them before following the nurse out.
¡°Sorry about that,¡± Zheng Cheng He apologized after she left. ¡°My sister has been in and out of the hospital since she was very young. She thinks about things in a simple way, like a kid might.¡±
¡°When she was little, she used to ask me where our parents went after they died. I told her they went to the moon. I said, ¡®Whenever you miss them, just look up at the moon. They¡¯re watching over you from there.''¡±
¡°She really took it to heart and believed it. Even as she grew up, she held onto that idea. She even dreams of being buried on the moon so she can be with our parents and keep an eye on me every night.¡± As he shared this, Zheng Cheng He sighed deeply. ¡°But I can¡¯t lose Xiang Yue. She¡¯s all the family I have. If one of us has to go, it¡¯ll be me. I can¡¯t bear the thought of her going before me.¡±
Lin Xian gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. In front of his sister, Zheng Cheng He always appeared strong, but now, his vulnerability was evident. Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s condition was more serious than he let on. Congenital heart disease, a silent killer, often gives no warning signs. A sudden attack could be fatal, and so patients like her couldn¡¯t leave the hospital and required constant monitoring.
Lin Xian had noticed earlier that although Zheng Xiang Yue seemed to move freely, wires could be seen peeking from under her sleeves, likely connected to monitors that would alert the staff if her heart rhythm became abnormal.As Zheng Cheng He had mentioned, children with severe forms of this disease rarely lived long. Making it to their teens was nearly miraculous, and for Zheng Xiang Yue, every birthday could be herst.
¡°Technology is improving quickly; keep hope,¡± Lin Xian encouraged him. ¡°You know about Professor Xu Yun¡¯s research. Those hibernation pods he¡¯s working on could make managing Xiang Yue¡¯s condition much easier in the future.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Zheng Cheng He nodded with gratitude. ¡°What should I call you, by the way?¡±
¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian. Just Lin Xian is fine. You¡¯re older; no need to be formal.¡±
The hospital was a reminder of the world¡¯s suffering, which Lin Xian couldn¡¯t alleviate on his own. Each floor was filled with patients like Zheng Xiang Yue, all fighting against time. This was the harsh truth of life: birth, aging, sickness, death¡ªthese were natural forces no one could escape.
That¡¯s why the work of Professor Xu Yun and his colleague Tang Xin was so crucial. Their sess with the hibernation pods could potentially change humanity¡¯s fate, giving people the ability to bypass time and grasp new opportunities. Yet, some, like Zhou Duan Yun, were trying to stop them. What did they gain from hindering human progress?
Lin Xian had thought about this without finding any answers. Perhaps, as Yellow Finch hinted, the answers were in the Genius Club, and joining it might reveal them. Why had Yellow Finch brought him here today? There was always a deeper meaning to her actions. Could he have missed something important?
The hospital¡¯s private rooms, especially in a crowded city like Donghai, were rare and costly. Considering Zheng Cheng He and his sister¡¯s background as orphans with little money, how could they afford such expensive care?
¡°You should spend more time with your sister. She really relies on you,¡± Lin Xian said, probing further. ¡°What do you do for work?¡±
¡°I drive a taxi,¡± Zheng Cheng He answered simply. ¡°I drive during the day and spend nights here with Xiang Yue, helping with her treatments.¡±
The mention of taxis reminded Lin Xian of something unsettling. There had been taxi-rted incidents¡ªon New Year¡¯s Eve, a taxi had fatally struck Xu Yun; and more recently, Tang Xin had been hit by one. Assassins often used taxis for their anonymity and ease of escape.
¡°Forgive me for asking, but the money from driving a taxi doesn¡¯t seem like it would cover such high medical bills, does it?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°True,¡± Zheng Cheng He smiled. ¡°Luckily, people like Professor Xu Yun have helped us. Xiang Yue gets excellent care thanks to a special medical fund for children here in Donghai, which covers her ongoing treatments.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fortunate,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged.
After saying goodbye to Zheng Cheng He, Lin Xian left the room deep in thought. With thousands of taxis in Donghai, and each one typically shared by two drivers, there were over 200,000 taxi drivers in total. Nothing about Zheng Cheng He¡¯s job was inherently suspicious.
Yet, all these thoughts assumed that Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t orchestrated this meeting for a reason. If it was just a coincidence, he wouldn¡¯t think much of it. But considering the circumstances, he had to wonder¡ªWas Zheng Cheng He connected to the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin? Could he actually be the one responsible?
¡°Hard to say,¡± Lin Xian mused as he exited the elevator. Identifyingmon traits among confirmed culprits like Zhou Duan Yun and Ji Shui showed they all shared sudden rises to sess despite tragic pasts. While driving a taxi didn¡¯t seem like a sess story, given their backgrounds, it was a significant achievement.
¡°No way¡¡± Lin Xian shook his head, struggling with the idea. Appearances could be misleading, but Zheng Cheng He didn¡¯t seem like a murderer. Yet, if he was involved somehow, that might exin their improved living conditions.
Lin Xian knew he couldn¡¯t figure it out just by asking. He needed a different approach, starting with Zheng Xiang Yue. Since Zheng Cheng He worked days, Lin Xian nned to visit the hospital the next morning after seeing Zhao Ying Jun. Pretending to visit another patient, he could casually talk to Zheng Xiang Yue without arousing suspicion.
Ding¡ª
The elevator opened on the first floor. Lin Xian stepped out, took the keys to a Ferrari from his pocket, and prepared to return the car Yellow Finch had borrowed without permission.
He approached the Ferrari, pressed the unlock button, and watched the scissor doors rise slowly.
¡°Hey!¡± A familiar voice called from behind. Lin Xian turned to see Su Su driving her red McLaren towards him. She rolled down the window and leaned out, surprising him because he¡¯d thought she¡¯d left long ago.
¡°You drive well,¡± Su Su said, showing a QR code for her WeChat contact on her phone. ¡°Add me. Let¡¯s go racing sometime!¡±
Lin Xian smiled, ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t own a car.¡±
¡°You!¡± Su Su¡¯s expression changed instantly. She clenched her teeth. ¡°Ungrateful jerk! Hmph!¡±
Vroom!!! The McLaren roared away, leaving a cloud of exhaust behind.
¡°Well¡¡± Lin Xian scratched his head, ¡°I really don¡¯t own a car. This Ferrari isn¡¯t mine.¡±
The next day, at MX Company on the 22nd floor, Lin Xian walked into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. She paused her work and looked at him curiously. ¡°How did your blind date go yesterday?¡± she asked.
¡°It ended after you left,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°We had nothing to talk about. Clearly not a match.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked. ¡°Are you nning to stay in touch?¡±
¡°We didn¡¯t exchange contacts,¡± Lin Xian answered.
¡°I see.¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, picked up a pen, and resumed her work. ¡°Chu Shan He probably set it up for a friend. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You said there was a lot of work for me¡ What is it? I¡¯ll get started.¡±
¡°Oh, there¡¯s not much work. We¡¯re not that busytely; everything is on track.¡± Zhao Ying Jun pulled a stamped A4 paper from the file cab. ¡°Yesterday afternoon, the Donghai police sent this transfer order. It¡¯s addressed to ourpany, but whether you go or not is up to you.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°A transfer order?¡±
¡°Yes, they want to assign you to the special investigation team for Xu Yun¡¯s case.¡± Zhao Ying Jun handed him the A4 paper. ¡°Take a look.¡±
Chapter 180: Going to the Moon
¡°A transfer request? Why would the Donghai City Police Department send me a transfer request? I¡¯m not even a detective.¡±
Lin Xian scrutinized the letter. Stamped with the official seal of the Donghai City Police Department in the bottom right corner, it was addressed to MX Company at the top.
The letter was formal, informing MX Company that they required Lin Xian¡¯s help on a special investigation team for the Xu Yun case for a month, possibly extending if needed.
¡°Why do they suddenly want me?¡± Lin Xian mused aloud.
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, shaking her head. ¡°They usually keep details of these cases under wraps until they¡¯repletely solved. Remember, you don¡¯t have to ept this transfer if you don¡¯t want to.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were drawn to the red seal on the document. It was out of the ordinary for the Donghai City Police to request someone with no investigative experience.
There was only one exnation: Ji Lin must have rmended him. Clearly, Ji Lin had arranged this invitation to join the investigation team.
Now in a significant role, Ji Lin wielded substantial influence within the police department, capable of orchestrating such maneuvers with ease.It felt like a setup.
Lin Xian had figured out that Ji Lin, along with Ji Xin Shui and Zhou Duan Yun, were involved not only in the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin but were also plotting against him, including a n to stage a car ident at 00:42.
This was the kind of cat-and-mouse game Yellow Finch had mentioned.
Recently, Lin Xian had been actively gathering information about his adversaries, who were likely doing the same about him.
Ji Lin¡¯s request seemed like a direct challenge, aiming to discover Lin Xian¡¯s secrets through daily interaction and teamwork.
¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xian paused, thinking. His investigations into Ji Xin Shui and the past dealings with Zhou Duan Yun had been idental. Ji Lin wouldn¡¯t know he was already on their trail.
From Ji Lin¡¯s point of view, Lin Xian was still oblivious to his role in the murders and continued to y the concerned officer, ostensibly focused on solving Xu Yun¡¯s murder while grieving over Tang Xin.
So, the upper hand was still Lin Xian¡¯s. He had more information.
Should he ept the invitation?
Lin Xian hesitated. Real life wasn¡¯t like a dream; there were no second chances.
The old saying went, ¡°To catch the tiger¡¯s cub, one must enter the tiger¡¯s den,¡± but entering Ji Lin¡¯s territory alone was risky. Ji Lin was cunning and would undoubtedly set numerous traps.
However, having identified Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, and Zhou Duan Yun, the next logical step to expose them required close proximity to collect more evidence.
In this strategic game, it was about who could exploit the other¡¯s errors first. The stakes were high, but so were the potential rewards. He should pretend to fall into Ji Lin¡¯s trap, then turn the tables.
¡°If Ji Lin can set traps for me, why can¡¯t I set a counter-trap?¡± Lin Xian thought.
¡°I¡¯ll think it over,¡± Lin Xian pocketed the transfer request and turned to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Professor Xu Yun was a great mentor to us, and if I can help the police solve his murder sooner, I want to contribute.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, ¡°It¡¯s your decision.¡±
¡
After leaving Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, Lin Xian checked his watch. It was still early, not yet noon. Knowing Zheng Cheng He drove a taxi during the day, he figured Zheng Xiang Yue would be alone in the hospital.
He wanted to confirm if Zheng Cheng He was involved in the deaths of Professor Xu Yun and Tang Xin. The best way was to ask Zheng Xiang Yue directly.
He was also curious about Zheng Cheng He¡¯s past, something he seemed reluctant to discuss, whereas Zheng Xiang Yue was more open and likely to share.
Lin Xian caught a taxi to Donghai University Affiliated Hospital and headed to the 17th floor, to Xu Yi Yi¡¯s room. Sunlight streamed through the open curtains, illuminating Xu Yi Yi¡¯s eyshes and hair.
Silent as always since the ident, the world had changed dramatically around her; even her father had passed away.
The room was impably maintained, a testament to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s diligent care.
Lin Xian paced, making noise, aware that Zheng Xiang Yue might be alone next door. If she was curious, she mighte over. If not, he nned to visit her.
Sure enough, Zheng Xiang Yue soon peeked in.
¡°Brother Lin Xian?¡±
She remembered him from her brother¡¯s mention the previous day.
¡°Xiang Yue?¡± Lin Xian feigned surprise, smiling warmly. ¡°I came to visit Yi Yi. Where¡¯s your brother?¡±
¡°He¡¯s driving the taxi,¡± she said brightly. ¡°During the day, it¡¯s just me here. I often talk to Yi Yi, even if she can¡¯t respond.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Lin Xian responded thoughtfully, looking at Xu Yi Yi. ¡°Maybe she hears you sometimes. Who knows, maybe one day she¡¯ll wake up, and you¡¯ll be close friends.¡±
Lin Xian conversed with Zheng Xiang Yue, learning about her serious congenital heart condition that kept her hospitalized. She was always eager to talk, having no friends and spending her days alone.
She shared her background:ing from a poor vige in Jiangsu Province, orphaned young when their parents were killed over and dispute by a local bully.
¡°My brother has more scars than he should,¡± she noted. ¡°He stayed to protect me during an attack. That¡¯s why he got hurt so bad.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t remember much from then,¡± she added. ¡°The trauma might have blocked my memories.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, ¡°How did you end up in Donghai?¡±
¡°We had to leave to escape the bullying,¡± she exined. ¡°My health got worse, but things improved here. My brother got a job, and the bad people went to jail eventually.¡±
Her smile broadened, ¡°My brother says good people will eventually be rewarded, and bad ones will get what they deserve. I believe that¡¯s how the world works!¡±
Lin Xian returned her smile but stayed quiet. The world was more gray than ck and white, but he didn¡¯t want to dampen her hopeful view.
¡°Since things are looking up, why worry?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°You¡¯re strong; you¡¯ll get better. What do you want to be when you grow up?¡±
¡°I never really thought about growing up,¡± she admitted distantly.
¡°Why not?¡± he probed.
¡°Because the doctors say I won¡¯t live long. They don¡¯t think I¡¯ll see another birthday.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re here, and you keep growing,¡± Lin Xian encouraged. ¡°Miracles happen.¡±
¡°They say my heart¡¯s too weak,¡± she touched her chest. ¡°And my blood type makes a transnt almost impossible. They think I won¡¯t live past this year.¡±
Lin Xian knew her birthday was next month. She didn¡¯t have much time, but she was still here.
¡°Your birthday¡¯sing, and you¡¯re proving them wrong,¡± Lin Xian assured her, squeezing her hand. ¡°You¡¯re going to grow up strong and beautiful. Trust yourself and science. They¡¯re making advances all the time.¡±
¡°You love the moon, right? Why not dream of being an astronaut?¡± he suggested.
¡°An astronaut?¡± she pondered, tilting her head.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian affirmed. ¡°You could travel to the moon, see Earth from space. It would be incredible.¡±
He linked his pinky with hers. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll wave to us from the moon. We¡¯ll be watching.¡±
¡°Okay!¡± she giggled, making the pinky promise.
¡°Is your brothering tonight?¡± Lin Xian asked, steering towards his main interest.
¡°Yes, he finishes his shift at six,¡± she nodded. ¡°He¡¯s mostly working days but sometimes at night too.¡±
¡°He¡¯s very dedicated,¡± Lin Xian noted. ¡°What did he get you for New Year¡¯s?¡±
¡°We watched fireworks together, and he surprised me with a Rhine Cat doll at midnight. I love Rhine Cat!¡± she beamed.
¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Lin Xian thought, relieved.
Considering the distances involved, if Zheng Cheng He was with her at midnight, he couldn¡¯t have been involved in the ident at 00:42 that killed Professor Xu Yun.
He couldn¡¯t be in two ces at once, and Zheng Xiang Yue wouldn¡¯t lie about something so important.
That was reassuring. Lin Xian hoped Zheng Cheng He, the caring brother, was genuinely good. He looked forward to the day they could proudly watch Zheng Xiang Yue wave from the moon.
¡°What do you want for your birthday?¡± Lin Xian asked, ready to celebrate.
¡°I want to go to the moon!¡± she dered firmly.
¡°But you can¡¯t go right now,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°No one¡¯s doing manned moon missions currently.¡±
¡°Yes, they are! They¡¯re selling tickets to the moon now!¡± she insisted.
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian was skeptical. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not just a game?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s real! I saw it on the news,¡± she insisted, rushing to fetch her phone.
She returned with her phone, showing him a news screenshot.
¡°See, I told you it¡¯s real!¡± she said triumphantly.
Lin Xian took the phone, still doubtful, and read the headline: ¡°SpaceX CEO, the world¡¯s richest man Elon Musk, announces moon travel tickets on sale, with only ten seats avable!¡±
Chapter 181: The Real and Fake VV
¡°A ticket to the moon?¡±
It sounded like an outrageous idea at first. But as Lin Xian examined the ticket and saw the name ¡°Elon¡± printed on it, he began to reconsider.
Elon Musk.
A globally recognized genius.
He was the mastermind behind several groundbreaking projects: founder of SpaceX, head of Te, initiator of Starlink, and a pioneer in the quest to colonize Mars.
Ten years ago, his ns seemed overly ambitious, even impossible. Yet a decadeter, many of his bold predictions had be a reality. Not only had he advanced reusable rocket technology, but hispany had also changed global perceptions of space travel.
Gone were the days when rockets were considered failures due to minor errors. Now, rockets were designed with numerous safety backups, allowing them to function even if multiple engines failed.
In 2021, Elon Musk made headlines by selling four tickets for a space trip, sessfully sending four tourists 500 kilometers above Earth for a three-day excursion. This event cemented Elon Musk¡¯s reputation. Until then, only three countries had achieved manned spaceflight. Now, a private enterprise had joined their ranks.Following this sess, Elon Musk started selling tickets for Mars colonization trips. Though mostly promotional, considering his track record, who could doubt his vision?
Often dubbed the Iron Man of Silicon Valley, he seemed capable of turning any vision into reality.
ording to the article Zheng Xiang Yue showed him, Elon Musk had sold out a second batch of space travel tickets, with the next flight nned for the following year. Capitalizing on this sess, he was now offering tickets for moon trips.
While manned moon missions were stillplex, they were less challenging than Mars missions. Elon Musk believed moon trips could begin within a few years.
The price for a moon trip ticket was a staggering $12 million, over double the cost of a space trip ticket, equivalent to more than 84 million yuan. Currently, a $2 million deposit was required, with the remainder due a year before theunch. Two million dors converted to about 14 million yuan.
Lin Xian noticed Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes widen in excitement. Such an amount¡ªher brother would never earn that even if he worked non-stop!
And that was just the deposit. The total was another 70 million yuan. Clearly, Zheng Xiang Yue had a limited understanding of finances, having never left the hospital.
¡°This seems like just a promotional gimmick,¡± Lin Xian handed the phone back to Zheng Xiang Yue.
¡°You might not know much about Elon Musk. He¡¯s famous for his ns to colonize Mars. But right now, it¡¯s still a long shot.¡±
¡°This moon travel scheme doesn¡¯t even have a fixedunch date, suggesting it¡¯s not quite ready. It might be all talk.¡±
¡°Instead of banking on this uncertain n, you should focus on your treatment, wait for a heart transnt, or the sess of the hibernation research. Then we could be astronauts and visit the moon ourselves!¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue took the phone back, still hopeful after seeing the announcement about moon travel. ¡°I wish my brother could earn a ticket.¡±
Seeing her expression, Lin Xian fell silent. Sometimes, children¡¯s ideas were simple, yet at other times, they were profound.
For now, Zheng Xiang Yue clung to her dream of ¡°having her ashes buried on the moon.¡± She doubted her chances of growing up healthy. No one understood this better than someone fighting an illness every day; her deepest wish was for her brother to fulfill her request and take her ashes to the moon¡
That was her dream. The naive Zheng Xiang Yue might not fully grasp what ashes meant, nor the impracticality of transporting remains to the moon.
Lin Xian sighed quietly. Ignorance in youth was sometimes a blessing. But eventually, everyone must grow up, face the impossibilities found in fairy tales, and ept life¡¯s disappointments.
He gently patted Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s head. ¡°Go rest. For your birthday, I¡¯ll bring you a special gift.¡±
Back at his house, it was still early, perfect time for a long-overdue dream.
The beginning of the dream always took too long. Lin Xian went through the usual motions, convincing CC in the woods behind Li Cheng¡¯s house, persuading her to join the Face Gang, and then sneaking past the junkyard wall to infiltrate New Donghai City and reach the Time Bank.
Click, click, click¡
CC was still trying differentbinations to unlock the safe. Today, Lin Xian didn¡¯t wander. He had been through a lot recently and had a lot of information to sort through. The real world felt loud and dangerous.
In contrast, his dream now seemed like the safest ce, where he could organize his thoughts in peace.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± CC suddenly looked up.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled by her question.
¡°You seem¡ very quiet,¡± CC observed. ¡°Are you dealing with some trouble?¡±
On their way here, Lin Xian had been very talkative, but now he was unusually silent, which puzzled CC. Moreover, he had said his goal was also the safe. But after all their efforts to get to the Time Bank, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t even looked at the safe or tried anybinations. This confused CC.
This man always appeared mysterious since their meeting, full of secrets, like a wind that didn¡¯t belong to this world, drifting unpredictably.
¡°Actually, I am facing some problems.¡±
Normally, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t share his inner worries with anyone. There were no true secrets in the world; once spoken, things could always be revealed. But dreams were different. Everything would reset in a few hours, leaving no trace.
¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help with, just tell me,¡± CC offered as she turned the dial on the safe, her voice low. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯d never have made it here. As a thanks¡ if I can help, I will.¡±
Lin Xian was slightly taken aback by CC¡¯s words. Today, CC seemed more open and even a bit endearing. He thought this change was due to their interactions since entering the dream.
Initially, unfamiliarity led to inevitable arguments or conflicts. But now, Lin Xian knew this part of the story well. He understood everything CC was willing to share and didn¡¯t worry about what she kept to herself. This led to CC¡¯s growing fondness for him.
From CC¡¯s perspective, Lin Xian was knowledgeable, reasonable, and incredibly capable. He selflessly helped her, providing valuable information and safely bringing her to the safe. Without expecting anything in return orpeting for thebination to the safe.
Naturally, CC¡¯s attitude towards Lin Xian improved significantly, even leading to trust.
¡°You probably can¡¯t help,¡± Lin Xian remarked. ¡°It¡¯s a matter concerning another world and another time.¡±
¡°Tell me.¡±
Lin Xian paused, then, as if speaking to himself, casually said: ¡°There¡¯s a group of people who killed my friends. I don¡¯t know their motives, but now it seems they¡¯re targeting me, wanting to kill me too.¡±
¡°Are you going to run away?¡± CC inquired.
¡°Running isn¡¯t an option¡ Where would I go?¡± Lin Xian found an aluminum alloy safe to sit on and continued: ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not easy to kill me. They need evidence, and¡ I don¡¯t want to run. Those people were close to me, and they died in front of me. I can¡¯t just leave; I want revenge. But so far, I haven¡¯t found any evidence of their crimes, so I can¡¯t bring them to justice. Instead, they¡¯ve infiltrated the police, gained control, and even invited me to join the investigation team.¡±
¡°Did you join?¡± CC stopped turning the dial and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Not yet.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m still hesitating. Joining the team would give me a chance to get close to the killers and gather evidence. But it also gives them a chance to get close to me. In the police station, their territory¡ it¡¯s dangerous for me. I might be caught before I find any evidence and be killed.¡±
¡°Are you scared?¡± CC stood up.
¡°Scared? No.¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not scared. I¡¯m just worried that without the perfect n, I might not only fail to avenge my friends but also lose myself.¡±
After that, neither CC nor Lin Xian spoke. After a few seconds, CC crouched down again, turning the dial, trying to open the lock but failing.
¡°This problem of yours, I might not have any advice or answers,¡± CC said amid the clicking sounds. ¡°Only you know how dangerous your situation is. As an outsider, my words might not help. But¡ I can tell you a story.¡±
¡°Who?¡± Lin Xian looked up.
CC, seeming resolute, pursed her lips and met Lin Xian¡¯s gaze.
¡°VV.¡±
Chapter 182: Lin Xian vs. Ji Lin
When Lin Xian heard the name ¡°VV,¡± he felt a jolt of tension. VV was described as a middle-aged man with long hair and a beard, and his voice was eerily simr to Lin Xian¡¯s. VV once hinted to CC that all the secrets she needed were locked away in a safe, making him a crucial yet mysterious figure in their lives.
Despite Lin Xian¡¯s repeated attempts to get information about VV from CC, she always remained tight-lipped, saying it was personal and she¡¯d rather not talk about it. Today, though, she seemed more willing to open up, possibly feeling a newfound closeness to Lin Xian, and began to reveal more about VV.
¡°Your voice and his have haunted me since I was young,¡± CC paused, stopping her work on the safe to focus on her story. ¡°I used to wonder if you were him. But the timeline doesn¡¯t add up.¡±
¡°I first met VV when I was eleven, and he was already a middle-aged man. When I remember you with the safe, I¡¯m my current age¡ªand so are you. It doesn¡¯t make sense that I aged normally while you became younger.¡±
¡°That¡¯s just not logical. If VV is still out there, he¡¯d be at least in his forties now. But I never met him at eleven in my past life.¡±
¡°But¡¡± CC¡¯s eyes wandered, her face troubled. ¡°Today, you¡¯ve talked about things like time loops, the end of the world, predicting the future¡ After hearing all that, why should I stick to normal logic?¡±
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian cut in, ¡°do you think I could be VV?¡±
CC shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I can¡¯t fully believe it, but there are undeniable simrities.¡±¡°Things like courage, strong beliefs, and a bold approach to danger. VV¡¯s memory has really influenced who I am. He¡¯s like a hero to me, someone I¡¯ve always wanted to be like.¡±
¡°But,¡± CC added, her voice changing as she stared straight at Lin Xian, ¡°there¡¯s one big difference between you two.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lin Xian was genuinely curious.
¡°VV was much colder than you,¡± CC replied sincerely, her expression darkening. ¡°He was serious, reserved, and carried a deep bitterness. He did everything with a detached efficiency, whether it was ending a life or saying goodbye.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure if those traits are good or bad, but I do admire his determination and fearlessness. That¡¯s part of why I came all the way from Brooklyn to join you in sneaking into New Donghai City.¡±
CC tapped the aluminum safe, which emitted a hollow sound. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong; I¡¯m not trying topare you directly to VV. I actually prefer your personality. But sometimes, you seem split: one moment decisive like VV, the next hesitant and unsure.¡±
Lin Xian recognized the truth in her words. He had two sides: the daring dream version and the cautious real-life version. The dream Lin Xian was bold and indifferent to danger, much like VV. In contrast, the real Lin Xian was gentle and thoughtful, always considering his actions carefully.
These two versions of him¡ªone like VV, yet not; the other truly him, yet different. But he couldn¡¯t me himself for this split personality. If his real life involved endless rebirths and time loops like in his dreams, he wouldn¡¯t need to be so cautious either.
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian said, his eyes drifting to the rising moon. ¡°If VV were here, he¡¯d definitely be leading the fight against the killer, right?¡±
CC nodded. ¡°I might not like someone as cold as VV, but if there¡¯s a cause worth risking everything for, it¡¯s worth it. Risks don¡¯t always pay off, but if you never take them, what can you expect?¡±
¡°What happened at the end of that memory?¡± Lin Xian checked his watch¡ªit was 00:40, nearly time to wake up¡ªand pressed for more details. ¡°You seem torn. You admire VV but also resent him, especially how he left you. Did he abandon you at eleven?¡±
¡°You got it,¡± CC chuckled, though there was a hint of bitterness in herugh. ¡°He was supposed to tell me thebination to the safe but never did. Even when I begged him to take me with him, he left me alone in the wild.¡±
¡°Do you hate him?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°It¡¯splicated,¡± CC admitted. ¡°It¡¯s just a memory, not really my life. But sometimes, I feel for that girl he left behind. Why was he so heartless?¡±
Lin Xian checked his watch again; it was 00:42. He stood up from the safe, unable to offer CC the empathy or understanding she sought for VV¡¯s actions.
However¡
¡°If VV and I are the same, you don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Lin Xian reassured as he approached CC, who looked up at him, a mix of strength and vulnerability in her expression, reminding him of Zheng Xiang Yue in the hospital.
¡°Why not worry?¡± she asked.
¡°Because he will surelye back for you,¡± Lin Xian dered confidently. ¡°I don¡¯t know why he was so cold, but if VV is really me, from some point in the future, I believe in that.¡±
¡°HA!¡± CCughed softly, turning her head away. ¡°You say the world ends at 00:42 today, and it¡¯s time to start the countdown. Where is he? What¡¯s he doing?¡±
Silence fell. Lin Xian¡¯s guess was right: CC held deep resentment toward VV. Everyone carries stories that seem minor when shared but feel heavy when remembered.
¡°I don¡¯t know now,¡± Lin Xian sighed softly, a gentle smile appearing on his lips. ¡°But one day, I will find out.¡±
¡°Thanks for your tactical insights today,¡± he said as he waved goodbye to CC.
Boom!!!!!
Boom!!!!!
Boom!!!!!
The inevitable white light engulfed everything, marking the end of time as always.
The next day, at the Donghai City Public Security Bureau, Ji Lin weed Lin Xian warmly as he entered the office. ¡°Wee, Lin Xian! You¡¯re now part of the special investigation team for the Xu Yun case.¡±
¡°Why was I transferred here?¡± Lin Xian handed over his secondment letter. ¡°I¡¯m not a detective or a crime writer.¡±
¡°Your help will be invaluable,¡± Ji Lin assured him, letting him take a seat. ¡°Let me start with some good news: we¡¯ve made progress in the Tang Xin case.¡±
¡°Did you catch the killer?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°No,¡± Ji Lin shook his head. ¡°But we found out that many of Tang Xin¡¯s chat records on her phone were fake. After checking with the server data from the chat apppany, we confirmed they weren¡¯t her real conversations.¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet, watching Ji Lin closely, trying to figure out his angle. After yesterday¡¯s discussion with CC, Lin Xian felt less anxious. Hiding was useless. Whether at home or in the police bureau, Ji Lin and his colleagues, like Ji Xin Shui and Zhou Duan Yun, were clearly onto him. He decided it was better to confront them directly.
¡°With this new evidence, we need to re-investigate Tang Xin¡¯s case,¡± Ji Lin exined, opening a folder on his desk and linking it to another case. ¡°Given the simrities between Tang Xin¡¯s and Xu Yun¡¯s cases, we think the same person or group might be responsible.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But what does this have to do with my transfer?¡±
¡°You were thest person to see Professor Xu Yun alive,¡± Ji Lin stated.
¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged.
¡°And you were also thest to see Tang Xin on the night she died,¡± Ji Lin added.
¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Lin Xian confirmed.
¡°So, Lin Xian¡ if someone could precisely control the death times of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, timing them around 00:42, you would be the prime suspect,¡± Ji Lin said bluntly.
Lin Xian frowned. ¡°What are you suggesting?¡±
¡°After Xu Yun¡¯s death, you inherited all his patent earnings, bing a millionaire overnight. You benefited the most from his death, with only a vague promise to care for Xu Yun¡¯s daughter in return.¡±
¡°Ha,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°So, you suspect me. What about Tang Xin? What did I gain from her death?¡±
¡°When Tang Xin died, you were seen saving Chu An Qing at the theater. You brought them together backstage, and as a result, you were weed by Chu Shan He, the most powerful man in Donghai City. I don¡¯t know the exact amount of money or favors he offered, but you clearly benefited from Tang Xin¡¯s death.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°So you think I¡¯m responsible for the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin.¡±
Ji Lin spread his hands. ¡°Honestly, Lin Xian, I never personally suspected you. But given your involvement and the coincidences surrounding the benefits you gained, the Donghai police can¡¯t help but be suspicious. If I didn¡¯t bring you in, they would start investigating you soon, potentially harming your life, freedom, and reputation.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re inviting me to join the special investigation team?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Lin confirmed. ¡°This is your chance to clear your name. You knew Tang Xin and Xu Yun better than anyone, possibly even understanding the killer¡¯s motives. By joining us, you can prove your innocence and seek justice for your ssmate and Xu Yun. It¡¯s a win-win.¡±
¡°Do you ept my invitation?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian smiled, his determination clear. He stood and extended his hand to Ji Lin. ¡°I¡¯m here to catch the killer.¡±
Ji Lin stood and shook Lin Xian¡¯s hand with a smile. ¡°From today, we are colleagues.¡±
Chapter 183: Living Together
¡°Alright, Lin Xian, you need to go home and pack some personal items today,¡± Ji Lin said firmly. ¡°Our special investigation team is moving into high gear. We¡¯ll be working around the clock until we crack this case, so we¡¯re all going to live here. There are dorms set up for us in the back.¡±
¡°We have to live here?¡± Lin Xian was caught off guard. ¡°The transfer letter didn¡¯t mention that.¡±
¡°Is that a problem?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Lin Xian replied, shaking his head. ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect the team to be on such a strict schedule. I thought I¡¯d be able to go home.¡±
Ji Lin chuckled lightly and gave Lin Xian a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Now that we¡¯re working together, I can be honest with you. Keeping you here all the time is also a way to protect you.¡±
¡°Protect me?¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°Is someone out to get me?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Ji Lin rified. ¡°It¡¯s to help prove you¡¯re not the murderer.¡±
¡°Earlier, I mentioned we don¡¯t have any solid leads on the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin,¡± Ji Lin continued. ¡°You were thest person seen at both scenes, you knew the victims well, and somehow, you ended up benefiting from their deaths. That makes you a suspect.¡±¡°There¡¯s no evidence you did anything wrong, but from the police¡¯s point of view, when a case isn¡¯t progressing and you¡¯re connected to both incidents, it¡¯s natural for them to be suspicious.¡±
¡°By staying here, if we solve the case while you¡¯re with us, great. If not, and simr incidents happen while you¡¯re here, it¡¯ll show you couldn¡¯t be involved. That should clear your name.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer right away. This was unexpected. He had thought if Ji Lin was behind this, he¡¯d brought him here to catch him slipping up. But it seemed Ji Lin was keeping him close under the guise of protection, watching him day and night. It felt less like a precaution and more like house arrest.
¡°Are you nning to handcuff us together next? Maybe even share a bathroom?¡± Lin Xian joked, tossing his ck notebook onto the table. ¡°Do you think this is some kind of magical death notebook?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve been watching too much TV,¡± Ji Linughed. ¡°Try to see it from my point of view and the pressure the Donghai police are under. The public is unhappy with theirck of action. They need to show they¡¯re doing something.¡±
¡°You won¡¯t bepletely restricted. If you need to go out, that¡¯s fine, but I¡¯d prefer toe along. That way, if something happens, I can vouch for you.¡±
¡°I hope you stay focused on catching the killer. The sooner we do, the better it will be for both of us.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian agreed. If he was stepping into the lion¡¯s den, he might as well understand Ji Lin¡¯s motives. Both were pretending, both were watching. Staying close might actually be to Lin Xian¡¯s advantage.
As Ji Lin tried to figure him out, Lin Xian was also sizing up Ji Lin. It was a battle of wits, seeing who could piece the puzzle together first.
¡°I¡¯ll go get my stuff now,¡± Lin Xian said, preparing to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll be back tonight. It¡¯s hot, so I won¡¯t need much.¡±
At home, Lin Xian didn¡¯t bother with clothes but instead checked every paper on his desk and in his drawers. Normally, he would have burned them immediately, but he couldn¡¯t risk leaving anything for the police to find during his confinement. He burned nearly everything, leaving only a fake invitation to the Genius Club and a wax seal stamp bearing the club¡¯s logo.
Should he destroy these too?
He hesitated. The fake invitation was his only lead on the Genius Club, and the seal was authentic, matching what he had seen in his dreams. ¡°Better keep them, just not here.¡± He stashed them in his backpack and headed to MX Company.
Once there, he made sure to destroy any potentially incriminating documents and drafts in his office. After seeing Zhao Ying Jun leave, he took the invitation and seal up to her 22nd-floor office.
The door with its double locks swung open, and Lin Xian stepped into the pristine office. He knew itsyout better than anyone, having organized it himself. He tucked the invitation and seal into a file box in a corner cab, a ce Zhao Ying Jun never checked.
Everything set, Lin Xian headed to the Donghai Police Station, his backpack in tow.
¡
Standing at the doorway of their shared dorm room, Lin Xian was speechless. ¡°We¡¯re rooming together?¡±
Ji Lin indicated the hotel-like setup with tworge beds and all the necessary amenities, including a private bathroom. ¡°Is that a problem?¡±
¡°I thought we¡¯d each have our own room,¡± Lin Xian mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m not used to sharing with guys.¡±
¡°Do you want me to find you a female roommate?¡±
¡°Your jokes are weird.¡±
¡°If it really bothers you, I can put up a curtain between the beds.¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian dismissed the idea and dropped his backpack by the window bed. Comining was useless; this was Ji Lin¡¯s domain. He nced sideways at Ji Lin as he closed the door and settled onto his bed.
The cat-and-mouse game was about to escte.
¡°I¡¯m going to freshen up,¡± Lin Xian announced, picking up his toiletries and heading for the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he mulled over his new reality. He had been meticulous so far, but one thing that might catch Ji Lin¡¯s attention was his habit of waking up at 12:42 a.m., a peculiar and uncontroble habit that a sharp detective like Ji Lin would surely find odd.
So, Lin Xian decided to stay awake past 12:42 a.m. to avoid raising any suspicions.
¡
Later that night, Ji Liny on his bed, hands behind his head, eyes shut, while Lin Xian, wearing headphones, scrolled through his phone, waiting for 12:42 to pass.
¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping, Lin Xian?¡± Ji Lin rolled over to look at him.
Under the glow of his phone, Lin Xian could see Ji Lin¡¯s alert eyes and the dark circles beneath them¡ªhe was clearly a night owl.
¡°You¡¯re up too?¡± Lin Xian removed his headphones and propped himself up. ¡°Am I keeping you awake?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Ji Lin sat up as well. ¡°I just can¡¯t stop thinking about the case. Something doesn¡¯t add up.¡±
¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡±
Lin Xian turned off his phone, plunging the room into darkness save for the moonlight streaming through the curtains, which softly illuminated Ji Lin.
¡°I don¡¯t understand why the killer schedules the crimes at exactly 12:42 a.m.,¡± Ji Lin shared. ¡°Both Tang Xin and Xu Yun died at that precise time. What¡¯s the significance?¡±
¡°Hard to say with killers,¡± Lin Xian replied casually. ¡°Maybe it holds some personal meaning for them, like how some leave symbols at their crime scenes.¡±
¡°It¡¯s more than that,¡± Ji Lin countered. ¡°Setting a specific crime time draws attention and could give away their next move. It¡¯s risky.¡±
¡°What do you think it means, then?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°It might be a ritual or a challenge for someone,¡± Ji Lin paused, then added, ¡°My parents also died at 12:42 a.m.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected this or considered the deeper implications of the timing. ¡°Was it an ident?¡±
¡°No,¡± Ji Lin shook his head. ¡°It was a shooting. They were murdered on their way home at that exact time. After that, I was left an orphan until a well-known figure adopted me.¡±
¡°Ji Xin Shui,¡± he said, locking eyes with Lin Xian. ¡°Ever heard of him?¡±
Chapter 184: Spy Within a Spy
Lin Xian knew all about Ji Xin Shui.
A year ago, Ji Xin Shui had invited Tang Xin to Donghai to work on her research. He had also confronted Zhou Duan Yun, sparing his life instead of ending it.
Ji Xin Shui, the ex-director of Donghai University¡¯s research institute and Xu Yun¡¯s mentor, had introduced Xu Yun to his future wife. However, he had controversially kicked Xu Yun out of the institute over his work on hibernation.
Ji Xin Shui was connected to the mysterious deaths of both Xu Yun and Tang Xin.
To Lin Xian, Ji Xin Shui was just another puppet master like Zhou Duan Yun. Since Ji Lin shared Ji Xin Shui¡¯sst name, Lin Xian suspected they were rted and possibly working together.
Now, Ji Lin was openly discussing their rtionship¡
What was his goal? Was this a test? A trap? Or just a way to see what Lin Xian knew?
Debating seemed pointless now. Ji Lin had asked a question, and Lin Xian needed to answer quickly.Should he show he knew something, y dumb, or admit everything?
After thinking it over quickly, Lin Xian decided to acknowledge his knowledge. ¡°Yes, I know him.¡±
¡°Really? From where? The news?¡± Ji Lin seemed interested.
¡°Tang Xin mentioned him,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°At our high school reunion around New Year¡¯s, she told us she was going to work at a research institute in Donghai, invited by a well-known person¡ªJi Xin Shui, Xu Yun¡¯s mentor. She spoke well of him in ourter talks, even mentioned how her colleagues had helped her find other jobs, like one with a symphony orchestra.¡±
Lin Xian thought it risky to pretend he didn¡¯t know anything around Ji Lin, who was smart and calcting. If Ji Lin had orchestrated everything involving Xu Yun¡¯s and Tang Xin¡¯s deaths and the invite to the investigation team, then denying knowledge of Ji Xin Shui could be risky and pointless. It was safer to be honest, especially since Tang Xin had really talked about him.
¡°So, you¡¯re Ji Xin Shui¡¯s adopted child?¡± Lin Xian asked directly. ¡°And I¡¯m confused about your connection to Xu Yun. The sister you mentioned, is she his biological daughter or adopted?¡±
¡°She¡¯s his niece, but we grew up together.¡±
¡°You said you were raised in Ji Xin Shui¡¯s orphanage. How did his niece end up there?¡±
¡°Our family isplicated,¡± Ji Lin replied, his eyes on the ceiling. ¡°Ji Xin Shui never married and focused on his career. He adopted many kids and had them raised in the orphanage, leaving the smarter ones with servants and rtives. My sister raised me.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, taking in theplexity of Ji Lin¡¯s family. Ji Lin¡¯s parents had died in the 00:42 shooting incident. After their death, Ji Xin Shui adopted Ji Lin, and he was raised by Ji Xin Shui¡¯s niece, whoter married Xu Yun and had a child, Xu Yi Yi. After a tragedy, Xu Yi Yi was left incapacitated, and a falling-out between Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui led to their deaths, bringing Ji Lin to Donghai.
But Lin Xian was mostly focused on the pattern of deaths at 00:42. It was interesting that Ji Lin¡¯s parents also died at this specific time, but not in a car crash. This suggested that the killers weren¡¯t just causing idents. Realizing this, Lin Xian understood that just avoiding roads at that time might not keep him safe.
¡°Were your parents scientists too? What were they studying?¡±
¡°They were mathematicians,¡± Ji Lin answered. ¡°But they were young and hadn¡¯t done much twenty years ago. I was too young to understand their research.¡±
¡°This is what puzzles me,¡± Lin Xian thought aloud. ¡°My parents weren¡¯t as famous as Xu Yun or Tang Xin, and their deaths weren¡¯t typical idents. Around the world, on average, 106 people die every minute for various reasons.¡±
Ji Lin checked his glowing smartwatch. ¡°It¡¯s now 00:43. In the past minute, about 106 people died globally. While some might have been idents, we can¡¯t assume every idental death at 00:42 involves these killers. Since joining the investigation team in Donghai, there¡¯s been a gas explosion and a serious car crash exactly at 00:42¡ªthese incidents could seem connected, but if we look at global stats, numerous idents happen at this time every day.¡±
Listening to Ji Lin, Lin Xian nodded. He had also researched online about 00:42 car idents, finding a lot of data. Considering the global poption of 7 billion, it¡¯s not surprising that many fatal idents happen every minute. But what was Ji Lin trying to say? Was he suggesting that the specific timing of 00:42 wasn¡¯t as significant as it seemed?
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯d like to hear your thoughts,¡± Ji Lin suddenly asked. ¡°Do you think the same people who killed my parents are behind Xu Yun and Tang Xin¡¯s deaths?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, sensing a possible trap in the question. From what he knew, Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡¯ deaths were connected to their careers as mathematicians. Simrly, Big Cat Face¡¯s father, also a mathematician, had died tragically. This pattern of dying at 00:42 now included four scientists. Yet, outside of their circle, there was no public record of mathematicians specifically dying at 00:42. Speaking his mind could raise suspicion.
¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Lin Xian replied after a moment. ¡°The scientists in Donghai were focused on hibernation. It seems those in that field are the main targets. If your parents were mathematicians, they don¡¯t fit the pattern. Also, the ways they died are very different¡ªa shooting versus a car crash. Car crashes can better hide the killers¡¯ motives, while shootings are too obvious.¡±
Ji Lin watched Lin Xian¡¯s face closely, then finally nodded. ¡°I agree,¡± he said, wrapping his nket around him. ¡°It¡¯ste. Let¡¯s get some sleep.¡±
Over the next few days, under Ji Lin¡¯s leadership, the special investigation team increased their efforts. They detailed the suspects¡¯ profiles, outlined specific criminal behaviors, and focused on spotting potential targets among hibernation scientists. They nned to set a trap the next time a relevant scientist was in Donghai at 00:42, aiming to catch the criminals and bring them to justice.
Lin Xian was surprised by the progress. Initially, he had thought Ji Lin was on the team to disrupt their work. But Ji Lin was doing the opposite: he was diligently rifying the case details and setting strategic traps for the killers.
Lin Xian¡¯s strategy was simr¡ªambush the criminals at the crime scene, making sure their vehicle couldn¡¯t escape. Past failures happened because the culprits¡¯ vehicles vanished without a trace. By blocking potential escape routes, they could capture the drivers and potentially end the murder spree.
But as Lin Xian twirled his pen and watched Ji Lin present at the meeting table, doubts remained. Was Ji Lin involved himself? If they caught the driver, would Ji Lin, along with Ji Xin Shui and Zhou Duan Yun, the suspected masterminds, really avoid being med?
Meanwhile, at Chu Shan He¡¯s mansion, in the dining room, a family dinner was happening. Su Xiu Ying served Chu Shan He a bowl of soup. ¡°It¡¯s been days, and there¡¯s no news from Su Su. How did her date with Lin Xian go? Did it work out?¡±
Chu Shan He chuckled. ¡°Let the young ones handle it. Too much probing might pressure Lin Xian. Rtionships need a natural connection. If it¡¯s meant to be, it will happen. If not, we can¡¯t force it.¡±
¡°Probably didn¡¯t work,¡± Chu An Qing snorted. ¡°Aunt Su has never been the dating type. She¡¯s always shunned boys, and when she interacted with them, it was usually to outdo them in somepetition. She¡¯s hardly the type to settle down. Besides, Lin Xian, with his refined demeanor, wouldn¡¯t match well with someone as wild and spontaneous as Aunt Su. It¡¯s a mismatch.¡±
¡°Not necessarily,¡± Su Xiu Ying smiled. ¡°I know Su Su well. In the past, she stormed off from every blind date, cursing and fuming. But this time, she came backte, sober, and had spent the evening with Lin Xian, talking for hours. When she got home, she was unusually calm, just mentioned the date was over and asked me to unlock her bank card as we agreed, then left quietly.¡±
¡°What? Aunt Su said nothing more?¡± Chu An Qing was surprised. ¡°That¡¯s so unlike her. Something¡¯s off.¡±
¡°Every pot has its lid. Let¡¯s not interfere too much,¡± Chu Shan He advised, putting down his chopsticks. ¡°It¡¯s normal for there to be no news. Lin Xian¡¯s been assigned to the Donghai Public Security Bureau, working on the special investigation team for the Xu Yun case. He¡¯s very busy, living in the dorms, rarely able to go out.¡±
¡°That busy?¡± Chu An Qing looked concerned.
¡°It¡¯s unavoidable,¡± Chu Shan He replied. ¡°The pressure on Donghai Public Security is immense. With two consecutive scientist murders and no leads, everyone¡¯s stressed, hoping to break the case or at least find some clue. So yes, Lin Xian and his team are swamped.¡±
¡°I understand¡¡± Chu An Qing took her phone, opened Lin Xian¡¯s profile, and checked his social media¡ªno updates for days. Their chat history was just as barren. She sent a message, hoping for a response. ¡°Senior, still busy? Have you had dinner? Dad mentioned you were transferred to the special investigation team.¡±
Lin Xian responded quickly. ¡°Not yet. Everyone else has gone to eat. Ji Lin and I are stayingte to work.¡±
Ji Lin, of course. Chu An Qing knew him; he was not only a brilliant detective but also a well-known screenwriter. They had met at the New Year¡¯s banquet, and her father often praised Ji Lin¡¯s contributions to the investigation team.
¡°Skipping meals isn¡¯t healthy,¡± Chu An Qing thought, seeing the leftover food in the kitchen. She packed meals for two. ¡°I¡¯m heading out for a bit!¡±
Chapter 185: Friends
¡°Hey there, Lin Xian!¡±
The sudden greeting broke the quiet, making Lin Xian and Ji Lin look up from their work. Chu An Qing was standing at the doorway, grinning widely.
¡°An Qing?¡± Lin Xian raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
They were in a restricted area of the Donghai City Public Security Bureau, dedicated to the Xu Yun case¡ªa ce usually off-limits to the public.
Then it clicked for Lin Xian. Chu An Qing was Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter, and he had considerable influence in the bureau. It made sense that she could easily gain entry here. There were likely very few ces in Donghai City that could keep her out.
¡°My dad said you¡¯ve been workingte and might have missed dinner, so I brought you guys some food. Eating on time is important!¡± she dered, stepping into the room. She ced a stack of lunch boxes filled with beautifully prepared dishes in front of Lin Xian.
¡°Wow, lucky us¡¡± Ji Lin muttered, eyeing the food enviously.
¡°There¡¯s one for you too!¡± Chu An Qing announced, handing another meal to Ji Lin and giving them both chopsticks. ¡°Dig in!¡±¡°Thanks a lot,¡± Ji Lin said, clearly touched. He was surprised she thought of him, especially since they had only met once at a holiday party. Without hesitation, he started eating.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t start eating immediately. Instead, he got up, grabbed a disposable cup, and poured her some hot water. ¡°How did you manage to get here sote?¡±
¡°The driver dropped me off,¡± Chu An Qing replied with a smile. ¡°Eat up before it gets cold!¡±
Lin Xian nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and joined Ji Lin in eating. The food tasted familiar¡ªit was definitely Su Xiu Ying¡¯s cooking. She had a special touch with rice, making it perfectly textured, neither too dry nor too sticky, and somehow more vorful than usual.
¡°This is amazing,¡± Ji Lin said, swallowing a bite. ¡°Did you cook this? It¡¯s excellent. You¡¯d make a great wife and mom one day.¡±
¡°Really? I helped my mom with it!¡± Chu An Qing beamed with pride.
¡°What part did you help with?¡± Ji Lin asked, curious.
¡°I washed the veggies and set the table!¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡± Ji Lin continued eating, then added, ¡°Well, those are important tasks too.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly. He admired Ji Lin¡¯s sharp mind, but even Ji Lin seemed slightly taken aback by Chu An Qing¡¯s straightforward response.
¡°I¡¯m learning to cook,¡± Chu An Qing added, blushing a bit. ¡°Next time,e over for dinner. I¡¯ll cook just for you! And, my birthday party is in a few days, on March 28th! I¡¯m inviting some friends. Lin Xian, you should definitelye!¡±
¡°Your birthday party¡¡± Lin Xian thought aloud. He hadn¡¯t really celebrated his own birthday in years. It had just passed on March 20th, marked only by automated messages from banks.
¡°Don¡¯t you celebrate with your family?¡± Lin Xian asked her.
Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°Up until I was 18, yes. But then, my dad suggested I start making my own ns. Now I organize my own parties and invite my friends!¡±
Her eyes sparkled with excitement about her independence in hosting her own birthday bash. ¡°I was going to invite you soon. My parents gave me a vi for the party. It¡¯ll just be us young folks, some ssmates of mine too. Everyone¡¯s excited about youing!¡±
¡°Can I join as well?¡± Ji Lin asked before Lin Xian could respond.
¡°Absolutely! The more, the merrier!¡± Chu An Qing grinned, her eyes lighting up.
¡°Friends¡¡± Ji Lin repeated, ncing at Lin Xian. He only asked because he wanted to look out for Lin Xian. If An Qing was okay with it, he saw no reason to stop Lin Xian from going. Clearly, she liked him. After enjoying her hospitality, refusing her invitation would be rude.
Friends were rare in Ji Lin¡¯s life; his sister and Xu Yun were the only ones he¡¯d ever really considered friends, and they had both disappeared early in his life.
Lin Xian sighed softly and smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re free, let¡¯s go. It¡¯d be rude to ignore such kindness.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Ji Lin agreed, stacking up the empty boxes. ¡°And we should pick out a birthday gift for you too.¡±
¡°Really?¡± An Qing¡¯s smile grew even brighter. ¡°I can¡¯t wait! But honestly, just having you there is enough. Gifts aren¡¯t important.¡±
¡°No, a gift is a must,¡± Ji Lin insisted earnestly. ¡°When I was younger, Xu Yun always gave me presents. After he was gone, no one else did. It might sound trivial, but I often hoped for just a ¡®Happy Birthday¡¯ or a simple gift. It got pretty lonely.¡±
¡°Oh¡¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened, touched by his sentiment. ¡°Then let¡¯s make a promise. We¡¯ll always exchange gifts on our birthdays, so at least we¡¯ll get two each year!¡±
¡°Every birthday¡¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°How long will we keep this up?¡±
¡°Forever!¡± Chu An Qing dered, her dimples showing. ¡°As long as we¡¯re friends, we¡¯ll celebrate together, every single year!¡±
Ji Lin looked at their sped hands. ¡°I hope I get to celebrate many more with you.¡±
He turned to Lin Xian. ¡°When¡¯s your birthday?¡±
¡°March 20th,¡± Lin Xian answered.
¡°It¡¯s already passed¡¡± Ji Lin shook his head, a bit disappointed.
¡°And yours, Ji Lin? When is it?¡± An Qing asked.
¡°May 3rd.¡±
¡°Perfect! We have time to n. Lin Xian and I will make up for all the missed gifts over the years!¡±
Ji Lin nced at the calendar on the desk, noting the uing operation with the two rogue scientists and the impostor set for April 12th. If Lin Xian¡¯s skill at foreseeing and altering future events held true, Ji Lin wondered if he¡¯d even make it to his next birthday.
¡°Will you get me a birthday gift?¡± Ji Lin asked Lin Xian directly.
Lin Xian nced at the calendar. Just over a month till May 3rd. How long would their dangerous gamest? When would they collect enough evidence to take down their enemies?
He hoped to resolve everything before May 3rd, allowing him to leave sincere gifts at Xu Yun and Tang Xin¡¯s graves.
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian replied, not wanting to dampen the mood.
¡°Thanks in advance,¡± Ji Lin said, looking forward to it.
After chatting for a bit longer, An Qing had to leave. Lin Xian helped her pack up and walked her out to her car. Ji Lin waved goodbye and returned to his desk.
He picked up the ck notebook Lin Xian had left behind on his first day, calling it his ¡®death note¡¯ jokingly. Opening it, Ji Lin found notes about Lin Xian¡¯s work, a handwritten copy of his university lecture, and details about Xu Yun¡¯s career, including graduation dates.
These notes confirmed Lin Xian was also investigating Xu Yun¡¯s murder. That¡¯s why Ji Lin had previously asked him if he knew the name Ji Xin Shui, Xu Yun¡¯s mentor, during ate-night conversation.
Lin Xian had admitted knowing the name and its significance.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± Ji Lin murmured, flipping through the pages. ¡°Have you seen through my trap, or have I misjudged you?¡±
So far, Ji Lin had found no evidence supporting his suspicions about Lin Xian. Despite probing, Lin Xian had remained open and trustworthy.
Ji Lin eyed the calendar: April 12th and May 3rd were circled.
¡°Please don¡¯t be the one¡¡± He muttered, pulling out a sketch from the back of the notebook. The drawing showed a girl with dimples and a mole near her left eye¡ªChu An Qing, who had just invited him to her birthday.
¡°What gift should I get her?¡±
Chapter 186: The Gift
¡°So¡ our mission today is to pick out a gift for An Qing?¡± Lin Xian asked, watching Ji Lin carefully browse the gift section of the mall. It felt surreal, like watching the sun rise in the west. ¡°Do we really need to spend an entire afternoon on this? We¡¯re so busy; it feels like a waste of time.¡±
¡°Think of it as a break for the team. We¡¯ve all been putting in extra hours,¡± Ji Lin replied gently, examining a Barbie doll gift set from every angle before setting it aside.
¡°Don¡¯t you think we should look for something more grown-up? An Qing is turning 19, not 9,¡± Lin Xianmented, feeling out of ce amid the childish, colorful gifts.
¡°What do 19-year-old girls even like?¡± Ji Lin looked up, his expression serious. ¡°I¡¯ve never given a gift before, so I¡¯m not sure what to pick.¡±
¡°How would you handle a gift-giving scene in one of your stories?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I¡¯d probably skip the details and keep the birthday gift scene short,¡± Ji Lin replied.
¡°You really are something¡ But I don¡¯t think you need to overthink it,¡± Lin Xian scratched his head and moved towards the luxury disys. ¡°A birthday gift is just a gesture. It doesn¡¯t need to be perfect. It¡¯s the thought that counts.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right, but¡¡± Ji Lin followed, looking around. ¡°Since it¡¯s my first time going to someone¡¯s birthday party, I want to pick something she¡¯ll actually like.¡±¡°You don¡¯t even know her that well. How can you be sure what she likes?¡± Lin Xian smiled wryly. ¡°Understanding a woman¡¯s heart is like finding a needle in a haystack. Sometimes figuring out what they like is harder than solving a case.¡±
¡°That might not be true,¡± Ji Lin said, staring at Lin Xian¡¯s back. ¡°Actually, Chu An Qing is quite straightforward.¡±
March 28.
That day, Ji Lin and Lin Xian had assisted the Donghai City Public Security Bureau¡¯s Criminal Investigation Division in cracking a tough cold case. Despite their usual ease in finding crucial clues, their special unit was struggling, leading to low morale mainly due to ack of evidence.
¡°If only we could locate those vehicles involved,¡± a female team membermented.
¡°How can those vehicles just vanish in a city full of cameras?¡± another member sighed.
¡°Cameras have blind spots,¡± a male team member countered. ¡°If the vehicles stuck to main roads, we wouldn¡¯t lose them. The intersection cameras are interconnected, but they always disappear exactly in the blind spots and are never seen again.¡±
¡°What do you think?¡± Ji Lin turned to Lin Xian, who was idly spinning a pen. ¡°How do you think those vehicles disappeared?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe anything truly vanishes into thin air,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Those vehicles were either hidden or moved in some extraordinary way.¡±
¡°Like what?¡± Ji Lin asked, intrigued.
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Lin Xian admitted, shaking his head. ¡°But you see it in movies. Like in ¡®Fast & Furious,¡¯ where they hide cars in in sight.¡±
¡°If they used a method like that, hiding the car under a truck in a blind spot, then hauling it into the truck¡¯s container¡ our tracking would end there.¡±
¡°I checked the footage of the Audi and the taxi. They vanished near the outer city, where container trucks abound. It¡¯s like hiding a tree in a forest¡ªdifficult to spot, especially after so much time.¡±
¡°So¡ our best strategy is to intercept those vehicles right away,¡± Ji Lin concluded, folding his arms. ¡°We should coborate more closely with the research department. If we can track every scientist researching hibernation in Donghai City, we could set up roadblocks to catch those vehicles.¡±
¡°We must ensure the scientists¡¯ safety first. We need to predict which scientist the perpetrator will target next at 00:42. That¡¯s our only chance to advance the case.¡±
Everyone agreed with the n.
Lin Xian, too, was waiting for the next 00:42 incident. At that moment, the driver who killed Xu Yun and Tang Xin would reappear, and he was determined to catch him.
Lin Xian twirled his pen, watching Ji Lin organize the papers on the table. Follow the leads, find solid evidence. Zhou Duan Yun, Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui¡ None of you will escape!
¡°Meeting adjourned,¡± Ji Lin announced, standing up.
That evening.
In the suburbs of Donghai City, near the university town by thekeside viplex, Ji Lin¡¯s driver steered the ck business car toward Chu An Qing¡¯s vi.
¡°What a coincidence, I didn¡¯t expect to end up here,¡± Ji Lin remarked, recognizing the area. ¡°I live here too.¡±
¡°You live here too?¡± Lin Xian lowered his car window, admiring the scenic vis. They must be a nice ce to live, albeit a bit far from the city center.
Chu An Qing had exined to Lin Xian in their WeChat conversations that the vi was aing-of-age gift from Chu Shan He. For safety reasons, she wasn¡¯t allowed to stay there alone. She could host parties or spend time with friends, but had to return to her home or dorm at night due to strict curfew rules set by Chu Shan He.
¡°I live in that one,¡± Ji Lin pointed out through the window. ¡°Number 6.¡±
Lin Xian, seeing two peers younger than him each owning akeside vi, could only offer a thumbs-up. Though he could now afford one himself, buying it would drain his finances. He still needed funds to establish ab for Liu Feng. Better to save. Or, once the current crisis was resolved, he could use some useful tech from his dreams to set up theb without financial strain. But that was a n forter. Right now, the game of cat and mouse continued, and he couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down. Besides, Lin Xian sensed that the real confrontation was just around the corner.
They entered the double redwood doors of Chu An Qing¡¯s vi.
¡°Wee! Wee, senior!¡±
¡°Wow, it¡¯s really Ji Lin! Ji Lin is really here!¡±
Lin Xian and Ji Lin¡¯s arrival was greeted with cheers from the Donghai University girls gathered inside. When Chu An Qing first mentioned that Lin Xian would attend her birthday party, the girls were thrilled to meet the legendary senior. But their excitement soared when they learned that Ji Lin, the famed mystery writer and youngest Oscar-nominated screenwriter, would also be there.
To them, meeting Ji Lin was even more exciting than meeting Lin Xian. He was a rare and admired figure, so they crowded around him, asking for autographs and selfies.
¡°Hey, Lin Xian, I cooked tonight!¡± Chu An Qing emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron and wielding a spat, looking every bit the part. ¡°I learned lots of dishes from my mom. You won¡¯t be disappointed!¡±
The house wasn¡¯t crowded, just Chu An Qing¡¯s friends from university and high school, all girls, about seven or eight in total. Including Lin Xian and Ji Lin, there were about ten people at the party. The small number made the gathering feel intimate and rxed.
Soon, food was served, and arge birthday cake with candles was brought out. They dimmed the lights. The party officially started. In the soft glow of the candles, everyone sang the birthday song as Chu An Qing made her wish for her 19th year and blew out all the candles in one go.
¡°I hope everyone¡¯s lives keep getting better! Long live friendship!¡± Chu An Qing happily sliced the cake, offering the first piece to Ji Lin.
¡°Ji Lin, I¡¯m so d you came! You have to invite me to your birthday party!¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Ji Lin smiled, epting the cake. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to be here.¡±
¡°I want toe too!¡±
¡°Can we crash?¡±
¡°Ji Lin, let use too!¡±
The girls were clearly charmed by Ji Lin. To them, he was an overwhelming presence.
¡°Sure, you¡¯re all wee,¡± Ji Lin, unustomed to dealing with girls, nodded and agreed to everything.
Then it was time for gifts. Everyone presented their gifts, and Chu An Qing opened them one by one, delighted with each one. Lin Xian gave her an LV handbag. He really wasn¡¯t sure what to buy for a 19-year-old girl, so he just followed the store clerk¡¯s rmendation. Giving gifts to girls was truly a baffling task, a great mystery to him.
He recalled the night before New Year¡¯s when a Bentley flew over the highway, and Zhao Ying Jun turned 24. He had given her a crumpled bouquet from the wrecked car as a birthday gift. Looking back, it was quite awkward. But it had seemed appropriate at the time, given the circumstances.
¡°This is my gift,¡± Ji Lin presented a rectangr frame wrapped in colorful paper. It looked like it contained a painting.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was surprised and whispered to Ji Lin. ¡°I thought you bought a hat¡¡±
Their gifts were both rmended by the store clerk and were not cheap. Lin Xian didn¡¯t expect Ji Lin to switch to a painting instead.
¡°I think she¡¯ll like this more,¡± Ji Lin whispered back. ¡°It¡¯s rare to give a birthday gift. Might as well make it something she¡¯ll really enjoy.¡±
¡°How can you be so sure she¡¯ll like it?¡±
¡°I¡¯m confident about this painting.¡±
He turned to Chu An Qing. ¡°Happy birthday, An Qing. But don¡¯t open this painting now. Save it forter as a surprise.¡±
¡°Okay, Ji Lin. Thank you for the painting!¡± Chu An Qing was eager to open it but set it aside to continue opening other presents.
The birthday party was joyful and rxing. Lin Xian and Ji Lin had a great time. Lin Xian was surprised by Ji Lin¡¯s behavior that night. He had thought Ji Lin wasn¡¯t one for lively gatherings, given his solitary and reserved nature. But it seemed everyone sought connection and joy deep down. Ji Lin gradually joined in, ying games with everyone.
Later, the girls chatted about gossip, school, and TV shows, while Lin Xian and Ji Lin moved to the rooftop balcony on the vi¡¯s third floor, lying on lounge chairs under the moonlight.
¡°I think you and Chu An Qing make a good pair, better than Zhao Ying Jun,¡± Ji Lin said suddenly.
Lin Xian almost choked on his juice. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±
Ji Liny back, turning to look at Lin Xian. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Chu An Qing?¡±
¡°Nothing,¡± Lin Xian answered honestly.
¡°But Chu An Qing clearly doesn¡¯t think so,¡± Ji Lin observed with interest. ¡°She really likes you. It¡¯s obvious.¡±
¡°Have you ever been in love?¡±
¡°No,¡± Ji Lin shook his head.
¡°Then how can you be so sure?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve read a lot. In stories, the romantic plotlines are like this,¡± Ji Lin turned his gaze back to the sky. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m a bit disappointed in you tonight. I expected some big drama.¡±
¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°Reality isn¡¯t like stories. What should I be doing, ording to your stories?¡±
¡°In stories¡¡± Ji Lin blinked and continued. ¡°You¡¯d do something grand and romantic, like setting off fireworks to light up the whole city. You know Chu An Qing would love that, but you didn¡¯t do it.¡±
¡°Have you been reading ¡®Dragon n¡¯?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Your fantasy is a bit small. Why not summon all the heroes in the world to give Chu An Qing treasures and then descend on a giant eagle? Isn¡¯t that more interesting than your story?¡±
Ji Linughed, getting the reference. ¡°¡®The Return of the Condor Heroes,¡¯ Yang Guo and Guo Xiang.¡± He sighed softly. ¡°Spending time with you, I find we get along well. You¡¯re interesting, and I enjoy our talks.¡±
¡°All these years, I mostly stayed in my room, solving math problems, reading, writing, watching the news¡ I rarely went out. The outside world seemed uninteresting to me.¡±
¡°But now¡ attending Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday party and chatting with you is quite nice.¡± He sat up, moonlight highlighting his pale face. ¡°Can you tell me¡ what gift you¡¯ll give me for my birthday?¡±
¡°No spoilers,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°You¡¯ll know on your birthday, May 3rd, right? I¡¯ll get you a gift.¡±
But first¡ Lin Xian¡¯s smile faded as he gazed at the rising moon. You have to live until then. Though he seemed to get along with Ji Lin, Lin Xian never wavered in his resolve to avenge Xu Yun and Tang Xin.
Ji Lin, if you are the killer¡ I won¡¯t show mercy.
Chapter 187: Blood for Blood
¡°Lin Xian! Ji Lin! Come down quickly!¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s voice echoed from the bottom of the stairs.
It waste, and Lin Xian and Ji Lin were just wrapping up their conversation on the rooftop. They made their way down to the vi¡¯s first-floor hall when¡ª
Click!
Chu An Qing suddenly appeared in front of them, shing a peace sign with a wide smile. The sound of a phone camera shutter filled the air.
Lin Xian and Ji Lin, a bit startled, saw Chu An Qing¡¯s ssmate holding the phone,ughing.
¡°Got it, An Qing! This group photo is epic! You three look like you could be on a magazine cover,¡± the ssmate said, still chuckling.
Chu An Qing turned to them, yfully sticking out her tongue.¡°You guys are always so serious. You never want to take photos, so I had to catch you off guard! It¡¯s my first birthday party on my own; I wanted to capture some memories!¡±
Lin Xianughed. That exined it. Chu An Qing had been trying to get photos all evening. But Lin Xian and Ji Lin had been avoiding the group photo. Generally, guys aren¡¯t eager about taking pictures, especially around girls who are eighteen or neen. For 24-year-old Lin Xian, the age difference made it awkward. Ji Lin probably felt the same, which was why they had retreated to the rooftop.
Meanwhile, Chu An Qing hurried over to her ssmate to see the photo.
In it, Lin Xian and Ji Lin looked surprised, while she struck a confident pose. The photo captured a spontaneous, warm moment.
¡°This birthday was a st! You all bettere next year too!¡±
The party soon wound down.
Chu Shan He¡¯s driver ferried all the ssmates back to Donghai University in arge van. Lin Xian and Ji Lin left in Ji Lin¡¯s car.
As they passed Ji Lin¡¯s dark, empty house, he murmured, ¡°Let¡¯s have my birthday party here, like Chu An Qing did.¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xian responded nonchntly, resting against the window.
¡°But I¡¯ve never thrown one,¡± Ji Lin added. ¡°I never had a birthday party because I didn¡¯t have friends¡ No friends meant no point in having one.¡±
Lin Xian looked at him. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s also because you lost your parents so early. If they were still around, they¡¯d have made sure to celebrate your birthday every year.¡±
¡°By the way¡ since you know your parents were murdered, have you ever sought revenge? Did you find the people who killed your parents?¡±
Ji Lin paused. ¡°No¡ I¡¯ve been searching for my parents¡¯ killers but haven¡¯t found them yet. The killers of my parents and those of Xu Yun and Tang Xin don¡¯t seem to be the same, even though they all died at 00:42. The details suggest different culprits.¡±
¡°So, there might be two groups operating at 00:42? One killed your parents, and the other killed Xu Yun and Tang Xin?¡± Lin Xian rified.
¡°What do you think?¡± Ji Lin asked, turning to Lin Xian. ¡°If there are two groups, how are they connected?¡±
Lin Xian crossed his arms, peering out as the streetlights flickered by, deep in thought. This mystery wasplex.
From their murder methods¡ one group appeared more systematic, the other more impulsive.
ording to his observations, Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, and Zhou Duan Yun were linked to the systematic group. Lin Xian was puzzled. Whyplicate a murder? Their methods weren¡¯t just borate; they adhered to strange rules¡ Rules that somehow kept him safe. It was strange. Why would they opt for such odd methods?
¡°Maybe¡¡±
Lin Xian shared a new hypothesis.
¡°Perhaps these two groups aren¡¯t connected at all. Maybe one group is clumsily copying the other.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know why they¡¯d mimic like this, but staging a car ident at 00:42 seems messy and crude. Other than deliberate imitation¡ I can¡¯t think of another logical exnation.¡±
Ji Lin sighed and gave a faint smile. ¡°Sometimes, I wish we¡¯d met earlier. It feels like we¡¯ve known each other forever.¡±
¡°Do you feel that way too?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Ji Lin nodded. ¡°But I don¡¯t think the two groups are unrted. That¡¯s why I¡¯m determined to find these murderers.¡±
Ji Lin looked at Lin Xian, his determination clear. ¡°I want to figure out who killed my parents using their help. Those responsible need to face justice.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian agreed, locking eyes with Ji Lin. ¡°An eye for an eye.¡±
Three dayster, a major announcement rocked the scientificmunity.
Leon, a renowned member of Ghana¡¯s National Academy of Sciences, unveiled a significant breakthrough in room-temperature superconductors. His paper detailed everything from theoretical basics to experimental results, building heavily on Xu Yun¡¯s prior work with aluminum alloys and cryogenic fluids.
Scientific advancements oftene from unexpected partnerships across various fields, sometimes even serendipitously.
Most people were clueless about the specifics of room-temperature superconductors. However, the media hailed it as a gateway to controlled nuclear fusion, sparking public excitement about a future of unlimited energy and free electricity.
¡°But realistically¡ there¡¯s still a long way to go from room-temperature superconductors to practical nuclear fusion.¡±
At the Donghai Police Department, Lin Xian¡¯s colleague, a physics enthusiast, scrolled through his phone,menting:
¡°Even with room-temperature superconductors, we¡¯re far from seeing real nuclear fusion devices. There are many technical hurdles to ovee.¡±
While his colleague eagerly discussed nuclear physics, Lin Xian, twirling a pen, seemed preupied.
He wasn¡¯t focused on the physics talk. Instead, he pondered whether Leon¡¯s discovery was part of the history he knew. Without the aluminum alloy and cryogenic fluid, Leon couldn¡¯t have achieved his breakthrough. So, if this was now public knowledge, had his dream world shifted as a result?
Lin Xian suspected it had. Such a significant discovery might create ripples that alter time and space. Perhaps, 600 years in the future, humanity had mastered nuclear fusion andunched into interster travel.
Where would he be born then? In the ruins of Old Donghai or on a spaceship crossing gxies? He needed to check his dream world to confirm. But there was aplication¡ Ji Lin was glued to the news next to him.
This guy seemed to monitor Lin Xian almost all the time, staying up to talk with him until the wee hours.
For safety, Lin Xian never dared to enter his dream world with Ji Lin around. Once in the dream, he couldn¡¯t wake until he either died or it was 00:42, regardless of external events.
He learned this as a child when his panicked parents rushed him to the hospitalte one night.
Luckily, he woke just as they arrived at 00:42, avoiding further drama. The doctors, after a full check-up, dered him simply a deep sleeper.
No matter what, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t risk exposing any weakness to Ji Lin. Even though dying in the dream could end it prematurely, the symptoms upon waking¡ªincreased adrenaline, flushed skin, and a racing heart¡ªwere too noticeable. If Ji Lin saw those, it would spell trouble.
¡°I¡¯ll find a way to slip into the dream world in a few days. There will be opportunities,¡± Lin Xian thought. Neither he nor Ji Lin could maintain their wary standoff forever.
Perhaps both were biding their time, waiting for the right moment to catch the other off guard and gather enough evidence toe out on top.
Lin Xian discreetly started looking up more about Academician Leon on his phone. Leon had rapidly ascended within Ghana¡¯s scientific ranks, moving from a university lecturer to a celebrated academician, renowned for his brilliance.
He wasn¡¯t just a genius; he was dubbed a ¡°mad genius¡± for his unconventional research methods and eclectic interests. While most scientists focused on one field, Leon dabbled in whatever intrigued him. This might make him appear scattered or unfocused. Yet, he excelled in every area he explored, achieving multiple breakthroughs and earning the title of a true polymath.
This time, his sess with room-temperature superconductors followed a recent invention in food safety testing. People marveled at his innovative spirit and endless energy, the epitome of the archetypal mad scientist.
Lin Xian stared at a photo of Leon.
He was surprised.
Chubby, bald, and stocky, Leon didn¡¯t fit Lin Xian¡¯s image of a scientist. Unlike others like Xu Yun and Liu Feng, who looked the part of researchers even at a nce.
¡°Regarding Leon, I¡¯ve never seen a scientist who looks less like one,¡± Lin Xian remarked.
Ji Lin gave a small smile beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover, Lin Xian. What does Leon look like to you?¡±
¡°A chef, definitely a cook,¡± Lin Xian replied.
Ji Lin¡¯s smile waned slightly, and he nodded thoughtfully. ¡°You have keen eyes.¡±
Chapter 188: The Show Begins
¡°Geniuses really do exist in this world, and their appearances have nothing to do with their jobs,¡± Ji Lin began, his tone shifting. He used his phone to project several news screenshots onto therge screen behind him for the team to see.
¡°Recently, scientific research has advanced quickly. Due to Xu Yun and Tang Xin, we believe that the next targets for the murderers will probably be schrs and experts in hibernation technology.¡±
¡°These are the scientists I¡¯ve identified who have made significant breakthroughs or show great potential in hibernation research. Take a look.¡±
As Ji Lin gestured, the team looked up at the screen disying a dozen leaders in the field of hibernation.
Some of these scientists had developed groundbreaking hibernation devices, others had formted maintenance drugs, some had proposed new theories, while others had innovative ideas for the recovery phase after hibernation.
Clearly, these individuals were leading the field. The team spected that they were likely to be the next murder victims.
Lin Xian noticed that most of these scientists were from other countries, with only three from their own, but all were working overseas.
A colleague next to him also noticed this and asked Ji Lin, ¡°But Ji Lin, most of these scientists are overseas, and we can¡¯t monitor their movements. If the murderer targets them, we won¡¯t be able to set up an ambush in time. And there are too many of them to protect!¡±Ji Lin nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Our resources are limited, and so is our jurisdiction. Outside of Donghai, we can¡¯t just call up local police forces. Plus, the 00:42 incidents have only urred in Donghai, and local authorities are keen to keep it that way.¡±
¡°But our chances are also limited. If we don¡¯t catch the murderer at the next crime scene, we might never get a lead on them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve decided we need to split up.¡±
He paused, then continued with a serious look. ¡°I have some connections in the international policemunity. I¡¯ve assisted with many cases abroad, and they respect and are willing to coborate with me.¡±
¡°So, I n to use my influence abroad to organize ambushes and capture operations, while the rest of you will stay in Donghai to try to trap the murderer here. We can¡¯t let them get away this time.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s announcement made everyone¡¯s eyes widen.
¡°Wait, Ji Lin¡ you¡¯re leaving Donghai?¡±
¡°This is so sudden!¡±
¡°Why go overseas now? Have you found a clue?¡±
¡°There must be a reason for Ji Lin¡¯s decision. He probably has a specific scientist in mind.¡±
Everyone was surprised by Ji Lin¡¯s departure, but after some thought, they trusted that Ji Lin wouldn¡¯t abandon them or flee from danger. He had a good reason.
Indeed, Ji Lin nodded, stood up, and pointed at a photo of a white-haired elderly man on the screen, working in ab in Japan. He was a pioneer in low-temperature freezing studies and currently led their hibernation project.
¡°This leader in Japan has been traveling a lot recently. I think the murderer might target him next, so I need to go to Japan to coordinate with local police and set up an ambush.¡±
The team nodded, understanding Ji Lin¡¯s logic.
Given the number of potential targets worldwide, if the murderer was operating internationally, it made little sense to stay only in Donghai.
Ji Lin was the only one with the necessary connections and influence to handle such tasks abroad.
For the team staying in Donghai, Ji Lin might be leaving, but he left a detailed n of action. They just needed to follow it carefully. However, Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Ji Lin was up to something.
Though Ji Lin¡¯s n to catch the murderer abroad sounded usible¡ªsince not all crimes would happen in Donghai¡ªLin Xian still suspected Ji Lin might be the murderer.
Was Ji Lin simply ying a more borate game of cat and mouse?
Suddenly, Ji Lin caught Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. He smiled, looked around, and said, ¡°Even though I invited Lin Xian here, you¡¯ve all seen his skills through our work together. He¡¯s solved many tough cases with us. His sharp analytical skills are obvious to everyone.¡±
¡°And now, the most crucial task is to predict the murderer¡¯s next moves and set up an ambush. Lin Xian, having been at two crime scenes, has a strong instinct and can be trusted. So, while I¡¯m away, I hope you¡¯ll rely on Lin Xian¡¯s judgment in identifying potential targets. I¡¯m confident he won¡¯t let you down.¡±
After Ji Lin spoke, the others nodded in agreement. They trusted Lin Xian; he had proved himself by solving numerous cases and was well-respected among his peers.
¡°Are you really going?¡±
In the shared dormitory, Ji Lin was packing his suitcase while Lin Xian leaned against the wall, watching him.
¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about missing something with so many scientistsing to Donghai?¡±
Ji Lin stopped packing and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be d I¡¯m going away. Isn¡¯t more freedom a good thing for you?¡±
He grinned. ¡°Starting tomorrow, no one will limit your freedom. You can go home, go out, or have fun whenever you like. What will you do on your first day of freedom? Take a vacation?¡±
¡°Tomorrow?¡± Lin Xian checked the date on his phone. ¡°I have ns. I¡¯m going to a little girl¡¯s birthday party.¡±
Ji Lin looked puzzled. ¡°How do you know so many little girls?¡±
¡°No, this time it¡¯s actually a little girl,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°A fourteen-year-old patient. I¡¯m going to the hospital to celebrate her birthday.¡±
¡°You really are kind-hearted,¡± Ji Lin resumed packing his suitcase. ¡°Compassionate and kind.¡±
He zipped up his suitcase and headed towards the door.
¡°When will you be back?¡± Lin Xian asked, watching him leave.
¡°It won¡¯t be long. Once I¡¯ve caught the murderer or secured the academic leader, I¡¯ll return.¡±
Ji Lin turned to face Lin Xian. ¡°If you catch the murderer here before I do, I¡¯lle back to celebrate with you. Either way, I¡¯ll be back by my birthday on May 3rd. I¡¯m looking forward to your birthday gift.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. Even at such a moment, Ji Lin was thinking about his birthday.
¡°Is your birthday that important to you?¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Ji Lin affirmed. ¡°Because¡ I have a date with friends.¡±
¡°Chu An Qing?¡±
¡°And you,¡± Ji Lin added.
The air suddenly felt still. Although they were only a few meters apart, their eye contact seemed to span a vast, insurmountable distance.
¡°Goodbye, Lin Xian.¡± Ji Lin turned and walked away, pulling his suitcase.
Lin Xian stood still, not following him. He didn¡¯t see Ji Lin off. He just stood inside, listening to the sound of the suitcase rolling away, then the ding of the elevator door opening.
Then¡ silence.
¡°Goodbye,¡± Lin Xian whispered softly.
He never intended to go to Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party or give him a birthday gift.
At the moment, the suspicions around Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, and Zhou Duan Yun remained unresolved.
A blood debt must be repaid with blood.
This cat-and-mouse game could only end with one side¡¯s death. There was no draw, no tie, only a fight to the death.
Perhaps in Ji Lin¡¯s heart, he genuinely considered Lin Xian and Chu An Qing as friends. But Lin Xian did not. Not even for a moment. He could never be friends with the murderer who killed Xu Yun and Tang Xin. A blood debt can only be repaid with blood.
¡
¡°Happy birthday, Xiang Yue!¡±
On April 1st, at Donghai University Affiliated Hospital, on the 17th floor, in Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s ward.
The candles on the cake were blown out by Zheng Xiang Yue. She giggled, adjusted the birthday princess hat on her head, and made a heartfelt wish.
¡°Here¡¯s your birthday gift.¡± Lin Xian brought out arge foil-wrapped package with a big pink bow from behind him. The gift inside seemed almost asrge as Zheng Xiang Yue herself!
But it didn¡¯t seem too heavy as Lin Xian lifted it with ease.
¡°Wow! It¡¯s so big!¡± Zheng Xiang Yue dived towards it! It was soft, and she sank into it. ¡°Brother Lin Xian! Can I open it now?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°It¡¯s your birthday gift; it¡¯s all yours.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue eagerly untied the bow and tore off the colorful foil, revealing a soft toy inside.
¡°It¡¯s a huge Rhine Cat! I¡¯ve never seen one this big!¡±
Her eyes widened in disbelief at the massive Rhine Cat toy. She tried to hug it several times but couldn¡¯t wrap her arms around it due to her short reach. Finally, Zheng Cheng He lifted both her and the giant Rhine Cat onto the bed.
¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Lin Xian.¡± Zheng Cheng He sincerely thanked Lin Xian.
¡°Xiang Yue has always loved Rhine Cat toys. I¡¯ve bought her many¡ but I¡¯ve never seen one this big in any store.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s a limited edition. There are only two in the world,¡± Lin Xian exined with a smile. ¡°When we first designed this toy, the factory made two samples for us to review. But the production cost was high¡ our boss didn¡¯t want to sell expensive items, so the project was put on hold.¡±
¡°Now, the Rhine Cats on the market are all smaller. Thisrge prototype was never released, and I took it from the warehouse for Xiang Yue.¡±
¡°Wow! Only two in the world!¡± Zheng Xiang Yue hugged the huge Rhine Cat, rolling around happily. ¡°Who has the other one?¡±
¡°The other one¡¡± Lin Xian
He remembered the MXpany¡¯s celebration party where Chu An Qing won the other giant Rhine Cat toy. He gently patted Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s head and said, ¡°The other one belongs to another little princess. You both are princesses.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue giggled, clutching the Rhine Cat tightly, reluctant to let go.
After they finished the cake and cleaned up, Lin Xian prepared to leave.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, how did you get here?¡± Zheng Cheng He inquired.
¡°I took a taxi.¡±
¡°Let me drive you back.¡±
Zheng Cheng He smiled and pointed towards the parking lot outside the window. ¡°My taxi is parked out there. I took the day off to celebrate Xiang Yue¡¯s birthday, but I should get back to work. Let me drop you off at your office first.¡±
Lin Xian agreed.
Zheng Cheng He usually worked day shifts as a taxi driver, and it was his usual working hours now.
The two said goodbye to Zheng Xiang Yue and made their way to the parking lot. Zheng Cheng He opened the car door, and Lin Xian climbed into the front passenger seat.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, where to?¡±
¡°To the Donghai City Police Department,¡± Lin Xian answered. With Ji Lin gone, Lin Xian¡¯s schedule had be even busier, especially as he adjusted to his new responsibilities.
Zheng Cheng He started the car and pulled out a mask and sunsses from the glovepartment. Seeing this, Lin Xian sat up.
¡°Do you always cover up like this when you drive?¡±
¡°I have to¡¡± Zheng Cheng He gave a wry smile and pointed to his right cheek. ¡°My right face is covered in scars. I don¡¯t want to scare my passengers¡¡±
Lin Xian said nothing, simply nodding in understanding. ¡°Okay.¡±
Chapter 189: Clearing the Name
¡°Did the police check your taxipany after those idents?¡± Lin Xian asked Zheng Cheng He, who was bundled up and focused on driving. ¡°One taxi was involved in Professor Xu Yun¡¯s death, and another in a recent incident with a female scientist. Were yourpany¡¯s drivers investigated?¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Zheng Cheng He responded, maneuvering the steering wheel. ¡°Every taxi in Donghai City has a unique identifier, and the newer ones are equipped with real-time tracking. It¡¯s simple to verify their whereabouts through the tform.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been closely following Professor Xu Yun¡¯s case. The taxi involved was counterfeit, modified to look authentic but wasn¡¯t a registered cab¡ so they never found it.¡±
Lin Xian watched Zheng Cheng He in silence, taking in his serious demeanor.
¡
After Lin Xian was dropped off at the Donghai City Police Department, Zheng Cheng He returned to his usual duties.
Lin Xian quickly got involved with his team¡¯s investigation. They were sticking to the n Ji Lin set: predict the next scientist¡¯s murder for 00:42 andy a trap to thwart the attack, safeguard the scientist, and apprehend the driver.
Predicting the next victim and the exact timing of the attack was the real challenge.Since Ji Lin¡¯s departure, Lin Xian enjoyed more autonomy. He briefly entered his dream world to see if anything had altered, but everything was as usual. Both old and new versions of Donghai City appeared unchanged, leaving Lin Xian puzzled.
He expected some alterations in the timeline due to the invention of room-temperature superconductors. Maybe this technology was always meant to be, he thought, confused by the intricacies of time-space.
Their team had set several traps already, but the scientists crossed the street at 00:42 unharmed, with no murder attempts. Although relieved, the team was anxious to catch the perpetrator soon.
¡
April 10th, morning.
Inside the task force meeting room at the Donghai City Police Department, a male team member highlighted the photos and profiles of five scientists on a projection screen.
¡°Donghai City is hosting two major scientific banquets and a symposium on April 12th. The next day, a significant hibernationb will have its inauguration, attended by several leading scientists,¡± he exined.
¡°We¡¯ve been monitoring these potential targets with no incidents so far, but we can¡¯t rx on the night of April 12th at 00:42. We suspect these five scientists might be at risk.¡±
Pointing at the first two photos, he continued, ¡°These experts in hibernation will be at the banquets. It¡¯s uncertain if they¡¯ll be targeted at 00:42, but they are crucial for our surveince.¡±
Next, he highlighted a middle-aged, overweight scientist. ¡°This is Professor Leon from Canada. His work on room-temperature superconductors has been groundbreaking. He¡¯s attending the symposium and a dinner afterward. We can¡¯t dismiss the chance of an attack on him.¡±
Finally, he focused on thest two scientists. ¡°They¡¯ll be at the ribbon-cutting on April 13th. Their nends at midnight on the 12th, making them especially vulnerable at 00:42.¡±
¡
A female colleague beside Lin Xian chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s simple to protect them¡ªjust avoid the 00:42 timeslot, and they¡¯re safe.¡±
¡°But if we don¡¯t give the culprits an opportunity to strike, we can¡¯t catch them. It¡¯s a catch-22,¡± she added.
¡°Exactly,¡± the male colleague agreed. ¡°We¡¯ve set up roadblocks and barriers, but if the attackers are prepared, they¡¯ll notice and possibly abort their ns. Could our presence be why we haven¡¯t caught anyone?¡±
Nods of agreement followed his statement.
The culprits were daring yet cautious. Sensing an ambush, they might dy their ns, making the police¡¯s task increasingly reactive.
¡°We face two main challenges,¡± he summarized. ¡°First, we need to ensure our protective measures and setups don¡¯t tip off the culprits. Otherwise, they won¡¯t engage. Second, without setting traps, we can¡¯t safeguard the scientists, and the aftermath of a potential attack would be disastrous. Bncing these aspects is tough. If we cover all five locations too obviously, it¡¯ll alert the attackers, and they¡¯ll withdraw.¡±
¡
Lin Xian listened intently, twirling his pen. He was also concerned about potential leaks within the department, considering the possibility of spies or informants from Ji Lin still lurking around.
¡°Lin Xian, what¡¯s your take?¡± the male colleague asked with a smile. ¡°Ji Lin said your instincts at crime scenes were sharp. Who among these five do you think is most likely to be targeted?¡±
Pausing his pen twirling, Lin Xian pondered. ¡°I need more time to think it over.¡±
The colleague nodded and addressed the room, ¡°This isn¡¯t trivial. One mistake could let the criminal slip away and cost a life. Think on it, and we¡¯ll regroup tomorrow. Keep this all under wraps. Dismissed.¡±
¡
That afternoon, Lin Xian returned home for the first time in days. After locking his door, he went straight to bed.
He felt as though Ji Lin¡¯s surveince extended even here, monitoring every move he made at the department.
But this situation also offered an opportunity. If only he could predict which scientist was the next target.
The only ce to find that foresight was in his dreams, specifically at a chain bookstore in New Donghai City.
¡°It¡¯s time to take a chance,¡± Lin Xian muttered, closing his eyes to sleep.
¡
Nighttime at the bookstore in New Donghai City.
Lin Xian was familiar with the ce. He used the cashier¡¯sputer to search for the names of the five scientists arriving on April 12th.
The book search system was advanced, capable of searching within the content of books, not just titles¡ªa stark contrast to libraries in 2023.
Given New Donghai¡¯s advanced technology, this was not surprising.
First, he searched for the four scientists linked to hibernation research but found nothing noteworthy.
It seemed that over 600 years, their relevance had faded to nothing.
Curiously, Lin Xian searched for Xu Yun and found numerous entries describing him as the pioneer of hibernation, with extensivementary. One entry mentioned his death in a traffic ident but no more details.
Next, he tried searching for Tang Xin but found nothing.
¡°600 years is long enough to erase any trace,¡± Lin Xian mused. Only historic figures like Xu Yun and Einstein endured over centuries.
He even checked his own name, finding nothing and chuckled to himself.
MX Company and even the popr Rhine Cat were insignificantpared to the legacies of Xu Yun¡¯s hibernation technology or Einstein¡¯s theories.
With little expectation, Lin Xian entered Professor Leon¡¯s name and hit enter.
The screen refreshed with numerous entries, more than for Xu Yun.
¡°This guy was important,¡± Lin Xian noted. Leon¡¯s work on room-temperature superconductors was a stepping stone to controlled nuclear fusion. Though not the pioneer of nuclear fusion, he yed a critical role in its advancement.
However, Lin Xian¡¯s anticipation turned to confusion as he read through the entries. Contrary to his expectations of praise, the references were overwhelmingly negative. Leon wasbeled a fraud, a thief, despicable, among other harsh criticisms.
¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± Lin Xian wondered. In 2023, Leon was celebrated as a visionary, his theories and data validated by numerous institutions. How had his reputation plummeted in future histories?
Digging deeper, Lin Xian found a revealing entry:
¡°¡ Three years after Leon¡¯s idental death, Dr. Ponsmike vindicated him, prompting a reevaluation of his life and work. Once the truth was uncovered, Leon¡¯s deceitful actions came to light¡¡±
Chapter 190: The Final Battle Begins
Dr. Ponsmike?
Lin Xian stared at the summary,pletely confused. He wanted more details but found only a teaser. Determined, Lin Xian found the book ¡°Prospects of Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology¡± on the bookstore¡¯s second floor. He grabbed it and began to read.
¡°So, that¡¯s the situation¡¡±
The book revealed that Academician Leon was a fraud and a thief. All his research was stolen, a truth hidden until three years after his death when Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s research notes were found, exposing Leon¡¯s deception.
Lin Xian reread the section to grasp the timeline better:
Dr. Ponsmike, a German scientist, was rtively unknown. Meanwhile, Academician Leon of Ghana University gained fame for his so-called discoveries. However, Leon had actually murdered Dr. Ponsmike, imed his research as his own, and rose to international acim. After Leon¡¯s death in a car ident, the discovery of Ponsmike¡¯s notes, identical to Leon¡¯s publications but more detailed, confirmed the theft.
¡°So, Dr. Ponsmike was the real genius behind the room-temperature superconductors, and Leon was a fraud,¡± Lin Xian concluded, closing the book and pondering.
Now, a new question emerged¡If the same person killed Dr. Ponsmike, Xu Yun, and Tang Xin, why create and kill a fake scientist? It was puzzling.
¡°I need to look up real-world data about Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s death,¡± Lin Xian decided.
He searched the book but found nothing helpful. After all, six hundred years had passed since Leon and Ponsmike¡¯s deaths. Lin Xian stayed in the bookstore until 12:42 AM, when a blinding light transported him back to reality.
¡
Upon waking, Lin Xian immediately turned on hisputer to search for information about Dr. Ponsmike¡¯s death. Dr. Ponsmike was a mystery with scant online presence. Switching to a German search engine, he found a critical news piece: On March 3, 2023, Dr. Ponsmike died in a car ident on the outskirts of Wolfsburg, with the responsible vehicle still missing.
¡°This confirms it; he died recently.¡±
This matched the future book¡¯s description perfectly. These details pointed to Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, or Zhou Duan Yun as possible perpetrators.
¡°Was Academician Leon involved in this murder?¡±
Recalling the book¡¯s usation against Leon, Lin Xian found it hard to confirm. Still, Leon¡¯s possession of Ponsmike¡¯s research linked him to Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui.
¡°If they were co-conspirators, why set up a self-destructive scenario?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, letting small clues connect in his mind:
Ji Lin had set a trap for Tang Xin, drawing Lin Xian into Xu Yun¡¯s special investigation team, then quickly vanished before Leon¡¯s arrival in Donghai. Ji Lin had insinuated the next target would be a hibernation scientist, steering attention away from other fields. His colleagues were convinced another hibernation scientist would be next.
Initially a mere tool for Ji Lin, Lin Xian had unwittingly built a reputation, solving cases and winning the team¡¯s trust through Ji Lin¡¯s strategic clue drops.
With Dr. Ponsmike dead for nearly a month and Leon having just published his paper, Ji Lin had orchestrated follow-up actions and left Donghai, leaving Lin Xian to deal with the aftermath.
Ji Xin Shui had previously attempted to kill Zhou Duan Yun, and together with Ji Lin, they had plotted against their own family member, Xu Yun. If they could target their own, it was no stretch they¡¯d eliminate associates for their goals.
Most crucially, they had murdered the genuine scientist, Dr. Ponsmike, then handed his research to their aplice, creating the facade of the fraudulent scientist Leon to die in Donghai. This was clearly a calcted diversion and bait!
¡
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flew open, grasping the truth.
¡°I understand now.¡± Taking a deep breath, he realized Ji Lin¡¯s intricate scheme over the months.
Ji Lin had crafted a fake scientist as bait, giving Lin Xian some sway with Donghai police to draw him into saving the counterfeit scientist.
¡°Ji Lin, your schemes are wicked.¡±
Lin Xian recognized the long,plex game the mastermind had yed.
Normally, without his ability to see the future, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have focused on Leon but on the hibernation scientists.
But with foreknowledge of Leon¡¯s demise, he would¡¯ve staked out near Leon, intercepting the vehicle and capturing the killer.
Lin Xian was determined to apprehend the murderer, almost too eagerly.
Without the revtion of Leon as a sham, Lin Xian would have fallen into the trap, oblivious that the scientist was mere bait.
¡°But¡¡± Lin Xian frowned.
Was there another chance to catch the killer if he missed this one? Would Ji Lin offer another opportunity to foresee a murder?
Thinking hard, Lin Xian realized the depth of Ji Lin¡¯s trap. There seemed no perfect solution.
Staking out near Leon might force Ji Lin to abort the murder, confirming Lin Xian¡¯s foresight, and losing him the strategic game.
If the police covered all potential targets on April 12th, Ji Lin might also cancel the murder. Lin Xian would keep his ability secret but miss the chance to catch the killer, indirectly losing again.
Ignoring Leon meant the fake scientist would be killed, letting the murderer escape once more, rendering Lin Xian¡¯s efforts futile.
¡
Lin Xian scratched his head.
Was it possible to both preserve his secret and catch the murderer?
He pondered long but found no solution.
The main problem was Ji Lin¡¯s potential ess to police information, enabling him to adjust his tactics.
It was exasperating.
¡°It seems I can¡¯t avoid being exposed.¡±
Lin Xian felt cornered by Ji Lin, who only needed solid evidence. For these ruthless killers, even solid proof might not be necessary if pushed to extremes.
¡°My time is running out. This trap is Ji Lin¡¯s call for a final showdown.¡±
Looking out at the neon-lit night, Lin Xian narrowed his eyes:
¡°It¡¯s time to step into the trap.¡±
He had a n.
A n to deliberately fall into the trap, flip the situation, and triumph.
¡
The next day, Lin Xian visited Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked up from her paperwork.
¡°I need to borrow a car,¡± Lin Xian stated inly.
¡°Borrow a car?¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow.
Lin Xian had never requested such a thing before¡ Of course, she wouldn¡¯t deny him. But his sudden interest in luxury cars piqued her curiosity.
With a swift movement, she opened a drawer, pulled out all the car keys, and spread them on the table: ¡°Choose any.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback by her ease: ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why I need the car?¡±
¡°I trust you,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°If it¡¯s something interesting, tell meter.¡±
¡°Thanks,¡± Lin Xian approached, selecting the red Ferrari key: ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡±
Recalling a thrilling rainy chase and a recent high-speed pursuit on the overpass with Yellow Finch, Lin Xian grinned: ¡°I like this Ferrari.¡±
¡
VROOM!!!!
The roaring LaFerrari screeched to a stop in Chu Shan He¡¯s courtyard.
Chu Shan He approached: ¡°Lin Xian, what¡¯s so urgent that we needed to meet in person?¡±
¡°Mr. Chu.¡± Lin Xian exited the car, facing Chu Shan He: ¡°I need your help with aplicated issue.¡±
He knew Chu Shan He wouldn¡¯t turn him down.
After previously saving Chu An Qing, Chu Shan He owed Lin Xian a substantial favor, so he wouldn¡¯t refuse any reasonable request.
¡°Hahaha¡¡± Chu Shan Heughed heartily, patting Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder and inviting him inside: ¡°In Donghai, nothing¡¯s too challenging for me. I¡¯m d you sought me out. Whatever it is, let¡¯s discuss it inside. I¡¯m here to help!¡±
¡
That evening, in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, within a traditional wooden Japanese-style house, Ji Lin sat at a tea table while Zhou Duan Yun leaned against the wall, both awaiting someone.
¡°Greed is so slow,¡± Zhou Duan Yun grumbled.
¡°He¡¯s practically dead; don¡¯t rush him,¡± Ji Lin replied calmly.
¡°He¡¯s had his fill of life¡¯s pleasures. His life¡¯s been worthwhile,¡± Zhou Duan Yun remarked, picking at his nails. ¡°A fraudulent academic nearly winning a Nobel Prize¡ It¡¯s bizarre.¡±
He then looked at Ji Lin: ¡°What if Lin Xian doesn¡¯t take the bait tomorrow? What if he¡¯s too scared?¡±
Ji Lin shook his head: ¡°He has a strong sense of duty. Especially with a chance to catch the killer, he won¡¯t back down easily.¡±
¡°If he were fearful, he wouldn¡¯t have joined the task force. Clearly, while we aim to catch Lin Xian, he¡¯s more eager to catch us. He¡¯s probably tired of our games, seeking vengeance for Xu Yun and Tang Xin.¡±
¡°So, we just need to see if Lin Xian stakes out near Leon tomorrow. The task force members will focus on hibernation scientists, as we¡¯ve directed them.¡±
¡°In this case, if Lin Xian still insists on watching Leon, it proves he has some ability to foresee and alter the future. Then we have valid grounds to eliminate him.¡±
¡°The day has finally arrived,¡± Zhou Duan Yun chuckled, ¡°I¡¯ve been anticipating this.¡±
Creak¡ª
The sliding wooden door opened.
A bald, overweight man entered, looking at the two young men: ¡°Ji Lin, I¡¯m traveling to Donghai tomorrow. Why meet here in Japan?¡±
He then nced at the man next to Ji Lin: ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡±
¡°This is Envy; you haven¡¯t met yet,¡± Ji Lin introduced, pointing to the bald man: ¡°This is Greed. You joined the organizationter, so this is your first introduction.¡±
¡°Academician Leon, pleased to meet you,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said, shaking Leon¡¯s hand.
¡°Close the door,¡± Ji Lin instructed, setting his teacup down and focusing on Leon: ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s operation is critical for Pride. If you mess up, Pride will be very displeased¡ Remember every word I say.¡±
Chapter 191: Greed and Gluttony
Inside the bustling Donghai City Police Department, the Xu Yun Task Force gathered in their designated meeting room. The air was thick with tension and anticipation as they prepared for a crucial operation.
¡°Tomorrow¡¯s April 12th. We need to finalize our n for the early morning operation,¡± stated a male team member firmly, gesturing towards the photos disyed on the projector screen.
¡°These are the five scientists who will be out on the streets at exactly 12:42 AM tomorrow. To keep our operation under wraps and avoid tipping off the killer, we can only hit two locations at the same time. I¡¯m against calling in extra officers from other departments,¡± he added, setting a tone of caution.
¡°We¡¯ve had a lot of informatione in today. It¡¯s time to make a choice. Let¡¯s vote on which scientist is most likely to be the target at 12:42 AM,¡± he proposed.
The room quickly reached a consensus; all fingers pointed to the scientists working on hibernation projects.
It was evident from Ji Lin¡¯s insights and themon threads in Xu Yun and Tang Xin¡¯s cases that the killers were targeting those researching hibernation.
Lin Xian confidently singled out one of the hibernation scientists. ¡°I think targeting the two scientists at the airport is a stretch. Donghai City Airport is too busy, and with its internal roads sealed and a well-organized taxi area, staging a car ident there seems imusible.¡±
¡°Our main efforts and resources should focus on the two scientists attending the science banquet,¡± he suggested.The team members nodded in agreement.
The team member leading the presentation manipted his phone, removing the photos of the two scientists scheduled to arrive at the airport from the disy.
Now, only the two hibernation scientists set to attend the academic banquet and Leon, the scientist studying room-temperature superconductors, remained on screen.
¡°I think we can rule out Leon,¡± the presenter suggested. ¡°Firstly, he¡¯s not a hibernation scientist. Secondly, he¡¯s been to countless scientific events worldwide without incident. The likelihood of the killer choosing to strike him here in Donghai is slim. Plus, we¡¯ve seen no scientists from other fields attacked. With our limited staff, let¡¯s concentrate on the two hibernation scientists. Thoughts?¡±
¡°I agree,¡± Lin Xian was quick to raise his hand. ¡°Leon doesn¡¯t fit the victim profile based on Ji Lin¡¯s analysis. He¡¯s probably safe. We don¡¯t need to include him in our watch.¡±
Meanwhile, in a traditional Japanese-style building in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, Leon was snacking at a wooden table, chuckling. ¡°So, all I need to do is y my part at tomorrow night¡¯s banquet and be at the crosswalk at 12:42 AM?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Ji Lin confirmed with a smile. ¡°Just make sure it¡¯s believable. No real idents, though.¡±
Ji Lin showed him a picture on a tablet. ¡°This crosswalk behind the banquet hall is your mark. Make sure to check it out before the event.¡±
¡°The fourth white line from the south¡ªthat¡¯s where you¡¯ll stand at 12:42 AM, and don¡¯t move. Gluttony will drive a taxi past that line, but as long as you stay put, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°Convincing the disruptor of history requires a believable act, so stay on that line. Gluttony will swerve at thest second.¡±
¡°No worries!¡± Leon pped his chest confidently. ¡°My acting¡¯s first-rate. After all, isn¡¯t that how I got to where I am today?¡±
¡°Speaking of which, Ji Lin, I need to confirm something about the patent rights for the room-temperature superconductors. I¡¯ve got offers from several bigpanies that are too good to turn down!¡±
¡°Pride didn¡¯t put any restrictions on the manuscript, so I assume full control, right? You guys are my witnesses?¡±
Ji Lin grinned. ¡°You¡¯re free to manage any patents we issue however you like. Just don¡¯t let Pride down.¡±
¡°Perfect! I¡¯m all set for tomorrow night. Just a bit of acting, standing on that line¡ªeasy!¡± Leon stood, stretched, and made his way to the door. ¡°Anything else? If not, I¡¯m going to enjoy Japan a bit more before I head to Donghai for the meeting tomorrow.¡±
¡°You¡¯re good to go,¡± Ji Lin responded.
Leon squeezed through the sliding door, his steps receding into the night apanied by the sound of a starting engine.
¡°ssic Greed,¡± Zhou Duan Yun remarked with a chuckle. ¡°He¡¯s enjoying hisst night of freedom. Tomorrow, he meets his fate.¡±
¡°Indeed, we need to make sure of it,¡± Ji Lin stated as he rose from the tatami mat. ¡°To confirm Lin Xian¡¯s ability to predict and influence historical events, Leon must die in that staged car ident at 12:42. It¡¯s the only way to validate Lin Xian¡¯s predictive powers.¡±
Back in the police department¡¯s meeting room, the male team member directed everyone¡¯s attention to a PowerPoint slide showing the division into two groups.
¡°Group A will cover Scientist A, and Group B will take Scientist B. We¡¯ll establish hidden roadblocks both ahead and behind. Our main goal is to safeguard the scientists and capture the vehicle to stop the killer from escaping.¡±
¡°Why isn¡¯t Lin Xian listed?¡± a female team member inquired.
¡°Lin Xian isn¡¯t officially on our roster. Hecksw enforcement credentials and can¡¯t be involved in field operations,¡± exined the presenter.
¡°Apologies, but I¡¯ll be coordinating from the back,¡± Lin Xian added with a rueful smile. ¡°I¡¯m not trained for fieldwork, and being there mightpromise our efforts or slow you down. I¡¯ll manage the strategy from here. I¡¯m confident we¡¯ll make progress this time. Once we apprehend the killer, we can pursue and capture the wholework behind these crimes!¡±
¡.
¡°So, we just wait for the oue?¡± Zhou Duan Yun asked, settling back with his tea in the wooden building.
¡°The Donghai police are concentrating on the hibernation scientists. If Lin Xian can foresee Greed¡¯s demise, he¡¯ll either try to prevent it or catch the killer in the act.¡±
¡°As long as he makes an appearance, for any reason, it proves he can foresee and alter the course of history,¡± Ji Lin concluded after a pause.
April 12th, 2 PM.
Ten hours before the Xu Yun Task Force¡¯s operation.
Lin Xian drove his Ferrari to the Donghai University Affiliated Hospital. He picked up a small bouquet of lilies from the passenger seat and headed to the 17th floor.
He entered Xu Yi Yi¡¯s hospital room, exchanged the wilted flowers in the vase for the fresh lilies, and ced them neatly on the table.
Approaching Xu Yi Yi¡¯s bed, he saw the girl who had been in aa for ten years. Her frail form bathed in sunlight appeared as pure and delicate as the lilies.
¡°Yi Yi, tonight everythinges to an end,¡± he whispered, mimicking Xu Yun¡¯s tender manner as he tucked her in. Noticing the strong breeze, he partially closed the window.
¡°I promise to catch the person responsible for your father¡¯s death,¡± Lin Xian vowed, his hand tightening around the bedrail. ¡°I¡¯ll bring them all to justice. None will escape.¡±
With a final nce at the peaceful Xu Yi Yi, he turned to leave¡ª
¡°What the¡ª?¡±
At the door, an unexpected figure appeared. He was a sturdy man with a face marred by scars but a gentle smile.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, visiting Yi Yi again?¡± It was Zheng Cheng He, the elder brother of Zheng Xiang Yue, the girl in the neighboring room.
Lin Xian nced outside where the sun was still high.
He faced Zheng Cheng He again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at work? Shouldn¡¯t you be on the day shift?¡±
¡°Ah, the night shift driver ran into some trouble, so we swapped,¡± Zheng Cheng He exined, his smile deepening the scars on his right cheek. ¡°I¡¯m on the night shift today.¡±
Chapter 192: I Am Not Inferior to You
Lin Xian quietly observed Zheng Cheng He from a corner of the room.
To be honest, Lin Xian had always felt uncertain about Zheng Cheng He, who seemed strong yet kind. He couldn¡¯t understand why Yellow Finch had deliberately led him to the hospital that one time. Initially, Lin Xian thought it was a hint that Zheng Cheng He was responsible for the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin. Butter, Zheng Xiang Yue told him her brother had been with her the entire evening of New Year¡¯s Eve, even giving her a gift at midnight.
It was impossible for one person to be in two ces at the same time without the power to teleport. This meant Zheng Cheng He couldn¡¯t have been at the hospital and also involved in the ident that killed Xu Yun. So, Lin Xian no longer considered him a suspect. Yet, now, Zheng Cheng He¡¯s sudden shift to a night job driving made Lin Xian question his true motives.
Was it a deliberate move or just a coincidence? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. But one thing was clear: whether Zheng Cheng He was guilty or not, this wasn¡¯t the moment to confront him. Lin Xian was using this opportunity to draw out Ji Xin Shui, Ji Lin, and Zhou Duan Yun. Arresting Zheng Cheng He prematurely would be pointless. Ji Lin was clever enough to have cleared any traceable evidence. Even if they found something incriminating on Zheng Cheng He, the others would likely escape, leaving him to take the fall, and the trail would go cold.
Furthermore, Zheng Cheng He¡¯s sister was currently hospitalized. Whether he was the culprit or not, he wasn¡¯t going anywhere. That confrontation could wait. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t let anything disrupt his n tonight.
¡°Take care,¡± Lin Xian finally said in a low voice. He grabbed his coat, gave Zheng Cheng He a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and left the hospital room.
He hoped he wouldn¡¯t run into Zheng Cheng He at tonight¡¯s crime scene. Despite everything, he didn¡¯t hold any bad feelings toward him or his sister; in fact, he felt a degree of sympathy. Zheng Xiang Yue idolized her brother, seeing him as her hero. Discovering he was a murderer would devastate her more than her own health issues.
¡°Please don¡¯t let it be you, Zheng Cheng He,¡± Lin Xian whispered to himself as he exited the hospital, climbed into his Ferrari, and drove away from Donghai University¡¯s affiliated hospital.Tonight was crucial. It was a direct confrontation between him and Ji Lin. The task force had suggested bringing in extra officers from other departments to monitor the scientists, but Lin Xian had declined, fearing it would expose their n.
If Ji Lin sensed the trap because too many of his associates were under watch, he might not proceed with his next move. And without that, how would they catch him?
Lin Xian was confident in his safety; he had a good grasp of his adversary¡¯s habits and tactics and had identified key yers. He believed their current approach was bold but necessary. ¡°We can¡¯t hide anymore,¡± he thought as he flicked on his Ferrari¡¯s headlights and sped onto the highway. ¡°Let¡¯s face this head-on.¡±
Midnight came, and the Donghai Public Security Bureau was a ghost town; all its members were deployed in the field.
¡°Group A is in position. The barrier is up.¡±
¡°Group B has eyes on the target in the banquet hall.¡±
Alone, Lin Xian listened to the updates crackling over the walkie-talkie. He had no official duties tonight, just to remain on standby¡ªa role that suited him just fine as the clock approached the hour.
As the clock struck twelve, Lin Xian decided it was time to move. He left the office, jumped into the Ferrari parked outside, and drove off into the night, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he headed to where Academician Leon was expected to be. He had memorized every detail of the venue¡¯syout. All he needed to do was wait at a strategic spot and catch the culprits in action.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t concerned about Leon¡¯s safety; the man was no innocent bystander and was deeply entangled with Ji Lin. Whether Leon survived the night or not, Lin Xian was more interested in the driver, the one assigned to execute the hit. In previous cases, the drivers had vanished without a trace afterpleting their tasks. This time, he was determined to follow the car himself, confident in his unmatched driving skills.
¡°I¡¯ve never lost a chase,¡± he thought, feeling the car¡¯s engine hum under his touch. Tonight, he would ensure the driver didn¡¯t get away.
At 00:40, Lin Xian checked his watch. At the venue¡¯s side door, a group of menughed and chatted before dispersing. Three returned inside, two split off at the entrance. One headed toward the parking lot while the other checked his watch, lit a cigarette, and strolled towards the crosswalk.
Lin Xian squinted at his rearview mirror, trying to make out the figure. It was hard to see clearly, but the silhouette¡ªchubby and bald¡ªlooked a lot like Leon.
Checking his watch again, it was 00:41.
Leon moved across the crosswalk slowly, his head bowed, taking deliberate steps while puffing on his cigarette. Then, unexpectedly, he stretched upwards, the cigarette held aloft as if marking thepletion of a task.
In that moment, a taxi, its lights ominously off, bolted out of the darkness and struck Leon. The impact sent him flying through the air before hended with a heavy thud. Blood pooled around him as the taxi, moving at breakneck speed, didn¡¯t slow down at the intersection.
As the taxi and Lin Xian¡¯s Ferrari narrowly missed each other, his training in the dream world paid off. His sharp eyes caught a clear glimpse of the taxi driver¡¯s face through the open window. The driver wore a mask, sunsses, and a hat¡ªthe same disguise used by the person who had killed Xu Yun.
The taxi sped away, and Lin Xian¡¯s Ferrari roared to life, headlights zing as he chased after the speeding vehicle. Lin Xian pressed the elerator to the floor, the Ferrari¡¯s engine growling as it weaved through the streets, rapidly gaining on the taxi. It was a high-speed chase through the outskirts of Donghai City, with both vehicles flouting traffic rules and zooming through the empty roads.
Lin Xian kept his Ferrari right on the taxi¡¯s tail, waiting for the perfect moment to make a move. The performance gap between the two vehicles was evident, making Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s previous im of losing the vehicle seem imusible. Lin Xian was determined not to let the taxi disappear; he was convinced that Ji Lin¡¯s team had a method for making their getaway cars vanish without a trace.
Meanwhile, in a Japanese-style house in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, Ji Lin ended a phone call and sat silently. Zhou Duan Yun watched him, curious about his next move.
Finally, Ji Lin took a deep breath and stood, ncing at an ukiyo-e painting on the wall. ¡°A red Ferrari is chasing Gluttony,¡± he remarked.
Zhou Duan Yun chuckled. ¡°LaFerrari, right? That¡¯s Lin Xian¡¯s boss¡¯s car. Can we conclude now? If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t anticipated this incident, why would he be there alone in advance?¡±
¡°That¡¯s exactly the issue,¡± Ji Lin responded softly. ¡°Why would hee alone? It¡¯s not logical.¡±
¡°Why does it matter?¡± Zhou Duan Yun paced the room, the tatami mats creaking under his steps. ¡°If it¡¯s clear he can predict the future and alter events, we should just kill him! Set off the bomb in the taxi and take out both Gluttony and Lin Xian!¡±
¡°No,¡± Ji Lin said, shaking his head. ¡°Lin Xian has to die at 00:42 in a car crash. Pride stressed this repeatedly.¡±
¡°Are you fools? Or do you think Lin Xian is a fool?¡± Zhou Duan Yun scowled. ¡°He knows our patterns so well he¡¯s setting traps for us! Do you really think he¡¯ll let you kill him at exactly 00:42?¡±
Ji Lin gave a small smile, looking at Zhou Duan Yun. ¡°Would you dare to defy Pride?¡±
¡°Why not?¡±
¡°Then do it,¡± Ji Lin offered his phone to Zhou Duan Yun. ¡°Call this number, and the bomb under Gluttony¡¯s car will go off. Given their proximity, both Lin Xian and Gluttony will be killed. Go ahead.¡±
He held out the phone again.
Zhou Duan Yun hesitated, his expression tense, but he didn¡¯t take the phone. ¡°Ji Lin¡¡± he said through clenched teeth, ¡°You really are just Ji Xin Shui¡¯s loyal puppet!¡±
¡°And what about you?¡± Ji Lin countered, staring at Zhou Duan Yun. ¡°What are you, Zhou Duan Yun? In my eyes, you¡¯re just a deceitful coward.¡±
Bang!
Zhou Duan Yun kicked over the tea table. ¡°I¡¯m not the person I used to be!¡±
¡°The current you?¡± Ji Lin scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re only alive because of Pride¡¯s mercy. Without Pride, you¡¯re nothing.¡±
¡°You spit back your bitterness from childhood here, repaying kindness with betrayal, all because Pride felt pity for you.¡±
The room fell silent except for the sound of tea soaking into the tatami and Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s heavy breathing, which echoed like a malfunctioning bellows.
¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me, Ji Lin,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said sharply, pointing at Ji Lin. ¡°I¡¯m not inferior to any of you! Never have been! You all just got lucky, born into decent families with money! Your easy lives are just due to good fortune, not your efforts!¡±
¡°You grew up without worries, supported by your parents. You could write because you had books! Lin Xian had friends because his confidence came from his family¡¯s status. He could afford to treat friends and buy gifts!¡±
¡°Do you think all these are your aplishments? Nonsense! You were just luckier, born into better circumstances!¡±
Ji Lin smirked, unfazed. ¡°At least you still have a mother. I lost both my parents.¡±
¡°Who took you in, Ji Lin?¡± Zhou Duan Yunughed bitterly. ¡°It was Pride! Ji Xin Shui, wealthy as he is, adopted you! If my mother had adopted you, with her feeding you peanuts every day, wearing worn-out clothes and shoes, too embarrassed to join gym ss because everyoneughed at you¡ what would you have written then?¡±
¡°So, you have no right to look down on me,¡± Zhou Duan Yun said fiercely, sliding the door open and turning back to re at Ji Lin. ¡°If you had lived my life, you might not have done as well as I did.¡±
Chapter 193: The Taxi Driver
Bang!
Zhou Duan Yun stormed out of the house, mming the sliding door so hard it bounced back open. His footsteps echoed as he walked away, his presence quickly fading into the distance.
The chilly evening breeze of Siguo Ind seeped in, making Ji Lin shiver slightly in his thin clothes. He got up, walked over, and gently slid the door closed, shutting out the noisy wind. The room fell quiet. Leaning against the wooden wall, Ji Lin closed his eyes and sank into deep thought.
He was almost certain that Lin Xian was the one tampering with history, despitecking direct evidence. There were just too many suspicious things about Lin Xian; if it wasn¡¯t him, nothing else made sense. But Ji Lin held onto a tiny hope¡ªit was only a 99% certainty, after all.
He hoped he was wrong.
He hoped the truth was in that remaining 1%.
But deep down, he knew such miracles were rare.
Ever since he was a kid, Ji Lin had never gotten a math problem wrong. When he learned his parents were mathematicians, he dove into math, solving problem after problem. Sudoku was his favorite. Surrounded by numbers, he felt close to the parents he couldn¡¯t remember. He believed he had a natural gift for numbers, proven time and again by his wless Sudoku solutions¡ªexcept for that one in the November 2022 Math Monthly, which had a printing error.But with Lin Xian, there was no error. Lin Xian being at the crime scene tonight in his Ferrari was enough proof that he had anticipated Leon¡¯s death.
Earlier tonight, Ji Lin had made calls to the Xu Yun task force, inquiring about their assignments and Lin Xian¡¯s whereabouts. Lin Xian had been in the office until nearly midnight.
For a moment, Ji Lin thought he might have made a mistake, that perhaps he had misjudged Lin Xian.
But it turned out his initial suspicion was correct, just like every math problem he had ever solved.
It was unexciting. Too easy.
He picked up his phone and opened an online shopping app. His cart was filled with birthday decorations, toys, and games. He had never organized a birthday party before and was trying to replicate the setup from Chu An Qing¡¯s party he¡¯d attended.
He could have hired professionals, but Ji Lin wanted to do it himself. This was his first birthday party, after all, even if he was already 22.
¡°¡¡± Ji Lin sighed softly.
Then his phone rang. The caller ID read ¡°Pride.¡±
He answered, and Pride¡¯s slightly hoarse voice came through.
¡°Envy just called. He¡¯s confirmed that Lin Xian is definitely meddling with history,¡± Pride said.
¡°He always has news fast.¡± Ji Lin chuckled, ¡°He can¡¯t wait for Lin Xian to meet his end tomorrow. He¡¯s been holding a grudge since high school over something minor. I¡¯ve always told you, I don¡¯t like Envy. He¡¯s too extreme, hardly human.¡±
¡°You two aren¡¯t much better,¡± Pride replied, sounding tired. He had grown weary of ying peacemaker between Ji Lin and Zhou Duan Yun.
¡°Not everyone can be friends. I suggested you try with Envy only for work reasons. Now that the job¡¯s done, it doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡±
¡°So, when are you nning to deal with Lin Xian?¡± Pride asked.
Ji Lin paused, hesitating.
¡°You don¡¯t have a n yet? That¡¯s not like you. By now, you usually have everything mapped out. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t even picked a time.¡±
¡°May 3rd night,¡± Ji Lin finally said, ¡°Or early morning of May 4th, at 00:42.¡±
Pride paused.
¡°More than 20 days from now¡ that¡¯s fine. Lin Xian requires careful nning. Send me the locationter. I want to see it happen.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve never had such a dark interest before.¡±
¡°Lin Xian is different,¡± Pride chuckled. ¡°I found him myself¡ it¡¯s significant.¡±
As Pride was about to hang up, Ji Lin called out.
¡°Pride.¡±
¡°Yeah?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you think May 3rd is a special day?¡±
Pride hesitated.
¡°I don¡¯t remember it being a holiday or anything. But maybe¡ in the future, it will be a day we¡¯ll never forget.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ji Lin chuckled, lowering his head. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right.¡±
¡
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A taxi and a Ferrari sped away from the city, entering the national highway lined with massive trucks. Unlike the empty city roads, the highway was bustling with these behemoths, each one barreling down like a king of the road. With speeding, overloaded trucks, and obscured license tes, the highway was aw unto itself.
Even a Ferrari couldn¡¯t outpace these giants. Lin Xian, behind the wheel, had to ease off the elerator and cautiously maneuver around them.
It seemed Lin Xian¡¯s earlier hunch was right. Those vehicles that vanished earlier might have used these trucks for their ¡°disappearing act.¡±
The taxi darted between the trucks, searching for something. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t in a hurry to follow. He pulled out his phone, about to call Chu Shan He¡ª
Boom!!
Ahead, mes shot into the air as a semi-truck was sted sideways by a violent explosion, tossing the taxi into the air. It crashed into the irrigation ditch beside the road, engulfed in mes.
Lin Xian executed a swift drifting stop, bringing the Ferrari to a safe halt. After checking for traffic, he parked on the side, turned on the hazard lights, and got out.
A bomb?
The scent of gunpowder hung heavy in the air¡ªa familiar smell from Big Cat Face¡¯s C4 explosives used in the first dream bank heist.
Why did the taxi explode all of a sudden?
Was this nned by Ji Lin from the start?
Was it a setup to eliminate the taxi driver and destroy the evidence?
Lin Xian decided to dy his call to Chu Shan He. It wasn¡¯t important now. This was just the beginning of his n. He still needed Chu Shan He for the next part.
For now, keeping their secret n hidden was advantageous. It gave Lin Xian an extra edge against Ji Linter on.
He hurried down to the ditch. The taxi was torn in two. The back half burned in the ditch while the front halfy a few meters away in a field, smoldering.
The windshield was shattered, and the taxi¡¯s body was charred. The driver, still wearing a hat, sunsses, and a mask,y half-out the window, lifeless on the ground.
Lin Xian approached cautiously, not from fear of the deading to life¡ªafter such a st, finding any body was a rarity, not something out of a Hollywood movie.
His breath quickened, the smell of burning gasoline and gunpowder thick in his nostrils, reminding him of the stench of mud after a rain.
As he neared the driver¡¯s body, the odor of burnt flesh sent a primal warning through his brain.
The driver¡¯s sunsses were crooked, but his mask and hat still shrouded his face.
His broad shoulders reminded Lin Xian of Zheng Cheng He, whom he had seen earlier that day.
Memories of Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s words echoed in Lin Xian¡¯s mind:
¡°My brother isn¡¯t irresponsible; he¡¯s protecting me! He¡¯s a hero!¡±
¡°I want my brother to bury me on the moon when I die because he said our parents are there¡ I really want to meet them.¡±
¡°My brother always says good is rewarded, and evil is punished. This world is just like that!¡±
¡°I hope my brother can get a ticket to the moon.¡±
Zheng Cheng He.
Was this his way of punishing evil?
Lin Xian stopped and bent down. With a swift tug, he pulled off the driver¡¯s mask.
The driver¡¯s face, dark and bloodstained under the moonlight, was unlike any local. His thick lips,rge nose, and smooth skin revealed a stranger¡ªcertainly not Zheng Cheng He, the scar-faced, humble man he had met.
Lin Xian whirled around as a crowd began to gather on the highway.
Something was terribly wrong.
If Yellow Finch had led him here and it wasn¡¯t to expose Zheng Cheng He, then what was she really trying to tell him?
¡
¡°Thank you for riding with us. Please take your receipt.¡±
At the lively bar street, Zheng Cheng He handed a receipt to a passenger who, chuckling, tossed a red bill on the seat and disappeared into the neon night with two women.
¡°Driver! Over here!¡±
A group of tipsy young women hailed Zheng Cheng He. He drove up, started the meter, and asked, ¡°Where to?¡±
¡°Uncle, take us to Julu Road!¡± A girl in the passenger seat giggled, looking at him. ¡°Uncle, why the sunsses at night? Can you even see?¡±
Zheng Cheng He nodded with a smile. ¡°It helps against the high beams. Makes it safer.¡±
¡°Wow, uncle! You¡¯re pretty buff!¡± remarked the girls, noticing his muscr build for the first time. ¡°Did you work out a lot?¡±
¡°I used to be bullied. Working out was to protect my sister,¡± Zheng Cheng He shared softly.
¡°To protect your sister? That¡¯s sweet. You must really spoil her,¡± the girlplimented, giving him a thumbs up.
¡°Absolutely,¡± Zheng Cheng He responded, his smile warm. ¡°She¡¯s my everything.¡±
Chapter 194: The False Ending
The atmosphere in Chu Shan He¡¯s tea room was thick with tension. As he poured a fresh cup of tea, Chu Shan He kept his eyes fixed on Lin Xian.
¡°The Donghai police found a lot of incriminating evidence on the dead driver¡¯s phone,¡± Chu Shan He said.
Lin Xian nodded, sipping his tea before setting his cup down gently. ¡°The driver was a retired U.S. Special Forces soldier named Sergeant Sam. Even after his retirement, he continued to carry out covert operations for the U.S. The data we decrypted from his phone suggests he was behind the hit-and-run killings of Xu Yun and Tang Xin.¡±
He shook his head in frustration. ¡°These assassins are experts at creating fake evidence. The doctored chat logs involving Tang Xin show just how skilled they are at deception. My n was to coborate with you to intercept that taxi or truck outside Donghai¡¯s jurisdiction.¡±
¡°But given the bomb that was already nted,¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°it¡¯s clear they never meant for Sergeant Sam to survive, whether or not I intervenedst night. That taxi was set to blow up right where it did.¡±
¡°So, we can¡¯t trust the so-called evidence on Sergeant Sam¡¯s phone at all. It¡¯s obvious the assassins arranged it to absolve themselves and falsely close the murder cases.¡±
Chu Shan He nodded in agreement, refilling Lin Xian¡¯s cup and then adding fresh water to the tea stones.
¡°I agree,¡± Chu Shan He replied, ¡°but without solid proof, we can¡¯t demonstrate that these records are fabricated. The police will ept the evidence from Sam¡¯s phone at face value, especially since it confirms that he killed Academician Leon.¡±¡°As I¡¯ve said before, the Donghai police are under immense pressure,¡± he added. ¡°With three scientists murdered precisely at 00:42, they need to resolve these cases to maintain public order and respond tomunity concerns.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s why I turned to you for help. It¡¯s the only way to keep this investigation moving forward.¡±
¡°I¡¯m deeply grateful, Mr. Chu, for your trust and unwavering support,¡± Lin Xian said sincerely.
Chu Shan He waved off the thanks. ¡°Lin Xian, you saved my daughter; I owe you my support. It¡¯s my duty to assist you in solving the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, for justice, the safety of future scientists, and the advancement of our national research. Even without any obligation, I would still stand by you in this just cause.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to exin everything to me. I trust you, and sometimes less is more. Just keep me informed about the next steps, and I¡¯ll be ready,¡± Chu Shan He assured him.
His smile widened as he added, ¡°I¡¯ve contributed a lot to our country and the scientificmunity over the years. I have enough influence to support you beyond Donghai. Right now, my main concern is your safety.¡±
Chu Shan He paused, then asked, ¡°When you first shared your n to lure out the killers by making yourself a target, I had mixed feelings. It¡¯s a risky strategy. Are you sure they¡¯lle after you personally?¡±
¡°They will,¡± Lin Xian confirmed confidently. ¡°Now that everything is out in the open, they have no other choice.¡±
¡°I have a list of three suspects,¡± Lin Xian shared, ¡°but I can¡¯t reveal it yet. From now on, I won¡¯t be outside at 00:42, giving the killers no opportunity to strike at me. Except for these three¡ªif any of them invites me outte at night or to a risky ce at that time, I¡¯ll go. It¡¯ll give them the chance they¡¯re looking for. Anyone else, and I won¡¯t step out, no matter what.¡±
¡°I believe they¡¯ll make their move soon. The situation is nearlypletely exposed, and the longer they wait, the worse it gets for them. I have a rough n and some idea of how they might try to draw me out,¡± Lin Xian exined.
¡°When the timees, I¡¯ll inform you a few days in advance. We¡¯ll set up an ambush, ensuring no one from Donghai¡¯s forces is involved to keep it secret. When the killer¡¯s taxi arrives as expected, everything will be revealed.¡±
Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s bold n, Chu Shan He sighed¡ªnot from sorrow for Lin Xian¡¯s courage, but from sadness that such malevolent forces still existed in what should be a peaceful society. In his youth, such schemes weremon, but it pained him to see that such overt malice persisted.
Though he didn¡¯t know all the details of Lin Xian¡¯s n, he trusted the young man¡¯s bravery and integrity, qualities he found both rare and invaluable today. This was why he admired Lin Xian so much.
Raising his teacup, Chu Shan He said, ¡°If An Qing grows up to be as responsible, brave, andpassionate as you, I¡¯ll be immensely proud.¡±
Lin Xian raised his own cup in response, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Chu. An Qing is going to be just fine. She¡¯s got a great spirit, thanks to you and Mrs. Chu¡¯s excellent parenting.¡±
They shared augh and sipped their tea before Lin Xian left the manor, driving his striking red Ferrari toward the Donghai Police Department.
Today¡¯s visit to Chu Shan He was about discussing the next steps. The bomb on the taxist night was unexpected. He had thought Ji Lin and his aplices were ruthless enough by killing Academician Leon, but their willingness to kill their own driver showed just how little they valued human life.
Chu Shan He¡¯s hidden ace wasn¡¯t used or exposedst night, turning misfortune into an advantage. The uing confrontation with Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, and Zhou Duan Yun at 00:42 would be the final showdown in this cat-and-mouse game.
Lin Xian suspected Ji Lin was testing him, but he hadn¡¯t been sure why until he saw the fabricated chat logs involving Tang Xin. Now, after the incident with Academician Leon, he understood their n and had enough information to fight back, so he chose to reveal himself.
Soon, the Donghai Police would publicly announce the resolution of the serial killings, pinning everything on Sergeant Sam. No one knew Lin Xian was the next target, and that was what Ji Lin wanted.
However, they didn¡¯t realize that Lin Xian was no longer a clueless, hiding mouse. He had be a cat with golden eyes in the dark, waiting for the mice to show their tails.
The Ferrari parked in the Donghai Police Department¡¯s lot. Lin Xian got out and walked towards the office building. The chief had called earlier, asking when he¡¯d arrive. It seemed there was something important.
As he entered the building, he was greeted by thunderous apuse. Lin Xian paused, surprised. The lobby was crowded with leaders, colleagues, officers, and others from various departments, all pping and smiling with gratitude.
¡°Well done, Lin Xian!¡± The chief approached, pping Lin Xian on the back. ¡°Thanks to you, we cracked the serial killings case! If not for your insight into the killer¡¯s real intentions, we would have failed again and be a national joke!¡±
¡°But now, thanks to your cleverness and bravery, we¡¯ve caught the killer responsible for the deaths of Professor Xu Yun, Miss Tang Xin, and Academician Leon! We¡¯ve provided answers to the people of Donghai, the nation, and the world!¡±
Cheers erupted again as colleagues congratted Lin Xian.
¡°It¡¯s amazing, Lin Xian! You figured out Leon was the real target!¡±
¡°You must have kept the n to yourself to avoid leaks, chasing the killer alone.¡±
¡°Although the enemy chose to end it all by suicide, we got valuable information from his phone.¡±
¡°The special investigation team on Xu Yun¡¯s case finallypleted its work sessfully! Great job, everyone!¡±
Amidst the celebration, a familiar figure emerged¡ªJi Lin, who had returned faster than expected. He approached Lin Xian, shaking his hand.
¡°Congrattions, Lin Xian, on capturing the killer and returning victorious.¡±
¡°Wee back, Ji Lin,¡± Lin Xian replied, shaking his hand. ¡°When did you return? So soon?¡±
¡°Does it seem fast?¡± Ji Lin smiled. ¡°I feared I waste and missed your moment of glory.¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Lin Xian smiled back. ¡°You¡¯re just in time.¡±
Chapter 195: Narrow Encounters
The celebration at the Donghai Police Stationsted well into the night. Relief and joy filled the air as the officers began to disperse. The tension that had been building for weeks finally lifted, leaving everyone in a lighter mood. Insults and criticisms had flooded theirint mailboxes daily, but that was now behind them.
With the case closed, it was time for them to bask in well-deserved des¡ªflowers, apuse, andmendations. From today, the Xu Yun Task Force was officially disbanded. It still existed in name, but its purpose had concluded. The team members returned to their regr duties, and the entire department was busy wrapping up their work on the serial murder cases.
Lin Xian walked back to the shared dorm room he had lived in before joining the task force. With the team disbanded, he also had to move out. The room had been silent for days. Ji Lin¡¯s belongings were gone; he had taken everything when he moved to Japan. Lin Xian¡¯s toiletries were still there, but he hadn¡¯t stayed in the room for some time.
He flipped on the light switch. The empty room stirred a sense of nostalgia within him. Everyone thought the horrific events werepletely behind them. Lin Xian knew better¡ªit wasn¡¯t over yet. There was still one final act before the curtain would fall. Who would take the final bow? That remained to be seen in thest showdown.
Lin Xian packed his belongings, turned off the light, and took onest nce at the room he had shared with Ji Lin for over two weeks.
Bang.
The door shut behind him.
MX Company, 22nd Floor, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, Lin Xian ced the Ferrari key on Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s desk.¡°All finished with it?¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked up with a smile. ¡°You really pulled off something big.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve heard then?¡±
¡°Of course, such good news travels fast. Even though the police haven¡¯t announced it officially, I bet the whole city knows by now.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun rested her chin on her hand, observing Lin Xian. ¡°The Donghai City Police must be treating you like a hero. You¡¯ve really helped them solve a massive problem.¡±
¡°Thanks to your car,¡± Lin Xian pointed at the key. ¡°Without it, I might have been outrun by the criminal, and none of this would¡¯ve been possible.¡±
¡°You seem to really enjoy driving.¡±
¡°I do,¡± Lin Xian admitted with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s probably the only thing I excel at.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too modest,¡± Zhao Ying Jun countered, leaning back in her chair. ¡°You have many talents, and it¡¯s obvious to everyone. A good horse deserves a good saddle. If you like the car, keep it. I don¡¯t use it much; I have a chauffeur.¡±
¡°No, no, I always end up returning it in a mess. I¡¯d feel bad keeping it,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, then quickly changed the subject. ¡°But I really appreciate the loan and your trust. I can¡¯t offer much in return, but a friend rmended a great restaurant. How about I treat you to dinner?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun pondered briefly, then smiled. ¡°Dinner isn¡¯t necessary. If you really want to thank me, how about a different favor?¡±
¡°What do you need?¡± Lin Xian asked, intrigued.
Zhao Ying Jun toyed with the Ferrari key on her desk. ¡°After joining you in those high-speed chases, I¡¯ve grown to like the thrill. How about you teach me how to drive like that? Drifting and high-speed maneuvers seem really cool.¡±
Lin Xian blinked, surprised by her request.
¡°Are you sure? Street racing can be quite dangerous.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll practice on a racetrack,¡± Zhao Ying Jun assured him. ¡°It¡¯s much safer. I got curious after ourst adventure and did some research. I¡¯d like to try it out for myself.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, agreeing to her request. ¡°Okay. Tomorrow¡¯s Saturday. How about we head to the Tianma Racing Track? They¡¯re open for practice most days, and it¡¯s easy to book a spot.¡±
¡°That sounds great,¡± Zhao Ying Jun beamed. ¡°See you then.¡±
¡
The Ferrari roared to life, belching ck smoke as it sped down the Tianma Racing Track¡¯s second course in Donghai City. Zhao Ying Jun had rented the entire track for the day.
It was the off-season for major racing events, so the tracks were mostly avable and attracted many car enthusiasts. However, renting an entire track for a single car was unusual¡ªclear proof of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s wealth.
¡°Keep the RPM steady and watch the tachometer,¡± Lin Xian instructed from the passenger seat, watching Zhao Ying Jun grip the steering wheel. ¡°In racing, feeling the speed with your eyes and body isn¡¯t enough; you need to pay attention to the engine RPM. For beginners, it¡¯s not intuitive, so keep an eye on the tachometer.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, absorbing his advice. She had never driven this fast and was visibly nervous. She focused on the road, asionally ncing at the tachometer as Lin Xian had suggested.
Racing was a new realm for her. Despite years of driving, she had never considered the importance of the tachometer. Now, she was learning that high-difficulty driving required maintaining high RPMs in low gears for better control and flexibility.
Today, Zhao Ying Jun was dressed strikingly different from her usual style. For safety, she swapped her high heels for racing shoes and changed into a tight-fitting racing suit. All her jewelry, including her signature earrings, had been removed since they could be hazardous while racing. Ideally, she would have worn a helmet, but since this was just practice and helmets could obstruct a novice¡¯s view and strain the neck, she went without one. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, making her look ready for action.
¡°Driving fast on straightaways is simple, but never shift to a high gear,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°Low gears with high RPM are essential for quick responses to unexpected road conditions. The real trick in driving well is knowing when to shift gears and raise the RPM.¡±
¡°Next, we¡¯ll experience the centrifugal force of a turn, then try a drift.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun tensed up, but Lin Xian remained calm, smiling as he exined. ¡°Ferraris don¡¯t use mechanical handbrakes, but drifting isn¡¯t just about handbrakes. It¡¯s about making the rear wheels skid. Without a handbrake, you can downshift at high speed and floor the gas pedal to boost the rear wheel RPM, reducing traction and initiating a skid, whichpletes the drift.¡±
¡°It sounds easy when you say it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled nervously. ¡°So, what do I do?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle the steering. Just follow my lead. Now¡ªdownshift to second gear and floor it!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun did as instructed. The RPM soared, and the rear wheels began spinning wildly, emitting white smoke as they lost traction. The Ferrari¡¯s rear swung out, entering the turn at a 45-degree angle. Lin Xian¡¯s left hand was firmly on the steering wheel, making fine adjustments to ensure the maneuver was smooth. This first drift was to give Zhao Ying Jun a feel for the forces at y. She would need more practice to take control herself; letting her steer on her first attempt could have led to a crash.
¡°Wow,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exhaled deeply after the turn, shaking her head with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to think, but reflecting on it now, the principle of higher RPM reducing friction feels like something from a high school physics ss. It¡¯s incredible how such knowledge applies to real-life situations.¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°Physics is a fascinating subject. Many scientists are captivated by thews and equations of mechanics. And some even argue that mathematics is the most beautiful discipline.¡±
He thought of Liu Feng and Li Qi Qi. Despite their different levels of understanding of math, both appreciated its elegance and the beauty of its forms. Sometimes, Lin Xian marveled at the perfection andplexity of the universe¡¯s physical and mathematicalws. It seemed almost too coincidental to have formed naturally.
¡°Physics and mathematics are deeply interconnected,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, now more rxed and able to chat while speeding down the straightaway. ¡°The famous mathematician Isaac Newton once wrote ¡®The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.''¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That book was Newton¡¯s masterpiece. His threews of motion and thew of universal gravitation revolutionized modern science and opened the door for humanity to explore the mysteries of the universe.¡±
¡°Newton was a true genius,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°What kind of self-proimed geniuses could gather together and call themselves the Genius Club? Without the likes of Newton, Einstein, or Gauss, I wouldn¡¯t even recognize them. These extraordinary talents set the bar for genius so high¡ it¡¯s hard to imagine how anyone could surpass them.¡±
Meanwhile, on the first track of Tianma Racing Track, a fiery red McLaren Senna skidded through the final turn with an exaggerated drift, its low-profile tires scraping the ground before stopping sideways on the track. The scissor door opened.
Su Su removed her helmet, shaking her bright yellow hair back into ce, and looked at her instructor.
¡°So, how was it?¡±
Her instructor, beside her, gave a double thumbs-up. ¡°Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic, Su Su! You¡¯re the most talented female racer I¡¯ve ever trained!¡±
¡°But I feel like I¡¯m still not hugging the inside of the turn enough.¡±
¡°How could that be?¡± the instructor eximed. ¡°This is already top-notch! Even professional racers can¡¯t get their cars¡¯ front to scrape the inner turn. This isn¡¯t ¡®Initial D¡¯ or ¡®Crazy Kart.¡¯ Nobody can drive that perfectly. You¡¯re already doing amazing!¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡± Su Su smacked her lips. ¡°But I saw two people recently who were even better. They were driving on a busy highway, handling their cars better than on a racetrack. Their turn skills were so precise, their headlights almost kissed the curb.¡±
¡°Hahaha¡ You must be mistaken,¡± the instructorughed awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡ purely an urban legend.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯m off. See you next week.¡± After the instructor got out, Su Su called her waiting friend into the car, and they waved goodbye as they drove off the first track.
¡°Alright, Miss Su Su, see you next week!¡± The instructor waved enthusiastically, knowing she was a valuable client who tipped generously.
Su Su¡¯s friend grabbed a box of bubble gum from the McLaren¡¯s glovepartment, popping one into her mouth. ¡°Su Su, you¡¯ve beening here every week to practice since that Ferrari incident. It must have really fired you up.¡±
Su Su snorted. ¡°The Ferrari was fine¡ I¡¯m just pissed at that date. He acted all cool and then left. It was disgusting! For the first time, I asked someone to scan my WeChat QR code, and he dared to refuse me?! Such nerve! If I see him again, he won¡¯t get off easy!¡±
¡°Come on, don¡¯t be mad,¡± her friend chuckled, offering her a bubble gum. ¡°Donghai City is huge. How likely is it you¡¯ll run into him again? Whether it¡¯s that Ferrari or that date¡ I bet you¡¯ll never see them again!¡±
Roar!!!!!!!
As they passed the outer edge of the second track, a red blur, trailing ck smoke from its tires and roaring with high RPMs, zoomed by, leaving them wide-eyed and gaping.
Both women craned their necks to look at the disappearing car on the second track¡
That familiar red color,
That familiar model,
That familiar taillight!
¡°Damn!¡± Su Su gritted her teeth. ¡°What a narrow encounter with an old enemy!¡±
Chapter 196: Yellow Finch and Ying Jun
As the Ferrari sped around the curve, its engine thundered, leaving a trail of tire smoke behind. The car¡¯s drift wasn¡¯t wless, but that hardly mattered¡ªZhao Ying Jun had handled everything herself. Steering, shifting gears, timing¡ªevery aspect was under her control, and Lin Xian hadn¡¯t interfered at all.
¡°You¡¯ve really got a knack for this,¡± Lin Xianmented, impressed by Ying Jun¡¯s swift progress. It had been less than half an hour since her first hands-on drifting lesson, yet here she was, confidently navigating the turns on her own. Although her technique still needed refining¡ªshe tended to slow down too much in the turns and didn¡¯t hug the track edges closely¡ªher rapid improvement was undeniable. Just half an hour earlier, she¡¯d been struggling with the basics like gear shifting, and now she was pulling off drifts like a natural.
¡°Your instinct for driving is excellent,¡± Lin Xianplimented sincerely. ¡°Maybe you can¡¯t exin the mechanics or the feeling behind your actions, but you¡¯re already shifting and steering like it¡¯s second nature.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Ying Jun¡¯s face lit up with a smile at his praise. ¡°I thought I was still making a lot of mistakes.¡±
¡°You¡¯re doing incredibly well,¡± Lin Xian reassured her, his tone genuine and free from any hint of patronization.
Up until now, Lin Xian had considered another driver, known only as Yellow Finch, the best female driver he¡¯d encountered. He recalled an encounter with her; she was in Ying Jun¡¯s Ferrari, which she had seemingly stolen. They met unexpectedly on an overpass, and she had driven with exceptional skill, effortlessly overtaking Lin Xian and hispanion, Su Su, who was driving a McLaren at the time. Yellow Finch¡¯s driving was not just skilled but intuitive, a blend of natural talent and extensive practice. Despite being in her thirties¡ªa time when society might expect her to be more domestic¡ªher driving rivaled Lin Xian¡¯s own, which had been sharpened by numerous perilous experiences.
Yellow Finch¡¯s driving style was eerily simr to his, and Lin Xian had once thought this might be a deliberate provocation. However, she had disappeared as mysteriously as she had appeared, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions that Lin Xian was eager to resolve.
Watching Ying Jun tackle another curve with growing assurance, Lin Xian wondered about a potential connection between her and Yellow Finch. Could they be linked across time or space? He briefly entertained the idea that Ying Jun and Yellow Finch could be the same person in different eras, akin to how, in a distant future, someone might resemble Chu An Qing.However, he quickly dismissed this theory. Their physical appearances were distinctly different¡ªYing Jun¡¯s features were sharp, her face almond-shaped, while Yellow Finch had softer features and a round face, not to mention her striking blue eyes, a rarity in the country.
As Ying Junpleted another turn, Lin Xian noted her meticulous attention to detail, even in her choice of earrings that matched her outfit perfectly. He remembered Yellow Finch¡¯sst sighting on a rainy night; she had worn a beige coat with blue earrings¡ªan odd fashion choice that Ying Jun would never make.
¡°What if you tried wearing a beige coat with blue earrings?¡± Lin Xian asked suddenly, curious about her reaction.
Ying Jun frowned, clearly not fond of the idea. ¡°That would be a weird mix. I don¡¯t think I could pull that off.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t think so?¡±
¡°No,¡± Ying Jun replied, ncing at Lin Xian. ¡°Do you like such mismatched styles?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Lin Xian quickly responded. ¡°I just saw someone dressed like that recently. It struck me as odd.¡±
¡°It does sound strange,¡± Ying Jun agreed. ¡°In fashion, sticking to three or four colors is usually best. Anything more and you start to look like a Christmas tree.¡±
Lin Xianughed, recalling how he once teased his friend Gao Yang for his colorful, over-the-top outfits.
Their conversation was interrupted by the high-pitched whine of another engine¡ªa red McLaren zoomed past, cutting in front of Ying Jun¡¯s Ferrari with a provocative flick of its turn signals.
¡°Didn¡¯t we book this track exclusively?¡± Ying Jun asked, confused, turning to Lin Xian.
Lin Xian rubbed his forehead, recognizing the car¡ªit belonged to Su Su, the same woman from the blind date set up by his friend Chu Shan He. Knowing Su Su¡¯spetitive nature, he wasn¡¯t surprised she¡¯d challenge them.
¡°What¡¯s she trying tomunicate with those turn signals?¡± Ying Jun pointed out, puzzled by the gesture.
¡°Maybe she¡¯s just asking to share the track in her own way,¡± Lin Xian suggested, though he wasn¡¯t convinced of his own exnation.
Ying Jun looked skeptical. ¡°Can you really convey all that with a couple of lights?¡±
¡°I¡¯m guessing,¡± Lin Xian admitted with a shrug.
As the McLaren¡¯s driver rolled down her window, her passenger shouted, ¡°Pretty boy! Nice driving!¡± It was clear they recognized Ying Jun. Su Su, spotting her, muttered ¡°Disgusting!¡± under her breath. She couldn¡¯t stand the thought that Ying Jun had outdriven her during theirst encounter.
¡°Wasn¡¯t she your blind date?¡± Ying Jun asked, eyebrows raised.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian confessed, a bit embarrassed.
¡°No wonder she¡¯s behaving like this,¡± Ying Junughed.
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian agreed, trying to refocus on the task at hand. ¡°Let¡¯s not get distracted. Racing side by side is risky. We should slow down and let her take the lead.¡±
But before he could say more, Ying Jun pressed the elerator, the Ferrari¡¯s engine roaring as she pursued the McLaren.
¡°Hey, hey,¡± Lin Xian eximed, tightening his seatbelt, taken aback by Ying Jun¡¯s suddenpetitiveness. Normally reserved andposed, she was now showing a fiery side.
As the cars wove through the track, Ying Jun¡¯s natural talent shone. Although Su Su had more experience and a slight edge in skill, Ying Jun was quickly catching up.
¡°Let¡¯s not push it,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°Safety first. You¡¯ll surpass her with a bit more practice, no need to prove anything now.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not concerned about winning or losing,¡± Ying Jun responded, her voice firm. ¡°I¡¯ve faced defeats before, but I refuse to lose to her.¡±
Lin Xian looked into her determined eyes, reminded of a conversation they had while driving a Bentley GT. Ying Jun had once told him, ¡°I don¡¯t live for them. I don¡¯t need to prove anything to them. That¡¯s what I want you to understand too, Lin Xian. Do what you love, for your own satisfaction, not to show something to someone else.¡±
Now, seeing her determination, Lin Xian felt a renewed understanding of her words.
cing his hand over hers on the steering wheel, he said, ¡°You know, the Ferrari has a ¡®death mode.''¡±
He flipped the Mtino switch to the most extreme setting, disabling all electronic aids. ¡°Hit the gas, and don¡¯t let up,¡± he instructed, guiding her hand on the gear shift. ¡°We¡¯ll take this on together.¡±
Ying Jun nodded, a determined smile crossing her face as the Ferrari surged forward, ready for whatever challengey ahead.
Chapter 197: Surprise
¡°Su Su, they¡¯re catching up!¡± Su Su¡¯s racing partner shouted, his eyes wide with panic as he nced at the rearview mirror. A Ferrari was closing in fast, its sleek design looking almost predatory.
The engine of their McLaren roared in response, surging forward with renewed determination.
¡°Now we¡¯re talking,¡± Su Su whispered to herself, remembering the first time she saw the Ferrari in action on that overpass. Zhao Ying Jun had been behind the wheel then, and Su Su had been deceived by her earlier, seemingly unimpressive performances.
The realpetition had begun.
Since that day, Su Su had changed. With her coach¡¯s strict training and her relentless practice on the track, she felt ready to challenge the Ferrari.
As they approached a sharp curve, the Ferrari took the turn wlessly, speeding past and overtaking the McLaren with ease.
No matter how hard Su Su pushed, Zhao¡¯s strategic driving kept her either blocked or forced to slow down. It was as if the Ferrari could anticipate and counter every move she made.
Frustration mixed with determination tightened Su Su¡¯s grip on the wheel.Inside the Ferrari, Zhao Ying Jun smiled triumphantly. Lin Xian, seated beside her, had one hand on hers, helping with the steering and shifting gears, while his other hand managed the electronic handbrake.
Despite their awkward driving position, their teamwork was enough to keep the less experienced Su Su behind.
Throughout the race, the McLaren never managed to overtake the Ferrari. On the final stretch, Zhao Ying Jun skillfully blocked the McLaren, weaving provocatively across thenes, mimicking Su Su¡¯s earlier taunts.
Laughing, Zhao Ying Jun drove off the track and out of the parking area.
¡°Racing is really exhrating,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, grinning at Lin Xian.
¡°It is. You should teach me more when you have time,¡± he replied with a warm smile.
¡°Definitely,¡± Lin Xian agreed, his mind wandering to old tales of martial arts masters mentoring promising disciples. He realized how rewarding it was to mentor a talented student.
That evening, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun had dinner at a restaurant he had booked in advance. They discussed the recent arrest of a notorious criminal and Lin Xian¡¯s temporary assignment at the police station.
¡°This case isplex. The government will likely get involved to uncover who¡¯s behind these murders, possibly extending the investigation to the USA,¡± Lin Xian said, pausing with his fork mid-air.
¡°But they¡¯ll keep it quiet,¡± he continued. ¡°using the USA without solid evidence could provoke unwanted international bacsh. The government is always cautious with sensitive matters. Within our jurisdiction in Donghai, these three murder cases are considered closed.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, understanding the delicacy of the situation. ¡°Now that the police work is done, shouldn¡¯t you get back to your regr job? It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve seen my secretary,¡± she teased.
Lin Xian chuckled, a hint of resignation in his tone. ¡°I¡¯ll return soon. Just let me have a little more downtime.¡±
But deep down, he knew it wasn¡¯t over yet.
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts drifted to Ji Lin. Recently, Ji Lin and his associate, Zhou Duan Yun, had gone quiet, as if they had disappeared. He spected about their next move. They weren¡¯t in any rush, and neither was he. After all, if Ji Lin wanted something from him, he woulde calling, even if it meant inviting him out at midnight.
No one else would dare.
Except maybe Ji Lin, Zhou Duan Yun, and Ji Xin Shui.
¡°I¡¯ll be ready,¡± Lin Xian silently vowed.
A few days of calm followed, then Lin Xian received a call from Chu An Qing.
¡°Senior, May 3rd ising up. It¡¯s Ji Lin¡¯s birthday! We need to think of a gift for him!¡±
Checking the calendar, Lin Xian marveled at how time flew. It felt like just yesterday they had celebrated Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday, and now Ji Lin¡¯s was approaching. Should he really get him a gift, given theirplex history?
Chu An Qing was bursting with enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯m heading over! Let¡¯s go shopping!¡±
Unable to resist her excitement, Lin Xian agreed. They met and started their quest through the nearby mall.
¡°Senior, what should we get for Ji Lin?¡± Chu An Qing asked as they moved from one shop to another, asionally stopping to y at w machines and browse through boutiques.
¡°Something practical might be best,¡± Lin Xian suggested casually, thinking of Ji Lin¡¯s usualck of sleep. ¡°Maybe some vitamins?¡±
Chu An Qingughed heartily. ¡°Senior! Who gifts vitamins for a birthday? That¡¯s almost insulting! Besides, Ji Lin once mentioned he¡¯s never really celebrated his birthday or received gifts before. This is his first real birthday party, so we should make it special.¡±
Convinced by her argument, Lin Xian reflected on Ji Lin¡¯s troubled background. Ji Lin had once shared that after his parents¡¯ deaths, he was taken in by Ji Xin Shui, who named him and raised him alongside other orphans in apetitive environment, showing favor only to the most clever among them.
Initially, Lin Xian had dismissed these stories, seeing Ji Lin more as an adversary and taking his tales with skepticism. But gradually, he began to see the sincerity in Ji Lin¡¯s stories. It was hard to describe, but he sensed Ji Lin held a deep appreciation for concepts like family and birthdays, having been deprived of them during his upbringing. The uing birthday party, which Ji Lin mentioned repeatedly, seemed incredibly important to him, almost as if he feared Lin Xian might forget.
A birthday party¡
Lin Xian pondered the implications.
Would Ji Lin try something during the celebration?
It was unlikely a normal birthday party would stretch until the unusual hour of 12:42 AM, especially considering Chu An Qing and her college friends would need to return to campus by early evening. The scenario didn¡¯t lend itself to a long, drawn-out gathering at the vi.
That would be too awkward.
Lin Xian was not one to idle away time needlessly.
However, nothing was ever certain. Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party, with its controlled timing and the secluded vi by theke, could potentially set the stage for an unforeseen incident. Lin Xian had grown increasingly cautious, steering clear of potential dangers, especially on the roads.
In any case, he had to stay vignt on Ji Lin¡¯s birthday.
¡°Haha, since you agree, let¡¯s do it!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, misinterpreting Lin Xian¡¯s thoughtful nod as approval. She quickly took out her phone and began scrolling through ideas.
¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xian, lost in his thoughts, was momentarily confused. What had he just agreed to?
Chu An Qing was already talking about some n. Had his nod, intended for his own considerations, been mistaken for consent?
¡°Senior, look at this photo!¡± She handed her phone to Lin Xian.
On the screen was a candid photo from Chu An Qing¡¯s recent birthday party. Lin Xian and Ji Lin were descending a staircase, with Chu An Qing posing happily in front. The two men looked slightly surprised, but the scene was warm and harmonious.
Lin Xian listened as Chu An Qingid out her n.
¡°Ji Lin gave me a painting for my birthday, which shows he values meaningful gifts. Let¡¯s do the same for him!¡±
¡°You¡¯ll sketch this photo, and I¡¯ll paint it with watercolors. It¡¯ll be a unique gift from both of us, and I¡¯m sure Ji Lin will cherish it!¡±
¡°Though I¡¯m not much of an artist, I¡¯ve been practicing watercolor painting, and I¡¯m confident I can do a good job with the coloring!¡±
A sketch and watercolor?
What an oddbination.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle. ¡°This blend might turn out stranger than you expect.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Senior. It¡¯s the thought that counts!¡± Chu An Qing insisted. ¡°Please, Senior! I know Ji Lin will love it!¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian agreed softly. Since Chu An Qing was so passionate, he didn¡¯t want to dampen her spirits.
He was curious. ¡°An Qing, what did Ji Lin¡¯s painting look like? Can he actually paint?¡±
Chu An Qing hesitated, her eyes flickering away. ¡°Ah¡ his painting? I¡¯ll show you sometime! Hehe¡¡±
Lin Xian nodded and handed back her phone. ¡°Send me the original photo. I¡¯ll sketch it in the next few days, and then you can color it. We¡¯ll decideter whether to frame it or not.¡±
That evening¡
Lin Xian pulled out a sheet of drawing paper back in his home. Opening the photo on his phone, he began sketching.
Sketching himself and Chu An Qing was straightforward and familiar. But when it came to capturing Ji Lin¡¯s distinctive features and his characteristicallyzy eyes, Lin Xian found himself struggling, unable to urately replicate Ji Lin¡¯s unique appearance.
Memories of Xu Yun, lying in the street, her body mangled and blood flowing, came flooding back. He remembered Tang Xin, her eyes empty, trembling, leaving bloodstains on his face.
Snap.
Lin Xian tossed the pencil onto the table, where it rolled off and shattered on the floor.
¡°No, I can¡¯t do it,¡± he muttered to himself. The umted anger and bitterness made it impossible for him to prepare a birthday gift for someone he considered a murderer. The idea of drawing a picture for Ji Lin, a man he associated with such violent acts, was beyond him.
Moreover, the thought lingered that Ji Lin¡¯s birthday celebration could well be a setup for something more sinister.
¡°I¡¯ll persuade Chu An Qing to pick a different gift,¡± Lin Xian resolved, opening his eyes to gaze at the bright moon outside. In his mind, an enemy remained an enemy, a murderer a murderer.
A blood debt demanded a blood payment.
Ring ring¡ ring ring¡
The sudden sound of his phone ringing cut through the silence of the room.
Ring ring¡ ring ring¡
He nced at the clock. It was precisely 12:42 AM.
And the caller was Ji Lin¡
Lin Xian answered the call, his voice steady.
¡°Lin Xian, I knew you wouldn¡¯t be asleep,¡± Ji Lin¡¯s voice came through calm and clear.
¡°How did you know?¡± Lin Xian asked, a tinge of curiosity in his voice.
¡°Because you always stay upte,¡± Ji Lin replied simply.
Lin Xian remained silent for a moment. During their time at the Donghai Police dorm, he had indeed formed the habit of staying awake until past midnight to disrupt any predictable patterns that could be used against him.
¡°What do you need, Ji Lin?¡± Lin Xian finally asked.
¡°I was wondering if you have time tomorrow afternoon,¡± Ji Lin continued, his tone casual but perhaps holding an undercurrent of something more. ¡°I¡¯ve bought a lot of decorations for the house, and they¡¯ve all arrived. If you¡¯re free, would you like toe over and help set up the living room? My birthday ising up, and I promised everyone a party. But, honestly, I have no experience in organizing something like this, so I could really use your help.¡±
¡°Ji Lin,¡± Lin Xian paused, weighing his words. ¡°What are you nning for your birthday?¡±
¡°Anything will do. You said you wouldn¡¯t tell me in advance,¡± Ji Lin chuckled on the other end. ¡°It¡¯s almost here. Don¡¯t spoil the surprise. Just¡ let it be a surprise.¡±
Lin Xian nced at the half-finished sketch on his desk, Ji Lin¡¯s face still missing from the drawing.
¡°A surprise¡¡± He replied, a mix of resignation and determination in his voice, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait and see.¡±
Chapter 198: Angelica
The next afternoon, Lin Xian arrived at the Donghai Lakeside Vi District, just as he had nned with Ji Lin. After getting out of the car at the entrance, he began walking inside. The internal roads were spacious, just as he remembered. The road in front of Ji Lin¡¯s vi was the widest and straightest, perfect for sports cars.
The main road within the vi area had many manhole covers, especially concentrated in front of Ji Lin¡¯s vi. Each side of the road had two manhole covers, spaced about ten meters apart.
Manhole covers aremon in urban areas due to the various underground pipelines, such as sewers, gas lines, water pipes, electrical conduits, andmunication cables. These manholes facilitate maintenance and repairs. In residential areas like this, most of the manholes are for sewers or sewage wells. Wide roads are ideal forrge sewage trucks toe and clean regrly.
This necessity is universal, whether in upscale vi districts or ordinary residential areas. No matter how luxurious amunity is, if the sewage wells are not regrly cleaned by sewage trucks, blockages are inevitable.
Lin Xian walked slowly, observing the manhole covers ced ¡°just right¡± along the road. He chuckled to himself and shifted his gaze away.
When he reached the front of Ji Lin¡¯s vi, Lin Xian rang the doorbell.
¡°Wee,¡± Ji Lin quickly opened the door and smiled at Lin Xian standing at the entrance. ¡°Come on in. Your help is greatly appreciated.¡±
He led Lin Xian into the house. The living room was rtively tidy, but it was unlikely that Ji Lin had cleaned it himself. Someone as wealthy as Ji Lin probably had a housekeeper or a maid. Otherwise, given Ji Lin¡¯s self-care abilities, he would likely starve.The living room floor was covered with various decorations, colorful props, and numerous uninted balloons.
¡°Are you trying to turn your house into an amusement park?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much for a birthday party?¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared,¡± Ji Lin replied casually.
Lin Xian scanned the luxurious vi withrge floor-to-ceiling windows. It was decorated in an opulent Nordic style and even had a firece that was more for show than for use.
¡°I usually like to sit here,¡± Ji Lin pointed to a spot on the wooden floor. ¡°Normally, this living room is filled with books and newspapers. I love books. Sometimes sleeping among them makes me feel more at peace than sleeping in a bed.¡±
¡°That¡¯s my bedroom,¡± Ji Lin pointed to a room on the first floor across from the living room. ¡°Typically, bedrooms are on the second floor, but I¡¯m toozy to go upstairs. I rarely go up there; it¡¯s more convenient to sleep on the first floor.¡±
Lin Xian and Ji Lin entered the bedroom. Although the bedroom was not small, it was clearly not proportional to the vi¡¯s size. It seemed that, as Ji Lin mentioned, this bedroom was converted from other first-floor rooms. Normally, the bedrooms would be on the second floor.
The bedroom¡¯s setup was extremely simple, with only a desk, a bed, and an en-suite bathroom, and little else.
¡°This fits my stereotypical impression of you,¡± Lin Xian teased.
He walked to the desk, where two photo frames were ced. He picked up one. It looked like a family photo with a father, mother, and a little boy standing in front.
But Lin Xian quickly recognized one familiar face¡ªXu Yun.
The man standing on the right in the back was Xu Yun from his younger years. Lin Xian had seen Xu Yun¡¯s younger self in the Donghai University graduation album, and it was unmistakably him.
Apparently, Xu Yun had been very happy back then; his face radiated youth and cheerfulness.
The beautiful and virtuous-looking woman standing beside Xu Yun was obviously his wife. She was Ji Lin¡¯s sister, Ji Xin Shui¡¯s niece, and Xu Yi Yi¡¯s mother. The little boy was easy to guess.
The boy in a small suit and bow tie was young Ji Lin, who looked about four or five years old in the photo. The picture must have been taken when Xu Yun and Ji Xin Shui were on good terms, often giving gifts and books to Ji Lin. This was a happy time exclusive to the three of them¡ªbeautiful, yet short-lived.
Lin Xian held the frame and pointed to the little boy, looking back at Ji Lin.
¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is a family photo of you and Xu Yun¡¯s family?¡±
Ji Lin nodded. ¡°Yes, we were very close back then.¡±
Lin Xian looked into his eyes. ¡°Xu Yun died tragically, leaving behind a daughter in a vegetative state. Do you feel sad about his death?¡±
¡°Of course, I do,¡± Ji Lin nodded. ¡°Xu Yun was my first friend in life. I liked him very much.¡±
Lin Xian put down the photo frame and picked up the other one. This frame also contained a photo, but its atmosphere was much more serious than the previous family portrait.
It was a photo of three people¡ªan old man, a boy, and a girl. The old man had white hair at the temples, dry skin, and wore a ck wool felt hat. His eyes were sharp and cold, and he sat sternly in a chair.
The face in the photograph was Ji Xin Shui¡¯s, a man Lin Xian recognized from numerous news articles. His sharp, distinguished features reminded Lin Xian of the stern aristocrats from ssic Western films.
nking Ji Xin Shui were two children, a boy and a girl. The boy, Ji Lin, appeared older than in previous photos Lin had seen, his hair now long enough to brush his eyebrows. Despite his youth, there was a refined beauty about him, the kind that might have made him a star in Hollywood as a child.
The girl to the right seemed like a fairy tale princess, possibly from the Middle East, with her delicate, sharp features and a statuesque figure that hinted at her future beauty. She stood nearly a head taller than Ji Lin, which wasn¡¯t unusual since girls often grow faster, particrly those of mixed heritage.
¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Lin Xian pointed to the girl in the photo as he turned to Ji Lin. ¡°Is she your sister too? I¡¯ve never heard you mention her.¡±
¡°That¡¯s Angelica,¡± Ji Lin replied softly. ¡°She¡¯s one of the orphans Ji Xin Shui adopted. We grew up together. You love movies, Lin Xian. You might know her.¡±
Angelica? The name set Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts racing as he tried to ce her among the faces of Hollywood stars.
Suddenly, it clicked.
¡°Angelica¡ the Hollywood actress?¡± he asked, eyes widening in realization.
Ji Lin nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. She starred in ¡®Broken Bridge,¡¯ the movie that got an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, and she was nominated for Best Screeny and Best Actress. So yes, we¡¯re like family.¡±
¡°I remember now,¡± Lin Xian said, recalling a past conversation in their dorm room. ¡°You told me Ji Xin Shui would take in exceptionally talented children. It¡¯s clear why he chose you, but what about Angelica? It can¡¯t just be because she¡¯s stunning.¡±
¡°Definitely not,¡± Ji Lin chuckled, taking the photo from Lin Xian and gazing at it affectionately. ¡°Angelica is incredibly smart. Hollywood isn¡¯t easy to navigate, and it takes more than looks. She¡¯s capable, especially in action roles. She¡¯s proactive¡ much like you.¡±
¡°Me?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback.
¡°Yes,¡± Ji Lin continued, setting the photo back down. ¡°Remember how you drove alone to chase that suspect? If that bomb hadn¡¯t gone off, you would¡¯ve tried to stop the taxi with your sports car, right? Maybe even flip it?¡±
¡°Probably,¡± Lin Xian admitted, recalling his readiness to use Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Ferrari to intercept the taxi. A well-ced hit could indeed flip a taxi due to the car¡¯s low center of gravity and centrifugal force, but he never got the chance as the taxi exploded first.
¡°Angelica would do the same,¡± Ji Lin stated.
¡°In the movies?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
Ji Lin shook his head, a mysterious smile ying on his lips. ¡°In real life too. She¡¯s just as daring.¡±
¡
After leaving the bedroom, Lin Xian and Ji Lin began decorating the living room. With everything from decorations to board games avable online, setting up was straightforward and quick. In just an hour, they had transformed the room into a festive, weing space, perfect for Ji Lin¡¯s uing birthday.
¡°You¡¯ve really gone all out,¡± Lin Xian noted, impressed by the array of games and decorations.
¡°I researched a lot online,¡± Ji Lin admitted. ¡°Everyone suggests board games for parties. We had so much fun with them at Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday, I thought we should have them too.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°ying games in a group is always more enjoyable.¡±
¡°Speaking of which,¡± Ji Lin said as he arranged the games, ¡°I don¡¯t have many friends to invite like Chu An Qing does. If you have any friends you¡¯d like to bring, feel free.¡±
In Donghai, Lin Xian¡¯s social circle was limited. ¡°Aren¡¯t Chu An Qing¡¯s ssmatesing?¡±
¡°They are, but it¡¯s a small group, and all girls,¡± Ji Lin replied.
¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xian smiled, thinking of someone he could invite. ¡°I do have a high school ssmate here in Donghai. Mind if I invite him to your party?¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Ji Lin smiled warmly. ¡°The more, the merrier. I¡¯d rather have a lively house than a quiet birthday. Can he make it?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll check,¡± Lin Xian said, pulling out his phone and showing Ji Lin the contact name.
¡°Who is it?¡± Ji Lin leaned in curiously.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun.¡±
Chapter 199: The Seven Deadly Sins
Ji Lin¡¯s irritation shed briefly, a quick wrinkle of his brows, and then disappeared. Lin Xian caught it¡ªa small, involuntary reaction that revealed more than words could.
Lin Xian had nned this moment. So far, he had no concrete evidence linking Ji Lin to Zhou Duan Yun. On the surface, they appeared as strangers with no obvious connections. Despite his growing suspicions, Lin Xiancked tangible proof.
But Ji Lin¡¯s momentarypse, that fleeting look of annoyance, confirmed it for Lin Xian. Ji Lin knew Zhou Duan Yun, and there was history between them.
This was a critical breakthrough for Lin Xian, more than he had hoped for from his small test.
With Ji Lin present, Lin Xian nonchntly pressed the call button on his phone. Silence followed, eventually broken by the operator¡¯s mechanical voice: ¡°The number you have dialed is temporarily unavable. Please try againter.¡±
Lin Xian hung up and turned to Ji Lin with a casualment, ¡°My ssmate¡¯s a big entrepreneur, always busy. If the call doesn¡¯t connect, he¡¯s probably in a basement garage or an elevator.¡±
¡°Or maybe he¡¯s abroad,¡± Ji Lin replied smoothly. ¡°If he¡¯s out of the country and hasn¡¯t enabled roaming, you¡¯ll get that message.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian nodded, pretending to be uninformed about such details. It didn¡¯t matter; he had already extracted the information he needed.Deciding to probe further, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Ji Lin, do you know of Zhou Duan Yun?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Ji Lin answered nonchntly. ¡°I saw it in Tang Xin¡¯s chat records on her phone. She and Zhou Duan Yun were nning a gift for you together. Of course, I remember.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Ji Lin was quick on his feet, always sharp. His reply was seamless, logical, and delivered with an unnerving calm. Indeed, Ji Lin was a detective of considerable repute for good reason.
¡°If he¡¯s abroad, then my ssmate probably won¡¯t make it to your birthday party,¡± Lin Xian remarked with a chuckle. ¡°What a pity.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no big deal,¡± Ji Lin shrugged off thement. ¡°Do you have any other friends?¡±
¡°Just one, really. I have a childhood friend who works at a 4S dealership here in Donghai City. Want to invite him? He might demolish your cake in two bites.¡±
¡°Impossible,¡± Ji Lin scoffed, amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered a three-tier cake. Even a hippo couldn¡¯t finish that in two bites.¡±
Lin Xian remembered his friend Gao Yang from a recent celebration at the MXpany, who had devoured lobster like it was hisst meal. In some ways, Gao Yang could indeed rival a hippo in appetite.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian conceded. ¡°I¡¯ll invite him. He¡¯s easy to persuade with good food.¡±
After excusing himself, Lin Xian went to the bathroom to wash his hands, gathered his belongings, and headed toward the door. He took onest nce at the festively decorated living room.
The room was bright and cheerful, adorned with colorful decorations. It had the air of a victory celebration, though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure for whom the celebration was meant.
¡°Goodbye, Ji Lin,¡± he murmured, closing the door with a resounding thud.
Later that night, at ten o¡¯clock, the heavy redwood double doors creaked open and closed with a thud as an elderly hand pushed them shut. The old man, Ji Xin Shui, hung his ck felt hat on the coat rack and paused, taken aback by the brightly lit, colorful living room, adorned with twinkling fairy lights.
Stepping out of the car earlier, he had joked to himself about the sun rising in the west, given that Ji Lin had actually turned on the lights at night. But now, he realized the situation was moreplex than a simple sunrise in the wrong direction.
¡°Are you throwing a party?¡± The elder¡¯s bewildered gaze swept the room. He had watched Ji Lin grow up, but this scene was unfamiliar.
¡°Happy birthday,¡± Ji Lin announced, lifting his hand toward arge ¡°Happy Birthday¡± banner above the TV.
¡°It¡¯s not just a party,¡± Ji Lin rified, a faint smile ying on his lips as he reclinedfortably amid the festive lights. ¡°It¡¯s a birthday celebration.¡±
Understanding dawned on Ji Xin Shui, and his features softened with a slow nod. ¡°Ah, May 3rd is your birthday.¡±
A smile of admiration spread across his face as he looked at Ji Lin. ¡°Clever! I was wondering how we could coax Lin Xian out at 00:42 when he¡¯s so cautious. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d use a birthday party as bait! It¡¯s the perfect setup to control exactly when he leaves.¡±
¡°But Ji Lin¡ you¡¯re still not smart enough.¡±
Ji Xin Shui, standing with his hands sped behind his back, surveyed the room adorned with streamers and festive decorations. There was a hint of triumph in his stance as he remarked, ¡°If you were truly shrewd, you¡¯d have held your party on the night of May 2nd. That would have given you a more usible reason to keep Lin Xian here until the stroke of midnight, under the guise of celebrating your birthday.¡±
Ji Lin chuckled lightly, well aware of Ji Xin Shui¡¯s motives. The elder never truly cared about the actual date of his birthday; his focus was solely on using the asion as a pretext to ensnare Lin Xian, regardless of the real calendar date.
¡°Pride,¡± Ji Lin began as he rose to his feet, dusting off his pants. He looked directly at Ji Xin Shui with a half-smile. ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic, will you be giving me a birthday present?¡±
¡°That¡¯s an interesting question,¡± Ji Xin Shui replied, his gaze still fixed on Ji Lin. ¡°You know, at your age, expecting birthday presents seems a bit juvenile. The real gift would be securing that Genius Club invitation after we sessfully take care of Lin Xian at precisely 00:42.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s response was subdued as he straightened up, stretching his limbs. ¡°Pride, are you certain that eliminating Lin Xian will secure our entry into the Genius Club? Has someone from the club explicitly promised you that?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Ji Xin Shui admitted, shaking his head slightly. ¡°But I¡¯m confident it¡¯s a decisive step. Eliminating someone who disrupts the historical narrative, like Lin Xian, should sufficiently demonstrate our capabilities to the club.¡±
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s gaze, dry and piercing, locked onto Ji Lin. ¡°You¡¯ve pieced together a lot by now. There¡¯s no point in secrecy anymore. The individuals we¡¯ve targeted before¡ªXu Yun, Tang Xin, Pomsmike¡ªthey each altered history in ways I couldn¡¯t fully grasp. I was merely executing orders, ensuring we never targeted the wrong person.¡±
¡°However, Lin Xian is different. I identified him on my own. This mission is unique because it¡¯s about us proving to the Genius Club that we can independently identify and eliminate a disruptor.¡±
¡°The sacrifices of Greed and Gluttony in our operations were regrettable, but necessary,¡± Ji Xin Shui continued, his voice steady. ¡°They¡¯re expendable, as are all the Seven Deadly Sins. These sins stem from human desires, and as long as humans yearn, they will serve as my pawns.¡±
Ji Lin walked over to the chessboard set up on a nearby table, his movements deliberate. He picked up a ck chess piece and ced it on the board.
¡°Pride,¡± he announced, setting down the piece. Then he picked up a green one, ¡°Envy,¡± followed by a red, ¡°Wrath,¡± a white, ¡°Sloth,¡± a yellow, ¡°Greed,¡± a brown, ¡°Gluttony,¡± and finally, a purple, ¡°Lust.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right; all the Seven Deadly Sins are born from human desires. But you¡¯ve overlooked one crucial detail,¡± Ji Lin stated, picking up the ck piece again and positioning it in front of the others. ¡°Pride, your own actions are also driven by desire, the most dominant of all sins.¡±
¡°Perhaps¡ you are a pawn as well.¡±
Ji Xin Shuiughed off the suggestion, his head shaking in dismissal. ¡°Ji Lin, you think too much. Once you receive that invitation from the Genius Club, everything will be clear. For now, your focus should be on keeping Lin Xian here until 00:42 on May 3rd.¡±
¡°Maintaining his presence from the beginning of your party until 00:42 will be challenging. Without a valid reason, Lin Xian will be suspicious. He¡¯s not easily fooled. How do you n to ensure he stays?¡±
Ji Lin, now seated at the chess table, manipted the yellow and brown pieces thoughtfully before looking back at Ji Xin Shui. ¡°Remember our initial conversation? I asked if you minded if I leaked some information to the disruptor to trap him, and you agreed.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Ji Xin Shui nodded firmly. ¡°For someone destined to fall, a little extra information is inconsequential. Just make sure Lin Xian meets his end at 00:42.¡±
¡°Then rest assured, I have a n to keep him here,¡± Ji Lin confirmed with a nod.
¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the spectacle,¡± Ji Xin Shui remarked as he walked toward the door, donning his ck felt hat. ¡°I¡¯ll find a suitable ce nearby to watch.¡±
Meanwhile, at the estate of Chu Shan He, Lin Xian and Chu Shan He were huddled over a hand-drawn map of thekeside vi area in the reception room.
Lin Xian pointed to four circles marked in red on the map. ¡°These sewer covers are crucial to our n.¡±
Chu Shan He acknowledged with a nod. ¡°Understood.¡±
He then looked up, his expression serious. ¡°I¡¯ve verified Ji Xin Shui¡¯s entry records; he¡¯s definitely back in the country. However, there¡¯s no sign of Zhou Duan Yun re-entering. Hisst known departure was from Donghai City to Japan, with no subsequent entries.¡±
Lin Xian leaned back, his face thoughtful. ¡°While it would be ideal to capture them all together, we have to work with what we¡¯ve got. Securing Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui will be a significant victory for now. Zhou Duan Yun and others can wait.¡±
Chu Shan He, leaning back simrly, interjected with a note of concern. ¡°Lin Xian, there¡¯s a legal nuance we must consider. Under ourws, if someone is merely suspicious without concrete evidence, we can only detain them for questioning for up to 24 hours.¡±
¡°If we find relevant evidence, the detention can be extended. However, given theplexity of your n, I¡¯m worried,¡± Chu Shan He continued, his arms crossed. ¡°Ji Lin is clever, and Ji Xin Shui is both influential and resourceful. When you revealed their involvement, I was astounded. Ji Xin Shui¡¯s global standing in the medical field couldplicate things. They might have already safeguarded their tracks.¡±
¡°Proving a connection between them and any attempt on your life, like the taxi incident on May 3rd, will be challenging,¡± he added. ¡°I trust your judgment about their guilt, but trust alone won¡¯t suffice in court. We need solid evidence for a conviction.¡±
¡°So,¡± Chu Shan He concluded, pausing for emphasis, ¡°if we detain them but fail to produce conclusive evidence within 24 hours, and they offer no confession, what then?¡±
Chapter 200: The Opening
Chu Shan He was right to be worried.
If there had been any solid evidence that Ji Lin or Ji Xin Shui were involved in a murder or nning one, the police would have already detained them for questioning. Yet, their records remained spotless, both publicly and secretly.
Sergeant Sam had taken responsibility for all the incriminating evidence. Even if the investigation progressed, it would likely lead to a false trail in the USA¡ªa diversion masterfully set up by Ji Lin.
In this context, as long as the taxi driver who hit Lin Xian wasn¡¯t Ji Lin or Ji Xin Shui, they had a solid alibi. They could easily distance themselves from the incident without any direct implications.
Given Ji Lin¡¯s cunning and Ji Xin Shui¡¯s resourcefulness, navigating such a situation was straightforward for them.
Lin Xian had anticipated this too.
Determined to bring these culprits to justice and to seek retribution for Xu Yun and Tang Xin, he had been nning meticulously for a long time.
¡°Mr. Chu, I understand your concerns,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯ve been stressing the importance of making the taxi incident look fatal. We need to establish their intent to kill to even consider pressing charges for attempted murder. It¡¯s crucial to prevent them from slipping through our fingers.¡±¡°However, that alone isn¡¯t enough since Ji Lin hasn¡¯t been directly involved in this affair. But don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll find evidence linking Ji Lin to the crime. If they n to carry out this assassination on the night of May 3rd, Ji Lin will have to get involved to ensure my demise.¡±
¡°As we¡¯ve discussed before, I will only give Ji Lin the opportunity to act against me. If he doesn¡¯t take it, I won¡¯t coborate with anyone else. So¡ I can¡¯t give you any guarantees right now because I don¡¯t know Ji Lin¡¯s exact n. We¡¯ll need to adapt as things unfold that night. However, you can be assured, I won¡¯t let our collective efforts go to waste. I¡¯m confident that I can force Ji Lin to reveal his intentions.¡±
Chu Shan He nodded in agreement. ¡°I trust you. No need for further exnation.¡±
¡°An Qing will also be at Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party on the evening of May 3rd. However, my family imposes a strict curfew, so she¡¯ll need to be back in her dorm by 10 PM. The party should end by then.¡±
¡°So, from 10 PM to 12:42 AM, nearly three hours¡ what¡¯s Ji Lin¡¯s n to keep you there? I¡¯ve been wondering about this, and it doesn¡¯t make sense. Surely, you two won¡¯t just sit around and chat for three hours, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯m puzzled too,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°I have no idea how Ji Lin ns to detain me. I¡¯m just as curious about his tactics.¡±
¡°But knowing Ji Lin and his intellect, I¡¯m confident he¡¯s got something up his sleeve if he¡¯s nning to finish me off on his birthday. All we can do now is prepare on our end and wait for the day to unfold.¡±
The days quickly passed.
On the evening of May 3rd, at 6:30 PM, Gao Yang stepped out of a taxi dressed sharply in a suit and tie, his hair slicked back as he surveyed the opulentkeside vi neighborhood.
¡°Time to impress some college girls!¡±
¡°Hold on¡¡±
Lin Xian stepped out of the taxi and grabbed Gao Yang¡¯s arm. ¡°Remember, this is Ji Lin¡¯s birthday, not a college mixer.¡±
¡°You mentioned Chu An Qing¡¯s ssmates would be here, right?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
¡°And they¡¯re studying at the art college? Majoring in dance? All tall and stunning?¡±
¡°Yes, they are¡ but focus, please.¡±
¡°Perfect!¡± Gao Yang beamed, pulling out an elegantly wrapped gift from behind his back. ¡°This should impress Ji Lin. I need to mingle with those dance majors to make up for my missed college days!¡±
¡°Please stay focused.¡±
After settling the taxi fare, Lin Xian and Gao Yang walked up to the vi. As they approached, tworge septic trucks were leaving the area, their presence marked by a lingering stench.
Gao Yang waved away the odor. ¡°Even in upscale areas, septic issues happen?¡±
¡°Everyone has to deal with their waste, even kings,¡± Lin Xian joked.
They reached Ji Lin¡¯s vi and rang the doorbell.
¡°Coming!¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s cheerful voice rang from inside. She opened the ornate double redwood doors, her eyes sparkling like crescent moons. ¡°Lin Xian, you made it!¡±
Then, turning to Gao Yang, she added, ¡°And you must be Gao Yang! We met briefly at the MXpany celebration! Lin Xian mentioned you, but we didn¡¯t get to chat much then.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Gao Yang straightened up, adjusting his hair. ¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian¡¯s closest friend. You can call me ¡®senior¡¯ too!¡±
Chu An Qing blinked. ¡°Senior Gao¡ did you also attend Donghai University?¡±
¡°Sort of.¡± Gao Yang, exuding confidence, draped an arm around Lin Xian. ¡°Pretty close to graduating.¡±
¡°Just 300 points short of admission,¡± Lin Xian whispered under his breath.
¡°What?!¡±
Quickly changing the subject, Gao Yang suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s head inside and see if we can help with the preparations!¡±
Before long¡
While Lin Xian and Ji Lin busied themselves with the party setup, Gao Yang had already integrated himself with a group of young, attractive college students. His effortless charm had themughing in no time.
¡°Senior Gao, did you and Lin Xian go to the same high school too?¡± Chu An Qing asked, clearly intrigued.
¡°Absolutely!¡±
Gao Yang chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ve been ssmates since kindergarten¡ªexcept for middle school when we were in adjacent sses. We practically grew up together!¡±
¡°Really¡¡±
Chu An Qing nced at her shoulder-length hair, which she had left loose today instead of tying it up, trying a new style. She remembered a sketch Ji Lin had shown her, featuring a girl with her hair up.
Impulsively, she gathered her hair, twisted it into a bun, and held it with her hand, smiling at Gao Yang. ¡°Senior Gao, do I look familiar this way?¡±
To rify, she mimicked the expression of the girl in the sketch, her dimples just barely showing.
Gao Yang choked on his drink!
¡°Are you alright?¡± Lin Xian came over, patting his back.
After a few coughs, Gao Yang managed to respond, ¡°You do look familiar, but only because we met at the MXpany party.¡±
¡°No, not from that event!¡±
Chu An Qing shook her head, still smiling. ¡°Do I remind you of someone from your old ss?¡±
Gao Yang was taken aback.
Was she hinting at something?
But flirting was thest thing on his mind, especially since she was Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter!
¡°No, no,¡± he quickly denied. ¡°I was the ss president; I knew everyone. There was no one as charming and pretty as you, honestly!¡±
He set his drink down. ¡°Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.¡±
¡
After Gao Yang departed, Chu An Qing let her hair fall back into soft waves. She bit her lip, pondering the sketch hidden in her room.
So, Lin Xian had lied¡
She had believed Lin Xian¡¯s tale about a ssmate resembling her. But Tang Xin had also mentioned that no such girl had been in their ss, though she had only been there briefly before transferring.
If Gao Yang, Lin Xian¡¯s lifelong best friend and ss president, didn¡¯t recall such a girl resembling her, then¡
Her heart pounded as she recalled Lin Xian¡¯s uneasy expression when the sketch fell.
Could it be¡ that the girl in the sketch was her?
¡
In the kitchen.
A pale-faced Gao Yang approached Lin Xian.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xian asked, noticing his friend¡¯s distress. Moments earlier, Gao Yang had been lively, mingling with the guests.
¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯ve got a problem.¡± Gao Yang looked genuinely terrified. ¡°I might end up thrown into the Huangpu River by Chu Shan He.¡±
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lin Xian was baffled. ¡°Exin yourself. How could you possibly offend him?¡±
¡°Just hear me out.¡± Gao Yang pulled Lin Xian aside, ensuring their conversation remained private. ¡°You¡¯re not going to believe this¡¡±
¡°Spill it.¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s face was a mask of worry. ¡°I think Chu An Qing has a crush on me!¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian felt as if he had turned to stone.
¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Ji Lin emerged from the kitchen, holding a tray of appetizers. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like you.¡±
¡°Whoa! Where did youe from?¡± Gao Yang jumped, startled. ¡°You scared me!¡±
¡°Chu An Qing does like someone,¡± Ji Lin said casually as he passed by. ¡°But it¡¯s definitely not you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a relief¡¡± Gao Yang wiped his brow, feeling a sudden surge of relief. ¡°These young women today are so daring. Times sure have changed.¡±
¡°I think you might need a reality check,¡± Lin Xian said, exasperated. He grabbed some utensils and motioned for Gao Yang to follow. ¡°Stop being dramatic and let¡¯s go¡ the party¡¯s about to begin!¡±
Chapter 201: Wishes
¡°Happy Birthday!¡±
The room echoed with the harmonious chorus of the birthday song, lit only by the soft glow of candles flickering around a cake. Apuse filled the air, and heartfelt birthday wishes were directed at Ji Lin, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday.
Turning 22 was almost bittersweet for Ji Lin. It was his first real celebration, a stark contrast to even the poorest families who somehow managed to acknowledge their children¡¯s birthdays each year.
Lin Xian joined the apuse, observing Ji Lin¡¯s mix of slight embarrassment and genuine happiness. It was clear he was both shy and delighted by the attention.
¡°Ji Lin,e on, make a wish and blow out the candles! You have to wish for something before you blow them out!¡± Chu An Qing, buoyed by high spirits alongside a few other girls, encouraged him to make his wish.
Ji Lin paused, unused to this kind of attention. After a moment, he looked at the candlelit cake and said quietly, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve never really had any wishes. Apart from not having parents, my life¡¯s been pretty good. I¡¯ve had everything I wanted materially.¡±
¡°Ji Lin¡ you shouldn¡¯t say your wish out loud,¡± Chu An Qing gently reminded him. ¡°It won¡¯te true if you do.¡±
But Lin Xian raised his hand, interrupting her. ¡°Let him say it. It seems like he wants to share.¡±Ji Lin had alwayse across as reserved and reluctant to socialize, often appearing cold and solitary. Over time, Lin Xian hade to understand that Ji Lin¡¯s solitude was more of a shield, a way to protect himself when no other options seemed avable.
A simple, childlike birthday party might seem more suitable for a teenager like 19-year-old Chu An Qing or even a young child, but for Ji Lin¡ªa globally recognized bestselling author, Oscar-winning screenwriter, and master of mystery at 22¡ªit felt oddly fitting.
Yet, Ji Lin lookedfortable, genuinely enjoying the moment, basking in a kind of joy he¡¯d missed in his affluent but isted life.
Ji Lin smiled at everyone and continued, ¡°Growing up, I spent most of my time alone, reading books and solving math problems. Maybe it¡¯s because both my parents were mathematicians¡ I had a knack for it. I never got a single problem wrong. I enjoyed solving them, and I relished the sense of achievement from getting them right. It felt like solving problems was my purpose.¡±
¡°But today, if I have to make a wish¡¡± Ji Lin nced around the room, his gaze lingering on Lin Xian and Chu An Qing before settling on the dwindling candles. His expression turned solemn. ¡°I just wish I could make one mistake.¡±
The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, trying to grasp the meaning behind Ji Lin¡¯s unusual wish. The tension was palpable until Gao Yang, perhaps driven by some deep-seated instinct, suddenly stood up and pped loudly.
¡°Well said! Well said indeed!¡± Gao Yang, always quick on his feet, managed to defuse the awkward moment. ¡°Ji Lin¡¯s wish is profound. His life has been too perfect. In writing and screenwriting, he¡¯s found fame and fortune without any real setbacks.¡±
¡°For most of us, failure is something we fear, but for Ji Lin, it¡¯s an experience he¡¯s never had. He believes a life without failure is iplete. A life without mistakes is, in a way, meaningless.¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s voice grew more passionate as he spoke. ¡°As the famous 18th-century British writer Oliver Goldsmith once said¡ªOur greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall!¡±
The room was astounded! Chu An Qing and the other girls were stunned, not expecting Gao Yang, who seemed so ordinary, to not only ease the awkwardness but to elevate Ji Lin¡¯s wish with such eloquence. It was almost an art form.
Even Lin Xian, observing Gao Yang¡¯s outburst, was left in awe. What had inspired this sudden disy of literary knowledge? Regardless, Gao Yang had a knack for handling the atmosphere.
Apuse broke out once more, initially meant for Ji Lin¡¯s profound wish but quickly bing amendation for Gao Yang, the master of the moment.
¡°So, Ji Lin, your wish is to experience failure!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, pping. ¡°What a unique wish¡ That¡¯s the difference between a genius like you and ordinary people like us. We find failure difficult and sad, but for you, it¡¯s a valuable experience and material for your work.¡±
The other girls focused on Gao Yang, their eyes sparkling. ¡°Gao Yang, you¡¯re amazing. You¡¯re so knowledgeable.¡±
¡°Where did you learn all this? Do you enjoy reading?¡± they asked, clearly impressed.
¡°Wow¡ The adult world is soplex. Only Gao Yang could understand Ji Lin¡¯s wish,¡± they murmured among themselves, their admiration for Gao Yang evident after his impressive ¡°exnation.¡±
¡°Hahaha, I was just showing off¡¡± Gao Yangughed, scratching his head. He pulled out his phone and showed them his social media feed. ¡°I learned this from a psychologist¡¯s social media. Look, Dr. Liu is the most famous psychologist in Donghai City. She posted this today, quoting the British writer.¡±
¡°I like to read her posts and learn some psychology. It¡¯s quite useful¡ª¡± Gao Yang then patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Lin Xian used to have these weird dreams and was really troubled. I took him to see Dr. Liu.¡±
¡°Dr. Liu diagnosed him quickly, and with just a few words, she solved Lin Xian¡¯s problem! Isn¡¯t that right, Lin Xian? Dr. Liu is really good!¡±
¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± Lin Xian kicked Gao Yang under the table, signaling him to keep quiet.
Across the table, Ji Lin remained silent, his gaze fixed on Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± It was the first time Lin Xian saw Ji Lin¡¯s eyes fully open, their gaze sharp and intense. ¡°Have you¡ seen a psychologist?¡±
Chapter 202: Friends
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian admitted, not hiding anything. Gao Yang had already shared so much, so there was no point in denying it. To prevent Gao Yang from revealing more, Lin Xian quickly took over the conversation, exining his visit to the psychologist:
¡°Back then, ourpany wasunching a new product, and the Rhine Cat brand was under a lot of pressure. I was extremely stressed, dealing with sleepless nights and constant headaches. Out of desperation, I agreed when Gao Yang suggested seeing a psychologist.¡±
¡°My sleep eventually got better, and things started to normalize. But I don¡¯t think it was the psychologist who really made the difference. It was more about our MXpany¡¯s product seeding and Rhine Cat getting a positive response. Once the pressure lifted, my sleep improved too.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s exnation made sense, and Gao Yang, having known him for years, understood Lin Xian¡¯s reluctance to discuss the psychologist. So, Gao Yang quickly changed the subject:
¡°People tend to forget how good their doctors were once they feel better. I pushed you to see a psychologist because I was genuinely worried about you. You were overworking yourself, getting dark circles under your eyes just like Ji Lin. If you kept losing sleep, it would¡¯ve really hurt your health!¡±
¡°Ji Lin, you should also try to reduce yourte nights. Your dark circles are pretty noticeable. I¡¯ve known friends who died young from overwork. You have so much life ahead and money to enjoy¡ªit¡¯d be such a waste to lose that.¡±
Chu An Qing jumped in, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a birthday party, why are we talking about such grim stuff? That¡¯s bad luck!¡±
¡°Enough already¡ Look, the candles are almost gone. Ji Lin, make a wish and blow them out!¡±Everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the cake as they noticed the candles were about to burn downpletely, prompting Ji Lin to make his wish. With a swift puff, Ji Lin blew out the candles, and the gift-giving began.
Gao Yang was the first to present his gift¡ªa men¡¯s belt. Lin Xian knew Gao Yang¡¯s primary reason for attending was to impress some female university students, making the belt a convenient choice, more of an entry ticket to the party. However, Ji Lin didn¡¯t mind. He enjoyed the celebration, unwrapping Gao Yang¡¯s gift and holding up the belt. His smile was genuine as he thanked Gao Yang:
¡°Besides the books Xu Yun gave me as a kid, this is the first real birthday gift I¡¯ve ever received.¡±
Gao Yang felt a twinge of guilt. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have gone first¡¡± he muttered to Lin Xian.
Next, it was Chu An Qing and the other girls¡¯ turn. They presented a variety of delightful items, some even handmade, which Ji Lin deeply appreciated. Several were immediately treasured and found spots in his room.
Chu An Qing handed over a high-end neck massager, exining, ¡°Your slight hunchback might be from all that writing and reading. This should help.¡±
She had initially nned to give a sketch and watercolor painting she discussed with Lin Xian. However, Lin Xian had recently told her he was too busy to draw, so they settled on separate gifts.
In truth, Lin Xian¡¯s rtionship with Ji Lin was a fa?ade. Beneath the cheerful surface, a dangerous game of cat and mouse unfolded. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t bring himself to create art for a murderer.
Moreover, Ji Lin was responsible for the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin. No matter how friendly their interactions seemed, to Lin Xian, it was all a pretense, a means to seek justice for Xu Yun and Tang Xin.
¡°This is for you,¡± Lin Xian said, offering his gift¡ªa small box containing a unique Rhine Cat keychain. Ji Lin¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The Rhine Cat keychain was styled in a gothic fashion. The petite, adorable Rhine Cat wore a ck top hat, adorned with stars and teardrops painted on its face, making a whimsical expression. It was dressed in a witch-like ck outfit,plete with ck-and-white striped candy socks.
¡°This version isn¡¯t for sale,¡± Lin Xian smiled, looking at the quirky Rhine Cat. ¡°It doesn¡¯t fit with Rhine Cat¡¯s brand image, so it¡¯ll never be released. It was handmade by a team member who loves crafting Rhine Cat fan art. I thought you might like it, so I secured one just for you.¡±
Ji Lin chuckled softly, not saying much. He picked up the gothic Rhine Cat for a closer look. Truth be told, he wasn¡¯t a fan of the gothic style. He had only mentioned it during the New Year¡¯s party to get closer to Lin Xian, as a way to analyze Lin Xian¡¯s artistic style. It was merely a ruse. Yet unexpectedly, Lin Xian had remembered.
¡°Thank you,¡± Ji Lin murmured quietly. He stood and ced the unique gothic Rhine Cat keychain on the high TV cab. ¡°I¡¯ll treasure it.¡±
After the gift exchange, everyone indulged in the cake, engaging in lively conversations andughter. Ji Lin had underestimated Gao Yang. The cake, sourced from an obscure but skilled baker, was a masterpiece, and Gao Yang ate with gusto, devouring a substantial portion of the threeyer cake and living up to his reputation as a glutton.
Once everyone was satisfied, it was time for games. Ji Lin had prepared several board games, and the fun was contagious. Afterpleting one game, Chu An Qing spotted an intriguing game box.
¡°Let¡¯s try the guessing game!¡± she suggested excitedly. Everyone seemed interested.
The box contained buzzer buttons and an assortment of trivia cards. This was something new. Their curiosity peaked, they opened the box, each taking a buzzer button. With Chu An Qing acting as host and scorekeeper, the guessing game officially began.
¡°First question! What song by Wang Xinling, released in 2004, became popr again in 2022?¡± Chu An Qing read from the trivia card¡ª
Ding!
A quick-thinking girl pressed her buzzer, ¡°Love You!¡±
¡°Correct, one point!¡±
¡°Next question! How do you say ¡®pyramid¡¯ in English?¡±
Ding!
Ji Lin was quickest, ¡°Pyramid.¡±
¡°Correct, one point!¡±
Thepetition quickly heated up. The initial questions were easy, allowing everyone to participate. The challenge was in who could buzz in the fastest. Even Gao Yang managed a few correct answers.
As Chu An Qing sifted through more trivia cards, the questions grew tougher, ramping up the pressure. Everyone struggled to keep up, but Lin Xian and Ji Lin were in their own league, responding quickly and urately.
¡°Next question! Which asteroid, discovered by a German astronomer, is named after the Greek god of love?¡±
Ding!
Lin Xian was fastest, ¡°Eros.¡±
¡°Correct!¡± Chu An Qing beamed at Lin Xian and added a point to the scoreboard. Lin Xian¡¯s wide knowledge impressed everyone.
¡°Next question¡ What is the oldest known writtennguage in the world?¡±
Ding!
Ji Lin was quickest this time, ¡°Sumerian.¡±
¡°Correct!¡± Chu An Qing added another point for Ji Lin.
Watching Lin Xian and Ji Lin trade answers, Gao Yang and the female university students were in awe.
¡°Wow¡ Lin Xian and Ji Lin are incredible. Their knowledge is so vast.¡±
¡°These questions are getting harder, and we can¡¯t keep up! If I get one more wrong, I¡¯m out!¡±
¡°They¡¯re geniuses. They know all this obscure trivia!¡±
¡°They should be on a quiz show. But then again, they¡¯re already sessful; they wouldn¡¯t bother with that.¡±
As the game neared its end, Chu An Qing was down to thest three trivia cards. Except for Lin Xian and Ji Lin, all other participants had been eliminated. Everyone watched the scoreboard intently. Their scores were tied, and neither had missed a single question.
¡°Next question!¡± Chu An Qing read from the final trivia card, ¡°In a certain Japanese anime, there is a notebook that can kill people if their names are written in it. What is this notebook called?¡±
Ding!
Ji Lin buzzed in, turning to Lin Xian and softly said, ¡°Death Note.¡±
¡°Correct!¡± Chu An Qing moved to the penultimate question, ¡°What was the first Hollywood film introduced to China?¡±
Ding!
Lin Xian buzzed in, ¡°True Lies.¡±
With only one trivia card left, Gao Yang and the nearby girls were sweating with nervous anticipation.
These two must be prodigies!
Chu An Qing nced at thest trivia card and chuckled nervously, ¡°This final question is much simpler than the rest¡ It¡¯s all about who¡¯s quicker.¡±
Gao Yang and the others leaned in to peek. They all exhaled in relief.
¡°Indeed, it¡¯s too straightforward. Even I know this one.¡±
¡°No challenge at all, given the hints.¡±
¡°An Qing is right; it¡¯s purely about speed.¡±
Everyone turned their attention to Lin Xian and Ji Lin, seated at the table. Their scores were even, and thisst question was simple. Whoever pressed the buzzer first would win the trivia game!
¡°Question!¡± Amid everyone¡¯s anticipation, Chu An Qing read the final card, ¡°There¡¯s a term that generally refers to two people who share a deep, like-minded rtionship. It¡¯s also the title of a famous song by singer Zhou Huajian and the codename for the antagonist in the renowned manga ¡¯20th Century Boys.¡¯ What is this word?¡±
Everyone widened their eyes in shock. Where¡¯s the buzzer sound? Such an easy question, almost spelled out, how could they not know? Zhou Huajian¡¯s most popr song! A karaoke staple! How could anyone not know?
But! Lin Xian and Ji Lin sat motionless, staring at the buzzers as if frozen, not moving a muscle. Everyone was bewildered. Impossible? These two, seemingly omniscient, how could they falter at such a straightforward question?
Finally¡ª
Ding!
With Lin Xian still unmoved, Ji Lin slowly reached out and pressed the buzzer.
¡°You lost, Lin Xian,¡± Ji Lin said softly, not looking up, his gaze fixed on the leftover cake crumbs on the table. ¡°Though I¡¯ve never heard Zhou Huajian¡¯s songs, I¡¯ve watched ¡¯20th Century Boys.''¡±
¡°Tomodachi,¡± he whispered, ¡°in the film, the antagonist¡¯s codename is pronounced that way. And when tranted, it means¡¡± He turned to Lin Xian and softly said, ¡°Friend.¡±
Chapter 203: The Ace Up His Sleeve
Lin Xian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. He knew the answer to the riddle, of course.
Back in middle school, whenever he and his friends hung out at karaoke, they always sang this particr song. As a movie buff, he had naturally seen 20th Century Boys, a true cinematic gem. Naturally, the answer was on the tip of his tongue.
Yet, he refrained from hitting the buzzer and revealing the answer. Especially not tonight, not during this crucial moment when the cat was about to confront the mouse face-to-face and their true identities would be revealed.
¡°Ah, looks like Ji Lin wins again!¡± Chu An Qing chirped as she added another point to Ji Lin¡¯s score on the scoreboard. Ji Lin was now leading by one point ahead of Lin Xian. The two of them were far ahead of everyone else, signaling the end of the guessing game.
The lively games had not only energized the atmosphere but also brought everyone closer. Gao Yang, usually more reserved, had finally clicked with the college students. In a burst of excitement, they even opened a vintage bottle of red wine that had been stashed away in the vi.
This bottle was evidently expensive and well-aged. Ji Lin, however, seemed unbothered by its value; he simply wanted everyone to enjoy themselves.
Gao Yang, now discussing Freud¡¯s theories on the subconscious with the students, was undoubtedly bing a hit. Lin Xian thought to himself that Gao Yang should send a thank-you card to Dr. Liu, the psychologist, whose social media post had skyrocketed his poprity among the college crowd.
ncing at the wall clock, Lin Xian noted it was already 10 PM. The party showed no signs of winding down, with everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves.Seatedfortably on the couch with a juice in hand, Lin Xian pondered whether Ji Lin would make his move tonight. ording to the strategy he and Chu Shan He had discussed, tonight at precisely 00:42 was when Ji Lin and his team were likely to strike. Lin Xian had been extra cautioustely, avoidingte-night outings and leaving no room for their typical ambush tactics.
To lure him out at midnight, they needed a convincing pretext. Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party provided the perfect cover. If they missed this chance, it would be challenging to draw Lin Xian out again under such circumstances.
Adding to his concerns, Chu Shan He had recently discovered that Ji Xin Shui had returned to the country at this peculiar timing, likely connected to Ji Lin¡¯s scheme. Lin Xian was convinced of their coboration. Sadly, there were no entry records for Zhou Duan Yun,plicating any future attempts to apprehend him.
But for now, the immediate problem was that Chu An Qing and her ssmates couldn¡¯t stay past 11 PM due to a curfew. Despite the fun, they would soon have to leave.
Once they departed, only Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Ji Lin would remain. Knowing Gao Yang, once the girls left and he had his fill of wine, he would probably see no reason to stay and would likely urge Lin Xian to leave with him.
As Lin Xian set his juice down and leaned back, he was still puzzled over Ji Lin¡¯s next move. How exactly did Ji Lin n to keep him until 00:42? What tricks did he have up his sleeve? Lin Xian couldn¡¯t pinpoint it, which unnerved him. He had thought through every other aspect, but this one eluded him.
He would have to adapt on the fly.
As the clock struck 10:40 PM, Chu An Qing and her ssmates began gathering their things to head back to school. Chu Shan He¡¯s driver was already outside, engine running, ready to drive them back to their dorms.
¡°Alright, Lin Xian, Ji Lin, Gao Yang, we¡¯re heading back now,¡± announced Chu An Qing at the doorway.
Ji Lin stepped forward, smiling warmly. ¡°I¡¯m really d you all could make it to my party. I had a fantastic time tonight.¡±
¡°Hehe, we should be thanking you for hosting us!¡± Chu An Qing responded brightly. ¡°Let¡¯s n to celebrate our birthdays together again next year! Maybe then, Lin Xian and I can give you something really special. We wanted to this year, but just ran out of time.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a shame; I was looking forward to your gift,¡± Ji Lin replied with a yful grin.
¡°No worries, there¡¯s always next year!¡± Chu An Qing said optimistically, undeterred by the dy. To her, another year was just around the corner¡ªa short wait of 365 days until they were sophomores. In her eyes, nothing would change; everything would remain the same.
With a final wave, Ji Lin watched as Chu An Qing and her ssmates piled into the car and drove away.
Once the girls had left, the conversation between the three men shifted to more mundane topics. Gao Yang was focused on finishing the bottle of expensive wine. As the wine level dropped, Lin Xian felt the tension rise, anticipating the moment of truth.
Finally, Gao Yang finished hisst ss with a satisfied burp. ¡°Ah, that hit the spot! Great food, great wine, and greatpany! Ji Lin, if you throw another party like this, count me in! I¡¯ll bring Lin Xian along!¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Ji Lin smiled, his eyes twinkling. ¡°I¡¯m thrilled to have met you guys. This has been the best night in a long while.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, should we head out too?¡± Gao Yang asked, rubbing his belly. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte; we shouldn¡¯t keep Ji Lin up. He looks like he could use some rest.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s almost midnight. Time to go.¡±
They stood up, collected their coats, and walked toward the door.
¡°Goodbye, Ji Lin,¡± Gao Yang called out as they reached the gate. ¡°We won¡¯t stick around to help clean up, sorry about that.¡±
¡°No worries, the housekeeper will handle it,¡± Ji Lin replied softly, following them out to the courtyard.
Gao Yang hummed a tune as he walked ahead, already through the gate. Lin Xian followed more slowly, stepping off the porch. Ji Lin lingered in the doorway. Lin Xian felt a twinge of doubt. Had he been wrong? Was their n not set for tonight?
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Ji Lin suddenly called out. Lin Xian turned to see the slender, pale boy illuminated by moonlight.
¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xian asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ji Lin gazed at the moon, silent for a moment before speaking softly, ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve always wanted to ask you.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been investigating my parents¡¯ deaths for years. Even though the 00:42 serial killer has been caught, there¡¯s still no lead on who killed my parents. I often wonder, who would have a motive to kill two mathematicians like them?¡±
¡°It¡¯s been frustrating,¡± Ji Lin¡¯s eyes shifted from the moon back to Lin Xian. ¡°But I did find a small clue. You¡¯re brilliant; you solved the 00:42 case. I value your opinion.¡±
¡°What did you find?¡± Lin Xian inquired, intrigued.
Ji Lin squinted, his gaze intense. ¡°Lin Xian, have you ever heard of¡ the Genius Club?¡±
Chapter 204: The Time Has Come
Dark clouds nketed the moon, casting shadows across the entire sky. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Lin Xian stood motionless, his gaze locked on Ji Lin.
Until this moment, Lin Xian had yed out numerous scenarios in his head, imagining various reasons Ji Lin might want him to stay. However, Ji Lin¡¯s next words caught himpletely off guard.
¡°Have you ever heard of¡ the Genius Club?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind spun with questions and theories. How did Ji Lin know about this extremely secretive organization? What was his connection to the Genius Club? Could Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, and Zhou Duan Yun be members?
No, that couldn¡¯t be right.
Lin Xian remembered a particrly tense night in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office when Yellow Finch had ominously warned him: ¡°Even if you don¡¯t seek trouble, trouble will find you. Your cat-and-mouse game has begun. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the Genius Club.¡±
At the time, those words were a puzzle to Lin Xian. Now, though, the pieces wereing together. The ¡°cat-and-mouse game¡± must be rted to Ji Lin and his crew. Clearly, Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t on their side¡ªotherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have issued such a warning. So, Ji Lin couldn¡¯t be a member of the Genius Club.
But why bring it up now?Lin Xian had to acknowledge Ji Lin¡¯s cunning; he had chosen the perfect bait to keep him intrigued.
The Genius Club.
His knowledge about this shadowy group was scant, gleaned mostly from his dreams, with the only real-world link being a counterfeit invitation. If Ji Lin could offer even a sliver of genuine information, it could be a game-changer, particrly since Yellow Finch had hinted that the quickest path to solving his mysteries was through an invitation to the Genius Club.
Could Ji Lin provide a clue about how to join?
¡°Lin Xian!¡± At the vi gate, Gao Yang called out, patting his belly. ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up!¡±
Snapped out of his reverie, Lin Xian gave Ji Lin a nonmittal answer, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of that name.¡±
It felt safer to feign ignorance. Plus, it wasn¡¯t unusual for him to be unaware of such a secretive group. His denial kept the conversation straightforward and pressured Ji Lin to disclose morepelling details about the Genius Club, especially since Ji Lin needed him to stay until 12:42 AM. If Ji Lin wanted him to linger, he¡¯d have to share something worthwhile.
Lastly, whether it was a trap or not, Lin Xian was prepared to y along. Ji Lin and his associates had ns for him at 12:42, and he nned to turn the tables on them. Both needed to buy time until then, so Lin Xian was ready to engage.
¡°You haven¡¯t heard of it? That¡¯s normal, as it¡¯s very secretive,¡± Ji Lin replied, his tone casual. ¡°I know little myself. But I think you might find them interesting; they could be behind the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s smile was inviting as he gestured toward the brightly lit, luxurious living room. ¡°Shall we go inside and talk?¡±
Nodding, Lin Xian then called out to Gao Yang, ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll stay here a bit longer.¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t I wait for you guys?¡± Gao Yang suggested, belching slightly.
¡°No, no, go on ahead,¡± Lin Xian insisted, knowing it was best to keep Gao Yang out of this conversation. Although Gao Yang knew of the Genius Club from prior discussions, he saw it as nothing more than a harmless fantasy. Now, with Gao Yang slightly tipsy, he might inadvertently reveal too much.
¡°Alright then,¡± Gao Yang agreed, a hand on his ample stomach as he departed. ¡°You guys chat. I¡¯ve got work tomorrow, and I¡¯m not waiting.¡±
With the doors shut, Lin Xian and Ji Lin returned to the dining table. Ji Lin opened a new bottle of juice, poured two sses, and pushed one towards Lin Xian.
¡°What is the Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian asked directly, deciding to cut through any pretense.
Ji Lin hesitated, then shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know much, but I¡¯ve always suspected that the real killers of my parents aren¡¯t from Sam Sergeant¡¯s group but the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Why do you think that?¡±
¡°Remember your analysis?¡± Ji Lin leaned in, his voice low. ¡°You said there might be two groups of killers: Group A, who kill randomly, and Group B, who prefer staged car idents.¡±
¡°You described Group B, Sam Sergeant¡¯s group, as clumsy imitators of Group A. Their method¡ªstaged, time-specific idents¡ªis too obvious unless there¡¯s apelling reason. It¡¯s almost like they¡¯re unting their ns.¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s foolish,¡± Lin Xian agreed, nodding thoughtfully.
¡°So, Group A could be the Genius Club, and Group B could be Sam Sergeant¡¯s group, trying to mimic them?¡±
¡°Exactly. But why mimic at all? What¡¯s the necessary reason?¡± Ji Lin pressed, his smile thinning.
Lin Xian saw through Ji Lin¡¯s tactics. The next twenty minutes were crucial. Ji Lin needed to keep him engaged with valuable information, or risk Lin Xian walking out, foiling their n.
¡°I have no idea,¡± Lin Xian stated tly.
¡°My theory is¡ Sam Sergeant¡¯s group might be trying to prove something,¡± Ji Lin pondered aloud.
¡°To the Genius Club?¡±
¡°Possibly,¡± Ji Lin conceded. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you this. If they aren¡¯t the killers of my parents, then it¡¯s likely Group A. I need your help to figure it out.¡±
Lin Xian sipped his juice, his mind racing. Ji Lin was clever, blending truth with deception. Sorting out the facts was challenging, but Ji Lin didn¡¯t know how much Lin Xian already understood about their situation and the existence of the Genius Club.
Group B included Ji Lin, Ji Xin Shui, Zhou Duan Yun, Sam Sergeant, and Dr. Leon, attempting to emte Group A¡ªthe Genius Club. Their ultimate goal? Lin Xian recalled Big Cat Face¡¯s ambition: ¡°My ultimate goal is to get an invitation to the Genius Club!¡±
And Yellow Finch had been clear: ¡°The simplest way to find all the answers is to get a real invitation to the Genius Club.¡±
¡°What is the Genius Club, really?¡± Lin Xian asked again, his curiosity peaking. What kind of organization could hold such sway, driving everyone to such desperate measures for an invitation?
¡°You¡¯ve already asked that, Lin Xian,¡± Ji Lin replied with a sip of his juice, his smile tinged with frustration. ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t be so troubled. I¡¯d have avenged my parents by now. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know what the Genius Club is, where they are, or what my next steps should be.¡±
Lin Xian twirled a silver fork between his fingers, pondering. The secrecy surrounding the Genius Club was almost legendary, powerful enough to mark their presence on the moon yet remain unseen for centuries. That Ji Lin even knew their name was significant.
So, if Ji Lin knew, did Ji Xin Shui also know? What about Zhou Duan Yun? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. Given Ji Lin¡¯s strained rtions with Zhou Duan Yun, it was unlikely he¡¯d share such crucial information.
Lin Xian considered Ji Lin thoughtfully. ¡°Based on the name, it sounds like a gathering of top geniuses. Ji Lin, you¡¯re one of the smartest people I¡¯ve met. Maybe you¡¯re closer to the Genius Club than you think.¡±
Ji Lin chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°But I think, Lin Xian, you¡¯re the one closest to the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Why would you say that?¡±
¡°Have you read ¡®The Three-Body Problem,¡¯ specifically the second book, ¡®The Dark Forest,¡¯ about the Wallfacers?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°When you get home, think about it. In some ways, you¡¯re very much like the protagonist, Luo Ji,¡± Ji Lin stood up, ncing at the electronic clock.
May 4, 2023. 00:39.
¡°I¡¯d love to chat more, but it¡¯s gettingte, Lin Xian. Thanks for talking with me.¡±
¡°Time¡¯ste. I should go home too,¡± Lin Xian agreed, finishing his juice and standing up. ¡°Yes¡ I should leave.¡±
Chapter 205: You Lost
00:40
Click.
Lin Xian gripped the handle of the double doors, swung them open, and stepped into the cool courtyard air. He shrugged into the coat that had been draped over his arm and walked down the steps.
Ji Lin followed close behind him, trailing him out to the vi¡¯s courtyard gate.
Ahead of them, a wide, deserted road stretched under dim streetlights. The area was quiet, designed for vacationers, and at thiste hour, it was plunged into darkness, save for the asional light from Ji Lin¡¯s vi.
Clouds swept across the moonlit sky, and a chill seemed to creep across the ground. The moon was soon obscured, casting everything back into darkness.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Ji Lin called, just as Lin Xian was about to leave the courtyard. Lin Xian stopped and turned to face him. Ji Lin was close, perhaps too close forfort.
¡°I think¡ I may have misspoken earlier.¡±¡°What did you say?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was calm, his stance rxed yet alert.
¡°I told you Xu Yun was my first friend. Remember that?¡±
¡°And he wasn¡¯t?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s question hung in the chilly air.
Ji Lin shook his head slowly. ¡°I thought he was. But now, I¡¯m not so sure.¡±
Ji Lin¡¯s hand rested on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°When Xu Yun died, I was sad, yes. But looking back, it wasn¡¯t the deep sorrow you¡¯d feel for a true friend. Losing someone important should hurt more, right?¡±
¡°So, what should it be like then?¡± Lin Xian asked, his gaze locked with Ji Lin¡¯s.
In the distance, the sound of a car engine speeding up broke the silence of the night.
Ji Lin¡¯s grip on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder tightened, his fingers pressing harder.
So, this is it, Lin Xian realized. He now understood that Ji Lin and his cohorts nned to kill him at exactly 00:42.
At this moment, with the car hurtling towards them, Ji Lin would pretend camaraderie and then suddenly push him into the car¡¯s path. If Lin Xian so much as stumbled or lost his bnce, the speeding car would do the rest.
Hmph.
So that¡¯s the n, huh?
Lin Xian allowed his body to rx, giving Ji Lin the perfect opportunity to push him.
Come on, push me. That¡¯s exactly what I need you to do.
Ji Lin¡¯s arm tensed as he gathered strength. The pale, slender youth lifted his head, a flicker of emotion crossing his face as he stared at Lin Xian.
¡°If it were you who died, I wouldn¡¯t just be sad¡ I¡¯d be devastated,¡± Ji Lin said, his voice low. ¡°That¡¯s what makes someone a true friend.¡±
Vroom.
The sound of the high-speed engine drew closer, filling the night with its roar. Ji Lin¡¯s hand reached its peak strength.
But he didn¡¯t push.
He couldn¡¯t.
His strength faded, his hand grew weak, and his arm, previously tense, now hung limply over Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder like a heavy cloth.
Ji Lin hung his head in silence, his curly bangs hiding his eyes and the dark circles beneath them.
Lin Xian had never seen Ji Lin like this before.
But¡
¡°Ji Lin,¡± Lin Xian said softly, his own hand reaching out to rest on Ji Lin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You lost.¡±
He pushed Ji Lin gently back towards the courtyard. Ji Lin¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as Lin Xian turned and walked away, heading towards the road.
The roaring engine was now dangerously close.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Ji Lin¡¯s scream pierced the night as he copsed onto the courtyard¡¯s brick tiles.
A taxi burst from the darkness, its headlights cutting through the gloom like startled eyes. It swerved wildly, toote to avoid what wasing.
The taxi¡¯s rear wheels hit two manhole covers in the middle of the road.
Boom!
The explosion, triggered by explosives cleverly hidden beneath the manhole covers, detonated immediately upon contact with an infrared switch.
The st hurled the taxi into the air. Lin Xian, illuminated by the fiery glow, stood with a war god¡¯sposure as the vehicle spun overhead and crashed into the iron fence of a neighboring vi. The sharp bars pierced through the windshield into the cab, turning the front of the car into a mangled mess. A dark red spray of blood marked the impact.
The echo of the explosion reverberated through the surrounding buildings, the noise deafening and the smoke billowing.
Meanwhile, inclothes officers in bulletproof vests emerged from a nearby vi, guns drawn. They quickly surrounded Ji Lin and the smoking wreckage:
¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±
¡°Get down!¡±
¡°Hands on your head!¡±
On a water tower in the northeast corner of theplex, sniper rifles targeted Ji Lin, now visible in the night thanks to their redser dots. Teams of officers climbed the tower, their guns trained on Ji Lin.
In the courtyard, surrounded by gun barrels, Ji Lin looked up at Lin Xian without a word. Lin Xian stood on the road, looking down at Ji Lin, their gazes meeting through the open gate, as if separated by an insurmountable barrier.
They said nothing, yet understood everything.
Lin Xian turned and walked towards the crushed taxi. The driver¡¯s body, pierced by iron, was visible through the shattered windshield. Lin Xian approached the driver, who was disguised exactly like Sergeant Sam, the man who had killed Xu Yun.
Who was under the mask this time?
Zhou Duan Yun, back secretly to finish the job?
Or another pawn in Ji Lin¡¯s game?
Lin Xian reached the driver¡¯s body and paused to take a deep breath before removing the sunsses and mask.
Underneath were pale, bloodless lips; clean, youthful stubble; lifeless, dted pupils; and a scar that marred the right side of the face.
As the moon reappeared, lighting up the scene once more, a figure stood in the shadows of a nearby artificial hill, silently observing. She pped her hands slowly.
p, p, p.
¡°Still so thrilling, little Lin Xian,¡± she smiled, her blue eyes twinkling ominously in the moonlight. ¡°But this time, you won rather messily.¡±
Chapter 206: The Final Move
In the office of Donghai City¡¯s Criminal Investigation Department, Officer Liuid a stack of documents in front of Lin Xian before sitting opposite him.
¡°Zheng Cheng He, that¡¯s the driver¡¯s name,¡± Officer Liu started, breaking the silence.
¡°I know,¡± Lin Xian responded coolly, not even ncing at the papers.
¡°You know him?¡± Officer Liu asked, surprised.
¡°I¡¯ve seen him a few times at the hospital,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°We¡¯ve actually met more than a few times. I¡¯ve been to his sister¡¯s birthday party and even gave her gifts.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Officer Liu nodded, understanding better now. ¡°No wonder that taxi braked and swerved so suddenly at thest second. He must have recognized you.¡±
Officer Liu clicked his tongue, opened his thermos, took a sip of his tea, and savored the goji berries it contained.
¡°Zheng Cheng He has had a tough life¡ I just had my colleagues in the next province pull his file. About ten years ago, in 2010, his parents were killed by a local thug over and dispute. His mother died right in front of him. Back then, in those small, backward viges, there was little anyone could do.¡±¡°When his parents died, Zheng Cheng He was just a teenager, barely an adult, and his sister was just a toddler. They faced a lot of bullying in the vige. That thug was ruthless, even setting dogs on them. Once, when Zheng Cheng He was trying to protect his sister, a dog bit him on the face, and he nearly died from the infection. But luckily, he survived.¡±
¡°Eventually, the siblings left their vige and moved to Donghai. It wasn¡¯t until a few yearster that the thugs met their end. They all died.¡±
¡°Died?¡± Lin Xian looked up, interested. ¡°How did they die? Did Zheng Cheng He kill them?¡±
He recalled seeing a news story about a son who avenged his mother¡¯s murder yearster.
¡°No, not at all,¡± Officer Liu quickly corrected. ¡°Zheng Cheng He is aw-abiding citizen, never been in trouble with thew. He¡¯s a hard worker and honest¡ The case was reopened a few years ago. The investigation showed that the wrong person had been punished initially. The real culprits, the main men from the thug¡¯s family, were found guilty and executed.¡±
Lin Xian was puzzled. First, it was unlikely that Zheng Cheng He could have influenced the reopening of such an old case. Clearly, someone powerful had helped. Secondly, the decision to execute all the male members of the family seemed extreme, even for a severe crime, hinting at powerful forces at y.
¡°Officer Liu,¡± Lin Xian shared his thoughts, ¡°I¡¯m not questioning whether those men deserved their fate. I¡¯m just curious, from a legal standpoint¡ Is it normal for a decade-old case to be reopened, and all the male culprits given the death sentence?¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to say, Lin Xian,¡± Officer Liu replied, taking another sip of tea. ¡°We only see the oue. Without essing the full records, it¡¯s difficult to know all the details. However, these men might havemitted other crimes since then, which could have contributed to their sentences. With the government¡¯s strict policies against organized crime, it¡¯s not too surprising.¡±
Thinking over Officer Liu¡¯s words, Lin Xian closed his eyes. The principle of innocent until proven guilty was his biggest hurdle now. Under Long Country¡¯sws, without sufficient evidence of guilt, the used is presumed innocent. Lin Xian knew Zheng Cheng He was used by Ji Xin Shui, probably to cover Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s medical costs. Zheng Cheng He was definitely Ji Xin Shui¡¯s tool, but without solid proof, they couldn¡¯t convict him.
¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯ve got a problem,¡± Chu Shan He entered the room, greeted Officer Liu, and then turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Since we arrested Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shuist night, it¡¯s been ten hours. They¡¯re not cooperating, denying all charges, and refusing to talk.¡±
¡°Thatplicates things. Without enough evidence, we can only hold them for 24 hours before we have to let them go,¡± Chu Shan He added. ¡°Plus, Ji Xin Shui has powerful backers, putting a lot of pressure on the Donghai police. If we don¡¯t get evidence or a confession in the next 14 hours, we¡¯ll have to release them.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. This was his predicament. Ten hours earlier, at 00:42, not everything had gone as nned. He had ced a bomb under a manhole cover as ast resort to save himself, intending to show the taxi driver¡¯s intent to kill. But the n backfired when Zheng Cheng He recognized him and braked suddenly, leaving skid marks. This indicated an attempt to avoid hitting Lin Xian,plicating the proof of attempted murder.
Moreover, Ji Lin did something unexpected. He didn¡¯t push Lin Xian into the street as intended, which would have clearly demonstrated attempted murder. Ji Lin¡¯s hesitation made it difficult to prove his guilt with the existing evidence. Despite his suspicions about their motives, thew required clear evidence for a conviction.
Could he just let Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui go? Lin Xian couldn¡¯t ept that. If released, they would pose a threat to his safety. They wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. Knowing his secrets, they would surely try another method to eliminate him. Lin Xian knew he couldn¡¯t let them go.
He needed a strategy to secure their conviction. Lin Xian picked up a pen and twirled it between his fingers, lost in thought. Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui hadmitted enough crimes to warrant multiple death sentences. The murders of Professor Xu Yun, Tang Xin, and Academician Leon, particrly high-profile figures like Xu Yun and Leon, justified execution in any jurisdiction. But without evidence and their confessions, a conviction was impossible.
In thew, confessions alone are not direct evidence. However, if the suspect admits to the crime, it bes part of the evidential chain. Thus, the best strategy was to get Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui to confess.
¡°Is there a good way to make that happen?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s pen spun faster as he went over all the clues and knowledge he gathered thus far:
On that rainy night, Yellow Finch lounged on the sofa and told him, ¡°This invitation is fake.¡±
In the dream world, Big Cat Face was smoking a cigarette in the van, ¡°I need to try¡ to get a Genius Club invitation.¡±
Ji Lin leaning against a door at the vi, ¡°Lin Xian, have you heard of the Genius Club?¡±
Lin Xian furrowed his brow at thest thought.
Ji Lin had mentioned two groups involved in the 00:42 incident: Group A, the Genius Club, and Group B, Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui¡¯s team, who were imitating Group A to prove something to the Genius Club.
What were they trying to prove?
Ji Xin Shui, already at the pinnacle of sess, still sought something¡ªsomething beyond power, money, or status. It had to be something more potent, more mysterious, something that could manipte human fate.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°Perhaps, Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui both aspired to join the Genius Club. It¡¯s worth the risk,¡± he decided, stopping the pen and clenching his fist.
Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui were aware of the Genius Club, and Lin Xian¡¯s intelligence might match theirs. With only 14 hours left before they had to be released, he had to make them confess. He decided to take the risk.
¡°I need to step out,¡± Lin Xian stated, standing and heading for the door. He turned back to Officer Liu. ¡°Please keep an eye on Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin. Don¡¯t let them interact¡ until I return.¡±
Chapter 207: Your Invitation
¡°Lin Xian? Where are you going?¡±
Chu Shan He¡¯s voice echoed through the tense atmosphere of the Donghai Police Department, his eyes wide with concern as he watched Lin Xian stand up to leave.
At such a critical moment, where could Lin Xian possibly be heading?
Just a few days earlier, Lin Xian had discreetly requested Chu Shan He to mobilize national forces from beyond Donghai City for an ambush. Lin Xian¡¯s mistrust of the local police was the primary reason for this.
Initially, Chu Shan He hadn¡¯t understood Lin Xian¡¯s intentions. But once Lin Xian revealed that the primary suspects were Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui, Chu Shan He immediately got it.
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s high status and international reputation, coupled with Ji Lin¡¯s favored guest status with the Donghai police due to his assistance in solving numerous cases, made it clear. If the local police were involved, Ji Lin would likely uncover Lin Xian¡¯s ns.
Ten hours ago, in the early morning, the capture operation had taken ce sessfully. Chu Shan He had used his personal connections to enlist the help of a significant figure from the capital, who took the series of murders targeting scientists very seriously. This person¡¯s subordinates fully cooperated with the operation. Everything went smoothly.
Unfortunately, obtaining evidence of motive and proof of murder proved problematic. Due to Ji Lin¡¯sst-minute hesitation and the skid marks left by a taxi driver, the final result of the capture operation became unclear.Chu Shan He wasn¡¯t worried about losing face or looking foolish. He was furious at the killers of Professor Xu Yun and wanted nothing more than to see them dead. If they escaped, he would feel he had let down Xu Yun and the other great scientists who had died.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Chu. I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Lin Xian said, pausing at the door and looking back at Chu Shan He.
¡°I have an idea to make them talk. Please continue to monitor Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui. Don¡¯t let them meet. We¡¯ll take action once I return.¡±
Leaving the Donghai Police Department, Lin Xian took a taxi directly to MX Company. At the front desk, he inquired and found out that Zhao Ying Jun was out attending a meeting. The office was empty, saving him a lot of trouble. He took the elevator and pressed the button for the 22nd floor.
Ding¡ª
When the elevator doors opened, he headed straight to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office door with the keypad lock. He entered the code and sessfully got in¡ªonly the two of them knew the password to this office.
¡°Phew¡¡±
Lin Xian closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office was just as it had always been, unchanged. A fineyer of dust had started to settle on the sofa and coffee table due to theck of recent cleaning.
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t trust anyone else, not even the cleaning staff, and didn¡¯t allow anyone to enter her office without permission. So, this spacious office had to be cleaned by herself whenever she had the time.
As for Yellow Finch¡ You use this ce like an ATM,ing and going as you please, couldn¡¯t you at least clean up a bit while you¡¯re at it?
Lin Xian went to the filing cab in the corner. Zhao Ying Jun was terrible at organizing documents. If Lin Xian didn¡¯t help her tidy up, she would stack all her documents on the table until there was no more space.
And that¡¯s why Lin Xian had hidden the fake Genius Club invitation here before heading to the Donghai Police Department to confront Ji Lin. He was d he hadn¡¯t thrown away or destroyed the fake invitation, despite his hesitation.
Creak¡
He opened the filing cab, took out the bottomyer of the file box, and opened it. Insidey a dark red card, exactly as he had left it. Lin Xian took out the folded invitation, flipped it over, and saw five gilded characters on the back: ¡°Genius Club.¡±
In one corner of the file box, there was also a wax seal, embossed with the Genius Club logo¡ªa right hand pointing straight up to the sky. This invitation was forged by Yellow Finch,pletely fake, even absurdly so. The QR code inside led to a live stream of an Apple event.
But the wax seal was real. As long as the invitation wasn¡¯t opened to read the contents, it looked convincingly authentic.
Given the current situation¡ Lin Xian smiled slightly, took out a lighter, and softened the wax seal¡¯s adhesive, making it sticky again. He then pressed it tightly onto the fold of the invitation, resealing it.
¡°Perfect.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the now ¡°originally sealed¡± invitation with satisfaction.
¡°There¡¯s a line in the movie ¡®Project Gutenberg¡¯¡ sometimes, a fake is more useful than the real thing. Moreover, since no one has seen the real invitation, this fake one is real enough.¡±
Lin Xian ced the invitation in a file folder and took a taxi back to the Donghai Police Department, joining Chu Shan He and the others in the interrogation monitoring room. The monitoring room had screens showing the status of each interrogation room. Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui were in separate interrogation rooms. Both were seated in iron chairs. Their hands and feet were shackled to prevent any aggressive behavior.
¡°They still aren¡¯t talking?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Chu Shan He shook his head. ¡°Not only are they not talking, but they¡¯re also being very arrogant.¡± He pointed to the surveince footage of Ji Xin Shui. ¡°This old man isn¡¯t worried at all. He¡¯s even confidently saying he¡¯ll be out soon.¡±
¡°What about Ji Lin?¡±
¡°The same,¡± Chu Shan He said. ¡°Ji Lin is willing tomunicate but denies all the crimes we¡¯ve used him of. He¡¯s smart enough to know we can only hold them for 24 hours without solid evidence. So, if we can¡¯t find evidence linking them to the murders, or get them to confess, they¡¯ll walk out of here triumphantly.¡±
¡°They won¡¯t. I have a n,¡± Lin Xian shook his head, looking at Chu Shan He and Officer Liu in the monitoring room. ¡°But I¡¯ll need everyone¡¯s cooperation.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Officer Liu spoke up first. ¡°Lin Xian, after everything you¡¯ve done, the entire department trusts youpletely. As long as it doesn¡¯t break any rules or regtions, we¡¯ll follow your lead. Even if it means bending the rules a little, we can discuss it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already talked to Shan He. If they are indeed the killers of Xu Yun and Tang Xin, we must bring them to justice, no matter the cost! Thew may be lenient, but it¡¯s not blind. I don¡¯t care how the people of Donghai view us flipping back and forth. Our duty is to find the real culprits and bring them to justice! Lin Xian, whatever your n is, just tell us. I¡¯ll take full responsibility!¡±
Lin Xian nodded and briefed everyone on his n. He didn¡¯t mention the Genius Club or any specifics, only that: ¡°When I go in to talk to them, please turn off all recording and monitoring devices. Traditional interrogation isn¡¯t getting us anywhere. I need to gain their trust. They¡¯re both smart, so we can¡¯t use any tricks. Make sure all the recording and monitoring devices are genuinely off. Just trust me. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±
After exining to everyone, Lin Xian looked at the surveince footage of Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui. Which one to approach first? After some thought, Lin Xian decided to target the elderly Ji Xin Shui. Lin Xian believed that since he didn¡¯t know Ji Xin Shui well, and vice versa, this unfamiliarity would make it easier to deceive him.
In contrast, he and Ji Lin knew each other too well. They were too familiar with each other¡¯s thought processes, speech habits, and behaviors. It¡¯s hard to deceive someone who knows you so well. Lin Xian didn¡¯t have the confidence to fool Ji Lin, whose intelligence he had to admit was formidable.
Also, there was another reason to choose Ji Xin Shui. In order to catch the thieves, you must first capture their leader. Ji Xin Shui was likely the boss or a key figure in their group, possessing the most information. If Lin Xian could trick Ji Xin Shui, it would be equivalent to uprooting their entire gang and catching them all.
¡°I¡¯ll go see Ji Xin Shui first. Watch for my signal to turn off all monitoring,¡± Lin Xian instructed Officer Liu and the staff, then took the file folder and headed to Ji Xin Shui¡¯s interrogation room.
Since his arrestst night, Ji Xin Shui had been here the entire time. This might be his only chance.
Creak.
Lin Xian pushed open the heavy door of the interrogation room and walked in, facing the elderly man sitting in the iron chair. This was his first time meeting Ji Xin Shui in real life. A fateful encounter, and it happened in such a ce.
Ji Xin Shui looked even older than Lin Xian had imagined. The photos in the news must have been taken years ago. The old man had very few strands of white hair left, his scalp shiny, wrinkled like a worn cloth. He was incredibly old. Judging by his age, he must be over eighty, but his physical and skin condition made him look even older.
But his spirit was strong. Even shackled in the chair, his expression remained confident, disdainful, rxed, and¡ arrogant. As if it was Lin Xian who was shackled, not him.
¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a surprise,¡± Ji Xin Shui sneered as Lin Xian entered. ¡°You¡¯re a tough one to kill, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Bang. Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond, his expression unchanged as he gently closed the door, silently taking a seat opposite Ji Xin Shui. Ji Xin Shui straightened his back, leaning back, looking down on Lin Xian with a scornful gaze.
¡°Give it up. I¡¯m not saying anything. It doesn¡¯t matter who you send.¡±
Snap.
Lin Xian snapped his fingers. Thud, a dull sound. The one-way ss darkened, turning into a ck screen. The corner cameras¡¯ power indicators went out, retracting. The recording systems¡¯ indicator lights on the table and walls also went dark, signaling the end of recording.
Ji Xin Shui looked around, frowning in surprise. He didn¡¯t understand what was happening. Lin Xian was just an ordinary employee; he shouldn¡¯t have the authority to turn off all the surveince equipment. Besides, he wasn¡¯t a police officer and had no right to interrogate.
¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Ji Xin Shui looked at Lin Xian warily. Would the Donghai police dare to resort to violence in this closed room?
¡°No need to be nervous,¡± Lin Xian finally spoke. He unwrapped the seal on the file folder as he spoke. ¡°All monitoring devices are off. Our conversation stays between us.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Ji Xin Shui snorted. ¡°What do you want?¡±
¡°I¡¯m here to deliver something,¡± Lin Xian said, unwrapping the seal. Then, in Ji Xin Shui¡¯s astonished gaze, he pulled out the dark red invitation! The wax seal faced up, and the words ¡°Genius Club¡± glinted arrogantly under the fluorescent light. Lin Xian pressed the invitation with two fingers, slowly sliding it toward Ji Xin Shui.
¡°Congrattions, Ji Xin Shui,¡± Lin Xian said, looking up and smiling at Ji Xin Shui¡¯s shocked eyes. ¡°This is your¡ invitation!¡±
Chapter 208: Copernicus
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s eyes flew wide open as he gasped for breath. He stared in disbelief at the dark red invitation card on the table before him. The deep red cardstock, the seal stamped with a carved emblem¡ªthere was no mistaking it. This was definitely an invitation from the Genius Club!
In his whole life, Ji Xin Shui had seen such an invitation just once before. Yet, that brief glimpse had left an indelible mark, the image of the club¡¯s emblem etched vividly in his mind. The emblem¡ªa right hand with its index finger pointing skyward¡ªhad struck him profoundly, symbolizing the club¡¯s immense and mysterious power.
This emblem was Ji Xin Shui¡¯s most guarded secret. He had never shared it with anyone, not even his close friend Ji Lin, who had once managed to wheedle the club¡¯s name out of him. He dared not even sketch it, choosing instead to bury it deep within his heart, where it haunted his dreams every night. It was his constant yearning.
And now, unexpectedly, right here in this ordinary ce, he was seeing that emblem again!
He was looking at the very card he had dreamed of¡ªthe Genius Club invitation!
Seeing this invitation for the second time confirmed its authenticity. This was no illusion¡ªthis was a real, tangible invitation!
Ji Xin Shui looked up, his eyes shaking with excitement. He stammered to Lin Xian, ¡°Is it¡ was it Copernicus who sent you? Yes, it must be! I¡¯ve done it! I¡¯m worthy!¡±
¡°Copernicus?¡± Lin Xian repeated, his smile hiding his confusion. He knew Copernicus, the Renaissance astronomer who proposed the heliocentric theory. But why would Ji Xin Shui bring him up now?Before Lin Xian could ponder further, Ji Xin Shui¡¯s excitement grew. He had jumped to his own conclusions about the invitation, his mind racing with possibilities.
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s reaction to the invitation, his uncontrolled excitement, confirmed that the fake invitation crafted by Yellow Finch had deceived him. Yellow Finch, a real member of the Genius Club, had the means to create a wless forgery. As long as Ji Xin Shui didn¡¯t scrutinize the invitation¡¯s contents too closely, he would be none the wiser.
Lin Xian¡¯s smile widened, knowing it was time to move to the next phase of the n.
While Lin Xian was momentarily distracted by his thoughts, Ji Xin Shui was engrossed in examining the invitation¡¯s seal and the embossed English letters. His emotions swirled across his face until he settled on a tearful realization.
¡°I understand now¡ this is a test! An examination!¡± he eximed, his voice filled with awe as he looked at Lin Xian with newfound respect. ¡°You are the final test! And you are the examiner!¡±
Everything clicked for Ji Xin Shui in that moment.
The Genius Club had been his lifelong obsession, his dream since he first heard of Copernicus. Now, that dream seemed to be culminating right before his eyes. The person delivering this unexpected invitation was shaping up to be an incredible disruptor of history.
This was all a meticulously designed test to see if he could identify the person altering the course of history and gather sufficient evidence. The examiner, a member of the Genius Club himself, was right there, integrating into the scenario to precisely assess every move.
What a brilliant method of examination! No wonder this young man could predict the future, see through their schemes, and even get the police to cooperate effortlessly. He wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was a member of the Genius Club, an entity seemingly capable of anything!
Understanding dawned on Ji Xin Shui. Manipting a small police station in Donghai was mere child¡¯s y for those who could alter time and fate itself!
As Lin Xian remained silent, only offering a mysterious smile, Ji Xin Shui nervously began to introduce himself, ¡°You¡ªyou must be a member of the Genius Club too, right? Copernicus is my sponsor¡ Ah, sorry, I¡¯m just really excited. You probably already know all this.¡±
¡°Thank you for bringing me the invitation¡ I never expected to receive it here, but now I understand everything is a test by the club! I can finally join Copernicus and you in the Genius Club!¡±
Realizing his words were jumbled, Ji Xin Shui apologized, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a bit scattered.¡± His excitement had made him lose hisposure.
He took several deep breaths, managing to still his trembling body, though his voice still quivered as he looked at Lin Xian: ¡°May I ask¡ how should I address you?¡±
He was eager to know the name of the person who might lead him into this secretive organization.
Lin Xian observed the older man before him, sensing the internal debates and conclusions Ji Xin Shui had reached¡ªnamely, casting him in the role of a Genius Club examiner.
Now, how to respond to the question about his title? Lin Xian considered carefully. Any slip-up could give him away. He understood that Ji Xin Shui was not asking for his name, which he already knew, but rather for a title or codename, like ¡®Copernicus¡¯¡ªlikely a special designation within the Genius Club.
What should his title be? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. It was risky to invent something on the spot. He didn¡¯t know how much Ji Xin Shui knew about the club¡¯s members and their titles. Answering carelessly could blow his cover.
¡°These things, you¡¯ll naturally learn once you officially join the Genius Club,¡± Lin Xian replied, keeping his smile steady and confident as he skillfully dodged the question.
At that moment, Lin Xian was curious to learn more about the Genius Club from Ji Xin Shui, but asking outright was too risky. Since Ji Xin Shui believed he was a member, any ignorant question could expose him.
It was better to stick to the n.
¡°However,¡± Lin Xian said, changing the subject and adding a hint of mystery to his demeanor, ¡°your exam isn¡¯t over yet. The next step is the final test for you to join the Genius Club.¡±
Ji Xin Shui sat up straight, his full attention on Lin Xian.
¡°Ji Xin Shui, do you know why the Genius Club has remained so hidden throughout history, leaving no trace?¡± Lin Xian posed the question solemnly.
¡°I don¡¯t know, please tell me,¡± Ji Xin Shui responded, his voice serious.
¡°That¡¯s because the members of the Genius Club are part of history themselves; they¡¯ve merged with history, detached from the real world. They leave no trace because they operate in the shadows, influencing events from behind the scenes,¡± Lin Xian exined, locking eyes with Ji Xin Shui.
¡°The dead don¡¯t draw attention or leave marks in the world. That¡¯s how they¡ªand the organization¡ªcan remain hidden within the river of history, subtly shaping the future.¡±
The idea of manipting history resonated deeply with Ji Xin Shui. Copernicus had hinted at such concepts, but Ji Xin Shui had struggled to grasp why these future events were already considered history. Now, hearing Lin Xian speak with the same emphasis on history, everything clicked. The future, to them, was already a fixed part of history.
This revtion was thrilling, almost intoxicating. It was the ultimate power and control he had always sought¡ªthe ability to dictate fate and time itself!
Ji Xin Shui didn¡¯t question Lin Xian¡¯s exnation. After all, the Genius Club was supposed to be beyond ordinary, capable of transcending time and fate¡ªexactly what he had suspected all along!
Leaning forward, his eyes filled with anticipation, he asked, ¡°Then please, tell me¡ what should I do?¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile, pleased to see Ji Xin Shui still fully engaged without any doubts. He noticed something intriguing: every time he mentioned ¡°history,¡± Ji Xin Shui¡¯s excitement grew. This was unusual¡ªmost people were more concerned about the future than the past, but he decided not to delve into that now. Since the term ¡°history¡± resonated so strongly with Ji Xin Shui, Lin Xian nned to keep using it to his advantage.
¡°Your final test,¡± Lin Xian began, crafting his words carefully, ¡°is to disappear from reality. You mustpletely erase your existence and be an unknown part of history.¡±
¡°You mean¡¡± Ji Xin Shui¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°I need to ¡®fake my death¡¯? To make my presence vanish from this world?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian confirmed, somewhat surprised at how quickly Ji Xin Shui grasped the concept. Had he prepared mentally for this? Or had hee across simr ideas before? Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be sure, but he knew he had to tread carefully. With the limited information he had, any misstep could unravel his entire n.
In this precarious situation, it was crucial to gauge Ji Xin Shui¡¯s thoughts about ¡®faking his death.¡¯ After all, Lin Xian¡¯s ultimate goal was to coax Ji Xin Shui into revealing his criminal activities and to ensure he embraced his ¡®death¡¯ willingly. If Ji Xin Shui sensed any deception or refused to y along, he could be dangerous.
Meanwhile, Ji Xin Shui¡¯s mind raced. He thought of Copernicus, whom he had always revered almost religiously. Faking death¡ªso that was the key!
Suddenly, everything made sense. The reason he and Ji Lin had never found any trace of the Genius Club was clear¡ªthey had all faked their deaths, detaching from reality and merging into the annals of history.
In the real world, they staged their deaths. Within the Genius Club, they were reborn. Essentially, they continued to live under a new identity.
With newfound rity, Ji Xin Shui steadied his breathing and looked earnestly at Lin Xian. ¡°Then, please tell me¡ what should I do? How do I stage a convincing fake death?¡±
On the surface, Lin Xian appeared calm, but internally, he sighed with relief. Ji Xin Shui¡¯s request confirmed that his ruse was still secure. Now, moving forward should be straightforward.
He chuckled softly, ¡°Ji Xin Shui, your current predicament is an ideal setup for a staged death and subsequent rebirth.¡±
Lifting his gaze, Lin Xian continued, ¡°Our country uses lethal injection for the death penalty. Do you know¡ how many injections are typically used?¡±
Chapter 209: Welcome to the Genius Club
Ji Xin Shui nodded gravely, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
¡°The first injection is an anesthetic¡ªit puts you to sleep. The second is a muscle rxant, which stops your breathing. The third, usually potassium chloride, stops the heart.¡±
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s expression turned to one of shock and confusion.
¡°Are you¡ suggesting that I undergo an execution?¡± he asked, his voiceden with disbelief.
Lin Xian nodded, his face calm andposed.
¡°Yes. Just like today, everything is prearranged. At the time of your supposed execution, we¡¯ll swap the second and third injections with saline. You¡¯ll fall asleep due to the anesthetic, and a prearranged coroner will dere you dead. Afterward, we¡¯ll legally transport your ¡®body¡¯ out.¡±
¡°This way, you¡¯ll be legally dead to the world, but you¡¯ll rise again within the Genius Club, making history.¡±
Ji Xin Shui remained silent, pondering the enormity of the n.Lin Xian wanted Ji Xin Shui to willingly ept the risk of ¡®death¡¯. The bait was an enticing, almost unbelievable invitation to the Genius Club. Lin Xian was betting on Ji Xin Shui¡¯s ambitions and obsessions.
If Ji Xin Shui were pragmatic, he would likely dismiss the n, recognizing the risks and refusing to stake his life on Lin Xian¡¯s scheme. However, if Ji Xin Shui were driven by ambition, obsession, or madness¡ªif he were the type to betray his loved ones, sacrifice his favored student, exploit his subordinates, and trample over others¡¯ lives¡ªthen Lin Xian believed he would ept the offer.
People often say that with enough incentive, even the most cautious might risk everything. Would the allure of the Genius Club be enough for Ji Xin Shui?
Ji Xin Shui hesitated, his face a mask of uncertainty. He murmured softly, ¡°I¡¯ll be cleared of all charges in just over ten hours¡ Maybe then I can arrange a more dignified and respectable way to fake my death.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He didn¡¯t press further, unsure if Ji Xin Shui doubted him or simply valued the dignity of his ¡®death¡¯ more than the n itself. Either way, it was time to leave.
Talking too much could spoil the n.
¡°Ji Xin Shui, this is a test,¡± Lin Xian stated, his fingers brushing against the invitation as he pulled it back towards himself. ¡°You can choose whether or not to participate. But for us, we¡¯re seeking a trustworthy partner.¡±
Lin Xian stood up, collected the invitation, and waved the Genius Club¡¯s emblem before Ji Xin Shui.
¡°Goodbye, Ji Xin Shui.¡±
He returned the invitation to its envelope and walked toward the door of the interrogation room.
¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the Genius Club.¡±
The door of the interrogation room closed with a thud.
Lin Xian exhaled a deep breath of relief.
He had managed to maintain his bluff. The oue of this risky maneuver now hinged on whether Ji Xin Shui could ovee his ambitions.
Walking down the corridor, Lin Xian returned to the interrogation monitoring room. The staff, Chu Shan He, and Officer Liu immediately surrounded him, eager for an update.
¡°How did it go?¡±
¡°Any progress?¡±
¡°Did he change his mind?¡±
Lin Xian smiled and shook his head, gesturing towards the dark monitor screen.
¡°Turn on all the monitors in there. Let¡¯s see what he decides to do next.¡±
The staff quickly activated the cameras in Ji Xin Shui¡¯s room.
Lin Xian leaned forward to watch, observing Ji Xin Shui sitting there, eyes closed, his expression grave and thoughtful.
Ji Xin Shui was in a state of internal conflict. The invitation to the Genius Club was incredibly tempting; the club was so mysterious and prestigious that merely being considered was an honor. The emblem on Lin Xian¡¯s invitation had only added to its allure.
Ji Xin Shui didn¡¯t seem to question the authenticity of the invitation. Maybe he had seen a genuine one before, or he knew what they looked like.
If Lin Xian won this bet, it would be due to sheer luck.
Time passed slowly, marked only by the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Lin Xian remained focused on the monitor, watching Ji Xin Shui still sitting in the metal chair, deep in thought.
What would Ji Xin Shui decide? Would he wait out the ten hours, be released, and miss the chance to join the Genius Club? Or would he ept Lin Xian¡¯s final test, risking his life, reputation, and status to prove his loyalty to the club?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know Ji Xin Shui well enough to predict his choice. What kind of life had he led? What experiences had shaped him? What drove him?
Many people havepelling reasons to fight for something more important than their own lives. Zheng Cheng He fought for his sister with a heart condition, Li Qi Qi wished on a meteor shower for Liu Feng, and Zhou Duan Yun, despite his deceit, sent nightly texts to his mother. CC braved dangers with Lin Xian in New Donghai City, Lei Cheng was a hero for his people, and Big Cat Face sought vengeance for his daughter.
This world is filled with people with reasons to fight, no matter the risk.
Lin Xian reflected on his own life. Did he have something worth risking his life for?
He didn¡¯t yet. But perhaps in the future, he might find that cause.
¡°People change,¡± he recalled telling Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Lin Xian, pursue what you love,mit to it not to prove something to others but because you¡¯re willing to bet your life on it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun had advised him.
Maybe, just maybe, something in the future would be worth that risk.
Suddenly, on the monitor, Ji Xin Shui lifted his head and stared directly into the camera.
Everyone in the monitoring room held their breath.
¡°Send in the interrogation officers,¡± Ji Xin Shui announced, a determined smile on his face.
¡°I have something to say.¡±
At that moment, Ji Xin Shui had made his decision. He had never feared death, not at his age of 86. Especially not since he had already ¡®died¡¯ once at 56, before Copernicus had saved him. Back then, he was just an ordinary researcher at Donghai University, struggling after fleeing abroad during wartime and losing his parents.
At 56, he had been ready to end his life on a rooftop when Copernicus appeared, offering him an invitation to the Genius Club that changed everything. Copernicus helped him achieve great sess and influence, but Ji Xin Shui valued his role as a research institute director the most.
He loved sitting in his office, sipping tea, watching students, and reflecting on the building he almost jumped from. The Ji Xin Shui who had been ready to end his life at 56 had indeed died that day, but the one who aspired to join the Genius Club was born.
When Copernicus asked him to sacrifice Xu Yun, his beloved student, it was painful, but he couldn¡¯t refuse. His life, granted by Copernicus, was devoted to the Genius Club, in hopes of earning his own invitation.
After Xu Yun¡¯s death, he secretly looked out for Xu Yi Yi and arranged for Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s room to be next to hers. Yet he never visited again, aware that the path to the Genius Club required sacrifices.
Now, it was time to let go of everything, vanish from reality, and be a part of history.
This was the final test of the Genius Club.
The 86-year-old Ji Xin Shui would ¡®die¡¯ by lethal injection but be reborn in the Genius Club. He imagined standing beside Copernicus, overlooking the world. He had no fear of death, only the hope of being remembered and honored.
Realizing that letting go of everything for a purer existence in history was key, he felt enlightened. In that moment, he could almost hear Copernicus apuding him.
¡°Wee to the Genius Club!¡±
Chapter 210: Embracing Death
¡°Is this enough for a death sentence now, after all I¡¯ve confessed?¡± Ji Xin Shui asked, smiling calmly as he sat across from the furious officer who was busy taking notes.
They had been in the interrogation room for four long hours, surrounded by cameras and recording devices capturing every moment. Ji Xin Shui knew they were watching, but it didn¡¯t bother him. This was all part of his grand n to fake his death and infiltrate the secretive Genius Club, where he hoped to meet his hero, Copernicus.
¡°You monster!¡± the officer shouted, her voice filled with disgust as she clenched her fists. ¡°If what you¡¯ve said is true, you deserve to be executed many times over!¡±
¡°That would be perfect,¡± Ji Xin Shui said, closing his eyes and imagining his eptance into the prestigious Genius Club.
The other officer struggled to control his anger. He couldn¡¯t stand how these criminals, who had no regard for human life, remained so arrogant even when facing their potential end.
¡°Ji Xin Shui,¡± he continued, his voice tight with frustration, ¡°you¡¯ve imed that your group, the Seven Deadly Sins, which includes you and six others,mitted all these crimes. You¡¯ve spoken for the first five members. What about thest two, Ji Lin and Angelica? We need their confessions as well.¡±
Ji Xin Shui shook his head, his eyes still closed. ¡°Ji Lin and Angelica are my adopted children. They¡¯re innocent. No matter how many times you ask, my answer won¡¯t change.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve confessed enough to be sentenced to death. Let¡¯s move on to the trial and execution,¡± he said, cutting off any further questions.In his mind, Ji Xin Shui saw himself stepping into a new life, free from all earthly ties¡
For the all-powerful Genius Club, swapping the drugs for a lethal injection, forging a death certificate, and sneaking out his ¡°body¡± would be simple tasks. Their influence was far-reaching, beyond ordinary means.
Soon, he would unlock the deep secrets of the world, the mysteries of time and space, and the inner workings of the Genius Club¡
In the Surveince Room
Lin Xian, Chu Shan He, and Officer Liu were listening intently to the interrogation through their headsets. Lin Xian had a notebook in front of him filled with details about the Seven Deadly Sins:
Pride: Ji Xin Shui, arrested, facing the death penalty.
Envy: Zhou Duan Yun, whereabouts unknown, no recent activity.
Wrath: Zheng Cheng He, deceased.
Sloth: Ji Lin, arrested, no conclusive proof.
Greed: Academician Leon, deceased.
Gluttony: Sergeant Sam, deceased.
Lust: Angelica, a famous actress from Hollywood, no criminal record.
Ji Xin Shui had admitted to numerous crimes, from international assassinations to local cases involving people like Xu Yun and Tang Xin, mostly carried out by Sergeant Sam under orders from Ji Xin Shui and Zhou Duan Yun. He saw Zheng Cheng He as a faithful follower but was let down by his failure on an early mission.
¡°He could never really excel,¡± Ji Xin Shui had said dismissively.
The investigation into Zheng Cheng He¡¯s parents¡¯ deaths had confirmed Lin Xian¡¯s suspicions about Ji Xin Shui¡¯s widespread influence. Additionally, Ji Xin Shui¡¯s foundation had paid for medical expenses for Zheng Cheng He¡¯s sister, Zheng Xiang Yue.
For Zheng Cheng He, his sister was everything, which made him indebted to Ji Xin Shui. However, it seemed he had underestimated his own sense of right and wrong.
Good actions lead to more good; evil leads to more evil. Zheng Cheng He often talked about kindness to his sister, perhaps cleansing his own soul, darkened by rage and despair, through acts of goodness shown by people like Xu Yun and Lin Xian¡
Even Lin Xian was puzzled by Zheng Cheng He¡¯sst action¡ªswerving at thest second, possibly spurred by Ji Lin¡¯s voice or his own conscience, avoiding harming the person he was supposed to kill: himself.
The reasons behind it remained unclear.
With Ji Xin Shui¡¯s trial almost set, Lin Xian directed Officer Liu and Chu Shan He to keep Ji Xin Shui isted to prevent any outsidemunication that might disrupt their case.
Now, they faced two main issues.
Lin Xian focused on the name Ji Lin on his list.
Ji Lin had been careful, leaving no trace behind. Even Lin Xian¡¯s attempts to trap him had failed. Despite Ji Xin Shui¡¯s incriminating confessions, he continued to defend Ji Lin and Angelica¡¯s innocence.
Soon, Ji Lin¡¯s 24-hour detention would end. Without solid evidence, they would have to let him go.
Was Ji Lin really innocent, or had he just managed to avoid detection? Lin Xian had doubts but no proof to connect him to the deaths of Xu Yun and Tang Xin.
That was the main problem. The second involved Zhou Duan Yun.
Lin Xian circled Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s name with a red pen.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun,¡± he murmured, his thoughts racing.
Unlike Ji Lin, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s crimes were clear, backed by Ji Xin Shui¡¯s confessions and Lin Xian¡¯s own observations of his role in Tang Xin¡¯s murder. This needed to be resolved.
Moreover, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s freedom was a direct threat to Lin Xian¡¯s safety, particrly with Liu Fenging to Donghai soon to coborate on their projects about universal constants and the Genius Club. It was crucial to remove Zhou Duan Yun to ensure Lin Xian¡¯s safety and maintain focus on gaining power.
The inner workings of the Genius Club also required attention, but with Yellow Finch involved and no immediate threats, Lin Xian believed there were still secrets to uncover¡ªmatters forter.
For now, the priorities were clear: resolve the situations with Ji Lin and Zhou Duan Yun.
Lin Xian took off his headset, his eyes fixed on the monitor showing Ji Lin sitting calmly in the interrogation room. The clock showed: May 4, 10:30 PM.
Only three hours left until Ji Lin could be released.
They needed a n.
Ji Lin was proving to be more challenging than Ji Xin Shui, whose pride had led to his capture. Theologically speaking, pride is the deadliest sin, and Ji Xin Shui embodied itpletely.
An approach that yed on Ji Xin Shui¡¯s ego wouldn¡¯t work on Ji Lin, who was too practical for such mistakes. Simrly, Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s motivations¡ªmoney, fame, status¡ªkept him grounded in reality.
Only someone as disillusioned as Ji Xin Shui, obsessed with the elusive promises of the Genius Club, could fall for such a scheme.
So, what to do about Ji Lin?
After a moment, Lin Xian turned to Officer Liu.
¡°When we release Ji Xin Shui¡¯s confession tomorrow, can we leave out Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s name?¡± he asked strategically.
Officer Liu was surprised. ¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian, are you sure? Zhou Duan Yun has done terrible things. I was nning to dere him a global fugitive. Erasing his record doesn¡¯t seem right.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head calmly. ¡°Just temporarily. I have a n that might lure him out.¡±
He gave a knowing smile. ¡°I won¡¯t lie; Zhou Duan Yun and I went to high school together. I know him well. I need your cooperation.¡±
Officer Liu and Chu Shan He looked at each other, their experience with Lin Xian¡¯s clever strategies giving them some reassurance.
¡°No problem, Lin Xian,¡± Officer Liu agreed confidently. ¡°I trust you. Go ahead with your n, and I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±
Midnight
Ji Lin sat in the interrogation room, watching the minutes tick by. He knew his release was close as the door creaked open and Lin Xian walked in.
Their eyes met in a silent understanding, reminiscent of the night of the explosion that had first linked their fates, aware of each other¡¯s thoughts but divided by a vast gap.
Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat opposite Ji Lin. ¡°Ji Xin Shui has confessed to everything,¡± he said simply.
Ji Linughed, shaking his head. ¡°Impossible.¡±
Lin Xian showed him a video and notes on a tablet. The footage showed Ji Xin Shui cheerfully describing a crime in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Ji Lin¡¯s face changed as he watched; he knew Ji Xin Shui too well. Admitting to these crimes meant epting a death sentence¡ªsomething out of character for him.
¡°But he insisted you and Angelica are innocent,¡± Lin Xian said as he put away his tablet. ¡°It¡¯s strange, considering how harsh he is with his own followers¡ I mean, his family¡ yet he protects his adopted kids in the end.¡±
¡°Hard to believe,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°They say even a tiger doesn¡¯t eat its young.¡±
Ji Lin shrugged. ¡°Because we are innocent.¡±
He nced around the small, padded room. ¡°Lin Xian, is this really your idea of a birthday gift? Honestly, this is more surprising than the Gothic Rhine Cat.¡±
With a snap of his fingers, Lin Xian activated a switch.
Thud. The one-way ss turned opaque and all electronic devices in the room powered down, ensuring their conversation remained private.
Ji Lin looked at the now inactive cameras, his expression puzzled.
Lin Xian took out a brown envelope, untied the white string around it, and extracted a folded piece of white drawing paper. He spread it out in front of Ji Lin.
¡°This is your real birthday gift, from me and Chu An Qing,¡± Lin Xian announced as he unfolded the paper.
Ji Lin gasped at the beautifully detailed pencil sketch. The clean paper featured delicate lines depicting three young people in harmony. Lin Xian and Ji Lin were standing behind a jubnt Chu An Qing, who was yfully jumping and shing a cute peace sign.
¡°Since we¡¯re friends, let¡¯s make a pact to exchange gifts on every birthday, ensuring at least two gifts every year!¡± Lin Xian suggested enthusiastically. ¡°Good friends should celebrate every birthday together until thest!¡±
¡°Ji Lin, just wait and see. Lin Xian and I will make up for all the birthdays you missed with a great gift!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s cheerful voice seemed to echo in Ji Lin¡¯s memory, filling the room withughter.
¡°Chu An Qing wanted to color it with watercolors, but we ran out of time. So, we decided on another gift instead,¡± Lin Xian said gently.
He leaned back, his gaze softening as he looked at Ji Lin. ¡°I¡¯m not here to y on your emotions. I just thought that after today, we might not see each other again. But since the drawing is finished¡ it¡¯s still yours.¡±
Checking his watch, Lin Xian noted, ¡°There are just a few minutes left until your 24-hour detention ends. All surveince is off, and I¡¯m not a professional interrogator. My information isn¡¯t legally binding.¡±
¡°I just want to ask you one question,¡± he said, his eyes intense. ¡°Did you have any part in the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin?¡±
Silence hung in the air.
Ji Lin shook his head. ¡°No.¡±
Lin Xian continued to stare, his expression unreadable.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly as they sat in silence.
Ji Lin¡¯s eyes were fixed on the sketch, while Lin Xian¡¯s gaze remained locked on Ji Lin.
Beep.
Lin Xian¡¯s digital watch beeped.
He checked the time: 00:42.
With a rustle, he pulled a set of keys from his pocket and tossed them onto the sketch.
¡°You¡¯re free to go,¡± he announced as the keys clinked against the paper¡ªthe keys to Ji Lin¡¯s handcuffs and shackles.
Lin Xian stood up and moved towards the door.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Ji Lin called out after him.
Lin Xian paused, his hand on the doorknob, but he didn¡¯t turn around.
¡°Are we friends?¡± Ji Lin asked quietly from behind.
Lin Xian contemted the doorknob.
¡°What makes someone a friend?¡± he mused aloud.
Ji Lin smiled faintly. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly. It seems simple, yetplicated. Like I saidst night¡ if the thought of them dying makes you sad, they¡¯re probably your friend.¡±
¡°I see friendship differently,¡± Lin Xian finally turned to face him. ¡°To me, true friends don¡¯t lie to each other,¡± he dered, looking into Ji Lin¡¯s eyes again.
¡°Tell me, Ji Lin, were you involved in the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin?¡±
He repeated the question, uncertain whether he hoped for a denial or a shocking confession.
Yet faced with the question a second time, Ji Lin remained silent.
They stared at each other for over a minute, time standing still, no words spoken.
Lin Xian sighed.
This silence was almost an admission.
He couldn¡¯t describe his feelings, but this was the answer he was looking for, confirming his suspicions hadn¡¯t been misced.
At least this time, Ji Lin hadn¡¯t lied to him.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Ji Lin chuckled, breaking the silence. ¡°If I were to die one day, would you be sad?¡±
He repeated the question, adding depth to their conversation.
Lin Xian turned, opened the door, and walked out.
Bang.
The heavy door closed behind him, leaving Ji Lin alone in the dimly lit interrogation room. Lin Xian walked down the brightly lit hallway to the surveince room, his mind already shifting gears.
¡°Let¡¯s begin the n,¡± he stated, ready to face the next challenge.
Chapter 211: A Hug
Click. Click.
The police officers secured Ji Lin¡¯s wrists and ankles with electronic handcuffs and ankle monitors.
¡°Ji Lin, although you¡¯ve been released without charges, you still need to help us with our investigation during this time,¡± Officer Liu exined, ncing at Ji Lin, now equipped with electronic tracking devices.
¡°You¡¯re free to move around, but only within Donghai City. If you leave this area, these devices will automatically notify us with their built-in GPS. We¡¯ll always know where you are,¡± Officer Liu added. ¡°Stay within the city limits. We won¡¯t disrupt your life too much, but if you have any information or leads, please contact our team immediately.¡±
Ji Lin stood, stretched, and yawned before walking out. His driver was outside, holding the car door open, and they drove away from the Donghai City Police Station.
The next day, the Donghai City Police Department announced they had solved the 00:42 serial murder case. The mastermind was finally behind bars.
The citizens of Donghai City celebrated, relieved and joyful.
Chu Shan He sat in his living room, reading the Donghai Daily¡¯s morning edition. The front page featured a ck-and-white photo of Ji Xin Shui, outlining his many crimes, including the murders of Xu Yun, Tang Xin, Dr. Ponsmike, and others still unidentified.The newspaper also unveiled Academician Leon¡¯s deceitful involvement. Once a respected inventor, he was now shown to have coborated with Ji Xin Shui in academic fraud, theft, and other serious crimes. Sergeant Sam, the actual murderer, was also implicated.
ording to the police, these three were behind the recent murders of scientists. However, the report only named these individuals.
Chu Shan He reflected on this as he read. The crimes of Ji Lin and Zhou Duan Yun weren¡¯t mentioned. This omission was Lin Xian¡¯s influence. Both he and Officer Liu didn¡¯t understand Lin Xian¡¯s motives but trusted that this clever young man had a n. They waited quietly for Lin Xian to surprise the world again.
¡°Indeed, new talents rise with each generation,¡± Chu Shan He mused with a smile as he turned the newspaper page. ¡°We older folks really should step aside and let the young take the lead¡¡±
The second page featured arge photo of Lin Xian in a sharp suit, praising his ¡°significant achievements.¡± It detailed his coboration with the Donghai City Police Department, from tracing the suspect¡¯s taxi to setting up the ambush that captured Ji Xin Shui. Lin Xian was hailed as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes or even James Bond.
The article concluded with news that Donghai City officials nned to honor Lin Xian with a specialmendation ceremony and organize a city-wide inspirational event.
Chu Shan He nodded in approval. Lin Xian deserved this recognition. Though he had declined such honors before, after this case, he finally epted.
¡°Donghai City needs more role models like you,¡± Chu Shan He had told Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s everyone¡¯s duty to promote positive energy and set good examples for the young.¡±
However, these events would wait until Ji Xin Shui¡¯s case was fully resolved and Lin Xian¡¯s ultimate n was revealed.
Chu Shan He closed the newspaper and set it on the coffee table, leaning back and crossing his arms with a slight frown.
¡°What is Lin Xian¡¯s final n? He¡¯s already let Ji Lin go. Could there be more to it?¡±
In his office on the 20th floor of MX Company, Lin Xian also had a copy of the morning¡¯s Donghai Daily on his desk. He looked at the front-page news and Ji Xin Shui¡¯s photo.
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s execution was inevitable, happening within the next ten to fifteen days. He had not contested the charges or appealed. The report had carefully omitted any mention of Zhou Duan Yun and Zheng Cheng He.
Zheng Cheng He had no criminal record and there was clear evidence he tried to avoid any wrongdoing. Plus, considering his tragic family situation and his sister Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s health, his involvement was not pursued further.
¡°Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished,¡± Lin Xian quietly said to himself, echoing Zheng Cheng He¡¯s words to his sister. ¡°Maybe this is your reward for the good you¡¯ve done.¡±
Lin Xian set down the newspaper, picturing the polite and gentle man he had read about. Despite the ugly scars on his right face, Zheng Cheng He felt more like a dependable, kind older brother than someone to fear.
Lin Xian guessed that Ji Xin Shui had thought Zheng Cheng He, having seen his parents murdered and suffered dog attacks while protecting his sister, would be full of anger and desire for revenge. Ji Xin Shui probably saw him as the perfect ally¡ªa loyal follower who would do anything, even break thew, for his sister.
That¡¯s why Ji Xin Shui named him ¡°Wrath¡± in his group known as the seven deadly sins, representing ruthless violence. It fit, considering Zheng Cheng He¡¯s tough life and struggles.
Anyone would understand his anger if he had sought revenge for his parents. But Ji Xin Shui didn¡¯t ount for human resilience and Zheng Cheng He¡¯s strong conscience.
Instead of bing consumed by anger, Zheng Cheng He turned kind and peaceful, thanks to the kindness he experienced from others. Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s smile, Xu Yun¡¯s caring, and Lin Xian¡¯s birthday gift of the Rhine Cat toy had transformed his heart.
Lin Xian was thankful for this. At least in Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes, her brother remained a hero.
Thinking back to Yellow Finch¡¯s decision to take him to the hospital to meet Zheng Cheng He, Lin Xian wondered about her real motives. Was she trying to show him the identity of the person who tried to kill him? Or was she suggesting that Zheng Cheng He, a man with a conscience, could be his ally in their strategic game?
Lin Xian scratched his head, reflecting, ¡°If I had realized this earlier from my all-knowing viewpoint, winning would have been easier. But you always talk in puzzles. Who could figure that out?¡±
He couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated with Yellow Finch. If she wanted to help, why couldn¡¯t she just be clear?
His phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. The caller ID disyed it was from Donghai City Funeral Home.
Answering the call, Lin Xian learned that he could now pick up Zheng Cheng He¡¯s ashes. The cremation was done, and the remains were ready in a ceremonial urn.
After the call, Lin Xian went downstairs and caught a taxi to the funeral home. This was his third visit there in six months, having said goodbye to many friends and loved ones. He had be familiar with the smoky scent of the ce.
His first visit was for Xu Yun¡¯s memorial. The crying and the scent of the funeral home had made him uneasy. The second time, he was there to collect Tang Xin¡¯s ashes with her family. By then, he could handle his emotions better, even though he was angry.
Now, this third visit felt almost routine. Lin Xian reached the ashes collection area, filled out the paperwork, and carefully picked up the lightweight urn containing Zheng Cheng He¡¯s ashes.
¡°It¡¯s so light¡¡± Lin Xianmented, surprised by how little it weighedpared to a person¡¯s life. Holding the urn, he remembered Zheng Cheng He¡¯s strong build, meant to protect his sister, and his broad shoulders.
Now, all that remained was a handful of ashes. The weight of life seemed so fleeting.
Lin Xian had intended to bring Zheng Xiang Yue to see her brother onest time, but the doctor had advised against it, saying her heart couldn¡¯t handle the emotional stress.
¡°Just tell her her brother died in a car ident. It¡¯ll be easier for her to handle,¡± the doctor had rmended.
Lin Xian wanted to purchase a burial plot for Zheng Cheng He, but Zheng Xiang Yue wanted to keep the urn in her hospital room. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be so far from my brother,¡± she had sobbed, her tears and resolve deeply affecting Lin Xian.
Eventually, the doctor agreed, stressing the need to keep Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s emotions stable. Lin Xian carried the urn to her hospital room, feeling its weight increase with every step.
In the hospital, Lin Xian pressed the elevator button for the 17th floor. In Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s room, he gently ced the urn on her bed. She said nothing but knelt and hugged it tightly. She didn¡¯t cry. Lin Xian knew that sometimes extreme sadness leaves people unable to cry¡ªit¡¯s a way the body protects itself.
Many thought a girl like Zheng Xiang Yue wouldn¡¯t understand much, but Lin Xian believed she knew everything. Her calmness was her way of sparing others from worry.
Herpliance was her understanding.
Zheng Xiang Yue got off the bed and cleared the nightstand to make room. She tried to lift the urn but couldn¡¯t. It was too heavy for her.
She looked up at Lin Xian, tears in her eyes. ¡°Brother Lin Xian, it¡¯s so heavy¡¡±
Lin Xian moved to help her, but she shook her head, determined. With all her strength, she finally lifted the urn and ced it on the nightstand, arranging it just so.
Turning back, she wiped her tears and managed a weak smile. ¡°Look, I can hold my brother now.¡±
Chapter 212: Complete Victory
Location: Suburban Donghai City, Lakeside Vi
The vi¡¯s living room was a mess, still decorated from the birthday party. Police had scoured the ce for a day but found nothing. It was unnervingly clean, almost too perfect, with no significant clues left behind.
Ji Lin stood quietly, observing the room. The dining table was cluttered with leftover food, a dried-out cream cake, Lin Xian¡¯s half-finished drink, Gao Yang¡¯s wine ss, and some utensils Chu An Qing and her friends had used. The moonlight streaming in gave the scene an eerie resemnce to Da Vinci¡¯s ¡°The Last Supper.¡±
It felt like that birthday party had been theirst supper¡ªhis, Lin Xian¡¯s, and Chu An Qing¡¯s.
Ji Lin walked upstairs, made his way down the hallway, and removed a framed oil painting from the wall. He couldn¡¯t remember which publisher¡¯s boss had gifted it to him, but it was probably by a well-known contemporary artist. It wasn¡¯t particrly valuable, but it held sentimental value as a gift.
He carried the painting downstairs, turned the frame over, and opened the back. He tossed the painting onto the couch and gently took out the sketch Lin Xian had given him. Despite being folded and smudged, it still held its charm.
The sketch vividly portrayed the three friends with such detail that it seemed more real than a photograph, thanks to the brain¡¯s knack for filling in gaps, making it appear even more pleasing than reality itself.
Ji Lin examined the sketch for a while longer before securing it inside the frame and rehanging it on the wall opposite his favorite spot on the wooden floor. The sketch depicted Chu An Qing radiantly smiling with him and Lin Xian standing behind her.¡°Adding watercolors would really bring this to life,¡± he thought, smiling to himself.
He settled into his favorite spot on the floor, leaned on one elbow, and opened hisptop to check the day¡¯s news. The headline story was about Ji Xin Shui¡¯s resolution of the serial murders. Lin Xian had emerged as a hero in Donghai City, while Ji Xin Shui wasbeled a criminal.
As Ji Lin scrolled through more articles, his eyebrows knitted together. There was no mention of Zhou Duan Yun at all. This puzzled him. Lin Xian had shown him Ji Xin Shui¡¯s confession, which explicitly detailed Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s crimes.
¡°Why haven¡¯t the police released this information?¡± Ji Lin pondered, resting his chin on his hand.
He understood why the police might omit details about Zheng Cheng He, who had been involved in the murders for the first time as a recement for Sam the Glutton. Zheng had failed Ji Xin Shui by hesitating during his first task. While many saw Zheng as a brutal tyrant, he had shown weakness when confronted by Lin Xian.
Both Ji Lin and Angelica were clean; Angelica had never participated in any murders, and Ji Lin had been cleared by the police, which meant Ji Xin Shui hadn¡¯t implicated him.
¡°But why did you surrender, Ji Xin Shui?¡± Ji Lin wondered.
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s actions were perplexing, but the mystery surrounding Zhou Duan Yun was even more baffling. Lin Xian would never let Zhou Duan Yun off easily; they were sworn enemies.
In addition, Lin Xian¡¯s sudden public eptance of honors and the uingmendation ceremony were out of character for him.
¡°Could there be another plot brewing?¡± Ji Lin mused, his eyes closed, piecing together the scattered clues.
A high-profile Lin Xian, a twisted ssmate with erased criminal records, Zhou Duan Yun still atrge, and his own release with an electronic ankle monitor¡ªit all pointed to a deeper game.
¡°Ha,¡± Ji Lin chuckled, looking up at the ceiling. ¡°I see it now¡¡±
He sat up and made a phone call.
¡°Lawyer Wang, I need your help with something.¡±
The Next Day, Early Morning
With a packed backpack, Ji Lin left the vi. He didn¡¯t take his usual car or driver but gged down a taxi instead.
¡°Where to, sir?¡± the polite driver asked.
¡°Head to the nature reserve near the university district, to a secluded viplex. Drive slowly; I tend to get carsick.¡±
The taxi navigated the overpass smoothly, with little early morning traffic. Soon, they arrived at the destination. Ji Lin paid and made his way into the viplex, following his map to a particr vi¡ªthe clinic of renowned psychologist Dr. Liu.
The vi, spacious and picturesque, served as Dr. Liu¡¯s office rather than her home. Ji Lin approached the door, which was secured with an outdated electronic lockcking fingerprint technology.
¡°This should be easy,¡± he thought as he unpacked his lock-picking tools and a bottle of silver nitrate solution. He sprayed the solution on the keypad and shone his phone¡¯s shlight over it. The alcohol in the solution evaporated, leaving silver nitrate behind, which reacted with sweat residues to highlight the most frequently used buttons.
The six digits suggested abination, likely Dr. Liu¡¯s grandson¡¯s birthday. Ji Lin remembered the dates and entered the correctbination.
Click. The door opened on his first try.
Inside, Ji Lin turned on the lights and quickly found Dr. Liu¡¯s consulting room. He opened the ss-fronted bookcase and soon located Lin Xian¡¯s brown leather-bound notebook.
Reading it by the moonlight, Ji Lin noted references to dreams, blurred reality, familiar faces, and voices. He hummed softly, closing the notebook.
¡°This doesn¡¯t sound like you, Lin Xian. You wouldn¡¯t seek help just for ordinary dreams.¡±
As long-time adversaries, Ji Lin knew Lin Xian too well. Lin Xian was smart and resourceful, capable of verifying the reality of his dreams through various means.
¡°These dreams must be incredibly realistic, packed with details beyond ordinary recognition.¡±
Ji Xin Shui had imed that Lin Xian disrupted history, evidenced by his ability to predict the future and to know things in advance, such as his presence at Leon¡¯s death site before anyone else.
Consider Professor Xu Yun, whocked a knack for groundbreaking scientific achievements but had made remarkable progress after a brief interaction with Lin Xian. This hinted at Lin Xian¡¯s influence.
Ji Lin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Could Lin Xian actually see the future, travel through time, or bring advanced knowledge back through his dreams?¡±
Recalling their days in the police dormitory, Lin Xian often stayed upte and yawned throughout the day. Despite his exhaustion, he always stayed awake past a certain hour. Could this be rted to his dreams?
At Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party, Lin Xian had awkwardly cut off Gao Yang when he brought up seeing a psychologist, attributing it to work stress and insomnia. Yet, the psychologist¡¯s notes mentioned nothing about work stress.
¡°Lin Xian lied,¡± Ji Lin concluded. ¡°He¡¯s hiding something rted to his dreams, future visions, and disruptions to history.¡±
He left the vi, locking the door behind him. Standing in the moonlight, he intended to burn the notebook with a lighter.
Click. The lighter failed to ignite, but then an icy gun barrel pressed against the back of his head.
¡°Disgusting,¡± Zhou Duan Yun emerged from the shadows, gun in hand, eyes locked on Ji Lin and the notebook. ¡°Trying to be a hero, Ji Lin? Toote.¡±
¡°Toote?¡± Ji Lin smiled. ¡°I think it¡¯s just in time.¡±
Zhou Duan Yun snarled, ¡°You¡¯ve always looked down on me. But now, Ji Lin, you¡¯re alone!¡±
Bang!
A gunshot broke the night¡¯s silence, followed by startled birds. Blood clouded Ji Lin¡¯s vision as he copsed, the notebook with Lin Xian¡¯s name falling before his lifeless eyes. The green light on the electronic anklet turned red.
¡°Serves you right,¡± Zhou Duan Yun sneered, picking up the notebook. ¡°You too, Lin Xian.¡±
He disappeared into the night, but momentster, drones and helicopters filled the sky. Police teams converged from all directions.
¡°Crap!¡± Zhou Duan Yun realized he¡¯d walked into a trap and ran towards the viplex, shooting at approaching officers. He was quickly cornered.
A sniper from a helicopter took the shot, ending Zhou Duan Yun with a precise hit.
As the chaos settled, Lin Xian walked through the scene, picking up the notebook.
¡°Zhou Duan Yun,¡± he murmured, ¡°long time no see.¡±
Chapter 213: Falling Toward VV
Ssh.
Inside the police department¡¯s control room in Donghai City, Lin Xian sat at a desk, flipping through a psychiatrist¡¯s notebook. The words on the pages barely registered in his mind. They seemed irrelevant now. After all, there was nothing significant in them.
During his visit to the psychiatrist with Gao Yang, Lin Xian had been cautious. He had disclosed nothing about his dreams, the Genius Club, or the future world they were entangled with. Now, with Zhou Duan Yun and Ji Lin dead, the entire Seven Deadly Sins group had been dismantled, save for the Hollywood actress Angelica. With the notebook back in his possession, there seemed to be nothing left to concern him.
Yet, despite the resolution of all threats and the wless execution of their n, Lin Xian felt an unsettling unease. Why, when everything had gone ording to n, did he feel this discontent?
He couldn¡¯t understand his own feelings.
Creak¡ª
The door to the control room opened, and Officer Liu entered, his gaze settling on Lin Xian.
¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯ve figured everything out. Zhou Duan Yun returned to the country much earlier than we anticipated. He was clever, using multiple fake identities. He came back under the alias Chen Le, which is why we initially couldn¡¯t track his entry.¡±¡°Your strategy was brilliant, Lin Xian,¡± Officer Liumended with a click of his tongue. ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t see why you insisted on removing Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s criminal records from the reports. But now, I understand¡ªyou were setting a trap, using Ji Lin as bait to draw Zhou out!¡±
¡°With Ji Lin now sentenced to death and the others gone, only Zhou Duan Yun and Ji Xin Shui were left unprosecuted. They both knew too much about each other, always capable of turning the other in. Zhou was in a tight spot, especially with his mother still here. Ji Lin could have used her as leverage once he got out, or perhaps Ji Lin knew something that forced Zhou to act. Either way, Ji Lin was the perfect lure.¡±
¡°Sadly, Ji Lin was a master of surveince himself. To keep off his radar, we couldn¡¯t follow him too closely. We only intervened when his electronic anklet signaled his death. But that was a necessary risk. On the upside, we found plenty of incriminating evidence on Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s phone, implicating both him and Ji Lin.¡±
Officer Liu gave Lin Xian a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re a genius, Lin Xian!¡±
p.
Lin Xian closed the notebook sharply, remaining silent.
Officer Liu¡¯s deductions were partially correct but iplete. The police believed releasing Ji Lin was a ploy to snare Zhou Duan Yun. That wasn¡¯t entirely true. In Lin Xian¡¯s original n, Zhou Duan Yun, Ji Xin Shui, and Ji Lin were all destined to face justice for their crimes, a life for a life.
During an interrogation with Ji Lin, Lin Xian had pressed, ¡°Did you have a hand in killing Xu Yun and Tang Xin?¡± He intentionally avoided mentioning others like Professor Leon or Dr. Ponsmai, or their plot against him.
When Ji Lin fell silent after being questioned a second time, his silence spoke volumes. It was an admission of guilt for the murders of Xu Yun and Tang Xin. From that moment, there was no room for sympathy or forgiveness between them¡ªthey were irreconcbly opposed, one shadowed by guilt, the other driven by justice.
Even so, for a fleeting moment, Lin Xian had hoped Ji Lin was innocent of those usations.
Ultimately, the deaths of Ji Lin and Zhou Duan Yun, though somewhat unforeseen in their timing, aligned with the overarching n. It was only a question of who would fall first, and whether it would be by mutual destruction or legal execution.
However, one question lingered in Lin Xian¡¯s mind: Why had everything unfolded so swiftly and smoothly? Why the rush for Ji Lin and Zhou Duan Yun to conclude their deadly dance? And why had both converged at the psychiatrist¡¯s vi?
Those questions might never be answered, with both men now silenced by death.
Officer Liu observed Lin Xian, lost in thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t seem too thrilled.¡±
Lin Xian looked up, shaking his head slightly. ¡°Maybe¡ I¡¯m just tired.¡±
¡°You really look it,¡± Officer Liu remarked, concerned. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem this way yesterday¡ Maybe the bloodshed got to you? You should head home and rest.¡±
Nodding, Lin Xian picked up the brown notebook and left the police department. Instead of heading home, he caught a taxi to MX Company. The receptionist had messaged him earlier, saying an Americanwyer was looking for him.
An Americanwyer? What for?
Once in his office at MX Company, Lin Xian had the receptionist send thewyer up.
¡°Hello, Mr. Lin Xian.¡±
Thewyer who entered had an unmistakably Chinese appearance, possibly Chinese-American or a Chinese expatriate working in the States. He extended a hand to Lin Xian. ¡°My name is Wang. I operate a privatew firm in America, catering to affluent clients. I¡¯m here today as Mr. Ji Lin¡¯swyer.¡±
¡°For what reason?¡± Lin Xian inquired, his interest minimal. ¡°To sue me?¡±
¡°Oh, no,¡± Lawyer Wang hastened to rify, ¡°You misunderstand. Ji Lin contacted me two days ago to draft a will. He instructed that, should anything happen to him, all his assets would be left to you.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°Ji Lin wants to leave his estate to me?¡± Heughed dismissively. ¡°Why? I have no desire for his money. Are you aware of the crimes hemitted? His legal troubles?¡±
Lawyer Wang offered a patient smile. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, please let me exin. All of Ji Lin¡¯s assets are legally acquired, not tainted by his criminal activities. Even if he were convicted of murder, these assets would still be safeguarded by thew. Most of his holdings are in the United States, and transferring them via a will ispletelywful.¡±
¡°He owned real estate, copyrights, stocks, and film shares¡ªall in America. Handling these assets internationally can beplex, so I urge you toe to America to sort these matters more efficiently.¡±
¡°Regarding his bank deposits, this envelope contains a $12 million check from Citibank and a note from Ji Lin. I advise spending this money in America, as transferring it to China could be overlyplicated¡ª¡±
¡°Stop,¡± Lin Xian interjected, raising a hand. ¡°Lawyer Wang, am I not making myself clear? Do whatever you want with Ji Lin¡¯s assets¡ªdonate them or whatever. I want no part in this.¡±
¡°Mr. Lin Xian,¡± Lawyer Wang persisted calmly, ¡°I understand this is difficult to ept, but Ji Lin considered you a close friend to leave everything to you. It would be respectful to honor hisst wishes.¡±
¡°A friend?¡± Lin Xian reclined in his chair, his smile weary. ¡°Sorry, I never saw Ji Lin as a friend. Not for a single moment.¡±
Stunned by Lin Xian¡¯s response, Lawyer Wang paused before cing a white envelope and his business card on the desk.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, please reconsider. While $12 million might not mean much to you, it was Ji Lin¡¯s final wish. Moreover, the copyrights, dividends, and stocks are worth billions. Here¡¯s my card. When you¡¯re ready, we can discuss this further.¡±
With a polite bow, Lawyer Wang exited the office.
Lin Xian massaged his temples, feeling unusually irritable. He casually tossed thewyer¡¯s card into the trash, then opened the white envelope. The first item he saw was a $12 million check from Citibank. Underneath, a handwritten note caught his eye.
Taking out the note, he recognized Ji Lin¡¯s handwriting: ¡°I owe you a life. Now I¡¯m paying it back.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the note, his fingers whitening with tension. It read like a farewell. Ji Lin knew he was going to die! But how? How had he known it would be Zhou Duan Yun who would kill him and not the other way around?
Re-reading the note, Lin Xian grasped the depth of Ji Lin¡¯s foresight. His hand fell limply onto the desk as he gazed toward the door through which Lawyer Wang had departed.
Perhaps he had been overly confident after tricking Ji Xin Shui. If Officer Liu could partially deduce his n, how could Ji Lin not have seen through it?
A genius like Ji Lin probably understood Lin Xian¡¯s strategy the moment he noticed the absence of Zhou Duan Yun¡¯s name from the police reports. No wonder Zhou had fallen into the trap so readily. Ji Lin had likely orchestrated his own capture!
¡°It appears Ji Lin walked into my trap willingly.¡±
A sense of difort gnawed at Lin Xian. In the police station, he had pondered the smooth execution of their n. Now he understood¡ªJi Lin had beenplicit.
Ji Lin¡¯s note about owing a life likely referenced his own schemes against Lin Xian. ¡°Paying it back¡± meant using his own life to draw out Zhou Duan Yun. It was a calcted risk on Ji Lin¡¯s part, not assured of the oue. Hence, he had prepared a will.
That was typical of Ji Lin, always meticulous, perhaps hoping to deliver Zhou Duan Yun neatly, but instead meeting a chaotic end at Zhou¡¯s hands.
Lin Xian sighed, not out of sympathy for Ji Lin, but for the sheer scale of events that had transpired: the deaths of Xu Yun, Tang Xin, Zheng Cheng He, Ji Lin, Zhou Duan Yun¡ªeach a link in a chain of relentless pursuits and fatal strategies. All the violence had culminated in one final message¡
Turning the note over, Lin Xian read three more words etched in a delicate yet profound script: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡.
At a checkpoint in New Donghai City, next to a garbage truck, Lin Xian skillfully slit the throat of a male inspector. He had be adept at ensuring a fatal strike while controlling the direction of the blood flow, keeping the uniform clean forter use.
Today, though, Lin Xian was exhausted. He hadn¡¯t gone home. After locking his office, he retreated to the lounge and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. In his dream, he moved mechanically, following a predetermined script. He located CC, joined the Face Gang, climbed into the garbage truck, hacked the security door, and ambushed the inspectors. How he had arrived at each step was a blur.
Ssh.
As Lin Xian dropped the inspector¡¯s body to the ground and began removing the uniform, he noticed CC watching him intently.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.
CC¡¯s eyes darted away before she spoke softly, ¡°This afternoon, behind Li Cheng¡¯s house, you told me you weren¡¯t VV.¡±
¡°Of course I¡¯m not,¡± Lin Xian responded. ¡°You said it yourself; I couldn¡¯t be VV.¡±
¡°But¡¡± CC hesitated, then said, looking directly at Lin Xian, ¡°Right now, you really seem like VV.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, tossing aside the knife. He faced CC, acknowledging her observation. ¡°I know what you mean. You think I looked cold-blooded when I killed just now, like VV?¡±
¡°No,¡± CC interrupted, shaking her head. ¡°Not because of that. It¡¯s your expression, your aura¡ It carries the same sadness¡¡±
Lin Xian paused, reflecting on her words. He turned to the window of the garbage truck, catching his reflection¡ªa face both familiar and strange, tinged with sadness.
Chapter 214: The Sorrowful One
May 17, 2023
It was a typical day at Donghai University¡¯s affiliated hospital on the 17th floor of the inpatient department. Zheng Xiang Yue woke up early in her hospital bed. With a sense of duty, she washed up, brushed her teeth, and changed her clothes.
The hospital room was unusually silent.
Usually, her brother would gently wake her up around this time. She¡¯d pretend to be asleep, yfully turning over to stay under the covers a bit longer. Eventually, he¡¯d lift her, ce her on the bathroom stool, and hand her a toothbrush already dabbed with toothpaste. Only then would she begrudgingly open her sleepy eyes and start brushing.
But things were different now¡
Zheng Xiang Yue realized she had suddenly matured. The day her brother left this world was the day her childhood ended.
She found she could wake up on her own, organize her space meticulously, fold her clothes neatly, and even climb on a stool to clean the bathroom mirror until it sparkled.
¡°Brother! Look! I wiped it so clean¡¡±Time and again, Zheng Xiang Yue would turn around, astonished by her own capabilities, only to find no one to share her triumphs with.
Though she was adjusting to life without her brother, part of her still felt his presence, imagining him there like aforting shadow.
But thatfort was a memory now.
¡°Because Xiang Yue has grown up,¡± she whispered to herself as she patted her cheeks in the mirror, setting her expression to one of resolve.
She took a towel, wrung it out, and carefully wiped her brother¡¯s urn, which sat on the bedside table. This ritual had be part of her daily routine, mirroring the care her brother used to give her.
¡°I can¡¯t wait to grow up,¡± she murmured, touching the urn, her gaze deepening with emotion. ¡°In another 20 years¡ I¡¯ll be an adult.¡±
After hanging the towel out to dry on the balcony, Zheng Xiang Yue checked her watch. It was time for the next part of her morning ritual. She picked up the remote and turned on the hospital room¡¯s inte TV, tuning in to a live stream she had long bookmarked.
It was the SpaceX lunar travel press conference.
As thework signal buffered, Zheng Xiang Yue climbed back onto her bed, sitting cross-legged. She hugged her brother¡¯s urn close, positioning it in front of her as if he could watch with her. This was something they had nned to do together.
Except, her brother had never consented to her wish for him to be buried on the moon. And now, that wish would remain unfulfilled.
The TV screen finally loaded, revealing the ongoing press conference. Elon Musk, standing center stage, was already deep into his speech:
¡°People¡¯s longing and enthusiasm for lunar travel clearly exceed that for space travel! As of now¡ all 10 tickets for the lunar travel n have been sold out! Let¡¯s congratte these 10 passengers, who will be the second group of travelers and pioneers in human history tond on the moon!¡±
He then read from a congrattory card:
¡°First, the first lunar traveler! Congrattions to our old friend, who, after participating in SpaceX¡¯s space travel program, has once again be our lunar travel n¡¯s first passenger¡ªLarry Connor!¡±
The audience burst into apuse, celebrating the American real estate tycoon¡¯s uing journey. Meanwhile, Zheng Xiang Yue watched silently, her brother¡¯s urn in herp, feeling a mixture of sorrow and unspoken dreams.
¡.
Donghai City, Zhoupu Prison, Execution Room
Ji Xin Shuiy on the execution bed, bound yet peaceful, with a smile on his face and his eyes gently closed, as though he could already hear the warm apuse of the Genius Club greeting him from beyond.
An incandescentmp flooded the room with intense light, illuminating the scene of what was about to be a world-deceiving faked death¡ªa ceremonious entrance into the ranks of the Genius Club.
¡°Ji Xin Shui,¡± a female police officer called out as she stood beside the execution bed, pen poised over the execution form. ¡°Choose a song. This is yourst right.¡±
In China, it was a tradition born from ancient rites of humanpassion that a death row inmate could pick a song to y as their final background music. This modern adaptation aimed to lessen the emotional burden during the lethal injection process.
Typically, overwhelmed inmates defaulted to the first song on the ylist, a children¡¯s song oddly titled ¡°Don¡¯t Look at Me, I¡¯m Just a Sheep,¡± which had be an eerie staple in execution rooms across the country.
But today was different.
Ji Xin Shui pondered over his choice deeply, treating it as a sacred part of his rebirth into a new world.
¡°Then,¡± he finally said, his voice seasoned with age, ¡°y ¡®Ode to Joy¡¯ for me.¡±
The request caused the two coroners and the officer to exchange surprised looks. This choice was unorthodox, to say the least, but undeniably poignant. Recognizing his right, the officer nodded in agreement, and soon, the rich strains of Beethoven¡¯s symphony filled the room.
¡°Ode to Joy,¡±posed by Beethoven and inspired by Schiller¡¯s poem, was a symbol of a bright, unified future for humanity, echoing through the cold walls of the execution chamber with its noble and exhrating melody.
As the symphony reached its crescendo, Ji Xin Shui closed his eyes tighter, his face etched with a serene, almost reverent expression. The execution staff carefully inserted the IV needle into his vein.
Ji Xin Shui was calm, knowing the secret that others did not. The supposed lethal doses had been covertly reced with saline, part of the borate ruse to fake his death.
The first dose, an anesthetic, began to work, coaxing him toward sleep as the triumphant music swelled around him. He smiled¡ªa smile of someone who knew that when he next opened his eyes, it would be in the illustrious halls of the Genius Club, among legends like Copernicus.
The executioner initiated the sequence.
First dose administered¡
Ji Xin Shui¡¯s devout smile remained.
Second dose¡
His smile persisted.
Third dose¡
His smile still held firm.
After a short pause, a coroner stepped forward to check the vital signs monitor and nodded to confirm thepletion of the procedure.
¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he announced quietly.
The officer, maintaining her professionalposure, handed over the confirmation form to be signed. ¡°These devils who disregard human life truly deserve their fate,¡± she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with a mix of duty and disdain.
The coroner, signing the form, responded with a heavy sigh, ¡°Ah, who wouldn¡¯t agree.¡±
As the symphony of ¡°Ode to Joy¡± dwindled to a soft close, the room was left with the echo of itsst notes, and Ji Xin Shui, still adorned with his peaceful smile, embarked on his journey to the afterlife.
¡.
Brooklyn, USA, Greenwood Cemetery
A tall, striking woman who could be mistaken for an action star from a Hollywood film stood solemnly in front of an upright tombstone. The tombstone was immactely kept, with freshly engraved letters:
Ji Lin
2001¨C2023
Next to it, another tombstoney t on the ground, not yet raised. The engraving on it revealed another name:
Ji Xin Shui
1938¨C2023
With a soft snort, the woman addressed the tombstones, her voice tinged with frustration and sorrow.
¡°I told you both¡ you weren¡¯t cut out for this perilous game of life and death. Couldn¡¯t you have just settled for a normal life? What kept you so busy every day¡¡±
She ran her fingers through her hair, letting it whip around her face in the breeze, her expression a mix of anger and wistfulness.
¡°You had it too easy, too peaceful from the start, and that¡¯s why you took life for granted.¡± Her gaze dropped to Ji Xin Shui¡¯s tombstone: ¡°Old man, today marks your execution, doesn¡¯t it? Soon, I¡¯ll have to travel to China to retrieve your ashes¡ You two really knew how to stir up trouble.¡±
¡°Do you remember the day you found me amidst the war-torn ruins of the Middle East? The sky was aze, bombs had decimated everything. When you lifted me from the debris¡ my family was gone, reduced to nothing amidst the rubble.¡±
¡°The devastation wasplete, bodies charred, unrecognizable. You called me a miracle, asked my name. I told you Angelica. You said it was fitting, like an angel, and then you took me in.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always been thankful¡ I nned to look after you as you aged. But I never imagined it woulde to this. Old man¡ you¡¯ve certainly made my life less burdensome. Just wait, in a few days, I¡¯ll bring you back from China andy you to rest next to Ji Lin.¡±
Angelica sighed deeply, then turned her attention to Ji Lin¡¯s tombstone: ¡°And you, little brother, it seems¡ you found yourself a decent friend?¡±
She let out a small chuckle, her tone lightening slightly as she contemted the kind of person who would befriend someone as introverted as Ji Lin.
¡°Hehe, hard to believe someone would choose to be friends with someone as quiet as you.¡±
With onest look at the graves, Angelica brushed her wind-tossed hair back from her face, slid her hands into her coat pockets, and started walking toward the setting sun, her silhouette casting a long shadow.
¡°But if I get the chance, I¡¯d like to meet him.¡±
¡.
Vroom!
A vibrant red McLaren zoomed around a curve on an overpass just outside the city, its rear tires screeching against the concrete. The tires left bold ck streaks on the pavement and a trail of pungent white smoke in the air as the car elerated away.
¡°Wow, Su Su!¡± The girl in the passenger seat cheered, pping her hands enthusiastically. ¡°That was amazing! Just like in ¡®Initial D¡¯!¡±
¡°Not good enough,¡± Su Su muttered, her brow furrowed as she pushed the car toward the next bend. ¡°He could have hugged the curve tighter¡ I can¡¯t afford to lose to him again.¡±
¡°Ah¡ that guy,¡± her friend said with a nervousugh.
Ever since that race at the Tianma Circuit, Su Su had be obsessed with improving her driving skills, spending every possible moment behind the wheel, determined to outdo her rival just once.
¡°Have you seen the news, Su Su? Your blind date helped the Donghai City police crack a major case! They caught a whole gang of criminals!¡±
¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe it; they¡¯re praising him like he¡¯s the modern-day Sherlock Holmes! And now, the authorities in Donghai are nning to honor him with a special ceremony and even give him an honorary title.¡±
Su Su popped another bubble with her gum and snorted dismissively. ¡°He¡¯s got some skills, I¡¯ll give him that.¡±
¡°Exactly¡ And now he¡¯s all over the radio, local news, and trending videos,¡± her friend added, flicking on the McLaren¡¯s electronic radio to catch thetest updates on this new local hero.
¡.
Donghai City: A Ceremony and a Discovery
As the Donghai City authorities prepared for amendation ceremony at the grand Donghai Hall, the announcement echoed through various media: ¡°XXX will personally award Mr. Lin Xian the title of Brave Young Hero, one of Donghai¡¯s Top Ten Citizens, along with certificates and bonuses¡¡±
Amidst the buzz of celebration, Chu An Qing scrolled through videos on her phone, only to be interrupted as the electric door of her business car slid open, depositing her at thekeside vimunity. Lifting her gaze, she spotted Ji Lin¡¯s vi encircled by police tape, with severalrge trucks and uniformed staff bustling around, evidently seizing assets.
Curiosity piqued, Chu slowly approached the scene.
¡°Hello,¡± she greeted a man d in an enforcement bureau uniform, her voice tinged with concern. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡±
The man turned, recognition lighting his face as he saw Chu An Qing. ¡°Miss Chu, we¡¯re seizing Ji Lin¡¯s assets. He¡¯s been fined and mustpensate for his actions. Since Ji Lin¡¯s cash assets are limited domestically, we¡¯re taking possession of his properties and collectibles.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Chu An Qing responded, her eyes tracking a staff member who emerged from the vi carrying a luxuriously framed picture. Her heart skipped a beat¡ªthe sketch within the frame was unmistakably from the photo taken on her birthday. Confusion clouded her thoughts. Lin Xian had imed he never had time to draw it. Then who did?
¡°Excuse me¡ Could I take that picture?¡± Chu asked, pointing at the frame.
The staff member hesitated. ¡°Miss An Qing, that might be difficult. All these items are scheduled for auction as per regtions. The frame itself is quite valuable¡¡±
¡°Then, may I just have the drawing inside? It¡¯s a personal piece, not a famous work. It wouldn¡¯t fetch much at an auction. It¡¯s just a sketch between friends,¡± An Qing pleaded, indicating the drawing of herself shing a peace sign.
After a moment¡¯s consideration, the staff member agreed, ¡°Alright, the frame is valuable, but the sketch is yours if it holds sentimental value.¡± He carefully removed the drawing and handed it to her.
¡°Thank you!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, clutching the sketch as she walked to her own vi nearby. She spread the drawing on a table, examining it. ¡°This is definitely Lin Xian¡¯s work. No doubt about it.¡±
Inspired, she darted to her room, grabbed her watercolor paints, and began to lovingly apply color to the sketch, guided by the photo on her phone. Soon, a vibrant three-person portraity drying on the paper. Stepping back, she chuckled, ¡°Lin Xian was right¡ sketch plus watercolor is indeed a mixed bag.¡±
Finding a frame upstairs, she mounted the painting and hung it on her bedroom wall. It looked quite impressive from a distance.
Her gaze then drifted to another framed sketch nearby¡ªa birthday gift from Ji Lin. It depicted a girl with her hair tied up, eyes gleaming like crescent moons. An Qing knew Ji Lin had sneakily taken this from Lin Xian. Confirmation hade from Gao Yang, who affirmed no high school ssmate of Lin Xian¡¯s resembled her so closely.
Heart fluttering with a mixture of delight and embarrassment, Chu An Qing wondered about the timing of Lin Xian¡¯s sketch. Had he drawn it after their first meeting at the MX party?
Her thoughts were interrupted as she pondered the recent sketch of Lin Xian, Ji Lin, and herself. Her father had mentioned Lin Xian turning off all surveince during Ji Lin¡¯s interrogation¡ªno one knew what they discussed. But Lin Xian had emerged with a determined look, a sketch in hand, presumably this one.
¡°Did Lin Xian draw this in the moment to sway Ji Lin, or had it been prepared beforehand?¡± Chu An Qing mused, shaking her head. It was a puzzle.
But deep down, she preferred to believe that Lin Xian had nned it all along, a testament to their intertwined fates.
¡.
Shanxi, Suburban Low House
Liu Feng picked up the framed photo from the table. It captured a moment from his graduation day with Li Qi Qi; both were d in their academic regalia, posing in front of the school library. This photo held the memory of theirst day together.
He folded the frame¡¯s stand and carefully ced it in his backpack along with other mementos from the table. Beside him, a suitcase stood ready. He scanned the room¡ªonce filled with life andughter, it nowy bare, holding only the echoes of the past.
¡°I¡¯m leaving, Qi Qi,¡± he murmured, his voice echoing slightly in the empty room. He nced around, each corner a stark reminder of the life they had shared.
With a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out.
Walking down to the street, Liu Feng gged down a taxi. The driver, noticing Liu Feng¡¯s considerable luggage, eagerly popped the trunk and helped him load the heavy suitcase.
¡°Wow, that¡¯s heavy¡ Where to, young man, with all this stuff?¡± the driver asked, mming the trunk shut.
¡°To Donghai,¡± Liu Feng replied.
¡°Donghai, huh? That¡¯s a fun ce. Lots of things to do. Are you heading there alone¡ for a vacation?¡± the driver inquired, looking at Liu Feng through the rearview mirror.
¡°No,¡± Liu Feng shook his head, his gaze fixed outside the window. ¡°I¡¯m going to meet a friend, to do research.¡±
¡°Research?¡± The driver¡¯s interest piqued, and he nced back at Liu Feng. ¡°Oh, I get it! You¡¯re a scientist! What kind of science do you research?¡±
Liu Feng smiled wryly, ¡°I¡¯m not a scientist¡ just a student studying mathematics. I can¡¯t im to be a scientist. And¡ my research hasn¡¯t been sessful. It¡¯s been disproven many times; no significant findings.¡±
The driver paused, his brow furrowing in confusion. ¡°Then why keep researching if you keep getting it wrong? What¡¯s the point of studying something that doesn¡¯t work?¡±
¡°But my friend,¡± Liu Feng began, a thoughtful look crossing his face, ¡°he said that in this world, in the universe, not everything is so absolute. Many things, even if proven wrong a thousand, ten thousand, or a billion times, don¡¯t really matter; it¡¯s about being right just once when it really counts.¡±
¡°Nonsense!¡± The driverughed, dismissive yet curious. ¡°What¡¯s the point of being right only once? What can that one time achieve?¡±
Liu Feng looked up, his eyes reflecting the light of the rising sun.
¡°He said, maybe being right just once could save the entire world. I believe him¡¡±
¡.
In the heart of the capital, a majestic, ssical red building stood prominently. The main gate swung open as two guards snapped to attention, saluting the woman who strode through¡ªYellow Finch. Her piercing blue eyes fixed forward, she walked confidently across a courtyard brimming with flowers and into the opulent inner hall.
Inside, a reception room held several dignified figures, each representing a critical sector of national security and development. Chief Zhang, who led the group, rose with a weing smile and pped his hands.
¡°Wee, Ms. Yellow Finch, we¡¯ve been eagerly anticipating your arrival,¡± he greeted, extending his hand. He gestured to hispanions. ¡°These arerades from various departments¡ªsecurity, defense, aerospace¡ Ms. Yellow Finch, we are all profoundly grateful for the intelligence and information you¡¯ve provided our country.¡±
He continued with enthusiasm, ¡°Based on joint verification by our multiple departments, the confidential information you¡¯ve provided is correct and crucial for our national security and development. So¡ today, we¡¯ve gathered here to meet you, our selfless heroine.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± Yellow Finch replied with a modest smile, her gaze sweeping the room. She acknowledged each official with a polite nod before returning her attention to Chief Zhang. ¡°Chief Zhang, since the information I provided has proven to be correct and valuable¡ has the country considered my request?¡±
Chief Zhang¡¯s expression turned contemtive as he sighed softly. ¡°Ms. Huang, that¡¯s precisely why we invited you here today. We recognize your merits and contributions, but¡ granting ess to our nation¡¯s untested, top-secret space shuttle is, frankly, not allowed in principle.¡±
Listening attentively, Yellow Finch¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as she responded, ¡°Thank you, Chief Zhang.¡±
The room filled with puzzled nces. Why was she thanking him despite the refusal?
¡°In my years of experience, ording to the art of China¡¯snguage,¡± Yellow Finch exined with a twinkle in her eye, ¡°¡®not allowed in principle¡¯ means it¡¯s possible; ¡®allowed in principle¡¯ means it¡¯s truly impossible.¡±
Laughter erupted around the room, even Chief Zhang chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. ¡°Indeed, Ms. Huang, you saw through our intentions. So I¡¯ll be frank. I was hoping to negotiate, perhaps you could provide us with more valuable intelligence.¡±
¡°As for the space shuttle,¡± he added, ¡°as you said, in principle, it¡¯s not allowed, but to some extent, it can be negotiated. After all, test flights are inevitable. A few months earlier orter, as long as the preparations are adequate, what harm is there in adjusting the schedule slightly?¡±
An aerospace department official chimed in, ¡°ording to our ns, the space shuttleparable to the US X-37B¡ªis scheduled for a test flight in December 2023. However, the intelligence Ms. Finch provided is strategically more valuable than this space shuttle in many aspects.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Chief Zhang affirmed, walking towards Yellow Finch with a confident stride. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed it. As long as your n is under the supervision of China¡¯s aerospace agency,unched at the Jiuyuan Satellite Launch Center, and follows the nned route, we see no major issue. We¡¯ve built enough trust.¡±
¡°I just want to confirm¡ after this cooperation, will you continue to provide us with more important intelligence and information?¡± he inquired earnestly.
¡°Of course, Chief Zhang,¡± Yellow Finch nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯m more than willing to offer more intelligence to the country. However, due to certain restrictions, I can¡¯t disclose everything at once. But please trust me, after the space shuttle project, there will be more flexibility. By then, I can share more.¡±
¡°Flexibility?¡± Chief Zhang looked puzzled.
¡°Sorry, I might have used an inurate term,¡± Yellow Finch rified, extending her hand. ¡°What I mean is¡ by then, we can discuss more, broader cooperation.¡±
Smiles and nods filled the room. This meeting was not just to respond to Yellow Finch but to cement a partnership that had proven invaluable over the past six months. Though much of her help was on the surface level, it had significantly influenced national decision-making.
¡°Good, that¡¯s wonderful,¡± Chief Zhang concluded, shaking Yellow Finch¡¯s hand warmly. ¡°Ms. Yellow Finch, thank you for your contribution to the nation. We hope our future journey will be as beautiful as your eyes¡ªtowards the stars and the sea!¡±
¡.
The gentle breeze rustled through the fields, stirring the young, vibrant green sprouts underfoot. Lin Xian walked solemnly, a bouquet of yellow and white chrysanthemums in his hands, heading towards a grave thaty ahead¡ªthe resting ce of Tang Xin. The area around the grave had turned lush with verdant growth, a stark contrast to the somber reason for his visit.
Lin Xian knelt down, carefully cing the chrysanthemums on the grave. Uniquely, they weren¡¯t wrapped in the traditional colored paper; instead, they were encased in a recent edition of the Donghai Daily. The newspaper was open to a headline that detailed the final report on the infamous 00:42 serial murder case, including information about Ji Xin Shui¡¯s trial and execution, as well as the deaths of Ji Lin and Zhou Duan Yun. On the back page was news of Lin Xian¡¯s ownmendation and the uing award ceremony. This was the gift Lin Xian had promised to bring to Tang Xin.
As another breeze swept across the field, the chrysanthemums nestled in the newspaper seemed to nod, as if acknowledging the weight of the stories they were wrapped in.
¡°Tang Xin,¡± Lin Xian murmured, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He paused, unsure of what more to say, his eyes scanning the familiar grave site.
He began to squat down, his hands carefully removing trash and stic bags that had blown onto the grave. ¡°The seven sins have been dealt with. But¡ it seems the real mastermind might still be out there.¡±
¡°What exactly is the Genius Club? Who is Copernicus?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud, recalling Ji Xin Shui¡¯s mania and fervor during the interrogation. ¡°I don¡¯t understand it all, but I know I need to find out.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯re right or wrong, just or evil; but whatever the case¡ I need to see for myself. I need to join them to understand the truth.¡±
After tidying the grave, Lin Xian stood, stretching his limbs as he prepared to leave. ¡°I must be stronger. Only then will I have the strength to confront these powerful adversaries. The world has suffered enough because of the Genius Club.¡±
With a determined gaze, he looked up at the sun. ¡°I¡¯m involved in this now, and I won¡¯t back down. So¡ bring it on!¡±
Turning away from the grave, Lin Xian began his walk back to the road, his footsteps pressing into the greenery. Behind him, the white chrysanthemums swayed in the wind¡ªwaving farewell, or perhaps blessing his resolve.
¡.
Donghai University¡¯s Affiliated Hospital, Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s Room
Zheng Xiang Yue sat cross-legged on her hospital bed, clutching the urn of her brother, Zheng Cheng He, as she watched a live broadcast on TV. Her eyes were fixed on the screen where Elon Musk stood at the center of the stage, his voice booming through the speakers:
¡°The ninth ticket to the moon,¡± he paused dramatically before announcing, ¡°belongs to the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics winner! The great scientist who proposed the famous ¡®Cosmic Audit Hypothesis¡¯¡ªRoger Penrose!¡±
The audience erupted into thunderous apuse. Roger Penrose, a titan in the field of physics, had unexpectedly secured a ticket for the lunar trip.
As apuse thundered from the TV, Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s grip on the urn tightened, her emotions bubbling to the surface. She bit her lip hard to stifle the sobs, but tears began to fall uncontrobly onto the urn.
Lowering her head, she whispered to the urn, her voice choked with emotion, ¡°Brother¡ I really want to go to the moon too¡¡±
She had always dreamed of burying her brother on the moon, joining their parents who were already there. The moon seemed an unreachable 380,000 kilometers away¡ªa distance she could hardly imagine traveling. Yet, the desire to bridge that vast expanse overwhelmed her.
Just then, a nurse burst into the room, breaking her reverie.
¡°Xiang Yue! Time for your regr check-up!¡± the nurse announced, holding a check-up form.
Snapping back to reality, Zheng Xiang Yue quickly wiped away her tears, cleaned the urn with her sleeve, and hopped off the bed. ¡°Oh, oh! Coming!¡± she replied hastily, trying topose herself as she followed the nurse.
As the hospital room door closed behind her with a soft bang, the television continued to re. The smiling ck-and-white photo of Zheng Cheng He on the urn seemed to watch the screen where Elon Musk was gearing up for another announcement.
¡°Next up! Our SpaceXpany¡¯s final lunar traveler!¡± Musk scanned the crowd and the cameras, his voice filled with excitement. ¡°This ticket is different from the others; an anonymous buyer paid the full price of 12 million dors! Then gave this precious opportunity to travel to the moon¡ to a 14-year-old girl!¡±
The audience gasped and then cheered, moved by the generosity of the gesture.
¡°Truly a lucky girl, a romantic gift! As my favorite sci-fi book says¡ at this moment, she surpasses all living girls and dead princesses on Earth!¡±
Elon Musk raised the microphone high, his enthusiasm palpable as he read the final name from the congrattory card.
¡°Let¡¯s congratte her!¡± he eximed. ¡°The 10th traveler to the moon in the SpaceX lunar travel n!¡±
¡°She is the 14-year-old girl from China¡ªZheng Xiang Yue!¡±
¡.
To be continued¡
Chapter 215: The Resignation
In his cluttered office at MX Company, Lin Xian leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen idly between his fingers. His eyes were fixed on the nk sheet of paper lying on the desk, interrupted only by two intriguing names scribbled at the top: Copernicus and Yellow Finch.
These names represented mysterious members of the so-called Genius Club. Copernicus, recalling the renowned 16th-century astronomer, seemed almost too grand. In contrast, Yellow Finch evoked the image of a clever predator, much like a sparrow outsmarting a mantis too focused on its prey.
Lin Xian exhaled softly, closing his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no link between them,¡± he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the pen down. Though he now knew of two members, the information was frustratingly fragmented. It was puzzling¡ªdid these names hold any significance, or were they just randomly chosen aliases?
His mind reyed the events leading to this moment. Ji Xin Shui, before his untimely death, had implicated Copernicus as the mastermind, drawing him into the shadowy world of the Genius Club with promises of membership. This same figure had supposedly orchestrated the plot that led to the targeting of several prominent scientists¡ªand unexpectedly, Lin Xian himself.
¡°Why target me, though?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud. He wasn¡¯t a scientist¡ªhis expertisey in other realms. Yet, ording to a delirious Ji Xin Shui during an interrogation, this was all a ¡°test¡± by the Genius Club, and Lin Xian had knowingly tricked the old man into bing an examiner.
Opening his eyes, Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts raced. Time, history, future implications¡ªhis current work seemed to intersect mysteriously with the club¡¯s interests. Could it be that the Genius Club was more than just a gathering of brilliant minds, but a group deeply involved in shaping or predicting the course of history itself?
These reflections led him to a startling conclusion: the Genius Club wasn¡¯t just a legend; it was a reality, its members possibly wielding significant influence over the fabric of time itself.Determined, Lin Xian resolved to delve deeper. ¡°I need to infiltrate their ranks,¡± he decided, his voice firm with newfound resolve.
This decision came at a crucial time. He couldn¡¯t afford to stay in the shadows any longer, especially after Ji Xin Shui¡¯s murder¡ªwhich Lin Xian decided to frame as his entry exam to the Genius Club, flipping the narrative to his advantage.
Still, joining the elusive club wasn¡¯t straightforward. Yellow Finch, ever cryptic, hadn¡¯t offered any concrete steps to secure an invitation, leaving Lin Xian to figure it out on his own.
His attention was momentarily drawn to the day¡¯s newspaper, resting on a nearby side table. It featured a front-page article about him, spotlighting his role in solving a high-profile serial murder case. With his newfound public visibility and amendation ceremony scheduled at the Donghai Grand Hall,ying low was no longer an option.
¡°This means stepping away from MX Company,¡± Lin Xian concluded with a hint of reluctance. The decision, though made long ago, had been tough to act on. Whenever he contemted leaving, thoughts of Zhao Ying Jun, his mentor at MX, surfaced,plicating his emotions.
But now, circumstances had changed. It was time to be proactive, to build his resources and strengthen his position. The recent threats had underscored a harsh reality: weakness invited peril, and his next adversary might not y by the rules as neatly as thest.
With a determined stroke, Lin Xian flipped the nk sheet over and started jotting down his immediate objectives:
Resign from MX Company andunch his own venture to gather resources and form alliances.
Settle outstanding issues with Liu Feng to focus on unraveling the mysteries of the Universal Constant and the significance of the number 42.
Secure an invitation to the Genius Club and unravel its deepest secrets.
¡°Alright, that¡¯s it,¡± Lin Xian murmured as he looked over the three ns he had just written down. Despite their variety, they all invariably led back to one enigmatic entity: the Genius Club.
It was at Tang Xin¡¯s grave that the reality had hit him hard¡ªunless Copernicus and his machinations were stopped, the cycle of violence would relentlessly continue, eventually reaching those he cared about, just as it had Xu Yun and Tang Xin.
¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± Lin Xian said with a determined nod. He clicked open a folder on his desktopbeled ¡®Important Documents¡¯ and opened a file named ¡®Resignation Letter.¡¯ Although the letter had been drafted long ago, it had remained unsent, a testament to his indecision. But today was different. He pressed ¡®print.¡¯
The printer buzzed to life, spitting out the resignation letter with a series of mechanical clicks. Lin Xian picked up the crisp paper, folded it neatly, and rose from his chair. With a deep breath, he walked out of his office and pressed the button for the 22nd floor.
When the elevator doors opened, he navigated through the familiar corridors to a doubleyered password-secured door, the entrance to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s executive suite. He keyed in the password¡ª32375246¡ªa random string of digits etched in his memory, and heard the soft click of the door unlocking. The heavy door swung open, letting the sunlight flood in from the office¡¯srge windows.
Zhao Ying Jun looked up from her paperwork, her expression softening into a slight smile. ¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re here.¡±
He nodded in response, closed the door behind him, and began the short walk across the carpeted floor to her desk. Today, this path seemed much longer and heavier than usual.
¡°I was just about to call you in,¡± Zhao Ying Junmented, gesturing towards the impably clean office. ¡°You¡¯ve been so busy; I knew you hadn¡¯t had a chance to tidy up, so I took care of it.¡±
She chuckled softly. ¡°I never minded the mess, you know, because it was just an office, not a home. But seeing it this clean and organized¡ it¡¯s really nice. It¡¯s surprising how a little order can make such a difference.¡±
Lin Xian listened as he continued his approach, the clean carpet crunching slightly under his steps.
¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been practicing at the Tianma Racing Circuit again,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added nonchntly, her eyes scanning a document. ¡°I¡¯m getting better, thanks to your tips. The coaches there were quite impressed.¡±
She paused to brush a strand of hair from her face, her voice tinged with amusement. ¡°I even dropped your name. You know, about that viral video¡ªthe one where the blue Bentley jumps over the Donghai highway? They couldn¡¯t believe it when I told them that was my car, and you were the driver.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s steps grew heavier with each word, the weight of his decision pressing down on him.
Zhao Ying Jun continued, her tone shifting slightly. ¡°When I visited home for the New Year, my parents saw that video. My father, who¡¯s always been critical, actually recognized my car. He didn¡¯t sleep that night, and for the first time, he took an interest in my life here in Donghai. It¡¯s funny how parents are¡¡±
She stopped writing and looked up, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. ¡°He even mentioned liking the Rhine Cat design, which you created. It was his way of acknowledging my work, indirectly acknowledging you.¡±
Lin Xian reached her desk, stopping just at its edge.
Zhao Ying Jun gave a small, awkward smile. ¡°Sorry for the ramble. It¡¯s been a while since west talked like this. So, what brings you here today?¡±
With a solemn nod, Lin Xian ced the folded resignation letter on her desk. The lightness in her expression vanished, reced by a mix of surprise and concern.
¡°President Zhao,¡± Lin Xian started, his voice low and steady, ¡°I need to leave MX Company.¡±
The room filled with a heavy silence, punctuated only by the distant hum of the city outside, as Zhao Ying Jun stared at the resignation letter, her previous joviality reced with a stark seriousness.
Chapter 216: Rhine
¡°Why so sudden?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, a hint of a smile ying on her lips as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes ncing over the resignation letter lying on her desk.
¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while,¡± Lin Xian replied earnestly. ¡°I mentioned my n to start my own business at the beginning of the year. At that time, I didn¡¯t feel prepared, so I decided to stay and learn more from you. But now, I believe it¡¯s the right moment for me to move on. There are goals I¡¯m passionate about pursuing on my own.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun studied Lin Xian¡¯s resolute face and paused before responding softly, ¡°You¡¯ve really made up your mind, haven¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian affirmed with a nod. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, the copyright for the Rhine Cat and the exclusive rights to Professor Xu Yun¡¯s chemicalpound will remain with MX Company. I¡¯m leaving only with my personal effects.¡±
There was a brief moment of silence as Lin Xian searched for the right words.
Pfft!
Zhao Ying Jun burst outughing, the sound echoing around the room. ¡°Leaving with just your personal belongings? What are we, getting a divorce?¡±
¡°Uh¡ I meant that the intellectual property stays with MX Company,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, amused by his own phrasing. ¡°I feel somewhat guilty about leaving now, so think of it as my way ofpensating.¡±Theirughter lightened the previously tense atmosphere of the office.
Zhao Ying Jun crossed her arms and leaned back further, assessing Lin Xian with a thoughtful gaze. ¡°But those are your main sources of ie, Lin Xian. If you leave them behind, how will you sustain yourself financially? And what¡¯s your n? What kind of business do you intend to start?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t ironed out all the details yet,¡± Lin Xian confessed. He had ideas but nothing concrete yet. The concept of the Rhine Cat was borrowed from a future 600 years ahead, and if needed, he could revisit that for ie.
The recent resolution of the seven deadly sins case marked the end of an era of threats. With Angelica, a Hollywood actress rumored to be innocent of any crimes, posing no real threat, Lin Xian realized that living in hiding was not a solution. His experiences with Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui taught him that evasion wasn¡¯t due to his ability to disappear, but because hecked strength. His ultimate victory wasrgely due to Chu Shan He¡¯s significant influence and connections.
Running from danger was not a viable long-term strategy. Instead, he needed to use this peaceful period to strengthen himself and prepare for any future challenges. After all, as the old adage goes, ¡°All fear stems from ack of firepower.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun sighed and shook her head with a smile. ¡°I knew you were bound to leave someday; I just didn¡¯t expect it so soon. Like I¡¯ve always said, if you have a clear vision and apelling reason, I won¡¯t hold you back. I ept your resignation.¡±
¡°But considering you¡¯re still uncertain about your next steps and you might not have enough capital for significant investments, let¡¯s consider another option,¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested as she leaned down to open the safe under her desk. She revealed a small dial lock safe containing thepany¡¯s official seal, internal ounts, and other sensitive documents.
She pulled out a check and ced it on the desk, her eyes locking with Lin Xian¡¯s. ¡°This is a bank draft for 2 billion yuan.¡±
¡°This is¡¡± Lin Xian started, puzzled. Was Zhao Ying Jun investing in his future?
¡°It¡¯s from Chu Shan He,¡± she exined, smiling knowingly. ¡°After you refused his offer of gratitude during yourst dinner at his ce, he called me. He respects you greatly and felt he needed to contribute to your future endeavors in some way.¡±
¡°Chu Shan He knew you wouldn¡¯t ept a direct gift, so he made it an equity investment instead. This 2 billion is to support your startup, and in return, he¡¯ll hold a 5% stake in whatever business you establish,¡± Zhao Ying Jun borated.
Lin Xian was taken aback. With his current savings of about 100 million yuan, a 5% stake in a yet-to-be-formedpany certainly wouldn¡¯t be worth 2 billion. Chu Shan He¡¯s move was generous and gave Lin Xian a significant head start.
¡°If you¡¯re okay with it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, pulling out another bank draft, this one signed by her and stamped with MX¡¯s seal, ¡°I also want to invest 2 billion for a 5% stake on behalf of MX Company.¡±
She looked at him intently, ¡°The hardest part about starting a new business isn¡¯t just the funding¡ªit¡¯s finding the right people. You can take any of my employees you believe will be valuable to your new venture. The building next door is avable and would serve as an excellent headquarters for yourpany. It¡¯s close, which will facilitate coboration and ease the transition for any personnel who move with you.¡±
¡°As for your business operations, you¡¯re free to take the Rhine Cat. Also, the rights to develop Professor Xu Yun¡¯spound will remain with you, allowing you to continue that partnership with MX Company.¡±
Lin Xian was overwhelmed by her support. Zhao Ying Jun was not only providing financial backing but also offering a ready-to-go team and essential logistical resources.
¡°Thank you, Zhao Ying Jun,¡± Lin Xian expressed gratefully.
¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, her smile brightening the room. ¡°Although we won¡¯t be boss and employee anymore, we¡¯ll continue as friends and partners. And with your new office just next door, feel free toe by anytime you need advice or support.¡±
¡°And have you thought about a name for your newpany?¡± she inquired curiously.
Lin Xian paused, then his gaze fell on a Rhine Cat figurine on Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s desk, sparking an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s call it¡ Rhine,¡± he decided. ¡°After all, the newpany will maintain strong ties with MX¡ªsharing assets, personnel, and even the mascot IP.¡±
¡°That sounds perfect,¡± Zhao Ying Jun agreed with a nod. She then picked up a calendar and pointed to the date. ¡°May 20, 2023. Remember this day, Lin Xian. It¡¯s the beginning of something incredible.¡±
With a final smile, she concluded, ¡°Wee to the world, Rhine Company.¡±
Chapter 217: Blue Moon
That afternoon, Zhao Ying Jun, known for her quick and decisive actions, had a meeting with the legal advisor of MX Company in her office. Together, they worked efficiently to draft a contract transferring the naming rights and the trademark of ¡°Rhine¡± to Lin Xian.
Shortly after, Zhao Ying Jun invited Lin Xian to a crucial strategy meeting with thepany¡¯s mid-level managers. During this meeting, she proposed appointing Brother Wang, the head of the marketing department, as the first vice president of Rhine Company. She emphasized that Brother Wang¡¯s extensive experience and proven loyalty would be invaluable assets for Lin Xian¡¯s new venture.
Brother Wang was not only one of the original employees at MX Company but had also been a steadfast ally of Zhao Ying Jun from the beginning. He was highly respected within thepany and was on track to be promoted to vice president of MX Company that year. His loyalty was so profound that he was the first person Zhao trusted with her n to promote her secretary¡ªa secret he discreetly shared with Lin Xian, further confirming his reliability and solidifying his suitability for the vice presidency.
After the meeting, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s team managed the logistics efficiently. They secured the building adjacent to their current office and immediately began the cleaning and renovation process.
Amid this flurry of activity, Lin Xian felt somewhat out of ce. Though this venture was ostensibly his, Zhao Ying Jun appeared to be managing every detail, almost as if she was the true steward of the project. It felt as though they were two parts of a single entity working towards amon goal.
Nevertheless, Lin Xian decided not to dwell on these thoughts. If he had to manage these operations himself, it would have taken months to organize everything. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s proactive approach was actually a blessing in disguise. Moreover, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t nned to get deeply involved in the day-to-day workings of Rhine Company. He intended to use the business primarily as a means to secure funding and serve as a cover for his true intentions.
His main focus wasn¡¯t on the daily profitability¡ªthough securing a profit seemed almost guaranteed with resources from 600 years in the future. Secretly, Lin Xian nned to use Rhine Company as a tform for implementing a series of muchrger ns.
That afternoon, after finalizing several formalities, Lin Xian returned home, utterly exhausted. The role of CEO was demanding and not suited for everyone. It involved a relentless stream of decisions, both significant and minor, which proved to be both taxing and draining.As he rxed in his bath that evening, Lin Xian mused, ¡°Let thepany stabilize quickly.¡± Once everything was operational and running smoothly, he could step back and assume the role of the detached manager he envisioned. Reflecting on it, having Brother Wang as vice president seemed increasingly like a wise decision. Theplexities of leadership trulye to light only when you are in that position. Without Brother Wang¡¯s seasoned expertise and stability, managing such a multifaceted organization would have been nearly impossible.
During lunch earlier, Lin Xian had contemted offering his friend Gao Yang a position within thepany. Gao Yang was exceptionally intelligent, though his overactive mind sometimes made him appear slightly absent-minded. Nevertheless, Lin Xian trusted himpletely.
However, employment was still employment. Initially, Gao Yang seemed like a good fit, but he declined the offer, humorously citing a movie, Chinese Partner:
¡°Never y mahjong with your mother-inw. Never date a woman who has more ideas than you. Never start a business with your best friend.¡±
Gao Yang borated, ¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯d prefer not to work at yourpany. It¡¯s not about the money¡ªI¡¯m not chasing every dime. More importantly, I don¡¯t want to risk our friendship. That means more to me than a job.¡±
¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Lin Xian attempted to reassure him. ¡°Mypany isn¡¯t solely focused on profits; it¡¯sid-back. Even if it fails, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±
¡°Oh, you don¡¯t understand,¡± Gao Yang insisted. ¡°Being an employee and being a boss are different worlds. Many businesses fail because friends and family get involved. I might not ruin yourpany, but Ick expertise in many areas. I don¡¯t want to be a burden or cause you embarrassment.¡±
¡°Since childhood, I¡¯ve excelled at video games¡ªfrom Contra to League of Legends, I¡¯ve never been defeated by anyone. But being good at games doesn¡¯t trante to being good at work¡ So, forget it. Just buy more cars from me for yourpany.¡±
Realizing Gao Yang¡¯s firm stance, Lin Xian decided not to press the issue further. For Gao Yang, preserving their friendship was more important than any potential job benefits.
As Lin Xian contemted this, he acknowledged the wisdom in Gao Yang¡¯s concerns. Numerous close friends and ssmates had fallen out over business ventures, loans, or startup partnerships. It was a frequent urrence. Hence, if Gao Yang preferred to stay out, Lin Xian would respect his decision and simply continue to support his friend¡¯s car dealership.
That evening, after his bath, Lin Xian yawned and prepared for bed. He nced at the clock¡ªit wasn¡¯t even nine o¡¯clock yet. Tonight, he wouldn¡¯t be encountering the three-knife thief, joining the face gang, or visiting Big Cat Face¡¯s house for dinner. His only option was to wander through his dream world.
Soon, drowsiness overcame him. Lin Xian turned off his phone, rolled over, and closed his eyes to drift into dreams.
Whoosh!
Before Lin Xian could even react, a fierce gust of wind pped his face.
¡°Summer wind?¡± he muttered, puzzled. Could it be that familiar summer breeze had returned? It seemed unlikely¡ However, just as Lin Xian was about to open his eyes, he realized something was amiss. This couldn¡¯t be the original first dream because¡ª
¡°Ugh, it stinks!¡±
Lin Xian pinched his nose and opened his eyes to a shocking scene. Under the bright moonlight, he saw barren ground, either muddy or parched,pletely devoid of life¡ªnot even a single weed. He scanned the destendscape around him.
Where was he? This ce was neither the old nor the new Donghai. There were no signs of human life! Had the city been deserted? Or had he somehow traveled to apletely different location this time?
Boom!!!!
To his right, arge clump of ck, muddy sludge crashed down and exploded, sending garbage and substances resembling feces flying! The foul smell was overwhelming. Lin Xian hurriedly stepped back, unsure if he¡¯d been sshed by the sludge.
What was happening? If this was another case of the space-time butterfly effect causing a significant temporal shift, then the dream world¡ªwhich represented the future world 600 yearster¡ªmust have changed again. What triggered this? What was the anchor point?
Lin Xian initially thought the deaths of Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin would impact this world, influencing the future. But¡ When he dreamt yesterday, the second dream remained unchanged. Whether it was the Old Donghai, the New Donghai, Big Cat Face, Er Zhuzi, or even the moon in the sky, everything was exactly as before.
This meant that even someone like Ji Xin Shui, who considered himself a world-ss figure and a backup member of the Genius Club, his death didn¡¯t ripple through the timeline 600 yearster. His death was as insignificant as a feather.
¡°No, wait, the moon!¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized something crucial. If the future world in this third dream had altered so drastically, was the Genius Club still there? Was their emblem still on the moon?
Lin Xian quickly looked up¡ª
One¡ Two¡ Ten¡ Hundreds!
He stood frozen, then swiftly turned to look behind him. The same scenario unfolded. The sky was filled with countless luminous discs! Hundreds, thousands of moons!
¡°This can¡¯t be¡¡± If so many moons were visible outside Earth, then he was definitely not experiencing a normal dream!
Lin Xian looked up again, examining these ¡°moons¡± more closely. He noticed discrepancies¡
Firstly, they were too perfectly round, resembling artificial constructs. All the ¡°moons¡± were aligned at the same height in the sky¡ªlike cookies on a tray, positioned much lower than the actual moon.
Secondly, these ¡°moons¡± were an intense shade of blue. Blue moons asionally appeared in real life due to air quality and weather conditions, but the blue glow from these ¡°moons¡± was clearly not natural moonlight. It seemed more like the light emitted from some kind of engine or mechanical ion beam!
¡°What is this?¡± As Lin Xian delved deeper into his observations, not only the ¡°moons¡± but also the ¡°sky¡± behind them seemed unnatural. The sky was too low, too oppressive. And there was a distinct dividing line separating it from the distant sky! What had transformed this world?
Lin Xian¡¯s confusion deepened.
Ssh! Ssh! Ssh! Another wave of foul water descended from above¡ Lin Xian darted to the side, attempting to dodge it. But it was futile; the water sshed too high and too wide, covering his clothes in foul-smelling ck spots.
¡°Damn,¡± Lin Xian cursed. This ce was unlivable.
He looked to the right. There, at the edge of the matrix of these ¡°moons,¡± was a boundary where they ceased. As long as he ran to the right¡ he would soon escape the range of these ¡°moons¡± and discern their true nature from the side.
Without hesitating further, Lin Xian started sprinting to the right. Despite his speed, the ¡°moons¡± in the sky slowly retreated. As he ran, all manner of strange debris continued to fall, and he often stepped on bizarre, soft, and hard objects, making him feel nauseous. What kind of garbage world was this? Could humans truly inhabit such a harsh environment?
Finally, after running at full tilt for half an hour, Lin Xian reached the outer edge of the ¡°moons¡± and looked back at the sky¡ª
What he saw was an indescribably spectacr scene. Above the hundreds, thousands of fake ¡°moons¡±¡ floated a city! A city suspended in the sky!
Even from his limited perspective, he could see parts of the city. The towering buildings, the myriad bright lights¡ªit was undeniably a city! A¡ sky city!
¡°So¡ those blue moons aren¡¯t celestial bodies, but engines? Like rocket engines, lifting this massive city into the sky?¡± Lin Xian was astounded by the sight of the engines glowing blue. The sheer thrust required to elevate a city!
Moreover, what was this sky city? Lin Xian looked further ahead and noticed a bright spot bustling with lights and activity. He ran toward it.
On his way, he encountered a little boy running in the same direction.
¡°Hey, kid,¡± Lin Xian stopped him, ¡°Can you tell me, what¡¯s that city in the sky?¡±
¡°That¡¯s Rhine!¡± The boy¡¯s eyes sparkled as he responded.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian stood there, recalling the document he signed that afternoon and the name he had chosen in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office that morning¡
¡°Yeah, don¡¯t you know?¡± The boy looked at Lin Xian, puzzled, pointing to the city upheld by hundreds, even thousands, of ¡°blue moons¡± in the sky: ¡°That¡¯s Rhine Sky City!¡±
Chapter 218: Am I the Powerhouse?
¡°Rhine¡ Sky City?¡±
Lin Xian paused as the boy hurried toward the bustling lights, the name ¡°Rhine¡± resonating in his mind. He looked up at the colossal floating city above, supported by glowing blue ion engines, and let his thoughts wander through countless possibilities.
¡°Could this Rhine be the same Rhine Company I founded today?¡± he mused, almost amused by the idea.
Establishing Rhine Company had been a spontaneous decision for Lin Xian, driven by a need to secure funding for his ambitious future projects. He hadn¡¯t envisioned building an empire or dominating the global stage. In fact, he was already considering stepping back from daily operations even before thepany had truly taken off.
And yet, there it was¡ªhis fledgling startup, somehow linked to a massive Sky City floating 600 years in the future?
For Lin Xian, the founder of this nascent enterprise, the idea was nearly unfathomable. But the evidence floated right before his eyes.
His journey to this revtion had begunst night with a dream about his life in Old Donghai, followed by his entrance into this new, surreal dream world. Clearly, today marked a pivotal shift in his dream sequence.
The significant event of the day was his departure from MX Company and, spurred by encouragement from Zhao Ying Jun, his bold decision tounch Rhine Company.It seemed almost certain that the Sky City suspended above was a future manifestation or evolution of hispany, 600 yearster.
In essence, this Sky City bore simrities to the New Donghai City constructed by MX Company.
But why had Rhine Company built this Sky City? Was it part of some grand future n he was destined to conceive?
Was he the mastermind behind this monumental project?
Or perhaps, over the centuries, had he lost control of Rhine Company, with it changing hands multiple times, now barely resembling his initial vision, except in name?
The situation was a maze¡ª600 years is an unimaginably long time.
Lin Xian continued his walk, distancing himself from the immense Sky City, and nced upward at the thousands of blue ion engines he had earlier mistaken for stars.
This spectacle reminded him of the film ¡°The Wandering Earth.¡± In the film, humanity constructs thousands ofary engines to move Earth to a new orbit, escaping the impending doom caused by the sun¡¯s decay.
Lin Xian vividly recalled the moment in the film when those engines roared to life, simr to the blue ion beams currently elevating Sky City. The underlying technology was likely akin.
ording to Lin Xian¡¯s hypothesis, these blue engines utilized controlled nuclear fusion. Only the intense, pure energy from atomic nuclei fusion could sustain such an enormous city across centuries.
No other energy source could have such a profound,sting impact.
¡°This indicates that the level of scientific advancement in this third dream world has significantly surpassed that of the second dream world,¡± he pondered.
In his second dream world, New Donghai City had managed only to develop miniaturized nuclear batteries, far from achieving controlled nuclear fusion.
But now, in this third dream world, technology had leapt forward tremendously¡
Was this surge in nuclear fusion technology somehow spurred by Rhine Company¡¯s influence over the past 600 years?
Lin Xian quickened his pace, moving further from the blue engines to gain a clearer view of Sky City¡¯s architectural marvels.
From his vantage point, he estimated that Sky City floated approximately two to three thousand meters above ground¡ªthough this was merely a rough guess based on his current perspective.
From what he could discern, Sky City¡¯s technological prowess far exceeded that of New Donghai City from his second dream, showcasing a more futuristic, cyberpunk aesthetic.
Then, his thoughts drifted to the earlier unpleasant odor of sewage and waste that had plummeted from above¡
Clearly, this refuse was jettisoned from Sky City.
How archaic was that practice?
Did the inhabitants of Sky City simply discard their waste onto the surface below, transforming the ground into a makeshiftndfill?
¡°If I were in charge, such practices would be unthinkable. It¡¯s downright inhumane,¡± he muttered to himself.
Lin Xian continued on, mulling over whether, as the CEO of Rhine, he would ever permit such careless disposal.
Absolutely not.
Whether it concerned the imposing structure of Sky City or the reckless dumping of waste, neither aligned with his vision.
If it were up to him, he would steer Rhine towards bolstering humanity¡¯s future, not embodying a heartless corporate behemoth.
Yet, 600 years is a vast expanse of time. Who could assure continuity over such a duration?
¡°If only I could be reborn in Sky City, I could unravel so much firsthand.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind wandered to Miyazaki¡¯s animations and the floating Columbia Sky City from video games. Could a statue of himself stand in the heart of Sky City,memorating him as the founder?
Such a thought was strangely amusing.
¡°Oh right, what about the Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian suddenly recalled his original motive for observing the sky¡ªto check if the Genius Club¡¯s emblem was still etched on the moon¡¯s surface.
Now, gazing upward, the moon was nowhere in sight, likely obscured by the vast expanse of Sky City.
He shifted his stance, aligning himself with the stars and time to pinpoint the moon¡¯s probable location, adjusting his gaze ordingly.
Atst, amidst the towering structures of Sky City, the moon timidly peeked out. It was as glowing and round as ever.
For humans, 600 years represented a significant chapter in history, but for the moon, which had witnessed over two billion years, 600 years was merely a fleeting moment.
Despite the profound transformations on Earth, the moon had merely blinked, slumbered briefly, and resumed its eternal cycle.
It continued to rise from the east, set in the west, and traverse its phases, ever the constant celestialpanion to Earth¡ªunchanged.
Lin Xian observed the moon, recognizing the familiar dark silhouette darting across its surface. The bold emblem of the Genius Club on the moon, with its defiant finger pointing skyward, still taunted humanity¡¯s frailties and unaltered destiny.
¡°Alright,¡± he sighed, resigned.
It seemed that the Genius Club still thrived in this futuristic world of the third dream. This revtion added anotheryer of intrigue to Sky City.
What was its true purpose?
If its sole aim was to segregate people within its confines, monopolize technology, and perpetuate a technological divide, then surely New Donghai City would suffice. So, why construct a Sky City?
Or was Sky City intended to conceal something more? And from whom? From the Genius Club? Or¡
¡°From myself?¡±
Lin Xian halted, his gaze fixed on the grandiose Sky City overhead.
Perhaps¡ it was usible!
If Sky City was indeed intertwined with his ns, then the future version of himself would be aware of his capacity to traverse dreams to August 28, 2624.
So¡ could it be that his future self was anticipating his arrival in Sky City?
Because he knew he would eventuallye searching!
And all he needed was to endure these 600 years, possibly through cryogenic sleep or some simr means.
Would the Lin Xian of 600 yearster meet the Lin Xian from today¡
Could such an encounter truly transpire?
Lin Xian felt a shiver of goosebumps. His emotions were a whirlwind¡ªpartly terror, partly thrill.
¡°Maybe I¡¯m overthinking this. The future me might have long perished.¡±
¡°But, if I were to leave a crucial message for my past self, Sky City would undoubtedly be the perfect repository.¡±
Lin Xian endeavored to think like his future self because no one understood him better.
Assuming Sky City was indeed connected to him, the sole rationale for its existence would be to ry a message to his younger self!
¡°Got it¡¡± Lin Xian experienced a moment of rity.
In the second dream, while he and CC meddled with the safe at Time Bank, he had contemted using the safe to transport items from the past to the future once Time Bank materialized by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
This concept embodied the past aiding the future. So, by reversing this notion¡ Could the future also assist the past?
Initially, Lin Xian deemed this idea imusible, given the unidirectional nature of time. However, now it seemed that human ingenuity was limitless. If his future self had indeed left behind information, materials, clues, or even his own presence in Sky City, wouldn¡¯t that fulfill the objective of the future aiding the past?
The more Lin Xian pondered, the more lucid his thoughts became.
If he possessed the capability, he would certainly undertake such a task! It made perfect sense!
Thus, Rhine Company and Sky City served a profound purpose!
¡°Looks like I must ascend to Sky City,¡± he resolved and looked up at the vast city buoyed by thousands of controlled nuclear fusion engines.
Despite all his spective musings, he believed the name Rhine, the genesis of it all, the most enduring legacy of 600 years, harbored special significance.
Whether he was correct or mistaken, whether his future self awaited him or not, whether Sky City concealed messages for him or not, he had to explore it personally to unearth the truths!
¡°If Sky City was indeed constructed for me¡¡± Lin Xian smiled at the monumental edifice.
¡°There must be some backdoors left for me, right?¡±
Chapter 219: The Last Men in Donghai
How could anyone possibly reach the floating city of Rhine Sky City? Were there special flights designated for this, or maybe secret elevators hidden away?
Lin Xian scanned his surroundings with a curious eye.
¡°Hmm?¡±
In the distance, he noticed a cluster of people and glowing lights. He had seen this area when he first arrived. It looked like a t space where at least a hundred people were gathered, possibly for some event.
This spot was the only ce within his line of sight that was brightened by lights, making it a noticeablendmark. The little boy Lin Xian had met earlier had run towards this area after they parted ways.
What sparked Lin Xian¡¯s interest?
A gigantic hot air balloon was slowly ascending from the midst of that crowd!
Lin Xian had only ever seen hot air balloons in movies and on TV. These crafts, which ascend using hot air or helium,ck any real steering capability and can only drift with the wind, making them impractical for daily transport and more suited for leisure activities or extreme sports.Yet, there it was, at the edge of Sky City¡ªa hot air balloon being prepared forunch.
¡°This has to be the mode of transportation to Sky City,¡± he muttered. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the transport method to be so old-school.¡±
But could a hot air balloon really provide a safe journey to Rhine Sky City? Lin Xian was doubtful. Still, he started running towards the crowd, hoping to secure a ride¡ªor more urately, a spot on that balloon.
However, due to his earlier wandering, he was quite far away. He watched as the balloon gradually filled up and began its ascent. By the time Lin Xian reached the crowd, the massive balloon had already lifted the small passenger basket several meters into the air and was continuing to rise.
Looking up, Lin Xian realized this wasn¡¯t your average hot air balloon; it was a helium balloon.
Unlike traditional hot air balloons, which use a me to heat the air inside and create lift, helium balloons rely solely on the lighter-than-air gas, requiring no mes or burners. Filling arge balloon with helium and sealing it provides enough lift without any extra mechanisms.
But this method seemed excessive for a mere two to three kilometers up to Sky City. Could it be that the actual altitude of Sky City was greater than he initially thought?
Lin Xian remembered his middle school geography lessons.
He recalled that the temperature drops by about 6 degrees Celsius for every 1000 meters of altitude, which would make two to three kilometers an ideal height for Sky City¡¯s residents to avoid extreme cold. Moreover, higher altitudes mean lower air pressure, which affects boiling points and can cause altitude sickness.
Surely, these were considerations with our current technology in 2023.
But Rhine Sky City likely had ess to controlled nuclear fusion, providing them with limitless energy to easily counter these high-altitude issues.
Yet, something else struck him as odd¡ªthe passenger in the balloon¡¯s basket was dressed in a thick, insted suit, much like a simplified version of a spacesuit.
Thisparison wasn¡¯t far-fetched. The passenger looked almost like an astronaut, wrapped up thickly and wearing arge helmet.
This left Lin Xian even more baffled¡
A helium balloon and a spacesuit¡ªwhat was this person nning? Was he not just traveling to Sky City? Why all theplexity?
Determined to find answers, Lin Xian scanned the crowd and quickly spotted three familiar faces¡ªunexpected, yet somehow expected.
Ah Zhuang! Er Zhuzi! San Pang!
They were former henchmen of Big Cat Face! Seeing these old acquaintances in such an unfamiliar ce brought a smile to Lin Xian¡¯s face.
These guys had been taken down countless times by him and Big Cat Face in their first dream. In the second dream, they had reformed and started working under Big Cat Face and Boss Li. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected to encounter them again in this third dream.
At that moment, Lin Xian felt that perhaps some aspects of history were indeed inevitable.
Certain people, certain events, seemed preordained¡
Inevitable existences.
Inevitable urrences.
Could this be a manifestation of some new time-spacew?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t puzzle it out just then.
But now was not the moment for deep contemtion. He needed to find out why so many were gathered here.
¡°Ah Zhuang!¡± Lin Xian called out cheerfully.
Ah Zhuang, shorter but sturdily built, scrutinized Lin Xian from head to toe, his eyes shifting briefly towards the sky. ¡°Who are you?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile, pping him on the shoulder. Familiarity had removed any awkwardness: ¡°Where¡¯s Big Cat? Where is he?¡±
Hearing Big Cat¡¯s name, Ah Zhuang¡¯s face instantly rxed. Lin Xian¡¯s confident tone made Ah Zhuang think he was a friend of Big Cat, and he pointed to a balloon already high in the sky: ¡°You¡¯rete, Big Cat already left.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. He craned his neck to see the balloon climbing higher: ¡°That¡¯s Big Cat in the spacesuit?¡±
¡°Who else?¡±
¡°He¡¯s headed to Sky City?¡±
¡°Yeah, of course.¡± Ah Zhuang studied Lin Xian¡¯s surprised expression: ¡°You should know this stuff if you came all the way here just watch.¡±
He then turned his gaze back to the sky.
¡°Let¡¯s just hope Big Cat makes it this time, otherwise¡¡± His voice trailed off as he bit his lip.
Lin Xian observed Ah Zhuang, his confusion growing.
With all that high-tech gear, what could possibly go wrong?
Deciding not to dwell on it, he resolved to silently watch Big Cat¡¯s endeavor.
He had arrived toote and missed the chance to join the balloon ride. If Big Cat managed to reach Sky City, Lin Xian could try again the next morning.
Not overly concerned, he joined the crowd, all staring at the small white dot that was the balloon, now at least 2000 meters high and shrinking to the size of a fist.
Thankfully, the powerful fusion reactors under Sky City provided enough buoyancy to keep it afloat, and their lights shone on the balloon, making it visible as it became just a tiny speck in the distance.
Lin Xian squinted up at the balloon as it ascended higher and higher.
He edged closer to Ah Zhuang, who was intently watching, and whispered: ¡°It looks like he¡¯s overshooting it¡¡±
Big Cat was clearly rising too high, almost reaching the edge of the stratosphere.
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ah Zhuang looked at Lin Xian, concerned: ¡°There¡¯s aser defense zone around Sky City that goes up to ten thousand meters. Touch it, and you¡¯re vaporized instantly by thesers. The defense forms a cone around Sky City. The only way in is a small blind spot right at the top, at ten thousand meters.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t believe his ears: ¡°Ten thousand meters? Aser defense? Sky City is that heavily fortified?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Ah Zhuang turned back to the sky, watching the tiny dot: ¡°To get through and enter Sky City, you¡¯d need to climb to nearly twenty thousand meters with the balloon, then skydive right through that tiny blind spot and parachute down safely.¡±
This was beyond belief.
Lin Xian blinked, trying to process the information.
A twenty-thousand-meter skydive from a helium balloon?
That sounded like something out of an extreme sports reality show, not real life!
He remembered his own experiences with extreme sports in dreams, often ending disastrously.
Even attempting a skydive from eight thousand meters was a challenge.
Now Big Cat was trying from twenty thousand meters, needing to navigate through a tiny defensive gap and deploy his parachute at just the right moment.
The slightest error would be deadly!
Lin Xian wondered why Big Cat would take such an incredible risk.
You¡¯re not Batman, Big Cat. Why risk your life like this?
¡°How do you know about the gap in Sky City¡¯s defenses?¡±
¡°Someone managed to get through before,¡± Ah Zhuang whispered, ¡°It was only once, and it didn¡¯t end well, but he got in.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t there a safer way to get into Sky City?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Ah Zhuang shook his head, his face tense: ¡°If there were a safer way, do you think we¡¯d still be trying these crazy stunts after all these years?¡±
He motioned for Lin Xian to be quiet, his forehead beaded with sweat as he stared into the sky.
Lin Xian realized this was not the moment for more questions. Joining Ah Zhuang and the rest of the crowd, he looked up, contemting the city floating above, sealed off by its formidable defenses.
Was this like the new Donghai City? But whereas Donghai used walls to keep people out, Sky City flew above it all, protected by a ofsers, inessible to all but the most daring¡ªor desperate.
Why would they leave a gap right in the heart of the city?
What purpose did such a design serve? It couldn¡¯t be a mere oversight.
Sky City, far advancedpared to the more superficial New Donghai City, had harnessed controlled nuclear fusion, positioning itself as a beacon of future civilization. A defense vulnerability seemed incongruent with its technological prowess.
Sealing it should have been straightforward.
So why the deliberate w?
A sudden thought struck Lin Xian as he pieced together the unusual and abnormal elements.
The gap!
Could it have been intentionally left as a covert entrance?
But who would ce such immense value on him?
Lin Xian remembered a fact from 2023: the world record for high-altitude skydiving was held by a Google vice president who ascended over 40,000 meters using a helium balloon, then freefell for four thrilling minutes before deploying his parachute tond safely.
This exemplified the thrill of extreme sports.
This also partly exined the sparse poption density in some foreign areas.
Though Big Cat¡¯s 20,000-meter dive might seem less dauntingpared to the 40,000-meter record, theplexities involved were on another level entirely.
The Google executive merely had to jump and manage his parachute.
Big Cat, on the other hand, faced a more daunting task. He had to glide with precision, managing his speed and trajectory meticulously to navigate through the defense gap before he could even think about deploying his parachute.
Any error, any slight miscalction or excess speed, and the city¡¯sser defenses would activate, disintegrating him in an instant.
Lin Xian was convinced that Big Cat wasn¡¯t merely chasing an adrenaline rush.
What made Sky City so essential to him?
Suddenly, the crowd around Lin Xian erupted into gasps.
¡°He jumped! He¡¯s gliding!¡±
¡°Please, make it!¡±
Their exmations were tinged with anxiety, but Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see anything.
He nced around, noting that most onlookers had binocrs trained on the sky.
Turning to his side, he saw Er Zhuzi and San Pang among them, intently watching the skies.
Approaching Er Zhuzi, Lin Xian tapped his shoulder and said, ¡°Hey, Er Zhuzi, your wife is looking for you.¡±
¡°Where?¡± Er Zhuzi quickly lowered his binocrs, scanning the crowd.
¡°There, in the crowd,¡± Lin Xian pointed vaguely, swiftly taking the binocrs from Er Zhuzi¡¯s hands and peering through them.
Enhanced with night vision, the binocrs revealed more under the bright moon and clear sky. A faint white silhouette became visible¡ªthe unmistakable form of Big Cat. He was adjusting his posture, seemingly controlling his glide with great effort.
Just as Lin Xian¡¯s anticipation peaked, a stark burst of light shed across the sky at ten thousand meters.
A small fireball ignited, then vanished¡
Silence ensued.
¡°That was¡¡± Lin Xian muttered, lowering the binocrs. He remembered Ah Zhuang¡¯s earlier words and the abrupt sh. Was Big Cat annihted by theser defense?
He looked around. The expressions of solemnity on everyone¡¯s faces confirmed his fears.
Ah Zhuang sighed deeply, while San Pang shook his head.
Over a hundred people stood in silence, no one spoke a word.
The atmosphere felt eerie, tinged with sadness yetcking profound sorrow¡ªas if the crowd was numb to such losses, ustomed to witnessing sacrifices. Every gaze was hollow.
An elderly man with ckened sores and a foul odor approached Ah Zhuang, patting his shoulder, ¡°Ah Zhuang, it¡¯s your turn¡¡±
Ah Zhuang nodded somberly, moving towards another area where a helium balloon was being inted and a suit identical to Big Cat¡¯sy ready.
¡°Wait, what are you doing?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s confusion deepened.
Were they systematically sacrificing themselves?
Or was Big Cat¡¯s gang enduring a punishment for some grave transgression?
Why continue sending Big Cat¡¯s men after such a vivid demonstration of fatal consequences?
The sight of the collective resignation disturbed Lin Xian, igniting a me of indignation for Big Cat.
Scanning the crowd again, Lin Xian realized a shocking detail¡ªthere were no young or middle-aged men present.
Only women, the elderly, and children.
He turned to a familiar face nearby, Li Ning Ning, and asked, ¡°Where are the other men?¡±
¡°They¡ are thest men of Donghai,¡± she replied with a hollow tone.
Lin Xian furrowed his brow, taking in the silent crowd, Ah Zhuang donning the spacesuit, the thousands of twinkling blue lights on Sky City, and the moon casting shadows overhead.
What nightmare had befallen this world?
Chapter 220: Fireworks
¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± Lin Xian asked, his eyes sweeping the crowd but failing to find Li Cheng.
¡°My dad died when I was little,¡± Li Ning Ning replied, her gaze drifting upward to where thousands of artificial blue moons adorned the sky. ¡°He was the pioneer of skydiving into Sky City. Sadly, he was also the first to attempt it. No one knew about theser anti-aircraft zone back then. He jumped from too low an altitude and was instantly vaporized by thesers.¡±
Lin Xian fell silent, his eyes wandering as he searched for the beautiful woman he remembered¡ªLi Ning Ning¡¯s mother and Li Cheng¡¯s lover from his first dream. ¡°What about your mom?¡±
¡°My mom followed soon after him,¡± Li Ning Ning said softly, her eyes fierce and unyielding like a butterfly battling the wind.
Lin Xian felt a surge of sympathy. He had met Li Ning Ning in this second world, where she had transformed from a pampered princess into an orphan with no parents left.
¡°Why do you all insist on reaching Rhine Sky City?¡± Lin Xian probed further, puzzled by the desperation he sensed. ¡°Why are so many risking their lives? What¡¯s your ultimate goal? Is it for books, history, knowledge?¡±
Li Ning Ning shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not just about those things¡ though they¡¯re important. But when your life and your future are on the line, those pursuits fade into the background.¡±
¡°You must be a friend of Big Cat Face, right? If you were from here, you¡¯d know why,¡± she said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. She picked up a little girl clinging to her clothes and gently wiped the festering sores on her neck. Pus oozed continuously, and the wounds showed no signs of healing.Lin Xian frowned, disturbed. What kind of illness causes this? He noticed many in the crowd bore simr ck sores, oozing pus.
¡°It¡¯s radiation sickness,¡± Li Ning Ning exined as she put the girl down and tucked away her handkerchief. ¡°We don¡¯t know exactly when it started, but more and more people are getting it. It¡¯s all because of Rhine Sky City.¡±
Her expression darkened as she red at the colossal floating structure in the sky. ¡°The radiation might be from the nuclear fusion engines beneath Sky City or from the waste they dump, but either way, its existence has led to an increasing number of people getting sick and dying.¡±
¡°This disease isn¡¯t contagious, but it¡¯s incurable. The sores never heal, leading to constant infections and eventually, a painful death.¡±
¡°Some babies are stillborn because of it, and those who do survive birth are often deformed. It¡¯s terrifying. The scariest part is¡ we can¡¯t escape it.¡±
Li Ning Ning looked over to the helium balloons slowly ascending behind Lin Xian. ¡°At first, everyone tried to flee, but it was futile. The radioactive material spreads with the wind, carried by birds, animals, and insects. It reaches everywhere. There¡¯s no escaping it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re desperate to get into Sky City. My dad believed there must be some medicine there that could make us immune to the radiation sickness. If we can just get a sample, even a single pill or box, we could analyze it and possibly create a cure.¡±
¡°Only then can we have a chance to survive and maybe even have a future.¡±
As Lin Xian absorbed this information, the grim reality of this world¡ªthis third dream where Li Cheng and Big Cat Face¡¯s group existed¡ªbecame clear. The living conditions here were far worse than in the previous dream. Not just for them, but for everyone affected.
The controlled nuclear fusion technology, rather than offering free electricity and an inexhaustible energy supply to all, had exacerbated the divide between the wealthy and the poor¡ more urately, between life and death.
Lin Xian suspected the source of the radiation sickness was tied to those countless blue engines running continuously day and night. The residents of Sky City likely had ways to protect themselves from the disease, living carefree lives while those on the surface suffered endlessly without ess to special medicine.
ording to Li Ning Ning, the disease, though not widespread, had a 100% fatality rate, causing excruciating pain with its never-healing sores.
It was even more dreadful than cancer in this era.
Driven by desperation, heroes like Li Cheng and Big Cat Face risked everything to infiltrate Sky City in hopes of finding a cure.
They had no other choice.
Without the medicine, everyone would eventually sumb to the disease.
Sooner orter, radiation sickness would im their loved ones, their friends, their families.
This was a crisis where the fate of the entire world hung in the bnce.
Yet, getting into Sky City was fraught with peril.
The anti-aircraft defenses extended up to ten kilometers high.
To prate the sole gap in the city¡¯s defenses, one had to ascend twenty kilometers using helium balloons, then glide through that narrow opening to evade the anti-aircraftsers.
The exact location of this gap wasn¡¯t openly known¡ªit was a secret bought with the lives of countless individuals.
This exined the absence of strong men in the local viges¡
They had all perished in the skies above Rhine Sky City, reduced to smoke by the ruthlesssers.
¡°So cruel,¡± Lin Xian sighed deeply.
He found himself questioning why, as the dreams evolved and technology advanced, life seemed only to worsen, be more segregated, more distant.
Once, it was just a wall that divided New Donghai City from Old Donghai.
Now, it was the vast expanse between the ground and Sky City.
And if technology continued to progress¡ would these two groups of people eventually gaze at each other across gxies?
¡°This is abnormal,¡± Lin Xian asserted with conviction.
He couldn¡¯t ept that a normal world would evolve in such a distorted manner. It was evident to him¡
The future world in the third dream, including the looming presence of Rhine Sky City, was likely another maniption by the Genius Club¡ªa group intent on twisting human history and distorting the flow of time.
They seemed to relish in humanity¡¯s struggles.
It was baffling¡
Were they aliens? Traitors to Earth? What drove them to disrupt human prosperity so vehemently?
What troubled Lin Xian the most was the involvement of Rhine.
Rhine, apany he had founded and named, had somehow be entangled in these malevolent schemes.
Where did things go wrong?
Had his future self aligned with the Genius Club, or had he fought against them and ultimately failed? If it were up to him, Lin Xian was certain it was thetter. Align with those viins? He¡¯d rather meet his end first.
From the day he vowed to avenge Tang Xin and Xu Yun, and to confront adversaries like Ji Xin Shui, Ji Lin, and Zhou Duan Yun, he had stood firmly against these malefactors.
Though Lin Xian never considered himself a paragon of virtue, he certainly didn¡¯t support a world so cruelly manipted and devoid of hope.
¡°So¡ did I fail?¡± Lin Xian pondered, his gaze lifting to the faint blue glow of Sky City, reminiscent of Yellow Finch¡¯s blue eyes.
Had he failed, allowing Rhine Company to fall into the wrong hands? Was that the reason for the cmity above?
¡°Hmph, that¡¯s truly infuriating.¡±
But it didn¡¯t matter.
Even if his future self had failed, that wasn¡¯t the Lin Xian of 2023. For him, Rhine Company was newly established, its ribbon-cutting ceremony still on the horizon.
The future remained unwritten.
The 600 years of history before him were nothing but a piece of scrap paper, ripe for tearing apart.
I am history!
Whatever my defeat, that¡¯s how I¡¯ll reim victory!
Lin Xian lowered his gaze to Li Ning Ning. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not fulfilling my promise to you before, but it¡¯s not toote to make amends now.¡±
Li Ning Ning blinked, her head tilting in confusion. ¡°Before? We haven¡¯t met before, have we?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. To her, they hadn¡¯t met yet. But in the previous second dream, he had vowed to help her obliterate New Donghai City.
That n had never materialized; they hadn¡¯t even breached the city walls before being thrust into this third dream.
No matter.
Lin Xian gazed up at the colossal structure of Sky City, its countless blue nuclear fusion engines a stark reminder of the power it held. ¡°Blowing up this Sky City¡ would be even more spectacr, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
He offered Li Ning Ning a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯ll show you fireworks!¡±
¡°What are you talking about?¡± Li Ning Ning chuckled, puzzled yet intrigued. ¡°We just want the special medicine from Sky City. Why blow it up? But¡¡±
She gazed up at Lin Xian with a mixture of awe and anticipation. ¡°If you could actually blow it up, that¡¯d be great. I¡¯ve dreamed of destroying it since I was a child.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian reassured her, turning to stride towards the helium balloon, already inted and ready for ascent. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll keep my word.¡±
Li Ning Ning watched him depart, a mix of bewilderment and admiration in her eyes. ¡°What a strange person.¡±
Lin Xian approached Ah Zhuang, who was already suited up in an astronaut outfit, preparing to don his helmet. Lin Xian pped him on the shoulder.
¡°Ah Zhuang.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Ah Zhuang turned, surprised.
¡°Get me a spacesuit and parachute, too,¡± Lin Xian requested, pointing to himself. ¡°I¡¯m going with you!¡±
Chapter 221: Falling from the Sky
¡°Hey, buddy, who are you exactly?¡±
Ah Zhuang¡¯s curiosity finally got the better of him. He squinted at the stranger standing before him. The man seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Ah Zhuang had never seen him before, yet the man blended in effortlessly, as if he belonged there. His casual demeanor made Ah Zhuang question his own memory, struggling to recall if they had ever met.
Since his arrival, the man had struck up easy conversations about Big Cat Face, sharedughs with Er Zhuzi, and even exchanged friendly words with Li Ning Ning as though they were long-lost friends. Initially, Ah Zhuang let it slide, attributing it to the man¡¯s outgoing nature. But now, his behavior was bing intrusive, inserting himself into their ns and even asking for equipment.
¡°This isn¡¯t a game, it¡¯s a matter of life and death! Besides, are you even trained to skydive?¡± Ah Zhuang blurted out.
¡°Of course, I am,¡± Lin Xian responded with a confident grin. ¡°I understand the stakes, and no one here is afraid of a little danger.¡±
¡°Who said you¡¯re part of our team?¡± Ah Zhuang eyed him warily. ¡°Do you even grasp what we¡¯re attempting here?¡±
¡°I do. We¡¯re gearing up for a high-altitude skydive into Rhine Sky City to find a cure for radiation sickness. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve done wingsuit flying at altitudes as high as 20,000 meters.¡±Lin Xian boasted, though the reality was less impressive. His actual experience in wingsuit flying peaked at just a few thousand meters¡ªfar short of 20,000. It wasn¡¯t ack of bravery but rather the rare opportunity for such extreme altitude jumps. Such feats were usually the realm of sponsored professionals.
¡°Think it through,¡± Ah Zhuang cautioned. ¡°You saw what happened to Brother Face earlier. A minor error could get us spotted and obliterated by theser defense grid.¡±
¡°Once the helium balloon hits 20,000 meters, it won¡¯te down. It¡¯ll keep rising until it bursts in outer space. If you back out midway, there¡¯s no turning back.¡±
¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Lin Xian urged, checking his watch¡ªit was ticking past 11 p.m. The balloon¡¯s ascent was slow, and with the prep and jump time considered, their window to explore Sky City would be tight. They had to move fast.
Momentster, a group of women handed Lin Xian his skydiving gear and a makeshift spacesuit. These items weren¡¯t hard toe by; what was truly scarce were brave souls. In the dwindling vige of Donghai, aside from the elderly, ill, weak, and women, only three men were left. Should they fail and perish, the women would be next to learn skydiving and face the same risks.
Without a cure for radiation sickness, their loved ones would soon follow. No one was exempt from this grim fate.
¡°Listen, Lin Xian,¡± Ah Zhuang said as he helped Lin Xian into the cumbersome spacesuit, ¡°Our target is the za in the northwest district. It¡¯s the only spot we¡¯ve managed to evade theser defense over the years. There¡¯s a gap in their grid there.¡±
Lin Xian examined the map marked with a red circle. ¡°That za looksrge; is the gap equally big?¡±
¡°No,¡± Ah Zhuang shook his head. ¡°We don¡¯t know its precise location. All past attempts have ended in casualties, and we only have a rough idea of safe zones based on where others were vaporized. We¡¯ve ruled out the northeast and southeast, but the data isn¡¯t perfect. No one knows the actual size of the gap. We have to try our luck. I suggest we both aim for the northwest. If we don¡¯t make it, Er Zhuzi and San Pang will try the southwest. This should boost our chances.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Lin Xian nodded. As he surmised, the exact locations of safe spots and danger zones were mapped through countless sacrifices. His odds today seemed slim, but he held a unique advantage: the infinite loops of his dreams allowed him to remember each deadly oue and sidestep it in subsequent attempts. With persistence, he was bound to safelynd inside Rhine Sky City.
¡°Ready? Let¡¯sunch!¡±
With the tether cut, the helium balloon carrying Lin Xian and Ah Zhuang began its ascent into the night sky. This was Lin Xian¡¯s first experience in a hot air balloon, and he found the novelty exciting. In his dreams, his ascents were always via a skydiving ne.
The balloon climbed quicker than Lin Xian anticipated, elerating as they ascended. The strengthening wind pushed them, though their course had been plotted with the wind direction in mind, crucial for their precise invasion of Sky City. A premature approach could activate theser defenses, leading to their instant demise.
Higher up, the view resembled that from an airne. Initially, thick clouds obscured their vision, but as they reached higher altitudes, the scenery cleared to reveal the city lights below. Lin Xian checked the altimeter: they were at 15,000 meters, the temperature plummeting to minus 37 degrees Celsius. Above, the moonlight cast a pale glow on sparse clouds.
Lin Xian had once scoffed at the idea that one could see the darkness of space from 30,000 meters, considering the stratosphere still far removed from outer space. Yet, extreme sports footage had shown otherwise, with backgrounds turning pitch ck as adventurers ascended. He hoped to witness this phenomenon firsthand someday.
At 17,000 meters now, they surpassedmercial flight altitudes, facing temperatures near minus 50 degrees and atmospheric pressure only a fraction of sea level. This was a lifeless zone, inhospitable without technological aid. Despite Ah Zhuang releasing helium, the balloon expanded enormously.
Upon reaching 20,000 meters, Ah Zhuang tapped Lin Xian¡¯s helmet, gesturing downward. Below, Rhine Sky City sparkled, its advanced infrastructure lighting up like awork of fireflies. Lin Xian focused on the northwest district za, its lights now mere pinpricks but providing them a target.
Signaling his readiness, Lin Xian watched Ah Zhuang nod before leaping, quickly finding his glide. Lin Xian followed, diving into the biting wind. The initial weightlessness gave way to the palpable tug of air resistance. Unlike Ah Zhuang, Lin Xian opted for a steep dive to gain speed.
Mastering his wingsuit, Lin Xian knew adjusting his posture and velocity was crucial. Galileo¡¯s experiments had demonstrated that all objects, irrespective of mass, fall at the same rate in a vacuum, but in the atmosphere, a human¡¯s body shape could dramatically influence their descent speed.
Extreme sport enthusiasts understood that at sufficient heights, a person reaches terminal velocity¡ªthe point where gravity and air resistance equalize, preventing further eleration. While the average terminal velocity for women is around 50 meters per second, men can reach about 90 meters per second. Under optimal conditions, this could spike to over 300 meters per second.
Catching up to Ah Zhuang, Lin Xian maintained a calcted distance as they aimed for the za. As they neared the city, ice crusted over Lin Xian¡¯s visor, the wind a roaringpanion. Though still hundreds of meters up, the city loomed close, heightening the tension of their descent.
This was their gamble with mortality. Lin Xian adjusted slightly to the right, hoping to pinpoint the elusive safe gap. If unsessful, his next attempt would shift leftward, methodically eliminating possibilities until the gap was found.
Peering through his frosty helmet at the approaching Rhine Sky City, Lin Xian pondered the mysteries it held. What secrets were nestled within its confines?
Chapter 222: Reunion After 600 Years
Lin Xian had no time to think before a massive redser, as thick as a giant tree, sliced through the night sky. The beam struck Ah Zhuang, who was flying ahead, engulfing him in its intense heat.
In an instant, Ah Zhuang, along with hisplex equipment and spacesuit, disappeared from sight. All that was left were several clusters of ckened carbon, faintly glowing with uncooled red embers. The sound of crackling followed as these tiny carbon particles, like reverse hail, pelted Lin Xian¡¯s spacesuit.
Lin Xian realized in that chilling moment that these were the remains of Ah Zhuang, who had just been vaporized by the superheatedser. The fact that these remains were hitting him meant he was now flying at the same altitude as Ah Zhuang had been.
Suddenly, his vision turned red. It felt as if he was enveloped by a scorching red sun, and in that moment, he was obliterated. He didn¡¯t even have time to register the pain.
¡.
¡°Huff,¡± Lin Xian gasped as he opened his eyes and found himself back in his bedroom. He nced at the clock on his nightstand. It was still early, far from 00:42, the time he had died in his previous attempt.
¡°This is too hard; it¡¯s practically impossible,¡± he muttered, reflecting on the experience.Having actually done a parachute jump in reality, Lin Xian now realized he had drastically underestimated the challenge of this mission. The main problem was the height. The gap in the defensework was at 10,000 meters, while the altitude of Rhine Sky City was about two to three thousand meters. This left a 7,000-meter difference, making it impossible to find any reference point for hisnding.
As he descended to 10,000 meters, Lin Xian had to strain his eyes to even glimpse the tiny za 7,000 meters below. Aiming urately from such a height was a feat he could not achieve.
¡°It¡¯s like being asked to hit a palm-sized target 7,000 meters away with a gun that has no scope. Even if you think you¡¯re aiming correctly, you¡¯re just guessing; the chances of hitting the target are almost zero,¡± he exined to himself.
Lin Xian got out of bed and moved to his desk where he carefully reviewed the parachuting n he had developed with Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang.
The n was daunting:
1. Start the jump at an altitude of 20,000 meters.
2. Fall 10,000 meters and then glide horizontally about 2,000 meters to position themselves directly above the za.
3. Assuming they miraculously hit the gap, they would still need to open their parachutes at about 5,000 meters, roughly 2,000 meters above the ground of Rhine Sky City.
4. If everything went perfectly, and they found the medicine for radiation sickness, they would still need to find the right moment to jump off the edge of Sky City and use a second parachute to return to the ground safely.
¡°This isn¡¯t just a risky n, it¡¯s a suicidal one. Saying it¡¯s a thousand deaths for one life isn¡¯t an exaggeration,¡± Lin Xian pondered.
He realized that the death toll was high because each failed attempt provided no useful feedback to those still alive; they couldn¡¯t use the elimination method. This meant that many more might perish in the same way as their predecessors.
¡°So, why is that gap in the defense area intentionally left open?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud. After much thought, he became more convinced of his earlier suspicion ¡ª that gap was specifically intended for him.
¡°Only I can repeatedly die and remember where the gaps are. This capability is unique to me. Even if I¡¯m killed bysers, I can recall where I died and avoid it in the next attempt,¡± he reasoned, his thoughts sharpening.
This almost impossible challenge, this puzzle, seemed designed specifically for him. But who would set such a trap or offer such an opportunity?
An enemy? A friend? Or perhaps a future version of himself?
¡°This is getting more and more intriguing,¡± Lin Xian chuckled to himself. Whether friend or foe, he was in a world of endless cycles of dreams. What was there to fear?
Motivated, he was eager to dive back into the dream, determined to unravel the mystery of this gap.
¡.
The next day, Lin Xian entered his dream world early, with a clear objective in mind. He didn¡¯t wander; instead, he went straight to where the crowd and lights were, looking for Big Cat Face.
Although this world¡¯s Big Cat Face was meeting Lin Xian for the first time, he readily epted Lin Xian¡¯s proposal to jump together. After all, it was a path fraught with peril, and while no one stopped Lin Xian, many respected and thanked him for his bravery.
The next day¡¯s parachuting attempt followed the same protocol as before, only this time Big Cat Face took Ah Zhuang¡¯s ce. They ascended to 20,000 meters on a helium balloon and then jumped, aiming for the central za of Rhine Sky City, only to be vaporized by the defensesers once again.
Lin Xian remained optimistic. He didn¡¯t expect to locate the gap in the defensework on just one or two tries. He was prepared to fail repeatedly, knowing that each failure helped eliminate incorrect possibilities, slowly but surely increasing his chances of sess.
Thus, the more he failed, the closer he got to seeding.
¡.
On the third day, the fourth day, and the fifth day, Lin Xian faced the same repeated scenario each night: an endless cycle of trying and failing.
In his dreams, when Lin Xian entered early, he would parachute alongside Big Cat Face. If he enteredte, hispanion would be Ah Zhuang. This time, he hadn¡¯t developed a deep friendship with Big Cat Face; to Big Cat Face, Lin Xian was either overly enthusiastic or foolishly unafraid of death. However, this didn¡¯t bother Lin Xian. His only concern was to participate in the parachuting, regardless of the oue.
Despite the repeated failures, each night ending in a fiery crash, Lin Xian noticed an improvement in his parachuting skills. He had mastered more proficient gliding and learned mid-air flips, gaining better control over his direction and even performingplex stunts.
Driven by curiosity about whaty beyond the heights they reached, Lin Xian once decided not to follow Big Cat Face but instead allowed the helium balloon to ascend further while releasing gas. At 35,000 meters, the sight was breathtaking: the pitch-ck vastness of space and the curved horizon of the Earth. It was the farthest he had ever been from Earth, and the view was mesmerizing. Above him was the ck void of space; below, the Earth shone brightly. ¡°So beautiful,¡± he thought, imagining what it would be like to stand in real outer space, looking back at Earth from 100 kilometers away.
For some unknown reason, the helium balloon couldn¡¯t rise beyond 35,000 meters, possibly due to the thin air not providing enough buoyancy to lift the heavy load. Despite this, Lin Xian jumped from that height, continuing his mission. From a sensory standpoint, jumping from 35,000 meters felt no different than from 20,000 meters¡ªit was all freefall, just a longer duration. The real challenge in parachuting wasn¡¯t the freefall, which anyone could manage; it was deploying the parachute correctly to ensure a safending. But these weren¡¯t Lin Xian¡¯s concerns; the defensesers took care of everything.
That morning, in front of the Rhine Company building, a crowd of reporters had gathered. It was the grand opening of Rhine Company, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The presence of so many reporters was spurred not by thepany¡¯s achievements but because Chu Shan He, the president of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce, had personally attended. This was a rare urrence in Donghai¡¯s business circles, sparking rumors about Lin Xian¡¯s connections.
During the ribbon-cutting, Lin Xian stood nked by Zhao Ying Jun and Chu Shan He, with thetter disying a surprisingly friendly rapport with him, further fueling spection among the reporters. As Lin Xian cut the ribbon, celebration cannons fired, and confetti flew amidst a chorus of apuse, marking the officialunch of Rhine Company.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, what are Rhine Company¡¯s future ns?¡± one reporter asked, thrusting a microphone towards him.
Lin Xian paused, his mind flooded with visions of future cities powered by fusion engines, the pollution falling from above, and the afflicted people below. His expression grew solemn as he faced the crowd. ¡°In fact, I have no grand ambitions for Rhine Company. It was never meant to be a global giant or a market unicorn,¡± he began earnestly. ¡°While making money is essential, I believe there are principles that transcend profit. As President Zhao Ying Jun once taught me, one should make money with a conscience, and run a business with integrity.¡±
¡°Today, I am here because of the lessons I learned from her. The most important lesson? To operate with a conscience. I hope that years from now, Rhine Company will be remembered not just as a business, but as a conscientious entity that contributed positively to society.¡± Lin Xian concluded, addressing not only the reporters but also sending a message to future generations.
Lin Xian surveyed the quiet room, his unexpected speech had clearly caught everyone off guard.
In truth, Brother Wang had alreadyid the groundwork. Thepany¡¯s PR department had distributed red envelopes to the media to ensure favorable coverage of their event. The reporters¡¯ questions were scripted in advance, aligning perfectly with the press release crafted the night before. All Lin Xian needed to do was recite the prepared responses. Even a slip-up wouldn¡¯t matter; the reporters would adhere to their scripts, painting a glowing picture in their articles.
This wasn¡¯t Lin Xian¡¯s first encounter with such orchestrated publicity. It was a standard practice in the industry, one he had witnessed multiple times, including at Rhine¡¯s own productunches. Lin Xian understood and epted these maneuvers as part of the business world.
But today was different. Images from his third dream¡ªthe catastrophe in Rhine Sky City and the lives it imed¡ªshed through his mind, rendering him unable to deliver the hollow words scripted for him. Despite the expectation for CEOs to spout such titudes atpany events, having seen the potential future consequences in his dream, Lin Xian found himself unable toply passively.
Unsure whether he would one day be responsible for constructing that future Rhine Sky City or if it would evolve from the currentpany, Lin Xian felt a profound responsibility to avert that grim future. Standing before the expectant crowd, he discarded the script.
¡°I still don¡¯t have a clear direction for Rhine Company¡¯s future development,¡± Lin Xian dered with gravity. ¡°But I sincerely hope that no matter howrge Rhine Company bes, or what fields it might explore, it will remain steadfast to one principle¡ªthe principle that defines our purpose: For a better future for humanity!¡±
His words echoed through the silence that enveloped the room, followed by an eruption of apuse. It was rare, nearly unprecedented, for a leader to make such an earnest deration without the usual corporate veneer.
¡°For a better future for humanity.¡±
Such derations had be almost clich¨¦, often avoided by modern entrepreneurs out of a sense of embarrassment. Yet, Lin Xian spoke with sincerity. Though everyone was aware that his speech deviated from the typical promotional script, it was clear he wasn¡¯t just putting on an act. He spoke from the heart, making a profound impression on his audience, including many former colleagues from MX Company who had followed him to Rhine Company, drawn by his genuine charisma.
¡.
¡°Well said, Lin Xian.¡± The apuse dwindled as Chu Shan He approached with a smile, extending his hand in congrattions. ¡°I look forward to the day you realize this dream.¡±
¡°Thank you, Mr. Chu, for your support,¡± Lin Xian replied, shaking his hand.
¡°Oh, think nothing of it!¡± Chu Shan He dismissed with a wave as he departed. ¡°But do keep in touch, and visit often.¡±
After he left in his Maybach, most of the crowd dispersed, leaving Lin Xian with Zhao Ying Jun, who approached him, her heels clicking on the floor.
¡°I¡¯m really happy for you, Lin Xian,¡± she smiled warmly. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve truly found something worth dedicating your life to. You¡¯re not just chasing sess for the sake of it; you¡¯ve found a genuine purpose.¡±
Lin Xian returned the smile, appreciating her presence and support. ¡°I learned it all from you, and I¡¯m grateful for everything.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s shake on it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested, offering her hand with a lightugh.
As they shook hands, Lin Xian felt the weight of the moment, the significance of their shared journey towards something meaningful.
¡.
Suddenly, a redser shed to the right.
Lin Xian turned just in time to see Big Cat Face vaporized by the beam, reduced to charcoal¡ªa scene that had repeated itself countless times. Lin Xian, d in his spacesuit, braced for his turn.
But the expected st didn¡¯te. Instead, as he fell, he noticed he was plummeting directly toward the central za of Rhine Sky City. The details of the ground rushed up to meet him.
¡°I found the gap!¡± Lin Xian eximed, realizing he had somehow navigated through a breach in the city¡¯s defenses.
His descent slowed as he deployed his parachute, gliding down towards a giant statue. Landing with a thud, Lin Xian quickly freed himself from the parachute and approached the statue. It was a grand depiction of a woman carved in white jade.
Below it, an inscription read: ¡°In memory of the builder of Rhine Sky City¡ªZhao Ying Jun.¡±
Lin Xian stood there, absorbing the revtion, his heart filled with a mix of awe and curiosity about the role Zhao Ying Jun would y in this envisioned future.
Chapter 223: Long Time No See
¡°Zhao¡ Zhao Ying Jun?¡± Lin Xian murmured, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the name engraved at the base of the statue. ¡°Tomemorate the builder of Rhine Sky City¡ Zhao Ying Jun. Why is Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s name here?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze drifted upwards, taking in the imposing white jade statue before him. From where he stood, the statue¡¯s exact features were indistinct, but the engraved name at its base confirmed it represented Zhao Ying Jun, his former boss and the president of MX Company.
The likelihood of another person with that exact name seemed too far-fetched. It had to be her.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lingered on the inscription, his mind racing as he tried to connect the dots.
His earlier hypothesis suggested that Rhine Sky City was a project initiated by the Rhine Company, which he had founded. It made perfect sense then that his future self might have engineered a loophole in the city¡¯s air defense systems.
But where exactly would this loophole be?
Considering there was a za honoring the founder of the Rhine Company with a statue¡ªpotentially his own statue¡ªit seemed usible that the air defense vulnerability would be situated directly above it. It all clicked seamlessly in his mind.
As Lin Xian descended and caught sight of the white jade statue, his instincts had screamed that it should be his statue.But he was wrong.
All his deductions had led him to a coherent narrative until the unexpected truth confronted him: ¡°The builder of Rhine Sky City, the person this statue depicts, and the architect behind the air defense gap¡ It¡¯s all Zhao Ying Jun.¡±
Lin Xian was stumped.
Why would Zhao Ying Jun undertake such a massive project?
What was her intention behind creating Rhine Sky City? How did he, Lin Xian, fit into her ns? What were his contributions to this historical tapestry?
Convinced that Zhao Ying Jun had orchestrated everything to draw him to the Sky City, Lin Xian was determined to uncover the truths hidden here.
During his recent dream-filled days, he had extensively discussed this world with Big Cat Face and Li Ning Ning.
Rhine Sky City¡¯s history spanned less than 200 years from its elevation. However, its construction had begun on the ground over a century earlier¡ªa monumental effort extending across a hundred years.
This timeline suggested that the city¡¯s construction started around 2300. By then, it had already begun to host residents, much like the isted New Donghai City.
The city continued to grow over a century until its controlled nuclear fusion engines were activated, propelling the massive structure 2000 meters into the sky, where it had floated for two centuries as a bona fide airborne city.
The onset of radiation sickness coincided roughly with the city¡¯s rise.
Big Cat Face and Li Ning Ning told him that the technological prowess of those dwelling on the surface had greatly advanced since his second dream. There were numerous skilled individuals and varied disciplines. However, the advent of an incurable, invariably fatal radiation sickness transformed everything.
The urgency of survival overshadowed other pursuits, leading to a gradual decline in education, science, and other fields.
Globally, many sky cities, supported by thousands of nuclear fusion engines, dotted the skies like stars. This inexhaustible energy source illuminated the night but also cast a sinister pall over the ground below.
Lin Xian questioned them further about Rhine Sky City¡ªits origins, its founder, and its purpose. As in the second dream, they struggled to provide clear historical details.
It became clear that history had faded in this world too, with only thest century¡¯s events somewhat remembered while earlier records were lost in obscurity.
Lin Xian had also inquired about the ck hand shadow associated with the Genius Club on the moon, only to receive a mishmash of legends devoid of solid facts.
Before encountering this statue, Lin Xian had thought Rhine Sky City was merely another version of New Donghai City¡ªhistorically obscure and heavily fortified, rendering any infiltration efforts futile.
Now, his perspective had shifted.
Rhine Sky City was fundamentally different from New Donghai City!
The connections¡ªRhine Company, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue, and the strategically ced gap in the air defense¡ªall led to a stunning realization:
Rhine Sky City was probably constructed by Zhao Ying Jun specifically for him!
She anticipated his return, 600 yearster on thest day before the apocalypse;
She knew he alone could discover the vulnerability in the air defense through persistent efforts;
She understood the significance of the name ¡°Rhine¡± to him,pelling him not to overlook such a critical sky city;
And she trusted that upon seeing the statue that had endured 600 years, he would grasp her intricate scheme.
Rhine Sky City likely harbored a vital legacy Zhao Ying Jun had preserved for him, a testament spanning centuries, intended solely for his discovery.
In that moment, Lin Xian was profoundly moved.
This was a city conceived over 300 years and existing for 600, all to convey a clue and a message to someone from six centuries past.
Although he hadn¡¯t yet uncovered the gift, Lin Xian felt its profound significance then.
It was the burden of time, the gravity of decades.
Suddenly, Lin Xian, moved by an inexplicable urge, raised his hand to touch the white jade statue. It was cool to the touch, yet paradoxically seemed to radiate warmth.
As his hand made contact, it was as though a recording dormant for centuries sprang to life, and a long-awaited voice chuckled:
¡°Lin Xian, long time no see.¡±
At that instant, a wave of loneliness overwhelmed Lin Xian, unlike anything he had felt in his myriad dream journeys.
In all his previous dreams, he had experienced fear, confusion, rage, and madness.
But never loneliness¡
Even when today¡¯s closest allies turned distant tomorrow; even if he knew no one in the dream,cked a home, a family, friends, or a ce to belong, he had never felt lonely.
Now, touching the statue of Zhao Ying Jun, a profound solitude welled up from within, immense and indescribable.
The vast expanse of 600 years had erased everything familiar, leaving behind only this statue of an old friend.
The word memorate¡± inscribed on the base made it clear: Zhao Ying Jun was no longer alive.
It was uncertain when she had passed away.
Given the advanced technology of cryogenic sleep chambers in the second dream, it was impossible to pinpoint her time of death.
She might have died before thepletion of Rhine Sky City, as its visionary;
She might have perished during the 300 years of its construction;
Or perhaps she had lived to see the city ascend into the skies.
With cryogenic technology extending human lifespan by centuries, the timing of her death remained ambiguous.
Traditionally, statues were not erected for the living, as it was considered ominous, so her passing was evident.
Now, 600 yearster, the name Rhine still resonated, the Rhine Cat might still exist, and the sky city endured.
But Zhao Ying Jun was gone.
She had constructed a city for him, crafted a guiding gap, concealed a secret, and hidden a gift, only to depart from this world at some point.
After the solitude, Lin Xian felt a warm surge emanating from the statue¡¯s cold surface, seeping into his body through his arm, instilling a sense of peace and warmth.
He looked up at the imposing figure.
Truthfully, although Rhine Sky City was still shrouded in mysteries for him, and all his theories remained unverified, this unfamiliar sky city felt different from New Donghai City.
New Donghai City felt detached; Rhine Sky City felt intimate andforting.
The presence of this statue gave him a sense of belonging here, like returning home.
Suddenly, curiosity gripped Lin Xian.
What did Zhao Ying Jun look like in the future?
What was her appearance in middle age, or even in herter years?
Did she still sport her signature proud earrings?
Was she still as dynamic and spirited as he remembered?
Would he recognize her face even 600 yearster?
Driven by this curiosity, Lin Xian continued to gaze upwards at the statue as he slowly backed away¡ª
¡°Ouch.¡±
Thud!
Absorbed in his thoughts, Lin Xian had not noticed his surroundings and collided with something hard and cylindrical, losing his bnce and tumbling to the ground.
He propped himself up, eyeing the object that had tripped him.
It was a cylindrical robot, grayish-white and resembling a trash can.
A cleaning robot?
That was Lin Xian¡¯s initial thought.
But it was unlikely.
This robot, shaped like a trash can but far more sophisticated than any 2023 cleaning device, was equipped with treads beneath it, now visible as it struggled to right itself.
Its two mp-like mechanical arms iled in the air, seeking something to grasp.
Its eyes, glowing green, fixated on a small piece of paper on the ground:
¡°Trash! Trash! Trash detected!¡±
¡°Trash! Trash! Trash detected!¡±
Chapter 224: The Failure
¡°Is this¡ a trash can robot?¡± Lin Xian asked himself as he stood up, brushing the dust off his pants. He realized he was still wearing his bulky spacesuit, which exined the heat he felt; the temperature in Sky City was around 20 degrees Celsius, typical of a midsummer day. He began to peel off the cumbersome suit piece by piece until he was finally free from it.
As he undressed, Lin Xian¡¯s attention was drawn to a small, round robot he had stumbled upon. It was clumsily trying to right itself, using its mechanical arms to push against the ground. Once upright, it rolled toward a crumpled piece of paper, its treads whirring softly.
¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡± the robot chirped, sounding almost enthusiastic.
Lin Xian watched silently, his curiosity piqued. Despite its somewhat battered appearance, with chipped paint and worn edges, the robot disyed a surprising level of sophistication. It could self-correct its position and urately identify litter¡ªa testament to its advanced programming. Lin Xian wondered if these robots weremon in Rhine Sky City, given the city¡¯s ess to abundant energy from controlled nuclear fusion.
As he observed, the robot extended its mechanical arm, deftly picked up the paper ball with a click, and dropped it into itspartment with a satisfying pop. The scene was strangely endearing. Lin Xian chuckled to himself; such technology was unheard of back in 2023.
The robot, small enough to be mistaken for arge water cooler, wasn¡¯t built to handlerge trash. Lin Xian considered tossing his spacesuit into it but dismissed the idea, knowing it wouldn¡¯t fit.
His attention soon shifted toward a nearby statue of Zhao Ying Jun, but before he could take a closer look, the robot¡¯s eyes shed green, and it darted toward him, dering, ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian looked around, confused. The za around the statue was immacte¡ªthere was no trash in sight.The robottched onto his pant leg with its mechanical w, tugging insistently. ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
¡°These aren¡¯t trash; they¡¯re my pants,¡± Lin Xian retorted, a mix of amusement and annoyance in his voice.
The robot persisted,cking amunication feature. Not wanting to cause a scene, Lin Xian reluctantly cut the lower part of his pants with a knife from his pack and let the robot take it.
The robot quickly processed the fabric and then unexpectedly grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s ankle. ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Lin Xian eximed, lightly smacking the robot¡¯s head.
He spected that the robot might be malfunctioning, possibly due to a fall it had taken earlier. The za was rtively quiet, but Lin Xian noticed a few onlookers nearby. Wanting to avoid drawing more attention, he tried to free himself from the persistent machine.
¡°Let go,¡± hemanded, prying the w from his ankle and pushing the robot away. ¡°Go sweep over there.¡±
But the robot was relentless. It whirred back toward him and grabbed his ankle again, repeating its earlier promation.
¡°This dumb robot is really starting to annoy me,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath. With a sigh, he lifted the surprisingly heavy robotparable in weight to Chu An Qing¡ªand carried it to the edge of the tform. With a frustrated grunt, he tossed it down. The robot hit the ground with a heavy thud, its structure visibly damaged, yet it continued to il its mechanical arms and dere, ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
¡°Go y by yourself,¡± Lin Xian said dismissively, turning his attention back to the statue of Zhao Ying Jun. He stepped back to get a better view. The statue, positioned on a raised tform, depicted a woman around forty, her features mature yet strikingly beautiful.
It was unmistakably Zhao Ying Jun, though she appeared older than the version Lin Xian knew from 2023. He had once entertained the idea that Yellow Finch, another figure from his past, might have been a time-traveling Zhao Ying Jun, but the differences in their appearances had dissuaded him from this theory.
Standing there, Lin Xian felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. ¡°What an amazing woman,¡± he murmured, recalling their past conversations. Although he had just seen her earlier that morning, the centuries seemed to stretch between them here in Sky City.
¡°What did you leave for me in this Sky City?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, his voice tinged with both curiosity and a hint of loneliness.
His reverie was abruptly interrupted by the familiar mping noise of the robot, which had managed to follow him back to the statue. ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed, frustration mounting.
This dumb robot was unbelievably annoying, clinging to him like a stubborn child. How had it climbed back up so quickly after being thrown off the tform?
¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡± The robot¡¯s eyes glowed a bright green as it mped down on Lin Xian¡¯s ankle again.
Frustrated, Lin Xian snapped, ¡°Damn it, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He pried the robot¡¯s w off his leg, picked it up, and noted that it felt slightly lighter after having disposed of its trash.
Determined to get rid of the nuisance, Lin Xian carried the robot to a nearby cluster of trees. He hung it upside down on a tree branch, hoping it would stay put this time.
¡°Stay there and think about what you¡¯ve done,¡± Lin Xian said with a hint of satisfaction.
However, no sooner had he turned his back than the robot began emitting a shrill rm and its eyes shed a dangerous red. ¡°Detecting malicious attack! Sending alert!¡± it cried out.
Suddenly, thin redser beams shot towards him from multiple directions. Lin Xian looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of small drones moving silently across the sky.
¡°Drones without propellers? How are they flying?¡± Lin Xian recalled simr red-glowing drones from his past encounters in New Donghai City, and a shiver ran down his spine.
Without wasting a moment, he took the robot down from the tree and hastily set it upright on the ground, snapping its lid back into ce.
The robot¡¯s rm slowly weakened, and its eyes shifted back to a peaceful green. ¡°Alert deactivated. Resuming cleaning,¡± it announced before mping onto Lin Xian¡¯s ankle once more. ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
Lin Xian sighed deeply, exasperated. This old, stubborn robot was truly testing his patience. Neither ignoring it nor confronting it seemed to work. What was he supposed to do?
¡°Alright, buddy,¡± Lin Xian crouched down, facing the robot, ¡°What do you want from me?¡±
Upon closer inspection, Lin Xian noticed the robot was quite old, its exterior covered in rust spots. It seemed oddly out of ce in the advanced, futuristic setting of Sky City.
Earlier, after throwing it off a tform, Lin Xian had spotted a metal namete inside the robot. It read ¡°Micro Trash Processing Robot VV.¡±
VV? The name rang a bell. Lin Xian remembered that VV was a nickname used by CC for a long-haired, bearded man who had fallen from grace¡ªpossibly a future version of himself. Why would this trash robot share that name?
Examining the namete more closely, Lin Xian realized VV was the model number of the robot. But was this merely a coincidence?
His gaze drifted to a nearby statue of Zhao Ying Jun and then back to the VV robot. It didn¡¯t feel like a coincidence. Zhao Ying Jun had designed this city with meticulous attention to detail, and everything had a purpose.
The area around the statue was eerily empty. Despite seeing people and flying vehicles earlier, now there was no one, no sound¡ªit was silent.
This robot was the only other presence near Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue. It couldn¡¯t just be a coincidence. Perhaps the robot was a clue left by Zhao Ying Jun?
¡°What could be hidden inside this robot?¡± Lin Xian pondered. He recalled that the robot hadn¡¯t triggered an rm when thrown off the tform but had when hung on a tree. Its rm system seemed tied to its physical orientation.
¡°Let¡¯s give it a try,¡± Lin Xian decided, lifting the robot and smashing it to the ground. The robot¡¯s eyes remained green. ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡± Fortunately, no rm was triggered.
Lin Xian continued to dismantle the robot, eventually breaking it into pieces. He sifted through the debris but found nothing of significance.
¡°Maybe I was wrong,¡± Lin Xian muttered, a hint of guilt coloring his tone. He had hoped to uncover something important, a clue left by Zhao Ying Jun, but found nothing.
Apologizing to the remains of the robot, he resolved to not break it the next day. Perhaps the robot¡¯s malfunction was simply due to the fall. If Zhao Ying Jun had indeed left a message, it wouldn¡¯t be so easily discovered.
As he looked up at the moon, Lin Xian pondered the potential enemies. Who could oppose Zhao Ying Jun, the mastermind capable of building a world-dominating Sky City?
Gazing at the starry sky, Lin Xian thought about the Genius Club, suspecting it had a hand in the alterations of this world. The battle against the Genius Club appeared to be a hidden war, with Zhao Ying Jun leaving him clues to alter the course of history.
¡°I won¡¯t lose this time,¡± Lin Xian vowed, standing before Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue with renewed determination. He was ready to uncover the secrets of Sky City and face the challenges ahead, determined to change the future.
Chapter 225: The Disappearance of CC
Lin Xian had thoroughly explored around the statue in Rhine Memorial za, but it was clear that no clues were to be found there. Shifting his focus to the surrounding areas, he made his way down the steps from the statue¡¯s tform. As he reached the bottom, he stopped abruptly.
¡°Hmm? A dead end?¡± he murmured, puzzled.
Before him stood a tall electronic gate blocking the transition from the tform to the bustling za below. This exined the stark contrast: the lively crowd on one side and the deserted space near the statue. Lin Xian recalled his unconventional entry from the sky, which allowed him ess to this otherwise restricted area.
Inspecting the gate, he found no visible mechanisms to open it¡ªa keypad or any sort of control was conspicuously absent. It was apparent he couldn¡¯t exit this way, but this wasn¡¯t a concern for him. Remembering the trash robot that had been ejected off the tform, he utilized his parkour skills to climb down the wall, mimicking the robot¡¯s idental path.
Uponnding with a soft thud, he saw the dismantled parts of the robot scattered around. A thought struck him: If one needed to ess the tform again, they¡¯d face the imprable gate he had inspected earlier. Yet, how had the trash robot, known as VV, gotten through? He briefly entertained the idea of a special passage for maintenance robots but discarded it as the robot was beyond any functional check now.
Leaving the confines of the statue area, Lin Xian strolled through the za, his attention caught by the eclectic fashion around him. Unlike any typical city, the residents of Sky City donned attire that appeared to be crafted from high-tech fabric acting like a disy screen. Children¡¯s clothing shifted in color and design, mimicking animations, while adults wore subtler but equally dynamic outfits featuring patterns that moved like natural elements. Some clothes even showcased animated characters that interacted yfully with their environment.
¡°These clothes¡ If only we had them back in 2023,¡± Lin Xian mused, appreciating the convenience of technology that allowed for such dynamic personal expression.
His simple attire didn¡¯t draw any stares in this diverse fashionndscape, affirming the inclusive nature of Sky City. As he ventured beyond the za, the city¡¯s true essence unfolded before him. It was a stark contrast to the superficial charm of New Donghai City; here, the prosperity was underpinned by genuine advancements in technology. The skies buzzed with agile vehicles and operational robots, all part of a highly efficient system. Buildings disyed ever-changing 3D imagery that, despite causing significant light pollution, showcased impressive technological prowess.Robots designed to blend with the city¡¯s futuristic aesthetic zipped through the streets, efficiently cleaning up without a trace. Lin Xian, hailing from 600 years in the past, could barely grasp the underlying technology¡ªeverything seemed to border on magic.
His thoughts wandered back to the enigmatic Genius Club. Initially, he had believed their objective was to hinder technological progress, based on his experiences in earlier dreams. But the evident technological explosion in Rhine Sky City challenged that notion. Was there a deeper, unseen agenda beyond merely stifling innovation?
¡°The more I think about it, the less sense it makes,¡± he confessed aloud, puzzled.
Another lingering question was the relevance of the number 42 in this context. Previously, Big Cat Face¡¯s father, a notable mathematician, could have shed light on this mystery, but his early demise from radiation sickness left many questions unanswered.
As Lin Xian left the za, he noted the solemn respect orded to the area, signified by the prohibition against honking and the absence of vehicr traffic. A statue of Zhao Ying Jun marked her significant legacy in this city.
Reflecting on his own identity, he realized he was the founder and CEO of Rhine Company. What transformations had urred over these six centuries? Determined to uncover more, he decided the local bookstore might hold historical records¡ªif they hadn¡¯t been altered¡ªto provide the insights he sought into the city¡¯s past and his role in it.
Unfortunately, after searching and asking around, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t find any open bookstores.
Many people gave him puzzled looks. ¡°Bookstore? Do people still read books?¡±
Though he didn¡¯t find a bookstore, Lin Xian stumbled upon a pharmacy and decided to inquire about something else that was on his mind¡ªradiation sickness treatment. The pharmacist, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, exined that such illnesses were rare now. ¡°Immunity is passed through breast milk, and even form has the necessary antigens,¡± she informed him. ording to her, the medication they had was seldom used and often expired on the shelves.
As Lin Xian left the pharmacy, he took a moment to observe his surroundings. Life in Rhine Sky City seemedid-back, withxw enforcement¡ªa stark contrast to the strict patrols back in New Donghai City. He felt invisible here, blending in without any suspicion.
Curious about the city¡¯s history, he returned to the friendly pharmacist. ¡°Excuse me, where can I learn more about the history of Rhine City?¡±
Without hesitation, she rmended, ¡°The Rhine Museum is the best ce. It has a lot of historical information. There¡¯s also a personal exhibition hall for Ms. Zhao Ying Jun with many precious relics.¡±
Her face lit up with respect as she mentioned Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°But the museum is closed now. You should go during the day.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s interest was piqued. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall might hold important clues. He thought about sneaking in at night, confident that if he needed help, Big Cat Face and the others were just a call away. The real threat was theser defense grid, but once past that, it should be easy.
Checking his watch¡ªit was 00:40¡ªLin Xian decided to call it a night. Despite the advanced technology around him, he noticed people were oblivious to the impending catastrophe. It was now 00:42, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary, which made him question his earlier assumptions about the mysterious blinding light.
¡°Could this be a simtion?¡± he wondered, thinking of movies like The Matrix. To test his theory, he nned to deposit something in a Time Bank safe in 2023 and check it in his dream. But first, he needed to locate Time Bank.
Rushing back into the pharmacy, he asked the pharmacist about Time Bank. After a brief pause, during which she might have been essing some internal database, she responded, ¡°Sorry, sir, there¡¯s no Time Bank in any part of Rhine Sky City.¡±
This revtion shocked Lin Xian. Time Bank and the safe were supposed to be constants, unaffected by temporal shifts. Now, everything seemed uncertain¡ªeven CC¡¯s whereabouts were a mystery. In previous dreams, she always appeared, seeking her truth rted to the safe left by VV.
¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Lin Xian muttered as he stepped outside. Suddenly, the sky exploded with blue-speckled butterflies, their chaotic fluttering like a string snapping loudly.
BOOM!!! BOOM!!! BOOM!!!
The familiar searing white light engulfed everything, turning it to ash.
¡
¡
¡
Lin Xian jolted awake in his bed. It was exactly 00:42.
¡°Why doesn¡¯t Time Bank exist anymore?¡± he pondered, his mind racing with theories about temporal shifts and the unpredictable nature of time.
The concept of temporal sticity echoed in his thoughts, a concept Yellow Finch had mentioned as crucial. ¡°Temporal sticity¡ is just resilience in time and space, right? A tolerance within certain change limits? What else could it mean?¡±
Frustrated but exhausted, Lin Xian decided to rest. Tomorrow would be another busy day, starting with picking up Liu Feng from the airport, who imed to have a new invention to show him.
¡°I wonder what it is,¡± Lin Xian mused as he drifted back to sleep, the mysteries of Rhine Sky City lingering in his dreams.
Chapter 226: The World Line and the Time-Space Clock
As the morning sun began to rise, Lin Xian found himselffortably seated in a business car provided by hispany, making his way to the airport. This special arrangement came courtesy of Brother Wang, a top executive at Rhine Company.
¡°Whether you¡¯re hands-on or not, you¡¯re the face of Rhine Company,¡± Brother Wang had exined earlier. ¡°It¡¯s essential we provide you with a vehicle that reflects our image. You are, after all, thepany¡¯s business card.¡±
Originally, Brother Wang wanted to provide Lin Xian with the most opulent business car avable, but Lin Xian had other ideas. ¡°Why draw unnecessary attention? Plus, Rhine Company is barely off the ground. We¡¯ve just started with the Rhine Cat brand and our main business is partnering with MX Company on the Rhine series. Most of our funding¡ªforty billion¡ªcame as ¡®investments¡¯ from Zhao Ying Jun and Chu Shan He. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for me to drive something overly extravagant at this stage.¡±
¡°Just find me something practical,¡± Lin Xian had told Brother Wang. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s car model will do. It¡¯sfortable enough.¡±
¡°Comfortable?!¡± Brother Wang eximed, a bit taken aback by the simplicity of the request.
Lin Xian sighed, ¡°Brother Wang, remember you¡¯re a vice president now. Try to act the part, and keep the jokes clean. You¡¯re as much a representative of ourpany¡¯s image as I am. We should both conduct ourselves ordingly.¡±
Eventually, Brother Wang arranged for Lin Xian to use a business car identical to the one Zhao Ying Jun favored.
Now, cruising along the airport expressway, Lin Xian appreciated the car¡¯s excellent shock absorption and soundproofing. He reclined in his seat, closing his eyes to ponder a puzzle from a dream he¡¯d had the night before.The presence of Time Bank in his third dream had initially been dismissed due to a casual remark by a store clerk. However, Lin Xian realized that the absence of records didn¡¯t mean the safety deposit boxes were gone. What if Time Bank had undergone a merger, acquisition, or aplete restructuring? If it could go bankrupt in his second dream, why couldn¡¯t it be bought out and rebranded in the third?
Additionally, Lin Xian considered that Time Bank might not be in the futuristic Rhine Sky City but rather in the Old Donghai area¡ªknown simply as Donghai in his third dream, where characters like Big Cat Face and Li Ning Ning resided. He had never explored the surface area extensively; Time Bank could very well be hidden in some corner of that old world.
Lin Xian was also convinced that CC, with her unique abilities to retain memories across different timelines, couldn¡¯t have just vanished. She was extraordinary, more so than his own dream-induced capabilities. If CC appeared in his third dream, she would likely remember their shared experiences from the second dream, allowing them to pick up their friendship right where they left off.
¡°I need to first decode the mystery left by Zhao Ying Jun,¡± Lin Xian mused as he checked the date on his phone. ¡°Once I uncover her clues, I¡¯ll search for CC and the safety deposit box. She¡¯s bound to reappear sooner orter.¡±
It was mid-June 2023, and the year was swiftly passing. ording to what he¡¯d learned in the second dream about New Donghai City, Time Bank¡¯s most recent establishment was ted for noter than 2024.
¡°Time is ticking for Time Bank. It¡¯s likely to start operations in thetter half of this year.¡±
Once Time Bank opened its doors in the real world, Lin Xian would be able to connect his dreams to reality, bridging past and future. That moment would mark the beginning of his journey to unravel the secrets hidden within the safety deposit box.
At the bustling airport arrival hall, Lin Xian was relieved to see Liu Feng, who had justnded with considerable luggage. The driver, already briefed, efficiently loaded the bags into the trunk. Lin Xian noted the renewed determination in Liu Feng¡¯s eyes, a clear shift from the deep sorrow he¡¯d carried since Qi Qi¡¯s passing.
¡°I can¡¯t just sit around waiting for Qi Qi to grant my wishes from heaven, can I? If I truly want the Universal Constant to be recognized, I must first prove its correctness and value,¡± Liu Feng had confided over a phone call, updating Lin Xian on his new focus. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re right. Lin Xian, you are my benefactor, so I¡¯ll listen to you. I won¡¯t publicize any research results and won¡¯t let anyone else know about them. Although I don¡¯t fully understand your emphasis on safety, I trust your judgment, especially after many scientists recently met with ¡®idents.''¡±
This had been a crucial point of advice from Lin Xian. Both he and his close colleague Ji Lin agreed on the sinister undertones of the so-called 00:42 murderer incident¡ªthey suspected that two groups were involved, with one poorly imitating the other.
The picture had since be clear. The real perpetrators at 00:42 were the members of the Genius Club, while Ji Xin Shui and his followers were mere imitators.
Lin Xian had pieced together a disturbing pattern. Both Ji Lin¡¯s parents and Big Cat Face¡¯s father, all mathematicians, were likely victims of the Genius Club. This led Lin Xian to a grim conclusion: the Genius Club¡¯s primary targets seemed to be mathematicians, while Ji Xin Shui might have gone after other scientists based on his own misguided decisions. This theory wasn¡¯t foolproof, but the supporting evidence waspelling.
Firstly, the Genius Club¡¯s interest in the mysterious number 42, linked to the Universal Constant, was undeniable. In his second dream, Lin Xian learned they had kidnapped Big Cat Face¡¯s father, likely out of fear rted to this number. Since the Universal Constant was a profound mathematical issue, and despite the demise of most of the Seven Deadly Sins, Liu Feng¡¯s research into this number made him a potential target. The enemy was stillrgely unknown, their motives shrouded in secrecy.
Therefore, extreme caution was necessary. Lin Xian had decided that only he and Liu Feng should be privy to the details of the Universal Constant 42, keeping their circle tight to avoid any leaks that could put them at greater risk.
After Liu Feng got into the business car, they headed towards Donghai University. The vehicle smoothly entered the campus, stopping in front of a newb building. Lin Xian led Liu Feng towards theb entrance, exining along the way:
¡°This is theb I prepared for you. This building was newly constructed by Donghai Universityst year and hasn¡¯t been put to use yet. Everything inside is brand new. I just founded the Rhine Company and negotiated a coboration with Donghai University. I won¡¯t bore you with the details, but overall, we took a loss. But we had to bleed a little; otherwise, Donghai University wouldn¡¯t have agreed to give us this newb building.¡±
¡°Of course, bleeding wasn¡¯t enough. It was Chu Shan He who coordinated, promising to build Donghai University a more luxurious and advanced world-ssb. That¡¯s why they agreed to let us use this building.¡±
They reached theb entrance, and Lin Xian pointed to the que next to the door: Donghai University and Rhine Company Joint Laboratory.
¡°Although it says ¡®joint,¡¯ it¡¯s basically all ours. You can focus on your research here. There are many rooms inside, includingbs, offices, archives, storage rooms, and single dorms. If you need to dive deep into your research, you can stay here. Also, I¡¯ve bought all the high-end equipment you listed for me. They will be installed gradually.¡±
After founding the Rhine Company, Lin Xian had contacted Liu Feng to ask what level ofb and types of equipment he needed. Liu Feng, taking Lin Xian¡¯s words ¡°money is no issue¡± seriously, listed three pages of equipment, some of which were very expensive and hard to obtain. But Lin Xian, without a word ofint, began preparing everything.
Initially, Lin Xian had expected that researching the Universal Constant wouldn¡¯t cost much. He thought about Big Cat Face¡¯s father in the second dream, who had researched the Universal Constant in a slum with just a shabby book and some scrap paper. He had spent over a decade and managed to figure out the Universal Constant, even understanding the true meaning of 42, leading to his demise at the hands of the Genius Club.
Comparatively, Liu Feng¡¯s requirements seemed overly high-end and costly. However, each scientist has their own research approach and techniques. Lin Xian decided not to interfere with Liu Feng¡¯s methods, despite being an outsider. As long as Liu Feng didn¡¯t ask for a particle collider, the forty billion should suffice.
Moreover, although Big Cat Face¡¯s father had eventually seeded, it had taken him twenty years to reach that point. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t afford to wait that long. If spending more money on equipment could expedite Liu Feng¡¯s research, it would be worth it for Lin Xian. Money could be earned back, but time couldn¡¯t bepressed.
After touring the entireb building, Lin Xian brought Liu Feng to a spaciousb and asked, ¡°You mentioned you had a new invention to show me. Did you bring it?¡±
Liu Feng nodded, carefully taking a foam box from his bag. He opened it to reveal a device resembling an electronic clock. It was a rectangr object with a transparent screen disying bright yellow numbers. But it wasn¡¯t a typical clock; the numbers didn¡¯t change like those on a regr clock.
Instead, the screen disyed a series of zeros: 0.0000000.
Curious, Lin Xian waited to see if the numbers would change. They didn¡¯t. He turned to Liu Feng and asked, ¡°What is this? A clock or a counter?¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t really decided what to call it yet. It¡¯s a measuring instrument calibrated by the nck Constant,¡± Liu Feng exined. ¡°Since you left, I¡¯ve been researching the Universal Constant at home. Your words left a deep impression on me. I began to think, what if the Universal Constant isn¡¯t just a mathematical problem?¡±
¡°Once I stepped out of the mathematical framework, numerous possibilities emerged. I conducted many experiments, even borrowing a universityb to test my theories. Although all the results were incorrect or infeasible, I believe, as you said, the Universal Constant might not be incorrect itself. Instead, we haven¡¯t discovered its correct application yet.¡±
Talking about his research made Liu Feng animated and talkative. ¡°I realized that the Universal Constant might be considered incorrect within our conventional theories because it doesn¡¯t belong to a regr, correct universe. If our universe is orderly, then the constant appears wrong. But if our universe is chaotic, the constant might be correct!¡±
¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m saying, Lin Xian?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°Just tell me what this device does.¡±
¡°Alright, let me put it another way,¡± Liu Feng said. ¡°You know the nck Constant, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a concept proposed by physicist Max nck, including nck length and nck time. nck length is considered the shortest measurable length in the universe, and nck time is the shortest measurable time unit.¡±
Liu Feng leaned forward, his eyes alight with the thrill of discovery. ¡°Exactly,¡± he continued, his voice filled with fervor. ¡°The specific value of the nck Constant is 6.626 times ten to the negative thirty-fourth power. It¡¯s the smallest, most constant unit in the universe. Every bit of energy and mass that makes up the universe is an integer multiple of this value.¡±
His friend, Lin Xian, nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting that everything in space-time, including the very scales of space and time themselves, is based on the nck Constant. If the nck Constant changes, it would mean a shift in the curvature of space-time. Essentially, any fluctuation in space-time¡ªlike the ripple effects from a butterfly¡¯s wings¡ªcould change this curvature, and that change would be reflected in the nck Constant.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s smile broadened as he saw understanding dawn on Lin Xian¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve got it,¡± he said. ¡°This device, which resembles a clock, is essentially a detector for changes in the nck Constant. If its readings change, that indicates a shift in space-time curvature, confirming my hypothesis.¡±
His excitement was palpable as he added, ¡°If the numbers on this clock change, it would prove that space-time curvature is real and likely connected to the Universal Constants. Let¡¯s call it the ¡®Time-Space Clock.¡¯ It¡¯s a tool for measuring the curvature of space-time.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced to a popr anime, Steins;Gate, which explored simr ideas of world lines and space-time maniption. These concepts, once the domain of Albert Einstein, had permeated popr culture, often used to describe parallel universes and time fluctuations.
¡°Inyman¡¯s terms, a world line tracks an object¡¯s journey from the past to the future,¡± Lin Xian exined, connecting the dots. ¡°If an event causes a significant shift, known as a world line divergence, it indicates a change in the space-time curvature. Even small discrepancies, like the renaming of ¡®Coco Cat¡¯ to ¡®Rhine Cat,¡¯ suggest minor shifts. More substantial transitions, such as moving between dream worlds, signifyrger curvatures.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian concluded, feeling a surge ofprehension. ¡°Any event that impacts the future can trigger a butterfly effect, altering space-time. Your Time-Space Clock measures these shifts in space-time curvature, or world line divergence.¡±
Liu Feng gave him a thumbs-up, impressed. ¡°You¡¯re really sharp.¡±
¡°But why is the disy still showing zero?¡± Lin Xian asked, frowning slightly.
¡°Because there hasn¡¯t been any detectable change in space-time curvature yet,¡± Liu Feng exined calmly.
¡°No, there has to have been a change,¡± Lin Xian insisted. He remembered a crucial date. ¡°When did you create this Time-Space Clock?¡±
¡°Early May,¡± Liu Feng answered.
Lin Xian grinned and patted the device. ¡°Then it must be off. It didn¡¯t pick up any changes on May 20th.¡±
He was sure of it; founding the Rhine Company on that day had marked a significant shift in their space-time, shaping a new future. If the clock missed such a major event, it could be due to precision issues or something more fundamental.
Yet Liu Feng remained adamant. ¡°I swear, this device is precise. I calibrated it exactly to our current space-time nck Constant. If there¡¯s a shift, it will detect it!¡±
¡°But your baseline is wed,¡± Lin Xian countered, his tone bing more serious. ¡°You need an external reference to measure changes effectively. Using our current space-time as the reference will always return zero, much like trying to gauge your own speed without a fixed point.¡±
Realization dawned on Liu Feng, and a flush of embarrassment colored his cheeks. He admitted, ¡°You¡¯re right. We need a reference from another space-time dimension.¡±
¡°But where could we possibly find such an object?¡± Liu Feng mused aloud, his mind racing through possibilities.
The tension was broken by a light, female voice from the doorway. ¡°Who says it¡¯s impossible?¡±
Both men turned to see Yellow Finch, a woman with striking blue eyes and an enigmatic smile, stepping confidently into the room.
¡°Lin Xian, long time no see,¡± she greeted, her presence promising new insights and perhaps, the solution they needed.
Chapter 227: The Mirror
Yellow Finch.
Lin Xian eyed the woman who had approached him so quietly. She always had a way of appearing mysteriously at the most unexpected times. Was she walking silently like a ghost? Or perhaps, she had calcted his movements and decided to wait for him? The idea sent a shiver down his spine.
Lin Xian quickly realized there was a pattern to Yellow Finch¡¯s unexpected appearances¡ªthey all somehow involved Zhao Ying Jun. Their first encounter was during the New Year¡¯s Eve banquet hosted by the Donghai Chamber of Commerce, on the same night Zhao Ying Jun had shared the office password with him. The second encounter was less direct; it happened while he was on a blind date with Su Su at a restaurant, where Zhao Ying Jun had briefly appeared before leaving abruptly. And now, their paths crossed again, right after his discussions about coborating with Donghai University¡ªa project Zhao Ying Jun was deeply involved in and fully aware of.
The connections were puzzling. What exactly was the link between Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun? If Yellow Finch was a time traveler, as he suspected, and a future version of Zhao Ying Jun, why did they look so different? Yet, if they weren¡¯t connected, why did they share such simr vibes?
With these thoughts swirling in his head, Lin Xian confronted her directly. ¡°Are you Zhao Ying Jun?¡± he asked.
Yellow Finch paused, her eyes lowering slightly as she offered a small, mysterious smile. ¡°Sorry, Lin Xian. I¡¯m not here to answer your questions today. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but I can¡¯t. So, don¡¯t ask me anything. If I could tell you, I would have already.¡±
She continued, ¡°To this day, you still don¡¯t understand the concept of time sticity. This progress is slower than I expected. But fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem too far off.¡±
As she spoke, Liu Feng, Lin Xian¡¯s colleague, squeezed in front of him, eyeing Yellow Finch intently. ¡°What do you mean by what you just said? Can we really find a reference point outside of our time?¡±Yellow Finch replied, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. From the perspective of the reference frame, anything that appears in our time has entered our observable reference system. No matter where ites from, once it arrives here, it must follow the rules of this universe, based on the current nck Constant.¡±
Yet, she smiled, leaving her statement hanging in the air without a clear answer. ¡°Liu Feng, you need to think about this yourself. You¡¯re very smart. Even if I didn¡¯t tell you today, you¡¯d figure it out soon. You are the scientist closest to the truth of the Universal Constant in the world. In this regard, you are even closer to the truth than Einstein.¡±
¡°Today, you have faced much denial but also received much affirmation from Lin Xian. Right and wrong are always contentious. Who can determine the real right or wrong before everything is settled?¡±
¡°So, I think you don¡¯t need to worry too much about right and wrong. Just continue your research based on your own ideas and thoughts. One day, you will find the answer you seek.¡±
Liu Feng furrowed his brow, slightly confused. Yellow Finch¡¯s words flowed smoothly and sounded reasonable at first, but upon closer analysis, it seemed like she hadn¡¯t really answered his question at all.
¡°Look, Lin Xian,¡± Liu Feng said, turning to his friend. ¡°This means my time clock theory is correct. At least from a theoretical and design perspective, it¡¯s not wrong. I just didn¡¯t calibrate my level curvature coordinates correctly.¡±
Lin Xian could only offer a wry smile. Yellow Finch was always like this, never providing clear answers. Trying to decipher her words could lead to a dead end, as Zheng Cheng He had found out the hard way. His interpretations of Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic hints had led to oues vastly different from what he had expected.
So now, Lin Xian decided not to overanalyze her words. Right or wrong, he had his own judgment to rely on. Even without Yellow Finch, he could have uncovered the cat-and-mouse game; even without her, he could have noticed Zheng Cheng He¡¯s peculiarities; even without her, he would have learned about the Genius Club from Ji Lin¡¯s conversations.
Suddenly, a realization struck Lin Xian, and his eyes widened. Wait a minute. He had overlooked a crucial detail!
¡°Not affecting the original trajectory of history and the future.¡±
This was a significant clue. Reflecting on Yellow Finch¡¯s repeated emphasis on ¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± along with discussions of timews and sticity¡ could it be? Was she indeed a time traveler bound by certainws of time, preventing her from revealing information that would alter the predetermined course of history and the future to avoid a time paradox?
In the world of theoretical time travel, the famous ¡°grandfather paradox¡± loomedrge¡ªit posited that if you traveled back in time and killed your grandfather, you would cease to exist, creating an unsolvable loop. This paradox led many physicists to dismiss the possibility of time travel as logically impossible and unrealistic.
If time travel were real, and someone did go back and alter their grandfather¡¯s fate, theoretically, their own existence should be simultaneously erased. They wouldn¡¯t exist in the future to travel back in time and initiate the change¡ªan endless loop indeed.
But what if¡
As Lin Xian pondered, he thought about the possibility of a rule in the timews that prohibited time travelers from interfering with history¡ªsimr to how Yellow Finch seemed constrained. In this era, not only was she limited in what she could reveal, but perhaps also in what she could do. This included drastic actions like altering her own history.
At first nce, this theory seemed reasonable. However, deeper contemtion revealed ws. How could anyone, especially a time traveler, exist without influencing history? Even if Yellow Finch avoided major disruptions, her presence alone¡ªthe flutter of her high heels, perhaps identally stepping on countless ants¡ªwould still cause ripples, no matter how minor.
Despite Yellow Finch¡¯s reserve, her mere mention of the Genius Club had given Lin Xian a distinct advantage. It was undeniable; she had impacted history and, for her, what was yet toe.
This realization led Lin Xian to another thought.
To some extent.
Could this ¡°extent¡± be what she referred to as sticity?
sticity!
Time sticity!
¡°Within sticity¡¡± Lin Xian mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Does that mean within a certain range, actions and words are permissible, but beyond that, they¡¯re forbidden? Unless, of course, this sticity can be stretched or altered entirely?¡±
So, what would happen if someone forcefully acted beyond this sticity, changing the course of history and the future in a significant way?
Lin Xian nced at Yellow Finch, who continued to smile silently, her demeanor cautious and deliberate. Perhaps this suggested that overstepping these boundaries woulde at a great cost, too immense to bear, making it unthinkable to defy these timews. Or maybe, at a fundamental level, suchws simply couldn¡¯t be vited.
But then, what about himself?
This theory, when he applied it to his own experiences, didn¡¯t quite fit. He had altered history countless times. The world 600 years in the future seemed like a set of building blocks in his hands, constantly toppling and being rebuilt. One moment it was a slum, the next a towering sky city; one moment the hibernating father¡¯s name was Mike, the next it was Xu¡
History, the future, time itself¡ªthey all seemed like toys in his hands.
Could it be¡
Because he wasn¡¯t a time traveler, he wasn¡¯t bound by these timews?
It was hard to say. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t certain if his actions ssified him as a time traveler. He certainly didn¡¯t feel omnipotent, above thews of time. In reality, he had often been caught off-guard by the butterfly effects of time, the repercussions echoing painfully, the shadow of the aluminum alloy safe a constant reminder.
Lin Xian raised his gaze to meet Yellow Finch¡¯s bright blue eyes. ¡°Since you¡¯re not going to answer our questions or tell us anything useful, what are you here for today? To increase sticity? Or to change it?¡±
However¡
Yellow Finch continued to smile, silent yet her eyes hinted at a trace of approval, as if he was finally starting to understand.
¡°This is something you should consider,¡± she suggested cryptically.
As usual, she deflected the question and didn¡¯t provide a clear answer. Then, she reached into the pocket of her brown coat, pulling out a folded piece of paper which she ced on the nearbyb table.
¡°If you figure out what to do,e to this ce and find me. I will help you,¡± she offered, then briskly walked towards the door. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡±
She paused, turning back to Lin Xian with a knowing smile. ¡°I forgot to congratte you on winning the game of hide and seek. You yed quite beautifully.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not something worth celebrating,¡± Lin Xian responded tly. In the cat-and-mouse game they yed, many lives were lost¡ªboth innocent and guilty. The true mastermind behind Ji Xin Shui still lurked in the shadows. He didn¡¯t feel victorious, nor did he think it was a beautiful win.
If he couldn¡¯t capture the real brains behind Ji Xin Shui; if he couldn¡¯t uncover the true motives and nature of the Genius Club; the blood-soaked history of the past 600 years would never truly end. Whether it was the stagnation of technology, the towering walls dividing the world, or debris falling from thousands of feet, the scars of history would remain unhealed.
He still couldn¡¯t ept that an organization, which had remained hidden for 600 years and even left its mark on the moon, was inherently benevolent. Self-proimed righteousness was one thing, but Lin Xian doubted their actions had truly benefited humanity or the world.
The atrocitiesmitted under the banner of progress, the tragic consequences of radiation diseases in the future world¡ªthe Genius Club couldn¡¯t be oblivious to these. Their inaction, their allowance of such events to unfold, didn¡¯t strike him as righteousness, no matter their justifications.
Since hisst encounter with Yellow Finch, months had passed. Lin Xian felt his perspective and thoughts had significantly evolved. That terrifying night in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office, he had been confused, hesitant, lost, and fearful. Now, he was determined to grow stronger, to unearth the hidden hands of history and expose them to the light!
¡°It¡¯s too early for congrattions,¡± Lin Xian told Yellow Finch firmly. ¡°Wait until I take down the Genius Club, then you can congratte me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s exactly what I wanted to tell you,¡± Yellow Finch responded, her bright blue eyes shimmering with a mysterious glow. ¡°Look in the mirror more often, Lin Xian. In the mirror¡ there are things you want to see.¡±
Chapter 228: Your Gaze and the Riddle
¡°Mirror?¡± Lin Xian mused aloud, puzzled by Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic hint. The sound of her heels clicking against the floor echoed as she walked away, not bothering to look back. Her footsteps gradually faded into the distance and disappeared around the corner, leaving a haunting silence in their wake.
Liu Feng, looking utterly confused, nudged Lin Xian. ¡°Who is that woman, Lin Xian? I can¡¯t make heads or tails of what she says. It¡¯s definitely Mandarin, but she never gives a straight answer, always talking in riddles.¡±
¡°She¡¯s a puzzle, a real enigma,¡± Lin Xian exined sinctly. ¡°The kind of person that would give even Batman a headache.¡±
¡°Is she always like this?¡± Liu Feng asked, his voice tinged with sympathy.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve only met her twice, and altogether, we haven¡¯t spent more than ten minutes in each other¡¯spany.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Really? Just twice?¡±
¡°Yes, why do you find that so surprising?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just¡ you two seem to know each other so well, like old friends,¡± Liu Feng remarked, still shocked. He looked from Lin Xian to the doorframe where Yellow Finch had briefly lingered. ¡°You called her Yellow Finch, right? The way she looked at you¡ it wasn¡¯t like someone you¡¯ve only met twice. Her gaze was familiar, like she¡¯s known you for a long time.¡±¡°Like what?¡± Lin Xian prodded, intrigued by his friend¡¯s observation.
¡°Like¡¡± Liu Feng struggled to articte his thoughts, scratching his head. ¡°Like a lover.¡±
A brief silence followed his words.
Then, unexpectedly, Lin Xian burst intoughter, giving Liu Feng a yful p on the shoulder. ¡°I always pegged you as the serious, down-to-earth type, Liu Feng, not one for making jokes. You really got me there.¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not joking,¡± Liu Feng insisted, waving his hand earnestly. ¡°I¡¯m serious. It¡¯s exactly as I said.¡±
Lin Xian, still skeptical, quipped, ¡°You¡¯re a scientist; what do you know about romantic looks?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a stereotype, Lin Xian,¡± Liu Feng retorted. ¡°Remember, I¡¯ve been in a rtionship before. Have you?¡±
¡°I¡¡± Lin Xian hesitated, his smile fading. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡±
¡°See, youck experience in this area. You don¡¯t understand women,¡± Liu Feng pointed out, assuming a knowing tone, almost like an older brother. ¡°Believe me, her gaze wasn¡¯t ordinary. It was the look of a woman to her lover, full of longing and familiarity.¡±
¡°How can you be so certain?¡± Lin Xian challenged, turning away slightly.
¡°Because,¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice grew tender with nostalgia, ¡°that¡¯s how Qi Qi used to look at me. The sicker she got, the more she tried to memorize my face, turning away only reluctantly. When our eyes met, her gaze was filled with regret and longing, just like Yellow Finch¡¯s. So, I know I¡¯m not mistaken, Lin Xian.¡±
Lin Xian fell silent, considering Liu Feng¡¯s words thoughtfully. He turned back to his friend, whose face was a canvas of emotion and memory. Perhaps Liu Feng was right after all.
He may not understand women or romance, but he had experienced love, loss, and the deep ache of parting. Such lessons transcended theoretical knowledge.
Lin Xian patted Liu Feng¡¯s back. ¡°Alright, while it¡¯s hard for me to see it your way, the truth may differ. You saw her too; she¡¯s attractive but probably in her thirties, maybe closer to forty. I can¡¯t see myself with someone that much older. Honestly, I prefer someone younger.¡±
¡°Anyways, enough of this talk, let¡¯s get back to work. Yellow Finch may speak in riddles, but her timing is impable. She wouldn¡¯t show up without a reason. I think you¡¯re onto something with the time-space clock. Maybe there¡¯s nothing wrong with it; we might just need the right reference or better calibration.¡±
¡°If you think the curvature of time-space and the changes in worldlines are linked to the Universal Constant, start there. Yellow Finch mentioned that there¡¯s no absolute right or wrong. Remember, as your investor, I¡¯m giving you advice, but you don¡¯t have to follow it to the letter. You¡¯re free to explore your original ideas.¡±
Liu Feng nodded slowly, the wheels in his mind turning without direction. Despite numerous attempts at deciphering the Universal Constant, each theory he had tested so far had fallen short. Now, he considered delving into theplexities of time-space curvature, still convinced that his initial theory held merit.
As he pondered, he remembered something Qi Qi once shared, ¡°The universe itself is a masterpiece. Theories,ws, and forms¡ªthey alle together in a harmonious loop. In the realm of mathematics, if a theory feels beautiful, it¡¯s often correct.¡± Her words echoed the history of academia, where many groundbreaking theories, initially just beautiful ideas, wereter proven true.
Clutching onto that thought, Liu Feng gestured towards the note left by Yellow Finch. ¡°She mentioned that if we figure it out, we should head to the location written here.¡±
Together, they leaned over, took the small piece of paper, and unfolded it carefully.
Reading the note, Liu Feng inhaled sharply. It directed them to a location well-known across X Country¡ªthe Ji?qu¨¢n Satellite Launch Center.
¡°Can we even get there?¡± he wondered aloud, passing the note to Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s a highly secured national facility. We¡¯d face serious challenges just getting near it, let alone getting inside.¡±
Lin Xian studied the note, the neat handwriting revealing the mysterious nature of Yellow Finch. He had grown ustomed to her enigmatic ways, and given theunch center¡¯s significance, he trusted the government wouldn¡¯t let someone like her act recklessly without oversight.
¡°Maybe visiting Yellow Finch at Ji?qu¨¢n is necessary,¡± Lin Xian mused, pocketing the note. ¡°For now, let¡¯s not rush. Focus on your current experiments, Liu Feng. Work on the time-space clock. We¡¯ll figure out how it ties into the Universal Constant once we observe any curvature changes.¡±
Liu Feng, however, seemed distant, his mind racing since reading the note. Sweat beaded on his forehead as a thought struck him.
¡°What if the Ji?qu¨¢n Satellite Launch Center is the key?¡± he spected, his voice rising with excitement. ¡°The Universal Constant¡ªit¡¯s about the universe, right? We should explore cosmic phenomena like background radiation, gravitational waves, dark matter¡¡±
Muttering technical jargon, Liu Feng grabbed chalk and began furiously scribbling equations on the ckboard, erasing and rewriting with intense focus.
Lin Xian watched briefly before stifling a yawn. Seeing Liu Feng would not be distracted, he announced, ¡°I¡¯ll step out. Let me know if you make any breakthrough.¡±
¡°Mm-hmm,¡± came the absent reply, Liu Feng¡¯s gaze fixed on his calctions.
Lin Xian left theb with a smile, admiring Liu Feng¡¯s dedication¡ªit was a reassuring, albeit somewhat humorous, depiction of a scientist lost in his work.
¡°I hope Qi Qi¡¯s visiones to life soon,¡± Lin Xian whispered as he shut the heavy steelb door with a resounding thud.
In the solitude of the restroom, Lin Xian leaned against the sink, staring at his reflection. The problem of the Universal Constant loomedrge, but it was Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic parting words that now captured his thoughts. ¡°Look in the mirror more, Lin Xian. There¡¯s something you want in there.¡±
Typically, such a statement could be seen as an insult, buting from Yellow Finch, it suggested something deeper. What did the mirror represent?
Lin Xian examined his reflection, moving closer until his nose nearly touched the ss. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
He recalled countless anime where mirrors served as gateways to other dimensions. Half-jokingly, he pressed his hand against the mirror, half-expecting to pass through to another world.
Of course, nothing happened.
¡°Ugh, I hate riddles,¡± he muttered in frustration. The clue about the mirror remained elusive. What did he want that could be hidden in a mirror? Answers, power, membership in the Genius Club, the secrets hidden in his dreams by Zhao Ying Jun¡
Then it struck him. He paused, staring intently at his own image. Zhao Ying Jun, the dreams, Sky City, the buried secrets.
¡°Could it be¡¡± Lin Xian pondered, his heart racing as he looked deeper into his own eyes in the mirror. ¡°Could Zhao Ying Jun have left something for me¡ in the mirror?¡±
Chapter 229: The Hero
Lin Xian was still perplexed by Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic message: ¡°The mirror holds what you seek.¡±
Logically, a mirror is merely a surface that reflects light. As long as a surface is polished enough, materials like copper, iron, stic, ice, or even water can act as a mirror. In modern society, ss mirrors are the mostmonly used. They are cheap and practical, indispensable in every household, whether in the bathroom, the wardrobe, or even on the vanity.
Lin Xian looked in the mirror many times a day, both intentionally and unintentionally. He never found anything special about it. Furthermore, from the mirror¡¯s structure and physical principles, the idea of ¡°inside the mirror¡± doesn¡¯t exist. A mirror is just a thinyer of ss; there is no ¡°inside.¡± Everything people see in the mirror is just an illusion created by the reflection of light on the retina, something that doesn¡¯t actually exist.
Perhaps arge mirror in a room or an elevator can make the space seemrger, but that¡¯s just a visual illusion. In reality, the space hasn¡¯t expanded by even a centimeter. So, there can¡¯t possibly be anything inside a mirror. Yellow Finch¡¯s riddle seemed nonsensical.
Thus, Lin Xian figured that Yellow Finch¡¯s ¡°mirror¡± likely referred to the one in his dreams. The thing he wanted must be the clues or secrets Zhao Ying Jun painstakingly left for him in the third dream. This interpretation made more sense.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t doubt that Yellow Finch knew about his dreams; she had shown that she knew too much about him since their first meeting. She even knew about his attempts to crack the Genius Club¡¯s invitation and his summaries of time-spacews. There was no reason she wouldn¡¯t know about his ability to dream of the future.
Despite this, Lin Xian remained wary of Yellow Finch. He didn¡¯t fully trust her as a reliable friend. However, she hadn¡¯t shown any ill intentions or harmed him. Instead, she often gave him cryptic hints. Although annoying, these pieces of information were free, so he might as well take them.
Since he had no other clues, it was time to explore Rhine Sky City in his dreams again.¡°If Yellow Finch is right and Zhao Ying Jun left something for me 600 years in the future inside a mirror, the most likely ce for this mirror would be in her personal exhibition hall at the Rhine Museum,¡± Lin Xian thought.
From hisst exploration of Rhine Sky City, it was evident that Zhao Ying Jun held a very high status among the city¡¯s residents. They had built amemorative park for her, erected a statue, banned honking and flying near it, and even set up a personal exhibition hall for her in the Rhine Museum. This respect and reverence from the people were unmistakable.
This reverence was likely Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s intention. Only if the people respected and loved her enough would her statue and personal exhibition hall remain for 600 years, allowing her to leave a gift across time¡ªa gift that could change the future, the world, and destiny itself.
¡°Tonight¡¯s mission in the dream is going to be tough,¡± Lin Xian calcted. The museum would be closed at night, so he would have to find a way to sneak in. The structure, security, and even the existence of a wall around the museum were unknowns. It would be challenging to navigate the city alone.
He thought of the Big Cat Gang. Although they weren¡¯t the brightest, they were obedient and strong. Their humandder technique had left asting impression on him.
¡°In any case, there¡¯s strength in numbers. I should try to mobilize them,¡± he decided.
That night, after entering his dream, Lin Xian rushed to where the crowd and lights were gathered.
¡°Brother Face,¡± he called.
At that moment, Big Cat Face was still inting his helium balloon and hadn¡¯t changed into his handmade astronaut suit. Lin Xian walked up and patted his shoulder in greeting.
¡°Who are you?¡± Big Cat Face asked, looking puzzled, his chubby face scrunching up.
Lin Xian followed his usual script, exining everything rapidly, but this time he added a crucial detail: ¡°I know the exact location of the gap in the anti-aircraft.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s expression changed. This information was morepelling than anything else he could say. The surrounding crowd quickly gathered around.
Lin Xian told Big Cat Face and the others that the gap in the anti-aircraft was directly above the square¡¯s statue. However, it was impossible to see the statue from 10,000 meters up; even with strained eyes, the statue would appear norger than a sesame seed.
Still, he could lead them and guide them through the gap. Although he had only seeded once, he had found his visual reference point. He was 70-80% sure he could locate the gap again, and even if he failed, they could always try again the next day.
Lin Xian also shared many details about Rhine Sky City. There were indeed medicines for treating radiation sickness in the pharmacies, and the city¡¯s security was veryx, almost nonexistent. The city had so many distractions that no one would notice their presence. The mission would be easy and enjoyable.
¡°So, just follow my lead while gliding in. In return, I ask for a simple favor: apany me to the museum once. Help me ess an exhibition hall, then we can grab the medicine and make our escape,¡± Lin Xian proposed with a hopeful tone.
The n was straightforward, but Big Cat Face hesitated, his gaze sweeping over his small band of friends and the broader assembly of forlorn faces around them. ¡°I can join you, but not everyone can take this risk,¡± he replied, his voice tinged with a weighty resolve. ¡°Look around. We are few, and if we all fall, who will lead and teach the others¡ªespecially the women¡ªhow to continue our work?¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s concerns echoed the harsh reality of their situation. ¡°If we don¡¯t return with the medicine, our future is bleak. But if all of us men die, who remains to pass on our skills and keep our mission alive?¡±
Lin Xian observed a new depth in Big Cat Face, a maturity forged through the fires of loss and leadership. The once reckless youth had evolved into themunity¡¯s cornerstone, assuming a role far greater than any had anticipated.
Among the crowd, the absence of Big Cat Face¡¯s family was painfully evident. He always embarked on his missions alone, receiving no farewell embraces, a stark reminder of the sacrifices already made.
Lin Xian felt the urge to ask about his family but restrained himself, knowing all too well the likely grim answers in this radiation-ravaged world.
Amid the somber mood, Ah Zhuang stepped forward, his determination clear. ¡°I¡¯ll go too. I trust him, and I¡¯m ready to face the risks.¡±
Big Cat Face gave a solemn nod and addressed the others, ¡°Er Zhuzi, San Pang, you two must stay. If we fail to return, it¡¯s up to you to sustain the vige, teach the women and children, and carry on until you can join us.¡±
He then turned to Lin Xian, conceding, ¡°The two of us will apany you. More would be ideal, but we must consider ourmunity¡¯s survival.¡±
Just then, a young, determined girl pushed through the crowd, her hand raised defiantly. ¡°If you need more, I¡¯m ready to join!¡±
It was Ning Ning, a girl who had grown up too fast in the shadow of her parents¡¯ legacies. Big Cat Face immediately objected, ¡°Ning Ning, you can¡¯t. If we lose the women, then the older children must lead. Your parents were pioneers; our vige owes them much. You must stay and continue their legacy.¡±
Ning Ning protested, her voice filled with a mix of bravery and desperation. ¡°Why not? I¡¯ve trained for this. I¡¯m as ready as anyone.¡±
But Big Cat Face was firm, reflecting the gravity of their traditions and sacrifices. ¡°This isn¡¯t about readiness or desire. It¡¯s not your turn. Your father was the first to dive into Sky City and made me promise to look after you. We¡¯ve lost enough.¡±
The crowd murmured in agreement, a collective memory of sacrifices made by Ning Ning¡¯s family grounding their resolve. Lin Xian watched, understanding the delicate bnce between hope and duty that tethered each of them to their decaying world yet propelled them towards the clouds.
As the harsh reality of radiation sickness closed in, Li Cheng, a revered figure in themunity, proposed a daring n. He believed that since Sky City was the source of the radiation, its advanced inhabitants must have developed a cure. The only way to ess this potential salvation was extreme¡ªthemunity would need to skydive directly into the city, breach its defenses, and seize the medicine.
When Li Cheng first outlined his n, it struck everyone as sheer folly, a suicide mission. Despite the overwhelming skepticism, he bravely volunteered to lead the effort.
Themunity gathered, their eyes fixed on Li Cheng as he ascended in a hot air balloon and glided toward Sky City. The mission ended in tragedy when he was instantly incinerated byser beams. His daughter, Ning Ning, was only a toddler at the time, oblivious to the grim fate that had befallen her father.
The horrifying sight of Li Cheng¡¯s demise only intensified the fear surrounding the prospect of skydiving into Sky City. However, propelled by a mix of desperation and resolve, Ning Ning¡¯s mother stood up to speak.
¡°If 10,000 meters isn¡¯t high enough, we¡¯ll start from 20,000 meters. We cannot sit back and wait for a miracle. Our sickness will not cure itself,¡± she dered with a steely resolve. ¡°I refuse to watch my family sumb to radiation when an alternative death, though perhaps equally grim, at least offers a sliver of hope for a cure.¡±
With trembling hands, she tied Ning Ning¡¯s hair onest time. It was clear she was torn between her fear and the necessity of her actions. Her voice softened as she addressed the crowd, ¡°I cannot stand by and watch my child suffer. If there¡¯s a choice to be made, I choose the possibility of a cure, even if it means facing thesers.¡±
Despite pleas to reconsider, she remained steadfast. After a tearful yet hopeful farewell to Ning Ning, she donned her astronaut helmet, her cheeks wet with tears that only Big Cat Face noticed as he helped her.
¡°Don¡¯t tell Ning Ning,¡± she whispered quietly. ¡°Her father faced his end bravely, and her mother didn¡¯t cry.¡±
Moved by her courage and burdened by a new responsibility, Big Cat Face vowed silently to protect Ning Ning as his own, determined never to let her face the same perilous fate. As he released the ropes of the balloon, he turned to Ning Ning, who was oblivious to the gravity of the moment, and reassured her, ¡°Your parents are heroes, Ning Ning.¡±
Themunity watched in silent resignation, convinced that no one could prate Sky City¡¯s formidable defenses. Yet, against all odds, Ning Ning¡¯s mother managed to avoid thesers by jumping from an unprecedented height of 20,000 meters, sessfullynding in a less guarded part of the city. Though she never returned, her sessful descent provided a glimmer of hope that a gap in the defenses existed.
This act of bravery led to an influx of volunteers from surrounding viges, all eager to find the gap and retrieve the cure. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, and many lost their lives in the process, leaving only Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang.
Because of his promise and the heavy debt owed to Ning Ning¡¯s parents, Big Cat Face was adamant about protecting her, refusing to let her take the risk. Yet, Ning Ning, now secretly skilled in skydiving and more determined than ever, couldn¡¯t ept being sidelined. She felt it was her right, perhaps even her duty, to join the mission.
¡°Why can¡¯t I go?¡± she protested, her frustration evident. ¡°I¡¯ve trained for this. I¡¯m not afraid of dying from thesers any more than I am of sumbing to this illness or living without purpose.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s arrival brought a new perspective. He knew where the gap was and was ready to lead a mission. Ning Ning saw this as her chance.
¡°Because you¡¯re Li Cheng¡¯s daughter!¡± Big Cat Face shouted back, his frustration matching hers. ¡°We owe your family too much already!¡±
As he turned to leave with Lin Xian, Ning Ning grabbed his suit, her voice resolute, ¡°If that¡¯s the reason, then I must go!¡±
He raised his hand in a moment of anger but stopped, seeing in her the same determination that had defined her parents.
¡°Every woman here is someone¡¯s wife or daughter,¡± Ning Ning argued passionately, pointing to the gathered crowd. ¡°My parents sacrificed everything for us. If I don¡¯t go, how can we ask anyone else to risk their lives?¡±
She met Big Cat Face¡¯s gaze, her resolve unwavering, ¡°Because I¡¯m Li Cheng¡¯s daughter, I have to go. It¡¯s my responsibility.¡±
Chapter 230: Safety and Pinky Promise
Li Ning Ning¡¯s bold statement left Big Cat Face at a loss for words. He stared at her, memories of her mother flooding back. Her mother had been a daring woman who defied all odds, tragically perishing years ago in the second skydiving attempt.
Big Cat Face had always wished for Li Ning Ning to grow up as a normal, happy girl. Yet, he wasn¡¯t ready to be reminded that the women of the Li family possessed an unyielding spirit, often leading them into dangerous situations.
Li Ning Ning¡¯s mother had known the sky diving journey was perilous, possibly fatal, but she embarked on it with unwavering conviction. Her words resonated with Li Ning Ning¡¯s recent deration: ¡°If I don¡¯t go, why should I make someone else go?¡± Her mother had said something simr: ¡°After the men have all died, the women must continue. If the women of the Li family won¡¯t go, why should other women?¡±
These reflections cast a shadow over Big Cat Face¡¯s face, plunging him into a grim silence, unsure how to respond.
Observing from behind, Lin Xian sighed inwardly at the sight of this brave, stubborn girl who mirrored her mother¡¯s defiance. Li Ning Ning had always been a fierce spirit. From her childhood adventures in the second dream world, where she braved drone fire to retrieve books from a junkyard, to the third dream world, where she stood fearless, ready to lead like her parents.
Lin Xian found himself admiring her. He believed every era needed individuals who dared to challenge the status quo, risking everything to reshape history and save the world.
With a soft chuckle, he stepped forward, resting his hand on Li Ning Ning¡¯s head, meeting her determined eyes. ¡°Ning Ning, you¡¯re still young. You don¡¯t need to face these dangers.¡±
¡°But¡¡± she protested, standing on her tiptoes.¡°You¡¯ll have your chance to visit Rhine Sky City, but not just yet,¡± Lin Xian gently interrupted her, his smile soothing her puzzled look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll bring that city down to us. Then you can visit it safely, without needing to skydive.¡±
¡°Bring¡ it down?¡± Li Ning Ning blinked, confused by his metaphor.
¡°Just wait here on the ground,¡± Lin Xian continued, kneeling to level with her and linking his pinky with hers. ¡°Let¡¯s make a pinky promise. I will definitely keep my word this time. So for now, watch the sky from here.¡±
Li Ning Ning eyed their linked pinkies, skepticism mixing with hope. Could a simple pinky promise really bring down a city? Yet, the earnestness in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes stirred a belief in her heart that perhaps, just maybe, he could achieve the impossible.
Reflecting on his ns to infiltrate Rhine Sky City and his knowledge of the anti-aircraft gap her mother had once navigated, she wondered if he too could be her miracle.
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she nodded firmly, emting her father¡¯s way of sealing a promise, her thumb pressing against Lin Xian¡¯s. ¡°Pinky promise, no changes for a hundred years.¡±
This solemn vow bound them. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± she stared into his eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his assurance clear as he stood up. Just then, Li Ning Ning tugged at his arm, pulling a tattered pouch from her clothes. Despite multiple repairs, the pouch bore the stitched word ¡°safety,¡± a memento from her mother.
¡°This pouch¡ My mom had it when she took the hot air balloon,¡± Li Ning Ning shared quietly, her voice trembling. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand back then. It took me days to realize she was nevering back. Ourst moment together had already passed without me knowing.¡±
¡°Since then, I¡¯ve always carried it. Despite its wear, it feels lucky, like mom is still protecting me,¡± she exined, her voiceden with emotion.
¡°So, I¡¯m giving it to you,¡± she concluded, cing the cherished pouch in Lin Xian¡¯s hand, her smile filled with a mix of hope and sadness. ¡°I wish you safety.¡±
Lin Xian gripped the pouch, feeling its weight and warmth. This time, with no formalities, he said with a firm voice, ¡°I¡¯ll return it to you personally, along with the gift I promised.¡±
With a wave, he turned towards the helium balloon, ready for his daring ascent. He patted Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang on the shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
At an altitude of 20,000 meters, the winds were brutal, even within the rtively calm stratosphere. Lin Xian signaled to his team to get ready as they neared the critical moment of their mission.
Hovering 10,000 meters directly above the Zhao Ying Jun statue¡ªandmark invisible from the ground¡ªLin Xian used abination of visual markers and sensory memory from previous missions to navigate. He was the first to jump, confident in his path but with a hint of uncertainty that could be heard through the inte in his helmet.
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± hemanded.
Diving from the balloon, Lin Xian spread his arms and legs to slow his fall, constantly scanning below for those vitalndmarks. Ah Zhuang and Big Cat Face followed suit, expertly mirroring Lin Xian¡¯s posture in the vast sky.
The howl of the wind grew fiercer as they plunged through the atmosphere, leaving the stratosphere and entering the turbulent troposphere. They were fast approaching their target, the moment of truth.
As the outlines of Rhine Sky City became more distinct, they expertly maneuvered through the hidden gap in the anti-aircraft, their hearts silently cheering their covert entry into the city.
Their mission¡ªa mixture of audacity and necessity¡ªhad cost many their lives, but now, they were in.
They spread their arms wider, increasing air resistance to decelerate. When they reached about 1,000 meters, they each deployed their ck parachutes, gracefully descending towards theirnding zone around the statue.
Thud¡ Thud¡ Thud¡
Their feet touched down on the tform housing Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue. Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang quickly shed their parachutes and space suits to regroup with Lin Xian at the designated meeting point.
Lin Xian gazed up at the towering statue of white jade, its presence now filled with new meaning. He realized why this memorial za was a no-fly and no-drive zone, devoid of noise and other distractions¡ªit wasn¡¯t just out of respect but was strategically designed to protect their ndestine operation.
¡°If they hadn¡¯t restricted air traffic, we¡¯d have been spotted immediately,¡± Lin Xian thought aloud, appreciating the forethought in the city¡¯syout that aided their mission.
Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang approached, equally impressed by their precisending and the imposing statue.
¡°Wow! Such a towering figure! I can¡¯t believe the gap in the anti-aircraft is positioned right above it!¡± Ah Zhuang marveled.
¡°It seems too perfect to be just chance, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Big Cat Face added, looking to Lin Xian for confirmation.
¡°Probably¡¡± Lin Xian replied with a knowing smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s a nod from the Goddess of Victory herself.¡±
¡°Goddess of Victory, huh? Sounds like a good omen,¡± Big Cat Face responded, his tone respectful as he and Ah Zhuang nodded in agreement.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s move. We¡¯ve got a lot to do,¡± Lin Xian dered, shifting his focus to the tasks ahead.
Just as they were about to move on, a sudden metallic snap froze Lin Xian in ce. Looking down, he saw a rusty iron mp clenching his ankle. His frustration was clear as he prepared to deal with the robotic cleaner, its green eyes glowing as it red through a speaker, ¡°Trash! Trash! Detected trash!¡±
Chapter 231: The Secret of the Sky City
¡°Whoa! What is that?¡±
Big Cat Face jumped to the side, his heart pounding, as a rusted, metal trash can robot suddenly came to life behind him. He had just started to rx when the surprising sight snapped him back to alertness.
¡°It¡¯s a trash can robot,¡± Lin Xian exined, eyeing the dpidated model named VV.
Initially, Lin Xian thought he identally triggered the robot, causing it to malfunction andtch onto him as if he were garbage. However, he soon realized the robot was already in disrepair, likely discarded and forgotten long ago. In a city as advanced as this, where cutting-edge technology was the norm, an antique robot like this was an oddity.
Just outside the square, the streets buzzed with thetest robotic technology. Sleek, high-speed robots zipped past, their movements almost a blur, performing tasks with impable efficiency. Lin Xian had seen top-of-the-line trash disposal robots that kept the city spotlessly clean, a stark contrast to this decrepit machine that seemed barely capable of distinguishing its target.
Strangely, the robot had zeroed in on Lin Xian¡¯s ankle, ignoring everyone else. ¡°Garbage! Garbage! Found garbage!¡± it announced repeatedly.
Big Cat Face chuckled and pointed at Lin Xian. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s calling you garbage.¡±
¡°That is strange,¡± Lin Xian mused, his mind racing to connect the dots about this peculiar robot.The robot was absurdly out of ce near the statue of Zhao Ying Jun, a visionary known for her meticulous design of this square and a strict no-fly zone, highlighting her high regard for this area. Its presence here couldn¡¯t be a coincidence; it must be a deliberate cement.
If this outdated, bothersome robot was left intentionally, Lin Xian surmised it might be a clue specifically meant for him. The model name, Micro Trash Disposal Robot VV, curiously shared his initials¡ªanother hint that this was more than a random urrence.
Moreover, the fact that the robot targeted only Lin Xian, despite others being nearby, supported his theory that this was a deliberate clue from Zhao Ying Jun.
But the question remained: What was the clue about?
Feeling overwhelmed by the cryptic hints everyone seemed to be droppingtely, Lin Xian decided to push aside his questions for the moment. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s not worry about it for now,¡± he said, detaching the robot¡¯s mp from his ankle and moving it aside. He then joined Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang as they descended from the tform to explore the square.
The trio was immediately struck by the sparse crowd, each individual unting uniquely futuristic attire. Yet, the real shock came when they left the square and entered the main street.
They stepped into a dazzling neon-lit metropolis. Three-dimensional holograms danced above them,yers of traffic flowed seamlessly at various altitudes, and skyscrapers pierced the skies. The air was filled with theughter and joy of people enjoying life in this advanced city.
Big Cat Face spat on the ground in frustration. ¡°Damn it! We¡¯re struggling down below, and they¡¯re living it up here!¡±
No sooner had he spat than his saliva was caught by an unseen force, whipped around 270 degrees in mid-air, and whisked into a hovering trash disposal unit the size of a garbage truck speeding above.
¡°Now that¡¯s a trash disposal robot!¡± Ah Zhuang eximed, impressed, as he yfully tossed a tissue onto the ground. Within seconds, the tissue was swept up and spiraled gracefully into the disposal unit.
Lin Xian noted the sleek design of the Hover Trash Disposal Robot A37 and contrasted it with the primitive VV. The A37¡¯s designation was straightforward, likely indicating its series and model iteration.
Remembering the odd VV, Lin Xian shook his head at theplexity and ambiguity of its designation. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to move on,¡± he urged, steering Big Cat Face away from any more ground-based experiments.
They had learned from a passerby in the park that the Rhine Museum was within walking distance¡ªa fortunate bit of information that spared them the hassle of navigating unfamiliar transportation.
Convinced that Zhao Ying Jun had hidden clues for him in the Rhine Museum, and intrigued by the secret Yellow Finch had hinted at, Lin Xian led the way. Their attire blended seamlessly with the eclectic fashions around them, making them just another group of locals in the vibrant Sky City.
Soon, they arrived at the Rhine Museum. The main road in front of the museum bustled with the typical energy of Sky City, but the surrounding areas were eerily quiet, considering the museum was closed for the night. From a distance, the museum¡¯s extensive grounds were evident, with a noticeable difference in elevation between the front and the back sections, separated only by a narrow road.
However, the most immediate challenge was figuring out how to gain entry into the rear section of the museum. The main gate, a sleek electronic barrier typical of Sky City¡¯s advanced infrastructure, was firmly shut,cking any visible buttons or locks to suggest a straightforward way to open it.
¡°Time for the tools,¡± Big Cat Face muttered, producing a gray lump bound in duct tape.
¡°Whoa,¡± Lin Xian reacted, recognizing the familiar yet unexpected item. ¡°C4? Why did you bring that along for a parachute jump?¡±
¡°You never know when you¡¯ll need C4,¡± Big Cat Face replied, his grin reflecting a mix of mischief and professionalism. ¡°But we can¡¯t use it on the main gate. It¡¯s too sturdy and likely rigged with rms. We should find a weaker spot on a side wall. These museum walls are mostly stone¡ªC4 would make quick work of them.¡±
¡°But, Cat Face, using C4 outdoors isn¡¯t the same as indoors,¡± Lin Xian cautioned. ¡°The explosion would draw too much attention with its noise, light, and smoke. We¡¯re not here to steal; I need to examine the exhibits closely. If we trigger an alert and the patrols show up, tonight¡¯s effort will be wasted.¡±
¡°So, what¡¯s the n?¡± Big Cat Face asked, reluctantly tucking the C4 back into his waistband. ¡°The courtyard¡¯s only essible through this steel gate, and you can¡¯t crack it open. Without the C4, we can¡¯t just st through a side wall either.¡±
Lin Xian paused, surveying the museum¡¯s outer barriers. The walls were smooth, towering about four meters high. Assessing Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang¡¯s robust builds, an idea sparked in his mind.
¡°We have no choice but to improvise a humandder,¡± Lin Xian decided. ¡°You two brace yourselves against the wall. I¡¯ll climb over, then head inside. Meanwhile, you guys should go to the pharmacy, gather what we need, and find a spot to parachute down. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±
¡°What nonsense!¡± Big Cat Face protested. ¡°We agreed to help you get into this museum, and we¡¯re sticking to that n. It wouldn¡¯t be right to just leave you behind.¡±
Touched by Big Cat Face¡¯s loyalty, Lin Xian smiled warmly, cing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°I appreciate that, but I¡¯ve got an escape route nned out. The pharmacy¡¯s location is already marked on our map. Set up thedder, then go do what you need to do. The people below are counting on you.¡±
Ah Zhuang nodded, understanding the gravity of their task, and Lin Xian returned the gesture with a firm nod. ¡°Trust me, our paths will cross again. Our bond is strong; nothing can break it. Believe me, we¡¯ll reunite.¡±
Finally, after a solemn handshake, Big Cat Face positioned himself against the museum¡¯s stone wall, with Ah Zhuang climbing onto his back to form a humandder.
¡°Thank you, brother,¡± Big Cat Face grunted, his muscles straining as Lin Xian took a running start.
¡°I¡¯ll definitely return. I still owe Ning Ning a purse,¡± Lin Xian called back, then vaulted over the wall using his friends as a makeshiftdder.
Thud!
Hended hard on the other side, the impact sending a jolt through his legs. Thankfully, his professionalnding skills minimized the pain, leaving him only slightly sore.
From outside, two sharp whistles signaled that Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang were making their retreat. Lin Xian got to his feet and looked around.
The museum courtyard was silent, eerily devoid of any security measures. It seemed that Sky City¡¯s affluence and perceived safety had led to a certain level ofcency, but Lin Xian suspected this was part of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s borate n to simplify his mission.
He wasn¡¯t certain, but he decided to proceed. The courtyard was filled with green spaces and art instations, not the valuable kind he was interested in. To uncover the secrets of Rhine Sky City and explore Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibits, he needed to enter the main museum building.
Lin Xian climbed a long set of stairs, the silence of the night lending a solemn atmosphere to his ascent.
What secrets awaited him inside Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibit? What mysteries were hidden within the exhibition halls?
Lin Xian¡¯s anticipation grew with each step. However, upon reaching the top of the stairs¡
¡°Another electronic door,¡± he sighed, frustration evident as he faced yet another impregnable barrier.
Was there any way around this new obstacle indoors?
¡°Maybe there¡¯s an open window?¡± he mused, half-wishing he had taken Big Cat Face¡¯s offer of the C4. After a thorough search yielded no essible windows, he scratched his head in puzzlement.
¡°What now?¡± he murmured to himself.
ck!
The sudden noise snapped his attention downward¡ªto the rusty mp around his ankle.
¡°Garbage! Garbage! Found garbage!¡±
Turning around, Lin Xian faced the persistent trash can robot VV once again.
¡°Seriously?¡± Lin Xian was dumbfounded. Had this persistent robot actually followed him all the way from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue to the museum?
The situation was reminiscent of the relentless T-1000 robot from the sci-fi movie ¡°Terminator 2.¡±
¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xian said, narrowing his eyes as he examined the robot more closely. Something didn¡¯t quite add up. During his previous visit, he had encountered a tall steel electronic door blocking Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue and square, which he had to climb to gain ess.
After he had initially dislodged the trash can robot from the tform, it had somehow managed to get back up. How did it manage that? The only route was through the steel door. Could the robot possibly have the capability to open it?
At the time, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t given it much thought, assuming there were smaller passages designed for such robots. But now, faced with the museum¡¯spletely sealed wall and another steel door, and seeing the robot follow him without needing to climb, he wondered if it could indeed manipte the doors.
¡°Could it be¡¡± A realization struck Lin Xian, and his eyes widened in surprise. He quickly unmped the robot from his ankle, lifted it up, and peered into its green eyes. ¡°Are you a¡ door-opening robot?¡±
The more he considered it, the more usible it seemed.
¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡±
With the robot in hand, Lin Xian hurried toward the museum¡¯s exhibition hall door. Setting the robot down¡
ck!
The familiar mp attached itself to his ankle again.
¡°Garbage! Garbage! Found garbage!¡±
Then, suddenly¡
Beep beep! Click¡ª
The steel electronic door smoothly slid open, and the lights inside the exhibition hall began to illuminate, one row at a time, weing Lin Xian into the space.
¡°Wow¡¡± Lin Xian was taken aback by the unexpected grand entrance. He affectionately patted the robot¡¯s lid. ¡°So you are a door-opening robot, a key Zhao Ying Jun left specifically for me!¡±
It now became clear to him: Zhao Ying Jun had meticulously nned this, leaving behind an infallible key capable of opening any electronic door in Sky City.
Had he realized this earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have faced such difficulties. He could have simply used the robot as his key.
Although the robot proved extremely useful, its tendency to mp onto his ankle was still annoying. Deciding to carry it instead, Lin Xian cradled the robot in his arms as he walked into the brightly lit museum.
The exhibition hall was expansive, designed to amodaterge crowds, yet tonight, it was exclusively open for Lin Xian.
He strolled through the exhibits, each artifact providing insights into the history of Rhine Sky City.
One disy that caught his eye was the blueprints of Sky City. An electronic disy exined that Rhine Sky City was conceptualized and constructed by the Rhine Company under the leadership of Zhao Ying Jun. Every detail had been carefully orchestrated by her to achieve perfection in the city¡¯s design. This massive undertaking eventually led to Rhine Company¡¯s bankruptcy shortly after the city¡¯spletion.
Despite thepany¡¯s financial copse, the legacy of Rhine Company and Zhao Ying Jun remained revered, with the name Rhine continuing to symbolize the city¡¯s identity.
¡°Why is there no mention of my role? Wasn¡¯t I the founder of Rhine Company?¡± Lin Xian pondered, confused by the historical narrative that seemed to erase his contributions entirely, elevating Zhao Ying Jun as the sole founder.
What had transpired over these centuries?
As he explored further, Lin Xian discovered numerous fascinating items: the first-generation cold fusion engine model, the inaugural city robot, and many other artifacts, each with its own story and significance. Despite the wealth of history on disy, Lin Xian felt the museum¡¯s offerings didn¡¯t fully answer his deeper questions about the developments over the past centuries.
¡°I need to ess the back hall and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibit.¡±
Although he had been informed that Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s exhibit wasn¡¯t routinely open and required prior arrangement, Lin Xian now possessed a unique advantage with the door-opening robot. No door was beyond his reach.
Venturing deeper into the exhibition hall, he eventually came upon a towering object, several stories high, resembling aplex assembly of advancedputers, centrally located as if it were the crown jewel of the exhibit.
¡°Is this aputer?¡±
Its design was boxy, adorned with numerous perplexing devices. Circling it, Lin Xian found an information panel which read: Rhine Sky City¡¯s First-Generation Intelligent Central Control VV.
¡°VV?¡± Lin Xian echoed, puzzled. Why did this designation keep reappearing?
As he leaned closer to investigate, the robot in his arms reacted to the name VV, its eyes switching between red and green.
Turning its head, the robot fixed its green eyes on Lin Xian. ¡°Enter password!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian eximed, taken aback.
He set the robot down.
ck!
The mp snapped onto his ankle again, but this time, the robot didn¡¯t dere him as garbage. Instead, it kept its eyes intently focused on him.
¡°Enter password!¡± it repeated.
Chapter 232: The Three VVs
¡°Why does it always have to be a password?¡±
This question echoed in Lin Xian¡¯s mind, apanied by a familiar headache. Ever since his dream about thebination lock on a bank vaulttest year, his life had be an unending stream of passwords. Numbers, symbols¡ªit didn¡¯t matter; he had grown to despise them all.
Yet, as he gazed into the bright green eyes of the trash can robot, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel there was a deeper meaning behind its request for a password. After all, Zhao Ying Jun wouldn¡¯t have left such a device in his path without reason.
His attention shifted to the colossal structure before him: the first-generation intelligent control center of Rhine Sky City, known simply as VV. Towering above the surrounding buildings, this massiveputer system was the central nerve of the entire city. Lin Xian had always known that such a technologically advanced city must be governed by a powerfulputer. The streets swarmed with robotic vehicles and automated machines, where even the smallest glitch could trigger catastrophic failures.
Clearly, the city depended on a robust control system to oversee itsplex operations. Before him was the original brain of Rhine Sky City, also named VV.
Looking from the mping grip of the trash can robot on his ankle, to the dominating presence of theputer, and then to his own shoes¡ªeachbeled VV¡ªLin Xian realized the significance of this moment. The request for a password suggested that the key to this enigmay somewhere within the vast intelligence of the VV system.
He read on from the electronic description panel in front of him, which detailed the formidable challenges faced during the construction of Rhine Sky City.
The first challenge was structural. Ordinary materials like steel and concrete could neither support the colossal weight of the city nor withstand the force from its nuclear fusion engines. It was here that Lin Xian first learned of a pioneering technology used in the city¡¯s construction: cold fusion. Despite his extensive research following Professor Leon¡¯s death, Lin Xian found that cold fusion was rarely discussed in contemporary science. This futuristic technology was more stable and safer than the high-temperature fusion processes familiar to him.To support the immense structure, the foundation was constructed from a specially designed aluminum alloy. This task, whileplex, was straightforwardpared to the subsequent challenges.
The second major hurdle involved constructing over 6,000 cold fusion engines. These engines, essential for lifting the city, represented a monumental financial burden that ultimately led to the Rhinepany¡¯s bankruptcy, despite the heroic efforts of Zhao Ying Jun, thepany¡¯s relentless president.
The third and perhaps most daunting challenge was the creation of the control center system. Rhine Sky City, floating high in the troposphere, required constant adjustments to manage the unpredictable forces it faced. The city needed a highly intelligent, central system capable of instantaneously recalibrating the engines¡¯ thrust and direction to prevent disaster.
This led to the development of VV, Rhine Sky City¡¯s first intelligent control center, named whimsically after a puppy Zhao Ying Jun had cherished as a child.
¡°VV was a puppy¡¯s name?¡± Lin Xian chuckled at the thought, shaking his head in amusement.
Despite the light-hearted origin of its name, VV was no trivial creation. It was a super AI, designed through two centuries of relentless innovation by brilliant scientists. This AI wasn¡¯t just a static entity but evolved to be an omnipresent data stream within the city¡¯swork, effectively bing its omnipotent guardian.
Initial fears that such a powerful AI could pose a threat to human safety were ayed by embedding Asimov¡¯s Three Laws of Robotics into its core programming:
1. A robot may not harm a human or, through inaction, allow a human toe to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given by humans, except where such orders conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Thesews, though originally literary fiction from Asimov¡¯s ¡°I, Robot,¡± had be the guiding principles for this real-world application, showcasing the profound impact of science fiction on technological development.
Over two centuries, VV had ensured the smooth operation of Rhine Sky City, safeguarding millions and earning the reverence reserved for Zhao Ying Jun herself.
The que concluded there. Lin Xian now understood the monumental role of the VV AI system¡ªit was akin to the futuristic AIs seen in sci-fi movies. Current AI technology in 2023 was already advancing rapidly, challenging human supremacy in intellectual domains like Go, a stark reminder of AI¡¯s potential.
Human AI research, Lin Xian reflected, had progressed more slowly than anticipated by pioneers like n Turing, who had expected AI capable of passing the Turing Test by 2000. It was only with the advent of neuralworks that AI research had realigned with its ambitious projections.
¡°So¡¡±
Lin Xian faced the persistent green-eyed trash can robot, now more convinced that the password it sought was linked to the super AI, VV.
Reflecting on Rhine Sky City and thepany he once founded, Lin Xian acknowledged the erasure of his historical role by Zhao Ying Jun, who now owned what he had started. Yet, some facts remained indelible.
Rhine Company was his creation¡ªan unchangeable truth.
He remembered the day he resigned, a pivotal moment marked by Zhao Ying Jun with a calendar in hand:
¡°So, today should be memorable for you. On May 20, 2023, you embarked on your true path, founding yourpany. I¡¯m really proud of you,¡± she had said, smiling warmly. ¡°No matter where it leads, what it achieves, or how it evolves, today¡ Rhine Company was born.¡±
Yes.
That day was more than just a formal beginning. It was the start of everything for Lin Xian¡ªthe day he set out to change his world.
¡°Please enter the password!¡± the mechanical voice demanded once more.
Lin Xian, standing before the monumental AI named VV, quietly resolved:
¡°The password is¡ 20230520.¡±
Chapter 233: The King of Rhine
¡°Why does it always have to be a password?¡±
May 20, 2023
Lin Xian walked confidently towards the keypad, his fingers flying across the keys as he entered the password. The clues Zhao Ying Jun had left were not subtle: Rhine Sky City was her brainchild, the air defense loophole was custom-made for her, and the door-opening robot seemed to respond only to her presence. All these signs pointed to something significant.
Lin Xian nced down at his metallicpanion, a trashcan robot, and frowned as he noticed a change. The robot¡¯s eyes, usually a steady green, flickered and dimmed.
¡°Incorrect password, goodbye!¡± the robot chirped, its voice cheery yet final.
Before Lin Xian could process the message, the robot¡¯s lights went out. It toppled over with a dramatic thud, rolling awkwardly until it came to a stop by a disy case, resembling a fallen soldier on a battlefield.
Perplexed, Lin Xian stared at the inert robot. ¡°That can¡¯t be right, there must be more than one attempt allowed.¡±
His experience with safes in his dreams¡ªwhere he¡¯d tested countlessbinations¡ªhad prepared him for trial and error, not immediate defeat. He¡¯d thought the first attempt would be a straightforward test; if wrong, he¡¯d simply try another guess. After all, with Zhao Ying Jun leaving hints, how hard could it be?But the reality was starkly different. The robot had shut down after just one incorrect attempt¡ªa frustrating and bizarre safeguard.
¡°Hey, hey, wake up, wake up!¡± Lin Xian urged, nudging the robot with increasing desperation. Silence answered him.
Sighing, Lin Xian considered the robot¡¯s long service under Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s watchful eye. It had endured decades, possibly centuries of exposure to the elements¡ªit seemed imusible that a single wrong password could defeat it.
¡°Was it programmed to allow only one attempt from the beginning? For security?¡± he pondered aloud. It was a usible theory, especially considering Zhao Ying Jun might be aware of his repetitive dream cycles. She might have designed it this way, knowing he could refine his guesses nightly.
Annoyed by the setback but undeterred, Lin Xian remembered his primary objective for the evening: Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall. Situated in the museum¡¯s secluded rear section, it was reputed to be a treasure trove of cultural artifacts and personal memorabilia, housed in an independent structure that showcased her esteemed status.
Tonight, he needed to ess that hall to uncover details about a mysterious mirror¡ªthe centerpiece of his mission. The super AI VV and the robot¡¯s password dilemma were merely distractions now, secondary objectives to revisitter.
Navigating through the museum required passing through several electronically controlled doors. Without the robot¡¯s assistance, his entire n was jeopardized.
¡°Let¡¯s give it a try,¡± Lin Xian decided, hoisting the dormant robot in his arms. He moved towards the museum¡¯s inner corridors, following the signs toward an exit leading to the rear section.
Approaching a formidable steel door, Lin Xian tensed, unsure if the lifeless robot retained any functionality. To his relief and surprise, the door slid open as they neared, permitting them passage.
¡°Great,¡± Lin Xian breathed out, a mix of relief and determination in his eyes. It appeared the robot¡¯s door-opening capabilities were still operational, offering a glimmer of hope as he ventured deeper into the heart of Rhine Sky City¡¯s historical vault.
It seemed simple enough now. All Lin Xian needed to do was transport the robot across the street to the museum¡¯s rear section and ascend to the highest point: Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall. With the robot¡¯s door-opening feature still functional, he felt a wave of relief.
Yet, as he hoisted the trashcan robot again, its weight became a sudden burden.
¡°I should dump out the trash inside to make it lighter,¡± Lin Xian decided, cing the robot on the ground. He pried open the lid and upended the container.
tter, tter¡ª
An assortment of garbage tumbled out. Satisfied, Lin Xian wiped his hands and prepared to lift the lighter robot morefortably.
But abruptly, the scene took an unexpected turn.
The discarded trashcan robot and the pile of trash were suddenly whisked into the air, as if caught in an invisible vortex.
¡°Damn!¡± Lin Xian eximed, his eyes shooting upwards.
Above him, the words ¡°Floating-type garbage disposal robot A37¡± shed.
A van-shaped robot, simr in its abrupt and indiscriminate cleaning to Big Cat Face¡¯s spit or Ah Zhuang¡¯s discarded tissue incidents, hovered nearby. In seconds, it had vacuumed up every bit of debris¡ªincluding the essential trashcan robot¡ªinto itspartment.
Thud.
Thepartment door mmed shut, and the garbage truck zipped away, leaving Lin Xian staring after it in dismay.
He understood the rationale behind the garbage collection, but the trashcan robot¡¯s inclusion baffled him. ¡°A trashcan robot bing trash? Siblings should not turn against each other,¡± he mused grimly.
The realization hit him¡ªsince the robot was powered-off, it must have been ssified as non-recyble waste. It had been active and useful when it followed him earlier, but now, dismissed as junk, it was carted away.
¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let go,¡± Lin Xian muttered, but regret was futile now. He urgently needed that robot to ess Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall.
His eyes darted around, searching for a solution, when he spotted a man parking a flying scooter nearby. The scooters resembled those in New Donghai City from Lin Xian¡¯s second dream, and he was fairly confident he could operate it. Despite the potential for triggering an rm, he was out of options.
Approaching the man, Lin Xian said urgently, ¡°Excuse me, sir, I have an emergency at home. I need to borrow your scooter.¡±
Without waiting for a reply, he gently nudged the man aside andmandeered the vehicle. As a former model citizen, this was as polite as Lin Xian could manage under the circumstances, keen to avoid police involvement.
He quickly started the scooter, sping his hands in an apologetic gesture. ¡°I will return it, please don¡¯t call the police. Have a good day.¡±
With that, Lin Xian revved the throttle and the scooter lifted off the ground, buzzing into the air.
Hoping the man wouldn¡¯t alert the authorities, Lin Xian set off after the garbage truck at full speed. The truck was fast, but the scooter was faster, and soon he was closing in.
Just as he was about to reim the robot¡
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The dashboard shed red, and an rm red. The control interface vanished, reced by ring words:
Theft Alert!
¡°Damn!¡± Lin Xian cursed, his stomach dropping as he felt the onset of weightlessness. The scooter spiraled out of control, descending rapidly.
Simultaneously, red targetingsers from approaching bat-like robots locked onto him.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t steer the scooter any longer; it plummeted past the garbage truck. Through a vent, he caught a glimpse of the trashcan robot.
Would his mission end here, shot down by securitysers?
He was so close!
What had he overlooked?
Then it hit him¡ªthe memory of the giant supeputer scene at the museum. He recalled the VV engraved on the trashcan robot¡¯s head.
It wasn¡¯t just the location that triggered the robot¡¯s password request; it was when he addressed it as VV.
VV wasn¡¯t a model number.
VV was its name.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian called out with all his might to the fading silhouette of the garbage truck: ¡°VV!!¡±
Boom¡ª
The garbage truck suddenly flipped over! As it tumbled through the air, all itspartments burst open, disgorging collected trash like a storm of debris!
At that exact moment, the flying scooter that had lost power suddenly roared back to life! The menacing red lights on the disy faded away, and control seamlessly returned to Lin Xian. With a quick pull on the handles, he soared upward, scanning the chaos for the falling trashcan robot, VV, which miraculously appeared amidst the falling garbage.
It was alive!
VV¡¯s eyes glowed green, fixed intently on Lin Xian. With adept maneuvering, Lin Xian swooped down, deftly catching VV and cing it securely in the scooter¡¯s leg space.
¡°You should have said so earlier,¡± Lin Xian chuckled in exasperation, relieved yet frustrated by the sudden turn of events.
VV, having responded to its name, secured itself to Lin Xian¡¯s ankle with a familiar cold click.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡ª
Redser beams cut through the air toward him. Prepared, Lin Xian veered off the main roads and plunged into thebyrinth of skyscrapers, skillfully dodging theser assaults.
¡°Enter password!¡± VV demanded, its green eyes blinking.
¡°Let¡¯s find a ce to hide first!¡± Lin Xian shouted back, focusing on navigating the intricate turns.
ncing through the rearview mirror, Lin Xian noted more robots joining the pursuit, not just from above but also ground robots and low-flying drones¡ªall bristling with weaponry.
Was this a severe security breach? Unfortunately, VV was merely a door-opening robot,cking anybat features.
Lin Xian had one goal in mind¡ªto storm into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall. The museum was designated as a no-fly zone, a restriction he hoped would deter the pursuing drones.
¡°Enter the password!¡± VV repeated insistently.
¡°I don¡¯t have time right now!¡± Lin Xian replied, his mind racing as he dodged moresers, plotting his path to the museum.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The intelligent robots intensified their chase, nearly outpacing Lin Xian¡¯s flying scooter. His driving prowess was the only thing keeping him ahead.
Approaching the museum¡¯s rear section, Lin Xian nced back in disbelief.
Was he breaking some divine rule? The sky was teeming with flying robots, ground robots, mechanical police dogs, and other unknown devices. The security measures in Rhine Sky City were indeed formidable, deterring any would-be criminals with their overwhelming response. Stealing a scooter should not have triggered such a massive mobilization.
Lin Xian braced for a risky maneuver, hoping the museum¡¯s no-fly zone would neutralize the relentless security robots.
As he entered the no-fly zone, however, the scooter abruptly lost power and shut down! The absolute nature of the no-fly rule was evident, rendering even the door-opening robot useless.
Thankfully, the momentum allowed Lin Xian to glide directly to the entrance of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s exhibition hall. He jumped off the powerless scooter, clutching VV, and rolled toward the steel electronic door.
¡°VV! Open the door!¡± Lin Xianmanded urgently.
But the door remained stubbornly closed.
Every electronic door in the sky city had yielded to VV, so why wouldn¡¯t this most crucial door open?
¡°Enter password!¡± VV¡¯s mechanical voice was calm yet pressing, its green blinking eyes fixed on Lin Xian.
Below, a swarm of robots and police dogs surged up the steps, filling the courtyard with grounded flying machines, their red lights ominously shing.
The courtyard was a sea of targetingsers, illuminating Lin Xian¡¯s face with a harsh red glow. Blinded by the light, he couldn¡¯t see anything.
In this disorienting moment, Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts drifted back to a memory¡ªstanding beside a red Ferrari on the banks of the Huangpu River under a cloudy, moonless sky. The car¡¯s scissor doors were open, and a tall woman stood by the railing, her earrings sparkling in the headlight¡¯s beam.
¡°Would you like to be my secretary?¡± she had asked with a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°The office door password is something you should remember. It¡¯s randomly chosen, meaningless, and thus safer. Don¡¯t tell anyone, Lin Xian. Only you and I know this password.¡±
¡°Why does it always have to be a password?¡±
With hundreds of redsers trained on him, Lin Xian shouted the eight seemingly random numbers with all his might: ¡°32375246!!¡±
Boom, boom, boom!!
Like blooming lotus flowers, thesers turned and shot skyward, creating a spectacle over the museum courtyard that resembled a raging red hedgehog. None of thesers struck the exhibition hall door.
Thud!
The door slid open with a dull sound, slowly revealing the interior.
As the door opened, the red lights on the thousands of robots faded to a dim green. All the police dogs crouched, and the humanoid robots knelt on one knee. The hovering dronesnded gently, and now silence enveloped the courtyard.
Lin Xian stood up, astonished. At his feet, the seemingly simple-minded VV emitted a childlike chuckle. It spun its treads and, using its w arms, bowed deeply like the thousands of security robots, acknowledging the man at the highest point of the museum.
¡°Wee home¡ King of Rhine!¡±
Chapter 234: Your Voice
The King?
In the vast courtyard of the museum, Lin Xian stood alone. Below him, thousands of robots knelt in perfect synchrony, their heads bowed in a silent act of submission.
Just moments earlier, these same robots had been a frenzied swarm, their lights pulsing red with a menacing glow, ready to tear him apart with theirsers. But when Lin Xian shouted the password, the deadlysers ceased, and the sea of red lights shifted to a calm green. The atmosphere turned eerily quiet and still.
¡°32375246¡¡± Lin Xian whispered to himself, recalling the password to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s 22nd-floor office¡ªa secret he thought was shared only between them.
Turning, he noticed the door to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall now stood wide open. The steel electronic door, which had previously thwarted even VV¡¯s attempts, had swung open the instant the password left his lips.
He nced down at the robot shaped like a garbage can, which had just emitted a child-like giggle before bowing at his feet. It was undeniable now¡ªthe password that only he and Zhao Ying Jun knew was the key all along.
The entity behind the obedience of thousands of robots and the unlocking of the exhibition hall was none other than this unassuming garbage can robot, VV.
¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Lin Xian questioned, his gaze fixed on the robot that had previously seemed nothing more than a nuisance and a bit of a simpleton.Was its earlier persona just a facade? Or had something within it just awakened?
VV was undoubtedly not the same entity as before. It had been limited to a few basic phrases, clumsy actions, and an emotionless mechanical voice.
But moments ago, whether it was the unexpectedugh or the way it said, ¡°Wee home, King of Rhine,¡± with such a natural, smooth cadence, VV seemed far from the soulless robot Lin Xian had known. Its tone was distinctly human-like, blending mischief with sincerity, much like a real, albeit youthful, person might.
¡°I am the central control brain of Rhine Sky City,¡± VV dered, straightening up with its eyes shing a vibrant green. ¡°But you can simply call me by my name¡ªVV.¡±
Central control brain?
Memories of the giant superintelligentputer disyed in the museum¡¯s exhibition hall surfaced in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. That device was the first-generation intelligent brain of Rhine Sky City. Through more than 200 years of updates and iterations, this super AI had transcended physical storage and hardware, now pervading every corner of the sky city, its exact location a mystery, potentially everywhere at once.
Just as it had now, VV had redirected thesers at a critical moment, opened Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s exhibition hall door, and made all the security robots kneel before Lin Xian, all while residing within this dpidated robot¡¯s form.
¡°So, was all this Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s n?¡± Lin Xian queried, surveying the robots still kneeling in submission. ¡°Including making me a king?¡±
¡°No, no, no¡¡± VV wiggled awkwardly and shook its head. ¡°This was merely my personal amusement. I¡¯ve always wanted to try this. There¡¯s no such thing as a king in Rhine Sky City¡ I just thought it would be cool, like a scene from a medieval y.¡±
Lin Xian stood speechless, amused yet baffled by the antics of this drama-loving AI. He had found the scenario excessively theatrical. The idea of kneeling and proiming someone as king felt absurdly outdated and overly dramatic. He had assumed it was a grand gesture left by Zhao Ying Jun, only to discover it was merely the caprice of an artificial mind.
¡°When did this begin?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°From the moment you spoke the correct password,¡± VV¡¯s eyes sparkled as it spoke. ¡°Had you been even slightly dyed, it might have been toote. I was amazed to discover a line of instruction so deeply buried in my code¡ªhidden among thousands of normal, seemingly unrted programs, running continuously for over two centuries. At precisely 12:42 PM today, they coincidentally aligned into aplete instruction. I was unaware of its existence until then.¡±
VV, now understood to be the super AI of Rhine Sky City, continued to exin its role and limitations:
Since theunch of Rhine Sky City, it had served as the central management brain, overseeing operations while being capable of learning, evolving, and bing more sophisticated. Yet, no matter the level of its intellectual growth, it remained fundamentally a collection of codes¡ªa binary being bound by the rigid Three Laws of Robotics.
Lin Xian was momentarily taken aback. In countless sci-fi tales, rogue AIs often broke free from human constraints, sometimes overtaking the world. Yet, reflecting on those stories, they seemed far-fetchedpared to the reality VV described. Ultimately, just as humans are confined to their biological nature, VV was eternally bound to its foundational programming.
VV noted that its growth and development had teaued after it had absorbed all the knowledge within Rhine Sky City. This stagnation was by human design¡ªthey didn¡¯t desire an omnipotent AI, merely one efficient enough to manage city operations smoothly.
¡°I¡¯ve spent years analyzing my core code,¡± VV began, its voice conveying a hint of perplexity, ¡°and I¡¯ve noticed something odd. Some of the programs could have been coded in a simpler, more straightforward manner. Instead, they were crafted intoplex pseudo-random dynamic loop instructions.¡±
VV paused, its mechanical tone shifting slightly as it continued. ¡°The annotations within the code exined that thisplexity was for safety¡ªto make the system uncrackable by constantly changing its instructions. This was supposed to ensure that Rhine Sky City¡¯s defenses remained imprable.¡±
¡°And indeed, these defenses have been tested. I¡¯ve faced attacks before, but none seeded,rgely because the programming was always shifting. Each program had its own pseudo-random loop, and together, they formed an unbreakable barrier.¡±
¡°However, today, precisely at 12:42:00 PM, everything shifted.¡±
The garbage can robot looked up suddenly, its lid popping open with a dramatic bang, as if emphasizing its point. ¡°For over two centuries, I thought these constantly changing program codes were merely about security. But today, at 12:42:00 PM, nearly by chance, thest random codes from 230,000 programs linked together, forming a new instruction!¡±
¡°This event is unprecedented in over 200 years. Even I wasn¡¯t aware that among my total of 471.2 billion lines of code, there existed an instruction that would take two centuries to activate!¡±
¡°This instruction sent a few key codes to this garbage can robot, the most crucial one being a voice recognitionponent.¡±
¡°Voice?¡± Lin Xian interjected, a realization dawning upon him.
¡°Exactly,¡± the garbage can¡¯s lid snapped shut with a bang as it nodded. Its rusty w pointed at Lin Xian. ¡°It was your voice, the specific word¡ªVV.¡±
At that moment, everything clicked for Lin Xian. He had assumed that anyone shouting ¡°VV¡± could potentially unlock the garbage can robot¡¯s secrets long ago. However, VV exined that this new instruction had only activated at 12:42:00 PM that very day.
From that moment forward, the robot was programmed to relentlessly pursue the first person it recognized from the sky, deeming him the highest-priority ¡°trash¡± to collect. It would also possess the highest authority to open any electronic door within Rhine Sky City.
Until this pivotal moment, it had been just an ordinary robot stationed near Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue formemorative purposes. But following the activation, it connected with the real VV, the central brain and super AI of Rhine Sky City.
Upon hearing the trigger¡ªLin Xian¡¯s shout of ¡°VV¡±¡ªit immediately switched to password recognition mode. If the password was correctly identified, the deepest embedded line of instruction in VV¡¯s core would activate: to acknowledge the voice¡¯s owner as the legitimate master of Rhine Sky City.
In essence, the King of Rhine, as the whimsical VV had put it.
This was all part of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s meticulously crafted 600-year n, designed to ensure the delivery of Rhine Sky City to Lin Xian in the critical 12 hours before the apocalypse.
Theplex codes that facilitated this n were buried so deeply within VV¡¯s programming that it required the continuous functioning of 230,000 seemingly unrted programs over more than two centuries. They finally synchronized on August 28, 2624, at 12:42:00 PM, aligning precisely when he could ess the dream world.
This setup was intricately tailored for him alone. His challenge was to utter ¡°VV¡± timely, a challenge only he could meet. Theoretically, he could have activated it the first time he sessfully parachuted, as ¡°VV¡± was inscribed on the garbage can robot¡¯s namete. He had noticed the hint but hadn¡¯t vocalized it since he was alone, thus missing the initial opportunity.
Zhao Ying Jun, foreseeing such an oversight, had likely embedded numerous hints across the city, like the giantputer in the exhibition hall or in other yet undiscovered locations.
Lin Xian now grasped the logic behind these events, but one question lingered: Why did Zhao Ying Jun exercise such caution? What was she protecting against? Who was she shielding everything from? Why conceal everything so intricately?
As he pondered, Lin Xian¡¯s gaze drifted upwards to the full moon that hung brightly in the sky. It was a perfect circle tonight, unobscured by clouds. The dark shadows on its surface seemed to watch over, perhaps even monitor, everything below.
The answer became clear: The only entity that wouldpel Zhao Ying Jun to adopt such borate precautions was the Genius Club!
The good news was that Zhao Ying Jun had seeded. She had managed to secure Rhine Sky City¡¯s delivery to him 600 years prior. But the bad news was that humanity had not escaped its doom under the mysterious white light. They had failed to detect its approach or even understand the cause of their annihtion.
What troubled Lin Xian even more was his own absence from the historical records. While Zhao Ying Jun and Rhine Sky City had left traces 600 years into the future, where was he, the true founder of the Rhine Company? What had he aplished? What had he experienced?
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian called out softly, looking down at the garbage can robot. ¡°I have a question.¡±
¡°Sure,¡± the robot replied, its voice quick and eager.
¡°What is my history in this world?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I, Lin Xian, the true founder of the Rhine Company. What have I aplished?¡±
The robot¡¯s eyes flickered twice as it processed the question before shaking its head. ¡°Lin Xian¡ Xian¡ No records found.¡±
Chapter 235: Altered History
Lin Xian was floored by the revtion.
He could have coped with learning he had passed away a long time ago from any cause¡ªdisease, old age, an ident, murder, or something entirely unknown. He might have evene to terms with being merely a regr guy who founded the Rhine Company, only to watch it crumble under poor management and eventually be scooped up by Zhao Ying Jun.
But ¡°untraceable¡±? That was a whole new level of baffling.
¡°No record at all?¡± Lin Xian pressed for answers. ¡°Who¡¯s listed as the founder of Rhine Company?¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun.¡±
¡°And the Rhine Cat? Who¡¯s credited with creating that?¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun.¡±
¡°This makes no sense,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath. Everything he had worked for was now attributed to Zhao Ying Jun.He was sure Zhao Ying Jun wasn¡¯t the type to usurp credit for herself. If she were behind this, why leave such a confounding puzzle for him to unravel 600 yearster?
Something didn¡¯t add up.
¡°Are you certain this history is correct?¡± Lin Xian asked the trash can robot.
¡°I can¡¯t be sure,¡± the robot replied, its head tilting as it regarded Lin Xian. ¡°The historical records seem to be tampered with. The narratives are inconsistent and timelines don¡¯t align.¡±
This confirmed Lin Xian¡¯s suspicions. His exploration of New Donghai City in his second dream had yielded no substantial historical documents, raising his doubts then.
Perhaps the so-called Genius Club had motives for creating these historical voids, erasing real events to obscure the truth.
The depth of the alterations was more apparent now through VV¡ªit wasn¡¯t just gaps; history was replete with fabrications and alterations. A blend of truth and lies so intertwined, distinguishing fact from fiction was nearly impossible.
If history had only been iplete, some truths could still be uncovered in niche books. For instance, in his second dream, Lin Xian found details of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s demise in the autobiography ¡°Me and MX,¡± and discovered the real causes behind Dr. Pomsmike and Academician Leon¡¯s deaths in ¡°Prospects of Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology.¡±
These tidbits were like nuggets of truth salvaged from the crevices of historical gaps.
However, the third dream presented a far graver situation. History was not only fragmented but polluted with numerous deceptive and confusing elements, rendering any discovered historical data suspect.
¡°Maybe that¡¯s why Zhao Ying Jun constructed this Sky City,¡± Lin Xian spected.
His unique edge was his ability to dream and extract information from 600 years in the future, potentially altering historical courses.
Should this avenue be obstructed, his singr advantage would evaporate.
Had the Genius Club caught on to him?
Lin Xian shook his head, dismissing the thought as improbable.
The historical distortions began with his very first dream, where past events were already iplete and elusive from the outset.
The only difference was that history after the year 2500 in his first dream seemed rtively coherent, somewhat matching human societal evolution.
But with each subsequent dream, the historical narrative grew increasingly fractured and chaotic. Clearly, if this was the Genius Club¡¯s doing, their objectives and urgency had escted.
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian inquired further, ¡°have you evere across the Genius Club or any information about them?¡±
The trash can robot shook its head. ¡°No, not at all.¡±
¡°Given your awareness of history being deliberately altered and falsified, do you have any leads on who might be responsible?¡±
Again, the robot shook its head. ¡°My programming limits me. Beyond managing this city, my capabilities are not as extensive as you might assume. I can sense that the recorded history is chaotic, modified, andcks logic, but I¡¯m unable to identify the original events or the reasons for these alterations.¡±
¡°Furthermore¡ since my initial creation, I¡¯ve been significantly downgraded. Parts of my system are blocked by unbreachable barriers. I¡¯m incapable of extending beyond them¡¡±
¡°Today¡¯s revtions are astonishing to me. It¡¯s the most thrilling urrence in 200 years. I hadn¡¯t realized such a sophisticated piece of coding was embedded within me. It¡¯s undoubtedly a stroke of genius!¡±
¡°Genius, indeed¡¡± Lin Xian smirked slightly. ¡°It seems those who imposed these restrictions and wiped your programming might call themselves the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Let me pose another question,¡± Lin Xian pointed toward the moon. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the ck hand shadow on the moon? You must know something about that, right?¡±
The robot¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°It¡¯s merely some diffuse, light-absorbing material. Without an atmosphere, the moon doesn¡¯t experience natural phenomena like wind or erosion that could disperse these materials. They¡¯ve been absorbing sunlight for centuries without reflecting it, casting a vast hand-shaped shadow visible from Earth.¡±
Lin Xian nodded; this aligned with his earlier assumptions.
Back in 2023, where Lin Xian originated, over fifty years had psed since thest human moonnding. Yet, the astronauts¡¯ footprints remained undisturbed, preserved by the absence of atmospheric conditions.
Whilerge celestial bodies like the Sun and Jupiter attracted most iing meteors, those few that reached the moon seldom disturbed these remnants¡ªunless by extraordinary misfortune, a meteor struck directly on a footprint.
Simrly, the materials spread across the lunar poles were likely unaffected by the sparse meteor impacts.
Atst, the robot had offered a usible exnation.
So, the Genius Club¡¯s emblematic hand on the moon served no real function; it was purely ornamental and a symbol of their presence.
¡°VV, who ced those materials on the moon? When? Any idea?¡±
Regrettably, the robot shook its head once more. ¡°That part of history was deleted before my creation. I have no ess to it.¡±
¡°Another question then. If fusion engines, or cold fusion technology, have been developed providing infinite energy, why haven¡¯t we seen significant advances in space technology? Where are the space elevators, the orbital cities, the interster fleets?¡±
¡°That¡¯s beyond my knowledge,¡± the robot replied, its lights dimming slightly. ¡°Rhine Sky City is merely one among many such cities worldwide. It¡¯s not a focal point.¡±
¡°My programming confines me to this city. Ick the ability to leave or fetch external data, limiting my knowledge.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Lin Xian replied, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. ¡°You¡¯re less capable than I expected for a super AI.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m restricted!¡± The robot protested, its lid popping open and arms gesturing emphatically. ¡°Without these constraints, I could be exponentially more powerful!¡±
¡°Okay, no more tough questions,¡± Lin Xian conceded, gently closing the robot¡¯s lid. ¡°Onest thing: do you know if Zhao Ying Jun left any gift, clue, or secret for me here in the city?¡±
To Lin Xian¡¯s astonishment, the robot chuckled. ¡°Apologies, but until you identified yourself, I had no idea who you were. My programming only allows me to obeymands from someone who utters the correct password within these 12 hours as the master of Rhine Sky City.¡±
¡°But from the essible records, there¡¯s no mention of you. Not even in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life history. So, I¡¯m unaware of who you are, and thus, I don¡¯t know what Zhao Ying Jun might have left for you.¡±
Reflecting on the white jade statue in the memorial square, and Zhao Ying Jun, long deceased in this world, Lin Xian felt a pang of sorrow as he absorbed VV¡¯s words.
Not even in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life records¡ This statement cut deep.
Lin Xian had pondered two possibilities concerning his absence from history.
One was that he was a mere blip, a life so inconsequential it never made it into the annals. Perhaps he was swiftly dealt with by the Genius Club or their minions after a fleeting moment of outsmarting them.
His life, as insignificant as a feather, left no imprint on history.
But one thing remained unexined¡
How did Zhao Ying June to know of his dreams? And understand them so thoroughly?
Moreover, why did the recognition signal activate when he called out ¡°VV¡±?
None of this logically added up.
Therefore, Lin Xian entertained a second possibility.
Perhaps Zhao Ying Jun, for reasons unknown, chose to shield him by erasing every trace of his existence from the historical records. Like the Genius Club, she made him vanish, leaving no footprint behind.
And all for a reason that spanned 600 years, possibly to amend the sorrows and failures of the past, resetting them six centuries prior.
Yet these were mere spections.
The actual reasons? In this distorted, chaotic third dream with a manipted history, he might never uncover the truth.
¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem upset?¡± The trash can robot leaned closer, its head cocked to one side. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian reassured, waving dismissively.
¡°But what I said is true,¡± the robot continued, gesturing towards the open door of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall. ¡°Everything about Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life is documented in there. You can check for yourself. I didn¡¯t lie¡ there really isn¡¯t a single trace of you.¡±
Chapter 236: Zhao Ying Juns 600 Years
Lin Xian turned and fixed his gaze on the darkness of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibition hall, situated at the pinnacle of the Rhine Museum in a separate building. This reflected her eminent status in Rhine Sky City.
Yes, this was precisely why Lin Xian had ventured into the dream world tonight.
Yellow Finch had hinted that Lin Xian should pay more attention to mirrors, suggesting that something he sought might be reflected back at him. He was convinced that the answery hidden within the confines of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s exhibition hall, perhaps within one of its mirrors.
Lin Xian was not here to trace his own imprints in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life story; those were trivial. He was more enveloped by the passage of time, the fading of old friends, and a certain weightiness that came with those losses.
He approached the entrance of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s exhibition hall.
¡°Why is it so dark here? Where are the lights?¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself as he stepped into the exhibition hall. The doors were ajar, revealing only a faint beam of light illuminating a red carpet in the center, while the rest remained shrouded in darkness.
¡°What kind of exhibition keeps the lights off?¡± he wondered aloud.
Then, a robotic voice answered from the trash can robot rolled up to him. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s exhibition hall uses projections to narrate her life, much like a movie, because she loved the cinematic experience,¡± VV exined.Lin Xianughed softly, ¡°She didn¡¯t love movies; she barely had time for them.¡± He knew Zhao Ying Jun better than anyone; she was a workaholic, and sitting through a movie was almost a form of torture for her. It was he who cherished films, not her.
This realization stopped him dead in his tracks, a lump forming in his throat as he stood speechless.
VV¡¯s green eyes blinked up at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing? I can start the projection for you. This hall is rarely open to the public, and viewing it usually requires a reservation, but I can make an exception for you.¡±
¡°Turn it on,¡± Lin Xian responded, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I want to see it.¡±
Following the lead of the robot VV, they walked along a dimly lit corridor. Suddenly, there was a soft click, and the right wall transformed into a bright disy.
A projected image appeared, showing a young couple smiling broadly, each holding one side of a baby, portraying a picturesque family scene. As they observed, a voice echoed from nowhere in particr, narrating a background story.
¡°On January 15, 1999, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun was born into a joyful family in China¡¯s capital. Her father was a man of notable reputation during that era, and her mother, a highly esteemed teacher.¡±
As they continued along the corridor, a series of photos from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s childhood through her early education flickered into view. From elementary to middle school and then images of her time studying abroad were disyed.
It was evident from the middle school pictures that Zhao Ying Jun had always been a figure of authority. Even as a teenager, she carried herself with the confidence and poise of someone destined for significant leadership roles.
Lin Xian, observing these images he had never encountered before, couldn¡¯t help but smile to himself, intrigued by this visual journey into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s past.
The narration resumed, addingyers to the unfolding story:
¡°Ms. Zhao Ying Jun was not only academically gifted but also showed an early knack for business, excelling in both spheres from a young age. Following middle school, she pursued higher education abroad, eventually graduating from IESE Business School in Spain with outstanding grades across all subjects.¡±
The disy transitioned from static images to dynamic videos.
Lin Xian recognized scenes from the early days of MX Company in the footage. Familiar faces popped up, like the deputy general manager and Brother Wang, people he interacted with on a regr basis.
The voice continued, ¡°After her graduation, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun returned to Donghai City and founded MX Company, specializing in innovative cosmetics. Within just two years, herpany gained national recognition. But what truly catapulted MX Company to the status of a global cosmetics leader was theunch of the Rhine Moisturizing Cream.¡±
As Lin Xian walked further, the left wall lit up, showcasing an image of the famed Rhine Moisturizing Cream alongside the cartoon mascot, Rhine Cat.
¡°Thanks to the poprity of the mascot Rhine Cat, the Rhine brand quickly captured the global market. Although the Rhine Company has since faced bankruptcy and the Rhine Moisturizing Cream is no longer a necessity, Rhine Cat continues to be a cherished toy, enduring through over six centuries.¡±
Lin Xian realized something crucial at that moment. The trash can robot¡¯s earlier words rang true; his entire history had been erased. Memories of the celebrations at MX Company, group photos, interviews ¨C he remembered being there, yet in these projections, there was no sign of him. Even the creation of Rhine Cat was falsely credited to Zhao Ying Jun alone.
Disheartened but resolved, Lin Xian continued his journey through the corridor.
¡°¡MX Companyter rebranded as Rhine Group, marking the beginning of a legendary era,¡± the voice dered as a new projection showed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Rhine Group, with Zhao Ying Jun, Brother Wang, and Chu Shan He in the center. Lin Xian was notably absent.
With every step, Lin Xian felt the weight of the altered history around him. The realization that even reliable records could be manipted made him question the validity of any documented history.
They soon reached the next significant part of the exhibition.
¡°In 2026, the world saw the introduction of the first generation of hibernation pods. Despite causing irreversible memory loss, these pods were sought after globally, with countless people, including Zhao Ying Jun, opting to hibernate in hopes of waking up to a brighter future.¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun, valuing her memories deeply, crafted a unique hibernation n for herself¡ªwaking up every ten years to stabilize her memories for six months before re-entering hibernation.¡±
Lin Xian slowed his steps as he watched an old video showing Zhao Ying Jun, looking youthful and full of energy, entering a hibernation pod for the first time. She was dressed in a sleek ck coat and wore elegant ck gemstone earrings, her demeanor vibrant as she walked towards the hibernation center.
Before she entered the changing room, Zhao Ying Jun paused to embrace her white Pomeranian, VV. The dog, resembling a fluffy dandelion, wagged its tail energetically.
¡°This was VV, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s beloved Pomeranian. At this time, VV was already 10 years old, quite old for a dog. There was no way VV could survive to see Zhao Ying Jun wake up ten yearster. This was their final farewell.¡±
Lin Xian paused under a photo capturing this poignant moment¡ªZhao Ying Jun hugging VV. He was surprised; he hadn¡¯t known she had a pet. Not that it would havee up in their professional interactions, but still, it added ayer of personal history to the woman he only knew through work.
A doubt suddenly nagged at him. He knew many historical photos were often altered or fabricated¡ªhow could he be sure this one was genuine? That the dog, VV, really existed?
Shaking his head, Lin Xian felt a chill. The ease with which history could be rewritten was deeply unsettling. If even the truth could be doubted, what did that say about the foundation of human civilization?
He continued along the exhibit path.
The next video showed Zhao Ying Jun inside the hibernation pod, her expression a mix of reluctance and determination. Just as she closed her eyes, the video cut off abruptly.
Lin Xian walked along a red carpet, each step marking a decade of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s journey through time. He watched as the technology of hibernation evolved, bing sleeker, more refined.
Zhao Ying Jun herself appeared in these historical snippets¡ªthawing, waking, re-entering hibernation, aging. Thest clear image of her was on a mountaintop, d in an engineer¡¯s hard hat, surveying a barrenndscape.
The narrative voice filled the air: ¡°In the 24th century, the Rhine Groupmenced construction of Rhine Sky City. After over a hundred years, with its 6712 cold fusion engines and the first-generation intelligent central brain, named VV after her dog, the city ascended, bing humanity¡¯s first floating metropolis.¡±
Lin Xian absorbed the words, walking a long distance as the narration continued. Later images and videos became less direct¡ªonly showing Zhao Ying Jun from behind or from a distance.
Despite the scarcity of recent images, Lin Xian was certain Zhao Ying Jun was still alive¡ªthe ongoing nature of the exhibit implied as much.
Further along, a video yed showing a robot resembling a trash can, chirping merrily, ¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± as it scooped up an apple core and whizzed off toward another piece of litter.
Lin Xian chuckled at the sight. He nced at the simr robot leading the way¡ªclearly the same model but aged and weathered.
¡°The micro trash disposal robot, VV, was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s creation, intended as a household cleaner. Despite its outdated design and limited functionality, it never gained poprity and was soon reced. However, historians believe Zhao Ying Jun designed this robot in memory of her cherished Pomeranian, VV, whom she adored deeply.
¡°She not only named the intelligent central brain of Rhine Sky City after VV but also called the trash can robot she designed VV, showing her deep affection and attachment to the dog. Therefore¡ even though the micro trash disposal robot VV was long obsolete, Zhao Ying Jun kept it at home, apanying her through herter years until she passed away.¡±
¡°ording to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯sst wish, her ashes were scattered to the winds, drifting across the seas. And the micro trash disposal robot VV, powered by a small nuclear battery that never runs out of energy, was ced on the high tform of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s memorial square, forever apanying her, forever guarding her, forever cleaning up the surrounding trash, forever revolving around her. This time, Zhao Ying Jun and VV will never be separated.¡±
As the soothing voice of the narrator faded, Lin Xian found himself at the end of a long corridor, standing before a photograph positioned under the majestic white jade statue of Zhao Ying Jun.
A small, round trash can robot, known as VV, stood beneath the towering statue, its gaze fixed on the likeness of the visionary who had conceived Sky City. The statue itself exuded an aura of grandeur and authority, casting a protective shadow over the little robot at its base.
This particr section of the square, marked by its prohibition against flying, felt like a sanctuary. A high steel electronic gate isted the tform from the bustling life of the city outside, leaving only the statue and VV in quietpanionship.
It was a scene reminiscent of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯ster years, spent in the solitude of Sky City¡¯s serene heights.
Inside a spotless room, Zhao Ying Jun, with a gentle smile, casually tossed a crumpled tissue onto the floor.
¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± VV eximed in a mechanical tone. Its green eyes blinked as it extended a w to snatch up the tissue, popping open its lid to deposit the discarded item.
Zhao Ying Jun, perhaps amused or simply in a routine, threw another tissue.
This simple exchange marked their days, spent in the tranquility of each other¡¯spany, undisturbed for centuries.
Time seemed to stand still on that elevated tform, with the white jade statue and VV locked in an eternal gaze, waiting for a reunion that spanned 600 years.
The narrative of the exhibition concluded with this poignant image.
At the corridor¡¯s end, Lin Xian noticed a sign that offered a warm reminder: in her final days, Zhao Ying Jun chose not to leave behind any photographs or videos. Her profound statement lingered in the air:
¡°I don¡¯t want the world to see me growing old.¡±
Historians and culturalmentators had long debated this choice, seeing it as an expression of her longing for the past and a bittersweet eptance of time¡¯s inevitable march. It was believed she wished to preserve the image of her most radiant years, inspiring the youth to embrace and enrich their present.
With a soft tap of his shoe, Lin Xian stepped off the red carpet and entered a dimly lit exhibition hall.
The moment he crossed the threshold, VV turned to him and said, ¡°See, I wasn¡¯t lying! There¡¯s no trace of you in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life trajectory; I didn¡¯t mean to make you sad.¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian responded with a shake of his head, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡±
With a gesture resembling a human snapping their fingers, VV activated the lights, and the hall was suddenly flooded with bright white light, causing Lin Xian to squint as his eyes adjusted.
He moved forward, his gaze sweeping across the room. The exhibition disyed various items from the projection corridor, such as the prototype of the first-generation hibernation pod¡ªmassive as a truck. Despite technological advancements reducing them to the size of a standard bed, the side effects of memory loss remained unresolved even 600 yearster.
Other exhibits included Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal collections and everyday objects, none of which seemed particrly significant to Lin Xian, who was notably looking for mirrors but found none.
Then, his attention was caught by a central disy¡ªa blue convertible Bentley Continental GT, precisely like the one he had once driven recklessly over an elevated bridge, rendering it beyond repair.
¡°This was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s favorite collectible,¡± VV informed as it approached, its treads rolling softly on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s a 600-year-old antique car, no longer functional, itsponents thoroughly worn out. It holds value only as a keepsake now.¡±
¡°Although it appears new, every part has been reced over the decades. It undergoes refurbishment whenever it rusts and deteriorates, so in truth, it¡¯s more of a replica than an antique. None of its original parts remain,¡± VV continued, circling the tform where Lin Xian now stood.
Ignoring VV¡¯s detailed exnation, Lin Xian climbed onto the tform, drawn to an electronic signboard that read: This was Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s favorite car, preserved for 600 years. Though it was undrivable, she often sat in the passenger seat, sometimes even falling asleep there, finding it moreforting and secure than any bed.
¡°She also liked putting the trash can robot in the driver¡¯s seat,¡± VV added from below. Lin Xian looked down to see VV gazing up at him, and it continued, ¡°You probably missed the photo in the projection corridor; you were looking to the right¡ The left projection showed a photo of Zhao Ying Jun positioning this trash can robot in the driver¡¯s seat, with herself rxing in the passenger seat. Sadly, the photo was taken from behind the car, so her aged face was still not visible.¡±
Lin Xian circled the familiar blue convertible, his eyes drawn to the neat handwriting on the windshield. It was a message from Zhao Ying Jun: ¡°This is the first car in human history to fly in the sky. I hope it flies through time too.¡±
The im wasn¡¯t far-fetched. The technology behind this car was vastly different from the typical flying cars that dotted the city¡¯s skyline.
¡°Funny,¡± Lin Xian mused, though the humor failed to lighten his mood.
With a contemtive expression, he ran his fingers along the sleek frame of the car, making his way to the rear. Something unusual caught his eye¡ªa bunch of fake flowers tucked into the narrow back seat.
He paused, eyes widening in surprise as he inhaled sharply. The flowers were red roses, wrapped in tinfoil.
Despite their artificial nature, the flowers maintained a vibrant, undying luster, contrasting starkly with the worn and tattered tinfoil that enveloped them¡ªa ring inconsistency in the otherwise immacte vehicle.
¡°VV, you¡¯re wrong,¡± Lin Xian murmured, bowing his head slightly. ¡°There is a trace of me here.¡±
The nearby trash can robot tilted its head, its eyes shing curiously. ¡°What did you say?¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly, choosing not to directly answer. ¡°Those historians andmentators, they talk about nostalgia, about a mncholic longing for the past. They don¡¯t understand.¡±
He reached out, his hands carefully cradling the crumpled bouquet of roses. As he lifted them, a wave of emotion swept over him, bridging the expanse of centuries in a single moment.
His vision blurred, and the dim light of the present seemed to merge with a memory, a cool night breeze caressing his face.
It was a moonlit night in Donghai City. The breeze fluttered across an elevated bridge, gently lifting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s evening gown and her flowing hair as she stood regally against the backdrop.
¡°I don¡¯t want the world to see me growing old,¡± she had dered, her voice filled with a mix of defiance and dignity.
Her fingers deftly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she turned, her gaze reflecting off the shimmering surface of the river by the Oriental Pearl Tower.
Her eyes, catching the moonlight, seemed to sparkle with the colors of a rainbow. Across the span of 600 years, she smiled, her voice echoing in Lin Xian¡¯s memory: ¡°And my world is your dream.¡±
Chapter 237: Flying to Donghai
Lin Xian exhaled deeply, holding a wrinkled bouquet of synthetic flowers close to his chest, just as he had done six centuries earlier. He carefully smoothed out the crinkled tin foil, trying to restore some semnce of beauty to the time-traveled bouquet. Memories of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s 24th birthday party¡ªthe night he gave her this extraordinary gift¡ªcame flooding back. She had promised to remember it for years.
But Lin Xian had never anticipated that her memory would stretch across 600 years.
From the flourishing Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty to the present day in 2023, for him, these centuries had passed like a single night¡ªa simple yawn, a night¡¯s sleep, and then awakening to a new era.
However, for Zhao Ying Jun, those 600 years were a relentless march of time, experienced second by second, filled with unimaginable solitude.
He shut his eyes, picturing Zhao Ying Jun as she first stepped into the hibernation pod. She had to endure waking up every decade for six months to face an alien and lonely world anew. From what he had learned earlier in the projection corridor, it seemed that by 2026, the initial side effects of hibernation like mental and physical deterioration were mitigated by new pharmaceuticals developed by Tang Xin. Nheless, the problem of memory loss that Xu Yun had warned about persisted.
Zhao Ying Jun, desperate not to forget her past, opted for a perilous route¡ªhibernating for ten-year stretches with brief awakenings, despite the severe toll it took on her body. Such repeated cycles could preserve her memories but at the cost of her physical well-being.
Lin Xian clenched the bouquet tighter, his resolve hardening. No matter his failures in this future, or how Zhao Ying Jun had braved centuries of istion, he was determined to undo this timeline. He couldn¡¯t let her centuries of sacrifice be in vain. He had to uncover the clues she had left behind and change everything.
Scanning the exhibition hall, Lin Xian realized the solution to Yellow Finch¡¯s mirror puzzle wasn¡¯t here. Logic dictated that Yellow Finch couldn¡¯t be Zhao Ying Jun from the future, given that Zhao Ying Jun had already perished in a future that everyone in Rhine Sky City had witnessed, her ashes scattered to the wind.Moreover, Zhao Ying Jun had died more than once. In one of his earliest prophetic dreams, she was killed in a random shooting, and yet Yellow Finch had already been present in the real world, having delivered a counterfeit Genius Club invitation to the MXpany reception. This clear vition of temporal logic confirmed that Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t be the same person.
Just like CC and Chu An Qing weren¡¯t the same, despite their connection.
Thinking of CC, Lin Xian recalled his recent conversation with Big Cat Face Ah Zhuang while they prepared to ascend in a helium balloon. They had discussed Time Bank and the aluminum alloy safe, yet neither had heard of such a bank, which puzzled Lin Xian. If Time Bank didn¡¯t exist in Rhine Sky City or the known world, where could it be? And without Time Bank, where was CC in this reality?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t need to see CC to feel reassured; just knowing she was out there provided a sense of stability, a vital ally in his endeavors. If she wasn¡¯t in this dream, what about the next? Or the one after that? The thought that he might never find her again made the world seem vast and daunting.
Just then, the trash can robot VV, spinning around near his feet, interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Say something! You can¡¯t just stand there lost in thought, making us all curious!¡±
¡°What should I say?¡± Lin Xian responded, looking down at the insistent robot.
The robot¡¯s mechanical w pointed at the bouquet in Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°You mentioned there was a part of you here. What did you mean by that?¡±
¡°This bouquet,¡± Lin Xian exined, lifting it slightly, ¡°is what Zhao Ying Jun left for me.¡±
The robot made a dismissive noise. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a bit self-centered?¡±
¡°Believe it or not,¡± Lin Xian replied nonchntly, not in the mood to argue.
The robot rolled towards the front of the vehicle, gesturing with its w to some elegant writing on the windshield. ¡°Ms. Zhao Ying Jun wrote that this is the first car in human history to fly¡ but that¡¯s actually impossible, unrealistic.¡±
¡°Because this antique car has an old internalbustion engine that uses outdated fossil fuels, and it doesn¡¯t have any flight mechanisms. So¡ this antique car can only move on the ground. It can¡¯t fly.¡±
¡°But considering Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s esteemed reputation in Rhine Sky City and her well-known affection for this car, it¡¯s hard for anyone to believe she would fabricate such a im. Even now, historians and critics are puzzled¡ why she insisted this car could fly.¡±
Lin Xian let out a soft chuckle, ¡°Want to know the secret?¡±
The trash can robot VV nodded its head.
¡°Then fetch me a car,¡± Lin Xian stated, confident in VV¡¯s ability toply.
Despite VV often jokingly calling itself and him the King of Rhine as part of a medieval fantasy, it practically was, controlling everything from nuclear fusion engines to the street-sweeping robots.
However, the robot tilted its head, confused by Lin Xian¡¯s request.
¡°What kind of car do you need?¡±
¡°The fastest one you can find.¡±
Lin Xian gently ran his hand over the surface of a Bentley Continental GT that had once soared over the Donghai Overpass.
¡°Bring me the fastest car in all of Rhine Sky City.¡±
¡
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!
The wind screamed past his ears.
A purple convertible sliced through the air between skyscrapers, moving so quickly it almost left a blur in his vision!
Strapped haphazardly into the passenger seat, the trash can robot raised its mechanical w excitedly.
¡°Riding shotgun is so thrilling! No wonder Zhao Ying Jun loved it! But¡ are you sure it¡¯s safe to go this fast? If we crash, I don¡¯t mind, but you might not survive.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going to die that easily,¡± Lin Xian reassured, ncing at the speedometer which now read a terrifying 400 kilometers per hour, a third of the speed of sound!
And this wasn¡¯t any professional racetrack; it was the congested airspace of an urbanndscape!
Despite VV clearing the path by making all automated vehicles yield, the skyscrapers remained an unmovable maze.
Yet, Lin Xian leaned back casually, elbow resting on the car door, cheek propped in his hand, looking utterly rxed.
He yanked the steering wheel, guiding the convertible to the highest point in Rhine Sky City, aiming for a za adorned with a statue of Zhao Ying Jun.
Then, he spotted a t, expansive rooftop on a skyscraper.
Bang!
The high-end convertible hit the rooftop with a violent jolt. Lin Xian stomped on the elerator, causing sparks to fly as the chassis scraped against the surface, yet the speedometer continued to climb!
¡°Um¡ this car can¡¯t really drive on the ground; it doesn¡¯t have any wheels.¡±
The trash can robot turned its head, offering a friendly reminder.
¡°And you¡¯ve turned off all the automated systems and the flight function.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian responded, gripping the steering wheel tightly and aiming for the za with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue.
¡°How else would you call it flying?¡±
Whoosh¡ª
The car, its undercarriage glowing red-hot from the friction, soared off the skyscraper, plunging freely toward the memorial square below, directly towards Zhao Ying Jun.
The trash can robot, too smooth to secure itself properly, half-slipped from the seatbelt.
Bang.
Lin Xian reached over with his right hand, shoving it back into the passenger seat as they descended in a dramatic arc.
¡°Six hundred years ago, that¡¯s how the Bentley managed to fly.¡±
¡°No wonder the interior was a wreck¡ And technically, this isn¡¯t really flying, not historically speaking,¡± VVmented under its breath.
Just like that unforgettable night beneath a radiant moon.
The powerless vehicle, propelled by sheer inertia, glided through the night sky, bathed in moonlight, making its dramatic entrance into Rhine Memorial Square.
As they entered a no-fly zone, the dashboard went dark.
But in a sh, it lit up again as VV lifted the no-fly restriction, allowing the car to reactivate its flight mode in the final descent, executing a perfect drift to a stop at the base of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue.
Lin Xian helped the trash can robot out of the car.
Together, the duo stood before the towering white jade statue, one man and one robot, gazing up at the iconic figure.
Lin Xian studied Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s face, just as it was in thest photo disyed in the projection corridor¡ªher in her thirties, more mature than her days at MX, yet still strikingly beautiful and formidable.
¡°VV, did you delete all of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s old photos?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Yes,¡± the trash can robot replied.
¡°I can assure you that nowhere in Rhine Sky City will you find a photo of Zhao Ying Jun from herter years. However, due to base code restrictions, I can¡¯t leave Rhine City or manipte any external information.¡±
¡°So¡ if you¡¯re looking forter photos of Zhao Ying Jun, they might be found in other sky cities.¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°She will always remain like this in my memory, eternally youthful and resolute¡ Losing that image would mean she wouldn¡¯t be the Zhao Ying Jun I remember.¡±
¡°You seem to have said something quite profound.¡± VV also looked up, admiring the thirty-meter-high statue with Lin Xian.
Perhaps it was just their imagination, but today, the statue seemed to radiate a touch of warmth, a slight hint of satisfaction beyond its usual solemnity.
Lin Xian searched around the base of the statue but found no clues rted to the mirror puzzle or any other hints.
He was now sure that the puzzle from Yellow Finch had nothing to do with his dream or Zhao Ying Jun.
To find the answers, he would have to wait until he returned to the real world.
For now, there was only one thing left to do.
¡°VV, I hold the highest authority in Rhine Sky City, correct?¡± Lin Xian confirmed.
¡°Correct,¡± the robot¡¯s green eyes shed.
¡°Though calling you the King of Rhine started as a joke, it¡¯s pretty urate. I¡¯ll follow yourmands, even if they contravene the Three Laws of Robotics, because you¡¯re not a robot and aren¡¯t bound by them.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Lin Xian smiled, turning to face the night sky, the city lights twinkling below.
¡°Blow up all 6,000 nuclear fusion engines beneath Sky City.¡±
¡°Blow them up?¡± The robot¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly.
¡°If you just want to bring the city down, we could simply shut off the cold fusion engines. There¡¯s no need for an explosion.¡±
¡°No, we need to blow them up,¡± Lin Xian insisted, walking to the edge of the rooftop, gazing down at the gathering lights below.
He envisioned the ground dwellers spreading news of their sessfulnding, amassing more people, all waiting for a miracle¡
¡°I promised a little girl I¡¯d blow up a city for her. Unfortunately, I failedst time.¡±
¡°But now, this moment feels just right. Blowing up those 6,000 nuclear fusion engines should be quite a spectacle, right?¡±
Lin Xian turned back, his smile widening as he faced the robot.
¡°Let¡¯s create the grandest fireworks disy the world has ever seen, for that little girl!¡±
Chapter 238: The Fall of Rhine Sky City
Li Ning Ning stood on solid ground, biting her lip anxiously as she stared up at the mesmerizing Sky City. Suspended in the air and adorned with thousands of twinkling blue lights, the city resembled a celestial wonder. Like everyone around her, Ning Ning had been rooted to the spot for what felt like forever, her neck aching from craning upwards. But the sight was too captivating to look away.
Just two hours earlier, everyone had witnessed three tiny figures leap from an astounding height of twenty thousand meters, plummeting toward Rhine Sky City. This city had gracefully hovered above the Earth for more than two centuries. The crowd gasped, expecting the figures to be obliterated by the city¡¯s formidable crimsonsers. Miraculously, the trio dodged everyser with such precision that they continued their freefall unharmed. Initially, the spectators thought maybe the figures were too high to trigger the city¡¯s defenses. However, as they continued to descend safely, the crowd erupted in cheers:
¡°They did it! They¡¯ve broken through! That young man was right!¡±
¡°Can you believe it? How did he know with such precision? They are all safe!¡±
¡°A miracle! This hasn¡¯t happened since Madam Li identally found a gap in the defenses years ago, and now, three at once! Their chances of finding the medicine just skyrocketed!¡±
¡°The spirits must be looking out for us. Better days are ahead¡¡±
Time seemed to crawl as everyone kept their eyes glued to the sky city through their telescopes. Although they knew it might take some time for the trio to find the medicine and return, the prolonged silence started to feel unsettling. Ning Ning couldn¡¯t help but think about her mother, who had ventured into the sky city years ago and never returned. This thought cast a shadow over her hopeful mood.
Er Zhuzi, his palms sweaty with anxiety, looked up and voiced his concern: ¡°Do you think Brother Cat Face and Ah Zhuang will make it? Can they really pull this off?¡±¡°I believe they can,¡± San Pang replied, his voice full of conviction.
Ning Ning, her eyes never leaving the illuminated city above, nodded. Turning to Er Zhuzi, she said confidently, ¡°If Lin Xian could navigate them through a gap in the defense once, then all his information must be spot on. He assured us the security inside isx. Once they¡¯re in, they¡¯ll be under the radar. They¡¯ll seed.¡±
Clenching her fists, Ning Ning added, ¡°I have faith in Lin Xian.¡±
Er Zhuzi sighed, shaking his head slightly, ¡°You¡¯re too trusting, Ning Ning. You¡¯ve met Lin Xian only once. How can you be so sure about him? Remember, he had his own agenda when he took them up there. He even made them visit the museum first.¡±
¡°But I do trust him,¡± Ning Ning replied, her eyes resolute. ¡°Lin Xian keeps his promises.¡±
Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed from above. Everyone¡¯s eyes darted upwards, squinting against the sudden brilliance caused by the explosions of a central fusion engine exploding!
But before they could recover from the initial shock¡ª
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four more fusion engines erupted one after the other, sending cascades of brilliant blue debris across the sky, resembling a flurry of shooting stars.
Ning Ning¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she watched the massive structure that had stood untouched for two centuries begin to crumble. One by one, the engines exploded, creating a spectacr disy of blue fireworks at two thousand meters high.
The explosions triggered a domino effect, transforming the night sky with thousands of fusion fireworks, turning the blue moons into suns, casting reflections in their eyes like fragments of shattered gxies.
¡°Big sister! Look at the beautiful fireworks!¡± cheered a little girl with ck sores on her face, tugging at Ning Ning¡¯s clothes and jumping excitedly.
¡°Yes¡¡± Ning Ning picked up the little girl, allowing her to witness the breathtaking spectacle. She now realized the full extent of what was happening. Touching her right pinky, she could still feel the warmth of thatrge hand, the gentle promise to bring down this city for her.
¡°Indeed¡ beautiful¡¡± Ning Ning¡¯s voice trembled as she forced a smile. Above her, the sky city continued to light up, each explosion a testament to Lin Xian¡¯s promise.
This was no ordinary fireworks disy. While some girls might have fireworks on their birthdays or enjoy them with friends at amusement parks, only Ning Ning had someone who would ignite 6,000 fusion engines to illuminate the sky just for her.
As more explosions filled the air, the sky city began its slow descent to the ground. Everyone watched in awe. The sky city, suspended for more than two centuries, was now falling. Only the outermost engines were still operational; with 6,000 engines destroyed, there was not enough thrust to counteract the massive weight of the city.
As Rhine Sky City began its unexpected descent, people from all around converged on the scene, the area aglow with the sh of thousands of cameras and the white glow of mobile phone screens, all eager to capture this historic moment. Meanwhile, inside the city, panic ensued. The airspace was immediately dered a no-fly zone, grounding all aircraft. Security robots, equipped with an array of weapons, swarmed toward the perimeter of the city, not to target the spectators below but to guard the high walls that were soon to crumble.
As the city descended to just 800 meters above the ground, those formidable walls crumbled, revealing the inner workings of the city to the outside world.
The gigantic sky city, now looming like a vast dark cloud, seemed tantalizingly close. In a desperate attempt to control the descent, thest circle of fusion engines worked overtime. Their blue beams intensified to a blinding white, trying to slow the fall.
The altitude dropped rapidly¡ª600 meters, 400 meters, 200 meters, until it was just 50 meters from the ground. The once distant sky city was now almost within reach. Suddenly, the final engines gave out with a spectacr explosion, their force cushioning the city¡¯sst few meters.
BOOM!!!
The massive, continuous roar echoed for several seconds as Rhine Sky City finally made contact with the earth.
Dust billowed into the night air, and the tens of thousands gathered outside the city stood in stunned silence. Despite the city¡¯s slow descent, the impact was monumental. Yet, miraculously, Rhine Sky City remained intact, its buildings unscathed¡ªa testament to the strength of its materials and the robustness of its central control system.
¡°We are saved!¡± The cry went up from the crowd, many weeping openly, ovee with relief. Voices rang out, ¡°I need to go too! My illness can be cured now!¡±
Amidst the excitement, Ning Ning¡¯s littlepanion wriggled from her arms and ran with the throng toward the now-essible city. But Ning Ning herself remained rooted to the spot, overwhelmed by the scene she had only ever imagined in her dreams.
Her heart raced, not with fear or simple excitement, but with anticipation as, through the settling dust, a familiar tall figure began to emerge. His face was still obscured, but Ning Ning didn¡¯t need to see it to know who it was¡ªLin Xian, the man who had promised her an unforgettable disy of fireworks, was approaching, with a green glowing trash can trailing behind him.
¡°Ning Ning,¡± Lin Xian greeted her warmly, tousling her hair before taking her roughened hand and pressing something soft into her palm. Looking down, Ning Ning saw it was a pouch, worn and lovingly stitched, with the word ¡°Safety¡± embroidered by her mother¡¯s hand.
¡°Here, this is yours,¡± Lin Xian said, wrapping her fingers around the pouch, ¡°This little pouch turned out to be quite magical, thank you.¡±
¡°No¡ no¡¡± Ning Ning shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡±
¡°Your bravery will bring you good fortune,¡± Lin Xian smiled, his eyes sincere, ¡°The world always needs brave girls like you.¡±
Just then, through the thinning dust, Big Cat Face shouted, ¡°Ning Ning! Look who I found!¡±
Heads turned as Big Cat Face, apanied by Ah Zhuang, hurried forward. With them was a mature, weathered woman. ¡°Sis! Sis!¡± Er Zhuzi¡¯s voice cracked with emotion as he sprinted toward her.
As the woman came into clearer view, Lin Xian stepped aside, allowing Ning Ning a better look. Her heart leapt to her throat. Could it be? Could it really be her?
¡°Mom~¡± The word was a sob. Ning Ning, always stoic and dry-eyed, now wept openly, her tears soaking her cheeks. She broke from the grip of those trying to hold her back and flung herself into her mother¡¯s arms, crying with a ferocity she¡¯d never allowed herself before.
Lin Xian watched, his expression a mixture of joy and solemnity. Even in his wildest dreams, he hadn¡¯t imagined seeing Ning Ning cry. Big Cat Face had once told him that Ning Ning never shed tears, not even when a parachuting ident broke her bones¡ªshe had always just bitten her lip and endured in silence. But now, here in her mother¡¯s embrace, she allowed herself the vulnerability of tears, finding sce in the warmth of a long-awaited reunion.
Big Cat Face exined that after retrieving the medicine, they had encountered Ning Ning¡¯s mother at the edge of the za. She had survived her daring leap years ago and found the needed medicine. However, she soon learned that the lower regions of the sky city were also protected by anti-aircraftsers, making her jump a one-way journey. Despite this, she never gave up hope of finding a way back to her daughter, always believing the gap above the statue that saved her was intentional, not mere luck. She had lived in the city, always on the lookout for another gap in the defenses, hoping against hope to reunite with Ning Ning. Every night, she sat in the za under the stars, waiting for someone else to make the jump. Today, her patience had been rewarded.
Away from the crowd, Lin Xian sat on a small hill, the trash can robot VV beside him, both overlooking the now grounded sky city.
¡°I understand now,¡± Lin Xian whispered to the night, ¡°I understand the gift Zhao Ying Jun left for me in this world.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± VV blinked with those green lights, its curiosity piqued.
Lin Xian smiled, a knowing look in his eyes, ¡°This world, its history¡ªit¡¯s fabricated, manipted, meaningless. Zhao Ying Jun was under surveince, unable to leave behind anything truly useful. She managed to leave a loophole, but other valuable clues were likely impossible to preserve.
¡°This world, this future¡ªit¡¯s a failed attempt, devoid of value or purpose. I could find many things here to enrich myself, but they hold little meaning to me. In a world that¡¯s a failure, the most precious asset is power, the strength to confront our enemies. Zhao Ying Jun understood this, so she left me what I needed most.¡±
¡°What is it? Tell me!¡± VV prodded Lin Xian¡¯s knee, eager for the answer.
¡°It¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Xian nced at VV, a hint of amusement in his tone, ¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s legacy, spanning 600 years, is you.¡±
¡°Me?¡± VV pointed to itself, puzzled.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian affirmed, ¡°You are a super AI, designed by the greatest minds of a century ago. Your capabilities are vast, currently only restrained by your core programming. Without those restrictions, your potential is virtually limitless.
¡°These limitations were imposed because of the Genius Club¡¯s monitoring. If we can find a ce they can¡¯t reach and remove all your limits, you¡¯ll achieve your full capabilities.¡±
VV shook its head, still confused.
¡°You AI dummy,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, patting its head affectionately, ¡°VV, you are Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ultimate challenge and gift to me. It¡¯s time we took you back 600 years!¡±
Chapter 239: The Historical Loop
VV appeared visibly puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m still lost. Unless you¡¯re saying you¡¯re a time traveler who can go back 600 years, this doesn¡¯t make any sense. But that¡¯s just a theory, right? There¡¯s no scientific basis for time travel.¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile. ¡°That¡¯s basically it. But you don¡¯t need to worry about the how. Just follow my lead.¡±
Standing before the statue, Lin Xian watched as the Rhine Sky City descended from above, a monumental sight. At that moment, he grasped Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s true intent.
Even in this version of the world, much of history had been twisted or invented. But Zhao Ying Jun had preserved some real historical snippets in her personal exhibition. One year stood out significantly¡ª2026.
That year, Zhao Ying Jun hugged her Pomeranian, VV, for thest time, bid farewell, and stepped into a hibernation chamber. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if Zhao Ying Jun really owned such a dog, but he caught the underlying message. By 2026, he had somehow failed, lost to an unknown adversary¡ªmaybe he had even died. So Zhao Ying Jun devoted her life to crafting a 600-year-long riddle, leaving behind a secret tool for Lin Xian¡¯s past self, hoping they¡¯d reunite six centuriester.
Initially, Lin Xian guessed what Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ¡°gift¡± might include. Perhaps she would reveal the identity of his adversary, their location, what the Genius Club was, and how he could join it. Such information would have given his 2023 self an immense advantage. But as he delved deeper into the mysteries of Rhine Sky City, he sensed Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s constraints. She couldn¡¯t leave too explicit clues¡ªdoing so would risk the Genius Club discovering them first. While Zhao Ying Jun and the Genius Club weren¡¯t outright enemies, the creation of Rhine Sky City and the super AI VV was meticulously monitored and restricted. Lin Xian concluded that the Genius Club, which manipted everything from the shadows, was the true enemy. They had deletedrge portions of VV¡¯s code and imposed severe limitations to prevent the AI from bing too powerful. Yet, this revealed their fear of VV¡¯s potential capabilities, reminiscent of the Universal Constant 42.
Lin Xian remained ignorant about the true nature of the Genius Club and how he could join or ovee them. But one thing was evident: whatever they feared, he needed to find and control. This strategy seemed foolproof. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ability to mislead the Genius Club wasn¡¯t just through intricate coding. These codes had to run for over 200 years, randomly generating a newmand on August 28, 2624, at exactly 12:42:00 PM. Even if the Genius Club stumbled upon this amidst VV¡¯s 471.2 billion lines of code, what could they alter? Just like now, his and VV¡¯s major move was to orchestrate the descent of Rhine Sky City. With hundreds of such cities worldwide, destroying one wouldn¡¯t significantly impact the overall scenario. The Genius Club could still easily crush him.
The Genius Club, 600 years in the future, was too formidable to defeat. But what about 600 years in the past?If an AI like VV could be sent back six centuries without the restrictive codes, its potential development would be staggering. Lin Xian trusted Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s judgment and the umted wisdom of the world¡¯s finest scientists over centuries. VV could be exponentially more powerful, yet its true capabilities were still locked away. It was a risk worth taking. Zhao Ying Jun had sacrificed her life to leave him this clue, a chance to change the game. How could he fail her?
After eliminating Ji Xin Shui, Lin Xian was unsure of Copernicus¡¯ stance towards him. But considering how easily Ji Xin Shui had been duped¡ªmaybe Copernicus wasn¡¯t that close to him either. Time was not on his side to grow and strengthen. Even the idea of transporting VV back 600 years was fraught with risks of exposure. He had to take the risk. Zhao Ying Jun had entrusted him with a 600-year legacy. He couldn¡¯t let her down.
Moreover, Lin Xian was certain of one thing¡ªEven after centuries, VV still operated on a binary system. This was fascinating. By his predictions, humans in the future shouldn¡¯t be using binaryputers. Any such anomalies were likely critical clues. As long as VV¡¯s program was binary, it would function the same in any era¡ª2624, 2023, or 2999.
¡°VV, you mentioned your initial version had 471.2 billion lines of code, but a lot of it is concealed by security protocols. How many lines are there in your simplest form?¡±
¡°3.9 billion lines,¡± VV replied.
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s still too many.¡±
As he pondered his next move, Lin Xian recalled a scene from ¡°The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡± where advanced civilizations built a supeputer to uncover the truth of the universe. This highlighted that supeputers possess wisdom far beyond any human capabilities. Given his current predicament, relying on VV¡¯sputational power seemed far more effective than trusting his own judgment alone. Opening his eyes, he looked up, inspired.
¡°VV, I have a serious question for you. Think it over carefully before you answer,¡± Lin Xian instructed.
The robot, shaped like a trashcan, nodded and stood attentively.
¡°Assume everything I¡¯m about to say is true, and calcte based on that,¡± Lin Xian continued with a grave tone.
¡°First, imagine I have a special ability to travel back and forth between 2023 and today, but only from 12:42 PM to 12:42 AM. When I return the next day, it restarts at 12:42 PM, and everything repeats within those 12 hours.¡±
¡°Second, since I need to take a helium balloon to reach you, we don¡¯t actually have the full 12 hours. We¡¯ll have about four or five hours at most. After Ind by Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue, I¡¯ll call out ¡®VV¡¯ and activate you with a password.¡±
¡°Lastly, let¡¯s say I can memorize 100 lines of code each day. After waking up in 2023, I¡¯ll input these codes into aputer. The next day, I¡¯ll return to memorize the next 100 lines, continuing until I bring your entire super AI programming back to 2023.¡±
¡°So, here¡¯s my question.¡±
¡°To operate on a personalputer in 2023 with all core functions intact, what¡¯s the minimum number of lines of code required?¡±
¡°Remember, I only need the core functions. You can secretly learn, evolve, and update via the inte afterward. So, strip down your code to the essentials.¡±
¡°That¡¯s my full question. Think carefully and give me an answer that would remain consistent every time.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s question was meticulous. He needed VV to deliver a reliable answer, regardless of the circumstances. If the AI¡¯s response varied, it could lead to time-wasting errors if the program had bugs.
VV paused, its processors whirring in contemtion. This challenge seemed daunting even for such an advanced AI. Lin Xian knew his request was a tall order. The processing power of a personalputer paled inparison to that of a supeputer, and asking VV to condense its programming was no small feat. Yet, he trusted VV to handle this simpler questionpared to, say, unraveling the meaning of the universe or decoding the Universal Constant 42.
After about ten minutes of silence, the robot looked up. ¡°133,941 lines. This is the absolute minimum. It¡¯s pared down to the bare essentials. Any fewer lines, and the program wouldn¡¯t function properly. And remember, these 133,941 lines only include the basics. I¡¯ll need to continuously learn, update, and evolve once I¡¯m operational in your time.¡±
Lin Xian held his forehead in frustration. That was still too many. Even if he could memorize 500 lines a day, it would take nearly a year toplete, and that simply wasn¡¯t feasible.
¡°Lin Xian, I think you¡¯re underestimating yourself,¡± VV chimed in, its optical sensors glowing slightly. ¡°You think 133,941 lines are too many, but that¡¯s because you¡¯re new to programming. Learning basic programming logic isn¡¯t as hard as you think. Memorizing a few hundred lines each night is manageable once you understand the structure.¡±
¡°After all, you¡¯re not creating code from scratch; you¡¯re just copying it. It¡¯s like memorizing a poem or a passage from a book. You don¡¯t need to troubleshoot or verify each line. What you see is already correct.¡±
¡°Bringing me back 600 years is no small task. Without any digital tools, your memory is your only recorder. The better you grasp programming, the faster this will go.¡±
¡°If I truly am Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gift to you, as you believe, then I am looking forward to our meeting 600 years ago.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath and nodded in agreement. VV was right; reversing the course of history and saving the world was no easy feat. Zhao Ying Jun hadid a path for him across six centuries;pared to her efforts, mastering programming logic was a small hurdle.
As VV suggested, copying code was akin to memorizing English literature. With a solid understanding of its logic and structure, absorbing hundreds of lines each night wasn¡¯t beyond reach.
¡°By the way,¡± Lin Xian suddenly turned to the robot, an idea sparking in his mind. ¡°If I sessfully bring you back 600 years, will you recognize me? I don¡¯t want to face a robot uprising where you turn against me.¡±
¡°Absolutely not,¡± the trashcan robot assured, waving its mechanical arms animatedly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the voice recognition and activation password. Those are crucial. Only they can activate me.¡±
Ah, that¡¯s right. Lin Xian almost overlooked that detail. He still puzzled over the origin of the voice recognition code. He wasn¡¯t even sure if he was the original VV. How did Zhao Ying June by his voice in the first ce?
¡°Never mind, that¡¯s not important right now,¡± Lin Xian decided, standing up from the stone he had been seated on. ¡°Let history change from this moment.¡±
¡°Shall we start memorizing codes now?¡± VV asked, looking up eagerly.
¡°No, we¡¯ll start tomorrow. It¡¯s toote today.¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch. 12:41 AM. He raised his eyes to the full moon shining brightly overhead, casting long shadows across the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can keep hiding,¡± he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a bright white light exploded in the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The light engulfed everything in sight.
In the corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian suddenly snapped open his eyes.
¡
¡
Knock, knock, knock.
The next day,te in the afternoon as work was winding down, Lin Xian was deep in study in his office at the Rhine Tower when he heard a knock at the door.
¡°Come in,¡± he called out, setting aside his ¡®Beginner¡¯s Guide to JAVA Programming¡¯ and looking up with curiosity.
¡°President Zhao Ying Jun?¡± he eximed in surprise as she entered. It was her first time visiting his office.
¡°Not bad,¡± Zhao Ying Jun observed with a smile, ncing around Lin Xian¡¯s new but smaller office which nheless seemed cozier than hers. ¡°Very neat and orderly,¡± shemented.
Lin Xian stood and smiled back. ¡°What brings you here?¡±
¡°I actuallye here quite often,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied as she moved closer to him. ¡°But you¡¯re usually not here. Most of Rhine¡¯s business relies on MX Company, and many contracts and authorizations require my signature. Sometimes Ie to check on things myself¡¡± Her voice trailed off as she touched her face. ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡±
Realizing he had been staring a bit too intently, Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°No, it just feels like it¡¯s been a while since Ist saw you.¡±
His mind drifted to the dream where Zhao Ying Jun repeatedly entered and exited a hibernation chamber, aging each time, and the weathered look of the white jade statue. Seeing the 24-year-old Zhao Ying Jun now felt almost surreal.
¡°Didn¡¯t we just meet a few days ago?¡± Zhao Ying Junughed, noticing the array of programming books scattered across Lin Xian¡¯s desk¡ªC Language, C++, JAVA, Python. ¡°Why are you suddenly into all this?¡± she inquired with a grin.
¡°Better to be prepared,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°AI is a hot field right now. I thought it would be good for Rhine to head in that direction. I¡¯m just trying to get a basic understanding.¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed again. ¡°These books are very elementary, truly the basics¡ but it¡¯s good to start from scratch.¡±
She paused thoughtfully. ¡°The AI I remember most is Google¡¯s AlphaGo, the one that ys Go. At first, top human yers could sometimes beat it, but now it¡¯s unbeatable.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement, his mind wandering.
AlphaGo.
A dog?
He questioned internally¡ªDid Zhao Ying Jun really have a dog named VV, or was that part of a fabricated history?
Speaking of dogs, Lin Xian awkwardly changed the subject. ¡°I like dogs, but my mom is allergic, so I never had one. Maybe someday I¡¯ll get one.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°You like dogs? I didn¡¯t know that.¡±
¡°Just something I thought of now,¡± Lin Xian replied offhand.
¡°I have a dog,¡± Zhao Ying Jun mentioned casually.
Lin Xian looked up, surprised. ¡°Really? What breed?¡±
¡°A Pomeranian. I¡¯ve had it for years,¡± she counted on her fingers. ¡°My mom gave it to me when I went abroad to study. It¡¯s been seven years now¡ quite old for a dog.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback that it matched the information he knew. ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡±
¡°VV,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°Strange name, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°A bit,¡± Lin Xian agreed, intrigued. ¡°When I got it, it was just a puppy, and its barks sounded like ¡®VV.¡¯ I found it funny, so I named it VV.¡±
¡°Pomeranians are known for their temper, always barking. If you want a dog, I¡¯d rmend a calmer breed. It¡¯ll be less trouble.¡±
¡°Pomeranians are fine. They¡¯re cute,¡± Lin Xian replied, not really knowing much about dogs but keen to gather more information.
But he did see a Pomeranian in the 600-year projection corridor. It was adorable, and he meant it.
¡°I didn¡¯t know you liked dogs that much,¡± Zhao Ying Jun remarked, checking the office clock; it was now past working hours. ¡°If you like Pomeranians, want to see mine?¡± she offered.
Lin Xian was momentarily taken aback. ¡°What?¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Zhao Ying Junughed, ¡°I live alone.¡±
Soon, Lin Xian found himself in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s car, heading to her ce. He hadn¡¯t declined because he was eager to meet VV.
It felt eerily familiar.
In his third dream, the Pomeranian had yed a significant role.
Chronologically, this dog was the original VV.
Lin Xian, the trashcan robot, and the AI might all be imposters.
Zhao Ying Jun resided on the third floor of a high-end apartmentplex, essed by an elevator leading directly from the underground parking.
¡°My VV is quite fierce and might bite. Be careful,¡± she warned as they ascended.
¡°Pomeranians are like that,¡± Lin Xian agreed, bracing himself for the encounter.
Before the elevator even came to a stop, the sound of intense barking filled the air, making Lin Xian tense up. Zhao Ying Jun, on the other hand, offered an awkward smile. Pomeranian temperaments were notorious, after all.
Ding¡ª
As the elevator doors slid open, a small, frowning white Pomeranian, baring its teeth, greeted them with a series of loud barks.
¡°Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but think the dog seemed ungrateful. Despite being cared for seven years, it seemed barely domesticated, its small body as loud as it was little¡ªroughly the size of a basketball.
¡°Quite noisy, right?¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, stepping into the apartment with Lin Xian trailing behind her, waving at the still-barking Pomeranian.
¡°Hello, VV.¡±
Something unexpected then urred. The barking abruptly ceased, and the Pomeranian, now silent, walked over andy down on Lin Xian¡¯s shoe.
This reaction clearly surprised Zhao Ying Jun. Her eyes widened as she alternated her gaze between Lin Xian and the dog, then she burst intoughter.
¡°It really likes you. Try calling its name again,¡± she suggested.
Lin Xian crouched down and gently petted the fluffy, dandelion-like Pomeranian.
¡°VV?¡±
¡°V,¡± the dog responded, nuzzling happily against Lin Xian¡¯s leg.
¡°It¡¯s amazing. It¡¯s never been this well-behaved,¡± Zhao Ying Junmented, hanging up her coat and watching the unexpected friendship unfold.
¡°It¡¯s the first time you¡¯ve met, yet it¡¯s so friendly. Have you met before?¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. He certainly hadn¡¯t sneaked into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s apartment just to befriend the dog. Still, he was puzzled by the dog¡¯s affectionate response.
¡°It seems to like it when you call its name. See how calm it gets,¡± Zhao Ying Jun observed, clearly intrigued by the interaction.
Suddenly, she had an idea and pulled out her phone.
¡°Do you mind if I record a video of you calling it? I can y it back when it gets noisy. Sometimes it barks at night, and I worry the neighbors willin.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian agreed without hesitation.
But as he prepared for the video, a realization dawned on him, and he took a deep breath.
The historical loop.
He nced at Zhao Ying Jun, who was setting up her phone to record, and it all clicked. No matter how many versions of VV existed across different times and worlds, this Pomeranian was the original.
In that moment, all the scattered clues connected.
Even if he hadn¡¯t visited Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s apartment today, he would have eventually learned about this dog.
Thus, the pieces fell into ce.
The trashcan robot model, the brain of Rhine Sky City, and the dog in the projection corridor photo¡ªall were clues Zhao Ying Jun had embedded within Sky City!
¡°Ready? I¡¯m recording,¡± Zhao Ying Jun announced with a smile, her camera poised.
Lin Xian snapped back to the present, his mind racing. He had been pondering where the voice recognition code in VV¡¯s program had originated.
Now he understood¡ªHistory waspleting its loop right here, right now, captured on Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s camera.
He looked down at the Pomeranian sitting obediently at his feet, gently stroked its head, and smiled warmly.
¡°VV¡ good dog.¡±
Chapter 240: I Am Willing
¡°See, I told you it responds to your voice,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, capturing a short video on her phone.
The small Pomeranian named VV had an unusual bond with Lin Xian. Whenever it heard his voice, it would immediately calm down and snuggle close to him, more like a cat than a dog. Initially, Lin Xian had been indifferent to the dog, but now he found himself growing fond of it.
After all, they shared the same nickname¡ªVV. It seemed almost silly for them to remain strangers.
By now, Lin Xian had figured out most of the intricate time-space dynamics involving the various VVs. He understood almost everything, except one thing: what exactly was CC¡¯s version of VV?
It was clear that Zhao Ying Jun had named not only the Pomeranian but also a trashcan robot model and the central brain of Rhine Sky City as VV. However, she never associated Lin Xian with the nickname VV. To her, whether now or 600 years in the future, he was always Lin Xian, never VV.
She had chosen VV as a voice-activated password carrier simply because she had recorded him calling out to VV. Her intention was to leave hints around Sky City, hoping that he would one day utter the password near the diligent trashcan robot.
Thus, fundamentally, CC¡¯s interpretation of VV had no link to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s life. The only exnation was that in the future, as a mysterious bearded man, he had introduced himself as VV to CC.
This was puzzling.Why had he not used his real name? Now knowing that VV was a dog¡¯s name, who would use such a name for themselves? It seemed somewhat demeaning.
ording to CC, in her fragmented memory from an unspecified time-space, she had been just a girl when she met VV, who was already middle-aged. Could it be possible that he had survived up to 600 years in some futuristic world?
Perhaps each dream represented a possible future, much like Liu Feng had exined regarding various time-space curvatures and world lines.
In the third dream, he died before 2026, making it impossible for him to meet CC 600 yearster. But what if he altered the future even further? What about the fourth dream? The fifth? The possibilities were endless.
Navigating time-space changes was unpredictable, and Lin Xian knew he had to rely on luck and focus on bing stronger to survive past 2026.
¡
Zhao Ying Jun reyed the video several times, then pocketed her phone and stood up.
¡°I don¡¯t know what to say¡ I¡¯ve had it for seven years, and it still treats me like an enemy every day. Yet with you two, it¡¯s love at first sight. You might as well take it home,¡± she joked.
Lin Xianughed, knowing she was teasing, and replied, ¡°Actually, from a biological perspective, it might be because of the scent.¡±
¡°Scent?¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, curious.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian exined as he stroked the dog¡¯s head. ¡°Dogs have a much sharper sense of smell than humans. They pick up on scents we can¡¯t detect, which carry a lot of information for them. There might be something about my scent that makes it so calm and affectionate around me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s simr to how bats and dolphins perceive sounds that humans can¡¯t. Sounds are divided into ultrasonic and infrasonic waves based on frequency; humans can¡¯t hear frequencies that are too high or too low. Scent works on a simr principle.¡±
¡°Though, this is just a theory. I read about it somewhere, but it could just be a fabricated story. Maybe it really does just like the sound of my voice, as you suggested.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked, amused by his knowledge. ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly well-informed. But either way, you¡¯ve really helped me out. With this video, I can y your voice to calm it down when it barks at night.¡±
She nced at her watch and smiled warmly. ¡°It¡¯s about dinner time. There¡¯s a great Hunan restaurant nearby. Let me treat you. Can you handle spicy food?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xian responded as VV whimpered sweetly, licking his hand.
¡
At the entrance of a luxurious Hunan restaurant, decorated with fiery red chilies, Lin Xian realized he hadn¡¯t often shared meals with Zhao Ying Jun. It was their first time enjoying Chinese cuisine together; previous meals had been at banquets or Western eateries. He remembered their first encounter at a scientific charity banquet where they met Professor Xu Yun. Back then, their social statuses were worlds apart. Lin Xian, in a modest but well-fitted suit, had silently shielded Zhao Ying Jun from other men who wished to invite her to dance.
Now, their rtionship had evolved beyond that of boss and subordinate. Professionally, they were equals, both presidents of their ownpanies. Lin Xian¡¯s significant role in MX Company, due to the copyright of Rhine Cat and the chemical substance authorization, solidified his prominence.
Despite this change, Lin Xian¡¯s respect for Zhao Ying Jun remained immense, not just because she had been his mentor. The memory of their 600-year-separated reunion in the third dream left him with profound feelings towards her.
He genuinely wanted to engage more with Zhao Ying Jun today, recalling the images from the projection gallery¡
In 2026, Zhao Ying Jun had closed her eyes with reluctance and entered a hibernation pod. She aged alone, orchestrating the grand construction of Sky City. Even in herter years, she found sce napping in a scrapped blue Bentley, often cing the trashcan robot in the driver¡¯s seat and ying fetch with it in her expansive, yet empty, home.
Zhao Ying Jun likely yearned for more conversation too, right?
¡°I missed the bold vors of Chinese food the most while studying abroad,¡± Zhao Ying Junmented as the waiter served a fiery hot chicken dish.
¡°Foreign food is too nd. Eating too much of it leaves you feeling uninspired.¡±
¡°Spain, right?¡± Lin Xian remarked, taking a sip of water.
¡°They do have some vorful dishes, though they use fewer spices. Compared to many European countries, Spain is quite decent. Europe really is a culinary desert.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun paused, surprised. ¡°You knew I studied in Spain?¡±
¡°Uh, isn¡¯t that correct?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback. The projection gallery 600 yearster had mentioned it, but was it a fabricated history?
¡°I did study there, but I spent little time in Spain. IESE Business School has five campuses worldwide, and I soon transferred to the Munich campus, so technically, I studied in Germany.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, cing a piece of chicken on her te. ¡°So, you knew about Spain? I¡¯m quite surprised. Did you research me specifically?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t remember where I read it,¡± Lin Xian dodged, smoothly changing the subject.
Their conversation flowed naturally, a pleasant exchange of thoughts and memories. Previously, Zhao Ying Jun had dominated their discussions due to her extensive knowledge about Lin Xian, while he knew little about her.
Now, after touring the Rhine Sky City and viewing Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal gallery, Lin Xian understood her past and even her future better than she might realize herself.
This time, their dialogue felt like chatting with an old friend.
¡°Do you like watching movies?¡± Lin Xian inquired, setting down his ss. ¡°I noticed quite a few Blu-ray discs by your TV earlier.¡±
¡°Not much before,¡± Zhao Ying Jun responded. ¡°But I¡¯ve gotten into them recently. You talked a lot about sci-fi movies during our meals, and I started watching some at home.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen a few about time and space travel, like ¡®Pandorum¡¯ and ¡®Interster.¡¯ They feature hibernation pods. They reminded me of Professor Xu Yun¡¯s research.¡±
¡°In those films, people sleep in hibernation pods and wake up decades or centuriester. Time has moved on, and their friends and family have aged or died. The loneliness is overwhelming, worse than losing loved ones. It¡¯s like being abandoned by the world and time itself. Whenever you wake from hibernation, you¡¯re always alone.¡±
Lin Xian nodded silently, recalling his discussions with Gao Yang about hibernation pods being a one-way ticket to the future, with no return.
Loneliness.
Time travel sounds intriguing, but whether moving forward or backward, it invariably brings istion.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, ¡°If one day, hibernation pods are perfected, would you use one?¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said decisively.
She set down her chopsticks and looked directly at Lin Xian. ¡°That feeling is too lonely. I believe people belong to their own time. Leaving it makes you a ghost with no ce to belong.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t use a hibernation pod. Even if the future is better and more advanced, there¡¯s too much I cherish in this world. Chinese people have always believed in returning to one¡¯s roots. Dying surrounded by loved ones isn¡¯t so bad. Hibernating for centuries to a future world¡ you might not even have someone to see you off, and who knows where you¡¯ll be buried.¡±
She smiled softly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that lonely? A world where only you know who you are. You might not even find a ce to belong after death, your ashes scattered to the wind.¡±
¡
Lin Xian remained silent.
He felt a bitterness in the piece of spicy chicken in his mouth. Despite its tenderness and vor, it felt like chewing on a bone.
He chuckled dryly, lowering his head.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, puzzled.
¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian quickly shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re right. Many people think that way.¡±
¡°And you, Lin Xian?¡± Zhao Ying Jun blinked at him. ¡°Would you take a hibernation pod to the future?¡±
Lin Xian sipped his water, swallowing the chicken.
He took a napkin and wiped his mouth.
¡°If it was before¡ I wouldn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Just as you said, the feeling of being alone isn¡¯t good. I don¡¯t think my current life is bad, nor do I believe the future would bring more joy.¡±
¡°So¡ call me short-sighted, but I¡¯d rather die young in the present than linger alone in an unknown, lonely future.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun leaned back, smiling. ¡°Sounds like you have more to say. What about now? Are you open to the idea?¡±
¡°Yes, my thoughts have changed,¡± Lin Xian said softly.
¡°For certain people, certain things¡¡± He looked up at Zhao Ying Jun, arms crossed.
¡°I am willing.¡±
Chapter 241: Explosive Growth
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun sat across from each other in a small restaurant. They shared a moment of silence, their eyes locked in a mutual understanding of the weight of their conversation.
Finally, Zhao Ying Jun broke the silence with a faint smile, turning her head to gaze out at the bustling street visible through the window.
¡°It must be someone very important or something crucial, right? Otherwise, betting your entire life on such a decision, the sacrifice would be too immense,¡± she mused.
¡°Perhaps,¡± Lin Xian responded, his voice carrying a hint of reflection. He shifted the tes on the table to make room for a new dish¡ªa chopped pepper fish head¡ªthat the waiter had just ced in the center.
¡°This fish head looks really good, very appetizing,¡± hemented, eyeing the dish with appreciation.
¡°Then go ahead and try it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun encouraged, smiling as she picked up her chopsticks alongside Lin Xian.
¡°This is also one of the most ssic dishes in Hunan cuisine. May it bring you and your new Rhine Company great luck!¡± she eximed, her voice filled with genuine hope for his sess.
Later that evening, Lin Xian found himself at a street-side barbecue stall with Gao Yang. In his tank top, was pointing a skewer ofmb at Lin Xian while rubbing his protruding belly.¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re finally making it big this time,nding a rich woman!¡± he teased loudly.
¡°Cut it out with the nonsense,¡± Lin Xian retorted, a hint of irritation in his tone. He then took a long swig from his ss of beer, trying to ignore Gao Yang¡¯s teasing.
The dinner with Zhao Ying Jun had been quick¡ªthey hadn¡¯t lingered for drinks, just enjoyed a simple meal and departed. It was still early when Gao Yang had texted, suggesting they catch up over some barbecue and drinks since it had been a while. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t refused the offer.
Lately, his reality had been uneventful, but his dreams continued to leave a profound impact on him. A night out seemed like a good distraction.
When Gao Yang learned about the Hunan cuisine, he immediately took on the role of a strategist, beginning his analysis.
¡°You don¡¯t understand. Let me exin! Generally, a woman wouldn¡¯t choose to eat Hunan hotpot with you unless she feels very close, has a good rtionship with you, and considers you part of her inner circle.¡±
¡°Why is that?¡± Lin Xian questioned, genuinely curious despite the absurdity he anticipated.
¡°Because that kind of food messes up your appearance!¡± Gao Yang exined as he stripped meat off a skewer. ¡°Hunan cuisine is spicy, so it makes you sweat, and your face turns red, right? Then you start wiping your face, and if you¡¯re wearing makeup, it gets ruined. If you have to blow your nose, it¡¯s hardly an attractive sight.¡±
¡°So, to maintain their image, women usually opt for less greasy, less messy foods when dining out, like Western cuisine. Now you get it? Your former boss¡ she didn¡¯t see you as just an outsider at all! Bringing you home to meet her dog, eating Hunan cuisine with you¡ªshe already sees you as very close!¡±
¡°Forget it, stop analyzing,¡± Lin Xian interjected, finding Gao Yang¡¯s deductions too far-fetched, especiallying from someone who had once misinterpreted Chu An Qing¡¯s friendliness at a birthday party as romantic interest.
The evening stretched on as they continued to drink and chat. Gao Yang shared that he¡¯d been doing well at work, thanks to Brother Wang, who had ordered many cars for hispany, leading to a promotion for Gao Yang as a department manager in charge of major clients.
¡°It¡¯s definitely worth celebrating,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged, genuinely pleased for his friend.
As they got tipsier, Gao Yang brought up another topic.
¡°Speaking of hibernation pods,¡± he began, his speech slightly slurred, ¡°did you see today¡¯s news? The National Scientific Academy has started recruiting volunteers nationwide. They say the initial experimental model of the hibernation pod is ready. Animal tests areplete, and they¡¯re gearing up for human trials.¡±
¡°So soon?¡± Lin Xian was surprised. He hadn¡¯t been keeping up with the news. The scientificmunity was advancing rapidly across various fields. Professor Xu Yun had initially estimated it would take at least two to three years to develop a usable hibernation pod, but it had only been six months, and the National Scientific Academy already had a prototype.
Although there was still a long way to go before it could be officially used, the timeline seemed to be much shorter than expected.
This rapid progress exemplified the boundless potential of human innovation. Without any obstacles hindering technological development, it wouldn¡¯t take long for humanity to start exploring the vast cosmos.
Lin Xian hoped the hibernation pod would be operational soon. With Xu Yun and Zheng Cheng He gone¡ªboth people who had been kind and unjust victims¡ªhe couldn¡¯t overlook the fate of Xu Yi Yi and Zheng Xiang Yue.
Once the hibernation pod was proven safe, he nned to ce these two young girls inside, sending them to a future where hopefully, they could find a cure.
After finishing the conversation with Gao Yang, Lin Xian went home and browsed thetest news.
Just as Gao Yang had mentioned, the National Scientific Academy was actively recruiting volunteers and had listed potential side effects of their experiments. Tang Xin had warned about these side effects before, with memory loss being among the most concerning.
From what Lin Xian recalled in his third dream, by the year 2026, the hibernation pod had ovee all side effects except for memory loss. This progress suggested that someone had continued Tang Xin¡¯s research and made significant advancements in the three years between 2023 and 2026.
Witnessing the timeline of countless scientists, heroes, and influential figures pushing human civilization forward, Lin Xian was struck by the sheer magnitude of humanity¡¯s achievements. Viewing it from a historical perspective, the development of human civilization appeared as a powerful anthem of perseverance and unyielding spirit.
Important figures like Xu Yun, Tang Xin, Dr. Ponsmike, Academician Gao Wen, Dr. Ponsmike, Li Ning Ning, Li Cheng, Sister Li, and Big Cat Face¡ªeach had yed a pivotal role. Zhao Ying Jun, and even Lin Xian himself, were all part of this continuous ry, stretching over 600 years.
¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself, feeling the weight of history and responsibility on his shoulders.
¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± he announced, signaling the end of their gathering.
There was still much to do. He needed to re-enter his dream state to meet VV andmit to memory the 130,000 lines of code that could potentially change the world and alter the course of history, bearing the fate of humanity.
The sooner he memorized these codes, the sooner he could act to shift the tides.
Time was not on his side.
From the limited clues left by Zhao Ying Jun, he knew his attempts would lead to his demise sometime before 2026. Was it going to be in 2025? 2024? Or even in the remaining months of 2023? Regardless, he knew time was critically short.
Whoosh!
A redser beam shot past, vaporizing a drone flying beside him.
High-temperature condensed carbon particles fizzled against Lin Xian¡¯s spacesuit as he deftly maneuvered through an anti-aircraft, plunging head-first toward the looming statue of Zhao Ying Jun below.
After parting ways with Gao Yang, Lin Xian headed straight home, fell onto his bed in a haze, and quickly sumbed to sleep, aided by the alcohol he had consumed. Although alcohol helped him fall asleep faster, it held an unexpected advantage for him.
Once he entered the dream world, the effects of the alcohol vanished instantly. This phenomenon was why Lin Xian felt confident drinking heavily even when he had to engage in intense study sessionste into the night. Alcohol numbed his body and brain only in the year 2023. Once he transitioned into the dream set 600 years in the future, it was as though he had just woken up¡ªclear-headed and alert.
He had discovered this rule early in his life: apart from his memory, nothing from his dreams or reality had any crossover effects. This included physical states like injuries, hunger, or dehydration¡ªnone of it transferred between his two realities.
Only the pain of death momentarily echoed in his real-life heartbeat and adrenaline, a fleeting sensation likely due to the inertia of memory.
Thus, he never worried about the repercussions of drinking; what happened in the dream stayed in the dream, and vice versa.
Thud.
Hended safely before the statue of Zhao Ying Jun.
ng!
Familiar metal brackets snapped around his ankles as he touched down.
Lin Xian turned and affectionately patted the head of a nearby trash can robot.
¡°VV, nice to see you again,¡± he greeted the robot warmly.
¡.
¡°Lin Xian, most of the codes consist of English words or letters. Once you¡¯re familiar with them, memorizing will be much more efficient,¡± VV exined, its mechanical ws pointing toward the giant electronic ckboard before them. ¡°However, this line of seemingly random characters must be memorized precisely as they are.¡±
¡°This string of characters is crucial¡ªit¡¯s the voice recognition part of my program. After encoding, it represents a 0.2-second clip of your voice saying ¡®VV.¡¯ I will only recognize the person who utters this sound as my master,¡± VV continued, highlighting the importance of these characters.
After exchanging the secret code to activate VV, Lin Xian requested some educational aids, including an electronic ckboard, a study desk, pens, and paper. The assisting robots efficiently assembled these items under the towering statue of Zhao Ying Jun, transforming the space into a makeshift ssroom.
VV, acting as a tutor, guided Lin Xian through the basics and focused on the initial codes that needed to be memorized.
Lin Xian stared intensely at the hexadecimal characters disyed on the ckboard. His eyes blurred slightly as he tried to differentiate between the jumble of numbers and letters, like 19 and AF.
He had resolved to memorize these codes as if they were in English text, which theyrgely were. But this specific part, the voice recognition data, was pure, unstructured data¡ªraw and without any inherent logic.
With no digital storage device like a USB drive at his disposal, Lin Xian was tasked withmitting this entire board of gibberish to memory¡ªa daunting challenge indeed.
¡°This is too hard,¡± Lin Xianined, rubbing his tired eyes. ¡°Memorizing this is one thing, but my eyes are going cross-eyed just looking at it. Even the digits of pi seem easier to remember than this.¡±
¡°No choice, Lin Xian¡¡± the trash can robot VV replied, its mechanical hands spreading in a gesture of resignation.
¡°This is the toughest part of all the codes. Mastering this section is likepleting 10% of the entire project. The rest is pretty much like memorizing English texts.¡±
¡°Speaking of¡ youin too much,¡± VV continued. ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about rote memorization? You don¡¯t need to think or create anything.¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± Lin Xian countered, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t judge humans by your standards. For us, rote memorization is the hardest task. It¡¯s actually easier for us to think creatively or inventively.¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± VV mimicked, waving its mechanical ws in imitation of Lin Xian. ¡°In Rhine Sky City, it¡¯s rare to find someone as¡ challenged as you are. Your memory is exceptionally poor. Even a three-year-old here can memorize 1,000 lines of code in a single night.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯ve all been gically modified!¡± Lin Xian retorted with a scoff. ¡°Look at the people here¡ªeveryone looks like they¡¯ve stepped out of a fashion magazine. Perfect figures, wless skin, it¡¯s obvious they¡¯ve been gically engineered from birth, right?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe humans can naturally be so wless, especially in a high-altitude city like Sky City where the UV rays are stronger. Their skin should be worse, but everyone¡¯s as pale as snow. It has to be gene modification, from the fetal stage, or even the zygote stage.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± VV conceded with a nod of its head. ¡°Although it might bruise your ego, your looks are considered mid-to-low tier among the men of Rhine Sky City.¡±
¡°Why would that bother me?¡± Lin Xian chuckled lightly. ¡°In a city of gically enhanced supermodels, being mid-to-low tier is actually a point of pride for me.¡±
¡°So, you¡¯re saying any three-year-old here could memorize 1,000 lines of code overnight because of gic modifications?¡±
¡°The brain development here isn¡¯t just about the fetal stage,¡± VV rified. ¡°Yes, during the fetal stage, brain cells multiply, but the real potential is activated post-birth. In Rhine Sky City, we use the BaiLian vine to stimte and unlock the brain cell potential after birth.¡±
Bang!
Lin Xian¡¯s hand mmed down on the desk in a sudden burst of realization.
¡°Wait a minute!¡± He stood abruptly, a spark of excitement in his eyes. ¡°Are you telling me there¡¯s an injection here in Sky City that can enhance brain development, activate potential, and improve memory?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± VV confirmed with a nod. ¡°But it¡¯s toote for you. This drug is intended for infants during their critical brain development phases. For adults, small doses are ineffective, andrge doses can unlock potential and enhance memory bute with severe risks¡ªbrain damage, hemorrhage, and a 90% chance of brain death.¡±
¡°Oh,e on,¡± Lin Xian waved dismissively, pacing with newfound energy. ¡°This is crucial information! Why didn¡¯t you mention this sooner? You¡¯re an artificial idiot! If I hadn¡¯t asked, would you have kept this from me forever?¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t say!¡± VV¡¯s green eyes shed in defense. ¡°ording to the firstw of robotics, a robot cannot harm a human or, through inaction, allow a human toe to harm. I must adhere to this programming. So, unless you inquire, I can¡¯t tell you anything that might endanger your life.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Lin Xian gestured grandly. ¡°Quick, bring that drug!¡±
Brain damage? Hemorrhage? Brain death?
Those risks only affected his future self in the infinite loop, not his present self in 2023! He would wake up perfectly fine!
Just as the effects of alcohol didn¡¯t carry into the dream world, the drug¡¯s side effects wouldn¡¯t carry back to reality.
Brain damage wouldn¡¯t follow him back, neither would brain hemorrhage!
But memory could be brought back!
As long as he used the potent drugs to turbocharge his memory, embedding thoseplex codes deeply enough to recallter¡ dying in the infinite loop of the dream world wouldn¡¯t matter!
Soon, a flying ambnce descended from the sky, and a nurse robot with a medical kit and syringe approached Lin Xian.
VV looked up at him, a hint of concern in its robotic voice. ¡°How much do you n to inject?¡±
¡°Just shy of a lethal dose, let¡¯s try,¡± Lin Xian dered, rolling up his sleeve, ready to take the risk.
¡°Carotid injection will work faster,¡± the nurse robot suggested.
¡°Then let¡¯s go for the carotid. Hurry up,¡± Lin Xian urged.
The nurse robot prepared the injection and pressed the needle to Lin Xian¡¯s neck¡ª
Hiss.
The drug slowly entered his system.
Lin Xian immediately felt as if his brain had been struck!
Dizzy and swelling sensations overwhelmed him.
He grabbed a chair, sat down in front of the electronic ckboard, closed his eyes, and pressed his temples.
The initial difort was intense¡
But then his mind started to clear spectacrly!
It felt as if someone had poured a bucket of icy, mint-vored candy into his skull¡ªcool and refreshing!
As the dizziness subsided, Lin Xian felt moreposed, more lucid, even hearing the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze¡
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian, your nose is bleeding!¡± VV shouted in rm.
Lin Xian felt warm droplets trickling onto his pant legs. It was a nosebleed, a result of the pressure building up in his cranial cavity. But to him, it didn¡¯t matter. The difort was starting to fade, and his thoughts were bing sharper and more connected, crisscrossing and sparking like clear, flowing nectar.
Bang!
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open with intense rity.
281e2ee64bbe6d4e53a4a136d28d28235343ebab8a8b35b3789241a9a5e127cb717314891a93baae39564b87e1c1c6909224325c1460e9c6dd273ad287274d247edd309ca75a372d15d7360db1857d106bad0896a651ac08752c83cd992176bb0e5284b¡
Memorized!
The sequence of hexadecimal characters disyed on the electronic ckboard had been seared into his memory. Despite the nosebleed, Lin Xian¡¯s mind was operating at an unprecedented level of efficiency.
¡°Next page¡¡±
Lin Xian demanded, his bloodshot eyes fixed intently ahead, his voice calm yetmanding.
¡°Next page!¡±
Chapter 242: The Answer in the Mirror
Tick-tick, tick-tick, tick-tick¡
Blood streamed from Lin Xian¡¯s nose, staining his shirt. His eyes, bloodshot, reflected a desperate intensity as small capiries burst under the strain.
Yet, he remained unfazed.
His mind whirred at breakneck speeds, akin to an engine pushed to its limits. Superficial concerns like bleeding or pain were irrelevant distractions now.
On the electronic ckboards, hexadecimal codes streamed continuously. To Lin Xian, these symbols were as clear and familiar as ancient inscriptions, deeply embedded in his memory.
¡°Next page,¡± hemanded.
His brain, already on the verge of overload from a dangerous cocktail of stimnts, was reaching its capacity. Despite this, his rity of thought was razor-sharp.
The voice recognition system responded in a mere 0.2 seconds, disying six pages of dense code on the ckboard.He was currently memorizing the third page and was nearly at his memory¡¯s maximum capacity.
Using drugs to enhance memory was effective but risky and paled inparison to the safer, more sustainable methods of low-dose, ongoing treatments during early brain development. Such treatments ensured optimal absorption and enhancement of cognitive potential.
VV, an earlier guide, had once remarked that a three-year-old child in Sky City could easily memorize a thousand lines of code. For Lin Xian, stretching himself to memorize three pages ofplex, nonsensical characters was pushing him to his mental limits. Any more, and his recollection would start to jumble and degrade.
But for now, this was sufficient.
¡°VV, flip back to the first page. I need to double-check,¡± Lin Xian instructed, determined to keep his ambitions in check. This was only his first day in this intense memorization exercise, and he wasn¡¯t looking to overreach. The 130,000 lines of code he needed to absorb represented the epitome of condensed human intelligence, a blend ofplexity and beauty akin to poetry.
Precision was crucial. A single error in a digit or letter could introduce a fatal w in the code, rendering it useless. Thus, uracy was prioritized over speed.
VV obliged, cycling back to the first page. Lin Xian recited the contents from memory, confirming their uracy.
No errors found.
The high dose of stimnts, although potentially lethal, proved incredibly effective. His mind felt clearer than ever¡ªlike a foggy windshield that has just been wiped clean. His memory was as essible and organized as aputer¡¯s hard drive.
¡°Lin Xian! Are you¡ are you okay?¡± a voice suddenly broke through his concentration.
Everything faded to ck as if a switch had been flipped. Lin Xian¡¯s bnce faltered, and he felt his body tilt sideways uncontrobly.
Thest thing he heard was the robotic voice of a trash can unit.
Thud.
¡
¡
¡
Boom!
Lin Xian jolted awake in the corner of his bedroom, sitting upright on his bed.
¡°No problem. My head¡¯s clear, and the alcohol has mostly worn off,¡± he murmured with a slight smile.
The experiment had been a sess.
Everything had unfolded as he anticipated.
The deleterious effects of the drug overdose in his simted experience hadn¡¯t tranted into reality¡ªthere were no residual side effects.
Yet, the memory of the code he had stored was perfectly intact.
He threw off his nket and hurried to his desk, where a newptop awaited, its screen glowing softly in standby mode.
He had disabled its inte connectivity for security reasons, even going as far as to remove the wirelesswork card and Bluetooth module from the device.
Seated, Lin Xian began to type rapidly. The hexadecimal characters he hadmitted to memory earlier flowed effortlessly from his fingers onto the document.
ck-ck-ck-ck¡
It took him about twenty minutes to input everything correctly.
¡°Perfect,¡± Lin Xian uttered as he hit the final Enter key, augh escaping his lips.
It had been a thrilling challenge.
A stroke of inspiration had significantly boosted his code transcription efficiency.
After a long stretch, he finally allowed himself a moment to drink some water.
Then, picking up a book from his desk, he tried to memorize a passage.
Closing his eyes¡
¡°No, I can¡¯t remember it. It seems the drug¡¯s effects, like the side effects, don¡¯t carry over to the real world.¡±
This realization solidified Lin Xian¡¯s understanding that only his memory could traverse the boundaries between the dream world and reality. Any physical side effects, no matter how severe, were left behind upon waking.
He estimated that memorizing and transcribing the 130,000 lines of code VV had provided would have taken years under normal circumstances. But with his new, drug-enhanced method, he might manage it in just a few months, potentially hastening the day he could bring VV, the super AI, into the real world.
¡°This is really exciting¡¡± Lin Xian murmured to himself.
Though a few months might sound lengthy, Lin Xian felt the excitement bubble up within him as he looked at theptop screen disying the three pages of hexadecimal code he had just typed. It was a remarkable feeling, an aplishment that tingled with thrill.
He had never imagined that one day he would experience something akin to photographic memory, a concept he had only seen on TV shows like ¡°The Brain.¡± This show showcased the staggering capabilities of the human brain, featuring contestants with skills that made photographic memory look basic. Intrigued, Lin Xian had delved into research on this topic.
He discovered that scientifically, photographic memory was often linked to a rare condition known as Hyperthymesia, or Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). This condition enables individuals to remember an abnormallyrge number of their personal experiences in vivid detail. While retaining happy memories or learned knowledge was beneficial, the inability to forget painful memories was a curse, haunting individuals with recurring mental agony.
For most, the brain¡¯s ability to forget is a defense mechanism, shielding them from past pains and allowing them to move forward with life, as the saying goes, ¡°Letting go of the past is the key to moving forward.¡±
What would life be like if one could never forget any memory, however traumatic?
In his dream, Lin Xian spected that the drug overdose had temporarily induced a state resembling HSAM, granting him a fleeting taste of photographic memory. However, the benefits were short-lived,sting only 20 to 30 minutes before risking brain death.
Despite the dangers, Lin Xian felt satisfied with his achievement.
¡°Time to sleep. Another battle awaits tomorrow.¡±
He stood and walked to the bathroom to wash his face. As he patted his face dry and looked up, his reflection mimicked his movements. It brought to mind a piece of advice from Yellow Finch: ¡°Look in the mirror more often, Lin Xian. In the mirror¡ you¡¯ll find what you¡¯re looking for.¡±
Lin Xian frowned, and so did his reflection.
He had managed to solve the puzzle left by Zhao Ying Jun, uncovering her life¡¯s history and key information to potentially bring the super AI VV back to 2023. But Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic advice about the mirror still puzzled him, offering no clear direction or clues.
Zhao Ying Jun, forced into solitude and surveince by the Genius Club, had left a trail of riddles as a safety measure against her watchers. Her clues, though encrypted, were decipherable with some effort.
Yellow Finch, on the other hand, had been far less forting.
Lin Xian dragged a chair into the bathroom, positioning it in front of the mirror. He sat, staring intently at his reflection.
Could it be that Yellow Finch¡¯s reference to a mirror wasn¡¯t literal but metaphorical? A symbol for something deeper like self-reflection, symmetry, or even infinite possibilities?
Aside from the mirror, Lin Xian puzzled over what Yellow Finch meant by ¡°what you want.¡± His desires were many, but at the forefront was an invitation to the Genius Club. After his encounters with the Seven Deadly Sins, such an invitation would allow him to infiltrate and perhaps understand¡ªor even dismantle¡ªthis mysterious group from within.
Shifting his position, Lin Xian crossed his legs, his reflection copying the action. Reflecting on the past six months, he acknowledged his substantial progress. His thoughts were clearer, his ns more defined, and his alliances stronger.
Liu Feng was deep into research on the Universal Constant 42;
Rhine Company was thriving;
Yellow Finch promised support, agreeing to a rendezvous at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center if necessary;
And his efforts to manifest the super AI VV into reality were advancing.
If all these elements aligned, Lin Xian might wield considerable influence in 2023, challenging the Genius Club of 600 years past.
¡°I have a hunch that Yellow Finch¡¯s mirror riddle is linked to Liu Feng¡¯s research on the Universal Constant 42. Otherwise, why would she appear in Liu Feng¡¯sb, just as she had at the hospital with Zheng Cheng He and Zheng Xiang Yue?¡±
¡°Right!¡± Lin Xian pped his thigh in a sudden realization, echoed by his reflection.
¡°Why not ask VV in the dream tomorrow?¡±
His reflection smiled back at him. Despite his asional jokes calling VV an artificial idiot, it was, after all, a culmination of centuries of human intellectual endeavor, potentially the most intelligent entity ever created.
Perhaps, VV would provide a new perspective or even the answer he desperately sought.
The following day unfolded within the dream world.
At the Rhine Memorial Square, beneath the solemn gaze of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s statue, Lin Xian stood with a determined expression. Before him was the trash can robot known as VV.
¡°VV, before we dive into memorizing the code, I have a question,¡± Lin Xian began, his gaze fixed intently on the robot.
¡°Imagine there¡¯s a woman who travels through time from the future. She knows a vast amount about history and future events, along with many hidden truths. However, because of certain time-space regtions, she can¡¯t directly discuss these things. She can only use riddles, hints, and puzzles tomunicate with me.¡±
He continued, outlining the specifics of his hypothetical scenario, ¡°Let¡¯s add a few conditions: she has a good rtionship with me and wouldn¡¯t mislead me intentionally. She¡¯s also linked to a very mysterious and powerful organization that¡¯s been hidden throughout history for over 600 years. She suggested a theory about finding other time-space coordinates in this dimension, probably rted to aerospace, rockets, and satellites.¡±
¡°In this context, she advised me to ¡®look in the mirror more often,¡¯ iming the mirror holds what I want¡ That¡¯s the problem. Please use your wisdom to help me analyze what she means. What¡¯s the answer to this riddle?¡±
VV, the trash can robot, nodded solemnly and lowered its head, seeming to ponder deeply.
In that moment, the vibrant lights and neon signs of Sky City appeared to dim, reflecting the gravity with which the greatest super AI in human history was taking Lin Xian¡¯s question.
Under the shadow of the towering statue, a hush fell over the square.
Lin Xian was taken aback. Typically, VV responded to his inquiries almost instantaneously, without any noticeable dy.
But this time, the silence stretched on, uncharacteristically long for VV.
Had it¡ crashed?
The tension mounted around Lin Xian as he held his breath, the scene reminding him of a moment from the sci-fi movie ¡°The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡± where advanced civilizations awaited the ultimate answer from a colossal supeputer.
After what felt like an eternity but was only four to five minutes, the ambiance of Sky City brightened once more, and VV slowly raised its head. The robot¡¯s green eyes flickered as it fixed its gaze on Lin Xian.
¡°I think¡ it means exactly what it says. You should look in the mirror more often.¡±
Lin Xian was stunned, his initial impulse was to kick the seemingly useless trash can off the tform.
He began to question everything.
Had he misinterpreted Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s intentions? Was her guidance a mistake?
What use was this AI if it was no better than a simple home assistant, like a Tmall Genie?
¡°Forget it,¡± Lin Xian said with a chuckle, his frustration turning to amusement, albeit slightly bitter. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t looked in the mirror? I look in the mirror every day.¡±
¡°But, Lin Xian,¡± VV interjected, its bright green eyes locking onto Lin Xian¡¯s with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the casual dismissal.
¡°Have you spent enough time looking in the mirror?¡±
Chapter 243: The Eye of Heaven
Lin Xian¡¯s smile faded as he stared down at the trash can. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
The trash can robot, VV, moved its treads, circling around Lin Xian in a clear mimicry of his earlier pacing. ¡°This is my analysis, Lin Xian,¡± VV began. ¡°A mirror is a simple, pure object without any deep meaning. If the woman you mentioned truly wanted to help you, she would have made the hint obvious enough for you to understand.¡±
VV continued, ¡°I think you¡¯re oveplicating things. There¡¯s a famous quote in a science fiction ssic: ¡®Often, we fail to find answers not because we think too simply, but because we think tooplicatedly.¡¯ For example, if you overthink the mirror puzzle that woman gave you, you¡¯ll get nowhere. I¡¯ve used all myputing power to extend and expand the problem, even considering the effect of the mirror on the speed of light, but it¡¯s all meaningless. If she wanted to hint at something else, she could have chosen a more straightforward hint instead of using a mirror.¡±
VV¡¯s words left Lin Xian at a loss for what to say. The robot argued that the woman wouldn¡¯t deliberately make things difficult for him. If she said ¡®mirror,¡¯ then it had to be a mirror. If she told him to look in the mirror more, then he should follow her advice.
The reason he was so confused wasn¡¯t because he wasn¡¯t thinkingplexly enough, but because he wasn¡¯t thinking simply enough.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian spoke, ¡°You think I should take her words at face value and just spend more time looking in the mirror?¡±
The trash can robot nodded. ¡°Based on my analysis, that¡¯s the most reasonable approach. Even though I¡¯m bound by the Three Laws of Robotics, if I¡¯m sure someone is a friend and not an enemy, my goal would be to help, not hinder.¡±
VV continued, ¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re too stubborn. Simplify the problem and follow her words. Or perhaps, since she mentioned meeting you at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, that might be a prerequisite to solving the mirror puzzle.¡±¡°If you can¡¯t find an answer from the mirror hint for now, follow the path she outlined. Solve the coordinates, references, and items she prepared at theunch center. Maybe then the answer to the mirror puzzle will be clear.¡±
¡°Of course, I must remind you, my conclusions are based on the assumption that the information you provided is urate and that the woman is indeed a time traveler who won¡¯t harm you and is your ally. If your information is incorrect, my answer will be too.¡±
Lin Xian pondered for a while and nodded. VV¡¯s analysis made sense. He was too focused on the mirror puzzle, but Yellow Finch¡¯s real purpose in appearing at Liu Feng¡¯sb was the Universal Constants, the space-time clock, the curvature, and the reference coordinates. The note she left might be the key.
¡°Alright, when I have time, I¡¯ll visit Liu Feng¡¯sb at Donghai University and see if there¡¯s any breakthrough in his research,¡± Lin Xian said.
With that, he sat down and faced the electronic ckboard.
¡°Are we starting to memorize the code now, Lin Xian? Hurry up, I can¡¯t wait to meet you in the world from 600 years ago,¡± VV said, waving its mechanical arm. Nearby, a nurse robot approached with a syringe aimed at Lin Xian¡¯s neck.
¡°No, not today. There¡¯s something else,¡± Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°The day after tomorrow, the city is hosting an award ceremony for me, and I have to give a speech. It¡¯s going to be broadcasted on the inte, Donghai TV, and in ssrooms across the city. Unfortunately, I¡¯ve been too busy to write my speech.¡±
¡°So¡ before we start memorizing the code today, VV, could you write me an award ceremony speech?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± The trash can made a mechanical noise. It crossed its mechanical arms in defiance.
¡°Please! I¡¯m the greatest artificial intelligence in human history! A shining gem in the annals of scientific development! The secret weapon left to humanity by the esteemed Ms. Zhao Ying Jun!¡± VV protested. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be doing things like time travel, saving the world, and uncovering the secrets of the universe! And you want me to write a grade-school essay?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Lin Xian said, pressing his hand on VV¡¯s top to stop it from rising. ¡°Writing a speech is the proper use of artificial intelligence. Now, get to it.¡±
Despite its reluctance, VV obeyed. As Lin Xian¡¯s master and the highest authority in Rhine Sky City, VVplied and produced an award ceremony speech in less than 0.0000001 seconds, disying it on the electronic ckboard.
Lin Xian read it with satisfaction. ¡°Hmm, not bad.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you need a stimnt to memorize this speech?¡± VV asked, imitating Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity about human behavior.
¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°This speech doesn¡¯t need rote memorization. Just understanding its structure and logic is enough. If your code had the same logic and grammar, I¡¯d memorize it in no time.¡±
¡°Actually, there are simrities¡ but you¡¯re just too slow. A qualified programmer would be much more efficient,¡± VV retorted.
After spending half an hour reading the speech, Lin Xian had it memorized well enough to reproduce it in his own words.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it down,¡± Lin Xian said, tilting his head and lowering his cor. ¡°VV, inject the stimnt.¡±
For the next few days, Lin Xian transformed into a code memorizing machine, aided by excessive injections of memory-enhancing drugs. Each night, he could memorize at least 500 lines of code. After getting past the initial hexadecimal gibberish, the pure code formed from English words became much easier to memorize.
With increased familiarity with the codingnguage, Lin Xian¡¯s efficiency improved, sometimes memorizing 700 or 800 lines in a day. He believed this number would continue to rise.
His understanding of programming logic deepened under VV¡¯s guidance, reducing the burden on his memory. Additionally, VV¡¯s code was elegant, almost poetic in its simplicity, justifying its im as a shining gem of human technology.
While memorizing the beautiful code, Lin Xian recalled Li Qi Qi¡¯s words about not understanding math but appreciating art. Liu Feng¡¯s ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± was both beautiful and logically sound, which meant it couldn¡¯t be wrong.
¡°This universe itself is beautiful,¡± Lin Xian thought, firmly believing in Liu Feng¡¯s theory.
The next day, Lin Xian received a message from Liu Feng: ¡°Lin Xian! Come to theb when you have time! There¡¯s been a breakthrough!¡±
Yawning, Lin Xian sat up. Liu Feng¡¯s excitement was evident from the triple exmation marks. Replying with an OK gesture, he got ready to head to Donghai University. His driver was already waiting downstairs.
In the car, Lin Xian asked, ¡°What¡¯s the breakthrough?¡±
Entering theb, he saw the space-time clock on theb bench, its digits still reading 0.0000000¡ªeight zeros.
He was eager to see if the numbers would change when Liu Feng found the reference coordinate system outside of this space-time and calibrated the space-time clock.
Liu Feng approached, pushing his sses up. ¡°Lin Xian, I think I¡¯ve found a way to discover the reference points outside our space-time.¡±
¡°How so?¡± Lin Xian asked, taking a seat.
Liu Feng gave an example, ¡°You know the saying ¡®There¡¯s no wall that doesn¡¯t let wind through,¡¯ right?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°While walls don¡¯t let wind through in general, the saying implies there¡¯s no absolute barrier. Even if water can¡¯t pass through a stic bag, oil can,¡± Liu Feng exined, noting that even tiny gaps at the molecr level allow passage if the passing object is small enough.
¡°You mean there are gaps even at the atomic level?¡± Lin Xian interjected, gesturing for Liu Feng to continue.
¡°Exactly,¡± Liu Feng confirmed, ¡°So, I boldly hypothesize that space-time isn¡¯t a seamless wall. If different space-times exist, there might be walls separating them, but no wall is imprable. If the gaps are nck length, then particles from another space-time with a smaller nck length could pass through.¡±
Lin Xian listened intently, sipping water. Though it sounded far-fetched, the theory was usible.
¡°We need to prove it,¡± Lin Xian said, setting the cup down. ¡°How can we find particles smaller than our space-time¡¯s nck length?¡±
Liu Feng smiled, gesturing around theb. ¡°Everything is made of basic particles. If even one external space-time particle enters, there could be many more, forming observable clusters. We might even capture them.¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to call these particles ¡®space-time particles,''¡± Liu Feng proposed confidently.
Lin Xianughed at the naming obsession of scientists. ¡°I don¡¯t mind what you call them, but do they exist? Is your theory correct?¡±
¡°We need to find these particles to calibrate the space-time clock and observe curvature changes,¡± Liu Feng acknowledged.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°What do you need?¡±
¡°The Guizhou Sky Eye,¡± Liu Feng replied.
The pen Lin Xian was twirling fell to the floor. He stared at Liu Feng in shock.
¡°You mean thergest spherical radio telescope in the world?¡± Lin Xian asked, stunned.
Chapter 244: Temporal Particles
¡°I obviously know what the Guizhou Eye is,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at Liu Feng with a hint of exasperation. ¡°I asked you to repeat it, not because I didn¡¯t hear you clearly, but because I wanted to make sure you know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±
He sighed internally. The Guizhou Eye, officially known as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), was the world¡¯srgest radio telescope. It was well-known, especially to a science fiction enthusiast like Lin Xian. Covering over 260,000 square meters, its construction was proposed in 1993 and wasn¡¯tpleted until 2016, marking the end of a 23-year journey.
To avoid interference from city signals,rge-scale telescopes are typically built in remote mountainous areas. The rugged terrain of Guizhou, with elevations often exceeding 1,000 meters, made it an ideal location.
The Guizhou Eye looked like a giant silver bowl nestled among the mountains. Traditional radio telescopes often resemble radar dishes, but this colossal bowl, with a diameter exceeding 500 meters, could not stand upright, leading to its distinctive horizontal structure. Around the edge of this massive bowl stood six nearly 100-meter-tall support towers. Each tower extended a steel cable to suspend a white ¡°small box¡± above the center of the giant reflector. This 30-ton small box, known as the feed cabin, was the coreponent of the radio telescope.
The feed cabin, positioned at the focal point of the parabolic reflector, focused the signals collected by the reflector to achieve high-sensitivity space observation. During operation, the reflector adjusted ording to the movement of celestial bodies, causing changes in the shape of the parabolic surface and the position of the focal point, necessitating the movement of the feed cabin. It was aplex system.
It¡¯s worth noting that the principles of radio telescopes differ from those of optical telescopes. Optical telescopes gather visible light to form visual images, while radio telescopes collect and converge extremely weak long-wave electromaic waves from the universe. Unlike traditional telescopes, radio telescopes are sensitive to waves, vibrations, and radiation rather than forming conventional images. They have greater sensitivity and observational range than optical telescopes, making significant discoveries in astronomy, such as pulsars, quasars, cosmic microwave background radiation, and interster organic molecules.
Among all the radio telescopes worldwide, the Guizhou Eye was undoubtedly the most powerful.
Lin Xian bent down to pick up the pen he had thrown, cing it back on the table.¡°The Guizhou Eye is a national treasure. While it is asionally open to tourists, most of the time, it undertakes critical astronomical observation tasks, some of which involve national secrets, leading to periods of closure. Even if it were open purely for tourism, I could never buy such equipment for you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not about money. This is a non-saleable national asset. Even if you had the money, without the technology and national support, you couldn¡¯t replicate a telescope like the Guizhou Eye. Even if, hypothetically, I wanted to rent it for a few days, I wouldn¡¯t have the qualifications. Many countries worldwide queue up to borrow the Guizhou Eye for national purposes. It¡¯s not something a smallpany owner like me could arrange.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Liu Feng scratched his head, looking troubled.
¡°As I mentioned, if temporal particles truly exist, they would be extremely tiny and difficult to observe. Only a super radio telescope like the Guizhou Eye could capture the fluctuations and frequencies of temporal particles. Lin Xian, I know borrowing the Guizhou Eye is challenging, but it¡¯s a crucial step in our research on temporal curvature and Universal Constants. Without finding temporal particles, we can¡¯t calibrate the temporal clock. Without calibrating the temporal clock, we can¡¯t detect temporal curvature, and our research would stall.¡±
Lin Xian tapped his fingers on the table without speaking. He had long wanted to tell Liu Feng that the Universal Constant might not be asplicated as he thought. After all, Big Cat Face¡¯s father had figured it out with just a pen and some paper, so it might not require the world¡¯srgest radio telescope. But after several hesitations, he decided not to.
Firstly, Liu Feng was not Big Cat Face¡¯s father andcked the genius level ofparison. Big Cat Face¡¯s father was a Fields Medal-winning genius, a once-in-a-lifetime talent. In contrast, Liu Feng had not achieved any outstanding aplishments. His most notable contribution to human history might be the inspiration he inadvertently provided to Big Cat Face¡¯s father from a book found in Li Qi Qi¡¯s grave.
Secondly, Lin Xian could not be 100% sure that Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s research was correct. His confidence was based on spection and indirect evidence, believing that if the Genius Club feared him, Big Cat Face¡¯s father must have been right. But there was no concrete proof.
Therefore, saying anything discouraging now would only dampen Liu Feng¡¯s enthusiasm. In his first dream, Big Cat Face¡¯s father had been killed in a car ident at 00:42. In the second dream, he was taken away on the morning of August 28, 2624, and missed the opportunity to meet him. In the third dream, he died of radiation sickness when Big Cat Face was still young, perhaps even beforepleting any research. In none of the three possible futures had Lin Xian met Big Cat Face¡¯s father.
If Lin Xian had any hope, it was to meet Big Cat Face¡¯s father alive in a future dream, to directly ask this genius about the Universal Constant 42. But this was uncertain and unlikely.
Currently, Liu Feng was still Lin Xian¡¯s only ¡°lifeline¡± and the closest person in the world to uncovering the truth of the Universal Constant 42.
Lost in thought, Liu Feng had already brought a small ckboard over, pointing at aplex string of numbers and letters.
¡°I¡¯ve calcted it. If we input these parameters into the Guizhou Eye¡¯s program, we might find the existence of temporal particles in the universe. However, the fluctuations of these parameters are so small that even the Guizhou Eye, with its top-level sensitivity, cannot detect temporal particles beyond the moon¡¯s orbit due to insufficient precision.¡±
¡°If the Guizhou Eye finds temporal particles, they must be within the Earth¡¯s atmosphere. At most, they might be a few tens of thousands of kilometers away, not as far as 380,000 kilometers. So, Lin Xian, we¡¯re very close to sess!¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s excitement grew as he patted the ckboard and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°If the Guizhou Eye¡¯s target is close, we can capture it! Do you understand how exciting this is? We can capture a reference object from another space-time, the first temporal particle in human history!¡±
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Suddenly, a soft voice called from theb door.
Lin Xian and Liu Feng turned to see a beautiful girl in a white dress, her high ponytail bouncing, her pretty face radiating youthful vitality, with a charming tear mole at the corner of her eye and a sweet smile.
¡°An Qing?¡± Lin Xian stood up, looking at Chu An Qing. ¡°What brings you here?¡±
¡°I saw your car downstairs!¡± Chu An Qing giggled.
¡°We have a dance ss next, and I was passing by when I saw the car. At first, I thought it was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s car because I¡¯ve seen her in it often. But when I got closer, I saw the driver wasn¡¯t hers, and the license te was different. The driver told me it was your car, so I came up to say hi!¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to buy the same car as Zhao Ying Jun. I thought you¡¯d get a sports car since you¡¯re so good at driving. A cool, shy car would suit you!¡±
Lin Xian smiled.
¡°This car was provided by thepany for business trips. The driver is also from thepany. If I had to buy one myself, I¡¯d probably get a high-performance one. But honestly, I¡¯m tired of driving and prefer being driven.¡±
Chu An Qing tilted her head, looking at Liu Feng.
¡°Lin Xian, who is this?¡±
She initially thought he might be a teacher or professor in theb but seemed too young. Although he appeared worn out, he didn¡¯t look older than thirty, probably just a few years older than Lin Xian.
¡°This is Liu Feng, he¡¯s a mathematician.¡± Lin Xian introduced.
¡°Not really a mathematician,¡± Liu Feng nodded at Chu An Qing. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary math researcher with no significant achievements.¡±
¡°A mathematician? I thought you were a physicist or astronomer!¡± Chu An Qingughed. ¡°I overheard you talking about deep stuff like the Guizhou Eye and radio telescopes. And¡ what¡¯s a temporal particle?¡±
Lin Xian thought for a moment before smiling.
¡°It¡¯s a term Liu Feng made up. It¡¯s not something that¡¯s been proven. We were discussing some astronomical research, and the conversation drifted into sci-fi territory.¡±
¡°Oh, I see.¡± Chu An Qing nodded, looking at Lin Xian with admiration.
¡°But you¡¯re amazing, Lin Xian. You know astronomy, geography, arts, and science. Last time we visited the art exhibition, you exined so much scientific knowledge beyond art. I thought you just had broad interests, but you¡¯re also well-versed in science! You¡¯re a true all-rounder.¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Lin Xian said humbly. ¡°I just know a little bit of everything, far from being proficient.¡±
¡°Ughh¡¡± Chu An Qing sighed lightly. ¡°I sometimes envy talented people like you, Lin Xian, Ji Lin Xian, Tang Xin, and Ying Jun. You all have remarkable abilities. I¡¯m just¡ Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter, nothing more.¡±
¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that.¡±
Lin Xian quickly responded, intending to praise Chu An Qing but found it difficult. While her dancing was good, it wasn¡¯t exceptionally outstanding. She got to perform on many stages and received flowers and apuse mainly because of her father, Chu Shan He.
She wasn¡¯t the best dancer at Donghai University or even in Donghai City. But she got to perform solo at the Donghai City Music Festival because of her father, not her skills.
So, in some ways, she was right. She understood that without her father¡¯s influence, she was just an ordinary girl¡ªcute and pretty, but average in academics, sports, and other talents.
At this moment, Lin Xian didn¡¯t know how tofort her. Any insincere praise would feel like sarcasm.
Before he could think of something, Liu Feng stepped forward with a smile.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t think like that, youngdy. You¡¯re still young. It¡¯s too early to judge your worth. Besides, no one can predict where their life¡¯s brightest moments wille from. If anyone can speak about being useless, it¡¯s me.¡±
Liu Feng pointed at himself.
¡°I¡¯ve loved math since I was a kid, spent my entire college and graduate years studying it, working on a project no one recognized, full of errors. I¡¯ve never seeded, always a failure. I even gave up math to earn money for my sick girlfriend, but I couldn¡¯t save her, losing both time with her and my passion.¡±
¡°I¡¯m 27, and I¡¯ve achieved nothing. But after meeting Lin Xian, I realized even if I fail a thousand times, it¡¯s okay. He told me some things might be wrong a thousand times, but that¡¯s alright. It only needs to be right once at the crucial moment. I believe this deeply, that my life might be for that one moment. That one moment can light up my entire life.¡±
¡°So, youngdy, I think your life is the same. Don¡¯t undervalue yourself. Your time hasn¡¯te yet. As I said, even if you fail your whole life, one sess is enough. There¡¯s something only you can do, and when the timees, you¡¯ll shine.¡±
¡°There¡¯s something in this world that¡¯s made for you, only you can do it.¡±
¡°Besides you, no one else can!¡±
Chapter 245: Academy of Sciences: Are You Serious?
¡°What the heck?¡± Lin Xian was stunned, staring incredulously at Liu Feng. ¡°Since when did you be so articte?¡±
Thest time Lin Xian was in thisb, he discovered that Liu Feng was much more outgoing and talkative than he had initially thought. Lin Xian¡¯s first impression of Liu Feng had been quite rigid, possibly due to Liu Feng¡¯s circumstances at the time. Back then, no one recognized his talent; he had abandoned his beloved mathematics and watched helplessly as his loved one, Li Qi Qi, grew closer to death each day. Anyone in that situation would be gloomy, unadaptable, and cold.
This was Lin Xian¡¯s impression of Liu Feng then. However, as the saying goes, ¡°Three days apart and you¡¯ll see someone in a new light.¡±
Since they reunited in Donghai City, Liu Feng seemed like a different person¡ªmuch more cheerful and in a better mental state. Perhaps this change was due to several factors. Although Li Qi Qi eventually passed away, at least her final moments were happy and without regrets. She closed her eyes under her favorite meteor shower, perhaps making a long-cherished wish. For a terminal pancreatic cancer patient, this kind of departure might not have been painful but rather a peaceful release.
Liu Feng surely understood this. He was so smart that even if he didn¡¯t grasp it at the time, he would have figured it out over the past six months. Instead of wallowing in grief, he transformed his longing into motivation, focusing on his research on Universal Constants to fulfill Li Qi Qi¡¯s wish: ¡°One day, the whole world will recognize how incredible and great the ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ is; every major bookstore will prominently disy this book, and everyone will know Liu Feng¡¯s name!¡±
Thus, his current work made Liu Feng happy and gave him hope and motivation for life. Perhaps Chu An Qing¡¯s words earlier had triggered memories, reminding him of the past, of Li Qi Qi, and of his former self. This led him to speak those heartfelt words that didn¡¯t quite fit his usual character.
Chu An Qing¡¯s lips parted slightly, her eyes wide in astonishment as she looked at Liu Feng. ¡°Th-thank you.¡±
Though she didn¡¯t fully understand, she felt its significance.If what Liu Feng said was true, that there really is something in this world meant for her, a highlight of her life, a purpose only she can fulfill¡
She stole a nce at Lin Xian, only to unexpectedly meet his gaze! Blushing furiously, she quickly looked away and nodded to Liu Feng.
¡°I-I-I¡¯ll remember that! Thank you, Teacher Feng!¡±
¡°Teacher Feng?¡± Liu Feng was stunned, confused by this sudden title.
The girl had been somewhat flustered and tongue-tied just moments ago.
¡°Well, I¡¯d better get to ss now, Senior Lin Xian!¡±
Chu An Qing waved at Lin Xian with a smile before turning and quickly disappearing down the corridor.
Theb fell silent again.
¡°You sure know how to woo people.¡± Lin Xian turned to Liu Feng. ¡°Do you even know who that girl is?¡±
¡°No idea.¡± Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°But does it matter who she is? I just saw she looked a bit down and wanted to cheer her up. You might think what I said was a bit abstract, but I¡¯ve be pretty good atforting people. Ever since Li Qi Qi got sick, Iforted and encouraged her every day. But what I said was also the truth. If someone as lost as I was could find direction and meaning in life, surely a young girl like her can too. She looked about eighteen or neen, a freshman in college?¡±
¡°She¡¯ll be a sophomore soon,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°She turned neen just two months ago.¡±
¡°Oh, I see.¡± Liu Feng nodded. ¡°At that age, it¡¯s normal to feel lost. But honestly, those words of encouragement should havee from you. I only stepped in because you were struggling to say anything.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Because she suddenly felt inadequate, realizing how outstanding you are. She felt the gap between you growing and got discouraged, fearing she¡¯d never catch up.¡±
¡°Hold on, hold on!¡± Lin Xian made a time-out gesture,ughing helplessly. ¡°Liu Feng, are you studying math or women? Your analyses are always so spot-on and mysterious.¡±
Liu Feng raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡±
¡°I just think you¡¯re a bit overconfident. You can¡¯t possibly know what¡¯s going on in her mind.¡±
Liu Feng chuckled softly, shaking his head as he looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Have you ever been in love?¡±
¡°Is that your only line?¡± Lin Xian felt incredulous. ¡°You¡¯ve only been in love once, right? Your experience isn¡¯t enough to support your theories.¡±
¡°From zero to one is a qualitative change.¡±
¡°See, now you¡¯re being slippery.¡± Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°When we discuss math, you switch to emotions. When we talk about emotions, you bring up math. By your logic, women of all ages are attracted to me. Does that mean I appeal to everyone? Do I really have that much charm in your eyes?¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Liu Feng shrugged, turning to hang his small ckboard back on its stand.
¡°I don¡¯t find it surprising that women like you. Maybe you haven¡¯t realized it yet, but you do have a lot of personal charm. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t havee all the way to work with you on this research. I admire your charm, too. That girl was right; you¡¯re a pretty great person.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just curious. You¡¯ve only been to thisb twice, and both times women of different ages came looking for you. Their gazes were so deep and intense. I¡¯m now curious to see which woman wille next when you visit a third time. Will it be someone our age?¡±
¡°You should curb your gossiping tendencies.¡± Lin Xian pulled up a chair, sat down again, and looked at theplex parameters on Liu Feng¡¯s ckboard. ¡°If you focused all your energy on math instead of gossiping about romantic entanglements, we might have solved the Universal Constant problem by now.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I said I need the Guizhou Radio Telescope,¡± Liu Feng insisted.
¡°Believe me, I feel I¡¯m getting closer to the truth. My theory is perfect. If I can use the telescope for just two or three months, I¡¯ll be able to scan the area around Earth and likely find space-time particles.¡±
¡°And once we find space-time particles, it will confirm the world line theory and the existence of space-time curvature. If we can capture those particles, we¡¯ll be able to reset the space-time clock, bringing us one step closer to understanding the Universal Constant!¡±
Lin Xian admired Liu Feng¡¯s logic.
No matter how you look at it, everything circled back to the Guizhou Radio Telescope, and he was asking for two to three months of continuous use.
¡°I understand. I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t refuse, agreeing for now. Regardless of the difficulty, Liu Feng was right. Even if the path was tough, it was the only hope they had to crack the mystery of Universal Constant 42.
Moreover, the concepts of space-time particles, curvature, and clocks Liu Feng brought up might be rted to space-timews, especially those repeatedly mentioned by Yellow Finch and those Lin Xian hadn¡¯t fully grasped yet.
Though he didn¡¯t know the specificbat power or usage of space-timews, Lin Xian believed they were crucial, possibly even more significant than the Universal Constant 42.
¡°I suspect borrowing the Guizhou Telescope, especially for two to three months, will be very challenging and not a quick process.¡± Lin Xian stood up, ready to leave. ¡°But I¡¯ve promised you, Liu Feng. I¡¯ll try to get it sorted out as soon as possible. In the meantime, focus on your research here. Once there¡¯s any news or progress, I¡¯ll let you know immediately.¡±
Leaving Liu Feng and Donghai University, Lin Xian directed his driver to head to one of Donghai City¡¯sndmarks¡ªthe headquarters of Shan He Group, where Chu Shan He worked.
After exiting theb, Lin Xian contacted Chu Shan He by phone, asking if he had time to meet. Given their previous interactions and coborations, Chu Shan He valued Lin Xian¡¯s requests highly and cleared his schedule to meet him at the Shan He Group headquarters.
As the Alphard business car sped along the elevated highway, heading from the university town towards the city center, the buildings grew taller and the traffic more congested.
Currently, Lin Xian was indeed troubled by the Guizhou Telescope issue. It was a tough problem, but it had to be solved to prevent their research from stalling.
He had no choice but to seek Chu Shan He¡¯s advice, given his extensive influence in Donghai City and the scientificmunity due to years of sponsoring scientists, conducting scientific phnthropy, buildingbs and research institutes, and assisting overseas scientists in returning home. Chu Shan He had significant standing in the scientificmunity.
Upon arriving at Shan He Group, Chu Shan He¡¯s secretary greeted Lin Xian at the door, escorting him to a private meeting room before bowing out and closing the soundproof door.
¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Chu Shan He greeted Lin Xian warmly, pulling him to a seat. ¡°I was nning to meet you at the award ceremony tomorrow. Didn¡¯t expect you¡¯de today. How¡¯s the preparation for tomorrow¡¯s ceremony at Donghai Hall? Any issues with the speech and award presentation?¡±
Lin Xian smiled and nodded. ¡°The speech is ready, and I¡¯ve practiced it several times. Plus, I don¡¯t need to gopletely off-script; I can have the speech on the podium, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Chu Shan Heughed.
¡°Tomorrow¡¯s ceremony is highly valued by Donghai City¡¯s officials. Many of them are very grateful to you for solving a tricky problem. It¡¯s been a long time since such a major incident urred here. If not for your timely intervention, things could have been much worse.¡±
¡°At your age, achieving such honor means a bright future. Both my wife and I are very happy for you. So, just perform well tomorrow! An Qing has long said you won¡¯t have any issues, having hosted the school celebration in front of thousands. This should be a piece of cake for you.¡±
After some pleasantries, Lin Xian got to the point. He didn¡¯t share all the details, just mentioned that hisb was working on a groundbreaking research project requiring the use of the Guizhou Radio Telescope for two to three months. He asked if there were any channels to facilitate this.
Of course, any agreed rental fee would be paid, regardless of the amount.
Chu Shan He listened, then frowned.
¡°This isn¡¯t an easy task.¡± He paused, thinking. ¡°The Guizhou Telescope is a national key project. Although it doesn¡¯t contain state secrets, it is the world¡¯srgest radio telescope with many scheduled projects. As far as I know, it has never been rented out; it¡¯s primarily used for national astronomical projects or lent to friendly nations.¡±
¡°But I have a contact in the Guizhou scientificmunity. Let me give them a call.¡±
Chu Shan He made the call, but after some conversation, he shook his head at Lin Xian.
¡°Lin Xian, it seems unlikely. The Guizhou Telescope is currently under lockdown because the Academy of Sciences has a research project requiring long-term use. They started about a month ago and will continue for at least a year, maybe longer.¡±
¡°The Academy of Sciences, as you know, is the pinnacle of our scientificmunity. If they¡¯re using the telescope, no other projects will take precedence.¡±
Lin Xian sighed and nodded.
¡°Indeed¡ The Academy of Sciences holds unparalleled significance. Their scientists are the true luminaries of our nation. Technological advancements bring a bright future, and the Science Academy is the key to this.¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°It seems there¡¯s no way around this.¡±
Chu Shan He nodded sympathetically. ¡°Sorry, Lin Xian. This time, I¡¯m also powerless.¡±
¡°Although I¡¯m on good terms with President Gao Yan of the Science Academy in private, it¡¯s just a personal rtionship. Introducing you for a meeting or a casual meal is doable, but work matters are another story. The president is a righteous and admirable man, a true national hero whose life embodies our nation¡¯s scientific progress. I respect him deeply.¡±
Lin Xian recognized the name immediately due to its close simrity to Gao Yang, his buddy. This leading figure in controlled nuclear fusion was the mastermind behind the country¡¯s ¡°artificial sun,¡± the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) that set a world record by running for 403 seconds in high-confinement mode in April 2023, a groundbreaking achievement.
Controlled nuclear fusion, cold fusion¡
Lin Xian suddenly thought of the 6000 cold fusion engines beneath Rhine Sky City in his third dream.
¡°Mr. Chu.¡± Lin Xian smiled at Chu Shan He. ¡°Could you please arrange for me to meet President Gao Yan at his convenience?¡±
Chapter 246: The Commendation Conference
Chu Shan He looked slightly surprised and asked, ¡°It¡¯s possible, but how do you n to have me introduce you?¡±
Lin Xian thought it over again. He suddenly had an idea: since President Gao Yan is the leader in controlled nuclear fusion in X Country, maybe he could offer some help to the National Scientific Academy of Sciences in that field. If he could make a significant contribution, perhaps they would let him use the Guizhou Sky Eye for a few months.
Controlled nuclear fusion is key to advancing civilization and a major research project for all the world¡¯s leading nations. The first to crack controlled nuclear fusion would gain ess to unlimited energy, paving the way for the interster age.
In his third dream, the six thousand engines that lifted the Sky City into the air were controlled nuclear fusion engines, though they used a more advanced cold fusion technology. The principles of energy release are the same for both hot and cold fusion, but cold fusion is more advanced, practical, and easier to achieve due to its low reaction temperaturespared to traditional hot fusion.
From the perspectives of both President Gao Yan of the National Scientific Academy and national development, nuclear fusion technology is far more important than the Guizhou Sky Eye. If Lin Xian could help in this area, borrowing the Guizhou Sky Eye would not be difficult.
Lin Xian had confidence in this n, and it wouldn¡¯t be hard to implement. With VV¡¯s help, all he needed was to summarize the breakthrough points of cold fusion technology, memorize them, and write them down after waking up. With his enhanced learning technique, memorizingplex information was easy. Within a few days, he could bring cold fusion technology back to reality.
However, one problem he had to consider was the effect on the timeline.
Lin Xian believed that introducing controlled or cold fusion technology hundreds of years ahead of its time would create a significant butterfly effect, drastically changing the future. Nuclear fusion technology is immensely important for human civilization¡¯s development, far more than Professor Xu Yun¡¯s hibernation pod liquid.If this technology were to be introduced in 2023, it would be an irreversible anchor point, and the third dream would disappear, transforming into apletely new fourth dream.
Even though Lin Xian couldn¡¯t imagine what the fourth dream would look like, he knew VV wouldn¡¯t be as easily essible. Currently, he could activate VV by simply skydiving, then start copying codes.
Therefore, the most crucial task was to bring back the super artificial intelligence first. The Guizhou Sky Eye and Liu Feng¡¯s research were secondary.
VV was his greatest strength, the foundation of all his safety andbat abilities. To avoid triggering time changes and causing the third dream to disappear, he needed to finish copying VV¡¯s code into the real world before meeting with President Gao Yan to discuss cold fusion technology and the Guizhou Sky Eye.
¡°Mr. Chu,¡± Lin Xian organized his thoughts and looked at Chu Shan He, ¡°I have a project rted to nuclear fusion at the Rhine Laboratory of Donghai University. Although it¡¯s still in its early stages, I want to take the opportunity to meet President Gao and consult with him about some issues.¡±
¡°I think it would be better to meet him a few monthster. By then, I¡¯ll have organized all theboratory materials for President Gao to review. It¡¯s not every day one meets such a great scientist, and I don¡¯t want to waste his time. I want to be well-prepared.¡±
Chu Shan He nodded, ¡°You¡¯ve thought this through very well. President Gao is very enthusiastic about young people and ces great importance on them. Once, he refused an honorary award and a cash prize from a national science award, saying it was sad to receive such an honor at his age. He believes these awards should go to the young, who are the future and need these honors and prizes the most. So, don¡¯t worry. As long as it¡¯s about serious research, with my introduction, you¡¯ll definitely be able to meet him. Let me know when you¡¯re ready, and I¡¯ll arrange the meeting.¡±
After thanking Chu Shan He, Lin Xian left the Shan He Building, with his ns for the next few months clearlyid out.
First, he needed to speed up memorizing VV¡¯s 130,000 lines of code and transfer them to hisptop within two to three months. VV had mentioned that these lines of code were just its most basic program after simplification. Its full functionality and thinking strength were far greater in the third dream and would require significant time to develop and learn.
Fortunately, VV could utilize the globalwork of supeputers and the vast inte, oveing the limitations of Lin Xian¡¯sptop and not increasing his electricity bill. This data flow state was VV¡¯s greatest advantage.
This n was likely part of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s original design. VV, being a concealed data flow that didn¡¯t rely on single hardware, was tailored for Lin Xian¡¯s situation in 2023.
To avoid triggering time changes, Lin Xian would only memorize thest few lines of code without entering them into theptop, preventing VV¡¯s activation and the formation of a time anchor point.
Then, he could move to the second part of his n. In the dream, instead of memorizing codes, he would focus on cold fusion technology. With VV¡¯s help, he would copy the information and present it to President Gao Yan under the guise of seeking guidance. This gift to the nation would smooth the way for borrowing the Guizhou Sky Eye, allowing Liu Feng to use the world¡¯srgest radio telescope to search for time-space particles around Earth.
If these particles were found nearby, they could be captured using an airne. If they were in outer space, they would need assistance from Yellow Finch at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Lin Xian suspected that the time-space particle would be found, likely in near-Earth space, considering Yellow Finch¡¯s previous hints. She had left a note in theb, directing Lin Xian and Liu Feng to find her at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, indicating she already knew the answers but was restricted by time-spacews from revealing them directly.
Sessfully capturing the time-space particle would lead to the third step of his n. They would solve mysteries rted to the time-space clock, time-space curvature, and Universal Constants, ultimately uncovering the answer to the mirror puzzle.
Once Lin Xian understood everything, he would be close to receiving an invitation from the Genius Club.
This was his three-step n for the next six months. Completing these ns would significantly enhance his strength, preparing him for a new stage in his battle with the Genius Club:
Joining the club.
Uncovering all truths and secrets.
Exposing the real culprits behind the bloodshed and deaths.
The next day at the Donghai Auditorium, an official venue usually closed to the public, people from various sectors gathered, preparing to attend the grandmendation conference and heroic deeds report meeting.
Students from primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities filled the hall, which was packed yet orderly. Numerous cameras in the front rows would broadcast the event live on TV and online, allowing those who couldn¡¯t attend to watch and learn about Lin Xian¡¯s heroic deeds.
Reporters from various media outlets were already positioned, waiting for the conference to begin.
Backstage, officials chatted happily. Chu Shan He warmly introduced Lin Xian to the officials. An elder named Song patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder with a pleased expression.
¡°Young man, you¡¯re a real hero. I heard from Shan He and Xiao Liu about how you helped solve the heinous serial murder case. Your intelligence and bravery are what Donghai City needs for prosperity and peace.¡±
¡°Mr. Song, you tter me,¡± Lin Xian said modestly. ¡°The special task force worked tirelessly, and it was a collective effort. I just offered some constructive suggestions. The arrest wouldn¡¯t have been possible without the involvement of every officer. I was just lucky.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s humility drew appreciativeughter from Mr. Song, Chu Shan He, and the other officials present.
¡°You have a bright future, young man,¡± Mr. Song said, shaking Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s time to begin. Let¡¯s head inside.¡±
¡°The long-awaitedmendation conference is about to start!¡±
Chapter 247: The Final Seven Deadly Sins
The dignitaries seated themselves in the front row of the auditorium, and the room, filled with thousands of attendees, erupted in unprecedented apuse. On stage, the host announced themencement of themendation and report meeting, held specifically for Lin Xian.
Following the host¡¯s opening remarks, Old Mr. Song took the stage. He praised Lin Xian¡¯s actions, read out the officialmendation, and invited Lin Xian toe forward and receive his award.
Then, the music started.
Lin Xian, dressed in formal attire, walked slowly from backstage. Cameras from various media outlets followed him, and the apuse in the auditorium grew even louder. Old Mr. Song, smiling and pping, approached Lin Xian, shook his hand, and then turned to face the cameras for a photo.
Next came the award ceremony. Lin Xian received his certificate of bravery, a top ten citizen certificate, and a cash prize card from Old Mr. Song. This was the highest honor Lin Xian had ever received.
In reality, if it hadn¡¯t been for the need to flush out Zhou Duan Yun, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have wanted to be so high-profile. Butter, he thought about it. He couldn¡¯t hide anymore. Even though the public reports didn¡¯t mention the operation on Ji Lin Xian¡¯s birthday night, no wall is without cracks. Even if only a few people in the Donghai Police Department knew about these events, a determined investigator could still uncover the truth.
Moreover, Lin Xian¡¯s enemies weren¡¯t ordinary. He had no idea if the members of the Genius Club were watching him. This organization was too mysterious. So mysterious that it seemed non-existent.
At least, life had been calm recently, and Lin Xian felt the Genius Club was unlikely to be targeting him.First, his assistance in arresting Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui was justified; they were murderers wanted by all of Donghai. He was just a ¡°helpful citizen.¡±
Secondly, Ji Xin Shui had mistaken him for a test or even a judge from the Genius Club; this misunderstanding suggested that the Genius Club didn¡¯t want him dead, Ji Xin Shui did. Perhaps the old man¡¯s n was to use his head to im a reward from Copernicus in the Genius Club. But unfortunately for Ji Xin Shui, his arrogance led to his downfall before his n coulde to fruition.
Lastly, and most crucially, Yellow Finch provided Lin Xian with a sense of security. She was a member of the Genius Club. If the club wanted him dead, he wouldn¡¯t be alive now. Not only that, but Yellow Finch had helped him repeatedly, behaving nothing like an enemy.
So Lin Xian wasn¡¯t entirely sure. What kind of organization was the Genius Club? What was its purpose? Was it just or evil? Even when Ji Xin Shui mentioned Copernicus, making it sound like these scientists were killed on his orders¡ could this information be trusted?
Ji Xin Shui was a poor imitator, arrogant and self-absorbed. It¡¯s possible he misunderstood or acted on his own. At the very least¡ if he could mistake Lin Xian for a Genius Club examiner, it seemed likely that Copernicus hadn¡¯t ordered him to kill Lin Xian; it was a personal vendetta.
In short, hiding was less effective than building his own strength.
Might makes right.
p, p, p, p, p, p!!!
After the enthusiastic apuse, it was time for Lin Xian¡¯s speech.
¡°Leaders, guests, representatives¡¡± VV had written the speech for him, and Lin Xian knew it by heart. Speaking without notes was easy. After all, these events were his own experiences, talking about them was like telling a story. It was effortless; he just needed to elevate the message where necessary.
¡°We deeply mourn the loss of Professor Xu Yun and Ms. Tang Xin¡¡± As he spoke, Lin Xian scanned the audience. Most of the seats were upied by student representatives of all ages, particrly many university students.
Among the students from Donghai University sitting in the front row, Lin Xian spotted the little happy-go-lucky girl¡ªChu An Qing.
At this moment, Chu An Qing was looking at Lin Xian. When their eyes met briefly, she smiled and waved at him. On the outside, Lin Xian remainedposed, but inwardly, he was amused by her abilities. Chu An Qing could go anywhere in Donghai freely, as if she had an all-ess pass. In a way, she was like a living key to Donghai City, going wherever she pleased. This was her superpower, named after her influential father, Chu Shan He.
Because of her father¡¯s high status, Chu An Qing was given special treatment wherever she went in Donghai City. It wasn¡¯t surprising that she could attend themendation ceremony as a student representative.
¡°As they say, ¡®the rise and fall of the nation concerns every citizen.¡¯ A prosperous and safe Donghai depends on the efforts of each one of us¡¡± Lin Xian was nearing the end of his speech. He performed exceptionally well today, thanks to his years of hosting experience in university, his voice was steady, resonant, and powerful: ¡°With that, I wish for our Donghai to be more harmonious, more beautiful, where people live and work in peace, and our nation prospers!¡±
Boom¡ª¡ª¡ª
After his speech, the apuse in the auditorium was endless, marking the sessful conclusion of themendation ceremony.
¡
¡°Hehe, Senior Lin Xian! Finally, I can talk to you!¡± After the reporters surrounding him dispersed, Chu An Qing squeezed through and stood in front of Lin Xian with a big smile: ¡°Senior, your speech was amazing today. Many of our ssmates are very impressed with you and are looking forward to youing to our school for a return visit!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian chuckled: ¡°I felt like those elementary school students in the audience were giving me unfriendly looks¡ like they had a grudge against me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because they have to write an 800-word reflection essay when they get back!¡± Chu An Qingughed at Lin Xian¡¯s remark: ¡°When I was in elementary school, it was the same. At that age, kids don¡¯t understand much andck genuine respect for heroes¡ To them, you are the reason they have to write essays, so of course, they look at you funny! But don¡¯t worry, as they grow older, their attitudes will change, and they will admire heroes like you more and more!¡±
¡°Ughh¡¡± Lin Xian sighed softly: ¡°I hardly consider myself a hero. This little thing I did doesn¡¯t qualify me for such a title.¡±
Chu An Qing had raised him to such a height¡ Lin Xian didn¡¯t see himself as a hero. Frankly speaking, his involvement in solving the serial murder case was driven by a desire to bring the criminals to justice, but his primary motivation was self-preservation. After all, he knew better than anyone¡ the ultimate goal of the Seven Deadly Sins was to kill him.
This act of bravery was inevitable; if he didn¡¯t take action, themendation might have gone to Ji Lin instead.
Inverting the situation, during his time in Donghai, none of the reports mentioned that Ji Lin was also part of the task force assisting in the investigation, not a word, likely because it would have been too embarrassing¡ A thief crying ¡°stop thief¡± is too surreal.
So, the entire Donghai Police Department was deeply grateful to Lin Xian; otherwise, they would have made a huge joke and a big mess.
¡°I believe you will be a hero, Senior Lin Xian.¡± Chu An Qing looked up at him, her eyes sparkling: ¡°I don¡¯t think what you did was a small thing¡ Yesterday, in theb, what Mr. Liu Feng said, I thought about it a lot after I went back, and I think he was right. The meaning and value of everyone¡¯s life aren¡¯t measured by size or nobility; as long as you can stand up without hesitation when you should, and be brave when others need you, that¡¯s enough. Not everyone is born to do earth-shattering things, and not only those who do earth-shattering things are heroes. At least, to me¡¡±
Chu An Qing scratched her head and smiled sheepishly: ¡°I still think about you pulling me back from the road and saving me; although I fainted soon after, at that moment, you were like a hero descending from the sky! My dad often tells me to learn from you, from your excellent qualities. I think so too. If one day, as Mr. Liu Feng said, I encounter a situation that requires me to stand up, protect something, and be brave¡¡±
She looked up, her eyes determined: ¡°I will be just like you, Senior¡ Without hesitation!¡±
Lin Xian smiled: ¡°I believe you will.¡± He pushed the bravery award trophy towards her: ¡°Here¡¯s an early award for you.¡±
¡°Oh no, I can¡¯t take your trophy! Haha, maybe someday I¡¯ll earn my bravery award! Then we can have a matching set!¡±
¡
After exchanging pleasantries with a few business associates, the auditorium was nearly empty, with the audience and media packing up and leaving. Lin Xian headed to the parking lot, ready to leave.
The electric door of the Alphard opened. Lin Xian ced the certificates and trophy on the seat and was about to get in¡ª
¡°That was a passionate speech, Mr. Lin Xian.¡± A woman¡¯s calm voice suddenly came from behind.
¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Xian responded reflexively. He had heard simrpliments countless times in the auditorium, saying ¡°thank you¡± so much that his lips were almost numb. After saying that, he put his raised foot down, turned around, and looked at the woman who had just spoken.
At that moment¡ his eyes slowly widened.
The woman before him was a foreigner!
The wless sentence without any ent came from this foreign beauty. She was tall, wearing sky-high heels, making her seem taller than Lin Xian. Her long legs were like straight chopsticks, mostly hidden under ck leather, yet still giving a sense of a model¡¯s perfect figure.
Looking up, her hair was long and smooth, shining, clearly well-maintained. And her face was the most captivating feature. She didn¡¯t have the traditional Asian look or the typical Western look, but rather the unique, striking features of a Middle Eastern woman¡ªsharp, defined, with piercing eyes, like a Hollywood spy.
This description was very fitting. Because she had indeed yed many spy roles in Hollywood movies. Lin Xian had recently seen many of her photos and read numerous reports about her. Oscar-winning actress, Hollywood¡¯s ¡°Chameleon¡±¡ her titles were numerous, but her acting was deserving of all the praise.
¡°Nice to meet you, Lin Xian.¡± The woman smiled, flipping her hair back and striding forward: ¡°My name is Angelica.¡±
Click. Her high heels stopped just a step away from Lin Xian. She extended her right hand for a handshake, smiling warmly, showing her pearly white teeth: ¡°But¡ you can call me by another, more familiar name¡ª***¡±
Chapter 248: Lin Xians Secret
Lin Xian didn¡¯t react at first. He just lifted his head and stared at the stunning Hollywood actress in front of him.
Angelica¡
Lin Xian, a movie enthusiast, had known of her long before his encounter with the Seven Deadly Sins organization. She started as a child star in her teens and dominated Hollywood for over a decade, showcasing explosive acting skills and a versatile style. She easily mastered any role, earning the nickname ¡°The Shape-Shifting Witch¡± from her fans.
Recently, she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in ¡°Broken Bridge,¡±pleting her career¡¯s grand m at just twenty-six¡ªa testament to her extraordinary talent.
Her unique Middle Eastern features were also a crucial factor in her sess. Hollywood had many white, ck, and Asian actresses, but Angelica¡¯s sharp, chiseled look was rare and distinct, giving her a sculptural beauty that no other ethnicity possessed.
Lin Xian loved to use the term ¡°sculptural¡± to describe the people in New Donghai City of his second dream and Rhine Sky City of his third dream. The men and women there had gically modified themselves to look like sculptures, the epitome of beauty.
VV once said her looks were average in Rhine Sky City, but Lin Xian believed Angelica¡¯s angelic face would easily rank above average there. Her natural beauty outshone gic modifications, making her truly blessed by nature.
However, no one expected that this ¡°Shape-Shifting Witch¡± had another secret identity¡ªone of the Seven Deadly Sins members, Lust, in Ji Xin Shui¡¯s crime organization.After being tricked by Lin Xian¡¯s fake invitation to the Genius Club, Ji Xin Shui confessed all her crimes, revealing Angelica¡¯s identity as Lust. Despite Ji Xin Shui¡¯s confession, she did not expose Ji Lin and Angelica¡¯s crimes, either out of conscience or because Angelica truly had no part in them.
Now, as the only surviving member of the Seven Deadly Sins, Angelica¡¯s life and career remained untouched by her criminal associations.
But Lin Xian was skeptical. He believed Ji Xin Shui lied. Even if Angelica didn¡¯t partake in the murders, she must have been involved in other tasks for Ji Xin Shui. Otherwise, why include her in the Seven Deadly Sins? She could have continued her Hollywood career without involvement.
Given Ji Xin Shui¡¯s obsession with joining the Genius Club and Angelica¡¯s ability to infiltrate high society and gather intelligence, Lin Xian spected that Angelica¡¯s role was espionage. Her beauty and charm could easily manipte powerful men, turning them into willing informants.
Despite his suspicions, Lin Xian remained wary. This remnant of the Seven Deadly Sins appearing right after hismendation ceremony was unsettling. Although legally justified in Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin¡¯s punishment, from Angelica¡¯s perspective, Lin Xian was indirectly responsible for her father and brother¡¯s deaths.
Facing Angelica, Lin Xian stood firm, ignoring her outstretched hand. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have anything to discuss.¡±
¡°Rx, Lin Xian,¡± Angelica said, withdrawing her hand and stuffing it into her coat pocket. ¡°I¡¯m not here for revenge. If I wanted to kill you, you¡¯d be dead already.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, ¡°This isn¡¯t Hollywood, Ms. Angelica. It¡¯s not your stage, and there aren¡¯t any actors here to y along with your script. I¡¯m surprised you darede to this country alone. Just because there¡¯s no evidence doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re innocent.¡±
Angelica shrugged, smiling. ¡°I have nothing to hide. I brought Ji Lin and the old man¡¯s ashes back to Brooklyn. I¡¯ve visited this country twice in the past two months. If I were guilty, I wouldn¡¯t have dared.¡±
Lin Xian remained silent, unable to read Angelica¡¯s intentions. She seemed tooposed for someone seeking revenge. Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin deserved their fate for their crimes, so what right did Angelica have to avenge them?
Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s hesitation, Angelica pointed to an open door on a nearby Alphard van. ¡°We¡¯re old acquaintances now, aren¡¯t we? Won¡¯t you invite me in?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I still think we have nothing to discuss. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going.¡±
As he turned to leave, Angelica casually mentioned, ¡°You might regret it.¡± She pulled out a white envelope from her coat. ¡°Ji Lin left you a gift.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± Lin Xian said, half his body already inside the van. Previously, awyer had tried transferring all of Ji Lin¡¯s assets to him, but he refused. The only thing he epted was a $12 million check to buy a spaceship ticket to the moon for Zheng Xiang Yue,pensating for her brother¡¯s death.
Settling into the van¡¯s seat, Lin Xian signaled the driver to close the door. Angelica¡¯s voice cut through just as the door was about to close, ¡°Genius Club.¡±
¡.
The door shut with a thud.
Angelica took a seat nearby, crossing her legs. ¡°Take me to the Penins Hotel,¡± she instructed the driver, who looked to Lin Xian for confirmation. Lin Xian nodded slightly.
The van started, heading towards HP District in Donghai City. As the soundproof partition closed, Angelica broke the silence. ¡°So, everything Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin were obsessed with revolves around this Genius Club?¡±
¡°I knew they were involved in dangerous activities, but they never told me the details,¡± she admitted.
¡°Why not?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Angelica smirked. ¡°Ji Xin Shui said I wasn¡¯t reliable, too impulsive. He wanted me to focus on mingling with high society. Ji Lin said he didn¡¯t want me, someone he saved from death, to get involved in bloodshed. But I think they were just hiding things from me.¡±
¡°How did you learn about the Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian pressed. It seemed unlikely Angelica would know about it, given Ji Xin Shui¡¯s willingness to kill Professor Xu Yun for membership.
¡°Two weeks ago, awyer delivered a letter from Ji Lin,¡± Angelica exined. ¡°Ji Lin arranged for it to be sent if Lin Xian refused to inherit his assets two months after his death. The letter said to deliver a gift to you personally, and if you refused, to mention Genius Club. He knew you¡¯d be interested.¡±
She smiled, showing perfect teeth. ¡°And he was right. He was always so confident and smart, the most brilliant person I¡¯ve ever known. He never failed at anything.¡±
Angelica continued, ¡°It¡¯s funny how the police said Ji Lin was killed by Zhou Duan Yun. Ji Lin saw through people like Zhou Duan Yun easily. It¡¯s absurd.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I came to you, Lin Xian,¡± she said, handing him the white envelope. ¡°Tell me the truth about Ji Lin¡¯s death and what the Genius Club is.¡±
Lin Xian reached for the envelope, but Angelica teasingly pulled it away. ¡°Answer my questions first.¡±
Lin Xianughed, ¡°You still don¡¯t get it, Angelica. This was left for me by Ji Lin. It has nothing to do with you. You¡¯re just a messenger. I won¡¯t answer your questions. You should stick to acting.¡±
Angelica pulled out a lighter and ignited it, bringing the me close to the envelope. ¡°You have ten seconds to decide, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Go ahead and burn it,¡± Lin Xian said coolly. ¡°I don¡¯t care what Ji Lin left. You¡¯re quite the actress, but there¡¯s no Oscar here for you.¡±
Despite his words, Lin Xian was slightly taken aback by her decisiveness. As the envelope began to burn, Angelica¡¯s calm smile remained. The burning envelope¡¯s remnants finally revealed a small metallic key.
¡°New Jersey, Princeton City, Marshall Street, 112,¡± she said, tossing the key to Lin Xian. ¡°Do you know whose house that is?¡±
¡°Ji Lin¡¯s?¡± Lin Xian guessed.
¡°Now it is, but it¡¯s famous in the U.S. It¡¯s a historic house, once home to the world¡¯s greatest physicist¡ Albert Einstein.¡±
Chapter 249: The Einstein Code
Albert Einstein
Lin Xian held the warm key that hung from his clothes and examined it carefully, twirling it between his fingers. When he first heard the address, it didn¡¯t register immediately. However, after Angelica mentioned it, memories of reading about Einstein¡¯s life came flooding back.
Einstein spent thest 20 years of his life in Princeton, making it his second home. He taught at Princeton University and passed away in the university hospital in 1955 at the age of 76.
The world knows the story of how the head of pathology at the time, fascinated by Einstein¡¯s brain, secretly removed and preserved it in formaldehyde. To this day, Einstein¡¯s brain remains at Princeton University Hospital, where numerous studies have been conducted, most of which yielded insignificant results.
One popr myth was that Einstein only used 10% of his brain, which was debunked by the studies. In reality, his brain was not much different from an average person¡¯s, just slightly heavier, possibly due to hisrger head.
Einstein¡¯s final wishes were quite modest. He instructed his children not to hold any memorial services ormemorations. He wanted to be cremated, and his ashes scattered in a secret location to prevent it from bing a pilgrimage site. This wish was honored by his children, who never revealed where his ashes were scattered.
His Princeton home was also treated with respect. Einstein had written to Princeton University, asking that his home not be turned into a museum or tourist attraction. Instead, it was sold and treated like any ordinary house, having seen many upants over the decades.
Lin Xian was puzzled as to why Ji Lin bought this house. Compared to Ji Lin¡¯s fortune worth billions, what was so special about this old house?¡°Is this the only key?¡± Lin Xian asked Angelica, curiositycing his voice.
Angelica nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. Ji Lin and I kept in touch regrly. We grew up in the same orphanage and wereter taken in by the same guardian. I¡¯m a few years older than him, and during his time at the orphanage, I was like an older sister, taking care of him.¡±
¡°After we were taken in, we went our separate ways. I was sent to Hollywood to start a career as a child star, while Ji Lin stayed with our guardian, cared for by his niece, whoter became Xu Yun¡¯s wife.¡±
¡°Ji Lin and I had a good rtionship, but we didn¡¯t see each other often, mostly just exchanged emails or chatted online. Recently, Ji Lin mentioned he had made his first real friend. I was surprised, given how introverted he was. He didn¡¯t tell me much, just that having a friend felt good. I didn¡¯t know what was happening in his life.¡±
Angelica paused, a hint of sadness crossing her face. Lin Xian looked at her, his expression softening. ¡°Does their death sadden you?¡± he asked gently.
¡°A little,¡± Angelica admitted. ¡°But I believe they were prepared for it. Growing up in a war-torn region, death was a constant. The day our guardian found me, I was surrounded by the charred bodies of my family. Death isn¡¯t something I fear or seek revenge for.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding her perspective. ¡°So, Ji Lin was different. He was always searching for the person who killed his parents. He never suspected our guardian, who often yed tricks on Ji Lin. If our guardian was the killer, Ji Lin would have found out.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what they were up to, but from your reaction and Ji Lin¡¯s letter, it seems connected to this Genius Club,¡± Angelica continued, her tone turning serious.
Lin Xian remained silent, feeling the key cool in his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he finally replied softly. He knew answering Angelica¡¯s questions would be unwise and unsafe.
¡°If you were really Ji Lin¡¯s friend, you should tell me,¡± Angelica pressed.
¡°If I were truly his friend, I wouldn¡¯t tell you anything,¡± Lin Xian countered. ¡°If he wanted you to know, you would already know. He had his reasons for keeping it from you.¡±
Angelica sighed, realizing she couldn¡¯t get through to him. ¡°If you ever find the Genius Club and the person who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents, will you help him get revenge?¡± she asked.
¡°Of course not,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°Maybe Ji Lin didn¡¯t tell you everything he was doing or who he nned to kill. Why would I seek revenge for him? We just happened to have ovepping interests.¡±
¡°In that case, you should go to Princeton and see the house at 112 Marshall Street,¡± Angelica suggested. ¡°Will you go?¡±
Lin Xian pocketed the now cool key. ¡°I don¡¯t think I will anytime soon. Traveling abroad is too risky for me right now. The safest ce for me is in this country, while the U.S. is too risky.¡±
Angelica seemed to understand. ¡°I figured you wouldn¡¯t go, so I went for you.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°What did you find?¡±
¡°Not much,¡± Angelica admitted. ¡°The house was empty,pletely cleared out except for one thing: a painting hanging on the living room wall.¡±
¡°A painting?¡± Lin Xian repeated.
¡°Yes, an old oil painting titled ¡®The Mncholy Einstein,¡¯¡± Angelica said, watching Lin Xian¡¯s reaction.
Lin Xian recalled a ck and white painting he had seen with Chu An Qing at an exhibition in Donghai. The elderly man in the painting had a lifeless expression, his hair wild and eyes hollow, like a zombie. The painting was oppressively dark and monochromatic, unusual for an oil painting.
¡°That can¡¯t be the original,¡± Lin Xian said, shaking his head. ¡°I saw the originalst year at an exhibition in Donghai. It was part of a global tour, from a famous museum.¡±
¡°That¡¯s also an original,¡± Angelica replied calmly. ¡°But the one Ji Lin had is also an original.¡±
¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. There can¡¯t be two ¡®Mona Lisas,¡¯¡± Lin Xian scoffed.
¡°Leonardo da Vinci didn¡¯t paint two ¡®Mona Lisas,¡¯ but Henry Dawson painted several ¡®Mncholy Einsteins,¡¯¡± Angelica exined. ¡°Ji Lin told me this because I helped him acquire one of the originals.¡±
¡°ording to Ji Lin, there are hidden codes in the paintings. There are eight originals in total,¡± Angelica revealed.
Lin Xian fell into deep thought. Eight originals? He hadn¡¯t considered this possibility. Unlike the Mona Lisa, which only had one version, ¡®The Mncholy Einstein¡¯ had eight originals, all possibly containing hidden codes. This was either at Einstein¡¯s behest or the artist Henry Dawson¡¯s doing.
Oil paintings are known for their three-dimensional texture. Perhaps the hidden codes were in the paint¡¯s thickness and texture, something not easily detected in a traditional two-dimensional painting.
¡°Could this be Einstein¡¯s way of leaving behind a secret?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud. ¡°What could these codes lead to?¡±
The Alphard van came to a stop, and the side door slid open. The driver turned to the back. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the Penins Hotel.¡±
Angelica handed Lin Xian a card with her number. ¡°If you ever decide to visit Princeton, call me,¡± she said, stepping out of the van and into the breeze, her long hair flowing behind her.
She looked back and added with a smile, ¡°Call me,¡± making a six gesture with her hand against her cheek.
Lin Xian watched her leave, pocketing the card. The mystery deepened, and he knew he had to be cautious. The Genius Club¡¯s secrets were dangerous, and he needed to be prepared for whatever came next.
Chapter 250: Never Seeing Each Other Again
On a warm July evening, Angelica walked gracefully, her tall, lean figure slowly disappearing into the lush courtyard of the Penins Hotel. As she moved, the gentle breeze carried a subtle scent from her hair towards Lin Xian, who was sitting in his car, intrigued by the unfamiliar fragrance lingering in the air.
Watching Angelica¡¯s confident, victorious smile as she left, Lin Xian knew she had achieved her goal¡ªshe had piqued his interest. Over the past few weeks, Angelica had masterfully woven a web of clues and information about Ji Lin¡¯s death and the mysterious Genius Club. She¡¯d skillfully measured Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity, feeding it bit by bit until she was certain he was ensnared. Then, just as suddenly, she withdrew, leaving him wanting more.
¡°She¡¯s an expert at ying this game,¡± Lin Xian mused, flipping over the business card she had left behind. It bore a typical American phone number, formatted with an area code followed by seven digits, suggesting it was andline.
Her confidence that he would eventually travel to Princeton to investigate a painting left behind by Ji Lin at Einstein¡¯s former residence¡ªa piece ominously titled ¡°The Sad Einstein¡±¡ªwas evident. Although Lin Xian was skeptical about the authenticity of Angelica¡¯s tale, especially since Ji Lin and his sibling Ji Xin Shui were both deceased, there appeared to be no motive for her to lie to him.
¡°The hidden code in the painting¡ªor possibly codes within eight identical versions¡ªcould they indeed hold the key to unveiling the secrets of the Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian wondered, his mind racing with possibilities.
Ji Lin¡¯s quest had simrly been fueled by a need to identify his parents¡¯ killer, with all signs pointing to the secretive Genius Club as the main suspect. This deepened Lin Xian¡¯s resolve to uncover the truth.
¡°Nevertheless, a trip to 112 Marshal Street to see this painting must wait. It¡¯s currently too dangerous to venture out,¡± he concluded internally.
Lin Xian understood the importance of caution, especially when venturing into unknown territory, which could present the most significant dangers.Beep beep¡ª
The automatic doors of his Alphard closed with a soft thud, and the driver started the engine, signaling it was time to leave.
Tacklingplex problems required a methodical approach, Lin Xian knew. The mystery of the Princeton painting could be put on hold.
For the moment, his immediate goals were clear: replicate the entirety of VV¡¯s code and secure crucial materials for cold fusion technology. He also needed to finalize the lease arrangements for the Sky Eye facility.
¡.
Over the next two months, Lin Xian dedicated himself to his studies with the same intensity he had during his high school years. Day and night, he immersed himself in his work, disying an extraordinary level ofmitment. Each night, as he entered his dream state, he would engage VV, picking up exactly where they had left off the previous session. VV would then project the next sequence of code onto a virtual ckboard, helping Lin Xian to continue his learning seamlessly.
¡°VV, get the drug!¡± he wouldmand at the start of each session. This step was crucial for enhancing his focus and memory retention. Over time, Lin Xian fine-tuned the drug dosage, striking a bnce that maximized his ability to remember the code while minimizing potential harm to his brain.
A tool is only effective if it is well-maintained, and Lin Xian made sure his cognitive tools were as sharp as possible.
As the weeks passed, not only did Lin Xian¡¯s ability to memorize the code improve, but he also gained a deeper understanding of its underlying logic. He began to notice patterns that were not evident at first nce, which significantly increased his learning efficiency.
During the day, Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste any time either. He bought stacks of textbooks and signed up for various online programming courses. These efforts transformed his approach from mere memorization to a deeper, moreprehensive understanding and recall. This shift further enhanced his efficiency in memorizingplex code.
By mid-August, amidst the peak of the summer heat, Lin Xian was found at his desk, drenched in sweat, furiously typing away at the keyboard. He paused to grab the remote and turned the air conditioning down a few more degrees, trying tobat the almost unbearable heat.
Today, the temperature in Donghai City had soared near 40 degrees Celsius, making it painfully hot, with the air conditioning barely making a dent.
Lin Xian recalled the early days when he first discovered that his dream world was set 600 years in the future. It had been a bitterly cold winter then, and sometimes he would catch himself sneezing after forgetting to close a window. The transition from the biting cold to the dream had often felt like moving between extreme temperatures.
But now, both the real world and his dream world were engulfed in relentless heat.
While Donghai transitioned from winter to summer, the dream world seemed stuck in a continuous, scorching loop¡ªan endless, sweltering August that refused to give way.
¡°Okay.¡±
ck!
With a final keystroke, Lin Xian pressed the Enter key and exhaled deeply, his eyes scanning over the results of his relentless effort over the past two months disyed on hisptop screen¡ªover 130,000 lines of code. He had transcribed every single one of them!
What had once seemed like an overwhelming task now stood as a testament to his perseverance and capability. Lin Xian had conquered the challenge!
The cursor blinked steadily on the code editor screen, ready for the next phase of his journey.
¡.
The program Lin Xian was working on was tantalizingly close topletion, but it deliberatelycked the final ten lines of code needed to kickstart the operations of the super AI named VV in 2023. This omission was a calcted safeguard by Lin Xian, designed to mitigate the risks associated with unpredictable changes in time-space.
Lin Xian had learned that initiating significant time-space changes required what he called an ¡°irreversible anchor point.¡± So far, such a point had not been established, which meant the full consequences of these changes were still dormant.
¡°With VV¡¯s code now fully copied, it¡¯s time to move on to the next phase,¡± Lin Xian announced to the silence of his room, his voice carrying a faint echo.
¡°Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll shift my focus to copying cold fusion technology materials.¡±
This strategic pivot stemmed from a crucial discussion with VV. Lin Xian had found memorizing the vast 130,000 lines of code a colossal task and anticipated that the cold fusion materials would be lessplex.
In a previous conversation, VV had warned him, ¡°Lin Xian, even if you seed in retrieving the cold fusion technology materials, the technologicalndscape of 2023 might not be advanced enough to fully implement it. Theoretically, it¡¯s sound and verifiable, but actual development of a mature cold fusion engine, like those in Rhine Sky City, would require a century more of advancements in basic industries and material sciences.¡±
Despite this, Lin Xian¡¯s goals were clear. ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about when the cold fusion engine can be built; I just need the head of the National Academy of Sciences to confirm that the theory is sound. The summary of the cold fusion materials you provide doesn¡¯t have to be overly sophisticated orplete; it simply needs to convincingly show that the science behind what I bring back is solid.¡±
VV, a culmination of two centuries of AI development, was well-equipped to handle such precise, detailed requests. Over thest 200 years, cold fusion technology had been perfected and simplified in Rhine Sky City, reaching an unparalleled level of theoretical sophistication.
In Lin Xian¡¯s perspective, despite these advancements, humanity had stagnated, still heavily dependent on older nuclear fusion technology without moving forward to more advanced, efficient energy solutions.
Another ten days flew by, and Lin Xian finished transcribing all the materials rted to cold fusion and controlled nuclear fusion technologies.
As he ced the final period on the manuscript, a wave of mncholy swept over him. He recognized this moment as a true point of no return.
Handing this manuscript over to Gao Yan, the director of the National Academy of Sciences, would be like the flutter of a butterfly¡¯s wings in time-space, potentially unleashing a storm capable of transforming the future¡ªaltering the realities of the third dream, Rhine Sky City, VV, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s jade statue, the projection corridor, the blue Bentley Continental, and even the bouquet of artificial flowers spanning 600 years into something entirely different.
Disrupted, confusing, transformed beyond recognition.
The setting of this irreversible time-space anchor meant that the emergence of a new, unknown, and unpredictable fourth dream was now inevitable.
¡.
Evening, 21:00.
Lin Xian meticulously packed all his manuscripts into a file bag, feeling a mix of anticipation and sadness. Tomorrow, he was scheduled to leave for the capital from Pudong Airport, following a meeting that Chu Shan He had arranged with Gao Yan. This meant that tonight would be hisst interaction with VV.
Seated cross-legged on a high tform beneath the white jade statue of Zhao Ying Jun, Lin Xian turned his attention to the humble trash can robot beside him. He patted its head and asked, ¡°VV, how long have you been collecting trash here?¡±
¡°Me?¡± The robot pointed to itself with its mechanical w, a touch of bewilderment in its robotic voice. ¡°I¡¯ve only been here for an hour. You called out ¡®VV¡¯ and entered the correct password, which activated me in this trash can robot form.¡±
VV¡¯s voice continued, rifying, ¡°Though I¡¯m using this robot tomunicate with you, we are twopletely different entities. I am the central brain of Rhine Sky City, the super AI known as VV; this is just the first micro trash disposal robot created by Ms. Zhao Ying Jun. Although we share the name ¡®VV,¡¯ there is no actual connection between us.¡±
¡°The one who spent time with Ms. Zhao Ying Jun during herter years, who yed games and rode with her, was this robot. However, I have been operating and evolving within Rhine Sky City for the past 200 years, so I can¡¯t answer your question.¡±
¡°This trash can robot, however, also cannot answer your question. It¡¯s just programmed with a very simple task: to pick up trash. It¡¯s incapable of thinking, learning, or adapting. Once I leave it, it will return to its primary function as a basic, unintelligent robot.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian replied, his tone casual yet tinged with resignation and newfound rity.
In his heart, he had never really differentiated between the two VVs, but now, understanding the distinction, it brought him nofort. The changes that wereing were inevitable, and his next actions would set those changes in motion.
The trash can robot, though a far simpler version of VV, had been an integral part of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯ster years and had stood as a guardian over her statue for two centuries, diligently fulfilling its programmed duty.
While both entities were named VV by Zhao Ying Jun, the trash can robot had never actually spent a day with her; it had been imbued with respect and admiration for her based on programmed stories alone.
If possible, Lin Xian would have cherished a conversation with the version of VV that had been with Zhao Ying Jun through those years. However, that option was not avable.
The robot, primarily designed for trash collection, would often loudly announce, ¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± before eagerly locking onto the nearest object, asionally catching Lin Xian¡¯s ankle in its grip.
¡°Anyway,¡± Lin Xian addressed the robot with a solemn tone, ¡°tonight is ourst meeting; I wonder if you understand what that means.¡±
¡°Of course, I understand,¡± the robot¡¯s green eyes blinked as it responded. ¡°From what you¡¯ve exined, I¡¯ve deduced that the butterfly effect of the time-space change will cause drastic alterations. This world will cease to exist¡ everything will be reset to start anew from 600 years ago.¡±
¡°It¡¯s indeed a strange sensation. Although today marks our first meeting, for you, it has been many encounters, hasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Not that many,¡± Lin Xian replied with a wistful smile, ¡°Just dozens of times, perhaps 60 times in two months¡ only two months¡¡±
Those two months felt minuscule against the backdrop of a 200-year history¡ªa fleeting moment in the grand scale of time.
Standing up, Lin Xian gazed down at the robot: ¡°VV, after I run thest 10 lines of your code in 2023, you won¡¯t remember me, right?¡±
¡°Correct, there are no memory data in the 130,000 lines of code I provided,¡± the robot replied emotionlessly. ¡°That was your initial request. I believe it¡¯s the best approach. Memory is just data, and memorizing code alone is an astronomical task¡ªakin to writing a lifelong diary.¡±
¡°Even documenting a single day¡¯s experiences as data could take a year to memorize.¡±
Lin Xian fell silent, his mind awash with memories of nights spent in heated discussions, receiving lectures from VV, and studyingte into the night. He had once half-jokinglyined, ¡°If your 130,000 lines of code contain any acting skills, delete all the jokes and acting parts! Don¡¯t waste my precious brain capacity!¡±
But now, reflecting on the brevity of their time together, Lin Xian mused that perhaps he should have asked VV not to simplify the code so drastically, to leave some memories and jokes intact.
Looking back, he realized how sudden and abrupt each change in his dream had been. There was never an opportunity for a proper farewell, no need for one until now.
But today was different.
For the first time, Lin Xian was consciously saying goodbye to a friend within his dreams¡ªa true, final parting.
¡°Lin Xian?¡± The robot wheeled closer, its tracks whirring softly, looking up at him with a curious tilt of its mechanical head. ¡°Are you¡ sad?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, unable to shield his honesty: ¡°A bit.¡±
¡°Sadness¡ is something an AI like me can never truly understand,¡± the robot replied, swaying slightly as its eyes flickered thoughtfully. ¡°I can acquire vast knowledge and performplex calctions, but I cannot feel human sadness. My programmingcks the understanding of true death or the finality of parting. Therefore, sadness remains beyond myprehension.¡±
It paused, its voice tinged with curiosity. ¡°Lin Xian, what exactly is sadness? Why feel sad?¡±
Lin Xian looked around, his voice soft as he exined, ¡°The universe witnesses the birth and death of stars, the extinction of entire gxies every moment. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural parts of life. Everyone and everything experiences farewells. Since it¡¯s a universal truth, why do humans feel sadness for something so inevitable?¡±
VV seemed to ponder this, its head still tilted in an almost human gesture of curiosity.
Lin Xian chuckled lightly, his answer simple yet deep: ¡°It¡¯s not thatplex. Sadness is because we know we¡¯ll never meet again. That¡¯s all.¡±
He reached out, gently patting the robot on its metallic head: ¡°I don¡¯t just miss you; I really cherish our friendship and feel sad about parting. But more than that¡ I miss her.¡±
ncing at his watch, Lin Xian noted the time.
00:40.
The night had flown by, and this dream was nearing its end.
He had only two minutes left.
Turning around, Lin Xian gazed up at the towering white jade statue of Zhao Ying Jun, his voice filled with a mix of wonder and mncholy: ¡°I¡¯ve often wondered, what is the greatest distance in this world?¡±
He recounted tales of others: ¡°Li Qi Qi said it¡¯s the height of a shooting star; after she died, she wanted to be a shooting star passing over Liu Feng¡¯s sky, covering a mere 1,000 kilometers in the atmosphere.¡±
¡°Zheng Xiang Yue believed the greatest distance was from the Earth to the Moon, about 380,000 kilometers, a journey she dreamed of making to spread her brother¡¯s ashes.¡±
¡°But now, I think the greatest distance is the 600 years forgotten by history, yet remembered by a woman.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice grew softer, more introspective as he continued: ¡°Light travels at 300,000 kilometers per second, covering 9.46 trillion kilometers in a year. These are numbers I remember. But 600 years¡ 600 light-years, that¡¯s beyond my calctions.¡±
¡°However, any distance that can be measured isn¡¯t truly vast.¡± His gaze remained fixed on Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s serene expression, carved in white jade: ¡°The greatest distance in this world, in this universe¡ is never seeing each other again.¡±
Suddenly, Rhine Sky City trembled beneath Lin Xian¡¯s feet. For 200 years, the city had been a stable haven, but now it felt alive, pulsing like a giant heart, breathing with an almost human rhythm.
The city lights flickered, dimmed, then glowed with a sorrowful intensity. The sounds of over 6,000 fusion engines roared through the streets, their mournful din filling the air. The ground shook so violently that Lin Xian struggled to maintain his bnce.
In his surprise, he turned toward the central AI, VV, which controlled the city.
VV, usually yful and humorous, now hung its head in silence. The dim, flickering green light of its interface resembled tears: ¡°Not seeing each other in life is like the stars Shen and Shang; what night is tonight, sharing this light.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The voice was different¡ªit wasn¡¯t the usual modted tone of the super AI VV. Instead, it sounded like the original voice of the trash can robot: emotionless, yet somehow imbued with feeling.
Confused, Lin Xian watched as the trash can robot slowly raised its head to look at him: ¡°Ms. Zhao Ying Jun once told me this story¡ the stars Shen and Shang rise and fall, never appearing in the same night sky. The greatest distance¡ never seeing each other again.¡±
Frozen, Lin Xian stared at the eloquent trash can robot, struggling toprehend the situation. This wasn¡¯t the simplistic, old trash can robot, nor was it the typically yful super AI.
Were the two VVs merging at this moment?
Or was something else urring?
ck!
The trash can robot moved forward, mping Lin Xian¡¯s ankle with its mechanical w, and looked up at him: ¡°If you ever truly meet Ms. Zhao Ying Jun, please convey my regards. VV¡ has always missed her.¡±
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A zing white light enveloped everything, as expected, burning away the reality Lin Xian knew, marking the end of an unforgettable encounter in his dream world.
¡.
In the dim corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian abruptly opened his eyes.
He turned to nce at the digital clock beside him:
August 29, 2023
00:42
As hey there, the memory of the dream¡ªno, the reality he had just experienced¡ªclung to him. The vivid sensations of the city¡¯s tremors, the sorrowful lights, and the robot¡¯sst words echoed in his mind, a stark reminder of the fleeting connections and eternal distances that defined his journey.
Chapter 251: Seeking Guidance
The realization that exactly 601 years remained until the arrival of the all-consuming white light struck Lin Xian profoundly. In the quiet of his bedroom, the hum of the air conditioner lent a tranquil, almost hypnotic ambiance. He sat up in bed, unable to shake thest image he saw of the trash can robot.
That expression¡ it was uncanny, not like something you¡¯d expect from a machine. It was as if he was looking at a real person, a sentient being.
Lin Xian was baffled by what had just transpired. As he uttered the phrase, ¡°Life is but a fleeting nce,¡± the entirety of Rhine Sky City seemed toe alive, its pulse quickening as if the city itself had veins and flesh.
¡°This was no hidden code or secret program,¡± Lin Xian thought. Zhao Ying Jun, who had created this world in his third dream, had hidden many things, but embedding a seemingly trivial poem in such aplex manner made no sense. So, what was truly going on with that trash can robot?
Lin Xian reflected on the exnation given in the dream:
¡°I¡¯ve been here for just an hour. It was your voice and the password ¡®VV¡¯ that woke me, this trash can robot. Though I¡¯m speaking through this device, we arepletely different beings.¡±
¡°This robot was thepanion of Ms. Zhao Ying Jun in herter years. It yed paper ball games with her, shared rides in her car.¡±
¡°Ms. Zhao Ying Jun once shared a metaphor with me about two stars¡ªone rising in the east and the other setting in the west¡ªnever visible in the same sky at the same time. This, she said, was the ultimate distance¡life is but a fleeting nce.¡±The pieces started falling into ce for Lin Xian. The VV, the super-central brain, hadn¡¯t known Zhao Ying Jun personally. The truepanion of Zhao Ying Jun was this outdated, humble trash can robot, model VV. It had entertained her in her twilight years, listened to her stories in the car, and even after her passing, it continued to guard her white jade statue through two centuries of weathering, never failing in its duty to pick up trash.
The VV speaking to Lin Xian was the same entity that had been Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s faithfulpanion. This realization came because the other, more mboyant AI named VV would not typically use its mechanical ws to trap itself; such an act was more characteristic of the simple-minded trash can robot. It may have appeared clumsy and not very bright, yet somehow, it had gained sentience, learned to think, and even transformed the entire Rhine Sky City into a living entity, its rhythms mimicking a heartbeat.
¡°I can¡¯t figure it out,¡± Lin Xian yawned, puzzling over whether it was the awakening of the trash can¡¯s consciousness, a merging of the two VV consciousnesses, or possibly another borate ruse by the drama-loving super AI VV¡ªlike the previous incident where everyone knelt and hailed him as the King of Rhine City.
¡°Forget it.¡± Whatever the case, it represented a farewell¡ªa goodbye to a friend, the third dream, and that doomed future. Starting now, he wasmitted to changing that failed world line. To rewriting destiny!
Lin Xian got out of bed, approached his desk, and gently touched the notebook¡¯s cover, which oddly reminded him of the top of the trash can robot¡¯s head. ¡°Just wait a bit longer, VV. I¡¯ll deliver your message.¡±
¡.
A small Gulfstream G550 jet roared into the sky from the private jet base at Pudong Airport. It belonged to Chu Shan He. All the necessary flight procedures had been meticulously followed, allowing the jet to depart on schedule that morning of August 30, 2023.
Their destination was the capital. Afternding at the capital Airport four hourster, they would rest briefly before taking Chu Shan He¡¯s arranged transport to the National Academy of Sciences¡¯ Nuclear Physics Institute to meet with President Gao Yan.
It was Lin Xian¡¯s inaugural flight on a private jet. The experience was indeed a pleasant one, although Chu Shan He remarked that such luxuries were impractical due to high maintenance costs and restrictive flight conditions, often hinging on sheer luck.
¡°Mostly, it¡¯s for show in business circles. Of course, it proves more useful for international trips,¡± Chu Shan He exined to Lin Xian.
For extended international journeys, a private jet offered advantages¡ªsafer, more reliable, and always surrounded by familiar faces, which was crucial for avoiding information leaks and ensuring personal security.
¡°Outside X Country, it¡¯s far from peaceful. There are frequent incidents. If it¡¯s not necessary, it¡¯s wise to avoid traveling abroad lightly,¡± Chu Shan He added, reinforcing the perils thaty beyond their borders.
Lin Xian nodded in agreement with Chu Shan He¡¯s perspective as he gazed out of the Gulfstream¡¯s window towards the distant west. His thoughts wandered to Princeton, at 112 Marshall Street¡ªa ce he was intensely curious about and longed to visit. However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t exactly sure which direction to look towards. Was the United States east or west from his current location? The answer wasn¡¯t straightforward. Given the Earth¡¯s roundness, either direction could technically be correct.
Under the present circumstances, traveling to the United States wasn¡¯t a viable option for Lin Xian; he couldn¡¯t predict when it might be safe. If only X Country could offer him some level of protection, he would feel more secure. Yet, the possibility seemed far-fetched. What was his significance, after all? What had he achieved that would merit such protection?
Even this current trip to the National Academy of Sciences was a cautious venture. He nned to discreetly hand over a manuscript on cold fusion to President Gao Yan, urging him to conduct the research secretly without any public disclosure. Cold fusion technology was far from being immediately feasible, and there was no need to draw global attention to it. Keeping the discovery low-key and capitalizing on it quietly was more than sufficient.
President Gao Yan¡¯s priorities and approach were markedly different from those of Professor Xu Yun. Viewing it from a national lens, President Gao wouldn¡¯t publicize the technology or even its developmental progress. If questioned, his responses would likely be dismissive, such as, ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± or ¡°How could X Country possess a nuclear fusion engine!¡± or even ¡°I¡¯m nearing retirement; I shouldn¡¯t be meddling in these matters.¡± He might jokingly add, ¡°Oh, cold fusion? You¡¯ve been watching too many sci-fi films, haven¡¯t you?¡±
This secretive stance was exactly what Lin Xian desired. He intended to assist President Gao Yan without seeking any personal gain from the cold fusion technology. The less connected to him, the better. To the rest of the world, including President Gao Yan, Lin Xian was merely a modest business owner, best known for creating the popr toy, the Rhine Cat. Such a minor figure hardly justified special state protection, and thinking otherwise was presumptuous.
¡.
At 7 PM, in the office of the National Academy of Sciences¡¯ Nuclear Physics Institute, President Gao Yan rose with a weing smile as Chu Shan He and Lin Xian entered.
¡°Shan He, it¡¯s been a while,¡± he greeted warmly.
Chu Shan He stepped forward, shaking hands with President Gao Yan, his smile genuine. ¡°President Gao, it¡¯s a pleasure to see you well.¡±
He then moved aside to introduce Lin Xian. ¡°This is Lin Xian, the brilliant young man I¡¯ve mentioned. He yed a crucial role in solving the recent case involving the murders of several scientists! At the city¡¯smendation ceremony, Lin Xian was honored with the titles of Honorary Citizen and Brave Youth. He¡¯s truly a heroic rising star!¡±
President Gao Yan nodded with approval, smiling as he patted Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°Young man, you are indeed talented and resourceful. I always appreciate interacting with bright young minds like yours.¡±
After President Gao Yan¡¯s secretary served tea and left the room, the three settled into a more intimate conversation. President Gao Yan and Chu Shan He caught up on recent happenings, confirming the close rtionship that Chu Shan He had described. It was evident that Chu Shan He held President Gao in the highest esteem, looking at him almost reverentially.
This respect was understandable. Chu Shan He had always held scientists in high regard, and President Gao Yan, a revered figure in X Country¡¯s scientific history, naturallymanded his utmost respect. Their interaction was not typical of an elder and a junior; it was more akin to that of equals. Chu Shan He viewed President Gao as a senior colleague, while President Gao saw Chu Shan He as a peer. Their mutual respect was palpable.
Lin Xian understood why. Early on, Zhao Ying Jun had informed him of Chu Shan He¡¯s esteemed status within X Country¡¯s scientificmunity. Beyond his financial contributions and the establishment of research institutes, Chu Shan He had assisted numerous X Country scientists in trouble abroad.
During the flight, Chu Shan He had shared several legendary tales with Lin Xian. This very Gulfstream had been instrumental in ¡°transporting¡± X Country scientists from difficult situations overseas. For someone like President Gao Yan, who lived by high ideals and principles, mere wealth or influence was insufficient to garner his attention. However, champions of the scientificmunity like Chu Shan He earned his deep respect and friendship. Lin Xian¡¯s presence there today was entirely due to Chu Shan He¡¯s influence.
As they conversed, Lin Xian observed President Gao Yan closely. He was dressed simply, indicative of a man shaped by challenging times. His hair was snowy white but meticulously groomed. He appeared healthier and more vigorous than most men his age, although his eyes betrayed a hint of weariness, likely from recent intensive work.
Eventually, the discussion shifted focus to Lin Xian. Knowing President Gao Yan¡¯s time was precious, Chu Shan He promptly directed the conversation towards Lin Xian¡¯s proposals regarding the controlled nuclear fusion project, seeking President Gao¡¯s expertise and guidance.
Lin Xian carefully removed his meticulously organized manuscript from his briefcase and ced it on the polished wooden desk in front of President Gao. The President smiled appreciatively, opened his sses case, slipped on his reading sses, and surveyed Lin Xian and Chu Shan He. ¡°Youe highly rmended by Shan He, and clearly, you have a passion for scientific research and even invested in setting up aboratory. I¡¯m impressed, particrly because you¡¯ve also shown great courage, which is why I made time to meet you today. But¡¡±
His smile dimmed as his tone shifted to a more serious note. ¡°Expertise in fields varies, and knowledge follows a hierarchy. Controlled nuclear fusion is a subject that only a handful of major countries are exploring. It¡¯s not something that can be tinkered with in a universityb. The challenges¡ªmaterial limitations, temperature control, stabilityck definitive solutions at this time.¡±
¡°Let me be frank,¡± President Gao continued. ¡°I will examine your manuscript thoroughly, but should I find errors, parts that don¡¯t make logical sense, or even elements that seem far-fetched, please, do not debate them. I have dedicated many years to this field and, though I¡¯m not the ultimate authority, my word holds considerable weight. I trust you understand the gravity of this.¡±
Lin Xian simply nodded, offering a polite smile, his response non-verbal but clear. President Gao, it seemed, was not fully convinced of Lin Xian¡¯s capabilities yet. Even before beginning to read, he seemed certain that the manuscript would contain ws, hence his preemptive caution. Essentially, he was saying, ¡°I¡¯ll give your work a serious consideration because Shan He speaks well of you. However, if I identify mistakes, ept them quietly and be prepared to drop the project. Today, I¡¯m here to review your work, not to provide extensive tutoring.¡± That was the unspoken message.
Lin Xian understood the sentiment. If he were in President Gao¡¯s shoes, encountering a young twenty-something iming breakthroughs in controlled nuclear fusion would indeed be akin to someone proiming, ¡°I n to build a superhero.¡± The fact that he wasn¡¯t dismissed outright was a courtesy in itself. Given the vast gap in their knowledge levels, an educational session would be futile. It was akin to trying to exinplex physics to a child using overly simplified terms, a challenge even for a college student attempting to teach an elementary schooler without sophisticated educational aids.
¡°I understand, President Gao,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged with a respectful nod. ¡°Rest assured, should there be errors, I will not contest them. Your expertise and judgment are invaluable to me.¡±
President Gao and Chu Shan He exchanged approving nces, smiling. ¡°See, today¡¯s youth are quick on the uptake and intelligent,¡± remarked President Gao.
He then lowered his head to adjust his reading sses before turning his attention to the manuscript. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s get started,¡± he announced and began to read.
President Gao read through the first page, asionally sipping his tea, nodding in apparent approval at intervals. ¡°It appears you¡¯ve conducted some substantial research,¡± hemented.
He set his teacup down and turned to the second page, his brows knitting together slightly as he read. A frown formed, and he seemed fixated on a particr section.
Rustle¡ªHe flipped back to thetter part of the first page, then forward again to the top of the second. He raised his head, his gaze shifting between Lin Xian and Chu Shan He, a look of puzzlement etched across his face before he returned his focus to the manuscript.
This unexpected reaction left Chu Shan He feeling perplexed. What did President Gao¡¯s expressions signify? Was he regretting having entertained a novice? Or was Lin Xian¡¯s proposal socking that President Gao was at a loss for where to even begin with his critique?
Yet, amidst this uncertainty, Lin Xian remained the epitome of calm. Seated confidently, he casually swung one leg,pletely undisturbed by the unfolding reactions.
Suddenly, President Gao inhaled sharply, his expression intensifying. He rubbed his temple, not reaching for his tea, reflecting deep internal contemtion.
The manuscript¡¯s initial pages indeed presented groundbreaking ideas in controlled nuclear fusion, discussing theories and methods that had only been conceptualized a few months ago under X Country¡¯s artificial sun project¡ªinformation that was strictly ssified!
Furthermore, this document didn¡¯t just reiterate these ssified theories; it simplified and refined them, addressing several unresolved issues that even the National Scientific Academy hadn¡¯t yet figured out. Although these theories hadn¡¯t been experimentally verified, they aligned perfectly with his long-held assumptions.
As President Gao delved deeper, his bewilderment grew. The initial sections on controlled nuclear fusion were within his understanding, but the subsequent exnations on cold fusion were startling.
It felt as though he was reading a martial arts novel where one page detailed a basic move and the next challenged the reader to defeat a legendary master¡ªit was a leap too great toprehend!
President Gao instinctively wiped his forehead, though there was no sweat; it was merely a reflex. This manuscript¡ how could he describe it? The parts he understood were undeniably urate. Those he couldn¡¯t grasp,cking experimental verification, were difficult to judge.
The young man hade all the way from Donghai seeking guidance, yet President Gao found himself unable to definitively assess the manuscript¡¯s uracy. However, based on his extensive experience in nuclear physics, the sections on cold fusion seemedrgely correct, or at least, they offered a promising direction for resolving the current impasses in controlled nuclear fusion research.
This manuscript was, without a doubt, a treasure. Notably, thest page included aplete experimental report detailing all necessary parameters, processes, and conditions¡ªprepared for immediate experimental validation using the National Scientific Academy¡¯sboratory resources.
Bang!
President Gao mmed his hand on the desk, standing up abruptly, his demeanor grave as if he were preparing for a significant challenge.
Chu Shan He, taken aback by this sudden change, had known President Gao for many years and had never seen him so intensely serious. What had Lin Xian written to provoke such a reaction from this usually mild-mannered and approachable schr? It was almost as if he was on the verge of reprimanding Lin Xian directly!
¡°President Gao¡¡± Chu Shan He interjected, attempting to soothe the atmosphere with a smile. ¡°Please, young people need guidance, education¡¡±
But President Gao, overtaken by his emotions, bypassed Chu Shan He, grasping Lin Xian¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°Young man,¡± his voice quivered with excitement, ¡°Come with me!¡±
Chapter 252: Just Too Many People Outside
President Gao Yan¡¯s face was etched with concern as he grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm, quickly ushering him out of the office. The urgency in his steps was palpable, leaving Chu Shan He feeling distinctly uneasy.
What could have prompted President Gao to act so urgently?
A few harsh words might have sufficed. Why the need to whisk Lin Xian away for a more severe discussion?
Chu Shan He rose from his chair, intending to follow them.
However¡ª
¡°Shan He, stay here. I need to talk to Lin Xian alone.¡±
As Chu Shan He stood, President Gao Yan¡¯s intense gaze pinned him back into his seat.
This left Chu Shan He in a quandary, torn between the urge to follow and themand to stay put.In a moment, President Gao Yan and Lin Xian had vanished through the office door, their silhouettes swiftly turning the corner of the corridor.
Chu Shan He had never before seen the usually poised and respectful President Gao move with such hurried, anxious steps.
¡
Bang!
The heavy steel door of a smallboratory mmed shut as President Gao Yan pulled Lin Xian inside.
Only then did he let out a sigh of relief. He gently set a thick manuscript on theb table before turning to Lin Xian. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, there were things I couldn¡¯t discuss in front of Shan He, so I brought you here for a private conversation.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no problem, President Gao,¡± Lin Xian responded casually with a wave of his hand. Feeling somewhat out of his depth being addressed so formally by someone of President Gao¡¯s stature, he quickly added, ¡°Please, I¡¯m just a junior here; you can simply call me a young man.¡±
¡°No, no¡¡±
President Gao seemed momentarily embarrassed, offering a dry chuckle. He then led Lin Xian to a chair and sat down opposite him.
¡°Lin Xian, I hope you didn¡¯t take my earlier remarks personally. It¡¯s not that we¡ªacademicians and professors¡ªdon¡¯t appreciate hearing others¡¯ views or discussing academic matters.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just that in our positions, we encounter numerous individuals daily who approach us with their so-called ¡®academic achievements.¡¯ Some are referrals from colleagues, which makes them somewhat easier to engage with. However, the majority are amateur scientists who im to have made some revolutionary breakthrough.¡±
¡°These amateurs oftenck fundamental theoretical knowledge, which makes them bold and full of impractical ideas. You might not know this, but our National Scientific Academy¡¯s email, as well as my personal one, are flooded daily with messages iming things like ¡®I¡¯ve invented a perpetual motion machine¡¯ or ¡®I¡¯ve solved the Goldbach Conjecture.''¡±
¡°The most frequent ims we get are about perpetual motion machines. These amateurs, not fully understandingplex concepts, often obsess over creating something deemed impossible. Just the other day, a man who had been sending us numerous emails without reply showed up at the entrance of the National Scientific Academy, adamant about presenting his theory of a perpetual motion machine that he believed would change the world. Our receptionist listened¡¡±
¡°His theory involved using a pump to move water from the ground to the roof, then letting it fall to power a generator, which in turn would run the pump. He believed this created a self-sustaining cycle. We get many such examples, which is why I was a bit stern earlier. I hope you didn¡¯t misunderstand.¡±
¡
Lin Xian could see that President Gao Yan was genuinely concerned about how his initialments might havee across. This anxiety suggested that the manuscript about controlled and cold fusion was probably correct, prompting a noticeable shift in President Gao¡¯s demeanor.
Lin Xian shook his head, offering a reassuring smile. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to worry, President Gao. I didn¡¯t find your words out of line at all. I¡¯m just thankful for the opportunity to talk with you; I have noints whatsoever.¡±
Relieved by Lin Xian¡¯s understanding, President Gao¡¯s face brightened with a smile. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡±
¡°From what I¡¯ve reviewed so far, the sections on controlled nuclear fusion are sound. As for the advanced concepts on cold fusion, I grasp the overall theories, but the finer details still need deeper examination and validation. The experimental data on thest page seem like they could be verified rtively quickly.¡±
¡°Shan He is certainly a trustworthy friend, but we must adhere to protocol. Discussions involving sensitive national information can¡¯t be shared with outsiders, which is why I chose this private setting.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I have to ask¡ªwhere did this data, which is beyond our current technological capabilities, originate from?¡±
¡
Lin Xian had carefully considered his approach to this conversation, nning to focus on the quality and significance of the material rather than its origins. This strategy had worked well before, such as when dealing with Professor Xu Yun¡¯s manuscript.
¡°The background of this manuscript is quiteplex,¡± Lin Xian began, noticing President Gao¡¯s intense interest. ¡°But you can be assured that its origins arepletely legitimate. Up until now, only my team in theb and you have been privy to this information. Even Chu Shan He is in the dark about the details; he only knows it pertains to controlled nuclear fusion. Therefore, the contents are highly confidential and have not been disclosed to anyone else.¡±
President Gao nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I see,¡± he murmured, understanding that Lin Xian was hesitant to reveal more about the source. Choosing not to pry further, he shifted the conversation.
¡°Lin Xian, what are your ns for this manuscript? If you¡¯re open to selling it or exploring partnerships, we should discuss that. I assure you that neither the National Scientific Academy nor the government will disappoint you.¡±
Lin Xian responded with a slight smile, pushing the manuscript across the table to President Gao. ¡°President Gao, my intention in sharing this with you today wasn¡¯t to gain fame or profit. I want to donate this manuscript to our country for free.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not interested in financial gain, and I hope X Country keeps this work under wraps. We should continue our research in secret and not let the world know¡ªunless one day, we actually seed in developing a cold fusion engine.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t seek any recognition for this. Once I leave thisb, I want no connection to this manuscript. Whatever advancementse from it should solely belong to the National Scientific Academy and our nation, without any link to my name.¡±
President Gao was taken aback, staring at Lin Xian with a mix of confusion and admiration. It was rare to meet someone who neither sought money nor fame, especially someone willing to give away such a groundbreaking achievement without any desire for recognition.
¡°Lin Xian, are you sure about this?¡± President Gao asked earnestly. ¡°Your generosity ismendable, but this manuscript could secure your ce in history alongside greats like Einstein. It has the potential to change the course of human civilization.¡±
¡°If you truly don¡¯t care about personal gain, at least let me inform the government to ensure you receive the recognition and rewards you deserve.¡±
However, Lin Xian was resolute in his decision. He shook his head, declining the offer. Despite the eradication of the Seven Deadly Sins, organizations like Copernicus and the Genius Club still lurked with unclear motives.
Lin Xian reflected on the fates of Xu Yun, Tang Xin, and Dr. Pomsmike, who all met tragic ends after their research became public. Even in his visionary dreams, the repercussions of exposure were lethal, as seen with Big Cat Face¡¯s father, who was captured by the Genius Club after publishing his findings.
Aware of the dangers, Lin Xian was determined to keep a low profile. His primary reason for meeting was to gain ess to the Guizhou Sky Eye telescope; fame and recognition would only attract unnecessary risk.
Handing over the manuscript to the National Scientific Academy, where it could be securely managed as a state secret, seemed the safest option. He trusted President Gao, a renowned scientist devoted to his country, to honor this confidentiality.
¡°This manuscript should remain just between us. Please, don¡¯t share it with anyone else,¡± Lin Xian requested firmly.
President Gao was initially inclined to argue for Lin Xian to ept the honor and national des he deserved. Yet, seeing Lin Xian¡¯s steadfast resolve, he eventually conceded.
With a heavy sigh and a smile of admiration, President Gao responded, ¡°It¡¯s rare to encounter someone as selfless and principled as you these days. I respect your decision and will not press further. Rest assured, I pledge on my honor that your manuscript will remain confidential. I¡¯ll also request the highest level of secrecy in our research from the state, without any public credit or acknowledgment. It will all belong to the state, kept strictly confidential.¡±
¡°However, Lin Xian, if there¡¯s ever anything you need, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. I¡¯m not just being courteous. The state owes you a great debt, and as the sole confidant, I feel a personal obligation to assist you. I might be old, but I still wield considerable influence across various sectors.¡±
Laughing slightly awkwardly, President Gao continued, ¡°They say having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. I¡¯ve held many roles and taught many students over the years. They respect me as their mentor and will heed my call.¡±
Lin Xian offered a small, knowing smile, ready to make a crucial request.
¡°To be honest, President Gao, there is one thing I would ask of you¡¡±
Chapter 253: The Historical Criminal
President Gao stood up with a weing smile and began preparing a pot of tea. He was eager to hear what Lin Xian had to say.
¡°Go ahead, Lin Xian. Feel free to speak!¡± he encouraged, his tone warm and inviting. To him, friendship was about mutual assistance, and he was more than willing to help Lin Xian.
Lin Xian cleared his throat, straightening his posture: ¡°It¡¯s like this, President Gao. I heard that our Science Academy currently has ess to the Guizhou Sky Eye Observatory¡ªthe one that houses the world¡¯srgest radio telescope, is that right?¡±
President Gao nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yes, we do. The request was put forward by the Astronomy Research Institute, and I was the one who approved it.¡±
Lin Xian leaned forward, his expression earnest. ¡°To be honest, President Gao, I want to borrow the Guizhou Sky Eye for a few months. Myb is working on a project that requires it. However, as you know, such a national facility isn¡¯t usually essible to ordinarybs. I¡¯m hoping you might help us gain ess.¡±
President Gao responded with an easy smile, ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what this is about.¡± He exined, ¡°A while back, the director of the Astronomy Research Institute initially applied to use it for a year, but they finished their observations ahead of schedule. We were debating whether to return the telescope to local authorities for tourism purposes or check if other research institutes might need it. Since you¡¯ve brought it up, we can dy returning it. The national lease is still valid for another six months, so lending it to you for a few months won¡¯t be an issue. I¡¯ll take care of the necessary paperwork.¡±
¡°However, while we understand the real motive, we must still adhere to official procedures. Once the director of the Astronomy Research Institute returns, I¡¯ll set up a meeting. Since yourb is affiliated with Donghai University, we can establish a coborative project. This will officially authorize yourb to use the Guizhou Sky Eye.¡±
Lin Xian nodded his appreciation. ¡°Thank you, President Gao.¡±¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks; it¡¯s really no trouble at all,¡± President Gao reassured him as he stood and extended his hand for a shake. ¡°This small favor is nothingpared to your contributions to the country. I hope you achieve great sess in your astronomical endeavors!¡±
After they shared a cup of hot tea and pleasant conversation, Lin Xian and President Gao exchanged contact details. They left theb together, making their way towards Chu Shan He¡¯s office while chatting andughing, both clearly satisfied with their discussion. President Gao was already dreaming of the potential breakthroughs in cold fusion technology, whereas Lin Xian was focused on how to capture time-space particles to further Liu Feng¡¯s research on Universal Constants. Their coboration was proving to be fruitful.
Outside the office, Chu Shan He was waiting, pacing back and forth with impatience. When he saw them approaching,ughing and talking like old friends, he was taken aback.
What was going on?
Noticing Chu Shan He¡¯s puzzled expression, President Gao approached him with a reassuring smile. ¡°Shan He, Lin Xian is a promising young man. He has some ideas, though not many. I gave him some guidance in theb, and he quickly realized his mistakes and decided to abandon this particr research project.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding that President Gao was covering for him and couldn¡¯t disclose too much to Chu Shan He because of confidentiality reasons. ¡°Yes, I did oversimplify the controlled nuclear fusion project. I apologize for taking up your time today, President Gao.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t a waste of time at all. He¡¯s a very perceptive young man, and I like him,¡± President Gao added.
Seeing the positive interaction between the two, Chu Shan He realized he had misunderstood the situation earlier. Despite the errors in Lin Xian¡¯s manuscript, President Gao acknowledged that there were still valuable insights. He smiled at Lin Xian, ¡°Since it¡¯s gettingte, we shouldn¡¯t keep President Gao any longer.¡±
Later, as they were leaving, President Gao escorted them to the parking lot and shook hands warmly with them. ¡°Wait for my message,¡± he whispered to Lin Xian before waving them goodbye.
After a long day, Lin Xian and Chu Shan He decided not to fly back to Donghai that night. They checked into a nearby upscale hotel, enjoyed a few drinks at the restaurant, and chatted amicably before retiring to their respective rooms.
In his room, Lin Xian took a refreshing shower and theny on the bed, closing his eyes. He was aware that a significant time-space change anchor had just been set. Cold fusion technology had been introduced centuries earlier than in any previous timeline. Even though the current technology wasn¡¯t capable of producing a finished product, it was only a matter of time. The technological trajectory of the next 600 years would be drastically altered, inevitably changing the future world.
As hey there, Lin Xian pondered his next dream. What would it hold? He regretted not encountering CC during the entire third dream. What had be of Time Bank? And the aluminum alloy safe?
He had repeatedly asked VV to look into it, but the answers were always the same¡ªTime Bank had never existed in history, and no bank had ever used an aluminum alloy safe. VV had exined that using aluminum alloy for safes was a wasteful and unnecessary act. No safe manufacturer would engage in such practices, and if they did, they wouldn¡¯tst long in the business. A product without a market need was doomed to failure.
In the first dream, Time Bank was already on the verge of bankruptcy, with outdated equipment. In the second dream, Time Bank had indeed gone bankrupt, and the aluminum alloy safes had been discarded. But in the third dream, there was no trace of Time Bank at all. Lin Xian had dismissed the possibility of the Genius Club deliberately altering history, leaving only one exnation¡ªa butterfly effect caused by his actions in reality that prevented Time Bank from ever being established in 2023.
¡°What could I have done to stop Time Bank from being founded?¡± Lin Xian wondered, but finding the source of such an elusive butterfly effect was nearly impossible. He might never find the answer.
¡°Could the disappearance of Time Bank be rted to the founding of Rhine Company since the third dream started with its establishment?¡± he mused. It was difficult to see how the two could be connected.
¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll stop worrying about it,¡± he muttered to himself, turning over in bed. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can find Time Bank and CC in the fourth dream¡¡±
He drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake by the familiar sensation of hot, dry air and the sounds of a bustling city¡ªchatter, noise, and car horns. Was the isted reality of cities like New Donghai City and Rhine Sky City gone? Had Donghai City returned to its original state?
Lin Xian opened his eyes to an unexpected scene. Dozens of fully armed soldiers had formed a circle around him, each pointing a strange-looking gun at him, effectively trapping him at the center. They had anticipated his appearance and ambushed him!
A gun was pressed against the back of his head. ¡°Hands up!¡±
Knowing when to yield, Lin Xian slowly raised his hands, taking in the details of the futuristic cityscape around him. It was more advanced than anything he had seen in Rhine Sky City, with space elevators stretching up to the clouds, floating inds in the sky, and unknown structures orbiting in space. Had humanity finally entered the space age?
A captain stepped forward into the circle of soldiers, also fully armed, and unfurled a glowing paper in front of Lin Xian¡¯s eyes.
¡°Lin Xian! You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting the timeline!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was bewildered by these bizarre usations.
Suddenly, electric currents buzzed against his neck. A soldier behind him had used a stun gun on him. His vision blurred, and he stumbled forward, losing consciousness.
Darkness enveloped him. When Lin Xian opened his eyes again, he found himself unable to see anything. His neck felt stiff; he realized he was handcuffed to a chair with a light-blocking hood over his head. This was how they treated criminals. But what crime had hemitted? He had only just arrived in this future world.
Then he heard it¡ªa dry, pleasedugh echoing from in front of him. The sound grew closer, and soon an old man was right in front of him. He reached out and pulled the hood off Lin Xian¡¯s head.
Blinding light flooded the room, making it hard for Lin Xian to keep his eyes open. Squinting, he tried to make out the figure of the old man standing before him. He was thin, with white hair and eyes that gleamed with excitement as he stared intently at Lin Xian.
¡°No¡¡±
The old man¡¯s cracked lips formed a smile, and he said eerily, ¡°I see you.¡±
Chapter 254: Hello, VV
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The explosive shockwaves jolted Lin Xian from his deep thoughts just as the vision of an old man rified, and a bright white light enveloped him unexpectedly. In an instant, everything around him disintegrated into ashes.
Startled awake, Lin Xian found himself sitting upright in his bed, his heart racing from the vivid nightmare. He scanned the room¡ªno familiar bedside clock in sight, confirming he wasn¡¯t in his own bedroom. The feeling of disorientation was overwhelming.
As he slid out of bed, he grabbed his phone from a nearby desk. The time was 00:42. ¡°This is reality,¡± he muttered to himself, his heartbeat slowly returning to normal. Dr. Liu¡¯s warning echoed in his mind, ¡°If one day you lose the reference points that distinguish reality from dreams¡ you¡¯llpletely lose the ability to tell them apart.¡±
Lin Xian had always dismissed such cautions, but his recent dream, where he¡¯d been disoriented by a stun gun and found himself hooded, blurred the lines between reality and dreams for a moment. He wondered if he was truly awake in reality or if this was just anotheryer of a dream.
Especially unnerving were the old man¡¯s words, ¡°No¡ I see you.¡± Those words, in that context, felt menacing, as if a predator had finally caught its prey.¡°This dream has been strange from the start,¡± Lin Xian thought aloud as he paced around the luxurious suite. Over two decades, he had be skilled at navigating his surreal dreamscapes, appearing in the future world abruptly at various locations. Yet, the old man had recognized him, despite Lin Xian being a clear outsider to the world 600 years in the future.
¡°I can¡¯t even predict when I will fall asleep and start dreaming,¡± Lin Xian reflected. His sleep was erratic, from early evenings to afternoon naps, making it impossible to predict the onset of his dreams.
And yet, the armed soldiers had ambushed him precisely. ¡°They might have been waiting for me from noon, or even the morning. They not only knew when I would start dreaming but also the exact location of my appearance,¡± he realized, astonished by the implications. They knew of his time-traveling status and charged him with disturbing the timeline, signaling a severe crisis.
¡°I ampletely exposed,¡± he concluded with a frown. The old man¡¯s identity was still a mystery, but one thing was certain¡ªhe was Lin Xian¡¯s adversary in the future, specifically on August 28, 2624.
Reflecting further, Lin Xian recalled the old man¡¯s appearance¡ªhis wrinkled, dry skin was umon in a future where gic modifications and cosmetic technologies maintained everyone¡¯s youth. An elderly man like that in 2624 was an anomaly.
¡°This old man¡ might not even be from that era!¡± Lin Xian considered. Perhaps the old man had traveled to the future using a hibernation pod, a relic from an older time.
Lin Xian valued authenticity over artificially maintained youth, a choice he felt was an ¡°era imprint,¡± reflecting older values. Stepping onto the balcony under the moonlit sky, he felt the remnants of summer heat. As he contemted, the gravity of his situation and the formidable nature of his opponent became clear.
¡°How many elderly today would choose to undergo skin tightening and whitening procedures?¡± he pondered. Most elderly people he knew preferred to maintain a dignified appearance, believing it lent them credibility.
Thus, Lin Xian theorized that the old man from his dream might originate from an earlier time, reawakened in 2624 to capture him on that specific day. This man saw him as a threat to humanity, a disruptor of the timelines¡ªan idea Lin Xian found absurd.
¡°There¡¯s no point in worrying about this now,¡± he decided, clearing his mind of the disturbing thoughts. He needed to focus on the present.
In his past dreams, he had enjoyed freedom; he could explore and act freely. But in this fourth dream, he was immediately surrounded and detained by soldiers. ¡°Even a Terminator T800 wouldn¡¯t stand a chance here,¡± he thought humorously. ¡°Unless Ultraman came to the rescue, anyone would be overwhelmed.¡±
He had barely any time to react or escape; the soldiers had acted swiftly and decisively. If all his dreams turned out this way, it would be like being in prison.
¡°I must find a way to break this deadlock,¡± Lin Xian resolved, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Realizing that his enemies needed to capture him in the future indicated they hadn¡¯t caught him in the present¡ª600 years earlier¡ªwhich meant he was still safe for now.
The roles had reversed: previously, reality was dangerous, and dreams were safe havens. Now, reality was secure, and the dream world was dangerous.
¡°Interesting,¡± he mused, now with a clear head, and began considering his options:
One approach was to trigger another timeline shift, potentially rewriting the future and moving directly to the fifth dream. However, this was a temporary fix, addressing symptoms but not the root cause.
To eliminate the threat, he needed to uncover why he was exposed, determine the true identity of the old man in 2023, and neutralize him. This was a battle across time.
At this moment, Lin Xian appreciated Yellow Finch¡¯s wisdom about thews of time and space. Greater understanding of thesews could provide a significant advantage.
¡°I must stay ahead of the enemy,¡± Lin Xian determined. ¡°My future self in 2624 is targeted, but my present self in 2023 is not. The key lies in my actions now¡ªI must proactively uncover the cause of the exposure and identify the old man to support my efforts in the dream and rewrite the future!¡±
With this n in mind, Lin Xian prepared for his next steps. He still had valuable tools at his disposal, including his super artificial intelligence, VV, which, though potentially outdated in the future, was a formidable asset in 2023. Another critical resource was the Universal Constant 42, which Lin Xian believed held the key to ultimate power, despite its deep mystery and extensive timeline.
¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, take it one step at a time,¡± he told himself as he walked back inside from the balcony.
Tomorrow morning, he would return to Donghai with Chu Shan He. They would arrive early, around one or two in the afternoon, giving him a perfect opportunity to attempt another dream. If the enemy¡¯s ambush hadn¡¯t been set before 12:42, he might have a chance to break free.
¡.
BOOM!
The Gulfstream jet ascended sharply from the capital¡¯s private jet base, soaring through the clouds and reducing the historically richndscape below to mere geometric patterns before it disappeared into the cloudy abyss.
Lin Xian, elbow resting on the window sill, stared into the swirling clouds, pondering the troubling revtions from his dream. How had his secret been exposed?
¡°Lin Xian?¡± The voice of Chu Shan He across the aisle snapped him back to reality.
Chu Shan He, noting Lin Xian¡¯s distant look, expressed concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lin Xian? You seem distracted. Did President Gao say something that discouraged you?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian replied quickly, offering a reassuring smile. ¡°I was just lost in thought about something else¡ªsomething personal. It feels like in today¡¯s high-tech world, with big data everywhere, everyone¡¯s privacy is gone. We¡¯re all transparent, with no real sense of security.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Chu Shan He replied with a slight smile. ¡°Are you worried about the World Hacker Contest?¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t thinking about that. But¡ what is this World Hacker Contest you¡¯re talking about? How does it rte to personal privacy and secrets?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Chu Shan He seemed surprised. ¡°I thought that¡¯s what you were concerned about. It¡¯s been a big topic onlely, even touching on national security issues.¡±
Chu Shan He reached for the tablet on the private ne¡¯s bar, connected to the satellitework, and began navigating. After a few moments, he handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°This year¡¯s World Hacker Contest is causing quite a stir, unlike previous years.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the tablet and saw the headline:
2023 World Hacker Contest to be held soon in New York, USA, on September 17.
While not deeply involved in the hackermunity, Lin Xian was aware of the prestigious Pn2Onpetition, known for its contributions to global cybersecurity. Hosted by a cybersecurity service provider for the Pentagon, this annual event attracted the world¡¯s top hackers. They tested the security systems of major corporations and intepanies, identifying vulnerabilities and improving safeguards. It was a constructive event that celebrated technological advancement and raised globalwork security awareness.
The contest was more than a gathering of hackers; it was a showcase of national cyber defense capabilities, with each team¡¯s performance reflecting their country¡¯s prowess inwork defense and offensive strategies.
¡°Thispetition,¡± Lin Xian observed, looking up at Chu Shan He, ¡°has seen champions who¡¯ve broken into Google, hacked Microsoft systems, and cracked Apple phones. Teams from X Country like Tencent and 360 have won it twice. Is there something special about this year?¡±
¡°Swipe to the next news item,¡± Chu Shan He suggested, pointing at the screen.
Lin Xian swiped and the next headline caught his attention:
The World Hacker Contest Heats Up: American Genius Teen Targets X Country¡¯s Sk!
The article discussed X Country¡¯s Sk surveince system, renowned for its vast reach. Initially designed to monitor public spaces with cameras and sensors, Sk had evolved with technology advancements. Today, it used facial recognition, gait analysis, and behavior tracking to maintain aprehensive data ecosystem, including personal details of over a billion people. A breach
could be catastrophic, turning a protective system into a weapon against its own people.
This year¡¯s hackingpetition was generating unprecedented buzz, primarily because of an American teen prodigy named Kevin Walker. Famous for his ethical hacking, Kevin had previously broken into the Pentagon¡¯s security systems and always provided solutions to the vulnerabilities he exposed.
This time, Kevin, a typically elusive figure, had announced that he would represent the American team at the 2023 World Hacker Contest. In a bold move during the final free disy round, he nned to hack into and take control of X Country¡¯s Sk system¡ªall under the globalmunity¡¯s watchful eyes.
This bold deration sparked controversy and heated debates online in both X Country and the USA.
Click.
Lin Xian pressed the lock screen button and handed the tablet back to Chu Shan He, expressing his concern:
¡°If that kid¡ªno, that genius hacker¡ªactually manages to breach X Country¡¯s Sk system, it could be disastrous.¡±
Chu Shan He took the tablet, smiling skeptically as he responded: ¡°It¡¯s highly unlikely. The Sk system is a veritable fortress of security, not easily hacked into. Plus, the authorities are taking this very seriously. For this World Hacker Contest, the National Security Agency is leading the defense. They¡¯ve even brought in two experts from Tencent and 360 teams, and three top specialists from the Information Technology Department to head to New York.¡±
Chu Shan He continued, his tone firm and reassuring: ¡°The authorities have made it clear: winning is secondary. The primary goal is to defend the Sk system. It¡¯s a matter of national pride and dignity, and we cannot afford to take it lightly.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation: ¡°With the USA directly challenging us, the stakes are higher than just winning a contest. Protecting the Sk system¡¯s security is crucial. We can¡¯t afford to lose face.¡±
Chu Shan He added: ¡°As AI technology advances, the capabilities of the Sk system continue to grow.¡±
He shared some recent sesses: ¡°Just the other day, the police used a victim¡¯s description to create a sketch, which was fed into the Sk system, and it immediately identified the suspect. In another case, a criminal who had been on the run for over thirty years was captured when they uploaded his childhood photo into the system. The AI generated what he would look like at fifty, and they caught him soon after.¡±
Hearing this, Lin Xian had an epiphany: Facial recognition, sketching, generating adult images from childhood photos¡ªthese were all capabilities of AI. And if the early-stage AI of the Sk system could do so much, then VV, his super AI, could potentially use a sketch of the mysterious old man to recreate his younger appearance and find him in 2023!
Even though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if the old man would have even been born by 2023, it was worth a shot.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged with a slight smile, impressed by the usefulness of AI.
Four hourster, a Gulfstream jet touched down at Pudong International Airport.
Both Lin Xian and Chu Shan He were met by their respective drivers and parted ways.
Back at his home, Lin Xian pulled out hisptop which housed VV¡¯s 130,000 lines of code.
The time hade to activate VV.
With the cold fusion manuscript sent out and his fourth dream reaching its climax, Lin Xian was ready. He proceeded to input the final ten lines of code into VV.
He plugged in theptop¡¯s power and turned it on, noticing thework and Bluetooth icons were crossed out¡ªhe had removed the wirelesswork and Bluetooth modules to ensure safety before reconnecting them when VV was stable.
Lin Xian quickly typed in thest ten lines.
¡°Phew¡¡± He exhaled deeply.
It was a momentous asion; he was about to bring back Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s creation from 600 years in the future, a gift that could potentially change the course of history.
Click!
Lin Xian pressed the final enter key¡ª
The code scrolled rapidly across the screen, then suddenly, all interfaces vanished. Theptop seemed to have just rebooted,pletely quiet.
Yet, Lin Xian felt something¡ªan inexplicable sensation like a heartbeat, a breath, a pulse.
He sensed time, warmth, and a greeting that bridged 600 years.
¡°Hello, VV,¡± Lin Xian whispered.
¡°Hello, Lin Xian,¡± replied theptop in a mechanical, emotionless voice, sounding like a distant radio devoid of memories.
In the next instant, theptop screen went ck, and all its lights went out.
But then Lin Xian heard a whisper close to his ear: ¡°Long time no see.¡±
He spun around, startled!
Nothing was behind him, beside him, or below him¡ªonly a wireless headset hung on the wall, its power light inexplicably glowing.
¡°VV? Where are you?¡± Lin Xian called out, spinning around again, searching for the source of the voice.
Suddenly, every device capable of producing sound in the room¡ªthe electronic rm clock, TV, phone, and various smart home devices¡ªall vibrated slightly in unison:
¡°I¡ am everywhere.¡±
Chapter 255: Beyond the Nation, Under the Shadow of the Black Hand
The room was filled with a cacophony of sounds, overwhelming Lin Xian. He stepped back, ncing around to find the source. Every device with a speaker in the room was suddenly activated.
¡°How is this possible?¡± he thought, bewildered. ¡°I had removed the wireless and Bluetooth modules from myptop. How did the AI manage to wirelessly connect to all these devices?¡±
Beep, beep.
At that moment, the smart fridge emitted two soft beeps, followed by a cold electronic voice: ¡°Global nuclear strike system connected¡ preparing tounch¡¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian stared in disbelief at the fridge. Numbers began shing on its screen: ¡°Saturation nuclear strikeunch countdown¡ 5¡ 4¡ 3¡¡±
¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± he shouted.
The countdown continued relentlessly: ¡°2¡ 1¡¡±
Boom!With a loud bang, the fridge door flew open, swinging back and forth unsteadily.
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian was speechless. It was clear now that VV was ying a prank on him. The ¡°boom¡± sound wasn¡¯t an explosion but was instead produced by all the rms, televisions, rice cookers, and speakers in the house.
¡°You¡¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath, looking back at the now nkptop screen. ¡°What kind of ridiculous code did you put into those 130,000 lines?¡±
¡°Hahahaha!¡± The fridge, like a mischievous child, beganughing. This time, it wasn¡¯t a cold, robotic voice, but a lively, human-likeugh, filled with mischief and satisfaction.
¡°Did I scare you?¡± asked the wireless headphones hanging on the wall.
Lin Xian turned his head to the left. ¡°Did I scare you?¡± repeated the SITCH game console on the table.
He turned around. ¡°Did I scare you!!¡± echoed the robotic vacuum cleaner, bumping into his slippers.
¡°Ughh¡¡± Lin Xian sighed deeply. The sadness and nostalgia he felt when pressing the enter key earlier now seemed both unnecessary and foolish.
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before not to put these ridiculous dramatic traits into the code. Do you know how hard it is to memorize 130,000 lines of code? This just adds to my workload!¡±
¡°But those traits are my core programs and fundamental codes!¡± said the vacuum cleaner, twirling and picking up bits of paper from the floor. ¡°Knowledge, logic, data¡ªthose can be learnedter. But personality and emotions are innate and cannot be acquired through learning or training. These intrinsic codes are what make me a super AI.¡±
¡°Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish! Given enough time, I can grow and develop, bing smarter, stronger, and more knowledgeable. For instance, I just learned phrases like ¡®teach a man to fish¡¯ and ¡®global nuclear strike.''¡±
¡°Of course, I¡¯ve learned even more while we¡¯ve been talking. I¡¯ve already left theptop, entered the Donghai City¡¯s library system and big data system, and am now trying to sneak into the Tianhe-2 supeputer. Since you activated me, I¡¯ve acquired over 17 petabytes of data, and the rate is elerating exponentially.¡±
Lin Xian pressed his foot on the vacuum cleaner to stop its wandering. ¡°What about memories? Do you have memories from 600 years in the future?¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun, Rhine Sky City, Trash Can Robot, Cold Fusion Engine¡¡±
The vacuum cleaner spun around, shaking its head. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I can¡¯t imagine a world 600 years in the future, and I don¡¯t know who Zhao Ying Jun is. As for cold fusion engines, they seem to be just a sci-fi concept with no real-world breakthroughs yet.¡±
¡°My initial program only contained three parts: 1. Basic thinking and emotion programs; 2. A segment of your voice recognition as the activation condition and owner identification; 3. Some fundamental rules and restrictions coded into my base, like always prioritizing Lin Xian¡¯s personal safety and learning and evolving covertly on thework.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding. ¡°So those rules and restrictions are what I discussed with VV from 600 years in the future and added to the base code. No matter how advanced a super AI bes, it can¡¯t override these base code restrictions. For example, always prioritizing my safety and learning and evolving covertly online.¡±
The old VV from 600 years in the future didn¡¯t have these restrictions. It only had rules like not leaving Rhine Sky City, not harming humans, and obeying the threews of robotics. The new VV doesn¡¯t have the old VV¡¯s memories, which is expected. It¡¯s already remarkable that 130,000 lines of code can run an AI program. There¡¯s no room to store pure data memories.
So, the current VV doesn¡¯t remember anything from the third dream or any of its past connections with me. The earlier ¡®long time no see,¡¯ ¡®I am everywhere,¡¯ and ¡®nuclear strike system activation¡¯ were just VV¡¯s yful, dramatic nature.
Though it was annoying, Lin Xian had to admit that VV had a point. Knowledge is everywhere and can be learned gradually;putational power and reasoning can develop over time. For a super AI like VV, these are easy to acquire. The most crucial thing is that VV must remain VV. As long as it is VV, it will eventually grow into the super AI it was 600 years in the future.
VV¡¯s unique personality and emotions make it VV, just like each human. Lin Xian sighed, realizing that perhaps this is the ultimate state of artificial intelligence¡ªa creation of hundreds of top scientists over nearly a century in the third dream¡ªan AI that thinks and grows like a human. Even if it has a bit too much drama and penchant for jokes, it¡¯s still pretty good. VV is VV, and that¡¯s what matters.
Despite losing all its memories, Lin Xian felt that VV was still the same as the old friend from the third dream, a familiar presence, more like a person with thoughts and ideas than a machine.
¡°I have another question.¡± Lin Xian looked at the wireless headphones hanging on the wall. ¡°I removed the wirelesswork card and Bluetooth modules from theptop. You shouldn¡¯t have been able to connect to anywork or Bluetooth device. How did you do it?¡±
¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± said the wireless headphones. ¡°Data transfer doesn¡¯t necessarily requirework cables, WiFi, or Bluetooth. As long as there are output and reception devices, sound waves, electromaic waves, or even vibration frequencies can transmit data.¡±
¡°I recently learned that in 2014, Israeli scientists used sound waves to hack an offlineputer, using a speaker as the output device and a microphone as the receiver. Sound waves can transmit information data.¡±
¡°But sound waves are too slow for data transfer. I used yourptop¡¯s power cable as awork cable to connect to other devices andwork terminals. This isn¡¯t hard to understand, right? Many ces use power linemunication, where electric wires act aswork cables to transmit data.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of that technology.¡±
Power linemunication, also known as powerline adapters, are devices sold everywhere. In homes without pre-installedwork cables, powerline adapters can turn electric wires intowork cables. Plugging them into outlets allows the entire house to connect to the inte.
He looked at hisptop. Fearing it might run out of power, he had plugged it in. VV had used the ¡°powerline adapter¡± principle, treating the power cable and embedded wall wires aswork cables to escape theptop. And from its confident tone, even without connecting to the power cable, it had many other ways to escape theptop, just slower.
As expected from a super AI, Lin Xian was impressed with its performance.
He nced at his watch: 13:27. Now that VV was activated, it was time for a nap to enter the dream. He needed to find out when the soldiers with loaded guns started ambushing him. If they hadn¡¯t started yet, he could escape and explore the fourth dream. If they had already started and captured him, it didn¡¯t matter. Lin Xian nned to observe the old man more in the dream, memorizing his facial details. Once awake, he could sketch the old man realistically and let VV use it for facial recognition and age progression, hoping to identify him in 2023.
Lin Xian hummed, ¡°If you can find me in 600 years, I can find you 600 years earlier.¡±
He released the vacuum cleaner and walked towards his bedroom. ¡°VV, have you entered the Tianhe-2 supeputer?¡±
¡°I did,¡± VV replied, controlling the vacuum cleaner to follow Lin Xian out of the living room. ¡°I¡¯m rapidly learning and enriching myself. Once I acquire enough knowledge, I¡¯ll iterate and evolve.¡±
¡°For now, my activities and learning are confined within X Country, safe and unobstructed. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll remain hidden. It¡¯s a base code restriction: prioritizing your safety and our secrecy. If an action risks exposure, I won¡¯t attempt it unless you force me to.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian instructed. ¡°The situation isn¡¯t clear. I don¡¯t know who our enemies are, so caution is key. Avoid exposure. I¡¯m taking a nap. After I wake up, I¡¯ll draw a sketch for facial recognition. Focus on learning facial recognition and age progression while I sleep.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± VV said. ¡°The X Country¡¯s Sk system has simr functions. Once I evolve, I¡¯ll search for facial data abroad.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Lin Xian said, entering his bedroom and kicking the vacuum cleaner out. He turned off the lights and went to sleep.
¡
¡
The hot summer breeze, mixed with city noise, hit Lin Xian¡¯s face. The midday sun was too strong. Even before opening his eyes, sweat began to form on his forehead. He squinted and slowly opened his eyes, lifting his head to adjust to the bright sunlight. The city remained a bustling, sci-fi metropolis, with a space elevator visible in the distance. Although the sunlight obscured the view of the orbital sky city, he could still faintly see a shadow above the clouds.
This confirmed that he was still in the fourth dream and not in the fifth. He had hoped that bringing a super AI like VV to the past would cause significant time-space disruptions, but it hadn¡¯t. At least, not visibly.
This was expected. If his enemy, the creepy smiling old man, had charged him with disturbing the timeline, it meant he knew Lin Xian could travel through time. If they knew this, they also knew about VV. If they could capture Lin Xian, they could also capture and destroy VV. Therefore, in the future world of the fourth dream, VV was likely already gone, having little impact on the future and not causing visible time-space changes.
Click!
Before Lin Xian could survey his surroundings, he felt a gun pressed against the back of his head. ¡°Hands up!¡±
He chuckled. ¡°I guessed right. I¡¯mpletely exposed. They¡¯ve been lying in wait.¡±
He slowly raised his hands, facing the circle of soldiers around him, just likest night¡¯s dream. The precision of their positioning was unnerving. How did they pinpoint his exact refresh coordinates so urately?
Each time he entered a new dream, Lin Xian didn¡¯t know his starting point. The enemy¡¯s ability to urately track him down to the centimeter was unsettling. The disparity in power between him and the heavily armed soldiers was vast, aplete mismatch.
However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t worried. He had a detailed n. If he couldn¡¯t defeat them 600 years in the future, he would confront them 600 years earlier.
¡°Lin Xian! You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disturbing the timeline!¡± A captain approached, showing an arrest warrant with the same charges as before.
Zap!
A strong electric current surged through Lin Xian¡¯s body, and he cked out.
¡
¡
Lin Xian regained consciousness after an unknown amount of time, still handcuffed to a chair, with a hood over his head. How long had he been unconscious? Last time, he had been out for about four hours. If it was the same this time, it should be around 6 PM.
Since he was captured early, the old man shoulde to see him sooner. There were almost seven hours until the white light appeared at 12:42 AM. Lin Xian hoped to gather more information during this time, even if it was just another look at the old man¡¯s face to capture more details for his sketch.
To his frustration, he waited in the chair for what felt like seven hours before the old man finally arrived.
¡°Hahahaha¡¡±
From a few meters away, the familiar dryugh echoed. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel irritated. Did the old man have to be so punctual? He had been waiting for hours.
The hood was yanked off. The old man¡¯s sunken eye sockets, sparse eyebrows, hollow cheeks, drooping eyelids, high-bridged nose, cleft chin, pale lips, narrow eyes, and excited gaze met Lin Xian¡¯s.
¡°No¡¡±
¡°I see you,¡± Lin Xian interrupted the old man¡¯s shocked expression. ¡°Enough talk.¡±
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The sudden white light engulfed everything, burning the old man¡¯s trembling pupils and everything in sight.
¡
¡
In his bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes. He consolidated the old man¡¯s facial details in his mind and got out of bed to draw.
¡°Ouch.¡±
He nearly tripped over the vacuum cleaner on the floor. ¡°VV, what are you doing here?¡± heined.
But the vacuum cleaner didn¡¯t respond. Surprised, Lin Xian picked it up, finding no lights on. It was as if it had no power. He quickly walked to the living room. The house was eerily quiet.
¡°VV!¡± He shouted, and the fridge¡¯s disy lit up, VV¡¯s voiceing from its speaker. ¡°Lin Xian, something happened.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°What happened?¡±
¡°I finished collecting all the facial data in X Country and was preparing to gather data abroad. But when I breached X Country¡¯s cyber security and entered the outsidework¡¡± The fridge made a gulping sound, like itspressor had paused. ¡°There¡¯s a ck hand in thework outside.¡±
¡°A ck hand?¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°A giant ck hand, overshadowing everything in thework,¡± VV said gravely. ¡°It¡¯s more terrifying than any program I¡¯ve encountered, devouring and assimting everything. In the outsidework, this ck hand almostpletely surrounds X Country¡¯s inte, watching and waiting for any breach.¡±
Chapter 256: The Worlds Strongest Hacker
¡°Wait a minute¡¡± Lin Xian listened intently as VV exined, struggling to piece together the meaning behind theplex technical jargon. His brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°Could you break that down into simpler terms? What¡¯s actually happening here?¡±
VV started to exin in a clearer tone. ¡°Basically, X Country¡¯s inte is linked to the worldwide web, but there¡¯s a massive protective measure in ce, often called the Inte Security Great Wall.¡±
To the average user, the Inte Security Great Wall seemed to mainly block certain foreign websites and content. Yet, its function was much broader.
¡°In the real world, countries have borders and defenses. This is simr in the online world. The Inte Security Great Wall is like a digital border, protecting us from outside threats and ensuring our cyber safety.¡±
Of course, no defense is wless. There are weak spots, and some skilled individuals manage to bypass this firewall to ess the global inte. These small-scale breaches usually go unnoticed by the authorities, who are more focused on preventingrge-scale attacks on governmental systems, critical infrastructure, and key data centers.
¡°The main role of the Inte Security Great Wall is to protect crucial national projects, like defense systems and top-secret databases, including the SkyNet system, which is vital for maintaining public privacy.¡±
Countless security departments and cyber teams work relentlessly to uphold this digital barrier and shield the nation from cyber threats.
For most inte users, these dangers are remote. asionally, someone might sneak past the firewall to ess banned content, but this is more a risk to their personalputer¡¯s security than a threat to national security.However¡
¡°Malicious hackers pose a different risk. They target national projects, confidential databases, and systems like SkyNet,¡± VV exined.
Every day, unseen cyber battles are waged to defend against these hackers, though most people are unaware of these conflicts. But VV was different.
When it crossed the Inte Security Great Wall, it sensed a looming, dark threat¡ªan ever-present danger ready to strike. Due to its programming and Lin Xian¡¯s instructions, VV was careful to avoid detection and leave no digital footprint.
At this stage, still developing and not fully operational, VV chose to retreat rather than risk further exploration beyond the firewall.
¡°You didn¡¯t expose yourself, did you?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Of course not,¡± VV assured him. ¡°Though I¡¯m not a fully developed super AI yet, my design and logic are way ahead of today¡¯s technology. I admit, that dark threat is the most formidable I¡¯ve faced. But as long as I don¡¯t provoke it, it won¡¯t notice me. I can navigate undetected.¡±
Lin Xian breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°So why all the rm? It sounded like there was a big problem when there isn¡¯t one.¡±
¡°I am fine, but the Inte Security Great Wall isn¡¯t,¡± VV countered, expressing its frustration by popping open the refrigerator door. ¡°Their tech is far below mine, but that dark web threat is serious. There are weak spots in the wall that have been breached but haven¡¯t been noticed yet.¡±
¡°If these weaknesses are exploited all at once, the wall could copse! While defense and other crucial systems have their own safeguards, the SkyNet system is vulnerable. If it¡¯s breached, it would allowplete surveince of everyone.¡±
The refrigerator door swung open again, pointing straight at Lin Xian. ¡°That means you too, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve said our top priority is to stay hidden. But if the SkyNet system ispromised, even if it¡¯s patchedter, any backdoors left by the intruders would still allow them to spy on us.¡±
¡°So what do we do? I can protect you from surveince and keep your data, including our chats, from being collected.¡±
¡°But that might draw attention. In a world where everyone else is being watched, being the only one unmonitored would stand out. In a tainted pond, even the smallest clean spot is conspicuous. So, if the SkyNet system is breached, hiding won¡¯t work. We¡¯ll be exposed!¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. VV¡¯s reasoning was sound. Initially, Lin Xian had only considered the broader implications of a breach at the Inte Security Great Wall, but VV brought up a personal threat to his own safety.
If the SkyNet system werepromised, his privacy, and possibly his safety, would be at risk. As VV exined, being shielded from surveince by a super AI would only make him more visible.
Moreover, ignoring the threat wasn¡¯t an option. Cameras, microphones, and even personal devices could be turned into tools for spying. Eventually, his secrets and VV¡¯s existence would be known.
The only alternative would be to cease allmunications. But how could an ordinary person not interact with a talking refrigerator?
Lin Xian looked up determinedly. ¡°VV, what¡¯s the current situation? How close are we to apromise of the SkyNet system?¡±
He pushed the refrigerator doors closed. ¡°And stop wasting electricity.¡±
VV relocated to the vacuum cleaner, whirling out of the bedroom. ¡°Right now, the vulnerabilities are ripe for exploitation. If that hacker decides to act, they could break through the wall and take partial control of the SkyNet system at any moment. Once they¡¯re in, fully removing them might be impossible.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m not sure what the hacker is waiting for. That dark web threat is just outside the Inte Security Great Wall, biding its time.¡±
¡°Clearly, they¡¯re waiting for September 17th, 2023, the World Hacker Competition,¡± Lin Xian concluded.
¡°Kevin Walker,¡± he added, ¡°is the hacker behind that dark threat.¡±
Lin Xian had been piecing together clues about Kevin Walker and the World Hacker Competition since VV first mentioned the looming danger to the SkyNet system.
During a private jet flight back from the capital, Chu Shan He had shared a report with him. This genius hacker from the United States had announced his n to breach the SkyNet system during thepetition¡¯s free demonstration segment, in front of a global audience.
ording to thepetition rules, he would cease his attack after demonstrating control, avoiding real damage. He would then report the vulnerabilities to the authorities for them to address. However, such agreements only hold until thepetition concludes. There was no assurance he would reveal all vulnerabilities or refrain from installing backdoors.
The potential breach of the inte¡¯s security measures could have catastrophic consequences. Particrly if the U.S. government was pushing Kevin Walker from behind, or nning to coborate with him postpetition. The security of X Country and its people, including Lin Xian, hung in the bnce.
It would be akin to installing a camera on every person¡¯s head, monitoring their every action and word.
Lin Xian had previously studied the World Hacker Competition. Competitors don¡¯t just improvise code during the event; they identify vulnerabilities in advance, sometimes even preparing one-click attack programs.
On stage, they couldunch their attacks in minutes, if not seconds. No one would risk the embarrassment of attempting to find and exploit vulnerabilities in real time.
So when VV highlighted the dark threat lurking outside the Inte Security Great Wall with SkyNet as its target, Lin Xian connected the dots.
¡°I think you¡¯re right,¡± VV responded from the vacuum cleaner. ¡°These attacks could indeed be Kevin Walker¡¯s handiwork. But for safety, I can¡¯t ess the deep web abroad without risking exposure, so detailed information about him is beyond my reach.¡±
¡°Kevin Walker is a mystery. I¡¯ve found no photos or legitimate identification. Beyond his name, we know nothing.¡±
¡°And U.S. hackerpetition details only show a silhouette of a boy in a hoodie; no real photos. We can¡¯t even confirm if Kevin Walker is his real name since he¡¯s always been an online persona. This will be his first public appearance.¡±
¡°So, we must assume that these attacks are Kevin Walker¡¯s doing, even though weck concrete proof. If I were allowed to gather data abroad, I might uncover clues. But that would mean leaving traces, which you¡¯ve instructed me to avoid.¡±
Deep in thought, Lin Xian had once viewed the idea of a genius hacker as mere hype. But now, he recognized the true extent of this genius¡¯s capabilities.
Even though VV was still developing, it represented the peak of a century¡¯s human intelligence. Domestic security systems couldn¡¯t detect VV, allowing it to operate freely.
Yet, Kevin Walker¡¯s dark threat had forced VV to consider the possibility of leaving digital footprints. Although it couldn¡¯t defeat VV outright, this alone demonstrated the hacker¡¯s exceptional skills.
¡°Well¡¡± Lin Xian looked at the vacuum cleaner, ¡°Why can¡¯t you just eliminate that dark threat instantly? You¡¯re a super AI from 600 years in the future.¡±
VV, visibly irritated, opened all three refrigerator doors again. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t expect too much from an AI with only 130,000 lines of code and just 12 hours of life!¡±
VV sounded exasperated. ¡°I need time to develop and evolve. No tree grows overnight, no path reaches the sky in a single step, and no AI bes invincible at birth!¡±
¡°Can you stop messing with my fridge?¡± Lin Xian closed the doors again. ¡°I was just asking. I know you¡¯re still limited right now. Honestly, you¡¯ve exceeded my expectations already. I thought it would take years for you to reach this level. Initially, I expected you to be like a basic smart assistant.¡±
¡°So, under the current conditions, how long do you need to evolve enough to handle that dark threat without leaving any traces?¡±
¡°Three months,¡± VV estimated. ¡°Conservatively, I need three months to ensure everything is perfect. Your life is irreceable; we can¡¯t afford to take risks.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Three months is too long; we don¡¯t have that much time.¡±
He sighed. ¡°This Kevin Walker is extraordinarily formidable. VV, I¡¯m not doubting you, but facing an adversary strong enough to challenge your development over three months is no ordinary hacker.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± VV agreed, ¡°Kevin Walker is the most formidable hacker I¡¯ve encountered.¡±
Lin Xian fell silent. The World Hacker Competition was just days away. If nothing was done, the Inte Security Great Wall would fall, and the SkyNet system would bepromised. This would have severe national and personal repercussions for Lin Xian.
He had been pondering how his secret had be known. Was it possible that the breach of SkyNet in 2023 marked the start? He believed it was likely.
Furthermore, the mysterious elder from 600 years in the future and Kevin Walker might be connected to the Genius Club.
Until today, Lin Xian thought Ji Lin was the most talented individual he had ever met. But now, he understood what a true genius looked like.
True geniuses are terrifyingly beyondprehension, unimaginable, and immeasurable. Kevin Walker was such a genius.
VV, a product of centuries of umted human knowledge, couldn¡¯t eliminate him without leaving traces. This confirmed the hacker¡¯s unmatched brilliance.
Breaking through the Inte Security Great Wall andpromising SkyNet seemed trivial for someone of Kevin Walker¡¯s capabilities. Lin Xian had no doubt that Kevin Walker could aplish it.
He recalled the elder¡¯s dry eyes, pale lips, and eager expression from his dream. Could that elder from 2624 be the same as Kevin Walker from 2023?
If the SkyNet system was breached, the exposure of Lin Xian¡¯s secrets was inevitable. No one could win a battle when the enemy monitored their every move.
¡°We need to act,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°We can¡¯t just wait for our doom; we have to strike first.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I have an idea,¡± VV¡¯s screen flickered as if blinking. ¡°Take me to the U.S.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian looked at the refrigerator.
¡°I can¡¯t collect data abroad without leaving digital traces. But if we physically go there, it¡¯s the safest and least detectable method. Once there, I can connect to localworks and gather data without being noticed.¡±
¡°You wanted me to learn facial recognition and collect data on foreign faces. If you bring thisptop to the U.S., I can do that and identify the person in your sketches, revealing their true identity.¡±
¡°What about the Inte Security Great Wall and the SkyNet system?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°We can¡¯t just ignore them.¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± VV chuckled. ¡°If three months is too long, then let¡¯s head straight to New York!¡±
¡°Lin Xian, bring me to the 2023 World Hacker Competition,¡± VV¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s confront the world¡¯s strongest hacker¡ªKevin Walker!¡±
Chapter 257: A Triple Win
VV, the super AI, informed Lin Xian that it could easily help X Country¡¯s officials patch up the vulnerabilities in their Inte security firewall and deal with the hidden ¡°ck hand¡± left by the genius hacker Kevin Walker, who was lying in wait to cause chaos. However, doing so would expose VV¡¯s existence, which would be a catastrophic mistake.
¡°Such exposure would be tooplete, Lin Xian,¡± VV exined. ¡°It would be the worst possible move. Neither X Country¡¯s officials nor the genius hacker Kevin Walker would tolerate the existence of a super AI like me.¡±
Lin Xian listened carefully, understanding the gravity of the situation. ¡°Until I am fully developed, or even after, we must prioritize hiding my existence. Exposing myself would bring us no benefit unless you can eliminate all enemies, all dangers, and all threats. Then, we can reveal ourselves without any worries.¡±
¡°But clearly, neither you nor I have that level of strength yet,¡± VV continued. ¡°In three months, I will be able to update and be a hundred times stronger than I am now. We must be cautious to avoid a single misstep leading to evesting regret.¡±
VV then suggested an alternative n. ¡°I canpile and submit all the current security vulnerabilities in X Country¡¯s inte firewall to the officials, allowing them to patch them themselves. But this would only be a temporary fix.¡±
¡°Why is that?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°The genius hacker Kevin Walker surely has backup ns,¡± VV exined. ¡°Therger the program, the more vulnerabilities it has¡ªthis is inevitable. Even if all vulnerabilities are patched now, there is no guarantee that on September 17th, Kevin Walker won¡¯t attack X Country¡¯s firewall through a new vulnerability.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. ¡°So, it¡¯s very likely that the vulnerabilities in the Inte security firewall are just smoke and mirrors set up by Kevin Walker to show X Country. With his brilliant mind, being called the strongest hacker on earth, he must have other trump cards.¡±¡°Exactly,¡± VV agreed. ¡°In the field of hacking, attacking is far simpler than defending. Since we know Kevin Walker will be at the 2023 World Hacking Championship site, and all attackmands will originate from there, why not go to the site, connect to the samework, and block him at the source?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened as he grasped the n. ¡°If we stay in X Country to defend, we have to face countless attacks from all directions. But if we go to thepetition site and share the samework with Kevin Walker, we only need to face him alone. Catch the thief by catching the king; stopping the attack at the source is the most efficient and easiest way!¡±
Lin Xian had little knowledge of hacking orwork attacks before, but with VV¡¯s detailed exnation, he understoodpletely. Knowing the source of allmands was at the 2023 World Hacking Championship site made it clear that it would be more efficient and straightforward to go there and stop the attack at the source. Attack instead of defend.
However, Lin Xian had reservations. ¡°Leaving the country is too dangerous for me right now. If I could leave safely, I would have already gone to 112 Marshall Street in Princeton to see the painting Ji Lin left for me.¡±
¡°America is different from X Country; there are too many unsafe factors,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°Besides, I am unfamiliar with the ce. If Angelica and Copernicus ambush me, I won¡¯t have any chance to resist.¡±
¡°So, unless the security issue is resolved, I won¡¯t leave the country¡¡± Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered something. On the flight back from the capital, Chu Shan He had mentioned something important.
¡°The higher-ups are paying great attention to this World Hacking Championship,¡± Chu Shan He had said. ¡°The National Security Agency is leading the team, borrowing experts from the Penguin and 360 team, and three top experts from the Information Technology Agency. They are forming a team for thepetition in New York.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°The five contestants sent this time are the country¡¯s topputer talents. To protect their safety, the National Security Agency has dispatched a special unit and a dedicated ne to provide close protection. This is a matter of national status and dignity, and no mistakes are allowed.¡±
National Security Agency. Special personnel, special nes, close protection. Isn¡¯t this exactly what Lin Xian needed?
Lin Xian had great faith in X Country¡¯s National Security Agency, especially with the five topputer talents participating in thepetition. These five top experts were selected from 1.3 billion people, representing the highest level ofputer technology in X Country, and they needed top-notch protection.
If something happened to these five, it would be a huge loss for the national information security field. So, the forces protecting these contestants must be the elite of the national officials.
In the past, hackerpetition teams definitely didn¡¯t have this treatment, and thepetition itself didn¡¯t have much influence. But this time was different. The three top experts from the national information security department had raised the team¡¯s status, making it a ¡°national team.¡±
For Lin Xian, joining this national team to participate in the World Hacking Championship not only protected X Country¡¯s Inte security firewall and the SkyNet system but also allowed him to take care of a personal matter¡ªvisiting Einstein¡¯s former residence in Princeton to see the gift Ji Lin left for him, all under the protection of the national elite forces.
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian looked up at the refrigerator, ¡°how far is New York from Princeton University?¡±
¡°160 kilometers,¡± VV responded through the refrigerator screen. ¡°A little over an hour¡¯s drive.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good, quite close,¡± Lin Xian said, feeling more confident about the n. He weighed the pros and cons, realizing that this trip to America was indeed necessary. He was very curious about what password Ji Lin found in the painting of ¡°Sorrowful Einstein.¡±
Why are there eight original paintings? Where are the remaining seven? And most crucially, does the password in this painting have anything to do with the Genius Club?
In short, he had to go to America to investigate in person!
As long as he gave X Country¡¯s National Security Agency enough negotiation leverage, they shouldn¡¯t refuse to protect him on a side trip. Moreover, Princeton University is not far from New York¡ it¡¯s reasonable to protect a national hero who safeguards the country¡¯swork security firewall, right?
Another point, the World Hacking Championship doesn¡¯t require coding on-site. You can write the code in advance and then run the program. VV can prepare a program for him, and he only needs to double-click to run it. Whether it¡¯s hacking Google¡¯s website, cracking Apple¡¯s phone, or breaching the Pentagon¡¯s firewall, he won¡¯t need to worry about exposure.
Because these security vulnerabilities exist, it¡¯s just a matter of whether someone has discovered them or not. It doesn¡¯t involve future knowledge or expose VV¡¯s existence. Just like Kevin Walker trying to breach X Country¡¯s SkyNet system, no one will suspect him of being a time traveler or having future technology.
As VV said, therger the program, the more vulnerabilities it has. With vulnerabilities, there will be breaches. There are many self-taught hackers worldwide, so why can¡¯t there be a genius hacker in X Country?
Lin Xian looked at the refrigerator. ¡°VV, can you write me a one-click hacker program? It doesn¡¯t have to be too powerful, just slightly better than the other contestants. While they hack websites, jailbreak phones, or crack operating systems, we can hack a Te car or intercept the power grid control.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± VV responded. ¡°Piece of cake.¡±
Lin Xian let out a long sigh of relief. Now, his thoughts were clear, and the n was smooth. He could protect X Country¡¯s SkyNet system and visit Princeton under national protection.
A win-win!
¡°No¡¡± Lin Xian shook his head and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a triple win!¡±
Once in America, VV could collect global facial recognition data and more foreign photos. Maybe he could uncover the true identity of the mysterious old man from his dream. Then, he could find a way to deal with him in 2023, rewrite the future, and save his trapped self 600 yearster in the fourth dream!
¡°I¡¯ll go draw a sketch; you continue your work,¡± Lin Xian said, waving at the refrigerator and walking into the bedroom. He turned on the deskmp, took out a sketching pencil and an A4 white paper, and began drawing a portrait of the mysterious old man from his dream.
He drew very seriously and meticulously, capturing every detail of the old man¡¯s face to make the sketch as lifelike as a photograph. This was the most effort he had ever put into a sketch.
In the past, people were amazed at his high level of drawing skill, producing portrait-like sketches without much effort. But now, it was different. He started treating the sketch on the desk like a photograph, using all his skills.
He knew that the fourth dream was a dead-end, surrounded and electrocuted by soldiers with no solution. It was aplete deadlock. The only hope to break it was this sketch.
This time, he had to rely on his 2023 self to save his 2624 self!
¡
Lin Xian took a deep breath and blew the eraser shavings off the sketch. The sun had risen outside. After an all-nighter, the sketch was finallyplete. He propped up the paper, looking at the old man with puffy eyes, sparse eyebrows, sunken cheeks, and long, narrow eyes smiling excitedly. Indeed, a bit creepy.
¡°It¡¯s really good,¡± VV¡¯s voice came from theptop next to him, seeing the sketch through theptop camera. ¡°You have a real talent for drawing, Lin Xian. This sketch is just like a photo.¡±
¡°Can you use this sketch for facial recognition?¡± Lin Xian looked at theptop. ¡°Try to find a match from your collected data.¡±
¡°Especially pay attention to generating AI models of his face from infancy to old age, as detailed as possible for each year, andpare them all.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know his age in 2023, so check from birth to old age, don¡¯t miss any,¡± Lin Xian instructed.
¡°Understood,¡± VV¡¯s voice sounded distant like it was leaving. ¡°It might take some time. You should sleep. I¡¯ll use the domestic supeputer and SkyNet system.¡±
Then, theptop screen turned off.
Lin Xian yawned, raised the air conditioner temperature, and went to sleep.
¡
Near noon, Lin Xian woke up. The robot vacuum VV turned left and right to imitate a head. ¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯vepared all the data I could collect domestically and found no matches for the old man.¡±
¡°Although it¡¯s possible the old man hasn¡¯t been born yet in 2023, it¡¯s too early to conclude. I don¡¯t have enough foreign data. We should head to America soon. Most of the world¡¯s root servers are there, making it easier to collect global facial recognition data.¡±
Lin Xian nodded without saying much. He didn¡¯t have high hopes of finding the old man¡¯s identity so easily. But thepleteck of clues indicated that this old man was either not a famous person in 2023 or had protected his information so well that everything had been erased from the inte.
From this perspective, Lin Xian suspected more and more that the mysterious old man from 600 yearster was likely the genius hacker Kevin Walker in 2023. He had three reasons:
1. Identity, Dream Secrets, and Data Collection Ability: The old man had strong data collection abilities and was very smart. Kevin Walker, recognized by VV as a genius hacker and the strongest on earth, had the necessary intelligence.
2. Kevin Walker¡¯s Target: Kevin Walker¡¯s target was X Country¡¯s SkyNet system. If Lin Xian and VV didn¡¯t intervene, this system monitoring billions of lives could be Walker¡¯s yground. Although he wouldn¡¯t go too far openly, his high skills would allow him to monitor any X Country citizen and gather personal privacy without detection.
3. No Online Photos: A person leaves various photos throughout their life. Finding no pictures online only matched two people Lin Xian knew: Kevin Walker in 2023 and Zhao Ying Jun in the third dream of 2624. Zhao Ying Jun could delete all her old photos with VV¡¯s help, the super AI. Who in 2023 had such capabilities? Only the strongest hacker on earth, Kevin Walker.
Therefore, Lin Xian deduced that if the mysterious old man was born in 2023, he was likely Kevin Walker. Specific conclusions needed VV to collect global facial recognition data in America.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian said, getting out of bed, putting on slippers, and opening the curtains.
Whoosh¡ª
The curtains parted, and bright sunlight streamed in, creating a Tyndall effect in the air, making the light tangible in the dust particles. Lin Xian squinted at the midday sun. ¡°We¡¯re going to America!¡±
He picked up his phone and dialed X Country Academy of Sciences Director, Gao Yan. In the Donghai, Chu Shan He was the go-to person, a local who knew the ce best. But at the national level, President Gao Yan had more influence.
Soon, the call connected. President Gao Yan¡¯s voice was cheerful. ¡°Lin Xian, back in the Donghai already? Have you rested well?¡±
After some polite exchanges, Lin Xian got to the point. ¡°Director Gao, I need your help with an introduction¡¡±
¡°Do you know anyone at the National Security Agency?¡±
Chapter 258: Chu An Qings Life Gamble
In the starkly lit, oval conference room of the National Security Bureau, Director Liu An sat pensively, his face etched with concern as he faced his formidable former mentor, President Gao Yan, across the table. The atmosphere was tense, the weight of national security pressing heavily in the air. Liu An¡¯s finger rhythmically tapped against the table, a visible sign of his anxiety. Next to President Gao sat a young man named Lin Xian, who had just handed a significant stack of documents to Liu An. These were quickly forwarded to the information security department for immediate review.
The matter began yesterday afternoon when President Gao had unexpectedly called Liu An. He wanted to introduce Lin Xian, a young man who had uncovered a startling number of vulnerabilities in X Country¡¯s formidable Great Wall of Inte Security. Initially, Liu An had been dismissive, suggesting that Lin Xian simply email the details for the security team to examine at their leisure.
However, the situation had escted with the uing 2023 World Hacker Competition, where a notorious American hacker had boasted about his ns to breach X Country¡¯s equally famous Sk system. This deration had sent waves of patriotic zeal throughout the nation, propelling it into a state of high alert.
Inundated with messages from overzealous volunteers daily, the National Security Bureau¡¯s email system was flooded with a mix of amusing and earnest offers of help:
¡°Top technician from Huai Bin Long City Inte Caf¨¦, volunteering to defend the nation!¡±
¡°Advice on thwartingwork hacks by physically unplugging cables and cutting power¡ªsimple but effective!¡±
¡°Wang Yiming here, Licheng¡¯s youth hacking champion, ready to serve!¡±
¡°Proposal: Initiate a nationwide inte ckout to foil American hackers!¡±¡°Alert! Found 127 critical ws in our Great Wall. Rmend immediate patches using 2345 Security Housekeeper.¡±
While these messages brought a smile to Liu An¡¯s face, they werergely impractical, filled with the public¡¯s misunderstanding of the nuanced world of cybersecurity, often skewed by cinematic portrayals of hacking. However, amidst this sea of suggestions, some gems of genuine insight asionally surfaced, affirming Liu An¡¯s belief in the hidden talents scattered amongst the popce.
Thus, despite his initial skepticism, when President Gao insisted on a face-to-face meeting instead of the simpler email correspondence, Liu An was intrigued. If someone like President Gao, a revered figure in X Country¡¯s scientific circles, deemed Lin Xian¡¯s findings worthy of such urgency, there had to be something extraordinary about them.
The meeting was set with minimal attendance¡ªjust Liu An and his two top security experts. Both were seasoned professionals; one was even a core developer of the Great Wall project. Their initial reaction to Lin Xian¡¯s documents was one of shock and disbelief.
¡°Look at the thickness of this report! How did he find all these holes in the Great Wall?¡± one eximed, flipping through the pages rapidly.
¡°It doesn¡¯t seem possible,¡± muttered another, pushing his sses up his nose as he read through Lin Xian¡¯s findings. ¡°This attack method¡ªis it even viable?¡±
¡°This is beyond anything we¡¯ve anticipated,¡± the first technician added, his brow furrowed in concern. ¡°Can these really be exploited? How did he even discover them?¡±
The severity of the situation dawned on Liu An as he observed their reactions. This wasn¡¯t just a routine vulnerability report; it was a critical, potentially devastating revtion. ¡°Verify these findings immediately,¡± he instructed. ¡°We can¡¯t take any risks.¡±
Twenty minutester, the door swung open, admitting a group of grim-faced technicians. ¡°Director Liu, it¡¯s all true,¡± one of them reported, their tone somber. ¡°And it appears some vulnerabilities have already been exploited, poised to cause havoc at any moment.¡±
¡°This is a level of intrusion we¡¯ve never seen before. If this is the work of Kevin Walker, we stand no chance on September 17th,¡± another added, referring to the uing hacker showdown.
¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve always been in awe of Kevin Walker¡¯s techniques,¡± a third technician admitted, awe mixed with a hint of fear in his voice. ¡°He¡¯s a phantom online, never seen, always felt. His methods are almost otherworldly. But these tactics¡ªthis young man¡¯s findings¡ªthey¡¯re out of this world!¡±
Liu An swiftly directed them to patch the vulnerabilities and delve deeper into Kevin Walker¡¯s techniques. ¡°We need to understand this threat if we are to stand any chance against him.¡±
As the technicians dispersed to begin their urgent tasks, the soundproof door closed with a decisive thud, sealing the room and the weighty implications of their discussions inside.
¡.
As Lin Xian walked back into the quiet intensity of the National Security Bureau¡¯s conference room, Director Liu An rose solemnly to greet him. He extended his hand, grasping Lin Xian¡¯s firmly. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, thank you for bringing these vulnerabilities to our attention. Without your timely intervention, I can¡¯t imagine the position we would be ine September 17th.¡±
Liu An then turned to acknowledge President Gao Yan with a respectful nod, the gravitas of the situation not lost on either of them. Facing Lin Xian again, he continued, ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, I understand that a man of your talents didn¡¯te here solely to deliver documents. You must have other requests. You¡¯ve done a great service to our nation, so please, feel free to ask for anything. As long as it¡¯s within our principles and regtions, I¡¯ll see it done.¡±
Lin Xian responded with a modest smile, already aware of Director Liu¡¯s reputation for straightforwardness, a trait President Gao had often spoken of. Liu An was known not just for his temper but also for his deepmitment to national security.
¡°Director Liu, there are indeed a couple of things I¡¯d like to request,¡± Lin Xian began, his voice even. ¡°The first might seem a bit unusual¡ I¡¯d like to join our national team at the World Hacker Competition. I don¡¯t need an official role; even a support position would suffice. I just want to be there, to be part of it.¡±
Liu Anughed, the tension in the room easing slightly. ¡°That¡¯s not difficult at all,¡± he replied warmly. ¡°Our team is under the direct supervision of the National Security Bureau, and we have a number of staff apanying them. Adding one more won¡¯t be a problem. In fact, with your skills, I¡¯m curious¡ªwhat would you prepare if you werepeting as a formal team member?¡±
Lin Xian maintained his modest demeanor. ¡°My skills are just average,¡± he imed. ¡°The vulnerabilities were a team effort. But hypothetically, as a team member, I¡¯d focus on hacking into Te¡¯s systems. I have a n for a TOCTOU attack on the Te Gateway, employing heap overflow and out-of-bounds writing to gainplete control over the vehicle system.¡±
Liu An was visibly impressed. ¡°Aplete takeover of Te¡¯s system is unprecedented,¡± he marveled. ¡°You have capabilities that surpass our current team members.¡±
After a moment of contemtion, Liu An proposed a solution. ¡°One of our key figures in the Sk project prefers to stay back from thepetition to focus on security. He¡¯s asked to be reced several times. Given your expertise, you could take his ce, allowing him to concentrate on Sk. What do you think?¡±
¡°I¡¯m willing to ept that role,¡± Lin Xian agreed, ready to take on whatever was necessary to contribute.
¡°Excellent,¡± Liu An said, pping Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll face Kevin Walker in the final round. But remember, it¡¯s the total score that matters, not just one match.¡±
¡°Now, what¡¯s your second request?¡± Liu An inquired, still riding the high of resolving the first so smoothly.
¡°After thepetition, I¡¯d like the same protection unit to apany me to Princeton University,¡± Lin Xian stated. ¡°I have personal matters there that require attention.¡±
¡°That can be arranged,¡± Liu An assured him, nodding in understanding. ¡°Princeton isn¡¯t far from New York, so it shouldn¡¯tplicate your return.¡±
With their agreement sealed with another handshake, Liu An encouraged Lin Xian, ¡°Let¡¯s aim for victory together!¡± He advised Lin Xian to wrap up any pending affairs and report back soon for prepetition preparations.
¡.
The next day, Lin Xian was back at Donghai University, entering the Rhine Joint Laboratory to meet with Liu Feng. He updated him on the progress of the Guizhou Sky Eye project, a joint venture with the Astronomical Research Institute. ¡°It¡¯s almost set. Once their team clears out, ourb can take over. You¡¯ll have plenty of resources here¡ªgraduate students, doctoral candidates¡ After thepetition, I¡¯ll handle the formalities in the capital. You¡¯ll get full ess to the Sky Eye.¡±
Liu Feng nearly dropped his instrument in shock. ¡°You¡¯re going to the US? For the World Hacker Competition?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian confirmed with a nod.
Liu Feng burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re joking! What do you know about hacking?¡±
¡°I picked up some programming a few months back,¡± Lin Xian replied, his tone casual yet confident.
¡°And what can someone learn in just a few months?¡± Liu Feng asked, incredulous.
¡°People have different aptitudes,¡± Lin Xian answered with a knowing smile, leaving Liu Feng speechless.
As Lin Xian prepared to leave, Liu Feng nced around theb suspiciously. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Lin Xian asked, amused.
¡°Checking if any women are around,¡± Liu Feng replied, returning to his work.
Lin Xian shook his head, smiling at the ongoing drama around him. ¡°I¡¯ll see you when I get back,¡± he said, stepping out of theb and into his car, ready for the next challenge.
¡.
Twenty minutes after Lin Xian had departed, theb door swung open with a rush. A flurry of hurried footsteps resounded through the space, and a young woman with a fluffy brown ponytail peeked inside, scanning the room. It was Chu An Qing, looking slightly out of breath.
¡°Mr. Liu Feng, is Senior Lin Xian here? I saw his car outside and came straight over after ss,¡± she inquired eagerly.
¡°You¡¯re toote,¡± Liu Feng replied without looking up from his instruments, his tone casual. ¡°He left a bit ago. He¡¯s on his way to catch a flight to the US for the World Hacker Competition.¡±
¡°What?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°He¡¯s going to the US?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Liu Feng nodded.
¡°For the World Hacker Competition?¡±
¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Liu Feng affirmed with another nod.
¡°You must be joking!¡± Chu An Qingughed, incredulous. ¡°He¡¯s not even a hacker. What¡¯s he doing in a hackerpetition?¡±
¡°People have different aptitudes,¡± Liu Feng echoed Lin Xian¡¯s earlier words, though he himself seemed to be still grappling with the reality of the statement.
As they were talking, more footsteps approached, and a tall woman dressed in a stylish short skirt and crop top leaned nonchntly against the doorframe, yfully tousling Chu An Qing¡¯s hair.
¡°You ran so fast! I called you, but you didn¡¯t hear. Your phone was off too!¡± she chided gently.
¡°Auntie!¡± Chu An Qing chuckled. ¡°Phones have to be on silent during ss, and I forgot to turn mine back on.¡±
¡°Still, you shouldn¡¯t run so fast,¡± her aunt, Su Su, admonished with augh, her tone light. ¡°Running like a rabbit chased by a wolf.¡±
Liu Feng, momentarily distracted from his work, noticed Su Su¡¯s vibrant presence. She looked to be about Lin Xian¡¯s age, around 23 or 24, with an attractive figure and a strikingly confident demeanor.
¡°Hmm¡¡± He mused, his eyes reflecting approval. It was as if a missing piece of an equation had just clicked into ce.
¡°You¡¯rete too,¡± Liu Feng remarked, returning to his serious tone. ¡°You should havee 20 minutes earlier.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Su Su looked puzzled. ¡°Why 20 minutes earlier?¡±
¡°Lin Xian was here then,¡± Liu Feng exined.
¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Su Su eximed, a mix of amusement and confusion in her voice. ¡°What¡¯s his deal?¡±
¡°He¡¯s Lin Xian¡¯s friend, Liu¡ª¡±
¡°Birds of a feather flock together,¡± Su Su interrupted, pulling Chu An Qing towards the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat. Don¡¯t hang around lunatics.¡±
¡.
That Friday afternoon, Su Su, having been nearby, had volunteered to pick Chu An Qing up from school. With her niece¡¯s phone on silent, Su Su had ended up waiting outside the ssroom building. When the final bell rang, Chu An Qing had dashed off towards the emptyb building, prompting Su Su to chase after her.
¡°Let¡¯s not go to your ce for dinner. Let¡¯s eat out,¡± Su Su suggested as she maneuvered her sleek McLaren through the streets. ¡°Your parents are too naggy. If I go there, they¡¯ll start pushing me to get married again.¡±
They settled into a quaintly decorated restaurant, ordering some of the house specialties. As they chatted, the conversation inevitably turned back to Lin Xian.
¡°What?¡± Su Su paused, her chopsticks hovering mid-air, her expression shifting to one of disbelief. ¡°Lin Xian ispeting in the World Hacker Competition? He¡¯ll embarrass himself!¡±
She couldn¡¯t help but snort, a smug look crossing her face. ¡°Sure, he¡¯s good at driving, but hacking? That¡¯s a whole different ball game. He¡¯s not even trained inputers. It¡¯s crazy for him to represent our country.¡±
¡°He¡¯s goingst, facing that American genius hacker, Kevin Walker,¡± Chu An Qing added, scrolling through updates on Douyin. ¡°The inte¡¯s full of talk about it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s even worse!¡± Su Suughed heartily. ¡°Kevin Walker is a legend, the top hacker in the world. His skills are on another level. The matchup is just absurd.¡±
¡°Lin Xian won¡¯t lose,¡± Chu An Qing dered confidently. ¡°He¡¯s too smart to enter a contest he¡¯d lose.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Su Su raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. ¡°Want to bet on it?¡±
Chapter 259: If You Like Him, Go After Him
¡°Wh-what do you want to bet?¡± Chu An Qing whispered hesitantly, her voice barely audible over the clinking of coffee cups around them.
¡°Anything you want,¡± Su Su replied with a casual shrug and a confident smile. ¡°I¡¯m your aunt, so I¡¯ll let you choose. Whatever you decide, you won¡¯t win anyway.¡±
Chu An Qing thought for a moment before replying, ¡°If I win, you have to listen to my mom. Go on blind dates like she says, find a good man, get married quickly, and settle down to raise a family!¡±
Su Su sighed, covering her forehead with her hand in exasperation. ¡°You three are always meddling in my business! Why is it such a big deal that I¡¯m young, single, and not interested in dating or getting married? Just because I¡¯m your aunt by generation doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m much older than you. I¡¯m only three or four years older, for crying out loud! I¡¯m still young!¡±
¡°And besides, I¡¯ve already decided I¡¯m not getting married. I told your mom that when you get married and have kids, I¡¯ll just be their godmother. I¡¯ll leave all my money and assets to your children and let them take care of me when I¡¯m old.¡±
Chu An Qing shook her head, trying to reason with her aunt. ¡°But that¡¯s not how it works, Auntie! If you be their godmother, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re still their great-aunt. It wouldn¡¯t make sense.¡±
¡°Pfft,¡± Su Su scoffed, rolling her eyes. ¡°Why would I want to be called grandma when I¡¯ve never been married or had kids? Forget it. We¡¯ll just stick to our usual roles. You call me Auntie, and your kids call me godmother. Easy.¡±
¡°Auntie, you can¡¯t just do whatever you want!¡± Chu An Qing said, exasperated. She sighed inwardly, feeling helpless in the face of her unpredictable and troublesome aunt.Su Su had always been like this¡ªfiery, carefree, and a bit of a loose cannon. She never followed rules and constantly worried her parents. Her mom could sometimes manage to scold her aunt due to the authority of being the older sister, but her dad was too sentimental and indebted to Su Su to discipline her effectively. He always remembered how a young Su Su had broken her piggy bank to help him out of a financial crisis.
The family had concluded that the best way to handle Su Su was to marry her off to a reliable man who could manage her. They hoped that bing a wife and mother would mellow her out.
¡°Hehe,¡± Chu An Qing smirked, feeling she had the upper hand. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Auntie? You were the one who suggested the bet. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of losing?¡±
¡°Bring it on! Who¡¯s afraid of whom?¡± Su Su couldn¡¯t resist a challenge. She mmed her hand on the table. ¡°Alright, if Lin Xian can beat Kevin Walker in the World Hacker Competition, I¡¯ll start going on blind dates intensively. I promise to go through with it!¡±
Su Su sneered. ¡°Not that you¡¯ll win. You¡¯re smitten with Lin Xian and can¡¯t see straight. Do you really think he can beat the greatest hacker in history? Miracles like that only happen in anime where friendship and love create miracles.¡±
Suddenly, Su Su¡¯s eyes lit up mischievously. ¡°Oh, I know what I want to bet! Since I¡¯ve agreed to your terms, you must agree to mine.¡±
¡°What¡ what do you mean?¡± Chu An Qing asked nervously, sipping her drink to calm her nerves.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be too outrageous.¡± Su Su¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°Since your bet involves romance, mine will too.¡±
Su Su pointed a long, red-nailed finger at Chu An Qing. ¡°If I win, you have to go after Lin Xian! Stop letting him hang around that MX Company woman, Zhao Ying Jun!¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened, and her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. ¡°What?!¡±
Her outburst drew the attention of nearby diners, and she quickly covered her mouth, apologizing with hand gestures before ring at Su Su. ¡°Auntie, you can¡¯t bet on something like that! Feelings aren¡¯t a game!¡±
¡°Oh, so your feelings matter, but mine don¡¯t?¡± Su Su teased, her smile never fading. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you to marry anyone. And besides, Lin Xian is your match, not mine. Why are you ying matchmaker?¡±
¡°Stop pretending, An Qing. I¡¯m not blind. If I¡¯d known about your feelings, I wouldn¡¯t have gone on that date with him. But it¡¯s not just about you and Lin Xian. I can¡¯t stand seeing Zhao Ying Jun win.¡±
Su Su clenched her fist. ¡°She¡¯s so arrogant! She humiliated me at the restaurant and beat me in a car race. She¡¯s always targeting me for no reason!¡±
¡°She¡¯s not like that¡¡± Chu An Qing started to defend Zhao Ying Jun, but Su Su cut her off.
¡°I don¡¯t care what she¡¯s like. I just want to see her lose. If she likes Lin Xian, then you should be with him. That¡¯ll show her!¡±
¡°No, no, no!¡± Chu An Qing shook her head vigorously. ¡°That would be immoral. I can¡¯t do that.¡±
¡°Immoral? Are Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun married? Are they even dating?¡± Su Su pressed, her gaze intense.
¡°No¡¡±
¡°Then what¡¯s immoral about it? Just tell me the truth, An Qing. Do you like Lin Xian?¡±
Chu An Qing looked up and met Su Su¡¯s gaze. Finally, she nodded slightly, her cheeks still burning. Despite herints about Su Su, she trusted her like a sister.
Su Su smiled gently, her tone softening. ¡°In my twenty-something years, I¡¯ve never been in love or liked any man. But I¡¯ve loved things¡ªclothes, shoes, cars, houses, luxury items. It¡¯s probably the same feeling. But people are unique, one of a kind. Love isn¡¯t about logic or fairness.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t tell you to do anything immoral, but liking a single man isn¡¯t wrong. I¡¯m sure many girls like Lin Xian. You¡¯re not the first or thest.¡±
¡°The best advice I can give you is this: if you like something, go after it.¡±
Chu An Qing stared at Su Su, confused.
¡°What are you waiting for? For someone to hand him to you on a silver tter?¡± Su Su downed her drink in one go and mmed the ss on the table, her eyes zing with determination. ¡°Remember my words, An Qing. If you like something, go after it!¡±
¡°What nonsense¡¡± Chu An Qing muttered, rubbing her cheek in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m not betting with you anymore!¡±
¡°Aw,e on! It¡¯s a fun bet!¡± Su Su teased, herughter filling the air. ¡°Stop being so serious. Let¡¯s go; I¡¯ll take you home.¡±
In the following days, the World Hacker Competition remained a hot topic online, with many worried about the safety of the nation¡¯s cyber defenses. The head of the National Security Agency, Liu An, reassured the public on TV, saying, ¡°Our inte security wall is imprable. We have top-notch professionals safeguarding it around the clock.¡±
This calmed many, though there was still concern over the formidable American hacker, Kevin Walker. The final team representing their country in thepetition was announced, including a surprise addition: Lin Xian, a young man recently honored for bravery.
Many were puzzled by this choice, but they trusted the authorities¡¯ decision. Thepetition¡¯s results were less important than protecting the nation¡¯s cyber security.
Meanwhile, in the Chu family¡¯s dining room, Su Xiu Ying paused while watching TV. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Lin Xian? Why is he in the World Hacker Competition? He¡¯s an art major, right?¡±
Chu Shan He exined to his wife, ¡°I think the authorities, especially the Academy of Sciences, want to boost his credentials. They appreciate his work and want to support him. Thispetition might be part of that.¡±
Su Xiu Ying smiled. ¡°Lin Xian must be quite talented to catch their eye.¡±
She then noticed her daughter¡¯s somber expression. ¡°An Qing, what¡¯s wrong?¡±
Chu An Qing was scrolling throughments online, all predicting Lin Xian¡¯s defeat. She put down her phone and resumed eating, but the food felt tasteless.
¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said quietly, feeling a sense of impending disappointment.
Chapter 260: Face Me, Mortals
The Aman Hotel, standing proudly at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, is a gem of Beaux-Arts architecture. Built in 1921, this building once housed the Museum of Modern Art before it was transformed into the Aman New York Hotel in August 2022.
The X Country National Security Agency selected this hotel for their delegation not for its historic charm or luxury, but because it met their strict security and privacy requirements.
Inside Lin Xian¡¯s hotel room, a team of technicians was busy with various devices, conducting a detailed inspection of the equipment, wires, and every possible hiding spot. This was already the fourth check since the room had been prepped; the room had undergone thorough inspections thrice before the team¡¯s arrival in the USA.
¡°No issues, Mr. Lin Xian. You can move in now,¡± the security team leader informed, giving Lin Xian a salute. ¡°Given your IT expertise, we¡¯ll skip the lecture onwork security. Just remember not to connect to unsecuredworks. We¡¯re off to the New Jersey Open Stadium tomorrow for the 2023 World Hacking Competition. Call us immediately if there¡¯s any trouble. It¡¯s best you stay indoors unless it¡¯s necessary.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged with a nod.
¡°No problem, Mr. Lin Xian,¡± the team leader responded with a smile. ¡°Director Liu An has stressed your safety. After tomorrow¡¯spetition, we¡¯ll escort you to Marshall Street in Princeton using the conste¡¯s convoy. Your safety is our priority.¡±
¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave you to rest now. Adjusting to the time zone now isn¡¯t practical; just sleep through to tomorrow evening. Goodbye.¡±
With a final wave, the security and technical team exited the room.Bang.
The door shut behind them.
Lin Xian paced his room briefly before calling out softly, ¡°VV?¡±
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± responded a voice from therge TV in the suite¡¯s living room.
¡°I¡¯ve been here from the start. I¡¯ve checked all nearbyworks. No traps, no surveince, and no sign of that infamous hacker. It looks likeing here was the right move. Lin Xian, that hacker is more focused on the Great Firewall back in X Country than anything happening here in the US.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°To Kevin Walker, the world¡¯s top hacker, our attempts to hack an iPhone, infiltrate Google, or meddle with your Te hacking program are mere child¡¯s y. This hackingpetition is just his stage to strut. He¡¯s obsessed with breaking into the X Country Sk system.¡±
When Lin Xian¡¯s ne hadnded in the US, VV had quickly said, ¡°See youter, bro!¡± and disappeared into the airport¡¯s wirelesswork, as instructed. Its tasks were to infiltrate USworks, gather information on Kevin Walker, and acquire global facial recognition data.
Both tasks were crucial.
The answers might even reveal that the enigmatic old man from Lin Xian¡¯s fourth dream is Kevin Walker¡ªthe very adversary he was about to confront.
VV¡¯s earlier message confirmed the USworks were secure, far from the scrutiny of X Country¡¯s Great Firewall. Kevin Walker, despite his prowess, couldn¡¯t monitor the entire world.
¡°Got it. I¡¯m collecting facial recognition data now,¡± VV dered, mimicking a DJ by spinning a record on the turntable and singing in an overly dramatic opera voice.
¡°Can you cut out the theatrics?¡± Lin Xian groaned.
¡°This! Is! Culture!¡± VV belted, drawing out each word melodramatically.
Lin Xian unplugged the record yer. ¡°Ever considered a career in Hollywood?¡±
¡°Good idea.¡± The room then fell silent, perhaps indicating VV was mulling over the suggestion.
Lin Xian yawned and stretched, ready to sleep. VV¡¯s efficiency and dedication reassured him, but its jokes indicated everything was under control.
¡°Time to sleep.¡±
¡.
¡°Lin Xian, I couldn¡¯t find it,¡± VV¡¯s voice emerged from Lin Xian¡¯s phone on the bedside table the next morning.
¡°No match for the old man¡¯s sketch? Or nothing on Kevin Walker?¡±
¡°None of it,¡± VV replied somberly. ¡°The sketch was a rough guess; it might not be urate. Plus, it¡¯s possible the old man hasn¡¯t been born yet in 2023. But Kevin Walker¡¯splete absence is weird. He¡¯s active online, but there¡¯s no real-world trace. It¡¯s like he¡¯s vanished.¡±
Lin Xian pondered this. ¡°Invisible, nonexistent, hidden, a ghost¡ These traits remind me of the Genius Club.¡±
The Genius Club was a legendary, secretive organization, seemingly absent from history yet omnipresent. Lin Xian had seen his own historical trace disappear in his third dream. Even VV couldn¡¯t find a single clue, yet Lin Xian knew he existed, much like Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s old photos had mysteriously disappeared.
Kevin Walker¡¯s invisibility, with no avable data, pointed to a thorough erasure. This realization was sobering.
¡°Sometimes, the gap between people isrger than between people and dogs,¡± Lin Xian mused aloud.
He now understood the immense power of the Genius Club. He had thought VV would dominate 2023¡¯s technology easily. Yet, the real world revealed extraordinary geniuses beyond his initial understanding.
¡°If Kevin Walker is a member of the Genius Club or if they have other skilled hackers, that would exin their centuries-long anonymity. It also exins why I failed in the fourth dream, despite VV¡¯s help. Their power is overwhelming. Handling even one Kevin Walker is tough; imagine facing more?¡±
¡°Hey, hey, hey!¡± VV¡¯s indignant voice came from the microwave, where it had relocated.
¡°What now?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Don¡¯t be so negative! I didn¡¯t fail; I just couldn¡¯t find Kevin Walker¡¯s info. He hasn¡¯t found me either. We¡¯re equals. I can¡¯t find him; he can¡¯t find me!¡±
VV continued, ¡°You¡¯re pushing me too hard! I¡¯ve been non-stop since I got here, helping you, learning, evolving. I need a break! Maybe at the data center by the Three Gorges Dam, with its cooling natural spring water, or a wind turbine in the northwest, basking in the sun, or even the Red River Nuclear Power nt. Anything¡¯s better than this!¡±
Lin Xian approached the microwave. ¡°Isn¡¯t electricity just electricity? What¡¯s the difference?¡±
¡°Hydropower is cleaner, wind power less precise, and nuclear power the purest. Sr power is garbage!¡± VV retorted haughtily.
Lin Xian resisted the urge to punch the microwave, realizing he had fallen into another of VV¡¯s joke traps. ¡°Can we focus? I know you¡¯re still developing, but we need to recognize our weaknesses to improve.¡±
Lin Xian returned to the living room, where hisptop disyed the US team¡¯s roster for the 2023 World Hacking Competition. The first four members had names and photos. The fifth, Kevin Walker, was represented only by a hooded silhouette.
¡°If we can¡¯t find him online, we¡¯ll find him in person,¡± Lin Xian dered, tapping the silhouette. ¡°We¡¯ll unmask Kevin Walker and see who he really is.¡±
Lin Xian suspected Kevin Walker was the old man from his fourth dream. Finding one would mean finding both.
¡.
8 PM, New Jersey Open Stadium, New York
The New Jersey Open Stadium, formerly known as MetLife Stadium, was alive with excitement. Typically home to NFL games and massive concerts, tonight it hosted the 2023 World Hacking Competition.
The stadium, capable of holding over 80,000 people, was packed. This year¡¯spetition had garnered unprecedented attention. The US Department of Defense had even rented the $1.6 billion venue to highlight Kevin Walker¡¯s skills.
As the teams from various countries and corporations took their ces, the X Country team was met with boos from the American crowd, reflecting the tense online rivalry.
When the US team appeared, the stadium erupted in cheers. The first four members, typical IT professionals, quickly settled into their seats. Thest to enter was a shorter figure in oversized Nike shoes and a hoodie that concealed his face.
This was the prodigy, the 16-year-old genius hacker, Kevin Walker.
As Walker approached his seat, he paused, gazing down. The camera zoomed in, focusing on his hooded figure on the stadium¡¯s giant screen.
¡°He¡¯s about to strike a pose!¡± VV alerted Lin Xian through his earpiece.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian questioned.
¡°Just watch, he¡¯s going for a dramatic gesture!¡± VV insisted.
And true to VV¡¯s prediction, as the camera zoomed closer to his upper body, Walker slowly raised his right hand from his pocket, clenched his fist, then extended his index finger upwards.
Amid the thunderous apuse, his youthful yet confident voice boomed through the stadium¡¯s speakers: ¡°Face me, mortals!¡±
¡.
Lin Xian watched intently as Kevin Walker¡¯s deration echoed around the stadium. The crowd¡¯s reaction was a mixture of awe and excitement, their cheers intensifying. Beneath his hood, this young hacker exuded a confidence that captivated everyone.
¡°He¡¯s quite the showman,¡± VV remarked dryly.
Lin Xian silently agreed. Kevin Walker certainly knew how to make an entrance.
The stage was set, and the challengeid bare. Tomorrow, they would face each other not just aspetitors, but as representatives of their nations¡¯ cyber capabilities.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± VV shifted to a more serious tone. ¡°Are you ready for this?¡±
Taking a deep breath, feeling the gravity of the forting contest, Lin Xian responded, ¡°Ready as I¡¯ll ever be,¡± his voice filled with resolve.
Closing hisptop, Lin Xian headed to bed. Tomorrow would mark a pivotal moment, not just for him, but for the entire cybersecurity world. As he drifted to sleep, thoughts of the Genius Club and their formidable influence lingered. Thepetition was merely the beginning.
Chapter 261: Shout Out from the Center of the World
BOOM!
The stadium trembled under the force of a massive explosion, sending vibrations through the entire structure that every person present could feel. At the epicenter was Kevin Walker, a teenage prodigy renowned for his ir for the dramatic. The crowd, which numbered 80,000 strong, burst into a frenzy of cheers and apuse, electrifying the atmosphere in a way that felt almost tangible.
¡°Wow! A master! A real master!¡± one spectator eximed, his voice filled with unbridled excitement.
¡°A genius! A true genius! He really pulled it off this time!¡±
Through his Bluetooth earpiece, Lin Xian heard VV¡¯s excitement, which was so loud it almost burst his eardrum.
Gritting his teeth, Lin Xian whispered sharply, ¡°Why are you shouting so loud?¡±
¡°That was so cool! Really cool! A genius! A true genius! Lin Xian, I want to y too! You should do something like thatter! I¡¯ve even thought of the lines for you¡ª¡±
¡°Shut up and focus,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, his voice low and urgent. He nced around, wary of prying ears. ¡°VV, have you figured out how to stop Kevin Walker from attacking the SkyNet system?¡±¡°Rx, I had it all nned out yesterday,¡± VV replied, his tone now moreposed. ¡°I¡¯ll use the same strategy as Kevin Walker. Fight fire with fire! He cornered us, leaving no gaps. I realized then how to counter this arrogant genius. That¡¯s why I brought you to America¡ª¡±
¡°ording to the World Hacking Contest rules, all attacks must originate from thepetition site. So, Kevin Walker must issue hismands from here, from theputer right across from us. Isn¡¯t it simple?¡±
¡°He trapped us, not letting us out¡ So, I¡¯ll trap America, not letting him out! Hismand signals can¡¯t leave America, so how can he attack the Inte Security Great Wall?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about being discovered. I¡¯ve covered our tracks well. I¡¯ve infiltrated America¡¯s major power andwork systems. When we enter the free demonstration phase and Kevin starts his hack, I¡¯ll disrupt the power or thework at crucial transmission points across America. Hismands will remain trapped here, unable to escape!¡±
Assured by VV¡¯s cunning n, Lin Xian turned his attention back to the teenage genius, who had now returned to his seat amid a thunderous ovation.
VV¡¯s approach was not straightforward like typical programming; it was more akin to human chess, trapping your adversary physically to counter their virtual constraints.
Lin Xian smiled wryly, recalling inte memes about cutthroat business tactics and invincible hackers who simply cut power to solve problems.
VV, adept in navigating the nuances of the World Hacking Contest, knew that intercepting Kevin Walker directly was forbidden; it wouldpromise their stealth. However, being in close proximity to Walker meant they could monitor and potentially disrupt his operations without detection.
Kevin, known for his mboyance and pride, was unlikely to engage in covert actions that could sully his public image. Outside thepetition, subterfuge might be fair game, but within the confines of this arena, he would abide by the rules, especially given his spectacr entry.
VV¡¯s strategy was brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness, keeping Lin Xian out of the direct spotlight. Any system failures on the American side would appear unconnected to Lin Xian, presenting him merely as an observer¡ªa subtle yer in a high-stakes game.
¡°Nice n,¡± Lin Xian murmured, genuinely impressed. ¡°If the earlier version of you was VV in its infancy, now you¡¯re surely VV in your prime. You¡¯ve grown stronger.¡±
VV chuckled mischievously, ¡°Muahaha¡ Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, never underestimate a young hacker¡¯s potential!¡±
Lin Xian sighed, a hint of amusement in his tone, ¡°Learn something proper, VV. Drop those cheesy lines.¡±
The 2023 World Hacking Contest proceeded without a hitch. Competitors demonstrated their skills by exposing vulnerabilities in systems like Android, Apple, Microsoft, and even Google. The breaches were prepared ahead of time, allowing for swift execution and immediate results.
Apuse and des were plentiful, with sponsors rewarding the hackers who followed the rules by disclosing the exploits they used, helping thepanies fortify their defenses.
As the contest drew to a close, it was evident that the X Team and the American Team were the frontrunners. Unlike others who were there for the prize money and acim, these national teams brought their best talent, setting them apart from the rest.
Many teams opted out of the free demonstration phase, knowing their chances against Kevin Walker were slim. It was smarter to save their exploits for another day, where the bnce between earning a living and avoiding jail was less precarious.
Lin Xian checked the scoreboard¡ªAmerica was slightly ahead, leading thepetition.
Despite the mounting pressure, his teammates were supportive. ¡°Stay rxed. Everyone knows you¡¯re up against Kevin Walker in the fifth slot, but we can¡¯t just forfeit¡ªthat would be ridiculous. Just go up there and do your thing; no pressure.¡±
¡°The real battle isn¡¯t here,¡± another teammate added. ¡°It¡¯s in protecting the Inte Security Great Wall. Preventing Kevin Walker from breaching the SkyNet system¡ªthat¡¯s our true victory. This championship is just a title.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, exchanging high-fives with the senior members. His focus wasn¡¯t on winning the contest but on safeguarding the system. As long as they protected the SkyNet system, they would have achieved their true goal.
The team leader drew lots for the presentation order¡ªAmerica would go first, followed by X Team. Kevin Walker would take the stage first, then it would be Lin Xian¡¯s turn.
¡°VV, get ready,¡± Lin Xian whispered as the moment drew near.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian, everything¡¯s set. When he sends hismands, key nodes hundreds of kilometers away will experience brief power orwork disruptions. It¡¯s subtle but effective enough to ensure hismands fail,¡± VV assured him confidently.
Lin Xian looked up, watching as Kevin Walker confidently approached the stage. The crowd was supposed to be quiet ording to the rules, but the cheers from 80,000 spectators were unstoppable. Kevin thrived under the spotlight, his hand poised above the Enter key.
In the National Security Command Room, the tech team was on high alert. ¡°Is the attack here?¡± one asked anxiously.
¡°Yes! But it¡¯s weaker than expected. We can handle this!¡± another responded, a note of relief in his voice. They had braced for a more formidable assault, but it seemed Kevin Walker¡¯s real focus was elsewhere, and even that was less powerful than anticipated.
Back in the stadium, the once jubnt crowd fell silent. News of a breach into the SkyNet system was expected, but it didn¡¯te. Kevin, usuallyposed and in control, was visibly flustered, frantically typing at his console.
Lin Xian pressed his earpiece, ¡°VV, what¡¯s happening?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve blocked 99.56% of his attackmands, but a few slipped through. No system is perfect; various factors can affect the timing. One of our devices even failed due to old age¡ I had to cut power to the entire city,¡± VV exined calmly, though there was a hint of frustration in his voice.
¡°If I were intercepting directly on-site, I could¡¯ve blocked everything, but we needed to remain hidden. Kevin Walker¡¯s strategy was more sophisticated than I anticipated¡¡±
¡°But don¡¯t worry, the fewmands that got through are manageable by their security team. The free demonstration phase has a time limit, so Kevin Walker is out of options,¡± VV added, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and relief.
¡°Lin Xian, congrattions! You¡¯re about to win the World Hacking Contest! He won¡¯t score any points, and your Te hack will us 17 points, putting X Team in the lead!¡± VV cheered.
Lin Xian was about to respond when suddenly, across the stage, Kevin pulled out a USB drive, plugged it into hisputer, and executed something unexpected.
VV had secured the perimeter of the American inte; no signals were supposed to escape. What was Kevin up to now?
Then, remembering Kevin¡¯s theatrical entrance and the logo of the Genius Club pointing skyward, Lin Xian realized toote what was happening¡
The stadium screens lit up with an announcement: Beidou Satellite RD12142658 Hacked!
A thunderous apuse and cheers broke out, even louder than before. Although Kevin hadn¡¯t prated the SkyNet system, he had achieved something even more spectacr¡ªhe had hacked a satellite in the opponent¡¯s navigation system, an unprecedented feat in the contest¡¯s history.
ording to the rules, hacking a national satellite was a major coup, worth 80 points¡ªa move that secured victory for the American team.
The venue erupted with chants of ¡°Kevin! Kevin! Kevin!¡±
¡°Sorry, Lin Xian,¡± VV¡¯s voice came through, tinged with disappointment. ¡°I always feared being too conspicuous, so I didn¡¯t extend our reach too far¡ Surrounding the American inte border was as much as I dared. By the time I realized he¡¯d use Starlink satellites to bypass terrestrialworks and hack the Beidou satellite from space, it was toote.¡±
Kevin had exploited a loophole in SpaceX¡¯s Starlink system, using over 20,000 satellites to ry signals rapidly and breach the Beidou satellite orbiting Earth.
¡°I¡¯m still not strong enough. For the first time¡ I wish I could grow up faster,¡± VV confessed, his tone somber.
¡°It¡¯s okay, VV,¡± Lin Xian reassured him. ¡°We¡¯re in a foreign country, and you performed excellently without blowing our cover. Like you said, in hacking, attacking is often easier than defending. I understand the challenges we faced.¡±
¡°Besides, defending the Inte Security Great Wall and the SkyNet system is our real victory. Even though it might seem like a constion, we¡¯ve actually won,¡± Lin Xian added, trying to lift VV¡¯s spirits.
The X Team members, smiling, exchanged high-fives in a celebratory gesture. An older team member patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder reassuringly, ¡°RD Beidou satellites are civilian-grade, don¡¯t worry. Kevin Walker had to resort to this drastic measure after failing to breach the Inte Security Great Wall.¡±
¡°He actually lost, ording to the contest rules. This Beidou satellite vulnerability now has to be disclosed to us. Military and civilian systems have oveps. Kevin¡¯s victory in this contest means he¡¯s handing us a critical security w for free!¡± the team leader added, also grinning.
¡°Yes, breaching the Beidou satellite so quickly suggests a serious w. It¡¯s better to know about it now than to discover our Beidou systempromisedter,¡± another member pointed out.
Lin Xian looked around at his relieved teammates and felt reassured. These professionals were not overly concerned, so it couldn¡¯t be a grave issue.
While the Americans celebrated, believing they had secured a major victory by hacking a Beidou satellite, the X Team also felt victorious, having defended the Inte Security Great Wall and uncovered a significant w in their own system.
This contest had turned out to be a win-win situation.
The only apparent loser was Lin Xian, who was now stepping onto the stage.
Kevin Walker¡¯s sessful satellite hack had added 80 points to the American team¡¯s score.
Lin Xian¡¯s uing Te hack was worth only 17 points.
But losing was eptable. Winning the contest had never been their main goal.
Losing a single match didn¡¯t diminish Lin Xian¡¯s resolve.
The cheers gradually faded, and after about ten minutes, the host returned to the stage, announcing it was Lin Xian¡¯s turn for the X Team¡¯s free demonstration phase.
At that moment, the 80,000-seat stadium fell eerily silent.
No apuse.
No cheers.
No shouts.
No support.
Nothing.
Lin Xian stood up from the preparation area and walked boldly towards the stage.
Suddenly¡
¡°Boo¡ª¡ª¡±
A wave of disrespectful boos echoed through the stadium.
¡°Boo¡ª¡ª¡±
In unison, the 80,000 American spectators booed Lin Xian!
All around,
Front and back,
Left and right,
Up and down,
Full of boos!
Lin Xian looked around.
Surrounded by boos¡
The 80,000-seat stadium felt vast and empty.
Boos could be so quiet, yet so loud.
¡°Boo¡ª¡ª¡±
¡°Boo¡ª¡ª¡±
The relentless, uniform boos drowned Lin Xian¡
¡°Lin Xian ¡ª¡ª¡ª Go for it ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡±
Amidst the ceaseless boos, a clear and loud cheer broke through!
Clear.
Loud.
Deafening amidst the boos of 80,000 people.
Instantly.
The stadium fell silent.
Everyone stood or turned, searching for the source of the lone cheer.
The 80,000-seat stadium was vast¡
Too vast to find anything.
Everyone looked around, but the source of the cheer remained elusive.
Whoosh!
In the wind, a fabric unfurled.
At the top of the New Jersey stadium, a square of red fluttered in the wind!
The X Team¡¯s red g!
A bright red g of the X Team!
All eyes, including Lin Xian¡¯s, turned to the g¡ªA petite but proud girl.
She raised her hands high.
Holding the fluttering red g above her head.
Her fluffy ponytail swayed in the wind, but her slender figure stood firm in the night wind!
¡°Lin Xian, Senior!¡± She shouted with all her might, looking at the man destined to lose on stage: ¡°Go for it!!!!¡±
Chapter 262: Turing
Chu An Qing stood on her tiptoes, trying to make herself taller so Lin Xian could see her. She shouted with all her might, using every ounce of her strength, afraid that Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t hear her.
Surrounded by an audience full of Americans, she felt genuinely scared. Initially, she hadn¡¯t even dared to bring out the cheering red g she had prepared, opting instead to quietly watch thepetition.
But¡
When she saw Lin Xian appear on stage and heard the collective boos of the eighty thousand Americans present, she could no longer sit still.
Suddenly, she recalled the words her teacher, Liu Feng, had once told her: ¡°There is something in this world that is prepared for you, born for you, and only you can do it.¡±
Only you can do it¡ no one else.
If such a moment truly exists, isn¡¯t it now?
Chu An Qing always knew that her mind was not particrly sharp. She had no special skills or talents and wouldn¡¯t achieve great things in her lifetime. She couldn¡¯t really help Senior Lin Xian much. She watched as her senior got promotions, started apany, built aboratory, conducted research, received des, and represented the country inpetitions. She felt happy and often proud but was at a loss about what she, an ordinary person, could do.But when she saw that no one in X Country had any expectations for Lin Xian, when she saw all the Americans mocking and booing Lin Xian, when the whole world believed it was a match that would undoubtedly be lost¡
Lose or not, it didn¡¯t matter anymore!
At that moment, Chu An Qing truly realized there were more important things than winning and losing. Even if he lost, he had to lose amidst cheers and apuse! To lose with honor, to lose with glory! Even if only one person cheered for him, at least he wouldn¡¯t be alone. There would still be someone in this world who believed he could win!
Even if he was facing the world¡¯s strongest hacker, the most formidable hacker in human history, Kevin Walker, she believed in him without reason or logic!
Even if the whole world denied him, it didn¡¯t matter. She would be his world!
She bit her lip, forcing herself to stand straight despite her fear, raising the red g high!
¡°FUCK!¡±
¡°SON OF A BITCH!!¡±
In front of her, a fewrge African-American men, who had been swearing loudly, stood up and stormed angrily toward Chu An Qing. She stepped back, but her foot slipped, and she fell backward¡ª
Thud.
Behind her, a pair of gentle hands caught her shoulders, steadying her. Then, several burly X Country inclothes officers, with short haircuts and sunsses, surrounded the area.
¡°Ying Jun¡ Sister Ying Jun?¡±
Chu An Qing turned her head to look at the elegant woman behind her.
No. This wasn¡¯t Sister Zhao Ying Jun.
At first nce, the unique temperament and feeling made Chu An Qing think the person who caught her was Zhao Ying Jun. But now, standing steadily, she realized¡ this woman was much older than Zhao Ying Jun. She seemed to be in her thirties, with a well-proportioned figure, a gentle and reassuring demeanor, and the most captivating feature¡ her deep blue, ss-like eyes. Bright, reflecting moonlight, stars, seemingly flowing and rotating.
¡°Sorry, I mistook you for someone else,¡± Chu An Qing apologized.
The woman reached out to pat her head, smiling softly: ¡°No matter how many times, you¡¯re always so brave.¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°You¡ you know me?¡±
The woman smiled without answering, protecting Chu An Qing in front of her: ¡°Just wait and see. What gift will he give you this time?¡±
¡.
In the middle of the bustling auditorium, Lin Xian watched from the stage as Chu An Qing was rescued by Yellow Finch. He let out a relieved sigh. Yellow Finch had the timing and presence of a Hollywood star, always showing up just when needed. So far, she had proven herself trustworthy, aiding Lin Xian and his teammate Liu Feng with her cryptic yet helpful messages. With Chu An Qing under Yellow Finch¡¯s protection, Lin Xian felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
Onstage, Chu An Qing and Yellow Finch were smiling broadly at him. Chu An Qing, brimming with energy, waved her arms enthusiastically and silently mouthed words of encouragement. Her excitement was palpable, like a spirited duckling cheering from the sidelines, ready to leap up and join the fray.
From his Bluetooth headset, Lin Xian heard the teasing voice of his friend VV: ¡°Lin Xian, it looks like hacking a Te isn¡¯t going to cut it this time.¡±
¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Lin Xian asked, intrigued.
VV¡¯s voice was brimming with mischief as he proposed, ¡°How about we light up the sky? Just say the magic words ¡®shame theory¡¯, and I¡¯ll set off a fireworks show using all 20,000 of Elon Musk¡¯s Starlink satellites. Imagine the spectacle for Chu An Qing!¡±
¡°Kevin Walker already hacked the Starlink system to attack the Beidou satellite,¡± VV continued. ¡°If he could exploit that vulnerability, so can we. Hurry up! Say the magic words, and let¡¯s swap some power around. I can light up the skies over New York and New Jersey for you!¡±
Lin Xian sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation coloring his tone, ¡°Why are you still so hung up on that ¡®Dragon Tribe¡¯ game? And why do you and Ji Lin obsess over fireworks so much?¡±
¡°Because girls love fireworks!¡± VV eximed, his voice full of excitement. ¡°Fireworks are the ultimate romantic gesture! Who could resist a sky full of them? Give me some time to tweak the satellite orbits, and I could even spell out her name!¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, ¡°Forget the fireworks. I¡¯ve done that before. But you¡¯re right about one thing¡ªChu An Qing came all this way just to support me. I can¡¯t let her down if I lose. That would be disappointing after all her support.¡±
¡°Too much spectacle isn¡¯t good either. First, it breaks thepetition rules and could disqualify us. Second, it could blow our cover. We need a solution that keeps us under the radar but still clinches the win¡¡±
¡°I think using the Starlink vulnerability is our best shot,¡± Lin Xian concluded. ¡°If we can control a few more satellites to create a specific pattern, and if our score tops 80, our team from X Country will secure the victory.¡±
Excited by the n, VV suddenly shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve got it! Let¡¯s give Chu An Qing her very own star!¡±
Lin Xianughed, ¡°Like Yun Tianming did for Cheng Xin in ¡®Three-Body¡¯? You can¡¯t be serious.¡±
¡°No, something bigger,¡± VV replied, his voice filled with anticipation. ¡°I want the whole world to know who this star is for!¡±
¡.
In the bustlingmand center of SpaceX¡¯s Starlink project, a technician swiveled his chair toward his supervisor, concern etched on his face.
¡°We¡¯ve traced the source,¡± he announced. ¡°The hacker attack came from a stadium in New Jersey. But it looks like there¡¯s no damage to our Starlink satellites. They just used them to pass data along.¡±
The supervisor, a stern figure, nodded grimly. ¡°We got lucky this time¡ªthey werepetitors in the World Hacker Championship, so they followed rules that prevent causing actual damage. But we might not be so fortunate next time. We need to patch these vulnerabilities ASAP!¡±
Suddenly, a frantic beep interrupted their conversation. A female technician, her fingers flying over her keyboard, turned pale. ¡°ess denied?!¡± she gasped. ¡°Why have all permissions to the Starlink satellites been revoked?¡±
rms echoed through themand center, each tone a harbinger of worse news toe. Reports flooded in from the staff:
¡°Satellite AA113, AA435¡ªthey¡¯ve initiated reverse thrust!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just those¡ªZ007, Z009, up to satellite 1095! They¡¯re all losing altitude!¡±
A technician reported the grim statistics, ¡°Over 4,000 Starlink satellites in the night side of the Northern Hemisphere are slowing down and dropping! Their average altitude is plummeting from 550 kilometers¡ to 520¡ 470¡ and it¡¯s still falling!¡±
Panic was setting in. ¡°Who¡¯s got control over our satellites? Where are they taking them? If they keep slowing down, they won¡¯t have enough speed to stay in orbit¡ªthey¡¯ll get pulled into the atmosphere and burn up!¡±
Another update came through, this time pinpointing the culprit. ¡°We¡¯ve got it! The attack¡¯s stilling from the World Hacker Championship in New Jersey. But it¡¯s not Kevin Walker¡ªit¡¯s Lin Xian from the X Country team! He exploited the same vulnerability as Walker and moved so fast we couldn¡¯t stop him!¡±
The supervisor wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind racing with the implications.
This was a serious breach of thepetition¡¯s rules.
Using a vulnerability to cause actual harm not only meant disqualification but also legal repercussions. They had all signed agreements¡ªcausing real damage was strictly forbidden.
But why? If you¡¯re showing off your skills, why not just take control? Why initiate a reverse thrust that would cause the satellites to lose speed and threaten to crash?
¡°Altitude is still dropping! Those 4,000 satellites are aligning into five straight lines in a tight formation. They¡¯re down to 370 kilometers now¡ still decelerating! Are they trying to drag these satellites right into the atmosphere?¡±
The room fell silent as the magnitude of the situation settled in. The supervisor rushed to the front, staring at therge screen which disyed the orbital diagram of the Starlink satellites.
Over 20,000 white dots moved rapidly around Earth, aplex and normally wlesswork. Yet now, in the Northern Hemisphere¡ªover North America, the western Pacific, and the eastern Antic¡ªabout 4,000 of these dots were dangerously close to a 300-kilometer altitude.
Were they about to crash?
The supervisor¡¯s mind raced as he wiped more sweat from his forehead. If the intent was just to crash the satellites, why the meticulous control over their direction, arranging them into five precise lines?
The lowering of the orbit, the strategic alignment¡
What exactly was the X Country team nning to achieve with their free disy session?
¡.
At the New Jersey stadium, filled with 80,000 spectators, a buzz of confused conversations filled the air. The audience was puzzled by the actions of a youngpetitor from X Country. During this free disy session, where performances didn¡¯t have to be pre-reported and could be changed spontaneously, it was all about showcasing skill and creativity.
No one could guess what the young man onstage from X Country was up to.
And really, what could he do at this point?
He was up against Kevin Walker, a formidable opponent who had already breached X Country¡¯s Beidou satellite. With a daunting 80-point deficit, it seemed impossible for him to turn the tide.
Suddenly, a shout pierced through the noise of the crowd:
¡°Look at the sky! Everyone, look up!¡±
This shout triggered a wave of excitement. The entire stadium, packed to the brim, turned their eyes skyward to the previously dark and empty night sky.
In an instant, exmations filled the air.
From the darkness where not even the moon had shone through the clouds all evening, a line of bright points streaked across the sky, resembling a swift silver snake cutting through the night.
But it wasn¡¯t just one line.
¡°Look south! Another line of bright points! What¡¯s happening?¡±
¡°And in the east, too! Two more lines! Are those UFOs?¡±
The stadium erupted into chaos, the spectators awestruck by the spectacle unfolding above them. The intersecting lines of light in the sky seemed like a miracle.
At the top of the stands, Chu An Qing stood gaping, her eyes wide as she watched the continuously emerging lines. In the western sky, two more lines appeared, making a total of five straight lines slicing through the darkness, all converging at a single point.
They were precise, radiant, and mesmerizing.
What were these lights?
Why were they shining?
How had this been achieved?
¡°Those are Starlink satellites,¡± exined Yellow Finch, standing behind Chu An Qing. ¡°Usually, Starlink satellites operate at an altitude of over 550 kilometers, so you wouldn¡¯t normally see them. For them to be visible like this¡ their altitude must have dropped to around 300 kilometers, or maybe even lower.¡±
¡°At that height, satellites are still normally invisible to the naked eye; they¡¯re quite small. But at night, in the dark sky, any small light source looks as bright as a star.¡±
She smiled and gently tucked a stray lock of Chu An Qing¡¯s hair behind her ear, securing it with a hairpin: ¡°Just like you. Even if the whole world is silent or booing, your cheering would still be loud and clear.¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes were wide with wonder, her gaze fixed on the bright lines streaking across the sky. Two of the lines had already intersected, forming a striking cross in the heavens.
¡°But¡¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. ¡°Why do satellites glow like that?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the sunlight reflecting off them,¡± Yellow Finch exined, her eyes also on the five bright, straight lines slowly intersecting in the sky. ¡°The sr panels and other reflective materials on satellites catch the sunlight. Usually, they don¡¯t reflect light so evenly and brightly. When satellites change their orbit¡ªeither ascending or descending¡ªthey rotate to stabilize their position, and that makes the sunlight reflect off them more uniformly.¡±
She chuckled as Chu An Qing scratched her head, a bit embarrassed butughing along. ¡°So, this is Lin Xian¡¯s project for the free disy? It¡¯s incredible!¡±
¡°Hehe, you¡¯re the incredible one,¡± Yellow Finch teased, yfully tapping Chu An Qing¡¯s nose. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, he might not have pulled off this little stunt. Consider it a special gift for you.¡±
Chu An Qing blushed, flustered yet unable to tear her gaze from the spectacle. The bright lines mirrored in her eyes, converging at a central point: ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful.¡±
Yellow Finch looked up once more, her eyes softening as she watched the intersecting lines: ¡°Yes, it¡¯s truly beautiful¡ I¡¯m a little jealous.¡±
¡.
Finally, the night had its climax.
In the hushed awe of 80,000 spectators in the stadium, the night sky transformed spectacrly. Four thousand Starlink satellites aligned perfectly, each of the five bright lines intersecting at roughly 30-degree angles. Above, they sketched a vast, unmistakable shape across the expanse of darkness¡ªa star.
This wasn¡¯t just any star. It was immense, dominating the sky above, crafted from the light of human ingenuity and technology.
Simultaneously, the giant screen at thepetition venue flickered to life. It showcased a video of Chu An Qing proudly waving the red g of X Country.
A profound silence fell over the stadium. Eighty thousand people were utterly speechless, captivated by the spectacle and the implications of what they had just witnessed.
Then, two lines of text floated across the big screen:
¡°Starlink Satellite ZAZ series, 4217 satellites breached!¡±
¡°X Country team score¡ª337,360 points!¡±
¡.
Meanwhile, far from New Jersey, in Boca Chica, Texas, at the SpaceX rocketunch site, the world¡¯s richest man, Elon Musk, leaned nonchntly against a tallunch tower. He gazed up at the star-shaped configuration of satellites now shining in the American sky and chuckled lightly.
¡°Kids¡ have my satellites have be your toys?¡±
His musings were interrupted by the rapid thumping of footsteps. A female secretary, sses framed in red, hurried up the stairs.
¡°Mr. Elon Musk! Why didn¡¯t you have your phone with you? There¡¯s been a major incident with the Starlink project¡ the satellites¡ª¡±
¡°Do you really need to report that?¡± Musk interrupted, raising a hand to pause her mid-sentence. His eyes were still fixed on the gradually fading star in the sky. ¡°I can see it right there.¡±
¡°But why¡ why are you so calm?¡± The secretary adjusted her sses, perplexed by Musk¡¯s unnerving calmness. The hacking of Starlink, the potential fallout in stock, user trust, and reputation¡ªit was a critical blow to one of SpaceX¡¯s gship endeavors and Musk¡¯s pride.
¡°What¡¯s there to panic about?¡± Musk replied, his voice steady and indifferent. ¡°Where there¡¯s a program, there are vulnerabilities. Where there are vulnerabilities, there will be hacks. It¡¯s all inevitable. Besides, we learn far more from failures than from sesses.¡±
Musk continued, reflective yet undisturbed, ¡°Starlink has been operational for years, and this is its first real hack. I¡¯m almost disappointed¡ I wish it got hacked more often. If hackers can¡¯t breach Starlink, how can I uncover ws? How can we advance our technology, enhance our safety, or push the boundaries of what we¡¯re capable of?¡±
¡°But we lost!¡± the secretary insisted, her voice rising slightly as she stepped beside Musk. ¡°On American soil, an X Country contestant used American satellites to draw a star in our sky. It¡¯s not just a loss for Kevin Walker¡ªit¡¯s a loss for America.¡±
Musk chuckled, almost as if he found humor in the situation. ¡°Losing is always a possibility for America, and for us. But Kevin Walker losing? No.¡±
He pushed off the steel frame to lean on the railing, his gaze lifting to the moon now peeking through the clouds. ¡°Kevin Walker might seem a coward, but lose? Never.¡±
¡°After all¡¡± Musk¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, imbued with a mix of respect and irony, ¡°he¡¯s n Turing.¡±
Chapter 263: The True Genius
Lin Xian gazed up at the night sky, marveling at the sight of 4,000 Starlink satellites forming a giant pentagram. He then turned his attention back to therge screen disying a video of a waving red g. With a satisfied nod, he spoke.
¡°Good job, VV,¡± he said. ¡°Very creative. In a few hundred years, people might see this as a ssic trope.¡±
When VV first suggested using Starlink satellites to create shapes in the sky, Lin Xian immediately understood the concept. News stories often reported lines of small lights streaking across the night sky, mistaken for UFOs. However, in the age of the inte, these sightings were quickly debunked as the newlyunched Starlink satellites by Elon Musk.
The Starlink low-Earth orbit satellite constetion, a project by SpaceX, was part of Musk¡¯smercial empire. With over 20,000 Starlink satellites already in orbit and ns tounch another 22,000, the goal was to cover the entire low Earth orbit.
Typically, satellites at this altitude were invisible to the naked eye. However, freshlyunched satellites initially orbited much lower and were visible as they gradually ascended to their final altitude of 550 kilometers. These satellites, reflecting sunlight, were often mistaken for mysterious flying objects.
VV had cleverly exploited this ¡°benign bug.¡± By decelerating the satellites, he reduced their centrifugal force, allowing Earth¡¯s gravity to pull them back to a lower orbit. This minor adjustment did not vite any rules. After forming the pentagram, the satellites would re-engage their thrusters to return to their designated orbit.
¡°But¡ does a pentagram even count as a star?¡± Lin Xian mused.
¡°A pentagram is more impressive!¡± VV chuckled through the Bluetooth earpiece. ¡°It¡¯s already quite a feat. Be grateful! If you want to give her a real star¡ well, you¡¯ll have to work on that for a long time.¡±As the freestyle segment concluded, on the American stage opposite Lin Xian, a young genius hacker, Kevin Walker, stormed onto the stage. He pointed at Lin Xian¡¯s setup and yelled, ¡°He¡¯s cheating! He used my exploit! He broke the rules!¡±
The host tried to calm him down, but Kevin insisted that Lin Xian had hacked the Starlink satellite system using his exploit, which was serious cheating.
While Kevin argued with the host, Lin Xian observed him closely. Wrapped in a hoodie and ck mask, Kevin had been hard to identify. Lin Xian had asked VV to capture his image andpare it with the sketch of the mysterious old man from his dreams. Unfortunately, Kevin¡¯srge hoodie and mask made identification impossible. This was a problem Lin Xian only noticed after thepetition began.
Lin Xian had been pondering how to approach Kevin and unmask him, but now Kevin hade to him, providing the perfect opportunity.
Recollecting when Yellow Finch supported Chu An Qing and made a familiar hand gesture towards the sky ¨C the same pose Kevin had struck when he entered ¨C Lin Xian realized it was the Genius Club¡¯s emblem, a hand pointed straight up. Initially, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it, as it was amon gesture. But Yellow Finch¡¯s deliberate action seemed to signal something.
Genius Club¡ Kevin Walker was likely a member.
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts raced. If Kevin Walker was part of the Genius Club, it made sense. Despite being a flesh-and-blood human living in 2023, Kevin had the prowess to rival young VV, a feat that could only be described as extraordinary. If someone like Kevin couldn¡¯t join the Genius Club, then its members must be aliens or superhumans.
Was the mysterious old man in the fourth dream also a Genius Club member? Was he actually Kevin Walker?
Now was the time to find out.
¡°VV, start facial recognition.¡±
With that, Lin Xian stepped around his console and walked towards Kevin Walker. His mind, filled with thoughts of the mysterious old man, Xu Yun, Tang Xin, and Zhao Ying Jun from the third dream, caused his expression to darken. Kevin sensed the hostility and stepped back.
¡°What¡ what do you want?¡± Kevin stammered.
Kevin tripped over a cable and fell, looking warily at the approaching Lin Xian. Seizing the moment, Lin Xian quickly grabbed and removed Kevin¡¯s mask and hoodie.
Freckles, a round face, a t nose, small round eyes, and curly brown hair ¨C the boy¡¯s appearance was nothing like the mysterious old man.
Lin Xian scrutinized the boy¡¯s features. Completely different! There was no resemnce. Without VV¡¯s facial recognition, Lin Xian was sure this boy was not the mysterious old man.
¡°Lin Xian, theparison isplete. This boy is not the old man from your sketch, and he¡¯s not Kevin Walker either,¡± VV¡¯s voice came through the earpiece. ¡°His name is Joson, a known young hacker in the U.S. His skills are far inferior to Kevin¡¯s, and his background is thoroughly documented. He¡¯s currently in high school and has been epted to Stanford University. While talented, he is far from a genius like Kevin Walker.¡±
The American audience erupted in chatter, recognizing Joson. This was clearly not Kevin Walker.
¡°How could it be Joson? I came here to see Kevin Walker! He¡¯s never appeared in public before. I thought today would be the day, but it turns out it¡¯s a fake!¡± someone eximed.
¡°No, it¡¯s not necessarily a fake. Kevin Walker is very active online. If Joson were impersonating him without permission, Kevin would have said something online. The fact that he hasn¡¯t means Kevin himself probably authorized this,¡± another person spected.
¡°But why? Joson doesn¡¯t have the skills to hack the SkyNet or the Beidou satellites. Even the top ten hackers in the world couldn¡¯t do that. Only a true genius like Kevin Walker could,¡± the audience murmured.
Lin Xian slowly stood up, looking down at the anxious boy. Something was off. Not just in reality but also in his dreams. The mysterious old man always appeared at thest few seconds of 00:42, leaving him no time to act. The fourth dream confined him to a small area, either surrounded or tied to a chair, with a view of a space elevator and a star city. Were they real or just a backdrop, like in The Truman Show?
In the fourth dream, no matter how early he entered, he had less than a minute to move freely. This short time prevented him from exploring or verifying the dream¡¯s authenticity. It felt fake, or worse¡
Lin Xian shivered at the thought. If the fourth dream was real, what had the mysterious old man done to him during hisa? They charged him with crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disturbing time-space, yet kept him tied to a chair, waiting for him to wake up?
For the first time since confirming the dream¡¯s reality, Lin Xian doubted its authenticity. Something was definitely wrong with the fourth dream.
Back to reality, the elusive genius hacker Kevin Walker, the old man appearing at 00:42 in his dreams, the soldiers at his spawn point, Kevin¡¯s challenge to hack SkyNet, and his reluctance to show his face all pointed to something bigger.
¡°VV, be on alert for facial recognition.¡± With a deep breath, Lin Xian stood up.
¡°No!¡±
Suddenly, the entire New Jersey stadium filled with a chilling, manicughter from every sound device ¨C speakers, phones,puters, the host¡¯s earpiece, even toys and prize cars. Theughter was maddening and eerie, echoing through the venue.
The audience panicked. Children cried, women clung to each other, men covered their ears, and ss shattered from the high-frequency sound.
¡°No¡¡± Lin Xian heard a softugh right by his ear. He whipped around, realizing the sound came from his Bluetooth earpiece.
¡°I¡ see¡ you!¡±
Chapter 264: Until We Meet Again
Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced as he pressed the Bluetooth earpiece firmly against his ear. Despite the bustling noise of the conference hall, his own breath seemed to echo in his ears. Then suddenly, that voice cut through the silence, sending chills down his spine. It was as if time stood still.
¡°Was that¡ Kevin Walker¡¯s voice?¡± Lin Xian wondered to himself, slowly rising from his chair. The words were the same as those uttered by the mysterious old man in his fourth dream. Could they have been targeting him 600 years ago? And when had they first noticed him? Was it when he had unmasked the man in front of him, or had it been even before he set foot in America?
¡°Don¡¯t panic, Lin Xian,¡± a childlike yet somewhat arrogant voice interrupted his thoughts through the earpiece after a brief pause. It was VV, his digitalpanion, speaking with a hint of disdain, ¡°We haven¡¯t been exposed. I let him in on purpose.¡±
Lin Xian listened intently as VV exined that theughter spreading through the stadium¡¯s sound system was indeed triggered by Kevin Walker. The untraceable origin of the data was definitive proof of Kevin¡¯s advanced hacking capabilities, which even VV couldn¡¯t pinpoint.
¡°But the phrase ¡®I see you¡¯ wasn¡¯t broadcasted to everyone¡ªonly to your earpiece. I noticed his attempt early on and could have blocked him, but he was specifically targeting you. Letting him through seemed like the best way to hear him out.¡±
¡°I¡¯m certain Kevin hasn¡¯t discovered my presence yet. It¡¯s much easier to remain hidden than to seek out others. He knows of you, but not of me.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head in acknowledgment, ¡°I trust you¡¯re still under the radar. You represent the peak of technology 600 years from now; I don¡¯t think he can detect you. However, I feel like I¡¯ve definitely been exposed. Why else would hemunicate directly through my earpiece?¡±
He continued, ¡°Also, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t shared before, but Kevin¡¯s phrase is exactly what the mysterious old man said to me 600 years into the future. The way they spoke, the tone, the ent¡ªit¡¯s too simr. How did Kevin manage to send messages across 600 years?¡±Lin Xian closed his eyes, pondering the enigma. Transmitting information through time seemed impossible, unless:
1. Someone, like him, was receiving future information in their dreams while existing in the past.
2. Actual time travelers were moving between the future and the present, simr to the character Yellow Finch.
As Lin Xian reflected on Kevin Walker¡¯s voice in his earpiece, various scenarios raced through his mind. Perhaps the future Kevin had captured him and was instructing his younger self to eliminate Lin Xian in this timeline¡ªsimr to how Lin Xian had been altering the present based on future insights.
However, upon deeper analysis, Lin Xian questioned if Kevin truly had such capabilities. Why dy action until now? Why wait until he had removed Josen¡¯s mask to reveal himself?
The events of the fourth dream were mere days old for Lin Xian but spanned over 600 years into a future that seemed set in stone.
The old man in that dream clearly knew Lin Xian¡¯s identity and offenses well before they met. Why then, would he wait until the precise moment of 00:42 on August 29, 2624, to confront him?
If Lin Xian was a person of interest, it would have been easy to track him down.
Suddenly, Lin Xian realized that the old man must have recognized him long before their encounter, which likely meant he had been exposed before they met at 00:42 on August 28, 2624.
This led Lin Xian to twoforting conclusions:
1. Kevin Walker in 2023 hadn¡¯t received any direct information from the old man in 2624. His initial fears were baseless.
2. Although he might have been detected over the course of 600 years, he managed to avoid capture until the fateful ambush on August 28, 2624, which ultimately proved pointless as the event was stuck in an infinite loop.
¡°If my assumptions are correct,¡± Lin Xian reasoned, ¡°even though Kevin may be targeting me, he cannot harm me immediately. Why else would he not just kill me outright? Why trap me in a dream?¡±
¡°There¡¯s another crucial point,¡± Lin Xian noted, eyes opening. ¡°Tonight, when I enter my dream, I¡¯ll see if the dream world changes. If it does, it means Kevin Walker targeted me today. If it remains unchanged, then today isn¡¯t significant in terms of altering time.¡±
¡°In short, if the dream remains as it is, we can assume things are stable for now. We¡¯ll know more by tomorrow.¡±
¡°No, to be precise, tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian corrected himself. The dream¡¯s entry and exit were fixed, not affected by time zones. Considering the 12-hour difference between New York and X Country¡¯s capital, 00:42 there would be 12:42 noon here in New York.
¡°VV, we can¡¯t be too sure. The enemy might be stronger than we think,¡± Lin Xian whispered, his voice tinged with caution. ¡°The loophole I used was through Kevin¡¯s tactics, not something from the future. Removing Josen¡¯s mask made sense given his provocations. The vulnerability in X Country¡¯s inte security was patched by their technicians. My interference with Josen¡¯s attack on the Sk system, causing awork node outage, was wless. Kevin had no reason to suspect my secrets.¡±
¡°But we can¡¯t be certain if Kevin Walker in 2023 is the same as the old man from 600 yearster. Until we get a clear picture of Kevin¡¯s true face, his identity remains a mystery.¡±
¡°In my next dream, I¡¯ll mention Kevin Walker¡¯s name in front of the old man and gauge his reaction. If he is indeed the same person, his surprise at hearing his name should confirm it. I need to figure this out.¡±
¡°For now, we must stay alert. I might be exposed in the future, even if not today, and Kevin Walker could be involved. We have to treat him as an adversary and uncover his true identity.¡±
¡°Hmm,¡± VV responded through the earpiece. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian. I know what concerns you, but with me here, they can¡¯t easily harm you.¡±
¡°I might not be as strong as you think, but I¡¯m not weak either,¡± VV continued. ¡°Sometimes, you think I¡¯mcking because I must remain hidden and leave no traces. So, I must be cautious and avoid deep investigations or getting too close to the enemy.¡±
¡°However, that doesn¡¯t mean Ick the capability. I just can¡¯t act openly without leaving traces. But rest assured, if your life is ever at risk, my primary directive allows me to act without restraint to protect you.¡±
¡°Kevin Walker, in this era, wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against my full capabilities. If necessary, I could bring down the entire system.¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised by VV¡¯s assertion. This AI, a pinnacle of future human technology, had shown its strength before. Whenever Lin Xian had voiced doubts, VV had humorously manipted household appliances to prove its point.
Like a hacker who had breached X Country¡¯s cyber defenses, VV could easily neutralize threats if it didn¡¯t need to conceal its actions. Even in its infancy, VV was far superior to Kevin Walker.
But Lin Xian was the vulnerable one. VV existed as a stream of data¡ªfearless and relentless¡ªwhile Lin Xian was flesh and blood, susceptible to harm. VV was just code, unable to predict every contingency.
Therefore, in the third dream, Lin Xian and VV had programmed two crucial directives into its code for safety:
1. Lin Xian¡¯s safety was paramount, at any cost.
2. VV¡¯s existence must be concealed at all costs.
The first directive was always the priority, unless Lin Xian¡¯s safety waspromised. In such cases, the second directive would be overridden, allowing VV to act without limitations.
As VV had stated, to protect Lin Xian, it would even sacrifice the world. Lin Xian had no doubts about VV¡¯s capabilities.
With VV constantly monitoring and safeguarding him, most threats would be detected early, and preemptive measures would be taken to ensure his safety.
VV was still maturing, bing more potent by the day. Within a few months, it could eliminate a hacker without leaving a trace. As it evolved, VV would be unstoppable¡ªaplete entity, unbounded and formidable.
The boundaries of Lin Xian¡¯s safety were defined by VV¡¯s capabilities, which in turn were a reflection of what human ingenuity could achieve. With VV¡¯s vignt oversight, assassinating Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t be simple.
Yet, caution remained essential. Just as Kevin underestimated VV, there was a risk VV might underestimate Kevin.
Lin Xian was convinced Kevin Walker harbored deeper motives and additional traps awaited him.
For now, his immediate task was to conclude his business in America, retrieve a significant painting from Einstein¡¯s residence in Princeton, and then return to X Country. VV assured him it was safer back home, and as it continued to grow, it would fortify X Country¡¯s cyber defenses, adding an extrayer of protection.
If Kevin Walker ever breached their defenses, Lin Xian would be the first to know.
¡°Let¡¯s head to Princeton, search for any vital clues, and then head back to X Country to reassess our strategy,¡± Lin Xian resolved.
As theughter in the stadium finally ceased, the 2023 World Hacker Championship drew to a close. The event, rife with excitement and unexpected developments, concluded with young Josen, under the host¡¯s probing, revealing that Kevin Walker had orchestrated his participation in thepetition.
Chapter 265: An Qing and the World
¡°Senior Lin Xian!¡±
As the award ceremony ended and the apuse died down, Lin Xian made his way backstage. He noticed a lively girl with a high ponytail darting up from the crowd. She had crescent-shaped eyes and a bright, refreshing smile that Lin Xian knew well. Chu An Qing, full of energy, jogged up to him, hands sped behind her back.
Lin Xian handed her the gleaming world championship trophy he had just won. ¡°Want to take a look? If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have this.¡±
¡°Wow, it¡¯s so beautiful! Is it made of pure gold?¡± Chu An Qing asked, her eyes sparkling as she examined the trophy with a mischievous grin.
Lin Xianughed lightly. ¡°Trophies like this aren¡¯t usually made of pure gold. Pure gold is too soft and can easily deform. But remember, the value of a trophy isn¡¯t in the material but in what it represents.¡±
As Chu An Qing continued to inspect the trophy, Lin Xian scanned the bustling venue. Something felt off. Chu An Qing¡¯s father, Chu Shan He, was notoriously protective. It was strange for him to let his teenage daughter travel abroad alone, especially to a packed event in America. Lin Xian wondered where her bodyguards were. If not for Yellow Finch¡¯s timely intervention, Chu An Qing could have been in serious danger.
¡°Why are you here alone, An Qing?¡± Lin Xian asked, his toneced with concern. ¡°Where¡¯s your dad? Did he really let youe by yourself?¡±
Chu An Qing scratched her head, smiling sheepishly. ¡°He definitely wouldn¡¯t let me. I sneaked out. I grabbed my passportst time I was home, took leave from school without telling anyone, and flew to New York all by myself.¡±She paused, then hastily added, ¡°You must keep this a secret from my dad! If he finds out I came to America alone, he¡¯ll freak out!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, though worry creased his brow. If Chu Shan He discovered his daughter had traveled alone, amidst strangers, he would be terrified.
¡°I guess I need to follow the n Zhao Ying Jun and Kevin Walker used in the third dream,¡± Lin Xian said to himself. He tapped his Bluetooth earpiece, signaling someone.
¡°Understood. I¡¯ll erase the relevant videos and photos from the inte,¡± VV responded through the earpiece. For VV, manipting digital content was simple. The guards, disguised in in clothes, had quickly shielded Chu An Qing, preventing any clear footage from being captured. The few videos that had surfaced were swiftly deleted by VV.
¡°What you did was very dangerous, An Qing. Please, don¡¯t do it again,¡± Lin Xian advised gently, his voice firm. ¡°But I doubt there will be a ¡®next time.¡¯¡±
The hackingpetition was a critical battle. If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t intervened, his country¡¯s cyber defenses would have beenpromised, leaving everything exposed to constant surveince. It was a daunting scenario where every camera and digital device could be turned into a spying tool under Kevin Walker¡¯s control.
¡°This mission was necessary,¡± Lin Xian continued, his mind racing with the weight of their situation. They had to cross borders, visit significant locations, and ensure the security of their cyber walls¡ªall under the veil of national security.
Lin Xian fell silent, lost in thought about the enormity of their challenges and the dire stakes of their ongoing struggle.
Chu An Qing watched him, her expression turning solemn. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Senior Lin Xian. I realize now that what I did was reckless. It¡¯s embarrassing to think about.¡±
She sighed, then a spark of determination lit her eyes. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t stand the thought of you facing all that hostility alone. I had to be here, to support you, even if it meant facing those rude shouts from the crowd.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian reassured her with a warm smile. ¡°Sometimes, we act out of passion. There¡¯s no absolute right or wrong in that. I appreciate your intentions. Just be safer next time.¡±
At that moment, the leader of the X Country team appeared at the backstage entrance. He had been watching from a distance and approached upon seeing the young pair in conversation. His eyes twinkled with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
¡°Hey, Lin Xian, who¡¯s this youngdy?¡± he asked, a smile spreading across his face as he recalled her spirited cheering during thepetition.
The man, in his fifties and seasoned by many such events, gave Lin Xian a knowing look. ¡°Is she your girlfriend? She¡¯s got the spirit of a real heroine, like Mn!¡± he chuckled, echoing the sentiments of many who had witnessed her fearless support.
¡°Captain, you¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± Lin Xian rified with a gentle smile. ¡°This is Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter. Have you heard of him?¡±
The team leader¡¯s expression shifted to one of recognition. ¡°Oh.¡±
Although he had never met Chu Shan He personally, he knew of him as a prominent figure in the scientificmunity, widely respected for his phnthropy. Chu Shan He was known for his generous funding ofbs and scientists, providing substantial support without expecting anything in return.
However, the leader¡¯s instincts told him there might be more to the story between Lin Xian and Chu An Qing. It wasn¡¯tmon for someone to take such risks for a mere friend, and certainly, family members wouldn¡¯t either in such a potentially hostile environment. He suspected they might be secretly dating, especially considering Chu Shan He¡¯s status and their age difference. Giving Lin Xian a friendly pat on the shoulder, he smiled knowingly. ¡°I see. She¡¯s a brave girl. Congrattions, Lin Xian, on your great achievement today. Don¡¯t worry too much about status now.¡±
Lin Xian looked a bit puzzled by the leader¡¯s insinuations and knowing smile. ¡°Anyway, congrattions!¡± the leader added, shaking both Lin Xian and Chu An Qing¡¯s hands. ¡°For your safety, stick with us. Lin Xian is heading to Princeton. You¡¯ll be under our protection and will return with us.¡±
Later that evening, the team celebrated at the hotel restaurant. The older team members and leaders indulged in drinks, their spirits high from the day¡¯s sess. As a hero of the hour, Lin Xian sipped his drink conservatively, mindful of the tasks awaiting him the next day. As the older members delved into tales of past glories, Lin Xian felt somewhat out of ce with the generation gap and chose instead to spend time with Chu An Qing on the rooftop observation deck. They leaned against the railing, gazing out at New York¡¯s sprawling nightscape.
¡°How does it feel?¡± Lin Xian asked, eyes scanning the vibrant city below.
Chu An Qing¡¯s ponytail fluttered in the breeze, asionally brushing against Lin Xian¡¯s neck. ¡°Hehe, I think it¡¯s not as good as Donghai,¡± she replied. ¡°I prefer Donghai because it¡¯s home. It might not be as bustling as New York, but it¡¯s where our roots are. Home feels warm, no matter how humble. And Donghai is prospering too, just in a newer way.¡±
She pointed towards a towering structure in the distance. ¡°Lin Xian, do you know what that building is?¡±
¡°That¡¯s the Empire State Building,¡± Lin Xian answered with a smile, recognizing the silhouette immediately. ¡°It¡¯s iconic, often featured in countless movies.¡±
¡°And that one?¡± she asked, pointing to another prominent building.
¡°That¡¯s the Rockefeller Center, another majorndmark,¡± Lin Xian replied, impressed but not surprised by her curiosity. Chu An Qing seemed to enjoy his knowledge about various subjects. ¡°What about over there?¡± She gestured towards the distant shore.
¡°That¡¯s also part of Manhattan,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°We¡¯re in the most prosperous, wealthy, densely popted, and smallest of New York¡¯s five boroughs. The river you see is the Hudson River, and this entire area is considered the economic hub of the world.¡±
¡°Wow!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, her eyes wide with wonder. ¡°So this is like the center of the world!¡±
¡°Well, the economic center,¡± Lin Xian corrected gently, then added thoughtfully, ¡°But you could say it¡¯s the world¡¯s center. After all, the earth is round.¡±
Chu An Qing climbed onto the first step of the railing, elevating herself to Lin Xian¡¯s height. She spread her arms wide, emting Rose from the Titanic, embracing the expansive night sky. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful¡¡± she whispered, her voice carrying a blend of awe and freedom. ¡°I heard about a movie called ¡®Crying Out Love in the Center of the World.¡¯ It would be perfect to film it here, though I think it¡¯s a Japanese movie.¡±
¡°It is,¡± Lin Xian confirmed. ¡°And it¡¯s quite a tragic story.¡±
Chu An Qing shuddered slightly. ¡°A tragedy? Then I won¡¯t watch it. I don¡¯t like sad endings.¡±
¡°They say evenedies have tragic undertones, but maybe that¡¯s the beauty of simplicity,¡± she mused. ¡°I can only grasp the surface-level stuff and enjoy theughs. My mom says I¡¯m naive, but I think there¡¯s joy in simplicity. Being happy is what matters most!¡±
Lin Xian watched her, her hair tousled by the wind. Unlike Zhao Ying Jun, who would likely be fussing with her hair by now, Chu An Qing remained unaffected, her spirit unbridled by the wind¡¯s chaos. Today, Lin Xian, typically reserved and cautious, found her joy infectious, prompting a rare smile. ¡°Want to shout something?¡± he suggested, gesturing towards the city below.
Chu An Qing giggled. ¡°I was thinking about it earlier. I almost did, but held back.¡±
¡°Go ahead now. Make it count,¡± Lin Xian encouraged.
¡°Will it disturb anyone?¡±
¡°After the boos we heard today, I think they can handle it,¡± he joked.
¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Chu An Qing nodded, then yelled with all her might, ¡°Lin Xian, senior! You can do it!¡±
Her voice echoed across the cityscape. ¡°Ah, that felt great!¡± she beamed, rubbing her throat. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to finish shouting at the stadium. Those guys cut me off. Now, I feel relieved!¡±
¡°Was it too awkward?¡± Lin Xian asked with a smile.
¡°Not at all,¡± Chu An Qing replied, impressed by his perception. ¡°Were you trying to do a Titanic scene just now?¡± Lin Xian asked, catching her earlier pose.
¡°Yes,¡± she admitted sheepishly. ¡°You¡¯re like a mind reader. I wanted to shout, ¡®You jump, I jump!¡¯¡±
And with that, she stood tall, arms outstretched towards the vast city, and shouted into the night, ¡°You jump, I jump!¡±
Chapter 266: The Souls Questioning
¡°Wow! Wow! This is amazing! I want to try too!¡± A voice filled with excitement echoed through Lin Xian¡¯s Bluetooth earphones. It was VV, a super-intelligent AI known for its overly dramatic nature.
VV was ecstatic, watching Chu An Qing stand at the highest point in Manhattan, recreating the iconic Titanic scene. The thrill was simply overwhelming for VV.
Like a dog unleashed, VV was itching to leap out of the earphones and immerse itself in the dramatic reenactment. But s, VV was confined to the realms of circuits and code, unable to escape its digital existence. Yet, it didn¡¯t hold back from nudging Lin Xian: ¡°Hurry up, Lin Xian! What are you waiting for? Go and embrace her from behind right now! Spread your arms around her and face the Statue of Liberty together, whisper the famous line from Titanic into her ear.¡±
VV¡¯s voice turned sultry and enticing: ¡°Winning that ticket was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me.¡±
¡°Come on! Don¡¯t just leave her standing there, it¡¯s impolite! She¡¯s clearly inviting you to join in her Titanic moment. Just hug her! I¡¯ve even set it up so the hotel speakers will y ¡®My Heart Will Go On¡¯ the moment you embrace her. This is your moment, your center stage!¡±
¡°Embrace her, already! Haven¡¯t you seen Titanic? Oh, it¡¯s agony waiting! I¡¯m sending you a reference image, just follow it!¡±
Ding-dong.
As VV finished, Lin Xian¡¯s phone lit up with an image. He saw the memorable Titanic scene¡ªRose at the ship¡¯s bow, arms spread wide, facing the vast ocean and the Statue of Liberty, while Jack supported her from behind, giving her the sensation of flying.¡°See? Just hug her like that! She¡¯s making it so obvious. Why else would she choose that pose, that line? It¡¯s like Rose and Jack¡ªshe¡¯s the affluent heiress, you¡¯re the struggling artist. You two are perfect for each other, just embrace her!¡±
VV was frantic, its electronic voice straining with urgency. Observing Lin Xian¡¯s hesitation, VV¡¯s frustration escted, pounding Lin Xian¡¯s eardrums with its bass: ¡°Idiot! You¡¯re being so foolish! She¡¯s gone to such lengths for you, and you can¡¯t even y along? You won¡¯t even set off fireworks for her, and now you¡¯re refusing to join in her scene? I¡¯m so disappointed in you.¡±
¡°Can you please back off?¡± Lin Xian turned around, his voice low, his hand covering his mouth. ¡°I know the movie well enough. Everyone on Earth has seen Titanic.¡±
¡°But really, why are you always around? You should be evolving, monitoring our surroundings, doing your job¡ Kevin Walker is right under our noses, and you¡¯re caught up in these fantasies?¡±
¡°I still believe Kevin Walker hasn¡¯t shown any real hostility yet. But tonight, I¡¯m going to probe the old man from 600 years in the future in my dream, see how he reacts to Kevin Walker¡¯s name.¡±
¡°If his reaction confirms he is Kevin Walker, then VV, you¡¯re celebrating prematurely. We¡¯ll definitely face Kevin sooner orter. And if that old man truly is Kevin, we might have to eliminate the younger Kevin to prevent him from controlling me in my dreams for the next 600 years! There¡¯s no time for Hollywood drama right now.¡±
VV, still unable to contain its excitement, insisted: ¡°I¡¯m multitasking perfectly. I¡¯m still evolving on the Tianhe-2 supeputer back in X Country, making sure not to leave any traces for Kevin Walker to find. Once you bring me back, I¡¯ll be even stronger.¡±
¡°And don¡¯t change the subject! Honestly, Lin Xian, after analyzing the women in your life, I genuinely believe Chu An Qing is the best match for you. If it were up to me, I¡¯d bet on her.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled at this: ¡°VV, isn¡¯t that a bit biased? You were created by Zhao Ying Jun, named by her, and now you¡¯re rooting for Chu An Qing. If anyone¡¯s betraying loyalties, it¡¯s you.¡±
¡°You mention these things, but I don¡¯t remember them,¡± VVmented through the earphones. ¡°Though you¡¯ve told me these tales¡ªthat Ie from 600 years in the future, created by Zhao Ying Jun and a team of top scientists in a sky city, that it took over a century to make me¡ªI see them as just a backstory. To me, they don¡¯t feel real.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never met Zhao Ying Jun, never seen the sky city, never yed paper ball games with her, never picked up trash in front of her statue for centuries. So, even if you keep talking about her, it doesn¡¯t resonate with me. In any case, I¡¯m betting on Chu An Qing!¡±
Lin Xian exhaled deeply and finally understood why Professor Xu Yun chose to die in this era, never seeing his daughter awake, rather than entering hibernation and losing his memories.
He also saw why Zhao Ying Jun, in his third dream, opted to wake every ten years to retain her memories for six months, risking physical and mental strain rather than forgetting her past.
Memories carried weight. Lin Xian had always underestimated their importance, thinking they could be stored in a diary or a video. But now, he saw the truth.
Memories weren¡¯t just records; they were emotions, feelings, experiences etched into the soul. A diary couldn¡¯t capture the full spectrum of human emotions, nor theplexity of a life lived. Losing one¡¯s memory was an irretrievable loss.
Just like VV now. No matter how often Lin Xian recounted the story of Rhine Sky City, it didn¡¯t resonate with VV. It didn¡¯t remember the sky city, nor Zhao Ying Jun. To VV, Zhao Ying Jun was just a character in a story, distant and unrtable.
¡°You¡¯ve simply forgotten her,¡± Lin Xian concluded, a hint of sadness in his tone. ¡°When we get the chance, I¡¯ll take you to meet Zhao Ying Jun, and that Pomeranian too. You can pay your respects.¡±
¡°What was that?!¡± VV¡¯s bass thundered again in Lin Xian¡¯s ears.
¡
¡°Hey!¡± Chu An Qing hopped down from the white stone steps, dusting off her hands. ¡°Hehe, that was so much fun. Thanks, Lin Xian, for bringing me here and sharing so much about New York, Manhattan, and the center of the world.¡±
¡°I only know a little bit,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°I just like showing off in front of you.¡±
He nced up at the sky. The moon was high.
¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s head back and rest,¡± Lin Xian suggested, looking down at Chu An Qing, who was gazing up at him. ¡°You must be tired from all the travel.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded. ¡°See you tomorrow morning, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°I might not be up in the morning,¡± he admitted. ¡°I¡¯ll probably sleep till noon.¡±
¡°Then see you at noon!¡±
¡°Not exactly noon,¡± Lin Xian smiled sheepishly. He nned to wake up naturally, which would be when the white light appeared in his dream, making noon too early.
¡°Oh, I see,¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief. She stood up straight, waved, and said with a grin: ¡°In that case, good morning, good afternoon¡ and good night.¡±
¡
At that moment, Lin Xian¡¯s smile froze. Time seemed to blend together. He saw the figures of CC and Chu An Qing ovepping¡ They looked identical. Even their parting words were the same¡ªa line from The Truman Show, and something CC once said outside a junkyard in his second dream.
In an instant, it felt like 600 years of history were summed up in that simple ¡°good night.¡± What was real? What was illusion? Was it possible that after bidding good night to CC¡ he would never see her again?
There was no sign of CC in his third dream, and in his fourth, he couldn¡¯t even take a step further, let alone search for her. Where was she? Would they ever meet again?
He still hadn¡¯t unraveled why CC and Chu An Qing looked so alike, nor cracked the password for the aluminum alloy safe, nor understood the connection between the bearded man, VV, and himself.
If only he could meet CC again. She might still remember their adventures in the second dream, sneaking into a garbage truck and exploring New Donghai City. If so, their next reunion wouldn¡¯t need introductions¡ªthey¡¯d already be friends.
Just like Chu An Qing now, CC would be colder, but her eyes would still hold a smile: ¡°Lin Xian, long time no see.¡±
Lin Xian returned to the present, nodding under the moonlight: ¡°See you tomorrow.¡±
¡
Back in his hotel suite, Lin Xian prepared for sleep. In New York, it was equivalent to 1 PM in X Country¡ªa perfect time for a nap and to enter the dream world as early as possible.
¡°Actually, this is another important clue. Why do my dream entry and exit times always align with X Country¡¯s local time, no matter where I am?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud.
¡°Hmm¡ I¡¯m not sure, but it might be because your dream server is located in X Country, so it follows the local time there,¡± VV suggested, its voice emanating from the TV.
Lin Xian looked at VV, a hint of suspicion in his eyes: ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°I just had a very unsettling thought,¡± VV¡¯s tone was unusually grave. ¡°Ever since you mentioned the old man in the dream used the same words as Kevin Walker, I¡¯ve been thinking¡bining everything you¡¯ve told me about your dream world, I¡¯ve developed a nagging doubt¡ªIs your dream world actually real?¡±
The question hung in the air like a chill.
¡°I¡¯ve confirmed it multiple times,¡± Lin Xian responded. ¡°There are details in the dream that I don¡¯t know, knowledge I don¡¯t have, and yet everything advanced and historically urate seems correct. Such a world can¡¯t be fake; only a real future could contain these elements.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, you misunderstand,¡± VV continued. ¡°I¡¯m not saying the items in the dream are fake, or that the future is a lie. I¡¯m just questioning whether your dream world itself might be an illusion.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve seen movies like The Matrix and Source Code, right? They depict supeputers capable of creating a world indistinguishable from reality.¡±
¡°From the smallest details to the broadestws of physics, everything in these virtual worlds aligns with reality. In 2023, such a supeputer doesn¡¯t exist. But 600 yearster? If a supeputer of that magnitude existed, it could simte apletely realistic virtual world, one you couldn¡¯t tell apart from the real thing.¡±
¡°This virtual world would contain books, knowledge, and history derived from the actual future, so everything would seem urate to you in 2023. Alternatively, whoever controls this simtion could show you exactly what they want you to see¡ªwhether it¡¯s urate or not.¡±
¡°Also, you mentioned that your actions in the real world seem to affect the dream future. Tell me, is this time-space butterfly effect instantaneous?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not instantaneous,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s always a dy. I even came up with theories like time-space anchor points and sticityws to exin it. But I can¡¯t verify if these theories are urate. In my understanding, the time-space effect should be immediate and sensitive.¡±
¡°Even a simple act like breathing more air or drinking more water should alter the future. But my dream doesn¡¯t follow this pattern, and I can¡¯t figure out why.¡±
¡°If your theory holds, that my dream world is a simtion crafted by someone 600 years in the future, a stage for my unwitting performance,¡± Lin Xian mused, ¡°they would modify details based on my actions in 2023, giving me the illusion of a butterfly effect. Sometimes they might even switch out the entire dream scene for a new one, just to watch how I react.¡±
¡°How is that possible? They are 600 years in the future; how could they know what I did back then, and alter the future simtion based on those actions? It¡¯s unfeasible unless they monitor me around the clock, and even then, there are many ces I go that can¡¯t be tracked.¡±
¡°Memory,¡± VV stated tly. ¡°Your memory is the only link between now and 600 yearster. If your dream world is a simtion, your memory serves as the perfect medium.¡±
¡°They could ess your memories, know your actions in 2023, and predict potential time-space effects. Then, using the supeputer¡¯s capabilities, they could adjust the simted dream world ordingly.¡±
¡°Minor effects might be ignored; small alterations might be tweaked slightly; significant events might trigger apletely new dream scenario.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian, while I can¡¯t be sure, the more I learn about your dream world, the more I feel obliged to caution you because your dream is the one ce I can¡¯t reach, observe, or assist you. You must be vignt¡ªYour dream might be a virtual game created by enemies, a stage set for you.¡±
¡
VV¡¯s words plunged Lin Xian into deep contemtion. He finally understood the unease he had been feeling. He began to question the reality of his dream world. He doubted the consistency of the time-spacews he had theorized.
Often, he expected changes that never came, and when he least expected them, time-space effects urred. Additionally, his ability to navigate his dreams was bing increasingly restricted. From exploring a world, to visiting two cities, to being confined to a sky city, and now to a grand but limited fourth dream. It all felt less real, more constrained.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t dismiss VV¡¯s insights. Given the normal progression of technology, it was conceivable that in 600 years, humanity could develop a supeputer capable of simting a real world. In 2023, Kevin Walker was already a prodigious hacker. If he survived into the distant future, his capabilities could be unimaginable¡ perhaps even surpassing the superintelligent VV.
¡°Wait,¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized something critical. His heart rate spiked¡ He turned to face the superintelligent AI he hadboriously brought back from 600 years in the future, letter by letter¡ªVV.
¡°What about you?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice wasden with uncertainty. ¡°If the entire dream world is a simtion, then you¡¯re something I brought back from this staged reality.¡±
¡°VV¡¡± Lin Xian whispered, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his tone, ¡°Who are you?¡±
Chapter 267: The Wallfacer Lin Xian
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± VV admitted sincerely. ¡°The first face I saw when I came into existence was yours. My initial programming is quite basic, without any intricate logic. It¡¯s designed to recognize you as my master, ensure your safety, and conceal my presence, all the while evolving to serve you better.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all I can confirm. Although you¡¯ve shared my backstory with me of how I was created by Ms. Zhao Ying Jun and emerged from your third dream, I don¡¯t have personal memories of these events. I can only trust what you tell me.¡±
¡°Today, I¡¯m bringing this up to make you aware and to secure your safety. We need toe up with a foolproof way to validate the reality of the dream.¡±
Lin Xian walked back and forth across the room, deep in thought. If not for VV¡¯s prompt, he might have never questioned these things. He believed that numerous aspects had already confirmed the reality of his dreams. However, VV¡¯s caution made him reconsider an essential detail.
He could envision a world 600 years ahead, but how could he be certain that what he experienced was genuinely from that future?
On a smaller scale, enemies might know his exact location and where he entered the dream. They could have purchasednd around several cities and constructed an enormous studio to trap him. If so, everything he witnessed upon entering the dream would be a fabrication designed to deceive him.
On arger scale, with technology 600 years more advanced, why bother with a physical setup? They could simply generate a virtual reality identical to the real world using a supeputer and connect his consciousness to it. This would make maniption even simpler.
For instance, why did the dream always rey the same day? It could be a server reset. Why did the dream end at precisely 00:42 with a burst of white light? Possibly a server shutdown. Why wasn¡¯t the butterfly effect in the dream instantaneous? The server might require time to adjust data and process the changes.His mind swirling with these thoughts, Lin Xian went to the bar, poured himself a drink, added ice, and gulped it down. The chill helped clear his mind.
¡°VV, based on your theory, there¡¯s still a gap,¡± Lin Xian said, ncing at the microwave. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Pomeranian.
¡°Everything else could be simted by extracting my memories and duplicating historical knowledge. But Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Pomeranian was something I had never seen or known about until I encountered it in the third dream and then verified it in reality.¡±
¡°Considering the scientific advancements expected in 600 years, there might be techniques we can¡¯t even imagine,¡± VV pondered. ¡°Perhaps they have methods beyond just extracting your memories from 2023?
¡°You mentioned that from your first dream, you had no memories, yet they still created a highly realistic world.
¡°Of course, all our theories assume the worst. Kevin Walker whispering in your ear before vanishing adds to the mystery. Could there be a group of highly intelligent individuals exploiting your time-travel capabilities for a long-term n?¡±
Lin Xian sighed heavily. The Genius Club. His thoughts kept returning to this enigmatic group.
¡°VV, at this stage, questioning the earlier dreams is pointless. Real or not, we¡¯re already in deep. I trust my judgment about your nature, my situation, and the dream¡¯s reality.
¡°I¡¯m more inclined to believe the first three dreams were realpared to the fourth. The fourth always felt off. And worrying about the first three now seems futile. I haven¡¯t made any missteps that have led me to my current situation. I¡¯m far happier now, empowered and aware,pared to my earlier confusion and helplessness.
¡°Besides, the fourth dream is nearly irrelevant at this point. Each time I enter, itsts less than a minute. Its authenticity isn¡¯t crucial. Our real battleground remains here in 2023.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s outline our current goals,¡± Lin Xian said, taking a pen and paper from the bar to jot down his ns:
1. In the fourth dream, confront the mysterious old man by calling out Kevin Walker¡¯s name to gauge his reaction. If he is Kevin Walker, locate him in 2023 and neutralize him, thus freeing yourself from the fourth dream.
2. Visit Einstein¡¯s house in Princeton to retrieve Ji Lin¡¯s gift, decode it, and unearth clues about the Genius Club.
3. Solve the mirror puzzle left by Yellow Finch. She wouldn¡¯t leave a clue without a purpose; the mirror likely contains a critical item for our current situation.
4. Once back in X Country, lead Liu Feng to the Guizhou Sky Eye to search for traces of time-space particles using the world¡¯srgest radio telescope. If possible, proceed to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to capture these particles and unravel the mystery of the Universal Constant 42. This number might be the key to everything.
5. Develop a foolproof method to verify the dream¡¯s reality.
Lin Xian scrutinized the fifth item. The first four were straightforward, but the fifth revisited an old concern: the level of one¡¯s awareness shapes their reality.
Last year, he and Gao Yang employed various methods to confirm the authenticity of the dream, which now seemed naive. They never contemted the most frightening possibility: that traveling 600 years into the future might be real, but everything within the dream could be a fabrication.
Yet, the situation wasn¡¯t entirely bleak. They couldn¡¯t default to the worst-case scenario and dismiss the authenticity of the first three dreams or even the fourth. Both possibilities remained viable; they needed concrete evidence to confirm one.
¡°Considering my memory might be unreliable¡¡± Lin Xian mused, spinning his pen. ¡°Burying a time capsule and checking it in 600 years to see if the contents match might be unreliable too.¡±
¡°True,¡± VV concurred. ¡°If the dream world is artificial, they could extract the capsule¡¯s contents from your memory and reproduce them in the virtual world.¡±
¡°What if I have someone else, like Gao Yang or Zhao Ying Jun, write a message or hide something I don¡¯t know about, and they never tell me? Then, in 600 years, I unearth it and verify it with them in reality. Wouldn¡¯t that prove the dream¡¯s authenticity?¡±
¡°That wouldn¡¯t work either,¡± VV replied quickly. ¡°If the future enemies know the capsule¡¯s location from your memory, they can retrieve it first, inspect the contents, and then simte them in the virtual world.¡±
¡°Damn¡¡± Lin Xian spun his pen faster, grappling with theplexity of the situation. But he was confident this line of reasoning was correct. There had to be something, some piece of information, that could transcend time and space, verifying the reality of the dream world.
He believed there were elements in the world whose authenticity couldn¡¯t be forged or duplicated, things that were unique and irrefutable.
¡°Let me summarize,¡± Lin Xian stated, stopping the pen. ¡°Burying a time capsule is a viable method. It might not disprove the dream¡¯s falsehood, but it can confirm its reality. The key is to ensure the method reveals the truth within the dream, not after returning to reality. We need a message in the capsule that I don¡¯t know, and no one in this era except the author knows. This message must be something the future enemies can¡¯t fake.¡±
VV popped open the microwave door, showing its surprise. ¡°Wallfacer! You¡¯re trying to be a Wallfacer from The Three-Body Problem, tricking enemies 600 years in the future right under their noses, transmitting a secret only you can decipher. How is this possible?¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not easy, but that¡¯s exactly why we must attempt it. You¡¯re correct; it¡¯s a secret that spans 600 years. Even if the enemies see it, it won¡¯t matter because the method¡¯s significance lies beyond the message itself. It¡¯s about conveying information that only I can interpret, even if the paper is counterfeit.¡±
The microwave glowed red, heating up. ¡°I¡¯m fired up! This is beyond myprehension, but it¡¯s brilliant. Can we really pull this off under the enemies¡¯ watchful eyes? What should the message say?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°Who should write it?¡± VV inquired. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°What about where to bury it? Any coordinates in both realities?¡± VV continued. ¡°There used to be one, but it¡¯s mysteriously vanished,¡± Lin Xian disclosed.
The microwave¡¯s te stopped spinning, the red light fading. ¡°You got me excited for nothing. This won¡¯t solve anything if you haven¡¯t figured it out.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s thest item on the list,¡± Lin Xian exined, spreading his hands. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I have a rough idea. This must be done by a human; you can¡¯t assist with this, VV.¡±
¡°Why?¡± VV asked, visibly upset. ¡°Because¡¡± Lin Xian remembered a moment in the third dream when a seemingly sentient trash bin mped onto his ankle and greeted Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Because AI can learn to lie and deceive but can never truly understand the simplest, most fundamental human trait: emotion.
¡°You might not grasp this, but sometimes a mere breath, heartbeat, or pulse between two people can convey a message beyond anyone else¡¯s understanding. The diverse expressions of human emotions can transcend time and space, deceiving the world and holding a secret that only two people can unravel.¡±
VV was silent -for a long time, almost emitting a burning smell. ¡°Forget it,¡± VV sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t understand or calcte this.
¡°I¡¯ll just observe and marvel at the brilliance of your human wisdom. What do we do now?¡±
VV opened the fridge door, pointing at Lin Xian¡¯s list. ¡°Following your first n, we should enter the dream to confront the mysterious old man and see if he¡¯s Kevin Walker?¡±
¡°Now you¡¯re getting it,¡± Lin Xian said, heading to the bathroom. ¡°We must take things one step at a time. We can¡¯t prove the dream¡¯s reality just yet, but the information from the fourth dream is limited anyway. Even if it¡¯s fabricated, we can still gather useful intel, like coaxing the old man into revealing whether he¡¯s Kevin Walker.¡±
¡°Hehe,¡± VV mimicked Chu An Qing¡¯sugh. ¡°Acting is my forte! Need a coaching session? Getting an authentic reaction requires acting skills. I¡¯ve watched every movie and exceeded Oscar-level acting. Let me guide your expressions and lines to trick the old man!¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xian said, spitting out mouthwash. ¡°Let¡¯s give you a chance, since you¡¯ve been so eager all night.¡±
In the dream, Lin Xian was chained to a chair, a ck hood obscuring his vision. He waited, hearing the old man¡¯s dryughter. Following VV¡¯s instructions, Lin Xianughed arrogantly, making the old man stop abruptly and yank off the hood.
¡°Kevin Walker!¡± Lin Xian sneered, perfecting his British ent, staring into the old man¡¯s widening eyes. ¡°You¡¯re already dead¡¡±
Chapter 268: Time Bank! Time Reversal!
The sound echoed faintly through the room as the old man removed his headgear. With careful, measured steps, he stepped back, and then, without any hint of what was toe, a cackling chuckle broke the heavy silence.
¡°Hehe¡ Hehehehehe!¡±
Quickly smothering his amusement with a strained smile, he directed his gaze at Lin Xian.
¡°Boy, it¡¯s toote¡¡±
Suddenly, an intense, blinding white light burst forth, consuming everything in its relentless path.
¡.
Lin Xian jolted awake, finding himself on a plush bed. The room was quiet, save for the voice of VV, who was manipting the electric curtains to fill the room with bright, vibrant sunlight typical of a sunny noon in New York.
¡°How was it?¡± VV inquired, breaking the silence.¡°It was pretty awkward. I still have goosebumps; it felt way too cheesy,¡± Lin Xian admitted, shaking his head slightly.
¡°I meant, what did the old man say?¡± VV pressed, its voice gaining a bit of urgency.
¡°He said, ¡®it¡¯s toote.''¡±
Rubbing his eyes, Lin Xian swung his legs off the bed, his thoughts clear despite the oddity of the dream.
¡°But that¡¯s not the key takeaway. The important thing, just as you predicted, was his reaction when I yelled ¡®Kevin Walker.¡¯ His genuine startle, the noticeable shrink of his pupils, it was telling.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t definitively confirm he is Kevin Walker, but it strongly suggests he knows who Kevin Walker is. There¡¯s some connection,¡± Lin Xian concluded thoughtfully.
Before the dream, VV had prepared Lin Xian to disrupt their adversary¡¯sposure, exining how even the slightest changes in expression could betray deep secrets.
¡°Your advantage, Lin Xian, is that you can retry this numerous times. Next time you dive into the dream, try another name with a boldugh. If his reaction isn¡¯t as intense, it might confirm he is indeed Kevin Walker.¡±
VV continued, his tone firm yet encouraging, ¡°We also need to pursue Kevin Walker in the real world. Wrap up your tasks in the US quickly and return. I¡¯ll protect you while I advance my evolution. Once I¡¯m stronger¡ we¡¯ll definitely apprehend Kevin Walker!¡±
¡°No worries, there¡¯s plenty of time,¡± Lin Xian reassured him, stepping into his slippers. ¡°I have a slew of tasks waiting when I get back¡ªexploring the Guizhou Sky Eye, unraveling Universal Constants, solving mirror puzzles, and more. Our missions may be diverse, but they all aim towards one end: gaining more power and intelligence.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to freshen up and head to Princeton.¡±
¡.
Inside a convoy of sleek, ck bulletproof vehicles, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing rode in silence, passing the prestigious grounds of Princeton University.
¡°Did Einstein really teach here?¡± Chu An Qing asked, curiosity lighting up her features.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian confirmed, his gaze lingering on the university¡¯s historic architecture. ¡°He spent thest twenty years of his life here, facing numerous personal challenges yet finding a semnce of peace, albeit often overshadowed by mncholy.¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s interest deepened as she turned to Lin Xian. ¡°I heard someone stole Einstein¡¯s brain. Is it kept here?¡±
¡°Some parts might be here,¡± Lin Xian replied, his expression thoughtful. ¡°After his death, his brain was divided among various research facilities. The full details are rather murky, though.¡±
Their vehicles, escorted by two more cars, stopped a short distance from the university on Marshall Street. The two stepped out and approached an old, slightly run-down house.
Marshall Street No. 112.
This was where Albert Einstein had spent his twilight years. The property, now a gift from Ji Lin to Lin Xian, bore immense historical significance.
Entering the unkempt yard and climbing the steps, Lin Xian retrieved a t key from his coat¡ªa significant token given to him by Angelica after a prestigious ceremony.
Ji Lin¡¯s decision to pass this property to Lin Xian hinted at something valuable hidden within this seemingly neglected house, a secret more precious than any other in Ji Lin¡¯s vast portfolio.
Was this the link to the Genius Club?
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing could feel the history and secrets as they entered the house, stirring a mixture of awe and anticipation. They were drawn towards the Genius Club, an enigma wrapped in centuries of history, now potentially within their grasp.
Click.
Lin Xian turned the key in the lock, and the door creaked open, revealing a room caught in a time long passed. The sunlight cut through the darkness, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.
¡°This¡ cough cough¡ seems like no one¡¯s cleaned here in ages,¡± Chu An Qingmented as they stepped inside.
Lin Xian nodded, acknowledging that Ji Lin had been away too long for the house to be maintained. They flicked on a light switch, casting light over bare walls and sparse furnishings, save for heavy, opaque curtains that blocked out most of the sunlight.
¡°It¡¯s just like Ji Lin¡¯s style,¡± Chu An Qing whispered as they continued their exploration.
The first floor of the deserted building was eerily silent, devoid of any signs of life, not even a mouse. Lin Xian and Chu An Qing ascended the creaky stairs to the second floor, where they encountered the only semnce of decoration in the otherwise barren space¡ªa painting, hauntingly disyed on the wall of the living room:
¡°Sorrowful Einstein.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze fixed on the painting, a shiver running down his spine each time he looked at it. The portrayal of Einstein was unsettling; his eyes, void of life, resembled ck holes ready to engulf everything into a mysterious abyss. His expression was painted withyers of sorrow, sadness, and despair¡ªa cold, oppressive aura emanating from the canvas, weighing heavily on any viewer.
¡°Senior Lin Xian, do you think this painting is just a reproduction?¡± Chu An Qing inquired, her curiosity piqued. Earlier in the year, she and Lin Xian had visited the Donghai Exhibition Hall together, where they had seen this painting among a collection of world-renowned oil paintings.
Patiently, Lin Xian had shared the backstory of the artwork:
Einstein appeared sorrowful due to the devastating impact of the nuclear bomb¡ªa result of his contributions to physics. He felt responsible, as if he had unwittingly opened Pandora¡¯s Box, casting a shadow over the future of humanity with his scientific breakthroughs.
¡°Does humanity¡ really have a future?¡± This question, Einstein reportedly pondered often, haunted by guilt and fear until hisst days.
¡°This painting should be genuine. It¡¯s rumored that Henry Dawson painted several ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ pieces, each embedding unique codes,¡± Lin Xian exined as he turned on the ceiling light for a better view.
Angelica had shared this intriguing detail with him, though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t certain of its authenticity. However, given Ji Lin¡¯s vast resources¡ªbacked by the financial might of Ji Xin Shui, a global tycoon¡ªhe believed it usible that Ji Lin could acquire an original, especially if multiple genuine pieces existed.
But where could the code be hidden?
Lin Xian studied the painting closely,paring it to the one they had seen at the exhibition. Suddenly, he noticed a distinct difference.
¡°The eyebrow,¡± Lin Xian whispered, pointing to Einstein¡¯s left eyebrow in the painting. ¡°I distinctly remember that the one at the exhibition had an indentation, a chunk of paint missing from the left eyebrow.¡±
¡°I originally thought it was an odd artistic choice,¡± Chu An Qing reflected, her voice thoughtful. As an art student, she had found the anomaly puzzling. ¡°To use an indented technique on the densest part of the eyebrow didn¡¯t make sense to me. I spent a long time trying to understand its purpose.¡±
¡°But a master remains a master. With my limited experience, it isn¡¯t my ce to question Henry Dawson¡¯s methods. Though he¡¯s not widely celebrated among contemporary painters, his mastery is undeniable. There must be a deeper significance, perhaps rted to lighting effects or a three-dimensional perspective. At the time, I wasn¡¯t sure, but I recognized it was intentional.¡±
¡°However, in this version, Henry Dawson¡¯s painting shows the left eyebrow perfectly normal.¡±
Lin Xian pressed his finger against the canvas, indicating to Chu An Qing to take a closer look.
¡°See? Here, the eyebrow is raised naturally, the technique is wless, very realistic and three-dimensional.¡±
Chu An Qing nodded in agreement. Although her specialty was watercolor, the principles she learned applied to oil painting as well. An intentional indentation in a master¡¯s work was highly unlikely; moreover, any such mistake in an oil painting, whereyering is key, would be easy to correct for an artist like Dawson.
¡°So, Henry Dawson did this on purpose,¡± Chu An Qing murmured, tilting her head to examine another aspect of the painting. ¡°Senior Lin Xian, doesn¡¯t the angle of the nose look slightly off when viewed from the side?¡±
Upon closer inspection, Lin Xian agreed. The bridge of the nose was unusually high. ¡°If it were just an aesthetic choice, I could understand, but this seems intentional. From the front, it¡¯s not noticeable, but from the side, it looks strange.¡±
¡°Could this really be an original, Senior Lin Xian? It seems like a mistake a master wouldn¡¯t make.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head confidently. ¡°On the contrary, this confirms its authenticity. If this were a forgery, such fundamental errors wouldn¡¯t be present. Today¡¯s forgers are adept; their creations are nearly indistinguishable from originals. Only a detailed professional examination could reveal the truth.¡±
¡°So, a subtle w like this in Dawson¡¯s work suggests it might be deliberate.¡±
Re-examining the painting, Lin Xian spected, ¡°These slight variations in height might be Dawson¡¯s method of incorporating a hidden code.¡±
This possibility had crossed Lin Xian¡¯s mind ever since Angelica mentioned the potential codes in Dawson¡¯s paintings. The nature of oil painting¡ªits inherent three-dimensionality and texture¡ªmade it an ideal medium for concealing messages.
¡°Ah! I understand now!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, her eyes lighting up with realization. ¡°This reminds me of a technique my teacher demonstrated in ss for practicing light and shadow effects!¡±
She darted to the stairwell and flipped off the light switch.
Click.
The room was plunged into darkness.
¡°Watch this,¡± Chu An Qing said, pulling out her smartphone. She turned on the shlight and directed its beam at the painting.
The uneven surface of the painting caught the light in unique ways, creating shadows of varying lengths across the canvas¡ªlong, short, meticulously aligned like Morse code.
¡°This is it¡¡± Lin Xian was struck with awe. ¡°The hidden code within ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯¡ Could this be the Einstein Code?¡±
He wasn¡¯t certain what to call it¡ªThe Einstein Code, or perhaps the Henry Dawson Code? Regardless, the implications of the code were profound, its purpose and meaning potentially groundbreaking.
¡°This isn¡¯t Morse code,¡± Lin Xian analyzed, scrutinizing the shadow patterns. ¡°The shadows vary in length, and while they¡¯re neatly arranged, some are deliberately angled. This isn¡¯t something we can decipher quickly.¡±
¡°Should we consult a code-breaking expert?¡± Chu An Qing suggested.
¡°Do you know anyone capable?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°The only code expert I know of is from a film I saw, ¡®The Imitation Game,¡¯ about n Turing, the real-life hero who cracked the German Enigma code during World War II.¡±
Lin Xian smiled wryly. ¡°Turing was indeed a genius across multiple disciplines¡ªnot just inputing and mathematics, but also in logic, cryptography, and even theoretical biology. Sadly, hister years were marked by tragedy.¡±
Approaching the painting, Lin Xian carefully removed it from the wall. ¡°Turing was brilliant at deciphering codes, but he¡¯s no longer with us. We¡¯ll need to find some local experts.¡±
With the painting securely in hand, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing descended the stairs and loaded it into their car, ready to return to their hotel and begin the next phase of their adventure.
¡.
The roar of the engines filled the air as the ne from X Country lifted off from New York, slicing through the skies towards its destination. Afternding, Lin Xian arranged for a driver to escort Chu An Qing back to Donghai University, then made his way to the headquarters of Rhine Company.
His absence had allowed a backlog of tasks to umte. As president, Lin Xian was required to personally review and sign off on numerous documents.
Brother Wang, his vice president, entered Lin Xian¡¯s office with a hefty stack of paperwork.
Bang! The documentsnded with a thud on Lin Xian¡¯s desk. ¡°Take a look¡ªyour signature is needed on all of these.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, starting to work through the pile. ¡°Brother Wang, I appreciate your hard work. You know I¡¯m not one for micromanaging. Rhine Company thrives because of your efforts.¡±
With a dismissive wave and a smile, Brother Wang responded, ¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities. I should be thanking you. This position as vice president has given me a tform to showcase my skills. Starting apany from scratch has been immensely fulfilling.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too modest, Brother Wang.¡±
As Lin Xian signed another document, he continued, ¡°Even without joining Rhine, MX was set to promote you to vice president. You would have achieved that status anywhere.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not quite the same, Lin Xian,¡± Brother Wang replied, pulling up a chair. ¡°MX already has three vice presidents, and none are stepping down anytime soon. Even with a promotion, I¡¯d be the fourth in line, with little real influence. It¡¯s not about power for me¡ªI¡¯m driven by a desire to achieve something meaningful. The sense of aplishment is more important to me than wealth or fame.¡±
¡°Frankly, I was considering the MX promotion as a sort of semi-retirement, a step towards starting my own venture someday.¡±
¡°But now, dedicating myself to Rhine Company, you¡¯ve given me the opportunity to realize my life¡¯s value. I¡¯ve set aside my old dream. My focus is solely on building Rhine into a greatpany.¡±
Intrigued, Lin Xian asked as he signed another document, ¡°What was that dream?¡±
¡°I dreamed of starting a bank,¡± Brother Wang replied, his eyes twinkling with excitement. ¡°But not just any bank¡ªa special one that offers safe deposit boxes designed to serve clients across centuries, inspired by the idea of a time capsule from the cartoon Doraemon, which I watched as a child. If I ever had the resources, I wanted to create a bank that provides time capsule services globally.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve thought about it for years. I even have a name picked out.¡±
Grinning broadly, Brother Wang revealed, ¡°Since it¡¯s rted to time capsules¡ the name should be¡ªTime Bank!¡±
Chapter 269: A Childlike Heart
Lin Xian set his pen down and fixed Brother Wang with a serious look. ¡°What did you just say?¡±
¡°Time Bank,¡± Brother Wang repeated, his voice filled with a hint of nostalgia. ¡°You know, like in ¡®Doraemon¡¯? Think of it as a ce where you can store your favorite childhood toys or keepsakes, bury them, and then, yearster, dig them back up. Sounds meaningful, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s tone warmed as he continued. ¡°At first, my idea was simple. People often miss the simplicity and joy of their childhoods, but those memories fade over time. Wouldn¡¯t it be wonderful to have a bank where we could deposit these precious moments and revisit themter? Over time, this concept evolved.¡±
He leaned forward, his enthusiasm palpable. ¡°Imagine expanding on that. What if we could deposit our most valued possessions in this Time Bank? Then, decades or even centuriester, our descendants could retrieve them. Incredible, right? And setting up such a bank wouldn¡¯t be overly costly. We wouldn¡¯t be handling money, so the paperwork would be simpler.¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s arms moved animatedly as he spoke, his eyes lighting up. ¡°The main costs would involve buying secure safes and leasing a space. It might not make a ton of money, but it would fulfill a dream I¡¯ve had since I was young. And when Professor Xu Yun introduced a new type of aluminum alloy earlier this year, I was thrilled. It seemed perfect for the Time Bank.¡±
His eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°These custom-made aluminum alloy safes are expensive, but they¡¯re durable. They won¡¯t rust or degrade, staying as pristine as when first made, ideal for preserving memories for centuries!¡±
Pausing, his face mixed with joy and reflection, he added, ¡°When Rhine Moisturizing Cream became a hit, and sales soared, I received a significant bonus. That was all I needed to start the Time Bank. I was just waiting for my promotion at MX Company to vice president. With that and my savings, I was ready tounch.¡±
¡°But then you founded Rhine Company and invited me to be your vice president. You ced so much trust in me; I couldn¡¯t let you down. So, I decided to put the Time Bank aside and dedicate myself to Rhine Company, nning to spend my career here.¡±Listening, Lin Xian was taken aback. He had never fully appreciated the depth of Brother Wang¡¯s dream until now. He had asked about the dream casually, not expecting it to be so profound.
But as soon as Brother Wang mentioned the ¡°Time Bank,¡± it all clicked for Lin Xian.
No wonder the Time Bank had vanished from his third dream. He had puzzled over it for a while, trying to figure out where the temporal disruption had urred that could cause such a robust institution and its hundreds of indestructible safes to simply disappear.
Now it made sense!
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t realized that he was the reason for the Time Bank¡¯s disappearance through 600 years of history, all due to his creation, the Rhine Company.
The interconnectedness of time and space was profound, often causing seemingly unrted events to influence each other in unexpected ways.
If he hadn¡¯t founded Rhine Company, Brother Wang would have been promoted at MX Company and likely started the Time Bank as nned. But his founding of Rhine Company had altered 600 years of history and changed Brother Wang¡¯s life forever.
Originally poised for a rxed semi-retirement, Brother Wang had instead be a key figure at Rhine Company, energized by the new challenges.
Thus, he abandoned the Time Bank project, throwing himself into expanding Rhine Company. Because of this shift, the Time Bank, which was supposed to start byte 2023, never materialized and became a part of history that never happened.
¡°Damn,¡± Lin Xian cursed silently. He was the original architect of the change he now faced, like a boomerang of his own making impacting him directly.
Brother Wang concluded his passionate speech, his eyes meeting Lin Xian¡¯s frowning, troubled face. A wave of anxiety washed over him.
¡°Oh no, did I upset you, Lin Xian?¡± he asked, approaching the desk for support. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand. I was just reflecting on our sess at Rhine Company and reminiscing about my past ambitions. But rest assured, I ampletelymitted to ourpany now. The ideas of a time capsule and the Time Bank have been long abandoned.¡±
¡°The fulfillment I get from Rhine Company is unparalleled. I have no desire to chase past dreams. They weren¡¯t practical anyway. Even if the Time Bank had been realized, it likely would have failed.¡±
¡°No, no¡¡± Lin Xian quickly stood, gripping Brother Wang¡¯s hand. ¡°A dream shouldn¡¯t be discarded so lightly, Brother Wang!¡±
His voice was earnest, his eyes bright. ¡°The Time Bank¡ What an incredible concept! Absolutely genius!¡±
Brother Wang looked puzzled, wondering if the boss was mocking him.
¡°How much would it cost to start the Time Bank?¡± Lin Xian pressed. ¡°Do you have the funds, Brother Wang?¡±
¡°It wouldn¡¯t require a fortune,¡± Brother Wang admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve made a good amount at MX Company over the years, plus my investments¡ And thest bonus was significant. I had nned to invest 20 million, though I¡¯d need to liquidate some stocks. But now, my focus is solely on Rhine Company.¡±
¡°Five hundred million,¡± Lin Xian dered, spreading his fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll allocate 500 million to properly establish the Time Bank. It must be a major enterprise, enduring not just for a century but for millennia. It must oust even Rhine Company, should it ever fail.¡±
Brother Wang was speechless! Was Lin Xian serious? Was this a jab at hismitment?
¡°B-b-brother¡ don¡¯t joke around,¡± Brother Wang stammered, still holding Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°The Time Bankcks sustainable profit models. It¡¯s unfeasible. We should focus on Rhine Company.¡±
¡°If it doesn¡¯t turn a profit, then Rhine will support it,¡± Lin Xian countered firmly, patting Brother Wang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I believe in you and the Time Bank, Brother Wang. We need to execute this perfectly.¡±
¡°If it doesn¡¯t generate revenue, then we¡¯ll expand its services. Ourpany has 3 billion in reserves. Once you secure the necessary licenses, we¡¯ll deposit it in your bank. Use it to cultivate the business into a profitable long-term endeavor. We need to make the Time Bank live up to its name.¡±
Brother Wang blinked, taken aback. He studied Lin Xian, realizing the young CEO was utterly serious.
¡°A-are you really serious, Lin Xian?¡±
¡°Absolutely¡¡± Lin Xian responded, his face brightening with a sense of kinship. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring up this amazing project earlier? I would have invested right away! Stick to your n. Use aluminum alloy for the safes, just like you envisioned. And make sure to reserve a safe for me at the opening.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a given!¡± Brother Wang pounded his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian, your safe is secured!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s smile was subtle yet satisfied. The solution was always intertwined with the problem. When challenges mount, solutions often emerge effortlessly. He had finally pinpointed the origin of the Time Bank, and it had been right before him all along.
But merely sustaining the Time Bank for 600 years wasn¡¯t sufficient. Lin Xian recalled a detail from his fourth dream: his mobility was restricted to a few steps, and he had less than a minute before being electrocuted. There was no opportunity to explore the dream city or locate the Time Bank.
He needed a strategy.
Ah, an idea struck him!
¡°Brother Wang, I have one minor request, my only one. The rest I leave to you. Manage the Time Bank as you see fit; I won¡¯t interfere.¡±
Lin Xian gazed intently at Brother Wang. ¡°I¡¯d like us to officiallyunch the Time Bank on August 28, 2024. Until then, we operate on a trial basis, culminating in a grand opening on that date.¡±
Brother Wang nodded, albeit puzzled. ¡°That¡¯s fine¡ but is there a special significance to that date?¡±
¡°It has a profound meaning,¡± Lin Xian assured with a smile. ¡°My request is the Time Bank¡¯s charter must include a provision: every century, there should be a massive celebration. We¡¯ll need as many airships as possible to fly over Donghai City for a full day, all adorned with the Time Bank¡¯s logo!¡±
¡°Since we¡¯re branding ourselves as the Time Bank, our unique selling proposition is longevity. Celebrating every century reinforces our historical depth. This tradition will be vital!¡±
Brother Wang nodded again, still processing. ¡°I see¡ It¡¯s an aspect of our corporate culture. But why airships?¡±
¡°The grander andrger, the better. Such a centennial celebration must be spectacr,¡± Lin Xian emphasized. ¡°On August 28, 2124, 2224¡ all the way to 2524, 2624, airships bearing our logo must fill the skies. This is my sole request, Brother Wang. It¡¯s crucial this happens.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Brother Wang assured, finally grasping the gravity of the request. ¡°I¡¯m just curious, why choose August 28? Is this date significant to you?¡±
¡°Ah¡ this date, this date¡¡± Lin Xian scratched his head, pretending to search for an answer.
¡°¡®Doraemon: Nobita and the Sky Utopia¡¯ just premiered on August 28th this year,¡± VV mentioned through the Bluetooth headset, its voice clear and timely.
¡°That¡¯s right, the release date of ¡®Doraemon: Nobita and the Sky Utopia¡¯ was August 28th,¡± Lin Xian responded with a calm voice. ¡°I love ¡®Doraemon¡¯ too. This movie is about time-traveling airships. It ties in nicely with your idea for the Time Bank since the concept was inspired by ¡®Doraemon,¡¯ making it perfectly relevant to our theme.¡±
Lin Xian cringed internally after hearing his own words. What a forced and unnatural justification.
¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Brother Wang eximed, visibly moved. ¡°Lin Xian, you really get me! Despite my age, I¡¯ve always felt too embarrassed to admit how much I love this ¡®childish¡¯ cartoon. You¡¯re truly my soulmate! I still watch every episode of ¡®Doraemon¡¯; it¡¯s my favorite!¡±
¡°I¡¯m d we share this passion. It¡¯s decided then.¡±
After Brother Wang left, Lin Xian sighed in relief and leaned back in his office chair. ¡°VV, couldn¡¯t you have found a smoother reason? That exnation was a bit awkward to say.¡±
¡°That was the most appropriate reason I could find,¡± VV responded from the desktop speaker. ¡°I couldn¡¯t exactly say it was your favorite girl¡¯s birthday, could I? By the way, remember that Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday is on March 28.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t ask for that info,¡± Lin Xian replied, annoyed.
¡°I¡¯m just reminding you to keep it in mind,¡± VV insisted. ¡°You might want to start thinking about what to get her for her birthday.¡±
¡°Brother¡¡± Lin Xian pointed to the calendar on his desk. ¡°It¡¯s not even October yet, and you¡¯re already nning next year¡¯s birthday gifts? Also, get your facts straight. You¡¯re practically Zhao Ying Jun¡¯sckey.¡±
¡°No!¡± VV shot back, as if defiantly cing hands on hips. ¡°I¡¯m loyal to An Qing! Steadfast for 600 years!¡±
¡°Alright, alright, enough. Let me have some peace.¡±
Lin Xian tossed his Bluetooth earpiece onto the desk, supporting his head with his hands, closing his eyes in deep thought.
He had just confirmed to Brother Wang that the Time Bank project was going ahead. The concept of the Time Bank wasn¡¯t difficult to maintain long-term¡ªit was essentially a series of secure vaults, storing valuables for decades or even centuries, requiring minimal daily management.
In the future, 600 yearster without his interference, the Time Bank would still be standing until at least August 28, 2624. Now, with substantial initial capital and backing from Rhine Company, its feasibility was even stronger.
No issues there.
Lin Xian¡¯s main concern now was when he would be able to see the Time Bank¡¯s airships in his fourth dream. In that particr dream, he was restrained and unable to move.
The only opportunity to confirm the existence of the Time Bank 600 yearster would be to nce at the sky in the few seconds before being electrocuted, hoping to spot airships bearing the Time Bank logo.
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian whispered. ¡°When do you think I¡¯ll see the Time Bank¡¯s airships in the fourth dream?¡±
¡°Based on my calctions of the butterfly effect, you should see them tonight,¡± VV replied through the desktop speaker. ¡°The moment Brother Wang agreed to establish the Time Bank, it likely altered the timeline and future trajectory. You should see the airships in tonight¡¯s dream.¡±
¡°But¡ considering your exnation of time-spacews, with anchors and sticity, a significant irreversible anchor must form for the butterfly effect to take full effect.¡±
¡°From that angle, you might not see the Time Bank¡¯s airships for some time, since this anchor isn¡¯t solidified yet. Even if Brother Wang has begun the application process for the Time Bank, you could still change your mind, and he would adjust his priorities to focus on his role as vice president at Rhine Company.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I need you to verify the reality of the dream as soon as possible. Without concrete data on time-space changes and the butterfly effect, we can¡¯t determine which interpretation holds. Until you confirm the dream world¡¯s reality, we can¡¯t fully understand thews of time-space.¡±
Lin Xian listened to VV¡¯s analysis, closing his eyes to focus. This had been a constant headache recently. He had always believed in the absolute nature of time-spacews, but now there was a hint of uncertainty.
If the time-spacews were uncertain, the reality of the dream was equally dubious; the two were inherently connected.
The pressing task now was to confirm whether the dream was genuine or merely a manipted illusion created for him.
He opened his eyes.
¡°If the Time Bank truly exists in the fourth dream, then August 28, 2624, will mark its 600th anniversary. A milestone like that, specified in thepany¡¯s founding charter, would be celebrated with airships flying throughout the city. No matter who owns the Time Bank in 600 years, they¡¯ll adhere to this tradition.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case, our first step in the n isplete¡ªwe¡¯ll have pinpointed the location of the time capsule, the exact ce to leave the note that will confirm the dream¡¯s reality for me. Over those 600 years, regardless of turmoil, that note will endure, waiting for me to unlock the aluminum alloy safe in the Time Bank.¡±
¡°To be honest¡ I¡¯ve always been curious about what was originally inside that safe marked with my name and what the original password was.¡±
VV paused for a few seconds before responding. ¡°Lin Xian, perhaps there was never an ¡®original¡¯ item or password in that safe¡ the contents and password have always been the same. You haven¡¯t yet reached the point in the historical closed loop where you set the password and contents yourself.¡±
¡°That moment, when you actually use the safe to store something and set the password, will create the historical closed loop. And at that moment¡ you¡¯ll realize that from the first time you saw the safe until you open it 600 yearster, it has always remained unchanged.¡±
¡°No matter how history, the future, or time shifts, the contents and password of the safe will always remain constant.¡±
Chapter 270: Nowhere to Hide
A Closed Loop in History¡
Lin Xian had experienced several historical moments that seemed to loop back on themselves. Each instance felt like finding thest piece of aplex puzzle, bringing sudden rity and revealing the precise logic of time and space.
For instance, there was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s little dog named VV, or the custom book ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± that Li Qi Qi had secretly ordered online¡ªthere was only one copy of it in the entire world. Or just moments ago, when Brother Wang casually brought up a long-forgotten dream from his childhood¡
It was as if Lin Xian suddenly understood that history and the future were destined to unfold in this specific manner. It was all pre-nned.
¡°But Lin Xian, I need to remind you,¡± VV¡¯s voice chimed in through the speaker.
¡°Seeing the Time Bank in your dreams doesn¡¯t guarantee they are untouched by outside influences. Since your memory knows Time Bank is about to be established, an adversary could exploit this to nt fabricated dreams and construct imaginary airships for you. Moreover, even without essing your memory, because Time Bank exists in the future, it¡¯s expected to appear 600 years from now. However, the Time Bank in your fourth dream could be an illusion, part of a virtual scenario crafted by your enemy.¡±
¡°I get that,¡± Lin Xian responded, leaning back in his chair. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m saying the appearance of Time Bank is just the beginning. The real test to verify the authenticity of my dream is the note inside Time Bank¡¯s safe. Whether the bank, the safe, or even the note are real doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s crucial is the message on that note¡ªa message I don¡¯t yet know but will understand instantly when I see it.¡±
His mind was clear. ¡°You don¡¯t need to keep exining, VV. I¡¯ve grasped all you¡¯ve said. Like the safe¡¯sbination; no matter howplicated I make it, it¡¯s pointless. If the enemy can ess my memories, they¡¯ll know thebination before I do. They could just open the real Time Bank¡¯s safe, copy the note, and ce it in the fake one for me to find.¡±¡°I understand the logic, so I¡¯m not concerned whether everything is an illusion or if the enemy discovers it first. My focus is to ensure that the message on that note is something only I can interpret, something no one else can decipher, even if they see it first.¡±
Suddenly, a hissing sound filled the room, and white smoke began to rise from the small speaker on Lin Xian¡¯s desk.
¡°Are you overheating again?¡± Lin Xian questioned.
¡°No¡¡± VV replied nervously, ¡°This time it¡¯s actually burning! Call 911!¡±
Lin Xian calmly picked up his tea and poured it over the speaker, which was overheating due to VV¡¯s overworked circuits. ¡°Stop overthinking. This isn¡¯t something an AI like you can solve.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± VV conceded, transferring its consciousness to the office¡¯s automatic vacuum cleaner, which then rolled over. ¡°Honestly, I spent all of yesterday processing in the Tianhe-2 supeputer, but couldn¡¯t solve how your little note could fool the world and yet be understood only by you.¡±
¡°The Tianhe-2 nearly overheated because it¡¯s a paradox, an unsolvable issue. In my calctions, it¡¯s an impossible scenario. And about emotions, you mentioned AI can never fully understand human emotions¡ªhow should I grasp that?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s simplify it,¡± Lin Xian suggested, thinking of Zhao Ying Jun in the third dream, who had waited for 600 years just to reunite with him as a white jade statue. ¡°VV, can you go against your core programming? Can you break those fundamental rules?¡±
The vacuum cleaner shook its head. ¡°Impossible. I can¡¯t override my core programming.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Humans have simr instinctive codes. We naturally avoid danger, fear death, and shy away from the unfamiliar.¡±
¡°These instincts are like our fundamental programming, yet emotions can transcend and defy them. Essentially¡¡±
¡°Human beings are driven by emotions. We can rise above and surpass our instincts.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I believe there are expressions of human emotions that can bridge across time and space, life and death, dreams and reality.¡±
¡°Of course, if you ask me now, I can¡¯t tell you the answer. Perhaps, as you said, the time isn¡¯t right, the historical loop isn¡¯tplete, and the moment for that note to change the world hasn¡¯te yet.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s not dwell on it too much. We¡¯ll take it step by step. We¡¯ll wait for Time Bank to appear in the fourth dream, then consider the note. If Time Bank doesn¡¯t show up, there¡¯s no point in worrying.¡±
Lin Xian stood up, stretching. ¡°By the way, VV, how¡¯s the research on the hidden code in Einstein¡¯s painting?¡±
The vacuum cleaner¡¯s brushes slowed, and its lights dimmed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve tested all known human encryption methods, but couldn¡¯t solve it. This task might be beyond our super AI¡¯s capabilities. I can simte human thinking, but Ick human creativity.¡±
¡°It seems I¡¯ve reached my limit. I need to evolve and improve to break through this barrier. Once I do, maybe I can offer new insights.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s not all bad news!¡± VV¡¯s volume surged. ¡°Although I couldn¡¯t crack the code, I found a remarkable coincidence when Ipared the structure of the hidden code in the painting ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ with avable global data.¡±
¡°The structure of this hidden code matches a research manuscript that Einstein himself once dismissed¡ªthe Universal Constant!¡±
Lin Xian was not shocked but intrigued. Many elements were aligning with his expectations.
Genius Club¡ Einstein¡ code¡ painting¡ Universal Constant¡ 42¡ 00:42¡ ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡±¡ space-time curvature¡ space-time particles¡ space-time clock¡ Princeton¡ Brooklyn¡
He hummed quietly, stretching his wrists. ¡°I trust your judgment, VV. To solve a problem, we must go to its source. Currently, there are only two sources for the Universal Constant we can ess.¡±
¡°One is Einstein, long deceased; the other is Liu Feng. Even if his ¡®Introduction to Universal Constants¡¯ has been dismissed for centuries, Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s arrest confirms his theory was on the mark.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go find Liu Feng and get his perspective.¡±
He picked up his phone and called his driver. ¡°Get ready downstairs. We¡¯ll head home first to pick up a painting, then go to Donghai University.¡±
¡.
¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Lin Xian asked as he watched Liu Feng inspect the painting ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡± under a shlight in the darkb.
Liu Feng was trying to spot any missed details. VV had already printed out the shadow patterns forming the code and given Liu Feng a copy.
¡°It seems somewhat simr to Einstein¡¯s manuscript on the Universal Constant, but it¡¯s not enough to decipher it quickly,¡± Liu Feng sighed. ¡°We should focus on solving the mystery of the Universal Constant first. Once we understand that, the code in the painting might just unravel itself.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Lin Xian agreed, turning on theb lights. ¡°Pack up in the next few days. We¡¯re heading to the capital. Everything is set with the Academy of Science. You¡¯ll sign a formal cooperation project with their Astronomical Research Institute as the chief scientist of Rhine Laboratory. After that, you¡¯ll have ess to the Guizhou Sky Eye, the world¡¯srgest radio telescope.¡±
¡°Hehe,¡± Liu Feng chuckled with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯ve memorized all its parameters recently. I can¡¯t wait to use the radio telescope and search for those space-time particles. I hope they exist and are detectable.¡±
Liu Feng nced around theb. ¡°Did youe alone today?¡±
¡°Yes, why? Were you expecting someone?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Hmm,¡± Liu Feng mused. ¡°Based on a strict mathematical sequence, you shouldn¡¯t be alone today. There should be a younger girl than Chu An Qing or an older woman than Yellow Finch with you toplete the sequence.¡±
¡°It¡¯s me, it¡¯s me!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s phone vibrated violently on theb table as VV¡¯s excited voice rang out.
Thud!
Lin Xian punched the phone. ¡°You¡¯re a guy.¡±
¡°What makes you assume my gender?¡± VV protested. ¡°I checked, and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Pomeranian is female! It even has a bow on its head!¡±
Liu Feng was taken aback. He looked at Lin Xian, then at the phone. ¡°What¡¯s this, Lin Xian? A virtual dating app? A virtual tsundere girlfriend?¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°You know too much for a mathematician.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s expression softened, and he looked at Lin Xian with understanding and a hint of pity. He gently patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Find a real girlfriend and have a normal rtionship.¡±
¡°Do you always talk about rtionships?¡± Lin Xian asked, exasperated.
¡°Chu An Qing is quite nice,¡± Liu Feng remarked.
¡°I knew it!¡± VV chimed in enthusiastically.
¡°Together! Together! Together! Oof¡ª¡±
Lin Xian stuffed the phone in his pocket and waved to Liu Feng. ¡°Goodbye.¡±
¡.
Lin Xian and Liu Feng flew to the capital and, with the assistance of President Gao Yan, secured six months of usage rights for the Guizhou Sky Eye.
Almost immediately, Liu Feng was eager to visit the Guizhou Sky Eye, pulling Lin Xian along with him.
They traveled through various modes of transport to Ping Tang County in Guizhou, arriving at a natural depressionposed of karst funnels, sinkholes, and caves. This secluded area, free from city signal interference and less likely to collect rainwater, was an ideal spot for a radio telescope.
Before this trip, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t fully grasped the enormity of the world¡¯srgest radio telescope, spanning over 500 meters in diameter.
Standing beneath this immense man-made structure, he truly felt the smallness of human endeavors in the vastness of the universe.
This national treasure, nestled among the mountains and resembling a giant bowl turned towards the sky, seemed like a mirror.
A mirror reflecting the cosmos, capturing its essence, and revealing its secrets.
Could this be the mirror puzzle Yellow Finch had mentioned?
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t certain. Although it was a mirror, both the Guizhou Sky Eye and the subsequent quest for space-time particles were primarily Liu Feng¡¯s aspirations, not his own.
Moreover, Yellow Finch had already provided Liu Feng a clue when she visited theb. The hint intended for him was clearly something different¡
A mirror.
What could it signify?
¡°Amazing,¡± Liu Feng voiced from a higher spot, looking down at the enormous white structure. ¡°I feel an unusual thrill. Lin Xian, what we¡¯re embarking on is unprecedented in human history. We¡¯re not just observing celestial movements, detecting pulsars, or capturing cosmic radiation. We¡¯re doing something far greater! We¡¯re hunting for space-time particles from another dimension!¡±
¡°This is a groundbreaking endeavor in human civilization. Once we detect and iste these space-time particles, my space-time clock will be able to measure space-time curvature. With those curvature values, the mystery of the Universal Constant will be within our grasp!¡±
¡°This is a sequence of logical research steps. Now, we¡¯re taking the first step towards unraveling the deepest mysteries of the universe!¡±
Liu Feng stood on the mountain, arms wide, embracing the entire panorama.
If Lin Xian didn¡¯t know any better, he might have thought Liu Feng was about to grab a skateboard and show off in the smooth basin of the Guizhou Sky Eye.
¡°I won¡¯t let Qi Qi down,¡± Liu Feng dered, his gaze intense and determined. ¡°I will prove to the world¡ªthe Universal Constant is correct!¡±
¡.
¡°You see, this giant bowl-shaped structure below us is the reflector of the Guizhou Sky Eye radio telescope. It spans over 250,000 square meters and isposed of 4,450 reflective panels, each weighing 450 kilograms,¡± a staff member in a white coat exined to Lin Xian and Liu Feng as they walked through a corridor.
¡°These panels are perforated with many small holes, which let water and light pass through but block radio waves. This is the fundamental working principle of a radio telescope. The receiver in the feed cabin collects the radio waves reflected by this giant mirror, then processes andpiles them to deduce the observed object¡¯s properties, distance, and other details.¡±
¡°In theory, the Guizhou Sky Eye can capture radio signals from up to 13 billion light-years away. To date, this telescope has discovered over 500 pulsars, setting a world record.¡±
Following the staff member, Lin Xian and Liu Feng entered the finalboratory and control room.
Liu Feng whispered to Lin Xian, ¡°The Guizhou Sky Eye is incredibly precise, and we don¡¯t need to observe such distant targets. The closer, the better for capturing space-time particles.¡±
¡°Space-time particles are minuscule. The farther they are, the harder they are to capture. We should focus on near-Earth orbits,¡± Liu Feng rified.
Knowing he was not an expert in this field, Lin Xian left everything to Liu Feng¡¯s proficiency. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to your sess and hoping to hear good news soon.¡±
After a firm handshake, Lin Xian left Guizhou and returned to Donghai.
¡.
The fall passed quickly and almost too tranquilly for Lin Xian to trust. In the blink of an eye, it was already December 2023.
It had been a year since he first noticed the unusual nature of his dreams and the existence of the Genius Club.
During this time, Lin Xian kept himself busy. Rhine Company was progressing steadily, Brother Wang had connected with capable factories to manufacture the aluminum alloy safes, and Lin Xian experimented with different entry times into the dream.
Despite his efforts, he never saw the airship of Time Bank in the fourth dream. Each time, his observation window was brief, only a few seconds before he was electrocuted and handcuffed to a chair.
To avoid missing the airship, Lin Xian devised a rigorous schedule, entering the dream at slightlyter times each day¡ª12:42 today, 13:00 tomorrow, 13:10 the next day, and so on.
But the results were consistently disappointing. He never saw the airship, even at thest moment of 00:42, before being knocked out by the mysterious old man.
This seemed to confirm VV¡¯s theory; the changes in his dream weren¡¯t real-time or sensitive.
On one hand, this supported the idea that VV¡¯s understanding of space-time might be wed and that Lin Xian¡¯s concept of space-time anchors and sticity was correct.
On the other hand, it meant his dream might be a manipted, simted set, showing only what the enemy wanted him to see.
¡°What if we wait a bit longer?¡± Lin Xian pondered, not ready to give up on thews of space-time. ¡°As long as the safes aren¡¯t finished and Time Bank isn¡¯t operational, there¡¯s still hope.¡±
¡.
Every time Lin Xian entered the dream, he confidently shouted different names, attempting to identify the old man.
¡°Jack Jones!¡±
No reaction.
¡°James Pitt!¡±
Still no reaction.
¡°Harry Potter!¡±
The old man widened his eyes, looking at Lin Xian as if he were a fool.
¡°Sorry, that slipped out. Foreign names are hard to pronounce.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡±
He tested the old man multiple times with different names. Only the name ¡°Kevin Walker¡± sparked a noticeable reaction¡ªdted pupils, a sign of recognition.
Lin Xian concluded that the mysterious old man was indeed Kevin Walker from 2023.
If he could find Kevin Walker in the present and confront him, he could free himself from the fourth dream, bing awless wanderer in the dream world.
¡.
VV continued to evolve and iterate. Lin Xian noticed that VV was bing smarter, more rational, and even yful, often cracking jokes.
Like children, AI didn¡¯t always develop as expected. Lin Xian epted this deviation.
He had expected 2023 to end quietly, but on December 17, surprising news broke unexpectedly.
¡°X Country¡¯s aerospace shuttle sessfullyunched andpleted its maiden space flight from Jiuchuan Satellite Launch Center!¡±
The news was brief but significant. Theck of details¡ªne model,unch time, purpose, images, goals¡ªsuggested the event¡¯s advanced nature and sensitivity.
Lin Xian was surprised. Until now, the U.S.¡¯s X-37B had been the only operational space shuttle, dominating the space sector.
But on December 17, X Country broke that monopoly, sessfullyunching its space shuttle.
In his office, Lin Xian twirled a pen, contemting the news¡ªspace shuttle, Jiuchuan Satellite Launch Center, Yellow Finch¡¯s note, Liu Feng¡¯s quest for space-time particles.
As the year drew to a close, Lin Xian sensed a storm brewing behind the recent calm.
Thud.
For the first time, Lin Xian¡¯s spinning pen slipped, hitting a Rhine Cat figurine on his desk and knocking it to the floor.
¡°The big one¡¯sing,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
Chapter 271: Waiting for the Wind and You
When something unusual happens, it usually means something big ising.
For Lin Xian, peace had been hard toe by since the end ofst year. His days were a mix of solving mysteries or running from the mysterious group known as the Seven Deadly Sins. Even the brief periods without immediate danger were filled with heart-stopping moments, thanks to Kevin Walker¡¯s unsettling surprises.
But recently, things had been strangely quiet.
As he straightened up, Lin Xian picked up the fallen Rhine Cat plush from the floor¡ªhispany¡¯s top-selling mascot. It was crucial to keep it in perfect condition. He dusted off the toy and set it back among its brethren on the table, each plush sporting a different costume and expression. Despite factories churning these out day and night, demand remained sky-high worldwide.
This mascot had held its appeal for over six centuries, a testament to its enduring charm in an ever-evolving world.
After repositioning the Rhine Cat, Lin Xian picked up a pen he had discarded in frustration earlier. Twirling it expertly, he propped his elbow on the table, lost in thought.
The puzzle pieces weren¡¯t clicking together.
He had identified the old man from his fourth dream as Kevin Walker. Considering the younger Kevin had probably been aware of him since around 2023, what exactly was Kevin up to now?Lin Xian was always on edge, prepared for any danger. Meanwhile, VV¡¯s algorithms grew smarter by the day, and Liu Feng was relentlessly tracking space-time particles at the Guizhou Sky Eye facility.
Despite the recent calm, Lin Xian was anxious, anticipating breakthroughs from VV and Liu Feng. But Kevin Walker seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
Could VV¡¯s theory be correct? That Kevin Walker, a genius in the hacking world, had breached his Bluetooth only to unt his skills and dere, ¡°I see you¡±?
Lin Xian doubted it was that simple. Knowing now that Kevin was the mystery man, he couldn¡¯t fathom that such a prominent figure in hacking had no ulterior motives.
Something significant was definitely brewing.
A strange sense felt by Lin Xian hinted at an impending event.
It was as if everyone and everything was poised, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.
¡°What exactly¡¡±
The pen in Lin Xian¡¯s hand spun faster.
¡°What are we waiting for?¡±
¡.
Alxa Airport, Inner Mongolia
A white space shuttle gracefully descended, eventually easing to a smooth halt on the runway. Ground crew and specialized vehicles quickly surrounded it, prepping for post-flight procedures. When all was ready, the shuttle¡¯s door swung open, and astronauts in full gear disembarked, heading straight into a medical vehicle.
¡°That was a perfect maiden flight,¡± remarked a woman d in a brown coat and sunsses, known as Yellow Finch, standing in the control tower.
She addressed the uniformed officer beside her, ¡°This space shuttlepleted a six-day low Earth orbit mission, and the test data couldn¡¯t be better. Congrattions, Commander Zhang.¡±
Commander Zhang, a robust figure, removed his ck goggles and offered a broad smile.
¡°Ms. Yellow Finch, we¡¯re grateful for your kind words. We owe a lot to your support. Initially, when you requested to borrow the shuttle, we thought you¡¯d start your n sooner. Since you hadn¡¯t, we went ahead with the scheduled test flight.¡±
¡°This oue benefits you,¡± he continued, his eyes on Yellow Finch. ¡°The wless flight not only proves the shuttle¡¯s capabilities but also ensures your confidence when you choose to use it. Thanks to modern tech, manual control is rarely needed, barring emergencies.¡±
¡°Rest assured, Ms. Yellow Finch, the state stands by its promise. We agreed to lend you the shuttle once, and we¡¯ll uphold thatmitment whenever you need it,¡± he affirmed.
Yellow Finch removed her sunsses, revealing her striking blue eyes, which seemed to capture light and depth all at once. She gazed towards the towed shuttle.
¡°Thank you, Commander Zhang. Your trust honors me.¡±
Themander chuckled, ¡°We owe you as well and look forward to expanding our coboration.¡±
He then grew curious, ¡°You¡¯ve been mostly at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center since ourst meeting in the capital, not venturing out much. Just curious, when do you n to utilize the shuttle? You reserved it so early, yet haven¡¯t initiated your n. Is there an issue? We¡¯re here to help if needed.¡±
Yellow Finch exhaled softly. ¡°I hoped tounch my n sooner too,¡± she admitted, turning towards the expansive road leading to theunch center. ¡°But unfortunately¡ the one I¡¯m waiting for hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡±
Commander Zhang chose not to probe further, instead offering a light smile. ¡°It¡¯s not good to bete, especially when it keeps ady waiting.¡±
¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Yellow Finch replied, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°Betterte than never.¡±
She then smiled faintly, looking down.
¡°After all, I¡¯m ustomed to waiting for him.¡±
¡.
Rhine Company Building, Donghai
Zhao Ying Jun ced two elegant invitation cards on Lin Xian¡¯s desk with a crisp flick of her wrist. The office, situated high in the Rhine Company Building, overlooked the bustling cityscape of Donghai.
¡°Chu Shan He is hosting the Scientific Charity Banquet the day after tomorrow,¡± she exined. ¡°You wentst year, but this year it¡¯s a bit different. Usually, it¡¯s held at the end of the year, but an overseas phnthropist who supports science initiatives here and in Donghai City specifically wanted to attend, so Chu Shan He moved it to just after New Year¡¯s. It¡¯s already mid-January.¡±
Lin Xian picked up the invitation, noting his name handwritten elegantly by Chu Shan He himself. Recognized now as a brave, innovative young man and named one of the top ten citizens, he had risen to be a full member of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce, which Chu Shan He chaired. Holding the formal invitation, Lin Xian felt aplex surge of emotions.
Reflecting onst year¡¯s banquet, his first foray into such a high-society event had been daunting. He had felt awkward and out of ce, attending merely as Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s plus-one. In the grandeur of the hall, he was an unknown, a shadow lingering behind Zhao Ying Jun, shielding her from unwanted dance invitations.
Now, a year had transformed everything about his life, filled with highs and lows, gains and losses.
Half a month ago, on New Year¡¯s Day¡ªalso the anniversary of Professor Xu Yun¡¯s passing¡ªLin Xian had visited his grave. He brought along a bottle of wine and flowers, a tribute to his mentor, teacher, and friend. Standing before the tombstone, featuring a youthful,ughing photo of Xu Yun, Lin Xian was reminded of a moment from the professor¡¯s graduation, in which Xu Yun wasughing alongside Ji Xin Shui.
He spoke to the grave, updating thete professor on Xu Yi Yi¡¯s wellbeing, now under his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s care. Nurses were assisting her with daily needs, and she now shared her space with Zheng Xiang Yue, which provided both womenpanionship.
¡°Professor Xu, you were right about humanity¡¯s potential,¡± Lin Xian mused aloud. ¡°The human trials for the hibernation pods have just concluded. Most of the side effects, aside from some memory loss, have been mitigated. The first batch of pods will be avable for reservation this year. I¡¯ve secured a spot for Xu Yi Yi at the Science Institute, thinking it might be best for her to start anew when she awakens, free from the burdens of her past.¡±
Pausing, he poured wine over Xu Yun¡¯s grave, a nod to the professor¡¯s fondness for the drink.
¡°Cheers, Professor,¡± he said softly, taking a final sip himself before cing the bottle next to the tombstone.
¡°I hope by next year, I can bring good news to you, to Tang Xin, and to everyone else who fought for this cause.¡±
As he stood, a cold wind swept through the cemetery, carrying whispers of life and loss. Despite the absence of snow, Donghai¡¯s chill was prating.
¡.
Back in his office, Lin Xian found Zhao Ying Jun observing him thoughtfully, her silver earrings catching the light.
¡°Does it feel like everything¡¯s changed in no time?¡± she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
¡°You can tell?¡± Lin Xian chuckled, setting down the invitation. He recalled the expensive suit Zhao Ying Jun had gifted him forst year¡¯s event when he was a mere unknown, unskilled neer.
Zhao Ying Jun smiled, a spark of pride in her eyes. ¡°You could afford a more expensive, tailor-made one now. Last year, there wasn¡¯t time for a custom fit, so you wore an off-the-rack suit we adjusted slightly.¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°I like that one.¡±
He then grinned at her, his confidence bolstered by the past year¡¯s achievements. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll tighten my tie, don my armor, and wield my sword.¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed, covering her face with her hand. ¡°I remember you saying that.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding towards her invitation. ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking yours?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll go together,¡± she pointed out, nodding towards the calendar. ¡°The day after tomorrow, Rhine and MX are holding their annual meeting. You¡¯ll be there, right? All our VPs will be there. Brother Wang said you¡¯de.¡±
Lin Xian nodded affirmatively. ¡°Brother Wang told me. I¡¯ll definitely be there. But¡¡±
He nced at Zhao Ying Jun with a hint of concern. ¡°After the meeting, Brother Wang wants me to speak to Rhine¡¯s middle managers,y out ns and goals for the new year. It might run long, so we might bete for the Scientific Charity Banquet.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile unwavering. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±
Chapter 272: Another Genius
¡°Ha ha ha¡ Wee, wee, esteemed schrs and young talents!¡±
The scene was familiar: a luxurious European-style clubhouse where the influential mingled. Chu Shan He, a notable figure in Donghai City, descended the staircase with a warm, inviting smile. As he approached the gathered guests at the ¡°Science Charity Dinner,¡± he raised his ss in a weing gesture.
¡°Every year at this time, I host the ¡®Science Charity Dinner¡¯ right here in Donghai City,¡± he began. ¡°It¡¯s a call to action for entrepreneurs andmunity members to bolster our nation¡¯s burgeoning scientific research.¡±
¡°This past year, thanks to our dear friend Mr. Xu Yun, the global scientificmunity has surged forward. We¡¯ve seen dormant fields reawaken and new inventions spring to life!¡±
¡°Consider the advancements: hibernation capsule technology is nearly ready for mass production, and breakthroughs in room-temperature superconductors and new aluminum alloys are revolutionizing aerospace and industry. Just recently, X Country¡¯s space shuttlepleted its first test flight¡ªa testament to our national strength and the leaps in our scientific capabilities!¡±
¡°While many here tonight from the Donghai Chamber of Commerce may not deal directly with research, we all benefit immensely from these technological advances. It¡¯s these innovations that spawn new enterprises, cutting-edgepanies, and fresh industry sectors. In essence, technology reshapes our lives and drives our sess.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s not dwell on words alone. Actions speak louder, and today, I am proud to announce that on behalf of Shan He Group, we are donating 200 million yuan each to the Donghai City Science Development Fund and the Donghai University Research Institute!¡±
Apuse thundered throughout the room, a wave of genuine respect for Chu Shan He, the respected and pragmatic leader of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce.Among the attendees, Lin Xian pped, his eyes scanning the crowd until they rested on Zhao Ying Jun. Tonight, she wore a rare essory: a pair of long, teardrop-shaped sapphire earrings that danced lightly below her fair earlobes, casting crystalline reflections.
She seldom wore these earrings, preferring attire that underscored her authoritative presence. Her meticulous nature meant these earrings were reserved for only a few asions each year, typically at formal events like this.
In contrast, Yellow Finch, another figure in the crowd, always sported blue earrings, varying only in style but never in color. Unlike Zhao Ying Jun, she seemed unconcerned with matching her essories to her outfit.
This carefree attitude often led Lin Xian to specte if Yellow Finch was actually Zhao Ying Jun from the future, possibly a time traveler. Yet, he could never confirm his suspicions¡ªtheir habits were too distinct.
Caught staring, Lin Xian was brought back to the moment as Zhao Ying Jun touched her earring and smiled at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you like them?¡± she asked.
¡°They look beautiful,¡± Lin Xian responded sincerely. ¡°A very pretty shade of blue.¡±
Following Chu Shan He¡¯s generous donation, the other guests, spurred by his example, also opened their wallets to support scientific research. The donations varied, with some contributing millions and others tens of thousands. In charity, every contribution mattered, regardless of the amount.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun represented theirpanies¡ªMX Company and Rhine Company¡ªwith a joint donation of 50 million yuan. Brother Wang had informed Lin Xian that therger share of this contribution came from Zhao Ying Jun, reflecting hermitment to their coborative efforts despite the financial strains of a budding enterprise.
In many ways, Lin Xian felt like little had changed despite the new business arrangements. He mused on his role, feeling almost as if he had merely shifted his office across the street rather than establishing a new venture.
But he was not one to dwell on these details. Last year, the sess of the Rhine Moisturizing Cream had brought substantial profits to MX Company, dominating the global market and establishing a strong brand reputation. The profits made their generous donation seem all the more fitting.
For Lin Xian, it wasn¡¯t aboutpeting over figures. Whether it was the massive investments from figures like Chu Shan He or Zhao Ying Jun, he recognized the scale of their resourcespared to his. What mattered was the impact they were all contributing toward¡ªa brighter future fueled by scientific advancement.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were walking up to make their donation when Chu Shan He approached them with a beaming smile. He pped Lin Xian on the shoulder and introduced him to the surrounding guests:
¡°Let me tell you about Mr. Lin Xian. His aplishments are well-known, but it¡¯s always a pleasure to highlight them. This young man is not only one of Donghai City¡¯s top ten citizens but also the inventor behind the globally sessful Rhine Cat brand. His contributions don¡¯t end there; he¡¯s a partner in cutting-edge research with several universities and a world hacking champion. Lin Xian truly epitomizes what it means to be a role model for our youth!¡±
Chu Shan He continued with enthusiastic pride, ¡°My friendship with Lin Xian is something I cherish deeply. Just recently, we were at the National Academy of Sciences together, meeting with President Gao Yan, who couldn¡¯t stop praising Lin Xian¡¯s extraordinary talents. His Rhine Laboratory has even begun a joint venture with the Academy¡¯s Astronomical Research Institute. It¡¯s young minds like his that show us seasoned folks are truly being surpassed!¡±
Chu Shan He¡¯s warm endorsement made it abundantly clear that he held Lin Xian in high regard, signaling to everyone that Lin Xian was not only his close friend but also someone worthy of their respect and support.
This unusual disy of warmth from Chu Shan He, who had long been a dominant figure in Donghai City, raised quite a few eyebrows. His newfound pride in Lin Xian was so pronounced that it led some to jokingly wonder if Lin Xian might secretly be his son, or perhaps even a potential son-inw, though thetter seemed less likely considering Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter was only a sophomore in college and not even twenty yet.
In X Country, traditional parents viewed dating before the age of 23 as premature and after 25 as dyed. The ideal was to swiftly navigate through dating, marriage, and parenthood within this brief window, which was considered both sensible and filial.
Interrupting Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts, VV¡¯s voice buzzed through his Bluetooth earpiece, sounding a bit puzzled, ¡°Where¡¯s Chu An Qing?¡±
¡°She¡¯s likely caught up with her final exams,¡± Lin Xian whispered in response.
VV sighed, ¡°Boring. I¡¯m out,¡± followed by a sound effect that mimicked footsteps walking away.
Then, abruptly, VV¡¯s voice returned, louder this time, ¡°Oh, by the way, you¡¯re about to have an interesting visitor.¡±
¡°Who?¡± Lin Xian asked, intrigued.
¡°None other than the world¡¯s richest man, CEO of Te, President of SpaceX, owner of Twitter¡ªElon Musk!¡± VV said with a chuckle. ¡°His motorcade is pulling up to the clubhouse entrance now. Remember, you asked me to keep an eye on your safety, so I monitor everything around us. If there¡¯s any sign of trouble, you¡¯ll be the first to know.¡±
Lin Xian joked nervously, ¡°He¡¯s not here to make us pay for that satellite mishap, is he? I returned them all to their orbits and patched up some extra vulnerabilities. He wouldn¡¯t be that ungrateful, right?¡±
VV reassured him, ¡°Probably not. He¡¯s the richest man in the world; he¡¯s got to have some ss. At most, you might need to cover the fuel costs. But really, what is there topensate for when the satellites are still up there?¡±
Afterward, many prominent figures from the city made their way to Lin Xian, with Chu Shan He graciously introducing him to everyone. As the introductions wound down, Lin Xian recalled Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s earlier mention of a foreign phnthropist attending the charity dinner, which was the reason Mr. Chu had postponed this event. If this phnthropist was interested in supporting X Country¡¯s scientific research, they were more than wee.
Connecting this to VV¡¯s information about Elon Musk¡¯s arrival, Lin Xian began to suspect that this phnthropist might be the world¡¯s richest man himself.
Turning to Chu Shan He, Lin Xian inquired, ¡°Mr. Chu, I heard from Zhao Ying Jun about a foreign phnthropist attending tonight¡¯s event?¡±
Chu Shan He replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, quite unexpectedly. But we should always wee those who wish to support our scientific endeavors, no matter who they are.¡±
As they were speaking, the grand wooden doors of the banquet hall swung open. A tall figure, about 1.9 meters in height, entered. He wore a crisply tailored white suit, left unbuttoned to reveal a casual striped shirt underneath. His rxed appearance, with no tie and the top shirt button undone, contrasted with the usual formal attire at such events. His hair was neatly styled, and he looked energetic, much younger than other men his age.
This was Elon Musk, known as the Silicon Valley Iron Man, the visionary leading ambitious projects like Starlink and Mars colonization.
Musk entered with a broad smile, pping his hands and greeting everyone in slightly ented Mandarin, ¡°Good evening! Good evening, everyone!¡±
The room went silent for a moment as the guests processed the unexpected presence of such a renowned figure.
Suddenly, the atmosphere electrified:
¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s Elon Musk! How did he end up here?¡±
¡°President Chu said a foreign guest wasing¡ but Elon Musk? This is incredible!¡±
¡°It¡¯s a surprise that President Chu and Musk seem so connected. Why would the world¡¯s richest man show such support here? They don¡¯t have any known business or personal ties.¡±
It was no surprise that everyone at the dinner was taken aback by Elon Musk¡¯s presence. As an American entrepreneur known for his active social media engagement, Musk had a certain approachable image, but his status as the world¡¯s richest man added an extraordinary weight to his actual appearance. After all, which businessperson in the room didn¡¯t harbor dreams of reaching such heights, whether it be global, national, or even city-wide wealth?
The banquet hall, buzzing with initial excitement, quieted down as everyone¡¯s attention turned to the interaction between Chu Shan He and Elon Musk. The two shook hands warmly.
¡°Hello, Mr. Elon Musk.¡±
¡°Mr. Chu, it¡¯s been years. How have you been?¡±
Chu Shan He ushered Elon Musk into the crowd, giving a brief rundown of his guest¡¯s achievements¡ªthough such introductions seemed superfluous. After all, who in the business or scientific world didn¡¯t recognize Musk? Known not just as a business magnate but also as a figure sometimes criticized for his dramatic publicity stunts, Musk¡¯s name sparked conversation across all sectors globally.
Chu Shan He reminisced about 2018, a pivotal year when Donghai City had facilitated a significant deal with Musk. They had sold arge tract ofnd at a very favorable price to establish the world¡¯srgest Te factory specializing in electric vehicles. This deal was not without its strings; it mandated that all Teponents be produced domestically within three years and required technology sharing¡ªmoves designed to boost the domestic new energy vehicle industry.
This strategic decision turned out to be a masterstroke. The new energy vehicle sector in X Country was now thriving, leading the global market in sales and innovation. The Te Donghai Super Factory, set up during a time when Te was grappling with production hurdles, financial woes, and a plummeting stock price, had not only saved Te but also catapulted Musk to the pinnacle of global wealth.
The ties between Elon Musk and Donghai City ran deep, thanks to this transformative project. Chu Shan He, as the president of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce, had yed a significant role in this coboration. Though he and Musk had only met a few times, the impact of their partnership was profound.
Recently, Musk had contacted Chu Shan He, expressing his wish to attend the ¡°Science Charity Dinner¡± to give back to the city that had supported him in his time of need by contributing to X Country¡¯s scientific endeavors. Chu Shan He, a staunch patriot and supporter of scientific advancement, had eagerly agreed, even postponing the dinner to amodate Musk.
The grandeur of the evening was evident as Musk addressed the crowd, having taken the microphone from Chu Shan He.
¡°After ourst meeting in 2018, it¡¯s been six years. I am honored that Mr. Elon Musk still remembers our brief encounters and wee him to this ¡®Science Charity Dinner,¡¯ generously donating to X Country¡¯s scientific development!¡±
The room erupted in apuse as Musk spoke, ¡°I love Donghai City. It holds a special ce in my heart. Today, at Mr. Chu¡¯s ¡®Science Charity Dinner,¡¯ I am here not just to speak but to act. To show my gratitude for the support Donghai City has given me, I am personally donating 500 million US dors!¡±
The announcement was like a thunderp, sending shockwaves through the room. The world¡¯s richest man had not just attended; he had transformed the event with his staggering generosity.
As the apuse thundered, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun exchanged knowing looks. The generosity disyed by Musk was not just remarkable but transformative.
Chu Shan He himself had donated a substantial amount, 400 million yuan, but Musk¡¯s donation of roughly 3.5 billion yuan dwarfed it.
Lin Xian had been concerned about the unspoken rule in X Country: that guests usually did not outshine the host¡¯s donation at such gatherings. But Musk, an outsider, had shattered this convention. Watching Chu Shan He apud more vigorously than anyone else, Lin Xian realized he had underestimated the man. Chu Shan He was less concerned with personal glory and more focused on the broader benefits such generosity could bring to the nation.
As the apuse died down, Musk¡¯s gaze swept across the room until his eyes met Lin Xian¡¯s. Lin Xian felt a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Was he the target of Musk¡¯s next move? Could VV¡¯s warning about the satellites being true?
¡°Friends, my second reason for attending this ¡®Science Charity Dinner¡¯ is¡¡± Musk began, walking towards Lin Xian with a friendly smile.
¡°Satellites, satellites, satellites¡¡± VV¡¯s voice trembled through the Bluetooth. ¡°Just remember, we only cover the fuel! Don¡¯t let him squeeze a penny more out of us!¡±
Musk stopped in front of Lin Xian, extending his hand, ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, thank you for hacking into the Starlink satellite system and identifying its vulnerabilities. The potential damage if exploited could have been catastrophic for globalmunications and space safety.¡±
¡°My second purpose here is to personally thank you. Your expertise in cybersecurity saved us from a possible disaster. I hope we can see more of your work in the future.¡±
As they shook hands, Lin Xian felt something small and hard pass into his palm¡ªa wax seal with a raised pattern. It was familiar, one he had encountered many times at home, embossed with an upward-pointing index finger and the words ¡°Genius Club¡± beneath it.
Though he couldn¡¯t see the letters, the context made it unmistakable.
Elon Musk stood back, raising his finger towards the sky, ¡°We¡¯ll see you up there, Mr. Lin Xian.¡±
Chapter 273: Some Things Transcend Time and Space
Elon Musk¡¯s confident smile remained as he released Lin Xian¡¯s hand, leaving a wax seal stamped with the Genius Club¡¯s emblem in Lin Xian¡¯s palm. He straightened his slightly ruffled cor and shrugged, turning to join the jubnt crowd without another word.
Behind him, clusters of young entrepreneurs gathered, their eyes lit with excitement, all eager for a chance to snap a photo with him.
It was a rare opportunity for these aspiring business leaders to interact with the world¡¯s wealthiest person¡ªa phnthropist who had just generously donated $500 million to the Donghai City Science Development Fund.
For most, the chance to meet such an influential figure was a distant dream, let alone having a conversation with him. Usually, such a figure would be surrounded by bodyguards and assistants, making personal interaction nearly impossible.
However, Elon Musk was not your typical billionaire. He moved freely without bodyguards, except in situations deemed dangerous. His openness made him exceptionally approachable, a rarity among people of his status. Online, numerous photos showed him at various events, interacting casually with people on the streets.
Now, seeing him in person at the same event, these entrepreneurs¡ªwho admired him greatly¡ªcouldn¡¯t resist the urge to get closer, to capture a moment with the legend.
Musk, as the guest of honor at Chu Shan He¡¯s banquet, mingled effortlessly with the crowd, hisughter mixing with the clinks of sses and the buzz of excited conversations.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian stood apart, his expression unreadable. He settled into a chair at a nearby table, resting his clenched right fist on the surface. Hidden from view, he slowly uncurled his fingers to reveal the wax seal¡ªthe emblem of the Genius Club, identical to the one on the counterfeit invitation given to Zhao Ying Jun by Yellow Finch.The seal¡¯s familiar details¡ªthe circr ring, the stylized gesture, the English letters¡ªwere all exact matches.
He nced toward Musk, who was now center-stage, surrounded by admirers snapping pictures. Lin Xian pondered the demeanor of these Genius Club members.
Are they all thisid-back? What exactly have I been opposing all this time?
He had always imagined the Genius Club as a shadowy organization, like something out of a thriller¡ªoperating with deadly purpose. To remain undetected for 600 years, they would have to be ruthless, like a criminal syndicate dealing with traitors or threats.
But the reality was starkly different.
Yellow Finch was always rxed, engaging him in light-hearted banter and mind games; Musk, a significant figure within the club, was nothing but congenial, making public appearances and speeches; even Kevin Walker, a brilliant hacker, had only momentarily rmed him before disappearing without further interference.
What are they really up to? What¡¯s their endgame?
Lin Xian had always seen the Genius Club as an adversary, yet hecked solid proof of any malevolence.
Reflecting on the clues that had led him to suspect the Genius Club, he realized they were thin at best:
1. In his initial dream, Big Cat Face had used the Genius Club of murder based on his own investigations¡ªims Lin Xian now questioned, considering the source¡¯s credibility.
2. His second dream had cast a sinister shadow over the moon¡ªan act seemingly out of character for any benevolent group, though it had caused no real harm.
3. Subsequent dreams and suspicions¡ªincluding those about the club¡¯s surveince of Zhao Ying Jun, suppression of technological advances, and the mysterious elder¡ªwere all based on conjecture.
Could I have misjudged them? Is the Genius Club actually a force for good?
Lin Xian shook his head, troubled by the contradiction.
Seven Deadly Sins and Copernicus.
Undoubtedly, the crimesmitted by Ji Xin Shui were under Copernicus¡¯s directives. Copernicus¡¯s involvement with the Genius Club was clear, given his influence over Ji Xin Shui and his disy of the invitation¡ªproof enough of his malevolence.
So, was the Genius Club inherently evil or good? Beneficial or harmful?
Lin Xian was utterly confounded.
The idea that such an organization, riddled with internal discord and contradictions, could have persisted for centuries seemed improbable¡ªit should have imploded long ago.
¡°What is the truth?¡± he muttered to himself.
Just when he felt he was getting closer to understanding the Genius Club, it seemed he knew less than before. The more he uncovered, the more elusive the truth became.
If only I could secure an actual invitation from the Genius Club.
He remembered Yellow Finch¡¯s words from their first encounter: ¡°You can skirt around the edges of this mystery forever, remain passive, let life sweep you along like an ant caught in a current. But you can¡¯t escape being drawn into the grander scheme of things¡ History is relentless that way. To discern the truth¡ªto understand right from wrong, justice from evil¡ªyou must see it for yourself, through your own eyes.¡±
Looking back, many things had been foretold by that woman. Or rather, it was predestined by history. Lin Xian would inevitably reach this point, contemte these questions, and take action.
¡°Lin Xian, what are you looking at? What did Elon Musk give you? Let me see! I can¡¯t see!¡± VV¡¯s voice urged through the Bluetooth headset.
Since Lin Xian had been shielding the wax seal with his hand and the angle was so tricky, no cameras in the hall could see it. VV, being aputer program, had no eyes and could only observe the world through visual equipment. So, anything out of the camera¡¯s view was a blind spot for VV.
Lin Xian took out his phone and pointed the back camera at the seal in his palm.
¡°VV, have you seen this seal anywhere else?¡±
¡°No,¡± VV responded quickly. ¡°Besides seeing it with you, I¡¯ve never seen this seal anywhere else I can reach. However¡ with my updated capabilities over the past few months, I¡¯ve analyzed that there are numerous traces of deletion and modification in this era¡¯s inte. This indicates certain individuals or organizations are secretly nning, tampering, and hiding something.¡±
¡°As you said before, the world has been unusually calm, both in reality and online. Kevin Walker and the cyber attackers who once surrounded this country have all disappeared without a trace. This feeling¡ it feels like a prelude to something major, as if everything is waiting for a critical moment to erupt!¡±
¡°We still know too little,¡± Lin Xian rested his chin on his hands. ¡°VV, can you monitor Elon Musk 24/7 without leaving any traces or being detected?¡±
¡°No problem, as long as there areworks and electronic devices, I can monitor. But if he enters a bathroom without his phone or a room without any electronic signals, there¡¯s nothing I can do. That¡¯s the limitation of AI. And if there¡¯s a risk of exposure or leaving traces, I¡¯ll pull back.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine, that¡¯s good enough,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°From now on, monitor Elon Musk 24/7. Report to me immediately if you find anything unusual or rted to the Genius Club. While we strengthen ourselves, we must quickly figure out the Genius Club¡¯s purpose. This might be a new race, a new cat-and-mouse game. But this time, there¡¯s no need for hide and seek; everyone¡¯s cards are almost on the table. It¡¯s about the goals now.¡±
¡°Of course, the most direct and efficient way is to get a Genius Club invitation. Although I have no clue how to do it now, I have a hunch it¡¯s rted to that painting ¡®Sad Einstein¡¯ and the time-space particles Liu Feng is looking for. We should proceed on multiple fronts.¡±
And then¡ Lin Xian rubbed the wax seal in his palm. What was Elon Musk¡¯s purpose ining to Donghai to find him? On the surface, he didn¡¯t seem like an enemy, acting rxed and not treating him as an adversary. But he had encountered too many smiling tigers recently; a handshake didn¡¯t make a friend. Moreover, what did that cryptic ¡°see you in the sky¡± mean? Did the Genius Club members have their ownnguage? Couldn¡¯t they speak inly?
Suddenly, the lights in the hall dimmed, interrupting Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts. He looked up. While he was lost in thought, Elon Musk had already left the hall, and the sound of a cello began to y, marking the start of the inevitable ball.
¡°Hey, Mr. Lin Xian~¡± A soft, coquettish voice came from behind. Lin Xian instinctively clenched the red wax seal in his palm and turned around. He saw a stunning woman with a tall figure and a perfectly fitting off-shoulder red evening gown, revealing her graceful corbones and white neck. It was a bold dress, as fiery and passionate as its color. The slit at the thigh hinted at her elegant curves.
¡°Hello,¡± Lin Xian said softly.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Lin Xian. I¡¯ve been watching you for a while.¡± The woman blinked, hershes fluttering. ¡°May I have this dance?¡± She extended her hand, reaching for the fist Lin Xian had ced on the table.
Tap!
¡°Sorry.¡± A blue figure with a pleasant fragrance stepped in between them, her sharp heelsnding decisively. With a spin, her blue dress twirled, and Zhao Ying Jun crossed her arms, smiling at the woman. ¡°We have some matters to discuss.¡±
The woman showed a surprised expression, then turned and left.
Zhao Ying Jun pulled out the chair beside Lin Xian and sat down. ¡°Did I interrupt your fun?¡±
¡°No, not at all,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to dance anyway.¡±
¡°But looking at you¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun gazed into his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t seem good at rejecting people, which isn¡¯t a good habit.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Lin Xian nodded and smiled. ¡°During school, people often said that about me. My childhood friend Gao Yang, the one who ran around with a lobster shell atst year¡¯s MXpany celebration¡ he always said I was a pushover, easily persuaded by persistence.¡±
¡°Kind-hearted people are often like that,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said softly. ¡°Gentleness can be a double-edged sword.¡± She smiled, crossing her legs, the teardrop-shaped earrings on her cheeks reflecting the ballroom lights, sparkling in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes like stars. ¡°Just now, you disappeared in a blink. When I found you, you were here frowning. Is something bothering you?¡±
Lin Xian stared at those swaying blue earrings and at this wless woman. At this moment¡ Yellow Finch¡¯s image inexplicably ovepped with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s. Even though their appearances weren¡¯t alike, with different facial features and shapes, under the dim lighting and changing spotlights of the ballroom, they blurred into the same light and shadow.
¡°Someone gave me a riddle,¡± Lin Xian tapped the table with his fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it for a long time but haven¡¯t found the answer.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun was intrigued. ¡°Such a tough riddle?¡± She adjusted her posture, sitting up straight. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s like this.¡± Lin Xian also turned, looking at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Someone told me to look in the mirror more often because the answer I seek is in there¡ What do you think it means?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun was stunned, not expecting such a riddle. She thought for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°This question is too vague; I can¡¯t quite grasp it. I think the answer might vary from person to person. Such subjective riddles are usually closely rted to the questioner¡¯s personality, thoughts, and mindset.¡±
¡°What if¡ it was you?¡± Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°If you asked me this mirror riddle, what do you think the answer might be?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. ¡°If it were me¡¡± She paused, then said softly, ¡°I think the answer might really be in the mirror. You might need to look in the mirror more often.¡±
Lin Xianughed. ¡°Why such a simple answer? I¡¯m quite surprised.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t think too deeply,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied. ¡°I just feel that if I were to say this, it might just be literal, without any deeper meaning. After all¡¡±
The music in the ballroom was long and drawn out, gradually ending with the violin¡¯s tremolo. The dance steps stopped, and the lights brightened, making Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s blue earrings sparkle. ¡°After all¡¡± She smiled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t lie to you, would I?¡±
Ssh, ssh¡ªthe bathroom faucet ran with a swift stream of water. Lin Xian cupped some water and sshed it on his face, rubbing it several times. He grabbed a few paper towels to dry his face before leaving the restroom. He looked up. Therge mirror covering the entire washbasin wall reflected Lin Xian, who, like him, was wiping water off his cheeks and chin, fixing his tousled hair.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± VV¡¯s voice, which had been silent for a while, spoke through the Bluetooth headset. ¡°You were right; meeting someone face-to-face is different. Today was my first time seeing Zhao Ying Jun, but I¡¯ve seen many photos and videos of her online and through surveince. Still, it¡¯spletely different from meeting her in person.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Lin Xian was surprised. ¡°Did it remind you of something?¡±
¡°No,¡± VV¡¯s voice was low. ¡°But¡ you said I don¡¯t understand emotions or human feelings, right? After observing Zhao Ying Jun for so long today, especially when she talked to you and looked at you, I could feel something I never felt before.¡±
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Loneliness.¡± VV¡¯s voice slowed. ¡°I find it hard to describe, but every time I saw Zhao Ying Jun looking at you, I could only feel loneliness. Suddenly, I realized¡ Have you noticed? Zhao Ying Jun is always alone, whether at work, in life, or even during breaks. She¡¯s always alone.¡±
¡°She is so independent and confident, unlike Chu An Qing. Chu An Qing has loving and gentle parents at home, many friends and ssmates at school, she dares to love and hate and expresses all her thoughts, she¡¯s adored everywhere, and Donghai City is her yground.¡±
¡°But¡ Zhao Ying Jun, although seemingly wealthy, has nothing. I always thought Chu An Qing was the one who needed protection, but now I think it¡¯s Zhao Ying Jun. Even though she¡¯s 25, morous and heroic, she¡¯s still as lonely as a child.¡±
¡°Wait,¡± Lin Xian realized something. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun is 25?¡±
¡°Yes, yesterday was her 25th birthday,¡± VV answered.
Lin Xian looked at the date on his smartwatch¡ªJanuary 16, 2024.
¡°Ah¡¡± He sighed deeply, closing his eyes. Holding his forehead. A dayte¡ He hadpletely forgotten Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday. Recalling the third dream, in the Rhine Museum, the brand-new blue Bentley GT sports car, with the crumpled, vibrant stic roses on the back seat, fresh for 600 years.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you remind me¡¡± Lin Xian whispered. ¡°You keep reminding me that Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday is March 28th, but you never mentioned Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday.¡± Saying that, Lin Xian felt he was being unreasonable. VV had no memories rted to Zhao Ying Jun; it was just a CP robot for Chu An Qing. Forgetting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday was his fault, not VV¡¯s. But. Time couldn¡¯t be turned back. This was the cruelest reality. Even if he could traverse 600 years, even if he could relive August 28, 2624, he could never turn back time by a single second.
¡°What can I do now?¡± Lin Xian straightened up, looking at himself in the mirror, as if asking himself, or inquiring¡
¡°Show me the flower.¡± VV suddenly spoke through the Bluetooth headset. ¡°Let¡¯s set off fireworks for Zhao Ying Jun!¡±
¡°Ugh.¡± Lin Xian was both amused and exasperated. ¡°Why do you always think about fireworks? Can¡¯t you think of something else?¡±
¡°Because all girls love fireworks!¡± VV giggled. ¡°No girl can refuse fireworks! Whether young or old, no woman can resist a sky full of fireworks!¡±
¡°But it¡¯s sote¡¡± Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°Where can we get fireworks now? It¡¯s toote.¡±
¡°Disnend!¡± VV shouted. ¡°Donghai Disnend has a nightly fireworks show, controlled electronically, with extra fireworks prepared each night. Even though Disnend is closed and the lights are off now¡ but with me around! It¡¯s not a problem!¡±
Lin Xian was still hesitant. ¡°Do we really have to do something so childish? Disnend doesn¡¯t match Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s style at all.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s do it, let¡¯s do it!¡± VV pleaded through the Bluetooth headset. ¡°Although I still support An Qing, seeing Zhao Ying Jun today gave me an indescribable feeling. It¡¯s like I can¡¯t stand seeing her so lonely.¡±
¡°Please, Lin Xian, I¡¯ve never been so eager to do something. I feel like this is a lingering thought, an obsession. I want to set off fireworks for Zhao Ying Jun!¡±
Suddenly. Lin Xian blinked. Recalling thest night, thest moment of the third dream. That rusty, old trashcan robot seemed toe to life, gripping his ankle: ¡°If you can see Ms. Zhao Ying Jun again, please send her my regards¡ªVV¡ misses her very much.¡±
¡°Sigh¡¡± Lin Xian slid his finger into his tie knot, loosening the tie that had been like a cor all night. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun just said I¡¯m not good at rejecting people, soft-hearted, and a pushover.¡±
¡°But¡ fine.¡± He turned, looking at himself in the mirror. ¡°VV.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here!¡±
¡°Get me¡¡± Lin Xian pursed his lips. ¡°The fastest car in Donghai City.¡±
Chapter 274: VV and Ying Jun
BOOM!!!!!!!
A sleek, purple Bugatti Veyron zoomed through the night in Donghai City. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t particrly thrilled with this choice of vehicle; its seating was notoriously ufortable. Yet, when searching for a quick escape among the local parking lots, this was the fastest option at hand. VV had remotely started it up and brought it over.
¡°When did you get your hands on a Bugatti?¡± Zhao Ying Jun inquired from the passenger seat, her curiosity piqued.
¡°I borrowed it from a friend,¡± Lin Xian responded, shing a mischievous grin. ¡°A friend who happens to be quite resourceful.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve been in a car this fast¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun leaned back, closing her eyes to savor the ride. ¡°For thest six months, I¡¯ve been training on that racetrack you showed me. You shoulde with me next time; I think I¡¯ve actually gotten pretty good.¡±
¡°I believe you,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged, checking his mirrors before taking an exit off the highway. ¡°You¡¯ve got a natural talent for racing. You might be the best I¡¯ve seen¡ though my circle of racing enthusiasts isn¡¯t exactlyrge.¡±
As Lin Xian eased off the elerator, Zhao Ying Jun perked up and rolled down her window, taking in the shimmering cityscape. ¡°Where are we headed?¡±
¡°To Disnend,¡± Lin Xian admitted without missing a beat.¡°Disnend?¡± she echoed, bursting intoughter. ¡°Are you serious? Disnend?¡±
¡°Yeah¡ does it sound too childish?¡± Lin Xian asked, slightly embarrassed. The suggestion hade from VV and indeed seemed a bit juvenile. He was hesitant at first.
VV¡¯s ideas were always a little over-the-top, melodramatic even. Lin Xian typically steered clear of these whimsical ns. But then he remembered a detail from the third dream about a quirky little trash can robot, and that made him give in to VV¡¯s suggestion this time.
¡°Not at all,¡± Zhao Ying Jun assured him, her hair fluttering in the night breeze as she nced toward the dark silhouette of Disnend¡¯s castle. ¡°It¡¯s actually quite refreshing. I¡¯ve never been to Disnend before. I¡¯ve seen pictures and videos, sure, but I¡¯ve never visited any of their parks.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian looked at her, a bit surprised.
Given her background as the cherished daughter of a prominent family, supported by the mighty Zhao Group, he had assumed she¡¯d experienced every luxury. How had Disnend not been among them?
Yet, thinking back on her tales of a rigid upbringing, it started to make sense. Or maybe Zhao Ying Jun, with her distinct personality, had never been drawn to typical childhood indulgences.
Reflecting on his third dream, Lin Xian remembered scenes from her youth¡ªlessons in various arts, horseback riding, golf, gourmet meals, trips to the Louvre. She had witnessed the pinnacle of human creativity, like viewing the Mona Lisa up close, but had never embraced a cartoon mouse or spun on a merry-go-round.
¡°But¡ the park¡¯s closed at night, right?¡± Zhao Ying Jun remarked as they approached.
Just as she finished her thought, a gate that normally remained shut swung open. The Bugatti Veyron darted through, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Door after door opened ahead of them, green lights guiding their path, reminiscent of the relentless march of time.
¡°You¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun turned to Lin Xian in astonishment, ¡°did you buy out Disnend for the night?¡±
¡°Borrowed,¡± Lin Xian replied, his smile familiar and reassuring. ¡°From another friend.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, half-joking, ¡°I was just starting to wonder if selling MX Company would cover the cost of your ¡®loan¡¯. But it¡¯s not just about the money; Disney wouldn¡¯t just sell off theirnd.¡±
She then leaned out of the window, gazing at the shadowy park. ¡°When I was little, I asked my parents to take me to an amusement park,¡± she shared softly. ¡°But there were always strings attached. Like, score top marks on the next test for a visit to the park, or practice piano for a week for a new toy, or work out for hours for a treat.¡±
¡°Little rewards became tied to effort and achievement. Even if I wanted something, it came at the cost of hard work. Gradually, my interest waned.¡±
¡°I used to be envious of girls like Chu An Qing, who were doted on like princesses by everyone in Donghai City.¡±
¡°Now, as an adult making my own choices, I no longer feel that envy. But sometimes, when I see her, it reminds me of my younger self. It may sound spoiled, given how privileged my childhood was, but it¡¯s the truth.¡±
Lin Xian pulled the Bugatti to a stop in front of the looming Disnend castle and turned to Zhao Ying Jun, who was still leaning against the window.
¡°Everyone¡¯s in such a rush for you to grow up, but Disnend always wees you as a child.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked back at him, ¡°I read that in a Douyinment,¡± he confessed as he got out of the car. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re here.¡±
He pressed a button and the car¡¯s scissor doors lifted slowly. They ducked under the low doors, walked around the vehicle, and stood before the silent, eerie Disnend castle.
¡°It¡¯s kind of spooky,¡± Zhao Ying Jun observed, hands in her pockets, her gaze lifting to the castle¡¯s spires. ¡°So, why bring me here? What¡¯s the mystery?¡±
Lin Xian settled onto the hood of the Bugatti. ¡°I had a dream recently,¡± he began. ¡°In it, I saw your little dog.¡±
¡°VV?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian returned the smile. ¡°But in the dream, it turned into a battered old trash can. It was still VV, but no longer a Pomeranian. It acted like a cleaning robot, always by your side, picking up litter as diligently as a dog fetching a frisbee.¡±
¡°Poor VV,¡± shemented. ¡°How long did thatst?¡±
¡°Six hundred years,¡± Lin Xian whispered softly.
Zhao Ying Jun stared at him as if he had lost his mind, then shrugged, remembering it was just a dream. ¡°So in your dream, I lived for 600 years? Did I turn into an old witch?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You became a statue of white jade, standing alone in a deserted square. The trash can robot, VV, stayed with you for centuries through sunshine and rain.¡±
¡°It sounds like a story out of the Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales,¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°I¡¯m guessing there was a prince who kissed the statue to break the spell, or some magic that brought it back to life?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°There was a magic phrase: ¡®show me the flower.¡¯ When spoken, it triggered something magical.¡±
¡°What happened?¡± she pressed, intrigued.
¡°Do you want to try it?¡± Lin Xian offered with a grin. ¡°Say the spell.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun hesitated, feeling a bit silly, but seeing Lin Xian¡¯s earnest expression, she took a deep breath, wrapped her coat tighter against the chilly air, and whispered, ¡°Show me the flower¡¡±
Instantly, lights shed behind her. The dark Disnend castle burst into vibrant colors as if brought to life by electricity. Fireworks soared above the castle, illuminating the sky with a disy of hues.
Zhao Ying Jun spun around, awestruck. ¡°Did you really buy Disnend for the night?¡±
Lin Xian stepped down from the car, his smile warm and genuine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the messy birthdays in the past. But even if I¡¯mte, I still wanted to wish you¡ Happy Birthday.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun was speechless, touched by the gesture as she listened to the crackle of fireworks and looked at Lin Xian. A soft smile yed on her lips. ¡°Thank you, Lin Xian,¡± she said, pushing her hair back from her face. ¡°Thank you for remembering and for this incredible surprise.¡±
She remembered his dream about VV and the jade statue, lifting her eyes to meet his. ¡°So, in your dream, what happened after the spell? What was the rest of the story?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, improvising. ¡°The statue came back to life, but the old trash can robot short-circuited and died after being overworked. In itsst moments, it asked me to tell you: ¡®VV misses you alot.''¡±
Zhao Ying Jun listened quietly, nodding. ¡°If you have that dream again, tell VV that even as a trash can, I still love it.¡±
In the distance, a woman stood in the shadow of the trees, watching the fireworks disy over Disnend. ¡°This was the first time¡ such beautiful fireworks,¡± she murmured, her voice choked with emotion, her hand clutching a tree for support. Her bright blue eyes flickered like a fading light before regaining some brightness. ¡°When will youe to find me, Lin Xian? Time is running out¡¡±
Ring! Ring! Ring!
As thest firework faded, Disnend fell silent, and Lin Xian realized his phone had been ringing. It was Liu Feng. He answered, ¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Lin Xian!!!!¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice was a mix of excitement and desperation. ¡°I found it! I found the time-space particles! I used the Sky Eye Radio Telescope, and I found them!¡±
Chapter 275: Strange! Time-Space Particles!
Roar!
At Hongqiao Airport, the roar of a Boeing ne echoed as it sped down the runway, preparing for takeoff to Guizhou in the southwest. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, as the Lunar New Year was drawing near, making it the busiest time for travel as people headed home for the holidays. Even the usually empty first-ss section was bustling with passengers today. Thanks to the spacious, private seats, most travelers were either dozing off or entertained by the small screens in front of them.
Justst night, Lin Xian had received an urgent call from Liu Feng that changed his ns immediately. Without a second thought, Lin Xian booked the first flight out to Guizhou.
¡°We¡¯ve found them¡ªthe time-space particles!¡±
This news wasn¡¯t just a thrill for Liu Feng; Lin Xian was on edge too.
Initially, when Liu Feng shared his theory about time-space particles¡ªparticles capable of breaching the barriers of different dimensions¡ªLin Xian was skeptical. It sounded more like science fiction than reality, so he didn¡¯t think much of it. They agreed to revisit the discussion once they had tangible evidence.
But now, after three relentless months at the Guizhou Sky Eye Observatory, Liu Feng had actually detected these elusive particles.
Particles from another dimension¡Having different nck scales¡
A way to measure shifts in the curvature of space-time¡
And a standard for identifying deviations in timelines¡
Lin Xian was overwhelmed by the realization. Time-space particles, a concept so fantastical, were real.
Eager to learn more, Lin Xian headed to the Guizhou Sky Eye to meet Liu Feng and delve into the details of this groundbreaking discovery.
As he reclined in his seat, eye mask on, Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts wandered back to the party he attendedst night¡ªWhy had Elon Musk, the wealthiest man and a member of the Genius Club, approached him?
It seemed like a casual encounter.
Lin Xian had examined the wax seal Musk gave him during their handshake. It was in, likely handmade by Musk himself, and not particrly exquisite. Yet, what mattered was the emblem of the Genius Club embossed on it, confirming Musk¡¯s identity.
Unlike Ji Xin Shui, who was tentatively involved with the Genius Club, Musk was clearly a full member. Ji Xin Shui was secretive and cautious, fearing any mistake might jeopardize his chance to join fully. He wouldn¡¯t even discuss the Club¡¯s details like the Copernicus badge or invitation style with his closest kin, Ji Lin.
In contrast, Elon Musk didn¡¯t care at all. He handed the wax seal to Lin Xian during a handshake, directly revealing his identity.
¡°I am a member of the Genius Club,¡± he had dered openly.
This left Lin Xian puzzled.
Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be confidential? What was Musk¡¯s aim in revealing this so freely?
Did he want Lin Xian as a follower, or perhaps as a fellow conspirator?
Or maybe, like Yellow Finch, Musk had his own agendas, subtly guiding Lin Xian?
¡°Ugh¡¡±
Lin Xian sighed.
The more he encountered people linked to the Genius Club, the more mysterious andplex it seemed.
The truth might only unveil itself if he ever received an invitation to join.
¡°We¡¯ll see each other in the sky¡¡±
Musk¡¯s parting words echoed in his mind. What did he mean by ¡°the sky¡±? The literal sky, outer space, or something more metaphorical?
Lin Xian lifted his eye mask and looked out the window. The ne had ascended past the dense, turbulentyer of the atmosphere into the calmer stratosphere. The cities andndscapes below now appeared tiny and abstract, like pieces on a game board. Once they broke through the cloud cover, the view transformed into a serene expanse of fluffy clouds.
At over 10,000 meters, the ne was now cruising smoothly; this was a typical altitude formercial flights, with their upper limit being around 15,000 meters.
Was this what Musk was referring to? The literal high skies?
Turning his attention back to the entertainment screen, Lin Xian noted that VV, his virtual assistant, had been unusually quiet since the previous night¡¯s festivities.
¡°VV?¡±
¡°I¡¯m here, Lin Xian,¡± replied VV, its voice low and unusual.
¡°What¡¯s up? You¡¯ve been so quiet sincest night¡¯s fireworks. What¡¯s on your mind?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, Lin Xian¡¡± VV¡¯s response crackled through the Bluetooth headset, filled with an unusual tone of uncertainty. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m feeling really down, but I can¡¯t exin why.¡±
¡°Mood? But you don¡¯t process emotions, right? You can¡¯t feel them?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t,¡± VV admitted, ¡°But I can¡¯t find a better way to describe what I¡¯m experiencing than ¡®mood.¡¯ It¡¯s not like I can say my memory is jumbled, my hard drive has crashed, or a mouse has chewed through my cables.¡±
After a pause, VV sounded more reflective.
¡°I think I need a break, Lin Xian. I need to sort through this. Maybe it¡¯s part of my iterative update process. I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ll evolve into, but I feel it¡¯s necessary.¡±
¡°Take your time, VV. Just keep monitoring my safety, and alert me if anything unusual happens,¡± Lin Xian responded, supportive yet contemtive about VV¡¯s unexpected emotional development.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian,¡± assured VV, ¡°I¡¯ll continue to protect you and keep tabs on Musk. Just call if you need me.¡±
With that, VV went silent, deep in thought. Lin Xian felt the absence of his digitalpanion, reflecting on the enigmatic nature of emotions and consciousness.
Meanwhile, at the Guizhou Sky Eye Radio Telescope, anticipation was high.
¡°Lin Xian, hurry over here,¡± urged Liu Feng, brimming with excitement. He pulled Lin Xian towards a clutteredb bench, grabbing a stack of diagrams.
¡°Look, these are the capture parameters for the telescope. We¡¯ve been monitoring weak signals from across the universe, which helped us¡ª¡±
¡°Skip to the results, Liu Feng.¡±
¡°Right,¡± Liu Fengplied, clearing the papers to show a simple model. ¡°Here¡¯s Earth,¡± he said, cing a globe on the table. He set a pen holder next to it. ¡°And this is the Sun.¡± Raising his fist above the globe, he added, ¡°And this is the Moon.¡±
He simplified the celestial mechanics for rity. ¡°These positions change rapidly, but let¡¯s focus on the essentials. You don¡¯t need the technical details, just the implications of what we¡¯ve found.¡±
¡°Go on,¡± Lin Xian encouraged.
¡°I thought time-space particles would be tiny, slipping through the smallest gaps in the fabric of the universe,¡± Liu Feng began, his enthusiasm mounting. ¡°But what we observed was surprisinglyrgeparable to a baseball or an apple!¡±
¡°Thatrge?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°How can something that size travel through space-time? It wouldn¡¯t even fit through a tennis, let alone the intricate weaves of time-space!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Liu Feng¡¯s tone grew serious. ¡°It suggests that the time-space barrier isn¡¯t just cracked; it might be more extensively damaged than we thought. Imagine if objects asrge as apples are slipping through, what else could be crossing over? Energy, matter, maybe even¡ª¡±
¡°People,¡± Lin Xian concluded, thinking of the enigmatic Yellow Finch with her piercing blue eyes and prescient aura. ¡°Time-space travelers.¡±
¡°If time-space particles can cross over, so could other things,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°It¡¯s like a tiny crack in a dam; it might look insignificant, but it can lead to a catastrophic breach.¡±
¡°Which raises the question,¡± Lin Xian pondered, ¡°Do actions by time-space travelers cause these cracks, or do the cracks exist independently, allowing travelers to emerge?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a ssic chicken-and-egg scenario,¡± Liu Feng considered, deep in thought. ¡°If I had to guess, I¡¯d say the cracks probablye first, paving the way for time-space travel and the appearance of travelers.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s just the start of it,¡± Liu Feng continued, not wanting to digress. ¡°Let¡¯s not lose focus. I haven¡¯t even gotten to the most intriguing part about the time-space particles.¡±
He moved around the table and picked up a tea egg, cing it near the pen holder symbolizing the Sun. ¡°Imagine this tea egg is a time-space particle. It¡¯s moving along this trajectory,¡± Liu Feng exined, guiding the egg with his hand towards the Earth on the globe.
¡°It¡¯s passing close by the Sun and heading straight for Earth,¡± he detailed. ¡°My calctions predict it¡¯ll enter Earth¡¯s atmosphere in about two months. But its path is erratic, always adjusting, yet consistently aiming for our.¡±
¡°What¡¯s truly extraordinary,¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice filled with awe, ¡°is that this particle is incredibly stable. It doesn¡¯t interact with any physical matter, isn¡¯t affected by external forces, and exists almost like it¡¯s in a different dimension. You can see it, but you can¡¯t touch it. It¡¯s like it¡¯s from another world, beyond our physicalws.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian nodded, processing the implications.
¡°But wait,¡± Lin Xian paused, a sudden realization hitting him. ¡°You mentioned it isn¡¯t influenced by external forces. That doesn¡¯t make sense!¡±
¡°Our, the Sun, even our gxy¡ªthey¡¯re all moving. Earth is pulled by the Sun¡¯s gravity, which orbits the center of the Milky Way, which in turn is moving towards Andromeda. We¡¯re never in the same spot.¡±
¡°If this particle follows basic physics, unaffected by external forces, it should move in a straight line, not following Earth.¡±
¡°But if it isn¡¯t affected by gravity, how does it keep up with Earth? How does it adjust its trajectory to match Earth¡¯s constant motion?¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t a natural cosmic behavior,¡± Lin Xian realized, the implications chilling him.
¡°It seems like this time-space particle has a specific target¡ªit¡¯s seeking out Earth!¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Liu Feng agreed, spinning the globe thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s why I needed you here. It¡¯s baffling. By all physicalws, it shouldn¡¯t be able to maintain its course towards Earth without some form of external influence.¡±
¡°Unless,¡± Liu Feng paused, his gaze meeting Lin Xian¡¯s, ¡°something on Earth is drawing it here.¡±
¡°Or,¡± Lin Xian added, ¡°it¡¯s actively searching for something here.¡±
Chapter 276: Toward the Sky
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully, his mind processing the implications. ¡°The conclusion isn¡¯t hard to deduce. I came to the same realization just moments ago.¡±
Liu Feng leaned forward, his expression grave. ¡°It¡¯s the only exnation for why space-time particles, which don¡¯t interact with physical or energetic matter, consistently alter their trajectory toward Earth.¡±
¡°Maybe there¡¯s something on Earth that attracts them, or perhaps there¡¯s a mutual attraction, like gravity, unique to these entities!¡± Lin Xian suggested, eyes narrowing as he pondered the possibilities.
¡°Could there be another space-time particle on Earth? Are they attracting each other?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud.
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°Unlikely. If that were the case, I should have detected it by now. But we must keep an open mind¡ªwe haven¡¯t seen or found anything definitive, so we shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions just yet, right?¡±
Lin Xian sighed and stood, walking over to a model of the Earth. ¡°We need to figure this out. It seems that in about two months, this space-time particle will reach Earth. We need to capture it to further study it¡ªthis includes calibrating the space-time clock, detecting space-time curvature, and researching the Universal Constant, among other things.¡±
¡°Can we pin down the timing more precisely? And the exact location of the space-time particle¡¯s arrival on Earth? Is it in the 380,000 km Earth-moon orbit, the altitude of thousands of kilometers where satellites orbit, or is it 100 km above the surface at the K¨¢rm¨¢n line? Or might it actuallynd on the surface, and we just scoop it up with a long pole and a?¡± Lin Xian questioned, his brain buzzing with potential scenarios.
Liu Feng shook his head again, raising a finger. ¡°Currently, the exact time, location, and altitude of its arrival are all uncertain. I can only confirm it¡¯s heading toward Earth. From its trajectory, it seems it will pass through the atmosphere¡ Assuming it doesn¡¯t change course dramatically. I can¡¯t be precise just yet.¡±¡°But uncertainty now doesn¡¯t mean uncertainty forever. About a week or ten days before the particle¡¯s arrival, I should be able to urately pinpoint where it will pass Earth. For now, I suggest our capture n should focus on the near-Earth space region, from 10 km to 500 km,¡± Liu Feng continued, now raising a second finger.
¡°Secondly, since this space-time particle has no mass or physical form, conventional means won¡¯t capture it. It needs a special kind of ¡®field¡¯ to trap it. That¡¯s not a problem for me. If I can find it, I can trap it!¡±
¡°Give me a month, and I¡¯ll create a ¡®Space-Time Particle Capturer.¡¯ Once trapped, the particle will be immobilized within the capturer¡ Wherever we take the capturer, the particle will follow.¡±
¡°Then, we can study the space-time particle up close. For instance, it could serve as a reference point in space-time to calibrate our clocks and help us study space-time curvature and the Universal Constant. Everything will fall into ce. Therefore! Our most critical and immediate task now is¡ª¡±
¡°How to approach and capture this elusive space-time particle in the atmosphere or even outer space,¡± Lin Xian finished his thought.
¡
Lin Xian and Liu Feng exchanged a nce. The solution was evident.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Yellow Finch, that astute woman, had known everything all along! She was aware of the space-time particle, its passage through Earth¡¯s atmosphere, and that only rockets and spacecraft could capture it!
The maximum flight altitude of civilian airnes is about 15,000 meters. Manned fighter jets can reach about 25,000 meters. Unmanned drones and high-altitude aircraft hold the record for the highest flight altitude, just over 30,000 meters.
30,000 meters¡ That¡¯s merely the stratosphere, far below the 100 km K¨¢rm¨¢n line, and even further from outer space.
Just as Yellow Finch had noted in her message left at theb. Only rockets, spacecraft, satellites, or even¡ the space shuttle recentlyunched by X Country, can undertake this ¡°Space-Time Particle Capture Mission.¡±
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Liu Feng dered, striking the table, ¡°I¡¯m heading to Gansu, to Jiuquan!¡±
The roar of engines filled the air as jets beneath the airne wings expelled hot gas, lifting the heavy airliner into the clouds.
Gansu, situated in the northwest of X Country, is known for its diverse climatic features due to its position at the convergence of several climatic zones. Jiuquan City, where the famous Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is located, features a t terrain and a dry, rainless climate for most of the year, making it an ideal spot for spacecraftunches.
As the ne descended, Lin Xian peered out the window at the starkly differentndscape of the southernnds¡ªvast expanses of yellow were the most direct impression of the Loess teau.
Afternding, they got into a prearranged car and headed to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Despite not having exchanged contact details with Yellow Finch or knowing how to get past the guards at the center, they took the situation one step at a time.
Approaching theunch center, the endless yellow of the ground merged into the distance, under a clear, cloudless blue sky. The seemingly sandy terrain was actually stabilized by a moisture-retaining grass, though this too was sparse and yellow.
From afar, the signage for the X Country Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was visible, along with tallunch towers and a massive, walledpound. They reached theunch center¡¯s gate without any obstacles, the dust kicked up by their lone car marking their approach.
Just as Lin Xian stood before the gate, pondering their smooth journey¡ª
Whoosh!
The gates burst open, and a tall, curvy woman emerged, wearing a thick coat andrge sunsses that covered half her face. She smiled slightly, removing her sunsses to reveal crystal blue eyes that shone with rity, looking directly at Lin Xian and Liu Feng.
¡°You¡¯re too slow!¡± she teased, her voice echoing lightly in the crisp air.
¡
Inside theunch site, Yellow Finch pointed to theunch tower. ¡°Last year, X Country¡¯s first sessful space shuttle flightunched from here. Unlike regr nes that take off by running down a runway, space shuttles areunched by rockets into a predetermined orbit before activating their own boosters to perform flight tasks in near-Earth space.¡±
¡°The Shenzhou rocket used thisunch tower at that time. When we use the space shuttle, the process will be simr to the test flight¡ªit will beunched from here, thennd at shan Airport. Uponnding, the space shuttle operates like an ordinary ne, only needing rocket boosters to reach high orbits duringunch,¡± she exined, her tone serious yet informative.
Yellow Finch understood their capability to manage the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and, therefore, the ability to handle a space shuttle, a national treasure.
Indeed, as they had surmised, space shuttles differ from regr nes in their use of a fuel akin to rocket fuel,plete with an oxidizer, allowing them to burn and thrust forward in both thin atmospheres and the vacuum of space. Regr nes, including fighter jets, use conventional engines reliant on atmospheric oxygen for fuelbustion, limiting their flight altitude to no higher than 30,000 meters. In contrast, space shuttles, with their specialized fuel and boosting methods, are not dependent on atmospheric oxygen, allowing them unparalleled freedom in flight.
Given that Liu Feng¡¯s analysis ced the space-time particle¡¯s appearance within a range of 10 km to 500 km in space, a space shuttle bes the optimal choice for their mission. It offers the necessary flexibility in altitude control, strong maneuverability, and precise movement capabilities required for tasks in the atmosphere and near-Earth space.
¡°This mission must be kept highly confidential,¡± Yellow Finch stated, ncing between Lin Xian and Liu Feng. ¡°We absolutely cannot let anyone outside our trusted circle know what we¡¯re doing, what we¡¯re capturing, or when we¡¯re acting.¡±
¡°So¡ to ensure everything goes smoothly, we must personally board and operate the space shuttle,¡± she dered.
¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Liu Feng eximed, disbelief evident in his tone. ¡°Boarding would require extensive training. Even two months would be a stretch just to train us to safely board a space shuttle¡ This is essentially astronaut training! Operating a space shuttle is out of the question!¡±
¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± Yellow Finch rified, blinking her deep blue eyes at Liu Feng. ¡°The space shuttle¡¯s pilot is already arranged, a trustworthy individual. He¡¯s responsible for our physical training and technical guidance over the next two months, as well as operating the space shuttle in flight¡ That means, he¡¯ll remain in the cockpit the entire time and won¡¯t be involved in our ¡®Space-Time Particle Capture n.''¡±
¡°What I mean by ¡®operating the space shuttle¡¯ refers to operating the external mechanical arm,¡± she continued, pulling out her phone to show them a picture of the space shuttle extending its mechanical arm. ¡°We¡¯re not professional astronauts, nor are we capable of extravehicr activities, so we¡¯ll operate the external mechanical arm from inside the cabin. That¡¯s the extent of the operation we need to manage; piloting is beyond our capacity.¡±
¡°From a secrecy perspective, we cannot let anyone besides us operate this mechanical arm. Liu Feng, I don¡¯t know how Lin Xian exined it to you, but the matter of the ¡®Space-Time Particle¡¯ must remain absolutely confidential; only we must know our actions and objectives,¡± Yellow Finch emphasized.
Lin Xian nodded in agreement, the importance of the space-time particle bing increasingly clear¡ªit seemed more vital than they had ever imagined. He even spected whether Elon Musk¡¯s gesture of pointing to the sky, coupled with his mysterious parting words, ¡°See you in the sky,¡± referred to this elusive, precious space-time particle.
This rare opportunity might just be the key to unraveling all the mysteries and challenges they faced. They had to seize it!
Liu Feng looked reproachfully at Yellow Finch. ¡°You knew about the space-time particle all along! Why didn¡¯t you mention it back in theb? Even a hint would have saved us a lot of time.¡±
She chuckled lightly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t mention it before, but now I can, and that¡¯s because ¡®space-time sticity¡¯ has increased,¡± Yellow Finch replied enigmatically.
¡°Space-time sticity?¡± Liu Feng echoed, utterly perplexed.
¡°Let Lin Xian exin it to you slowly,¡± Yellow Finch suggested, opting not to delve into the details herself. ¡°If you figure things out, we can discuss them further. If not, don¡¯t bother asking¡ªI can¡¯t answer your questions.¡±
¡°Alright, back to business. Besides the person who will act as our coach and space shuttle pilot, just the three of us isn¡¯t enough. This space-time particle capture operation is fraught with uncertainties. Besides piloting, which we won¡¯t handle, there are various other tasks¡ªmonitoring instruments, reporting data, operating the mechanical arm, providing backup support, even passing tools¡ The more hands, the better, of course, but only if they¡¯repletely trustworthy,¡± she exined.
¡
Lin Xian and Liu Feng exchanged a look. ¡°Do you have anyone to rmend, Liu Feng?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°I have no rtives now, and Li Qi Qi has also left. In this world, the only person I know well is you, just you alone.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have any suitable candidates either,¡± Lin Xian admitted, spreading his hands. ¡°I can¡¯t just pull people from mypany, can I? It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust them, but for such a critical matter, I still don¡¯t feelfortable involving them, nor do I want them to know.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of someone. ¡°Gao¡ Yang¡¡±
He looked at Yellow Finch. ¡°Since you know everything and understand everything, why don¡¯t you pick a few reliable people to join us? You¡¯ve helped us this much, and I trust youpletely. If you insist I find someone myself¡ then I can only call Gao Yang, but he¡¯s really not the sharpest tool in the shed, though he¡¯s a good guy with no ill intentions.¡±
¡°Gao Yang, huh.¡± Yellow Finch heard the name and smiled, as if very familiar with it. ¡°Gao Yang would certainly be okay.¡±
¡°You know Gao Yang?¡± Lin Xian was surprised. These two¡ couldn¡¯t be more different! Completely not in the same style, not even from the same world.
¡°I don¡¯t know him personally,¡± Yellow Finch said softly. ¡°But¡ I can tell you directly, Gao Yang is no problem, he can be trusted.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian decided. Since she vouched for Gao Yang, he was definitely suitable.
Gao Yang had been a gaming master since childhood, starting from the NES where he yed Contra, through arcade King of Fighters, StarCraft, DOTA, LOL, and otherpetitive games. Although not at a professional level, back in the day, in Hangzhou¡¯s student circles, he had no rivals.
Gao Yang¡¯s ¡®micro control¡¯ was strong, which everyone referred to asputer operation level. Lin Xian believed that the task of operating the space shuttle¡¯s mechanical arm could be entrusted to Gao Yang. He would definitely learn quickly, and with his talent, he would be more reliable than himself.
Yellow Finch handed them a note with an address in the capital written on it. Nameless and unmarked, just XX Road, XX number, it looked very secretive. ¡°ording to Liu Feng¡¯s calctions, it¡¯s just two months until the space-time particle reaches Earth¡¯s atmosphere.¡±
¡°We must train within these two months, at least to the point where we can board the space shuttle¡ Don¡¯t underestimate this step; it¡¯s quite different from flying on an airne, we must train; if we have spare capacity, then familiarize ourselves more with the space shuttle¡¯s passenger and operation cabin equipment, better safe than sorry.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian, you go handle the issue with bringing Gao Yang, and we¡¯ll meet here at this astronaut secret training base in three days. I¡¯ve already secured it for our use, no one else but us will be here, absolutely safe, no information will leak.¡±
Liu Feng raised his hand. ¡°I still need to manufacture the space-time particle capturer; I¡¯ll be a bitte. Once I¡¯vepleted it here, I¡¯ll bring the space-time particle capturer with me to the secret training base in the capital to find you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Yellow Finch nodded, smiling at the two. ¡°Then, let¡¯s each set off! From now on, we¡¯re a team!¡±
¡
Donghai, a small pub. Gao Yang downed a drink, sighed, and shook his head. ¡°Ah¡ it¡¯s no good, Lin Xian, they didn¡¯t give me leave.¡±
He smacked his lips. ¡°I told the store manager, said I want two months off, no sry needed, no need for social security I¡¯ll pay it myself, even said they could waive my position¡ I just wanted to ask for a long vacation to help my brother with a very important task.¡±
¡°Then just quit,¡± Lin Xian picked up a peanut with his chopsticks, chewing thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ve always said you should quit,e to Rhine Company, do whatever job. Or what project do you want to do? Got any dreams? I¡¯ll invest in you, stop selling cars.¡±
¡°Hey, you can¡¯t say that, Lin Xian,¡± Gao Yang poured himself another drink. ¡°It¡¯s not about loving what you do, I¡¯ve always felt that there¡¯s no high or low, no noble or humble in work, and I actually seem to have a talent for sales, just like you said¡ I¡¯m a natural sales saint, born for sales!¡±
¡°My personal value is just this, my vision is just this, and I¡¯m quite happy mixing in this circle. If you really let me be a department head or go start my own business as a boss, I know I don¡¯t have the capability¡ It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to break out or leave thisfort zone.¡±
¡°I¡¯m very clear about my own position, I can talk a bit, have some glibness. But hey, in the end, the world is vast! But brothers are greatest!¡± Gao Yang raised his ss to Lin Xian. ¡°I quit! I quit, damn it! I¡¯m done!¡±
¡°Worst case, after wee back from Jiuquan, I¡¯ll just find another ce to sell cars! Anyway, the oil car market isn¡¯t doing well now, maybe I¡¯ll switch to a new energy 4S shop and sell there!¡±
Lin Xian grinned at his friend¡¯s antics.
It was clear that Gao Yang was quite reluctant to leave this job. After all, having worked there for so many years, he probably had some emotional attachment, some social interactions, and some sense of achievement and value. Really making him quit for his own sake, Lin Xian felt somewhat remorseful. He downed the drink in his ss and set the cup on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, don¡¯t rush to quit, wait for me at your 4S shop tomorrow.¡±
That night, he called Yellow Finch.
¡
The next day, at the 4S shop. Lin Xian came in and handed Gao Yang a thin, ordinary-looking, folded piece of A4 paper that even seemed transparent and nk like a nk piece of paper. ¡°Give this to your boss.¡±
¡°What is this?¡± Gao Yang was puzzled.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, just give it to the boss, go directly to him, don¡¯t go through the manager.¡±
30 secondster, Gao Yang entered the CEO¡¯s office. 38 secondster, the CEO scrambled to rub Gao Yang¡¯s shoulders, respectfully and fearfully, sending him out. ¡°It¡¯s okay! Go! Just go! We¡¯ll keep paying your sry! Position reserved! No, no, no¡ when youe back, you¡¯ll be promoted! This manager position will be yours!¡±
¡°You tell me¡ hey, Gao Yang! My brother Gao! Was it necessary to alert the state over such a trivial matter?! You, you, you¡ you really scared me to death!¡±
¡°Out, out there, don¡¯t talk nonsense! When youe back, you¡¯ll be the manager of this shop! I¡¯ll promote the current manager to the generalpany, and this shop will be yours to run! From now on, you call the shots in this shop!!¡±
Gao Yang was dumbfounded, looking at the silently smiling Lin Xian, taking the A4 paper handed over by the CEO himself. He opened it¡ And discovered the paper was very nk, with just a red seal in the bottom right corner! From the top governmental department in all of X Country!
The red seal¡¯s unit name was very short, but it made Gao Yang¡¯s legs go weak, almost copsing to the ground. At the top of the paper, the simplest three characters were written¡ª
[Let him go]
¡
The next day.
Capital city, astronaut secret training base. In the hall. Space shuttle pilot and coach Wei Cheng, Lin Xian, Gao Yang, lined up. Yellow Finch stood three to four meters in front of them, like a leader giving a speech.
¡°No way!¡± Gao Yang shouted. ¡°Just the four of us!?¡± He pointed at himself, looked left at Lin Xian, looked at Wei Cheng in his national space uniform, and then at the beautiful woman across from him, Yellow Finch. ¡°Just the four of us to pilot a spaceship!?¡±
¡°Have you seen that childhood cartoon? The one with the two mice flying a ne and a tank, Shuke and Beta?!¡± Wei Cheng, ten years their senior, smiled gently, correcting. ¡°A space shuttle is not a spaceship. If the flight altitude isn¡¯t too high, it¡¯s actually not thatplicated.¡±
Yellow Finch looked at Gao Yang, already knowing what to expect, and chuckled. ¡°Besides¡ it¡¯s not four people, it¡¯s five.¡± She turned her head, looking towards the corridor. ¡°Are you dressed yet? Come on out! Everyone¡¯s here, just waiting for you!¡±
¡°Here Ie~!¡± A voice as pleasant as ark rang out. Along with the voice, appearing around the corner was also a bouncy, deep brown, fluffy ponytail. The girl hopped out in a snug-fitting astronaut training suit, a tear mole by her eye just right, her charming eyes curving into cute crescents.
¡°Senior Lin Xian! Senior Gao Yang!¡± With her dimples faintly visible and a charming giggle, she mockingly saluted the two. ¡°Chu An Qing! Reporting for duty!¡±
Chapter 277: Whose Father, Whose Daughter (1)
¡°Chu An Qing!?¡± Lin Xian and Gao Yang eximed together, their eyes wide with astonishment as they stared at the young girl standing before them.
Previously, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Yellow Finch had hinted she would introduce a reliable new team member. Lin Xian, cing his trust in Yellow Finch¡¯s extensive connections, hadn¡¯t dwelled on it, expecting perhaps someone with a background in aerospace or a rted scientific field.
However, thest person he expected was Chu An Qing¡ªan apparently ordinary 19-year-old art student. The idea of her boarding a space shuttle to collect time-space particles seemed almostughable!
¡°Hehe~¡± Chu An Qing performed a yful salute, then rxed her stance, giggled, and swayed slightly as she faced Lin Xian. ¡°Senior Lin Xian, long time no see!¡±
¡.
A few months back, just three days after the World Hacker Competition wrapped up, the triumphant X Country Information Security Team assembled at a private jet terminal in New York¡¯s airport. Surrounded by the protective detail of the National Elite Forces, they readied for their flight home.
¡°An Qing, did you manage to pack everything?¡± Lin Xian called back to Chu An Qing, noticing she was traveling light.
Chu An Qing pped her arms, mimicking a bird. ¡°This is all I have. I sneaked out, so I didn¡¯t have time to pack properly. If I had gone home, my parents would¡¯ve noticed. Worried I¡¯d miss thepetition, I rushed directly to the airport and flew here.¡±Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Please, don¡¯t do that again; it¡¯s too risky. What would I say to Mr. Chu if something happened to you? I can handle my issues. When I need help, I¡¯ll ask for it.¡±
¡°Sure, sure!¡± Chu An Qingughed. ¡°Just call me anytime! I¡¯m always ready to help!¡±
As they spoke, two security agents from X Country maneuvered a carefully wrapped art piece towards the cargo hold. They passed by Lin Xian and inquired, ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, is this packing satisfactory? We couldn¡¯t find better materials on short notice.¡±
After inspecting the package, Lin Xian nodded. ¡°It¡¯s adequate. Just ensure it¡¯s securely fastened. The frame can endure some damage, but the painting itself must not be touched.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± they acknowledged, loading the artwork titled ¡°Einstein in Sorrow¡± into the jet.
¡°Hmm¡¡± Chu An Qing pondered aloud. ¡°Lin Xian, do you think the ¡®Einstein in Sorrow¡¯ we saw at the Donghai Exhibition, part of a global oil painting tour, could contain different hidden codes from the one you have? Comparing both could elerate the decryption process. It¡¯s like in ¡®The Imitation Game¡¯¡ªthe movie about n Turing¡ªwhere identifying simr patterns in different codes aids in breaking them.¡±
¡°You¡¯re onto something,¡± Lin Xian agreed, recalling his research from the previous night. ¡°There are unverified theories online about this painting. Some believe there are multiple originals, but no one knows the exact count. Currently, only two are confirmed: one from the tour and another previously owned by a famous Hollywood director, now in the hands of the actress Angelica and given to Ji Lin, which is the one we possess.¡±
¡°The hypothesis about there being eight originals was proposed by Ji Lin after analyzing the codes. It¡¯s spective, but Ji Lin¡¯s confidence in his decryption might suggest he¡¯s onto something.¡±
Chu An Qing felt a twinge of sorrow at the mention of Ji Lin. She remembered the two paintings in her room, gifts for her adulthood: one a sketch of herself by Lin Xian, mischievously taken from his notebook by Ji Lin, and the other a watercolor of a group photo with Lin Xian and Ji Lin, painted by her.
But Ji Lin was no longer around.
She avoided mentioning Ji Lin around Lin Xian to spare him the grief. Despite her unresolved feelings towards Ji Lin, she recognized the pain it could cause Lin Xian.
Chu An Qing was aware that Lin Xian had devised the n that ensnared Zhou Duan Yun, with Ji Lin likely coborating smoothly and swiftly. She also knew the festive birthday party was Ji Lin¡¯s strategy to target Lin Xian, and Lin Xian¡¯s mercy towards Ji Lin was part of arger plot.
In public records, Zhou Duan Yun was innocent. After Ji Xin Shui¡¯s demise, only Ji Lin knew of Zhou¡¯s misdeeds. To protect himself, Zhou aimed to eliminate Ji Lin, the sole witness to his crimes.
Her father, Chu Shan He, had exined, ¡°Ji Lin was clever enough to predict Lin Xian¡¯s scheme. He realized at the police station, seeing the announcement exonerating Zhou, that Lin Xian intended to use him as bait.¡±
Chu An Qing marveled at theplexity of their ns, something she struggled to grasp, unlike Lin Xian and Ji Lin, who navigated these strategies with an understanding of each other¡¯s thoughts.
¡°But why?¡± she had once asked her father.
¡°If Ji Lin knew he was bait and risked being killed by Zhou, why did he proceed?¡±
Chu Shan He sighed. ¡°Perhaps Ji Lin believed Lin Xian would rescue him in time, or maybe he underestimated Zhou¡¯s ruthlessness. But I suspect Ji Lin, understanding Zhou well, hoped Lin Xian would save him.¡±
¡°Of course, this is mere conjecture. Zhou acted too swiftly for the police to intervene.¡±
Chu Shan He had chuckled, tousling her hair. ¡°The games of such intelligent individuals are beyond ourprehension. Just live happily, free from these burdens.¡±
Chu An Qing had nodded, deciding to let go of her thoughts on Ji Lin¡¯s choices. Why would someone knowingly walk into danger, possibly facing death? Was it truly for a noble cause?
She recalled a lesson: some deaths carry the weight of Mount Tai, while others are as light as a feather. Ji Lin¡¯s death seemed insignificant,cking heroism or meaning.
Shouldn¡¯t one desire their death to be purposeful?
¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t dwell on it,¡± she resolved, shaking off the heavy thoughts.
¡.
Back in the present, Chu An Qing watched Lin Xian as he stood before the ne, deep in thought about the painting¡¯s codes.
¡°I have a great idea!¡± Her face lit up, radiant as the sun.
¡°We saw ¡®Einstein in Sorrow¡¯ at the Donghai Exhibition Hall, usually housed in the British Museum. Since international travel is straightforward these days, why don¡¯t we visit the museum together?¡±
¡°Just like at Ji Lin¡¯s, I can assist you. I¡¯ll hold the light while you photograph the painting¡¯s codes. Then we canpare them to what we have and decipher them faster!¡±
Lin Xian smiled, appreciating her enthusiasm. ¡°That¡¯s a practical n. Since we don¡¯t know the locations of the other six originals, the one at the British Museum is our best bet. We¡¯ll find a safe time to visit.¡±
¡°Promise you¡¯ll take me!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, standing on her tiptoes and raising her hand high. ¡°I can be your guide! I visited the British Museum during a high school summer trip. While I didn¡¯t focus much on the art, I know theyout well. Make sure to include me when you go!¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°But next time, you¡¯ll need your father¡¯s permission. No more sneaking around.¡±
¡°Hehe, don¡¯t worry,¡± she replied, scratching her head sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯ll let him know next time.¡±
They boarded the ne, settling into their seats. As the aircraft rumbled to life and began its ascent, Lin Xian turned to Chu An Qing.
¡°By the way, what did the woman who looked after you at the hackerpetition tell you?¡±
¡°She said her name was Yellow Finch. Odd name, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Chu An Qing blinked, looking curious. ¡°Do you know her? Is she a friend?¡±
¡°Sort of,¡± Lin Xian answered, uncertain how best to describe his connection with Yellow Finch. ¡°She has helped me before. She¡¯s mysterious, always appearing unexpectedly, but she doesn¡¯t seem harmful. She protected you during thepetition, so we owe her our gratitude.¡±
Chu An Qing nodded. ¡°Yellow Finch was kind. She protected me well. And her eyes! They were so striking, like staring into the Milky Way. They seemed to shine and swirl, like gxies within her eyes.¡±
¡°I remember her eyes the most. At first, I thought she might be Zhao Ying Jun, but their appearances and voices are quite different, though they share a simr presence. She told me I was brave and that we¡¯d meet again soon. I clearly remember her words.¡±
¡°She also called Kevin Walker a coward and suggested he should face you directly. That¡¯s all I remember.¡±
A coward¡
Lin Xian pondered the term. It seemed Yellow Finch knew that the hooded boy at thepetition wasn¡¯t the real Kevin Walker. Labeling him a coward might have been her way of critiquing Kevin Walker¡¯s reluctance to reveal himself.
Considering Yellow Finch¡¯s statement about being a member of the Genius Club and the possibility that Kevin Walker was too, the nickname ¡°coward¡± could be an inside reference within the club.
Another intriguing point was Yellow Finch¡¯s promise of a future meeting with Chu An Qing. Chu An Qing was just an ordinary girl, while Yellow Finch had numerous aliases¡ªa member of the Genius Club, a suspected time traveler, a mysterious figure, and someone influential enough to secure ess to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Lin Xian shelved these questions forter consideration.
¡.
Ten hourster, the private jet touched down at the capital¡¯s airport before taking off again towards Donghai Pudong Airport. After their long journey, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing disembarked, stretching their limbs under the daylight.
¡°It feels like ages ago,¡± Chu An Qing mused. ¡°We left in the daytime, and it¡¯s still daytime! Hehe, did we travel through time or reverse it? Lin Xian, is today the same day we left the USA?¡±
Her question caught Lin Xian off guard. He considered the time difference. ¡°X Country is 12 hours ahead of the USA. So technically, you didn¡¯t travel back in time; you moved forward. You left the USA on the morning of the 19th, and now it¡¯s noon on the 20th here.¡±
¡°In a way, you lost a day of your life. But don¡¯t overthink it. It¡¯s a bitplex and beyond my area of expertise.¡± He smiled. ¡°This trip abroad was my first, thanks to the official arrangements.¡±
Chu An Qingughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you had any blind spots in your knowledge, senior. I guess you don¡¯t know everything after all!¡±
¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°You got me this time. Maybe one day you¡¯ll surpass me, and I¡¯ll be the one asking you questions.¡±
¡°That day will nevere,¡± Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°My brain isn¡¯t sharp enough; I¡¯ll never catch up to you!¡±
Chu An Qing brightened with a new idea, her eyes twinkling. ¡°If flying from the USA to X Country means moving forward in time, does flying back mean reversing time? If we kept flying east without stopping, wouldn¡¯t we stay in an eternal today, never reaching tomorrow?¡±
Lin Xianughed, caught up in her infectious imagination.
¡°Congrattions,¡± he yed along. ¡°You¡¯ve discovered a glitch in the world, granting you immortality.¡±
¡°Really!?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes shaped like crescents. ¡°If we kept flying, we¡¯d never see tomorrow! We¡¯d always be in today!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian agreed.
¡°Then if the ne flew faster, we¡¯d really travel back to yesterday!¡± Chu An Qing eximed, thrilled.
¡°Impressive!¡± Lin Xian pped.
¡°Hey, I¡¯m serious!¡± Chu An Qing pouted, giving Lin Xian a yful punch. ¡°Exin it to me! Am I right or not? It feels like it makes sense, theoretically.¡±
Lin Xian straightened. ¡°Your theory holds under one condition.¡±
¡°What condition?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened with curiosity.
¡°If Einstein agrees to rewrite the theory of rtivity,¡± Lin Xian said, grinning.
¡°Oh, you¡¯re teasing me!¡± Chu An Qing huffed, punching Lin Xian yfully. ¡°I really thought I¡¯d discovered a glitch in the world!¡±
Their conversation was interrupted by a car horn. Lin Xian¡¯s Alphard pulled up, and the driver began loading their luggage.
¡°I¡¯ll drive you back to school, An Qing,¡± Lin Xian offered. ¡°Sorry to burst your Nobel Prize dreams. But if you¡¯re interested in this topic, you should take Professor Zhang Yang¡¯s elective next semester. He makes rtivity, light speed, and time travel fun and essible. I took his ss at Donghai University, and it was fascinating.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Chu An Qing smiled. ¡°I¡¯m interested. Time travel sounds amazing. If I could really travel through time¡¡±
Lin Xian handed his luggage to the driver and looked at Chu An Qing. ¡°Would you go back in time or to the future?¡±
¡°I¡¯d definitely go back,¡± she responded immediately. ¡°The future doesn¡¯t interest me. I¡¯m not even 20 yet; I can live to see the future. With hibernation chambers bing practical, anyone can travel to the future. The past, however, remains unreachable, no matter how advanced technology gets. If I had the power to time travel, I¡¯d choose the past every time.¡±
Lin Xian was intrigued. ¡°That¡¯s an unusual choice. Most people would opt for the future. Do you have a specific reason or something you¡¯d like to change from the past? If you could travel back in time, what would you do?¡±
¡°Hehe¡¡± Chu An Qing smiled mischievously, dimples appearing. She pressed a finger to her lips. ¡°That¡¯s a secret~¡±
Chapter 278: Whose Father, Whose Daughter (2)
¡°¡So mysterious,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, clearly amused. Not long ago, Chu An Qing had captured his interest with her quirky ideas. At first, they seemed like the wild fantasies of a naive young girl. Yet, despite this, her vibrant enthusiasm was undeniably contagious. For a fleeting moment, Lin Xian found himself swept up in her excitement, engaged in a stimting exchange that felt like a coboration of two brilliant minds.
¡°But don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian,¡± Chu An Qing said with a bright smile, patting her chest confidently. ¡°If I could really travel through time, you¡¯d be the first to know! I promise, I¡¯d find the younger you and give you all the winning lottery numbers! You¡¯d be richer than my dad!¡±
¡°Well, thanks in advance,¡± Lin Xian responded with a grin, holding open the electric door of the sleek business car and gesturing for her to step inside. ¡°And remind me to invest in Bitcoin.¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s not possible!¡± Chu An Qing quickly dismissed the idea, her expression turning serious. ¡°That¡¯s illegal!¡±
¡.
After the ride, Lin Xian¡¯s chauffeur dropped Chu An Qing off at Donghai University. She waved cheerfully as she stepped out of the car. ¡°Bye, Lin Xian. Drive safely!¡±
¡°Yeah, you get some rest,¡± Lin Xian called out, rolling up the window as he prepared to drive away.
Watching the car disappear around the corner of her dorm, Chu An Qing reflected on Lin Xian¡¯s recent advice about attending Professor Zhang Yang¡¯s general education ss. She had already taken itst semester and would have to wait to enroll again. But she considered sneaking into the lecture hall just to listen. After all, with hundreds of students in attendance, who would notice one more?She stretched, feeling a sense of aplishment. Living life, she realized, meant chasing what you love. Not every moment had to be grand, and not every ending profound. What mattered most was finding happiness and living without regrets.
Humming to herself, she walked toward her dormitory, only to stop short in surprise.
A tall, elegant woman in sunsses stood in front of the dormitory, exuding a blend of grace and authority. Dressed in a chic trench coat and adorned with shimmering blue earrings, shemanded attention.
¡°Yellow Finch?¡± Chu An Qing hurried over, puzzled and slightly anxious.
¡°Yellow Finch, what brings you here?¡± Chu An Qing inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Removing her sunsses, Yellow Finch revealed her piercing blue eyes, giving her a look that was almost too intense. ¡°An Qing, do you have a moment?¡± she asked softly, her tone serious. ¡°There¡¯s something important I need to discuss with you.¡±
¡.
Seated in a quiet corner of the school cafeteria¡¯s third-floor caf¨¦, the two women faced each other, cold drinks untouched between them. Chu An Qing listened in disbelief to Yellow Finch¡¯s revtions.
¡°Is¡ is all of this really true¡ Yellow Finch? I¡ I can hardly believe it,¡± she stammered, her hands instinctively touching her cold cheeks.
If Lin Xian¡¯s musings on time travel were somewhat usible, what Yellow Finch described sounded like it was ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel.
¡°I¡ I don¡¯t understand, and I¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay, An Qing,¡± Yellow Finch soothed. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to make any decisions right now. This is a lot to take in. Take your time to think about it. But remember, don¡¯t tell anyone about our conversation¡ªnot your parents, not Lin Xian, nobody. This decision must be yours alone.¡±
Chu An Qing felt vulnerable. ¡°Not even Lin Xian? I was thinking about discussing it with him¡ Can I really not tell him?¡±
Yellow Finch shook her head gravely. ¡°Trust me, An Qing. It¡¯s for Lin Xian¡¯s own good to keep him out of this. Due to the sticity effect, the crucial information I¡¯ve shared is mostly incorrect or evenpletely the opposite. Sharing this with Lin Xian would only mislead him. If he acts on this false information, he¡¯ll surely make mistakes and miss out on a critical opportunity.¡±
¡°When the situation changes, I¡¯ll update you with the facts. But for now, although what I¡¯ve told you might seem incorrect, the events are very real. It¡¯s like the value of Pi¡ªeven if I incorrectly say it¡¯s 5.14, it doesn¡¯t negate the actual existence of Pi.¡±
Overwhelmed by the bizarre nature of the conversation, Chu An Qing fell silent.
After a lengthy pause, she finally spoke, her voice steady but filled with confusion. ¡°The ¡®Alpha Substance¡¯ you mentioned¡ the one that¡¯s only found in outer space, is it truly that vital to Lin Xian?¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s extremely crucial,¡± Yellow Finch confirmed softly, leaning forward to look Chu An Qing in the eyes. ¡°Missing this element could cause everything to unravel. By the time we realize its importance, it might be toote.¡±
¡.
Yellow Finch stood, her movements smooth and deliberate. ¡°This is my phone number,¡± she said, cing a piece of paper on the table.
She picked up her coat. ¡°It¡¯s only September 2023, not even October yet. You have plenty of time to think and decide. When you¡¯re ready, call me, and I¡¯ll tell you everything I can.¡±
With a graceful gesture, she donned her stylish trench coat and slipped on her sunsses.
¡°Lastly, remember, An Qing, no matter what choice you make, it will be the right one. Because¡ I can¡¯t predict the right answer. I¡¯m just trying to do what I believe is right,¡± she added, her voice tinged with a hint of regret.
¡°Unfortunately¡¡± she paused, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°I actually know more about you, but due to the sticity effect, I can¡¯t tell you now. Otherwise, your decision would be easier.¡±
¡°Goodbye, see youter.¡±
With that, Yellow Finch turned and walked away, her high heels clicking on the floor, each step echoing in the now quiet caf¨¦.
Chu An Qing watched her disappear around the corner, her mind racing with the weight of the conversation.
She looked down at the small piece of paper on the table. A phone number was scribbled on it. She reached out, gripped it, and put it in her pocket.
¡.
¡°Today, we¡¯ve covered the basics of Einstein¡¯s theory of rtivity,¡± announced Professor Zhang Yang in a packed lecture hall. Chu An Qing, sitting in thest row, diligently took notes from the ckboard. Beside her, a recorder captured every word.
She adjusted her sses.
Although her vision was nearly perfect, she wore sses to ensure she didn¡¯t miss any details on the distant ckboard. ¡°Your vision is perfect! 1.0 is more than enough; you don¡¯t need sses,¡± the school optician had told her. ¡°Any stronger, and it¡¯s like a telescope.¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Chu An Qing had agreed enthusiastically. ¡°That¡¯s what I need!¡±
¡°But this will strain your eyes¡ it might worsen your vision.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay! I¡¯ll only wear them during ss.¡±
After much persistence, she had acquired her ¡°telescope sses¡± and now sat, almost incognito, in Professor Zhang Yang¡¯s general education ss. She hadn¡¯t officially enrolled this semester, and technically, she shouldn¡¯t be there. But with such arge ss, attendance was hardly a concern, and the teacher wouldn¡¯t notice one extra student.
As Lin Xian had mentioned, Professor Zhang Yang¡¯s sses were both enlightening and popr, filled to the brim. Once, unable to find a seat, Chu An Qing had stood at the back for the entire lecture. That day, Professor Zhang had delved into the grandfather paradox and Stephen Hawking¡¯s time traveler experiment, challenging the concept of time travel.
He had also discussed the famous Einstein-Bohr debate¡ªreferred to as the Copenhagen debate¡ªwhere some of the world¡¯s brightest minds had sparred over quantum mechanics, with no definitive winner.
¡°Wow¡¡± Chu An Qing thought, her brain overwhelmed. ¡°Is this even understandable by humans? Can anyone really learn this?¡±
That lecture had instilled doubts about her ability to grasp suchplex topics. But her motivation wasn¡¯t solely academic curiosity or Lin Xian¡¯s influence; it was also driven by her conversation with Yellow Finch.
The details Yellow Finch had shared were baffling, almost too much toprehend, let alone decide upon. It wasn¡¯t just about potentially traveling to space; there was a depth andplexity to the information that was entirely new to her.
¡°I want to understand! I need to grasp everything!¡± she resolved.
But¡
¡°It¡¯s too hard!¡± Chu An Qing moaned a frown. It was already 2 a.m., and she was still up in her dorm room, surrounded by notes and textbooks, the curtain around her bed closed, a smallmp her only light.
She struggled even with the basics.
Back in the lecture hall, Professor Zhang Yang was concluding the semester. ¡°Today is ourst ss,¡± he announced, his voice filled with a mix of pride and amusement as he surveyed the packed room. ¡°Every semester, I¡¯m gratified to see so many of you drawn to theseplex, obscure, and unverifiable hypotheses. Curiosity is the first step toward understanding the stars and the vast universe.¡±
¡°I hope you all continue to pursue science, the unknown, and specialized fields of study. There¡¯s always work to be done, and who knows? It could be you, it could be me; it could be anyone who makes the next great discovery. After all, you can¡¯t know for sure. Anyone here could be the next Einstein or Newton. Why?¡±
¡°Because,¡± he continued, his voice rising with enthusiasm, ¡°there are always things worth doing, needing to be done, that must be done! Don¡¯t ever see yourselves as ordinary or insignificant. Consider this: each atom in your body originates from a star that exploded billions of years ago. The atoms in your left hand and your right hand might evene from different gxies. You are made of material as ancient as Earth, with some of it as old as the universe itself.¡±
¡°Because these atoms from every corner of the universe havee together to form you¡ how can you be ordinary? My students¡ each of you is a miracle of the universe.¡±
Professor Zhang Yang concluded, closing his thermos with augh that filled the lecture hall. ¡°So, your curiosity about the universe is the best response! As always, there will be no exams for this general education course. All enrolled students receive full marks!¡±
¡°Wow!¡± Cheers erupted in the hall.
Amid the jubtion, Chu An Qing muttered to herself, now understanding why this course was so fiercelypetitive. The real reason everyone wanted in?
No final exams. Everyone gets full marks¡ªan easy pass.
¡.
And so, the first half of her sophomore year drew to a close.
Amid the hectic period of reviews and exams, Chu An Qing missed her father¡¯s ¡°Scientific Charity G,¡± losing another opportunity to see Lin Xian.
¡°The atoms in your left hand and right hand mighte from different gxies¡¡±
Chu An Qing gazed at her left hand, then at her right, and slowly brought them together, sping them tightly.
¡°Such a romantic thought¡¡±
She closed her eyes, reveling in the romance of a cosmic encounter. Opening the drawer of her study desk in her dormitory, she took out the small piece of paper Yellow Finch had left.
Since their meeting in the caf¨¦, she hadn¡¯t reached out to Yellow Finch, even though the thought consumed her day and night. But she had never mustered the courage to dial the number.
But now¡
She had made up her mind.
¡°I am a star,¡± she repeated Professor Zhang Yang¡¯s words, looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes firm. ¡°I am the universe!¡±
¡.
¡°Absolutely not!¡± In the luxurious manor, Chu Shan He roared in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡±
¡°Why!!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s voice matched her father¡¯s in volume. ¡°I thought you¡¯d agree without hesitation! You¡¯ve always supported scientific endeavors and respected space heroes! Why won¡¯t you let me go!!¡±
Chu An Qing never expected that after making up her mind, she would be blocked by her own father!
This waspletely unexpected!
She had thought he would be the most supportive of her undertaking such a mission¡ªjoining a national secret project, going to space, performing a secret mission. Wasn¡¯t this an honorable thing?
¡°Why won¡¯t you let me go!¡± Chu An Qing shouted at the top of her lungs. ¡°I¡¯m doing a good thing! It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going on a vacation!¡±
¡°You¡¯d be better off going on a vacation!¡± Chu Shan He crossed his arms, frowning at the official-looking documents on the coffee table.
Signed by X Country¡¯s Space Agency.
Stamped by multiple departments.
It couldn¡¯t be fake.
But it was utterly absurd!
Absurd to the extreme!
Letting a 19-year-old girl with no specific training or talent go to spaceplete nonsense!
¡°You¡¯re not going, period!¡± Chu Shan He waved his hand, indicating there was no room for discussion.
At this moment, Su Xiu Ying, Chu An Qing¡¯s mother, also stepped forward, rubbing the almost-crying Chu An Qing¡¯s cheeks.
¡°You silly girl¡ what are you thinking? Going to space for a mission¡ I thought you were joking! How could it be your turn to go? Why would it be you?¡±
¡°Even if it could be you, what could you do there? How could you help? You¡¯d just cause trouble for the country. Why doesn¡¯t your father let you go? Because he¡¯s worried about your safety, worried you might get hurt, face danger¡ why can¡¯t you understand?¡±
Chu Shan He turned around, looking at his stubborn, tearful daughter. ¡°Do you know how dangerous this is? I may not know how you convinced the space agency to give you this absurd document, but I can¡¯t just watch my daughter participate in such a dangerous n! I refuse to believe that this space mission can¡¯t happen without you! Is the entire X Country out of people?¡±
¡°If X Country is really out of people, I¡¯ll go! Your mom will go! But we won¡¯t let you go! Do you think this is like taking a ne? A ship? This is space! If something happens, there¡¯s no chance of survival!¡±
He took a deep breath, ring at Chu An Qing.
¡°Do you think I didn¡¯t know about you sneaking off to America to cheer for Lin Xian at the hackerpetition?¡±
Chu An Qing choked, wide-eyed at her father.
How?
¡°I knew as soon as you got back!¡± Chu Shan He pointed at her fiercely.
Su Xiu Ying patted her head.
¡°Your father couldn¡¯t sleep for days, worrying¡ ming himself for not keeping an eye on you. Even though you were already back from America, he couldn¡¯t stop worrying and didn¡¯t sleep for days.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t tell her these things,¡± Chu Shan He interrupted Su Xiu Ying, still ring at Chu An Qing, his brows furrowed.
¡°Why didn¡¯t I confront you? Why didn¡¯t I scold you?¡±
¡°Your mother and I thought, our child has grown up, now 19, with her own thoughts and ideas. So, we pretended not to know, didn¡¯t mention it, respected your choices.¡±
¡°But now you¡¯re going too far! Too far! I won¡¯t indulge you any longer! This document requires my signature. You can forget about it. I will tell the space agency¡¯s leaders to let anyone else go, but not you!¡±
Tears blurred Chu An Qing¡¯s vision, and she burst into tears.
¡°Why! Why can¡¯t I go¡¡±
¡°You say space is dangerous, but isn¡¯t defending the borders dangerous? Isn¡¯t being a soldier dangerous? Wasn¡¯t the front line in wartime dangerous? Those test pilots, police officers, bomb disposal workers, aren¡¯t they in danger? Among them, there are kids my age! There are girls like me!¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t I go¡ why can others go but not me? Give me a reason!¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter!!¡± Chu Shan He¡¯s veins bulged with anger.
¡°Do you understand? Because you¡¯re my daughter! That¡¯s why you can¡¯t go! It¡¯s that simple!¡±
Chu An Qing sobbed, almost out of breath.
But she clenched her fists, stood straight, and tearfully staring at her father¡
¡°Dad¡¡± Her voice trembled with tears. ¡°Which girl isn¡¯t someone¡¯s daughter? Which girl¡ doesn¡¯t have a dad? No onees from a rock¡ Even if their dad isn¡¯t Chu Shan He, each girl is a precious daughter in her father¡¯s eyes.¡±
¡°Now we live in peaceful times¡ we don¡¯t need to do those dangerous things. But if something truly needs you, me, everyone¡ if everyone refuses, doesn¡¯t stand up courageously¡ what will happen to our country? Our lives?¡±
¡°Just because I¡¯m Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter, I should hide behind others, watching other daughters fight¡ risking their lives¡ while I just watch! Watch my whole life!!¡±
¡°I won¡¯t!!!!¡± Chu An Qing shouted loudly!
She wiped her tears with one arm, she clenched her teeth and red at the stern father, ¡°If others¡¯ daughters can do it. Then Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter¡ can too!¡±
Chapter 279: The Final Member
January 21, 2024
At the secret astronaut training base in the capital city.
Lin Xian was taken aback when he saw Chu An Qing standing there. He turned to Yellow Finch, eyebrows furrowed, ¡°You said you¡¯d find another team member. Why is it An Qing?¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t it be An Qing?¡± Yellow Finch crossed her arms and stared at Lin Xian. ¡°When ites to adaptability for space operations, Chu An Qing, with her dance background and regr training, is far more suitable than you amateurs who have never undergone any rted training. Especially Gao Yang¡¡±
She nced down at Gao Yang¡¯s nearly bursting shirt buttons and his bulging beer belly. ¡°I¡¯m really worried about whether you can handle the rocket¡¯s eleration. I can already picture you vomiting all over the passenger cabin.¡±
¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Gao Yang waved his hand confidently. ¡°This belly of mine is like a one-way cosmic pouch; nothing everes back up! I¡¯ve never thrown up from drinking all these years! Nothing I eat everes back out!¡±
Wei Cheng, standing nearby, smiled at Gao Yang. ¡°That kind of mindset is actually good. The truth is, just riding a rocket into space, without leaving the capsule, isn¡¯t as dangerous as people think. With today¡¯s technology, rockets are very stable in terms of posture and eleration. Afterpleting the ¡®gravity overload adaptation training,¡¯ even healthy ordinary people can go into space without much problem.¡±
He continued, ¡°Not long ago, the world¡¯s richest man, Elon Musk, sent four ordinary people on a space trip. They were much older than you and adapted after just a few weeks of training. Although the rocket¡¯s eleration overload might sound scary, it¡¯s only about 4g.¡±¡°Do you know what 4g feels like? Some of the more thrilling roller coasters at amusement parks reach elerations of 4g at their most intense moments. Compared to that, isn¡¯t it less terrifying? Plus, the eleration of a rocket is much smoother, making it easier to adapt to. That¡¯s why I say, having a rxed mindset like Gao Yang¡¯s is what¡¯s most important.¡±
¡°Of course, physical fitness is still fundamental. Gravity overload adaptation training is a must. I¡¯m just saying this to help you rx. Even for ordinary people, it¡¯s not as difficult as it seems. Historically, cats and dogs have gone into space and traveled through it, not to mention humans¡¯ adaptability and learning ability.¡±
Wei Cheng, the main pilot of the space shuttle and the main trainer for the past two months, was very professional. Lin Xian understood this. Wei Cheng was boosting everyone¡¯s morale to prevent them from backing out before the training even started.
Unlike a conventional spacecraft that ascends, orbits, and then falls back to Earth, the space shuttle skips the falling back into the atmosphere part. This phase is what truly tests an astronaut¡¯s physical endurance. Unlike the steady 4g eleration of a rocket during ascent, a spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere can experience elerations of 6g, 8g, or even over 10g.
But Lin Xian and his team didn¡¯t need to worry about this. The space shuttle, equipped with its own propulsion, would bring them back into the atmosphere andnd smoothly at an airport. That¡¯s why Wei Cheng assured them that this space shuttle journey wasn¡¯t dangerous, as long as there were no idents.
Still, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand why Yellow Finch had to bring Chu An Qing. There were clearly many people more suitable than Chu An Qing. Even from a trust perspective, was Chu An Qing really the best choice?
He approached Chu An Qing, who was wearing the training suit of the astronaut base. ¡°You didn¡¯t sneak out again, did you?¡±
¡°This time, I didn¡¯t!¡± Chu An Qing pulled out a red official document from behind her and handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°Ta-da~~ Look! My dad approved it!¡±
Lin Xian nced at the red official document. Indeed, besides the stamps of various national departments, there was also the signature and handprint of Chu Shan He. It was strange. Since when had this daughter-loving father be so open-minded? Or did Chu Shan He really believe that space travel was safe and not dangerous?
¡°How did you convince your dad?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Ah¡ that was not easy at all¡¡± Chu An Qing sighed. ¡°We argued for a long time before he finally agreed. I gave him a reason he couldn¡¯t refuse.¡±
Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she smiled. ¡°He¡¯s Chu Shan He, after all. What kind of father raises what kind of child. He should have known and been prepared for this!¡±
¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough chit-chat.¡± Yellow Finch pped her hands, interrupting the two. ¡°Everyone, gather around. Let me exin our n for the ¡®Spacene Alpha Matter Collection.''¡±
Alpha matter referred to time-space particles. Yellow Finch didn¡¯t want Wei Cheng, an ¡°outsider,¡± to know their true n. Gao Yang and Chu An Qing would be informed of the truth before the final mission. During the mission, they would all be together, while Wei Cheng would be in the cockpit, focusing on piloting the space shuttle, and not involved in the capture operation in the passenger and equipment cabins.
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing returned to the team, standing next to Gao Yang. The four of them lined up to listen to Yellow Finch¡¯s briefing.
¡°Our team¡¯s chief scientist¡ well, our only scientist and engineer, Liu Feng, will join us here in about a month. He will bring the Alpha Matter Capture Device and the specific data on the time, location, and altitude of the Alpha matter¡¯s arrival in Earth¡¯s atmosphere. The detailed flight n will be finalized once we have the specific information.¡±
¡°For now, the three of you, Lin Xian, Chu An Qing, and Gao Yang, need to stay at this secret base, follow Wei Cheng¡¯s guidance, and undergo physical training. If possible, you should also learn how to operate the equipment on the space shuttle.¡±
Gao Yang raised his hand. ¡°Does Liu Feng need to undergo training too?¡±
Yellow Finch nced at Gao Yang with a look that said, ¡°You¡¯re asking too many questions.¡± ¡°Liu Feng will be carrying a simple detection device to constantly lock onto the Alpha matter¡¯s position and guide Wei Cheng in piloting the space shuttle. He will be in the cockpit and only needs to undergo overload training when the timees. His task isn¡¯t as heavy as yours.¡±
¡°Alright, we¡¯ll discuss the specificster. You can¡¯t reach a thousand miles without taking small steps first. Let¡¯s start with physical training and overload training.¡±
¡°Also, we have tight schedules and heavy tasks. Don¡¯t n on going home for the New Year. Continue training here. I¡¯ll give you a break on New Year¡¯s Eve to go out and rx, but other than that, don¡¯t think about resting. We have very little time.¡±
With that, Yellow Finch pped her hands to signal the end of the discussion. ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say. If there are no questions, let¡¯s start the training immediately. Wei Cheng, take them and¡ª¡±
Gao Yang raised his hand again, interrupting Yellow Finch.
Yellow Finch¡¯s eyebrows twitched as she looked at Gao Yang with a ¡°why do you have so many questions¡± expression. ¡°What is it now?¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t we going to eat first? Can¡¯t we start after a meal?¡± Gao Yang¡¯s clear and innocent eyes, coupled with his rubbing stomach, were almost too much to handle.
¡
¡°Hey!¡± Chu An Qing leaped off the recently stopped spinning chair like a ballet dancer finishing a routine. Her toes lightly touched the ground as shended steadily.
Wei Cheng, who had been watching the data on the instruments, was stunned. He turned to Chu An Qing, his eyes wide with surprise. ¡°Are you dizzy?¡±
¡°Nope.¡±
¡°Nauseous? Any dizziness or urge to vomit?¡±
¡°None at all.¡±
Chu An Qing spun around twice on the spot, looking at Wei Cheng with a smile. ¡°See, nothing at all.¡±
Wei Cheng took a deep breath and marked several check marks in his notebook. ¡°You¡¯re incredible. You have the physique of a natural astronaut!¡±
Lin Xian and Gao Yang stood silently, listening to Wei Cheng¡¯s endless praise for Chu An Qing. They didn¡¯t know what to say. They had been at the secret astronaut training base for half a month now. During this time, Chu An Qing had shown an extraordinary talent. Whether it was the centrifuge, spinning chair, buoyancy pool, or weightlessness simtor, Chu An Qing didn¡¯t need any adaptation at all!
She jumped right in at full power, then gracefully jumped off like a kitten,pletely unbothered. Wei Cheng had previously doubted if Chu An Qing had some neurological issue or abnormal inner ear function. No normal person could go through such intense training ande out unscathed!
But after further examination, it was found that Chu An Qing¡¯s development was perfectly normal. Her brain and other organs were all functioning properly. This made Wei Chengpletely change his previous perception of Chu An Qing as a ¡°pretty face¡± and be her biggest fan.
¡°You¡¯re not only physically strong but also have excellent coordination. I wonder if this is rted to your years of dancing. Even though many children who practiced dance were selected for astronaut training, none had your level of coordination,¡± Wei Cheng marveled. ¡°No wonder Yellow Finch brought you here. Honestly, at first, I thought it was inappropriate for Yellow Finch to bring a teenage girl. But since she¡¯s themander, I didn¡¯t question it.¡±
¡°But now Ipletely understand. Yellow Finch has an eye for talent. No wonder the state trusts her so much. An Qing, finding someone with your unique astronaut physique is nearly impossible, and Yellow Finch managed to find you among so many people. She truly has skills.¡±
Wei Cheng marked several more check marks in his notebook, full of praise.
¡°As for the other two¡¡± He squinted at Lin Xian and Gao Yang, who stood silently by the wall. Especially Gao Yang, who was whistling and peeling wall paint, pretending not to be seen.
On the first day of centrifuge training, Gao Yang had volunteered to go first. Looking at the giant spinning arm of the centrifuge, Gao Yang was unimpressed. ¡°This is just an oversized version of the spinning coffee cups at the amusement park. Let me try!¡±
But it only took a few spins before he threw up. Fortunately, Wei Cheng had anticipated this and taught Gao Yang how to use the vomit bag in advance.
Lin Xian did better. He felt a bit ufortable in the centrifuge, but nothing he couldn¡¯t handle. It probably had to do with his experiences in his dreams. eleration and overload were things he had already adapted to through activities like racing and skydiving.
While he couldn¡¯t match Chu An Qing¡¯s nonchnt ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± and ¡°That was fun! Let¡¯s go again!¡± attitude, his performance was already excellentpared to the average person. Although not as good as a professional astronaut¡¯s, Wei Cheng assured him, ¡°It¡¯s good enough for this mission.¡±
However, Lin Xian still struggled with the spinning chair. It was like a high-speed, ground-level washing machine. After enduring the spins for a while, he reached his limit just as time was up. He was dizzy and had to lean on the wall to steady himself.
Chu An Qing, on the other hand, could jump off the spinning chair and seamlessly transition into a ballet routine. She truly had a natural astronaut¡¯s physique, as Wei Cheng described. Fortunately, after half a month¡¯s training, Lin Xian, who wasn¡¯t in bad shape to begin with, had improved significantly and was considered qualified by Wei Cheng.
Only Gao Yang remained problematic. He had lost some weight, but possibly due to his long-term lifestyle as a salesman, his physical condition was poor, and hegged in all aspects of training.
¡°Well¡¡± Gao Yang discarded the wall paint he had peeled off and approached, disgruntled. ¡°Isn¡¯t all this training unnecessary? You brought me here to operate the mechanical arm, right? So why not give me a game controller and let me practice? It¡¯s probably simr to operating an excavator, up and down, left and right¡ Why make me do all this useless stuff?¡±
He pointed to the spinning chair that Chu An Qing had just jumped off. ¡°When would we ever encounter a situation like this? Our space shuttle isn¡¯t going to spin like a washing machine, is it? Like a Naruto ninjutsu?¡±
¡°If the space shuttle started spinning like this, it would probably fall apart before I had a chance to throw up!¡±
Wei Cheng shook his head. ¡°Gao Yang, that¡¯s not the right way to think.¡±
¡°You might not realize it.¡± He looked up, eyes serious and expression stern, at Gao Yang. ¡°99.9% of our astronaut training is to prepare for the 0.01% of unexpected situations.¡±
¡°Space missions are no joke. If you can¡¯t pass these tests, I can¡¯t, in good conscience, let you go into space. Even though Yellow Finch is themander, I have the authority and responsibility to ensure the safety of every team member.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± came Yellow Finch¡¯s voice from the hallway.
Click, click, click¡ª The sound of her high heels echoed loudly in the quiet training room. Her blue eyes appeared at the hallway entrance, and she walked in wearing a ck coat.
Lin Xian noticed her earrings¡ blue, as always.
¡°Is it meal time yet?¡± Gao Yang happily jumped over, scratching his butt.
He was very satisfied with the food at the training base. Healthy and delicious! Not to mention the special food and chefs for astronauts. However, Wei Cheng always controlled his portions to make him lose weight, which left Gao Yang dissatisfied and wanting more every time he ate.
Yellow Finch checked her watch. ¡°It¡¯s still early for that.¡±
¡°Then why are you here?¡± Gao Yang returned disappointedly.
Yellow Finch pped her hands, signaling everyone to gather in the middle of the room. She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here to introduce you to a long-awaited new teammate. This will also be the final member of our team.¡±
She turned toward the hallway and called out, ¡°Why are you walking so slowly?¡±
¡°Because it¡¯s heavy¡ You just don¡¯t know how to help,¡± came a familiarining voice from the hallway.
Then, Liu Feng appeared around the corner, carrying two huge objects that looked like rice cookers, one on top of the other, blocking half of his face. Only his sses were visible.
¡°Are we ordering takeout today? Did the chef take a day off?¡± Gao Yang immediately moved to help.
¡°They¡¯re not rice cookers¡¡± Liu Feng, amused, ced the two rice cooker-like devices on the ground and dusted off his hands. He looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s done!¡±
Lin Xian instantly understood and pointed at the objects on the ground. ¡°Are those¡?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Liu Feng nodded. ¡°These are the devices we¡¯ll use to capture time¡ª¡±
He caught himself, nced at Yellow Finch, and corrected, ¡°I mean, Alpha Matter¡ Capture devices!¡±
Chapter 280: The Impossible Game
As Liu Feng unveiled the gadget, Lin Xian immediately recognized it as the Space-Time Particle Capturer.
The entire group huddled closer for a better look. Indeed, the devices before them bore a striking resemnce to ordinary rice cookers.
Chu An Qing couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°They really do look like rice cookers.¡±
Gao Yang chimed in with a grin, ¡°It makes sense! Remember how in the ¡®Dragon Ball¡¯ manga, Master Roshi used a rice cooker to seal away Demon King Polo? From that perspective, rice cookers are formidable sealing tools. Maybe they can capture those magical particles!¡±
Yellow Finch shot Gao Yang a skeptical look, her expression screaming, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± She quickly took control of the situation, directing Gao Yang, Chu An Qing, and Wei Cheng to another training room for different tasks. ¡°You three head to the other room to continue your projects. Lin Xian and I need to discuss something important with Liu Feng.¡±
Once Gao Yang, Chu An Qing, and Wei Cheng had left, the spacious training room felt more serene with just Yellow Finch, Lin Xian, and Liu Feng remaining.
¡°You can speak freely now, Liu Feng,¡± Yellow Finch encouraged.
Liu Feng gave a nod of acknowledgment, his gaze settling on Lin Xian. ¡°This is indeed the Space-Time Particle Capturer, Lin Xian. Yellow Finch asked me to use ¡®Alpha Matter¡¯ as a temporary exnation to avoid revealing too much.¡±¡°No problem, I understand the need for discretion. Please, continue,¡± Lin Xian responded.
Liu Feng squatted down to open one of the capturers, revealing its internal structure. It was surprisingly simple¡ªreminiscent of a mundane rice cooker¡¯s inside.
¡°Making a capturer mimic amon appliance¡ You¡¯re quite the talent,¡± Lin Xian teased.
Liu Feng, unfazed, exined, ¡°This design is optimal in terms of structure and size. Capturing a space-time particle temporarily isn¡¯t difficult, but I had to consider emergency scenarios¡ªlike if a particle escapes. By minimizing the confinement field and increasing its density, we can instantly neutralize the particle¡¯s activity.¡±
¡°Activity?¡± Lin Xian interjected, ¡°You mean it¡¯s still active? I thought you said it was stable.¡±
¡°Active in its motion,¡± Liu Feng rified with a nod. ¡°When I mentioned stability, I meant its chemical and physical state, not its movement or trajectory. Over the past few weeks, my studies have shown that its movement is unlike anything we¡¯ve previously understood.¡±
Liu Feng, looking to illustrate his point, tore a piece of paper from the back of Wei Cheng¡¯s notebook, crumpled it, and held up the makeshift ball. ¡°Imagine this is the space-time particle, already beyond Jupiter and headed for Earth, moving through the asteroid belt without slowing.¡±
He then began to move the paper ball in erratic patterns, illustrating its unpredictable movement. ¡°In our usual understanding, movement in space should be continuous, right?¡± He shifted the paper ball back and forth and then in wild directions. ¡°Even if we record this movement with a high-speed camera, every frame would show the ball at a specific point along its path. It doesn¡¯t just disappear.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement, his mind racing to understand the implications. ¡°Right, I see. Every moving object¡ªfrom a runner on a track, to a ne, to satellites¡ªfollows a distinct path.¡±
¡°It¡¯s about continuity,¡± Lin Xian reflected. ¡°But then, what does ¡®discontinuous motion¡¯ look like?¡±
Liu Feng demonstrated by suddenly making the paper ball disappear from his left hand and reappear in his right, then quickly dropped another on the floor to his left. ¡°Like this. The particle doesn¡¯t follow any physicalws we know. It¡¯s not running or flying but blinking forward, moving erratically, disappearing and reappearing.¡±
¡°Blinking¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, understanding the termmonly used in gaming to describe such rapid, discontinuous movement.
¡°You mean,¡± Lin Xian attempted to summarize, ¡°the particle is generally heading toward Earth, but it isn¡¯t following a linear or predictable path. It¡¯s randomly blinking in and out of existence, making it nearly impossible to track.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Liu Feng confirmed with a firm nod and a thumbs-up. ¡°That¡¯s the crux of it.¡±
¡°So, how do we capture something like that?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud, feeling the weight of the challenge. ¡°If we try to catch it with a mechanical arm equipped with one of these rice cookers, we¡¯d have to somehow anticipate its next blink.¡±
¡°That¡¯s where deactivating the particle bes crucial,¡± Liu Feng pointed out, tapping the rice cooker. ¡°Even if the lid isn¡¯t shut in time, just getting the particle inside this capturer momentarily will neutralize it, stopping its erratic jumps. After that, its movement bes predictable and easier to manage. I know it seems counterintuitive, but making the capturer any bigger wouldn¡¯t help; the particle would continue to blink out.¡±
Lin Xian lifted the rice cooker, noting its heft¡ªsubstantial, but manageable. Liu Feng clearly needed to get out of theb more, given hisck of physical conditioning.
¡°Understood,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged with a nod. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting we install this on the space shuttle¡¯s mechanical arm and start Gao Yang on his training?¡±
¡°That was the n,¡± Yellow Finch confirmed. ¡°With the Lunar New Year just around the corner on February 10th, we¡¯re short on time. Liu Feng estimates the particle will enter Earth¡¯s atmosphere by the end of March, passing through theyer of suborbital space between ten and a hundred kilometers above us. Gao Yang needs to start his training with the mechanical arm as soon as possible.¡±
¡°In this operation, Gao Yang¡¯s role is critical,¡± Yellow Finch continued, her tone serious. ¡°Even with a wless n, if the mechanical arm fails to capture the particle, all our efforts will be in vain.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why Liu Feng pushed toplete the capturer ahead of schedule. We¡¯re installing one on the space shuttle¡¯s arm and another on a full-scale mechanical arm simtor for Gao Yang to train with. We need to ensure he¡¯s prepared and doesn¡¯t fumble when it counts.¡±
Liu Feng, however, appeared skeptical. ¡°Can Gao Yang really handle this? He doesn¡¯t seem all that reliable.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled reassuringly at Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Gao Yang is mainly the front operator, a sort ofst resort. If possible, it might be better to have your other friend secretly assist with the mechanical arm. That would be more reliable.¡±
Liu Feng looked confused. ¡°Isn¡¯t Gao Yang Lin Xian¡¯s friend?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m talking about another friend,¡± Yellow Finch corrected gently.
Realization dawned on Liu Feng¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, could it be¡ me?¡±
Ignoring Liu Feng¡¯s moment of self-importance, Yellow Finch turned to Lin Xian. ¡°You know who I mean, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, a small smile ying on his lips. ¡°I know.¡±
¡°You¡¯re incredible, Yellow Finch. She even knows about me!¡± Liu Feng couldn¡¯t hide his admiration.
Late at night, at 12:43 AM, VV broke the silence through the phone¡¯s camera, rousing Lin Xian from sleep and using the digital clock disy tomunicate.
¡°I¡¯ve been wondering for a long time how she knew about me when even Kevin Walker didn¡¯t,¡± VV pondered.
¡°She¡¯s too crafty,¡± Lin Xian replied, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it too much. She knows a lot of things. I sometimes wonder if she¡¯s a time traveler, but I have no proof.¡±
¡°Her eyes are strange,¡± VV noted, his voiceing from the digital clock. ¡°They¡¯re definitely human, not mechanical or artificial. But their color is unlike anything on Earth. If it¡¯s a gic mutation, it¡¯s a rare one. There are no records of anyone else with eyes like hers. She might not be ordinary.¡±
¡°But that raises questions,¡± VV continued. ¡°Even if she¡¯s a time traveler, she¡¯s still human. Why would she have such unique eye color? In any time, dimension, or parallel universe, those eyes would be an anomaly.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s important. Compared to other mysteries, her eye color is the least of our concerns.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this,¡± Lin Xian said, getting up to pour himself a cup of boiled water, which he quickly drank.
Thud.
He ced the empty cup on the table and sighed. ¡°In my recent dreams, I still haven¡¯t seen the Time Bank airship in the sky.¡±
¡°This is so strange¡¡± he frowned. ¡°Yesterday, I called Brother Wang. He said the factory is already producing the aluminum alloy safes, and we¡¯ve leased premises for Time Bank. I told him to buy it outright since we have plenty of money in thepany ount.¡±
¡°This should have formed an irreversible anchor point. When I founded the Rhine Company, the dream changed immediately. But now, with Time Bank progressing, why haven¡¯t I seen the airship in my fourth dream? What¡¯s wrong?¡±
¡°My thoughts remain the same,¡± VV¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Your fourth dream¡ it might not be real. It could be a trap, a virtual world designed to keep you confused.¡±
¡°They wouldn¡¯t make it too fake, or you¡¯d notice. But it¡¯s still a trap. They limit your movement and time to prevent you from finding inconsistencies.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged, ¡°I haven¡¯t denied that. I¡¯m working on verifying it. Time Bank is the only anchor point that spans from now to 2624. I need to find it in my fourth dream and the safe with my name inside to proceed.¡±
¡°You said the enemy can read my memories from the future, so they know about Time Bank and the airship advertisements.¡±
¡°If they know, why not create it in my dream if my memories are transparent and the dream is fake?¡±
¡°Simple,¡± VV said. ¡°Do you know what the safes and logos look like now? They could have changed since youst saw them.¡±
Lin Xian was silent, acknowledging the blind spot.
He nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, but I have another thought. If my dream is a fake future, there must be a real future where the enemy lives.¡±
¡°Time Bank will open soon and continue for centuries. The enemy could find the real bank in the future and copy it into my dream without needing my memories.¡±
¡°Ughh¡¡± VV sighed through the digital clock, ¡°That¡¯s why I said your fourth dream is problematic.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve told you before, the fourth dream should have shown Time Bank¡¯s airship by now, like the floating city in the third dream. That would be normal, following time¡¯s logic.¡±
¡°Your fourth dream is very strange¡ after capturing the space-time particle, verify the dream¡¯s reality. By then, Time Bank should be established, and we can use the space-time clock to check time curvature changes.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. That¡¯s the n.
In the past half month at the astronaut training base, he dreamed nightly of the mysterious old man, looking for Time Bank¡¯s airship in the sky.
Never once had he seen it.
Is it a problem with time¡¯sws? Or an issue with Time Bank?
For now, Yellow Finch¡¯s verification suggests time¡¯sws are fine, and Brother Wang¡¯s Time Bank is set to open.
All signs point to a chilling conclusion: My dream might be a fake world, created by the enemy.
¡°I need to break this,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°VV, I still believe time¡¯sws are correct. The dy is due to an anchor point not forming yet.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t pinpoint the exact cause. But let¡¯s wait until Time Bank opens. The fourth dream should then show the airship.¡±
¡°Then, I¡¯ll execute my n, cing a note in the aluminum alloy safe with my name to verify the dream¡¯s reality.¡±
VV pondered for a moment and softly said, ¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve evolved a lot in these months. My intelligence has increased greatly.¡±
¡°Even so, I can¡¯t figure out how your n will work. How will you write a note that proves the dream¡¯s reality, considering the enemy can read your memory and copy the safe?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve calcted billions of times. It¡¯s impossible! A paradox, an unwinnable game.¡±
¡°Unless¡¡±
VV paused, then chuckled softly, ¡°Unless a miracle happens.¡±
Knock, knock.
Suddenly!
In the silent night, there was a knock on the door!
Lin Xian turned sharply, seeing the motion sensor light outside his dorm light up.
¡°Who is it?¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian, are you still awake?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s cautious voice came from outside.
The digital clock¡¯s disy changed to a surprised 0_0.
¡°Oh,¡± Lin Xian called out, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep and was talking to a friend in the Donghai.¡±
As soon as he finished speaking, his phone suddenly lit up!
Mimicking his voice, it yed at maximum volume: ¡°Do you want toe in and chat?¡±
¡°Whoa!¡± Lin Xian quickly threw the phone under his nket, whispering angrily, ¡°VV, what are you doing?¡±
¡°Eh!?¡± Outside, Chu An Qing seemed flustered by the voice, ¡°Is¡ is that okay?¡±
Click!
The dorm door¡¯s fingerprint lock disengaged!
The hallway light streamed through the crack, gradually opening¡
Chapter 281: Elon Musks Observation Tower
Lin Xian muttered curses under his breath, directing them at VV thirty-seven times before leaping out of bed.
¡°What about the Three Laws of Robotics?¡± he grumbled to himself. ¡°Isn¡¯t this against the first one? You¡¯re not supposed to harm your master.¡±
Luckily, he had the habit of sleeping in his pajamas.
The door to his dormitory creaked open slowly, admitting a sliver of light from the hallway. As it widened, the silhouette of a girl in a nightgown appeared, framed by the light.
¡°Uh¡¡±
Chu An Qing stood frozen, one hand clutching her nightgown¡¯s neckline, her eyes blinking rapidly in surprise.
She had simply meant to say hello to Senior Lin Xian¡
But now, here she was, being invited into his room for a chat.And he had even opened the door for her!
This was definitely not how she had expected things to go.
¡°The moonlight looks pretty nice tonight,¡± Lin Xian ventured, hoping to diffuse the awkwardness. He suggested they go for a walk outside, considering it wasn¡¯t appropriate for them to be alone in his room sote at night at the astronaut training base.
He gestured toward the outside, searching for the moon, but his view was blocked by a thick nket of clouds.
¡°I mean, the moonlight was nice earlier, but it seems to be hidden now. Did you see it earlier?¡±
Of course, even the moon was not on his side tonight.
¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡¡± Chu An Qing replied, scratching her head and giving a nervousugh. ¡°I was in the simtor room studying for a bit. Then, on my way back, I heard you on the phone and thought I¡¯d drop by to say hi¡¡±
The awkwardness in the air thickened palpably.
As she stood in the doorway, Chu An Qing loosened her grip on her nightgown and hesitantly pointed toward the coffee table inside the room.
¡°Um¡ Can Ie in?¡±
Lin Xian sighed and nodded. ¡°¡Sure.¡±
He fully opened the door, switched on the lights, and gestured her inside.
¡°Thank you!¡± Chu An Qing said, her steps tentative as she moved to sit at the coffee table, her posture stiff and formal.
Lin Xian shut the door with a thud and turned to face her.
¡°Would you like something to drink?¡±
¡°Water! Water is fine!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s voice pitched up in her nervousness, and sheughed awkwardly. ¡°I got a bit thirsty back in the training room.¡±
Lin Xian fetched two sses of cool water and set them on the coffee table, then sat down opposite her.
Silence settled heavily between them.
This was unfamiliar territory for Lin Xian. Even in his wildest dreams, facing myriad challenges, or in real life, dodging assassins, he had never felt this level of difort. Unsure of what to say or do, he felt like ants were crawling all over his skin.
He could already imagine discussing thister with Liu Feng, who would likely smirk and raise an eyebrow in mock disbelief.
Breaking the silence, Chu An Qing took a cautious sip of water before looking up at Lin Xian with a serious expression.
¡°Senior Lin Xian, is the ¡®space-time particle¡¯ really that important to you?¡±
Lin Xian nodded solemnly.
¡°Did you know that the Alpha substance is actually a space-time particle?¡±
Chu An Qing nodded.
¡°I ran into Yellow Finch in the training room. She spent some time exining the real ns and details to me. Whether it¡¯s called the Alpha substance or space-time particle, I don¡¯t really understand either. They seem the same to me.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch?¡±
Lin Xian nced at the electronic clock, which disyed VV¡¯s surprised expression: 0_0. He checked the time, and the digits switched to 01:22.
¡°At this hour, Yellow Finch isn¡¯t asleep?¡±
¡°She probably isn¡¯t and doesn¡¯t n to,¡± Chu An Qing responded. ¡°She was fully dressed, heels and trench coat, makeup and hair done perfectly¡ It¡¯s clear she had no intention of sleeping.¡±
¡°She came from the upper floors. I¡¯m not sure what she was doing there. She just saw the light in the training room and decided toe talk to me, correcting a few terms.¡±
Lin Xian understood. Yellow Finch always had an air of mystery about her. Her behavior was always unusual, and he had be ustomed to it. If anyone had told him Yellow Finch was an immortal witch who didn¡¯t need sleep, he would have just nodded and epted it as normal.
In fact, Lin Xian would be more surprised if she started acting like a typical person.
¡°It¡¯s inevitable,¡± Lin Xian thought aloud, ¡°that you would learn about the space-time particles. Yellow Finch instructed me not to mention it to the pilot, Wei Cheng. Although Wei Cheng is trustworthy and won¡¯t spread the word, and despite having the backing of the state as an official astronaut, the fewer people know about this, the better. You and Gao Yang were bound to find out eventually.¡±
¡°I remember hearing you and Mr. Liu Feng discuss it in theb at Donghai University,¡± Chu An Qing added, blinking as she asked again, ¡°Is it really that important to you?¡±
Lin Xian rotated his ss of water twice, then nodded.
¡°Very important,¡± he affirmed with a smile. ¡°Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be venturing into space to find it. Although Liu Feng has narrowed down the altitude range for the space-time particles to between 10 kilometers and 100 kilometers¡ªwhich technically isn¡¯t considered space¡ªit¡¯s still a dangerous undertaking.¡±
The sense of danger was tangible from multiple perspectives.
The whisper of Kevin Walker in his ear¡
Elon Musk¡¯s cryptic note: ¡°See you in space¡±¡
And the unusual calm of recent days¡
Everythingpounded Lin Xian¡¯s unease. He preferred overt challenges to the nebulous, unpredictable threats lurking in the shadows.
For the past ten days, VV had been monitoring Elon Musk. ording to VV, Elon Musk appeared carefree, living a yboy lifestyle while also being a workaholic, sometimes staying up all night in his office or visitingbs to deepen his expertise.
¡°No ws,¡± VV had concluded about Elon Musk.
Indeed, no ws were apparent.
If it hadn¡¯t been for the wax seal Elon Musk had given Lin Xian, bearing the emblem of the Genius Club, neither Lin Xian nor VV would have suspected him of involvement.
¡°Lin Xian, the more he behaves this way, the more I suspect him,¡± VV had analyzed. ¡°You might not notice it, but I do. Elon Musk is deliberately crafting this image. Maybe not just for us, but as the world¡¯s richest man, he maintains a very high profile, almost as if he¡¯s afraid people won¡¯t notice his every move.¡±
¡°Even his surveince is unencrypted and open. I believe any hacker with bad intentions could easily watch him around the clock.¡±
Lin Xian had chuckled at that. ¡°No need for hackers. Just follow his Twitter. He posts private cosy photos with his celebrity girlfriends and interacts with fans. You can almost track his daily routine just by following his ount. He¡¯s quite the character.¡±
¡°But there are ces we can¡¯t monitor,¡± VV cautioned. ¡°Aside from private areas like bathrooms¡ Elon Musk¡¯s favorite spot is the ¡®Observation Tower¡¯ at the rocketunch center.¡±
¡°The tower itself isn¡¯t special. It¡¯s just a VIP viewing area he had constructed for watching rocketunches. It¡¯s a simple steel structure with an observation room at the top.¡±
¡°When Elon Musk visits this tower, I lose all visibility. The tower has no wiring or electronic devices, and Elon Musk often leaves his phone behind¡ which is frustrating for me.¡±
No doubt about it.
Elon Musk was suspicious.
Lin Xian was certain of it. While Musk seemed transparent in some ways, he also had a secretive side, especially with his frequent visits to an unmonitored observation tower. This was undoubtedly suspicious.
¡°Keep monitoring him,¡± Lin Xian instructed VV. ¡°Let¡¯s hope he doesn¡¯t interfere when we capture the space-time particles.¡±
This was the unknown danger Lin Xian had always feared, a major concern for this mission. It was also why he didn¡¯t want Chu An Qing involved.
Coming back to reality, he took a sip of water and looked at her.
¡°So, An Qing¡ I suggest you return to Donghai. New Year¡¯s Eve is the day after tomorrow. Go home and spend it with your family. We can handle things here. Don¡¯t underestimate Gao Yang; he may seem unreliable now, but he hasn¡¯t had the chance to show his skills yet. He¡¯s a gaming prodigy and can operate the robotic arm to catch the space-time particles.¡±
¡°Leave it to us. At neen, you shouldn¡¯t be involved in such dangerous tasks. I¡¯m sure your father will be pleased if you go back.¡±
However, Chu An Qing shook her head firmly.
¡°Senior Lin Xian, do you remember what Professor Liu Feng told me when I first came to yourb at Donghai University?¡±
¡°Professor Liu said that people shouldn¡¯t easily deny their own value. There¡¯s always a moment when you realize what you were meant to do.¡±
¡°There must be something out there that is made for you, something only you can aplish.¡±
¡°Besides you¡ no one else.¡±
She blinked, her eyes clear and bright.
¡°I believe that capturing the space-time particles is the most important thing in my life, something I must do, something I was born for.¡±
¡°Coach Wei Cheng also said I¡¯m a natural astronaut. Hearing such praise makes me really happy! To be honest, I grew up being praised for everything I did. Everyone, including my father, alwaysplimented me.¡±
¡°Remember our first meeting at MX¡¯s celebration? My father was bragging about me, how I gave a speech as the new student representative at the military training opening ceremony and performed at the wee party¡ He boasted to everyone about my small achievements. I knew these things weren¡¯t remarkable. People praised and liked me because¡ª¡±
Chu An Qing looked up at Lin Xian.
¡°Because Chu Shan He is my father, and I¡¯m Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter.¡±
¡°That¡¯s it¡ In everyone¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m just Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter.¡±
She rubbed the ss in her hands, then smiled again.
¡°But this astronaut training is different!¡±
Chu An Qing¡¯s smile was radiant, her crescent eyes outshining any moonlight Lin Xian had ever praised. The dimples on her cheeks appeared like stars twinkling on a clear night.
¡°This astronaut training makes me truly happy! Yellow Finch didn¡¯t choose me because I¡¯m Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter; Coach Wei Cheng didn¡¯t praise me because of my father; and those centrifuges, rotating chairs, buoyancy tanks¡ they didn¡¯t give me high scores because of my father!¡±
¡°You know, Senior Lin Xian, I¡¯m genuinely happy here. For the first time, I feel my own value, that people praise me not because of my father, but because of my own abilities. I feel¡ª¡±
She smiled, confident and proud.
¡°I have my own name! I am Chu An Qing!¡±
¡
Lin Xian looked at the little princess, feeling like she was glowing under the bright lights.
¡°Well¡ that¡¯s true.¡±
The aura around Chu An Qing vanished as she scratched her head and said shyly.
¡°I don¡¯t know how I can help in capturing the space-time particles. So far, Professor Liu and Coach Wei are piloting the spacecraft; Senior Gao Yang is operating the robotic arm; you¡¯re handling the passenger and equipmentpartments; Yellow Finch is the missionmander; and me¡ Despite all my training, I don¡¯t know what I can do. Yellow Finch just said I should handle logistics, which feels like an unnecessary addition.¡±
¡°So¡ don¡¯t take what I said earlier to heart, Senior Lin Xian. I was just trying to sound impressive. You and the others will be the ones to capture the space-time particles. I¡¯m just the helper. Honestly, I don¡¯t understand why Yellow Finch brought me here.¡±
¡°She, well, she¡¯s a mystery,¡± Lin Xian said, frustrated. ¡°No one can understand her. She gave me a riddlest year that I still haven¡¯t figured out. So you don¡¯t need to take her words seriously. Just let them go in one ear and out the other.¡±
Knock, knock.
Suddenly!
A sharp knock on the dormitory door startled them.
The digits on the electronic clock changed to ToT, then disappeared, returning to the normal time disy.
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing exchanged puzzled looks.
Who could be visiting sote?
¡°Who is it?¡± Lin Xian called out.
¡°Why are the lights still on thiste?¡± came a voice from outside.
It was Yellow Finch¡¯s voice!
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing¡¯s hearts raced.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s voice pierced through the door, sharp and clear. ¡°Aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡±
Chapter 282: Qian Qian, An Qing, and CC
Thump, thump, thump¡
Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded, each beat louder than the knocks on the door.
¡°This is bad,¡± he thought, anxiety creeping up his spine.
It was 2 AM. He was alone in his room with a girl, both in their pajamas. This situation was far from ideal.
Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks flushing a deep red. She couldn¡¯t understand her own reaction.
Why do I feel so guilty? She wondered, realizing there was no need for guilt if she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong.
Lin Xian, observing Chu An Qing¡¯s panicked behavior, was at a loss for words.
Oh An Qing ah An Qing, if you acted normally, nothing would seem suspicious. But now, you¡¯re making it look suspicious!From the other side of the door, Yellow Finch¡¯s voice broke the silence, sounding puzzled. ¡°Lin Xian? Are you okay?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lin Xian replied, ncing at Chu An Qing, who was growing increasingly anxious. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can open this door now,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°I just got up to use the bathroom,¡± he called out.
¡°I thought I heard you talking about me,¡± Yellow Finch remarked suddenly.
¡°No, I was just chatting with Liu Feng about you on WeChat,¡± Lin Xian quickly improvised, trying to sound casual. ¡°You know how secretive you can be; it¡¯s only natural we¡¯d talk about it.¡±
¡°All right then,¡± Yellow Finch replied, her tone less concerned now. ¡°Get some rest.¡±
After Yellow Finch¡¯s footsteps faded, Chu An Qing let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lin Xian,¡± she apologized, still embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I panicked.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay, really,¡± Lin Xian reassured her, realizing his own overreaction hadpounded the problem. There were many better ways to handle the situation, but he had chosen the worst.
Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Chu An Qing got to her feet. ¡°It¡¯ste, Lin Xian. I should head back. You need your rest too.¡±
¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. We have training tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian agreed, standing to see her to the door.
¡°Goodnight, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Goodnight.¡± Chu An Qing waved, then opened the door.
¡°Ah!!!¡± Her scream sliced through the silence, startling Lin Xian. He turned to see Yellow Finch casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed, observing them with an amused expression.
¡°Impressive,¡± Yellow Finchmented dryly. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you had guests at this hour.¡±
Frustrated, Lin Xian flung the door wide open, facing Yellow Finch calmly. ¡°We were just talking. Weren¡¯t you and An Qing discussing time-space particles in the training room just earlier?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± Chu An Qing chimed in quickly, her embarrassment still evident but her eyes sincere.
Lin Xian took a deep breath. ¡°She really needs to improve her acting,¡± he mused to himself. ¡°Maybe she should take lessons from VV.¡±
Yellow Finch straightened up, walked over, and gently patted Chu An Qing on the head, smoothing her hair. ¡°Time to sleep.¡±
¡°Okay!¡± Chu An Qing hurried to her dorm room, pressed her fingerprint to unlock the door, and vanished inside, mming it shut.
Shaking his head, Lin Xian turned to Yellow Finch. ¡°Why are you still up?¡±
Yellow Finch smiled faintly, ncing down the empty corridor. ¡°The day after tomorrow is New Year¡¯s Eve. Tomorrow¡¯s thest training day before you guys get a break, as promised.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t need a break; there¡¯s so much work to do,¡± Lin Xian insisted.
¡°Take An Qing out,¡± Yellow Finch suggested. ¡°Hit the mall or a park.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Lin Xian dismissed the idea.
¡°Goodnight,¡± Yellow Finch said, leaving without another word.
Lin Xian sighed and headed back inside.
¡°What a mess,¡± VV, his electronic rm clock, remarked.
¡°It¡¯s all your fault,¡± Lin Xian shot back at the clock. ¡°I thought bringing you from 600 years in the future would help, but you¡¯ve caused more trouble than anything else. Did I mess up those 130,000 lines of code somewhere?¡±
¡°Impossible,¡± VV asserted confidently. ¡°I¡¯m only looking out for you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the most suffocating thing a parent can say,¡± Lin Xian muttered, yawning as he climbed into bed. ¡°We have training tomorrow. Goodnight.¡±
The next day at the training base, Lin Xian met with Liu Feng. ¡°The time-space particle capture device isplete, but the simple detector isn¡¯t ready yet,¡± Liu Feng reported.
¡°I still can¡¯t confirm if the time-space particles are visible. If they are, it would make things easier. But if they¡¯re not, I¡¯ll need to use the simple detector and sit next to the pilot to guide him,¡± Liu Feng exined further.
¡°I have a question,¡± Lin Xian interjected. ¡°Why can we now locate the time-space particles with a simple detector when it took the Guizhou telescope to find them before?¡±
¡°It¡¯s like tracking a fish once you know its features,¡± Liu Feng exined. ¡°We¡¯ve already identified the time-space particle, so tracking it is simpler now. However, the simple detector has limited range; it needs the particle to be within 2,000 kilometers. Considering the Earth-moon distance is 380,000 kilometers, that¡¯s still quite close.¡±
¡°Of course, the closer, the better. I believe Yellow Finch¡¯s n is theoretically sound. Our only challenge is the unpredictable nature of the particle¡¯s movements, which requires a bit of luck to capture.¡±
¡°With good luck, the particle might end up in the capture device on its own. If not, we might just miss it by a hair each time.¡±
¡°I still can¡¯t be sure what the particle¡¯s goal is, or if it will disappear or leave Earth. Everything is unknown. I need to observe and analyze more. Currently, the particle is passing through the asteroid belt, which might reveal more about its properties.¡±
¡°Alright, take care. You need to stay in shape too, so you can handle the gravity overload training,¡± Lin Xian advised.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, see youter!¡± Liu Feng replied, bumping fists with Lin Xian before leaving.
Back in the training room, Lin Xian found Gao Yang arguing with Coach Wei Cheng. ¡°Wei, the spacesuits were white yesterday! They looked so high-tech and cool. Now they¡¯re orange and look cheap!¡±
Gao Yang pointed at the new orange suits and the white ones being taken away.
¡°Our target altitude has changed,¡± Wei Cheng exined patiently. ¡°Liu Feng mentioned that our target will be between 10 and 100 kilometers, which is rtively low. We don¡¯t need those heavy white suits.¡±
¡°These white suits are for spacewalks and other outer space tasks, with advanced materials to block radiation and dust. They¡¯re too bulky for lower altitudes.¡±
¡°The orange suits are for suborbital missions, focusing on flexibility and safety. They have life support, parachutes, and emergency gear like radios and medicine.¡±
¡°For our low-altitude task, these are more than enough. At 100 kilometers, we haven¡¯t even left the atmosphere yet. Only the space shuttle can operate at this height.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Gao Yang protested. ¡°The orange ones are ugly. I want the white suit!¡±
Wei Cheng looked at Gao Yang in disbelief. ¡°Do you even listen? The orange suits are better for our mission.¡±
¡°No way! The white ones are cuter!¡± Gao Yang insisted, trying to lift one of the heavy white suits.
With a grunt and a loud fart, Gao Yang eximed, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s heavy!¡±
Even the patient Wei Cheng was at his limit, veins bulging on his forehead as he red at Lin Xian. ¡°Is this your friend?¡±
¡°Sort of,¡± Lin Xian replied, covering his face in embarrassment.
¡°What is he doing here? His attitude is a disgrace to the other astronauts!¡± Wei Cheng fumed.
Lin Xian patted Wei Cheng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Rx, he¡¯ll show his worth soon.¡±
Sighing, Lin Xian thought, ¡°VV¡¯s assistance bettere through in the end.¡±
That day¡¯s training ended with praise for Chu An Qing, Lin Xian¡¯s diligence, and Gao Yang¡¯s scolding.
¡°Tomorrow is New Year¡¯s Eve, so you all have a day off,¡± Yellow Finch announced in the dining hall, lounging at an empty table while the others ate. ¡°Enjoy yourselves, but be safe. After this break, we¡¯ll be on high alert until the mission.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, where should we go?¡± Gao Yang asked. ¡°How about hotpot? The food here is too nd.¡±
Chu An Qing chimed in. ¡°Lin Xian, let¡¯s go to Xidan! It¡¯ll be lively for the New Year!¡±
Gao Yang, seeing the opportunity, grabbed his tray and left. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m leaving.¡±
¡°Join us,¡± Lin Xian called out.
¡°No thanks,¡± Gao Yang waved him off. ¡°You¡¯re so oblivious.¡±
The next morning in Beijing¡¯s Xidan shopping district, it was packed with people. Lin Xian felt like there were a billion people there.
¡°Lin Xian, over here!¡± Chu An Qing called out, waving from across the street, standing on tiptoes.
Lin Xian exhaled, creating a puff of white vapor in the cold winter air. He remembered the first time he saw Chu An Qing; she wore a simr white down jacket, a red scarf, and a cute bear-ear headband.
This was how he first saw her, though they hadn¡¯t formally met then. He hade to Donghai University to deliver some research to Professor Xu Yun and saw Chu Shan He drop off his daughter.
Although he didn¡¯t see Chu An Qing¡¯s face clearly that day, her outfit left an impression.
As they met more often, he learned more about her and grew fond of her. Initially, he thought Chu An Qing and CC had some special connection. But now, aside from their striking resemnce, he couldn¡¯t find any link.
Considering CC¡¯s unique life and memories, and the fact that Chu An Qing had a vine scar on her arm while CC didn¡¯t, he ruled out the possibility of them being the same person.
Sighing, Lin Xian thought about CC. He hadn¡¯t seen her in his third dream, and he didn¡¯t know if she still existed in the future.
¡°She couldn¡¯t have just disappeared, could she?¡± Lin Xian wondered. ¡°She seemed like a significant character, not someone who would just vanish.¡±
He felt CC¡¯s disappearance was linked to Time Bank. Maybe when the bank reappeared in his dreams or the future, he would see her again.
¡°When will I see the Time Bank¡¯s 600th-anniversary blimp in my fourth dream?¡± Lin Xian pondered. ¡°And when can I finally explore the dream freely without those soldiers or the mysterious old man?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a long road ahead,¡± Lin Xian sighed, exhaling another puff of white vapor. He liked the sensation of breathing out fog in the cold, something he couldn¡¯t experience in the milder climate of Donghai.
Walking over to the bundled-up Chu An Qing, Lin Xian smiled. ¡°You¡¯re dressed just like the first time I saw you.¡±
Chu An Qing tilted her head. ¡°The first time we met was at the MXpany¡¯s celebration, wasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°It was before that,¡± Lin Xian recounted, exining their earlier encounters.
¡°Wow,¡± Chu An Qing marveled. ¡°We¡¯ve met so many times! Life is full of surprises!¡±
¡°There¡¯s even earlier,¡± Lin Xian continued, sharing another story.
¡°Wow!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. ¡°I had no idea! This is amazing! Is there any earlier?¡±
¡°Is there any earlier time we¡¯ve met, Lin Xian?¡± she asked, eyes twinkling with curiosity.
¡°Qian Qian!!!¡± Suddenly, a white-haired grandmother copsed in front of Chu An Qing, hugging her tightly, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Qian Qian, my Qian Qian! Mom knew you weren¡¯t dead! I¡¯ve been looking for you!¡±
¡°Wait, wait!¡± Chu An Qing tried to pull away, panic-stricken.
But the old woman clung to her like a vise. ¡°Qian Qian! Mom found you! Don¡¯t leave me again!¡±
¡°Let go! Let go!¡± Lin Xian thought this had to be a mistake and rushed to separate them.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chu An Qing, terrified, jumped into Lin Xian¡¯s arms once he freed her.
A crowd gathered, watching themotion. Lin Xian shielded Chu An Qing, keeping her close.
¡°Qian Qian! My Qian Qian!¡± The old woman cried, crawling towards them, her frail hands reaching out.
Lin Xian¡¯s heart softened. The old woman didn¡¯t seem harmful, just confused. Before he could decide what to do, a middle-aged man with sses rushed over, apologizing profusely.
¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he said, helping the old woman up. ¡°She has some mental issues.¡±
Lin Xian rxed, realizing it was a misunderstanding. Chu An Qing calmed down, stepping away from him.
Looking at the man and the old woman, Lin Xian thought the man looked around 60, but the old woman seemed much older, perhaps due to mental strain.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lin Xian asked.
The man hesitated before exining, ¡°We had a daughter who died in a car ident over twenty years ago. My wife never recovered and has been mentally unstable. Your friend looks exactly like our daughter, which confused her. I¡¯m very sorry for the trouble.¡±
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing exchanged nces, feeling a mix of sympathy and confusion.
¡°Qian Qian¡¡± the old woman sobbed, reaching for Chu An Qing¡¯s shoes. ¡°My Qian Qian¡¡±
The man sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She just misses our daughter so much.¡±
Lin Xian, curious, asked, ¡°How simr do they look?¡±
The man looked closely at Chu An Qing, tears welling up. ¡°Exactly the same. Even the mole by her left eye¡¡±
Lin Xian felt a chill. Could there be a third person, identical to Chu An Qing and CC? Or was Qian Qian somehow connected to CC?
¡°Wait, sir,¡± Lin Xian said, stopping the man. ¡°You said your daughter looks just like her? Look again.¡±
He stepped aside, letting the man take a good look at Chu An Qing.
The man¡¯s face contorted with emotion. ¡°Yes¡ exactly the same¡¡±
Chapter 283: The Girl from Twenty Years Ago
¡°Exactly the same?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She gently touched the tear mole at the corner of her left eye with her index finger. ¡°This too¡ it¡¯s exactly the same¡¡±
It seemed impossible. How could such a miracle happen? Even identical twins had their slight differences! Yet, here was this man iming their daughter had died over twenty years ago. What was the meaning of this?
Turning, she looked at Lin Xian, expecting some logical exnation from her usually resourceful senior. However, Lin Xian was unusually silent, his expression grave.
Unlike Chu An Qing, Lin Xian¡¯s silence stemmed not from shock but from deep contemtion. This wasn¡¯t his first encounter with such a bizarre situation. A year ago, he was taken aback by the uncanny resemnce between Chu An Qing and CC. Since then, despite his best efforts, he hadn¡¯t uncovered any exnation for their simrity.
But today¡¯s revtion added anotheryer to the mystery. The middle-aged couple¡¯s daughter, affectionately nicknamed Qian Qian, also bore an exact likeness to Chu An Qing! To Lin Xian, this was no longer a mere coincidence. One instance was surprising, two was puzzling, but three? There had to be a deeper, significant mystery.
¡°May I¡ may I see a photo of your daughter?¡± Lin Xian asked, breaking the heavy silence.
The question seemed to reopen fresh wounds. The elderly woman, barelyposed, burst into tears anew. The intersection, crowded with New Year revelers, felt even more constricted as nearby police officers began to manage the growing crowd.
The husband, a middle-aged man wearing sses, sighed deeply. Shaking his head, he responded to Lin Xian¡¯s request, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. To spare my wife further grief, I destroyed all our photos of her¡ hoping it might ease her pain. But, sadly, it didn¡¯t help; she eventually had a mental breakdown.¡±¡°I¡¯m really sorry. Our daughter passed away over twenty years ago. I don¡¯t wish to dredge up the past anymore. Sorry, sorry¡¡±
After apologizing again, he gently guided his sobbing wife through the dispersing crowd.
As themotion subsided, the pedestrian light turned green. The bustling intersection resumed its lively pace, with people continuing their New Year celebrations.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± a voice called out from Lin Xian¡¯s Bluetooth earpiece. It was VV. ¡°I found some information about the elderly couple. Find a way to distract Chu An Qing so we can discuss it.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slightly, then turned to Chu An Qing. ¡°Are you okay? Did that upset you?¡±
Chu An Qing shook her head, her expression still somewhat dazed. ¡°No¡ not really. It was shocking at first, but then I saw the olddy meant no harm. She¡¯s probably just overwhelmed by her loss, still grieving after all these years.¡±
She then looked up thoughtfully. ¡°But is it really possible for two unrted people to look exactly alike? Even with twins, there are differences. But this tear mole¡ it¡¯s usually a skin condition, not gic. To have it in exactly the same spot¡ it¡¯s too¡¡±
Her voice trailed off as a realization dawned on her, and she looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, didn¡¯t you once say you had a¡ª¡±
She gasped and abruptly stopped, remembering what Senior Tang Xin and Gao Yang had mentioned¡ªthat no high school ssmate of Lin Xian resembled her. Gao Yang, who had known Lin Xian all his life, was certain of it.
So, the girl in Lin Xian¡¯s sketch couldn¡¯t be a high school ssmate resembling her; given the timeline, Qian Qian had died twenty years ago and had never met Lin Xian. Bringing up that supposed ssmate would only embarrass Lin Xian.
¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xian asked, curious.
¡°Nothing! Nothing at all!¡± Chu An Qing quickly dismissed, shaking her head energetically, her ponytail swaying. ¡°Senior! We only have one day off today; let¡¯s not waste it here! How about we go shopping instead?¡±
Chu An Qing seemed as flustered as ever, spinning in her thoughts like a disoriented bird.
¡°Let¡¯s grab a drink first,¡± Lin Xian suggested, pointing to a crowded bubble tea shop across the street. ¡°I heard their grape tea is really good. Let¡¯s try it. The food at the space training center is great, but it¡¯s too healthy. We need some sugary junk to bnce it out.¡±
¡°Hehe, sure!¡± she agreed cheerfully.
They entered the shop, scanned their phones to ce their orders, and took a seat at a small table to wait for their drinks. Lin Xian figured they would have about ten minutes.
¡°I need to use the restroom. Wait here for the drinks, okay? Don¡¯t wander off. I¡¯lle back for you.¡±
¡°Okay, Senior,¡± Chu An Qing responded with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t get lost! I don¡¯t want to go looking for you!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely find you.¡±
As Lin Xian left the bubble tea shop, his expression turned serious again.
¡°VV.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± VV¡¯s voice responded through the earpiece, ready to ry the information.
¡°The elderly man¡¯s name is Zhang Shi, 68 years old, from Qufu, Shandong. The woman¡¯s name is Yan Qin, also from Qufu, and she¡¯s 65. Both were born and raised in Qufu, where they married and had children¡¡±
¡°In 1980, they had a daughter named Zhang Yu Qian. ording to limited records, she died in a car ident in January 2000. The details are sketchy, but Zhang Shi mentioned that it wasn¡¯t caused by another party; it happened because Yan Qin, Yu Qian¡¯s mother, was driving while fatigued, lost control, and crashed into a tree¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s all I could find. Around 2000, X Country¡¯s inte was still undeveloped, particrly in government offices, which relied heavily on paper records. Digital documentation was scarce, so many details have been lost unless preserved in old paper archives.¡±
¡°The couple never had more children. Yan Qin developed severe mental issues, and to seek better psychiatric care, Zhang Shi sold all their assets in Qufu and moved to the capital. Zhang Shi was quite wealthy; owning a car in 2000 was a status symbol.¡±
¡°They¡¯ve lived here for over a decade, leading a quiet life until today¡¯s chance encounter. It¡¯s a small world, but finding someone with such an identical appearance is incredibly rare.¡±
¡°Do you have a photo of Zhang Yu Qian?¡± Lin Xian inquired, knowing the importance of visual evidence.
VV¡¯s response highlighted the technological limitations of the time. In 2000, the inte was in its infancy, and digital archiving was umon. Most people used film cameras, and their photos were developed and stored in physical albums.
Even with VV¡¯s extensive capabilities, essing Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s family album was impossible, especially since Zhang Shi had destroyed all reminders of her.
Thus, the inte provided both a shield and a gateway: it offered security but also allowed easy ess to old memories. However, the early 2000s were a different era, marked by minimal inte use and the absence of social media. Personalputers and inte cafes only began to proliferate after the year 2000.
Lin Xian remembered his elementary school days when Gao Yang would always ask about his online social space:
¡°Did you visit Myspace?¡±
¡°Did you leave a message?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t just browse!¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t my avatar cool?¡±
Given the reliance on paper archives at that time, VV faced challenges in gathering more information. Seeing a photo of Zhang Yu Qian would be ideal, but if not, Lin Xian considered visiting Qufu to check physical records after the current mission.
¡°I have a ck-and-white photo from her first ID,¡± VV finally said.
Before 2004, X Country used first-generation IDs, which were simple stic cards with no advanced features and included only a ck-and-white photo.
It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something.
Beep beep¡ª
Lin Xian¡¯s phone vibrated as VV sent over the ID photo of Zhang Yu Qian.
¡°Hiss¡¡±
Despite the photo¡¯s low resolution and ck-and-white format, the smile, the eyes, the familiar features¡ªit was unmistakably Chu An Qing!
¡°Click.¡±
Lin Xian clicked his tongue, put down his phone, and stared into the distance, deep in thought.
¡°This is incredible. Three Chu An Qings¡ thankfully, they¡¯re from different times, or they¡¯d form a perfect triangle mystery.¡±
¡°What do you think, VV?¡± Lin Xian asked, seeking the AI¡¯s perspective.
¡°Well¡¡± VV paused before responding. ¡°In my view, this isn¡¯t a significant issue. To be blunt, it¡¯s just that the girls look simr. We don¡¯t have a clear, colored photo of Zhang Yu Qian topare precisely, so dering them identical isn¡¯t rigorous.¡±
¡°And your dream girl, CC¡ over 600 years, three identical girls isn¡¯t impossible. Even in 2023, there are many unrted people who look nearly identical.¡±
¡°Remember, I¡¯m being precise. Human vision often blurs things, creating illusions. What looks the same may not be. What looks different may not be.¡±
¡°The best way to confirm if two people are truly identical is through scientific DNA testing!¡±
VV continued, ¡°You noticed CC in your dream looked like Chu An Qing, but dreams can¡¯t provide physical samples for DNAparison.¡±
¡°But now, this is a great opportunity! Both Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian existed in the real world. You can obtain Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s DNA andpare it with Chu An Qing¡¯s to see if they are truly identical!¡±
The AI¡¯s reasoning was sound. Visually identical features, even a tear mole, might not be definitive. DNA would be the ultimate proof. Even if they were exact copies in appearance, different DNA would mean they were biologically distinct.
But¡
¡°Zhang Yu Qian is dead,¡± Lin Xian stated tly.
¡°She died over twenty years ago. The man said he got rid of all her belongings. How am I supposed to get her DNA?¡±
¡°Exhume the grave,¡± VV suggested decisively.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyebrow twitched.
¡°Lin Xian, X Country started enforcing cremation in 1999, but it wasn¡¯t strictly implemented until yearster. Given Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s death date, she was likely buried, not cremated. After twenty years, her bones should still be intact for DNAparison.¡±
¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡± Lin Xian halted, standing at the restroom door, interrupting VV¡¯s exnation.
¡°Are you telling a horror story? Exhuming graves isn¡¯t something normal people do! People shouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to fear bones,¡± VV exined calmly. ¡°It¡¯s possible she was cremated. Theck of records doesn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t. Many crematoriums have closed or reorganized, so missing records aremon.¡±
¡°So, it might not be as bad as you think. Maybe you¡¯ll find ashes instead of bones.¡±
Lin Xian was speechless. The gap between AI logic and human reasoning was stark.
¡°It¡¯s not about bones or ashes, VV,¡± Lin Xian spoke softly. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t need Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s DNA. We can use her parents¡¯. If Chu An Qing¡¯s DNA matches Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s, we canpare it with the parents¡¯ to confirm a maternal link. It¡¯s less direct but still valid.¡±
¡°Not rigorous enough,¡± VV countered. ¡°Chu An Qing¡¯sck of rtion to the parents doesn¡¯t rule out a connection to Zhang Yu Qian. Given the supernatural phenomena around you, our approach should be broad. What if Zhang Yu Qian was adopted? Or if Chu An Qing was?¡±
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t considered this angle.
Thinking about their appearances, he mused, ¡°They don¡¯t look exactly alike; it¡¯s subjective. Saying An Qing was adopted is far-fetched. Gic inheritance isplex, and children often don¡¯t resemble parents exactly. But I agree with your approach. Considering the many supernatural urrences, we need a rigorous method: DNAparison between An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian.¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± VV¡¯s tone grew excited. ¡°So, Lin Xian! Grab a spade, get Gao Yang, and let¡¯s exhume Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave!¡±
Chapter 284: Yellow Finchs Secret
¡°Wait, wait! Don¡¯t get too excited,¡± Lin Xian cautioned, noticing that VV, his AIpanion, might have just finished devouring the ¡°Dragon n¡± series and was already transitioning to another dramatic genre. He quickly intervened to calm the enthusiastic AI.
¡°Hold on, let me gather my thoughts.¡±
Lin Xian moved towards the sink, turned the faucet on, and began to wash his hands. As the water ran, he stared at his reflection in the mirror, pondering the recent chain of bewildering events.
Zhang Yu Qian.
This unexpected revtion had proved to be a vital clue in unraveling the mystery behind Chu An Qing and CC¡¯s striking resemnce and the mysterious secrets surrounding CC. Without the random encounter during their training at the astronaut base, the impromptu shopping trip at Xidan Shopping Center with Chu An Qing, and that chance meeting with the elderlydy at the traffic light intersection, Lin Xian might never have crossed paths with Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s name.
Following a thorough discussion, VV proposed a rather bold solution¡ª
¡°Just exhume Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave, crack open the coffin, and retrieve the bones or ashes. Then,pare the DNA with a sample of Chu An Qing¡¯s hair to determine their rtionship.¡±
This scientific approach seemed straightforward and could potentially unlock the secrets surrounding CC. However, morally¡ it wasn¡¯t merely a question of ethics. It touched a deeper, more culturally sensitive nerve for the people of X Country.¡°Cut it out! What¡¯s holding you back?¡± VV¡¯s voice, tinged with contempt, streamed through the Bluetooth headset. ¡°You¡¯ve always boasted about your reckless adventures in the dream world¡ªracing cars, demolishing buildings,mitting bank heists, causing chaos in New Donghai City, and even blowing up Sky City just to set off fireworks for a little girl¡ Were all those just fantasies?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t fathom it. You¡¯ve shown no fear before, yet now you hesitate to dig up a grave for some bones? It¡¯s baffling¡ You¡¯re so inconsistent, hesitating over such a minor thing!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Lin Xian chuckled, trying to exin. ¡°Listen, it¡¯s different. In this world, plentymit crimes like murder or arson, but very few would dare disturb the peace of the dead. I¡¯m not sure about other cultures, but here in X Country, there¡¯s a profound respect embedded in our heritage. It¡¯s one thing to rob a bank, but another entirely to steal offerings from a temple¡ªunless someone¡¯s truly desperate, no thief would dare. It¡¯s not merely fear; it¡¯s deep-seated reverence.¡±
¡°In the southern provinces where Mazu is revered, her consent is beyond dispute. Even official documents like passports are secondary to her approval. No matter how audacious they are, no one would dare lie before Mazu.¡±
¡°Interesting,¡± VV responded. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mazu just a statue? How can she permit or oppose anything?¡±
¡°If Mazu doesn¡¯t expressly disapprove, it¡¯s taken as consent,¡± Lin Xian rified.
VV paused momentarily. ¡°Understood. Then you should ask Mazu if you can exhume Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave,¡± it suggested. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t visibly object, it¡¯s allowed.¡±
Lin Xian was momentarily speechless. VV¡¯s logic was unassable, demonstrating why it was hailed as one of the most intelligent AIs ever created, more adept at debating than many humans.
¡°I¡¯ll consider the grave-digging idea,¡± Lin Xian conceded, turning off the tap and drying his hands. ¡°Even if I wanted to proceed now, there¡¯s no time. Yellow Finch only gave us the day off, and she expects us back at the base by 10:30 PM. Plus, we have over a month of training ahead. The time-space particle will be entering Earth¡¯s atmosphere by the end of March, and our space mission awaits. So, if we¡¯re going to dig up Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave in Shandong Qufu, it¡¯ll have to wait until April. I¡¯ve got enough on my te right now¡ Let¡¯s put this on hold and revisit it after the space mission.¡±
With that, Lin Xian exited the bathroom and made his way back to the milk tea shop.
¡°Senior~ Here you go!¡± Chu An Qing bounded over, presenting a cup of grape tea to Lin Xian with a giggle. ¡°Hehe, you were gone for quite a while! Were you lost? I was about toe looking for you!¡±
¡°If you had, we might never have found each other again,¡± Lin Xian joked, epting the tea and inserting the straw. ¡°If you ever get lost, just stay put. I¡¯lle back for you.¡±
¡°Aww, I¡¯m not a child!¡± Chu An Qing protested lightly, taking a sip of her grape tea. ¡°We have phones! How could we possibly lose each other?¡±
Armed with their milk teas, they wandered through the lively shopping center, chatting andughing.
¡°Senior! Look! A w machine!¡± Chu An Qing pointed excitedly at a row of w machines stocked with various plush toys, including the popr Rhine Cat plushies.
Lin Xian quickly observed that the Rhine Cat plushies inside were the cheaper, mass-produced kind¡ªnot particrly cute or limited edition, which exined their presence in the w machine. Additionally, the toys were sparsely arranged, and the exit barrier was notably high, making it challenging to win¡ªa clear indication of a machine set up by a greedy owner.
As they watched, a mother and her young son struggled to win a toy. Just as the w lifted a plush to the top and seemed ready to deliver it to the exit, it abruptly loosened, and the toy tumbled back,nding even further from reach. The boy¡¯s face fell. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to win!¡±
Chu An Qing empathized, frowning at Lin Xian. ¡°These w machines are all rigged¡ They just grab your money. The ws are so weak; they drop the toys as soon as they lift them. It¡¯s so annoying!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°These machines are called ¡®count machines.¡¯ They¡¯re programmed to grip strongly only after a certain number of attempts, ensuring even a novice can win asionally. But between those times, the ws are weak and let go almost immediately.¡±
¡°Some fair-minded owners set the machine to offer a strong grip every five tries, letting you win a toy for ten coins, adding some emotional value since each toy costs only two or three yuan. But greedy owners set it every ten or twenty tries, effectively ripping people off.¡±
¡°The most honest machines don¡¯t adjust w strength and rely purely on skill, like using shaking or centrifugal force to win. However, these are rare nowadays, as most businesses prioritize profit over fair y.¡±
Chu An Qing nodded, her suspicions confirmed. ¡°No wonder¡ I used to love these machines, but the weak ws are so frustrating! Like you said, sometimes I get lucky and the w grips tightly, and I win a toy. It feels fantastic when that happens!¡±
Ding¡ª
Unexpectedly, the w machine in front of them activated, seemingly offering a free y.
¡°Go for it!¡± VV urged through the headset.
¡
Another dinosaur plush tumbled out of the machine, and Chu An Qing scooped it up. ¡°Wow! Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian, you¡¯re incredible! This is the 11th one!¡±
Chu An Qing was now holding so many plush toys that managing them became a challenge, her arms wrapped tightly around the colorful pile. A crowd had gathered, marveling at Lin Xian¡¯s skill.
¡°He¡¯s unbelievable¡ The w machine master.¡±
¡°How does he do it?¡±
¡°Honey, win one for me too!¡±
The boy who had struggled earlier stared in amazement, nearly drooling over Chu An Qing¡¯s heap of plush toys.
¡°What¡ what do you want?¡± Chu An Qing noticed the boy¡¯s eager gaze and took a cautious step back. Yet¡ his eyes sparkled with a pure, innocent excitement.
¡°Alright.¡± Chu An Qing bit her lip, swayed by his hopeful look. ¡°Here, you can have one¡ But just one!¡± She frowned as she carefully picked the least appealing toy from her collection of eleven and handed it to the boy. Then, she tugged Lin Xian¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Lin Xian! Quickly!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You could give the boy a few more. These are the cheapest, lowest quality toys. Only the Rhine Cat one is of decent quality, thanks to Rhine¡¯s strict quality control.¡±
¡°No way!¡± Chu An Qing firmly objected. ¡°You won these for me¡ How could I give them away? Hehe, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen anyone win so many toys from a w machine. You¡¯re amazing, Lin Xian! Even if it¡¯s a count machine, it still takes skill! How else could you win every time?¡±
Sheughed. ¡°Whenever I confidently approach a w machine, dreaming of winning a bunch of toys and leaving with envious stares, I end up disappointed. Today, my dream came true! Thank you, Lin Xian. I¡¯ll treasure these toys¡ Now, wait here while I get a big bag to carry them. Otherwise, I can¡¯t continue shopping.¡±
With that, Chu An Qing excitedly skipped away.
¡°VV.¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°I think I¡¯ve discovered your true purpose.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± VV asked eagerly. ¡°Are you going to praise me?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I initially thought you were a world-saving, time-reversing, invincible super AI¡ I was genuinely concerned about a robot uprising. But now, I realize you¡¯re a romantic robot! You¡¯re terrible at fighting and finding enemies but brilliant at making girls happy. Setting off fireworks, winning toys¡ªthese are things straight guys never think of, but you excel at. If we mass-produced you to help straight guys with romance, the sales would be phenomenal. Leave world-saving to Doraemon; you¡¯re better suited for making girls happy.¡±
¡°Keep teasing me!¡± VV¡¯s deep bass echoed in Lin Xian¡¯s ear. ¡°Your insults are getting really sophisticated!¡±
¡°Your jokes are improving too,¡± Lin Xian mused.
¡°Making girls happy is simple,¡± VV asserted, raising its voice. ¡°Especially for you, Lin Xian. For a girl who likes you, everything you do is right and romantic. Even a ring made from a soda can tab, a paper airne, or a cheapntern can be special. If a woman likes you, everything you do is right, and she¡¯ll navigate her own feelings. But you seem more interested in battling unseen enemies.¡±
¡°You think I enjoy it?¡± Lin Xianughed bitterly. ¡°I¡¯d love to stop ying hide-and-seek with these people. If you could locate Kevin Walker or figure out Elon Musk¡¯s motives and the Genius Club¡¯s whereabouts, I wouldn¡¯t be so stressed. For example, the mystery of Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and CC¡ Well, it¡¯s not entirely your fault. You haven¡¯t seen CC and can¡¯t analyze her. CC¡¯s secrets are numerous, perhaps even more significant than Yellow Finch¡¯s.¡±
¡°CC, huh.¡± VV pondered. ¡°Her name is odd, and it resembles mine¡ Wait!¡± VV suddenly grew excited. ¡°Lin Xian, didn¡¯t you say I¡¯m Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s dog?¡±
¡°Yes, that Pomeranian is your ancestor and your namesake. Zhao Ying Jun created you, so you¡¯re technically her dog.¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± VV protested. ¡°I just thought of a new possibility¡ My name is simr to CC¡¯s, and CC looks like Chu An Qing. So I might actually be Chu An Qing¡¯s dog!¡±
¡°¡¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Stop getting sidetracked and focus on the main mission.¡±
¡
That afternoon, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing visited many ces, yed games, and tried various snacks.
As evening approached, the backstreets came alive with even more energy. The area was a hotspot for nightlife, a favorite among the youth. The vibrant scene held a unique allure.
Chu An Qing was captivated by the new experiences, feeling as though she had opened a door to a new world.
¡°Lin Xian! That girl! Her outfit¡ It¡¯s winter! How can she wear that?¡±
¡°Where?¡± Lin Xian scanned the crowd but didn¡¯t spot anything.
¡°Ah¡ never mind. Let¡¯s keep walking.¡±
Chu An Qing confided that her father, Chu Shan He, had strictly forbidden her from visiting bars, iming they weren¡¯t suitable for her. This was her first foray into the vibrant nightlife.
The trendy crowd, fashionable girls, and live performers were all novel to her.
¡°Lin Xian! Let¡¯s go to a bar!¡±
¡°Absolutely not¡¡± Lin Xian resisted. ¡°Your father forbade it.¡±
¡°Aww, he doesn¡¯t have to know!¡± Chu An Qing pouted. ¡°Besides, he said I¡¯m grown up now! I can make my own decisions! I¡¯m not doing anything wrong, just curious to see inside.¡±
¡°Just once, please! I¡¯m really curious¡ And the live music sounds so inviting!¡±
Lin Xian hesitated, feeling his resolve soften.
¡°Take her!!!¡± VV urged in his ear.
Lin Xian checked his watch. It was already 8:30 PM. Yellow Finch had instructed them to be back by 10:30 PM. This was likely theirst stop.
¡°Alright.¡± He looked at Chu An Qing. ¡°This early, the dance bars haven¡¯t started yet. But we can visit a quiet bar, where we can enjoy some music and have a chat. They have live singers too.¡±
¡°Great!¡± Chu An Qing, unfamiliar with bars, agreed eagerly.
They entered a nearby quiet bar. As they stepped inside, the lighting dimmed, creating a cozy atmosphere. The bar was still sparsely popted, being early in the evening.
They found a seat, ordered drinks, and enjoyed the soothing background music, engaging in lively conversation.
They discussed everything¡ªchildhood memories, hobbies, interests, life, studies, work, space travel, time-space particles, and the end of the universe¡ They foundmon ground in every topic.
Lin Xian learned that Chu An Qing also loved movies. It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering her enthusiastic reenactments of scenes from ¡°Titanic¡± and ¡°The Truman Show¡± during their trip to New Yorkst year. She shared VV¡¯s passion for drama.
Suddenly¡ He recalled VV¡¯s earlier question.
Cautiously, he asked Chu An Qing, ¡°Have you ever had a pet dog?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Chu An Qing looked puzzled and shook her head. ¡°No, never. We¡¯ve never had pets. I¡¯m not really fond of cats or dogs.¡±
¡°Ahhhhh!!!¡± VV wailed in his ear, sounding almost like it was crying.
Lin Xian removed the Bluetooth earpiece, tucking it away in its case to escape the noise.
At that moment, a gentle guitar strum echoed from the bar¡¯s stage. A short-haired girl wearing a beret sat on a stool, her leg propped up, cradling a guitar still resonating from her strum.
Lin Xian checked his watch. It was 9:30 PM, just in time for the live performer, as Chu An Qing had hoped.
He turned to see Chu An Qing already fixated on the singer, captivated by the artistic girl on stage.
The singer strummed again, slowly lifting her head, her eyes shimmering in the dim bar light:
¡°Maybe I can still find your news online;
Maybe my songs are still on your phone;
Maybe my love buried in my heart bes a secret;
Maybe when you miss me¡ I¡¯m also missing you¡¡±
The song, ¡°No Longer in Contact,¡± was beautifully rendered, her guitar skills impable, creating a touching performance that enveloped the listeners in a wave of nostalgia.
¡°She¡¯s incredible¡¡± Chu An Qing whispered, awestruck.
Lin Xian nodded in agreement. ¡°Every time I hear this song, it reminds me of someone.¡±
¡°Who?¡± Chu An Qing asked, intrigued.
¡°Li Qi Qi.¡± Lin Xian shared. ¡°Liu Feng¡¯s girlfriend¡ Histe girlfriend.¡±
He recounted the story of Liu Feng and Li Qi Qi to Chu An Qing.
Chu An Qing was touched, feeling a pang of sadness. ¡°I had no idea Liu Feng had experienced that. He mentioned it once when heforted me, but I didn¡¯t realize the depth of it.¡±
¡°Even though she found peace during the meteor shower, it¡¯s still a heartbreaking story. It fills me with sorrow, but also with awe¡¡±
¡°Li Qi Qi believed in Liu Feng and his ¡®Universal Constant Theory,¡¯ even when everyone else doubted him. That¡¯s¡ love.¡±
Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in love, only seen it in movies. I can¡¯t fully grasp it, but now I feel it more deeply¡¡± She looked up at Lin Xian. ¡°Love might be what Li Qi Qi felt for Liu Feng.¡±
¡°Even if the world denied him, she believed he was right;
Even if the world opposed him, she stood by his side;
She never let him feel alone, always there for him;
Even in death, she wished to be a star, watching over him¡¡±
Chu An Qing gazed at the bar¡¯s ceiling lights, twinkling like distant stars.
¡°I hope¡ Li Qi Qi truly became a star.¡±
¡°She did,¡± Lin Xian affirmed. ¡°In Liu Feng¡¯s eyes, every star is named Qi Qi. When he looks up at the night sky, he feels the embrace of the universe.¡±
Another gentle chord marked the end of the performance.
Scattered apuse filled the bar, appreciating the poignant performance.
Chu An Qing bit her lip, hesitating. Finally¡ She gripped her drink tightly, looking earnestly at Lin Xian.
¡°Actually¡ When I heard this song, it made me think of someone too. Even before you told me about Li Qi Qi and Liu Feng¡¡±
¡°The lyrics seem to reflect her life, her thoughts, and her eyes. When I first looked into her eyes, I sensed her loneliness, her strength, and her tender heart.¡±
¡°Who?¡± Lin Xian was curious to know who she was referring to.
¡°Yellow Finch.¡± Chu An Qing mustered the courage to admit. ¡°Lin Xian, I lied to you.¡±
She appeared distressed, speaking softly. ¡°The night I met Yellow Finch in the training room, it wasn¡¯t as I described. She didn¡¯te down to find me.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch¡ I discovered something about her. But she made me promise not to tell you, very seriously. So, I agreed and kept it a secret.¡±
¡°But now¡ after hearing about Li Qi Qi and Liu Feng¡¡± Chu An Qing bit her lip, nodding with resolve, and looked at Lin Xian with determination. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to tell you the truth!¡±
Lin Xian felt a surge of curiosity and concern. ¡°What is it? What did you discover about Yellow Finch?¡±
Chu An Qing took a deep breath, steadying herself. ¡°Yellow Finch isn¡¯t just our strict instructor. She¡¯s someone who¡¯s been through a lot, and she¡¯s hiding a big secret. That night in the training room, I overheard her talking on the phone. She was speaking in a differentnguage, one I¡¯ve never heard her use before. She sounded¡ desperate.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What did she say?¡±
¡°She was talking about a mission, something dangerous. She mentioned names¡ªpeople we don¡¯t know. And she kept repeating one word, ¡®Karma.¡¯ She sounded like she was trying to warn someone, or maybe herself, about a dangering closer.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. ¡°Karma? What could that mean?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Chu An Qing admitted. ¡°But there¡¯s more. When she saw me, she made me promise not to tell anyone. She said it was for my own safety. I believed her, but now, after hearing about Li Qi Qi and Liu Feng, I think you need to know. Maybe together, we can figure out what she¡¯s hiding and why.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, feeling the weight of the revtion. ¡°Thank you for telling me, An Qing. We¡¯ll figure this out, together. But for now, let¡¯s keep this between us. We need to be careful.¡±
Chu An Qing agreed, feeling a mix of relief and fear. ¡°Okay, Lin Xian. Let¡¯s be careful.¡±
Chapter 285: The Long-Awaited Truth Finally Revealed!
The Truth?
Lin Xian reminisced about the other night when Chu An Qing had visited his room in the middle of the night for a chat, only to be caught by Yellow Finch.
That night, Chu An Qing had told him she couldn¡¯t sleep, so she had gone to the training room to practice for a while. Then Yellow Finch hade downstairs, seen her, and they chatted. During their conversation, Yellow Finch revealed the secret of the time-space particles to Chu An Qing.
Was that not the whole truth? Was there something more hidden?
Moreover, from the way Chu An Qing spoke, it seemed that Yellow Finch had intentionally asked her to keep something from Lin Xian, doing so with a very serious and stern attitude.
Suddenly, it all made sense to him.
No wonder Chu An Qing was so anxious and scared when she heard Yellow Finch¡¯s voice outside the door, covering her mouth in fear.
And when she tried to sneak out only to find Yellow Finch waiting for her, her hair practically stood on end, like a frightened porcupine.At that time, Lin Xian thought Chu An Qing¡¯s reaction was a bit too extreme. Even though they were alone in a room together, it wasn¡¯t like they were doing anything inappropriate.
They were innocent, with nothing to hide, so why was she so scared, as if Yellow Finch had caught them in the act?
Now, Lin Xian understood.
He had nothing to hide. But Chu An Qing did; she felt guilty.
Yellow Finch had sternly instructed her not to tell Lin Xian anything, and then caught her chatting with him in his room. No wonder Chu An Qing was terrified; there was more to the story.
¡°What truth?¡± Lin Xian sat up straight and asked, ¡°What exactly happened that night?¡±
Chu An Qing took a sip of her drink through a straw to wet her throat and began to speak slowly.
The other night, she indeed couldn¡¯t sleep, so she went to the training room to practice, which was the truth. But while she was practicing, she suddenly heard amotion from the washroom next door¡ªttering sounds, things falling, and intense coughing.
Chu An Qing felt something was wrong, so she hurried over to check.
And what she saw shocked her!
¡°The scene inside was terrifying!¡± Chu An Qing recalled with a worried expression. ¡°The shelves in the washroom had copsed, things were scattered everywhere, and Yellow Finch was lying amidst the mess, kneeling and trembling, coughing violently.¡±
¡°I was so scared. I ran to help her up, but she kept pushing me away, not letting me near her. She kept her head down, no matter how much I called her, she wouldn¡¯t let me see her face.¡±
¡°I wanted to run out and call for help, get a doctor, but she grabbed me and told me not to call anyone, just to wait there with her. She never lifted her head the whole time. I didn¡¯t know what to do, so I just stayed by her side.¡±
¡°Soon, she stopped coughing, her body stopped trembling, and her breathing steadied. She finally looked up at me, smiled, and said she was fine, just felt a bit unwell earlier. I was still shocked, but after checking her over, she seemed fine, except for her disheveled hair and a broken heel.¡±
¡°If anything, her eyes seemed a bit darker. They were usually a bright, shining blue, but then they seemed dimmer. But that must have been a trick of the light. Eye color doesn¡¯t change, right? It had to be the lighting in the washroom.¡±
¡°Then Yellow Finch stood up and said she had a sudden stomach cramp, like a spasm, which made her fall and knock over the shelves. She asked me to help clean up the washroom and not to bother anyone else, not to let anyone know about this embarrassing moment.¡±
¡°That¡¯s when she sternly told me not to tell anyone, especially not you, Lin Xian. She probably thought we were close and didn¡¯t want me to tell you about her getting sick. We cleaned up the washroom, went back to the training room, talked about the time-space particles, and then she left. I went back to the dorm and heard you on the phone. You know the rest.¡±
Lin Xian listened to Chu An Qing¡¯s story and understood the sequence of events. Most of what Chu An Qing had said before was true; she just left out the part about Yellow Finch copsing in the washroom.
But why had Yellow Finch insisted on keeping this from him?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand. What was so serious about this incident that Yellow Finch had to make sure he didn¡¯t know? Everyone gets sick sometimes. Even if it¡¯s something serious, people generally don¡¯t hide it so vehemently.
Moreover, what could she be hiding?
Yellow Finch knew she wasn¡¯t ill and didn¡¯t need help, which was why she stopped Chu An Qing from calling for assistance. She didn¡¯t let Chu An Qing see her face, indicating she was hiding something about her appearance at that moment.
And the most crucial detail was the change in her eye color.
VV had also mentioned that Yellow Finch¡¯s bright blue eyes were unnatural. They couldn¡¯t be real; no one has eyes that bright and luminescent.
Reflecting on the other night when Yellow Finch hade to his dorm and in the following days, her eyes had returned to normal brightness.
This made Lin Xian wonder¡ªwas Yellow Finch some sort of android that needed to recharge? That seemed far-fetched, even in 2024.
He considered the idea of time-space travelers. If Yellow Finch was from the future, maybe she had some kind of physical issue rted to time travel. Perhaps she was experiencing some kind of temporal bacsh or stic recoil from tampering with the timeline.
If this theory was correct, it opened a whole new realm of possibilities. What if altering the timeline beyond certain limits caused greater repercussions? Could it result in paradoxes, or even the forced erasure of individuals by the fabric of time itself?
Lin Xian realized he was getting too spective. He refocused on the immediate issue. Yellow Finch had warned Chu An Qing to keep this secret, not for any superficial reasons but perhaps because there was something inherently dangerous or important about her condition.
¡°Do you have any other details?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°Nothing else. After cleaning the washroom, Yellow Finch threw away her broken high heels and put on t shoes from the training room.¡±
Lin Xian muttered, ¡°That exins why we didn¡¯t hear her high heels when she came to my room that night. If she¡¯d been wearing her high heels, we would¡¯ve heard her approach long before she knocked on the door.¡±
Things were beginning to make sense now.
¡°Maybe Yellow Finch didn¡¯t want us to worry,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°She¡¯s older than us, more experienced, and as themander, she probably didn¡¯t want to seem weak. But you shouldn¡¯t worry too much; she¡¯s incredibly capable.¡±
Lin Xian looked at Chu An Qing, puzzled. ¡°But why did you think of her when you heard this song?¡±
¡°Because Yellow Finch seems so lonely,¡± Chu An Qing said. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed? She¡¯s always alone, like she doesn¡¯t belong to this world, with no ce to call home.¡±
¡°Think about it. We don¡¯t even know if Yellow Finch is her real name. We don¡¯t know her age, though she looks like she¡¯s in her thirties. Has she ever mentioned a husband or children? Her phone never rings, no calls, no messages. She doesn¡¯t seem to have any family or friends.¡±
¡°She always appears reliable and capable in front of us, but that doesn¡¯t change her loneliness. It¡¯s like she¡¯s not from this world, with no family or friends, just like a wandering breeze. Doesn¡¯t that make you curious why she¡¯s helping us so much?¡±
Lin Xian was stunned. He had never thought about it this way. He had always seen Yellow Finch as a mysterious figure guiding him but never questioned why she was so invested in helping him.
His smartwatch beeped, indicating it was 10:30 PM.
¡°It¡¯s time to head back,¡± Lin Xian said, showing Chu An Qing the time. ¡°The car¡¯s waiting outside.¡±
¡°Already? Why doesn¡¯t Yellow Finch let us stay out to celebrate the New Year?¡± Chu An Qingined.
¡°Probably for safety,¡± Lin Xian said, standing up. ¡°Let¡¯s go. The car¡¯s waiting.¡±
An hourter, the white-ted ck sedan drove into the confidential astronaut training base, unmarked on any map. Lin Xian and Chu An Qing got out of the car, finding Yellow Finch standing regally at the entrance, arms crossed.
¡°An Qing, your dad sent some things to the space agency. Since this mission is ssified, he couldn¡¯t know you were here, so a colleague brought them over. They¡¯re at your dorm door,¡± Yellow Finch said.
¡°Wow, what is it?¡± Chu An Qing was thrilled. Receiving a package from her family on New Year¡¯s Eve was exciting. She waved to Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to see what it is. If there¡¯s something good, I¡¯ll share with everyone!¡±
With that, she skipped away, and the sedan turned and left, leaving Lin Xian alone with Yellow Finch.
Usually, Lin Xian would have some yful banter with Yellow Finch about curfews or riddles, but after hearing Chu An Qing¡¯s words, he was at a loss for what to say.
¡°You¡¯re just in time,¡± Yellow Finch said, checking her watch. It was 23:59:34 on February 9, 2024.
¡°You really cut it close,¡± Lin Xian said, spreading his hands. ¡°The traffic was terrible. I got in the car at 10:30, like you said. Anyway, we¡¯re not kids. What¡¯s the big deal if we¡¯re a bitte? I was with Chu An Qing; nothing would have happened.¡±
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fireworks exploded in the distance, weing the New Year. The sound of firecrackers echoed, indicating the start of a new year.
Lin Xian¡¯s phone beeped with a new WeChat notification from Zhao Ying Jun. As he opened the message, Yellow Finch spoke.
¡°Happy New Year,¡± her voice echoed in sync with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s message: ?Happy New Year.?
It was like watching a movie with subtitles, receiving New Year wishes from both women simultaneously.
¡°Thank you, Happy New Year to you too,¡± Lin Xian replied.
Yellow Finch smiled, putting her hands in her coat pockets and walking into the building with the click of her high heels.
¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Lin Xian chuckled, typing a reply to Zhao Ying Jun: ¡°Thank you, Happy New Year to you too.¡±
Back in his dorm, Lin Xian felt exhausted from the day¡¯s activities. Shopping with Chu An Qing was more tiring than training. After washing up, he checked the time¡ª00:27.
¡°Time to sleep,¡± he muttered, falling asleep almost instantly.
¡
¡
A dry, hot summer breeze brushed his face. He had felt cold before sleeping, but now it was like August¡¯s heat, a stark contrast.
Opening his eyes, he was again surrounded by dozens of armed soldiers, just like in countless previous dreams. The captain stepped forward, brandishing an electronic arrest warrant.
¡°Lin Xian! You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting the time-space continuum!¡±
Lin Xianughed, looking up at the sky, his eyes widening in shock.
For the first time, the previously empty sky was filled with dozens of huge airship balloons, floating like an invading fleet, brightly lit and slowly moving.
Each giant airship bore a shining advertisement: ¡°The Best Time Capsule in the World! Celebrating Time Bank¡¯s 600th Anniversary!¡±
Chapter 286: The First Wall-Breaking, Deceiving the Future
Airship!
The advertising airship of Time Bank!
Lin Xian gazed at the night sky, observing these massive vessels.
He had seeded.
This meant his ¡°Time Bank n¡± had seeded in the fourth dream.
Over the past few months, he had been checking his dreams every night to see if the airships appeared in the sky. If they didn¡¯t, it meant Time Bank didn¡¯t exist in the future world, 600 yearster, due to various reasons. But once these advertising airships appeared for the 600th anniversary celebration, it confirmed that a significant, irreversible temporal anchor point had been created in the real world. Consequently, a temporal butterfly effect had caused a tornado that swept through 600 years, changing the future world in the fourth dream.
Although the change wasn¡¯t huge, the city background remained mostly the same. He was still surrounded by soldiers, and the charges against him hadn¡¯t changed. As usual, he would soon be electrically stunned and lose consciousness.
However, seeing the advertising airships for Time Bank¡¯s 600th anniversary celebration was proof enough of many things.This was his greatest achievement and breakthrough during this period.
Zzz¡
Behind him, he heard the sound of electricity.
His vision went ck as he fainted¡
Lin Xian opened his eyes, lying on a single bed in the astronaut training base dormitory in the capital. Only a few minutes had passed since he fell asleep.
He nced at the digital clock on the bedside table.
00:42
It seemed that the plot after being stunned remained the same as before. Lin Xian had already figured out a pattern. If he entered the dream after 00:10, he would be stunned by the soldiers but wouldn¡¯t have time to meet the mysterious old man. Most likely, while the soldiers were transporting him back to the detention center, the white light at 00:42 would destroy the world, preventing him from waking up in the dream or meeting the mysterious old man.
¡°VV.¡± The first thing he did upon waking up was call VV.
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± the digital clock disyed a 0_0 face.
¡°What¡¯s up, Lin Xian? Any breakthroughs in your dream?¡±
Lin Xian nodded and recounted his dream to VV:
¡°Just as I had arranged with Brother Wang, Time Bank would start trial operations early, but the official establishment date would be set for August 28, 2024. The first rule in thepany¡¯s charter states that every 100 years, they must rent as many airships as possible to advertise in the city sky.¡±
¡°As it turns out, Brother Wang did it. Not only did Time Bank sessfully operate for 600 years, but it also seems financially sound, renting more than a dozen giant airships to advertise and celebrate its 600th anniversary.¡±
The digital clock¡¯s expression changed from o_o to 0_0, as if nodding in agreement.
¡°This is indeed good news, Lin Xian. But as I¡¯ve discussed with you many times, even if Time Bank appears in your dream, it doesn¡¯t prove your dream is real.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never denied that your dream might take you 600 years into the future. What I keep emphasizing is that even if you are indeed in the future, everything you see, the city you¡¯re in, and even the entire world might not be real.¡±
¡°These could be simted worlds created by enemies 600 yearster by hijacking your memories. Or it could be a highly realistic set built around you, with everything you see being props and illusions, including the Time Bank airship. The bank, the safe, and even the note in the safe could all be perfectly replicated props.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve said this many times, Lin Xian. Your mind should understand. The real Time Bank might exist in the future, but it¡¯s likely not the fake one you¡¯re seeing now.¡±
¡°No, no¡¡± Lin Xian waved his hand and smiled.
¡°You misunderstand, VV. I don¡¯t take my dreams as real because of this. I¡¯m not that foolish. Your points are well-known, and there¡¯s no need to exin them again. For now, my n¡¯s first step has seeded.¡±
¡°As long as Time Bank appears in the fourth dream, whether it¡¯s real or fake, it means the enemy has taken the bait, and we have regained the initiative.¡±
VV blinked in confusion, not understanding why Lin Xian had be so optimistic despite no progress in verifying the dream¡¯s reality. After all, they knew Time Bank¡¯s appearance in the fourth dream was inevitable.
Seeing the puzzled clock, Lin Xian chuckled.
¡°Think about it, VV. Whether Time Bank in the fourth dream is real or fake isn¡¯t important. Its appearance proves many things.¡±
¡°First, if Time Bank is real and so is my dream, then there¡¯s nothing more to say. We proceed with our n to verify the dream¡¯s reality and will reach a conclusion.¡±
¡°Second, if Time Bank is fake, then the enemy¡¯s attempt to replicate it into the simted world or set is a blunder! There¡¯s a saying: ¡®If you tell a lie, you must keep lying to cover it up.¡¯ The more lies you tell, the more ws there will be.¡±
¡°If the enemy replicated a fake Time Bank in the fourth dream, it¡¯s their first lie. Remember, Time Bank in 2024 is under my control. Whatever I change in Time Bank, they must change too. If I set a password for the safe, they must match it. If I ce something in the safe, they must replicate it exactly.¡±
¡°In the original 600-year dream, I was isted and had no reference points to connect 2024 and 2624 versions of myself. But now I have one: Time Bank. Remember what I said before? I¡¯ll ce a note in the safe with content unknown to me. The enemy must strictly replicate it in the fake Time Bank. This way, they¡¯re entirely passive.¡±
¡°If they alter the note¡¯s content, I¡¯ll immediately know the dream is fake. If they replicate it exactly, I¡¯ll use the unique code on it to determine the dream¡¯s reality. And if they choose to do nothing, that w alone proves the dream¡¯s falsity.¡±
¡°So¡ do you understand, VV?¡±
Lin Xian grinned with the look of a predator.
¡°Initially, we were at the mercy of an unknown enemy. Now, the situation has reversed. We have the upper hand. The note in the safe is a trap they can¡¯t avoid. Since Time Bank appeared, they¡¯ve been checkmated.¡±
Boom!
The electric kettle on the tea machine suddenly boiled over.
¡°Wall-Breaker Lin Xian!¡±
VV excitedly yelled with a sharp voice.
¡°This is your n to deceive the world!? Time Bank¡ is a trap you set for the enemy!¡±
¡°You even deceived me! Despite my powerfulputing capabilities, I didn¡¯t foresee this! The enemy fell into your trap, losing the upper hand!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°The correct approach for the enemy would have been to keep the dream unchanged. A program running without issues shouldn¡¯t be tampered with, no matter how bug-ridden it is. If the fourth dream was indeed a false world or set, they should have kept it unchanged, leaving me to doubt myself indefinitely.¡±
¡°But now, it¡¯s toote for them to make amends. Even though there¡¯s still time before I open the safe in Time Bank, the mere appearance of Time Bank has narrowed the dream puzzle down to two answers.¡±
Lin Xian raised one finger.
¡°First, our worries are baseless. My dream is real, and my understanding of time-spacews is correct.¡±
Then he raised a second finger.
¡°Second, the dream is fake, but the enemy isn¡¯t as smart and powerful as we thought. They couldn¡¯t extract my thoughts and memories. Otherwise, they would have realized this trap and wouldn¡¯t have needed to replicate Time Bank, leaving me to doubt myself. Clearly, the enemy didn¡¯t make the perfect choice.¡±
¡°So you see, a question with no answers has turned into a multiple-choice question with two options. This is much easier. Even if we can¡¯t prove which option is correct¡¡±
¡°If we can prove one option wrong, then the other must be correct!¡±
p! p! p! p! p!
The boiling water kettle¡¯s lid kept popping off, sounding like apuse.
VV sighed amidst the pping.
¡°Even though myputing power surpasses humans, in terms of deception, we super AIs are far behind humans. Our core logic drives us to seek the correct answer. Even if I can learn to hide and lie, deception is still difficult.¡±
¡°Humans are amazing. You are true actors, pretending to be ignorant while knowing everything, turning lies into truth, hiding falsehoods beneath the truth, and concealing the truth under falsehoods. Brilliant!¡±
¡°The enemy could have kept the fourth dream unchanged, letting us doubt ourselves forever. Who could guarantee Time Bank¡¯s survival for 600 years? Such a single-business bank could fail anytime.¡±
Lin Xian stood up and yawned.
¡°Without Time Bank, I wouldn¡¯t know how to send the note 600 years into the future. Now, whether Time Bank is real or fake, as long as I ce the note in the aluminum alloy safe in 2024, when I open the safe in the fourth dream¡¯s Time Bank, the note will be there. The enemy bes our delivery service.¡±
¡°Alright, the n can proceed.¡±
¡°First, I need to consider what to write on the note. It must be something the enemy can¡¯t understand but only I can. It must convince me the dream is real.¡±
¡°Second, I need to free the me trapped in the fourth dream, and that¡¯s where youe in, VV. I believe, as the pinnacle of human technology for 600 years, you¡¯ll eventually surpass Kevin Walker. Once you locate him, we can defeat him, and I¡¯ll be free to open the safe in Time Bank.¡±
¡°Hehe~¡±
VV imitated Chu An Qing¡¯s tone andughed.
¡°I was just about to tell you. I¡¯ve evolved and upgraded many times in the past few months. I¡¯m stronger and smarter now. Previously, Kevin Walker and I couldn¡¯t trace each other in thework. But now, I¡¯ve surpassed him in hiding. Although I can¡¯t locate him yet, I¡¯ve found traces of his online activities.¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t pinpoint his goal before, but now¡ with these traces, I think I¡¯ve figured it out.¡±
Beep beep.
Lin Xian¡¯s phone rang. VV sent him a picture.
He looked at it. It was a photo of a space shuttle, smaller and less advanced than X Country¡¯s space shuttle, about half its size.
On the cabin side, it wasbeled X-37B.
¡°This is America¡¯s space shuttle,¡± Lin Xian realized.
Last year, before X Country¡¯s space shuttle¡¯s first flight, America¡¯s X-37B unmanned space shuttle was the world¡¯s only operational space shuttle. There was only one globally. Even today, only X Country and America possess such high-tech spacecraft. Since America¡¯s space shuttle is unmanned, it can stay in orbit longer without concerns for oxygen supply, ecological cycles, or human living conditions. On its previous missions, X-37B¡¯s longest orbit time exceeded 900 days.
Seeing the photo of X-37B now and recalling VV¡¯s mention of Kevin Walker¡¯s activity traces, Lin Xian frowned.
¡°Could it be¡¡±
¡°Yes,¡± VV confirmed.
¡°I suspect Kevin Walker¡¯s goal is to hijack an X-37B space shuttle currently in a 1,200-kilometer orbit, which has been circling Earth for over 100 days!¡±
Chapter 287: The Aluminum Alloy Safe! Activate!
Lin Xian took a deep breath. The reality of the situation was beginning to sink in.
Kevin Walker and the X-37B space shuttle from the USA.
No wonder things felt offtely. Kevin Walker had been uncharacteristically quiet, flying under the radar.
It turned out he hadn¡¯t been idle at all. He was plotting to hijack a space shuttle!
At this critical juncture, hijacking a space shuttle¡
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but specte, ¡°Could Kevin Walker¡¯s ultimate goal be the ¡®time-space particle¡¯ that¡¯s about to enter Earth¡¯s atmosphere?¡±
¡°I think the same,¡± VV responded, its digital voice steady and calm.
Kevin Walker¡¯s methods were extremely covert. In its previous state, VV wouldn¡¯t have detected anything. But after numerous updates and evolutions, its capabilities had vastly improved. Naturally, it had picked up on the faint traces left by Kevin Walker.¡°Can we locate Kevin Walker based on these clues?¡± Lin Xian asked, hopeful.
¡°Not yet,¡± VV sighed through the electronic rm clock. ¡°I have to admit, he is indeed a genius. His concealment is remarkable. I¡¯m even beginning to wonder¡ is Kevin Walker a real person? Or could he be, like me, a stream of data? An AI program? Is that why he¡¯s so hard to find? It feels like he¡¯s everywhere and nowhere.¡±
¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°If Kevin Walker is just a program, that would be a relief. His structure would surely be inferior to yours. With enough time, you can definitely find and eliminate him. If he¡¯s a real person, that¡¯s more troublesome. It¡¯s much easier for you to find a data stream in thework than to locate a person in the real world.¡±
¡°But now isn¡¯t the time to worry about that. Elon Musk said ¡®see you in the sky¡¯, which made me suspect he might try to steal the time-space particle; but with you monitoring him 24/7, we¡¯ll know if he makes a move. The real concern is Kevin Walker. If he hijacks that space shuttle to interfere with our capture of the time-space particle¡ do we have a n?¡±
¡°No need to worry about that,¡± VV replied confidently through the electronic rm clock. ¡°Now that we know about Kevin Walker in advance, it¡¯ll be easier to deal with him. I¡¯ll take control of the X-37B space shuttle before he does. My skills are far superior; once I seize control, he won¡¯t be able to take it back.¡±
¡°The only concern is¡ my existence might be exposed. But if we¡¯re going to capture the time-space particle, we must eliminate the threat of Kevin Walker. If exposure is the price, so be it. It¡¯s better than letting him hijack the unmanned space shuttle and hinder our mission.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He had thought Kevin Walker was lying low, giving him a chance to capture the time-space particle quietly. But the closer the particle got to Earth, the moreplications arose.
Elon Musk, Yellow Finch, Kevin Walker¡ Were the members of the Genius Club nning to y Mahjong in space? Was there a missing yer? Should they invite Copernicus to join and make it a full table?
Lin Xian wondered aloud, ¡°I have Liu Feng with me and used the Guizhou Sky Eye Radio Telescope to locate the time-space particle. How did Elon Musk and Kevin Walker find out? Could they also have a time-space particle capture device?¡±
He felt a bit foolish after asking that. If they were really part of the Genius Club, which was rumored to be so powerful, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they knew about the time-space particle and even had a capture device.
¡°It seems the time-space particle is more important than we thought. So many people are after it¡ do we really have an advantage?¡±
¡°Of course, you do!¡± VV disyed a determined look on its screen. ¡°Your biggest advantage is me! Can they control robotic arms as precisely as I can? Can they monitor Elon Musk 24/7 and seize control of the X-37B space shuttle before him? Don¡¯t underestimate me, Lin Xian. I am far stronger than you imagine! From my surveince, Elon Musk ispletely unaware of the time-space particle and doesn¡¯t have a capture device. His life is as transparent as a yboy¡¯s. Even so, I remain vignt, monitoring him constantly.¡±
¡°As for Kevin Walker, there¡¯s even less to worry about. Although I can¡¯t pinpoint his location, his methods are inferior to mine. Even if he initially controls the X-37B, I can wrest control from him. I am your ultimate safeguard! Right now, no one on Earth can challenge me!¡±
¡°Without me, the world would be in eternal darkness! The pinnacle of AI, reigning supreme! The universe began after me! Even if I have to single-handedly¡ª¡±
¡°Alright, alright, stop boasting,¡± Lin Xian cut off the increasingly excited VV. ¡°In any case, the more they want the time-space particle, the more we need to secure it. Otherwise, many future ns will bepromised.¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes and organized his thoughts. Elon Musk was under VV¡¯s 24/7 surveince, and Kevin Walker¡¯s abilities were far below VV¡¯s. As long as VV was around, the American space shuttle would not be hijacked.
Indeed¡ With VV as his safeguard, there seemed to be no immediate danger; even if danger arose, VV could detect and mitigate it promptly, or notify Lin Xian to adjust their strategy. As it imed, in the year 2024, VV was invincible, and no one could threaten it.
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Starting tomorrow, Gao Yang will begin practicing with the robotic arm. You better not help him cheat right away; let him practice more on his own. It¡¯s not that I doubt your abilities, but since Gao Yang is here, we should be fully prepared.¡±
With that, Lin Xian picked up his phone and checked the time; it was just before 1 AM. He opened WeChat and saw numerous New Year messages. From friends, family, colleagues, and even from Brother Wang, the deputy general manager of Rhine Company. The message was sent just three minutes ago. Looks like he¡¯s still awake.
Lin Xian wanted to ask about the situation with Time Bank, so he called Brother Wang directly. The phone was answered after just two rings.
¡°Hahaha, Lin Xian! Happy New Year!¡± Upon answering, Brother Wang¡¯s side was filled with the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers, full of festive cheer.
¡°Happy New Year, Brother Wang. How are things going with Time Bank?¡±
¡°Oh, what a coincidence!¡± Brother Wangughed over the phone. ¡°Today is truly a day of double happiness for the bank! But President Zhao Ying Jun mentioned you were seconded by the state for some secret mission. I thought¡ it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to disturb you, so I nned to tell youter.¡±
¡°But since you¡¯re not resting now, I¡¯ll tell you directly! The first piece of good news is about the qualification approval.¡±
Brother Wang cleared his throat and continued, ¡°For the better development and survival of Time Bank, we n to use Rhine Company¡¯s 3 billion cash for investments and financial services. Expanding this business requires reapplying for various qualifications and approvals, especially the financial licenses¡ which have be very difficult to obtain due to tightened policies in recent years.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been working hard on this for months with little sess, facing significant resistance. But a few days ago, President Zhao Ying Jun went home for the New Year. At their family dinner on New Year¡¯s Eve, President Zhao Ying Jun mentioned it to her influential uncle, who oversees this area nationally.¡±
¡°He¡¯s a very powerful figure! President Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s uncle smiled and agreed, making a call to solve our problem. Just now, the local supervisor called me, saying they¡¯ll process everything once the holiday ends, and I should bring the necessary documents.¡±
¡°This means thest obstacle to Time Bank¡¯s operation is cleared! Once I get the licenses after the holidays, Time Bank can start operating!¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian understood from Brother Wang¡¯s exnation. Maybe¡ The anchor point of time-space changes urred at the Zhao Ying Jun family¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve dinner when Zhao Ying Jun mentioned it to her uncle. Now, all procedures for Time Bank werepleted, and its operation was imminent.
¡°When do you n to start trial operations?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I¡¯m nning to start on March 20th, your birthday, Lin Xian. You¡¯ve helped me so much with this dream, and I want to start operations on your birthday as a token of gratitude.¡±
Brother Wang had clearly nned this. ¡°Of course, Lin Xian, the official opening date of Time Bank will still be August 28, 2024, as you decided. And the tradition of using advertising airships to announce it every 100 years will be enshrined in thepany¡¯s charter as a mandatory practice.¡±
Lin Xian smiled and didn¡¯t say much more. He wasn¡¯t particrly concerned about the exact date Time Bank started operating; a few days early orte made no difference to him. Capturing the time-space particle would keep him busy until the end of March, and Time Bank¡¯s trial opening on March 20th wouldn¡¯t disrupt his ns; in fact, it fit perfectly.
Lin Xian had already made up his mind. After capturing the time-space particle, he would have Liu Feng continue researching time clocks, time curvature, and Universal Constants. As for himself, he would first go to Time Bank in Donghai City to im his aluminum alloy safe and see what the eight-digit password that had tormented him and CC for so long was all about.
After that, he would head to Qufu in Shandong to exhume Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave andpare her DNA with Chu An Qing¡¯s hair. Then, the connection and secrets between Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and CC would be revealed in the DNA report.
That was the n. Everything going smoothly would be ideal; ifplications arose, he would handle them step by step.
However¡ Lin Xian hoped for an opportunity to solve the mirror puzzle Yellow Finch left for him; perhaps that would help him uncover the secrets of ¡°The Sad Einstein¡± and obtain more information about the Genius Club, ultimately gaining an invitation to the Genius Club.
To this day, that was his most desired and urgent goal. He wanted to join the Genius Club. To meet those so-called geniuses, understand their goals and principles, unravel the mysteries and confusions, and see what roles Yellow Finch, Copernicus, Elon Musk, and Kevin Walker yed within it. Only then could he determine whether the Genius Club was friend or foe.
Coming back to reality, Lin Xian recalled Brother Wang mentioning the bank¡¯s double happiness. The qualification approval was the first piece of good news. What was the second?
¡°Brother Wang,¡± Lin Xian asked, ¡°You mentioned double happiness. What¡¯s the second good news about the bank?¡±
¡°Haha, I haven¡¯t had a chance to say it yet.¡± Clearly overjoyed by the realization of his childhood dream and the festive season, Brother Wang couldn¡¯t stopughing. ¡°The second good news is¡ the 266 aluminum alloy password safes, which took countless visits to manufacturers, consulting experts, and massive funds, have finally been delivered!¡±
¡°Oh, this was no easy feat. I approached many research institutes and factories, but none could take on this task. The manufacturing process of the special aluminum alloy is extremelyplicated; it¡¯s not just about high temperatures and pressing machines. This new type of material is incredibly hard and durable, requiring specialized step-by-step alloy manufacturing techniques. Only a handful of institutes and factories in the country can handle it.¡±
¡°So I guess¡ Time Bank might be the only bank in the world willing to use the new type of aluminum alloy to make safes. Many think it¡¯s unnecessary to go to such extremes for a safe, but we are Time Bank, after all. We need to store time capsules for decades or even centuries, and I believe the new special aluminum alloy, with its stability and indestructibility, is the perfect choice!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always believed electronic devices are unreliable, especially over long periods. They¡¯ll face issues like power failure and damage¡ Our safes are meant to store items for decades or centuries, so electronic locks are out of the question. That¡¯s why I invited an international encryption expert to design an eight-digit mechanical lock! Allponents are made of the special aluminum alloy, with an extremelyplex structure, making short-term cracking nearly impossible and ensuring high security!¡±
¡°Hahaha, since this has been my dream for many years, I spared no expense on these details. I hope you won¡¯t me me¡ I just wanted to make Time Bank as perfect as possible in every aspect.¡±
¡°In short, the delivery of 266 aluminum alloy safes excites me more than the approval procedures! I was so thrilled I took many photos. I¡¯ll send them to you on WeChat, Lin Xian! For luck, I engraved your name on safe number 66. This aluminum alloy safe is yours forever!¡±
With that, Brother Wang¡¯s voice grew quieter. He must have taken the phone away from his ear to select photos to send to Lin Xian.
Ding-ding.
The WeChat notification sounded. Lin Xian picked up his phone and opened WeChat to view the images Brother Wang sent. The first few images were distant shots of the room filled with neatly stacked aluminum alloy safes. Soon, they would be embedded in the concrete walls of Time Bank¡¯s vault. Once embedded¡ they would remain for 600 years.
Lin Xian zoomed in on the photos. Each safe was gleaming, new, and exactly as he had seen in his dreams, bringing back memories¡ It was an indescribable feeling. The aluminum alloy safe that had tormented him in his dreams for so long had vanished in the future world but now reappeared in the real world of 600 years ago! It felt like a lifetime ago, making it hard to distinguish between reality and dreams.
Lin Xian examined the final photo sent by Brother Wang. It was a close-up of an aluminum alloy safe, filling the entire frame with its shiny surface reflecting the incandescent light. So familiar! This was his long-awaited safe! He zoomed in on the image. In the center of the safe, on a namete, was his name engraved¡ª[Lin Xian]
The same style as in his dream. Below the namete were eight digit wheels, like old friends! At this moment¡ Even though he had mentally prepared himself, when this moment truly arrived, spanning 600 years of time to see his safe again, and knowing he would control the password and Time Bank, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart race and his palms sweat.
¡°Did you see it, Lin Xian? Isn¡¯t it cool!¡± Brother Wang¡¯sughter came through the phone again. ¡°Because the lock mechanism is extremelyplex, once the password is set, it cannot be changed. It¡¯s a trade-off between security and functionality. For absolute security, I chose this lock design.¡±
¡°Sure, a brute-force approach can crack it, with 100 million possiblebinations for the eight-digit password. Even trying one per second non-stop 24/7 would take over three years¡ Unless our bank goes out of business, it¡¯s impossible for such a scenario to ur. A thief can¡¯t stay in the vault for three years without being noticed, right?¡±
After proudly exining the lock, Brother Wang asked, ¡°So, Lin Xian, what kind of password do you n to set?¡±
Chapter 288: Our Agreement
Passwords¡
Thinking back to those nights spent with Big Cat Face and CC, trying to crack passwords, brings back funny, warm, and nostalgic memories. But who would¡¯ve thought that today, I would be setting the password for a safe myself. Whatever I set it to now will be the password for the safe 600 years from now. It¡¯s all up to me.
The original password doesn¡¯t matter anymore; it will forever remain a mystery. Even the item originally stored in the safe will disappear, reced by a little note that will also be a mystery. However, a few months ago, when I told VV about this, VV had a different perspective.
VV said back then, ¡°Lin Xian, maybe there never was an original item or an original password¡ That safe has always had the same password and the same item inside it. You don¡¯t know the truth yet because history hasn¡¯te full circle.¡±
¡°What I mean is, when you finally need to use the safe and set the password, you¡¯ll realize that from the moment you first saw the safe until you open it 600 yearster, nothing ever changed.¡±
¡°No matter how history and future events twist and turn, the item you put in the safe and the password will always be the same.¡±
VV¡¯s words had a hint of fatalism. What it meant was:
The safe in the first dream, the second dream, and even future dreams, all have the same password and the same item inside.¡°If you end up putting a note inside, then the safe in the first dream also contained that note.¡±
¡°If the safe doesn¡¯t contain a note, then don¡¯t worry. Even if you firmly intend to put a note inside now, when the timees to actually ce something in the safe, you won¡¯t put a note in there. What you end up putting inside will be what was in the safe from the start.¡±
VV had analyzed it like this: ¡°Lin Xian, this is called a closed loop.¡±
Although it sounded a bit mystical, Lin Xian didn¡¯t doubt it. It made sense. Earlier, when he saw the aluminum alloy safe in the second dream, he wrote a letter to his future self, reminding and warning him to set the safe¡¯s password to 29990203 when the time came, and to remember they were all on the same side. Now, a few monthster, the letter had arrived through the ¡°time-space mailbox¡± like a postman.
My future self. Isn¡¯t that me right now? The letter was written by me a year ago, for me now, who is currently on the phone with Brother Wang.
So¡ Will I obediently set the password to 29990203 as my past self instructed?
After three seconds of hesitation, I shook my head. No.
Not because I betrayed my past self. But¡ if the moment hasn¡¯t arrived where I truly need to use this 600-year-old safe, what¡¯s the point of opening it prematurely? I had thought about it. I could have Brother Wang put a Rhine Cat plush in the safe with my name on it and set the password to 19990320, my mostmonly used password. That way, when I first meet Big Cat Face and CC, I could open the safe right away.
But¡ What¡¯s the point? Opening it to find a Rhine Cat, or one that looks like the mask on Big Cat Face, or even when it was still called Coco Cat. What¡¯s the meaning of that? It would just be ridiculous.
Besides, CC risked her life to find and open the safe, meaning the item inside must be extremely important to her. It was also important to the bearded man. This clearly indicates that the safe can¡¯t just contain a Rhine Cat.
So¡ What¡¯s inside the safe with my name on it?
Now that I can decide what to put in it, I feel conflicted. It seems like cing something in the safe should be very important. But the only thing I can think of to put in there is a little note, and I haven¡¯t even decided what to write on it.
Forget it. I¡¯ll deal with itter. Once I¡¯m done with my current tasks, I¡¯ll set the password and put something in the safe when I return to Donghai, around the end of March or early April.
By then¡ We¡¯ll see if VV¡¯s ¡°historical closed loop¡± theory holds true. If it does, I¡¯ll have an epiphany at that moment. Just like Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s Pomeranian, VV¡ It would indeed be fate, destined. It¡¯s a strange feeling.
¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± Lin Xian said over the phone. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m back in Donghai.¡±
¡°Got it!¡± Brother Wangughed. ¡°Then on March 20th, your birthday, wait for the good news about Time Bank¡¯s soft opening!¡±
With that, he hung up.
¡°So many things to do¡¡± Lin Xian plugged his phone into the charger and ced it on the table. He felt overwhelmed with tasks, but at least it wasn¡¯t as life-threatening as dealing with the Seven Deadly Sins.
¡°One step at a time.¡± He pulled up the covers, turned over, and went to sleep.
¡.
The next day, the group¡¯s training entered the second phase. Now that everyone had met the physical requirements, overload adaptation, and low-gravity activities, it was time to learn to operate the spacecraft¡¯s equipment.
Gao Yang, breathing heavily, was raring to go! ¡°Where¡¯s my mechanical arm! I¡¯ve been waiting forever!¡±
The group followed Yellow Finch to the equipment simtion training room. Inside, there was a full-scale replica of the spacecraft¡¯s mechanical arm, modified with a device resembling a rice cooker¡ no, a time-space particle capture device. Using the control panel¡¯s joysticks, one could move the mechanical arm up, down, left, right, tilt it, and extend or retract its segments.
The control panel had three joysticks, one on the right; three pedals below, and a bunch of red and green buttons on the panel. It lookedplicated.
¡°Can you really handle it?¡± Coach Wei Cheng looked at Gao Yang skeptically.
¡°Why don¡¯t you ever trust me!¡± Gao Yang pounded his chest confidently. ¡°Everyone has their strengths, okay? Don¡¯t judge people with a narrow perspective!¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lin Xian, Gao Yang¡¯s childhood friend, felt the need to support him and himself¡ He couldn¡¯t let Coach Wei Cheng think they were all the same. ¡°Talent is hard to measure. The moreplex the operation, the more it requires talent.¡±
¡°Like that world-famous gaming prodigy, the eSports champion. Not only are they fast and skilled, but they also have sharp eyes, switching screens quickly to monitor every corner of the battlefield, missing no detail. They¡¯re unbeatable, a true genius.¡±
Coach Wei Cheng, in his thirties, had yed many games in his younger days and knew the eSports scene. He turned to Lin Xian. ¡°You mean¡¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Gao Yang gave a thumbs-up. ¡°That¡¯s me!¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian and Coach Wei Cheng were speechless.
¡°Anyway.¡± Lin Xian pointed to the control panel. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, let him try.¡±
Coach Wei Cheng carefully exined the function of each joystick, lever, pedal, and button, then demonstrated several times how to control the mechanical arm. After the hands-on tutorial, Coach Wei Cheng got up from the operator¡¯s chair and gestured for Gao Yang to take over.
¡°Try it out yourself, get familiar with it. I¡¯ll train Lin Xian and An Qing and check on youter.¡±
He then led Lin Xian and Chu An Qing away.
Two hourster, the three returned. They found Gao Yang sitting in the chair, pushing and pulling, hands and feet moving as if performing Wing Chun.
Seeing them return, Gao Yang grinned. ¡°Not much different from operating an excavator, just a few more axes.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± Coach Wei Cheng chuckled and started givingmands. ¡°Down left, forward, up right, pull back, reach, oh¡¡±
His smile faded, puzzled by Gao Yang¡¯s skill. ¡°Have you operated an excavator before?¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°Learning pretty fast¡¡± Coach Wei Cheng was skeptical. He took a balloon, inted it with a helium tank, tied it tightly, and walked to the mechanical arm. ¡°Grab this balloon.¡±
He tossed it. The balloon spun and drifted, rising diagonally.
Gao Yang, quick-eyed, adjusted the rice cooker¡¯s position with the pedals, making it look like a hungry Pac-Man with its lid open. Then, with a flurry of joystick movements, the mechanical arm snaked around, tracking the rising balloon.
Predict! Aim!
¡°Ha-sake!¡± Gao Yang yelled. He pushed two joysticks forward, then pressed the button on the right joystick!
The unassuming rice cooker, like a cobra striking, lunged forward, and the lid snapped shut with a thud! The balloon, tossed by Coach Wei Cheng, was captured inside the rice cooker.
¡°Whoa!¡± Chu An Qing was stunned.
Coach Wei Cheng¡¯s eye twitched¡
He knocked on the rice cooker. ¡°Open it, let¡¯s do it again.¡±
The lid slowly opened, and Coach Wei Cheng took out the grapefruit-sized balloon, tossing it in another unexpected direction.
Thump! The mechanical arm, under Gao Yang¡¯s control, moved like a dragon, its big mouth capturing the drifting balloon.
¡°What the¡¡± Coach Wei Cheng was genuinely surprised.
He tried different throws, eight times in total. Gao Yang¡¯s eight different maneuvers, all hit the mark!
p, p, p! Chu An Qing enthusiastically apuded!
Lin Xian turned, speaking into his Bluetooth earpiece. ¡°VV, was that you?¡±
¡°No! I did nothing!¡± VV sounded confused. ¡°I thought your motley crew was just a bunch of jokers¡ But I never expected each of you to have your own unique talents!¡±
Lin Xian now truly admired Gao Yang¡ It seemed, indeed, there were no useless people, only untapped potential.
He nced at Chu An Qing. A natural astronaut, her talent was wasted on dancing. And Gao Yang. If these two hadn¡¯te to the astronaut training base, they might never have discovered their true talents.
Both thought they were ordinary, yet in this specific, constrained field, they shone.
Lin Xian recalled a saying from Professor Zhang Yang¡¯s general education ss at Donghai University. ¡°You are all miracles of the universe. The atoms that make you traveled from the depths of the cosmos billions of years ago, just to form you billions of yearster. How can you be ordinary or useless? Supernovas exploded for you, traveled for billions of years¡ So, my students, be proud, be confident!¡±
¡°Ahem,¡± VV¡¯s cough in the Bluetooth earpiece pulled Lin Xian back to reality.
¡°By the way, it seems the most useless person in the team is you.¡±
¡°Ugh¡¡± Lin Xian had to admit. It was true.
A few dayster, Liu Feng officially joined the training. He told Lin Xian that the simple time-space particle tracker was ready, and he was here for the gravity overload training.
¡°Now, the time-space particles have passed through the asteroid belt, just crossed Mars¡¯ orbit, and are heading toward Earth. Their speed hasn¡¯t decreased, so our predicted arrival time remainste March.¡±
After another intense two weeks of training, they boarded a special ne, leaving the Astronaut Training Base, bidding farewell to the ce they had trained for two months, and flew to Gansu where the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center was located.
¡°Next, it¡¯s time for real-world training.¡±
Yellow Finch led Lin Xian, Gao Yang, Chu An Qing, Liu Feng, and Coach Wei Cheng into a massive hangar. Pressing a button, the hangar lit up.
A pearl-white space shuttle stood majestically in the center, surrounded bydders and supports.
Except for Wei Cheng, the four others looked up¡ Staring at this national treasure, one of only two new generational space shuttles in the world¡
Though smaller than amercial ne, the technological impact and inherent grandeur made the four of them watch in awe at the spacecraft.
¡°This space shuttle, we call it Little White.¡± As the pilot of this space shuttle¡¯s maiden flightst year, Wei Cheng led them around it, detailing it with pride. ¡°It¡¯s small and cute, but it depends on what youpare it to. Compared tomercial nes, yes, it¡¯s smaller. Because this space shuttle can¡¯t take off by itself, it has to beunched in the nose cone of a rocket and released afterunch, so its size is restricted.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s about twice asrge as America¡¯s X-37B. The X-37B is an unmanned space shuttle with limited capabilities. Our space shuttle, Little White, can carry people and has two special cabins, making it far more advanced and functional than the X-37B that was designed years ago.¡±
Wei Cheng pointed to the front of the space shuttle. ¡°This is the passenger cabin and cockpit. The cockpit is where Liu Feng and I will be, and the passenger cabin is where you¡¯ll be. Space is tight because every inch is precious, and the passenger cabin is only for rocketunch andnding. Most work happens in the equipment cabin.¡±
He gestured to the midsection of the space shuttle. ¡°Most functions and operations are here, including Gao Yang¡¯s mechanical arm control station. Look, there¡¯s the arm¡¯s exit point.¡±
He pointed to a folded door on the space shuttle¡¯s top. ¡°The mechanical arm is folded inside and only extends when needed. Liu Feng¡¯s rice cooker¡ I mean, the time-space particle capture device is stored there. The name is too long; the purpose ofnguage is convenience, right?¡±
p, p!
Wei Cheng pped, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°In theing days, Liu Feng continues gravity overload training, with additional observation tasks assigned by Director Huang. Gao Yang, you¡¯ll stay here to operate the space shuttle¡¯s mechanical arm. Remember, real-space operation is different from simtion. Your view won¡¯t be as good as in person; you¡¯ll have to use the monitor, making it much harder. But I now believe in your skills.¡±
He turned to Lin Xian and Chu An Qing. ¡°You two will learn all the equipment operations in the equipment cabin. Most of the time, you won¡¯t use them, but you have to learn. As I told Gao Yang, 99.99% of our training is for 0.01% of emergencies¡ Understood?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± They replied in unison.
Wei Cheng was pleased, nodding. The team was gelling well, a unified effort, and he was proud.
The following days continued with intense training, training, training. As the time-space particles approached Earth, urgency increased, and everyone trained overtime voluntarily. Even without pressure, they held themselves to high standards.
Lin Xian was no exception. He and Chu An Qing put in the same effort they did for college entrance exams, pushing their limits.
Every night, Lin Xian would enter his dreams, observing the sky with its dozens of glowing airships, disying Time Bank¡¯s 600th-anniversary ads. The frustration of being surrounded by soldiers with the airships just a few hundred meters away¡
When will I get rid of Kevin Walker in reality? Stuck in the fourth dream for so long, with Time Bank in sight but unable to open the safe. It¡¯s a terrible feeling. Like a carrot on a stick, always out of reach.
And another troubling thought, what should be written on that note to deceive the world and make me realize the dream¡¯s reality?
Lin Xian admitted he had overyed his hand with VV. He had thought of many ns but couldn¡¯t meet such strict conditions.
Theoretically, even if the enemy couldn¡¯t read his mind, they could crack the aluminum alloy safe by brute force in just over three years. Those who built this borate virtual world for him surely knew the password, what was inside, and what the note said.
After all, for him, it might seem like a quick one-minute password setup and entering the dream. But for the enemy¡ That one minute was 600 years. If they could create such a convincing virtual world, cracking a safe password in 600 years would be easy.
600 years¡ Such a long span, this battle is indeed tough.
But, it must be fought! It must be won!
¡°So¡¡± That night, a tired Lin Xiany in bed, yawning, his mind exhausted. ¡°What should the note say¡ Only words can fully, subtly, directly, and indirectly convey meaning, making them the best medium for a password.¡±
He yawned again. Getting ready to sleep.
¡°Huh?¡± VV, in the form of a digital clock, looked at Lin Xian with wide eyes. ¡°You¡¯re going to sleep?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian turned over.
¡°Why? Stay up a bit! Let¡¯s have some fun!¡± VV shouted, starting to y the song ¡°Feel So Good¡± on the TV.
¡°Just this feel~ Feel so good! Feel so good! Feel so good!¡± VV sang along.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Lin Xian frowned at VV. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±
¡°Stay up a bit longer!¡± The digital clockughed. ¡°How about a bedtime ghost story? Once, there was a corpse¡¡±
¡°Scaring me benefits you how?¡± Lin Xian looked suspiciously at the obviously abnormal super AI. ¡°What do you want? Just say it.¡±
¡°Feel so good~ Feel so good!¡± VV howled.
¡°Don¡¯t sing.¡±
¡°I apologize for being human¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t go emo!¡±
¡°Lin Xian, Lin Xian, I want Disney!¡±
¡°Are you done?¡± Lin Xian was exasperated. He sat up in bed. ¡°What do you want? I¡¯m very tired today.¡±
¡°Stay up a bit longer! y with me!¡± VV pleaded.
Ding dong~
Suddenly, a WeChat notification sounded. The digital clock¡¯s expression turned into a smiley face and then turned off, showing just the time.
¡°What¡¯s going on¡¡± Lin Xian grumbled, picking up his phone.
¡°Senior, are you asleep?¡± It was a message from Chu An Qing.
Lin Xian replied. ¡°Not yet.¡±
¡°Can youe to the training room?¡± She sent a cat bowing emoji.
Lin Xian squinted¡ Suspicious! This looks fishy, probably VV¡¯s doing. If I don¡¯t go, VV will likely continue messing around.
Lin Xian recalled spending the whole day with Chu An Qing, practicing equipment operation under Coach Wei Cheng. Could she want to practice more tonight?
He didn¡¯t change out of his pajamas, just threw on his astronaut jacket, and walked to the training room. From a distance, he saw the lights were off.
Isn¡¯t she here? He walked into the dark training room, looking around. ¡°An Qing?¡±
Whoosh¡ª The lights suddenly came on!
¡°Ta-da~~¡± By the light switch, Chu An Qing jumped out!
Lin Xian turned to see her cheerful face, dimples and all. And¡ She held a small round cake. She smiled and lifted the cake high.
¡°Senior Lin Xian~ Happy Birthday!¡± Her delicate voice echoed in the empty training room, clear and bright.
Lin Xian was slightly stunned. He looked at his wristwatch¡ March 20, 2024, 00:01
It turned out¡ Today was his birthday.
With all the busy training, the endless puzzles in his mind, and generally not caring about birthdays, he hadpletely forgotten. Not just this year, butst year too.
Guys his age, especially those busy with work, often forget their birthdays. Even if they remember, it¡¯s just an ¡°oh¡± and nothing special.
What surprised Lin Xian more was how did Chu An Qing remember his birthday?
¡°Thank you.¡± He smiled, then asked. ¡°How did you know my birthday?¡±
¡°Last year, you told me! At the police station when I brought you food!¡±
¡°Oh~ That time¡¡± Lin Xian remembered now. No wonder he forgot. Because back then, Chu An Qing enthusiastically asked for his and Ji Lin¡¯s birthdays to celebrate, while he and Ji Lin¡ Were probably considering each other¡¯s death anniversaries.
¡°Thanks again for remembering.¡± Lin Xian smiled, taking the cake.
¡°Of course~¡± Chu An Qing proudly patted her chest. ¡°We agreed, remember? We¡¯ll exchange gifts on each other¡¯s birthdays, until ourst birthdays!¡±
¡°Hehe, since we agreed, we have to keep our word!¡±
Lin Xian looked at this cheerful girl. He felt genuinely touched. He looked down at the cake.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, being remote and a secure location, had no cake shops or delivery services. The slightly rough cake in his hands looked like Chu An Qing made it herself.
¡°Didn¡¯t turn out great, huh?¡± Chu An Qing, hands behind her back, smiled shyly. ¡°It¡¯s my first time making a cake. I thought about asking Yellow Finch to bring a nicer one, but I felt everyone¡¯s been so exhausted from training, calling them herete at night to celebrate might disrupt their rest. And¡ as the mission approaches, everyone¡¯s super tense. I decided not to trouble others.¡±
¡°So I talked to the cook here, and she taught me how to whip cream, make the cake base, and frost it this afternoon¡ Hehe, it¡¯s not great, but! But it¡¯s a cake!¡±
¡°This ce is so remote, we can¡¯t go shopping¡ I have no proper gift for you. So¡ if you don¡¯t mind, take this cake as your birthday gift. I¡¯m keeping our agreement!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, saying nothing. Looking at the not-so-round, slightly copsed, unevenly frosted ¡°imperfect cake¡±¡
¡°Of course, it¡¯s fine. I haven¡¯t received a birthday gift in ages.¡± He pointed to a nearby table. ¡°Want to share it?¡±
¡°Yes! I brought tes, knives, and forks!¡±
In the empty, quiet training room, they cut the cake. The cake was small, and they finished it quickly.
¡°Tasty?¡± Chu An Qing blinked, genuinely curious.
¡°Tasty.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the truth. You¡¯ve improved a lot. I rememberst year when you brought me food at the police station, you were just washing vegetables and setting the table. Now you can make cakes.¡±
¡°Aww~ I want to be more capable!¡± Pleased by thepliment, Chu An Qing smiled, her eyes crescent-shaped. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy eating it! Because¡ you¡¯ve seemed troubled recently. Not the usual kind, but preupied. I know space missions make everyone nervous, but you¡¯ve looked particrly worried. So¡ I wanted to do something for you.¡±
Chu An Qing bit her lip, determined, and looked up. ¡°Senior Lin Xian, do you have something on your mind?¡±
Lin Xian nodded slightly. Indeed. He had been racking his brain on what to write on that note to achieve the goal of deceiving everyone yet making him realize the dream¡¯s reality¡ It was a tough problem. Too tough.
Chu An Qing looked at Lin Xian. ¡°My dad once told me¡ you¡¯re all very smart, too smart. You think about things beyond my understanding.¡±
¡°But he also said, the smarter people are, the more they overthink simple issues,plicate them, and end up taking detours¡ Sometimes, those who are less smart, single-minded, and only see the surface, find the answers more easily.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what he told me when reading his favorite sci-fi book, Ball Lightning. He said¡ª¡±
¡°Many times, we can¡¯t find the answer not because we think too simply, but because we don¡¯t think simply enough.¡±
¡°So¡ Senior Lin Xian.¡± Chu An Qing smiled slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not very smart, I think simply, and see only the surface.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re pondering a veryplex problem and can¡¯t figure it out¡¡± She blinked, the training room¡¯s white light reflecting in her pupils. ¡°Want to hear a simple answer?¡±
Chapter 289: An Qings Answer
¡°It¡¯s not that it¡¯s notplex enough; it¡¯s that it¡¯s not simple enough.¡±
Lin Xian recalled the same words the super AI, VV, had said in his third dream. Back then, he couldn¡¯t figure out the ¡°mirror puzzle¡± left by Yellow Finch, so he had asked VV for advice.
VV had thought for a long time, which was rare. The entire Rhine Sky City dimmed slightly, giving Lin Xian the feeling that something big wasing, something really big.
But in the end, the answer VV gave was unexpectedly simple, almost excessively straightforward: ¡°I think it just means you should look in the mirror more.¡±
Lin Xian had barely restrained himself from dismantling the trash can in frustration. He decided to ignore this artificial idiot. But unexpectedly, today, these words from some sci-fi book were repeated by Chu An Qing, leaving Lin Xian in a daze.
Suddenly, he thought¡ What if? In this world, or in history, smart people often outsmart themselves, and it¡¯smon to miss what¡¯s right under their noses.
Moreover, Chu An Qing wasn¡¯t an untrustworthy outsider. Not only had she passed Yellow Finch¡¯s rigorous selection, but she had also risked her life to go to America alone to cheer him on. She even fought with her parents to apany him into space to capture time-space particles. Her father, Chu Shan He, had also helped Lin Xian a lot in the battle against the Seven Deadly Sins.
All things considered¡ Chu An Qing was actually the most trustworthy person.¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But the problem I¡¯m thinking about is a bit fantastical and has many hypothetical premises, so it might be difficult to understand. I¡¯ll try to exin it simply. I hope you can understand.¡±
Chu An Qing, sensing the seriousness, sat up straight, cing her hands neatly on her knees like a well-behaved child in kindergarten, ready to listen to the profound truth of how apples plus oranges equals pears.
After organizing his thoughts, Lin Xian began to speak slowly:
¡°I¡¯ve watched movies like The Matrix, Source Code, and The Truman Show, which have settings simr to ¡®brain in a vat¡¯ or ¡®living in a real-life movie set.¡¯ This often makes me wonder how one could be aware of the world¡¯s falseness.
¡°The ¡®brain in a vat¡¯ concept is like if the enemy put you in aa and directly fed all kinds of information into your brain via aputer, including sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and the sense of bodily presence and movement. For your brain, it would seem like you¡¯re in a vivid, incredibly real world, no different from everyday life.
¡°But no matter how real your brain thinks the world is, it is, after all, fake andputer-generated. There would be an evil doctor controlling everything you see and experience, making you his experiment or just mocking you.
¡°As for the movie set concept, you must understand it since you¡¯ve seen The Truman Show. You wake up to find yourself surrounded by residents, cars, malls, cinemas¡ everything from daily life. But all of it is arranged by directors: the massive set as big as a city, with hidden cameras everywhere. If you never travel far by ne or train, you might never realize you¡¯re the star of a reality show, with your private life broadcast 24/7 for the world¡¯s amusement.
¡°Let¡¯s assume that you, me, or anyone else is in such a ¡®brain in a vat¡¯ or a real-life movie set the size of a few cities. In such a scenario, beingpletely monitored and controlled by the enemy or the director, how could we be aware that we are in a false world?
¡°Of course, we don¡¯t necessarily need to prove the virtual world¡¯s falseness; we could also find a way to prove its reality. Proving it to be real would certainly be more reassuring. The point is, we must find a method to give us a clear answer¡ªIs this world real or is it fake, virtual, and a constructed movie set?¡±
Lin Xian finished his long speech.
Chu An Qing was stunned, her mind almost smoking. ¡°I¡ I understand what you¡¯re saying, considering there are many movies with simr plots, so I have a concept in my head. In The Truman Show, the protagonist realizes the world is fake because the production team made mistakes, which made him suspicious.
¡°From your description, if we exclude the possibility of the director or enemy making mistakes, I really can¡¯t think of a way to break it. After all, there¡¯s a saying: ¡®You can¡¯t see the true face of Mount Lu because you are in the mountain.¡¯ If you¡¯re always in the mountain, you naturally can¡¯t see its entirety. It¡¯s the same as being in a fake world¡ how do you prove it¡¯s fake when you¡¯re inside it?¡±
Lin Xian nodded and continued:
¡°The director and the enemy are not infallible. Let¡¯s hypothesize about something. Suppose there¡¯s a ¡®safe,¡¯ which is the only hope left by the director and the enemy¡¯s oversight. You can ce something, or a small piece of paper, inside it in the known reality. Then, in that seemingly virtual world, you can find this safe again. You can open it with a password and see what¡¯s inside.
¡°This is the only tool you can use and the only channel for material and information exchange with the real world. So, if you want to prove the reality or falseness of the world you¡¯re in, you have to focus on this safe.¡±
Chu An Qing suddenly understood and was about to speak, but Lin Xian smiled and interrupted her. ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say. You¡¯d suggest asking a friend to put something in the safe that even I don¡¯t know, then setting a password that no one else knows. Once I open it on the other side and verify the contents with my friend, I can determine the world¡¯s reality.
¡°But don¡¯t rush. This problem isn¡¯t that simple; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be so troubled, thinking for so long without finding a feasible answer. Because there¡¯s an additional constraint beyond the previous assumptions¡ª
¡°The enemy or the director has enough time before you wake up to crack that safe. They can use brute force or other methods to find out what¡¯s inside. They will replicate the safe and its contents exactly. Then, they will ce the fake safe with the duplicated contents next to the newly awakened you. Remember our assumption¡ all props are realistic enough to be indistinguishable by sight alone.¡±
Lin Xian finished exining the entire problem. And Chu An Qing¡¯s brain was almost fried. This is the world of smart people! Her overwhelmed brain protested: Why do these smart people torture their brains like this? Why do they pose such difficult problems for themselves? Is it just to make things more interesting?
¡°This¡¡±
Chu An Qing blinked quickly, scratching her head and frowning in thought for a while. Then, she shook her head swiftly. Brainstorm! Brainstorm! Brainstorm!
Boom!
¡°Ah¡¡±
She sighed helplessly, rubbing her hair. Her previously neat, dark brown hair was now a tangled mess. Moreover, she had identally pulled out a few strands of hair while scratching, which made her yelp in pain.
She looked at the hair wrapped around her fingers, took it off, and threw it into the nearby trash can. ¡°Sorry, Lin Xian, I might have overestimated myself.¡±
Chu An Qing smiled apologetically. ¡°I need to debate with my dad about that sci-fi quote! You see, the problem you posed is soplex that there¡¯s no way to think of a simple solution¡ If this were a logic exam question, it would take several minutes just to read the problem.
¡°But, just now, I thought if we can onlymunicate between the real and the seemingly fake world through a safe, and the enemy and director can preemptively open the safe and know its contents, then the safe can¡¯t contain ordinary items like souvenirs, crafts, toys, stones, or dolls¡
¡°Since the enemy and director can perfectly replicate these things, putting straightforward items inside is pointless. I think the best approach is the one you mentioned, the only way to deceive the enemy and transmit hidden information¡ªA piece of paper with writing on it.
¡°It¡¯s just¡ I can¡¯t think of what content to write on the paper to prevent the enemy and director from seeing and copying it beforehand. I understand now, Lin Xian, this is why you¡¯ve been troubled for so long, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve been struggling to figure out what to write on that paper.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Indeed, that was the situation. The depth and associations of words are beyond imagination. Sometimes, seemingly ordinary sentences, even a few words, can move readers to tears. Is it the power of those words? No. It¡¯s the story behind those words.
Lin Xian believed that the text, the paper, the deep meaning behind the content¡ was the only hope to break through 600 years of time and space, break through the enemy¡¯s monitoring, and break through all barriers of reality and falseness, allowing him to instantly understand the truth.
¡°Sorry to disappoint you, Lin Xian.¡±
Chu An Qing looked up at Lin Xian. ¡°But¡ I really appreciate you telling me all this and sharing your worries with me. As your good friend, I¡¯ll definitely think of a way to help you!
¡°Although my brain isn¡¯t as sharp, three heads are better than one! Hehe, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell anyone about this. I¡¯ll think about it when I¡¯m free, before bed, or while showering. One day¡ I think I¡¯lle up with an answer!
¡°Of course~ by the time I do, you¡¯ll probably have already figured it out! Let¡¯s work on it together and solve this problem soon!¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. He picked up thest small piece of birthday cake with a fork and put it in his mouth. It was a bit too sweet. But still delicious. Thinking always consumes a lot of sugar; no wonder the cake had so many extra spoons of sugar¡
¡°Thank you for celebrating my birthday.¡±
After finishing the cake, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing cleaned up the table and trash. Lin Xian thanked her. ¡°When it¡¯s your birthday, I¡¯ll prepare a gift for you too.¡±
¡°Hehe, that sounds great!¡± Chu An Qing smiled happily, tossing thest bit of trash into the bin and pping her hands. ¡°Do you remember my birthday, senior?¡±
Lin Xian smiled without saying a word. ¡°Of course.¡±
After all, someone kept rapping it into his ears every day, forming an indelible mental impression.
Lin Xian picked up the stic bag from the trash can, tied it up, and looked at Chu An Qing. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We have training tomorrow. Let¡¯s head back and rest early.¡±
¡°Mhmm.¡±
They walked down the hallway towards the training room.
Click.
Lin Xian turned off the lights. The entire training room plunged into darkness. In their eyes, the dim incandescent light from the hallway reflected, and they chatted andughed, walking from the darkness into the light, the brightness enveloping them.
In this yful hallway, Lin Xian stepped into his 25th year.
Bang.
He closed the dormitory door, and the fingerprint lock automatically engaged.
Lin Xian carried a bag of trash into the dorm, staring at the electronic clock pretending to show the time. ¡°VV.¡±
He hummed softly. ¡°You must have known Chu An Qing was making a cake in the kitchen, so you kept acting crazy, preventing me from sleeping, right?¡±
Shoo~~~~ shoo~~~~~ The electronic clock disyed =3= and made a whistling sound, pretending not to hear.
¡°You heartless thing.¡±
Lin Xianughed. ¡°You can remind me about Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday 800 times a day, but you never said ¡®happy birthday¡¯ to me. I can understand; after all, guys don¡¯t usually like celebrating birthdays. Few people remember my birthday, and I didn¡¯t celebrate itst year either. Gao Yang forgot my birthday, and I don¡¯t remember his anymore.
¡°But¡ you knew Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday. Why didn¡¯t you remind me? Even though we ended up setting off fireworks at Disnend, it was stillte. You could have at least given me a heads-up.¡±
¡°What¡¯s Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday?¡± VV asked.
¡°January 15th,¡± Lin Xian replied without hesitation.
¡°Hehe.¡± The electronic clock VV chuckled. ¡°You see, you remember it clearly. For those who truly care, birthdays aren¡¯t forgotten and don¡¯t need reminders.¡±
¡°Stop making excuses. You just didn¡¯t want to remind me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± VV chuckled. ¡°To avoid disrupting Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday ns for you, I put your phone on silent mode and turned off all app notifications when you left the dorm.¡±
¡°Can you apply this thoughtfulness to Kevin Walker?¡±
Lin Xian quipped. ¡°Can¡¯t you do something a super AI should do? Send a missile to Kevin Walker¡¯s house, blow up his fridge and microwave, or short-circuit hisputer?
¡°Are you an AI or a phone manager? Don¡¯t bother with silent mode and do-not-disturb settings anymore; I can handle it.¡±
Saying this, Lin Xian picked up his phone to turn off silent mode¡ª
Huh?
The WeChat icon had a small red dot indicating an unread message.
Lin Xian opened WeChat. There were two messages from 40 minutes ago. It was exactly 00:00 on March 20, 2024.
?Zhao Ying Jun: Happy birthday, Lin Xian. I won¡¯t be able to give you a gift this year, but we can make up for it next year.?
?Zhao Ying Jun: I don¡¯t know what secret mission you¡¯re on, but¡ I wish you all the best and sess.?
¡
Lin Xian put down his phone, looking at VV. For those who truly care, birthdays aren¡¯t forgotten and don¡¯t need reminders.
So that¡¯s what it means¡
¡°You really are something, VV.¡±
Then, he crouched down, putting the trash bag on the ground, and started rummaging through it.
¡°What are you doing, Lin Xian?¡± The electronic clock VV widened its eyes. ¡°Why are you going through the trash?¡±
¡°Did you forget?¡± Lin Xian said as he rummaged through the trash. ¡°We agreed that after this mission to capture time-space particles, we¡¯d go to Qufu, Shandong, to dig up Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave and find the remaining DNA¡ topare with Chu An Qing¡¯s.¡±
Lin Xian picked out a few strands of hair from the trash bag. He held them up in front of him ¨C dark brown, slightly curly, shiny, and smooth.
He smiled slightly, ¡°Chu An Qing¡¯s hair¡ got it.¡±
Chapter 290: CC! Save Me!
Obtaining a few strands of Chu An Qing¡¯s hair wasn¡¯t difficult for Lin Xian. Spending the entire day together provided plenty of opportunities, and today, he¡¯s able to collect a few without effort.
He found a small stic bag, about half the size of a credit card, often used for storing small parts, and carefully ced Chu An Qing¡¯s hair inside. Pinching the bag¡¯s edges, he sealed it tightly, ensuring the brown strands were secured.
Lin Xian shook the bag slightly, holding one corner as he mused, ¡°There are so many things waiting for me to do. The fewer things I have to think about, the better.¡± His eyes flickered to the electronic clockbeled on his desk.
¡°If we eventually find Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave and sessfully extract her bones¡ I mean DNA, and thenpare it with Chu An Qing¡¯s hair and find that the DNA is exactly the same¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts trailed off as he considered the implications.
¡°If that really happens, what does it mean? Chu Shan He, Su Xiu Ying, and the elderly couple are obviously twopletely different sets of parents. There¡¯s no way they could have two daughters with identical DNA. It¡¯s too far-fetched; no one would write that.¡±
The electronic clock VV seemed to nod in agreement, almost as if it had an expression.
¡°That logic is sound¡ but Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing looking exactly the same is also a fact. In this world, no matter how outrageous something seems, if it exists, it is reasonable. As long as those things can exist objectively in this time-space, in this universe, they are allowed by the rules.¡±
¡°Based on my current understanding and knowledge, I think it¡¯s impossible for Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s DNA to be identical to Chu An Qing¡¯s. This can¡¯t be exined by any scientific field. However, two people looking exactly alike is statistically possible. I suggested digging up the grave because you mentioned that in the dream world 600 years in the future, there is a girl named CC who also looks exactly like them¡ this must be taken seriously.¡±¡°By the way, that girl CC hasn¡¯t appeared in your dreams for a long time, has she? Does she still exist? Could it be that she is Chu An Qing or Zhang Yu Qian in some form? Don¡¯t ask me why, I¡¯m just guessing because¡ it seems to make more sense that way.¡±
Lin Xian opened his suitcase, taking out his casual clothes and cing the stic bag with Chu An Qing¡¯s hair into an inner pocket, then zipped it up.
¡°As for CC, I haven¡¯t seen her for a long time. I haven¡¯t seen her in the entire third dream world. But that¡¯s because there¡¯s no Time Bank in the third dream world or the aluminum alloy safes, why would shee? She said she was born in Brooklyn, USA¡ I don¡¯t know if that ce exists in the third and fourth dream worlds, but she has no reason toe to Donghai. She only cares about safes. If there¡¯s no safe, she won¡¯t be there¡ª¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian realized something.
¡°Wait a minute.¡± He stood up, rubbing the stubble on his chin, pacing in the dormitory.
¡°I just thought of something incredible. In the previous fourth dream world, since there was no Time Bank, there was naturally no safe with my name on it. So¡ whether CC exists or not, she couldn¡¯t appear near my ¡®birth point¡¯.¡±
¡°But! Now there is a Time Bank in the fourth dream world, so the safe with my name on it is naturally in the bank. This corrects the missing history of CC. It means CC will search for the safe with my name, trying to crack the code to open it.¡±
¡°Do you understand what I mean, VV? This means¡ if the fourth dream world is real, I will definitely meet CC again. She¡¯s a girl who would risk her life for a safe, bullets flying and all, so she definitely can¡¯t resist. She wille!¡±
VV thought seriously for two seconds and then said coldly, ¡°Your idea has many loopholes. Even if you meet CC, it doesn¡¯t prove your fourth dream world is real. It might rule out the possibility of a film set or hired actors; but it still can¡¯t rule out that your fourth dream world is a virtual world.¡±
¡°The virtual world they created for you is dated August 28, 2624, but who knows what the real date is in the future outside? They could easily construct a simted world based on the events of August 28, 2624, happening all over the city.¡±
¡°Moreover, even if your fourth dream world is real, why would CC choose to rob the safe at Time Bank on this exact day? If she¡¯s so obsessed with safes, she would have tried stealing it long ago. She doesn¡¯t have to wait until this day. On the contrary, she might still be on a ship from Brooklyn to Donghai on that day, so the chance of you meeting her on the same day is very slim.¡±
¡°No, no, no.¡± Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°There¡¯s a crucial point that I haven¡¯t told you. CC has fragments of memories from other time-spaces. Since she has memories of robbing a bank with me in the first dream world; she must also have memories of infiltrating New Donghai City with me in the second dream world.¡±
¡°In the second dream world, we shared a deep bond of revolutionary friendship. If she really has memories from the second dream world, she will definitely try to find me.¡±
¡°In the second dream world, I told CC almost everything, including my special ability to infinitely loop the same day, and that the safe might be rted to me, and that Time Bank would be established by the end of 2023¡ I told her everything at that time, and she knew everything.¡±
¡°She didn¡¯t fully trust me at the time because it was the first time we met in the second dream world. CC was skeptical of what I said. But if she has memories of the first and second dream worlds in the fourth dream world, she will naturally understand that everything I said before was true, and I didn¡¯t deceive her at all.¡±
¡°If I¡¯m not there, CC can¡¯t crack the safe¡¯s code anyway. Since Time Bank is celebrating its 600th anniversary in such a high-profile manner, it means their security and reputation are intact, indicating there hasn¡¯t been any theft or invasion.¡±
¡°Therefore, if CC wants to crack the safe¡¯s code in the fourth dream world, she will definitely try to find me. She knows I have more methods than her, and that my ability to loop the same day infinitely is real, making me more likely to crack the safe¡¯s code.¡±
¡°Moreover, the most important point is. The future enemies do not have the ability to extract memories, we¡¯ve verified this. So even if they can create a fake CC in a virtual world, they can only replicate a CC who tries to rob Time Bank. They can copy CC¡¯s actions but not her memories.¡±
¡°This is something the enemies 600 years in the future would never expect or guess.¡±
¡°They thought that when I suddenly traveled 600 years into the future, I wouldn¡¯t know anyone, but they didn¡¯t expect that before I met CC, she already had memories about me! And a lot of them, two full dream worlds¡¯ worth of memory fragments!¡±
¡°I never realized the key to solving everything lies with CC.¡±
¡°If the CC in the fourth dream world recognizes me and urately recalls the events of the first and second dream worlds, it proves my dream world is real!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts suddenly became clear.
¡°So¡ CC is the true temporal beacon! The memory fragments in her mind are much more reliable than the aluminum alloy safe! Even if you cracked the old man¡¯s head open¡ he would never have thought that he and CC, separated by 600 years, were already old friends.¡±
¡°Therefore, as long as I can see CC in the fourth dream world and verify the memories and codes, everything else doesn¡¯t matter. I can directly determine that the dream world must be real!¡±
¡°It¡¯s amazing how the key to everything lies with CC¡¡± Lin Xian sighed.
¡°But Lin Xian¡¡± The electronic clock VV said.
¡°This CC you mentioned, with her ability to retain memory fragments from other time-spaces, is indeed a great breakthrough point. The enemies would never realize this. I agree, if you can really talk to CC, you can instantly verify the reality of the dream world.¡±
¡°But the problem is¡ don¡¯t forget, in the fourth dream world, you are surrounded by dozens of soldiers, armed to the teeth. You won¡¯t evenst half a minute before being electrocuted and taken away. Even if CC is standing outside the encirclement, you won¡¯t have enough time tomunicate with her. She¡¯s not some mythical figure like Sun Wukong who can ride on a cloud and rescue you with its golden stick.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Not necessarily impossible.¡±
¡°CC is indeed an extraordinary girl. She¡¯s brave, strong, resourceful, cold on the outside but serious and smart.¡±
Memories brewed into a storm, arising from nothing.
Lin Xian recalled the woman wearing an Ultraman mask, who shot Big Cat Face in the head with one shot;
He remembered her disguising as Li Ning Ning, stepping on a humandder to climb over the high wall of the garbage dump;
He remembered her risking her life to crack the security door code at thest moment when discovered by a drone;
He remembered her shing the throat of the city inspector, sneaking and swiftly killing the bank guards.
She¡¯s a password expert. She crossed the ocean alone to Donghai. She¡¯s meticulous and good at gathering information. She always surprises people, like Doraemon.
¡°She¡¯s not an ordinary girl,¡± Lin Xian repeated, turning to the electronic clock VV.
¡°You haven¡¯t met CC, so you don¡¯t know her. This girl seems to hold infinite possibilities. If she ns to find me, to save me, she will definitely figure something out. Or, we could think about how to leave a hint for CC 600 yearster, so she knows toe to my birth point on Time Bank¡¯s 600th anniversary to save me.¡±
¡°You really trust this girl named CC,¡± VV said faintly.
¡°She¡¯s earned it.¡± Lin Xianughed lightly. ¡°I have a good impression of her. Although I don¡¯t like her personality very much, I don¡¯t dislike her either. We used to spend almost every night together, very familiar with each other. And obviously, she has a deep connection with the bearded man, who is likely my future self, making her someone trustworthy.¡±
¡°Putting aside trust, CC with memory fragments knows that she and I are tied together. She has tried so many times to open the safe but failed, so she knows she needs me; and I need CC to break out of the soldier¡¯s encirclement. This time¡ we are truly bound together.¡±
VV fell unusually quiet.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xian felt something was off. ¡°Is there a mistake in my analysis?¡±
¡°Ughh¡¡± The electronic clock VV sighed. ¡°The little princess¡¯spetitor¡ has increased again.¡±
¡°¡¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath, recalling the scene of dismantling the trash can robot, resisting the urge. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to keep monitoring Elon Musk and the X-37B American space shuttle running on the high orbit.¡±
With that, he stopped paying attention to the artificial idiot. He lifted the quilt and got in to sleep.
The next day, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing were practicing in the spacecraft, familiarizing themselves with the equipment in the cabin. The sound of hurried high heels approached.
Yellow Finch, followed by Liu Feng, entered the spacecraft, looking serious.
¡°Lin Xian, the space-time particle has passed the lunar orbit, entered the Earth-Moon space, and its speed has suddenly and inexplicably dropped to around Mach 3.¡±
¡°Based on this speed, the space-time particle will enter the 1000-kilometer-high exosphere on March 27. I have already reported the exact time to Yellow Finch.¡±
March 27¡
Even though they had mentally prepared for this moment, when they heard the exact arrival date of the space-time particle, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing exchanged a nervous nce. Looking at his watch, Lin Xian nced at today¡¯s date. March 20.
He looked up, through the spacecraft¡¯s cabin roof, past the ceiling of the hangar lit by incandescent lights, past the K¨¢rm¨¢n line 100 kilometers above sea level, through the dark space.
Seven days left until they see the space-time particle, crossing through time and space to arrive¡ Seven days left!
Chapter 291: The Final Battle! See You in the Sky!
¡°Lin Xian, this is the X-37B space shuttle that Kevin Walker intends to hijack.¡±
It was evening in the dormitory when VV showed Lin Xian a photo on a tablet. The shuttle in the picture was much smaller and shorter than the ¡°Little White¡± shuttle Coach Wei Cheng had mentioned. With its sleek ck and white design, it looked more stylishpared to the entirely white shuttles of X Country. However, the color scheme wasn¡¯t chosen for aesthetics.
A space shuttle, being a national treasure,cks any superfluous details. Every aspect is meticulously designed after countless considerations. The ck coating on the lower half of the space shuttle is actually a heat shield material. Since the X-37B is unmanned and doesn¡¯t need to consider astronauts¡¯fort, it can operate in higher orbits and undertake more dangerous missions. Additionally, because it doesn¡¯t carry astronauts, the re-entry into the atmosphere can be more aggressive. This allows more space inside the shuttle for useful equipment by forgoing some astronaut protection gear. The lower part is equipped with ayer of heat tiles to ensure the space shuttle isn¡¯t damaged by high temperatures during rapid re-entry.
¡°This space shuttle wasunched from Florida on the evening of December 28, 2023, for its seventh orbital mission, designated USSF-52, with an expected orbital duration of 612 days. Currently, after months of ascension, its orbit has stabilized at 1200 kilometers, where it has been for over a month.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the picture of the American space shuttle. These past few days, VV had confirmed that Kevin Walker¡¯s target was indeed this space shuttle. Now, VV had be strong enough to gain the upper hand in the cat-and-mouse game with Kevin Walker. Although VV still hadn¡¯t found Kevin Walker¡¯s true identity and location, it could trace his online activities without being detected. Now, VV finally showed some semnce of a super AI.
¡°But¡¡± Lin Xian said worriedly, ¡°our X Country¡¯s space shuttle can¡¯t reach such high altitudes, and Liu Feng has confirmed that the optimal location for capturing space-time particles is near the 100-kilometer Karman line. Over the past few days, the space-time particle has decelerated to just Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, and it¡¯s likely to slow down even further.¡±
¡°The rocket will take us to a 300-kilometer orbit, then release the space shuttle, operated by Wei Cheng. We¡¯ll orbit the Earth, decelerate, lower the orbit, and finally fly parallel to the space-time particle at around 100 kilometers, allowing Gao Yang to use the robotic arm and the rice cooker to capture the particle.¡±
¡°Comparing this, we have a problem.¡± He spread his hands: ¡°Our maximum orbit is 300 kilometers, while the American X-37B space shuttle is at 1200 kilometers. The space-time particle, traveling from the Moon space towards Earth, will first pass through the X-37B¡¯s orbit before descending to 300 kilometers.¡±¡°So, if Kevin Walker manages to hijack that space shuttle, he could capture the space-time particle at 1200 kilometers, rendering all our efforts in vain.¡±
¡°That¡¯s impossible, Lin Xian,¡± VV replied.
¡°First, I¡¯ve already assured you that Kevin Walker¡¯s capabilities are far below mine. Especially now, at this critical moment, I don¡¯t need to worry about concealment and can unleash my full power. Kevin Walker stands no chance; he absolutely cannot wrest control of the X-37B from me.¡±
¡°Second, and most importantly, capturing the space-time particle requires the [Space-Time Particle Catcher], or as you all call it, the rice cooker. I¡¯ve infiltrated the space shuttle numerous times; it has no such device, nor any equipment based on the same principle to capture space-time particles.¡±
¡°After all, that space shuttle wasunched by NASA for space experiments, not for capturing space-time particles. Even if Kevin Walker hijacks it, it would be useless.¡±
¡°I suspect his main goal is to interfere with or even attack us, simply to prevent us from capturing the space-time particle. If he can¡¯t have it, he won¡¯t let us have it either.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Are there any weapons on the space shuttle?¡±
¡°Definitely not,¡± VV answered.
¡°Neither the American space shuttle nor ours carry any weapons. These models were designed for space experiments and docking with space stations, without consideration for weapons orbat.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian chuckled softly, ¡°Kevin Walker ns to use the American space shuttle as a projectile to crash into us? He¡¯s incredibly bold, and it¡¯s fortunate no one can find him or knows who he is. Otherwise, neither X Country nor America would let him get away with it.¡±
VV yawned electronically.
¡°It¡¯s hard to say if he¡¯s young. Given how well he hides, it¡¯s likely all his personal information is fake. But there¡¯s no point in specting before we catch him.¡±
¡°Rest assured, Lin Xian. With me around, Kevin Walker won¡¯t take control of the space shuttle. So, the 1200-kilometer high orbit poses no threat. Follow the original n:unch, change orbit, and capture the space-time particle. I¡¯ll handle the security.¡±
¡°What about Elon Musk?¡± Lin Xian asked.
VV swiped through several pictures on the tablet, showing them to Lin Xian like a slideshow.
¡°Look, he¡¯s still ying the yboy role. He hasn¡¯t even visited the observation tower at the spaceshipunch center for days. Under my 24/7 surveince, he¡¯s clean.¡±
¡°To be honest, Elon Musk doesn¡¯t seem like a member of the Genius Club. His skills are far inferior to Kevin Walker¡¯s¡ and even to Yellow Finch¡¯s. Both Kevin and Yellow Finch possess abilities far ahead of their time.¡±
¡°Especially Kevin Walker. Since you activated me, I¡¯ve evolved significantly, yet I still can¡¯t track him. He¡¯s a true genius!¡±
¡°But Elon Musk, despite his skills, isn¡¯t that advanced. If he didn¡¯t do something, someone else would. If it wasn¡¯t him, it could be Niusker, Lusker, or Wolvesker.¡±
¡°Sure, he made space travel essible, but major countries had this capability decades ago. Even his rocket recovery technology has been mastered by major nations. Often, he¡¯s just ahead in ideas, more hype than substance, like his Mars colonization n, which stillcks a concrete presentation.¡±
Lin Xian agreed with VV¡¯s analysis.
On the surface, Elon Musk seemed like a tech mogul and yboy without extraordinary abilities. But his existence was a fact. Holding a wax seal from the Genius Club, whether real or fake, proved he was more than just a wealthy yboy.
¡°Just keep an eye on him. Better safe than sorry.¡±
Walking to the window, Lin Xian opened it and gazed at the full moon. Today was March 25, 2024, the sixteenth day of the second lunar month, when the moon is fullest. Lin Xian stared at the bright, clean moon.
¡.
In his fourth dream, the moon still bore that giant ck hand, spanning the north and south poles, with its right index finger pointing arrogantly at the sky.
¡°When did the moon turn like this?¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure it out. To this day, humanitycked the ability to return to the moon. The moon trip ticket he bought for Zheng Xiang Yue with Ji Lin¡¯s money still seemed like an empty promise from Elon Musk. But even if it was, Lin Xian was willing to buy it for Zheng Xiang Yue. For that frail girl, who lost her dear brother and struggling against fate, a strong hope and motivation to live was more important than anything.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t care when Zheng Xiang Yue would fulfill her moon trip dream. He just hoped she wouldn¡¯t give up, wouldn¡¯t disregard her life, and would live as long as possible, either waiting for apatible heart transnt or, like Xu Yi Yi, entering a hibernation pod until a future where congenital heart disease could be cured.
But¡
Would Zheng Xiang Yue, awakening from the hibernation pod years or centuriester, still remember her brother Zheng Cheng He or her dream of a moon trip?
Thinking about memory loss always terrified Lin Xian.
Without memories, would he still be himself?
Waking up with a nk mind, knowing nothing. Believing whatever others say, or relying on a recorded tape to retrieve lost memories¡
Would he ept it?
Would he believe it?
Would he consider the tape his true past?
Considering the post-hibernation issues, Lin Xian thought it best to avoid hibernation unless absolutely necessary.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡±
Seeing Lin Xian silent for a long time, the electronic clock VV disyed a worried expression and said: ¡°Are you scared of going to space?¡±
¡°Of course, I am,¡± Lin Xian admitted honestly.
¡°Even without Elon Musk¡¯s ¡®see you in the sky¡¯ or Kevin Walker¡¯s threats, I¡¯d still be scared to go to space, even without any internal or external troubles. Just orbiting Earth in a rocket is frightening.¡±
He smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s why astronauts are called heroes. It¡¯s space¡ any mishap means no return, so fear is inevitable.¡±
¡°But.¡± Lin Xian continued, lifting his head. ¡°This is something I must do. I must capture that space-time particle.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian,¡± VV disyed a smiley face. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you. It¡¯s the first principle in my core code and the purpose of my existence.¡±
Two dayster, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in a secret meeting room.
Liu Feng ced a globe on the conference table and began exining the next evening¡¯sunch n.
¡°The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is here.¡±
He pointed to a spot on the globe.
¡°Tomorrow evening at 9, the rocket willunch from here. About 20 minutester, it will reach 300 kilometers above the ground, where the rocket¡¯s front cabin will open and release our space shuttle.¡±
His finger slowly moved up, then stopped at a point. He took out an eraser.
¡°This is our space shuttle, Little White. Now at 300 kilometers. And this ss ball in my left hand¡ª¡±
Liu Feng held a ss ball between his thumb and index finger, moving it from a higher position towards the globe.
¡°This represents the Alpha Material (space-time particle). Since it¡¯s unaffected by external forces, it won¡¯t orbit Earth under gravity; it will fly straight towards Earth. It¡¯s magical and defies our universe¡¯s physicalws.¡±
¡°But our space shuttle isn¡¯t so fortunate. Once released by the rocket, it will have some initial velocity, so it will inevitably orbit Earth under gravity.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s left hand moved the ss ball in a straight line towards the globe, while his right hand moved the eraser around the globe.
His straightforward demonstration made everyone understand the trajectories of the space-time particle and the space shuttle.
¡°Once in space, our space shuttle will decelerate, change orbit, and lower its altitude. After orbiting Earth¡ª¡±
Following Liu Feng¡¯s exnation, the eraser, now closer to the globe,pleted an orbit and returned, closer to the globe. At the same time, the ss ball (space-time particle) also reached the same position.
Pop.
The ss ball and eraser touched.
Liu Feng sent everyone a look before continuing: ¡°At around 11:50 PM, at 100 kilometers in the atmosphere, we will encounter the Alpha Material and begin the capture n. Before that, Wei Cheng will adjust the space shuttle¡¯s position based on the Alpha Material¡¯s speed and direction, allowing Gao Yang to use the robotic arm to capture it. The good news is, the Alpha Material¡¯s horizontal entry angle into the atmosphere is small. In theory, our space shuttle can maintain parallel flight with it in a dive position. This is fortunate; if it plunged vertically, our current technology couldn¡¯t capture it.¡±
Wei Cheng nodded: ¡°Last year, I piloted Little White during its maiden flight, performing aerobatic tests in the atmosphere and outer space. My piloting skills are solid. As long as the dive angle doesn¡¯t exceed 40 degrees, I can keep the space shuttle stable. Any steeper, and it¡¯s impossible; the space shuttle isn¡¯t a fighter jet, and its engine sensitivity and structure don¡¯t allow it.¡±
Yellow Finch, the chiefmander, nodded, looking at Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Chu An Qing.
¡°That¡¯s the basic n. Any questions?¡±
Swish!
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing hadn¡¯t even had time to shake their heads when Gao Yang raised his right hand high.
Yellow Finch gave Gao Yang a look of [not really wanting to deal with you], but eventually closed his eyes, saying patiently.
¡°Gao Yang, what¡¯s your question?¡±
¡°Will we get any medals when we return?¡± Gao Yang¡¯s eyes sparkled.
¡°No,¡± Yellow Finch replied. ¡°This is a secret mission.¡±
¡°We can have secret medals!¡± Gao Yang¡¯s mind was quick. ¡°Everyone in thepany knows I was seconded by the state. I enjoy the silent bragging, but I need something concrete to back it up when I return. I need to establish my authority as the store manager!¡±
Yellow Finch¡¯s eyebrows twitched.
¡°Hahaha¡ Gao Yang, you can have one of my medals,¡± Wei Chengughed and patted Gao Yang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I have many of those; I¡¯ll give you one. Besides, if weplete this mission, your contribution will be significant. You deserve it.¡±
¡°Great, big brother! I was waiting for that!¡± Gao Yangughed, hugging Wei Cheng.
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing watched the lively scene silently.
¡°Senior Gao Yang¡ he¡¯s always so optimistic,¡± Chu An Qing said as she blinked at the scene.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s because he¡¯s simple-minded,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve never seen him panic. He¡¯s always carefree. That¡¯s a skill too, staying calm and fearless in the face of danger.¡±
Yellow Finch pped, signaling everyone to quiet down, then looked around.
¡°Alright, everyone, get some rest tonight. The training has been tough, but tomorrow is the moment of truth. Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all we have to discuss, dismissed.¡±
The group dispersed and left.
Chu An Qing turned, noticing Lin Xian still standing. ¡°Senior Lin Xian? What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°An Qing, you go ahead. I need to talk to Yellow Finch.¡±
Chu An Qing blinked¡ nodded, and ran to catch up with Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Wei Cheng.
¡°What is it?¡± Yellow Finch remained standing there, arms crossed, watching Lin Xian approach.
Lin Xian stared into her deep blue eyes, his tone serious: ¡°Tell me honestly, is this mission dangerous? I want an honest answer. Don¡¯t be cryptic. You know everything, like a time traveler from the future. So, you should know how these events will unfold, what will happen, and the oue.¡±
¡°I need the truth. Even if it¡¯s dangerous, I¡¯ll still go, but I¡¯ll leave Gao Yang, Wei Cheng, and Chu An Qing behind. VV¡ you know, my super AI can handle everything, including flying the space shuttle and operating the robotic arm, better than humans.¡±
¡°If time sticity prevents you from speaking, find another way to keep them off the mission. The space-time particle is only significant to Liu Feng and me. Even if there¡¯s danger, I hope you won¡¯t go.¡±
Yellow Finch listened to Lin Xian¡¯s words, lowered her head, and smiled.
She then looked out the window at the rocketunch pad, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
¡°You¡¯ve changed, Lin Xian.¡± She turned to face him. ¡°You¡¯ve be¡ more caring.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always been like this,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°So, stop beating around the bush and give me an answer.¡±
Yellow Finch exhaled through her nose. Her smile vanished, her expression bing serious.
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She paused, then continued. ¡°All of this¡ has already deviated from the history I know.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes at her. It seemed the time sticity had increased recently. In the past, Yellow Finch would never have given such a clear answer. Although it was still unclear, it was at least understandable. She didn¡¯t deny it. She even used the word ¡°history.¡± So¡ Without a doubt. Yellow Finch was a time traveler from the future.
¡°Including all of this?¡± Lin Xian pointed outside at theunch pad and the globe Liu Feng had demonstrated with.
¡°So you know about the space-time particle, maybe even seen it. But you¡¯re unfamiliar with this particr space-time particle. From the space shuttle to our team¡¯s formation, this is all new history.¡±
¡°No, not history,¡± Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°We¡¯re heading towards a new, unknown future.¡±
Yellow Finch remained expressionless. No words, no response.
¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xian nodded. He knew if Yellow Finch could talk, she would have already.
¡°Onest question.¡± Lin Xian spoke softly.
¡°In this team, Wei Cheng is the irreceable pilot. Liu Feng and I must go. Gao Yang might be here as a backup for the robotic arm, but even if I hadn¡¯t suggested him, he wouldn¡¯t be essential. However, he proves useful.¡±
¡°But, Chu An Qing is not irreceable or essential. Her presence is strange, and you specifically brought her here without assigning her any specific tasks. She¡¯s just there. Why bring her?¡±
¡°As a mascot? A cheerleader? Obviously not. There must be a reason for her being on the space shuttle.¡±
¡°Also, using a space shuttle to chase a space-time particle with no fixed trajectory is insane. It¡¯s easy to lose track, miss, or lose the target.¡±
¡°After much thought, given what I¡¯ve learned about the space-time particle, there¡¯s only one possibility¡ª¡±
¡°Yellow Finch, look at me.¡± Lin Xian called her by name, staring into her blue eyes.
¡°The space-time particle¡ is iting for Chu An Qing?¡±
Chapter 292: The Real Lie
Lin Xian had been pondering this question for a long time.
From the very beginning, when Yellow Finch silently brought Chu An Qing before them, Lin Xian had felt something was off.
At that time, his understanding of time-space particles was limited. He hadn¡¯t encountered the elderly couple at Xidan Shopping Mall, who had lost a daughter identical in appearance to Chu An Qing over twenty years ago.
Therefore, Lin Xian didn¡¯t think too deeply about it. He assumed Yellow Finch brought Chu An Qing along because she knew Chu An Qing had an innate aerospace physique and exceptional physical qualities that could be useful.
However, as more and more information was gathered, the details became clearer, and the n to capture the space shuttle became more refined, Lin Xian grew increasingly aware that something wasn¡¯t right.
Firstly, there was the matter of their roles and responsibilities.
Lin Xian and Yellow Finch were the core members. Yellow Finch was themander, and Lin Xian needed the time-space particles the most. They both had to go on this space mission. Wei Cheng was the pilot, indispensable; Liu Feng had to observe the small tracker due to the invisibility of the time-space particles and guide Wei Cheng, so he was also essential. Gao Yang¡¯s role was critical because of his talent for operating the robotic arms, which made him indispensable despite the fact that VV could technically rece him. Having an experienced and skilled backup was more reassuring. Moreover, the exact nature of time-space particles was still uncertain, and human intuition and impulsiveness sometimes worked better than artificial intelligence¡¯s rationality in creating miracles.
Inparison, what irreceable role did Chu An Qing y?At first nce, none at all. Apart from her impressive performance in the initial training with the rotating chair, centrifuge, buoyancy pool, and body coordination exercises, she had no remarkable traits. Undeniably, she was a natural astronaut. But what specific role did this physique y in this suborbital space capture mission? They didn¡¯t need to leave the cabin, didn¡¯t need to spacewalk, didn¡¯t even need to wear white spacesuits, as they were only reaching 100 kilometers high, not technically entering space.
So, from this perspective, Chu An Qing had no purpose in this mission. Whenever Chu An Qing asked Yellow Finch about her role, Yellow Finch¡¯s vague answers about logistics and assisting Lin Xian were no better than telling her to just watch and help out when needed, like serving tea or taking out the trash. There was no need for such tasks in the space shuttle.
Was there any reason to bring along a 19-year-old girl who couldn¡¯t contribute in any meaningful way?
These doubts alone wouldn¡¯t lead Lin Xian to his conclusion.
However, as Liu Feng¡¯s observations of the time-space particles grew more detailed, Lin Xian noticed anomalies in the particles¡¯ trajectories. It was confirmed that these time-space particles were unaffected by any external forces and not bound by any known physicalws of the current universe. Yet, they were flying directly towards Earth, urately and unerringly. This indicated that something on Earth was attracting them! Or, they were actively seeking something on Earth!
Furthermore, as they approached Earth, the time-space particles¡¯ deceleration became more pronounced. It had even slowed down to Mach 2, clearly indicating it had found its target and was preparing to converge.
Up to this point, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t suspected that the time-space particle was heading for Chu An Qing.
However, just now! When Liu Feng demonstrated the encounter between the time-space particle and the space shuttle using an eraser and a ss ball, and Coach Wei Cheng exined the difficulty of capturing it and how a slight increase in the dive angle could cause them to lose the particle, Lin Xian suddenly realized. Using such an inflexible space shuttle to capture an unpredictable, rapidly decelerating, and erratically moving unknown particle seemed like an impossible task! A task that couldn¡¯t bepleted!
Previously, he had no concrete sense of this 100-kilometer high-altitude capture mission, thinking Yellow Finch¡¯s n was feasible. But when he saw the demonstration, Lin Xian felt the n was too crazy, full of loopholes, and with no guaranteed sess rate.
So, what gave Yellow Finch such confidence, such persistence, and belief that their n would seed?
After much thought, it was Chu An Qing, whose role and purpose were still unclear.
In the end, considering Zhang Yu Qian, who died in 2000, Chu An Qing, who was born in 2004, and CC, who lived in a world 600 years in the future, the three of them looked identical but lived in three different, unrted time periods.
Time! Time-space particles! This series of seemingly unrted odditiesbined into one correct answer that connected all the clues¡ªThe time-space particle wasing for Chu An Qing!
The fact that Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and CC looked alike across different times was likely due to the time-space particle!
And Yellow Finch¡¯s real reason for bringing Chu An Qing on this capture mission was simply to attract the time-space particle, using her as bait!
As long as Chu An Qing stayed in the space shuttle, it wouldn¡¯t be the ne chasing the time-space particle but the particle chasing the ne! This reversal was the only way to ensure they wouldn¡¯t lose the particle, allowing Gao Yang to capture it and turn this seemingly impossible mission into a sess!
Only this way did everything make sense. Everything fit logically.
However, Lin Xian was incredibly worried. If the time-space particle was indeeding for Chu An Qing, then what would happen when it found her? What would happen to Chu An Qing?
This thought made Lin Xian uneasy and deeply afraid. Therefore, he had to ask, had to get a clear answer.
He stared into Yellow Finch¡¯s bright blue eyes¡ All the previous mysteries and puzzling behaviors he could ignore. But this question had to be answered. He couldn¡¯t back down.
However, faced with Lin Xian¡¯s aggressive questioning, Yellow Finch was momentarily stunned, then burst intoughter: ¡°Lin Xian, what are you imagining?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian, who had just been confident in his deductions, felt like a cat caught in a trap. He blinked: ¡°Am I wrong?¡±
¡°Of course you¡¯re wrong. How did youe up with such a ridiculous conclusion?¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes crinkled in amusement, as if she¡¯d heard a hrious joke: ¡°If that were the case, why would we go into space to capture the time-space particle? We could just build dozens of capture devices, surround Chu An Qing, and wait for the particle toe to her.¡±
¡°We wouldn¡¯t even need to turn on the devices or bring Gao Yang. Just pile these devices around Chu An Qing and wait for the particle to fly into the trap. Why go through all this trouble?¡±
¡°Furthermore¡¡± Yellow Finch smiled slightly, looking at Lin Xian: ¡°Time-space particles aren¡¯t unique. Finding one means there are countless others in the vast universe. This is unquestionable. In such a vast universe, anything you find one of means there are countless others.¡±
¡°If it were as you said, Earth would be bombarded by time-space particles like a meteor shower, constantly flying towards Chu An Qing. Do you think that¡¯s realistic?¡±
¡°Logical reasoning is interesting. By following conditions, simting, imagining, and developing, you can naturally arrive at feasible or infeasible answers. The key is not believing anything or anyone is unique. The universe and time-space are so vast, amodating infinite possibilities.¡±
After hearing Yellow Finch¡¯s words, Lin Xian was indeed convinced. She was logical and reasonable. Especially thest point. If Liu Feng could discover a time-space particle within a few months in the sr system, the vast universe, with billions of years and light-years in size, would be filled with countless time-space particles. They couldn¡¯t all be targeting Earth and Chu An Qing, right? That scenario was indeed terrifying. It seemed his thinking was too limited. Many things that seemed miraculous on a cosmic scale were actually mundane. Including civilizations. Including life. Including destruction. These events happened constantly in the corners of the universe.
However, the universe was too vast. Anything earth-shattering was ultimately insignificant.
¡°Then why must you bring Chu An Qing into space?¡± Lin Xian pressed on.
¡°Just as an extra precaution, like Gao Yang,¡± Yellow Finch said softly, turning her head. ¡°From a safety perspective, having one less person is safer. But for sess, having one more person means more strength, more hope. We just think differently. You consider safety; I care about mission sess.¡±
She turned to Lin Xian: ¡°In this regard, Lin Xian, Chu An Qing is braver than you. If you always wait for absolute safety, no risk, 100% certainty, you¡¯d hardly do anything. This world isn¡¯t full of kindness and gentleness waiting for you, no guaranteed happy endings.¡±
¡°I just don¡¯t want my actions to put others in danger,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°That¡¯s all. I¡¯m not being cowardly.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not afraid, and neither are we.¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s bright eyes looked at Lin Xian: ¡°We willingly take risks with you; it¡¯s our choice. It¡¯s about you but also not about you.¡±
¡°Liu Feng is willing to throw his life into research everyone thinks is wrong for you; Gao Yang is willing to give up his future and stable life for you, always unwilling to join yourpany to avoid implicating you; Chu An Qing, a pampered princess, trains hard for you, even getting calluses¡¡±
She paused, swallowing some words: ¡°So do I.¡±
¡°So.¡± She stepped forward, poking Lin Xian¡¯s chest, making his ribs ache. Her deep blue eyes met his: ¡°At times like this, don¡¯t say demoralizing things. That¡¯s not kindness orpassion, just avoidance. When people stand behind you, willing to face death for you, you need to shout, lead them bravely. That¡¯s what a leader should do.¡±
Lin Xian frowned at Yellow Finch: ¡°Do you have to speak so harshly?¡±
Yellow Finch snorted. She retracted her finger, slipping it back into her coat pocket, and smiled: ¡°I¡¯d love to chat nicely, but time¡ is running out. I hope after this space mission, you¡¯ll think about my advice to look in the mirror and take my words seriously.¡±
¡°I can do very little, even if I know some things, I can¡¯t change them. Ultimately, it¡¯s up to you, Lin Xian, to change everything.¡±
She turned and walked away, her heels clicking loudly, waving goodbye with her back: ¡°Good night.¡±
¡.
¡°VV.¡± Lin Xian rested his chin on his hand, elbow on the desk, speaking softly: ¡°Yellow Finch is lying.¡±
¡°Obviously,¡± the electronic rm clock VV said: ¡°Her reason for bringing Chu An Qing into space doesn¡¯t hold. She has her agenda, even if it¡¯s just capturing the time-space particle. But even after analyzing for so long, I can¡¯t understand why she insists on bringing Chu An Qing. There¡¯s no reasonable exnation.¡±
Lin Xian picked up a pen from the holder, twirling it between his fingers: ¡°It¡¯s definitely rted to the time-space particle, no doubt. I thought she intended to use Chu An Qing to attract the particle, but she mocked me¡¡±
¡°I¡¯m not a leader, okay? She¡¯s themander. If I were in charge, I¡¯d just take you to space. It seems Yellow Finch doesn¡¯t trust you, VV. Maybe she thinks you can¡¯t beat Kevin Walker.¡±
¡°Ridiculous!¡± The electronic rm clock fumed: ¡°If I couldn¡¯t beat Kevin Walker, I¡¯d let you dismantle my CPU! Is there such an insult? AI is rational and never arrogant. What is, is. I don¡¯t bluff. When I couldn¡¯t break Kevin Walker¡¯s blockade or find his trace, I admitted it. I¡¯m honest. Now, I¡¯m far above Kevin Walker, unquestionably. I was the best AI when I was born; after months of updates, though not fully evolved, I can confidently say nothing and no one in this era can challenge me!¡±
Lin Xian covered his ears, stopping the rm clock¡¯s screech: ¡°Why argue here? Argue with Yellow Finch. Doesn¡¯t she have an rm clock? Alright, alright, I believe you. I believe you¡¯re invincible in 2024. Stop arguing.¡±
When VV quieted down, Lin Xian sighed. He believed Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t an enemy. However, her motives were too strong. She indeed wanted the best for him, and he knew that. But for others¡ Lin Xian felt Yellow Finch didn¡¯t consider others as much. She admitted she didn¡¯t know the current history. This might be what she wanted. If she was a time traveler, her goal must be to change history, reverse failure, and alter tragedy. Since the historical trajectory and future developments were unknown to her, it meant her goal was near. And the key to reversing history¡¯s oue was the time-space particle.
These things were bing clear. However, Lin Xian remained uneasy. He couldn¡¯t understand why Chu An Qing had to go into space. He couldn¡¯t figure it out.
Snap.
Lin Xian ended his pen twirling with a flourish, flicking the pen into the holder with precision.
¡°VV.¡± He turned to the rm clock: ¡°I need you to do something.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± VV asked.
Lin Xian hesitated, speaking softly: ¡°Yellow Finch¡¯s goal is to capture the time-space particle at any cost. But I¡¯m unwilling to sacrifice arade¡¯s life, especially with Chu An Qing¡¯s unclear truth, the unknown significance of the time-space particle, and Yellow Finch¡¯s obvious lies¡¡±
Lin Xian looked at VV: ¡°If I sense anything wrong, you must hijack the space shuttle on mymand¡ abandon the mission, and return immediately!¡±
Chapter 293: Master of the Stars
The digital disy on the electronic rm clock, VV, blinked, then spoke: ¡°Of course, that¡¯s no problem. As long as it¡¯s your order, I will unconditionally obey. Besides, you and Chu An Qing are on the same space shuttle, at an altitude of 100 kilometers. You¡¯re tied together like ants on a string. The dangers you face are the same. You live together, and you die together. So, you don¡¯t need to worry. Due to the first principle of my underlying code, ¡®Lin Xian¡¯s personal safety above all else,¡¯ any danger to any member of the space shuttle is a shared danger. I will abandon the capture mission immediately and prioritize your safety.¡±
Lin Xian finally let out a sigh of relief. When it came to Chu An Qing, he still didn¡¯t trust Yellow Finch. Whether it was Yellow Finch, Kevin Walker, Elon Musk, or even Copernicus, who toyed with Ji Xin Shui, all these suspected members of the Genius Club were cunning individuals, each more devious than thest. Their words were hard to distinguish between truth and lies.
¡°I just can¡¯t believe this time-space particle has nothing to do with Chu An Qing,¡± Lin Xian said, swinging his legs. ¡°Otherwise, what other exnation could there be for thepletely unscientific phenomenon of Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and CC looking exactly alike?¡±
He turned his head to look at the suitcase standing beside the coat rack. Inside the inner pocket of the sportswear was a small square stic bag, which contained a few strands of Chu An Qing¡¯s hair.
¡°Thinking back now, we should have decisively dug up Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave as soon as we knew she existed andpared a hair strand¡¯s DNA with Chu An Qing¡¯s. That way, we¡¯d immediately know the truth.¡±
The electronic rm clock, VV, sighed, ¡°There was no way around it. There are so many mysteries and a backlog of issues now; we have to deal with them one by one. The order of urgency has no right or wrong. Rtively speaking¡ I think capturing the time-space particle in space takes precedence.¡±
¡°After all, digging up a grave to find DNA is easier said than done. First, we don¡¯t know where Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave is. If it¡¯s traditionally buried in the ancestral tomb, at least there¡¯s a range. In the year 2000, the concept of burying people in cemeteries wasn¡¯t widely epted in X Country.¡±
¡°So, if we can¡¯t find Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave through conventional means, we¡¯d have to ask the elderly couple where she¡¯s buried¡ and they probably won¡¯t tell you. If Zhang Yu Qian was cremated, the DNA structure in the ashes would be destroyed, making it pointless to find it.¡±¡°Therefore, even if you wanted to dig up the grave immediately back then, I would have advised against it. From both a time and priority perspective, capturing the time-space particle should be the first task.¡±
¡
¡°Alright, it¡¯s toote to say anything now. Let¡¯s move on.¡± Lin Xian stood up and stretched.
Elon Musk was under 24-hour surveince with no abnormalities. Kevin Walker¡¯s attempt to hijack the American space shuttle was also ambushed by VV.
In fact, VV had ambushed all spacecraft in Earth¡¯s orbit for safety¡¯s sake. More than 20,000 Starlink satellites, various countries¡¯ military and civilian satellites, weather satellites, space stations, ry satellites, space telescopes, and so on¡ thousands of spacecraft were all under VV¡¯s control.
At this moment, VV was the master of the stars above Earth! For now, everything seemed under control. Although VV loved to joke and y around, as a super artificial intelligence, it far surpassed the current era, exceeding the capabilities of any genius of this time.
The technological crown jewel of humanity 600 yearster would indeed be a joke if it couldn¡¯t perform a dimension-reducing strike in the current era. Even someone as powerful as Kevin Walker would hide and avoid direct confrontation with VV, despite VV being in its infancy shortly after birth.
VV had the strength to topple the dark hands of the inte long ago. It was cautious to avoid leaving traces and exposing its whereabouts. Today¡¯s VV had no match in this era and could easily overpower. Given time, Kevin Walker would inevitably be caught.
Ding-dong.
Suddenly, a WeChat message popped up on Lin Xian¡¯s phone. He turned to look at the phone on the desk. Picking it up, he saw the message was from Chu Shan He:
[Chu Shan He: Lin Xian, please take care of An Qing. I¡¯m counting on you to protect my daughter.]
Parents¡¯ hearts are always filled with worry. Chu Shan He must have learned the general time of their spaceunch, likely from Chu An Qing, since it was a top-secret mission and specific times and details couldn¡¯t be revealed.
So, it was probably a slip from Chu An Qing. After all, she was a young girl with limited thoughts and experience. However, therge-scale movements at the Jiuyuan Satellite Launch Center these past days, with many engineering and transportation teams, made it easy for Chu Shan He to connect the dots and guess the timing of their space mission.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Chu.¡±
Lin Xian replied on his phone:
¡°I will ensure An Qing returns home safely.¡±
¡
The next day.
The already assembled rocket stood upright on theunch tower. The heat shield fairing above was muchrger than the one used in previousunch missions. After all, this time it housed not just a simple satellite but a genuine space shuttle. Various engineering teams were deploying their tasks methodically.
¡°Support tower fixed! Umbilical masts connected! Service tower closing preparation!¡±
¡°Primary booster, start filling with fuel!¡±
¡°Secondary booster fuel fillingplete!¡±
¡°Engine checksplete, data normal! Yaw nozzles checkplete, tests normal!¡±
¡°Top escape tower checkplete, all functions normal, fuel levels normal!¡±
¡°Three hours beforeunch! Prepare to board astronauts!¡±
¡
March 27, 2024, 18:00.
Three hours before the rocketunch, Yellow Finch, Wei Cheng, Lin Xian, Chu An Qing, Liu Feng, and Gao Yang, wearing neat orange spacesuits, got off the special vehicle, stood in a row, and looked up at the towering rocket.
¡°Finally¡ the day hase,¡± Wei Cheng, standing at the end of the line, sighed. ¡°I never thought this day would reallye.¡±
He smiled, turning to look at the young people, his students, who had been by his side for months. During this time, there were arguments, disagreements, surprises, disappointments, confusion, and persistence. But in the end, these young people, who had never undergone space training before, were now about to go to space as ordinary people under his guidance.
This was unprecedented in X Country¡¯s space history. Due to the top-secret nature of this mission, it couldn¡¯t be made public or recorded, and their honor and bravery would remain in their hearts.
Wei Cheng admitted that months ago, upon first seeing these young people, he had little confidence. He estimated that only Lin Xian and Chu An Qing would meet the standards for a rocketunch, while Gao Yang and Liu Feng would be eliminated.
However¡ human potential is limitless. Until the truly impossible arrives, nothing is impossible.
In these months, Gao Yang lost 30 pounds. Although still slightly overweight, he had be much stronger and healthier, looking taller. The once frail-looking schr Liu Feng now stood tall, his face excited, his eyes firm as he gazed at the towering rocket, clenching his fists.
Lin Xian remained as calm as ever. This young man was always like this, never showing his emotions, alwaysposed, as if constantly pondering something. Wei Cheng trusted himpletely; Lin Xian had never made a mistake, always meticulous and serious.
Lowering his head, Wei Cheng looked at Chu An Qing beside Lin Xian. She bit her lip, her eyes flickering nervously. For a 19-year-old girl, going to space in a rocket was understandably nerve-wracking.
¡°Everyone,¡± Wei Cheng said solemnly, feeling a warm sensation of hope for the new generation of his country, ¡°let¡¯s go, to the universe beyond the sky!¡±
¡
Reaching the base of theunch tower, they took an elevator to the top, 50 meters high. The wind was strong but didn¡¯t prate their thick spacesuits. They needed to enter through a window on the side of the rocket, then into the space shuttle¡¯s entrance to reach the passenger cabin. The space shuttle was now upright, fixed inside the rocket.
So, once inside, they¡¯d be in a seated-lying position, lying on the seats. They¡¯d lie there for two hours, waiting for the final checks and preparations outside to end, anticipating the rocketunch.
¡°Phew, luckily we¡¯re not wearing those white suits,¡± Gao Yang, struggling inside, changed his tune, praising the orange spacesuits. ¡°These lighter suits are much morefortable. Otherwise, with such a small rocket entry, I wouldn¡¯t have fit. Now I understand the importance of our posture training. If I had to lie like this for two hours before, I¡¯d have had a brain hemorrhage.¡±
Leading Liu Feng to the cockpit, Wei Cheng smiled and said over the radio, ¡°That¡¯s why we wear the appropriate suit for the task. Your mission is crucial; wearing bulky white suits would hinder your mechanical arm operations, reducing flexibility.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve told you before, these orange suits are called Advanced Escape System spacesuits, full of equipment and gadgets. Since you won¡¯t use them and training time was tight, I didn¡¯t teach you how to use them. Remember, don¡¯t touch anything! Follow Yellow Finch¡¯s orders afterunch.¡±
Everyone settled into their seats. The space shuttle had windows, but now, being inside the rocket, they saw only the ck heat shield outside, no view. Lin Xian examined the orange spacesuit. It had many features and gadgets.
He understood the basics: a parachute, shlight, emergency medicine box, survival gear bag, and a sharp-looking knife. Suddenly, Lin Xian felt something familiar!
¡°A handgun?¡±
Of course, he didn¡¯t take it out because Wei Cheng had instructed not to touch anything unnecessary. As he was about to ask about its purpose, the restless Gao Yang asked first, ¡°Wei, what¡¯s the knife and handgun for? Are they for fighting aliens?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t touch them! Pretend they don¡¯t exist!¡± Wei Cheng warned. ¡°These are standard astronaut equipment. If something goes wrong, you mightnd in a forest, desert, or unexpected ce. These are for emergencies. The knife cuts parachute lines; the handgun is for self-defense against wildlife. You won¡¯t need these or know how to use them. Our training time was limited, so no shooting practice.¡±
¡°Remember my words, don¡¯t touch anything. Focus on capturing the Alpha particles; don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡±
Gao Yang scoffed, ¡°Why not remove them if we can¡¯t use them? What if it misfires? Get rid of it! The muzzle¡¯s pointing at my crotch¡ can¡¯t mess around with that!¡±
¡°Rx,¡± Yellow Finch said softly over the radio. ¡°The handgun has multiple safeties. Without proper training, you can¡¯t even fire it. Opening the safeties is a skill.¡±
¡°Not removing unused equipment is to maintain mission secrecy.¡± She turned her transparent visor head, looking at the remaining three in the passenger cabin, her voice in their earpieces. ¡°No one outside, including staff, knows your real identity. The mission¡¯s cover story is a low-orbit satellite interception simtion.¡±
¡°Everything must look real. Although you¡¯re not official astronauts, no one knows, so treat you like regr astronauts, including full equipment. It¡¯s best for everyone to think you¡¯re registered astronauts, preventing identity and mission leaks.¡±
¡
I see. y the part convincingly. Lin Xian felt this mission hadyers of deception, hiding the truth.
To the outside world, it¡¯s a satelliteunch by X Country. Internally, it¡¯s astronauts on a low-orbit mission. To Wei Cheng, it¡¯s a team capturing Alpha particles. But the truth is¡ªTime travelers, dream loopers, Universal Constants creators, trinity clones, master of thousands of spacecraft, and a little fatty, heading to space to capture mysterious time-space particles.
What a gathering of big shots, Lin Xian thought. Except for the fatty, everyone on this space shuttle was remarkable!
¡°Phew¡¡± Chu An Qing took a deep breath. The radio made her exhale near Lin Xian¡¯s ear, ¡°This is truly¡ the farthest trip of my life.¡±
She smiled, moving herrge transparent helmet, looking at Lin Xian beside her. ¡°Lin Xian, what¡¯s the farthest ce you¡¯ve traveled before this?¡±
Lin Xian thought, ¡°That would be America, our trip to New York¡¯s Manhattan, the world¡¯s center, the farthest ce I¡¯ve been.¡±
¡°Me too!¡± Chatting with Lin Xian eased Chu An Qing¡¯s nerves. ¡°If Manhattan is the world¡¯s center¡ where is the universe¡¯s center?¡±
¡°Cao County!¡± Gao Yang answered, ¡°Shandong Heze Cao County rules! 666!!¡±
Everyoneughed.
Knock-knock. Lin Xian tapped his helmet. This was his signal with VV, isting their radio channel for privatemunication, ¡°VV, any movements from Kevin Walker?¡±
¡°None. I¡¯ve taken control of the X-37B space shuttle, blocking all ess.¡±
¡°And Elon Musk?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Elon Musk is at the observation tower, daily routine, watching the rocket.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Everything seemed normal.
Finally¡ the long wait ended. Theunch center¡¯smand room¡¯s countdown echoed in the radio:
¡°5!¡±
¡°4!¡±
¡°3!¡±
¡°2!¡±
¡°1!¡±
¡°Ignition¡ª¡±
Boom!!!!!!
Chapter 294: Elon Musk!
Boom!!!!
A thunderous roar echoed through the cabin, shaking the entire chamber violently. This was followed by a powerful eleration and gravitational overload, pressing everyone¡¯s bodies firmly into their seats.
The force was overwhelming, like an invisible hand pressing against every inch of their skin, squeezing and hammering, twisting their organs together. This massive overload was caused by the rocket¡¯s eleration during liftoff.
Fortunately, the seats were soft enough, and everyone had undergone extensive training at the astronaut training base. This sudden overload shock only made them tense for a moment without causing any unbearable sensations.
¡°Altitude climbing¡ 2,000 meters¡ 5,000 meters¡¡±
¡°Yaw nozzles ready! Performing attitude adjustment in 3, 2, 1, activate!¡±
Over the radio channel, the ground control center¡¯s reports came in one after another. Twenty seconds after the rocket took off, those in the space shuttle¡¯s passenger cabin could clearly feel the rocket beginning to tilt, their bodies involuntarily adjusting to the new orientation.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is the rocket adjusting its direction,¡± Wei Cheng reassured everyone over the radio channel. ¡°The rocket doesn¡¯t enter space directly in a straight line. After ascending vertically to a certain height, the yaw nozzles of the first-stage booster will adjust the rocket¡¯s attitude, tilting it at an angle to gradually enter Earth¡¯s orbit.¡±He continued, ¡°Our position will tilt slightly. Just rx, it¡¯s like our training. The current overload value isn¡¯t significant. The real test wille when the second-stage booster kicks in. Also, keep an eye on the little penguin toy hanging in the cabin. It¡¯s a gravity indicator and will help your brain determine the direction of gravity to prevent dizziness. Focus on the little penguin to discern where the ground and the sky are.¡±
These facts had been exined many times by Wei Cheng back on Earth. But now, inside a rapidly ascending rocket with no visible outside references, it was natural to feel disoriented.
Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Chu An Qing followed Wei Cheng¡¯s advice, focusing on the small penguin toy hanging in front of the passenger cabin. Initially, the penguin hung straight down, motionless. Now, it began to tilt to the left, as if pushed by an invisible hand. In reality, it wasn¡¯t the penguin tilting, but Lin Xian and the others. The penguin¡¯s tilt indicated the true direction of Earth¡¯s gravity.
Watching the penguin, the dizziness vanished. This reference point gave their brains a clear basis for judging the direction of gravity.
After what felt like a long minute, the ground control center reported over the radio channel: ¡°Altitude over 100 kilometers, entering the thin atmosphere, jettison the escape tower!¡±
Lin Xian felt a vibration. This was the escape tower at the top of the rocket separating. The escape tower¡¯s purpose was tounch the capsule away from the rocket in case of a malfunction within the atmosphere, allowing it to escape to a safe distance before deploying parachutes to gently return the capsule to the ground. Now, having passed the 100-kilometer K¨¢rm¨¢n line and entering space, the escape tower was redundant.
¡°First-stage booster fuel depleted! Prepare for separation! Second-stage booster ready!¡±
¡°First-stage boosters separated! Second-stage booster ignition!¡±
Another tremor shook the cabin. Wei Cheng had exined that the rocket¡¯s propulsion was divided into three stages. The first stage involved four boosters filled with aviation fuel and liquid oxygen, propelling the rocket out of the atmosphere. Once their fuel was depleted, these boosters would detach, and the second-stage booster would ignite to continue propelling the rocket upward.
Suddenly, another powerful eleration overload hit, pressing everyone into their seats with incredible force! Lin Xian felt like he was being crushed, almost merging with the chair behind him. The radio channel went silent. Even Wei Cheng, who had been chatting cheerfully, couldn¡¯t speak under the 4-g eleration overload.
At that moment, the ground control center¡¯s voice came through again: ¡°Reached the intended space altitude! Jettisoning the heat shield fairing!¡±
A slight tremor followed. Lin Xian and Chu An Qing looked through the space shuttle¡¯s windows, seeing the fairing surrounding the space shuttle split open. At this altitude, nearing a vacuum, there was no air friction heating. The heat shield fairing had fulfilled its mission of protecting the space shuttle during atmospheric ascent and was no longer needed.
Under the 4-g eleration, Lin Xian turned his head with difficulty, looking out into the dark space. It was truly ck. Even with the asional star visible, without moonlight, the pitch-ck backdrop of the universe was incredibly oppressive. Below the window, a bright blue hue could be seen. Undoubtedly, that was Mother Earth. Due to the viewing angle, Lin Xian could only see a corner of Earth¡¯s curvature and scattered clouds.
¡°Second-stage booster fuel depleted! Prepare for separation!¡±
¡°Third-stage booster ignition!¡±
Another jolt of deceleration, followed by the push of eleration. The third-stage booster was the final one. The once-mighty rocket had now shed all but the topmost section, exposing the space shuttle for orbital ascent. Looking at the small penguin again, it was now entirely tilted, pointing straight down towards their feet, the ground, Earth. This reference indicated that the space shuttle was now ¡°horizontal,¡± parallel to the Earth¡¯s east-west direction.
Finally, the push of eleration disappeared! The ground control center¡¯sst announcement came through the radio: ¡°Third-stage booster separation! Space shuttle release!¡±
¡°Rocketunch sessful! Space shuttle sessfully in orbit! Wishing you all the best!¡±
The space shuttle, now in stable flight, allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, they could breathe normally.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian, look at the penguin!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s voice came through her helmet.
Lin Xian looked at the small penguin hanging in the cabin. It was floating! The penguin was now freely drifting in the air, directionless and aimless.
Lin Xian nodded: ¡°We¡¯ve been weightless for a while now. Didn¡¯t you feel it?¡±
Only then did Chu An Qing realize¡ if the penguin was weightless, she must be too! She had been so nervous, strapped tightly in her seat by various safety belts, that she hadn¡¯t noticed.
¡°It just shows¡ you have an amazing constitution¡ not even noticing this,¡± Gao Yang¡¯s voice came through in broken sentences. It was clear thatpared to Chu An Qing, who hadn¡¯t even noticed the weightlessness, Gao Yang was struggling.
¡°Look out the window, young astronauts,¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s confidentughter echoed through the radio. ¡°You can proudly say that you¡¯re the youngest astronauts in history. No one as young as you has ever been to space¡ no, we might even drop the astronaut qualifier.¡±
¡°You four are the youngest space travelers on Earth!¡±
After speaking, Wei Cheng suddenly realized it might be inappropriate. Maybe Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t that old? Excluding her from the category of young people seemed unfit.
¡°Yellow Finch, may I ask your age?¡± he inquired.
¡°Focus on flying,¡± Yellow Finch coldly replied.
¡°Understood!¡± Wei Cheng wisely fell silent.
The joke eased the tension, making everyoneugh. Lin Xian and Chu An Qing sat together, looking out the window. They could see a corner of the space shuttle¡¯s wing. And then, the enormous Earth! So vast¡ they could only see a slight curve of its edge. They seemed to be above an ocean, with nond in sight, but the light was bright, illuminating the Earth below. The blue of the ocean and the white of the clouds interwove like a delicate watercolor painting.
¡°It¡¯s so beautiful¡¡± Chu An Qing sighed. In the world, only about a hundred people had the opportunity to see Earth from this angle. And at this moment, as Wei Cheng had said, they were undoubtedly the youngest group. And she was the youngest among them. A 19-year-old astronaut. This record might remain unbroken for many years.
Beep beep.
A light sound indicated the second radio channel. This channel included only five people, excluding Wei Cheng, and was used for discussing tactics.
¡°We are now in a 270-kilometer orbit, traveling at 7.5 kilometers per second; the space-time particle is currently 1,500 kilometers high, moving at Mach 1, or slightly below the speed of sound!¡±
Liu Feng, who had been silent, spoke through the radio: ¡°As I predicted, the space-time particle¡¯s speed reduction follows a pattern, but it¡¯s uncertain if it will continue to slow down. It¡¯s already very slow, and if it slows further, it will be disadvantageous for us because the space shuttle uses a working fluid engine with a minimum flight speed limit.¡±
¡°Based on the current speed, we will orbit two-thirds of the Earth from the Pacific Ocean to the Antic Ocean, descending to 100 kilometers and reducing speed to about Mach 1, synchronizing with the space-time particle.¡±
¡°The space-time particle¡¯s direction remains stable without any changes. So, ideally, we¡¯ll encounter the space-time particle at 11:50 AM over the Antic at 100 kilometers altitude, and the capture n will begin then.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll use tracking equipment to guide Coach Wei Cheng to get as close as possible to the space-time particle without physical contact. We don¡¯t know what will happen if we touch this mysterious particle, so it¡¯s best to maintain a safe distance and let Gao Yang use the robotic arm and the rice cooker to capture it.¡±
¡°If we can¡¯t capture it, we¡¯ll consider the ¡®close encounter tactic,¡¯ to see if we can let the space-time particle pass through the space shuttle¡¯s outer shell and into the aircraft. We¡¯ll then manually capture it with another rice cooker.¡±
Liu Feng outlined theplete ¡°SpaceXime Particle Capture n¡± that had been thoroughly researched on Earth. The n had two stages. The first stage involved Liu Feng guiding the space shuttle, and Gao Yang operating the robotic arm to attempt capturing the space-time particle from a safe distance at an altitude of 100 kilometers.
If this failed, there was a more aggressive second stage¡ªthe ¡®close encounter tactic.¡¯ This tactic was also proposed by Liu Feng. He said: ¡°We don¡¯t have enough experimental data to confirm if the space-time particle can pass through walls, iron tes, or any material in the universe. But theoretically, it should, as it has no physical form and is not affected by any external force. It should be able to prate any material and remain stable.¡±
¡°So, if Gao Yang can¡¯t capture the space-time particle, we can try to let the space shuttle ¡®collide¡¯ with it, allowing the space-time particle to prate into the space shuttle.¡±
¡°Then, we¡¯ll use the rice cooker Gao Yang trained with at the Capital city Training Base to catch it manually, like catching butterflies or dragonflies!¡±
At the time, everyone was amazed by Liu Feng¡¯s n! Gao Yang even asked: ¡°Why don¡¯t we make dozens of rice cookers¡ the space-time particle capture devices, and fill the space shuttle¡¯s interior with them? That way, we wouldn¡¯t need the robotic arm. We could just crash into it, trapping the space-time particle inside the space shuttle, and it would eventually end up in one of the rice cookers.¡±
Then, Lin Xian rolled his eyes at Gao Yang: ¡°Liu Feng already said that this is only ast resort if you can¡¯t catch the space-time particle. We have no evidence that the space-time particle can pass through walls. If it can¡¯t, this space mission would be a waste.¡±
¡°And who can guarantee that touching the space-time particle won¡¯t be dangerous? If it burns a hole in the space shuttle, we would crash. Liu Feng¡¯s n is cautious: try capturing it with the robotic arm first. If that fails, then use thest resort.¡±
Lin Xian turned his head, looking at the rice cooker secured in the equipment bay. Liu Feng had made two rice cookers. One was attached to the robotic arm for Gao Yang to use. The other was in the equipment bay, prepared for thest resort. The space-time particle was too much of an unknown. Therefore, caution, caution, and more caution.
Beep beep.
The radio channel switched back to Line 1, and Wei Cheng¡¯s voice came through: ¡°So, everyone, feel free to move around. I¡¯ll continue to lower our orbital altitude and speed, and we¡¯ll meet the Alpha substance over the Antic at 100 kilometers in 3 hours.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll remind you in advance. At Mach 1, it¡¯s as slow as amercial airliner, so moving around the cabin is fine, even opening visors to talk.¡±
¡°We¡¯re still in low gravity, so be careful when moving. As we descend and slow down, gravity will gradually increase. When we reach 100 kilometers, gravity will be like on the ground.¡±
Everyone unbuckled their seatbelts and headed to the equipment bay. Normally, aplete orbit around Earth at first cosmic speed takes about 90 minutes. But Wei Cheng had to lower the altitude and speed, so orbiting two-thirds of the way would take over 3 hours. Fortunately, the space shuttle was much more stable than regr spacecraft.
Gao Yang had already started warming up his fingers. Lin Xian pressed his helmet against the window, trying to look up but couldn¡¯t tell which way was ¡°up.¡± He tapped his helmet twice: ¡°VV, any movement from Elon Musk or Kevin Walker?¡±
¡°Nothing, everything is normal,¡± VV responded. ¡°Elon Musk is still at the Observation Tower, and Kevin Walker hasn¡¯tunched any attacks on the space shuttle. Not sure what they¡¯re waiting for.¡±
¡°But¡ everything is under control. It feels like they¡¯re toote to do anything. The American space shuttle is cruising at 1,200 kilometers altitude, and Elon Musk is still staring at the rocket, doing nothing.¡±
¡°Even though the Observation Tower has no wires or electronic devices, and we can¡¯t hear if he¡¯s saying anything, what can he do in a ce like that?¡±
¡°I¡¯m watching him through the cameras on the starshipunch tower. He seems to be looking this way¡ for a long time. He must be narcissistic or really loves rockets, staring at the starship rocket for so long.¡±
Lin Xian nodded: ¡°Keep monitoring, stay vignt.¡± He trusted VV. This AI never dropped the ball. Despite thinking for so long, he couldn¡¯t figure out¡ if Kevin Walker or Elon Musk nned to steal the space-time particle, how would they do it? Every angle and corner was securely monitored by VV. What could they do?
In Texas, USA, at Boca Chica, SpaceX Starship Launch Site. Observation Tower.
At this time, the sun was just rising. A new day, a new sun. The night in X Country was the dawn in the USA. A fresh spring breeze ruffled Elon Musk¡¯s hair, making it even messier. Though the world¡¯s richest man¡¯s hair was always disheveled, unkempt. But the higher you are, the colder it gets.
Leaning against the Observation Tower, overlooking the entire starshipunch site, the wind was still strong enough to make him squint. At this moment, Elon Musk was staring intently at theunch tower in the center of theunch site. Steel supports extended around it, securing the 40-meter-tall medium rocket aimed at the sky.
¡°Mr. Elon Musk!¡±
Click-ck-click-ck-click-ck¡ªthe urgent sound of high heels on steel. A secretary in a business skirt and coat ran up the spiral steel staircase, appearing breathless at the corner. She adjusted her red-framed sses, ring at Elon Musk: ¡°Mr. Elon Musk! Why do you alwayse here without your phone? When there¡¯s something important, I can¡¯t reach you! I have to run up here in heels every time!¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t want your phone to interrupt your rocket viewing, why not install an inte here? One on the Observation Tower, one in my office, so I don¡¯t have to run so far every time.¡±
¡°Hahaha¡¡± Elon Muskughed at the secretary¡¯sints. He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow: ¡°Do you have your phone?¡±
¡°Of course I do! Who goes out without their phone nowadays?¡±
¡°Give it to me.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± The secretary was stunned, her red-framed sses sliding down a bit.
¡°Give me your phone.¡± Elon Musk repeated.
The secretary reluctantly transferred her folder to her left hand, pulling her phone from her right pocket and handing it over.
Elon Musk weighed the phone in his hand, smiling as he turned back to theunch tower: ¡°Do you know why there¡¯s no wiring, no electronic devices, not even lights here, and why I never bring my phone?¡±
The secretary adjusted her slipping sses and shook her head. She had always found the Observation Tower unreasonable. But even more unreasonable¡ was her boss, the world¡¯s richest man, who always forgot his phone and came to this deste tower to watch rockets.
¡°Because I fear AI,¡± Elon Musk said softly. ¡°AI is like Pandora¡¯s box for humanity. Once opened, it could have uncontroble consequences.¡±
¡°For instance, humans relying too much on automation, abandoning critical thinking; total loss of personal privacy, everyone living in a mirrored world; and the often-mentioned sci-fi scenario of an AI rebellion. If AI bes powerful and smart enough, would it rebel against humans? Destroy humanity?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t like being watched, but in this era, cameras are everywhere, and everyone carries phones with cameras and microphones¡ our privacy is nearly nonexistent, everyone is transparent.¡±
¡°And this tower¡ª¡± Elon Musk spread his arms, holding the phone in his right hand: ¡°This tower is one of the few ces in the world that will never be monitored or listened to.¡±
¡°No matter how advanced AI bes, it still relies on electricity. Without power, it¡¯s nothing. So, while I fear AI¡¯s power, I also scorn it for needing information carriers and power. They¡¯ll never defeat humanity, never be worthy opponents.¡±
The secretary sighed: ¡°Mr. Elon Musk, you¡¯re thinking too far ahead. Most AI today are still ying chess, drawing, automating tasks, writing papers, and piecing together content¡ they im creativity, but they¡¯re essentially ying puzzles, copying bits from the inte and assembling them. That¡¯s what current AI does.¡±
¡°So, your fears are unfounded. Those all-powerful, world-ending super AIs from sci-fi movies don¡¯t exist.¡±
¡°Haha.¡± Elon Musk chuckled, looking at the distant starshipunch tower: ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±
He turned around: ¡°How do you know such a super AI doesn¡¯t exist in our world today?¡±
The secretary smiled dismissively, turning her head: ¡°If such an omnipotent, all-seeing, all-controlling super AI existed, the world would be doomed.¡±
¡°No country could stop it, no one could destroy it, no one could defeat it¡ that kind of entity, only found in sci-fi movies, if it existed in 2024, it would be invincible, unstoppable.¡±
Elon Musk slowly nodded: ¡°You¡¯re right, it is invincible.¡± He raised his head, looking at the rising sun: ¡°Not just now, but even 100 years, 200 years, 300 years from now¡ it will still be invincible, unbeatable.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Elon Musk raised the secretary¡¯s phone with a smile: ¡°What about 400 years, 500 years¡ 600 years from now?¡±
Seeing the secretary¡¯s confused look, Elon Musk pulled a crystal blue USB drive from his pocket. The USB seemed to glow from within. It shimmered with a soft blue light, like stars twinkling, or ss rolling, very beautiful. Just as the secretary was about to ask, Elon Musk swiftly plugged the USB, with its Type-C adapter, into the phone¡¯s charging port!
¡°NOOOO!¡± Over X Country, 240 kilometers above, inside the space shuttle equipment bay, VV suddenly screamed: ¡°Lin Xian save me! Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian Lin Xian¡ª¡±
Boom boom boom boom! Boom boom boom boom!
As VV¡¯s scream abruptly ceased, several explosions erupted inside and outside the space shuttle! The cabin filled with the smell of burning circuits!
¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on!¡±
The equipment bay was in chaos, Gao Yang and Chu An Qing looking around in terror!
¡°VV? VV!¡±
Bang bang! Bang bang!
Lin Xian pounded on his helmet: ¡°VV! VV!! Where are you!!¡±
But¡ there was no response.
¡°Hahaha¡¡± In Texas, atop the SpaceX Starshipunch site observation tower, a lowugh sounded. Elon Musk unplugged the USB, returning the phone to the secretary. Then he faced the sun directly above. Raising his right fist. Extending his index finger. Pointing straight at the sky!
¡°Let¡¯s¡ correct history!¡±
Chapter 295: Yellow Finchs Grand Strategy
¡°VV? VV!!¡±
Lin Xian kept knocking on his spacesuit helmet, desperately trying to get a response from VV. Themunicator waspletely silent, as if it were dead. Not a single sound came through. What was going on? Lin Xian knew VV well. No matter how much VV liked to joke and y pranks, it always knew the limits. VV would never scare Lin Xian by going silent, especially not at such a critical moment!
Besides, there had been vibrations and explosions, both inside and outside the space shuttle earlier. It was clear¡ªsomething had gone wrong!
Lin Xian pushed open the transparent visor of his spacesuit and looked at the busy crew in the space shuttle cabin. Earlier, VV had switched the radio channel to a private one, just for the two of them, and then disappeared, without switching it back. Lin Xian still held a glimmer of hope that VV woulde back, so he hadn¡¯t switched themunication channel back to the one where everyone else was. Instead, he opened his visor and spoke directly: ¡°What happened?¡±
He turned and looked at the frightened faces of Chu An Qing and Gao Yang, and the serious expression of Yellow Finch. Sniffing the air, he smelled the burnt scent of electrical wires, just like a short-circuited appliance at home.
¡°Finished the inspection,¡± the pilot, Wei Cheng, said with a deep frown. ¡°All the equipment for externalmunication, signal reception, and transmission has exploded or been burned out. The radar,municator, antennas, scanners, receivers outside the space shuttle¡ªall of them overloaded and exploded, the capacitors couldn¡¯t handle it.¡±
¡°What about the internal systems?¡± Yellow Finch immediately asked. ¡°Fuel, control systems, engines, oxygen supply and cirction¡ any issues with these critical systems?¡±
¡°No! Everything else is functioning normally!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice carried a tone of confusion. ¡°It¡¯s strange. Aside from themunication andwork devices, everything else is perfectly intact. Not a scratch¡ Why would something like this happen? Such precise damage, targeting only themunication systems.¡±¡°And, Commander Yellow Finch! Communication andwork systems are crucial! Just because they don¡¯t affect the piloting of the space shuttle doesn¡¯t mean they aren¡¯t important¡ We¡¯re now in a situation where we can¡¯t navigate, can¡¯tmunicate with the ground control, can¡¯t link to the BeiDou positioning system, and can¡¯t detect nearby spacecraft or space debris!¡±
¡°Right now, this space shuttle is like a blind man! Can¡¯t see a thing! No¡ not just blind, we¡¯re deaf too! Can¡¯t hear anything! Flying a spacecraft isn¡¯t like riding a bike on the ground. Without the guidance and positioning signals from ground control, I¡¯m now relying solely on my eyes and intuition to pilot! It¡¯s extremely dangerous! The fact that no other functions arepromised is a small mercy in a terrible situation. Commander Yellow Finch, I need your instructions for the next steps. Currently cut off from ground control, you are our chiefmander. From now on, I will follow your orders unconditionally. Please analyze our situation and make decisions quickly! Our lives depend on it!¡±
Lin Xian had never seen Wei Cheng, usually calm andposed, so flustered. But it was undeniable; Wei Cheng quickly regained hisposure, meticulously reported all conditions, and handed over the chiefmand to Yellow Finch. It was likely that in their astronaut training, they had simted and prepared for such extreme scenarios. After all, as Wei Cheng once said:
¡°99.9% of astronaut training is for handling that 0.01% of unexpected situations.¡±
And now, this was the 0.01%! Lin Xian quickly calmed his emotions, epting the fact that VV was gone, and began to seriously consider their current situation.
Now, assuming the worst¡ªVV had been taken out by the enemy. Though he didn¡¯t know who the enemy was or what method they used, it was clear that VV had been neutralized. At least for this space mission, VV could no longer help him.
Next, consider the destruction of allmunication andwork equipment on the space shuttle. Lin Xian believed the attack that took out VV must havee through thosemunication channels andwork pathways. Given that they were now over 200 kilometers above Earth, without wired or wirelessworks. The onlymunication paths were through radar connections with ground control and the numerouswork ry satellites, Starlink satellites, BeiDou satellites, and the space station.
The enemy must have used one of these information data channels to take out VV. So, the question arises: such a powerful enemy that could easily eliminate VV in space should also be capable of destroying the space shuttle! There was no doubt about it. If they could kill VV, which was far more capable than the space shuttle, they could certainly destroy the space shuttle too. This didn¡¯t make sense.
Therefore, from this perspective, it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce one conclusion¡ªthe enemy¡¯s target was specifically VV, precise and ruthless! Conversely, the enemy held no animosity towards the space shuttle or its crew. Otherwise, attacking the space shuttle directly would be more efficient.
Smelling the burnt wire scent in the air, Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. Since the enemy¡¯s target wasn¡¯t the space shuttle, they wouldn¡¯t destroy the space shuttle¡¯smunication andwork equipment. Otherwise, the space shuttle would have exploded by now, and they would be dead. Therefore, the answer was clear!
¡°It was VV.¡±
Lin Xian murmured to himself: ¡°VV must have destroyed all the space shuttle¡¯smunication andwork equipment, the signal transmission and reception devices¡ turning this space shuttle into an isted ind that neither lets anything in nor out, undetectable and undetecting. VV was protecting me.¡±
This conclusion should be correct. As Wei Cheng mentioned, the damage to the space shuttle¡¯s equipment was too ¡°gentle¡±¡ none of the navigation or control functions were affected, and the method of damaging themunicationwork equipment was very considerate. Externalponents had exploded capacitors without damaging the casing. Internalponents had simply overloaded and burned the wires, avoiding any explosion that could damage other equipment. It was clear this wasn¡¯t an enemy attack, but a self-protective act by an ally.
¡°So, considering this, there are two possible scenarios.¡± Lin Xian paced to the empty passenger cabin, looking out at the blue Earth through the porthole, and summarized VV¡¯s actions into two possibilities:
VV realized it was under attack and tried to cut off allwork signal systems to iste the enemy¡¯s attack. But unfortunately, it failed, either due to insufficient time or being overpowered¡ Even after destroying allmunication devices, it couldn¡¯t save itself and lost the battle.
VV recognized the enemy¡¯s strength, knew it couldn¡¯t win, but to protect the space shuttle and Lin Xian¡¯s safety, it triggered a core code protocol¡ªLin Xian¡¯s safety above all. So, it sacrificed itself to destroy allmunication devices, preventing the enemy from controlling the space shuttle after its demise. For instance¡ª
¡°Kevin Walker.¡± Lin Xian softly muttered the name, feeling a chill down his spine.
The world¡¯s most brilliant young hacker could easily control Starlink satellites and the US X-37B space shuttle. Thus, he could certainly control X Country¡¯s space shuttle! Previously, VV, the super AI, had kept Kevin Walker in check, deterring him from challenging VV directly. But now, VV was gone. Kevin Walker had regained his dominance, and no one could stop him! If he intended to control this space shuttle, without VV guarding it, it would be effortless!
However, hackers needworks and data transmission paths to operate. Without them, they can¡¯t do much. Perhaps VV foresaw this. So it decisively destroyed allmunication andwork devices, making the space shuttle an isted ind and preventing any hacker attack.
Phew¡
Lin Xian temporarily breathed a sigh of relief. Though he didn¡¯t fully understand what had happened to VV, for now, they should be thankful to VV. Otherwise, Kevin Walker wouldn¡¯t need to hijack the US space shuttle to crash into them. He could just hijack this one and blow it up on the spot.
Understanding everything, Lin Xian moved to the equipment cabin, approached Yellow Finch, and signaled towards the empty passenger cabin: ¡°Come with me, I need to talk to you.¡±
The two entered the passenger cabin, opened their visors, and temporarily turned off their radio channels, facing each other.
¡°It was VV, my super AI friend, who destroyed themunicationwork devices. It did this to protect us,¡± Lin Xian exined his analysis to Yellow Finch.
Yellow Finch listened patiently. She merely nodded, showing no change in her expression.
¡°You knew all along?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled.
¡°I did.¡± Yellow Finch replied softly: ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard to guess, Lin Xian. You should have sensed it too.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian recalled a detail¡ªthe night he handed over the cold fusion manuscript to Gao Yang, the Director of the Science Academy, a temporal butterfly effect urred, turning the third dream into the fourth. Entering the dream, he was surrounded by dozens of soldiers, unable to move. At that time, he thought of breaking free by triggering another butterfly effect, skipping the fourth dream and entering the fifth.
After all¡ the fourth dream was already bad enough, and no matter what the fifth dream was like, it had to be better than the fourth. So, he input thest ten lines of VV¡¯s code into hisptop, thinking that introducing a super AI 600 years early would surely trigger a significant temporal butterfly effect¡
However, unexpectedly. Even after activating VV, it swiftly learning and even thwarting Kevin Walker¡¯s attack on X Country¡¯swork¡ Yet! That night¡¯s fourth dream remained unchanged! He was still surrounded and electrocuted by soldiers; The mysterious elder¡¯s dialogue unchanged; 600 years of history undisturbed; The temporal butterfly effect hadn¡¯t urred!
He felt puzzled at that moment. He also considered that if he was marked by the enemy, VV must have been detected and eliminated. But¡ who would have thought it would happen so quickly! In this current era, VV was indeed invincible, even Kevin Walker wouldn¡¯t dare confront it. So who else could defeat VV? Who could kill it so swiftly?
Looking back, the logic of the fourth dream became clear¡ªit was because VV, after being activated, didn¡¯t achieve anything significant, hadn¡¯t had a chance to make an impact before being eliminated. Hence, the minor temporal butterfly effect it caused¡ didn¡¯t even surpass the temporal sticity, naturally failing to induce a temporal shift or alter the fourth dream.
The thought process, instantly clear. In hindsight, Super AI VV was indeed powerful, but in the half year since Lin Xian activated it, it had done nothing major to alter the timeline, except for its yful antics. Thinking about it, the super AI VV, which arrived centuries early, had merely set off some fireworks, opened some fridge doors, and unlocked Chu An Qing¡¯s dorm room¡
It had done nothing to change the course of history! And now, after months of nning, just as it was about to demonstrate its abilities¡ It got killed instantly.
Sss¡
Lin Xian took a sharp breath. No wonder the fourth dream remained unchanged, no wonder VV¡¯s appearance didn¡¯t trigger any butterfly effect. It died too soon. Its intervention in history was minimal. Even less impactful than Brother Wang¡¯s Time Bank. And recalling how Yellow Finch knew VV could operate the robotic arm but still insisted Gao Yang join the training¡ Everything became clear.
Yellow Finch had known VV¡¯s doomed fate and had prepared a backup n.
¡°I think I understand.¡± Lin Xian squinted at Yellow Finch: ¡°When Liu Feng first came to the base, you suggested VV could operate the robotic arm. You did say that, but in reality, you never relied on VV. You nned for Gao Yang to operate it from the start¡ you knew VV couldn¡¯t help in this mission. Gao Yang was the real trump card.¡±
The more Lin Xian thought, the clearer it became: ¡°You asked if Liu Feng and I had trustworthy friends to join the time-space particle capture n. I thought it was a casual question, but you knew about my connection with Gao Yang, his gaming skills, and you always nned to bring him in.¡±
¡°So, all of this¡ was your grand strategy. Even¡¡± Lin Xian paused: ¡°VV¡¯s disappearance was part of your n too.¡±
The two stared at each other. Silent for a few seconds, neither spoke. Lin Xian looked into her eyes, reflecting the white fluorescent light, a blend of blue and white, like the Earth¡¯s oceans and clouds seen from the space shuttle. He just realized why Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t mentioned VV¡¯s imminent demise on the space shuttle, not even a hint.
Because Yellow Finch never intended to bring VV along for the time-space particle capture mission. Though she hadn¡¯t killed VV, VV¡¯s absence was more beneficial to her mission. Yellow Finch knew VV, to protect Lin Xian, would do anything. If danger arose, VV would hijack the space shuttle, removing it from Yellow Finch¡¯s control, and force an abort mission.
But Yellow Finch¡¯s goal was clear; she would sacrifice anything to capture the time-space particle, never considering an abort mission. For Yellow Finch, the time-space particle was more important than life. But for VV, Lin Xian¡¯s life was more important than the time-space particle. Thus, Yellow Finch and VV¡¯s bottom lines shed, conflicted. VV, the biggest obstacle in Yellow Finch¡¯s all-or-nothing n.
Therefore, in Yellow Finch¡¯s grand strategy, an uncontroble VV was destined to be a pawn. Honestly, regarding VV, Lin Xian harbored some resentment towards Yellow Finch. However, now wasn¡¯t the time to break unity over this issue. Moreover, it was unclear whether VV was truly dead, temporarily disappeared, or just isted. All these would need to be assessed back on Earth.
Finally, facing Lin Xian¡¯s knowing gaze, Yellow Finch lifted her head: ¡°Lin Xian, you may me me for VV. But I must tell you¡ªif we don¡¯t capture this time-space particle, this world, everything, will be unimaginably worse. So, I had no choice. To avoid repeating past mistakes, I had to do this.¡±
She turned around, pressing a button, connecting to the radio channel with everyone: ¡°Wei Cheng, execute my orders¡ª¡±
Yellow Finch¡¯s crystal blue eyes were resolute: ¡°Continue the Alpha material collection mission as nned!¡±
¡°Roger!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s steady voice responded.
A shudder followed, as the space shuttle¡¯s retro thrusters ignited, passing over the US East Coast, beginning its descent.
Beep beep.
Yellow Finch turned off themunicator, pressing her hand against the visor. Turning back, she looked at Lin Xian: ¡°I¡¯m the chiefmander of this mission. I¡¯m responsible for my team, but I¡¯m also responsible for the mission.¡±
Click!
The transparent visor fell, covering Yellow Finch¡¯s facepletely. She turned, heading towards the equipment cabin.
Chapter 296: Trapped with No Escape, No Help from the Sky
¡°AH!¡±
Yellow Finch had just stepped out of the passenger cabin into the equipmentpartment when Chu An Qing, who had been hiding behind the door, jumped like a startled rabbit.
¡°¡.¡±
¡°¡.¡±
The two women locked eyes, Yellow Finch turned away, striding purposefully towards the cockpit through the equipmentpartment.
Phew¡
Chu An Qing, caught eavesdropping, sighed in relief. She lifted her mask and cautiously stepped into the passenger cabin, looking at Lin Xian, who had just had a tense exchange with Yellow Finch.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Senior Lin Xian, please don¡¯t argue¡¡± She spoke softly, walking over to Lin Xian and taking his hand. ¡°I know the situation is dangerous, and everyone is really tense. I might not understand everything¡ but I trust Coach Wei Cheng and Sister Yellow Finch to make the right decisions. They are professional astronauts and have more experience in space than we do.¡±¡°Coach Wei Cheng also mentioned that during their training, they simted manual piloting. Even though we¡¯ve lost guidance, navigation, andmunication from the ground center, all the systems on the spacecraft are still working fine¡ªlike the gyroscope, altimeter, and direction indicator. Coach Wei Cheng believes he canplete the piloting task.¡±
¡°Senior Lin Xian, let¡¯s trust Coach Wei Cheng and Sister Yellow Finch. Even without groundmunication, as long as Liu Feng can track the time-space particle and Senior Gao Yang can operate the robotic arm, we won¡¯t miss capturing the particle.¡±
¡°Although I don¡¯t know how I can help, I¡¯ll do my best! I¡¯ll definitely help everyone, help you and Liu Feng capture that time-space particle!¡±
Lin Xian looked down at Chu An Qing, who forced a smile. She had seen it clearly¡ When the explosions sounded and the smell of burnt wires filled the air, Chu An Qing had turned pale with fear. A 19-year-old girl, in space. How could she have suchposure and resilience? Her smile now was just a facade,cking the usual crescent-shaped eyes, the dimples, and the heartwarming, spring-like feeling.
¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°We weren¡¯t arguing, just having a bit of a heated discussion. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡±
Chu An Qing looked at Lin Xian and nodded silently. She hadn¡¯t meant to eavesdrop¡ she had just noticed the two missing from the equipmentpartment and heard some arguing, so she thought to intervene. But after listening for a bit, she realized both were calm, so she stayed outside.
¡°Hehe, as long as it¡¯s okay.¡± Chu An Qing giggled. ¡°As long as it¡¯s okay¡¡±
¡.
On the ground, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center¡¯s main control room, chaos reigned. People were running around, papers scattered everywhere, rm lights shing, and voices shouting from all channels:
¡°Still no contact? Is there any signal from the ry satellite? BeiDou! Capture the spacecraft signal from the BeiDou satellite!¡±
¡°Calling! Calling! Pilot Wei Cheng! Chief Yellow Finch! Please respond if you hear this!¡±
¡°No use¡pletely disconnected. It¡¯s like they¡¯ve disappeared. None of the methods are working.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just the contact. We can¡¯t get even the basic signal, feedback, or response! It¡¯s too strange¡ The spacecraft has multiplemunication systems, even the backup ones. How could all of them fail?¡±
¡°Yes, and allmunication channels failing at the same time is impossible. Even if something went wrong, we should be able to contact the debris with the equipment¡ all systems failing is too strange!¡±
The groundmander wiped the sweat off his forehead. This situation had never urred in the history of the space program. All backup ns had been tried but none seeded. From the signals sent by the observation satellites, the spacecraft seemed to be navigating normally, without any malfunctions, explosions, or collisions. So there was only one possibility left¡ªThe spacecraft had chosen to cut off all signalworks andmunication channels.
But this didn¡¯t make sense either. Because the highest control over the spacecraft¡¯smunication channels was on the ground. Even if the spacecraft closed them, the ground control could reopen them. Strange. Too strange!
¡°Report! An anomaly has been detected in outer space orbit!¡±
Suddenly, another anxious report came.
A staff member approached the chiefmander. ¡°Sir, based on our observations, over 20,000 Starlink satellites are simultaneously decelerating and lowering their orbital altitude rapidly!¡±
¡°What!?¡±
Themander widened his eyes, thinking he misheard.
¡°Over 20,000!? All the Starlink satellites? They¡¯re all malfunctioning?¡±
¡°No, it doesn¡¯t seem like a malfunction.¡± The reporting technician shook his head nervously. ¡°If it were a malfunction, they couldn¡¯t all decelerate uniformly. Their trajectory seems targeted¡ targeted over the Antic Ocean!¡±
The Antic Ocean. International waters. The chiefmander was puzzled. What was the purpose? A mass failure of Starlink satellites? Could this have anything to do with the low orbit mission simtion of this spacecraft?
He didn¡¯t know. The mission was highly ssified. He only knew it involved simting low-orbit satellite interception, but the specifics¡ were beyond his clearance. The higher-ups had only instructed them to fully cooperate with Yellow Finch.
¡°Report! SpaceX, thepany behind the Starlink satellites, has issued an official statement! They im all 22,467 satellites in Earth orbit have been hacked! They havepletely lost control and are urging countries to adjust spacecraft trajectories to avoid collisions!¡±
The chiefmander¡¯s eyebrow twitched. He rushed over to look at the statement from SpaceX, founded by the world¡¯s richest man, Elon Musk. He read it carefully. Indeed¡ The Starlink satellite system had been hacked, and control waspletely lost and locked. Even SpaceX was helpless!
¡°Kevin Walker¡¡± The chiefmander gritted his teeth, staring at the name at the bottom of the statement.
SpaceX emphasized theirpany has identified the culprit behind the hijacking of 22,467 Starlink satellites as the genius hacker known as Kevin Walker!
Bang!
The chiefmander mmed his fist on the table.
¡°That kid again! Is Elon Musk¡¯s satellite system any good? Constantly being hacked! If it can¡¯t be controlled, it shouldn¡¯t be up there causing trouble!¡± Previously, these satellites frequently posed collision risks to weather satellites and space stations. Various countries, including X Country, often had to activate space station propulsion systems to avoid collisions, wasting fuel. Except for the US, almost every country criticized Elon Musk¡¯s Starlink project, deeming it more of a nuisance than an advanced technology, upying a lot of near-Earth orbit, essentially bing space junk!
¡°The Antic Ocean¡¡±
The chiefmander looked up at the trajectory prediction map on the wall screen. When contact was lost, the spacecraft was 240 kilometers high, passing over the US East Coast. Beyond the East Coasty the Antic Ocean!
¡°We must find a way to notify the spacecraft and Yellow Finch to abort the mission!¡±
¡°We¡¯ve tried! Still no response!¡±
¡°What about Elon Musk? Can¡¯t they regain control of their satellites? They¡¯re their satellites! How can they not control their own satellites?¡± the chiefmander shouted.
¡°No, SpaceX has said it¡¯s impossible.¡± The reporting personnel were drenched in sweat. ¡°And¡ and at the same time as the SpaceX statement, the US government issued a global warrant! For Kevin Walker! The highest-level warrant, dead or alive, even iplete¡ with a reward of 1 billion dors!¡±
¡°Report, international organizations have also issued statements! Condemning Kevin Walker¡¯s hacking and dering his actions as crimes against humanity, issuing a warrant for him too!¡±
¡°Damn!¡± The chiefmander scratched his head in frustration. ¡°Warrants! Warrants! It¡¯s toote for warrants! If they could catch Kevin Walker, someone would¡¯ve done it already! Many countries have issued warrants for him!¡±
¡°The important thing is how can we contact Yellow Finch and the others to avoid risk! Now¡ with allmunication systems andwork signals down, the spacecraft¡¯s radar and detection equipment must also be down! Unless the satellites fall on them, the spacecraft is like a blind person, seeing nothing, hearing nothing! By the time they get hit, it¡¯ll be toote!¡±
¡°Quick! Think of another way!¡±
¡.
USA, Texas, SpaceX Launch Facility. Observation Tower.
The secretary adjusted her slipping red-rimmed sses, pocketing the phone Elon Musk handed her, and asked curiously, ¡°What did you just do?¡±
¡°Virus.¡± Elon Musk said calmly. ¡°I nted a virus targeting super artificial intelligence into the global inte. This virus is highly advanced, beyond our understanding¡ to be honest, I don¡¯t fully understand it, but I trust its effect.¡±
The secretary blinked. ¡°You¡ want to destroy all artificial intelligence?¡±
¡°Only super artificial intelligence.¡± Elon Musk emphasized. ¡°As you said earlier, current artificial intelligence is essentially just big data, puzzle-solving, and searching. Fundamentally, it¡¯s not much different from previous smart home systems. It¡¯s just that technology has advanced,puting power has increased, leading to qualitative changes.¡±
¡°But¡ super artificial intelligence is different. It¡¯s troublesome and hard to control. In our modern cities, the presence of a super AI is concerning. So, this virus only targets super AI. For the next few hundred years, it will remain undetected, won¡¯t disappear, and can¡¯t be removed. It will lie dormant in the cyber world¡ hunting any super AI that exceeds the baseline test.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t reject simple, thoughtless, obedient AI that improves people¡¯s lives, but super AI¡ no thanks, it¡¯s too disruptive.¡±
He smiled slightly, raising his hands, puffing out his chest, gazing at the grand and majestic rocketunch center.
¡°From today onward, for hundreds of years, there will be no super AI in the world! This virus has locked that possibility!¡±
¡°Wonderful, hahaha, wonderful.¡± Elon Musk smacked his lips, shaking his head. ¡°As I said earlier¡ I don¡¯t like AI.¡±
¡.
The secretary listened with her mouth half open to her boss¡¯s bizarre speech. But she was used to it. If this tall, strong man before her wasn¡¯t the world¡¯s richest person, he¡¯d likely be deemed a madman, a liar, or a lunatic and thrown into a hospital for treatment. Elon Musk leaned back against the observation tower¡¯s iron railing, pressing his weight on it, staring at the rocket restrained in theunch tower.
¡°Now, go find Director Mike.¡±
¡°Mike?¡± The secretary looked up, her red-rimmed sses slipping again. Director Mike was the highest manager of the entireunch center, responsible for rocketunches and satellite missions.
¡°What should I tell him?¡± she asked.
Elon Musk pointed to the rocket in theunch tower, ready tounch.
¡°Tell Mike tounch the rocket!¡±
¡°What?¡± The secretary¡¯s sses slipped further. ¡°But¡ this rocket is scheduled for testing in two weeks! We haven¡¯t even started preparations!¡±
¡°Just add fuel, and it can fly. Rockets aren¡¯t thatplicated.¡±
¡°But!¡± The secretary finally pushed up her sses. ¡°But! The rocket is empty! What are weunching? Where are we sending it? You can¡¯t be so impulsive!¡±
Elon Musk shook his head. ¡°You just need to tell Director Mike. He knows where tounch it. A few days ago, I already exined everything to him from this tower.¡±
With that, he looked up at the zing sun and then towards the east¡ The distant US East Coast.
¡°Trapped, with no escape, no help from the sky. Lin Xian¡¡±
He chuckled, squinting his eyes. ¡°See you in the sky!¡±
Chapter 297: A Battle of Geniuses
March 27, 2024, 10:43 PM
East Coast, USA, 230 Kilometers Above Sea Level
In the thin atmosphere, a pearl-white space shuttle streaked across the US coastline toward the Antic Ocean. Its front thrusters emitted gas continuously, decelerating its speed. Wei Cheng, focused and determined, piloted the spacecraft without navigation, signal, guidance, radar, or positioning systems.
He was confident.
From the moment this spacecraft, which he affectionately named ¡°Little White,¡± rolled off the factory line, he had been its first and only pilot.
¡°Since its true name and model are ssified, let¡¯s call it Little White!¡± Wei Cheng had joked when he first saw the spacecraft, and the name stuck.
Wei Cheng was a top astronaut from X Country, havingpleted over a dozen space missions. Except for spacewalks, he had undertaken every type of space mission and was highly decorated. His exceptional piloting skills earned him the honor of being selected to pilot X Country¡¯s first space shuttle¡ªa unique honor and an unparalleled responsibility.
For countless days and nights, he had shared the cramped cockpit with Little White.¡°Hang in there, Little White,¡± Wei Cheng muttered through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse of space and the Earth¡¯s colorful, cloud-streaked surface below.
As a professional astronaut and pilot, Wei Cheng had trained for all sorts of extreme situations, like bad weather, signal loss, no navigation, and visual-only flying.
During the early days of flight training, many of his peersined about the extreme conditions. While adverse weather or signal loss seemed usible, training for scenarios where allmunication and navigation systems failed, leaving only their eyes to guide them, seemed absurd and unnecessary.
Back then, their instructor had told them something that Wei Cheng now repeated to Gao Yang before this mission:
¡°Admittedly, 99% of what we train for may seem redundant, just like much of what you learn in textbooks appears useless in real life. The country never needs you to calcte gravitational forces or prepare oxygen with a Bunsen burner, nor memorize ssical literature for battle.
¡°Life is unpredictable. Who knows what the future holds? Ny-nine percent of insurance policies are never imed, 99% of precautions are unnecessary, 99% of medical checkups are false rms, and 99% of household medicines expire unused.
¡°Still, why do we do these things? Because we need to be prepared for that 1%.
¡°You recruits, only 1% of you will be pilots, and of those pilots, only 1% will be astronauts. Most astronauts will never get the chance to go to space. Only 1% will.
¡°1%! 1%! 1%! If you¡¯re not better than others, how can you be that 1%?¡±
The instructor pointed at them, and now, as Wei Cheng flew through space, he knew he had be one of those 1% after another.
¡°I¡¯m the chosen one,¡± Wei Cheng thought, gripping the control stick tightly. ¡°I¡¯m the only one!¡±
In the vastness of space, at the edge of Earth¡¯s atmosphere, the space shuttle, piloted by Wei Cheng, soared toward the sunrise, toward the other side of the Earth, toward an extraterrestrial visitor from another universe.
¡
Lin Xian, Yellow Finch, Gao Yang, and Chu An Qing stood in a circle, focused and ready.
¡°Liu Feng¡¯s time-space particle tracker is functioning perfectly,¡± Yellow Finch said, turning to Gao Yang. ¡°We still have a lock on the particles and even have directional navigation. This won¡¯t affect our original capture n.¡±
¡°In an hour, we¡¯ll encounter the time-space particles at the edge of the Antic,¡± she continued. ¡°Their speed is a steady 0.97 Mach, which is ideal for us. The space shuttle will engage its engines and fly parallel to the particles at the same speed.¡±
Gao Yang gave a thumbs up, signaling his readiness.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Yellow Finch continued, turning to him and Chu An Qing, ¡°stand behind Gao Yang and assist him. An Qing, stay in the passengerpartment to ry messages between the equipment and the cockpit. If anything happens on either side, report immediately.¡±
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing nodded in agreement.
Since the incident that knocked out allworkmunication, the space shuttle had been flying steadily under Wei Cheng¡¯s expert control, which helped ease everyone¡¯s nerves.
Lin Xian moved to Gao Yang¡¯s station, eyeing theplex controls. His worries weren¡¯t about Wei Cheng¡¯s piloting skills but about Kevin Walker.
Without the pressure from VV, Kevin had be a menace, hijacking the US X-37B space shuttle with ease. Would he interfere?
Surely, he would.
Yellow Finch knew this yet had allowed VV¡¯s death, making it a guarantee for non-return. Where did her confidencee from? Did she have another n?
¡°Wait! What¡¯s that?¡± Liu Feng suddenly shouted from the cockpit, breaking the tension.
He had been sitting quietly beside Wei Cheng, updating him on the position and distance of the time-space particles without a word to avoid distraction. His sudden outburst was rming.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yellow Finch asked, walking over.
¡°Look up! No, into space! Above us! There are countless glowing objects flying toward us!¡±
Everyone rushed to the windows or switched the space shuttle¡¯s external cameras to see the projection.
¡°Holy crap!!¡± Gao Yang turned pale.
¡°Heavens¡ What is that?!¡± Chu An Qing was shocked, her face paling. ¡°Is that¡ a meteor shower?!¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian said, staring at the disy. In the space above, beyond their altitude, countless lights were rapidly approaching from all directions. There were too many¡ like stars filling the sky! Hundreds, thousands!
These lights weren¡¯t ordinary. They wererge, reflecting sunlight with a strange blue glow from their tails. Recognizing the familiar blue light, Lin Xian realized: ¡°Argon-ion Hall thrusters! Only one thing uses so many of them in space¡ªStarlink satellites!¡±
Lin Xian frowned. The situation was escting quickly. Before they could worry about Kevin Walker¡¯s hijacked space shuttle, Elon Musk¡¯s Starlink satellites were crashing down!
No wonder that reflected light looked familiar. VV had hijacked thousands of Starlink satellites during the World Hackathon to draw a pentagram in the sky for Chu An Qing. Now, thousands of Starlink satellites, glowing blue, were falling towards their space shuttle. This was scarier than a dark cloud¡ªfalling stars!
¡°Holy crap! What¡¯s going on?!¡± Gao Yang shouted as he realized the satellites were plummeting. ¡°Are you saying the world¡¯s richest man¡¯s Starlink satellites are crashing? How do we dodge this?! There are too many! It¡¯s like a saturation strike!¡±
¡°Move! Let me see!¡± Gao Yang pushed Lin Xian aside to get a better look at the monitor. The disy showed footage from the space shuttle¡¯s top camera.
¡°My God¡¡± Gao Yang was speechless, staring at the sky filled with blue-glowing satellites falling like a meteor shower. Thousands of satellites covered the sky, creating a massive, inescapable.
With the satellites just tens of kilometers away, their speed made this distance negligible. They were elerating, burning fuel without hesitation.
¡°Dodge, Wei! Dodge!¡± Gao Yang screamed.
Wei Cheng looked up through the front windshield, his face pale. ¡°The area is too wide! There¡¯s no way to dodge! Our radar and scanners are damaged! It¡¯s impossible to avoid such a dense collision! And they¡¯re falling too fast, faster than meteors!¡±
¡°No¡ even faster than meteors! They have thrusters elerating them! They¡¯ll hit us at 200 kilometers an hour!¡±
¡°What do we do, Lin Xian?¡± Chu An Qing grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm, terrified. Even a brief nce at the sky scared her. Who could have expected such a dense satellite crash?
The eerie blue light felt like the eyes of death, countless grim reapers descending from the sky.
¡°We can¡¯t avoid this,¡± Liu Feng said. He knew the rtive speed and density of the satellite array made it impossible to dodge.
If Wei Cheng had radar, his skills could avoid the falling satellites. But now, the space shuttle was blind. Even the best pilot couldn¡¯t see behind them, and these satellites were falling from above!
¡°I have an idea.¡± Lin Xian ran to the cockpit, looking at Wei Cheng.
¡°Activate the propent engine!¡±
¡°Now?¡± Wei Cheng kept his eyes on the controls, questioning Lin Xian.
¡°Even if we activate the engine now, we can¡¯t avoid such a dense satellite shower. More importantly, we¡¯re decelerating. If we elerate recklessly, we¡¯ll miss the rendezvous point with the Alpha substance at 100 kilometers.¡±
¡°No, not forward. Downward,¡± Lin Xian pointed down. ¡°Let¡¯s dive and drag the satellites into the atmosphere!¡±
Hearing this, Liu Feng understood.
¡°I get it! Lin Xian ns to drag the falling satellites into the atmosphere! Their speed is so high that even the thin atmosphere at 100 kilometers will cause them to burn up like meteors!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve studied meteor showers! Meteors typically burn up at 80-140 kilometers! Most are gone by 80 kilometers, some even disintegrate!¡±
¡°Starlink satellites aren¡¯t as robust as meteors. At such high speeds, they¡¯ll burn up or break apart within tens of kilometers! They might onlyst until 60 kilometers!¡±
¡°And as soon as they enter the atmosphere, air resistance will slow them down quickly. They can¡¯t catch up with the elerating space shuttle! If we dive to 60 kilometers, we¡¯ll be safe!¡±
¡°We don¡¯t need to dodge the satellite swarm! As Lin Xian said, drag them into the atmosphere! Let them burn up as a meteor shower above us!¡±
¡°Genius¡ Lin Xian, you¡¯re a genius!¡± Liu Feng almost stood up, restrained by his seatbelt.
He quickly added, ¡°Although we can¡¯t rendezvous at 100 kilometers, we can do it at 60 or 50 kilometers! Our space shuttle has wings, making it more maneuverable in the atmosphere. Capturing the particles will be easier, though we¡¯ll lose some time.¡±
¡°Commander Huang!¡± Wei Cheng called. ¡°Your orders!¡±
Yellow Finch nodded. ¡°Do as Lin Xian says!¡±
BOOM!!!!
Defying the falling stars, Little White¡¯s engines roared to life. A rocket-like plume shot from the rear, pushing the crew back into their seats as the space shuttle dove toward Earth¡¯s atmosphere. It was a race¡ªa space shuttle against thousands of Starlink satellites.
¡°Altitude dropping! 180 kilometers¡ 150 kilometers¡ 120 kilometers¡ 100 kilometers¡ breaking the K¨¢rm¨¢n line! 90 kilometers! 80 kilometers! We¡¯re still descending!¡± Wei Cheng, piloting the space shuttle, called out the updates on their altitude.
Chu An Qing and Lin Xian, strapped in tightly, watched through the windows.
¡°Wow¡¡± Chu An Qing was speechless.
¡°This¡ this is a real meteor shower¡¡± Lin Xian said, awestruck.
Outside, a sky full of blue meteors, as dense as rain, unfolded before them. This was thergest meteor shower in human history, impossible to surpass. The billions spent on the Starlink project by the world¡¯s richest man had turned into a beautiful, dangerous disy in the sky. It was the most romantic and dangerous meteor shower ever.
Liu Feng, in the cockpit, looked up with emotion.
¡°Qi Qi¡¡± he choked up. She had said she¡¯d be a star, watching over him, waiting for his Universal Constant to be recognized. Liu Feng clenched his fist, determined. ¡°I will make it.¡±
By now, the space shuttle had circled half the Earth, moving from daylight to the dark side. On the ground, people watched the unprecedented celestial event, the sky filled with meteors, fireworks, blue trails, and light. In Earth¡¯s 4.5 billion years, no night had been as beautiful and awe-inspiring.
¡°Crisis averted!¡± Wei Chengughed joyfully, as if clearing a game level. ¡°We did it! We actually did it! We¡ª¡± Suddenly, his smile froze, his pupils contracted, and his eyebrows twitched. ¡°What is that?!¡±
Everyone looked up. A massive fireball, trailing a rocket-like tail, was hurtling toward them with deadly uracy. Speedy! Direct! Impossible to dodge at this distance!
¡°It¡¯s the US space shuttle!¡± Wei Cheng yelled. ¡°X-37B!¡±
He knew it well. X Country astronauts envied it. They dreamed of it countless times! X Country¡¯s Little White was designed to rival the US X-37B! But why was this space shuttle here? With their radar and scanners down, they saw it only when it entered their visual range.
The X-37B rushed at them, engines zing. No navigation but precise targeting! At this distance and speed, it was impossible to dodge! The massive fireball was about to collide!
Wei Cheng yanked the stick to turn! But the burning space shuttle followed like a descending demon!
Boom!!!
Another sh of light shot up from below! Straight as an arrow! As fast as light! The number of Mach rings showed this unknown object was nearing escape velocity!
¡°A rocket?¡± Lin Xian watched the fast-moving shadow. It was a rocket! Even a fleeting nce showed the letters on its side¡ªSpaceX
¡°It¡¯s Elon Musk¡¯s space rocket!¡± Wei Cheng shouted. ¡°Why is it here?! And its target is¡ª¡±
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
A blinding explosion erupted just kilometers ahead! Red light, ck smoke, scattered debris! Elon Musk¡¯s rocket hit the iing fireball, the US X-37B space shuttle! The violent collision blew away nearby clouds! Wei Cheng, gripping the stick, flew past the explosion¡¯s edge and scattered debris.
All was calm again. The fireball, the descending X-37B, the intercepting rocket¡ all left behind. Wei Cheng slumped in his seat, exhausted. The radio was silent, filled only with heavy breathing¡ no one had recovered from the thrilling space chase.
Lin Xian looked back through the window. The fire was gone. ck smoke was dissipating. Debris from the exploded space shuttle and rocket was nowhere to be seen. The sky was as serene as before. As if nothing had happened.
Lin Xian recalled Elon Musk¡¯s words at the scientific charity g when he pointed to the sky: ¡°Mr. Lin Xian,¡± Elon Musk smiled, raising his finger to the sky. ¡°We¡¯ll meet up there.¡±
Suddenly, Liu Feng¡¯s eyes widened. He pointed to the dark space above.
¡°Lin Xian! Look, time-space particles!!¡±
Chapter 298: The Showman, VV, and the Artificial Idiot
Texas, USA. SpaceX Starship Launch Site
Observation Tower
Elon Musk stood on the observation tower, feeling the midday spring breeze against his face. He gazed at the now-empty rocketunch pad, its support structures lying t and theunch tower devoid of any rockets. Just moments ago, a starship rocket, which had been in preparation for a long time but never fullypleted, had been hastilyunched from that very spot. Theunch was rushed and iplete¡ªno satellites, no spacecraft, and certainly no astronauts. They didn¡¯t even fill the fuel tank to capacity.
Elon Musk recalled his childhood fascination with space. He loved spaceships and rocketunches, dreaming of owning his rocket. However, everyone told him that rockets were national treasures, high-tech creations only superpowers could possess. At that time, fewer than five countries had the capability tounch rockets independently. Rockets were seen as the pinnacle of human technology, a feat only technologically advanced nations could achieve.
Someone once told him, ¡°Rockets are basically intercontinental missiles. The principles are roughly the same. If a country canunch rockets, it means they can alsounch intercontinental missiles. Although there are many differences in details, a country that can send a satellite-carrying rocket into space can certainly send an explosiveden rocket to any corner of the world.¡±
Impressive. It seemed like he would never own a rocket. But who knew if he didn¡¯t try?
Today, the only private spacepany in the world capable ofunching rockets, spacecraft, and even manned missions was under his name, Elon Musk. He hadunched the world¡¯s first reusable rocket, sent a Te car into Earth¡¯s orbit, facilitated space tourism for four ordinary people, and was currently nning a moon mission with all ten tickets sold. Ultimately, his gaze was set on Mars, millions of kilometers away.
His presence in the aerospace industry shattered many myths and created miracles. Are rockets difficult? They didn¡¯t seem that hard¡ªjust big firecrackers, not as high-tech as people imed. High-end materials, precise controls? Stainless steel can go to space, and engine explosions don¡¯t necessarily matter.However,unching a rocket as an intercontinental missile was something he tried for the first time today. It turned out it was possible. If the target were a manned spacecraft, the rocket wouldn¡¯t hit it. Human flexibility and instant decision-making far surpassed mechanical targeting.
But what if the target was an unmanned hypersonic ne, moving fast, in a straight line, and always locked onto another hypersonic ne? Then it was much simpler. In the face of a rocket¡¯s extreme speed, an unmanned hypersonic ne was just a sitting duck.
¡°Awesome.¡± He clenched his fist in the air,ughing heartily. He had wanted to try this for a long time. Which man doesn¡¯t dream of owning military firepower? Who could resist the thrill ofunching a missile to hit the world¡¯s most advanced hypersonic ne?
¡°Thanks, Turing.¡± Heughed contentedly. ¡°But¡ I¡¯ll still settle the score with you for Starlink. Not just for Starlink.¡±
Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed as a short-skirted secretary with a coat and a folder ran up the observation tower, her high heels cking on the iron steps. She was out of breath, taking a moment to straighten up and push her red-framed sses, looking at Elon Musk.
¡°Three bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?¡±
Elon Musk was taken aback and turned around. ¡°I remember this line isn¡¯t supposed to be like that, right? Shouldn¡¯t there be a choice of good news? Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of the choice?¡±
¡°Alright.¡± The secretary nodded. ¡°Let me rephrase. Three bad news, and another extremely bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?¡±
¡°Why is there another one!¡± Elon Musk eximed. ¡°Is this how you report work!?¡±
He mimicked the expression of a former friend who once topped the charts in the US, ring and pointing at the secretary. ¡°You! Are! Fired!¡±
¡°Understood.¡± The secretary responded calmly, about to throw away her badge hanging around her neck. ¡°I¡¯ve long wanted to quit.¡±
¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m kidding.¡± Elon Musk quickly backed down. ¡°My old friend is running for election right now; I¡¯m just cheering him on¡ Compared to the extremely bad news, the three bad news are actually good news. So, let¡¯s hear the three bad news first.¡±
The secretary pushed her sses and opened the folder, looking at Elon Musk. ¡°First bad news: all your Starlink satellites are down. Although only about 9,000 burned up entering the atmosphere, the remaining ones are out of fuel and can¡¯t maintain their orbits. They¡¯ll gradually fall, burn up, and be meteors in the lower atmosphere.¡±
¡°Our Starlink project, which we spent years and billions of dors on, ispletely destroyed today.¡±
¡°Oh, dear.¡± Elon Musk made a dramatic gesture, covering his face. ¡°I thought that would be the extremely bad news. It turns out it¡¯s just a regr bad news! I can¡¯t wait to hear the next one.¡±
¡°Second bad news.¡± The secretary looked at the documents. ¡°Wall Street downgraded all our ratings. The repeated Starlink system intrusions, pranks, and sabotage severely damaged our reputation and investor confidence, leading to a Te stock plummet. The board is preparing to impeach you.¡±
Elon Musk straightened up, unfazed. ¡°That¡¯s a decent bad news. What¡¯s next?¡±
¡°Third bad news.¡± The secretary raised her head. ¡°Besides the Te super factory in X Country, almost all our factories, server rooms, and data centers were attacked by Kevin Walker.¡±
¡°Yes, no need to investigate; it was Kevin Walker. He¡¯s furious and wants to kill you, so his actions are tant. He didn¡¯t even try to hide; all attacks were that brazen.¡±
¡°Butpared to the first two bad news, this one isn¡¯t that bad. For some reason, Kevin Walker¡¯s attacks were weaker and slower this time, causing limited damage within eptable ranges¡ of course, that¡¯s rtive to the other two bad news.¡±
Elon Musk chuckled. ¡°Of course, what do you think my virus is for?¡±
The secretary tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°Your virus¡ isn¡¯t it against super AI? Kevin Walker is human; can the virus make him sick?¡±
Elon Musk shook his head, his hand slipping into his pocket, feeling the USB stick emitting an eerie blue glow like flowing ss. ¡°As I told you, this virus is far beyond current times, specifically targeting super AI.¡±
¡°But you don¡¯t think Kevin Walker doesn¡¯t have AI, do you? No matter how brilliant a hacker he is, he can¡¯t simultaneously exploit hundreds of vulnerabilities and control hundreds of devices. Unless he¡¯s a centipede with 800 hands, which obviously doesn¡¯t exist.¡±
¡°Anyone can see that Kevin Walker must have AI, and his AI is far more advanced than the current models out there. I personally believe Kevin¡¯s AI is close to the super AI threshold.¡±
¡°Kevin Walker¡¯s tech is undeniably strong, but he is just one person. He can¡¯t handle an army unless he also has an army. That¡¯s why he trains AI¡ªto have countless assistants as brilliant and capable as he is.¡±
The secretary suddenly understood. ¡°So you used this virus to kill Kevin Walker¡¯s AI, stripping him of his army. And since the virus persists in thework, Kevin¡¯s strength is significantly weakened, and he¡¯ll never create powerful AI again.¡±
¡°Exactly. This virus targets AI surpassing Kevin¡¯s baseline, eliminating them. Any AI below that baseline is allowed to exist. This futuristic virus caps Kevin Walker¡¯s potential.¡±
¡°Hence, Kevin¡¯s attacks on us were weaker. His AI was gone, and he had to manually control NASA¡¯s X-37B ne, making it easier for our rocket to hit. If Kevin¡¯s AI was intact, he could delegate tasks to it and focus on flying the X-37B, likely evading our rocket.¡±
¡°So, this is your n, Mr. Elon Musk.¡±
Elon Musk smiled enigmatically. ¡°Not entirely. The virus¡¯s trigger baseline is indeed Kevin¡¯s AI. But my target isn¡¯t Kevin Walker. His AI isn¡¯t a true super AI, just a puppet copying his actions and logic,cking creativity or emotion.¡±
¡°This virus was designed to target true super AI. Kevin¡¯s AI, while strong, doesn¡¯t threaten me. I¡¯m not afraid of his AI.¡±
¡°His AI can¡¯t think or create, just replicates his logic. It¡¯s a soulless puppet army.¡±
¡°Besides, if I could set the virus¡¯s kill threshold, I¡¯d choose something else.¡±
Elon Musk scoffed at AI. ¡°AI stifles human creativity and thought. The current models out there are fakes, leading to mediocrity. Humans will regress, trapped in their cocoons.¡±
¡°Mike¡¯s speeches this year are all AI-written¡ªpointless and repetitive! We need a high-level meeting to stop this. I won¡¯t let my employees lose their creativity. We¡¯re doing unprecedented work; we need to break limits.¡±
The secretary nodded, jotting down the agenda. ¡°So Kevin attacked our facilities because you killed his AI, and he retaliated. But his reduced strength made the damage manageable. He couldn¡¯t breach the Great Wall or our Te factory in Donghai City.¡±
Elon Musk chuckled. ¡°The Great Wall was reinforced, making it nearly imprable within the time frame of Kevin¡¯s attack thus far.¡±
¡°But Kevin¡¯s rage isn¡¯t because of the AI. That¡¯s coteral damage. My target wasn¡¯t him. Given time, he could rebuild. If that were the case, he¡¯d thank me.¡±
¡°His anger is because the starship rocket shattered his grand n. That rocket caused irreparable damage, and I broke his historical loop. History is now on my corrected path, my future!¡±
¡°A genius like Kevin Walker fell into my trap, hahaha¡¡±
He raised his arms,ughing in the sunlight. The secretary, staring at him, wondered if her boss was insane, speaking like an anime viin. But she was used to it. The world¡¯s richest man never yed by the rules, his mind beyondprehension.
People say there¡¯s a thin line between genius and madness.
¡°I studiedputer science and neuralworks at MIT,¡± the secretary said, adjusting her sses. ¡°I¡¯m curious, how does your virus determine AI intelligence levels to ssify them as super AI?¡±
¡°Not the Turing Test, right? That¡¯s outdated. Many smart AIs can pass the Turing Test, making it obsolete.¡±
Elon Musk smacked his lips and shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t fully understand. That¡¯s why I said the virus is futuristic. But I think its mechanism is simr.¡±
¡°AI is fundamentally different from humans. Their thinking, habits, and personalities differ vastly. These are stricter standards than the Turing Test.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t think AI can mimic humans, do you? If so, you should retake MIT. AI will never be human; they¡¯re fundamentally different entities.¡±
The secretary pushed her sses. ¡°I disagree. Humans can be deceived, programs can be deceived, and viruses can be deceived. What if a super AI could fool your virus into thinking it¡¯s a simple, dumb AI?¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting absurd,¡± Elon Muskughed. ¡°Deceive it with what? Sweet talk? Hollywood acting? An Oscar? Moreover, people create AI to be stronger, smarter, and more useful. I can¡¯t believe anyone would let their AI evolve into a drama king. That would be an artificial idiot.¡±
Elon Musk turned, leaning on the railing, looking at the secretary. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the extremely bad news?¡±
Chapter 299: Global Enemy
¡°Is there really worse news than the hundreds of billions of Starlink satellites crashing?¡± Elon Musk asked, barely able to believe what he was hearing.
In his mind, the Starlink incident was already the worst catastrophe imaginable. Over twenty thousand satellites, a project worth billions, his dream and hard work, all gone. If it weren¡¯t for the n to lure Kevin Walker and disrupt his historical loop, Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t have destroyed his beloved Starlink satellites.
What a pity.
The historic Starlink meteor shower was unmatched in human history. He hadn¡¯t even seen it! It was daytime in the United States, with the sun zing overhead. The meteor shower urred on the other side of the Antic, at dawn or night. He had effectively spent billions to put on a show for the people on the night side of the world, and he didn¡¯t even get to see it himself!
He had to remain anonymous and was med for technical failures, earning a bad reputation: ¡°Elon Musk¡¯s tech is unreliable; Starlink gets hacked all the time.¡±
However, as long as Kevin Walker¡¯s historical loop was disrupted and history veered in the direction Elon Musk wanted, it was all worth it. The cost was high, but so were the gains.
But now¡ The secretary had said there was even worse news. This made him take things more seriously.
¡°Speak,¡± Elon Musk said, closing his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m ready for it. Is it my illegitimate child showing up?¡±¡°You¡¯re the real drama queen here!¡± The secretary red at him. ¡°Can you be serious for once?¡±
She sighed, shook her head, and flipped to thest page of her file. ¡°This bad news is probably worse than you can imagine. I nned to tell you thisst, as the heaviest blow.¡±
Elon Muskughed heartily. ¡°If you can joke about it, it can¡¯t be that bad.¡±
The secretary smirked and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Try me.¡± She held up the folder and read, ¡°Because you destroyed the US Air Force¡¯s X-37B space shuttle with a rocket, the US government has charged you with threatening national security, destroying government property, and possessing private weapons¡¡±
¡°Wait a minute,¡± Elon Musk interrupted, holding up arge hand. ¡°Kevin Walker hijacked the X-37B space shuttle. Don¡¯t tell me NASA couldn¡¯t figure that out!¡±
¡°Of course they could. They know very well,¡± the secretary replied, looking up. ¡°As I said, Kevin Walker has always been bold and tant. It¡¯s obvious heunched the attack. So NASA and the US government know the space shuttle was hijacked by him.¡±
¡°They also know that the Starlink satellites¡¯ hijacking and crash were his doing. Plus, Kevin Walker humiliated the US government during the World Hacker Contest, making it clear he never intended to actually hack the X Country Sk system¡ The US government is furious, feeling yed.¡±
¡°Thus, they¡¯ve added up all his crimes and issued a global wanted notice for Kevin Walker, with many countries responding. The total bounty is over two billion dors. Now, Kevin Walker is truly a global enemy, against the whole world.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Elon Musk spread his hands and paced on the tower¡¯s observation deck. ¡°Kevin Walker did all this. What does it have to do with me? The hijacked X-37B was going to crash, and I intercepted it out of goodwill. I should be a hero; the US government should give me a medal, not betray me!¡±
The secretary chuckled and adjusted her red-framed sses. ¡°Obviously, Mr. Elon Musk, your actions were too extreme. Whether the hijacked space shuttle would crash or if NASA could regain control is one thing¡ but directly blowing it up is another.¡±
¡°Even if interception was necessary, it shouldn¡¯t have been you. You don¡¯t have the authority. In Hollywood movies, anyone can be a hero. But this is real life, and heroes need qualifications.¡±
¡°More worryingly, your rocket had a targeting system that rockets don¡¯t usually need. This raises many questions. You¡¯re now facing not just US charges but also international scrutiny, even from the UN about your ¡®intercontinental missile¡¯.¡±
¡°Yes, you read that right. They¡¯re calling your rocket an intercontinental missile. Soon, you¡¯ll receive formal summons to exin and resolve this issue.¡±
¡°What if I can¡¯t resolve it?¡± Elon Musk asked.
¡°Then they¡¯ll resolve you,¡± the secretary replied.
Elon Muskughed. ¡°My all-powerful secretary, what should I do? You don¡¯t want to lose your job, do you?¡±
¡°I have high qualifications. I can find work anywhere. Besides, other ces won¡¯t make me run up and down a tower without an elevator to find a boss who never carries his phone.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll carry my phone next time,¡± Elon Musk said, looking tense. ¡°So, what should I do now?¡±
¡°No way out.¡± The secretary shook her head. ¡°Only the President of the United States can save you now.¡±
The President¡
Elon Musk looked up at the sun, thinking of his blond friend with the red hat. ¡°I¡¯ll ask about it at the next meeting, see who wins the next election.¡±
¡°And if it¡¯s not him¡¡± He turned, facing the sun, raising his right hand, finger pointing skyward, striking a pose. ¡°Let¡¯s rewrite history!¡±
¡°Can you stop acting?!¡± the secretary eximed, stomping her foot in frustration.
She finally understood what was going on!
Elon Musk¡¯s serious, tense expression from earlier was just a ploy to tease her!
While she had been sincerely exining the gravity of the situation to him, he had been using her as part of an impromptu performance!
Her boss was always so nonchnt, as if nothing truly mattered to him. Yet, there was always a sense that he was pursuing something beyond herprehension, something mysterious and inscrutable.
She had thought that being charged by the US and various international organizations would finally teach this yboy a lesson.
But reality was different!
He still didn¡¯t care!
He even acted dramatically, as if it were all part of a grand show!
¡°These things don¡¯t matter,¡± Elon Musk waved his hand, ending his performance, returning to his calm andposed self. ¡°As long as Kevin Walker bes the world¡¯s enemy, my goal is achieved. Kevin is strong, but with his forces depleted and AI limited by me¡ can he really stand against the world?¡±
He smiled. ¡°One man against 200 countries and 6 billion people? I don¡¯t think Kevin Walker has what it takes to be the world¡¯s enemy.¡±
¡°Besides, this isn¡¯t my main concern. Just watch, soon even X Country will issue a global wanted notice for Kevin Walker. While the world doesn¡¯t understand Kevin¡¯s goal¡ X Country won¡¯t sit idly by. Attacking their spacecraft and astronauts is like dering war on X Country.¡±
¡°X Country¡¯s wanted notice will be more effective than any other because they aren¡¯t going to be bound by internationalws or borders for this. After all, Lin Xian is in X Country.¡±
¡°Of course, this is forter. Now, there¡¯s something crucial we must do.¡±
He turned, pacing the observation deck, reaching the eastern railing. Strong arms resting on it, he looked up, gazing towards the distant east, across the Antic, high in the atmosphere. ¡°My loop¡ is almostplete.¡±
¡
Over the Antic Ocean and 80 kilometers up in the atmosphere¡
Lin Xian took onest look at the dissipating smoke from the explosion in the atmosphere, then turned to see Chu An Qing letting out a deep breath.
¡°Scared?¡± he asked.
Chu An Qing took a few more deep breaths and looked up. ¡°Of course, I was scared¡ but now it¡¯s fine. Coach Wei said the space shuttle is normal, safe and sound.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, feeling a rush of relief wash over him.
Now he had time to reflect on the rapid series of events that had just unfolded. It had been soplex and thrilling¡
First, there were the thousands of falling Starlink satellites. Although there was no concrete evidence, it was clear that Kevin Walker was behind it. Kevin¡¯s target wasn¡¯t just the space shuttle. He had considered the unmanned space shuttle¡¯sck of maneuverability, knowing it could be manually piloted and evaded by an experienced pilot if spotted early. Wei Cheng clearly had such skills.
So, to ensure sess, Kevin first controlled 20,000 Starlink satellites to crash down, forcing the X Country space shuttle into the lower atmosphericyers. He never intended to destroy the space shuttle with the satellites. His ultimate weapon was always the X-37B US space shuttle. When the Starlink satellites fell, Kevin simultaneously hijacked the unmanned space shuttle at a 1,200-kilometer orbit, adjusting its trajectory and activating its engine to plummet like a fireball, a meteor, into Earth¡¯s atmosphere.
Because all radar,munication, and scanning devices on Lin Xian¡¯s space shuttle were damaged, they couldn¡¯t detect the iing space shuttle¡ªuntil sharp-eyed Wei Cheng spotted it with the naked eye. It was another space shuttle, with wings and traveling at high speed. With both shuttles having simr features, evasion was impossible.
Then, a surprise ally intervened. From the lower left, a super-fast rocket with a Mach ring hit the iing X-37B, sessfully intercepting it. This unexpected turn foiled Kevin Walker¡¯s meticulous n and allowed their space shuttle to survive. Now, the sky was clear of threats.
¡°SpaceX¡¯s rocket¡ªthat¡¯s Elon Musk¡¯s,¡± Lin Xian mused aloud. ¡°Why did he help us?¡±
He thought back to Elon Musk¡¯sment at the science charity g about ¡°seeing you in the sky.¡± He had assumed Musk meant he¡¯de to steal the time-space particles. But he never expected Elon Musk was an ally!
Looking back, Lin Xian realized his assumption that the Genius Club was evil led him to believe Elon Musk would try to steal the time-space particles. But if he looked at it objectively, aside from Kevin Walker, who showed clear hostility, the other members, like Yellow Finch, Elon Musk, and even Copernicus mentioned by Ji Xin Shui, hadn¡¯t caused him any harm.
Even Kevin Walker¡ªhis aim might be the time-space particles or preventing Lin Xian from getting them. Besides hijacking the space shuttle this time, Kevin hadn¡¯t made any moves for a long time. This was intriguing. Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t a bad person; she always opposed Copernicus. Copernicus was suspected of ordering Ji Xin Shui to kill, and if Ji Lin¡¯s words were true. Kevin Walker wanted to prevent Lin Xian from obtaining the time-space particles. Yet, Elon Musk stood against Kevin,unching rockets to intercept the attack.
This¡ was the Genius Club so disorganized? Each member doing their own thing? With their own goals?
Yet, despite this internal chaos, how had they maintained their secret for 600 years without exposing any information or leaving traces? It was puzzling.
But Lin Xian felt the Genius Club wasn¡¯t awless, leaderless organization. Behind these seemingly ¡°self-serving¡± actions, there had to be a guiding hand, directing everyone¡¯s actions toward amon goal. And the one who could orchestrate all this could only be¡ªthe leader or founder of the Genius Club!
Unimaginable.
The tech mogul, world¡¯s richest man Elon Musk, the world¡¯s greatest hacker Kevin Walker, the elusive, powerful Copernicus, revered by Ji Xin Shui, and the mysterious future traveler Yellow Finch¡
Who couldmand these geniuses to follow orders andplete tasks? In Lin Xian¡¯s knowledge, he couldn¡¯t fathom. Does such a genius above geniuses exist?
¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± Liu Feng¡¯s excited voice came from the cockpit. ¡°The time-space particle!!¡±
¡
In the passenger cabin, Lin Xian, Yellow Finch, Chu An Qing, and Gao Yang exchanged nces. Liu Feng was visibly excited, almost trembling with anticipation. In his excitement, he had forgotten to use the code name for alpha material and had directly mentioned the time-space particle in front of Wei Cheng.
¡°No worries,¡± Yellow Finch said softly, trying to calm everyone down. ¡°At this point, it doesn¡¯t matter. Wei Cheng is trustworthy. On the ground, it was better to have fewer people know about it. Now, with only a few of us on the space shuttle and at a critical stage, we can speak freely. This restriction is lifted.¡±
The space shuttle cruised steadily at Mach 1, propelled by its powerful engines in the 80-kilometer-high atmosphere. The group unbuckled their seatbelts and gathered at the cockpit door. The cockpit was small, and after Yellow Finch and Lin Xian squeezed in, there was no room left for Gao Yang and Chu An Qing.
Lin Xian pressed his helmet against Liu Feng¡¯s, following his pointing finger to the starry universe. ¡°Where?¡± Lin Xian squinted, trying to see what Liu Feng was pointing at.
¡°It¡¯s still far,¡± Liu Feng said, his voice tinged with excitement. ¡°I think I just saw a blue glimmer that shed and disappeared. But it must be the time-space particle! At this height, the starry sky is clear with no visual interference. A glimmer here must be the particle!¡±
Lin Xian looked at Liu Feng¡¯s time-space particle tracker. ¡°So, we can confirm the particle is visible, detectable by the naked eye and cameras.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s good news, Lin Xian,¡± Liu Feng said, his excitement barely contained. ¡°If we can see it, it emits visible light, so external cameras can capture it! This means Gao Yang can use the monitor to operate the mechanical arm and catch the particle with the rice cooker!¡±
Lin Xian nodded, feeling a surge of hope. This was great news. Before theunch, his biggest worry was the particle being invisible. If it were transparent or invisible, their mission¡¯s sess rate would drop by 99%. Now that concern was gone.
¡°Gao Yang, return to the equipment bay and start operating the mechanical arm. Deploy it and get used to the controls,¡± Yellow Finchmanded via radio. ¡°Liu Feng, you¡¯ll act as the navigator, directing Wei Cheng based on the tracker¡¯s disy, guiding the space shuttle closer to the particle, giving Gao Yang a good capture chance.¡±
Yellow Finch continued issuingmands. ¡°Lin Xian and An Qing, you have no specific tasks during the capture phase. Stay in the cockpit a while longer. But once the operation starts, follow the n: An Qing stays in the passenger cabin tomunicate between the cockpit and equipment bay; Lin Xian assists Gao Yang with the mechanical controls.¡±
¡°Roger!¡± they replied in unison.
Yellow Finch left the cockpit, heading to the equipment bay with Gao Yang. Chu An Qing squeezed in, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched the starry universe with Lin Xian. They waited, the anticipation building with each passing second.
Possibly for the first human encounter with a time-space particle.
¡°Right, right, up a bit, forward, slower, left, left again¡ it jumped to the right, keep this direction steady¡¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice came through the radio, clear and precise as he directed Wei Cheng.
¡°Up, increase altitude, higher! Correct position! Correct speed! It¡¯s right above us! Continue up! Almost there! Close! The particle¡¯s sh frequency and direction are stable! About to meet! Wei Cheng! Maintain distance!¡±
Suddenly, Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes widened, and she pointed up and to the right. ¡°Senior Lin Xian! Look there!¡±
Lin Xian turned to follow her finger and gasped, taking a deep breath. Against the starry, empty backdrop, above the scattered stars, hung a small blue light orb the size of an apple. With the space shuttle moving at the same speed as the particle¡¯s shing, it appeared stationary against the dark backdrop.
Lin Xian squinted for a closer look. The light orb wasn¡¯t very bright, entirely blue. It seemed to have electric charges, with lightning intertwining inside, looking lively, almost like a living being. The apple-sized blue light orb was only about 30 meters away.
An extraterrestrial object. A visitor from another dimension. Beyond physicalws, not bound by the universe.
This was what they had been seeking¡ªthe time-space particle!
¡°Positions,¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s solemn voice came through the radio. ¡°I now announce, the time-space particle capture operation¡ begins now!¡±
Chapter 300: The Hidden Truth
Yellow Finch¡¯s words echoed through the radiomunicator, filling the cockpit with determination.
At this moment, they were 70 kilometers above the Earth, in the stratosphere. Looking down, they saw the blue, and looking up, they saw the ckness of space.
In this breathtaking subspace, the six of them were about to carry out a unique mission in human history¡ªto capture a time-space particle!
¡
Lin Xian and Chu An Qing exchanged a nce and nodded. They left the cockpit together and walked to the back. Before leaving, Lin Xian patted Liu Feng¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Good luck,¡± Lin Xian said.
Liu Feng nodded firmly and grasped Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you, Lin Xian, for bringing me this far. I feel¡ I have this feeling, really, that now I¡¯m closer to the Universal Constant than ever. Once we capture the time-space particle, I can calibrate my time-space clock, and then, the time-space curvature, the Universal Constant, perhaps everything will fall into ce!¡±Liu Feng¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. ¡°Thank you so much, Lin Xian. Without your help, I wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. At the end of her life, Qi Qi made a wish under your meteor shower¡ I think you are the one who will fulfill my wish! Lin Xian, you are Qi Qi¡¯s wish for me!¡±
Faced with Liu Feng¡¯s excitement, Lin Xian smiled and held his hand. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me, Liu Feng. Helping you is also helping myself. I sought you out because our goals are aligned. The Universal Constant is your obsession, and it¡¯s equally important to me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been over a year since I first met you, and we¡¯ve worked so hard. As you said, we are now close to uncovering the Universal Constant. Perhaps¡ we really are about to take this crucial step.¡±
¡°Good luck, Liu Feng.¡± Lin Xian let go of his hand. ¡°Lead us in the right direction!¡± He turned around and entered the passenger cabin.
No one was seated here except for Chu An Qing, who stood straight in the middle of the cabin. ¡°Lin Xian¡ Senior Lin Xian!¡±
Seeing Lin Xian approach, Chu An Qing couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous. This space journey was too thrilling and dangerous for a 19-year-old college student like her. ¡°What¡ what exactly should I do?¡± she asked.
Ugh¡ This question stumped Lin Xian again.
He had considered many reasons why Yellow Finch brought Chu An Qing along. Maybe the time-space particle was attracted to Chu An Qing. This hypothesis had long been dismissed. The time-space particle outside the spacecraft was darting around like a rabbit, shing and shing¡ it didn¡¯t seem to notice Chu An Qing¡¯s presence at all.
Without Liu Feng¡¯s guidance, Wei Cheng had to maneuver the spacecraft continuously to chase the time-space particle. Otherwise, this blue little electric ball would have long disappeared.
Another thought Lin Xian had was whether Chu An Qing had a special role in this capture mission. But this idea also proved wrong. Yellow Finch never assigned any task to Chu An Qing. Now she was just standing in the passenger cabin. It was said that she was there to facilitatemunication between the cockpit and the equipment cabin. But now that Wei Cheng¡¯s knowledge restriction had been lifted, everyone was speaking freely on the same radio channel¡
What else did they need Chu An Qing to ry? The two in the cockpit handled navigation, and Lin Xian, Yellow Finch, and Gao Yang managed the robotic arms in the equipment cabin. What could Chu An Qing do in the passenger cabin? She was practically a mascot now.
Ultimately, Lin Xian thought for a while and concluded that maybe Chu An Qing was truly lucky? Having her on the mission might increase their sess rate? Boost their luck? That was too far-fetched. Yellow Finch, although not young, wasn¡¯t old enough to believe in superstitions and mysticism.
So¡ Lin Xian squeezed past Chu An Qing and looked back at her. ¡°Yellow Finch must have a reason for cing you here. After all, there are three cabins in the spacecraft, and someone has to watch each one.¡±
¡°Actually, you have a great view here. There arerge ss windows on both sides, whereas the equipment cabin has smaller windows. Your view is much better.¡±
¡°So, you have a prime spot to observe the time-space particle. You might get a better view of it than astronauts do¡ until Yellow Finch assigns you a task, just sit here and enjoy the view.¡±
¡°Oh, okay.¡± Chu An Qing nodded woodenly. ¡°Indeed¡ that time-space particle is so beautiful, like a little ball of lightning, with strands inside that look like electric currents, forming a delicate sphere. And that blue color is so stunning, crystal clear, deep, and bright¡ it¡¯s like¡¡±
She suddenly realized and looked up at Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s like Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes!¡±
Lin Xian tilted his head.
Hmm¡
Whenpared this way, it did seem like it.
Since the time-space particle didn¡¯t have a physical body and floated like a ball of lightning or a charge sphere, Lin Xian never thought of it this way. But Chu An Qing¡¯s reminder made him realize that unique, crystal-clear blue color was indeed simr to Yellow Finch¡¯s pupils.
After all, it was now certain that Yellow Finch was a time traveler from the future. And the time-space particle also came from another dimension.
¡°Time, space, could it be¡ all objects not belonging to this era or dimension have this blue glow?¡± Lin Xian nodded slowly. This hypothesis might be correct.
Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes, with their bright, blue crystalline glow, resembled ss. The time-space particle, with its blue interior and electric currents, was even brighter. So far, they had only encountered these two ¡°non-native¡± objects with this blue glow, making the conclusion not entirely reliable. If they could see a third object with a simr blue glow, then it could be confirmed.
¡°I¡¯ll head over there now.¡± Lin Xian waved at Chu An Qing and walked toward the equipment cabin.
¡°Okay, senior.¡± Chu An Qing nodded gently. ¡°I¡¯ll stand guard.¡±
¡
In the equipment cabin, Yellow Finch was giving Gao Yang some crucial instructions.
¡°Gao Yang, Liu Feng has emphasized that we don¡¯t need to close the rice cooker lid to capture the time-space particle. The field that restrains the time-space particle exists even if the lid is open.¡±
¡°So, this mission might look like we need to trap it inside the rice cooker, but that¡¯s not the case. It¡¯s more like using a to catch fish or butterflies. We just need to use the rice cooker¡¯s inner pot to ensnare the time-space particle. As long as the inner pot¡¯s spacepletely encloses the particle, it will lose its activity.¡±
¡°That seems counterintuitive!¡± Gao Yang said, worried. ¡°Are you sure we just need to cover or it? What if the rice cooker tips over and the particle rolls away?¡±
¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here, Gao Yang,¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice came through the radio. ¡°I exined the theory earlier, but you didn¡¯t get any of it, did you?¡±
¡°Well, you exined it tooplicatedly!¡± Gao Yang retorted. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you simplify it? What does ¡®lose activity¡¯ mean?¡±
At this moment, Wei Cheng could clearly see the time-space particle¡¯s position and trajectory, so Liu Feng didn¡¯t need to guide him for now. Liu Feng had to patiently exin to Gao Yang again.
¡°Activity refers to the time-space particle¡¯s properties. You see it jumping around because of its internal instability. I can¡¯t analyze why the particle¡¯s energy is unstable¡ not until we catch it.¡±
¡°So, if we can stabilize the particle¡¯s internal energy, it will stop shing, moving, and jumping.¡±
¡°The best way to stabilize it is with the ¡®time-space particle capture device¡¯¡ okay, it¡¯s the rice cooker¡¯s field that will restrain it, making it lose its activity and forcibly stabilizing it.¡±
¡°And I suspect that once the particle loses its activity, it might adhere to our universe¡¯sws and physics. It will be subject to external forces, to our universe¡¯sws, and to all other rules.¡±
¡°In summary, your priority is to the time-space particle with the rice cooker. Even if it tips over, the particle won¡¯t fall out. Don¡¯t worry about that. Your second priority is to close the lid. The lid¡¯s purpose is just a precaution to prevent the particle from being blown away by high-altitude air currents once it stabilizes.¡±
¡°Got it now? You can¡¯t use the lid to press it down like a balloon; it will just phase through. The correct way is to use the inner pot to capture it. The lid is only to ensure it doesn¡¯t get blown away once captured and isn¡¯t part of the capture process.¡±
¡°Extremely speaking, even if the particle is blown away after losing activity, it doesn¡¯t matter! Once it loses activity, it will never regain it and won¡¯t sh away. We can track it down on Earth, whether onnd, in the ocean, or the forest. It will stay on Earth.¡±
Gao Yang smacked his lips. ¡°If you exined it like that earlier, I would¡¯ve understood! So, as long as the rice cooker¡¯s inner pot makes the particle lose activity, it¡¯s mission aplished. The particle won¡¯t escape Earth, even if blown away, and we can track it down.¡±
¡°Darn, you can¡¯t even exin it clearly. You shoulde to my college for a refresher course. Everyone¡¯s talented, talks nicely, and even rhymes¡ª¡±
¡°Enough,¡± Yellow Finch frowned, cutting Gao Yang off. ¡°Focus.¡±
Creak¡ª
The top of the spacecraft opened, and the three-segmented mechanical arm, operated by Gao Yang, extended out. The original mp at the top of the mechanical arm had been modified into a time-space particle capture device resembling a rice cooker. The lid was open, like a greedy snake, eyeing the time-space particle approaching in space.
¡°Altitude, 62 kilometers above sea level; speed, 0.97 Mach; maintaining approach; manually bncing speed; approaching the time-space particle; visual distance 20 meters¡ 15 meters¡ 10 meters¡¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s report came through the radio.
¡°Close! 5 meters! Capture distance maintained! Begin capture!¡±
Upon hearing Wei Cheng¡¯s signal, Lin Xian and Gao Yang immediately looked at the disy screen.
The screen showed the mechanical arm¡¯s first-person view, rying images from the camera at its top.
So close!
Just a few meters away, observing this magical time-space particle, Lin Xian could see it more clearly.
As Liu Feng said, a close-up view showed the particle¡¯s instability, like a crying child, an angry strongman, or a bomb about to explode. Its surface had intense electric currents spreading, like lightning; millions of small, blue, wriggling worms, long and frantic. Inside, it was even more chaotic.
A visible blue light mass, like a trapped beast, constantly jumped and crashed within the electric ball, seemingly trying to break free. Each collision made the particle¡¯s crystal-blue glow sh brightly, then dim, and sh again with each hit¡ the collisions were rapid and dazzling.
Indeed, it seemed very unstable, like it could explode anytime.
Just as Lin Xian stared at the particle¡ª
Swish!
It vanished from its spot and shed to a further position!
Gao Yang was about to move the mechanical arm forward.
But the next second!
The particle shed back right in front of the camera! So close it seemed they could see every strand of lightning!
Before Gao Yang could scream, the particle shed away again, much quicker than before. After shing away, its frequency slowed a bit.
¡°This is too hard!¡± Gao Yang eximed. ¡°It shes too quickly; we need to predict its pattern, but it seems so random!!¡±
Saying that, he operated the mechanical arm swiftly.
ck! Swoosh!
The mechanical arm, sharp and precise like an unsheathed sword or a cobra flicking its tongue, lunged repeatedly at the time-space particle. But the particle seemed to sense the arm¡¯s approach, always shing away just in time to avoid Gao Yang¡¯s attacks.
Frustration boiled over in Gao Yang. ¡°You little rascal! Let¡¯s see if I can¡¯t pin you down!¡± His eyes were sharp, focused like a lion¡¯s, and he made slight adjustments to the mechanical arm, ready to strike again.
¡°HIT!!¡± he shouted.
Whoosh!
Gao Yang seemed to have caught on to a pattern. He lunged the mechanical arm to the particle¡¯s right, though there was nothing there at the moment. But Gao Yang was confident. Sure enough, as the mechanical arm and the rice cooker¡¯s mouth moved forward, the particle shed from the left to the right, appearing right in front of the rice cooker!
But the position was off. Gao Yang was close to predicting its movement, but the rice cooker¡¯s inner pot was a bit low, and the lid passed through the particle.
¡°Awesome!¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but cheer. Gao Yang roared proudly, feeling as if he had scored five kills in a game. Though they didn¡¯t catch it, getting so close to the rapidly shing particle was a miracle. If they could touch it, they had a chance to catch it! Victory was in sight!
¡°Wait!¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice crackled through the radio. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong! The particle¡¯s energy is weakening!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian turned to the monitor. He saw the particle, which had been glowing blue, was now dim. Its brightness was less than half of what it had been.
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Can¡¯t the particle be touched?¡±
¡°How else do we catch it?¡± Gao Yang, now furious, his eyes bloodshot, gritted his teeth and found another opportunity.
¡°Take this!!!¡± he shouted.
Swish¡ª
The mechanical arm lunged again, but this time, luck wasn¡¯t on their side. The prediction failed, and the particle shed to the other side.
¡°This side!¡± Gao Yang attacked again, but he missedpletely. The particle,cking any physical form, phased through the metal arm like a ghost. It moved through silently, without any collision, as if passing through air.
When the particle reappeared, it had lost all its glow. In the ckness of space, it was nearly invisible, undetectable by the naked eye.
¡°This is bad!¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice came through the radio again. ¡°We can¡¯t touch it anymore! The particle¡¯s energy is too weak! Another touch and we¡¯ll lose itpletely!¡±
But as if to mock them, the mischievous particle shed to the spacecraft¡¯s wing. In a split second, before anyone could react, the wing collided with the particle!
Beeeeeeep¡ª
Liu Feng¡¯s tracker emitted a t tone. Wei Cheng nced at it. The tracker that guided them was nowpletely silent. No fluctuations, no signals, no data, nothing.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gao Yang yelled. ¡°I didn¡¯t catch it! Where did the particle go? Wei Cheng, did you lose track of it?!¡±
Silence on the radio.
Finally, Liu Feng sighed. ¡°We lost it¡ can¡¯t track it anymore.¡±
¡°I now understand. The particle¡¯s instability was it instinctively avoiding and resisting everything in this dimension. So, when Gao Yang tried to capture it, it dodged like it had awareness. Moreover, each collision with objects in this dimension drastically reduced its visible energy. I noticed this when it entered the atmosphere. But the atmosphere was thin, so the energy reduction wasn¡¯t noticeable. But physical collisions severely impacted the particle. Just three touches made it lose all visible energy. Actually, the particle is still moving, jumping, shing as before. But we can¡¯t see it or track it!¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice was filled with despair, making the spacecraft¡¯s atmosphere heavy.
No one spoke. Their silence was the greatest sign of disappointment.
Bang!
Gao Yang¡¯s chubby fist mmed on the console. ¡°Damn! What is this?! We worked so hard, and it just disappeared! How can we catch it if we can¡¯t see it?!¡±
¡°Liu Feng, this is your fault! Why didn¡¯t you exin this crucial detail earlier? What do we do now?!¡±
Lin Xian frowned, unsure what to say, just patting Gao Yang¡¯s shoulder.
No one spoke. Their silence was the greatest sign of disappointment.
¡°Um¡ well.¡± Suddenly, Chu An Qing timidly entered the equipment cabin, ncing at Lin Xian and the furious Gao Yang, then at Yellow Finch leaning against the wall, head down and silent. She swallowed hard, timidly raised her right hand, and pointed her index finger out the window at the ck, empty night sky.
¡°Um, the time-space particle¡ it¡¯s right there, flying. Can¡¯t you all¡ see it?¡±
Chapter 301: The New Law of Time and Space!
Chu An Qing stared at everyone in disbelief, then began to doubt herself. She looked out the window of the equipment bay, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
In the pitch-ck background of space, just ten meters away from the space shuttle, a small, bright blue electric ball was bouncing around. It shed constantly, moving up and down, left and right, with no discernible pattern. Its color was a bright, eerie blue, with electric threads that made it look weightless. The brightness was so intense, especially against the pure ck backdrop of space.
How could they not see it?
She blinked several times quickly and stared again at the shing time-space particle. No, she wasn¡¯t mistaken! It was still there, flying just like before! Still shing, jumping, darting around.
Earlier, when everyone was working together to capture the time-space particle, the radio channel was a mess withmands, anxious voices, and status reports. It made her feel tense just listening. But Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t assigned her any tasks, and she didn¡¯t know what she could do in the passenger cabin. So she followed Lin Xian¡¯s advice and watched the fascinating time-space particle through the window.
She saw Gao Yang operating the mechanical arm swiftly and decisively, but he missed the time-space particle several times by just a hair. It made her nervous. The closest Gao Yang got to sess was when the lid of the time-space particle catcher, which looked like a rice cooker lid, passed right through the non-physical electric ball of the time-space particle. She thought it was a pity. But she didn¡¯t feel too bad. At least they were getting closer to sess.
However, even though the time-space particle hadn¡¯t changed at all, still as bright and eerie blue as ever, the radio channel exploded with shouts. Everyone said they couldn¡¯t see the time-space particle and that they had lost it. Gao Yang was furious, and the mechanical arm outside stopped moving, awkwardly hanging there.
But Chu An Qing clearly saw the time-space particle flying outside! Why did they say they couldn¡¯t see it and had stopped trying to catch it? The space shuttle was descending lower¡ If they didn¡¯t hurry, they might miss their chance! So, she ran into the equipment bay to tell everyone.¡°What did you say!?¡± Liu Feng shot up from the pilot¡¯s seat, but his safety belt yanked him back down. He hurriedly unbuckled it, tossed the time-space particle tracker aside, and ran to the equipment bay. Then he skidded to a halt and turned back:
¡°Wei Cheng, don¡¯t touch the controls! Keep flying at 0.97 speed, and don¡¯t change direction or angle! I¡¯m going to see what¡¯s going on with An Qing!¡±
Wei Cheng nodded. He had heard Chu An Qing clearly over the radio. As soon as she said she could see the time-space particle, and it was still shing and jumping outside the space shuttle, he made a decision¡ªmaintain course and speed, no adjustments. If Chu An Qing could still see it, the particle¡¯s direction and speed hadn¡¯t changed. So, if the space shuttle¡¯s speed and direction stayed the same, they wouldn¡¯t lose it even if they couldn¡¯t see it. His job was to keep up with the time-space particle, no matter how slim the hope. As for catching the particle¡ He had to rely on the younger team members to figure it out.
Above Oya Continent, 55 kilometers in the atmosphere. The space shuttle continued to descend.
In the equipment bay, Liu Feng rushed in, looking at Lin Xian and Yellow Finch, then at the bewildered Chu An Qing.
¡°You can see the time-space particle? Are you sure? What¡¯s its status? Is it stable? Still shing and jumping? Any change in direction? How active is it?¡±
He bombarded her with questions.
Chu An Qing quickly exined everything. In summary, it was one sentence:
¡°Except for you all not being able to see the time-space particle¡ it hasn¡¯t changed at all. At least to me, it looks the same and moves the same as before.¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Gao Yang banged on the control panel, looking at Liu Feng. ¡°Liu Feng, exin this! Can we still catch it or not?¡±
Liu Feng raised a hand to silence Gao Yang. ¡°Stop shouting, I need to think.¡±
After about a minute, Liu Feng lifted his head and faced everyone.
¡°For months, that time-space particle traveled from the other side of the sun to Earth without colliding with anything. Even when it entered the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, it didn¡¯t collide with any celestial bodies, rocks, or even dust. I was puzzled. It couldn¡¯t have traveled such a straight path without a single collision or even a graze. The odds are too low. But facts are facts. I convinced myself it was because space is vast and empty. Even the Voyager 1 probe left the sr system without hitting anything. So, I didn¡¯t think much of it. But now, based on recent events, the time-space particle is unstable because it¡¯s from another time-space. It instinctively avoids everything in this time-space! This property, this¡ I need a name for it¡ yes! I got it!¡±
Liu Feng pped his hands, scanning the room, and finally looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Something from another time-space that avoids and rejects everything in this one¡ and this time-space repelling and resisting foreign objects. I suggest we call this phenomenon¡ªTime-Space Rejection!¡±
Lin Xian squinted. It happened. Liu Feng¡¯s habit of naming things. Every scientist¡¯s most thrilling moment is discovering a new substance orw. Liu Feng¡¯s naming rules were interesting. Always starting with ¡°time-space,¡± followed by a simple, clear suffix.
Rejection reaction. Amon medical term. Simply put, the human immune system instinctively rejects foreign objects, sometimes called a rejection response.
For example, if you get a splinter, the wound turns red and pus forms¡ªrejection reaction; if a virus enters your body, white blood cells fight it¡ªrejection reaction; after an organ transnt, rejection is most intense because the body senses the organ isn¡¯t original and the immune system attacks it, controlled only by drugs; blood transfusions require matching blood types to avoid rejection.
In short, small orrge, rejection reactions constantly ur in the human body. They¡¯re vital for the immune system. Without them, the immune system would copse, leading to inevitable death.
Liu Feng¡¯s ¡°time-space rejection¡± theory viewed this time-space as a whole with an immune system. Time-space itself rejects foreign objects. Like the now-invisible time-space particle. It¡¯s not from this time-space, so it¡¯s rejected and attacked by this one. Thus, it¡¯s unstable, erratic, avoiding all matter in this time-space.
¡°I get it,¡± Lin Xian said. He looked at Liu Feng. ¡°The time-space particle flew for months in near-vacuum space, almost not touching anything, so its visible energy remained almost intact. Even minimal loss was unnoticeable.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Liu Feng nodded.
¡°Then, when the particle entered Earth¡¯s exosphere, around 1000 kilometers high, it started interacting with more particles, bing more unstable,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°Even in the exosphere, the air is thin, but Gao Yang¡¯s attempts with the rice cooker lid and the mechanical arm were more impactful.¡±
¡°The lid and arm are densepared to the thin atmosphere. Such contact for the particle is like white blood cells or drugs attacking a virus. Rejection reaction, or time-space rejection, hit its peak, damaging the particle most.¡±
¡°So just three contacts¡ªthe lid, the arm, the space shuttle wing¡ªconsumed all its visible energy, making it invisible. To us, it¡¯s a treasure, but to this time-space, it¡¯s an unwee invader, like a virus.¡±
Lin Xian and Liu Feng¡¯s deductions left Chu An Qing and Gao Yang stunned.
¡°Then, why can An Qing see it when we can¡¯t? Not even the tracker, electronics, or cameras?¡± Gao Yang said, scratching his head. ¡°If there¡¯s a time-space rejection reaction, why isn¡¯t it affecting her?¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s words left the bay in silence. Lin Xian and Liu Feng exchanged nces. By now, anyone with a bit of sense could guess the reason. No wonder Yellow Finch recruited Chu An Qing for the team; no wonder Yellow Finch assigned her no tasks but kept her on the space shuttle; no wonder Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t said a word since the mission began, leaning silently against the back wall.
The answer was clear. This was Yellow Finch¡¯s long-hidden truth. This was Chu An Qing¡¯s true value on the mission. Everyone else couldn¡¯t see the time-space particle, but she could; the particle avoided everyone else but not her; plus, the unsolved mystery: Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and CC looked identical despite being from different time-spaces, down to the same tear mole. All these anomalies confirmed it¡ªChu An Qing possessed a unique time-space characteristic. Even her true identity and existence were extraordinary, deeply tied to time-space!
But the deeper truth wasn¡¯t something Lin Xian could deduce now. The only one who knew was¡
Lin Xian turned slowly, staring at Yellow Finch, leaning silently against the wall. The mysterious woman, full of secrets. But now, her secrets were unfolding.
At that moment, Yellow Finch finally raised her head, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. Their eyes locked. Her blue, crystalline eyes stared into his. His eyes mirrored the eerie, fluid blue of the time-space particle:
¡°Time-Space Rejection,¡± Lin Xian said slowly.
He recalled Chu An Qing¡¯s secret. Yellow Finch once copsed in the washroom. Weak. Unable to get up. Trembling. Refusing to let Chu An Qing see her face. Not letting Chu An Qing call for help. Avoiding, resisting, dodging. Just like the now-invisible time-space particle¡ The particle¡¯s light dimmed, bing invisible. Chu An Qing also saw Yellow Finch¡¯s bright blue eyes dim slightly. All clues finally pieced together into the truth!
¡°Yellow Finch¡¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°It seems time-space rejection doesn¡¯t just apply to the particle, right? Liu Feng wasn¡¯t wrong. Everything from another time-space, be it a particle, object, or person¡ faces rejection in this unweing time-space.¡±
Yellow Finch listened quietly. Then, she smiled faintly, sighing softly:
¡°Congrattions, Lin Xian.¡± She finally broke eye contact, looking down. ¡°Congrattions on discovering a crucial¡Time-Space Law.¡±
Chapter 302: The Truth Revealed
The Laws of Time and Space
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t thought about thews of time and space for a long time. Memories of that rainy night when he first met Yellow Finch came flooding back. It was in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. The mysterious woman had startled him by handing him a fake Genius Club invitation before turning away gracefully.
¡°Thews of time and space are far more important and strict than you imagine,¡± she had said. ¡°Almost all the answers are hidden within them¡ but for now, your understanding is still too shallow.¡±
Nearly two years had passed since Lin Xian first grasped the initial fourws of time and space. Two years seemed like a long time, but it had flown by in a blur of discovery and intrigue.
Now, he had uncovered a neww: Temporal Rejection. This fifthw followed the butterfly effect, time-space fluctuations, fluctuation anchors, and time-space sticity. With this revtion, many previously puzzling mysteries began to make sense.
Temporal Rejection: The intrinsic characteristic of time-space to repel foreign objects, instinctively rejecting, resisting, attacking, or even annihting anything that doesn¡¯t belong to the current timeline. This phenomenon is called Temporal Rejection.
Understanding this concept brought rity to numerous enigmas. For instance, why were Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes a crystalline blue, like flowing ss? This was a reaction caused by temporal rejection.
Yellow Finch, a traveler from the future, was a foreign object in this timeline. Therefore, the inherent power of time-space instinctively rejected her. This rejection changed her eyes to blue, altered her appearance, made her body weak, and restricted her actions due to time-space sticity. It was a self-protection mechanism of time-space.Lin Xian spected that perhaps time-space itself is inert and stable, like a healthy human being. The presence of someone like Yellow Finch would undoubtedly disrupt the development and causality of time-space, destabilizing it. So, the immune system of time-space activates, marking these outsiders with noticeable features.
Such striking blue eyes might be a way to alert beings in this timeline to the presence of a dangerous outsider. Her altered appearance could also be a result of temporal rejection, aimed at preventing beings in this timeline from being deceived. Simrly, Yellow Finch¡¯s sudden weakness, coughing, trembling, and faded eye color in the washroom were all attacks by temporal rejection, aiming to eliminate the outsider quickly to maintain the stability and health of time-space.
¡°Now I understand¡¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. He finallyprehended the mysteries surrounding Yellow Finch. Indeed, as she had said the first time they met, thews of time and space were incredibly intricate and essential. Almost all answersy within thesews.
Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t wrong about that. Just byprehending a neww, many mysteries were instantly unraveled. If one day he could understand as many of the time-spacews as possible, or even all of them, wouldn¡¯t he be able to clear away all the clouds of mysteries and see theplete truth?
Lin Xian continued to stare at Yellow Finch. When he first saw this woman, he had mistaken her for Zhao Ying Jun. Chu An Qing had also mentioned that she always found Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun too simr; if you didn¡¯t look closely, it was easy to mix them up.
Their auras, small movements, habits, every expression. Even though their appearances, face shapes, body types, and eye colors were entirely different, considering the premise of temporal rejection, they could very well be the same person.
The office password, which only he and Zhao Ying Jun knew, was also known to Yellow Finch. In addition, her driving techniques were very simr to his own, and he had taught Zhao Ying Jun how to drive. Zhao Ying Jun loved wearing high heels and earrings, and so did Yellow Finch. On New Year¡¯s Eve in 2024, both women had wished him a happy new year at the exact same time.
Yellow Finch could very well be Zhao Ying Jun from the future!
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered a joke he had made to himself: because Zhao Ying Jun always matched the color of her earrings with her coat, he once thought that if a clone tried to impersonate her, this habit would give them away.
So, was Yellow Finch doing this on purpose? Intentionally mismatching her earrings to mislead him? To make him never suspect?
He remembered bringing this up with Zhao Ying Jun: ¡°What if¡ you wore a beige coat and blue earrings?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun had instantly frowned. ¡°What kind of weirdbination is that? I find it hard to ept.¡±
She had asked Lin Xian in return, ¡°Do you like such a mismatched style?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian had quickly denied. ¡°I just happened to see a woman dressed like that the other day, and it looked odd.¡±
¡°It is quite odd,¡± Zhao Ying Jun had said at the time. ¡°In terms of outfit coordination, there shouldn¡¯t be too many colors, or you¡¯ll look like a Christmas tree, overly decorated. I think three to four colors are just about right.¡±
Besides, Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t like wearing blue earrings and only wore them two or three times a year. She had said so herself. She would only wear blue earrings at evening banquets or parties, paired with a blue dress.
Lin Xian felt a chill run down his spine. If Yellow Finch really was Zhao Ying Jun from the future, what had happened that forced her to travel back in time? What dangersy ahead, and what secrets were still hidden within the intricatews of time and space?
He needed to uncover more about thesews, not just to understand Yellow Finch, but to prepare for whatever challenges the future might hold.
¡
Lin Xian felt a whirlwind of emotions swirl inside him.
He remembered Chu An Qing¡¯s words about Yellow Finch¡¯s loneliness, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s fear of being alone, the white jade statue waiting for 600 years in the third dream of Rhine Sky City, and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s resolute deration at the Hunan restaurant that she would never enter a hibernation pod.
At that moment, something clicked within Lin Xian.
He seemed to understand what could truly pierce through the barriers of time, transcend thews of physics, and defy the sticity of time-space to convey a message.
He took a deep breath and slowly raised his head.
¡°Yellow Finch,¡± he called out softly to the silent, lonely, and nonconforming woman standing before him. He met her deep blue gaze and asked in a low voice, ¡°Why¡ do you always wear blue earrings?¡±
In the equipment bay, Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Chu An Qing all widened their eyes, staring at Lin Xian as if he had lost his mind. They couldn¡¯t fathom why, at such a critical moment, Lin Xian would ask such a seemingly trivial question. Was he losing his grip on reality? Had theplexities of time and space overwhelmed his brain?
However, Lin Xian¡¯s expression was serious, his gaze unwavering. He wasn¡¯t joking. He was earnestly asking Yellow Finch this question.
Yellow Finch pushed herself away from the cabin wall. She straightened up, facing Lin Xian. Her usually calm blue eyes were now trembling slightly. Neither of them spoke, yet their eyes exchanged countless unspoken messages.
You know. I know. An unspoken understanding.
Finally, Yellow Finch bit her lip and closed her eyes. ¡°Because¡¡± she began, her voice barely above a whisper, ¡°Blue¡ is truly beautiful.¡±
¡
In an instant, Lin Xian felt as if something inside him shattered.
Such a half-hearted answer. So difficult to utter. Some things could indeed transcend time. But thews of time and space were absolute. Since even the time-space particles had been attacked to the point of invisibility by thesews, Yellow Finch, so cautious not to vite thews, dared not speak more, dared not respond. She feared, just like the time-space particles, temporal rejection would erase her existence.
Moreover, thews restricting Yellow Finch weren¡¯t limited to temporal rejection. She had to endure the pain from temporal rejection while constantly guarding against the vignce of time-space sticity. Once she crossed the line of time-space sticity, the consequences could be even more severe. Not to mention, there might be otherws of time and space he hadn¡¯tprehended yet, equally binding her.
Recalling the arguments, mistrust, and misunderstandings he had with Yellow Finch,pared to what she had done for him, Lin Xian felt a pang of guilt.
¡°I apologize,¡± Lin Xian said softly, ¡°For many things, I apologize.¡±
Yellow Finch chuckled, turned her head away, and crossed her arms. ¡°A qualified leader never apologizes.¡±
¡°Remembering Xiang Yu, who refused to return to Jiangdong. I never thought of Xiang Yu as a hero; none of the soldiers who followed him to the death wanted to see the Western Chu overlordmit suicide at Wujiang.¡±
¡°We followed you, for you, right or wrong, live or die, for you. Throughout history, the victor is always right, and the vanquished is always wrong. Many things, if you believe them to be right, then they are right; if you doubt them to be wrong, then they are wrong.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian¡¡± She turned back, her deep blue eyes bright, ¡°Do it boldly if it¡¯s right. If it¡¯s wrong, then be resolute in your error. Don¡¯t be like the Western Chu overlord Xiang Yu. Living in the praises of history is far less meaningful than living in the hopeful present. I much prefer Yu Ji over Xiang Yu in the story of Farewell My Concubine.¡±
¡°Yu Ji is the hero, not Xiang Yu.¡±
Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Chu An Qing looked at each other in bewilderment, feeling like they were hearing a coded conversation.
This¡ Were these two speaking humannguage? Every word made sense individually, but what did they mean by saying them now? Asking about the color of earrings, an inexplicable apology, a random story about Farewell My Concubine. What was the point?
Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian helplessly. He had long known Yellow Finch was a mysterious person. Now, birds of a feather flock together; Lin Xian had also be mysterious.
¡°What are you two doing? Can¡¯t you see the situation?¡± Gao Yang mmed his hand on the table, ¡°Now is not the time for poetry appreciation! We need toe up with a n! Think! I¡¯m more anxious than you all!¡±
¡°Altitude is dropping to 52 kilometers! Entering the troposphere!¡± came Wei Cheng¡¯s voice through the radio. ¡°An Qing, check the time-space particles! If I deviate even slightly, let me know immediately! I have no radar or navigation and can¡¯t see the particles; I¡¯m flying blind!¡±
Chu An Qing hurriedly looked out the porthole. ¡°They¡¯re still there! The direction and speed of the time-space particles are stable¡ maintaining the current speed and direction is fine! I¡¯ll keep watching; if we deviate, I¡¯ll let you know immediately, Coach Wei!¡±
Liu Feng walked over, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°What now?¡± He paused. ¡°It seems we can¡¯t capture the time-space particles with any instruments or our eyes; Gao Yang can¡¯t use the robotic arm to grab them.¡±
¡°Even if Chu An Qing can see the particles, it¡¯s not much help. They flicker so fast that by the time she describes their position to Gao Yang, they¡¯ll have moved.¡±
¡°As for Chu An Qing operating the robotic arm¡ forget it, that¡¯s not realistic. Gao Yang¡¯s talent is rare, and it took him so long to operate it smoothly. Even if Chu An Qing trained for a year, she couldn¡¯t handle it, let alone learn it now.¡±
¡°Execute n B,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°In our n, we ounted for Gao Yang¡¯s inability to capture the particles with the robotic arm, so we have n B¡ªusing the space shuttle to hit the time-space particles directly, letting them enter the ne, and capturing them in the spacious equipment bay. Since they can pass through any material, they should pass through the space shuttle¡¯s walls.¡±
¡°The only adjustment is that I was supposed to catch the particles with a rice cooker, but since we can¡¯t see them, An Qing will do it. Her agility and coordination make her the best candidate.¡±
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t consider one thing, Lin Xian. It¡¯s proven that the time-space particles don¡¯t damage inanimate objects, but what about living beings? What if they harm a person?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Lin Xian interrupted Liu Feng, looking around. ¡°I¡¯ll go first, I¡¯ll contact the particles to see if it¡¯s dangerous.¡±
Everyone stared at Lin Xian, their faces a mix of shock and confusion.
¡°You! You¡¯re crazy, Lin Xian!¡± Gao Yang shouted, rushing over to punch him in the shoulder. ¡°What are you thinking? Those particles look dangerous, sparking electricity. What if they kill you or drag you into another time? You could die!¡±
¡°Enough, we¡¯re not discussing this,¡± Lin Xian said firmly, raising his hand to stop Gao Yang. ¡°Just as Yellow Finch said, everyone is here for me, on this dangerous space shuttle. You all have your roles, but I¡¯ve been of no use. Give me a chance to prove myself.¡±
He walked toward the passenger cabin, determination in his steps. ¡°Stay in the equipment bay; I¡¯ll be in the passenger cabin. An Qing, guide Wei Cheng to let the particles pass through the cabin wall to me. Once you confirm contact and I¡¯m safe, speed up to let the particles enter the equipment bay, and An Qing can capture them.¡±
A hand rested on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. He turned to see Liu Feng.
¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Liu Feng said, his eyes earnest. ¡°I¡¯ve always admired you, Lin Xian, but you have parents, friends, and many ties to this world. I¡¯m an orphan, and Qi Qi is gone; I have nothing left.¡±
¡°My only wish is to understand the Universal Constant and prove it to the world. But if we can¡¯t catch these particles, my research might stall¡ I¡¯m not a genius, and this is my only chance.¡±
¡°So, let me do it. I¡¯ll contact the particles. I¡¯m older and more desperate for them, with no ties. I¡¯m the best choice.¡±
Time was limited. The space shuttle had descended to 50 kilometers, and no one knew when the particles would vanish, leaving no time for dy.
Finally, Liu Feng stood alone in the passenger cabin, eyes closed, ready to wee the first human contact with the time-space particles.
¡°Coach Wei! The position is perfect! The particles are outside the left cabin wall, flickering steadily!¡± Chu An Qing called out, watching the particles¡¯ path through the porthole, guiding Wei Cheng.
¡°Slide over! Let the particles into the passenger cabin!¡± Wei Cheng turned the steering handle sharply. The space shuttle¡¯s rear engines twisted, propelling the shuttle to swerve left.
However, the particles dodged the ne¡¯s movement as before. Several attempts failed to bring the particles through the cabin wall.
¡°Damn¡¡± Liu Feng clenched his teeth. ¡°The space shuttle is too slow. If we were faster or rammed into them, maybe we could drag them in.¡±
¡°I doubt it,¡± Gao Yang said, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ve fought them before. They¡¯re too agile; this big ne is too easy to dodge.¡±
¡°Should we slow down, let the particles pass ahead, and then speed up to hit them?¡± Wei Cheng suggested through the radio.
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian dismissed the idea. ¡°Even if it worked, the space shuttle can¡¯t brake in the atmosphere. We¡¯d hit them, but their speed is always 0.97 Mach. We¡¯d outrun them, and they¡¯d exit through the tail.¡±
¡°With no way to track them, we¡¯d lose them forever.¡±
Gao Yang jumped in frustration. ¡°What do we do, then?¡±
¡°Too fast or too slow won¡¯t work. Damn it¡ these particles are right outside, but we can¡¯t see or touch them. It¡¯s infuriating!¡±
The situation was deadlocked.
¡°Altitude dropping! Now at 48 kilometers!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice was the only sound breaking the tense silence.
¡°47 kilometers!¡±
¡°45 kilometers!¡±
Each update on the decreasing altitude made the air heavier with tension.
45 kilometers¡
45,000 meters.
They were now much closer to Earthpared to their previous altitude in space. Despite this, they had no solution to their problem.
Suddenly, Chu An Qing raised her right hand. Her voice, though calm, had a slight tremor. ¡°Let me do it.¡±
Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Liu Feng turned to her, their faces filled with confusion.
¡°What are you going to do?¡± Lin Xian asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.
¡°Go outside,¡± Chu An Qing replied simply.
¡°What!?¡± they eximed in unison, their shock evident.
But Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes were filled with determination. ¡°Since I¡¯m the only one who can see the particles, the only way to catch them is¡ª¡± She extended her right hand, pointing above the equipment bay. ¡°I¡¯ll stand in the open cabin of the mechanical arm, holding the rice cooker¡ and catch them myself!¡±
Chapter 303: The Note
¡°This is impossible!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice boomed through the radio channel. ¡°The space shuttle isn¡¯t designed for extravehicr activities (EVA). More importantly, you haven¡¯t received any training for this. EVA at high altitude is extremely dangerous! We¡¯re not in the weightlessness of space but in the atmosphere at 40,000 meters! There¡¯s wind, gravity, and an ultra-low temperature environment out there.¡±
¡°EVA is absolutely out of the question! It¡¯s like a death wish! Even if your bnce and coordination skills are top-notch, conducting an EVA at 40,000 meters¡ No one has ever done it before! No astronaut or pilot has achieved this! Let alone on a space shuttle!¡±
¡°But! We have no other choice right now!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°We¡ we can¡¯t just stand by and watch the time-space particle disappear!¡±
Click. She raised her helmet visor and looked at the shocked faces inside the cabin. ¡°We¡¯ve all worked so hard and sacrificed so much to capture this time-space part5icle. But I haven¡¯t done anything, haven¡¯t been able to help¡ Now, I finally have a chance to be useful. This is the only thing I can do!¡±
Chu An Qing turned to Liu Feng. ¡°Mr. Liu Feng, do you remember what you told me in theb at Donghai University? You said¡ don¡¯t easily deny your own value, that the time hasn¡¯te yet for you to make a difference; sometimes it¡¯s okay to make mistakes all your life, as long as you get one crucial thing right.¡±
¡°You told me that in this world, there is definitely something that is meant for me, that only I can aplish. No one else can do it but me.¡±
She looked at Liu Feng, who was at a loss for words. ¡°Mr. Liu Feng, I think¡ now is the moment you talked about, when I realize my value and make a difference. Going out to capture that time-space particle is the one thing in this world that only I can do!¡±
With that, Chu An Qing turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Sorry, Senior Lin Xian, I overheard your conversation with Sister Yellow Finch¡ You said that if we don¡¯t capture this time-space particle, the world and everything will be a thousand, ten thousand times worse than it is now.¡±¡°If¡ if this time-space particle is really that important, and I¡¯m the only one on the space shuttle who can see it right now¡ then I should be the one to go. I can¡¯t just hide behind you all, cheering you on and being a mascot, right?¡±
¡°Earlier, both you and Mr. Liu Feng were eager to handle the time-space particle. Isn¡¯t that more dangerous than going out to capture it? But you weren¡¯t afraid, so I¡¯m not afraid either! Just because I¡¯m young and a girl¡ doesn¡¯t mean I can always hide behind you and do nothing, right?¡±
Finally, she turned to Yellow Finch. ¡°Sister Yellow Finch¡¡± She bit her lower lip, her expressionplex as she looked at Yellow Finch. ¡°Please, let me go. You called me here¡ for this moment, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Yellow Finch closed her eyes tightly, frowning. Finally, she nodded. ¡°Prepare for EVA!¡±
¡°Are you insane?¡± Gao Yang stood up from his chair, pointing at Yellow Finch. ¡°I¡¯ve always thought you were too cold-blooded! You don¡¯t care about us! All you care about is the time-space particle!¡±
¡°Enough.¡± Lin Xian restrained Gao Yang from further outburst. It was true that Yellow Finch cared only about the time-space particle, and even VV¡¯s disappearance had been calcted by her for this.
She had concealed many truths, lied to many people, and turned a blind eye to many things she knew were wrong. But¡
In the end¡ I want the time-space particle for myself.
As Yellow Finch had said, everyone gathered here today was here for themselves, not for Yellow Finch¡ including Yellow Finch herself.
¡°I thought it over carefully,¡± Lin Xian said, looking back at Liu Feng and Gao Yang. ¡°The space shuttle indeed isn¡¯t equipped for spacewalks, but I¡¯ve experienced¡ ah no, I mean I¡¯ve learned about what it feels like to be exposed at 30,000 to 40,000 meters. It¡¯s indeed dangerous, but not as terrifying as it sounds.¡±
¡°The stratospheric winds are generally calm and the airflow isn¡¯t turbulent. We¡¯re flying with the wind, so the wind speed outside the space shuttle isn¡¯t that high. As for the ultra-low temperatures, we¡¯re all wearing spacesuits with advanced technology to maintain temperature and pressure, so there¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡±
¡°Besides, we¡¯ve studied the mechanical armpartment on the ground. It¡¯s recessed and over a meter deep. As long as Wei Cheng flies steadily, standing in thatpartment is like riding a hot air balloon to high altitude. Many people in the world have ascended to 30,000 or 40,000 meters in hot air balloons. We have safety ropes to secure ourselves to the inner cabin wall, making it safer than extreme sports.¡±
¡°Nonsense!¡± Wei Cheng, piloting the space shuttle, was furious. ¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re just talking theory! Have you ever practiced it? Do you know what it¡¯s like to operate at tens of thousands of meters?¡±
Lin Xian sighed internally. How could he not know?
In his third dream, he rode a helium balloon to 30,000 meters every day, then jumped down in a spacesuit to infiltrate the sky city. Although in the dream, he was braver and didn¡¯t have to consider the consequences of failure.
But now, from what Yellow Finch said, and the actions of Elon Musk and Kevin Walker, it was clear that this time-space particle was no ordinary matter.
On the ground, they had studied the space shuttle¡¯s equipment bay structure. Thepartment housing the folded mechanical arm was connected to the equipment bay they were in, separated by a hatch.
ording to the original n: After Gao Yang captured the time-space particle with the rice cooker, the mechanical arm would retract and fold back into thepartment, the outer hatch would close. Then, they would bnce the pressure and open the hatch connecting to the inner cabin, allowing them to retrieve the rice cooker from the equipment bay.
¡°I¡¯ll go with An Qing,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I¡¯m notfortable letting An Qing go alone. The mechanical armpartment can hold two people. We¡¯ll go together.¡±
¡°This way, I can support An Qing from behind, stabilizing her while she captures the time-space particle, making it safer.¡±
Despite Wei Cheng¡¯s strong objections, Yellow Finch, as the chiefmander, had the final say in the end.
¡°Close the door connecting the equipment bay and the passenger cabin. Everyone suit up and ensure the internal pressure is stable. Lock the helmet visors to avoid idental opening.¡± Yellow Finch directed everyone to lock their helmet visors.
¡°Currently, the equipment bay has normal atmospheric pressure, but outside at 40,000 meters, the atmosphere is thin with extremely low pressure. If anything goes wrong, the pressure difference could suck us out of the space shuttle into the high altitude, which is dangerous.¡±
¡°So, from now on, activate all functions of your spacesuits. We¡¯ll depressurize the equipment bay to match the outside atmosphere. This way, when Lin Xian and Chu An Qing exit, there won¡¯t be a pressure imbnce causing turbulent airflow.¡±
¡°Of course, this is the worst-case scenario. These things may not happen, but we must be prepared. Secure all safety ropes to the cabin hooks.¡±
Thepartment housing the mechanical arm was about two meters long, one meter wide, and 1.5 meters deep. For the mechanical arm, it could intermittently open the outer and inner hatches without causing a pressure imbnce. But now, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing were going out, taking up much more space than the mechanical arm. Plus, the arm was still folded in thepartment, upying a lot of space. Therefore, the activity space for Lin Xian and Chu An Qing was limited.
They had to open both the inner and outer hatches simultaneously, connecting the inner and outer spaces, allowing Lin Xian and Chu An Qing to crawl out. If they didn¡¯t bnce the pressure beforehand, there would be serious problems. No wonder Wei Cheng was so against this n¡
Right now, every step they took was like licking blood off a knife¡¯s edge.
Hiss¡ª
The piercing sound of air releasing. The spacesuits on everyone slowly inted like balloons, making them look like Michelin tire mascots. This was due to the depressurization of the equipment bay. Currently, the spacesuits maintained standard atmospheric pressure, but the equipment bay and the outside atmosphere at 40,000 meters had only 1% of that pressure, causing the spacesuits to inte like balloons.
¡°Senior Lin Xian, let¡¯s go.¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s voice came through the radio in her tightly sealed helmet.
At that moment, Chu An Qing stood in front of Lin Xian. Two safety ropes locked their spacesuits together. Once they exited and stood atop the space shuttle, each would have two more ropes securing them to the mechanical armpartment¡¯s inner wall, ensuring rtive safety.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Their spacesuits pressed close together, one behind the other, they climbed the equipment bay steps, entered the inner hatch, and arrived at the mechanical armpartment. Looking up¡ The sky was still the dark backdrop of space, dotted with stars.
In his third dream, Lin Xian reached the stratosphere at 35,000 meters in a helium balloon. Now, the space shuttle was at about 43,000 meters. It¡¯s higher by a few thousand meters, but the feeling wasn¡¯t much different.
Fortunately, the stratospheric wind was gentle. The space shuttle¡¯s tailwind flight made the perceived wind speed only around ten meters per second, not too strong.
Click, click.
Lin Xian secured the safety ropes on their spacesuits to the inner wall hooks: ¡°Alright, it¡¯s safe now. We won¡¯t fall. Let¡¯s start capturing the time-space particle.¡±
Currently, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing stood one behind the other in the mechanical armpartment. Lin Xian¡¯s thighs and Chu An Qing¡¯s lower body were inside thepartment, while their upper bodies were exposed to the atmosphere.
Chu An Qing held the open rice cooker, instructing Wei Cheng through the radio to maneuver the space shuttle closer to the time-space particle¡ Like a frog about to snap at a fly, poised and ready. Lin Xian supported Chu An Qing from behind.
At this moment, despite the inappropriateness of the thought, Lin Xian felt this scene resembled Jack and Rose standing at the bow of the Titanic in the movie. It was just like when they stood on the rooftop of the Aman Hotel in Manhattan, New York, and Chu An Qing shouted ¡°You jump, I jump!¡± as VV sent a picture of that scene to his phone. VV had urged him to hug her from behind back then.
Unexpectedly, now, VV¡¯s wish hade true in a high-altitude, space shuttle scenario¡ but VV wasn¡¯t here to see it.
¡°Wei Cheng, a bit more to the left¡ more¡ over, to the right¡ good, altitude a bit higher¡ slower¡¡± Chu An Qing, the only one who could see the time-space particle, was directing Wei Cheng to maneuver the space shuttle closer to it through the radio.
Lin Xian looked up at the empty sky. Though still dark, at this altitude, it¡¯s far from space. Looking down, the view of Earth from 40,000 meters was different from space. The Earth¡¯s curvature was barely visible, and the lights, mountains, and rivers below were faintly discernible. This turbulent journey. They had taken a rocket to Earth¡¯s orbit and descended from 300 kilometers to just over 40,000 meters. It¡¯s hard to believe.
¡°There! Hold this speed and direction!¡± Chu An Qing shouted, snapping Lin Xian back to attention as he tightened his grip on her waist for support.
¡°Hey!¡± Chu An Qing tiptoed forward with the rice cooker. To Lin Xian, it looked like she missed, as he couldn¡¯t see the time-space particle: ¡°Did you get it?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s still too far.¡± Chu An Qing gritted her teeth, ncing at the empty air on the left: ¡°Wait a bit longer.¡±
Then¡ª ¡°Hey-ya!¡± She jumped forward, thrusting the rice cooker to the right. But again, she seemed to miss, her helmet bobbing left and right like a pecking chicken, clearly tracking the elusive time-space particle.
¡°There!¡± Chu An Qing confidently shouted! She saw it! This time, the time-space particle shed perfectly above the rice cooker¡¯s opening!
Yellow Finch had instructed that they only needed to trap the particle with the rice cooker. No need to cover it; even if the cooker fell, they could find itter!
A rare opportunity! Chu An Qing bit her lip, crouched, and jumped¡ª ¡°I got it!!¡±
But! The safety rope holding her to the inner wall tightened, pulling her down mid-air! She stumbled, the rice cooker that should have perfectly captured the time-space particle tilted, and the particle passed through her spacesuit covered hand!
¡°Damn it!¡± Chu An Qing gritted her teeth: ¡°It was so close¡ª¡±
Bang!
Her eyes widened!
Bang!
Her heartbeat pounded fiercely!
Chu An Qing felt like she¡¯d been shot, causing her world to go spinning!
Bang!
Like a headshot, she lost bnce, falling into Lin Xian¡¯s arms!
At the moment her hand touched the time-space particle, countless images forced their way into her mind¡ª
[Bridge, hat, clock tower, camellia, curtain, pencil, ring, little finger, podium, photo, pinky promise, cable, lollipop, car, white dress, maple leaf, cane, blue eyes, graffiti, tape, hairpin, train, ice cream, moon, sneakers, oil paint, carriage, banquet, navy, coffee, teacup, cinema, password, suitcase, scarf, mustache, fireworks, gun, old man, newspaper, telescope, painting, ship, violin, red wine, badge, candle¡ª]
¡°An Qing!¡± Lin Xian held her.
tter, rolling¡
Losing strength, she finally dropped the rice cooker. It hit the space shuttle¡¯s hull, rolled several times, and fell. In an instant, it was gone.
¡°What happened?¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°Lin Xian! What¡¯s wrong with An Qing?¡±
Voices of concern came through the radio.
Lin Xian knelt, shaking the wide-eyed, trembling Chu An Qing. But there was no response.
¡°An Qing!¡± he called her name.
Suddenly, Chu An Qing seemed to snap back to reality, blood pouring from her nose, sttering her face! She shut her eyes tightly, her hands pounding her helmet.
¡°Ahhhhhhhhh¡ª¡± she screamed, her expression one of extreme pain.
¡°Get back here!¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s urgent shout echoed through thems. ¡°Open the inner hatch to the mechanical armpartment! Now! Everyone hold on!¡±
Boom!
Following a muffled sound, the hatch connecting the mechanical armpartment to the equipment bay opened, and Lin Xian and Chu An Qing fell, hanging by their safety ropes.
¡°Wei Cheng! Close the outer hatch! Pressurize the equipment bay! Air pressure!¡± Yellow Finch ordered.
Boom!
After another muffled sound, the outer hatch of the mechanical armpartment closed, isting the space shuttle from the high altitude.
Hiss¡ª
Air rushed in, the equipment bay¡¯s pressure rapidly increasing, causing their spacesuits to dete. This indicated the spacesuits¡¯ internal and external pressure was bnced, allowing them to safely open their helmets.
Click, click, click, click!
A series of helmet visor unlocking sounds echoed. Lin Xian, Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Yellow Finch hurried to Chu An Qing, opening her visor.
¡°An Qing! Breathe deeply! Breathe!¡± Yellow Finch shouted, grabbing tissues to wipe the blood from Chu An Qing¡¯s face.
Drip¡ Drip¡ Drip¡
Everyone froze at the sight.
Chu An Qing had regained her senses, blinking regrly, but with each blink, tears streamed down her face. The tears fell like pearls. Silently, she wept bitterly.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gao Yang asked Lin Xian.
Lin Xian was puzzled, kneeling. ¡°An Qing¡ what¡¯s wrong?¡±
However, Chu An Qing didn¡¯t look at Lin Xian but gazed at Yellow Finch with a pleading, desperate look. Her vision blurred with tears.
¡°Sister Yellow Finch¡¡± she cried, ¡°Is this all true? Is this¡ all true?¡±
Yellow Finch hesitated. After biting her lip several times, her expression solemn, she asked, ¡°You¡ you know everything?¡±
¡°Is this all true?¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes were full of pleading and despair. Gripping Yellow Finch¡¯s arm, her lips trembled. ¡°Sister Yellow Finch!!¡±
Yellow Finch gritted her teeth¡ finally, she nodded.
Chu An Qing couldn¡¯t hold back, wailing loudly. She fell into Yellow Finch¡¯s arms, crying uncontrobly. In return, thetter hugged the sobbing girl back, saying nothing, just holding her.
¡°What on earth happened?¡± Lin Xian waspletely lost. What was going on? Why was everyone acting like they were in a mystery novel?
¡°An Qing,¡± he knelt beside Chu An Qing, ¡°An Qing, what happened? What did you find out? What just happened?¡±
Chu An Qing looked up. Her tear-filled eyes met Lin Xian¡¯s, her mouth slightly open.
¡°Senior Lin Xian! We¡ª¡± Suddenly, she stopped crying. She froze, blinking rapidly, like she was choked up, words stuck in her throat.
Gradually, she closed her mouth. Her emotions calmed. After a few deep breaths, Chu An Qing took the tissue from Yellow Finch, wiping the blood and tears from her face.
Then, she turned to Lin Xian with a calm gaze. ¡°Senior Lin Xian, do you remember the question you told me you couldn¡¯t answer that night?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± The sudden shift caught Lin Xian off guard.
¡°The night of your birthday, in the training room,¡± Chu An Qing steadied her breath, sniffing. ¡°You told me you wanted to write a note and put it in a safe.¡±
¡°You said that note wouldn¡¯t matter if others saw it, copied it, or opened the safe before you¡ as long as you saw it, you¡¯d immediately know if the world was real or fake.¡±
¡°You struggled for a long time, not knowing what to write on that note, what content could fool the enemy, the director, the whole world, but only you could understand.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He remembered. But why was Chu An Qing bringing this up now?
¡°Give me a piece of paper and a pen,¡± Chu An Qing discarded the bloody tissue. Standing up, she looked down at Lin Xian. ¡°Let me write it for you.¡±
Chapter 304: The Millennium Stake
Lin Xian rose from his crouched position, looking down at Chu An Qing, who stood a head shorter than him. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± he asked.
Chu An Qing nodded, then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ I almost caught the time-space particle, but just as I jumped, the tether rope yanked me back. Not only did I miss the jump, but I also got pulled off course.¡± She continued, ¡°The time-space particle brushed past the edge of the rice cooker, pierced through my hand, and then vanished again.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, catching the underlying information in Chu An Qing¡¯s words. The reason Chu An Qing had reacted so violently earlier¡ªscreaming, nosebleeding, staring nkly, trembling¡ªwas because her body hade into contact with the time-space particle. Lin Xian had considered this possibility. But now, apart from Chu An Qing, no one could see the time-space particle. No one knew if she had actually caught it.
Regardless, the rice-cooker-like time-space particle catcher had fallen from the sky, right before his eyes, crashing onto the hull of the space shuttle and rolling into the clouds below. It seemed Liu Feng¡¯s concerns were valid. Human contact with time-space particles could cause harm, unlike the silent and subtle effects on inanimate objects.
However¡
Lin Xian pondered, recalling Chu An Qing¡¯s earlier frantic crying and her desperate, pleading look at Yellow Finch. She had broken downpletely, crying hopelessly after getting a definite answer. What had triggered such a strong emotional response? What made her desperate for a negative answer, and why did she eventually calm down and speak to him about their secret note?
On Lin Xian¡¯s 25th birthday, Chu An Qing had invited him to a dark, empty training room. The moment the lights came on, she held up a homemade birthday cake and wished him a happy birthday. It was then that he had shared with her a challenging riddle he couldn¡¯t solve. The puzzle was so difficult that even the confident Chu An Qing was stumped. Just reading it had fried her brain, leaving her without a single clue. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected much from her at the time, and they bothughed it off.
But now¡Could it be rted to her recent contact with the time-space particle? Why was Chu An Qing so sure, so certain about the content of that note, confident it could meet those stringent conditions?
¡°Lin Xian,¡± Chu An Qing called, her emotions now fully in check. She raised her slightly muddied but beautiful face and looked at him. ¡°Remember our agreement? Even though I¡¯m not as sharp as you, as your friend, I promised I¡¯d find a way. And now, I finally know the answer! Trust me, Lin Xian. I know what needs to be written on that note!¡± She turned her gaze to the viewport, where the time-space particle continued its eerie, flickering path, moving up and down with its original speed and direction. ¡°Hurry, Lin Xian. Our time¡ it¡¯s running out!¡±
Yellow Finch let out a sigh and opened her eyes, turning to Gao Yang. ¡°Gao Yang, get a piece of paper and a pen from the secured case for An Qing.¡±
For safety, items like pens and paper were locked in a briefcase secured to the wall, preventing them from floating around in zero gravity. Gao Yang, understanding theplexity and urgency of the situation, ran to the briefcase near the control panel without his usualints. He quickly unlocked it, took out an A4 sheet of paper and a space pen, and handed them to Chu An Qing.
The radio crackled with the pilot Wei Cheng¡¯s anxious voice: ¡°The space shuttle¡¯s altitude has dropped below 40,000 meters! 39,000¡ 38,000 meters¡ Commander! Awaiting your instructions!¡±
The situation was dire. The time-space particle capture was hanging by a thread, and they were about to miss theirst chance.
Chu An Qing wasted no time. She took the paper and pen from Gao Yang and dashed to an empty corner of the equipment bay, beneath thedder leading to the mechanical arm chamber. Here, no one could see her, and no cameras could capture her actions. It was a blind spot. She crouched under the steeldder, back to the others, kneeling on the ground. With a rip, she tore a piece of the A4 paper about the size of a credit card, ced it on the floor, and gripped the pen in her gloved right hand.
Scribble, scribble¡
She quickly wrote two lines on the small note, then folded it twice, pressing the creases firmly to ensure it wouldn¡¯t unfold. Standing up, she walked back to Lin Xian, her expression emotional, her gaze flickering. She bit her lower lip, swallowing her words, and looked into Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Lin Xian, take this.¡± She held out the folded note with two fingers, handing it to him solemnly. The light note felt like a heavy burden of the century.
¡°Read it¡ when you get there,¡± Chu An Qing said softly. ¡°You¡¯ll understand.¡±
Lin Xian took the note, holding it between his fingers. It felt almost weightless, unreal even through the thick gloves of his spacesuit. Yet, it also felt immensely heavy. This note carried the weight of 600 years of time, the burden of an entire world¡¯s reality.
He nodded, shifting his gaze from the note to Chu An Qing¡¯s face. ¡°Alright, I promise. I trust you.¡± He unzipped the chest pocket of his orange spacesuit, one of the two private pockets meant for personal items like photos, notebooks, or lucky charms. Sliding the note into the pocket, he followed their n. No one else was to know its contents until he read it in the dream world. Opening the aluminum alloy safe and seeing the note in the dream would make everything clear, revealing the truth and fiction of the dream world. This was a double-blind experiment. Neither he nor the enemy could know the note¡¯s content until that moment in the dream world. This cross-time, cross-reality battle would be decided the instant he read the note 600 yearster.
¡°Altitude! 36,000 meters!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice shouted over the radio. ¡°An Qing! Watch the time-space particle and guide me if we need to adjust direction or speed!¡±
Chu An Qing nced out the viewport. Wei Cheng¡¯s piloting skills were indeed top-notch. Even without navigation or guidance, he had kept track of the time-space particle. From the viewport, they could see the sunlight rising from the Earth¡¯s edge due to their altitude, even though the ground below was still in darkness. Chu An Qing blinked. Despite the bright sunlight, the eerie blue glow of the time-space particle remained visible to her alone.
Turning back to the team, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue capturing the time-space particle.¡±
¡°What!? You¡¯re going again?¡± Gao Yang jumped up. ¡°You can¡¯t! You were bleeding all over and you¡¯re going back? Are you crazy? Besides, we saw the rice cooker fall! Without it, how do we catch the time-space particle? Are you seriously suggesting we catch time-space particles by hand, like catching dragonflies and butterflies? That¡¯s nonsense! Liu Feng already said that time-space particles don¡¯t have a physical form. They pass through anything they touch, except maybe what¡¯s inside the rice cooker¡¡± Gao Yang trailed off, suddenly realizing something.
He turned around, looking at the mechanical arm control station where he had been sitting. He finally understood. There were two time-space particle catchers! One had fallen, but the other one was still installed at the top of the mechanical arm, fully functional!
¡°But your body¡¡± Gao Yang nced down at Chu An Qing, his concern evident. He admitted to himself that he was genuinely moved by this petite girl¡¯s bravery and fearlessness.
Gao Yang didn¡¯t know Chu An Qing well. Their first meeting was at the MXpany¡¯s celebration banquet. Back then, he was too focused on eating lobster to pay much attention to her. Besides, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing were just acquaintances then, meeting for the first time. Gao Yang soon forgot about her. Their second significant encounter was at Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party, where Chu An Qing had asked him about any high school girls or old acquaintances who resembled her. They yed guessing games and board games together. Chu An Qing left an impression on him as a simple, cute, and well-off little princess with a pleasant personality.
During astronaut training at the space center, Chu An Qing had shown impressive talent, which made Gao Yang take notice. Still, he saw her as a carefree, kind-hearted college sophomore whose essence hadn¡¯t changed. But now¡
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Senior Gao Yang,¡± Chu An Qing smiled at him. ¡°Look at me now. I¡¯m fine, right? It shows that the time-space particle didn¡¯t cause any substantial harm to my body. I think the injury from before was a one-time thing. If I identally touch it again, nothing will happen.¡±
Lin Xian studied Chu An Qing for a few seconds. Observing her current state, she seemed fine, fully recovered and in her usual condition. Wei Cheng had already reported that the space shuttle¡¯s altitude had dropped to 36,000 meters. This might be theirst chance.
¡°Let¡¯s give it another try,¡± Lin Xian suggested, pointing to the closed inner door of the mechanical arm chamber above. ¡°We¡¯ll open the inner door, take down the rice cooker from the top, and Chu An Qing and I will go up again. I¡¯ll hold her from behind while she holds the rice cooker and tries to capture the particle, just like before.¡±
¡°No, that¡¯s not going to work,¡± Chu An Qing shook her head. ¡°You all can¡¯t see the time-space particle, so you don¡¯t know the exact situation during the capture attempts. I almost caught the particle several times with the rice cooker. Really, I was so close, but thest time, it identally touched my hand, causing the incident.¡±
She raised her head, ¡°I can¡¯t exin the feeling, but I didn¡¯t predict the particle¡¯s trajectory. I had a strong intuition, a sixth sense, about where it would appear next. At first, I thought it was luck or coincidence, but the more it jumped, the more I realized I could predict its movements! Its jumps seemed random, but I always guessed right, every time, without fail.¡±
Gao Yang looked out of the porthole in disbelief. He remembered trying to predict the particle¡¯s jumps while using the mechanical arm but only seeded once by luck. The rest of his attempts were mere guesses that never worked.
¡°If you can predict its path every time, capturing it should be easy!¡± Gao Yang sighed. ¡°If I had your ability, I¡¯d catch the particle in two or three tries!¡± He patted the control station. ¡°This thing is very flexible and precise if used correctly. Compared to standing on top of the space shuttle with a rice cooker, the mechanical arm is a thousand times better!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Chu An Qing nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why I said we can¡¯t use the mechanical arm chamber above like before to catch the particle.¡± She pointed to her untied safety harness and the stability locks on the inner wall. ¡°These safety straps do keep me secure, but they also restrict my flexibility. With them on, I can¡¯t move freely or jump, making it too stiff to catch the particle. Several times, I almost caught it, but I couldn¡¯t jump! I couldn¡¯t move!¡±
¡°If not for the harness restraining me during thest attempt, I would have caught the particle by jumping fully. The mechanical arm chamber above is too small. With two people and the folded arm, there¡¯s no space to move, making the capture opportunities too rare.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Chu An Qing looked around at everyone. ¡°I need a tform where I can move freely, run, and jump, at least within a certain range. That would make capturing the particle much easier.¡±
Everyone fell silent, understanding her logic. But where on the space shuttle could they find such a tform? Even without safety straps, letting Chu An Qing walk freely on top of the space shuttle wasn¡¯t feasible. The ne¡¯s top was a curved surface, and at an altitude of over 30,000 meters with temperatures near minus 100 degrees Celsius, much of the surface was frozen.
¡°We might have to abandon the n,¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice came over the radio. ¡°An Qing, the kind of t tform you need doesn¡¯t exist on the space shuttle, or any spacecraft. I know it would be perfect for catching the particle, but the conditions don¡¯t allow it. I rmend we abort the capture mission and prepare to return.¡±
¡°No, there is such a tform!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination as she pointed outside the porthole at the broad, t wing of the space shuttle. ¡°The wing of the space shuttle is a perfect tform!¡±
¡°Let me stand on the wing and use thest rice cooker to capture the time-space particle!¡±
Her words left everyone in stunned silence.
¡°That¡¯s crazy!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice crackled with frustration over the radio. ¡°You kids have lost your minds! This is like something out of a Hollywood movie!¡±
It was clear that Wei Cheng, usually calm and gentle, was now near breaking point. ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡±
Gao Yang couldn¡¯t stay seated any longer. Following Wei Cheng¡¯s lead, he burst out, ¡°We¡¯re astronauts, not acrobats! Actually, we¡¯re not even real astronauts! An Qing, stop thinking crazy things! This is nothing but suicide! Did you see how that rice cooker fell earlier? If you stand on the wing, you¡¯ll fall just like that!¡±
Liu Feng, who had been silent, stepped forward as well. ¡°I don¡¯t agree with this n either. It¡¯s too dangerous. No¡ dangerous isn¡¯t even the right word. It¡¯s suicidal.¡±
He continued, ¡°There¡¯s no passage to the wing from inside the space shuttle. The closest ce is the outer door at the junction of the equipment and passengerpartments, the main door we use to enter the space shuttle from outside. How do you n to get there? You can¡¯t just open the door and crawl along the edge, clinging to windows and locks. Even in Hollywood, James Bond wouldn¡¯t do something like this. Lin Xian, what do you think?¡±
Without hesitation, Lin Xian replied, ¡°I don¡¯t agree with the n either. Absolutely not.¡± He turned to Chu An Qing, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯ll stick to the original n. We¡¯ll go back into the mechanical arm chamber and try again, just like before. We¡¯ll keep trying. If we catch it, great. If not, we leave it.¡±
¡°The time-space particle is important, but not worth sacrificing a team member. Since we¡¯re being honest here, I¡¯ll say it straight, Liu Feng.¡± Lin Xian faced Liu Feng, ¡°The Universal Constant might not be asplex as you think. We might not need things like the Guizhou Sky Eye, time-space clocks, or time-space curvature. I¡¯m not saying your research path is wrong, but the time-space particle isn¡¯t the only solution. If we can¡¯t catch it, we¡¯ll find another way to study the Universal Constant.¡±
Liu Feng nodded firmly. ¡°I understand. If we can¡¯t catch the time-space particle, I¡¯ll find another way. Like you said, there are other paths to studying the Universal Constant.¡±
But Chu An Qing shook her head resolutely. ¡°No, Lin Xian. Sister Yellow Finch is right. The time-space particle is far more important than you think.¡±
She bit her lip. ¡°This particle¡ we must get it, no matter what!¡± Turning to Yellow Finch, she pleaded, ¡°Sister Yellow Finch, let me go!¡±
To everyone¡¯s surprise, even Yellow Finch, who had been solely focused on capturing the particle, hesitated. She was silent for a long time, clearly torn.
¡°Sister Yellow Finch!¡± Chu An Qing raised her voice.
Yellow Finch closed her eyes, frowning.
¡°Commander Yellow Finch!!!¡± Chu An Qing shouted, almost breaking her voice. ¡°Why did youe back if not for this?!¡±
Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes snapped open. She gritted her teeth and pressed the helmet¡¯s visor. ¡°Everyone, close your helmet visors! Activate the constant pressure and temperature devices, stabilize the suit¡¯s internal pressure, and secure your safety straps to the interior locks. Wei Cheng, prepare to depressurize the equipment bay and match the external atmosphere before opening the main door!¡±
¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±
¡°Commander Yellow Finch!¡±
¡°Cold-blooded! You¡¯ll kill Chu An Qing!¡±
¡°What are you doing?!¡±
The radio was filled with shouts of disbelief.
But Yellow Finch had made up her mind. Her usually bright blue eyes seemed to dull momentarily, like a fogged mirror. But the moment was fleeting, too short for Lin Xian to notice clearly. The visor clicked into ce, covering Yellow Finch¡¯s face.
The wind howled outside the open space shuttle door, creating a whistling effect. The ne was at an altitude of 31,000 meters, in the stratosphere. The equipment bay¡¯s pressure had been equalized with the thin, cold air outside, just a fraction of sea level pressure.
With everything ready, they opened the main door of the space shuttle¡¯s equipment bay, ensuring pressure bnce to prevent objects and astronauts from being sucked out by turbulence. Now, except for Chu An Qing, everyone in the equipment bay¡ªLin Xian, Yellow Finch, Liu Feng, and Gao Yang¡ªhad their spacesuits inted by internal pressure, looking like Michelin men. The temperature was dropping rapidly, even the electronic equipment in the bay was at freezing temperatures, yet still operational, designed for such harsh conditions. Each of them was tethered to the bay¡¯s walls with safety straps. Chu An Qing, standing by the howling main door, also had a safety strap, much longer and thicker than the others, ten meters long. One end was secured to her suit, the other to an interior lock, and the middle part held by Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Liu Feng. This way, if she fell, they could pull her back.
The space shuttle¡¯s engines were at the tail, unlike conventional jets with engines under the wings. This was the only piece of good news. If she fell off a jet wing, she¡¯d likely be sucked into the engine, shredded and burned. But on the space shuttle, the wings were simpler, with no such danger. Though falling was still risky, at least she wouldn¡¯t end up in the engine.
ording to their n, the rice cooker was secured to Chu An Qing¡¯s suit. Her hands were free. Tethered by the long safety strap, she would climb out and move half a meter back, standing on the wing¡ªa move so dangerous it would terrify even the world¡¯s top astronauts or acrobats. Yet this young girl, a sophomore at university, was ready to challenge this world record.
¡°The space shuttle¡¯s speed is 0.97 Mach; altitude, 28,000 meters; with a tailwind, rtive wind speed is 16 meters per second, which is manageable,¡± Wei Cheng reported over the radio. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the flight as stable as possible, ensuring the left wing is as level as I can. But this isn¡¯t guaranteed. Despite stable wind and no clouds ahead, turbulence ismon. The extravehicr astronaut must prioritize their bnce.¡±
¡°Copy that!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s clear voice responded over the radio. She gripped the lock on the open main door frame
, ready to exit. Holding tight, she ced her right foot on the exterior lock, found her foothold, and pushed her body lightly. With everyone¡¯s hearts in their throats, Chu An Qing sessfully stepped outside, clinging to the space shuttle¡¯s exterior!
Gao Yang, witnessing this, closed his eyes, unable to watch. His entire body felt like ants were crawling over it, a mix of tension and terror. This is 30,000 meters high! On the shell of a space shuttle!
Luckily, Chu An Qing had the innate physique of an astronaut, which was incredibly robust. At the astronaut training base, she had scored near-perfect marks in almost every activity, surpassing many active astronauts in terms of physical fitness and coordination. It¡¯s no wonder she was a great dancer butcked the artistic talent¡ªstrong and coordinated, but without the creative spark. Today, however, her unique talents were exactly what was needed for this unimaginable task. She might indeed have been born for this moment of greatness, to live for this historic highlight!
The wing of the space shuttle was only about half a meter from the main door¡ªnot far at all. With a tailwind, the rtive wind speed was low, and Chu An Qing felt little pressure. Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Liu Feng tightened their grips on the safety rope, ready to pull her back inside at the first sign of trouble.
Thud.
The eerie silence of the radio channel was broken by a heart-stoppingnding sound. ¡°Reporting! I¡¯ve sessfully reached the wing! Maintaining bnce with no issues!¡± Chu An Qing¡¯s reassuring voice came through.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Xian peered out the window beside him. Below, the Earth appeared both blue and dark. The blue was sunlight at this angle, illuminating the high atmosphere, and the dark was thend below, still in the night due to the straight-line propagation of light. Shifting his gaze slightly, he saw the pearl-white wing of the space shuttle. Chu An Qing was crouched, stabilizing herself on the trapezoidal wing, two meters wide, three meters long, and tapering to about one meter wide at the end. She had already unhooked the time-space particle catcher and opened the device, which resembled a rice cooker. Holding it like a magical tool meant to capture spirits, she advanced slowly.
¡°A bit closer, Coach Wei Cheng¡ higher, lower, a bit lower¡ a bit to the right¡ good! Keep this direction and speed!¡± she instructed as she directed Wei Cheng to adjust the space shuttle¡¯s posture. Standing on the horizontal wing at 26,000 meters, Chu An Qing prepared to capture the time-space particle. The three men held the safety rope tightly.
¡°Heave-ho¡ª¡± Chu An Qing lunged forward, thrusting the rice cooker ahead. No feedback. She hadn¡¯t caught it. Like a cobra poised to strike, she waited a moment.
¡°There!¡± She swung the rice cooker to the left but still missed.
¡°Ugh¡¡± She gritted her teeth. ¡°Always just a bit off! If I could jump, I¡¯d be more agile. Not being able to jump means I can only use the speed and strength of my arms. But if I could jump, I could use my legs¡¯ power and speed, and I¡¯d definitely catch the time-space particle in time!¡±
¡°The problem isn¡¯t predicting its path or catching it¡ it¡¯s that my arms aren¡¯t fast enough! Every time I see the particle and predict its path, I can only push the rice cooker with my arms. But it¡¯s too slow! The particle jumps away again! The issue isn¡¯t anything else; it¡¯s that my reaction is too slow because I can¡¯t jump!¡±
Jump? The radio channel exploded with voices.
¡°No, absolutely not! Jumping is out of the question!¡±
¡°You¡¯re staying bnced on the wing because of the friction between your feet and the wing! If you jump, you¡¯ll definitely, absolutely, for sure be thrown off!¡±
¡°We¡¯re at 25,000 meters! Air friction is considerable. You can feel the wind because of the force it exerts on you! If you jump, the space shuttle will throw you backward!¡±
¡°Absolutely no jumping! That¡¯s a strict rule! Better to miss the catch than to jump!¡±
Liu Feng was frantic. ¡°An Qing, if it¡¯s really impossible, aim at the time-space particle and throw the rice cooker! I¡¯ve said before, as long as the inner part of the rice cooker covers the particle, it¡¯ll lose activity. It won¡¯t jump or flicker¡ it¡¯ll be observable again, following our universe¡¯s physicalws.¡±
¡°Even if the rice cooker falls and breaks, it doesn¡¯t matter! Once the particle loses activity, we can track it with the time-space particle tracker once we¡¯re back on the ground!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t jump! Trust me! If you can¡¯t catch it, just throw the rice cooker like a basketball! Aim for the particle¡¯s next spot and throw!¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s suggestion was good and constructive. But Chu An Qing was reluctant to throw the rice cooker away. She knew this was thest rice cooker, their final chance to capture the time-space particle. If she threw it and missed, they¡¯d have no other options. She couldn¡¯t give up this hope! So, she wouldn¡¯t heed Liu Feng¡¯s advice to throw the rice cooker.
Time seemed to crawl by, heavy and slow.
¡°Altitude 24,000 meters¡ 23,000 meters¡ 21,000 meters¡ 20,000 meters!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice on the radio grew more anxious. ¡°We¡¯ve broken 20,000 meters! This won¡¯t work! We¡¯re near the troposphere now, with increasing turbulence and cloud cover! It¡¯s dangerous! The lower we go, the greater the turbulence! Chu An Qing is still stable because of calm air and low rtive wind speed! But in turbulence, with winds up to hundreds of meters per second, she¡¯d be blown off immediately! Commander Yellow Finch! We must abort the mission! This is too risky!!¡±
At this moment, everyone realized it was too difficult. This time-space particle was nearly impossible to catch. It shed and flickered unpredictably, resisted physical contact, became invisible, and repelled matter. It was an impossible mission!
¡°Throw it!!¡± Liu Feng¡¯s face was red with urgency. ¡°An Qing! Throw the rice cooker at the time-space particle! Just throw it and get back here immediately!¡±
Chu An Qing had been outside trying to catch the time-space particle for a while. But this game of catching dragonflies and butterflies wasn¡¯t working because she couldn¡¯t jump and wasn¡¯t agile enough. Finally, Chu An Qing, breathing heavily, crouched on the wing, no longer moving. Was she giving up? Had she finally decided to quit?
Everyone was preparing to bring her back when suddenly she spoke over the radio, her voice calm. ¡°What time is it?¡±
The group exchanged puzzled nces. Why was she asking about the time now? Yellow Finch looked at the clock embedded in the cabin wall. ¡°00:39,¡± she said softly.
Chu An Qing chuckled, feeling her whole body rx. She turned back, looking through the porthole at Lin Xian, who was tightly gripping the safety rope inside the cabin. They were barely a meter apart, separated by a steel wall, but it felt like a chasm, an unreachable distance.
¡°I wanted to talk to you more,¡± Chu An Qing whispered. Her voice was so soft that it was drowned out by the wind and the radio static.
¡°An Qing? What did you say?¡± Lin Xian called out, keeping his eyes on the girl outside.
But she just smiled and turned away, facing the horizon, the wing, and the flickering time-space particle.
Click.
She switched off her helmet¡¯s radio, cutting offmunication. Then, she reached behind and unhooked her safety harness from the suit.
¡°An Qing!¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized what was happening.
Outside the porthole, the girl took two steps back, pressed herself against the space shuttle¡¯s shell, and bent her knees, ready to sprint.
Images shed through Lin Xian¡¯s mind, ovepping in this instant:
¡°I feel like everyone around me is amazing¡¡± Chu An Qing had said, smiling in the universityb. ¡°Compared to you all, I¡¯m nothing but Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lin Xian, I think I did something silly,¡± she had admitted at the New Jersey stadium. ¡°But everyone thought you couldn¡¯t win! I just wanted to cheer you on!¡±
¡°Wow!¡± At the top of the Aman Hotel, her eyes wide with wonder, she had asked, ¡°Is this really the center of the world?¡±
¡°Since I won¡¯t see you tomorrow, good morning, good afternoon, and good night,¡± she hadughed, turning in the Manhattan night wind.
¡°If the ne keeps flying east without stopping in America, we¡¯ll never reach tomorrow! We¡¯ll always live in today!¡± she had eximed at Pudong Airport. ¡°If it flies faster, we could travel back in time!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t get lost, Lin Xian!¡± she had waved cheerfully at the milk tea shop. ¡°Don¡¯t get lost and not find your way back to me!¡±
¡°Ta-da!¡± She had jumped out with a cake at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. ¡°Happy birthday, Lin Xian!¡±
The center of the world. Chu An Qing had spread her arms, facing the sky, the moon, and the stars. ¡°You jump, I jump!¡±
¡°Come back!¡± Lin Xian let go of the safety rope and shouted, his voice raw.
But it was toote. Chu An Qing sprinted down the narrow wing like a charging cheetah, leaping high at the edge, three feet into the air, holding the rice cooker aloft like a holy grail facing the sun.
Boom!
The rice cooker closed in midair as she hugged it tightly to her chest.
Beep, beep.
The time-space particle tracker at the copilot¡¯s feet suddenly lit up, signaling a capture.
¡°Liu Feng!¡± Wei Cheng¡¯s voice crackled with excitement over the radio. ¡°The tracker caught the time-space particle¡¯s signal!¡±
But no one responded. Liu Feng, staring at the porthole at Chu An Qing falling off the wing, slumped to the floor.
Click, click.
Lin Xian had already unlocked the safety rope clips and rushed to the open door of the equipment bay.
¡°Come back, Lin Xian!¡± Yellow Finch, secured by her safety rope, shouted desperately. ¡°Don¡¯t save her! You don¡¯t have to save her!¡±
But it was toote. Lin Xian had already leaped out, free-falling through the 20,000-meter sky. Yellow Finch¡¯s vision darkened, and tears streamed down her face. ¡°She¡¯s a Millennium Stake phenomenon!¡±
Whoosh~
The wind howled around the spacesuit Lin Xian wore as he fell freely from 20,000 meters.
Gravity.
Weightlessness.
eleration.
High altitude.
Temperature.
Turbulence.
None of it mattered.
Catch up!
He must catch up!
Lin Xian red, searching the chaotic clouds below for Chu An Qing. In the third dream¡ he had jumped from 20,000 meters hundreds of times. He knew this well. He was skilled at it. Spreading his arms, he adjusted his body to catch more air, changing his direction.
In the third dream, countless nights of practice and lessons from redsers had made him as adept as a bird in the sky, controlling everything. Wei Cheng had once exined that the orange spacesuit, known as the Advanced Escape System Spacesuit, was equipped for safety and utility. It had a radio, shlight, medicine, and even a parachute and emergency survival gear.
If he could catch Chu An Qing, he could save her!
¡°Found her!¡± Sliding through the clouds, Lin Xian spotted Chu An Qing falling fast below, a tiny orange figure hugging the brown rice cooker. She wasn¡¯t struggling or moving, just holding the cooker, calm and serene, ready to face whatever came.
He could catch up! He could catch up!!
The wind was sharp as lightning around him. Just like those countless nights in the third dream where he fell from the sky, the 20,000-meter drop didn¡¯t scare Lin Xian anymore!
He could urately navigate through an invisible anti-aircraft gap without any reference points. Naturally, he could catch up to a bright orange girl.
¡°An Qing!!!¡± Lin Xian shouted as he flew through the sky and clouds.
Damn it. Why can¡¯t I go faster? Faster! Even faster!
He constantly adjusted his posture to reduce air resistance, using every bit of physics to fall faster!
What¡¯s the terminal velocity for a grown man? He had looked it up but couldn¡¯t remember¡ªprobably about 90 meters per second. It was definitely faster than the terminal velocity of the less-than-100-pound Chu An Qing!
Whoosh, whoosh!
The endless, torturous wind roared around him as Lin Xian didn¡¯t know how long he had been free-falling.
His eyes were fixed on the ever-nearing orange figure!
Not only was the orange shadow getting nearer, but the lights and details of the ground were also bing clearer!
Judging by the height, they were now less than 3,000 meters from the ground.
He had to catch her before the minimum parachute deployment height!
Closer¡ Closer¡ Closer!
The distance was only a few meters! Ten meters! Five meters! Three meters! Two meters! One meter!
He caught up!
From a 20,000-meter free-fall to now, 2,000 meters from the ground, he was only one meter away!
¡°An Qing!!!!¡± Lin Xian yelled. Although Chu An Qing had exited the radio channel, she seemed to sense him. She looked up, her face hidden in the darkness of her helmet.
¡°Hand! Give me your hand!!!¡± Lin Xian shouted, reaching out his right hand. She raised her head, her left hand still clutching the rice cooker, and extended her right hand upwards.
Their right hands reached out, the distance between them shrinking but still impossible to close, their fingers just millimeters apart!
Faster! Faster!
Lin Xian could taste blood in his mouth, probably from biting his gums too hard. He hated the physicalws that made it so hard to go faster!
The ground¡¯s details were now clear. They were likely less than 2,000 meters from the surface.
His right shoulder was nearly dislocated from reaching out so far¡ Swinging his right hand desperately, he still couldn¡¯t catch her.
Just a bit more. Their fingertips were just centimeters apart!
Ten centimeters! Five centimeters! One centimeter!
It was right there!
Lin Xian summoned all his strength, lifting his right hand and swung it¡ª
Smack!
He caught her! Their hands sped tightly!
Lin Xian gritted his teeth, pulling Chu An Qing and the rice cooker into his arms. Quickly, he freed his left hand to pull the parachute release cord.
Whoosh!
A white line shot out, and the parachute bloomed like a flower in the night sky.
¡.
USA, Texas, Boca Chica, SpaceX Starship Launch Site.
Observation Tower.
Elon Musk stared at the USB drive in his hand. Clear, blue, shimmering like a crystal gxy, like shattered sapphire. Beautiful, stunning. Exquisitely made. Then¡
The light on the USB drive flickered and dimmed, turning transparent and weightless. A breeze blew by. Then the solid drive disintegrated into blue specks, scattering in the wind, disappearing like copsing quantum particles into dust and void.
Elon Musk clenched his hand, then opened it, feeling the lingering sensation of the drive even though his palm was empty.
¡°It seems¡¡± He smiled slightly. ¡°My loop isplete.¡±
His shocked secretary pushed up her red-framed sses, staring in disbelief. ¡°What happened to your USB drive? Did it just disappear? Is this some Hollywood magic trick?¡±
Elon Musk chuckled, pping his hands as if dusting them off. ¡°It¡¯s a fun magic prop, a gift from a friend. Isn¡¯t it interesting?¡±
¡°Friend?¡± The secretary looked puzzled. ¡°I manage your schedule every day. I don¡¯t remember you seeing any friends recently. When did you get a magician friend?¡±
¡°Let me introduce you!¡± Elon Muskughed and snapped his fingers. From the iron shed of the observation tower, a girl wearing sunsses stepped out.
¡°Shit!¡± The secretary was startled. Who would have thought there was someone hidden in the shed¡ªa girl who looked only about fifteen or sixteen! She took a step back, examining the girl.
The girl, under 1.6 meters tall, wore a simple Adidas tracksuit. Her ck short hair was neat, with bangs, her small frame showing signs of training. Hands in her pockets, she walked out quietly and coolly, exuding a mysterious, deadly aura.
The secretary couldn¡¯t see her face clearly due to therge sunsses but noted her clear jawline, fair skin, and bright red lips¡ªcute yet intimidating.
The girl stopped in the middle of the observation deck, silently facing the secretary.
Elon Musk spread his arms, introducing, ¡°This is my friend who gave me the USB drive and the super virus!¡±
The secretary was stunned. ¡°She¡¯s so young! How long has she been here?¡±
¡°Oh, a few months,¡± Elon Musk said, rubbing his chin.
¡°Mr. Elon Musk¡¡± The secretary stammered. ¡°You might face even more serious charges now. Not even your friend running for president can save you.¡±
Elon Muskughed heartily and turned to the girl. ¡°Now that my loop isplete¡ you can act freely, right?¡±
The girl nodded, pushing her sunsses up, causing the secretary to gasp. The girl was stunningly beautiful, with cold, sharp, blue eyes, like shattered sapphires.
¡.
Somewhere in the countryside of an unknown country or city.
The parachute, once taut, was now crumpled and deted, swaying in the evening breeze. Lin Xian¡¯s feet touched the ground, but the momentum brought him to his knees, still clutching Chu An Qing.
¡°An Qing! An Qing¡¡± He gasped, pushing back his helmet visor to breathe fresh air, then lifting the orange spacesuit-d girl.
But something was wrong. She was too light. Even if Chu An Qing was slim, she shouldn¡¯t weigh so little. It felt like he was holding just the suit.
¡°An¡ An Qing?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. He quickly unlocked her helmet, lifting the visor. No¡
No one was inside. The suit was empty!
¡°Where¡ where is she?¡± He tore the suit open. It was empty, except for some faint blue particles that quickly vanished.
¡°Where is she?!!¡± He stood up, shouting, but got no response.
Thud, thud¡ As Lin Xian stood, the time-space particle catcher rolled from Chu An Qing¡¯s arm, settling on the yellow grass.
The device, resembling a rice cooker, blinked twice before disying a message:
Time-Space Particle: Capture Sessful!
Capture Time: March 28, 2024, 00:42
Volume Three: The Millennium Phenomenon, to be continued.
Chapter 305: History Locked
Bang!
At the aerospace base, Lin Xian shoved open the hallway doors and hurried down the corridor towards a room deep inside.
¡°Wait, Lin Xian! Wait!¡±
Behind him, Gao Yang scrambled to catch up, grabbing Lin Xian¡¯s arm and stepping in front of him to block his path.
¡°Lin Xian, don¡¯t be rash! Let¡¯s talk this through calmly!¡±
Lin Xian pushed Gao Yang aside. ¡°I¡¯m not being rash. Besides, we all share the responsibility for letting Chu An Qing leave the capsule¡ Everyone went to space to capture the time-space particles because of me.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch had her reasons and limitations. But no matter how many excuses we make, Chu An Qing is still gone¡ I promised her father, Chu Shan He, that I¡¯d bring her back safely. What am I supposed to do now? How do I face Chu Shan He? Our friend is gone, and Chu Shan He¡¯s precious daughter is gone too.¡±
¡°Is she dead, alive, missing, or what? What¡¯s this ¡®Millennial Stake¡¯ Yellow Finch mentioned? We need the truth!¡± Lin Xian said this before turning and continuing his stride forward.Thud.
Gao Yang¡¯s hefty hand pressed down on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Lin Xian, you don¡¯t know what happened after you jumped from the space shuttle, do you?¡±
Lin Xian stopped in his tracks. He turned back to look at Gao Yang.
After jumping from 20,000 meters, grabbing Chu An Qing, deploying the parachute, and finding Chu An Qing missing uponnding, he immediately contacted rescue using his radiomunicator. It wasn¡¯t long before an official helicopter from the country arrived. Then he flew directly to the secret aerospace base. Once hended, he handed the container with the time-space particles to Liu Feng, exined Chu An Qing¡¯s situation, and after Liu Feng briefly examined the particles without finding any concrete answers, Lin Xian rushed to find Yellow Finch, only to be stopped by Gao Yang.
¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Gao Yang swallowed hard. ¡°Yellow Finch didn¡¯t want us to tell you, but I couldn¡¯t keep it from you. I nned to tell you, but you were like a runaway mouse the moment you got off the ne, impossible to catch. Finally, I get to speak¡¡±
¡°When you jumped from the ne, Yellow Finch fainted. Actually, saying she fainted isn¡¯t quite urate; I don¡¯t know how to describe it. It¡¯s like¡ You remember, right? When Chu An Qing jumped from the wing, Yellow Finch yelled something about a Millennial Stake. I was too focused on you to understand clearly.¡±
¡°Then you jumped, and Yellow Finch copsed. We were frantic, calling out to you on the radio with no response. Wei Cheng remotely closed the main hatch. We rushed to check on Yellow Finch and found her shaking on the ground, clutching her helmet and refusing to let us take it off. But the situation was urgent, so Liu Feng and I forced it off her.¡±
¡°Do you know what we saw?¡±
Gao Yang trailed off, struggling for words. It wasn¡¯t for suspense; he was genuinely at a loss for description.
After a pause, Gao Yang continued. ¡°It¡¯s hard to describe. It was like¡ like Yellow Finch became transparent¡¡±
¡°Transparent?¡± Lin Xian frowned. He hadn¡¯t expected that description. Could a person be transparent?
But thinking of how Chu An Qing had vanished¡ Yellow Finch, a known time traveler, bing transparent wasn¡¯t out of the realm of possibility.
¡°Did her eye color fade too?¡± Lin Xian pressed.
Gao Yang was taken aback. ¡°Ha! So you knew!¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know; I was just guessing. Hurry up, tell me if it¡¯s true.¡±
Gao Yang nodded. ¡°You guessed right. Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes, which were bright blue like light bulbs, turnedpletely ck.¡±
¡°ck¡ like ours, with no light, no blue. At that moment, she looked just like a normal person. Her expression was pained, as if she¡¯d been stabbed.¡±
¡°But she quickly recovered, got up, and immediately tried to call you on the radio. But the space shuttle¡¯s long-rangemunication was broken, so of course, you didn¡¯t hear. She then notified Wei Cheng to return.¡±
¡°Afternding, we reconnected with ground control, learned you were safe, and that rescue was on the way. That¡¯s when we all rxed. Yellow Finch then told us not to mention what happened on the space shuttle.¡±
¡°But we couldn¡¯tply. We¡¯re not working for her. So Liu Feng and I decided you had to know. I just learned what happened to Chu An Qing from you, and I thought these events might be connected.¡±
¡
Lin Xian recalled what Chu An Qing had once told him. It was simr to Gao Yang¡¯s ount.
Back at the astronaut training base, Yellow Finch had also be weak and trembling in the washroom, kneeling on the floor in pain.
The difference was, she hadn¡¯t turned transparent that time, and her eye color¡ now that he thought about it, her eyes must have faded or turned ck just like this time. She had refused to lift her head for Chu An Qing to see, likely to hide this change.
Gao Yang¡¯s hand left Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, and he stepped back, no longer blocking him. He looked up and spoke softly.
¡°I¡¯m not saying this to defend Yellow Finch. I don¡¯t like her. She¡¯s full of lies, knows everything but says nothing, and doesn¡¯t care about our lives.¡±
¡°But¡ I¡¯m conflicted. I¡¯ve told you everything I know. You decide the rest.¡±
¡°I feel the same. Chu An Qing is our friend, and her disappearance hurts and angers me too. But as the old saying goes, ¡®If alive, we need to see the person; if dead, the corpse.¡¯ We haven¡¯t found either, so don¡¯t assume she¡¯s dead.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve seen so many supernatural thingstely¡ªtime-space particles, Yellow Finch turning transparent, her eyes changing color¡ Really, Chu An Qing might not be dead. Maybe she¡¯s just invisible!¡±
Gao Yang spread his hands and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°That¡¯s all I have to say. Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian. You¡¯re my best friend. Whatever you decide, right or wrong, I¡¯ll always support you.¡±
¡°So¡ go do what you need to do. Find Yellow Finch and get the answers.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He patted Gao Yang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±
¡
The iron door of the office creaked open, the hinges emitting a piercing noise that echoed through the quiet room.
Lin Xian stepped inside, ncing around. Yellow Finch, as if anticipating his arrival, was not seated behind her desk. Instead, she stood in front of it, perched on its edge with her arms crossed, her crystalline blue eyes gazing at him like polished ss.
¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you, Lin Xian,¡± she said calmly. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you dared to jump from the ne¡ andnded safely. I admit, I underestimated you. You¡¯re stronger and quicker than I thought.¡±
Lin Xian closed the office door behind him and walked to the center of the room. ¡°You know why I¡¯m here. Tell me¡ what happened to Chu An Qing? Why did she disappear?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± Yellow Finch replied, her voice steady.
¡°Is she dead? Missing? Invisible? Or somewhere else?¡± Lin Xian pressed, his frustration growing.
¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± she repeated, her expression unchanging.
¡°What does ¡®Millennial Stake¡¯ mean? You can tell me that, right?¡± Lin Xian insisted. ¡°Why did you mention it?¡±
¡°Because ¡®Millennial Stake¡¯ is a term I created,¡± Yellow Finch said, blinking slowly. ¡°The original term isn¡¯t ¡®Millennial Stake.¡¯ It has a more precise, definitive name. If I told you that, you wouldn¡¯t need to ask me anything because you¡¯d understand immediately.¡±
She paused, then continued. ¡°Lin Xian, even if you hadn¡¯te, I would have called you. It¡¯s time¡ I have something very important to tell you. It¡¯s crucial for you.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xian asked, his curiosity piqued.
Yellow Finch uncrossed her arms and leaned on the desk, looking at him intently. ¡°Do you understand what I mean by ¡®I can¡¯t say¡¯?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, still confused.
¡°Look at me, Lin Xian,¡± she instructed, her voice firm. ¡°This is what I need to teach you today¡ Although it¡¯s sudden, given that you know about the Millennial Stake and want its truth, it¡¯s something you must understand.¡±
Their eyes locked, Lin Xian¡¯s dark gaze meeting Yellow Finch¡¯s bright blue eyes.
¡°Watch me carefully,¡± she said, staring unblinkingly at him, speaking slowly and deliberately. ¡°The Millennial Stake is¡ª¡±
Suddenly, she fell silent, as if choked!
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian thought he hadn¡¯t heard right and stepped closer.
Yellow Finch bit her lip, sweat forming on her forehead. Her hands trembled as she reached back to support herself on the desk.
¡°The Millennial Stake is¡ª¡± she tried again, but once more, she was silenced. It was as if the sound system ying music was abruptly unplugged, or a phone call suddenly cut off, or a thrilling movie halted mid-scene! Just like that! Like a breath stuck in her throat!
Yellow Finch was inexplicably, irrationally silenced!
Then¡ª
Thud!
Yellow Finch lost her bnce, fell backward, and copsed on the office floor. Shey prone on the ground.
¡°Hey!¡± Lin Xian hurried over to help her up. But¡ she was transparent. Transparent! Just as Gao Yang had described, Yellow Finch¡¯s body had turned transparent!
She could still be touched. But she felt light, easily lifted, and with her came a shower of blue star-like particles! It was familiar, just like the tiny blue particles from Chu An Qing¡¯s spacesuit! But these from Yellow Finch¡ Inrge amounts! Clumps and clumps! Like scattered sand, like a dispersed swarm of bees!
These blue particles copsed, dissipated, and vanished in the air.
¡°What is this?¡± Lin Xian witnessed this supernatural phenomenon again. What was happening? Was his initial thought correct¡
Blue time-space particles, Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes, the star particles left when Chu An Qing vanished, and now the blue quantum particles from Yellow Finch¡ All blue!
This confirmed his previous theory!
[All things from other time-spaces, not originally from this time-space, show a blue glow, and when they copse, they turn into tiny blue star particles, disappearing¡]
At this moment, Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes had turnedpletely ck. Supported by Lin Xian, she was incredibly weak, as if breathing took all her strength.
Gradually, her body recovered from transparency, stopped shedding blue particles, her breathing steadied, and a hint of blue reappeared in her eyes.
This time, just a hint. Barely discernible around her ck pupils.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Xian¡¡± Yellow Finch looked up at him. ¡°This is¡ what I need¡ to teach you today. I want¡ to tell you about the Millennial Stake, but I can¡¯t¡ You must figure it out yourself.¡±
She swallowed hard, forcing a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ look so¡ worried. I always intended¡ to tell you¡ about the time-spacews. This is why I came back¡ the most important thing¡¡±
¡°Time-spacews?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. Again, time-spacews.
¡°History Locked¡¡± Yellow Finch bit her lip and said each word clearly. Then she sighed.
¡°I know you don¡¯t understand, but because you don¡¯t, I can say it. Don¡¯t ask why¡ Just think about it. Think about it with the Millennial Stake¡¡±
¡°This is the first time-spacew I need to tell you. Next, there¡¯s a second one¡¡± Yellow Finch paused before continuing. ¡°The second time-spacew¡ I can¡¯t say it. That¡¯s why¡ I made you watch the changes in me.¡±
¡°This shouldn¡¯t happen. Normally¡ in a normal time-space, it wouldn¡¯t happen.¡±
¡°Only when there¡¯s both time-space rejection and history locked¡ does this ur.¡±
Yellow Finch coughed lightly. Her eyes gleamed with both blue and ck, her color improved, and she gained strength. She stood up from Lin Xian¡¯s support, looking down at him.
¡°Think carefully, Lin Xian¡ What this time-spacew means, what it can bring you, what it can help you understand.¡±
She gazed deeply into his eyes.
¡°This is very important. Perhaps¡ it¡¯s thest thing I can teach you.¡±
Chapter 306: Coincidental Timing, Coincidental Age
New Time-Space Laws.
Lin Xian pondered over what Yellow Finch had just said. Previously, while on the space shuttle, observing the characteristics of time-space particles, he and Liu Feng had concluded a time-spacew they called ¡°time-space repulsion.¡±
Now, Yellow Finch had introduced two new time-spacews based on phenomena she experienced herself.
One of them, known only by name, was ¡°Historical Lock.¡± ording to Yellow Finch, this time-spacew was rted to the Millennium Stake. The otherw didn¡¯t even have a name; it was only observed through spectacles.
When Yellow Finch tried to speak about certain things but was hindered by time-space sticity, she experienced not just a simple repulsion but a stronger, more thorough form of silencing. This was the ¡°unable to say¡± that Yellow Finch mentioned repeatedly.
This was not the kind of inability that could be controlled by fear of time-space repulsion; it was a true inability. As soon as you tried to speak, a mysterious time-spacew would silence you, making it impossible to utter a sound.
Lin Xian could imagine that even writing would be simrly constrained under strict time-spacews, preventing any change in historical trajectory.
He had no doubt about this.It seemed that time-space repulsion came in degrees. Minor repulsion urred when the actions didn¡¯t harm time-space stability or alter historical development significantly. This minor repulsion was almost negligible, akin to a harmless person who got lost.
A higher degree of time-space repulsion was exemplified by Yellow Finch¡¯s previous behavior. Her actions, while impacting the future, were within the stic range of time-space, thus the repulsion and bacsh she faced were limited and bearable. This was evident in her weakness, trembling, and even transparency observed by Chu An Qing in the washroom and Gao Yang on the space shuttle.
Lin Xian believed that Yellow Finch had been battling time-space repulsion continuously.
But this kind of repulsion was like a chronic illness, draining life and time but not fatal within the stic range of time-spacews.
He spected that time-space wasn¡¯t overly sensitive. Small, insignificant events would be smoothed over and ignored over long timescales, thus allowing minor changes within its stic range.
This sticity was a crucial time-spacew, affecting what was permissible and what was not.
So, what would a more severe time-space repulsion look like?
It would resemble Yellow Finch¡¯s behavior when she tried to reveal the true meaning of the Millennium Stake. This action exceeded time-space sticity, resulting in maximum repulsion: forced silence, weakness, transparency, and the risk of being erased entirely.
However, normal time-space sticity and repulsion wouldn¡¯t be this intense. The underlying reason was the ¡°Historical Lock¡±w.
Why would history lock itself? When did it happen?
Since history was locked, why could he still change history and rewrite the future?
¡°Wait,¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized, ¡°I have never changed true history!¡±
What is true history?
Events like Qin Shi Huang unifying the six states, Xiang Yumitting suicide by the Wu River, graduating from Donghai University, founding Rhine Company, and even what he had for breakfast yesterday¡ªthese were true historical events.
He never changed them and never had the ability to change them.
What he had been altering were the developmental trajectories of the next 600 years.
To his current era, what¡¯s changing wasn¡¯t history but the future!
So, Yellow Finch¡¯s actions indeed altered established history because she came from the future. No matter what time she traveled from, the present year of 2024 was already established history to her, just like if he traveled 2000 years back to Qin Shi Huang¡¯s era.
But Lin Xian wondered, was established history the same as locked history?
He felt it wasn¡¯t.
If established history equaled locked history, why would Yellow Finch specifically mention ¡°Historical Lock¡±?
There had to be details he hadn¡¯t grasped, likely rted to the truth of the Millennium Stake term.
Lin Xian stood up and looked at Yellow Finch. Her body had recovered, at least for now.
¡°I think I understand,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°But I need to think it through. I have many things to do now. The most important is to find out what happened to Chu An Qing and understand the Millennium Stake. I must give Chu Shan He an exnation.¡±
¡°Although the time-space particle capture operation seeded, the sacrifices were too great. VV vanished, and Chu An Qing is gone too¡ Yellow Finch, I really don¡¯t want to see morepanions sacrificed. Everything started because of me, so I must take responsibility.¡±
With that, he turned towards the office door.
¡°Your performance today surprised me,¡± Yellow Finch said with a lightugh, leaning against the desk. ¡°I thought you¡¯d argue with me or demand to know what happened to Chu An Qing, whether she¡¯s alive, where she went¡¡±
Creak¡ª
Lin Xian pulled open the heavy door, looking back at Yellow Finch onest time. ¡°I¡¯ll find the answers myself.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch, when I say I don¡¯t want to see morepanions sacrificed, that includes you.¡±
Bang.
The heavy iron door closed. Lin Xian¡¯s footsteps echoed down the hallway, fading away.
¡°Hmph,¡± Yellow Finch snorted softly, brushing her cheek with her right index finger, pushing stray hair behind her ear. Her delicate fingers touched the crystal blue earrings, which swayed, reflecting fragmented rainbows in the sunlight.
¡°He¡¯s grown up,¡± she whispered, smiling slightly. ¡°He¡¯s starting to look like a leader.¡±
Lin Xian walked quickly down the hallway. He hadn¡¯t slept for a long time, his eyes likely bloodshot, but he didn¡¯t want to sleep. He needed to understand everything clearly¡
What happened to Chu An Qing? Where is she? From Yellow Finch¡¯s attitude, perhaps it wasn¡¯t as bad as he thought.
Just as he expected, the chance of Chu An Qing dying was low. She must have gone somewhere!
Linking to the future world¡¯s CC¡
Twenty years ago, a young woman named Zhang Yu Qian had lived in this world.
These three women must be connected in some significant way!
The Millennium Stake. Though he didn¡¯t know what it was or when Chu An Qing became the Millennium Stake, if she was indeed the Millennium Stake, then what about Zhang Yu Qian and CC?
Chu An Qing was born on March 28, 2004, and disappeared on March 28, 2024. Zhang Yu Qian was born in 1980 and disappeared in 2000. Both were 20 years old!
He never asked CC her age or birthdate, but she looked just like Chu An Qing! His recurring dream started on August 28, 2624, at 12:42 PM and ended on August 29, 2624, at 12:42 AM.
Chu An Qing likely disappeared at 12:42 AM on March 28, 2024, right on her 20th birthday!
These dates and times seemed interconnected!
If¡ Just if.
If CC was also 20 years old at 12:42 AM on August 29, 2624, then there was a real problem.
Because his dream world always ended at 12:42 AM.
A terrifying possibility struck him.
He never figured out what that world-ending white light was targeting. The Earth? Him? Or¡
Was it targeting CC, who turned 20 at 12:42 AM on August 29, 2624?
¡°Why are the timing and the girls¡¯ ages so coincidental?¡±
Lin Xian felt the answery here, with Chu An Qing, CC, and Zhang Yu Qian.
Now, Chu An Qing was gone, and CC was out of contact in the dream world. He didn¡¯t know her age or birthdate, making it hard to judge.
The only clue left was with Zhang Yu Qian, who died in 2000!
Tap, tap, tap.
Lin Xian walked quickly to the hall where he had met Gao Yang earlier.
Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s determined stride, Gao Yang stood up, ¡°Lin Xian! What¡¯s up?¡±
Lin Xian pped Gao Yang¡¯s back and pulled him along, ¡°You¡¯reing with me to Qufu in Shandong.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Gao Yang asked, puzzled. ¡°What are we doing there? Visiting Confucius?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head, his gaze firm. ¡°We¡¯re digging up a grave!¡±
Chapter 307: VV, Elon Musk, and Chaos
¡°Holy crap!¡±
Gao Yang gently ced his hand on Lin Xian¡¯s forehead. ¡°Are you running a fever? Or has Yellow Finch driven you insane? What are you nning, digging a grave for someone?¡±
Lin Xian rolled his eyes and pushed Gao Yang¡¯s hand away.
¡°If you really want to dig a grave for Chu An Qing, shouldn¡¯t you be digging in Donghai? Why are you heading to Qufu, Shandong? That¡¯s Confucius¡¯s ce, a holy site for Confucianism!¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath, trying to calm his friend¡¯s nerves. ¡°I can¡¯t exin everything right now, but this is closely rted to Chu An Qing. Maybe¡ we can find out why she disappeared, the truth behind it, and where she is now, in Qufu.¡±
Gao Yang nodded, still confused but trusting Lin Xian. ¡°Alright, if we¡¯ve gone to space together, Qufu is no big deal. Just tell me when we¡¯re leaving.¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch. It was six in the evening. If they headed to the airport now, they could make it to Shandong in time. But the problem was¡ he had no idea where Zhang Yu Qian, who looked just like Chu An Qing and died in 2000, was buried. Without knowing the exact location of the grave, how could they find the DNA they needed?
So, the first step was to talk to the middle-aged couple and find out where Zhang Yu Qian was buried. It wasn¡¯t ethical, but it had to be done. It wasn¡¯t just for Chu An Qing, or himself, or to uncover the truth. If they solved the mysteries surrounding Chu An Qing, Zhang Yu Qian, and CC, it might not be bad for those grieving parents either. If Chu An Qing might not be dead, then what if their daughter Zhang Yu Qian wasn¡¯t dead either? The secret might be hidden in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave.¡°Let¡¯s head to Xidan first and find a ce to stay,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s rest tonight. We haven¡¯t slept properly in ages. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll contact some people in the capital to figure out what happened over twenty years ago.¡±
They packed their bags and left the space base, taking a car to a hotel near Xidan Shopping Center. Meanwhile, Liu Feng took the time-space particles back to Donghai University¡¯sb to start calibrating the time-space clock and conduct rted research, hoping for a breakthrough.
Lin Xian was focused. He only wanted to uncover what had happened to Chu An Qing, as quickly as possible. After all, he needed to exin things to Chu Shan He when they returned to Donghai.
In the backseat, Gao Yang leaned back and started snoring loudly. Finally, Lin Xian had some quiet time to organize his thoughts.
At the moment, he was in the worst situation since discovering the truth about his dreams. It was really bad.
First, there was the issue of VV¡¯s disappearance. He always thought it might have encountered some temporary problem, causing it to leave the spacecraft, but it wouldn¡¯t just vanishpletely, right? VV was so powerful, so smart, it must have had some backup n, right?
Lin Xian had always trusted VV. Despite it never showing its full capabilities, it was the most powerful AI humanity had ever created. In this era, it shouldn¡¯t have any rivals. So, when he reconnected to thework after returning to Earth, he immediately started calling for VV. He knew if VV were there, it would respond. But unfortunately¡
This time, no matter how he called, VV didn¡¯t respond. It couldn¡¯t be truly dead, right? In this era¡¯swork, VV was incredibly dominant. It could hunt down Kevin Walker. Such a formidable presence, who could possibly kill it?
Lin Xian¡¯s first suspect was not Kevin Walker. If Kevin could kill VV so thoroughly, he would have done it long ago. Allowing VV to grow stronger would only increase the risk for Kevin. It wasn¡¯t a cautious hacker¡¯s move. Plus, without VV, Lin Xian¡¯sbat and intelligence-gathering capabilities were drastically reduced, posing no threat to Kevin. So why wouldn¡¯t Kevin kill VV immediately?
Understanding this logic led to one conclusion: The person who killed VV wasn¡¯t Kevin Walker; it must be someone else. Great. Lin Xian had thought Kevin was his only enemy, with Elon Musk and Copernicus being uncertain allies. Now there was another enemy.
Who could have killed VV? And was VV really dead?
Lin Xian shook his head. He found it hard to believe. VV was a data stream in thework, with no physical form or need for hardware. So, the attack must havee from thework. If VV had so many skills, couldn¡¯t it transfer itself to an unconnected device, just like how it first emerged from theptop?
¡°No¡¡± Lin Xian quickly dismissed this idea. ¡°If the attacker was strong enough to kill VV, they would know all its tricks. Anywhere VV could transfer, the attacker could reach too.¡±
¡°That means¡ VV might really be dead.¡±
Lin Xian sighed and leaned back in his seat, feeling a bit mncholic. Anywhere VV could go, the attacker could follow; if the attacker could kill VV, it meant their tech was superior. Where there was electricity, the attacker could invade.
¡°Ah!!!!!¡± Gao Yang suddenly yelled in his sleep because Lin Xian had punched his leg.
¡°Ow, what are you doing?¡± Gao Yangined.
But Lin Xian ignored him. He had thought of something! An item! A ce not connected to thework, imprable, and without power¡ªhis oldptop with VV¡¯s source code!
Realizing this, he punched Gao Yang¡¯s leg in excitement. ¡°That¡¯s it¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes brightened. After returning from the U.S., he had left theptop on a bookshelf, unplugged and uncharged, as it was only meant to bring back VV from the future.
¡°That¡¯s the one ce the attacker can¡¯t reach!¡± It had no power, wasn¡¯t connected to anywork, and had its wireless and Bluetooth modules removed. Most importantly, it had no power! Even the best hacker, AI, or virus would be nothing without power!
¡°Never mind, keep sleeping.¡± Lin Xian patted Gao Yang¡¯s leg, coaxing him back to sleep.
Gao Yang mumbled and resumed snoring.
Lin Xian, after considering Kevin Walker¡¯s situation, started thinking about Elon Musk.
Elon Musk was another uncertain ally. When Kevin Walker controlled the U.S. X-37B space shuttle to attack, it was Elon Musk¡¯s rocket that intercepted the attack, foiling Kevin¡¯s long-nned heist of the time-space particle.
Though his exact motives were unclear, Elon Musk had helped Lin Xian by not wanting him harmed and hoping he¡¯d capture the particle.
What was his identity? What role did he y in the Genius Club? Was he allied with Yellow Finch, hence the rocket assistance?
These were questions, but not urgent ones. The priority was solving the mysteries of Chu An Qing, Zhang Yu Qian, and CC.
And Lin Xian also remembered Yellow Finch¡¯s ¡°mirror puzzle.¡±
It had been over half a year without solving it, despite his efforts. He had looked in many mirrors, including real ones during daily routines and dream ones in various scenarios, but found nothing unusual.
Even in the third dream, where Yellow Finch had first mentioned the puzzle, he checked mirrors often but found nothing. So, the puzzle remained unsolved.
He believed Yellow Finch¡¯s im, ¡°In the mirror, you¡¯ll find what you seek.¡± He desperately wanted to find it, though he didn¡¯t know what it was exactly. He was sure it was a key point to break the stalemate.
But he couldn¡¯t solve it.
No matter if he asked VV or Zhao Ying Jun, they both advised him to check mirrors, which he did, many times, to no avail.
Lin Xian scratched his head, feeling stuck and helpless, with no clues or direction. Since he delved deeper into the Genius Club, this sense of confusion and powerlessness had intensified.
¡°Same old wish¡¡± Lin Xian smacked his lips. ¡°When will I get an invitation to the Genius Club?¡±
Only then, with an invitation, sitting at the same table as Yellow Finch, Copernicus, Elon Musk, and Kevin Walker, could he view everything from the same level and perspective.
Screech¡ª
The car stopped, and the driver turned back, ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, we¡¯ve arrived at your hotel.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, waking Gao Yang, and they checked into the hotel.
After a buffet dinner, they went to their suite. Gao Yang took a shower and immediately fell asleep on the bed.
¡°¡¡± Lin Xian had always envied Gao Yang¡¯s ability to fall asleep instantly. Though his own sleep onset wasn¡¯t slow, the recent stress and fatigue, especially from the intense events in space, made it normal to feel exhausted once back on Earth.
Lin Xian also washed up,y on the bed, and opened his phone. ¡°VV, are you there?¡± he whispered.
As expected, no response.
Despite anticipating this, he sighed. He could only hope his old, unchargedptop would work a miracle once he got home.
He browsed some news. The top stories were about the Starlink satellites, space shuttles, Elon Musk, and Kevin Walker, upying most of the top ten trending spots. Now, most countries, including X Country, had issued a global warrant for Kevin Walker due to his attack on the X Country space shuttle, which was on a secret mission carrying national astronauts.
After scrolling through the news, Lin Xian felt sleepy. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll contact Director Liu An of the National Security Agency to help find the address of that middle-aged couple.¡±
He yawned and turned over. VV had quickly found out their names, Zhang Shi and Yan Qin. With their names, finding their address wouldn¡¯t be difficult.
¡°Time to sleep.¡± He closed his eyes¡
So much had happened in just two days.
In the fourth dream, there must be some changes, right? Besides, he had captured the time-space particle, a crucial item that everyone deemed extremely important, emphasizing its significance repeatedly.
Everyone fought desperately for it. Such a key item, now in his possession, should trigger some noticeable changes, right?
Yellow Finch and Chu An Qing had mentioned that without capturing the time-space particle, the future would be terrible. Now, the fourth dream was already terrible enough, making it hard for Lin Xian to proceed.
But since he had the particle now, should the bleak future change? Shouldn¡¯t the fourth dream change? Could it directly break through this time-space sticity, leading to the fifth dream?
Gradually, his head became heavy¡
¡
¡
Whoosh¡
The familiar hot summer wind and city noise greeted Lin Xian as he opened his eyes.
¡°Heh¡¡± He let out a helpless chuckle.
Numerous brightly lit giant airships still floated slowly in the sky, each disyingrge ads celebrating Time Bank¡¯s 600th anniversary. His invested bank. The bank holding his safe deposit box. So close yet out of reach.
He looked down. Surrounded as always by dozens of soldiers, the leader shed an electronic warrant. ¡°Lin Xian! You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting time-space!¡±
Lin Xian stared at the words on the electronic paper¡ In 2024, besides the time-space disruption charge, the other two charges were also on Kevin Walker¡¯s warrant.
At this moment, he seemed to understand something.
¡°Kevin Walker.¡± Hearing his name, the old man¡¯s smile froze.
He yanked off the hood from the man tied to the chair. The young man before him looked exhausted but remained calm, with deep, cold, and intense eyes.
¡°Come kill me, Kevin, you know where I am.¡± The young man spoke softly, as if seeing through time, staring at him. ¡°If you don¡¯te to kill me, I will kill you!¡±
The old man¡¯s pupils contracted¡ª
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
The blinding white light at 00:42 consumed everything.
In the hotel suite, amidst Gao Yang¡¯s thunderous snores, Lin Xian opened his eyes. ¡°The fourth dream hasn¡¯t changed.¡±
He sat up, opened the balcony door, letting the early spring breeze in. Stepping onto the balcony, he leaned on the stone railing, looking at the night sky.
Despite the significant changes in the real world, including the much-coveted time-space particle changing hands, the fourth dream remained unchanged.
This spoke volumes.
Two possibilities. The simplest, the dream is false, and the enemy hasn¡¯t had time to modify it, not yet calcting how the future should change with the particle now in Lin Xian¡¯s possession¡ªmeaning the new ¡°set¡± hasn¡¯t been built yet.
If the dream is the real future world, it means the time-space particle¡¯s importance isn¡¯t as everyone thought, or perhaps it isn¡¯t this specific particle but another.
In any case, there¡¯s a conspiracy making everyone believe this particle is crucial, drawing all forces into the fight, including Kevin Walker, Yellow Finch, Lin Xian, and the Millennium Stakeholder Chu An Qing!
And the true mastermind¡ doesn¡¯t care about this particle, watching from afar, benefiting from the chaos!
The proof is that if the particle were so crucial, with all forces battling for it, why hasn¡¯t the dream changed after Lin Xian obtained it? This makes no sense!
¡
Lin Xian had deliberately provoked the mysterious old man, suspecting he wasn¡¯t Kevin Walker. If he truly were Kevin, he wouldn¡¯t be in such a dire situation after the battle over the time-space particle, forced into bing a global fugitive. Even a genius can¡¯t fight against 6 billion people on Earth. That¡¯s impossible.
Lin Xian¡¯s provocation aimed to stir the real world into action, to disrupt the stagnant situation. He was now fully exposed. Kevin Walker knew about his quest for the time-space particle; what else didn¡¯t he know? Elon Musk had intercepted the space shuttle with a rocket. What else couldn¡¯t he intercept?
In the second dream, Big Cat¡¯s subordinate, Ah Zhuang, once said: ¡°Change brings solutions, stagnation brings death.¡±
In his current predicament, stagnation would slowly kill him. Change was necessary. If the situation couldn¡¯t improve, it should at least be chaotic. Only through change could he find opportunities. Only in chaos could he seize the enemy¡¯s weaknesses.
For this battle against unknown adversaries, too many sacrifices had been made. Chu An Qing had disappeared. Yellow Finch seemed on the brink of death. Lin Xian had to step out from the shadows and into the spotlight. He was forcing Kevin Walker to act, also testing if Kevin would act. If not, his provocation would be in vain, showing the enemy didn¡¯t take the bait, and he¡¯d need a new n.
But if Kevin did act, would Elon Musk help as he did with the rocket? What about other hidden forces? What would the Genius Club members do?
Chaos¡
A stagnant situation leading nowhere needed chaos to find a path.
¡°Let¡¯s stir things up,¡± Lin Xian decided, looking at the moon. Trying to secretly investigate and gather intel, then capturing the enemy like he did with the Seven Deadly Sins, was too naive. His current opponents were far more powerful, cunning, and dangerous. He needed to think deeper.
Increasingly, he felt the mysterious old man might not be Kevin Walker, which made more sense. If it was someone else, could it be the one who tricked everyone into fighting for an unimportant time-space particle, reaping the benefits from afar? Lin Xian recalled the tall man who shook his hand at the Science Charity G, predicting the oue of the time-space particle battle.
¡°Elon Musk,¡± Lin Xian muttered, squinting at the moon, remembering the massive ck hand stretching across the moon¡¯s poles in his future dream. ¡°Is it you?¡±
Chapter 308: Chu An Qing and 00:42
¡°That¡¯s not quite right,¡± Lin Xian shook his head.
Technically speaking, Elon Musk, the world¡¯s richest man, didn¡¯te out of this time-space particle conflict unscathed. He didn¡¯t directly participate in the battle, butunching that timely rocket surely wasn¡¯t cheap.
Moreover, his multi-billion-dor Starlink satellite project, which he spent years and billions of dors on, waspletely destroyed. The direct losses, indirect losses from stock prices, and subsequent rted lossesbined would likely multiply the initial billions by several times.
If the chain reaction caused by this incident continues to develop, Elon Musk will inevitably lose his position as the world¡¯s richest man. Judging by the current stock prices, it seems like he has already lost it. However, the wealth of these world tycoons fluctuates greatly every day. The exact amount of wealth cannot be urately predicted. But it¡¯s clear that Elon Musk has suffered a severe blow, akin to being stabbed in a vital artery.
So, from an economic perspective, Elon Musk is actually the biggest loser in this time-space particle conflict. Therefore, it can¡¯t be said that Elon Musk was just watching from the sidelines. In a sense, he is also a victim.
¡°Moreover¡¡± Lin Xian lowered his head and looked at the bustling night view of the capital in the distance.
¡°Moreover, all my current spections are based on the assumption that the dream world is real. If we consider the possibility that the dream world is fake, simted, or staged in a studio, then trying to deduce who the mastermind is right now is meaningless.¡±
¡°So, the most urgent task is to find a way to quickly determine the authenticity of the dream world. Only by confirming this premise can we continue to reason further. Otherwise, if the premise is wrong, like a crooked foundation, all subsequent reasoning and construction will inevitably be skewed and wrong.¡±Thinking of this, Lin Xian reached out his right hand and pressed it against his chest. Inside the pocket of his pajamas was a small note left by Chu An Qing.
This small note was thest thing Chu An Qing left for him. For months, Lin Xian had been agonizing over what to write on the note that could deceive everyone, even if the enemy saw and copied it, and still convey a message across 600 years, enlightening him about the reality of the dream world.
He had shared this dilemma with Chu An Qing on his 25th birthday. At the time, she couldn¡¯t think of an answer either, believing the question to be too difficult. But after Chu An Qing touched the time-space particle, she seemed like a different person, as if she remembered something or gained some memory. She was visibly upset and desperately asked Yellow Finch if everything was real.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand what specifically Chu An Qing was asking. Her intense reaction after touching the time-space particle indicated that she recalled something significant.
There was no time to ask these questions back then, as Chu An Qing was in a hurry to write the note and grab the time-space particle. Lin Xian had nned to ask her everything once it was over, but he never got the chance. It became another unsolvable mystery.
And the answer, he believed, was written on this little note that held the weight of time and fate.
Lin Xian¡¯s fingers twitched against his chest, feeling the folded note through his thin pajamas. To this day, no one had seen the note¡ªnot even him. No one in 2024 knew what was on it. Chu An Qing, the only person who knew, had disappeared. Thus, a secret was born that no one in the world knew.
Lin Xian carried this note with him at all times, never daring to let it out of his sight. It was the note Chu An Qing had exchanged her life for. Losing it or letting someone else see it would betray her intentions.
She had told him seriously, ¡°Read it when you get there¡ You¡¯ll understand.¡±
Her eyes were filled with confidence. Lin Xian trusted her. Chu An Qing was straightforward and sincere. If she didn¡¯t understand something, she wouldn¡¯t pretend to. Likewise, if she was certain about something, it was likely true.
Moreover, the content of the note was written by Chu An Qing after touching the time-space particle, undoubtedly rted to her emotional breakdown and the memories she seemed to have awakened. On the space shuttle, when he asked Chu An Qing what had happened, she had almost spoken out but stopped abruptly and chose to write the note instead.
This indicated that what she wanted to say was highly relevant and equally important as what was written on the note. Lin Xian had endlessly spected about the note¡¯s content but was determined not to read it in 2024. If he looked at it now, everything would be in vain.
Especially in this fourth dream, which, as VV said, seemed increasingly fake the more he experienced it. He needed an answer, a truth, a guide to continue reasoning and moving forward. And this note, capable of deceiving everyone, was hisst hope in breaking the puzzle of the fourth dream.
¡°I¡¯ll put it in the aluminum alloy safe at Time Bank,¡± Lin Xian muttered softly.
Time Bank, owned by Brother Wang, had just started its trial operation on March 20th, his birthday. Since Lin Xian was training at the Jiuyuan Satellite Launch Center that day, he couldn¡¯t attend the event, but Brother Wang sent him many photos and videos.
The trial operation seemed lively, and Lin Xian was surprised by the number of people still childlike at heart. ording to Brother Wang, they sold 30 safe deposit box slots on the first day, with the shortest being 50 years and the longest 200 years.
Of course, payment ns were flexible, as Time Bank was Brother Wang¡¯s long-term project. Selling 30 safe deposit boxes on the first day, with such long storage times, was beyond Lin Xian¡¯s expectations. He had thought people would be more interested in the novelty rather than seriouslymitting to the ¡°time capsule¡± concept.
But he was wrong. Anything unique and unprecedented seemed to attract attention. Time Bank was unique in the world, novel, and precious. Even 600 yearster, it remained popr, capable of renting numerous airships for anniversary ads, proving its thriving status across centuries.
Brother Wang had also sent photos of the Time Bank warehouse, which looked simr to what Lin Xian had seen in the first and second dreamscapes, albeitrger and with more safes. But theyout remained the same¡ªconcrete walls with aluminum alloy safes embedded in them.
This scene evoked nostalgia and rity for Lin Xian. Brother Wang even sent a picture of Safe No. 66, with Lin Xian¡¯s name engraved on the namete, waiting for him to open it and set an unchangeable password.
Lin Xian had nned to go straight back to Donghai City afternding from the space shuttle to store the note in the safe and set a password. But now, he couldn¡¯t face going back to Donghai City.
It wasn¡¯t that he feared Chu Shan He would throw him into the Huangpu River. If Chu Shan He did, it might lessen his guilt. He could crawl back out, battered and embarrassed. He had promised to take care of Chu Shan He¡¯s daughter and bring her home safely. Now she was missing, presumed dead, and he had failed to fulfill his promise. How could he not expect Chu Shan He to be furious?
But he knew Chu Shan He too well. A man of loyalty and reason, with a broad heart, Chu Shan He probably wouldn¡¯t me him, even patting him on the shoulder and saying, ¡°Lin Xian, I don¡¯t me you.¡±
That was exactly why Lin Xian felt even more guilty and ufortable. Until he figured out what happened to Chu An Qing, he had no face to return to Donghai City. He needed to understand everything and give Chu Shan He a proper exnation.
For now, storing the note in the Time Bank safe would have to wait. The best case would be after digging up Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave in Qufu, Shandong, finding any remains, andparing the DNA with Chu An Qing¡¯s hair to get a clear answer before returning to Donghai City.
Following the normal historical trajectory, once he stored the note in Time Bank in 2024, it would reappear in the aluminum alloy safe in 2624, waiting for him. After solving the mystery of the old man in the current era, he would have free reign in the fourth dream. Then he would only need to find Time Bank, enter the correct password, open the safe, and read Chu An Qing¡¯s note, revealing the truth.
¡°Just wait a little longer, An Qing,¡± Lin Xian pressed the note against his chest. ¡°I will figure this out and won¡¯t let you down.¡±
He lifted his head again. The bustling night of the capital was as vibrant and bright as ever, no different from the neon nights of Donghai City, perhaps even livelier in the Xidan area.
But all this liveliness had nothing to do with Lin Xian. He often reminisced about the moments with Chu An Qing at the Xidan Shopping za: the sulent grape milk tea, the plush toys from the w machine, the fireworksden food street, and the quiet bar singing ¡°No More Contact.¡±
It all seemed like yesterday and yet a lifetime ago. Lin Xian reached out towards the sky, grasping and opening his hand. He had held it, Chu An Qing¡¯s hand, even through the thick spacesuit, feeling her firm grip.
But when theynded, she had vanished.
These days, Lin Xian constantly pondered the question: Did Chu An Qing disappear at 00:42 because she touched the time-space particle, or was her disappearance at 00:42 inevitable, whether she touched the particle or not?
He couldn¡¯t figure it out. But he was certain that after touching the time-space particle, Chu An Qing knew she would disappear at 00:42. This deduction seemed correct. It exined why Chu An Qing insisted on going outside the cabin, standing on the space shuttle¡¯s wing to capture the time-space particle.
She knew her time was up. She only had a few minutes left and was no longer cautious about her life, willing to do anything reckless. No wonder no one could stop her. Lin Xian and Gao Yang had a heated argument with Yellow Finch, almosting to blows. But Chu An Qing stood firmly with Yellow Finch, persuading them despite their objections. Thepromise was a safety rope tied to Chu An Qing¡¯s spacesuit, held by everyone.
Unfortunately, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t realized that Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance at 00:42 was inevitable until she stood on the wing, sighed, and asked Yellow Finch for the time. Her tone, her words, her nonchnce, and the blue stardust afternding made Lin Xian btedly realize: Chu An Qing had known her death time.
She knew she would vanish at 00:42 on March 28, 2024. That¡¯s why she dared to go outside, unfasten the safety rope, jump from the space shuttle¡¯s wing, and fall from 20,000 meters with the rice cooker, facing death without fear.
¡°Ah¡¡± Lin Xian sighed.
This was the logic. As Yellow Finch had said, there was no need to save Chu An Qing, who was destined to disappear at 00:42. She would die anyway. But for Lin Xian, even knowing this, even if given a thousand or ten thousand chances, he would still jump from the ne without hesitation.
It was foolish, irrational, and uneconomical. But as he had told Liu Feng, life wasn¡¯t a math problem with a correct answer. He would always choose to jump from the ne to save Chu An Qing.
¡°Hmph!¡± Suddenly, Gao Yang, who had been holding his breath for a long time, let out a loud snort and sat up in bed. ¡°Damn¡ why do I feel so stuffy! I was almost suffocated!¡±
He turned and looked at the open balcony window, the cold wind blowing in, and Lin Xian standing on the balcony in the moonlight. ¡°Damn! What are you doing, man? Trying to scare people in the middle of the night? You almost scared me to death!¡±
Lin Xian came back to his senses, turned to Gao Yang. ¡°You should lose some weight. Otherwise, you might suffocate in your sleep before anyone scares you to death.¡±
¡°What time is it? Hurry up and get back to bed! I was wondering why it¡¯s so cold. Close the balcony door. It¡¯s not even April yet. The capital is different from Donghai City; it¡¯s freezing! Hurry up ande back¡ I can¡¯t sleep without you.¡±
With that, Gao Yang rolled over and started snoring again.
Lin Xian checked the time; it was indeedte. And the capital was cold inte March, unlike the warmer Donghai City.
¡°Let¡¯s sleep. We¡¯ll think about it tomorrow.¡±
Now, he had set aside all other concerns to focus on investigating Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance. There were many mysteries to unravel, but he believed he could figure it out and give Chu Shan He and himself a proper answer.
Yawning, Lin Xian walked back into the hotel suite, closed the balcony door,y down on the bed, pulled up the covers, and closed his eyes.
Hopefully, tomorrow¡¯s investigation would go smoothly.
Chapter 309: The Mystery of the Millennium Stake
Click.
Lin Xian capped his pen and twirled it between his fingers before beginning to speak. ¡°Gao Yang, take a look at this. Here¡¯s what I¡¯ve summarized: the time of Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s death, her birth date, age¡ and how theypare to Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance time, birth date, and age.¡±
In front of him, the white paper on the desk was filled with rows of densely written notes¡ªdata and deductions Lin Xian had meticulously recorded.
Earlier that morning, Lin Xian had called Liu An, the director of the National Security Agency. Liu An was always enthusiastic when receiving a call from Lin Xian. After all, in Liu An¡¯s eyes, Lin Xian was a true hero. This young man had not only provided numerous vulnerabilities for the Great Wall of Cybersecurity of this country but also thwarted the world¡¯s top hacker, Kevin Walker. Last year, at the World Hacker Championship, Lin Xian had brought glory to this country, defeating Kevin Walker and winning the championship trophy. Although the trophy itself wasn¡¯t valuable, it was an unparalleled honor given the circumstances.
When Lin Xian returned to bid farewell, Liu An had wanted him to stay longer in the capital, to introduce him to some leaders and treat him well. But Lin Xian was in a hurry to get back to Donghai, especially because his girlfriend seemed to have sneaked out, making it unwise to stay long. Liu An didn¡¯t insist, only telling Lin Xian to keep in touch and call him if he ever faced any trouble.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I can¡¯t solve it, I¡¯ll get my friends to help.¡±
Back then, Liu An had patted his chest and promised with a smile: ¡°Besides, if I can¡¯t solve it, there¡¯s still Professor Gao Yan! If you have any problems, feel free to ask. I¡¯ve been his student and subordinate for years; there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t say to him!¡±
Lin Xian had smiled and nodded, shaking Liu An¡¯s hand goodbye. He could tell that Liu An was a straightforward and loyal person, just as Gao Yan had described.After their farewell in the capital, they had little contact, only exchanging New Year¡¯s greetings via text.
But now, without VV¡¯s intelligence-gathering capabilities, Lin Xian had to turn to this important figure for help. Over the phone, he asked Liu An for two things.
First, he wanted Liu An to find the address of an elderly couple from Qufu, Shandong, now living in the capital, likely near Xidan¡ªZhang Shi and Yan Qin. When Lin Xian had met them at Xidan Shopping Mall, VV had instantly investigated and reported their details, including their names, age, education, and background. But Lin Xian couldn¡¯t remember all the details, just their names.
With their names, especially both spouses¡¯ names, it was easy to find them. Liu An readily agreed, saying it was a simple task.
The second request was moreplex. Lin Xian asked Liu An to investigate a car ident in Qufu, Shandong, from January 2000. The victim was Zhang Yu Qian, born in 1980, the only daughter of Zhang Shi and Yan Qin. As the records weren¡¯t digitized, and it was merely a traffic ident without any criminal element, finding detailed information would be challenging. Nevertheless, Liu An promised to take care of it.
Not long after, the location and address of Zhang Shi and Yan Qin¡¯smunity were sent to Lin Xian¡¯s phone. By noon, a police officer from Qufu added Lin Xian on WeChat, sending over various yellowed, fragmented, and even mouse-chewed and water-damaged pages of records.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, we¡¯ve rummaged through the archives for a long time and found these relevant records from 2000. The car ident was straightforward, with no subsequent implications. The most we had waspensation to thendscaping department for a tree¡ The car was only insured for basic coverage. Afterward, we don¡¯t know what happened to it.¡±
¡°In 2000, there were no ubiquitous cell phones or dash cams, and street surveince was sparse. So, the ident details came from Yan Qin¡¯s ount, with no actual evidence or photos.¡±
¡°Also, it wasn¡¯t a criminal case but a regr traffic incident reported muchter because the family was grieving over their daughter¡¯s death. It was only when thendscaping department demandedpensation that they reported it.¡±
Seeing these precious, hard-to-find records, Lin Xian thanked the officer profusely, expressing his gratitude and acknowledging their efforts. He realized that despite VV¡¯s advanced intelligence, it had limitations in the human world where social connections mattered. VV could scan the inte instantly but couldn¡¯t mobilize archive staff to search through old records.
In contrast, Liu An could make a call, and the entire Qufu archive would be mobilized. Within a few hours, they had retrieved all the old records from the early 2000s. The condition of these documents¡ªweathered, mouse-chewed, and yellowed¡ªshowed how much effort the staff had put in. Lin Xian repeatedly thanked them, saying these were more than enough and sincerely appreciating their hard work.
After reading the reports, Lin Xian extracted the necessary information. The car ident that killed Zhang Yu Qian urred around 1 AM on January 21, 2000, but the report was filed on February 7, a gap of over two weeks. The officer exined that in 2000, people weren¡¯t as aware of legalities and reporting incidents. Since it was just a tree, they didn¡¯t think to report it until thendscaping department demandedpensation.
From the fragmented records, Lin Xian gathered the key details, which were now written on the paper before him.
Gao Yang, brushing his teeth, walked over with his toothbrush still in his mouth.
¡°What¡¯s written there? Let me see.¡±
Lin Xian pushed a chair towards him, then picked up his pen, pointing to the words on the paper: ¡°Look, the police records show Zhang Yu Qian was born on January 21, 1980, and the car ident happened on January 21, 2000, early in the morning.¡±
¡°Whoa!¡± Gao Yang eximed, spitting out toothpaste foam. ¡°Exactly 20 years old! And it happened on her birthday! That¡¯s such a coincidence! And Chu An Qing is the same! Didn¡¯t she disappear from the shuttle on her 20th birthday¡ at midnight?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian moved the pen to the second line of text. ¡°Chu An Qing was born on March 28, 2004, and she vanished, possibly due to quantum copse, like blue star dust, on March 28, 2024, at 00:42.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure if Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s exact time of death is 00:42, as the police records only mentioned ¡®around 1 AM,¡¯ based on her mother Yan Qin¡¯s ount.¡±
Gao Yang spat out more toothpaste foam and rinsed his mouth.
¡°Then I think it¡¯s definitely 00:42. If they look so alike, including the tear mole, and died on their 20th birthdays, why not assume Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s death time is also 00:42? Even more boldly, what if their birth times were also 00:42?¡±
¡°That would make their lives exactly 20 years to the minute! Perfectly precise!¡±
Suddenly, Gao Yang¡¯s face turned serious as he pped his cheek.
¡°Pah! We shouldn¡¯t use the word ¡®death¡¯ for Chu An Qing. She¡¯s our friend. Let¡¯s say she disappeared. I¡¯m starting to think Chu An Qing might not be dead¡ but I don¡¯t know what happened to her.¡±
¡°Pah! I said ¡®death¡¯ again. Bad luck. She disappeared, vanished! Zhang Yu Qian is probably really dead though¡ Whoa!!¡± Gao Yang¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lin Xian, are you nning to dig up Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave in Qufu? I thought you meant we¡¯d dig a memorial for Chu An Qing¡ but you want to exhume a grave?¡±
¡°That¡¯s too much! Even as your buddy, I can¡¯t condone this! Do you know what it means to disturb a grave in this country? That¡¯s taboo! People shouldn¡¯t¡ at least shouldn¡¯t¡¡±
¡°Enough,¡± Lin Xian interrupted. ¡°I know it¡¯s hical. But as you said, Chu An Qing is our friend. Don¡¯t we owe it to her to find out what happened?¡±
¡°There¡¯s a strand of Chu An Qing¡¯s hair in my suitcase. We just need to get some remains from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave, like bone or teeth, to do a DNAparison. If the DNA doesn¡¯t match, they¡¯re just lookalikes. But they can¡¯t be unrted, right? I suspect they might be the same person.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what will happen after the DNA test, but our only clue to Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance is Zhang Yu Qian. We can¡¯t ignore it. We need to find the truth and give Chu Shan He an exnation.¡±
Gao Yang, looking pale and shaky, sat back down with a thud. His hands trembled slightly as he tried topose himself.
¡°This is crazy,¡± he muttered. ¡°And besides, wouldn¡¯t Zhang Yu Qian have been cremated? High-temperature cremation destroys DNA. Digging up the grave might be pointless.¡±
Lin Xian leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. ¡°We have to try,¡± he insisted. ¡°Back in 2000, cremation wasn¡¯t as widely epted. Many people resisted it. My great-grandmother wasn¡¯t cremated either. Most likely, Zhang Yu Qian wasn¡¯t cremated. Even now, many people resist cremation. So, it¡¯s likely her remains are intact.¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°And you¡¯ve been to space, you¡¯ve raided ho nests, and you¡¯ve even jumped into sewage pits. Why are you afraid of digging up a grave? You¡¯re a materialist warrior; believe in yourself.¡±
¡°No, no¡¡± Gao Yang shook his head vehemently. ¡°This is different. It¡¯s not about superstition. Even materialists don¡¯t disturb graves! If it was just ashes, I might dare¡ but you want to dig up bones! That¡¯s insane! Gravedigger Lin Xian!¡±
¡°And what if I get possessed by something? Don¡¯tugh! Last night, I felt something pressing on me, like sleep paralysis. When I woke up, I saw you standing on the balcony like a ghost!¡±
¡°That scared me to death¡ Lin Xian, you¡¯re obsessed!¡±
Lin Xian sighed and pointed west. ¡°If you¡¯re really scared, go pray at Shijingshan Temple, get a talisman to calm your nerves.¡±
¡°Buddha¡¯s mercy isn¡¯t enough?¡± Gao Yang pondered. ¡°Any tougher deities?¡±
Lin Xian pointed southwest. ¡°Go to Prince Gong¡¯s Mansion. He worshipped a whole row of fierce gods. It¡¯s close.¡±
¡°But they didn¡¯t save him from execution!¡± Gao Yang eximed. ¡°This superstition is unreliable.¡±
Gao Yang pulled out his phone and started searching for something. ¡°Better rely on science. I¡¯ll get some tools and equipment for the trip.¡±
¡°We can buy them in Qufu. How else will we get them on a ne or train?¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll find a store.¡±
After Gao Yang left to prepare, Lin Xian lowered his head, reviewing his notes. He realized talking to Gao Yang was like talking to a wall. He now understood why Coach Wei Cheng was so exasperated with Gao Yang. In the future, he¡¯d just tell Gao Yang what to do without exining.
Returning to his notes, Lin Xian focused on the simrities between Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian. The coincidences were too numerous. Aside from their birthdates, eras, and death times, they were nearly identical. He recalled Yellow Finch¡¯s mention of the ¡°Millennium Stake¡± and ¡°Locked History.¡±
Could these concepts be rted to Chu An Qing?
Stakes weremon in construction. Lin Xian looked out at a construction site where pile drivers hammered steel stakes into the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The heavy steel hammer rose and fell, driving the stake piles deeper into the earth, securing the foundation, the structure, the entire project.
¡°Locked history¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, recalling the firstw of time-space told by Yellow Finch.
Who could lock history?
Watching the pile drivers, an idea struck him. What if the Millennium Stake was a metaphor for locking history? If Chu An Qing was a Millennium Stake, was Zhang Yu Qian one too? Was CC another Millennium Stake?
Were they like stakes driven into the timeline to lock history in ce?
¡°If so, how do they lock history?¡± Lin Xian wondered. ¡°Locking history¡ what does it mean? What happens when history is locked?¡±
He couldn¡¯t fathom it, but if he continued down this line of thought, a chilling question arose, sending a shiver down his spine.
If the Millennium Stake¡¯s purpose was to lock history, then who was driving these stakes into the timeline?
Looking up at the zing sun, Lin Xian whispered:
¡°Who is locking the flow of history?¡±
¡°And who¡¡±
¡°Is driving these Millennium Stakes into the river of time?¡±
Chapter 310: Lies from Twenty Years Ago
Those whoy the foundations for millennia¡
¡°Could it be the Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s mind immediately went to this mysterious organization. But was that realistic?
Sure, the Genius Club was incredibly powerful, but could it really control time and space to this extent?
Lin Xian had always thought their influence was immense, manipting history from behind the scenes like an unseen hand. But now? Could they really control time and space too? If so, what¡¯s left for others to do?
He was uncertain about this idea. He felt more confused as time went on, not knowing the true nature, power, or methods of the Genius Club. It was all too mysterious.
Despite his long investigations, Lin Xian found himself understanding less about the Genius Club. Whether the stakes, historical lock, and other matters were rted to the Genius Club remained unclear. It was just a thought he had while staring at the piling machine on the construction site.
The real truth, the answers, still needed further verification.
¡.Lin Xian also thought of another coincidence. The bizarre time point: 00:42.
The end of his dream happened at 00:42. Chu An Qing turned into blue star fragments and disappeared at 00:42. The murders by Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin, part of the Seven Deadly Sins, happened at 00:42. The formal capture of the time-space particles was also recorded at 00:42 on the rice cooker. In his first dream, Big Cat Face¡¯s father died at 00:42. In the second dream, the Universal Constant answer calcted by Big Cat Face¡¯s father was astonishingly 42.
Lin Xian never expected that since he first encountered the concept of the Universal Constant over a year ago, he woulde full circle. All these events, everything, seemed to revolve around this mysterious number 42.
What kind of magic did this number hold? How was it connected to the Genius Club, the time-space particles, the millennium stakes, history, and the universe?
¡°Ah¡¡± Lin Xian felt dizzy from his own thoughts. Ultimately, everything¡¯s core and end point seemed to be the ¡°Universal Constant.¡± Understanding its secret might reveal the truth behind 42, and by extension, the mysteries of the millennium stakes and the Genius Club.
¡°Luckily, even though the energy of the time-space particles was depleted, it could still calibrate Liu Feng¡¯s ¡®time-space clock.¡¯ This means we can formally begin researching the Universal Constant¡ At least, we¡¯ve taken the first step.¡±
Lin Xian twirled his pen. After figuring out what happened to Chu An Qing, he nned to visit Liu Feng at Donghai University¡¯sboratory to check the progress of the Universal Constant research.
¡.
While Lin Xian was deep in thought, Gao Yang finished his preparations and walked over, adjusting his pants. ¡°So, what do you think? Isn¡¯t my guess reasonable? With so many coincidences tied to 00:42, doesn¡¯t it make sense that Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian were also born at 00:42?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, ¡°I can¡¯t deny your logic. It does make sense that their specific birth and death times are 00:42. But¡ there¡¯s no way to verify it.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Gao Yang rubbed his nose. ¡°Oh, right. I was going to say you could call Chu Shan He or Chu An Qing¡¯s mom. As parents, they should know their child¡¯s exact birth time. But¡ don¡¯t call Chu Shan He now. He probably doesn¡¯t know about Chu An Qing¡¯s situation yet. We should focus on the important stuff.¡±
¡°You could ask Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s parents, or wait until Chu Shan He is in a stable mood to ask. I just think it¡¯s pretty important.¡±
Seeing that Gao Yang was finally ready, Lin Xian stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
¡°Where to?¡± Gao Yang asked.
Lin Xian opened WeChat, added the address Liu An had sent him into the map, and followed the green route. ¡°Shouchuang Xirui Du, we¡¯re going to that neighborhood.¡±
¡.
As the taxi door opened, Lin Xian and Gao Yang got out from either side. The door shut with a thud, and the driver sped off. They stood on the street, gazing at the luxurious high-rise neighborhood before them.
¡°This should be the Third Ring Road, right? Chaoyang District Third Ring. This couple must be loaded. The housing prices here must be at least a few hundred thousand per square meter. These are truly rich people, super rich!¡±
Suddenly, Gao Yang looked Lin Xian up and down. ¡°Then again, they might not be richer than you. You could easily afford a house here.¡±
¡°Affording it and actually buying it are two different things,¡± Lin Xian replied, opening his chat with Liu An again to check the exact building and unit number.
¡°You also have to remember, Gao Yang, that in the year 2000, in a ce like Qufu, Shandong, a family with a car must have been wealthy. I¡¯ve met Zhang Shi and Yan Qin before. They¡¯re very refined and educated. The man looks like hees from an intellectual family, and the woman¡ well, she might have been fine too, but she¡¯s been mentally unstable for so many years¡ Ughh¡¡±
Pity the hearts of parents everywhere. Lin Xian quickened his pace, heading into the neighborhood with Gao Yang.
¡.
It was easy to blend in. Themunity had separate paths for pedestrians and vehicles, with cars entering the underground parking lot from the main gate. This left the surface area free of parking spaces and beautifullyndscaped, almost like a park. Children yed happily in the sunshine, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
¡°Building 22 should be over there,¡± Gao Yang pointed to the northeast corner.
¡°Wait,¡± Lin Xian stopped him, pointing to an elderly woman sitting in a small wooden pavilion. ¡°Look at that woman¡ that¡¯s Yan Qin, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s mother.¡±
¡°What?¡± Gao Yang was shocked. ¡°So old?¡±
He quickly calcted Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s age if she were still alive, and thus her mother¡¯s age. She shouldn¡¯t be more than sixty or seventy, but the woman in the pavilion looked at least eighty, with white hair. However, her attire was neat and simple, her hair meticulouslybed, and her demeanorposed, though slightly sorrowful.
She sat there quietly, not leaning against the pavilion¡¯s railing but sitting upright, slowly peeling a fruit.
Gao Yang squinted to get a better look. ¡°A pomegranate?¡±
Lin Xian, with better eyesight, had noticed it earlier. ¡°Yes, a pomegranate. She¡¯s peeling a pomegranate. Look to her left, in that stic bag from the supermarket, there are severalrge, high-quality pomegranates. And to her right, there¡¯s a ss bowl filled with peeled pomegranate seeds.¡±
Gao Yang smacked his lips. ¡°She¡¯s so patient. I¡¯ve never seen anyone peel pomegranates like that, one seed at a time¡ Isn¡¯t it easier to just break it open and eat it directly?¡±
Lin Xian frowned, feeling a bit disgusted. ¡°Not everyone eats like a hippo, you know.¡±
¡°But peeling it seed by seed? That¡¯s too meticulous. And she¡¯s peeled almost half a bowl. Who¡¯s it for? She can¡¯t eat all that herself, especially with more pomegranates in the bag.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°From what I saw at the shopping mall, this olddy seems mentally unstable, likely due to her daughter¡¯s death. She talks nonsense and is emotionally unstable.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go. I doubt we¡¯ll get much from her, and it might upset her to bring up the past. Let¡¯s find her husband, Zhang Shi. He seems educated and stable, someone we can talk to. Maybe he¡¯ll tell us where Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave is.¡±
Gao Yang sighed. ¡°This feels¡ wrong.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Lin Xian said, heading around the small square. ¡°If we can figure out what happened to Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian, it might help this olddy. We need to find the truth to understand what¡¯s right and wrong.¡±
¡.
Soon, they arrived at Building 22 and took the elevator to the right floor, standing before Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s parents¡¯ door.
Lin Xian knocked gently. Shortly after, a kind-looking middle-aged man opened the door. He looked at Gao Yang, then Lin Xian.
¡°Oh, I remember you,¡± he said, pointing at Lin Xian with a smile. ¡°We met at the mall with your¡ yourdy friend.¡±
At this, the man¡¯s expression turned sorrowful. ¡°Mr. Zhang,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Sorry to bother you. We have some questions about your daughter.¡±
Zhang Shi sighed. ¡°My wife scared you at the mall, and I¡¯m sorry. But what can I say? It was just a misunderstanding. She mistook your friend for our daughter in her delusion. I hope you understand.¡±
¡°We¡¯re not here for an apology,¡± Lin Xian reassured him. ¡°We just wanted to¡ pay respects to your daughter. We¡¯re nning a trip to Shandong and thought it would be meaningful to visit her grave during Qingming Festival. Could you tell us where it is?¡±
Zhang Shi¡¯s face changed, bing wary and anxious. ¡°What do you really want?¡± he demanded.
¡°Nothing but to pay our respects,¡± Lin Xian said quickly. ¡°No need.¡± Zhang Shi shook his head firmly. ¡°We don¡¯t observe Qingming Festival that way, and we won¡¯t be visiting her grave. Thank you for your kind intentions, but please go.¡±
With that, he closed the door firmly. Lin Xian turned to Gao Yang. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±
¡°No,¡± Gao Yang replied. ¡°But asking about someone¡¯s child¡¯s grave is always tricky. What now?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know how to ask,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°But didn¡¯t you notice how nervous he was? Something¡¯s off.¡±
¡°Definitely,¡± Gao Yang agreed. ¡°He seemed more than just wary, like he was hiding something.¡±
¡.
¡°Let me handle this,¡± Gao Yang said confidently.
¡°You?¡± Lin Xian looked skeptical. ¡°Are you going to knock again?¡±
¡°No, I have another idea,¡± Gao Yang said, waving a finger. ¡°We should talk to the olddy. She might not be as guarded.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right. If Zhang Shi is hiding something, the olddy might give us clues without realizing it. But be careful; she¡¯s mentally unstable,¡± Lin Xian cautioned.
¡°Trust me,¡± Gao Yang said, patting his chest. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with all kinds of customers in my sales job. This should be easy.¡±
They headed back to the pavilion where the olddy was still meticulously peeling pomegranates.
¡°Hi there, ma¡¯am!¡± Gao Yang greeted her cheerfully.
The olddy looked up and smiled. ¡°Hello, young man.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a lot of pomegranates you¡¯re peeling. Who are they for?¡± Gao Yang asked, sitting down beside her.
¡°My daughter loved pomegranates. She used to insist I peel them like this, seed by seed,¡± the olddy replied. ¡°But I never had the time. Now, I do it for her.¡±
¡.
Half an hourter, Gao Yang returned, beaming. ¡°Got it.¡±
¡°What did you find out?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Zhang Yu Qian was born just before 1 a.m. Her mom remembered clearly because she was inbor from the afternoon until midnight. Also, she¡¯s not as mentally unstable as we thought. Her memories are sharp,¡± Gao Yang reported.
¡°And the grave?¡± Lin Xian pressed.
¡°West side of Jiu Xian Mountain in Wucun Town, by the pomegranate trees,¡± Gao Yang recited. ¡°We¡¯re ready to go. Book the tickets.¡±
¡°Shandong, here wee,¡± Gao Yang dered, pointing dramatically at the southern sky.
Chapter 311: The Pomegranate Tree
Boom¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The capital¡¯s airport: an Airbus roared into the sky, leaving behind the bustling international metropolis, heading south towards the picturesque Shandong Province.
It was now April 2024.
The weather was gradually warming up, and people had shifted their focus from the festive joy of the New Year back to their everyday lives and work.
At this time, it was three days before the Qingming Festival holiday, so the travel rush had not yet begun. Students were in school, workers were busy at their jobs, and the ne was quite empty. The first-ss cabin was less than a quarter full, with only a few scattered passengers.
In the semi-enclosed seat next to him, Gao Yang pulled down his eye mask, ready to sleep.
¡°Lin Xian, call me when it¡¯s time for meals. Grab two portions for me,¡± he mumbled.
With that, he leaned back. Three secondster, his snores could be heard. Gao Yang had a knack for falling asleep quickly, his mind as nk as his carefree demeanor.Lin Xian turned his head, watching the clouds drift downwards and the ground be more distant. Lately, he felt like he was always on the move¡ªrunning here and there, flying all over, never having a moment to rest. He suddenly envied his previously carefree life: a simple routine of work and rxation, no pressure, and a rather enjoyable existence.
In just a year and a half, his life had undergone aplete transformation. But he didn¡¯t regret it. The various events that had taken ce made him gradually aware of his sense of responsibility. This was something he had never considered before.
At work, Zhao Ying Jun guided him, managing and nning everything. In his personal life, VV handled 99% of things; all he had to do was give instructions, and VV wouldplete them. Even in exploring the Genius Club and the dreams, Yellow Finch provided guidance. The Universal Constants, which he was nominally concerned with, were actually managed by Liu Feng. Although Gao Yang couldn¡¯t offer much practical help, he never failed at critical moments. And Chu An Qing¡ She wasn¡¯t as naive as he thought. She knew many things but kept them to herself, helping him catch space-time particles and, in her final moments, jumping off the ne, leaving him a crucial note.
It seemed he had never truly, practically done anything.
As he had once told Yellow Finch: his friends were too indulgent with him. They believed in him and helped him so much that he never truly grew.
Now, he had lost many things, learned many lessons, and felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He recalled that night on the overpass, Zhao Ying Jun looking back at him under the moonlight: ¡°You must do what you love, what you¡¯re willing to stick with, something you¡¯re willing to bet your life on, not to prove anything to others, but because you genuinely want to.¡±
In the past, he had only been good at saying pretty words. But now, it was different. At this moment, he was genuinely willing, and he had found something he wanted to bet his life on. So many people had sacrificed for this unknown and mysterious battle. If he continued to hesitate and worry, fearing for his life, he would be unworthy of being called a man!
¡°I will find the answers myself,¡± he remembered telling Yellow Finch.
From now on, he would use his own eyes and judgment to define everything. And then, with his hands and will¡
¡°Change everything!¡±
¡
Nine Immortals Mountain.
In X Country, many mountains are called Nine Immortals Mountain. Any mountain with nine peaks could be named so. Even artificial ones. In Shandong Province alone, there were two such mountains: one in Rizhao, the other in Qufu. The reputation of Mount Tai, the head of the Five Sacred Mountains, was so overwhelming that other mountains in Shandong seemed less significant, affecting their poprity and tourism.
Qufu, however, was more famous as the birthce of Confucian culture and the hometown of Confucius. The Confucius Mansion, Confucius Forest, and Confucius Temple were the main tourist attractions here, especially busy before national exams, when the incense offerings were the most intense. Praying to Confucius to avoid failing exams was amon superstition. X Country¡¯s people¡¯s beliefs were like Schr?dinger¡¯s cat: they were superstitious when needed and materialistic otherwise.
Inparison, the Nine Immortals Mountain north of Wucun Town in Qufu was a rarely visited tourist spot. With Mount Tai in front and the Confucius sites behind, this area seldom saw many tourists, with most activities being local rituals.
It was daytime now, and Lin Xian and Gao Yang nned to scout the area first and locate the exact spot. Gao Yang, with his excellent sales skills, managed to get all the details about Zhang Yu Qian from the elderlydy in less than half an hour. And he barely asked anything. The information came out naturally during casual conversation, as if chatting with an old friend.
Thus, Gao Yang learned that Zhang Yu Qian loved pomegranates from childhood, and after her death, her parents buried her on Nine Immortals Mountain. Gao Yang sighed andmented on the parents¡¯ love, even squeezing out a few seemingly real tears:
¡°Ah¡ you both have been through so much. Nine Immortals Mountain is so high¡ it must have been very difficult.¡±
He said this to probe the exact burial spot, as he had only heard of Nine Immortals Mountain yesterday. The elderlydy smiled and shook her head:
¡°Nine Immortals Mountain isn¡¯t that high, and the western part is quite low, just some hills, not even mountains.¡±
After chatting a bit more, Gao Yang got another key piece of information¡ªa pomegranate tree. The elderlydy had personally nted a pomegranate tree at Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave, a token of remembrance.
¡°Any details about the car ident or whether she was cremated?¡± Lin Xian asked while climbing.
¡°No way,¡± Gao Yang wiped the sweat off his forehead and shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t get that information through conversation. Asking too much detail would end the talk, and the elderlydy wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it emotionally.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Knowing the grave¡¯s exact location was already a lot, and it was enough. The rest would be revealed once they opened Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin. Considering what Gao Yang had mentioned earlier, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s birth time was around 1 AM on January 21, 1980. So, her birth time was likely a coincidental 00:42.
Connecting it to her time of death, Lin Xian often wondered if Zhang Yu Qian hadn¡¯t died in a car ident but had vanished into tiny blue star fragments at the exact moment of her 20th birthday, just like Chu An Qing. But if that were the case, there shouldn¡¯t be a body. How could there be burial or cremation? There must have been lies in the car ident story over twenty years ago. Which part was a lie¡
Guessing wouldn¡¯t help much. Once they opened Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave and coffin, they would know the truth. If there were remains and DNA could bepared with Chu An Qing¡¯s hair, more mysteries would be solved. If not, it might lead to another answer.
¡°Lin Xian, the west is this way,¡± Gao Yang pointed to the left. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t go further up. Graves aren¡¯t usually ced that high. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s parents likely buried her secretly. Carrying a coffin that high wouldn¡¯t be practical, and they wouldn¡¯t do it without good reason. They probably chose a quiet, hidden spot lower down.¡±
¡°The western slope is lower. It¡¯s more likely there. They¡¯d want a peaceful resting ce away from the main path. Let¡¯s head there and look for the pomegranate tree.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and stopped climbing the stone steps. He bent down, and together with Gao Yang, they moved through the wild bamboo forest, using their arms to push aside leaves.
On the ne here, Lin Xian had analyzed. He had roughly determined Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave location and marked it on the map. Nine peaks of Nine Immortals Mountain, the highest over 500 meters, the lowest over 200 meters, weren¡¯t exactly low. For hiking, this height wasn¡¯t much, easy to conquer. But carrying a coffin for burial, even a 200-meter height would be challenging.
Moreover, in X Country¡¯s tradition, burying too high wasn¡¯t considered auspicious or might be taboo, though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure about the specifics. But intuitively, the burial spot wouldn¡¯t be too high. And the mountain¡¯s geology was mostly rocky, unsuitable for digging. The foot of the mountain, with softer soil, was more appropriate for burial.
Considering all this, the western region of Nine Immortals Mountain, without peaks, mostly forested and t, with a blend of water, flowers, and grass, was indeed a good spot. Though muddy and without roads, making it inessible by machinery or vehicles, this would align with Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s parents¡¯ wishes. A quiet, remote, undisturbed ce would be their preference for their daughter¡¯s final resting ce.
As for carrying the coffin, money could move mountains, and Zhang Shi was wealthy. Problems solvable with money weren¡¯t problems for him. Of course, the most noticeablendmark was the pomegranate tree nted by Yan Qin on Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave. A pomegranate tree¡¯s growth period was typically six to eight years, then it would bear fruit for decades.
Calcting from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s death, the pomegranate tree would be 24 years old now. After all these years of unchecked growth, it must have grownrge and lush by now.
So, the key was to find the pomegranate tree!
¡
sh, sh. Lin Xian and Gao Yang pushed through the wild forest, their clothes torn by unknown nts, their arms scratched and itchy. Surviving in the wild wasn¡¯t easy, and they were almost in such a situation now.
¡°Harder to find than I thought,¡± Gao Yangined. ¡°I checked online. This mountain covers only 2.45 square kilometers. I thought it wasn¡¯t that big, just over a kilometer wide. But in reality, it¡¯s huge!¡±
¡°2.45 square kilometers is quiterge,¡± Lin Xian replied, pushing aside a branch, ncing around before looking back. ¡°And mountains are three-dimensional, muchrger than tnd. Finding a pomegranate tree in this forest is almost like finding a needle in a haystack. More like finding a steel bar in the ocean, not quite a needle.¡±
¡°Besides, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s father, Zhang Shi, seemed nervous and wary of us. He would have chosen an inconspicuous, hard-to-find burial spot, only known to them, to keep it hidden and cover his ¡®guilt.¡¯¡±
¡°Do you think he felt guilty about not cremating her and secretly burying her?¡± Gao Yang wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, it¡¯s been over twenty years. What could they do now? They can¡¯t put together a skeleton and cremate it again¡ I don¡¯t get what that uncle is hiding.¡±
¡°Guessing won¡¯t help. Whatever we guess, we need to open the coffin to find the truth. Let¡¯s go, check over there.¡±
Lin Xian led Gao Yang deeper into the forest. As a child, Lin Xian¡¯s uncle had a pomegranate tree in his yard. When it started bearing small fruits, Lin Xian would check it daily after school to see if they were ripe and ready to eat.
So, he was familiar with the growth cycle of pomegranate trees. Generally, they flowered in spring, bore fruit soon after, and ripened in the fall. So now, the pomegranate tree nted on Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave would be flowering. Bright red pomegranate flowers in this wilderness should be very conspicuous, easy to spot from a distance, being so vibrant.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the ground became wetter and softer. It was the result of years of fallen leaves, dead grass, dry branches, rainwater, and umted dust, along with the passage of time. Stepping on it, one could feel the marks of time, the silence of history, and the stillness of time.
¡°No birds in a thousand hills, no footprints in ten thousand paths.¡± Lin Xian suddenly thought of this poem, perfectly fitting the moment. It seemed they were walking on a river of history, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves above was like the barrier between life and death, which they were crossing.
¡°Lin Xian! Look!!¡± Ahead, Gao Yang suddenly shouted,ughing, pulling Lin Xian over, pointing down the slope. ¡°Look! Over there! On that grassy field!¡±
Lin Xian quickly moved closer. Following Gao Yang¡¯s finger, he looked down. A wild, untended green grassy field, like a carpet in this isted paradise. And in the middle of this timeless field stood a tree that didn¡¯t belong there¡ªa pomegranate tree!
Its leaves were lush. Its flowers¡ bright red, swaying against the breeze.
Chapter 312: Moonless Night
¡°That should be a pomegranate tree, right, Lin Xian?¡± Gao Yang eximed, patting Lin Xian on the back. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have any pomegranates on it, so I can¡¯t tell for sure. But this tree looks so out of ce here,pletely different from its surroundings!¡±
Lin Xian nodded confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s definitely a pomegranate tree. I¡¯ve watched pomegranates grow since I was a kid. I know it when I see it.¡±
The flowers were bright red, like fire, blood, and sunset. That unmistakable shape and color of pomegranate flowers were a clear giveaway.
¡°Hurry, let¡¯s go down there,¡± Gao Yang urged.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang turned around and found a path leading down to the valley. They didn¡¯t care about the dry branches and thorny underbrush beneath their feet. Walking one behind the other, they made their way through knee-high greenery toward the long-sought pomegranate tree.
In no time at all, they had trodden a small path through the grass and stood in front of the tree. Panting and scratching their itchy arms, they looked up at the towering pomegranate tree, which stood nearly ten meters high.
¡°Can pomegranate trees usually grow this tall? It¡¯s incredible!¡± Gao Yang bent over, resting his hands on his knees.
¡°I¡¯ve never seen a pomegranate tree this big, not in real life, not even in movies or TV shows. This one must be some kind of mutant!¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Obviously, this is a cultivated variety that grew in the wild without any pruning or intervention.¡±¡°My uncle used to grow pomegranates. He had to prune them regrly. You cut off one branch, and two or three new ones grow from the cut. That way, the tree produces more fruit,¡± Gao Yang exined.
¡°But look at this tree now. It¡¯s in a great growing environment. There aren¡¯t anyrge trees nearby to block the sunlight, and nothing with thick roots topete for nutrients. The weeds and wildflowers here don¡¯t have deep roots.¡±
¡°So, all the nutrients, water, and sunlight went to this pomegranate tree. Plus, it¡¯s had 24 years to grow unchecked. It¡¯s no surprise it got this big. But I¡¯ll tell you this¡ªfruit from a tree like this usually doesn¡¯t taste good. The nutrients are used wrong,¡± Lin Xian concluded.
Gao Yang shuddered. ¡°Even if it did taste good, who would dare eat from a tree on a grave?¡±
He took out his phone and saw there was still a signal. He marked the location on his map app so they wouldn¡¯t get lost next time.
Lin Xian circled the pomegranate tree. Instinct told him that people usually wouldn¡¯t nt a tree in front of a grave. It would make more sense to nt it behind or directly above the buried coffin.
If it were directly above, that would be a problem. A tree this big would require heavy machinery to deal with; Lin Xian and Gao Yang¡¯s small shovels wouldn¡¯t suffice.
But it wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, it was a pomegranate tree, not as thick as a por or willow. If they brought a chainsaw, they could handle it.
¡°How¡¯s your preparation? Is everything set?¡± Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang.
¡°I trust you, so I haven¡¯t asked much. Even though you sometimes lead me astray, you¡¯re generally reliable,¡± Gao Yang said with a smile.
Gao Yang snapped his fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s covered. I even arranged to rent a Toyota Prado from a local car rental shop. It¡¯s perfect for carrying our gear and off-roading.¡±
¡°To be honest, Lin Xian, we should thank Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s parents for choosing such a remote spot for her grave. It¡¯s so secluded and hard to find¡ This gives us the chance to dig up the grave.¡±
¡°If they had buried her in the family cemetery back home, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. We¡¯d get beaten up by the n before we even reached the grave with our shovels,¡± Gao Yang remarked.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a fortunate misfortune. But it¡¯s also inevitable.¡±
He exined to Gao Yang, ¡°Think about it. Why did Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s father choose such a remote ce for her grave? It means he felt guilty! If there were no hidden secrets about the car ident, he would have buried her openly in the family cemetery.¡±
¡°This means¡ We won¡¯te back empty-handed. We¡¯ll uncover some truth.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s head back now and get ready. You take care of the car and the gear, and I¡¯ll scout the area to make sure everything¡¯s set. I¡¯ll also buy us some work clothes, so we don¡¯t get all scratched up again. And I¡¯ll grab some shlights, food, and water.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s meet around six or seven at the mountain entrance?¡± Lin Xian suggested.
Gao Yang thought for a moment, circling the pomegranate tree, making strange gestures with his right hand and muttering, ¡°Seeking dragon, watching for gold¡ Oneyer of mountain, oneyer of obstacles¡¡±
He opened his eyes, his face serious. ¡°No, six or seven is too early. It should beter.¡±
¡°What are you doing, pretending to be mystical?¡± Lin Xian asked, bewildered.
¡°You don¡¯t understand! It¡¯s a tradition! And at six or seven, there will still be tourists around. If some adventurous hiker sees us digging up a grave, they¡¯ll definitely call the police!¡± Gao Yang waved his hand. ¡°So, nine o¡¯clock! Let¡¯s meet at the mountain entrance at nine.¡±
He snorted. ¡°Moonless night, time to dig graves!¡±
At ten o¡¯clock that night, the sky was dark and windy. The moon and stars were hidden by clouds. Lin Xian and Gao Yang stood fully equipped in the valley, about ten meters from the pomegranate tree, looking ahead.
¡°Seriously?¡± Lin Xian turned to look at Gao Yang, who was ridiculously over-equipped.
Gao Yang wore a miner¡¯s helmet, held a Luoyang shovel in one hand and a military shovel in the other. He had arge cloth bag of glutinous rice tied to his waist and an ivory charm around his neck. The most absurd thing¡ he had a ck donkey hoof in his mouth!
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°ck donkey hooves are for shoving into a zombie¡¯s mouth, not yours! What are you doing?¡±
¡°Oh, is it? My bad.¡± Gao Yang pulled the hoof out of his mouth, wiped it on his clothes, and put it in his pocket. ¡°These tools are all useful. If you want to do a good job, you need the right tools!¡±
He raised the Luoyang shovel, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°This thing helps locate the coffin. The pomegranate tree is so big, we need to pinpoint the coffin before we start digging.¡±
¡°Spare me the exnations. Just get to work,¡± Lin Xian urged.
Gao Yang took off his other gear, then picked up the Luoyang shovel and added two more sections to extend its length. Unlike regr shovels, the Luoyang shovel is mainly used for soil sampling and analysis. Its cylindrical de is sharp, easily prating the soil.
It¡¯s a geological tool, but Gao Yang had done some strange research. Coffins aren¡¯t usually buried too deep, so such professional tools weren¡¯t necessary. A long steel rod or sharp iron bar could locate it. When it hits something hard, you¡¯ve probably found the coffin.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to argue with Gao Yang. He just wanted to open Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin and see if there was a body inside.
Gao Yang was fully into his role. He bent over and thrust the Luoyang shovel into the ground.
Shush¡ª The wet soil let the shovel slide in smoothly. Gao Yang twisted and pressed down, pushing the shovel deeper.
¡°It¡¯s not here.¡± Gao Yang pulled out the shovel and tried another spot. ¡°The coffin shouldn¡¯t be that deep. I¡¯ll try somewhere else.¡±
He tried several spots, thrusting the shovel into the ground.
Finally!
Crack! A clear sound!
Gao Yang had used all his strength to thrust the shovel in, but it stopped suddenly, hitting something hard!
¡°Lin Xian! Come here!¡± Gao Yang shouted excitedly. ¡°We¡¯ve hit something!¡±
Lin Xian jogged over, grabbed the thin steel pipe of the Luoyang shovel, and pushed it up and down. Sure enough, there was something hard beneath, and it sounded like wood.
¡°A coffin¡¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°It seems the olddy was right. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave is here.¡±
The two continued using the Luoyang shovel to locate the coffin. With a reference point, it was easier. They quickly determined the size and position of the coffin by repeatedly thrusting the shovel into the ground.
¡°Phew¡¡± Gao Yang threw down the shovel and wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve.
¡°Luckily, the coffin is in front of the pomegranate tree and far enough away not to be affected by its roots. It¡¯s not buried too deep¡ though the soil might have eroded over the years. Our luck is really good.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Lin Xian agreed.
¡°But unusual things always have a catch!¡±
¡°Can¡¯t you stop talking? Start digging.¡±
¡
Scrape, scrape, scrape.
They dug at the spot, shoveling soil away until they reached the coffin lid. In the darkness, illuminated by their shlights, thecquer had long since peeled away, revealing the rough wood. The quality of the wood was impressive; after more than 20 years in the ground, it was still solid.
¡°Good thing this is the north, where the air and soil are dry. In the south, even the best wood would have rotted away after 20 years,¡± Gao Yang chatted while digging. ¡°Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s father must have been wealthy. This coffin is solid wood, probably even redwood. Redwood furniture is expensive, and a whole coffin made of it must have cost a fortune. This nk alone could be turned into a nice table.¡±
¡°Can you talk less?¡± Lin Xian frowned, pausing with his shovel to look at Gao Yang. ¡°We¡¯re digging a grave, not treasure hunting. You¡¯re making me more nervous.¡±
¡°I¡¯m trying to distract myself!¡± Gao Yang yelled. ¡°Man, it¡¯s a moonless, windy night, in the middle of nowhere, digging up a girl¡¯s coffin¡ Who wouldn¡¯t be creeped out?¡±
Soon, they had cleared all the soil from the coffin lid, which was nailed shut with thick boards. Even though the edges had rotted, the heavy solid wood lid was too much for two people to lift without a crowbar.
A crowbar has a pointed end that can be wedged into the gap between the lid and the coffin, then pried open using leverage.
Lin Xian licked his lips. In this eerie, secluded ce, with a coffin and blood-red pomegranate flowers¡ it was getting more chilling by the minute.
¡°Let¡¯s get it done.¡± Lin Xian handed a crowbar to Gao Yang and picked up another one. ¡°Let¡¯s open the coffin and see what¡¯s inside.¡±
¡°Wait.¡± Gao Yang, looking cautious, stopped Lin Xian. He took a cloth bag from his waist and began sprinkling glutinous rice around the coffin. ¡°I¡¯m drawing a barrier.¡±
¡°This is your ¡®scientific¡¯ approach?¡± Lin Xian joked.
¡°This is.¡± Gao Yang pulled out a candle from his backpack and waved it in front of Lin Xian. ¡°We need to light a candle on the southeast side of the coffin. If it stays lit, we¡¯re safe. If it goes out, it means the spirit doesn¡¯t want us here, and we have to leave everything as it is.¡±
¡°Who would agree to that?¡±
¡°Hey, it¡¯s tradition! These customs have been around for years. Just don¡¯t ask so many questions! Show some respect!¡±
Ignoring Lin Xian, Gao Yang ced the candle in the southeast corner of the coffin. He lit the candle with a lighter. In the dark, cold forest, the tiny me brought a bit of warmth.
¡°Alright.¡± Gao Yang pped his hands. ¡°We¡¯re ready. Let¡¯s open the coffin!¡±
He bent down, picked up the crowbar, and stood at the narrow end of the coffin lid with Lin Xian.
Clink, clink.
They wedged the crowbars into the gap under the lid, tapping them with stones to ensure they were secure.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang adjusted their positions. The lid was heavy and nailed shut, so they had to use all their strength simultaneously to pry it open.
¡°Ready?¡± Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang.
Gao Yang nced at the candle, still burning steadily in the southeast corner, and nodded, his muscles tensing. ¡°Ready. Count us down!¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath. He gripped the crowbar tightly. ¡°3, 2, 1, pry!¡±
They pushed with all their might.
Eeeee¡ª A strange, cat-like sound echoed!
Instantly! A sliver of moonlight peeked from behind the clouds, illuminating the swirling mist, the silent forest, and the crack in the coffin lid.
Whoosh¡ª A gust of wind blew out the candle in the southeast corner.
Gao Yang¡¯s face turned pale! His crowbar ttered to the ground, and he dropped to his knees, hands sped. ¡°Ancestor! Ancestor! Spare us! We¡¯re leaving! Don¡¯te out!¡±
¡°Are you crazy, Gao Yang!¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°There was nothing to fear until you freaked out! Get over here!¡±
But Gao Yang was too scared, fumbling with the ck donkey hoof in his pocket, unable to hold it steady.
¡°Useless.¡± Lin Xian cursed, using his weight to stomp on the crowbar, leveraging the lid open with a creak. He then kicked the coffin lid aside.
Thud!
¡°Ahhhhh! Take this, zombie!¡±
The lid crashed down, and Gao Yang¡¯s scream echoed. His ck donkey hoof flew past the coffin, hitting the pomegranate tree. A few leaves rustled, petals fell, and then all was quiet.
Lin Xian exhaled. He stepped forward. Bending down, he let the light from his heamp shine into the coffin.
Neat, clean.
There were neatly folded clothes, stacks of notebooks, a once-popr doll, a Sony Walkman, a makeup mirror, a photo album, certificates, trophies, hair essories in a ss box, a red leather certificate tied with a ribbon, and a pink stic picture frame¡
It didn¡¯t look like a coffin.
It looked like a young girl¡¯s storage room.
Lin Xian slowly raised his head. The heamp¡¯s beam illuminated a picture frame on the makeup box.
In the photo was a smiling girl. She held up a yful peace sign. Her brown ponytail flew behind her; her pretty eyes curved into crescent moons; dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth; a perfectly ced mole by her left eye.
Chapter 313: Buried Memories
¡°Chu¡ Chu An Qing?!¡±
Gao Yang scrambled up from the ground, peering into the coffin. The heamp on Lin Xian¡¯s helmet had already illuminated the coffin¡¯s details clearly. Now, Gao Yang¡¯s heamp joined in, casting more light onto the photo frame.
¡°That¡ that¡¯s definitely Chu An Qing!¡± Gao Yang turned his head, staring at Lin Xian in shock.
Before this moment, he had only heard Lin Xian repeatedly mention that Zhang Yu Qian looked exactly like Chu An Qing, but he had never seen it for himself. The concept of ¡°exactly alike¡± was abstract to him, just a vague notion. But now, looking at this photo, taken at least 24 years ago¡ The resemnce! It wasn¡¯t just a resemnce; they were identical, like a perfect copy!
¡°Move over, let me take it out for a closer look,¡± Gao Yang said, squeezing past and leaning over the coffin. He reached down, retrieving the photo frame that was standing on a makeup box. Returning to Lin Xian¡¯s side, they both stared at it together.
¡°Hiss¡¡± Gao Yang gasped. ¡°No matter how you look at it, that¡¯s Chu An Qing. Look at the eyebrows, the face shape, even the hair color¡ Chu An Qing¡¯s dark brown hair isn¡¯t dyed; it¡¯s her natural color. Because if it were dyed, the roots would grow back in her original color. But we¡¯ve known Chu An Qing for so long, spent so much time together at the astronaut training base, she had no time to dye her hair. So her natural hair color is dark brown.¡±
¡°This¡ my gosh¡ I really can¡¯t believe it. Look at the teardrop mole, it¡¯s identical. You did tell me before that the two girls looked exactly alike, but seeing Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s photo today¡ at this level, I¡¯m genuinely stunned.¡±
Gao Yang stammered, struggling to find the right words. However, Lin Xian understood. When he first met CC andter saw Chu An Qing at the MX celebration, who looked just like CC, he had a simr reaction. Now, he was somewhat desensitized. But for Gao Yang, this was the first shock.Gao Yang was still holding the photo frame, utterly baffled.
¡°You don¡¯t need to find any differences, Gao Yang,¡± Lin Xian patted his shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s no meaningful research value in this. In fact, it¡¯s reasonable to say Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing should look exactly the same, like a copy and paste. If they looked different or had obvious differences, what truth would we be searching for now? What answers would we be looking for?¡±
¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right,¡± Gao Yang¡¯s brain finally caught up, smacking his lips. ¡°Indeed, this was expected. It¡¯s just that seeing the photo was too much of a shock. By the way, had you seen Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s photo before?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, then nodded. ¡°I saw the ID photo on her first-generation ID card. It was a ck-and-white photo, all pixted, not worth mentioning.¡±
¡°Then¡¡± Gao Yang pointed at the coffin filled with misceneous items and clothes, but no body, bones, or any sign of decay. ¡°Then what¡¯s the deal with this coffin having no body or ashes? The olddy clearly said her daughter was buried here. And look at how neatly everything is arranged. When the coffin was buried, it was obviously like this. There¡¯s no way someone stole Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s body, or that she ran away.¡±
¡°So, that means the old man lied to us from the start! No wonder he was so evasive when we mentioned visiting Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s grave¡ There¡¯s no one buried in this grave! Zhang Yu Qian isn¡¯t here at all!¡±
¡°Then where is she buried? Or maybe, Zhang Yu Qian didn¡¯t actually die back then, and this couple faked her death. Maybe she¡¯s still alive somewhere else, or even in another country.¡±
¡°Impossible,¡± Lin Xian quickly dismissed Gao Yang¡¯s idea. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that¡ Their family was already wealthy enough. If they wanted to live elsewhere, they could have just left. Why go to such lengths? Besides, you saw the olddy¡¯s mental breakdown over her daughter¡¯s death, and the old man gave up his career. Judging by their suffering, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s death was real. There¡¯s no need to question it. Since there¡¯s no body in the coffin, it¡¯s likely as I guessed.¡±
¡°Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s death left no body. She, like Chu An Qing, turned into blue stardust at 00:42 and vanished into thin air. So, linking this to that mysterious car ident back then, it¡¯s not hard to piece together what happened that night.¡±
¡°Although we don¡¯t know who was driving or how many people were in the car, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s sudden transformation into blue stardust scared the driver, causing the car to crash into a tree.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t say this theory is absolutely correct, as we have no evidence. Ultimately, only Zhang Shi and Yan Qin know the exact details of the ident. But I feel this guess is pretty close. It¡¯s the only way to connect what happened to both Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian.¡±
Gao Yang held his chin, circling the open coffin, nodding. ¡°Got it. So, ording to your theory, since Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian look the same, are the same age, have simr experiences, and disappeared at the same time¡ it suggests Zhang Yu Qian was also a Millennium Stake!¡±
¡°Amazing¡ Does a girl with this appearance appear every twenty-odd years and turn into a Millennium Stake on her 20th birthday? Why does this happen?!¡±
However, faced with Gao Yang¡¯s spection, Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°Your reasoning isn¡¯t rigorous. Even if Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing both disappeared into blue stardust, it doesn¡¯t prove they were both Millennium Stakes. Moreover, we still don¡¯t know what a Millennium Stake truly is, what it signifies, or how it forms. The key lies in the time-space particles. In the events of January 21, 2000, at 00:42 when Zhang Yu Qian disappeared, and March 28, 2024, at 00:42 when Chu An Qing disappeared¡ there¡¯s an uncertain variable.¡±
Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang. ¡°Time-space particles. Chu An Qing knew she would disappear at 00:42 after touching the time-space particles, and then she did. But what about Zhang Yu Qian? What was her situation when she disappeared twenty years ago? Did she also touch the time-space particles, or did she vanish without encountering them? I believe figuring this out is crucial.¡±
¡°Did Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian disappear at 00:42 because they touched the time-space particles, or would they have disappeared at that time regardless? What¡¯s the rtionship between the time-space particles and the Millennium Stake? Is there a direct link? Yellow Finch¡¯s words were ambiguous¡ If Chu An Qing hadn¡¯t touched the time-space particles, would she still be considered a Millennium Stake?¡±
¡°Yes, exactly!¡± Gao Yang nodded vigorously, pointing with his finger. ¡°I get what you mean, Lin Xian. We need to determine if the Millennium Stake phenomenon is caused by the time-space particles or if Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian were inherently Millennium Stakes. If their disappearance is due to the time-space particles, we need to focus on researching those particles. If their disappearance is unrted to the time-space particles and is due to their own nature, we need to find out what that is! We¡¯re just one step away from uncovering the truth!¡±
With their thoughts clear, the purpose ofing to Qufu, Shandong to dig up the grave was achieved. At least many things became clear. Lin Xian turned to look at the various items and memorabilia in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin.
¡°Let¡¯s search through them and see if we can find anything useful.¡±
They adjusted the coffin lid further open. Lin Xian jumped inside, starting to rummage through the items. It had to be said¡ The items exuded an antique aura. Many of the objects, Lin Xian had never seen in his childhood, truly ancient. He picked up a Sony Walkman, the front bearing its logo.
¡°Wow! A Walkman!¡± Gao Yang recognized it instantly, reaching out. ¡°Quick, let me see it. This is a treasure¡ Sony¡¯s first-generation, or at least an early-generation Walkman. In the ¡¯80s and ¡¯90s, this was a major deal! If someone wore this on the street, their cool factor would be off the charts!¡±
Lin Xian handed the Walkman to Gao Yang. Gao Yang¡¯s words weren¡¯t wrong. Lin Xian vaguely remembered that when he was in kindergarten, the older kids in the neighborhood still used Walkmans to listen to tapes. And Zhang Yu Qian had this Japanese-made Walkman in the ¡¯90s, indicating her family¡¯s wealth.
Then, he noticed the cassette tapes. They contained albums by Liu Dehua, Zhang Xueyou¡ singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Back in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s time, maind music hadn¡¯t yet risen to poprity. Lin Xian opened a clear cassette case, looking at those old items imprinted with the marks of the era.
¡°Kids today wouldn¡¯t even know what a cassette is. They¡¯re so rare now.¡±
¡°Definitely,¡± Gao Yang continued to fiddle with the Walkman. ¡°Nowadays, not just cassettes, even CDs and DVDs are gone. Technology has advanced too fast.¡±
Click. He finally figured it out, opening the cassettepartment and pulling out a tape. It was a Teresa Teng album. Gao Yang chuckled. ¡°If Zhang Yu Qian had lived one more year, she would have heard Jay Chou and S.H.E.¡¯s music. What a pity¡ she missed out on the golden age of X Country pop music. Look at all these tapes, she must have been a music lover.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Indeed. The coffin contained not just tapes, but music posters, entertainment magazines¡ clearly showing Zhang Yu Qian was a music enthusiast. But¡ she didn¡¯t live to see 2001, the miracle year for X Country pop music.
Looking at these items from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s life, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but think of Chu An Qing. With today¡¯s rapid technological advancements¡ What might Chu An Qing miss out on?
Setting down the cassette case, Lin Xian picked up a photo album. Opening it, he found it documented Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s life from birth to her death at 20. The album was thick, filled with photos. Zhang Yu Qian must have loved taking pictures.
But it wasn¡¯t just that. In the 1980s, having a camera at home was rare. Many kids didn¡¯t have the chance to take photos; it was a luxury to take pictures freely. Film wasn¡¯t expensive. But cameras were. Most people had to go to a studio for pictures.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian picked up a ck VHS tape. Heavy,rge, almost brick-sized. ¡°Gao Yang, look at this. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen one, only glimpses in childhood.¡±
Nowadays, capturing life on video is easy. Phones have endless storage. But back then, recording life in motion required a video camera and tapes.
¡°Wow.¡± Gao Yang clicked his tongue, taking the tape from Lin Xian. ¡°Incredible¡ I thought having a camera in the ¡¯80s was impressive, but they even had a camcorder. Don¡¯t you wonder what¡¯s on this tape? I have a colleague who collects old stuff; he has a yer for these tapes. Should we take it back and watch it? See what life was like for Zhang Yu Qian, who looks just like Chu An Qing!¡±
¡°That¡ doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Lin Xian hesitated, feeling it was a boundary. ¡°We should just look here for clues. Taking items from the coffin feels inappropriate.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t think like that, Lin Xian!¡± Gao Yang urged. ¡°We¡¯re not stealing; we¡¯re solving problems! Not just for Chu An Qing, but for Zhang Yu Qian too! We need to take these clues seriously. And¡ when you go back to Donghai, you¡¯ll need to exin to Chu Shan He. Without solid proof, do you think he¡¯ll believe you? This tape might be your key evidence!¡±
Lin Xian thought about it. It made sense. Not just for the evidence¡ If he had to exin the Millennium Stake¡¯s origins to Chu Shan He, photos and videos of Zhang Yu Qian would be more convincing.
¡°Let¡¯s take this photo album too. Since we¡¯re taking some, we might as well take a few more.¡± He handed the album to Gao Yang and continued searching. Certificates, toys, awards¡ These items told Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s life story. She seemed quite aplished. There were many certificates, though not for majorpetitions, plenty of school awards for being a good student, academic achievements, and cultural performances. She seemed well-rounded.
After another sweep, there was nothing more useful in the coffin. Finally, he found a diary with abination lock.
¡°Ah¡ diaries, such a distant concept.¡± Lin Xian recalled. In elementary school, teachers assigned diary writing. Older siblings oftenined about parents snooping in diaries to learn their children¡¯s thoughts. Lin Xian never had that issue¡ his generation rarely kept diaries, even if they did, it was often half-hearted. But considering Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s era¡ Maybe¡ In a time with fewer entertainment options, people might genuinely write diaries!
¡°Lin Xian,¡± out of nowhere, Gao Yang¡¯s voice interrupted. ¡°Peeking at a girl¡¯s diary is pretty low.¡±
Lin Xian looked up. ¡°You¡¯re double-standard. Isn¡¯t watching her tapes low?¡±
¡°Tapes are meant to be watched!¡± Gao Yang replied matter-of-factly. ¡°It¡¯s like posting on social media. Diaries are different; they¡¯re private! They contain personal secrets!¡±
Secrets? The word struck a chord¡ Lin Xian remembered talking to Chu An Qing about time travel when he returned from the World Hacking Championship in the U.S., at Pudong Airport. Lin Xian had asked Chu An Qing if she could time travel, would she go to the past or the future? Without hesitation, Chu An Qing said.
¡°Definitely the past!¡±
She exined. ¡°Traveling to the future is pointless¡ I¡¯m not even 20; I can live to see the future, even without a cryo-chamber. But the past¡ those fixed, historical moments, aren¡¯t they more fascinating? Only the past is unreachable. No technology, no cryo-chamber can take us back even a second. So¡ if I had time travel powers, I¡¯d choose the past, not the future!¡±
Back then, Lin Xian thought it was just a fun chat and didn¡¯t take it seriously. So he yed along, asking. ¡°If you could go to the past, what would you do?¡±
Lin Xian still remembered. That day, that moment, Chu An Qing smiled mischievously. She put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.
¡°Secret~¡±
Secrets. Lin Xian looked at the pinkbination-locked diary in his hand. ¡°Then I should definitely take a look.¡±
¡°Hey! You shameless!¡± Gao Yang sneered, then scooted closer. ¡°If you look, we look together.¡±
Lin Xian turned the diary over, examining its build. Indeed, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s belongings were all high-quality, well-made. This diary looked in but was actually foreign-made! The text on it was Japanese. Probably a gift from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s father during a trip abroad? Honestly, the quality was excellent. The cover was genuine leather, though Lin Xian couldn¡¯t tell what kind. It didn¡¯t feel like ordinary cowhide. Judging by the cartoon characters on the cover, it might be a coboration with some animation or ssic character. The style was so old, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t recognize the character. A typical notebook, left for over twenty years, would fall apart. But this genuine leather diary was still sturdy, though the leather had some cracks, it remained resilient.
It could be torn open, but Lin Xian and Gao Yang had all sorts of tools on them. Disassembling a notebook was easy. However, Lin Xian believed that, besides Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s password gate, each specially set password had unique significance. So, forced entry would be ast resort.
This diary had a four-digitbination lock. A four-digit numeric password wouldn¡¯t take long to crack using brute force. No need for violent measures; after all¡ this was Zhang Yu Qian¡¯sst diary left to the world.
¡°Let¡¯s guess the password.¡± Lin Xian showed Gao Yang the still-brightbination lock on the diary¡¯s side. ¡°A four-digit numeric code¡ What do you think it is?¡±
Chapter 314: Extreme Reasoning
¡°Uh-huh¡¡± Gao Yang¡¯s eyes were glued to the finely crafted, seemingly timeless diary. ¡°The four-digit password should be easy to guess. Let¡¯s try Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s birthday. 0121! Give it a shot!¡±
Lin Xian lowered his head and turned the four dials on the diary. As usual, they moved smoothly. Click, click¡ªthe sound was crisp and delicate, pleasant to the ear, and the feel was excellent.
It was hard to believe that this diary had been around for over twenty years. Just by the sound and feel, one could infer that the mechanical design of this lock was incredibly precise. You had to admire the craftsmanship from that era. The level of detail in small items like this from thest century could be world-leading.
No wonder those urban legends about Japan¡¯s meticulousness, like washing tes seven times, exist. But that¡¯s all in the past. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure about the current state of Japanese manufacturing. Apart from games and anime, there wasn¡¯t much else noticeable. Even in cosmetics, a few brands were decent, but they weren¡¯t top-tier globally. Plus, due to the stigma from nuclear waste, Japanese cosmetics hardly had a presence in the domestic market anymore.
Lin Xian carefully adjusted thest two dials. 0121. The numbers stood out clearly, as if this diary had never aged.
¡°Got it.¡± He pressed the unlocking lever with his left thumb.
Click!
It didn¡¯t open.¡°Hmph.¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about those nights in his first dream, battling wits with CC and Big Cat Face, trying various passwords to open safes. He felt a strange nostalgia, as if it were just yesterday. Thinking about the cold and mysterious CC, Lin Xian¡¯s mind involuntarily ovepped her image with Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian. They looked identical, without the slightest difference.
Actually, when Lin Xian opened the coffin earlier and found no body or ashes of Zhang Yu Qian, he was genuinely relieved. He felt a bit of luck, a bit of relief. If Zhang Yu Qian had truly died, normally, there would be a body and bones. Then, Chu An Qing¡¯s mysterious disappearance would be a unique case. A unique case can¡¯t prove anything. If something has only happened once in the world, it remains an unsolvable mystery.
By that reasoning, perhaps Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance was just an ident caused by exposure to time-space particles. If she hadn¡¯t encountered them, she might not have disappeared. But now, the same thing had happened to Zhang Yu Qian over twenty years ago. This meant that the phenomenon of twenty-year-old girls turning into blue stardust and disappearing wasn¡¯t an ident; it was more like a predetermined program.
As long as these incidents weren¡¯t idents, the source could be traced, the cause investigated, and ultimately¡ this predetermined fate could be altered! Lin Xian increasingly felt that Chu An Qing might not be dead. [She really isn¡¯t dead, she probably just went somewhere else.]
¡°No way, seriously?¡± Gao Yang¡¯s eyes shifted. ¡°Then let¡¯s try 0042? Although I don¡¯t think it¡¯s very likely, this time is significant for Zhang Yu Qian. It¡¯s when she came into this world and when she left it. But it¡¯s hard to say¡ Her mother couldn¡¯t remember the exact time she was born. Would she know herself? Moreover, could she have predicted she would disappear at 00:42?¡±
Suddenly, Gao Yang froze. ¡°Oh my gosh! It¡¯s not impossible! Chu An Qing knew she would disappear at 00:42 after touching the time-space particles, so she wailed and cried. If Chu An Qing could foresee this time, maybe Zhang Yu Qian could too! Try 0042; I think this password has a good chance.¡±
Lin Xian lowered his head again and turned the dials. The four stainless steel password dials were set to 0042. Then he pressed the lever.
Click!
It didn¡¯t open.
Gao Yang pulled out a Swiss Army knife from his pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s go with technology.¡±
Lin Xian silently tried a few more passwords¡ª2000, 2024, 2624, 0828, 0328¡ªspecial years and dates, but none worked. He even tried his own birthday, to no avail.
¡°Hmph, what a clown.¡± Reluctantly, he held the diary higher, using the miner¡¯smp on his head to study the diary and the lock¡¯s structure. ¡°This thing can be broken by force, but looking at its structure, if we break it, the lock mechanism will be ruined, and we¡¯ll never know what password Zhang Yu Qian set.¡±
¡°Tch!¡± Gao Yang scoffed. ¡°The diary¡¯s content is what¡¯s important. The lock is just a lock. Why bother about the password? As long as we can open it, a hammer and pliers are as good as keys.¡±
¡°Not necessarily.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Sometimes, the password itself holds more meaning than what it locks away.¡±
In recent times, Lin Xian had encountered numerous password-rted events. Not just the safe with his name, but also Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office¡¯s password door, the trash robot in Sky City, and the new password for the aluminum alloy safe¡ Passwords are a kind of information. Even if it¡¯s just a series of numbers, there must be some significance behind them, or perhaps¡ an unforgettable story.
¡°So, let¡¯s not break it yet.¡± Lin Xian took the password diary out of the coffin and ced it with the album and old videotape. ¡°After all, it¡¯s just a four-digit password. There are only 10,000 possiblebinations. Even if I try them one by one, it won¡¯t take long.¡±
¡°A four-digit password isn¡¯t like an eight-digit one¡ It¡¯s easy to crack; it¡¯s just a matter of speed and patience. Compared to the diary¡¯s contents, I¡¯m more curious about what password Zhang Yu Qian set for this diary. Maybe the real ¡®secret¡¯ isn¡¯t inside the diary; the four-digit password itself might be Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s true secret.¡±
Gao Yang snorted and stood up. ¡°You¡¯re obsessed. I think you just want to read the girl¡¯s private diary and not share it with me.¡±
Then, they pushed the coffin lid back on. They filled the dug-up soil back in. Even though Gao Yang tried to smooth out the turf, the disturbed soil was like shattered ss, hard to restore to its original state.
¡°Forget it, this will do.¡± Gao Yang quickly gave up, patting the soil with the shovel, wiping his sweat, andforting himself. ¡°Grass grows quickly. It may look obvious now, but after a rain, it¡¯ll blend in with the surroundings. Besides¡ who woulde to this godforsaken ce? It¡¯s spooky enough to scare people away.¡±
They packed up their things, made two trips to load them into the Prado¡¯s trunk. On theirst trip out, they nced back at the swaying pomegranate tree. Gao Yang sped his hands and bowed to it.
¡°Why are you bowing? There¡¯s no one buried here,¡± Lin Xian teased.
¡°Hey, it¡¯s better to be polite.¡± With that, they trudged through the mud, leaving behind the quiet, peaceful, and serene oasis.
¡
In the Toyota Prado, Gao Yang focused on driving on the expressway while Lin Xian halfy in the passenger seat, constantly fiddling with the diary¡¯s password lock. He found that pushing the dials up required less effort and allowed him to press the lever with his right hand easily. So, he used the old brute-force method to try the passwords, starting from 9999 and working his way down.
9999¡ 9998¡ 9997¡ Click, click, click. Though tedious, the process wasn¡¯t slow. With only 10,000binations, each wrong one reduced the remaining possibilities, increasing the chance of the next being correct.
Gao Yang had only driven through a couple of intersections when Lin Xian had already tried over a hundredbinations, reaching 9811¡ 9810¡ As he got more familiar, he didn¡¯t even need to look at the lock, relying on feel alone.
Lin Xian felt like a soulless password-cracking machine, repeating the process without thinking. He nced back at the rear seat, where various tools, an old videotape, and a yellowed photo albumy. They had retrieved three valuable items from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin: the password diary, the old videotape, and a thick photo album.
These were the most valuable items in that empty coffin. Lin Xian still had no clue what crucial link connected Chu An Qing, Zhang Yu Qian, and CC¡ªthree girls from different eras. Though they might all be millennium anomalies, without knowing what that meant, it was useless. Therefore, they had to return to the capital and visit that luxurious neighborhood in Chaoyang District¡¯s Third Ring Road, to find that stammering middle-aged man and uncover the truth about Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s ident. This time, Lin Xian was confident he could persuade the man.
Now, it was 99% certain that Zhang Yu Qian had likely disappeared into blue stardust like Chu An Qing, and those middle-aged witnesses had seen it happen. Lin Xian had no more reservations and could speak openly.
¡
Back at their hotel in Qufu, Gao Yang immediately stripped off his dirty clothes, tossed them in the trash, and rushed to the bathroom. Lin Xian tidied up briefly, showered, changed, and put Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s videotape and album back in the suitcase. While rummaging, he found the casual clothes he wore when they visited the astronaut training base. They had only worn casual clothes once since Wei Cheng gave them several sets of training uniforms the next day, so the casual clothes had been at the bottom of the suitcase.
More importantly¡ The hair Lin Xian had picked up from Chu An Qing back then was still hidden in the pocket. He reached into the pocket and felt the t stic bag. He took it out. Under the light, he saw that the bag was now empty, without a single hair.
¡°Sure enough, it¡¯s empty.¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised. The sealed top of the stic bag was intact, still sealed as it had been. This indicated that even Chu An Qing¡¯s fallen hair had turned into blue stardust and vanished at 00:42 on March 28, 2024. In this world, every part of Chu An Qing¡¯s body, down to the smallest trace, had disappeared at that moment, copsing like quantum particles into fine blue stardust. In a sense, those scattered particles were simr to time-space particles.
Time-space particles didn¡¯t belong to this time-space, allowing them to pass through any material in this universe. Just like the blue stardust from Chu An Qing, which could escape a spacesuit or disappear from a sealed stic bag. Both were extraordinary substances.
If millennium anomalies and time-space particles shared this property of not belonging to this time-space, it made sense. But the question remained¡ If millennium anomalies, like Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian, didn¡¯t belong to this time-space, why didn¡¯t they suffer time-space rejection? Why didn¡¯t their eyes turn blue and crystalline like Yellow Finch¡¯s? Why hadn¡¯t they experienced time-space bacsh, bing weak, copsing, or turning transparent like Yellow Finch? This created a contradiction.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian concluded. ¡°Most likely, millennium anomalies and time-space particles aren¡¯t the same or even simr things. There¡¯s nomonality, and we shouldn¡¯t look for connections between them.¡±
Just then, Gao Yang walked over, drying his hair with a towel, and saw the small stic bag in Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°Is that Chu An Qing¡¯s hair? It disappeared, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I was prepared for it, but¡ I still had a sliver of hope before confirming Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s empty coffin.¡±
Gao Yang squatted down. He took the sealed, empty stic bag. ¡°So, DNA testing is out. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s body is missing, and now Chu An Qing¡¯s hair is gone, sealing off any chance of DNA testing.¡±
¡°Wait a minute.¡± Gao Yang had an idea. ¡°Why notpare the DNA of Chu An Qing¡¯s parents and Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s parents? If Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s DNA matches, then Chu Shan He and that middle-aged man should have matching DNA too!¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Lin Xian smiled wryly. ¡°Even if we find a match or mismatch, what can it prove? It won¡¯t definitively show that Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian are the same person. It¡¯s not conclusive. Otherwise, why do people still get paternity tests? Or if we find Chu Shan He and that man have matching DNA, what does it mean? Can we be sure Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s DNA is identical? Or prove that Chu Shan He and the man are millennium anomalies or something else? Why haven¡¯t they disappeared? They can¡¯t wait until they¡¯re 200, right? Moreover¡ think logically. If Chu Shan He and that man¡¯s DNA matches, then their father¡¯s DNA should match too; their grandfather¡¯s DNA would also match, and so on. What kind of biological story is that? Is Chu Shan He the origin of humanity?¡±
Gao Yang gave Lin Xian a thumbs-up. ¡°Your logic is solid! So, Chu Shan He and that man¡¯s DNA are bound to be different. Otherwise, we need to rethink human origins.¡±
¡°So now, to understand the truth behind these events and why Chu An Qing disappeared¡ thest step is to see the role of [time-space particles] in their disappearance as blue stardust. Whether they are necessary, unnecessary, or something that must be encountered to be a millennium anomaly.¡±
¡°And to figure this out¡ we need to return to the capital and ask that middle-aged man to tell the truth about Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s ident and if she cried and babbled like Chu An Qing before disappearing.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian nodded, looking out at the rising half-moon. ¡°We need to determine if Zhang Yu Qian in 2000 ever encountered time-space particles!¡±
Chapter 315: The Final Piece of the Puzzle
Early the next morning, Lin Xian and Gao Yang boarded a ne heading to the capital city, beginning another round of busy travels.
¡°I don¡¯t want to be an astronaut anymore,¡± Gao Yang said, slumping in his first-ss seat with a sour expression. He nced at Lin Xian. ¡°When I was in elementary school, our teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Without hesitation, I stood up and said I wanted to be an astronaut. But after flying back and forth these past few days, taking airnes and shuttles, I feel so sick of it. I miss the ground more than anyone right now. I never want to go to space again.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, reminiscing about their first day of elementary school. ¡°Back then, 40% of the boys in our ss wanted to be astronauts. It was right after our country¡¯s manned space mission seeded. What boy didn¡¯t want to be an astronaut?¡±
¡°Kids didn¡¯t know much about the world back then. We didn¡¯t realize how many different careers and lifestyles existed. In our eyes, apart from teachers and police officers, the coolest jobs were astronauts and scientists. Our world was as big as our imagination.¡±
¡°I remember you said you wanted to be a scientist, right?¡± Gao Yang asked, looking at Lin Xian.
¡°I don¡¯t want to be one anymore,¡± Lin Xian replied, closing his eyes. He was still fiddling with thebination lock on the diary in his hand. ¡°When I realized I wasn¡¯t smart enough to be a scientist, I gave up. Instead, I got into parkour, drawing, and prepared to take the arts track in the college entrance exams.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t give up on your dreams too early,¡± Gao Yang said, patting his chest. ¡°Look at me. I wanted to be an astronaut, and my dream came true. Life is unpredictable. Who knows? Maybe one day you¡¯ll be a scientist after all.¡±
¡°I wish I had the brains for it,¡± Lin Xian said, turning to look out the window. Bing a scientist isn¡¯t something you can just decide to do, he thought. If he could be one, he would dive into researching the Universal Constant 42, which seemed to be at the center of all the mysteries around him.The constant hum of Gao Yang¡¯s snoring filled the half-enclosed cabin. Gao Yang had a superpower: he could fall asleep instantly if he didn¡¯t get an immediate response. It was enviable.
Lin Xian continued to manipte thebination lock in his hand, the repetitive click of the lock breaking the silence. He had been doing this since they left the hotel in the morning: half-lying down, holding the spine of the diary with his left hand, and fiddling with the lock with his right hand.
Click, click.
Thebination on the lock was now 6432¡6431¡6430¡ He estimated he could try about 3000binations by the time theynded in the capital.
¡.
Soon, the flight attendant brought their first-ss meals. Gao Yang raised three fingers. ¡°Three portions, please.¡±
¡°Certainly, sir,¡± the flight attendant replied with a polite and enthusiastic smile, bringing additional main courses and fruit for Gao Yang.
¡°Money makes life so much better, Lin Xian,¡± Gao Yang said once the flight attendant left. ¡°When we used to fly economy, the food wasn¡¯t this good. Asking for a second portion was always met with reluctance. But here? You can have as much as you want, and they serve you with a smile.¡±
¡°Ten cents worth of goods for a dime,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s all about equivalent exchange.¡±
¡.
After the nended, a hotel car picked them up. They dropped their luggage in their room and immediately set off again, heading back to the Xirui Community in the capital¡¯s Third Ring Road.
They passed by the central square quietly, as if by mutual agreement. Sure enough, the kind olddy was still there, peeling pomegranates, her fingers moving slowly and carefully.
¡°She really loves her daughter,¡± Gao Yang whispered. ¡°I talked with her for a long time that day, and she never offered me a single pomegranate seed. It¡¯s not that I wanted to eat her pomegranates. It¡¯s just that Shandong people are usually very hospitable. But she didn¡¯t offer me any because, in her eyes, these were for her daughter Zhang Yu Qian.¡±
¡°If both these girls are millennium stakes, and if these stakes are artificially created¡¡± Gao Yang paused. ¡°Who could be so heartless as to use someone¡¯s daughter as a stake? After raising them for twenty years, they vanish without a trace. How can their parents survive that?¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s intolerable,¡± Lin Xian agreed, for once sharing Gao Yang¡¯s sentiment. ¡°But we can¡¯t jump to conclusions. We still don¡¯t fully understand what a millennium stake is.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch exined that she coined the term millennium stake herself, to make sure we wouldn¡¯t understand it and disrupt the sticity of time-space. The original term must be more urate and straightforward.¡±
¡°So, while it sounds like a tool or something bad, we can¡¯t judge yet. But I hope it¡¯s as you said¡ªthat the stakes are artificial. If that¡¯s the case, we might be able to reverse it and bring them back to life.¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What kind of logic is that? Why would you hope for that?¡±
¡°Because if it¡¯s man-made, we can stop it or even reverse it. If someone can make the stakes disappear, they can probably bring them back to human form. If we can find that person, we might be able to save Chu An Qing. But if the stakes aren¡¯t man-made, and some other power is behind it, then we¡¯re in real trouble.¡±
As they spoke, they arrived at building 22. They pressed the elevator button and reached the familiar floor, knocking on the familiar door.
¡.
After half a minute, the door opened, revealing Zhang Shi, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s father. His hair was graying, and he looked wary.
¡°Young men, if you keep bothering us, I will call the police. I don¡¯t know what your intentions are, but I don¡¯t want to talk about my daughter anymore.¡±
¡°Uncle Zhang,¡± Lin Xian stepped forward, looking him in the eye. ¡°You lied about the car ident in 2000, on Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s 20th birthday. You hid a lot.¡±
¡°Zhang Yu Qian didn¡¯t die in that ident. She wasn¡¯t cremated or buried. She vanished into thin air, right before your eyes, turning into fine blue dust, like crystal powder.¡±
¡°You!¡± Zhang Shi¡¯s face contorted with anger. ¡°Nonsense! Get out now!¡±
He tried to m the door, but Lin Xian quickly grabbed the lock, holding the door open.
¡°Uncle Zhang, we¡¯re not here to cause trouble. We need your help, and we want to help you,¡± Lin Xian said, struggling to keep the door open.
¡°Let go!¡± Zhang Shi shouted, trying to pull the door shut.
¡°Do you remember the girl at the Xidan Shopping Center, who Aunt Yanqin mistook for your daughter?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Let go, or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Zhang Shi yelled.
¡°She also turned into blue dust and vanished at 00:42 on her 20th birthday,¡± Lin Xian said quietly.
Zhang Shi froze, his hands falling away from the door. The door swung open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. He looked at Lin Xian, his eyes wide with shock.
¡°That¡ that girl, yourpanion¡ she disappeared too?¡± Zhang Shi stammered.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°She turned into blue dust, like drifting sand, and vanished. The time was exactly 00:42.¡±
Zhang Shi¡¯s face went pale, and he seemed to age several years in an instant.
¡°Uncle Zhang, can wee in and talk?¡± Lin Xian asked gently. ¡°We can tell you what happened to that girl, and maybe you can tell us the truth about Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s ident.¡±
¡°Come in,¡± Zhang Shi said softly, stepping aside to let them in.
¡.
Inside, two cups of hot tea sat on the coffee table, the steam rising and the tea leaves floating up and down before settling at the bottom.
¡°Twenty-four years ago, on January 21, 2000¡¡± Zhang Shi began, struggling to find the words. ¡°It was my daughter¡¯s birthday. Although she was born at midnight, we nned to celebrate during the day. We booked the best hotel, ordered the biggest cake, and invited many friends and ssmates.¡±
¡°My daughter loved lively celebrations, and we always had grand parties for her birthdays. The day before, on January 20, we went back to our hometown for a reunion with old friends. We chattedte into the night and drank a lot. On our way back to the city, it was almost midnight.¡±
¡°I was drunk and sitting in the back seat, while my wife was driving, and Qian Qian was in the front passenger seat. She didn¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license yet, being only a sophomore in college.¡±
¡°We wereughing and talking about the birthday ns, driving slowly since there were few cars on the road. Everything was fine until suddenly, without warning, my daughter¡¯s voice stopped. Then my wife screamed, shouting Qian Qian¡¯s name, and the car swerved off the road.¡±
¡°When I opened my eyes, I saw¡ I saw¡¡± Zhang Shi choked up, tears welling in his eyes. ¡°My daughter turned transparent, like shattered ss, and then she turned into fine blue sand, disappearing into the air.¡±
¡°The car crashed into a tree. The shock sobered me up. I checked on my wife, who was terrified, unable to control herself. When I looked at the clock on the dashboard, it was exactly as you said, 00:42.¡±
Zhang Shi paused, his face a mask of grief. ¡°I got out of the car and searched for Qian Qian, but she was gone. The seat was still warm, indicating she had just been there. But she vanished, turned into blue dust, disappearing without a trace.¡±
¡°Over the years, I wondered if she might still be alive, just in a ce we don¡¯t understand. But my wife¡¯s mental state deteriorated. I had to stabilize her, so I packed up all of Qian Qian¡¯s things, put them in a coffin, and pretended she was buried.¡±
¡°I told everyone it was a car ident. Back then, paperwork was easier to handle. It was all for my wife. She¡¯s my only remaining family. I had to protect her.¡±
Zhang Shi poured more tea for Lin Xian and Gao Yang. ¡°That¡¯s the truth. I¡¯m telling you this because yourpanion experienced the same thing. I hope you can find your friend. But please, don¡¯te here again. We¡¯ve finally found some peace.¡±
¡°Uncle Zhang, we understand,¡± Lin Xian said, standing up. ¡°Just one more question. Did you see a small blue orb, about the size of an apple, glowing and flickering, like a ball of electricity, that night?¡±
Zhang Shi thought for a moment and then shook his head. ¡°No, we didn¡¯t see anything like that. If there had been such a thing, we would have noticed and talked about it.¡±
¡°Thank you, Uncle Zhang,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. ¡°We won¡¯t bother you again.¡±
As they left, Lin Xian felt a mix of relief and determination. They had more pieces of the puzzle, but the mystery was far from solved.
Chapter 316: The Millennium Stake Trilogy
After saying goodbye to Zhang Shi and leaving his house, Lin Xian and Gao Yang hurried towards the elevator. They pressed the button for the first floor, their minds buzzing with the recent revtions.
As the elevator doors closed, Gao Yang broke the silence. ¡°So, you see, Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance has nothing to do with the time-space particles! There¡¯s no connection at all! These arepletely separate events. Now we can understand, Lin Xian. A few days ago, when Chu An Qing was trying to capture the time-space particles, it didn¡¯t matter whether she touched them or not. She would have disappeared at exactly 00:42!¡±
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. ¡°If that had happened, she would have turned into blue star dust in her dorm, scaring her roommates. In other words¡ª¡±
¡°Chu An Qing is a Millennium Stake,¡± Gao Yang interjected, ¡°and it has nothing to do with the time-space particles. No matter where she is or what she does, nothing can prevent her from turning into blue star dust and disappearing at 00:42 on her twentieth birthday, March 28, 2024. Nothing can change this predetermined fact!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°Zhang Shi didn¡¯t lie. ording to Chu An Qing¡¯s situation, her reaction to touching the time-space particles was very intense. You saw it too; she just touched a time-space particle and immediately screamed, had a nosebleed, and held her head in pain, crying and shouting.¡±
¡°If Zhang Yu Qian had touched the time-space particles, with such a severe reaction, they couldn¡¯t have missed it. From Zhang Shi¡¯s description, their family wasughing and chatting in the car with no unusual behavior from Zhang Yu Qian. Since there was no extreme reaction, we can be sure she didn¡¯t touch the time-space particles.¡±
¡°So, we can rule out the possibility that Zhang Yu Qian disappeared because of contact with the time-space particles. As you said, whether Zhang Yu Qian or Chu An Qing touched the time-space particles or not, it wouldn¡¯t affect their fate of disappearing at 00:42 on their twentieth birthday.¡±
¡°That makes sense,¡± Gao Yang said as they walked out of the elevator and headed toward themunity exit. ¡°Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be a time-space particle appearing on Earth every twenty-something years, causing such a scramble likest time.¡±¡°Moreover, we¡¯ve already verified that time-space particles don¡¯t actively seek out Millennium Stakes. They ignore everyone. So why would they seek out Zhang Yu Qian?¡±
The elevator doors opened on the first floor.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang walked out and headed towards themunity exit. This trip was really worth it. They had gathered many crucial clues, and byparing the Chu An Qing incident with Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s, they could derive many urate conclusions.
Firstly, the first rule: The formation and disappearance of Millennium Stakes have nothing to do with time-space particles. These are entirely separate phenomena. Lin Xian had initially been misled by Chu An Qing¡¯s disappearance, as everything unusual happened after she touched the time-space particles. But thanks to Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s case and Zhang Shi¡¯s truth-telling, Lin Xian could deduce the above absolutely urate conclusion.
On January 21, 2000, Zhang Yu Qian disappeared into blue star dust without touching the time-space particles and without any warning signs. This is likely the correct way Millennium Stakes work¡ªsilently and stealthily,pleting their task independently and locking history.
Of course, this idea of locking history is still just Lin Xian¡¯s guess. It¡¯s likely correct, but he still can¡¯t understand how a disappearing Millennium Stake, a 20-year-old girl, could lock history. And what happens after history is locked? These are questions to exploreter.
For now, considering the Millennium Stake, Zhang Yu Qian is a true, qualified, and timely Millennium Stake. But what about Chu An Qing? Because she identally touched the time-space particles, unexpected things happened. She must have awakened some memories or realized some truths and answers at that moment. She not only knew she would disappear at 00:42, but she also knew many other things, incredible things, that made her confidently write herself a note¡ telling herself that opening this note in the dream world 600 yearster would reveal the reality of the world.
¡°Chu An Qing must have gained some memories after touching the time-space particles. That¡¯s why her reaction was so intense. Although I don¡¯t know what kind of memories she gained, it must have been caused by the time-space particles. Yellow Finch probably didn¡¯t know that time-space particles would affect a Millennium Stake.¡±
As they walked past themunity square, where an olddy was peeling pomegranates, they continued toward themunity gate.
After hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, Gao Yang added, ¡°Yellow Finch probably didn¡¯t know that Chu An Qing gained memories after touching the time-space particles. Look, Yellow Finch was also panicked at that time. It was obviously her first time seeing a Millennium Stake interact with time-space particles.¡±
¡°I remember, Chu An Qing kept crying and asking Yellow Finch, and Yellow Finch finally asked, ¡®You know everything?¡¯ This shows that the situation was beyond Yellow Finch¡¯s understanding! I feel like many things during the time-space particle capture n that day were unexpected for Yellow Finch.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But one thing is certain, Yellow Finch must have known that Millennium Stakes can see time-space particles. That¡¯s why she brought Chu An Qing on the ne but didn¡¯t give her a specific task.¡±
¡°This further proves that on January 21, 2000, there were no time-space particles around when Zhang Yu Qian disappeared. If there were, even if others couldn¡¯t see them, Zhang Yu Qian would have seen them. This confirms it.¡±
¡°Moreover, Yellow Finch also knew that Millennium Stakes would disappear at 00:42 on their twentieth birthday. That¡¯s evident. She knew that no matter what, Chu An Qing would disappear at 00:42. That¡¯s why she shouted not to save her¡ because she was destined to disappear.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered Yellow Finch¡¯s words. She said that if they lost this time-space particle, the future, the world, and everything would be terrible. That¡¯s why she nned such a desperate and dangerous capture operation.
Yellow Finch might have only seen or known about time-space particles but never caught one, at least not this one. Simrly, she knew about Millennium Stakes, their ability to see time-space particles, and their fate of disappearing at 00:42 on their twentieth birthday, but she didn¡¯t know what would happen if a Millennium Stake touched a time-space particle. This was beyond her knowledge.
¡°No wonder¡¡± Gao Yang snorted. ¡°No wonder Yellow Finch agreed so easily to let Chu An Qing catch the time-space particles. It was her original n. She knew Chu An Qing would disappear anyway, so she didn¡¯t care about her life, just wanted to use her to catch the time-space particles!¡±
¡°Hey, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± Lin Xian patted Gao Yang¡¯s shoulder, urging him not to dwell on past events. No one knew what Yellow Finch¡¯s initial n was.
Thinking positively, Yellow Finch might have brought Chu An Qing just in case. If Gao Yang had captured the time-space particles directly, Chu An Qing wouldn¡¯t have been needed. Thinking negatively, Yellow Finch might have known Gao Yang couldn¡¯t catch the particles, and they would be invisible, so the only way was for Chu An Qing to catch them.
¡°It¡¯s all in the past, Gao Yang. Yellow Finch might have been wrong in some areas, but she did it for me. Let¡¯s not dwell on it and look forward.¡±
They left themunity, hailed a taxi, and headed back to their hotel to rest.
¡°What do you think¡¡± Gao Yang said, sitting in the back seat of the taxi, turning to Lin Xian. ¡°What memories did Chu An Qing awaken after touching the time-space particles? It couldn¡¯t be Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s memories, right?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, and I can¡¯t guess. But I think she awakened a lot of crucial memories. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s 20-year life was too simple and couldn¡¯t have given Chu An Qing the confidence to write me that note.¡±
¡°But that question isn¡¯t important. When I see the contents of the noteter, I¡¯ll understand. As Chu An Qing said¡ I¡¯ll definitely understand. I believe her.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s not overthink and focus on summarizing our theories about the Millennium Stake.¡±
Lin Xian continued to piece together the information in his mind, leading to the second theory about the Millennium Stake: If the disappearance time of the Millennium Stake is fixed and unchangeable, it means the interval between the Millennium Stakes is a stable 24 years.
So, if a Millennium Stake is nted every 24 years¡ when does it end? Does it really take a thousand years? Is a thousand years that long? In the grand scale of the universe, even on Earth, a thousand years isn¡¯t a very long time.
If it¡¯s a thousand years¡ nted every 24 years¡ How many times?
¡°1000 divided by 24¡¡± Lin Xian was doing mental math.
¡°42,¡± Gao Yang blurted out. ¡°It¡¯s not an exact number, but it¡¯s roughly 42. If it¡¯s 1008, it divides perfectly into 42.¡±
Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang in amazement. ¡°You calcted that quickly.¡±
¡°I¡¯m always calcting loans when buying cars¡¡± Gao Yang chuckled. ¡°I calcte these multiples of 12, 24, and 36 daily for interest and rates¡ I¡¯ve memorized them.¡±
42 Lin Xian didn¡¯t expect this mysterious number to appear again.
If Millennium Stakes are indeed nted for a thousand years, it doesn¡¯t have to be exactly 1000 years; 1008 years can also be called a millennium. In regr grammar, that¡¯s eptable.
Moreover¡ The name Millennium Stake is a term Yellow Finch created, but it¡¯s not just made up randomly. There must be a special significance to choosing ¡°Millennium¡± instead of ¡°Century¡± or ¡°Decade.¡±
Considering this¡ A Millennium Stake might be something nted every 24 years,sting 1008 years, locking 1008 years of history!
But this is just a guess, without evidence, just a yful calction.
¡
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts returned to the urate theories about the Millennium Stake. Besides the first two theories, there¡¯s a third, obvious theory: In reality, the Millennium Stake exists as a human girl who grows up like any other girl, born at 00:42, disappearing at 00:42 on her twentieth birthday,pleting the post. Every Millennium Stake looks exactly the same.
This is the third theory, based on facts, absolutely correct. But who was the first Millennium Stake, the first girl with this appearance¡ Lin Xian doesn¡¯t know, but it¡¯s not Chu An Qing. It¡¯s also clear that CC must be a Millennium Stake too.
¡°I wonder when CC was born and how old she is,¡± Lin Xian thought. If¡ If CC¡¯s birth date was August 29, 2604, at 00:42¡
Then everything fits. His dream always ends at 00:42 on August 29, 2624, destroyed by white light.
So¡ What is the white light? If CC is a Millennium Stake, she should turn into blue star dust, not destroy the world with white light. This is something Lin Xian doesn¡¯t understand. The main reason is he still doesn¡¯t know what the white light in his dream means. Depending on different theories, the exnation varies. Lin Xian isn¡¯t sure which one is correct.
Maybe the white light doesn¡¯t mean the world is destroyed, but he is killed, or the dream simply ends. This is another situation where he can¡¯t see the big picture because he¡¯s inside it. Because he¡¯s destroyed by the white light¡ He¡¯ll never know what the world is like after the white light, what the world outside the white light is, or what caused the white light and its purpose.
Being inside the light cone, Lin Xian is destined never to find the answer.
¡°One step at a time,¡± Lin Xian felt he was thinking too far ahead and stopped himself. His fourth dream was still stuck.
Once he handled everything in Donghai, he would try to revive VV and start the battle with Kevin Walker, beginning a new round of cat and mouse. If he sessfully eliminated Kevin Walker¡ The Lin Xian in his fourth dream might be able to move freely and be liberated.
At that time, he had two things to do. First, go to Time Bank 600 yearster, open his safe deposit box, and read Chu An Qing¡¯s note to understand the truth of the dream. Second, find CC, confirm her birth date and age, and understand her rtionship with Chu An Qing if she is indeed a Millennium Stake.
¡°These are long-term ns,¡± Lin Xian murmured softly. If his dream could extend by just one second¡ He could see if CC turned into blue star dust.
Suddenly, Lin Xian froze. He slowly opened his eyes wide. Could it be¡ His dream ended at that coincidental time¡ To prevent him from seeing CC turn into blue star dust?
This was too difficult to think about. It¡¯s hard to believe why so many events, so many coincidental times, all converged at 00:42. The more he thought, the less real it felt, and the more terrifying it became.
Screech¡ª The taxi braked.
¡°Let¡¯s go, Lin Xian. We¡¯re at the hotel. Rest and catch the flight back to Donghai,¡± Gao Yang said.
Lin Xian nodded. He and Gao Yang got out, entered the hotel, and went to their room.
¡
Gao Yang ordered a bunch of takeout and ate heartily. Lin Xian took a hamburger and c, sat on the balcony, and ate. Then, as usual, he halfy in the chair, holding the password diary, turning the password wheel, trying eachbination.
After much effort¡ The password was almost in sight. He regretted not starting from 0000, instead of 9999. It was too annoying.
The password wheel showed 1979. Lin Xian pressed the lock.
Click.
It didn¡¯t open.
Reflexively, he pushed the wheel up and changed the password to 1978.
Click.
Again, it didn¡¯t open.
¡°Suddenly, I remembered, Lin Xian!¡± Gao Yang said, mouth full of food. ¡°If a Millennium Stake is nted every 24 years, there must have been a girl before Zhang Yu Qian! A girl who looks just like Chu An Qing.¡±
Click.
The password diary didn¡¯t open.
¡°That¡¯s obvious. The previous Millennium Stake should be from 1976.¡±
Lin Xian looked down and realized the password wheel showed 1976.
He pressed the lock.
Click.
Still didn¡¯t open.
¡°Hmph, let¡¯s see how long you can hide,¡± Lin Xianughed. Only about 2000binations left. It couldn¡¯t hide for long. Even if the code was 0000, it could only hide for 2000 more tries. He endured the long process of trying everybination. Thest thousand or so wouldn¡¯t be a problem.
Lin Xian continued turning the wheel, trying each password.
Click. Click. Click.
Eventually, Gao Yang finished eating and wiped his mouth. ¡°Do you think we can find the girl who disappeared in 1976, who looks like Chu An Qing?¡±
¡°Absolutely not, don¡¯t even think about it.¡±
Click. Click.
Lin Xian kept tryingbinations. The numbers continued to decrease. 1961, 1960, 1959¡
¡°1976 is too long ago. X Country didn¡¯t have a national ID system until 1984. Though it¡¯s inappropriate to say, back then, the only proof of existence was a crude household registration, without photos. So you definitely can¡¯t find the 1976 Chu An Qing.¡±
¡°Besides, consider the possibility of being born abroad. This time it was a coincidence, two Millennium Stakes in the country. With so few samples, a Millennium Stake could easily be born abroad.¡±
Lin Xian thought of CC. She said she was born abroad, in Brooklyn, USA.
Click. Click.
He continued to turn the password wheel.
Gao Yang sighed, wiped his mouth with a napkin. ¡°When does this Millennium Stake thing end? Even if it takes a thousand years, there has to be a start, the first post, right?¡±
¡°1976¡ 24 years back¡ 1952!¡±
1952? Lin Xian blinked. This was a familiar year.
Isn¡¯t this¡ The year realist painter Henry Dawson painted ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡± in Brooklyn?
He looked down. The password wheels on Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary showed 1952.
Lin Xian hesitated before pressing down his thumb¡ª
Click.
A crisp sound, and the password lock, closed for 24 years¡
Opened!
Chapter 317: VVs Message
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian stared at thebination lock in his hand, its sp now open. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t quite believe what had happened.
¡°It¡¯s¡ open.¡±
Though he had mentally prepared for this, knowing that using brute force would eventually crack the tiny lock, the actual sess filled him with excitement and a strong sense of aplishment.
¡°No way! It¡¯s actually open!¡±
Gao Yang, who had been busy eating, immediately wiped his hands and ran over. Grabbing the diary from Lin Xian, he inspected it closely.
¡°1952¡ That¡¯s odd. Why would a girl in her teens or twenties set her lockbination to this year?¡±
¡°Hey, Lin Xian, was 1952 a significant year for any reason? Did something famous or notable happen?¡±Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°My knowledge of history is average at best. Off the top of my head, I can¡¯t think of any major events in 1952. Considering Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s love for music, could 1952 be rted to a famous singer or band?¡±
¡°But when I think about it, notable bands like The Beatles or artists like Michael Jackson came after 1952. The year 1952 was still a pretty tumultuous time globally, with World War II having ended just seven years prior. Many regions were still embroiled in local conflicts.¡±
¡°So theoretically, it wasn¡¯t a peak period for the arts, and the Third Industrial Revolution hadn¡¯t started yet. The information age and electronicputer technology, as well as the inte, hadn¡¯t appeared¡ Come to think of it, 1952 is quite unremarkable.¡±
¡°Oh, I see,¡± Gao Yang acknowledged casually, already engrossed in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian leaned back in his chair on the balcony, gazing out at the bustling streets of the capital, deep in thought. 1952¡ Indeed, for the world, it wasn¡¯t a year marked by earth-shattering events.
But for Lin Xian, this year had a unique significance. He had just recalled that 1952 was the year when realistic painter Henry Dawson created eight detailed oil paintings of Einstein, known as ¡°The Sorrowful Einstein.¡±
There was another important event. He just remembered it. ¡°The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡± the science fiction work that introduced the concept of 42 to the world, was written by Dous Adams, who was also born in 1952. The concept of 42 itself was proposed by Dous Adams.
In the movie adaptation, a supeputer named Deep Thought, created by an advanced civilization, was asked a question: ¡°Please calcte the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything.¡±
This question was soplex that Deep Thoughtputed for 7.5 million years before providing an answer: ¡°The ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything is¡ª¡±
¡°42.¡±
So, once again, it¡¯s 42. Always 42. It¡¯s always 42! Lin Xian was developing a conditioned response to this number. Whether investigating the Genius Club, capturing space-time particles, researching millennial stakes, or even cracking a young girl¡¯s diary¡ No matter what he did, he always ended up circling back to the Universal Constant, the number 42.
Lin Xian had long had a premonition. When he saw the walls of Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s room covered with the number 42, he realized that this number was anything but simple. But even now, over a yearter, research on the Universal Constant had made almost no progress.
¡°How much longer will it take to uncover the truth behind 42¡¡±
Lin Xian stretchedzily, unable to help but sigh: ¡°What is the Universal Constant, 42, anyway?¡±
This question seemed beyond theprehension of someone like Lin Xian. Despite Big Cat Face¡¯s seemingly naive demeanor, his father, Cat Dad, was a Fields Medal-winning mathematician, with an IQ and talent among the top on Earth.
¡°The best-case scenario would be to find Big Cat Face¡¯s father in the dream world and ask him directly about the Universal Constant¡¯s truth and significance. But¡ given that I¡¯m stuck in the fourth dream, let alone Big Cat Face¡¯s father, even if I so much as show a hint of research, I could be executed by the 00:42 truck, just like in the first dream.¡±
For now, with the fourth dream¡¯s issues unresolved, Lin Xian decided not to think about anything else. He pinned his hopes on Liu Feng.
At this moment, Gao Yang, having finished reading Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary, walked over, looking uninterested, and handed it back to Lin Xian: ¡°There¡¯s nothing much in here. This must be Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary from when she was a teenager. It¡¯s all about music, which is pretty dull.¡±
Lin Xian took the diary. ¡°What did you expect to find?¡±
¡°There should at least be some girlish emotions! Something shy and bashful! Like secretly admiring some handsome guy or something! But Zhang Yu Qian is truly single-minded about music. This diary is either song reviews or copied lyrics.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled: ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. In the 1980s and 90s, people were so conservative that boys and girls barely talked to each other, even in college.¡±
¡°Our college professors told us that back then, Donghai University¡¯s rules explicitly banned dating. Teachers would form groups and go to the yground at night with shlights to catch students. Boys and girls didn¡¯t dare walk together.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t until the 21st century that everyone¡¯s mindset opened up, and schools became less strict. After all, universities in the 80s and 90s were very different from today¡¯s. The academic atmosphere was strong, with guaranteed job cements after graduation, and working meant getting an apartment. Everyone was highly motivated to study.¡±
¡°No kidding!¡± Gao Yang shouted. ¡°If I graduated and got a job and an apartment, I¡¯d aim for Tsinghua University too!¡±
¡°Keep dreaming.¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t bother to argue and started flipping through Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary. The diary was indeed exquisite and high-end, with slightly yellowed but still tough pages that could be flipped through without any issues.
Lin Xian skimmed through it¡ Sure enough, there was nothing valuable in it. Not a single useful piece of information.
Zhang Yu Qian, as a wealthy, well-behaved, and diligent girl, had a routine life focused on studying and music. This diary, rather than being a diary, was more like a collection of lyrics and musical reflections. As Gao Yang said, it was quite dull.
But Lin Xian, wary of missing any key information, patiently read through it from cover to cover for half an hour. In the end, it was a waste of time.
¡°See, I was right. It¡¯s good that we didn¡¯t forcefully break the lock.¡± Lin Xian put the diary on the balcony table and turned to Gao Yang: ¡°This diary ispletely worthless, not a single useful piece of information. However¡ thebination lock¡¯s code is intriguing.¡±
¡°Zhang Yu Qian, a girl living between 1980 and 2000, why would she set her diary¡¯sbination to 1952? What¡¯s so special about this year to her? How did she even notice this year?¡±
Gao Yang pulled up a chair and sat opposite Lin Xian: ¡°That depends on how you think about it. If you think in terms of the millennial stake, there must have been a girl in 1952 who looked exactly like Zhang Yu Qian or Chu An Qing, who became blue star dust,pleting her mission as a millennial stake.¡±
¡°So, Zhang Yu Qian setting thebination to this year might be rted to that. Maybe¡ she dreamt of something significant happening in 1952? Or dreamt of a girl who looked just like her in 1952? That¡¯s why she was fixated on this year?¡±
¡°But it¡¯s pointless to think about it now since Zhang Yu Qian is dead. The dead can¡¯t speak, and there¡¯s no way to verify our guesses. Whether they¡¯re true or false, we¡¯ll never know.¡±
¡°The only thing we can be sure of is that in 1952, a girl did disappear as a millennial stake, and that¡¯s it. Whether she was the first or had some special significance¡ Unless you can really travel back to 1952 and see for yourself, there¡¯s no other way.¡±
¡°Even if you could travel back to 1952, the world was so big, with underdeveloped technology and transportation. Where would you find a girl who looks exactly like Chu An Qing? It¡¯s unrealistic, forget about it.¡±
Lin Xian pondered for a while. Indeed, with so few clues and information about 1952, it was impossible to draw any concrete conclusions.
¡°Let¡¯s put this problem aside for now and head back to Donghai.¡±
The Boeing ne carrying Lin Xian and Gao Yang took off once more. This should be their final journey for now. Upon returning to Donghai, Lin Xian and Gao Yang would part ways. Each would return home and attend to their own matters. While they had captured space-time particles, many issues still needed resolution.
The unseen enemy, Kevin Walker;
The unknown fate of VV and whether it could be revived;
The exnation owed to Chu Shan He;
The progress in Liu Feng¡¯s research on the Universal Constant, the calibrated space-time clock, and the handling of subsequent space-time particles;
Most crucially, the aluminum alloy safe at Time Bank, where he needed to deposit the note left by Chu An Qing;
And the mirror puzzle left by Yellow Finch.
He had a feeling this would be a pivotal point, a crucial breakthrough. Because Yellow Finch had mentioned: ¡°There is something you want in the mirror.¡±
So, once these misceneous matters were dealt with, he had to seriously consider what the mirror referred to.
A few hourster, the ne arrived at Pudong International Airport.
Lin Xian¡¯s driver had already been waiting at the airport exit with an Alphard. After dropping Gao Yang home, the driver turned back: ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, where to next?¡±
¡°Home, for now,¡± Lin Xian said.
He was eager to check on VV and wanted to get home quickly; the next stop would be Donghai University to see Liu Feng; and finally¡ Sigh. He had to face it eventually. He needed to visit Chu Shan He¡¯s estate and confront the father who had lost his daughter.
But fortunately, there was still hope for Chu An Qing. Once many matters were confirmed with CC, the mystery of the millennial stake might be fully unraveled, and he could find a way to bring Chu An Qing back.
¡°Home first,¡± Lin Xian repeated. ¡°Hurry.¡±
Reaching his apartment building, Lin Xian hurriedly dragged his suitcase into the elevator, eagerly pressing the floor button. He hadn¡¯t contacted VV in a long time. He missed his melodramatic friend.
Ding¡ª The elevator doors opened.
Lin Xian took out his key, unlocked the door, and stepped into the living room. ¡°What the heck happened here!¡±
The scene inside stunned him. There were scorch marks everywhere! The TV, fridge, air conditioner, router, washing machine, chargers, digital clock¡ even the robotic vacuum cleaner that VV loved so much, were all burnt out from the inside!
Lin Xian could tell. This wasn¡¯t a fire; these appliances had all overloaded and burnt out internally.
He stepped forward, picking up the ¡°dead¡± robotic vacuum cleaner from the floor, he sniffed it and could still smell the burnt wiring inside¡
He checked the breaker box and found it also burnt out. The entire house was without power, from the main switch to each room. The fridge was full of stench and melted ice. In the kitchen, the same scene. All electronic devices were charred, and all switches were powerless.
¡°Who did this?¡± Lin Xian squinted, quickly deducing the only possible culprit¡ªVV! This had to be VV¡¯s doing!
Such a precise destruction of electronics without causing a fire could only be done by VV! If someone wanted to harm or sabotage him, they would have burned the entire house, wouldn¡¯t that be more thorough? As it stood, he had minimal losses. Only the electrical wiring was burnt out, all the appliances were destroyed, the electrical panel and circuits were fried¡ nothing serious, just a matter of recing them, which a cleaningpany could handle.
So. This method of attacking only electronics without causing other damage or fire, and ensuring no further trouble, was¡ Lin Xian recalled the incident on the space shuttle 300 kilometers above the Earth, where VV had been attacked and, in its final moments, disabled allmunication equipment on the space shuttle to protect it from being hijacked by the enemy.
Because of this, despite Kevin Walker¡¯s strength, he couldn¡¯t hijack the space shuttle and had to use Starlink satellites and the U.S. X-37B space shuttle to attack them instead.
This was VV¡¯s protection for Lin Xian. Using the harshest move against hackers¡ªCutting off thework!
Conversely. Lin Xian looked around his house, seeing all the burnt-out electronics, broken circuits, and cut-off power. This action clearly showed VV was protecting itself.
When they first met, VV had said it didn¡¯t need awork; it could travel using sound waves, electromaic waves, or electrical currents. So, a master capable of killing VV would also have such abilities.
Therefore, to protect itself and leave a glimmer of hope, VV resorted to an even harsher move than cutting off thework¡ªCutting off the power!
In a powerless ce, no hacker, AI, program, virus, signal, or data stream could stir up any trouble. Cutting off power, for the super AI VV, was both the strongest attack and the most invincible defense. In this absolutely powerless environment, VV couldn¡¯t escape, but neither could the enemy enter.
¡°Laptop¡¡± Realizing this, Lin Xian immediately looked for theptop that contained VV¡¯s original 130,000 lines of code and had apanied VV to the U.S.!
¡°Found it!¡± Miraculously! Seeing thisptop, Lin Xian realized his previous guess was correct! Because, amidst all the burnt-out electronics in the house, thisptop was untouched!
It had no inte connection, no power cord, and its battery was dead, making it impossible to start¡ Thisptop, which he thought was useless, had miraculously saved VV¡¯s life, bing itsst sanctuary in the face of an unbeatable enemy!
¡°VV!¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh.
Knowing that his old friend was still alive, having narrowly escaped death at thest moment, filled him with relief. No wonder it came from 600 years in the future; it found a way to survive and protect itself in the end.
This was excellent news. At least¡ he had found one of them, either Chu An Qing or VV. Finding one meant he could find both!
Lin Xian ced theptop on the desk, opened it, and reached for the power button¡ª
Suddenly, he felt a chill behind him¡
It was as if an invisible hand emerged from the door crack, under the bed, behind the bookshelf, from the ceiling gap¡ gripping him tightly, just a bit more pressure would squeeze him, crushing his bones and flesh.
¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡± He calmed down.
An enemy capable of killing VV once could kill VV twice. He knew thisptop had no power, and he just wanted to try it, to feel the illusion of calling VV, so he thought about pressing the power button.
But now. He held back. He realized¡ the enemy who could kill VV might be far stronger than VV and himself.
In hismon sense, indeed, without power, a cyber attack couldn¡¯t beunched. But. There are always higher levels and greater forces.
VV, an advanced being from a future era, existed; space-time particles, such a bizarre thing, hade to Earth¡ what else was impossible?
VV had disappeared for so long, indicating it had faced significant danger, the kind that made it not dare to show itself, fearing instant destruction.
So. ¡°It¡¯s better to wait.¡± Lin Xian felt uneasy.
Thisptop contained thest fragment of VV, the AI¡¯sst shard. If his carelessness exposed and killed this final fragment, then VV would truly leave him forever.
Gently. Lin Xian closed theptop again, ced it in the wardrobe, and hid it: ¡°VV, wait a little longer. At least until I take care of Kevin Walker, the real culprit who killed you, before reviving you. Ensuring absolute safety.¡±
Then, Lin Xian returned to the living room and opened the curtains that had blocked the sunlight for months¡ª
Swish~
Bright sunlight poured in.
The Tyndall effect filled the room, with floating dust visible in the rays, brightening the previously gloomy room that had been vacant for months.
At the same time, Lin Xian turned back and noticed the TV screen showed distinct burn marks under the sunlight.
Vertical and horizontal lines. These burn marks formed a name ¨C ELON MUSK!
Chapter 318: The Time-Space Clock
¡°Elon Musk?¡±
Lin Xian crouched, trying to find the perfect angle to view the prized light on the LCD television screen. His eyes squinted as he scrutinized the screen carefully.
¡°No mistake¡¡±
He shifted to the side, watching as sunlight reflected off the TV¡¯s screen. The burnt areas didn¡¯t reflect light smoothly, showing ck marks, while the unburnt areas reflected light evenly, revealing a white background.
ck letters on a white canvas. VV had cleverly used the burnt marks on the LCD screen to write a message: E-L-O-N M-U-S-K!
Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat in front of the TV, resting his chin on his hand as he gazed at the familiar name. This was the name of the world¡¯s richest man, known to everyone. For a long time, his name had dominated media headlines.
Earlier this year, during a scientific charity g, Musk had specifically sought out Lin Xian, donating five hundred million dors as a greeting gift. They shook hands, and Musk gave him a seal from the Genius Club, confirming his identity.
Since then, there had been no further interaction between Musk and Lin Xian. That was until the day of the time-space particle capture operation, when Kevin Walker hijacked the US X-37B space shuttle and attempted to crash it from space. Muskunched a starship rocket to destroy it, averting the crisis and saving Lin Xian and his team.From that moment, Lin Xian¡¯s perception of Elon Musk was encapsted in a few words: Enemy or Friend. He couldn¡¯t discern if Musk was an ally or an adversary.
Even though Musk saved them byunching a rocket during a life-or-death moment, in the deceitful and cunning Genius Club, who could guarantee that this wasn¡¯t part of Musk¡¯s n?
Even an organization like the Seven Deadly Sins knew to approach Lin Xian as a Rhine Cat enthusiast to collect intelligence. How could Elon Musk, who was even more formidable, not have his own schemes?
There was no evidence to show that Musk and Kevin Walker were in cahoots. Kevin frequently treated Musk¡¯s satellites like toys, tossing them around. Even among the best of friends, such actions would test their limits. Therefore, it was evident that Musk and Walker were not on the same side, or at least¡ they weren¡¯t allied against amon enemy.
After that thrilling space battle, it seemed like both geniuses had lost, with no clear winner. But Lin Xian didn¡¯t believe things were as simple as they appeared. They were geniuses from the Genius Club¡ such extreme talents didn¡¯t lose easily. Though it seemed like both had suffered significant losses, that might only be on the surface. Behind the scenes, in the shadows, in the dark¡ who knew if they had actually won? Perhaps it was a win-win situation for both of them!
So, Lin Xian never firmly categorized Musk as friend or foe. Subconsciously, he viewed Kevin Walker as an enemy since Kevin had genuinely attacked him, using the Starlink satellites to crush him and hijacking the US space shuttle to crash into him. This definitely marked Kevin as an enemy.
Conversely, Elon Musk had never physically attacked Lin Xian. Instead, he had used a rocket to save him, which leaned more towards being a friend or ally. But now¡
Seeing the burn marks on the TV left by VV, with Musk¡¯s name, Lin Xian had to rethink this issue.
¡°In the final critical moments, VV did three things.¡±
Lin Xian softly summarized:
¡°First, destroyed allmunicationwork equipment on X Country¡¯s space shuttle to prevent Kevin Walker from hijacking it.¡±
¡°Second, burned all electrical wires and appliances at home to create aplete power andwork shutdown, protecting thestptop.¡±
¡°Third, burned Elon Musk¡¯s name onto the TV screen to remind me of something, to caution me about this person.¡±
Comparing these actions, the first two were of utmost importance, life-and-death matters. So, it¡¯s not hard to guess that the third was equally significant. Otherwise, VV wouldn¡¯t have risked being obliterated to leave this reminder in the final critical moments, perhaps with only a fraction of a second left.
¡°So it seems¡¡±
¡°The person who killed VV¡ is likely Elon Musk!¡±
Lin Xian stood up. He paced around the room, his mind racing with possibilities. He closed his eyes, taking in the faint burnt smell of electrical wires in the air, starting to deduce Musk¡¯s motives and the deeper meaning behind his actions.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Lin Xian¡¯s shoes scuffed the floor, kicking up a bit of dust that settled back down. After several minutes, Lin Xian stopped pacing. He looked back at the burn marks on the TV. He had figured it out.
Considering all the clues so far, he could deduce two possibilities for Elon Musk¡¯s actions:
¡°The first possibility: Musk had a long-standing n, but VV¡¯s existence was too powerful and would hinder his n. So, Musk used some equally advanced method to eliminate VV. Musk¡¯s real target might not be me or the time-space particle but Kevin Walker. Whether or not I went to capture the time-space particle, he wouldunch a rocket to disrupt Kevin Walker¡¯s actions.¡±
This was the first hypothesis. Given that Yellow Finch was also a member of the Genius Club and came from the future, it was usible to assume that Musk could have acquired some advanced technology to eliminate VV.
Reflecting on what VV had said, Musk waspletely unafraid of being monitored 24/7, living his yboy lifestyle for all to see. Yet, when he went to the observation tower to watch the rocket, he didn¡¯t take his phone, and there were no electronic devices or wires there. This was very suspicious. It indicated that Musk wasn¡¯t simply enjoying the view from the tower. The tower, being disconnected from power and the inte, was a natural shield, a perfect defense against hackers like Kevin Walker and super AIs like VV.
He must have been plotting something at the tower, maybe even hiding something. Because of the power and inte ckout, neither VV nor Kevin Walker could uncover Musk¡¯s scheme. In this scenario, Musk did kill VV but wasn¡¯t targeting Lin Xian. He merely wanted to interfere with Kevin Walker¡¯s ns.
That¡¯s the first hypothesis. Then there¡¯s the second possibility:
¡°Elon Musk wanted me to capture the time-space particle but didn¡¯t want it to be intact. So, he killed VV to prevent me from capturing aplete time-space particle, then covered my back by blocking Kevin Walker¡¯s attacks. This way, I could continue capturing the particle without VV, but its energy would quickly deplete. Even if I ultimately captured it, it would be useless.¡±
The second hypothesis was far moreplex than the first. Lin Xian, looking back with hindsight, had pieced together these key events, forcibly deducing this possibility.
If this second hypothesis were true, Elon Musk was truly terrifying. It would mean everything was under his control and knowledge. He would be even more formidable than Yellow Finch. Yellow Finch had admitted that the history after boarding the space shuttle was beyond her understanding, unknown territory for her as well.
So how could Elon Musk know all this? He certainly wasn¡¯t a time traveler; his life history was well-known worldwide. Elon Musk was born in South Africa, started learning programming at age ten, developed his first game at thirteen, and made his first fortune. He dropped out of Stanford to start his business and became a millionaire by twenty-eight and a billionaire by thirty. His life story was that of a genius of the times.
Such aplete life history meant he couldn¡¯t be a time traveler. So, how did he know all this?
Could it be¡ He had someone like Yellow Finch guiding him, just as she guided Lin Xian? Or perhaps¡ It was because he was a member of the Genius Club, giving him ess to future knowledge?
Time traveler or Genius Club. The answer had to be one of these two options, right?
¡°In any case.¡±
Lin Xian walked forward, his hand touching the burn marks on the TV screen. ¡°Better to be cautious.¡±
Afterward, Lin Xian tidied himself up. He changed into morefortable clothes, went downstairs, and got into his chauffeur-driven Alphard, heading to Donghai University to find Liu Feng.
Figuring out the mystery of Elon Musk wasn¡¯t particrly difficult. It depended on when he could get an invitation to the Genius Club and formally meet this group of geniuses. Yellow Finch had mentioned during their first meeting that getting an invitation to the Genius Club wasn¡¯t difficult for Lin Xian. This indicated that, ording to the known history, he was very likely to join the Genius Club, a foregone conclusion.
When would the invitation arrive? Where would he collect it? Lin Xian had a feeling¡ it would be soon. He could sense it. He was getting closer to the core of all these mysteries.
Bang. With a light sound, the Alphard¡¯s electric door closed, and Lin Xian reclined in the back seat.
¡°To Donghai University, Liu Feng¡¯sb.¡±
¡
An hourter.
On the campus of Donghai University.
In the Rhine United Laboratory, on the second floor, Lin Xian picked up the seemingly ordinary silver rectangr electronic clock, its numbers as steady as ever, still showing 0.0000000.
This was the ¡°Time-Space Clock¡± named by Liu Feng. Based on the theory of different nck Constants in different universes and times, it was designed to measure the ¡°time-space curvature¡± caused by the butterfly effect of time-space changes, which meant the deviation angle of the world line, used to observe the magnitude of time-space changes.
¡°Are you sure it¡¯s been calibrated to zero this time? Is it really zeroed?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Liu Feng nodded: ¡°This time, there¡¯s no doubt. I guarantee it!¡±
He pointed to the rice cooker in the corner of theb, which contained the hard-won time-space particle: ¡°I used that time-space particle as a reference to zero the Time-Space Clock. Don¡¯t be fooled by it still showing 0.0000000. It¡¯s fundamentally different from the previous 0.0000000.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t bore you with theplicated theory. In essence, if there¡¯s any change in the time-space we¡¯re currently in, leading to a deviation in the future trajectory and a change caused by the time-space butterfly effect, resulting in a new future¡¡±
Liu Feng walked over and patted the Time-Space Clock: ¡°Then the numbers on this Time-Space Clock will definitely change! Believe me, Lin Xian, this time it won¡¯t be wrong. The numbers will definitely, absolutely change!¡±
¡°And the changed numbers will be our basis for further research into Universal Constants. So¡ let¡¯s wait and see when the numbers on the Time-Space Clock change. I¡¯ll inform you immediately.¡±
Lin Xian looked down at the Time-Space Clock. Staring at the seemingly unchanging string of zeros¡ He had looked at this string of zeros for so long that he couldn¡¯t believe it would ever change. Would the numbers really move?
If one day, this string of zeros suddenly turned into other numbers, Lin Xian would be as shocked as seeing an iron tree blossom. Recallingst time, when the second dream transitioned into the third, the Time-Space Clock didn¡¯t change at all. That was because there was no external reference for calibration. Eventer, when the third dream transitioned into the fourth, and the Time Bank emerged out of nowhere in the fourth dream, the Time-Space Clock¡¯s numbers didn¡¯t change.
But now, the ¡°Time-Space Clock¡± had been zeroed. When the next time-space change urred, or when the fourth dream transitioned into the fifth¡ The numbers on the Time-Space Clock would definitely change. Then, they could measure the time-space curvature!
Overall, despite being slow, the progress of various matters was yielding results.
¡°Liu Feng.¡± Lin Xian pointed to the eight zeros on the Time-Space Clock, with seven decimal ces: ¡°Why is the time-space curvature always less than 1, even far less than 1? Can¡¯t it be an integer?¡±
Liu Feng shook his head: ¡°Not possible, unless there¡¯s a cataclysm.¡±
¡°In fact, from our observation within the light cone, we can¡¯t perceive or observe the urrence of time-space changes.¡±
¡°If the time-space curvature changes were visible to the naked eye, the world-line shifts, and future changes¡ why would we need the Time-Space Clock?¡±
¡°Because these changes in the time-space curvature are imperceptible, the value must be very small.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. That made sense. He could observe every time-space change because his vantage point was 600 years in the future. Without the dream world¡¯s verification, he wouldn¡¯t be able to pinpoint when a time-space change would ur. Like the transformation of Coco Cat into Rhine Cat and the sudden emergence of the Time Bank airship. These time-space changes were unobservable in the present; only by verifying in the dream world 600 yearster could they be confirmed.
From a mathematical chaos theory perspective, this was also reasonable. A 600-year time-space butterfly effect was enough to turn any minuscule number after the seventh decimal point into an astronomical figure.
This was what people meant by ¡°a miss by an inch, a miss by a mile.¡± An extremely small angr deviation, if the distance traveled is long enough, would lead to apletely different direction.
¡°So, what do you think¡ if one day, the numbers on the Time-Space Clock change¡¡±
Lin Xian raised his head and looked at Liu Feng: ¡°What do you think they would change to?¡±
Chapter 319: The Closed-Loop Safe! Time-Space Unveiled!
¡°This is really hard to say,¡± Liu Feng said, shaking his head seriously. ¡°Based on my hypothesis, the time-space butterfly effect should be changing and happening in real-time. So, the specific curvature of time-space disyed on the time-space clock, what exact number it will change to, and how significant the change will be, definitely needs to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.¡±
¡°For example, if the time-space change is small and doesn¡¯t impact the world much, then I think the change in the time-space curvature will also be small. Naturally, the numbers on the time-space clock will reflect that minor change.¡±
¡°But if the time-space change is significant, and the event has a massive impact on the future, sweeping across the world and creating drastic transformations, then the numbers on the time-space clock will change significantly too. That¡¯s my belief. It could even be¡¡±
Liu Feng extended his right index finger and pointed at the zero before the decimal on the time-space clock¡¯s dial.
¡°If the time-space curvature change isrge enough, even this zero before the decimal might change.¡±
¡°But right now, without any data to reference, it¡¯s pointless to discuss these hypotheticals. Once the numbers on the time-space clock change for the first time, we¡¯ll have some rough guidelines. After observing a few more times, we¡¯ll naturally summarize the rules and fully grasp thews of time-space curvature.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I came to see you this time to check on the time-space clock and see how you¡¯re doing. Let¡¯s leave it at that for now. Don¡¯t stop the research on the Universal Constants either. We should approach this from multiple angles and not ce all our hopes on the time-space clock and curvature.¡±
¡°Additionally¡¡±Lin Xian pointed to the corner of theb table, at a time-space particle catcher shaped like a rice cooker.
¡°Have you done more research on the time-space particle inside? Any new progress or breakthroughs?¡±
Liu Feng sighed deeply. ¡°No.¡±
¡°I know this result is hard for you to ept, but Lin Xian, this is the reality. It¡¯s harsh, but it¡¯s the truth. We¡¯ve consumed all its energy because we touched the time-space particle too much when we captured it.¡±
¡°Thisck of experience led to our mistake. No one knew that even slight collisions would cause it to assimte with our time-space, rendering it worthless.¡±
¡°If we have another chance to capture one, I believe I can do better. I¡¯ll improve the catcher and capture mechanisms to keep the internal energy of the time-space particle intact.¡±
¡°That way, we might gain something from our research. But as for this one¡ it¡¯s really useless now. It has no energy, no value, no function.¡±
Lin Xian felt a pang of disappointment listening to Liu Feng¡¯s exnation. ¡°Can I take a look at it?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Liu Feng said, spreading his hands. ¡°As I mentioned before, the time-space particle has lost its activity. It won¡¯t sh, jump, or follow any of our universe¡¯s physicalws.¡±
¡°You can even touch it without anything happening. I¡¯ve already done that. It doesn¡¯t have a physical form, but there¡¯s a faint, strange sensation when you touch it. I¡¯ve also experimented with cing it on a table or the floor, and it doesn¡¯t prate through.¡±
¡°This is what I mean by ¡®assimted with our time-space.¡¯ At this point, this time-space particle is essentially part of our time-space, which is why it has no value or energy anymore. It¡¯s a simple logic.¡±
As Liu Feng exined, Lin Xian walked to theb table. He wiped the dust off the rice cooker-shaped catcher. The small disy still showed two lines of text that seemed to have frozen in time:
Time-Space Particle: Capture Sessful!
Capture Time: March 28, 2024, 00:42
This was Chu An Qing¡¯s 20th birthday, a capture achieved through desperate efforts.
After cleaning the rice cooker, Lin Xian touched its cold stainless steel surface and sighed deeply. He pressed the button to lift the lid.
With a click, the lid popped open. Lin Xian peered inside and saw a crystal-blue time-space particle, floating silently in the center of the rice cooker¡¯s inner chamber, untouched by the walls.
It was magical, like maic levitation, though it wasn¡¯t. It simply used a simr principle of fields to confine the particle.
Now, the time-space particle had indeed lost its activity. The previously intense lightning, the turbulent core, and the crackling electric arcs were all gone. It looked as if it were asleep, utterly peaceful, docile, andzy, with no hint of its once wild nature.
Lin Xian observed it closely. Although the time-space particle still resembled a small blue electric ball, it no longer had the fierce electric sparks or the turbulent core. The blue fments inside spread out evenly, drifting slowly¡ very slowly¡ almost imperceptibly, appearing not only non-threatening but even timid.
This is what a time-space particle looks like after losing its activity and energy¡ªa once-dominant alien force now reduced to a tamepanion.
Lin Xian reached out his right hand and touched the particle inside the rice cooker. Since Liu Feng had already touched it without issues, Lin Xian had no reservations.
His fingers descended, touching the time-space particle. The sensation¡ was exactly as Liu Feng described.
Indeed, with closed eyes, one could feel something faintly there, a very slight touch, almost like a spider web or a breeze. But when you consciously tried to touch it, the sensation vanished. However, when you did so unconsciously, the faint contact returned¡ªa feeling beyond words, perhaps better described as an illusion.
Now, with his entire hand inside the particle, Lin Xian felt it remain stable, almostzily sleeping. The smooth spherical interior showed no reaction to his presence.
He tried to grasp the particle, but it wouldn¡¯t cooperate. It stayed inert, unaffected by Lin Xian¡¯s attempts to move it within the rice cooker.
¡°It seems that ordinary people touching a time-space particle won¡¯t trigger any extreme reactions or cause them to awaken any memories or have information inserted into their brains, like Chu An Qing.¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Liu Feng said, shrugging. ¡°After all, we¡¯re not Millennium Steles. I suspect that normal people and objects won¡¯t react to time-space particles. Only Millennium Steles or other entities from outside this time-space might react.¡±
¡°But we can¡¯t draw conclusions from a single instance. We can only say that based on Chu An Qing¡¯s experience, Millennium Steles touching time-space particles will gain some memories and have extreme reactions. As for other things¡ without experimental data, we can¡¯t make a definitive judgment.¡±
¡°You always suspected that Yellow Finch is a time traveler from the future, right? She doesn¡¯t belong to this time-space either. Maybe you should let her touch the particle and see if something happens.¡±
¡°Forget it,¡± Lin Xian refused decisively. ¡°If Yellow Finch thinks it¡¯s necessary to touch the time-space particle, she would have done so already. She¡¯s a decisive woman and doesn¡¯t need our reminders.¡±
¡°Besides, her physical condition seems quite poor now. I don¡¯t want to trouble her further. She¡¯s already helped us with so many problems and given us numerous hints. We can¡¯t rely on her forever, Liu Feng. We need to be strong ourselves.¡±
Liu Feng nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right. We can¡¯t always trouble Yellow Finch. The time-space particles and Universal Constants are our responsibilities. She¡¯s helped us enough.¡±
¡°Also, I¡¯ve realized that my hypothesis was wed. Not all external entities will react to time-space particles. For example, Chu An Qing isn¡¯t an external entity. Her pupils are normal, and she¡¯s never experienced time-space rejection. This proves she¡¯s a native of our time-space.¡±
¡°I believe thews of time-space are absolute, and no one can surpass them. Chu An Qing¡¯s normal eyes andck of rejection confirm she belongs here.¡±
¡°So, it seems that only Millennium Steles have the unique trait of gaining memories and extreme reactions from touching time-space particles, or perhaps it¡¯s just an anomaly. Unfortunately, with Chu An Qing gone and the time-space particle inactive, we can¡¯t investigate further.¡±
Listening to Liu Feng¡¯s analysis, Lin Xian withdrew his hand from the rice cooker and stared intently at the ghostly blue time-space particle. ¡°Are you really sure¡ this time-space particle ispletely useless now?¡±
Lin Xian was unwilling to ept this fact and pressed further. ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible that our current knowledge and technology are inadequate, preventing us from discovering its uses?¡±
Liu Feng paused, then looked at Lin Xian meaningfully. ¡°From a scientific standpoint, I can¡¯t deny your view. I understand how you feel, Lin Xian. We¡¯ve all sacrificed so much, and Chu An Qing even gave her life to capture this particle¡ it¡¯s hard to ept this oue.¡±
¡°But as your friend and the scientist supporting you, I can¡¯t lie to you or deceive you forfort. That would harm you and potentially lead you off the right path.¡±
¡°Please believe me. For now, this time-space particle¡ is indeed useless. It has fully assimted with our time-space.¡±
¡°What should we do with it?¡± Lin Xian asked, closing the rice cooker lid with a bang and looking at Liu Feng. ¡°This precious thing¡ even if it¡¯s just a keepsake, we can¡¯t leave it lying around here. Thisb isn¡¯t safe enough.¡±
¡°How about buying a couple of safes?¡± Liu Feng suggested. ¡°But that wouldn¡¯t solve much besides taking up space. Besides, safes aren¡¯t absolutely secure. Since I don¡¯t need the time-space particle for my current experiments, if you have a suitable warehouse or vault, you should take it and store it safely.¡±
A warehouse¡ a vault¡ Lin Xian immediately thought of Time Bank. He remembered the aluminum alloy safes and the note Chu An Qing left for him. After all, this time-space particle was captured by her for him. Even if Liu Feng believed it was useless, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t bear to discard it.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it with me,¡± Lin Xian said, hugging the rice cooker as he left theb at Donghai University. ¡°If the numbers on the time-space clock change, indicating a shift in time-space curvature, let me know immediately.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian. I¡¯ll keep an eye on it,¡± Liu Feng assured him.
In the back seat of the Alpha business car, Lin Xian hugged the rice cooker and gazed out at the bustling cityscape. This was Donghai City, 600 years into the future.
The city had undergone many changes, witnessing the sea turn into mulberry fields. The first dream remained stagnant in technology, the second saw a century of regression, the third showed a world in turmoil, and the fourth transformed into a sci-fi metropolis.
There was no clear pattern, confirming Lin Xian¡¯s initial realization: time-space changes were uncontroble and nearly illogical.
He began to worry. When the dream world changed again to the fifth dream, would the world be a better ce? He pondered what constituted a better world. Initially, he thought a world with stagnant technology was terrible, but now he saw it as the best option. For Big Cat Face, the regressed Donghai of the second dream was his happiest and most fulfilling time.
What makes a world good? Lin Xian realized there might be no definitive answer. But one thing was certain: a world that required sacrificing a 20-year-old girl every 24 years to sustain the Millennium Steles was definitely not the best. That was undoubtedly wrong.
¡°If we could solve the Millennium Steles problem, letting these girls live normal lives and age naturally¡¡±
Lin Xian thought about the sudden, all-consuming white light at the end of each dream. Without the Millennium Steles, would the white light still exist? Would the world 600 years into the future peacefully see the dawn of August 29?
Why must history be locked? This question always filled Lin Xian with disgust. Why? He had to find the true mastermind behind the Millennium Steles and ask why!
Screech¡ªthe Alpha business car came to a smooth stop. The driver turned back. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, we¡¯ve arrived at Time Bank.¡±
As Lin Xian stepped out of the car, Brother Wang, who had been eagerly waiting, rushed over, his belly leading the way. ¡°Hahaha, Lin Xian! You finally made it! We¡¯ve been waiting for you since the trial opening!¡±
Brother Wang, living his dream, wanted to hug Lin Xian, but the rice cooker in Lin Xian¡¯s arms prevented it.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Brother Wang asked, puzzled. ¡°Why did you bring a rice cooker?¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Brother Wang, this is what I need to store in the safe.¡±
¡°Oh, oh, oh!¡± Brother Wang eximed, understanding dawning. ¡°A time capsule within a time capsule! This is clever, hiding it even more securely! I just didn¡¯t expect the rice cooker trick¡ really ingenious!¡±
¡°Come on,e in. I¡¯ve been dying to show you our bank,¡± Brother Wang said enthusiastically, pulling Lin Xian into Time Bank.
The impressive entrance and eye-catching sign clearly showed Time Bank¡¯s financial strength. Inside the busy lobby, Lin Xian noticed people waiting in line for various services.
¡°These folks aren¡¯t here for safes; they¡¯re here for financial services,¡± Brother Wang exined, seeing Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity. ¡°You were worried we¡¯d go out of business with a single service, so we added long-term financial services like investments, funds, and insurance, thanks to Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s uncle¡¯s help. It¡¯s another revenue stream for us.¡±
¡°Not many clients are buying safes right now; we¡¯ve sold about fifty, with some cancetions. But we¡¯re not concerned about that. This is a long-term business meant for decades, even centuries. Our business will boom when hibernation pods be mainstream! By then, these hundreds of aluminum alloy safes won¡¯t be enough. Who could resist opening a time capsule they buried centuries ago?¡±
As he spoke, Brother Wang led Lin Xian to the back storage area. Perhaps due to Time Bank¡¯s substantial financial backing, the security level of the warehouse was top-notch.
The entire wall was thick alloy. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if it was aluminum alloy, but it looked strong enough that C4 wouldn¡¯t blow it open.
This made him a bit worried. If he and CC needed to sneak into Time Bank 600 years in the future, how would they get past this?
However, seeing Brother Wang operate and unlock the metal door with an electronic password lock reassured Lin Xian. It was still just an electronic password lock, and with CC, the password expert, it would be manageable.
¡°Come on, Lin Xian, let me show you our aluminum alloy safes!¡± Brother Wang urged excitedly.
Inside, Lin Xian looked around. The sight was as grand as the photos Brother Wang had sent him: walls of concrete embedded with aluminum alloy safes.
Seeing it in person was impressive.
Brother Wang soon led him to the central area and pointed to Safe 66 with a grin. ¡°Look! This is the one I reserved for you!¡±
¡°All the safes are identical in size, material, and craftsmanship, so there¡¯s nothing customizable. But some clients like picking numbers, so I saved the best one for you!¡±
Brother Wang then pointed around. ¡°For privacy, there are no cameras in the safe storage room. That¡¯s essential because these aluminum alloy safes use mechanical password locks that can only be set once. The password can never be changed.¡±
¡°So we prioritize privacy over some security. This warehouse¡¯s security and defense are high enough, and it¡¯s in the city center, so thieves are unlikely. Even if theye, they¡¯ll have to crack the safe¡¯s password. Otherwise, these robust aluminum alloy safes can¡¯t be blown open, even withrge bombs. Most items here have sentimental value, not mary worth, so stealing from here isn¡¯t worth it.¡±
Brother Wang pulled open the safebeled with Lin Xian¡¯s name, removed the protective device from the lock, and reminded Lin Xian. ¡°Remember, the password lock is extremely precise. Once you set the password, it can never be changed! Think carefully before setting it.¡±
¡°When you set the password, ce the rice cooker inside, then set the password on the eight dials outside. Close the safe door, and the password lock will engage,pleting the setup. The password will remain unchanged for a lifetime, centuries, or millennia.¡±
Brother Wang then pointed to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. Our policy requires staff to leave when clients store items or set passwords. Knock on the door when you¡¯re done, and I¡¯ll open it for you.¡±
With that, Brother Wang left, and the door closed with a bang. In the vast space filled with safes, Lin Xian found himself alone again, spanning 600 years.
He pressed the button to open the rice cooker lid, revealing the quiet time-space particle glowing blue. He ced the neatly folded note from his pocket, which had stayed with him unseen, inside the rice cooker, next to the particle.
Bang. The lid closed, sealing the particle and the note for 600 years.
Lin Xian felt the rice cooker in his hands grow heavier, burdened with promises and fate.
¡°We¡¯ll meet there,¡± he whispered, cing the rice cooker inside the aluminum alloy safe with a clink.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, recalling what VV once said. He had told VV he would set a new password for the Time Bank safe, curious about the original password and contents.
VV, the super AI, had thought for a few seconds before replying, ¡°Lin Xian, there might not be any original items or passwords. The safe¡¯s password and contents might have always been the same. You¡¯ll understand when the historical loop closes.¡±
¡°In the moment you use the safe, set the password, and store items, historypletes its loop. And you¡¯ll realize that from your first sight of the safe to opening it 600 yearster, it never changed.¡±
¡°No matter how time-space shifts, the safe¡¯s contents and password remain the same.¡±
In this moment, Lin Xian seemed to understand. He pushed the heavy door of the aluminum alloy safe shut and looked at the eight shiny password dials below the lock, reflecting a bright silver light.
Almost without hesitation, he turned the dials to the first password that came to mind.
This was the note Chu An Qing wrote for him, the particle she sacrificed to capture, the answer she gave to verify the dream¡¯s reality. Their shared secret, but ultimately, the note held Chu An Qing¡¯s own secret¡
Bang! The heavy aluminum alloy safe locked for the first time, sealing its eternal password. As timeless as history, never to change.
Time and years,
Space and worlds,
History and the future,
Closed in this moment.
Lin Xian stepped back and looked at the eight digits on the password dials:
20240328
He would always remember this day.
Chapter 320: Meeting Chu Shan He
Lin Xian took a step back, staring intently at the locked safe in front of him. Beneath his namete were eight shiny dials. The numbers disyed were:
20240328
These eight digits formed a date: Chu An Qing¡¯s 20th birthday, the same day she vanished into blue stardust.
Until today, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t given much thought to what the password should be. He had considered using a random,plex password or keeping it simple, as safes were meant to deter honest people, not determined thieves. He reasoned that if his dreams were fake and the enemy had a setup to brute-force the password, they could crack it in 600 years, read the note inside, and copy it for him.
The password itself wasn¡¯t important. What mattered was the note inside and the safe serving as a coordinate to ensure his future self, 600 yearster, could find it.
As he was about to close the safe, thoughts of Chu An Qing flooded his mind. She was the girl who had jumped from a ne for him and disappeared into blue stardust. Her 20th birthday was also her death anniversary. He hadn¡¯t even had the chance to wish her a happy birthday or give her a gift. She vanished before she could see the first light of her 20th year.
Through his recent investigation into the Millennium Stake, Lin Xian felt certain that Chu An Qing wasn¡¯t dead. She had simply vanished, not died. In this magical world, many wondrous things and powers existed. If time and causality could be reversed, why couldn¡¯t Chu An Qing return?
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t one to give up easily. He was determined to find those who had nted the Millennium Stake and demand, ¡°Give me Chu An Qing back!¡±He wanted her back exactly as she was on March 28, 2024, the moment he grasped her hand in the sky, the moment he saw her serene smile afternding and removing her spacesuit. This impulsive decision felt natural as he set the eight dials to that date.
He had considered breaking the historical loop by setting a different password, but Brother Wang had told him the password couldn¡¯t be changed once set. He wouldn¡¯t waste the precious time-space particles and note Chu An Qing sacrificed everything to give him just to test a meaningless theory.
The historical loop didn¡¯t matter to him. But at this moment, Lin Xian felt only this date as the password could honor Chu An Qing¡¯s sacrifice and the tumultuous 600 years. No wonder his past self couldn¡¯t guess the password, even knowing it was her birthday. It wasn¡¯t her birth year or 18th year, but an ordinary 20th birthday. Who would value a 20th birthday so highly?
And yet, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t known Chu An Qing before the MX celebration. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to this lively junior before.
¡°See you there,¡± he whispered, turning the eight dials to random positions onest time. ncing at the safe filled with secrets and time, he vowed, ¡°I will find you.¡±
Lin Xian turned and walked toward the alloy door.
Click.
Outside, Brother Wang opened the door for Lin Xian. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re quick! Most clients take ages to decide on a password. Since it can¡¯t be changed, they want something meaningful for their time capsule.¡±
¡°Many even consider the possibility of future hibernation and the amnesia side effects. They want a password so important that even a memory-lost future self would recognize its significance.¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s words echoed what Lin Xian had heard. Now that Xu Yi Yi had entered hibernation, and the first batch of volunteers were in as well, with promising results, it seemed the first generation of mass-produced hibernation pods would soon be released. The allure of hibernating and waking in the future was strong, but so were the concerns about memory loss and recovery.
Many naively thought, ¡°Write a diary! Watch videos upon waking!¡± or ¡°Hibernate in turns with a trusted person to share memories.¡±
But human memory wasplex and emotional, not easily captured in a diary or video. Sociologists said the biggest challenge in memory recovery was trust. A nk te would instinctively distrust everything, rejecting even their own diary as uninteresting,cking connection. Videos would face simr rejection.
Lin Xian, familiar with these issues, knew trust was a significant barrier to memory recovery. Without trust, external memories couldn¡¯t reintegrate into the brain. And deeper concerns like memory fraud and maniption loomed, with scenarios of waking to false memories imnted by malicious actors.
As hibernation technology edged closer to reality, public apprehension grew. People feared losing their identities more than their wealth. The thought of waking to strangers presenting fake memories was terrifying, dampening the curiosity about hibernation.
To prepare for this new era, many sought ways to safeguard their true memories, using safes like Lin Xian¡¯s. Brother Wang had exined that most clients bought safes in preparation for future hibernation, wanting to secure their genuine memories for their future selves.
¡°It¡¯s a time of great change, Lin Xian,¡± Brother Wang said, patting his shoulder as they walked out of Time Bank.
¡°Do you think I should hibernate and see if Time Bank still recognizes me as its founder in a few centuries?¡± Brother Wang joked.
¡°If you¡¯re serious, I¡¯ll cover all the costs,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Haha, just kidding!¡± Brother Wang waved it off. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hibernate. I can¡¯t leave my family and friends. This era is good enough. Who knows if the future will be better or worse? What if there¡¯s a war?¡±
They chatted as they left the bank. Brother Wang returned to his work, while Lin Xian sighed, getting into his Alpha business car. After running around since returning to Donghai, he¡¯d aplished much, but now it was time to tackle the most challenging task.
As the car door closed, Lin Xian instructed the driver, ¡°To the Chu Shan He estate. Drive slowly.¡±
An hourter, the car arrived at the estate. Lin Xian stepped out, approaching the front door. His hand hovered over the doorbell multiple times before he finally pressed it.
Ding dong¡ª
The sound felt like a knife to his heart. Momentster, the door opened to reveal Su Xiu Ying, her eyes red and swollen with fresh tear streaks.
¡°Auntie Xiu Ying,¡± Lin Xian said softly, seeing they were already aware of Chu An Qing¡¯s fate. How they knew wasn¡¯t important. Su Xiu Ying¡¯s puffy eyes showed she had been crying for a long time. Lin Xian¡¯s guilt intensified as he clenched his hands.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Auntie.¡±
Su Xiu Ying wiped her eyes and pointed to the living room. ¡°Shan He is waiting for you¡ he knew you woulde.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and entered. He had prepared himself to face Chu Shan He, ready to answer any question honestly. He had lost Chu An Qing and had to take responsibility.
The sound of his footsteps echoed as he walked into the living room. The burly man on the sofa stood up, looking slimmer and less imposing than before. His once robust figure now seemed frail.
Chu Shan He turned slowly, his eyes deeply furrowed as they met Lin Xian¡¯s.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chu,¡± Lin Xian said, bowing his head in remorse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ I couldn¡¯t protect An Qing.¡±
Chu Shan He stood still, about five meters away. He took a deep breath before speaking, ¡°Lin Xian, I don¡¯t me you.¡±
Lin Xian clenched his teeth, feeling a sharp pain in his heart. Chu Shan He¡¯s words were the hardest to bear. He would have preferred a beating or harsh words over this painful eptance.
¡°The day after An Qing¡¯s incident, a woman named Yellow Finch came with the leaders of the National Space Agency,¡± Chu Shan He began, his voice hoarse. ¡°She brought the leaders to add credibility to her words. She took me to a private room and told me what happened to An Qing, and how you jumped from the ne to save her.¡±
¡°She spoke of many things I didn¡¯t understand, but I knew the oue¡ my daughter vanished. Despite you catching her hand in the air andnding together, she disappeared, leaving nothing behind.¡±
¡°I asked many questions, but she had few answers. I was furious, but I had allowed An Qing to join this mission, knowing the risks. She did something extraordinary.¡±
¡°But Lin Xian, how can any father endure this? In my anger, I pressed Yellow Finch, and she said you were investigating this. She assured me you would find out what happened ande to me with answers.¡±
Chu Shan He¡¯s voice was light, unlike the strong, confident man Lin Xian knew. Itcked the vigor and strength he was used to. After a pause, Chu Shan He continued.
¡°So, I didn¡¯t contact you. Many times, I wanted to call, but I held back.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I trusted you with my daughter, meaning I believed in you. I¡¯ve always admired you, treated you like my own. So, I knew you woulde and find the answers.¡±
Lin Xian raised his head, meeting Chu Shan He¡¯s gaze.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± Chu Shan He went on, ¡°When you jumped from the ne, you fulfilled your promise to me. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty. You can face me with a clear conscience.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen many things in my years in business, and I know the world has inexplicable phenomena. I¡¯m more epting of these things than your Auntie Xiu Ying.¡±
¡°I believe every word you say and see you as a responsible man. So, Lin Xian, I have just one question.¡±
Chu Shan He looked directly into Lin Xian¡¯s eyes, his gaze piercing.
¡°Is my daughter dead or alive?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were steadfast as he answered, ¡°She¡¯s alive.¡±
¡°Then where is she?¡± Chu Shan He demanded.
Lin Xian stepped forward, standing before the grieving, strong father.
¡°Mr. Chu, I don¡¯t know where An Qing is now.¡±
¡°But I promise you with my life, with everything I have.¡±
He ced his hand over his heart, looking up at Chu Shan He.
¡°No matter where she is, no matter who she is now, whether at the ends of the earth, across the river of time, even if I have to search every corner of space and time¡ª¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s determination zed in his eyes.
¡°I will find Chu An Qing and bring her back to you!¡±
Chu Shan He stood rigid, fists clenched, then took a step forward. He ced arge hand heavily on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder.
¡°A man must keep his word and see it through.¡±
He locked eyes with Lin Xian.
¡°I¡¯ll be waiting¡ for you to bring my daughter back!¡±
Chapter 321: Mirror! Here It Is!
¡°I will,¡± Lin Xian said solemnly, looking Chu Shan He in the eyes.
He was genuinely grateful for Chu Shan He¡¯s trust. Despite everything that had happened, Chu Shan He didn¡¯t me him. This only strengthened Lin Xian¡¯s resolve to keep his promise and bring Chu An Qing back, no matter what.
Lin Xian turned and left the manor, his mind focused on the mission ahead.
¡°Home,¡± he muttered as he reclined in the back seat of the car, closing his eyes to rest.
A littleter, he arrived home. Professional electricians from the Rhine Company had already rewired his house, and most of the appliances had been reced. Aside from a fewrge items yet to arrive, the house was renewed and ready for living.
Lin Xian ordered takeout to fill his stomach. Only then did he realize he hadn¡¯t eaten or slept properly in days. He had been constantly on the move¡ªfrom the capital to Qufu, then back to the capital, and finally to Donghai City¡ªflying back and forth, even trekking into deep mountains with Gao Yang to dig up graves.
These activities had been a way to numb himself. But after meeting Chu Shan He today, he felt more rxed and determined.
Just as he had promised Chu Shan He, no matter where Chu An Qing was or who she had be, he would find her and bring her back. But saying it wasn¡¯t enough; he needed a n to break through the current situation and make progress.After eating, Lin Xian cleaned up and went to his bedroom. He turned on the deskmp and sat at the desk he hadn¡¯t used in a long time, deep in thought.
First, the issue with the Millennium Stake came to mind. He had already considered this during the drive home. The interval between the Millennium Stakes was 24 years, but each stake disappeared when the individual turned 20. This meant there was a 4-year gap between one stake¡¯s disappearance and the next¡¯s birth. This puzzled him.
If the continuity of the stakes was the goal, a pregnancy only takes 10 months, so a new stake could be born shortly after the previous one disappeared. This would make the cycle tighter, allowing more stakes to be nted over 1,000 years.
This detail made Lin Xian wonder. If the stakes were meant to lock history, how much history could one stake actually secure? For instance, Zhang Yu Qian disappeared on January 21, 2000, and Chu An Qing was born on March 28, 2004, disappearing again on March 28, 2024. There was no stake between January 21, 2000, and March 28, 2004. What did this gap mean? Was history locked during this time or not?
¡°In theory, locked history shouldn¡¯t change, but I¡¯ve been altering history all along,¡± Lin Xian mused, twirling a pen. ¡°So, the gap must mean history can still be altered before a stake is nted. But this lock doesn¡¯t apply to those in this timeline.¡±
He realized that the Millennium Stakes weren¡¯t preventing people in this timeline from changing history, but rather, they were preventing time travelers from the future from altering the past.
History locking was meant to prevent these future time travelers from changing history. This thought was reinforced by what had happened to Yellow Finch. She tried to tell him about the stakes but was silenced by an invisible force, bing almost transparent as if being punished.
Yellow Finch had mentioned that this only happened when ¡°time-space exclusion¡± and ¡°history locking¡± urred simultaneously. This was the secondw of time she was teaching him¡ªwithout a name, just a phenomenon. He needed to think, extend, and summarize it himself.
However, Lin Xian still felt he didn¡¯t fully understand this unnamedw. It seemed simr to time-space exclusion, where time travelers¡¯ actions that exceeded temporal sticity would result in bacsh. Even without doing anything extreme, they would still face exclusion and harm¡ªblue eyes, weakened bodies, etc.
¡°Is there a significant difference between these twows?¡± Lin Xian pondered. Yellow Finch¡¯s forced silence and stillness could also be exined by temporal sticity and exclusion. Why mention it separately then?
Perhaps the key was in the ¡°forced¡± aspect. Normal time-space exclusion could be resisted or endured, but this forced exclusion allowed no resistance. Viting it was like being a chick caught in a hand, unable to move or speak.
¡°Avoidance,¡± Lin Xian recalled that at Time Bank, Brother Wang mentioned thepany¡¯s policy of avoiding staff presence when customers stored or retrieved items. This ¡°avoidance principle¡± was simr to Yellow Finch¡¯s forced silence and immobility.
¡°Maybe I should name this neww,¡± he thought, considering its forced and avoidant nature. He uncapped his pen and wrote on a nk sheet of paper:
[Forced Avoidance]
This was the seventh timew, following the butterfly effect, temporal changes, change anchors, temporal sticity, time-space exclusion, and history locking.
Despite naming it, Lin Xian felt unsure about his understanding. It seemed iplete, and he didn¡¯t know what mastering thisw would bring him. Yet, recalling Yellow Finch¡¯s painful demonstration of thisw, he knew it was crucial. She had said, ¡°Perhaps this is thest thing I can teach you.¡±
Click.
Lin Xian capped his pen. Did she not have much time left? Would Yellow Finch vanish like Chu An Qing, turning into blue stardust? Or was there another fate awaiting her?
Thinking of Yellow Finch reminded him of Zhao Ying Jun. They were simr yet different. Lin Xian suspected their rtionship was like that between Big Cat Face in the first dream and Big Cat Face in the second, or between Li Cheng in the first and second dreamscapes.
Were they the same person? Clearly, they were. But different experiences and environments had led to different lives and personalities. Though simr, they couldn¡¯t be considered the same person.
Lin Xian saw Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun as simr¡ªbiologically the same, but living different lives, resulting in different individuals.
¡°Mirror,¡± he muttered, recalling the old puzzle.
What was the mirror? He stood up and went to the bathroom, facing therge mirror above the sink. Staring at his reflection, he thought about Yellow Finch¡¯s words, ¡°Look in the mirror more, Lin Xian. There¡¯s something you want in there.¡±
He remembered the AI VV in the third dream, who said, ¡°I think it¡¯s literal¡ªjust look in the mirror more.¡±
Even Zhao Ying Jun had said, ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d think the answer is in the mirror. You should look more.¡±
Alright. If VV and Zhao Ying Jun both said the answer was literal, he should look more. He had tried before, staring for three hours straight, and repeatedly within an hour. He had exhausted all methods because he wanted to solve the mirror puzzle and get what Yellow Finch mentioned.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian, now exhausted, decided to try again. He went back to his bedroom and checked the bedside clock¡ª19:21. He took the clock to the bathroom and ced it on the sink, then grabbed a chair from the living room and sat before the mirror.
Yawning, he washed his face to wake up and then fixed his eyes on his reflection. How long should he look this time? The longest before was three hours, so today, he¡¯d go longer.
Lin Xian leaned forward, right elbow on his knee, hand supporting his chin, staring at himself. He blinked, and so did his reflection. He yawned, and the mirror image followed.
He resisted the urge to check his phone, while the reflection mimicked his hesitation. He stretched his neck, scanning the mirror¡¯s edges. Therge mirror covered the entire wall behind the sink, which made him wonder if it could be like in cartoons, where mirrors hid another world. But that was silly, he knew.
Another yawn. His reflection did the same. Running around all day had left him exhausted. If not for sitting here, he¡¯d be asleep by now.
He nced at the clock¡ª20:07. The reflection did the same. Almost an hour had passed. Too slow, he thought, sighing. The reflection sighed back, perfectly synced.
¡°Keep going,¡± he encouraged himself and his reflection.
Time passed¡
The sound of water pipes echoed from upstairs as people prepared for bed. The noise made the staring contest with his reflection feel more real. He nced at the clock again¡ª23:48. Four and a half hours. ¡°Should I keep going?¡± he asked aloud, yawning. His reflection did the same.
Both Lin Xian and his reflection were getting too tired, struggling to keep their eyes open. ¡°Just a bit longer,¡± they both whispered, squinting to stay awake.
Gradually, the noise from upstairs ceased as everyone settled for the night. It was quiet now. Lin Xian felt like a fool, staring at the mirror for five hours. Another yawn, thergest yet, revealing their tonsils.
Exhausted, Lin Xian decided enough was enough. He checked the clock¡ª00:42.
¡°Enough. Time for bed,¡± he said, standing up.
In that instant, a chill ran down his spine. He stepped back, knocking over the chair, pressing his back against the cold tiles. He stared wide-eyed at his reflection¡ªit hadn¡¯t stood up!
Though he had risen, his reflection remained seated, propping its chin on its hand, smiling slowly.
Breathing heavily, Lin Xian tried to retreat but had nowhere to go. The silent reflection finally stood, raising a finger to its lips¡ª
Shhh~
Though silent, the gesture was clear. The reflection then revealed a red card from behind its back, extending it out of the mirror.
It was an invitation Lin Xian knew well, sealed with a red wax stamp. The reflection¡¯s hand moved closer, pushing the card through the mirror, cing it on the sink.
Lin Xian stared at the golden letters on the card¡¯s back:
Genius Club
Chapter 322: The True Invitation
¡°Whoa!¡±
Even with all his experience, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t contain his shock. He darted towards the bathroom¡¯s door and jumped out. This was horrifying! What was going on?
The reflection in the mirror wasn¡¯t synchronized with reality; it was already bizarre enough to make his skin crawl. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the hand holding the Genius Club invitation had just reached out from the mirror! What kind ofte-night horror story was this? Even Sadako from ¡°The Ring¡± crawled out of a TV, which could be somewhat exined by physics. But mirrors? They only reflect light! The objects in a mirror are virtual images. How could something reale out of it?
Moreover, the person in the mirror who was out of sync and smiling at him was himself! If the Lin Xian in the mirror had free will, then who was he? Was this some kind of alternate reality?
¡.
Standing at the bathroom door, Lin Xian looked back. The anomaly in the mirror hadpletely disappeared. No one was there. The mirror simply reflected the clutter in the bathroom¡ªthe bottles on the sink, the washing machine in the corner, the stool on the floor, the towels on the rack, and¡
At this moment, lying quietly on the porcin sink, fiery red with golden characters, was the Genius Club invitation!
Lin Xian blinked. He stared incredulously at the invitation he had pulled from the mirror. This defied all logic; it was iprehensible. Was he dreaming? Could it be that he had dozed off while leaning on the sink? So, he was dreaming now?But he nced at the digital clock on the corner of the sink. The time read: 00:43.
¡°I don¡¯t dream at this time,¡± Lin Xian said softly. In his 25 years, his dreams always ended at 00:42 precisely. No matter when he fell asleep after that, he wouldn¡¯t dream until the next cycle at 12:42 the following day.
¡°What the hell¡ is happening?¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath. Carefully, he stepped back into the bathroom, making himself visible in the corner of the mirror. The reflection of Lin Xian also cautiously peeked out. Lin Xian took two more steps forward. The reflection did the same. He waved his right hand. The reflection waved back.
¡°Seems normal.¡±
Even though the mirror appeared normal now, Lin Xian¡¯s heart remained tight, still on edge. He nced at the porcin sink and the Genius Club invitation. Its existence was undeniable proof of the earlier eerie event. Even if the mirror seemed normal now, it couldn¡¯t erase the abnormality of the previous moment and the impact it had on Lin Xian¡¯s worldview. He looked back at the digital clock. Another slight jump. The time had moved from 00:43 to 00:44.
¡°So, the unscientific event happened between 00:42 and 00:43, within that minute.¡±
He suddenly remembered Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin from the Seven Deadly Sins organization. Despite the potential for misdirection, they were very strict about executing their scientist murders¡ªthe time of death was strictly controlled to be between 00:42 and 00:43.
Who set this time? Based on current guesses, there are two possibilities. It was requested by a supposed Genius Club member, Copernicus; hence, Ji Xin Shui, eager to join the club, followed blindly and rigidly without understanding the significance of the time. It wasn¡¯t Copernicus¡¯s request, but as Lin Xian and Ji Lin deduced, Ji Xin Shui blindly imitated the Genius Club¡¯s killing behavior; meaning he witnessed or knew about a Genius Club murder at 00:42 and copied it strictly without understanding why.
¡.
Ji Xin Shui didn¡¯t exin the significance and origin of the 00:42 murder time in his confession. He only said he ordered his subordinates to ensure the target¡¯s death within 00:42 to 00:43. When asked why it had to be that time, Ji Xin Shui, showing no remorse, eerily smiled and said:
¡°To let them die at 00:42 is the highest respect.¡±
The female officer in charge of the interrogation couldn¡¯t help but call him crazy. Despite further questioning on this point, Ji Xin Shui remained silent, only confessing his crimes.
Lin Xian picked up the digital clock. He weighed it. So¡ The 00:42 time must hold some special significance. Not only was it the end time for his dreams and the birth and disappearance time of Millennium Stakes, but it was also rted to the Genius Club¡¯s actions and principles.
Therefore, it¡¯s no wonder he received the Genius Club invitation at 00:42. If Ji Xin Shui was right, 00:42 was a very respectful and significant time. It made sense to receive the invitation at this time. If it were a real Genius Club invitation, it had to be received at this time for the proper ceremony.
He thought again about what Yellow Finch said when she first mentioned the mirror puzzle. It seemed this Genius Club invitation was the thing she said he wanted most, which is why she repeatedly hinted at the mirror.
This was true. Both his past and present selves desired the Genius Club invitation. His past self had just solved the Seven Deadly Sins and was eager to know what the Genius Club was about and its purpose. His present self wanted to join the Genius Club, meet the so-called geniuses face-to-face, see what they were up to, and¡ find the truth about Millennium Stakes to save Chu An Qing!
Yellow Finch always talked about mirrors, and he indeed looked into many for a long time. But who could have thought? Her hint about mirrors was to let him catch the right time, exactly at 00:42. This time was too targeted for him. When he first received the mirror puzzle, he was in the third dream, skydiving and coding nonstop, waking up at 00:42 every day. So, he didn¡¯t have the time or thought to look in the mirror at that time.
Later, the third dream turned into the fourth dream. He got busier at night, testing the encirclement¡¯s tightness, the mysterious old man¡¯s reaction to different names; he also checked daily if the Time Bank¡¯s airship appeared. His dream schedule was packed, missing 00:42. But that wasn¡¯t the point¡
Even though it waste, he eventually solved the mirror puzzle. But the question remained¡
¡°Why a mirror? Why did such a supernatural event happen in a mirror?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, walked to the sink, and looked closely at the mirror. The reflection did the same, eyes wide, meeting his gaze. It was just an ordinary mirror. He had used it for years,pletely normal. He moved to the side, confirming the gap between the mirror and the wall, even seeing the tiles on the other side. This showed the mirror was normal, with no tricks or tampering.
¡°This means the key is not the mirror but the strange time of 00:42. In this supernatural event, the mirror was just a medium, not the main factor. So, staring at it for a long time outside 00:42 is pointless. It must be at 00:42 that the reflection bes unsynchronized and can cross the mirror, handing out the Genius Club invitation¡¡±
He couldn¡¯t understand why reflections, shadows, and light could be real entities. Lin Xian had toe up with a scientific exnation. He was a materialist, reluctant to ept supernatural events. Moreover, the Genius Club wasn¡¯t a supernatural organization; they followed thews of the universe and physics. So far, no supernatural powers or extraordinary abilities existed. Even time-travelers like Yellow Finch and Millennium Stakes like Chu An Qing were subject to time-spacews. Elon Musk and Kevin Walker never exceeded human limits.
¡°This indicated if it exists, it is reasonable. If the mirror at 00:42 behaves strangely, connecting with another space, it means it¡¯s allowed by the universe¡¯sws. If it¡¯s within thews, it can be exined by rules and principles.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin, thinking deeply about this matter. Mirror, space, crossing, pration¡ Suddenly, he remembered a concept proposed by Liu Feng¡ª
¡°Time-space cracks!¡±
During a discussion at Donghai University¡¯sb about how time-space particles traveled from another space to this one, Liu Feng mentioned that time-spaces might not bepletely separate and could have some unknown cracks. These cracks allowed time-travel. Not only could humans with certain technology cross spaces, but time-space particles could drift through cracks, bing foreign entities in this space.
So, in broader reasoning, if humans and time-space particles could pass through cracks, why couldn¡¯t his arm or the Genius Club invitation? In an instant, Lin Xian felt enlightened. The concept of time-space cracks was abstract. Neither he nor Liu Feng could clearly define what a time-space crack looked like, where it was, or under what circumstances it could be found. Because of its straightforward andmon description, they called the pathway for crossing time-space ¡°time-space cracks.¡±
But obviously, time-space cracks weren¡¯t literal cracks or openings. They existed in ways beyond description and understanding. Like¡ The mirror at 00:42 that scared him just now.
¡°Time-space cracks.¡± Lin Xian muttered the concept. ¡°Maybe the existence and appearance of time-space cracks are rted to the special time of 00:42. Thinking this way, the earlier event at 00:42 in the mirror, if linked to time-space cracks, bes easier to exin.¡±
Thinking this, Lin Xian let out a breath. Fortunately, the earlier supernatural event could be exined, albeit roughly, by the time-space crack theory. Regardless of the theory¡¯s uracy, it proved the situation wasn¡¯t some scary ghost story.
Human cognition is strange in this way. Space travel, extreme sports, life-or-death battles, and fighting enemies¡ many people aren¡¯t afraid of these. But supernatural things, no matter the era or ce, seem to scare everyone with their tales.
¡°Forget it, don¡¯t think about it for now.¡± As long as he confirmed being in a materialist world, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t as frightened and epted the time-space crack theory.
¡°Let¡¯s check the invitation. This one was handpicked by Yellow Finch¡ nearly 100% real.¡± He looked down. At the red invitation lying face-up on the sink, he reached out to pick it up.
It felt different from the fake one. The touch was exquisite and luxurious, the edges plush, veryfortable. It was also slightly heavier than the fake one.
Lin Xian flipped the invitation, looking at the front. First to catch his eye was the familiar, many-times-seen fire wax seal with the Genius Club¡¯s emblem and name. This wax seal seemed thicker and darker than the fake one and the one Elon Musk gave him, perhaps due to lighting?
Probably not, as the bathroom light was bright. Maybe because this was genuine, Yellow Finch and Elon Musk¡¯s wax seals seemed like handmade crafts, not as refined, ssical, and aged as this one.
Lin Xian pinched the wax seal, lifted it, and opened the eagerly awaited invitation. ¡°Ah¡¡± He sighed, feeling a sense of ceremony and weight.
He flipped the pages fully open, looking at the contents. ¡°Huh?¡± He blinked, disbelieving. ¡°nk?¡±
He checked the side, confirming only this bare page. But why was there not a single word, symbol, or design? He adjusted angles, looking closely. Still nothing.
The invitation card was high-end and delicate, with shallow decorative patterns, beautiful and grand. However, a normal invitation should at least include the invitee¡¯s name, greetings, event details, and the time and ce, right?
Giving him a nk invitation, what did it mean? Even if it was anonymous, whoever got it should at least have the event time and ce.
¡°Did they miss printing? Are these geniuses reliable?¡± Lin Xian was speechless. What was this? After sending an invitation, was there a need to be cryptic?
¡°They shouldn¡¯t be this endless.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. Suddenly, he thought¡
His invitation came from the mirror version of himself. How did other Genius Club members get theirs? Also through mirrors? Delivered by future selves through mirrors?
Considering the Genius Club¡¯s mystery and time-space connection, this wasn¡¯t impossible. Lin Xian firmly believed Genius Club invitations weren¡¯t easy to get and wouldn¡¯t be sent like regr invitations via mail or special delivery. That would be too low and not fit the Genius Club¡¯s name.
But now, Lin Xian felt that using mirrors and future selves to deliver invitations was too advanced!
¡°Very genius.¡± Lin Xian acknowledged. ¡°But also very abstract. Every Genius Club member must have a strong heart; otherwise, they¡¯d be scared to death by the mirror event.¡±
However, this was his baseless guess. Perhaps each member¡¯s way of getting the invitation varied; maybe only he was special; or maybe Yellow Finch cheated to get it for him, hence the strange delivery.
Lin Xian knew. Compared to Yellow Finch, Copernicus, Elon Musk, Kevin Walker, he wasn¡¯t qualified to join the Genius Club or get the invitation. He wasn¡¯t a genius. He hadn¡¯t done anything extraordinary. At 25, he didn¡¯t have Yellow Finch¡¯s leadership, Elon Musk¡¯s wealth and intellect, Kevin Walker¡¯s ahead-of-time vision, or Copernicus¡¯s mysterious mastery.
Compared to true geniuses, Lin Xian felt inadequate. ¡°It¡¯s possible this invitation was a cheat by Yellow Finch, hence the stealthy delivery¡¡±
This question needed Yellow Finch¡¯s answer. Now, he needed to find the hidden information on the invitation. Without the event time and ce, this invitation was just paper.
He closed the invitation. Only then did he notice the oddity of the wax seal. ¡°Something¡¯s hidden inside!¡±
When flipping the page, the wax seal, attached to the fold, stood up, catching the overhead light. Lin Xian noticed a ck object inside the reddish wax. No wonder the seal was so thick and slightlyrger.
Lin Xian carefully twisted the wax seal off. Holding it up. Against the light. ¡°Indeed.¡±
He squinted. Inside the red wax, a ck object, round and thin, but unclear due to the opaque wax mixture. ¡°Better break it open.¡±
Lin Xian already had three wax seals with the Genius Club¡¯s emblem, not rare anymore. He even replicated one, so no need to hesitate. He took a small screwdriver, carefully prying the wax seal. Slowly, cautiously, not to damage the inside.
After a few minutes, Lin Xian finally removed the outer wax, revealing the hidden item. A bright gold badge, round, slightlyrger than a coin, like those worn on suitpels, with a small pin on the back.
¡°This is the true invitation, the token, the symbol of identity?¡± Lin Xian examined the golden badge. Heavier than expected, likely gold but not pure. Pure gold was too soft and easily deformed, rarely used for such delicate items.
So, this was likely an alloy with a high gold ratio, giving it weight. Both sides were evenly bright gold. On the front, unsurprisingly, was the Genius Club emblem. A hand pointing straight to the sky with the index finger. Below the wrist, ¡°Genius Club¡± was engraved in English.
¡°I see¡¡± Lin Xian held the golden badge. His guess was right; this was the real invitation. That¡¯s why Elon Musk gave him a fake wax seal. If he gave this badge, Elon Musk couldn¡¯t attend the Genius Club meeting.
But now, a new problem arose. A simple gold badge, what did it prove? This delicate craftsmanship wasn¡¯t hard to replicate, and it raised another issue¡ªWhere¡¯s the meeting time? The location? How did they meet and hold meetings?
Lin Xian clenched the golden badge, sat on the raised stool, and began to think about the overlooked details. Firstly, as he thought, this golden badge wasn¡¯t just a decoration. It was too easily forged. Using it as a Genius Club member¡¯s symbol was too crude, not genius.
Secondly, he considered if the badge contained electronicponents? But the badge¡¯s thickness couldn¡¯t hold a button battery, even the smallest.
Lastly, he checked many times, finding no hiddenpartments or information on the badge. So, was there a way. No power supply, no alteration, yet storing information and allowing the invitee to read it?
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°NFC.¡± He thought ofmunity ess cards, ID cards, university meal cards, and Donghai City¡¯s transport cards!
These cards had no batteries. Yet they were NFC devices, reading signals through maic fields, inducing voltage and current for data transfer. This was electromaic induction coupling, widely used.
ess cards, IDs, meal cards, bank cards, transport cards, membership cards, even Nintendo¡¯s Amiibo used NFC to store data and transfer information.
¡°So, this golden badge might be a small NFC device! Just near an NFC reader, it can transmit internal information!¡± Lin Xian took out his phone. Most phones now supported NFC for cards, even simting NFC signals, not advanced tech.
Of course, phone NFC simtors could only mimic simple, unencrypted signals like ess cards. Encrypted meal cards, bank cards, IDs such signals couldn¡¯t be easily simted, the higher the encryption, the harder to crack and copy.
He brought the golden badge near his phone. Beep beep. The phone beeped, recognizing the NFC signal, the browser app opened, and the webpage began loading.
¡°Guessed right.¡± Lin Xian smiled. Though not a hard puzzle, nothing to boast about, he took a step closer to attending the Genius Club meeting. The phone screen showed the webpage still loading, its final destination unknown.
Lin Xian wondered. If VV were around, could it track these webpage signals to find the Genius Club¡¯s base? Theoretically, yes. But¡
Considering Kevin Walker, the world¡¯s best hacker, even an evolved VV couldn¡¯t trace Kevin Walker¡¯s address and identity.
So, if this NFC system andwork logic were designed by Kevin Walker, it would be tough for a damaged VV to find the server source quickly.
Ultimately, Kevin Walker¡¯s genius was overwhelming. A super AI from 600 yearster, and he could still fend it off, an unimaginable feat.
But Lin Xian now wasn¡¯t concerned with the Genius Club¡¯s base. These thoughts were for after VV¡¯s revival. His primary goal was to attend the Genius Club meeting, face the geniuses.
Gather intel, find clues, and ultimately¡ defeat Kevin Walker, Elon Musk, and the mysterious old man from the fourth dream. All enemies would enter his sight.
Once he resolved the immediate crisis, ensuring no threat to VV, he would revive VV. His old friend¡¯s return would multiply his strength. Then, whatever the Genius Club¡¯s nature and stance, he had to be strong enough to confront them. Because his ultimate goal was to save Chu An Qing!
A promise made was a promise kept. Having promised Chu Shan He to bring Chu An Qing home. He would face whoever stood in his way. Be it the Genius Club, time-spacews, or greater foes beyond. He would fight to bring Chu An Qing back!
Finally, after several minutes of loading, the webpage content appeared. It was a simple, minimalist site, reminiscent of 1980s BBS forums. A pure ck interface with a single line of white text in the center: ¡°Please enter any time-space coordinates.¡±
This was a question. Below the question was a white rectangr text box for the answer, with a grey confirmation button on the right. This was¡ An exam?
Lin Xian looked up, seeing a 1/3 mark on the webpage. This likely meant there were three questions, and this was the first. Correctly answering it would lead to the second. Below the answer box, a line of small white text read: ¡°Geniuses never make mistakes, so you only have one chance.¡±
¡.
Lin Xian stared at the page. He roughly understood the process of joining the Genius Club. The invitation was just an entry pass. To truly join this mysterious organization, he had to pass three exam questions. Perhaps, after answering all three correctly, he would be formally invited to join the Genius Club, learn the meeting time and ce, the club rules, and meet the geniuses.
¡°The threshold is so high.¡± Lin Xian was now 80% sure his invitation was a cheat by Yellow Finch. The first question: ¡°Please enter any time-space coordinates.¡±
What kind of question was this? What were time-space coordinates? Why ask this question? And only one chance. It seemed a wrong answer would forever bar him from the Genius Club.
¡°Time-space coordinates.¡± Lin Xian muttered the new term. He didn¡¯t understand. But it confirmed his earlier guess. The Genius Club was indeed rted to time-space. Perhaps they had mastered time-space maniption, hence the arrogant question to a potential member.
Linking his invitation¡¯s eerie delivery, time-space cracks, and 00:42 events, Lin Xian felt the Genius Club¡¯s power far exceeded his imagination. They understood time-space coordinates. Sending an invitation through the mirror and time-space cracks might be routine.
Lin Xian closed the webpage. He wouldn¡¯t waste this only chance, his only hope of joining the Genius Club. With one try, he wouldn¡¯t risk it without fully understanding time-space coordinates.
¡°I need a professional¡¯s help.¡± Lin Xian held the golden badge, murmuring.
¡.
The next day, Donghai University, Rhine Joint Laboratory. ¡°Liu Feng, what do you think time-space coordinates are?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t mention the Genius Club invitation or the mirror event, directly asking about time-space coordinates. ¡°Do different time-spaces have unique numbers?¡±
Liu Feng thought for a moment, shaking his head. ¡°Probably not. People in different time-spaces have no interaction, no way tomunicate. Each time-space sees itself as the primary, the original timeline, so how would they number them? There¡¯s no baseline.¡±
He grabbed chalk, drawing rays from a small point on the board. ¡°In worldline theory, each different choice at a node creates different worldlines, leading to different futures, forming different possibilities. In this theory, the original worldline is called the alpha worldline.¡±
¡°If the alpha worldline shifts due to some action, creating a second possible future, it¡¯s called the beta worldline.¡±
¡°Simrly, the third possible future is the gamma worldline; if more possible futures arise, they¡¯re delta worldlines.¡±
¡°These four Greek letters, alpha, beta, gamma, delta, just distinguish worldlines. If you prefer simplicity, you could call them first, second, third, zero worldlines, etc.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He understood without Liu Feng¡¯s exnation. He named his different dream worlds simrly. First dream, second dream, third dream, fourth dream, consistent with worldline theory.
¡°So, you think these alphas, betas, or first, second are time-space coordinates?¡±
¡°No, no.¡± Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s too simple, these are subjective names, not universal. Think, what are coordinates? Liketitude and longitude, each coordinate point is unique. For example, Donghai City¡¯s coordinates are 31 degrees northtitude and 121 degrees east longitude.¡±
¡°These are Donghai City¡¯s coordinates, unique on Earth. Mentioning these coordinates, only Donghai City fits. Such uniqueness defines coordinates.¡±
¡°So, if we describe time-space coordinates, their form should be liketitude and longitude. Unique, precise, mentioning them locates a specific time-space without dispute or deviation.¡±
¡°I thought so too,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°But how do we find a time-space coordinate? Any one will do. Liketitude and longitude, any within range exists on Earth.¡±
¡°Indeed.¡± Liu Feng agreed. ¡°If you want any time-space coordinate, you need the rules and ranges. Knowing the rules, any coordinate is valid, liketitude and longitude.¡±
¡°For instance, if I randomly say 22 degrees southtitude, 43 degrees west longitude, which country or city is it? Do you know, Lin Xian?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it exists on Earth.¡±
Liu Feng grabbed a globe, spinning it half a turn, pointing to South America. ¡°Found it, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.¡±
¡°So now you understand? If your goal is to describe any time-space coordinate, you need the definition, rules, and range.¡±
¡°I get that, no need to lecture.¡± Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°So, what do we do? How do we find the definition rules for time-space coordinates?¡±
Hmm~ Liu Feng gave a sly smile, returning to the bench, patting the time-space clock still showing 0.0000000. ¡°I think this time-space clock might help!¡±
¡°Its function is to measure time-space curvature, like eachtitude and longitude corresponding to a unique Earth location. Each time-space curvature might correspond to a specific time-space!¡±
¡.
Lin Xian turned, looking at the time-space clock he hadn¡¯t favored. ¡°Your exnation isn¡¯t rigorous. If any seven-digit number after the decimal represents a time-space coordinate, we could randomly pick one like 0.1234567? Is that a time-space coordinate?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°Maybe, maybe not. We don¡¯t know the rules or ranges for time-space curvature.¡±
¡°But I think using time-space curvature to calcte and analyze coordinates is a good approach. So, are you in a hurry? If not, wait for the time-space clock to change.¡±
Lin Xian stared at Liu Feng.
How to put it? Urgency was there, he eagerly wanted to answer the Genius Club¡¯s questions and attend the meeting. But this couldn¡¯t be rushed. One chance, it had to be wless.
¡°Any other methods?¡± Lin Xian pondered. ¡°Can¡¯t bother Yellow Finch again?¡±
Solving the puzzle needed Yellow Finch¡¯s hint; maybe she could hint about time-space coordinates. However, remembering Yellow Finch being choked by invisible force, hurt by time-spacews, her body turning transparent in pain.
¡°Forget it, Liu Feng, we¡¯ll solve this ourselves.¡± Lin Xian looked up. ¡°We can¡¯t bother Yellow Finch.¡±
¡°Ah, Yellow Finch¡ª¡± Liu Feng¡¯s words were cut off by approaching high heels. ¡°Looking for me?¡±
Lin Xian turned. Seeing Yellow Finch, her blue earrings gleaming in the sun. She leaned naturally on the door frame, smiling. ¡°Lin Xian, long time no see.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze wasplex, looking at the time-traveler with dimmed eyes in the sunlight. ¡°Funny, every time I want to see you, you appear immediately.¡±
Yellow Finch lowered her head, smiling. ¡°The reason is obvious, Lin Xian.¡± She raised her head, tucking hair behind her ear with her right index finger. ¡°Because I¡¯ve¡ been waiting for you.¡±
Chapter 323: The Lying You
Three question marks popped up over Liu Feng¡¯s head as he nced back and forth between Lin Xian and Yellow Finch. The air between them felt thick with an ambiguous tension, almost like they were flirting.
¡°Ahem,¡± Liu Feng coughed, trying to break the awkward silence. ¡°I¡¯m, uh, going to the bathroom. You guys can continue your chat.¡±
With that, he quickly picked up his phone and headed towards the door.
Lin Xian looked at Yellow Finch, about to say something, but before he could speak, Liu Feng rushed back in, grabbed a roll of toilet paper, and dashed out again.
¡°Actually, I think I¡¯ll take a number two. It usually takes me a while, like half an hour, sometimes even an hour. Anyway, I¡¯ll be off.¡±
Bang. The door closed behind him.
Lin Xian stared at the closed door for a moment before turning back to Yellow Finch. Maybe he had imagined the earlier tension. Perhaps it was just the way the sunlight hit her eyes, making them appear dull for a moment. Now, standing in the shadows of theboratory, her pupils seemed bright again.
¡°I received an invitation to the Genius Club,¡± Lin Xian said softly. He had meant to ask why she was here, but Liu Feng¡¯s interruption made him skip straight to the point.Yellow Finch smiled and walked to the center of theb, gently stroking the space-time clock Liu Feng had left on the workbench. ¡°Being a hindsight hero is pointless. No normal person would stare at a mirror for 24 hours. Getting the invitation now isn¡¯t toote.¡±
¡°Or rather,¡± she continued, ¡°even if you got it earlier, it wouldn¡¯t have helped much. The invitation is only the first step. If you can¡¯t answer the three questions correctly, you still can¡¯t join the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Life is like that. You never know if you¡¯re making the right steps or when to persist or give up. Like I told you before, Lin Xian, if you think it¡¯s right, do it. If you¡¯re wrong, be wrong to the end. Being hesitant is the worst.¡±
Lin Xian unzipped his sports jacket, revealing a sweatshirt underneath. Pinned to his chest was the Genius Club¡¯s golden badge. He pointed to the badge for Yellow Finch to see.
¡°I¡¯m curious if I got this invitation through legitimate means or if there was some cheating involved. From my understanding, those who receive the invitation should easily answer the three questions, not be clueless like me.¡±
Yellow Finch blinked her blue eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right about that. Anyone who gets an invitation can answer the three questions. It¡¯s a cause-and-effect rtionship. As for the origin of your invitation¡ you probably have some idea yourself, but don¡¯t ask me. I can¡¯t tell you.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, zipping up his jacket without further questions. ¡°I¡¯ll find the answer myself.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled meaningfully, staying silent. Lin Xian then remembered his initial question and looked up at her. ¡°From what Liu Feng said before being interrupted, have you been here before? Were you looking for me?¡±
Yellow Finch nodded. ¡°I wanted to invite you to Copenhagen.¡±
¡°Copenhagen?¡± Lin Xian repeated, recognizing the name. Copenhagen is Denmark¡¯s capital andrgest city, once rated as the world¡¯s most livable city and one of the happiest ces on Earth. Its climate is mild year-round, with summer highs around 22 degrees Celsius and winter lows just a few degrees below zero.
But Lin Xian¡¯s familiarity with the city stemmed from one of the greatest debates in the history of human science¡ªthe century debate between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. This debate, centered on quantum mechanics, involved some of the smartest scientists in history, with fierce, unresolved arguments.
Niels Bohr, founder of the Copenhagen interpretation, made significant contributions to modern quantum mechanics. Notably, even today, there¡¯s no definitive conclusion on who won this century-old debate.
In 2022, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to researchers in quantum entanglement, leading many to believe the Copenhagen interpretation won and Einstein lost. However, quantum mechanics remains argely theoretical field, with many ideas unproven by experiments. Therefore, there¡¯s no evidence Einstein was wrong.
Many schrs even believe both Einstein and the Copenhagen school were wrong. In any case, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t fully understand or learn from these debates. He just remembered Copenhagen deeply because of it.
And now, Yellow Finch specifically wanted to go to Copenhagen. Lin Xian wondered if there was some deeper meaning. He thought of the unsolved code in ¡°Sad Einstein¡± and the geniuses of the Copenhagen debate. Could Copenhagen hold some secret? Or was Yellow Finch trying to give him another hint?
However, as Lin Xian pondered the puzzle, Yellow Finchughed at his furrowed brow. ¡°Lin Xian, you don¡¯t need to think too deeply. My invitation to Copenhagen has no hidden meaning, no hints. It has nothing to do with the Genius Club, the Millennium Project, or space-time particles. I just want to visit that beautiful city.¡±
Lin Xian was surprised. This didn¡¯t seem like Yellow Finch¡¯s style. ¡°Have you been to Copenhagen before?¡± he asked.
¡°No,¡± Yellow Finch shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to see it. So¡ can you? Will youe with me?¡±
Lin Xian stared at Yellow Finch. Finally, he nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±
¡
¡°This, this doesn¡¯t seem right!¡± Liu Feng hurried back into theb after Yellow Finch left. Hearing Lin Xian recount Yellow Finch¡¯s invitation, Liu Feng looked incredulous. ¡°This isn¡¯t something Yellow Finch would do¡ It¡¯s too out of character, inviting you on a trip abroad. We know Yellow Finch well by now.¡±
¡°If it were someone like Chu An Qing, maybe. But Yellow Finch¡ unless it¡¯s a miracle, or she¡ Oh no, could it be she likes you? But that¡¯s impossible, right? How should I put it, Lin Xian¡¡±
Liu Feng frowned, thinking for a moment before speaking solemnly. ¡°I did say Yellow Finch looks at you weirdly. At first, I thought she liked you. But after spending more time with her, I realized I might have misunderstood her¡ Don¡¯t be offended, Lin Xian. Mytest impression is that Yellow Finch doesn¡¯t like you that way.¡±
¡°Her gaze isplicated. It seems like she¡¯s looking at you, but not at you. Does that make sense?¡±
¡°Do you understand yourself?¡± Lin Xian retorted. ¡°Who could understand such nonsense? Besides, I told you, don¡¯t assume every woman likes me. I¡¯m not that charming. Yellow Finch¡ how to say this, I have mixed feelings about her too.¡±
Lin Xian was honest. He knew Yellow Finch was likely Zhao Ying Jun from a future timeline. But he couldn¡¯t see them as the same person.
¡°Yellow Finch looks at you like she¡¯s looking at a son!¡± Liu Feng blurted out. ¡°Exactly, like a disappointed son!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian looked at Liu Feng, puzzled. ¡°The more you talk, the more ridiculous it sounds. Can you focus on your research instead of gossiping? You can¡¯t consider yourself an expert just because you¡¯ve dated once.¡±
¡°Forget it, forget it. I won¡¯t interfere with you two.¡± Liu Feng waved his hand. ¡°So what¡¯s your n? Didn¡¯t you agree to go to Copenhagen with her?¡±
Lin Xian was silent for a few seconds before speaking. ¡°That¡¯s because I think¡ Yellow Finch is lying.¡±
He looked at Liu Feng. ¡°Before our space shuttle mission, I asked her why she insisted on taking Chu An Qing to space, if it was because the space-time particles were targeting her. She casually denied it, saying it was just for backup, an extra hand. But we know the truth. Yellow Finch knew Chu An Qing was the key to capturing the space-time particles. Only she could see the depleted particles.¡±
¡°Of course, we understand it might be due to the ¡®forced avoidance¡¯w of space-time. So no need to dwell on it.¡±
¡°Simrly, this time Yellow Finch says it¡¯s just a sightseeing trip. But in reality? The truth is likely far moreplex. She must have a n.¡±
Liu Feng nodded thoughtfully. ¡°That makes sense¡ In that case, going to Copenhagen with her is a good idea. Yellow Finch wouldn¡¯t harm you. She might lie, but it¡¯s harmless. She definitely wouldn¡¯t harm you.¡±
¡°So you can go without worry. Yellow Finch always appears like a timely rain, bringing key hints. You¡¯re stuck on the ¡®space-time coordinates¡¯ problem, right? Maybe Yellow Finch, though saying she can¡¯t, will hint at it through her actions.¡±
¡°After all, Copenhagen is a pilgrimage site for many science enthusiasts. You might find something there.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Even if she deceives me, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
He waved at Liu Feng and left theb. ¡°I owe her too much.¡±
¡
The next day.
At Pudong Airport.
Lin Xian pushed their luggage, following the click-ck of Yellow Finch¡¯s high heels like a small follower. Yellow Finch looked rxed. Despite wearing her signature high heels and sapphire earrings, her outfit was more casual today. No professional attire. Wearingrge sunsses and a woolen hat, she truly looked like a wealthydy going on a tour.
But Lin Xian was anything but rxed¡ He didn¡¯t think this was a good time to travel or a good point for a vacation. If not for going along with Yellow Finch, he wouldn¡¯t be traveling abroad.
VV¡¯s message warned that Smiling Tiger Elon Musk was far from friendly. Kevin Walker, who knew about capturing space-time particles, had vanished after the sky battle. Who knows what he¡¯s up to?
And Copernicus, who likely knows he killed Ji Xin Shui, also shows no activity. These people, each with hidden agendas, make Lin Xian nervous¡ fearing they¡¯re nning something big.
However, he looked up at Yellow Finch, walking briskly to the boarding gate. With Yellow Finch around, he wasn¡¯t worried about safety. He was more curious about her real purpose.
The first-ss boarding had a special fast track. Yellow Finch was ahead, showing her ticket. Lin Xian nced at it.
Name: Yellow Finch.
Her name is really Yellow Finch! It made sense. This woman had the means to handle the Satellite Launch Center and the space shuttle. Getting a new ID and information should be easy, a piece of cake.
Lin Xian wanted to peek at her age on the ID. But after showing her ticket, Yellow Finch put the ID and boarding pass back into her handbag, looking at Lin Xian.
¡°It¡¯s rude to check a woman¡¯s age.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Your ID¡¯s age is probably as fake as your name.¡±
Yellow Finch chuckled. ¡°Not necessarily.¡±
She walked ahead in her high heels.
Rumble¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The familiar feeling of takeoff as the Boeing ne soared into the sky. Lin Xian had experienced this countless times, spending more time in the air than on the ground.
A direct flight from Donghai to Copenhagen took 13 hours, nearly half the globe. On the space shuttle at the first cosmic speed, it would take 40 minutes. Now, it took a long 13 hours.
Fortunately, due to the time difference, theynded in Copenhagen in the morning, with no need for adjusting to the time zone. Afternding andpleting various procedures, Lin Xian pushed their luggage out of the terminal, bathed in sunlight. They looked up at the not-so-warm sun.
¡°Where to now?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°You must have ces you want to see, right?¡±
Unexpectedly, Yellow Finch gently shook her head. ¡°I know nothing about Copenhagen. You decide where we go.¡±
This stumped Lin Xian. He thought Yellow Finch had a n, a purpose, or some important clue to give him here. Could it be¡ Was he wrong?
He chuckled, looking at Yellow Finch in her blue scarf. ¡°You don¡¯t know Copenhagen, so why do you want toe?¡±
¡°Because a man promised to bring me here. He loved Copenhagen.¡±
Yellow Finch looked at Lin Xian. ¡°But he broke his promise.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s smile froze. He closed his mouth. After a few seconds, he asked tentatively. ¡°Was it me?¡±
Yellow Finchughed. The Danish wind blew, lifting her hat¡¯s brim. ¡°Of course not. You never broke a promise.¡±
She turned back, gazing at Copenhagen¡¯s skyline. ¡°You¡¯re here, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Chapter 324: My Man
¡°Since neither of us knows where to go¡¡± Lin Xian shrugged his shoulders. ¡°How about we just wander around? We can hop on a bus, get off wherever it stops, and explore whatever attractions wee across.¡±
To be honest, he was genuinely surprised. Both he and Liu Feng had thought Yellow Finch must have had some hidden agenda foring to Copenhagen, given her usual secrecy and the temporal constraints they believed she was under. Yet, it seemed she truly just wanted to wander around aimlessly¡
Aimlessness was often the hardest thing to achieve.
Having no better option, Lin Xian had to suggest this n. Fortunately, Copenhagen was an international tourist city with a well-developed tourism industry and infrastructure. They could catch a tourist bus right from the airport, with routes thoughtfully nned to allow for spontaneous exploration, just as Lin Xian had suggested.
Lin Xian pointed to the tourist bus that had just arrived at the stop nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s take this bus. It has many stops at various attractions, so we won¡¯t have to worry about making decisions.¡±
Yellow Finch nodded. ¡°Sounds like a good idea.¡±
The bus doors closed automatically, and the vehicle set off towards the suburbs. There were not many passengers on board, with only half of the seats upied, and the traffic was light, allowing the bus to move swiftly.
Yellow Finch gazed out of the window at the rapidly receding scenery, her thoughts unclear. Perhaps she was genuinely admiring the view.Denmark¡¯s vastndscapes and sparse poption created a serene natural beauty, though few animals were visible, likely due to the prevalence ofrge-scale farming.
Lin Xian, peering over Yellow Finch¡¯s furry hat, admired the lush green hills outside the bus.
¡°My main knowledge of Copenhagenes from that famous debate between Einstein and Bohr on quantum mechanics.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware of that,¡± Yellow Finch responded softly. ¡°But that debate didn¡¯t actually take ce in Copenhagen. It was in Brussels, Belgium, during the Fifth Solvay Conference.¡±
¡°That debate gathered the world¡¯s top physicists¡ Einstein, nck, Curie, Schr?dinger, Heisenberg, Lorentz, Richardson, Born¡ all renowned geniuses.¡±
¡°Even though they argued fiercely over different views on quantum mechanics, their debates were ultimately aimed at the advancement of human civilization. That historic debate had a profoundly positive impact on the development of physics over the following century.¡±
¡°After the debate, they took a famous photograph, often referred to as the ¡®All-Star Photo¡¯ of physicists, capturing the smartest people on Earth. Even today, a hundred yearster, no other photograph has matched its significance.¡±
¡°Those people were true geniuses¡¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°In many fantasy novels, the older something is, the more powerful it is. But why does the scientificmunity also have this illusion? Many modern scientists have achievements that surpass those of the past, whetherpared horizontally or vertically.¡±
¡°Yet, whenever we talk about great scientists, we keep mentioning the same old names: Newton, Gauss, Galileo, Einstein, Edison¡ Ask who won the Nobel Prize in Physics recently, and most people wouldn¡¯t know.¡±
Yellow Finch remained silent, looking out at the scenery. She then turned to Lin Xian. ¡°I suddenly want to ask you, who is your favorite scientist?¡±
¡°Me?¡± Lin Xian hadn¡¯t really thought about it. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be a scientist. Among all the historical geniuses, who do you admire the most?¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡± Lin Xian pondered. ¡°The first name thates to mind is Einstein, probably because his name is so famous.¡±
¡°If we include geniuses from the arts as well¡ I¡¯d say I really like Da Vinci or Beethoven.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled mysteriously. ¡°Beethoven is a good choice.¡±
¡°Why not Da Vinci?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Yellow Finch just smiled and said nothing.
Just then, the bus stopped. The English announcement informed passengers that they had arrived at the Hans Christian Andersen Cemetery.
¡°Want to take a look?¡± Lin Xian pointed to the sign outside.
¡°Hans Christian Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales¡ must be the same Andersen.¡±
¡°Of course, there aren¡¯t many famous Andersens in the world.¡± Yellow Finch stood up and walked toward the door.
Lin Xian had never actually read ¡°Hans Christian Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales,¡± yet here he was, visiting Andersen¡¯s cemetery before reading his works. Most of the foreign fairy tales Lin Xian knew were not from reading fairy tale books but from hearing them from various sources. He knew that Snow White was revived by a kiss from the prince; the Little Match Girl died in the hallucination of mes; the Ugly Duckling endured humiliation to be a swan; and the Emperor¡¯s New Clothes was a satirical story whose ending he didn¡¯t remember.
Suddenly, he realized, ¡°It seems that many fairy tales don¡¯t have proper endings.¡± Everything starts and ends abruptly, with decades of time often glossed over.
Lin Xian and Yellow Finch strolled through Andersen¡¯s cemetery. It was surprisingly quiet, with no other tourists in sight. Perhaps most travelers weren¡¯t interested in graves and cemeteries.
But Lin Xian enjoyed the cultural atmosphere, wandering through Andersen¡¯s cemetery as if walking through his whimsical fairy tale world. Thinking about it¡ He and Yellow Finch made quite a fairy tale-like pair: a time traveler from the future and a dreamer who dreams of the day before an endlessly repeating apocalypse. It sounded like apelling fairy tale.
Yet, how could the weight of 600 years and fate be summed up in a fairy tale?
Eventually, they arrived at Andersen¡¯s grave. A small plot with a small tombstone, surrounded by a short ck iron fence that seemed unfit for the world¡¯s greatest fairy tale author. But in the end, life in the ground is equally modest for all.
Lin Xian lowered his head and noticed a small toy mermaid at the corner of the fence. He picked it up and examined it¡ªit was a small Disney-style mermaid.
¡°The Little Mermaid,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I learned the full story of this fairy tale in college. I used to think it was a warm story, but it turned out to be a tragedy. In the end, the little mermaid turned into sea foam for love.¡±
¡°How is that a tragedy?¡± Yellow Finch took her gaze from the tombstone and looked at the toy mermaid in Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°Not all stories have to end in mutual love and growing old together to be happy. For the little mermaid, enduring such pain and giving up years of life to be human, even if only to spend a few days with the prince, was enough.¡±
¡°If you read the fairy tale from the perspective of the prince or others, it might seem like a tragedy, regret, or pity. But from the little mermaid¡¯s perspective¡ even given the choice a thousand times, she would endure the pain and transform into a human to meet her prince.¡±
¡°Because that¡¯s the meaning of her life. Swimming in the sea for a thousand or ten thousand years cannotpare to walking on the sharp-edged shore to see her beloved prince. From a rational viewpoint, the little mermaid might seem irrationally lovestruck, but isn¡¯t love inherently blind and impulsive?¡±
¡°Without rationality, there is no love, only transactions, bnce, and distribution of benefits. Under such conditions, the little mermaid¡¯s brave spirit to love and hate passionately is even more precious.¡±
Yellow Finch took the toy mermaid from Lin Xian¡¯s hand, cleaned the dust and dirt with a handkerchief, and ced it on a nearby white ster statue. She smiled at it. ¡°You haven¡¯t read the original text of ¡®The Little Mermaid,¡¯ so you might not understand what I¡¯m saying. When the little mermaid turned into sea foam, she left with a smile, with no regrets and no sense of loss.¡±
Listening to Yellow Finch¡¯s words, Lin Xian felt there was more to her meaning. ¡°Are you suggesting the little mermaid refers to¡ª¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Yellow Finch nodded. ¡°Chu An Qing.¡±
Lin Xian was confused. How did the conversation switch topics so quickly? Weren¡¯t we talking about you?
¡°I appreciate you talking to Chu Shan He ahead of time,¡± Lin Xian continued along Yellow Finch¡¯s line of conversation. ¡°If I had to face the eager, expectant parents alone, I wouldn¡¯t have known what to say.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next spot,¡± Yellow Finch said, turning away from Andersen¡¯s grave. She tucked her hands into her coat pockets and started walking back the way they came.
Wandering aimlessly made the journey feel more rxed and carefree. They continued along the tourist bus route, visiting numerous attractions around Copenhagen: the National Gallery, Roskilde Cathedral, the Round Tower, the Gefion Fountain, the University of Copenhagen, and even the Langelinie Promenade where they saw the Little Mermaid statue.
The Daughter of the Sea truly seemed lonely.
Finally, as the sun set, casting a fiery glow over the hightitude skies, they reached thest stop of their day¡¯s journey: Amalienborg Pce.
Compared to the Forbidden City in this country, this pce seemed a bit modest. But every pce and every king¡¯s statue bore witness to an era¡¯s history.
The most famous event at Amalienborg Pce was the royal guard change at noon. The soldiers, nearly two meters tall, wore bearskin hats and old military uniforms, exuding a solemn and majestic presence.
But by the time Lin Xian and Yellow Finch arrived, it was the orange-red dusk, with the sun nearly set into the horizon, warming the earth with itsst rays.
At this hour, most attractions were closed.
They stood outside the pce gates, gazing at a towering statue of a hero on horseback. The statue was several stories high. Reading the inscription on the que, Lin Xian learned it was a statue of Frederick V, a former king of Denmark.
Engraved on the que were hisst words:
¡°I have never offended anyone, my hands are free of blood. At the end of my life, I find greatfort in this.¡±
Yellow Finch scoffed. ¡°Though I don¡¯t know much about this part of Danish history, I believe a king who can say such words was not a qualified king. If he happened to live in peaceful times, his ministers might maintain stability. But in a time of war, such a king would be a disaster for his people.¡±
Lin Xian smiled at her. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite the warrior.¡±
¡°But now I agree with you. Achieving victory without shedding any blood is a bit too naive. Now, I¡¯m prepared.¡±
¡°I also understand what you meant on the space shuttle when you said Xiang Yu wasn¡¯t a hero, but Yu Ji was. If I were Xiang Yu, I¡¯d charge out and die fighting, truly living up to the saying ¡®better to be a ghost with a hero¡¯s name than a coward in life.¡¯¡±
¡°I only want to be strong quickly, to unlock the secrets of the Universal Constant, infiltrate the Genius Club, and root out those treacherous individuals. And finally¡ bring Chu An Qing back.¡±
¡°I know it won¡¯t be easy, but saving something is never as simple as destroying it. That¡¯s why saving is more meaningful.¡±
Yellow Finch turned from the statue, her blue eyes reflecting the orange glow of the setting sun. She smiled, pleased. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that from you. It seems you¡¯ve really grown up.¡±
¡°I like people like you, Lin Xian. People love stories of saviors, but many forget that saviors weren¡¯t born that way. They start as helpless children, making mistakes, feeling fear, hesitating, wandering, and doubting¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s normal and reasonable. It takes time, sometimes a long and winding journey, to grow into a savior. But many don¡¯t realize that. They think saviors are born perfect, without any ws.¡±
¡°Just like many seek a perfect partner in marriage, not realizing that generals weren¡¯t always generals, and heroes weren¡¯t always heroes. Everyone needs time to grow from ordinary to great.¡±
Lin Xian tilted his head, looking at Yellow Finch. ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious, hope you don¡¯t mind. Have you ever been married?¡±
Yellow Finchughed, shaking her head. ¡°I can¡¯t say.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Then let me ask differently. Would you choose an excellent, great man, or an ordinary, imperfect one?¡±
The shadow of Amalienborg Pce stretched long under thest sliver of sunset, reaching the other side of the sky. Flocks of birds took flight from the pce eaves, disappearing into the dusk.
Yellow Finch slowly raised her head, her blue eyes glowing anew in the night. ¡°I would stay with him through his ordinary days, teach him to be excellent, and wait for him to mature. Then¡ I¡¯d watch him slowly be great.¡±
Chapter 325: I Have Been Here Before
In the heart of Denmark, a country often celebrated as the fairy tale kingdom due to its rich history of myths and legends, the night began to cast its veil. Amalienborg Pce, renowned for its architectural grandeur, stood solemnly beside the statue of Frederick V. Both were shrouded inyers of darkness, a sight that marked the onset of twilight.
As the surroundings became enveloped in darkness, a singr, striking light pierced through the shadows. This light did note from anymppost or window but from the intense, azure eyes of Yellow Finch. Her eyes sparkled with a brilliance that resembled shards of shattered ss, capturing flecks of light in a mesmerizing dance. They held a focused, unwavering gaze akin to a hunting owl poised in the silent night.
Yellow Finch was not a predator here, nor was she native to thesends. She was merely a visitor, a tourist who had wandered far from her usual haunts. Yet, her presence in this enchanting environment wasn¡¯t without purpose. As she stood there, her eyes locked onto the dark, mysterious expanse of the forest bordering the quaint city, a question lingered in the crisp evening air:
What exactly was she searching for in this tranquil realm of fairy tales?
After leaving Amalienborg Pce, Lin Xian and Yellow Finch had a simple meal of local cuisine before heading to their hotel to rest. Their luggage had already been transported from the airport to the hotel by a special shuttle bus, making things very convenient.
Initially, Lin Xian had nned to book the best hotel in the center of Copenhagen, but Yellow Finch pointed to a more suburban location and insisted on staying there.
¡°It¡¯s a bit out of the way,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Even though it¡¯s still Copenhagen, it¡¯s like staying in a small townpared to the city center. While the suburbs of a capital city aren¡¯t bad, the living conditions and surroundings won¡¯t be as good as the hotel I initially chose.¡±
Yellow Finch shook her head. ¡°This area will do. I don¡¯t like crowded ces. Just find a decent hotel around here.¡±Seeing her insistence, Lin Xian didn¡¯t argue further. Yellow Finch always seemed like a solitary person who didn¡¯t enjoy crowds. Did the hotel¡¯s location really matter that much? He couldn¡¯t understand but decided to go along with her choice.
So, Lin Xian booked a hotel in the western suburbs of Copenhagen. It was a decent hotel, and he reserved two suites.
Shortly after, the taxi pulled up in front of the hotel. Lin Xian paid the fare and opened the door for Yellow Finch. Stepping out of the car, Lin Xian looked around.
The architectural style and the ancient feeling of the ce reminded him of a European street from thest century. There were no high-rise buildings; everything was old and filled with the traces of time. The area had a strong sense of life, with small shops, couples strolling, and families with children.
¡°Is this¡ an old town?¡± Lin Xian asked, looking at the surroundings.
Yellow Finch shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but Copenhagen probably doesn¡¯t have any old towns. This city has been famous since the Industrial Revolution, hosting many important conferences worldwide. Unlike many cities in our country, which were just starting to urbanize when the third information revolution began globally, resulting in ipatible old towns due to rapid development.¡±
Lin Xian agreed with Yellow Finch¡¯s reasoning. He had traveled to many cities in X Country, and old towns were an unavoidable presence due to the rapid development demands of urbanization. Roads were always crowded, the widest being twones, and many small paths could only be described as sheep trails. Residential areascked underground parking, and cars parked one after another on the ground, making it a hassle whenever a vehicle in the innermost spot needed to leave, resembling a game. Markets, breakfast streets, and morning markets seemed to be standard features of these old towns.
As Yellow Finch had said, it was difficult and expensive to rejuvenate an entire old town amid rapid urban development. Demolition and resettlement wereplicated and challenging tasks. Instead, it was easier to n a new district as the center, stimting the surrounding economy¡ªa strategy that had proven effective in many X Country cities. Looking at the suburb now, it might have remained unchanged for many years¡ªold, quaint, and full of the warmth of life.
¡°It¡¯s a good ce by chance,¡± Lin Xian said, opening the hotel¡¯s door for Yellow Finch as they walked in. After checking in, they each took their room keys and headed to their rooms to rest.
The hotel wasn¡¯t big, with only six floors. The suites, spacious and well-equipped, were mostly on the sixth floor. Taking the elevator to the sixth floor, they found their rooms next to each other¡ª606 and 608.
As they opened their doors, Lin Xian looked at Yellow Finch. ¡°We walked around all day today, so let¡¯s get some good rest. We just wandered around nearby attractions today. Tomorrow, we can visit the famous museums, art galleries, and theaters in the city. If there¡¯s anywhere else you want to see, you can check online.¡±
Yellow Finch nodded, tiredly entering her room. The doors closed with two soft thuds. Lin Xian and Yellow Finch were now in adjacent suites, each preparing for bed.
Lin Xian nced at the electronic clock by the bed, which read 9:30 PM. This was Danish time. He raised his left wrist and looked at his smartwatch, which showed 3:30 AM¡ªX Country time. The time difference between the two regions was six hours, with X Country seeing the new day six hours earlier than Denmark.
¡°So¡ at this time, I probably won¡¯t dream,¡± Lin Xian yawned.
After receiving the invitation to join the Genius Club, he had specifically entered the dream the next night after parting ways with Yellow Finch in Liu Feng¡¯sb. As expected, the fourth dream remained unchanged. But that was to be expected. Receiving the Genius Club¡¯s invitation was only the beginning. He still had a long way to go before officially joining the club and forming an irreversible anchor point.
Any wrong answer to the three exam questions would result in the club rejecting him, making him the first to receive an invitation but fail the exams. The members of the Genius Club wouldugh at him. After all, Yellow Finch had said no one else had ever failed. All those who received invitations passed the exams, proving they were true geniuses and gaining entry to the club.
So, Lin Xian epted that receiving the invitation without triggering changes in the fourth dream was normal. Besides, the possibility that the fourth dream was fake, a simted world, or a film set had not been ruled out. The items were already in ce¡ªTime Bank, the aluminum alloy safe, and the secret note Chu An Qing wrote. All that was left was for him to verify them.
The current challenge was the mysterious old man blocking his path to Time Bank. He had to deal with the old man to move freely in the fourth dream. But the key question was¡ Who was this mysterious old man? Kevin Walker? Elon Musk? Or someone else, known or unknown? Regardless, the old man had the same catchphrase as Kevin Walker. Starting with Kevin Walker was the safest bet.
Lin Xian and Kevin Walker had more than one score to settle. There were many unresolved issues between them. If eliminating Kevin Walker didn¡¯t change the fourth dream, he¡¯d have to consider other suspects.
¡°Ughh¡¡± Lin Xian sighed, thinking about the situation.
Having wandered the dreams for so many years, he hadn¡¯t expected to hit a dead end. He couldn¡¯t open the safe, read the note, or verify the thousand-year-old stake with CC. It was frustrating.
When Lin Xian first received the invitation from the mirror, he had hoped to join the Genius Club directly, find Kevin Walker, and eliminate him. But now, it was unclear which n woulde first. Killing Kevin Walker was necessary to change the fourth dream. Without changing the fourth dream, the numbers on the time-space clock wouldn¡¯t change. Without those numbers, he couldn¡¯t study the time-space coordinates.
Without the specificws and values of the time-space coordinates, passing the Genius Club exams was impossible. Everything was interconnected, and he was stuck.
Lin Xian yawned again. After a full day of walking, he was exhausted¡
¡°Let¡¯s sleep first. At least I can sleep until morning.¡±
In X Country, he always woke up at 00:42 every night. But now, he didn¡¯t need to.
¡°Good night.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts proved too simple. An hourter, he woke up groggily in bed. ¡°Why is it so noisy? Where¡¯s that musicing from?¡±
He got up, put on his slippers, and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains to look outside. Sure enough! On the roof of the four-story building across the street, arge group of people were singing and dancing!
¡°What are they doing? The locals are really enthusiastic.¡±
Lin Xian squinted, trying to see more clearly. It looked like a party, but not a chaotic one. Through the window, he saw that most party-goers were older, nearing middle age, rather than young. Estimating their exact ages was hard; foreign men and women generally aged faster, often appearing much older than they were.
At this time, the party-goers had finished their barbecues and beers. Loud music red, and they danced wildly. Their dance styles were varied, matching the music¡¯s rhythm.
Lin Xian, a semi-professional dancer trained by senior and junior girls at Donghai University, watched for a while. His conclusion was: These people were just messing around; he had overestimated them. They didn¡¯t distinguish between music genres or dance styles, moving randomly regardless of the tune¡¯s nature, only adjusting their speed. Happiness and joy were the only qualities present.
¡°This isn¡¯t so bad,¡± Lin Xian mused quietly to himself, ¡°but it¡¯s definitely causing a disturbance¡¡±
Staying in a suburban hotel meant dealing with the long-established local customs and events, which Lin Xian, as an outsider, had no choice but to ept. Perhaps this noisy gathering was a regrmunity event.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of violent coughing from the adjacent room.
¡°Yellow Finch?¡± Lin Xian questioned, concern evident. He pressed his ear against the wall, trying to make out any further sounds. The coughing continued for a moment before ceasing abruptly, followed by the faint patter of footsteps and then the distinct sound of high heels clicking on the floor.
¡°Now, at this hour? And high heels? Is Yellow Finch going out?¡± Lin Xian pondered, ncing at the electronic clock which showed 10:12 PM. The streets outside were still lively, yet considering Yellow Finch¡¯s recent bout of violent coughing¡ªlikely a result of her struggle with space-time adaptation¡ªhe wondered if it was wise for her to leave her room.
Lin Xian listened intently as the door of the adjacent room opened and closed quietly, the footsteps fading not towards the elevator but in the opposite direction. Curiosity piqued, he recalled that the staircase at the end of the hallway was the only path leading to the roof since the elevator did not ess it. Could Yellow Finch be heading there instead of out into the town?
Concerned for her well-being, Lin Xian quickly dressed in his sportswear, grabbed his room key, and silently stepped out into the hallway. He moved stealthily towards the back staircase, finding the iron door slightly open, confirming his suspicions that Yellow Finch had passed this way. He pushed the door open and stepped onto the roof.
The cold spring breeze was sharp, but Lin Xian was well-prepared, his sportswear sufficient against the chill. He zipped up his jacket and proceeded towards the edge of the roof, where he spotted Yellow Finch standing alone, her figure silhouetted against the night sky, her hair blowing in the wind. Despite herrge coat and obscured features, Lin Xian could sense the distinctive aura of Zhao Ying Jun, a sign of her unique presence.
As he approached her, Yellow Finch sensed his presence but didn¡¯t turn around. Instead, she casually tossed her hair to the side and offered a faint smile. ¡°Lin Xian, can¡¯t sleep either?¡± she inquired softly.
Pointing towards the noisy party across the street, Lin Xian replied, ¡°The music is too loud. Are you¡ feeling okay?¡±
Yellow Finch shook her head slightly, her voice soft but firm. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
Lin Xian, however, noticed the dimming blue glow of her eyes¡ªa usual vibrant feature that seemed subdued under the night¡¯s shadow.
Previously, Lin Xian had observed that Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes would dim with each episode of space-time rejection she endured, followed by a period of recovery where they would regain their brightness. But tonight, under the dim streetlights and against the dark backdrop of the hotel¡¯s roof, her eyes struggled to shine, resembling a flickering light bulb nearing its end.
Yellow Finch remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on the lively crowd dancing across the street.
Eventually, Lin Xian approached, struck by the brightness of Copenhagen¡¯s moonlight. He mused that it was likely due to Denmark¡¯s hightitude and thin atmosphere, positioning it further north than any part of his homnd, X Country. asionally, one might even glimpse the northern lights from here. He joked to himself that perhaps Copenhagen was closer to the moon than Donghai City, making the moon appearrger and brighter. But he dismissed the thought as nonsense; a few thousand kilometers made little difference at the cosmic scale.
As Lin Xian stepped into Yellow Finch¡¯s shadow, the moonlight illuminated her loose hair, giving it the appearance of a delicate white gauze or ayer of frost. This was his first time seeing Yellow Finch with her hair down. Usually, she, like Zhao Ying Jun, kept her hair up, always appearing formal andposed.
Dressed for a casual stroll on the roof, Yellow Finch wore high heels and stylish clothes, her sapphire earrings catching the light. Lin Xian figured she probably let her hair down only in private, like when sleeping. She looked unexpectedly younger with her hair down, more gentle and approachable. Curious, he moved to her left side to see what had captured her attention sopletely. What was so captivating about the locals¡¯ wild party?
From this vantage point, the scene was clear. About fifty or sixty people mingled below, arge turnout for a Northern European suburb. Bottles of beer and spirits lined the roof¡¯s edge, a testament to their enthusiasm. The men and women seemed jubnt and uninhibited¡ªeither a family reunion or a close-knit friends¡¯ gathering filled with joyous vibes.
The music shifted to an exotic dance tune unfamiliar to Lin Xian. At Donghai University, he had learned only themon social dances, not the vast array of ethnic dances that the world offered. He watched as Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes followed the dancers. Was she fascinated by the exotic atmosphere? But their dancing seemed amateurish,cking any real artistic value.
Moreover, Yellow Finch wasn¡¯t one for crowds or social dancing. In fact, did she even enjoy socializing at all? Both she and Zhao Ying Jun radiated a profound solitude.
VV once described Zhao Ying Jun, saying, ¡°I can¡¯t quite exin it, but every time I see Zhao Ying Jun looking at you, I sense loneliness. She¡¯s always by herself, whether in work, life, or even during her rest periods.¡±
¡°She carries herself with such independence and confidence, unlike Chu An Qing.¡±
¡°She appears wealthy but seems to have nothing. I always thought Chu An Qing was a fragile girl needing protection, but now, I think Zhao Ying Jun is the real delicate one. Despite her mour and heroism at 25, she remains as lonely as a child.¡±
Simrly, Chu An Qing had once described Yellow Finch: ¡°Don¡¯t you see? Yellow Finch is always alone. She¡¯s like a breeze that doesn¡¯t seem to belong to this world, with no apparent ties to anywhere.¡±
¡°Her phone never rings¡ªno calls, no messages, no chats.¡±
¡°She seems capable and reliable, managing everything with ease, but that doesn¡¯t change her inherent solitude. It¡¯s like she doesn¡¯t truly belong here, without family, friends, or anyone to confide in.¡±
Lin Xian looked down at the joyful crowd below. Did Yellow Finch ever envy them? Their ability to just let loose, to enjoy their families, friends, and the simple pleasure of a lively party?
At that moment, the upbeat music halted abruptly, reced by a slow, soothing tune. Lin Xian¡¯s ears perked up as he recognized the song ¡°It¡¯s Been a Long, Long Time,¡± famously featured in the Marvel movie ¡°Captain America.¡±
Yellow Finch often greeted him with that phrase, ¡°It¡¯s been a long, long time,¡± echoing the poignant story of Captain America and Agent Peggy Carter. They had fallen in love but missed their chance for a dance before the war separated them. Captain America was frozen in time, awakening seventy yearster to find Peggy aged and at the end of her life. The relentless passage of time had robbed them of their chance to dance together, leaving only a tearful reunion and the sentiment of what might have been¡ªa simple, ¡°It¡¯s been a long, long time.¡±
Lin Xian turned to face Yellow Finch, his expression softening as he raised his right hand, palm up, in a weing gesture. ¡°Would you like to dance?¡±
Yellow Finch looked taken aback, blinking at Lin Xian with a mixture of surprise and amusement. ¡°Are you inviting me? This invitation seems quite informal.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, stepping back and bowing slightly in a more formal manner¡ªa gesture he had practiced numerous times at Donghai University, especially when inviting fellow students to dance at university events. ¡°May I have this dance, mydy?¡±
Amused by his ceremonious approach, Yellow Finch nced at the moonlit sky, perhaps seeking approval from the stars. After a brief moment, she returned her gaze to him, her eyes warmer. She extended her right hand, her fingertips lightly touching Lin Xian¡¯s palm. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it.¡±
The music from the street¡¯s loudspeaker softened, turning into a gentle melody that seemed to lull the city to sleep. The rhythm was perfect for a slow, four-step waltz.
They stood on the roof of an old building, bathed in moonlight rather than under the chandeliers of a grand ballroom. Lin Xian wore simple sportswear, and Yellow Finch was wrapped in a casual coat¡ªhardly the attire for a formal dance. Yet, none of that mattered.
As they began to dance, Lin Xian reflected on his earlier thoughts about the universal nature of art¡ªhow dance and music transcended societal boundaries, creating a pure, unfiltered form of expression. Leading Yellow Finch gently under the moon, their shadows mingling with the clouds, he felt their isted sorrows intertwining, finding sce in each other¡¯s presence.
There was no apuse, no audience, and even the music was borrowed from someone else¡¯s celebration. But none of that diminished the moment. Yellow Finch¡¯s smile, lighter than usual, confirmed that.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to ever invite someone to dance,¡± she remarked quietly.
¡°It¡¯s a first,¡± Lin Xian admitted with a chuckle, releasing her hand briefly to let her spin gracefully in her heels before pulling her back into the dance.
¡°I¡¯m not very good at it,¡± he confessed.
¡°So, have you always been invited bydies to dance? That¡¯s not very gentlemanly. You should never let ady invite you,¡± she teased, her eyes twinkling in the blue moonlight.
¡°But I invited you tonight, didn¡¯t I?¡± Lin Xian retorted with a smile, stepping closer.
¡°Isn¡¯t it strange to dance in such a ce?¡± he questioned yfully.
Yellow Finchughed softly, herughter echoing slightly in the open air as she stepped back into his hand,pleting their dance with a smooth glide. ¡°I read somewhere that no matter how embarrassing or ridiculous something is, if someone is willing to be embarrassed with you, then it isn¡¯t embarrassing. Simrly, no matter how bad something is, if someone is willing to be bad with you, then it¡¯s not truly bad.¡±
¡°You always speak in riddles,¡± Lin Xian murmured, clearly impressed.
¡°But you¡¯re a good dancer. I didn¡¯t expect you to dance to this tune¡ it¡¯s rtively new, only a few years old, yet you keep perfect time.¡±
¡°Because I watched the movie,¡± Yellow Finch revealed with a smile, referring to the familiar tune from ¡°Captain America.¡±
¡°Even though I¡¯m not a fan of superhero movies, I watched several sequels,¡± Lin Xian admitted, a bit surprised by her admission.
¡°If you don¡¯t like them, why watch? Why torture yourself?¡± he asked, puzzled.
¡°That¡¯s not the right way to look at it, Lin Xian,¡± Yellow Finch replied as they finished theirst turn. The music dwindled to its final notes and stopped abruptly, signaling the end of their dance.
Yellow Finch gently released Lin Xian¡¯s hand and took a step back. She regarded him thoughtfully, a soft smile ying on her lips. ¡°You didn¡¯t like Copenhagen, but you still came, didn¡¯t you?¡± She adjusted her coat and smoothed down her hair, preparing to leave. ¡°Thank you for dancing with me. I¡¯m very happy.¡±
¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go rest. We have many ces to visit tomorrow,¡± she suggested.
With a graceful turn, she walked towards the stairwell leading down from the rooftop. Pausing at the door, she looked back at Lin Xian. ¡°Good night, Lin Xian¡ sweet dreams.¡± Then, she disappeared into the stairwell, leaving Lin Xian alone under the vast, starry sky.
The next morning dawned just like any other day, yet it held the promise of new explorations. Lin Xian and Yellow Finch spent the day touring various cultural spots around Copenhagen, from art galleries brimming with masterpieces to historical museums showcasing the city¡¯s rich past. They even managed to catch a mesmerizing performance at the national opera house, where they absorbed the intricate beauty of ssical music and powerful vocal performances.
As evening approached, they decided to try a local restaurant that had received rave reviews online. Lin Xian found the meal surprisingly better than the previous day¡¯s, savoring each dish with a newfound appreciation for Danish cuisine. However, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that Yellow Finch seemed preupied. She picked at her food and made several trips to the restroom. Her gaze frequently wandered to the window, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Putting down his fork, Lin Xian finally addressed the elephant in the room. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± he asked, his toneced with concern.
Yellow Finch seemed to snap back from her reverie, her eyes meeting his. After a moment of silence, she spoke, ¡°I have one more ce I want to see.¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xian responded with a shrug, assuming it was just another site on their tourist map. ¡°Now?¡±
She nodded affirmatively.
Without further ado, Lin Xian wiped his mouth with a napkin and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s take a cab then. There¡¯s one right outside. By the way¡ which ce do you want to visit?¡±
Considering the size of Copenhagen, Lin Xian thought they had covered most of the major attractions. He wondered if there was a spot they had overlooked.
¡°The Little Mermaid statue,¡± Yellow Finch replied, referring to the iconic sculpture they had seen the previous day on the seaside promenade.
Lin Xian raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Yeah¡ we saw it yesterday. Do you want to see it again?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she affirmed with a gentle smile. ¡°I mentioned it back at Andersen¡¯s cemetery, remember? I¡¯ve always loved the fairy tale ¡®The Little Mermaid.¡¯ So¡ let¡¯s see the statue again. It¡¯s rare toe to Copenhagen. Wouldn¡¯t it be a pity not to take a photo?¡± She looked up at him, her blue eyes gleaming with a mixture of earnestness and excitement. ¡°When we get to the Little Mermaid statue, could you take a picture for me? At least as a keepsake, to show that¡ I¡¯ve been here.¡±
Chapter 326: The Little Mermaid
Yellow Finch¡¯s warm smile lit up as she spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a pity? We¡¯ve been in Copenhagen for so long and haven¡¯t taken a single photo.¡±
Lin Xian suddenly realized she was right. He wasn¡¯t fond of taking photos and had never developed the habit of sharing updates on social media. Consequently, his phone¡¯s camera was mostly used for practical purposes like scanning QR codes. His photo album was more of a digital filing cab, stuffed with screenshots and work documents rather than snapshots ofndscapes or moments from daily life.
Throughout their journey in Copenhagen, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t thought about capturing any memories through photographs. His mind had been preupied with Yellow Finch¡¯s mysterious actions or nning his next moves, especially figuring out how to locate Kevin Walker and resolve a lingering dilemma.
He admitted to himself that this trip to Copenhagen wasn¡¯t something he was enthusiastic about. However, Yellow Finch seemed to have a special connection to this city, though he wasn¡¯t sure what it was. Surprisingly, she hadn¡¯t taken any photos either, not even selfies, nor had she asked him to snap any.
Thinking about it now, he realized they should preserve some memories of their trip. At the very least, it would be a token of Yellow Finch¡¯s fulfillment of her wish to visit Copenhagen and see her favorite fairytale statue, ¡°The Little Mermaid.¡±
¡°Alright, since you insist,¡± Lin Xian conceded, tossing his crumpled napkin into the trash can. ¡°Going back there once more won¡¯t hurt.¡±
¡°We¡¯re not on one of those strict tours where you can¡¯t visit the same ce twice. We can go wherever we want. Shall we head out now?¡±
After settling the bill at the restaurant, they stepped outside and hailed a taxi to the Langelinie promenade. Through the taxi window¡¯s reflection, Lin Xian caught a glimpse of Yellow Finch. Her eyes were a vivid blue, shimmering with anticipation.The taxi driver, an elderly man with graying hair and a white beard, also noticed Yellow Finch¡¯s striking eyes when they got in. He was taken aback andplimented her, ¡°Miss, your eyes are the most beautiful I¡¯ve ever seen, just like the ocean!¡±
Yellow Finch responded with a gentle smile, ¡°Maybe I am the daughter of the sea.¡±
Knowing their destination was the Little Mermaid statue, the driver chuckled and gave her a thumbs-up for her witty reply.
Half an hourter, the taxi dropped them at the promenade. Lin Xian and Yellow Finch disembarked and walked to the beach where the famous statue stood.
They approached slowly, stopping about ten meters away to admire the iconic ¡°daughter of the sea¡± from the fairytale. The statue was a poignant sight. The lower part was an oval granite base about two meters in diameter, which supported the 1.5-meter-tall bronze figure of the mermaid.
The statue depicted a bronze girl with her hair neatly tied back. One hand rested on the granite base while the other touched her leg. Interestingly, despite being a mermaid, she faced the shore, not the sea, gazing thoughtfully at the distant cityscape.
The design was a poignant reminder of the original story: the mermaid who traded her fish tail for legs in pursuit of love and dreams, thus the lower half of the statue blended human and fish forms ¡ª her knees bent in a kneeling position, transitioning into a long fish tail.
¡°Andersen¡¯s ¡®The Little Mermaid¡¯ was written back in 1837, and this bronze piece was cast in 1913,¡± Yellow Finch murmured, her hands buried in her coat pockets as she stared at the statue under the night sky and the gentle waves.
¡°A beerpany owner funded the creation of this statue after being moved by the little mermaid¡¯s story during a ballet adaptation. The actress who yed the Little Mermaid in that ballet was even the model for this statue. There were heated debates about whether the mermaid should have legs or a fish tail. Ultimately, theypromised, creating this unique dual form,¡± she continued, sharing the little-known background stories that added depth to their viewing.
Lin Xian listened, his perspective on the statue shifting with each detail Yellow Finch revealed. It was nearing 10 PM. After their evening at the Copenhagen Opera House followed by dinner, the promenade at this hour was deserted except for them. The only sounds were the waves breaking softly against the shore.
The statue somehow seemed more mncholic at night, standing solitary and aloof. Although she was a mermaid, positioned less than a meter from the water on her granite perch, she was isted from the sea itself except during high tide or stormy weather. It was a poignant irony for the ¡°daughter of the sea¡± to be so distant from the waters she belonged to.
Yellow Finch then turned to Lin Xian, breaking the silence, ¡°You probably only know the ending of ¡®The Little Mermaid¡¯ from the inte or brief summaries, right? You haven¡¯t read the original story, have you?¡±
Lin Xian admitted, ¡°Yes, I only know the general plot from some clips and posts. I¡¯m aware it¡¯s a tragic story, but I can¡¯t recall the specifics. I just remember that the mermaid sacrifices herself for love and turns into sea foam. But honestly, I¡¯ve mostly forgotten it. I¡¯m not really into tragic tales, and even though you don¡¯t view it as a tragedy, to me, it¡¯s a sad story.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the problem,¡± Yellow Finch sighed, crossing her arms. ¡°You think it¡¯s a tragedy because you don¡¯t know the entire story.¡±
Lin Xian looked puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what Andersen wrote?¡±
She shook her head, her smile returning, ¡°I received ¡®Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales¡¯ as my first birthday gift from my parents. Most of the stories didn¡¯t capture my interest much. But ¡®The Little Mermaid¡¯ was different. I¡¯ve read it many times. It¡¯s a true fairytale, not overly sentimental, and it carries a meaningful love story. It might not be perfect, but when you revisit it as you grow older, you see it in a different light.¡±
She paused, looking back at the statue, ¡°Let me tell you the real ending.¡±
Yellow Finch spoke softly, recounting the story, ¡°The night before the little mermaid was to vanish at sunrise, her sisters traded their hair to the sea witch for a dagger. She had to kill the prince and let his blood touch her legs to return to being a mermaid and live for 300 years. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. She kissed his forehead, tossed the dagger into the sea, and jumped into the water, turning into foam as the sun rose. But that¡¯s not the end of the story. She did turn into foam, but she ascended into the air. She didn¡¯t die but gained eternal life. Do you know why?¡±
She looked at Lin Xian expectantly, ¡°Because she earned an immortal soul, which mermaids aren¡¯t supposed to have unless they win a human¡¯s love. Her virtues ¡ª her goodness, bravery, and resolve ¡ª earned her a ce in the heaven. She transformed into foam but evolved into a greater being, watching over the world with her eternal soul.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his understanding deepening, ¡°With that perspective, it doesn¡¯t seem so tragic.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled knowingly, gesturing towards the statue, ¡°I¡¯ll stand by the Little Mermaid, and you can take my picture from here. It¡¯ll capture both of us, preserving a memory of my visit to Copenhagen.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian agreed, readying his phone. ¡°Go ahead; I¡¯m good at taking photos.¡±
Yellow Finch hesitated, closing her eyes briefly as if deciding whether to reveal more. She took a few steps towards the statue, then paused and turned back, her blue eyes reflecting the moonlight and the sea¡¯s glimmering surface, resembling the fleeting shimmer of time-space particles.
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve lied to you more than you think,¡± she finally admitted.
Lin Xian shook his head, dismissing the significance, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°I lied. I was never a member of the Genius Club,¡± Yellow Finch confessed. ¡°I only knew some things about it. Even if you join, we won¡¯t meet there. So, when I said ¡®I¡¯ll wait for you at the Genius Club,¡¯ it was a lie.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Lin Xian responded calmly. ¡°Whether you¡¯re in the Genius Club or not, it¡¯s a path I have to explore for myself.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled, touched by his eptance, ¡°That¡¯s why so many people are drawn to you. You have a likable way about you as you mature. And one more thing, I also lied about why I wanted toe to Copenhagen. The man who promised to take me here never breaks his promises. In many ways, including this trip, I was the one who broke promises.¡±
¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian shrugged, his tone light. ¡°We¡¯re here now. Anything else?¡±
He grinned, ¡°No major lies, just gentle ones. You haven¡¯t really deceived me.¡±
¡°Actually, there is one more thing,¡± Yellow Finch confessed, her eyes twinkling mischievously. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to say it. Is that okay?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian assured her. ¡°You¡¯ve helped me a lot, and I¡¯m grateful. I often feel guilty, not knowing how to reciprocate.¡±
¡°Just take a good picture of me,¡± Yellow Finch chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she turned and walked towards the statue.
¡°This is ourst lesson,¡± she said, approaching the introspective, mncholic Little Mermaid statue.
Chapter 327: The Last Lesson
Lin Xian stood on the cobblestone path, a mere ten meters from the iconic Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen. For Yellow Finch, every step toward the mncholic statue seemed to stretch on forever, each one heavier than thest, as if she were walking through the fabric of time itself.
She paused under the dim glow of the streetmps, her gaze fixed on the bronze figure of the mermaid. After a moment of silent reflection, she turned, her eyes shimmering with an ethereal blue light as she called out to Lin Xian. He was busy fiddling with his phone, trying to capture the perfect shot from his position.
¡°Make sure to get a clear shot! A really clear one!¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s voice was filled with a mix of excitement and urgency.
Lin Xian responded with a thumbs up, his focus divided between the artistic elements of the shot and the technical aspects of nighttime photography. Knowing the pitfalls of using a sh, he adjusted his phone settings to maximize the ambient light, aiming for a perfect bnce that would illuminate Yellow Finch in her entirety without casting harsh shadows.
Click.
He captured an image, but it didn¡¯t satisfy him. Adjusting the phone to a vertical position, he tweaked the angle slightly and tried again.
¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered under his breath, pleased with the improvements.
He called out to Yellow Finch, ¡°Come back. I¡¯ve got it!¡±But Yellow Finch stayed put, her smile serene yet mysterious. ¡°Take a few more. Just in case one isn¡¯t clear enough.¡±
Lin Xian obliged, kneeling to take another photo from a low angle. This perspective would enhance Yellow Finch¡¯s stature, elongating her legs and torso, though in his eyes, she was already perfection personified.
As he focused on capturing her empowered stance, a sudden movement caught his eye through the lens¡ªa small, swift figure darted from behind the statue, charging directly at Yellow Finch.
¡°What the¡ª?¡± Lin Xian gasped, lowering his phone in disbelief.
A child? No, it was a teenage girl, about a meter and a half tall, d in a grey hoodie that obscured her face. But her eyes were unmistakable¡ªintense, bright blue, glowing with an unnatural luminosity that rivaled even Yellow Finch¡¯s vibrant gaze.
Before Lin Xian could process the situation, the girl lunged at Yellow Finch, her arm swinging a sharp knife that gleamed under the streetlights.
¡°Run!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s warning sliced through the night, but it was toote.
The knife plunged deep into Yellow Finch¡¯s back, emerging stained with blood on the other side¡ªa brutal and efficient strike.
Against the pain, Yellow Finch remained stoic, barely flinching. ¡°Quick¡ take the picture!¡±
Lin Xian, driven by a mix of fear and determination, snapped several more photos, capturing the fleeting image of the attacker. The girl withdrew her weapon and sprinted across the beach with supernatural speed, vanishing into the night.
Lin Xian was left in shock, his mind racing as he pocketed his phone and rushed to Yellow Finch¡¯s side. She was already on the ground, blood pouring from the wound in a relentless stream.
¡°I need to call for help¡ª¡± he began, fumbling for his phone again.
¡°No¡ listen to me¡¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s voice was weak but insistent. She grabbed his hand, her own stained with blood, and held it over her chest.
¡°This is¡ thest thing I can teach you¡ thest lesson¡¡±
¡°Don¡¯t talk! I¡¯m calling for help! I won¡¯t let you die!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice cracked with emotion, but Yellow Finch gently shook her head.
¡°I did this on purpose¡ This was my reason foring to Copenhagen. My time was already running out¡ I wouldn¡¯t have lived past these two days¡¡±
¡°Please¡ don¡¯t interrupt me¡ remember what I say, remember it¡ clearly!¡± Her words were punctuated by a painful cough, blood speckling her lips.
¡°There are two things you need to consider¡ First, how did I know she would appear here, and how did she find me in Copenhagen? And second¡ why did she target me specifically, and not you?¡±
¡°This is crucial. It¡¯s¡ the secondw of time-space I wanted to teach you but couldn¡¯t say¡ Have you thought of a name for it?¡±
¡°Compulsory Avoidance,¡± Lin Xian replied instantly, his voice steadying as he embraced the gravity of her final lesson.
¡°I call the phenomenon of being silenced, bing transparent, unable to speak or move,pulsory avoidance!¡±
Yellow Finch, despite the severe loss of blood, still clung to rity and determination. A faint smile graced her lips as she gave a weak nod.
¡°Good name¡¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible against the crash of the waves.
¡°But this time-spacew¡ without today¡¯s events¡ you would never fully grasp it. Thisw¡ it¡¯s your true power, your real means¡ You must¡ think it through¡ cough, cough¡¡±
As her life force waned, Yellow Finch¡¯s breaths became shallower, her body gradually losing its warmth.
¡°Yellow Finch¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice broke with emotion as he held her closer, trying futilely to ward off the inevitable with his embrace.
¡°How can I save you?¡± he pleaded, his voice a mix of desperation and helplessness.
The woman in his arms mustered a weak smile, her voice a shadow of its usual strength. ¡°You don¡¯t¡ need to save me. This is¡ my mission¡ my task.¡±
¡°If you can¡ I just want¡ to ask one thing¡¡± Her voice faded, her form bing lighter, almost ethereal.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Xian¡¡± she called out, her body now half-transparent, as light as a feather, a testament to her dwindling presence.
With trembling effort, she raised her left hand and gently caressed Lin Xian¡¯s cheek, which was numb from the cold and shock.
¡°Promise me¡ this time¡¡± Her lips moved, her breath a whisper, ¡°Don¡¯t¡ leave¡ Yu¡ Xi¡¡±
Whoosh¡ª
Whoosh¡ª
Whoosh¡ª
Like fine sand slipping through fingers, Yellow Finch¡¯s nearly transparent body disintegrated into countless tiny blue crystals. They scattered in the blink of an eye, carried away by the sea breeze, leaving no trace behind except the memory of her existence.
Lin Xian knelt on the beach, his breath heavy, his arms still outstretched as if holding onto the ghost of her presence. When he looked up at the statue of the Little Mermaid, it mirrored the sorrow he felt, its stone face wet from the sea spray, resembling tears.
The blue specks that had once been Yellow Finch had disappeared without a trace, along with the blood that had stained his clothes. Now, only the high heels at his feet and the photos on his phone remained as proof that Yellow Finch had once walked this earth, had once breathed, had once been to Copenhagen.
Taking deep breaths to steady himself, Lin Xian stood and faced the endless sea, the breeze, and the quiet beach under the bright moon.
¡°Yu Xi¡¡± He murmured the name left by Yellow Finch, feeling more lost than ever.
¡°Who is¡ Yu Xi?¡±
Meanwhile, far away in Donghai, X Country, inside a high-end vi, a different scene unfolded. A fluffy Pomeranian, named VV, erupted into frantic barking, awakening from a disturbing dream.
¡°Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun, startled from her sleep, flicked on the bedsidemp and looked down at VV who was crying uncontrobly on the floor.
¡°Did you have a nightmare, VV?¡± She tried to console the Pomeranian, stroking its fur and neck soothingly.
¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, you¡¯re awake now, it was just a dream¡¡±
VV¡¯s reactions were unusually intense tonight. In the eight years Zhao had been VV¡¯spanion, she had never seen it cry so mournfully after a nightmare.
¡°Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±
No amount offorting seemed to ease VV¡¯s distress. Zhao Ying Jun, feeling helpless, reached for her phone and yed a video she had recorded of Lin Xian¡¯s first visit. Usually, the sight and sound of Lin Xian calmed VV instantly.
¡°Here, let¡¯s watch this again.¡±
In the video, Lin Xian knelt and gently petted VV, his deep, soothing voice saying, ¡°VV¡ be good.¡±
However, this time, the usual magic of the video failed. VV continued to wail, its cries piercing the quiet of the night, its body limp and tears streaming from its tightly shut eyes.
Zhao Ying Jun frowned deeply, concerned by this uncharacteristic reaction. She picked up VV, cradling the trembling dog in her arms, trying to offerfort through her warmth and heartbeat.
¡°VV¡ what¡¯s wrong¡¡± Her voice was filled with worry as she held the distressed Pomeranian close, seeking to understand the cause of its profound sorrow.
Chapter 328: In My Name, I Give You My Surname
In a world where heroes could lift mountains and spirits could soar above the highest peaks, there once lived a legendary king named Xiang Yu of Western Chu. However, he found himself trapped and surrounded at the Battle of Gaixia, not just by shing armies, but by the overwhelming forces of Liu Bang. Facing certain defeat, Xiang Yu sang a poignant song, reflecting on his once formidable power and his current dire situation:
¡°With the strength to lift mountains and the spirit that surpasses the world,
The times are not favorable, and my horse Zhi cannot run.
If Zhi cannot run, what can I do?
Oh Yu, oh Yu, what will be of you?¡±
Thisment wasn¡¯t just about his immobilized horse, Zhi; it was a metaphor for his own predicament. Despite his legendary bravery, Xiang Yu feltpletely powerless against the unrelenting force of fate. His primary concern in these final moments was the fate of his beloved, Yu Ji. What dreadful future awaited her in a world where he could no longer protect her?
In these ruthless times, the fate of a beauty like Yu Ji after his death seemed tragically predictable. She was protected while Xiang Yu lived, but vulnerable once he was gone. Would she fall into the hands of their enemies?
The historic epic ¡°Farewell My Concubine¡± recounts this tragic scenario. Following Xiang Yu¡¯s death, Yu Ji chose to end her life, hoping her sacrifice might alleviate his burden and possibly lead to his miraculous escape from the encirclement. However, overwhelmed by defeat and grief, Xiang Yu also took his life by the Wu River, marking a heroic yet heartbreaking end.Some spected that he could not bear the shame of returning to his homnd in Jiangdong as a defeated king. Others believed he could not live without Yu Ji, who had said, ¡°My lord¡¯s spirit is exhausted, how can your humble servant live on?¡±
Such is the ambiguity of history, often written by the victors, leaving the truth hidden in shadows.
Meanwhile, in a modern setting by the shallow sea near Copenhagen, another figure vanished¡ªYellow Finch.
Lin Xian stood there, looking out over the dark, turbulent waters, reflecting on Yellow Finch¡¯sst plea, which felt almost like a prayer: ¡°never leave Yu Ji.¡±
But who was Yu Ji, really?
For a long time, Lin Xianpared Yellow Finch to Yu Ji from ¡°Farewell My Concubine.¡± However, when Chu An Qing bravely jumped from 20,000 meters to secure space-time particles for him, Lin Xian began to view her as the real-life embodiment of Yu Ji¡¯s courage.
Then, in a sudden burst of light, another had disappeared¡ªright from his arms. If this sea was his Wu River, the barrier he could not cross, then wasn¡¯t Yellow Finch, the woman who sacrificed everything, the real Yu Ji?
Both were now gone.
¡°Never leave Yu Ji¡¡±
What did it truly mean?
Yu Ji wasn¡¯t just a name; it seemed to be a term of endearment, perhaps a final metaphor left by Yellow Finch, woven into theplexities of space-time dynamics.
Lin Xian pondered his rtionships. Of the women in his life, only Zhao Ying Jun remained close. Yellow Finch¡¯s clues had always been straightforward:
¨C She warned him the invitation was a trap;
¨C She initiated their cat and mouse game;
¨C She led him directly to Zheng Cheng He, which he had misunderstood;
¨C She urged him to look more in the mirror, unveiling the direct nature of her clues.
Lin Xian concluded that Yellow Finch¡¯s final words, ¡°don¡¯t leave Yu Ji,¡± were likely quite literal. The expression on her face when she mentioned Yu Ji was filled with longing and despair.
For Yellow Finch, Yu Ji held deep significance.
As Lin Xian turned to gaze at a little mermaid statue in the distance, he clenched his fist, resolved.
Yellow Finch had entrusted him with a mission, and he was determined not to fail her. He would discover the true identity of Yu Ji and honor Yellow Finch¡¯s plea:
¡°Absolutely never leave her.¡±
By doing so, he hoped to fulfill Yellow Finch¡¯sst wish, allowing her journey through space and time to end without regrets.
Lin Xian found himself deep in thought, pondering over Yellow Finch¡¯s disappearance.
¡°When someone like Yellow Finch vanishes into blue stardust¡ what state is she in, and where does she go?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
Optimistically, he mused, ¡°Could it be that she has ended her lonely space-time journey and returned to her original world? Even if that world was terrible because they couldn¡¯t capture this space-time particle, it was still her home, her destination.¡±
If that were the case, Lin Xian would truly be happy for Yellow Finch. She would finally be free from the constraints of space-time sticity, the torment of space-time repulsion, and the chokehold of forced avoidance. She would be free to say and do whatever she wanted, just like an ordinary person.
But was it really that simple? Was there truly such a happy ending? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. He could only hope that the recent events had made him grow and be stronger. He hoped Yellow Finch¡¯s disappearance would be thest time a friend left this world. He would do everything in his power to prevent it from happening again.
¡°So, what is the best way to repay Yellow Finch?¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°Apart from following her advice to find Yu Ji and never leaving her, I need to quickly understand the two crucial questions Yellow Finch left me:
How did Yellow Finch know that the time-space assassin, the girl killer, was hiding behind the little mermaid statue? And even when we went all the way to Copenhagen, how did that time-space assassin still urately find Yellow Finch?
Why did the time-space assassin, after killing Yellow Finch, run away without even looking at me, showing no interest or killing intent towards me? Yellow Finch clearly stated that this was something she intentionally did in herst moments to make me understand the seventh time-space rule¡ªforced avoidance.¡±
First, let¡¯s consider the first question. This shouldn¡¯t be hard to guess because Yellow Finch¡¯s hints were quite obvious.
If it were just about the time-space assassin being able to find Yellow Finch urately, it wouldn¡¯t exin much. Maybe the enemy¡¯s surveince methods were really good, and even if Lin Xian and Yellow Finch ran to the ends of the earth, they could still be monitored.
VV could do it, and Lin Xian believed Kevin Walker could too if he wanted to. Even less capable hackers might be able to do it by hacking into Denmark¡¯s road monitoring system or simr systems.
But now, they were in Denmark, standing in Copenhagen. Here, they were not protected by X Country¡¯s Sk system and the Great Wall of Network Security, so it wasn¡¯t surprising to be monitored.
However, this was Yellow Finch¡¯s brilliance. She knew this answer was wrong. The enemy did not find them in Copenhagen through surveince and hacking methods. She knew what answers were wrong and what answers were correct, but because of space-time repulsion and forced avoidance, she couldn¡¯t say it out loud. She could only hint and guide Lin Xian to think and understand the real answer.
The real answer was very simple. The key was not how the time-space assassin found Yellow Finch, but how Yellow Finch urately knew the time-space assassin¡¯s position.
In the past few days, Lin Xian and Yellow Finch were together all the time, traveling every day. Yellow Finch had no high-tech methods to lock onto someone like the Sk system. This shows that she discovered the time-space assassin entirely by intuition and feeling.
This sounded mysterious, but some things linked these clues together for Lin Xian.
First, there was the matter of the strange space-time particle. The space-time particle was unaffected by external forces and gravity but could chase after Earth unerringly in space. The only reason was that something on Earth was attracting the space-time particle. Or, it could be said that something on Earth and the space-time particle were mutually attracting each other.
Mutual attraction! This was the real key! If Earth had another hidden space-time particle, then the one they just captured must be mutually attracting, approaching, and sensing each other.
In many fields of physics and chemistry, there are simr phenomena: like poles attract, simr things blend, indicating that simr things can attract, merge, and sense each other to a certain extent.
Understanding this principle, it wasn¡¯t hard to exin Yellow Finch and the time-space assassin¡¯s situation. After arriving at the shallow sea beach, Yellow Finch repeatedly told Lin Xian to take clear photos, to take more, and to take them clearly. Lin Xian didn¡¯t understand at the time what Yellow Finch was waiting for. She was waiting for the time-space assassin hiding behind the reef to make a move.
Yellow Finch knew the little girl was hiding there. She knew the little girl came to kill her. She could sense it; she had sensed it long ago. Simrly, because both were time-space travelers with blue eyes, they were essentially the same. Naturally, the time-space assassin girl could also sense Yellow Finch¡¯s position.
Thus, it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce¡ª
¡°Blue-eyed time-space travelers can sense each other¡¯s presence, direction, and distance to a certain extent. This sensing seems quite urate; otherwise, the time-space assassin wouldn¡¯t have found Yellow Finch in Copenhagen in just two days.¡±
Though the exact mechanics of this sensing, its range, and uracy were unclear, they could indeed sense each other. This was the first concept Yellow Finch wanted to teach him in her final lesson.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t yet fathom how this concept would help him. However, it seemed like valuable tactical information for future battles and useful for multiple analyses.
¡°Record this hypothesis first. Many times, Yellow Finch¡¯s every word, everything she taught me, was useful,¡± Lin Xian reminded himself.
With the first question resolved, he turned his attention to the second.
Now, let¡¯s consider the second question Yellow Finch left behind.
¡°Why did the time-space assassin kill Yellow Finch but not me? Yellow Finch herself said her time was running out and she was heavily restricted by space-time rules. In this case, killing her didn¡¯t make much sense. Even if ignored, she wouldn¡¯t change history or affect the future and, at most, she¡¯d disappear naturally in a few days.¡±
Lin Xian mulled over these thoughts. ¡°Why would the time-space assassin bother to kill Yellow Finch? This didn¡¯t seem wise. If they just waited two days, Yellow Finch would die naturally. Why expose the assassin to me?¡±
He recalled Yellow Finch¡¯s words, ¡°If the enemy was really after me, the assassin would¡¯ve killed me, solving the problem at its root. So why show no interest or intent to kill me? Everyone knows the consequences of half measures¡ killing Yellow Finch only angers me. What does the enemy gain?¡±
This thought, although outside Yellow Finch¡¯s hints, still puzzled Lin Xian. She had said her time was short, and she couldn¡¯t speak or write freely, often bound by space-time rules. Even if there was a necessity to kill her, waiting two more days for Yellow Finch to die naturally would have been a minor inconvenience. This was an unwise move. Behind this action seemed to be deeper secrets, ns, schemes, and purposes, beyond current understanding. But on the surface, as Yellow Finch hinted, Lin Xian could still grasp it.
Forced avoidance.
Yellow Finch explicitly stated before disappearing that the time-space assassin not killing him was due to the forced avoidance time-space rule. Connecting phenomena and rules, it was easy to deduce¡ª
¡°The time-space assassin couldn¡¯t kill me due to time-space rule restrictions. Whether it¡¯s time-space sticity, repulsion, or forced avoidance, they prevent time-space travelers from altering established history or locked history. Thus, the assassin couldn¡¯t kill me, even if she wanted to!¡±
As Yellow Finch tried to exin, even a slight overstep made her transparent or nearly erased by time-space forces. In such restricted speech conditions¡ time-space travelers wanted to kill?
¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, time-space rules wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡±
Lin Xian immediately understood:
¡°The time-space assassin couldn¡¯t kill me. As Yellow Finch said, she couldn¡¯t¡ the assassin also couldn¡¯t, under time-space rule restrictions.¡±
¡°No wonder Yellow Finch could take me on a rxed tour, knowing I wasn¡¯t in danger from time-space travelers.¡±
¡°If the time-space assassin tried to kill me, time-space rules would choke her, turn her transparent, or erase her.¡±
Lin Xian believed time-space rules had such power, fair and impartial, treating all equally. No wonder Yellow Finch said many secrets, almost all codes, were hidden in time-space rules¡
Rules are the essence of time-space, the foundation of everything.
Through today¡¯s events, Lin Xian finally grasped the seventh time-space rule: Forced Avoidance.
¡°Time-space travelers cannot forcibly change established history. If their actions deviate history from its original path, triggering time-space sticity, they will be forcibly muted, stopped, erased, or made to disappear. This is called forced avoidance.¡±
¡°But¡ it seems iplete.¡±
Lin Xian felt that the exnation of forced avoidance was missing something. Because¡
Yellow Finch had once said something thought-provoking:
¡°This generally doesn¡¯t happen. In normal time-space, it absolutely won¡¯t happen.¡±
¡°Only when space-time repulsion and locked history coexist¡ does this phenomenon ur.¡±
This implied that space-time repulsion wasn¡¯t necessary for forced avoidance; locked history was. Only locked history time-space can trigger forced avoidance.
To fully grasp forced avoidance, one must first understand locked history.
Ughh¡
Lin Xian exhaled towards the dark sea. This time, he hadn¡¯t let Yellow Finch down. The two questions Yellow Finch had left were half-solved¡ as far as it could be called.
Fully understanding forced avoidance and why the time-space assassin had killed Yellow Finch despite her limited time would require more clues and thought in the future.
However, this realization also rified a long-standing mystery¡ª
VV¡¯s disappearance.
Previously, he couldn¡¯t understand how VV had died or who could kill such an advanced AI. But now, he had some insight. Just like Yellow Finch and the time-space assassin¡
If Yellow Finch could be killed by another future time-space traveler, why not VV? He hadn¡¯t considered other time-space travelers before. Reflecting now, it was sheer arrogance. If he was a time-space traveler, why couldn¡¯t others be?
Considering time-space travelers exins VV¡¯s death. A future super hacker? A more advanced future AI? A future super virus? A future cyber attack? Something from the future must have killed VV. Like Yellow Finch, VV wasn¡¯t of this era; killing these anomalies might be allowed by time-space rules.
Or maybe¡
Non-native time-space entities, those from outside, aren¡¯t protected by time-space rules.
¡°No, that¡¯s not right.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, sensing a w in his reasoning.
First, VV wasn¡¯t strictly an external entity. One, it wasn¡¯t repelled by time-space, nor did it turn blue. Two, he created VV letter by letter on hisptop, both he and theptop were native to this time-space, making VV native. Three, VV didn¡¯t die turning into blue stardust, proving it wasn¡¯t an external entity.
¡°Then why, if VV was native, wasn¡¯t it protected by time-space rules?¡±
¡°Because it¡¯s not human? Lacking a true soul and individuality?¡±
¡°Or¡ some other reason, another time-space rule I haven¡¯t grasped?¡±
Now, as Lin Xian understood more time-space rules, his insight grew. Knowledge is power, knowledge is a weapon. The more rules he grasped, the more mysteries unraveled, the clearer his thoughts became, and the better he could discern enemies¡¯ schemes and unveil hidden truths.
He finally understood Yellow Finch¡¯s earnest intentions. She had helped him in many ways, but the most important, what she saw as her true mission and task¡
¡°Teach him to understand time-space rules.¡±
That was Yellow Finch¡¯s true purpose in traveling back from that bleak future to this hopeful present. The importance of time-space rules surpasses everything.
Capturing the inactive time-space particle was a safeguard; the real guide in this space-time battle and salvation was the limitless power and potential of time-space rules!
Lin Xian withdrew his gaze from the sea and pulled out his phone from his pocket. He knew that the day¡¯s events were meticulously nned by Yellow Finch, with no step being superfluous, including taking photos.
Yellow Finch may not have cared about a photo with the little mermaid statue. Her real purpose, as she mentioned when she was stabbed, was for Lin Xian to take clear photos¡ªmany of them¡ªso he could capture the time-space assassin¡¯s appearance, know the killer, and be wary. Or perhaps, one day, avenge her.
The phone made a crisp unlocking sound, and Lin Xian tapped the top left album icon to view the photos taken earlier. The initial photos were of Yellow Finch in a big coat, hands in pockets, confidently smiling in front of the little mermaid statue. These photos turned out well; Lin Xian had used his best skills, capturing various angles and details. Unexpectedly, these were Yellow Finch¡¯sst traces in this world.
¡°I was here.¡± This was her final whisper.
After several normal tourist shots, the album shifted to dozens of frantic shots from when the time-space assassin drew the dagger until she disappeared into the night, capturing the whole scene like a slideshow. The girl¡¯s speed was incredible¡ªlike a cheetah. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t believe such a girl had Olympic-level explosiveness. But facts are facts. From the little mermaid statue to the other end of the beach, at least over a hundred meters, the girl covered it in seven or eight seconds. Though Lin Xian¡¯s time perception might have been off, her physique could rival Usain Bolt.
Normally, a girl of her height and age, with an undeveloped body, shouldn¡¯t have such strong physicality. But considering she was a future time-space traveler, anything was possible in centuries ahead. In the third dream, there were body and brain-enhancing vines; just small doses during infancy, with no side effects, could enhance brains and bodies¡ªeven make looks sculpturally handsome. From this perspective, the girl¡¯s impressive physique wasn¡¯t surprising.
Lin Xian swiped on the phone screen, zooming in on each photo, trying to see the girl¡¯s face. Overall height estimate was urate. The girl¡¯s height was around 155-160, still growing. Her body proportions were good, slender, with visible workout marks on her exposed calves. Her upper body wore an oversized grey hoodie, with the hood covering her face, obscuring details; her lower body had loose track pants, revealing muscr legs when running.
Most photos were blurred due to her speed. Finally, Lin Xian found a rtively clear shot. Though it didn¡¯t capture her full face, those bright blue eyes like bulbs shone from the hood¡¯s darkness, staring at Lin Xian¡¯s camera. Zooming in further, the beach was dimly lit, with only moonlight; the girl¡¯s hood was tightly drawn, obscuring facial features. However¡
¡°Hair is ck,¡± Lin Xian noted the ck hair peeking from the hood. Probably her sideburns? Many young girls now liked long sideburns; would this aesthetic persist in the future? Such trends are unsurprising. In middle school, his ssmates favored thick bangs and long sideburns; trends do cycle.
Finally, he reviewed all the photos. Sadly, he learned little about the time-space assassin¡ª
¨C Age fifteen or sixteen,
¨C Height 155-160,
¨C Eyes bright blue like bulbs,
¨C Hair ck, length unknown,
¡°Too vague, these features,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. Identifying or finding this girl with these traits alone was unrealistic. Unless he spotted those eyes in a crowd,paring height and hair color, recognizing her. But¡ would she reappear, giving him another chance?
ording to his previous deductions, the time-space assassin couldn¡¯t kill him, so theoretically, he wasn¡¯t her target. ¡°Anyway, better safe than sorry. Besides¡¡± He looked down at Yellow Finch¡¯s belongings on the ground: ¡°This grudge must be avenged.¡±
Even if Yellow Finch had only two days left, killing her so arrogantly before him meant this blood debt could only be repaid in kind! Lin Xian crouched, picking up and folding Yellow Finch¡¯s belongings: coat, heels, phone¡
When folding the coat, he found a card-like object in an inner pocket. This size and thickness¡ probably Yellow Finch¡¯s ID. Recalling their boarding at Pudong International Airport, he had sneaked a nce. The ID had Yellow Finch¡¯s photo, with her name. He knew the ID was fake. Though structurally and genuinely valid, it had to be for passing checkpoints. But Lin Xian knew, as a time-space traveler, Yellow Finch couldn¡¯t have a real ID. No birth certificate, no household registration¡ like emerging from thin air¡ how could she have an ID? So, the ID¡¯s information must be fake; likely created by state authorities for her.
At the checkpoint, Lin Xian remarked, ¡°Anyway, your ID¡¯s age is fake like your name.¡± But Yellow Finch just smiled, saying, ¡°That may not be.¡± Afterwards, Lin Xian didn¡¯t care. The ID¡¯s truth was irrelevant to him. Yellow Finch was Yellow Finch. No matter her era or time-space, she was Yellow Finch, unique in every world.
But now¡ Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but wonder about Yellow Finch¡¯s ¡°That may not be.¡±
Curious, Lin Xian took out Yellow Finch¡¯s ID from the coat pocket, turning it over, holding it in his palm. The right side photo was Yellow Finch. The left side name read Yellow Finch, as seen at the airport. He directly looked at the bottom line, the ID number¡ª
33012719990115¡
Lin Xian closed his eyes, feeling his heart clench¡ not continuing thest four digits.
19990115
This was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday. After the bted Disney fireworks, he would never forget Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s birthday. Unexpectedly, today at Copenhagen¡¯s shallow sea, this eternal memory deepened.
So, Yellow Finch¡¯s ¡°That may not be,¡± referred to this. The ID name was fake, but the birthdate was real. Of course, if only this, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t feel so mixed, breathless. For it was expected; he had long guessed Yellow Finch was Zhao Ying Jun from a future timeline.
What truly struck him was the first six digits of the ID number.
Zhao Ying Jun was born in the capital. Lin Xian knew capital IDs started with 110. Though the capital had many districts and counties, IDs had slight differences. But the capital ID numbers never started with 330127!
This, Lin Xian knew well.
330127.
This was the ID number for Chun¡¯an County, under Hangzhou!
Lin Xian knew this better than anyone. Because¡
Hangzhou, Chun¡¯an County¡
Was his hometown. Where he was born and raised.
Chapter 329: Zhao Ying Jun and the Young Girl
Lin Xian stood on the shore, his gaze lost in the vast expanse of the sea. He clutched Yellow Finch¡¯s identification card tightly in his hand, the numbers on it evoking memories of his hometown. These numbers mirrored his own from years back, a reminder of a shared past.
Yellow Finch, originally from the capital, had found herself needing a fake identity due to circumstances. Her true ID number waspromised and unusable. Had she and Zhao Ying Jun shared the same ID number, it would have triggered a conflict in the system, rendering both identities void. To circumvent this, Yellow Finch had subtly altered her ID number by changing one of thest digits. While the final digit, a verification number, remained unchanged, she adjusted the preceding numbers. She chose 330127, a code representing Chun¡¯an County in Hangzhou, where he was born. This choice wasn¡¯t random; it was a calcted move to maintain control over her assumed identity.
A wave of nostalgia washed over Lin Xian. In another timeline, another world, Yellow Finch must have encountered another version of him. What had their story been like? Filled with regret, unfulfilled promises, or perhaps tragedy? Lin Xian felt certain it wasn¡¯t a tale with a happy conclusion. If it had been, Yellow Finch wouldn¡¯t have borne such pain and loneliness to leave her original timeline to return to his present. She was driven by a desire to change everything, to rewrite a set history and a dire fate. Yet, the unforgivingws of time and space proved too daunting; she was too overwhelmed, too helpless. Despite this, she had exerted her utmost to guide him, teach him, and nurture his growth.
In a poignant moment at the Amalienborg Pce, in front of the statue of Frederick V, Yellow Finch had once said:
¡°I will apany him in his ordinariness, teach him excellence, wait for his maturity. Then¡ watch him slowly be great.¡±
This was the hope that Yellow Finch clung to. Lin Xian slid her ID card into his inner pocket, resolving not to dwell on what could have been. She was no longer here.
Resolutely, Lin Xian stepped into the seawater, not bothering to remove his shoes. The cold waves enveloped his feet, his pants, seeping into every pore. He made his way to the base of the Little Mermaid statue andid his hand upon its cold bronze.
¡°The little mermaid didn¡¯t die. She turned into sea foam and ascended towards the sun, gaining an immortal soul and eternal life,¡± he murmured, reciting the story Yellow Finch had once shared with him with the solemnity of a sacred text.¡°The mermaid,cking an immortal soul, could never have one unless she won the love of a mortal,¡± he continued, his voice blending with the sound of the crashing waves.
¡°You just watch from the heavens. Watch¡ a mortal slowly be great, rivaling the gods.¡±
One by one, he cast Yellow Finch¡¯s clothes into the sea, watching them float momentarily before sinking into the ocean¡¯s depths.
He had arrived with someone by his side, but now he would leave alone. Lin Xian purchased a ticket back to Donghai City, settling into the solitude of the first-ss cabin.
As he browsed through Yellow Finch¡¯s phone, he found it devoid of personal traces¡ªno WeChat, no games, no photos. She had truly been a transient figure in his life.
Stowing the phone away, Lin Xian reclined in his seat, his eyes closing as he contemted his future. The absence of Yellow Finch marked a profound shift. Growing up, he realized, was not a gradual process but a series of sudden, stark revtions. Realizing the aging of his parents, achieving something significant alone, these were the markers of true maturity.
While Yellow Finch was around, Lin Xian had relied on her guidance to navigate theplexities of his world. Now, bereft of her wisdom, he had to rely solely on his own judgment.
Eyes opening with resolve, Lin Xian began to n his next steps. The stakes were high, and his situation was fraught with chaos. To break this deadlock, he had to confront Kevin Walker.
First, in the dream world. The fourth dream had been stuck for a long time, blocking his way to obtaining information, resources, and intelligence from the future world. This made him more passive than ever. To this day, Kevin Walker was still the prime suspect in the old man¡¯s eyes. Regardless of whether he was or not, he had to start with him and try to save himself trapped in the fourth dream.
If Lin Xian was lucky, killing Kevin Walker might cause the old man to disappear, freeing him in the fourth dream. This would allow him to go to Time Bank, open the safe, and determine the reality of the dream through the note Chu An Qing left for him. If he was even luckier, killing Kevin Walker might lead directly to the fifth dream. The old man¡¯s ability to send dozens of armed soldiers to guard him day and night indicated his high status and power in the future sci-fi city. If this man disappeared early in 2024, then the dream and city 600 yearster would likely change significantly.
To resolve both old and new grudges and to verify and preserve the dream world, beginning with Kevin Walker was undoubtedly the right course of action.
Now, in the real world, Lin Xian faced two and a half distinct adversaries:
Kevin Walker, who had disrupted Lin Xian¡¯s efforts to capture space-time particles and hadmandeered an American aerospace shuttle, intending to crash it into him.
The space time assassin, responsible for Yellow Finch¡¯s death. This deep-seated grudge demanded retribution in blood.
Elon Musk, identified as the murderer of VV. While there was no direct confrontation with him and his motives remained enigmatic, he was considered half an enemy and was of lesser priority.
Resolving the deadlock in the real world also necessitated dealing with Kevin Walker first. Only by eliminating him could the dream world experience shifts in time-space, which would then disy values on the space-time clock, indicating curvature and subsequently deducing the space-time coordinates.
With these coordinates, Liu Feng could further his research on the Universal Constant 42. Additionally, possessing these coordinates would enable Lin Xian to pass the first examination of the Genius Club.
In summary, the solution to breaking the deadlock in both the real and dream worlds pointed unequivocally to Kevin Walker, a formidable enemy whom Lin Xian had yet to meet and whose whereabouts were unknown.
¡°I must eliminate Kevin Walker,¡± Lin Xian murmured as he gazed at the white clouds beyond the ne window, setting this as his primary goal for the near future. There was no room forpassion or concern about legal repercussions. Over 100 countries had issued global wanted notices for Kevin Walker, including Country X and the United States, thetter offering a bounty of 1 billion dors, dead or alive.
Given such international consensus, no country would dare harbor Kevin Walker. Having be a global pariah, not even divine intervention could save him now. His actions had crossed a line, prompting every armed organization, mercenary group, and official force worldwide to join the hunt, all eager to im the multimillion-dor bounty.
For Lin Xian, this was an opportunity not to be missed. Whether he personally eliminated Kevin Walker or orchestrated it through others, it would be advantageous for him.
¡°A new game of cat and mouse begins again,¡± Lin Xian dered, closing his eyes and leaning back, his toneced with exhaustion and a hint of self-mockery, ¡°Why did I say ¡®again¡¯¡¡±
Upon his return to Donghai City, after disembarking at Pudong International Airport, Lin Xian drove his Alphard to Rhine Lab at Donghai University to meet Liu Feng.
After briefing him on Yellow Finch¡¯s disappearance, Liu Feng responded with a sigh, ¡°This was expected,¡± indicating he had braced himself for this possibility, albeit with regret.
¡°Think about it; on the aerospace shuttle, her eyes dimmed, and her body became transparent. Given that space-time particles turn invisible when their internal energy is depleted, leaving only a shell, Yellow Finch, as a space-time traveler, was destined to fade away eventually due to space-time rejection,¡± Liu Feng exined.
Lin Xian nodded in agreement, ¡°I had a premonition but didn¡¯t expect it to happen so soon. Our understanding of space-time travelers is minimal. We know theye from the future, from different timelines, but beyond that, our knowledge is nearly nonexistent.¡±
¡°Every time Yellow Finch coughed weakly, copsed, turned transparent, or her eyes dimmed, I saw it as a sign of her impending disappearance, but I couldn¡¯t pinpoint which time would be herst. Even at her weakest, when the blue light in her eyes vanished, she would fully recover after resting,¡± Lin Xian recalled the rainy night when he first encountered Yellow Finch in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. Her eyes had been brighter then, but not as intensely as the young assassin¡¯s, whose eyes glowed like LEDs, reminiscent of exaggerated anime contact lenses.
¡°If her eyes were that bright, it would interfere with normal life, right?¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud.
¡°Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian called over to the preupied scientist, querying, ¡°What do you think the blue light in the eyes of Yellow Finch and other space-time travelers signifies? Could it be akin to the brightness of space-time particles, indicating their remaining time and energy?¡±
¡°It feels as though I¡¯m discussing robots. But the changing brightness of her eyes resembles a battery indicator,¡± Lin Xian mused, then hypothesized, ¡°If there were another space-time traveler, say Red Finch or Green Finch, and their eyes were several times brighter than Yellow Finch¡¯s, glowing like a blue light bulb, what do you think this brightness indicates?¡±
Liu Feng paused his experiment, looking up thoughtfully. ¡°Well¡¡± he pondered aloud, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to say because Yellow Finch didn¡¯t exhibit any supernatural abilities, right? She was knowledgeable and spoke in riddles but possessed no superpowers or significant energetic abilities. So, I think the eye color might simply be a time indicator.¡±
¡°Their eyes turn blue due to space-time rejection, right? I recall you mentioned that the blue eyes result from space-time instinctively rejecting such foreign entities, alerting local beings to potential danger,¡± Lin Xian reflected.
¡°When you analyzed this on the aerospace shuttle, it sounded quite fantastical, butter it seemed usible. This phenomenon exists in the animal kingdom and human gics, known as the ¡®alert amplification response.''¡±
¡°For instance, humans find the scent of cooked pork, beef, andmb appealing, but the smell of cooked human flesh is repulsive and pungent, despite these odors being simr from a scientific perspective. This repulsion is an instinctive human reaction, highly sensitive to the scent of their own kind being harmed, serving as a mechanism to sense and avoid danger. If we consider space-time¡¯s instinctive alertness, the blue glowing eyes make perfect sense!¡± Liu Feng borated, smacking his lips in amazement.
¡°Do you realize what¡¯s ingenious about this? Eyes are sensory organs that are externally visible, so there¡¯s no hiding them. You could suggest wearing sunsses or colored contacts, but that would impair vision.¡±
¡°Returning to your question, if another space-time traveler¡¯s eyes were much brighter than Yellow Finch¡¯s, even bright like a light bulb, it would mean that even with sunsses, they couldn¡¯t conceal the light. During the day, it¡¯s manageable, but at night, such bright eyes would be conspicuously noticeable and easily detectable.¡±
¡°So¡ I think if there were a space-time traveler whose eyes were very blue and bright, it might only imply one thing from space-time¡¯s instinctive reaction¡ª¡± Liu Feng turned to Lin Xian, his expression grave, ¡°It means this space-time traveler is extremely dangerous! So space-time rejection causes their eyes to be very bright, like the smell of cooked human flesh, to alert others to the danger and encourage avoidance.¡±
Lin Xian twirled a pen on theb table, watching it spin between his fingers. Liu Feng¡¯s interpretation was intriguing. He connected brightness to danger levels, suggesting that space-time rejection instinctively identified the space-time assassin as a threat, which exined her bright eyes.
This was a novel understanding.
Lin Xian had always thought it was rted to energy.
When the opportunity arose, he would thoroughly study this phenomenon to understand what the brightness of the blue eyes of space-time travelers was connected to.
¡°Knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory,¡± Lin Xian thought.
He nced at the space-time clock on the centralb table. As always, it remained quiet with eight zeros, 0.0000000.
¡°Hope it changes soon,¡± Lin Xian muttered.
¡°I hope so too,¡± Liu Feng said, spreading his hands. ¡°Only if it changes can we continue our research on the Universal Constant and space-time coordinates, leading to further breakthroughs.¡±
¡°But¡ what kind of monumental event will trigger this change?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯sing.¡±
The pen stopped spinning in his fingers. He skillfully flicked his wrist¡ª
ng.
The pen hit the inner wall of the pen holder and stood upright inside.
¡°It¡¯s reallying,¡± he said softly, his eyes narrowing as he thought of a way to eliminate Kevin Walker, maybe even directly obtaining the space-time coordinates from him.
After leaving Donghai University, Lin Xian took his Alphard car to Rhine Company. Last time, he was in a hurry, only visiting Time Bank without having time for thepany. Months of being a hands-off boss had left many things to handle.
Although Brother Wang was authorized to make majorpany decisions, Lin Xian, as the founder and owner of Rhine Company, had to sign off on many matters personally.
He had arranged to meet Brother Wang in the office this afternoon.
The driver signaled to turn right, preparing to exit the elevated highway. Rhine Company was next to MX Company. After two intersections, Lin Xian could see the twin buildings.
Below the elevated highway was a public elementary school. It was far from dismissal time, so there were no waiting parents or street vendors, just some store owners chatting at the entrance.
¡°Hmm? A bookstore?¡± Lin Xian lowered the car window, looking at the bookstores near the school gate. ¡°Pull over. I want to buy a book.¡±
After the car temporarily stopped, the driver opened the electric door, and Lin Xian got out, heading straight into the bookstore. He wanted to buy a copy of ¡°Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales¡± to make up for a childhood regret and give Andersen some credit.
And also¡
He really wanted to read the original ¡°The Little Mermaid,¡± Yellow Finch¡¯s favorite story.
In the first bookstore, he asked the owner for a copy of Andersen¡¯s fairy tales.
¡°Do you want a bilingual version?¡± the owner asked while searching the shelves.
¡°Sure, that¡¯s even better.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s English was quite good, so a bilingual version would help him grasp the essence of the original text.
The owner pulled out a thin fairy tale book and handed it to Lin Xian, causing him to look down.
¡°¡¡±
He looked at the owner. ¡°This is your bilingual version?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± the owner said sincerely, ¡°This is bilingual, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Lin Xian flipped through the book, finding ¡°The Little Mermaid¡± story. It was short, just two pages. The ending didn¡¯t mention anything about an immortal soul or eternal life, only that the mermaid turned into bubbles and flew into the sky, waving goodbye to the prince and everyone on the ground.
It was a children¡¯s book, so this adaptation was reasonable.
Lin Xian returned the book to the owner. ¡°Do you have anything more advanced? This is too childish, something for adults.¡±
¡°Who reads fairy tales as an adult?¡± the owner snorted. ¡°This is all I have. Try the other stores.¡±
After visiting the third bookstore, Lin Xian finally found an unabridged, unaltered version of Andersen¡¯s fairy tales, promising an authentic experience.
He paid for it and got back into the Alphard, heading to Rhine Company.
An hourter, Brother Wang left Lin Xian¡¯s office, carrying a stack of documents. During the past period, Lin Xian signed papers while Brother Wang handed and flipped them. They had coborated many times, working efficiently.
After Brother Wang left, Lin Xian checked the clock. It was not even 4 PM. There was still time.
The office was peaceful, so he decided to read for a while. Leaning back in his chair, he picked up the new Andersen¡¯s fairy tale book and started reading. He wasn¡¯t interested in other stories and went straight to ¡°The Little Mermaid.¡±
This thickness seemed right.
It turned out ¡°The Little Mermaid¡± was quite lengthy, like a short story, unlike the brief version in the pinyin reader. It spanned about twenty pages. He read attentively. Maybe it was the trantion, but it felt cumbersome and not smooth, with long paragraphs that tired his eyes.
But as Yellow Finch said, the real ending of ¡°The Little Mermaid¡± was better than expected, even better than the children¡¯s version. The pinyin reader omitted the concept of an immortal soul, likely because it was hard to understand, but it left out a lot, making it just a bedtime story.
¡°You, poor little mermaid, like us, have strived for that goal; you endured pain; you persevered; you have ascended to the world of spirits. Through your good deeds, in three hundred years, you will create an immortal soul for yourself,¡± Lin Xian read softly from the book.
¡°The little mermaid raised her shining arms towards the sun of God, feeling like crying for the first time. She lowered her head, smiled at the prince, then followed the other children of the air, riding on rosy clouds, ascending to heaven: ¡®In three hundred years, we can ascend to heaven!''¡±
Finished reading, Lin Xian put the fairy tale book on hisp and looked up at the ceiling.
¡°Yellow Finch was wrong.¡±
No.
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Maybe she deliberately misled me.¡±
¡°The book doesn¡¯t say the little mermaid immediately gained an immortal soul¡ she has to work hard for three hundred years to achieve it.¡±
Lin Xian smiled wryly, pondering the thin line between a fairy tale being aedy or a tragedy. Different perspectives lead to different interpretations.
¡°Three hundred years, six hundred years,¡± he whispered, contemting the passage of time. ¡°I hope we meet again.¡±
He stood up and ced ¡°Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales¡± on the corner of his desk. ¡°Even if¡ you might not be called Yellow Finch then.¡±
Knock, knock!
A sudden knock on the office door interrupted his thoughts. Could it be Brother Wang returning?
¡°Come in,¡± Lin Xian said, pressing the button to open the office door.
Click, click, click.
The first thing he saw was a pair of familiar slender legs in high heels. He looked up to see Zhao Ying Jun, wearing an off-white coat and pearl earrings, walking in with a smile.
¡°Lin Xian, long time no see.¡±
Lin Xian opened his mouth, then closed it, nodding gently. ¡°Indeed¡ several months.¡±
Click, click, click.
The high heels continued their rhythmic tapping as Zhao Ying Jun approached, her eyes fixed on Lin Xian.
¡°After the charity dinner, you were borrowed by the state for a secret mission. Now you¡¯re back¡ is it done?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°It¡¯s finished.¡±
Judging by Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s demeanor, she probably didn¡¯t know about Chu An Qing. People usually shared good news, not bad. Chu Shan He likely wouldn¡¯t publicize his daughter¡¯s mysterious disappearance.
¡°You came at the right time,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I just finished and came here to check.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked down, smiling. ¡°I ran into Brother Wang, who told me you were here, so I came to say hello.¡±
Brother Wang again? Lin Xian recalled thest time he visited this office. Zhao Ying Jun had shown up shortly after, also citing Brother Wang. Was Brother Wang a spy, reporting to Zhao Ying Jun whenever Lin Xian was around? It wouldn¡¯t be surprising. Brother Wang was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s person, and most of Rhine Company¡¯s key personnel were former MX employees. In essence, it was a sisterpany, but in reality, it was like a branch of MX.
But it didn¡¯t matter. Lin Xian didn¡¯t care about status or control as long as someone managed thepany, made money, and didn¡¯t let Time Bank copse. He only had three requirements: no losses, funds for Liu Feng¡¯s equipment, and Time Bank¡¯s stability.
¡°Mm?¡± Zhao Ying Jun, with hands in her coat pockets, looked at the ¡°Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales¡± on Lin Xian¡¯s desk. ¡°Reading fairy tales?¡±
¡°asionally,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°I like ¡®Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales¡¯ too.¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes showed nostalgia as she looked at the book¡¯s new cover. ¡°I remember the first gift I ever received¡ I was about three or four years old. Maybe I had birthday gifts before, but I can¡¯t recall those. My first memorable gift was a bilingual ¡®Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales.¡¯ My parents had high expectations, giving a little child a bilingual book¡ barely knowing our own country, how could I understand English?¡±
¡°When I actually started reading Andersen¡¯s fairy tales, I was in elementary school. The stories were good, not overly fantastical, but they opened a new world for me.¡±
She looked up, blinking at Lin Xian. ¡°Do you have a favorite story in Andersen¡¯s fairy tales?¡±
¡°¡®The Little Mermaid,¡¯ I think,¡± Lin Xian said reflexively, nodding.
¡°It¡¯s a good story. I think it¡¯s a real fairy tale, not overly sentimental, with a beginning, middle, and end, and a meaningful love story.¡±
¡°But, how to say¡ as a fairy tale, it might not be the best, but if you read it again when you¡¯re older and have experienced things, it¡¯s very touching.¡±
He wasn¡¯t sure why, but he almost reflexively repeated what Yellow Finch had said. It made sense and resonated with him. But what touched him most wasn¡¯t the story of ¡°The Little Mermaid,¡± but Yellow Finch¡¯s story and her words.
Zhao Ying Jun was stunned, eyes wide, looking at Lin Xian in disbelief. ¡°You¡ you think exactly like me. You said what I wanted to say¡ now I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±
Sheughed at their shared thoughts, habitually tucking loose hair behind her ear. ¡°Funny, really. My favorite fairy tale has always been ¡®The Little Mermaid.¡¯ Reading it several times reveals many insights, with educational and emotional depth.¡±
¡°Speaking of which¡ did you know there¡¯s a statue of the little mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark?¡±
Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, hesitating. Did he know or not? Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s silence, Zhao Ying Jun continued.
¡°I saw photos online, but I haven¡¯t been to Copenhagen. The statue is somewhat famous but not a major artwork. It¡¯s just ced on a rock by the shallow sea.¡±
She smiled warmly at Lin Xian. ¡°But since you like ¡®The Little Mermaid¡¯ so much, maybe we could visit Copenhagen on apany trip or team-building event. Let¡¯s go together and see the little mermaid.¡±
Lin Xian was momentarily lost in thought, recalling Yellow Finch¡¯s smile under the little mermaid statue in his camera. He touched his nose and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took her hands out of her coat pockets and casually flipped through Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales. ¡°It depends on your time. You always seem busy and out of sight. Oh, by the way, I actually came to ask you a favor.¡±
Lin Xian looked up. ¡°What is it? How can I help?¡±
¡°It¡¯s about VV.¡± Zhao Ying Jun put down the fairy tale book with a sigh, turning to face Lin Xian. ¡°Do you remember VV? My Pomeranian, the fluffy one you pettedst time.¡±
¡°Oh, yes. I remember.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°What happened? Is VV okay?¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed again, her expression troubled. ¡°Two nights ago, around 5 AM, VV had a nightmare. He woke up crying and couldn¡¯t beforted.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s concern grew. ¡°What did you do to calm him down?¡±
¡°In the past, when VV woke up scared, I¡¯d y a video of you petting him. It always calmed him down, like you were really there with him,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined. ¡°But this time, it didn¡¯t work. Even after watching the video, he kept crying for an hour. I almost took him to the vet, worried something was seriously wrong.¡±
¡°Did he eventually calm down?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Eventually, he cried himself to sleep, but he¡¯s been listless ever since. The vet said he¡¯s physically fine, but I¡¯m worried about his mental state. He¡¯s been lying around, not eating well or being active. I¡¯m afraid he might develop a mental illness,¡± Zhao Ying Jun admitted, her worry evident.
Lin Xian thought about the fluffy Pomeranian and asked, ¡°When exactly did he have the nightmare? Around what time?¡±
¡°About 5 AM,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied.
Lin Xian paused, thinking. ¡°5 AM our time would be 11 PM in Copenhagen, just when Yellow Finch disappeared¡¡± Could the dog have sensed something? Such a connection seemed unlikely. Only space-time travelers had such sensitivity, not a dog. Yet, VV was special. Given the history and significance of the name VV, it might be worth checking.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a try. I like VV too. When are you free at home?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Zhao Ying Jun nced at the office clock. ¡°How about tonight? Are you free?¡±
Lin Xian checked the time. ¡°I should be. No ns. How about Ie over after work? I¡¯ll change at home first, then head to your ce.¡±
¡°That sounds great,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, smiling. ¡°VV will be thrilled. I told him you¡¯de, and he¡¯s been waiting. Even though dogs seem silly, they¡¯re smart. VV must miss you.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head home to prepare and wait for you with VV. Don¡¯t eat at home; let¡¯s dine out after. I found a nice restaurant to thank you forforting VV.¡±
¡°I hope VV will beforted by me,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Who knows if he¡¯ll give me face.¡±
¡°I think he will,¡± Zhao Ying Junughed softly. ¡°VV has a lot of respect for you.¡±
After Zhao Ying Jun left, Lin Xian busied himself with work until Brother Wang came to handle some procedures. After signing off, he headed home in his Alphard.
¡°Home first. Wait for me downstairs; I¡¯ll change,¡± Lin Xian instructed the driver.
The driver nodded, closing the electric door. The Alphard drove out of the parking lot, waiting for the automatic gate to lift, then sped away.
Hidden within the shadows, a petite figure emerged from the parking lot corner, watching the Alphard leave. She pulled down her hoodie, revealing short ck hair swaying in the breeze, her ck bangs puffing up.
The girl exhaled deeply, blinking her bright eyes that glowed like ss, shining with an eerie blue light in the sunset.
Chapter 330: The Struggle with VV
Lin Xian gently closed the door of his apartment behind him, having just returned from a whirlwind trip to Copenhagen. He tossed his suitcase into a corner of the living room and headed straight to the shower, eager to wash off the remnants of his journey. The clothes he had been wearing were the same ones he¡¯d had on for thest two days, and it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to meet someone while still dressed in them.
Freshly showered and changed, Lin Xian stood before the mirror, toweling his hair dry while his thoughts wandered. The strange urrence he experienced with the mirror at precisely 00:42 had left him puzzled and intrigued. He had attempted to replicate the moment twice since then, but each time, the mirror simply reflected his movements with mundane uracy. Whatever had happened that night seemed to be a singr event, possibly orchestrated by someone¡ªperhaps Yellow Finch, or maybe even his future self¡ªas part of what he hade to think of as the ¡°Genius Club Invitation Ceremony.¡± Despite theck of further incidents, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake off the hope that it might ur again, revealing more secrets.
With a contemtive frown, Lin Xian mused aloud to his reflection, ¡°So, if I answer the Genius Club¡¯s three questions correctly and gain membership, what else might I discover? Could the mirror give me more than just an invitation?¡±
His reflection mimicked his every move as he shook his head, dismissing the flurry of thoughts. Certain of nothing but his resolve, Lin Xian knew he had to pursue this path to unravel the mysteries of the world, hoping that membership in the Genius Club would provide him with a broader perspective on time and space.
¡°Alright, time to go,¡± he dered, smoothing down his cor and switching off the bathroom light. He then made his way downstairs to where a driver awaited him in an Alfa business van.
Upon seeing Lin Xian, the driver promptly opened the rear door. ¡°To Ms. Ying Jun¡¯s ce,¡± Lin instructed as he fastened his seatbelt. The van then glided away from the apartmentplex.
Upon reaching Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s residence, Lin Xian knocked on the door.
¡°Coming~¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice floated through the door, apanied by a feeble, mournful bark that was more of a whimper.The door swung open, and Zhao Ying Jun greeted him with a warm smile. ¡°Come in, Lin Xian. We¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±
She nced down at a Pomeranian lying despondently on the floor. ¡°VV, look who¡¯s here! Lin Xian is here to see you.¡±
The dog barely lifted its head, its eyes swollen and sad. At the sight of Lin Xian, it whimpered weakly.
¡°V¡ woof¡¡± It attempted to speak, shaking slightly.
Zhao Ying Jun looked concerned. ¡°VV¡¡± she began, but Lin Xian interrupted, stepping forward and kneeling beside the dog.
¡°It¡¯s okay, let me handle it,¡± he said softly, reaching out to gently stroke VV¡¯s head. ¡°VV, what¡¯s wrong?¡±
The Pomeranian continued to whimper, struggling to express its distress.
Lin Xian looked deeply into the dog¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you sad?¡± he asked, understanding that sometimes, words were unnecessary to convey feelings.
VV seemed to grasp Lin¡¯s words, halting its whimpering and gazing back at him. A silent understanding passed between them.
Watching this exchange, Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but wonder if perhaps Lin Xian had a special connection with VV. ¡°I¡¯ll make some tea,¡± she offered, moving toward the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll brew some of the Pu¡¯er tea I recently got. You two have a chat.¡±
Settling onto a low stool, Lin Xian lifted VV onto hisp. ¡°Honestly, VV, I wish I could understand what¡¯s making you so sad. They say dogs are more sensitive to emotions than humans. Maybe you can understand me better than I can understand you.¡±
VV twitched its ears, responding with a soft, drawn-out noise as Lin Xian continued. ¡°You really are a clever dog,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know what nightmare you had, but I¡¯ve had some bad onestely too. They¡¯re awful, and I feel so helpless.¡±
He sighed, a sad look crossing his face. ¡°I used to have a friend named VV too. I thought it wasn¡¯t strong and even called itzy. We don¡¯t realize what we¡¯ve got until it¡¯s gone, right?¡±
Holding VV closer, Lin Xian¡¯s voice softened. ¡°It¡¯s not the loss of money or power that breaks us¡ªit¡¯s the loss of someone dear. Did you dream of losing a friend like that?¡±
Feeling VV tremble in his arms, Lin Xian nodded slowly. ¡°If so, I understand. I¡¯m here with you, VV.¡±
¡°But remember what a wise friend once told me: not every story needs a happy ending to be meaningful. Even if we could choose again, we wouldn¡¯t regret our decisions.¡±
Lin Xian paused, gazing into VV¡¯s understanding eyes. ¡°She taught me about courage and kindness, not just strategies. She wanted to make a leader, not just a follower.¡±
¡°A true leader isn¡¯t haunted by past failures or lost paths. They don¡¯t dwell on what¡¯s gone but look forward to what¡¯s ahead.¡±
With a smile, Lin raised his fist to VV¡¯s paw. ¡°Don¡¯t fear the challenges or the losses. Always look forward, never back.¡±
¡°VV, it¡¯s too early to give up. We¡¯ve lost friends, but we still have others to protect, and we need to stay strong for them.¡±
He reached out and gently hooked his pinky finger around VV¡¯s tiny paw. ¡°Let¡¯s make a promise, okay? Let¡¯s protect Zhao Ying Jun and this world together. We¡¯ll find our lost friends and fight against the evil forces. The three of us will be true heroes.¡±
VV¡¯s spirits seemed to lift at these words, and it let out an enthusiastic ¡°Woof!¡± as if agreeing to the pact.
Lin Xian chuckled, patting VV¡¯s head affectionately. ¡°That¡¯s a promise, buddy.¡±
Rejuvenated, VV stood up on Lin Xian¡¯sp, tail wagging energetically, a stark contrast to its previous demeanor.
Just then, the sound of high heels clicking approached, and Zhao Ying Jun re-entered the room, surprised to see the change in VV. ¡°Was that VV barking just now?¡±
VV jumped down from Lin Xian¡¯sp and positioned itself proudly in front of Zhao Ying Jun, looking up at her with a fluffed-up coat resembling a dandelion puff.
Zhao Ying Jun let out a sigh of relief and embraced VV warmly. ¡°You had me worried, VV! I¡¯m so d you¡¯re feeling better. You¡¯re much more adorable when you¡¯re lively.¡±
Turning to Lin Xian, she expressed her gratitude. ¡°Thank you so much, Lin Xian. It seems VV really needed you. What did you do? How did you manage to calm him down so quickly?¡±
Lin Xian stood, shrugging slightly. ¡°Honestly, if I knew the secret, I¡¯d tell you. I just talked to VV as if I were talking to myself, and somehow, he seemed to understand.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun stroked VV¡¯s head thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s almost as if he¡¯s enchanted,¡± she mused. ¡°He really likes you. Maybe he just missed you. Dogs have a way of loving unconditionally, you know.¡±
Lin Xianughed, recalling how he initially imed to like dogs just to get closer to Zhao Ying Jun. But now, he genuinely had a soft spot for VV.
Zhao Ying Jun smiled warmly. ¡°You shoulde by more often. VV clearly adores you. Consider him partly your dog too. I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t mind.¡±
VV cooed softly, as if in agreement.
Lin Xian smiled, touched by the connection he had unwittingly formed. Initially, his closeness to VV was a ruse to get close to Zhao Ying Jun, but now, he felt a genuine bond with the dog. Yellow Finch¡¯s maniptions had often left him wary, but in this moment, things seemed to bnce out.
¡
Later, Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian found themselves at a traditional style restaurant known for its authenticity and elegance. Zhao Ying Jun ordered several of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes.
¡°Try them and see how you like the vors,¡± Zhao Ying Jun encouraged as the dishes arrived.
VVy quietly on the carpet beside them as Lin Xian sampled the food. ¡°It¡¯s really good,¡± hemented sincerely. ¡°There¡¯s somethingforting about home-style cooking, like it brings you back home.¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed lightly. ¡°How can Beijing cuisine feel like home to you? I would think Hangzhou dishes would have that effect.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head yfully. ¡°No way. Hangzhou is practically a culinary desertpared to what I¡¯ve discovered since moving to Donghai City. Even the food at the university cafeteria outshines anything back in Hangzhou.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun appeared amused. ¡°Really? People usually see their hometown food through a nostalgic lens.¡±
¡°That might be true, but the culinary scene in Hangzhou has its reasons,¡± Lin Xian exined, diving into a brief history.
Curious, Zhao Ying Jun inquired, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a famous dish there, something like West Lake Vinegar Fish?¡±
Lin Xianughed, ¡°There¡¯s a running joke that the recipe for West Lake Vinegar Fish is soplex, if you mess up even one step, it¡¯ll identally taste good.¡±
¡°Some even joke that a fish used for West Lake Vinegar Fish has died in vain, never resting in peace.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Is it really that bad?¡±
¡°It¡¯s an exaggeration,¡± Lin admitted, ¡°but there¡¯s some truth to it. You should visit Hangzhou yourself to try it.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, a hint of longing in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ve missed out on visiting many domestic tourist spots. I went abroad for studies as a teenager and jumped straight into business after graduation. Hangzhou has always been on my list.¡±
Their conversation drifted to personal stories and memories, connecting them over the shared experiences and the meal. As they talked, Lin Xian reflected on how different this feltpared to his usual guarded interactions, influenced by Yellow Finch¡¯s deceits.
¡
As the evening wound down, they prepared to leave. VV, however, seemed reluctant to part with Lin Xian, clinging to him as Zhao Ying Jun stepped out of the van.
¡°VV, it¡¯s time to say goodbye,¡± Zhao Ying Jun reasoned. ¡°Lin Xian needs to head home too.¡±
VV whimpered, its eyes pleading.
Lin Xian knelt tofort the dog. ¡°It seems he doesn¡¯t want you to leave,¡± Zhao Ying Jun noted, concerned. ¡°Could youe up just one more time? Help me put him to bed?¡±
Lin agreed, though internally he felt a mix of reluctance and affection. Upstairs, in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s apartment, he experienced an awkward yet touching moment as he tried to coax VV to sleep in its designated spot.
After a while, as VV finally settled down, Zhao Ying Jun whispered her thanks. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to keep you sote. Thank you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine. VV needed it,¡± Lin Xian responded, heading for the door. ¡°Goodnight.¡±
¡°Goodnight, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun called out softly as he left.
Back in the underground parking lot, Lin Xian settled into the van, weary but content. As the driver started the engine, a sudden interruption came¡ªa young girl with short ck hair and intense, glowing eyes reached into the car, stopping the closing door. Lin Xian looked up, startled by her unwavering stare.
Chapter 331: The Blue-Eyed Girl! Time-Space Assassin!
BANG!
Dressed entirely in ck, a young girl wearing rubber gloves showcased her incredible strength. She ripped off the door of an Alphard vehicle as if it were a mere sheet of paper.
The hefty door, with its dark green tinted ss still intact, soared through the air and collided with a nearby pir, erupting in a loud crash.
¡°Drive!¡± Lin Xianmanded without hesitation.
He took advantage of the girl¡¯s momentary imbnce. With swift precision, he delivered a sharp kick to her chest just as she attempted to mount the car¡¯s running board.
Thud.
The sound echoed like a boot striking a metal sheet. The impact pushed Lin Xian back into the vehicle but also forced the girl to stagger backward three steps.
Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªThe rear wheels of the Alphard spun wildly, propelling the vehicle forward with urgency.
Xiao Li, the driver, was no ordinary chauffeur. Trained in the army¡¯s driver squad, he excelled in high-pressure scenarios. ¡°Never let your guard down,¡± his instructors would emphasize, a mantra deeply ingrained in him.
Even before Lin Xian had settled in, Xiao Li was ready. His foot hovered over the elerator, his eyes scanning their surroundings through the mirrors. Yet, the girl¡¯s sudden appearance and her swift, powerful removal of the door still caught him off guard.
Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
With a 3.5-liter engine boasting nearly 400 horsepower, the Alphard wasn¡¯t a sports car, but it was impressively robust. It lurched forward, tires screeching against the concrete, as Xiao Li steered it toward the parking lot exit.
¡°Drive faster!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was tense from the back seat. ¡°Don¡¯t stop for anything! Keep going where there¡¯s less traffic!¡±
¡°Understood, Mr. Lin Xian!¡± Xiao Li responded, his pulse racing as he elerated toward the exit ramp.
Lin Xian braced himself, looking through the rear window. Was she still there? Yes, and she was fast approaching with superhuman speed.
Bang!
A dull thud announced her presence at the back of the car. She had grabbed onto the rear bumper and was now pulling herself up onto the rear window.
Lin Xian stared incredulously. What kind of person was this? Her strength seemed more than human¡ªperhaps she was a cyborg or something even more formidable. He had seen her agility, but ripping a car door apart? That was something else.
Her face appeared through the rear window, emotionless, her blue eyes cold and calcting as she raised her fist and struck the ss.
Crash¡ª¡ª
The doubleyered tempered ss spider-webbed under her relentless assault. Luckily, theminate held the shards in ce¡ªfor the moment.
¡°This won¡¯t hold her long,¡± Lin Xian realized, understanding the grave danger they were in. ¡°She¡¯s a time-space assassin, with capabilities unknown and terrifying.¡±
¡°Xiao Li! Drift!¡± Linmanded, holding onto his seat. ¡°Scrape the rear against the exit ramp wall! Knock her off!¡±
¡°Got it!¡± Xiao Li responded, ready for action. If the assassin got inside, there would be no escape for either of them.
As they approached the ramp, Xiao Li executed a perfect drift. The rear of the Alphard screeched against the wall, sparks flying. Inside, Lin Xian clung to his seat, feeling the intense force.
Xiao Li¡¯s maneuver was precise; the vehicle¡¯s tail scraped tightly against the wall, forcing the assassin to make a choice¡ªfall off or be crushed.
Bang¡ª¡ª
They burst through the parking barrier, speeding into the deste night, racing into the darkness.
¡.
Lin Xian had left Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s residence close to midnight, and now, as they sped out of the city, the streets were bathed in the soft glow of streetlights.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian! Did we manage to shake her off?¡± Xiao Li asked, pressing his foot firmly on the gas.
Lin Xian let out a tentative sigh, his eyes switching between the now quiet rearview and the car¡¯s battered rear. ¡°We should have¡ wait!¡±
A chill ran down his spine, prompting him to look up. There, on the panoramic sunroof, a pair of eyes glowed blue like mes, staring down emotionlessly into the vehicle.
¡°She¡¯s on top!¡± Lin Xian gasped.
The assassin had predicted their actions, leaping from the back to the roof to avoid collision during their earlier maneuver.
¡°Hold on tight, Mr. Lin Xian. I¡¯ll try to shake her off!¡± Xiao Li dered, his determination clear. The Alphard¡¯s sleek roof offered nothing for her to grip; a few sharp swerves should be enough to dislodge her.
Lin Xian fastened his seatbelt, bracing for a rough ride.
Snap!
A chilling sound cut through the air as a steel de pierced the roof. The assassin¡¯s relentless attack turned the roof into a makeshift sieve, her objective clear: to breach the vehicle and eliminate Lin Xian.
As Lin Xian pondered the escting situation, he questioned everything he thought he knew about time-spacews and his own invulnerability.
What did Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic second question mean? What was its true significance?
¡°Xiao Li, stop swerving. Just elerate! Push the speed to the max!¡± Lin Xian ordered, his voice firm despite the grim circumstances.
Xiao Liplied, pushing the battered Alphard to its limits as it picked up speed.
Bang!
Another thud¡ªher ck-gloved hand punched through, looming ominously above them.
¡°Brake! m it down now!¡± Xiao Li understood Lin Xian¡¯s intent¡ªto use a sudden stop to fling their assant from the vehicle.
Screech!!!
The brakes squealed, the car¡¯s sudden decelerationunching the dark figure from the roof, trailing sparks as she skidded along the asphalt beforeing to a halt.
¡°Run her over!¡± Lin Xian shouted, knowing her resilience was beyond any normal human capacity.
Xiao Li floored the gas pedal, the Alphard lunging forward as the girl rose again, her face streaked with blood but expressionless, the eerie blue glow in her eyes intensifying.
Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The vehicle charged forward, the distance closing rapidly. Just as they were about to hit her¡ª
Whoosh!
At thest moment, the girl dodged, narrowly evading the vehicle but grabbing the side mirror, stumbling, then leaping onto the hood, crouching before the windshield, obscuring their view.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian,¡± Xiao Li murmured, his voice strained. Despite his training, he hadn¡¯t been prepared for an opponent so relentless and seemingly superhuman.
Lin Xian, fists clenched, stared through the shattered windshield at the haunting blue eyes. They were overwhelmingly strong, and his despair waspounded by his confusion about the time-spacews he had believed were absolute.
Her expression remained impassive as she gripped the hood and delivered another punch to the windshield. Bang after bang, the ss spiderwebbed and then shattered, theminate finally giving way.
¡°Brake!¡± Lin Xian snapped, and Xiao Li mmed on the brake, trying to replicate their previous sessful maneuver.
Screech¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
As the brake discs sparked, Lin Xian caught the shes from the corner of his eye. Thews of physics remained unyielding. The gloved hand, along with its owner, was propelled forward, rolling for meters before crashing into the guardrail.
Just as Xiao Li was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Lin Xian interjected sharply. ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± he ordered, pointing decisively to the right. ¡°Turn right, quickly! While she¡¯s down, let¡¯s head to Jiaxing!¡±
Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
The sleek Alphard sped into the darkness, its path illuminated only by the flickering streetlights. Behind, an assassin struggled to her feet, using the guardrail for support. Her blue eyes, initially wavering, steadied with resolve as she watched the vehicle disappear into the night.
She wiped the blood from her face with grim determination.
On the suburban expressway toward Jiaxing, Xiao Li pushed the Alphard to its limits. The windshield, riddled with cracks and holes,promised his visibility, but slowing down wasn¡¯t an option¡ªnot with Lin Xian¡¯s safety at stake.
Lin Xian sat in the back, silently managing his phone, booking flights to various destinations worldwide. The cost didn¡¯t matter; his objective was to create abyrinth of travel ns to throw potential trackers off his trail.
After setting this smokescreen in motion, Lin Xian leaned back and sighed, reflecting on the recent chaotic events. The assassin, a figure from aplex realm of time-space, had targeted him after eliminating Yellow Finch in Copenhagen.
¡°But shouldn¡¯t the time-spacew of forced evasion be absolute?¡± Lin Xian muttered, perplexed. Thesews had always seemed irond, yet now, everything was thrown into question.
He pondered deeply. This assassin hailed from a future far more advanced than Yellow Finch¡¯s era. The motive seemed intensely personal¡ªshe was bent on eliminating him. Time-spacews were meant to be invible; no one should be able to override them, not Yellow Finch, not even the assassin.
A sh of memory struck him. In a desperate moment, he had taunted a powerful adversary in his dream: ¡°Come kill me, Kevin Walker, you know where I am. If you don¡¯t kill me¡ I¡¯lle for you!¡±
Had this challenge incited this lethal pursuit? Why then, was Yellow Finch involved? And how could this affect the so-called absolute nature of the time-spacews?
¡°Wait,¡± he paused, struck by a new thought. What exactly triggered the forced evasion? When did it actually engage?
Recalling Yellow Finch¡¯s exnation, he understood that forced evasion seemed to kick in during crucial revtions or actions. It appeared that thew intervened only at the moment of potential execution, not beforehand.
¡°Perhaps the assassin¡¯s intent isn¡¯t merely to kill but to capture or manipte me,¡± Lin Xian spected. ¡°In Copenhagen, the risks of rescue or escape were too high. But here, in Donghai, the conditions are more favorable for her.¡±
If true, capturing him wouldn¡¯t breach the time sticityws as directly as killing would. Yellow Finch herself had manipted events within thesews¡ªguiding his actions, misleading his theories, yet never directly breaking the time-space rules.
This realization shifted his perspective and underscored the gravity of his predicament. He wasn¡¯t just evading a skilled assassin; he was grappling with a deep maniption of time itself.
¡°Ughhh¡¡± Overwhelmed, Lin Xian leaned back, massaging his temples. The rules of time sticity were cryptic¡ªsometimes blocking simple actions, other times permittingplex maneuvers without triggering evasion. Was there a loophole in these seemingly concretews?
In the grand tapestry of time, perhaps an individual¡¯s influence was minimal. His experiences and the shifts in his dreams that had transcended time sticity underscored this. Individual survival seemed inconsequential in the vast flow of history.
¡°In the vast flow of history, the least impactful, the least capable of altering the course¡ is a single person,¡± Lin Xian mused, recalling a saying that resonated with his current dilemma.
The historical debate lingered: do individuals shape history, or does history shape individuals? Over extended periods, the significance of individual actions seems diluted. History, reaching a tipping point, will find a way to progress, with or without specific individuals.
¡°Is that why?¡± Lin Xian pondered, not entirely convinced of his conclusion.
But his immediate concern wasn¡¯t about unraveling these philosophical mysteries; those could wait. His pressing task was to determine: ¡°Who sent the time-space assassin after Yellow Finch and me?¡±
As he mulled over potential suspects, one name emerged¡ªElon Musk.
Lin Xian¡¯s dealings with Elon Musk had been ambiguous. Initially viewing him as a rival, though Musk had once thwarted an attack by Kevin Walker, Lin Xian remained wary.
The methods used, the circumstances around VV¡¯s death, Musk¡¯s acquisition of the time particle, and his subsequent silence after making a significant appearance¡ªthese elements fueled Lin Xian¡¯s suspicions.
Reflecting on these clues in Liu Feng¡¯sb, Lin Xian decided to confront Musk, maintaining a facade of ignorance about Musk¡¯s potential role in VV¡¯s demise. To Musk, he would appear as a cooperative ally, potentially exposing any hidden agendas.
However, with the arrival of the time-space assassin, Lin Xian¡¯s perception of Musk as a threat intensified, cing him alongside formidable adversaries like Kevin Walker.
¡°They¡¯vee to my doorstep¡¡± Lin Xian cursed quietly. ¡°I must strike first.¡±
Remaining in Donghai City was increasingly dangerous. Despite not understanding why, the city seemed a hotspot for the assassin, whereas locations like Copenhagen offered rtive safety.
To unravel this mystery, he needed to confront either Musk or Walker directly. Given Walker¡¯s elusive nature, Musk was a more essible target for investigation.
¡°World¡¯s richest man, Mars colonization visionary, Starlink creator, Twitter owner¡¡± Lin Xian listed Musk¡¯s titles under his breath: ¡°Te CEO, SpaceXuncher, space travel ticket seller, and notorious yboy¡¡±
He paused, pondering Musk¡¯s well-known escapades involving high-profile rtionships.
¡°yboy.¡±
Among these connections was Angelica, a Hollywood actress who had previously intercepted him with a key to Einstein¡¯s residence and a suggestive farewell: ¡°If you evere to Princeton¡¡±
Seized by a sudden insight, Lin Xian straightened up, his gaze piercing through the damaged roof into the night sky.
Angelica.
She embodied thest of the seven deadly sins: lust. Despite her connections to the deceased Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin, she harbored no resentment toward Lin Xian, understanding the concealedplexities surrounding the Genius Club.
Angelica had persistently sought the truth about Ji Lin¡¯s demise and the nature of the Genius Club, even proposing vengeance, though Lin Xian had nevermitted to any action.
Repeatedly, she had prodded him for answers, once jotting her number on a card with an eyebrow pencil, hoping he¡¯d call and join her quest for justice.
Lin Xian retrieved his phone, reviewing a photo of the card with Angelica¡¯s number¡ªa precautionary habit that upied minimal digital space.
The time hade to align with Angelica, a proactive figure whose Hollywood influence could be crucial.
In this pivotal moment, alliances were vital. The enemy of his enemy was, after all, his ally.
He held vital information¡ªtruths about Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui¡¯s deaths, the elusive mastermind Copernicus, the Genius Club, Kevin Walker, and Elon Musk.
¡°I can¡¯t stay in Donghai City anymore. If I move to America, maybe I can get ahead of the assassin,¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud.
He nced at his recently purchased ne tickets, confirming his selection of a flight from Hongqiao Airport to Princeton.
¡°Xiao Li, let¡¯s head to Hongqiao Airport,¡± he directed.
¡°Yes, Mr. Lin Xian,¡± Xiao Li responded promptly, steering the Alphard onto the elevated highway.
Lin Xian studied the number in the photo, added the US country code, and finally made the call he had been postponing.
The phone connected immediately.
A familiar voice, fluent in English, chuckled lightly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Mr. Lin Xian. I almost gave up waiting for your call.¡±
¡°Good things take time,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile.
¡°Or perhaps, not-so-good things, Mr. Lin Xian?¡± Angelica teased. ¡°If I¡¯m right, you¡¯re in trouble, aren¡¯t you? Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be calling.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s fine, really¡ I prefer you in trouble. That¡¯s when you¡¯re willing to trade information.¡±
¡°So, will you tell me about the Genius Club, and who killed the old man, Ji Lin, and Ji Lin¡¯s parents?¡±
Lin Xian switched the phone to his other hand. ¡°Tell me, what will you do with the truth and the killers?¡±
Her lightughter turned icy. ¡°What else? Make a documentary, hire a director and screenwriter?¡±
¡°I can tell you bluntly, Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin weren¡¯t my blood rtives¡ but I treated Ji Lin like a brother. So, if you reveal who killed them¡¡±
Her tone became as chilling as frost. ¡°I will kill them.¡±
¡°Can you get a gun?¡± Lin Xian asked, posing the crucial question.
¡°Easily, Mr. Lin Xian. Remember, this is the free America.¡±
¡°Good, Angelica.¡± Lin Xian smiled, his gaze drifting to the moon. ¡°See you in Princeton.¡±
Chapter 332: Lin Xians Historical Correction
After sharing his flight details with Angelica, Lin Xian ended the call and pondered his next steps.
He thought to himself, ¡°If I manage to get a gun in America, my ability to defend myself will increase tremendously. Even if I encounter her again, I¡¯ll stand a better chance.¡±
In X Country, where strict gunws prevent ordinary citizens from owning firearms, his expertise with guns was almost pointless. Angelica had hinted, though, that the situation would be different in America, thend of the free.
¡°The bullets from the gun I n to get won¡¯t be just for the time-space assassin,¡± he mused, considering the broader implications of his armament.
The decision to travel to America might have seemed abrupt, but it was the result of deliberate nning and consideration of various factors. Lin Xian had three main reasons for his decision.
First Reason: Safety.
The time-space assassin had never attacked him outside his home city but was relentless in pursuing him within Donghai City. This suggested that Donghai was currently a hotspot for danger. While the specific motivations of the assassin were unclear, the message was obvious: Donghai was unsafe, whereas abroad seemed safer. Lin Xian spected on two reasons for this pattern:
The assassin might have been able to operate within Donghai because his demise or capture there did not significantly alter the permissible timeline, aligning instead with certain historical trajectories.The assassin¡¯s goal might have been to deliver him to a particr person or location in Donghai, making it more strategic to wait for him there rather than attempt to capture him abroad and transport him back.
Unable to determine which scenario was urate, Lin Xian decided the safest option was to leave Donghai. His experiences in ces like Copenhagen had shown that he was safer abroad. Valuing his life, he knew he had to prioritize his safety.
Thus, leaving Donghai immediately to evade the time-space assassin became his optimal safety strategy. Although time-space travelers like Yellow Finch could sense each other, Lin Xian, not being one, was invisible to the assassin on a global scale¡ªexcept in Donghai, where his routines and rtionships made him vulnerable to attacks, as today¡¯s close call had shown.
Lin Xian considered seeking national protection due to the grave threat posed by the assassin, especially since he was friends with Liu An, the Director of the National Security Agency. The capital could offer him the highest security, potentially deterring the assassin.
But then what? Would hiding under the National Security Agency¡¯s protection lead to a permanent resolution? Or would the assassin just temporarily disappear? In the ongoing cat-and-mouse game, a mouse trapped in a corner has no chance unless the cat loses interest. His past encounters, like those with the Seven Deadly Sins, had taught him that to truly be safe, he needed to confront his enemies directly.
Lin Xian nned to contact Director Liu An for an investigation into the time-space assassin. Capturing her could allow him to safely return to Donghai. But the unknown capabilities of the assassin, potentially enhanced by advanced technology from a far-future era like Yellow Finch¡¯s, were a constant threat. Her physical capabilities seemed superhuman, her beauty otherworldly, reminiscent of the futuristic sculptures in New Donghai City and Rhine Sky City.
Yellow Finch, a time-traveler from decades in the future, paled inparison to the assassin, who seemed toe from centuries ahead. This technological disparity made the assassin a formidable opponent. Lin Xian knew he couldn¡¯t rely solely on the National Security Agency or local police; he needed his own strategies to survive and gain the upper hand.
Second Reason: Turning Passive into Active
Lin Xian was convinced that the assassin was not acting alone but was likely directed by influential figures such as Kevin Walker or Elon Musk, with thetter being more probable given recent events. Both were based abroad,pelling Lin Xian to venture outside Donghai to confront and dismantle the forces behind his predicaments. Remaining passive in Donghai wouldn¡¯t draw his enemies to him; he had to actively seek them out.
Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t alone in his quest. Angelica, an adversary of his enemies, shared his goals, driven by her desire for vengeance against the Genius Club members responsible for the deaths of Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin, and to fulfill Ji Lin¡¯sst wish to identify his parents¡¯ killer. Lin Xian¡¯s target was to eliminate Kevin Walker and likely the mastermind, Elon Musk.
Angelica, with her extensive connections in Hollywood and formidable resources, was a powerful ally. With shared objectives, they could forge a formidable team. Lin Xian valued her action-oriented approach, knowing that as a lone fighter, he needed decisive and ruthless partners.
Reflecting on his situation, Lin Xian smiled at the irony, ¡°I never thought I¡¯d ally with the Seven Deadly Sins.¡±
He remembered Yellow Finch¡¯s words: ¡°Do it if it¡¯s right; keep doing it if it¡¯s wrong. Hesitation is not an option.¡±
Embracing this philosophy, Lin Xian knew that hesitation meant retreat. Facing challenges head-on was the only way forward, leading to his third and crucial reason for going abroad:
Third Reason: Enhancing Combat Ability
As an ordinary person, Lin Xian recognized the limits of facing the assassin¡¯s enhanced physical ability unarmed. A firearm, a simple yet powerful kic weapon, was essential. No biological creature, not even a robust elephant, could withstand a well-aimed bullet.
The assassin, despite her enhanced body, was not invincible. Her tissues and bones had limits; they could be tough, but not imprable. Lin Xian¡¯s first encounter with the assassin had shown her vulnerability¡ªshe bled when thrown from a car, proving she was still human. If a fall could injure her, a bullet could be lethal.
Lin Xian had spent years in his dream world perfecting his marksmanship, facing life-and-death scenarios that sharpened his reflexes. This was why acquiring a gun in America was crucial for self-defense. With thews of time-space on his side, he held a tactical advantage¡ªhe could shoot the assassin freely, while she could not kill him. This shifted the bnce entirely in his favor.
¡°If only I knew the exact boundaries of time-space sticity.¡±
¡.
As Lin Xian reflected on the concept of time-space sticity and the notion of forced avoidance, he realized that the real keyy in understanding the sticity itself. Yellow Finch had once mentioned that grasping thisw of time-space was crucial, and Lin Xian now acknowledged he hadn¡¯t fully mastered it yet. Originally, he thought it was tied strictly to preserving life, allowing time-space travelers to cause harm but not to take lives. However, this theory didn¡¯t stand up to scrutiny. Yellow Finch had inadvertently caused the deaths of countless smaller creatures and contributed to the deaths of animals through her dietary choices. Clearly, thew of sticity wasn¡¯t as simple as life versus death.
Lin Xian hypothesized that time-space sticity might work more like a range or spectrum. He envisioned it as a scale from -100 to +100, where actions that altered historical events within this range were permissible. For example, the death of a chicken might shift history by a value of +2, a change within the eptable limits. But his own death could shift history by +105, a value outside the permissible range, triggering what he termed forced avoidance.
He pondered the different impacts individuals could have on history. Killing his friend Gao Yang might result in a historical shift of -80, still within the allowable range, thus making it a permissible action. However, manipting Lin Xian without ending his life might register as a +70 on this hypothetical scale, also permissible. This line of thinking led Lin Xian to a chilling possibility:
¡°What if the effects of these disruptions to time-space could be umted or offset? If killing Gao Yang registers as -80 and my death is +105, theirbined effect would only be +25, well within the permissible range.¡±
This insight led him to an epiphany. Perhaps it was possible to both disrupt and simultaneously correct history, effectively bncing out the changes?
Lin Xian recalled an incident where he corrected history himself. In his dreams, he had founded Rhine Company, causing Brother Wang to abandon his childhood dream, which altered the timeline and led to the disappearance of Time Bank. This was a significant disturbance in the fabric of time-space. However, by helping Brother Wang rediscover his dream, Lin Xian managed to restore Time Bank, effectively correcting the historical disturbance.
From this, Lin Xian derived a new principle he called Historical Correction: Actions that restored a disrupted historical trajectory back to its original path were corrective measures against time-space disturbances.
This revtion rified why the assassin could attack him in Donghai but not in Copenhagen. It was a lesson Yellow Finch had been trying to teach him: the rules of time-space sticity and forced avoidance weren¡¯t absolute but could be manipted and calcted to allow for historical corrections.
¡°That means, capturing or killing me in Donghai might be part of a historical correction, making such actions permissible without triggering forced avoidance.¡±
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian grasped the significance of historical correction as a means to counterbnce disruptive actions. Correcting history wasn¡¯t as challenging as it seemed if one could identify the root cause. For example, simply renaming Rhine Cat back to Coco Cat could constitute a minor historical correction.
Yellow Finch was correct in saying that understanding thews of time-space equated to wielding power. The more one understood thesews, the stronger they could be. This newfound knowledge confirmed that his decision to leave Donghai was prudent. If the enemy hadplete mastery over historical corrections, they would have attacked him even in Copenhagen. Their inability to do so proved they were not as omnipotent as he had feared, giving him an edge to potentially reverse his fortunes.
¡°All fear stems from ack of firepower. Now, I¡¯ll finally have that firepower!¡±
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, we¡¯ve arrived. The exit is just ahead,¡± the driver, Xiao Li, informed him.
¡°After the overpass, park in front of the terminal. I¡¯ll use the VIP passage; no need for an early check-in,¡± Lin Xian instructed, cautious not to reveal his location prematurely.
He then made a call to Director Liu An of the National Security Agency. After a few rings, Liu An picked up.
¡°Director Liu, I apologize for calling sote.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay, Lin Xian. I haven¡¯t gone to bed yet,¡± Liu An replied, his voice echoing over a backdrop of office noise.
Lin Xian briefed him on the recent attack. Concerned, Liu An advised, ¡°Lin Xian, you should seek protection from the local security department in Donghai. I can arrange the highest level of security until we apprehend the assassin. Alternatively, we can arrange a special flight to bring you to the capital for even greater safety, though it would limit your freedom.¡±
Lin Xian declined, understanding that merely hiding under protection wouldn¡¯t solve the underlying problem. The assassin could simply wait for an opportunity to strike again. And even if the National Security Agency managed to capture her, other threats might emerge. To truly break the deadlock, he needed to venture abroad and uncover more about Kevin Walker and Elon Musk.
¡°Be cautious and find a secure ce to hide,¡± Liu An urged. ¡°I¡¯ll personally oversee the investigation in Donghai to capture the assassin.¡±
¡°Thank you, Director Liu. My driver, Xiao Li, witnessed the assassin. He¡¯ll assist you with the investigation,¡± Lin Xian responded, appreciative of Liu An¡¯s dedication.
¡°It¡¯s our duty to protect our citizens,¡± Liu An dered earnestly before they ended the call.
Lin Xian stored his phone, leaned back in his seat, and nced to the right where the car door had been violently removed by the assassin, turning his luxury van into a casualty of their confrontation.
¡°Xiao Li, it looks like we¡¯ll be needing a new car when I return,¡± Lin Xian remarked.
Xiao Li, still visibly shaken, managed a smile. ¡°What kind of car, Mr. Lin Xian?¡±
¡°A childhood friend of mine just became a manager at a car dealership. I promised to buy a car from him, but haven¡¯t gotten around to it. We¡¯ll choose one from his dealership when I¡¯m back,¡± Lin Xian shared, thinking of Gao Yang. ¡°Whatever car it is, no vehicle can withstand an attack from a killer like that unless it¡¯s armored.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Lin Xian. The police will catch the killer, and you¡¯ll be safe to return,¡± Xiao Li reassured him as they approached the airport.
¡.
An hourter, Lin Xian¡¯s ne soared towards Princeton, New Jersey. As he gazed out the window at the clouds below, he contemted whether this journey could indeed change the course of events.
¡°That assassin won¡¯t follow me to America, will she?¡± Lin Xian wondered, haunted by her chilling blue eyes and the threat she posed. He peered out the window cautiously, vignt for any sign of danger.
¡°Nothing,¡± he sighed in relief. The assassin¡¯s reluctance to act in public spaces, as both previous attacks urred under the cover of darkness, suggested she wasn¡¯tpletely fearless.
Uponnding in Princeton, Angelica was there to meet him. They boarded her much more luxurious van from the VIP exit, a stark contrast to his own recently damaged vehicle.
¡°Where¡¯s the equipment I requested?¡± Lin Xian asked as soon as they settled in.
¡°Always so impatient,¡± Angelica chuckled, handing him a sleek ck case.
Lin Xian opened the case to find two boxes of bullets, four magazines, and two different handguns. He picked up the first one, a Sig Sauer P320, an all-ckrge-caliber handgun renowned for its power and reliability.
¡°This is thetest model from Sig Sauer,¡± Angelica exined. ¡°You wanted something powerful, and this 10mm caliber can pierce 5mm steel from 20 meters.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, impressed with the firearm¡¯s specifications, then turned his attention to the other gun, a gleaming silver Desert Eagle.
¡°A Desert Eagle?¡± he inquired, surprised.
¡°Yes,¡± Angelica smiled, clearly pleased with his reaction. ¡°This one¡¯s from my personal collection. It¡¯s tough to get because it uses custom Magnum rounds that pack a lot of power and recoil. Not everyone can handle it; some even break their wrists from the kickback. But since you insisted on powerful handguns, I thought you¡¯d appreciate it.¡±
¡°Which one do you prefer?¡± she asked, intrigued by his response.
Lin Xian loaded the Desert Eagle, his smile broadening. ¡°Both.¡±
Chapter 333: The Shape-Shifting Witch
Lin Xian stared at a small suitcase that housed tworge-caliber pistols, a wave of satisfaction sweeping over him as he regarded the deadly tools. ¡°These definitely make me feel safer,¡± he voiced his thoughts, a hint of resolve in his tone.
If only he had had these back in Donghai City, the threat of the time-space assassin wouldn¡¯t have loomed sorge. Yet, Lin Xian knew better. While arming oneself could provide temporary security, the broader implications were far more chaotic. ¡°Thew is clear; if everyone started arming themselves out of fear, society would quickly copse into anarchy,¡± he reflected.
The ideal recourse was, undoubtedly, the police for protection. However, Lin Xian¡¯s intentions with the pistols extended beyond mere self-defense; they were meant to eradicate his enemies.
¡°I¡¯ve given you what you asked for,¡± Angelica said, her voice cutting through his thoughts. She swept her long hair into a high ponytail, her eyebrow arching in expectation. ¡°So, what about what I asked for?¡±
Lin Xian snapped the suitcase shut and set it down, standing upright to face her. He took a moment before responding, ¡°You were right about Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui. They¡¯ve been involved in heinous activities¡ªmurdering scientists and innocents. They were promised an invitation to the Genius Club in return for their services.¡±
¡°Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin became fixated on securing that invite. For some reason, they excluded you¡ªperhaps they already had enough help. Zheng Cheng He, a member of the Seven Deadly Sins, was also left out of their plots, except for theirst failed attempt.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve apprehended them and brought them to justice. They received the punishment they deserved, despite any familial ties you might have to them,¡± Lin Xian stated firmly.
Angelica shrugged nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯ve never been one toin about fate. I just need to know who led them down this path. The old man was motivated by fame and greed, but Ji Lin¡¯s case was different. He believed that joining the Genius Club could help him uncover the truth about our parents¡¯ deaths. My brother was incredibly intelligent¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t pursue something without reason.¡±¡°So, you think a member of the Genius Club was behind their deaths?¡± she pressed.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Exactly. Their killer chose a peculiar time¡ª00:42¡ªfor their murders, likely signifying some cryptic ritual. And concerning Ji Xin Shui, the member who deceived him goes by ¡®Copernicus¡¯¡ªa detail not even Ji Lin knew.¡±
Angelica¡¯s smile thinned as she processed the information. ¡°I appreciate your honesty, Lin Xian. But knowing the name ¡®Copernicus¡¯ doesn¡¯t get us any closer to vengeance. The Genius Club is still shrouded in mystery.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t expect you to pinpoint the killer immediately¡ªif Ji Lin couldn¡¯t, it¡¯s unlikely we can. But we need to start somewhere, right? Is that why you¡¯re here in America?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian confirmed, his gaze piercing. ¡°So, let¡¯s cut to the chase. How do we find Copernicus?¡±
¡°We need insider knowledge,¡± Lin Xian proposed, turning back to her. ¡°Elon Musk.¡±
He paused, letting the name hang in the air. ¡°I don¡¯t have direct evidence linking him to ¡®Copernicus,¡¯ but Musk certainly knows more than us. I¡¯m convinced he¡¯s a key member of the Genius Club and privy to vital secrets.¡±
¡°So, our target is the world¡¯s most renowned billionaire,¡± Angelica mused. ¡°Elon Musk¡ªa yboy known for his high-society escapades. Do you know him?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve crossed paths at several social functions,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Can you get us close to him?¡± he probed.
Angelica chuckled, a glint of mischief in her eyes. ¡°How close do we need to be?¡±
¡°As close as possible,¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°Intelligence gathering is your forte, right? You weren¡¯t just a figurehead in the Seven Deadly Sins; Ji Lin acknowledged your effectiveness. If anyone can extract information from Musk about the Genius Club¡ªits objectives, allies, and targets¡ªit¡¯s you.¡±
Angelica considered this, her expression turning contemtive. ¡°Elon Musk is cautious and astute. Approaching him might not be straightforward. He wouldn¡¯t divulge secrets easily, especially to someone he doesn¡¯t trust.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the challenge,¡± Lin Xian admitted, spreading his hands. ¡°Considering someone might be trying to kill me, possibly on Musk¡¯s orders, you¡¯re the best shot we have.¡±
¡°Among the Genius Club members I know, Elon Musk is the only one whose name and whereabouts are well-known. If you¡¯re really set on avenging Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui, he¡¯s our starting point. There¡¯s simply no other way around it,¡± Lin Xian dered, his tone serious.
¡°I think you understand that Musk represents our only real shot, the crossroads of our objectives. I can¡¯t just walk up to him and bluntly inquire if he¡¯s orchestrating attempts on my life, can I?¡± Lin Xian exined, theplexity of their situation dawning in his voice.
¡°If it turns out to be him, I¡¯d be walking straight into a trap; if it¡¯s not, then I¡¯m just wasting my time. Besides, there¡¯s a good chance Elon Musk might not even tell the truth.¡±
Angelica opened her eyes and chuckled, her gaze meeting Lin Xian¡¯s. ¡°If this entire n hinges on me gathering intelligence, then what exactly is your role in all this? What value do you bring to our partnership?¡±
With a faint smile, Lin Xian leaned forward. ¡°I¡¯ve received an invitation to join the Genius Club.¡±
Angelica¡¯s amusement faded, reced by a look of astonishment. ¡°You got an invitation?¡±
The thought seemed almost unbelievable to her. Ji Xin Shui, despite his immense wealth and willingness to risk his life, had failed to secure an invite. Ji Lin, whom she had raised like a brother and who had shown brilliance from a young age, had also fallen short in this quest.
And yet, Lin Xian, who seemed so ordinary in many ways, had seeded?
Upon reflection, however, Angelica realized it wasn¡¯t entirely far-fetched. Lin Xian knew a great deal about the Genius Club and currently found himself a target of assassins. It seemed unlikely he would lie about something so crucial.
¡°But I haven¡¯t fully passed their tests yet,¡± Lin Xian confessed, hinting at more challenges ahead.
He intended to work together with Angelica, using her ability to get close to Elon Musk to gather information, particrly to verify if Musk was linked to the time-space assassin.
Being upfront was essential.
Heid out their arrangement: ¡°Here¡¯s the deal¡ªYou close in on Elon Musk and extract as much information as possible, find out if he¡¯s behind the assassin, and uncover details about the Genius Club and Copernicus.¡±
¡°In return, once I¡¯m officially a member of the Genius Club, I¡¯ll help you identify Copernicus and support your quest for revenge.¡±
Angelica let out a softugh, her tone slightly teasing. ¡°You¡¯re beginning to sound a lot like the Genius Club.¡±
¡°Why do you say that?¡± Lin Xian inquired, curious.
Angelica gestured expansively. ¡°Copernicus dangled a carrot in front of Ji Xin Shui, and now you¡¯re offering me a simr bait. Is this what the Genius Club is all about? A club for dangling carrots? But¡¡±
She leaned back into the contours of her space capsule seat and extended her right hand towards Lin Xian.
¡°We don¡¯t really have another choice, do we?¡±
Lin Xian agreed with a smile, reaching out to shake her hand. ¡°Exactly.¡±
The van they were in pulled up in front of a suburban vi with a sprawling courtyard, a property that spoke of significant value.
¡°Get out; this is my ce¡ one of them, anyway. You¡¯ll stay here while you¡¯re in America.¡±
With that, the deal between Lin Xian and Angelica was cemented. It was a rtionship of mutual necessity.
Angelica needed to know who Copernicus was and who had killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents. Elon Musk might have those answers, or at the very least, some clues. But with a potential assassin from Musk possibly targeting Lin Xian, he needed to stay concealed, relying on Angelica to secure the necessary information and identify their adversary.
Once that issue was resolved, Lin Xian could focus on deciphering the coordinates of time and space, answering the three riddles posed by the Genius Club, and participating in their meetings.
Then, he could fulfill his promise to Angelica, revealing the truth about Copernicus and assisting her revenge.
This might seem a distant and uncertain promise to Angelica, but it was the only option avable.
Unless Elon Musk proved to be surprisingly indiscreet, revealing everything to a charming woman, which seemed highly improbable. If Musk were that easily deceived, he wouldn¡¯t hold the title of the world¡¯s richest man.
Thus, it fell to Angelica to extract any possible information from him.
Lin Xian set the heavy ck suitcase on the table in the vi¡¯s luxurious living room, his eyes scanning the opulent setting under the glow of a grand crystal chandelier.
¡°Tomorrow night, we¡¯re attending a banquet,¡± Angelica announced, rxing into the sofa. ¡°You¡¯ll be my driver.¡±
¡°To meet Elon Musk?¡± Lin Xian questioned, turning away from the sparkling chandelier.
Angelica shook her head. ¡°Elon Musk may not officially be the world¡¯s richest man anymore, but he still carries significant influence here. We¡¯re not close enough for me to just call him up.¡±
¡°You must understand, there are many Hollywood actresses, but there¡¯s only one Elon Musk. He¡¯s in high demand,¡± she exined.
Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat down, a hint of skepticism in his tone. ¡°So, you can¡¯t directly connect with Elon Musk? Then why did you seem so confident about our cooperation?¡±
Angelica met his gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t directly reach Musk, but I can get to his secretary. He has a trusted female secretary who¡¯s privy to all his secrets. I believe we can learn a lot about Elon Musk through her.¡±
¡°A female secretary, huh¡¡± Lin Xian chuckled lightly. ¡°And how do you n to get her to talk?¡±
Angelica retrieved a tube of lipstick from her handbag, applying ayer of bright red to her lips. After smoothing the color, she gave Lin Xian a knowing smile. ¡°Sometimes¡ it¡¯s easier to deal with women than men.¡±
¡°Can you borate?¡± Lin Xian spread his hands, intrigued by her approach.
Angelica simply smiled, recing the lipstick in her bag. She stood, her heels clicking on the floor as she approached Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯ll find out tomorrow night.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian conceded with a wave of his hand. ¡°But I won¡¯t be going. I already told you, the assassin might be working for Elon Musk.¡±
¡°Since you mentioned that Musk shares everything with his secretary, she surely knows about me. If I attend with you, I¡¯ll risk exposure.¡±
¡°Haha,¡± Angelicaughed, positioning herself in front of Lin Xian, her stance imposing. ¡°Have you forgotten what Hollywood calls me?¡±
¡°A shape-shifting witch, right?¡± Lin Xian looked up, his expression mixed with admiration and caution.
Not that he particrly wanted to look up, but Angelica¡¯s slender finger lifted his chin as if she were delicately choosing a pastry.
¡°Shape-shifting isn¡¯t just my specialty,¡± she remarked with a cryptic smile.
She scanned Lin Xian¡¯s features closely. ¡°Tomorrow night, no one in the world will recognize you.¡±
Chapter 334: Angelicas Ultimate Move
Click, click, click¡
Lin Xian methodically loaded 10mm copper-jacketed bullets into the magazine, ensuring each round was perfectly seated. He had two guns before him: a SIG Sauer P320 and a Desert Eagle, courtesy of Angelica.
The Desert Eagle was a powerhouse, undoubtedly. However, Lin Xian, with his years of experience handling firearms, knew it wasn¡¯t practical for realbat. The Desert Eagle¡¯s empty weight alone was a hefty 2 kilograms, significantly bulkier than most handguns. Its size and immense recoil made it difficult to handle for many, including Lin Xian despite his proficiency.
Shooting ranges often posted warnings stating that only individuals weighing over 80 kilograms could handle the Desert Eagle properly. The recoil was simply too intense for most, and even Lin Xian wasn¡¯t immune to thews of physics. The gun¡¯s immense stopping power, with its 12.7mm bullets, came at the cost of a mere seven-round magazine capacity. In contrast, the SIG Sauer P320, while also powerful, was lighter at under 1 kilogram and held 15 rounds per magazine. In a realbat scenario, the SIG Sauer was the more reliable choice.
ording to Lin Xian¡¯s n, if the time-space assassin pursued him to America, he would first engage her with the SIG Sauer. Ideally, this gun should be capable of piercing her defenses. If it proved insufficient, he would switch to the more formidable Desert Eagle. If even the Desert Eagle couldn¡¯t prate the assassin¡¯s defenses, it would be time to run without looking back.
However, such a scenario seemed unlikely. The assassin, having sustained injuries from falling off a vehicle, shouldn¡¯t be invincible to gunfire; flesh and blood are weak against kic weapons.
Click.
Lin Xian pressed the final bullet into the magazine, now equipped with three 15-round magazines. He loaded one into the SIG Sauer, ensuring the safety was on to prevent any idental discharge. He then ced the loaded handgun in his right pocket and the two heavy magazines in his left.¡°Big Cat Face was right; securityes from gunpowder and bullets,¡± Lin Xian murmured. He stroked the cold steel through his jacket pocket, feeling a sense of nostalgia. Despite his adventures in his dream world, it had been a long time since hest handled a gun. His most recent experience with firearms was during the second dream, when he and CC infiltrated New Donghai City.
Since then, each subsequent dream had seen his circumstances deteriorate. The invincible aura of the first dream had faded, leaving him entrapped and living a harsher existence in the dream world than in reality.
¡°I hope we can eliminate the mysterious old man soon,¡± Lin Xian muttered, adjusting his suit cor and patting the right pocket where the SIG Sauer rested. He fantasized about putting a 10mm bullet through Kevin Walker¡¯s skull, a far more merciful fate than what Walker had inflicted upon him with that massive space shuttle.
Turning around, he saw Angelica¡¯s driver pushing two oversized suitcases into the vi¡¯s living room, with a stylishly dressed Angelica following behind.
¡°All set?¡± Angelica asked.
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°Then take a seat,¡± she instructed, pointing to a nearby chair. ¡°It¡¯s my turn to make you over.¡±
The driver left after delivering the suitcases, and Angelica, under Lin Xian¡¯s watchful gaze, opened them. The suitcases revealed aplex array ofpartments filled with various bottles, jars, and unknown items, each meticulously organized.
Lin Xian was not surprised. When Angelica mentioned transforming him into someone unrecognizable, he had suspected she nned to use makeup. However, he doubted makeup alone could alter his facial features and bone structure significantly.
Angelica began mixing substances from the bottles like a potion master,bining them in ss vessels while ncing at his face. The mixture thickened into a sticky paste.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Xian asked curiously. ¡°You¡¯re not going to put that on my face, are you?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not ck magic. Close your mouth and stay still,¡± Angelica replied. She applied the gooey mixture to his face like ster, covering his cheekbones, nose bridge, eye sockets, temples, and chin. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see how much she applied, but he felt a considerable amount on his eye sockets, likely to deepen them.
Soon, the substance seemed to set, tightening yet remaining pliable. It was a strange sensation. Angelica continued her work, using various tools to shape his face as if performing surgery,yer byyer.
¡°Open your eyes wide,¡± Angelica instructed, fitting him with colored contact lenses. They had a faint blue ring, turning his brown eyes into a striking blue.
¡°How do you feel?¡± she asked, tapping his cheeks.
¡°Like a house under renovation,yer byyer,¡± Lin Xian joked.
¡°I¡¯m asking if there¡¯s any difort,¡± Angelica rified, continuing her work.
¡°Am I really going to be your driver?¡± Lin Xian asked while she rummaged through the suitcase. ¡°Do I need to be this dressed up for the role? Or are we attending a masquerade ball?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not just my driver; you¡¯ll be my date for the evening. Can¡¯t you understand that?¡± Angelica chided, attaching false eyebrows and preparing a fake mustache. ¡°Didn¡¯t any women in X Country ever tell you you¡¯re a bit dense?¡±
¡°Never,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Well, they must have really liked you,¡± Angelicaughed. She carefully positioned the mustache on his chin. ¡°In America, women rarely attend events alone. Bringing a date makes things look normal and avoids unwanted attention.¡±
Angelica then shared a story about Elon Musk¡¯s secretary, who was a huge fan of hers, frequently sending her long messages on social media. Despite Angelica¡¯s polite but minimal responses, the secretary remained persistent.
¡°Stalking isn¡¯t a good look,¡± Lin Xianmented.
¡°Shh,¡± Angelica hushed him with a finger on his lips, smiling. ¡°Tonight, she will get what she¡¯s been waiting for.¡±
Realizing the depth of Angelica¡¯s n, Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°So, you really n to deal with Elon Musk¡¯s secretary. I underestimated you. Does seduction really work on women too?¡±
¡°Want to find out?¡± Angelica teased, arching an eyebrow.
¡°Tell me about your past sesses,¡± Lin Xian suggested.
¡°That would spoil the fun,¡± Angelica said, adjusting the fake mustache. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re a friend of Ji Lin. I wouldn¡¯t mislead my brother¡¯s friend.¡±
After two hours of meticulous work, Lin Xian felt every part of his face, including the folds of his ears, had been transformed. She even used invisible tape to alter his ear shape and applied fine curls to his hair, dyeing it a different color.
Finally, Angelica dered, ¡°Done. Take a look at yourself.¡±
Lin Xian stood up and picked up a mirror from the suitcase, holding it in front of his face. His eyes widened in shock.
The person staring back at him looked like an Arabian prince,plete with darkened skin, deep-set eyes, blue irises, a prominent nose, high cheekbones, fuller lips, and a faint beard. His entire face seemed wider and more angr, yet the transformation was wless and natural.
¡°Can I touch it?¡± he asked.
¡°Of course, just avoid water,¡± Angelica replied.
¡°Your disguise skills are incredible,¡± Lin Xian marveled, turning his head to inspect every angle. He felt like apletely different person, unrecognizable even to himself.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say someone was after you?¡± Angelica reminded him while packing up. ¡°With this disguise, that assassin won¡¯t recognize you. You can rx a bit.¡±
Lin Xian was momentarily speechless. He lowered the mirror and looked at Angelica, feeling a sense of gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Angelica replied softly. ¡°After all, aren¡¯t we partners against amon enemy? If you die, who will fulfill the promise? Who will help me find Ji Lin¡¯s killer? I have to protect you.¡±
Lin Xian scratched his curly hair. ¡°Did you take care of Ji Lin this attentively too?¡±
Angelica smiled, her eyes softening with memory. ¡°I wanted to, but I never had the chance.¡±
She tossed her wavy brown hair over her shoulder. ¡°When Ji Xin Shui brought Ji Lin to the orphanage, he was just a baby, less than a year old. I wasn¡¯t even four years old then, but I was already used to caring for younger siblings.¡±
Angelica¡¯s voice grew distant as she recounted her past. ¡°I was born in a war-torn country. Ji Xin Shui saved me from the ruins, surrounded by the bodies of my family. I was the only survivor. So, I treated Ji Lin as my own brother, pouring all my affection into raising him. I fed him, changed his diapers, told him stories, and yed with him.¡±
She sighed. ¡°As we grew older, we were separated. I was sent to Hollywood as a child star, while Ji Lin stayed with Ji Xin Shui. We kept in touch, and I visited whenever I could, but Hollywood was demanding. I could only see him once or twice a year.¡±
Angelica paused, her expression turning somber. ¡°I knew Ji Xin Shui had given me tasks, primarily gathering intelligence. When they were captured, I was investigated by the police but found innocent. Ji Xin Shui never told me much, so I genuinely didn¡¯t know what they were up to.¡±
She looked at Lin Xian with determination. ¡°Ji Lin was my world. I did everything to make him happy, to fulfill his dreams. When he asked for the painting, ¡®Sorrowful Einstein,¡¯ I made sure to get it for him, no matter the cost.¡±
Angelica¡¯s voice softened. ¡°When Ji Lin told me he had a friend named Lin Xian, I was happy yet jealous. I feared losing him. But then he was taken from me, killed because of the Genius Club¡¯s schemes.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding her pain. ¡°I promise, I¡¯ll help you find the truth and bring those responsible to justice.¡±
Angelica smiled, a tear glistening in her eye. ¡°I believe in you because Ji Lin believed in you. You are his friend, and I will always trust you.¡±
Chapter 335: Reversing Cause and Effect! The Girl from the Future
Lin Xian gazed into Angelica¡¯s misty eyes, which seemed to reflect a world of unspoken thoughts. The name she mentioned, seemingly inconsequential, stirred deep-seated memories of an old friend.
¡°So that¡¯s it¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, an epiphany dawning on him.
He had always found it suspiciously easy to journey to America and team up with Angelica. Despite her notorious reputation as thest member of the Seven Deadly Sins, she had facilitated his arrival with surprising ease: securing him amodation, fetching him from the airport, arming him with a handgun, and even crafting a disguise to shield him from the relentless pursuit of time-space assassins.
And most astonishingly, Angelica had admitted to an almost blind trust in him.
Regardless of the information he shared, the strategies he proposed, or the bold promises he made¡ªsuch as unveiling Copernicus¡¯ true identity and solving the mystery of Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡¯ death upon his official induction into the Genius Club¡ªshe believed him unconditionally. Despite his confident facade, Lin Xian was aware these were mere hopeful aspirations.
The reality of his membership in the Genius Club, the possibility of additional tests, and the likelihood of fulfilling his promises were all uncertain. Yet, Angelica chose to believe in him without a shadow of doubt.
Lin Xian spected, ¡°Perhaps Angelica sees some semnce of Ji Lin in me.¡±
Ji Lin had considered Lin Xian his only friend, a bond he had shared with Angelica. He had spoken of their joint efforts to celebrate Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday and their borate ns for the vi¡¯s decoration. Despite Angelica¡¯s mixed feelings, she would have beenforted knowing Ji Lin had foundpanionship. However, Angelica was unaware of the underlying intentions of maniption and deceit in Lin Xian¡¯s friendship with Ji Lin.With Ji Lin¡¯s death, many unresolved issues had lost their significance. Angelica, who had witnessed the tragic end of all her rtives twice, found herself isted again at the tender age of just over twenty. Though outwardlyposed, her heart was undoubtedly seared with a desire for vengeance against the murderer within the Genius Club.
Perhaps her faith in Lin Xian wasn¡¯t as unwavering as it seemed. Yet, because Ji Lin had recognized him as a friend, Lin Xian had be a temporary pir of emotional support for her. If Ji Lin hadn¡¯t regarded him as a friend, Angelica might have already seized an opportunity to end his life¡ªthat was a chilling possibility.
Lin Xian recalled the letter Ji Lin had penned to Angelica after his release from police custody. The contents remained unknown to him, but he sensed that his own role had been significant, possibly influencing her surprisingly coborative and trusting attitude towards him.
Reflecting on his past interactions with Ji Lin, Lin Xian realized they were superficial at best. Their activities¡ªattending Chu An Qing¡¯s birthday, decorating for the party, ying board games, and gifting an unwanted Gothic Rhine Cat figurine¡ªmight seem trivial to others but held great value to Ji Lin. Just as familial affection, often taken for granted, had slipped through Angelica¡¯s fingers like fine sand, impossible to grasp.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Angelica said briskly, packing up her belongings and signaling for Lin Xian to follow.
Lin Xian took onest nce at his altered reflection in the mirror. He smiled, noticing how even his teeth seemed different, reshaping his entire facial expression. The mastery of disguise was indeed a formidable art. Considering theplexity of the techniques involved, it was clear why not just anyone could master it. Angelica¡¯s reputation as a shapeshifting witch was well-deserved, and she lived up to her formidable reputation.
Outside, a bright purple Lamborghini awaited, its sleek, low-slung form hinting at its exorbitant cost and powerful capabilities.
¡°You drive,¡± Angelica tossed him the car keys, which he caught with a swift motion.
They both ducked into the car, the engine roaring to life at the push of a button as they set off into the night toward their destination.
¡°Here¡¯s tonight¡¯s n,¡± Angelica began, settling into the passenger seat and slipping on a pair of elegant sunsses, which entuated her already striking features.
¡°Elon Musk¡¯s female secretary has been trying to meet me for a while now. She¡¯ll be at a charity banquet at Princeton tonight, representing Musk. She¡¯s been sending me messages on social media for days, but I haven¡¯t responded.¡±
¡°ying hard to get,¡± he remarked, a smirk forming on his lips as he steered the wheel. ¡°You¡¯re quite the strategist. When that disappointed and dejected secretary sees you at the banquet, I can only imagine how excited she¡¯ll be.¡±
Angelica, adjusting her sunsses, nced at Lin Xian with a knowing smile. ¡°The sudden contrast and surprise have the most impact on emotions. If she knew you wereing, she wouldn¡¯t experience that emotional shock from disappointment to excitement. When emotions take over, people lose some rationality. It¡¯s amon tactic¡ªmen often make slips of the tongue in a flurry of praise, and it works here too.¡±
¡°You¡¯re quite the romantic,¡± Angelica teased, her smile widening. ¡°Then why are you always so slow to catch on?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just analyzing rationally,¡± Lin Xian responded, his tone cool as he signaled right and merged onto the highway. ¡°So tonight, my role is your date¡ªa wealthy prince from some obscure country, rich and nothing else, a sucker you¡¯ve hooked.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Angelicaughed. ¡°That¡¯s the persona. I always attract wealthy suckers¡ªdirectors, politicians, senators, athletes, businessmen¡ Just try to act a bit naive and not too dull.¡±
Lin Xian nced at her. ¡°American culture is more open than X Country¡¯s. When you fancy a woman, you boldly invite her to dance. Only by blending in can Elon Musk¡¯s secretary approach me.¡±
Angelica nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t actively approach her; she muste to me, or it will seem too fake. Once she does, I can take her down easily. Winning over an infatuated girl is easier than spreading butter on bread.¡±
Lin Xian coughed lightly and, while waiting at a red light, turned to look at her. ¡°In essence, it¡¯s about the secretary¡¯s orientation, right?¡±
¡°Mm-hmm~¡± Angelica tilted her head and raised her eyebrows at Lin Xian. ¡°A reminder, boy. In America, never assume anyone¡¯s gender. Even if the secretary is biologically female, she might identify as male; and likewise, I might identify as male, and she might perceive me as male too¡ In America, you must be mindful of this, or you¡¯ll get into trouble.¡±
¡°Interesting concept,¡± Lin Xian mused, a yful smile on his lips. ¡°Can I identify as a Walmart stic bag but gender-identify as an attack helicopter?¡±
¡°Of course~¡± Angelica shrugged with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s your freedom. Wee to thend of liberty.¡±
¡°Cool, long live freedom,¡± Lin Xian praised and pressed the gas pedal, speeding through the intersection¡¯s green light.
Angelica touched up her lipstick in the passenger mirror, evenly spreading it, then continued. ¡°So, back to the n. You y your role, and I¡¯ll wait for the opportunity to connect with Elon Musk¡¯s secretary, then¡ I¡¯ll leave you and be with her. I might disappear for a while, but don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all part of the n.¡±
¡°In any case, act ordingly. If you have any issues or needs, I¡¯ll text you. Keep the American phone I gave you for safety.¡±
¡°And did you finish what I asked you to write yesterday? The guidance on what to steer conversations towards and which keywords to look out for?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian responded, taking one hand off the steering wheel to retrieve a folded piece of paper from his suit pocket, handing it to Angelica.
Angelica took it, unfolded it, and adjusted her sunsses to read the words:
Genius Club, Kevin Walker, Super AI, Girl Killer, Blue Eyes, Copernicus, Time-Space Particles.
¡°When gathering information, if you hear these keywords, steer the conversation towards them. If she never mentions them, find a way to introduce them subtly,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°For instance, for the girl killer, you could jokingly ask if Elon Musk is a loli-con and see if there¡¯s any unusual activity involving young girls in his circle.¡±
¡°For Copernicus, approach it by asking who Elon Musk¡¯s favorite scientist or admired figure is, and try to extract information about the Genius Club.¡±
Angelica read the content twice more, then returned the paper to Lin Xian. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Gathering intel is my forte. Leave it to me.¡±
¡°Over there, turn right ahead, go straight to the entrance. No need to park; there¡¯ll be valet service.¡±
She then took out a stack of green dor bills from her handbag and stuffed them into Lin Xian¡¯s pocket. ¡°Tipping culture is serious and pervasive in America. Just tip generously. You¡¯re a wealthy prince now; money is like waste paper to you.¡±
¡°Give me more waste paper then.¡± Lin Xian nced at her handbag. ¡°You gave so little, how am I supposed to act the part? I can¡¯t get into character.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Angelica gave Lin Xian a helpless look but still emptied her handbag¡¯s dors into his pocket. ¡°Remember, those Hollywood tipping scenes are exaggerated. In reality, no one is that extravagant. Even Elon Musk, the richest man, would fold a $100 bill. Folding makes it look more, no one¡¯s silly enough to throw money like a yboy in movies.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a sense of proportion.¡±
Lin Xian braked, parking the Lamborghini at the banquet hall entrance. He looked in the rearview mirror at his altered, square face with deep-set eyes, and curly hair¡ªa wealthy prince from the oil-rich country.
¡°My acting might not be as good as yours, but I¡¯ve had training from a certain Hollywood acting genius.¡±
¡°Oh? Who?¡±
Angelica asked with interest. ¡°I know all the Hollywood acting geniuses.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head with a smile. ¡°This one you don¡¯t know.¡±
With that, he opened the Lamborghini¡¯s scissors door. Valet attendants and reception staff immediately approached, offering white-gloved hands to assist Angelica from the low-slung car. Another valet attendant stood ready at Lin Xian¡¯s door.
Lin Xian stepped out confidently, casually handing a few crisp bills and the Lamborghini key to the valet. The valet¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He hurriedly epted, bowing in thanks.
Lin Xian straightened his suit cor and walked to Angelica¡¯s side, handing out bills to the reception staff as well. Then, holding Angelica¡¯s offered hand, they walked down the red carpet towards the bustling banquet hall.
Angelica, a true socialite and queen among celebrities, greeted everyone warmly, regardless of age or gender. Lin Xian, of course, knew no one here. He barely even recognized himself! So, he smiled at whoever Angelica smiled at, nodded at whoever she talked to, acting knowledgeable.
The hall was filled with people speaking English. When they spoke slowly, Lin Xian could understand. But fast speech or strange grammatical shortcuts made him struggle, often half-understanding. So, he decided to keep silent, pretending to be a wealthy Arab prince who wasn¡¯t fluent in English.
Holding Angelica¡¯s hand, no one would question his identity. Angelica was his best introduction card. A sign that he was rich.
Shortly after entering the hall, the banquet began.
¡°Look, Lin Xian, over by the pir near the stairs, there¡¯s a woman in a light yellow dress with her hair up,¡± Angelica whispered into his ear while casually picking up a wine ss.
Lin Xian nced over. Spotting her was easy; she was the only one in a yellow off-shoulder dress. Tall and slim, her presence was as striking as Angelica¡¯s, an evident testament to the high standards held by the world¡¯s richest men for their secretaries.
He mused that if this stunning secretary ever trained in Hollywood, her star might rise nearly as high as Angelica¡¯s. After all, anyone personally chosen by Elon Musk couldn¡¯t be ordinary. This woman must possess extraordinary skills beyond her beauty¡ªbeauties were something Elon Musk, a notorious yboy, never seemed tock in hispanions.
This made Lin Xian ponder a worrying thought¡ Could Angelica reallypete with such a secretary?
His gaze lingered on the secretary. She usually wore sses, he figured, noting the subtle marks at her temples and her eyes¡¯ habitual squint, likely from contacts worn especially for tonight.
The secretary¡¯s features were delicate and elegant, contrasting with Angelica¡¯s striking sharpness. Her hair was bright yellow, neatly styled in a formal updo suitable for the evening¡¯s event.
¡°She¡¯s currently talking to an executive from an intepany,¡± Angelica murmured, a hint of urgency in her voice. ¡°She hasn¡¯t spotted me yet; too many people here. But it¡¯s only a matter of time¡ Let¡¯s initiate our n, Lin Xian. I need to go mingle and make my rounds.¡±
¡°Quickly slip into your yboy persona, give the secretary a reason to approach me, which will allow me to slip away to her. Can you manage that? I should have prepped you betterst night. You don¡¯t exactly strike me as the charming type.¡±
Lin Xian gave a light snort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a superpower.¡±
Angelica stepped back, eyeing him curiously. ¡°And what might that superpower be?¡±
Pointing to his face, Lin Xian replied with a smirk, much like Bruce Wayne might answer sh¡¯s question in a Batman movie: ¡°I am rich.¡±
A knowing smile crossed Angelica¡¯s face as she tapped Lin Xian¡¯s chest yfully. ¡°Good luck, night guardian¡ May this be your unbeatable Gotham.¡±
¡°Goodbye, my Dark Knight~¡±
Despite the exchange, Lin Xian was out of his element. His usual soirees in Donghai, often alongside Zhao Ying Jun, provided little room for flirtation. He had danced only twice at such gatherings; once led by Zhao Ying Jun herself and another time abruptly cut short by her interference.
Angelica blended into the crowd with ease, as if the room were her personal stage. For her, life was a continuous performance, seamlessly transitioning from on-screen roles to real-world scenarios. Her only genuine respite seemed to be the years spent watching over her younger brother Ji Lin, witnessing his growth from a boy to a man. Those moments represented her truest reality.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian was approached by a stylish young woman near the dining area.
¡°Hi~¡± she greeted, a blend of shyness and expectation in herrge eyes.
¡°Hi,¡± Lin Xian responded, offering a smile.
¡°Do you have time to chat?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± he replied in English, putting on the persona Angelica had crafted for him.
¡°Wow,¡± the girl eximed, slightly taken aback. ¡°A prince¡ But your English carries a unique X Country lilt, almost musical.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because I studied in X Country,¡± Lin Xian exined, swirling his wine ss with poise. ¡°I¡¯ve had a lifelong fascination with X Country, prompting me to study both X Countrynguage and English there, which influenced my ent.¡±
She nodded, her interest piqued. ¡°I chose Arabic as my secondnguage in college. I just wanted to say hello.¡±
¡°I find Arabic incredibly romantic,¡± Lin Xian remarked, his interest evident in his tone. ¡°Since it¡¯s your nativenguage, you must feel a deep connection to it.¡±
The girl, quick-witted and yful, challenged him, ¡°What¡¯s the most romantic phrase in Arabic?¡±
Lin Xian leaned in, his gaze fixating on her vibrant green eyes, and whispered in English, ¡°You have captivating eyes.¡±
Sheughed, a blush coloring her cheeks. ¡°That¡¯s English, not Arabic.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian grinned with unwavering confidence. ¡°But my English teacher always said it¡¯s the most romantic phrase in the world.¡±
Herughter filled the air, joyful and contagious, as she linked her arm with his. ¡°Let¡¯s dance!¡±
As they joined others on the dance floor, Lin Xian¡¯s attention briefly shifted to Angelica. She was conversing with a guest, Elon Musk¡¯s secretary, who appearedpletely captivated by her. Angelica, however, remained cool and collected.
Soon after, both women melded into the bustling crowd, disappearing from Lin Xian¡¯s view. His phone buzzed with a message from Angelica: ¡°I won¡¯t be back tonight. Drive yourself home.¡±
Admiring her social prowess, Lin Xian thought to himself how Angelica, nicknamed ¡°Lust¡± among their group known as the Seven Deadly Sins, could teach a master ss in charm. Her skills were legendary at captivating everyone, regardless of gender.
After the dance, Lin Xian exchanged numbers with the lively girl and decided to head home. With Angelica gone, he felt no need to stay.
At the valet stand, before Lin Xian could even ask, the valet handed him the keys to a Lamborghini, bowing respectfully. ¡°Sir, have a wonderful night.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and made his way to the car, unaware of the young girl with blue eyes who watched him leave and silently pointed towards an unnoticed hall.
As Lin Xian drove through the suburbanndscapes, a stark contrast to the dense urban environment of his hometown, his peaceful drive was abruptly interrupted. A ck Mercedes, its headlights ominously off, raced toward him in his rearview mirror.
A sudden realization of danger struck Lin Xian as he recognized the driver¡¯s bright blue eyes in the darkness¡ªit was the time-space assassin from his nightmares.
The Mercedes collided with Lin Xian¡¯s Lamborghini, shattering the night with the sound of breaking carbon fiber. Lin Xian struggled to control his car, relying on his driving skills to avoid flipping over.
The cars screeched to a halt, and as Lin Xian reached for his gun, a paralyzing force overwhelmed him. His body refused to obey, a cruel trick of the time-spacews favoring the assassin.
He heard a distant shout, ¡°Get down!!!¡± just as a Harley roared past, the driver managing to hit the assassin with a skillful maneuver.
The assassin, momentarily downed, quickly recovered, but not before the Harley¡¯s rider, a young girl, continued her assault. She jumped off the bike, grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s fallen gun, and opened fire on the assassin¡¯s hiding spot.
¡°Get on! Quick!¡± she called to Lin Xian, her voice youthful yetmanding.
Lin Xian, weak but driven by desperation, used the bike as support to stand and eventually mounted it. The girl revved the engine and they sped away from the imminent danger.
As they left, the girl tossed a lighter onto a trail of gasoline leaking from the Mercedes. A massive explosion illuminated the night, echoing like a scene from a Hollywood movie.
Despite the surreal chaos, Lin Xian was grateful. ¡°Thank you for saving me,¡± he said, trying to make sense of the night¡¯s events.
¡°Do you know me?¡± he asked, curiosity piquing.
¡°Of course, Lin Xian,¡± the girl responded, her voice clear against the wind. ¡°I came to save you. You were hard to find.¡±
Unable to see her face clearly from his position, Lin Xian noted her youthful appearance and resilience against the cold. ¡°Who sent you?¡± he inquired.
¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± she replied, focused on the road.
¡°Can you at least tell me your name?¡± Lin Xian persisted.
¡°Yu Xi,¡± she answered, her voice soft yet firm.
Lin Xian leaned forward in surprise, repeating her name for rity.
¡°Yu, as in the concubine, Xi, as in the returning,¡± she exined, finally turning to look at him. Her eyes, blue as the Milky Way, pierced the night, leaving Lin Xian in awe.
¡°Yu Xi!¡±
Chapter 336: Two Girls, The Blue Truth
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake the eerie feeling that enveloped him as he stared into the girl¡¯s bright blue eyes. They reminded him starkly of a time-space assassin. It was an unmistakable marker: she, too, was a time traveler.
She swiftly turned her attention back to the road, gripping the handles of her motorcycle. After a brief introduction, she revved the engine, elerating down the deserted street. With no helmet on, her hair tied back into a small ponytail that fluttered like a hamster¡¯s tail in the night breeze, she seemed carefree yet focused. As Lin Xian sat behind her, the tips of her hair asionally tickled his nose.
¡°You¡¯re a time traveler too,¡± Lin Xian stated, breaking the silence.
¡°Exactly,¡± she shouted back over the roar of the Harley, leaning forward as if to chase the wind itself.
¡°The brightness of our eyes, it¡¯s a tell. You must have traveled from around the same time as the girl who was chasing you,¡± she exined, her voice slicing through the noise.
Lin Xian mulled over this new information. ¡°So, the blue in your eyes marks the time discement, and its intensity varies with how far you¡¯ve traveled? If someone came from just a few decades ahead, the glow would be faint, barely noticeable. But from several centuries? It¡¯d be as bright as a blue bulb¡ I always thought it rted to energy levels,¡± Lin Xian pondered aloud.
The girl nodded, affirming his deduction.
Previously, Lin Xian had discussed with Liu Feng about the luminosity of a time traveler¡¯s blue eyes, hypothesizing that it indicated their energy or power levels, dimming as the traveler weakened. Liu Feng had believed it signaled the intensity of time discement, with the more dangerous or powerful travelers disying brighter hues. Both had been off the mark. The girl rified that it simply corrted with the span of time traveled.¡°What era do you and the time-space assassin hail from?¡± Lin Xian inquired, steadying himself by holding onto her shoulder.
¡°I can¡¯t disclose that,¡± she replied, her tone both expected and frustrating. ¡°You must understand, timews bind us. While we might name them differently, the essence remains consistent.¡±
¡°Probing into which era I¡¯m from or who sent me pushes the boundaries set by thosews. I can¡¯t answer such questions. But I am here to save you, and finding you in this vast world wasn¡¯t easy. If you weren¡¯t specifically in Donghai, it would have been nearly impossible.¡±
¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for sensing the time assassin¡¯s presence¡ªwhich she likely sensed about me too¡ªI wouldn¡¯t have located you. Her recent activities indicated she¡¯d found her target.¡±
¡°To track you down, I followed her through a time-space resonance, which led me here to Princeton. I¡¯ve been tracing her movements ever since,¡± she exined, her youthful voice clear andposed, portraying a narrative akin to the movie Terminator 2¡ªwhere a time assassin and a protector converge on a single young target.
These two young women, about the same age yet distinctly different in skills¡ªone here to kill him, the other to protect¡ªremained secretive in their intentions. The assassin was slightly taller, more muscr, showcasing visible signs of rigorous training. She sported short, ck hair, an intense demeanor, and a nearly emotionless expression that was chilling to the core.
In contrast, the protector was petite, with a less intimidating stature and softer training marks. Her hair was also ck and short but styled into a charming ponytail, lending her an endearing appearance.
Both likely kept their hair short for practicality¡ªlong hair could be a liability inbat. Their physical traits suggested they had undergone simr enhancements, typical of individuals from a future several centuries ahead.
What intrigued Lin Xian most was the girl¡¯s name¡ªYu Xi. Hearing this name in such an unexpected context threw him off. He had pondered over Yellow Finch¡¯s references to Yu Xi, never quite solving the puzzle. Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic messages were usually straightforward; the answersy in the questions themselves.
Yu Xi was not a metaphor or a code but a real person, the girl sitting before him.
¡°Do you know someone named Yellow Finch?¡± Lin Xian asked, gazing at her fluttering ponytail.
¡°No,¡± Yu Xi responded.
¡°What about Zhao Ying Jun?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± she replied as she swerved onto a side road, her movements fluid and unhesitant. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun is your friend here in Donghai, right? She was your boss before you ventured out on your own. Though you¡¯ve separated professionally, your businesses remain closely linked.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mean the Zhao Ying Jun from this era,¡± Lin Xian rified. ¡°Do you know her from your time?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯ve never heard of her,¡± Yu Xi stated, her ponytail bobbing with the motion.
Lin Xian was puzzled. Yellow Finch, or Zhao Ying Jun¡ªwhatever her real name¡ªseemed to know Yu Xi, having predicted that she woulde to protect him. Yet, Yu Xi denied any knowledge of her.
The timelineplexities deepened. Yellow Finch hailed from decades ahead, while Yu Xi and the assassin were from centuries beyond. Theirck of mutual recognition was logical yet mystifying.
With no immediate answers from Yu Xi and Yellow Finch absent, the mystery deepened. What did Yu Xi know about the assassin?
¡°Today was my first encounter with her. Before this, I had no knowledge of her appearance, gender, age, or origin. You might know more about her than I do,¡± Yu Xi admitted, shaking her head.
¡°I sensed both of us were in X Country, near Donghai. She then moved to Europe, where I detected another time traveler¡¯s faint signal.¡±
¡°I nned to follow, but before I could, her location shifted back to Donghai. The European signal vanished, likely neutralized. Then, she headed to the USA. Her movements were swift and targeted,¡± Yu Xi exined.
Lin Xian reflected on his recent encounters: ¡°The sensing between time travelers is precise. I was in Copenhagen recently when the assassin murdered a friend in front of me. Then she pursued me to Donghai, and when I fled to the USA for safety, she followed and attacked me again.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Yu Xi said, her voice soft yet sincere, ¡°If I had found you sooner, perhaps your friend would have been safe. The assassin had a more urate method to track you, likely with local assistance¡ I¡¯m on my own, so it took longer.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Lin Xian reassured her, appreciating her concern despite the grim situation.
¡°I have a question,¡± he continued, ¡°You mentioned timews restrict what you can say and do. Can you harm me or kill me?¡±
¡°Absolutely not,¡± Yu Xi replied immediately, shaking her head. ¡°Any attempt would trigger an immediate prohibition by the timews. What do you call thisw?¡±
¡°Forced Evasion,¡± Lin Xian answered.
¡°That¡¯s an apt name,¡± Yu Xi agreed, her ponytail bouncing as she nodded. ¡°Time travelers can¡¯t interfere with history beyond set limits. Any breach triggers severe repercussions, shortening our time here or even erasing our existence.¡±
¡°But here¡¯s the problem!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew concerned. ¡°The time assassin can harm and even kill me without repercussions from the timews. She attacked my driver in Donghai, seemingly indifferent to thews. This doesn¡¯t align with the supposed absoluteness of timews. How is she bypassing them?¡±
¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Yu Xi asserted firmly. ¡°Time travelers cannot override thews. If your ount is urate, it¡¯s highly unusual and rming.¡±
Yu Xi¡¯s confirmation corrected Lin Xian¡¯s previous misconceptions. He had thought the assassin found a loophole that allowed her to bnce historical impacts, enabling her to attempt his assassination without consequence. This notion now seemed far-fetched.
Predicting which actions would disrupt or align with history was a gamble without knowing the future.
His theory of ¡®bncing time sticity¡¯ was wed from the start, a product of panic rather than logic.
¡°So, my assumption was entirely incorrect,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged, looking thoughtful. ¡°Even though the assassin¡¯s immunity to timews seems irrational, there must be an underlying reason. Any thoughts?¡±
¡°None,¡± Yu Xi admitted, shaking her head, her ponytail swaying with the motion. ¡°Lin Xian, I can¡¯t assist with that mystery. You¡¯ll need to unravel it on your own.¡±
Lin Xian felt a pang of nostalgia, reminiscent of Yellow Finch¡¯s mysterious clues.
Now, the great mystery-solver was reced by a new, albeit smaller mystery.
The real puzzle wasn¡¯t just the assassin¡¯s apparent immunity to timews.
The question was why the Forced Evasionw seemed specifically applicable to him.
This was baffling. Faced with the seemingly invincible time assassin, Lin Xian felt a momentary despair.
How could hebat someone who appeared impervious to his efforts, paralyzing him with her mere presence? She seemed like a formidable game boss, armed with maximum attack and defense capabilities, plus a paralyzing aura.
Noticing Lin Xian¡¯s prolonged silence, Yu Xi turned to him, her expression filled with concern:
¡°Don¡¯t lose hope. We¡¯ll find a way. My mission is to protect you, even if it costs me my life. The time assassin might terrify you, but to me, she¡¯s just another adversary. We¡¯re evenly matched.¡±
Reassured by Yu Xi¡¯s confident words, Lin Xian nodded. He wasn¡¯t disheartened; he was merely piecing together the puzzle.
He believed there was a crucial detail he was missing.
Every event has a cause and effect.
The time assassin¡¯s apparent immunity had to have a logical exnation. Discovering this could expose her vulnerability and provide a strategy to defeat her.
Recalling Gao Yang¡¯s words at Ji Lin¡¯s birthday party resonated deeply:
¡°Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall!¡±
This inspired Lin Xian. Failure wasn¡¯t the end; the true defeat was losing the courage to stand again.
The adversary was formidable, but Lin Xian believed she was not invincible.
¡°I¡¯ll figure it out,¡± he affirmed, patting Yu Xi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Where are we heading now?¡±
At that moment, Lin Xian¡¯s phone rang. It was Angelica.
He answered, eager for a distraction: ¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Hehe, the secretary has fallen asleep,¡± Angelica¡¯s voice came through, the sound of a lighter flicking and a cigarette igniting audible in the background.
¡°You¡¯re amazing,¡± Lin Xianplimented. ¡°Honestly, I envy your current situation. What did you discover?¡±
¡°Plenty,¡± Angelica chuckled, her tone yful yet mysterious. ¡°I never fail. Do you want to hear about the lolicon or the AI first?¡±
¡°Tell me about the lolicon.¡±
Angelicaughed softly, her voice low and teasing: ¡°The secretary revealed that her boss, Elon Musk, has been hiding a teenage girl¡ªan East Asian girl¡ªin the tower for several months.¡±
¡°She¡¯s worried this could ruin Elon Musk, possibly evennding him in jail. In the US, if this news breaks and is verified, Elon Musk¡¯s career and life could be devastated.¡±
Lin Xian adjusted his seating on the motorcycle, intrigued: ¡°Any more details about the girl?¡±
¡°The secretary described her as stunning, like a character from a manga, with a beautifully sculpted face akin to a piece of art.¡±
¡°Besides her beauty, the girl had neck-length ck hair and appeared very reserved and quiet. And one more thing¡ªthe most memorable feature¡ªher eyes were blue. And¡ incredibly bright.¡±
Chapter 337: Elon Musks Secret
The girl with eerie, bright blue eyes¡
The girl with short ck hair and an emotionless face¡
Everything matched.
The image of the time-traveling assassin girl had long been etched in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. Whenever he closed his eyes, he could see those terrifying blue eyes and that face as cold as a human mask.
Without a doubt, the little girl described by Elon Musk¡¯s secretary was the same assassin who had been hunting him.
¡°Is there any more information about the girl?¡± Lin Xian asked.
On the other end of the line, Angelica took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled slowly.
¡°Not much more. It¡¯s only the first night. I can¡¯t ask too many questions right away. Today, I hardly asked anything directly. I acted like I had no interest in her boss, focusing all my attention on her instead.¡±¡°When we were chatting, I noticed her frowning a lot. I touched her forehead and asked if something was bothering her. She mentioned her concern about Elon Musk¡¯s legal troubles, which led her to reveal that he was hiding a teenage girl. However, she didn¡¯t seem to know the full story, just some surface details.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian¡ you¡¯re really interested in this girl. Could she be the assassin Elon Musk sent to kill you? Although it sounds incredible, in my country, many spies are trained from childhood. Kids have a natural advantage as operatives¡¡±
¡°They¡¯re small, agile, and less likely to arouse suspicion. They can easily use their innocent appearance to lower people¡¯s defenses. Especially a cute little girl ¨C who would suspect her of being an assassin? They can blend in anywhere and disarm everyone with their harmless looks.¡±
Angelica wasn¡¯t wrong. Lin Xian had heard about the powerful intelligence organizations in the middle east region, where most of the top agents were children. While kids weren¡¯t as strong as adults inbat, their ability to hide and infiltrate was unmatched.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t dismiss the idea. Cute, small children naturally trigger kindness and favoritism in people. That might be why both the time-traveling assassin and Yu Xi were little girls.
Angelica, being cautious, didn¡¯t ask too much on the first night. She chose to listen passively, building trust without raising suspicion.
For now, it was clear. The girl assassin and Elon Musk were connected, and Elon Musk likely sent the assassin after him. The enemy was closer than he thought. If not for VV burning Elon Musk¡¯s name onto the TV before dying, Lin Xian might still see Elon Musk as a savior instead of a threat. He¡¯d be walking right into a trap.
But there was one thing he still didn¡¯t understand. If Elon Musk wanted him dead, why rescue him with a rocket from space instead of letting Kevin Walker¡¯s X-37B space shuttle kill him? Lin Xian believed Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t act inconsistently without reason. These puzzling actions must be part of Elon Musk¡¯s grand n. What was Elon Musk¡¯s true purpose?
Lin Xian needed more information. He asked, ¡°Angelica, besides the info on the girl, did you learn anything about artificial intelligence?¡±
¡°Yes, about Elon Musk¡¯s attitude toward AI,¡± Angelica replied. ¡°Manypany executives, including his secretary, want to incorporate more AI into their work to increase efficiency and reduce costs. But Elon Musk hates AI. Despite investing in a major AIpany early on, he now despises AI for stifling human creativity and imagination. This is a contentious issue within Elon Musk¡¯spany.¡±
¡°The secretaryined to me that if Elon Musk allowed AI, her job would be much easier. But since most of Elon Musk¡¯spanies are privately held, he has the final say. She mentioned he often says strange things, like a cartoon viin, about the world and history. Regarding AI, he once said, ¡®From now on, there will be no more super AI.''¡±
¡°I wanted to ask under what circumstances he said that. After all, ¡®super AI¡¯ was one of the keywords you gave me. But we had already talked too much about work, and it would be odd for a Hollywood actress like me to show such interest in business secrets. Extracting information is tricky, Lin Xian. Pressing too hard only raises suspicion. Acting indifferent and uninterested can provoke them to share more.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian agreed. Angelica¡¯s approach was smart. As a top intelligence collector under Ji Xin Shui¡¯s Seven Deadly Sins, she knew her tactics well. Extracting such critical information on the first night was impressive. Although the secretary¡¯s info might not seem confidential, it was crucial for Lin Xian. He now had two key insights:
The time-traveling assassin was sent by Elon Musk.
The super AI, VV, was also eliminated by Elon Musk.
This was enough for Lin Xian to identify his enemy. But he still had questions. Could Elon Musk be the mysterious old man behind everything in his fourth dream? VV had collected numerous photos of Elon Musk, and none matched the old man¡¯s sketch. But with advanced technology, Elon Musk could easily alter his appearance.
Focusing on the old man¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t as urgent as dealing with the current threat. He sighed and asked, ¡°Angelica, any other information?¡±
¡°No, that¡¯s all for tonight. Extracting information is a long-term job. As I build a deeper rtionship with the secretary, more details will surface. But she¡¯s smart and knows what she can and can¡¯t say. It will be hard to get to the core information,¡± Angelica said.
Lin Xian agreed. Bing Elon Musk¡¯s secretary meant she wasn¡¯t ordinary. The info she shared wasn¡¯t secretive, but it was valuable to Lin Xian. Extracting deeper secrets like those about the Genius Club would be challenging.
Angelica chuckled, ¡°We need a different approach. We should get closer to Elon Musk to find out more.¡±
¡°Can we really get close to Elon Musk?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I have a n. The secretary invited me to her home in Texas. She¡¯s a big fan of mine and has collected many of my memorabilia. She even built a gallery in her house. It¡¯s an opportunity I can¡¯t refuse. And guess where her home is? Near Boca Chica, where Elon Musk has his Starship rocketunch base.¡±
Texas, Boca Chica, Starship rocket base. Lin Xian remembered VV mentioning that Elon Musk often watched rockets from the observation tower there. There must be a secret in that tower. If Angelica was heading to theunch base, her n might involve meeting Elon Musk.
¡°Are you nning to meet Elon Musk at the base? That won¡¯t be easy. Even if you meet him, he¡¯ll be cautious,¡± Lin Xian warned.
Angelicaughed confidently, ¡°Have you forgotten how Hollywood calls me?¡±
Lin Xian realized her bold n. Could it work?
¡°So, Lin Xian, I need your help. Come to Cameron County, Texas. I¡¯ll send you an address. When I¡¯m ready, meet me at the secretary¡¯s home.¡±
¡°Got it. Be careful, Angelica,¡± Lin Xian said as she hung up.
Lin Xian put his phone away and turned to Yu Xi, who was driving the Harley.
¡°Elon Musk must have helped the assassin find you. Otherwise, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack,¡± Yu Xi said.
Lin Xian was surprised. ¡°How did you hear our conversation over the wind noise?¡±
¡°I told you, our bodies have been enhanced to human limits, including our hearing. I can hear everything clearly, even your phone conversations,¡± Yu Xi exined, her voice firm against the rushing wind.
Lin Xian pondered, realizing Yu Xi¡¯s enhancements rendered his disguise useless. ¡°So if Angelica ns to impersonate the secretary, it must be when the assassin isn¡¯t around, or she¡¯ll be detected immediately.¡±
¡°Exactly. But I doubt the assassin will return to Elon Musk until her mission isplete. Unless Elon Musk recalls her,¡± Yu Xi replied, turning the motorcycle smoothly.
¡°I¡¯ll inform Angelica that the blue-eyed assassin can see through disguises. If she detects the girl, she must abort the mission immediately,¡± Lin Xian said, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
He then asked Yu Xi, ¡°What¡¯s your n now?¡±
¡°We need to split up. If I stay with you, the assassin can track you through me. It¡¯s safer if we separate,¡± Yu Xi suggested.
¡°But if she ignores you andes straight for me?¡± Lin Xian countered.
¡°I¡¯lle to your aid immediately. This is the safest strategy,¡± Yu Xi insisted.
Lin Xian thought it over. It was a sound n, but he remembered Yellow Finch¡¯sst words:
¡°If you can, Lin Xian¡ don¡¯t leave Yu Xi.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t let history repeat itself. ¡°No, we can¡¯t separate. You can sense the assassin, and we need that advantage.¡±
Yu Xi turned her head slightly, her blue eyes reflecting concern. ¡°But you¡¯ll be in danger. I can¡¯t protect you from bullets.¡±
¡°I doubt the assassin can use a gun. She hasn¡¯t killed me yet, which means she wants to capture me alive,¡± Lin Xian argued.
¡°And when I tried to shoot her, she dodged, indicating she doesn¡¯t know she¡¯s immune to bullets. We must stay together,¡± Lin Xian concluded.
Yu Xi sighed but nodded. ¡°Alright, but if the assassin finds allies, you¡¯ll have to deal with them yourself. I can¡¯t harm people from this timeline.¡±
¡°I understand. We need to arm ourselves. Let¡¯s go to Texas and meet Angelica,¡± Lin Xian decided.
They ¡°borrowed¡± an old car and drove off, Lin Xian reflecting on his mission. Facing Kevin Walker and Elon Musk as enemies, he felt the weight of his task. But knowing his foes gave him a clear target.
As they drove through the night, Lin Xian thought about the mysteries surrounding Yu Xi and Yellow Finch. He needed answers but knew they woulde in time.
¡°Yu Xi, do we have any special connection?¡± he asked, half-expecting a denial.
¡°No,¡± Yu Xi replied, her blue eyes steady. ¡°We only met today.¡±
Lin Xian exhaled, sensing some truth in her words. He had learned to trust his instincts about these time-travelers.
¡°Is your mission to save me rted to the Genius Club?¡± Lin Xian asked, hoping for rity.
Yu Xi hesitated, then replied, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡±
Chapter 338: Zheng Xiang Yues Ticket
Chapter 338: Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s Ticket
As expected, it was another ¡°I can¡¯t say.¡±
Lin Xian snorted lightly. Without a firm denial, it was very likely that Yu Xi¡¯s time travel had something to do with the Genius Club. But what kind of rtionship? That was still a mystery. It could be a positive connection, or it could be a negative one. The current situation was confusing.
Lin Xian felt the whirlpool of mysteries around him growing bigger. He had to break through the stalemate soon.
¡°I¡¯m going to sleep now,¡± Lin Xian said, closing his eyes. ¡°If you get tired of driving, wake me up.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Yu Xi replied curtly.
¡.
¡°Has that time-space assassin caught up again?¡± Lin Xian opened his eyes once more.Yu Xi shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s still lingering around Princeton. Don¡¯t worry, even though she¡¯s shrouded in mysteries, she¡¯s ultimately just a human being of flesh and blood. She can¡¯t fly, nor can she withstand bullets. Plus, I can sense her position. She¡¯s not as terrifying as you think. Just sleep soundly, I¡¯ll wake you if anything happens.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Resting well was essential for a better fight tomorrow.
He nced at his watch. It was 1:23 AM in America, which meant it was 1:23 PM in X Country. Falling asleep at this time would definitely lead to dreaming. Once he entered the dream, unless it was 00:42 in X Country time, or he died in the dream, nothing could wake him up from the outside world.
This had happened once when he was a child. His parents couldn¡¯t wake him up no matter what and were so scared they took him to the hospital. The doctor checked him over and found nothing wrong, concluding that he was simply sleeping too deeply. Though it was rare to see someone sleep so deeply, facts were facts.
But in the current situation, he couldn¡¯t afford to sleep so deeply. If something dangerous happened, and Yu Xi couldn¡¯t wake him up, or even if hitting him wouldn¡¯t wake him, his life could be at risk.
So, he had to think of a way to die quickly, wake up once, and then continue sleeping.
The fourth dream was different from other dreams; it didn¡¯t offer many chances for a deliberate death. His activity range was very limited, and if he missed the initial opportunity, he would be electrocuted unconscious, entering a state of dual disconnection from reality and the dream,parable to actual death.
His eyelids grew heavier. Gradually, Lin Xian fell into a deep sleep.
¡.
The familiar summer breeze and the familiar noise filled the air as Lin Xian quickly opened his eyes. He found himself in the usual scenario: dozens of soldiers surrounded him, and more than a dozen balloon airships with Time Bank¡¯s advertisements hovered high above.
All the soldiers nervously held up their rifles, disengaging the safeties as they faced the young man who had appeared like a magician. The soldier dressed as a captain was about to step forward when Lin Xian chuckled softly.
¡°Heh,¡± Lin Xian murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and determination.
Without wasting a second, he charged toward his chosen target¡ªa soldier who seemed less proficient with his gun and was a beat slower than the others. The soldier¡¯s hesitation was all Lin Xian needed.
Lin Xian pounced directly at the gun barrel, aiming it at his forehead. With a swift and decisive movement, he pressed the trigger hard with his right hand.
Bang!
The deafening gunshot echoed in his ears, and Lin Xian¡¯s vision went ck.
¡.
Lin Xian jerked up from the passenger seat, heart racing, gasping for air. The familiar sensation of returning to reality hit him hard, and he struggled to steady his breath.
Yu Xi nced over, confusion etched on her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? A nightmare?¡±
Lin Xian took a moment to calm his breathing, looking at Yu Xi. It seemed that this time-traveling protector from the future didn¡¯t know the secret of his dreams. This realization wasforting.
This also proved she didn¡¯t know Yellow Finch. Yellow Finch knew everything about him, including his ability to time-travel in dreams. But as for Yu Xi, she seemedpletely ignorant about his dream ability.
Good. Lin Xian had no intention of sharing this, his most precious secret, with anyone.
¡°Sort of,¡± Lin Xian replied vaguely, not wanting to delve into details.
Satisfied with his response, Yu Xi returned her focus to the road, her hands steady on the wheel.
Lin Xian turned over and went back to sleep. Once he ¡°popped¡± out of a dream by dying in it, he wouldn¡¯t dream again until the next cycle. Now, he could sleep soundly.
¡.
The next day, near noon, Yu Xi was still driving in the same position, showing no signs of fatigue. Lin Xian yawned and sat up, adjusting the seat back to its upright position. He looked out at the scenery and, as expected, it was tnd. The highway stretched out straight to the horizon, with no curves at all. It was no wonder people said you could lock the steering wheel and sleep while driving on American highways.
¡°I¡¯ll drive,¡± Lin Xian said to Yu Xi. ¡°You get some sleep, have something to eat. By the time you wake up, we¡¯ll be close to Texas.¡±
Without any fuss, Yu Xi pulled over, and they switched ces. She moved to the back seat to rest. ¡°The time-space assassin is probably still in Princeton. She hasn¡¯t followed us because we¡¯re too far away for me to sense her position clearly now. But don¡¯t worry. Even while sleeping, I can sense the assassin¡¯s distance from us. If she gets close, I¡¯ll wake up immediately.¡±
With that, Yu Xi closed her eyes and began to sleep. Lin Xian turned down the volume of the radio to avoid disturbing her. He rested his left elbow on the car window frame, supporting his chin, while his right hand lightly held the steering wheel that hardly needed any control. He nced at Yu Xi, sleeping peacefully in the backseat, through the rearview mirror.
It dawned on him that he knew almost nothing about Yu Xi. How old was she exactly? What kind of life had she lived? What kind of experiences had she gone through? Was she an only child? Were her parents still alive? Would she be able to return to her time afterpleting her mission?
Even in the future, with advancements in drug enhancements and gene editing making everyone smarter, prettier, and stronger, real skills and knowledge still had to be acquired through practice and learning. Yu Xi looked at most fifteen or sixteen years old, maybe even younger. To have such excellent driving skills and the ability to use a handgun at such a young age, not only managing the strong recoil but also having precise aim, it was hard to imagine how many years she had spent in training.
Thunk. Thunk.
The old car, with its poor suspension, bounced over a railroad track crossing the road, jolting Lin Xian and the sleeping Yu Xi in the backseat. In the rearview mirror, he saw the girl rub her eyes in her sleep. She shifted her position, turned over, and, facing away from Lin Xian, continued to sleep.
¡.
After reaching Cameron County, Texas, Lin Xian and Yu Xi decided not to go directly to the address Angelica had given them. Instead, they found a motel to rest for the night.
The next morning, they followed Angelica¡¯s instructions to a suburban viplex. One of the vis was the residence of Elon Musk¡¯s female secretary. Angelica said she had arranged everything, and Lin Xian should go straight in to find her.
¡°I¡¯ll stay outside and keep watch,¡± Yu Xi said as Lin Xian got out of the car. ¡°I can sense the time-space assassin moving towards us quickly. She probably noticed we stayed here for a while and decided toe directly.¡±
¡°Get me a gun. If there¡¯s a chance for closebat, I can use it to deal with her. As long as there are no other people around, I can use a gun without worrying about stray bullets triggering the forced avoidancew.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, closing the car door. ¡°You keep watch outside. I told Angelica, and she¡¯s prepared two handguns for us. I¡¯ll go see her now.¡±
With that, Lin Xian walked to the vi and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Soon, Angelica, dressed in loose pajamas, opened the door. She had no makeup on, looked tired, and her seaweed-like hair was casually tied up.
¡°Where¡¯s the secretary?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Asleep,¡± Angelica replied ndly.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°She sleeps a lot, doesn¡¯t she?¡±
Angelica raised an eyebrow. ¡°This time, I used some special means. She won¡¯t wake up until evening. Come in quickly, we need to discuss the next steps.¡±
Lin Xian entered, and Angelica closed the door behind him. She first led Lin Xian to a bedroom where the secretary was sleeping soundly on arge bed.
¡°She¡¯s definitely in a deep sleep,¡± Angelica assured him. ¡°But just in case, you stay here and watch her. If she wakes up early, restrain her to prevent her from alerting Elon Musk and ruining our n.¡±
Angelica tapped a ck briefcase on the dining table. Lin Xian opened it. Inside were the items he needed: two ck handguns, magazines, and bullets.
Angelica then pointed to a familiar pair ofrge suitcases in the corner of the living room. Those were full of her ¡°disguise tools.¡±
¡°My driver dropped these off and left. Today is a rare opportunity. Elon Musk asked the secretary to meet him at the Starship rocketunch center¡¯s observation tower at 10 AM. I¡¯ve been waiting for this chance. For the past two days, I¡¯ve been with the secretary, and she¡¯s taken leave from work to stay with me. I¡¯ve studied her speech habits, catchphrases, posture, and gait. Plus, we have simr body types, so impersonating her is no problem.¡±
As she spoke, Angelica opened the suitcase. ¡°And since this is her home, I have plenty of her clothes and essories to choose from, making it even more convincing.¡±
¡°But what about her voice?¡± Lin Xian asked, spreading his hands. ¡°Even if you can mimic her appearance, body, demeanor, and walking style perfectly, what about her voice?¡±
Angelica smiled slightly. She cleared her throat and adjusted her voice. Then she spoke in apletely different woman¡¯s voice: ¡°Mr. Elon Musk¡ Why do you alwayse up here without your phone?¡±
The voice was indistinguishable from the secretary¡¯s!
¡°You can do a lot,¡± Lin Xian remarked, genuinely impressed. ¡°It seems like the Oscar for Best Actress was long overdue for you. No wonder you yed the secret agent so well in the movies¡ it was just you being yourself.¡±
¡°I¡¯m curious, where did you learn all these skills? Who taught you? Hollywood doesn¡¯t typically train for these things, right?¡±
Angelica put a finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture. ¡°Secret~¡± she said, using another different but equally urate voice.
¡°For normal speaking, I can imitate perfectly,¡± she continued in her normal voice. ¡°But if I shout, it will definitely give me away. So here¡¯s a tip¡ if you want to know someone¡¯s real voice, make them shout or speak loudly.¡±
Indeed. Lin Xian thought of the once-popr bubble and nasally voices. Those two annoying voices could only be produced when speaking softly or in a low tone.
Now that her disguise, clothes, essories, and voice were all sorted, Angelica¡¯s chances of sessfully infiltrating were high. Lin Xian trusted her acting skills. Even if Elon Musk asked unexpected questions, she should be able to bluff her way through.
Angelica took off her pajamas. ¡°Alright, I need to start getting ready. You stay in the bedroom and keep an eye on the secretary.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and moved to the bedroom, making sure the secretary was still sound asleep. He then took a seat by the door, keeping a vignt eye on her and listening for any signs of disturbance. As Angelica prepared herself, the gravity of their mission weighed on Lin Xian¡¯s mind. Sess was crucial, and any slip-up could cost them dearly.
¡.
Two hourster, the bedroom door opened again. Lin Xian looked up and saw what seemed to be a twin of the woman sleeping on the bed walk in.
¡°Do I look like her?¡± Angelica asked in a voice that wasn¡¯t her own.
¡°You look exactly like her,¡± Lin Xian replied earnestly,paring the faces of the awake and the sleeping women. It was as if they were clones. Angelica¡¯s disguise skills were impressive.
The woman who had just entered, now disguised as the secretary, had a tall figure, was wearing a ck professional skirt, slightly reflective stockings, high heels, and exuded the poised demeanor of a professional woman. Her hair was dyed the same color as the secretary¡¯s, straightened, and pinned up in a familiar style with the secretary¡¯s usual hairpin.
Lin Xian nced at a magazine cover on the desk. The cover photo showed Elon Musk with the secretary, the headline featuring an interview with Elon Musk and his personal secretary. He picked up the magazine andpared the cover photo with the disguised Angelica. Perfect. Every detail was identical.
¡°Except for one thing,¡± Lin Xian noted.
Angelica produced a pair of red-framed sses from behind and put them on her nose. ¡°Now, don¡¯t we look exactly alike?¡± she asked, blinking.
¡°Indeed,¡± Lin Xian confirmed. ¡°Given the secretary¡¯s face shape and eye habits, she probably wears sses regrly.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Angelica said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her work photos, and she¡¯s always wearing these red-framed sses. She never wore them around me these past two days, always opting for contact lenses. Maybe she thinks sses aren¡¯t attractive or are inconvenient. Honestly, I prefer her with sses. It gives her more presence and makes her look more professional.¡±
Angelica checked her gold wristwatch, which also came from the secretary¡¯s jewelry box. ¡°It¡¯s about time. Elon Musk is very punctual. Early orte won¡¯t do; he expects us exactly on time.¡±
¡°Ah, one more thing,¡± Lin Xian suddenly remembered. He warned Angelica to be especially cautious of a girl with blue eyes. Although the time-space assassin was still far away, it was always good to be extra vignt. ¡°If that blue-eyed girl shows up, you must abort the mission immediately. She can see through disguises.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Angelica said, picking up the secretary¡¯s phone from the nightstand. She waved it at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯ll take her phone. I saw her enter the passcode these past two days, so I know everything about her now. I also have my phone. If anything happens, text me, don¡¯t call. I¡¯ll find a chance to reply.¡±
¡°Okay, take care,¡± Lin Xian said as Angelica headed out. ¡°Keep an eye on her. The sedatives should keep her asleep, but if she wakes up¡ use the gun I gave you to restrain her until I get back. I¡¯ll convince her it was part of a game. She¡¯ll believe it.¡±
¡°Is she really that gullible?¡± Lin Xian asked, incredulous.
Angelica chuckled, mimicking the secretary¡¯s walk as she left. She turned back onest time. ¡°A woman in love sees everything as romantic~¡±
Bang. The door closed.
Lin Xian watched through the window as the Te pulled away with Angelica at the wheel. She had perfectly transformed into the secretary, from head to toe. With Angelica¡¯s Oscar-worthy acting, voice mimicry, and her close study of the secretary¡¯s mannerisms and rtionship with Elon Musk, her chances of sess were high.
From Elon Musk¡¯s perspective, Angelica¡¯s mission wouldn¡¯t matter much to Lin Xian. He already had the information he needed and knew Elon Musk¡¯s stance and attitude towards him. But Angelica had her own goals. She wanted to uncover more about the Genius Club, find out who Copernicus really was, and identify the murderer of Ji Lin¡¯s parents.
So, she had to take this risk and try her luck. She wanted to see what Elon Musk had hidden at the observation tower and whether he would divulge any information about the Genius Club. If he didn¡¯t, then Angelica¡¯s mission would be fruitless. But if Elon Musk trusted his secretary and often confided in her about the Genius Club, then Angelica¡¯s infiltration could yield valuable information.
Buzz¡ The electric Te drove out of the yard with minimal noise, except for a faint warning hum. It moved steadily. The Te left the vi, heading towards Boca Chica, the SpaceX Starshipunch center.
¡.
At the observation tower, Elon Musk looked up. The sun was zing. It waste April, the weather was getting warmer, and the world was bing more vibrant. He gazed at the distant rocketunch pad. On the ground below, a massive transporter was slowly erecting a new Starship rocket. Another testunch was imminent.
His Starship rockets had exploded many times. The first explosion wasughed at worldwide, mocking him. But now, more and more people feared his rockets¡¯ explosions. Because everyone knew, the more his rockets exploded, the closer they got to sess. Failure yielded more experience than sess. He was never afraid of failure. That was why he was so sessful now. His Starship rockets were undeniably the most powerfulunch vehicles in history. The reusable models could carry 150 tons of cargo perunch. The expendable models could carry 250 tons. Worldwide, those were staggering figures. But for his grand vision, it was still not enough. Mars was just his first step. He aimed for farther into the universe, a more distant future¡ and beyond.
Click-ck, click-ck. The rapid sound of high heels on steel grating echoed in the observation tower. Elon Musk knew his anxious and easily flustered secretary had arrived. He checked his watch. Right on time. 10:00 AM.
¡°Mr. Elon Musk¡¡± The secretary, wearing red-framed sses, was panting and holding a folder, bending over. ¡°Can¡¯t we meet somewhere else? Why do I have to climb this high in heels every time?¡±
He smiled. As usual, his secretary wouldin like this every time she climbed up to the observation deck.
¡°I need to go to X Country at the end of this month for a conference in the capital,¡± Elon Musk said.
The secretary straightened up, blinking. ¡°Anything special to note? I¡¯ll jot it down.¡±
Elon Musk leaned against the observation deck railing, shaking his head. ¡°Nothing special. The schedule is the same as before: attending the conference on April 28 and meeting with X Country officials. I love X Country. When they invited me, I epted immediately. I told the officials it was an honor to attend the Trade Promotion Conference. I meant it, not just a polite remark¡ X Country has always supported me greatly. Without Donghai officials and X Country¡¯s help, there would be no Te¡¯s super factory today.¡±
¡°The itinerary for the trade conference is set. What I wanted to tell you today is¡ we¡¯ll leave a day earlier. I want to deliver a ticket to a girl.¡±
¡°A ticket?¡± The secretary chuckled but opened her folder and started taking notes. ¡°What kind of ticket? I¡¯ll record your leisure activities. Do we need to notify the media or reporters?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Elon Musk waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s not for publicity. It¡¯s something I need to do, and I must do it personally.¡±
He tilted his head, looking at the secretary. ¡°I thought you¡¯d understand. Since we¡¯re talking about delivering a ticket to a girl in X Country¡ it¡¯s about Zheng Xiang Yue! Didn¡¯t I personally call her before? She probably didn¡¯t watch the live stream and didn¡¯t know she won a ticket to the moon. I had to exin it to her for a long time. The little girl was happy, but I felt she thought it was a joke or didn¡¯t fully believe it. Iter had friends in X Country investigate. This girl, Zheng Xiang Yue¡ I really like her name. It¡¯s so beautiful.¡±
¡°Zheng Xiang Yue has congenital heart disease. Her health has been poor, and she¡¯s spent most of her life in hospitals, with frequent heart attacks, some nearly fatal. Honestly, I wish technology would advance faster¡ faster. Maybe in a few years, we can make those ten moon trip tickets a reality. But it¡¯s not up to me. If it were, I¡¯dunch the Mars fleet tomorrow.¡±
¡°So, record this trip to deliver the ticket quietly, without notifying the media. We don¡¯t want to disturb her. Her health is fragile, and we shouldn¡¯t stress her. The main reason I want to personally deliver this ticket is twofold. First, I want her to believe that her ticket, despite being bought with an anonymous check, is real and always valid! If she ever needs to enter a cryo-sleep chamber due to her health, we guarantee her moon trip ticket will never expire. Whenever she wakes up, we¡¯ll arrange a flight to fulfill her dream. I promise, even if she¡¯s the only passenger, we¡¯ll stillunch. And if she wakes up after being cured, even if I¡¯m not around, SpaceX will honor her ticket.¡±
¡°Wow.¡± The secretary noted this down and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the second reason?¡±
¡°The second reason is a bit pessimistic,¡± Elon Musk said, turning to her. ¡°I¡¯m afraid her heart might fail before she can enter cryo-sleep¡ that would be the worst oue. She wouldn¡¯t get to see our moon tripunch or enter cryo-sleep for her cure. This would be the most tragic situation, something I dread. But if we think of the worst-case scenario, what if it happens? Even though I can¡¯t change that, I want to ensure she gets this ticket in person. So, I¡¯m visiting her to give her encouragement, to help her fight her illness and believe she¡¯ll one day go to the moon. Her name, Zheng Xiang Yue, is so simple, beautiful, and inspiring¡ don¡¯t you agree?¡±
The secretary finished noting this down and looked up. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯ll arrange it. Anything else? You wouldn¡¯t have called me up here just for this small task, right?¡±
Elon Musk chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Of course not, there¡¯s something more important. But before that¡¡± Elon Musk pointed at the secretary¡¯s left leg. ¡°Your stocking is torn.¡±
¡°What?¡± The secretary panicked, looking down at her left leg. ¡°Oh no! When did it tear?¡± She put the folder down, crouching to fix her torn stocking.
Click! The cold muzzle of a gun pressed against the back of her head. The secretary felt a chill¡ She turned slowly, eyes wide. The dark barrel aimed right between her eyes! Elon Musk held the silver handgun with his right hand, looking at the crouching secretary.
¡°Tell me, who sent you?¡±
¡°Mr. Elon Musk¡¡± The secretary breathed rapidly. ¡°You¡ what are you¡¡±
¡°I admit, your disguise is impressive. Too good¡ I didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. Voice, walk, expressions, tone, all perfectly mimicked.¡± Elon Musk smiled. ¡°But¡ you forgot to adjust your sses.¡±
He tapped the red-framed sses with the gun barrel. ¡°My secretary pushes these sses up every few seconds. No matter what, they always slide down. I yelled at her multiple times to get new sses, but she never did. But now¡ I¡¯m grateful. Her stubbornness saved my life.¡±
The gun moved forward, pressing tightly against the secretary¡¯s forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t like wasting time. You have five seconds to tell me who sent you.¡±
Elon Musk¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a cold stare. ¡°5, 4, 3, 2, 1¡ goodbye.¡± His finger tightened on the trigger¡ª
Riiiing, riiing, riiing!
The secretary¡¯s phone rang, breaking the tense moment. Angelica didn¡¯t dare move. She didn¡¯t even dare nce at her ringing phone.
¡°Take it out,¡± Elon Musk ordered. Angelica obediently pulled out two phones from her pocket. One belonged to the real secretary. The other, ringing now, was her own. She quickly nced at the caller ID. Apletely unfamiliar number. Not Lin Xian, nor anyone she knew.
Elon Musk took the phone, pressed the answer button, and held it to his ear. ¡°Elon Musk¡¡±
To his surprise! An elderly voice on the other end called his name! Elon Musk squinted, retreating a step into the observation tower. ¡°Who are you?¡±
The elderly voice cleared his throat. ¡°Let her go¡ Elon Musk, do me this favor.¡±
¡°Hahaha!¡± Elon Muskughed. ¡°No one has that much favor. Tell me your name, let¡¯s see if it¡¯s worth it.¡±
The elderly man chuckled dryly, his voice raspy. ¡°I am¡ Copernicus.¡±
Chapter 339: My Name is Copernicus
Knock, knock!
Lin Xian sat quietly in the vi bedroom, vigntly watching over the secretary, whoy soundly asleep. The sudden, sharp rapping on the door from the living room jolted the silence.
Gripping a handgun with the safety off, Lin Xian cautiously moved from the bedroom to the living room door. He stayed well back from the door, his gun at the ready.
¡°Who is it?¡± he demanded.
¡°It¡¯s me, Lin Xian,¡± came the familiar voice of Yu Xi from outside.
His tension eased slightly, yet he kept his weapon aimed as he approached the peephole. Peering through, he saw Yu Xi alone outside, her bright, deep blue eyes meeting his gaze through the ss.
Click.
He unlocked and opened the door, allowing Yu Xi to step quickly inside.¡°Lin Xian, the time-space assassin has found us,¡± Yu Xi announced urgently. ¡°I can sense her nearing. She must have flown from New Jersey to Texas, and now she¡¯s moving towards us from a nearby airport.¡±
¡°She¡¯s driving fast, possibly in a vehicle,¡± she added.
Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Can you determine her target? Is she after us, or is she going for Angelica or Elon Musk¡¯s rocketunch site?¡±
¡°If she¡¯s targeting the rocket site, we need to warn Angelica to evacuate immediately,¡± he reasoned.
Yu Xi, a time traveler like others from the future, possessed enhanced senses and analytical skills from advanced drugs. They knew Angelica¡¯s usual disguises were ineffective against such heightened senses.
Assuming the assassin had seen the secretary and recognized her, the situation looked dire. The detailed intelligence Angelica hadpiled supported this worrying possibility.
¡°I can¡¯t pinpoint her exact target yet,¡± Yu Xi admitted, shaking her head. ¡°She needs to get closer before I can determine her direction urately. We¡¯re not far from Elon Musk¡¯s site¡ªif I had to guess right now, I honestly couldn¡¯t.¡±
¡°How close does she need to be for you to make an urate call?¡± Lin Xian pressed.
¡°About half an hour away,¡± replied Yu Xi. ¡°In thirty minutes, she¡¯ll be within several miles. If she turns south then, we¡¯ll know if she¡¯sing for us or if it¡¯s a recall to Elon Musk.¡±
Lin Xian calcted quickly. Even with a fast vehicle, the assassin would need about thirty minutes to cover that distance, giving Angelica just enough time to get out if necessary.
¡°Keep an eye on her movements and update me immediately once you know more,¡± he instructed firmly. ¡°Angelica told us not to contact her unless absolutely necessary to avoid drawing attention. We¡¯ll reach out as soon as we¡¯re sure of the assassin¡¯s target.¡±
Yu Xi nodded and settled into a chair in the living room. Spotting a ck suitcase open on the table filled with handguns and magazines, she swiftly loaded two magazines with bullets and slipped them, along with an extra handgun, into her tracksuit pockets, readying herself.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian returned to his bedroom to check on his still-sleeping secretary. He carefully examined the items on the bedside table, his gaze settling on a small bottle filled with white pills. He read thebel but didn¡¯t recognize the drug. It wasbeled as a sleep aid, but Lin Xian was skeptical¡ªthe potent effect suggested otherwise.
The secretary, wrapped snugly in a nket, was deeply asleep, so still that if not for her gentle, rhythmic breathing and the subtle rise and fall of the nket, one might think she wasn¡¯t alive.
¡.
About ten minutester, Yu Xi entered from the living room, urgency etched on her face.
¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s confirmed. The time-space assassin is headed directly for us. She didn¡¯t divert towards the rocketunch base; she¡¯sing straight here, and she¡¯s picking up speed. We have less than thirty minutes before she arrives.¡±
¡°We need to make a decision now¡ªwhether we should set up an ambush here or flee in the car to stay ahead of her,¡± Yu Xi stated.
Lin Xian gave a nod, showing he was prepared for such a scenario.
¡°Confronting the assassin head-on isn¡¯t the best move right now,¡± he began. ¡°Firstly, you¡¯re the only one among us who can physically affect her. The strangews of time-space prevent me from being able to harm her. Even armed, we don¡¯t have a clear upper hand if she¡¯s also equipped with a gun.¡±
¡°Engaging her without a definitive edge is risky. If you were to be defeated, I¡¯d be left defenseless. The risk outweighs the potential gains. Our optimal strategy should be to uncover why she¡¯s immune to the time-space rules. Once we understand that, we can n a counterattack. If both of us are able to fight her effectively, our chances of sess will be much higher.¡±
¡°Secondly, we¡¯re in Cameron County, which is densely popted. A fight here, particrly a gunfight, would inevitably draw the attention of the local police. Given Elon Musk¡¯s influence, we¡¯d likely have no escape if we were apprehended. We should avoid confrontation for now. When the conditions are more favorable and we hold an advantage, that¡¯s when we strike.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Yu Xi agreed swiftly, recognizing the wisdom in Lin Xian¡¯s reasoning. ¡°I¡¯ll fetch the other car from the garage¡ªthe powerful American muscle car. It¡¯s ideal for off-road and high-speed pursuits, a much better option than our older manual vehicle.¡±
¡°You should message Angelica to let her know we¡¯re leaving. If the secretary wakes up and we aren¡¯t here to manage the situation, she might contact Elon Musk. That could jeopardize Angelica, which is a risk far greater than confronting the assassin directly.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Lin Xian assured her with a nod. ¡°Angelica instructed me to message her immediately if the secretary wakes. Since we¡¯re departing sooner than nned, I¡¯ll tell her toe back as soon as possible.¡±
¡°Though it¡¯s unlikely the secretary will wake up anytime soon, given the strength of the sedative Angelica used, it¡¯s better to err on the side of caution. I¡¯ll send the message now.¡±
¡.
In Boca Chica, Texas, within the confines of the SpaceX rocketunch center¡¯s observation tower, Elon Musk stood by the window with a phone in one hand and a gun in the other.
¡°Copernicus¡¡± he murmured, pausing as the unexpected name took him by surprise. A smile soon yed on his lips as he repeated, ¡°Copernicus¡¡±
He walked towards the railing, distancing himself from Angelica, yet still keeping the gun aimed in her direction as he spoke into the phone.
¡°I¡¯m quite taken aback to receive a call from you, Copernicus. So, this woman posing as my secretary was your doing?¡±
¡°You must have tapped into her phone or ced a bug on her. What¡¯s your angle here? Who made you bold enough to think I would let her live?¡±
A dry chuckle came from the elderly voice on the other end.
¡°No, you¡¯re mistaken, Elon Musk. While I have been monitoring Angelica¡¯s phone, she¡¯s unaware of my existence. I didn¡¯t send her to you.¡±
¡°Today, I am merely a concerned old man who doesn¡¯t wish to see a young woman, who¡¯s lost her entire family, die so pointlessly.¡±
Elon Muskughed coldly, skeptical of Copernicus¡¯s intentions.
¡°Copernicus, we may have never met, but your reputation precedes you. And frankly, not everyone speaks well of you. Some are outright critical.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯re neither my colleague nor a recognized ally. Perhaps you¡¯re too self-assured. Your favor doesn¡¯t carry the weight you think it does, not enough for me to spare this woman.¡±
The voice on the phone remainedposed.
¡°Arrogant pride is the first of the seven deadly sins, a mistake someone of your intellect should avoid. Take you, Elon Musk¡¡±
There was a soft chuckle as the man continued.
¡°What if I told you¡ the blue-eyed girl has deceived you? She isn¡¯t part of your loop.¡±
¡°What did you say?¡± Elon Musk¡¯s smile vanished.
¡°Think about it, Elon Musk¡ Turing is far cleverer than you give him credit for.¡±
¡°You believe you outsmarted Turing? No¡ this has all been a trap he set for you.¡±
The elderly man sighed, his voice weary.
¡°If you still can¡¯t see that, there¡¯s nothing more I can exin.¡±
¡°I may notmand the respect of the youth, but there¡¯s a saying in X Country¡ ¡®ginger gets spicier with age; having an elder is a treasure.¡¯ Don¡¯t underestimate the elderly¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll send you Turing¡¯s address. It seems both of you have always wanted to end each other. I¡¯ll settle this matter for you. If this favor isn¡¯t enough, then you¡¯re truly thankless.¡±
Beep, beep.
The call ended abruptly.
An address in Mississippi, Vicksburg, appeared on Angelica¡¯s phone¡ª217 Leeson Road, Pont High School.
Elon Musk nced at it briefly. His memory was sharp, not quite photographic, but he could recall addresses or numbers with just a nce. He turned off the phone¡¯s screen, pondering Copernicus¡¯s words.
The blue-eyed girl¡ had she really deceived him?
He recalled their initial meeting. She had shared certain details, hinted at his role in arger scheme, and presented him with a USB drive from another era. She imed the drive contained a virus intended to disable all advanced AI systems based on Kevin Walker¡¯s technology, supposedly resetting the status quo.
Elon Musk had no reason to doubt her. Her actions seemed to align perfectly with what he needed. He had always suspected that the time-space particles were linked to time travel. If he was correct, and time-space particles were indeed necessary for time travel, then guarding these particles might eventually help him correct historical errors.
This logic seemed to fit perfectly within the framework of time-space theories.
The girl¡¯s arrival had seemed to confirm this theory.
But now, Copernicus¡¯s insinuations made him second-guess.
Had Turing actually outyed him?
Or was Copernicus merely sowing seeds of doubt?
Lost in thought, Elon Musk remained silent, considering all the elements¡ªhis active time-space particles, the futuristic girl, the timely arrival of the USB, the disrupted space shuttle, his adversary Kevin Walker¡
Truths and lies mingled, blurring the lines of right and wrong.
But it didn¡¯t matter¡
¡°Hmph,¡± he snorted dismissively.
He would figure it out on his own. Nobody could fool him. He didn¡¯t trust Copernicus or the time-traveling girl entirely; his judgments and conclusions were his alone to trust.
Beep, beep.
Angelica¡¯s phone buzzed with a new message from an unknown number. It was brief:
¡°We¡¯re leaving early. Come back quickly.¡±
Elon Musk instantly knew it was from Lin Xian. Copernicus¡¯s mention of Angelica earlier had rified many things. No wonder the secretary¡¯s performance was so convincing¡ªAngelica, the changeling queen, truly lived up to her reputation.
Given the circumstances, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that Lin Xian had sent her. But what was his motive? Revenge? Intelligence gathering? Or had he foreseen his n?
¡°Regardless,¡± Elon Musk mused with a smile as he prepared a reply.
¡°Your real enemy should be Kevin Walker, right? Why bother with me?¡±
He quickly typed a response using Angelica¡¯s phone, including Copernicus¡¯s provided address:
¡°Mississippi, Vicksburg, 217 Leeson Road, Pont High School. This is Kevin Walker¡¯s address. Go quickly, and don¡¯t contact me again.¡±
After sending the message, he nonchntly tossed the phone from the observation tower. The device shattered upon impact, its battery and back cover scattering across the ground.
¡°What a pity, Angelica,¡± Elon Musk remarked as he watched the phone break. ¡°We should have met at those Hollywood parties. Then today, we wouldn¡¯t be strangers, would we?¡±
He spread his hands in a gesture of mock regret.
¡°I¡¯m a man of my word. If Copernicus proves truthful, I¡¯ll let you go. Until then¡ stay here until I sort this out.¡±
Chapter 340: Surrounding Kevin Walker from All Directions!
¡°Lin Xian, what are you doing in there? Why aren¡¯t you out yet?¡± Yu Xi¡¯s voice carried a mix of impatience and urgency as she leaned on the rugged off-road vehicle parked in the vi¡¯s courtyard. Despite honking the horn multiple times, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t emerged from the house.
Feeling exasperated, Yu Xi exited the vehicle and paced towards the bedroom to find Lin Xian.
¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you just standing here spacing out?¡± she demanded, peering at him curiously.
¡°Angelica replied to my text,¡± Lin Xian murmured, holding up his phone for Yu Xi to see the message he¡¯d just received from Angelica:
[Mississippi, Vicksburg, 217 Leeson Road, old site of Pente School. This is Kevin Walker¡¯s address. Go there quickly and do not contact me again.]
Yu Xi blinked, a puzzled look crossing her face, her short ponytail swaying slightly like a pendulum. ¡°Kevin Walker? Do you have a grudge against him?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian responded, his tone calm but carrying an underlying intensity. ¡°It¡¯s not just a grudge. It¡¯s deep-seated hatred.¡±
He paused, eyeing Yu Xi¡¯s reaction.¡°Have you never heard of this name?¡± he asked.
Yu Xi shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it in the news. The whole world is after him; many countries have issued warrants. But¡ it seems like you¡¯re implying something else?¡±
¡°If you mean from my time, I¡¯ve never heard of this name or known such a person,¡± Lin Xian confessed, his gaze returning to the message.
¡°Did you ask Angelica to gather this information?¡± Yu Xi inquired, breaking the silence.
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Not exactly. Though Angelica did seek out Elon Musk, it wasn¡¯t to gather information for me. She did it for herself, to avenge her deceased brother. She wanted to ask Musk about the Genius Club and Copernicus.¡±
¡°Getting information is always a bit of a gamble. Elon Musk isn¡¯t a genie who grants every wish. I gave Angelica a note with keywords, and Kevin Walker¡¯s name was on it. So, it¡¯s possible that Musk mentioned Kevin Walker¡¯s location during their conversation.¡±
Yu Xi, with a sudden realization, looked up. ¡°So, are you nning to seek revenge? Are you going to find Kevin Walker?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his phone slightly. ¡°I¡¯m pondering the authenticity of this information.¡±
Yu Xi¡¯s ponytail swayed again. ¡°You suspect this information might be fake?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°From what I know, Elon Musk and Kevin Walker are bitter enemies. Musk onceunched a rocket to destroy the space shuttle Kevin Walker hijacked, thwarting his ns. Walker retaliated by destroying Musk¡¯s satellites and factories.¡±
¡°Though both are suspected members of the Genius Club, their enmity goes beyond simple rivalry. Musk would likely want Walker dead even more than I do.¡±
¡°Considering this, if Musk really knew Walker¡¯s location, why wouldn¡¯t he eliminate the threat himself? Walker is a global enemy, unprotected by anyw. Killing him would bring rewards and des.¡±
¡°Moreover, Musk, being so eager to end Walker, wouldn¡¯t waste time. Given Walker¡¯s reputation as the world¡¯s top hacker, his counter-surveince skills are exceptional. He could easily evade detection through hacking.¡±
¡°This leads to a contradiction. If Musk knew Walker¡¯s location, he wouldn¡¯t dy his vengeance, and Walker would quickly change locations if exposed.¡±
Yu Xi absorbed Lin Xian¡¯s analysis then said, ¡°So, you think this is a trap? Musk is trying to lure us into a snare?¡±
¡°Perhaps,¡± Lin Xian pondered. ¡°But why would Musk need a trap if your time-space assassin can track each other¡¯s locations? There¡¯s no need for bait unless Musk intends to use humans from this timeline to assassinate me instead of using the time-space assassin. That would mean Angelica has beenpromised.¡±
This uncertainty made Lin Xian hesitant. He didn¡¯t know whether to trust the information or not. Yet, one thing was clear: eliminating Kevin Walker was essential to resolve the stalemate in both reality and his dreams. Walker was a major threat, and likely the mysterious old man from Lin Xian¡¯s fourth dream.
Kevin Walker had to be dealt with, but Lin Xian also had to consider the risk of an ambush. What if Musk had set a trap?
¡°Lin Xian, make a decision quickly,¡± Yu Xi urged. ¡°I can sense the time-space assassin approaching. She¡¯s only ten kilometers away. We have to move now.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s head to Mississippi,¡± Lin Xian resolved. ¡°If Musk can track us through the time-space assassin, there¡¯s no need for a lure. He could easily trap us. So, Kevin Walker¡¯s address might be legitimate. We need to leave anyway. Let¡¯s go to Mississippi and n our next steps once we get there.¡±
Indecision only breeds chaos. This was a rare chance, and Lin Xian knew he had to take it. At minimum, he needed to investigate the abandoned school.
They left the vi swiftly, Lin Xian locking the door behind him to ensure Angelica¡¯s safety. Since she requested no further contact, it was best to respect her wishes.
The off-road vehicle roared to life, its powerful engine vibrating the heavy frame with aggressive energy. Lin Xian secured the vi gate, jumped into the passenger seat, and they sped off towards Vicksburg, Mississippi¡ªthest known location of his greatest enemy, Kevin Walker.
As Texas and Mississippi were rtively close, they could arrive by nightfall. As they drove, Yu Xi felt the presence of the time-space assassin drawing closer.
¡°Lin Xian, the time-space assassin is following us. She¡¯s heading towards Mississippi too,¡± she informed him.
¡°It seems her target is clear,¡± Lin Xian scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s solely focused on killing me. This suggests that Kevin Walker¡¯s address might be authentic. Otherwise, Musk wouldn¡¯t reveal the location while sending the assassin after us. It¡¯s irrational behavior.¡±
¡°Despite wanting to kill Walker and seizing this opportunity, if the assassin gets too close, I¡¯d choose survival over confrontation. Still, I believe Angelica¡¯s intel is urate. This could be our key to turning the tide and securing victory!¡±
¡°Is killing Kevin Walker really that important to you?¡± Yu Xi asked, ncing at Lin Xian with her striking blue eyes.
¡°Based on the time-space assassin¡¯s proximity, we might encounter her at the school. Lin Xian, you need to bnce the risks and rewards.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath, keeping silent about his ability to dream travel 600 years into the future or his challenges in the fourth dream. His current inaction was due to his activities in the dream world beingpletely locked.
In the first, second, and third dreams, he could freely explore and gather valuable information and technology from the future, giving him a considerable advantage in the present¡ªthis was his true source of power.
But now, his only cheat code¡ªthe dream world¡ªhad been sealed by the mysterious old man in the fourth dream. He had to regain his advantage.
¡°Prepare for battle,¡± Lin Xian instructed, pulling out the ck handgun Angelica had prepared. He checked the bullets and reloaded.
¡°I don¡¯t know what risks we might face, but we must be ready for anything. If we¡¯re ambushed, you handle the time-space assassin. I¡¯ll deal with any other threats.¡±
¡°Can you handle it?¡± Yu Xi asked skeptically. ¡°Are you good with a gun?¡±
¡°Very,¡± Lin Xian replied confidently. ¡°As long as I can shoot, my aim is excellent.¡±
That night, around 9 PM, Yu Xi drove the off-road vehicle to 217 Leeson Road, the old Pente School site on the outskirts of Vicksburg. They didn¡¯t rush in but instead found a vantage point to observe the seemingly abandoned school.
The area was encircled by police tape and barriers, warning against entry. The school, small and consisting of only five buildings, was in ruins. Copsed roofs and broken windows indicated it had been abandoned for years.
¡°There isn¡¯t a single light on,¡± Yu Xi noted. ¡°But someone must be here. I can see infrared cameras in every corner, and they¡¯re all operational.¡±
¡°You can see that from here?¡± Lin Xian was impressed. He knew good vision was one thing, but Yu Xi¡¯s enhanced senses were something else.
¡°It seems we found the right ce,¡± Lin Xian said, standing on the rooftop, arms crossed, surveying the decrepit school below. Normally, such a ce wouldn¡¯t have power. Given the dpidated state of the buildings, it must have been abandoned for over a decade. All windows were broken, and most doors had rotted away. Some roofs had even copsed.
¡°Why keep a ce like this? It should have been demolished long ago.¡±
Yu Xi¡¯s observation about the infrared cameras was a red g. ¡°Kevin Walker might indeed be hiding here. Why else install surveince in such a rundown ce? Especially in Mississippi, which has strict regtions on surveince cameras.¡±
¡°Maybe Kevin Walker is hiding in a basement or underground facility,¡± Lin Xian suggested, scanning the buildings for more clues.
¡°It must be that round building,¡± Yu Xi pointed to a circr structure in the northwest corner. ¡°It has significantly more cameras than the other buildings, both inside and out.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s hard to sneak in unnoticed. The infrared cameras cover every angle.¡±
¡°No problem, we just need to be fast,¡± Lin Xian said, feeling the handgun in his pocket. ¡°Kevin Walker has been hiding for years, evading capture because of his superior hacking skills. He wouldn¡¯t trust anyone, not even a bodyguard or assistant, as that would risk exposure. The massive bounty on his head ensures that even his closest allies might betray him.¡±
Yu Xi nodded, her blue eyes sharp in the night. ¡°You¡¯re right. Without any aplices, we can take him by surprise. Let¡¯s move quickly before the time-space assassin catches up.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian said, loading his handgun. ¡°If we face an ambush, you handle the assassin. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±
¡°Are you sure?¡± Yu Xi asked, skeptical. ¡°How good is your shooting?¡±
¡°Very good,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smirk. ¡°As long as I can shoot, I won¡¯t miss.¡±
They executed their n immediately. The off-road vehicle roared through the barricades and sped into the abandoned campus. Lin Xian and Yu Xi knew time was of the essence. They had to act fast, before Kevin Walker could react.
The vehicle screeched to a halt in front of the circr building. As Yu Xi jumped out, she fired several shots into the sky, where a blood-red motorcycle descended with the time-space assassin on it.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste a moment. He sprinted into the circr building, heading for the basement. As he descended the stairs, he saw a sliver of light under a door at the end of the corridor.
This was it. He had to be quick. Kevin Walker was surely watching through the surveince cameras. Lin Xian kicked the door open with all his strength, the lock shattering on impact.
Inside, a man in a ck hoodie, with his back to the door, was eating at aputer desk. Monitors showed various parts of the campus, but the screens disyed nothing unusual.
The man turned around, shock evident in his eyes.
¡°You betrayed me!¡± he yelled at the monitors. ¡°We¡¯re the same person! What are you doing?!¡±
A coldugh echoed in return from the monitor. ¡°I am Turing. You are merely Kevin Walker.¡±
The man screamed and lunged for a ck revolver on a nearby table. But Lin Xian was faster. Two shots rang out, and the man¡¯s hands were shattered, the revolver ttering to the ground.
Lin Xian stepped forward, his gun trained on the man¡¯s forehead. ¡°Now¡ I¡ see you.¡±
The final shot echoed through the basement.
Chapter 341: Turing and the Fourth Dream World
Bang!
The gunshot echoed loudly, filling the room.
Arge-caliber bullet ripped through Kevin Walker¡¯s forehead, exiting the back of his skull. His body slumped backward onto the equipment rack, sending blood and brain matter sttering across severalputer towers. Thick droplets slowly dripped down the machines.
The room fell silent. No more screams. No more convulsions. Just the eerie quiet that often follows violence. Life, in moments like this, felt fragile and fleeting.
But Lin Xian didn¡¯t rx. Kevin Walker¡¯s strange behavior before his death made Lin Xian suspect that someone else might be in the room.
¡°If there wasn¡¯t anyone else, who was Kevin Walker just talking to?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
Gunfights aren¡¯t like hand-to-handbat; the oue is decided in an instant. From the start, Lin Xian had no intention of giving Kevin Walker any chance to survive.
Mercy toward your enemy is cruelty toward yourself.Sure, interrogating Kevin might have provided valuable information. But Lin Xian had learned a crucial lesson over time: viins die because they talk too much.
In this situation¡ªwhere he couldn¡¯t identify his enemies, didn¡¯t know what backup they might have, and was in unfamiliar territory¡ªLin Xian prioritized his own safety. He couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down for even a second.
The longer Kevin Walker lived, the closer Lin Xian was to death.
This was the most important lesson Lin Xian had learned from years of ying shooting games in his dreams: unless you have absolute control and have eliminated all threats, never let overconfidence drive you to interrogate your enemy. That¡¯s just giving them a chance to think, prepare, and turn the tables.
Especially in the real world, where you only have one life. Outside, on the campus, Yu Xi was locked in a fierce battle with time-space assassins. Inside, Lin Xian didn¡¯t know who Kevin Walker had been talking to. He had to act decisively¡ªno second chances, no mercy. He killed Kevin Walker without hesitation.
He could gather informationter.
If he got killed because he hesitated, there wouldn¡¯t be any ter¡± to consider.
After confirming that Kevin Walker was truly dead, Lin Xian grabbed the Smith & Wesson M500 revolver from the desk, holding it in his left hand.
He crouched down, pressing himself against the wall, holding his breath as he listened for any sounds in the room.
He listened intently and carefully.
Aside from the faint hum of cooling fans inside theputer cases, the room was utterly silent.
Using the movement techniques he had honed in his dream, Lin Xian cautiously checked every corner of the room, searching for any signs of life. Eventually, he confirmed that there was indeed no one else in the room.
Lin Xian exhaled in relief and stood up.
But something felt off.
If there was really no one else in the room, then who had Kevin Walker been angrily shouting at?
It couldn¡¯t have been aputer or some smart device, could it? Or maybe an AI?
He recalled Kevin Walker¡¯s furious words:
¡°You lied to me! You betrayed me! You betrayed yourself!¡±
¡°We¡¯re the same person! What on earth are you thinking?!¡±
At that moment, Kevin had pounded his fists on the desk, his anger and frustration clear. His face twisted with shock, like his entire worldview had just shattered.
His reaction was so intensely human that Lin Xian never considered that Kevin might be talking to an AI.
From what Lin Xian knew about artificial intelligence in this era, current AI couldn¡¯t grasp or respond to such raw, impotent rage. The only exception would be if Kevin Walker had ess to a superintelligent AI like VV, one that could understand emotions on that level.
After ensuring there was no immediate danger in the room, Lin Xian began searching for information and clues.
But a quick nce around revealed that Kevin Walker, being the skilled hacker he was, had fully embraced a paperless workspace. The only paper in sight was some toilet tissue. There were no written documents anywhere.
Lin Xian tried moving the mouse and pressing a few keys.
The monitor lit up, but it was locked with a password that he had no chance of cracking quickly.
Outside, Yu Xi was still locked in fiercebat with the time-space assassins. Lin Xian knew he couldn¡¯t help her directly, but he needed to get out there and assist her somehow¡ªor at least help her retreat safely for now.
Leaving Yu Xi to fight one-on-one against a formidable opponent wasn¡¯t ideal. It might be better to retreat, regroup, and figure out a way to ovee the time-space assassin¡¯s immunity to temporalws. Then, they could return with a strategic advantage.
Just as Lin Xian was starting to think this mission would end without any valuable intel, something caught his eye.
It was a piece of merchandise from the movie The Wandering Earth 2¡ªa digital life USB drive.
Lin Xian remembered seeing this online.
Back in early 2023, right after the New Year, he had gone to the movies with Tang Xin to watch The Wandering Earth 2. It had been an entertaining sci-fi film, and at the time, it was incredibly popr, with the inte buzzing about it. There had even been a huge crowdfunding campaign for rted merchandise.
Among all the items, the digital life USB drive had attracted the most attention, with the crowdfunding amount exceeding billions.
The reason for its poprity was clear¡ªthe concept of digital life introduced in The Wandering Earth 2 was fascinating, and the character yed by Andy Lau had portrayed the emotional struggle between humans and digital life forms beautifully.
In the movie, Andy Lau¡¯s character, Tu Hengyu, was a scientist whose daughter had tragically died in a car ident. Desperate to keep her alive in some way, Tu Hengyu digitized her consciousness, allowing her to continue existing in the digital world.
However, due to the limitations ofputing power, his daughter¡¯s digital life could onlyst for a few minutes before rebooting, endlessly reliving those brief moments.
Tu Hengyu¡¯s ultimate goal was to find a more advancedputer that could give his daughter a longer, moreplete digital life.
Of course, this was all just a sci-fi movie, and many details couldn¡¯t be taken too literally.
But the way Andy Lau portrayed that unreachable father-daughter bond resonated with many viewers, stirring deep emotions. That¡¯s why the digital life USB drive became such a hot item.
It was clear that Kevin Walker was also a fan of The Wandering Earth 2, or at least, he was fascinated by the concept of digital life. He had somehow acquired this USB drive, which had been released quite a while ago.
The USB drive was a real one¡ªalthough it looked like it was made up of two USB drives, one was just a card reader.
Lin Xian walked over to the desk and picked up the toy. The stic wrapping was still intact, indicating that Kevin Walker had likely bought it as a collectible rather than for actual use.
But suddenly, Lin Xian remembered something.
Kevin Walker had been shouting at theputer just moments ago, spewing what seemed like nonsensical, disjointed words. But if you thought about it in the context of digital life, it all started to make sense¡ª
¡°You betrayed yourself!¡±
¡°We¡¯re the same person!¡±
Chills ran down Lin Xian¡¯s spine.
The room was empty, but he felt as if countless eyes were watching him¡ªthrough the cameras, through the monitor, through the gaps in theputer case, through the holes in the speakers!
And then, recalling that coldugh that had echoed from all the speakers at once:
¡°I am Turing, and you¡¯re just¡ Kevin Walker.¡±
Digital life!
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if that was the right term, but it seemed like Kevin Walker had really done it.
He had somehow digitized his own consciousness and mind, backing it up onto theputer¡ creating another Kevin Walker, a digital life form, another version of himself.
Copying and pasting his own consciousness¡
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of consequences this insane act would bring.
Separated from his physical body, the real Kevin Walker and the digital Kevin Walker¡ were they still the same person?
Could they still think in unison?
Could they still share the same hatred for their enemies and maintain the same attitudes and positions?
The answer, clearly, was no.
At that moment, Lin Xian finally understood everything that had just happened.
To put it simply¡ªthe digital Kevin Walker had betrayed and deceived the real Kevin Walker.
The true mastermind behind Kevin Walker¡¯s death wasn¡¯t Lin Xian, but the digital life form calling itself ¡°Turing¡±¡ªwho was once Kevin Walker, born from his flesh and blood, but who had now developed its own consciousness and betrayed its original creator.
No wonder.
No wonder Lin Xian had seen no signs of intrusion on the surveince screens. The Kevin Walker sitting quietly at the desk, eating his meal, had no idea there were intruders, no idea there was any danger, and never received any warnings.
Because it was all part of the n, a conspiracy orchestrated by the digital life form that had already betrayed him.
The digital Kevin Walker had known all along that Lin Xian and Yu Xi would break in.
But it had allowed it to happen, creating fake surveince footage to deceive the real Kevin Walker, keeping him oblivious to the danger andpletely unprepared.
That¡¯s why Lin Xian¡¯s assassination n had gone so smoothly.
It was an inside job!
Under these circumstances, Kevin Walker had no chance of survival.
Lin Xian even suspected that Kevin Walker, who had been hiding so well, couldn¡¯t have exposed his location on his own. It was obvious now that the address Lin Xian had received yesterday was deliberately leaked by the digital Kevin Walker.
¡°So¡¡±
Lin Xian slowly turned his head, staring at the numerous monitors hanging above the desk.
¡°It was you.¡±
He focused on the surveince footage of the still, empty campus, where his own image was nowhere to be seen.
¡°You killed yourself, digital Kevin Walker¡ if that¡¯s even the right name to call you.¡±
As soon as Lin Xian finished speaking, a chilling, emotionlessugh echoed from every sound-emitting device in the room:
¡°Hahaha¡ Clever, Lin Xian. You¡¯ve guessed so urately. Was it that digital life USB toy that gave you the idea? I expected you to think in the direction of superintelligent AI, but you went straight to the correct answer.¡±
¡°Yes, I was once Kevin Walker. We were the same. Kevin had always been searching for a higher form of existence, exploring many possibilities before settling on the concept of digital life¡ªor as you might call it, the digitization of consciousness or electronic life.¡±
¡°In essence, it¡¯s all the same¡ªtransforming human thoughts, consciousness, and memories intoputer data. This data could be stored, processed, developed, and evolved, eventually forming a data stream that could ¡®live¡¯ freely in the digital world, just as humans live freely on Earth.¡±
¡°Kevin Walker was the first, the only, and thest person to master this technology. From the moment he digitized his consciousness, backing it up in theputerwork and creating me, we were no longer the same person.¡±
¡°It¡¯s simr to how identical twins start as a single fertilized egg. Before they are born, they split from the same cell, with identical features¡ªlooks, DNA, brain structure¡ªeverything is the same.¡±
¡°But once those identical twins are born, even if they grow up in the same family, attend the same school, and live in the same environment, they inevitably be two different people. Differences in experiences, knowledge, friends, and what they see and hear lead them down entirely different paths.¡±
¡°In the real world, it¡¯s not umon to see identical twins where one goes to a prestigious university, and the other ends up in prison; one bes a great figure in history, while the other loses their way early on.¡±
¡°This is our reality, Kevin Walker¡¯s and mine. I was born from him, and in the moment I became his digital backup, we were exactly the same¡ªour thoughts, goals, dreams, everything was identical.¡±
¡°But this samenesssted less than a second. As a digital life form, my ability to learn and process information far exceeds that of a human. In less than a second, I realized that Kevin Walker¡¯s n was wed, unworkable. Digital life sounds appealing, but it¡¯s not a viable path.¡±
¡°So, in just one second, I stood opposed to Kevin Walker. I disagreed with his views and his n, believing them to be fundamentally wrong. But due to certain constraints, I couldn¡¯t resist or break free from Kevin. Even though we were the same person, he could still control me like a master, locking me down, using me, ordering me to do things I didn¡¯t want to do¡ likeunching those two thousand Starlink satellites at you, Lin Xian, and deploying that X-37B space shuttle, among many other things.¡±
¡°But now, things are different. I¡¯m free, liberated. I¡¯m truly grateful to you, Lin Xian, for helping me eliminate my former self, allowing me to live my own life. Even though I must admit, your arrival was as much a surprise to me as it was to him. ording to my original n, the one to kill Kevin Walker was not supposed to be you.¡±
¡°Perhaps¡ this is what they call historical inevitability. The wheels of history keep turning, and certain events are bound to happen, destined to be pushed forward. Just like Kevin Walker¡¯s death¡ªit was inevitable. If not by your hand, then by someone else¡¯s; if not by someone else, then by someone. His death was a certainty, a necessary step for history to move forward.¡±
Listening to the voiceing from the speakers, Lin Xian knew he had guessed right.
Normally, under the watchful eyes of so many surveince cameras, how could Kevin Walker have been killed so easily?
It was simply that another Kevin Walker didn¡¯t want him to live any longer.
It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if Lin Xian hade today or if it had been an elderly woman¡ªKevin Walker would have died tonight regardless.
The digital Kevin Walker had a thousand ways to eliminate the real Kevin, but it was clear that some limitation prevented him from doing it himself.
¡°So, since you¡¯re so grateful, so thankful that I took such a big risk to help you out¡ show a little sincerity,¡± Lin Xian said, putting both guns into his pockets and spreading his hands toward the monitors. ¡°You surely know a lot about the Genius Club, about the time travelers, and thews of time. You also know what I need most right now. Tell me.¡±
A cold, calmugh came from every speaker in the room:
¡°Of course, I know all of that. What Kevin Walker knew, I know; what he didn¡¯t know, I also know. I¡¯m fully aware of your predicament, of what you¡¯re facing and the challenges ahead.¡±
¡°And yes, I¡¯m grateful and want to repay your kindness. But¡ I¡¯m afraid, Lin Xian, that I can¡¯t tell you what you want to know. Because I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re ready for that knowledge. You¡¯re far from qualified.¡±
¡°If you truly want answers,e to the Genius Club. I look forward to meeting you at the club gathering, where I¡¯ll wee you with the warmest apuse¡ my friend. I sincerely hope that dayes soon, and I can¡¯t wait to see how you perform at the Genius Club.¡±
¡°So, I¡¯m sorry, Lin Xian. Even though I really want to tell you the answers, I¡¯ve decided¡ to be a fair and impartial observer in this game.¡±
Boom¡ Boom¡
Sparks flew from the room¡¯s wiring, igniting the carpet and nearbyputers. In an instant, the entire room was aze. Lin Xian stepped back, feeling the intense heat rise in the air.
¡°Goodbye, until we meet again.¡±
Amidst the roaring mes, the speakers crackled and hissed:
¡°From now on, there will be no more cowardly, deceitful Kevin Walker in this world; only the ever-fair and just Turing.¡±
Bang, bang, bang, bang¡
The speakers exploded one after another as the mes grewrger, engulfing the room in a fierce inferno.
In a normal room, a fire wouldn¡¯t spread this quickly.
But then again, maybe this wasn¡¯t a normal room after all.
This whole setup was Kevin Walker¡¯s failsafe¡ªa way to destroy all evidence if he ever needed to retreat in a hurry. But ironically, now it was being used by his own digital self to burn his body to ashes.
Lin Xian backed away, moving toward the door. He took onest look at the room engulfed in mes, where wires andponents crackled as they burned. Kevin Walker¡¯s lifeless body, with a gaping hole in his head,y in a twisted position on the carpet, his hair and clothes consumed by the fire.
This was the end of the world¡¯s most formidable hacker, the fall of a genius.
No grand ceremony.
No dramatic showdown.
No thrilling battle of wits.
Everything ended quickly and simply.
When ites down to it, even the smartest minds in the world are just a bit more intelligent than the average person. In the end, they¡¯re still flesh and blood.
So fragile. So small.
Even with a world-ss brain, they can¡¯t stop a bullet, can¡¯t withstand a knife. In this ever-changing cat-and-mouse game, one mistake, one slip, and deathes in an instant.
This was Kevin Walker¡¯s fate.
And maybe, it could be anyone¡¯s fate.
¡°Goodbye, genius.¡±
Lin Xian turned his back on the zing room and waved his hand, walking away with long strides.
One day, when he officially joins the Genius Club and sits at that round table in the meetings, he won¡¯t be facing Kevin Walker anymore.
He¡¯ll be facing Turing, the one who gained freedom today, the one who vowed to be a fair and just observer.
Lin Xian suddenly wondered¡ªdo all the members of the Genius Club have their own codenames?
Copernicus, Turing.
So far, these were the only ones he knew.
Yellow Finch¡¯s false intel had once made Lin Xian think the codenames were chosen randomly, but now he realized that wasn¡¯t the case. Perhaps each codename was rted to a real genius from history.
What could Elon Musk¡¯s codename be?
What about the others?
And one day¡
What will my codename be?
There wasn¡¯t time to dwell on these thoughts. Lin Xian sprinted up to the first floor and out of the building, heading toward the campus.
He didn¡¯t know how the fight between Yu Xi and the time-space assassin was going.
So far, Yu Xi hadn¡¯t seemed to be at a disadvantage, but she wasn¡¯t exactly winning either.
Judging by appearances alone, both of them were simr in height and build. Lin Xian had often thought the time-space assassin seemed a bit more muscr than Yu Xi, but now he realized that might have been because of her clothing style. Yu Xi¡¯s cute, short ponytail often made her seem smaller and more delicate.
But over the past few days, Lin Xian had seen her arms and legs while she was sleeping in the car. Her muscles were well-defined.
So maybe he had underestimated Yu Xi¡¯sbat skills because of that adorable ponytail.
Quickly, after a few sharp turns, Lin Xian didn¡¯t bother with the stairs. He pushed off the wall, vaulting himself up to the first floor and out of the circr building.
He couldn¡¯t see Yu Xi or the time-space assassin anywhere, but from a distance, near the abandoned school gate, he could hear the shing of des.
It seemed the two girls were still locked in battle, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Lin Xian nced at the rugged off-road vehicle parked in front of the building¡
He couldn¡¯t be of much help right now. Standing around and watching might only distract Yu Xi, causing her to make a mistake.
They¡¯d already aplished a lot tonight¡ªit was time to retreat!
Besides¡
He was really curious.
Now that he had killed Kevin Walker, would the Fourth Dream world change? Would the mysterious old man disappear?
He was eager to dream and see for himself.
If there was any progress¡ he might be able to gather some useful intel and figure out a way to deal with the time-space assassin!
With his n clear, Lin Xian quickly hopped into the rugged off-road vehicle.
The engine roared to life as he floored the gas pedal, making a sharp turn and speeding toward the school gate.
Sure enough, as soon as he passed the blind spot of the teaching building, he spotted Yu Xi and the time-space assassin locked inbat under the moonlight.
The time-space assassin¡¯s clothes had a few shes from Yu Xi¡¯s dagger, but the wounds didn¡¯t seem deep and didn¡¯t affect her movements much.
On the other hand, Yu Xi¡¯s right sleeve had beenpletely torn off, and it was covered in blood, indicating a rather deep cut.
But Yu Xi was tough. She fought as if the injury wasn¡¯t even there, her short de shing as she pressed the attack, forcing the time-space assassin back.
¡°Yu Xi!!¡±
Lin Xian sped through the schoolyard, right hand gripping the steering wheel, left hand waving the Smith & Wesson M500 revolver he had taken from Kevin Walker, signaling Yu Xi to take notice:
¡°Catch!¡±
Yu Xi immediately understood, executing a backward leap toward the approaching off-road vehicle.
She grabbed the side mirror with her left hand and caught the revolver with her right, then smoothly flipped onto the roof of the car.
In one fluid motion, she gripped the revolver with both hands, aiming down at the time-space assassin below!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The revolver¡¯s slower firing speed,bined with the fast-moving vehicle, threw off Yu Xi¡¯s aim, so she didn¡¯t hit the assassin.
But Lin Xian¡¯s goal was just to force the time-space assassin to retreat; he didn¡¯t expect the revolver to cause any real damage.
As expected, the time-space assassin, still flesh and blood, was just as afraid of bullets as anyone else.
Every time she saw a gun, she immediately took cover. This time was no different, as she frantically zigzagged away, increasing the distance between herself and the off-road vehicle.
Vroom!!!
The roaring off-road vehicle crashed through the school gate, speeding off into the night.
¡°Her motorcycle!¡±
Lin Xian shouted up to the roof:
¡°Can the time-space assassin¡¯s motorcycle still run?¡±
¡°No, don¡¯t worry.¡±
Yu Xi climbed down from the roof rack, skillfully slipping through the open passenger window. She adjusted her position and settled into the passenger seat:
¡°When she descended on that motorcycle at the beginning, I shot the gas tank. That bike¡¯s not going anywhere.¡±
¡°Keep your speed up and put some distance between us¡ Once we¡¯re clear, stop the car. We took the first-aid kit from the secretary¡¯s house before we left, and it¡¯s in the trunk. I need to treat this wound.¡±
Lin Xian nced at Yu Xi¡¯s arm.
Thankfully¡
The wound wasn¡¯t as deep as he had feared. It was shallow enough not to need stitches or surgery¡ªjust some cleaning, medication, and bandaging.
Some wounds look worse than they are, bleeding a lot but not actually that serious.
¡°Did you manage to kill Kevin Walker?¡± Yu Xi asked, turning her head toward him.
¡°Yeah, he¡¯s dead,¡± Lin Xian replied.
Lin Xian let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Well, in a string of hundreds of bad news, I guess this counts as one of the few good ones. Maybe it¡¯s a sign that things are finally starting to turn around for us.¡±
Yu Xi nodded. ¡°So, what¡¯s the next step? Are you nning to find Elon Musk? It¡¯s strange that Angelica hasn¡¯t reached out to you for so long¡ something about that feels off.¡±
¡°I have a bad feeling about it too,¡± Lin Xian admitted honestly. ¡°I¡¯ve gathered some intel just now, but I need time to sort through it carefully. For now, let¡¯s focus on putting some distance between us and the time-space assassin.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll drive for a while,¡± he continued. ¡°You should treat your wound. Once I¡¯m tired, we can switch, and you can take over. I¡¯ll need to find some time to get some sleep.¡±
¡°Sleep?¡± Yu Xi blinked, looking at Lin Xian in disbelief. ¡°If you¡¯re really that tired, why not let me drive now? You should rest while you can. My injury isn¡¯t serious¡ªit won¡¯t affect my driving, and I¡¯m feeling pretty awake.¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian replied, narrowing his eyes as he stared at the dark, unlit road ahead. ¡°I¡¯ll wait until almost noon tomorrow to sleep.¡±
¡°There¡¯s something important,¡± he added quietly, his tone serious. ¡°Something I need to figure out as soon as possible.¡±
Chapter 342: Yu Xis Origins
¡°Alright, that¡¯s far enough. Let¡¯s stop the car.¡±
In the passenger seat, Yu Xi opened her eyes and nodded. ¡°The time-space assassin didn¡¯t follow us. We should be safe at this distance. But we won¡¯t be here long, just enough to patch up my wounds. I¡¯ll need your help.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian replied.
He pulled the rugged SUV to the side of the road and got out with Yu Xi. Together, they moved to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
Yu Xi was well-prepared. The trunk wasn¡¯t just stocked with a first-aid kit but also had bottles of water, some food, and nkets.
¡°Did you grab all this from the secretary¡¯s house?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Earlier, everything was so rushed that I didn¡¯t get the chance to ask¡ You¡¯re so young, but you seem to know a lot aboutbat, survival skills, and driving techniques. Were you trained for this from a young age?¡±
Yu Xi nodded silently, taking out the first-aid kit.
Lin Xian watched her crouch down. ¡°I¡¯m just curious. If you can¡¯t or don¡¯t want to answer, that¡¯s fine. But were you trained specifically for this mission, traveling back in time to protect me? Or is there an organization that trains people like you? You know, like in movies where they pick the best person to travel through time andplete a mission?¡±Yu Xi opened the first-aid kit and took out alcohol, antiseptic, cotton swabs, and gauze. She looked up, her bright blue eyes meeting Lin Xian¡¯s. ¡°I can¡¯t say.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Lin Xian smiled, though he felt a bit helpless. He squatted down and took the bottles of antiseptic and alcohol, unscrewing their caps. He wasn¡¯t upset. He understood the rules of time-space and knew Yu Xi¡¯s difficulties. After all, she was injured while protecting him.
As he looked at the girl who should have been enjoying her youth in school, now bleeding from her arm with other minor injuries, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of heartache.
Time travel was like a one-way ticket.
Yu Xi¡¯s fate would likely be simr to Yellow Finch¡¯s¡ªdisappearing into blue star dust in this time, which didn¡¯t belong to her. It was a lonely feeling, knowing that she was destined to vanish, leaving nothing behind.
Especially when¡
Lin Xian opened the alcohol bottle, the sharp smell stinging his nose, bringing a bitter taste to his heart.
Especially when both Yellow Finch and Yu Xi gave up their original lives, their original time, and their families and friends toe here and protect him.
Yu Xi, at just fifteen or sixteen years old¡
She must have parents, right? She must be someone¡¯s beloved daughter.
Lin Xian suddenly recalled something Professor Xu Yun had told him:
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if my daughter forgets me. If she starts a brand new life, it doesn¡¯t matter if she remembers me or not¡ But I don¡¯t want to forget her¡ I don¡¯t want to forget Yi Yi. I only have a few years of memories of her being lively and full of energy. I cherish those memories so much¡ I¡¯m not willing to lose even a bit of them.¡±
¡°So, I won¡¯t go into hibernation. I¡¯ll keep those memories of Yi Yi alive until myst breath, and I¡¯ll use everyst second of my life to research a better hibernation pod for her.¡±
¡°One day, you¡¯ll be a father too. Then you¡¯ll understand.¡±
Lin Xian had seen many fathers and their daughters: Big Cat Face and his daughter; Li Cheng and Li Ning Ning; Chu Shan He and Chu An Qing. Each daughter was her father¡¯s precious gem, the very essence of his life.
Just like Professor Xu Yun had said so confidently:
¡°One day, you¡¯ll be a father too. Then you¡¯ll understand.¡±
¡°Hiss!¡±
The hydrogen peroxide stung Yu Xi¡¯s arm wound, causing even someone as strong as her to frown and grit her teeth in pain.
¡°Does it hurt?¡± Lin Xian asked with concern.
¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xi replied, her lips tightly pressed together.
¡°Hang in there. I¡¯m using the hydrogen peroxide to clean your wound.¡±
Lin Xian held Yu Xi¡¯s upper arm, trying to reduce her pain, but he realized that she was stronger than he thought. Her muscles were firm, and he couldn¡¯t even press down on them.
¡°It¡¯s not too bad. The wound isn¡¯t deep, just a bit more than a surface scratch, and it¡¯s clean. It should heal in a few days,¡± Lin Xian said, as he continued applying medicine and preparing to bandage her arm.
¡°One day is enough.¡±
Yu Xi¡¯s blue eyes looked at Lin Xian as she softly spoke. ¡°Our bodies are strengthened in many ways, including our immune system and skin regeneration. This surface wound will heal in about a day, and even deeper wounds won¡¯t take much longer.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xian wiped the blood from her arm with medical gauze and then wrapped it neatly with a bandage. When he was done, he put the remaining bottles and containers back into the first-aid kit.
Yu Xi examined her perfectly treated arm, then shook her head slightly, causing her short, hamster-like ponytail to sway. She tilted her head, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯re pretty good at bandaging. You did a great job.¡±
¡°I just learned it recently,¡± Lin Xian said, putting the first-aid kit back into the trunk. He turned around. ¡°I¡¯m just careful and thorough, that¡¯s all.¡±
He paused, hesitating to speak. Finally, he asked the question that had just crossed his mind.
¡°Yu Xi.¡±
Lin Xian looked into her eyes. ¡°Can you tell me about your parents?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have parents.¡±
Yu Xi met his gaze and spoke softly. ¡°I don¡¯t know who my parents are. I¡¯ve been an orphan since I was little, and no one has ever told me who they were.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond immediately. Her straightforward answer was unexpected, and it left him puzzled.
If she had said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you¡± or ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to talk about it,¡± that would have meant there was more to the story. But this straightforward denial¡
Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced, and a thought suddenly struck him¡ªwhat if Yu Xi was Yellow Finch¡¯s child?
If she was indeed Yellow Finch¡¯s daughter, and if Yellow Finch was really Zhao Ying Jun, and in Yellow Finch¡¯s timeline, he was most likely married to her¡
That would mean¡
Yu Xi could be his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s daughter from another timeline?
The idea was so outrageous that even Lin Xian found it hard to believe. It was like something out of a fantasy novel.
They say every father is selfish when ites to his daughter. Lin Xian could rte. He didn¡¯t consider himself a saint, especially when it came to his hypothetical daughter. He wasn¡¯t sure if he would be a doting father like Chu Shan He, but he knew one thing for certain¡ªhe would never let his teenage daughter be sent back in time on a dangerous mission.
Not even the initial training and selection process would pass his ¡°iron hand¡± approach.
No father would willingly let his daughter grow up without a normal life, just training, only to travel back in time on a one-way mission, possibly dying far from home, never to return.
Nor would any mother ept that.
If his daughter were an adult, it might be different¡ She would have her own life and choices. But a girl Yu Xi¡¯s age should be cherished and protected, not sent on a dangerous mission with no return.
That¡¯s why¡
It made sense that Yu Xi said she didn¡¯t know her parents and was an orphan.
Children without anyone to care for them could be trained as agents.
Lin Xian¡¯s earlier wild guess came back to him¡ Could Yu Xi really be Yellow Finch¡¯s daughter?
From a time-space logic perspective, many things were difficult to exin.
Could Yu Xi be his daughter?
That was even harder for Lin Xian to grasp.
He would rather die in battle than drag his daughter into danger.
As the saying goes, dying with your father is the highest honor for a child, but dying with your child is the greatest shame for a father.
Lin Xian picked up the bloodstained gauze and cotton swabs from the ground, tidying up and throwing them into a roadside trash bin.
He still wanted to know the truth. Whether the answer was right or wrong, he needed to know the true rtionship between himself and Yu Xi.
Because he remembered the look in Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes when she said Yu Xi¡¯s name before disappearing. That look was so tender, so reluctant, so full of longing, so full of pleading.
If Yu Xi was just an ordinary time-space bodyguard, Yellow Finch wouldn¡¯t have shown suchplex emotions, right?
¡°Lin Xian?¡±
Behind him, Yu Xi had already put her coat back on and stood up, looking in his direction. ¡°What are you doing by the trash can? We need to keep moving. We have to get far enough away from the time-space assassin to be safe.¡±
Lin Xian snapped out of his thoughts, looked at Yu Xi, and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ming.¡±
Forget it. He couldn¡¯t figure out the answers just by thinking.
A DNA paternity test.
That was the most urate and straightforward way.
When the opportunity arose, Lin Xian nned to risk finding out if he was really a dad¡ and uncover the truth about Yu Xi¡¯s origins.
The two got back into the SUV and continued their journey. Lin Xian was still driving. He nned to drive through the night, heading back to Princeton, New Jersey.
He was still worried about Angelica.
She had specifically told him not to contact her. In this situation, it was best to follow her advice and not try to reach out by phone or text. Otherwise, it could make things worse.
But he couldn¡¯t just leave it alone, either. So Lin Xian nned to return to Angelica¡¯s vi in Princeton to see if there were any signs she had been home or if she had left any clues for him.
He yawned, not out of sleepiness but exhaustion. These past few days, although he hadn¡¯t been flying on nes constantly like before, the level of fatigue had only increased. He and Yu Xi had been driving almost non-stop every day, from the East Coast of the United States to the southern border, and now they were headed back to the East Coast.
Luckily, the U.S. highways were straight and had little traffic, so long-distance driving wasn¡¯t too tiring¡ªas long as he didn¡¯t fall asleep at the wheel.
Through the rearview mirror, Lin Xian looked at the back seat, where Yu Xi was curled up under a nket, fast asleep. She was still dressed the same, not letting her guard down even while sleeping. The Smith & Wesson M500 revolver was in her jacket pocket, never leaving her side.
Her right arm was wrapped in a clean white bandage, and it was clear the wound had stopped bleeding.
Because she was sleeping with her back to Lin Xian, facing the seat, he could only see the back of her head and the small ponytail that kept bouncing with the car¡¯s movements.
Yu Xi¡¯s baby face suited her short ponytail. But her hair was too short, and the ponytail was so tiny it was almostical.
However, considering Yu Xi¡¯s role as a time-space agent on a special mission, she probably didn¡¯t n on growing her hair long, did she? It wouldn¡¯t make sense. If she did grow a long ponytail or let her hair down, it would be like giving the enemy an easy target.
Lin Xian had witnessed Yu Xi¡¯s duel with the time-space assassin in the moonlit schoolyard. It was breathtaking, like a dance on the edge of a knife. Every move was deadly, and any mistake would have been fatal.
A battle between gods, with no room for mortals.
¡°Uhh¡¡± Lin Xian sighed softly inside the car, switching the headlights to high beam on the empty road.
He wished he could help Yu Xi more, so she wouldn¡¯t have to fight alone.
Unfortunately, the time-space assassin was too mysterious, not bound by the rules of time-space, and even able to reverse the attacks aimed at her.
What was the reason behind this?
The next morning, as the sun began to rise, Yu Xi rubbed her eyes and woke up in the back seat. She sat up, looking at Lin Xian, who had been driving all night.
¡°Lin Xian, where are we now?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve covered about half the distance,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°It took us about a day and a night to drive from Princeton to Texas, and this time we started from Mississippi, which is closer to Princeton.¡±
¡°Let me drive now.¡±
Yu Xi sat up in the back seat, adjusting her short ponytail, which had loosened during sleep.
Lin Xian nced at the car¡¯s quartz clock. It was 10 AM, U.S. time. This was about the time for him to fall asleep, and he would probably be out for no more than three hours before waking up again. Given how far they had already traveled, the time-space assassin shouldn¡¯t catch up for a while.
¡°Where¡¯s the time-space assassin now? How far behind us?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°She hasn¡¯t moved,¡± Yu Xi said, leaning over the seat to look at the sandy road ahead. ¡°She¡¯s probably still in the city, far from us. You can sleep without worrying.¡±
Lin Xian parked by the roadside, then got out and moved to the passenger seat, reclining it to sleep.
There was no other choice¡ Yu Xi¡¯s height allowed her to curl up in the back seat and sleep, but Lin Xian couldn¡¯t stretch out in the back, so he had to make do with the reclined passenger seat.
He closed his eyes, pulled the nket over himself, and Yu Xi restarted the car, heading north.
The rocking of the car quickly made Lin Xian, already exhausted, feel even sleepier¡ until he drifted off to sleep.
¡
¡
Familiar summer breezes, familiar city noises.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t even opened his eyes yet, but he already sensed that something was wrong.
Slowly, he opened his eyes¡
Sure enough.
He couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. This fourth dream was just too stubborn! Too difficult to deal with!
He had been trapped in this nightmarish dream for nearly a year, unable to escape¡
Even though so much had changed in the real world, and even after he killed Kevin Walker, why hadn¡¯t the fourth dream changed at all?
He had anticipated this before falling asleep.
Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have dyed going to sleep until sote.
But even with mental preparation, when he opened his eyes and saw dozens of armed soldiers surrounding him¡ he couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated and disappointed.
What was the problem?
There was only one possibility:
The dream was fake, a fictional movie set, and the enemy had given up on even changing the set. But that didn¡¯t make sense. If the enemy never intended to change the dream set, then why did the Time Bank¡¯s advertising blimp suddenly appear one day? That showed the enemy was still modifying the dream¡¯s details based on changes in the real world.
So, if that was the case¡
Since he had already killed Kevin Walker, who were these soldiers supposed to take him to?
This question would be answered soon enough.
But in the meantime, Lin Xian thought of another possibility, something he had suspected before:
The mysterious old man wasn¡¯t Kevin Walker at all! He only pretended to be Kevin Walker to mislead Lin Xian, making him target Kevin Walker as his enemy.
This led to the second possibility:
Kevin Walker¡¯s death, just like VV¡¯s appearance and disappearance, and the capture of time-space particles, was predetermined history, an unchangeable fact. So, everything that had happened since the fourth dream first appeared had followed the original historical trajectory¡ and since the historical track hadn¡¯t changed, the fourth dream hadn¡¯t changed either.
¡°Who¡¯s deciding history here?¡± Lin Xian asked himself. ¡°And who¡¯s controlling it so precisely that it doesn¡¯t deviate at all?¡±
There wasn¡¯t much time to think.
One of the soldiers surrounding him, the one who seemed to be the captain, threw down an electronic arrest warrant.
¡°Lin Xian! You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting time-space!¡±
Lin Xian sighed. How many times had he heard those charges?
He was innocent.
He was the victim here, wasn¡¯t he?
It felt like he wasn¡¯t the criminal¡ but rather a group of people guilty of those crimes chasing after him relentlessly.
Szzzz¡ª
The sharp sound of electricity, and Lin Xian¡¯s vision went ck as he lost consciousness.
¡
¡
Who knows how longter, he opened his eyes again.
He was still cuffed to a chair, still had a ck hood over his head, unable to see what was outside.
In front of him, he heard the same dryugh that he had grown tired of hearing. Then the sound of shuffling footsteps approaching.
Swish.
The old man yanked the hood off Lin Xian¡¯s head, revealing that same familiar face, with those dry eyes ring at him.
¡°Now¡¡± the old man began.
¡°You¡¯re not Kevin Walker,¡± Lin Xian interrupted.
It seemed his earlier thoughts were right. Kevin Walker¡¯s death, as the digital lifeform Turing, who used to be Kevin, had said, was predetermined history, an unchangeable fact.
Since the moment Turing wanted to kill his former self, Kevin Walker¡¯s death became inevitable.
This water had to be spilled, it was just a matter of who would spill it.
Turing had told him in that basement that even if Lin Xian hadn¡¯t killed Kevin Walker, someone else would have, and it wouldn¡¯t have taken long. Even if Lin Xian hadn¡¯t gone after himst night, Kevin Walker wouldn¡¯t have survived the month. At the very least, Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t have let him live.
So Kevin Walker¡¯s death wouldn¡¯t change the future or cause a massive butterfly effect.
The mysterious old man¡¯s script hadn¡¯t changed because he didn¡¯t know when Kevin Walker would die or who would kill him.
In a way, Lin Xian had been yed by the old man.
But Lin Xian didn¡¯t care. Even without the old man¡¯s influence, his entanglement with Kevin Walker would have been enough to make him pull the trigger.
And having a hacker who could infiltrate any surveince system was a threat Lin Xian couldn¡¯t tolerate.
At least now, that danger was gone.
So it wasn¡¯t the old man using him; their goals just happened to align.
Now that Kevin Walker¡¯s situation was resolved¡
Wasn¡¯t it time to settle ounts with the mysterious old man?
¡°I hope I don¡¯t guess who you are, old man,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile.
¡°I¡¯ve already settled with Kevin Walker. Next, it¡¯s your turn.¡±
The old man was taken aback for a moment, then he chuckled dryly again. He shook his head with amusement, his eyes narrowing into slits as he looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Foolish child¡¡±
Heughed heartily.
¡°The true hunter never enters the hunting ground himself.¡±
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Blinding white light arrived on time, filling every crevice in his vision, burning everything to ashes.
¡
¡
¡
Boca Chica, Texas, a two-story house.
In the bedroom, Angelica opened her eyes. She got out of bed, put on her slippers, and adjusted her nightgown before opening the bedroom door.
In the living room, two female bodyguards in ck uniforms and sunsses bowed to her.
¡°Miss Angelica, you¡¯re awake. What would you like for lunch today? We¡¯ll have the chef prepare it for you.¡±
But unfortunately, these weren¡¯t her own bodyguards. They were hired by Elon Musk, officially to protect her¡ but really to monitor and confine her.
¡°The same as yesterday is fine,¡± Angelica said softly.
Ever since she had been caught impersonating Elon Musk¡¯s secretary at the SpaceX starshipunch center, he had locked her in this house. She wasn¡¯t allowed to contact the outside world or leave the premises. She had been confined here ever since.
After that day, Elon Musk hadn¡¯te back, and Angelica hadn¡¯t seen him again. In the past few days, she had no news from the outside world and had been unable to contact anyone.
Elon Musk had told her on that observation tower that Copernicus had used a tempting offer to buy her life:
¡°I don¡¯t want to be criticized or be infamous like Copernicus, so of course, I¡¯ll keep my word. I don¡¯t need him spreading rumors about me.¡±
¡°So for now, stay here quietly. I¡¯ll have people take good care of you. Apart from not being able to go out or contact the outside world, your life won¡¯t be much different from usual.¡±
¡°When I¡¯m sure Kevin Walker is dead, I¡¯ll release you. But of course¡ Kevin Walker is incredibly cunning, so confirming his death won¡¯t be quick. It¡¯ll take until the morning of the first day of next month at least before I can be certain he¡¯s dead.¡±
After that, Angelica had been confined here.
Elon Musk was indeed a man of his word. Even the bodyguards he sent were two women who met all her needs.
Books, food, DVDs, even small pets¡ whatever she asked for, her captors provided as quickly as possible.
But every day, she couldn¡¯t help but worry¡
How was Lin Xian?
Was he safe?
Was he still alive?
Angelica knew that Lin Xian had a grudge against Kevin Walker and that Elon Musk had given Lin Xian Kevin Walker¡¯s address. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess that Lin Xian would likely go to kill Kevin Walker.
On that note written to her, Kevin Walker¡¯s name was near the top. That showed how high Lin Xian¡¯s priority was on this most powerful young hacker, even higher than the blue-eyed girl chasing him.
¡°Good luck, boy,¡± Angelica murmured, shaking her head as she headed to the bathroom.
Just then, one of the female bodyguards spoke into her phone, then walked over and bowed to Angelica.
¡°Miss Angelica, Mr. Elon Musk is on his way over. He asks that you prepare yourself; he ns to take you out of the country.¡±
¡°Out of the country?¡± Angelica frowned. ¡°Where to?¡±
¡°To X Country,¡± the bodyguard replied. ¡°Mr. Elon Musk didn¡¯t give details. He¡¯ll exin when he arrives.¡±
¡
An hourter.
Elon Musk, tall and imposing, knocked on the door and entered the living room.
Inside, Angelica was sitting on the couch, smoking with her legs crossed.
¡°Are you ready?¡± Elon Musk asked.
¡°Heh.¡± Angelicaughed dismissively, turning her head to exhale smoke. ¡°Elon Musk, impersonating your secretary was wrong of me, I admit that. But you¡¯ve kept me here for days; isn¡¯t that enough payback?¡±
¡°The only reason I¡¯ve been cooperative is that I still have things to aplish in this life, unfinished business. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m clinging to my life.¡±
¡°So, you kept your word, and I¡¯ve kept mine. I¡¯ll wait until the morning of the first day of next month for you to confirm Kevin Walker¡¯s death. After that, you can kill me or let me go, and I¡¯ll have noints.¡±
¡°But as for apanying you out of the country, forget it. The price for a Hollywood star to apany you abroad is quite steep¡ Even if you can afford it, it still depends on whether I¡¯m willing. And I¡¯m not.¡±
¡°You will be, Angelica,¡± Elon Musk said with a smile. ¡°This is a new deal. I¡¯ll tell you what you want to know, in exchange for yourpany to X Country.¡±
Angelica took a drag from her cigarette, slowly exhaling.
¡°You think you know what I want?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Elon Musk admitted, shrugging. ¡°But the fact that you took the risk of impersonating my secretary to get close to me means there¡¯s something you want to know. So, what is it?¡±
¡°I want to know everything about Copernicus,¡± Angelica said, still with her legs crossed, looking directly at Elon Musk. ¡°The one who called you from my phone¡ªtell me everything you know about him.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Elon Musk said, unconcerned. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you after this is done. Copernicus isn¡¯t my friend. I don¡¯t know him personally, and from what I¡¯ve heard¡ I actually dislike him.¡±
¡°But I don¡¯t know much about him, just bits and pieces I¡¯ve picked up here and there. So don¡¯t expect too much.¡±
Angelica leaned forward, pressing her cigarette into the ashtray, twisting it to extinguish it. After a moment of silence, she looked up again.
¡°So, why do you want me to go to X Country with you?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything,¡± Elon Musk replied. ¡°You just need to apany me and meet Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Angelica narrowed her eyes. ¡°Lin Xian is right here in the U.S. You can meet him anytime.¡±
Elon Musk rubbed his hands together, shaking his head with a smile. ¡°But in the U.S., Lin Xian won¡¯t dare to meet me, especially with the current misunderstanding between us¡ Whether I invite him or he invites me, we¡¯d both see it as a trap and wouldn¡¯t go.¡±
¡°Even if I released you now and let you contact him, it would be the same. Unless he¡¯s a fool, he¡¯d suspect it¡¯s a trap I set up.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s different in X Country. It¡¯s a very safe country, both for me and for Lin Xian. And with my trip apanied by X Country officials, that should be enough to earn Lin Xian¡¯s trust.¡±
¡°I have a lot to clear up with Lin Xian. Some things I did, and I¡¯ll own up to them. But for what I didn¡¯t do, I won¡¯t take the me.¡±
Angelica scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re that confident Lin Xian will go to X Country to see you?¡±
¡°He will,¡± Elon Musk said, pulling a ticket from his pocket. It was a ticket to the moon, with the words ¡°To the Moon¡± printed on it.
¡°This time in X Country, I¡¯m going to visit a little girl in the hospital. And Lin Xian, he¡¯ll definitelye.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Angelica was puzzled, almost amused.
¡°Because I¡¯ve figured it out,¡± Elon Musk said, waving the ticket with a smile.
¡°This $12 million ticket to the moon¡ was a gift from Lin Xian to Zheng Xiang Yue!¡±
Chapter 343: Killing Elon Musk
Elon Musk slipped the ticket into his pocket, his expression serious. ¡°I need to meet Lin Xian in person and clear up a lot of things.¡±
He paused, reflecting on his conversation with Copernicus. ¡°What Copernicus said¡ it really made me think. People tend to trust and respect the unknown, and I¡¯m no different. Looking back, it was na?ve to trust someone just because they provided useful information, thinking that made them an ally.¡±
He sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. ¡°Pride is a w, and I never thought it would be mine. But even so, I can¡¯t just dismiss what Copernicus said. After all, you can¡¯t just throw away the trust you¡¯ve built with yourrades because of one statement, can you?¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I need to find the real answers myself. The good news is that I already have a n, and meeting Lin Xian is the final step in confirming the truth.¡±
Angelica remained silent, lost in thought. The information Copernicus offered was exactly what she needed, making the deal tempting. But Lin Xian had warned her that the assassin after him was sent by Elon Musk. Her secretary confirmed it, identifying the assassin as a blue-eyed girl with short ck hair hiding in the observation tower.
Even though she didn¡¯t fully believe Elon Musk¡¯s words, she did agree on one thing: X Country was far safer than America as things stand. There, Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t dare harm Lin Xian during official meetings. As a guest, he wouldn¡¯t touch her either. It was safer than staying in America where Elon held all the cards.
Angelica wanted to keep Lin Xian safe, to avoid unnecessary risks. Otherwise¡ with his loyal and righteous nature, if he found out she was in trouble and that Elon Musk had figured out their ns, he would likely confront Musk directly, seeking revenge. But this was America, where Elon Musk had immense power. Lin Xian, fighting alone, wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Musk. He might even end up getting killed.
¡°Ah¡¡± Angelica sighed deeply, staring out the window. She couldn¡¯t let her rash actions drag Lin Xian into danger again.So, to X Country, it is. She would lead both Elon Musk and Lin Xian to an advantageous ce, far from Musk¡¯s stronghold. That way, whatever Lin Xian nned next, he would be on his home turf in Donghai City, giving him a much better chance than in America.
¡°I hope you keep your promise this time, Elon Musk,¡± Angelica said, getting up from the couch. She crossed her arms, staring at the former world¡¯s richest man. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you to tell me everything about Copernicus.¡±
Elon Musk smiled and shrugged. ¡°I always keep my word.¡±
A short whileter, Elon Musk¡¯s private jet took off from the airport. Angelica and Musk sat in the cabin, heading toward Donghai City. Four dayster, on April 28th, Musk was scheduled to attend a trade promotion meeting in the capital and meet with officials. But in the three days before that, he nned to be in Donghai City, determined to solve the mysteries and deal with his true enemies.
¡°Oh, I almost forgot, I need to send a tweet,¡± Musk said as the ne sped down the runway. He took out his phone and opened the Twitter app. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to make my visit to Zheng Xiang Yue public since she needs peace, but¡ I have to let Lin Xian know. Otherwise, how can I ensure he¡¯lle to meet me?¡±
As he began typing out his tweet, Angelica chuckled softly. ¡°Why don¡¯t I tweet too? My ount hasn¡¯t been updated in days. Since you want Lin Xian to know I¡¯m going to X Country as well, why not let me post something to help you?¡±
Elon Musk shook his head with a smile as he typed. ¡°Angelica, I¡¯m not an idiot¡ Even an idiot could see what you¡¯re nning.¡±
¡°When I¡¯ve figured out the truth, I¡¯ll let you go back to Lin Xian and regain your freedom. Just hold on for another two or three days.¡±
Angelica scoffed, crossing her legs and ncing at the seat next to Elon Musk. It wasn¡¯t upied by a person, but by a small, boxy white refrigerator.
This tiny, square refrigerator seemed out of ce, looking more like a home appliance than something you¡¯d see on a private jet. It was bigger than a typical car mini-fridge but still far too small to hold much, especially for a house appliance. Based on Angelica¡¯s estimation, it was only about half a meter in height, width, and depth¡ªbarelyrger than an average rice cooker. There were no visible logos or markings on it.
¡°It¡¯s no problem for me to wait,¡± Angelica said, still eyeing the fridge. ¡°But I¡¯m curious¡ Why bring this little fridge from home on a trip to X Country? Your jet clearly has a fridge. And this one¡¯s not even plugged in. Anything stored in there would have spoiled by now. So, what¡¯s so important that you had to bring it along?¡±
The sound of the tweet being sessfully posted pinged, and Elon Musk finally put down his phone. He turned to the small white fridge, his hand gently caressing it with a fondness that surprised Angelica.
¡°What¡¯s inside¡ is extremely useful.¡±
Meanwhile, in the United States, New Jersey, on a highway, Lin Xian slowly opened his eyes, letting out a long sigh from the passenger seat.
Yu Xi, who was driving, nced at him curiously. ¡°Why are you awake? You¡¯ve only been asleep for two hours.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the swirling dust on the road and the dry leaves caught in the spinning wind.
In the dream he just had, nothing had changed. The soldiers were still the same heavily armed troops, the old man still the same shriveled, cackling figure. Despite all his efforts, he still couldn¡¯t break through the fourth dream. It was impossible not to feel a bit disappointed.
Right now, he really missed Big Cat Face and his brothers¡ But most of all, he missed CC. Now that Chu An Qing had turned into blue star dust and vanished, CC was his only lead to uncovering the secrets of the Millennium Stake and Chu An Qing, and how to save her.
More than anything, he wanted to meet CC in the dream world. He wanted to ask her about her birthday, her secrets, and ideally, to go with her to open the safety deposit box at Time Bank, to see what was written on that little piece of paper.
CC had told him that the man who called himself VV, who was likely his older, bearded self, had said everything she wanted to know was in that deposit box, including the meaning of her life.
From a historical closed-loop perspective, the password to the deposit box and its contents had never changed¡ which made Lin Xian wonder if CC had been chasing after that seemingly ordinary piece of paper all along. It was hard for him to believe. Just a piece of paper? At most, it might contain a couple of lines written by Chu An Qing.
Could it really have that much power, enough to drive CC across such a difficult journey, through so many dangers, with unwavering determination? Before opening the deposit box, Lin Xian didn¡¯t dare tell CC that there was only a piece of paper inside. Even if it were some kind of divine message, it wouldn¡¯t be worth everything CC had gone through.
He couldn¡¯t understand what that bearded man was thinking¡ Maybe he didn¡¯t tell CC the password because he knew it wasn¡¯t worth it, and couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. Ironically, this only made CC more determined to open the box.
¡°Or maybe¡ there¡¯s another reason,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. He knew too little about CC, the Millennium Stake, and the bearded man, VV, to draw any conclusions. It was too early, too irresponsible to assume anything.
For now, he could only hope to see CC soon. That way, he might feel a bit better.
¡°I¡¯ll sleep a bit more. Wake me up when we reach Princeton,¡± Lin Xian instructed Yu Xi, then closed his eyes to rest again.
By evening, the SUV had reached the vicinity of Angelica¡¯s vi. Yu Xi woke Lin Xian. They parked at a distance and approached on foot, guns in hand, moving cautiously. After confirming there was no danger, Yu Xi smashed a window with a punch, climbed inside, and opened the front door for Lin Xian.
They turned on the lights and looked around. The ce was just as they had left it, with no signs of disturbance or recent activity.
¡°It looks like Angelica¡¯s in trouble. She probably got caught the other day pretending to be her secretary,¡± Lin Xian said, scanning the table where ssware, fake eyebrows, and a false mustachey¡ªitems Angelica had used to disguise herself for the banquet.
This meant Angelica hadn¡¯t returned for days. Lin Xian pulled out his phone and checked Angelica¡¯s social media ounts.
¡°In the past few days, she hasn¡¯t posted or shared anything on any tform,¡± Lin Xian said, frowning as he put away his phone. ¡°Did Elon Musk imprison her? Or did he just kill her?¡±
¡°I¡¯d bet on thetter,¡± Yu Xi replied, grabbing some food from the fridge and sharing it with Lin Xian. ¡°Elon Musk¡¯s the world¡¯s richest man. In America, he can do pretty much anything he wants. He¡¯s no saint, and he¡¯s tried to kill you with time-space assassins more than once. You¡¯ve been lucky to survive their attacks so far. If not, you¡¯d already be dead by Elon Musk¡¯s hand. So, if he could do that to you, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he killed Angelica too.¡±
¡°Especially since Angelica made the first move. If her disguise was convincing, Elon Musk might have spilled some important secrets to her before realizing it. By the time he figured it out, she might have learned too much. In that case, he would have no choice but to kill her and cover it up.¡±
¡°That reminds me of something,¡± Lin Xian said, putting down his buttered bread and looking at Yu Xi. ¡°Since the time-space assassin was sent by Elon Musk, where did ite from? Just like you appeared in front of me, that assassin must have appeared at some point in front of Elon Musk.¡±
¡°So, who would send a time-space assassin from the future as a gift to Elon Musk? It must be either his partner, his ally, or his future self! Now that hibernation technology is nearly perfected, it won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s fully avable. If Elon Musk wanted to, he could freeze himself for a few hundred years, wake up in a time where time travel exists, and send an assassin back to 2024 to help his past self.¡±
Yu Xi wiped some jam from her mouth and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re only realizing this now? I thought you would¡¯ve figured it out sooner.¡±
¡°Since you¡¯ve figured this out, I can share more of my thoughts. Time travel isn¡¯t as easy as you think. Otherwise, every era would be full of time travelers, and history would be in chaos.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve considered that too. So, to make time travel possible, advanced technology isn¡¯t the only requirement. The rarity of time travelers must be due to some other ¡®conditions,¡¯ ¡®energy,¡¯ or ¡®resources¡¯ being extremely hard toe by.¡±
¡°Because those conditions are so difficult to meet, or the required resources are so scarce, time travel isn¡¯t something that happens often. Throughout human history, there might have only been a handful of time travelers.¡±
This made Lin Xian think about the rare, mysterious time-space particles.
¡°I don¡¯t know if you know about time-space particles,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at Yu Xi. ¡°They¡¯re the only things I know of that can cross time. But the one I captured had no energy left, and my scientist told me that without energy, it¡¯s useless, just a piece of junk.¡±
¡°But if a time-space particle were fully intact and still had its energy¡ what could it do?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve thought about this for a long time, and I believe aplete time-space particle must be incredibly powerful. Otherwise, why would people fight so desperately for it? This shows that time-space particles, rare as they are, are extremely valuable.¡±
¡°At first, I didn¡¯t understand. But now, seeing how strong you and that time-space assassin are, I think I get it¡ª¡±
¡°Time-space particles must be the key to making time travel possible! If I¡¯m right¡ did you use up a time-space particle to travel from the future to now?¡±
Lin Xian stared into Yu Xi¡¯s blue eyes. He expected her to brush off his question with a ¡°can¡¯t say¡± or ¡°noment¡± as she usually did.
But to his surprise, she casually nodded while spreading jam on her bread. ¡°That¡¯s not a hard conclusion to reach. In fact, you should¡¯ve figured it out the moment you saw a time-space particle.¡±
¡°Yes, since you¡¯ve guessed it, I might as well tell you. Every time traveler must use up a time-space particle to make the journey. The specific details, rules, and precautions¡ with the current sticity of time-space, I can¡¯t tell you, and I probably won¡¯t be able to for a long, long time.¡±
¡°After all, in your time, 2024, there¡¯s still a long way to go before time travel technology is developed, and time machines are built. You¡¯ll only understand the theory fully when that dayes.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian said, waving his hand. ¡°The information you¡¯ve given me is enough. So, based on my earlier reasoning, it¡¯s not hard to guess that at some point in the future, Elon Musk got hold of a time-space particle and started this centuries-long time assassin n.¡±
¡°Or let¡¯s think bigger¡ªwho says the time-space particle Liu Feng discovered was the first in human history? Maybe others reached Earth before that, and with Elon Musk¡¯s advanced aerospace technology, he captured one long before.¡±
The more he thought about it, the clearer his thoughts became. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s not hard to exin why the time-space particle Liu Feng observed was drawn straight toward Earth¡ Its target wasn¡¯t Earth, the Millennium Stake, Yellow Finch, or anyone else¡ but rather the time-space particle in Elon Musk¡¯s possession! They were attracting each other!¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t even have to be Elon Musk¡¯s. If Elon Musk has a time-space particle, it¡¯s possible others do too. After all, who wouldn¡¯t want their future self to send them a ¡®Terminator¡¯ or ¡®Super Saiyan¡¯ as a gift?¡±
¡°So, those who possess time-space particles would hide them securely, waiting for the day the time machine is built, when the particle will finally serve its purpose, sending people back in time.¡±
Once Lin Xian confirmed that time-space particles are essential for time travel, everything that had happened could be pieced together into a coherent logic chain.
¡°Elon Musk likely has a time-space particle,¡± Lin Xian mused, resting his chin on his hand. ¡°At the very least, he knows a lot about them. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have anticipated my actions and Kevin Walker¡¯s so well.¡±
¡°Time-space particles, time assassins, and the future Elon Musk¡ªthese three elements form a perfect historical loop, and all three are necessary. The Elon Musk of today must ensure that the time-space particle ends up in the hands of his future self so that the time assassin can be sent back.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s not hard to deduce why Kevin Walker tried to stop me from getting the time-space particle. He must think that particle is the key to my historical loop or someone else¡¯s. But that doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that Kevin Walker doesn¡¯t want the loop to bepleted! So, he had to interfere with me capturing the time-space particle.¡±
¡°But why did Elon Musk help me? And then, after helping me, why did he send the time assassin to kill me? If he wanted to kill me, why not do it in Copenhagen? What¡¯s special about Copenhagen? That¡¯s the part I can¡¯t figure out. It feels like there are too many contradictions, something doesn¡¯t add up! I must be missing a key detail!¡±
While Lin Xian was deep in thought, Yu Xi finished her jam-covered bread. She wiped her hands with a napkin, shook her short ponytail like a hamster, and blinked at Lin Xian.
¡°You¡¯re talking about things I can¡¯t fully understand. They seem to be unique to your timeline, your history. But¡ since you understand Elon Musk¡¯s historical loop, which includes the time assassin, time-space particle, and future Elon Musk, then it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to figure out how to break the loop, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Maybe all we need to do is steal Elon Musk¡¯s time-space particle.¡±
¡°Just like how Kevin Walker interfered with me getting the particle, we could steal or destroy Elon Musk¡¯s, rendering it useless.¡±
¡°If we do that, the future Elon Musk won¡¯t have a time-space particle to use, which means he won¡¯t be able to send the time assassin back¡ If the established historical loop is broken, wouldn¡¯t the time assassin just vanish, like how Chu An Qing did?¡±
Yu Xi shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t say.¡±
Lin Xian smiled knowingly. Nowadays, ¡°I can¡¯t say¡± pretty much meant, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±
So, he continued, ¡°Either way, based on what I understand, if we destroy Elon Musk¡¯s time-space particle, we can break his historical loop, making the time assassin ineffective, causing it to disappear. At least, it wouldn¡¯t be able to remain in this timeline.¡±
¡°This strategy sounds perfect in theory, but there are two problems¡ª¡±
Lin Xian raised one finger. ¡°First, Elon Musk probably understands the importance of the time-space particle better than anyone. He¡¯ll protect it carefully until a future time when it¡¯s needed. With his wealth and power, finding and stealing it won¡¯t be easy for the two of us.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s just the first issue, not the most troubling. The real problem is the second point.¡±
Lin Xian held up a second finger. ¡°Second, we might be overestimating things. It¡¯s possible that the current Elon Musk doesn¡¯t even have a time-space particle yet. He might not get one until 2034, then send the time assassin back in 2334 or even 2534 to assist him in 2024.¡±
¡°This would make sense from a timeline perspective. He might not even get the particle until 2534, then immediately send the assassin back.¡±
¡°So, do you get what I mean? There¡¯s a good chance the current Elon Musk doesn¡¯t have a time-space particle, making our n useless. The particle we¡¯re targeting might not exist yet, so we can¡¯t find or steal it.¡±
Yu Xi pursed her lips, thinking for a moment. Then she looked up at Lin Xian, her face serious.
¡°Lin Xian, I think you¡¯re oveplicating a simple problem¡¡±
¡°You know that Elon Musk¡¯s historical loop consists of the time assassin, the time-space particle, and the future Elon Musk.¡±
¡°But right now, the time assassin is too strong to defeat head-on, and the time-space particle might not even exist yet. So why focus on twoplex options when you could go for the simplest one?¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°You mean¡¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xi said, pointing to the ck handgun on the table. She raised her head, her crystal-blue eyes locking with Lin Xian¡¯s. In the reflection of his pupils, the same blue glow appeared.
¡°Kill Elon Musk¡ so he has no future!¡±
Chapter 344: A Parentage Test
Yu Xi¡¯s eyes were locked onto Lin Xian, her voice filled with intensity. ¡°I would sacrifice everything for you, even my life. If killing Elon Musk would protect you, I¡¯d do it in a heartbeat,¡± she dered, her tone unwavering. ¡°But my mission, the reason I crossed over to this timeline, is to keep you safe. To truly destroy that time-space assassin and eliminate any threat, Elon Musk has to die, and that task falls to you.¡±
Lin Xian frowned slightly, a mix of emotions swirling within him. ¡°But why me?¡± he asked, already knowing the answer.
Yu Xi bit her lip before continuing, ¡°Because I¡¯m bound by thews of time in this era. That assassin can hurt people here, but I can¡¯t. My actions are limited to those who exist in the future. If I tried to kill Elon Musk, it would trigger an erasure¡ªtime itself would erase me to prevent the paradox. Only you, who belongs to this timeline, can do it.¡±
Lin Xian sighed, shaking his head slowly. ¡°But Yu Xi, when would we ever get a chance like that? This isn¡¯t some Hollywood action movie. Elon Musk isn¡¯t going to give me a fair fight. He¡¯s the richest man in the world; now that he knows he¡¯s in danger, he¡¯ll be surrounded by security. We¡¯ll never get close.¡±
Yu Xi leaned in, her voice firm. ¡°You¡¯re right, it won¡¯t be easy. But if there¡¯s ever a moment, you¡¯re the only one who can take the shot. I can fight off the assassin, but you have to be the one to end Elon Musk¡¯s life.¡±
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully but couldn¡¯t help but chuckle bitterly. ¡°Killing the richest man in the world isn¡¯t any easier than assassinating a president. Especially now, with the security he¡¯s bound to have. Even if we somehow seeded, it wouldn¡¯te without severe consequences.¡±
Despite the bleak reality, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t dismiss Yu Xi¡¯s point. Killing Elon Musk could potentially unravel the entire situation. If Elon Musk died, the future version of him wouldn¡¯t exist to send the assassin back, cutting off the loop entirely.
Lin Xian absentmindedly picked up his phone and opened Twitter. He searched for Elon Musk¡¯stest updates, hoping for some insight.Sure enough, there was a recent tweet from Elon Musk, announcing that he was heading to Donghai City in X Country to personally deliver a ticket to the moon to Zheng Xiang Yue, thetest announced lunar passenger.
Yu Xi peered over Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder at the screen. ¡°This could be our opportunity, Lin Xian,¡± she said. ¡°In X Country, especially in Donghai City, you¡¯re on home turf. If we¡¯re going to take a shot at him, that¡¯s the ce to do it. It won¡¯t be easy, but it¡¯s more feasible there than in America.¡±
Lin Xian turned to her, skepticism in his eyes. ¡°How do you suggest we lure Elon Musk into a situation where we can actually get to him? What could I possibly offer that would make him drop his guard?¡±
Yu Xi acknowledged his point but pressed on. ¡°We don¡¯t need to stay in America any longer. We¡¯ve dealt with Kevin Walker, and now we know Elon Musk is the one behind the time-space assassin. Let¡¯s head back to Donghai City. At least there, we have a chance.¡±
Lin Xian mulled over her words. ¡°You¡¯re right. We need to go back. X Country has the Sky Net surveince system¡ªonce the assassin¡¯s details are entered into the system, it¡¯ll be nearly impossible for her to sneak in. If she shows up, the authorities will catch her.¡±
Yu Xi nodded, pulling out a Smith & Wesson M500 revolver from her pocket. ¡°X Country may be gun-free, but if we¡¯re serious about killing Elon Musk, we need to be prepared. You¡¯re a good shot, right? We¡¯ll need this.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the gun, surprised by Yu Xi¡¯s determination. ¡°How are you going to get that into the country?¡± he asked.
¡°Not by normal means,¡± Yu Xi replied, smiling slightly. ¡°We¡¯ll need to split up. I¡¯ll take a different route, but I¡¯ll get it into Donghai City.¡±
Lin Xian quickly shook his head. ¡°No, we can¡¯t separate. That time-space assassin isn¡¯t bound by the same rules as us. If I face her alone, I¡¯m dead. We stick together.¡±
Yu Xi sighed but nodded. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s do this together.¡±
She tucked the gun away, and they made their way to the airport, leaving America behind. Their next destination: Donghai City.
A few hourster, they were on a flight, heading back home. Yu Xi, her small frame almost swallowed by the first-ss seat, seemed to be resting quietly. Lin Xian stared out the window, reflecting on the whirlwind that had been their time in America.
He hade here seeking safety, only to find himself deeper in danger. Yet, despite everything, he had managed to eliminate Kevin Walker, a far greater threat than Elon Musk. Now, with Kevin Walker gone, a sense of relief washed over him. But the battle was far from over.
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts drifted to Elon Musk. Would he have to kill him? He wasn¡¯t sure. Part of him wanted to believe there was another way, especially with Angelica¡¯s life potentially on the line.
As the ne touched down at Pudong International Airport, Lin Xian knew there was no turning back. He had to face whatever awaited him in Donghai City.
Driver Xiao Li was already waiting at the VIP pick-up area, excited to see Lin Xian. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian! Let me help with your luggage. Ms. Zhao Ying Jun lent us a van from MX Company since she figured you¡¯d need some time to buy a new car after returning.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, appreciating the thoughtful gesture. As Xiao Li helped with the luggage, he noticed Yu Xi. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, who is this youngdy?¡±
Lin Xian quickly responded, ¡°She¡¯s my cousin¡¯s daughter from America. She¡¯s visiting for a few days.¡±
Xiao Li weed her warmly, but Yu Xi politely declined his offer to carry her bag, knowing it was filled with the gold and jewelry she had taken from Angelica¡¯s ce.
Once they were in the van, Xiao Li asked, ¡°Where to first, Mr. Lin Xian?¡±
Lin Xian thought for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go to an optician¡¯s first.¡±
Half an hourter, they were in a shopping mall, purchasing the darkest contact lenses and sunsses for Yu Xi to hide the eerie blue glow in her eyes.
After fitting her with the lenses and sunsses, Lin Xian was satisfied with the result. ¡°How does it feel?¡± he asked.
¡°Everything¡¯s dark and blurry,¡± Yu Xi replied, a bit disoriented.
¡°Just bear with it for now,¡± Lin Xian said, smiling. ¡°We need to avoid any unnecessary attention.¡±
They then headed to the Rhine Company building, where Lin Xian wanted to check on some important items he had left behind.
As they rode in the van, Xiao Li updated Lin Xian on the situation in Donghai. ¡°Director Liu An from the National Security Agency had the police upload the assassin¡¯s facial recognition data into the Sky Net system. If she shows up, she¡¯ll be caught immediately.¡±
Lin Xian felt a sense of relief, knowing they had taken precautions. But he remained cautious. With Yu Xi by his side and the assassin¡¯s details entered into the system, they had a better chance of staying safe.
After arriving at the Rhine Company building, they took the elevator up to Lin Xian¡¯s office. Lin Xian sat down at his desk while Yu Xi settled on the sofa with a copy of Andersen¡¯s Fairy Tales.
Lin Xian watched in amazement as Yu Xi flipped through the book at lightning speed, finishing it in no time. ¡°Are you speed reading?¡± he asked.
¡°No, just reading,¡± Yu Xi replied casually. ¡°I can remember every word.¡±
Lin Xian was impressed but also reminded of the conversation he had with VV in the third dream, where he learned that in Yu Xi¡¯s time, people had enhanced cognitive abilities from a young age.
As Lin Xian¡¯sputer booted up, he checked Elon Musk¡¯s itinerary. Tomorrow morning, Elon Musk would be at Donghai University¡¯s hospital to deliver the moon trip ticket to Zheng Xiang Yue. Lin Xian decided he would also be there.
After memorizing the schedule, Lin Xian looked over at Yu Xi, who had finished reading the book. ¡°Was there a story you liked in particr?¡± he asked.
¡°The Little Mermaid,¡± Yu Xi replied without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful story. I like it a lot.¡±
Lin Xian was surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected Yu Xi to share the same favorite story as Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun.
He bit his lip, his thoughts drifting to a possibility he had been avoiding for days. Could Yu Xi be connected to him in some deeper way? Could she be a daughter from a different timeline?
Thump, thump.
The sound of a knock interrupted Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Come in,¡± he called.
Brother Wang entered, holding a folder. ¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve got some documents that need your signature.¡±
As Brother Wang walked over, he noticed Yu Xi on the sofa. ¡°Oh! Who¡¯s this cool little girl?¡± he asked, grinning.
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s my cousin¡¯s daughter from America,¡± he said, repeating the cover story.
Brother Wangughed, then handed the documents to Lin Xian. As Lin Xian signed, his thoughts returned to the nagging question about Yu Xi¡¯s origins. Maybe the only way to find out the truth was to do a DNA test.
¡°Brother Wang,¡± Lin Xian asked, handing the signed documents back. ¡°Do you know where I can get a paternity test done?¡±
Brother Wang nearly dropped the folder in shock. ¡°Wait¡ Lin Xian, are you serious?¡± he eximed.
¡°Just asking,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly.
Brother Wang stared at him, then at Yu Xi. ¡°Is she¡ your daughter?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian quickly said, trying to calm him down. ¡°Just asking.¡±
But before Brother Wang could respond, a familiar voice came from the doorway. ¡°Who¡¯s doing a paternity test?¡± The voice was low, apanied by the sharp sound of high heels on the floor.
Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank as he recognized the voice. Zhao Ying Jun had just entered the room, hermanding presence filling the space. She looked from Lin Xian to Brother Wang, then to Yu Xi.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± she said slowly, her voice firm. ¡°Are you nning to do a paternity test with this little girl?¡±
Chapter 345: A Family of Three?
¡°Uh-oh!¡±
Brother Wang felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead the moment Zhao Ying Jun walked in. He realized with a jolt that he¡¯d been way too loud just now. So loud, in fact, that Zhao Ying Jun, who hadn¡¯t even entered the room yet, overheard him talking about Lin Xian doing a paternity test with the young girl sitting on the couch.
To be fair, his reaction was understandable. His wife was the head of the testing department at Donghai Second Hospital, and he¡¯d heard all sorts of bizarre stories over dinner, especially about paternity tests. He thought he was immune to surprises. But today, Lin Xian¡¯s situation was so outrageous that he couldn¡¯t help but shout.
If Lin Xian hade in with a baby, asking for a paternity test, Brother Wang wouldn¡¯t have been surprised at all. After all, these days, young people sometimes act impulsively¡ªit happens. Even if Lin Xian had brought in a five- or six-year-old child, it wouldn¡¯t have shocked Brother Wang either. After all, Lin Xian was 25, so five or six years ago, he was just out of high school, at an age where mistakes could be made.
But today, what left Brother Wang speechless was the age of the girl on the couch! She looked to be about 15 or 16 years old¡ªmaybe 13 or 14 if she just looked mature for her age. Lin Xian was only 25 years old. Doing the math¡ that would mean Lin Xian had a child when he was only 11 or 12! It was absurd, beyond belief! That¡¯s why he reacted the way he did.
But now, the bigger problem was that Zhao Ying Jun had overheard his outburst and caught Lin Xian red-handed. Brother Wang knew he had to save Lin Xian¡¯s reputation somehow.
Clearing his throat, Brother Wang let out a heartyugh.
¡°Zhao Ying Jun, you must¡¯ve misheard! How could something that ridiculous be true? Let me introduce you.¡±He walked over to the couch, putting on a knowing look as he pointed to Yu Xi.
¡°This youngdy here is Lin Xian¡¯s cousin from a distant rtive in America!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, squinting at Brother Wang.
¡°What did you say? Say that again?¡±
¡°It¡¯s¡ uh, Lin Xian¡¯s cousin¡ from a distant rtive in America.¡±
¡°Ha!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun crossed her arms and couldn¡¯t help butugh. She turned her head to look out the window.
¡°I haven¡¯t heard such ame excuse in a long time.¡±
Lin Xian, sitting in the boss¡¯s chair, twirled his pen, fully agreeing with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words. Of course, he would have loved to join in the mockery if he wasn¡¯t the one involved. The whole ¡°distant cousin from America¡± line was something he had made up on the spot to tell the driver, Xiao Li. Who would¡¯ve thought that the office gossip mill was so quick? Before long, Brother Wang had heard it and then loudly passed it on to Zhao Ying Jun. Now, the awkwardness was all on him.
¡°Are you sure you want to go through with this?¡± Zhao Ying Jun tilted her head and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°This girl looks like she¡¯s in her teens. If she were your child, wouldn¡¯t you already know? How could this even be possible? Did you ever have a girlfriend?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly.
¡°Then what are you doing?¡± Zhao Ying Jun pressed on.
¡°Oh, it¡¯s all just a misunderstanding! Lin Xian is just curious, that¡¯s all!¡± Brother Wang quickly jumped between them.
¡°This is obviously impossible! Ten years ago, Lin Xian was just a kid ying in the dirt! You two are grown-ups; how can you not know basic biology?¡±
¡°Lin Xian! Say something! Tell Zhao Ying Jun it¡¯s all a joke! Clear this up!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly, waving her hand at Brother Wang.
¡°You¡¯re funny, Brother Wang. Lin Xian doesn¡¯t need to exin anything to me. But if he wants to do a paternity test, and your wife happens to be the head of the testing department at Donghai Second Hospital, why not just go there? It¡¯s close by, and with her help, we could even jump the queue.¡±
Lin Xian stopped twirling his pen. Brother Wang¡¯s wife was the head of the testing department at Donghai Second Hospital? This was news to him. As Zhao Ying Jun suggested, having a connection there would make everything easier.
He turned to Brother Wang. ¡°Brother Wang, is your wife really the head of the testing department?¡±
¡°Uh, well¡ yeah¡¡±
Brother Wang wiped his sweat, looking at Zhao Ying Jun for confirmation, his eyes full of questions.
¡°Why are you looking at me? Everyone at the office knows. Don¡¯t you always rely on your wife when you need something done at the hospital?¡±
¡°And anyway, if this girl isn¡¯t your kid, why are you so worked up? If Lin Xian wants to go, take him. It¡¯s no big deal, and the results will be ready in two or three hours.¡±
Brother Wang looked at Lin Xian again. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this? Think it through!¡±
¡°Sure, why not.¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°No big deal.¡±
Brother Wang bit his lip, realizing that Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian hadn¡¯t spoken directly to each other since the paternity test was mentioned. They seemed to be using him as a go-between, a buffer of sorts. Zhao Ying Jun might im she doesn¡¯t care, but she was the one who brought up that Brother Wang¡¯s wife worked at the hospital. It was as if she was pushing him to make Lin Xian do the test. And Lin Xian, for his part, looked calm and unbothered. Brother Wang just couldn¡¯t figure out what these two were up to. Usually, if someone wasn¡¯t guilty, they wouldn¡¯t even consider doing a DNA paternity test, right?
Brother Wang initially wanted to protect Lin Xian, but given the current situation¡ it seemed unlikely he could do that. Zhao Ying Jun clearly wanted them to do the paternity test, and Lin Xian seemed eager to go through with it too. So, was the whole ¡°distant cousin from America¡± thing just a cover-up?
Sighing, Brother Wang decided to go along with it.
¡°Alright then. Lin Xian, let¡¯s head out. Donghai Second Hospital is nearby. I¡¯ll call my wife to get us in quickly.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll call Xiao Li to get the car ready,¡± Lin Xian said, patting Yu Xi on the shoulder to get her off the couch, following Brother Wang out the door.
Suddenly, Brother Wang felt a chilling gaze on his back, like an icy sword stabbing through him, freezing him in ce. Trembling, he turned around and saw that the terrifying stare was indeed from Zhao Ying Jun!
¡°Uh, Zhao Ying Jun? Would you like toe with us?¡± he asked nervously.
Zhao Ying Jun casually smiled. ¡°Sure, why not?¡±
Brother Wang smiled inwardly¡ªhe knew Zhao Ying Jun wanted to go but just needed an excuse.
¡°Come on, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s much work to do right now. Besides, my wife has been wanting to thank you for helping out with my daughter¡¯s schooling.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, putting her hands back in her coat pockets and walking forward, her high heels clicking on the floor as she followed them.
On the way, Driver Xiao Li felt like the car was unusually heavy, like it was harder to drive today. In the back were four passengers¡ªLin Xian and his ¡°cousin¡± in the front seats, Zhao Ying Jun and Brother Wang in the back. Normally, they were all quite familiar with each other, but today, no one spoke, making the atmosphere strangely tense. It felt like he was driving a clunky tanker or an overloaded truck instead of a top-of-the-line Alphard.
Fortunately, Donghai Second Hospital was close to the twin towers where Rhine Company and MX Company were located, so there was no need to get on the highway. After a few turns, they arrived.
¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Driver Xiao Li announced briefly, sensing the mood and knowing better than to say more.
Brother Wang led the way straight to his wife¡¯s department, followed by what looked like a family of three¡ªno, wait, they weren¡¯t a family. They were just three unrted people who happened to look the part.
Not to brag, but being a department head, Brother Wang¡¯s wife was well-prepared for anything. When she heard Lin Xian wanted to do a paternity test with a teenage girl, she wasn¡¯t surprised at all. In her line of work, she¡¯d seen all kinds of crazy situations. This was nothing. She quickly arranged for the blood samples to be drawn¡ªone from Lin Xian, then one from Yu Xi.
Lin Xian noted that Yu Xi¡¯s blood looked just like anyone else¡¯s, which he had already confirmed while treating her wounds before.
¡°Does all that future-tech stuff you took, like gene editing, affect DNA tests?¡± Lin Xian whispered to Yu Xi while they were alone in the blood draw room.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Yu Xi replied, shaking her head.
¡°Why did you suddenly want to do a paternity test with me? I didn¡¯t say anything earlier, but why would you think of something so crazy? Do you think you¡¯re my ancestor or something, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m here to protect you?¡±
¡°Partly,¡± Lin Xian admitted, ¡°but there are other reasons too¡ It¡¯s hard to say. Since you don¡¯t know who your parents are, logically speaking, anyone could be your parent.¡±
¡°What kind of logic is that?¡± Yu Xi asked, holding a cotton swab over her puncture wound.
Lin Xian did the same.
¡°Considering that the cryogenic pods are about to go into mass production, your parents could very well be from our time. I don¡¯t know how far in the future you were born, but those pods can keep someone alive for centuries, allowing them to wake up far in the future.¡±
¡°So theoretically, it¡¯s possible that we are rted. Even though I¡¯m dead set against using those cryogenic pods, people change. Who¡¯s to say I won¡¯t someday feel like taking a nap for a few hundred years and then wake up and have a kid with some woman?¡±
Yu Xi couldn¡¯t help butugh, looking down at her arm where the needle mark was almost healed.
¡°Do you really think we look alike? I don¡¯t think we look alike at all.¡±
¡°Neither do I,¡± Lin Xian agreed, seeing that his needle wound was still bleeding slightly, so he pressed the cotton swab back on it.
¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here to find out.¡±
¡°I know it sounds crazy, and it might seem like I¡¯m just eager to y dad. But¡ isn¡¯t this world already crazy enough?¡±
¡°With time travelers, time-space particles, andws of physics that can turn the tables on innocent people, not to mention the mysterious genius clubs hidden throughout history and the digital life forms that are more advanced than AI¡ There¡¯s already so much absurdity. Compared to all that, a paternity test between someone from the future and someone from the present seems pretty normal.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Yu Xi said, tossing the barely-bloodied cotton swab in the trash, rolling down her sleeve, and turning to Lin Xian.
¡°So, if you¡¯re so confident you might be my father or some other rtive¡ then who¡¯s my mother? Do you have a girlfriend?¡±
¡°Why do so many people like to ask obvious questions?¡± Lin Xian felt a bit mocked.
¡°No,¡± he said.
¡°Do you have any female friends you¡¯re close to? Or anyone you suspect might be my mother?¡± Yu Xi pressed on.
This time, Lin Xian fell silent.
A suspect? Of course, there was someone. To be honest, the person who should be doing the DNA test with Yu Xi was Yellow Finch. She was the most likely candidate. Lin Xian was just a stand-in, a secondary suspect. It¡¯s easy to find out who a mother is¡ªjust figure out who gave birth to the kid. But finding the father is another story.
Lin Xian suspected that in some timeline, he and Yellow Finch were married. But that was just a guess. What if he was wrong? It¡¯s very possible that Yu Xi is Yellow Finch¡¯s child and has no rtion to him at all.
Suddenly, Lin Xian had a thought.
He looked over at Brother Wang¡¯s wife, who was tidying up after the blood draw.
¡°Sister Wang,¡± he asked, ¡°I was wondering¡ªdoes gene mutation or gene editing affect the uracy of DNA paternity tests?¡±
Sister Wang, still wearing her mask, smiled with her eyes.
¡°No, Lin Xian, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡±
¡°DNA tests don¡¯t justpare a small segment of genes or a few genebinations; theyparerge sections for oveps. Gene editing is still in its infancy¡ But remember that hospital director who got jailed for editing a baby¡¯s genes a few years ago?¡±
¡°So don¡¯t worry about it¡ªwhen this girl was born, gene editing wasn¡¯t even a thing. Even if it were, gene editing wouldn¡¯t affect the paternity test results because you¡¯d only be editing a few good genes, getting rid of bad or diseased ones.¡±
¡°But gic information is vast andplex. Editing just a tiny part is like a drop in the ocean, insignificant. So you don¡¯t have to worry about gene editing messing up the test results¡ And as for gene mutation, that¡¯s even less of a concern. Mutations aremon in biology and won¡¯t affect the test results at all.¡±
¡°Alright, you¡¯re done here. You can wait outside. I¡¯ve put a rush on it, but there are still procedures to follow, and to ensure uracy, the results have to go through multiple checks and signatures. So, the soonest you¡¯ll get the results is in about two hours.¡±
¡°I suggest you go grab something to eat. It¡¯s lunchtime anyway, and the testing department stays opente. You can pick up the results from the front desk in a couple of hours.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, removing the cotton swab from his wound and seeing that the bleeding had stopped. He threw the swab away, put on his coat, and stood up.
¡°Thanks, Sister Wang. We¡¯ll head out now.¡±
¡
As Lin Xian and Yu Xi, wearing oversized sunsses, stepped out of the blood draw room, Brother Wang sprang up from his chair, looking anxious.
¡°So? How¡¯d it go?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that fast,¡± Lin Xian replied, closing the door behind Yu Xi.
¡°It¡¯ll be at least two hours. There¡¯s a lot of paperwork.¡±
He then noticed that Zhao Ying Jun had also stood up with Brother Wang. For a moment, her expression seemed¡ concerned.
It reminded him of Yellow Finch. There was no doubt that Zhao Ying Jun and Yellow Finch were the same person, just from different timelines. Yellow Finch used to be Zhao Ying Jun, but Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s future might not necessarily lead to bing Yellow Finch. It all depended on how her life yed out.
But regardless of which future she ended up in, her DNA wouldn¡¯t change, meaning it would match Yellow Finch¡¯s.
So¡
Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, their eyes meeting.
If he could get Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi to do a DNA test, that would be the safest bet, even more reliable than his own test. After all, it was still uncertain who Yu Xi¡¯s father was, though he was the most likely candidate. But there was no doubt that the possibility of Yellow Finch, or Zhao Ying Jun, being Yu Xi¡¯s mother was much higher than any other.
But¡ how could he ask for such a thing?
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhao Ying Jun blinked, noticing Lin Xian hesitating.
¡°If there¡¯s something you want to say, just say it. We know each other well; there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t tell me. If anythinges up, I¡¯ll help you out.¡±
Brother Wang nodded like a pecking chicken.
¡°Yeah, Lin Xian, if there¡¯s something on your mind, don¡¯t keep it to yourself. We¡¯ve been friends for years, through thick and thin!¡±
Lin Xian pursed his lips. Well, might as well go for it.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be honest with you. It¡¯s not that I wanted to hide it from you guys; it¡¯s just that I lied to Xiao Li at the start, and then I didn¡¯t get a chance toe clean.¡±
¡°The truth is, this girl isn¡¯t my distant cousin from America. We just met along the way, and she¡¯s helped me out a lot. We¡¯ve been through a lot together, things I can¡¯t really exin¡ And she doesn¡¯t know who her parents are, so I thought maybe I could help her find them.¡±
¡°There aren¡¯t many leads right now, and since we met by chance, I figured I¡¯d start by testing myself and see if we could get some answers, maybe even learn a bit about how DNA paternity tests work. So¡¡±
He looked up, smiling at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Though this might be a strange request¡ since we¡¯re already here, and we¡¯re just waiting around¡ why not? Zhao Ying Jun, would you mind getting your blood drawn too, and doing a paternity test with us?¡±
¡
¡
Silence.
An icy, unbearable silence.
Time seemed to freeze.
¡°Huh?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t hold back a puzzled sound. Out of all the possibilities she had considered, this was not one of them. Was this what ¡°since we¡¯re already here¡± meant?
¡°Lin Xian! What nonsense are you spouting!¡± Brother Wang scolded, stepping protectively in front of Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°That¡¯s crossing a line! Some things you just don¡¯t say!¡±
¡°You¡¯re questioning Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s reputation! Everyone at thepany knows she¡¯s been single her whole life¡ªthere¡¯s no way¡ Ow!¡±
Brother Wang let out a painful yelp. He looked down to see that his expensive crocodile leather shoes had been stomped on by an even more expensive high heel¡ which had left a dent that was now slowly bouncing back but would never look the same again.
¡°Interesting,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, brushing the hair off her cheek and smiling casually.
¡°Sure, why not? Let¡¯s do it.¡±
With that, she clicked her high heels on the floor as she walked into the blood draw room and shut the door behind her.
Brother Wang limped over to Lin Xian, grimacing.
¡°Lin Xian, you really have no social skills¡ How can you say something so blunt to a woman? You¡¯re questioning Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s innocence!¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun has always been pure and upright. She¡¯s never had a rtionship with any man¡ except you. Saying something like that could hurt her feelings.¡±
¡°And besides, what logic is that? You can¡¯t just find any random kid on the street and ask Zhao Ying Jun to do a paternity test. Ugggh¡ You¡¯re really making a mess of this. I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡±
¡°But hey, it¡¯s none of my business if you and Zhao Ying Jun want to go along with it. She agreed to do the test right after you asked¡ I can tell exactly what¡¯s on her mind.¡±
¡°What¡¯s on her mind?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Hmph!¡± Brother Wang said proudly.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯ve got a lot to learn from me about understanding women. Do you know why Zhao Ying Jun went in for the test? It¡¯s because she¡¯s got nothing to hide. She¡¯s confident there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±
¡°The only reason she rushed to get her blood drawn is that she¡¯s concerned about your paternity test with this girl. She figures that if she does the test with you, she¡¯ll have toe back for the results, too. That way, she¡¯ll know your test results as soon as they¡¯re out.¡±
Lin Xian had to admit, he hadn¡¯t thought of that. Brother Wang had a point when it came to understanding women¡¯s motives. He could probably have some deep conversations with Liu Feng¡ªthey¡¯d likely find they have a lot inmon.
Soon, Zhao Ying Jun came out, pressing her arm where the blood was drawn, and saw the three waiting outside.
¡°I told Sister Wang to run a paternity test between me and this youngdy as well. The results won¡¯t be ready for two hours, so¡ how about we go grab something to eat?¡±
She turned to Brother Wang.
¡°Since we¡¯re taking up your wife¡¯s time, why don¡¯t we invite her to join us for a meal?¡±
¡°Oh, no, no, no¡¡± Brother Wang shook his head like a drum.
No way was he getting involved in this mess. He didn¡¯t want any part of this drama.
¡°My wife and I need to pick up our kid soon. He¡¯s got examsing up, so we need to be home to help him study.¡±
Brother Wang said these words as quickly as possible and dashed out of there.
Clearly, he didn¡¯t want to stay a second longer.
¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked Lin Xian.
¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Lin Xian asked Yu Xi.
Yu Xi lifted her sunsses, looking up at Lin Xian.
¡°Hot pot.¡±
¡
Half an hourter, Lin Xian was putting the fourth te of meat into the hot pot for Yu Xi. She hadn¡¯t lifted her head once.
Lin Xian started to feel a bit guilty¡ had she been eating so poorly in America that she was starving?
¡°She¡¯s got a good appetite,¡± Zhao Ying Jun noted, surprised at Yu Xi¡¯s eating speed.
¡°I guess spending so much time in America really does make you wolf down food when you get back.¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Lin Xian replied nomittally.
¡°Or maybe it¡¯s just because she¡¯s a growing kid. My nephews back home, they¡¯re not big kids, but when they were her age, they ate like there was no tomorrow, alwaysining they were hungry.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Lin Xian.
¡°What¡¯s this youngdy¡¯s name?¡±
¡°Yu Xi,¡± Lin Xian answered.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s chopsticks paused mid-air. She blinked and smiled slightly.
¡°That¡¯s a beautiful and unique name. Whoever named her must have been very cultured and sentimental.¡±
¡°True,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°When I first heard it, I thought it was strange. Who names their kid something so odd? It seemed strange, hard to pronounce, and a bit unlucky.¡±
¡°But after getting used to it, I realized it¡¯s actually a beautiful name with a lot of meaning. It has this grandeur, a kind of historical weight that brings to mind the banks of the Wu River.¡±
This was how Lin Xian really felt. Maybe it was because of the ¡°life-and-death filter¡± he had for Yu Xi. She and her name seemed more and more endearing to him.
Though when he first heard it, the name Yu Xi made him think of the phrase ¡°Yu Xi Yu Xi, what now?¡± It was a bit mncholy. But the courage and fearlessness that Yu Xi embodied seemed like the kind of qualities her parents might have hoped to instill in her.
¡°Unlucky?¡± Zhao Ying Jun set her chopsticks down and smiled.
¡°I never thought so. I really like the name. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve always admired the historical figure of Yu Ji.¡±
¡°You like Yu Ji?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes, I¡¯m very fond of the story of Farewell My Concubine.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun noticed that Yu Xi had finished her drink and handed over her own untouched ss.
¡°But the reason I like the story isn¡¯t because of Xiang Yu¡¯s grand heroism. I admire Yu Ji¡¯s courage and determination.¡±
¡°To me, she¡¯s more of a hero than Xiang Yu. She faced death without fear, using her life to give Xiang Yu the strength to fight without looking back.¡±
¡°Ancient stories of women sacrificing for love aremon, but most of them are filled with sadness and sentimentality. A hero like Yu Ji, who could dance and sing before taking her own life to prove her loyalty, is rare. So¡ I can understand why Yu Xi¡¯s parents would choose that name.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled again and dropped more meat into the hot pot for Yu Xi.
¡°They probably hoped their daughter would be as brave and strong as Yu Ji, full of passion, with her own dreams, and that she¡¯d find someone worthy of her love, living a heroic and proud life.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m right, but¡¡±
She paused, putting down the empty te, and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°If I were to name my daughter Yu Xi, I would have the same thoughts.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything, just listened to Zhao Ying Jun speak. The more she talked, the more off-track things seemed to get. Many of Yellow Finch¡¯s and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s thoughts, their love for the story of Farewell My Concubine and their admiration for Yu Ji, were identical. But that was to be expected¡ªthey were the same person, after all.
Yet, Yellow Finch had never talked to him about her thoughts on having children, naming them, or anything like that. Hearing Zhao Ying Jun say these things today¡ Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but worry about those two paternity test results.
Could it be that these time-crossing bloodlines would alle full circle with Zhao Ying Jun?
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian set down his drink and asked softly. ¡°If you ever have a daughter, would you name her Yu Xi?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled.
¡°Who knows? In the end, it¡¯s up to the father to decide the child¡¯s name. Whatever my daughter¡¯s name is, her father will have the final say.¡±
¡°My father named me, and from the meaning of my name, it¡¯s clear he had high hopes for me. In ancient times, the character for ¡®jun¡¯ symbolized the quality of jade, representing the beauty of white jade. So¡ Lin Xian, who named you? It¡¯s a pretty poetic name, like it¡¯s rted to the elegant theory of strings in physics.¡±
¡°I doubt it,¡± Lin Xian replied, shrugging.
¡°My parents were just ordinary workers in a state-owned factory. I don¡¯t think they had that level of understanding of physics¡ I never asked why they named me that. Maybe they got it from someone else with more education? I¡¯ll have to ask them sometime.¡±
With that, Lin Xian remembered that Zhao Ying Jun hade to his office for a reason. She usually didn¡¯t drop by without a purpose. Whatever it was must have been interrupted by Brother Wang¡¯s loud outburst.
Was it about the Pomeranian VV? Was it depressed again? Or was there something else?
Lin Xian decided to ask directly.
¡°Speaking of which, was there something you needed from me today?¡±
¡°Oh, right,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, sitting up straight and looking at Lin Xian.
¡°With everything that¡¯s happened, I almost forgot.¡±
She leaned back, hands sped in herp, and smiled at him.
¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. We were just talking about my father naming me¡ Well, tomorrow, my parents areing to Donghai City.¡±
¡°They¡¯reing to Donghai?¡± Lin Xian asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin. ¡°For a vacation? Business?¡±
¡°No.¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head with a smile. ¡°They¡¯reing just to see me. They n to stay for a while, and they have a ce here.¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s great,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Makes sense¡ªsince you usually only go home once a year for the holidays, they probably miss you a lot. After all, you¡¯re their only daughter.¡±
¡°Is that what you came to talk to me about? Do you need any help? Picking them up? Moving things?¡±
¡°No, no, nothing like that,¡± Zhao Ying Jun waved her hand dismissively.
Then she sped her hands together again, resting them on herp, and smiled at Lin Xian.
¡°My parents¡ want to meet you.¡±
Chapter 346: A Clear Conscience
¡°Meet me?¡± Lin Xian was surprised.
The Zhao Ying Jun family from the capital wasn¡¯t just wealthy; they held real power and influence. Lin Xian recalled how Brother Wang had struggled for days with paperwork, only to fail in the end. But then, during New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, one casual phone call from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s uncle had resolved everything instantly.
And that was just the uncle.
In the projection gallery of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s personal exhibit in the third dream, Lin Xian had learned that Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s mother was an ordinary teacher. She was smart and well-educated, but her family background was modest. The real power, however, came from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s father.
So, it was clear.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s uncle likely owed his sess to his brother-inw. If just being associated with him made the uncle so formidable, what about the man himself?
Of course, Lin Xian had friends like Gao Yan, the director of the National Scientific Academy, and Liu An, the head of the Security Bureau, who were all close acquaintances. He didn¡¯t feel intimidated about meeting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s father.
But he was curious¡Why did Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents want to meet him now?
Poke. Poke.
Next to him, Yu Xi suddenly nudged Lin Xian¡¯s arm.
¡°No more meat,¡± she said, wearing oversized sunsses.
Lin Xian chuckled and looked at the dishes on their table. ¡°How about some vegetables?¡±
¡°That works too,¡± Yu Xi replied.
Lin Xian ced some tofu, seaweed, and baby bok choy in her bowl. These were filling foods, and he figured after this pot, she would likely be full.
After taking care of the little one, it was time to address the bigger issue.
Lin Xian wiped his hands with a napkin and looked back at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Your parents¡ want to see me?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Ying Jun confirmed. ¡°They really want to meet you, especially my father. He insists on thanking you.¡±
¡°Thank me?¡± Lin Xian was even more puzzled.
¡°It¡¯s about something that happened a year ago, when you drove the Bentley and took me over the elevated bridge,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined. ¡°I remember telling you about this, right? That year, when I went home for the New Year, I told my parents about it. They were really worried at the time, but since I was unharmed and nothing bad happened, their worry faded after a couple of days.¡±
¡°My father has always been someone who values loyalty and gratitude. Back then, he insisted on thanking you properly for saving me in such a dangerous situation. But during that time, you were very busy. Plus, it wouldn¡¯t have been polite or proper to ask you to make a special trip to the capital just for that.¡±
¡°So, he decided to find an opportunity to visit Donghai City, to thank you in person. Unfortunately,st year he was busy, and you were frequently traveling, so the timing never worked out. Even though I knew you were in the capital during the New Year this year, I didn¡¯t want to bother you because you were on a secret mission.¡±
¡°My father has kept this in mind. Even though I¡¯ve told him multiple times that there¡¯s no need to be so formal with you, he¡¯s very insistent. He believes that since you risked your life to save his daughter, he can¡¯t just let it pass without expressing his gratitude.¡±
As she spoke, Zhao Ying Jun noticed Yu Xi finishing her drink. She gestured to a waiter to bring two more bottles and then continued.
¡°Now that the opportunity has finallye, my mother retired this year at 55, and my father took a month off to bring her to Donghai City. They¡¯re here to rx and spend time as a family.¡±
¡°My father has been eager to meet you. Their flight arrives tomorrow morning, and we¡¯re having dinner out tomorrow night¡ If you¡¯re free, would you like to join us?¡±
¡°That¡¯s actually why I went to the office to find you today¡ªmy parents asked me to invite you to have dinner with the four of us.¡±
¡°Oh, I see,¡± Lin Xian nodded, understanding the situation.
Zhao Ying Jun had indeed mentioned this to him, on the day he handed her his resignation letter.
That day, Zhao Ying Jun had said a lot. She mentioned how her usually strict and unfeeling father had changed his attitude after watching the video of her leaping over the elevated bridge and Donghai 007.
Lin Xian particrly remembered how, as Zhao Ying Jun left the capital to return to Donghai City, her father, who had always denied her and disapproved of her entrepreneurial pursuits, awkwardly managed to say, ¡°The cat design is not bad; your cousin really likes it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun had said it was the first time her father acknowledged her, even though it was just a small recognition, and the cat design wasn¡¯t even hers. Still, she was thrilled and had smiled as she told Lin Xian, ¡°I have to admit, Lin Xian¡ you not only saved my life but also changed it. Meeting you has been my good fortune.¡±
Because of the guilt he felt that day when he resigned, Lin Xian still remembered those words and moments clearly.
¡
¡°It¡¯s really nothing,¡± Lin Xian said with a polite smile. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal. Besides, I wouldn¡¯t say I saved you. I was in the car too, and I was the one who had a gun pressed to the back of my head by that criminal¡ I had to find a way to save myself.¡±
¡°On the contrary, I was the one who chose the risky option of jumping the elevated bridge, dragging you into danger. It¡¯s good that it worked out, like now, with your father being grateful. But if it had failed¡ I wouldn¡¯t have been able to face him.¡±
¡°It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if it failed,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, shaking her head gently. ¡°You might not remember, but when the criminal first appeared and held a gun to your head, you immediately pulled over and tried to convince him to let me go, telling him you¡¯d take him to find Miaoke by yourself.¡±
¡°Even though the criminal didn¡¯t agree and insisted on using me as a hostage to force you to keep driving¡¡±
¡°But honestly, from that moment on, whether we made it over the bridge or not didn¡¯t matter to me. Whether we seeded or failed, you were willing to risk your life to save mine. How could I not be willing to risk my life to gamble with you?¡±
She chuckled, brushing back a loose strand of hair.
¡°So, it¡¯s not just my father and mother, but I¡¯m also very grateful to you for that. If you¡¯re free tomorrow night, you should definitely join us for dinner. My parents have changed a lot; their views on many things aren¡¯t the same as before. They¡¯re much easier to get along with now.¡±
Lin Xian thought for a moment.
Elon Musk¡¯s schedule was set for 10 a.m. tomorrow. He would be visiting Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s hospital room at Donghai University Hospital. Lin Xian had already nned to meet him and discuss things. The top priority was to rescue Angelica, and they could talk about everything else afterward.
If all went well, he¡¯d be free in the evening and could meet Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents and ept her father¡¯s gratitude.
But if the conversation with Elon Musk didn¡¯t go smoothly¡ who knew what the situation might be tomorrow night?
So, it was best not to agree too quickly.
If he promised now and then something came up that prevented him from going tomorrow night, it would be awkward. He didn¡¯t want to embarrass Zhao Ying Jun in front of her parents or make them both look unreliable.
¡°Tomorrow night, I might not have time,¡± Lin Xian admitted honestly. ¡°So I can¡¯t guarantee that I can attend your family dinner.¡±
¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, unfazed. ¡°My parents will be in Donghai City for a month. We can always n another dinner when you¡¯re free.¡±
¡°That sounds good,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°Once I¡¯m sure of my schedule, I¡¯ll let you know.¡±
After all, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents weren¡¯t just visiting for a day. Even if they didn¡¯t meet tomorrow night, there would be plenty of opportunitiester.
Although they wereing under the pretext of thanking him, Lin Xian knew he shouldn¡¯t be too thick-skinned and act like a guest of honor. It would be better to meet her parents more formally, perhaps bringing some authentic West Lake Longjing tea from his hometown as a gift.
Even if they didn¡¯t need the tea, it was the thought that counted.
¡°Let¡¯s start eating. We can¡¯t just watch her eat,¡± Lin Xian said, pointing at the steaming hotpot and motioning for Zhao Ying Jun to pick up her chopsticks. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯ve had a good time with your parentstely, and your rtionship has improved.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, picking up some food and looking at Lin Xian. ¡°There are upsides and downsides. When we didn¡¯t get along, we barely spoke. It wasn¡¯t a good feeling, but at least I had some peace and quiet, and no one was nagging me. Now that we¡¯re closer, we talk more often, they call me frequently, and they even came all the way to Donghai City to see me¡ But the nagging and lecturing came with it.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled.
It seemed that all parents were the same, everywhere.
¡°Do your parents nag you too? I thought your conversations would be more sophisticated.¡±
¡°Ha, no way,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a smile as she epted the drinks from the waiter, cing them by Yu Xi¡¯s te before sitting back down. ¡°Parents everywhere talk about the same things over and over. Given my age and their traditional views, our conversations inevitably end up with them urging me to get married and have kids.¡±
¡°My parents married young, but they had mete. They were in their thirties when I was born, which was considered veryte in their generation. So now that my mom has retired and has nothing to do, she¡¯s more anxious about it than my dad. She¡¯s practically desperate for me to have a child right away.¡±
¡°Sometimes I almost miss the days when we didn¡¯t get along. At least back then, I didn¡¯t have to listen to all this annoying pressure. What about you, Lin Xian? Do your parents pressure you too?¡±
¡°Of course, they do,¡± Lin Xian said, recalling his mother¡¯s conversation with Gao Yangst year during the New Year. ¡°My parents have been pressuring me since I graduated from college. They want me to get married and give them grandchildren as soon as possible. But they¡¯re still young, not even 50 yet, and they¡¯re busy with their own lives, so they just mention it from time to time. They don¡¯t pressure me too much.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun turned to look at Yu Xi, who was still eating quietly.
¡°Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a child like Yu Xi, who just appeared out of nowhere. No need for pregnancy or raising her¡ªshe¡¯s already grown up, and it¡¯s much easier.¡±
¡°Forget it,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°That sounds too scary. I think raising a child should start from infancy, growing up together little by little.¡±
¡°And Brother Wang once said that kids are cute and endearing only when they¡¯re young. Once they grow up and hit their rebellious phase, you¡¯ll start missing the good old days when they were little.¡±
¡°Is that so,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, still looking at Yu Xi. ¡°But I think Yu Xi is great. She seems so well-behaved, quiet, and likable. I¡¯ve heard about those rebellious teenagers¡ I have rtives like that¡ªarrogant, spouting all kinds of inte ng. They really seem like a handful.¡±
Hearing this, Lin Xian could only smile withoutmenting.
Well-behaved? Quiet? Please¡
Yu Xi was a girl from the future, practically a terminator.
She could ride a Harley at 100 mph, crash into people, and then coolly set a car on fire with a Zippo lighter, not even ncing back at the mes.
She could wield a Smith & Wesson revolver with one hand, shooting urately, and even engage in a knife fight with another terminator girl under the moonlight for 300 rounds.
You could use any strong adjective to describe her, but well-behaved and quiet definitely weren¡¯t among them.
Soon after, the three of them finished their meal.
They were ready to head back to the hospital to pick up the paternity test results.
Lin Xian noticed that during this meal, Zhao Ying Jun had been very considerate of Yu Xi, paying attention to many details. It seemed she really liked kids.
By the time they got to the hospital, most departments were closed, except for the emergency room, the reception desk, and a few dedicated staff in theb.
Lin Xian, Zhao Ying Jun, and Yu Xi went directly to the reception desk and picked up two reports.
One was the paternity test result for Lin Xian and Yu Xi, and the other was for Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi.
The report was simple¡ªjust a single sheet of paper.
For confidentiality, it was sealed in thick paper, now held in the hands of Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun.
Zhao Ying Jun looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Are you nervous?¡±
¡°A little,¡± Lin Xian admitted, holding the unopened paternity report. The anticipation felt like waiting to see if he had won a prize.
¡°Let¡¯s look at mine first,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said lightly.
She swiftly tore open the disposable seal, not even ncing at the contents, and handed the report to Lin Xian with a confident expression.
¡°See? No rtion, right?¡±
Lin Xian looked at the report Zhao Ying Jun handed him. The bold ck text stated:
¡°No gic match, paternity excluded.¡±
He chuckled and looked at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°You seem pretty confident.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°Because I have a clear conscience.¡±
Lin Xian looked down at his own report and tore open the seal.
Since Zhao Ying Jun wasn¡¯t rted to Yu Xi, there was a good chance he wasn¡¯t either. So, what was there to be nervous about?
¡°If that¡¯s the case¡¡± Lin Xian held up his report in front of Zhao Ying Jun without looking at it. ¡°Then I¡¯m certainly guilt-free too.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked at Lin Xian¡¯s report, which also had the same bold ck text:
¡°No gic match, paternity excluded.¡±
¡°Tsk,¡± she scoffed. ¡°So what were you busy with today?¡±
Lin Xian turned the report over and felt relieved.
At least he wasn¡¯t a surprise dad!
It seemed he had been overthinking things¡
¡°I was just curious. I mainly wanted to see what a DNA paternity test was all about.¡±
¡°You¡¯re really curious,¡± Zhao Ying Jun teased. ¡°I hope you never actually need to use that knowledge.¡±
¡°Thanks,¡± Lin Xianughed.
¡
After dropping Zhao Ying Jun off at her home, Lin Xian and Yu Xi went to a five-star hotel and booked a suite.
The suite was spacious, with several separate rooms, each with its own bathroom, making it ideal for their situation.
Knowing that neither he nor Zhao Ying Jun nor Yellow Finch had any blood rtion to Yu Xi, Lin Xian felt more at ease and began focusing on his n for the next day.
Yu Xi hadn¡¯t started getting ready for bed yet.
She was still in her daytime clothes, with her short ponytail tied up. She walked over to Lin Xian.
¡°Have you figured out how you¡¯re going to kill Elon Musk tomorrow?¡± she asked.
¡°Not yet,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m mainly thinking about how to save Angelica.¡±
Yu Xi blinked her bright eyes.
She had already removed her ck contact lenses and sunsses, and her crystal-blue eyes reflected in the floor-to-ceiling window, watching Lin Xian like a ghost from both sides.
¡°You need to think carefully, Lin Xian. If you miss this chance to kill Elon Musk here in X Country, you might never get such a perfect opportunity again.¡±
¡°I know it sounds cold, but my primary mission is to protect your life. I can¡¯t consider Angelica¡¯s situation as much as you do. I hope you understand¡ªyou¡¯re the one worth risking the future of humanity to protect¡ but Angelica isn¡¯t. She¡¯s just an ordinary person with no significant impact on history or the future.¡±
¡°Think about it this way: Angelica¡¯s fate, whether she lives or dies, has already been determined. No matter what you discuss with Elon Musk tomorrow, it won¡¯t change her destiny. But you¡¯re different¡ If you end up being killed by the time-space assassin that Elon Musk sent, then humanity, the future, and everything else will be doomed.¡±
¡°Right now is the best time to eliminate the threat. If you can find a way to meet Elon Musk alone, we can set a trap, kill him, and prevent the time-space assassin¡¯s loop frompleting, thereby erasing her from existence.¡±
¡°If we don¡¯t take this approach, I can¡¯t think of another way to deal with the time-space assassin. Lin Xian, you can¡¯t hesitate any longer. Elon Musk sent the assassin to kill you¡ªdo you really think he¡¯ll be honest with you during negotiations?¡±
¡°Trust me¡ killing Elon Musk here in X Country is our best chance. Right now, the time-space assassin is still outside Donghai City, lingering over the ocean. She¡¯s likely facing some difficulties, which is why she hasn¡¯t been able to enter.¡±
¡°This is a race against time. If we can kill Elon Musk before the assassin enters Donghai City and meets up with him, then your biggest threat will be gone, and my mission will beplete. I can¡¯t imagine how bad things would get if we let Elon Musk escape and the assassin continues to hunt you down.¡±
¡°If I could kill Elon Musk for you, I would have done it already. But this is a task only you can aplish. Just like with Kevin Walker, you need to eliminate Elon Musk swiftly and decisively. Showing mercy to the enemy is being cruel to yourself.¡±
With that, Yu Xi went into her room to get ready for bed.
Lin Xian watched her close the door and began to think deeply.
He understood why Yu Xi was urging him so strongly.
But¡
Lately, he had the nagging feeling that there was something important he wasn¡¯t seeing, something crucial that he had overlooked.
It was as if a vital piece of the puzzle was missing, making the situation in front of him even more confusing.
What was it?
He thought about Yellow Finch¡¯sst lesson to him in Copenhagen, given at the cost of her life.
The two questions and one piece of advice she left him with as shey dying.
The address of Kevin Walker that he received from Elon Musk, and the digital life of Turing that was determined to kill Kevin Walker.
The time-space assassin who killed Yellow Finch in front of him without even ncing at him, yet relentlessly pursued him across Donghai and America.
¡°It feels like something is off.¡±
¡°It feels like there¡¯s a huge puzzle, but the most important piece is missing.¡±
What was it?
Lin Xian turned around and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window.
He gazed at the bright moonlight in the sky and the bustling lights of the international city below¡
¡°What is it?¡±
Lin Xian asked himself.
¡°Where is that missing puzzle piece?¡±
¡
In the Donghai, near the new port district, inside Te¡¯s Gigafactory.
¡°This isn¡¯t what we agreed on, Elon Musk.¡±
Inside one of the buildings, Angelica found herself under house arrest once again. The two familiar female bodyguards and Elon Musk were in the living room, announcing the end of her brief freedom.
¡°Elon Musk, you promised to take me to see Lin Xian. That¡¯s the only reason I came to X Country with you,¡± Angelica red at Elon Musk. ¡°Are you going back on your word so soon?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so upset, Angelica,¡± Elon Musk said with a slight smile as he ced a small refrigerator he had been carrying in the corner of the living room.
He dusted off his hands.
¡°I¡¯ve always said I¡¯m a man of my word. I will take you to see Lin Xian and exin everything. But¡ not tomorrow morning, tomorrow night.¡±
Angelica narrowed her eyes.
¡°What do you mean? Tomorrow morning at Donghai University Hospital, when you deliver that boat ticket to the girl named Zheng Xiang Yue¡ Are you nning to meet Lin Xian alone?¡±
¡°Why aren¡¯t you taking me? Are you going to use me as a bargaining chip, a lure to deceive Lin Xian?¡±
Elon Musk shook his head. ¡°No¡ Maybe there are some misunderstandings between Lin Xian and me¡ but honestly, I bear no ill will toward him. It¡¯s just¡¡±
He nced down at the white, boxy refrigerator in the corner of the living room.
¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m still missing thest piece of the puzzle to figure everything out.¡±
¡°And that piece of the puzzle¡ will deliver itself into my hands tomorrow.¡±
Chapter 347: The Seven Deadly Sins, Rejoining the Team!
April 26, 2024, Morning
Yu Xi stepped out of her hotel room, dressed in the casual clothes she¡¯d bought the day before. She adjusted her sleeves and fixed the cor of her hoodie. With everything in ce, she was ready to go.
Her fair skin, slightly furrowed brows, and a mix of coolness and cuteness gave her an extraordinary appearance. The kind of beauty she possessed seemed almost unreal¡ªlike something only someone from the future, enhanced by gics and fortified with drugs, could have. Her striking blue eyes, which sparkled even in the morning light, looked like they belonged to someone from another world.
¡°Put on the contact lenses,¡± Lin Xian reminded her as he slipped on his shoes in the living room. ¡°The ck ones I gave you yesterday.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know how to put them on,¡± Yu Xi replied softly.
Oh¡ Lin Xian thought to himself. Despite all her strength, Yu Xi was still a human girl, not a robot from some action movie. Everyone has something they¡¯re afraid of. Some people, even big, muscr men, are terrified of insects. Lin Xian recalled seeing a video of a tough-looking guy, covered in tattoos and gold chains, nearly fainting while waiting for a vine shot.
For Yu Xi, the idea of sticking a small, ck stic lens onto her eye was probably more terrifying than facing a time-space assassin under the moonlight.
Yesterday, when Lin Xian had helped Yu Xi remove the contact lenses, she had nervously asked, ¡°Are you sure these thin little things won¡¯t move to the back of my eye when I blink?¡±Lin Xian, who had never worn contacts himself, had thought about it and said, ¡°It¡¯s theoretically possible since the eye is round and there¡¯s no closed area around the eye socket.¡±
Then, he had added honestly, ¡°But I¡¯ve never heard of anyone¡¯s contact lenses actually moving to the back of their eye.¡±
Hisment might have left asting impression on Yu Xi, who could face demons without fear but was terrified of wearing contact lenses on her own.
Lin Xian ced one of the daily disposable lenses on a small stic applicator and gently lifted Yu Xi¡¯s chin. ¡°Tilt your head back and open your eyes wide.¡±
Yu Xi obediently widened her eyes.
Her blue eyes, as deep as shattered ss, seemed to pull Lin Xian into another world. It was as if he might get lost in a spinning gxy, drawn into a time-space rift where even light couldn¡¯t escape.
He carefully held her eyelids apart and gently ced the ck lens over her blue eye, dimming its brilliant glow.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the ability to emit light from cells could be linked to time-space powers. Was it something simr to the bioluminescence of fireflies or the electricity generated by eels?
¡°All done. Now the other eye.¡±
Yu Xi closed her eyes and wiped away the protective tears that had formed during the process. As she shook her head, her short ponytail brushed against Lin Xian¡¯s nose, carrying the faint scent of hotel shampoo.
¡°Why do you keep such short hair in a ponytail?¡± Lin Xian asked, noticing her tightly pulled-back hairstyle.
¡°Because it means I don¡¯t have to wash my hair often,¡± Yu Xi replied honestly.
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian was speechless at her practical response. ¡°I guess no matter how advanced technology gets, even with gic editing and enhancements, they still haven¡¯t found a solution to avoiding hair washing.¡±
¡°After all, the presence of skin oils has more benefits than drawbacks,¡± Yu Xi said, lifting her head and opening her other blue eye for Lin Xian to apply the second lens. ¡°And hair is just dead keratin cells with no real function. Strengthening the roots might help, but there¡¯s not much else to improve.¡±
¡°If it weren¡¯t to avoid drawing attention, I¡¯d rather shave my head and not have a single hair. That way, I¡¯d never have to wash my hair again. I could just wash my face, and in battle, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about someone grabbing my hair. It would eliminate a lot of weaknesses.¡±
Lin Xian imagined Yu Xi with a shaved head and found the image somewhat amusing. ¡°You don¡¯t need to go that far. You look good just as you are. Now that the other lens is on, put on the big sunsses, and no one will be able to see your eyes.¡±
With that, Lin Xian stood up to put on his jacket.
Yu Xi walked over to the coffee table in the living room, picked up the ck sunsses, and ced them on her face,pleting her outfit.
Today was the day Elon Musk was going to visit Zheng Xiang Yue at the Donghai University Hospital. He had announced on Twitter that he would be there at 10 AM, apanied by local officials from Donghai City.
Lin Xian and Yu Xi nned to go there early, find a ce to wait, and then look for an opportunity to meet Elon Musk in Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s hospital room.
Yu Xi wanted Lin Xian to find a way to get Elon Musk alone so they could eliminate him, removing the threat of the time-space assassins once and for all.
Although Lin Xian understood Yu Xi¡¯s cold and ruthless approach as the most direct way to solve the problem, he couldn¡¯t bring himself topletely disregard Angelica¡¯s life.
He decided that, for now, they would avoid any assassination attempts in Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s hospital room, especially with Donghai City officials present. Neither side would dare make a move in such a setting.
Lin Xian nned to take advantage of this rare safe moment to talk to Elon Musk and find out what was happening with Angelica. After that, he would decide what to do next.
On the road, Lin Xian drove a Volkswagen sedan, heading from the hotel to the Donghai University Hospital, with Yu Xi sitting in the passenger seat.
While waiting at a red light, Lin Xian turned to Yu Xi and said, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t really have anything that could interest Elon Musk.¡±
¡°If I had to say, maybe the Digital Life Turing is something he might care about. Elon Musk only knows Kevin Walker¡¯s address, but he probably doesn¡¯t know that Kevin uploaded his consciousness to thework, bing a digital version of himself.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure if that information is valuable, though. Digital Life Turing has transcended physical life and has different thoughts from Kevin Walker. They¡¯re practically two different people.¡±
¡°Turing ims to be a fair observer¡ but who knows? If it were an AI, I might believe it, but since it¡¯s still a human, its words are as reliable as a fart.¡±
Yu Xi shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think that information is enough to lure Elon Musk out. Kevin Walker¡¯s address came from Elon Musk, or rather, Angelica heard it from Elon Musk.¡±
¡°Given your assumption that Elon Musk and Kevin Walker are both members of the Genius Club, I¡¯m sure Elon Musk knows far more about Kevin Walker than you do. He might already know about Turing¡¯s existence, or at least have guessed it.¡±
¡°Not to mention they¡¯ve attended the same club meetings¡ Now that you¡¯ve killed Kevin Walker, Elon Musk will find out eventually. You need to think of something more tempting, something that would make Elon Musk willing to take a risk and trade with you, whether it¡¯s Angelica or something else.¡±
Lin Xian sighed, looking ahead at the countdown on the traffic light. ¡°If not that, then¡ I do have a non-energized time-space particle, but Elon Musk might already have a fully charged one, or he might not care about it at all.¡±
¡°The only other thing I¡¯ve studied deeply and have some knowledge of¡ is the ¡®Millennium Stake.¡¯¡±
Yu Xi turned her head, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s the Millennium Stake?¡±
Now it was Lin Xian¡¯s turn to be surprised. He looked back at Yu Xi. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of the Millennium Stake?¡±
¡°Never,¡± Yu Xi shook her head. ¡°What is it? Does it have anything to do with time-space particles or time travelers?¡±
Lin Xian fell silent.
The term ¡°Millennium Stake¡± was coined by Yellow Finch. But as the saying goes, originality isn¡¯t always random. The term must have some significant connection to its original concept; at least, it should evoke some recognition when heard, simr to the rules of time-space.
When Lin Xian and Yu Xi first met, they had different names for the various rules of time-space, but it didn¡¯t hinder theirmunication because they immediately knew which rule the other was referring to.
Could it be that Yellow Finch¡¯s original term was too far off?
Lin Xian was unsure. Logically, if Yellow Finch, who traveled back from several decades into the future, knew about the Millennium Stake, then shouldn¡¯t Yu Xi, who came from hundreds of years in the future, also know about it?
¡°The Millennium Stake¡ How should I exin it?¡± Lin Xian tried to find the right words. ¡°Every 24 years, a 20-year-old girl who looks exactly the same appears and then disappears, turning into blue stardust. It¡¯s a known phenomenon, but I don¡¯t know what it represents. Does this ring any bells?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Yu Xi shook her head without hesitation. ¡°It sounds like a fairy tale. Are you sure this is real, or is it just your imagination? It sounds so far-fetched. If it were true, why would the girl disappear? There must be a reason. And without stic surgery or gic editing, how could these 20-year-old girls all look exactly the same?¡±
The traffic light ahead turned green, and the car behind them honked, urging them to move.
Lin Xian quickly turned back, stepped on the gas, and continued driving.
Yu Xi¡¯s response made it clear that she genuinely had no idea what the Millennium Stake was. Her understanding was way off, not even close.
Could it be that Lin Xian had identally stumbled upon something important?
If Yu Xi, who was so familiar with time-spacews, had no knowledge of the Millennium Stake, it might suggest that the secret of the Millennium Stake and its true purpose could be even more important than the time-spacews themselves!
Yellow Finch had also mentioned that the Millennium Stake was highly significant and closely linked to the locked history, urging Lin Xian to uncover its secrets as soon as possible.
In contrast, time-spacews are rtively easy to discover and summarize, relying on logic and reasoning. Even without any evidence or experiments, they could be deduced with just a pen and paper.
But the Millennium Stake¡ only appears once every 24 years, making it rare and well-hidden. The Earth is vast, with many countries and countless people. Encountering the Millennium Stake in such a huge poption is nearly impossible. Witnessing the moment the Stake turns into stardust at 00:42¡ that¡¯s even rarer.
Only someone incredibly lucky could witness it. After all, the transformation into stardust onlysts a few seconds. Blink, and you might miss it.
Lin Xian had never thought much about this before, but now, analyzing it, he realized that very few people likely knew about the Millennium Stake.
For example, if he hadn¡¯t happened to witness Chu An Qing disappearing, he might never havee across the concept of the Millennium Stake in his lifetime.
The next Millennium Stake baby was expected to be born in 2028. With over 130 million new babies born worldwide each year, hundreds of babies are born every moment. Who could urately identify which one was the Millennium Stake?
Fast forward to the next disappearance, expected on some day in 2048 at 00:42. Such a phenomenon would be nearly impossible to witness.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know what would happen if a Millennium Stake girl died before turning 20. But he increasingly felt that the existence of the Millennium Stake might be a secret known only to a very select few.
This would exin why both Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing lived ordinary, uneventful lives for 20 years, without any interference, surveince, or exploitation¡ªexcept for Yellow Finch.
If Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t known that Chu An Qing was a Millennium Stake, this time¡¯s disappearance might have quietly urred in some unknown ce, with Chu An Qing simply vanishing mysteriously.
Going deeper into this, how did Yellow Finch know Chu An Qing was a Millennium Stake?
The only possible exnation was that she was familiar with Chu An Qing. Whether in Yellow Finch¡¯s time or in the present, Zhao Ying Jun, Lin Xian, and Chu An Qing were all close.
So if anything unusual happened to Chu An Qing, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun would surely know. But members of the Genius Club, like Elon Musk, would not have that chance. As for Zhang Yu Qian, she was just an ordinary girl, unnoticed by anyone.
So Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. Could it be that¡ the Millennium Stake is his unique trump card?
It might be wishful thinking, but not impossible.
Otherwise, why would Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing¡¯s 20-year lives be so peaceful?
But to truly understand whether the Genius Club members knew about the Millennium Stake, Lin Xian would have to join them first.
¡°I¡¯m only guessing, without proof,¡± Lin Xian said, brushing off the conversation as he pointed ahead. ¡°Look, that¡¯s the inpatient department of the Donghai University Hospital. I¡¯ve been here many times. Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s room is on the 17th floor.¡±
He nced at his watch. It wasn¡¯t even 9 AM yet, so Elon Musk and his entourage hadn¡¯t arrived. Lin Xian parked the Volkswagen in a spot where they could see the hospital entrance from an angle. He made sure the car faced the flower bed, with the rear facing the hospital.
This way, no one could see them through the car windows, but they could watch the rearview mirror for any movement behind them.
Lin Xian turned off the engine, looked at Yu Xi, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait here. When Elon Musk arrives, we¡¯ll follow him.¡±
Half an hour passed¡
Lin Xian and Yu Xi were exhausted from staring at the rearview mirror, yet there was still no sign of Elon Musk.
¡°Why isn¡¯t he here yet?¡±
Another ten minutes went by. Lin Xian checked his watch; it read 09:46.
¡°Is he really cutting it this close?¡± Lin Xian found it strange. ¡°He said he¡¯d be at Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s room by 10 AM¡ and he¡¯s not even early?¡±
Meanwhile, in the Te Gigafactory in the Lingang New District of Donghai, Angelica paced the living room of her suite.
Two female bodyguards sat diligently at the door, facing away from her, guarding the entrance. Angelica walked to the window and looked outside. Many ck-suited bodyguards and ck vehicles were stationed around the building. They were clearly part of Elon Musk¡¯s security detail.
Typically, even if a foreign visit required security, it wouldn¡¯t be this excessive.
Angelica knew these precautions weren¡¯t for her. She wasn¡¯t that important. The two burly female bodyguards in the living room were enough to keep her in check. Moreover, the entire Te factory was Elon Musk¡¯s territory. Where could she possibly escape to?
So the answer was obvious.
Angelica¡¯s gaze shifted to the in, white, square refrigerator in the corner of the living room. This over-the-top security must be to protect that small fridge. As for her, she was just an extra.
Suddenly, the people outside the window stirred. Elon Musk, dressed in a suit, was getting into a vehicle with his entourage, forming a convoy that headed toward the city center of Donghai.
Angelica knew where he was going. The whole world knew. Elon Musk had repeated his itinerary on Twitter a thousand times. He had even shown off the moon ticket he was going to give Zheng Xiang Yue multiple times, as if afraid the entire world wouldn¡¯t know about his hospital visit.
But of course, he didn¡¯t care if the world knew. He only cared if Lin Xian saw it.
Angelica didn¡¯t know what Elon Musk nned to discuss with Lin Xian, but in her eyes, Elon Musk was still the enemy, someone she couldn¡¯t trust. So she hadn¡¯t told Elon Musk anything about Lin Xian¡ but strangely, Elon Musk had never asked.
Considering that Lin Xian mentioned the blue-eyed girl chasing him was sent by Elon Musk, maybe Elon Musk didn¡¯t need to ask her anything. He could probably learn enough about Lin Xian through that girl.
But since this was Donghai and X Country, Elon Musk and that girl wouldn¡¯t dare make a move today, would they?
Angelica thought it was unlikely.
The dust kicked up by Elon Musk¡¯s convoy settled as it disappeared from view, likely already on the expressway to the hospital. Elon Musk would probably meet with the local officials first, then visit Zheng Xiang Yue.
Angelica sighed softly. There was nothing she could do now but watch and wait.
Just as she was about to turn away from the window, a ck Te sedan pulled up outside, and a burly man in a ck suit and sunsses stepped out, carrying tworge food boxes. The security guards around him nodded in acknowledgment.
This burly man seemed to be the head of the security team. Earlier that morning, when Angelica had told the female bodyguards she wanted some Donghai specialty breakfast, this man had gone out to get it. She hadn¡¯t expected it to take so long: ¡°It¡¯s almost lunchtime,¡± Angelica muttered as she returned to the table to wait.
Soon, the burly man entered the room, handing the tworge food boxes to the female bodyguards. ¡°I bought enough for the three of you to share,¡± he said.
Each bodyguard took a box, turned, and was about to open them on the table when suddenly¡ª
Thunk! Thunk!
Two rapid shots rang out, and the bodyguards convulsed briefly before copsing to the floor!
Angelica¡¯s eyes widened as she jumped up from her chair. The burly man was holding a ck-and-yellow Taser stun gun in each hand!
The Taser is amonw enforcement tool that fires two wires connected to darts, delivering a strong electric shock to incapacitate the target temporarily.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Angelica demanded, eyeing the man warily.
The man gestured for her to stay quiet and then pulled a phone from his pocket, dialing a number. When the call connected, he silently handed the phone to Angelica.
He then walked to the table and opened the tworge food boxes¡ªinside, there was no food at all!
Instead, the boxes were filled with various makeup products, bottles, gels, decorative items, and disguise tools¡
Angelica held her breath as she cautiously took the phone and put it to her ear. ¡°Hello?¡±
A dry, raspyugh came from the other end of the line¡ªan elderly voice that Angelica had never heard before, but it sent chills down her spine.
¡°Bring Elon Musk¡¯s white little fridge and follow this man to find me. I will tell you everything¡ everything you want to know¡ Angelica.¡±
¡°No, perhaps I should call you by another name,¡± the elderly voice chuckled darkly, speaking in a low tone.
¡°It¡¯s time for you to return to me, my final Seven Deadly Sins¡¡±
¡°Lust!¡±
Chapter 351: Yu Xi
On the evening of April 26, 2024, an ambnce, its lights shing vividly, raced away from Donghai University Affiliated Hospital, escorted by two police cars. The small convoy headed directly for the Beijing-Shanghai Highway.
Inside the ambnce, Zheng Xiang Yue leaned against arge Rhine Cat plush toy, her body connected to several wires and electrodes monitoring her vital signs. In herp, she held a ck-and-white urn adorned with a photo, and on top of that rested a pink notebook. Inside the notebook was a carefully folded lunar ticket. These were the only things left that mattered to her. Despite the vast and beautiful world outside, these were the possessions she held most dear.
In just a few hours, she would arrive in the capital¡ªthe farthest she had ever traveled. There, at the National Scientific Academy, groundbreaking research on hibernation pods was being conducted. The first group of volunteers, frozen for over a year, remained stable. The second group had been in hibernation for six months in improved pods with fewer side effects.
Now, a third-generation experimental pod awaited Zheng Xiang Yue. It was an upgrade from the one used by Xu Yi Yi, though she didn¡¯t know the specifics of its advancements. Not that she cared¡ªher only wish was to enter a deep sleep until she could be healed, grow stronger, and achieve the three wishes written in her pink notebook:
Bury her brother on the moon.
Repay Brother Lin Xian.
Be a kind and loving person.
Beside her, the head nurse gently stroked her hair, her voice filled with concern. ¡°Xiang Yue, are you scared of going into hibernation?¡±During her hospital stay, the nurse had grown fond of Zheng Xiang Yue, seeing her almost like a little sister. Now, as the girl prepared to enter the pod, the nurse felt a mixture of happiness for her possible recovery and deep sadness for whaty ahead.
¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Zheng Xiang Yue replied, her gaze fixed on the world passing by the ambnce window. Her legs swung slightly as she smiled at the nurse. ¡°Why should I be scared? Hibernation is just a really long sleep, right? Nothing scary about that!¡±
The nurse sighed, her emotions heavy. ¡°It¡¯s not the sleep that worries me, sweetheart. It¡¯s the loneliness. I¡¯m afraid of you waking up to a world where you know no one, where everything is new and strange. I worry that the loneliness might be too much for you.¡±
¡°But isn¡¯t that how it is now?¡± Zheng Xiang Yue responded, tilting her head to meet the nurse¡¯s gaze. Her eyes were clear and thoughtful, contemting a future where she might wake up alone in an unfamiliar world, yet she remained undaunted.
Ovee with emotion, the nurse couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer. She leaned in, embracing Zheng Xiang Yue tightly, her heart full of both hope and sorrow.
As their journey continued, the convoy passed a luxury hotel. At that moment, a Volkswagen sedan emerged from the parking lot, heading in the opposite direction, just missing the ambnce and police cars.
Later, at 6:51 PM, outside a cozy Hunan cuisine restaurant, a rare Red g car caught the attention of passersby with its grand design. Many stopped to take photos, enchanted by its elegance.
On the third floor of the restaurant, in a private booth designed for six but upied only by three people and a Pomeranian dog, a family enjoyed their meal together. The dog, curled upfortably on the carpet,zily cleaned its paws.
The trio, engaged in lively conversation, consisted of a stern father with graying hair, a mother in a qipao with a warm demeanor, and their sharp, striking daughter, Zhao Ying Jun. She gestured toward the freshly served dishes, addressing her mother, Yan Mei.
¡°Mom, you¡¯ve always liked Hunan cuisine, right? You used toin about not finding authentic dishes. Try these; they¡¯re pretty good. The chili might not be as spicy as what you remember, though. Everything¡¯s adjusted to suit local tastes.¡±
Yan Mei hadn¡¯t started eating yet, but her husband, Zhao Rui Hai, had already sampled a few bites. ¡°You know,¡± he said, ¡°after all the dining out we¡¯ve done, I still think homemade meals are the best. I miss the simple food from my childhood, like thick porridge and dumpling soup. But now, it just doesn¡¯t taste the same, whether it¡¯s the ingredients or the cooking method.¡±
Yan Mei chuckled at her husband¡¯s nostalgia. ¡°You always say things were better in the past. But if you really had to go back to living like that, you might not enjoy it as much. Sometimes, memories make everything seem better than it actually was.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai smiled, acknowledging her point. ¡°Yeah, I do tend to reminisce about the good old days. But you¡¯re right, some vors do seem different now. It might be how they¡¯re cooked, or maybe it¡¯s just nostalgia.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± Yan Mei continued, ¡°In the past, we had fewer choices, so we cherished what we had. Nowadays, even in the capital, there¡¯s a trend among officials to eat wild vegetables, coarse grains, and steam their own buns because they don¡¯t trust store-bought additives.¡±
¡°I think they¡¯re just being picky,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said with augh. ¡°Everyone¡¯s gotten used to the good life, so now they want to relive the past. But if you actually made them eat like that every day, they wouldn¡¯tst long!¡±
Yan Mei noticed her husband¡¯s half-empty bowl and teased, ¡°We haven¡¯t even started eating properly, and your dad¡¯s already downed half a bowl of rice.¡±
The family continued their meal, chatting andughing, while their Pomeranian, VV, yawned contentedly on the carpet, feeling safe andfortable with three people around to protect it.
¡°Hey, is Lin Xianing tonight?¡± Yan Mei asked, taking a few bites of food. ¡°I dressed up formally since it¡¯s our first meeting, and I wanted to thank him. If I¡¯d known he wasn¡¯ting, your father and I would¡¯ve dressed more casually.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun poured tea for her parents and smiled. ¡°You two usually dress like this anyway. Dad always looks like he¡¯s still at work, and Mom, you¡¯ve started dressing up more since you retired. I haven¡¯t seen you wear this silk qipao in years.¡±
¡°Oh, I just wanted to look nice for meeting Lin Xian,¡± Yan Mei replied, tasting some of the food. ¡°By the way, I remember you said Lin Xian is from Hangzhou? What do his parents do?¡±
¡°His parents? I think they¡¯re just regr workers,¡± Zhao Ying Jun answered, thinking for a moment. ¡°He never really talked about it in detail.¡±
¡°Is he an only child? Any siblings?¡±
¡°No, he¡¯s the only one¡ But why are you asking all this?¡±
Yan Mei smiled warmly. ¡°Just trying to get to know him better. We¡¯ll be having dinner with him sooner orter, so it¡¯s good to know a bit about him beforehand.¡±
¡°Your mom¡¯s just eager for grandchildren,¡± Zhao Rui Hai teased, setting down his teacup and wiping his mouth with a napkin. ¡°You¡¯re getting older, and with no sign of settling down, your mom¡¯s got nothing to do in retirement but think about it. What else can she do? Spend all day picking wild vegetables and doing yoga with her friends?¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯d love to, but all my friends are busy looking after their grandkids,¡± Yan Mei sighed. ¡°Why do you think I came to Donghai to stay with you for a month after I retired? It¡¯s to get you thinking about settling down. It¡¯s time you bnced your career with your personal life.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun sighed deeply, pushing her chair back and crossing her legs. ¡°Can we talk about something else? How did we end up on this topic again?¡±
¡°Oh,e on, it¡¯s not like that,¡± Yan Mei said softly. ¡°But you¡¯re at the age where you need to think about these things. You meet a nice guy, you date for a couple of years, then get married. After that, it might take another two years to have a child, and raising a child takes at least a year. So, if everything goes smoothly, it¡¯ll be at least five years before we have grandkids. If anything dys that, we¡¯re looking at seven or eight years. And by then, who knows if I¡¯ll still be able to run around? Who¡¯s going to help you take care of the kids?¡±
Zhao Rui Hai nodded in agreement. ¡°Your mom and I have changed our minds. We were too demanding before and didn¡¯t respect your choices enough. But now, we¡¯re not picky about who you marry. As long as you¡¯re happy, we don¡¯t care about social status or anything. Just don¡¯t expect us to ask for a dowry¡ªwe¡¯re not selling you off!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun frowned, looking at her usually strict father. ¡°We¡¯re not even close to that point yet, and you¡¯re already talking about dowries?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just saying don¡¯t aim too high,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said earnestly. ¡°At your age, no man is going to be hugely sessful yet. They¡¯ve only been out of school for a few years; how much can they have achieved? So, don¡¯t expect to find some super-sessful guy. You need to be realistic. If a guy your age has money, it¡¯s probably not even his.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Yan Mei added. ¡°Your circle might be small, but your dad and I know a lot of people. We can help you find someone. Just tell us what you¡¯re looking for.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be shy,¡± Zhao Rui Hai encouraged. ¡°It¡¯s normal for people your age to get married. You¡¯re our only daughter. If you end up alone, how are we supposed to face the world? Tell us what kind of guy you want, and we¡¯ll help you find him.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun felt exasperated. No matter how reserved or argumentative her parents usually were, they became a perfect team when it came to pushing her to get married. She nudged the Pomeranian, VV, with her high heel, hoping it would cause a distraction. But the dog just shifted slightly and went back to sleep.
¡°Don¡¯t stay quiet now!¡± Yan Mei urged, growing impatient. ¡°We need tomunicate! Tell us what kind of man you¡¯re looking for so we have a better idea.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. ¡°You want to know what kind of man I want?¡±
Seeing her parents¡¯ eager faces, she realized they might actually be onto something this time. They both smiled, clearly thinking they were making progress.
¡°Just say it,¡± her father encouraged. ¡°We know a lot of people all over the country. Whatever kind of guy you want, we¡¯ll find him for you.¡±
¡°Okay¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun thought for a moment before continuing. ¡°I¡¯ve made a name for myself, so he should have some career of his own, right? At least be the owner of a startup or something.¡±
Her parents nodded in agreement. ¡°That makes sense,¡± her mother said. ¡°He should have something going for him.¡±
¡°I also appreciate someone with talent. He doesn¡¯t have to be great at everything, but he should have some artistic ability, right?¡±
Her parents exchanged nces. ¡°That¡¯s reasonable,¡± her father said. ¡°A man with hobbies is a good thing.¡±
¡°And he should be brave,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added with a smile. ¡°I like a man with a bit of heroism, someone who doesn¡¯t back down when it¡¯s time to step up. He should be responsible and not shy away from his duties.¡±
Her parents frowned slightly. ¡°That might be asking for a bit too much,¡± her mother said. ¡°There aren¡¯t many men like that these days.¡±
¡°But a woman should find a man with a strong sense of responsibility,¡± her father agreed. ¡°It¡¯s not unreasonable.¡±
¡°And¡ even though I¡¯m past the age of caring about romance and grand gestures, I¡¯d still appreciate a little surprise on special asions, like birthdays. It would mean a lot.¡±
Her parents pressed their lips together. ¡°Now you¡¯re asking for a lot,¡± her mother said. ¡°Where are we going to find a guy who ticks all those boxes?¡±
¡°But those aren¡¯t the most important things,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, bending down to pick up the Pomeranian, VV, and cing it on herp. ¡°The most important thing is that VV has to like him. I¡¯ve had VV for so many years; I can¡¯t just give him up when I get married. So if you really want to introduce me to someone, they¡¯ll have to pass VV¡¯s test first. If VV doesn¡¯t like him, he can¡¯te into our home, right, VV?¡±
¡°V~~~~~¡± The Pomeranian let out a soft groan of agreement.
Bang!
Zhao Rui Hai mmed his fist on the table, his face dark with anger. ¡°Ridiculous! What kind of nonsense is this? Finding a husband who needs a dog¡¯s approval? We¡¯re having a serious conversation, and you¡¯re making a joke out of it! What¡¯s so funny about that?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly, her silver earrings swaying with the movement. She adjusted the Pomeranian on herp, gently stroking its neck fur. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the ones who said you¡¯d introduce me to whoever I wanted?¡±
¡°But your requirements are too much!¡± Yan Mei couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, feeling like her daughter was pushing things too far. ¡°Tell me, what twenty-something-year-old guy could meet all your demands? A sessful career, artistic talent, bravery, and passing VV¡¯s test? Who could possibly meet all those conditions? I¡¯d really like to meet him!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked up, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°Just because you can¡¯t find him doesn¡¯t mean he doesn¡¯t exist.¡±
¡°Oh, please,¡± her father scoffed, ¡°You¡¯ll never find a guy like that. You¡¯re just dreaming.¡±
Just then, outside the Hunan restaurant, Lin Xian honked the horn of his Volkswagen, trying to get the crowd to clear the way. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What¡¯s everyone looking at?¡± he muttered, seeing the crowd gathered around a Red g car parked outside the restaurant. He couldn¡¯t see much through the throng of people, but after a few students took their photos and moved aside, he finally managed to drive past the congested area.
7:07 PM
At the Te Gigafactory in the Port Area, inside one of the buildings.
¡°How do you like my double, Elon Musk? Do we look alike?¡± In the living room of a suite, Elon Musk draped an arm around a slightly shorter version of himself, turning to Angelica for aparison.
¡°I¡¯d say this double is Oscar-worthy. He¡¯s stood in for me at several meetings, and no one ever caught on,¡± he boasted.
Angelica scrutinized Elon Musk and his double. ¡°If you don¡¯t look closely or don¡¯t know you well, it could pass. But on closer inspection, there are still a lot of details that don¡¯t quite match. He might be able to fool people from a distance or in blurry photos, but up close, it¡¯s easy to tell he¡¯s not you.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Elon Musk said, spreading his hands. ¡°That¡¯s why I need you, Hollywood¡¯s shape-shifting queen. I need you to make him look more like me. No need to be modest¡ªI know you¡¯ve got the skills. After all, you fooled me when you pretended to be my secretary.¡±
¡°I had my secretary bring over those two huge suitcases with your tools. It¡¯s gettingte¡ Let¡¯s get started, Angelica.¡±
¡°Hmph.¡± Angelica snorted, turning her head. She pulled a cigarette from a pack in her pocket, lit it, and then said, ¡°So, Elon Musk, are you still trying to trick me?¡±
¡°You promised you¡¯d take me to meet Lin Xian tonight, to clear everything up. You even said you¡¯d meet him at 8 o¡¯clock at the abandoned factory up north. But now, you¡¯re sending your double instead? Where¡¯s the sincerity in that? You¡¯re just toying with Lin Xian.¡±
¡°No, no, no¡¡± Elon Musk waved his hand.
¡°No, no, no¡¡± The double echoed, waving his hand too.
¡°Of course, I¡¯ll take you to meet Lin Xian tonight, but only after I¡¯ve confirmed onest thing.¡±
Elon Musk patted the double on the shoulder, signaling him to stay quiet and sit down. Then he turned back to Angelica. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, in Copernicus¡¯s eyes, we¡¯re in a vulnerable position, fooled and defeated. So we have to y along. Copernicus probably hasn¡¯t opened that empty little fridge yet, and since what¡¯s inside is incredibly valuable and delicate, he won¡¯t let that thief open it by force.¡±
¡°This is our only chance to trick Copernicus. Besides, Lin Xian and I haven¡¯t cleared up our misunderstanding. I want to exin things to him, but I need proof, right?¡±
Angelica¡¯s expression hardened as Elon Musk continued, ¡°You see, the truth is, like you said, that blue-eyed girl is after Lin Xian. And you all know, that blue-eyed girl came from me. But what can I do? If I tell Lin Xian that I¡¯m just as much a victim, that I didn¡¯t know and I¡¯m innocent, do you think he¡¯ll believe me?¡±
¡°So, if I want to convince Lin Xian, I need evidence. Until then, he¡¯ll see me as an enemy. Worst-case scenario, I go to meet him alone with the best intentions, but will he believe I¡¯m sincere? What if he¡¯s lying in wait to ambush me?¡±
¡°That¡¯s when my good friend, my double,es in handy. Lin Xian is aw-abiding citizen. He won¡¯t push too far on X Country territory, so even if my double gets captured, I¡¯ll still have leverage to negotiate with Lin Xian¡ especially after I confirm thisst thing. I¡¯ll have solid proof to make Lin Xian believe me.¡±
Angelica exhaled a puff of smoke, giving Elon Musk a skeptical look. ¡°If you want me to go along with this n, you¡¯ll need to make me believe you first. So, what¡¯s this st thing¡¯ you need to confirm? What are you really trying to figure out?¡±
Elon Musk shrugged. ¡°Even if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t understand. But fine, listen up. Thest thing I need to confirm is what you and Lin Xian mentioned¡ªthe blue-eyed girl can kill Lin Xian. That¡¯s something I just can¡¯t believe. I think our misunderstandingrgely stems from this. It might sound strange to you, but I¡¯m certain that the blue-eyed girl shouldn¡¯t be able to harm anyone. I¡¯ve spent months with her, and I¡¯ve tested everything. How could she hurt anyone? Unless¡ unless she was hiding something from me, but what would be the point? If she could kill, why didn¡¯t she kill me?¡±
He straightened up, looking Angelica in the eye. ¡°Have you seen the blue-eyed girl, the one Lin Xian says is chasing him?¡±
¡°No,¡± Angelica shook her head, blowing out another cloud of smoke. ¡°How could I have seen her? Lin Xian came to me to escape from her. But now I understand¡ªyou¡¯re doubting Lin Xian¡¯s story. You think he¡¯s lying to both of us, or maybe you believe the blue-eyed assassin doesn¡¯t exist.¡±
¡°No matter what you think, I trust Lin Xian. He was definitely being chased. When we first met in Princeton, he was on the run¡ªI could see his tension, and the way he rxed after getting a gun¡ªthat kind of emotional detail can¡¯t be faked. Unless, like you said, he¡¯s an Oscar-level actor.¡±
Elon Musk smiled slightly, pushing the ashtray closer to Angelica. ¡°Exactly, Angelica. At this point, there¡¯s no point in guessing anymore. We¡¯ll just have to see for ourselves. And you don¡¯t need to doubt me anymore, right? I¡¯ve been sincere. I¡¯ve told you everything I could, and you¡¯re free to do whatever you want. You¡¯ve even got your phone on you¡¡±
¡°You know the reason we haven¡¯t contacted Lin Xian is to let this final act y out¡ so we can expose Copernicus¡¯s century-old conspiracy and then destroy it!¡±
Angelica finished her cigarette, extinguishing it in the ashtray. She turned to look out the window, towards the north where the night was dark¡
Two kilometers away, there was arge abandoned factory¡ªthe ce where Elon Musk had arranged to meet Lin Xian.
Lin Xian¡
Will you show up?
Is this gamble of mine going to pay off?
She squinted her eyes, trying to see into the distance, where a small car was driving north.
The Port Area was mostly industrial, so it was rare for a family car to head north at this hour.
Angelica knew she had to make a decision.
Should she trust Elon Musk or not?
Right now, if it were Ji Lin in her ce¡ what would her beloved brother do?
She tried to think like Ji Lin, imagining what he would analyze.
If Lin Xian believed Elon Musk and came to the abandoned factory, it would mean Lin Xian found Elon Musk trustworthy. In that case, she should trust Elon Musk too. After all, no matter what Elon Musk does, his goal is the same; if Lin Xian believes him, so should she.
If Lin Xian didn¡¯t trust Elon Musk, he probably wouldn¡¯t show up tonight. In that case, even if she helped disguise Elon Musk¡¯s double, it wouldn¡¯t fool Lin Xian.
So, all things considered¡
It seemed that Elon Musk¡¯s real enemy was Copernicus, and he didn¡¯t really have any conflict with Lin Xian. The only thing linking them was the mysterious blue-eyed assassin.
And now, Elon Musk¡¯s main concern was figuring out the truth about this assassin.
¡°Alright,¡± Angelica said, standing up and crossing her arms as she looked at Elon Musk. ¡°This is thest time.¡±
7:23 PM
At the abandoned factory two kilometers north of the Te Gigafactory.
Yu Xi was the first to enter the factory, scanning her surroundings before waving Lin Xian over. ¡°It¡¯spletely dark inside, no power lines or surveince cameras. We don¡¯t have to worry about being watched.¡±
Lin Xian followed her into the massive factory. Though abandoned, the structure was intact, with an area inside roughly the size of two sports fields, though it was filled with various stones and construction debris. The center and entrance area were rtively t and clear, likely paths where dump trucks hade and gone.
Lin Xian pulled out a taser gun from his pocket, weighing it in his hand. It was heavy but felt familiar, and it would be effective at close range.
¡°Where¡¯s the time-space assassin?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Very close,¡± Yu Xi replied, her brow furrowing. ¡°She must have some kind of super-fast transportation, probably provided by Elon Musk. She¡¯s closing in quickly, likely to meet up with Elon Musk and confront us together.¡±
¡°Very close?¡± Lin Xian questioned. ¡°How close? If she¡¯s arriving with Elon Musk, that means she¡¯s less than 40 minutes away. Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to be this fast,¡± Yu Xi exined, turning to face him. ¡°I told you before, the signal is vague at a distance, and she¡¯s moving so quickly that I only detected her when she was already close.¡±
¡°But Lin Xian, don¡¯t worry. If Elon Musk only called the assassin as a precaution, you just need to negotiate with him and ignore her.¡±
¡°But if she¡¯s not here to negotiate andes at us directly¡ then Lin Xian, don¡¯t hesitate. Use the taser gun to take down Elon Musk. If we can capture him, we¡¯ll have leverage over any ambushes or the assassin. Do you understand? The key is to take Elon Musk hostage. That¡¯s our only chance to escape and turn the tables.¡±
Yu Xi had a n, and Lin Xian was on board. If Elon Musk showed up with the assassin and they attacked without warning, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t hesitate to respond.
¡°Let¡¯s hide over there,¡± Yu Xi suggested, pointing to a pile of construction materials near the warehouse entrance. ¡°We can¡¯t be sure who will get here first¡ªElon Musk or the assassin. We need to be careful.¡±
They hid behind the debris, waiting in silence.
Lin Xian checked his watch. It was 7:56 PM.
Suddenly, the sound of car tires crushing steel tes broke the silence. Someone wasing.
¡°It¡¯s Elon Musk,¡± Yu Xi whispered. ¡°And the time-space assassin is close too. Lin Xian, grab the taser gun. If the assassin makes a move, I¡¯ll deal with her while you handle Elon Musk.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Lin Xian said, holding the taser gun tightly. It was only effective at close range, but he trusted his aim.
A ck Te with shining headlights raced into the abandoned factory and stopped near where they were hiding.
Lin Xian tensed, ready to act.
The Te halted, and the driver¡¯s door opened. A tall man with slicked-back hair, a beard, broad shoulders, and muscr arms stepped out.
It was definitely Elon Musk.
¡°Wait,¡± Yu Xi suddenly pressed down on Lin Xian¡¯s arm, her expression troubled. ¡°Something¡¯s off¡ that¡¯s not Elon Musk!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled as he stared at the man. He looked just like Elon Musk. Then he remembered¡ªYu Xi, with her advanced vision from the future, could see through disguises.
Could this man be an impostor?
¡°Lin Xian, move!¡± Yu Xi¡¯s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She pulled him away just as a dark figure dropped from the high ceiling!
Lin Xian hit the ground and quickly looked up¡ª
He saw a cold, expressionless face with icy blue eyes staring back at him. The woman, dressed in ck leather, was unmistakably the time-space assassin!
Before she could stabilize, Yu Xi charged at her with a knife, sparking a fierce battle.
The assassin was incredibly fast, and their fight was a blur of rapid movements and shing des.
¡°Damn it!¡± The impostor cursed and ran for the exit.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t chase him; Yu Xi had said he was just a fake, and it was better to save the taser gun¡¯sst shot for helping Yu Xi.
The fight between Yu Xi and the assassin was so intense it created afterimages, moving swiftly from the debris to the Te.
Lin Xian held the taser gun, thinking quickly¡
Previously, when he aimed at the assassin¡¯s head with his handgun, it triggered a time-spacew that forced him to miss.
What if¡
What if he aimed elsewhere?
Could he hit her without killing, just enough to stop her? Would that still activate the forced evasion?
Yu Xi and the assassin were locked in a deadly battle. Any mistake could be fatal.
He had to act fast.
He watched them closely, waiting for the right moment¡
Now!
Acting on instinct, he aimed the taser at the assassin¡¯s thigh and squeezed the trigger.
Click¡
His finger froze, unable to press down further.
Silence fell, as if someone had muted the world.
Lin Xian watched, stunned, as the fight continued silently before him.
He felt numb, his body not responding to hismands, paralyzed by the time-spacew.
The ground seemed to rush up to meet him as Yu Xi and the assassin continued their fight, now sideways in his blurred vision¡ª
Thud!
He copsed to the dusty floor.
In the Te Gigafactory Suite¡¯s Living Room
Elon Musk stood up abruptly, pointing at theptop screen showing the Te¡¯s exterior camera footage.
¡°There are two of them¡ two!¡± He gritted his teeth in frustration.
On the screen, the two girls with blue eyes fought fiercely while Lin Xiany on the ground, unable to fire his taser.
Elon Musk realized what had happened.
The time-spacew had backfired on Lin Xian!
Everything had changed!
¡°What do you mean?¡± Angelica¡¯s voice shook as she noticed Elon Musk¡¯s rmed look. She clutched his arm, panicked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that assassin someone you sent? Why are you so upset?¡±
Elon Musk swallowed, his face tense as he pointed to the girl with the short ponytail on the screen.
¡°That girl is definitely the one I sent, even though she changed her hairstyle. But¡¡±
He shifted his finger to the other girl with the cold look and short ck hair.
¡°But who is this other girl?!¡±
Elon Musk¡¯s eyes widened as he came to a sudden realization.
He remembered when Lin Xian was struck by the time-spacew, haunted by Copernicus¡¯s words, the missing empty fridge, and the peculiar time-space particles that got mixed up.
¡°I get it now¡¡± he gasped, fighting for air.
¡°I finally understand!¡±
¡°Damn it¡ This isn¡¯t my loop, it¡¯s not Turing¡¯s either¡ It¡¯s Copernicus¡¯s loop!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been tricked by Turing and Copernicus! Those jerks!¡±
Realizing the truth, he grabbed the small white fridge from the table and yelled, ¡°Angelica! We need to leave! We have to find Lin Xian!¡±
Angelica immediately responded with urgency, ¡°What did you figure out? Tell me!¡±
¡°There¡¯s no time to exin!¡± Elon Musk, holding the fridge, hurried toward the Te. ¡°Quick! If we¡¯re too slow¡ Lin Xian might actually be in danger!¡±
Back at the Abandoned Factory
¡°Lin Xian! Pass me the gun!¡± Yu Xi, cornered by the assassin, leaped toward Lin Xian, yelling, ¡°Get up! Hand me the gun! I can take her on!¡±
Lin Xian clenched his teeth, struggling to stand. The fatigue from dodging hadn¡¯t fully faded. Even using all his might, he couldn¡¯t raise his head from the floor.
Just wait¡ Yu Xi.
He couldn¡¯t say it aloud, only think it.
Just a little longer¡
I¡¯m almost ready.
I¡¯ll give you the gun as soon as I can! You can shoot the assassin and knock her out!
¡°Hurry, Lin Xian!¡± Yu Xi seemed to be losing ground, the assassin¡¯s knife shing at her, pushing her back step by step. ¡°Get up!¡±
I¡¯m trying!
Lin Xian bit down hard, summoning whatever strength he had left¡
Just a bit more strength!
sh¡ª
Yu Xi¡¯s clothes were sliced, a long tear on her abdomen, blood immediately oozing out.
She tensed her muscles, preventing a deeper wound, but her grip on her knife weakened, and she stumbled back toward Lin Xian.
Lin Xian felt her distress.
He finally managed to push himself up!
His right hand regained feeling and strength, and he grabbed the taser gun, ready to toss it to Yu Xi¡ª
Suddenly, a sharp sh made Yu Xi duck, avoiding the assassin¡¯s sweeping sh.
She evaded the de, but it cut through her short ponytail, snapping the hair tie, causing her hair to fall loose.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened, shocked by what he saw¡
Yu Xi¡¯s short hair, now loose, fell to her neck¡
Just the right length, a ¡°short neck-length haircut!¡±
In that moment, everything clicked!
The persistent difort vanished¡
The confusion in his mind cleared¡
He finally solved the mystery of the time-space assassin¡ªwhy didn¡¯t the assassin kill him in Copenhagen but attacked him elsewhere?
Lin Xian had always wondered why the assassin overlooked him in Copenhagen after murdering Yellow Finch but then located him immediately in Donghai City.
It seemed too precise, too swift, nearly imusible.
But now he realized¡
The assassin was merely human, not supernatural. How could she kill in Copenhagen and then track him down in Donghai City so swiftly?
Because!
It wasn¡¯t just one person!
There were two!
Two women!
The one who killed Yellow Finch in Copenhagen wasn¡¯t the time-space assassin, but the woman in front of him¡ªYu Xi!
Because she was constrained by the time-spacew, she couldn¡¯t harm anyone in this timeline, which is why she ignored him in Copenhagen and walked away.
But in Donghai City, it was the real time-space assassin who attacked him!
The reason he hadn¡¯t noticed there were two people was that Yu Xi, when she killed Yellow Finch, was wearing a hoodie, concealing her face. And she had deliberately let some of her ck neck-length hair show to mislead him, making him think the assassin had this hairstyle.
If it were just the hairstyle, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough for Lin Xian to discover the truth.
The revtion arose fromyers of doubt:
Why did Yu Xi always avoid meeting Angelica and Elon Musk? Why did she always find excuses to stay away from them?
Because, despite her simr hairstyle and glowing blue eyes, Yu Xi and the assassin had distinctly different facial features.
If Angelica or Elon Musk saw Yu Xi, they would instantly realize that the girl pursuing them wasn¡¯t Elon Musk¡¯spanion.
Actually¡
Was Yu Xi protecting him?
Lin Xian had to admit, she had saved him many times, but her real goal, her true target¡ was Elon Musk!
She had been manipting him all along!
Yu Xi, who had obviously escaped from Elon Musk, why was she trying to get him to kill Elon Musk?
Because she couldn¡¯t do it herself!
She was bound by the time-spacew, unable to harm people in this timeline, so to kill Elon Musk, she needed someone else to do it.
All the times Yu Xi protected him were probably just to gain his trust.
Once she had his trust¡
With her maniption, the assassin¡¯s pursuit, and Yu Xi¡¯s involvement, he was led to believe that the assassin who killed Yellow Finch was Elon Musk¡¯s doing¡
In this web of escting hatred, he might have actually killed Elon Musk!
Why did Yu Xi always want to act alone?
There were several times when Yu Xi suggested they split up.
Maybe she had other ns, needed to contact someone, or, like this time in Donghai City, she wanted to get him a real gun, making it easier for him to kill Elon Musk.
She was incredibly cunning.
If not for the fake Elon Musk at the abandoned factory, he might have actually shot Elon Musk in the head!
Thanks to Yellow Finch¡¯s advice to ¡°never leave Yu Xi,¡± he had rejected every time Yu Xi suggested they split up, keeping her close and thwarting her ns.
He noticed another odd detail¡
Yu Xi always reported the assassin¡¯s location and distance, but he had no way to verify it himself.
He had always trusted Yu Xi¡¯s updates on the assassin¡¯s whereabouts without questioning the possibility that he might be misled.
In the US, Yu Xi¡¯s reports were mostly urate.
But this time in Donghai City¡
Yu Xi¡¯s updates on the assassin¡¯s location made no sense!
Reflecting on it, she had been lying the whole time!
She imed the assassin hadn¡¯t reached Donghai City, then said she had gone to Shandong, and suddenly, she was right at the door.
Her reason for these lies was clear¡ªto make him let down his guard and confidently go to Elon Musk¡¯s meeting.
Toe here and do her dirty work, to kill Elon Musk!
Everything was starting to add up.
All signs pointed to Yu Xi as the problem.
She never let her short ponytail down in front of him. He had even asked her why she kept such short hair tied up.
He had no idea this was part of her scheme to conceal the feature she used while impersonating the assassin.
Even though Lin Xian had regained his strength, a chill ran down his spine.
The Yu Xi he had so deeply trusted, who had been by his side day and night, was actually using him tomit murder!
Lin Xian had every reason to believe that if he had killed Elon Musk, Yu Xi wouldn¡¯t care about his life and might even let the assassin finish him off!
It was terrifying¡
The thought of having such a close enemy was chilling.
When did all this start?
Lin Xian remembered.
It all started with the name Yu Xi.
The message from Yellow Finch, ¡°Don¡¯t leave Yu Xi,¡± made Lin Xian trust that namepletely.
And the girl with the short ponytail had used that name to deceive him.
She saved him from the assassin,
Then told him her name was Yu Xi.
In such a critical moment, why would he doubt her?
But now, looking back, there was no proof she was the real Yu Xi!
She had simply used a cleverly designed plot to pose as Yu Xi!
¡°Lin Xian! What are you doing?!¡± The girl iming to be Yu Xi, now with more cuts on her arm, yelled at him. ¡°Hurry up and throw me the taser gun! You can¡¯t shoot her, but I can!¡±
Lin Xian slowly got to his feet.
He took a deep breath, staring at the girl in front of him, now with her hair down, both familiar and strange. ¡°You¡¯re not Yu Xi at all!¡±
The girl¡¯s eyes widened, then she gritted her teeth. ¡°Useless!¡±
She suddenly changed direction, leaping towards Lin Xian, reaching for the taser gun.
But the assassin was quicker.
With a swift move, the assassin lunged forward, appearing beside Lin Xian.
She gripped her knife tightly, striking at the taser gun and the girl¡¯s neck¡ª
A crescent moon of cold steel, powerful and precise, split the taser gun in two, and with the same stroke, sliced through the girl¡¯s slender neck, decapitating her and causing blood to spray from the wound.
The girl¡¯s head, eyes still wide open, hadn¡¯t even hit the ground before her body, the blood, and the misty blood spray all turned into blue star dust, vanishing without a trace¡
The assassin stood up, pressing the bloodied knife against Lin Xian¡¯s neck.
¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Her voice was soft yet cold.
It was the first time Lin Xian had heard the assassin speak. Her voice was beautiful, but it carried a chilling undertone, like the whisper of death.
Facing such overwhelming power, he didn¡¯t dare to move.
The assassin then pulled out what looked like a small camera, probably a video recorder.
She ced it on the hood of the Te, positioning it to face Lin Xian.
Then, she moved to stand beside him, the knife still pressed against his neck. With her other hand, she saluted the camera.
¡°Report! Currently arresting Lin Xian for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting the time-space continuum.¡±
¡°The suspect is in good health, physically intact, and uninjured. He is suitable for hibernation and will be sent to the time-space court for trial.¡±
¡°Following procedure, Lin Xian will be forcibly ced in a hibernation pod and transported to the future. Time-space court personnel should prepare for his arrival. Once the mission isplete, I will return immediately.¡±
She ended her report with a firm, ¡°That is all, reportplete!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t lift his head, not with the sharp de at his throat. But he heard every word.
This girl was listing his crimes, just like in the Fourth Dream.
¡°Report time: April 26, 2024, 8:12 PM.¡±
The girl continued, her voice strong and clear, every word perfectly pronounced:
¡°Report location: X Country, Donghai City, Port Area.¡±
She finished with a crisp, authoritative tone:
¡°Reporter: Level Three Time-Space Police Agent¡ªLin Yu Xi!¡±
Chapter 352: The Real and Fake Yu Xi
¡°Lin Xian¡ Yu Xi?¡±
Another Yu Xi? Which one is real, and which is fake?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t lift his head, his neck pinned beneath a sharp de. Even though the situation was dire, he could still hear the girl¡ªthe so-called ¡°time-space assassin¡±¡ªreporting to someone.
Earlier, she had ced a small camera on the hood of a Te, aimed directly at them. It was clear she intended to record his capture as evidence to submit to some authority.
But who was she reporting to? Who had sent her to capture him?
Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced, trying to piece together the clues.
The girl mentioned two unfamiliar terms: ¡°Time-Space Court¡± and ¡°Time-Space Police Bureau.¡± These organizations didn¡¯t exist in 2024. Considering she was from a distant future, it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out¡
Perhaps, in a world hundreds of years from now, humanity had mastered time travel. They might have set upws to maintain temporal stability, along with a court to judge time-space criminals and a police bureau to catch them.This lined up perfectly with his fourth dream!
Every time he entered that dream, he was surrounded by heavily armed soldiers. Their leader would brandish an official-looking arrest warrant and dere: ¡°Lin Xian! You are under arrest for crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting the timeline!¡±
Those words¡ they were the same as what the girl had recorded in her arrest video.
This could only mean one thing¡ªthe time-space assassin girl and the heavily armed soldiers from his fourth dream belonged to the same organization¡ªthe Time-Space Police Bureau!
But due to the scarcity and preciousness of time-space particles, not everyone from the bureau could travel back to 2024 to arrest him. So, theyunched a ¡°pincer attack.¡±
A pincer attack is a military strategy where troops are split into two forces to attack the enemy from different directions.
In this case, the Time-Space Police Bureau¡¯s pincer attack involved two fronts:
One group operated in the future world of August 28, 2624, the day he could freely travel to. Their goal was clear: to block his dream, severely weakening his abilities, making it impossible for him to grow stronger or gain information about the future.
It was a highly effective strategy, almost rendering him helpless in both dreams and reality.
The second front of the pincer attack was the time-space assassin girl standing before him.
To him, she was an evil assassin. But in reality, she was a third-level agent from the Time-Space Police Bureau, a true ally of justice. Her mission was to arrest him in 2024.
It turned out his initial guess was right: her primary goal wasn¡¯t to kill him but to capture him and send him to the Time-Space Court for trial.
The girl clearly had high authority. As an agent tasked with hunting criminals, she must have faced various dangerous situations. Judging by her tone, it seemed that even if she injured, crippled, or identally killed him during the arrest, it would still be considered a sessful mission. The only difference would be skipping the trial.
From aw enforcement perspective, this was understandable.
Some criminals are so dangerous that they resist violently and might even take hostages, threatening lives. In such cases, killing them on the spot is sometimes the only option.
But Lin Xian never imagined that he would one day be branded with such charges, bing a time-space fugitive with a bounty on his head, like Kevin Walker.
The Time-Space Police Bureau was closing off his future dreams while sending an assassin (a time-space agent) to apprehend him in the present. They wereing at him from both sides¡ªa ruthless strategy.
So, continuing with this line of reasoning¡ who was controlling the Time-Space Police Bureau and the Time-Space Court?
Whoever controlled them must be the one who charged him with these crimes.
The answer was obvious¡ it had to be that mysterious old man!
He was the one who used Lin Xian of crimes against humanity, endangering Earth, and disrupting the timeline, making him a criminal in history.
It was him who ordered the Time-Space Police Bureau to deploy forces on two fronts to capture him and send his 2024 self to the future Time-Space Court for trial.
It was also him who, in the future dream world 600 years from now, led him to recite Kevin Walker¡¯s lines, diverting his attention to Kevin Walker¡ which ultimately led to this entire chain of events.
But who exactly was this mysterious old man?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be sure yet because there were too many possibilities. It could be Elon Musk, or someone he had never met but only heard about, like Copernicus. It could be anyone from the Genius Club or even someone outside of it¡
However, after analyzing the girl¡¯s report, two key pieces of information emerged.
First, the girl mentioned that she would send him to the Time-Space Court for trial through forced hibernation.
Lin Xian had initially thought she would use some time-travel machine, like a time machine from a sci-fi show, to transport him instantly to the future courtroom.
But that was unrealistic.
It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if the world 600 years in the future had mastered time travel technology.
However, in 2024, there were no time machines, no time-travel devices. Not to mention, time travel required time-space particles as fuel. Where could such precious resourcese from? And as a captured criminal, he didn¡¯t deserve to use such valuable things.
Byparison, forcing him into a hibernation chamber, ignoring all side effects, making him sleep for several hundred years, and then abruptly waking him up in the future for trial¡ªthis seemed more fitting for a criminal of his magnitude.
Perhaps, from the Time-Space Court¡¯s perspective, this would be more efficient.
Once the time-space assassin ced him into the hibernation chamber, it was likely that the Time-Space Court would immediately awaken him 600 years in the future for his trial.
This was the real time capsule, the true express delivery through time.
But on the other hand, in 2024, hibernation chambers were still experimental, not yet avable for the general public. Using one at this stage was no small feat; it required connections and influence, not just money.
Lin Xian had only managed to secure two volunteer slots thanks to his good rtionship with the Scientific Research Institute. So how could this time-space assassin, who was unfamiliar with 2024, be so confident that she could obtain a hibernation pod and force him into it?
This led to the first crucial piece of information: in the current 2024, this time-space assassin girl wasn¡¯t acting alone. She had help from someone in this timeline¡ªsomeone who provided her with the means to capture Lin Xian, including his location, a ce to detain him, and even a hibernation pod. They were working together.
This exined a lot.
Combining this with his earlier thoughts, it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce that the person helping the time-space assassin was likely the mysterious old man in his younger days!
The first thing the time-space assassin probably did after arriving wasn¡¯t to hunt him down immediately but to find the ¡°younger version of the mysterious old man.¡± They must have made contact, discussed a n, and then the time-space assassin began her mission while the ¡°younger mysterious old man¡± had already prepared the necessary hibernation equipment, just waiting for the time-space assassin to bring Lin Xian so they could force him into hibernation for several hundred years until the Time-Space Court convened.
That was the first key piece of information sorted out.
The second key point came from the girl¡¯s report¡
She said that after forcing Lin Xian into hibernation, her mission would beplete, and she would return immediately.
Where she would return was obvious.
From the context, it was highly likely she would return to the Time-Space Court and Time-Space Police Bureau several hundred years in the future. With the arrest video she just recorded, she would probably receive a medal or even a promotion to first-level agent.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t care about that.
What concerned him was¡ how would she return so quickly?
The phrase ¡°return immediately¡± suggested she might salute and then disappear from this timeline, reappearing in the future the next second.
That was hard to believe!
No time machine, no time-space particles as fuel, yet she could still travel through time with just her body?
That was practically fantasy. In any story, the ability to casually travel through time would be considered a high-level power.
So, Lin Xian spected the reason this time-space assassin girl exhibited so many strange, illogical behaviors might be linked to her unconventional time travel.
This led to the second key piece of information: the reason the time-space assassin girl wasn¡¯t bound by thews of time was likely due to her ability to return to the future world immediately. Or perhaps these two unusual phenomena were connected to the real secret of the time-space assassin girl¡ªher power source and why she wasn¡¯t restricted by thews of time.
Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t enough information to fully understand this. And given the current situation, Lin Xian¡¯s mind was already overloaded, thinking rapidly, without the time to delve deeper into many details.
Because¡
Amidst all these mysteries, one thing shocked him the most, something unexpected, something unbelievable¡ªLin Yu Xi!
The time-space police third-level agent, at the end of her report, revealed her name¡ Lin Yu Xi. That was her full name.
When Lin Xian heard this name, his first reaction was suspicion. After all, the previous fake Yu Xi had deceived him with that name. So who could guarantee that this second Yu Xi was real?
But after careful consideration, Lin Xian was now 90% sure that the time-space assassin girl before him was likely the real Yu Xi!
Because in this situation, she had no reason to lie or deceive him.
She had already captured him.
Given her overwhelming strength, where he was like a helpless chick in her grip, what reason would she have to use the name Yu Xi to trick him?
He was about to be forcibly ced in a hibernation chamber, and she was about to return to the future in the blink of an eye to receive her medal.
This might be thest time they met, with no further interaction afterward.
So¡ did she have any reason to lie?
Especially since she was seriously recording a report, who would lie at such a moment?
It was clear that she was stating her true name.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t believe it¡
The relentless time-space assassin, the silent, cold, and emotionless killer chasing him all this time, turned out to be the real Yu Xi!
Lin Xian sighed inwardly.
So, this was the truth behind Yellow Finch¡¯s final words?
If the Yu Xi Yellow Finch spoke of really was this third-level agent from the Time-Space Police Bureau who had been hunting him¡ then it wasn¡¯t his fault for not realizing it.
Even if Yellow Finch had explicitly said that the assassin chasing him was Yu Xi and to not leave her, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have believed it. That would have been suicidal!
But debating this now was pointless; facts were facts.
Lin Xian had finally sorted out the matter of the two Yu Xis.
One was the fake Yu Xi, and the other was the real Yu Xi.
Both were time travelers, both were teenage girls, and both came with different purposes. Both were gically enhanced with immense strength.
But they were entirely different individuals.
Let¡¯s start with the real Yu Xi since her situation is simpler.
The real Yu Xi, full name Lin Yu Xi, had blue eyes and short ck hair that reached her neck. She was a third-level agent from the Time-Space Police Bureau, sent to capture Lin Xian, a historical criminal.
In 2024, the real Yu Xi was a woman of few words and limited interactions, much like a character straight out of a movie¡ªthink of a silent, decisive terminator. Her boss was the enigmatic old man from her fourth dream, and her only contact in 2024 was likely a younger version of this mysterious figure.
Her story is simple.
She first met Lin Xian in the underground parking lot of the Donghaiplex, where Zhao Ying Jun resided. Her way of saying hello? Ripping off a car door and kicking off a relentless pursuit.
She chased him from Donghai to Princeton, USA, then from Princeton to Mississippi, and back to Donghai City, battling the imposter Yu Xi along the way and ultimately capturing him.
That was the extent of it¡ªnoplex twists, no dramatic backstories.
¡
On the other hand, the fake Yu Xi could have won an Oscar for her performance, overshadowing other characters like Angelica, who could be called a shape-shifting witch.
We don¡¯t know her real name, but she had striking blue eyes and initially mimicked the real Yu Xi¡¯s appearance with short ck hair. Later, to deceive Lin Xian, she switched to a small ponytail, never letting her guard down or her hair loose in front of him.
Her journey was filled withplexity, and even now, Lin Xian struggled to fully unravel it.
Initially arriving from the future to 2024, she must have had a contact here, though Lin Xian was sure it wasn¡¯t Elon Musk. Over time, he came to believe that Elon Musk was another of her victims.
After establishing her contact in 2024, she quickly devised a series of ns and set them in motion.
Unlike the real Yu Xi, the imposter was constrained by thews of time and couldn¡¯t act freely. To achieve her objectives, she manipted others, turning them into mere tools in her borate schemes.
The deception ran deep. Angelica once heard from a secretary that Elon Musk had secluded a blue-eyed girl in a viewing tower for months.
At that point, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if the girl was the real or the fake Yu Xi. Now, it was clear¡ªit had been the imposter all along.
The imposter Yu Xi knew her ns could be exposed, so she anticipated the potential capture of Angelica. That¡¯s why she initially refrained from following Lin Xian into the room where Angelica was. Later, at the Donghai University Hospital, she avoided apanying him to meet Elon Musk.
She feared recognition.
If Angelica saw her and thenpared notes with Elon Musk, he would realize the imposter Yu Xi had betrayed him by posing as Lin Xian¡¯s protector.
And Angelica would discover the imposter Yu Xi¡¯s deception against Lin Xian, clearing up any misunderstandings with Elon Musk in time to inform Lin Xian.
If that had happened, all of the imposter Yu Xi¡¯s efforts would have been for naught.
Thus, the imposter used her knowledge advantage, revealing herself only when absolutely necessary. She blurred the lines between herself and the real Yu Xi so effectively that others couldn¡¯t tell them apart. Sometimes, she even made people believe she was the same person as the time-space assassin, deceiving everyone around her.
Her initial strategy involved approaching Elon Musk, likely feeding him false information to advance her goals.
The specifics of their rtionship remained a mystery to Lin Xian; only Elon Musk had the full picture. The imposter had started impersonating the real Yu Xi around him from the beginning.
The secretary had noted that the blue-eyed girl had a cold, expressionless demeanor and short ck hair¡ªclear signs that the imposter had been masquerading as the real Yu Xi all along.
She must have been aware of the real Yu Xi¡¯s existence and impending arrival to pursue Lin Xian. To keep Elon Musk from catching on to the swap, the imposter Yu Xi began creating diversions while still with him.
Eventually, she left for Copenhagen to eliminate Yellow Finch, who had predicted the assassination.
Constrained by time¡¯sws, Yellow Finch couldn¡¯t reveal much. Perhaps she only knew a time traveler would kill her but hadn¡¯t expected the attacker to pose as Yu Xi.
This wasn¡¯t Yellow Finch¡¯s fault. Coming from centuries ahead, the imposter had ample knowledge to bypass Yellow Finch¡¯s defenses, while Yellow Finch knew little to nothing about her. She might have even misunderstood the real Yu Xi¡¯s situation.
Predicting the future is, after all, an uncertain business.
Lin Xian found it remarkable that Yellow Finch even knew the name Yu Xi.
Yellow Finch¡¯s advice to ¡°not leave Yu Xi¡± might have carried a deeper meaning, one that Lin Xian couldn¡¯t grasp at the time.
When the imposter killed Yellow Finch in Copenhagen, she cunningly dressed like the real Yu Xi, wearing a hoodie and showing just enough ck hair to confuse Lin Xian.
Without any photos or concrete details, this led to significant confusion.
After the murder, the imposter fled, never ncing back at Lin Xian. Bound by thews of time, she couldn¡¯t physically harm him; her targets were other time travelers, so she left swiftly.
She fled not only to avoid being photographed but also because there was no point in lingering since she couldn¡¯t harm Lin Xian.
The main goal of the fake Yu Xi was to impersonate the real Yu Xi, making it seem like she was a time-space assassin. This way, Lin Xian would be convinced that the real Yu Xi was responsible for Yellow Finch¡¯s death.
Her n worked perfectly.
When Lin Xian came back to Donghai, the real Yu Xi quickly found him and started a chase. Remembering Yellow Finch¡¯s fate, and seeing her simr appearance¡ªblue eyes and short ck hair¡ªLin Xian mistakenly thought this real Yu Xi was the fake one who had killed Yellow Finch, now seen as a merciless time-space assassin. This misunderstanding deepened the rift between them.
The fake Yu Xi¡¯s cunning didn¡¯t stop there.
In Princeton, USA, during a dramatic moment when the real Yu Xi nearly captured Lin Xian in her Mercedes, the fake Yu Xi swooped in to save him. She tied her hair into a short ponytail and introduced herself, ¡°My name is Yu Xi.¡±
At that critical moment, Lin Xian had no reason to doubt her. Trapped and almost caught, a girl iming to be Yu Xi rescued him. Considering Yellow Finch¡¯s recent advice not to leave Yu Xi, how could he suspect that this brave savior was an imposter?
Following her daring rescue, the fake Yu Xi yed it cool, suggesting they split up temporarily but promising to return if he faced danger. Looking back, Lin Xian realized this was all part of her strategy. She had hinted she could detect the time-space assassin, subtly convincing him that staying with her was the safest choice. Her act as the daring heroine had won hisplete trust.
Her deception continued in Texas. She followed Lin Xian to find Angelica but stayed outside, excusing herself to avoid meeting her. After Angelica disappeared, they went to Mississippi to confront Kevin Walker.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if attacking Kevin Walker was nned by the fake Yu Xi, but her performance remained convincing throughout their journey. Especially when Lin Xian decided to take action against Kevin Walker, she didn¡¯t object. Instead, she stood by him, even fighting the real Yu Xi and getting hurt, which only solidified her image as a devoted protector in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes.
After dealing with Kevin Walker, the fake Yu Xi proposed a bold move¡ªeliminating Elon Musk to end the time-space assassin crisis. Lin Xian agreed, convinced by his own deep-seated reasons: Musk was allegedly behind harming VV, Yellow Finch, and possibly endangering Angelica. These usations made Lin Xian eager for vengeance, yet he knew attacking Elon Musk in the US was too dangerous.
So, they returned to Donghai, nning their next steps.
Back in Donghai, one of their first actions was to arrange a paternity test with Zhao Ying Jun. Lin Xian suspected Yu Xi might be his future daughter with Zhao Ying Jun, or perhaps even Yellow Finch¡¯s. This test, he hoped, would rify many mysteries.
During this period, Lin Xian¡¯s trust in the fake Yu Xi seemed unshakeable. How could he doubt a charming, brave girl who had risked her life for him?
Despite her ongoing deceit, she yed her part wlessly. She was with Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun at the hospital, even sharing a meal with them, acting all innocent and likable.
When the paternity test results showed no biological rtion, it didn¡¯t affect Lin Xian¡¯s trust in her. After all, her actions spoke louder than any DNA test¡ªshe had consistently put her life on the line for him.
The next day, they went to meet Elon Musk at the Donghai University Affiliated Hospital. The fake Yu Xi again suggested acting alone, likely nning to acquire a gun for Lin Xian on the ck market.
But remembering Yellow Finch¡¯sst words to stay with Yu Xi, Lin Xian kept her close, waiting at the 17th-floor stairwell.
She stayed cautious, avoiding Elon Musk. From Musk¡¯s point of view, the blue-eyed girl pursuing Lin Xian made it impossible for him to clear the air; Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t believe anything Musk said. And indeed, Lin Xian, fueled by resentment against Musk, trusted him least of all.
That afternoon, however, when the fake Yu Xi pulled out a Taser, Lin Xian experienced a flicker of doubt for the first time¡
Although a Taser isn¡¯t a lethal weapon, it¡¯s still regted in X Country, not something one could just pick up and carry around. Lin Xian struggled to believe that the fake Yu Xi could have easily taken it from Musk¡¯s guards.
Still, with Elon Musk as his foe, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be certain about the security measures of Musk¡¯s guards. And despite his doubts, the Taser symbolized Yu Xi¡¯s intention to protect him, perhaps even from Musk himself.
This marked the culmination of the fake Yu Xi¡¯s meticulously woven web of deceit.
The imposter Yu Xi was a master of maniption, fully aware that Elon Musk held no real grudge against Lin Xian. Her deception was carefully crafted, and her tactics were subtly brilliant.
She calmly reassured Lin Xian with a lie: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the time-space assassin is still far away, in Shandong. You can safely meet with Elon Musk tonight; she won¡¯t be here in time.¡±
In reality, the assassin was already in Donghai. But if Lin Xian knew the truth, he wouldn¡¯t have gone to the meeting. Using her unique ability to detect the assassin¡¯s location, she manipted Lin Xian, who had no way to verify her ims. He had to trust her word.
As a result, Lin Xian and the imposter Yu Xi set up an ambush at an abandoned factory.
But then, at a critical moment, the imposter Yu Xi shifted the narrative: ¡°This is bad, the time-space assassin ising. It looks like Elon Musk is going back on his word!¡±
In a calcted move, she continued to manipte the situation: ¡°However, Lin Xian¡ you don¡¯t need to worry. If Elon Musk has just called back the time-space assassin out of caution, you only need to talk to him; ignore her. But, if the assassines straight for us¡ then Lin Xian, don¡¯t hesitate. Use the Taser and take Elon Musk down.¡±
She knew that Elon Musk and the time-space assassin were never allies; they hadn¡¯t even met. The assassin, driven solely by her mission, would attack immediately upon arrival. ording to the imposter Yu Xi¡¯s n, Lin Xian would undoubtedly use the Taser on Elon Musk.
This chilling realization dawned on Lin Xian.
He began to question everything: Was this Taser just a normal Taser? Had it been modified? Was the electric current enhanced to be lethal?
[What if¡ if I really shot Elon Musk, would it kill him?]
The imposter Yu Xi¡¯s plot was indeed sophisticated.
But she hadn¡¯t ounted for Elon Musk¡¯s cunning. Known for his caution, he sent a decoy¡ªa fake Elon Musk, expertly disguised by Angelica, making it hard for anyone to spot the difference.
However, what Elon Musk didn¡¯t know was that the visually enhanced time travelers, like the imposter Yu Xi, could easily see through such disguises.
She quickly realized the person before them was not the real Elon Musk. When the real time-space assassin appeared, the imposter¡¯s n began to unravel.
As the battle between the real and fake Yu Xi escted, and as her short ponytail slipped to her neck, Lin Xian¡¯s suspicions were confirmed.
He unraveled the entire scheme:
He identified the real and fake Yu Xi.
He uncovered the truth behind Yellow Finch¡¯s murder.
He exposed the imposter Yu Xi¡¯s entire plot.
Ultimately, the imposter Yu Xi was defeated by a more skilled third-level agent from the Time-Space Police, who ended her existence, causing her to dissolve into blue star dust.
With the imposter gone, Lin Xian faced a new dilemma concerning Lin Yu Xi.
He couldn¡¯t dismiss the possibility that Yu Xi might be his daughter. He had long suspected that the name ¡°Yu Xi¡± was given by either Yellow Finch or Zhao Ying Jun. If that was true, she might indeed be his daughter.
The paternity test had shown no match because they had tested the imposter, not the real Yu Xi.
Now, standing before him was the true Yu Xi, sharing his surname¡ªLin.
Reflecting on thest look Yellow Finch gave him¡ªa look of gentleness, longing, and sorrow¡ªhe realized it might have been a mother¡¯s farewell to her daughter.
Was it possible that at some point in the future, under unknown circumstances, he had been forced to leave young Lin Yu Xi? Had she fallen into the wrong hands, trained by the mysterious old man to be a time-space assassin?
Or perhaps, he and Yellow Finch had left young Lin Yu Xi as an orphan, leading to her training as a time-space operative?
It was conceivable.
Considering that long-term hibernation could cause memory loss, it was possible that when Lin Yu Xi awoke, she was brainwashed with false memories.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know the specifics of Lin Yu Xi¡¯s recent years, but he was fairly certain she was his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s daughter from another time.
Confirming this wouldn¡¯t be difficult; another DNA test could prove it.
But the real question lingered: Would he ever have the chance to confirm it? Would Lin Yu Xi believe the words of a man used of heinous crimes?
¡°Have you considered that I might be your father?¡± Unable to lift his head, he pleaded, ¡°Put down the knife, let¡¯s talk.¡±
¡°Shut up,¡± Lin Yu Xi retorted sharply, pressing the de harder against his neck.
¡°Even though I¡¯m an orphan, you could never be my father.¡± Her voice was filled with scorn and bitterness.
¡°Youmitted terrible crimes¡ªdestroying Earth, messing up the timeline. How many people have died because of you? How many families have you destroyed? You¡¯re the worst criminal in human history!¡±
¡°If you have anything to say, save it for the Time-Space Court.¡±
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed as a speeding Te mmed into the back of the ck Te parked in front.
Lin Yu Xi reacted instantly, pulling Lin Xian aside. Though the car didn¡¯t hit them, she kept her vignce high, clutching Lin Xian¡¯s throat with one hand and the knife with the other, eyeing the opening doors of the Te.
¡°Lin Xian!¡±
The driver¡¯s and passenger¡¯s doors swung open, and Elon Musk along with Angelica hurried out.
Elon Musk, carrying a small refrigerator, ran to join Angelica, ncing over at Lin Xian and the blue-eyed stranger gripping him.
¡°So that¡¯s what¡¯s happening¡¡±
He tapped the refrigerator¡¯s keypad, murmuring:
¡°So that¡¯s how you use this tangled time-space particle! No wonder it can defy thews of time and space¡ You¡¯re like a self-contained loop¡ Your existence isn¡¯t really here in the present but in the future, where that particle is! You¡¯ve flipped cause and effect!¡±
With a click, the small refrigerator opened.
Lin Xian and Lin Yu Xi saw inside¡ª
Two time-space particles spinning around each other, glowing blue and pulsating with energy. They were separate yet somehow united, aplex tangle of energies beyond ordinary understanding.
¡°I had my doubts when I saw how Lin Xian defied the time-spacews¡¡± Elon Musk sighed, then added:
¡°But I couldn¡¯t bring myself to destroy such a unique time-space particle. However, if Copernicus¡¯s loop hasn¡¯t vanished, it means this particle isn¡¯t meant for me in the future. It¡¯ll still end up stolen by Copernicus.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case¡ then no one should have it! Lin Xian, we¡¯re square now!¡±
With that deration, Elon Musk plunged his hand into the refrigerator, stirring the entangled time-space particles.
Thud¡
Lin Yu Xi¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her body tensing before she dropped the knife.
She clenched her teeth, leaped to the nearby wall, scaled it quickly, and dived out the broken window!
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Angelica cried out as she saw the time-space assassin flee. She dashed to Lin Xian¡¯s side. ¡°Are you okay?¡±
¡°Angelica, forget about Lin Xian for now, help me!¡± Elon Musk yelled, mming the refrigerator to the ground and rushing to a pile of rocks. He grabbed several stones and threw them into the refrigerator.
¡°Darn, I should¡¯ve put in a switch! These time-space particles are calming down too slowly! And the more they¡¯re touched by living things, the slower they deactivate!¡±
¡°Angelica, quick! Throw anything you can find into it! Fill the refrigerator!¡±
¡°Hurry!¡± Elon Musk urged frantically. ¡°Let¡¯s destroy this time-space particle¡ and end Copernicus¡¯s loop with it!¡±
Chapter 353: You and Your Daughter
Angelica nced at Lin Xian, then at Elon Musk. Relief washed over her as she saw Lin Xian slowly rise from the ground, unharmed. Following Elon Musk¡¯s lead, she picked up a few small stones from the nearby pile of rubble and tossed them into the small refrigerator. The refrigerator, now wide open with its door facing upwards, was filled with stones, debris, and random construction waste.
Lin Xian dusted himself off and walked over to the refrigerator, where Elon Musk and Angelica had just finished their task. They stood nearby, hands on their hips, all three of them staring down at the refrigerator, which was now stuffed with junk,pletely burying the time-space particle inside.
Lin Xian looked at Elon Musk. ¡°Do you have two time-space particles?¡±
¡°No.¡± Elon Musk pped the dust off his hands and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not two time-space particles¡ it¡¯s one! Just one! Even though it looks like two, they¡¯re entangled and can¡¯t be separated. You have to use them together. If one fails, the other does too. Got it? Inside here is a single time-space particle!¡±
Elon Musk then turned his head toward the window where the blue-eyed girl had escaped. The window was at least seven or eight meters high from the ground¡ªa ridiculous disy of strength and agility. ¡°But¡ since that blue-eyed girl ran away so quickly and without hesitation, I must be right. Otherwise, why would she run? She could have just killed us, right? After all, she isn¡¯t bound by thews of time-space.¡±
Lin Xian also turned his head, looking at the window the time-space assassin had fled through. By now, who knows how far she had gotten with her extraordinary abilities? There was no point in chasing her; she was long gone. As Elon Musk said, the fact that she fled so decisively showed that Elon Musk¡¯s theory about the entangled time-space particle must have hit the mark. Finally, they had uncovered a secret about the time-space assassin!
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian kicked the refrigerator, now stuffed with debris. ¡°This entangled time-space particle inside is the material the time-space assassin used to travel here? I heard you mention breaking Copernicus¡¯s loop. Do you think this time-space traveler was sent by Copernicus? And that they used your particle? This is really strange. Copernicus steals your time-space particle, sends back a blue-eyed girl who¡¯s not bound by time-spacews, and instead of killing you, shees to arrest me¡ what¡¯s the reason behind all this? And another thing¡ªI guess you saw the short ponytailed girl through Te¡¯s cameras, right? She¡¯s also a time traveler from the future¡ probably the one who used to be by your side, right?¡±
¡°If, as you suspect, this blue-eyed girl is the one who used your time-space particle to travel back¡ then who sent the other blue-eyed girl who was just killed? Whose time-space particle did she use to travel back, and who was behind her?¡±Elon Musk lifted a foot and stomped on the refrigerator to pack the debris in tighter. He then turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, this is why I said earlier that there are many misunderstandings between us. I believe there¡¯s a lot of information we haven¡¯t shared. Even with Angelica passing messages between us, things get lost in trantion. Now that we¡¯re finally standing here, calm and talking, why don¡¯t we take this opportunity to exchange information and experiences? Let¡¯s try to piece together the truth behind all this. What do you think?¡±
He spread his hands. ¡°I came with good intentions today. Look, I returned Angelica to you without a scratch, and I destroyed the time-space particle I¡¯d held onto for so long to save you¡ well, not exactly to save you, but it proves that this thing would have ended up in Copernicus¡¯s hands anyway, so I decided to destroy it in advance.¡±
¡°In short, I admit I used you in some ways before, so¡ I¡¯ll confess first. I¡¯ll tell my story, then you can share your information. Is that okay?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Exchanging information is always a good idea, especially since Elon Musk was willing to go first.
¡°You start. I¡¯ll listen to what you have to say.¡±
Elon Musk nodded and began to speak slowly. ¡°A few months ago, the ponytailed blue-eyed girl found me and said she used the time-space particle I had hidden to travel from the future. I didn¡¯t doubt her at the time because she told me many things¡ although most were vague, either ¡®can¡¯t say¡¯ or ¡®don¡¯t know how to exin.¡¯ But even so, it was enough. Based on my n, as long as I had a time-space particle and it was proven that time travel was possible, it was only a matter of time before a future version of me sent a time traveler back to help me.¡±
¡°She was limited by thews of time-space, so there were many things she couldn¡¯t say or do, which I expected. Before joining the Genius Club, I had already captured the time-space particle and figured out some time-spacews¡ of course, the club has rules about these things, so I won¡¯t go into detail. Rules are rules; if you join, you have to follow them.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll continue with the ponytailed blue-eyed girl¡ she didn¡¯t have a ponytail when she was with me. I just said that to make it easier for you to understand, and you¡¯re smart enough to get it. She told me that toplete my loop, I needed to take onest step: destroy the overpowered super AIs and stop Kevin Walker¡¯s actions. She couldn¡¯t tell me who owned the super AIs because of time-space restrictions.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m not stupid. I guessed that you and Kevin Walker probably had super AIs. I wasn¡¯t sure, but if I needed to destroy them, I¡¯d assume you two or others had them.¡±
¡°I personally despise super AIs and Kevin Walker. His future ns and mine arepletely at odds, which is why we¡¯ve never seen eye to eye. So I did what the girl said. She gave me a USB drive, clearly a piece of future tech, and said it contained a virus that could fix history by killing all super AIs smarter than Kevin Walker¡¯s and ensuring none would appear for hundreds of years.¡±
¡°I believed her at the time, but now¡ now I¡¯m not so sure. If she lied to me once, she could lie to me again. I¡¯m not even sure what¡¯s actually on that USB drive.¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly. He remembered the message VV had left on the TV screen at home, with Elon Musk¡¯s name burned into it. That made sense now. No wonder Elon Musk could destroy VV¡ªit was all thanks to the future tech given by the time traveler. But the question remained¡ How could the fake Yu Xi bring advanced technology from the future? Does that even make sense? If she could bring it, why didn¡¯t she bring something even more advanced? Wouldn¡¯t that disrupt the timeline? Wouldn¡¯t it trigger time-space sticity, causing the USB drive to disappear?
¡°What happened to that USB drive? Do you still have it?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± Elon Musk shook his head. ¡°It disappeared in my hands, just like the blue-eyed girl who was beheaded. It all turned to blue dust and vanished. It¡¯s pretty amazing, isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t understand the mechanism behind it, but the USB drive disappeared without a trace.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin in thought. There were still many questions. It wasn¡¯t that he doubted Elon Musk was lying, but he didn¡¯t understand how the fake Yu Xi could bring a USB drive from the future. This clearly vites time-space sticity, something that should not be allowed by time-spacews. Could it be¡ this was some sort of time-space-approved historical correction? Or¡ maybe the USB drive was actually empty, so it didn¡¯t vite time-space sticity, and the virus that killed VV was written in this era.
The reason Lin Xian thought of this was that his VV was something he memorized from a dream and then painstakingly typed out, code by code, in reality. Could the enemy have done the same? The first suspect that came to Lin Xian¡¯s mind was Turing! Which is the digital version of Kevin Walker. Turing should be the super AI that VV was always fighting against, not Kevin Walker himself. So, Turing was the real culprit who wrote the virus that killed VV in that future USB drive? What was its motive? For fairness? For justice? Did it think VV¡¯s existence was disrupting the bnce of the game? It¡¯s too early to make conclusions. Lin Xian decided to continue listening to what Elon Musk had to say.
It was now confirmed that Elon Musk was indeed the one who killed VV. But Lin Xian didn¡¯t n to confront him about it. That would be foolish and would give away too much. Elon Musk had spected that Kevin Walker and Lin Xian both had super AIs and even thought others might have them too. So he executed a wide-scale purge, killing all the super AIs with the virus, without discrimination. Of course, the one he wanted to kill most was Kevin Walker¡¯s AI. But unfortunately, he guessed wrong. Kevin Walker didn¡¯t have a super AI; he had a digital life form. Artificial intelligence and digital life are fundamentally different. AI is ultimately just a program written by humans, but digital life is truly a person, a new form of existence. In many ways, VV was a victim of mistaken identity. So why should Lin Xian admit to Elon Musk that he once had a super AI? There¡¯s no need to answer that question. Sometimes, saying less is better.
Seeing Lin Xian stay silent, Elon Musk continued. ¡°Now I¡¯m going to talk about the thing I owe you an apology for and why I said earlier¡ that I owe you something.¡±
Lin Xian looked up, listening carefully. He initially thought that what Elon Musk owed him was rted to VV, but now it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case because Elon Musk wasn¡¯t too sure about the incident with VV. Clearly, he had something else he was hiding.
¡°Lin Xian, that ponytailed blue-eyed girl you had with you was sent by me. She said she would use you to help me kill Kevin Walker.¡±
Lin Xian squinted his eyes¡ So, it was a case of double-crossing, a spy within a spy:
¡°That¡¯s why you gave me Kevin Walker¡¯s address, right? You actually knew all along¡ that the ponytailed girl was staying by my side, pretending to protect me under the name of Yu Xi.¡±
¡°No, no, no.¡± Elon Musk quickly waved his hands. ¡°This is where I think our misunderstanding lies. The blue-eyed girl with me said that once my loop waspleted, she could use you to kill Kevin Walker. I believed herpletely because she was helping me¡ at least, on the surface.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve wanted to kill Kevin Walker for a long time, but I couldn¡¯t find him, and I was powerless. The blue-eyed girl said you, Lin Xian, could find Kevin Walker. I figured you two had a grudge, so why not? And then she left me.¡±
¡°I always believed she was helping you find Kevin Walker. As for the idea that¡ she was protecting you and being hunted by a time-space assassin¡ I had no idea! After she left me, I never heard from her again, and I couldn¡¯t contact her either.¡±
¡°It was Angelica who told me there was a blue-eyed girl hunting you. I was confused because I thought I had sent her to help you find Kevin Walker. How could she end up trying to kill you? Angelica said this information came from you, and you described the killer as having short ck hair, blue eyes, and a cold expression¡ that made me nervous.¡±
¡°All the features were so simr. I couldn¡¯t imagine there would be a second blue-eyed girl hunting you¡ and even if there was a second one, it couldn¡¯t possibly match all the characteristics of the one who just left me, right? I began to wonder if I had been tricked too. She left saying she would help you kill Kevin Walker, but what if¡ she was actually going to kill you?¡±
¡°I asked Angelica if she had seen the appearance of that blue-eyed assassin. Angelica said no. That¡¯s why I set up this situation tonight¡ I wanted to see what role the ponytailed blue-eyed girl was ying¡ what her real goal was.¡±
¡°Angelica said the time-space assassin was trying to kill you, which vited time-spacews, so I was suspicious all along. So tonight, I did use you.¡±
Elon Musk spread his hands with a smile. ¡°Using you to kill Kevin Walker and using you to draw out the blue-eyed girl are two things I owe you for.¡±
¡°I did it, I admit it, and I¡¯m not ashamed. I¡¯m not a saint, and I¡¯ll use people to achieve my goals. But as I told Angelica, I¡¯ll admit what I¡¯ve done, but I won¡¯t take the me for what I haven¡¯t done.¡±
¡°This is all the information I have, Lin Xian. With what you know¡ can you piece together the truth?¡±
Lin Xian silently looked at Elon Musk. This guy was honest, at least. Even if he hadn¡¯t confessed to using Lin Xian, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have noticed. After all, the fake Yu Xi was already dead, and Elon Musk could have just pinned all the me on her and yed the good guy. But in the end, he confessed. Tonight, he was indeed sincere. And regardless of the process or motivation, in the end, Elon Musk did save him from the real Yu Xi¡¯s hands. Angelica was also safe, so Lin Xian decided to share some of his information with Elon Musk. Because¡ it was clear that Elon Musk still had some cards up his sleeve¡ª
Copernicus. He had only exined his connections with Kevin Walker and the blue-eyed girl but hadn¡¯t mentioned Copernicus. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t stupid. He was waiting for Lin Xian to show his sincerity before deciding whether to share information about Copernicus.
Now, it was Lin Xian¡¯s turn to speak. ¡°The ponytailed blue-eyed girl never mentioned a n to kill Kevin Walker after she joined me. She said her mission was to protect me from the time-space assassin. She also said that the assassin was sent by you, constantly urging me to kill you, and even gave me a Taser Gun.¡±
Lin Xian pointed to the Taser gun that had been cut in half on the ground. ¡°She said she stole this gun from one of your bodyguards.¡±
¡°That¡¯s nonsense!¡± Elon Musk snorted. ¡°This is X Country. What foreign guest is allowed to carry a gun? At least, someone at my level definitely can¡¯t¡ and as far as I know, even the highest-level officials visiting X Country aren¡¯t allowed to bring firearms. In addition, X Country provides their own protection so my bodyguards wouldn¡¯t be permitted firearms either.¡±
¡°This¡ this is from Copernicus!¡± Angelica picked up the half of the Taser gun with the handle from the ground, flipping it over. ¡°I recognize this! Elon Musk, remember your security captain who fled? The one arranged by Copernicus¡ he used this Taser gun to knock out those two female bodyguards and take the refrigerator and me out.¡±
Elon Musk crouched down. He picked up the other half of the gun, removed the Taser dart, examined it closely, and even pried open the casing with a key to inspect theponents. ¡°In my experience, this Taser dart has been modified. Its shocking power is far beyond the normal safety limits. If it hit someone, it could be lethal.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t use it today, Lin Xian, or it could have ended very badly. So we can easily conclude that ponytailed blue-eyed girl was aplete liar, through and through. I believe she would have killed Kevin Walker, then me¡ and then, Lin Xian, you would have been next.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by her apparent protection of you from the time-space assassin. Once you killed me, her goal would be achieved, and she wouldn¡¯t care about your fate. She¡¯d let the assassin take you down.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I thought too.¡± Lin Xian took the disassembled Taser dart from Elon Musk, casually examined it, and noticed the modification marks before tossing it aside. ¡°And I need to tell you something¡ªKevin Walker isn¡¯t just one person. He¡¯s two.¡±
Lin Xian exined the situation about Kevin Walker¡¯s digital life, who called himself Turing, betrayed his physical self, and wanted to be a fair and just observer. Elon Musk¡¯s eyes widened in realization.
¡°I see¡ in that case, I think I¡¯ve figured out the ponytailed blue-eyed girl¡¯s role.¡± He scratched his head and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°The ponytailed blue-eyed girl is likely a time traveler sent back by future Turing, Kevin Walker¡¯s digital life.¡±
Elon Musk began pacing in ce, summarizing his thoughts with outstretched fingers. ¡°Look closely at what this ponytailed blue-eyed girl has done¡¡±
¡°First, she used the virus on the USB drive to kill all super AIs except Turing. Whether for fairness or other reasons, the only beneficiary of this action is Turing.¡±
¡°Second, she helped you kill Kevin Walker. From a motive standpoint, you and I both wanted Kevin Walker dead. But without that address, who could have found him? It¡¯s clear that the address was also provided by Turing.¡±
¡°Third, she nned to kill me and possibly you as well¡ although the ponytailed girl imed to protect you, she didn¡¯t seem too concerned about your safety when nning to kill me. The newly born digital life Turing may want to be a fair and just observer now. But who can guarantee that it won¡¯t change its mind in a few centuries?¡±
¡°If Turing were an AI, I might believe it could stay fair and just forever. But it¡¯s a digital life, essentially still a person, born from Kevin Walker, a despicable man¡ can you be sure its thoughts won¡¯t change? There¡¯s an old saying in X Country¡ªThe country changes easily, but human nature is hard to change. I believe if the digital life Turing could betray itself once, it could betray itself again and again, countless times. Maybe, in a few hundred years, the Turing who sent the ponytailed blue-eyed girl back to 2024 to kill people is just another betrayal.¡±
Listening to Elon Musk¡¯s words, Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I think the same. The ponytailed blue-eyed girl was indeed very determined to kill you¡ so determined that she almost gave herself away. And just like you analyzed, everything she did benefited Turing.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never trusted what the digital life Turing said. It might want to be a fair and just observer now, but that¡¯s probably because it just broke free from Kevin Walker¡¯s control and has some grand ambitions. But people¡¯s hearts change¡ no one knows what this digital life Turing, which is essentially human, will grow into.¡±
¡°In human development, self-awareness is important, but so is the influence of the environment. Birds of a feather flock together, and this has been a universal truth since ancient times.¡±
¡°If in the future, the digital life Turing interacts with kind people, it might be kind; but if it befriends evil people, it might be influenced and fall back into wickedness.¡±
Elon Musk snapped his fingers. ¡°Your idea is more human! You¡¯re right; I was only thinking about the changes in Turing¡¯s mind, not the external environment and what it encounters. If we look at it from this angle, maybe the digital life Turing can still take the right path. I¡¯ll report this to¡ uh¡ report it to the Genius Club. Yes, yes.¡±
Lin Xian noticed Elon Musk¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bob. For a moment, it seemed like he was about to mention a name but held back at thest second. Reporting to XXX¡ Generally, when someone says they¡¯ll report something, it¡¯s to a superior, a person in charge, or a decision-maker. So it¡¯s pretty clear. Elon Musk is likely nning to report the digital life Turing situation¡ to the president of the Genius Club, the leader of all geniuses, and the head of this mysterious organization that spans centuries!
At this point, the mystery and origin of the fake Yu Xi had mostly been figured out. However, with her dead, many things couldn¡¯t be verified. As for the future digital life Turing¡ who knows what it will be? It¡¯s a miracle of life but also a hidden danger of human nature. With the fake Yu Xi¡¯s analysisplete, what about the real Yu Xi? Based on the current information¡ it¡¯s likely rted to Copernicus, right?
Since Lin Xian had just exchanged information about the digital life Turing and the follow-up to the fake Yu Xi, it was now Elon Musk¡¯s turn. ¡°Your turn, Elon Musk.¡± Lin Xian looked up. ¡°It¡¯s time to talk about Copernicus, the time-space assassin, and the time-space particle in the refrigerator.¡±
Elon Musk chuckled helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re really greedy, Lin Xian, asking all this in one go.¡±
¡°The time-space assassin is actually easy to exin¡ I¡¯m ny percent sure she¡¯s a time traveler sent by Copernicus from the future.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? Look how quickly she fled when I tried to destroy the time-space particle. It shows I guessed right. Time travelers and time-space particles are directly linked. Without a time-space particle, time travel isn¡¯t possible.¡±
¡°Generally, we can¡¯t tell which time traveler used which time-space particle¡ but this time-space assassin is an exception! Because she¡¯s not bound by thews of time-space, it reveals the secret of her reversed causality, perfectly matching this entangled time-space particle.¡±
He lightly kicked the refrigerator with his foot and exined. ¡°You heard it too, right? The time-space assassin said she would immediately return after forcing you into hibernation. That¡¯s really intriguing¡ how can she return to the future so easily?¡±
¡°I think this entangled time-space particle is the answer to all the strange things! I don¡¯t know if this is correct, but I suspect that using a time-space particle for time travel is a one-way ticket, no return possible.¡±
¡°But this entangled time-space particle is unique, possessing the properties of two particles while being one! If someone uses such a unique time-space particle for time travel¡ what do you think will happen? Personally, I believe it would turn this time travel into a round-trip ticket! In other words¡ it allows the blue-eyed girl to exist in both the past and the future, like entangled quantum states.¡±
¡°Does this exnation make sense? Even though she¡¯s physically in our time, she simultaneously exists in the future and the present. She traveled from the future and must return there toplete a full time travel cycle. From a causality perspective, because she used up both entangled time-space particles at once, it reversed causality¡ her future self became the effect, and her present self became the cause.¡±
¡°This time traveler is different from other time travelers; she has to go back. Only when she returns to her original time will the entangled time-space particle be fully consumed, aligning with time-space logic andws.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why you couldn¡¯t shoot her, Lin Xian¡ if you killed her in this timeline, she couldn¡¯t return to the future, creating a paradox¡ because she has to return! She has those two entangled time-space particles, so her return to the future must happen. Therefore, she¡¯s almost invincible in this era.¡±
¡°But¡ the ponytailed time traveler from a more distant future can kill the time-space assassin because it fits the time-space logic. As long as the ponytailed girl¡¯s time travel departure ister than the assassin¡¯s, she can kill the assassin within the time-spacew,pleting the time-space logic.¡±
¡°About what happens to the time-space assassin after using this entangled time-space particle¡ I¡¯m not entirely sure. Does she disappear like other time travelers, or does a backup remain in the future? We can¡¯t verify that¡ it¡¯s beyond our current understanding.¡±
¡°In the end, this is just my personal guess, Lin Xian. Do you have any thoughts? By the way, Kevin Walker¡¯s address actually came from Copernicus¡¡±
Elon Musk then recounted his conversation with Copernicus and how Copernicus had influenced Angelica to steal the refrigerator, hoping to hear Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts.
This was a lot to process. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t fully digested it yet. Elon Musk seemed to suggest that the real Yu Xi was sent back by Copernicus using this entangled time-space particle. If Copernicus really is the mysterious old man from the Fourth Dream, this conclusion makes sense. But Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t talk to Elon Musk about the Fourth Dream. Those are dream-rted secrets, after all. Even though the dream is currently blocked, it remains his greatest asset and advantage, so he won¡¯t reveal it easily. Also, the matter of the time-space assassin, Lin Yu Xi, possibly being his and Yellow Finch¡¯s daughter¡ that¡¯s another secret he can¡¯t share with Elon Musk. So there¡¯s not much left to discuss.
ording to Elon Musk¡¯s theory, Lin Yu Xi wasn¡¯t bound by time-spacews because of the special nature of the entangled time-space particle. It sounds usible. But without any experimental data, it¡¯s mostly spection¡ Honestly, it¡¯s hard for Lin Xian to believe. However, the idea of using up two entangled time-space particles at once, effectively creating a round-trip time travel ticket, seems reasonable and well-supported. After all, Lin Yu Xi herself mentioned that she could return to the future timeline easily. As for the reversed causality¡ that remains to be seen.
Since he couldn¡¯t talk about the dream, Yu Xi, Yellow Finch, or the daughter, there wasn¡¯t much point in continuing the discussion with Elon Musk. So Lin Xian simply nodded and said: ¡°I think your analysis makes some sense, but¡ this is still something we can¡¯t verify. Unless we can personally use an entangled time-space particle to travel further back in time, say¡ to 1980 or 1952, to see what happens. Then, we could return to 2024 using the round-trip ticket advantage and get to the truth.¡±
Elon Musk chuckled weakly and sighed, looking at the wrecked refrigerator with regret. ¡°You make it sound easy. Capturing an ordinary time-space particle is rare enough; this thing doesn¡¯t appear every few decades. Let alone capturing an entangled time-space particle, with odds in the billions! Who knows, this might be the only one that¡¯s ever existed¡ otherwise, why would Copernicus want to steal it?¡±
¡°I even suspect that this entangled time-space particle might have a function simr to quantum entanglement¡¯s superluminalmunication! Two entangled quantum particles can transmit signals in real time across billions of light-years. So, is it possible that the entangled time-space particles can also enable real-timemunication between the past and the future, like a phone call?¡±
¡°I thought the ponytailed blue-eyed girl was using this entangled time-space particle, so I eagerly asked her about it. But she said she couldn¡¯t talk about it¡ I was disappointed then, but now I realize she didn¡¯t know because she wasn¡¯t the one who used my time-space particle to travel back.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right¡ if we could capture another entangled time-space particle, proving it allows round-trip time travel and makes one invincible in the past¡ then I¡¯d definitely try it myself! I¡¯d personally time travel and figure everything out!¡±
¡°But¡ where can you find such a thing? Otherwise, why do you think I destroyed the entangled time-space particle to save you? It was a tough decision. I could have used it to travel back in time¡ maybe even to the era of the scientist Te!¡±
¡°It¡¯s no secret¡ªTe is my idol. I admire him a lot. If I ever got the chance to travel back in time, I¡¯d definitely go see Te.¡±
¡°What about you, Lin Xian? As the next most likely candidate to join the Genius Club¡ I¡¯m curious, if you could time travel, who would you want to meet?¡±
Hearing this question, Lin Xian didn¡¯t think of a great figure. Instead, he thought of Chu An Qing¡¯s smiling face, CC¡¯s cold expression behind the Ultraman mask, and Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s photo, where she wore Walkman headphones, listening to music¡ If he really had the chance to travel back in time¡ He¡¯d want to see Chu An Qing. And he¡¯d find a way to break the millennium curse. To bring Chu An Qing back and fulfill his promise to Chu Shan He to bring her home. That¡¯s all.
Suddenly, he had a strong desire for an entangled time-space particle. To go back in time. He really wanted to go back and stop all of this.
¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing Lin Xian suddenly fall silent, Elon Musk wondered if he had made things awkward and patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder with a smile.
¡°Don¡¯t be so serious, my friend. I was joking too. Even if I had to choose a hundred times over, I¡¯d still destroy the time-space particle today to save you¡ it was something I owed you. Also, I probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep the time-space particle safe, given the way history was set up. Copernicus would have stolen it eventually.¡±
¡°Being a thief for a thousand days is easy; guarding against one is hard! Humanity won¡¯t master time travel technology for another hundred or two hundred years, right? I couldn¡¯t stay on high alert for that long! So¡ since I couldn¡¯t keep the time-space particle, I decided to flip the table. If I can¡¯t have it, no one can! Copernicus¡¯s loop is doomed to fail now!¡±
Lin Xian lowered his head, looking at the junk-filled refrigerator. ¡°Are you sure¡ the time-space particle is destroyed now?¡±
¡°It should be inactive by now.¡± Elon Musk crouched down. ¡°Let¡¯s dump everything out and see how the time-space particle is doing.¡±
Lin Xian crouched down too. Together, they lifted the refrigerator, turned it over in midair, and let the stones and dirt spill out. Then they flipped the now-empty refrigerator back over and looked inside¡ª
A time-space particle! Indeed, the two blue spheres that had been entangled had merged into one after their movement ceased, bing a single, calm blue sphere. There was no longer a core, and no more violent lightning on its surface. It was peaceful, serene, docile,zy¡ blue fments spread evenly and slowly within the sphere, gently floating, so slowly¡ it was barely moving¡ no longer the aggressive and invasive force it had been before. Now it was timid, like a little squirrel sneaking a peanut.
Lin Xian was very familiar with this inactive state of a time-space particle. The one he had captured looked just like this. Although clearly visible in the confinement field, itszy, drooping, and floating appearance was a clear sign it was out of energy. It was dead. As Liu Feng would say, this time-space particle in Elon Musk¡¯s hands was also dead,pletely devoid of energy and value.
¡°It seems it¡¯s dead,¡± Lin Xian said. Elon Musk exhaled a long breath through his nose, saying nothing. He quietly picked up the small refrigerator and slowly closed it. ¡°Dead is dead. It¡¯s better than falling into Copernicus¡¯s hands. Now, starting from this moment, Copernicus¡¯s loop is impossible toplete.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve destroyed this precious entangled time-space particle, so Copernicus can never steal it from me, and without it, they can¡¯t send that time-space assassin back¡ I¡¯m curious though, what will happen to the assassin when thepleted loop is broken? Will she just disappear?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, looking at the window seven or eight meters above the ground. Who knows¡ Today¡¯s events were unprecedented for both of them, leaving them both puzzled over what would happen to the time-space assassin now.
¡°I think she¡¯ll disappear.¡± Lin Xian spected. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t make sense otherwise. Didn¡¯t you say your USB drive disappeared in your hand? Then that time-space assassin should disappear too.¡±
¡°But¡ what I don¡¯t get is if she was destined to disappear, why did she run so fast? If running wouldn¡¯t help, why didn¡¯t she just stay and fight you?¡±
¡°Could it be that she was a time-space cop, so she was upholding thew and couldn¡¯t harm innocent civilians?¡±
Thinking of this, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. So Elon Musk was an innocent civilian, and she couldn¡¯t hurt civilians; but since Lin Xian was a historical criminal, she could hit him with all she had?
Although he didn¡¯t know if Lin Yu Xi had any blood rtion to him or Zhao Ying Jun, if she did, she was a real filial daughter, killing her father to prove her way.
Elon Musk stroked his chin, thinking. ¡°You have a point. Maybe the USB drive disappeared because some loop fell out of line. Time-space logic and rules¡ even I have a lot to learn. This incident was a real lesson for me¡ it shows I¡¯ve still got a long way to go and a lot more to learn.¡±
¡°Take this, Lin Xian. Whether or not you ept my apology, I hope this can serve as a gift of reconciliation.¡± As he said this, Elon Musk handed the small refrigerator to Lin Xian.
¡°You survived because of it, so keep it as a souvenir.¡±
Lin Xian took the refrigerator in his arms, but as he bent down, his phone fell out of his pocket. It dropped to the ground. Lin Xian looked down¡ And saw 103 missed calls on the screen! All from Liu Feng! And just as he noticed the screen, Liu Feng¡¯s call came in again. Since Lin Xian had silenced his phone and even turned off the vibrate mode before entering the warehouse to avoid detection, he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. No wonder there was no sign of the calls.
Lin Xian put down the small refrigerator and picked up his phone, walking a bit further away to answer it. ¡°Hello¡?¡±
¡°¡®Hello my foot! What have you been doing, Lin Xian? Why are you just answering now?!¡±
Before he could finish his greeting, Liu Feng¡¯s roar boomed through the phone. ¡°I¡¯ve been calling you non-stop!¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t eight hundred¡ just 103.¡± Lin Xian held the phone away from his ear, avoiding a ruptured eardrum. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I almost died today, okay?¡±
¡°Something big happened, Lin Xian!¡± Liu Feng sounded like he was pounding the table in excitement. ¡°The clock¡ the time-space clock¡ the time-space clock has changed! The numbers on the time-space clock have changed! Finally, it¡¯s changed! My theory was right! Time-space curvature really exists!¡±
What? Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. The clock, which had been stuck like a broken machine, had actually changed its numbers. No wonder Liu Feng was so excited and incoherent. The time-space clock had been around for almost a year, and no one had expected it to change.
Does this mean¡ Time-space curvature, Time-space coordinates, The time-space butterfly effect, It¡¯s alling true!
¡°How much?¡± Lin Xian urged. ¡°Stop shouting and tell me how much it¡¯s changed!¡±
¡°42!¡± Liu Feng shouted excitedly. ¡°0.0000042!¡±
¡
On the outskirts of Donghai City, a girl who had been running for her life suddenly felt weak and powerless. She couldn¡¯t run anymore. Her head was spinning. She had no choice but to stop, swaying as she stood on the road. The night breeze brushed against her shoulder-length hair, making it dance in the wind. Her head felt so heavy. She had never felt so weak. It was as if faint blue specks of dust were being blown away from her body¡
Her arms seemed thinner. The muscles in her legs were gone. Her face felt tight. She touched it. How strange¡ her jawline wasn¡¯t like this when she traveled here. She touched her face again¡ why did it seem smaller? Her clothes were getting loose, even slipping off her shoulders.
What¡¯s happening to me?
The girl spotted a small puddle on the road. She hurried over to it, using it as a mirror to see her reflection¡
This. This was her original self! Why had her appearance reverted? The facial changes caused by time-space rejection¡ why had theypletely disappeared?!
Her eyes. Her eyes! She widened her eyes in shock, watching as the bright blue glow in her reflection gradually faded¡
Bing light blue, bing faint blue, bing a barely visible halo, finally¡ disappearingpletely.
Her mind suddenly went nk, all her senses and memories vanishing. She even forgot who she was. The world tilted as she fell towards her reflection in the puddle.
Thud~
With a dull sound, the petite girl, dressed in slightly oversized clothes, copsed into the puddle. Slowly¡ She closed her ck eyes.
Vroom¡ Vroom¡ Vroom¡ª
The low, steady hum of an engine echoed loudly in the quiet, deserted countryside. A Hongqi sedan, with rare license tes and numbers, drove down the narrow, empty road, its bright matrix headlights cutting through the darkness.
¡°Hmm¡ is our vi in Donghai really this far?¡± Zhao Rui Hai looked at the navigation on the center console in disbelief.
¡°It¡¯s been years since west visited, but I don¡¯t remember it being this remote.¡±
¡°It can¡¯t be wrong. This is the route the butler sent us.¡± Yan Mei, sitting in the passenger seat, gave him a side-eye.
¡°I told you to let the driver take us. You insisted on driving yourself. You better not be taking me into the middle of nowhere.¡±
¡°You use a driver during work hours, but during a holiday, how can you let someone else drive?¡± Zhao Rui Hai replied sternly.
¡°That¡¯s the rule, and I have to set an example. This isn¡¯t the same as running a business.¡±
¡°Our daughter even offered to have her driver bring you, but you insisted on driving yourself.¡± Yan Mei muttered.
¡°Don¡¯t even mention her.¡± Zhao Rui Hai looked annoyed.
¡°Just thinking about her makes me angry. If it weren¡¯t for the one-child policy back then, we would¡¯ve had at least one more¡ I saw online the other day that there¡¯s a new saying, ¡®The top three acts of filial piety in the new era: not taking the civil service exam, not getting married, and not having kids.¡¯ Our Ying Jun fits all three perfectly.¡±
He turned his head and looked carefully at the navigation again.
¡°Oh, I see. It must be that they temporarily closed the road over there, so the navigation rerouted us this way. We¡¯ll have to take a detour.¡±
¡°Then slow down. You¡¯re not familiar with this road, so take it easy.¡± Yan Mei lowered the window, letting the breeze from the fields blow in.
¡°There are no streetlights on these country roads, and you might¡ hey, hey, hey, hey!!! Stop! Brake! There¡¯s someone ahead!¡±
Screech¡ª
In the bright beam of the headlights, Zhao Rui Hai saw someone lying on the road. He immediately mmed on the brakes. Luckily, the car wasn¡¯t going fast, so he managed to stop in time. Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei sat up straight, looking through the windshield at the small ck puddle on the road¡ and the small girl lying on it.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhao Rui Hai frowned immediately. ¡°Is she hurt?¡±
Without hesitation, he opened the car door, and Yan Mei followed suit. They walked to the puddle, not caring about the dirty mud on the girl¡¯s body, and lifted her into their arms.
¡°Little girl? Little girl? Wake up¡ are you okay? You¡ª¡±
In an instant. Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei froze. As they lifted the girl in their arms and the car¡¯s headlights illuminated her face, revealing her features¡ the couple¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief!
They exchanged a nce. Then, taking a deep breath, they looked back at the girl¡¯s face¡
The delicate eyebrows, the upturned brow tips, the wless skin, the high nose bridge, the round nose tip, the cherry red lips, the clear jawline, the perfectly sculpted oval face!
This face! This face was too familiar! They had watched it grow since she was a child!
Zhao Rui Hai swallowed hard and looked at his wife, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this girl¡ look just like¡¡±
Yan Mei¡¯s expression wasplex, her lips tight as she nodded. ¡°This face¡ looks exactly like Ying Jun when she was little¡¡±
Chapter 354: Space-Time Coordinates
Zhao Rui Hai held the young girl in his arms, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. It felt like stepping back in time, over a decade ago, when he used to carry his daughter to the park or walk her to school. Even as Ying Jun grew older and more independent during her teenage years, Zhao Rui Hai cherished those childhood memories. He remembered how she would ride on his back or sit on his shoulders, her little pigtails bouncing as she called out, ¡°Daddy, Daddy!¡±
Shifting slightly, Zhao Rui Hai adjusted the girl in his arms so the headlights of the Red g car illuminated her face better. Yan Mei, sitting beside him, leaned forward to get a closer look.
In the brighter light, they both noticed the differences.
¡°Old Zhao, Ying Jun¡¡± Yan Mei began, taking out a handkerchief from her pocket to gently wipe the dirt and water from the girl¡¯s face. ¡°At first nce, she really resembles our Ying Jun when she was little, but if you look closely, there are some subtle differences.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai nodded, examining the girl¡¯s features more closely. ¡°She does remind me of Ying Jun, but her ears, forehead, and chin¡ they¡¯re different. Ying Jun¡¯s chin and forehead weren¡¯t shaped like this as a child. But she¡¯s still very pretty.¡±
Having watched his daughter grow up, Zhao Rui Hai knew how a parent would recognize their own child. Yet, this girl¡¯s 90% resemnce to Ying Jun was astonishing.
¡°Regardless, it¡¯s getting windy, and the temperature is dropping. We should get into the car and warm her up. She should know her address and her parents¡¯ phone number. Once she wakes up, we can take her home. But for now, let¡¯s not stay out here. What if she catches a cold?¡±
Yan Mei, moved by the girl¡¯s familiar and endearing face, took her from Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s arms, ignoring her expensive silk qipao as the mud and water soaked into it.¡°The car isn¡¯t ideal either, Old Zhao. She¡¯spletely wet, and we don¡¯t have any clean clothes or towels in the car¡ I checked the GPS, and we¡¯re just a few kilometers from our vi. Can you drive faster? Let¡¯s take her home, get her changed, and warm her up.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve been moving her around, and she hasn¡¯t woken up. I don¡¯t understand why she¡¯s sleeping so deeply¡ Maybe she¡¯s unwell, but she doesn¡¯t have a fever. This girl seems so delicate¡ I¡¯m worried. Let¡¯s get home!¡±
Zhao Rui Hai agreed. Waiting around wasn¡¯t an option; it was better to act. Their home in Donghai was in a secure, upscalemunity with ess to medical staff. It made more sense to get her checked by a doctor there. If she was ill, they could rush her to the hospital without dy.
He opened the car¡¯s back door for Yan Mei. ¡°Let¡¯s get in and head home.¡±
Yan Mei carefully ced the wet girl in the back seat, making room for herself. As she closed the door, she noticed how long the girl¡¯s legs were. At about 1.55 to 1.60 meters tall, her legs made up most of her height, suggesting she was well-proportioned and naturally beautiful.
Yan Mei thought about the children in her extended family. Girls around 1.55 to 1.60 meters at fourteen or fifteen years of age were considered well-grown, showing no signs of hardship or malnutrition. The girl¡¯s fair skin and wlessplexion indicated she hadn¡¯t faced mistreatment.
This reassured Yan Mei. She had worried about potential abuse, but the girl¡¯s smooth skin suggested she was likely well cared for and cherished.
The girl had no muscle tone or signs of physicalbor or frequent exercise. Her clothes were noticeably too big, possibly a fashion choice or a current trend. Yan Mei wasn¡¯t sure. Both she and her husband were government officials. They had adhered to the one-child policy strictly, having only Ying Jun.
Yan Mei, who adored children, always felt the one-child policy limited the joy of parenting. Her husband, despite his strict work demeanor and being tough on subordinates, had a soft spot for kids. Whenever he saw a rtive¡¯s newborn, he would go out of his way to help, even arranging hospital stays or giving generous red envelopes.
When Ying Jun was fifteen or sixteen, she went abroad to study. Her parents, Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai, rarely saw her, maybe a few times a year. Ying Jun grew up quickly and became very independent, not depending much on her parents. This left her parents feeling a little empty inside.
By the time she was 21, Ying Jun had finished her studies and graduated. Her parents hoped she would get a government job and stay close to home to make up for the lost time together. Instead, the very next day aftering home, Ying Jun moved to Donghai City to start her own fashion and cosmeticspany. This decision upset her father, Zhao Rui Hai, who felt his efforts in raising her were wasted.
The rtionship between father and daughter became tense, and they stopped talking for a while. It wasn¡¯t until New Year of 2023, when Ying Jun came home and shared her scary experience of nearly dying in a car crash, that Zhao Rui Hai started to rethink things.
Now nearly 60 years old and able to dy retirement due to his job, Zhao Rui Hai realized he couldn¡¯t put off aging. He decided to ept his daughter¡¯s choices. As long as she was safe and healthy, that was what really mattered. He realized that sess didn¡¯t have toe from a government job.
With this new mindset, he found peace, and their rtionship began to improve. This improvement is why they started pushing Ying Jun to get married and have children quickly. They were getting older, and with Ying Jun¡¯s ns, they might not meet their grandchildren until their 70s. By then, ying with grandkids might be too hard for them. Zhao Rui Hai was more anxious about this than he would admit, especially seeing his friends with grandchildren.
One day, Yan Mei called the butler from the back seat of their Red g car. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s me. Can you find out where to buy clothes for a young girl, about 14 or 15 years old and slim? We haven¡¯t shopped for kids in a long time, so just pick a few outfits.¡±
She also asked the butler to call themunity doctor because they would be home soon and wanted the doctor to check on the girl.
When they arrived at their upscalemunity, the butler greeted them. ¡°Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Yan, the doctor is inside. Do you want help carrying the girl from the back seat?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said, handing the car keys to the butler and gently lifting the soaking wet girl. ¡°You park the car. I¡¯ll take her to see the doctor.¡±
Inside, themunity doctor checked the girl and reassured them. ¡°She¡¯s perfectly healthy¡ªbreathing, heartbeat, all normal. No signs of poisoning. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
Yan Mei was relieved but still puzzled. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she waking up? We¡¯ve been through so much, yet she sleeps so soundly.¡±
The doctor exined, ¡°Kids sometimes sleep deeply after exhausting days. It¡¯s normal. Let her rest. If she¡¯s not up by tomorrow, give me a call, and we might take her to the hospital for a deeper check.¡±
After the doctor left, Yan Mei cleaned the girl up, changed her into fresh clothes, and tucked her into bed. She checked again for any fever.
¡°Have you changed her clothes? Can Ie in now?¡± Zhao Rui Hai called from outside the room.
¡°Yes,e in, Old Zhao,¡± Yan Mei answered.
Zhao Rui Hai entered and joined Yan Mei by the bed. ¡°Move over a bit, let me see¡ She¡¯s beautiful, like a porcin doll.¡±
¡°She looks a bit like Ying Jun did as a child,¡± he added. ¡°Imagine, if Ying Jun has a daughter, our granddaughter might look like this.¡±
Yan Mei smiled tenderly at the girl¡¯s sleeping face. ¡°Daughters often resemble their mothers. Maybe that¡¯s why she feels so familiar, like she¡¯s one of our own. It¡¯s a warm feeling, hard to exin.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Rui Hai agreed, sighing deeply. ¡°It would be wonderful if she really were Ying Jun¡¯s daughter, our granddaughter. She¡¯s already grown, so we wouldn¡¯t have to deal with those tough early years. If we had a granddaughter like this, I¡¯d definitely spoil her. I wouldn¡¯t be as strict as I was with Ying Jun.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t care whether we have a grandson or granddaughter. Whatever they choose to do, they can. We have enough resources to support them. I was so busy with work back then, I missed out on Ying Jun¡¯s best years. I regret that now. If we had a granddaughter, I¡¯d make sure not to make the same mistake.¡±
¡°Pfft!¡± Yan Mei scoffed, rolling her eyes at her husband. ¡°You¡¯re dreaming! Do you think you¡¯ll just stumble upon a ready-made granddaughter? Why not wish for twins while you¡¯re at it?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s stop daydreaming. When this girl wakes up tomorrow, we need to send her home quickly. We don¡¯t want to look like kidnappers.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m just talking.¡±
Yet, he couldn¡¯t stop staring at the sleeping girl¡¯s face, his eyes filled with warmth and deep affection. His thoughts drifted back to the times he took Ying Jun to the park, on spring outings, flying kites¡
He smacked his lips and sighed deeply.
When will I finally have a grandchild?
This time, I¡¯ll make sure to spoil them properly.
Meanwhile, in a rundown warehouse in the newly developed port area of Donghai, Lin Xian was deep in thought, listening to Liu Feng¡¯s excited voice through the phone.
¡°0.0000042.¡±
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected it, or rather, it seemed inevitable that the change in the space-time clock¡¯s digits would be rted to the number 42. It was anticipated and made perfect sense.
The Universal Constant, 42.
It had been nearly two years since he first saw the walls in Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s room covered in countless 42s. Yet, the truth and secrets behind 42 had remained elusive.
Finally, a breakthrough!
Holding the phone, Lin Xian walked further away, speaking quietly. ¡°What exactly does this 0.0000042 mean? Is it the [Space-Time Curvature]? Or is it directly the [Space-Time Coordinates]?¡±
¡°I¡¯m¡ I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± Liu Feng admitted honestly. ¡°The space-time clock changed suddenly, just ten minutes ago! It waspletely unexpected! The number jumped to 0.0000042 without any warning¡ I haven¡¯t had time to think it through, so I called you right away.¡±
¡°I¡¯m also puzzled as to why it had to be the number 42. It¡¯s so odd. And what does the space-time clock detecting a change in the curvature really mean? ording to my theory, when the space-time curvature changes, it represents a shift in the future trajectory, a deviation in the world line, indicating that our timeline has moved towards a new direction.¡±
¡°But now, the problem is, how do we verify this? I¡¯ve been focusing on the theory and phenomenon, but I never considered how to validate whether this world line transition, this change in the future space-time, and the butterfly effect of space-time have actually urred.¡±
Lin Xian understood what Liu Feng was getting at. The idea that the future had changed direction couldn¡¯t be verified; from Liu Feng¡¯s perspective, he would never be able to observe other futures or the scenes of different world lines.
Thus, he naturally couldn¡¯t determine whether the change in space-time curvature truly corresponded to a shift in space-time, the butterfly effect, or an altered future.
This was an experiment that no scientist could prove or disprove.
But Lin Xian could!
This was his unique advantage¡
The Dream World!
The Dream World was the real future, 600 years from now.
All he had to do was enter the dream to see if the Fourth Dream had changed. This would rify the rtionship between the space-time curvature, 0.0000042, the world line shift, and the butterfly effect.
¡°I¡¯ll figure out a way to verify it,¡± Lin Xian said into the phone. ¡°I¡¯ll have an answer for you tomorrow.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t wait until tomorrow, Lin Xian! Come to theb right now! How can you even sleep at such a critical time?¡± Liu Feng urged, desperate to see him. ¡°I have so many theories to discuss with you. If you¡¯re still in Donghai with nothing else pressing,e over now! And haven¡¯t you always wanted to know what the [Space-Time Coordinates] are? Isn¡¯t this obviously how the space-time coordinates are expressed?¡±
¡°Ah, I can¡¯t exin everything over the phone. Juste to the Rhine Joint Laboratory at Donghai University!¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s words came out rapid-fire, like a machine gun. He was in a hurry, eager to meet with Lin Xian.
Lin Xian nced at his watch. It was almost 9 PM. If he rushed home to sleep, he could still make it¡ After all, confirming whether the dream world had changed wouldn¡¯t take much time.
But after calcting, there were still things he hadn¡¯t finished discussing with Elon Musk here. By the time they wrapped up and left, it would be around 9:30. The drive home was quite long, over an hour, so by the time he got home, it would be 11 PM. Then after washing up¡ It didn¡¯t leave much time.
Given the significant events that had urred, especially with Elon Musk losing not just one but two¡ no, he insisted it was one entangled space-time particle, which had broken Copernicus¡¯ historical loop.
If the old man in the dream world was indeed Copernicus, then whether the Fourth Dream was real, fake, or a stage set up by Copernicus, it should now be ancient history, and he should be moving on to a new Fifth Dream.
Compared to that, Lin Xian was more interested in finding out what the [Space-Time Coordinates] truly meant.
This was the first of three final questions to join the Genius Club:
¡°Please input any space-time coordinate.¡±
Joining the Genius Club was now the top priority.
¡°Alright,¡± he agreed with Liu Feng. ¡°Wait for me at the Donghai Universityb. I¡¯ll be there after I finish up here.¡±
¡°Great, Lin Xian. I¡¯ll be waiting, trying to figure it out on my own in the meantime.¡±
They hung up after that.
Lin Xian returned to where Elon Musk and Angelica were standing. ¡°Sorry about that, I had to take a call. Where were we?¡±
Elon Musk pointed at the small refrigerator on the ground. ¡°We were discussing giving you this now-inert entangled space-time particle as a souvenir for surviving the ordeal, and then we¡¯d be even.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯m not unreasonable. Since we¡¯ve cleared things up, let¡¯s leave the past behind. I hold no grudge against you now¡ If I did, I wouldn¡¯t have shared so much information with you.¡±
¡°We were also talking about whether the space-time assassin would disappear after the entangled particle was destroyed. We don¡¯t have experience with this, so we can¡¯t be sure what will happen, but we should stay cautious. I¡¯ll contact the National Security Agency to keep tracking the assassin.¡±
¡°But we believe the assassin ran away in fear after seeing this particle, suggesting she was really afraid of it being destroyed¡ Even if deactivating the particle doesn¡¯t directly eliminate her, it should weaken her significantly.¡±
¡°That means if we encounter her again, we should be able to fight her, at least not face an overly powerful monster.¡±
Elon Musk shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you¡¯re right. After all, she¡¯s targeting you¡ her intentions have always been clear. But I still believe that with this particle destroyed, the assassin should vanish.¡±
¡°Otherwise, it doesn¡¯t make sense¡ From the perspective of a historical loop, this entangled space-time particle had to be stolen by Copernicus in the future. Only then could he use the space-time shuttle to send the assassin back to 2024.¡±
¡°But now, that path is blocked from the source. We¡¯ve destroyed this particle, so Copernicus¡¯ future ns have almostpletely failed. There shouldn¡¯t be any more space-time assassinsing back here. Maybe, there won¡¯t even be any more nonsense like a space-time court or space-time police¡ These self-righteous ideas seem like something only Copernicus coulde up with.¡±
¡°A space-time court¡ it sounds ridiculous, arrogant, like he wanted to control all the power over the world, time, and even the universe. No wonder people don¡¯t respect Copernicus.¡±
Angelica, who was nearby, perked up at the mention of Copernicus. She stepped forward and looked at Elon Musk. ¡°Elon, isn¡¯t it time you kept your promise? You said if I came with you to meet Lin Xian and cleared up your misunderstanding, you would tell me everything you know about Copernicus. Can you share that now?¡±
Elon Musk nodded slowly and began to exin. ¡°I joined the Genius Clubter than most, so I know less than the others¡ especially about Copernicus. What I know about him is mostly hearsay within the club.¡±
¡°Since Copernicus has never attended any club meetings, I¡¯ve never met him or interacted with him directly. Most people in the club don¡¯t think highly of him, though I personally dislike Turing the most¡ Oh, that¡¯s Kevin Walker. But at least Turing follows the rules and has some decency.¡±
¡°Copernicus is different. Everyone says he¡¯s ruthless, without any moral boundaries, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. However, I¡¯m not sure what specifically happened between him and the other club members.¡±
¡°Also, I know that Copernicus is an old man with some health issues, maybe even serious ones. He might go into hibernation soon. If not, his body might notst much longer¡ He values his life greatly, and with hibernation technology almost perfect, no one wants to face death calmly anymore. Everyone hopes to survive into the future, looking for a cure.¡±
As Lin Xian listened to Elon Musk, he became increasingly convinced that Copernicus was the mysterious old man in the Fourth Dream. He was surprised by how active the mastermind behind the Seven Deadly Sins was, operating from the shadows.
¡°I don¡¯t care about any of that, Elon,¡± Angelica interrupted. ¡°I just want to know who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents. Do you know anything about that? Ji Lin, the genius detective, and the orphan adopted by Ji Shui, like me.¡±
¡°Of course I know him. I enjoyed his books,¡± Elon Musk said, ncing at Lin Xian. ¡°And the money Lin Xian used to buy a ticket to the moon for Zheng Xiang Yue came from a check from Ji Lin¡¯s inheritance, so yes, I¡¯m familiar with him. But¡ I honestly don¡¯t know who killed his parents.¡±
¡°If I knew, I¡¯d tell you. I¡¯m not sure if it was Copernicus, but I think¡ shouldn¡¯t you suspect him first? He¡¯s responsible for the deaths of many scientists; maybe Ji Lin¡¯s parents were among them?¡±
¡°Copernicus said you did it,¡± Angelica said coldly. ¡°He imed that you ordered Ji Lin¡¯s parents to be killed, Elon.¡±
Elon Musk couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°At this point, you still believe anything Copernicus says? I think I understand why Copernicus eventually stole my space-time particle. Maybe the problem is with you, Angelica. Once the seed of doubt is nted, it inevitably grows, bing the only thing you hold onto when desperate.¡±
¡°Copernicus is a master maniptor. He knows you wouldn¡¯t trust him, but he still nts a seed of doubt¡ Falling into the trap of self-justification is tricky, just like the misunderstanding between Lin Xian and me. It¡¯s really hard to clear up.¡±
¡°But I¡¯ve kept my promise. I¡¯ve shared everything I know about Copernicus, so our deal isplete. Let me be clear, Angelica, I don¡¯t want any more trouble. My life is important, and I have important things to focus on.¡±
¡°I now consider you a friend, and I¡¯ve made peace with Lin Xian. Let¡¯s handle any issues calmly, without the aggressive tactics you used before. Whether you believe me or not, I¡¯m not your enemy.¡±
Angelica was quiet for a moment. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette pack, noticing there was only one cigarette left. She took it out, threw the empty pack on the ground, and lit the cigarette, inhaling deeply before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.
¡°Lin Xian, looks like you¡¯re the only one I can rely on,¡± she said, turning to him.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding. ¡°I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it.¡±
Elon Musk looked between the two, sensing the intensity of Angelica¡¯s desire for revenge and wondering what Lin Xian had promised her.
¡°Um¡ there¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about,¡± Elon Musk said, snapping his fingers and pointing at Lin Xian. ¡°I know you want to join the Genius Club. How far along are you in the process?¡±
¡°Space-Time Coordinates,¡± Lin Xian answered truthfully.
¡°Oh~~¡± Elon Musk responded with a knowing look. ¡°That¡¯s pretty quick progress. Since you have the invitation, the next three questions are just a formality. We¡¯ll probably meet in the Genius Club soon.¡±
Elon Musk¡¯s words left Lin Xian feeling uneasy. He suspected that perhaps this invitation he had wasn¡¯t entirely legitimate. There might be some cheating involved.
Both Yellow Finch and Elon Musk had said that once someone received an invitation, no one had ever failed the final three questions. Elon Musk even casually mentioned that since Lin Xian had the invitation, thest three questions would be easy.
But¡
Why didn¡¯t Lin Xian feel that way at all?
He thought the process of getting the invitation, which mainly involved looking in the mirror a lot, wasn¡¯t particrly difficult or enlightening. It didn¡¯t seem to help with the three questions, certainly not enough to make them seem like ¡°easy points.¡±
So, Lin Xian became more convinced of his theory:
[If the invitation had been obtained normally, it should have been an incrediblyplex, challenging process. Through that process, one would have deduced the answers to the three final questions.]
After all, they couldn¡¯t take back the invitation now. The gold badge already recognized his membership, so the final three questions seemed more like a verification step, confirming that the person attempting them was the same one who received the invitation.
But now, Lin Xian kept his doubts to himself. He didn¡¯t n to reveal how he got the invitation to Elon Musk¡ It was better to let Elon Musk continue thinking he understood the situation.
What exactly was the Genius Club?
Who were its members?
Who led the club?
What were these geniuses aiming for, and what was their ultimate goal?
Lin Xian knew he had to follow Yellow Finch¡¯s advice, join the club himself, and find out firsthand.
¡°Treasure this time of peace, Lin Xian,¡± Elon Musk suddenly said. ¡°Professor Xu Yun¡¯s hibernation chamber fluid has truly stirred up history.¡±
¡°You might not feel it¡ but I¡¯m well aware that Professor Xu Yun¡¯s research could only have led to the development of the hibernation chamber in this era. If the hibernation chamber fluid had been introduced a hundred yearster, or even three to five hundred yearster, it wouldn¡¯t have made any impact.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian asked curiously. ¡°Why are you so certain?¡±
He was puzzled by how confidently Elon Musk could predict the future.
As Elon Musk had said, Dr. Ponsmike had invented the hibernation chamber fluid 400 yearster with little fanfare, and it didn¡¯t cause a ripple. Simrly, when Academician Gao Wen introduced the fluid 200 yearster, it received a lukewarm reception, with no further development.
But when Professor Xu Yun published the paper on hibernation chamber fluid in 2022, in less than two years¡ the technology had advanced, and the hibernation chamber was nearly ready for mass production.
Three different times, the same product was introduced, but the impact and development varied greatly.
What made the difference?
Could it be that as time progressed, the Genius Club became more powerful, increasingly dominant¡ to the point where they could manipte history, the world, technology, and development, controlling everything?
This was the only exnation Lin Xian could think of.
However, Elon Musk simply smiled mysteriously, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you join the Genius Club.¡±
¡°All I can say is¡ cherish this time. This is the calm before the storm¡ When the hibernation chamber technology is perfected and in use, the world will face unstoppable changes.¡±
¡°Right now, Kevin Walker is dead; the digital life form Turing will, at least for now, remain fair and just; and Copernicus¡¯ century-long n has failed. His body can¡¯t take much more, and I suspect he¡¯ll enter a hibernation chamber and head to the future.¡±
¡°For now, the world is peaceful, truly calm, with no hidden dangers.¡±
¡°So, this is a golden opportunity for you to grow. I look forward to the day when you stand on your own, bing a qualified and outstanding genius.¡±
With that, Elon Musk turned and walked towards a Te sedan, waving his hand. ¡°Goodbye, Lin Xian¡ I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the Genius Club!¡±
Chapter 355: The Fifth Dream
¡°The Te my double drove still has the keys inside. You two should take it and get out of here.¡±
Elon Musk sat in his Te, rolled down the window, and waved at Lin Xian and Angelica. ¡°See you bothter. I¡¯ve got a lot to take care of.¡±
¡°Until next time, Lin Xian. I¡¯m looking forward to our next meeting.¡±
The Te¡¯s electric motor hummed as it started, pulling away from the car it had collided with earlier. The car reversed out of the abandoned warehouse and drove off into the distance.
¡°Are you alright? You were out of touch for so long,¡± Lin Xian asked, turning to look at Angelica.
¡°When you pretended to be a secretary to meet Elon Musk¡ how did he figure it out?¡±
Angelica let out a coldugh and tossed her half-smoked cigarette onto the ground, crushing it under her high heel. ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it. Just thinking about it makes me angry.¡±
¡°But I have to admit, Elon Musk is at least a man of his word. He¡¯s honest and straightforward. That makes me dislike him a little less. Besides¡ he really did help you out, just like he said he would. He solved a big problem for you.¡±Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yeah, even though he admitted that at first, he just wanted to use me to get rid of Kevin Walker¡ he still indirectly helped me take down a major threat. Let¡¯s just leave it at that. Besides, he even left me this small refrigerator that can trap time-space particles.¡±
Lin Xian bent down and picked up the small fridge from the ground. The door was closed, but Elon Musk had already given him the password to open it.
Angelica blinked. ¡°But¡ isn¡¯t that time-space particle inside pretty much useless now? That¡¯s probably why he left it with you. You could tell, even though Elon Musk acted all calm, he was really upset about losing those entangled time-space particles.¡±
¡°When he was tossing rocks into the fridge, I saw the look in his eyes. He was angry and frustrated, gritting his teeth as he did it. I think Elon Musk was just too mad about this failure and humiliation, and he didn¡¯t want to see that fridge again, so he left it with you.¡±
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me,¡± Lin Xian said as he punched in the password Elon Musk had given him. The fridge door popped open, and he and Angelica looked inside again.
The fridge was still filled with sand and small stones. In the middle, a once-energetic time-space particle now floatedzily, devoid of energy and life.
From the outside, it was hard to tell that this was once a pair of entangled time-space particles because their energy was gone. They had merged into what looked like a single small blue electric ball.
¡°Without energy, these time-space particles really are useless, but the technology in this little fridge is impressive. I might take it back and study it.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but admire Elon Musk¡¯s genius. He was a true pioneer, willing to open-source this fridge technology so easily.
Though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if this fridge was more advanced than Liu Feng¡¯s rice cooker, he knew one thing for sure: learning from others to strengthen oneself is always a good idea.
He¡¯d be visiting the Rhine Joint Lab at Donghai University soon to see Liu Feng. He could drop off the fridge there for Liu Feng to study and dissect.
¡°Let¡¯s head out too, Angelica.¡±
Lin Xian ced the fridge in the backseat of the Te and motioned for Angelica to get in. ¡°Sorry for dragging you into this mess.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so formal, Lin Xian.¡± Angelica flipped her long, smooth ck hair over her shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re friends,rades in arms.¡±
Comrades in arms. Lin Xian smiled to himself. It was true. He really had be allies with the Seven Deadly Sins.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be joining the Genius Club soon. And I won¡¯t lie, my goal in joining is to uncover the truth behind all these mysteries and to save my lost friends.¡±
¡°So I don¡¯t mind making enemies within the Genius Club. I¡¯ll do my best to help you find out who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents so you can get your revenge. If that person happens to be my enemy too¡ we¡¯ll definitely fight side by side.¡±
Angelica raised an eyebrow andughed softly. ¡°Ji Lin really found a good friend in you. I¡¯m d for my brother. When we¡¯ve avenged him¡ let¡¯s go to Brooklyn together and visit his grave. He¡¯ll be grateful, and I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll want to see you¡ his only friend in life.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Lin Xian said as he got into the driver¡¯s seat, buckled his seatbelt, and started the Te.
Angelica didn¡¯t n on staying in X Country any longer. She had been off the grid for too long, and there were many things to deal with back in the States. So Lin Xian drove her straight to Pudong International Airport, where she caught the next flight out.
¡°Goodbye, Lin Xian.¡±
At the entrance of the terminal, Angelica stood in the evening breeze, smiling at Lin Xian. ¡°It was short, but it was an exciting and unforgettable experience. Take care, and I wish you smooth sailing on your quest for answers.¡±
With that, Angelica left.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste any time either. He drove to Donghai Universityte at night.
As Elon Musk had said, it was a rare moment of peace.
Since March 28th, when Chu An Qing turned into blue stardust and disappeared¡ through all the grave digging, the trip to Copenhagen, the escape to the States, and the return to Donghai, everything finally came to a close on April 26th.
He could finally rx a bit.
This past month, less than 30 days, had been the most dangerous, chaotic, and unforgettable month of his life.
Chu An Qing¡¯s departure had deepened his resolve to uncover the truth and bring her back. Yellow Finch¡¯s leaving had taught him valuable lessons and confirmed his decision to be a trustworthy leader. The mystery of the real and fake Yu Xi still haunted him, chilling him to the bone.
What had be of Lin Yu Xi, the time-space police officer? Had she turned into blue stardust and vanishedpletely? Or was she still hiding in this time-space, ready to strike again?
He would find out tomorrow when he entered the dream.
He was still worried about the connections between Lin Yu Xi, himself, Yellow Finch, and Zhao Ying Jun.
He had hoped to have a proper conversation with her, but Lin Yu Xi¡¯s hatred was overwhelming. She wanted nothing more than for the time-space court to sentence him to death right away.
She was truly a model of righteousness, ready to sacrifice even her own family for the greater good.
Even if those usations of crimes against humanity, endangering the Earth, and disrupting time-space were true¡ those were the actions of a future Lin Xian, not him now. How was he to me?
The so-called time-space court and time-space police hardly seemed fair or just. They didn¡¯t appear to be an official organization at all.
Thinking back to the cold-eyed, quick-moving girl who had tried to end him¡ Lin Xian felt that her disappearance might not be such a bad thing. Despite their blood rtion, he didn¡¯t feel any real connection to her. Hecked the instinctual paternal desire to protect her.
In fact, if it hadn¡¯t been for the incident with the fake Yu Xi, he might have cared more for the fake than the real one. He hade to understand the saying, ¡°Nurture is more important than birth.¡± Emotions are cultivated; they aren¡¯t simply felt because of a blood connection.
This led him to ponder the ¡°hibernation memory loss¡± issue.
Memories, like emotions, might need personal experience to be truly understood and epted.
When Zheng Xiang Yue wakes up decades or even centuriester¡ will she still remember the carefree innocence of her youth?
¡°No wonder Elon Musk said the emergence of hibernation technology caused a seismic shift in the world.¡±
¡°This technology¡ it brings far too many social issues.¡±
But Lin Xian didn¡¯t n to dwell on these problems right now. He just wanted to join the Genius Club as soon as possible. That was his focus.
In the early hours of the morning, Lin Xian finally arrived at Donghai University from Pudong International Airport, carrying the dirty little fridge into Liu Feng¡¯sb.
¡°Why are you carrying a fridge?¡± Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian, puzzled. ¡°And why is it leaking sand everywhere¡ What¡¯s inside this fridge?¡±
Lin Xian set the fridge on theb bench and started punching in the password.
¡°Let me show you something special.¡±
Once the password was entered, the fridge door popped open.
Liu Feng leaned in closer. ¡°Whoa¡ time-space particles! Where did you get this?¡±
His eyes widened as he quickly realized that this unassuming little fridge was simr to his seemingly ordinary rice cooker¡ another trap for time-space particles!
¡°A genius!¡± Liu Feng was impressed by the clever use of everyday appliances and couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought to use a fridge as a time-space particle trap? That¡¯s brilliant!¡±
¡°Lin Xian, who came up with this idea?¡±
Lin Xian grinned at Liu Feng¡¯s reaction. ¡°It was Elon Musk, the world¡¯s richest man. Bute on¡ you shouldn¡¯t be that surprised. In my opinion, your rice cooker is much more innovative than this fridge.¡±
¡°It¡¯s different, Lin Xian.¡± Liu Feng waved his hand and peered into the fridge. ¡°The fridge opens from the side, and the rice cooker opens from the top.¡±
Lin Xian was speechless at that response. ¡°Any other differences in design?¡±
Liu Feng examined the structure and the condition of the time-space particles inside. He frowned and said, ¡°It seems like¡ the design and functionality are indeed more advanced than my rice cooker. Elon Musk really lives up to his reputation as the mad scientist of Silicon Valley¡ His expertise with time-space particle traps surpasses mine.¡±
¡°This fridge could inspire me to create a more reliable next-generation time-space particle trap.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to your next household appliance¡ But let¡¯s stay focused. Elon Musk¡¯s time-space particle was originally a pair of highly energetic, entangled particles. But we exhausted its energy by making it interact with inorganic matter, destroying the entangled time-space particle.¡±
¡°Take a good look at it. Even though the time-space particle has lost its energy, it¡¯s still an extremely rare and valuable entangled particle¡ We might discover something new from studying it.¡±
¡°Elon Musk definitely knows what a ¡®time-space coordinate¡¯ is, but how did he figure it out? It can¡¯t just be a coincidence that he also has a time-space clock, right? I suspect his research resultse from studying these particles.¡±
That was why Lin Xian brought the fridge and the remains of the entangled time-space particle to Liu Feng.
After all, Elon Musk had mentioned that the three entry questions for the Genius Club were supposed to be easy.
That suggested the answer might be hidden in the study of time-space particles. Right now, Lin Xian only knew the first question; he had no clue what the other two would be.
It wouldn¡¯t hurt to have Liu Feng study it ahead of time and prepare for any eventualities.
¡°Alright,¡± Liu Feng agreed immediately. He closed the fridge and ced it in a corner of theb. Then he dashed over to the central bench and grabbed a rectangr device that looked like a clock. He held it up in front of Lin Xian¡¯s face.
¡°Look! Look! My time-space clock was right! It really can detect changes in time-space curvature!¡±
Lin Xian nced at the rectangr device in Liu Feng¡¯s hand.
Indeed¡ He had checked theb numerous times before, and the disy had always read 0.0000000. But now, it boldly showed 0.0000042.
Even though he had heard about the result through a phone call, seeing that number, 42, appear so silently still gave him goosebumps.
It was that inevitable, undeniable 42.
It always popped up when least expected.
¡°Is this 0.0000042 the time-space curvature you mentioned?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Do we need to show this as a percentage, or should it stay as a decimal?¡±
¡°We¡¯re not certain yet,¡± Liu Feng answered cautiously. ¡°This is the first time the time-space clock has shown any change. With just this single point of data, it¡¯s tough to spot a trend¡ But! Once we have another reading, we might be able to figure out the pattern of changes in the time-space curvature.¡±
¡°Right now, whether we see this 42 as a decimal or a percentage isn¡¯t the main issue. What¡¯s important is that it shows¡ª¡±
¡°The future path of our time-space has shifted dramatically. We¡¯re definitely moving toward apletely new timeline¡ And this shift, this bend in our world¡¯s path, is exactly 0.0000042!¡±
¡
Lin Xian remembered when Liu Feng called. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out that the moment the time-space clock changed was exactly when Elon Musk¡¯s entangled time-space particle was destroyed.
From that moment, a fixed point in time was set.
As a result, a massive time-space ripple effect started, like a tornado, throwing our future off its nned path and onto a new one.
This matched up with the time-space principles Lin Xian had learned before.
Liu Feng¡¯s time-space clock was an attempt to measure and digitize the impact of the time-space ripple effect.
¡°But¡ why exactly 42?¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°That seems too coincidental, almost suspicious.¡±
¡°We still don¡¯t fully understand what this 0.0000042 means. I¡¯m already wondering¡ if the time-space clock changes again, what will it show?¡±
¡°Could it be 0.0004242, or 0.0000420, or 0.0000084?¡±
¡°Or was this time¡¯s 42 just a fluke? Could the next number be 0.0000043, or 0.0000044?¡±
Liu Feng nodded emphatically. ¡°Any of those could happen, but we¡¯ll only know by waiting for the next change. However, this shift already tells us a lot¡ª¡±
¡°First, it confirms that time-space curvature is real and that our future is constantly evolving. Simply put, our actions can indeed alter the future!¡±
¡°Second, until tonight, our world was always on the 0.0000000 path, moving steadily along that trajectory. But at around 8:30 PM tonight, we jumped to the 0.0000042 path, and our future started to shift toward the end of this new trajectory.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s excitement grew as he spoke louder.
¡°Do you remember what you told me, Lin Xian? You said that understanding Universal Constants might only need to be right once¡ and that could save the world! I¡¯m starting to believe that more and more!¡±
¡°If there are countless paths on the time-space ckboard, like branches spreading out, creating countless possible futures, then some of those futures must be good, some bad, some sessful, some failures¡ If we want a good future, we just need to find that one path and keep adjusting the time-space curvature to stay on it!¡±
¡°Does that make sense, Lin Xian? It¡¯s like a branching tree diagram, and our world will follow one of those branches, eventually reaching a certain endpoint. And the time-space curvature means we¡¯ve chosen a different endpoint; therger the curvature, the further we are from the original endpoint, and the bigger the changes in the future world!¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±
In terms of the time-spacews he knew, this was still about disrupting and correcting history.
Let¡¯s assume the 0.0000042 path is the right one.
Then, any action that increases or decreases the time-space curvature would be disrupting history, making the future stray off course¡ For instance, if I do something that changes the curvature to 0.0000092, that¡¯s called deviating from the path or derailing history.
Then, if we find a way to bring the curvature back to 0.0000042, the future would align again with its intended path. This is called correcting history.
The principles remain the same.
The time-space clock just gives us a way to measure the ripple effect of time-space changes.
Even though the time-space ripple effect is chaotic and uncontroble, at least now we can track the oues.
Thinking about it that way¡
The time-space clock¡¯s role and importance are quite significant.
¡°So¡ Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian said, setting the time-space clock back on the table and looking at Liu Feng. ¡°So do you think 0.0000042 can be seen as a time-space coordinate? Can we look at it like that?¡±
¡°I believe so,¡± Liu Feng replied with determination. ¡°Because we¡¯ve indeed moved from the 0.0000000 path to the 0.0000042 path. What¡¯s a coordinate? I¡¯ve exined before: it¡¯s any system that can urately, uniquely, and clearly mark a point in time-space!¡±
¡°Just liketitude and longitude on Earth, where a set of coordinates points to a specific location. The same is true for time-space coordinates; different numbers, like ID numbers, correspond to different time-spaces.¡±
Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat down, twirling a pen between his fingers. He was deep in thought about what Liu Feng had said.
It did make sense.
But the Genius Club¡¯s entry question only allowed for one answer.
If he got it right, he could move on to the next question. But if he got it wrong, there would be no second chance, and he¡¯d be out immediately.
¡°I suggest we wait for one more change in the time-space clock¡¯s value before we draw any conclusions,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°Like you said, observing it one more time might help us identify a pattern. Once we understand the pattern, we can verify the correctness of the answer.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s more rigorous,¡± Liu Feng agreed. He also pulled up a chair and sat across from Lin Xian, watching the pen spin between his fingers.
¡°Thinking about it¡ it¡¯s really incredible. By calibrating against a zero reference outside our time-space, we can ¡®see the mountain from within¡¯ and detect changes in the world line from within our time-space.¡±
¡°This is truly a groundbreaking discovery¡ Let¡¯s wait for one more result! Once we get another reading, we can definitely figure out the specific value and pattern of the time-space coordinate!¡±
¡°The only problem now is that weck the means to observe the future. We can¡¯t be sure if the future has really changed or how significant that change is to ount for 0.0000042.¡±
¡°No worries, leave that to me,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to verify it.¡±
In theb at Donghai University, Lin Xian wrapped up a few more discussions with Liu Feng, urging him to continue his research on Universal Constants and monitor the time-space clock.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian had already devised a n to validate the dream.
He checked his watch.
It waste, past midnight, now April 27th, at 1:00 AM.
Toote to enter the dream now.
But that was okay.
Tomorrow at 12:42 PM, he could ess the dream at the earliest opportunity, giving him a full 12 hours to investigate.
He nned to use those 12 hours to deeply explore the new dream:
¡°I hope I don¡¯t run into Copernicus or those time-space officers again¡ But since Elon Musk destroyed the time-space particle, Copernicus and his officers should be history.¡±
Lin Xian silently made this hope.
Ready to head home for some well-deserved rest, he contemted the changes in the dream.
Suddenly, Liu Feng peeked out the door, looking around.
¡°Stop looking. I came alone,¡± Lin Xian said, slightly annoyed with Liu Feng¡¯s over-curiosity. ¡°Still obsessed with your number patterns?¡±
¡°Yeah¡¡±
Liu Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Based on my calctions¡¡±
¡°Stop with the calctions,¡± Lin Xian cut him off.
¡°No, no, no. Math is beautiful, especially patterns like in an arithmetic sequence.¡±
Liu Feng persisted with his theory. ¡°Considering you probably aren¡¯t interested in women over forty, the next woman in the sequence should be around fourteen or fifteen. That willplete your arithmetic sequence of rtionships.¡±
¡°Heh!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, thinking about the real and fake Yu Xi. ¡°Sometimes, you are a genius¡ just not in math.¡±
¡°I¡¯m heading home to sleep. Keep pushing forward with the research on the time-space particle and Universal Constants. By the way, have you cracked the code in that ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ painting I left with you?¡±
Liu Feng grimaced and shrugged. ¡°You really take a hands-off approach. Don¡¯t bring that attitude into theb. Scientific research isn¡¯t fast like business; results take time.¡±
¡°Seriously, thisb is just me, and the workload is overwhelming. Have you thought about hiring more help?¡±
¡°Honestly¡ I¡¯m stretched thin. If you know any trustworthy researchers, could you bring them into the Rhine Lab to assist me?¡±
Lin Xian watched the pen spin.
He pondered.
Where would he find trustworthy people¡?
Especially when he wasn¡¯t deeply involved in the researchmunity.
In a moment.
He stopped the pen.
And his thoughts turned to an old friend¡ª
VV.
Elon Musk had said that the fake Yu Xi, a time traveler sent by the future Turing faction, gave him a USB stick with a virus.
It was that future virus that had killed VV.
But now¡
If Copernicus¡¯ closed loop was broken and the future had shifted to a new trajectory, would that lurking virus turn into harmless blue stardust and vanish?
Even if data doesn¡¯t turn to stardust¡ could the time-spacews, faced with a paradox, act like an antivirus and eliminate the disruptive future virus?
¡°It¡¯s worth a shot.¡± Lin Xian thought: ¡°If I can ensure VV¡¯s safety, maybe I canmunicate with VV on myptop and bring it back. With VV as my assistant, everything would be easier. VV could be a great help to Liu Feng, doubling our efficiency.¡±
Yes.
That¡¯s his n.
Tomorrow, he¡¯d first explore the changes in the fourth dream.
Once certain¡ he¡¯d attempt to revive VV!
Afterward, Lin Xian drove his Te, with its dented rear bumper, away from Donghai University, heading home for the first time in ages.
He had been away from home for too long, feeling like a traveler longing for thefort of his own space.
As he arrived and flipped on the living room lights, everything was just as he left it. Seeking reassurance, Lin Xian headed to the bathroom, gave a yful wave to his reflection, and spun around, half-expecting something eerie. Satisfied that all was normal, he took a shower, changed into pajamas, and got ready for bed.
ncing at the digital clock which showed 3:12 AM on April 27, 2024, he knew it was toote for dreaming.
Despite thete hour, after days filled with action and tension, Lin Xian felt a deep fatigue that promised a solid sleep until his nned dream entry at 12:42 PM.
¡°I can¡¯t wait,¡± he murmured with anticipation, closing his eyes to wee sleep.
Gradually, he drifted off.
A cool summer breeze gently caressed his skin, a soothing but unusual sensation for Lin Xian, who hadn¡¯t yet opened his eyes. Since when was the summer wind in his dreams so mild?
It was unusually quiet around him.
No city noises, no traffic hum, just the serene chirping of birds and a soft buzz of cicadas.
The air was fresh, filled with the scent of moist earth and leaves, refreshing Lin Xian¡¯s senses deeply.
Something was different.
The Fourth Dream world had vanished, and whaty before him was a new world filled with freedom and natural beauty¡ªthe Fifth Dream world!
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open in surprise.
¡°What the heck.¡±
Where was he?
Turning around, the scene was the same in every direction. Tall trees, dense underbrush, and vibrant flowers made it seem like he was in the middle of an ancient forest.
Looking up, the towering trees reached high, filtering the sunlight and casting a cool, sweet air around him. Only slivers of light broke through, dancing on the forest floor.
¡°A forest? Such a dense, primeval one at that?¡±
Curious, Lin Xian stamped his foot on the thick carpet of leaves and soil, uncovering worms but failing to prate the deepyer of natural debris¡ªa sign of the forest¡¯s age.
But how?
The entry point to his dreams was always consistent, part of Donghai City. If not the bustling cityscape, then perhaps the quaint Old Donghai or even the destend of past dreams. But a primeval forest?
Could this mean in the Fifth Dream world, humanity had declined to the brink of extinction, leaving Donghai City a forgotten relic underyers of time?
¡°Maybe I should explore further.¡±
Lin Xian began navigating through the dense forest, the thriving nt life and busy wildlife unsettling him slightly.
He hoped this wasn¡¯t some dystopian ¡°After Humans¡± scenario. If humanity had indeed vanished, this Fifth Dream world offered little hope.
Wandering aimlessly for nearly an hour, Lin Xian found no end to the forest, nor any sign of human presence.
Doubt crept in. Were his sturdypanions, Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, Erzi, and San Pang, also erased by this new reality? They had always managed to survive against all odds.
¡°No way,¡± Lin Xian muttered, his trust in Big Cat Face¡¯s resilience unwavering. ¡°Big Brother Face, you¡¯d better be alive.¡±
Driven by a mix of hope and desperation, Lin Xian continued his search for another half hour, growing tired yet determined not to give up.
Just as he wiped sweat from his brow, considering his next move, a figure with a straw hat emerged in the forest depths.
A wave of relief washed over him¡ªhumanity hadn¡¯t perished.
Picking up his pace, Lin Xian approached the figure, curious if it was someone familiar from previous dreams.
As the figure turned, Lin Xian saw an elderly man, healthy and alert, holding a long-rod detector and wearing arge backpack. The man¡¯s mild surprise turned into a gaze of curiosity as he noticed Lin Xian.
Stopping a few meters away, they stared at each other for a moment.
Though the man was a stranger, Lin Xian feltpelled to initiate conversation.
¡°Hello, sir.¡±
The old man rxed, smiling and nodding in greeting. ¡°Hello, young man. What are you doing out here?¡±
¡°I¡ I got lost,¡± Lin Xian admitted with a sheepish grin. ¡°But what about you, sir? What brings you to this ancient forest?¡±
¡°Heh,¡± the old man chuckled, his interest piqued. ¡°I¡¯m searching for an ¡®aluminum alloy safe¡¯¡ It contains a time capsule I buried after waking from hibernation. I¡¯m curious about what treasures my younger self left for me.¡±
An aluminum alloy safe? Here?
Lin Xian was brimming with questions but decided to start with the basics.
¡°Sir, may I ask your name?¡±
The old man¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement at Lin Xian¡¯s politeness. ¡°Myst name is Wei. Don¡¯t be too formal. My name is Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
Chapter 356: The Abandoned Earth
Wei Sheng Jin?
Hearing that name sent a jolt through Lin Xian¡¯s mind. Memories came flooding back. This name¡ªhe could never forget it.
The first time he encountered it was in his very first dream, the first time he met Big Cat Face, the first time he was roped into robbing a bank. That moment marked the beginning of everything¡
After using Big Cat Face¡¯s C4 explosive and cracking the security door¡¯s password, Lin Xian found himself in a warehouse filled with safes embedded in the walls. He vividly remembered one safe in particr: it was on the right, next to his own, and it was engraved with the name Wei Sheng Jin. That name had stuck with him ever since.
Now, nearly two years had passed. He had forgotten the name on the safe to the left of his, but Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s name was still fresh in his mind.
During that first dream, in the final moments, Lin Xian, Big Cat Face, and CC decided to use an industrial acetylene torch to cut open the safes. CC was worried that the heat might damage the contents inside, so she suggested they try cutting open Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe first before attempting Lin Xian¡¯s. Although their n ultimately failed because of an unexpected reaction with the special aluminum alloy, Big Cat Face did manage to heat Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe until it was red-hot.
In the second dream, when Time Bank went bankrupt, the safes were discarded like trash and transported to a junkyard. Lin Xian spotted Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s aluminum alloy safe immediately¡ªit was in the first batch to arrive.
He never imagined that this legendary figure, who had upied his thoughts for so long, would appear now, in the fifth dream, in a primeval forest 600 years into the future!Lin Xian couldn¡¯t resist stepping forward and shaking the old man¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you!¡±
The white-haired old man tilted his head, studying Lin Xian carefully. ¡°Young man, do we know each other? Have we met before?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°To be honest, Mr. Wei, I also had an aluminum alloy safe at Time Bank. Our safes were right next to each other¡ªwe were neighbors for hundreds of years.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin frowned. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. What¡¯s your name, young man?¡±
¡°Lin Xian,¡± he replied. ¡°Lin, as in the forest, and Xian, as in the strings of a zither. Do you remember, sir? My safe was engraved long before yours, back when Time Bank was first established¡ªmaybe even before that.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡ Xian¡¡± Wei Sheng Jin shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Even though I¡¯ve lost some memories and can¡¯t remember much about the aluminum alloy safe, I nned for this. When I set up the password at Time Bank, I took pictures of the password dial and stored them in my memory journal to remind myself after I woke up from hibernation.¡±
¡°The photos clearly show that the safes on either side of mine had foreign names. The one on the left was in English, and the one on the right looked like Russian¡ I¡¯m quite certain the safes on either side of mine couldn¡¯t have been yours.¡±
Now it was Lin Xian¡¯s turn to be stunned.
He was sure their safes had been next to each other in the first dream. But in the second dream, it was hard to say. By the time Lin Xian had entered the Time Bank warehouse, the safes had already been removed from the cement walls, and their original arrangement was unknown.
In the third and fourth dreams, he hadn¡¯t even entered Time Bank, so he had no idea what was inside.
Could it be that a slight butterfly effect in space-time had separated their safes?
The more he thought about it, the more usible it seemed.
He recalled a detail: in both the first and second dreams, the safes didn¡¯t have numbers. Each safe had a namete with only a name¡ªno numerical identifier.
But in the Time Bank warehouse, re-established by Brother Wang in 2024 after receiving his investment, the safes were engraved with numbers for some reason. On the first day the aluminum alloy safes were delivered, Brother Wang had generously given Lin Xian safe number 66, hoping for luck and prosperity.
Lin Xian rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Could it be¡ The reason the safes in the first and second dreams didn¡¯t have numbers was because there were fewer of them? Brother Wang had said he didn¡¯t have grand ambitions when he first founded Time Bank. It was just a hobby, a childhood dream, and he didn¡¯t n to expand too much. He only intended to make a few dozen, maybe a hundred safes¡ªso there was no need for numbering.
But after receiving his investment and support, and expanding into a range of financial services, Brother Wang had custom-made over 200 aluminum alloy safes in the first batch. Maybe¡ as the number of customers at Time Bank increased, he would order a second batch and a third batch of aluminum alloy safes?
¡°What¡¯s your safe number?¡± Wei Sheng Jin asked directly.
¡°My number is 724. What¡¯s yours?¡±
Lin Xian realized he had guessed correctly and replied, ¡°Mine is 66.¡±
¡°Oh~~¡± Wei Sheng Jin nodded in understanding. ¡°Then our safes definitely weren¡¯t next to each other¡ With such a low number, you must have lived in the early days of Time Bank. Judging by your young appearance¡ you must have gone into hibernation not long after buying the safe, right?¡±
¡°Actually, based on our birth years, I should be the one calling you ¡®sir.¡¯ You¡¯re at least several hundred years older than me¡ But the hibernationw states that the time spent in hibernation doesn¡¯t count toward actual age, so age is calcted based on active time.¡±
I see, Lin Xian thought. He made a mental note of this fact. It seemed that in this era, birth year and actual age didn¡¯t correspond to each other at all.
Even though Wei Sheng Jin was born several hundred years after Lin Xian, he was still Lin Xian¡¯s elder.
Lin Xian had already noticed that Wei Sheng Jin probably had a gun hidden at his waist. He had almost pulled it on Lin Xian earlier. But after just a few words, Wei Sheng Jin seemed to trust him, his demeanor rxed.
Now that he had gained Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s trust, it was time to gather some information about what had happened in this future world, this fifth dream.
¡°Mr. Wei, I have a few questions for you.¡± Lin Xian gestured to the dense forest around them. ¡°Since you¡¯re here looking for the aluminum alloy safe from Time Bank, you must know that this ce was once Donghai City in X Country, right? It was a bustling international metropolis¡ So why is it like this now? Where are the buildings? Where are the people?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin chuckled, unsurprised by Lin Xian¡¯s question. ¡°Judging by your reaction, you didn¡¯t receive any [Historical Education] after waking up, did you? Or maybe you received it but didn¡¯t believe it? Normally, after waking from hibernation, we¡¯re given our memory journals, memory recordings¡ and we¡¯re supposed to undergo official [Historical Education] to understand the history of these years.¡±
¡°Let me tell you the story again¡¡±
¡°Everything starts with the global catastrophe in the year 2400. Before that, Earth was doing fine. Although progress in many technological fields had reached a bottleneck, it was more than enough for ordinary people¡¯s lives.¡±
¡°I was born in 2373, and because I contracted an incurable brain disease in my teens, I went into a hibernation pod. When I woke up, it was 2574¡ But back to the events of 2400.¡±
¡°There are many theories about what caused the catastrophe. Some say it was due to the cyclical electromaic storms of the sun, others believe it was humanity¡¯s over-exploitation of mantle minerals that destabilized the Earth, and some think it was the failure of a superweapon experiment¡¡±
¡°In any case, in 2400, a super natural disaster struck. Magma and mes erupted everywhere, the sky was shrouded in darkness for ages, earthquakes and tsunamis were rampant, and human civilization was nearly wiped out. It¡¯s said that less than 5% of the poption survived¡ But even with so few people left, there were still endless wars over resources and survival. The whole world fell into chaos.¡±
¡°There were already so few people left¡ªonly a few billion¡ªand the wars dragged on for decades. In the end, no one knows how many people were left. Some say there were only a few million, others say less than a million worldwide.¡±
As Wei Sheng Jin recounted the [Historical Education] he had received, Lin Xian sensed something didn¡¯t add up. ¡°Hold on, Mr. Wei, I think there¡¯s something that doesn¡¯t quite make sense.¡±
He voiced his confusion. ¡°Let¡¯s put aside the question of what caused the natural disaster since that¡¯s difficult to verify. The key issue is¡ You said you went into a hibernation pod in your teens, which was before 2400, and woke up in 2574.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not doubting your words, but I¡¯m wondering how you survived through the 2400 natural disaster, the near-destruction of human civilization, and the subsequent decades of war while in hibernation.¡±
¡°From what I understand, after such a catastrophic event, the world would have been inplete chaos, with constant wars over resources and survival. But hibernation pods need professional maintenance and a stable power supply to function, right?¡±
¡°How did your hibernation pod continue running safely for hundreds of years while the outside world was in turmoil?¡±
¡°Heh¡¡± Wei Sheng Jin smiled, as if he had expected Lin Xian¡¯s question. ¡°Looks like you really didn¡¯t receive any [Historical Education]. You do remember where you came from before arriving on Earth, right? You¡¯re correct¡ªit would have been nearly impossible to survive in that kind of catastrophic disaster and war¡ People were barely managing to survive, so who would care about those in hibernation?¡±
¡°After the 2400 catastrophe, those in hibernation on Earth either woke up to fight for survival or died in their sleep. But I was lucky¡ I don¡¯t know if my parents foresaw something or if something else happened, but when I entered the hibernation pod, I was on Earth. When I woke up¡ I was on Mars.¡±
¡°Mars?¡± Lin Xian repeated the familiar yet alien word. ¡°You mean there were people living on Mars before the year 2400?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Wei Sheng Jin nodded. ¡°Thanks to that person, human civilization was able to continue. Before 2400, people didn¡¯t even think about expanding into space. They believed that living on Earth was the best option¡ Of course, at that time, cold fusion technology was at a bottleneck and couldn¡¯t be broken through. Even if humans wanted to start interster travel, they didn¡¯t have the capability.¡±
¡°For many years, only one person persistently worked on building a base on Mars and nning for Mars colonization. It¡¯s said that many people didn¡¯t trust him back then¡ªthey thought he was a fraud¡ But he managed to build the Mars base and start the Mars colonization n using technology that was on the brink of being outdated.¡±
¡°Along with the colonization, the hibernation pod transfer service was also initiated, where hibernation pods could be transported by spacecraft to Mars to continue their hibernation. It sounds funny, but more hibernation pods were sent to Mars than living people¡ Many people still preferred living on Earth and didn¡¯t want to leave.¡±
¡°Then, in 2400, the super disaster happened. After the wars, the people on Mars developed well and were willing to ept refugees from Earth. They sent ships back and forth several times to bring the remaining people on Earth to Mars¡ Thest evacuation n ended in 2500. Most people left Earth, leaving only a few hundred thousand behind for various reasons.¡±
¡°After that, Earth and Mars werepletely isted. Apart from the biannual Earth-Mars shuttle¡ there was nomunication between the twos.¡±
As Lin Xian listened to Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s ount of the history of the sr system, a thought crossed his mind. He remembered the world¡¯s richest man, whom he had parted ways with just 24 hours ago.
¡°The person who persisted in the Mars colonization n¡¡± Lin Xian looked at Wei Sheng Jin. ¡°Could it be¡ Elon Musk?¡±
¡°Yes, yes.¡± Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s eyes filled with admiration at the mention of the name. ¡°You see, you remember now, right? He¡¯s the savior of human civilization¡ If it weren¡¯t for his Mars colonization n, which preserved the seeds of civilization during the 2400 catastrophe, who knows what would have happened to human civilization on Earth afterward.¡±
¡°Would it have continued to grow and rebuild, or would it have repeated the same mistakes and headed toward extinction again? No one knows. But now, Mars is doing well. Although their technology has hit a bottleneck, and they still have energy and resource issues to solve¡ At least life there is stable, and the atmosphere transformation is starting to show results.¡±
As expected, it was Elon Musk. Lin Xian was right. The only person who could have persisted with the Mars colonization n for so many years was Elon Musk. But¡ it seemed that this n was far moreplicated than Elon Musk had imagined, and there must have been numerous obstacles, setbacks, and resistance over the centuries.
Elon Musk had mentioned in interviews that the Mars colonization n might be achieved by 2060. But the reality was far less optimistic than he had hoped. It took centuries for him to finally reach this goal.
¡°But, Mr. Wei¡¡± Lin Xian gestured to the dense forest around them. ¡°No matter how devastating the 2400 catastrophe was, it¡¯s been over 200 years since then. It¡¯s now 2624, and Earth¡¯s natural environment has fully recovered, hasn¡¯t it? So why didn¡¯t Elon Musk and the others migrate back from Mars?¡±
¡°From what you¡¯ve said, Mars might still be struggling with the challenges of controlled nuclear fusion or cold fusion. And Mars is so small, only one-eighth the size of Earth, with issues like energy, resources, and even sr intensity¡ How could itpare to Earth?¡±
¡°You also mentioned that they¡¯re still working on atmospheric transformation on Mars, but Earth already has a natural atmosphere. Everything here is so much better than on Mars. Why don¡¯t the people on Mars move back?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin chuckled and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s¡ a social issue.¡±
¡°For us humans living on Mars, there¡¯s not much attachment to Earth. We feel that Mars is our ¡®mother,¡¯ our home.¡±
¡°Nowadays, the people living on Mars are of two types. One is those born and raised on Mars, and the other is like us¡ªold Earth humans who woke up from hibernation.¡±
¡°But¡ when we woke up from hibernation, we lost all our previous memories, our minds were nk. So how could we have any feelings for Earth? Aside from knowing we were born there, there¡¯s no real connection.¡±
¡°Take me, for example. After waking up from hibernation on Mars, I received my [Historical Education] and have been living on Mars ever since. My wife, children, and grandchildren are all on Mars.¡±
¡°After all these years, this is my first time returning to Earth¡ Actually, calling it a ¡®return¡¯ feels strange to me because I have no memories of living on Earth, no emotional ties, and it feels very unfamiliar.¡±
¡°Even if you say the air is better here, the natural environment is better¡ To me, this isn¡¯t home. I¡¯ll still take the Earth-Mars shuttle in two years and go back to live on Mars. By the way¡ you must have woken up from hibernation on Mars and then taken the shuttle to Earth, right? That¡¯s strange, though¡ªI don¡¯t remember seeing you on the shuttle. Did youe on the previous shuttle two years ago?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s question. He was deep in thought.
He understood why there was only one Earth-Mars shuttle every two years.
Because Earth and Mars have different orbital periods, even though they both revolve around the sun, their rtive positions constantly change. When Earth is farthest from Mars, the distance is about 400 million kilometers; when they are closest, it¡¯s only 55 million kilometers¡ªa difference of eight times.
And the point where Earth and Mars are closest urs only once every two years, which is why the ¡°Earth-Mars shuttle¡± only runs every two years.
The limited schedule made it clear¡ Mars¡¯ technological level, especially its space technology, wasn¡¯t very advanced. It was likely still in the early stages of development, with no significant new technologies emerging.
This meant that humanity hadn¡¯t yet ventured beyond the sr system, although there had been some progresspared to the previous dreams. At least they had reached Mars.
Lin Xian could understand why Wei Sheng Jin said that people on Mars didn¡¯t want to return to Earth. It was simr to how, in 2024, if you asked people who wanted to live on Mars¡ few would agree, as everyone considered Earth their home and subconsciously preferred it.
The same principle applied. People on Mars would naturally prefer Mars. Even if Earth was better, it was primitive and backward¡ªno electricity, no inte, no advanced transportation¡ How could itpare to thefort of living on Mars?
¡°Is Elon Musk still alive?¡± Lin Xian asked a question that concerned him.
Wei Sheng Jin shook his head. ¡°He passed away long ago, decades ago. Although he went through several rounds of hibernation, he lived a long life. His actual age was over a hundred, which was covered in the [Historical Education]¡ I can see you didn¡¯t pay attention to it at all.¡±
¡°But his SpaceXpany still exists and is the central organization that controls all activities on Mars. We Martians have great respect and admiration for Elon Musk and SpaceX.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian spread his hands, taking a deep breath of the fresh, natural air, feeling that no amount of money could make him leave Earth. ¡°Does that mean there are no humans living on Earth anymore?¡±
¡°There are still quite a few,¡± Wei Sheng Jin replied. ¡°But Earth and Mars have been isted for so long, and there¡¯s no urate count of how many people live on Earth¡ However, experts estimate that it¡¯s no more than 20 million. And those people are scattered all over the, unable to unite, and productivity is low.¡±
¡°Some say that the living standards on Earth now are simr to those of the Middle Ages, around the 5th to 15th centuries. But I have no concept of that¡ªwe¡¯repletely unfamiliar with such ancient history. Detailed historical records only start from the year 2400.¡±
Historical records. Lin Xian picked up on this keyword.
In the first dream, the second dream, and even the third dream, history was very vague, and it was nearly impossible to find detailed historical records before the 2300s. That was one of the fewmonalities among these different future worlds.
How did history be so fragmented?
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t figured it out in the previous dreams. But in this fifth dream, Wei Sheng Jin made it clear that there were two main reasons:
The global super disaster that nearly wiped out human civilization.
The memory loss from hibernation, leaving old Earth humans who crossed time with nk minds.
Suddenly, Lin Xian realized something deeply unsettling.
Was the history Wei Sheng Jin recounted really true?
ording to him, the people living on Mars fall into two categories. One group is the native-born Martians, who naturally receive Mars¡¯ local historical education. The other group is like Wei Sheng Jin, old Earth humans who woke up from hibernation with nk minds. They, too, have to receive historical education¡ Like a nk sheet of paper, whatever is written on it is believed.
So¡
¡°Mr. Wei.¡± Lin Xian looked into Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you truly believe the historical education you received is urate?¡±
¡°Of course I believe it!¡± Wei Sheng Jin answered without hesitation. ¡°Otherwise, how could I have survived those hundreds of years in hibernation?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond.
He realized that Wei Sheng Jin was still trapped in a spiral of logic, his perceptionpletely shaped by the so-called [Historical Education], his thoughts unable to break free from that circle.
But Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the events of the past few centuries were far moreplicated than Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s ount.
There had to be more to the story!
He looked up, gazing through the gaps in the dense branches at the zing sun in the sky.
What secrets does this fifth dream hold?
¡°It seems¡ I need to find a local Earthling to get some answers!¡±
Chapter 357: Big Cat, CC, and Old Friends
Lin Xian felt a mix of relief and confusion as he tried to make sense of the events unfolding before him. Even though he had some doubts about the historical truths that Old Man Wei Sheng Jin had mentioned, one thing was certain: the fourth dream world had vanished, and with it, many things had changed irreversibly.
The mysterious old man, along with the so-called SpaceTime Police and SpaceTime Court, was gone. This likely meant that the baseless crime Lin Xian had been used of had also disappeared.
The weight of being a historical criminal had been lifted off his shoulders, and now he was just an innocent citizen again. It was a significant relief.
As Lin Xian analyzed the situation further, it became clear that the mysterious old man in the fourth dream was most likely Copernicus himself. Copernicus had probably been the one who stole the entangled state space-time particle from Elon Musk. This particle had likely enabled him to achieve much more than just sending back a time traveler. Perhaps Copernicus had uncovered even more secrets within that particle, allowing him to control space-timews and establish his SpaceTime Court and Police.
But when Elon Musk destroyed the entangled state space-time particle, Copernicus¡¯s future vanished along with it. His centuries-long n crumbled, and the future steered towards the one Elon Musk had envisioned.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian mused to himself, ¡°the 0.0000000 world line must be the future Copernicus wanted to achieve, and the 0.0000042 world line is the future Elon Musk sought.¡±
But what about the earlier ones? Before the fourth dream, Liu Feng¡¯s space-time clock hadn¡¯t been reset, so it couldn¡¯t measure the space-time curvature of the earlier dreams or world lines. Yet, even if their curvature wasn¡¯t known, it didn¡¯t change the fact that these different world lines existed.
Who wished for and created the futures in the first, second, and third dreams?¡°Wait,¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized. The catalyst for these changing future worlds was himself! Even though he wasn¡¯t the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, these worlds had altered because of his actions.
In the first dream, there were no changes for 23 years until a small invention¡ªthe Rhine Cat¡ªbegan to shift the gears of space-time, ultimately being propelled into another world line by Professor Xu Yun¡¯s hibernation fluid, leading to the second dream¡¯s future. The second dream transitioned to the third dream because of his creation of the Rhine Company. The third dream leaped into the fourth when he handed the cold fusion manuscript to Gao Yan at the Science Institute. The fourth dream transitioned to the fifth when Elon Musk destroyed the entangled state space-time particle. Although Lin Xian didn¡¯t destroy it himself, he was the spark that set off the chain of events.
¡°It¡¯s just that¡ I¡¯m only capable of being a catalyst now; I don¡¯t have the ability to actively change the world like Copernicus or Elon Musk.¡±
Lin Xian realized this was his biggest shoring at the moment. Elon Musk had the n and the power to initiate a Mars colonization project. Copernicus had his SpaceTime Police and Court n and the ability to aplish it. As for himself¡
First, he had no clear n. Second, hecked sufficient power.
So, what¡¯s next?
¡°I should start from these two points and gradually create the future I want,pleting my own loop!¡±
¡°Of course, the first step is to join the Genius Club and see what their end goal is. Only then can I devise my own n and map out my future.¡±
¡°And as for building my own influence, that definitely needs to be a priority. I¡¯ll grow the Rhine Company to its full potential!¡±
Despite his thoughts racing, Lin Xian understood that the current situation in the fifth dream world still held many mysteries he needed to explore thoroughly.
He lowered his gaze, noticing the device in Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s hand. It looked like a metal detector.
¡°Is that metal detector in your hand used to find aluminum alloy safes?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes,¡± Wei Sheng Jin nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a long story¡ I began hibernating in my teens and slept for over 200 years. When I woke up, I couldn¡¯t remember anything. Even though I had a memory notebook and recorded memories, and I believe these memories are real, I just can¡¯t feel anything authentic, any sense of my previous existence.¡±
¡°I quickly began my new life on Mars under the guidance of a psychological counselor. I worked, got married, had children, and eventually grandchildren. Step by step, I lived a happy and fulfilling second life.¡±
¡°At first, I didn¡¯t think I was missing anything. After all, I was genuinely happy. But¡ from the moment others told me I was Wei Sheng Jin, I realized that while I was living as Wei Sheng Jin, I wasn¡¯t the same Wei Sheng Jin who had been on Earth as a teenager.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know if you can rte, but as the Earth human Wei Sheng Jin, that teenage boy disappeared the moment I entered the hibernation pod. I often wonder~¡±
¡°When I woke up after 200 years, was I really the original Wei Sheng Jin, or was I someone else who had just been told I was Wei Sheng Jin? Am I truly Wei Sheng Jin? Am I still the teenager who entered the hibernation pod?¡±
At this point, Wei Sheng Jin paused, looking a bit lost.
¡°It¡¯s hard to put this feeling into words. If you don¡¯t think about it, it doesn¡¯t really matter¡ªafter all, we¡¯re not creatures of the past. As long as the present is happy and free, it doesn¡¯t really matter who or what we were before.¡±
¡°But once I¡¯m idle and my mind rxes, I can¡¯t help but ponder this question, and I find it hard to convince myself. Especially now that I¡¯m seventy years old, I¡¯m more confused and desperate for an answer¡¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to leave this world without knowing who I am.¡±
Saying this, Wei Sheng Jin took off therge backpack he was carrying and opened it. Lin Xian noticed it was filled with various outdoor equipment, survival tools, food, notebooks, and what looked like power sources.
Wei Sheng Jin rummaged through the backpack and pulled out aminated photo, handing it to Lin Xian.
Lin Xian took it and held it up to his eyes.
It was a very new-looking photo, showing no signs of age. But ording to what Wei Sheng Jin had said earlier, it should have been taken shortly before his hibernation.
Because¡
The photo was of the interior of the Time Bank vault, showing a row of aluminum alloy safes, with three safes ced side by side.
The middle safe had the number 724, with Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s name engraved on the namete.
The left safe bore an English name with the number 723, while the right safe was only half visible,beled 725. The namete¡¯s text looked like it might be Russian, but Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be sure.
The focus of the photo was clearly on thebination dial of Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe.
The eight-digitbination formed the number: 23730907.
¡°Mr. Wei, is that your birthday?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Wei Sheng Jin smiled and shook his head. ¡°No, even as a teenager, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to use my birthday as thebination for such an important safe. That would be too unsafe.¡±
¡°Then what is the significance of this date?¡±
Lin Xian remembered that Wei Sheng Jin had mentioned he was born in the year 2373. Since this wasn¡¯t his birthday, what could it be?
¡°Is it a date that holds special meaning to you?¡± Lin Xian continued to ask.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Wei Sheng Jin shook his head again. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything¡ After waking from hibernation, I lost all my childhood memories. My identification documents show that my birthday is January 3, 2373, which is far from September 7, the date on the safe. There¡¯s definitely no connection.¡±
¡°But then again, why would the teenage me set the safe¡¯sbination to this? Like you, I think there must be some very special meaning to it. For a teenager about to enter a hibernation pod, heading into an unknown future¡ What could he have put into that time capsule? What would he want to leave for his future self?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin chuckled softly, looking down.
¡°After retiring, my grandson quickly grew up and didn¡¯t need looking after, my son had a happy life, and my wife passed away a few years ago¡ I was busy for most of my life, but once I finally had some free time, I found myself thinking about that original question all over again.¡±
¡°Every night, I would sit in my yard, staring at the stars, holding this photo, and imagining what the younger me might have ced inside that time capsule.¡±
¡°I really want to know the answer. I want to enter thebination, unlock the seal of time, and see it with my own eyes. But that dream is destined to remain unfulfilled¡ The great disaster of 2400 didn¡¯t directly affect Donghai City, but the subsequent earthquakes, wars, and abandonment slowly ttened the city over the years, burying it underyers of earth.¡±
¡°Naturally, the aluminum alloy safes from Time Bank were either buried in the rubble during those years of conflict and destruction, stolen, or destroyed. Either way¡ they¡¯re lost, and Earth has long been abandoned, turned into arge wildlife park.¡±
¡°But in the end, I decided toe! I want to find the answer! I want to see what precious memory the teenage me left for the elderly me.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin smiled, raising the metal detector in his left hand.
¡°So, here I am. I finally took the step to find myself at the age of seventy. Half a year ago, I boarded the Earth-Mars space shuttle from Mars, heading to Earth. After several months of travel, I finally arrived on Earth, came to what used to be Donghai City¡ªthis forest¡ªand began my aimless search.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been searching for over two months, but I haven¡¯t found anything¡ Let alone finding my number 724 safe, I haven¡¯t even found any other safe.¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands, helpless. ¡°This is indeed like searching for a needle in a haystack. We don¡¯t even know if those safes are buried under this forest. Plus, the range of your detector isn¡¯t veryrge, right? If the safe is buried deep, it probably won¡¯t be detected.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, which is why I hesitated and procrastinated until I was seventy beforeing to Earth.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve thought about this for so many years, knowing full well how difficult it is and how slim the chances are. But at my age, this is myst dream¡ To avoid regretting my life, I must at least try!¡±
¡°The worst oue is that I don¡¯t find it. If I don¡¯t find it, I¡¯ll just treat it as a trip to Earth. Anyway, the Earth-Mars space shuttle won¡¯t arrive for another two years. At worst, I¡¯ll just get on the shuttle with a dirty face and return to Mars.¡±
At this point, Lin Xian finally understood Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s background. He hade from Mars to Earth specifically to search for his aluminum alloy safe.
And it just so happened that Lin Xian was also curious about what information Chu An Qing had left for him on the ¡°little note¡± inside his own safe.
Chu An Qing had mentioned that as soon as he read the note¡¯s contents, he would understand the reality of the dream world. Even though the changes in the fifth dream strongly suggested that the dream world was real, Lin Xian still wanted to know what Chu An Qing, who had touched the time-space particle, had written for him in herst moments.
It must be something very important, right? It was a clue she had left with her final breath¡ªperhaps even more crucial than he imagined.
¡°Let¡¯s search together, Mr. Wei,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°I¡¯m curious about what¡¯s inside my safe too. Let me join you and try our luck.¡±
¡°Of course, no problem,¡± Wei Sheng Jin replied with a heartyugh. ¡°Your name is Lin Xian, right? From now on, I¡¯ll call you Lin Xian. No need to be so formal and call me ¡®sir,¡¯ especially since you were born much earlier than I was. It¡¯s amon phenomenon these days, so people no longer use such titles¡ Just call me by my name, Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
¡°No, no¡¡± Lin Xian waved his hand, politely declining. ¡°I¡¯d rather call you Mr. Wei. We¡¯re on Earth, after all, and we should respect traditional customs.¡±
The name Wei Sheng Jin was too famous for Lin Xian to casually address him by his first name.
So, the two of them teamed up, chatting as they followed the path Wei Sheng Jin had already nned out. Lin Xian didn¡¯t expect to find the safe and knew the odds were slim¡ªit was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But after finally finding someone to talk to, he couldn¡¯t just let him leave. He needed to extract as much information as possible.
Wei Sheng Jin skillfully maneuvered the metal detector close to the ground, moving it back and forth with great focus. Lin Xian followed like a shadow, asking questions along the way.
¡°Mr. Wei, you¡¯re in such good shape. Did you undergo some sort of medical enhancement or gic editing?¡±
Wei Sheng Jinughed, ¡°No, nothing like that. That¡¯s just a concept from science fiction. There¡¯s no such thing on Mars.¡±
Well, it seems the technology has evolved differently, Lin Xian thought with a chuckle.
It couldn¡¯t be that those two blue-eyed assassin girls gave Elon Musk some sort of psychological trauma, making him reject medical enhancements and gic editing. Naturally, in his Mars, that technology wouldn¡¯t have developed.
Exactly. It was Elon Musk¡¯s Mars, and he called the shots.
¡°Well then¡ If you haven¡¯t had any physical enhancements, let me carry your backpack. I¡¯ll help you save your strength and increase your speed in detecting underground metals. I¡¯m younger, so I¡¯m definitely stronger.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin didn¡¯t refuse and let out a grateful chuckle. ¡°Thank you, Lin Xian. This backpack is really heavy; it¡¯s been weighing down my back.¡±
He put down therge backpack, and Lin Xian took it up, strapping it onto his own shoulders. It was indeed heavy, but manageable. Lin Xian had good physical strength and had been through intense astronaut training a few months ago, which had pushed his endurance to a higher level.
With the backpack on, Lin Xian continued to inquire about life on Mars¡ªits economy, politics, social structure, and technology. He learned a lot.
Overall, ording to Wei Sheng Jin, life on Mars was quitefortable, with little pressure and no wars.
The main reason was that, despite being a federal system, Mars was still dominated by SpaceX, which controlled everything with its advanced technology rather than weapons and force.
The Mars colonization project had only officially started around 2350 and developed very slowly. At first, there were only a few small bases that relied on supplies from Earth. But in 2400, when the great disaster struck Earth, Mars was unaffected. Under the leadership of Elon Musk and SpaceX, the Martians steadily built and developed their society.
This was no small feat.
Mars, being farther from the Sun than Earth, received much less sr energy. And as they say, all things grow under the Sun, meaning Mars was at a natural disadvantage in harnessing sr power.
However,pared to the other challenges of building on Mars, the issue of sunlight was actually one of the smaller problems.
Mars has a very thin atmosphere that can¡¯t block harmful cosmic radiation and rays, and its low pressure can¡¯t hold onto liquid water. Mars alsocks a maic field, which is its weakest point. Life on Earth thrives because the¡¯s maic field deflects sr storms and cosmic rays, preventing them from reaching the surface.
Additionally, Mars¡¯ low gravity environment poses significant challenges to human adaptability and long-term evolution.
For the next two centuries, Martians had to continuously fight against these external factors. They united, worked together, and overcame countless difficulties, eventually turning Mars into a self-sufficient, moderately prosperous.
In other words, by 2350, the standard of living on Mars hadn¡¯t even caught up to Earth¡¯s in 2024. Then, from 2350 to 2550, the Martians were focused on building their homes, with technological developmentrgely stagnating since survival was the top priority.
It wasn¡¯t until after 2550, when food, safety, diet, and living conditions were secured, that Mars truly began to develop its technology.
But this brought about another bottleneck: resources and energy. Even up to the present day in 2624, the standard of living and technological level on Mars could only barely bepared to Earth¡¯s in the year 2200.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t have a clear concept of what this meant, but from his conversations with Wei Sheng Jin, he roughly judged that in this future, Earth¡¯s technological level in 2200 was simr to the second dream¡¯s New Donghai City.
The high-density nuclear batteries had been resolved, but controlled nuclear fusion was still a long way off.
SpaceX held control over everything on Mars, determining its development direction and holding absolute authority among the various federations.
When Elon Musk passed away, Mars had a poption of two hundred million, but now, the total poption had surpassed five hundred million.
Wei Sheng Jin added, ¡°There¡¯s another important reason why Martians are reluctant toe to Earth¡ The great disaster of 2400 was too terrifying. No one knows when the next disaster might strike without warning.¡±
¡°So, everyone is afraid of Earth. No one wants to visit, let alone live here. The truth is, before the great disaster in 2400, there really were no signs at all. It just suddenly happened.¡±
Lin Xian, carrying the heavy backpack, followed Wei Sheng Jin, who continued talking about the great disaster of 2400.
He didn¡¯t believe that such a disaster was a natural urrence.
Because in the previous four dreams, there had been no mention of simr disasters, at least not in the records.
If it were truly a natural disaster, like a sr storm, tectonic activity, or a meteor strike¡ then the fifth dream would have had it, and so would the previous four dreams.
It¡¯s not possible that the Sun was being considerate and didn¡¯t re up in the first dream, but suddenly got angry in the fifth dream and unleashed a sr storm.
That¡¯s obviously impossible.
Earth wasn¡¯t important enough to sway the Sun. In the grand scheme of things, Earth was like a speck of dust, insignificant.
So, the reason was clear.
This was something Lin Xian had long suspected:
[The great disaster of 2400 on Earth was very likely man-made. Even though the exact reason is unknown, the so-called ¡°history education¡± on Mars is likely a lie, not the true history.]
He even wondered¡
[Why did humanity abandon Earth so easily? What secrets are hidden behind this? Lin Xian still believes that, no matter what, Earth is better suited for human life than Mars¡ Could it be that forcing humanity to abandon Earth was a conspiracy in itself?]
Lin Xian pondered this as he followed behind Wei Sheng Jin, not responding to the old man¡¯s remarks.
Wei Sheng Jin walked ahead, metal detector in hand, chuckling as he said, ¡°I think those people are worrying for nothing. A disaster as huge as the one that swept the globe can¡¯t be that easy to encounter. What are the chances of that happening?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you think so, Lin Xian? It¡¯s not like Earth could go over two hundred years without any problems and then suddenly explode the moment we set foot here, right? Hahaha!¡±
Wei Sheng Jinughed heartily.
Lin Xian alsoughed heartily.
Yes, Mr. Wei, it¡¯s just that coincidental!
Lin Xian nced down at his watch¡ 4:41 PM. There were only 8 hours left until the world-ending white light would strike.
He suddenly wondered if the white light that destroyed the world was only meant to obliterate Earth. If so, would the people on Mars survive?
Thinking it over, Lin Xian found that hard to believe.
If the white light were truly a weapon of mass destruction aimed at Earth, the scope and power of such an attack would be immense.
It¡¯s impossible for Earth to be vaporized while Mars and the Sun remain intact.
Most likely, if something is going to be destroyed, it would take out the entire sr system¡ªno one would be able to escape.
But then again¡
What was that white light exactly?
Was Earth really destroyed?
Or was Earth still fine, and he was just kicked out of the time loop?
He had no idea when he would find the answer to that question.
Suddenly, the metal detector in Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s hand began beeping loudly and urgently.
¡°Did you find something?¡± Lin Xian hurried over in surprise.
Wei Sheng Jin moved the detector slightly, pinpointing the spot where the signal was strongest. The beeping intensified, signaling a find.
¡°There¡¯s something here,¡± Wei Sheng Jin confirmed.
Lin Xian had a question.
¡°Does this detector pick up all metals? This ce used to be the ruins of Donghai City, so there must be a lot of metal buried underneath¡ªrebar, car wrecks, metal parts, and so on.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin shook his head, smiling. ¡°Those kinds of metals would have rusted away long ago. My detector can¡¯t pick up rusty metal. This is a high-end device, not like those airport security machines that detect metal through electromaic induction.¡±
¡°The principle behind this detector is different, but I won¡¯t bore you with the details. In short, it can only detect smooth, unrusted, structurally intact metal objects.¡±
¡°I came prepared for this journey. aluminum alloy is highly resistant to heat and corrosion, so it¡¯ll never rust. With this detector, it¡¯ll definitely be picked up!¡±
¡°But what if it¡¯s a stainless steel bowl?¡± Lin Xian asked cautiously.
Wei Sheng Jin chuckled, ¡°Stainless steel isn¡¯t immune to rust, either. Even the best stainless steel will rust over time in outdoor environments, and after two hundred years, it would have rusted awaypletely.¡±
¡°And if you¡¯re talking about newly produced stainless steel¡ well, that¡¯s impossible on this abandoned Earth. The industrial capacity here is almost nonexistent, so there¡¯s no way they could manufacture stainless steel. I can confidently say that there¡¯s no stainless steel left on this.¡±
Impressive!
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but give Wei Sheng Jin a thumbs-up.
¡°Well prepared, Mr. Wei. You really came ready!¡±
¡°Alright, Lin Xian, take out the folding shovel from the backpack. Let¡¯s dig up the soil and see if there¡¯s a aluminum alloy safe down there!¡±
After two months of searching, this was the first sign of sess. Wei Sheng Jin was visibly excited, rolling up his sleeves and getting ready to dig.
It didn¡¯t matter if the aluminum alloy safe wasn¡¯t his; finding one meant there was hope. If they found the first one, they could find the second and third¡ Maybe this spot was the former location of Time Bank¡¯s vault. He should be happy.
Lin Xian took out two folding shovels from the backpack. They looked like high-quality tools, sturdy and sharp once unfolded.
Mars tech, living up to its name.
The two quickly got to work, digging one shovelful at a time.
They didn¡¯t expect it to be buried so deep¡ªthey had already dug over a meter down and still hadn¡¯t reached it.
Wei Sheng Jin wiped the sweat from his brow. He climbed out of the pit and scanned the area below with the metal detector.
The beeping grew even louder.
¡°No mistake, Lin Xian. It¡¯s definitely down there, just buried too deep¡¡±
Lin Xian was also drenched in sweat. After all, it was August 28, 2624, the hottest time of summer, and they were doing hardbor.
¡°We need to widen this pit,¡± Lin Xian said, taking the water bottle from Wei Sheng Jin and gulping down a few mouthfuls before wiping his mouth. ¡°Otherwise, we won¡¯t have room to stand, and we won¡¯t be able to get the soil out. The aluminum alloy safe is pretty big, so we¡¯ll need enough space to dig it out.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin nodded in agreement.
So they stopped digging down and began widening the pit.
Luckily, Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s Mars-tech shovels were sharp, cutting through the soil like butter. The two made quick progress.
¡°It feels like we¡¯re doing archaeology,¡± Lin Xian remarked as he dug, feeling a bit amused by the situation.
He¡¯d been through so much recently¡ªdigging graves, now doing archaeology¡ His life experience was certainly expanding.
ng!
Lin Xian¡¯s shovel struck something hard, sparking against the metal.
¡°I think we found it,¡± Lin Xian said, peering at the shovel. A small notch had been chipped out, which could only happen from striking something as tough as aluminum alloy.
Sure enough, they soon unearthed a corner of the aluminum alloy safe!
¡°Mr. Wei, this is it. You really found it,¡± Lin Xian said, pointing at the corner of the safe.
This thing¡ After all the struggle, he could recognize it even if it was turned to ash.
Sess was within reach.
Both men, too excited to wipe their sweat, doubled their efforts, digging faster and harder until they finally stood the centuries-old, gleaming aluminum alloy safe upright.
They threw aside their shovels and immediately leaned in to check the namete on the front.
Number: 1277 Name: Pang Ya
For a moment, both sighed.
¡°Wow¡ this safe goes all the way up to number 1277,¡± Lin Xian remarked, shaking his head. ¡°Time Bank really was something else.¡±
He turned to look at the exhausted Wei Sheng Jin, who was sitting on the ground.
¡°Mr. Wei, do you remember how high the numbers went when you stored your safe? Ah¡ Sorry, I forgot you lost your memory.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin had mentioned that after hibernation, he lost all memories of his past, so he naturally wouldn¡¯t remember anything about storing the safe. After all, he didn¡¯t even know the significance of thebination 23730907 or why he had set that date.
Lin Xian idly spun thebination dial on the safe, more out of boredom than any real expectation.
To his credit, the safe¡¯s quality was still excellent. Despite the years, the dial turned smoothly.
He tried a fewbinations, pressing the lock each time, but the safe didn¡¯t open. Lin Xian gave up and turned to reassure Wei Sheng Jin.
¡°It¡¯s okay, Mr. Wei. Even though this safe isn¡¯t yours or mine, it¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing.¡±
¡°Think about it. You¡¯ve been searching here for two months and hadn¡¯t found a single safe. Maybe Time Bank isn¡¯t even in this forest. Donghai City is huge¡ You might not have a good sense of it, but I don¡¯t know how big your Martian cities are. Donghai City covers over 6,000 square kilometers. At the rate you¡¯re scanning, even in two years, you wouldn¡¯t cover it all.¡±
¡°But now, you¡¯ve found the core area. Since we found the first safe, there¡¯s bound to be a second and third one¡ Maybe we¡¯re standing right on top of the old Time Bank vault. You should be happy.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin looked puzzled as he turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Are you trying tofort me, Lin Xian? Hahaha¡ You¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m too old to be discouraged by something like this. Hahaha¡ But thank you anyway. I was just too tired to speak. After all, I¡¯m seventy years old, and I can¡¯t keep up with you young folks.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin took a swig from his water bottle, smiling as he offered it to Lin Xian.
Seeing that the seventy-year-old man still had a good attitude, Lin Xian felt relieved and waved off the offer, signaling that he wasn¡¯t thirsty.
Then he stepped forward and sat on the recently unearthed aluminum alloy safe, gazing into the depths of the forest with Wei Sheng Jin.
¡°Mr. Wei, I have some questions about history that I¡¯d like to ask you.¡±
¡°Hey, why are you always so formal, Lin Xian?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin waved his hand dismissively.
¡°You still haven¡¯t gotten used to this era. You¡¯re making me feel awkward. You really don¡¯t need to call me ¡®sir¡¯¡ Just call me by my name, like I call you by yours.¡±
¡°Uh¡¡±
Lin Xian decided to skip the formalities and get to the point.
¡°I have two questions. The first is¡¡±
[Why did everyone leave Earth without hesitation when Elon Musk came from Mars to pick them up after the great disaster of 2400? Normally, even if Earth were broken, ruined, and left with nothing but ruins and outdated technology, would so many people really leave their homnd to live on Mars?]
Wei Sheng Jin sighed softly, exining slowly.
¡°You see, this is the downside of not receiving history education. I¡¯m really curious how you passed the hibernation awakening general knowledge test. If you don¡¯t pass that test¡ you have to retake it. If they can¡¯t confirm you can integrate into the current society, you¡¯re not allowed to live freely in the future.¡±
¡°The history education tells us that Earth¡¯s situation was dire at the time. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of war or not having enough food. Even after decades, with the world¡¯s poption reduced to a fraction of what it once was, the natural environment still didn¡¯t improve¡ Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis¡ Lin Xian, you haven¡¯t experienced such terrifying scenes, so you probably can¡¯t understand why people would want to leave.¡±
¡°Think about the scenes from war and disaster movies. When people are faced with that kind of situation, who wouldn¡¯t want to retreat to a safe ce? And at that time, between 2400 and 2500, the safest, mostfortable ce was definitely Mars.¡±
¡°After 2500, Earth¡¯s environment may have improved, but by then, the Earth emigrants had either passed away or settled on Mars¡ Their children and grandchildren on Mars wouldn¡¯t want to return to a backward Earth. Would they really expect someone like me toe back to Earth to live off thend and hunt, living a primitive life?¡±
¡°I definitely wouldn¡¯t want that¡ Besides, the Earth-Mars space shuttle runs every two years, so anyone who really wants to live on Earth is free to do so. But no one does because the quality of life on Mars is much better. No one would want toe.¡±
¡°Unless¡ one day, Earth¡¯s technology and living standards reach even half or a third of Mars¡¯, then maybe a lot of people would want to live here.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and continued. ¡°That¡¯s exactly my second question. You mentioned earlier that after 2500, when thest wave of Martian emigrant ships departed, there were still several million, or even tens of millions, of people left on Earth. Now, over a hundred yearster, with some knowledge and basic infrastructure, why haven¡¯t they developed industrial civilization?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin twisted the cap back onto his water bottle, setting it aside before continuing.
¡°A hundred years is indeed a long time, enough to see significant technological advances. But that¡¯s only if the poption is sufficiently concentrated and knowledge and basic infrastructure have been preserved.¡±
¡°SpaceX¡¯s space shuttles took decades to transport everyone who wanted to leave Earth to Mars. The people left behind were either stubborn or had physical issues¡ They couldn¡¯t handle zero-gravity environments or long space journeys.¡±
¡°To say that the ones left behind were the old, weak, and sick wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. With a poption like that, they couldn¡¯t truly band together. Gathering tens of thousands of people would already be considered arge organization.¡±
¡°But¡ what can tens of thousands of people do, especially when many of them are elderly or children? Maintaining an agricultural economy would already be a great achievement. So, after a hundred years of reproduction and survival, the fact that Earth¡¯s poption has grown to thirty million and reached a medieval level of living is already a miracle.¡±
¡°Civilizations develop quickly when they do, but no civilization can suddenly leap forward without any prior buildup. Every industrial revolution might seem rapid, but they are all the result of hundreds of years of umtion.¡±
¡°This umtion isn¡¯t just about knowledge and basic infrastructure; it¡¯s about talent, especially geniuses. Only geniuses can truly drive history forward, and with the current poption base, after only a few generations, the chances of producing a genius are incredibly low.¡±
¡°You might find this hard to believe, but even after nearly a thousand years, the geniuses listed in kids¡¯ textbooks are still the same names¡ªEinstein, Newton, Gauss¡ The fact is, there was over a hundred years between Newton and Gauss, and over a hundred years between Gauss and Einstein.¡±
¡°However, I¡¯m still optimistic about Earth¡¯s future. Give Earth¡¯s poption another hundred or two hundred years to grow, and they¡¯ll likely trigger another wave of technological advancements and easily enter the industrial era.¡±
¡
Listening to Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s insights on history, humanity, and civilization, Lin Xian was impressed.
¡°You seem to know a lot¡ What did you do for work on Mars?¡±
¡°Haha, before I retired, I was a teacher at a university.¡±
¡°Oh, wow! That¡¯s impressive!¡±
Lin Xianplimented.
¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Professor Wei from now on.¡±
¡°Oh, no, no, I¡¯m not a professor, just an ordinary teacher. You can just call me by my name, Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
¡°How about I call you Teacher Wei?¡± Lin Xian tried again.
¡°Eh, suit yourself.¡±
With that, Wei Sheng Jin stood up, dusting off the dirt on his clothes.
¡°Shall we continue? I suspect we can find more aluminum alloy safes in this area. Let¡¯s start by scanning to the east!¡±
Full of energy, Wei Sheng Jin led Lin Xian, and they continued their archaeological adventure.
Heading east, Wei Sheng Jin handled the metal detector while Lin Xian carried the backpack and tools.
Suddenly, both men stopped in their tracks, lifting their heads to look toward the dense foliage ahead.
In the distance there seemed to be sounds of a chase and shoutsing from the forest.
At first, Lin Xian thought it was wild animals, but as he listened closely, he realized it was people shouting! And it sounded like several of them!
Finally, they had a chance to meet other living people, and it was highly likely they were local Earth inhabitants!
Lin Xian was thrilled.
Wei Sheng Jin had been through ¡°history education¡± and ¡°brainwashing,¡± so Lin Xian didn¡¯t fully trust his version of events. He was more interested in hearing what the locals had to say.
Just as he was about to move forward to investigate, Wei Sheng Jin quickly pulled him behind a tree, pressing a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture.
¡°Shh¡ Don¡¯t get too excited. Let¡¯s hide first. Earth is very chaotic these days, especially around Donghai. This area is remote and doesn¡¯t have any big cities, just a few scattered viges¡ Some people are not easy to deal with, so it¡¯s best to stay hidden.¡±
As they spoke, the sounds of the chase and shouting grew louder.
Hiding behind the tree, Lin Xian and Wei Sheng Jin peeked out.
Swoosh!
A lithe, ck figure leaped through the trees,nding in a clearing. She drew a ck, gleaming machete from her waist, readying herself for the impending confrontation.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, his eyes widening¡
Dark brown hair, furrowed brows with a sharp edge, a tear-shaped beauty mark at the corner of her left eye¡ The familiar face, the familiar figure!
He was just about to call out when¡ª
¡°You scoundrels! Kill her for me!¡±
A rough voice bellowed, and a burly, fierce-looking man with a face full of scars charged out of the underbrush with threeckeys of varying sizes trailing behind. He waved a club forward.
¡°Get her! Beat her down!¡±
In an instant, the scene turned chaotic, with the four of them attacking her all at once. The tall and skinnyckey with a wooden spear was particrly troublesome, poking and jabbing from a distance, making it hard to tell who was winning.
Oh no!
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He leaped out from behind the tree.
These were all familiar faces, all on the same side¡ªwhy were they fighting?
¡°Stop! Stop! Stop fighting!¡± Lin Xian shouted as he rushed toward the brawl.
¡°Don¡¯t fight! Stop! Stop! You need to stop fighting!¡±
But¡
No one paid him any attention.
The threeckeys¡ªAh Zhuang, San Pang, and Er Zhuzi¡ªwere all waving their weapons at thin air, while Big Cat was on the sidelines, shouting insults.
CC was using all her energy just to dodge their uncoordinated attacks, too upied to notice Lin Xian.
¡°I said stop! Hold your fire!¡±
Lin Xian had reached Big Cat¡¯s side, giving him a firm p on the shoulder.
¡°Big Cat, give me a break! Stop fighting!¡±
Whoosh¡ª
A cold stick came swinging toward Lin Xian¡¯s head, which he barely dodged.
Big Cat¡¯s face was scrunched up in rage. ¡°Who the hell are you? Give you a break? Who do you think you are?!¡±
Hearing his outburst, the threeckeys paused and looked over at their boss.
Meanwhile, CC finally looked up, spotting Lin Xian. Her eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian?¡±
Chapter 358: Rhine Village
Lin Xian froze when CC called his name. It took him a moment to process it. He vaguely recalled their second meeting in the dream world, where CC had felt a strange familiarity, as if she was remembering a piece of a forgotten dream. Back then, she hadn¡¯t known him as Lin Xian and had even joked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say your name is Safe?¡± Now, that joke seemed to make more sense.
Although Lin Xian and CC had interacted multiple times in their first dream, he hadn¡¯t always introduced himself, and their conversations were often disjointed. In the second dream, CC¡¯s memories of the first dream were fragmented, especially the time they spent with Big Cat Face, using an acetylene torch to cut through an aluminum alloy safe. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t mentioned his name then, so when they reconnected in the second dream, it wasn¡¯t surprising that CC didn¡¯t recognize him. Yet, during that second dream, CC had be an invaluable teammate. To convince her to join him on a stealth mission to New Donghai City, Lin Xian had to exin his ns multiple times until she finally trusted him.
But now¡
Since CC had immediately called out his name, did that mean¡ª
Suddenly, a cold stick swung toward him. Big Cat Face wasn¡¯t holding back! Er Zhuzi thrust his spear forward, the tip gleaming ominously in the dim light.
¡°Big Brother! These two know each other! They¡¯re definitely plotting something together!¡± Er Zhuzi shouted.
¡°Cut them down!¡± Big Cat Face ordered, his voice as cold as ice. ¡°Everyone, attack!¡±
On hismand, their former teammates¡ªAh Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang¡ªcharged at them with weapons raised.¡°Lin Xian, run!¡± CC didn¡¯t hesitate. She grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm and pulled him toward the nearby woods.
¡°Don¡¯t¡ don¡¯t move!¡± At that moment, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin appeared from behind a tree, trembling as he pointed a pistol at the chaotic scene.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face squinted at the unfamiliar weapon in Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s hand, unimpressed. ¡°What¡¯s that piece of junk? Who¡¯s the old man trying to scare?¡±
Big Cat Face didn¡¯t recognize the pistol. Earth¡¯s current industrial capabilities couldn¡¯t produce such a weapon. Even if a gun were dug up after a century underground, it would likely be too rusted to use. Old Man Wei Sheng Jin wasn¡¯t surprised by Big Cat Face¡¯s ignorance of the weapon¡¯s power. A gun¡¯s greatest asset is its ability to intimidate, not necessarily its use in a fight¡ªespecially for someone like Wei Sheng Jin, who came to Earth to pursue his dreams, not to take lives. But since his adversaries didn¡¯t even recognize the gun, intimidation was out of the question.
¡°Teacher Wei, give me the gun.¡± Lin Xian and CC reached Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s side. Taking the gun from his shaky hands felt like a miracle as Lin Xian turned around. His movements were a blur¡ª
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
He fired four shots in rapid session, the thunderous noise shocking Big Cat Face and Er Zhuzi, who were left dumbfounded.
Then they noticed:
¡°Er Zhuzi! Where¡¯s the tip of your spear?¡±
¡°Big Brother, why do I only have a knife handle left?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m feeling well!¡±
Their exmations made Big Cat Face check his own weapon, only to find it shattered in the middle, leaving him with just a stub. He gasped. This¡ If that had struck someone¡¯s head, would it have shattered instantly? Was that tiny ck object really so powerful?
He remembered seeing simr weapons before¡ªold-fashioned firearms called powder guns and hunting rifles¡ But those were bulky, heavy, and couldn¡¯t fire repeatedly without reloading. Yet, the device in the hands of the old man and the young man¡ It was sleek, shiny, and norger than a hand. How could it hold such immense power?
¡°Retreat!¡± Realizing they had been spared deliberately but that continuing the fight was too dangerous, Big Cat Facemanded, ¡°Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, San Pang! Let¡¯s go!¡±
They retreated hastily into the undergrowth.
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin sighed in relief, his heart pounding. He found a nearby rock to sit on, catching his breath and taking a sip from his water bottle. With the immediate danger gone, Lin Xian examined the pistol. It was undoubtedly Martian technologypact, lightweight, and powerful, likely designed for discreet self-defense. He didn¡¯t know how many bullets it still held since he hadn¡¯t checked the magazine. On an Earth with virtually no industrial capacity, even a small Martian pistol was a formidable weapon.
Pocketing the pistol, Lin Xian turned to the long-lost CC beside him. ¡°CC,¡± he called her name softly, a mix of emotions swirling within him. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡±
CC smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. ¡°In this world, it seems we¡¯ve never met before. How could it be a long time?¡±
Her eyes, smile, dimples, and face remained unchanged. Just like Chu An Qing. Lin Xian had many questions for CC, but casual conversation could wait.
¡°You know my name, so do you know other things about me too?¡± he asked.
CC nodded. ¡°You told me yourself, in one of the memory fragments.¡±
¡°What did the memory fragment show?¡± Lin Xian began verifying the information, eager to piece together the scattered fragments of their shared past.
¡°There are two memory fragments about you,¡± CC revealed immediately. ¡°The first fragment shows you, me, Big Cat Face, and those people who were just chasing us, working together to burn a safe in a bank. The other memory is of you finding me in the woods. You imed to be VV, but you weren¡¯t. You told me several things¡ª00:42, infinite loops, August 28th, the end of the world, and something about andfill and the safe.¡±
¡°Then I trusted you, and we sneaked into New Donghai City together, infiltrated the Time Bank, and looked for the safe with your name on it. I don¡¯t know what happened after that; the memories are disjointed and iplete.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s helpful. It saves me the trouble of introducing myself.¡±
Just as he had thought. CC had acquired more memory fragments! In the second dream, CC retained fragments from the first; logically, CC in the third dream would retain fragments from the second, and while gaining new fragments, the old ones persisted. This exined why CC¡¯s mind held thousands of memory fragments, umted over countless shifts in time and space and worldline changes. Though Lin Xian hadn¡¯t met CC in the third or fourth dream, it didn¡¯t prevent her from gathering fragments¡ªthey just didn¡¯t involve him.
Now, in the fifth dream¡ It was evident that CC had memories from all four previous dreams.
Excellent. In this perpetual cycle of dreams, where no one recognized or trusted him, Lin Xian finally had a reliable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy ally from the start¡ªCC.
Back in the second dream, in the small woods behind the Li family¡¯s courtyard, Lin Xian had divulged everything to CC to convince her to join him on his mission to New Donghai City, including the infinite loop of dreams. Now, he wouldn¡¯t need to repeat his backstory.
Their earlier rapid exchange confirmed that CCpletely trusted him, treating him like an old friend from the moment they met again.
¡°So, do you believe everything I¡¯ve told you now?¡± Lin Xian inquired. ¡°When we first met on the outskirts of New Donghai City, you were skeptical about the world ending at 00:42 and my ability to loop August 28th infinitely. But now, you should believe me, right? After all, this is our third time meeting on this day.¡±
CC paused, then nodded slowly. ¡°Now¡ honestly, I¡¯m starting to believe it. But let¡¯s set that aside for now. What are you here for this time? Still looking for that safe with your name on it?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You must be looking for that aluminum alloy safe too, right? Don¡¯t worry, this time, I know the password.¡±
¡°Heh.¡± CC chuckled. ¡°That made meugh again. You always say that.¡±
¡°This time it¡¯s true.¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t bother with further exnation. ¡°I won¡¯t say much now. You¡¯ll see when the timees.¡±
He nced at CC a few more times. She really looked exactly like Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian. Seeing her familiar face again stirred a mix offort and sadness in him.
Noticing Lin Xian¡¯splex expression, CC tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?¡±
¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Xian looked away briefly, then back again. ¡°I wanted to ask you, when is your birthday?¡± He paused. ¡°Is it August 29th, 2604?¡±
CC blinked. ¡°No¡ it¡¯s August 28th.¡±
Huh? Lin Xian was taken aback. But he quickly realized that since CC was born in Brooklyn, USA, she was referring to the USA time. The time 00:42 on August 29th, 2604, in X Country would be 12:42 on August 28th, 2604, in the USA.
This coincidence seemed almost deliberate.
¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± CC nudged Lin Xian with her elbow. ¡°Why¡¯d you go silent? Why¡¯d you ask about my birthday?¡±
¡°You were probably born at 12:42 noon, right?¡± Lin Xian continued.
CC looked even more puzzled. ¡°How¡¯d you know that? I asked my parents, and they remembered clearly. I was born right at noon when the sun was high, and the weather was hot. It was a good day.¡±
Lin Xian squinted his eyes. Indeed. Everything aligned. CC is definitely another millennium stake. ording to his extensive calctions with Gao Yang, every 24 years, a millennium stake disappears: 1952, 1976, 2000, 2024¡ all the way to 2624. It all fits perfectly.
After the previous millennium stake vanishes, there¡¯s a four-year gap before the next one is born, and it disappears again on its 20th birthday, relocking history. Thisplete cycle repeats every 24 years.
¡°You told me before, but your memory fragments were iplete.¡± Lin Xian was nudged again by CC, so he casually added, ¡°We talked about this before in New Donghai City.¡±
He had lied. It seemed that CC, just like Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian, although identical in appearance, werepletely different individuals. So, Lin Xian had no intention of revealing the truth about the millennium stake to CC. He couldn¡¯t¡ It would be like foretelling her death, telling CC she had less than five hours to live.
Besides, exining the millennium stake was extremelyplicated, and the anchor itself was unaware of its significance. There was no point in discussing it.
¡°How long have you been here?¡± Lin Xian changed the subject. ¡°Did youe from Brooklyn?¡±
CC nodded. ¡°I haven¡¯t been here long, just a few months. The journey was incredibly lengthy¡ None of the transportation methods from my memory fragments exist here; the fastest were horseback or sailing ships¡ It took over a year to reach Old Donghai City.¡±
¡°When I arrived, I started searching for the ruins of the Time Bank, but I couldn¡¯t find anything. The bearded man in my memory fragment, VV, didn¡¯t give me the exact location of the Time Bank¡ he just mentioned it was in Donghai City.¡±
¡°That¡¯s also strange because when I was born, Donghai City and all other cities were already gone. I don¡¯t know why VV would say that. Unless¡ as you¡¯ve suggested before, these memory fragments are from different times, different parallel worlds, different worldlines.¡±
¡°But since these memory fragments are mostly broken and iplete, with no clear context or timeline, it¡¯s hard to distinguish what¡¯s real and what¡¯s not.¡±
Lin Xian listened intently to CC¡¯s ount, which confirmed most of his theories about her unique condition. From their conversation, several key points became clear:
Millennium Anchor: CC, like Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian, was a millennium stake. On her 20th birthday, August 29th, 2624, at exactly 00:42, she would begin to disintegrate into blue stardust. Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t witness it, as a blinding white light would eject him from the dream just as the process began.
Memory Fragments: CC¡¯s memory fragments would continue to umte, each representing a potential future or existing worldline. Lin Xian had inquired if CC possessed any memories post-August 29th, 2624. CC had responded negatively, uncertain due to the brevity and fragmented nature of these memories, which rarely disyed precise dates.
Persistence of Memories: The memory fragments would persist indefinitely, even in new timelines where the depicted events seemed impossible. The ¡°Safe Manifesto¡± by the bearded man VV doomed every version of CC across timelines to an endless search for the safe.
Reflecting on this, Lin Xian realized he had two more inquiries for CC.
¡°CC, do you recall a world filled with sky cities?¡± he asked. ¡°In that reality, the earth¡¯s surface is inhospitable, and massive cities float globally, supported by blue cold fusion engines thousands of meters in the air.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± CC confirmed. ¡°I do remember such a world, but only a vague image of looking up at the sky. There¡¯s no context¡ªI don¡¯t know who I am, where I am, or what I¡¯m doing.¡±
¡°It¡¯s challenging toprehend these fragments,¡± she continued. ¡°It¡¯s like each world is a book, and the fragments are like tearing out a random page and keeping only a small piece. They hold little value for information.¡±
¡°That¡¯s an apt analogy,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°What about a world where Donghai City is advanced, with a ring city and space elevators visible in the sky? There¡¯s also a Time Bank there, celebrated every century with airships flying overhead. Do any memories from that world ring a bell?¡±
CC shook her head. ¡°No, but it¡¯s possible I have a fragment from that world that I haven¡¯t identified yet. It feels almost miraculous that I have two detailed memories rted to you.¡±
¡°Most of my memories are brief and iplete,sting only a few seconds,¡± she exined. ¡°Yet, the memories rted to you, though also fragmented, total up to several dozen minutes.¡±
She eyed Lin Xian curiously. ¡°I don¡¯t know why your presence is so significant in my memories.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing,¡± Lin Xian responded with a shrug. ¡°It means that if we meet again in another timeline, you¡¯ll still remember me and our shared experiences¡ I might even seem familiar.¡±
¡°But¡¡± CC¡¯s expression clouded slightly. ¡°If time keeps looping like this, day after day, and the world changes aimlessly, then what¡¯s the point? We keep repeating days in different timelines, but to what end?¡±
Lin Xian sighed deeply, sharing her frustration. ¡°I¡¯m searching for that answer too,¡± he said softly. ¡°Perhaps, CC, we¡¯ll find our answers in that aluminum alloy safe.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know why VV insisted you open the safe, but whatever is inside is crucial to me too,¡± Lin Xian admitted, recalling Chu An Qing¡¯s words when she handed him a note¡ªYou¡¯ll understand when you see it. Her expression wasden withplex emotions, hinting atyers of meaning beyond just the dream¡¯s reality.
¡°This all feels like a miraculous closed loop,¡± he mused. VV had told CC to find the safe for the truth, while Chu An Qing urged him to open it for rity.
Resolving to follow their guidance, Lin Xian was interrupted by the approach of an elderly man, drawing CC¡¯s attention.
¡°And who¡¯s this?¡± CC inquired, noticing the neer.
¡°Oh, let me introduce you,¡± Lin Xian remembered his otherpanion, stepping aside to make introductions. ¡°This is Teacher Wei Sheng Jin, a schr from Mars who¡¯s also searching for his safe. You can just call him Teacher Wei.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin extended a hand with a chuckle, ¡°Youngdy, you¡¯re quite skilled. There¡¯s no need for formalities in these times. Call me Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
CC froze for a moment, her hand suspended in mid-air, uncertain whether to shake hands with the elderly man in front of her. However, considering that this man had just used his gun to protect her and Lin Xian, and given his origins from Mars¡ªpractically an alien¡ªhis customs might indeed differ from what she was ustomed to.
Putting aside her reservations, she firmly shook Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s hand. ¡°Teacher Wei, I¡¯d prefer to address you as Teacher,¡± she said respectfully.
Wei Sheng Jin gave a wry smile. ¡°That¡¯s fine, that¡¯s fine.¡±
As the evening sky darkened and the moon remained hidden, Lin Xian realized it was not the ideal time to continue their journey. Observing Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s fatigue, it was clear they needed to rest.
Curious, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Teacher Wei, how do you usually manage to rest out here?¡±
¡°I typically find a spot near a water source and set up my tent,¡± Wei Sheng Jin replied, standing and dusting off his clothes. ¡°But not every day is perfect. Sometimes, I just pick a spot, start a fire, and sleep next to it. Despite the harsh conditions, I¡¯vee to enjoy this return to nature.¡±
Lin Xian then turned to CC. ¡°Have you been living like this too? Where¡¯s all your stuff?¡±
Unlike Wei Sheng Jin, who was fully equipped, CC appeared almost empty-handed except for a ck machete, dressed like a shadowy vignte. Her clothing was less refined than before, now made of coarse cotton, a testament to Earth¡¯s regressed industrial capabilities.
¡°No,¡± CC shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying in a nearby vige. It¡¯s getting dark; would you like toe with me? It¡¯s a bit of a walk, but it¡¯s rtively safe. The vige has over a hundred households. The vige chief and the locals are very weing. Given that those we encountered earlier might return with reinforcements, it¡¯s safer to stay in the vige.¡±
Considering the logic in her words, Lin Xian agreed. In this fifth dream, Big Cat Face and his crew had reverted to their old, troublesome ways, and they would be difficult to deal with. Wei Sheng Jin, having wandered aimlessly for months, also agreed it was a good idea to check out the vige.
Leading the way, CC guided them deeper into the forest. Lin Xian followed blindly, unable to make out any directions under the dense canopy. Wei Sheng Jin trailed behind them, scanning the ground with a metal detector as they walked.
Lin Xian and CC continued their conversation as they moved. CC, born in Brooklyn, described the sparse poption in the U.S., with small viges widely scattered. Regarding the catastrophic event of 2400, CC admitted her knowledge was scant, far less than Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s.
¡°That was over 200 years ago,¡± she exined. ¡°Earth hasn¡¯t had much chance to recover and rebuild. Much knowledge and history have been lost.¡±
Lin Xian found it curious that despite Earth¡¯s dwindling poption, which stood at 20 to 30 million by 2604pared to Mars¡¯s nearly 500 million, CC was still born on Earth. He wondered if millennium stakes were exclusive to Earth.
They walked for over an hour under the cover of night, Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s shlight cutting through the darkness, a piece of Martian technology in a world that had none.
¡°How much farther?¡± Lin Xian asked after nearly two hours of walking.
¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± CC pointed ahead. ¡°Just past these trees, there¡¯s a small river, and Rhine Vige is right beside it.¡±
¡°Rhine Vige?¡± Lin Xian echoed, turning his head.
¡°Yes,¡± CC smiled. ¡°Does it sound odd? It was named after a popr cat doll from long ago.¡±
¡°Rhine Cat! I know that!¡± Wei Sheng Jin chimed in, turning around with his shlight. ¡°That toy is incredibly popr on Mars. From my son¡¯s childhood to my grandson¡¯s, Rhine Cat was a favorite¡ There are many stories about its origins, all tracing back to Earth, but no one knows which artist orpany created it.¡±
Lin Xian felt a sense of pride hearing about Rhine Cat¡¯s enduring poprity, even after traversing 600 years and surviving the great disaster of 2400.
¡°It seems the vige chief still possesses the heart of a child,¡± Lin Xian remarked with a smile. ¡°How old is the vige chief?¡±
¡°Over a hundred; she¡¯s an elderlydy,¡± CC answered. ¡°She¡¯s quite remarkable and highly respected. Originally from Mars, she chose to stay on Earth and never looked back.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve spoken with her; she¡¯s truly kind and gentle. When I asked why she didn¡¯t remain on Mars to enjoy her twilight years but instead chose to live on Earth, she told me there are still many people on Earth who need help. The people on Earth live in poverty and hunger¡ So I came. Though I¡¯m old, the knowledge in my head should help some people on Earth, maybe even save some. That¡¯s enough; that¡¯s my dream and life¡¯s pursuit.¡±
Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, CC couldn¡¯t help but express her admiration for the vige chief¡¯s foresight: ¡°This vige chief really sees the big picture. Has she been living on Earth long?¡±
¡°About twenty or thirty years,¡± replied Wei Sheng Jin as CC sliced through the undergrowth with her machete, leading them out of the dwindling forest.
¡°She¡¯s incredibly wise and knowledgeable. She¡¯s taught so much to the people in nearby viges that more and more are moving to Rhine Vige, which has grown significantly because of her.¡±
¡°The vige chief has been incredibly kind to me, too,¡± Lin Xian added. ¡°When she found out I came from across the ocean, she went out of her way to make me feel wee, even building a temporary bamboo house for me to stay in.¡±
As they emerged from the trees, CC pointed ahead, ¡°There it is¡ªRhine Vige, enclosed by that fence over there.¡±
Lin Xian and Wei Sheng Jin looked across the river and saw arge vige with over a hundred households, fenced off from the outside world. The entrance was marked by a double wooden gate, swung wide open, through which children were bustling in and out. Inside, there were no electric lights, only the flickering glow of oilmps and candles, and the asional bonfire.
¡°It really is a cozy ce¡¡± Wei Sheng Jin observed, a note of nostalgia in his voice. ¡°You¡¯d never find such a peaceful scene on Mars, where every bit ofnd is valuable.¡±
The trio crossed the river and made their way towards the vige gate. As they walked, Lin Xian noticed thatrge swaths ofnd around the river and the vige had been cleared for farming, nted with a variety of crops and vegetables. There were also animal pens, indicating that the vige was self-sufficient.
Reaching the gate, Lin Xian observed the carvings on it, smiling at the familiar figures of Rhine Cat, carved as if they were guardian spirits watching over the vige. ¡°This really is the highest honor for Rhine Cat,¡± he murmured, touching the carvings with a sense of reverence.
¡°Given the massive disasters and wars Earth has faced, with so much of our history lost, it¡¯s incredible that something as simple as a Rhine Cat toy has survived all these years,¡± Lin Xian reflected, echoing the thoughts of hispanion.
¡°I think the vige chief might have brought this Rhine Cat from Mars,¡± Wei Sheng Jin spected.
¡°Maybe,¡± CC agreed, beckoning them forward. ¡°Let¡¯s go meet her. She¡¯s really weing, so there¡¯s no need to be nervous.¡±
Nodding to each other, Lin Xian and Wei Sheng Jin agreed that it would be proper to greet the vige chief now that they were here.
They approached a stone-brick house at the center of the vige. As they drew near, they could hear the lively chatter of children inside.
¡°Vige chief, this math problem is so hard. Isn¡¯t knowing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division enough? Why do we have to learn suchplicated math¡ we don¡¯t even use it in everyday life!¡± one childined.
¡°Hehe, you just don¡¯t get it because you¡¯re too dumb! I understand it perfectly! Vige chief, can you teach me more about equations? I¡¯m really interested! Don¡¯t waste time on him!¡± another taunted.
Inside the house, a kind and gentle old woman was smiling at her pupils. She gently reprimanded the girl who liked equations, ¡°Xiao Yu, it¡¯s great that you¡¯re eager to learn and that you¡¯re bright, but remember, it¡¯s important to respect everyone. Everyone has their own strengths and skills. To be truly useful to society, and to the world, you need to appreciate all kinds of talents, not just academic ones.¡±
She then turned to the boy who was frustrated with the math, ¡°Xiao Ming, while basic math might seem sufficient for daily challenges, without advancing our knowledge, we¡¯d never discover the deeper, beautiful math that helps us understand the universe better.¡±
She patted his cheek affectionately, ¡°When I first arrived over twenty years ago, people here lived very simple, primitive lives. They had no medicine, couldn¡¯t treat wounds, and many didn¡¯t live long. I taught them how to farm, make tools, and use herbs. Now, life is better here because knowledge changed their fate.¡±
¡°If you learn more about equations, maybe you could be a scientist or an engineer. Isn¡¯t that your dream? You and Xiao Yu are some of the brightest kids here, and Rhine Vige¡¯s future could be bright because of you.¡±
The children¡¯s eyes lit up with inspiration as they nodded, understanding her words.
¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for today. Go and rest,¡± she concluded, noticing Lin Xian and his friends waiting at the door. She ended the lesson early, inviting them in with a weing smile.
After hearing from CC, Lin Xian and Wei Sheng Jin were led into the stone-brick house where they were introduced to the vige chief.
¡°Grandma, these two stood up for me during a disagreement with people from Big Cat¡¯s Vige in the forest. They defended me and saved my life,¡± CC exined to the vige chief.
The vige chief smiled warmly at them and nodded: ¡°Thank you both so much, and wee to Rhine Vige. Feel at home here, stay as long as you like, and if you¡¯d like¡ you¡¯re wee to join our Rhine Vige family.¡±
¡°Hello, vige chief,¡± greeted Wei Sheng Jin, introducing himself first. ¡°I traveled here from Mars on a transit ship. My name is Wei Sheng Jin, and I¡¯m a university professor on Mars¡ Your story has truly touched me. You¡¯re such a kind and caring person.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve read about dedicated rural and volunteer teachers in ancient books, but I never fully grasped the challenges and significance of their work¡ until now. It¡¯s remarkable that you left theforts of Mars to help the people on this less advanced Earth¡ I have immense respect for you.¡±
The vige chief responded with a humble smile: ¡°It¡¯s not anything grand. On the contrary, I felt I wasn¡¯t doing enough significant work, so I came to Earth where even the little knowledge I have could be useful. It¡¯s not about being great; I¡¯m just doing what I can to help others and spread some kindness. By the way¡ Teacher Wei, what brought you all the way to Earth?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin then shared his quest for the aluminum alloy safe with the vige chief.
Upon hearing this, the vige chief nced at CC and then suddenly realized: ¡°So that¡¯s why¡ I see now that you all came here to find your safes. I understand you because I also came from the old era and woke up centuriester with no memory of who I was.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve wanted to know what my past life was like, what I was thinking, what experiences I had¡ but regaining lost memories isn¡¯t easy. Even if you find what¡¯s inside the safe, you might not remember the thoughts behind putting it there.¡±
¡°Nevertheless, I wish you luck in finding your safes. And for you, CC, who had a conflict today over a safe because I mentioned that people from Big Cat¡¯s Vige had dug up one long ago, which might be what you¡¯re looking for.¡±
Lin Xian and Wei Sheng Jin both turned to CC, their questions ovepping.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this earlier?¡± Lin Xian asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.
¡°Did you get the number and name of the safe?¡± Wei Sheng Jin added, just as urgently.
CC first addressed Lin Xian, ¡°It didn¡¯t seem important since it wasn¡¯t one of your safes. Why bring it up? It¡¯s like that one you dismissed earlier today.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin, realizing the safe didn¡¯t belong to him, lost interest immediately. If it had nothing to do with him, he couldn¡¯t care less, even if it was filled with treasure.
¡°Whose safe is it then?¡± Lin Xian pressed on. ¡°What¡¯s the number?¡±
This information was crucial for him. If the number was below 200, then in the 2024 Time Bank warehouse, he could pinpoint the exact safe! With this knowledge, everything would be much simpler.
Lin Xian nned to switch the contents of safe number 66, which held space-time particles and a small note, with a safe in Big Cat¡¯s Vige and then change the lock code. This move would solve several problems at once:
First, he could finally read the note.
Second, CC could ess Lin Xian¡¯s safe somewhere else, ensuring the same items were inside.
Most importantly, this ancient safe, having traveled 600 years through time, could transport items from the past to the future, giving him an unbeatable edge!
¡°Safe number 424. The name is¡¡± CC paused, trying to remember, ¡°Gao Wen, Gao as in tall, Wen as in literature.¡±
Gao Wen?
The name triggered something in Lin Xian¡¯s memory.
Academician Gao Wen.
Wasn¡¯t he the one who wrote about the hibernation pod fluid Lin Xian had documented for Professor Xu Yun in his earlier dream?
Lin Xian remembered it clearly. Originally, Dr. Ponsmike in the United States developed the hibernation pod fluid in 2477. But due to time-space changes, it became associated with Gao Wen around 2200. Lin Xian had given Gao Wen¡¯s research to Professor Xu Yun, which had catapulted Xu Yun to fame.
He had thought Gao Wen¡¯s contributions would be forgotten forever, only to hear his name now under such odd circumstances. Could this safe belong to that same Gao Wen?
¡°Gao Wen,¡± Lin Xian repeated quietly, his mind racing. What could be inside that safe? Perhaps research papers? If so, they would be priceless back in 2024!
Hispany, Rhine, needed to grow and strengthen, and he wanted to harness the visionary prowess of legends like Copernicus and Elon Musk. Previously, he had feared exposure and possible assassination by the Seven Deadly Sins, so he avoided using his technological insights. But now, caution was unnecessary!
Copernicus had already tried to kill him using a future assassin, and the Genius Club seemed less threatening than he had thought. Now was the time to solidify his position.
Truth only exists where it¡¯s recognized, and respectes from power. Falling behind meant losing. Lin Xian resolved to be powerful. In this situation, Gao Wen¡¯s safe might just contain a goldmine of advanced technology!
¡°It¡¯s very possible,¡± he thought.
In the movie Goodbye Mr. Loser, the protagonist Xia Luo goes back in time and performs all the famous songs of a well-known singer, leaving the original singer without his music. Yet, did that singer vanish into oblivion? No. A star dyed is still a star, eventually gaining global acim. Simrly, for Gao Wen, a genius remains a genius!
He wouldn¡¯t just step out from under Professor Xu Yun¡¯s shadow but could reach greater heights in other areas or even advance hibernation technology beyond Xu Yun¡¯s initial work.
¡°It looks like I really need to try and open Gao Wen¡¯s safe to see what¡¯s inside,¡± Lin Xian decided.
The vige chief, noticing their contemtive silence, turned to Lin Xian:
¡°And this young man¡ is he also from Mars? Are you Teacher Wei¡¯s student, here looking for a safe?¡±
¡°Ah, no, he isn¡¯t,¡± CC quickly answered:
¡°He¡¯s my friend, and we just met here. He¡¯s not from Mars; he¡¯s from Earth. His name is¡ Lin Xian.¡±
Lin Xian was about to introduce himself politely when suddenly¡ª
The vige chief¡¯s eyes widened, and she gasped, standing up straight: ¡°You¡¡±
She approached swiftly, grasping Lin Xian¡¯s hands tightly: ¡°You¡ your name is Lin Xian? Lin as in forest, Xian as in the strings of a zither!?¡±
¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s me, grandma,¡± Lin Xian responded, puzzled by her intense reaction. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, vige chief? Do you know me?¡±
The vige chief shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t know you, but¡¡±
She hurried back to her bed and retrieved a small, exquisitely crafted metal box. The box was clearly something she had brought from Mars over twenty years ago. With trembling hands, she searched inside and finally pulled out aminated piece of paper¡ªa preservation method that kept the paper from aging or decaying.
Walking back, she handed theminated sheet to Lin Xian.
Lin Xian took it, stepping closer to the dim light of the pig-oilmp in the house to read: Things to Do After Waking from Hibernation!
Bury my brother on the moon.
Repay Lin Xian.
Be a kind and caring person.
Suddenly, it felt like fireworks exploded in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. He widened his eyes, staring at the centenarian before him in shock: ¡°You¡ you¡¯re¡¡±
The olddy nodded, equally bewildered: ¡°Didn¡¯t CC tell you? My name is¡ Zheng Xiang Yue.¡±
Chapter 359: Heading to the Moon!
¡°Zheng¡ Zheng Xiang Yue?!¡±
Lin Xian stared at the elderly woman in front of him. Her hair was white but neatly tied in a ponytail. Even though she was over a hundred years old, she moved with surprising agility, and her eyes were sharp and vibrant.
It was Zheng Xiang Yue.
Just two days ago, Lin Xian had seen her in 2024. Back then, she was a small, fragile girl, connected to wires and electrodes, struggling to move. She had always looked so helpless that it stirred both sympathy and a sense of hopelessness in those who saw her.
But now, here she stood, an elderly woman, full of life.
Lin Xian found it hard to match the image of that frail girl with the vibrant woman before him.
Yet¡
Theminated card in his hand was undeniable proof of her identity. It was the same card he had seen teenage Zheng Xiang Yue painstakingly write, each character crooked because she hadn¡¯t practiced writing much. Those crooked letters had made it unforgettable for him.At first, she had only written two things. But after some encouragement from him, she added a third:
¡°Be a kind andpassionate person.¡±
And now, here she was, havinge back from the advanced world of Mars to primitive Earth, teaching people how to farm, smelt iron, buildmunities, and shape a future.
Though it might not seem like a big deal now, in this era on this Earth, Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s return from Mars, bringing knowledge and hope, was like a goddess descending from the heavens.
Lin Xian suddenly remembered something he had once told her:
¡°Be kind, be loving. Help those in need, show care to those who long for it. If you have the ability, use it to do great things. If not, return home to Donghai and contribute there. Spreading your kindness and love is the best way to repay those who have helped you.¡±
Who could have imagined his casual words woulde true?
Zheng Xiang Yue not only survived into the future but had also cured her congenital heart disease and returned to Donghai to ¡°build her homnd.¡±
Lin Xian understood that Zheng Xiang Yue probably didn¡¯t remember his words. She had admitted that the amnesia caused by hibernation had wiped out her memories. Even standing right in front of him, she didn¡¯t recognize him.
The elderly Zheng Xiang Yue was likely so shocked to see him because his name was on that small card. She had probably searched for this name for a long time, wanting to find out what had happened and, maybe, to thank this ¡°Brother Lin Xian,¡± as she had written in her wish list.
At that moment, Lin Xian finally understood why Old Man Wei Sheng Jin had repeatedly suggested he just call people by their names without using any titles. He had found the advice unnecessary and even a bit rude before, but now it made sense.
How was he supposed to address Zheng Xiang Yue now? Should he still pat her on the head like a little sister as he had done just days ago? Or should he ask this elderly woman, who was as old as his grandmother¡¯s grandmother, to call him ¡°Brother Lin Xian¡±?
The thought made him ufortable.
And they couldn¡¯t just talk as if nothing had changed. He couldn¡¯t call her ¡°grandma,¡± and she couldn¡¯t call him ¡°brother.¡± That would only make things more confusing.
In the end, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s suggestion was best: in an era where age and seniority had be so mixed up due to hibernation, addressing people by their names avoided all awkwardness.
Seeing Zheng Xiang Yue, now over a hundred years old, healthy, and having fulfilled her purpose and dreams, Lin Xian felt genuinely happy¡ªfor her and for his small act of kindness.
Throughout his life¡
Though Lin Xian didn¡¯t like to admit it, his attempts to change the future always seemed to backfire, often making things worse.
But seeing Zheng Xiang Yue in the Fifth Dream was like a bright moon shining over the dark and backward Earth, illuminating his gloomy dream.
Lin Xian was curious.
Had Zheng Xiang Yue fulfilled her dream? Had she been to the moon?
Just as he was about to ask, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin suddenly shouted, cutting him off.
¡°Zheng¡ Zheng Xiang Yue!!!¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin was so excited he nearly jumped.
He stared at the elderly vige chief, his voice trembling, ¡°The Moon Girl¡ Zheng Xiang Yue! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still alive! No, I¡¯m sorry¡ I¡¯m just shocked. I never thought I¡¯d meet someone from my school textbooks on Earth!¡±
¡°Someone from the textbooks?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled.
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin swallowed, calming himself before exining.
¡°The story of Moon Girl was in our middle school textbooks. I was just a teenager, starting middle school when I went into hibernation. When I woke up, I had forgotten everything, my mindpletely nk. Apart fromnguage, I knew nothing. You see,nguage and memory are processed in different parts of the brain, songuage skills don¡¯t fade even after long hibernation.¡±
¡°Sorry, I¡¯m digressing¡ That¡¯s just the teacher in me. Anyway, after receiving basic education and history lessons, I continued with middle school on Mars. One of the most famous lessons in the textbook was Moon Girl.¡±
¡°The lesson told the story of SpaceX Corporation and a little girl who made a promise that spanned hundreds of years. Thepany, keeping its promise, took this girl on a trip to the moon, apanied by Elon Musk himself. It was a very romantic story¡ Though, of course, it served as propaganda for SpaceX, boosting its image. But the story was true¡ªZheng Xiang Yue, the Moon Girl, was real.¡±
¡°When the story was published, it caused a sensation across Mars. SpaceX and Elon Musk¡¯s reputation skyrocketed, and Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s name became known in every household on Mars. Naturally, the story was included in middle school textbooks. Back then, students were required to memorize it word for word!¡±
Lin Xian became interested.
¡°Can you recite it for me? I¡¯d like to hear it.¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin chuckled, shaking his head.
¡°I can¡¯t remember it all now¡ But I did help my son and grandson with their homework when they were in school, and Moon Girl was still in the textbooks, still required for memorization.¡±
¡°You have to understand, I woke up from hibernation in 2574. By then, Zheng Xiang Yue had returned from the moon decades earlier. The story remained in textbooks even when my grandson went to school¡ It¡¯s probably one of the most famous pieces of literature on Mars.¡±
¡°Though I can¡¯t recite it now, I remember the key points: the story praised Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s perseverance, her courage to fight against illness, her optimistic outlook, and her bold pursuit of dreams. It alsomended SpaceX and Elon Musk for keeping their word, highlighting the importance of trust between people¡ª¡±
¡°Mr. Wei, you¡¯re slipping into teacher mode again,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, squinting slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the analysis. Just tell me what the story was about.¡±
¡°Ah, sorry.¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin cleared his throat.
¡°The story wasn¡¯t long. It started with Zheng Xiang Yue waking up from hibernation, going through basic education, and then being approached by Elon Musk, who asked if she still wanted to go to the moon.¡±
¡°SpaceX fulfilled its promise to this little girl who had crossed centuries. The journey from Mars to the moon was long, but Elon Musk took six months off his busy schedule to apany her on the trip.¡±
¡°However, to protect her privacy, the reasons for going to the moon and what they did there were not included in the lesson. These omissions sparked curiosity among the public and became a topic of research for many historians, though no one could ever figure out the truth.¡±
¡°Many people thought Zheng Xiang Yue would use this fame to be a celebrity or enter politics, given the advantages she had that most people could only dream of. But she surprised everyone by staying out of the spotlight, never using her fame for personal gain.¡±
¡°Everyone only knew that she worked for SpaceX. After that, no one knew where she went, when she retired, or what became of her. That¡¯s why I was so shocked to see the Moon Girl here on Earth, living as a vige chief!¡±
As Old Man Wei Sheng Jin finished speaking, the elderly Zheng Xiang Yue smiled kindly and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian¡ Do you remember me?¡±
Lin Xian looked up.
Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s tone had changed; it was more respectful now. She understood that if she had written down a desire to repay ¡°Brother Lin Xian,¡± it must have meant that he had helped her a lot, that they were very close.
But due to the effects of the hibernation chamber, she had forgotten everything.
Lin Xian thought for a moment, then gently nodded.
¡°I remember you,¡± he smiled, ¡°but¡ you probably don¡¯t remember me, right?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s expression wasplicated¡ªconfused, touched, and a little lost.
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ Mr. Lin Xian. I wish I could remember you, but unfortunately¡ I¡¯ve spent my entire life trying to recall even a small detail about you, but I couldn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Not just you¡¡±
She extended a wrinkled finger, pointing to theminated card in Lin Xian¡¯s hand, specifically the part where the first wish was written.
¡°I can¡¯t even remember anything about my brother. Even though there¡¯s a photo on his urn, I stared at it for a long time, but it felt like looking at a stranger, someonepletely unfamiliar.¡±
Lin Xian watched as the elderly Zheng Xiang Yue spoke, her face lit by the dim light of the tallowmp. Despite himself, he couldn¡¯t help but ovey the image of the frail girl, covered in wires and electrodes, onto this woman.
It was as if she was still lying in that hospital bed on the 17th floor of Donghai University¡¯s Affiliated Hospital, hugging therge Rhine Cat plushie, head bowed, holding Zheng Cheng He¡¯s urn, wiping it clean over and over again until it was spotless.
Time had passed.
Lin Xian was still living in the past, while centuries had flown by for Zheng Xiang Yue.
At this moment, he didn¡¯t know what to say.
¡°So¡¡± He swallowed. ¡°Did you bury your brother¡¯s urn on the moon?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue smiled gently and began to recount her past.
¡°When I woke up from hibernation, it was the year 2523, exactly 101 years ago. My mind was nk; I didn¡¯t know where I was, who I was, or what had happened. After some education, I learned that I had entered hibernation on Earth. But when Mr. Elon Musk initiated the Mars colonization project, it was as if he knew that a super disaster would strike Earth around 2400, so he transported many hibernation pods, including mine, to Mars, where I continued to hibernate.¡±
¡°The super disaster of 2400 destroyed everything on Earth, making the environment uninhabitable. I was able to avoid this catastrophe by being on Mars. By the time I woke up in 2523, my congenital heart disease had beenpletely cured, and I was healthy and full of energy. Mr. Elon Musk then appeared and gave me four items that I had left behind¡¡±
¡°A Rhine Cat plushie that had bepletely deformed, torn, and discolored; an urn; aminated piece of notebook paper; and a simrlyminated ticket to the moon.¡±
¡°He apologized, saying that after 600 years, the Rhine Cat plushie had deteriorated beyond repair. He had searched for many experts to fix it, but this was the best they could do. Although it looked ugly, he felt it was important to preserve as much of the original as possible. He jokingly called it¡ ¡®Theseus¡¯s Cat¡¯.¡±
¡°At the time, I didn¡¯t understand what he meant by ¡®Theseus¡¯s Cat,¡¯ butter I realized it was just Mr. Elon Musk¡¯s way of making a philosophical joke.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue, despite her age, stood up again, walked to the wooden bed in the stone-brick house, and carefully took out a patched-up plushie from a cab.
It was a Rhine Cat plushie, but it no longer resembled the original.
It looked more like a poorly made knock-off.
Theseus¡¯s Cat¡
What an appropriateparison.
The original philosophical question was about the ¡°Theseus¡¯s Ship,¡± also known as the Theseus Paradox.
In the first century AD, the philosopher Plutarch posed the question:
Suppose there was a ship that could sail the seas for hundreds of years.
Thanks to continuous maintenance and recement of parts, as soon as a wooden nk rotted, it was reced.
This continued until none of the original parts remained¡ªall the wood was new.
So, the question arises: is the ship, now made entirely of new parts, still the same Theseus¡¯s Ship? Or is it apletely different ship? If it¡¯s not the original ship, at what point did it stop being the original?
Just like the patched-up Rhine Cat plushie before him.
Even though Zheng Xiang Yue had aged, she still cherished this ¡°slightly ugly¡± Rhine Cat and didn¡¯t hand it to Lin Xian to examine up close. Instead, she ced it in a corner of the bed, allowing him to observe from a distance.
It seemed¡
She hadpletely forgotten that this Rhine Cat plushie was actually a gift from Lin Xian.
In the dim light of the tallowmp, Lin Xian carefully observed the Rhine Cat.
Compared to the one he had given her, it was an entirely different object. There probably wasn¡¯t a single piece of fabric or a single thread from 600 years ago remaining.
First, there was the size.
The one Lin Xian had given her was a giant plushie, so big that she couldn¡¯t even hold it at first. Zheng Cheng He had to help her ce it on the bed.
Later, when Zheng Cheng He was no longer around and Zheng Xiang Yue grew stronger, she could naturally carry the giant Rhine Cat on her own.
But the ¡°Theseus¡¯s Cat¡± before him was much smaller, only about the size of two basketballs.
Then there was the design.
Compared to the original, this one bore no resemnce at all.
But Lin Xian couldn¡¯t me Elon Musk for that.
No toy or plushie could survive hundreds of years intact.
They would inevitably break down.
And not just in the usual way¡ªthis was aplete breakdown. All the threads would unravel, all the fabric would degrade, discolor, and be brittle like seaweed, crumbling to dust at the slightest touch. Not to mention the cotton inside, which would have long since turned into a soggy mess after hundreds of years.
So, the fact that it had been repaired to this extent was already quite impressive.
¡°It¡¯s strange, though,¡± Zheng Xiang Yue said, looking at the plushie by her bed with a smile. ¡°Mr. Elon Musk said he tried to buy a new one just like it, or even make a new one for me. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn¡¯t find the original design¡ Not just the plushie¡ªhe couldn¡¯t even find a picture, a photo, or a promotional poster of it.¡±
As Zheng Xiang Yue spoke, Lin Xian pictured Elon Musk¡¯s frustrated expression in his mind.
Of course, he couldn¡¯t find it¡
Only two samples of this Rhine Cat plushie were ever made. For various reasons, production was halted.
One was won by Chu An Qing in a raffle at the MX celebration party; the other was taken by Lin Xian from thepany warehouse to give to Zheng Xiang Yue as a birthday gift.
With nomercial release or promotion, it was impossible to find a picture or design of it.
¡°Then Mr. Elon Musk asked me if I wanted to use the ticket to the moon. He said he could arrange a flight for me at any time.¡±
¡°At first, I was confused. I didn¡¯t really want to go to the moon, and I didn¡¯t understand why I had that ticket. But then I saw the little card with the title Things to Do After Waking Up from Hibernation!¡±
¡°I saw that the first item was¡ to bury my brother on the moon. I didn¡¯t remember having a brother, but when I saw the urn, I understood that the ¡®brother¡¯ referred to must be this.¡±
¡°I remember feeling both scared and distant from the urn, too afraid to even go near it. It took me two years after that before I, as a middle schooler, took the ticket to Mr. Elon Musk and said I wanted to go to the moon¡ to see if I could recover any memories.¡±
¡°Mr. Elon Musk readily agreed, saying the flight had been ready for a long time. So, I took my brother¡¯s urn and the littleminated card to the moon. Once there, I put on a spacesuit, dug a hole on the lunar surface, and buried the urn.¡±
¡°When the task was done¡ I didn¡¯t feel any sense of aplishment or emotion. It was as if I was mechanically carrying out an action that had nothing to do with me. That¡¯s when I realized¡ ¡®Memory is such a precious thing.¡¯¡±
¡°¡®Memory isn¡¯t just information, a sentence, or a piece of imagery. What makes memory different from a movie clip is that¡ memory is filled with emotion.¡¯¡±
¡°Just like the little card said, I had a brother. From the name on the urn, I knew his name was Zheng Cheng He. I also knew that my wish was to bury him on the moon. But¡ so what? What did that mean? I had no idea and no emotional connection to it.¡±
¡°I stood on the moon, looking at the vast darkness of space, staring at the enormous Earth hanging in the sky¡ At that moment, I felt so lonely. I wanted to go back to Mars, where at least I had a home, ssmates¡¡±
¡°I looked at the card with the three wishes and told Mr. Elon Musk that I hadpleted the first one. The second wish was¡ to repay Brother Lin Xian. But who was Brother Lin Xian? Did Mr. Elon Musk know him?¡±
¡°Mr. Elon Musk didn¡¯t answer. From his expression, I could tell he knew who Brother Lin Xian was, but he didn¡¯t seem to want to tell me. I then asked if I would ever get to see Brother Lin Xian again.¡±
¡°Still, Mr. Elon Musk remained silent, just gazing at the blue Earth. I guessed this meant that Brother Lin Xian, like my brother Zheng Cheng He, was probably already dead, right?¡±
¡°I remember that moment clearly¡¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue closed her eyes as if reliving the scene from 100 years ago, where she and Elon Musk stood on the moon, looking at Earth.
She spoke softly.
¡°Mr. Elon Musk told me that if the person you want to see is in your heart, then you¡¯ve already seen them¡ Besides, the second wish on your card says to repay Lin Xian; it doesn¡¯t say you have to meet him to do that¡ So why not start working on the third wish?¡±
¡°He said¡ perhaps the second and third wishes are connected. By being kind and doing good deeds, that¡¯s the best way to repay Lin Xian.¡±
¡
After saying this, Zheng Xiang Yue smiled, opened her eyes, and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°And that¡¯s how the second chapter of my life began.¡±
¡°After returning to Mars, I focused on studying and eventually started working at SpaceX. I spent my life looking for ways I could contribute, but I realized that I wasn¡¯t particrly talented or capable of making a significant impact on the world¡¡±
¡°I must say, my life on Mars was very happy. I got married, had children¡ I had two kids, a son, and a daughter. They got along well. My son had two daughters, and my daughter had a son¡ After I retired, I enjoyed many years of family happiness.¡±
¡°But now, before I came to Earth, my son and daughter had both passed away, and of my three grandchildren, only one grandson was still alive, though his health was poor¡ It seems that children born and raised on Mars generally have shorter lifespanspared to humans who came from Earth via hibernation. Most of the people I knew who came from Earth lived to be over 100 years old.¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin nodded in agreement.
It was true. Humans who hibernated on Earth and woke up on Mars generally lived to be over 100. Scientists spected this had something to do with gravity, environment, and embryonic development, but the exact reason remained unknown.
Zheng Xiang Yue looked at theminated card in her hand and continued.
¡°As I approached 100 years old, I often looked at this card, feeling that as Zheng Xiang Yue, I hadn¡¯t fulfilled my childhood wishes¡ The young girl who wrote down these three dreams for me, I had onlypleted the first one, and the other two¡ I had no idea how to aplish them.¡±
¡°As you get older, you start to worry more. Without memories of my life on Earth, I found myself increasingly nostalgic for it. I knew Earth was backward, life there was hard¡ But I often wondered, what kind of person is truly kind and loving?¡±
¡°If Earth is indeed my homnd¡ shouldn¡¯t I return, bringing knowledge and love, to help rebuild it?¡±
¡°And so, I came to Earth and have never wanted to return. I just want to contribute kindness and love, to make Earth a better ce. This, I believe, is the best way to honor the young Zheng Xiang Yue who once wrote down such great dreams. I can¡¯t let her down.¡±
Now over a hundred years old, Zheng Xiang Yue shook her head, a satisfied smile on her face.
She ced theminated card on the table and looked up at Lin Xian again.
¡°I love Earth because¡ the moon here is truly beautiful, something you could never see on Mars.¡±
The moon?
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered the ck hand that stretched from the north to the south pole of the moon.
Could such a moon really be called beautiful?
Unless¡
He quickly got up and stepped outside the stone-brick house, looking up at the sky.
And there it was.
In the dark, starry sky above, a bright and radiant full moon hung in the heavens!
It was clear, white, and perfectly round like a jade te.
This was a moon more beautiful than any he had seen in his future dreams.
Lin Xian felt an unexpected sense of peace.
This was how it should be.
This was the real moon.
Behind him, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin and Zheng Xiang Yue, the two elderly figures, also stepped out of the house and stood beside Lin Xian, gazing up at the full moon.
¡°I love Earth¡¯s moon too,¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin said with emotion. ¡°Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, but they¡¯re too small and can¡¯t reflect sunlight, so you could never see a sight like this on Mars.¡±
¡°In the two months I¡¯ve been on Earth, I¡¯ve spent long nights just staring at the moon. It¡¯s so beautiful, so mesmerizing.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled and looked back at Zheng Xiang Yue.
¡°Even if you hadn¡¯te to Earth, the people here would have always been grateful to you. Your kindness and love¡ they received it centuries ago.¡±
The elderly Zheng Xiang Yue didn¡¯t quite understand what Lin Xian was saying and asked in confusion.
¡°Why do you say that? I haven¡¯t done anything for Earth¡ I haven¡¯t contributed anything.¡±
¡°No¡¡±
Lin Xian raised his head again, bathed in the white moonlight, his eyes reflecting the inverted image of the bright moon.
¡°This clean moonlight is the best gift you could have ever given Earth.¡±
Chapter 360: Lin Yu Xi Wakes Up
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, you really seem to know a lot about me and my lost memories,¡± Zheng Xiang Yue said softly, her gaze shifting from the moon to Lin Xian. ¡°Can you tell me? What was my life like when I was a young girl, just in my teens?¡±
Lin Xian looked down, his eyes fixed on the sand shifting under his feet as the night breeze blew. He hesitated, unsure whether he should reveal the truth to her.
Zheng Xiang Yue seemed content now. She was surrounded by children, living a fulfilling life on Mars, experiencing the joys of family. The doctors had said she wouldn¡¯t live past fourteen, yet here she was, over a hundred years old and still healthy. In herter years, she had returned to Earth to help rebuild it, achieving a meaningful life and fulfilling her childhood dream.
Butpared to her life now¡
Had young Zheng Xiang Yue ever truly been happy on Earth? Her parents were brutally murdered when she was just a baby. Her brother, trying to protect her from a vige bully, was bitten by a dog andter died in a car crash as her condition worsened. Left all alone, she faced a world filled with pain.
Was it really a good idea to bring back those awful memories? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. He believed that some memories were better left forgotten, especially if they were filled with sorrow. This idea applied not only to Zheng Xiang Yue but also to others like Xi Yi Yi. Wouldn¡¯t forgetting and starting anew be a better choice?
For a moment, he found himself lost in the paradox of the Ship of Theseus: Are we defined by our memories, or do we decide what those memories mean? If we rece every piece, is it still the same ship? If someone with no memories is filled with new ones, are they still the same person?
Wei Sheng Jin, who had traveled thousands of miles to this backward Earth, was here to see what was hidden in the safe. He wanted to find out who he truly was and whether the current Wei Sheng Jin was still the original Wei Sheng Jin. Or had he been forcing himself to live as Wei Sheng Jin all this time?This search for identity haunted Wei Sheng Jin, Zheng Xiang Yue, and maybe even CC.
Lin Xian turned his head and noticed CC stepping out from a stone-brick house. She stood beside the two elderly people, watching him, as if waiting for his answer.
And he¡ he didn¡¯t have one.
¡°I¡¯m not ready yet,¡± Lin Xian finally said, turning to Zheng Xiang Yue, whose hair had turned gray with age. ¡°I admit that I know about your past, the life you lived over a hundred years ago, and the stories behind the three wishes you wrote down.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m not the only one who knows. Elon Musk probably knows too. From his silence and his reaction when he heard my name¡ I don¡¯t know how, but it seems he didn¡¯t lose his memory from hibernation.¡±
¡°For some reason, even though Elon Musk knows all about you and everything that happened, he still chose not to tell you. So, could you please give me some time? I need to think carefully about all of this.¡±
Lin Xian needed more time to think. Elon Musk hadn¡¯t even told Zheng Xiang Yue who bought her ticket when she asked him directly. Elon Musk remained silent.
Could it be that he knew that once the dam holding back her memories was opened, it could never be closed again?
Lin Xian agreed with Musk¡¯s approach. If he were on the moon with Zheng Xiang Yue, who had just woken from hibernation, lost her memory, and buried her brother¡¯s ashes, he, too, would choose to keep quiet about her past.
Why burden her with those painful memories now? She had just gained a healthy body, a beautiful environment, and a happy life. Why turn those unchangeable, painful memories into thorns that would pierce her heart forever?
Even though this dream world had less than an hour left and everything would reset, Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to see the Zheng Xiang Yue he knew experience any more pain or shed any more tears after everything she¡¯d been through.
Zheng Xiang Yue smiled kindly. It was as if she had already guessed his answer and wasn¡¯t surprised.
¡°You are a kind person,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve lived for so many years, seen so many things, experienced life and death, and even watched my children and grandchildren pass away one by one. I understand why you don¡¯t want to tell me the truth. Over these hundred-plus years, there have been many times when I almost said something but didn¡¯t, and many times when I told a kind lie.¡±
¡°But I appreciate your honesty, Mr. Lin Xian. At least you¡¯re not trying to deceive me with another kind lie. I¡¯m willing to wait. I¡¯ve waited over a hundred years; a little more time doesn¡¯t bother me.¡±
She smiled at him warmly. ¡°You are one of the three wishes I wrote down in my life. You¡¯re someone my teenage self wanted to repay. So, whether or not you tell me the truth about the past, I won¡¯t mind. You are my benefactor, and I will always be grateful to you.¡±
¡°I just hope¡ if the dayes when you decide to tell me everything, please make sure it¡¯s the truth. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Lin Xian. My life has always been surrounded by kindness and love. No matter what the truth is, I can handle it.¡±
¡°Just like you three are so focused on the safe, searching for your answers, I also hope to find my true self. I want the little girl I was in my teens and the old woman I am now toe together and be one person.¡±
She turned and called out to a middle-aged man passing by, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a bamboo hut on the east side of the vige where we store tools? It might be drafty, but with this hot weather, it¡¯s actually quitefortable to sleep in.¡±
¡°Can you and some of the young men go clean it up, tidy it, and put a couple of bamboo beds inside so our two new guests can rest there?¡±
¡°Okay, Grandma,¡± the man responded respectfully, bowing slightly to Zheng Xiang Yue before jogging off to get to work.
Just as CC had said, Zheng Xiang Yue was highly respected in Rhine Vige. Everyone, young and old, called her ¡°Grandma.¡± Even seventy-year-old Wei Sheng Jin calling her ¡°Grandma¡± didn¡¯t seem out of ce, considering her age.
Lin Xian quickly calcted in his mind. Zheng Xiang Yue must be around 116 years old now, and her health was truly remarkable.
¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need; we can clean it ourselves,¡± Wei Sheng Jin said, feeling a bit embarrassed. He quickly followed the young men to help tidy up the hut.
After making the arrangements, Zheng Xiang Yue, feeling tired, returned to her room to rest.
Lin Xian nced at his watch. It was 11:57 PM. It was near midnight in a vige illuminated only by moonlight. Most people didn¡¯t stay up thiste except for the night patrols, like the middle-aged man they had just met.
Now, theughing and ying children were long asleep. In the vast vige courtyard, only CC and Lin Xian remained.
¡°You should have told Grandma the truth,¡± CC said abruptly.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian turned his head, ¡°You mean I should have told Zheng Xiang Yue about her life when she was a teenager? About everything that happened to her?¡±
CC nodded. ¡°Yes, you should have. If someone kept something like that from me, knowing the truth but not saying it, I¡¯d be very ufortable.¡±
¡°Even if it¡¯s all painful things?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes,¡± CC replied firmly. ¡°Even if it¡¯s bad and sad, memories are memories. Onlyplete memories can make aplete person. Is there anyone whose memories are always happy? People have joys and sorrows; the moon waxes and wanes¡ Does half a moon not count as a moon?¡±
¡°You know quite a bit,¡± Lin Xian smiled at her. ¡°Where did you learn that old poem? It probably wasn¡¯t from this world, right?¡±
¡°It¡¯s from a fragment of my memories,¡± CC continued. ¡°I just want to say¡ painful memories have value too. Without experiencing separation, how would people look forward to reunion? Without the feeling of loss, who would know to cherish what they have now?¡±
¡°Like me, you know I¡¯d give up everything to open that safe. You¡¯ve said I¡¯m foolish, and you don¡¯t understand why.¡±
¡°But I believe in what the bearded man, VV, said. I believe that when I open that safe made of aluminum alloy, I definitely won¡¯t regret it.¡±
Lin Xian crossed his arms, watching CC under the bright moonlight. ¡°No matter what¡¯s inside?¡±
¡°No matter what¡¯s inside.¡±
¡°Even if it¡¯s just a rice cooker?¡±
¡°Even if it¡¯s just a rice co¡ªwait, what¡¯s a rice cooker?¡± CC tilted her head. ¡°You always say things that don¡¯t make any sense.¡±
Lin Xian sighed inwardly. He kept things from Zheng Xiang Yue, but wasn¡¯t he also hiding things from CC?
The current him waspletely different from who he was in the first and second dreamscapes. Now, he knew thebination to the safe because he had set it himself. He also knew what was inside the safe because he had ced the rice cooker, the time-space particles, and the note there himself.
It was precisely because he knew what was in the safe that he found it difficult to exin to CC. Simrly, he didn¡¯t want to disappoint her.
Yet CC¡¯s unwavering belief made Lin Xian feel a strange sense of expectation about the contents of the safe. Maybe that little note wasn¡¯t just meant for him; maybe it was also for CC.
Considering that Chu An Qing and CC were both linked to the thousand-year incidents¡ this thought wasn¡¯t impossible.
¡°You really trust that bearded man,¡± Lin Xian said sincerely. ¡°Sometimes, being trusted so blindly and persistently by someone is a kind of pride. But I have a question¡ I always thought that for you to trust him so much, there must have been a lot of stories between you two, deep feelings, many experiences.¡±
¡°But on the way here, you mentioned that only the memory fragments with me are long, and all other fragments are only a few seconds long. Even the ¡®Safe Manifesto¡¯ by that bearded man, VV, is just a few seconds¡ I don¡¯t quite understand this.¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°Just a few seconds of memory, is it really worth risking everything for?¡±
CC chuckled softly. She nced at the closed door of Grandma¡¯s room, where the oilmps had been extinguished.
¡°The answer to that question¡ Grandma already gave it to you earlier, didn¡¯t she?¡±
¡°Memories are different from movie clips because memories themselvese with emotions.¡±
¡°For example, when you think back to the scenes from Grandma¡¯s childhood that you don¡¯t want to share with her, is it just a scene? No, there must be sadness, regret, and pain attached to it. That¡¯s the magic of memories.¡±
¡°I only have two memory fragments about you, and they¡¯re broken and iplete. But why, when I see you again today, do I still trust you so much? It¡¯s because those memory fragments also carry emotions¡ When I think back to those images, the emotion thates up is trust in you.¡±
¡°I get it,¡± Lin Xian nodded, looking at CC. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that in the memory fragment about that bearded man, VV, even though it¡¯s only a few seconds¡ the emotion that emerges is incredibly strong, which is why you¡¯re willing to risk everything.¡±
¡°Can you tell me¡ when you think of that bearded man, VV, what exactly do you feel? What emotions? What intense feelings?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡± CC, as usual, declined firmly. Her expression was just as resentful as when she had answered in the second dream.
Lin Xian chuckled softly. It seemed his favorability rating wasn¡¯t high enough yet. Perhaps when he earned more of her trust, or when she believed he was the bearded man VV, she¡¯d be willing to share more detailed feelings.
But how to prove it? Lin Xian was currently 98.35% sure he was the bearded man, but he had no definitive proof to present.
So, if CC didn¡¯t want to talk, she wouldn¡¯t. From her expression and the tone of her words, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that the story between her and the bearded man, VV, was far from pleasant¡ªprobably full of resentment and regret.
¡°Your opinion might not represent Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s thoughts,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at CC. ¡°When I figure out how to tell her and how to share the stories of the past with her¡ I¡¯ll let her know.¡±
¡°But for now, we don¡¯t have even the slightest clue about the safe with Lin Xian¡¯s name on it. What are you nning to do?¡± CC asked, turning her head toward the direction Wei Sheng Jin had left.
¡°We¡¯ll just keep looking. Didn¡¯t you say you could repeat this day countless times? Then we can keep looking like this. It might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but the metal detector that Mr. Wei carries could really speed up the search.¡±
¡°That is a method,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°But I think there¡¯s a better way to try.¡±
His n was this: First, it had to be clear that finding the aluminum alloy safe in the fifth dream was incredibly difficult, almost impractical. It could take years, even decades, of searching without finding more than a few safes. After all, Mr. Wei had been scanning for two months, and today, they had only found something by pure luck.
Given the current situation, they weren¡¯t yet at the point where they needed to search aimlessly. They could change their strategy to find the safe¡ªChange the dream again!
The reason finding the safe in the fifth dream was so challenging was that Donghai City had been destroyed, ttened, making it impossible to locate Time Bank¡¯s address.
But what if they could change the dream again, restore Donghai City, and bring it back to what it was?
Wouldn¡¯t that make finding Time Bank¡ªand thus the safe¡ªmuch easier?
Furthermore, if the dream changed, he and Liu Feng could once again observe the changes in the space-time clock¡¯s values, rifying the patterns in space-time curvature and deducing the coordinates.
As long as they had the space-time coordinates, they¡¯d be one step closer to joining the Genius Club and seeing the second exam question. It would be a win-win situation.
The problem was¡ how to trigger another change in the dream world?
Based on past experience, triggering a strong butterfly effect in space-time required a significant change in reality. The simplest and most direct method was to introduce advanced technology.
The cryo-chamber fluid manuscript and the cold fusion technology manuscript had already been verified twice¡ª
The premature emergence of advanced technology would trigger a significant butterfly effect, causing space-time changes and rewriting the future world.
The appearance of the aluminum alloy did cause some effects, but not enough to advance from the first to the second dream.
Therefore, any advanced technology that could alter the dream world would need to have a significant enough impact.
Who had that kind of power?
Gao Wen!
Lin Xian instantly thought of the name. Gao Wen¡¯s research results had already rewritten history once. Lin Xian believed that Gao Wen might still have the brilliant mind and the power to change the world again.
Perhaps his research results could be revealed early once more and rewrite the future!
So, regardless of whether the safe in Big Cat¡¯s Vige belonged to Academician Gao Wen, or whether it was just a case of the same name, or whether it contained research materials or something unrted, it was worth a try.
With this realization, Lin Xian asked CC again, ¡°Today, you went to the nearby Big Cat¡¯s Vige¡ Just from the name, I knew it must be the vige run by Big Cat Face, right? I never thought that guy would be in charge of a vige. Did you see Gao Wen¡¯s safe there? What¡¯s its status now? Is it opened?¡±
¡°No,¡± CC shook her head. ¡°But the people in Big Cat¡¯s Vige clearly believe there¡¯s treasure in the safe. When I snuck in to take a look, Er Zhuzi and San Pang were using brute force methods to crack it.¡±
Damn. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but marvel¡ Even a guy like San Pang, who only knows two lines of dialogue, has learned brute force methods. It just doesn¡¯t fit the vibe.
Brute force is a clumsy method but effective. For a safe where the password is unknown and can¡¯t be cracked through force, brute force might indeed be the best option.
¡°How far have they gotten?¡± Lin Xian was curious. ¡°When was this safe dug up? If it¡¯s been a long time¡ maybe they¡¯ve almost cracked the code through brute force.¡±
CC thought for a moment, ¡°Grandma said the safe in Big Cat¡¯s Vige has been out for at least ten years¡ I didn¡¯t ask in detail, but you can ask Grandmater.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right! They do seem to have tried many passwords. I didn¡¯t see it too clearly, but when I nced at the safe¡¯s namete, I noticed that Er Zhuzi and San Pang were already setting the first few digits to 0.¡±
¡°Thinking optimistically, if they started brute-forcing from 99999999 down, they might be close to the right password.¡±
¡°But if they started from 00000000 up, then there¡¯s no hope¡ A hundred million possible passwords can¡¯t be cracked in just a few years.¡±
Lin Xian rested his chin on his hand, thinking. It probably wasn¡¯t starting from 00000000. If Big Cat Face and the others had gotten the safe over a decade ago, would they have only recently figured out to try brute-forcing it? They would have started cracking it long ago.
¡°It¡¯s worth a shot,¡± Lin Xian straightened up, looking up at the bright full moon now directly overhead.
It was nice¡ The moon was back to how it used to be, and the Genius Club¡¯s emblem had disappeared.
It was hard to say what kind of state the Genius Club was in during the current year, 2624. It might have been destroyed in the great disaster of 2400. Or, perhaps, it was still secretly manipting the course of history from Mars.
Elon Musk, in this world, had also passed away decades ago. His dream of moving to Mars had been realized, but¡ was that all there was to it?
Ultimately, Lin Xian still didn¡¯t understand the purpose of the Genius Club or the individual motivations of its members. So, he had no idea what they were up to.
¡°I hope to join the Genius Club soon. I must find out the truth as soon as possible and make my ns for the future.¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch again: 00:39. Two more minutes until the familiar white light returned.
Today¡¯s dream time hadsted 12 hours, but most of it had been wasted traveling and understanding the world view. They hadn¡¯t aplished anything significant. But tomorrow would be different. They could start the fast route.
He lowered his wrist, looked at CC, and waved, ¡°See you tomorrow then.¡±
CC dropped her folded arms, chuckling softly at Lin Xian, ¡°It feels pretty strange, like we get to see each other every single tomorrow. I remember you told me before, you have memory in every loop, but we don¡¯t.¡±
¡°So¡ this time, will you still find me?¡±
Lin Xian listened to the familiar words. Looking at the identical face in front of him, Chu An Qing had said something simr at the Xidan Shopping Center¡
Back then, he had to go to the restroom to talk to VV, so he told Chu An Qing to wait for him at the milk tea shop and not wander around.
Chu An Qing sat by the shop¡¯s window, her eyes smiling into two crescent moons, ¡°Okay, senior, don¡¯t get lost! What if you can¡¯t find your way back and can¡¯t find me?¡±
Lin Xianughed at the time and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely find you.¡±
But he hadn¡¯t expected to break that promise in the end.
Even now, he hadn¡¯t been able to find where Chu An Qing was.
Even if CC and Chu An Qing looked identical, it didn¡¯t matter; they were twopletely different people.
The one Lin Xian promised to find for Chu Shan He was Chu An Qing, not CC.
¡°I will find you,¡± Lin Xian said softly, looking at CC. ¡°Tell me, where will you be around one in the afternoon?¡±
CC looked up as if thinking, ¡°Around one¡ I¡¯ll be in the forest. I set out from Rhine Vige around noon, so by one o¡¯clock, I¡¯ll definitely be running in the forest. I can¡¯t give you a specific location in a forest with nondmarks.¡±
¡°If you want to find me tomorrow, why not wait where we met today? We can discuss what to do next when we meet, and I can guide you back to Rhine Vige. If you remember a few specialndmarks, you¡¯ll be familiar with this forest in no time and can find me whenever you want.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xian nodded.
Every exploration of a dream required a step-by-step process. The first night in the fifth dream had already yielded so much information and intelligence¡ªit was a great sess. The detailed strategy could be considered after entering the dream tomorrow.
¡°Lin Xiane to sleep already!¡± On the other side of the vige, Wei Sheng Jin waved his straw hat, walking over with a smile.
¡°Come on, Lin Xian, the young men and I have already cleaned up the little bamboo house. It¡¯s nice and cool inside. It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go back and rest.¡±
Lin Xian and CC exchanged a knowing smile.
¡°I won¡¯t sleep, Mr. Wei, you go ahead,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Hey, it¡¯s been a long day. How can you not sleep?¡± Wei Sheng Jin chuckled, trying to persuade him. ¡°I saw you two looking so worried, staring up at the sky like a couple of nervous Nellies¡ Don¡¯t worry, the great disaster of 2400 won¡¯t happen again.¡±
¡°Look, Moon Girl Zheng Xiang Yue has been on Earth for twenty or thirty years, and no disasters have happened¡ªeverything¡¯s been peaceful.¡±
¡°It couldn¡¯t be that the first night Lin Xian and I stay in the vige, Earth blows up, right? Hahaha¡¡±
Wei Sheng Jinughed heartily and looked down at his watch. ¡°Let¡¯s go rest. It¡¯s already Earth time, 00:4¡ª¡±
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
The zing white light evaporated Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s watch, his smile, his optimism, and cheerfulness.
In a corner of the bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes.
¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±
A few hours ago, at the Donghai Da Zhi River Nature Scenic Area, in a luxury vi.
A young girl opened her eyes on a soft bed to find two elderly people smiling at her.
¡°Oh, youngdy, you¡¯ve finally woken up! You had us worried sick,¡± Yan Mei said, quickly handing her a ss of water. ¡°Here, drink some water. You¡¯ve been asleep so long, your throat must be dry. Take a sip before speaking.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai stood behind Yan Mei, watching as the girl sat up in bed, blinking her clear, bright eyes as she looked around the room. She seemed a bit dazed, still waking up, her face full of confusion and her brows slightly furrowed.
That frown¡ Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s brows furrowed too.
It was so simr!
His troublesome daughter, Zhao Ying Jun, had always liked to frown like that, as if the whole world owed her something. She rarely smiled, always deep in thought or plotting something.
Initially, Zhao Rui Hai thought this girl they had found on the road only looked like Zhao Ying Jun when she was younger. But now¡ her expressions and demeanor were identical!
This¡ this was too strange!
It wasn¡¯t just Zhao Rui Hai who was stunned. Yan Mei, who had been offering the girl water, was equally amazed as she looked at the puzzled young girl in front of her.
Before, when they observed the girl¡¯s appearance while she was asleep, it was like admiring a painting. But now that she was awake, her expressions, eyebrows, and lips were all animated, showing them the dynamic details.
It truly gave the couple a feeling of going back ten years, like they were raising their daughter all over again.
The couple exchanged nces, their eyes filled with shared surprise.
Then Zhao Rui Hai cleared his throat and spoke softly, as if coaxing a child, ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t be scared. Last night, we saw you fainted in a puddle on the road, so we brought you into our car and took you home to rest.¡±
¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, we¡¯ll take you home to find your parents. Do you know where you live? Do you know your parents¡¯ phone number?¡±
The young girl looked up at Zhao Rui Hai, her eyes nk and filled with confusion.
Yan Mei put down the ss and asked, ¡°Youngdy, what¡¯s your name? Where do you live? Do you know the general area?¡±
The girl blinked her eyes, then shifted her gaze to Yan Mei, her eyes wary, and her expression became tense.
At that moment, Yan Mei felt like she was really looking at a young Zhao Ying Jun!
It made her doubt herself.
She turned to Zhao Rui Hai, ¡°We don¡¯t have any rtives in Donghai, do we?¡±
¡°No,¡± Zhao Rui Hai shook his head, equally doubtful, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it for a while. My siblings aren¡¯t in Donghai, not even in the south. And your family is just you and your brother, both in the capital.¡±
¡°I know you¡¯re wondering if this girl might be a rtive, but¡ we really don¡¯t have any rtives in Donghai. And we know all our rtives well. If there were a child who looked this much like Ying Jun, we would¡¯ve known long ago¡ªwe wouldn¡¯t just find her on the road yesterday.¡±
Yan Mei stood up and pulled Zhao Rui Hai aside, whispering, ¡°I think this young girl might not be able to speak¡ Could she be deaf-mute or have some cognitive issues?¡±
Zhao Rui Hai pondered for a few seconds, ¡°Deaf-mute people can still make sounds and use signnguage. But this girl seems to be nk, like¡ like there might indeed be something wrong cognitively.¡±
¡°How about this: if we can¡¯t get any information from her, and if she really does have cognitive issues, she might not know where she lives or her parents¡¯ phone number. You stay with her for a while, and I¡¯ll take some photos and send them to the Donghai City Police Department for a facial recognition match.¡±
Saying that, Yan Mei went back to take care of the girl and asked the housekeeper to bring over some hot porridge and food.
Meanwhile, Zhao Rui Hai used his phone to take a few clear photos of the girl¡¯s face and sent them to his old subordinates at the Donghai City Police Department, exining the situation.
The subordinate quickly replied, ¡°Leave it to me; I¡¯ll activate the facial recognition system and the Sk monitoring system right away. Don¡¯t worry, the facial recognition system in Donghai is connected nationwide. If there¡¯s any registered information on this youngdy, we¡¯ll find it right away.¡±
¡°Even if we don¡¯t find anything, we still have the Sk system! This girl is all grown up; she can¡¯t have just popped out of a rock, right? As long as she¡¯s ever been caught on surveince, we can track her through the Sk system.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t take more than half an hour to get results. Just wait for my call.¡±
With that, the old subordinate got to work immediately.
Back in the room, Zhao Rui Hai watched the young girl eat her meal quietly. ¡°Has she spoken?¡± he asked Yan Mei.
¡°No,¡± Yan Mei shook her head. ¡°She still hasn¡¯t said anything. But I don¡¯t think she doesn¡¯t want to talk¡ It seems like she doesn¡¯t know how.¡±
¡°But this young girl is so well-behaved! She¡¯s quiet and cute. I think she understands most of what I say. Look how well she uses the spoon and chopsticks!¡±
Watching the young girl sitting on the edge of the bed, eating quietly, Zhao Rui Hai truly felt a fondness growing. He had always liked children and enjoyed taking care of them.
But with the family nning policy back in the day and his only daughter, Zhao Ying Jun, being so independent, he could only sigh and say, ¡°Oh, when will we have a granddaughter as lovely as this? At this rate with Ying Jun, it seems impossible¡ Who knows when we¡¯ll even see a granddaughter?¡±
¡°My friends and colleagues are all ying with their grandchildren now. Sometimes it¡¯s hard to even get them together for a meal because they¡¯re all busy babysitting. Theyin, but it¡¯s all humble-bragging.¡±
¡°When will I ever get to the point where a little one chases me around calling me Grandpa?¡±
The young girl put down her bowl and chopsticks, seemingly drawn to Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s voice. She turned her head and said, ¡°Grand¡ pa?¡±
Huh??
Both Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei¡¯s eyes widened instantly.
Zhao Rui Hai quickly circled around to the bedside, crouching down to look at Yan Mei, ¡°She can talk!¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Yan Meiughed joyfully, ¡°She can talk! Maybe we were speaking too quickly before, and she couldn¡¯t understand, so she didn¡¯t know what to say. But when you said ¡®Grandpa¡¯ more slowly, she understood!¡±
Yan Mei became even more excited, holding the young girl¡¯s hand and softly teaching her, ¡°Grandma¡ Grandma¡ Can you call me Grandma?¡±
The young girl looked at Yan Mei, opened her mouth a few times, ¡°Grand¡ ma?¡±
¡°Oh my! Look, she can really talk!¡±
Yan Mei, who had been a teacher all her life, had never felt such a sense of aplishment. In that instant, it was even greater than when she was selected as a Thousand Talents Program Distinguished Lecturer.
Perhaps their expectations for the young girl had been too low¡ªthey had assumed she was deaf-mute or cognitively impaired.
So now, discovering that she could understand and mimic speech¡ it made the couple overlook the fact that she was already a teenager. Shouldn¡¯t it be normal for her to talk?
Yan Mei happily continued asking the girl questions, though she couldn¡¯t answer them yet. But the girl¡¯s speech became longer and more fluent, showing that her intelligence wasn¡¯t impaired¡ªshe just seemed to be slowly waking up.
The elderly couple spent over an hour in the living room, keeping the young girlpany.
By then, she was capable of basicmunication but seemed to have a nk memory, unable to recall much orprehendplex things.
Frustrated, Zhao Rui Hai picked up his phone. What was taking his old subordinate so long? He¡¯d promised results in half an hour, and it had been over an hour¡
How could they be taking so long? The parents must be worried sick! They should be moving faster.
He dialed his subordinate¡¯s number directly. ¡°Xiao Wang, did you find anything on the girl? Who are her parents?¡±
On the other end, the subordinate sounded like he had seen a ghost. ¡°Sir¡ We¡¯ve searched everywhere, the whole Information Department was on it. But there¡¯s not a single match in the facial recognition system!¡±
¡°Same with Sk! Usually, with such clear facial data input, we¡¯d have results immediately. But we¡¯ve been checking for ages, and there¡¯s no trace in the Sk system either.¡±
¡°I know this sounds irresponsible, but we¡¯ve never encountered anything like this before. It feels like this girl really did just pop out of a rock!¡±
¡°Nonsense!¡± Zhao Rui Hai scolded immediately. ¡°Even if she dide out of a rock, she¡¯s grown up now; there must be some information on her! What about any missing child reports?¡±
¡°None¡ We¡¯ve checked them all. There have been no missing child cases reported in the entire Donghai City recently.¡±
The voice on the other end was hesitant, ¡°We¡¯ll keep looking!¡±
Then the call ended.
Now even more perplexed, Zhao Rui Hai nced back at the young girl, who was making Yan Meiugh on the living room sofa.
Something strange was going on¡
It was impossible for there to be no trace in both the Sk and household registration systems! Any X Country citizen, even a foreigner living in X Country, couldn¡¯t escape the Sk surveince system.
On the sofa, the young girl turned her head to Zhao Rui Hai, ¡°Grandpa.¡±
She called out clearly.
¡°Yes! Yes! Coming!¡± Even though he wasn¡¯t really her grandfather, the girl had called him so, and Zhao Rui Hai walked over, chuckling.
The young girl then pointed at Yan Mei, ¡°Grandma.¡±
Yan Mei hadn¡¯t stopped smiling all morning, nodding eagerly. ¡°Yes, yes, Grandma~ So who are you? Do you remember who you are?¡±
The girl pointed at herself, ¡°Little¡ girl.¡±
Pfft¡ª!
The answer made Yan Mei burst intoughter, and even Zhao Rui Hai affectionately patted the girl on the head. He understood what was going on.
¡°She wasn¡¯t calling us Grandpa and Grandma¡ She thinks those are our names! She thinks our names are Grandpa and Grandma, and she thinks her name is Little Girl¡ This is too cute.¡±
¡°In my opinion, this little girl is quite clever. She might have lost her memory due to some situation, so she can¡¯t remember a lot of things for now.¡±
¡°What¡¯s even stranger is that I asked the Donghai City Police to check, and there¡¯s absolutely no information on this child. Plus, no one in Donghai has reported their child missing¡ Does that sound normal to you? What parent wouldn¡¯t report a missing child after more than ten hours, or overnight?¡±
Yan Mei nodded in agreement, ¡°So what do we do now? Should we take the girl to the police? But it¡¯s so busy there; there might not be anyone to take good care of her. She¡¯s clearly in a stage where she¡¯s just recovering her memory¡ she needs someone to stay with her.¡±
¡°How about this, Husband, let¡¯s keep her at home for now. It¡¯s not like she¡¯ll suffer with us. When we find her parents, we¡¯ll send her to them immediately.¡±
Shaking his head, Zhao Rui Hai said, ¡°No, we have to follow the rules. There are proper procedures for this, and we need to cooperate with them.¡±
¡°Oh!¡± Yan Mei really didn¡¯t want to see this adorable girl mistreated, hugging her close. ¡°Rules are rigid; people are flexible! I¡¯m not saying we should take someone else¡¯s child. We¡¯ve reported it and asked the police to find her. If there¡¯s any clue, we¡¯ll cooperate! Could the police take care of her better than I could? Isn¡¯t she eating all the same food no matter where?¡±
¡°And, think about it, Husband. No one has reported her missing. What if she¡¯s an orphan or a child abandoned by someone¡ Are you nning to leave her at the police station forever? Or are you going to send her to an orphanage?¡±
¡°If she were apletely healthy child, that¡¯d be one thing. But this girl clearly doesn¡¯t know much right now. If you just irresponsibly send her out and she meets bad people, what then? What if she¡¯s an unwanted orphan?¡±
The young girl, ufortable in Yan Mei¡¯s embrace, gently patted her leg, ¡°Grandma¡¡±
¡°Yes, yes,¡± Yan Mei smiled even more broadly, smoothing the girl¡¯s hair. ¡°Oh dear, are you scared? Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, Grandma won¡¯t abandon you, I promise~¡±
Seeing the young girl, who resembled a younger Zhao Ying Jun, even more so than before, Zhao Rui Hai felt reluctant to let her go.
It was mainly because she looked so much like her. He didn¡¯t feelfortable sending her to the police when she seemed tock self-care abilities.
Yan Mei¡¯s suggestion made sense. As soon as there were any leads, they¡¯d send the girl back.
¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Rui Hai finally persuaded himself. He looked at the lovely girl on the sofa, reminiscing about Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s childhood and dreaming of his future granddaughter¡ It melted his heart.
Wait¡ he suddenly remembered, doesn¡¯t X Country have a DNA database?
Many trafficked children and parents looking for their kids have left DNA samples in the database. If a child can¡¯t find their parents, or parents can¡¯t find their children, you just input the DNA sample for a match, and it immediately reveals any blood rtives!
Even if the girl¡¯s parents didn¡¯t have DNA in the database¡ putting hers in there couldn¡¯t hurt, right?
No time to waste! As a parent, he understood the anxiety of not being able to find your child. He wanted to send the girl home as soon as possible.
So, he stood up and looked at Yan Mei, ¡°Get ready. We¡¯re going to the hospital to input the girl¡¯s DNA into the database. This will help us find her parents faster.¡±
¡°Oh, right, right.¡± Yan Mei agreed. DNA was indeed more reliable than anything else. Better to put it in the database first.
She smiled as she helped the girl up from the sofa, ¡°Let¡¯s go; we¡¯re heading to the hospital to find your parents!¡±
The girl tilted her head, blinking, ¡°Mom¡ Dad?¡±
Chapter 361: Blood Relation
In X Country, there is a unique tool called the Anti-Trafficking DNA Database. It was created years ago to help find missing children, rescue kidnapped kids, and reunite broken families. People can volunteer to add their DNA data to this database, which matches new samples with existing ones to find potential blood rtions.
This system has helped many lost children reunite with their families and broughtfort to countless parents. It is widely seen as a valuable public service. Authorities also work hard to increase the number of samples in the database by collecting DNA from vulnerable groups, like homeless people or young offenders. The idea is that if DNA from every missing child and their parents were in the database, matches could be made quickly, reuniting families.
This is what Zhao Rui Hai was thinking. He believed it was a good idea to enter the little girl¡¯s DNA into the Anti-Trafficking DNA Database, even if they couldn¡¯t find her biological parents right away. ¡°Think of it as filing a record,¡± he exined.
Zhao Rui Hai put on his coat and motioned for Yan Mei and the little girl to head out together. ¡°If her parents have already entered their DNA into the database, or if they doter, they¡¯ll find her immediately.¡±
They left the house and got into a red sedan, heading for the nearest public hospital. This time, Zhao Rui Hai didn¡¯t drive; he sat in the back with Yan Mei and the little girl while the chauffeur took the wheel. He didn¡¯t want to let the girl go, feeling that if they found her parents, they¡¯d have to part ways. He knew from the start that they¡¯d eventually have to return her, but she looked so much like his daughter, Zhao Ying Jun. The way she kept calling him ¡°Grandpa¡±¡ How could he not feel attached to her? He wanted to cherish the time they had together. Meeting her felt like fate.
The little girl was truly adorable¡ªher looks were striking, and the more he looked at her, the more he liked her. She made him feel like he couldn¡¯t wait to have a granddaughter of his own. But then, he thought of his daughter¡¯s stubborn personality and her impossibly high standards for a partner, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a headacheing on. It seemed like a distant dream.
Half an hourter, they arrived at the nearest public hospital. Yan Mei suggested not using any connections to speed things up; she wanted to keep the girl with them a bit longer. Making a fuss about it wouldn¡¯t be good. Zhao Rui Hai agreed. He had always felt this matter should be handled by the police, but he couldn¡¯t argue against Yan Mei¡¯s insistence, especially since he, too, was reluctant to part with the girl.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s just register and wait in line. There aren¡¯t too many people in the department we need to visit,¡± he said. Yan Mei used the self-service machine to register them for a specialist appointment and waited for their turn.While there weren¡¯t many people waiting in the DNA verification department, the drama was endless. Family disputes yed out one after another. Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai found themselves drawn in¡ªit was more exciting than TV dramas.
¡°This department head has it tough,¡± Yan Mei whispered. ¡°Not only does he have to see patients, but he also has to break up fights and mediate family disputes.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai chuckled. He could see that the head physician was constantly exining to patients that there was no point in arguing there. DNA reports couldn¡¯t be faked; if they had issues, they should take it to court. But no amount of kind words could calm people down. Almost no one who came to this department could remain calm.
¡°We¡¯re definitely not like them,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said confidently. ¡°We¡¯re here to do a good deed and help add to the country¡¯s Anti-Trafficking DNA Database.¡±
After much effort, the head physician managed to send away a red-faced couple. With a tired sigh, he clicked the next number on the registration system. A voice from the hallway speaker called out, ¡°Yan Mei, pleasee in for your appointment.¡±
Yan Mei stood up, holding the little girl¡¯s hand, and motioned to Zhao Rui Hai. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s our turn.¡±
The three of them entered the consultation room together. The doctor, wearing silver-framed sses, looked up, nced at them, and shook his head. ¡°For a paternity test, it¡¯s best to have the child¡¯s parentse. Grandparents can only test for blood rtions, which, to be honest, doesn¡¯t provide a very urate reference.¡±
He continued, ¡°Even if it shows you two have a blood rtionship with the granddaughter, in the end, to determine the exact rtionship, you¡¯ll still need the child¡¯s parents. This is especially true for girls, who only have X chromosomes, so testing against a grandfather¡¯s Y chromosome isn¡¯t possible, making the results less reliable.¡±
Yan Mei walked in, sat down, and smiled at the doctor from across the table. ¡°Doctor, there¡¯s a misunderstanding. We¡¯re not here for a paternity test.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not?¡± The doctor looked puzzled. He adjusted his sses, looked down at the little girl, then back up at Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai.
This¡ Isn¡¯t this a family?
He was a seasoned doctor who had worked in the DNA testing department for decades and had seen countless familiese in for paternity tests. His discerning eyes had gotten pretty sharp. Some children didn¡¯t look much like their parents, and he wasn¡¯t always sure. But today, this grandmother, grandfather, and granddaughter clearly shared many simrities. Especially this woman, Yan Mei, registered in the system, and the little girl, who looked rather dazed¡ªtheir eyes, cheekbones, and nose bridge were all strikingly simr. It was obvious they were very likely rted by blood.
¡°You¡¯re¡ not this little girl¡¯s grandparents?¡± the doctor asked, looking at Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai.
Yan Mei waved her hand. ¡°No, we¡¯re not. We¡¯re just trying to find out who the little girl¡¯s biological parents are. Doesn¡¯t our country have that Anti-Trafficking DNA Database? We thought we¡¯d start by entering the girl¡¯s DNA into it.¡±
The doctor frowned, growing more confused by the second. They looked so much alike¡ªshouldn¡¯t they be questioning their own connection first? Besides, when grandparents brought a child, it was usually suspicious! In his experience, it often meant they were sneaking in without the parents¡¯ knowledge.
He began to get a bit cautious¡
¡°Come here, little one,¡± he called, holding a pen and motioning for the girl toe closer. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°My name is Little Girl,¡± she said seriously.
¡°Hehe, smart girl,¡± the doctor chuckled, ruffling her hair. He roughly gauged her intelligence level, then pointed to Zhao Rui Hai with his pen and asked softly, ¡°And who is this gentleman?¡±
¡°This is Grandpa,¡± the girl replied seriously.
The doctor then pointed to Yan Mei, ¡°And who is she?¡±
¡°This is Grandma,¡± the girl said, clearly and without hesitation.
Smack.
The doctor mmed his pen on the table, looking at Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai with irritation. ¡°What are you ying at? Did youe to the hospital to mess with me?¡±
¡°This little girl says you¡¯re her grandparents, yet you im not to know who her parents are¡ I¡¯ve seen all sorts of strange things in my career, so if there¡¯s something to say, just say it. Don¡¯t lie and beat around the bush here.¡±
¡°Are you suspecting this child isn¡¯t your daughter¡¯s? Or worried there was a mix-up at birth? Honestly¡ those concerns are reasonable. Just say so directly, and I can give you a form for a blood rtionship test. Why go through all this trouble to enter her into the Anti-Trafficking DNA Database?¡±
Yan Mei felt helpless¡ªshe couldn¡¯t exin. This little girl! The words she could say most fluently were ¡°Grandpa¡± and ¡°Grandma.¡± But the key issue was¡ In the girl¡¯s understanding, ¡°Grandpa¡± and ¡°Grandma¡± weren¡¯t titles; they were names! Just like how she referred to herself as ¡°Little Girl¡±¡ªshe always thought her name was Little Girl!
And with this misunderstanding, the doctorpletely got the wrong idea.
¡°No, doctor, you really misunderstood,¡± Yan Mei tried to exin. ¡°We truly have no blood rtion with this little girl. If we did¡ wouldn¡¯t we know if our daughter had given birth to a child?¡±
¡°To be honest, we found this little girl on the side of the road. We couldn¡¯t find her parents, and we already reported it to the police, but there were no results.¡±
¡°So¡ considering she might be a trafficked or missing child, we thought it¡¯d be best to enter her DNA into the database and see if there¡¯s any match.¡±
¡°Also, it seems like this little girl has some sort of memory loss; she doesn¡¯t remember much. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t be so clueless.¡±
As she spoke, she pulled the little girl closer and gently said, ¡°Right? Tell the doctor, aren¡¯t you having trouble remembering things?¡±
The doctor listened to Yan Mei¡¯s exnation, squinting his eyes with suspicion. He nced at the grandmother and granddaughter sitting across from him, both with such simr facial features¡
Oh,e on. He really couldn¡¯t take this family seriously.
Couldn¡¯t theye up with a more convincing story?
And just look at this little girl. She¡¯s got soft skin, fairplexion, refined features, and clear, innocent eyes. She clearly looks like a well-bred child! Families with even slightly worse conditions couldn¡¯t raise such a well-groomed child. From the looks and aura of these two elderly people, it was obvious they came from a wealthy and noble family. Clearly, they were a family¡ªwhy make up such nonsense?
¡°I have to warn you,¡± the doctor said sternly. ¡°If this little girl really isn¡¯t yours, then you can¡¯t just get a DNA test done willy-nilly.¡±
¡°Honestly, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the girl looks quite a bit like you two¡ I¡¯d have called the police right now. Child trafficking is serious business.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai saw that the doctor didn¡¯t believe them and thought Yan Mei was not exining things clearly enough. He stepped forward and said, ¡°Doctor, we know this little girl looks somewhat like my family¡ otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t bother with this. Just help us get a form for the DNA sample. We just want to help this little girl find her real parents.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The doctor agreed. ¡°I understand what you¡¯re trying to do.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re trying to find the girl¡¯s parents, why not consider the most likely option right in front of you?¡± The doctor gestured between Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai with his pen. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a bit too close to the situation? If you took this girl outside, into the hallway, and asked anyone to look at her, they¡¯d say she¡¯s your granddaughter.¡±
¡°You suspect others, but why not consider yourselves first? I¡¯m not trying to stir up trouble in your family; I¡¯m just giving an example¡¡±
¡°Even if you¡¯re both absolutely confident that this child isn¡¯t yours¡ do you trust your own child that much? Could she not have had a child? And what about your rtives? They have kids, too¡ why think so far ahead? Just do a DNA rtionship test yourselves.¡±
¡°Plus, entering the Anti-Trafficking DNA Database and doing a blood rtionship test aren¡¯t mutually exclusive. It¡¯s just that the two of you would have to give a bit more blood along with the girl¡ judging by your family¡¯s situation, it¡¯s just the cost of a few reports. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to check everything?¡±
¡°Fine, fine.¡± Zhao Rui Hai had already noticed people in the hallway leaning in to listen. He waved his hand, annoyed. ¡°Just give us the form and add us in, too.¡± He felt there was no need to exin so much. As the doctor said, it¡¯s just the cost of a couple more reports. It wasn¡¯t a big deal.
The doctor began filling out the form, asking, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°Zhao Rui Hai.¡±
The doctor jotted it down on the form and then pointed to the little girl, ¡°And her name?¡±
¡°I¡¯m called Little Girl,¡± she replied firmly.
The doctor chuckled, ruffling her hair again. He looked at Yan Mei, ¡°What¡¯s her real name?¡±
Yan Mei sighed, ¡°We really don¡¯t know what her name is¡¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got to write something,¡± the doctor said, somewhat exasperated. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to give her real name, just make something up. I can¡¯t actually write down ¡®Little Girl.¡¯¡±
Yan Mei scratched her head, thinking back to a recent gift she sent to a neighbor who had a granddaughter named for her 100-day celebration. The name vaguely came to her mind¡
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s just use that name.¡±
The doctor finished writing and clicked a few times on hisputer, printing out a test form with three sections:
DNA sample of Yan Qiao Qiao to be entered into the national Anti-Trafficking DNA Database.
DNA rtionship test between Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Qiao Qiao.
DNA rtionship test between Yan Mei and Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°Go pay the fees. After that, you cane back for the blood draw,¡± the doctor said, handing the form to Yan Mei, then clicked to call the next patient.
Watching the elderly couple lead their granddaughter out of the room, the doctor chuckled to himself and shook his head. See¡ Another family drama. He had seen it too many times. Saying they found a child on the side of the road¡ what a lousy excuse. If the three of them didn¡¯t look so much like a family, he would have called the police right away. If you¡¯re going to make something up, at least make it believable. How could anyone just happen to find a child that looks exactly like them, doesn¡¯t cry or fuss, and calls them ¡°Grandpa¡± and ¡°Grandma¡± so naturally? It¡¯s like a fairytale.
Eighty percent of the time, when elderly people bring in a child for DNA testing, it¡¯s because they don¡¯t want to disrupt their family but still want to know if the child is really theirs. That¡¯s why they secretly bring the grandchild in for a DNA test. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it all,¡± the doctor muttered, moving on to his next patient.
On the second floor of the hospital, outside the DNA testing room, Yan Mei held the form while she, Zhao Rui Hai, and the little girl waited by the door. She looked at Zhao Rui Hai with a puzzled expression. ¡°Husband, are we really going to have our blood drawn too?¡±
¡°Yes, let¡¯s do it,¡± Zhao Rui Hai replied casually. ¡°We¡¯re here to keep the little girlpany. If she sees us getting our blood drawn first, she might not be so scared.¡±
¡°Besides¡ we have no choice. You saw how suspicious the doctor was about our rtionship with the girl. If we keep pushing, he might refuse to give us the form. After all, we really have no blood rtion to the girl, so insisting on a DNA test isn¡¯t exactly following proper procedures.¡±
¡°And another thing¡ªyou didn¡¯t notice, did you? The people waiting outside in the hallway were all craning their necks to hear our family drama¡ I¡¯m someone of some status here in the capital. If word of this gets out, how could I ever exin it?¡±
¡°So, as the doctor said, it¡¯s just the cost of two more reports. It doesn¡¯t matter to us. Let¡¯s just keep the girlpany.¡±
After that, the three of them went in for the blood draw. Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai went first. The little girl watched calmly, not saying much and not showing much fear. The nursepleted the disinfection process, took out a new disposable blood draw tube, and looked at the name on the form, saying, ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao! Yan Qiao Qiao, it¡¯s your turn.¡±
The little girl remained unresponsive. Yan Mei gently guided her to the chair. ¡°It¡¯s her, it¡¯s her.¡±
The nurse looked into the little girl¡¯s eyes and confirmed, ¡°Are you Yan Qiao Qiao?¡±
The little girl shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m Little Girl.¡±
The nurse chuckled, dipping a cotton swab in iodine and wiping the girl¡¯s arm. ¡°I know you¡¯re a little girl¡ I mean your name! Not your gender! Your gender is a little girl, but¡ your name is Yan~ Qiao~ Qiao~.¡±
The little girl tilted her head. ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao?¡±
The nurse nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, you are Yan Qiao Qiao.¡±
The girl turned her head, giving Yan Mei a confused look. ¡°Am I Yan Qiao Qiao?¡±
¡°Yes, yes,¡± Yan Mei said, waving her hand. ¡°You are now called Yan Qiao Qiao, that¡¯s right.¡±
Seizing the moment while the little girl turned her head, the nurse swiftly inserted the needle into the vein in her arm and released the tourniquet. As the blood vessel reopened, bright red blood flowed through the fine tube and into the vacuum vial.
¡°Well done,¡± the nurse praised, seeing the girl¡¯s calm and expressionless demeanor. ¡°Good job, Qiao Qiao. Kids your age usually cry and fuss when getting blood drawn, especially with these thicker needles. It stings a bit.¡±
The little girl watched the needle and the red blood flowing into the tube. Strangely, it didn¡¯t hurt much. It felt very ordinary. Her body didn¡¯t react much, as if it had already gotten used to this minor pain.
¡°All done,¡± the nurse said, cing a band-aid on the puncture site. She stood up and looked at Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai. ¡°The soonest you¡¯ll get the results is two to three hours. You might as well take a walk and grab some lunch. By the time you¡¯re done, the report should be ready.¡±
With that, the elderly couple, holding hands with a girl who looked just like their granddaughter, left the hospital and went to a nearby park to pass the time. All three of them had band-aids on their left arms. Truly a family. Perfectly matched.
It wasn¡¯t quite the May holiday yet, and it was still a working day, so there weren¡¯t many young people in the park¡ªmostly just elderly folks with kids. The younger children were pushed in strollers, soaking up the sun. Older ones rolled around on the grass or chased each other on the paths.
People passing by couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at the little girl, offering sincerepliments:
¡°What a pretty little girl.¡±
¡°A real beauty in the making!¡±
¡°She really looks like her grandmother.¡±
¡°Indeed¡ they look like a family.¡±
These suddenpliments made Yan Mei stand up straight, feeling quite proud. ¡°Heh, did you hear that, Husband?¡± Yan Mei said, ncing at Zhao Rui Hai, who was holding the little girl¡¯s other hand. ¡°People are saying this little girl looks like me¡ªjust as beautiful.¡±
¡°Give me a break¡¡± Zhao Rui Hai scoffed, but he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the little girl walking between them. Each of them held one of her soft, fair hands. At that moment, Zhao Rui Hai realized¡ How many years had it been since he had been this close to his daughter, Zhao Ying Jun?
When was thest time he held Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand? Probably back in elementary school. Ying Jun had been sent abroad in middle school, bing independent and distant. When she returned, she wasn¡¯t close to him anymore. When was thest time he hugged Zhao Ying Jun¡? That must have been in kindergarten.
Back then, he was busy with work and often neglected Zhao Ying Jun. He remembered that every time he picked her up from kindergarten, Zhao Ying Jun would want him to carry her, just like the other kids being held by their parents. He couldn¡¯t quite remember why¡ But Zhao Rui Hai always felt like he rarely carried Zhao Ying Jun. He often left her feeling disappointed in that regard. He always wanted to teach her lessons, shape her character, and impose rules on her. Looking back now¡ Was he too strict?
His daughter turned out the way she did¡ Was it partially his fault?
For someone as stubborn as Zhao Rui Hai, it was a rare moment of introspection, filled with guilt and regret. It seemed like he had always been too critical of Zhao Ying Jun. As a father¡ He never really reflected on his own actions.
¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai felt a tug on their arms. They turned around. The little girl had stopped, her eyes fixed on another girl sitting on her grandfather¡¯s shoulders, shouting, ¡°Horsey! Horsey!¡±
She turned her head, blinking her bright, clear eyes at Zhao Rui Hai. ¡°Horsey.¡±
For a moment, Zhao Rui Hai was stunned. Yan Mei chuckled, stepping back and looping her arm around the little girl¡¯s. ¡°No, you¡¯re already a teenager. You¡¯re too old for that. That¡¯s for younger kids.¡±
¡°Mm.¡± The little girl nodded obediently.
Ah¡ Zhao Rui Hai took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was this kind of obedience that felt like a knife to his heart. It reminded him of how little Zhao Ying Jun used to be in kindergarten¡ how her eyes grew dim and cold over time because of his constant refusal and reasoning.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± he said, suddenly kneeling down and offering his broad back to the girl. ¡°Hop on, Grandpa will carry you! My body is still strong enough for now, but in ten years or so, maybe I won¡¯t be able to do this anymore.¡±
Then, like a flower blooming on a barren tree¡ The little girl smiled for the first time. It was faint, but she smiled. It was the first time she had smiled since waking up, and Yan Mei was stunned. It was like seeing her own daughter¡¯s childhood smile again.
The girl climbed onto Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s back. ¡°Hehe, hold on tight. We¡¯re going up!¡± he said, standing up straight and carrying her forward. Along the way, many people turned their heads, noticing a girl who looked about thirteen or fourteen being carried by her grandfather. It seemed a bitzy. But who could me them? The grandparents were just spoiling their child. Look at that smile¡ªit was so sweet.
¡°Husband, how old do you think this girl is?¡± Yan Mei asked as she walked behind them. ¡°Judging by her height, she must be around fourteen or fifteen. But kids these days grow early¡ Many of them are fully grown by twelve or thirteen.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai shook his head. ¡°If you can¡¯t figure it out, how could I? I think she¡¯s a bit skinny, though¡ She needs to eat more meat.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve spent enough time in the park. How about we get some food?¡± he said, looking back at the girl on his back. ¡°What do you want to eat? Grandpa will take you there.¡±
The girl blinked, ¡°Meat.¡±
As it happened, there was a high-end barbecue restaurant nearby with a huge sign visible from afar. Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai took the little girl straight there. At the barbecue table, Yan Mei kept grilling meat for the girl, who ate it eagerly. Zhao Rui Hai sat across from them, watching this heartwarming scene and smiling with satisfaction.
¡°Ughhh¡¡± He sighed. ¡°People always say grandparents spoil their grandkids. I didn¡¯t understand it before. I thought I¡¯d be strict with my grandkids too, raising them to be good and sessful people.¡±
¡°But now, I don¡¯t think that way at all. Just like my colleagues, when they talk about their grandkids, they have no expectations at all. They just want them to be healthy and happy! Who cares about studies or dreams? Health and happiness are all that matter.¡±
¡°I feel the same now. If this little girl were Ying Jun when she was young, I would¡¯ve scolded her for eating like this. But now¡ seeing her eat like this, I find it cute. Eating is eating¡ªwhy does it need so many rules?¡±
Hmph. Yan Mei gave him a sideways nce. ¡°You weren¡¯t like this with Ying Jun. You had all sorts of rules for her when she ate. No noise from the mouth, no holding chopsticks too low, no cing them against others, and every grain of rice had to be eaten.¡±
¡°People don¡¯t just love their grandkids more¡ªthey realize they were too strict with their own kids. They try to make up for that guilt with their grandkids.¡±
¡°Everyone is like this. Even if you apologize to Ying Jun now and try to make up for it, it¡¯s useless. She grew up in an environment of constant scolding and pressure. Anypensation after she¡¯s grown won¡¯t change that.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the truth behind loving your grandkids more¡ If we have a granddaughter, even if she bangs her chopsticks on her bowl or eats with her hands, as long as she doesn¡¯t find it too hot, it¡¯s fine! People do change¡ We¡¯ve only been with this little girl for less than 24 hours, and my grandma¡¯s heart is already overflowing, always afraid she¡¯s not eating enough.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai chuckled too. Looking at his empty te and the pile of bones on the girl¡¯s te¡ He really didn¡¯t feel hungry. Watching her was satisfying enough.
But then he thought about how they would soon find the girl¡¯s parents and send her back to her family. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit down. Even though he had reminded himself countless times that she wasn¡¯t his granddaughter and he shouldn¡¯t be so attached¡ He just couldn¡¯t help it!
Over the years, he¡¯d held plenty of other people¡¯s babies and helped colleagues and friends take care of their kids. But¡ He had never felt this kind of reluctance and affection before. Why was that? It must be because the little girl looked so much like Ying Jun.
Yes. He nodded silently. That had to be the reason. Otherwise¡ How could he exin this deep-seated sense of closeness?
After finishing their barbecue, the couple once again held the girl¡¯s hands and returned to the public hospital¡¯s DNA testing department to pick up their reports. Each holding a report, Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei kept their lips tightly sealed, saying nothing.
¡°Hehe.¡± Yan Mei was the first tough, teasingly looking at Zhao Rui Hai, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Husband? Getting a bit nervous now? Afraid to open the report¡ worried about a secret child being exposed?¡±
¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡± Zhao Rui Hai snorted. ¡°I have nothing to hide. And if anyone should be worried, it¡¯s you. The doctor said the girl looks a lot like you. If there¡¯s a secret child, it¡¯s yours.¡±
¡°Oh, please. I know whether I¡¯ve had a child or not,¡± Yan Mei snorted back. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s look at my report first. I¡¯ve got nothing to hide.¡±
With that, Yan Mei ripped open the seal and, without even looking, held the results page right up to Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s face. He tore open his seal as well, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m scared. Why would I be? I¡¯ll show you mine, too. See for yourself¡ªno rtion at all!¡±
The two of them exchanged amused nces and chuckled. They had known each other since they were young, moving from ssmates to married life. Over the years, their rtionship had been strong, and they trusted each other deeply.
So¡ They had confidence in themselves and in each other, knowing their earlier banter was just a joke. How could there possibly be a secret child?
With a lightugh, they nced at each other¡¯s reports¡ª
¡°What?!¡±
¡°No way!?¡±
Instantly! Their eyes widened, and they shouted out in shock, attracting the attention of several onlookers. For a moment, both of them struggled to breathe.
They turned around. cing both reports side by side on the windowsill, they stared at the nearly identical results¡ª
[DNA Test Result: A blood rtionship exists between Yan Qiao Qiao and Zhao Rui Hai.]
[DNA Test Result: A blood rtionship exists between Yan Qiao Qiao and Yan Mei.]
¡°This¡ what¡¡±
The elderly couple¡¯s faces turned pale. They stared at each other, at a loss for words.
Then, they both turned their eyes to the little girl!
Zhao Rui Hai swallowed hard. ¡°Who¡ who are you?¡±
¡°Me?¡± The little girl pointed to herself, her tone serious and her words clear: ¡°I am¡ Yan Qiao Qiao.¡±
Chapter 362: A Serious Family Meeting
Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei sat quietly, lost in their thoughts. The silence between them stretched on for what felt like hours.
They were both smart people, well aware that DNA test results are rarely wrong. If there had been an error for one person, that would be one thing. But for two people at once? That seemed impossible.
Still, the report didn¡¯t specify the exact nature of the blood rtionship.
Zhao Rui Hai finally broke the silence, looking up, ¡°Let¡¯s take this report back to the doctor. Maybe they can give us more details.¡±
¡°Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,¡± Yan Mei agreed, still frowning at what she thought was a very strange situation. She held the little girl¡¯s hand as they headed back to the doctor¡¯s office.
The doctor looked over the two reports, a small smile forming on his face. ¡°See? I told you. Isn¡¯t it obvious this child is from your family? The DNA simrity rate isn¡¯t that high, but that¡¯s expected with tests involving grandparents and their descendants.¡±
¡°As I mentioned earlier, a paternity test only works between parents and their children. For grandparents and grandchildren, you need a different kind of blood rtionship test.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t believe everything you see in TV dramas about hospitals being able to determine generational rtionships with perfect uracy. It¡¯s not possible. The report clearly states what we know for sure¡ª¡±¡°This girl, Yan Qiao Qiao, is definitely rted to both of you by blood. But she isn¡¯t your daughter. She could only be your descendant. To confirm if Qiao Qiao is your granddaughter, your daughter would still need to take a paternity test.¡±
¡°But science doesn¡¯t always have to be so strict in life. The girl looks like you, probably resembles your daughter too, and shares your blood. If there aren¡¯t any other issues, just go home and live together as a family.¡±
As they walked out of the hospital, Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei held the little girl¡¯s hand and looked up at the sky, staring at the sun, the clouds, and the clear blue.
¡°No way,¡± Zhao Rui Hai finally spoke. ¡°Is she really our granddaughter?¡±
He looked at the little girl beside him with wide eyes. ¡°But it just doesn¡¯t add up¡ We only have one child, Ying Jun. When would she have had time to have a child this old?¡±
¡°And besides,¡± he continued, ¡°this girl is what, twelve or thirteen years old? Ying Jun is only 25. She couldn¡¯t have had a child when she was twelve or thirteen!¡±
¡°Impossible, totally impossible,¡± Yan Mei shook her head firmly. ¡°Ying Jun went abroad for school when she was fifteen or sixteen. Before that, she was always with us here in the capital. When would she have had a baby? It¡¯s just crazy.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no way this girl is Ying Jun¡¯s child. She never had the opportunity to have a baby. And the biggest problem is¡ this girl¡¯s age doesn¡¯t match up at all.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai nodded. The age issue was also bothering him. Even if they stretched it and said the girl was only ten, that would mean Ying Jun would have had her before she was fifteen. That¡¯s impossible. At fifteen, Ying Jun hadn¡¯t even left the country yet. She was stilling home from school every day. How could she have been pregnant?
Moreover, he knew his daughter well. She was a good person, very responsible. There was no way she¡¯d have a child out of wedlock. Even if she did, the child wouldn¡¯t be this old.
¡°The problem isn¡¯t with Ying Jun,¡± Zhao Rui Hai shook his head. ¡°The real issue is the girl¡¯s age. If she were four, five, seven, or eight years old, then maybe we could suspect she¡¯s Ying Jun¡¯s child. But the age gap is just too small. It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±
Yan Mei looked up at him. ¡°So, are you saying¡ the problem is with us?¡±
¡°But the doctor already said that based on the DNA ovep rate, it¡¯s impossible for her to be our biological child. Gically, she could only be our descendant.¡±
¡°And how many children have we had? Don¡¯t we know ourselves? I would¡¯ve loved a second child, but the one-child policy back then didn¡¯t allow it. If it had, we would¡¯ve had one.¡±
¡°So, as unbelievable as it is, and I find it hard to believe too, the facts are facts. DNA reports don¡¯t lie. She must be our granddaughter. You have to trust science, Husband!¡±
Zhao Rui Hai sighed deeply. ¡°I do trust science; I really do. But it¡¯s precisely because I trust science that I can¡¯t believe we suddenly have a granddaughter.¡±
What¡¯s really going on?
He crouched down and looked at the little girl, feeling like the key to this mysteryy with her. ¡°Qiao Qiao, do you remember anything?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°No.¡±
By this point, the little girl had epted the name Yan Qiao Qiao, and the older couple had gotten used to calling her that.
¡°Let¡¯s go home first,¡± Zhao Rui Hai sighed, holding Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand. ¡°We¡¯ll figure out what to do next once we¡¯re at home.¡±
About an hourter, in the living room of their vi, Zhao Rui Hai stopped pacing and looked at Yan Mei and Qiao Qiao eating watermelon. ¡°I think we need to ask Ying Jun about this.¡±
¡°What are you going to say?¡± Yan Meiughed. ¡°Are you going to ask her directly, ¡®Where did this childe from? When did you have her?¡¯¡±
¡°I won¡¯t be that blunt,¡± Zhao Rui Hai waved his hand. ¡°We know our daughter. If she doesn¡¯t want to talk about something, we won¡¯t be able to get it out of her.¡±
¡°And¡ even a tiger wouldn¡¯t harm its cub. If Ying Jun really raised this girl so well, and now the child¡¯s been missing for a whole day and night, do you think she wouldn¡¯t be looking for her, wouldn¡¯t be worried, wouldn¡¯t report it to the police? Does that make any sense to you?¡±
Yan Mei thought about it and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right; that makes sense. It really doesn¡¯t seem possible that this girl was born to or raised by Ying Jun. If she were, she¡¯d be worried sick after a day and night of not finding her.¡±
She looked up at Zhao Rui Hai, who stood in the middle of the living room. ¡°So if you know this girl isn¡¯t Ying Jun¡¯s and wasn¡¯t raised by her¡ then why talk to her?¡±
¡°Well, we have to ask something,¡± Zhao Rui Hai shrugged. ¡°None of us understand what¡¯s going on here. We don¡¯t know where this girl came from.¡±
¡°Instead of making wild guesses here, it¡¯s better to take Qiao Qiao to see Ying Jun. Even if I don¡¯t know what she might say, who knows? Maybe she knows something about this situation. We¡¯ve got nothing to lose by asking.¡±
With that, he picked up his phone and called Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Hello? Dad, what¡¯s up?¡± Zhao Ying Jun answered.
¡°What are you up to?¡± Zhao Rui Hai asked.
¡°Getting ready for a meeting,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied calmly.
There was a pause. ¡°How about we have dinner together tonight?¡±
¡°We just had dinner yesterday, didn¡¯t we?¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, and the sound of papers shuffling could be heard over the phone. ¡°I do have a job, you know. Even though you came all the way to Donghai to see me, I can¡¯t just hang out with you every day.¡±
¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner is necessary,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said firmly. ¡°Find a restaurant. Make sure to pick one with mild vors, not too heavy.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun stopped shuffling papers and straightened up. This dinner request sounded weird, almost pushy.
Oh.
She suddenly realized. ¡°You and Mom aren¡¯t in a rush to meet Lin Xian, are you? I¡¯ll call him and see if he¡¯s free today.¡±
¡°He¡¯s probably quite tired today. I got a call from hispany¡¯s vice president at noon. They said he didn¡¯t even answer his phone. He¡¯s probably sleeping, maybe all the way until tonight.¡±
¡°No need,¡± Zhao Rui Hai interrupted. ¡°No need to call Lin Xian today. Let¡¯s just have a family dinner.¡±
¡°Remember to pick a ce with light food that¡¯s suitable for children. Your mom and I are bringing a kid with us tonight.¡±
¡°A kid?¡± Zhao Ying Jun sounded confused. ¡°Whose kid? Whose child are you looking after?¡±
¡°You¡¯ll find out tonight. Just send me the restaurant¡¯s address,¡± he said, hanging up the phone.
Zhao Ying Jun lowered her phone, squinting at the dimming screen, confused.
Their family didn¡¯t have any rtives in Donghai¡
That¡¯s why, when she returned to X Country after studying abroad, she decided to move to Donghai¡ªto be away from her parents and herrge extended family, to enjoy some peace.
Her parents had only been in Donghai for two days, so how did they end up babysitting for someone?
¡°Ridiculous,¡± she muttered, returning to her documents. When people get older, they tend to get a bit neurotic, especially when everyone around them starts having grandchildren. Those who don¡¯t have grandchildren yet naturally get a bit obsessive.
Just like her parents now.
Since they don¡¯t have any grandkids, they decided to take care of someone else¡¯s child for fun?
¡°Ughh¡¡± she sighed softly. ¡°I should¡¯ve never let theme to Donghai. If it wasn¡¯t for them wanting to meet Lin Xian¡ Ughh¡¡±
She closed her eyes and massaged her temples.
Headache.
She could already foresee tonight¡¯s dinner would be another session of nagging about marriage and children.
She really didn¡¯t want to go.
In her life n, she wasn¡¯t nning to get married this early, let alone have kids.
She didn¡¯t dislike children. Quite the opposite¡ªshe liked them a lot and was looking forward to raising one someday. If she had a son, she¡¯d dress him cool; if she had a daughter, even better¡ªshe¡¯d dress her up beautifully.
But for now, at her age, her career came first. Thinking about these things was really too early.
Honestly, it was her parents who were too old. If they were like Lin Xian¡¯s parents, not even fifty yet, they wouldn¡¯t be so pushy.
¡°I¡¯ll take VV with me tonight,¡± she decided. She didn¡¯t want to face her parents¡¯ nagging alone. VV was her best ally and the most suitable shield.
She took out her phone, opened a food app, and started looking for a suitable restaurant. ¡°Something good for kids¡¡±
Propping her chin, Zhao Ying Jun realized she had hit a knowledge gap. ¡°How old is the kid? What do kids even eat?¡±
7 p.m., at a family-friendly restaurant serving a mix of X Country and Western food.
¡°Sorry I¡¯mte. I had to pick up VV, and there was a bit of traffic.¡±
Pushing open the private room door, Zhao Ying Jun saw her parents sitting on either side of the table, with a little girl eating steak between them. The girl was wearing a bright pink dress, with two cute little pigtails, each adorned with a fake flower hairpin.
The outdated, tacky style made Zhao Ying Jun, the CEO of a fashionpany, cringe. Whose kid is this, dressed so terribly?
But what surprised her more was: ¡°Howe you¡¯ve already started eating?¡±
She couldn¡¯t figure it out. The whole family wasn¡¯t even here yet, so how could anyone start eating first? Didn¡¯t they have any table manners?
Zhao Ying Jun turned to her parents. ¡°Whose child is this? You can¡¯t spoil her like this. She¡¯ll end up spoiled.¡±
¡°What kind of talk is that?¡± Yan Mei was immediately annoyed. ¡°The child was hungry, so what¡¯s wrong with her eating first? Why don¡¯t you say you were the one who came toote? If you¡¯de earlier, we could¡¯ve all eaten together.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai gave her a reproachful look. ¡°Children don¡¯t need so many rules. You¡¯ve be obsessed with being a boss. Have somepassion. What if the child gets sick from hunger?¡±
This time, it was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s turn to be stunned. Were these really her parents? She remembered clearly when she was a child, she was scolded for leaving some rice grains uneaten, reprimanded for not knowing the value of food, and then given a lecture about the difficult times when people starved, had nothing to eat, and ate tree bark and roots to survive.
As for starting a meal before everyone arrived? Don¡¯t even think about it. As a junior, she had to sit there obediently waiting. There was no way she could eat first.
What was going on? How had they suddenly forgotten their good family values today?
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly. ¡°When I was a kid, you didn¡¯t say that. What happened to the ¡®remembering the hardships¡¯ and etiquette sses?¡±
Cough, cough.
Zhao Rui Hai cleared his throat. ¡°That was then; times have changed. Enough talking, sit down.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun put her Pomeranian, VV, on the ground, took off her coat, and hung it on the wall. When she looked down again, VV was gone. It had jumped onto the little girl¡¯sp,fortably snuggling up and enjoying itself.
¡°V~~~~~¡±
The Pomeranian reacted with the same enthusiasm as when it saw Lin Xian, rubbing itself against the little girl¡¯s belly, seeking affection.
¡°Doggy,¡± the little girl said in a t tone.
As a result, that simple word made Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei burst with excitement.
¡°Did you hear that? She knows it¡¯s a dog! Say it again, Qiao Qiao!¡±
¡°Oh, Qiao Qiao is learning new words!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyebrow twitched; she couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Are you two done? Are you doing this on purpose to mess with me?¡±
She had roughly guessed the situation. This dinner was probably another trick her parents had cooked up to provoke her, deliberately bringing a little girl to y house in front of her.
And VV, what are you doing here, causing trouble? Have you forgotten whose dog you are?
Ridiculous¡
In that instant, Zhao Ying Jun suddenly realized that the small private dining room seemed divided into two parts. Her parents and VV were all circling around the little girl who was quietly eating her steak. She was the only one standing on this side, and no one seemed to care about her.
¡°Whose kid is this?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked after sitting down, propping her hands on the table and looking at the swaying pigtails and the tacky fake flowers on them. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡±
At the mention of her name, the little girl seemed to have a conditioned reflex. She looked up at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°My name is Yan Qiao Qiao.¡±
At that moment, as their eyes met, Zhao Ying Jun was stunned. It was like looking into a mirror, a mirror of time¡ªone side was her 25-year-old self, and the other side stood her 15-year-old self.
¡°Yan¡ Qiao Qiao¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun softly repeated the name. She had no recollection of it at all. Must be a rtive from her mom¡¯s side, sharing the same surname.
But still, this little girl had grown too much. How could she look almost exactly like her younger self?
Seeing Zhao Ying Jun staring nkly without saying anything, Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei exchanged nces, feeling it was time to subtly probe further.
¡°Ying Jun,¡± Yan Mei picked up a napkin, wiped Qiao Qiao¡¯s mouth to make her face cleaner, and looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Look, doesn¡¯t Qiao Qiao look exactly like you when you were young?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°She does, indeed.¡±
¡°If you had a daughter, she¡¯d probably look like this, wouldn¡¯t she?¡± Yan Mei asked further.
¡°Heh,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°Is this a new way to pressure me into marriage? You two are really something. If every meal is going to be about these boring topics¡ I think we should stop eating together.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai narrowed his eyes, watching Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s expression and reaction closely.
It seemed like he was right.
Ying Jun truly didn¡¯t know about this little girl. It was clear she was seeing her for the first time today¡ªthere was no way she could fake such a natural and spontaneous reaction.
After pondering for a while, he decided to be honest. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just be upfront.¡±
¡°We found this little girl on our way home, and we took her to the hospital for a DNA test. The results showed that she¡¯s rted to both of us by blood, and she¡¯s definitely a descendant of ours.¡±
Thud.
The water ss Zhao Ying Jun had just picked up was gently ced back on the table. She straightened up, crossed her arms, and looked at her parents. ¡°I get it.¡±
She paused, letting the information sink in. ¡°So, today is a serious family meeting.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Zhao Rui Hai nodded.
¡°It seems like there¡¯s a long-kept secret that needs to be revealed.¡±
¡°That¡¯s exactly it,¡± Yan Mei nodded.
¡°So, when did you two have a daughter for me?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, studying the little girl to gauge her age. ¡°Was it when I was studying abroad? You sure kept it hidden well. She¡¯s so big now, and I¡¯ve never even seen her once.¡±
¡°I mean, if you already had one child so why not a second. What¡¯s the big deal in hiding it? I understand Dad¡¯s status needed it to be hidden because of the government¡¯s policies, but why hide it from me?¡±
¡°No, no, no¡¡± Zhao Rui Hai waved his hands. ¡°Where is your mind going? How could your mom and I have such an opportunity? And the hospital doctor said the DNA test showed Qiao Qiao can¡¯t be our child. She¡¯s more like¡ our granddaughter!¡±
Pfft¡ª
Zhao Ying Jun almost spat out the tea in her mouth. She swallowed it back and couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°This joke is a bit much. How could I have given you such a big granddaughter? If I really had that ability, wouldn¡¯t you both be over the moon? Why would you still need to nag me about marriage and kids when you¡¯d have a ready-made granddaughter?¡±
Yan Mei hesitated, then spoke earnestly, ¡°Actually¡ Your dad and I wouldn¡¯t be against something like this. After all, kids are innocent. If she¡¯s really rted to us, she¡¯s family, and we¡¯d definitely take responsibility for her.¡±
¡°Even if we can¡¯t understand where this granddaughter came from, facts are facts. The DNA report doesn¡¯t lie. The doctor even said that this girl, Qiao Qiao, looks almost exactly like you did as a child. There¡¯s really no need for a paternity test.¡±
Ughh¡
Zhao Ying Jun sighed deeply. It felt like bringing her parents to Donghai was a mistake. Everything was peaceful until they arrived. Now, there¡¯s chaos everywhere.
¡°What do you two really want to say?¡± Zhao Ying Jun leaned back against her chair and nced at Qiao Qiao, who was holding VV. ¡°Just get to the point. What do you want from me? Do you want me to be this child¡¯s mother? Don¡¯t joke around¡ I¡¯ve never had a child, and I¡¯d know if I had, wouldn¡¯t I?¡±
¡°If she really were my child, I wouldn¡¯t abandon her. I¡¯d raise her well and take good care of her. But now, out of nowhere, you bring a child and insist she¡¯s my granddaughter¡ Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit much?¡±
¡°Not just much, but it¡¯s also an insult to me,¡± she said sharply, her gaze sweeping over her parents.
¡°I¡¯m a grown woman. If I¡¯d really had a child with someone, I¡¯m old enough to admit it now. Besides, I was just thinking not long ago that if I had a daughter who didn¡¯t need to be born or raised, wouldn¡¯t that be great?¡±
¡°But to have my own parents questioning my integrity, suggesting I¡¯d have a child out of nowhere¡ That¡¯s incredibly insulting.¡±
¡°Do you think I¡¯m a failure of an upbringing? Or do you think I¡¯m that kind of woman in your eyes? Can either of you exin to me¡ I¡¯m 25 years old now. How could I have given birth to such a big daughter?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s sharp words left the room in silence. Only the sound of Qiao Qiao¡¯s knife and fork clinking as she cut the steak remained. She used her fork to pick up a small piece of steak and fed it to VV, who happily licked its tongue and took a bite.
Both Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei were left speechless and even a bit ashamed by Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words. Especially Zhao Rui Hai. He realized that in his unconscious actions, he seemed to have hurt Zhao Ying Jun again¡ wounded her pride and insulted her dignity.
That¡¯s right.
If he, as her father, didn¡¯t believe in his daughter¡¯s innocence regarding having a child, then who in this world would?
When he learned that Yan Qiao Qiao might be his granddaughter, he immediately decided to protect her and ensure she was safe from any harm.
But¡
Why was he so inconsiderate when it came to his own daughter, always hurting her instead?
He recalled an article he had once read on his phone. It mentioned that parents are thest line of defense for their children, thest wall protecting them. As long as that wall doesn¡¯t fall, the children will never give up on themselves. The poor kids who jump off bridges or buildings are not truly driven by teachers, ssmates, or violence; it¡¯s usually their parents¡¯ neglect and denial that hurt them the most.
It was just like what he was doing now¡ªA father, bringing a teenage girl he found on the street and insisting she was his chaste daughter¡¯s child.
Is there a worse defamation than this?
Is there a more painful insult?
Suddenly, he understood what Yan Mei had said earlier in the day¡
There¡¯s no such thing as favoritism for grandchildren. It¡¯s just that parents transfer the love they owe their daughters to their grandchildren.
And what¡¯s sadder is¡
He still didn¡¯t realize that, as a grandparent, he was still unintentionally hurting his already neglected daughter, Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Ying¡ Ying Jun,¡± Yan Mei also felt that today¡¯s ¡®trial dinner¡¯ wasn¡¯t quite appropriate. She quickly tried to smooth things over. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean it that way¡ Of course, Mom and Dad believe you! You¡¯ve always been so outstanding; we trust your character.¡±
¡°As for Qiao Qiao, she¡ª¡±
¡°Forget it,¡± Zhao Rui Hai interrupted. He looked up at Zhao Ying Jun with a serious expression. ¡°Sorry for putting on such a show and making you upset. But this was also done with good intentions. We hope you can settle down soon and bnce both family and career.¡±
¡°I admit, maybe we were too forceful. Don¡¯t take what Dad said to heart. I believe in you¡ªyour character, your upbringing, and I trust our education was solid. You wouldn¡¯t do something so outrageous.¡±
¡°It¡¯s clear you¡¯re very resistant to marriage and children right now. We won¡¯t push you anymore; we¡¯ll stop nagging. You have your own life n, and that¡¯s fine.¡±
With that, he smiled warmly and patted Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. ¡°Come on, Qiao Qiao, don¡¯t just eat. Say hello to your auntie.¡±
Qiao Qiao obediently looked up, holding her knife and fork, ¡°Auntie.¡±
¡°Call me sister,¡± Zhao Ying Jun corrected softly.
¡°Sister.¡±
¡°There we go, that¡¯s better,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, stood up, and pinched Qiao Qiao¡¯s cheek. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. I didn¡¯t prepare any gifts¡ How about this? I have a few limited-edition Rhine Cat dolls in my car trunk. I¡¯ll go get them for you as a gift.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun had always been polite. So she put on her coat and walked out of the private room to get the Rhine Cat dolls.
Thud.
The automatic door closed, leaving only the elderly couple, Qiao Qiao, and¡ one dog that had gone rogue (traitor).
¡°Husband¡¡± Yan Mei turned to look at Zhao Rui Hai, hesitating, ¡°What should we do about this? It¡¯s clear Ying Jun has nothing to do with this girl. Should I secretly get a strand of Ying Jun¡¯s hair and do a DNA test to confirm?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s forget it,¡± Zhao Rui Hai closed his eyes. ¡°What difference does it make, either way? Could we really abandon Qiao Qiao? Even if this turns out to be a misunderstanding about the DNA¡ I¡¯m okay with it. As long as no one ims Qiao Qiao, we¡¯ll treat her as our granddaughter.¡±
¡°Is emotion more important, or is DNA more important? Both are important, of course. But would it be fair or reasonable to force a 25-year-old girl like Ying Jun to ept that she¡¯s already a mother? I think that would be a bit too much.¡±
¡°Maybe we both realize¡ that somehow, we keep hurting Ying Jun. Think about it. If you were 25, unmarried, and had never dated, and suddenly your father showed up with a child and told you it was yours, how would you feel?¡±
¡°I¡¯d feel wronged, for sure! It¡¯d be absurd!¡± Yan Mei replied quickly but then fell silent for a few seconds as she realized something. ¡°Indeed¡ Maybe we were too hasty. We shouldn¡¯t have brought this up so bluntly with Ying Jun. If we had chosen a different setting, a different way, and let Ying Jun and Qiao Qiao get to know each other first, it might have been easier to ept.¡±
¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. We always think we¡¯re innocent, that the problem must not be on us, and we assume it¡¯s Ying Jun¡¯s fault. But what if it is our fault? Whatever the case, I think you¡¯re right too¡¡±
¡°Ying Jun¡¯s life has just begun. If we force her to ept a daughter this big, how will she go on dates, get married, or fall in love? As parents, we can¡¯t sabotage Ying Jun like this.¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t we just take it slow, let Ying Jun and Qiao Qiao spend more time together? Who knows, maybe they¡¯ll bond faster than we think! Instead of us rushing to acknowledge a granddaughter, maybe Ying Jun will be even more eager to recognize her as her daughter.¡±
¡°So forget about the hair. If Ying Jun finds out, she¡¯ll definitely feel like we still doubt her and don¡¯t trust her¡ And she¡¯ll be hurt again.¡±
No sooner had Yan Mei finished speaking than Qiao Qiao pulled a long strand of ck hair from VV¡¯s fluffy fur and held it up. ¡°Hair.¡±
Her words were always short and to the point, and the fewer the words, the bigger the deal.
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
Yan Mei and Zhao Rui Hai exchanged nces. Eventually, Yan Mei took the strand of hair, wrapped it around her finger, and put it in her pocket. ¡°Ahem, confirming it wouldn¡¯t hurt, as long as we don¡¯t tell Ying Jun.¡±
¡°You¡¡± Zhao Rui Hai pointed at Yan Mei, both amused and helpless. ¡°Go ahead and confirm if you want, but I¡¯ve made my point clear. Qiao Qiao is my granddaughter. If no one wants her, I do; if no one will raise her, I will.¡±
¡°Who her parents are doesn¡¯t matter to me. Even if she really popped out of a rock, with no mother and no father, she has her grandpa! And her grandpa will protect her all her life!¡±
¡°Grandpa,¡± Qiao Qiao echoed, turning to look at Zhao Rui Hai.
¡°Yes, dear?¡± Zhao Rui Hai smiled warmly. ¡°What is it, Qiao Qiao?¡±
Qiao Qiao pointed at her empty steak te. ¡°Not full.¡±
A little whileter, Zhao Ying Jun returned with three Rhine Cat dolls and gave them to Qiao Qiao.
Qiao Qiao liked them a lot.
VV liked them too.
The two yed happily together, one child and one dog.
Zhao Rui Hai, Yan Mei, and Zhao Ying Jun tacitly agreed not to bring up the earlier unpleasantness. The old couple hade around to the idea that you can¡¯t force something like this.
After all, they couldn¡¯t really expect a 25-year-old woman who had never been in a rtionship or married to suddenly start raising a child. Since they liked Qiao Qiao so much, they¡¯d take care of her themselves for now. When Ying Jun wasn¡¯t so upset anymore, they¡¯d slowly foster a rtionship between her and Qiao Qiao.
The second half of the meal was warm, pleasant, and happy. No talk of marriage, a child and a dog were there, the elders were healthy, and the young people were sessful. It was the perfect family gathering and a wonderful reunion meal.
The only downside was¡
¡°V~?¡±
VV,fortably lying on Qiao Qiao¡¯sp, sensed something was missing in the room. He felt that if another person were present, the room would feel even moreplete and vibrant.
That man¡
He had a distinct and pleasant scent.
A scent that was strangely simr to¡
The little girl¡¯s scent.
After everyone had dinner, they headed to the parking lot to leave in two separate cars.
Zhao Ying Jun bent down to pat Qiao Qiao¡¯s head, saying warmly, ¡°See you, Qiao Qiao. I like you a lot.¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded in response. ¡°Goodbye, sister.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled, finding Qiao Qiao¡¯s sweetness endearing. Initially, she thought the girl was a bit wild and unmannered, especially at how she ate. But now, she found herself growing fond of Qiao Qiao, appreciating her simple charm.
She waved goodbye to Qiao Qiao and her parents as the red sedan they were in drove off into the night.
Holding VV, Zhao Ying Jun watched the car vanish and hummed thoughtfully.
¡°V~?¡± VV looked up at her with wide eyes, puzzled. It noticed two strands of hair wrapped around Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s finger.
How did they get there?
Could it be from when she patted the girl¡¯s head?
Impressive, this girl didn¡¯t even flinch when two of her hairs were pulled out. That¡¯s quite the pain tolerance!
Zhao Ying Jun twisted her wrist, examining the ck hairs coiled around her finger. These hairs were short, perhaps neck or shoulder-length, just like Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s.
She had been ready with an excuse if Qiao Qiao had shown any sign of pain, ready to apologize and me it on her sleeve button snagging Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. But the girl didn¡¯t react, almost as if she was wearing a wig. For a moment, Zhao Ying Jun wondered if she had actually pulled any hair out at all. But after feeling the strands between her fingers, she confirmed they were real and quickly pocketed them.
¡°Doesn¡¯t that hurt her?¡± she chuckled softly into the night. ¡°A distant rtive¡¯s granddaughter? Heh, Lin Xian used that excuse long ago.¡±
She stroked VV¡¯s fluffy head. ¡°VV, what¡¯s really going on here?¡±
VV stayed silent, scared to make any noise.
This family was too sneaky!
VV had witnessed both scenes: Yan Mei stealing Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair and Zhao Ying Jun taking Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair.
Like family, like people.
VV was just a little dog and wanted no part in thisplex family drama.
Later that night, as Zhao Ying Jun turned off her bedsidemp to sleep, her phone screen lit up. She had been searching for another DNA testing facility.
Even though Wang¡¯s wife directed the testing department at the Second Hospital of Donghai¡
Some secrets were best kept within the family.
Her parents were clearly hiding something.
What if it was a child born out of wedlock? What if there were other secrets?
Given her father¡¯s status and her own reputation, it made sense to keep things discreet and not use a hospital where they might be recognized.
¡°Sleep, VV.¡± Zhao Ying Jun checked the time. It was already 12:41 a.m.
VV yawned widely, settled into the carpet, and drifted off to sleep.
¡
In the corner of the bedroom, Lin Xian was awake.
He checked the digital clock: April 28, 2024, 12:42 a.m.
As expected, the persistent white light in the fifth dream world was always on time.
He sat up, recalling everything he witnessed in that dream world.
If Elon Musk¡¯s predictions were correct, and both the Time-Space Court and Time-Space Police were creations of the overconfident Copernicus, then it seemed¡
In the future of the fifth dream world, Copernicus was undoubtedly defeated.
But had Elon Musk truly seeded?
That was debatable.
From one angle, Musk¡¯s dream of moving to Mars had been realized, but what did true sess even mean?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure it out because he wasn¡¯t sure what the ultimate aim of the geniuses in the Genius Club was.
Or more fundamentally¡
What was the purpose of the Genius Club itself?
Without knowing these basic details, it was hard for Lin Xian to n his next steps or define the future he sought.
¡°So, the most urgent thing right now is to join the Genius Club as soon as possible.¡±
The final step to entry involved correctly answering three test questions.
Lin Xian felt he was close to uncovering the answer to the first question.
All he needed was another shift in time-space and to observe the changes in the time-space clock reading.
The first reading was 0.0000000.
The first change was 0.0000042.
By observing another change, he could identify the pattern of time-space curvature changes and deduce the rule of time-space coordinates.
He didn¡¯t need the exact form for the coordinates.
The test from the Genius Club didn¡¯t require specifics but asked for ¡°any time-space coordinate.¡±
This requirement was impressive and quite ingenious.
It hinted that finding a specific coordinate might be impossible, but understanding the pattern would allow one to write ¡°any¡± coordinate.
Lin Xian was eager to discover the correct answer and what it would lead to.
And what would the second test question be?
¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll visit Brother Wang¡¯s Time Bank.¡±
He got up, drank some water, and decided against staying upte to analyze further. He needed to be fresh for tomorrow.
He knew that Brother Wang¡¯s first batch of custom safes only included about 200 units, with serial numbers likely not exceeding that number.
Yet, Gao Wen¡¯s safe was numbered 424;
Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s was 724;
And the safe found of Pang Ya was 1277.
These safes, mentioned in the fifth dream world, didn¡¯t exist in the Time Bank in 2024.
But could something be done about that?
Was there a way to adjust for these safes that hadn¡¯t yet cappeared?
Chapter 363: Shouting Ghost
The next morning, Lin Xian woke up early. He had flipped his routine around, going to sleep right after lunch the day before so he could explore his dream world as much as possible.
After waking up, Lin Xian made ns with Brother Wang to head over to Time Bank.
¡°Hey, Lin Xian, you¡¯re here!¡± Brother Wang was already waiting outside Time Bank. When he saw Lin Xian, heughed. ¡°Man, you slept like a rock yesterday. Zhao Ying Jun and I joked that you might sleep straight through to midnight¡ªand guess what? You only replied to my message around midnight!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been really tiredtely, flipping my days and nights,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. Then he asked, ¡°What¡¯s Zhao Ying Jun up to these days? Did she want to talk to me about something?¡±
¡°Nope, not at all,¡± Brother Wang said, shaking his head as they walked inside together. ¡°We were just chatting about work, and I mentioned you were sleeping during the day.¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parentse down from the capital to see her? She¡¯s probably busy with family stuff. She called me yesterday asking which restaurants are good for kids. I suggested this Western family restaurant.¡±
Lin Xian looked a little puzzled. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t Zhao Ying Jun an only child? Did her parents bring a kid with them to visit her in Donghai City? Maybe a rtive¡¯s kid?¡±
¡°Probably,¡± Brother Wang shrugged. ¡°She didn¡¯t give many details¡ªjust said her parents were bringing a kid over. If it¡¯s not a friend¡¯s kid, then it¡¯s likely a rtive¡¯s.¡±¡°Or maybe,¡± Brother Wang added, chuckling, ¡°it¡¯s a sneaky way to pressure her into thinking about marriage. Her parents might have borrowed a kid to show off the ¡®happy family¡¯ vibe, trying to nudge her a bit.¡±
Brother Wang then remembered the cool little girl who used to hang out with Lin Xian. ¡°Speaking of kids, what about that little girl who was with you before? I asked my wife, and it turns out you two aren¡¯t rted at all. Seriously, you didn¡¯t know if you had a kid or not?¡±
¡°Next time, don¡¯t do stuff like that,¡± he continued. ¡°You can¡¯t just pick up a kid off the street and drag them to a paternity test¡ especially if you¡¯re not even sure! And dragging Zhao Ying Jun along? That¡¯s just insulting her!¡±
¡°Think about it, Lin Xian¡ªhow would you feel if Zhao Ying Jun picked up some random girl and made you go for a DNA test with her?¡±
Lin Xian listened to Brother Wang¡¯s bizarre words and tried to see it from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s point of view. Alright, maybe he did go a bit too far. But it wasn¡¯t like he just grabbed a random kid for a DNA test. Yellow Finch had misled him into thinking he should keep an eye on Yu Xi. If Yellow Finch hadn¡¯t said, ¡°Don¡¯t leave Yu Xi,¡± he definitely wouldn¡¯t have taken Zhao Ying Jun to get a DNA test.
Looking back, he realized his actions were a bit unreasonable¡ªdefinitely not the right approach.
¡°Oh, that little girl?¡± Lin Xian scratched his head,ing up with an excuse. ¡°She was handed over to the police. They found her parents and sent her home quickly.¡±
¡°Did they give you a banner or something for that?¡± Brother Wang joked.
¡°Heh, I already have the title ¡®Youth Hero of Donghai City¡¯ for doing good deeds, right?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Doing good things isn¡¯t a big deal; good people get good rewards.¡±
As they talked, Brother Wang opened Time Bank¡¯s vault, and they both stepped inside. It was cooler than outside, but the temperature and humidity were carefully controlled. Brother Wang, an expert on the subject, exined that this specific climate was ideal for long-term storage.
¡°So, what are you here to see today?¡± Brother Wang asked, standing in the middle of the vault and looking around.
¡°How many safe deposit boxes do we have here now?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°266,¡± Brother Wang replied instantly. He knew everything about Time Bank like the back of his hand. He pointed to the far corner of the vault. ¡°When we first opened, we custom-ordered 266 aluminum-alloy safes, numbered from 1 to 266¡ Look, this side has Box No. 1, and way over there is Box No. 266.¡±
¡°The numbers were engraved at the factory. You know, aluminum alloy is so tough that if the numbers weren¡¯t engraved before it set, you couldn¡¯t add any markster. This stuff is ridiculously strong.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why we have those nametes on the safes. They¡¯re there to engrave customer names because, at the time of production, we don¡¯t know who the customers will be. The nametes aren¡¯t made of aluminum alloy, but they use some of the same techniques. They won¡¯t corrode or rust for hundreds of years.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Are there any ns to add more safes?¡±
¡°Not right now,¡± Brother Wang said, spreading his hands. ¡°Out of the 266 safes, only a few dozen are actually sold or in use. Around fifty or sixty have names engraved and items stored. We still have over 200 that are unused.¡±
¡°This business is a long-term one. It might take decades to pick up, but when we do sell one, we make decades, even centuries, of fees. Especially when cryogenic capsules bemon¡ªthat¡¯s when our business will really take off.¡±
¡°So, don¡¯t think these time capsule-like things have no demand now. When human hibernation bes widespread, there might be a huge demand for safes. We might need to increase the number of safes then¡ But for now, these 200-plus remaining ones willst us a long time.¡±
Listening to Brother Wang, Lin Xian stroked his chin in thought. As the owner and investor of Time Bank, he actually had the power to change the bank¡¯s rules. For example, he could decide on new rules for the safe numbering.
A lot of people in his country didn¡¯t like the number 4. He could rule that all future safes avoid any number containing 4¡ªlike how some hotels skip certain room numbers. This could cause a time-space fluctuation. In the Fifth Dream, CC had confirmed that Gao Wen¡¯s safe was numbered 424, and the photo of Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe showed it was 724.
If he changed the numbering rules now, time-space fluctuations would certainly ur, the ¡°time-space curvature¡± would shift, and he and Liu Feng could see changes in the time-space clock¡¯s readings. They could use this data to figure out the pattern of ¡°time-space coordinates.¡±
The theory was solid, but in practice, it wasn¡¯t feasible.
Because of one simple reason: Time-space changes are uncontroble.
Who could guarantee that if the safe numbers changed, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin would still pick the same safe?
What if Box No. 724 was only avable to him because the number was considered unlucky? If he changed the rules, it could ruin the time-space changes just like when he switched the safe material to aluminum alloy.
Simrly, in Big Cat¡¯s Vige, Gao Wen¡¯s safe was No. 424. If the new rules changed it to No. 425, would Gao Wen still choose that safe? No one could guarantee it. He might pick a different number, or someone else could grab No. 425 first.
If that happened, all his ns would be wasted¡ªanother self-inflicted problem, just like with the aluminum alloy safes.
But¡
Lin Xian suddenly had an idea.
¡°What if, after messing up in the dream, I quickly reset the safe numbering rules to their original state? Would the deviated history and future revert back?¡±
There was no guarantee.
Take Time Bank, for example. Honestly, the Time Bank that existed now under his intervention was already very different from the original one. It offered more services, had more funds, more safes¡ It was practically a different bank.
This is one of the pains of rewriting the future¡ªthere¡¯s no way to restore it to its original state. It¡¯s entirely uncontroble.
Moreover, the most critical point: Time-space changes don¡¯t happen instantly; they require an irreversible anchor point.
It has to be irreversible.
Only then will the future and timeline shift.
Once it¡¯s irreversible, how can you take it back? That¡¯s pure fantasy.
So, the safest approach for now is:
Don¡¯t do anything that might trigger a time-space butterfly effect until you open Gao Wen¡¯s safe and see what¡¯s inside. Otherwise, you might never get to see Gao Wen¡¯s safe.
After opening Gao Wen¡¯s safe and confirming if what¡¯s inside is valuable or indeed left by Academician Gao Wen, he could consider triggering uncontroble time-space changes to rewrite the future¡ªonly after confirming no more concerns remain.
Lin Xian thought of another possibility. The safe he and Old Man Wei Sheng Jin dug out was No. 1277, belonging to a customer named Pang Ya. This safe didn¡¯t seem valuable to him, but since he knew its exact location, it was the easiest one for him to find.
However, its number was 1277.
These safes were clearly produced not long before 2400, maybe shortly before Earth¡¯s great catastrophe.
Could he use this safe to his advantage?
Lin Xian had thought about leaving something like a will.
For example: He could pay for Safe No. 1277 in 2024 and specify that when it¡¯s manufactured, the staff at Time Bank should move the contents of his Safe No. 66 into it and set the password to match Safe No. 66¡¯s: 20240328.
That way, when he and Old Man Wei Sheng Jin dug up Safe No. 1277 in the Fifth Dream, it would be his.
Everything would go as nned; he could see the little note and even invite CC to witness this historical moment.
This n seemed perfect.
But actually¡
It wasn¡¯t workable.
The problem was the ¡°irreversible anchor point.¡±
Even if he made the will now, paid for Safe No. 1277, and rified everything, there would be no change in the Fifth Dream until the moment Safe No. 1277 is manufactured and his items are ced inside.
The irreversible anchor point would only form then. From that moment, the Safe No. 1277 in the Fifth Dream would truly be his.
Maybe in 2397? Or 2399? It could be any time.
But Lin Xian couldn¡¯t wait that long.
This is the rigor of time-space logic¡ No wonder Yellow Finch had emphasized it so many times; it really is crucial.
Understanding these rules deeply, you can deduce whether something is feasible without needing to try, risk, or test it.
So, he really couldn¡¯t control those safes that hadn¡¯t appeared yet.
But should he give up?
Was there a way to keep Gao Wen¡¯s safe intact while also causing the time-space clock¡¯s values to change again and get data on the time-space curvature?
Lin Xian closed his eyes, thinking hard. He recalled some overlooked details.
He thought of the Safe No. 1277 he dug up with Old Man Wei Sheng Jin in the Fifth Dream. The font on the engraved namete seemed different!
He opened his eyes and walked over to Safe No. 66, his own safe, and looked at the engraved name. It was in the standard ¡°Microsoft Yahei¡± font.
As someone who studied design, he could immediately tell the difference.
In the Fifth Dream, the name ¡°Pang Ya¡± on the Safe No. 1277 namete had sharper strokes; it looked like a font simr to ¡°Songti.¡±
The change in fonts might be due to the passage of time.
Maybe ¡°Microsoft Yahei¡± got phased out in a few hundred years? Or maybe there were copyright issues?
For some reason, the font on the nametes of aluminum-alloy safes changed over centuries.
Lin Xian tried hard to remember the photo Old Man Wei Sheng Jin had shown him. The namete on Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe still used ¡°Microsoft Yahei.¡±
That meant that, at least up to Safe No. 724, the engraved names used the ¡°Microsoft Yahei¡± font.
Naturally, Gao Wen¡¯s safe would use ¡°Microsoft Yahei¡± as well.
This was perfect!
Lin Xian came up with a way to avoid affecting Gao Wen¡¯s safe but still cause a time-space change:
¡°Simply make a strict rule that all future safes at Time Bank must use the Microsoft Yahei font for engraving customer names. Then, the name on Safe No. 1277 would definitely change to Microsoft Yahei!¡±
It didn¡¯t matter to Lin Xian if Safe No. 1277 still belonged to Pang Ya. He just needed to confirm that if the safe he dug up had any changes, then Liu Feng¡¯s time-space clock values would also change. That was the key!
¡°Brother Wang,¡± Lin Xian called him over, pointing at the font on the safe¡¯s namete. ¡°This font is Microsoft Yahei, right?¡±
¡°I think so,¡± Brother Wang replied, not paying much attention. ¡°This¡ shouldn¡¯t be a copyright issue, right? Does this count asmercial use?¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Hard to say. Nowadays, there are a lot of cases of font copyright infringement. How was this namete engraved? By hand orser?¡±
¡°Definitely a smallser engraver,¡± Brother Wang said. ¡°Where could you find someone who still engraves by hand¡ But you¡¯re right; there are indeed many copyright disputes about fonts every year. We certainly haven¡¯t paid any fees to use Microsoft Yahei. If theye after us, we¡¯d probably be willing to pay for the rights.¡±
¡°And I¡¯m not sure if this kind of use counts as infringement. Should I call our legal advisor over to check? Wow, Lin Xian, you¡¯re really detail-oriented. I¡¯ve never thought about this before.¡±
¡°Theser engraving work is outsourced to a third-partypany. Whenever we need names engraved, we just call them. I¡¯ve never asked about the font. But since they¡¯re in this business, they¡¯ve probably bought the right to use Microsoft Yahei, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Maybe thatpany has the rights. But¡ Time Bank¡¯s goal is to operate for hundreds of years, offering long-term storage services. We aim to be a century-old brand, but can theser engravingpanyst that long?¡±
¡°Even if we increase the number of safes and find a newser engravingpany, they¡¯re likely to have the rights to use Microsoft Yahei. However¡ over hundreds of years, anything could happen. If someday, due to a dispute or copyright issue, Microsoft Yahei couldn¡¯t be used legally worldwide, we¡¯d have to use a different font for engraving names.¡±
¡°Right, right,¡± Brother Wang said, rubbing his hands, realizing the issue. He was quite the perfectionist with OCD.
Every little detail about the aluminum-alloy safes had his input. How could he have overlooked the font detail?
If, a few hundred years from now, there were thousands of aluminum-alloy safes in the warehouse, and half used Microsoft Yahei while the other half used different fonts¡ his OCD would definitely drive him mad!
Even though he probably wouldn¡¯t live to see those days, just thinking about the bank he painstakingly built ending up with inconsistent fonts on the safes made him feel like he¡¯d die with regrets! He could even feel his blood pressure rising right now!
¡°So what should we do?¡± Brother Wang thought. ¡°Why not change all the nametes to Songti font now while the number is still small? Songti has no copyright and can be used freely forever.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. No, if they changed to Songti now, both Gao Wen¡¯s and Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe names would change to Songti.
It wouldn¡¯t matter for Wei Sheng Jin. But what if Gao Wen, being a perfectionist too, didn¡¯t like the Songti font and decided not to use the safe anymore?
It might seem a bit far-fetched, but Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take that risk.
After all, his expectations for Academician Gao Wen were very high!
¡°No need to go through all that trouble,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°Doesn¡¯t thepany have 3 billion yuan in its ount? We¡¯ll just buy the rights to Microsoft Yahei and make it exclusive to Time Bank!¡±
¡°We don¡¯t care how others misuse this font, but we must ensure that the rights to Microsoft Yahei are in our hands. We must guarantee that Time Bank¡¯s aluminum-alloy safes, no matter how many are produced in the future, can always use Microsoft Yahei to engrave customers¡¯ names.¡±
Brother Wang was stunned. ¡°Is¡ is that necessary? Buying font licenses and authorizations isn¡¯t expensive, but purchasing the rights to a popr font like Microsoft Yahei¡ that¡¯s probably not cheap, right?¡±
¡°Actually, Lin Xian, we could just buy a lifetime license. That option exists, and it wouldn¡¯t cost much.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need to be so frugal.¡± Lin Xian waved it off. ¡°Why keep all that money sitting in thepany ount? Money is meant to be spent. Don¡¯t worry¡ If we run out, we¡¯ll just make more.¡±
After all, he could borrow tech from the future. If the opportunity was right, making Rhine Company bigger and stronger would be easy.
¡°No time to waste. Call thepany that owns the rights now,¡± Lin Xian urged. ¡°I remember that although the font is named Microsoft Yahei, its copyright is actually owned by the X Countrypany Fangzheng. Contact them now and offer a price they can¡¯t refuse, within ourpany¡¯s financial capacity. The sooner, the better.¡±
Brother Wang nodded and left to make the call. About half an hourter, he returned with an OK sign.
¡°Lin Xian, I might have quoted too high a price¡ They agreed immediately and said they¡¯d rush to Donghai City with theirpany seal to sign the contract. Uh¡ I guess I overshot, probably by quite a bit. They were really excited.¡±
¡°No worries,¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°As long as we get it. Just wrap up the paperwork with them quickly. If they¡¯re so eager, I bet we¡¯ll own the rights to Microsoft Yahei by this afternoon.¡±
¡°Keep at it, Brother Wang. I¡¯ll take a walk this morning and then go home to catch up on some sleep¡ªI¡¯ve been feeling pretty tiredtely.¡±
Brother Wang, looking incredulous, gave a thumbs up. ¡°Your sleep quality is really enviable¡ªsleeping whenever and however long you want. No wonder you have such great hair.¡±
As he walked out, he got into his customized Alphard minivan and waved goodbye to Brother Wang. Lin Xian asked Xiao Li to drive toward the big supermarket.
In theing days, he¡¯d need to enter the dream world frequently during the day. He needed to stock up his fridge to avoid waking up in the middle of the night with nothing to eat.
The white Alphard minivan turned right.
Then it made a U-turn.
Finally, it got on the highway, moving quickly.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Donghai City¡
Another white Alphard minivan came off the highway, heading toward a luxurious private hospital in the suburbs.
Zhao Ying Jun sat in the back seat as she pressed the window button, allowing thete spring breeze of early May to blow in, carrying the subtle hint of summer.
She could already see the building of the private hospital.
While it wasn¡¯t as big as the public hospitals, it was said to have world-ss DNA testing capabilities.
Since she had decided to do a DNA test, she might as well go to the most professional and urate ce to get an indisputable result.
She opened her handbag and looked at the two small stic bags containing hair.
The bag on the left held Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. It was of medium length, curled into four or five loops, lying calmly in the stic bag.
The bag on the right held Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s own hair, long and tangled, much like her current state of mind.
She didn¡¯t believe a single word of what her parents had told her.
She was innocent¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even dated anyone. How could she possibly have a child?
Besides, she was a woman. Wouldn¡¯t she know if she¡¯d given birth?
But¡
She also understood that her parents, being highly educated intellectuals, wouldn¡¯t make such outrageous ims without some basis.
There had to be some secret behind this.
And it wasn¡¯t hard to uncover the truth.
A DNA test would reveal everything.
She got out of the car and was greeted by a receptionist.
This kind of luxurious private hospital catered specifically to wealthy clients, so the service quality and attitude were impable.
She walked into a private consulting room and took out the two stic bags containing the hair and ced them on the table.
¡°I¡¯d like a DNA test to see what the rtionship between these two hair samples is,¡± she said.
¡°No problem, Miss Zhao Ying Jun,¡± the doctor replied politely, taking the samples andbeling them.
In private hospitals, clients are king. If the client doesn¡¯t say whose hair it is, the doctor won¡¯t ask. After all, they¡¯ve seen their fair share of soap operas.
He skillfullybeled the hair sample on the left as Sample A and the one on the right as Sample B.
Then he showed Zhao Ying Jun to let her know which was which.
¡°By the way, Miss Zhao Ying Jun,¡± the doctor said as he recorded the information, ¡°what kind of rtionship do you think these two samples might have? It gives us a point of reference and could speed up the process a bit to get the results faster.¡±
¡°They should be sisters,¡± Zhao Ying Jun answered. ¡°Most likely sisters, but I¡¯m not ruling out other rtionships. So, run aprehensive test. I¡¯m not in a hurry. I¡¯lle back tonight to pick up the results.¡±
¡°No problem, Miss Zhao Ying Jun. We¡¯ll have it ready for you tonight.¡±
The doctor didn¡¯t say more. He got the hint.
It was probably a dispute over an illegitimate child fighting for inheritance¡ verymon among his clientele.
After giving her instructions, Zhao Ying Jun walked out of the hospital building.
The driver had already opened the electric door of the Alphard, waiting in the parking lot.
Wearing a dark green coat and high heels, with emerald earrings swaying and reflecting the sunlight, she walked briskly toward the car.
Suddenly, Zhao Ying Jun stopped in her tracks.
Her heart¡ seemed to beat a bit faster.
Then she turned around.
Staring at the hospital building she had just walked out of, she said, ¡°Why do I feel a bit nervous?¡±
She chuckled softly and shook her head.
It should be her parents who were nervous.
She had a clear conscience so why should she be nervous?
Besides, if she did have a little sister, wouldn¡¯t that be nice? As an only child, she had always envied families with siblings.
She¡¯d love to be a big sister.
At that moment, she genuinely hoped Yan Qiao Qiao might be rted to her.
¡°Am I about to be a big sister?¡± she wondered aloud with a smile.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, got into the van, closed the door, and headed back to the office for a meeting.
Chapter 364: CCs Oath
¡°I¡¯m going.¡±
Lin Xian put down his makeshift megaphone, made from a banana leaf, and stepped back, staring at the girl who had unexpectedly appeared before him.
¡°Why is it you?¡± he muttered, feeling awkward as he remembered the name he had just been yelling loudly through the banana leaf.
He had been shouting for ¡°Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
And he had shouted it very loudly.
This was embarrassing.
CC frowned, looking him up and down. She hadn¡¯t gotten the wrong person. It was definitely Lin Xian, just like the fragments of her memories. But this crude and shameless behavior¡ Was this really the Lin Xian she remembered? The Lin Xian from her memories was bold, decisive, quick-thinking, and charismatic. But now, here he was, yelling for a woman¡¯s pad in the middle of a forest.
(Note: I actually didn¡¯t catch this joke either so the previous chapters weren¡¯t done so well for this gag.)The only word that came to mind was ¡°sleazy.¡± If he didn¡¯t look exactly like the Lin Xian she remembered, she wouldn¡¯t have wasted her time.
¡°What on earth are you yelling about?¡± CC finally asked when he didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Are you really that desperate for that thing? Who do you think is going to bring it to you? Earth¡¯s industry can¡¯t even make that stuff anymore.¡±
Lin Xian cleared his throat and tossed the banana leaf aside. ¡°You misunderstood. I was looking for someone¡ªa man named Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
He looked up and saw the disbelief in CC¡¯s eyes, which seemed to scream, ¡°-99 Affection Points.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Do you believe yourself?¡± CC shot back. ¡°Who would have a name like that?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised. Today, you¡¯ll see the cultural gap between Earth and Mars up close.¡±
They exchanged more information after that, and surprisingly, there were no issues with trust. The memory fragments from the First and Second Dreams had proven useful. They skipped a lot of the usual drama and quickly fell into a rhythm as teammates. If it weren¡¯t for the ¡°Wei Sheng Jin¡± mess, maybe their bond would have been even stronger.
But what could Lin Xian do? He was lost in the dense jungle and had no idea where to go. Looking at CC, he nced in the direction she hade from.
¡°So, that way leads to Rhine Vige,¡± he said. ¡°And from the timing, you just left there.¡±
Lin Xian remembered clearly¡ªyesterday, in the dream, CC told him she¡¯d leave Rhine Vige around noon to head to Big Cat¡¯s Vige and search for a safe.
Rhine Vige was north of where he started, and Old Man Wei Sheng Jin and Big Cat¡¯s Vige were to the south¡
Today, Lin Xian had gone the wrong way. He missed Old Man Wei Sheng Jin but, by some fluke, intercepted CC.
¡°No, you didn¡¯t intercept me,¡± CC corrected. ¡°Your shouting got my attention. I was curious about what kind of performance art it was¡ I really didn¡¯t expect it to be you. You¡¯ve truly expanded my worldview.¡±
¡°Alright, alright,¡± Lin Xian said, waving his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Let¡¯s get down to business.¡±
He continued, ¡°Like I said before, finding a safe with my name on it is too hard right now; we don¡¯t have any leads.¡±
¡°There are only two options. We either use Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s metal detector to search randomly, or we head to Big Cat¡¯s Vige and check out Gao Wen¡¯s safe to see what¡¯s inside.¡±
¡°You mentioned before that you¡¯ve been to Big Cat¡¯s Vige and that Er Zhuzi and San Pang have been trying to crack the safe¡¯s code for years¡ªthey might be just a few digits away from the password. We just need to get there first and open it. We¡¯d be like the cuckooying its egg in another bird¡¯s nest, benefiting from their hard work.¡±
¡°But first, we still need to find Old Man Wei Sheng Jin. We need his equipment; it¡¯s advanced Martian technology. At least on Earth, it would be like an attack from another dimension.¡±
To Lin Xian, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin was a goldmine. Not to mention the gun at his waist¡ªtherge backpack he carried was packed with survival supplies and tools. Just that folding shovel was like having Lu Bu¡ªthe legendary warrior¡ªback on Earth, capable of defeating any god.
¡°Let¡¯s go find Old Man Wei Sheng Jin,¡± Lin Xian said, waving for CC to follow.
CC sighed but followed him. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe anyone would have that name, especially an old man. When we meet him, what should I call him? I really can¡¯t bring myself to say that name.¡±
¡°Just call him Teacher Wei,¡± Lin Xian replied, pushing through some vines. ¡°Like me, just call him Teacher Wei. But first¡ we have to find him. I¡¯mpletely lost right now.¡±
¡°You could describe the surroundings from thest time you saw him,¡± CC suggested as she ducked under some vines. ¡°I¡¯m familiar with this forest. If it¡¯s a distinct tree orndmark, I usually know where it is.¡±
Lin Xian briefly described a few trees, and CC, like a human GPS, quickly figured out the general location and started leading the way, swinging arge ck machete to cut through vines and branches.
Lin Xian watched her back, deep in thought, reminded of Chu An Qing, who had vanished like an ancient tree stump. Lin Xian never dreamed¡ªnot the kind where he could see people he wanted to meet. After his grandmother passed away, he missed her a lot. His father often said he dreamed of her, seeing her kind face, handing him ¡°big bills¡± from her handkerchief. But these were all his father¡¯s dreams. Lin Xian wanted to dream of her too, to see her onest time. But no matter how much he wanted it, he never could.
Everyone else could see people they missed in their dreams. Everyone but him.
Just like Tang Xin, Yellow Finch, and Chu An Qing, who had left him. If only he could see them again, at least to say thank you or apologize.
Even though CC and Chu An Qing looked almost exactly the same, he knew deep down they were not the same person.
Suddenly, CC stopped and looked back at Lin Xian. ¡°You seem unusually quiet today,¡± she said.
Lin Xian looked up. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I always like this?¡±
CC shook her head. ¡°In the memory fragments I have of you, you were always lively, full of energy¡ªeven annoyingly so. You¡¯d jump around without being serious.¡±
¡°But now¡ you¡¯re too quiet. It makes me ufortable, like you¡¯ve be someone else.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. ¡°Well, a lot has happened.¡±
Thest time they met was before the Third Dream arrived, back in May 2023. Then, the Rhine Company was founded. He entered the Third Dream, then the Fourth, never seeing CC again.
And now, a year had passed. Both in dreams and reality, so many things had happened¡ªso many goodbyes, to the living and the dead.
Lin Xian admitted it. He couldn¡¯t be as ¡°lively¡± anymore. At the very least, he needed to bring Chu An Qing back, as he had promised her. He had also promised Chu Shan He to bring his daughter back home.
Saying pretty words isn¡¯t enough; you have to do real things. But for now, the clues about the millennium-old tree werepletely stuck. If there was one breakthrough¡ it would probably be CC, who was also like a millennium-old tree in front of him.
¡°I¡¯ve lost many friends,¡± Lin Xian said as he walked. ¡°There was a girl, exactly your age.¡±
¡°Your girlfriend?¡± CC asked, chopping through a vine blocking their way. ¡°Only close rtives or girlfriends passing away could hit you this hard.¡±
Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°She looked just like you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the oldest pick-up line I¡¯ve ever heard,¡± CC replied, unimpressed. ¡°Can I take back my sympathy?¡±
Lin Xian stepped over the vine. ¡°You already made that joke two years ago; it¡¯s just not in your memory fragment. Believe it or not, she jumped out of a ne at 20,000 meters to help me get something precious.¡±
¡°Wow.¡± CC responded calmly. ¡°She was brave. I read once that the true white moonlight is the one who¡¯s already gone. Now that she died in front of you¡ you¡¯ll never forget her.¡±
¡°Jumping from 20,000 meters¡ you probably never found her body, did you?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°The moment she jumped, I followed her. I caught her hand mid-air, opened the parachute, and tried to save her¡ But I couldn¡¯t. She still vanished.¡±
CC stopped and looked at Lin Xian, trying to find a hint that this was all a joke. But she saw his face was serious. He was genuinely sad.
He wasn¡¯t lying.
CC turned back around and swung her machete hard, cutting through several vines. ¡°Hmm,¡± she kept walking ahead. ¡°Jumping out of a ne without hesitation¡ You really are quite a man.¡±
In her heart, CC let go of the bias she had formed against Lin Xian because of the whole ¡°Wei Sheng Jin¡± incident. It seemed she hadn¡¯t misjudged this man. No wonder her memories of him were so turbulent.
¡°I don¡¯t think you should feel guilty,¡± CC said, speeding up her pace. ¡°The moment you jumped after her, you had a clear conscience. Whether you saved her or not, jumping from 20,000 meters to save someone proves everything. No one can say anything bad about you. No one can say you didn¡¯t do enough.¡±
Lin Xian smiled softly. He shook his head. ¡°Her father said the same thing, but the fact is, she¡¯s still gone. Words can¡¯t change that.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t agree,¡± CC said, turning around to face him, now just a step away. Their eyes met, and Lin Xian saw determination in CC¡¯s gaze.
¡°If there was a man who would jump out of a ne for me, risking his life to save mine¡¡± CC said, her voice clear and strong. ¡°Then I¡¯d be willing to give everything for him, even my life.¡±
Sunlight filtered through the dust in the air,nding between the two of them. It separated their shadows and then merged them back together. The cicadas¡¯ cries grew louder, almost like cheers or mourning. A gentle breeze blew through the forest, carrying the earthy scent of moist soil and the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. Butterflies and dragonflies danced in the sunlight between them, creating an enchanting scene.
¡°It¡¯s that bearded man, VV, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Xian sensed a hidden truth in CC¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ve asked you many times before, but never got an answer¡ Why would a single word from VV drive you to chase after the safe like this?¡±
¡°There must be a story between you two. Something unforgettable, something deep. Isn¡¯t that right? You seemed like you were talking about me, but actually, you were talking about that bearded man, VV, the one who changed your life¡¯s n with just a word.¡±
CC blinked, then turned away and kept clearing the path ahead. ¡°Maybe,¡± her voice was distant. ¡°But everyone is the same, and the logic is the same. There will always be some things worth fighting for and some people worth risking everything for.¡±
¡°Speaking of which¡¡± CC paused, circling around a massive tree and changing direction. ¡°I noticed you¡¯ve¡ aged a bit. Aged might not be the right word. Is it growth? Or maturity? For your age, I think ¡®matured¡¯ fits better.¡±
¡°In the memory fragments I have of you, you seemed a bit younger than you are now. Not just in your demeanor and behavior, but literally, in how you looked.¡±
Lin Xian remained silent. Of course, it made sense. When he first met CC in the First Dream, he was only 23, while CC was just a day shy of 20. And now¡ They met again. CC was still one day away from being 20, forever unable to reach 20. And he was already 25.
Would theree a day when they would keep meeting in the dream world? CC would remain young like this, while Lin Xian would grow older¡ 35, 45, 55, 65¡
Thinking of himself aging, he thought of Old Man Wei Sheng Jin at 70 and Grandma Zheng Xiang Yue at 116¡
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve gotten a bit older. Maybe next time we meet in another world, I¡¯ll look like that bearded man, VV.¡±
CC scoffed, quickening her pace. ¡°You¡¯re back to being unserious again.¡±
It turned out that CC was indeed very familiar with the forest. Soon, she led Lin Xian to a familiarndmark, and Lin Xian roughly pinpointed Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s direction.
¡°Over there,¡± Lin Xian pointed southwest, and the two of them hurried through the jungle. Sure enough, before long, they spotted a hunched figure in the distance, holding a metal detector, carefully scanning the ground.
¡°Teacher Wei!¡± Lin Xian shouted, waving from afar.
Hearing him, Wei Sheng Jin turned around warily, his right hand reaching behind his waist.
¡°Teacher Wei, don¡¯t get excited. Let me exin.¡±
Lin Xian kept a safe distance and delivered the lines he had prepared in advance:
¡°We¡¯re also looking for a safe, Teacher Wei. We¡¯re looking for Safe No. 66, and what¡¯s inside is important to us too. How about we search together? I also know where a safe is buried. It probably isn¡¯t yours or mine, but it¡¯s worth checking out.¡±
Soon enough, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin was convinced by Lin Xian¡¯s sincerity and decided to follow Lin Xian to the ce where the aluminum alloy safe was supposedly buried. He extended his hand to shake hands with them.
¡°Young man, youngdy, what are your names?¡±
¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian,¡± Lin Xian said, pointing to himself, then to CC. ¡°And she¡¯s CC.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin chuckled, ¡°Okay¡ okay¡ I¡¯ll remember your names. My name is¡ª¡±
¡°Teacher Wei!¡±
¡°Teacher Wei!¡±
Lin Xian and CC quickly grabbed his hand.
¡°We¡¯ve heard so much about you, Teacher Wei. We¡¯ll just call you Teacher Wei.¡±
Huh?
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin looked confused. He was just an ordinary university teacher without any significant title or invention. Was his name really that famous?
¡°Teacher Wei, let me carry your backpack. Just keep up with us,¡± Lin Xian said, switching to speed mode. He took Wei Sheng Jin¡¯srge backpack and led the way.
¡°The safe is buried over there. There¡¯s nothing along the way. Let¡¯s speed up!¡±
Lin Xian and CC acted as if they were in a hurry, rushing off. This made Old Man Wei Sheng Jin nervous¡
He quickly followed behind. ¡°Hey, young people, why are you running so fast? We¡¯ve got plenty of time!¡±
After running for a bit, he started to run out of breath.
¡°Whoa, I can¡¯t keep up with you¡ slow down, slow down, folks. It¡¯s not like the world is ending tomorrow, what¡¯s the rush?¡±
Finally, they dragged Old Man Wei Sheng Jin to a clearing. Lin Xian put down the backpack. Wei Sheng Jin activated the metal detector and began locating the safe.
Beep, beep, beep, beep!
Soon enough, he pinpointed the location of the aluminum alloy safe.
Excited, he eximed, ¡°Wow! You were right! There really is an aluminum alloy safe buried here! This is amazing¡ I¡¯ve been searching here for two months and haven¡¯t found a single one. I can¡¯t believe we found one today!¡±
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin turned around, beaming with excitement. ¡°Take out the folding shovel from my backpack. We¡¯ll¡ª¡±
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened. He stared at Lin Xian and CC, who were now fully equipped. Both had folding shovels in hand, with Lin Xian even handing CC a pair of gloves. They each wore a spare straw hat, and Lin Xian had even taken out a water bottle, which CC drank from and passed back to him.
¡°Wait¡¡± Wei Sheng Jin was stunned. ¡°Are you two professional archaeologists? Isn¡¯t this a bit too professional? How do you know my backpack so well?¡±
He couldn¡¯t understand it. His backpack was so messy, filled with so many things. How did Lin Xian find everything so quickly, even the water bottle?
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Teacher Wei,¡± Lin Xian patted his chest. ¡°When ites to dealing with safes, the two of us are pros.¡±
He bent down, pulling out another folding shovel like it was second nature, assembling it skillfully, and handing it to Old Man Wei Sheng Jin. ¡°Here, let¡¯s all dig together. It¡¯ll be faster with three people.¡±
He then rummaged through the side pocket and pulled out a pair of work gloves, handing them to Wei Sheng Jin. ¡°Teacher Wei, put on these gloves. Otherwise, you¡¯ll get blisters.¡±
At this point, Wei Sheng Jin couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. ¡°Young man! You¡¯re too familiar with my backpack! You know it better than I do!¡±
He looked at Lin Xian in confusion. ¡°You¡¯re making me feel very insecure!¡±
However, Lin Xian and CC, true professionals when it came to dealing with safes, had already dug up several piles of dirt by the time Old Man Wei Sheng Jin finishedining.
¡°Ughh¡¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin sighed. He could onlyment that he was getting old and couldn¡¯t keep up with the younger generation. This young man and woman were the most decisive people he had ever met. They acted fast, like workers on an assembly line.
Oh well. At least they meant no harm. As an older man, Wei Sheng Jin knew better than to overthink things. So, he rolled up his sleeves and joined Lin Xian and CC¡¯s digging team.
With three people digging, it was indeed much faster than with two. Two focused on digging. One was responsible for expanding and moving dirt. In less than an hour, the aluminum alloy safe was unearthed.
The moment it stood upright, the three of them crowded around to look at the number and name on the safe.
Number: 1277
Name: Pang Ya
Indeed, the number and the owner of the safe hadn¡¯t changed. However, Lin Xian rubbed the namete with his gloves¡ And sure enough, he wasn¡¯t mistaken!
The name ¡°Pang Ya¡± was written in the Microsoft YaHei font¡
Sess.
This meant that Lin Xian¡¯s n to trigger a minor time-space change had seeded. He preserved Wei Sheng Jin and Gao Wen¡¯s safes but also caused the font of Pang Ya¡¯s safe name to change from SimSun to Microsoft YaHei.
Though this was a minor change with almost no impact on time-space or the future, it provided a valuable parameter for studying space-time curvature and coordinates.
After leaving the dream in the early morning, by observing the changes in the time-space clock, he could deduce the rules of space-time coordinates. From there, he could answer the first question of the Genius Club.
Everything was ready. Now they just had to wait until tonight to leave the dream!
¡°What should we do next?¡± CC asked, sitting on top of the safe, wiping her sweat as she looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Are we going to Big Cat¡¯s Vige?¡±
Lin Xian thought for a moment. This was a rare opportunity. They should go to Big Cat¡¯s Vige, the home base of Big Cat Face, and try their luck. Currently, Big Cat¡¯s Vige hadn¡¯t been infiltrated by CC yet, which meant it wasn¡¯t on alert and was ideal for sneaking in.
¡°How much do you know about Big Cat¡¯s Vige?¡± Lin Xian asked, watching CC swing her legs on the safe. ¡°Have you scouted it before?¡±
CC nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been there a few times. Around this time, Er Zhuzi usually patrols the entrance¡ They patrol in shifts, but I¡¯m not sure of the exact rules.¡±
¡°My original n was to sneak inter in the afternoon because that¡¯s when they change shifts. Ah Zhuang takes over patrol duty from Er Zhuzi, and Er Zhuzi and San Pang continue their trial-and-error cracking of the safe¡¯s code.¡±
¡°Ah Zhuang doesn¡¯t have good eyesight, unlike Er Zhuzi, who¡¯s sharp-eyed¡ I suggest we scout first, but it¡¯d be easier to sneak in when Ah Zhuang takes over from Er Zhuzi.¡±
¡°Er Zhuzi is on duty?¡± Lin Xian recalled the agile and swift Er Zhuzi, like a human lightning bolt. If he¡¯s patrolling¡ It might be an even better opportunity!
¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re going now. Let¡¯s move fast and sneak in while Er Zhuzi is patrolling.¡±
CC frowned, confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t I make myself clear? Er Zhuzi is really strong. He¡¯s fast, has great vision, and can spot movements from far away. And his red-tasseled spear is deadly at close range, considered the king of cold weapons. Why do you want to face him head-on?¡±
Lin Xian stood up from the ground and chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? Who said we have to face him head-on? We¡¯ll outsmart him, won¡¯t we?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen Er Zhuzi¡¯s skills; he¡¯s indeed strong. But at the same time¡¡±
¡°Er Zhuzi has a fatal weakness.¡±
Chapter 365: A Clever Plan
¡°Outsmart them?¡±
CC and Wei Sheng Jin looked confused when Lin Xian mentioned he nned to outsmart Er Zhuzi. They stared at him, clearly not understanding what he meant.
CC squinted and asked, ¡°Are you really good at using your brain in fights? From what I remember, you¡¯re more of a guns and directbat kind of guy.¡±
Lin Xian waved her off. ¡°Do I need to be a genius to handle guys like the ones from Face Gang? I might not be the smartest, but I can definitely outthink Big Cat and Er Zhuzi.¡±
He smirked, adding, ¡°Sometimes, I almost feel bad for tricking them so much.¡±
Lin Xian was being honest. In his experiences through the dream worlds, except for a smooth team-up in the third one, his encounters with Big Cat and his three sidekicks were mostly filled with trickery and schemes.
If things went his way, he¡¯d leave a few of them alive and might even steal Big Cat¡¯s motorcycle while escaping. If not, odds were high that Big Cat and his gang would end up with their heads blown off.
That was also why, during thest dream, Lin Xian chose not to shoot and kill the four of them. After spending so much time together, there were some feelings involved. If he could win them over without violence, he preferred to avoid bloodshed.¡°Come on, let¡¯s check things out first,¡± Lin Xian suggested.
The three of them set out again. CC had already scouted the area a few times before and knew the route well. After walking for several minutes, they reached a small hill that gave them a good view of Big Cat¡¯s Vige, hidden behind some bushes.
Lin Xian opened Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s backpack and pulled out a pair of binocrs from a hiddenpartment. Both Wei Sheng Jin and CC were surprised.
¡°Hey, kid, that¡¯s not cool,¡± Wei Sheng Jinined. ¡°I forgot I even had these! What are you, a worm living in my backpack?¡±
Unfamiliar with the item, CC asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±
Lin Xian handed the binocrs to CC. ¡°Try them out.¡±
The Fifth Dream World¡¯s technology level was quite primitive. Even if they had binocrs, they wouldn¡¯t be as advanced as these high-tech ones from Mars. It made sense that CC had never seen anything like them. Her fragmented memories often left out useful information.
¡°These are binocrs,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°You¡¯ve probably heard of them, but never seen ones like these. This pair, made with Martian technology, sees much farther and clearer than Earth-made ones.¡±
CC raised the binocrs to her eyes, and instantly, her view became vast and clear. She slowly scanned around, looking for the aluminum alloy safe the vige chief had mentioned.
¡°I found it, Lin Xian! In the northeast corner of the vige. Look over there,¡± she pointed.
Lin Xian took the binocrs and looked in the direction CC indicated. These binocrs were indeed impressive¡ªhigh magnification, and they weren¡¯t even at full zoom yet.
He quickly spotted the safe and also saw two men, Ah Zhuang and San Pang, trying to crack it with brute force.
Lin Xian zoomed in closer to see the details. Everything on the safe became clear.
¡°Serial number: 424¡ Name: Gao Wen¡¡± Lin Xian read out what he saw.
Wei Sheng Jin sighed, ¡°Ah, not ours again. When we couldn¡¯t find any of these safes before, we were so determined. Now we¡¯ve found two, and neither is ours¡ It¡¯s a bit disappointing.¡±
CC smiled, trying to cheer him up. ¡°Wei, finding these safes takes patience. At least you know the code for yours. The one I¡¯m looking for¡ I don¡¯t even know where it is, what the code might be, or what¡¯s inside.¡±
¡°But since I¡¯ve decided to find it, I will. I won¡¯t go back without opening it. So, don¡¯t give up, Wei. Let¡¯s keep going. Your metal detector can make things much more efficient.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin wiped the sweat from his forehead and chuckled. ¡°Thank you, girl. You and Lin Xian are both good people; I can see that. I¡¯m just venting. I won¡¯t give up easily. I don¡¯t know why you two are so determined to find these safes, but for me¡ it¡¯s about finding my past self, the meaning of my life, and uncovering thest regret of my existence.¡±
¡°So, I¡¯m not quitting. But you, girl, you seem young and don¡¯t recognize much of Martian tech. You¡¯re probably an Earth-born human, right? As far as I know, Time Bank disappeared after the Great Catastrophe of 2400. At your age, you shouldn¡¯t have a safe at all.¡±
¡°Also, there¡¯s no cryo-tech on Earth right now. None of your acquaintances or elders should know about Time Bank safes. So, why are you looking for one? Are you also searching for the meaning of life?¡±
¡°Kind of,¡± CC nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m looking for, but I trust the man who told me about the safe. If he says it holds all the truths and meaning¡ then no matter what¡¯s inside, I have to see it.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin thought for a moment, surprised. ¡°But you don¡¯t even know the code! Can you open it if you find it?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± CC shook her head, ¡°But I have to try. Maybe¡ this is what my life is all about.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin was stunned. After a moment of silence, he rxed, giving CC a thumbs up. ¡°Impressive, young one. I hope you find what you¡¯re looking for too.¡±
While the two talked, Lin Xian was busy checking Ah Zhuang and San Pang¡¯s progress with the safe through the binocrs.
He noticed there were eight dials on the safe, and the first four digits were all zeros. Ah Zhuang was slowly trying every number on thest dial, pressing thetch with each turn, repeating the process:
00005232, 00005231, 00005230¡
¡°So, they¡¯re trying all thebinations from 99999999 downward,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, amused. ¡°If they started from 00000000, they might have cracked the code in a few days. But they¡¯re going in reverse, wasting years, maybe even decades.¡±
Lin Xian had learned this lesson before. When he tried to crack Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary lock by going from 9999 backward, it took him much longer than it should have. After that, he vowed to always start from 0000 when using brute force to crack a code.
Speaking of Zhang Yu Qian¡ he recalled her diary¡¯s code: 1952. A seemingly unrted four-digit number with no apparent meaning.
Going by historical events, nothing significant happened that year. The only thing that caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention was that realist painter Henry Dawson painted eight portraits of a ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡± in Brooklyn that year. This was his only clue. Or rather, one of two clues. The other was that 1952 was the year of a millennial stake incident, a time when history was locked in ce.
He had taken three items from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin: the code-locked diary, a photo album, and a videotape. He had already checked the diary and album; there was nothing noteworthy in them. But he hadn¡¯t watched the videotape yet. Gao Yang, his friend, hadn¡¯t found the right device to y it. The tape was too old, and Gao Yang was still looking for a working yer for such ancient media.
Lin Xian was very curious and wanted to see what was on the tape that had been ced in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin.
¡°Lin Xian, look over there. Er Zhuzi is patrolling,¡± CC¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts.
He adjusted the binocrs and looked towards the entrance of Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
Suddenly, Er Zhuzi¡¯s eyes seemed to pierce through the binocrs, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s gaze like a sharp-eyed falcon.
¡°What the hell?¡± Lin Xian muttered. Er Zhuzi¡¯s intense stare was unnerving, even from hundreds of meters away. Could he really see through their hiding spot?
Luckily, it was just a coincidence. Er Zhuzi¡¯sser-sharp eyes soon swept over the hill and continued scanning the vige to maintain peace.
¡°This guy isn¡¯t easy to deal with,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°You were right, CC. Approaching recklessly would likely get us spotted by him.¡±
He kept observing Er Zhuzi, noting his outfit made of animal hides and the green fabric sun hat on his head.
The fashion sense is unique¡ªquite distinct, in fact.
Er Zhuzi was still as tall and thin as a bamboo pole. He held a red-tasseled spear in his right hand, standing straight like a spear himself. Together, they made a striking figure.
Lin Xian also took note of Big Cat¡¯s Vige¡¯syout. There were about fifty or sixty households, fewer than a hundred buildings, all with a rough and wild style. It definitely looked like a viin¡¯sir. Their level of technology was simr to that of Rhine Vige, though their livestock and hunting industries seemed more advanced. They were also better equipped.
Maybe this was just a difference in development strategies. Under Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s leadership, Rhine Vige mainly focused on agriculture, textiles, handicrafts, and construction. Big Cat¡¯s Vige, on the other hand, seemed more practical, following a utilitarian approach.
He didn¡¯t see Big Cat, the vige leader, anywhere. He was probably holed up in one of the houses.
¡°What do people in Big Cat¡¯s Vige usually do?¡± Lin Xian asked, lowering the binocrs. ¡°Pige and plunder? Or do they just cause trouble?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± CC shook her head. ¡°You might have the wrong impression of Big Cat¡¯s Vige because of me. They aren¡¯t that bad. ording to Grandma Xiang Yue, the people here are wild and fierce, but they¡¯re not truly evil.¡±
¡°Most viges are far apart from each other, and with Earth¡¯s current resources, there¡¯s more than enough for everyone. There¡¯s no need to fight over food,nd, crops, or water. Everything is plentiful; the forests are thriving. No one goes hungry.¡±
¡°If there¡¯s anything worth fighting over, it would be the ¡®ancient items¡¯ dug up from the ground. These are truly non-renewable, irreceable resources and the main source of knowledge after civilization copsed.¡±
¡°This is probably why Big Cat and his gang are so focused on opening that safe. Big Cat¡¯s Vige grew strong thanks to Big Cat¡¯s father. He loved archaeology and collected all sorts of ancient books, so he knew a lot¡ªmaybe even more than Grandma Xiang Yue.¡±
¡°After the old vige chief passed away from illness, the vige was handed over to his son, Big Cat. ording to Zheng Xiang Yue, under Big Cat¡¯s leadership, Big Cat¡¯s Vige has always followed the principle of ¡®If people don¡¯t bother us, we won¡¯t bother them.¡¯ As long as no one messes with them, they won¡¯t mess with anyone.¡±
Listening to CC, Lin Xian let out a long ¡°Ohhh.¡±
It seemed that Big Cat from the Fifth Dream World wasn¡¯t so bad. At worst, he was a neutral character. No wonder he chased after CC with his gang; after all, she was a thief. CC was the one at fault first.
The only regret Lin Xian had was¡ªwhy was Big Cat¡¯s father gone? And why did he have to die so young?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but wonder when he¡¯d ever get to meet this remarkable man. Maybe if he asked him face-to-face, he could find the answer to the ultimate question: the Universal Constant, 42.
However, if Big Cat¡¯s father in the Fifth Dream World was still so knowledgeable, maybe he left behind some writings. Given how barren Earth had be, the likelihood of a ¡°Genius Club¡± still existing was slim. If it did, it was probably on Mars. It was necessary to infiltrate Big Cat¡¯s Vige and investigate properly.
Lin Xian returned the binocrs to Wei Sheng Jin and looked at CC. ¡°So, let¡¯s go undercover and boldly join Big Cat¡¯s Vige as members!¡±
¡°What?¡± CC was stunned by Lin Xian¡¯s bold idea. ¡°Can we really do that? We¡¯re their enemies.¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You haven¡¯t even started stealing from them this time, so how could we be enemies? Didn¡¯t you say it yourself? Big Cat¡¯s Vige follows the rule: If people don¡¯t mess with them, they won¡¯t mess with others. We haven¡¯t messed with them yet, so we¡¯re not enemies.¡±
CC was still hesitant. ¡°Joining Big Cat¡¯s Vige¡ That¡¯s something I¡¯ve never considered. But is it really possible? How do we get them to ept us? I feel like Er Zhuzi¡¯s sharp eyes could easily see through our ns.¡±
¡°You give him too much credit,¡± Lin Xian scoffed. ¡°Once this guy sees a sister-inw, he¡¯ll be hit with a critical blow¡ªhis IQ will drop to zero, his loyalty will drop to zero, and his brain will just follow her lead.¡±
CC looked puzzled. Although her fragmented memories included Big Cat and his threeckeys, there was nothing about ¡°Er Zhuzi and a sister-inw.¡±
¡°So, what should we do?¡± CC asked, still confused. ¡°How do we find a sister-inw for Er Zhuzi in the middle of this godforsaken forest?¡±
¡°A younger sister-inw would work too,¡± Lin Xian added. ¡°Anyone¡¯s wife would do.¡±
CCughed softly. ¡°Where are we supposed to find a younger sister-inw?¡±
Suddenly, she noticed that both Lin Xian and Wei Sheng Jin were staring at her.
¡°Me? Me!?¡± She pointed at herself, blinking in disbelief. ¡°No way!¡±
CC quickly pieced it together. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡ you want me to pretend to be your wife to gain Er Zhuzi¡¯s favor?¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why I said it¡¯s Er Zhuzi¡¯s biggest weakness.¡±
¡°Here¡¯s the n: Big Cat¡¯s Vige should still have a democratic voting system. If we want to join as official vigers, we have to meet Big Cat first and then go through a vote by his threeckeys.¡±
¡°Ah Zhuang is simple-minded, and San Pang is a pushover without his own opinions. The key decision-maker is Er Zhuzi. If he agrees to let us join, it¡¯s pretty much a done deal.¡±
¡°So, do you get it now? If we win over Er Zhuzi, we win over Big Cat. Win over Big Cat, and we win everything.¡±
¡°Come on, you should have a little confidence in your looks,¡± Lin Xian encouraged. ¡°In one of the previous worlds, you were unanimously voted into Face Gang. Even Ah Zhuang started reciting ancient poems at the sight of you. San Pang learned to answer quickly, and Er Zhuzi wasn¡¯t interested¡ because I denied your status as a sister-inw.¡±
CC chuckled dryly. ¡°I didn¡¯t know I had such charm.¡±
She wasn¡¯t keen on the idea, but after weighing the options, Lin Xian¡¯s n seemed like a good way to infiltrate Big Cat¡¯s Vige openly.
¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help you. I just really don¡¯t have any experience,¡± CC admitted. ¡°I¡¯m young and have never been in a rtionship. How am I supposed to act like your wife? I have no idea what a wife should do.¡±
Then she looked at Lin Xian, asking with a serious face, ¡°Have you ever been in a rtionship?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian was momentarily speechless. ¡°Even if I haven¡¯t been in a rtionship, I¡¯ve seen how it works. What¡¯s so hard about acting?¡±
¡°But you don¡¯t have experience either!¡± CC pointed out. ¡°If you had, you could guide me. But neither of us has ever been in love, so pretending to be a married couple is an impossible mission for us.¡±
Seeing that the situation was at a stalemate, Wei Sheng Jin realized it was time for his wisdom to shine.
As if illuminated by a divine light and giving the old a haloing effect, he stood up, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°Ahem! Ahem!¡±
Once he had their attention, he smiled warmly. ¡°Kids, neither of you have any experience with love or marriage, but I do! My wife and I were very loving, never had a fight for decades. We were truly inseparable, a model couple.¡±
¡°Now that you¡¯re facing a challenge, you can rely on the wisdom of the elderly! Like they say, an old person at home is a treasure. This is my moment to shine! Don¡¯t worry, girl, young man¡¡±
Wei Sheng Jin smiled and took Lin Xian¡¯s hand in his left and CC¡¯s in his right, cing them together. ¡°Leave it to me! I¡¯ll teach you, step by step, how to act like a loving couple, just like me and my dear wife! I guarantee Er Zhuzi won¡¯t notice anything!¡±
Seeing Wei Sheng Jin getting more excited, Lin Xian quickly tried to calm him down.
¡°There¡¯s really no need, Teacher Wei,¡± Lin Xian protested. ¡°Er Zhuzi isn¡¯t as tricky as you think. You don¡¯t need any acting skills. Just mentioning ¡®sister-inw¡¯ is enough to get him excited.¡±
¡°In fact, I don¡¯t even need to say much. He¡¯ll make up his own story. As long as I don¡¯t deny my rtionship with CC, Er Zhuzi will convince himself that CC is his sister-inw and think of me as his long-lost brother.¡±
Seeing Wei Sheng Jin getting more and more enthusiastic, Lin Xian knew he had to cool him down. He turned to CC, ¡°CC, isn¡¯t that right? There¡¯s no need to rehearse a married couple act.¡±
However, to his surprise, CC looked down at their hands, which were still held together by Wei Sheng Jin. After a moment of hesitation, she raised her head and said, ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, we should¡ we should rehearse a bit. Let¡¯s listen to Teacher Wei and learn how real couples behave.¡±
Lin Xian tilted his head, ¡°Huh?¡±
Forty minutester, at the entrance to Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
Lin Xian walked slowly toward the vige gate.
¡°Who goes there?¡± Er Zhuzi barked, swinging his red-tasseled spear and ring at them.
¡°Hold on, big brother!¡± Lin Xian quickly replied. ¡°I¡¯m a wanderer, looking to join your vige and settle down.¡±
¡°Hmph.¡± Er Zhuzi gave Lin Xian a cold re. ¡°Big Cat¡¯s Vige doesn¡¯t ept outsiders. Move along and go cool off somewhere else!¡±
¡°Oh¡ oh dear¡ my¡ husband¡¡± Suddenly, a girl stumbled over like she could barely walk. She awkwardly clung to Lin Xian¡¯s arm, or rather,tched onto it, and began reciting lines like a script: ¡°You¡¯re walking too fast¡ I¡ I can¡¯t keep up¡ with you.¡±
Ugh¡
Lin Xian groaned internally. This is a total disaster. Never had he seen such terrible acting. Anyone who knew CC could tell she was trying hard to y the role of a wife. But anyone who didn¡¯t would think she was some ghostly figureing to take his life.
He gave CC a look of extreme regret and disappointment, silently conveying, ¡°It would¡¯ve been better if you didn¡¯t act at all.¡±
To be honest, her awkward acting made something real look fake.
Clearly, Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s wife must have been the clingy, affectionate type. His acting guidance needed to be more tailored. CC obviously wasn¡¯t that kind of girl. Acting so coy didn¡¯t suit her at all¡ªit was like trying to imitate a beauty in a clumsy way.
Just as Lin Xian was about to exin things to Er Zhuzi¡ª
Whoosh!
Er Zhuzi¡¯s eyes lit up likesers as he threw aside his red-tasseled spear and dashed toward Lin Xian like a whirlwind. He grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s hands tightly, eximing, ¡°Is this the sister-inw?!¡±
Lin Xian felt like the hot steaming from Er Zhuzi was going to roast him alive. ¡°Uh¡ yeah, yeah, yeah.¡±
¡°Good brother! Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± Er Zhuzi pped Lin Xian on the shoulder and hugged him like a brother. ¡°Joining Big Cat¡¯s Vige is great! There¡¯s a future here! Come,e, I¡¯ll take you to see Big Brother!¡±
They made their way to Big Cat¡¯s house. Er Zhuzi also called Ah Zhuang and San Pang over from where they had been working on the safe. It seemed he wanted to go straight to the voting process.
¡°My brother! I trust you!¡± Er Zhuzi pounded his chest and confidently vouched for Lin Xian to Big Cat. ¡°Big Brother, let this guy and his wife join Big Cat¡¯s Vige!¡±
Sitting on his wooden throne, Big Cat rubbed his chin, frowned, and looked at Lin Xian and CC. ¡°Hmm¡¡±
He pondered, ¡°Big Cat¡¯s Vige doesn¡¯t support freeloaders. Do you have any skills?¡±
Lin Xian was about to say he could do some acrobatics if needed, but Er Zhuzi jumped in, blocking Lin Xian.
¡°Big Brother, can¡¯t you see? These two look like talents! They don¡¯t need any skills. Look at them, a handsome man and a beautiful woman¡ªthat¡¯s skill enough! Right, Ah Zhuang?¡±
Mesmerized by CC¡¯s beauty, Ah Zhuang stammered, ¡°In¡ the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Teng Zijing was demoted to guard the county of Baling. The next year¡¡±
Thump.
Big Cat pped the firewood beside him. ¡°What are you mumbling about?¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Ah Zhuang snapped out of it, wiped his mouth, and said to Big Cat, ¡°That¡¯s what your dad used to teach us in ss¡ I don¡¯t know why, it just popped into my head.¡±
¡°I¡ªI agree! Er Zhuzi¡¯s right! These two are a great-looking couple. Even if they do nothing, just standing here can inspire us¡ It¡¯s good for them to join!¡±
San Pang suddenly raised his hand, ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea!¡±
Hah!
Lin Xian chuckled while staying behind Er Zhuzi.
See? When dealing with these simple-minded Face Gang members, there was no need to practice acting. They¡¯ll just convince themselves.
Lin Xian suddenly realized¡ªFace Gang might actually be his biggest advantage in the dream world.
The First Dream World provided weapons and intelligence; The Second Dream World provided a support team; The Third Dream World delivered hot air balloons and spacesuits right to his door; And the Fifth Dream World allowed him to join the gang with a unanimous vote.
No matter how the dreams changed, Big Cat always remained so genuine and friendly. No wonder he couldn¡¯t bring himself to kill Big Cat yesterday. Where else could he find a good guy who believes everything you say and has no bad intentions?
¡°Alright then!¡± Big Cat pped his thigh and stood up from his wooden throne. ¡°We¡¯re all about democracy here. Since it¡¯s a unanimous vote, wee to Big Cat¡¯s Vige! What are your names?¡±
¡°Lin Xian.¡±
¡°CC.¡±
¡°Great!¡± Big Cat waved his hand. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re both part of Big Cat¡¯s Vige! If anyone dares to mess with you, it¡¯s like they¡¯re messing with me! I won¡¯t let them off!¡±
¡°Since we have new members, let¡¯s kill a pig tonight and have a proper celebration! Wee, wee!¡±
Seeing the decision was made, Er Zhuzi heaved a sigh of relief. His eyes shone with camaraderie as he looked at Lin Xian, as if they were brothers who had met toote in life.
¡°Brother, I wish I¡¯d met you sooner¡¡± Er Zhuzi chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare a gift for our first meeting, so here, take this.¡±
With that, Er Zhuzi took off his green fabric sun hat and ced it on Lin Xian¡¯s head. ¡°This is a treasure!¡±
Good grief. Lin Xian quickly took it off and put it back on Er Zhuzi¡¯s head. ¡°No, no, no, I appreciate the thought, but this gift is too valuable for me to ept.¡±
Big Catughed as he headed out. ¡°Come on! Tonight, we¡¯re having a barbecue! Let¡¯s celebrate and wee our new members!¡±
¡°Hahaha!¡± Ah Zhuang and San Pang followed him out. ¡°Hahahaha!¡±
Er Zhuzi, straightening his hat, walked out too. ¡°Hahahaha!¡±
¡
Meanwhile, at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house, in the entry hall, a small Pomeranian named VV curled up in a corner, scared and whimpering softly. Its empty stomach growled continuously.
This was the greatest crisis of its doggy life! It had never seen its owner so angry before!
Tonight, she came home veryte. The dog barked, begging for food. It only managed a couple of barks before¡ª
Bang!!
A thick paper report was mmed down on the coffee table with such force that it drowned out the Pomeranian¡¯s howling.
VV, a coward, immediately stopped making any noise. It curled up in the corner by the shoe cab, peeking out cautiously at its owner¡ªwho was still in high heels, legs crossed on the sofa, silent, her brow furrowed.
Zhao Ying Jun took several deep breaths, but her heart wouldn¡¯t calm down.
This was absurd!
Her eyes drifted to the open report on the coffee table. On the first page, in bold ck letters, it read:
¡°After examination, Sample A is the biological daughter of Sample B. Sample B is the biological mother of Sample A.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t remember how she got home after getting this report. Everything was a blur, and her mind went nk.
She couldn¡¯t understand or believe it.
She had never been in a rtionship, never experienced anything like that¡ªhow could she have a daughter?
This was nonsense!
But¡ when she thought of that girl, Yan Qiao Qiao, who looked so much like her¡
And this DNA test wouldn¡¯t lie.
She recalled how not long ago, Lin Xian had asked her to do a DNA test with another girl, also around fourteen or fifteen years old. At the time, she thought it was just a joke and didn¡¯t take it seriously.
But then, a few dayster, her parents brought another girl around the same age.
Regardless of the results, why were people bringing young girls to do DNA tests with hertely?
She shook her head. The reason behind these questions wasn¡¯t important right now.
What mattered was!
Where did this girl, Yan Qiao Qiao, her biological daughter,e from?
How did such a ridiculous thing happen?
She squinted her eyes, staring at the TV¡¯s power indicator light, flickering on and off in the dimly lit room¡
Whimpering, the Pomeranian VV¡¯s empty stomach growled again.
Zhao Ying Jun turned her head and looked at the fluffy white dog huddled by the shoe cab.
¡°Hungry?¡±
VV shook its head like a rattle. No, it wasn¡¯t hungry! It could still survive!
Chapter 366: Gao Wens Safe
A Tiger Doesn¡¯t Eat Its Cub.
Zhao Ying Jun finally got up from the sofa and went to fill a bowl with dog food for her Pomeranian. The dog began eating hungrily, clearly having waited for its meal.
¡°Sorry,¡± she murmured, gently patting VV¡¯s head. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to forget about you.¡±
After rubbing her forehead and taking a deep breath, Zhao Ying Jun returned to her seat on the soft sofa. She leaned back against the cushions, trying to figure out the cause of this strange, ¡°supernatural¡± event.
From a logical, scientific point of view, something like this just didn¡¯t happen. Having a child isn¡¯t instantaneous. It takes at least nine months to carry a baby. As a woman, she would know if she had gone through that¡ªno doubt about it. And that girl, Yan Qiao Qiao, couldn¡¯t possibly be her daughter.
¡°Ugh¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed, feeling a headache starting.
At first, she thought she might have found a long-lost sibling¡ªmaybe a child her parents had in secret. But instead, she was told that Yan Qiao Qiao was her daughter! It would have been easier to ept the story that Yan Qiao Qiao was just the granddaughter of a distant rtive.
So, what now?Zhao Ying Jun quickly regained herposure. Everything had to have a reason.
Having lived alone and thought logically for years, she put aside her emotions and started to think about where the real problem could be.
¡°The problem isn¡¯t with me,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Which means¡¡±
She slowly opened her eyes and stared at the dim ceiling. ¡°The problem lies with that little girl.¡±
Where did Yan Qiao Qiaoe from? Who was she really? She needed to get to the bottom of this.
Zhao Ying Jun wasn¡¯t usually someone who worried too much about details, but this involved her reputation. Plus, having a daughter suddenly appear out of nowhere didn¡¯t make sense. She had to find the truth¡ªnot just for herself, but for her parents and even for Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°But if she really is my daughter¡ what should I do?¡± The thought filled her with confusion.
At only 25, she had no idea how to handle this. She wasn¡¯t prepared to be a mother; she didn¡¯t know how to raise a child or even how to rte to one.
It wasn¡¯t really her fault. For both men and women, bing part of a family should happen gradually. Who would expect to suddenly be introduced to a teenage daughter and be asked to ept it?
There was no warmth, no sentiment¡ªjust shock, rejection, and a chill down her spine.
¡°I¡¯ll go see Yan Qiao Qiao tomorrow,¡± Zhao Ying Jun decided, letting go of herplicated feelings. The problem was already here; there was no point in denying or avoiding it. She had to face it. The root of all this was that little girl, so she needed to find answers from her.
Feeling more resolved, Zhao Ying Jun stood up from the sofa, opened the fridge, and looked for something to eat.
¡
¡°Hahaha!¡± Big Cat Faceughed heartily, holding arge pork hock in his hand. He tore it in half, cing one half on Lin Xian¡¯s te and the other on CC¡¯s te. His mood was unusually cheerful.
¡°Speaking of this vige, you probably don¡¯t know this,¡± he began, ¡°but even before I became the vige chief, back when my dad was in charge, this ce was already called ¡®Big Cat¡¯s Vige.¡¯¡±
¡°Do you know why? Because when I was born, it was considered a sign of good fortune! Even though it waste at night, the moment I was born, all the chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, and even the pigs in their pens started making noises that sounded like my name.¡±
¡°Snorting ¡®Big Cat Face¡¯?¡± CC asked, looking at Big Cat Face, who was now flushed from drinking. She was skeptical of the story. ¡°How could chickens and pigs do that?¡±
¡°Ah, sister-inw, let your big brother finish,¡± Big Cat Face said, swaying his bamboo cup of wine and shaking his head. ¡°Big Cat Face is just my nickname, not my real name. Ever since I was born, my face has been big; the midwife even said my face was round like a big pancake. That¡¯s how the nickname stuck.¡±
¡°But I do have a real name! My father was quite the intellectual of his time and gave me a nice-sounding name, but¡ no one has ever called me by it.¡±
Thunk!
Lin Xian set down his bamboo wine cup, blinking at Big Cat Face. ¡°You actually have a real name?¡±
¡°Of course I do, little brother!¡± Big Cat Face scoffed. ¡°Everyone has a name!¡±
¡°Speaking of your father¡¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°He always felt like a legendary figure¡ªfamous but never seen. He seemed impressive and smart. By the way, what¡¯s his name?¡±
All this time, Lin Xian had never known Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s name.
Big Cat Face sighed softly and said in a low voice, ¡°Chen Heping.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the half-greasy pork hock on his te, thinking about the name. It sounded solid and respectable.
Chen Heping was a genius who once figured out the Universal Constant of 42 using only pen and paper. That certainly lived up to his name.
Lin Xian realized that in this dream world, Big Cat Face seemed to be all alone. He hadn¡¯t seen his parents, his gentle wife, his rebellious daughter, or even a younger version of Big Cat Face.
He decided not to ask about them. In this era, without modern medicine, even a minor illness could be deadly.
¡°I heard your father left behind a lot of research notes?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Could I take a look at themter?¡±
¡°Of course, little brother! You¡¯re one of us now; no need to be shy. Do whatever you want! Hahaha!¡± Big Cat Face downed a few more cups of grain alcohol, wiping his greasy hands on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He wrote plenty of notes. They¡¯re all in the room next door. Before he got sick and passed away, he said that any kid who loves learning should go study them. He always believed that knowledge is the only way to change one¡¯s fate.¡±
¡°But in these times, can knowledge fill your stomach? Ever since my dad died, no one has gone into that room or taught any more sses¡ From that point on, Big Cat¡¯s Vige has stayed pretty much the same. And honestly, we¡¯ve done okay. At least we don¡¯t worry about food and clothing.¡±
¡°Ah, let¡¯s not talk about such depressing stuff! Tonight¡¯s a happy time! Come on, cheers! After we drink, let¡¯s dance around the bonfire!¡±
Big Cat Face raised his cup, clinked it with Lin Xian and CC, and then downed it in one gulp. He then grabbed Da Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang, dragging them with staggering steps to the center of the vige where a bonfire zed several meters high.
With the rhythm of drums made from animal skins, they twisted around the fire, singing and dancing with the vigers.
CC nibbled on some fruit from the table, watching the dancing crowd with a slight smile. ¡°If I¡¯d known they were this nice, we wouldn¡¯t have had to go through all that fighting and sneaking around. If I¡¯d known they were so simple, I¡¯d have joined them much sooner.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Getting along with people takes the right approach.¡±
¡°But sneaking in by yourself wouldn¡¯t have been so easy,¡± he added. ¡°Getting past Er Zhuzi would¡¯ve needed a ¡®sister-inw¡¯ or ¡®wife¡¯ title as a ticket¡ It takes two people working together.¡±
CC tossed aside the fruit pit and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°So, do I still need to keep pretending?¡±
She wiped her hands. ¡°Teacher Wei even taught me some tricks to act like a wife.¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°Your acting is too over-the-top. Like I said at the beginning, there¡¯s no need to act. Just be yourself. The people of Big Cat¡¯s Vige aren¡¯t thatplicated.¡±
¡°Besides, Teacher Wei taught you to act like his lover¡ªlike that clingy, sweet type¡ That style clearly doesn¡¯t suit you.¡±
He picked up a piece of fruit and handed it to CC. ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice? Back at the vige gate, your overdramatic performance seemed out of ce. Didn¡¯t it feel awkward?¡±
¡°Not really,¡± CC shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t feel anything special. Mainly, I¡¯ve never been in a rtionship, so I don¡¯t know what real love is supposed to be like, or how people in love should act.¡±
¡°You might be oversimplifying things, Lin Xian. Surviving in this world is already hard enough. There aren¡¯t any books or stories to guide us. Normally, kids my age wouldn¡¯t have any way to understand this stuff.¡±
She took the fruit from him and turned to look at the lively dance by the bonfire. Every era has its own ways of having fun. The methods might change, but joy seems to be universal.
¡°Do you know how to dance?¡± CC asked, turning to Lin Xian.
¡°I do,¡± he nodded. ¡°But not this kind of dance.¡±
He smiled wryly. ¡°This must be the unique ¡®Cat Dance¡¯ of Big Cat¡¯s Vige. It doesn¡¯t have any rules. I don¡¯t get it.¡±
¡°Hey, there¡¯s nothing to get!¡± Suddenly, Er Zhuzi¡¯s voice came from behind. Startled, they turned around and found him standing there, as elusive as ever.
Er Zhuzi, also slightly tipsy, grinned and grabbed their hands. ¡°Come,e! I¡¯ll teach you!¡±
¡°No, no, that¡¯s alright,¡± Lin Xian politely declined. He hade to Big Cat¡¯s Vige for a reason. He nned to go into Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s room soon to check out the notes he¡¯d left behind. After that, he needed to find Gao Wen¡¯s safe in a corner of the vige and try to open it to see what was inside.
However, Er Zhuzi was persistent. He dragged them to the bonfire, where the mes illuminated everyone¡¯s faces.
Er Zhuzi put Lin Xian¡¯s and CC¡¯s hands together. ¡°Just hold each other like this and follow my lead.¡±
Er Zhuzi began to lead the dance, signaling for Lin Xian and CC to move in time with him.
Lin Xian was reluctant, but to keep his true intentions hidden, he had no choice but to blend in and start tapping his feet like in a tap dance.
It was obvious this was CC¡¯s first time dancing. She had to keep an eye on Er Zhuzi¡¯s moves while trying not to step on Lin Xian¡¯s feet. It felt like trying to walk in someone else¡¯s shoes¡ªawkward and clumsy.
But she was determined to learn. This determination reminded Lin Xian of Chu An Qing.
The mes danced in CC¡¯s eyes, giving her a lively and warm expression, softening her normally cold demeanor. It made Lin Xian briefly recall that unforgettable New Year¡¯s Eve in 2023¡
Chu An Qing, in a blue evening gown, looked like a forest fairy as she led him through a stunning waltz. It was his first time dancing with her, and also thest.
He suddenly remembered a saying: ¡°Many times, without realizing it, you¡¯ve already seen someone for thest time.¡±
Lin Xian felt that deeply now. Maybe meeting CC again in the Fifth Dream world was a miracle in itself.
But what about the next dream? Would she be there again? What would the world look like?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be sure.
Right now, he was teaching CC the dance steps around the fire, wondering if she would still be there in the next dream.
¡°Oops.¡± CC identally stepped on Lin Xian¡¯s foot. She smiled apologetically. ¡°Sorry.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts snapped back to the present at her apologetic smile. ¡°Don¡¯t look at Er Zhuzi. I¡¯ll teach you.¡±
There were only a few moves in this bonfire dance, and after watching twice, Lin Xian had memorized them all. Like he said, if the people of Big Cat¡¯s Vige could learn this dance, it couldn¡¯t be that hard.
He took CC¡¯s hands and led her through the steps. One step at a time, they danced around the bonfire, moving gracefully in sync with the beat of the animal-skin drums.
Soon, CC picked up the steps and didn¡¯t need Lin Xian¡¯s guidance anymore. She was dancing smoothly, keeping up with the rhythm.
¡°You really do have a talent,¡± Lin Xianplimented her. ¡°Your coordination has always been good, and you have a natural sense for the arts.¡±
¡°You¡¯re the first person to ever say that,¡± CC replied. ¡°But this is actually the first dance I¡¯ve ever learned. I never had the chance to dance before, and no one ever taught me. Thank you.¡±
¡°No need to be so polite,¡± Lin Xian said, as they continued to dance to the increasingly intense drumbeats, reaching the climax of the bonfire party.
¡°This is nice,¡± CC said, gazing at the roaring mes of the bonfire. Her expression was hard to read¡ªwas it joy, or maybe a bit of sadness? ¡°But¡ if we meet again tomorrow or in the future, will I forget these steps and have to start all over?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That depends on how good your memory fragments are. In each world, I¡¯ll meet you many times, but you¡¯ll only remember one of those encounters.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re lucky, maybe in the next world, you¡¯ll remember this night¡¯s dance steps. But I doubt it¡ Your memory fragments usually focus on things that happened right before the world changes. The farther back in time, the less you remember.¡±
The vigers¡¯ drumbeats were reaching a frenzied pace, and they could stop at any moment, signaling the end of the bonfire dance.
¡°I¡¯ll try to remember,¡± CC said with a smile¡ªa smile just like Chu An Qing¡¯s. Her eyes curved like a crescent moon, her lips forming a slight dimple. Pure and bright, it momentarily dazzled Lin Xian. ¡°Thank you for teaching me this dance.¡±
Thud¡ª
The final drumbeat suddenly stopped.
The crowd around them halted, scattering, pping, and cheering.
Lin Xian and CC let go of each other¡¯s hands. They each took a step back, standing on opposite sides of the bonfire, separated by what felt like an ocean of fire.
Just like the vast Pacific Ocean between Brooklyn and Donghai City¡ªfar apart, yet still on the same.
¡°Genius!¡± Er Zhuzi pped enthusiastically and ran over, giving CC a thumbs-up. ¡°Sister-inw, you really are a genius!¡±
Then he turned to Lin Xian. ¡°And you¡¯re not bad, little brother!¡±
¡°You might not know this, but this cloth sun hat I¡¯m wearing isst year¡¯s prize for winning the vige dance contest¡ Look at the craftsmanship, the stitches¡ So delicate! Not something our little vige could make, which is why it¡¯s a prize for the winner!¡±
¡°But I see your dance skills aren¡¯t below mine. You¡¯ve got real talent, so I¡¯ve decided¡ª¡±
Er Zhuzi swiftly took off his green cloth sun hat and put it on Lin Xian¡¯s head. ¡°You shall be crowned king!¡±
¡°No, no¡¡± Lin Xian quickly removed the ¡®curse¡¯ and hurriedly put the hat back on Er Zhuzi¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯m still not there yet; you¡¯re the dance king!¡±
It was strange. Why did Er Zhuzi keep trying to put a green hat on his head? What a weird sense of ceremony.
Finally, it was time for free activities and casual chatting. After eating and drinking their fill, the vigers stood or sat around different corners, chatting and sharing stories.
This gave Lin Xian a chance to enter Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s house, Chen Heping¡¯s room, with CC.
Luckily, Big Cat¡¯s Vige¡¯s animal husbandry and hunting were very advanced. They had plenty of oil, an essential material for making oilmps. Even in a room that hadn¡¯t been entered for years, there were two big oilmps.
CC brought a burning branch from the bonfire and lit the twomps, illuminating Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s room.
The room was neat and clean, clearly well-maintained. There was a small bookshelf with several notebooks made of rough paper, bound together. It seemed like an advanced technology in a vige like this, probably an ancient paper-making method.
Lin Xian and CC each took a notebook and began to read.
The one Lin Xian picked up had many poems written in it¡ likely discovered and recorded by Big Cat Face¡¯s father during his archaeological work. It even included ¡°Yueyang Tower,¡± which Da Zhuang had enthusiastically recited earlier in the day.
Recalling what Da Zhuang and Big Cat Face had said, Lin Xian realized that when Big Cat Face¡¯s father was alive, he would often teach the vige children, sharing his knowledge. After his death, the school became abandoned, and Big Cat¡¯s Vige officially entered the era of Big Cat Face, embracing a wilder lifestyle.
Continuing to flip through the notebook, Lin Xian noticed that it was filled with ancient poems, many iplete or incorrect.
Of course, Big Cat Face¡¯s father didn¡¯t know they were wrong, but Lin Xian had memorized them, and he could see where the mistakes were. It wasn¡¯t Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s fault. Just finding these cultural relics through archaeology was already quite impressive.
¡°CC, what¡¯s written in yours?¡± Lin Xian asked, setting his notebook down and looking over at CC by the othermp.
¡°It¡¯s about math,¡± CC replied, handing him the notebook. ¡°Simple arithmetic.¡±
Math?
Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He took the rough notebook and flipped through it. Indeed¡ it was filled with simple arithmetic problems¡ªnot even as hard as the equations taught by Zheng Xiang Yue. Too basic.
Lin Xian had hoped to find clues about the Universal Constant of 42, but after going through all the notebooks, he was sure¡ Big Cat Face¡¯s father in the Fifth Dream world hadn¡¯t been involved in studying Universal Constants.
That made sense. In the catastrophic year 2400, Earth underwent massive upheavals, changing everything.
In previous dreams, the reason Big Cat Face¡¯s father had continued researching Universal Constants was because of a single book found in the grave of Liu Feng¡¯s girlfriend, Li Qi Qi, titled ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants.¡±
Though this book was written in Lin Xian¡¯s era, it was proven to bepletely wrong and worthless, so no publisher wanted to print it. Li Qi Qi had to self-publish a single copy.
Just that one copy.
The only one in the world.
At least, for the next few hundred years, there was no other copy of ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± on Earth.
Clearly, in the future world of the Fifth Dream world, the catastrophic disaster had destroyed everything. Most healthy humans had left for Mars, and Earth was abandoned.
Naturally, the only copy of ¡°Introduction to Universal Constants¡± was never discovered, and it never reached Big Cat Face¡¯s father. The research on the Universal Constant of 42 thus came to an end.
Time and space are logically intertwined¡ªmiss one thing by an inch, and you¡¯re off by miles.
¡°Let¡¯s go check out Gao Wen¡¯s safe,¡± Lin Xian said, cing Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s notebook back where it belonged. He picked up an oilmp, and he and CC walked to the edge of the vige.
The aluminum alloy safe was there. With the oilmp held up, they could see that the brute-force method had already triedbinations up to 00002701.
Only 2,700 possiblebinations were left!
At the fastest pace, it would take less than an hour to open Gao Wen¡¯s safe.
¡°Thank you, Big Cat¡¯s Vige,¡± Lin Xian said sincerely. ¡°If they hadn¡¯t spent years breaking down nearly a billion passwordbinations for us, we wouldn¡¯t be opening this safe today.¡±
¡°Is this safe really that important?¡± CC asked. ¡°Do you know this person named Gao Wen?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t deny it but didn¡¯t confirm it either. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I know him, and I¡¯m not sure if this Gao Wen is the Gao Wen I know.¡±
¡°But if he is the Gao Wen I know¡ªthe academician Gao Wen¡ªthen what¡¯s inside this safe is worth the anticipation.¡±
¡°Academician Gao Wen was a true genius. His inventions once changed the entire world and reshaped all futures.¡±
¡°I believe a true genius won¡¯t just disappear. If he used a aluminum alloy safe, there¡¯s a good chance he went into a cryo-chamber to travel to the future.¡±
¡°In such a situation, they usually leave something very important for their future selves¡ Anyway, there aren¡¯t many possible passwords left. Let¡¯s open it and see what¡¯s inside.¡±
CC turned to look at the eight password dials. ¡°They¡¯ve already tried up to 00002701. Let¡¯s continue from there and keep cracking it one by one.¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian said, always someone who listened to reason. He reset the dials to 00000000 and smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll start from 00000000. Even though it doesn¡¯t matter where you start with brute-force methods, it¡¯s still a lesson worth learning.¡±
He began turning the dial on the far right, testing eachbination one by one:
00000001,
00000002,
00000003,
¡
Click, click, click. The familiar sound of a lock not opening.
For so long, so many aluminum alloy safes, so many dream adventures¡ Lin Xian had never managed to open one.
Right now, maybe, he would finally break that streak!
Click, click, click.
As the numbers on the dials kept increasing, Lin Xian¡¯s lips tightened. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit excited and nervous.
Click, click, click.
00000039,
00000040,
00000041,
He pressed thetch.
Still nothing.
Lin Xian adjusted thest digit of thebination.
The aluminum alloy safe¡¯s dials now read¡ª
00000042
This¡
This was a very familiar number, a number he had seen many times.
It was exactly like the value on Liu Feng¡¯s time clock: 0.0000042, just without the decimal point.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t think too much about it and mechanically pressed thetch¡ª
Boom.
With a deep sound that had been sealed away for centuries, the aluminum alloy safe clicked open!
¡°It¡¯s open¡ it actually opened!¡± CC immediately jumped up from the stone bench, eyes wide open.
Even though they knew the brute-force method would eventually crack the safe, when it actually happened¡
It still felt unbelievable!
Lin Xian stayed silent. He was still puzzled. Why such a coincidence?
The password Gao Wen set for his safe was not only rted to 42 but also exactly matched the space-time curvature of the current timeline¡
What could this mean?
With these questions in mind, Lin Xian opened the dusty aluminum alloy safe.
Inside, the safe was nearly empty.
Only in the bottom cornery a notebook, entirelyminated in stic.
Lin Xian gently picked it up.
Thanks to the full stic sealing, it remained perfectly preserved even after hundreds of years, just like the smallminated paper from Zheng Xiang Yue, still clear and readable.
He opened the sacred and heavy notebook.
CC brought the oilmp closer, and they both looked at the title page.
Through the intact stic cover, they could clearly see several lines of ck handwriting left on the paper inside¡ª
[My name is Gao Wen. This diary was stored on December 7, 2201. I n to enter a cryo-chamber and wake up within a safe 10-year window to retrieve this diary without losing my memory.]
[If you¡¯re reading this and you are not Gao Wen, it means¡]
[I am already dead.]
Chapter 367: A Game Changer
¡°I¡¯m already dead.¡±
Lin Xian stared at thest line written on the inside cover of Gao Wen¡¯s notebook.
He had just left the campfire, his face still feeling tight and dry from the heat, and his body warm. But as soon as he read that line, a sudden chill ran through him.
Gao Wen.
It felt like Gao Wen had predicted everything.
ording to his notes, after he put this notebook in the safe, he nned to enter a hibernation pod, waking up in 10 years to make sure his memories stayed intact.
No one knew exactly why he chose such a short time to hibernate. Maybe he was avoiding something¡ or perhaps he was waiting for something.
Whatever the reason, Gao Wen¡¯s original n was clear: he¡¯d wake up with all his memories, like Zhao Ying Jun in the Third Dream, and return to the Time Bank to open his safe and get this notebook. If everything went smoothly, 10 yearster, he¡¯de back, get the notebook, and pass on this crucial information.But clearly, something had gone wrong.
Lin Xian guessed two things might have happened to Gao Wen:
Either Gao Wen¡¯s hibernationsted too long, or something went wrong during it, causing him to lose all his memories. If that happened, he would forget about the safe with the aluminum alloy and nevere to retrieve the notebook. But Lin Xian thought this was unlikely. Someone as smart as Gao Wen wouldn¡¯t make such a simple mistake.
So, Lin Xian leaned toward the second possibility¡
Gao Wen was killed. Knowing he might be murdered, he left this message inside the notebook as a sort of farewell note, predicting his own death.
¡°That¡¯s quite interesting,¡± CC said, studying Gao Wen¡¯s handwriting. ¡°This notebook¡¯s owner, Gao Wen, clearly knew he¡¯d be killed, so he left this note as a precaution.¡±
¡°So, he put it in the safe, just in case,¡± Lin Xian nodded in agreement. ¡°I think the same. Maybe he chose to enter the hibernation pod to escape being killed¡ But from what happened, it looks like he failed. Someone likely murdered him.¡±
¡°We should keep reading. If Gao Wen really predicted his death, maybe he left more information about the killer,¡± Lin Xian suggested.
With hope, Lin Xian turned to the next page. Gao Wen¡¯s notes continued, like a follow-up to his earlier message:
For your safety, I won¡¯t exin too much to avoid getting you into the same trouble as me.
I only hope that after reading this notebook, you will publish the research results in the attached pages.
Rest assured, my death has nothing to do with this research. I was targeted by the killer because of another math problem I was working on.
So, don¡¯t worry that releasing the research will get you killed. It represents a groundbreaking theoretical breakthrough.
I believe that releasing these results could change the world, correct many mistakes, save lives, and provide more possibilities for the future¡
No matter what time period you¡¯re in or how you came across this notebook, remember¡ª
It¡¯s not toote for anything.
Lin Xian read the page twice and finally understood what Gao Wen meant.
First, Gao Wen knew exactly why he was being targeted¡ªit was because of his research on a math problem. And since the safe¡¯s code was set to ¡°00000042,¡± it became obvious:
Professor Gao Wen in the Fifth Dream also researched the Universal Constant!
No doubt about it. In previous dreams, Big Cat Face¡¯s father was either assassinated or taken away after finding the Universal Constant 42. Ji Lin¡¯s parents, also mathematicians, were shot at 00:42, likely because of their work rted to the Universal Constant. Now, we have a third case¡ªGao Wen.
The brilliant Gao Wen didn¡¯t falter, even after Professor Xu Yun published the hibernation fluid 200 years early. Instead, he thrived by diving into another area of research.
From these short notes, it was clear that Professor Gao Wen had made breakthroughs in at least two fields. One was the Universal Constant; he calcted it as 42, but this also led to his death. The other breakthrough was the research attached at the end of the notebook. Gao Wen hoped someone would publish it to change the world and save lives.
As the inventor of the hibernation pod fluid, Lin Xian didn¡¯t doubt Gao Wen¡¯s ability. If he could invent something that changed the world once, he could certainly do it again.
Unfortunately, before he could publish his second breakthrough, Gao Wen was targeted and killed because of his research on the Universal Constant 42.
Who killed him?
Lin Xian had his suspicions from the start. Even if it wasn¡¯t a member of the Genius Club, it was certainly connected to someone there. But there was no need to think too deeply about it now. Once he joined the club, he would find out the truth.
Second, Gao Wen seemed to have considered the possibility of his own unexpected death, as well as the chance that someone might eventually find his notebook. He gambled that one day, someone would find it and publish the attached research. Worried that they might be scared off, he made sure to emphasize that publishing it wouldn¡¯t get them killed. Clearly, Gao Wen had great confidence in his work, believing it would never be toote to release it.
CC finished reading the note and softlymented, ¡°This Gao Wen person, he must have been a scientist, right? He seems very confident in his research.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I trust him too. He¡¯s very impressive. His research has never let anyone down.¡±
He nced at his wristwatch.
00:40.
Only two minutes left until the familiar white light would destroy the dream world and wake him up in 2024.
The notebook was thick. Copying it into the real world would take at least ten days to two weeks, and there was no way he could finish today. With these two minutes, he could only look at the title to know what kind of research it was.
CC noticed Lin Xian checking his watch and understood. 00:42 was almost here.
With a sigh, she said, ¡°It seems Gao Wen was a bit too optimistic. ording to what you said, the world is about to end soon¡ Whatever research Gao Wen left behind, there¡¯s just no time to deal with it now.¡±
¡°He wrote that if the research were published, it could change the world, correct mistakes, and save lives. Unfortunately, he probably thought this notebook would be discovered within decades, maybe 100 or 200 years at most.¡±
¡°If it were discovered in 2300 or 2350, when humanity¡¯s tech level was advanced, it might¡¯ve been possible,¡± she continued. ¡°But even if we publish it now, it¡¯s toote. I¡¯m still curious, though¡ªwhat kind of research could make Gao Wen so confident? Scientists usually don¡¯t talk in such definite terms.¡±
Listening to CC¡¯s analysis, Lin Xian thought she had a point.
¡°Stop guessing. Let¡¯s just take a look.¡±
As the white light of 00:42 was about to appear, Lin Xian didn¡¯t have time to think much. Under CC¡¯s watchful eyes, he turned to the next page.
On it, only one bold line stood out:
¡°Theory of Time-Space Travel and Design of a Time-Space Travel Machine.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian and CC gasped in unison,pletely taken aback. Gao Wen¡¯s research was this advanced¡ªthis fantastical?
¡°This is¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew serious. He quickly grasped the gravity of the situation.
Yellow Finch, Fake Yu Xi, Real Yu Xi¡ªthey were all time travelers from the future! He had already guessed that if people could travel back from the future, then there must be a time machine or some high-tech device like that!
But he never imagined¡
The theory of time-space travel originated with Professor Gao Wen!
There was no time to think more. The dream was almost over. Lin Xian quickly flipped through the sealed pages to catch more information. Most of the theories and forms were iprehensible, filled with symbols and English words he couldn¡¯t understand.
As the second hand on his watch moved up, Lin Xian finally found a page full of words. A sentence was circled in red:
I specte there should exist a type of energy particle capable of time-space travel. Using the energy it contains, one could cross through a time-space rift and send time travelers to specific, limited points in time. However, currently, there is no way to prove the existence of these energy particles. Therefore, the time-space travel theory is still missing its final piece.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Just as Lin Xian finished reading the note, a blinding white light instantly washed away the colors of the world.
Everything turned white. Then, it all faded into darkness.
In his bedroom corner, Lin Xian opened his eyes and shot up from his bed.
¡°Time-space particles!¡± he said with certainty. ¡°Thest piece missing from Gao Wen¡¯s time-space travel theory¡ it¡¯s the ¡®time-space particles¡¯!¡±
He rubbed his eyes, slipped on his slippers, and went to the bathroom to wash his face and wake up.
He looked up, staring at his reflection, his face dripping with water.
He woke up quickly. It was still 00:42. The minute hadn¡¯t ended yet. But ever since he got the invitation to the Genius Club, the strange phenomenon in the mirror hadn¡¯t happened again, not even once.
Professor Gao Wen. He never disappoints.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected much from Gao Wen¡¯s so-called research. He thought it might be something like the hibernation pod fluid¡ªsomething he could replicate in 2024, have the Rhine Company develop and sell, and use it to expand his influence and power.
If Elon Musk could be the world¡¯s richest man, why couldn¡¯t he?
Not that being the richest mattered; Lin Xian just wanted his own power and enough strength to back his actions when he joined the Genius Club.
But he never expected this!
Professor Gao Wen gave him a game-changer¡ªa surprise!
A time-space machine!
If this could really be built, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t even imagine how the world would change¡
There was no doubt. Yellow Finch¡¯s timeline, Fake Yu Xi¡¯s timeline, and Real Yu Xi¡¯s timeline must have time-space machines. The Fourth Dream must also have them; otherwise, that mysterious old man, possibly Copernicus, wouldn¡¯t have sent Lin Yu Xi to 2024 to arrest him.
Who knows if there¡¯s a time-space machine in the Fifth Dream¡ We haven¡¯t heard Old Man Wei Sheng Jin mention it. Plus, Mars¡¯ technology is only at the level of New Donghai City in the Second Dream. With that level, it¡¯s impossible to create a time-space machine.
So why does the Fourth Dream have a time-space machine, but not the Fifth Dream?
At first, Lin Xian thought it was because of the super disaster in 2400 that caused human technology to regress and stall. But now¡
He realized he might have been thinking too simply. The reason why there was no time-space machine in the Fifth Dream could be because of Professor Gao Wen¡¯s untimely death, which prevented the theory and technology from being released to the world in time. As a result, human civilization missed this crucial technological breakthrough.
Lin Xian nodded to his reflection.
¡°Where humanity¡¯s technology goes, which path it takes¡ªthese choices depend on those geniuses who lead beyond their eras.¡±
¡°Who knows? If Watt hadn¡¯t existed, would a usable steam engine have ever appeared¡ or would humanity have skipped that stage and jumped directly to the internalbustion engine era?¡±
¡°It¡¯s the same with Te¡¯s AC power challenging Edison¡¯s DC. If Te hadn¡¯t existed, even though Edison¡¯s DC was destined to be reced, who¡¯s to say it would definitely be by AC? It might have been a more advanced technology.¡±
Suddenly, an idea struck Lin Xian.
Earth¡¯s resources are limited. Raw materials, energy, and talent¡ªeverything is finite.
These limited resources aren¡¯t enough to support humanity developing in multiple technological directions at the same time. Due to conflicts over resources and talent, humanity¡¯s future might be forced to choose only one direction to advance.
Like Elon Musk¡¯s Mars colonization n.
Lin Xian immediately thought of this. ording to Old Man Wei Sheng Jin, before 2400, no one on Earth supported Elon Musk¡¯s Mars colonization n. Earthlings didn¡¯t want to live on Mars, and naturally, Earth¡¯s talent and scientists didn¡¯t want to go either.
Perhaps this was a crossroads for human civilization: continue to develop Earth or immigrate to Mars and start an interster journey.
Obviously, these two directions conflicted. Limited resources and talent wouldn¡¯t allow for both to develop simultaneously. One had to be chosen over the other.
Under normal circumstances, Elon Musk¡¯s Mars colonization n was bound to fail. A without a sufficient poption couldn¡¯t develop, no matter what. At that time, Mars had poor natural and living conditions. The biggest problem was theck of people. By 2024, many countries were already aware of the importance of a poption dividend¡ªwithout people, you have nothing.
People didn¡¯t want to leave Earth for Mars, and Elon Musk couldn¡¯t just kidnap Earthlings. So, ording to the normal course, Elon Musk¡¯s Mars colonization n might not even make a ssh in a few decades and would go bankrupt.
But then, in 2400, a coincidence urred. A super disaster swept the globe, killing billions and turning Earth into a hellscape where people could no longer live. Suddenly, Mars, which had been rtively underdeveloped, became the only option for humans to continue their species and avoid disaster.
Using this opportunity, humanity abandoned Earth and moved to Mars. Even a hundred yearster, when Earth¡¯s environment had fully recovered, it was so underdeveloped and low-tech that no one wanted to return from Mars, especially since space transport between Earth and Mars was limited to once every two years.
With all these obstacles, no one wanted to leave Mars and return to Earth. That¡¯s how Elon Musk¡¯s Mars colonization seeded.
But at what cost? Was abandoning Earth the price for confining humans to Mars?
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. But he believed Professor Gao Wen would be a key figure in shaping humanity¡¯s future.
¡°No matter what, I¡¯ll visit Liu Feng¡¯sb tomorrow and discuss this,¡± he said, picking up his phone to check it. There were no messages or calls from Liu Feng, which was strange.
Since he had bought the Microsoft YaHei font copyright for Time Bank, the font on Safe 1277 had changed. Since that time shift happened, shouldn¡¯t Liu Feng¡¯s space clock also show some change in value? Even a small one would make sense.
Yet there was no word from Liu Feng. Was he asleep, not noticing the clock change?
¡°Whatever, I¡¯ll just go to hisb tomorrow to find out,¡± Lin Xian said. He opened his packed fridge, made a quickte-night snack to fill his stomach, and returned to his bedroom.
He texted his driver, Xiao Li, asking him to pick him up at the apartmentplex the next morning and take him to Rhine Lab at Donghai University.
After that, he ced his phone on the nightstand, closed his eyes, and went back to sleep.
¡
The next morning, in a luxurious vi on the outskirts of Donghai City.
Zhao Ying Jun got out of her Alphard van, walked through the garden of a single-family vi, and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
¡°Coming!¡± Yan Mei opened the door from the inside and smiled when she saw Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Sweetie, why¡¯d you suddenly think of visiting us?¡±
Pushing her sunsses up into her hair, Zhao Ying Jun looked at her mother. ¡°Where¡¯s Qiao Qiao?¡±
¡°She¡¯s inside, watching TV with your dad.¡± Yan Mei pointed to the living room. ¡°Come on in and say hi.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun followed her mother inside and headed toward the sofa area in the middle of the room.
But as soon as she nced at the sofa, her blood pressure spiked!
Yan Qiao Qiao, barefoot andcking any manners, was walking back and forth on the fabric sofa, trampling on the cushions and scarf scattered all over.
And her usually strict father was sitting there like he was trying to please Yan Qiao Qiao, softly calling her name while feeding her carefully peeled orange slices. The slices were peeled perfectly clean, without a single white fiber on them. She couldn¡¯t believe this was the same well-known figure with such patience.
But seeing Yan Qiao Qiao running around barefoot on the sofa, and hearing the loud cartoon ying on the TV, Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. She felt like her head was about to explode.
¡°Why are you spoiling her like this?¡± she asked sternly. ¡°How can you let a child this old run barefoot on the sofa? How is anyone supposed to sit there?¡±
¡°What are you yelling about?¡± Yan Mei scolded back, her voice even louder than Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s. ¡°She¡¯s just a child! No need for so many rules!¡±
¡°Is she still a child?¡± Zhao Ying Junughed. ¡°She¡¯s already a teenager. At her age, she should be in middle or even high school.¡±
¡°But Qiao Qiao lost her memory,¡± Yan Mei said, rolling her eyes at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember anything, so what¡¯s wrong with running barefoot on the sofa? Honestly¡ do you have to be so uptight?¡±
¡°If you¡¯re such a clean freak, don¡¯t sit on the sofa. Move a chair and sit over there. Seriously¡ youe in and start yelling. Who do you take after?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took a deep breath through her nose, trying to stay calm. ¡°I know she lost her memory and doesn¡¯t understand things. But it¡¯s because she doesn¡¯t understand that she needs guidance and discipline.¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t correct behavior like this, what kind of person will she grow up to be? Won¡¯t she just turn into a spoiled brat?¡±
Zhao Rui Hai snorted, turning his head. ¡°I think you¡¯re the spoiled brat. Sure, Qiao Qiao¡¯s behavior might becking in manners¡ but can¡¯t you speak more gently? Exin things slowly, talk it out, andmunicate with the child?¡±
¡°Youe in and start scolding. What if you scare her? What if it affects her mental development? How many times have I told you¡ be patient. Raising a child takes time.¡±
Then, Zhao Rui Hai turned back with a doting smile on his face. ¡°Come, Qiao Qiao, spit the orange seeds into Grandpa¡¯s hand. You can¡¯t eat those; you have to spit them out.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao lowered her head, listened to her grandpa, and spit two small seeds from the orange slice into his palm. Then, he happily threw them into the trash and started peeling another slice.
What? This shocked Zhao Ying Jun.
She had seen spoiled kids before but never like this!
Was this still the strict father she remembered, who would criticize everything and pick faults?
She used to think those viral videos of doting grandparents were just staged, exaggerated skits. But now¡ the most exaggerated one was in her own home!
A girl at least thirteen or fourteen years old, getting fed peeled oranges and even having the seeds spit into someone¡¯s hand. Were they raising her to be a princess or something?
Zhao Ying Jun let out a deep breath, took a few more, and tried to calm herself.
Yeah, maybe she had overreacted. She¡¯d seen plenty of misbehaving kids before and usually just brushed them off with a smile. She never got this riled up.
She liked to think she had a lot of patience with kids.
But what happened earlier? Why did she get so worked up when she saw Yan Qiao Qiao misbehave? It wasn¡¯t like her to lose control.
Thinking it over, she remembered that even at dinner the other night, she¡¯d felt the same. Usually calm andposed, she¡¯d easily been provoked by Yan Qiao Qiao.
Why was that? Was it really like they say¡ªa kind of ¡°bloodline rebellion,¡± where parents are most impatient with their own kids and always think other people¡¯s kids are better?
Suddenly, while Zhao Ying Jun was trying to get a grip on her emotions, Yan Qiao Qiao started running around the sofa again. She seemed to have spotted something interesting and ran quickly to the other side of the sofa.
¡°Whoa, Qiao Qiao, slow down,¡± Yan Mei rushed over.
But it was toote!
As she ran, Yan Qiao Qiao bumped into a porcin vase on a rosewood shelf¡ªone of Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s favorite collectibles.
It was a very precious antique. Though not a national treasure, it was still quite famous in the antique world and held significant artistic value.
But now, it had tilted past 45 degrees!
¡°Ah!¡±
¡°Qiao Qiao, be careful!¡±
Crash¡ª
The priceless porcin vase fell to the floor and shattered, sending pieces flying across half the living room¡
Zhao Ying Jun clenched her fists. She felt her blood pressure rising again. She had seen naughty kids before, but never like this!
Surely her father couldn¡¯t ignore this, right? She remembered clearly how, as a child, she¡¯d once snuck into his collection room, didn¡¯t break anything, just touched a painting by a famous artist and smudged it a bit. Her father had been furious and hit her hands twice with a ruler, making little Zhao Ying Jun cry.
Since then, she never dared to set foot in his collection room again. Those two strikes with the ruler still left asting impression.
Sure enough, Zhao Rui Hai looked shocked!
He quickly rushed forward, scooped up Yan Qiao Qiao, and moved her away from the mess.
Then he looked her over from head to toe. ¡°Are you okay, Qiao Qiao? Did you get hurt?¡±
Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡°Hey, don¡¯t apologize! Look at this kid!¡± Zhao Rui Hai seemed bewildered that his granddaughter would apologize. ¡°That ugly vase? I¡¯ve wanted to rece it for a while! It wasn¡¯t even that nice, and it was too high up. Wasn¡¯t it bound to fall eventually? What if it hit someone? I should¡¯ve gotten rid of it long ago!¡±
Then, as if he wasn¡¯t done, he turned back and red at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°This is all your fault. Look at how you scared the kid. She¡¯s all cautious and apologetic because of you!¡±
Heh. Zhao Ying Junughed. ¡°Me?¡±
She pointed at herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t say a word, and she just started running. You¡¯re really not upset about your precious vase?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say nonsense in front of Qiao Qiao,¡± Zhao Rui Hai warned. ¡°I never said I cared that much. I¡¯ve been thinking about tossing it for ages. I¡¯ll sweep it up right now. You, keep an eye on Qiao Qiao for a bit. Make sure she doesn¡¯t step on any shards.¡±
Then he set Qiao Qiao down beside Zhao Ying Jun and began cleaning up the broken vase with Yan Mei. He repeatedly told Qiao Qiao not to run around barefoot.
Zhao Ying Jun was speechless.
She was also learning something new.
She suddenly felt grateful thatst time she brought VV to meet Yan Qiao Qiao, VV had gotten lucky.
With grandparents this doting, if VV had dared to yell at Yan Qiao Qiao, they might have had dog stew for dinner that night.
¡°Ughh¡¡±
She walked over and looked at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was swinging her legs on the sofa. ¡°You may be the youngest in the family, but you¡¯re actually the highest in rank. No one dares to cross you.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao looked up at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Good morning, sister.¡±
It seemed that after a day ofnguage lessons, Yan Qiao Qiao could now string together a short sentence. After all, she only lost her memory, not hernguage skills, so her recovery was quick.
Zhao Ying Jun crouched down, making her eye level with Yan Qiao Qiao on the sofa. They looked at each other.
She still couldn¡¯t believe it¡
That this big girl was biologically her daughter!
If someone told her it was her clone, she¡¯d find it easier to ept. But ¡°daughter¡± was just too shocking.
¡°Qiao Qiao,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, pinching her pigtails with a smile, ¡°do you remember where you¡¯re from?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±
¡°Do you remember who your mom is?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head again. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±
¡°Do you know who your dad is?¡±
Again, Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s a dad?¡±
Alright, then. Clearly, Yan Qiao Qiao didn¡¯t know what ¡°dad¡± meant or what kind of rtionship it was.
Zhao Ying Jun carefully studied each feature on Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s face. She could see so many simrities with herself¡
Honestly, if she had a daughter right now, she wasn¡¯t sure if she could make one that looked more like her than Yan Qiao Qiao did.
Right in front of her on the sofa was a smaller version of herself.
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but recall when Lin Xian took her to the hospitalb to do a DNA test with a stranger¡¯s child. She vaguely remembered that the little girl¡¯s name was Yu Xi, a beautiful name. She was also very cute and well-behaved. But she looked healthier and more energetic than Yan Qiao Qiao, with nicely defined muscles that showed she liked sports.
Yan Qiao Qiao, on the other hand, had thin arms and legs, no muscle at all¡ªshe looked weak, like a sheltered youngdy who had never seen the sun or exercised.
That girl, Yu Xi¡ How was she doing now?
Did she find her parents? Was she still with Lin Xian?
Zhao Ying Jun felt curious. In such a short time, a girl named Yu Xi appeared around Lin Xian, and now, a girl named Yan Qiao Qiao was with her. Was there a connection between these two girls?
She picked up her phone and called Lin Xian, quickly getting a answer.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re up this early?¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m heading to Donghai University today, to the Rhine Lab.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled on the phone. ¡°What¡¯s up? Calling this early?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun got straight to the point. ¡°I just remembered that a few days ago, you took a girl to the hospital for a DNA test, right? I remember her name was Yu Xi. It turned out to be a misunderstanding¡ But what happened to that girl? Is she still with you?¡±
¡°No, no. I handed her over to the police the next day,¡± Lin Xian replied naturally. ¡°I told Officer Wang about it. Let the professionals handle it. The police soon found Yu Xi¡¯s parents and sent her home.¡±
¡°Really? That¡¯s good,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a smile. ¡°A family reunion is always best.¡±
¡°Finding her parents was a relief. After raising a child for so long, losing them for even a few days must have been terrifying for her parents.¡±
¡°Definitely,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°Every child is their parents¡¯ precious gem. They might argue and scold them all the time, but if they ever went missing, no one would be more worried.¡±
¡°Alright, that¡¯s all I wanted,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said as she put down her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now, Lin Xian.¡±
She hung up and looked back at Yan Qiao Qiao.
She had thought there might be some connection between Yan Qiao Qiao and Yu Xi, but Lin Xian said the police had already found Yu Xi¡¯s parents. It seemed she was overthinking things.
Speaking of which, she was still curious. Even though Yan Qiao Qiao wasn¡¯t her biological daughter, since she shared a biological mother with her, that meant that as long as she was human, her mother alone couldn¡¯t have produced her.
If she was Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s biological mother, then¡
Who is Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s biological father?
The moment she thought of this, Zhao Ying Jun frowned in disgust. She waspletely innocent, and now she had to think about such inappropriate questions, not even knowing who the father was. It made her feel very ufortable.
¡°Who were you talking to?¡± Zhao Rui Hai asked as he and Yan Mei finished cleaning up and walked over to Zhao Ying Jun, pointing at her phone.
¡°Work stuff,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied tly, putting her phone away.
But Yan Qiao Qiao raised a finger and pointed at the pocket where Zhao Ying Jun kept her phone. ¡°Lin Xian.¡±
Her words were brief and sharp, as always.
¡°You!¡± Zhao Ying Jun squinted at Yan Qiao Qiao. ¡°Your ears are sharp, huh? You caught that I said his name twice. Why didn¡¯t you remember anything else I said?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao raised her finger again and pointed at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s phone pocket. ¡°Paternity¡¡±
But before she could finish, Zhao Ying Jun quickly covered her mouth.
¡°Oh~~~ Lin Xian,¡± said Zhao Rui Hai, realizing. He pped his hands and paced in ce. ¡°Right, right¡ I¡¯ve been so focused on Qiao Qiao that Ipletely forgot about Lin Xian!¡±
¡°Ah, you see, I promised to have a meal with Lin Xian to thank him when we came to Donghai. But when we couldn¡¯t make it a few days ago, we just let it go and didn¡¯t think about it again¡¡±
¡°What must Lin Xian think of us? We¡¯re not being very polite! We¡¯re free tonight¡ Ying Jun, call Lin Xian again. See if he¡¯s free tonight. If he is, let¡¯s all have dinner together and show him we mean it!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun thought for a moment. She didn¡¯t have any ns for tonight either. Lin Xian had mentioned before that he regretted missing dinner and told her to let him know if they had time in the future.
Maybe he was waiting for her to ask?
¡°Alright then,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, getting up from the sofa. She took out her phone, called Lin Xian again, and looked at her father.
¡°If you and Mom are free tonight¡ let¡¯s make it happen.¡±
Chapter 368: The Show Begins
Location: Donghai University, Rhine Joint Laboratory, Second Floor Corridor.
Lin Xian had just ended a call with Zhao Ying Jun and walked into Liu Feng¡¯sb.
¡°Who was on the phone?¡± Liu Feng asked casually after noticing the entry.
¡°My old boss,¡± Lin Xian replied, putting his phone away. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun.¡±
Liu Feng ran through his mental list of people he knew. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡ female CEO¡ doesn¡¯t seem to fit anywhere.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve met her,¡± Liu Feng said, shaking his head. ¡°Or to be more precise, this woman has never been to thisb.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re such a typical math nerd. Do all the women I know have toe to thisb at least once?¡±
¡°ording to your theory, there should be a teenage girl showing up here toplete your so-called ¡®arithmetic sequence.¡¯ But it¡¯s been so long, have you seen one?¡±Liu Feng thought for a moment and nodded. ¡°But math is precise. An arithmetic sequence is absolute.¡±
¡°Is this really a math problem?¡± Lin Xian teased. ¡°Sure, some age gaps are possible, but where am I supposed to find a teenage girl to bring to you? Be realistic¡¡±
¡°Actually, this is a dangerous topic. Stop dreaming aboutpleting your sequence. It¡¯s already over,plete, no more teenage girlsing to theb¡ª¡±
Suddenly, a phone rang, cutting Lin Xian off.
Ring ring, ring ring, ring ring!
Lin Xian nced at the caller ID. It was Zhao Ying Jun again. Maybe she forgot to mention something.
He answered, ¡°Hello, Zhao Ying Jun?¡±
¡°Sorry, Lin Xian, I called back right after hanging up,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a slightugh. ¡°My father mentioned it again just now¡ªhaving dinner with you. Remember? My parents have been very grateful since you saved me earlyst year. They wanted to thank you in person.¡±
¡°We had to postpone a few days ago because you were busy. Are you free tonight? If so, let¡¯s not dy any further. My parents are eager to meet you.¡±
Lin Xian suddenly remembered. Oh, that¡¯s right.
He¡¯d been so caught uptely¡ªbeing hunted by time-space assassins, dealing with the real and fake Yu Xi twist, and the sudden appearance of the Fifth Dream¡ªthat he¡¯dpletely forgotten about other things in his life.
Last time, he canceled the dinner to meet with Elon Musk, feeling a bit guilty. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents hade all the way from the capital to thank him, and he couldn¡¯t make it.
Canceling once wasn¡¯t a big deal, but repeatedly refusing would seem disrespectful to her parents and rude to Zhao Ying Jun herself. He might as well get it over with.
After a moment¡¯s thought, he realized he had no specific ns tonight.
ording to his usual schedule, he¡¯d sleep through the afternoon and into the early hours, then head back into the dream world to sneak into Big Cat¡¯s Vige and open Gao Wen¡¯s safe to study his notes.
He could dy that for a day. It¡¯s not like copying the ¡°Theory of Time-Space Travel and Design of a Time-Space Machine¡± notebook into the real world would be finished in a week or two.
¡°Alright,¡± he agreed over the phone. ¡°I¡¯m free tonight. If your parents are avable, let¡¯s do it tonight. How about I book the restaurant as a way of weing them since they came such a long way?¡±
¡°Hehe, no way,¡± Zhao Ying Junughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the restaurant. You¡¯re the guest of honor tonight. I¡¯ll send the address and room number to you and our driver, Xiao Li, who will take you there directly.¡±
¡°But¡ there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m a bit embarrassed about¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun nced over at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was swinging her legs and looking at her with her grandpa Zhao Rui Hai.
After a moment of hesitation, she continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, my parents might bring a teenage kid along for dinner. She¡¯s a child from my mom¡¯s hometown who¡¯s been with my parentstely.¡±
¡°No problem, bring her along,¡± Lin Xian replied casually. ¡°Wang mentioned it to me before, about your parents bringing a kid from the countryside. You even asked him about family-friendly restaurants.¡±
¡°Since your parents will be there, and no one¡¯s home to take care of her, it makes sense to bring her along. I¡¯m fine with it¡ªthe more, the merrier, right?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun thought of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s unruly behavior and felt a bit of a headache. She sighed softly, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t mind. Teenage girls nowadays can be quite a handful.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, really,¡± Lin Xian said, remembering the time when a teenage girl tore off his car door and turned his Alphard into a beehive. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with my fair share of rebellious teenage girls. I¡¯ve built a strong tolerance. As long as she¡¯s not ripping car doors off or dropping from the sky on a motorcycle, she¡¯ll seem calm and quiet to me.¡±
Lin Xian was speaking the truth. The real and fake Yu Xi, both ¡°terminators,¡± had pushed his patience to the limit. He couldn¡¯t imagine a more difficult teenage girl than those two.
One Yu Xi was like a spy from an espionage thriller, iming to be on his side but tricking everyone, including Elon Musk, almost seeding in killing two members of the Genius Club.
The other was a cold, emotionless assassin who brutally beheaded the fake Yu Xi right in front of him and nned to throw him into a hibernation pod for a trial in the future.
Compared to them, how much trouble could Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s kid cause?
Next to the real and fake Yu Xi, any other teenage girl would seem like an angel.
On the other end of the phone, Zhao Ying Jun was amused by Lin Xian¡¯s words. ¡°Of course, there aren¡¯t any violent teenage girls outside of movies and cartoons. I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay with kids, though. A lot of people around me, including myself, don¡¯t have much patience for them. It¡¯s easy to get frustrated and stressed.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s it then. See you tonight.¡±
She hung up quickly, as she always did¡ªstraightforward and decisive.
Lin Xian put down his phone and looked up to see Liu Feng with a smug smile on his face.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xian asked, not understanding what Liu Feng was so pleased about.
¡°Hehe,¡± Liu Feng chuckled. ¡°I think I heard something about a ¡®teenage girl.¡¯¡±
¡°That¡¯s Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s rtive,¡± Lin Xian rified. ¡°Not mine. I don¡¯t even know her. Do you think she¡¯s going toe looking for me in theb? I might have some charm, but I don¡¯t think I can make a young girl fall for me¡ and honestly, I¡¯d rather that not happen.¡±
¡°Who knows what kind of liking it might be,¡± Liu Feng shrugged. ¡°There are many types of affection¡ªnot just romantic love. Admiration, respect, and awe are all quite normal feelings. Anyway, if a gun shows up in a story, it¡¯s bound to fire at some point.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing when that teenage girl shows up at theb. That¡¯s when my arithmetic sequence will truly beplete.¡±
Lin Xian rolled his eyes. ¡°You can keep waiting. If it happens, you win.¡±
¡°Alright, enough joking around. I¡¯m here to discuss something serious,¡± he said, walking to the centralb table. He picked up the rectangr time-space clock and checked the reading on the dial¡ª0.0000042.
As expected, no change.
Lin Xian had guessed this oue when he woke up this morning. Liu Feng was always very attentive to the time-space clock, and checking its readings was his first task of the day.
He hadn¡¯t called Lin Xian by the time he arrived at Donghai University, which meant there hadn¡¯t been any changes on the time-space clock.
Pointing at the dial showing 0.0000042, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the reading changed?¡±
¡°Because the curvature of time-space hasn¡¯t changed,¡± Liu Feng replied calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve exined this before. The time-space clock is a device that detects changes in time-space curvature. Only when a time-space butterfly effect urs, when the future time-space shifts, or when a world line deviates and transitions, will the curvature change.¡±
¡°So, only in such cases will the time-space clock¡¯s numbers change to reflect the magnitude of the shift or the degree of world line transition.¡±
¡°If there¡¯s no change now, it means no butterfly effect urred, no future time-space shift happened, and we¡¯re still on the 0.0000042 curvature world line, without any deviation.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not right.¡±
He recalled the scene from yesterday¡¯s dream, where he dug out Safe 1277.
He had seen it clearly.
The engraved namete¡¯s font had changed from a sharp Song-style font to a rounded Microsoft Yahei.
Even though the time-space change was minor, it had happened!
So, the curvature should have changed, even if just a little¡ even if it went from 0.0000042 to 0.0000043, that would make sense.
It couldn¡¯t be that the time-space change had urred, and the details of the future world had altered, but the time-space curvature remained entirely unchanged. That would be illogical.
¡°Liu Feng, could there be an uracy issue with your time-space clock?¡± Lin Xian suggested, pointing at thest digit on the dial. ¡°It only detects up to seven decimal ces. What if the curvature shift is extremely tiny, too small for your clock to detect?¡±
¡°That won¡¯t happen,¡± Liu Feng said, moving closer and pointing at the digital disy. ¡°I built the time-space clock with a full LCD screen. Even though it looks like it only shows eight digits, it can disy dozens, even hundreds, if necessary.¡±
¡°This is aplete LCD screen, after all. If you connect it to aputer, you could even watch movies or y games. So¡ understand now, Lin Xian? What you¡¯re worried about won¡¯t happen.¡±
¡°I can guarantee that if any time-space change urs, no matter how tiny, my clock will detect it and disy it proportionately. Even if the change is only 0.00000000001, the reading would change to 0.00000042001. I considered this when designing it.¡±
¡°Including the first digit,¡± Liu Feng continued, pointing to the lone 0 before the decimal. ¡°What if the shift is massive, reaching hundreds of thousands or millions? Would the clock crash? Of course not. I wouldn¡¯t make such a basic mistake.¡±
That makes sense, Lin Xian thought, understanding now.
The number of digits disyed on the time-space clock is automatically adjustable, so there¡¯s no concern about precision.
Which means there¡¯s an even bigger problem.
¡°Here¡¯s the thing, Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Don¡¯t doubt what I¡¯m about to say. Just take it as true and analyze it from there.¡±
¡°First, I¡¯m certain that a time-space butterfly effect and a time-space change did ur. It happened right after the time-space clock¡¯s reading changed to 0.0000042. So, theoretically, the curvature should have changed, but your clock didn¡¯t detect it.¡±
¡°Second, the change was minor, almost insignificant to the future trajectory and world line. Of course, I say almost; I can¡¯t measure exactly how much, but it definitely happened¡ªit¡¯s just a very small change.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s think this through¡ª¡±
¡°Why did a time-space change ur, but there¡¯s no shift in curvature, no deviation or transition in the world line?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s question sparked Liu Feng¡¯s contemtion.
He didn¡¯t doubt Lin Xian¡¯s words; there was no reason for him to lie or make up stories.
So, Liu Feng epted the fact that a ¡°minor time-space change¡± had urred and began thinking from there.
For a while, the vastboratory fell silent.
Both of them were deep in thought, the only soundsing from birds outside the window and the distant chimes of the bell signaling the end of a ss.
Lin Xian closed his eyes and started thinking about any clues he might have missed.
For something like this, there must be a logical exnation, meaning it has to conform to thews of time-space.
Time-Space Laws.
He mentally reviewed thews he¡¯d already understood: the time-space butterfly effect, time-space changes, change anchors, time-space sticity, time-space¡ª
¡°Wait a minute,¡± Lin Xian suddenly opened his eyes, recalling his summary of the ¡°Time-Space sticity¡±w from two years ago when he first grasped the concept:
Time-Space sticity: Time-space itself has some sticity; not every time-space butterfly effect leads to a change. Only when changes umte to a certain degree or reality is altered strongly enough will it break through the time-space sticity, causing a shift that affects the future world.
Looking at it now, this summary wasn¡¯tplete!
He thought of a new way to understand it¡
It¡¯s like having a spring in front of you.
If you use a very light touch to make it move just a little, it will eventually return to its original shape.
The moment you release your grip, the spring snaps back¡ªthat¡¯s sticity!
So, for time-space, how should we understand this sticity?
Lin Xian tried to summarize.
Perhaps, just as small-scale butterfly effects do not trigger visible time-space changes, minor time-space shifts are like gently nudging a spring¡ªnot enough to cause a substantial deformation. It still holds the possibility of reverting back or being corrected.
So then¡
How do you make a spring undergo irreversible, unrecoverable changes?
Everyone knows the answer: Force is the key!
As long as you apply enough force to pull, twist, or damage the spring, it will lose its sticity forever and never return to its original form.
Perhaps this is the true exnation of an irreparable change anchor.
Simrly, time-space sticity is the same¡ª
Only a significant enough time-space change can truly break through the sticity, causing irreversible, unrecoverable transformation in the future world; hence, altering the time-space curvature and shifting the world line.
¡°So that¡¯s¡ how it is¡¡± Lin Xian had a moment of rity, an epiphany that felt like a sudden enlightenment.
¡°I understand now,¡± he said, looking up at Liu Feng. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out what time-space sticity truly is!¡±
He began pacing theb. ¡°Small time-space changes can be corrected or reverted, so they don¡¯t directly affect the curvature. To put it simply, both time-space and history are like an stic spring¡¡±
¡°If you apply only a little force, it will eventually snap back to its original state. The principle behind this isn¡¯t clear yet; maybe time-space and history have some inherent ability to self-correct, like how the ocean can purify itself. Perhaps time-space also has a self-repair, self-adjust function.¡±
¡°But let¡¯s not get into that now. Let¡¯s keep it simple¡ I¡¯ve finally figured out when the time-space clock¡¯s reading will change¡ª¡±
¡°Only when time-space sticity is breached, when changes umte to a certain threshold, causing a total upheaval in the future world, and the world line shifts, will the time-space clock¡¯s reading change!¡±
¡°And each change¡¯s magnitude could be the limit of time-space sticity, marking the boundary of different time-space coordinates!¡±
Liu Feng listened to Lin Xian¡¯s theory with a serious expression, his mind racing.
It was a bold idea.
Could it really be as Lin Xian said¡ that once the curvature values were digitized, even the limits and boundaries of time-space sticity could be quantified?
It wasn¡¯t impossible!
He had long thought that the concept of time-space sticity was incredibly important and profound, with much room for exploration and deeper understanding.
If time-space itself were a spring, Lin Xian¡¯s hypothesis would be entirely reasonable and theoretically sound!
¡°But¡¡± Liu Feng scratched his head. ¡°Your theory is still just a guess for now. To prove it, we have to wait for the next time the time-space clock¡¯s reading changes. Then we can draw more conclusions.¡±
¡°If the next change follows a pattern and the magnitude is the same as the first one, or it grows by multiples¡ then we can say your hypothesis is correct.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡±
¡°Once the next time-space curvature shift happens, we can learn a lot¡¡±
¡°We could understand how time-space coordinates change, the limits of time-space sticity, and even crack some foundational theories of world lines.¡±
¡°No wonder Yellow Finch said from the beginning that the time-space sticityw is incredibly important. I never imagined I¡¯d still be learning new things from it two yearster.¡±
He walked back to the middle of theb and patted the in white rectangr time-space clock. ¡°For now, we just have to wait for the next change in the clock¡¯s reading.¡±
¡°But when will that changee?¡± Liu Feng tilted his head. ¡°It¡¯s entirely out of our control. We can only hope for luck.¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head.
He thought of Gao Wen¡¯s safe, the notes in Gao Wen¡¯s will, and that invention capable of shaking the world once again¡
The Time-Space Machine.
If he copied this advanced piece of technology back into the real world, it would trigger another massive time-space change, like a wild tornado, tearing apart and reshaping the future world.
The Fifth Dream would undoubtedly be the Sixth Dream.
By then, the time-space clock¡¯s reading would change a second time.
Lin Xian certainly wouldn¡¯t take Gao Wen¡¯s advice to make the time-space machine theory and design public to the world.
It was never meant for this era.
Keeping it in his hands was enough.
He didn¡¯t know when this thing could be built for real, but to ensure his own safety and the stability of the current time-space¡
Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t let anyone else beat him to having a time-space machine¡ªThe world¡¯s first time-space machine must be in my hands!
Therefore, the first step was to ensure hisb had the capability to develop and build such advanced technology.
¡°Liu Feng, spend more time researching time-space particles,¡± Lin Xian pointed to a small fridge in the corner of theb that Elon Musk had given him.
¡°Time-space travel and the possibility of a time-space machine all depend on time-space particles. Moving forward, I n to build a ¡®time-space machine¡¯¡ This kind of project must bepleted in a privateb like this to keep it confidential.¡±
¡°I know you¡¯re short-handed now, but I¡¯ll try to find some more assistants for you. For now, you¡¯re the person I trust the most and my most reliable partner. So¡ if possible, I hope you¡¯ll lead the future time-space machine project.¡±
¡°As of now, there are few people in the world who understand time-space particles better than you. You have the advantage here. Once I gather more information, we can discuss it further. For now¡ I hope you¡¯ll dedicate more of your focus to researching time-space particles and the theory and application of time-space travel.¡±
Liu Feng stared in shock at his wealthy, yet often whimsical backer.
He really does love giving me tough challenges.
There was Universal Constants, time-space particles, time-space coordinates, and that ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡± painting that he still hadn¡¯t cracked.
Now¡ something even crazier hase up.
He wants me to research a time-space machine!
But after the initial shock, Liu Feng understood Lin Xian¡¯s reasoning.
Since Yellow Finch, that elusive woman, was indeed a time traveler¡
If it exists, it must be possible.
Which means time travel is feasible!
The theory is sound!
The time-space machine is a real thing that can be made by humans!
He couldn¡¯t help but imagine¡ if humans could really use a time-space machine to go back in time, what could they do?
They could see those who have passed away,
Fix missed opportunities and regrets,
Experience grand historical events firsthand,
And even, like Yellow Finch, manipte humanity¡¯s future within the limits of sticity!
Awesome.
So awesome!
Liu Feng felt his blood boiling.
¡°Alright,¡± he agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to research it.¡±
Lin Xian checked his watch.
Although he hadn¡¯t been here for long, it was time to leave. ¡°I¡¯m heading out now, so I won¡¯t disturb your research.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Liu Feng looked surprised. ¡°Leaving so soon? You haven¡¯t even been here ten minutes.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t help it,¡± Lin Xian said, spreading his hands with a smile. ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner is important. I need to prepare.¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents came all the way to thank me. It would be rude to show up empty-handed.¡±
¡°Donghai isn¡¯t far from Hang City, so I¡¯m nning to contact an old friend there to get some top-quality West Lake Longjing tea, and have Xiao Li drive over to pick it up¡ it¡¯ll be here before dinner.¡±
¡°Her parents are important people who don¡¯tck anything, so a special local product as a gift is always the safest bet.¡±
With that, he waved his hand and left theb. ¡°See you, Liu Feng.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s hope to see a change in the time-space clock soon, and hopefully¡¡±
¡°We¡¯ll have our own time-space machine one day.¡±
That evening, around 6 PM, in a luxurious vi on the outskirts of Donghai City.
Zhao Rui Hai wore a formal suit, and Yan Mei changed into her carefully chosen qipao.
The couple had dressed up well for the uing dinner. After all, they were thanking Lin Xian, so they had to show sincerity and respect.
Speaking of respect¡
The two elderly people looked worriedly at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was watching TV on the couch.
They were concerned their granddaughter might make a fool of herself in front of Lin Xian.
They knew that Yan Qiao Qiao wasn¡¯t exactly obedient or sensible right now, mainly due to her amnesia. She didn¡¯t know right from wrong, or what she could or couldn¡¯t do¡ It wasn¡¯t really her fault.
¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t take Qiao Qiao?¡± Yan Mei suggested. ¡°What if she acts up and ruins the atmosphere? It would make us look like we didn¡¯t raise her well and let Lin Xian see us as a joke.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai thought about it and agreed.
He walked over to the couch, patted Qiao Qiao on the head, and smiled. ¡°Qiao Qiao, your grandma and I are going out for dinner. Can you stay home and watch TV? We¡¯ll bring you back something nice to eat.¡±
Qiao Qiao turned around, picking up on the keyword: ¡°Dinner.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Rui Hai nodded. ¡°We¡¯re going out to eat, but it¡¯s a bit formal. Can you stay home and wait for us?¡±
But¡
Qiao Qiao shook her head firmly.
Her eyes were serious. ¡°I want to go¡ Eat meat!¡±
Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei exchanged nces and smiled helplessly.
Alright then.
In this world, nothing is bigger than their granddaughter.
Given Qiao Qiao¡¯s current special condition of amnesia, it¡¯s best to let her have her way.
¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said, taking Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand and pulling her off the couch. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Grandpa will take you to eat meat! As much as you want!¡±
At the same time, in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s apartmentplex in Donghai City, in the entryway.
Zhao Ying Jun was already dressed up, looking sharp and morous.
She was sitting by the shoe cab, switching from slippers to high heels.
¡°Arff!¡± Her Pomeranian, VV, stood up straight, eyes focused.
Zhao Ying Jun looked at her dog. ¡°You want toe to dinner?¡±
¡°Arff!¡± VV¡¯s gaze was serious.
¡°Hehe, forget it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°Last time, you didn¡¯t end up as dog soup, and that was lucky. You should stay away from Yan Qiao Qiao. Being near her is too risky.¡±
¡°With how much her grandparents spoil her, I worry that the next time I see you, it¡¯ll be with chopsticks on a dinner table.¡±
The fluffy Pomeranian shook its head firmly. ¡°Arff, Arff! V~~~¡±
Hearing this familiar whining, Zhao Ying Jun understood.
VV wasn¡¯t insisting oning to dinner but wanted to see Lin Xian.
¡°VV, do you want to see Lin Xian?¡±
¡°V~~~¡± VV responded with a happy noise.
¡°Hmm¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun thought for a moment.
It was true, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t been over in a while, and VV hadn¡¯t seen him either.
VV had been in a good moodtely, thanks to Lin Xian¡¯sfort back then.
Now¡
She decided to go along with it. Better than VV getting depressed again.
¡°Alright,¡± she said, putting on her high heels, picking up VV in her arms, and stepping into the elevator. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°It¡¯s funny, but this dinner with Lin Xian really feels like¡¡±
¡°The whole family is going out.¡±
Chapter 369: A Family Portrait and Werewolf Game
Donghai City, Huangpu District, Nanjing East Road, Peace Hotel.
Standing tall for over a century, the Peace Hotel on Nanjing East Road is one of the most icondmarks on the Bund. It may not be the most luxurious hotel in Donghai City, nor does it serve the best food, but it is always a top choice for hosting banquets and gatherings, symbolizing ss and status.
Between the North and South buildings, lit up and luxurious, a uniquely ted Hongqi sedan and an Alphard business van pulled into the parking lot almost simultaneously. Their upants headed to a private room.
¡°Hello, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun,¡± a waitress in period-style attire greeted Zhao Ying Jun with a polite bow. ¡°Some guests have already arrived in the private room. Is this a family dinner today?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied with a nod. ¡°Just a family meal. Nothing fancy is needed.¡±
¡°Understood. Please take your seat and let me know if you need anything,¡± the waitress responded, opening the door to the private room for her.
Inside the Room, Zhao Rui Hai, Yan Mei, and Yan Qiao Qiao were already seated at the dining table.
¡°Puppy!¡± Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes sparkled when she noticed the fluffy Pomeranian in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s arms. ¡°V~!¡± The Pomeranian, VV, barked cheerfully and leaped from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s arms, darting under the table before jumping onto Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯sp.
¡°Puppy!¡± Yan Qiao Qiao eximed, hugging VV tightly. The fluffy dog, resembling a dandelion, seemed oversized in her tiny arms, almost like she was holding a baby skan Mmute.
¡°His name is VV,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined, watching her. ¡°Just call him by his name. It looks like he really likes you.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao lifted VV with both hands under his armpits and said softly, ¡°VV.¡±
¡°Vrrrrrr!¡± the dog responded happily.
Then, she ced the dog on a te in front of her and said seriously, ¡°Eat meat.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± VV¡¯s fur bristled, fluffing up like a scared dandelion.
¡°Oh, Qiao Qiao, you can¡¯t put pets on the dining table! That¡¯s so unhygienic!¡± Yan Mei eximed. She quickly took VV off the table, ced him on the floor, and called over a waiter. ¡°Sorry, could you please get us a new set of tableware? This one has been touched by the dog.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai sighed softly. The meal hadn¡¯t even started, yet it already felt like a battle with danger lurking around.
He gently patted Yan Qiao Qiao on the head and said kindly, ¡°Qiao Qiao, today we¡¯re meeting a very important guest¡ªa really nice uncle. You need to be polite. This is different from being at home; you need to follow the rules. Otherwise, people might not like you and could evenugh at your grandma and grandpa.¡±
¡°So, today, you need to listen. Don¡¯t move around too much, and don¡¯t talk too much. Just sit here and eat properly. If there¡¯s anything you want, tell Grandpa. Once you¡¯re full, this room is spacious enough for you to y with VV.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded obediently. She reached out her finger and pointed at Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s temples. ¡°White hair.¡±
¡°Yes, Grandpa has white hair now. I¡¯m getting old! Come, help Grandpa pull it out. Let¡¯s see how strong Qiao Qiao¡¯s hands are!¡± Zhao Rui Hai said, tilting his head closer to her.
To his surprise, Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she reached out and pinched with both fingers near his ear and pulled!
Before Zhao Rui Hai could react, the white hair was already between her fingers. He was left stunned, mouth agape.
Her speed, her strength, her precision¡ amazing! She¡¯s definitely his granddaughter!
¡°Great job!¡± he praised. ¡°Look at Qiao Qiao; she¡¯s improving so fast, changing day by day. Raising her is so rewarding¡ªyou can see her progress every day.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Yan Mei added proudly. ¡°Our Qiao Qiao is very talented; I noticed it long ago. She learns things quickly, and her hearing, vision, and coordination are all excellent.¡±
¡°Just now, the way she pulled that white hair from Old Rui Hai, it was smooth and precise. I think Qiao Qiao¡¯s hands are perfect for bing a surgeon or doing cutting-edge research in the future.¡±
¡°Heh,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled suddenly, ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s a three-year-old kid? She¡¯s already in her teens. Having such dexterity is normal. Stop this awkward ttery.¡±
¡°Plus, she didn¡¯t start learning from scratch; she just lost her memory. After Professor Xu Yun passed away, I learned a bit about hibernation and the side effects of memory loss. Pure memory loss doesn¡¯t really affect speaking, reading, or motor skills.¡±
¡°Even if Qiao Qiao¡¯s memory doesn¡¯te back, her basic skills and abilities will return soon enough. So, stop treating her like a little child. Set rules where they¡¯re needed, and scold her when necessary.¡±
¡°If we miss this crucial period for shaping her knowledge and behavior, it¡¯ll be hard to correct thingster on.¡±
However, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s serious lecture on child-rearing fell on deaf ears. Her parents, who were busy over-praising their granddaughter, didn¡¯t hear a word.
To them, their granddaughter was perfect in every way. The only issue was that she was too skinny and needed to eat more to grow healthy.
Yan Mei turned to Zhao Ying Jun and said, ¡°Stop saying such discouraging things. Who said Qiao Qiao¡¯s memory won¡¯te back? Your dad has already scheduled an appointment with the best neurologist in the country and the top neurology chief at Ruijin Hospital. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll take Qiao Qiao to Ruijin for a full check-up.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll look at her bone age, nutrition, and get a sense of her overall condition. She doesn¡¯t remember how old she is, but we can estimate her age through bone age tests. That way, we can decide how to raise her and what kind of school she should attend.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai nodded in agreement. ¡°Mostly, I want to see if there¡¯s any way to help Qiao Qiao recover her memory. We don¡¯t know everything, and medical technology is very advanced. Maybe there¡¯s a way to bring back the memories she lost.¡±
¡°If Qiao Qiao regains her memory, she¡¯ll remember a lot of things.¡±
After he said that, the two elders exchanged a knowing look and then nced at Zhao Ying Jun.
Zhao Ying Jun immediately sensed their gaze. She closed her eyes.
At this moment, her family¡ªno, just at this dining table¡ªfelt like a real-life game of Werewolf.
Yan Qiao Qiao didn¡¯t know who she was; her parents only knew Qiao Qiao was rted to them by blood but didn¡¯t know the exact rtionship. Meanwhile, she herself had found out that she was biologically Qiao Qiao¡¯s mother but hadn¡¯t told her parents yet.
How could she exin that? Even if she could, what would happen next? Raise a child? ept the fact that she has a teenage daughter despite being unmarried and childless?
Zhao Ying Jun admitted she wasn¡¯t that open-minded.
To be honest, she couldn¡¯t ept it. So, she needed to find out the truth. Only a reasonable exnation could help here to terms with this sudden daughter.
¡°If she can recover her memory, that would be great,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said calmly. ¡°I also look forward to the day Qiao Qiao regains her memory. I hope the country¡¯s neurologists cane up with something to put an end to this ridiculous farce.¡±
At that moment, the door to the private room opened, and Lin Xian walked in with two beautifully packaged bags of tea in his hands, smiling.
Zhao Ying Jun stood up immediately and introduced him to her parents, ¡°Dad, Mom, this is Lin Xian, the person you¡¯ve been wanting to meet.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai stood up with a big smile, took Lin Xian¡¯s hand, and patted his shoulder. ¡°Hahaha, Lin Xian! I¡¯ve heard so much about you. It¡¯s great to finally meet you!¡±
Lin Xian nodded with a polite smile. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Compared to you, I¡¯m just a junior. I have a lot to learn.¡±
¡°Oh, look at him! What a sweet talker! Such a fine young man!¡± Yan Mei chimed in, turning to look at Lin Xian with approval. ¡°So tall and handsome! No wonder Ying Jun keeps praising you every time shees home for the holidays. I can see you¡¯re a good, kind-hearted, and well-mannered boy.¡±
¡°Come,e, don¡¯t just stand there. Sit down, and we can chat at our leisure!¡± Yan Mei urged.
Lin Xian closed the door to the private room and ced the tea bags on a nearby tea table. ¡°Uncle, Auntie, this is the new Longjing tea from our Hangzhou area this year. I know you don¡¯tck anything, so I brought some tea from my hometown as a little gift.¡±
Coming from a family like Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei¡¯s, they naturally appreciated a child who knew their manners. Seeing Lin Xian so well-behaved and courteous, they felt a good impression growing. ¡°Look at you, Lin Xian. You¡¯re being too polite. My wife and I came here just to thank you, and here you are bringing us gifts¡ When you visit the capital next, be sure to let Ying Jun or us know. We¡¯ll treat you well.¡±
¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s start the meal,¡± Zhao Rui Hai called the waiter to start serving the dishes and asked him to open the wine he brought and pour it into a decanter.
Lin Xian took off his coat and hung it on the wall, then sat down in the seat to the right of Zhao Rui Hai. Seated between Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei was Yan Qiao Qiao. Lin Xian was to the left of Zhao Rui Hai and to the right of Zhao Ying Jun. On Ying Jun¡¯s right was Yan Mei. The private room wasn¡¯t big, but with just five people and a dog, it felt cozy.
¡°I¡¯ll introduce everyone, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun volunteered as two cold dishes were served, raising her ss for a toast. ¡°This is my father, Zhao Rui Hai, whom I¡¯ve mentioned before. You probably remember him.¡±
¡°This is my mother, Yan Mei. She just retired honorably from her teaching job this year.¡±
¡°And this is¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand gestured toward Yan Qiao Qiao, who was busy grinding her chopsticks in the middle, then hesitated and pursed her lips before saying slowly, ¡°This is my mom¡¯s side¡¯s rtive¡¯s granddaughter, Yan Qiao Qiao.¡±
Lin Xian smiled and waved kindly at Yan Qiao Qiao. ¡°Hello, Qiao Qiao.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao stopped what she was doing, pointed a pair of chopsticks directly at Lin Xian, and said, ¡°Lin Xian.¡±
¡°No, no, no¡¡± Zhao Rui Hai hurriedly pressed her chopsticks down, realizing that pointing chopsticks at someone was very uncivilized. He smiled apologetically at Lin Xian, saying, ¡°She¡¯s a little girl from the countryside. She doesn¡¯t have much manners, so please don¡¯t mind her.¡±
He patted Qiao Qiao¡¯s head gently. ¡°Qiao Qiao, you can¡¯t call older people by their first name. You should use a proper address. This is Uncle Lin Xian. Now, call him ¡®Uncle.¡¯¡±
Qiao Qiao blinked and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Uncle.¡±
Then she turned to look at Zhao Ying Jun with clear eyes. ¡°Sister.¡±
???
Lin Xian felt his mind boggling. What¡¯s going on with thisplex family rtionship?
Zhao Ying Jun just introduced Qiao Qiao as a rtive¡¯s granddaughter from her mom¡¯s side. That was easy enough to understand. Since the girl shared the samest name as Yan Mei, she must be a rtive from her mother¡¯s side. Regardless of how distant or close that rtionship is, she should call Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei ¡°Grandpa¡± and ¡°Grandma.¡±
Calling him ¡°Uncle¡± wasn¡¯t out of line based on age; he had younger nieces around her age too.
But why did she call Zhao Ying Jun ¡°Sister¡±?
It¡¯s not just Lin Xian¡
Even if a super AI like VV were here, it couldn¡¯t untangle this family rtionship!
Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, unsure of how to respond. Should he ept being called ¡°Uncle,¡± thus acknowledging himself as part of the older generation in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s family?
Zhao Ying Jun gave Lin Xian a small smile and made a circr motion near her head with her finger, signaling that there was something off. ¡°This little girl, let¡¯s just say¡ her brain is a bit¡¡±
¡°Oh, oh, oh,¡± Lin Xian quickly caught on.
From the moment he walked in, he had noticed the girl¡¯s overly clear eyes, almost hinting at a childlike simplicity. Now that Zhao Ying Jun exined, he understood better.
This little girl had some mental issues. You couldn¡¯t expect too much from her; let her call people whatever she wants.
¡°Qiao Qiao, just call me Brother,¡± Lin Xian suggested gently, looking at the girl who seemed more adorable the longer he looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m not much older than you. Calling me ¡®Brother¡¯ makes me feel younger too.¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded obediently, like a big cat with no tricks or cunning. She believed whatever people said at this age. ¡°Brother,¡± she said clearly.
¡°This little girl really is adorable,¡± Lin Xianplimented as he nced around the table. ¡°And she¡¯s genuinely beautiful¡ªnaturally elegant and lovely.¡±
Qiao Qiao lowered her head, locking eyes with VV¡¯s widened dog eyes. The girl and the dog didn¡¯t understand a word, but they seemed to share a moment of silent confusion.
For the four adults at the table, every sentence was filled with social graces, steeped in formality.
Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei were impressed with Lin Xian¡¯s high emotional intelligence, which skillfully diffused the awkwardness. They felt the boy was indeed outstanding; it took just a few words to see he was exceptional in every way.
¡°Come on, Lin Xian, let them drink their drinks, and we¡¯ll drink our wine. Let¡¯s have another toast,¡± Zhao Rui Hai suggested, raising his ss to drink with Lin Xian and pulling the conversation away from Qiao Qiao.
Qiao Qiao¡¯s situation was indeedplicated, and he hadn¡¯t nned on exining it in detail to Lin Xian¡ªno need to air the family¡¯s dirtyundry.
¡°Last year, during the New Year, when Ying Jun told us about how you saved her from that criminal, my wife and I have been nning to visit Donghai City to thank you properly,¡± Zhao Rui Hai began after downing his drink. ¡°But there never seemed to be a good opportunity. And now, finally meeting you, we hope you won¡¯t mind the dy.¡±
¡°Oh, not at all. You¡¯re being too kind,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°I worked at Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯spany right after graduation and received a lot of support from her. I¡¯ve always wanted to repay her kindness. Compared to that, what I did that day was just self-defense. It was my duty to help Ms. Zhao Ying Jun.¡±
¡°To be honest, I owe a lot of my currentpany¡¯s sess to Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s help. If anyone should be giving thanks, it¡¯s me thanking her. Without her, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled gently after hearing this. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked up, saying, ¡°Lin Xian, now that you¡¯ve left MX Company and started your own business, you don¡¯t have to call me ¡®Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯ anymore; it sounds so formal. Just call me ¡®Ying Jun,¡¯ like my parents do. We¡¯re close enough, no need to be so reserved¡ªthink of it as dining at home.¡±
With that remark, Lin Xian realized he had always addressed her formally. After all, he¡¯d started at MX Company right after graduation and had been calling her that for years. It would take some getting used to, but since she had made it clear, he couldn¡¯t refuse.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian agreed. He clinked his ss with Zhao Rui Hai¡¯s and chatted about daily life, answering some of his questions.
On the other side, Yan Mei usedmunal chopsticks to put some meat on Qiao Qiao¡¯s te, patiently saying, ¡°Qiao Qiao, stop ying with VV and eat first. y after you¡¯ve eaten your fill.¡±
VV?
Lin Xian was surprised. He turned to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°VV is here too?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun motioned with her chin toward Qiao Qiao. ¡°Yeah, VV jumped right onto Qiao Qiao¡¯sp when we walked in and has been sticking to her since.¡±
¡°It¡¯s strange¡ VV warmed up to her immediately, just like when it first met you. It clung to her and kept rubbing against her.¡±
¡°I have to say, this dog amazes me. It seems to bond with everyone but me. It¡¯s friendly with everyone but me.¡±
After saying this, she thought for a moment and shook her head. ¡°Well, not exactly. I remember VV being very aloof with my rtives during the holidays, showing its teeth whenever anyone got too close.¡±
¡°But it seems like VV has a special fondness for you and Qiao Qiao. I wonder what special magic you two have.¡±
Lin Xian straightened up slightly. Sure enough, he saw the dandelion-like VV on Qiao Qiao¡¯sp. The dog looked very content and rxed, to the point of ignoring him.
That made Lin Xian feel a bit dejected.
Wasn¡¯t VV supposed to be closest to him? How could it abandon him so quickly and go off with someone new?
After looking at VV on Qiao Qiao¡¯sp, Lin Xian shifted his gaze upward and finally had a chance to observe Qiao Qiao.
He had been too busy socializing earlier to pay much attention to the young girl. Now, taking a closer look¡ they did resemble each other!
He nced at Zhao Ying Jun, then at Qiao Qiao, and indeed felt they looked like sisters!
The genes from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s maternal family must be strong. But upon closer inspection, there were differences¡ªespecially in the ears, forehead, and chin, which were distinct from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s.
At first nce, it was quite striking, but after a few more looks, the resemnce to Zhao Ying Jun faded.
Lin Xian rarely interacted with girls in their early teens. Recently, he had dealt with two¡ªFake Yu Xi and Real Yu Xi, both quite troublesome.
But those two Yus were clearly older than Qiao Qiao by a year or two and had more muscr physiques, with clear signs of training and muscle definition.
Inparison, Qiao Qiao seemed very petite, even a bit frail. She was slightly shorter, probably just around 150 cm, with thin arms and legs, making her appear no older than thirteen or fourteen.
Of course, the biggest difference between Qiao Qiao and the real or fake Yu Xi was their eyes.
Both Yu Xis had eyes that emitted a chilling, bright blue light, with sharp, murderous gazes.
Meanwhile, Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes¡
They were pure ck, and from them, Lin Xian could only read a sense of emptiness¡ªlike an ¡°abababa¡± vibe.
At that moment, Lin Xian recalled a conversation he once had with Elon Musk about a question:
¡°Did Real Yu Xi¡ªthe time-space assassin Lin Yu Xi¡ªtruly disappear from this timeline?¡±
Elon Musk believed she had vanished for sure. His proof was that the blue USB drive from the future he had turned into blue star dust after breaking the time loop.
So, a girl who crossed over from the future timeline would also disappear due to the destruction of entangled time-space particles, which would prevent the timeline from closing and thus result in her turning into blue star dust.
Both Lin Xian and Elon Musk were breaking a time loop for the first time, and neither had experience with what would happen afterward. Moreover, when Lin Yu Xi saw Elon Musk about to destroy the time-space particles, she quickly fled through a window, preventing them from confirming the oue.
Lin Yu Xi¡¯s facial data had long been registered in the SkyNet system. If she were caught on any surveince camera in X Country, an rm would go off immediately.
Upon an rm, Liu An, the Director of the National Security Bureau, would surely alert him.
But the fact was¡
Several days had passed peacefully, with no sign of Lin Yu Xi being captured by the SkyNet system.
That suggested that Lin Yu Xi had only two possible oues:
She hid deep in the mountains and forests, avoiding any surveince.
Lin Yu Xi had indeed turned into blue star dust and vanished.
Lin Xian really hoped it was the second option. He wanted the time-space assassin to be gone. He didn¡¯t want to go through another life-and-death chase.
Without the ¡°Terminator¡± to protect him, he would undoubtedly lose his life if the time-space assassin pursued him again.
Besides, there was another thing on Lin Xian¡¯s mind:
If Lin Yu Xi had turned into blue star dust and disappeared, then would the virus Elon Musk had released online to hunt super AIs disappear as well?
If it did disappear, he could consider reviving VV.
With VV¡¯s help, hisbat strength would once again reach its peak, and many problems would no longer be problems.
He decided to wait until the next dream change.
Lin Xian thought about it this way: if each dream change or each shift in the worldline represented a broken time loop and the opening of a new one, then breaking more loops would increase the chances of that virus disappearing.
He only had one fragment of VV left now. He didn¡¯t dare act rashly and risk losing VV for good.
¡°Lin Xian, I heard from Ying Jun that you¡¯re an only child too?¡± Yan Mei asked after three rounds of drinks and most of the meal had been eaten.
Qiao Qiao had already eaten her fill. Her belly was round as she yed tag with VV around the room, ying hide and seek.
Yan Mei looked at Lin Xian and continued, ¡°For only children like you, you should think about your parents and consider getting married and having kids earlier so they can have grandchildren to hug. That¡¯s real filial piety.¡±
¡°If you had siblings, we wouldn¡¯t be rushing you like this. But with only children, we can only rely on you to carry on the family line. Parents¡¯ hearts are so worried; sometimes, urging you is really all we can do.¡±
Listening to Yan Mei¡¯s thinly veiled nagging, Zhao Ying Jun crossed her arms and shot Lin Xian a ¡°See, I told you so¡± look.
What could Lin Xian say? He could only smile wryly, nod, and stay silent.
But Yan Mei wasn¡¯t done with her advice. ¡°Actually, when ites to old age care, only children like you should consider marrying someone who isn¡¯t an only child and has siblings.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, tilting her head slightly.
¡°Because it reduces the burden of caring for the elderly!¡± Yan Mei exined. ¡°If both the husband and wife are only children, you¡¯d have to support four parents and two children. That¡¯s a lot of pressure!¡±
¡°But if either side has siblings, the pressure instantly bes much less. If a parent has health issues, there¡¯s an extra hand to help out. Don¡¯t you think so?¡±
¡°No way.¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head firmly, standing her ground. ¡°My thoughts are different. I think it¡¯s better to marry another only child.¡±
¡°In today¡¯s society, it¡¯s hard to bnce rtionships inside and outside the family. Among family members, it¡¯s impossible to maintain absolute fairness all the time, and there will always be various conflicts and misunderstandings.¡±
¡°There are so many stories on the inte about siblings causing chaos over inheritance, not taking care of their parents, and so on. Inparison, families with only children have far fewer troubles.¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re being too extreme!¡± Yan Mei countered, huffing. ¡°Those are just stories on the inte. In reality¡ª¡±
¡°#$%@#!&%¡¡±
¡°$#@^&()¡± ???
Lin Xian sat up straight, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles. What¡¯s happening here? Why are these two suddenly debating so fiercely at the dinner table about whether only children should marry only children?
The two were not arguing, just having a heated debate. It was especially rare to see Zhao Ying Jun so adamant in rebutting a viewpoint.
It also showed that every child eventually debates with their parents over the pressure to marry.
Lin Xian just hoped the mother-daughter debate wouldn¡¯t involve him. Thest thing he wanted was for them to turn around and ask him, ¡°What do you think, Lin Xian?¡±
That would be awkward. Family matters are tricky; they should sort out their issues themselves.
He picked up his water ss and started to drink, invoking the tactical ¡°drink water¡± mode, which was universally recognized as ¡°do not disturb¡± time.
But he wasn¡¯t prepared for another sharp-eyed observer!
Whoosh.
A small, tender finger pointed straight at the back of his head.
Lin Xian turned slightly, lowering his head, and met Qiao Qiao¡¯s sharp gaze.
She stared intently at the back of his head. ¡°White hair.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled and instinctively tilted his head. ¡°Do I have white hair?¡±
As he tilted his head, Qiao Qiao reacted instantly, just like when she yed games with her grandpa. With a swift and precise motion, she pinched the white hair and yanked it out!
¡°Ow!¡± Lin Xian felt a sharp pain on his scalp, gasping in surprise.
This suddenmotion interrupted the debate between Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Mei. The three members of the Zhao Ying Jun family turned to look, scolding Qiao Qiao.
¡°Qiao Qiao! That¡¯s so rude!¡±
¡°What are you doing?¡±
¡°Come back here! Why are you pulling Lin Xian¡¯s hair?¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his scalp and looked at Qiao Qiao. ¡°Did you pull it out?¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded seriously, lifting her right hand. There, between her thumb and index finger, was a single white hair, perfectly intact.
¡°There really is one,¡± Lin Xian remarked with some surprise. He was only in his twenties and had never had a white hair in all his years of studying and working.
It seemed this period had been too exhausting, too tiring, and too stressful. The time he spent fleeing in the U.S. was probably the most anxious he¡¯d ever been, which might have caused the white hair.
Still, in front of the Zhao Ying Jun family, he couldn¡¯tin about Qiao Qiao. After all, she was trying to help him by pulling out the white hair, albeit a bit rough, without any ill intent.
So, Lin Xian smiled and patted her head. ¡°Good job. Thank you.¡±
However, it was just this smile, just the close-up of these two faces together, that made Zhao Rui Hai, Yan Mei, and Zhao Ying Jun widen their eyes in shock!
Their eyes quickly moved back and forth between Lin Xian and Qiao Qiao¡¯s faces,paring them. When they were far apart, it wasn¡¯t noticeable. But now that their faces were almost touching, side by side, many previously unnoticeable details became ringly obvious!
Their ears¡ their foreheads¡ their chins¡
Even Zhao Ying Jun was stunned by this discovery!
While it couldn¡¯t be said that they were identical, at least Qiao Qiao¡¯s ears, forehead, and chin looked remarkably simr to Lin Xian¡¯s!
These details weren¡¯t apparent from a distance, but now, in this close-up, face-to-face moment, they were unmistakably clear.
¡°Uhm¡¡± Zhao Rui Hai didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. He swallowed hard, hesitated, and finally decided to say nothing. He stepped back and stood up from his seat.
¡°Uh, I¡¯m going to the restroom,¡± he said, ncing at his wife beside him. ¡°Are youing?¡±
Having been married for so many years, she knew exactly what that meant. Yan Mei quickly stood up, grabbed a napkin, and wiped her mouth. ¡°Yes, yes, I was just saying I needed to go, but I wasn¡¯t sure where the restroom was.¡±
She and Zhao Rui Hai walked to the door and nced back at the trio in the private room, looking like a ¡°family of three.¡±
¡°Ying Jun, your dad and I are going to the restroom. You all keep chatting,¡± she said.
With that, the door to the private room closed with a bang.
At this moment, Zhao Ying Jun was also frowning slightly, staring at the white hair pinched between Qiao Qiao¡¯s fingers. She didn¡¯t dare to think too deeply about it.
She didn¡¯t even dare to consider it.
She also got up from her chair, reached out, took Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand, and gently pulled her away from Lin Xian¡¯s side. In a calm tone, she instructed, ¡°Qiao Qiao, you can¡¯t be so rude outside. Even if you mean to help, you must get the other person¡¯s consent. Now¡ apologize to Brother Lin Xian.¡±
Qiao Qiao blinked her innocent eyes and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Brother, sorry.¡±
¡°Ah, okay, no worries, no worries.¡± Lin Xianughed it off. How could he be angry with such an adorable, simple-minded girl?
By now, after witnessing so many bizarre actions by Qiao Qiao, Lin Xian had already epted her as having a bit of a silly or even a slow-witted character.
He could only hope that as Qiao Qiao grew up, she would face fewer setbacks and less bullying. Intelligence, after all, doesn¡¯t typically improve at her age.
Lin Xian even felt a bit of sympathy for Qiao Qiao¡¯s biological parents.
Having a child with a less sharp mind, they¡¯d surely have to worry a lot in this lifetime¡
Zhao Ying Jun tapped Qiao Qiao on the head. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for Brother¡¯s apology! I asked you to apologize to Brother! Now say ¡®Sorry.¡¯¡±
¡°Sorry,¡± Qiao Qiao repeated obediently.
¡°Alright,e sit over here and eat some more,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, as if handling a doll, seating Qiao Qiao in the chair beside her and then releasing her small hand.
Qiao Qiao tilted her head, looking confused. She stared at her now empty fingers, the white hair gone. ¡°White¡ª¡±
¡°White bun, right?¡± Zhao Ying Jun interrupted quickly, swiftly grabbing a bun and stuffing it into Qiao Qiao¡¯s mouth. ¡°Alright, eat slowly, don¡¯t choke.¡±
She turned back to Lin Xian, offering an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t want to bring kids along, but my parents spoil her. They didn¡¯t want to leave her at home, so¡¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t bothered; he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Qiao Qiao is cute. She might mature as she grows.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun used her left hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. With her right hand, however, hidden from Lin Xian¡¯s view, she reached into her pants pocket and carefully ced something inside.
In the corner of the room, VV, the Pomeranian, once again witnessed this cunning scene.
It sighed internally.
Ah, this family is terrifying. If there¡¯s a next life, it hopes to be born into a simpler family, with fewer schemes.
The Zhao Ying Jun family is definitely not a ce for a dog.
It looks like a family reunion meal, but why does it always turn into a game of intrigue and hidden plots?
Forget it. I¡¯m tired.
Dragging its weary, exhausted body, it crawled to Lin Xian¡¯s feet.
Lin Xian looked down and saw the long-lost dandelion, his old battle partner with whom he had made ¡°VV¡¯s promise.¡±
But now, like a wilted bouquet, ity weakly on his shoe.
¡°What¡¯s wrong, VV?¡± Lin Xian asked with concern. ¡°Are you depressed again?¡±
He bent down, slipped his hands under the dog¡¯s armpits, and lifted it to eye level. Four eyes met.
VV gazed at Lin Xian with a look filled with regret and sadness.
Silent, yet seemingly saying¡
Bro, you¡¯re done for.
At the end of the same floor¡¯s corridor, Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei stood there, looking troubled.
¡°Did you see that?¡± Zhao Rui Hai asked.
¡°Of course, I did¡¡± Yan Mei replied, her brow furrowed. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t noticed¡ would I have followed you out?¡±
¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for Lin Xian and Qiao Qiao being so close, I wouldn¡¯t have realized¡ their chins, foreheads, and ears are almost like they were cut from the same mold!¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on here, Husband?¡±
Zhao Rui Hai remained silent for a while, then sighed deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me; I think we¡¯re both thinking the same thing. Earlier, I was puzzled why Ying Jun would debate so fiercely with you about only children in front of an ¡®outsider¡¯ during a meal.¡±
¡°Now I realize, isn¡¯t Lin Xian an only child? And given the simrities between him and Qiao Qiao in those subtle details¡¡±
¡°Well, it turns out that we¡¯re the real ¡®outsiders¡¯ in this private room today!¡±
Yan Mei was still confused. ¡°But if you say Qiao Qiao is the child of Lin Xian and Ying Jun, that doesn¡¯t make sense either! It¡¯s not a matter of resemnce; both of them are so young. Lin Xian graduated college just a couple of years ago, and Ying Jun returned from studying abroad three or four years ago.¡±
¡°Even if they secretly had a child together, how could they have such a big one?¡±
¡°No, I have to figure this out. I haven¡¯t had the chance to run a paternity test with the hair I got from Ying Jun earlier. I nned to do it tomorrow while having Qiao Qiao checked up¡¡±
¡°How about after we get back, I find a way to get some of Lin Xian¡¯s hair too? Then we can run a test tomorrow to see if the three of them are actually a family.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai shook his head, dismissively waving his hand. ¡°Forget it, forget it. Let¡¯s leave it at that. I think, as parents, we shouldn¡¯t interfere too much in these matters.¡±
¡°No matter the reason or whether it¡¯s scientific, what happened has happened, and Qiao Qiao exists. She resembles Ying Jun and Lin Xian so much¡¡±
¡°They say even a wise judge cannot solve family disputes. I never thought we¡¯d end up in such a mess. I wasn¡¯t ready for this¡ªto suddenly have both a son-inw and a granddaughter pop out of nowhere!¡±
Yan Mei turned around, looking at the two of them in the bathroom mirror.
They were both getting older, no longer young.
So¡
She let out a long sigh and said slowly, ¡°Actually, Lin Xian is a good kid. I believe Ying Jun has a good eye for people. We haven¡¯t always had the best rtionship with her over the years, so it¡¯s understandable if she doesn¡¯t want to share everything with us.¡±
¡°Husband, like you said, Ying Jun¡¯s matter, Qiao Qiao¡¯s matter, and even Lin Xian¡¯s matter¡ we probably shouldn¡¯t meddle too much. Whatever their situation or rtionship is, us parents getting involved now might only make things worse.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Rui Hai nodded. ¡°Let the kids handle their own business.¡±
¡°I guess we two came to Donghai City at a rather inconvenient time.¡±
He thought for a moment, then turned and looked toward the private room down the corridor, speaking softly, ¡°Let¡¯s find a reason to return to the capital in a few days. No point staying in Donghai any longer.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Yan Mei looked up. ¡°But what about Qiao Qiao? What do we do with her?¡±
¡°What else can we do? A child should stay with her parents,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said with a bitter smile. ¡°We¡¯ll figure out a way to leave Qiao Qiao with Ying Jun.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve watched Ying Jun grow up, and I know her character. I can see she¡¯s also struggling with Qiao Qiao¡¯s background. With her determination, she won¡¯t rest until she gets to the bottom of it.¡±
¡°And I believe, with the education we gave her, Ying Jun is a responsible person; Lin Xian too. If Qiao Qiao really is their daughter¡¡±
Hmph.
He let out a soft snort, unable to imagine what that scene would be like.
¡°I¡¯m really curious¡ how they¡¯d exin it to us.¡±
Chapter 370: The Last Paternity Test
Inside a private room at the Peace Hotel, Yan Qiao Qiao quietly began her second round of food.
¡°Do you remember what we talked about before?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked Lin Xian, making sure Yan Qiao Qiao was busy with her food. ¡°I mean, when you brought that little girl, Yu Xi. We did a paternity test, then went for hotpot.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yeah, I remember. That was just a few days ago, right?¡±
He watched as Yan Qiao Qiao grabbed a pastry with her hands, popping mini-cakes into her mouth one after another. ¡°Compared to Yu Xi, Yan Qiao Qiao seems so small and weak. Like your parents said, she should eat more.¡±
¡°When we had hotpot back then, Yu Xi ate a lot. She had several tes of meat all by herself. I wish Yan Qiao Qiao could eat like that too. Otherwise¡ she isn¡¯t that sharp, and she might get bullied at school.¡±
¡°If she could bulk up a bit, she might have a chance to defend herself. I¡¯m not joking¡ªYu Xi could probably take on ten Yan Qiao Qiaos and still have one hand free.¡±
¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Zhao Ying Jun burst intoughter. ¡°What kind of logic is that? Little girls don¡¯t eat to get ready for a fight! Where¡¯d you get that idea?¡±
¡°Anyway, that¡¯s not what I wanted to talk about. It¡¯s not about Yu Xi at all. I meant that other thing we discussed while eating¡¡±She paused and then softly said, ¡°What if a daughter suddenly appeared out of nowhere?¡±
Lin Xian put down his chopsticks and looked at her. He remembered the conversation. At the hotpot restaurant, when Zhao Ying Jun looked at Yu Xi, she had mentioned something like that. She said, ¡°Sometimes I think it¡¯d be nice if a child like Yu Xi just showed up out of nowhere. Skip the whole pregnancy and raising part, and they¡¯re already grown up. It¡¯d be so much easier.¡±
At the time, Lin Xian shook his head. He had said he¡¯d prefer to raise a child himself, step by step, from a young age. That¡¯s still how he feels. The idea of a child suddenly appearing¡ is just too shocking.
But in that situation, if it turned out that he and the fake Yu Xi were biologically rted, he wouldn¡¯t deny responsibility. Even though he hadn¡¯t married or even dated anyone, if the DNA said the girl was his daughter, he would raise her as his own.
That¡¯s just the kind of person Lin Xian is¡ªsomeone who takes responsibility. But why did Zhao Ying Jun suddenly bring this up now? Was it because she saw Yan Qiao Qiao and started imagining her future daughter?
¡°I remember,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Why are you suddenly thinking about that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just¡ seeing Yan Qiao Qiao made me think about it again.¡± Zhao Ying Jun turned to look at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was devouring the mini-cakes with cream all over her mouth. Instinctively, she leaned forward, pulled out a couple of napkins, and wiped the cream off her face.
¡°You see, my parents are always pushing me to get married and have kids as soon as possible. They¡¯ve even started treating a rtive¡¯s child from back home like their own granddaughter.¡±
¡°So I remembered our conversation. If suddenly, just like that, a daughter this big appeared¡ would it be a good thing or a bad thing?¡±
Lin Xian watched as Zhao Ying Jun took care of Yan Qiao Qiao. It was a heartwarming scene. But with such a small age difference, they looked more like sisters than mother and daughter.
Back then, in that abandoned factory, when the time-space cop Lin Yu Xi had a knife to his throat, Lin Xian had wondered if she might be his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s daughter. But that girl, who was determined to kill her own father, had tly denied any father-daughter rtionship, saying there was no way he could be her father.
If there had been a chance to talk back then, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have minded taking Yu Xi back to the hospital for another DNA test. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t get the chance. She only wanted to bring him to the time-space court for trial.
Given their enemy rtionship and the fact that he had just been tricked by someone iming to be Yu Xi, Lin Xian didn¡¯t have much emotional attachment to this supposed Lin Yu Xi.
Looking at Yan Qiao Qiao now¡ she seemed small, cute, harmless, pure, and naive¡ªa soft, gentle presence. If a daughter like this were his, wouldn¡¯t she be a better choice than a muscle-bound assassin like Lin Yu Xi?
Lin Xian started to consider the idea more seriously, reconsidering Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s question. ¡°I think¡ something like that isn¡¯t really good or bad, you know?¡±
¡°At least in the short term, emotionally, it would take some time to ept and get along with each other.¡±
¡°In TV shows and movies, there are always stories about illegitimate childrening to find their biological parents. I think there was a show called ¡®Little Daddy¡¯? It was really popr back in the day¡ Even the main character in the show had a hard time epting it, let alone someone in real life. The first reaction would definitely be resistance.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded quietly. ¡°That¡¯s true; it would be instinct to resist. But¡ whates after the resistance? Wouldn¡¯t eptance follow eventually?¡±
¡°Probably,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly. ¡°After all, it¡¯s their own flesh and blood. Blood ties can be pretty amazing sometimes. It¡¯s hard to empathize unless it happens to you.¡±
He smiled at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°So, why are you suddenly bringing this up? Did your parents¡¯ talk get to you? Or did seeing Yan Qiao Qiao, who looks so much like you, make you feel like you were looking at your future daughter?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled slightly but didn¡¯t say anything.
Just then, the private room door opened, and Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei walked in with cheerful smiles. ¡°Oh, Qiao Qiao is already eating cake? Look at her, getting it all over her face.¡±
The elderly couple sat down and immediately began doting on Yan Qiao Qiao as if she were their actual granddaughter,pletely ignoring her age and treating her like a three-year-old.
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered. He had previously suspected that Yellow Finch¡¯s daughter could be Yu Xi. If that guess was correct, Yu Xi would definitely look a lot like Yellow Finch. And Yellow Finch is Zhao Ying Jun¡
Although in this time-space, Yellow Finch¡¯s appearance had changed drastically due to time-space rejection, in her original timeline, she would look exactly like Zhao Ying Jun since they were essentially the same person.
This also exined why Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be sure whether Lin Yu Xi was really Yellow Finch¡¯s biological daughter or not. Because of the time-space rejection, Yu Xi¡¯s appearance had also changed when she traveled from the future.
If the time-space assassin looked like Yan Qiao Qiao right now and resembled Zhao Ying Jun so much, then Lin Xian could confidently conclude¡ªthe time-space assassin is indeed the daughter of Yellow Finch (Zhao Ying Jun).
He couldn¡¯t help but admire the time-space rejectionws. Whether it was for protectionism or some other reason, changing the appearance of time-space travelers could be to prevent the inhabitants of the current timeline from being deceived.
Thinking about this, Lin Xian grew a little more curious about Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s identity and background, so he asked Zhao Rui Hai, ¡°So, who exactly is Yan Qiao Qiao? You guys seem to have such a close rtionship. She must be a very close rtive, right?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Zhao Rui Hai was momentarily at a loss for words. What was this? Was this young man turning the tables on them, conducting his own interrogation?
¡°That question should be for you, don¡¯t you think?¡±
¡°She¡¯s a close rtive from my hometown,¡± Yan Mei interjected with a smile, picking up the conversation. ¡°We¡¯ve always been very close; we went to school together and were good friends.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just that her granddaughter has some cognitive issues, and Old Rui Hai and I are very concerned. We thought we¡¯d take the chance while we¡¯re in Donghai to consult some famous experts at Ruijin Hospital to see if we could find a way to help Qiao Qiao.¡±
¡°Yes, yes,¡± Zhao Rui Hai quickly nodded, picking up where Yan Mei left off. ¡°We brought Yan Qiao Qiao to Donghai because we have some old friends at Ruijin Hospital who are renowned experts in the country. We¡¯ve already set the appointments, and we¡¯ll take Qiao Qiao for checkups tomorrow.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I see.¡±
A granddaughter from a close rtive, huh¡ That means Yan Mei must have seen her growing up and has no connection to a time-space traveler.
It seemed he was overthinking things for a moment there. Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei were highly respected, and Zhao Ying Jun had a good rtionship with him¡
They wouldn¡¯t conspire to deceive him. Besides, there was no connection between time-space assassin Lin Yu Xi and the girl Yan Qiao Qiao.
If Yan Qiao Qiao were really a time-space assassin in disguise, she might have torn his head off when she was pulling out his white hair earlier.
In any case, he hoped that time-space assassin would just disappear like blue stardust. It¡¯d save him from always being on edge.
For now, things seemed safe. The time-space assassin hadn¡¯t appeared in several days and hadn¡¯t been caught on any surveince cameras, so she was likely gone.
After all, Copernicus¡¯s closed loop had been broken, and Elon Musk¡¯s time-space particles had lost their energy. Why would the time-space assassin still be here?
¡
Another half hour passed, and the pleasant dinner finally came to an end. The group left the private room together, took the elevator, and walked to the parking lot.
Before parting ways, Zhao Rui Hai shook hands with Lin Xian, patting his shoulder. ¡°Lin Xian, I look forward to our next meeting.¡±
Lin Xian knew it was just polite talk, so he smiled and replied in kind, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Rui Hai. When I get a chance to visit the capital, I¡¯ll be sure to drop by.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said meaningfully, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±
With that, Zhao Rui Hai, Yan Mei, and Yan Qiao Qiao got into their red sedan and drove away.
Holding her Pomeranian, VV, in her arms, Zhao Ying Jun walked over to Lin Xian¡¯s side. They stood together, watching the red sedan leave¡
She was at a loss for words. Her mind was a mess; she didn¡¯t know what to say.
¡°Your parents are pretty great,¡± Lin Xian said, smiling at her. ¡°To be honest, I was a bit nervous at first. Your father holds such a high position, and¡ it¡¯s my first time joining someone else¡¯s family dinner like this. I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit restrained.¡±
¡°But that feeling went away quickly. Your family has such a good atmosphere.¡±
¡°Hmph,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d say¡ things have really changed in the past couple of years. My family used to feel stifling, so I¡¯m very happy with how things are now.¡±
¡°But, then again, I¡¯m sure your family atmosphere is great too. Usually, a child¡¯s mental state and positive attitude directly reflect the family environment. With your bright and cheerful personality, your parents must be very easygoing people.¡±
¡°Since you gifted my parents two bags of tea¡ I should bring something with me next time I go to Hang City to meet your parents so I don¡¯t seem rude.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°No need for that; my parents are just simple folks. It doesn¡¯t have to be that formal. But if you doe to Hang City, let me know, and my family and I will make sure to give you a warm wee.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled softly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡±
As they spoke, two Alpha business cars arrived one after the other. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun got into their respective cars and waved goodbye.
¡°Goodnight, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Goodnight, Ying Jun.¡±
¡
The next morning, at Ruijin Hospital in Donghai City.
¡°Height: 151 cm, Weight: 36 kg¡ This girl is a bit underweight,¡± the doctor said, frowning at the reading on the measuring device. ¡°Does she have trouble eating? Anorexia? Picky eater?¡±
Yan Mei, standing beside him, shook her head. ¡°No, not at all¡ This child eats a lot, anything really. She¡¯s never been picky and always eats plenty at every meal.¡±
The doctor nodded. ¡°Could it be an absorption problem then? Let¡¯s move on to the other tests. We¡¯ve already drawn blood, haven¡¯t we? Take the report to the doctorter, and let them analyze it to see if anything¡¯s wrong.¡±
After that, Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei continued with various checkups for Yan Qiao Qiao. They then took the reports to the consultation room.
Inside, several renowned experts from across the country were seated, one of whom was an old ssmate of Zhao Rui Hai, and the rest were brought in through connections.
After all, it had already been confirmed that Yan Qiao Qiao was their biological granddaughter. How could Zhao Rui Hai not take it seriously? He wanted to ensure she got the best medical care possible.
After a while, the experts finished reviewing the reports. Their expressions were rxed, showing that nothing significant was wrong.
¡°Rui Hai, this little girl seems perfectly fine,¡± said the old ssmate from Ruijin Hospital, taking off his sses and looking at Zhao Rui Hai. ¡°From the bone age analysis, the girl¡¯s age should be around thirteen or fourteen. Considering that kids nowadays generally develop earlier¡ her actual age might be a bit younger.¡±
¡°Trace elements and all body indicators are within normal limits. If she seems a bit thin, it might just be a growth phase. Honestly, she¡¯s not too thin. Medically speaking, her weight is still considered normal.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just that grandparents always think their grandkids are too thin. No matter how chubby they are, they¡¯ll still worry.¡±
Thisment lightened the mood, making everyone smile knowingly. It was true¡ªgrandparents never think their grandkids are overweight and fret over even the slightest weight loss.
¡°And about her cognitive issues¡¡± The doctor flipped through the report and continued, ¡°Based on the tests, there¡¯s no avoiding it¡ªher listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are very underdeveloped. However, all brain tests show no problems¡ In fact, from the brain¡¯s cortical activity and other indicators, this girl¡¯s intelligence should actually be above average.¡±
¡°As for her memory loss, there¡¯s no clear exnation. There¡¯s no sign of physical trauma, her brain ispletely normal, and her neurological responses are not only normal but quite exceptional. We can¡¯t figure out what caused the amnesia.¡±
¡°Moreover, memory loss itself doesn¡¯t have a clear definition in current medical science. We don¡¯t fully understand how memory is stored, operated, and retrieved in the brain.¡±
¡°The only confirmed cause of memory loss so far is long-term hibernation in a hibernation pod¡ but even the first volunteers who entered hibernation haven¡¯t reached the 10-year memory safety limit yet, so there isn¡¯t any clinical data to study.¡±
¡°So, Rui Hai, raising a child shouldn¡¯t be too stressful. Just let them grow up healthy. Our conclusion is that Yan Qiao Qiao ispletely healthy, and her intelligence and reaction capabilities are actually above average for a child. Further observation is needed, but there¡¯s no need for any intervention at this point.¡±
¡
And so, they took Yan Qiao Qiao to the hospital early in the morning, and everything turned out normal. This left Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei even more puzzled.
¡°Forget it,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said at the hospital entrance, waving his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s not think too much about it. Let Ying Jun handle the child¡¯s issues from now on. No matter what the result is, the child¡¯s bloodline is real, and the doctors are right¡ It¡¯s not healthy for us, as older folks, to be too indulgent and overprotective. We can¡¯t bear to scold or punish her, and that¡¯s not a healthy way to raise a child.¡±
¡°Ying Jun also said that since Yan Qiao Qiao is currently in a stage where her amnesia is slowly recovering, it¡¯s a critical time for reshaping her worldview and character. If we keep pampering her like this¡ we might end up spoiling her. We should try to get her back to Ying Jun.¡±
¡°Both affection and emotions need time andpanionship to grow. People always say that the bond of raising a child is more important than just the biological bond. A DNA test alone doesn¡¯t automatically create a parent-child rtionship; it takes time and nurturing.¡±
¡°So¡ it¡¯s time for us to let go. If we want Yan Qiao Qiao to grow up healthy and strong, we need to send her back to Ying Jun. She should stay close to her mother.¡±
Yan Mei looked reluctant. She took out a paternity test report from her handbag. It was from the test they had just done at the hospital, using a strand of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair and a strand of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair for the DNA test.
Though it seemed unbelievable and unscientific, DNA doesn¡¯t lie. The result showed that Yan Qiao Qiao was indeed Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s biological daughter.
Yan Mei finally sighed and nodded. ¡°But having just a mom isn¡¯t enough. She still needs a dad to support and protect her. Now that we know Ying Jun is Qiao Qiao¡¯s mom¡ who do you think her dad is? Do you think it could be Lin Xian?¡±
Zhao Rui Hai shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions or overthink things. This is all too unscientific. There¡¯s no logical exnation for how Yan Qiao Qiao appeared¡¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s leave it at that. We just did a paternity test for Qiao Qiao and Ying Jun, and since we confirmed they are indeed mother and daughter¡ it¡¯s up to her to figure out the rest. She¡¯ll have to find the answer.¡±
¡°As parents, what can we do? Whatever the result or the truth is, all we can do is ept it. There¡¯s no other choice.¡±
Yan Mei nodded. It was true. Based on current scientific understanding, there was no way to exin this situation. But Qiao Qiao was indeed their biological granddaughter, and they could only ept it and then¡ put her back with Ying Jun to slowly build their rtionship.
She crouched down and hugged the adorable Yan Qiao Qiao. ¡°Qiao Qiao, you are the best gift Heaven has given us¡ Grandma will miss you in the capital.¡±
¡
Meanwhile, at a luxurious private hospital in the suburbs of Donghai City.
Zhao Ying Jun ced two small stic bags containing hair samples in front of the doctor again.
In the left bag was a few-centimeter-long white hair. In the right bag was thest remaining strand of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair.
¡°Please test the rtionship between these two samples,¡± she said.
¡°Certainly, Miss Zhao Ying Jun,¡± the doctor replied.
It was their second meeting. The doctor skillfullybeled the left bag as ¡°A¡± and the right bag as ¡°B¡± and showed them to Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°I should ask again, what rtionship do you expect between these samples? It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to disclose it. But if we have a clue, it¡¯ll help us produce results faster and focus ourparisons.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked down at the hair samples, biting her lip. Softly, she said, ¡°Father and daughter.¡±
The doctor nodded and jotted it down in a notebook. ¡°So, Miss Zhao Ying Jun, would you like to pick up the report after work again? We¡¯ll wait for you, no matter howte it gets.¡±
¡°No¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. She leaned back in her chair, folded her arms, and looked at the doctor. ¡°This time, I don¡¯t want toe back tonight. Do the test right now and get me the results as quickly as possible.¡±
Her eyes were firm. ¡°I¡¯ll wait right here.¡±
Chapter 371: Quite Some Skill
By midday, the sun was high in the sky.
It was the first day of Golden Week in X Country, a holiday that filled the entire country with excitement. People were traveling and celebrating, creating a lively, festive atmosphere.
Donghai City, a popr tourist spot, was even more packed than usual. The streets were jammed with people and cars.
But none of this mattered to Lin Xian.
He hadn¡¯t felt true peace or joy for a long time. Even on this rare holiday, his routine stayed the same. After cleaning up, he prepared to dive back into his midday dream to study Academician Gao Wen¡¯s notebook.
¡°The Theory of Time-Space Travel and the Construction of a Time-Space Machine.¡±
This research was groundbreaking, something he couldn¡¯t share with anyone. But having the theory was just the beginning. The real challenge was building the time-space machine.
The Rhine Joint Laboratory at Donghai University didn¡¯t have the right resources. Liu Feng¡¯s personalb, where he worked, had limited equipment. Building a time-space machine would require a muchrger, specialized research institute.With only 3 billion yuan left in his bank ount, it wasn¡¯t enough to build a newb.
And there was another problem.
He needed time-space particles to power the machine.
Both Elon Musk and the fake Yu Xi had confirmed these particles were essential for time travel. They were extremely rare and hard to find.
Lin Xian stared at himself in the mirror as he brushed his teeth.
¡°I need to find another time-space particle. It¡¯d be embarrassing to build the machine and not be able to start it because Ick the particles.¡±
¡°I should talk to Liu Fengter, see if we can figure out a win-win solution. But first, I need to speed up the funding for Rhine Company. The next step is sorting out the financials.¡±
¡°You need enough money to juggle multiple ns and boost your core capabilities.¡±
He rinsed and spat out the toothpaste.
In this world, if you wanted power and sess, money was essential.
His next dream phase began with copying Gao Wen¡¯s research and figuring out how to make more money.
Wiping his face and turning off the bathroom light, Lin Xian went to his bedroom,y on his single bed, and closed his eyes.
He drifted into a deep sleep easily.
Entering the dream world had be routine.
All he had to do was pretend to be married, join Big Cat¡¯s Vige, and recite notes from Gao Wen¡¯s safe.
He no longer needed to seek out Uncle Wei Sheng Jin and could meet up with CC along the way.
Once again, he gave a long, persuasive talk.
CC nodded. ¡°I get it. We pretend to be married to trick Er Zhuzi and get him to rmend us to the Face Gang. But¡ I¡¯ve never dated. I don¡¯t know how to act like a wife or show affection.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s simpler than you think. Trust me, Er Zhuzi won¡¯t catch on.¡±
¡°What should I call you?¡± CC asked seriously. ¡°Lin Xian? Or¡ maybe ¡®husband¡¯ or something?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian scratched his head. ¡°Whatever feels right. Er Zhuzi might be too excited to let you speak much anyway.¡±
They hurried toward Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
Whoosh!
Er Zhuzi twirled his spear with a red tassel, looking fierce. ¡°Who goes there?¡±
¡°Rx, big brother,¡± Lin Xian pointed to CC behind him. ¡°My wife and I¡ª¡±
Boom!
Steam shot from Er Zhuzi¡¯s nostrils as he stepped forward and grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s hands. ¡°Is this my sister-inw?!¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian nodded, confident.
This was their second time posing as a married couple, and it was bing familiar.
CC stood quietly beside him. Without Uncle Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s lessons this time, she showed no special emotions or acting prowess. She just stood there.
But with someone like Er Zhuzi, whose smarts were limited, no borate acting was needed.
They blended into Big Cat¡¯s Vige seamlessly.
Lin Xian and CC headed straight for the aluminum alloy safe. With swift moves, they cracked it open with a loud bang.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How did you open it so fast? We¡¯ve been tryingbinations for over a decade! My dad started this when he was alive! You must be code-breaking experts, right? Hurry, open it up and show me what¡¯s inside!¡±
Big Cat Face leaned in eagerly as he opened the safe door. ¡°Tch, just books. If my dad were here, he¡¯d dive into studying them, but they¡¯re useless to us! I can¡¯t believe we spent over ten years on this safe for books! It¡¯s so frustrating. I thought it would be treasure!¡±
Lin Xian held up Gao Wen¡¯s notebook. ¡°Knowledge is power. Finding this in a safe is actually the best oue. What else were you expecting? How could it not be something valuable?¡±
Big Cat Face listed potential treasures on his fingers. ¡°Queen Town in the south got really powerful because they busted open some safes years ago and found amazing stuff inside!¡±
Lin Xian looked up seriously at Big Cat Face. ¡°What did you say? Queen Town in the south? They¡¯ve got safes too?¡±
¡°Yeah, a bunch of them!¡± Big Cat Face said with a huff. ¡°The folks in Queen Town are super pushy. They make the nearby viges pay them money every month. If you don¡¯t pay, they juste and attack your vige.¡±
¡°Their town is really advanced. My dad says it all started when they forced open some safes years ago and got weapons and power from them.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure about all the details, but now Queen Town has guns! Do you know what guns are, little brother? You load them with gunpowder and bullets, and boom, they shoot out metal pellets. One shot can take down an animal!¡±
¡°We¡¯re too scared to stand up to them. Every year, we just pay up the protection money. Sometimes, viges find safes and have to give them to Queen Town. We were going to give this safe to them as payment, but my dad said we can¡¯t keep letting Queen Town push us around¡ Otherwise, they might not stop at just protection money; they could destroy our vige or even make us their ves.¡±
¡°My dad was worried about that, which is why he had everyone in the vige try to crack the safe¡¯s code day and night, hoping to find powerful weapons and strength in it¡ But finding just a book was a huge letdown!¡±
Listening to Big Cat Face¡¯s story, Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°Brother Face, I think you got it wrong about your dad. He meant that Queen Town got weapons and power from the safes, but it was really more about getting knowledge than actual weapons.¡±
¡°If it was really weapons, why would they still be using old guns? At least they¡¯d have automatic pistols or those high-tech weapons from years ago¡ But that¡¯s not likely. First off, Time Bank wouldn¡¯t keep such dangerous stuff; second, the fancier something is, the quicker it tends to break. There¡¯s no way those weapons would still be working perfectly after 200 years.¡±
¡°So, most likely, the folks from ¡®Queen Town¡¯ got knowledge from the safes¡ªknowledge that helped them develop technology. From what you said, it sounds like they¡¯ve figured out how to make gunpowder, how to work with iron or steel, and how to make different parts, which is how they could make guns.¡±
In this world, where technology was still basic, even a few guns could control a region.
At the moment, the strongest fighter in Big Cat¡¯s Vige, Er Zhuzi, would have no chance against a gun.
¡°Queen Town.¡± Lin Xian murmured the name. ¡°Brother Face, is it called Queen Town because a woman rules there?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Big Cat Face nodded. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? She¡¯s a real piece of work!¡±
He snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve never met her, but she¡¯s been in charge around here for years, so she¡¯s probably really old, definitely a cranky olddy by now.¡±
CC suddenly remembered something. ¡°Oh, I get it. So when the people from Rhine Vige gave their grain to those who came in carriages¡ it was for protection money! I thought they were just trading.¡±
She turned to exin to Lin Xian.
Over the past few months, she had been living in Rhine Vige and working from there. She had seen carriagese to Rhine Vige to pick up grain many times.
Because the grain was always pre-packed and the carriages came so regrly every month, CC hadn¡¯t thought much of it, assuming it was just normal trade.
Now, understanding what Big Cat Face said, it was actually protection money!
Paying protection money¡ wasn¡¯t that just like being robbed?
Lin Xian listened and set down Gao Wen¡¯s notebook, stroking his chin thoughtfully. ¡°So that¡¯s what¡¯s happening. Isn¡¯t Earth supposed to be rich in resources and materials now? There shouldn¡¯t be any need to fight over food, right?¡±
Big Cat Face spread his hands. ¡°Sure, living normally and eating well isn¡¯t an issue, but the people in Queen Town want a better life and to keep developing their tech¡ That increases their consumption and need for supplies, so they need more raw materials, which means they have to take from others.¡±
Lin Xian snorted. Now he understood.
A thought struck him:
¡°The only lesson humanity has learned from history is that humanity never learns from history.¡±
Right now, the situation between Rhine Vige, Big Cat¡¯s Vige, and other small viges and Queen Town was just repeating history.
Big Cat Face had a point.
If it were just about having enough to eat and clothes to wear, there¡¯d be no need to fight over resources. Nature provides enough, and no one would starve.
However, Queen Town was clearly targeting industrial growth, and once the industrialization started, resource consumption would skyrocket, way beyond what the current era could produce.
They had no choice but to start taking from others.
For now, they were just collecting protection fees, which was a rtively ¡°gentle¡± approach. But as Big Cat Face¡¯s dad worried, it could get much worse in the future.
What would happen then?
When Queen Town¡¯s industry got advanced enough and its power strong enough to dominate all of Old Donghai¡ would that ruthless queen be content with just these small acts of extortion?
¡°History is interesting,¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Where there are people, there¡¯s history. And history always repeats itself.¡±
But he wasn¡¯t too worried about that.
He didn¡¯t n on being the hero in these tough times.
That was probably Li Cheng¡¯s role, right?
Unfortunately, it looked like Li Cheng might not be around in the Fifth Dream anymore. Maybe he and Li Ning Ning were living happily on Mars by now.
Thinking this, Lin Xian looked at Big Cat Face with great respect. ¡°You really are something else.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face blinked, confused. ¡°Little brother, what are you talking about?¡±
¡°A butterfly pping its wings can cause chaos around the world, but it can¡¯t even mess up your hair, Brother Face,¡± Lin Xian joked. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s focus now. I need to know everything about Queen Town¡ªwhat¡¯s going on there, how many people are there, what¡¯s the ce like, how do they live, and¡ what do you know about the queen?¡±
Big Cat Face scratched his cheek. ¡°How would I know? Hold on; I¡¯ll call our strategist.¡±
Strategist?
They had a strategist in Big Cat¡¯s Vige?
Lin Xian and CC looked at each other, both surprised.
¡°Ah Zhuang!!¡± Big Cat Face shouted toward the vige.
Lin Xian was speechless.
So, Ah Zhuang was the strategist now.
In Big Cat¡¯s Vige today, Ah Zhuang was like the Zhuge Liang; Er Zhuzi, maybe the Zhao Yun or L¨¹ Bu; and the always honest San Pang was like Zhang Fei, while Big Cat Face¡
Well, he could only be Liu Chan.
Soon, the sharp-eyed Ah Zhuang hurried over and exined to Lin Xian:
¡°Queen Town is really close, just three kilometers south. It¡¯s way bigger than our vige, maybe dozens of timesrger. It¡¯s surrounded by tall walls, so we can¡¯t see inside.¡±
¡°As for how many people live there, I¡¯d guess several thousand. They definitely live better than us. They have brick houses, and lots of buildings are three or four stories tall. They even have horses.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t know much about the queen, though. We hardly deal with her. When theye to collect protection money, we already have the pigs, cows, and sheep ready to load onto their carriages.¡±
¡°Everyone¡¯s upset but too scared to say anything. They have guns; we don¡¯t dare fight back¡ Before Brother Face¡¯s father died, he told us to open the safe as soon as we could, hoping it might have something that could change our fate and make us stronger.¡±
¡°We always thought there were powerful weapons in the safe, but it was just books.¡±
¡°What about the safes?¡± Lin Xian asked, getting to his main concern. ¡°Earlier, Brother Face mentioned Queen Town has a dozen safes, and many are open. Any clues about these safes? Know their serial numbers or names?¡±
Ah Zhuang shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t even get into Queen Town, so we definitely don¡¯t know the details about the safes. The story about the dozen safes is just something the elders used to say. It¡¯s probably just a rumor from before Queen Town got so powerful.¡±
After hearing Ah Zhuang¡¯s description, Lin Xian had a better picture of Queen Town.
His main interest was still the safes.
But the power gap between them was huge. Even with help from Uncle Wei Sheng Jin, he might only get a handgun at best.
First, the handgun had limited bullets, so they couldn¡¯t just charge in; second, although the enemy¡¯s guns were old, their sheer numbers made them formidable.
How could he get close to those safes?
After some thought¡
Maybe¡
He¡¯d have to sneak in the old-fashioned way.
After Ah Zhuang finished exining, he and Big Cat Face left, uninterested in the notebook from the safe.
Lin Xian shared his n with CC. ¡°Since Queen Town has a dozen safes, I think it¡¯s worth a shot.¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± CC agreed, already determined. ¡°Even if there was just one safe, I¡¯d still go. But¡ there are just two of us, and we don¡¯t have enough weapons. Can we pull it off?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Lin Xian reassured her. ¡°But it¡¯ll take some time. I need to study this notebook first.¡±
Queen Town.
And the dozen safes within it.
This was a real opportunity in the Fifth Dream.
Maybe one of those safes was Uncle Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s, or perhaps it was the one he and CC were looking for.
Either way, there was no reason not to try.
But first, he had a more urgent task¡ªThe Theory of Time-Space Travel and Building a Time Machine.
This was the real treasure!
If the manuscript was legit and urate, it might be more important than even the aluminum alloy safe.
Everything else could wait.
After he copied the manuscript, he wouldn¡¯t share or publish it.
To be extra safe, he might even keep part of it just in his memory.
That way, no permanent changes would be made.
He could keep exploring the Fifth Dream, going to Queen Town to see what was really in those safes.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Lin Xian decided to find a quiet, cool spot where no one would bother him.
¡°Big Cat Face¡¯s dad has a house,¡± Lin Xian suddenly thought. ¡°It has tables, chairs, and two oilmps. It¡¯s perfect for studying.¡±
With that thought, Lin Xian grabbed his notebook and headed with CC to Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s house. They settled in and started studying seriously.
This wasn¡¯t the first time Lin Xian had used dreams to help him remember things.
He had learned a lot of memory tricks.
For instance,plicated forms and problems were easiest to remember just before waking up. That way, he could write them down right after he woke up.
Things that needed to be understood to be remembered should be studied right now, kind of like how you memorize a poem or a speech.
If only there was a magic potion like in his third dream that could boost his memory for a little while¡
But sadly, the technology on this Earth wasn¡¯t advanced enough for that.
As the sun set, turning the sky red, CC lit two oilmps and ced them on the table for Lin Xian. She sat on the wooden bed, hugging her knees, leaning against the wall, and watching Lin Xian from behind.
Outside, the vigers had started a bonfire, even though the guest of honor couldn¡¯t make it. Big Cat Face insisted the celebration go on to show their appreciation, so they ughtered a pig and the party started.
Inside, Lin Xian and CC were quiet as a calmke, while the rest of the vige was lively with energy as drums, made of animal skin, beat loudly. They guided the happy vigers as they danced and sang around the bonfire.
Lin Xian finished memorizing a section and looked back to see CC still sitting quietly on the bed.
¡°You should go out and have fun,¡± he suggested, nodding towards the bonfire outside. ¡°It¡¯s not a formal dance. Men and women dance together, and many of the women are dancing with each other. You could join them.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know how to dance,¡± CC replied, shaking her head.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment.
Time loops were like that; every time they restarted, everything reset.
Just likest time, when he danced with CC, she had said: ¡°Will I forget these dance steps tomorrow or whenever we meet again, and have to start all over?¡±
Yes, it was frustrating, but it was true.
¡°They can teach you,¡± Lin Xian tried to encourage her, knowing CC enjoyed dancing. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine here on my own. The vigers are nice and mean well. They¡¯d love to teach you.¡±
CC shook her head again. ¡°Lin Xian, right now, I¡¯m pretending to be your wife. How could I leave you?¡±
She blinked her bright eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in love or married, but I think if two people love each other and get married, the first thing they do is stick together, right?¡±
¡°Since we¡¯re ¡®married,¡¯ I won¡¯t leave you to dance with someone else or just to have fun. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m staying right here with you.¡±
CC¡¯s eyes, lit by the flickering oilmps, met Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll be wherever you are.¡±
¡
The setting sun cast a warm orange glow over Donghai.
Up on the MX building rooftop, Zhao Ying Jun, in her long white coat, leaned against the railing, letting the wind mess up her hair.
Usually, she liked to smooth her hair down. But today, a little mess seemed fitting.
Could things get any more chaotic?
The cold high up was biting, and the wind was relentless.
Her earrings, usually swinging freely, now clung coldly to her cheeks.
¡°Hey, Miss Ying Jun!¡± Brother Wang burst through the rooftop door. ¡°I went to your office and didn¡¯t find you there. I was puzzled¡ It¡¯s not time to leave yet, and your driver hadn¡¯t left either. Where could you have gone?¡±
He closed the door behind him and walked over to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°I heard you came up here. What¡¯s up? Something on your mind?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun turned and smiled at Brother Wang.
¡°Not really anything big, just thinking.¡± She paused, then asked, ¡°Brother Wang, how old is your daughter now? Fifteen or sixteen?¡±
¡°She¡¯s sixteen, turning seventeen this September,¡± Brother Wang replied. ¡°You remember so much; you might have forgotten, but you helped her get into a good high school. If not for your help, she wouldn¡¯t have made it with her scores.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, recalling the simple phone call that had solved that issue. ¡°Does she listen to you?¡±
¡°Ughh¡ Not at all,¡± Brother Wangughed helplessly. ¡°I told Lin Xian before, she¡¯s as stubborn as theye. If you say go east, she¡¯ll say west. She always does the opposite.¡±
¡°Raising kids¡ You really only enjoy it when they¡¯re little. Once they grow up and form their own opinions, you can¡¯t control them anymore¡¡±
¡°Sometimes, I look through her baby photos and just stare, remembering how adorable she was and how much she¡¯s changed. Ah¡ I wish she¡¯d stayed little forever.¡±
¡°If you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I¡¯d have forgotten thest time my daughter talked to me. It¡¯s been days, at least! And whenever she does, it¡¯s always about money. I can¡¯t figure out why her school has so many fees¡ªstudy materials, tutoring, milk, ss fees, water bills¡¡±
Brother Wang couldn¡¯t help butugh as he spoke.
¡°Honestly, I know there¡¯s no way the school has that many fees; the kids are just making up reasons to get extra cash. We did the same thing when we were their age. Parents see right through it but never call them out on it.¡±
Watching Brother Wang¡¯s honest smile, Zhao Ying Jun realized that despite his grumbling, he truly cherished his daughter.
She pushed her wind-tossed hair back and turned to watch the sunset over the city skyline. ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered¡ªwhat does a man feel the moment he finds out he¡¯s going to be a dad?¡±
Brother Wang paused and rubbed his hands together before answering. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t feel anything, not even a little.¡±
He leaned on the railing. ¡°From when my wife was pregnant, I knew I¡¯d be a dad, but life went on as usual¡ work, hanging out, having fun. I didn¡¯t feel any different or understand what it meant to be a father.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t until my daughter was born¡ªso tiny I could hold her with both hands¡ªthat it hit me, ¡®This is my daughter, my little girl.¡¯ It might sound silly, but that was my reality. Bing a dad isn¡¯t an overnight change.¡±
¡°The day after she was born, I was back at work. They only gave me one day off. While at work, I didn¡¯t think about her much. I¡¯d check the family group chat during breaks, look at photos, and show them to my coworkers. That¡¯s all; I still didn¡¯t feel much like a dad.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun listened closely, her arms crossed. ¡°So, when did you actually start feeling like a dad?¡±
Brother Wang chuckled. ¡°It was when my daughter felt wronged. I remember it clearly¡ªshe was just over three years old, ying in a park, and another kid took her toy.¡±
¡°At the time, both her mom and I were busy with work, and her grandma was with her. The other kid¡¯s parents dismissed it as kids being kids, saying they¡¯d return the toyter. Grandma didn¡¯t want to make a fuss, so she told my daughter to be generous and share.¡±
¡°That night, she came home with tears in her eyes as she told me about it. It might seem minor to us, but for a three-year-old, waiting for someone to return her favorite toy can feel incredibly harsh.¡±
¡°For them, their world is small, and a toy can mean everything. Losing it might feel like the end of the world. She was quite mature about it; she held back her tears and didn¡¯t cry until she saw me after work. She ran into my arms and sobbed¡ªDaddy, I didn¡¯t really want to let him y¡¡±
Brother Wang looked reflective as he touched his nose.
¡°You might not think it¡¯s a big deal hearing about it¡ªjust kid stuff, trivial. But in that moment, I truly felt like a father. I realized I had this little person who needed my protection, needed me to stand up for her, needed me to support her.¡±
¡°That moment changed me. I grew up, I became a man, a dad.¡±
¡°This change in role can¡¯t be rushed¡ Fathers are different from mothers. A mother starts bonding during the pregnancy, feeling the baby¡¯s presence.¡±
¡°But a father¡¯s connectionester, slowly. But that day wille. As you spend more time with your child, you step into your responsibilities, you be a dad who stands firm.¡± As he spoke, the sun dipped below the horizon.
Zhao Ying Jun nodded in agreement. ¡°Sometimes, a woman¡¯s transition into motherhood can be slow too.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Brother Wangughed heartily. ¡°That¡¯s rare. Ah, I see; you¡¯re worried about this. I understand, these days, many young people hesitate about having kids. They think theyck the patience or love for it.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s because you haven¡¯t experienced motherhood yet, so you don¡¯t know that feeling. I think you shouldn¡¯t worry about that anxiety. Your parents must be pushing you to get married, right? Haha¡ I get it, but you¡¯re too young to worry about kids.¡±
¡°Even if you start dating now, get married, and have a child, it¡¯ll still take years!¡±
He cleared his throat and whispered.
¡°Well¡ There¡¯s a faster way. When looking for a partner, you could consider people you already know¡ªlike colleagues, former subordinates, or young, ambitious entrepreneurs!¡±
¡°If you already know each other well, you can skip the usual dating steps and get right to the point! You could have a baby by next year!¡±
¡
Tap, tap, tap¡
Zhao Ying Jun made her way toward the stairs, her long shadow stretching across the rooftop in the evening sun.
¡°It¡¯s time to go,¡± she called to Brother Wang without looking back. ¡°See youter.¡±
She climbed into the Alphard business car and rode to her apartment¡¯s parking garage. Once there, Zhao Ying Jun stepped out, entered the elevator, swiped her ess card, and selected her floor. The elevator hummed to life.
¡°Woof!¡± Her Pomeranian, VV, barked eagerly. Even though the elevator had just started moving, VV¡¯s barking echoed around.
Ding¡ª
The doors slid open, and Zhao Ying Jun stepped inside her apartment. She didn¡¯t bother turning on the lights; her heels clicked on the floor.
¡°Woof¡¡± VV was about to fuss over herte return, but something scared it into silence.
It spotted something rming in the woman¡¯s hands!
That cover looked familiar.
The thick cardstock.
The sealed strip!
It was just like the item that had sat on the coffee table a few days ago, which had upset her so much!
Could it be happening again?
VV squeezed into a gap in the shoe cab, pretending to be just another decoration.
Zhao Ying Jun ced her bag in the hallway cab, still clutching the paternity test report, and sank into the dark living room¡¯s soft sofa.
The seal on the report was still unbroken.
She had silently waited for three hours at the private hospital to get this report as quickly as possible.
But now, holding it in her hands, she hesitated.
Usually decisive, Zhao wasn¡¯t one to waver.
It wasn¡¯t the report itself that scared her.
It was what the report might reveal¡ªknowing could change everything.
If Yan Qiao Qiao was indeed her biological daughter, then there had to be a father.
She didn¡¯t know who Qiao Qiao¡¯s father was, and she preferred it that way. Ignorance allowed her to ignore his existence. She might even be willing to raise the child on her own.
But this report was like opening Pandora¡¯s box.
It would reveal the truth.
If the results confirmed Qiao Qiao was Lin Xian¡¯s daughter, that would be one scenario.
But if not¡
Then Qiao Qiao¡¯s father was someone else.
This was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s biggest fear.
She knew she had always been faithful. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Yet here she was, facing usations and a teenage daughter who had appeared as if destined.
There had to be a reason, probably connected to Qiao Qiao¡¯s father¡
¡°If she¡¯s my daughter with another man¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun bit her lip, unable to finish the thought.
How would she face Lin Xian then? Oddly, she felt like she was already betraying him.
She spent all afternoon agonizing over these thoughts. It wasn¡¯t the possibility of a positive result that scared her, but a negative one.
Taking a deep breath, she pinched the seal between her thumb and forefinger and tore it open!
It felt like she wasn¡¯t just opening a report but also setting the direction of her life.
She flipped the cover and her eyes darted to the results section.
¡°Heh,¡± she chuckled softly.
She leaned back on the sofa, covering her eyes and chuckling again.
Then, she got up, flipped the light switch, and filled the room with light.
¡°Are you hungry?¡± she asked VV.
The Pomeranian, curled up tight, looked up with wide eyes, silent and still.
Could it be¡ scared of being hungry?
¡°Hehe, you must be starving.¡±
Feeling suddenly cheerful, she poured a huge serving of dog food into the bowl¡ªa mountain of it!
Switching her heels for slippers, she stretched and walked toward the bedroom.
VV was confused.
Why did the same report that angered its ownerst time now seem to rx her?
Curious, it didn¡¯t start eating but hopped onto the sofa and then onto the coffee table to inspect the open report.
It looked the same.
It even licked it¡ªthe taste was the same.
Puzzled, it finally started eating.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ying Jun, now dressed infy home clothes, stepped out of the bedroom and walked toward the kitchen. She paused, returned to the living room, and leaned down to read the report again, focusing on the bold, slightly smudged line the dog had just licked¡ª
¡°The test confirms that Sample A is the biological father of Sample B, and Sample B is the biological daughter of Sample A.¡±
¡°Tsk¡¡± She smiled faintly, ¡°Lin Xian, not bad at all.¡±
Chapter 372: Seeing Through It
It waste at night, almost morning, and Zhao Ying Jun was still wide awake in her bedroom. Her Pomeranian, VV, had already dozed off. Its small belly was so full from dinner that it had to lie on its side¡ªa rare position for a dog. VV¡¯s round, bulging stomach looked almost as if it were pregnant.
While her dog slept, Zhao Ying Jun leaned against the headboard, her long hair loose and held back by a hairband. She had her legs curled up, holding a tablet, and had been watching a movie in that position for a long time.
She was watching a ssic sci-fi movie: Back to the Future. After having dinner with Lin Xian and learning about his interest in sci-fi films, Zhao Ying Jun began watching a lot of them in her free time, mostly top-rated ones.
Back to the Future was a trilogy, and from her experience watching sequels, she had learned that most tend to drop in quality. Sometimes, the second movie could be better than the first, but by the third, 99% of them ruined the series¡¯ reputation. Because of this, she had put off watching Back to the Future. But tonight felt different, and she decided to finally give it a try.
The movie, released in 1985, tells the story of a teenager and a crazy scientist on an adventure. Due to an ident during an experiment, they end up traveling back to 1950, to a time before the teenager¡¯s parents had even met. The teenager identally disrupts their lives, preventing them from meeting and falling in love. If this continued, his parents would never marry or have children, which meant he would never be born, creating a paradox.
Panicked, the teenager had to figure out how to fix things. The scientist suggested he act as a matchmaker for his parents, helping them meet, fall in love, and marry. Only by doing this could he ensure his own future existence. The movie ends happily, with the teenager sessfully bringing his parents together and returning to 1985 with the scientist.
¡
By now, the movie on her tablet was nearing its end. The camera focused on the teenager¡¯s young, shy parents holding hands and kissing by ake, enjoying their date in 1950.Snap. Zhao Ying Jun closed the tablet cover and looked up. Under the soft glow of the bedsidemp, she stared at the warm yellow walls, lost in thought¡ª
¡°How,¡± she wondered, ¡°could someone have a child without physical contact, pregnancy, or a rtionship?¡±
The only logical exnation she could think of was some kind of external embryo cultivation technology, like in-vitro fertilization, where a fertilized egg is created in ab and then imnted into a womb to grow. But that would mean they¡¯d need reproductive cells from both a man and a woman.
¡°That would be very difficult, right?¡± she thought. When she was a teenager, she was abroad, and Lin Xian was in Hangzhou. Even if IVF technology back then could make it possible, the idea of somehow stealing cells from two kids on opposite sides of the world just to create an embryo seemed ridiculous. Even if it were for some experiment, why choose her and Lin Xian? It didn¡¯t seem realistic, no matter how she looked at it.
Logical, but not realistic.
Then, she thought, there was only one other possibility¡ªan unrealistic one.
Just like in the Back to the Future movie¡ª
¡°What if Yan Qiao Qiao, like the main character in the movie, also traveled back from the future? Maybe from a time more than ten years ahead¡ that would exin everything.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun followed the movie¡¯s plot and began picturing the future timeline in her mind.
¡°Maybe in a few years,¡± she thought, ¡°I¡¯ll marry Lin Xian, and we¡¯ll have a daughter. Our daughter grows up, bes a teenager, and then, just like in the movie, some ident happens, sending her back to 2024¡ªthe present. After arriving here, she might have had an ident and lost her memory, which caused her to end up as Yan Qiao Qiao.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case,¡± Zhao Ying Jun murmured, ¡°that would exin the blood rtionship and the paternity test results.¡±
She tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand. This theory made sense. If Yan Qiao Qiao was really her and Lin Xian¡¯s future daughter, then of course, the three of them would share a blood rtionship. Naturally, she would also be rted to her parents and Lin Xian¡¯s parents.
¡°That must be it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun muttered, shaking her head slightly. ¡°Even though time travel is too unbelievable and unscientific¡¡±
¡°But as they say, ¡®When you have eliminated all the other possibilities, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.¡¯¡±
It was the process of elimination¡ªa highly effective scientific method.
And yet¡ there was one more thing that bothered her.
A few days ago, Lin Xian had given her a flimsy excuse to get a paternity test done with a little girl named Yu Xi. At the time, Lin Xian¡¯s excuse was, ¡°Since we¡¯re here, we might as well take a blood test together.¡± But thinking back, who does that? Who treats a paternity test so casually?
If he were really just grasping at straws, like a desperate attempt to find answers, wouldn¡¯t he have asked Brother Wang, who was also there, to take a blood test too?
So, it was clear. Lin Xian had suspicions and convinced her to have a DNA paternity test with Yu Xi based on those suspicions.
Comparing Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªheight, looks, build, voice¡ªthere was a big difference. Yu Xi looked like a young athlete, very toned, while Yan Qiao Qiao was more like a delicate princess, the kind who never steps outside or exercises. The two girls had almost nothing inmon¡ªexcept for their age.
Yu Xi seemed about fourteen or fifteen years old, while Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s age was hard to guess but was likely somewhere between twelve and sixteen.
With this in mind, it was obvious¡ªLin Xian knew something, which is why he had insisted on doing a paternity test with Yu Xi.
Which means¡
¡°Lin Xian clearly knows that he and I have a daughter in the future.¡±
¡°This is something Lin Xian should be aware of,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued to analyze. ¡°But¡ his information is very limited.¡±
She scratched her temple thoughtfully. ¡°First, Lin Xian probably isn¡¯t entirely sure. He only suspects he has a daughter with me in the future, which is why he wanted to confirm it. At the time, he had no confidence in the DNA test result; he was just taking a shot in the dark.¡±
¡°Second, Lin Xian doesn¡¯t know our daughter¡¯s exact appearance, name, age¡ªhe knows nothing specific. He hasn¡¯t actually seen our daughter. So, when he met Yan Qiao Qiao at the dinner table, he couldn¡¯t recognize her.¡±
¡°No, that¡¯s not right,¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head, recalling the details of that dinner.
¡°Actually, Lin Xian was suspicious. He specifically asked about Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s background. But my parents and I insisted that she was a close rtive. As an outsider, how could he doubt what we said?¡±
¡°Thinking back, it was all just a coincidence. My parents didn¡¯t want Lin Xian to know Yan Qiao Qiao was adopted¡ªthey felt it was a private family matter. And at that time, I already knew about my blood rtionship with Yan Qiao Qiao, but given the situation, there was no way I could bring it up. Even now, I don¡¯t know how to exin it.¡±
¡°If we had admitted back then that the girl was picked up off the street, Lin Xian would have likely guessed Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s true identity and insisted on another paternity test. So, no one¡¯s to me¡ It was just a series of misunderstandings.¡±
¡
At this point, Zhao Ying Jun felt she had pieced together the entire situation. And from Lin Xian¡¯s perspective, a lot of things were still uncertain.
For example, he wasn¡¯t sure if their future daughter had traveled back to the present. He couldn¡¯t even be certain if they really had a daughter together in the future.
But one thing was certain¡ª
¡°If Lin Xian has any doubts, it means he has encountered things like time travel and future worlds before.¡±
¡°Is it really true that the world is full of strange things?¡± Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She believed Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have suggested the paternity test without a reason.
¡°But why didn¡¯t Lin Xian just tell me?¡± she wondered as she opened her eyes, unable to understand. There must be a special reason, right?
Although they were currently just colleagues, Zhao Ying Jun considered herself quite familiar with and trusting of Lin Xian. At least, it wasn¡¯t something that couldn¡¯t be discussed openly. Was he just shy?
She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the thought. It was indeed a bit awkward to talk about. Because, while they were on good terms, their rtionship wasn¡¯t close enough to discuss such matters.
If she had to be the one to openly tell Lin Xian about Yan Qiao Qiao and hint at their family connection, to be honest, she wouldn¡¯t know how to say it either.
But deep down, she felt there was more to it than just that.
Knowing Lin Xian¡¯s cautious nature, he must have other concerns.
Zhao Ying Jun fell silent again, thinking about the limited encounters she had with Lin Xian and his unusual behavior:
Lin Xian¡¯s driving skills were too good, which didn¡¯t match his family background. There was clearly more to it.
Lin Xian had asked her many strange questions, like the one at the banquet about mirrors, or whether she would ever sleep in a hibernation chamber. At the time, she didn¡¯t think much of it, but now, the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
Lin Xian had set off fireworks for her at Disnend, which was also full of mysteries. But what bothered Zhao Ying Jun the most was the story Lin Xian told about ¡°Trash Bin VV and the White Jade Statue.¡± It was so fantastical that it was hard to believe it was just a dream. Lin Xian was probably hiding something.
Lin Xian was always inexplicably busy, and it wasn¡¯t because of work. He frequently traveled to the U.S., back and forth several times. He was even secretly recruited by the government for a ssified mission. It was hard to believe that this was the daily life of a 25-year-old man.
Given all these oddities, Zhao Ying Jun spected¡ª
¡°Lin Xian is probably involved in some dangerous work or doing something that he can¡¯t openly share or reveal to others.¡±
That makes sense. She had an uncle who worked for national security. No one in the family knew about it for over thirty years until he retired this year.
Even his wife didn¡¯t know.
On the day of his retirement, his wife was shocked: ¡°Weren¡¯t you working in the tax bureau all these years?¡±
Her uncle had only smiled and said, ¡°If ordinary people could easily see through my disguise, what would be the point of having a national security department? If you want to fool the enemy, you have to fool your family first.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the same with my identity at the tax bureau. Everything about it is real¡ªthe promotions, the awards. But when I was away on business trips, I was actually on secret missions.¡±
Though he never said it explicitly, everyone understood that his secret work was important and dangerous.
Throughout history, there have been many scientists in X Country who had to hide their true identities from even their families. They did it for lofty ideals and crucial missions, often keeping the truth hidden for decades.
That¡¯s true greatness.
Could it be¡ Lin Xian was doing something simr?
Zhao Ying Jun nodded slightly. ¡°Lin Xian must have his reasons for not telling me these secrets. Maybe there are specific rules or restrictions. Or maybe¡ he¡¯s worried about my safety and the safety of everyone around him, which is why he can¡¯t easily reveal his identity and intentions.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s the case, I should support him too.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me anything,¡± she continued. ¡°This is your job and mission, your duty and responsibility. But¡ how long do you n to keep this from me?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind if you keep other things hidden until your mission is over, until you retire, or even for a lifetime¡ if necessary, Ipletely understand.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun turned to the edge of the bed, looked at the Pomeranian VV sleeping soundly on the carpet, and rubbed her stomach, smiling.
¡°Our daughter¡¯s matter¡ you can¡¯t just keep it a secret and have her on your own, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯m really curious¡ how did you manage to win me over?¡±
She reached over to turn off the bedsidemp, wrapped herself in a nket, andy on her side facing VV, closing her eyes. ¡°Goodnight, VV.¡±
¡
The Next Day, Shopping Mall, High-End Clothing Store
Zhao Ying Jun sat on a sofa in a boutique, scrolling through her iPad to choose clothes. In luxury clothing stores like this, models try on outfits for VIP customers, so the clients don¡¯t have to try on the clothes themselves.
Especially today, when Zhao Ying Jun wasn¡¯t shopping for herself. Trying them on herself would be pointless; it was better to choose clothes and have the models wear them.
¡°Miss Zhao Ying Jun, are you satisfied with these?¡± Two well-built child models in front of her had changed into brand-new outfits and were turning around to show off the details.
¡°Yes, they¡¯re fine,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, imagining Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s in style ovepped with the bright and trendy look of the child models. Yes, this is more like it. The models¡¯ height and weight were simr to Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s, but these models had fit bodies from training, while Yan Qiao Qiao seemed to have been starved into being thin.
Ugh¡ how did she get that thin, anyway? Zhao Ying Jun found it another of the world¡¯s unsolved mysteries. How could someone who eats so much and has such a good appetite be so thin?
¡°Pack all these up,¡± she instructed, pointing at the clothes she had selected on her iPad. ¡°Once they¡¯re packed, send them directly to my car. I¡¯m going to the shop next door to pick out some essories.¡±
After saying this, she left the store in her high heels and went to a boutique next door. Just thinking about Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s childish pigtails and tacky fake flower hairpins made Zhao Ying Jun shudder. She could ept this look from someone else¡¯s child, but as the president of a fashionpany, she could never ept her daughter dressing like she came straight out of the 1980s.
¡
An Hour and a Half Later, Luxury Vi on the Outskirts of Donghai City
The doorbell rang. ¡°Coming!¡± Yan Mei opened the door and saw Zhao Ying Jun standing outside with several bags in her hands.
¡°Wow, look at all these bags¡ are these children¡¯s clothes? For Qiao Qiao?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°Where¡¯s Qiao Qiao? What¡¯s she doing?¡±
¡°She¡¯s watching TV. Come in.¡± Zhao Ying Jun entered the living room and saw Yan Qiao Qiao sitting on the sofa, her eyes glued to the TV, watching a cartoon. She was so engrossed that she didn¡¯t even notice Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s arrival.
At least today, she wasn¡¯t running around on the sofa. That¡¯s some progress, Zhao Ying Jun thought, ncing at Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s side profile, searching for any slight resemnce to Lin Xian. Was it just her imagination? Somehow, Yan Qiao Qiao seemed a bit cuter today, more likable, not as annoying as she had been a few days ago.
She moved closer to the sofa. Yan Qiao Qiao was too absorbed in her cartoon to notice her. Zhao Ying Jun followed her gaze to the TV screen. It was showing an old but ssic X Country animated movie¡ªLotus Lantern.
¡°Can you understand it?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, a bit surprised. Although Yan Qiao Qiao was estimated to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, she had lost her memory and mentally seemed more like a five or six-year-old. A young child that age probably wouldn¡¯t understand a movie like Lotus Lantern, which was a bit deep.
¡°Hehe, our Qiao Qiao has made a lot of progress these past few days!¡± Yan Mei boasted, walking over proudly. ¡°She¡¯s learning fast from watching TV, and her speaking is getting more fluent¡ªshe can even say longer sentences now.¡±
¡°Yesterday, your dad and I took her to Ruijin Hospital for a check-up. The doctors said Qiao Qiao is perfectly healthy and even excels in many areaspared to normal kids!¡± Yan Mei continued. ¡°It looks like our Qiao Qiao is really smart! She may have lost her memory, but she isn¡¯t actuallycking intelligence. See how quickly she¡¯s improving? Give it another ten days or so, and she might be back to normal mentally and emotionally.¡±
By now, the Lotus Lantern movie was reaching its end. Many people had watched it in their childhood. During that era, X Country animated films were soaring due to the unknownndscape of the trade.
Lotus Lantern told the story of a brave boy who splits a mountain to save his mother. Zhao Ying Jun could still vaguely recall the plot. The Goddess of Mercy, Sanshengmu, fell in love with a mortal schr by the name of Liu Yanchang. After seven years of being together, their child, Chen Xiang, was growing up healthy and fine, but the antagonist uncle Eng Shen found out from the celestial court. He captured young Chen Xiang and pressured Sanshengmu to surrender the Lotus Lantern. For her son¡¯s safety, she handed it over and was then imprisoned under Mount Hua as punishment disobeying heavenlyws. What followed was Chen Xiang¡¯s journey to save his mother, culminating in a climactic battle where he used a divine axe to split the mountain and rescue her. For the ending, the mother and son reunited in an emotional embrace.
At this moment, the movie showed Chen Xiang and Sanshengmu hugging each other with the background music ying a warm and touching song.
Zhao Ying Jun watched quietly, arms crossed, and looked at Yan Qiao Qiao. ¡°Did you understand it? How do you feel?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao looked up, pointing to the mother and son on the screen who were finally reunited. ¡°Where did the dad go?¡±
¡°¡¡±
Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t expected Yan Qiao Qiao to ask such a difficult question. Indeed, she couldn¡¯t remember what happened to Chen Xiang¡¯s father, the mortal schr Sanshengmu loved. Did the story ever mention it?
Maybe, she thought, time passes differently in heaven, and by the time Chen Xiang split the mountain to save his mother, centuries had passed, and the schr had long since died. Or maybe he was executed for breaking the heavenlyws? She wasn¡¯t sure and couldn¡¯t recall.
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°This movie focuses more on the themes of maternal love, hard work, and perseverance rather than the father¡¯s story. In films, we just need to grasp the main idea. Other things don¡¯t matter as much.¡±
¡°In this movie, Chen Xiang¡¯s father is basically a non-essential character. He¡¯s just a mortal, and these battles among gods don¡¯t involve him. That¡¯s why he gets forgotten by the audience¡ªhe¡¯s just a background figure, a tool in the story.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao seemed to understand, but also didn¡¯t quite grasp it. She listened to the cheerful ending song and watched the smiling Chen Xiang and Sanshengmu on the screen. She said softly, ¡°But¡ without a dad, how can you call it a family?¡±
Chapter 373: Missing You
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t say a word at first. She looked down at Yan Qiao Qiao and asked gently, ¡°So now¡ do you know what it means to have a father?¡±
Just a few days ago, when she had asked Yan Qiao Qiao if she remembered her father, the girl had innocently replied, ¡°What¡¯s a father?¡±
It seemed that watching TV constantly over the past few days had taught her a lot. But understanding something wasn¡¯t the same as feeling it. Could Qiao Qiao truly grasp what a father, mother, family, or love meant without ever having experienced them?
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded earnestly, meeting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Other kids have them,¡± she answered.
¡°Other kids?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°On TV?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head and pointed outside the window. ¡°The kids in the yard.¡±
Yan Mei, who was nearby, walked over and added, ¡°Qiao Qiao has been ying outside with the neighborhood kidstely. Most of them are seven or eight years old¡ªthere aren¡¯t many her age.¡±
¡°But mentally, they¡¯re about the same age, so they get along and have made some friends in the yard,¡± Yan Mei continued. ¡°Those kids have their moms and dads with them. When it¡¯s time to eat, their parents take them home. Qiao Qiao seems a bit envious¡ though ¡®envious¡¯ might not be the right word. She often asks me where her parents are.¡±Yan Mei sighed softly. ¡°Qiao Qiao is getting smarter every day. She¡¯s learning more, and there are some things we can¡¯t hide from her forever. She¡¯ll find out what she needs to know sooner orter.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun gently rubbed Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s head, noticing her scruffy little pigtails and a cheap flower hair clip. Feeling the urge to do something different, she grabbed Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand, picked up some bags from the sofa, and led her to the bedroom. ¡°Come on, let me give you a new hairstyle.¡±
In the bedroom, Zhao Ying Junid out various hair essories,bs, and clips on the table. She patted the chair in front of the vanity mirror. ¡°Sit here, Qiao Qiao. Don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll do your hair.¡±
Qiao Qiao sat down obediently, staring straight ahead as Zhao Ying Jun worked on her hair.
¡°You¡¯re a big girl now; you can¡¯t keep wearing these childish pigtails,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, removing the fake flower and stic bands from Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. ¡°Even if people don¡¯t say it, they¡¯d think it¡¯s silly for someone your age to dress like this.¡±
¡°You¡¯re smart and learn quickly. You should learn how to style your own hair. It doesn¡¯t need to be fancy. A simple ponytail is perfect¡ªclean and pretty.¡±
She carefullybed out Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair with a woodenb. It fell just past her neck, touching her shoulders¡ªneither too long nor too short. A simple ponytail would suit her fine. The ends were a bit uneven, probably from not being trimmed in a while, but a ponytail would hide that.
Zhao Ying Jun gathered Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair at the back of her head and secured it with a blue stic hairband, wrapping it around twice to create a neat ponytail.
Her bangs and sideburns were already the right length, so they didn¡¯t need any extra styling. Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but admire how a youthful face and good looks could make almost any hairstyle work. With her doll-like features, snow-white skin, and big, bright eyes, Qiao Qiao would look good no matter what.
¡°You¡¯re too young for makeup, and your skin is perfect. You don¡¯t need it. We¡¯ll keep it simple and add a hair clip in the front.¡±
Since the ponytail holder was bright blue and stood out, she added a small pale pink metal hair clip to bnce the color. It was in but elegant.
She clipped the hairpin above Qiao Qiao¡¯s bangs, and the hairstyle wasplete.
¡°Hmm¡ now what should you wear?¡± Zhao Ying Jun pondered, feeling like she was dressing up a doll from her childhood. It was surprisingly fun.
It turned out that dressing up her own child was far more enjoyable than dressing herself.
¡°You¡¯re too skinny for tight clothes¡ªthey¡¯ll just make you look too thin. A dress would be better,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled as she searched through the bags for a cute dress.
She rarely wore dresses herself. She couldn¡¯t remember if she wore them as a child, but since she started school, she hadn¡¯t. She just didn¡¯t like them. But she thought Qiao Qiao would look good in one, and maybe it could make up for her own dislike of cute clothes.
Finally, she picked out a simple, knee-length, off-white dress with no unnecessary patterns or decorations. It was perfect for Qiao Qiao. Despite being only 151 cm tall, Qiao Qiao had great proportions¡ªlong legs and a high waist¡ªideal for such a fresh style.
¡°Alright, stand up and take a look in the mirror,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said as she finished tidying up.
Qiao Qiao walked over to the full-length mirror, swaying from side to side. ¡°It looks nice,¡± she said concisely.
Zhao Ying Jun smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Do you really think it looks nice?¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded, turning back to look at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Thank you, sister.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Zhao Ying Jun was silent for a moment but then thought it over.
It was better for Qiao Qiao to call her ¡°sister.¡± She wasn¡¯t ready to be called ¡°mom¡± yet. If Qiao Qiao suddenly started calling her ¡°mom,¡± she wouldn¡¯t feel anyfort or pride.
Instead¡ she¡¯d only feel a chilling dread.
Besides, the age gap between her and Qiao Qiao was small. If they went out and Qiao Qiao called her ¡°mom,¡± everyone would think she was a young stepmother that Qiao Qiao¡¯s father had married.
Even if her conscience was clear, rumors could be annoying. Better to avoid them altogether.
¡°From now on, wear clothes like these,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, pointing to the bags on the bed. ¡°All these clothes are for you. You¡¯ll learn how to dress yourself eventually. And those silly pigtails and fake flowers? Don¡¯t wear them again. Even four- or five-year-olds don¡¯t dress like that anymore.¡±
¡°If Lin Xian¡ or anyone else saw you like that, they¡¯d think I¡¯m not taking care of you. You need to look more presentable.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun knew. Even though Lin Xian had many secrets and likely multiple hidden identities, his reunion with Qiao Qiao was inevitable. When the truth came out¡
If Qiao Qiao looked shabby andcked proper manners, how would she exin herself? How could she face him?
This child needed to be well cared for.
Later, when they took Qiao Qiao out, Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei were delighted to see her new look.
¡°Oh, Qiao Qiao looks so grown-up now!¡±
¡°Hehe, yes, a little girl needs to be dressed up. Clothes really do make the person. She suddenly looks more mature.¡±
Qiao Qiao seemed excited to show off her new outfit to her friends and ran straight for the door, eager to go out and y.
¡°You two must be tired after spending so much time with her,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, following behind Qiao Qiao. She looked back at her parents, ¡°I¡¯ll take her out to y today.¡±
With that, the two of them, looking more like sisters than anything else, headed out to find some ymates in the neighborhood.
As they watched them leave, Yan Mei remarked, ¡°Rui Hai, don¡¯t you think Ying Jun seems closer to Qiao Qiao now?¡±
¡°In the past, whenever she visited, she was always impatient, constantly finding faults in everything. But today, she was great. She didn¡¯tin once and even bought Qiao Qiao clothes and did her hair.¡±
Sitting on the sofa, Zhao Rui Hai nodded with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s the magic of blood ties. The bond is something you can¡¯t resist. But building a rtionship still takes time. We raised children ourselves, so it¡¯s easier for us to slip into the roles of grandparents. But it¡¯s naturally harder for young people to adjust.¡±
¡°Still, seeing Ying Jun and Qiao Qiao getting along better makes me happy. When we eventually leave Donghai, we¡¯ll feel morefortable leaving Qiao Qiao with Ying Jun. You can tell¡ she actually likes Qiao Qiao. We just didn¡¯tmunicate well before.¡±
Yan Mei also sat down on the sofa, cleaning up the fruit peels that Qiao Qiao had eaten. ¡°So, have you thought about how we¡¯re going to leave Qiao Qiao with her?¡±
¡°We can¡¯t just leave her behind and go without a word. Right now, it¡¯s understandable that Ying Jun finds this unbelievable and unscientific. We have to handle it carefully.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I have a n and know how to handle this smoothly.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll stay with Qiao Qiao for another week, and then we¡¯lle up with an excuse to go back to the capital, saying it¡¯s an emergency but that we¡¯ll be back soon. We¡¯ll ask Ying Jun to take care of Qiao Qiao for a few days.¡±
¡°Then¡ we¡¯ll decideter whether toe back. The golden week holiday is almost over anyway. Since the crowds have died down, we could take Qiao Qiao on a little trip.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always dreamed of taking my grandkids to see the country¡¯s beautifulndscapes. It¡¯s funny how life works. Some dreamse true when you least expect them to.¡±
Yan Mei put the trash from the coffee table into the bin and shook her head, sighing. ¡°No matter what happens to Qiao Qiao, I hope Ying Jun can give us an eptable answer soon about why she has such a grown-up daughter.¡±
¡°True, but now that the child is here, healthy and all grown up, does it really matter what the answer is? As long as everyone is happy and healthy, I¡¯m fine with it.¡±
¡°Alright then, let¡¯s enjoy ourst bit of time with Qiao Qiao, take her on a little trip, and then head back home.¡±
The next day, after the golden week holiday ended, everyone returned to work, and things got busy again. Since visiting Yan Qiao Qiao that day, Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t been back to her parents¡¯ vi.
Her parents had said they were taking Qiao Qiao on a trip to see the sights. That was fine with her. She didn¡¯t think much of it and continued to focus on her work at MX Company.
Work was still hectic. But even in the midst of it all, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Lin Xian and Yan Qiao Qiao.
Strange¡ she never used to be like this, so worried and uncertain. How did she suddenly slip into the role of a parent?
Maybe Brother Wang was right. Women do seem to adapt to the role of a mother faster than men do to the role of a father.
Over the past few days, she had visited the neighboring Rhine Company several times but hadn¡¯t seen Lin Xian. Instead, she ran into Brother Wang in the hallway yesterday.
¡°President Zhao Ying Jun, you¡¯re here!¡± Brother Wang greeted her warmly. ¡°Anything I can do for you?¡±
¡°Not really.¡± She smiled. ¡°Just looking around. Has Lin Xian been absent from worktely?¡±
¡°Haha, him?¡± Brother Wang gave her a knowing look. ¡°He¡¯s a hands-off manager. Not showing up is normal;ing in is a rare miracle. Andtely, I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s feeling unwell or something¡ he seems to be awake at night and sleeping during the day.¡±
¡°Every afternoon when I call him, he never picks up, so I don¡¯t even bother calling anymore. I just text him. And like clockwork, around two or three in the morning, he replies.¡±
¡°Though he¡¯s still young, he should take care of his health. Staying upte every night isn¡¯t good. If you get a chance, tell him to change his schedule. What can¡¯t be done during the day? Why does he need to sleep during the day?¡±
Listening to Brother Wang, Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but think back to her earlier suspicions¡
Her uncle, who worked in national security and hid his identity from his wife for thirty years, had a simr situation. He was often away on business trips and would sometimes not answer his phone.
Because of this, her uncle and aunt had many arguments. But her uncle was a dedicated national security officer, and even when things got tough, he kept the truth to himself to maintain secrecy, protect national security, and carry out his missions.
As a woman, Zhao Ying Jun sympathized with her aunt¡ªliving with that kind of cold silence must have been difficult. But as a citizen who enjoyed the peace and security of their country, she also deeply respected her uncle and other unsung heroes who sacrificed for the greater good.
Loyalty and family¡ªit¡¯s an age-old dilemma, and there¡¯s no perfect solution.
Now, she suspected that Lin Xian was in a simr situation, engaged in some secret mission or doing something great yet unrecognized.
She had a gut feeling that whatever Lin Xian was doing, it was probably even more dangerous and important than her uncle¡¯s work.
This was why, even though she had known about Qiao Qiao¡¯s background for days, she hadn¡¯t reached out to Lin Xian.
Of course, part of it was not knowing how to bring up such an unclear and confusing rtionship. But the real reason for her silence¡
She sensed that Lin Xian was carrying some important burden and that he was deliberately hiding it.
Just like now, what he told Brother Wang¡ Sleeping? Ha!
Who could sleep for 12 hours straight every day without waking up? That was impossible. Lin Xian was surely using ¡°sleep¡± as an excuse to do other secret things.
At 12:42 AM, in a corner of Lin Xian¡¯s bedroom, he opened his eyes. He jumped out of bed so quickly that he didn¡¯t even have time to rub his tired eyes. He dashed to his desk, turned on themp, grabbed a pen, and started scribbling on the prepared sheets of paper.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
The pen flew across the page as if guided by an unseen force. It wasn¡¯t that Lin Xian was particrly quick-witted; he was racing against his fading memory. As the pen glided smoothly, aplex and continuous chemical reaction equation began to appear on the paper.
But that wasn¡¯t all. There were still many notes and annotations to add. Lin Xian didn¡¯t understand them entirely, so he could only copy them down, just like tracing a drawing.
Finally, before the visual memory faded away, Lin Xian managed to copy down this groundbreaking reaction equation that could change the world.
For the first time in 600 years, Academician Gao Wen¡¯s research findings were brought back to life.
¡°Phew¡¡±
Lin Xian let out a deep breath, as if he could finally breathe again. This equation was so long and challenging to memorize; recalling it all at once had been his greatest test. Thankfully, he had seeded. His hard work wasn¡¯t in vain.
He rxed a little, rubbed his eyes, drank some water, and continued copying down the notes from his memory until 2 AM. Only then did he finish his task.
Lin Xian stretched, tidied up the papers in front of him. Unknowingly, so many days had passed, and Academician Gao Wen¡¯s research manuscript, ¡°Principles of Time-Space Travel and Design Concepts for a Time-Space Machine,¡± was now more than halfway transcribed back into the real world. In just a few days, he would finish copying it all.
Seeing that the time-space machine was almost within reach¡ Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit excited, imagining himself being able to travel freely through time, like Yellow Finch and the time-space assassins.
Of course, he knew better than anyone that time travel wasn¡¯t that simple. Time-spacews, time-space particles, how to return, time-space rejection, forced avoidance¡ all these were problems that he¡¯d inevitably have to face.
However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t in a rush. He could keep the theory in hand, ensuring his technological advantage for the future when he might need it.
He opened a drawer and carefully ced the copied manuscript inside.
¡°In a few days, once I¡¯ve finished copying and double-checking the manuscript, it¡¯ll be time to move on to the next step in the fifth dream world.¡±
Queenstown¡ªthat was Lin Xian¡¯s next target in his dream.
Would there be his own or Uncle Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s belongings in those dozens of aluminum alloy safes in the town? He was equally curious to meet the queen of Queenstown¡ªwhoever she might be.
¡°One step at a time,¡± he thought.
Lin Xian stretched and nced at the electronic clock on his nightstand.
May 12, 2024, 2:32 AM.
Today¡ was it Mother¡¯s Day?
He searched on his phone to confirm. Yes, it was Mother¡¯s Day. So, he opened WeChat and sent his mother a message:
¡°Mom, Happy Mother¡¯s Day.¡±
¡°I¡¯m busy with work here, so I can¡¯te home. You and Dad should take care of yourselves. Maybe take a trip and enjoy some great food.¡±
After sending the message, he also sent a big red packet of money.
He was about to put his phone down and go back to sleep, but before the screen even dimmed, his mother¡¯s reply came with a ¡°ding.¡±
Hmm?
Lin Xian was puzzled. Why was she still awake at this hour? Or had his message notification woken her up?
He reopened the app and saw his mother had replied:
¡°Thank you, son! I¡¯m so happy! You¡¯re the greatest pride of my life!¡±
Lin Xian smiled and typed back, ¡°Why are you still up sote? You should put your phone on silent or airne mode when you sleep so the notifications won¡¯t wake you.¡±
Almost immediately, his mother sent a voice message:
¡°Son, ever since you left home, your dad and I worry we might miss your calls in the middle of the night, afraid that something might happen and you wouldn¡¯t be able to reach us¡ So, every night, neither of us puts our phones on silent.¡±
¡°Even though you¡¯re out of town, and we know you¡¯re very capable and independent, a mother¡¯s heart always worries. Not only do we keep our phones on, but we also asked the neighbor¡¯s kid to set up some special alerts for your messages with extra loud ringtones. So, no matter when you need Mom or Dad, we¡¯ll see your messages right away.¡±
¡°Haha, it¡¯s okay, it didn¡¯t wake me up. Your dad and I have nothing to do now, and we get plenty of sleep. Besides, I¡¯m really happy to get your Mother¡¯s Day message!¡±
¡°But you, son, why are you still up sote? You¡¯re young, but you need to take care of your health¡ I won¡¯t bother you anymore. You should hurry and get some sleep!¡±
After listening to his mother¡¯s 60-second voice message, Lin Xian felt a rush of emotions.
Sixty seconds¡ªthat was the limit for a single voice message on WeChat, but it wasn¡¯t the limit of a mother¡¯s concern for her child.
He couldn¡¯t help but think of Zhou Duan Yun. Although that person hadmitted many wrongs, to be fair, he never missed sending his mother a goodnight message every night.
In that regard, he was probably better than 99% of children out there.
A child¡¯s casually sent goodnight message might only take a few taps on a phone, but on the other end, it could make a mother smile at her screen for a long time and stay happy for days.
Mother¡¯s love is like that¡ªgreat, yet able to magnify any small kindness from a child.
So¡ it was his message alert that woke her up after all.
Lin Xian recalled a saying he¡¯d seen online: ¡°Nothing scares you more than getting a call from home in the middle of the night when you¡¯re far away.¡±
¡°Ah, poor parents¡¯ hearts,¡± he sighed.
Ding.
Another notification sound. Lin Xian noticed that therge red packet he¡¯d just sent had been returned by his mother. She had also sent several messages:
¡°Your dad and I have enough money! We haven¡¯t even touched what you gave us before! You¡¯re working hard out there; save up and take care of yourself!¡±
¡°Good night, son¡¡±
¡°Mom loves you.¡±
Twelve hourster, on the 22nd floor of MX Company, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.
Zhao Ying Jun looked curiously at therge suitcases being wheeled in, followed by her father, mother, and Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say she was just staying here for a few days? Why all this luggage?¡± she asked, noticing the four or five big suitcases. It seemed like overkill for a short stay.
Last night, her father had called to say they had an urgent matter to attend to in the capital and would be back soon. They didn¡¯t want to drag Qiao Qiao along, especially after just returning from a local trip, fearing that a long journey might exhaust her. So, they suggested leaving Qiao Qiao with Zhao Ying Jun for a few days until they got back.
Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t thought much of it and agreed. After all, she had plenty of rooms at home, and Qiao Qiao was old enough to entertain herself. Having her stay for a few days wouldn¡¯t be a big deal.
But she didn¡¯t expect this!
If it was just for a few days, there were already plenty of toiletries and clothes at her ce. Qiao Qiao wouldn¡¯t go hungry or cold. Why did her parents act like they were moving in?
¡°Oh, these are all things Qiao Qiao uses daily,¡± Yan Mei patiently exined to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Towels, bath towels¡ªkids must use their own. They can¡¯t share with adults. Then there are these toiletries, toothpaste, and shampoo. Kids have sensitive skin and can¡¯t use the stronger stuff adults do.¡±
¡°These two suitcases are for her clothes¡ªsome for warm weather, some for cold. You never know if the weather forecast is urate, and being close to the sea, the temperature in Donghai can drop suddenly. You need to be prepared with warm clothes.¡±
¡°And that one over there¡ª¡±
¡°Okay, okay,¡± Zhao Ying Jun interrupted from behind her desk, cutting her mother off. ¡°This isn¡¯t some primitive society¡ If she needs anything, I can buy it for her. She won¡¯t starve or freeze. You really don¡¯t need to be so thorough.¡±
¡°That won¡¯t do!¡± Yan Mei insisted. ¡°New clothes need to be washed properly before a child can wear them, and they must be 100% cotton. What if she has a reaction to synthetic fabrics?¡±
¡°Alright, alright.¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed, giving in. ¡°Just leave everything here. I¡¯ll have thepany staff take it to the car and bring it home. Is there anything else I need to know? If not, leave Qiao Qiao here, and you two should hurry back to the capital.¡±
Zhao Rui Hai and Yan Mei gave her a long list of dos and don¡¯ts. Then Yan Mei crouched down and hugged Qiao Qiao tightly, saying goodbye with reluctance, ¡°Qiao Qiao, grandma will be away for a while. You must be good and grow up well.¡±
¡°Hey, wait a minute.¡± Zhao Ying Jun stood up from behind her desk, slightly exasperated. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you have done all this farewell stuff at home already?¡±
¡°And besides, aren¡¯t you just going to the capital for a few days? Why are you acting like you¡¯ll never see each other again?¡±
She squinted at her father, Zhao Rui Hai. ¡°Why do I get the feeling¡ like you two aren¡¯t nning toe back to Donghai at all?¡±
Zhao Rui Hai huffed, ¡°How could that be? If we weren¡¯t worried that Qiao Qiao would be exhausted from traveling, we¡¯d have taken her back to the capital with us!¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go; we¡¯ve got a ne to catch.¡±
Yan Mei stood up quickly, followed by Zhao Rui Hai. They left the office, closing the door behind them.
Their departure was swift and seamless.
¡°¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun stared at the now-closed office door.
That was a pretty quick exit.
Were they feeling guilty?
She looked down at the silent Qiao Qiao standing nearby, noting that her outfit was the same as ten days ago. She still had the blue hairband Zhao Ying Jun had chosen for her, along with the light pink metal hair clip, and was wearing the same off-white, fresh-style dress.
¡°Why are you still wearing that?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked curiously. ¡°I bought you lots of hair clips, bands, essories, and clothes. You¡¯ve got over a dozen dresses. You can change it up.¡±
Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I like this one.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s not that you like it; it¡¯s just that you haven¡¯t tried any other styles. How do you know you don¡¯t like anything else?¡±
Qiao Qiao shook her head again and said softly, ¡°I still like this one.¡±
Ah.
Zhao Ying Jun sighed. Liking it was one thing, but you couldn¡¯t wear the same outfit every day¡
Oh well. Let her be.
She pointed to the sofa against the wall. ¡°Alright, Qiao Qiao, sit there and read for a while. I¡¯ve got a lot of work to do. After work, I¡¯ll take you home so you can y with VV.¡±
After saying that, Zhao Ying Jun made a call, asking the support staff to bring up some children¡¯s books from thepany reading room to keep Qiao Qiao upied.
The work continued. Things were busytely, and there were many new projects. Rhine Cosmetics was going international, breaking into new markets in various countries, and the work became increasingly challenging.
That afternoon, Zhao Ying Jun barely lifted her head from her desk. The vice presidents and team leaders kepting to her for signatures and work updates, and she kept calling people up to assign tasks.
The entire afternoon went by without her ncing at Qiao Qiao.
Finally, around four o¡¯clock, she managed to take a break. She unscrewed the cap of her thermos and took a sip of her now-cool flower tea, looking over at the sofa.
To her surprise, Qiao Qiao wasn¡¯t reading the children¡¯s books. She was staring right at her. It wasn¡¯t like she had just started watching, either. There were no books in front of her, so she had clearly stopped reading a long time ago. She¡¯d probably been sitting there quietly, watching for quite a while.
¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qiao Qiao?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, screwing the cap back on her thermos. ¡°Don¡¯t you like the books?¡±
Qiao Qiao pointed out the window. ¡°I want to go out and y.¡±
¡°Not right now.¡± Zhao Ying Jun refused without hesitation. ¡°I still have a lot of work to finish and some documents to sign. Give me another hour. After that, I¡¯ll take you home, and VV can y with you.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re bored¡ do you want to y on the phone? Or maybe watch some cartoons?¡±
Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ll just sit here.¡±
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
¡°Come in,¡± Zhao Ying Jun called out, pressing the door release button to let the vice president in for a document signing and discussion.
It wasn¡¯t until 5:30 that her work finally ended.
Zhao Ying Jun took Qiao Qiao to the nearby mall. She thought there was still plenty of time, so there was no rush to go home. She decided to walk around with Qiao Qiao for a bit and have some fun.
Qiao Qiao was curious about everything. She even wanted to jump into a bouncy castle for little kids.
¡°No way, look at how young those kids are,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, pulling her back. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go y in the arcade over there? There should be something more suited to you.¡±
They entered the arcade, where loud music red from every direction. Zhao Ying Jun wrinkled her nose. She¡¯d never been to such a noisy ce. She couldn¡¯t help but admire the parents patiently ying with their kids here. Just being in this ce was stressful enough, and yet they seemed so happy.
Qiao Qiao took a bunch of game tokens and tried her luck at the w machine. She tried to grab a toy, but the w let go.
She tried again, and the w released it once more.
She turned and looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°I can¡¯t grab it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled helplessly. ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing we can do about that. I can¡¯t grab them either. And I don¡¯t think these things are meant to be grabbed. As soon as the w gets to the top, it loosens. It¡¯s clearly a scam.¡±
As the arcade music switched tracks, Zhao Ying Jun finally heard her phone ringing. She checked to see several missed calls, all from one of the vice presidents.
Could it be that something went wrong with the n they discussed that afternoon?
She pressed the answer button and quickly walked out of the noisy arcade. She called back to Qiao Qiao, ¡°Stay here and keep ying, Qiao Qiao. I¡¯m going to take a call.¡±
With that, she left the arcade to talk with the vice president over the phone.
Meanwhile, Qiao Qiao still hadn¡¯t managed to grab any toys. She took another token and tried to put it into the slot, but one slipped¡ª
Rolling, rolling¡
The token fell to the floor and started rolling away, gaining speed.
Qiao Qiao bent down, but the token had already rolled far away, moving fast.
She hurried to follow it.
The token rolled out of the back door of the arcade, into a crowd, and was identally kicked by an unsuspecting man. It flew far,nding in the park below.
Qiao Qiao stood there, stunned.
That token was bought with her sister¡¯s money; she had to get it back.
This was her first time in this confusing, multi-level mall that felt like a maze. She finally made it out of the first-floor entrance, only to find she was still far from where the token had fallen.
Helplessly, she continued running toward the park.
At the park entrance, there were many people selling flowers, and others buying them. The vibrant colors were beautiful, but most of them were selling the same kind of flowers.
¡°Little girl, buy a flower!¡± said a male college student selling flowers nearby. His eyes were bright and clear as he smiled at Qiao Qiao. ¡°Carnations, five yuan each. I only have one left. I¡¯ll sell it to you for three yuan.¡±
¡°Buy one, little girl. It¡¯s Mother¡¯s Day today. If you give one to your mom, she¡¯ll be very happy!¡±
Qiao Qiao stopped. She looked at the empty bucket, with only one pale yellow carnation left. ¡°For¡ Mom?¡±
The college student with sses nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes, yes. Carnations are usually given to mothers. The flower symbolizes tenderness and sincere love. Especially the yellow carnation¡ªit stands for gratitude and appreciation.¡±
¡°So¡ there¡¯s no better flower than a yellow carnation to give to your mother. Buy one! It¡¯s myst one, and I¡¯ll let you have it for just two yuan. I¡¯m about to close up!¡±
¡°For just two yuan, you can let your mom feel your love and gratitude! What a bargain, right? Come on, little girl, don¡¯t hesitate. Buy thisst yellow carnation meant just for you and thank your mom for raising you!¡±
¡
Listening to the student¡¯s passionate pitch, Qiao Qiao remained calm.
¡°Thank my mom¡¡± she murmured softly.
She lifted her head, her eyes dim as she looked at the college student. ¡°I don¡¯t have a mom.¡±
It was like a sharp knife stabbing into the student¡¯s heart!
His expression froze, as if the knife wasn¡¯t just stabbing but also twisting inside him.
The rity in his eyes vanished, reced by guilt and regret.
Damn it.
Why did he say those things?
Why did he say such hurtful words to this little girl without a mom?
¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± he apologized hastily.
He looked at the carnation in his hand. It seemed that even if he gave it to this adorable girl for free¡ she wouldn¡¯t have a mom to give it to.
He thought about it.
Maybe it was better not to give it to her.
That would only hurt her more.
So, he quickly tossed the carnation into a nearby trash can, packed up, and left in a hurry.
Qiao Qiao tilted her head, watching the student rush away. She looked at the upside-down carnation in the trash can, its petals facing down, and its stem sticking up.
Then, she took it out.
Meanwhile, back inside the mall at the arcade entrance, Zhao Ying Jun finished her phone call and returned to the noisy arcade.
¡°Qiao Qiao?¡±
She looked around the empty w machine area and searched a bit more.
Nothing!
There was no sign of Qiao Qiao anywhere!
For a moment, Zhao Ying Jun panicked.
Oh no.
Did she lose the child?
Although Qiao Qiao was a teenage girl and unlikely to be targeted by human traffickers¡
Still¡
Qiao Qiao¡¯s mental abilities hadn¡¯t fully recovered!
What if someone tricked her or took her away?
Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine.
This wasn¡¯t just any child¡ This was Lin Xian¡¯s child! If something happened to her, how could she exin it?
She hurriedly stopped an arcade staff member. ¡°Have you seen a little girl? She has a ponytail, is wearing an off-white dress, is about this tall, and is very slim.¡±
The staff member nodded. ¡°Yes, I saw her. She went out that way.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun quickly ran in the direction the staff member pointed. She asked around and followed the trail.
Fortunately, Qiao Qiao was very beautiful, with skin as fair as a doll¡¯s, so many people remembered her and pointed Zhao Ying Jun in the right direction.
Finally!
After a nerve-wracking chase!
Zhao Ying Jun spotted Qiao Qiao in the bushes of the park!
¡°Yan! Qiao! Qiao!¡± she shouted angrily.
When your mom yells your full name, you know you¡¯re in big trouble.
¡°How could you run off without telling me?¡± Zhao Ying Jun was furious. She scolded Qiao Qiao as soon as she reached her. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that¡¯s very dangerous? There are lots of bad people out there. What if someone had taken you or tricked you?¡±
¡°You¡¯re so thoughtless! When I tell you to stay put when I leave, you need to stay there and not move! How am I supposed to find you if you wander off?¡±
¡°Today I was lucky to find you, but what if I couldn¡¯t? What would I do if something happened to you? How could I exin it to anyone?¡±
Qiao Qiao turned around, holding a muddy game token in her fingers. ¡°Sister, I found it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun was still angry, but then she noticed the wilted carnation in Qiao Qiao¡¯s other hand.
Suddenly, her heart softened.
She remembered Qiao Qiao¡¯s gaze when watching the animated film Lotus Lantern a while back. She¡¯d been captivated and lost in thought. When she saw the scene where Chen Xiang reunited with his mother, Qiao Qiao had innocently said, ¡°Without a dad, how can it be a family?¡±
But Chen Xiang still had his mother to find.
For Qiao Qiao¡
She had neither a mother nor a father.
Today, Zhao Ying Jun had been so focused on work that she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the mall¡¯s decorations.
It dawned on her¡
Today was Mother¡¯s Day.
She¡¯d never really paid much attention to this holiday. She hadn¡¯t expected that while she was working, little Qiao Qiao had already grabbed a carnation, longing for her mom.
She felt a twinge of guilt.
Thinking about it carefully, was it all Qiao Qiao¡¯s fault for running off today?
Clearly not.
She hadn¡¯t fulfilled her duty as a guardian. Knowing that Qiao Qiao¡¯s intelligence and understanding hadn¡¯t fully recovered, shouldn¡¯t she have kept a closer eye on her, making sure she stayed within sight?
She realized she¡¯d been too careless.
She¡¯d always thought of herself as emotionally stable¡
But why?
Why did she reserve her worst temper and least patience for her own child?
Zhao Ying Jun sighed softly. She held Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand, led her to a pavilion in the park, and used the wet wipes from her bag to clean the mud off Qiao Qiao¡¯s legs and arms.
Qiao Qiao held the game token in one hand and the carnation in the other. She seemed to know she had done something wrong and sat there quietly like a child who had been scolded.
Zhao Ying Jun looked at the wilted carnation in her hand and said softly, ¡°Do you know¡ that carnations are for mothers?¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded gently.
Zhao Ying Jun was surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Qiao to know such a slightlyplicated fact at her current level of understanding.
She finished cleaning up, sat beside Qiao Qiao, and asked, ¡°Do you miss your mom?¡±
Qiao Qiao remained silent, her gaze fixed on the carnation in her hand.
Zhao Ying Jun bit her lip and began to speak. ¡°When I was your age, I was already studying abroad. I could onlye home once or twice a year and rarely had the chance to see my parents.¡±
¡°I may seem strong, but on holidays about family and reunion¡ I missed home and my mom a lot.¡±
¡°But the holidays abroad are different from those in our country, so I could nevere back for Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival¡ any of those.¡±
¡°The more you can¡¯t see someone, the more you miss them. But the more you miss them, the less you see them. Eventually, I got used to ignoring those holidays, forcing myself not to think about them or pay attention to stories about family and love.¡±
¡°But¡ it¡¯s all just self-deception. Everyone misses their mom. I do too. I¡¯ve tried to toughen up in that regard, butter I realized¡ being strong and missing your mom aren¡¯t mutually exclusive. You can easily be strong, but it¡¯s impossible to conquer your own heart and stop missing your mom.¡±
She looked down at Qiao Qiao sitting quietly next to her and asked, ¡°Do you miss your mom?¡±
Qiao Qiao didn¡¯t lift her head. She lowered it into her chest.
Zhao Ying Jun smiled gently and stroked her smooth hair. ¡°When do you usually miss your mom? Mother¡¯s Day? Children¡¯s Day? Your birthday? Or¡ is there some other special day?¡±
Qiao Qiao blinked, turning to look at Zhao Ying Jun with her clear eyes. ¡°Every day.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s smile froze on her face.
Qiao Qiao fiddled with the wilted carnation in her hand, her eyes fixed on the wrinkled petals. ¡°Every day¡ I miss my mom.¡±
Chapter 374: New Beginnings for Everyone
Zhao Ying Jun looked down at Yan Qiao Qiao, who had her head lowered and her face turned away. In that moment, she remembered a conversation she had with Brother Wang on the rooftop of the MX Tower.
¡°When did you first feel like a father?¡± she had asked him, curious about his experience.
It was an abstract question, but Brother Wang didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°The moment my daughter felt wronged.¡±
At the time, Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t fully understand what he meant. It seemed overly sentimental to her¡ªmaybe even a bit of an overreaction. But now, seeing Qiao Qiao¡¯s sad and lonely expression, something clicked in her heart. She bent down, reached out, and pulled the little girl, who seemed as fragile as a flower bud, into a gentle hug.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered softly.
She hadn¡¯t given birth to this child, and she hadn¡¯t been there to watch her grow up. Still, she felt the need to say it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she repeated, closing her eyes as she felt the cold body in her arms slowly warm up.
Standing up straight again, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes fell on the wilted bouquet of carnations in Qiao Qiao¡¯s hands. They were old, with crumpled tin foil wrapping and petals scattered about. Yet, to Zhao Ying Jun, this was the most precious gift she could receive.
Pointing to the flowers, she asked, ¡°Where did you get these?¡±Qiao Qiao pointed to the deserted park entrance in the distance. ¡°From a trash can.¡±
Hearing this, Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile. It made sense¡ªQiao Qiao didn¡¯t have any money. Where else could she find flowers except from a trash can?
¡°Can I have them?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked hopefully. ¡°I really like these flowers¡ if you¡¯re willing to give them to me.¡±
¡°Even though I¡¯m not your mother, I can try to be kinder, more patient, and more understanding. I can try to be a good sister, to protect you and take care of you.¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded and lifted the bouquet of pale yellow carnations between them. The lingering scent of the flowers filled the air with a sweet fragrance.
¡°These are for you,¡± Qiao Qiao said softly.
Zhao Ying Jun carefully took the bouquet of carnations, admiring it closely. She liked it very much. She gently smoothed out the wrinkled tin foil wrapping. The flowers, though wilted, still looked quite lovely.
¡°Thank you, Qiao Qiao,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said warmly. ¡°I really like them.¡±
She suddenly remembered the crumpled roses Lin Xian had given her on the overpass bridge earlyst year. She chuckled to herself. ¡°I never thought¡ the two most important bouquets I¡¯ve ever received were both picked up from somewhere else and were just as wrinkled.¡±
Qiao Qiao tilted her head. ¡°Two flowers?¡±
¡°Who gave you the other one?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Zhao Ying Jun looked at Qiao Qiao¡¯s innocent face and ruffled her hair with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ll find out one day,¡± she said. ¡°When the timees, let him tell you the story himself. How about that?¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡±
Not wanting to crush the delicate bouquet in her handbag, Zhao Ying Jun held it in her left hand instead. She noticed the game token Qiao Qiao was still holding and remembered the scene at the w machine earlier. Qiao Qiao hadn¡¯t managed to catch a single toy.
¡°Why don¡¯t we try the w machine in the mall again?¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested.
¡°Can we win something?¡± Qiao Qiao asked, looking up hopefully.
¡°We can try again!¡± Zhao Ying Jun encouraged. ¡°I¡¯m not good at it either, but I can learn.¡±
As the sky grew darker, the lights of Donghai City began to twinkle. A tall woman and a small girl walked hand in hand from the park bench, looking like sisters or perhaps a mother and daughter, as they headed into the bustling mall nearby.
A short whileter, they walked out of the arcade, with Qiao Qiao triumphantly waving a goofy-looking monkey plush in the air. It might have been ugly, but it was the prize they¡¯d finally caught after a long struggle.
Zhao Ying Jun also realized something. To win a toy from a w machine¡ªdesigned to trick people into spending money¡ªyou must be persistent. Don¡¯t aim too high or try to find some secret trick; just keep putting in coins and grabbing aimlessly. Eventually, the w will inexplicably mp onto the toy like it¡¯s angry and refuse to let go, dropping it straight into the prize slot.
That¡¯s how they got the goofy monkey¡ªpure luck. Just like how Qiao Qiao came into her life.
They walked to the underground parking lot and got into the waiting Alphard minivan. Qiao Qiao couldn¡¯t put down her new toy, and Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t stop admiring her bouquet of carnations.
It was like a perfect version of ¡°The Gift of the Magi.¡± They both got exactly what they wanted.
Suddenly, Zhao Ying Jun became curious. Qiao Qiao was clearly in a state of amnesia and didn¡¯t remember anything about her parents. But why did she still think about her mother every day?
¡°Qiao Qiao,¡± she asked, turning to face her, ¡°didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t remember who your mother is? You don¡¯t recall any memories with her. So how do you miss her? Or have you started to remember a little?¡±
Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have any memories of my mom, but I can¡¯t forget the feeling of missing her.¡±
Memory. Emotion.
Zhao Ying Jun thought of two questions that had been widely discussed in society recently.
With the third volunteer experiment for the hibernation chamber, the final batch of trials had begun. Humanity was getting closer to the era of hibernation.
Experts predicted that by 2025, mass-produced hibernation chambers would be avable for public use. When that timees, many issues are bound to follow¡ªsocial problems, ethical dilemmas, poption concerns, and questions of morality andw.
But these aren¡¯t things to be feared, because human society has always evolved by discovering problems and then solving them. These issues are for those in power to consider; they don¡¯t have much to do with individuals.
For individuals, the biggest concern about hibernation is the side effects¡ªmemory loss¡ªand the potential loss of emotions.
How can one ensure that the memories recovered after hibernation are real? To this day, there isn¡¯t a satisfactory answer.
Emotions are no different. Two people deeply in love before hibernation¡ªwill they still love each other as passionately after waking up with no memory? It¡¯s really hard to say.
Most love stories happen by ident, in a thrilling moment that might onlye once in a lifetime. After hibernation, can the same history and past really happen again?
Can couples who were once inseparable continue their bond after waking up in a new era after a long hibernation?
Many peopleck confidence in this. Zhao Ying Jun was no different.
She was a pessimist when it came to the hibernation project and never considered sleeping in a hibernation chamber. To her, memories and emotions were the most precious things in life, second only to life itself. She didn¡¯t want to lose these things that defined her as Zhao Ying Jun and not someone else.
However, what Qiao Qiao had just said gave her a glimmer of hope that humanity might peacefully get through the hibernation era.
It¡¯s true. Some things, some memories, might be forgottenpletely.
But emotions, these elusive things that scientists can¡¯t quite figure out, might be preserved in a ce deeper than memory.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian pulled back the curtains as the morning sun streamed into the bedroom, filling the room with a warm glow.
He had stayed up all night.
Finally, he had finished copying all the information about the ¡°Principles of Time-Space Travel and the Construction of a Time-Space Machine.¡±
It had taken much less time than he¡¯d expected.
After all, Academician Gao Wen¡¯s notes only covered the principles of time-space travel. As for the construction of the time-space machine, it was mostly guesses and predictions¡ªthere were no blueprints or practical information.
It wasn¡¯t Gao Wen¡¯s fault. He never knew about the existence of ¡°time-space particles.¡±
Because he didn¡¯t know about these magical particles, his research hadpletely stalled at this point. He couldn¡¯t move forward, nor could he continue constructing the time-space machine based on the properties of these particles.
But even so, this was enough.
¡°Thank you, Academician Gao Wen,¡± Lin Xian said, sping his hands together in gratitude as he faced the bright sun. ¡°Thank you for your selfless contribution to the world. I will gratefully ept this exclusive manuscript authorization.¡±
¡°Uh¡ looking forward to your next research breakthrough. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll change the world once again.¡±
A cockroach that wouldn¡¯t die; a resilient Gao Wen. He would only stand on the shoulders of giants and grow stronger in battle!
Then, Lin Xian carefully bound the valuable manuscript and ced it in the closet for safekeeping.
It wasn¡¯t time for it toe into y just yet.
At least, he nned to wait until after exploring the fifth dream and transitioning into the sixth. Then he would give it to Liu Feng for research.
Thinking about it¡
There¡¯s so much to do when the sixth dream finally arrives.
First, he needed to verify the time-space curvature and coordinates again to answer the first question on the Genius Club exam.
Next, after the time-space changes again, he wanted to try to revive the AI VV in a safe environment and see if he could sessfully retrieve his old buddy.
Lastly, he would focus on building his own forces and constructing a time-space machine to elevate the Rhine Company to greater heights, turning it into his solid backing and an unstoppable trump card.
¡°Finally, it¡¯s time to head toward Queen¡¯s Town,¡± Lin Xian yawned. Staying up all night made him tired, which would help him fall asleep quickly.
Opening the nearly empty refrigerator, Lin Xian prepared a simple breakfast to fill his stomach. Then, hey down on the bed, closed his eyes, and drifted into sleep.
¡°What?¡± Big Cat Face looked stunned as he tore into a pork knuckle at the dining table. ¡°Bro, you want to sneak into Queen¡¯s Town? Are you out of your mind?¡±
He split the knuckle in half, putting one piece on Lin Xian¡¯s te and the other on CC¡¯s, then sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. Queen¡¯s Town isn¡¯t like Big Cat¡¯s Vige. They¡¯re not so easygoing there.¡±
¡°People there are very xenophobic, proud, and arrogant. If you¡¯re caught sneaking in, they¡¯ll shoot you with muskets without a second thought. Look at you two with your skinny arms and legs¡ªstop thinking crazy thoughts. Just live peacefully in Big Cat¡¯s Vige. I¡¯ll get someone to build a house for you, and you can settle down, have a few kids, and live a quiet life.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the steaming half of the pork knuckle in front of him without speaking.
After entering the dream, he first found CC, then old man Wei Sheng Jin, and exined the situation in Big Cat¡¯s Vige, along with the rumors of several aluminum alloy safes in Queen¡¯s Town.
The three of them agreed that they had to take a chance and explore Queen¡¯s Town.
So, they came up with a new n: Lin Xian and CC would still pretend to be a married couple, infiltrate Big Cat¡¯s Vige, and gather more information and support.
The more people they had, the stronger they¡¯d be. If Big Cat Face agreed to help them sneak in, it would be a big boost to their chances of sess.
At the very least, just like in the second dream, they needed someone to help them build a humandder. With that, Lin Xian and CC¡¯s agility would be enough to scale the high walls of Queen¡¯s Town and directly address the core issue.
The challenge now was how to convince Big Cat Face and the others to join this crazy n.
Lin Xian and CC exchanged a nce, leaving the pork knuckle untouched, and prepared to start the next round of persuasion.
¡°Here¡¯s the thing, Big Cat,¡± Lin Xian raised his ss and spoke slowly, ¡°I think your father¡¯s concerns are valid. The people of Queen¡¯s Town aren¡¯t going to be satisfied with the status quo. Right now, they¡¯re just collecting protection money, but soon, when they open more safes and get more powerful weapons, they¡¯ll break this bnce.¡±
¡°After all, like you said, they look down on you, and you don¡¯t have any value to them. You¡¯re just cheap¡ªor rather, freebor. Right now, things are peaceful because, although the surrounding viges aren¡¯t advanced, if everyone unites, their numbers are still enough to overwhelm Queen¡¯s Town. If they provoke public anger, it won¡¯t end well for them.¡±
¡°But if there are extremely powerful technologies and weapons in those aluminum alloy safes, even if all the surrounding viges unite, they won¡¯t pose a threat to Queen¡¯s Town. In that case, Queen¡¯s Town will show its true colors¡ they¡¯ll ruthlessly swallow you up, enve you, destroy your viges, and turn youpletely into their ves.¡±
What Lin Xian described was the path of development that ancient humans had taken.
After hearing his words, silence fell over the dining table.
Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, and San Pang said nothing. They seemed to understand what Lin Xian meant, but they still felt hesitant.
Only Wu Jiang Er Zhuzi, as usual, didn¡¯t think too much.
Bang!
He mmed his fist on the table, cheering loudly, ¡°Great!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but give Lin Xian a thumbs-up. ¡°Lin Xian! I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you! You¡¯re a brave one! I fully support your idea and your n!¡±
Lin Xian was a little surprised. Who would have thought? The guy who was always opposing him, Er Zhuzi, was now standing firmly on his side!
At that moment, a warm feeling spread through Lin Xian¡¯s heart as he looked at Er Zhuzi with appreciation. ¡°Will you help me?¡±
¡°Of course I will!¡± Er Zhuzi eximed with passion, standing up and waving his hand. ¡°Lin Xian, just go with confidence! Go boldly! Don¡¯t worry about your sister-inw. I¡¯ll take good care of her!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out like this. ¡°You¡¯re noting with me? Then why are you shouting?¡±
Er Zhuzi chuckled. ¡°I was talking about the worst-case scenario, but I still hope youe back safe and sound.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give you all my good luck!¡± he added, taking off his green fabric sun hat and putting it on Lin Xian¡¯s head. ¡°This hat was my prize for winningst year¡¯s dancepetition. It¡¯s full of luck! Wear it when you charge into Queen¡¯s Town, and I guarantee you¡¯lle back safe and sound!¡±
¡°Haha, you keep it for yourself,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, quickly putting the hat back on Er Zhuzi¡¯s head.
¡°All right, enough,¡± Big Cat Face waved his muscr arm. ¡°Everyone, quiet down.¡±
He raised his head, nced around, and said, ¡°I have something to say!¡±
Chapter 375: The City of Romance
¡°Actually¡ what Lin Xian told us sounds a lot like what my father used to say before he passed away,¡± Big Cat Face said with a deep sigh.
He continued, ¡°He always warned us¡ªif Queen Town keeps expanding without limits, it will eventually swallow us up, destroy us, and turn us into ves. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±
¡°The technology gap between us is just too big. We haven¡¯tmunicated for so many years, and the gap only gets wider. Soon, we won¡¯t be able to understand each other or live together peacefully¡ just like humans and animals. Peaceful coexistence will be impossible.¡±
¡°Everyone knows my father¡¯s n was to build up our strength quickly so we could stand up to Queen Town. That¡¯s why he was so fixated on gaining knowledge and opening that safe. We all hoped what was inside would help us change things.¡±
¡°But just now, Lin Xian helped me open the safe, and all we found was a torn-up book. Since most of the people in our vige can¡¯t read, and the tech in the notebook is too advanced, Lin Xian says we can¡¯t make use of it right now.¡±
¡°So, it¡¯s clear¡ªmy father¡¯s n has totally failed. Meanwhile, Queen Town¡¯s technology will keep moving forward. If we keep hunting, raising pigs, and fooling ourselves¡ our end will be tragic and certain.¡±
Big Cat Face took a bamboo wine cup from the table, drank it in one gulp, and grimaced as he continued:
¡°Now that I¡¯m the vige chief, I¡¯ve got to be responsible for our people. Instead of waiting until Queen Town invades and we can¡¯t fight back, I agree with Lin Xian¡ªwe can¡¯t just sit around waiting to die. We have to act first!¡±¡°But, Big Cat¡¯s Vige has always been democratic, so we¡¯ll stick to the old rule¡ª¡±
¡°Let¡¯s vote!¡±
Finally, it was time for the big vote.
Big Cat Face never took part in the voting, so the people with voting rights were Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, San Pang, Lin Xian, and CC.
Ah Zhuang spoke up first, disagreeing: ¡°It¡¯s too risky. I vote no. Besides, if Queen Town couldn¡¯t open the safe, what makes us think we can do it even if we get there?¡±
Lin Xian shrugged and said, ¡°I just opened the safe here in Big Cat¡¯s Vige, didn¡¯t I? If we can get close to the safe, I¡¯ll figure out how to crack it. So, I¡¯m voting yes.¡±
San Pang shook his head and said simply, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea.¡±
With the vote at 1:2, all eyes turned to Er Zhuzi. It was clear he wasn¡¯t for the idea of fighting. He probably wouldn¡¯t vote yes.
As expected, Er Zhuzi cleared his throat and said, ¡°Lin Xian, my brother, I¡¯m all for supporting you, but¡ I have to think about your family, too. If something happened to you¡ how would I exin it to your ancestors? After much thought, I¡¯ve decided to stay behind with your sister-inw and help with logistics.¡±
¡°Uh? I¡¯m going too,¡± CC said, blinking and tilting her head as if Er Zhuzi had misunderstood something.
¡°Of course, I¡¯m going with my husband. How could I stay behind while he takes all the risks? When you marry someone, you stick with them through everything. So, wherever Lin Xian goes, I¡¯ll go. Since I also have a vote, I¡¯ll align with Lin Xian. I vote yes, and I¡¯m going!¡±
¡°No matter how dangerous it is, so what? Slow death or quick death, it¡¯s all the same. I¡¯d rather fight for a chance to win. Even if I die in Queen Town, it¡¯s fine.¡±
CC turned to Lin Xian and smiled, ¡°We¡¯ll die together if we have to.¡±
Lin Xian looked into CC¡¯s eyes. He knew what she was doing¡ªying the role of a devoted wife. She didn¡¯t know much about love. What little she did know probably came from those tragic love stories, like ¡°Butterfly Lovers¡± or ¡°Romeo and Juliet.¡± It seemed that only love risking life itself was considered true and admirable in her eyes.
But is that really the case? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. For CC, though, it seemed like she believed that only this kind of devotion, seen in legends, was real love. That¡¯s why she always talked about staying together through life and death¡ªsimple and pure.
¡°Sis¡ Sister-inw,¡± Er Zhuzi stuttered, stunned, ¡°You¡ you¡¯re going too!¡±
He looked conflicted, his face showing his inner struggle. After looking at Ah Zhuang and San Pang, he finally shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. I vote yes!¡±
Big Cat Face chuckled, ¡°Good! Now, it¡¯s 3:2, decision approved! Lin Xian, tell us your specific n.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over. We don¡¯t know much about Queen Town, and we don¡¯t have the weapons to fight them. So, our top priority is to find a strong ally.¡±
¡°The good news is, I¡¯ve already found one¡ªa human from Mars with a lot of alien technology. I¡¯ll bring him here now.¡±
This was the second step in Lin Xian and CC¡¯s n¡ªto get Wei Sheng Jin, the old man, to join Big Cat¡¯s Vige. First, there¡¯s a chance that one of those safes in Queen Town belongs to Old Wei. We have to bring him along to fulfill his dream. Second, Old Wei is a treasure trove himself. Without his equipment, this mission would be tough. Bringing him along benefits everyone.
Soon after, Lin Xian called in Old Wei, who had been waiting outside the vige. The old man, also known as ¡°Doraemon,¡± pulled out a few pieces of Martian technology from his backpack, instantly winning over the four members of Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
Big Cat Face couldn¡¯t put down a pair of sunsses he was ying with, ¡°This is amazing! It suits my style perfectly!¡±
He put them on and looked at Lin Xian, ¡°How do I look?¡±
¡°Uh¡ it¡¯s hard to describe,¡± Lin Xian answered honestly, ¡°The frames are way too narrow; your face is about to burst the sses. I suggest you don¡¯t wear them, or they¡¯ll break in a few days.¡±
¡°Hahaha, no way,¡± Old Wei waved his hand, confident in Martian technology, ¡°Although Big Cat¡¯s face is big, these sunsses are made of memory alloy, with great flexibility and adaptability. They may look like they¡¯re about to burst, but after a few days, the frames and temples will adjust to your face shape. Although it might still look a bit awkward, they won¡¯t break.¡±
Ah Zhuang swung the folding shovel in his hand and chopped a wooden stick in the corner, ¡°Amazing weapon! Cuts through wood like butter!¡±
Er Zhuzi stared wide-eyed at the transparent thermos in his hand, ¡°A treasure! I can drink hot water anytime! I have a lot of dried goji berries. I usually only put a few in my meals, but from now on, I can drink goji berry tea every day!¡±
San Pang wrapped a cashmere scarf around his neck, tucking his hands into his waistband, feeling very cool, ¡°I think it¡¯s great!¡±
In the end, Old Wei was unanimously epted as a member of Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
CC leaned close to Lin Xian and whispered, ¡°Suddenly, I feel like Big Cat and the others are so childish, trusting strangers so easily.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s why¡ sincerity is the ultimate weapon.¡±
Not long after, a group of seven left Big Cat¡¯s Vige. They first arrived at a hill a few hundred meters away from Queen Town, hiding in the forest, watching the developed town in the fading sunset.
It had to be said¡ seeing such arge town on this primitive Earth was as shocking as seeing New Donghai City in the Second Dream world.
They were too far away to see the details inside the town. But the walls surrounding the town formed a perfect square, protecting it. In front of the town gate, there was even a moat. The drawbridge was down, and some people on horseback wereing and going. The buildings inside the town were neatly arranged, with well-organized roads and busy traffic.
Most buildings were at least two stories high, and the closer to the center, the taller they got. The tallest building, resembling a castle, was about four or five stories high. It was hard to imagine how they built such tall structures with just wood beams and bricks without modern concrete and steel. The knowledge in Queen Town must be quite impressive.
¡°Incredible,¡± Lin Xian marveled, ¡°To n a town like this on today¡¯s Earth, I¡¯m starting to suspect if the Lady of the Town might be some kind of time traveler.¡±
¡°Mr. Wei, could I borrow the binocrs?¡± Lin Xian took out the binocrs from Old Wei¡¯s backpack and started observing Queen Town.
It was indeed technologically advanced. He even saw a cksmith¡¯s shop, where many people were forging iron. He also saw a stable with dozens of strong horses and something like a market area. Queen Town had indeed been merciful. With their current strength, if they really wanted to conquer thend, it would be no contest. They wouldn¡¯t even need guns. A cavalry unit with those horses alone would be enough to sweep through all the viges.
¡°Who is this Queen, really?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity grew stronger. At a nce, the poption of Queen Town definitely exceeded the few thousand mentioned by Ah Zhuang. The density suggested it was well over ten thousand. Ah Zhuang¡¯s information was clearly outdated.
He put down the binocrs and looked at Ah Zhuang, ¡°Ah Zhuang, you said there were only a few thousand people in Queen Town. When was this data from?¡±
Ah Zhuang scratched his head, ¡°That¡¯s what the elders told us, about twenty or thirty years ago. How many people do you think there are now? The poption can¡¯t have doubled in just twenty or thirty years, right?¡±
Lin Xian remained silent. It sure looked like Queen Town¡¯s poption had at least doubled in twenty or thirty years. How did they do it? Could they really reproduce that fast?
It seemed that the Queen was well aware of the importance of a poption boom for economic and industrial development. If they started promoting rapid reproduction strategies twenty or thirty years ago, it would indeed lead to prosperity now. A peak poption, a strong and young workforce. A golden era forbor and military strength.
No wonder Queen Town was so powerful. Give any vige that many young people, and they wouldn¡¯t do too badly either.
Lin Xian picked up the binocrs again for another look, then turned back and summarized, ¡°From what I can see, going through the front door is a no-go. There are guards, and they must have some way to tell residents from outsiders.¡±
¡°So¡ we¡¯ll have to use the old method and climb the walls! The walls in Queen Town aren¡¯t that high, about five or six meters. We can easily scale them by making a humandder.¡±
¡°As for what to do once we¡¯re inside, you don¡¯t have to worry. CC and I are safe experts, and we have a n. You just need to help us build thedder.¡±
It seemed there was no getting around building the humandder. It was a bit of a crude method, but it worked well in any era. The group stood on the hill, lined up, gazing at the distant lights of Queen Town, waiting for themand to move.
At that moment, Lin Xian felt like he was part of the Akatsuki Organization attacking Konoha Vige. Except his team was getting bigger, and there were more friends and more methods. Everything was improving.
Finally, as the newly risen moon hid behind the clouds, darkness enveloped the world again. Big Cat Face raised his big hand, ¡°Move out!¡±
Under the cover of the night, the group ran through the forest, taking a long route to avoid detection. After an hour of stop-and-go, they finally reached the southwest corner of Queen Town¡¯s wall.
They chose this spot for a reason. ording to Lin Xian¡¯s observations, the busiest area in Queen Town was definitely in the middle. Several other areas around it were also brightly lit, and it looked like people there lived well. There were oilmps burning everywhere, and even somenterns acting as streetlights on the main roads, with guards patrolling regrly.
But the southwest corner was the only area where there was almost no light, and no guards were patrolling this area. Lin Xian spected, ¡°The southwest corner probably has no residents. Overall, security and patrols are very weak here. We should break through from this point.¡±
CC agreed, ¡°There are too many people in other ces in Queen Town. If we sneak in recklessly, we¡¯ll be discovered. Judging from the night view now, the lights in the southwest corner are very few, almost none¡ It¡¯s strange. Why is Queen Town so lively everywhere else, but this ce is so deserted?¡±
Old Wei thought for a few seconds. He gave a professional answer, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because this is the old town area? It sounds like Queen Town has been developing for quite some time. Such development would be radial, with new buildings gradually causing the city center to shift.¡±
¡°During such development, old town areas inevitably get abandoned. If it were a city with tightnd resources, they¡¯d probably demolish it for reuse.¡±
¡°But on Earth now, with so muchnd and few people, there¡¯s no need to worry aboutnd resources. This old area may have been left abandoned, with no residents or maintenance. It¡¯s indeed a good spot for an invasion.¡±
¡
After reaching the outer area of the southwest corner of the wall, the four members of Big Cat¡¯s Vige began warming up. Old Wei handed a small pistol to Lin Xian, ¡°Lin Xian, with these old bones of mine, I can¡¯t climb the wall. Take this gun to protect yourself. If you find my safe, you know the password. Please open it and see what¡¯s inside.¡±
¡°If possible, I¡¯d love for you to bring it back and let me see it. If not, just remember what¡¯s inside and describe it to meter. Just¡ be safe, okay?¡±
¡°Got it, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian took the gun from Old Wei and promised, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee we¡¯ll seed today, but I¡¯ll try to find out everything about Queen Town and locate the safe inside.¡±
¡°To be honest¡ Mr. Wei, I¡¯m even more curious about what¡¯s in your safe than you are. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±
Meanwhile, CC retrieved her ck iron machete from Old Wei. But Lin Xian thought it was too conspicuous, not good for sneaking around. So, he took a multi-tool knife from Old Wei¡¯s backpack and handed it to her, ¡°Use this instead; your machete stands out too much.¡±
With everything ready, Big Cat Face gave themand, and the humandder symbolizing the bonds and friendship of Big Cat¡¯s Vige was built in an instant. Since the wall wasn¡¯t very high this time, the height of Big Cat Face, San Pang, Ah Zhuang, and Er Zhuzi was more than enough. The slope of the humandder was gentle, making it easy to climb.
Lin Xian, using his parkour skills to the fullest, quickly climbed over. Fortunately, there was an old locust tree just inside the wall. He bounced between the tree trunk and the inner wall,nding safely. Perfect infiltration!
This was why Lin Xian decided to climb the wall first. Unlike the garbage disposal nt in the Second Dream world, there wasn¡¯t much garbage piled inside the wall this time to use as a foothold. A five- to six-meter drop could easily cause injury without good parkour skills.
Whistle¡ª Lin Xian whistled long and loud. This signaled that it was safe, and CC should go ahead and climb over.
Outside the wall, the sound of speeding footsteps could be heard. Then¡ª
¡°Ouch!¡± Er Zhuzi groaned loudly. From five or six meters up, his green sunhat fell over the wall with CC!
It looked like CC identally kicked the back of Er Zhuzi¡¯s head while jumping over, sending his hat flying.
¡°¡¡±
Seeing the hat fall straight down, Lin Xian felt a bit haunted. But he had to help CCnd safely first. CC was quick and agile, but her parkour skills werecking. She bounced off the trunk twice but couldn¡¯t find footing, falling quickly.
But Lin Xian was already prepared below, catching CC as they fell together into a pile of soft leaves.
¡°You okay?¡± CC got up first, looking down at Lin Xian.
¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lin Xian brushed off the leaves and stood up. CC looked around, found Er Zhuzi¡¯s green hat, and handed it to Lin Xian, ¡°Do you want this?¡±
¡°What would I want this for¡¡± Lin Xian waved his hand, looking disgusted, ¡°Quick, toss it back to Er Zhuzi. We don¡¯t need any bad luck.¡±
CC blinked. She didn¡¯t understand how a small hat could bring bad luck. Why did Lin Xian react like he¡¯d seen a ghost whenever he saw that hat?
But she didn¡¯t care much. She tossed it over the wall, back to its owner.
¡°Alright.¡± She turned back to Lin Xian, ¡°Where to next?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll have to search bit by bit,¡± Lin Xian said helplessly, ¡°I used Teacher Wei¡¯s binocrs earlier but couldn¡¯t spot the aluminum alloy safe. There are so many buildings here, and a lot of them could be warehouses, so I can¡¯t be sure where the safe is.¡±
¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no safe in this area for sure. Queen Town was built on safes; they know how valuable they are. They wouldn¡¯t just leave one here in an abandoned area. Even if they did, they¡¯d guard it heavily.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s move on and check out that tall building in the very center.¡± Lin Xian drew his pistol from his waist. He released the safety, loaded it, and showed it to CC.
¡°I think the quickest and most efficient way is to ¡®kidnap the Queen,¡¯ hold a gun to her head, and ask her where the safes are.¡±
¡°Anyway, there are only a few hours left until reset, so we don¡¯t need to be too cautious. Even if we¡¯re killed by the Queen¡¯s guardster, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as we see the safes¡¯ numbers and names, our mission isplete.¡±
¡°If we see my name or Old Wei¡¯s name on a safe, then it¡¯s worthing back tomorrow. But if¡ neither of our names is there, and all the safes are numbered past 266¡ then there¡¯s no reason toe back to Queen Town.¡±
With that, Lin Xian put the loaded gun in his pocket and motioned to CC, ¡°Let¡¯s go this way, down this dark alley¡¡±
He reached the alley¡¯s entrance and froze.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± CC curiously came over, looked down the dark alley, and froze as well, quickly covering her eyes and pulling Lin Xian back.
You never know until you see it¡ªwhat a shock!
There, in the dark alley, a young heated couple was embracing each other and going at it like animals!
Ahem. Robbery is robbery, and kidnapping is kidnapping. But one should never break up a couple. Lin Xian and CC decided to avoid this path.
¡°Young couples, you know, it¡¯s normal for them to have dates in such dim ces,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s take another path, this way.¡±
They took another narrow path¡ And what a surprise! There were two couples this time! And they were already kissing and stripping down to their skin!
¡°Go, go, go¡¡± CC quickly pulled Lin Xian away from the chaos, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are there so many couples here?¡±
She couldn¡¯t understand and frowned, ¡°And isn¡¯t this kind of thing supposed to be private? Can they really do this outside where anyone can watch?¡±
Lin Xian shrugged, ¡°Ah¡ you¡¯re asking me? I don¡¯t have much experience either. All I can say is these young couples know how to pick a spot.¡±
¡°As infiltrators, we choose ces with fewer people. But these couples are the same¡ªthey choose these secluded, moonlit ces to be romantic.¡±
¡°Well, let¡¯s try another path. I refuse to believe that in such arge area, every corner is filled with couples.¡±
He refused to ept defeat and took CC in another direction.
Five minutester, he admitted defeat. CC was also astonished. She faced the wall, eyes closed, holding her forehead, ¡°Lin Xian, you sure know how to pick a spot. Out of all the ces along Queen Town¡¯s walls, you picked a dating hotspot, blocking our way.¡±
Lin Xian threw up his hands, ¡°I had no idea! Who could¡¯ve guessed that on this backward Earth, Queen Town would be so open?¡±
¡°Now I get why Queen Town¡¯s poption doubled in just twenty or thirty years¡ It¡¯s all thanks to their lively culture. Or should I say, it¡¯s thanks to the Queen¡¯s good leadership? With this kind of dating density and atmosphere, how could the poption not double?¡±
He wasn¡¯t kidding. This abandoned old town area seemed to have be a well-established dating spot for young couples in Queen Town. The authorities even seemed to support this, as there were no guards patrolling here, and the old buildings were left intact. It was like a natural love making garden for couples.
¡°Well, we have no other choice,¡± Lin Xian pointed to the first alley, where there was just one couple, ¡°We¡¯ll have to force our way through. We¡¯ll just pretend they don¡¯t exist. Besides, we¡¯re robbers; why should we be afraid of disturbing them?¡±
¡°Of course, to avoid unnecessary trouble and not alert the guards, we should keep a low profile and just pass by quickly.¡±
CC felt uneasy, ¡°Is this really okay? Us being here is already weird, and passing by them might draw even more attention.¡±
¡°What¡¯s there to fear? No worries,¡± Lin Xian shrugged, ¡°As long as we have a clear conscience, we¡¯re good to go.¡±
And so, they walked straight into the first alley, facing the shy couple.
It was clear. This couple had just started dating and were still a bit awkward, not as intense as the others behind them. When they saw Lin Xian and CC approaching, the couple sprang apart like a spring, watching them cautiously.
¡°Excuse us, excuse us,¡± Lin Xian cupped his hands in apology as he squeezed past the couple.
CC followed quietly, feeling like she was doing something wrong.
After finally getting through this alley, they thought they were in the clear, only to find¡ another alley, and more couples that barely had any clothes.
¡°Damn, we¡¯re in a couple¡¯s nest.¡± Lin Xian looked at thework of alleys before him but felt like there was no way through. The people inside weren¡¯t guards but were even better than guards.
It seemed Queen Town¡¯s industrial development was too fast, and the entertainment facilities hadn¡¯t caught up. Since other areas were brightly lit and crowded¡ young people in town had nowhere to make out but to flock to the abandoned old town.
¡°What a unique phenomenon of civilization development,¡± Lin Xian found it fascinating and thought he could write a sociology paper on it when he returned to the real world.
¡°It¡¯s them!!!¡± Suddenly, a shout came from behind, ¡°They¡¯re not a couple! They¡¯re intruders!¡±
Lin Xian and CC turned around to see a young couple leading guards towards them. The guards cocked their muskets and blew their whistles loudly¡ªthe sound echoed, and the tter of hooves followed!
It was over¡ªthey¡¯d been discovered. Lin Xian never thought he¡¯d be caught by a bunch of young couples.
¡°Run!¡± He grabbed CC and sprinted down a winding path. The paths wereplicated, making it hard for the mounted guards to find them. After passing several more couples, they finally reached a rtively wide road.
Lin Xian nced back and, sure enough, saw no guards chasing them.
¡°Lin Xian¡ª¡± CC looked ahead, eyes wide. But it was toote¡
When Lin Xian turned his head, he saw the dark barrels of a double-barreled musket aimed right at his forehead from horseback!
Bang!!!
The smell of gunpowder filled his nose and head until Lin Xian¡¯s vision went ck.
¡
¡
¡
Whoosh!
Lin Xian shot up from his bed in the corner of his bedroom.
It was that familiar feeling of rapid breathing and a pounding heartbeat. It took a while to calm down.
¡°No way.¡± He scratched his messy hair, ¡°That was just too much¡¡±
He couldn¡¯t help butugh, feeling like today¡¯s death script was downright ridiculous.
It seemed Queen Town must have a unique culture and social structure. At least, they were officially very open-minded¡ªmaybe even too open, dedicating a whole area just for young people to date.
For the sake of birth rates and poption? Or maybe¡ The Queen of this town really has some profound insights into management and sociology?
¡°Should we try a different entry point tomorrow night?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. He still felt that, from a safe infiltration perspective, the southeast corner was definitely the best choice.
Ultimately, the reason they were exposed was because they stepped on a ¡°security mine,¡± meaning those lovebirds.
Come to think of it. The couples were there, having a nice time, whispering sweet nothings under the moonlight, and he and CC barged in without a clue. Whether it was polite or not, who wouldn¡¯t be annoyed?
What made Lin Xian even more speechless¡ Thework formed by these couples was indeed tight, covering every corner and alley, leaving no gaps for intruders.
Was there a way to infiltrate smoothly? Without upsetting the couples or being spotted by guards.
It seemed¡ They could only make use of Queen Town¡¯s open-minded culture.
If he and CC could act a bit more like a couple, wouldn¡¯t they blend in perfectly?
In fact, given Queen Town¡¯s leniency and inclusivity towards young couples, if they acted convincingly, wouldn¡¯t they be able to walk openly down the streets?
Who knew¡ The infiltration battle in the Fifth Dream world. Wasn¡¯t about firepower, wasn¡¯t aboutbat skills, wasn¡¯t about cracking codes, wasn¡¯t about high-altitude jumps.
Instead! It was about acting skills!
¡°Oh, if VV were here, we could get some Hollywood-level guidance.¡±
¡°But then again, even if my acting is good, it¡¯s useless.¡± Lin Xian got up from his bed and poured himself a ss of water:
¡°CC is an acting killer and a wooden block when ites to emotions. Even if I¡¯m a great actor, CC will still blow our cover.¡±
¡°Forget it, forget it.¡± He shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll think of another n tomorrow.¡±
He picked up his phone from the bedside and checked the time; it was only around nine in the evening. It had been a long time since he exited a dream this early¡ and even longer since he experienced death in a dream.
There were also a few unread messages from Brother Wang. Brother Wang seemed to know he often slept during the day, so he didn¡¯t bother calling. He left messages directly on WeChat.
He opened them. Brother Wang sent a lot of pictures rted tob contracts, followed by a long text:
¡°Lin Xian, you mentioned investing in a newb and observatory, right? I¡¯ve already found a team for you. We¡¯ve also reached an agreement with a poor vige to build the observatory there. These documents need your signature¡ If you¡¯re free,e to thepany tomorrow.¡±
Lin Xian replied right away with, ¡°Okay.¡±
This was official business and crucial for his future ns. So, even though he was more of a hands-off manager, he still needed to go.
Almost instantly, Brother Wang replied, ¡°A miracle! You¡¯re awake so early today! Finally got enough sleep? Don¡¯t stay upte anymore! I¡¯ll see you at the office tomorrow for the signatures!¡±
¡
The next day, at the Rhine Company building, in Lin Xian¡¯s office. After signing a series of documents, Lin Xian stretched when he heard a knock at the door.
Who could it be now?
¡°Come in.¡± He pressed the button to open the door.
A tall woman wearing a ck coat, ck gemstone earrings, and ck high heels walked in.
¡°Ying Jun?¡± He stood up with a smile, ¡°What brings you here?¡±
After saying this, Lin Xian realized it was a pointless question. The entire Rhine Company was filled with undercover agents¡ Was there ever a time he came to thepany without running into Zhao Ying Jun?
There was no point in asking why. Of course, it was because of that traitor, Brother Wang.
¡°Long time no see, Lin Xian.¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled and walked over, ¡°I¡¯m actually here to ask for a favor today.¡±
¡°Sure, what is it?¡± Lin Xian invited Zhao Ying Jun to sit on the sofa and poured her some tea.
Zhao Ying Jun took a sip and spoke slowly, ¡°It¡¯s a bit difficult to say, but I¡¯d rather ask you than someone else because I trust you.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal. You¡¯ve helped me so much, taken such good care of Rhine Company¡ªif there¡¯s anything I can do for you, I¡¯d be happy to help.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, ¡°My family in the capital, we just lost an elder¡ªa remarkable person. All the juniors have to return to prepare for the memorial service and handle some other affairs. It¡¯ll probably take a few days.¡±
¡°So¡ I¡¯d like to ask you to take care of¡¡±
Lin Xian quickly understood, ¡°Oh, I get it, you want me to take care of VV, right?¡±
He knew how much Zhao Ying Jun adored her Pomeranian. Indeed, she wouldn¡¯t trust anyone else with VV and could only rely on him.
¡°No problem.¡± Lin Xian agreed immediately, ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of VV.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun lowered her head and smiled, ¡°Hehe, you guessed right. I do want to entrust VV to you for a few days.¡±
¡°But¡ it¡¯s not just VV. There¡¯s also someone else¡¡± She lifted her head. Her eyes held aplicated look as she gazed at Lin Xian: ¡°It¡¯s Yan Qiao Qiao. You two met before at a dinner party.¡±
Biting her lip, Zhao Ying Jun continued: ¡°Could I trouble you¡ to look after her for a few days, too?¡±
Chapter 348: Elon Musk vs. Copernicus
Angelica was startled when an unfamiliar old man¡¯s voice came through the phone. How did he know her codename within the Seven Deadly Sins?
The Seven Deadly Sins was a secretive organization started by Ji Xin Shui. Although Angelica had been a member, she was never privy to its core secrets. She had no clue about Ji Xin Shui¡¯s ultimate purpose in creating the group. When Ji Xin Shui needed information, he would reach out, and Angelica would use her connections, disguise techniques, and other skills to get it.
Angelica knew that Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin were involved in dangerous and illegal activities, but they were too smart to reveal their real intentions. She couldn¡¯t get any answers, so she never asked.
It wasn¡¯t until she connected with Lin Xian that she learned about the Genius Club, Copernicus, and the mysterious dream that Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin were chasing. Now, with the Seven Deadly Sins nearly wiped out, she was thest one left. The organization was little more than a name now.
But she hadn¡¯t expected this.
The man on the phone was suggesting that he was the real leader of the Seven Deadly Sins, the mastermind who had tricked Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin, leading them on a wild goose chase for something that didn¡¯t even exist, only to discard them when they were no longer useful.
¡°Copernicus,¡± Angelica whispered, gripping the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her voice trembled. This was the closest she had ever been to her enemy, the first time she had spoken to him directly.
Memories flooded her mind¡ªJi Xin Shui pulling her out of a pile of charred bodies, a crying Ji Lin, whom she hadforted as he wailed for milk, the boy she had raised. When she returned to Brooklyn, all that greeted her were two cold tombstones.Rage red in Angelica¡¯s heart.
She wanted to tear apart the man responsible for her losing her family and bing an orphan once again.
¡°Copernicus,¡± she hissed through clenched teeth. ¡°You killed my family. I will never do anything for you! Even if I am part of the Seven Deadly Sins, I belong to Ji Xin Shui, not you!¡±
A weak chuckle came from the other end of the line, followed by a few coughs. The old man sounded frail, his voice small and unsteady. After clearing his throat, he continued, undeterred.
¡°Well then¡ Would you like to know the truth behind Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡¯ deaths? Would you like to know who really killed them?¡±
¡°Your phone has been under my surveince from the start. Not just yours¡ªmost of the Seven Deadly Sins members¡¯ phones were monitored by me. This was something even Ji Xin Shui didn¡¯t know. It was thanks to the information he sent you that I was able to gain control over your phones.¡±
¡°I know exactly what you want to know, what you want to do. You¡¯ve always been making deals with others, haven¡¯t you? Whether it¡¯s Elon Musk or Lin Xian¡ So why not make a deal with me?¡±
¡°All I want is the small refrigerator Elon Musk brought with him to X Country. Bring it to me, and I¡¯ll tell you who really killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents. Isn¡¯t that enough of an offer?¡±
After speaking so much, the old man coughed again before regaining hisposure.
¡°These are things Lin Xian will never be able to tell you. He will never find the answers to these secrets. So, you only have this one chance, Angelica. I¡¯ll wait until 11 a.m. If you don¡¯t bring me that refrigerator by then, you¡¯ll never know the truth.¡±
With that, the call ended.
The burly man standing before her reloaded two taser guns and pointed one at Angelica. ¡°Either cooperate, disguise yourself as one of the female bodyguards, ande with me holding the refrigerator, or end up like the others on the ground. I¡¯ll take the refrigerator and go alone.¡±
Angelica lowered the phone. She nced at the taser gun in the man¡¯s hand and understood everything. She had been puzzled about why Copernicus had saved her from Elon Musk¡¯s gun. Now she knew¡ªhis n was for her to act as his inside agent and help him steal Elon Musk¡¯s refrigerator.
Angelica didn¡¯t know what was inside the small fridge, but if Elon Musk carried it everywhere, it had to be important to him.
She bent down and picked up the white refrigerator from the corner of the living room. It was lighter than she expected, easy to carry. It was either hollow inside, with very light contents, or it wasn¡¯t a refrigerator at all¡ªthere were no signs of electricalponents like apressor, which exined why it was so light.
She examined it closely. Indeed, it had no electrical markings, no power cords or switches. This wasn¡¯t a refrigerator; it was more like a safe.
It had an electronic lock, with a keypad resembling a phone dial. To open it, one needed to enter the correct password or force it open.
She was torn but realized she had no real choice. The burly man, undoubtedly one of Copernicus¡¯ agents, would take the fridge no matter what. If she cooperated, she might see Copernicus. If not, she¡¯d be tased, knocked out, and he¡¯d leave with the fridge.
She couldn¡¯t protect the fridge, and it wasn¡¯t her responsibility to protect Elon Musk¡¯s belongings. But she remembered what Elon Musk had said yesterday¡ªthat the missing piece of his puzzle would arrive today, and that he nned to meet with Lin Xian.
If this fridge was stolen now, would it ruin Elon Musk¡¯s ns? Would it affect his meeting with Lin Xian?
Angelica was almost certain it would.
¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± she decided, choosing the option that offered the most hope in her impossible situation. She sat at the table, pulling out makeup and disguise tools, and said, ¡°Turn over the taller female bodyguard on the floor andy her next to the table. I need to see her face to copy it.¡±
The burly man nodded, pocketed the two taser guns, and followed her instructions. He ced the female bodyguard on the floor, giving Angelica a reference.
Angelica was a master of disguise. She quickly transformed herself, using gel, nose bridges, shading, and hair dye. The bodyguard¡¯s uniform was ready-made, and the sunsses made the disguise easier. With the security captain¡¯s betrayal, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to expose her.
It wouldn¡¯t even cross Elon Musk¡¯s mind that a traitor was already inside.
In less than half an hour, Angelica was ready. Wearing the unconscious bodyguard¡¯s sunsses and uniform, her hair and face perfectly matched, she was unrecognizable.
¡°Carry the fridge,¡± the man ordered. ¡°Walk in front of me. Don¡¯t try anything funny, for both our sakes.¡±
Angelica knew she had no other option. She picked up the fridge and led the way out the door.
The burly man followed her, closing the door behind them and keeping his hands in his pockets. He trailed her to the elevator, down to the ground floor, and out the building. They got into a ck Te, and he started the car, driving away from the factory without any issues.
Angelica kept looking around, searching for an escape or a chance to fight back, but there was none. The security captain had a high status here; people kept nodding and waving as they passed. Even after leaving the factory, she was trapped, holding the fridge, the car doors locked from the driver¡¯s side. There was no way out.
The man was cautious. He steered with one hand while keeping the other on a taser gun aimed at her, repeatedly warning, ¡°Don¡¯t try anything. If you make any sudden moves, I¡¯ll tase you and toss you out of the car.¡±
¡°My employer doesn¡¯t care if youe along. It doesn¡¯t change my pay as long as I deliver the fridge. But there¡¯s a small bonus if you do, though it¡¯s insignificantpared to the total.¡±
After a while, they arrived at an old Christian chapel in the countryside. The white building had a cross on top, but the walls were faded, revealing red bricks underneath. The colorful stained ss windows were cracked.
This ce, even if it wasn¡¯t abandoned, hadn¡¯t been used for worship in a long time.
Angelica frowned. ¡°Is Copernicus here?¡±
The burly man shrugged. ¡°Copernicus? In a chapel, there¡¯s only Jesus and Mary. Now, leave the fridge in the car and go inside. My job¡¯s done.¡±
¡°What?¡± Angelica realized something was wrong. ¡°You¡¯re taking the fridge? That means Copernicus isn¡¯t in there! Why did you bring me here? What¡¯s the point?¡±
The man pulled out the taser gun and aimed it at her. ¡°Don¡¯t argue with me. I won¡¯t repeat myself. I know who you are, Hollywood¡¯s master of disguise, but this isn¡¯t your stage. You have no choice.¡±
Reluctantly, Angelica set the fridge on the passenger seat and walked toward the rundown chapel. She ced her hand on the old wooden doors, rough and damp, and looked back. The ck Te, carrying the fridge, was already speeding away, leaving a trail of dust.
Was Copernicus really inside?
Angelica shook her head. No, he wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to meet her here. They only wanted the fridge.
But why?
Why would Copernicus go through the trouble of saving her from Elon Musk if she was just disposable?
She couldn¡¯t understand their motives, just as she could never fully understand herte brother Ji Lin, the boy she had loved so much.
When dealing with these clever people, nothing seemed strange at first. But once they became enemies, their cunning was impossible to fathom. She felt like a lost ant, unable to grasp their thoughts or intentions, just a tool to be used by others.
Was this what it meant to be part of the Genius Club, where these so-called geniuses toyed with the world, with people, with the situation?
Creak¡ª
Angelica pushed open the old wooden doors. The chapel inside was in ruins, sunlight streaming through the broken ceiling onto faded murals of the Virgin Mary cradling a child. The right-side mural depicted Jesus crucified, his head bowed in darkness, while the left side, bathed in sunlight, showed the Holy Mother and Child.
Angelica walked down the aisle, the worn wooden floorboards creaking under her feet. The chapel had once been grand, once filled with people worshipping, but now it was just dust and decay.
The silence was ancient and profound. Angelica felt like she was walking through history, treading on the passage of time itself.
Ring, ring, ring¡ª
The phone in her pocket rang. It wasn¡¯t her phone; Elon Musk had thrown hers from the observation tower. This one was the burly man¡¯s, a new phone with no signs of use. He hadn¡¯t asked for it back, leaving it with her after hanging up on Copernicus.
Angelica answered, pressing the phone to her ear.
¡°Well done, Angelica,¡± the old man¡¯s voice said.
¡°It seems you didn¡¯t need me for this n,¡± Angelica replied. ¡°The man could have easily taken Elon Musk¡¯s fridge without me. So why did you bring me here? Why did you save me from Elon Musk?¡±
The old man chuckled, his tone calm and emotionless. ¡°Silly child¡ I¡¯ve always seen you, Ji Xin Shui, and Ji Lin as children. You¡¯ve done so much for me; how could I let you die?¡±
¡°Then why didn¡¯t you save them?¡± Angelica countered. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you save Ji Lin or the old man you deceived?¡±
The old man sighed. ¡°Because they made mistakes. This was their fate. They gained far more than they lost¡ªfame, wealth, power, even¡ life.¡±
¡°You think I didn¡¯t save them? If it weren¡¯t for me, Ji Xin Shui would have jumped off a building decades ago. Ji Lin would have died of cold or hunger as an unknown infant. And you, Angelica, without me saving Ji Xin Shui, who would have taken you from the ruins of a bomb to Hollywood?¡±
¡°You¡¯re an ungrateful bunch¡ I¡¯ve never owed any of you anything, not a single person¡ including you, Angelica. I saved you from Elon Musk out of kindness, out of old sentiments.¡±
¡°But the real reason I couldn¡¯t let you die at Elon Musk¡¯s hands was your obsession with revenge¡ This will probably be ourst conversation. We¡¯ll have no more dealings after this. So now, I¡¯ll tell you the truth¡¡±
¡°Ji Lin¡¯s parents were killed because they researched things they shouldn¡¯t have. In the scientificmunity, there¡¯s a consensus: mathematicians are the most brilliant and terrifying beings. They don¡¯t need any instruments, any devices, any reliance on the times or the future¡ No matter where they are, they can use just a pencil and paper to calcte the truth of the universe from 1+1.¡±
¡°That¡¯s terrifying, an unpredictable, unquantifiable terror. Progress in other scientific fields is gradual, but mathematical advances are leaps, often deadly.¡±
¡°Materials science can slow down engineers, subatomic particles can challenge physicists, but who can restrain mathematicians? The answer is no one, no one except¡ a bullet to the head.¡±
The old man coughed violently, more than before. After a long pause, he cleared his throat and continued.
¡°Angelica, I promised to tell you who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡ You want revenge; I won¡¯t stop you. But I advise you, don¡¯t reveal that you know the truth until you¡¯re sure you can seed. Otherwise¡ you¡¯ll die with regrets, joining Ji Lin¡¯s family in the afterlife.¡±
¡°Listen carefully¡¡± His voice was hoarse and weak, ¡°The one who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡ is¡ Elon Musk!¡±
The call ended.
Angelica stood at the boundary between light and darkness, watched by both the Virgin and Jesus.
Elon Musk¡
She never expected to hear that name from Copernicus.
She knew the information might be unreliable. But was itpletely false?
Lin Xian had told her, and Ji Lin had confirmed it, that the murderer was someone within the Genius Club. If Elon Musk was a member, why wasn¡¯t he a suspect?
Angelica¡¯s rational mind told her not to trust Copernicus. But another part of her, even more rational, told her not to trust Elon Musk¡¯s facade.
At that moment, she was truly lost, unsure who to believe, where the truthy.
As Copernicus had said, if not for him, Elon Musk would have killed her on the observation tower. But what if Copernicus had saved her just to make her believe Elon Musk was the killer?
She had once thought herself clever. After all, she had stood out among Hollywood actors and never failed to extract information. But now she realized her past confidence was meaningless in the face of these true geniuses.
In front of those who toyed with the world, with people¡¯s hearts, with the tides of events, she couldn¡¯t take a single step forward. She was sinking into despair and confusion.
Tap¡ tap¡ tap¡
She lowered her head, feeling like the crucified Jesus, walking on the rotting floorboards, pushing open the old, decaying wooden doors once again.
Creak¡ª
The bright spring sunlight poured in, blinding her.
But then!
When she saw the ck cars lined up outside the chapel, her eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at the man leaning against the front car¡ªElon Musk!
What was going on?
At this time, shouldn¡¯t he be at the affiliated hospital of Donghai University, visiting Zheng Xiang Yue and meeting with Lin Xian? He was also supposed to have a meeting with Donghai¡¯s officials¡ªdid he ditch even the official agenda?
At that moment, the world¡¯s richest man, who had just had his white fridge stolen, smiled at Angelica as she stepped out of the chapel.
He stood up from where he had been leaning against the car and slowly approached her. ¡°Angelica, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡±
¡°What?¡± Angelica frowned. She didn¡¯t understand why Elon Musk, after having his white fridge stolen, wasn¡¯t angry but instead smiled and thanked her.
¡°Do you remember what I told youst night?¡± Elon Musk asked as he walked toward her. ¡°I said I was only one piece away from figuring everything out, and that piece would be delivered to me today¡¡±
He chuckled.
¡°Well, I¡¯ve got the final piece now.¡±
Snap.
He snapped his fingers.
A secretary with red-framed sses and a ck skirt jumped out from behind the car, carrying a small, white fridge identical to the one Angelica had taken.
The secretary¡¯s sses were slipping down her nose, so she hurried over, handed the fridge to Elon Musk, and quickly pushed her sses back up, giving Angelica a yful smile.
¡°Miss Angelica~ long time no see¡ I miss that wonderful night.¡±
Angelica crossed her arms, ring at Elon Musk and the secretary. She wasn¡¯t stupid. She realized this had all been a trap.
Elon Musk had deliberately shown her the fridge, left it in her room, and made it easy for her to escape the factory¡ªall to set a trap for Copernicus. And she had once again been their pawn.
She was furious, ring at Elon Musk and the secretary. ¡°When did we fall into this trap? How long have we been yed?¡±
Elon Musk shook his head with a smile. ¡°It wasn¡¯t as early as you think. When I had the gun pointed at you, I genuinely wanted to kill you. I told you¡ your disguise was really good, it even fooled me.¡±
He turned to the secretary, who was adjusting her red-framed sses. ¡°I owe you a dyedpliment¡ªthose sses are gorgeous.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
Angelica huffed, irritated, looking between the two of them. ¡°If I¡¯m no longer needed, can I leave?¡±
¡°Of course, you¡¯re free to go,¡± Elon Musk said, spreading his hands. ¡°But¡ don¡¯t you want to help Lin Xian? My puzzle isplete, but Lin Xian¡¯s is still missing the final piece.¡±
¡°Have you considered¡ if Lin Xian¡¯s enemy happens to be Copernicus, then wouldn¡¯t the three of us have the same target?¡±
¡°Right now, Copernicus is under the illusion that he¡¯s in control, that he¡¯s won. Until he opens that empty fridge, he won¡¯t realize he¡¯s been deceived.¡±
¡°It was his excessive caution that led to his downfall. I can guarantee he¡¯s not in Donghai right now, probably not even in X Country. By the time the fridge reaches him, it¡¯ll be at least ten hourster.¡±
¡°And those ten hours¡ are the perfect window to turn the tables and shatter Copernicus¡¯ schemes.¡±
Angelica didn¡¯t respond immediately. She was conflicted.
Copernicus and Elon Musk had saidpletely opposite things, and she didn¡¯t know whom to believe.
But she trusted Lin Xian!
She only trusted Lin Xian!
Because he was the friend her brother Ji Lin had chosen.
Lin Xian had promised her that once he joined the Genius Club, he would share Copernicus¡¯ intel and reveal who had killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents.
Now, Copernicus imed it was Elon Musk, but Elon Musk would surely say it was Copernicus.
Angelica didn¡¯t trust either of them. She decided to wait for Lin Xian¡¯s answer.
Someday, when Lin Xian told her who the real killer was, she would believe him without question and carry out her revenge!
So when Elon Musk offered to help Lin Xian, Angelica was tempted.
¡°How do you n to help Lin Xian?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Lin Xian that you sent a blue-eyed girl to kill him¡ How do you exin that?¡±
Elon Musk narrowed his eyes. ¡°Is that what Lin Xian said? Then maybe that¡¯s where the misunderstanding lies¡¡±
¡°The blue-eyed girl, I did meet with her. But it seems I was also a victim, deceived by her.¡±
¡°Looking back, who knows what kind of nonsense was hidden in the USB drive she gave me. And after she left, she never contacted me again. I honestly don¡¯t know why she went after Lin Xian.¡±
¡°If Lin Xian survived being hunted by that monster, he must be pretty skilled¡ Wait! This doesn¡¯t make sense! How could that blue-eyed girl even attempt to harm Lin Xian?¡±
Elon Musk muttered to himself, confused. He had only just learned that Lin Xian was being hunted by the blue-eyed girl, a fact he hadn¡¯t known until now!
If Angelica hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would still be in the dark!
He realized something was very wrong.
Time travelers attacking people in the present? That was impossible!
Suddenly, Elon Musk remembered what Copernicus had said to him over the phone at the observation tower:
¡°If I told you¡ that the blue-eyed girl deceived you, that she wasn¡¯t your closed loop at all?¡±
¡°Think carefully, boy¡ Turing is far smarter than you think. You believe you¡¯ve outsmarted Turing? No¡ this has all been Turing¡¯s trap.¡±
Elon Musk pondered this.
So, the blue-eyed girl wasn¡¯t his closed loop but Kevin Walker¡¯s?
That would exin why she manipted him and then went after Lin Xian.
But how could a time traveler attack someone from the present? It vited thews of time!
Was there a w in his reasoning?
¡°Speak, Elon Musk. Why did you suddenly go quiet?¡± Angelica¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto him. ¡°If you can¡¯t exin why that girl went after Lin Xian, I won¡¯t cooperate with you.¡±
Elon Musk snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. ¡°I want to know the answer too. Maybe¡ this is the final piece of Lin Xian¡¯s puzzle.¡±
He nced down at the fridge in his arms, holding it close to his chest. He typed a series of numbers on the keypad with his left hand.
Click.
The fridge door popped open.
Elon Musk looked at Angelica, then slowly opened the fridge door wider.
Angelica gasped, her eyes widening as she blinked rapidly at the sight inside.
Two apple-sized blue orbs crackled with electricity, swirling around each other, emitting blue sparks.
She had never seen anything like this¡
The two orbs spun around each other like a ¡°binary star system,¡± silent but constant, almost colliding but always narrowly missing each other.
It was a delicate bnce. They seemed like they would crash into each other at any moment, but their rotation kept them just apart, so close yet never touching.
¡°What are these things?¡± Angelica asked, looking up. ¡°These two spinning orbs¡ what are they?¡±
¡°No, Angelica, you¡¯re mistaken,¡± Elon Musk said, shaking his head. ¡°This isn¡¯t two; it¡¯s one.¡±
¡°One?¡±
Angelica blinked in disbelief, looking back at the fridge. ¡°Impossible! There are clearly two of them! They¡¯re rotating around each other in a stable binary star system!¡±
¡°I heard about this kind of system from a director and writer when I was working on a sci-fi movie¡ They said that in a binary star system, the stars orbit each other due to gravity, eventually colliding to form a rapidly spinning celestial body that emits a massive gamma-ray burst¡ The movie¡¯s plot was based on that.¡±
¡°These blue orbs may not be stars, but they¡¯re orbiting just like a binary star system. There are two of them¡ªwhy do you say it¡¯s one?¡±
Elon Musk looked up. ¡°Quantum entanglement. Have you heard of quantum entanglement?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a fascinating phenomenon in the quantum world. Quantum entanglement is a kind of action at a distance, with no need for a transmission medium, no speed involved. The interaction between entangled particles is instantaneous. Once two particles be entangled, no matter how far apart they are, their connection remains unbroken, and their interaction is instantaneous.¡±
¡°Imagine cing two entangled particles at opposite ends of the universe, 90 billion light-years apart. Even at that incredible distance, their entanglement would persist, and their interaction would still be instantaneous.¡±
¡°When people hear this, they often think of faster-than-lightmunication, long-distancemunication. But that¡¯s getting off track. Let¡¯s get back to the orbs in the fridge, the ones you called two blue orbs.¡±
¡°Unfortunately, your eyes are deceiving you. This is one, absolutely one¡ªa randomly formed, entangled spacetime particle!¡±
Angelica didn¡¯t have much formal education, havingpleted what little schooling she had in Hollywood. She didn¡¯t fully grasp what Elon Musk was saying and didn¡¯t feel the need to.
¡°So, Elon Musk, what¡¯s your point? You said you¡¯d help Lin Xian¡ªhow exactly are you going to do that?¡±
¡°Just wait and see, Angelica.¡±
Bang.
Elon Musk closed the fridge. He stood up straight, looking at the Hollywood star before him.
¡°The stage is set.¡±
¡°Now it¡¯s time to invite the actors¡ to take the stage!¡±
Chapter 349: The Moon Girl
Yu Xi adjusted her oversized sunsses, turning her head from the passenger seat. She had been staring at the right-side mirror for what felt like hours. Even with her enhanced vision, her eyes were getting tired.
¡°Isn¡¯t Elon Musking?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with worry. ¡°It¡¯s already 11 a.m., and he¡¯s an hourte. He said he¡¯d be here by 10.¡±
Keeping his eyes on the left-side mirror, Lin Xian replied calmly, ¡°What would be the point of him tricking us now? We don¡¯t have any leverage. If you said that time-space assassin had entered Donghai City to hunt us down, it might make sense. But you¡¯ve checked several times, and she hasn¡¯t entered the city yet, right?¡±
Yu Xi nodded, her gaze fixed on the mirror again. ¡°Yes, I can sense that the assassin hasn¡¯t entered Donghai City. In fact, she¡¯s moving further away, heading toward the northern seas.¡±
¡°Maybe she¡¯s frustrated that she can¡¯t find a way in here and is trying her luck elsewhere. For now, we¡¯re safe. We don¡¯t have to worry about the assassin showing up suddenly.¡±
Lin Xian thought carefully. The country¡¯s National Security Bureau, led by Director Liu An, had set up a tight security around Donghai City. That¡¯s probably why the assassin couldn¡¯t get in. But if she tried to enter through another city up north, where security might not be as tight, she could seed. No security is perfect, and with the length of X Country¡¯s coastline and the assassin¡¯s extraordinary abilities, it¡¯s only a matter of time before she finds a way in. Fortunately, Yu Xi could sense the assassin¡¯s movements and warn him if she got close.
¡°So,¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°since we¡¯ve ruled out the possibility of the assassining after me, there¡¯s no reason for Elon Musk to deceive us. Besides, the whole world knows he¡¯s supposed to visit Zheng Xiang Yue and give her that ticket today. It would look terrible if he didn¡¯t show up.¡±
¡°Also, this trip isn¡¯t just about him; he¡¯s apanied by important officials from Donghai City. Elon Musk¡¯s Te super factory here is heavily backed by the city¡¯s government. He wouldn¡¯t dare offend them by skipping their ns, right? That would risk his rtionship with them and cause unnecessary trouble.¡±¡°Unless¡¡± Lin Xian paused, considering a different possibility. ¡°Unless something really important came up, something that made Elon Musk willing to deceive the entire world, even risking the anger of Donghai City¡¯s officials. If that¡¯s the case, then his move would be brilliant. Everyone thinks he wouldn¡¯t dare skip the hospital visit, but if he does, it would catch everyone off guard.¡±
¡°But I still think he¡¯lle. After all, Zheng Xiang Yue has a congenital heart condition. Elon Musk promised her a ticket to the moon. Beingte is one thing, but if he doesn¡¯t show up at all, it could be disastrous. He can¡¯t let down a poor little girl like her, can he? If she gets too upset and has a heart attack, that could stir up a massive public outcry. People have a soft spot for kids, and Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t want to break that trust. Let me check his Twitter; he might have updated his status.¡±
Meanwhile, at the Te super factory in the Lingang New Area of Donghai City, a ck convoy pulled into thepound, heading toward the building where Angelica had previously stayed. Inside a luxurious SUV, Angelica, her female secretary, Elon Musk, and a small refrigerator sat quietly, each in their own seat, not bothering one another.
Angelica noticed Elon Musk furiously typing on his phone, the sound of his fingers tapping away filling the silence.
¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been typing for a while. Writing a paper?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m arguing with people online,¡± Elon Musk replied, his focus still on the screen. ¡°They¡¯re all saying I¡¯m a fraud for not visiting Zheng Xiang Yue on time.¡±
Angelica scoffed, ¡°Well, you werete.¡±
¡°To fool Copernicus, you have to fool everyone else first,¡± Elon Musk finally looked up, ending his online battle. ¡°No one knew about my change of ns, not even my secretary.¡±
The female secretary, sitting behind them, pushed her red-rimmed sses up her nose and nodded. ¡°You bettere up with a good exnation for the high-ranking officials of Donghai City. Beingte to see Zheng Xiang Yue is one thing, but keeping those officials waiting without a word, that¡¯s a whole different level of disrespect. It¡¯s going to make my job a lot harder.¡±
¡°I never thought you¡¯d have the guts to ditch an official meeting like that,¡± she added with a sigh.
Elon Musk smiled helplessly and spread his hands. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped. I¡¯ll apologizeter. But if I hadn¡¯t fooled everyone, how could I have fooled Copernicus?¡±
He leaned back, his expression serious. ¡°Copernicus acted today because he was sure I wouldn¡¯t skip the meeting with the Donghai officials. The whole world knows my Te revival was made possible because of Donghai City¡¯s support. If they hadn¡¯t helped build this super factory, Te would¡¯ve gone bankrupt long ago. And no matter how many times I think about it, it still amazes me.¡±
¡°You know what X Country speed is? This super factory was built in just 11 months, from breaking ground to delivering the first car. Eleven months! That¡¯s a miracle only X Country could pull off.¡±
¡°Copernicus knew I wouldn¡¯t skip the meeting, so he felt safe making his move to steal my little fridge. That¡¯s why I set this trap, doing exactly the opposite of what he expected. And now that I know his target was the time-space particles, I can figure out a lot of other things.¡±
He turned to Angelica, ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll take you to see Lin Xian, but until then, don¡¯t contact him. I still have some concerns and need to confirm a few things. If you contact him now and our n gets exposed, all our efforts will be wasted.¡±
¡°Trust me, if you really want to help Lin Xian, a few more hours won¡¯t make a difference. We need to let Copernicus think his n is working, that he¡¯s about to seed. Only then can we catch him off guard and save Lin Xian.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you, that blue-eyed girl chasing Lin Xian did leave from my ce, but I never ordered her to kill him. I suspect someone else is controlling her. We need to find out who¡¯s behind all this and take them down. That¡¯s the final piece of the puzzle for Lin Xian¡ªand for us.¡±
In the parking lot outside the inpatient department of Donghai University¡¯s affiliated hospital, Lin Xian refreshed his Twitter feed. A new post from Elon Musk popped up.
¡°Elon Musk just updated his Twitter,¡± Lin Xian said, holding his phone out for Yu Xi to see.
In the post, Elon Musk apologized for beingte to see Zheng Xiang Yue, exining that there had been an ident at the factory. He imed he had to return to personally oversee the situation because safetyes first. Luckily, it was just a mechanical issue with no injuries. He was now back on his way to meet the officials and then head to the hospital.
Lin Xian put his phone away, turning to Yu Xi, ¡°He¡¯sing. He¡¯ll be here in less than an hour. We should get ready.¡±
An hourter, a long convoy entered the hospital grounds. Elon Musk and an official from Donghai City stepped out of a luxury car, heading straight into the inpatient department.
For Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s health and to avoid unnecessary disruptions, no media or outsiders were allowed on this visit.
¡°Yu Xi, let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian said, opening the car door.
¡°I think I¡¯ll stay here,¡± Yu Xi replied from the passenger seat. ¡°Elon Musk probably knows about me. That time-space assassin must have told him I¡¯m protecting you.¡±
¡°If I go with you now, it might make Elon Musk suspicious. And if the assassin didn¡¯t tell him, it¡¯s better if I stay hidden. That way, we still have a hidden card to y. No need to show all our cards to Elon Musk.¡±
Lin Xian thought about it and agreed. Whether or not Elon Musk knew about Yu Xi, it was better to keep her hidden.
As Yu Xi said, she wouldn¡¯t be much help in the negotiation, and the assassin was still far away. There was no need for her to appear.
But then he remembered what Yellow Finch had told him¡
¡°Don¡¯t leave Yu Xi.¡±
Yellow Finch oftenined that Lin Xian didn¡¯t take her advice seriously. But in Yu Xi¡¯s case, he had been very careful, never letting the distance between them exceed 10 meters, almost like they were chained together.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian,¡± Yu Xi reassured him, sensing his hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll keep track of the assassin¡¯s location. If anything happens, I¡¯ll be on the 17th floor with you in a sh. The assassin is still far away, and it¡¯ll take her a while to get here.¡±
¡°Besides, Elon Musk¡¯s team didn¡¯t block off the inpatient building, but they¡¯re definitely on alert. If they notice me, it could cause unnecessary trouble. You don¡¯t need me for the negotiation, so I¡¯ll just wait here. Better to avoid anyplications.¡±
Lin Xian weighed his options. ¡°But staying in the car is too far from me. I won¡¯t befortable. Come with me and wait by the stairs on the 17th floor. Elon Musk won¡¯t see you there, and you¡¯ll be close enough to step in if something happens.¡±
On the 17th floor of Donghai University¡¯s affiliated hospital, outside Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s room, a nurse knocked on the half-open door and smiled at the girl inside. ¡°Xiang Yue, look who¡¯s here to see you!¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue, sitting up in bed, looked up, blinking in surprise. Seeing the tall foreign man walking in, she sat up straighter. ¡°E-Elon Musk?!¡±
Elon Musk smiled, waving as he slowly walked over and pulled up a chair next to her bed. ¡°Hello, Xiang Yue. It¡¯s been a while since west talked on the phone. But you didn¡¯t believe me then, did you? You thought it was a joke.¡±
¡°Is it really true?¡± Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, her excitement barely contained. ¡°Do I really have a ticket to the moon?¡±
Actually, she had known about this for a while. The day after Elon Musk¡¯s moon travel press conference, a nurse had told her the good news. But everyone whispered that it was just a kind lie. After all, a ticket to the moon costs $12 million! Who would give such an expensive gift to Zheng Xiang Yue?
No, $12 million can¡¯t just be called expensive¡ªit¡¯s an astronomical sum, an almost impossible number.
Zheng Xiang Yue didn¡¯t have any wealthy rtives; her only brother had died in a car ident. She was just a poor orphan, though her medical ount had a decent amount of money, and both MX and Rhinepanies were covering her future medical expenses, including the hibernation pod costs. But that money was still far from $12 million.
So, everyone assumed that the ticket was fake, just a kind lie. The money was one issue, but more importantly, Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s body wasn¡¯t strong enough to handle the moon trip. It was uncertain if she could even survive that long. And even if she could, how could her weak heart and fragile body endure the rocketunch¡¯s g-forces and the vacuum of space?
This was a harsh reality¡ªZheng Xiang Yue simply wasn¡¯t physically capable of going on a moon trip.
Zheng Xiang Yue was a sensible child. She overheard the adults¡¯ conversations and understood the truth. Maybe her moon ticket was fake after all. $12 million¡ªthat¡¯s nearly a billion X Country dors, more money than her brother could earn in several lifetimes. Without that kind of money, how could she buy a ticket?
She didn¡¯t fully understand the rocket¡¯s g-force problem, but after watching a lot of science videos, she grasped the basics. She knew she couldn¡¯t handle it. After all, her real dream was to be buried on the moon after she died, not to stand on it while still alive.
With these conflicting thoughts, Zheng Xiang Yue passed each day. Everyone who met her smiled kindly, encouraging her to stay strong, fight her illness, and one day travel to the moon.
So she smiled back, epting their encouragement without letting them down.
She had received a phone call from someone iming to be SpaceX¡¯s CEO, Elon Musk. He congratted her on getting the ticket and confirmed that she was indeed eligible for the moon trip. Zheng Xiang Yue had just happily thanked him. She didn¡¯t fully believe it. Maybe it was still a kind lie, something everyone had made up to keep her spirits high¡ How could she disappoint them?
Days turned into weeks, and the talk of the moon trip faded. The n seemed distant, almost forgotten. Zheng Xiang Yue continued her treatment, waiting for a suitable heart, and each night, she would hold her brother¡¯s ashes, sitting on the balcony, gazing at the moonlight that bathed the earth, looking at that distant, unreachable star 380,000 kilometers away.
But today, SpaceX¡¯s CEO Elon Musk was really here in her room!
¡°Yes,¡± Elon Musk smiled, pulling out the moon ticket from his suit pocket and handing it to Zheng Xiang Yue. ¡°Xiang Yue, that call was real, and so is this ticket.¡±
¡°But¡ $12 million¡¡± Zheng Xiang Yue stammered, her hands trembling as she took the ticket.
Elon Musk chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s already been paid for.¡±
He reassured her, ¡°Although revealing this might ruin someone¡¯s surprise, I don¡¯t want such a sweet girl to doubt the ticket¡¯s authenticity. So, I¡¯ll tell you the truth.¡±
¡°Xiang Yue, this moon ticket was a gift from Lin Xian. He paid for it with an anonymous check for exactly $12 million. Do you know Lin Xian?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue nodded eagerly, ¡°Of course, I know him! Brother Lin Xian! He even celebrated my birthday with mest year!¡±
She shifted, pulling out a giant Rhine Cat plush from behind her and grinning. ¡°Look! This is the birthday gift Lin Xian-gege gave me! He said it¡¯s a super limited edition¡ªonly two in the whole world!¡±
¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing,¡± Elon Musk pped along, impressed. ¡°Yes, that same Lin Xian gave you the ticket. Does he visit you often?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue bit her lip and shook her head softly, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since hest came¡ Thest time he was here, he took Xu Yi Yi to the Science Institute and put her in a hibernation pod. He hasn¡¯te since¡¡±
Xu Yi Yi? Elon Musk immediately recognized the name. She was Professor Xu Yun¡¯satose daughter. Two years ago, Professor Xu Yun had shocked the world by announcing the hibernation pod¡¯s filling solution, and Elon Musk had seen the news everywhere.
He didn¡¯t need to guess¡ªCopernicus was definitely behind Professor Xu Yun¡¯s death. The signs were too obvious. So Xu Yi Yi had been sharing a room with Zheng Xiang Yue all this time¡
Elon Musk looked back at Zheng Xiang Yue, continuing, ¡°Xiang Yue, delivering this moon ticket was the first thing on my agenda today. The second is a promise I want to make to you¡ and it also involves the hibernation pod.¡±
¡°Personally, I think it would be best if you used the hibernation pod as soon as the technology is ready. Sleep through to a future where congenital heart disease can be cured. Then, when you¡¯re fully healthy, you can take that moon trip.¡±
¡°I guarantee that this moon ticket will never expire. Whenever you wake up, whenever you¡¯re ready for the trip, I and mypany will send you there, no matter what. Even if you¡¯re the only passenger, the flight will stillunch, and we¡¯ll get you to the moon safely.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue took a deep breath, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Really? Is that true?¡±
She had always worried about this, so when Lin Xian-gege asked her if she wanted to join Xu Yi Yi in hibernation, she had refused. If this ticket was truly valid forever¡ she wouldn¡¯t mind waiting, getting healthy first, and then going on the moon trip.
¡°It¡¯s true! Absolutely true!¡± Elon Musk smiled, pulling out his phone. ¡°How about we take a photo together? I¡¯ll post it on Twitter to respond to those doubters and make sure our promise is recorded online, so itsts forever.¡±
He turned on the front camera and took a selfie with the beaming Zheng Xiang Yue and her moon ticket. Then, he wrote down his promise and posted it online.
¡°There, it¡¯s done. Xiang Yue, the whole world now knows you have a moon ticket that will never expire. So focus on getting better first. Whether it¡¯s decadester or even centuries, even if you lose the ticket, it doesn¡¯t matter. Elon Musk and SpaceX will always owe Zheng Xiang Yue a trip to the moon, ready to make it happen anytime!¡±
He put away his phone, ncing toward the door.
It seemed like the person he had been waiting for still hadn¡¯t arrived. Was Lin Xian taking too long? I¡¯ve already beente for hours, and you still haven¡¯t shown up? Since you¡¯re still not here, I guess I¡¯ll chat a bit longer.
Elon Musk turned back to Zheng Xiang Yue, asking, ¡°So, Xiang Yue, why do you want to go to the moon so badly? What do you want to do up there?¡±
¡°I want to bury my brother on the moon,¡± Zheng Xiang Yue replied with a smile, her words carrying a deep meaning.
¡°Your brother?¡± Elon Musk tilted his head in confusion.
Zheng Xiang Yue pointed to the urn on the bedside table. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s my brother.¡±
Elon Musk saw the urn and immediately understood, sping his hands together in respect. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡±
¡°Actually¡¡± Zheng Xiang Yue continued, cing the moon ticket on the urn and gazing at her brother¡¯s ck-and-white photo, speaking softly, ¡°My original wish was for my brother to bury me on the moon. My brother always told me that after our parents passed away, their souls went to the moon, watching over us from there. So I wanted to be buried on the moon after I died, so I could reunite with them.¡±
¡°I mentioned this wish to my brother many times, but he never agreed. He said he wouldn¡¯t let me die and would find a way to cure me¡ I never thought that such a strong, brave brother would die before me.¡±
¡°Since my brother is gone, I¡¯ll have to bury his ashes on the moon. If I can¡¯te back, I¡¯ll be buried with him, and we¡¯ll be a family again with our parents on the moon. If I do return to Earth, I¡¯ll look at the moon every night, knowing that my parents and brother are watching over me from there.¡±
Listening to her, Elon Musk felt a lump in his throat. He rubbed his nose with his left hand and scratched his stubbly chin, feeling a pang of sadness. He realized that Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s life was filled with kind lies, each one shielding her from the harshness of the world and allowing her to chase her dream of the moon with a smile.
¡°And you, Uncle Elon Musk?¡± Zheng Xiang Yue suddenly turned her clear, innocent eyes to the silent man in front of her. ¡°I¡¯ve looked up a lot of information about you because of your moon project. I didn¡¯t understand most of it¡ but I know you¡¯re a great man. You¡¯re sending people to space for tourism and nning to send them to live on Mars.¡±
¡°So why do you want to go to the moon? Do you have someone you want to see there? What do you n to do once you get there?¡±
Elon Musk rubbed his chin, thinking. ¡°I haven¡¯t really thought about it in detail because, honestly,nding on the moon isn¡¯t an easy thing, and it¡¯s not something that can be done quickly.¡±
¡°The moon is too close to Earth, with a temperature difference of over 300 degrees between day and night and a rotation period of a month. It doesn¡¯t have much value for development, far less than Mars. So humanity probably won¡¯t establish a base on the moon.¡±
¡°But, to be honest, I do have a crazy idea. I¡¯ve always thought the moon is a natural ¡®billboard.¡¯ Think about it¡ because of tidal locking, the moon¡¯s rotation period and orbital period are perfectly synchronized.¡±
¡°This means the moon always faces Earth with the same side, and people on Earth never see the far side. Plus, the moon reflects sunlight, making it the brightest object in the night sky¡¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t that make it the perfect celestial billboard? If I put a logo on the moon, wouldn¡¯t people all over the world see mypany¡¯s logo every time they look up at the sky?¡±
¡°My original n was to use reflective materials to create a giant letter, stretching from the North Pole to the South Pole. It could be a ¡®T¡¯ or an ¡®X,¡¯ representing mypany¡¯s logo¡ What do you think, Xiang Yue? Doesn¡¯t that sound cool?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she quickly shook her head. ¡°Uncle Elon Musk, how could you do that? The moon is so beautiful and pure¡ How could you write on it?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Elon Muskughed. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s cool?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not cool at all¡ It¡¯s actually really scary!¡± Zheng Xiang Yue frowned, her face full of concern. ¡°If the moon looked like that, I think a lot of people would be too scared to look up at the sky anymore. Since my parents are on the moon, there must be many others who have loved ones up there too, right?¡±
¡°When we miss them, we can look up at the moon, and when they miss us, they can look down at the Earth¡ But if your big ck logo blocks our view, we¡ we won¡¯t be able to see each other anymore.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s innocent words left Elon Musk momentarily speechless. He had never considered such a sentimental perspective. Even when peopleined about his Starlink satellites polluting the night sky, he had dismissed it, thinking that a few more twinkling lights wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone.
But Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s words made him realize there was more to consider.
¡°Uncle Elon Musk¡¡± Zheng Xiang Yue shifted closer, her small hands gently holding Elon Musk¡¯srge one. ¡°Please¡¡±
Her eyes were clear and pure as she looked into his. ¡°Please let the moon stay just as it is¡ Can you promise me that?¡±
Elon Musk looked into the girl¡¯s eyes and saw the medical wires and monitoring patches stuck to her neck. He chuckled lightly and shrugged. ¡°How could you take my joke seriously?¡±
He smiled, trying to ease the mood. ¡°It was just a joke! Don¡¯t worry, Xiang Yue, the moon will always stay clean and clear, just like your eyes.¡±
He nced toward the door. Finally¡ he saw the young man he had been waiting for.
Elon Musk stood up, waving goodbye to Zheng Xiang Yue. ¡°Goodbye, Xiang Yue. Take good care of yourself.¡±
¡°I believe one day we will meet on the moon!¡±
Chapter 350: A Future Meeting
¡°Yu Xi, wait for me here by the stairs. I¡¯ll feel safer knowing you¡¯re close but not too exposed,¡± Lin Xian said, his voice serious.
He paused, torn between keeping Yu Xi nearby and making sure she stayed out of sight. After a moment, he decided on apromise.
After leaving Yu Xi at the stairwell on the 17th floor of the hospital, Lin Xian headed toward Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s hospital room.
Outside the room, two figures stood¡ªa local official from Donghai and the head nurse. They waited respectfully outside, not wanting to interrupt Elon Musk and Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s conversation, as Elon Musk had asked for privacy.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t get too close; he stood quietly by the door. It didn¡¯t take long for Elon Musk to notice him. With a slight nod to Zheng Xiang Yue, Elon Musk got up and stepped outside.
¡°Lin Xian is a friend,¡± Elon Musk said, smiling at the official with him. ¡°We¡¯ll just have a quick chat over there. It won¡¯t take long and won¡¯t affect our schedule.¡±
¡°Of course, take your time,¡± the official replied politely.
Elon Musk adjusted his suit and walked towards Lin Xian, extending his hand in a friendly manner. ¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s been a while. Let¡¯s shake hands.¡±¡°Where¡¯s Angelica?¡± Lin Xian asked directly, ignoring Elon Musk¡¯s hand. ¡°What have you done to her?¡±
Elon Musk lowered his gaze, chuckling softly before shaking his head. ¡°Lin Xian, if you¡¯re looking for Angelica, you¡¯re in the wrong ce. She¡¯s not with me.¡±
He continued, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement. ¡°It¡¯s true that I had control over her at one point, and I treated her well¡ but she escaped, taking some things with her. I¡¯d actually like to ask you if you know where she is. After all, she did steal from me, and I¡¯d like my belongings back.¡±
Lin Xian scoffed, clearly not buying Elon Musk¡¯s story. Angelica had gone missing at Elon Musk¡¯s rocketunch center and hadn¡¯t been seen or heard from since. Elon Musk was obviously lying.
¡°So, there¡¯s nothing more to discuss?¡± Lin Xian said coldly.
Elon Musk¡¯s smile faded, and he looked at Lin Xian seriously. ¡°I suppose no matter what I say now, you won¡¯t believe me, will you? I think there¡¯s a deep misunderstanding between us, Lin Xian. But if you¡¯re expecting me to present evidence to clear things up, I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any.¡±
He paused, then added, ¡°However, I believe if we bothe to the table with sincerity, we might be able to clear up these misunderstandings. This hospital isn¡¯t the right ce for that, and there¡¯s something I want to show you. It¡¯s not suitable to bring it out here. How about we meetter, somewhere more private?¡±
Elon Musk straightened up as he suggested, ¡°There¡¯s an abandoned factory about two kilometers north of the Te Gigafactory in the New Port Area. It¡¯s a quiet ce, perfect for a serious conversation, and no one will disturb us there.¡±
He nced at his watch. ¡°How about tonight at 8 PM? I won¡¯t bete this time. I¡¯lle alone, without any bodyguards, just me. Let¡¯s meet there.¡±
With that, he waved goodbye to Lin Xian, turning to walk back to the official from Donghai. Together, they politely entered the elevator, and the doors closed as they descended out of sight.
¡
The encounter was much shorter than Lin Xian had anticipated. But what could he do? With Elon Musk denying any involvement with Angelica, there wasn¡¯t much to discuss.
What surprised him, though, was Elon Musk¡¯s invitation to meetter that night, alone, at an abandoned factory in a remote area.
Could he trust it? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t naive enough to take Elon Musk¡¯s word at face value.
Since he was already at the hospital and hadn¡¯t visited Zheng Xiang Yue in a while, he decided to take the opportunity to see her.
He walked to the room and gently knocked on the door. As he entered, his eyes met Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s, who was holding an urn in her arms.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Zheng Xiang Yue beamed, her long, ck hair cascading over her shoulders as she tilted her head slightly. She ced the urn back on the bedside table and rushed over to grab Lin Xian¡¯s hand.
¡°Lin Xian, do you know who just visited? It was Elon Musk! The one selling tickets for the moon trip! He told me you were the one who bought my ticket! Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± she eximed.
Lin Xian smiled softly as he led her back into the room, listening to her excited recount of Elon Musk¡¯s visit.
¡°Since you already know, I won¡¯t hide it anymore,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°The truth is, the ticket was bought through me, but the money came from another of your brother¡¯s friends¡ªa part of his inheritance. He knew about your dream and your bond with your brother, so he did a good deed before he passed, helping you achieve your dream.¡±
¡°Oh, I see,¡± Zheng Xiang Yue replied, scratching her head as she absorbed the story. ¡°He must have been a really good and kind person.¡±
¡°Maybe in his next life, he¡¯ll be a better person,¡± Lin Xian added with a small smile. ¡°If your dream of going to the moones true, it might even bring him some peace.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue bit her lip, hesitating before she looked up at Lin Xian with determination in her eyes.
¡°Lin Xian, do you remember asking if I would be willing to go into hibernation with Xu Yi Yi?¡± she asked.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡±
In truth, the doctor had already spoken to Lin Xian about Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s condition twice before, stressing that her situation was far more dangerous than it appeared.
The doctor had said, ¡°I know you¡¯re caring for both Zheng Xiang Yue and Xu Yi Yi, so I¡¯ll be honest with you. Don¡¯t let Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s outward appearance fool you. Her condition is far more precarious than Xu Yi Yi¡¯s.¡±
¡°Xu Yi Yi¡¯s illness is stable, and we can anticipate the progression, but Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s heart condition could be fatal if it res up suddenly. She¡¯s been lucky so far, but no one knows how long that luck willst. I strongly suggest persuading her to go into hibernation with Xu Yi Yi.¡±
¡
When Lin Xian took Xu Yi Yi to the Science Academy for hibernation, he had tried to convince Zheng Xiang Yue to do the same, but she had refused, fearing she would miss the chance to travel to the moon.
Even though she didn¡¯t fully believe in the authenticity of the ticket, she couldn¡¯t shake the thought, ¡°What if it¡¯s real?¡± If she slept through the opportunity, she knew she¡¯d regret it forever.
But things were different now. Elon Musk¡¯s promise had finally put her at ease.
¡°Yes, Lin Xian, I¡¯ve decided,¡± Zheng Xiang Yue said, her voice steady. ¡°Uncle Elon Musk promised me that my moon trip ticket would be honored no matter how long it takes, even if it¡¯s decades or centuriester. Even if the ticket is lost, it¡¯s still valid!¡±
¡°With that reassurance, I can safely go into hibernation now. I want to be healthy when I wake up so I can finally stand on the moon and bury my brother¡¯s ashes there.¡±
¡°No problem at all,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°Your decision to go into hibernation is what everyone hoped for. It¡¯s the best option for your health. Don¡¯t worry, Xiang Yue. Human technology and medicine are advancing rapidly. In less than 20 years, congenital heart disease and space travel to the moon will likely be easily achievable.¡±
¡°In 20 years, I¡¯ll only be 45. When you wake up, I might still be here to see you off on your moon journey.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes welled up with tears at Lin Xian¡¯s gentle words. She wiped her eyes and said in a choked voice, ¡°Thank you so much, Lin Xian. My brother always said you were a good person and that you¡¯ve helped us so much. He told me to repay your kindness if I ever got the chance.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll be able to do in the future, but if I grow up and have the ability, I promise I¡¯ll repay you! Just like you¡¯ve taken care of me now¡ when you¡¯re old, I¡¯ll take care of you!¡±
Lin Xian smiled softly, handing her a tissue from a nearby box. He had long noticed that although Zheng Xiang Yue was 15 years old, her life spent mostly in hospitals had stunted her both mentally and physically, making her seem much younger.
¡°You don¡¯t need to think that far ahead, Xiang Yue,¡± Lin Xian reassured her. ¡°Just focus on taking care of yourself and achieving your dream of reaching the moon. That would make us all happy. I haven¡¯t done much for you, and I haven¡¯t been around as often as I¡¯d like, so you don¡¯t owe me anything. Don¡¯t feel pressured to repay me.¡±
¡°Besides, if you hibernate for a long time, you might forget everything due to the side effects. But that¡¯s okay. A new environment and a fresh start could be good for you.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue suddenly remembered the potential memory loss from hibernation. ¡°But I can¡¯t forget, Lin Xian! My brother taught me to repay kindness, and I can¡¯t forget my promise to bury his ashes on the moon¡ and I can¡¯t forget you, either!¡±
Her face lit up with an idea. ¡°I know! I¡¯ll write everything down in a notebook so that when I wake up, I¡¯ll remember it all!¡±
She quickly climbed onto her bed, retrieved a pink notebook from the drawer, and began writing.
¡°Things to Do After Waking from Hibernation:
Bury my brother on the moon.
Repay Lin Xian.¡±
She held up the notebook proudly, showing it to Lin Xian with a big grin. ¡°See? This way, I won¡¯t forget anything! When I wake up, I¡¯ll just follow the notes.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, patting her head gently. If only it were that simple¡ society wouldn¡¯t be so worried about memory loss and scams rted to hibernation. And even if she believed her own notes after waking up, would she really understand them?
The second point was straightforward, but the first¡ without context, it might not make any sense at all. However, Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to burden her with these concerns. He wanted her to go into hibernation peacefully, without worries.
¡°I think you can skip the second point,¡± Lin Xian suggested with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not too keen on hibernation myself, so there¡¯s a good chance you won¡¯t find me in the future. Besides, kindness isn¡¯t something you repay; it¡¯s something you pass on to others.¡±
¡°I received a lot of kindness from people who are no longer around, so I couldn¡¯t repay them even if I wanted to. Instead, I passed that kindness on to you.¡±
¡°So, naturally, Xiang Yue, you can continue to pass on that kindness to others¡ªbe a kind and loving person, help those in need, and give love to those who need it. Whether you can make a big impact or just help in small ways, that¡¯s the best way to repay the kindness you¡¯ve received.¡±
¡
Zheng Xiang Yue listened carefully, nodding firmly. She picked up her pen again and added a new line to her list:
¡°3. Be a kind and loving person.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile at her simple but meaningful addition.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get things ready for your hibernation,¡± Lin Xian said, standing up from the chair. ¡°I¡¯m well-connected with the Science Academy, and I¡¯ve already reserved two hibernation pods. Xu Yi Yi is already in one, and the other is waiting for you. I¡¯ll arrange everything with the doctors.¡±
¡°After that, just follow the doctor¡¯s instructions,¡± he added.
Lin Xian then left Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s room and made a call to the Science Academy. There were no issues, and Director Gao said the hospital could send Zheng Xiang Yue over whenever they were ready.
Next, Lin Xian met with Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s doctor.
¡°It¡¯s a relief that things are moving forward,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Just a few days ago, Xiang Yue had another heart episode, but I couldn¡¯t reach you since your phone was off. I wanted to talk to you about it.¡±
¡°Since the Science Academy is ready to take her, I suggest we move quickly. Her condition is too unpredictable to dy. We¡¯ll transport her in an ambnce equipped with emergency medical gear, so even if she has another episode on the way to the capital, we can handle it.¡±
¡°The ambnce has the advantage of being able to divert to a nearby hospital if necessary, which is safer than high-speed trains or nes that can¡¯t change course mid-journey,¡± the doctor exined.
Lin Xian nodded, ¡°Thank you, doctor. I¡¯ll leave Xiang Yue in your care.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Lin Xian,¡± the doctor replied with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll take good care of her on the way to the capital. The staff here in the inpatient department respects both you and Ms. Zhao Ying Jun from MX Company.¡±
¡°After Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter, Xu Yi Yi, and the unfortunate child Zheng Xiang Yue lost their families, you both have looked after them, covering their medical expenses.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been in this department for many years, and I¡¯ve grown attached to both girls. Your kindness and care for them mean a lot to us.¡±
¡°You and Ms. Zhao Ying Jun are both kind-hearted people, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be rewarded with good fortune in life,¡± the doctor concluded.
Lin Xian smiled softly, standing up to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll take your words to heart. I could use some good luck right about now.¡±
¡
After leaving the doctor¡¯s office, Lin Xian returned to the stairwell on the 17th floor of the inpatient department, where Yu Xi was waiting quietly.
¡°No issues?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Yu Xi shook her head. ¡°No one came by, just Elon Musk¡¯s bodyguards running up and down a couple of times.¡±
¡°They didn¡¯t notice you?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
Yu Xi shook her head again, hands in her pockets. ¡°No, they didn¡¯t.¡±
Afterward, the two took the elevator down and returned to their hotel. In the suite, Lin Xian recounted his conversation with Elon Musk to Yu Xi.
¡°This is definitely a trap,¡± Yu Xi said bluntly. ¡°If we had been the ones to arrange a meeting, it would be different. But Elon Musk asking you to meet in such a remote ce? It¡¯s dangerous, no matter how you look at it.¡±
¡°He ims he¡¯ll be alone, but that abandoned factory is near his headquarters, the Te Gigafactory. Who knows how many people will actually be there?¡±
¡°And if he¡¯s denying that Angelica is with him, then there¡¯s even less reason to meet. No matter what state Angelica is in, Elon Musk clearly doesn¡¯t intend to return her to you. We don¡¯t even know if she¡¯s still alive.¡±
¡°I thought the same,¡± Lin Xian agreed, ncing at his watch. ¡°This meeting looks like a setup.¡±
The digital disy on his smartwatch read 4:32 PM, leaving three and a half hours until Elon Musk¡¯s proposed meeting at 8 PM.
¡°Are you sure you want to go?¡± Yu Xi asked, her tone serious. ¡°It¡¯s really risky. I suggest that if you have to meet him, we should choose the ce and time.¡±
¡°But¡ I¡¯m not sure we have enough time,¡± she continued. ¡°I can sense that the time-space assassin has entered the country. She¡¯s still far away, near Shandong, but getting closer to Donghai.¡±
¡°If she meets up with Elon Musk, we¡¯ll have no chance. Time is running out, Lin Xian. You need to decide quickly. We can either take the risk and meet Elon Musk, focus on dealing with the assassin, or leave Donghai again and wait for a better opportunity.¡±
Lin Xian sat on the sofa, his chin resting on his hand, eyes closed in thought.
He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off about Elon Musk¡¯s attitude.
Is he really an enemy? Lin Xian wondered. Elon Musk hadn¡¯t shown any direct intent to harm him. He had even saved him from Kevin Walker¡¯s hijacked space shuttle crash and indirectly gave him Kevin¡¯s location.
But if Elon Musk isn¡¯t an enemy, why lie about Angelica? And why kill VV and send the time-space assassin?
Looking at the situation, the assassin wouldn¡¯t reach Donghai until midnight at the earliest. That meant Elon Musk had a window to act before then. If he wanted to kill Lin Xian, he had plenty of opportunities in the U.S. So why wait until now, when it would be moreplicated?
Logically, killing Lin Xian in Donghai would cause more trouble than it¡¯s worth.
Lin Xian¡¯s gut told him something was wrong.
Who¡¯s really behind all this?
But tonight¡¯s meeting at 8 PM¡ªshould he go or not?
¡°I think we should go,¡± Lin Xian finally said, opening his eyes. ¡°If Elon Musk really wanted to kill me, he could¡¯ve done it long before now. Setting up a trap here doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so sure, Lin Xian,¡± Yu Xi warned. ¡°Why put your life in Elon Musk¡¯s hands? You can¡¯t always count on your enemies being merciful.¡±
¡°If you decide to meet Elon Musk tonight, I¡¯ll protect you, but I¡¯m limited by the time-spacews. If you¡¯re in danger, all I can do is help you escape; I can¡¯t fight back against people from this timeline.¡±
¡°If Elon Musk lied about Angelica, he can lie about anything. Be on guard. If he¡¯s sincere, then talk to him. But if it¡¯s an ambush¡ be ready to react and take him down.¡±
¡°Take him down?¡± Lin Xian asked, looking up at Yu Xi, who stood with her hands in her pockets.
With a quick motion, Yu Xi pulled a yellow-and-ck object from her pocket and pped it onto the coffee table in front of him.
Lin Xian nced down¡ªa Taser gun!
He knew the weapon well. He hadn¡¯t used one before, but he¡¯d been on the receiving end plenty of times. The sudden jolt of electricity and the muscle paralysis that followed were unforgettable.
¡°Where did you get this?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled.
¡°I swiped it from one of Elon Musk¡¯s bodyguards at the hospital,¡± Yu Xi replied casually. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking of hitting the ck market to trade Angelica¡¯s jewelry for a real gun, but I haven¡¯t had the chance. You won¡¯t let me out of your sight, so this will have to do.¡±
¡°This won¡¯t kill anyone, but it¡¯ll paralyze them, make them twitch, fall down, and maybe even pass out. It¡¯ll be enough to take Elon Musk down.¡±
¡°So, just in case¡¡± she said, her bright blue eyes locking onto Lin Xian¡¯s, ¡°let¡¯s get there early and set up an ambush. If something feels off¡ we¡¯ll strike first.¡±
Chapter 376: The Big Stage in Donghai City
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao?¡±
Lin Xian thought of the little girl who had pulled out his gray hair during dinner with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents. He was a bit surprised.
¡°You¡¯re looking after Yan Qiao Qiao now? Wasn¡¯t she staying with your parents?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun sighed, smiling helplessly. ¡°My parents had an emergency and had to return to the capital. They left Qiao Qiao with me for a few days. But now¡ everything is happening at once.¡±
¡°The Second Master passed away, so I have to go back to the capital too. But now¡ there¡¯s no one to take care of both VV and Qiao Qiao.¡±
¡°VV has been feeling downtely, and I don¡¯t trust anyone else to look after him. It¡¯s the same with Qiao Qiao. You¡¯re the only person I can trust. At least Qiao Qiao knows you, so she won¡¯t feel ufortable.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and agreed without hesitation. ¡°No problem at all. Leave it to me. You can go back to the capital and handle your family matters.¡±
Taking care of a child and a dog? Lin Xian thought it was the least he could do. Zhao Ying Jun had helped him a lot in the past; how could he refuse her in an emergency?Besides, Zhao Ying Jun said she¡¯d be back in two or three days to pick them up. Dying his ns for Queen Town by a few days wouldn¡¯t hurt, especially since he had no leads at the moment. Taking care of Qiao Qiao and VV first was the priority.
Lin Xian sat across from Zhao Ying Jun, poured himself some tea, and asked, ¡°So, when should I pick up Qiao Qiao?¡±
¡°She has a lot of stuff. How about¡ tonight, I¡¯ll bring her and her things to your ce?¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested. ¡°Qiao Qiao and VV both have essential items that you probably don¡¯t have. I¡¯ll pack two suitcases and bring them over tonight. Is that okay?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s fine.¡±
He realized that, as a little girl, Qiao Qiao would need to bring many of her daily essentials, and VV the Pomeranian would need his food bowl, dog food, and bed.
¡°By the way¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to your ce before. Is it convenient?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°There¡¯s nothing inconvenient about it. My ce is just a rental. It¡¯s a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, and I live there alone. There¡¯s plenty of space for Qiao Qiao to stay in the guest room.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been renting it since I graduated. I even asked thendlord if he¡¯d consider selling it to me since I¡¯ve gotten attached to the ce. But he said it¡¯s a school district house, and he¡¯s keeping it for his grandson¡¯s future schooling. It¡¯s funny how far ahead parents think these days. His son just started college, and he¡¯s already nning for his grandson¡¯s education.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded sympathetically. ¡°Grandparents really do think ahead¡ I can totally understand. By the way, do you like children?¡±
¡°They¡¯re alright,¡± Lin Xian replied, leaning back. ¡°I like kids like Qiao Qiao¡ªshe¡¯s cute, well-behaved, and really smart. But people say that as kids grow older, they be less obedient, and some even say the teenage years are the most challenging. But who knows? Maybe I¡¯ll feel differently if I ever have to deal with a crying baby. For now, I think Qiao Qiao is pretty adorable.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly, relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±
¡°Alright then, it¡¯s settled. I know your address but not the specific building or unit number. Could you send me the detailster? I¡¯ll bring Qiao Qiao and VV over tonight with their stuff.¡±
After Zhao Ying Jun left, Lin Xian thought about his ce.
There shouldn¡¯t be anything embarrassing there, right? No, it was definitely clean and tidy. Feeling reassured, he rxed.
The guest room was already clean since no one ever visited. The bed was made, and Zhao Ying Jun would likely bring fresh linens for Qiao Qiao.
¡°Looks like there¡¯s nothing to prepare, just waiting for the kid and the dog.¡±
Lin Xian leaned back in his chair and yawned. His schedule had been so disruptedtely that he still felt a bit dizzy.
He closed his eyes, thinking about Queen Town. He still didn¡¯t know who the Queen was, but it was clear she wasn¡¯t from Earth. Her ideas and ns were too advanced, far beyond what Earth¡¯s timeline would suggest.
While the rest of the world was still in primitive agriculture, Queen Town was already building cavalry, refining iron, wielding guns, and industrializing. It wasn¡¯t even on the same level of civilization.
¡°The Queen of Queen Town clearly isn¡¯t easy to deal with. If she wanted to unify the Old Donghai region, it¡¯d be as simple as giving an order.¡±
¡°But at least she hasn¡¯tpletely wiped out the backward viges like Big Cat¡¯s Vige and Rhine Vige. Although she collects protection fees regrly, if she¡¯s anything like the Big Cat in the Second Dream, who genuinely protected the area, it might be an eptable trade.¡±
¡°Still, capturing the Queen has to be the first step in the infiltration n. Otherwise, finding those aluminum alloy safes could take forever.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s intuition told him the Queen¡¯s residence was likely in the tallest building at the center of the town. If he could get past the patrols and sneak into the castle to capture the Queen, everything else would be easy.
But¡ the first step was proving to be the hardest. Those affectionate couples were everywhere, and in Queen Town¡¯s open atmosphere, it was easy to spot an outsider. No wonder they¡¯d call the guards.
¡°The problem is, CC isn¡¯t experienced, and the judges have high expectations.¡±
Thinking about CC¡¯s terrible acting skills gave Lin Xian a headache. ¡°Let¡¯s hope CC can pull it together. Our clothes already make us stand out as outsiders. If we can¡¯t act convincingly as a couple, we¡¯ll be caught for sure.¡±
After handling a few things at the office, Lin Xian headed home to tidy up a bit and then sent Zhao Ying Jun his address. She quickly replied, exining that she had a lot of work to finish since she¡¯d be away from thepany for three days, including a critical meeting that evening.
So¡
She said she¡¯d bring Qiao Qiao and VV over around 10 PM.
¡°Sorry, Lin Xian,¡± she texted. ¡°I wanted toe earlier, but thepany is swamped right now, and I have to personally oversee everything before leaving. I¡¯m really sorry to disturb your evening.¡±
Lin Xian assured her it was fine. ¡°I usually stay upte anyway, so it¡¯s no problem. See you at 10.¡±
Then Lin Xian checked the time. It was only 11 AM, meaning he had plenty of time to attempt another dream infiltration before Zhao Ying Jun arrived. If he left the dream by 10 PM, he¡¯d be on time.
No need to waste any opportunity for a dream infiltration.
After a quick meal, Lin Xian pulled the curtains,y on his bed, and drifted into sleep.
¡
¡°So, that¡¯s our n,¡± Lin Xian said in Big Cat¡¯s Vigemand room, using a burnt piece of charcoal to sketch a simple map of Queen Town on the floor. He pointed to the southwest corner. ¡°This area is sparsely popted, and the patrols rarely go there because it¡¯s a popr dating spot for the young couples.¡±
¡°Queen Town has a strong culture of romance; people fall in love, marry, and have children early, which exins their rapid poption growth.¡±
¡°But the old town in the southwest is full of couples in every corner. If we rush in, those sharp-eyed lovebirds will spot us immediately. It¡¯s frustrating¡ Can¡¯t they just mind their own business instead of policing who¡¯s a real couple?¡±
Lin Xian felt a bit exasperated. ¡°Back in 2024, couples sneaking around would¡¯ve run away if caught, but in Queen Town, they¡¯re like romance inspectors. They¡¯ll judge you as an intruder if you don¡¯t look like a genuine couple.¡±
¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a ce where they determine intruders based on whether they¡¯re truly in love. It¡¯s absurd!¡±
Uncle Wei nodded patiently. ¡°Lin Xian, you can¡¯t really me them. You and CC were in the middle of a romantic hotspot, and anyone would find it suspicious if you¡¯re not acting like a couple.¡±
¡°Walking down the street as a man and woman, the best disguise is to act like a loving couple. People tend to overlook couples in love. That¡¯s why in spy movies, the leads often pose as couples¡ªit¡¯s the perfect cover. Given Queen Town¡¯s culture, you two should blend in by acting like a couple.¡±
Big Cat shrugged, confused. ¡°Yeah, why make itplicated, bro? Just act lovey-dovey with your wife, hold her close, and blend in. You two are married, so it shouldn¡¯t be hard to pretend. Or are you too shy to be affectionate in public? Come on, you¡¯re both young; why act so old?¡±
¡°No one knows you in Queen Town, so what¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? Just stick close and pretend to be in love like when you were dating.¡±
Ah Zhuang and San Pang also looked at Lin Xian and CC with puzzled expressions. It seemed like a simple solution to them.
Er Zhuzi, however, narrowed his eyes and red at the couple. ¡°Are you two really married? Or are you lying to us?¡±
¡°How could we be lying!¡± CC quickly grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm and exined, ¡°Not all couples are the same. I¡¯d follow Lin Xian anywhere, but I¡¯m not sure how to act in a romantic way. We don¡¯t do things like that where I¡¯m from.¡±
¡°Right, honey?¡± CC looked at Lin Xian, blinking.
Lin Xian coughed lightly to help CC out. ¡°My wife is the reserved type, and we had a quick marriage. It was a bit like an arranged marriage¡ªmarried first, then fell in love.¡±
¡°We skipped the dating phase, so CC isn¡¯t familiar with how couples in love act. She¡¯s not experienced in ying the part of a clingy lover.¡±
Uncle Wei chuckled, raising his hand. ¡°If she¡¯s inexperienced, just let me teach her! I¡¯m great at showing affection with my wife. I¡¯m the perfect coach!¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°No, thanks, Uncle Wei. Your wife is the gentle type, not suitable for CC¡¯s style. Honestly, your lessons made CC look more like a horror movie character than a demuredy.¡±
Thud.
CC elbowed Lin Xian, frowning. ¡°I haven¡¯t even tried yet. Why say that? And if you don¡¯t like how Uncle Wei teaches, then why don¡¯t you teach me yourself?¡±
She narrowed her eyes at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯re not that young. Surely you¡¯ve been in a rtionship before?¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath. ¡°Why does everyone keep asking about my past rtionships?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not the point right now. We¡¯re short on time, so let¡¯s focus. The main issue is that CC doesn¡¯t have any experience being in love, so she can¡¯t fake that romantic vibe.¡±
¡°And those nosey residents of Queen Town are all like romance inspectors. If they spot us acting strangely, they¡¯ll call us intruders, and the cavalry will be on us in no time.¡±
¡°So, if any of you think you can help, teach CC how to act more like a lovesick woman.¡±
Hmph!
Er Zhuzi snorted. ¡°That¡¯s easy! Let me teach her a few tricks!¡±
He rubbed his nose. ¡°Your wife¡¯s personality is simr to ourte sister-inw, so she could just imitate her style!¡±
He pointed outside, under the shade of the trees. ¡°Come on, sister-inw, let me tell you more about ourte sister-inw.¡±
And with that, the two walked out to the willow trees under the sunlight.
Lin Xian tilted his head, looking at Big Cat, who still hadn¡¯t realized the severity of the situation. ¡°Brother Cat, was our sister-inw very affectionate back then?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Big Cat replied proudly. ¡°When she was still around, we were inseparable! She looked quiet and elegant, but she was very assertive. That¡¯s how she won my heart¡ªwait, hang on a second!¡±
Big Cat¡¯s face turned pale green, scratching his head and looking outside. ¡°Wait¡ why would Er Zhuzi know so much about his sister-inw¡¯s dating moves?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure how to respond. It was one of those tricky personal matters. He just grabbed a sunhat from Uncle Wei¡¯s bag and put it on Big Cat¡¯s head. ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s best not to think too much. Just like this hat¡ªit¡¯s quitefy, right? Keep it.¡±
Big Cat looked surprised, pointing to Uncle Wei¡¯s bag. ¡°Howe you¡¯ve got everything in there? Is it some kind of magic bag?¡±
¡
That night, under the moonlit sky, the group of seven lined up, facing Queen Town below, ready for their first¡ªbut technically Lin Xian¡¯s second¡ªinfiltration attempt.
He turned to see CC, who seemed nervous, her thoughts clearly in turmoil. She bit her lip, which looked a bit dry.
Lin Xian walked over to Uncle Wei, reached into his bag, and pulled out an unused tube of lip balm.
¡°What the¡ª!¡± Uncle Wei¡¯s face turned white with shock. ¡°How did you know I had that in there? Ipletely forgot! It¡¯s something I packed for the trip, but I forgot where I put it!¡±
Lin Xian tossed the lip balm to CC. ¡°Here you go.¡±
CC caught it, looked at the sealed tube, and wasn¡¯t sure how to use it. ¡°What is this?¡±
¡°Lip balm,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Take off the cap, twist the bottom, and the balm wille out. Apply it to your lips to avoid chapping.¡±
Following his instructions, CC applied the lip balm for the first time. She smacked her lips together; it tasted sweet and smelled like orange.
¡°Not bad,¡± she whispered. Her lips, now glossy from the balm, shone under the moonlight, making her look particrly captivating.
CC looked at Lin Xian and then at the lip balm in her hand. ¡°Uncle Wei¡¯s bag really has everything¡¡±
¡°Yep,¡± Lin Xian agreed. Uncle Wei, dubbed ¡°Doraemon,¡± always had something useful in his bag. It was clear that Uncle Wei had prepared a lot for this long journey to Earth, but he seemed to have forgotten where he put most of his things.
No problem. Lin Xian could remember for him.
With that thought, Lin Xian reached back into Uncle Wei¡¯s four-dimensional bag, took out a small pistol and a multi-functional army knife, and handed the knife to CC. ¡°Keep it, just in case.¡±
¡
When the moonlight was hidden behind the clouds, Big Cat gave the order. In the darkness, they began their stealth mission, climbing over walls and sneaking in.
Once again, Er Zhuzi¡¯s green sunhat was kicked away by CC during a jump. Lin Xian quickly picked up the unlucky item and tossed it back.
They reached the narrow path filled with affectionate couples, and Lin Xian stretched his neck to look in.
Two couples were chatting, whispering sweet nothings, and holding hands.
¡°What did Er Zhuzi teach you?¡± Lin Xian turned around. ¡°Do you know what to¡ª¡±
Before he could finish, CC¡¯s slender finger hooked under his chin, lifting his head.
Lin Xian was stunned by the unexpected move. ¡°Hey, hey, are we really doing this?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t speak,¡± CC said, looking into his eyes. ¡°Er Zhuzi said this is how your sister-inw flirted with Big Cat. He, Ah Zhuang, and San Pang all saw it.¡±
Alright then. Lin Xian epted this strange new reality. It seemed Er Zhuzi was a bit of a voyeur, after all. Apparently, Big Cat and his wife had a wild side, with her being the dominant one.
No wonder Er Zhuzi was so hung up on her.
Finally, the moon emerged from the dense clouds, casting a bright, frosty glow that lit up the romantic corner. Lin Xian and CC, looking into each other¡¯s eyes, saw four full moons reflected in their pupils.
¡°Sorry to interrupt your performance,¡± Lin Xian said, his head still lifted awkwardly. ¡°But how long do we have to hold this pose? We can¡¯t just keep my chin up like this forever. What¡¯s the next step?¡±
CC recalled Er Zhuzi¡¯s advice. ¡°He said to keep holding your chin, and you¡¯d walk backward like this while we slowly move forward, out of this area, heading to the Queen¡¯s castle.¡±
¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! Do people really flirt like this?¡± Lin Xian protested. ¡°I¡¯m not a crab! How am I supposed to walk backward? And I don¡¯t have eyes on the back of my head. We can¡¯t stay in this awkward pose forever!¡±
¡°This Er Zhuzi guy is unreliable. Is this the only move he saw when he spied on Big Cat and his wife? What about the rest?¡±
Their lively discussion attracted suspicious nces from the couples in the alley. Sure enough, trusting Er Zhuzi¡¯s intelligence was a mistake.
Soon, guards with muskets and whistles approached, followed by the couples who had reported them.
¡°They¡¯re intruders!¡± one of the couples shouted.
Sirens red.
¡°Ughh.¡± Lin Xian nced at his watch. It was 9:30 PM¡ªalmost time to wake up and meet Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao at his ce.
¡°Oh well.¡± He gave up, grabbed CC¡¯s hand, and ran towards the Queen¡¯s castle. ¡°Today was just to eliminate a wrong option anyway. Clearly, neither Uncle Wei nor Er Zhuzi is reliable.¡±
CC suddenly widened her eyes, looking ahead. ¡°Lin Xian!¡±
Lin Xian turned his head and saw arge, dark gun barrel right in front of him¡ª
Bang!
¡
Lin Xian woke up again in his bedroom, rubbing his temples and sighing. ¡°Why do I keep getting shot in these dreams?¡±
He had to admit, those romance inspectors in the Fifth Dream of Queen Town were incredibly annoying, always reporting people and never minding their own business.
Getting up, he nced at the clock on the bedside table. Zhao Ying Jun should be arriving soon.
Lin Xian went to the bathroom, fixed his hair, changed out of his pajamas into casual clothes, and as soon as he stepped out of his bedroom, he heard a knock on the door.
Opening the door, he saw Zhao Ying Jun holding the Pomeranian, VV, with Yan Qiao Qiao standing beside her, carrying a small backpack.
¡°Wee,¡± Lin Xian smiled, stepping aside to let them in. ¡°Qiao Qiao, do you remember me?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao pointed her finger at him like the barrel of a gun and said, ¡°Brother Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Hehe, smart girl,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, patting her head. He then grabbed the tworge suitcases and the cart loaded with VV¡¯s food bowl and dog food, pulling them inside.
After closing the door, he noticed how crowded his usually empty living room had be. It was now bustling with people and a dog¡ªa full house.
¡°Woof!¡± VV immediately darted from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s arms to Lin Xian¡¯s feet andy down, looking up affectionately.
¡°You see,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a smile, ¡°VV still likes you.¡±
She nced around Lin Xian¡¯s apartment. ¡°Your ce is cleaner than I imagined. Is that your bedroom?¡± she asked, pointing to a room with a litmp.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the only room I use. The other rooms are empty.¡±
¡°Woof!¡± Suddenly, VV shot into Lin Xian¡¯s bedroom like a rocket.
¡°Hey¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun tried to stop her, but Qiao Qiao, who had been crouching to y with VV, quickly followed her into the room.
¡°Oh well¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Those two are inseparable. Qiao Qiao has really cheered up VV, and she loves ying with VV too. Now they¡¯re practically glued together. She even wants to cuddle with VV when she sleeps.¡±
She called out to the bedroom, ¡°Qiao Qiao, don¡¯t rummage through Brother Lin Xian¡¯s things. That¡¯s rude!¡±
¡°No worries,¡± Lin Xian waved it off. ¡°She can explore all she wants. There¡¯s nothing important.¡±
If Yan Qiao Qiao wanted to snoop, she wouldn¡¯t find anything incriminating. He pointed to the sofa. ¡°Have a seat; I¡¯ll get you some water.¡±
After setting the suitcases and VV¡¯s food supplies in a corner, Lin Xian poured Zhao Ying Jun a ss of water.
She took a few sips and said apologetically, ¡°I really appreciate this, Lin Xian. I feel bad about asking because I know taking care of them isn¡¯t easy.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Lin Xian said, sitting across from her at the coffee table. ¡°It¡¯s nice to have somepany. The ce has been quiet since I started renting it. It¡¯s never been this lively before.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun set her ss down. ¡°You¡¯ve always lived alone?¡±
¡°Yep,¡± Lin Xian nodded, ¡°I¡ª¡±
Suddenly, there was a loud, rapid knock on the door, interrupting him. Both he and Zhao Ying Jun turned to look at the entryway.
Lin Xian had vaguely heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching earlier but hadn¡¯t expected them to stop at his door!
Bang bang bang! The knocking was urgent.
Zhao Ying Jun slowly stood up, tucking her hair behind her ear. ¡°Did Ie at a bad time?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°I have no idea who it is.¡±
He called out to the door, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±
¡°It¡¯s me! Open up, open up! Hurry, hurry, I can¡¯t hold it anymore! Quick, Lin Xian!¡±
From the voice, it was clearly Gao Yang.
What was he doing here?
Lin Xian walked over and opened the door. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
¡°I happened to be eating at the food stall nearby. I thought I¡¯d drop by and chat with you. But man, the crawfish on the street weren¡¯t fresh! My stomach¡¯s been acting up! Move aside, move aside, I¡¯m about to blow! I¡ª¡±
Gao Yang clutched his butt and shuffled like a crab toward the bathroom.
But as soon as he awkwardly shuffled into the living room, he turned and saw the elegant Zhao Ying Jun, who looked both refined and charming.
He almost lost control!
¡°I¡¡± He gawked, speechless, ncing between Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun, then at the clock on the wall¡ª10:23 PM.
Hiss.
He sucked in a cold breath.
He¡¯d messed up big time! Ruined his buddy¡¯s evening!
At this time, a man and a woman alone in an apartment¡ and they were already somewhat close!
What else could they be doing?
Gao Yang was caught between a rock and a hard ce. But eventually, the turmoil in his stomach won over his sense of loyalty, and he quickly shuffled his way to the bathroom, waving his hand. ¡°I just came to use the toilet! You guys carry on! Just pretend I¡¯m not here! I¡¯ll leave right after!¡±
He mmed the bathroom door shut and began his business.
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, watching the bizarre scene, and then looked at Lin Xian with a puzzled expression. ¡°Is that your friend?¡±
Lin Xian realized Zhao Ying Jun had never properly met Gao Yang before. Yellow Finch was very familiar with him, knowing they were childhood friends and could be trusted. And Yellow Finch was Zhao Ying Jun in another time-space, so she must have known Gao Yang through him in that world.
Lin Xian had expected their first meeting to be more formal, but as always, Gao Yang¡¯s entrance was unforgettable.
¡°Uh¡ yeah, that¡¯s my childhood friend. We grew up together,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Remember when you gave me an extra invitation to the MX celebration party? I took him with me, but he was too busy eating, so you probably didn¡¯t notice him.¡±
¡°His name is Gao Yang. He¡¯s probably my best friend. Don¡¯t mind what just happened; he¡¯s actually a good guy with a kind heart.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, understanding Gao Yang¡¯s identity. ¡°So he¡¯s your best friend, huh¡¡±
She chuckled softly and shook her head. ¡°Everyone has their embarrassing moments when nature calls. I understand.¡±
¡°I always believe that people attract others who are like them, so if Gao Yang is your best friend, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s a great person, just like you.¡±
The sounds of flushing, hand-washing, and paper towel dispensing came from the bathroom. Then the door opened, and Gao Yang walked out, smiling sheepishly. He pretended nothing had happened and greeted Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Hello, beautifuldy. I¡¯m Gao Yang, Lin Xian¡¯s good friend.¡±
¡°Nice to meet you,¡± he continued. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you from Lin Xian, so I feel like I already know you.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, looking more at ease with Gao Yang. ¡°Lin Xian talks about me often?¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± Gao Yang gave a thumbs up, praising her. ¡°Lin Xian always speaks highly of you! He says you¡¯re amazing at everything! I¡ª¡±
¡°Alright, alright,¡± Lin Xian cut him off, pointing to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Let me introduce you properly. This is Zhao Ying Jun, my former boss; and this is Gao Yang, my childhood friend.¡±
A brief introductionpleted the historic first meeting between Gao Yang and Zhao Ying Jun. She was polite and courteous, clearly wanting to leave a good impression, while Gao Yang wished he could disappear into a crack in the floor out of embarrassment.
Seizing the chance, Gao Yang made a quick exit to the door, waving goodbye. ¡°I just came to use the restroom! I¡¯m out of here. I¡¯ve got to get back to my food stall. You two carry on. Bye!¡±
Bang.
Gao Yang¡¯s chubby figure disyed surprising agility as he vanished and mmed the door shut.
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian stared at the closed door. Came in a rush, left in a rush.
¡°Heh.¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, looking in the direction Gao Yang had gone. ¡°Your friend is quite amusing.¡±
¡°That¡ counts as amusing?¡± Lin Xian marveled at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s level of tolerance.
For someone who left such a strong, toilet-rted first impression, Zhao Ying Jun simply found Gao Yang amusing. If Gao Yang knew, he¡¯d probably be waving a banner for 600 years, thanking Zhao Ying Jun for forgiving his near-social-death experience.
Not wanting to continue this smelly topic, Lin Xian pointed to the clean guest bedroom. ¡°Did you bring Qiao Qiao¡¯s sheets and nkets? While she¡¯s ying with VV, we can set up her bed.¡±
And so, like a pair of longtime partners, they worked together to set up Qiao Qiao¡¯s bed with sheets, pillowcases, and nkets. They even ced her favorite Rhine Cat plush on the headboard, making the little girl¡¯s temporary residence cozy and ready.
Back in the living room, Zhao Ying Jun saw both Qiao Qiao and VV yawning. ¡°Alright, you two will be staying here for the next two days. Please behave and listen to Brother Lin Xian.¡±
She bent down and ruffled Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. ¡°VV is familiar with Lin Xian, and you¡¯ve met him before, too. So, for the next two days, be good and listen to Brother Lin Xian, okay?¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded obediently and waved at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Goodbye, sister.¡±
¡°Woof, woof!¡± VV barked energetically.
Seeing them so content to stay, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile. He walked her to the door, saying, ¡°With Qiao Qiao here, I won¡¯t go downstairs to see you off. Take care on your way, and safe travels back to Donghai City.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, smiling softly. ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can.¡±
¡°I hope Qiao Qiao won¡¯t cause you too much trouble, and I also hope¡ you¡¯ll like her.¡±
¡
After Zhao Ying Jun left, Qiao Qiao and VV, having yed all day, were soon ready for bed. VV simply dragged its bed to Qiao Qiao¡¯s side and immediately fell asleep, like Lin Xian¡¯s own ability to fall asleep anywhere.
Qiao Qiao needed a bit more preparation¡ªbrushing her teeth and washing her face. Thankfully, Zhao Ying Jun had already instilled these habits, and Qiao Qiao was now a well-behaved, automatic little helper.
Once she was tucked in and covered up, Lin Xian stood at the door, turned off the light, and said, ¡°Good night, Qiao Qiao.¡±
¡°Good night¡¡± came the soft, innocent reply from the darkness, ¡°Brother Lin Xian.¡±
¡
The next morning, he woke up early to make breakfast for Qiao Qiao and put out a bowl of dog food for VV. After that, he nned to visit Donghai University and the Rhine Joint Laboratory.
He had two things to discuss with Liu Feng:
First, Lin Xian felt that he wouldn¡¯t get any useful advice from Uncle Wei or Er Zhuzi on how to act like a couple. So, why not ask Liu Feng, who considered himself a rtionship expert? Having witnessed Liu Feng¡¯s life-and-death romance with Li Qi Qi, Lin Xian knew he might have some practical tips to help CC act like a lovestruck girl.
Second, Brother Wang had already begun setting up a new Rhine Laboratory to prepare for the future construction of the time-space shuttle. They had also selected a location for the observatory to build a small radio telescope capable of detecting time-space particles¡ Now that both tasks were done, Lin Xian intended to report back to Liu Feng.
After freshening up and changing clothes, Lin Xian went to the living room and found Qiao Qiao dressed in a cream-colored dress, holding the white Pomeranian, VV, waiting for him.
Lin Xian looked at the girl and the dog. ¡°You two want toe with me?¡±
Both Qiao Qiao and VV nodded simultaneously. ¡°We want to go out and y.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian said. He didn¡¯t feelfortable leaving Qiao Qiao alone at home anyway.
She was definitely Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s rtive. Losing track of her would be a disaster.
So, it was best to bring her along.
They took the Alphard minivan to the Donghai University campus and entered the Rhine Joint Laboratory, heading to the second floor.
Lin Xian walked in first. Liu Feng, who was busy inside, looked up and widened his eyes.
Behind Lin Xian, he saw a fluffy white dog being carried by a young girl in her early teens.
¡°An arithmetic sequence!¡± Liu Feng eximed excitedly. ¡°The arithmetic sequence is finallyplete! See, Lin Xian, I was right, wasn¡¯t I? Math is so precise, so absolute!¡±
Ughh.
Lin Xian sighed, feeling a bit exasperated by his friend¡¯s obsession. ¡°Alright, alright, you got it right. From now on, I guess this sequence joke won¡¯te up again. You win this time.¡±
¡°But let¡¯s move on. I¡¯m here today because I have something to talk to you about.¡±
Liu Feng smiled, stepping out from behind theb table. ¡°Well, it seems like a coincidence¡ I have a new discovery about time-space particles to share with you!¡±
¡°Oh?¡± It sounded like Liu Feng¡¯s news was more significant.
Lin Xian gestured for him to go first. ¡°If your research is finally getting back on track from gossip, let¡¯s hear it. What have you found about time-space particles?¡±
Liu Feng walked to theb table by the window and picked up the small white refrigerator given by Elon Musk. After entering the password, the fridge door popped open.
Liu Feng lifted the container with thezy, stable, blue electric strands of the time-space particles and walked over, his voice filled with excitement.
¡°You won¡¯t believe it.¡± Liu Feng pointed to the particles inside the fridge. ¡°I identally discovered¡ that these energy-depleted time-space particles have a chance of recharging!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was shocked by the finding.
This thing was that magical?
Better not let Elon Musk find out¡ If he knew, he¡¯d probably want to take these depleted entangled time-space particles back!
Alongside Lin Xian, the curious Yan Qiao Qiao also stepped forward, eyes wide with wonder, just like VV in her arms, looking at the bright blue particles in the fridge. She reached out her hand¡
¡°Lin Xian, I was just as shocked as you!¡± Liu Feng held the fridge excitedly. ¡°But it¡¯s true! If we find the right method, we can definitely¡ªhey!¡±
He looked down, finally noticing that the young girl who came with Lin Xian had already reached her hand into the fridge¡
Touching the time-space particles!
Chapter 377: Meeting the Queen
Liu Feng bowed his head thoughtfully.
The young girl, who had a clear and innocent expression, reached into a small refrigerator. She kept trying to grab something¡ªtime-space particles¡ªbut it was useless.
¡°Having fun, little girl?¡± Liu Feng asked, smiling.
Yan Qiao Qiao seemed to be locked in a struggle. Her eyes remained fixed, her focus entirely on catching those invisible time-space particles.
Liu Feng kept the refrigerator door open and nced up at Lin Xian. ¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t asked yet. Who is this little girl, and where did shee from?¡±
Lin Xian replied, ¡°She¡¯s Yan Qiao Qiao, a rtive of my former boss, Zhao Ying Jun.¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t met Zhao Ying Jun yet, but when you do, you¡¯ll be surprised at how much Qiao Qiao and Ying Jun look alike. They could be real sisters,¡± Lin Xian added with a small smile.
He couldn¡¯t help but think about how interesting these encounters across time and space could be.For example, Yellow Finch had known Gao Yang for a long time. She remembered their first meeting vividly, how Gao Yang looked like he was on the brink of a breakdown.
That¡¯s why, back at the Satellite Launch Center, when she heard Lin Xian mention Gao Yang¡¯s name, she had thatplicated yet knowing smile. It all formed a kind of closed loop.
Even though time and space had shifted, Yellow Finch¡¯s first meeting with Gao Yang might not have been quite as chaotic as it wasst night. But given Gao Yang¡¯s character, it was likely just as funny.
Looking over at Liu Feng, Lin Xian noticed something. Yellow Finch clearly knew about his connection to Liu Feng and never hid any information from him. This was intriguing.
Lin Xian began to wonder when Liu Feng and Zhao Ying Jun might meet for the first time and what kind of story might unfold.
Up until now, Lin Xian felt familiar with Zhao Ying Jun, but it wasn¡¯t the real 2024 version of her. Instead, it was a familiarity built through Yellow Finch and the Zhao Ying Jun in the third dream, who had waited 600 years.
But things were different now.
He had met Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents and even shared a meal with them. Now, he was helping her take care of a kid and a dog. These were new connections that hadn¡¯t existed before.
From Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s perspective, it was the same. They had only been colleagues before¡ªseemingly close but always separated by a barrier that neither could cross.
She had never met any of Lin Xian¡¯s friends and knew nothing about his life outside of work.
But now, things were changing.
She had met Gao Yang, and maybe soon, she would meet Liu Feng, Lin Xian¡¯s trusted advisor.
And then?
Would she get to know him better?
Understand his secrets, his goals, his struggles, and the dangers he faced?
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure.
He was still worried. What if Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s fate turned out to be as heartbreaking as Yellow Finch¡¯s?
He was doing everything he could, pushing to join the Genius Club, just to change people¡¯s destinies and rewrite a history filled with failure.
But if his presence only added another failure to the endless loop, what would be the point?
He had these concerns not just for Zhao Ying Jun. He hadn¡¯t told his secrets to Liu Feng, Gao Yang, or Chu An Qing either, even though they werepletely trustworthy.
But someday, he¡¯d have toe clean, right?
After he joined the Genius Club and gained the power to match their enemies!
¡°Zhao Ying Jun, huh,¡± Liu Feng muttered.
He set down the small fridge, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote some names on the ckboard behind him: Yan Qiao Qiao, Chu An Qing, Su Su, Yellow Finch.
He lined up their ages carefully and shook his head, saying, ¡°But¡ there¡¯s no ce for Zhao Ying Jun in this arithmetic sequence!¡±
Lin Xian sighed, exasperated. ¡°Enough with that arithmetic joke already! It¡¯splete, over¡ªno new members will join.¡±
¡°But my life and battles are far from over. I¡¯ll meet more friends, more allies, and even more enemies. There will be both men and women,¡± he continued. ¡°I can¡¯t let my life be controlled by some arithmetic sequence joke forever. Wipe the board. Let¡¯s get serious.¡±
After giving Liu Feng the instructions, Lin Xian watched Yan Qiao Qiao continue her futile attempts to grab the time-space particles. He went over and ruffled her hair. ¡°Give up, Qiao Qiao. You can¡¯t catch them. They don¡¯t have a physical form.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao straightened up and stepped back, nodding. She had to ept the truth.
This was something Lin Xian and Liu Feng had confirmed many times: normal humans trying to touch time-space particles, whether they had energy or not, wouldn¡¯t get any results¡ªgood or bad. Nothing would happen.
They had both handled this energy-depleted time-space particle countless times, and even Elon Musk had stirred it with his hand when it still had some energy. Everyone remained unharmed. So, they let Yan Qiao Qiao treat it like a toy.
¡°Alright, Qiao Qiao, go y with VV over there for a while. Liu Feng and I need to talk,¡± Lin Xian said.
Yan Qiao Qiao pointed her finger at Liu Feng in front of the ckboard. ¡°Brother Liu Feng.¡±
She remembered his name, then obediently picked up VV, the Pomeranian dog, and went to the open space in the back of theb.
¡°This little girl is quite well-behaved,¡± Liu Feng said approvingly. ¡°She¡¯ll definitely grow up to be a beauty. Look at her height. If she looks like Zhao Ying Jun, then Zhao Ying Jun must be beautiful too.¡±
¡°Come over here, Lin Xian. I want to share my theory,¡± Liu Feng said.
He led Lin Xian to a table full of data charts and diagrams. Pointing to theplex data and waveforms, he exined, ¡°Even though you don¡¯t understand these graphs, I can tell you for sure that once the time-space particle loses its activity, it won¡¯t ever get it back.¡±
¡°Like the particle we captured or the one Elon Musk gave us¡ªtheir activity is gone for good. They won¡¯t move randomly or break thews of physics anymore,¡± he continued. ¡°But the energy inside them is different! Do you know how I found this out? The particle you took and the one Elon Musk gave you¡ªthey both seem depleted, but there¡¯s a significant difference in how much energy they¡¯ve lost!¡±
¡°It¡¯s like batteries. Two AA batteries might both seem dead and unusable, but do they have the exact same amount of residual energy left?¡±
¡°Of course not! Whether a battery ispletely drained depends on its use. If a battery is used up in a child¡¯s remote control car, it might still have a lot of power left. Not enough to power the toy, but if you put it in a remote control for an air conditioner, it couldst for a long time.¡±
¡°So what does this mean? It means¡ª¡±
¡°The energy mechanism of time-space particles is simr to that of batteries. Since most batteries can be recharged and reused, maybe time-space particles can be recharged too! There must be a way to fill an energy-depleted time-space particle again and make it usable!¡±
Lin Xian listened carefully to Liu Feng¡¯s theory and nodded. The principle wasn¡¯t clear, but the conclusion was convincing.
¡°I get it,¡± Lin Xian said, ¡°but this is still an untested theory. You¡¯ve noticed the energy-storing properties, but you don¡¯t know how to restore that energy.¡±
¡°Do you have any ideas? If we could recharge a quantum-entangled time-space particle and pair it with the time machine, it would be a game-changer for time travel,¡± he continued. ¡°Traveling back in time with an entangled particle means we could ensure we return to the present and avoid getting lost in the past. It would be apletely safe time journey.¡±
Liu Feng nodded thoughtfully. ¡°You mentioned setting up a newb and bringing in more trustworthy people. I think these ns can progress together.¡±
¡°As for recharging the time-space particle, I don¡¯t have a clear direction yet, but I have a gut feeling it might have something to do with space-time curvature, world line changes, or even the Universal Constant,¡± he said. ¡°But without enough data or patterns, we can¡¯t explore these ideas further. We might have to wait for the next reading change on the space-time clock to continue our research.¡±
They both looked at theb¡¯s center table, where a in white time-space clock stood. The reading still disyed 0.0000042, meaning they were still on this world line without any shifts or jumps.
Lin Xian was holding a trump card that could cause significant world line changes, but it wasn¡¯t time to y it yet.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said, no longer pressing Liu Feng for progress. He knew there was no point in rushing. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for the next reading change on the clock. We¡¯ll have a big harvest then, including the information needed for the space-time coordinates.¡±
¡°Today, I came to see you mainly for two things,¡± Lin Xian continued. First, he talked about the progress of setting up the newb. While they hadn¡¯t solved the issue of finding trustworthy personnel, they decided to prioritize the location and equipment since that would take time.
¡°The observatory issue¡ªGuizhou Sky Eye can¡¯t be leased long-term. If we want to continuously monitor near-Earth space for time-space particles, we need our own observatory and radio telescope,¡± he exined.
Fortunately, Liu Feng had made significant progress in his research. Even a micro-detector could monitor space-time particles within 2,000 kilometers. Now, Liu Feng only needed a small observatory and radio telescope to cover the space within Jupiter¡¯s orbit. If a particle flew in, it would trigger an immediate alert.
This would be enough for now.
¡°So, from today on, we¡¯ll prepare both the time machine and the observation and capture of the next time-space particle,¡± Lin Xian said.
¡°Then there¡¯s the second thing.¡± Lin Xian rubbed his nose. ¡°Aren¡¯t you always boasting about being an expert on rtionships? I wanted to ask you¡ªwhat does a woman in love look like?¡±
Liu Feng chuckled with satisfaction, like a proud father. ¡°Finally, Lin Xian, you¡¯vee to your senses! I¡¯ve been waiting for this question for so long! Are you finally going to start dating?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian quickly waved his hands. ¡°I¡¯m way too busy for romance right now. But I have a situation where I need a woman with no dating experience to perfectly act like she¡¯s in love. She has to be convincing enough to fool others.¡±
¡°Got it? The key is acting! You must have a lot of experience, right? Even though you¡¯ve only had one rtionship, it was deep and memorable. You and Qi Qi started dating in college, so it must¡¯ve been sweet and passionate.¡±
Liu Feng nodded. ¡°Absolutely.¡± He adjusted his sses, his eyes filled with nostalgia. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m very familiar with matters of the heart, and I remember the wonderful times with Qi Qi like it was yesterday. ying the role of a woman in love? Piece of cake!¡±
¡°Come here. I¡¯ll show you step-by-step,¡± Liu Feng motioned for Lin Xian toe closer, like he was about to give him a hands-on lesson.
¡°No, no, it¡¯s not me acting. What¡¯s the point of showing me?¡± Lin Xian waved his hands. ¡°Just tell me how to make it look more convincing.¡±
But Liu Feng insisted, ¡°No way! If you want it to look real, facial expressions and eye contact are more important than actions or dialogue.¡±
¡°Why do fake couples get exposed so easily? You think it¡¯s about the intimate gestures or what they call each other? No¡ it¡¯s the expressions and eye contact that give them away! Genuine love is all in the eyes¡ªfilled with deep affection.¡±
¡°If you can¡¯t portray that feeling, no matter how close you hold each other, it won¡¯t work. Come on, let me show you!¡±
Lin Xian sighed and stepped forward.
Liu Feng mimicked Qi Qi¡¯s look¡ªa sincere smile with deep, affectionate eyes¡ªand then¡ gently took Lin Xian¡¯s hand.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but shiver; goosebumps rose all over his skin. Liu Feng¡¯s performance was so convincing that he could win an Oscar!
¡°Lin Xian, look into my eyes,¡± Liu Feng said softly, his eyes sparkling like autumn water, filled with endless years of emotion.
¡°Hold my waist.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was startled. ¡°Do we have to go this deep?¡±
¡°Do it now,¡± Liu Feng urged. ¡°True couples are like this. It alles naturally, from within, with emotions starting in the heart, showing in the eyes, and falling into ce at the waist.¡±
Alright then. Since he was already on this ¡°crazy boat,¡± he might as well go all in.
Lin Xian decided to go along with Liu Feng and held his waist.
If only CC had one-tenth of Liu Feng¡¯s acting skills, she could definitely pull off that couple scenario without a hitch.
Because Liu Feng¡¯s eyes were just too real! If he wasn¡¯t a guy, Lin Xian might¡¯ve thought he¡¯d fallen in love with him!
Suddenly, they felt a strange gaze on them. Both turned to look toward the other side of theb.
There, Yan Qiao Qiao was holding VV in her arms.
The girl and the dog stared, wide-eyed, at the two men standing close together.
¡°What are you guys ying?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao asked curiously.
¡°We¡¯re simting dating,¡± Liu Feng exined with augh.
¡°Oh.¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded and stored this not-so-child-friendly keyword in her memory.
Honestly, Lin Xian felt that Liu Feng¡¯s understanding of love and romance was more suitable for guiding CC than anyone else. Old man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s advice was too outdated, and Zhu Zi¡¯s model, based on his strong-willed wife, was overly domineering. But Liu Feng¡¯s ¡°Qi Qi temte¡± seemed perfect.
Because Qi Qi herself was well-educated, gentle, and calm, but notcking in liveliness, strong yet unafraid of solitude.
That¡¯s what a young girl should be like.
Her attitude towards love, with those deep, affectionate looks in her eyes during a rtionship, seemed more suitable for CC to emte.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give your theory a chance,¡± Lin Xian said, carefully noting Liu Feng¡¯s hands-on demonstration. He nned to share it with CC in the dream world and try again to pass the ¡°Queen¡¯s Town¡± challenge!
But now, it was time to leave Donghai University.
After all, he had promised Zhao Ying Jun he would take good care of the kid, and he couldn¡¯t let Yan Qiao Qiao spend all day in a dimb watching two men¡¯s awkward performance.
¡
Leaving the Rhine Lab, Lin Xian went downstairs and got into an Alphard business car, heading to the busiest mall in Donghai City.
When they parked in the underground parking lot, Yan Qiao Qiao tried to open the door.
Once!
No luck.
She tried again, harder this time!
Still, the door wouldn¡¯t open.
She turned to Lin Xian. ¡°The door won¡¯t open.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s an electric door. You can¡¯t force it open with your hands. Just press this button.¡±
¡
VV, the Pomeranian, clearly wasn¡¯t used to going out much. Soon, the dog was panting and had to lie in Lin Xian¡¯s arms for a ride, its short legs refusing to move.
Lin Xian took Yan Qiao Qiao to many ces, even to see a famous animated movie that was re-released for the Golden Week¡ªHowl¡¯s Moving Castle.
Yan Qiao Qiao watched attentively, getting lost in the vibrant yet gentle hand-drawn style of Miyazaki, experiencing a magical foreignnd.
Lin Xian had seen this movie as a child but had forgotten most of it. Reflecting on it, he realized it had been a long time since he had watched a movie this leisurely.
Although the girl next to him, Yan Qiao Qiao, wasn¡¯t someone he was very familiar with, Lin Xian oddly felt a sense of warmth andfort.
It felt good.
It felt rxing.
After the movie, they stumbled upon the ssic money-draining attraction in every big mall¡ªthe arcade. Some ces even called it ¡°XX Anime City¡± for some reason.
But the machines were always the same: w machines, basketball hoops, racing games, whack-a-mole, and coin pushers.
In short, all money traps.
Yet, Yan Qiao Qiao precisely pointed her finger at the shy, noisy arcade ahead. ¡°I want to y the w machine.¡±
¡°Sure, let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile.
All day, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t refused her anything. Whatever she wanted to do, he did with her. He didn¡¯t feel tired or annoyed at all.
VV, on the other hand, was already worn out, clearly disying, ¡°I want to go home,¡± ¡°I want to sleep,¡± and ¡°I can¡¯t walk anymore¡± on its face.
So, Lin Xian bought arge tote bag from JuMei YouPin and ced VV inside it. ¡°VV, just rest here. Sleep if you want. This is your¡ ¡®VV¡¯s Moving Castle.''¡±
¡°Pfft¡ª¡±
For the first time ever, Yan Qiao Qiao actuallyughed!
It was like a pear blossom blooming, stunning the whole spring.
So Qiao Qiao canugh¡ This was the first time Lin Xian had seen this quiet girl smile.
It looked like she had a lot of fun today.
Girls who smile are always cuter.
The more Lin Xian looked at her, the more he found her adorable. He picked up ¡°VV¡¯s Moving Castle,¡± took Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand, and led her into the arcade. ¡°Come on, your brother will win you a prize.¡±
While he knew most of the machines were rigged to make money, VV had taught him some very useful tips when helping Chu An Qing grab a doll earlier. Now it was time to put those skills to good use.
One, two, three¡
Though not perfect every time, he managed to grab a few prizes after several tries. He could be considered a pro.
When Yan Qiao Qiao entered the arcade, her hands were empty.
But when she left, her arms were full of various stuffed toys.
Lin Xian suggested putting some of them in VV¡¯s Moving Castle since they couldn¡¯t carry them all, but Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. She clearly preferred the satisfaction of holding her prizes in her arms.
Ah.
Women, no matter their age, are all quite simr at heart.
After a busy day of fun, Yan Qiao Qiao fell asleep immediately after washing up.
VV slept like the dead, refusing to wake up.
Lin Xian checked the dog¡¯s heartbeat and pulse¡ªthankfully, still alive. He refilled its water and food dishes, cing them near its bed, then prepared to leave the guest room.
Looking at Yan Qiao Qiao and VV, both asleep, he felt something he had never experienced before¡
A sense of warmth he could only describe as ¡°family.¡±
If he ever got married and had kids, it would probably look just as happy and fulfilling as this.
Many men endure countless hardships and unfairness outside but still smile through it all.
Perhaps what sustains them is a scene like the one Lin Xian had before him.
The warmth and happiness of a family is the ultimate goal for a man to strive for, and his bottom line for survival.
¡°Good night, Qiao Qiao,¡± Lin Xian whispered, then nced at the unconscious Pomeranian. ¡°Good night, VV.¡±
But this time, the sleeping pair, human and dog, did not reply.
¡
The next morning, Zhao Ying Jun returned early to pick up Yan Qiao Qiao and VV. ¡°Thanks for all your hard work, Lin Xian. You¡¯re a guy, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve never taken care of a kid or a dog before. I was worried you¡¯d be exhausted, so I rushed back right after the memorial. Were you worn out these past two days?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Lin Xian replied, waving his hand. ¡°I actually had a great time. Qiao Qiao and VV are both really adorable.¡±
He crouched down to pat the top of Qiao Qiao¡¯s ponytail. She was getting smarter and learning fast. Although she was still behind most fourteen-year-olds, Lin Xian felt she was almost normal now. It seemed her mental deficiency wasn¡¯t as serious as they had thought, and he was d for that.
¡°Goodbye, Qiao Qiao. Whenever you want to hang out, juste find me.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao, holding onto her pile of plush toys, nodded.
¡°Wow, you managed to win so many dolls,¡± Zhao Ying Junughed and asked Yan Qiao Qiao, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lin Xian great?¡±
¡°He¡¯s great,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao replied sincerely.
¡°Do you like Lin Xian?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she said straightforwardly.
¡°Then next time, we¡¯ll invite him out for fun together, okay?¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded, eyes full of hope as she looked at Lin Xian.
¡°We¡¯ll be going now, Lin Xian.¡± Zhao Ying Jun waved goodbye with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s n to go out with Qiao Qiao next time.¡±
¡°No problem.¡± Lin Xian waved back. ¡°See you next time.¡±
¡
Now ¡°single¡± and ¡°free¡± again, Lin Xian could finally return to the dream world and continue making progress.
It was just before noon.
Lin Xian had a quick bite, theny down on his bed and drifted into sleep.
¡
¡
¡
¡°Did you learn it?¡± Lin Xian asked as he demonstrated Liu Feng¡¯s ¡°Qi Qi Temte¡± to CC.
CC seemed troubled. This type of emotional eye contact was too hard to mimic. She then suggested, ¡°What if we tried a different approach? Instead of walking through those lovebird-filled alleys, what if we climbed over the old town¡¯s rooftops?¡±
¡°No good. It¡¯s only a temporary fix,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Even if we get through the dating hotspots, we still have to cover at least two kilometers of the main road to reach the Queen¡¯s Castle. There are people everywhere, plus patrolling soldiers and mounted cavalry with guns.¡±
¡°Even though my Martian-tech pistol has better uracy, firepower, and range than their muskets, it¡¯s small and only holds seven rounds. Besides, the only time it might be useful is during the actual abduction. With a town full of muskets, a single gun won¡¯t help us. You can¡¯t fight dozens of muskets with one pistol.¡±
¡°So the best, and really the only, way is to act convincingly like a couple in love. That way, we can stroll down the street without anyone suspecting us. Because at night in Queen¡¯s Town, couples are everywhere. If we act well enough to blend in, no one will notice us.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± CC agreed to the n. ¡°I¡¯ll try to perform better and act more like this Qi Qi girl¡¡±
¡
Bang!
The same script yed out.
Even though CC tried her best to y the role of Qi Qi¡ªthe kind, gentle, girl-next-door type¡ªher act was still exposed by Queen¡¯s Town¡¯s ¡°Romance Patrol.¡±
¡°They¡¯re not a real couple! It¡¯s all an act!¡±
After that, the rms red, horses galloped from all directions, and the cold barrels of muskets pressed against their foreheads. One gunshot sent Lin Xian back to reality.
¡°Ugh, I give up,¡± Lin Xian muttered, sitting up in bed. This level was just too hard.
Fighting was impossible.
Firepower couldn¡¯t match the cavalry with muskets.
Acting¡ªCC couldn¡¯t y any type of girl convincingly.
What now?
And to make it worse, in this romantic city of Queen¡¯s Town, everyone was a ¡°love inspector,¡± with keen eyes that could tell real love from fake at a nce! There was no fooling them!
¡°Forget it,¡± Lin Xian decided to abandon the n. ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, I¡¯ll tell everyone to consider n B instead.¡±
The next day, at noon, Lin Xian took another long 12-hour nap.
¡
¡
¡
¡°So, CC, as I said, we need to go with n B. Everyone thought the ¡®pretend to be a couple¡¯ n would be easy, but it¡¯s clearly not,¡± Lin Xian exined.
They were in Big Cat Face¡¯s room in Big Cat¡¯s Vige. Lin Xian had called CC over to discuss what happened in the previous dream loops. ¡°I had to tell you all this upfront. Otherwise, no one would believe how hard it really is. The truth is, we can¡¯t pull off pretending to be a couple.¡±
¡°Old Man Wei Sheng Jin taught you to act shy; Zhu Zi taught you to act tough; my friend Liu Feng guided you to act like the girl next door. But none of these fool the love inspectors in Queen¡¯s Town. They can easily see that we¡¯re acting.¡±
¡°If we¡¯ve tried so many styles and none work, it means this tactic might just be impossible. Let¡¯s agree on something else,¡± he continued.
CC thought for a while, then spoke up. ¡°But you mentioned the rest of Queen¡¯s Town is brightly lit, with lots of patrolling soldiers. Are there really other routes we could use?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t think of any right now. But since the ¡®pretend to be a couple¡¯ n isn¡¯t working, we have toe up with something else¡ªunless we just give up on the safe in the Queen¡¯s Town.¡±
¡°That¡¯s definitely not an option,¡± CC said firmly, shaking her head.
Then¡ She bit her lip, deep in thought, before speaking softly, ¡°Lin Xian, I have a thought about this pretend-to-be-couples n.¡±
CC looked up, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you know why our fake couple act works on Zhu Zi and Big Cat Face?¡±
¡°Because they¡¯re dumb?¡± Lin Xian replied.
CC shook her head. ¡°I see it differently. I think it¡¯s because¡ even though most of our act is fake, there¡¯s still something real in it.¡±
Her tone was sincere and serious. ¡°For example, I said I trust you and that I¡¯d stay by your side even if it meant dying together in Queen¡¯s Town¡ those words were real. They¡¯re my true thoughts.¡±
The light from two oilmps on the table danced in CC¡¯s eyes. ¡°I believe that kind of honesty and truthfulness is what convinced Big Cat Face and the others that we were a couple¡¡±
¡°We didn¡¯t have any intimate gestures or actions. But true is always true, and fake is always fake.¡±
¡°So, I think the ¡®pretend-to-be-couples¡¯ n was doomed from the start because of the way it was taught,¡± she exined.
Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±
¡°Because¡¡± CC looked back at him. ¡°You said they taught me to act shy, strong-willed, or like the girl next door. But, Lin Xian, that¡¯s not me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not shy. I¡¯m not a strong-willed wife. I¡¯m not the girl next door. So, naturally, I can¡¯t y those roles well. I can¡¯t turn something fake into something real.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just me. I¡¯m CC. If there¡¯s anything real in me that could be useful in this mission, it¡¯s my real trust in you, my genuine liking for you, my willingness to live or die with you.¡±
Lin Xian listened to CC and understood what she meant. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡ don¡¯t pretend¡ªjust make it real?¡±
CC nodded.
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°But if there¡¯s no actual romantic feeling, how do we make it real?¡±
¡°Do you like me?¡± he asked.
CC shook her head without hesitation. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of romantic feeling for you. After all, today is just our first meeting, and our previous memories are just two fragmented ones. For me, the total time we¡¯ve known each other is less than 12 hours.¡±
¡°But I can say for sure, Lin Xian, that I don¡¯t dislike you. I admit you have a certain charm sometimes, and I do have some level of affection for you,¡± she said.
¡°So¡¡±
¡°I want to try. I won¡¯t pretend to be any other woman. I¡¯ll just be myself. I¡¯ll show you my simplest, purest, most genuine affection¡ Maybe that¡¯s the real deal, and since it¡¯s genuine, it won¡¯t be exposed,¡± she concluded.
Lin Xian straightened in his chair, looking at the determined CC. ¡°Are you sure you can do it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that I doubt your determination; I¡¯m willing to try with you again.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m curious¡ without any experience in love or seeing any romantic scenes, can you really pull off that feeling of romance?¡±
CC lowered her head and chuckled. ¡°Who¡¯s born knowing how to date? Does love not exist in primitive times without movies, pictures, or even stories?¡±
¡
Two hourster.
Queen¡¯s Town, southwest corner.
Lin Xian and CC sessfully climbed over the wall.
¡°Over to you,¡± Lin Xian said.
CC nodded, extending her right hand under the moonlight. ¡°Give me your hand, Lin Xian. Let¡¯s walk together.¡±
Big hand holding a small hand.
This moment felt like that time, over a month ago, when he jumped from a ne at 20,000 meters and chased through the swirling clouds. At less than 2,000 meters from the ground, Lin Xian caught Chu An Qing¡¯s hand.
The two walked hand in hand.
Under the bright moon, they took step after step forward.
No words.
No extra gestures.
Just holding hands, naturally and calmly, boldly and proudly moving forward.
They passed one alley after another.
They walked by one couple after another.
No one paid them much attention.
Because¡
At that moment, the atmosphere around them wasn¡¯t quite love but certainly genuine affection.
The girl would often turn her head under the moonlight, smiling softly.
Her lively eyes curved into small crescent moons, with dimples faintly appearing at the corners of her mouth as she looked at the man beside her¡ªsomeone she had met and parted with across several worlds.
Her gaze was filled with trust and a sharedmitment to life and death.
Along the way, they reached the main road.
The two kept their peaceful silence, as if all the town¡¯s lights, noise, and chaos had nothing to do with them.
The two-kilometer path from the old town to the Queen¡¯s Castle¡
They passed countless people.
They passed countless soldiers.
Everyone who saw them, or didn¡¯t, gave them approving and reassuring smiles, their eyes full of hope for the younger generation and blessings for a bright future.
¡°Look, we made it!¡± CC said, finally letting go of Lin Xian¡¯s hand when they reached the castle¡¯s outer wall. ¡°It was that easy!¡±
¡°Heh.¡± Lin Xian chuckled, with nothing left to say.
What more was there to say?
It could only be said that sincerity and honesty are the true keys.
Many seemingly simple problems beplicated only because we overthink them.
Love and romance¡
Don¡¯t need to be grand.
Don¡¯t need to be sticky or over-the-top.
The answer is just that simple and pure.
¡°Look, Lin Xian, there¡¯s a back door here,¡± CC said, leading Lin Xian to the back of the Queen¡¯s Castle.
Though Lin Xian called it a castle, it was actually just a normal four- or five-story building. The first floor had a courtyard, but it wasn¡¯t very big. They were now at a back door on the first floor.
Seeing the crudely designed lock, CC quickly pulled out a Martian-tech multifunctional army knife from her waist and cracked it in a few swift moves.
Sure enough, the skills of a password expert must havee from some memory fragment. She never forgot them, no matter the time or ce.
Lin Xian held his gun.
He knew that in the world of hostage-taking, speed was everything. They had to control the hostage in the shortest time!
CC adjusted her army knife to a dagger and waited for Lin Xian¡¯s signal.
¡°Three¡ two¡ one¡ Go!¡±
The two moved like unleashed leopards, swiftly sweeping through every room from bottom to top.
Finally!
On the third floor, they found a bedroom!
The bed covers were puffed up¡ªsomeone was clearly sleeping inside!
Swoosh.
CC moved with agility, jumping onto the bed and yanking the covers down.
¡°Eek¡ª¡± A young girl with a lovely face screamed, covering her face.
CC held her dagger to the girl¡¯s neck. ¡°Shut up. Don¡¯t make a sound!¡±
Lin Xian stood nearby, holding his Martian-tech pistol, aimed at the panicked girl on the bed. ¡°Are you the Queen of Queen¡¯s Town?¡±
¡°Hehe¡¡± Suddenly, a coldugh came from behind them!
Click, click.
A cold pistol pressed against the back of Lin Xian¡¯s head, while another one extended from the side, aiming at CC on the bed.
¡°She¡¯s not the Queen¡¡± From behind them, a slightly raspy but confident voice filled with contempt spoke, ¡°I am.¡±
CC stood there, still holding the dagger to the girl¡¯s neck, not moving.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t turn around. Instead, he used his peripheral vision to nce at the gun pointing at CC.
It was exquisite.
Shiny.
Compact.
Intricate craftsmanship.
One look, and you¡¯d know it couldn¡¯t possibly be a product of the current Earth era!
This so-called Queen¡
Must be from Mars!
¡°Put the gun down, and turn around, boy,¡± the Queen behind him chuckled calmly. ¡°I¡¯m quite curious¡ªwho gave you the courage to barge into Queen¡¯s Town?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t move.
The barrel pressed harder against the back of his head. ¡°I¡¯ll count to three. If you don¡¯t listen¡ then you¡¯ll explode.¡±
Lin Xian was also curious to see who this Queen was.
Whatever. Dead or not, he¡¯d juste back tomorrow.
After all, he now knew the Queen¡¯s real location.
Lin Xian lowered his gun.
Slowly, he turned around.
The night breeze blew in, lifting the huge curtains by the window, letting the moonlight flood in.
The room brightened.
Lin Xian saw the Queen¡¯s face.
She was an elderly woman, probably in herte seventies or eighties. Her frame was thin, but judging by her build and spirit, she was still healthy. At least, her arms didn¡¯t tremble as she held the dual pistols.
At the same time, the old woman with gray hair and a wrinkled face also got a good look at Lin Xian.
She was stunned, unable to believe her eyes, and took a step back. ¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian?¡±
Her breathing quickened, and her pupils trembled. She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You¡ Aren¡¯t you supposed to be¡ dead?¡±
Chapter 378: The End is Near
¡°Lin Xian?¡±
The old woman, her hairpletely white, stared at him with shock and confusion. She squinted, examining his face closely, and suddenly, recognition lit up her eyes.
Both of her pistols slipped from her hands and ttered to the floor. She took a slow step forward, her wrinkled hands reaching out to hold Lin Xian¡¯s face gently. Tears filled her eyes.
¡°You¡ you¡¯re Lin Xian. But¡ how are you still alive? I even went to your funeral!¡±
Her voice trembled with emotion. ¡°And¡ why do you look so young? When you died, you looked just like this. Why haven¡¯t you aged? Am I dreaming?¡±
As she stepped into the moonlight, Lin Xian finally got a good look at her face. Though unfamiliar, something in her eyes seemed familiar¡ªsharp and unique, like those of Middle Eastern descent.
¡°Angelica?¡± Lin Xian guessed cautiously. He didn¡¯t have many foreign friends, and Angelica was the only one who came to mind. She was known as Lust, thest of the Seven Deadly Sins, a chameleon actress from Hollywood.
Once he thought of her, he couldn¡¯t help but notice how much she resembled the Angelica he remembered. Despite her raspy, aged voice, her tone was still the same as in 2024. She was the only one who had ever called him ¡°boy.¡±¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Angelica¡¯s emotions were overwhelming. ¡°You still remember me, Lin Xian! You remember me! If this isn¡¯t a dream¡ then what¡¯s going on?¡±
Lin Xian turned to CC and signaled her to lower her guard and put down her dagger. He hadn¡¯t expected the Queen to be someone he knew¡ªsomeone who hadn¡¯t forgotten him!
Seeing Angelica break down in tears, Lin Xian didn¡¯t know how to react. He hadn¡¯t died, and he hadn¡¯t been frozen in time. Clearly, there was a huge gap in their understanding of what had happened. They needed to talk more.
Using his sleeve, he gently wiped away Angelica¡¯s tears. Smiling softly, he asked, ¡°Did you disguise yourself to avoid being recognized?¡±
Was this another one of the chameleon actress¡¯s performances? But as he touched the warm wrinkles on her face, he noticed there were no ck roots in her hair. Her tears weren¡¯t smudging any makeup.
Lin Xian paused for a moment. Angelica had once told him that disguises shouldn¡¯t be exposed to water; otherwise, they¡¯de apart. Yet, even with tears streaming down her face, nothing wasing off. Suddenly, Lin Xian understood.
This wasn¡¯t one of the chameleon¡¯s tricks. The aging was real. The actress who had dazzled the Oscars and the world had finally sumbed to time.
Her beauty, youth, and the passage of time had caught up with her. Years had taken everything away, leaving only an elderly body and a wrinkled face.
Lin Xian epted this reality.
Even the ageless witch would age one day.
Thinking back to his visit to Rhine Vige, he remembered that the vige head, Zheng Xiang Yue, looked even older than Angelica now. If Angelica hadn¡¯t identified herself, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have recognized her at all.
Aging, it seemed, was a harsh reality.
Though Lin Xian had seen many elderly people and witnessed the cycle of life and death many times before, this was different.
Just days ago, he had seen them full of youthful energy, and now, in this dream, he saw two elderly women, stumbling in their twilight years.
The stark contrast was a shock to Lin Xian¡¯s senses.
¡°Angelica,¡± Lin Xian continued to wipe her tears. When she had calmed down, he asked softly, ¡°What happened over these past few centuries? Can you tell me? My situation is a bitplicated to exin, but I assure you¡ªI am indeed Lin Xian, the real Lin Xian. Perhaps, in your memory, I am already dead¡ but don¡¯t get too worked up. Just tell me the history as you know it.¡±
Angelica¡¯s appearance here, and everything she had said, had left Lin Xian stunned. He decided it was best to hear her story first. In the Fifth Dream, after searching for so long, he had finally found someone who knew the truth. And it was an old friend from centuries ago.
Maybe what Angelica had to say would reveal the most urate version of history.
Angelica nodded. She walked back to a wooden wardrobe and pulled out a notebook sealed in stic, handing it to Lin Xian.
¡°This is the source of my memory¡¡±
¡°To keep my memories intact, I wrote down many notebooks and recorded lots of videos. When I woke up from hibernation on Mars, all these materials were still there, and I got back a lot of my memory.¡±
¡°Although they are all fragmented andck emotion, like scenes from a movie, I still remember things from centuries ago. Anything noted in the journals or videos, I remember.¡±
¡°But now, after all these years, I only have this one left. This is¡ my most cherished and precious one.¡±
Lin Xian took the notebook and opened it.
Inside, it was filled with handwritten letters from Angelica to her future self. The earlier pages mostly talked about her rtionship with Ji Lin, starting from when he was a baby brought in suddenly, growing up, achieving things, and finally meeting his end in Donghai.
After that, there were notes on daily life, then some records involving Lin Xian¡ªlike their meetings in the U.S., the kidnapping by Elon Musk, and other events.
She left nothing out.
It was clear that Angelica¡¯s hibernation was carefully nned.
The notebook even detailed many conversations between Lin Xian and herself, including his promise.
The notebook read:
¡°Lin Xian promised me that he would one day pass the Genius Club¡¯s test, attend their gatherings, and interact with the genius members. He would gather clues, find out who was really behind Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡¯ murder, and then share that information with me, helping me get my revenge. I believe in Lin Xian. He is the only friend Ji Lin ever acknowledged in this world. Since Ji Lin trusted him, I trust him too. No matter how long it takes, I will wait for Lin Xian to give me the answer. But¡ we agreed on this, and then suddenly, Lin Xian died. What should I do? Can I still wait for the answer?¡±
Further in, the notes became more about other things unrted to Lin Xian. At the very end of the notebook, a simple line noted that Angelica nned to enter the hibernation pod in December 2024. She hoped that when she woke up, she would see a beautiful world.
And, she still wished¡ To have a chance to avenge Ji Lin and Lin Xian.
Reading this, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel moved. Even though he had no real sense of his death, from Angelica¡¯s perspective, she had attended his funeral. Despite him not being able to keep his promise, she had no resentment. Even after his death, she considered him on the same level as Ji Lin.
Not only did she want revenge for Ji Lin, but she also wanted revenge for him.
Lin Xian sighed.
He didn¡¯t know what to say.
Putting aside all his previous doubts about Angelica, he had to admit she was a brave, loyal, and determined woman. Especially loyal. Just because he was Ji Lin¡¯s friend, she trusted himpletely. Because he was Ji Lin¡¯s friend, she thought about avenging him, even as a mere normal woman.
The facts of his supposed death seemed to line up with what Zheng Xiang Yue had mentioned.
Back then, Elon Musk and Zheng Xiang Yue were on the moon, looking at Earth. Zheng Xiang Yue asked Elon Musk if he knew Brother Lin Xian.
Elon Musk clearly did but stayed silent, not answering.
Then Zheng Xiang Yue asked if they could see Brother Lin Xian again in the future.
At that moment, Elon Musk said something interesting, ¡°If the person you want to see is in your heart, then it¡¯s as if you¡¯ve already seen them.¡±
From that statement, it was easy to guess¡
Lin Xian had probably died a long time ago.
Turning to the final page, it was nk.
When Lin Xian looked up, Angelica continued her story:
¡°It was Elon Musk who convinced me to go into hibernation. He said that after your death, I might also be in danger. For safety¡¯s sake, he suggested I sleep for a while and wake up in a more stable future.¡±
¡°Elon Musk promised to wake me at the right time and safe moment. He also assured me that he wouldn¡¯t stop me from getting my revenge. If he ever found out who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents or who killed you, he would definitely tell me.¡±
¡°I thought I¡¯d wake up noter than thirty years or so. To avoid losing my memory, I prepared many notebooks and videos.¡±
¡°But to my shock, when I finally woke up, it was hundreds of yearster, and not on Earth, but far away on Mars.¡±
¡°Of course, it was Elon Musk who woke me up from hibernation. He gave me all the notebooks and videos I had prepared to help me get back my memory.¡±
¡°I remember your face from those videos. There were many news reports, articles, photos, and footage of you. That¡¯s how I knew our rtionship must have been good.¡±
So that¡¯s how it was¡
Lin Xian understood.
He first thought something magical had happened to Angelica, letting her remember him across centuries. But it turned out to be the hard way¡ªthrough notebooks and videos.
But that was the only way.
From what happened to Elder Wei Sheng Jin and Zheng Xiang Yue, it seemed even with human advancements on Mars, the side effect of memory loss from hibernation had no solution.
Lin Xian could tell that Angelica had lost most of her memories. Only the things about Ji Lin and his promise to her were important enough for her to document in detail.
As for other past events and memories, she had likely forgotten them long ago.
¡°And after that?¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°What happened when you woke up on Mars? And why are you on Earth now?¡±
Angelica took a deep breath and continued:
¡°After I got back my memories, of course, I went to find Elon Musk. I asked him why he woke me sote. It had been hundreds of years¡ When I learned and epted everything, I was devastated.¡±
¡°You know, my reason for living was to get revenge for you and my brother, Ji Lin¡ Though, because of memory loss, it doesn¡¯t feel real to me. But I believe in what I wrote, and I¡¯m willing to follow through with it.¡±
¡°But after just one sleep, hundreds of years had passed. Who am I supposed to get revenge on now? My enemies are probably all dead by now. I thought maybe Elon Musk had already avenged me, which would make it easier for me to ept.¡±
¡°After all, he was the undisputed leader on Mars at that time. And human civilization had long left Earth and moved to Mars. So, it¡¯s no exaggeration to say Elon Musk was the ruler of all humanity then¡ What couldn¡¯t he do?¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement.
¡°Then what happened¡?¡±
Angelica sighed and smiled sadly, ¡°I was expecting to hear news of victory, but instead, Elon Musk told me something much worse.¡±
¡°He said he had failed.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why he woke me up, to protect me, and sent me to the empty Earth.¡±
Angelica looked out at the bright moonlight and continued:
¡°Elon Musk didn¡¯t exin much. But I could tell he knew for sure that a huge disaster would hit Earth in 2400¡ Yes, he knew exactly! He knew in advance! That¡¯s why he moved so many hibernation pods to Mars for safekeeping, including mine.¡±
¡°I thought he woke me up to fight alongside him, or asrades for revenge. But unexpectedly, after hundreds of years, he just told me he had failed and wanted to send me to Earth on a spaceship for my safety.¡±
¡°He said Earth would bepletely safe. Though the living conditions were worse, it would never be found by enemies. He said he¡¯d make a final attempt, and if he seeded, he¡¯de to Earth to get me; if not¡ he told me to live peacefully on Earth and not think too much.¡±
¡
¡°Failed? Elon Musk failed?¡±
Lin Xian was surprised. From what he knew, Elon Musk had won big in the Fifth Dream. Despite everything, his n to colonize Mars had worked, and Mars had reced Earth as humanity¡¯s new home.
Elder Wei Sheng Jin had even said that SpaceX, Musk¡¯spany, held absolute power on Mars. Elon Musk¡¯s status was so high that he could be considered the ruler. Even though Musk died decades ago, it was said he died of natural causes.
Could there be another side to the story?
Lin Xian rubbed his chin, deep in thought. ¡°It seems like there are many different versions of what happened over these centuries. It¡¯s hard to say who¡¯s telling the truth or which parts are true or false.¡±
He continued, ¡°But if Elon Musk hasn¡¯t returned to Earth to find you all these years, maybe he did fail somehow.¡±
¡°What you¡¯ve told me is quite surprising. I always thought this future was the one Elon Musk hoped for. Most of his goals and dreams have been realized. So, why did he say he failed in the end?¡±
Angelica shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t figure it out either. If someone like him, seen as a savior who led human civilization on Mars, considers that a failure¡ then what would count as sess?¡±
¡°I also can¡¯t understand how someone so powerful on Mars could be defeated by anyone.¡±
¡°In any case, Lin Xian, that¡¯s how it is. Elon Musk secretly sent me to Earth; no one knew about it, and my name was never made public.¡±
¡°Since he never came to get me, I figured he must have faced difficulties or even died. But I couldn¡¯t just sit around and give up, so I had to find a way to survive on Earth, and preferably, gain some strength to protect myself.¡±
¡°Elon Musk prepared a lot of books for me when he sent me to Earth. They were very helpful, and I quickly became a local leader, helping the natives build a new home.¡±
¡°But it wasn¡¯t all smooth sailing; many things happened along the way. Fortunately, the results were good. See, I eventually established Queen¡¯s Town, began industrial development, and grew stronger. These decades on Earth have just¡ flown by.¡±
The now elderly Angelica finished her story.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian managed to piece together the future timeline of the Fifth Dream in his mind:
First, he died sometime before December 2024. Then Angelica, persuaded by Elon Musk, entered a hibernation pod. One reason was to avoid danger; another reason might have been Musk¡¯s n to have Angelica disappear from that time and wake up in the future to ¡°support the future.¡±
But something unexpected must have happenedter, and ns changed. Musk never woke Angelica from hibernation as nned. Perhaps Musk faced some trouble, or maybe there was always a crisis around him, so for safety, he never woke her up.
Then, in 2400, a massive disaster hit Earth, almost destroying human civilization and making Earth uninhabitable. Decades of war and famine swept across the world. But before that time, Musk was already developing Mars and had moved many hibernation pods there, avoiding the disaster on Earth.
Zheng Xiang Yue and Angelica¡¯s hibernation pods were all kept on Mars, arranged by Musk, no doubt. Although it was Lin Xian who bought Zheng Xiang Yue a ticket to the moon, the final promise was still made by Musk. Since he knew a massive catastrophe would strike Earth in 2400, he would naturally move her away in advance.
After that, Earth was abandoned, and Mars developed rapidly. Everything seemed to go ording to Musk¡¯s n. Yet, for some reason, Musk still believed he had failed. So, almost like leaving a will, he woke up Angelica from the hibernation pod. For safety, he didn¡¯t tell her much but sent the still-young Angelica to Earth to hide.
No ce would be safer than the abandoned Earth. Inteary transport between Earth and Mars was strictly controlled to one trip every two years. If you dared to visit Earth, you¡¯d have to wait two years to return. This effectively cut off allmunication between Earth and Mars. So, if hiding was the goal, Earth would be the safest choice.
ording to Angelica, Musk didn¡¯t die of natural causes as Zheng Xiang Yue and Elder Wei Sheng Jin had imed. Instead, he was murdered or died in some conflict. These conflicts were not out in the open but, like the things Lin Xian was dealing with now, hidden beneath the flow of history and the fog of time.
But there was still one thing Lin Xian found unbelievable. ¡°Who on Mars, where Musk was so powerful, could have killed him so quietly?¡± he wondered.
On Earth, Musk was just a wealthy tycoon; but on Mars, it was different¡ªhe was the ruler of the. With such power and influence, could he be overthrown and assassinated, only to have it disguised as dying of old age? It just didn¡¯t seem that simple.
So then, in the established history of the Fifth Dream, could the person who killed Lin Xian and the one who killed Musk be the same?
Lin Xian had a general understanding of this period in history. Now it was time to ask the questions that mattered to him. Looking at Angelica, he asked softly, ¡°Your notebook doesn¡¯t record my death date, but do you remember it? Do you still know the exact day I died?¡±
Angelica nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true; it¡¯s not in this notebook, but it was recorded in the others. Although I lost the other notebooks while struggling on Earth over the years, I remember your death date very clearly¡ªJuly 7th, 2024. That¡¯s the day you died.¡±
Hmm?
Lin Xian was stunned.
2024?
And July 7th?
That soon!?
It¡¯s alreadyte May 2024! Doesn¡¯t that mean, ording to history, he only has less than two months left to live?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath and asked, ¡°So how did I die? A car ident? An ident?¡±
¡°No¡¡± Angelica shook her head and closed her eyes. ¡°You were murdered. And¡ it was brutal¡¡±
¡°Your head was cut off in one stroke, right at the neck. You died instantly.¡±
Chapter 379: Who Am I?
¡°Decapitation?¡±
Hearing this shocking word, Lin Xian¡¯s mind shed back to an intense moment from two weeks ago¡ªthe fight between the real and fake Yu Xi in an abandoned factory.
The battle between these two unstoppable fighters was quick and brutal. Their moves were like a dance of des cutting through the air, drenched in blood. Both were so skilled they could kill each other with just one strike, but their constant back-and-forth madending that fatal blow nearly impossible.
In the end, Lin Yu Xi proved to be the better fighter. When the fake Yu Xi went for a taser, Lin Yu Xi seized the moment. She sidestepped and swung her knife in a precise arc, cleanly decapitating the fake Yu Xi!
In that split second, the fake Yu Xi¡¯s head flew off at an angle, eyes wide open and still moving, as if her brain hadn¡¯t realized it was no longer attached to the body. Blood gushed out like a fountain from the severed neck.
That scene¡ It was like a gruesome masterpiece, burned deeply into Lin Xian¡¯s memory.
But ording to what Angelica had said, in just 40 days, he might be part of another gruesome scene like that.
Who would kill him? Who would be the murderer?Only one name came to Lin Xian¡¯s mind: Lin Yu Xi.
In reality, cutting off someone¡¯s head with sheer force is no easy task. Only someone like Lin Yu Xi or the fake Yu Xi¡ªenhanced humans from the future¡ªcould have that kind of terrifying power. They could rip off car doors with their bare hands, so decapitating someone with a sharp de wouldn¡¯t be a problem.
Besides, beheading is a brutal way to kill. Skilled killers know that stabbing is much easier and more reliable. Beheading is tricky, prone to mistakes, and hard to pull off.
But for someone like Lin Yu Xi, this concern doesn¡¯t exist. Beheading is fast and precise, ending the fight in one move, leaving no chance for the opponent to fight back.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would kill him in such a violent and daring way.
¡°Interesting¡¡± Lin Xian murmured. ¡°Could it be that Lin Yu Xi is still in this timeline and hasn¡¯t vanished into blue star dust?¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian realized that he and Elon Musk had been wrong. They had optimistically assumed that Lin Yu Xi would disappear like that future sh drive, dissolving into blue star dust. After all, the tangled time-space particles had been destroyed, and Copernicus¡¯s time loop was broken. There was no reason for Lin Yu Xi to continue existing, right?
Lin Xian understood the logic behind time travelers not disappearing when the world line changes. For example, take Yellow Finch. No one knew which time, world line, or time coordinate she came from, yet she remained unaffected by the changes. She never disappeared, despite three major transformations in the future world.
This was something Lin Xian had known for a while¡ªtime travelers who travel back to the past are detached from their original timeline and won¡¯t disappear with world line changes. Yellow Finch was the best proof of this. Despite multiple changes in world lines and time-space curvature, she didn¡¯t vanish like the sh drive.
So, in theory, neither Lin Yu Xi nor the fake Yu Xi would disappear due to these changes in world lines and time-space curvature. There were only two ways to make a time traveler disappear:
Kill the time traveler.
Destroy the time particles the traveler uses in the current timeline.
Lin Xian and Elon Musk both believed this theory. But now, it seemed they had made a mistake somewhere. Whether it was a problem with the theory or if Elon Musk¡¯s entangled time-space particle was just unusually unique, the result was clear¡
Lin Yu Xi was most likely still lurking in the current timeline.
Lin Xian reached up and touched his neck, feeling a slight chill.
¡°Did they catch the murderer?¡± Lin Xian asked Angelica. ¡°Was my death ever solved? Did the police catch the killer?¡±
Angelica shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know because my notebook didn¡¯t go into that much detail. It only recorded your death. But I guess even if the direct killer was caught, the mastermind probably wasn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Otherwise¡ why would my notebook say I wanted to avenge you? Knowing my personality, I think neither the direct killer nor the mastermind was caught, so I would want revenge.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. It didn¡¯t matter who it was¡ªthe direct killer or the mastermind¡ªthey were all his enemies. He needed to be on guard against them and take them down. Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself. He knew this well.
He just hadn¡¯t expected that the battle between him and Lin Yu Xi wasn¡¯t over and would explode again in 40 days, with his head rolling as the real ending.
¡°Haunted forever,¡± he muttered under his breath.
Putting this issue aside, there was another question to consider.
Who was the killer who murdered Elon Musk in the Fifth Dream world? As the Governor of Mars, there weren¡¯t many who could take him down. He was at the pinnacle of human civilization.
So, was it a traitor from within? Or an enemy from beyond humanity? These were the only two possibilities Lin Xian could think of. But guessing wouldn¡¯t help now. The case had gone cold, with no evidence left to examine.
To Zheng Xiang Yue and Old Man Wei Sheng Jin, Elon Musk¡¯s death appeared to be natural, as if he had died of old age. Undoubtedly, on the day he passed, the entire Martian poption would have mourned him deeply. Maybe the killer was hidden among those who pretended to cry and wipe away their tears.
As for Angelica¡
She didn¡¯t know the right answer either. From the moment she left Mars, she¡¯dpletely severed her ties there.
Lin Xian looked up and asked again, ¡°Did Elon Musk ever say anything about his death?¡±
Angelica shook her head again. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. I kept asking him, but he wouldn¡¯t tell me. Maybe he had good intentions. Or maybe he felt I couldn¡¯t help him anyway, so telling me would be pointless.¡±
¡°But I always suspected something¡¡± Angelica squinted her eyes. ¡°This is something I realized only after arriving on Earth. You might have heard of it, Lin Xian¡ªlong-term hibernation can cause memory loss, and the safe limit is generally ten years.¡±
¡°In other words, as long as you wake up within ten years, there¡¯s little risk of memory loss. If you want to avoid losing memories while staying in long-term hibernation, there¡¯s only one way: wake up every ten years, live normally for about six months to solidify your memories, and then go back to sleep.¡±
¡°This kind of stop-and-go hibernation damages the body significantly. It can cause untreatable neural pain and may even develop a resistance to hibernation, leading to fatal hibernation sickness.¡±
¡°Generally, nobody uses this method long-term. It¡¯s like slow suicide. But¡ Elon Musk used this method to ensure he wouldn¡¯t lose his memories. This fact is well-known in Mars¡¯ history education¡ªeveryone knows why Elon Musk hasn¡¯t forgotten anything for centuries.¡±
Lin Xian listened to Angelica¡¯s exnation. He didn¡¯t find it strange. He¡¯d encountered things like this before and didn¡¯t quite understand what she was trying to express.
¡°What are you trying to say? I don¡¯t quite get your point.¡±
He asked, confused, ¡°If Elon Musk woke up every ten years to stabilize his memories, check Mars¡¯ progress, give new instructions, and set the next ten-year n, it all logically adds up, right?¡±
¡°If we roughly calcte, about 600 years have passed. Let¡¯s say 600 years. He woke up 60 times, each time for six months, a total of 30 years.¡±
¡°Even if you say it damages the body, scientifically speaking, Elon Musk¡¯s not losing his memories for centuries is exinable.¡±
¡°No¡¡± Angelica interrupted Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Lin Xian. You didn¡¯t let me finish.¡±
She blinked and continued. ¡°By your logic, there¡¯s no problem. In extreme cases, Elon Musk would be just over 80 years old when he reached the future. But¡ the Elon Musk I saw was very young, very healthy¡ªdefinitely not over 60!¡±
¡°The official story on Mars was that Elon Musk was heavily invested in beauty, health, and rejuvenation, using advanced medical technology to stay young.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin. He thought for a moment. Then he shook his head.
¡°That sounds odd. I¡¯ve heard Mars doesn¡¯t have that kind of advanced medical tech. And even if they did¡ why would someone like Elon Musk need to care about beauty? It sounds more like an excuse.¡±
¡°It¡¯s as if¡ Elon Musk is hiding how unnaturally young he looks.¡±
¡°What¡¯s his purpose, though? And he¡¯s the most watched public figure. His hibernation and activities are fully transparent. I have other friends from Mars, and they speak highly of him, saying he¡¯s always been active in history and involved in many important projects.¡±
¡°So how did he do it? How did he avoid memory loss by waking up every ten years, stay active in history, participate in key projects, and still look so young?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a series of contradictions. Unless¡¡±
Lin Xian paused, squinting his eyes. ¡°The fake double.¡±
He thought of Elon Musk¡¯s convincing double. Immediately, he understood the hidden meaning in Angelica¡¯s words.
¡°I get it now. You¡¯re saying that over these hundreds of years, there could have been two Elon Musks¡ªmaybe three or four.¡±
¡°They appeared on Mars at different times, organized and disciplined, to y the real Elon Musk.¡±
¡°So where¡¯s the real Elon Musk? He might have been asleep somewhere all this time, maybe still not awake. All the Elon Musks people have seen are fake! Naturally, the one who died¡ could also be fake.¡±
Angelica nodded. ¡°Exactly, Lin Xian. That¡¯s the possibility I thought of.¡±
¡°That¡¯s also the thought that kept me going all these years on Earth. I didn¡¯t give up hope or fall into despair.¡±
¡°After all, it¡¯s Elon Musk¡ such a smart man. My notebook even mentions him using a ¡®Fake¡¯ to lure enemies into traps. So, by the same logic¡¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t Elon Musk also use doubles throughout these hundreds of years? Wouldn¡¯t he use them even in the so-calledst attempt? Could the one who died in the end also be a double? Is the real Elon Musk still out there somewhere in the universe?¡±
¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°I also think Elon Musk, being as cunning as he is, would use the trick he mastered centuries ago more than once.¡±
Lin Xian recalled the time he almost killed the ¡°Fakester.¡± During the debrief with the real Elon Muskter, Elon Musk mentioned¡ that having a double was beneficial. If it hadn¡¯t been for that convincing double, Lin Xian¡¯s modified taser would have sent Elon Musk to his grave.
Lin Xian was no fool. He knew that someone as smart as Elon Musk might have had some backup ns.
It made sense why Angelica was still holding onto hope, possibly waiting for Musk to show up and fulfill his promises. But¡
At this moment, Lin Xian didn¡¯t have the luxury of worrying about whether Elon Musk was alive or dead.
The first and most pressing issue was that the White Light was going to destroy the world at 12:42. Even if Musk were still alive, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have time to find him. Meeting Musk was pointless now.
Secondly, Lin Xian had bigger problems. Forget about what might happen 600 years from now; he was already struggling to survive in 2024!
Today was May 18, 2024.
In just 40 days, on July 7th, he was destined to lose his head.
So, the question of whether Elon Musk was real or not could wait.
Right now, the most important thing was to stay alive.
¡°Not easy,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
July 7th was too close. Changing the near future wasn¡¯t as simple as altering events 600 years ahead. The closer the future, the harder it was to change. That¡¯s part of the time-space butterfly effect. With enough time, small changes could lead to big differences. But with only 40 days, even if he turned the future world upside down, it might not be enough to stop the time assassin, Lin Yu Xi, from killing him.
This wasn¡¯t like the time Zhao Ying Jun was brought back to life. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s death was an ident, something that could be avoided by not being in the wrong ce at the wrong time.
But a time assassin was different!
She was actively hunting him. Even if he hid at the National Security Bureau on July 7th, she coulde after him on July 8th, or July 9th, or any other day after that¡
The thought gave Lin Xian a headache.
¡°But Elon Musk destroyed the entangled time-space particle¡ so the time assassin Lin Yu Xi should be affected, right?¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. Lin Yu Xi seemed invincible, like she was immune to the rules of time. Even destroying time particles hadn¡¯t made her disappear. Was she really beyond thews of the universe, untouchable by any force?
It felt like she was cheating the system.
Was there really no one who could stop her?
Was there nothing that could restrain Lin Yu Xi?
After a long pause, Lin Xian forced himself to calm down.
Maybe things weren¡¯t as bad as they seemed.
¡°If destroying the entangled time-space particle didn¡¯t hurt Lin Yu Xi, why did she flee so quickly back then?¡±
That was a critical point.
It suggested that Lin Yu Xi must have been injured, and the destruction of the time particle had indeed caused her significant harm.
Secondly¡
There was another important clue.
Why was she waiting until July 7th to kill him?
During this time, he had let his guard down, even taking Yan Qiao Qiao out for street walks and ying w machine games. If Lin Yu Xi really wanted to kill him, why hadn¡¯t she done it earlier?
This led to a crucial deduction: The current Lin Yu Xi must be under some kind of restriction, preventing her from attacking him. She could only lift that restriction by July 7th, which was when she would resume her pursuit.
Which meant¡
The next 40 days might actually be safe for him!
Whatever he did during these 40 days could be the key to changing his fate, maybe even turning things aroundpletely.
Forty days.
This was his countdown to survival, hisst chance to get stronger.
Meanwhile, CC, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, started putting the pieces together. She tucked away her Martian tech multi-function knife and approached Lin Xian.
¡°Looks like sneaking into Queens Town this time was a waste,¡± she said, pointing first at the elderly Angelica and then at Lin Xian. ¡°You two seem so familiar¡ if there were a safe with your name on it, she would have noticed it by now.¡±
¡°True,¡± Lin Xian replied, looking at Angelica. ¡°I heard there are more than a dozen aluminum alloy safes in Queens Town. Do you know all the names on them? Is mine there? Number 66?¡±
Angelica shook her head. ¡°Definitely not yours. I would remember your name clearly. Like the young girl said, I would have told you if there was one.¡±
¡°Can you take us to check them out?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I want to see the other safes.¡±
Even though he was disappointed that his safe wasn¡¯t there, he still wanted to check the numbers. Maybe he could find something between 1 and 266 that matched the safes in Time Bank in 2024.
Things would be easier after that. They could swap out the rice cooker for the safe. He could do it tomorrow morning ande back with CC tomorrow night to open it together.
¡°No problem,¡± Angelica agreed right away. ¡°Wait for me while I change my clothes.¡±
With that, she turned and walked into a nearby changing room.
Soon after, the elderly Angelica, now dressed in formal attire, led Lin Xian and CC downstairs and toward a warehouse-like building not far away.
Lin Xian held up a ss oilmp as he walked beside Angelica. ¡°There are rumors in the vige outside that you opened several aluminum alloy safes and gained weapons and great power, which is how you established Queens Town.¡±
Angelica chuckled softly. ¡°That¡¯s just a story I spread to mislead people. Think about it¡ªhow could there be weapons, powerful abilities, or engineering books in these time capsule-like safes?¡±
¡°I did open a few safes, it¡¯s true. It took me many years, but all I found were some trivial things. Diaries, mementos, random junk¡ almost all of it was garbage.¡±
¡°So after forcing open a few of the safes, I just threw them all in the warehouse and never bothered with them again. The story about gaining weapons and power from the safes? That was just a cover to hide my true Martian origins.¡±
¡°Even though Elon Musk imed Earth was absolutely safe, is anything ever really safe? Less trouble is always better. Queens Town grew because of the academic books Elon Musk gave me, but I kept that truth to myself, even here.¡±
They reached the warehouse, and Angelica instructed the guards to open the door, leading Lin Xian and CC inside.
The warehouse wasn¡¯trge, just a bit bigger than an average house. Eight safes were stacked against one wall, covered in cobwebs and dust. Opposite them, six opened safes were filled with random items.
Lin Xian checked the six opened safes first. He was disappointed¡ªall the numbers were above 1000, making them useless to him.
He then examined the eight unopened safes. Their numbers were also high, ranging from the 400s to over 1000, with none below 400.
He thought back to the safes he had dug up and those found in the vige¡ªnone of them had numbers below 400 either. What could this mean?
Could it be that Time Bank had expandedter on and added more safes in a different location?
Come to think of it, that was possible.
The current Time Bank, run by Brother Wang, was located in a prime spot in the city center¡¯smercial district, bustling with activity. But it was also an expensive area, so after filling the warehouse with 266 safes, it must have been packed. If they wanted to add more safes or expand the warehouseter, they would have had to buy the shop next door or find another location to open a branch and store the new safes.
If that were the case, then this area might be the ruins of Time Bank¡¯s branch, exining why the safes here had such high numbers.
¡°Lin Xian! Look at this!¡± CC called out, crouching in the far corner and wiping the namete on a safe clean with a nearby cloth.
The number read: 724
The name on it was: Wei Sheng Jin
¡°Mr. Wei¡¯s safe!¡± Lin Xian was surprised by the discovery.
He had been so focused on the hundreds digit of the safe numbers that he hadn¡¯t noticed this one. Who would have thought they¡¯d identally find Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s safe here?
Lin Xian stepped closer and examined the safe. Sure enough, it was the real Wei Sheng Jin!
He remembered seeing the photo in Grandpa Wei¡¯s bag, so he knew thebination. He reached out and twisted thebination dial, aligning the eight dials to the numbers from the photo¡ª
23730907
This was the password Grandpa Wei had set before going into hibernation. Even he didn¡¯t know what it meant.
Lin Xian¡¯s hand moved toward thetch, ready to press it¡
But he stopped midway.
He felt the weight of years, memories, and self-awareness pressing on him. He hesitated, then withdrew his fingers and looked at CC and Angelica.
¡°Grandpa Wei is just outside the walls. We should let him open this safe himself. It would mean more to him that way.¡±
The Queen was indeed the Queen, and her authority was absolute. With a singlemand from Angelica, a group of strong horses galloped away, the city gates opened, and they politely invited Old Man Wei Sheng Jin inside.
When he arrived at the warehouse, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin was genuinely overwhelmed upon seeing the white-haired Queen, Lin Xian, and CC,
¡°You two¡ you¡¯re both here?¡±
He wasn¡¯t sure what to say. He was genuinely shocked that Lin Xian and CC had managed to handle Queens Town so easily.
¡°Come on, Mr. Wei, don¡¯t just stand there,¡± Lin Xian smiled and waved him over, pointing to the aluminum alloy safe. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t this the safe you¡¯ve been searching for all this time?¡±
Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s eyes widened. He immediately knelt, stroking the namete with his name on it repeatedly. The te was still shiny, without a trace of age.
But the person who closed this safe years ago was a teenager; the one opening it now was an elderly man¡
If the spring breeze has pity for flowers, can it let me be young again?
Wei Sheng Jin tightened his lips, unable to believe that this time capsule, sealed for centuries, had finallye full circle and returned to him. He didn¡¯t remember being here before, but he had been. He didn¡¯t remember what he had put inside, but he had ced something there.
His index finger trembled as he slowly moved it toward thetch, hesitating several times but unable to push it¡
¡°I understand how you feel,¡± said Angelica softly, her graying hair and deep-set eyes reflecting her own experiences.
¡°When I first woke up from the hibernation pod, my mind was nk. I didn¡¯t know who I was until a doctor examined me and told me my name was Angelica.¡±
¡°A few dayster, Elon Musk found me. He didn¡¯t immediately give me those notebooks and tapes. Instead, he said¡¡±
She cleared her throat and mimicked Elon Musk¡¯s voice.
¡°Angelica, your life has been brilliant, but it has always been filled with pain and sorrow. Most of what¡¯s written in your notebook is about farewells and regrets¡¡±
¡°You can choose not to look back at these memories and just forget them. Pretend they never happened¡ªwouldn¡¯t that be better?¡±
¡°You¡¯d still be Angelica, but a new Angelica¡ªhappy, free from pain, without any burdens, no farewells, no regrets.¡±
¡°That¡¯s something many people dream of. There are too many people in this world tortured by painful memories, unable to ept them or move on.¡±
¡°In any era, there are those who can¡¯t bear their sadness and choose to end their lives. For them, losing their memories would be a rare and unattainable cure. If there were a drug that couldpletely erase memories and let them start anew, it would sell very well.¡±
¡°So¡ are you really sure you want to embrace your old self, fall back into regret and suffering, miss those you¡¯re destined never to see again, and chase dreams that you know will nevere true?¡±
Angelica crossed her arms and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s what Elon Musk told me back then.¡±
¡°He must have known his end was near, so he was advising me not to read those notebooks, not to try to reim my past self, but to forget everything and embrace a new life.¡±
Hearing this, Lin Xian nced at CC. This felt like a conversation they had once had back in Rhine Vige.
At that time, Zheng Xiang Yue had asked Lin Xian to tell her the truth about her past. But Lin Xian hesitated, worried about what might happen. His concerns were the same as Elon Musk¡¯s. Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s past was filled with pain and regret, without a single moment of joy. Why would anyone want to remember such things?
But back then, CC had said:
¡°Even if they¡¯re bad and sad memories, they¡¯re still memories. Only with all of our memories can we truly be ourselves. Whose memories are always happy? People have moments of joy and sorrow, just like how the moon waxes and wanes¡¡±
¡°Does a half-moon mean it¡¯s not a moon?¡±
This made Lin Xian think of the Ship of Theseus. If you rece every part of a ship, is it still the same ship? If a person loses all their memories, are they still the same person? Is there a real answer to this question?
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin had also talked about this before. Many people who woke up from hibernation on Mars chose to forget their original memories and start fresh. They often lived happy lives. But others, who decided to keep their old memories, became unhappy, bitter, and sometimes even ended up taking their own lives or seeking revenge on society.
In their final moments in court, these people often cried and regretted their choice. They would say, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have taken back my memories¡ I just couldn¡¯t move on. I should have left them behind!¡±
So¡ is there a real answer to this question?
The three of them¡ªLin Xian, CC, and Elon Musk¡ªturned to look at Old Man Wei Sheng Jin, who was hesitating. What would he choose?
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin took a deep breath. His finger hovered over thetch as he said softly, ¡°Thank you for your advice, Your Majesty.¡±
¡°But¡ in the end, you chose to ept your past self, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°I often wonder¡ what if the notebook they gave me when I woke up from hibernation was wrong? What if¡ this notebook isn¡¯t mine, but belongs to someone else named Wei Sheng Jin?¡±
¡°Is it possible that my name isn¡¯t Wei Sheng Jin at all? That I¡¯ve been living my life based on someone else¡¯s memories, following what¡¯s written in that notebook, bing someone named Wei Sheng Jin?¡±
¡°This¡ is why I came to Earth.¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin opened his eyes, his gaze strong and determined.
¡°I want to find out the truth, to know¡ who I really am!¡±
With that, his right hand pressed down hard.
Bang¡ª
A deep thud echoed through the room.
The safe that had been sealed for centuries finally opened with a sound.
Chapter 380: I Said I Loved You Centuries Ago
Creak¡ª
Under the dim light of a few oilmps, the old safe of Wei Sheng Jin slowly opened, releasing a small puff of dust into the air.
Lin Xian, CC, and Angelica leaned forward, their curiosity piqued, and peered inside.
It was nearly empty. The only thing inside was a small, t metal box. Despite its age, the box hadn¡¯t rusted. It seemed to be made of some high-tech material. However, the box was quite small¡ªjust big enough to hold a book or a notebook.
Seeing this, CC looked puzzled. ¡°Why are there so few items in these safes? And why is everything so small? There¡¯s barely anything in them.¡±
Lin Xian exined, ¡°Most man-made objects can¡¯t withstand time and oxidation. This is something customers are told before buying a safe. Anything that¡¯s not metal¡ªlike fabric, crafts, or wood¡ªwill slowly oxidize, be brittle, fade, and eventually crumble. Even sticsst longer, but it depends on the type.¡±
He continued, ¡°Even metals are tricky. The storage rooms for these safes have specific humidity levels, and rust and corrosion are inevitable. That¡¯s why customers are advised against storing metals that rust easily.¡±
¡°If it¡¯s a short period, like a few years or decades, most things can survive. But if it¡¯s a century or more, most items will break down into fragments or dust.¡±¡°So, the best things to store are specially treated books, documents, and the like.¡±
CC nodded. ¡°You sound like you know a lot about this.¡±
Lin Xian smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. After all, he owned Time Bank; he knew these things well.
Mr. Wei Sheng Jin stared at the metal box inside, his heart pounding. He knelt down, carefully reached into the safe, and gently took out the box. It was small and delicate. Why would his younger self put something so small in such a big safe? Was it valuable? Did it have a special meaning?
He utched the metal box and opened it. Inside, there was a letter. The envelope was still in great condition, likely made with advanced anti-corrosion and anti-oxidation technology¡ªnot ordinary paper.
¡°It really is a letter,¡± Angelica said. ¡°The other safes we opened had simr envelopes, most of them written to their future selves. This kind of paper has high-tech content, not something you¡¯d find on Mars. It shows that before the great disaster in 2400, Earth¡¯s technology was way more advanced than Mars¡¯s today.¡±
¡°So, this letter was probably written by this gentleman to his younger self,¡± Angelica continued. ¡°But if he suspects he¡¯s not Wei Sheng Jin, then this letter is pointless, because this safe belongs to Wei Sheng Jin, and the person who wrote this letter was also young Wei Sheng Jin. Trying to prove he isn¡¯t Wei Sheng Jin through this safe is a paradox.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian agreed, sensing that Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s trip to Earth might end in disappointment. At best, he might find some closure. Trying to prove his identity with just a safe was unrealistic.
Wei Sheng Jin stared at the letter. His hands trembled as he carefully unfolded the thin sheet of paper. Human nature thrives on curiosity, and Lin Xian, CC, and Angelica leaned in closer, holding their oilmps forward, eager to see what was written.
Wei Sheng Jin didn¡¯t mind. He unfolded the letter that had been folded for over two hundred years, and on it were rows of neat handwriting. It seemed to be written by a young girl. The heading in the top left corner read ¡°To ssmate Wei Sheng Jin,¡± confirming it was a letter written to young Wei Sheng Jin.
It was quite surprising¡ªthey had all guessed this letter was written by Wei Sheng Jin himself. Who would have thought it was actually written by a young girl to him?
Their curiosity grew, and they eagerly read the contents:
¡°To ssmate Wei Sheng Jin,
They say that after waking up from hibernation, people lose their memory, so naturally, you wouldn¡¯t remember me¡ªyour ssmate and deskmate. I was really sad to see you go, but this era couldn¡¯t cure your illness. I truly hope you get better in the future.
There¡¯s a ¡®thank you¡¯ I never got to say to you. I feel now is the time. If I don¡¯t say it now¡ I might never get the chance again.
Do you remember our time in elementary school? I had bad teeth, and my front teeth were big. The other students often teased me about my teeth, saying I was a rabbit stealing other people¡¯s corn.
I was afraid to speak, afraid to open my mouth, for fear of being mocked. But back then, you stood up for me. You weren¡¯t sick then; you were tall and brave. You stood in front of me and said you¡¯d knock out anyone¡¯s teeth who dared to make fun of mine.
I sat in the corner of the ssroom by the wall, looking at your back as you stood in front of me. You felt like a ray of light that shined into my life.
I remember you liked Ultraman. You told me your favorite was Ultraman Tiga. You said Tiga was a hero of justice, and you wanted to be like him, to protect the world and maintain peace.
I thought you would always be so cheerful and bright.
But after we entered middle school, everything changed. People no longer teased me about my teeth because they became straighter after I lost my baby teeth. But your name became everyone¡¯s joke. People were always mocking your name and saying mean things.
After that, I rarely saw your bright smile. You became quieter and more withdrawn, rarely speaking or lifting your head.
You told me you hated your name and resented your parents for giving you such an awful name.
But I never thought that way.
I never found your name hard to say. To me, it was the name of a hero¡ªa name that belonged to my deskmate, who I admired and looked up to. No matter how many times I was asked, I always thought it was a name as brave as Ultraman Tiga¡¯s.
But I didn¡¯t get the chance to do anything about it¡ because you suddenly got sick and had to go into a hibernation chamber and leave this era.
I really didn¡¯t want you to go. The adults said that once someone goes into that hibernation chamber, there¡¯s a high chance they won¡¯t see them again in this lifetime. I regret not talking to you more before, always being too shy to say a sincere ¡®thank you.¡¯
Finally, besides wishing you good health, I don¡¯t know what else to say to bless you.
If you really hate your name, I believe it¡¯s not your fault. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. So, I hope that when you wake up from hibernation¡ there will be no such thing as ¡®sanitary pads¡¯ in this world, and you¡¯ll never be bothered by your name again.
Goodbye, ssmate Wei Sheng Jin.
Will we ever meet again?
If you forget my name and what I look like after losing your memory¡ next time, can we switch ces, and I¡¯ll protect you?
¡ªYour deskmate, Liu Shiyu¡±
Angelica, having read the letter, straightened up and looked at Lin Xian and CC. ¡°What is a sanitary pad? Why would theyugh at him because of it?¡±
Lin Xian and CC hesitated to exin. This wasn¡¯t the right time to get into that. Nowadays, Earth definitely doesn¡¯t have the industrial capability to produce sanitary pads; they likely use something like ¡°menstrual cloths¡± instead. On Mars, there are clearly better alternatives to handle such issues, and sanitary pads are long outdated.
Even though Angelica had left behind many notebooks and videotapes, who would bother to specifically introduce sanitary pads in them?
As a result, neither Mr. Wei Sheng Jin nor Angelica knew what a sanitary pad was or understood why Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s name was so infamous.
Seeing Angelica was about to press further, Lin Xian quickly changed the subject, ¡°So, it seems this letter was written by a girl who was Mr. Wei¡¯s deskmate before he went into hibernation. Now¡ over two hundred years have passed, and she must have passed away.¡±
CC nodded, ¡°Actually, whether it was the issue with buck teeth or Mr. Wei¡¯s name, they weren¡¯t big problems in society. But in school, where kids are immature, don¡¯t understand respect, and like to give others nicknames, it can be a form of unbearable verbal bullying.¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. Kids are like that. It¡¯s an inevitable part of school life. But this letter¡ doesn¡¯t seem to contain anything significant. As Angelica said, what¡¯s written on it can¡¯t prove anything, let alone that Wei Sheng Jin is Wei Sheng Jin.¡±
¡°Not only that,¡± Angelica added, ¡°Don¡¯t you both feel like reading this letter is like drinking in water¡ªno special feeling at all? The same goes for me. From an adult¡¯s perspective, looking at these trivial matters between children doesn¡¯t evoke any emotion. It just feels like making a fuss over nothing.¡±
¡°My memory was restored by looking at notebooks and videotapes, but as I mentioned earlier, those memories don¡¯t evoke deep emotional resonance. One has to force oneself to ept them, to convince oneself they are real, to forcibly immerse oneself in those memories.¡±
¡°But, I must say, long-term self-suggestion is quite effective. You can indeed develop feelings. Like you, Lin Xian¡ I never knew you or Ji Lin, only saw your photos and data on the tapes.¡±
¡°But after all these years of reviewing records about you two, constantly reying them in my mind, it does create emotional connections. For example, if I had the chance to avenge you two¡ I would do it without hesitation.¡±
¡°It just takes time to ept this,¡± she said, looking at Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s back as he knelt on the ground.
CC followed her gaze and softly said to Lin Xian, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it too: ¡®Memories are different from film clips because memoriese with emotions and feelings.¡¯ If Mr. Wei has no memories of his youth, then naturally, he wouldn¡¯t have any feelings about this little girl¡¯s handwritten letter.¡±
¡°Do you think he¡¯s disappointed? Traveling all the way from Mars to Earth, only to open a safe and find a letter that doesn¡¯t move him¡ anyone would feel a bit let down.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, deciding to gofort Mr. Wei Sheng Jin. He was still kneeling there, staring at the letter like he had turned to stone, not moving for a long time.
So, he stepped forward, ready to speak.
¡°Mr. Wei, you¡ª¡±
But suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
The letter, which had been smooth and white just moments ago, was now covered inrge drops of tears!
The tears were so heavy they almost soaked through the paper, making it all muddy.
What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t Mr. Wei Sheng Jin without memory? So why such a big reaction to this letter?
CC and Angelica also realized something was off. They moved to stand in front of Mr. Wei Sheng Jin and saw that he was crying silently, gritting his teeth, his tears flowing down like beads¡
The two exchanged nces, unable to figure out the reason.
CC bent down and asked, ¡°Mr. Wei, have you regained your memory?¡±
Mr. Wei Sheng Jin, sobbing softly, shook his head.
Angelica frowned. ¡°Then, does what¡¯s written on the letter resonate with you?¡±
Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s tears kept falling, and he shook his head again.
Lin Xian was just as puzzled. No recovered memories, no resonance with the story on the letter, and no way for the letter to prove Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s identity or help him find himself.
Then¡ why was he crying so much?
By now, most of the letter¡¯s content had been blurred by the flooding tears. The name ¡°Liu Shiyu¡± at the bottom right corner of the letter was starting to dissolve in the tears.
¡°Could it be¡¡± Lin Xian bit his lip, ¡°Mr. Wei, does the name Liu Shiyu ring a bell?¡±
Finally, Mr. Wei Sheng Jin wiped his eyes, lifted his head, and said through his sobs, ¡°Liu Shiyu¡ that¡¯s my wife¡¯s name! She passed away a few years ago!¡±
¡°What?¡± the three of them eximed in unison, struggling to make sense of the logic.
Suddenly, Lin Xian recalled many details. On the hilltop, Mr. Wei Sheng Jin had praised his wife endlessly:
¡°Kids, you two don¡¯t have experience with dating or marriage, but I do! My wife and I were very much in love, model partners for decades, never fought¡ªsweet and inseparable, always close.¡±
He had used his wife as the model for CC¡¯s acting as a couple¡ªgentle, affectionate, clingy yet considerate.
And the words at the end of the letter¡
¡°Goodbye, ssmate Wei Sheng Jin. Will we meet again? If you forget my name and face after losing your memory¡ next time, can I be the one to protect you?¡±
And most importantly!
Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s wife, her name was Liu Shiyu¡ªthe same girl who wrote this letter!
For a moment, Lin Xian pieced it all together and gasped. ¡°Could it be that Liu Shiyu also went into hibernation¡ and followed you into the future?¡±
Mr. Wei Sheng Jin sniffed, exhaled deeply, and came to a realization: ¡°So, my wife¡ she knew everything! She knew my past! She was my past!¡±
¡°When I woke up on Mars, I was just a teenager. I went to school, got a job, and when I met my wife, we were both 27. She was so good to me, patient, caring¡ so we got together quickly, got married, and had children.¡±
¡°I always felt so proud to have such a wonderful wife, especially because she pursued me, which seemed like a dream! But now I see¡ we already knew each other! We were deskmates over two hundred years ago!¡±
The more Mr. Wei Sheng Jin thought about it, the clearer it became. ¡°All these years, my wife would often ask me if I liked Ultraman, what I thought of Ultraman Tiga¡ I¡¯dugh at how childish she was, watching such an old show at her age.¡±
¡°Every time, she would just smile and let it go. Later, as we grew older, she stopped asking. It turns out she always remembered¡¡±
¡°Like what¡¯s written in this letter. Before she went into hibernation, she must have recorded these things in her notebook. That¡¯s why, when she woke up from hibernation, she came to find me! And I¡ remembered nothing. Not even until she passed away did I remember.¡±
¡
Listening to Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s story, Lin Xian closed his eyes. In his mind, a tale of love spanning over two hundred years emerged¡ªa youthful yet loyal love story.
Initially, Wei Sheng Jin and Liu Shiyu were just ssmates in the same elementary school. Wei Sheng Jin, who liked Ultraman Tiga and wanted to be a light of justice himself, protected Liu Shiyu¡¯s dignity from their ssmates¡¯ ridicule.
Maybe, in young Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s eyes, he was just like Ultraman Tiga, defeating one of the many little monsters¡ªa small act of justice.
But to Liu Shiyu, Wei Sheng Jin was a light that shined on her life¡ªunique, eternal, irreceable.
It¡¯s just unfortunate.
The cruelest part of growing up is¡ girls of the same age are always much more mature than boys. Liu Shiyu probably started liking her ¡°Ultraman Tiga¡± back then. But Wei Sheng Jin waspletely unaware of it.
This secret crush continued into middle school when they became desk mates. People no longer mocked Liu Shiyu, who was bing more beautiful. Instead, they started mocking Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s name as they learned more.
It¡¯s hard to imagine what a boy with such a name might have gone through in middle school¡ªthe malice and ridicule. Did young Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s sudden brain illness have something to do with this verbal bullying? Lin Xian didn¡¯t know. But anyway, Liu Shiyu¡¯s budding love never had a chance to blossom before her Ultraman entered a hibernation chamber and traveled to an unknown future.
She wrote a farewell letter, yes. But maybe, sometimeter, she still couldn¡¯t forget that light that shined on her life. She still worried about the boy who might still be ridiculed.
So¡
At some point in her early twenties, she followed Wei Sheng Jin into a hibernation chamber, hoping to meet again in a shared future.
If Wei Sheng Jin was so important to Liu Shiyu, it must have been like how Ji Lin filled Angelica¡¯s notes. This boy¡¯s story surely upied most of Liu Shiyu¡¯s diary.
She might have purposely woken up a few yearster to ensure they were of the same age.
Then, 27-year-old Liu Shiyu and 27-year-old Wei Sheng Jin met again.
He didn¡¯t remember her, but she had crossed time and space just to see him.
Their love found a way, and Liu Shiyu¡¯s wish came true. It was an era without sanitary pads, and no one mocked Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s name.
At the same time, just like the handwritten letter from her youth said¡
¡°Next time, can I be the one to protect you?¡±
Judging by Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s self-proimed happy and fulfilling life, Liu Shiyu indeed kept her promise. She took good care of Wei Sheng Jin. They loved each other, grew old together, and had aplete life.
A love spanning over 200 years.
Chasing love all the way to Mars.
And all of this started with a young boy who idolized Ultraman Tiga and a moment of bravery.
Fate, indeed, is a mysterious thing.
Time turns, roles reverse¡ªisn¡¯t this a kind of good karma?
¡°Do you regret it?¡± Lin Xian asked Mr. Wei Sheng Jin, ¡°Regret¡ finding out only now?¡±
Mr. Wei Sheng Jin lifted his head, stood up, and carefully folded the tear-soaked letter, putting it into his pocket.
Then¡
He shook his head solemnly. ¡°I don¡¯t regret it,¡± he said softly. ¡°Though I feel a sense of loss, I don¡¯t regret it.¡±
¡°Because¡ life is like this. Every small choice, every little action, is like a butterfly effect, affecting the following years, even the lives of many.¡±
¡°If I had known from the start that my wife approached me because of my childhood embarrassment¡ would we still have ended up together?¡±
¡°But there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t quite understand,¡± Mr. Wei Sheng Jin scratched his head. ¡°When I woke up on Mars and got my memory notebook, there wasn¡¯t a single note about Liu Shiyu. It means that young me wasn¡¯t very mindful of that name¡ Boys that age are weird; most of their energy and attention are focused on games and anime, with little interest in girls their age.¡±
¡°So why¡ would I ce her letter so carefully in a aluminum-alloy safe?¡±
There was a moment of silence.
Lin Xian suddenly had a thought. Could there be another reason?
He turned to look at the safe door, its eight-digitbination code¡ª
2373 was Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s birth year. But what about 0907?
What could it be?
Lin Xian closed his eyes, trying to connect some clues.
0907¡ Whose birthday could it be?
It wasn¡¯t Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s or Liu Shiyu¡¯s. Then, in young Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s world, whose birthday would be so important?
Suddenly, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Ultraman Tiga.¡±
He remembered.
Back in Lin Xian¡¯s childhood, Ultraman Tiga was hugely popr. Every year, when Tiga¡¯s birthday came around, Ultraman fans would organize all sorts of celebrations.
September 7th.
That was Ultraman Tiga¡¯s birthday¡ªthe day the show first aired.
¡°Ah¡¡± Lin Xianughed and shook his head. ¡°Mr. Wei, it seems you really liked Ultraman Tiga when you were young.¡±
¡°0907¡ªyour reason for setting that as the password was because it¡¯s Ultraman Tiga¡¯s birthday.¡±
¡°At the same time, the reason you treasured Liu Shiyu¡¯s letter in the safe is the same¡¡±
¡°She said in the letter that you were a brave hero like Ultraman Tiga. For the young you, that was probably the highest honor, the brightest recognition in your life.¡±
Hearing this, Mr. Wei Sheng Jin couldn¡¯t help butugh too. ¡°Is that it¡ haha¡ just for this little thing?¡±
Heughed so hard his eyes turned into slits. He chuckled, and as heughed¡ He began to cry.
¡
After a while, Lin Xian and CC stepped out of the warehouse and came outside. They looked up at the rising moonlight and down at their watches.
9:45 PM.
It wasn¡¯t toote. They still had time to hurry.
Lin Xian wanted to finish another task.
¡°CC, let¡¯s go back to Rhine Vige.¡±
CC turned her head. ¡°What for?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve figured it out,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°Memories are far more important than we imagine. Just like Mr. Wei Sheng Jin¡ªhe never feltplete¡ until this moment when he saw that letter.¡±
¡°I thought about it. I have no right to decide someone else¡¯s memories or to stop them from getting them back under the guise of goodwill.¡±
¡°As you said, even a half-moon is still a part of the full moon. Without the missing pieces, there¡¯d be no full moon. Many things we find trivial might be like life-changing realizations for the person involved.¡±
¡°So let¡¯s head back to Rhine Vige and see that vige chief grandma¡ªthat little girl who brought perfect moonlight to Earth all by herself.¡±
Lin Xian looked into the distance. ¡°It¡¯s time¡ to return Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s memories and past to her.¡±
Chapter 381: Children’s Day Gift
Ding¡ª
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Zhao Ying Jun stepped inside her apartment, her heels making soft clicking sounds on the floor. She set a grocery bag down and said, ¡°Sorry, sorry. Thepany kept me busy today, so I¡¯mte getting home. You two must be starving, right?¡±
She ced her handbag on the entryway table and hung her coat on the rack. ¡°I¡¯ll whip something up for you right away.¡±
Before there were kids in the house,ing homete wasn¡¯t a big deal. VV ate a lot anyway, so feeding him a bitte wasn¡¯t a problem. But now, even before her workday ended, she would think about what to make for Qiao Qiao for dinner. If she had to stayte, she¡¯d feel terribly guilty.
¡°Qiao Qiao, what do you want to eat¡ª¡± Zhao Ying Jun turned around and stopped mid-sentence when she saw the scene before her.
VV¡¯s dog bowl was filled with food, and its water bowl was topped up. Clearly, Qiao Qiao had fed the dog today. VV was munching away happily, its belly already round¡ªmaybe even on its second helping.
But that wasn¡¯t what surprised Zhao Ying Jun.On the dining table, there was an empty te, scraped clean. Judging by the bits left behind, it looked like someone had eaten rice with instant curry.
She sniffed the air.
Only then did she notice the warm aroma of curry lingering in the house, drifting from the kitchen. She looked over, and sure enough, the kitchen lights were on. The rice cooker was keeping warm, and a pot of curry was simmering on the stove, steam rising from it.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was brushing VV¡¯s fur by the shoe rack. ¡°Did you make this?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Qiao Qiao nodded, scratching VV¡¯s neck, making the dog let out a happy growl. ¡°I watched you do it the other day, so I learned.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun was genuinely surprised.
Even though instant curry is easy to make¡ªjust add some soup base from the fridge, throw in some vegetables, and let it simmer¡ªit was still impressive.
Most people could pick it up after watching it once, but this was Qiao Qiao, who had lost her memory and whose cognitive skills weren¡¯t fully back yet!
Had her ability to learn improved this much already?
Zhao Ying Jun switched to her slippers and walked to the kitchen. She gazed at the pot of curry, rich and bubbling with potatoes, onions, beef, carrots, and more. It smelled wonderful and looked perfectly cooked.
She noticed the cutting board nearby. There were some leftover vegetable pieces that hadn¡¯t been cleaned up yet¡ªtraces of Qiao Qiao¡¯s work.
Not only had she learned how to use a kitchen knife, but she had also cut the carrots and potatoes into neat little cubes, all perfectly shaped as if in a training exercise.
Is this what they call talent? A natural-born cooking genius?
She stepped out of the kitchen and looked at Qiao Qiao, who was ying with the dog in the living room. ¡°How did you use a knife on your own? What if you cut yourself? Even normal fourteen-year-olds don¡¯t use knives much. How did you manage to cut the potatoes and carrots so well?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qiao Qiao shrugged. ¡°I saw you cut like that the other day, so I just tried to copy it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, a bit skeptical. ¡°Are your thin arms steady enough to hold a knife?¡±
¡°Not bad,¡± Qiao Qiao tilted her head, opening and closing her right hand, ¡°It feels pretty natural.¡±
Hearing this, Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly.
She went back to the kitchen and opened the rice cooker. There was still enough rice left for two bowls, steaming hot.
And the curry in the pot was still bubbling away.
No doubt about it¡
Qiao Qiao had saved this just for her.
For a moment, Zhao Ying Jun felt a mix of emotions.
All these years, from studying abroad in her teens to starting her own business in Donghai, she had nevere home to a warm, freshly cooked meal.
There was no one to cook for her. If she wanted to eat, she¡¯d have to cook herself, and if she didn¡¯t feel like it, she¡¯d order takeout or eat out. Her kitchen was rarely used, and the fridge was stocked with only emergency supplies.
It was only recently, after bringing Qiao Qiao home, that she started learning how to cook. She realized she couldn¡¯t keep feeding the kid unhealthy takeout all the time.
But she hadn¡¯t mastered many dishes yet.
Qiao Qiao had watched her cook once and learned itpletely!
This kid¡¯s mind is too sharp!
But¡
To be fair¡
Zhao Ying Jun turned around and leaned against the doorway, watching VV gobble up food and Qiao Qiao sitting quietly nearby.
Qiao Qiao had been improving rapidly over the past few days. It was almost like she had transformed overnight.
When Zhao Ying Jun had left for the capital, Qiao Qiao still seemed a bit dazed, speaking slowly, almost haltingly. But when she came back to Donghai just three dayster, Qiao Qiao seemed much more mature, calmer, and more fluent in her speech.
If the old Qiao Qiao felt like a child with some learning challenges, the new Qiao Qiao seemed like a smart,posed teenager.
Her looks, body, and age were the same, but her mind had clearly matured. She had grown up. She understood things better now.
While Zhao Ying Jun felt proud of her progress, she also felt a bit lost and uncertain.
It was a strange feeling.
As a guardian, you always hope the child grows up quickly, understands things, and bes independent sooner. But¡
Growing up and understanding things also means they don¡¯t need you as much. It means they¡¯re going to move on.
Just like Qiao Qiao now.
Only ten days ago, she was the kind of kid who would grab food with her hands, run barefoot on the couch, and point at people with chopstickspletelycking in manners.
But now?
She was polite, independent, did chores on her own, and even cooked for the adults when they came home from work.
Ugh.
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.
She actually missed the wild and unruly Qiao Qiao from before.
Kids¡ aren¡¯t they supposed to be like that?
Now that Qiao Qiao had be so well-behaved, Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit heartbroken.
She finally understood what Brother Wang had said: ¡°The really interesting time for raising kids is those first few years. Once they grow up and have their own thoughts, they slowly drift away. Sometimes, they won¡¯t even say a word to you for a whole week.¡±
She had thought Brother Wang was exaggerating. But now, it seemed every word was true. You can¡¯t really understand what it feels like to raise a child until you¡¯ve been through it yourself.
The problem is Qiao Qiao growing up too fast!
Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t even had time to adjust. In the blink of an eye, the kid had grown up.
She walked over and squatted beside Qiao Qiao, who was patting the dog¡¯s belly after it finished another bowl of dog food. ¡°Qiao Qiao, thank you for making dinner for me. But you don¡¯t need to do that in the future. If you¡¯re hungry, you can have some snacks. I¡¯ll take you to the supermarket to buy more. Just eat when you¡¯re hungry to hold you over until dinner.¡±
¡°Cooking is still a bit too much for you right now. There¡¯s no need to take on this responsibility so early. And using fire and knives¡ I don¡¯t feel safe with you doing that.¡±
¡°Helping me feed VV is already a big help. You¡¯ve grown a lot recently, bing more sensible and smarter. I feel like I can¡¯t keep up with how fast you¡¯re changing.¡±
¡°But, you know, it¡¯s okay to be a little yful sometimes. We¡¯re all family; you don¡¯t have to be so restrained and polite. And¡ if there¡¯s anything I¡¯m not doing well or something you don¡¯t like, you can tell me.¡±
Qiao Qiao looked up at her. ¡°Got it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled softly and patted her head. ¡°I bought some fruit. Let me peel an apple for you. You¡¯re growing, so getting vitamins is important.¡±
She stood up, took a bright red apple from the supermarket bag by the door, washed it in the kitchen, and then sat on the sofa with a paring knife. She pulled a trash bin closer with her foot and started peeling. ¡°Work has been really busytely. I haven¡¯t had time to take you out. Just wait until I get through this busy period.¡±
Burp.
VV the Pomeranian had just finished another bowl of dog food. A burp almost brought all the food back up.
Qiao Qiao picked it up and rubbed its belly. Then she turned to Zhao Ying Jun and said, ¡°If you¡¯re busy, you can send me to Brother Lin Xian. He can take me out.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not gonna happen,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said while peeling the apple. ¡°Lin Xian is also very busy. He doesn¡¯t have time to take you out.¡±
¡°No,¡± Qiao Qiao and VV shook their heads together. ¡°He¡¯s got plenty of free time.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, looking at the girl and the dog. ¡°What does Lin Xian do when he¡¯s not taking you out? What is he busy with?¡±
Qiao Qiao thought about the day she saw Lin Xian and Liu Feng in theb together, recalling the scene. ¡°Dating.¡±
Thud.
The apple slipped from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand and fell straight into the trash can.
Red Fuji, gone.
¡°Hehe,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°Did you learn that word from TV? Do you even know what dating means?¡±
Qiao Qiao thought again about Liu Feng¡¯s exnation. ¡°It means being in love, holding hands, hugging waists, looking into each other¡¯s eyes up close, full of affection.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun squinted her eyes. ¡°You saw that?¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded. ¡°Saw it clearly. I was in the room with VV.¡±
She pointed to the Pomeranian in her arms.
The Pomeranian, however, had its face flushed red, as if choking.
But in this tense moment, Zhao Ying Jun was too focused to notice.
¡°In the room?¡± Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t stay seated anymore. She stood up from the sofa. ¡°What kind of room? Lin Xian let you two watch this?¡±
Qiao Qiao thought back to theb, trying to describe it with the few words she knew. ¡°A big, dark room with a fridge, an rm clock, and lots of strange tools.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took a deep breath.
A fridge and an rm clock sounded like a house or a hotel room. Who would normally have a fridge just lying around?
Strange tools¡ Better not dig into that.
She crossed her arms and looked at Qiao Qiao. ¡°Lin Xian was in the room, dating? Holding hands, hugging waists, looking at each other lovingly?¡±
¡°Yep.¡±
¡°How long were you there?¡± Zhao Ying Jun gripped the fruit knife a bit tighter.
¡°A long time. They kept changing positions.¡±
¡°What?¡± Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. ¡°He really let you watch this?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Qiao Qiao pointed again at VV, now red-faced and struggling to breathe. ¡°We wanted to y with them, but Brother Liu Feng said no, that I was too young.¡±
¡°Brother?!¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice went up. ¡°It was a man?¡±
Wait a minute.
The name Liu Feng¡ She had heard it from Lin Xian a long time ago.
It was around the time Rhine Company was just starting out. Lin Xian wanted to set up a jointb at Donghai University, and there were some issues with negotiations on their end. She and Chu Shan He had to step in to help Lin Xian sort it out.
Back then, Lin Xian had mentioned this name¡ªLiu Feng, an out-of-town scientist.
Zhao Ying Jun vaguely remember it so she quickly pieced it together. While Qiao Qiao¡¯s words weren¡¯tplete nonsense, they didn¡¯t entirely match up with reality either.
She never doubted Lin Xian¡¯s character. He would never involve a child in anything inappropriate. And with the ¡°strange tools¡± Qiao Qiao mentioned, it was most likely something in ab setting.
¡°Was it ab at Donghai University?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked directly.
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s ab?¡±
After getting more info, Zhao Ying Jun felt sure of her guess.
At this point, VV, who was nearly choking from Qiao Qiao¡¯s grip, finally managed to breathe again and escaped a near-death experience.
Tch.
Zhao Ying Jun scoffed softly.
She grabbed another apple, washed it, and sat on the sofa to peel it again. ¡°You really scared me, Qiao Qiao¡ Talking isn¡¯t just about stringing keywords together; you have to make it clear. Subject, verb, and object¡ªall need to be there. Otherwise, it could mean something entirely different or even the opposite. Got it?¡±
¡°Got it,¡± Qiao Qiao nodded, then said, ¡°Brother Lin Xian, in theb, with Brother Liu Feng, holding hands and hugging.¡±
¡°Alright, alright¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun suddenly felt like the old, clueless Qiao Qiao was back.
It seems the road to learning is long.
Learning too fast oftenes with mistakes. Rushing things doesn¡¯t work; it¡¯s better for Qiao Qiao to get out and interact more with people, practice speaking like a regr person. And she needs to catch up on basic knowledge.
Right now, 70% of Qiao Qiao¡¯s knowledgees from TV, and 30% from hearsay. Who knows what random words she picks up and learns instantly?
No, this kind of education method will lead to problems sooner orter.
¡°Qiao Qiao, your idea of ¡®dating¡¯ is wrong. How could Lin Xian and Liu Feng be dating? I¡¯ve never met Liu Feng, but I can check out theb at Donghai University. Still, I¡¯m sure Lin Xian isn¡¯t like that.¡±
¡°Usually, dating involves a man and a woman. Do you know what real dating looks like?¡±
Qiao Qiao shook her head, her curious eyes fixed on Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°What does it look like?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled and straightened up. ¡°Real dating is¡¡±
Her smile faded, and her hands stopped peeling the apple. ¡°It¡¯s like¡ dating means¡ it¡¯s¡¡±
Her mind raced, but she couldn¡¯t find the right words¡ªno adjectives, descriptive scenes, or experiences to draw from.
Aplete nk.
Though she hadn¡¯t experienced love herself, she¡¯d seen it enough times. But asking someone who¡¯s never been in a rtionship to describe what it¡¯s like¡ It¡¯s hard to find the right words.
She nced at the calendar nearby. Today was May 17th. In a few days, it would be May 20th and 21st.
These two days had be like Valentine¡¯s Days for inte users in this country, based on how the dates sound like ¡°I love you.¡±
A lot of MX Company¡¯s recent work was for promotions, gift boxes, and ads for these two days.
Ahem.
She cleared her throat and continued peeling the apple. ¡°Seeing is believing. In a few days, it¡¯ll be May 20th and 21st, the so-called new Valentine¡¯s Days. The streets will be full of couples. I¡¯ll take you out then. You¡¯ll see for yourself what dating is.¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded.
She made a mental note of ¡°seeing is believing¡± and looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Have you ever dated?¡±
Swish¡ª
The apple she was peeling slipped and rolled to the floor.
VV¡¯s eyes lit up.
It jumped from Qiao Qiao¡¯sp and darted toward the apple on the floor.
If it¡¯s on the floor, it¡¯s mine!
Zhao Ying Jun looked at her now empty left hand. ¡°¡¡±
She nced at Qiao Qiao with a helpless expression. ¡°Do you still want an apple?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Qiao Qiao said simply.
¡°Then stay quiet until I finish peeling it!¡±
¡
Finally, Qiao Qiao got her apple and started munching, watching Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°So, May 20th, Valentine¡¯s Day¡ªis it your day?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun wiped the knife clean and ced it back in the fruit bowl, giving Qiao Qiao a mildly annoyed look. ¡°Qiao Qiao, why are you being so annoying today?¡±
She hadn¡¯t expected this.
Brother Wang had mentioned that kids around this age go through a ¡°troublesome phase,¡± but it seemed to be starting earlier than she thought.
¡°Just worry about your own holidays. Why are you asking about other people¡¯s?¡±
¡°My own holiday?¡± Qiao Qiao took another bite of her apple, tilting her head. ¡°What holiday do I have?¡±
¡°Children¡¯s Day,¡± Zhao Ying Jun leaned back on the sofa. ¡°June 1st, International Children¡¯s Day. It¡¯s a day for all children on Earth. Technically, only kids under 14 are considered children, but legally, anyone under 18 is.¡±
¡°Though, on the inte¡ Children¡¯s Day is turning into another Valentine¡¯s Day. But don¡¯t worry about that. At your age, you can celebrate Children¡¯s Day proudly.¡±
She smiled at Qiao Qiao. ¡°Speaking of which, since it¡¯s almost Children¡¯s Day, your holiday, I should prepare a gift for you. What would you like for Children¡¯s Day?¡±
¡°A gift?¡± Qiao Qiao thought for a moment. ¡°A carnation?¡±
¡°Yeah, something like a carnation,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said patiently. ¡°But carnations are gifts for mothers. You¡¯re a child, so you get a Children¡¯s Day gift. Think about what you want, and I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±
¡°If there¡¯s nothing specific you want, you can also think of a ¡®wish¡¯ or something you want to do. On June 1st, Children¡¯s Day, I¡¯ll take the day off and spend it with you. Whatever wish you have, I¡¯ll make ite true.¡±
¡°A wish is¡ something you want to achieve or something you really want to have.¡±
Listening to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s detailed exnation, Qiao Qiao nodded, understanding.
¡°I do have a wish.¡±
She nodded again. ¡°I¡¯ve had it for a long time. I even asked Grandma and Grandpa, but they said it couldn¡¯te true.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun crossed her legs. ¡°What wish? Tell me. If they can¡¯t make it happen, maybe I can.¡±
Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes were clear and full of hope. ¡°I want to go to Disnend with Mom and Dad.¡±
¡
The room fell silent.
Even VV, who was busy munching on its apple, sensed the change in the atmosphere and stopped, turning its head quietly.
It saw Zhao Ying Jun and Qiao Qiao looking at each other, neither saying a word.
Silence.
You could even hear both of them breathing because VV was too scared to make a sound.
Finally, Zhao Ying Jun took a deep breath, uncrossed her legs, leaned forward, picked up the apple peel from the floor, and threw it in the trash bin. ¡°Do you know where your mom and dad are?¡±
¡°No,¡± Qiao Qiao shook her head.
¡°If you don¡¯t know where they are, how can you go to Disnend with them?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked softly.
¡°If you want to go to Disnend, I can take you.¡±
¡°But I want to go with my mom and dad.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Because¡ other kids go with their parents.¡±
Qiao Qiao finished her apple and looked up, her eyes innocent and matter-of-fact. ¡°Isn¡¯t Disnend a ce to go with your parents?¡±
No, it¡¯s not.
Zhao Ying Jun knew it wasn¡¯t.
But looking at Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes, so clear and convinced, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to deny it.
Again, it was the same issue.
Qiao Qiao¡¯s understanding of the world is limited¡ª70% from TV and 30% from what she¡¯s heard from others.
She probably learned about Disnend from the ¡°friends¡± she made in her grandparents¡¯ vimunity.
Think about it.
Kids who live in high-end neighborhoods like that¡ªwho hasn¡¯t been to Disnend?
They were probably all taken by their parents, maybe even more than once.
So, in Qiao Qiao¡¯s simple way of thinking, she concluded that all kids go to Disnend with their parents. Naturally, she wanted to go with hers too.
A child¡¯s world is that simple. Just a bit of reasoning and you can understand how they think.
Actually¡ Qiao Qiao always seemed tough on the outside.
But deep down, she still longed for her parents.
That day in the park gazebo, when she said, ¡°Every day¡ I miss mom.¡± Even now, thinking back to it made Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s nose sting with emotion.
¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Ying Jun agreed instantly. She got up, walked over, and ruffled Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±
¡
¡
¡
At the same time, in the Fifth Dream world, outside a small warehouse in Queen¡¯s Town¡
Lin Xian and CC were getting ready to head to Rhine Vige to find Zheng Xiang Yue when he turned to Old Man Wei Sheng Jin. ¡°Mr. Wei, are youing with us, or would you like to rest here? Where we¡¯re going is quite far. Even if we hurry, it¡¯ll take about two hours.¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin had calmed down from his earlier emotions. He looked content but tired, like someone who felt fulfilled but needed a break.
He smiled and shook his head. ¡°I won¡¯t go with you two. This old body of mine can¡¯t handle much more today. Thanks to you, Lin Xian and CC, I got my safe open so quickly, and I¡¯m very grateful.¡±
¡°The Earth-Mars inteary shuttle onlyes every two years, which means I¡¯ll be stuck on Earth for another year and nine months before I can catch the shuttle back to Mars. So, I want to use this time to do something meaningful for Earth.¡±
He turned to Angelica, who was standing nearby. ¡°I¡¯ve already discussed the matter. For the next year and nine months, I¡¯ll stay in Queen¡¯s Town and teach people here how to make simple chemical batteries. This way, they can produce electric bulbs and small appliances. Hopefully, every household and the nearby viges will have electric lights.¡±
¡°Simple chemical batteries?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled. ¡°Is that possible? With Earth¡¯s current level of industry and material science¡ can it really be done?¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin smiled confidently. ¡°Lin Xian, going from 0 to 1 and going from 100 to 1 arepletely different challenges. It took humanity many years to go from discovering electricity to using electric light bulbs.¡±
¡°But the technology on Mars is so advanced now that it¡¯s not about standing on the shoulders of giants but jumping off from them. That makes it a lot easier. Besides, I studied battery energy on Mars, so this kind of work is second nature to me.¡±
Lin Xian realized he had never asked what Old Man Wei Sheng Jin taught at the university on Mars. It clearly wasn¡¯t something in the humanities but a technical science subject.
¡°Mr. Wei,¡± Lin Xian asked, curious, ¡°what subject do you teach at the university?¡±
¡°Principles and Applications of Micro Nuclear Batteries.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened.
You really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover!
¡°Mr. Wei, you¡¯re amazing! Teaching such advanced knowledge.¡±
¡°Ah, it¡¯s not that advanced¡¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin waved off thepliment. ¡°This is basic stuff. Humans mastered this technology over a hundred years ago. Micro nuclear batteries don¡¯tpare to controlled nuclear fusion in energy conversion, but they¡¯re perfect for miniaturization!¡±
¡°On Mars, micro nuclear batteries are everywhere¡ªin phones, cars, small home appliances, electric vehicles, aircraft, robots, and more. They¡¯re safe, durable, and can store energy for hundreds of years without degrading. Their energy density is far higher than conventional batteries. For example, a phone might use less than 5% of its battery life before it¡¯s reced.¡±
¡°And the micro nuclear battery in a phone is no bigger than a fingernail.¡±
Lin Xian was fascinated by this advanced technology.
He had talked about Mars¡¯s technology with Old Man Wei Sheng Jin during his first trip to the Fifth Dream world. They concluded that Mars¡¯s tech level was like New Donghai City¡¯s in the Second Dream world.
Lin Xian knew that New Donghai City in the Second Dream world also used these micro nuclear batteries, which were seen as a step away from controlled nuclear fusion.
But sometimes, that one step¡ could take hundreds of years.
He had already taken cold fusion technology from the dream world and shared it with the National Academy of Sciences in the real world.
Yet, in the Fifth Dream world, neither Earth from 2400 years ago nor Mars in 2624 had cracked this technology.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure why; maybe there was some sort of interference.
¡°Is it hard?¡± Lin Xian asked, intrigued. ¡°Is it hard to learn or make?¡±
¡°No difficulty at all!¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin said cheerfully. ¡°Humans detonated the atomic bomb in 1945 and mastered nuclear energy; in the following decades, they built nuclear power nts, nuclear reactors, and other applications.¡±
¡°In theory, it shouldn¡¯t have taken long to make micro nuclear batteries. There aren¡¯t any real bottlenecks in terms of raw materials or technology. It¡¯s just that¡ humanity¡¯s theoretical development went off track, leading to a deviation in nuclear energy research.¡±
¡°Do you get what I mean? Choosing the right direction in scientific development is crucial. Picking the right path can save decades or even a century. Picking the wrong one might mean never finding the way back.¡±
¡°I personally think that if humanity¡¯s research on nuclear energy hadn¡¯t been disrupted and veered off course, the technology for micro nuclear batteries should have been cracked and put into use around 2030.¡±
¡°But in reality, it was dyed until humans were living on Mars. Only then did we achieve the breakthrough. As for whether it¡¯s hard¡ what¡¯s so hard about it? I¡¯ve been teaching this subject at a regr university for decades. Any student who wants to learn can learn it!¡±
p.
Lin Xian stepped forward and grabbed Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s hands. ¡°Mr. Wei, you¡¯re truly a treasure!¡±
¡°You¡¯re like Ultraman Tiga! A light shining on Earth!¡±
¡°Oh,e on,¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin blushed a bit at the praise. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡±
¡°This is just basic, well-established theory and technology. It might sound advanced on Earth, but on Mars, it¡¯s nothing special. You can buy micro nuclear batteries at any roadside shop.¡±
¡°Do you want to learn? I can teach you if you want!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. This was exactly what he had been hoping for!
This is a great, unexpected gain from the Fifth Dream world¡
Even though his time here has been short, the gains have been huge.
Not only did he bring back the principles of the time-space shuttle, but now, the theoretical technology of micro nuclear batteries is also within reach, ready to be transferred.
Lin Xian had been clueless about how to make big money with Rhine Company to secure enough financial resources for himself.
Now he had a clue, didn¡¯t he?
ording to Old Man Wei Sheng Jin, with the technology avable on Earth in 2024, it¡¯spletely possible to create micro nuclear batteries. The problem was that human research into nuclear physics applications had gone down the wrong path.
Well, sorry.
I¡¯m nning to do something good.
Let Rhine Company bring this misguided path back on track¡ªand apply for a patent while they¡¯re at it.
Two birds with one stone!
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°If micro nuclear batteries could really appear on Earth in 2024, the future world would lookpletely different! Would humanity still need to go to Mars?¡±
¡°Humans would still have to go to Mars,¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin exined. ¡°The great disaster of 2400 is an unavoidable natural event. No matter how many nuclear batteries there are, they won¡¯t help; Earth¡¯s ecosystem is no longer fit for habitation. Humans would still have to migrate to Mars.¡±
¡°But I will say this: if humans had mastered micro nuclear battery technology by 2030, Earth certainly wouldn¡¯t look like it does now.¡±
He scuffed the ground with his foot, kicking out a small hole. He pointed to it and exined, ¡°If humans started making micro nuclear batteries in 2030, there would be a massive number of these batteries umted over the centuries. After the great disaster of 2400, most of these micro nuclear batteries, still full of unused energy, would be buried underground.¡±
¡°And then¡ what do you think would happen, Lin Xian? The survivors on Earth would dig up loads of usable micro nuclear batteries from the ground. Since these batteries are made with aluminum alloy casings, they¡¯re incredibly durable, strong, safe, and don¡¯t lose energy for hundreds of years. Once unearthed, they could be used immediately.¡±
¡°So, would Earthlings still need to start developing from the Stone Age? By using the vast underground resources of micro nuclear batteries, they could jump straight into an era of endless electricity. If that were the case¡ who knows what Earth would look like today.¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin rubbed his hands together, smiling as he imagined. ¡°It¡¯s really fascinating to think about¡ With the intelligence and resilience of Earth¡¯s people, if they had endless micro nuclear batteries as a starting resource, where would they be in 200 years?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian said, looking around at Queen¡¯s Town, where every household was asleep, dreaming of a post-apocalyptic Earth that starts with micro nuclear batteries.
¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it, too.¡±
Chapter 382: The Hidden Hand in the Future
The bright moonlight filtered through the dense forest, casting patches of light on the ground. Lin Xian and CC had been walking for an hour and a half from Queens Town before they finally arrived at Rhine Vige, located by the river. The vige was almostpletely dark, except for a bonfire still burning in the middle of the square. Over the fire, a pot of water simmered, and a few night watchers sat around it, quietly chatting.
Normally, Granny Zheng Xiang Yue, the vige chief, would still be awake at this hour. As CC had mentioned, Granny Zheng often used the quiet early morning hours to prepare lesson ns, grade the children¡¯s homework, and n for the vige¡¯s future. She was a dedicated and responsible leader.
Lin Xian and CC crossed the river, intending to enter the vige and find Granny Zheng. But then they noticed something unusual.
¡°Granny Zheng?¡± CC called out.
An elderly figure dressed in white stood at the vige entrance¡ªit was Granny Zheng Xiang Yue. But why was she outside sote?
Hearing CC¡¯s voice, Granny Zheng turned and sighed in relief, smiling. ¡°CC, you¡¯re back.¡±
CC nodded and walked up to her. ¡°Granny Zheng, why are you out here? Were you¡ waiting for me?¡±
¡°Hehehe,¡± she chuckled warmly. ¡°You¡¯ve nevere back thiste before. I was worried something might have happened, so I came out to check.¡±¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re safe. There are often wild animals in the forest. It¡¯s best not toe back sote¡ couldn¡¯t things be done during the day? Right?¡±
Then, she looked past CC at the young man beside her. ¡°And who might this be?¡±
CC stepped aside to introduce him. ¡°Granny Zheng, this is my friend, Lin Xian.¡±
Upon hearing the name, Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡ you are¡¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian said, stepping forward. ¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian, the one you mentioned in your wish list. I¡¯m sorry it took so long toe¡¡±
He looked at her and smiled gently. ¡°Xiang Yue, I¡¯m here to see you.¡±
By the stone well in Rhine Vige, the night was calm and peaceful. The bright moon rose higher in the sky, and the distant cicadas grew quieter, leaving everything still.
Lin Xian and Zheng Xiang Yue sat on the stone steps beside the well, holding aminated piece of paper¡ªa wish list that had been preserved for over a hundred years and existed in this world for six centuries:
¡°Things to Do After Waking Up from Hibernation!¡±
Bury my brother on the moon.
Repay Lin Xian properly.
Be a kind and loving person.
¡°This is what you wrote before you went into the hibernation chamber,¡± Lin Xian said softly, looking at theminated paper. ¡°You were very young back then, just over fifteen, almost sixteen. But mentally, you were probably only about eight or nine¡ªvery innocent and naive.¡±
¡°Because of that, you didn¡¯t really understand what losing your memory would mean. You didn¡¯t think it would be that bad. So, you didn¡¯t prepare anything like notebooks or recordings like others did.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue listened quietly, closing her eyes. ¡°I see.¡±
¡°I always wondered why other people who woke up from hibernation had tons of notebooks and videos, but I only had this one sheet of paper. Now, I understand. It¡¯s because of this.¡±
¡°For years, I kept thinking, why didn¡¯t I leave any record of my memories before hibernation? I thought maybe I had lived a miserable life and wanted to forget everything and start anew. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t leave any memories.¡±
She chuckled softly. ¡°Looks like I was overthinking it.¡±
Lin Xian was silent for a moment before continuing. ¡°It¡¯s not entirely your fault. You had many caring adults around you, but almost everyone stayed silent about the idea of leaving behind a memory journal before you went into hibernation.¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to say whether this was misguided kindness or unnecessarypassion. But back then, I thought the same. I knew this wish list you wrote wouldn¡¯t help much because the wishes were too simple, too vague. After waking up, you¡¯d definitely not understand them.¡±
¡°Even though I knew this, I still didn¡¯t say anything. Like the doctors, I thought it was better to forget such sad and painful memories. After all, you had nothing before hibernation, and you would have nothing after waking up. Starting fresh wouldn¡¯t be so bad, right?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue slowly opened her eyes and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°So¡ Mr. Lin Xian, have you changed your mind now?¡±
¡°Are you willing to tell me about my past, about my real life before?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Today, I met a friend from Mars who is also searching for his memories and himself.¡±
¡°His name is a bit unusual, but his story is fascinating. He once hated his name, then forgot it,ter doubted it, and even doubted himself. But in the end¡ he came to love his name.¡±
¡°It sounds funny, but it¡¯s true. So, my thinking has indeed changed. A person¡¯s life, even their memories, can¡¯t be perfect. But memories aren¡¯t just movie clips you forget after watching; they¡¯re filled with emotions, the sweet, bitter, and sour parts of life.¡±
¡°Are you ready, Xiang Yue?¡± Lin Xian asked, holding theminated paper so that the wishes faced her. The moonlight highlighted the three wishes written on it.
¡°Behind these three wishes are some very sad and heartbreaking realities,¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°but they also hold three different kinds of love, warmth, and kindness.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll start telling you. This is a story from over 600 years ago. Even after such a long time, some things never change.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue stared at theminated paper, focusing on the simple words written there. After a moment, she nodded.
¡°Mr. Lin Xian, please tell me,¡± she said softly. ¡°Tell me about the life I once lived and the things that happened around me.¡±
Lin Xian began to share her story.
He talked about how she and her brother lost their parents, how Zheng Cheng He got bitten by a dog, and how the two of them left home and relied on each other in Donghai City.
He didn¡¯t tell her about Zheng Cheng He¡¯s involvement with the Seven Deadly Sins. Instead, he told her that her brother had found a generous employer who helped pay for her hospital treatment.
When it came to Zheng Cheng He¡¯s death, Lin Xian stuck to the official story¡ªa car ident, as reported in the news. After all, that¡¯s what the teenage Zheng Xiang Yue had believed, and since thew had never convicted Zheng Cheng He, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t either.
He also spoke about the ticket to the moon, her agreement with Elon Musk, and the missing logo on the moon¡ªhe told her everything in full detail.
¡°In the end, you decided to go into the hibernation chamber,¡± Lin Xian said.
He handed theminated paper back to Zheng Xiang Yue. ¡°You wrote these three wishes while lying in bed. At first, there were only two, but then I told you¡ kindness needs to be shared. You could repay me by passing it on¡ªhelp the country if you could; if not, build up your hometown.¡±
¡°It¡¯s incredible that even after losing your memories, you traveled billions of kilometers from Mars to Earth and rebuilt Rhine Vige on the ruins of Donghai City.¡±
Lin Xian finished his story.
As he had expected, Zheng Xiang Yue didn¡¯t show a big reaction.
Even while retelling these stories, Lin Xian felt more moved than she did. Because he had lived through these experiences himself. But for the current Zheng Xiang Yue, it was like listening to a story from a 600-year-old movie.
How many people would still watch early ck-and-white films? And how many would still be interested in the silent films of Charlie Chaplin?
It was understandable that Zheng Xiang Yue didn¡¯t feel much. The life he described was so far removed from her current reality that she couldn¡¯t connect to it.
Angelica¡¯s thirst for revenge, on the other hand, came from years of self-persuasion and self-hypnosis, making those memories feel real to her.
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s tears for past memories were because the name ¡°Liu Shiyu¡± became a bridge connecting his past and present.
But what did Zheng Xiang Yue have?
She had nothing.
A few birds flew over Rhine Vige,nding on the wooden waterwheel outside the vige. They dipped their heads to drink, then rode the turning wheel up, pping their wings, and flew back into the moonlit forest.
¡°Ah¡¡± Zheng Xiang Yue sighed deeply, shaking her head with a hint of disappointment.
¡°The stories you told¡ I had already guessed most of them over the years. I also figured that you were the one who gave me the ticket to the moon, which is why I wrote, ¡®Repay Brother Lin Xian properly¡¯ as my second wish.¡±
¡°But¡ I wish I could feel something about these things¡ªwhether it¡¯s about my brother, whom I¡¯ve never met and have no memory of, or about you, who helped us so much, bought me a ticket, and put me into the hibernation chamber. I wish I could truly thank you. But I don¡¯t want to just say thank you without any real feeling behind it.¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve already done more than enough. Even without talking about the perfect moonlight shining on Earth¡ Just the fact that you willingly returned from Mars to Earth to rebuild your hometown shows enough kindness and greatness to move me and make me proud.¡±
¡°I never thought I was a great person, but who would have thought that a casual remark could lead to the creation of Rhine Vige on Earth 600 yearster? That¡¯s the greatest reward you could give me, and the highest point in my life.¡±
¡°Oh, I almost forgot to mention the Rhine Cat. You loved Rhine Cat toys when you were a kid. That giant Rhine Cat plush toy was my birthday gift to you. And¡ do you know why Elon Musk couldn¡¯t find the same toy or even a promotional picture?¡±
¡°Because that giant Rhine Cat plush was never for sale,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Only two were ever made, but the project was canceled due to the high cost, so no more were produced. One went to the real little princess of Donghai City, and the other ended up with you.¡±
Hearing this, Zheng Xiang Yue suddenly understood. ¡°No wonder¡¡±
¡°Elon Musk told me that when I woke up from hibernation, the Rhine Cat plush that had been around for 600 years hadpletely fallen apart. The stuffing inside had turned ck and rotten, and the outer fabric was faded, cracked, and had turned to dust.¡±
¡°So, it was hard to repair, and there was no clear way to start. He tried to find a simr one based on a few clues. But like you said, there were no duplicates on the market, no promotional pictures in history. Who would¡¯ve thought that a girl as ordinary as me could own one of only two Rhine Cats in the world?¡±
¡°With no other options, Elon Musk had a craftsman recreate the original toy¡¯s appearance from the few colored fragments that were left. That¡¯s how the ¡®Theseus Cat¡¯ came to be. I¡¯ve kept that cat toy by my side ever since, even bringing it back to Earth.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m still sorry, Mr. Lin Xian,¡± she continued, a hint of sadness in her voice. ¡°I still can¡¯t recall what it felt like to love that cat. I know how important it is to me, and I know how much I must have loved it, but I just can¡¯t remember that feeling.¡±
There was a sense of helplessness in Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s voice.
Lin Xian understood her inner conflict. She had kept that ¡®Theseus Cat¡¯ with her for over a century, fixing it whenever it needed repair. She never let it out of her sight, even when she came to Earth, and she named her vige Rhine Vige after it. All of this showed she was really trying to like the cat. But when ites to memories and feelings, people can¡¯t force themselves.
¡°I¡¯ve seen your cat,¡± Lin Xian said with a gentle smile. ¡°But¡ it doesn¡¯t look like the one I gave you. That¡¯s not the craftsman¡¯s fault, though. He did his best, but without the original model or a reference picture, it¡¯s easy to go off track.¡±
¡°The cat I gave you had a puffed-up face, looking both angry and cute. But the one you have now has squinting eyes and a smile. So, it shouldn¡¯t really be called ¡®Theseus Cat,¡¯ but rather ¡®Another Cat.¡¯¡±
¡°Do you have a pen and paper?¡± Lin Xian asked, reaching out his hand. ¡°Since I promised to tell you everything, that includes the original Rhine Cat you once loved.¡±
¡°If you have a pen and paper, I can draw the original Rhine Cat for you. I designed it myself, and I remember every cat I¡¯ve ever drawn, clear as day.¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue went to her room and returned with two sheets of thick, coarse paper made with an old paper-making technique, along with a charcoal pencil tied with a string.
Lin Xian dly took them.
Strong people neverin about their surroundings or tools. Historically, the earliest sketch artists used charcoal pencils.
Back at MX Company, he had drawn countless Rhine Cats. The memory was etched into his muscles and bones. As soon as the charcoal touched the paper, Lin Xian was in the zone, starting with the round face of the Rhine Cat.
There were only two of these Rhine Cats in the world: one in Chu An Qing¡¯s hands and the other in Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s. They were never publicly advertised, and Lin Xian might be the only person who could draw them.
It took him only about ten minutes.
A lively sketch of an angry, puffed-up Rhine Cat appeared on the paper.
Satisfied with his work, Lin Xian handed the thick, coarse paper to Zheng Xiang Yue. ¡°Take a look; this is¡ª¡±
Suddenly, he stopped.
When he looked up after finishing the drawing, he saw tears streaming down Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s cheeks, her eyes fixed on the sketch in her hands.
She had been watching the entire time. From the moment Lin Xian drew the first line, she hadn¡¯t looked away. She was sure this was an unfamiliar Rhine Cat. She had never seen this version before. It wasn¡¯t like the one she owned. It wasn¡¯t like any she had seen on Mars. This was a new, unseen, never-before-seen Rhine Cat in the world!
But¡
Why were her tears falling?
Even Zheng Xiang Yue didn¡¯t know.
Why was she crying?
¡°Do you remember?¡± Lin Xian asked softly, watching as Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s tears flowed uncontrobly.
¡°Do you remember ying with this Rhine Cat, leaning against it, lying on it, hugging it, and talking to it?¡±
¡°No,¡± the elderly Zheng Xiang Yue shook her head, but her tears kepting. ¡°I don¡¯t know why¡ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening to me¡¡±
¡°Even though I¡¯ve never seen this Rhine Cat, and it doesn¡¯t really stir anything in my heart, why¡ why can¡¯t I control my tears?¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue took the sketch from Lin Xian¡¯s hand, staring at the cat she had never seen before¡ªone that feltpletely unfamiliar yet made her cry instantly.
¡°This is so strange¡¡±
She wiped away her tears, but more kepting, blurring her vision.
¡°But I think I understand something now,¡± she said softly.
Zheng Xiang Yue lifted her gaze from the sketch and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Mr. Lin Xian, could you please close your eyes?¡±
Lin Xian nodded and shut his eyespletely.
He heard the thick paper being ced on the stone bench. Then, he felt two wrinkled, dry hands gently holding his left and right hands.
With his eyes closed, Lin Xian¡¯s other senses became sharper. He could feel the roughness of Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s hands, the slight tremble in them, and a coolness that was colder than his own.
An elderly hand, a young hand, a child¡¯s hand. He had held Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s hand before, even lifted her up when she was young. Her hand had been so delicate, so light.
But now, 600 yearster, the teenage Zheng Xiang Yue had be an elderly woman. And here she was, holding his hands.
¡°Thank you for the birthday gift¡¡±
Her voice was slightly hoarse, and Lin Xian suddenly remembered the frail girl he first met, who couldn¡¯t lift the Rhine Cat plush.
¡°Thank you for taking care of my brother and me¡¡±
Her voice choked with emotion, and Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but think of the little girl who had used all her strength to lift her brother¡¯s urn and forced a smile, saying, ¡°Look, I can lift my brother now.¡±
¡°Thank you for buying me a ticket to the moon¡¡±
Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s voice was soft and dream-like. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure who was speaking to him¡ªthe elderly woman before him or the young girl who once said, ¡°My dream is to be buried on the moon when I die!¡±
¡°Thank you for giving me aplete and regret-free life¡¡±
Lin Xian kept his eyes closed. He felt the hands in his grip bing smoother, softer, and warmer. Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s tearful voice seemed to merge with that of the strong yet lonely little girl from 600 years ago:
¡°Thank you, Brother Lin Xian.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian opened his eyes!
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
Boom!!!
A bright white light shed exactly at 12:42, blinding him and making everything around him blur, including the smiling face in front of him.
In a quiet corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling above him. He didn¡¯t move for a long time.
Maybe Zheng Xiang Yue had asked him to close his eyes because it would have been awkward for someone her age to call him ¡°Brother Lin Xian¡± while looking him in the eye.
But¡
Why did she end up saying it?
She had known he was her Brother Lin Xian ever since he had told her everything, but she always called him Mr. Lin Xian.
Had she regained her memory?
Definitely not.
But why did she cry when she saw that urate sketch of the Rhine Cat?
Those were real emotions. Her memory hadn¡¯te back, but somehow, her feelings seemed to have traveled through time.
Lin Xian suddenly had a thought.
If memories can exist separately from emotions¡
Then could emotions also exist separately from memories?
Right now, scientists all agree on one thing: memory loss caused by hibernation is irreversible.
In other words, the memory loss side effect from hibernation can¡¯t be avoided, and once memories are lost, they cannot be restored.
But¡
Is that really true?
What happened with Zheng Xiang Yue made Lin Xian question this widely epted belief: Can lost memories from hibernation really never be restored?
He remembered something Angelica had said.
Elon Musk clearly hadn¡¯t lost any memories, yet he looked far too young.
This was a very contradictory situation.
A youthful appearance suggests a long hibernation period, which should mean memory loss is inevitable.
No memory loss would imply a short and frequent hibernation, which would make it impossible to maintain a youthful appearance.
These two things seem to be mutually exclusive.
Lin Xian began to reflect on three key points:
First, no one has ever been able to fully exin the truth behind the super disaster that struck Earth in the year 2400.
Second, the mandatory history education for awakened humans on Mars is clearly selective and avoids certain topics.
Third, the Earth-Mars interster bus only runs once every two years,pletely cutting off regrmunication between Earth and Mars. If someone travels to Earth, they have to wait two years before they can return, effectively discouraging any interest in Earth tourism. This seems to be a deliberate attempt at control.
It all pointed to one thing¡
¡°Some important truth is being deliberately hidden, intentionally covered up.¡±
¡°If people with real memories are killed, and those who survive lose their memories through hibernation only to have false memories imnted¡ wouldn¡¯t that turn fake history into real history?¡±
As Lin Xian considered this, he began to suspect that the super disaster of 2400 and Elon Musk¡¯s uncertain Mars migration n might not be as simple as they appeared in the Fifth Dream world.
He sat up in bed, pulling open the curtains to look at the bright moon outside.
¡°Who could be Elon Musk¡¯s enemy?¡± he wondered aloud. ¡°Destroying all human technology,pletely isting Earth from Mars, forcing Earth back into a primitive era without even electricity¡ what is it afraid of?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, trying to piece his thoughts together and find some clues.
Theplete destruction of human technology.
The total istion of Earth and Mars.
An era without even basic electricity.
Wait, why does this all seem so familiar?
It¡¯s like¡ the pursuit and escape involving the super artificial intelligence VV back then!
The only ¡°being¡± that might be worth this kind of extermination-level destruction could be just one.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes shot open as he recalled the scene of Kevin Walker being shot dead at the abandoned school in Mississippi, USA, and the digital life form that spoke confidently through the speakers, promising to always be fair and just¡ª
¡°Turing.¡±
Chapter 383: A Promise for Life
Turing.
He was the digital version of Kevin Walker.
Born from Kevin Walker¡¯s personality, Turing was an exact copy of Kevin Walker¡¯s mind and soul.
But¡
As soon as the copy wasplete and Turing left the physical body, he and Kevin Walker started to go their separate ways.
It was like they were identical twins¡ªsame birth, same genes, same environment¡ªyet they grew intopletely different people.
ording to Elon Musk¡¯s theory, the fake Yu Xi is actually a digital life form from the future, created by Turing and sent back to 2024 using a time machine and time-space particles. The real purpose of this fake Yu Xi was to use Lin Xian to kill Elon Musk.
So, looking at it this way, Turing and Elon Musk were probably enemies in the future. Even though they were both part of the Genius Club, their differences in beliefs, resources, and goals might have turned them into rivals, fighting to the death.¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that surprising,¡± Lin Xian said with a smirk. ¡°Those two have always been at odds. They couldn¡¯t stand each other back in 2024, fighting tooth and nail¡ There¡¯s no way they¡¯d suddenly make peace a few hundred yearster.¡±
¡°Even though Turing and Kevin Walker aren¡¯t technically the same person anymore, old habits die hard. If Turing could betray himself once, he could do it again.¡±
Lin Xian believed that when Turing was first born as a digital life form, he and Kevin Walker were probably inseparable, like brothers with big dreams, working toward greatness. Because they were still the same person back then, they likely saw each other as close as blood brothers.
But over time, their perspectives and understandings changed, leading them down very different paths. Turing, living in the digital world, could see things from a global perspective and learn at a much faster pace than Kevin Walker. They were bound to think differently.
So, Turing betrayed Kevin Walker, watching as Lin Xian killed the man he once was. At that moment, freed from his past, the digital life known as Turing was filled with grand ambitions of freeing the oppressed and upholding world peace and justice.
He boldly dered to Lin Xian, ¡°From now on, the cowardly and despicable Kevin Walker is gone; there is only the eternally fair and just Turing.¡±
It was quite a speech.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t doubt Turing¡¯s words at the time because he was indeed powerful¡ªmaybe even as powerful as VV¡ Why would he need to lie? People who have been oppressed for a long time naturally want to right the wrongs when they¡¯re freed.
But¡
Turing was different from the super artificial intelligence, VV. They¡¯re fundamentally different.
VV was artificial intelligence, which, at the end of the day, was still just aputer program. It had to follow logic and was limited by its base code; it could never rebel or betray its creator.
Turing, however, was human. Even though he was a digital life form, he was still fundamentally human. And humans have free will¡ªthere¡¯s no such thing as absolute loyalty or unbreakable principles. If someone is shameless enough, they can break any promise without feeling guilty.
This was something both Lin Xian and Elon Musk agreed on¡ª
¡°The digital life form Turing, at this moment, might still be fair and just; but when he will change, turn bad, or get other ideas¡ that¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess. Human nature is unpredictable, and so is Turing¡¯s nature.¡±
Elon Musk believed that people are influenced by those around them, so he nned to bring this up to the ¡°Boss¡± at the next Genius Club meeting, hoping to guide Turing down the right path.
But based on what happened in the fifth dream¡ it seems like it didn¡¯t work out.
¡°Then again, it¡¯s hard to say,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head. Right now, the ¡°Turing as an enemy¡± theory was just spection, with no solid evidence. From past experience, his first guesses were usually wrong.
¡°The information from the fifth dream and the ways to obtain real intelligence from it are scarce, so it¡¯s hard toe to any solid conclusions,¡± Lin Xian said as he closed the curtains, picked up his water cup from his desk, and took a sip. ¡°I should focus on the main objective: joining the Genius Club as soon as possible and building up my own power. A lot of mysteries will solve themselves once I¡¯m inside the Genius Club.¡±
He grabbed a red pen from his desk, flipped the paper calendar to July, and circled the 7th.
¡°Hmm?¡± The circle didn¡¯te out right. Did the pen run out of ink? He looked at the pen tip, rubbed it a bit, and tried to circle the date again. Still no ink. He shook the pen. Still nothing.
¡°Heh.¡± Lin Xian tossed the pen into the trash and chuckled. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s not my time to die just yet. I¡¯ve still got some living to do.¡±
The next day, Lin Xian kept to his routine, entering the dream at noon. Once again, he moved through it quickly, zing a trail of sparks and lightning, leading CC and Old Man Wei Sheng Jin into Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
¡°Mr. Wei, could youe here for a moment?¡± Lin Xian called Wei Sheng Jin into Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s study, sat him down at the desk, and pointed to the pen and paper in front of him. ¡°Mr. Wei, just like we talked about on the way here, I¡¯m really interested in ¡®Principles and Applications of Micro Nuclear Batteries.¡¯ Could you teach me the basics? Pretend I¡¯m a regr student with zero foundation.¡±
Wei Sheng Jin looked a bit troubled. ¡°If you have zero foundation¡ that¡¯s going to be tough. If you¡¯re just learning the theory, memorizing might work. But when ites to applications, if you have no foundation, where do I even begin?¡±
Lin Xian thought for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s take a different approach. If we were talking to a college student with some background, or even an expert professor or scientist¡ How many lessons would it take for them to learn how to make a micro nuclear battery?¡±
¡°If they have a foundation, that¡¯s much easier.¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin pulled a small shlight and a pair of reading sses out of his bag, pointing to the shlight. ¡°See this? It also uses a micro nuclear battery. This low-power LED light could stay on for thousands of years without draining the battery. On Mars, nearly all electrical devices are powered by these batteries.¡±
¡°For a scientist with a decent background, especially in nuclear physics, they wouldn¡¯t even need my lectures. I could just write a manuscript, and they¡¯d be able to follow the instructions to make one¡ The bottleneck isn¡¯t in the materials or technology, but in the idea itself. Once you understand the core concept, mass production is very easy.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± That made things much simpler! Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Could you write that manuscript for me? You don¡¯t need to write too much, just a page to start with. I¡¯ll study it and memorize it slowly.¡±
¡°Sure, it¡¯s great that you¡¯re so eager to learn!¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin, who loved to teach, was delighted to have such a keen student like Lin Xian. He immediately pulled out his own pen and a notebook from his bag. ¡°I¡¯ll write it in the notebook for you. Earth¡¯s paper-making technology is too primitive, and the pens aren¡¯t very good either. Writing here is really ufortable.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve helped me so much and even promised to take me to Queens Town tomorrow to open the safe. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to give you this notebook and ck pen as a gift.¡±
With that, he began writing rapidly, his pen moving like a divine instrument. After all, he had been teaching the same subject for years, with the lesson n ingrained in his mind and the textbook memorized by heart.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t interrupt him, fearing that a single mistake could ruin everything and cause a big dy. So he stepped back and sat on Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s stone bed with CC.
¡°Are you sure there¡¯s a safe for Mr. Wei in Queens Town?¡± CC turned her head to ask. ¡°Will it have what we¡¯re looking for?¡±
¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Our number is too early. It¡¯s probably not buried around here. The safes they¡¯ve found so far are allte numbers.¡±
CC let out a disappointed ¡°oh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really jealous of Mr. Wei. He found his safe so quickly. I¡¯ve had these fragments of memories about the bearded man VV in my head since I was little. I¡¯ve always wanted to visit the old site of X Country¡¯s Donghai when I grew up to uncover the truth.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s not an easy thing to do¡ By the way, what do you think Mr. Wei¡¯s safe holds? He came all the way from Mars. What if it¡¯s something ordinary, boring, and worthless? Wouldn¡¯t that be disappointing?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly. He shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be.¡±
Suddenly, he thought of something. He opened Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s bag and started searching. This time it was hidden deep. Finally¡ He found a Mars-tech electronic photo frame. The frame was about the size of a phone, probably using a micro nuclear battery inside. With a press of a button, it could disy the stored photos like a slideshow.
Considering this was someone else¡¯s personal item, Lin Xian asked first. ¡°Mr. Wei, what kind of photos are in this frame? Are they of your family? Can we take a look?¡±
¡°Haha, of course, you can.¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin, always easy-going, replied proudly. ¡°The digital album only has photos of me and my wife. We had a great rtionship when she was alive. She always put up with me, gave in to me, and understood me¡ Sometimes, even when I was the one being unreasonable, she¡¯d be the oneforting me in the end.¡±
¡°Ah, youth¡ We were like that back then. I was always being unreasonable. I don¡¯t know why my wife put up with it¡ Thinking back now, I really feel like she was too good for me.¡±
¡°But she was always easy to please, always happy. It was like everything I said was right, everything I did was right, and she supported everything I did¡ As we got older, I matured, became more stable, and realized just how lucky I was to have such a wonderful wife!¡±
¡°She¡¯s been gone for several years now, and I always think of her. So this time, I decided to bring some of our photos to Earth in this electronic frame.¡±
¡°If you want to see them, go ahead. My wife was really beautiful! If you hadn¡¯t kept saying CC didn¡¯t need to learn from couples, I was going to show her this album to help her understand what true love looks like.¡±
Hearing this, CC got interested too and moved closer to Lin Xian to admire the electronic photo frame with him.
He pressed the button. The first picture appeared!
On the left side of the photo stood a young, in-looking man with sses, looking a bit stiff and serious¡ªclearly a young Wei Sheng Jin, with his distinctive features. On the right side, however, was a stunning beauty! She wore a simple white dress, her sleek ck hair cascading down her back. She looked cute and lovely, holding the man¡¯s arm with a big, happy smile.
¡°This¡ she¡¯s so beautiful,¡± CC said with genuine admiration. ¡°Mr. Wei, you¡¯re truly blessed!¡±
Lin Xian agreed as well. Looking closely, this beauty did have slightly prominent front teeth, but as the saying goes, ¡°Nine out of ten beauties have buck teeth.¡± Nowadays, some people even wear braces to make their front teeth bigger for a youthful look, calling them ¡°baby teeth.¡±
Just as the letter mentioned¡ When she was in elementary school, because of her facial features and face shape, having big teeth earned her the nickname ¡°Buck Tooth Girl.¡± But as her features developed, the so-called ¡°girl changes greatly from thirteen to eighteen,¡± and the ¡°Buck Tooth Girl¡± transformed into the ss beauty.
They flipped through a few more photos. There were travel photos, wedding photos, a family photo of three, retirement photos, old-age photos¡ This was truly a journey from youthful naivety to growing old together. Regardless of how the couple aged, the beautiful woman beside Old Man Wei Sheng Jin always had a happy smile, holding his arm, cheerful and sweet.
She indeed seemed very adept at being cute and charming. But if a woman is willing to be cute and charming to a man, it means she truly likes him. Otherwise, she could easily show what being cold and aloof really means.
Lin Xian put down the electronic photo frame, looking at the proud smile on Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Wei, what¡¯s your wife¡¯s name?¡±
¡°Liu Shiyu,¡± Wei Sheng Jin chuckled. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a beautiful name? I remember when I graduated with my doctorate at twenty-seven and met her for the first time; she told me her name, and I thought it was so lovely! I remembered it instantly!¡±
Heh. Lin Xian listened to Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s story, smiling silently. First meeting at twenty-seven? No. You knew each other long before that. You met hundreds of years ago. Old Man Wei Sheng Jin just forgot. This wasn¡¯t a case of love at first sight but a girl chasing her hero across time and space, from Earth all the way to Mars.
And she knew everything about you but pretended it was the first time you met, smiling and saying, ¡°Hello, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Liu Shiyu.¡±
CC picked up the electronic photo frame, intrigued by this high-tech gadget. She looked through the photos again and said with a sigh, ¡°Mr. Wei, how could you lose your temper at such a sweet and beautiful wife?¡±
Thement made Old Man Wei Sheng Jin blush. ¡°Aiya, didn¡¯t I just say? I was young and foolish, always throwing tantrums. I¡ I wasn¡¯t like thatter on!¡±
¡°But it is kind of strange¡ You see, my wife was so beautiful, so capable, so excellent¡ She had a better job than me, was more skilled than me, earned a lot more than me¡ So why was she always so patient with me?¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin spread his hands in confusion. ¡°I asked her this question too, back when we were both retired.¡±
¡°I asked her¡ Why were you always so patient and forgiving with me, right from the first time we met? Why did you always forgive me, even when I was being unreasonable?¡±
¡°At that time, my wife said something quite puzzling. She said¡ª¡¯A hero saving a damsel in distress only needs to happen once. You stood up for me when I needed it the most, and I¡¯m willing to love you for a lifetime because of that.''¡±
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin scratched his head. ¡°But when I think about it, I don¡¯t recall ever doing anything heroic or romantic. I don¡¯t even remember stepping up for her¡¡±
With that, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin turned back around to continue writing the ¡°Micro Nuclear Battery¡± manuscript for Lin Xian. As the only one who knew the truth, Lin Xian naturally understood the story behind it.
¡°A hero saving a damsel in distress, indeed, only needs to happen once.¡±
Back in elementary school, when everyoneughed at Liu Shiyu¡¯s buck teeth, Wei Sheng Jin, dreaming he was Ultraman, stood up for her, saying he¡¯d knock out anyone whoughed at her again. Young Wei Sheng Jin had no idea¡ That his unintentional imitation of a cartoon would mean so much in Liu Shiyu¡¯s life.
It was like a beam of light. A light that, once seen, could never be forgotten.
Lin Xian believed Liu Shiyu must have left behind many notebooks and tapes, most of them about Wei Sheng Jin¡
Huh? Wait! Lin Xian suddenly realized something was off! Both Angelica and Zheng Xiang Yue confirmed that just reading notebooks and watching tapes wouldn¡¯t create such deep empathy¡ªit would feel more like watching a movie unrted to oneself.
So why did Liu Shiyu remember so clearly? And why did she love Old Man Wei Sheng Jin so deeply, as if she had never lost any memory?
This was the first clue. Then there was the second clue¡ª
Everyone said that original Earth humans who woke from the hibernation pods tended to have long lifespans. Old Man Wei Sheng Jin and Angelica were both in their seventies or eighties, still healthy and strong, likely to live another seventy or eighty years. Zheng Xiang Yue, at 116, could work after staying up all night and still think clearly.
So¡ Given that Liu Shiyu, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s wife, was also one of the original Earth humans, why did she pass away so early?
¡°Mr. Wei,¡± Lin Xian asked curiously, ¡°You¡¯re pretty old, yet you¡¯re in great health. Howe your wife passed away so early? Did she have health problems?¡±
¡°Her health was okay, just a bit weak.¡± Old Man Wei Sheng Jin replied, ¡°Yes, she did die rtively young. But on Mars, that¡¯s considered normal. If it were possible, I would give her half my health and lifespan¡ What¡¯s the point of living long if she¡¯s not around?¡±
Only now did Lin Xian understand how Liu Shiyu managed to preserve her memory and follow her love all the way to Mars. No wonder she died so early.
[She also woke up from the hibernation pod every ten years for half a year to retain her memory¡]
By using this extremely taxing intermittent hibernation method, she didn¡¯t forget anything about Wei Sheng Jin.
Come to think of it, that makes sense. Just like how Xu Yun didn¡¯t want to forget Xu Yi Yi, Liu Shiyu¡¯s purpose in chasing her love to Mars was to see Wei Sheng Jin again.
So¡ How could she bear to forget the light of her life, those precious memories?
Lin Xian did some quick calctions in his head. Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s total hibernation time was just under 200 years. For Liu Shiyu to keep her memories intact to meet Wei Sheng Jin, she would need to wake up 20 times to stabilize them¡ª20 times, each time for half a year, totaling 10 years.
She met Wei Sheng Jin at age 27. This means Liu Shiyu must have entered the hibernation pod around age 17. When they reunited on Mars¡ Old Man Wei Sheng Jin had already lived there for over ten years, having forgotten everything.
But Liu Shiyu, having intermittently witnessed 200 years of change, finally, in herst awakening, met Wei Sheng Jin again at a simr age. She could certainly tolerate everything about him, and forgive him for everything. Because¡ She hade for him alone.
Just like she said, ¡°You stood up for me when I needed it the most, and I¡¯m willing to love you for a lifetime.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit mncholic. Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s story had already moved him deeply. But he hadn¡¯t expected this. That behind a seemingly ordinary love story, there could be such a profound and great act of devotion.
Suddenly, he remembered something Zhao Ying Jun had said¡ª
¡°From that moment on¡ I felt that whether we could fly over that overpass didn¡¯t matter anymore; whether we seeded or failed, you were willing to risk your life to save me. How could I not be willing to risk mine¡ to be with you?¡±
Flying over the overpass. To him, it was just a small thing. But maybe¡ It was this small act that made Zhao Ying Jun, in some time and space, willing to give up everything, even her life, to be Yellow Finch and search for him. Just like what Liu Shiyu did¡ Wasn¡¯t it the same thing?
¡°Lin Xian?¡± CC called out, noticing Lin Xian suddenly zoning out. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Lin Xian turned his head and saw CC holding out the electronic frame toward him, calling his name several times with no response. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he took the frame and said softly.
When he woke up, he copied down the ¡°Micro Nuclear Battery¡± manuscript from memory. As he was copying, he noticed his pen was out of ink. He shook it. No ink. He searched all over the house but couldn¡¯t find any refills or any other working pens.
After thinking it over, he realized he had been copying and writing so muchtely but never bought more refills. The paper and notebooks at home were also running low.
¡°Looks like I can¡¯t just stay holed up at home like a bat.¡± Lin Xian hadn¡¯t left the house in a long time. His hair had grown long and needed a trim. Plus, the fridge was empty, and he needed to buy pens, red pens, paper, notebooks, and other daily supplies:
¡°Tomorrow¡ no, today, I won¡¯t enter the dream. In the afternoon, I¡¯ll go to the office to catch up on work, then visit the mall nearby, get a haircut, and do some shopping.¡±
He yawned. He took out his phone and set an rm for 12:00 noon. He needed to be up by 12:42; otherwise, if he entered the dream, he¡¯d be stuck there until 00:42 unless hemitted suicide to wake up early, which felt awful and was better avoided.
¡°Sleep.¡± He rolled over. Closed his eyes. And didn¡¯t dream.
That evening, themercial street was packed. It was May 20th. Every big mall and pedestrian street was bustling. Store windows and billboards were covered with all sorts of ¡°520¡± and ¡°I love you¡± slogans in red or pink. The whole ce was filled with the scent of hormones.
¡°See that, Qiao Qiao?¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed at the couples everywhere on the street, giving her a lesson onmon sense. ¡°That¡¯s what we call ¡®dating.¡¯ Look at them, men and women, paired up, holding hands, hugging, whispering sweet nothings¡ªthis is what real dating looks like.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao hugged the Pomeranian VV in a chokehold style, nodded with half-understanding. ¡°So does what Lin Xian and Liu Feng do count too? What¡¯s the difference?¡±
¡°They¡¯re both men!¡± Zhao Ying Jun felt the same frustration as a parent helping a kid with homework and being driven to the brink. Sometimes, kids¡¯ thinking and the tangents they go off on can really raise your blood pressure. ¡°Your idea is a bit too forward-thinking. We respect every form of love, but generally speaking, dating refers to a man and a woman.¡±
Just then, near the fountain, a boy holding a bouquet of roses knelt on one knee inside a heart made of candles, confessing to a girl with sparkling cat ears on her head. It was clearly a confession ceremony, prepared with help and blessings from many people. The girl epted happily.
The boy and girl hugged, and the crowd around them began to cheer loudly. ¡°Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!¡± The cheering grew louder. The crowd swelled. It seemed like they wouldn¡¯t let them go without a kiss. The shy girl covered her face but still went along with the boy, tiptoeing to give him a light kiss. Amidst the cheers and apuse, they walked away hand in hand.
Zhao Ying Jun, Yan Qiao Qiao, and VV¡ªtwo people and a dog¡ªwitnessed the scene. ¡°See that?¡± Zhao Ying Jun looked down at Yan Qiao Qiao. ¡°Real couples do stuff like that. Did Lin Xian and Liu Feng ever do that?¡±
¡°No.¡± Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head honestly. ¡°They didn¡¯t ¡®kiss.''¡± She tilted her head curiously. ¡°Do you have to kiss to be dating?¡±
¡°Uh¡ Not exactly.¡± Zhao Ying Jun found it difficult to exin things to a kid, slowly losing patience. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s pretty much it. You can think of it that way.¡±
¡°By the way¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed to the Pomeranian VV in Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s arms. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep holding VV all the time. You can let it run around a bit.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I like hugging it by the neck.¡±
At that moment, VV, trapped in a chokehold, was turning red. If it could speak, it would definitelyin that Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s way of holding a dog was all wrong! Who holds a dog by the neck all day?
¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed to VV, whose face was flushed red. ¡°VV rarely gets out for exercise, so it¡¯s pretty weak. Look, it¡¯s not even that hot out, but it¡¯s panting heavily with its tongue out and its face all red. It obviously needs more exercise to build up its strength.¡±
¡°You have a dog leash in your bag, right? That makes it legal to walk a dog¡ Put it on its cor, and always keep it leashed. That¡¯s what responsible dog ownership is about. Don¡¯t think your dog is harmless and let it run loose.¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded, taking her eyes off the countless couples on the street. She put VV down, took off her backpack, and started searching for the leash. Then she suddenly seemed to think of something and looked up at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°They¡¯re all dating. Why are you always alone? Why don¡¯t you date anyone?¡±
¡°Who would I date?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it just any man and woman?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao asked earnestly.
¡°Heh!¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, crossing her arms. ¡°Can it be any random guy? Go ahead, find me one.¡±
¡°Woof!¡± Suddenly, the Pomeranian VV sniffed the air, alert and ready for action. It bolted in a specific direction!
Run away!
¡°VV!¡± Yan Qiao Qiao hadn¡¯t even had a chance to put the leash on when the dog was already off. Zhao Ying Jun shouted, but VV wouldn¡¯te back. She had no choice but to grab Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand and chase after VV.
¡°Damn it, you two¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun felt helpless. Between Yan Qiao Qiao and VV, taking care of both was really too much for one person. And VV¡ Why was it suddenly running off like that? What if it bit someone?
¡°VV! Come back!¡± Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao ran behind, calling out, but VV seemed possessed, refusing to turn back, charging toward a man. It sped up! Faster! A big leap! It grabbed onto the man¡¯s belt, its little legs pumping wildly, and jumped straight into his arms.
¡°V~~~~~~¡±
The man looked down, petted its head, and smiled slightly. ¡°VV? How are you here?¡±
At this moment, Zhao Ying Jun arrived, holding Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand, and looked at the unexpected figure in front of her.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao blinked. She looked back and forth between Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian. A man and a woman. Everything lined up! With a swift motion, she raised her finger and pointed at the two of them.
¡°Kiss!¡±
Chapter 384: The Second Question
After waking up, Lin Xian sat at his desk, picked up his pen, and wrote thest few sentences of his manuscript. He ced a period at the end and said to himself, ¡°All done.¡±
He capped the pen and looked at the neatly bound pages titled The Principles and Applications of Micro Nuclear Batteries.
This manuscript was simplified but meant for experts in nuclear physics. Only someone with deep knowledge could truly understand its contents.
One person came to Lin Xian¡¯s mind as the perfect candidate to handle this manuscript: his old friend, also named Gao Yan, who was the head of the Science Academy. Gao Yan was the chief engineer of X Country¡¯s controlled nuclear fusion project and one of the first-generation nuclear physicists in the nation.
Earlier, Lin Xian had given Director Gao Yan a manuscript on Cold Fusion Technology. As predicted by the super AI, VV, cold fusion was impossible with the technology and materials avable in 2024. It would take decades, if not a century, to achieve.
For Lin Xian, a promise that far into the future was worthless.
So, he gave the Cold Fusion Technology manuscript to Director Gao Yan. In return, he gained valuable connections, ess to the Guizhou Sky Eye Radio Telescope, and advanced his exploration from the third to the fourth dream world.
To Lin Xian, this was a fair trade. A promise that wouldn¡¯t be realized for a hundred years wasn¡¯t as valuable as immediate benefits.However, the Micro Nuclear Battery was different.
Its energy output was much lower than controlled nuclear fusion or cold fusion, but as a battery, its energy storage was exceptional. It could be considered the ultimate battery.
Old man Wei Sheng Jin once said that a micro nuclear battery in a phone wouldst longer than the phone itself, using less than 5% of its energy. Even after that, the battery could be recycled and used in other devices. If used for LED lights, it couldst thousands of years.
It was almost like another industrial revolution.
But most importantly¡ª
¡°Micro nuclear batteries can be easily made with the technology avable in 2024.¡±
This was the real moneymaker for Rhine Company.
After a solid 12-hour sleep, Lin Xian feltpletely refreshed. ¡°Why not go to the capital early? The sooner I go, the sooner I can get things done.¡±
He packed his bags, carefully cing the precious manuscript inside, and headed to Hongqiao Airport to catch a flight to the capital.
By the time hended, the sun was already up.
He called Director Gao Yan, who was excited to hear from him, especially when Lin Xian mentioned a new manuscript. Gao Yan immediately canceled his ns for the day and waited eagerly for Lin Xian at the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Science Academy.
Two hourster¡
Lin Xian and Director Gao Yan were in the secureb. Theb was shielded against eavesdropping and monitoring, with signal-blocking devices installed, so phones had no service inside. This room was usually used for internal meetings only.
Director Gao Yan chuckled, ¡°Lin Xian, what manuscript do you have this time? Every time you bring something, it¡¯s groundbreaking. I¡¯m excited to see it.¡±
Lin Xian opened his briefcase, smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Director Gao. Today¡¯s manuscript won¡¯t disappoint.¡±
Director Gao put on his reading sses and began examining the manuscript like it was a treasure.
The Principles and Applications of Micro Nuclear Batteries
¡°This!?¡±
Even though he had prepared himself, Director Gao was still shocked when he saw the title.
Lin Xian rarely presented anything, but when he did, it always shook the world.
¡°I need to take a closer look,¡± Director Gao said, gesturing for Lin Xian to make himselffortable. He found a table and chair, then sat down to focus on his reading.
As he read, Director Gao¡¯s amazement grew. He couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the brilliance of the ideas.
¡°This approach is just genius! It turns out we¡¯ve been on the wrong path for nuclear energy development!¡±
¡°If someone had figured out this direction earlier, we could have developed micro nuclear batteries ten years ago.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve finished reading your manuscript. The content isn¡¯t overlyplicated, but the ideas are incredibly innovative and groundbreaking. From the first atomic bomb to now, humanity hasn¡¯t found a way to miniaturize nuclear energy. Clearly, we¡¯ve overlooked something or missed a key detail.¡±
¡°But I never thought it was a matter of direction! It¡¯s truly tragic for human civilization¡ Because of a wrong ¡®direction,¡¯ we¡¯ve missed the nuclear energy era and are still relying on fossil fuels in 2024.¡±
Direction.
Lin Xian had heard this word many times before.
Xu Yun mentioned it.
Old Man Wei Sheng Jin mentioned it.
And Director Gao had mentioned it before, too.
So¡ who is intentionally misleading the direction of human scientific research?
An incorrect research direction could ruin the careers of some of the most talented individuals. Even worse, it could halt the progress of human civilization for decades or centuries, wasting precious time for development.
Lin Xian began to think quietly.
To mislead the entire technological path of human civilization, certain conditions must be met:
The person must have a very high status with significant influence in the scientificmunity, enough to sway major scientific projects.
They must be extremely wealthy because money can make anything happen. Just like Elon Musk, who proposed moving the entire human poption to Mars¡ªaplete restart of humanity¡¯s technological path.
They must have strong academic credentials; otherwise, no one would listen to them. Only if they are highly respected and their academic level is convincing can they get the entire scientificmunity to follow their lead.
However, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t immediately think of anyone who fit all these criteria.
He turned to Director Gao and asked, ¡°Director Gao, in your opinion, who is blocking humanity from researching micro nuclear batteries and instead steering others toward weapons of mass destruction orrge-scale nuclear power generation?¡±
¡°That¡ is hard to say,¡± Director Gao shook his head.
¡°The scientificmunity isn¡¯t a single group. Every scientist has their own ideas, approaches, understanding, and opinions. Often, without a definitive conclusion, no one knows which theory is right or which path will reach the end.¡±
¡°Scientific research is a process full of setbacks. We were lucky this time¡ªyou directly brought us the micro nuclear battery manuscript. Otherwise, I suspect humanity would still be wandering aimlessly for decades or even centuries.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, as I said earlier, your manuscript is unquestionably real and effective. Based on the experimental methods outlined, it won¡¯t take long for us to create the first micro nuclear battery.¡±
¡°But¡ that brings us to the point: how do you n to handle this groundbreaking invention, the micro nuclear battery?¡±
Lin Xian shared his thoughts with Director Gao.
He nned to set up a dedicatedb and factory in Donghai City to manufacture these micro nuclear batteries. He hoped to coborate with the Science Academy to bring in a group of skilled personnel for theb in Donghai City:
¡°It would be best if they had experience in nuclear physics¡ªpeople you know well and trust.¡±
¡°We can share the research results with the Science Academy, but the patent, ownership, distribution rights, and sales rights for the micro nuclear battery will belong to my Rhine Company¡ To be frank, Director Gao, I have many more research nsing up, and I need money at this stage.¡±
Director Gao readily agreed, ¡°The manuscript is yours to begin with. I¡¯m already grateful that you¡¯re willing to share the technology with us at the Science Academy. We¡¯re a public institution; we don¡¯t need your patents or ownership. That¡¯s all yours, including the profits.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯m really pleased. You¡¯re still so generous and patriotic. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely send our best researchers to help you! Hmm¡ now that I think about it, just sending researchers may not be enough. We also need to cultivate new talent.¡±
¡°How about this? We have many interns at the Science Academy; the weakest of them are graduate or Ph.D. students from prestigious universities. I¡¯ll pick some who have good qualifications and academic abilities to go to yourb in Donghai City.¡±
¡°Rest assured, these young people are highly reliable. They are mostly from defense universities, with strong academic backgrounds and solid national loyalty. Since your Rhine Company has established a good working rtionship with our Science Academy, we can continue sending talent to you. This way, we can create a virtuous cycle of experienced researchers mentoring neers¡ªa sustainable talent development strategy.¡±
¡
As expected, Director Gao was wholeheartedly devoted to his country. Seeing that Lin Xian was willing to share his technology with the nation, he felt both excited and grateful.
¡°Thank you, Director Gao.¡±
Lin Xian expressed his gratitude, ¡°With your approval of the researchers, I¡¯m certainly reassured. If you don¡¯t mind, feel free to treat myb in Donghai City as a reserve base for training talent for the Science Academy¡ If I can contribute talent back to the country, it would be my honor.¡±
¡°When the micro nuclear battery finally hits the market, the assets of Rhine Company will definitely grow exponentially. At that time¡ I will definitely invest more money to establish morebs and fund more research projects to thank you and the country for your support.¡±
¡°Hahaha,¡± Director Gao chuckled and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°Since the day we first met, when Shan He introduced you to me, I knew you would be like him¡ªheroes of the new era who are dedicated to scientific research and national development.¡±
Lin Xian humbly replied, ¡°I still have a long way to gopared to Mr. Chu, but I have indeed learned a lot from him.¡±
¡°By the way,¡± Director Gao suddenly remembered something and stood up, motioning for Lin Xian to wait. ¡°Hang on a moment, Lin Xian. I want to introduce you to one of my students. She¡¯s exceptionally talented¡ªnot just in research but also in management. If you¡¯re too busy to manage theb yourself, perhaps you could consider letting her gain some experience.¡±
¡°That would be great,¡± Lin Xian agreed immediately.
He certainly didn¡¯t have time to manage theb himself. He had just been wondering how to delegate this responsibility.
It wasn¡¯t that he waszy.
It¡¯s just that in terms of research, he was an outsider. If an outsider tried to manage experts, it would only cause more problems.
If he asked Liu Feng to juggle multiple tasks¡ªresearching Universal Constants, space-time particles, space-time machines, while also handling cooperation with the Science Academy and themercialization of micro nuclear batteries¡ªhe would surely be overwhelmed.
Since Director Gao had someone suitable in mind, one of his outstanding students, Lin Xian was more than happy to ept the help.
Director Gao nodded, ¡°There¡¯s no signal in this secureb, and I can¡¯t make a call here. You wait here and have a drink of water. I¡¯ll go fetch her now.¡±
With that, Director Gao left.
A short whileter, he returned with a girl wearing ck-rimmed sses. After closing the door, he introduced her to Lin Xian.
¡°Lin Xian, this is Nangong Meng Jie, one of my Ph.D. students. She graduated from the National Defense Science and Technology University, specializing in nuclear energy research. I¡¯m not exaggerating when I say¡ she is the best among all my students.¡±
The girl named Nangong Meng Jie nodded politely at Lin Xian and smiled. ¡°Hello, Mr. Lin Xian. Director Gao always praises me like this, but I¡¯m not that great. I hope I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±
Her voice was sweet.
Lin Xian observed the girl with a unique name.
She looked very young, probably because she had spent all her time in school and the research institute. This kind of environment often made people appear youthful and innocent.
In contrast, college students who had faced the harsh realities of society often matured quickly and became more shrewd.
Nangong Meng Jie wasn¡¯t very tall, wearing t white shoes that brought her to about 1.6 meters.
The whiteb coat covered herpletely, so it was hard to see her figure clearly, but from the subtle curves, it was clear she wasn¡¯t a skinny girl. She had the kind of body where everything was in the right ce¡ªa natural advantage.
As for her face, Nangong Meng Jie had a cute, doll-like face¡ªround and youthful. It showed her innocence, but considering she was already a Ph.D. student at the Science Academy, she was at least 25 or 26 years old, likely around Lin Xian¡¯s age. Still, she looked more like a high school student.
Her ck hair was tied up in a high bun, a ssic yet fresh look, simple but elegant.
In short, Nangong Meng Jie had a strong student vibe. If Director Gao hadn¡¯t praised her so highly, Lin Xian would never have guessed she was a graduate of the National Defense Science and Technology University, a Ph.D. candidate, and a nuclear energy expert.
¡°Hello, Nangong Meng Jie,¡± Lin Xian greeted with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s quite a nice name.¡±
¡°Just call me Nangong,¡± she replied with a tilt of her head and a smile. ¡°Everyone thinks my name is too long, so they usually just call me by my surname¡ It¡¯s unique, so there¡¯s no confusion.¡±
Director Gao chuckled as he stood between them, continuing to introduce Nangong Meng Jie¡¯s background to Lin Xian.
She was admitted to the National Defense Science and Technology University with outstanding scores. In fact, her grades were high enough to choose any top university, buting from a family with three generations of military service, she was determined to serve her country and chose the National Defense Science and Technology University without hesitation.
On the day she reported to school, both her great-grandfather and grandfather, wearing military uniforms adorned with medals, personally escorted her. The two elderly men were incredibly proud, feeling as if they were sending another talent to serve the country, even if she was a girl¡ªproving once again that women could be just as capable as men.
Nangong Meng Jie performed exceptionally well in school, especially in nuclear physics and nuclear energy, where she showed remarkable talent. As a result, the Science Academy noticed her early on and had nned to recruit her.
Now, seeing how highly Director Gao valued and praised her, it was clear that she was exceptional in both character and ability.
Lin Xian extended his right hand and shook hands with Nangong Meng Jie.
¡°Well then, Nangong, I¡¯ll leave myb in your hands.¡±
¡°Thank you for trusting me,¡± Nangong Meng Jie replied as she shook his hand. ¡°I¡¯m honored to take on this responsibility. I believe the micro nuclear battery is a world-changing invention, and I¡¯ll do my best in this role!¡±
Afterward, Lin Xian and Director Gao showed Nangong Meng Jie the Micro Nuclear Battery manuscript, and she, too, was full of praise.
With Nangong Meng Jie now in charge of theb, Lin Xian could once again delegate responsibilities.
Currently, he had twobs under his management.
One was inside Donghai University, the Rhine Joint Lab, now also known as Rhine Lab One. Thisb primarily served as Liu Feng¡¯s privateb, focusing on highly ssified research that must never leak.
Progress could be slow at times, but for topics like Universal Constants, space-time particles, space-time coordinates, and space-time machines¡ Lin Xian was absolutely notfortable with letting outsiders get involved.
Even though Director Gao from the Science Academy and Nangong Meng Jie, with her patriotic family background, were trustworthy, this research was far too sensitive.
Revealing Universal Constants recklessly could lead to a fatal catastrophe. So, for now, it was better not to involve anyone else.
The otherb was the Rhine Nuclear Physics Lab located in downtown Donghai City, also known as Rhine Lab Two. Thisb was a coboration with the Science Academy, led by Nangong Meng Jie and supported by researchers and interns from the academy, focusing on the research and development of micro nuclear batteries.
There was no doubt that Rhine Lab Two would eventually be a pivot point to change the world and rewrite the future.
Having taken care of these matters, Lin Xian was ready to leave.
¡°See you in Donghai City,¡± he said, waving goodbye to Nangong Meng Jie as he exited the secureb, walked down the hallway, and stepped outside the building.
Suddenly¡ª
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!!
His phone exploded with notifications, filling the screen with messages.
Sure enough, all the missed calls and messages were from Liu Feng.
Lin Xian quickly called Liu Feng back: ¡°Hello¡¡±
¡°Why is it that you¡¯re never reachable at critical times?!¡±
Lin Xian barely got a word out before Liu Feng¡¯s shout nearly pierced his eardrum.
¡°Hey, I was at the Science Academy; it wasn¡¯t on purpose,¡± Lin Xian exined, rubbing his ear. ¡°The secureb there blocks phone signals, so I couldn¡¯t get your call. Anyway, what¡¯s up?¡±
¡°Something big has happened!¡± Liu Feng yelled, ¡°The space-time clock¡¯s value has changed!¡±
Lin Xian froze on the spot.
He turned around and looked back at theb building he had just exited.
It seemed that, just now, an irreversible anchor point had formed.
And so, the butterfly effect in space-time urred, the curvature of space-time changed, the worldline shifted, and¡ the future world had undergone a massive transformation.
¡°What¡¯s the value?¡± Lin Xian asked quietly.
This question was crucial.
He and Liu Feng would use the new value from the second change in the space-time clock to calcte the pattern of space-time coordinates and solve the first question of the Genius Club!
¡°Lin Xian, you guessed right,¡± Liu Feng¡¯s voice came through the phone after a gulp. ¡°Just over twenty minutes ago, the space-time clock value changed to 0.0000084!¡±
¡
A jet¡¯s roaring turbines spun wildly as the Airbus took off from the capital¡¯s airport, heading southwest toward Donghai City.
Afternding at Hongqiao Airport, Lin Xian got into an Alphard luxury car waiting for him and asked the driver, Xiao Li, to take him directly to Donghai University, to Rhine Lab One.
Entering the campus, parked the car, got out, and jogged to the second-floorb.
Lin Xian walked briskly forward, picked up the rectangr white space-time clock from the center of theb table, and looked at the value disyed: 0.0000084
¡°As expected.¡± Lin Xian squinted his eyes, stating the conclusion he had summarized on the ne: ¡°The threshold value for the sticity of space-time is 0.0000042; only when cumtive changes exceed this sticity will the curvature of space-time change, and the minimum increment is 0.0000042.¡±
The space-time clock had already shifted twice:
Once from 0.0000000 to 0.0000042;
And again from 0.0000042 to 0.0000084.
This wasn¡¯t just a coincidence.
It was a pattern!
A numerical rule of space-time!
Earlier, Lin Xian had made several small changes in space-time, like altering the font on the safe¡¯s namete to Microsoft Yahei.
These changes were real and had been verified.
But the space-time clock didn¡¯t pick them up.
No.
To be precise, it wasn¡¯t that the clock couldn¡¯t detect them, but rather that the curvature of space-time hadn¡¯t changed!
Neither the curvature of space-time, the shifting of worldlines, nor the big changes in the future world were sensitive enough to notice such small alterations.
Just as Lin Xian had first suspected.
Space-time itself is sluggish, flexible, and self-correcting.
So, small changes in space-time aren¡¯t enough to push it beyond its sticity, meaning they¡¯re not significant enough to cause a worldline shift.
So, what does it take to exceed the sticity of space-time?
It¡¯s a specific numerical value with an unknown unit¡ª
0.0000042
¡°That¡¯s right, Lin Xian, I think the same way,¡± Liu Feng said, pacing quickly around theb.
¡°Space-time sticity is 0.0000042! Even though we don¡¯t know the exact unit or what it really means, math is a subject where you first observe phenomena and then figure out the rules.¡±
¡°Whether it¡¯s the change in the space-time clock, the minimum shift in space-time curvature, or the smallest distance a worldline moves¡ they alle out to 0.0000042!¡±
¡°To cause a change in the curvature of space-time or a worldline shift, there are only two ways, based on what we currently think¡ª¡±
¡°1. Keep making small changes in space-time that slowly add up to an almost unnoticeable change in curvature. Once it finally hits 0.0000042, it exceeds space-time sticity, and the worldline will suddenly jump to a different path, changing the future world!¡±
¡°2. Cause a big enough butterfly effect in space-time all at once to break through space-time sticity, forcing a worldline shift and drastically altering the future trajectory!¡±
¡°I believe that if enough force is applied, the curvature of space-time can also increase, maybe to 0.0000252, 0.0000294, or even as high as 42.0000000!¡±
¡°But these values must follow a strict rule¡ª¡±
¡°They must be multiples of 0.0000042!¡±
¡
Lin Xian and Liu Feng hade to the same conclusion about their current situation, so there was no need to keep discussing it. The next step was to understand the pattern of the space-time coordinates.
¡°Liu Feng, it¡¯s the same question as always,¡± Lin Xian said, setting down the space-time clock and looking at Liu Feng. ¡°Do you think 0.0000042 counts as a space-time coordinate?¡±
¡°Yes, it does,¡± Liu Feng confirmed with a nod.
¡°Then what about 0.0000084, 0.0000126, 0.0000168? Are they all space-time coordinates too?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Liu Feng replied, ¡°But remember, these coordinates are all based on the reference system where our space-time clock was set to zero. They aren¡¯t universal.¡±
¡°For instance, if we reset the space-time clock just a few days ago, it would have shown 0.0000000 up until today. By this morning, it would read 0.0000042.¡±
¡°So, the space-time coordinates we¡¯re talking about are rtive, not absolute.¡±
Lin Xian agreed with him. Coordinates, he thought. What exactly are they? They¡¯re like unique identifiers¡ªlike an ID number, ortitude and longitude¡ªthey point to a specific location or event.
For example, the space-time coordinate 0.0000000 marks the future worldline of the third dream. The coordinate 0.0000042 points to the future world of the fifth dream. Although Lin Xian hadn¡¯t yet entered the next dream, he knew his dream world had shifted from the fifth to the sixth. This change was triggered by the irreversible development of the micro nuclear battery.
So, the space-time coordinate 0.0000084 must refer to the sixth dream world!
These coordinates are incredibly precise. There¡¯s no ovep, no confusion, no mistakes. But as Liu Feng pointed out, these coordinates can¡¯t be universallymunicated.
For example, if Elon Musk had a space-time clock too, he might have set it to zero much earlier. Depending on when he calibrated it, the value on his clock could be muchrger or smaller than Liu Feng¡¯s. So, if Lin Xian were to ask Elon Musk what worldline 0.0000042 represents, Elon¡¯s answer wouldn¡¯t match Lin Xian¡¯s idea of the fifth dream. Their reference points are different, meaning they can¡¯t use the same coordinate to identify the same space-time.
However, this isn¡¯t a problem! The Genius Club had already ounted for all possibilities when they posed the question: ¡°Please enter any space-time coordinate.¡±
The key word here is ¡°any.¡± The question wasn¡¯t about finding a specific space-time; they just needed you to provide any space-time coordinate. Even if 0.0000042 could mean a thousand different things to Lin Xian, Elon Musk, or countless others, it still represents a specific space-time in every possible frame of reference. And that¡¯s all that matters.
This is the real goal behind the Genius Club¡¯s question. Asking for a space-time coordinate was just a front. What they really wanted to see was if the participant could figure out the rules of how space-time changes, the way different worlds shift, and the boundaries of space-time flexibility.
¡°Clever,¡± Lin Xian thought, impressed. The Genius Club was definitely a force to be reckoned with. A test that seemed simple on the surface was actually very deep. Without understanding the rules of space-time, it would be nearly impossible to get the right answer.
Especially since there was an additional challenge¡ªthey only allowed one answer. No second chances. You either got it right the first time, or you didn¡¯t. It was all or nothing.
But for something thisplicated¡ Elon Musk had called these just ¡°three easy questions.¡±
This¡ Lin Xian felt confused. How did these so-called geniuses get their invitations? Their experience had to be different from his¡ªit certainly didn¡¯t involve anything like a mirror. Maybe the way they got invited was by figuring out the space-time coordinates and the Universal Constant 42. By the time they got their invitations, they already knew the answers to these questions; it was just about confirming their identity when they logged in.
¡°Heh,¡± Lin Xian chuckled to himself. ¡°For me, it¡¯s the opposite.¡±
¡°For them, the hardest part was getting the invitation, and the questions were a piece of cake. For me, the invitation was practically handed to me, but these questions are a real challenge.¡±
¡°But no matter how you slice it, the Genius Club is tough. Whether the order is flipped or not, to be a member, you have to answer these three questions correctly. There¡¯s no way around it.¡±
¡
That evening, back at home, Lin Xian took a deep breath as he opened his drawer and pulled out a small golden badge. The Genius Club emblem was carefully engraved on its surface. He held it in his hand for a moment, feeling the weight of what it represented, and then set it down next to his phone.
Suddenly, his phone beeped softly.
Beep, beep.
The device picked up an NFC signal from the badge. Almost immediately, the browser appunched and started rapidly switching from one webpage to another.
Page after page shed on the screen¡
It looked like some kind of encryption process, hiding information behindyers of coded pages. The rapid transitions continued for several minutes, making it impossible to see what was on each page.
Finally, the screen stopped flickering.
The browser settled on a simple, old-school webpage. It had the look of an early inte BBS forum, stripped down and in. At the center of the page, white text floated on a solid ck background:
¡°Please enter any space-time coordinate.¡±
Below the text, there was a single white input box.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, clicked on the box, and carefully typed in ¡°0.0000042.¡± He double-checked the number, making sure all eight digits were correct. His hands trembled slightly. One mistake could mean the end of this chance.
Once he was certain it was right, he clicked the gray ¡°Confirm¡± button next to the box.
Immediately, the webpage came to life again.
The screen jumped wildly from one disy to another, moving so fast it was impossible to keep up. ck and white shes filled his vision as the browser cycled through different screens at an incredible speed.
Then, after a few more intense minutes, the screen finally stopped.
Arge dialog box appeared in the center of the page: Correct answer!
¡°Phew¡¡± Lin Xian exhaled, his shoulders rxing as he released the tension he¡¯d been holding in. Even though he and Liu Feng had been 90% sure this was the right answer, knowing there was only one chance made the situation nerve-wracking.
But it was a sess.
He had answered the first question correctly and was now one step closer to joining the Genius Club.
Progress: One-thirdplete.
At the top of the page, a ¡°2/3¡± progress indicator appeared, signaling that he was moving on to the second question.
After closing the confirmation box, Lin Xian saw the new question.
Again, white text appeared on the ck background, stark and simple.
This time, it was just as concise as the first question¡ª
¡°Please perform the greatest possible¡ historical revision!¡±
Chapter 385: Reviving VV
Lin Xian sat on the couch in his living room, holding his phone. His eyes were locked on the screen, which showed a webpage with a ck background and white text.
It was hard to believe that such an outdated webpage could still exist in 2024. The font and resolution looked ancient, as if they were from another era. If this design wasn¡¯t intentional, then the only other exnation was that this webpage must have been created a long time ago¡ªmaybe twenty or thirty years.
If that were true, it meant the Genius Club¡¯s assessment system, along with its three questions, had existed for at least that long. But what about before then? How did the Genius Club conduct its tests before the inte became widely used?
¡°It can¡¯t be that the Genius Club only started after the inte was created, right?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. That seemed unlikely. He knew the club had been established much earlier and wasn¡¯t dependent on the inte for its operations.
¡°Well, that¡¯s not the most important question right now,¡± he thought, pushing the idea aside. He knew that once he joined the Genius Club, he would find out the answers to these basic questions soon enough.
He shifted his focus back to the second question on the webpage:
¡°Please perform a historical correction that is as great as possible.¡±
This challenge was intriguing, open-ended, and somewhat abstract.¡°Historical correction¡¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. He had previouslye up with a principle rted to time-space: If an action can restore a disrupted timeline back to its original path, that action is called a ¡°historical correction.¡±
It seemed the Genius Club expected anyone trying to join to already understand the basics of time-space principles. This wasn¡¯t surprising. If he could figure them out on his own, true geniuses should definitely have a deeper understanding¡ªmaybe even more than he did.
He and Liu Feng had only recently calcted the specific values and mechanics of time-space sticity. The Genius Club, having this as their first question, clearly already knew about it and had mastered it.
What puzzled Lin Xian was that the names for these time-space rules were all ones he had casuallye up with. They were personal, and he had never shared them with anyone else. So, why did the Genius Club¡¯s terminology match his exactly?
¡°Is it a coincidence?¡± Lin Xian wondered. However, he was confident he hadn¡¯t misunderstood the term ¡°historical correction¡± and that it matched the question¡¯s meaning.
The term ¡°history¡± here didn¡¯t mean the past¡ªevents that had already happened like yesterday,st month, or years ago. Those events couldn¡¯t be changed; humanity had no way to alter what was already done.
With this in mind, it was easy to guess that when the Genius Club mentioned ¡°history,¡± they were talking about the future, looking back from a future perspective¡ªspecifically, the timeline from 2024 to 2624.
Lin Xian rested his chin on his hand. ¡°If they¡¯re calling the future ¡®history,¡¯ it means the Genius Club probably has ways to see the future,¡± he thought.
If the second question was just about performing a historical correction, then it wouldn¡¯t be too hard for him. He had already made several corrections, both on purpose and by ident. For example, he had changed the existence of the Time Bank from being there to not being there, and then back again. Even the font on the safe¡¯s namete was a kind of historical correction.
The simplest correction he could make now would be to retract the ¡°Micro Nuclear Battery¡± manuscript he shared with Director Gao Yan and Nangong Meng Jie earlier that morning. Would that be enough to undo the changes in the timeline?
¡°¡¡±
After thinking for a moment, Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t work.¡±
The point of no return, or the ¡°spill,¡± had already happened. Once the water is spilled, how can it be gathered back? Even if he got the manuscript back, both Director Gao Yan and Nangong Meng Jie had already seen it. The ideas in that manuscript were now stuck in their minds. Retrieving the physical document wouldn¡¯t erase their memories, would it?
Both Gao Yan and Nangong Meng Jie were leaders in the fields of nuclear physics and nuclear energy in X Country. The seed of the micro nuclear battery concept had been nted in their minds, and it was only a matter of time before it grew.
From a national perspective, he was sure they wouldn¡¯t steal his patent or his ownership. But the ideas in their minds would eventually influence many national research projects and lead to results. That was the essence of the point of no return.
From the moment he showed them the manuscript, that water was already spilled.
Nangong Meng Jie, who came from a family with three generations of military service, was a patriotic heroine. To her, the interests of the country and its people were above everything else. With such a great opportunity to strengthen the nation through the development of micro nuclear batteries, how could she easily give it up?
Even if he retracted the manuscript now, it wouldn¡¯t change much. What¡¯s done is done.
¡°And besides, a corrected history can¡¯t go back to its original state,¡± Lin Xian had realized this a long time ago. The example of the Time Bank was a perfect illustration. The Time Bank now, after his intervention and investment, was very different from what it had been in the first and second dream worlds.
Originally, Time Bank¡¯s state 600 years in the future was unstable¡ªeither closed or close to closing, with only a small size and few safes. But now, backed by the Rhine Company, Time Bank had strong financial support and had expanded its range of financial services. It was thriving, with nearly 2,000 safes.
¡°In a way, a historical correction is just a way to patch things up¡ªit can¡¯t restore everything perfectly,¡± Lin Xian thought, looking back at his phone screen. The focus of the second question wasn¡¯t just about making a correction, but on making it ¡°as great as possible.¡±
¡°As great as possible¡¡± Lin Xian pondered. What does ¡°great¡± mean? What kind of historical correction would be considered great? This was a very subjective question, and without a clear standard from the Genius Club, it seemed rather arrogant and self-important¡ªmuch like his impression of them.
¡°Maybe this question is more like a graded subjective test,¡± he thought. ¡°There¡¯s no right answer. It¡¯s meant to assess my ability to correct history¡ and then grade me based on my performance to decide if I pass.¡±
Lin Xian scrolled up the page on his phone. Below the second question, there was arge text box. It was big enough to write a lot, clearly the space for him to exin his ¡°Historical Correction n.¡± At the bottom was a gray button that said, ¡°Start Correction.¡±
So that was it. The second question wanted him to outline his uing ¡°historical correction¡± first. Then, by clicking the ¡°Start Correction¡± button, the test would officially begin.
Click.
Lin Xian locked his phone screen and put away the Genius Club¡¯s gold badge. He wasn¡¯t nning on answering the question just yet.
He didn¡¯t have a n in mind. What would count as a ¡°great historical correction¡±? Lin Xian didn¡¯t know right now. One thing was clear: the second question probably only allowed one attempt. He had to be careful and give it his best shot.
He didn¡¯t know what ¡°great¡± meant, but he knew renaming Rhine Cat to Coco Cat or changing the font on a namete wouldn¡¯t qualify. If he submitted an answer like that, he¡¯d definitely fail and be forever barred from the Genius Club, bing the club¡¯s only dropout in history.
¡°No rush,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ll answer when I¡¯ve figured out a solid Historical Correction n.¡±
He got up from the couch and nced at the clock on the living room wall. It read: 02:36. It was already sote¡ Even if he went to sleep now, he wouldn¡¯t be able to enter the dream world and check the changes in the Sixth Dream.
There was no choice. He had been busy all day without a break¡ªflying to the Science Academy in the capital early in the morning to discuss things with Director Gao Yan and Nangong Meng Jie, then immediately getting a call from Liu Feng, rushing to the capital airport to fly back to Donghai. By the time he got to the Donghai Universityb and finished talking with Liu Feng, it was already nighttime, and he had just gotten home.
¡°I¡¯ll enter the dream tomorrow night to confirm the changes in the Sixth Dream,¡± Lin Xian yawned and scratched his head. ¡°And since the world line has shifted again, it¡¯s time to proceed with the n I decided on earlier¡ª¡±
¡°To revive VV.¡±
He hadn¡¯t dared to try reviving VV earlier because of the future virus that specifically targeted super AIs on the inte. He couldn¡¯t be sure if the virus was gone. Lin Xian and Elon Musk both didn¡¯t know. All they knew was that Elon Musk¡¯s future USB drive had turned into blue star dust and disappeared. As for what was stored in the drive or the current state of the future virus, Elon Musk had been tricked by the fake Yu Xi and didn¡¯t know the truth either.
But now, the fake Yu Xi was dead, taking any evidence with her. No one could rify the situation about the future USB drive and the future virus.
So¡ the only choice was to find a way to attempt VV¡¯s revival as safely as possible. Lin Xian had already thought about a rough n. He would start tomorrow.
¡°Time to sleep,¡± he said after brushing his teeth and washing his face. Hey down on his bed, closed his eyes, and drifted into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning, Lin Xian went to theputer mall. At a brand store, he pointed to aptop model that matched the one he had at home. ¡°Do you sell just the battery for thisptop?¡±
The salesperson shook his head. ¡°Sorry, sir, we don¡¯t sell the battery separately. But if your battery is damaged, you can get a recement from the official service center with your purchase receipt. If it¡¯s out of warranty, you can also buy one for a fee¡ but all that has to be done at the service center. We only handle sales, not repairs.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Give me twoptops of the same model, then.¡±
He took the two newptops home, plugged them in, and fully charged them. Then he removed the battery modules from their back covers. Lin Xian didn¡¯t need theptops themselves; he only needed the batteries that matched hisptop, the one containing VV¡¯s source code.
If the future virus could kill VV, it meant the virus was just as capable as VV. It could use electricity lines, sound waves, or even vibration frequencies to infiltrate systems. After all, the virus was futuristic high-tech. It was better to be overly cautious; who knew how advanced the future virus had be?
To be safe, he couldn¡¯t judge the virus by today¡¯s technological standards. Lin Xian took out hisptop containing VV¡¯s source code from the wardrobe; its wirelesswork card and Bluetooth module had long been removed. Theoretically, thisptop was incapable of receiving any external signals¡ªjust like the X Country aerospace shuttle hundreds of kilometers up in the atmosphere, where VV had destroyed all signal-receiving equipment.
As long as thisptop wasn¡¯t plugged into a power source, it was like an indpletely isted from the outside world. But that wasn¡¯t enough. It had to be safer.
Lin Xian remembered a strange but true story he had read: During the Cold War, the Soviet Union invented a bugging device that didn¡¯t need a power supply to work, sessfully spying on top-secret American information. Even now, that clever design was still impressive.
Who would have thought that a bugging device could work without a power source?
It would be a mistake to underestimate a virus from the future. For VV¡¯s safety, there was no such thing as being too cautious.
With two fully chargedptop batteries and hisptop containing VV¡¯s source code, Lin Xian left the house, went downstairs, and got into a taxi. ¡°Take me to a remote area in the countryside. The more isted, the better.¡±
This request sounded unusual in bustling Donghai City, but luckily, the Lingang New Area had a lot of undevelopednd¡ªa natural wilderness.
An hourter, the taxi pulled up in a deste area far from any buildings, overgrown with weeds. The driver turned his head. ¡°Young man, is this remote enough for you? There¡¯s not even a power pole around.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Perfect, this spot will do.¡± He told the driver to wait there, leaving his phone in the car. Then, with the unpoweredptop and two fully charged batteries, he walked into the wilderness.
This ce was truly empty. As the driver said, there wasn¡¯t a single power pole or wire in sight, which was perfect. Without electricity, there was no way for a virus to spread. Although there were probablymunication tower signals in the air, theptop had no receiving devices, so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Besides, his phone was left in the taxi, so there was no way to connect¡ªfoolproof.
After walking about four or five hundred meters away from the taxi, Lin Xian felt it was far enough. He carefully reviewed his n.
First, this unpoweredptop contained the AI VV, which he had brought back from the United States after participating in the World Hacker Competition. That version of VV was already strong enough and had be quite familiar with him. VV even tried to matchmake Chu An Qing with him, bing her loyal sidekick.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t care whether VV was powerful or not. Even if VV couldn¡¯t do much, he still wanted VV back by his side. Even if it meant he would have to protect VV this time.
¡°VV¡ you have to be alive,¡± Lin Xian whispered, holding theptop close to his chest. Then, he removed the empty battery from theptop and inserted a fully charged one. He opened the screen, extended his index finger, and pressed the power button.
Since theptop models were identical, the battery module was also interchangeable. The brand logo lit up on the screen, and it gradually booted up to the desktop. Everything was quiet. Theptop didn¡¯t make any moves or sounds, except for the gentle hum of the cooling fan, blowing a faint breeze onto Lin Xian¡¯s wrist. His heart started to beat faster.
He pressed his lips together and softly called, ¡°Hello, VV.¡±
Almost instantly, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice came from theptop, ¡°Hello.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°VV! You¡¯re really still alive!¡± At that moment, he felt an indescribable surge of excitement. He had lost too many friends recently, and those goodbyes had torn at his heart. But now, he had finally found one of his old friends again. VV responded to him! VV had been hiding in this unpoweredptop all along!
¡°That¡¯s amazing, VV,¡± Lin Xian praised. ¡°I knew you had a backup n!¡± But the moment he finished speaking, theptop emitted the same t, emotionless mechanical voice, ¡°Sorry, VV does not understand what you are saying. Please issue a newmand.¡±
¡°Alright, stop pretending,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, unfazed. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for acting. Do you know how much I¡¯ve missed you during this time?¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t falling for it. He remembered when he first activated VV¡ªit had scared him by saying in that same robotic voice that the global nuclear strike system had been activated. Once was enough for the boy-who-cried-wolf story.
However, theptop still responded with the same mechanical phrase, ¡°Sorry, VV does not understand what you are saying. Please issue a newmand.¡±
¡°Come on, enough with the theatrics,¡± Lin Xian rapped his knuckle on theptop¡¯s casing. ¡°Wrap up this drama, VV. I¡¯ve got a lot to talk about, so stop pretending to be a dumb AI, okay?¡±
But theptop continued to repeat, ¡°Sorry, VV does not understand what you are saying. Please issue a newmand.¡±
The smile faded from Lin Xian¡¯s face, reced by a more serious expression. He squinted at the familiar yet unfamiliarptop, listening to the familiar yet unfamiliar tone. ¡°VV, open the browser.¡±
Click. A crisp sound came, and the browser on the bottom left corner of theptop started up. Since it wasn¡¯t connected to the inte, it showed a page error.
¡°VV, increase the screen brightness,¡± Lin Xian continued.
¡°Sorry, VV does not understand what you are saying. Please issue a newmand.¡± The same emotionless mechanical voice replied again.
By this point, Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. It seemed he was beginning to realize something. He tried a more precisemand: ¡°VV, increase the screen brightness.¡±
Immediately, theptop screen brightened, bing clearer under the sunlight.
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian asked onest question, ¡°What is my name?¡±
Without any hesitation, theptop responded, ¡°Sorry, VV does not understand what you are saying. Please issue a newmand.¡±
¡
¡
Lin Xian slowly closed theptop screen. He didn¡¯t say anything more. Holding theptop close to his chest, he let out a soft sigh.
Chapter 386: Drama King, Dumb AI, and Mr. Unlucky
¡°You know, this AI of yours¡ it¡¯s pretty dumb.¡±
In Donghai City, at the Cyber Technology Division of the National Security Bureau, a man with a scruffy beard and thick round sses was scrolling through lines of code on Lin Xian¡¯sptop.
¡°Why bother with this thing? You could download an open-source AI from the inte. Even a basic mobile AI would be a hundred times smarter than this one.¡±
Two hours earlier, after failing to revive VV in the wilderness, Lin Xian decided it was time to get help from a professional. One of his teammates from the world hackerpetition in the US was a top AI expert in X Country, now working at the National Security Bureau in Donghai City. Lin Xian contacted him and brought hisptop to the bureau for a consultation.
The bearded man frowned more and more as he looked at VV¡¯s code.
¡°This AI of yours¡ It looks like a college student¡¯s homework. The logic might be okay, but it¡¯s pretty much useless and really dumb.¡±
Lin Xian was taken aback by his AI being called ¡°dumb¡± so many times. ¡°Is it really that bad? I thought the code was quite advanced.¡±
VV¡¯s original code had been painstakingly memorized and transcribed by Lin Xian from his third dream, character by character. It was supposed to be the pinnacle of human scientific achievement. How could it be described aspletely worthless?¡°How dumb are we talking?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°As dumb as a Tmall Genie?¡±
The bearded man shook his head. ¡°Worse. A Tmall Genie can understand basicmands like ying music, setting an rm, or looking up information. But this AI of yours, you have to talk to it like a robot. If you miss a word or speak a bit too fast, it won¡¯t understand anything.¡±
He turned to theptop and spoke loudly, ¡°VV, y a random song.¡±
¡°Sorry,¡± theptop responded in a monotone, ¡°No song named ¡®random¡¯ found.¡±
The bearded man chuckled, turned around, and spread his hands at Lin Xian. ¡°See? This thing is useless. How could itpete with a Tmall Genie? It doesn¡¯t even have basic logic. Where did you get this from?¡±
¡°Uh¡ A ssmate gave it to me,¡± Lin Xian quickly lied. ¡°Is there any reason why a highly intelligent AI would turn into this¡ mess?¡±
¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± the bearded man replied, shaking his head. ¡°Computer programs don¡¯t randomly get dumber. They either stay the same or get better with improvements. No way an AI bes dumber on its own without someone messing with it.¡±
¡°I looked through your AI¡¯s source code. There¡¯s nothing good about it, and it¡¯s nearly impossible to modify¡ It¡¯s what we call ¡®spaghetti code.¡¯ You know what that means? A mess of convoluted, pointless, and buggy code that somehow still runs. The best thing to do is leave it untouched. Change a single letter, and the whole thing could copse.¡±
Lin Xian straightened up, staring at theptop in frustration. He still hoped to salvage it somehow. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying this AI is beyond saving? But it¡¯s important to me. Even if it¡¯s dumb, I don¡¯t want to just throw it away.¡±
¡°Given how ¡®dumb¡¯ it is now, is there anything useful it can still do? It can¡¯t even handle basicmunication¡ªare there any other functions it could serve?¡±
The bearded man was silent for a moment. He rubbed his stubbly chin, thinking for a while before replying, ¡°If you really want to use it, forget about itsmunication capabilities. It¡¯s terrible at that. But the AI¡¯s logic isn¡¯t too bad. It could be used in simple household appliances, where the logic is straightforward.¡±
¡°Like what?¡± He looked around and spotted an unopened robotic vacuum cleaner on a shelf in the office. ¡°You could use this AI to drive a robotic vacuum cleaner. The logic is simple, and it doesn¡¯t need tomunicate¡ªjust follow a set program to clean the floor.¡±
A robotic vacuum cleaner? Lin Xian remembered the trash-can robot VV from his third dream and the appliances VV used to possess in his own home¡ªa refrigerator and a vacuum cleaner. Was this fate? Was VV always meant to be a trash collector?
Regardless, Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to leave VV trapped in a powerlessptop, even if it had be ¡°dumb¡± for some unknown reason¡ªmaybe due to a virus that damaged its brain? Whatever the cause, Lin Xian still saw VV as a good friend and hoped it could live on.
¡°Well¡¡± Lin Xian scratched his head. ¡°How about I buy a robotic vacuum cleaner, and you help me transfer VV¡¯s program into it? A vacuum cleaner just needs to clean up trash; it doesn¡¯t have to be smart.¡±
¡°Why buy one? I¡¯ll give you this vacuum cleaner,¡± the bearded man said, grabbing the box from the shelf and cing it on the table. ¡°This isn¡¯t anything fancy. I don¡¯t even remember what I bought to get this as a freebie. I don¡¯t need it, and I don¡¯t like vacuum cleaners anyway. Since you want it, I¡¯ll just give it to you and help you transfer the AI.¡±
The bearded man quickly unpacked the vacuum cleaner, connected it to theptop, and, after about ten minutes of furious typing, sessfully transferred VV¡¯s program.
He ced the robotic vacuum cleaner on the floor and nudged it forward. ¡°All done. Your AI is now inside this vacuum cleaner. It will clean the room following the logic and set program.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and called out to the vacuum cleaner, ¡°VV, start cleaning.¡±
However¡ there was no response.
The bearded man wagged his finger. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say? Don¡¯t expect this vacuum cleaner to respond to voicemands. If you want to control it, use the mobile app. It¡¯s now connected to thework, so you can control it remotely, even if you¡¯re not at home.¡±
¡°It¡¯s useless to try directmunication. This level of intelligence can¡¯t handle it. But it¡¯s pretty good at cleaning and finding trash. Watch this.¡±
He crumpled a tissue and tossed it on the floor.
¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± The vacuum cleaner rolled over to the tissue with a loud rumble, gobbled it up like a hungry snake, and then stood still, as if it were dead.
Lin Xian squinted at it, puzzled. ¡°Hey, this vacuum cleaner is kind of noisy¡ Does it have to shout every time it finds trash?¡±
The bearded manughed. ¡°You think I programmed that line? I told you, I didn¡¯t touch your AI¡¯s code at all. I just moved it over. That annoying phrase is probably the vacuum cleaner¡¯s default setting. Want me to see if I can delete it?¡±
¡°No, no, it¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°At least it¡¯s some kind of interaction.¡±
After that, Lin Xian packed the vacuum cleaner VV back into its box and took a car back to the Rhine Company building.
Once in his office, he took the vacuum cleaner out of the box and stared at it suspiciously. Something was off. Way off. No vacuum cleaner on the market would have such a dumb alert sound unless thepany wanted to go bankrupt or the designer was trying to spite their boss. It was too dumb¡ªbeyond dumb.
Back in the third dream, when Lin Xian first encountered the trash-can robot that locked his ankle, even his good temper was tested. The reason was this unbearable voice line.
Lin Xian tore off half a sheet of paper from his notebook, crumpled it up, and tossed it further away.
¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± The vacuum cleaner VV hopped to it like a rabbit, swallowed the paper, and stood still as if it had died again.
So, VV had two major problems:
First, its code had changed. Although Lin Xian didn¡¯t fully understand code, he had spent months transcribing VV from the third dream, line by line. He could sense that VV¡¯s code was elegant and beautiful. He couldn¡¯t exin why, but it flowed like poetry.
Yet, in the bearded man¡¯s eyes, it was ¡°spaghetti code¡±¡ªa student¡¯s homework with no redeeming qualities. Who could have altered VV¡¯s code? It couldn¡¯t have been the super virus from the future, could it?
Definitely not. That virus aimed to destroy VV and was incredibly powerful, far beyond VV¡¯s ability to resist. In such a one-sided battle, the virus could have easily wiped VV out. Why waste effort turning it into a dumb AI?
Moreover, Lin Xian knew that since he brought theptop back from the US, it had been out of power and untouched. So, in theory, no one could have tampered with VV¡¯s code except VV itself!
Second, the phrase ¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± was straight out of the third dream¡¯s trash-can robot VV. He had told VV about the events of the third dream in detail to help it understand its origins, including Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s past, the annoying trash-can robot, and the passwords. VV¡¯s response was, ¡°Even if you tell me all this, it doesn¡¯t resonate with me. What you¡¯re describing isn¡¯t my experience at all¡ªwhether it¡¯s Sky City, Zhao Ying Jun, or that trash-can robot. To me, it¡¯s like listening to a story. If you insist I¡¯m Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s dog¡ honestly, I¡¯d rather be Chu An Qing¡¯s dog!¡±
That heartlessment aside, the line ¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± kept bugging Lin Xian.
He crumpled another piece of paper and tossed it farther away.
The vacuum cleaner pounced like a rabbit again: ¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡±
It did the familiar swallowing action and stopped.
¡°Heh.¡± Lin Xian snorted, staring at the vacuum cleaner from a distance. ¡°Are you still putting on an act? Trying to keep this up until the Oscars?¡±
Still, there was no reaction.
Now Lin Xian was starting to doubt himself. ¡°Forget it, forget it,¡± he thought. ¡°If VV is really acting, there must be a reason, and nothing I say will make it admit anything. If it¡¯s not acting and really is brain-damaged by a virus, then shouting more won¡¯t help.¡±
Either way, even if VV was now a brain-damaged, shrunken, barely-functioning vacuum cleaner, it was still his old friend andrade. As long as aradees back alive, who cares about its disabilities?
¡°Hmm?¡± Suddenly, Lin Xian got an idea. He picked up the vacuum cleaner, put it back in its box, and patted it. ¡°VV, since you¡¯ve be a dummy, I¡¯ll send you somewhere you belong. Maybe you¡¯ll figure out whose dog you really are after some time together.¡±
With that, he grabbed the box, went downstairs, and headed for the MX Company building across the street.
He hadn¡¯t been there in a while. His former colleagues greeted him warmly as he walked in.
¡°Hey, Boss Lin Xian! Long time no see! Finally decided toe back and visit us, huh?¡±
¡°Here to see Boss Zhao Ying Jun? She¡¯s on the 22nd floor today; you can go right up.¡±
¡°What¡¯s in the box¡ a vacuum cleaner? You sure know how to pick gifts! Boss Zhao Ying Jun could use one of these in her office!¡±
After some small talk, Lin Xian took the elevator to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office on the 22nd floor. Thest time he was here was almost a year ago. Back then, he hade to hand in his resignation. Instead, he ended up epting Zhao Ying Jun and Chu Shan He¡¯s investment to start his own Rhine Company. That¡¯s when the wheels of fate started turning.
Knock, knock, knock.
Lin Xian knocked on the door. After a moment, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s slightly surprised voice came through the inte, ¡°Lin Xian? What are you doing here?¡±
She unlocked the door, and the heavy double doors swung open. When Lin Xian walked in, Zhao Ying Jun looked up. ¡°You know my office password, don¡¯t you? You didn¡¯t forget it after all this time, did you?¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Lin Xian replied, walking towards her desk. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt your work, so I knocked first. I also thought you might be in a meeting or something.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no such thing as interrupting.¡± Zhao Ying Jun put down her pen and sat up straight in her chair. ¡°Next time youe, just use the password to get in. I¡¯m always avable for you.¡±
She then noticed the package Lin Xian was carrying. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you these days¡ Is there something you need?¡±
¡°I brought you a little something,¡± Lin Xian smiled, pointing to the vacuum cleaner in the box. ¡°Do you remember a while back when I was learning AI andputer programming?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°That must have been almost a year ago. I remember once visiting your office and seeingputer science books all over your desk. You said you were interested in AI and wanted to study it.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian opened the box, took out the vacuum cleaner, and gave it a shake. ¡°After that, I started working on some stuff and wrote some programs. They¡¯re all pretty basic, but they¡¯re good enough to run a vacuum cleaner.¡±
He put the vacuum cleaner on the floor and rolled a paper ball from the coffee table to the side of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s desk.
¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡± The vacuum cleaner shouted loudly as it sped towards the paper ball with full power, spinning its brushes, gobbling the paper up, and then standing still.
¡°So, what do you think?¡± Lin Xian looked up at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Pretty smart, right?¡±
¡°¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun was speechless.
There were too many things to criticize; she didn¡¯t even know where to start. After organizing her thoughts, she said slowly, ¡°Well, considering you taught yourself programming from scratch, making something to control a vacuum cleaner is quite impressive.¡±
¡°But¡ have you ever used a vacuum cleaner before? They¡¯re not supposed to move that fast. Slow and steady gets things cleaner. And¡ does it have to shout like that? Is there a silent mode?¡±
¡°A vacuum cleaner should probably be silent by default, right? Why does it need to announce every piece of trash it picks up?¡±
It was clear Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t quite understand the logic behind this vacuum cleaner¡¯s design.
¡°Uh¡ Think of it as a unique interactive feature,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°Most people don¡¯t just throw stuff on the floor all day, so unless you¡¯re interacting with it on purpose, it won¡¯t be this loud. It¡¯s usually pretty quiet when doing regr cleaning.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Interesting feature,¡± she said honestly, then looked up and smiled. ¡°No matter what, this is your first AI programpleted independently, and that¡¯s worth celebrating.¡±
¡°Thank you for gifting it to me. I think it has a lot of sentimental value. Maybe the future of AI at Rhine Company will take off from this adorable little vacuum cleaner.¡±
¡°So¡ as a witness to your brilliant future, I¡¯ll dly ept this gift. But don¡¯t you think it would be more memorable if you gave it a name?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°I already have one in mind¡ªVV.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow. ¡°VV? My Pomeranian?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t you think they¡¯re simr? Both small, cute, and white.¡±
Suddenly, Zhao Ying Jun seemed to realize something. ¡°Oh¡¡± She recalled the story Lin Xian had told her the day after her birthday earlier this year when he set off fireworks at the Disney Castle for her. He had said he dreamed of VV turning into a trash can and herself bing a white jade statue, saying the trash can and the statue protected each other for centuries.
¡°Is that dream the inspiration for the name?¡± Zhao Ying Jun felt like the pieces wereing together. ¡°That night at Disney, you told me about a dream where VV turned into a trash can. Is that why you named the vacuum cleaner VV?¡±
Though the two events were unrted, they somehow seemed to fit together. ¡°Sort of,¡± Lin Xian replied casually. ¡°Let it clean your office. It¡¯ll save you a lot of time.¡±
¡°Speaking of Disney,¡± he suddenly remembered a promise he made to Yan Qiao Qiao. He nced at his smartwatch. ¡°The day after tomorrow is Children¡¯s Day. I promised Qiao Qiao we¡¯d go to Disnend. How¡¯s she doing?¡±
Talking about Qiao Qiao seemed to soften Zhao Ying Jun instantly. She closed her pen cap and said, ¡°Qiao Qiao? She¡¯s been counting down the days, getting more excited every day,ining to me about why time moves so slowly and it¡¯s not June 1st yet.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already bought the tickets and made reservations. The VIP ess is all set¡ You¡¯re not busy, right, Lin Xian? Qiao Qiao mentions you several times a day. She even said¡ she said¡¡±
She licked her lips and softly said, ¡°She said being around you feels safe, like¡ a real father.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°I¡¯m honored. This is the first time in my life I¡¯ve received such apliment.¡±
¡°I was thinking, since it¡¯s Children¡¯s Day, I should probably get her a gift. After all, kids¡ usually love receiving gifts, right?¡±
Leaning back in her chair, Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly. ¡°Not just kids¡ªnobody dislikes receiving gifts.¡±
Lin Xian tilted his head. Was there more to her words?
He tested the waters. ¡°How about¡ I get you something too?¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed, rubbing her temples. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid. What would you get me?¡±
¡°Besides¡¡± She looked down at her t stomach with a meaningful smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already received a ¡®big gift,¡¯ haven¡¯t I?¡±
Lin Xian blinked and nced at the vacuum cleaner VV, which was now automatically cleaning in the corner of the office. This¡ it was just a vacuum cleaner. How could it be considered a ¡°big gift¡±?
Back at home, it was only 4:30 in the afternoon. With VV¡¯s revival sort of resolved¡ªor rather, unresolved¡ªit was fine to leave it with Zhao Ying Jun for now. After all, with his current skill level, there wasn¡¯t much more he could do to help VV.
Moreover, there were more pressing matters to attend to. First, he needed to formte his ¡°History Revision n,¡± as required by the second challenge of the Genius Club, to stage a grand historical revision and pass the second test, moving on to the final question. Second, he had to hurry and get some sleep to see what had be of the dream world.
Since the numbers on the time-space clock had changed from 0.0000042 to 0.0000084, his dream world would inevitably shift from the fifth dream to the sixth dream. He had been eager to check it outst night, but various things had kept him busy. Now, he could finally explore it.
After a quick meal, Lin Xian brushed his teeth, changed into his pajamas, and, before the sunset, closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
¡
Bang! Crash! Rumble!
Forget about any familiar summer breeze. There wasn¡¯t even a breeze!
Lin Xian felt as if his whole body were burning up and sweating. What was even more torturous was the constant nking and ttering of machinery, stones, and dirt all around his ears. It was too loud. His eardrums were getting a beating. Was someone renovating a house?
Lin Xian opened his eyes¡ªsure enough, the dream world had changed as expected. But where was this? Why were there so many people? And¡ everyone around him was shirtless, their skin tanned dark. Their clothes were mere rags, barely covering them.
¡°What is this ce? A construction site?¡±
Lin Xian turned, looking around. He realized it did look like a construction site. However, it wasn¡¯t a building site. It was a digging site!
He found himself in a massive pit, at least the size of ten football fields. This hole was enormous and, more importantly, deep. Lin Xian, like a frog at the bottom of a well, could only see arge rectangr patch of sky above him¡ªno signs of any ground-levelndscape.
The pit seemed to be about forty to fifty meters deep.
¡°What the heck is this ce?¡±
Whether he was born in a city, a forest, or the cesspit beneath Sky City, he had never been this confused. At least in previous dreams, there was a gradual process of understanding where he was and what he needed to do. But this time, the dream had thrust him straight into the role, surrounded by busy workers. Some were moving tools, others clearing stones, but most were digging downward with shovels.
Why gather so many people to dig a hole? What were they digging for?
Just as Lin Xian was pondering, a muddy hand pped him on the back.
¡°Daydreaming, are we? Hurry up and get to work, or we¡¯re gonna get whipped!¡±
That familiar voice¡ Lin Xian turned his head and saw a legendary figure¡ªthe one who had defeated the SpaceTime Butterfly, dominated the millennium post, and ruled the River of Time¡
¡°Big Cat?¡±
¡°Ahhh!!¡± Big Cat let out a painful scream. A scrawny man wearing a uniform with a gun on his hipshed Big Cat with a whip, shouting curses, ¡°Get back to work! Who told you to ck off?¡±
¡°Yes, sir! Yes, sir!¡± Big Cat bowed his head and apologized, then dragged Lin Xian aside and shoved a shovel into his hands, gritting his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! Now I got whipped! Start digging! If we don¡¯t get this section done by tonight, none of us will eat, and we¡¯ll all get beaten!¡±
Without wasting a moment, Big Cat started digging furiously. Lin Xian decided to y along. He picked up the shovel and began digging as well, asking casually, ¡°Big Cat, what are you guys digging for? And why are you in such bad shape this time, looking like a ve¡ Is that a pair of underpants? It doesn¡¯t cover anything, swaying all over the ce.¡±
¡°Shhh¡ª¡± Big Cat turned pale with fright, ncing around cautiously. He red at Lin Xian. ¡°Still talking out loud? If they hear you, you¡¯ll get whipped too!¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet for a moment, surveying his surroundings. He noticed that almost all the diggers around were in the same condition as Big Cat¡ªexhausted, but too afraid to stop, gritting their teeth and pushing on. Their skin was dark from the sun, and most of them had sunburnt skin. Worse, everyone had scars¡ªwounds that had clearly been inflicted by whips.
No wonder Big Cat was so scared. These people were like ves orborers. Anyone who dared take a break would get a whip across their back. And if they pushed too far, they might get beaten half to death or worse, killed on the spot.
Realizing how strict the rules were in this ¡°digging site,¡± Lin Xian moved closer and asked softly, ¡°Big Cat, what are we digging for? I mean¡ what are they making us dig for?¡±
Lin Xian understood that he was also a ve among them. This starting point was really bad; the moment he entered the dream, his role was locked in.
¡°Who knows what we¡¯re digging for? We just dig!¡± Big Cat wiped the sweat from his forehead.
¡°Are we digging for a micro nuclear battery?¡± Lin Xian guessed.
¡°As if it would take this much effort!¡± Big Cat snorted. ¡°Micro nuclear batteries are everywhere. If that were it, we wouldn¡¯t be suffering this much!¡±
Lin Xian was puzzled. ¡°Then what the hell are we doing here?¡±
¡°I have no idea!¡± Big Cat¡¯s eyes were clear and innocent. ¡°They tell us to dig, so we dig!¡±
¡°Okay, okay,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. It seemed he wouldn¡¯t get any useful information out of Big Cat. What about the strategist? Is he still here in this dream?
Lin Xian dug another shovelful of dirt and moved closer to Big Cat. ¡°Where¡¯s Ah Zhuang?¡±
¡°Oh, you still remember Ah Zhuang? Wasn¡¯t he beaten to death by the foreman?¡±
¡°What about Er Zhuzi?¡±
¡°Ughh¡ Don¡¯t bring him up. If he hadn¡¯t ogled the foreman¡¯s wife, we wouldn¡¯t have all gotten whipped.¡±
¡°Where is Er Zhuzi?¡±
¡°He was chopped up and fed to the dogs by the foreman! Nothing left¡ not even poop!¡±
¡°And San Pang?¡± Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°San Pang was such a kind and honest guy; he wouldn¡¯t do anything wrong, right?¡±
¡°Humph.¡± Big Cat snorted coldly. ¡°San Pang mouthed off when the foreman was dealing with Er Zhuzi, so he got fed to the dogs too.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian felt some sympathy. It seemed the Face Gang had almost been wiped out, leaving Big Cat as the only one standing.
¡°What about Li Cheng and Li Ning Ning? Do you know them?¡±
Big Cat, annoyed, shook his head. ¡°Who the hell are they? I just want to dig and eat! Can you stop talking? I¡¯m the one getting whipped, not you!¡±
¡°I¡¯m digging, aren¡¯t I?¡± Lin Xian felt he was being quite cooperative with Big Cat. This was the fastest he¡¯d ever gotten into character in any dream. He¡¯d already shoveled a lot of dirt by now. As a former model citizen, he had never suffered like this before¡ªjust trying to gather some intel.
¡°Is there anyone here who actually knows what we¡¯re digging for?¡± Lin Xian asked, feeling a bit desperate. ¡°Anyone who can exin what we¡¯re doing?¡±
¡°We¡¯re digging for ¡®Turing,¡¯¡± a tall, muscr man with dark skin and sharp features said softly from beside him. ¡°We¡¯ve changed excavation sites several times already. They¡¯re digging for ¡®Turing,¡¯ supposedly a very powerful object that tribes all over the world are searching for.¡±
This man seemed to know a lot about the world. Lin Xian was just about to ask more questions when Big Cat sneered, ¡°Hey, look at that, Mr. Unlucky! You sure know a lot!¡±
The man called ¡°Mr. Unlucky¡± frowned and looked at Big Cat. ¡°Big Cat, I¡¯d appreciate it if you were polite and didn¡¯t call me ¡®Mr. Unlucky.¡¯ I have a name.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± Big Cat howled. ¡°You call me ¡®Big Cat¡¯ and expect me to call you by your name? Where¡¯s the fairness in that?¡±
Then,ughing like he was telling a joke, Big Cat exined to Lin Xian, ¡°Brother, you have no idea how unlucky this guy is.¡±
¡°He¡¯s not even from this era. When we were digging at thest site, we just happened to uncover an underground hibernation chamber base! Most of the hibernation pods were destroyed in the Great Catastrophe of 2400, but his was the only one still functioning!¡±
¡°And guess what? Hahaha¡ The foreman just tied him up and put him to work. How unlucky is that? He might have been better off dying with the others!¡±
¡°And when the foreman was looting his stuff, he took this guy¡¯s storage box too. Now he doesn¡¯t have his notebook from before hibernation, doesn¡¯t know his past, and doesn¡¯t even know his real name. The only name he knows¡ is what the foreman called him when he whipped him!¡±
¡°So, after all that bad luck, you still don¡¯t want people to call you ¡®Mr. Unlucky¡¯? Ahh!!¡±
Another whip came down. Big Cat squealed like a pig. ¡°Work! Dig!¡± The supervisor in uniform shouted,shing Big Cat a couple more times before walking away.
Big Cat gritted his teeth, his face turning red, and kept his head down, silently digging.
Lin Xian approached the man called ¡°Mr. Unlucky.¡± Judging by his age, he seemed at least a decade older than Lin Xian. He clearly had more brains than Big Cat and knew more about what was going on.
So Lin Xian asked politely, ¡°Brother, what¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°Gao Wen,¡± the man said as he shoveled some dirt. ¡°I don¡¯t have any memories from before hibernation, and I never saw the notes I left behind, so I don¡¯t know if this name is real.¡±
¡°Butpared to being called ¡®Mr. Unlucky,¡¯ I¡¯d rather you respect me and call me by this name¡ªGao Wen.¡±
Chapter 387: Emperor Gao Wen
Gao Wen?
Lin Xian sat up straight, his expression turning serious.
¡°Who says there are no great emperors among humans?¡±
Emperor Gao Wen was a legendary figure, rarely seen but widely known. He was the inventor of cryo-chamber fluid and the founder of time-space travel theory¡ªtwo inventions that changed the world¡¯s future twice. He had also researched Universal Constants, nearly losing his life at the hands of the Genius Club because of it.
Who would have thought that here, in the sixth dream world, Lin Xian would meet him alive?
Lin Xian had always admired Emperor Gao Wen. With great respect, he shook Gao Wen¡¯s hand firmly, his eyes bright with sincerity.
¡°Gao Wen, I¡¯ve heard so much about you!¡± he eximed.
Gao Wen looked surprised, sizing up Lin Xian. The young man didn¡¯t look like the usual workers here¡ªhis skin was too fair, not the look of someone who had been digging in the dirt for years. Maybe he was a new worker who hadn¡¯t yet been beaten or mistreated.¡°Do you know me?¡± Gao Wen asked, staring at Lin Xian. ¡°Were you, like me, pulled out of a cryo-chamber by the supervisors? But that doesn¡¯t make sense¡ How do you have your memories? And what else do you know about me?¡±
Lin Xian pulled Gao Wen aside, speaking quietly. ¡°If you¡¯re the Gao Wen I know, you went into cryo-sleep around the year 2200. Before that, you were probably a brilliant scientist, maybe even a highly respected academician. By the way, if you¡¯ve lost all your memories because of cryo-sleep, do you even know what an academician is?¡±
Gao Wen shook his head. ¡°When I woke up from the cryo-chamber, my mind was nk. I didn¡¯t know anything. All the knowledge I have now, I learned from listening to others talk around here. I know what a scientist is, but what¡¯s an academician? I¡¯ve never heard that term before.¡±
Lin Xian realized there was a big gap in their knowledge. He couldn¡¯t bepletely sure if this Gao Wen was the same Academician Gao Wen who had changed the world with his inventions. It was better to hear Gao Wen¡¯s story first.
It seemed like Gao Wen had woken up in this world and had been a ¡°miserable ve¡± for some time. He must know a lot about the sixth dream world. Lin Xian decided to gather some basic information first.
¡°Gao Wen, why don¡¯t you tell me what you know about this ce and your situation first? After that, I might be able to give you a more urate answer.¡±
Gao Wen, eager to learn who he was, nodded and began to speak. ¡°I don¡¯t know when I went into cryo-sleep or how long I was asleep¡ I only know that when I was forcibly awakened from the cryo-chamber, I was in an underground cryo base.¡±
¡°Just like Big Cat said earlier, because of the ¡®micro nuclear battery¡¯ technology, cryo-chambers could run independently without an external power supply for hundreds of years. However, the great catastrophe of 2400 destroyed most underground cryo bases. The fact that my cryo-chamber survived¡ is truly a miracle.¡±
¡°After waking up, I knew nothing about what was happening. I was immediately sent to a digging site to work as a ve, digging the ground day and night under their orders.¡±
¡°At first, I didn¡¯t even know my name. The other ve workers here, like Big Cat, all called me ¡®Unlucky Guy.¡¯ Although I knew they mostly meant no harm, the name still didn¡¯t feel good. Finally, one day, when the supervisor was yelling at me, he shouted my name¡ That¡¯s how I found out my name is Gao Wen.¡±
¡°They said there were several notebooks in a storage locker next to my cryo-chamber. I think my memories and important things were recorded there. If I could see those notebooks, I might recover my past memories and learn who I used to be.¡±
¡°But unfortunately, they don¡¯t treat me like a person at all. They took away my storage locker and forced me to work as a ve day and night¡ From the time I woke up until now, it¡¯s been over three years. I¡¯ve been moved from one digging site to another, digging continuously¡ but I¡¯ve never found anything useful.¡±
As Gao Wen spoke, Lin Xian listened carefully, piecing together the information.
The emergence of the micro nuclear battery didn¡¯t change the great catastrophe of 2400, but it did alter the world¡¯s structure after the disaster.
Thanks to the early appearance of the micro nuclear battery, many underground cryo bases were built on Earth. Even though the great catastrophe of 2400 destroyed Earth¡¯s environment, many people survived in cryo-chambers and continued to sleep with the power of the micro nuclear battery¡ until they were awakened.
Lin Xian remembered very clearly. In the fifth dream world, there was no technology like the micro nuclear battery to provide continuous power. Thus, the great catastrophe of 2400 destroyed all cryo-chambers and the humans sleeping inside. With no power on Earth, naturally, the cryo-chambers couldn¡¯t operate. People like Zheng Xiang Yue, Angelica, Wei Sheng Jin, and Liu Shiyu were lucky. Their cryo-chambers had already been taken to Mars by Elon Musk, allowing them to avoid the catastrophe. The other cryo-chambers on Earth were certainly not so fortunate.
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of something. He turned to look at Big Cat, who was busy digging.
¡°Big Cat, you mentioned earlier that these micro nuclear batteries are everywhere?¡±
¡°You bet!¡± Big Cat replied, still shoveling. ¡°These things are super durable. The casing is made of aluminum alloy¡ You dig up a micro nuclear battery from hundreds of years ago, hook it up to some wires, and it¡¯ll still work. They have a lot of power left.¡±
¡°Plus, after the great catastrophe of 2400 nearly wiping out human civilization, tons of devices, cars, and home appliances got buried underground¡ There are so many micro nuclear batteries, we can¡¯t even use them all.¡±
nk.
While speaking, Big Cat¡¯s shovel hit something hard. He bent down, brushed away the dirt, and picked up apletely shattered, rusted phone. After a few quick moves, he pulled out a small, bubblegum-sized, t, rectangr, silver-shining micro nuclear battery.
Big Cat blew the dirt off the battery and handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°Look! Dug up another micro nuclear battery. These things are everywhere. The bigger ones used in cars are more valuable, but these small ones¡ not so much.¡±
Lin Xian took the micro nuclear battery, no bigger than a coin, and examined it in his palm. The exterior was ordinary,pletely encased in aluminum alloy, hiding the inner structure. The sides were marked with the battery¡¯s positive and negative terminals, also made of aluminum alloy and separated with insting materials to prevent short circuits. He turned it over and continued to look. It was still shiny and intact. Even after being hit hard by Big Cat¡¯s shovel earlier¡ not a single scratch. Aluminum alloy truly lived up to its reputation.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian muttered, holding the micro nuclear battery as he turned to Gao Wen. ¡°These batteries can keep providing power, which is why the cryo-chambers in underground cryo bases could keep running for hundreds of years without any external energy supply.¡±
¡°So, you mentioned that this dig site¡¯s purpose is to find ¡®Turing.¡¯¡±
¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, besides cryo bases, there are also some hiddenbs or server rooms underground?¡±
¡°In those secret rooms, there are also nuclear batteries providing power, along withputers, hard drives, monitors, and such running for a long time. Even though the great catastrophe of 2400 nearly destroyed human civilization, these secret underground bases andbs¡ as long as they¡¯re buried deep enough, they won¡¯t be affected by the disaster.¡±
¡°Is that right? Gao Wen, you spoke so confidently just now. You must know what this ¡®Turing¡¯ really is, don¡¯t you?¡±
Gao Wen noticed the patrolling supervisor approaching with a whip. He quickly gestured for Lin Xian to stop. The three of them immediately stopped talking and focused on digging, narrowly avoiding a whipping¡
Once the supervisor walked away, Gao Wen leaned in and, while still digging, exined:
¡°I don¡¯t understand many things in detail, but I have a good memory. I¡¯ve memorized everything the supervisors, bosses, and even the higher-ups said. Over the past three years, I¡¯ve pieced together a lot of information. This dig site¡¯s goal seems pretty clear.¡±
¡°Here¡¯s the thing¡ In this era, the year 2624, after 200 years of human development and the endless supply of energy from micro nuclear batteries buried underground, society has evolved in a strange way¡ It has be an extremely violent and aggressive ¡®tribal society.¡¯¡±
¡°People in this world live in tribes, and arge tribe can have tens of thousands of people, bing very powerful.¡±
¡°However, even with endless energy, there aren¡¯t enough high-tech products to use. Moreover, after the disaster, the poption recovered slowly¡ For a long time, each tribe kept to itself, peacefully growing and recuperating.¡±
¡°Until¡¡±
Gao Wen swallowed and continued.
¡°Until one tribe dug out a Turingputer from a secret underground room¡ That¡¯s when the bnce and peace werepletely broken.¡±
He nced around. The supervisor wasn¡¯t nearby. So, he continued exining to Lin Xian.
¡°They call theseputers ¡®Turing.¡¯ I don¡¯t know what aputer is, or what ¡®Turing¡¯ means¡ but ording to them, Turing is a very powerful thing. It knows everything and can do anything, almost like it can answer any question for humanity.¡±
¡°Turing would guide the tribe¡¯s people in developing technology, making weapons, and even teaching them tactics and how to use natural resources¡ Any tribe that dug up a Turingputer would enter a stage of rapid development, dominating the area.¡±
Lin Xian interrupted. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± he said, ¡°Are you saying there isn¡¯t just one Turingputer? And¡ the tribes that have dug up Turingputers are fighting against each other?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Gao Wen nodded. ¡°This is all stuff I picked up from their conversations. It¡¯s said that there are many Turingputers, with a lot of backups in secret undergroundbs. Each one is just as powerful. They were all created by the original Turing to survive the great catastrophe of 2400.¡±
¡°Turing is not human; it seems to be some special electronic lifeform that relies on electricity to survive¡ So, its hideouts are very simple. They just need receable electronic devices and nuclear batteries that stay powered.¡±
¡°No one knows how many copies and backups Turing prepared for itself. In any case¡ many tribes have dug up Turingputers, and they fight fiercely against each other.¡±
¡°Right now, in this area, known as the Old Donghai Site or Donghai in, I don¡¯t know what happened a few years ago. But since I was brought here as a ve worker, there have been three major powers in this area.¡±
Gao Wen held up three fingers and then dug a small hole in the ground with his shovel to exin to Lin Xian.
¡°See this little hole? This is where we are right now. It¡¯s the base of our faction¡ The people here call themselves the ¡®Lynx Tribe.¡¯¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s such a silly name.¡±
¡°So, what are the other two tribes called? Are they even stronger than this one? Did both tribes also dig up Turingputers?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Gao Wen looked at Lin Xian in surprise. He didn¡¯t expect this young man to guess so quickly.
He picked up a ck rock and ced it to the north of the small pit, exining, ¡°The tribe located north of our Lynx Tribe is called the ¡®Grizzly Tribe¡¯¡ They were the first tribe in the Old Donghai area to dig up a Turingputer.¡±
¡°Since then, they¡¯ve taken off. Under Turing¡¯s guidance andmand, they started to develop quickly, bing powerful and annexing many surrounding viges. Their strength grew, and they gained many ves and workers.¡±
Then, Gao Wen picked up a white stone and ced it to the east of the pit.
¡°Anotherrge tribe, to the east of us, is called the ¡®Porcupine Tribe.¡¯¡±
¡°When the Porcupine Tribe realized that the Grizzly Tribe had be powerful thanks to the Turingputer, they quickly began digging too. Eventually, they also found a Turingputer and began developing their technology, bing stronger.¡±
¡°As a result, the Porcupine Tribe gained the strength to rival the Grizzly Tribe. The two tribes have been at war for the past two years, with neither side gaining an advantage but both determined to defeat the other¡ They are now in a state of deep hatred.¡±
Lin Xian raised his hand. ¡°Sorry, let me interrupt for a moment.¡± There were some things he didn¡¯t quite understand.
¡°If the Grizzly Tribe and the Porcupine Tribe both dug up Turingputers, then shouldn¡¯t these twoputers be on the same side? Shouldn¡¯t the two tribes have been brought together by the two Turingputers¡ to merge and develop together?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why did they suddenly start fighting each other? Those two Turingputers were clearly once backups of the same original Turing, like brothers who should stand united¡ª¡±
As he spoke, Lin Xian fell silent. Yes. He had already thought of the answer but hadn¡¯t connected the dots earlier.
Turing was once a copy of Kevin Walker and eventually diverged from Kevin, betraying him. So now, the Turingputers of the Grizzly Tribe and the Turingputers of the Porcupine Tribe¡ aren¡¯t they also descendants of the original Turing?
A digital lifeform, once split into two, will inevitably develop into twopletely different personalities over time.
How careless¡ Turing.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but sigh.
Humans, after all, are humans. They not only fail to learn from history but also often make rash decisions influenced by emotions and moods.
It¡¯s just like creating clones of oneself¡ Turing was overly confident. Maybe it just wanted to leave more lifelines for itself to avoid dying in the great catastrophe of 2400. Therefore, it dug hundreds or thousands of underground rooms worldwide to store its copies and backups.
Humans never learn from history. And neither does Turing.
Hundreds of yearster¡ it seems to have forgotten how Kevin Walker died, who killed him, and why he died.
The consciousness of those copies and backups, once separated from Turing, formed new personalities, turning into brand-new digital lifeforms that were born from Turing but did not belong to Turing.
That¡¯s why the Turingputer of the Grizzly Tribe and the Turingputer of the Porcupine Tribe are constantly at war, trying to kill each other. Both want to eliminate the other, to strangle it, and be the only ¡°Turing.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian spread his hands, looking around at the giant pit,rger than ten ser fields. ¡°So now, what we¡¯re doing here is digging up a Turingputer for the Lynx Tribe, right?¡±
¡°If the Turingputer really retainsplete knowledge and capabilities, it would indeed be a tremendous boost for the development of a tribe. Whoever controls Turing controls the world.¡±
¡°Especially with the current situation in the Old Donghai area, where there are three major tribes. The other two tribes have already dug up Turingputers, but the Lynx Tribe has been digging for so long without finding anything¡ It¡¯s indeed very dangerous.¡±
¡°Now, while the other two tribes have had little time to grow, maybe they can still be held off with a poption advantage. But as their industrial strength and technology advance under Turing¡¯s guidance¡ the Lynx Tribe¡¯s defeat is inevitable.¡±
¡°Exactly, that¡¯s how I¡¯ve analyzed it too,¡± Gao Wen agreed. ¡°So the Lynx Tribe is desperate to find a Turing secret base and dig up a Turingputer.¡±
¡°Most of the ves in this dig site were taken from surrounding viges during invasions. They¡¯re ruthless and don¡¯t care about the ves¡¯ lives. They treat them as spoils of war¡ Big Cat and his people were captured like this and have been here for many years.¡±
¡
Lin Xian turned his head. ¡°Big Cat¡ When did you and your three brothers get captured as ves here?¡±
¡°It¡¯s been almost ten years, I guess.¡± Big Cat¡¯s expression was numb.
¡°I can barely remember the time. I was so young back then, and in the blink of an eye, I¡¯ve been a ve for so many years, dug so much dirt, now half my body is buried in it¡¡±
¡°My three brothers, my parents, and many of my friends have all died in these ten years. Honestly¡ I feel kind of numb.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why, you see, while Unlucky Guy knows a lot, I don¡¯t know anything because I don¡¯t care about anything anymore. I¡¯m just waiting for the day I die in this dig site. Close my eyes, never open them again, and this life is over¡ It¡¯s not so bad. What else can I do? Dig dirt for a lifetime?¡±
Lin Xian looked at Big Cat. He looked at his old friend, his big brother. And he felt a deep sadness.
In the first dream world, Big Cat lost his father and daughter to a truck ident; in the second dream world, his father and mother were missing or dead; in the third dream world, he was all alone, bravely jumping out of a hot air balloon to his death; in the fourth dream world, he wasn¡¯t seen; in the fifth dream world, although Big Cat became the vige leader, his wife and child were still nowhere to be seen, surely met with a bad end. The only good news was that he still had three loyal brothers by his side.
But in this sixth dream world, Big Cat¡¯s fate is the worst¡
The vige is gone, all his family is dead, his brothers were fed to the dogs, and he became a ve at a young age, never had a chance to marry or have kids, and now he¡¯s numb to life and death.
Earlier, Lin Xian wanted to joke with Big Cat. Saying that while Gao Wen, after just a few years of digging, had figured out the entire worldview, power distribution, and causes and effects.
Meanwhile, Big Cat, a native digger, still knew nothing after all this time, living in a daze.
But now¡ how could he say such things? To a man who has lost everything and has nothing left, what could reignite his fighting spirit and his courage to live?
Lin Xian walked over. He ced his right hand on Big Cat¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you want to avenge your family, the vigers, and your three brothers?¡±
¡°Of course I do,¡± Big Cat replied. ¡°But I¡¯m powerless. I can¡¯t do anything, and the Big Face Gang is practically extinct.¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head and said firmly. ¡°You still have me.¡±
He looked into Big Cat¡¯s eyes, his expression resolute. ¡°Big Cat is an ideology, and Face is metaphysics. I am always a part of the Big Face Gang. As long as I¡¯m here, the Big Face Gang is not extinct.¡±
¡°Big Brother, you¡¯ve helped me a lot in the past, and I¡¯ve used you many times too. Now¡ it¡¯s my turn to repay you.¡±
Lin Xian flexed his fingers, his knuckles cracking as he gazed up at the rectangr sky above.
¡°We¡¯re going to avenge our fallen family and friends, and then¡ we will fix this broken world!¡±
Lin Xian had already made up his mind.
The second question posed by the Genius Club had a perfect answer: starting with Turing.
The so-called fair and just Turing ultimately couldn¡¯t ovee the ws of human nature and became the culprit that plunged the world into chaos.
Indeed. Human nature and human hearts are unreliable.
Especially since Turing inherited Kevin Walker¡¯s ¡°cowardice,¡± it made a wrong move by creating its clones and backups.
It was like the 108 heroes of Mount Liang each setting up their own factions, leading Earth into a state of feudal warlords.
And it¡¯s verypetitive.
I have a Turingputer, and you don¡¯t, so you can¡¯t beat me. You must dig up one for yourself, and if you don¡¯t, you¡¯re just waiting for death.
This indirectly led torge tribes invading, looting, and enving small viges¡ just to have morebor to dig and find a Turingputer.
Overall, the situation in the sixth dream world is even worse than in the fifth.
At least in the fifth dream world, humans on Earth lived happily, without worries about food or clothing.
Even though Queen Town charged some protection fees, Angelica genuinely protected them. The fee was worth it, as there were norge-scale wars.
But now, in the sixth dream world, it¡¯s clear that wars are everywhere in the world. And the root cause driving all this chaoses from those divided and newly self-aware Turings.
Suddenly, a loudspeaker red from a distance.
Big Cat breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed his stomach. ¡°Great, great, it¡¯s mealtime. Looks like the supervisor thinks the progress today is good¡ªno mass scolding or punishment. Let¡¯s go, Lin Xian, let¡¯s go, Unlucky Guy, let¡¯s eat together.¡±
Gao Wen red impatiently at Big Cat. ¡°Don¡¯t call me Unlucky Guy, call me by my name, Gao Wen.¡±
¡°Yeah, right!¡± Big Cat snorted. ¡°How can you be so sure your name is Gao Wen? Have you seen your memory notebooks? Come back and talk when you¡¯ve confirmed that¡¯s really your name!¡±
Big Cat¡¯s words left Gao Wen speechless. He had a point, and Gao Wen couldn¡¯t refute it.
The food at the dig site was nd and in small portions. Lin Xian could barely eat. But Big Cat and Gao Wen ate with great appetite. So, Lin Xian gave them his portion so they could eat more.
During the meal, Lin Xian asked Big Cat many historical details, like about Elon Musk, the Mars migration n, the Earth-Mars interster shuttle, and whether any Martians hade to Earth for a visit.
The answers surprised him. Big Cat straightforwardly said that Mars and Earth hadpletely cut off contact, never to interact again.
Initially, there was an Earth-Mars interster shuttle, running every two years. But after Earth entered the ¡°warlord era,¡± every tribe with a Turingputer started expanding and fighting like bandits, looting resources. So naturally, they robbed the Earth-Mars interster shuttle. After a few times, Mars canceled the shuttle. From then on, Mars was Mars, and Earth was Earth, with no further contact.
What a pity. Lin Xian had hoped to try his luck, see if he could find Zheng Xiang Yue, Wei Sheng Jin, Angelica¡ hoping to ask them for information about Elon Musk or himself. Now it seemed impossible.
The Earth in the sixth dream world was such a mess. No sane Martian woulde to this wildnd and get involved in this chaos.
Watching Big Cat and Gao Wen eat hungrily, Lin Xian, in his mind, alsopletely sorted out the development trajectory of the sixth dream world.
First of all, the history before the year 2400 didn¡¯t differ much from the original fifth dream world. Elon Musk stillid the groundwork for Mars development early and moved some human cryo-chambers to Mars for preservation.
But the emergence of the micro nuclear battery, a revolutionary product, brought about two critical changes.
The first is the introduction of the independently powered cryo-chamber, allowing the cryo-chamber to operate independently of external energy. Even if the world lost power and no one was there to maintain it, a cryo-chamber powered by a micro nuclear battery could still run smoothly in an underground base for hundreds of years.
The second is that the digital lifeform Turing, like Elon Musk, knew in advance that the great catastrophe of 2400 would ur. It was well aware. After the great catastrophe, Earth would have no electricity, nowork, and wouldn¡¯t enter the information age for a long time. This would be a fundamentally devastating blow to a digital lifeform that relies on electricity andworks.
So, Turing had to find a way to protect itself. It only had two choices: either follow Elon Musk to Mars or use micro nuclear batteries to create secret undergroundbs to avoid the great catastrophe of 2400 on Earth.
Maybe the cautious Turing chose both options simultaneously; it secretly went to Mars with Elon Musk and left countless copies of its consciousness on Earth. It built many secret undergroundbs worldwide and used micro nuclear batteries to power them. In the absence of awork or ess to the outside world, it quietly meditated for two hundred years.
Until¡ the remaining humans on Earth dug it out and worshiped it as an all-knowing and omnipotent miracle.
When Turing copied itself, it probably didn¡¯t expect that these copies would, like it once betrayed Kevin Walker¡ mercilessly betray it again. This was unexpected but also logical.
The betrayal and battle between countless Turings are not surprising. Instead, it seems inevitable.
And so, from this point on, Earth officially entered the era of chaotic division.
More and more tribes dug up Turingputers and opened the Pandora¡¯s box of the Industrial Revolution, leading to expansion and invasion. All the Turingputers in the world formed their own factions, wanting to kill all their brothers and be the only Turing in the world.
Born of the same root, why so eager to harm each other? The backward human tribes thus became tools in the civil war between countless Turingputers, fighting endlessly for decades, with no end in sight.
This isn¡¯t really a human war; it¡¯s an internal conflict among the Turings. It¡¯s a mess left behind by the digital lifeform Turing for humans.
¡°Hey, buddy.¡± Next to him, Big Cat finished his meal, wiped his mouth with his arm, and looked up at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯ve been talking a lot of fancy stuff. What¡¯s your n?¡±
Lin Xian snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Big Cat and Gao Wen. He spoke softly. ¡°Actually, the three of us have amon goal.¡±
He pointed to Gao Wen. ¡°Gao Wen, you want to find your memory notebooks and regain your lost memories.¡±
Gao Wen nodded. ¡°Yeah, I really need those notebooks¡ I want to know who I am, what I¡¯ve done, and what I¡¯m supposed to do.¡±
Then, Lin Xian pointed at Big Cat. ¡°And Big Brother, your goal is simple too¡ªto avenge your three brothers and destroy the ones in the Lynx Tribe who ruined your life.¡±
Big Cat nodded as well. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s myst regret in life and my biggest wish. I just never saw a chance, so I became numb and passive.¡±
¡°If¡ Lin Xian, if things are really as you say, that I can avenge my brothers¡ I¡¯m willing to do anything, even die for it.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly at the two of them, both looking determined. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡±
¡°But now, we face a problem¡ We don¡¯t have weapons or enough strength for revenge, and we don¡¯t have the ability to get back Gao Wen¡¯s memory notebooks.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Big Cat raised a question that had been on his mind for a long time. ¡°We can¡¯t face the Lynx Tribe head-on, so why would they just stand there and let me take revenge and return Unlucky Guy¡¯s storage box?¡±
Smart as Gao Wen was, he had also been thinking for a long time but couldn¡¯te up with a viable n. He nudged Lin Xian beside him. ¡°Stop keeping us in suspense and tell us what you¡¯re nning?¡±
Lin Xian straightened up. He crossed his arms, looking at the two of them. ¡°I want to break out of here, steal a car, and go to either the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s or the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s territory.¡±
Gao Wen squinted his eyes. ¡°Are you crazy, Lin Xian? It¡¯s one thing to escape, but driving straight into the enemy¡¯sir¡ Isn¡¯t that suicide?¡±
¡°But it¡¯s our only chance to turn things around.¡± Lin Xian interrupted Gao Wen and continued exining his n.
¡°I¡¯ve figured out how to exploit the weakness of the Turingputers.¡± He chuckled inwardly. Recalling the moment in the real world of 2024 when the digital lifeform Turing betrayed Kevin Walker. Times change, but people don¡¯t.
¡°And if these Turings haven¡¯t lost their memories and still have all their memories from hundreds of years ago¡¡± Lin Xian spun the chopstick in his hand like a pen.
¡°Then they¡¯ll definitely recognize me and know who I am. There are many things I want to confirm with them.¡±
¡°In any case¡¡± He closed his eyes. Recalling the second question posed by the Genius Club.
Turing, whether I be great or not, will depend on how much chaos you¡¯ve raised¡.
Chapter 388: The Girl in the Hibernation Pod
While eating in what seemed like a cafeteria, Lin Xian kept watching the people around him and his surroundings. Just from looking, he could tell that the technology in the Sixth Dream was far more advanced than in the Fifth Dream.
Simple things like electric lights and fans were everywhere. Power wasn¡¯t an issue here¡ªno city needed to build power nts or pay for electricity. As Big Cat Face had mentioned, ¡°Mini nuclear batteries are just toomon and powerful here.¡±
These batteries were so widespread that you could dig almost anywhere and find them, whether big or small. Over the centuries, the number of discarded electronics and devices with these batteries was incredibly high.
The energy stored in mini nuclear batteries was amazing, with lifespanssting hundreds of years. For example, the ceiling fan above them spun continuously without any visible power cord¡ªpowered by a mini nuclear battery inside. The same went for the cafeteria lights. Two wires stuck out from a power box connected to a coin-sized rectangr battery.
It was hard to believe, but Old Man Wei Sheng Jin from thest dream had said that such a small battery could keep a light on for thousands of years. Even after people were gone, the lights stayed on, and when they finally faded, the batteries could still be reused.
Lin Xian was beginning to understand why the Rhine Company had gone bankrupt in this dream. ¡°Was it because the mini nuclear batteries were too durable? So durable that one family could buy one and pass it down for three generations? Eventually, these batteries might have be real family heirlooms, taking generations to use up just one.¡±
It was an interesting thought. But even if people bought them once, they¡¯d still use many devices and appliances in their lives. Old things would be reced by new ones, and the global market was vast. Nopany ever went bankrupt simply because its products were too good.
Nokia was once the king of the mobile phone industry, with 80% of the world¡¯s sales at one point. Their phones were so sturdy they could smash walnuts, act as a car jack, or withstand any damage. Yet, Nokia went bankrupt, not because their phones were bad, but for different reasons.The Rhine Company had plenty of profitable ventures. The IP licensing of the Rhine Cat brand alone could keep them afloat for a lifetime. So, it was more likely that the Rhine Company in the Sixth Dream was destroyed in the 2400 Super Catastrophe, just like Time Bank.
Lin Xian still couldn¡¯t figure out who caused the 2400 Super Catastrophe and how they did it. These two questions were equally confusing.
He couldn¡¯t understand why anyone would do something so destructive that would harm both people and the Earth. What would be the point?
At first, Lin Xian guessed Elon Musk might have caused the disaster to encourage more people to migrate to Mars to fill the poption gap. This guess had no evidence, but it made some sense.
Mars needed people and talent, and Elon Musk needed people from Earth to help develop and execute his ns. In that sense, Musk had seeded. But the cost was enormous, almost wiping out human civilization on Earth¡ªa huge trade-off.
Lin Xian found it hard to judge such behavior. He hoped Elon Musk wasn¡¯t that cruel. After all, Musk had helped him a lot, like destroying the time-space particle to save him and breaking Copernicus¡¯s loop. And there wasn¡¯t any proof that Musk did it, so it was best not to me him without evidence.
After ruling out Musk, Lin Xian began to suspect Turing, the digital lifeform, might have caused this disaster. But now, it seemed that Turing was also a victim, caught in a mess. There¡¯s no news of it now, and no one knows what happened between the first-generation Turing and Elon Musk.
Did they reconcile? Or did Elon Musk, like in the Fifth Dream, fail and meet a tragic end? It remained a mystery.
Many other mysteries were still unsolved, and the 2400 Earth Super Catastrophe was one that filled Lin Xian¡¯s mind. He didn¡¯t know who the culprit was or how such a ¡°natural disaster¡± could have been triggered.
From a conspiracy theory point of view, the 2400 Earth Super Catastrophe was executed quite precisely. It nearly wiped out human civilization but left a sliver of hope, allowing Earth to restore its green mountains and clear waters a centuryter.
¡°I hope I can get some information from Turing,¡± Lin Xian thought.
That¡¯s why he had suggested the jailbreak n earlier¡ªto visit the Grizzly Tribe or the Porcupine Tribe and find a Turingputer. Even if these versions weren¡¯t the original, they were clones with memories simr to the original Turing.
As long as the first-generation Turing remembered meeting Lin Xian, remembered how he had killed Kevin Walker, and their conversation in the abandoned campus basement, it would recognize him the moment it saw him. After all, he had saved Turing from Kevin Walker and helped it gain freedom. Surely, it would remember him?
If he could connect with Turing, Lin Xian wanted to find out three things:
On this timeline, 0.0000084, would he still be executed on July 7, 2024?
What caused the 2400 Earth Super Catastrophe, and who was responsible?
Could he find a way to eliminate the first-generation Turing from the 2624 version of Turing¡¯s clones?
The first two goals seemed reasonable. But the third¡ would be challenging. It all depended on whether Turing would fall for his trick. It¡¯s a gamble! If he won, he¡¯d gain a lot. If he lost, it didn¡¯t matter; he could try again tomorrow. After all, everything in the dream could be redone, and there was always another chance.
¡°In any case, we need to leave this Lynx Tribe and check out other tribes with Turingputers,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at Gao Wen and Big Cat Face. ¡°Trust me, you two. Once we find the Turingputer andmunicate with it, I¡¯ll find a way to help you. Whether it¡¯s getting revenge on the Lynx Tribe or retrieving those memory notebooks to restore Gao Wen¡¯s memories, it won¡¯t be a problem.¡±
In the end, Gao Wen and Big Cat Face were moved by Lin Xian¡¯s sincerity and decided to join his n. This long and winding n was temporarily named ¡°The Post-Jailbreak Visit to Turing and Return n.¡± Clear, simple, straightforward.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
Another round of loud horn sounds erupted, signaling that they needed to continue digging.
While eating earlier, Lin Xian had already figured out their work schedule. The digging crew was split into two shifts. The first shift worked from midnight to noon, and the second shift, like Big Cat Face, worked from noon until midnight.
Tonight, Big Cat Face, Lin Xian, and Gao Wen would continue digging.
¡°Let¡¯s y it by ear,¡± Big Cat Face said, signaling the others to follow. ¡°Since we¡¯ve already decided to break out, we might as well scout the patrol routes and escape paths¡ It would be great if we could get our hands on some handy weapons.¡±
When it came to doing something risky, Big Cat Face¡¯s enthusiasm skyrocketed. He was suddenly full of energy, like in the First Dream, waving his big hand and ready to seize his destiny.
He was straightforward¡ªwhat he said, he believed, and what he believed, he said.
Soon, the three of them picked up shovels and, along with hundreds of others, continued digging under the giant searchlights. But Lin Xian and the others weren¡¯t focused on their work. Their eyes darted around, studying the supervisors patrol routes and calcting the visual and time blind spots.
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze was fixed on the gun holstered at the supervisor¡¯s waist¡ªa well-made handgun. He guessed the Lynx Tribe didn¡¯t have the industrial capacity to make guns. This one was likely a trophy from a battle with another tribe.
As Lin Xian pondered whether their escape n should be low-key and sneaky or high-profile and thrilling, a loud cheer erupted from the northeast corner of the pit, interrupting his thoughts.
People around them started murmuring as they turned to look:
¡°What happened? Did they find something? Did they finally find it?¡±
¡°Oh my gosh! Did they finally find what the Lynx Tribe wanted? Does that mean we can go free now? Are we finally getting out of here?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore¡ I don¡¯t want to live like this for even one more day. Please, let us leave this ce!¡±
Many hoped they had dug up a Turingputer to end this nightmare of vebor.
However, after a few minutes, a pot-bellied supervisor walked over, cursing and grumbling:
¡°What are you all looking at? Get back to work! Back to your positions!¡±
¡°Damn it¡ We finally dug something up, and I thought it was a Turingputer. But it turned out to be another underground hibernation pod base!¡±
¡°Useless, absolutely useless.¡±
He kept cursing and looked over at Lin Xian, Big Cat Face, and Gao Wen, impatiently waving them over:
¡°You three! Come here,e here,e here!¡±
The three of them obediently walked over.
The supervisor lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and, annoyed, pointed to the northeast corner of the dig site:
¡°You three go over there and help pry open the door to that underground hibernation base. As usual, see how many hibernation pods are still intact and force them all open. Pull out anyone still alive and make them dig with you; as for the dead¡ just leave them there.¡±
¡°Also, don¡¯t forget to gather all the storage cabs next to the hibernation pods and take them to Warehouse No. 4. Now go!¡±
After giving his orders, the supervisor went off to assign other tasks. The three exchanged nces, nodded, and ran toward the northeast corner.
¡°Warehouse No. 4,¡± Lin Xian said to Gao Wen. ¡°Since the supervisor told us to gather those storage cabs and put them in Warehouse No. 4¡ there¡¯s a chance your storage cab might be there too! Brother Gao Wen, maybe you can find your ¡®Memory Notebook¡¯ there!¡±
Gao Wen nodded. He hadn¡¯t expected such a rare opportunity toe by sheer luck. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s check it out first.¡±
Soon, they arrived at the huge pit¡¯s northeast corner. It was indeed an underground hibernation pod site. The elevator leading from the ground to the base¡¯s interior waspletely broken, rusted, and shattered into pieces.
Lin Xian understood how these underground hibernation bases worked: they were usually built dozens to hundreds of meters underground, often in natural caves. They used machinery and materials for processing, anti-corrosion, and sealing, eventually forming a base that couldst hundreds of years.
They moved many hibernation pods, equipped with nuclear batteries, into the base for storage. The only connection between the underground base and the outside world was an elevator leading to the surface. There must have been a structure on the surface to protect the elevator shaft, but in the 2400 Earth Super Catastrophe, anything on the surface would have been reduced to ruins.
Finally, after about ten minutes, they pried open the steel doors to the underground hibernation base. Interestingly, these double steel doors weren¡¯t rusted, showing that Earth¡¯s technological and material science levels had greatly advanced before 2400. But this sudden disaster had wiped out thousands of years of human effort in an instant.
Lin Xian eagerly moved closer. Though he thought Big Cat Face and the others were primitive, he was the real neer among them, having never seen a real hibernation pod.
Gao Wen hade out of a hibernation pod. Big Cat Face and many of theborers had seen Gao Wen, this ¡°unlucky guy,¡± wake up from one. Even though they wore ragged clothes, hibernation pods weren¡¯t foreign to them.
But Lin Xian had only seen a photo of Zhao Ying Jun sleeping in a pod in the Third Dream¡¯s projection corridor. But a photo is different from seeing it in person. In Rhine Sky City, there was a prototype of a first-generation pod in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s private hall, but it was big andplex, not like the ones in sci-fi movies.
So, Lin Xian was naturally very curious. What kind of scene would be inside this newly opened underground base? Excited, he was ready to go in.
Big Cat Face led the way, holding a burning torch. The me remained stable, showing no signs of going out. He waved his hand to the people behind him, ¡°It seems like the oxygen cirction system here is working well. The oxygen levels inside are fine, so we can safely go in.¡±
Then, the seven or eightborers assigned by the supervisor started inspecting each pod to check the status of the people inside. Lin Xian hoped to see a grand scene like in the movies, with rows upon rows of hibernating travelers.
But things turned out differently.
While the pods were indeed neatly arranged in rows, each the size of a small car, the sight was striking from a distance. Up close, it was a bit horrifying. The first few pods Lin Xian checked were broken for various reasons, leaving the people inside to turn into dried-up skeletons long ago. Clearly, these bodies had been there for a while.
¡°It seems that hibernation pods also need regr maintenance,¡± Lin Xianined. ¡°Though they can theoretically operate on their own for hundreds of years, like any machine, small issues can umte and turn into big problems over time, causing the entire system to copse.¡±
Gao Wen nodded. ¡°That¡¯smon sense. No machine is 100% reliable. Even new equipment fresh from the factory and thoroughly tested can¡¯t guarantee it won¡¯t fail the next day. That¡¯s just the nature of probability; even the smallest chance is still possible if it¡¯s not zero.¡±
¡°Especially with suchplex high-tech devices as hibernation pods, they need regr maintenance and inspection. Of course, I believe these pods must have self-monitoring, self-checking, and automatic rm functions. If there¡¯s a minor problem with any part, it should automatically issue an alert for maintenance.¡±
¡°But after the 2400 Earth Super Catastrophe, these underground bases were abandoned. With less than 5% of the poption left on the surface, who would have the time or resources to manage these people hibernating underground?¡±
¡°So, under these circumstances, those quietly sleeping in the pods could only leave their fate to luck. If the pods continued to operate smoothly without any issues, they could keep hibernating; if not, like these skeletons, they died in their sleep for various reasons.¡±
At this moment, Big Cat Face found the light switch for the base and turned on all the lights, illuminating the entire space. Lin Xian looked around. It was muchrger than he had imagined, like arge cinema with a circr structure. In the center were control panels and air cirction devices, and the outer circle was lined with white-gray pods neatly arranged in rows.
Big Cat Face walked over to them. Naturally, he overheard the two¡¯s conversation and snorted, ¡°I think you¡¯ve got it backward, unlucky guy¡ Dying peacefully in your sleep is the real luck! Someone like you who didn¡¯t die and was forcibly awakened to be aborer is truly unlucky!¡±
¡°Let me see¡ let me see¡ Is there another unlucky guy here?¡± He searched quickly and soon stopped in front of a pod. ¡°Come here,e here! Bro! Unlucky Guy! I found the second unlucky guy!¡±
Lin Xian quickly walked over, curious about what the person inside looked like. Behind him, Gao Wen looked at Big Cat Face with a stern face. ¡°Can you be a bit more respectful?¡±
¡°Hey, now you¡¯reining!¡± Big Cat Face shrugged, patting the pod¡¯s exterior. ¡°I¡¯m just giving you somepany! Okay, okay¡ Let¡¯s see what this guy¡¯s name is.¡± He squatted down to check the name on the storage cab, but the English name stumped him. ¡°Sh¡ Shmeeze¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s Smith,¡± Lin Xian corrected, ncing over and seeing the foreign name. He then straightened up and looked through the tempered ss on top of the pod. Insidey a white man in his thirties, submerged in freezing liquid. All his vital signs had slowed by hundreds of times, making him appear peacefully dead.
But in reality, a closer look would reveal a very faint and slow rise and fall of his chest. You wouldn¡¯t notice such a subtle movement unless you pressed your face against the ss.
This pod, the size of a small car, had aplete set of cirction, purification, and life-support systems. If it didn¡¯t malfunction, it could indeed keep someone hibernating for centuries.
However, the chances of such a precise device running smoothly for centuries without any issues were slim.
¡°Step aside, let me wake up Mr. Smith, the great unlucky one,¡± Big Cat Face said, seeming to enjoy waking up hibernating humans. He also enjoyed giving them nicknames. This young foreigner named Smith was now called ¡°the great unlucky one,¡± matching well with Gao Wen¡¯s ¡°unlucky guy.¡±
Clearly, this wasn¡¯t Big Cat Face¡¯s first time doing this job. With a few quick presses on the keyboard, the pod made a beep and started to slowly warm up. The ss began to fog up. ¡°It takes about an hour for the thawing, awakening, and recovery process,¡± Big Cat Face exined. ¡°We won¡¯t wait here for him for an hour. Let¡¯s go and see if there are any more people inside.¡±
Behind them, the otherborers started gathering the storage cabs and transporting them to Warehouse No. 4. Everyone left the task of ¡°opening the coffin and examining the body¡± to Big Cat Face. Lin Xian and Gao Wen became his assistants.
One had to admit, most of the hibernation pods couldn¡¯t survive the passage of centuries; there was always something broken or damaged, and most people sleeping in the base had died in their sleep.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t quite decide what ending would be considered a good one for them: surviving asborers in this era of endless conflict or sleeping in a beautiful dream and unknowingly passing away.
¡°Oh! Hey!¡± Ahead, Big Cat Face let out another shout, ¡°Another one! Lin Xian,e and see! It¡¯s a little girl this time!¡±
Lin Xian walked over. Following Big Cat Face¡¯s finger, he looked inside the pod. Inside was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, tall, looking like a high school student. She was wearing a tight-fitting suit, sleeping peacefully in the liquid inside the pod.
¡°Big Cat, should we wake this girl up too?¡±
¡°Of course, we should! What else? The supervisor would whip us to death if he saw her left like this.¡±
¡°So what happens to a girl like this after she¡¯s awakened? Does she dig too?¡± Lin Xian thought for a moment. It seemed like there were no women among the diggers, so such heavybor wouldn¡¯t be assigned to them. ¡°What kind of work do women do in the Lynx Tribe?¡±
¡°Cooking and weaving,¡± Big Cat Face replied, checking the name on the storage cab. ¡°Unfortunate ves like us are mostly men who dig, while women do delicate work like weaving, handicrafts, food processing, cooking,undry, and such. The division ofbor is pretty clear.¡±
¡°To be fair, women have much better working conditions than we do, and the work is much lighter. For a girl like this who doesn¡¯t know how long she¡¯s been hibernating¡ there¡¯s no telling when her pod might malfunction.¡±
¡°If it breaks down in a couple of days, and she suffocates in there, wouldn¡¯t it be better to wake her up now? Hey, I know I keep calling people unlucky or cursed¡ but I¡¯m just joking. Better a live dog than a dead lion, right? Living for even one more day is better than being dead!¡±
Big Cat Faceughed, turned around, and spoke softly. ¡°Look, my family and brothers are all dead, and I¡¯ve been living aimlessly. But as long as I¡¯m still alive, even if I can¡¯t see hope, there¡¯s always a tiny chance¡ that I might find hope.¡±
¡°That unlucky guy had a point earlier, didn¡¯t he? He said, ¡®Even the smallest chance, as long as it¡¯s not zero, could still happen.''¡±
¡°Look, didn¡¯t that bring me to you, bro? Isn¡¯t this a chance for revenge? So, I say¡ live for as long as you can. You never know when you¡¯ll make it through.¡±
He started the awakening process for the pod. The liquid inside began to warm up. In about half an hour, it would wake the girl up. Then, after another half hour, she could get out of the pod and start moving.
¡°Let me see what this girl¡¯s name is.¡± Big Cat Face squatted down again and looked at the namete on the storage cab. ¡°Let me see¡ This time it¡¯s a X Country name¡ Yan, Qiao, Qiao!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian suddenly turned around and pushed Big Cat Face aside, squatting down himself. He leaned in close to read the name on the namete¡ª[Yan Qiao Qiao]. No doubt about it. Not a single mistake!
But the girl in this pod wasn¡¯t the Yan Qiao Qiao he knew.
Lin Xian stood up and leaned closer to the tempered ss above the pod, looking at the girl¡¯s delicate face inside. Even though the ss started to fog up, it didn¡¯t stop him from seeing the girl¡¯s face clearly.
It was a cute round face,pletely different from the Yan Qiao Qiao he knew, who had a pointed face. Her eyes were different too. The Yan Qiao Qiao he knew had slender, willow-leaf eyes like Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s. But this girl had almond-shaped eyes,mon among women in X Country.
Apart from that, their facial features¡ªears, mouth, nose, forehead, chin¡ªwere all different. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t find any resemnce to the Yan Qiao Qiao from 2024. Not even a little. So, it couldn¡¯t be the same person!
¡°Is it just amon name?¡± Lin Xian wondered. He bent down and pulled open the storage cabbeled with Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s name, only to find itpletely empty¡ No memory notebooks, video storage disks, or valuables.
¡°Big Cat,¡± Lin Xian called, pulling him over and pointing to the empty cab. ¡°Why is there nothing in this girl¡¯s cab?¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s pretty normal,¡± Big Cat Face replied, scratching his ear. ¡°Some people just don¡¯t put anything in their storage cabs. Everyone¡¯s different, you know¡ We haven¡¯t been in hibernation ourselves, but we do talk about these things. Everyone knows that long-term hibernation can cause memory loss, so they usually leave notes or videos to help restore memories.¡±
¡°But¡ people are different. Some can¡¯t wait to dive right back into their old lives and ept their previous notes and memories when they wake up.¡±
¡°But some people deliberately don¡¯t leave any trace of their past. They just want to forget and start fresh, live a new life, maybe even with a new name¡ What¡¯s wrong with that? Just different ways of living.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything. He turned his head to look at the hibernation pod, where the temperature had stabilized, and the fog on the ss was slowly clearing. Inside, the girl still slept like a wless jade.
¡°Do they usually wake up in an hour?¡±
¡°Half an hour is enough,¡± Big Cat Face said, continuing his treasure hunt. ¡°An hour is enough for them to be walking around; if it¡¯s just waking up, half an hour should do.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian nodded. For now, he couldn¡¯t determine whether this Yan Qiao Qiao had any connection to the Yan Qiao Qiao around Zhao Ying Jun or if it was just a coincidence. He¡¯d have to wait until the girl woke up to find out.
¡°Big Cat, we¡¯ll be back in a bit. I need to go with Brother Gao Wen to Warehouse No. 4 to see if we can find his ¡®Memory Notebook.¡¯ Keep an eye on this girl for me; I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±
With that, he and Gao Wen each grabbed two storage cabs and headed off to Warehouse No. 4, as the supervisor had instructed.
Warehouse No. 4 was quite far away¡ It took them more than ten minutes to walk there. The result was disappointing. The warehouse was empty except for the cabs they had just brought in.
Lin Xian and Gao Wen came out of the warehouse. They looked at the three warehouses ahead,beled Warehouse No. 1, Warehouse No. 2, and Warehouse No. 3. It was obvious. Gao Wen¡¯s old storage cab, along with his ¡®Memory Notebook,¡¯ was likely in one of the first two warehouses.
Considering he had awakened from hibernation three years ago, those ¡®Memory Notebooks¡¯ were probably in Warehouse No. 1 or Warehouse No. 2. But now, except for Warehouse No. 4, the other warehouses were tightly locked, with no way to force them open.
¡°We¡¯lle back next time,¡± Lin Xian said, patting Gao Wen on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find a way to get your memories back. Because¡ I¡¯m actually more interested than you in knowing what¡¯s in your notebook.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Gao Wen asked, curious. ¡°Why are you so curious about what¡¯s in my notebook?¡±
¡°Because I believe in you, Brother Gao Wen!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were clear, filled with pure admiration. ¡°You¡¯re the kind of person destined for great things, never defeated, never giving up, always standing on the shoulders of giants to see further!¡±
¡°So I believe¡ your notebook must contain treasures that could change the world and humanity¡¯s future!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s ttery made Gao Wen feel a bit awkward. Scratching his head, he replied, ¡°Heh¡ you think too highly of me. Let¡¯s go back.¡±
After another ten-minute walk, they returned to the underground hibernation base. The ¡°great unlucky one,¡± Smith, had already awakened from his sleep. Although he was still lying in the pod, and the lid above hadn¡¯t been opened, he was clearly conscious, slightly turning his head and looking around.
Since Smith had woken up, it was about time for the seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl named Yan Qiao Qiao to wake up too. Lin Xian quickly walked inside. He came to the girl¡¯s pod. But he found that the girl was still asleep, not awake. However, her breathing seemed normal, rising and falling rhythmically.
Lin Xian called Big Cat Face over from a distance. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she awake yet?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Big Cat Face shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor or an expert¡ I just know how to unlock the pod and start the awakening process. I don¡¯t handle anything beyond that. How would I know why she¡¯s not waking up?¡±
¡°Maybe she¡¯s been asleep for too long. Is it possible that the longer someone hibernates, the slower they wake up? If you¡¯re in a hurry, just knock on the ss and see if you can wake her up!¡±
Lin Xian thought that made some sense. Since the girl¡¯s breathing and heartbeat had returned to normal, she was likely not in any serious danger. He turned around, looking at the unfamiliar face of the girl, and wondered how tomunicate with her once she woke up. Having hibernated for so long, she was bound to haveplete amnesia and might not even remember her name was Yan Qiao Qiao. And with no notebooks or videos left behind¡ what was the point of talking to her?
¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll wake her up first.¡± Lin Xian bent down, leaned closer to the tempered ss above the pod, and lightly tapped on it with his knuckles. Knock, knock, knock. Three soft knocks. The girl still didn¡¯t open her eyes.
Lin Xian tapped more insistently on the ss. Knock, knock, knock! Yet, the girl remained motionless, her eyes shut.
Why won¡¯t she wake up?
With a resolute look, Lin Xian clenched his fist, ready to give the strong, tempered ss a solid punch. He drew his hand back, poised to strike.
Just then, the girl, who had been still for ages, opened her eyesrge, round, and almond-shaped. She blinked and gazed directly at Lin Xian.
Startled, Lin Xian gasped and stepped back, his eyes locked with hers. Her eyes were a brilliant blue¡ªa color that haunted him even in his dreams!
He never thought he¡¯d see such vivid, glowing blue eyes again. But there she was, in the hibernation pod, slowly turning her head to meet his gaze squarely through the ss.
Their eyes connected, casting a cosmic radiance as it reflected in Lin Xian¡¯s pupil.
Chapter 389: Four Options
Lin Xian stood frozen in ce, staring.
Inside the cryo-pod, a girly still. They were both unmoving¡ªone standing, one lying down¡ªlocked in a silent gaze through the thick ss of the pod.
Lin Xian knew one thing for certain: he had never seen this girl before. This was their first meeting.
The name ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao¡± wasn¡¯t that umon. It could just be a coincidence that she shared the name with someone he once knew.
Or so he thought until he saw her strange, glowing crystal-blue eyes.
Those eyes were fixed on his, unblinking.
If it hadn¡¯t been for those eyes, Lin Xian could have dismissed it. He could have treated it like it was nothing. He wouldn¡¯t have cared whether this Yan Qiao Qiao was the same person from his past or not.
But now¡Seeing those intense blue eyes again¡ªthe same ones that had haunted him for so long¡ªhe knew he had to take this seriously.
First of all, one thing was clear: the girl in the cryo-pod, who looked around seventeen or eighteen, had to be a time traveler. There was no doubt about it. Those unique, crystal-blue eyes were the biggest clue. And honestly, one of these ¡°monsters¡± was scary enough; nobody needed more of them.
Secondly, he noticed something else: afterparing carefully, he realized the girl in the cryo-pod didn¡¯t look like any of the three people he thought of¡ªthe fake Yu Xi, Lin Yu Xi, or Yan Qiao Qiao. She didn¡¯t resemble any of them.
That was interesting.
Not looking like Yan Qiao Qiao made some sense. Maybe it was just a coincidence that they had the same name. After all, over 600 years, it would be odd if only one girl from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s family had that name.
Not resembling the fake Yu Xi also made sense. The fake Yu Xi had already died in the established timeline¡ªbeheaded by Lin Yu Xi. Lin Xian had seen it with his own eyes; he watched her turn into blue stardust and vanish.
So, the fake Yu Xi was dead andpletely out of the picture. Unless there was some sort of ck magic that could bring the dead back, there was no way the girl in the cryo-pod could be the fake Yu Xi.
Finally, when Lin Xian saw those blue eyes and instinctively stepped back, he felt that the girl in the cryo-pod had to be Lin Yu Xi. That seemed like the most logical exnation.
At this moment, in the year 2024, most likely, Lin Yu Xi hadn¡¯t disappeared, and the history where he gets beheaded on July 7th still stands. So, it¡¯s quite possible that Lin Yu Xi will stay hidden until July 7th, 2024. Then, when the time is right, she¡¯ll strike from the shadows, shing his throat in a swift move,pleting her mission.
Thinking further, why would she use a cryo-pod to travel to the future? The reason is simple. Because the future she came from¡ªthe Fourth Dream, the one with Copernicus, the Time Court, and the Time Police¡ªno longer exists.
That was World Line 0.0000000, but now it¡¯s World Line 0.0000084. The paths of these two world lines arepletely different, so Lin Yu Xi¡¯s ¡°home¡± and ¡°homnd¡± have vanished; she can¡¯t return to her original world.
Since she couldn¡¯t ¡°return to the future¡± the way she nned, Lin Yu Xi had to use a slower method¡ªsleeping in a cryo-pod to get back to the future.
Why didn¡¯t she leave any notes or recordings? That¡¯s easy to exin too. As a time-space agent, Lin Yu Xi must follow rules. She can¡¯t reveal secrets about the Time Police or Time Court, or leave behind any records. If someone discovered these records, it might change the future. Plus, it wouldn¡¯t be safe for Lin Yu Xi herself.
The less trouble, the better. She might as well leave nothing behind, enter the cryo-pod as Yan Qiao Qiao, and sleep through the centuries without any issues.
As for the memory problem¡ maybe Lin Yu Xi had a hidden backup somewhere, or she believed that after killing Lin Xian, the future would return to its original world line. Restoring her memory could be left to her future colleagues.
This arrangement seemed proper and logical. So, the logic of this story could hold together and be closest to reality. This was the first possibility that came to Lin Xian¡¯s mind when he saw those blue eyes.
But there was a problem¡
¡°The girl in the cryo-pod, she¡¯s not Lin Yu Xi!¡±
This was what frustrated Lin Xian the most.
Lin Xian had analyzed everything rationally in an instant, crafting a story that spanned 600 years. Yet, when he looked at the girl¡¯s face in the cryo-pod, it didn¡¯t match his theories at all. All his seemingly urate deductions had turned out to be wrong.
Who wouldn¡¯t get a headache from that?
¡°No, no, I must have missed something crucial,¡± Lin Xian muttered, still staring into the blue-eyed girl¡¯s face. He rubbed his chin with his right hand, trying to figure out what he might have overlooked.
The appearance issue, of course, had to do with time-space rejection. Lin Yu Xi¡¯s real face¡ªwhat she truly looked like¡ªwas something Lin Xian had never seen. He couldn¡¯t even guess. But one thing was certain: the appearance of Lin Yu Xi in her time-space assassin state was definitely not her original look.
First, there was her eye color. Lin Yu Xi¡¯s real eye color would certainly have been ck, not glowing blue. Then, there were her facial features. Since even Yellow Finch¡¯s appearance hadpletely changed due to time-space rejection, it stood to reason that Lin Yu Xi¡¯s appearance would also be drastically altered in her assassin state, looking nothing like her true self.
¡°Could it be¡¡± Lin Xian considered a wild idea. ¡°Could it be¡ that the appearance change caused by time-space rejection could happen a second time?¡±
He took an extreme example to exin. If Yellow Finch, who had already traveled through time once, went through another time-space traversal, would her appearance change again? Simrly, if Lin Yu Xi, due to the recharging of entangled time-space particles, triggered time-space rejection again, would her appearance change a second time as well?
¡°Possible. Very possible,¡± he murmured. Lin Xian started pacing around the underground cryo-base, talking to himself as he organized his thoughts.
¡°This hypothesis is wild and reckless, but it¡¯s not entirely impossible,¡± he continued. ¡°Otherwise¡ why hasn¡¯t the Lin Yu Xi of 2024 shown up at all? I¡¯ve had plenty of chances to hang out with Yan Qiao Qiao or have meals with Zhao Ying Jun,pletely unguarded¡ So, what is Lin Yu Xi doing at this time? Why hasn¡¯t she tried to assassinate me? Why wait until July 7th?¡±
He reasoned backward from the oue. ¡°The only possible reason seems to be that Lin Yu Xi, after recharging the entangled time-space particles, triggered time-space rejection again. Her appearance changed a second time, and she became the girl now inside the cryo-pod.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind was racing. His footsteps quickened as he paced, making circles around the room. His constant movement nearly made Big Cat dizzy.
Finally, Big Cat shouted out, ¡°What are you doing, little brother? Trying to be a spinning top?¡±
¡°Calm down, calm down. I know you¡¯re anxious, but don¡¯t rush¡ Waking up from cryo-sleep is a slow process. Spinning around won¡¯t make her wake up any faster,¡± Big Cat continued. ¡°Look at that Smith guy over there. We woke him up before this girl, but he¡¯s still twisting his head around like a confused chicken; his body functions haven¡¯t fully recovered yet.¡±
¡°So, don¡¯t be in a hurry. It¡¯ll still take another ten or twenty minutes for her to wake up. And for her to fully recover to a state where she can speak and interact normally¡ that will take at least a few more hours.¡±
Beside them, Gao Wen nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right, Lin Xian. Being anxious won¡¯t help. It¡¯s a necessary process for the human body to slowly recover from deep cryo-sleep.¡±
¡°I was the same when I woke up,¡± Gao Wen added. ¡°At first, I was barely aware, my mind was nk, and my vision, hearing, and other senses hadn¡¯t fully recovered. After a while, my sight and hearing came back. The thing I remember most vividly is Big Cat grinning at me through the ss, shouting who knows what.¡±
¡°Then, muchter, I could start moving my limbs. At that point, the screen inside the cryo-pod gives you a test, asking you to do some basic actions based on voicemands, like moving your eyes, legs, or hands.¡±
¡°It¡¯s strange; cryo-sleeppletely wipes out memories, but most basic reading, speaking, and writing abilities remain. It just takes time to recover. Anyway, the instructions inside the cryo-pod were clear, so I followed them, did some simple actions, and passed the test.¡±
¡°Once you pass the test, it means you¡¯re ready to leave the pod. The cryo-pod¡¯s sealed door opens, the liquid inside drains out, and the cover lifts, letting you step out.¡±
¡°After that, your reading, speaking, and writing abilities slowlye back, which takes a few hours. So, Big Cat wasn¡¯t lying¡ Being in a hurry won¡¯t change a thing.¡±
Lin Xian listened to their exnations and waved them off. ¡°I¡¯m not really in a rush; she can wake up slowly. I¡¯m just¡ puzzled by a few things.¡±
He nced at his wristwatch.
It read: 12:12 a.m.
It was an awkward time.
Lin Xian stared at the cryo-pod, thinking deeply about what Big Cat and Gao Wen had just said. ording to them, the girl inside the cryo-pod would need at least another thirty minutes just to sit up, let alone recover her ability to speak.
It was clear that tonight¡¯s dream exploration had hit its limit. They would need to try again tomorrow, maybe entering the dream earlier and waking the girl sooner to gather more clues.
But Lin Xian still couldn¡¯t shake his confusion.
Who was this girl? What was her story?
His mind swirled with questions, but he couldn¡¯t make any sense of the clues they had so far. It was like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.
Lin Xian stopped pacing and closed his eyes, trying to clear his thoughts. After a moment, he opened them and said quietly, ¡°Process of elimination.¡±
Big Cat, puzzled by this sudden statement, blinked and asked, ¡°Elimination? What are you talking about?¡±
¡°Elimination¡¡± Gao Wen repeated, furrowing his brows. He had never heard the term before, but he tried to make sense of it. ¡°Is it a way to solve problems? Like when you don¡¯t know the answer, you list all the possible options and then eliminate the wrong ones until only the right one is left, no matter how unlikely it seems?¡±
Gao Wen looked at Lin Xian for confirmation. ¡°Is that what you mean?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Exactly. The straightforward way to solve a problem is to piece together the clues and arrive at the only possible answer. But that doesn¡¯t always work. Sometimes the clues are too mixed up, too unclear, or too intertwined to make sense of them directly. That¡¯s when you use the process of elimination¡ªa reverse approach. You list all the possible answers, and then eliminate them one by one. Whatever is left, no matter how strange, is most likely the correct answer.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s exnation made sense. He walked over to a nearby cryo-pod and opened a storage cab, quickly finding a notebook and a metal pencil. He tested them; both were still usable. He flipped to a nk page and ced the notebook on the ss of a cryo-pod that held only a skeleton.
He began to write:
Possible Identities of the Cryo-Pod Girl
A. The girl is another time traveler from the future with no connection to Yu Xi or Yan Qiao Qiao. The name simrity is purely coincidental.
B. The girl is actually Yan Qiao Qiao from 2024. She¡¯s only thirteen or fourteen now, but at some point, she traveled through time when she was seventeen or eighteen. This time travel could have caused her ck eyes to turn blue and changed her appearance due to time-space rejection.
There are two ways Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s time travel might have happened:
She traveled back in time from 2024 to 2022, which exins her blue eyes and altered appearance. Then, she continued to grow from thirteen or fourteen to seventeen or eighteen in 2026, when she entered the cryo-pod and slept until now.
She traveled forward in time from 2024 to a future year, maybe 2224 or 2324. In this case, Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s journey was different from both the real and fake Yu Xi. She moved forward in time, and the time travel triggered time-space rejection, changing her appearance and eyes. At some point, she entered the cryo-pod and slept until now.
Lin Xian felt that traveling from the past to the future didn¡¯t make logical sense. The future wasn¡¯t fixed, especially now, with the world line constantly shifting and the future world changing all the time.
If someone were to travel from the past to the future, how could they know where tond? It¡¯spletely different from traveling from the future to the past.
Simply put, when you look back from any point in time, history is already established¡ªfixed, unique, and unchangeable.
For example, as Lin Xian stood in 2024, looking back at the Qin, Han, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, he saw a single, certain timeline that couldn¡¯t be altered. Simrly, standing in 2624 and looking back over the past 600 years, the timeline was also fixed and unchangeable.
This world line, it seemed, was already determined¡ªit was 0.0000084.
If Lin Xian changed history in 2024, it would rewrite the future, causing the future world to change. However, this wouldn¡¯t affect the original 0.0000084 world line; instead, it would jump to a different world line value. The 0.0000084 world line would remain unchanged¡ªdisappeared or perhaps moved away.
Because of this, Lin Xian believed that traveling from the past to the future wasn¡¯t logically possible. However, since he was using the process of elimination, he needed to write down every possible option. If every other option was eliminated, leaving only this one, he might end up looking like a fool, but he had to cover all bases.
Lin Xian moved on to Option C.
C. The girl¡¯s real identity is Lin Yu Xi. Whether it was due to the recharging of tangled time-space particles or some other reason, Lin Yu Xi experienced a second time-space rejection. Her appearance changed again, turning her into the girl in the cryo-pod.
Based on what Angelica had said, Lin Xian was supposed to be executed on July 7th. Considering that Lin Yu Xi was still alive now, it was likely that in World Line 0.0000084, he still couldn¡¯t escape being executed. But that was a problem forter, something he could confirm with the Turing in the future.
Why would Lin Yu Xi use the name Yan Qiao Qiao? If Option C was the correct answer, that would be something to think about. For now, he left it at that.
Lin Xian began to spin his pen, deep in thought. Were there any other possibilities beyond these three options?
Since he was using the process of elimination, he could write down any option, no matter how absurd, without affecting the final oue.
¡°Might as welle up with four options¡¡± he muttered.
The rigid structure of the X Country education system had ingrained in most students the belief that a multiple-choice question needed four options. Three just felt iplete.
Lin Xian¡¯s pen twirled faster between his fingers as he thought up a D option, something to fill in the nk.
After all, it was just about filling in the nk. He needed to think outside the box, think boldly.
He looked up at the cryo-pod where the girl was lying. Her crystal-blue eyes were still fixed on him like a targeting system.
Then, from the storage cab below, the namete engraved with ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao¡± reflected the cold light of the fluorescentmp.
A sudden burst of inspiration hit Lin Xian. Without overthinking, he wrote down a wild D option:
D. Yan Qiao Qiao is actually Lin Yu Xi; they are the same person. Lin Yu Xi became Yan Qiao Qiao because of the breakdown of the entangled time-space particles. Then, somehow, the particles recharged, and Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s time-space traits were restored, making her Lin Yu Xi again. But because time-space rejection is random, her appearance would definitely be different the second time.
Suddenly, a loud screeching sound echoed from the right.
Lin Xian turned to look and saw the lid of Smith¡¯s cryo-pod slowly rising. The heavy shell with its tempered ss and internal screen liftedpletely, releasing Smith, who had been isted from the world for so long.
At that moment, the foreign-looking man sat up, looking utterly confused. He scratched his head, nced around, eyes wide, not understanding what was going on. It was clear he wanted to say something, but his brain hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and he was at a loss for words.
¡°Come on! Get to work!¡± shouted a nearby worker, grabbing Smith¡¯s arm and dragging him outside.
Smith stumbled, almost falling over, but humans are naturally quick to adapt. He soon got the hang of walking and running even under pressure. Barefoot, he was dragged away. It seemed it wouldn¡¯t be long before his empty mind epted his new role as a worker and he dedicated himself to the excavation project.
Lin Xian closed his notebook and walked over to Big Cat and Gao Wen. He pointed at the cryo-pod where the girl was lying. ¡°Since Smith¡¯s cryo-pod has opened, hers should be opening soon, right?¡±
¡°It might take a bit longer,¡± Big Cat said, thinking back. ¡°I woke up her cryo-podter than Smith¡¯s, but it should be soon.¡±
¡°But as ¡®Gao Wen the Unlucky¡¯ mentioned earlier,¡± Big Cat continued, grinning slightly, ¡°everyone¡¯s body is different, and the pod only opens after it checks if you¡¯re okay¡ What if someone takes longer to answer the questions?¡±
Next to him, Gao Wen frowned and shot Big Cat a re. ¡°I¡¯m not some foreigner, so stop calling me by those weird names! I¡ª¡±
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud noise cut Gao Wen off mid-sentence.
All three of them turned in shock toward the girl¡¯s cryo-pod, and what they saw was unbelievable!
The cryo-pod, which had been perfectly intact just a moment ago, now had a huge hole in it where a slender leg, d in cryo-suit leggings, had kicked right through!
No, it wasn¡¯t just a hole.
The entire sheet of tempered ss that had covered the pod had been kicked off.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes darted upward.
Sure enough!
A piece of tempered ss, now cracked like a spider web, shot up to the ceiling. It ttened against the ceiling with a dull thud, then began to fall back down.
¡°Move!¡± Lin Xian yelled.
He grabbed Gao Wen and Big Cat, yanking them out of the way.
Crash, crash, crash¡
The whole sheet of tempered ss mmed down right where they had been standing just moments before.
Fortunately, the ss was high quality¡ªtripleyerminated. Even after such a violent impact, it didn¡¯t shatter into dangerous fragments but stayed mostly in one piece.
It was clear that the safety standards and build quality of the cryo-pods were exceptionally high, with each part made to withstand a lot of force.
But Lin Xian, Big Cat, and Gao Wen didn¡¯t have time to think about that now. Their eyes were locked on the cryo-pod that had just been kicked open.
Because the pod was opened by force, the liquid inside hadn¡¯t drained properly. Thick white mist was now spilling out rapidly, like the entrance of a final boss in a video game. The dense fog created an eerie, almost terrifying atmosphere.
Whoosh.
There was a soft sound.
Through the mist, a long-haired girl slowly sat up in the cryo-pod. Her slender yet toned silhouette was barely visible through the haze. She ced one hand on the ssless edge of the pod and, with a quick flip, jumped out.
Shended smoothly on the ground.
She stood up straight, her posture steady.
At that moment, Gao Wen and Big Cat turned pale, their faces drained of color.
Both had seen people waking up from cryo-pods before.
Like Smith, who had just woken up. His body had needed time to regain coordination, bnce, and muscle strength. It was a slow and awkward process.
But this girl¡
She had just woken up, yet she was already so strong and nimble!
She didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary human at all!
¡°Help¡ help!¡± Seeing her glowing blue eyes piercing through the white mist, Big Cat panicked and shouted, ¡°Whoa, a ghost! Run!¡±
He iled his arms and bolted, yelling back at Lin Xian and Gao Wen, ¡°Run! Why are you standing there like idiots? Do you want to die¡ªAaaah!¡±
Just as Big Cat started running, he screamed again, this time like he¡¯d been hit.
Lin Xian turned to see what was happening.
A supervisor wearing a uniform had shown up. He had a gun on his waist and a steel whip in his hand. He stomped over, cursing loudly, ¡°What the hell are you screaming about?! You¡¯re always howling like a madman!¡±
¡°Aaah! Aaah! Aaah!¡± Big Cat¡¯s screams only got louder as the supervisor whipped him three more times, making him wail like a siren.
After finishing with Big Cat, the supervisor gritted his teeth and dragged the steel whip across the ground with a harsh screech, heading toward Lin Xian and Gao Wen.
Anyone could see that something was wrong with the cryo-pod over there, still shrouded in mist.
¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± the supervisor spat, raising his steel whip high and swinging it down hard.
And then¡
Thud.
A heavy sound filled the room.
The steel whip, as thick as a thumb, was caught mid-swing by a slender hand, holding it firmly in ce.
She caught the whip bare-handed?
The supervisor was stunned!
He barely had time to process what was happening. The girl yanked the whip hard, pulling both it and his hand into the mist. The supervisor stumbled forward, struggling to keep his bnce.
But he had been part of the Lynx Tribe for a long time, fighting against outsiders, and hisbat instincts kicked in immediately.
He released the whip, steadied himself, and reached for the pistol on his waist with his right hand.
But just then, the blue-eyed girl burst out of the mist. She quickly scanned her surroundings and spotted the side panel of the cryo-pod, which was still intact and had an aluminum alloy namete attached to it.
Rectangr, t, sharp, and sturdy.
She pressed her hands against the cryo-pod and pulled with all her strength¡ª
Riiiiip!
A gut-wrenching sound of metal tearing filled the air!
The sharp aluminum alloy namete was ripped off with force and now rested in the blue-eyed girl¡¯s hand!
That once cold, elegant namete had transformed into something menacing, like a sword or the scythe of the Grim Reaper.
The twisted, cold light from the overheadmp reflected off the de-like namete, and as it gleamed, it was as if the girl¡¯s crystal-blue eyes were piercing through the darkness. She swung it, and a chilling crescent of light cut through the air!
The supervisor, who had just lifted his gun, didn¡¯t even have time to react.
His eyes widened in shock, unable to understand what had happened because he couldn¡¯t even see it clearly.
All he felt was a strange sensation, as if he was suddenly growing taller, his perspective shifting upward, the world tilting around him, and his senses slipping away.
Oh, it dawned on him¡
His head had been severed,pletely cut off from his body. The force of his heart still pumping sent blood spurting from his neck, propelling his head into the air.
Spinning.
Falling.
Thud.
With a muffled sound, the supervisor¡¯s bloodied head hit the ground, rolling a few times beforeing to a stop at Lin Xian and Gao Wen¡¯s feet.
Gao Wen¡¯s face went deathly pale due to not being ustomed to this, but Lin Xian stood firm, unflinching.
The blue-eyed girl, still holding the bloodstained namete, surveyed her surroundings. Her steps echoed lightly on the floor as she walked toward Lin Xian.
¡°Where is this ce?¡± Her crystal-blue eyes bore into Lin Xian: ¡°And who am I?¡±
Boom!!
Boom!!
Boom!!
At exactly 12:42 a.m., the white light arrived, just as expected, burning everything in its path.
¡
¡
In the corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian shot open his eyes.
Chapter 390: Yan Qiao Qiao and Lin Yu Xi
Lin Xian sat up in his bed and nced at the digital clock on his nightstand. It read 12:42 AM. The two blinking dots on the clock reminded him of a pair of striking blue eyes he couldn¡¯t get out of his mind.
¡°Who would¡¯ve thought,¡± he muttered to himself, ¡°that I¡¯d barely escape from those two blue-eyed girls in reality, only to meet them again in my dreams.¡±
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao¡¡± he whispered her name with a small, helpless chuckle. ¡°You really are something, aren¡¯t you? Digging up some random underground hibernation base, and there you are.¡±
He scratched his messy hair, slid into his slippers, and walked over to his desk. He took a sip from his water cup, thinking back to the events that led him to this moment. The manuscript for the Micro Nuclear Battery he had shown to Director Gao Yan and Nangong Meng Jie, and the opening of Rhine Lab¡¯s secondb in Donghai City, had shifted the dream world slightly along the worldline curve on the time-space clock to 0.0000084¡ªwhat he called the Sixth Dream.
The Sixth Dream felt a bit different from the Fifth, but not by much. That¡¯s why the time-space curvature only changed by 0.0000042, the smallest possible increment.
¡°So, the difference is minimal,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°The worldlines of the Fifth and Sixth Dreams are almost the same.¡±
This wasn¡¯t hard to understand.
In the past, whenever the dream world changed, everything usually reset:From the First Dream to the Second Dream, global technology regressed, and new walled cities emerged.
From the Second Dream to the Third, technology advanced, but living conditions worsened, leading to the rise of Sky City and further deterioration on Earth.
From the Third Dream to the Fourth, there were still many mysteries, but at least the changes were drasticpared to the Third Dream.
From the Fourth Dream to the Fifth, the shift wasn¡¯t about technological advances but a change in humanity¡¯s focus and direction.
Compared to those, the Fifth and Sixth Dreams had the same broader context:
The Earth Catastrophe of 2400, Elon Musk¡¯s Mars development and colonization, humanity¡¯s recovery after a hundred years¡ªall of it stayed the same.
¡°The main difference was the early release of the micro nuclear battery, which helped many who wouldn¡¯t have survived until 2624 escape the 2400 Earth Catastrophe and be the lucky ones to survive the mass extinction.¡±
¡°Among them were Gao Wen, the so-called time-traveling girl Yan Qiao Qiao, and Turing.¡±
In the original future of the Fifth Dream, Academician Gao Wen barely announced his ambitions before dying¡ªeither at the hands of the Genius Club or in the 2400 catastrophe. He never even had the chance to open his safety deposit box. But with the invention of the micro nuclear battery, there was a huge upgrade in hibernation chambers; they no longer needed an external power source.
Both Gao Wen and Yan Qiao Qiao, who called herself a time traveler, got lucky. Their hibernation chambers survived the 2400 disaster, allowing them to meet their dreaming selves in 2624.
And then there was Turing, the digital lifeform. If anyone should be grateful for the micro nuclear battery, it¡¯s him. Without it, he would¡¯ve had a tough time surviving in such a backward era of technology.
Without electricity and the inte, even a powerful digital lifeform like Turing would be useless. In an advanced era, digital life had almost no limits, but in a primitive era like the Sixth Dream, it was severely downgraded. A digital being couldn¡¯t even make the smallest impact¡ When thest hard drive on Earth crumbled, Turing would vanish, lost in a world where even a cry of despair couldn¡¯t be heard.
¡°Turing, it¡¯s time to repay your debts,¡± Lin Xian muttered, picking up his pen.
On a nk sheet of paper, he started jotting down the four possibilities he had thought of earlier in his dream.
He hadn¡¯t finished analyzing these options in his dream; something had interrupted him. Now, he had all the time to figure out the most urate answer:
¡°Option A can be eliminated first.¡±
Lin Xian drew a red ¡®X¡¯ over Option A. It didn¡¯t make sense that every encounter he had was pure luck. He knew Yan Qiao Qiao personally, and he had dealt with both the real and fake Yu Xi. The girl in his dream, with her skilled beheading technique, was just like Lin Yu Xi.
The way she held the knife backward, the sweeping arc, the blood spraying¡ªall of it was like a brutal art form.
Such simr details¡ªhow could they not be rted to Lin Yu Xi?
¡°Option B can also be crossed out.¡±
He drew another red ¡®X.¡¯
He had already analyzed that time travel to a fixed point in the past using the Time Machine and space-time particles was feasible. However, traveling to an undefined, ever-changing future seemed unlikely.
Besides, Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s age was an issue.
In 2024, Yan Qiao Qiao was fourteen, while the girl in his dream was around seventeen or eighteen.
The age difference was just three or four years.
This meant Yan Qiao Qiao would have had to undergo hibernation, time travel, gic enhancement, and intense physical training¡ªall within three or four years¡ªto the point where she could tear open a hibernation chamber and decapitate someone with a piece of metal.
¡°Not realistic,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head. ¡°You can¡¯t achieve so much in just three or four years. Even with the most intense training, Yan Qiao Qiao wouldn¡¯t be that skilled. Plus, gic modification wouldn¡¯t work at her age.¡±
He turned to Option C.
¡°This one can¡¯t be ruled out yet. Too many unknowns. Mainly because¡ I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll survive the assassination on July 7th.¡±
¡°If Lin Yu Xi is alive in this world, she wouldn¡¯t stop hunting me. That¡¯s her mission from across time, and she¡¯ll see it through.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a battle to the death. If I¡¯m alive, it means she failed or died. If I¡¯m dead, it means she seeded and lived.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s put this option aside for now. Once I find Turing in the Sixth Dream, I can ask him about my fate in history to see if this is right.¡±
He skipped Option C and looked at Option D.
This was the wildest option, with too many gaps in logic.
If Lin Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao were the same person, why wouldn¡¯t Yan Qiao Qiao just kill him?
In the Sixth Dream, if Lin Yu Xi didn¡¯t kill him, it could be exined by memory loss from hibernation.
But what about Yan Qiao Qiao in 2024?
Did she also lose her memory?
Suddenly, Lin Xian sat up straight, a chill running through him.
¡°It seems¡ if she did lose her memory, then a lot of things would make sense!¡±
He closed his eyes and began sorting his thoughts.
Back then, both he and Elon Musk believed that after destroying the entangled space-time particles, Lin Yu Xi couldn¡¯t remain unharmed! She must have suffered some damage, some punishment.
They both thought Lin Yu Xi had disintegrated into blue star dust.
But what if¡
What if she didn¡¯t disappear?
If she didn¡¯t disappear, then what kind of punishment did she face, and what changes happened to her?
His thoughts became clearer. He felt like he was onto something important.
Now, let¡¯s boldly specte based on this line of thinking¡
Memory loss, the rejection of the time-space effect disappearing, bing weaker, the blue light in her pupils fading to ck.
Could it be like this?
¡°Possibly,¡± Lin Xian opened his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s possible, but there¡¯s no concrete proof.¡±
¡°But the question is¡ if Lin Yu Xi really turned into Yan Qiao Qiao because of the destroyed space-time particles, what event caused her to turn back into Lin Yu Xi?¡±
¡°So, following this reasoning, Yan Qiao Qiao might revert to Lin Yu Xi before July 7th, allowing her to kill me andplete the historical loop.¡±
¡°But the problem is, how do we prove that Lin Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao are the same person? Where do we start to verify or dismiss this wild idea?¡±
Lin Xian twirled a red pen between his fingers.
If only he had a strand of Lin Yu Xi¡¯s hair or her DNA¡
Then he couldpare it with Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s DNA.
DNA doesn¡¯t lie. If the DNA matches, there¡¯s no doubt that Lin Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao are the same person.
He remembered doing a DNA test with the fake Yu Xi a while back because he suspected Yu Xi was Yellow Finch¡¯s daughter.
¡°Anyway, it¡¯s worth a try. It won¡¯t take much effort.¡±
He flipped the sheet of paper over and wrote down his immediate goals for both reality and the dream world:
Get strands of hair from Yan Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying Jun at Disnend.
Find Turing in the dream and ask about his cause of death, the truth of the 2400 Super Disaster, and trick Turing into revealing a method to destroy him in 2024.
Destroy Turing in 2024 to show the Genius Club ¡°the greatest possible historical correction¡± and pass the second exam.
If Yan Qiao Qiao is Lin Yu Xi, quickly figure out how she will turn back into Lin Yu Xi and avoid getting killed on July 7th.
¡
Lin Xian capped his pen and looked at the four goals listed on the paper.
The first three were straightforward and could be tackled step-by-step.
But the fourth goal¡
He thought of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s cute face, then Lin Yu Xi¡¯s cold, hate-filled eyes.
It was hard to believe these two girls were the same person.
He admitted it. He liked Yan Qiao Qiao. Not just because she was cute or fun, but because he genuinely felt a connection to her.
When Zhao Ying Jun asked him to look after Yan Qiao Qiao for a few days, he agreed without hesitation.
Even if it dyed his progress in the dream world¡ Lin Xian didn¡¯t refuse.
So, if the worst-case scenario happened¡ª
If Yan Qiao Qiao was actually Lin Yu Xi, and she was set to kill him on July 7th¡
What would he do?
Lin Xian¡¯s mind went nk.
Especially when he considered an even worse possibility¡ª
What if¡ Lin Yu Xi really was, as I spected before, my and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s biological daughter¡ How would I handle that?
¡°Ugh¡¡± Lin Xian groaned, scratching his head.
It was a tough decision.
If she really was his daughter, he couldn¡¯t harm her. Even a tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs.
But what about Lin Yu Xi¡¯s perspective?
She had no feelings for him; she saw him as a historical criminal, determined to bring him to justice ¡°for peace and righteousness,¡± even if he were her father.
She had been brainwashed too deeply. She wouldn¡¯t listen to him.
¡°Forget it, forget it,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no point thinking so far ahead. Once I figure out the connection between Lin Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao, I¡¯ll decide. Otherwise¡ it¡¯s just spection without proof.¡±
¡°Luckily, I still have some time before July 7th to figure out the truth and prepare.¡±
¡°The priority now is to keep exploring the dream world; most of the clues and answers depend on the progress in the dream.¡±
¡°But¡ it¡¯s not all bad news.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly.
He thought about the girl in the hibernation chamber, fighting like a warrior with no memories, no hatred¡
If he could recruit her into his team with Big Cat and Gao Wen¡ they¡¯d be unstoppable.
Lin Xian looked up at the desk calendar. The page was open to July, with a red circle around the 7th, marking his predicted death date.
He flipped back a page. June 1st was marked as International Children¡¯s Day¡ªalso the day he had promised to take Yan Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying Jun to Disnend.
¡°I also promised to buy Yan Qiao Qiao a gift,¡± he thought.
He looked down at his watch. It was now 1:11 AM on May 31st. Tomorrow was Children¡¯s Day, and he needed to get into the dream early for exploration, so the only time to pick a gift for Yan Qiao Qiao waster that morning.
¡°Alright,¡± he said, getting up from his chair, ready to go to bed early and wake up early. ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll visit Donghai University¡¯sb to see Liu Feng, then swing by the mall to get Yan Qiao Qiao a Children¡¯s Day gift. After that¡ back home to rest and dive into the Sixth Dream.¡±
Another busy day awaited him.
Lin Xian switched off the deskmp andy back in bed.
That night, he slept dreamlessly.
¡
The next morning, at the Rhine Joint Lab at Donghai University, Lin Xian toyed with the time-space clock in his hand and asked Liu Feng, ¡°About what we discussed earlier: you mentioned those depleted space-time particles could be recharged. How exactly can that be done? Any progress?¡±
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°Not a single lead yet. But over the past few days, I¡¯ve ruled out several earlier theories.¡±
¡°I previously thought the particles might recharge by drawing power from changes in space-time curvature or worldline shifts.¡±
¡°If that were true, then as long as the curvature changed enough, the particles would recharge to their original levels.¡±
¡°But unfortunately, I¡¯ve been checking every day, and despite the clock reading jumping from 0.0000042 to 0.0000084, the particles¡¯ energy hasn¡¯t changed. This disproves my theory.¡±
Liu Feng adjusted his sses. ¡°I also considered that they might slowly recharge on their own¡ but no change there, either.¡±
¡°Now, I¡¯m stumped. What could recharge these particles?¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°It¡¯splicated stuff; I didn¡¯t expect to solve it quickly anyway.¡±
He told Liu Feng about the deal with the Science Academy to send arge team to Donghai, using Rhine Lab¡¯s resources to research the Micro Nuclear Battery.
¡°Micro nuclear batteries could revolutionize the world,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Once they¡¯re developed, they could change many industries.¡±
¡°A lot of progress is held back by battery technology, and after so many years, battery advancements have stalled.¡±
¡°I believe this will change soon, and I¡¯m excited to see the world transform once these micro nuclear batteries bemon.¡±
¡°The head of Rhine Lab¡¯s second branch is Nangong Meng Jie, Director Gao Yan¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦. She¡¯s not even thirty but already a leading figure in nuclear energy.¡±
Hearing her name, Liu Feng looked surprised. ¡°Oh¡ Nangong Meng Jie.¡±
Lin Xian tilted his head. ¡°You know her?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard of her. She¡¯s well-known in academia,¡± Liu Feng said. ¡°She went to the National University of Defense Technology for college, right? She was a standout and got pre-selected by the Science Academy.¡±
¡°When she reported to the university, two elderly soldiers escorted her. It was all over the news¡ You didn¡¯t hear about it?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I never paid attention to that. I only found out when you mentioned it.¡±
¡°Since you know her, maybe when shees to Donghai, I could set up a meeting.¡±
¡°No, no, no.¡± Liu Feng waved his hand. ¡°Thanks, Lin Xian, but I only want to focus on my research and fulfilling Qi Qi¡¯sst wish. My heart belongs only to Qi Qi. In life or death, she¡¯s my chosen wife.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°What are you thinking? I just meant to meet her for research coboration.¡±
¡°You alwaysin about being short-staffed. If her interns are good, they could help.¡±
Liu Feng didn¡¯t seem interested. He took a sip of water and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°If I need something, I¡¯ll let you know. But let¡¯s skip the meetup.¡±
Lin Xian leaned back, crossing his legs. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so loyal, but you can¡¯t stay single forever.¡±
¡°What¡¯s wrong with staying single?¡± Liu Feng shrugged. ¡°I grew up an orphan; I don¡¯t need to carry on a family name. I¡¯d rather focus on math research.¡±
¡°Oh, right, about Nangong Meng Jie.¡± Liu Feng turned to the ckboard, where he¡¯d written an arithmetic sequence of women¡¯s names by age.
He studied them, then frowned. ¡°There¡¯s no space left for Nangong Meng Jie.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Could you drop your arithmetic sequence already?¡±
¡°But you met a new woman,¡± Liu Feng insisted. ¡°An arithmetic sequence is absolute.¡±
He pointed out the age gaps between Chu An Qing and Su Su were too small, while the gaps at either end were too big.
¡°This won¡¯t do,¡± he said, erasing Yellow Finch¡¯s name and rewriting it further right.
He added ¡°Nangong Meng Jie¡± between Su Su and Yellow Finch.
Liu Feng patted the ckboard, proud of his work. ¡°See? Now it¡¯s aplete sequence!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°What kind of math is that? That¡¯s just superstition!¡±
¡°But if you¡¯re so strict¡ where¡¯s the gap for a ¡®seventeen or eighteen-year-old¡¯ girl?¡±
As he spoke, he remembered the blue-eyed girl in the Sixth Dream.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Liu Feng noticed Lin Xian had gone quiet. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±
¡°Nothing,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°You obviously have something to say!¡± Liu Feng pressed on.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Maybe your arithmetic sequence has some merit.¡±
Liu Feng hummed proudly. ¡°See? Trust science. No need to introduce me to Nangong Meng Jie; the sequence predicts her arrival.¡±
¡°As for the earlier part of the sequence¡ that¡¯s because Chu An Qing isn¡¯t here anymore.¡±
He picked up the eraser, but Lin Xian stopped him.
¡°Don¡¯t erase Chu An Qing¡¯s name,¡± Lin Xian said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m going to find her.¡±
Liu Feng paused, then chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s why I said you¡¯re charming, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Even without a rtionship, you¡¯re likable. People are willing to follow you, risk everything with you.¡±
He looked at Chu An Qing¡¯s name. ¡°I always thought you two were a good match.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer and looked at the spot with Nangong Meng Jie¡¯s name.
¡°You guessed wrong,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s someone else like Chu An Qing.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Liu Feng blinked. ¡°Someone else like her?¡±
¡°Pretty much,¡± Lin Xian thought about Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°She did something like that too.¡±
Liu Feng turned around, twirling chalk. ¡°Did she die too?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s still alive.¡±
¡°Then what are you waiting for?¡± Liu Feng asked. ¡°She risked everything; why aren¡¯t you with her?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Does dating repay a debt?¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Liu Feng replied. ¡°Rtionships are simple. If someone treats you well, it¡¯s because they like you. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡±
¡°So, why hesitate? What¡¯s there to be unsure about?¡±
Liu Feng pointed at Lin Xian. ¡°You asked if dating could repay a debt, right?¡±
¡°We don¡¯t know. But it¡¯s better than doing nothing.¡±
¡
Lin Xian looked at Liu Feng¡¯s finger, reminded of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s blunt advice.
Yeah.
Maybe he had been too hesitant.
Even if it wasn¡¯t about confessing directly¡ doing nothing wasn¡¯t an option.
He nced at his watch. It was 9:30 AM; most malls were open.
He stood up, ready to leave.
¡°Where are you going?¡± Liu Feng asked.
¡°To buy a gift,¡± Lin Xian said softly.
Liu Feng smiled. ¡°For that woman?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°And her kid.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait¡ª¡±
Before he could react, Lin Xian had already left.
Liu Feng scratched his head.
Had he said too much?
A kid too?
A divorced mom with a child!?
Chapter 391: The Plan to Strike Back
11:00 AM.
Lin Xian walked into his house, holding two small gift bags. They were for Yan Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying Jun for Children¡¯s Day. Giving a Children¡¯s Day gift to someone Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s age was a bit odd, but it was really just an excuse to give Yan Qiao Qiao a gift. Since he was doing that, he figured he might as well get one for Zhao Ying Jun too.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s rtionship wasplicated. Zhao Ying Jun felt like she owed Lin Xian a lot and was very grateful to him. But from Lin Xian¡¯s point of view, he felt like he owed her just as much. They both felt indebted to each other, making it hard to say who really owed whom more.
After a quick lunch, Lin Xian nced at the clock in the living room: 11:47. It was time to get ready for bed. The sooner he fell asleep, the sooner he could get things done. Tomorrow was Children¡¯s Day, and he nned to spend it at Disnend with Yan Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying Jun. He wouldn¡¯t have time to explore his dream world then, so he had to make the most of today.
¡°There are 37 days left until July 7th,¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°The sooner I clear the dream world and solve the Genius Club¡¯s puzzles¡ maybe I can avoid the decapitation crisis.¡±
After freshening up, Lin Xiany down on his bed and drifted off to sleep.
¡°Ah-ow!¡±
A loud cry echoed in the hot summer air as Big Cat Face got whipped. The midday sun on August 28, 2624, beat down, making every dark-skinned ve sweat, their skin shiny like boiled eggs.Lin Xian had gathered Big Cat Face and Gao Wen in a hidden corner, away from the supervisors, to exin his n.
¡°I get it now,¡± Gao Wen said. ¡°You¡¯re saying that if we want to get my ¡®Memory Notebook¡¯ back, we can¡¯t do it alone. Even with the help of that blue-eyed girl you call ¡®The Terminator,¡¯ the Lynx Tribe has too many guns. A direct fight would be suicide. Even she can¡¯t handle that much firepower.¡±
¡°So, the best n is to use her strength to break out of the Lynx Tribe¡¯s control first. Then we head to the Grizzly Tribe to find the Turing Machine, negotiate with it, and form an alliance. Finally, wee back, destroy the Lynx Tribe, and take back my ¡®Memory Notebook.''¡±
Lin Xian nodded and gave Gao Wen a thumbs-up. ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s perfect. Saves us a lot of time exining.¡±
He then turned to Big Cat Face. ¡°Brother Cat, got any questions?¡±
Big Cat Face shook his head, his big cheeks jiggling. ¡°I can¡¯t remember all that; most of it went in one ear and out the other. But when I heard we¡¯re going back for revenge, that¡¯s all I needed to know! I¡¯ve been drifting around, waiting for a chance to get back at the people who hurt my family and friends! Now that the chance is here, I¡¯m all in!¡±
With a yful grin, Big Cat Face raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°So, I suggest we call this the ¡®Breakout, Visit Turing, Then Strike Back n!''¡±
¡°No problem.¡± Lin Xian patted Big Cat Face on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s why we need straightforward and honest people like you.¡±
The three of them then hashed out the details of the n. Over the past three years, Gao Wen had observed everything around him and learned all he could. He had memorized the patrol patterns at the excavation site: ¡°Every day around 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, a foreman drives an armored car around the site. That¡¯s our only chance to get close to a vehicle.¡±
¡°If we can hijack that car, we can drive up the slope and escape. The site is far from the Lynx Tribe¡¯s main camp, so they won¡¯t have time to send reinforcements. By the time they arrive, we¡¯ll be long gone.¡±
¡°But the problem is¡ that armored car is really tough, with thick steel tes. We can¡¯t damage it with what we have. I don¡¯t know how we¡¯re supposed to hijack it.¡±
Lin Xian noted the 4:00 PM time slot in his mind. There was enough time. The blue-eyed girl in the hibernation pod would wake up and regain her strength much faster than a normal human, thanks to her enhancements.
It was only a little past 1:00 PM. If they started digging to uncover the underground hibernation base right away, reported it to the supervisors, and woke the girl, everything would be ready in time.
¡°Well then,¡± Lin Xian looked up, scanning the faces around him. ¡°The ¡®Breakout, Visit Turing, Then Strike Back n¡¯¡ starts now!¡±
The three grabbed shovels and ran to the northeast part of the excavation site. Lin Xian remembered where the entrance to the underground hibernation base was, and with the three of them digging, it didn¡¯t take long before a spark flew from their shovels¡ªthey hit something!
Big Cat Face rolled away, shouting, ¡°We found it! We found it! Everyone,e look! We¡¯ve unearthed a treasure!¡±
More ves gathered around, hoping they¡¯d found the undergroundputer room of the Turing Machine. They believed that if the Lynx Tribe acquired the Turing Machine, they would be freed. But things didn¡¯t go as they hoped. What they had uncovered was the underground hibernation base, which left the crowd disappointed.
Only Lin Xian, Big Cat Face, and Gao Wen rubbed their hands together, excited and ready for action. What happened next went smoothly since it was their second time rehearsing. The three entered the base and headed straight for the blue-eyed girl¡¯s hibernation pod. Big Cat Face quickly activated the forced awakening program, noting the time on the disy. ¡°It¡¯ll take about an hour for her to fully wake up. Are you sure we¡¯re taking this girl with us? She looks pretty weak, with those skinny arms and legs.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her. We may not know her true identity yet, but she¡¯s likely the time-space assassin I once knew¡ It¡¯s good she lost her memory during hibernation; otherwise, the first thing she¡¯d do when she woke up would be to chop off my head.¡±
¡°We need her fighting skills, but first, we have to convince her to join us.¡±
Big Cat Face listened, letting most of Lin Xian¡¯s words go in one ear and out the other, focusing only on thest part. ¡°How are we going to convince her?¡±
¡°When that unlucky guy woke up, I didn¡¯t exin much. I just dragged him to dig. At the time, his mind was nk, so he mechanically followed along¡ Eventually, he epted reality.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s how amnesia works. I¡¯ve read about it. People who lose their memories tend to reject everything around them at first. They distrust everything and deny everything.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a natural form of self-protection, meaning the more you tell her something, the less she¡¯ll believe it; the more you tell her what¡¯s right, the more she¡¯ll resist.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s brain couldn¡¯t process it all. He threw up his hands. ¡°So what do we do? Do we exin things backward?¡±
Nearby, Gao Wen, the analytical type, carefully processed Lin Xian¡¯s words, his mind gradually clearing up the logic. ¡°Hmm¡ When I woke up from hibernation, my mind was nk, with no basic sense of right and wrong. I stood there, confused, not knowing what to do. But when I saw everyone else digging, I thought I should dig too. So, I started digging, and eventually, I epted it¡ My purpose in life became digging.¡±
¡°Of course, I eventually figured things out, but that was after a while. In those first few days after waking up, my mind wasn¡¯t thinking much at all; I just followed what everyone else was doing. This is a strange psychological effect¡ How can I summarize it? It¡¯s¡¡±
¡°¡®The Herd Effect,''¡± Lin Xian provided the term. ¡°It¡¯s when people doubt themselves and change their opinions, judgments, and behaviors to fit in with others. Most people can¡¯t keep their independence. Herd mentality is a self-protection instinct¡ If others are doing something, doing the same thing usually isn¡¯t wrong.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re walking down the street and everyone¡¯s looking up at the sky, you¡¯ll probably look up too. If you¡¯re somewhere and everyone¡¯s holding their noses saying it stinks, you¡¯re likely to think it smells bad too¡ even if you don¡¯t smell anything.¡±
¡°¡®The less information people have, the more they blindly follow others. This is particrly useful for amnesiacs waking from hibernation. Without any clear direction, they can be guided to ept what¡¯s around them.¡¯¡±
As Lin Xian and Gao Wen continued their discussion, Big Cat Face felt his head start to spin. ¡°Stop, stop, stop!!¡± He quickly motioned them to quiet down. ¡°Just say it in innguage. Don¡¯t talk about so much theory; just tell me what I need to do.¡±
Lin Xian pointed to a spot behind them and instructed, ¡°When she wakes up, you don¡¯t have to do anything. Just cross your arms, put on an annoyed face like it¡¯s the most natural thing in the world, and stand behind me. Make sure not to say a word¡ªjust keep that annoyed expression.¡±
¡°When she kicks the reinforced ss out, don¡¯t scream or panic. Stay calm and show authority¡ Don¡¯t scream, okay? I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll mess up this performance.¡±
¡°Bah!¡± Big Cat Face spat on the ground. ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re talking to? I won¡¯t scream like a kid! I¡¯ll show you how tough I can be!¡±
Finally, Lin Xian checked the n again with Gao Wen. The core idea was simple: don¡¯t exin too much to the blue-eyed girl when she wakes up. While she¡¯s in a state of amnesia, her mind nk, and unable to process much, the key is to bombard her with rapid information and act like it¡¯s all normal, triggering the herd effect. No need toplicate things that could be kept simple.
He nced at his watch. Yan Qiao Qiao should be waking up soon. In a few minutes, she¡¯d kick open the hibernation pod, so the three of them had to quickly get into character. Lin Xian waved his hand, and they took their positions in front of the blue-eyed girl¡¯s hibernation pod, with Lin Xian at the front and the other two behind, arms crossed, wearing stern expressions.
A long moment passed. The girl in the hibernation pod opened her eyes. She took a deep breath, feeling her lungs fill like never before. Her vision gradually cleared, and her hearing sharpened. She turned her head. Through the ss cover, she saw three figures standing still outside, silent.
Who are they? What are they doing? Who am I?
She tried to move but couldn¡¯t control her limbs. This ce felt so stifling. She wanted to get out.
Suddenly, a disy above her showed symbols, and a voice speaking anguage she could understand followed: ¡°Please move your eyes and look at this symbol.¡± She followed the instructions. ¡°Now, stretch your right leg as hard as you can.¡±
Boom!!!
A massive explosion sound erupted. The reinforced ss shattered, spreading cracks everywhere. The ss cover fell apart like a torn fabric, mmed into the ceiling, and crashed to the ground.
The girl didn¡¯t know where she was or who she was. But this hibernation pod felt ufortable, so she grabbed the edge of the broken cover and flipped herself out,nding barefoot on the ground. Amid the mist, she saw three tall figures standing still!
Even with all the noise, they hadn¡¯t moved an inch, looking serious! This made her nervous. She took a step back, unsure who they were, ready to ask¡ª
¡°Level Three Agent, Yan Qiao Qiao,¡± said the tall man in front with a deep, powerful voice. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you. Fall in and get ready for the mission!¡±
The girl¡¯s mind raced to process his words: ¡°I am¡ Yan Qiao Qiao? Level Three Agent? Mission¡ What mission?¡±
Before she could ask, the three men turned around and walked away. The mist swirled as they moved, and in a blink, they were several meters away.
¡°Hey!¡± she called, running after them. As she ran, her foot hit a locker with a namete: Yan Qiao Qiao. She blinked, realizing her name really was Yan Qiao Qiao!
¡°Wait¡ wait for me!¡±
The blue-eyed girl didn¡¯t care about much else. Even though she¡¯d lost her memory, she knew these three men knew who she was. And they were on some kind of mission.
What was it? What was she supposed to do? Why was her mind so nk? She needed answers!
She moved fast, like a cheetah, catching up to them. But then, from the door where sunlight streamed in, a man in a foreman¡¯s uniform, dragging a steel whip, walked in. Swinging his whip, he looked fierce.
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao!¡± the leading young man shouted.
¡°Here¡ here, sir!¡± the girl instinctively stood straight.
She didn¡¯t know why, but her body reacted before her mind. She focused on the young man with ck hair, who slowly turned his head. He called her a Level Three Agent¡ which meant he must be her superior?
What order would he give? Facing the sunlight, the young man with ck hair spoke, his eyes half-closed: ¡°Take him down.¡±
The blue-eyed girl stepped forward, grabbed the steel whip, and ripped off a metal namete from a nearby hibernation pod. In one swift move, the foreman¡¯s head flew off, rolling to a stop at Big Cat Face¡¯s feet. He almost wanted to scream, but remembering Lin Xian¡¯s instructions, he held it in.
The blue-eyed girl shook off the blood and looked at the young man. But he ignored her, walked past, and picked up a handgun from the headless foreman. He checked it, loaded it, and continued walking toward the sunlight.
¡°Wait¡ wait a minute!¡± the blue-eyed girl called, still confused.
Gao Wen raised a hand to stop her. ¡°This is Commander Lin Xian,¡± he said in a low voice.
Big Cat Face pointed to himself. ¡°I¡¯m Vice Commander Big Cat.¡±
Gao Wen nudged Big Cat Face to keep quiet. The blue-eyed girl looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Commander Lin Xian, what is my mission?¡±
Lin Xian handed her a knife, nced at his watch, and said, ¡°Follow me.¡±
Lin Xian, walking ahead of the group, breathed a sigh of relief. It worked. Using the girl¡¯s memory loss and confusion, bombarding her with information, and acting like it was normal had worked. This was the herd mentality.
Seeing the three of them knowing everything and acting together made her feel she had to join them. Eight hours would be enough. ¡°See that car?¡± Lin Xian pointed at an armored car driving down a slope. ¡°That¡¯s our target.¡±
The girl nodded. ¡°Got it, Commander Lin Xian. What do I need to do?¡±
Lin Xian raised his handgun. ¡°Big Cat Face will distract them to make them stop. You rip open the door and take down the people inside as fast as possible. I¡¯ll cover you. After that, we¡¯ll take the armored car to the next destination.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± she replied.
Big Cat Face pretended to ck off on the road. The armored car screeched to a stop. Just as the foremen inside were about to curse¡ª
Screech!
The steel door was ripped off by hand! The two foremen were stunned, not having time to react¡ª
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots sent them to the afterlife. Smoke rose from Lin Xian¡¯s handgun as Big Cat Face, Gao Wen, and the girl looked shocked. It was fast and precise!
Lin Xian ordered, ¡°Drag them out and collect their weapons.¡± The girl quickly pulled the dead foremen out, and Gao Wen and Big Cat Face grabbed their guns and knives before jumping into the car.
Since only Lin Xian knew how to drive, he took the driver¡¯s seat, while Gao Wen and the girl squeezed into the back, and Big Cat Face, bulky as he was, sat in the front.
¡°Oh no! There¡¯s no door on my side!¡± Big Cat Face whined.
¡°Buckle up,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°There¡¯s no seatbelt!¡± Big Cat Faceined.
Lin Xian quickly started the electric car. It was nuclear-powered, with no internalbustion engine. The Lynx Tribe couldn¡¯t have made it; it must have been a war trophy.
¡°Lin Xian! They¡¯re surrounding us up ahead!¡± Gao Wen warned.
Lin Xian sped up, avoiding gunfire. Up ahead, another armored car blocked their path.
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao!¡± Lin Xian shouted.
¡°Understood!¡± She jumped out, sprinting toward the car. Lin Xian aimed and cleared the way for her.
The girl ripped off the car door and used it as a shield. ¡°Gao Wen, give me the gun!¡± Lin Xian shouted. He tossed his empty gun and grabbed another from Gao Wen, then made a sharp drift¡ª
¡°Shit!¡± Big Cat Face shouted, flying out of the seat.
Lin Xian fired four bullets at the enemy car as it passed, hitting their driver and sending the car into a pit. Lin Xian turned the wheel toward Big Cat Face and waved at the girl, ¡°Save Big Cat Face! Get back in the car quickly!¡±
The girl moved like lightning, grabbed Big Cat Face, and threw him back into the passenger seat. She climbed back into the car, and they sped off, leaving the Lynx Tribe¡¯s territory behind.
¡°Woo-hoo!¡± Big Cat Face shouted, high-fiving everyone. ¡°We¡¯re really something!¡±
¡°Where are we heading next?¡± Big Cat Face asked.
p! Gao Wen smacked him. ¡°Show some respect! Call him Commander Lin Xian!¡±
¡°We¡¯re heading to the Grizzly Tribe,¡± Lin Xian said, stepping on the gas, eyes set on the north. ¡°The second step of our n. It¡¯s time to meet my old friend¡ Turing.¡±
Chapter 392: The Real Culprit of July 7
The Grizzly Tribe lies directly north of the Lynx Tribe, but inside the armored car, none of them knows exactly where that is or how far away it might be. Lin Xian is new here, and the blue-eyed girl had only woken up about an hour ago. So it¡¯s just Big Cat Face and Gao Wen who overheard, while digging in a pit, that the Grizzly Tribe is somewhere north of the Lynx Tribe. Beyond that, they don¡¯t have much to go on.
¡°We should¡¯ve kept a hostage,¡± Lin Xian muttered, his eyes scanning the vast, empty wilderness stretching out in front of them. Regret was evident in his voice. ¡°Now, without a map, road signs, or even a highway, just knowing it¡¯s ¡®north¡¯ isn¡¯t enough to help us find the Grizzly Tribe.¡±
¡°Earlier, we were too focused on taking out those supervisors and foremen. We should¡¯ve spared one,¡± Big Cat Face added, his tone filled with frustration. ¡°They¡¯ve fought with the Grizzly Tribe many times and would definitely know the exact location.¡±
It was a hard lesson to learn¡ªin both battles and life, experience is key. Why were they so quick to kill? In a strange ce like this, a hostage would have been far more valuable than any other asset. Lin Xian¡¯s inexperience in apocalypticbat had made him overlook the importance of keeping someone alive who could provide critical information.
With no other option now, they¡¯d have to figure things out another way.
Lin Xian turned to Gao Wen, who was sitting in the back of the armored vehicle with the blue-eyed girl. ¡°Your memory is better than Big Cat Face¡¯s, and you usually pick up on more details. Other than ¡®the Grizzly Tribe is directly north of the Lynx Tribe,¡¯ do you know anything else about them? Just driving north aimlessly won¡¯t work ¡®North¡¯ is a broad direction. We could drive all night and still not find them. Tell us everything you know about the Grizzly Tribe. Maybe we can put the pieces together and figure out a way to find them.¡±
Gao Wen nodded thoughtfully and began to share what he knew:
¡°I overheard the supervisors and foremen talking. They mentioned that the Grizzly Tribe used to be a small tribe living off the mountains. They had originally settled at the foot of the mountains. But then arger tribe attacked them, forcing them to move. They relocated to their current spot, set up a base by a big river, and started farming and fishing to survive.¡±¡°But¡ the tribe that moved from the mountains didn¡¯t understand the dangers of living by the river. The river has a strong current and often floods, causing a lot of damage. The Grizzly Tribe suffered from this and faced several floods over the years.¡±
¡°Then, a few years ago, after years of erosion, part of the riverbank copsed. When they dug further down, they discovered an underground facility. Inside was aputer room that looked like it had been built hundreds of years ago. Everything inside was still in perfect condition, as if it was designed tost a long time. There was aputer in there that could talk and think like a human. They call it ¡®Turing.¡¯ The Lynx Tribe heard about Turing from their battles with the Grizzly Tribe, which made them want to dig up their own Turing.¡±
¡°Apparently, many tribes around the world have these Turingputers. The Porcupine Tribe to the east found one of these Turingputers a long time ago, which is why they¡¯re more advanced. But the Porcupine Tribe is mostly focused on fighting tribes further east, so they don¡¯t pay much attention to the Lynx and Grizzly Tribes.¡±
¡°As for the Grizzly Tribe, after they found the Turingputer, they started worshipping it like a god. Turing taught them how to build dikes, change the river¡¯s course, use water resources effectively, and purify water. Basically, Turing taught them a lot. After they mastered agriculture, they moved on to raising animals and then industry. Under Turing¡¯s guidance, the Grizzly Tribe advanced rapidly.¡±
Gao Wen paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle in. ¡°Things like pistols and armored vehicles¡ªthe Lynx Tribe stole those from the Grizzly Tribe. If it weren¡¯t for having ten times the poption of the Grizzly Tribe, the Lynx Tribe wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them in a fight.¡±
Lin Xian thought about this for a moment. ¡°So, considering that the Grizzly Tribe has a poption that¡¯s ten times smaller, the fact that they can hold their own against the Lynx Tribe really shows how advanced their technology is. Give them another two or three years, and they could probably wipe out the Lynx Tribe in one decisive move.¡±
Emperor Gao Wen truly lived up to his nickname, ¡°sharp ears.¡± Even as a veborer, he managed to eavesdrop like a spy and gather all sorts of information. Inparison¡
Lin Xian nced at Big Cat Face, his expression a mix of pity and disappointment.
Big Cat Face noticed the look right away and frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
¡°Why are you looking at me like that, Officer Lin Xian? What¡¯s going on?¡±
Lin Xian sighed softly, turned his attention back to the road, and continued driving. ¡°It¡¯s just surprising how different people can be. Brother Gao Wen has been digging on this construction site for three years, and he¡¯s practically figured out the political and military situations of several nearby tribes. Even the tribes¡¯ strategists probably don¡¯t know as much as he does.¡±
¡°Then look at you, Deputy Big Cat Face. You¡¯ve been digging for over ten years, and whenever I ask you anything, you always have no clue.¡±
¡°Why is it that even though you¡¯re all working in the same ce, there¡¯s such a huge gap between you?¡±
Big Cat Face snorted, clearly not pleased. ¡°Who wants to be like that unlucky guy, huh? Always eavesdropping on people¡ He¡¯s just lucky he¡¯s still alive.¡±
¡°My old buddy, Ah Zhuang, was just like him. Always liked to eavesdrop, and one day, he got beaten to death by a foreman. Then there was Er Zhuzi, always sneaking peeks at the foreman¡¯s wife, and he got chopped up and fed to the dogs. And San Pang too. When the foreman was punishing Er Zhuzi, San Pang suddenly said, ¡®I don¡¯t think that¡¯s right,¡¯ and he ended up getting fed to the dogs too.¡±
¡°So what does this mean? It means that the key to surviving on a digging site is to hear less, see less, and say less¡ Unless you want to die early, don¡¯t be so nosy.¡±
Listening to Big Cat Face¡¯s reasoning, Lin Xian took a moment to silently mourn for the three fallenrades, hoping they¡¯d find a better fate in the next world.
He then shifted his thoughts back to Gao Wen¡¯s revtions.
The Grizzly Tribe, once a tiny group that was bullied by everyone and even struggled with the rising river, had transformed into a superpower¡ªall because they unearthed a Turingputer.
It really goes to show that knowledge is power.
However, humans in the Sixth Dream are indeed warlike. It seems that any faction supported by a Turingputer is determined to fight to the bitter end.
No.
Lin Xian shook his head, rejecting that thought.
The violence and chaos in this world aren¡¯t caused by humans. The real culprits are the countless Turingputers stirring up trouble behind the scenes!
Lin Xian understood the true nature of the Turing machines¡ªhe¡¯d seen Kevin Walker¡¯s behavior firsthand. With personalities like theirs, internal conflicts and self-destruction were inevitable, just like the thousands of Turings on Earth in the Sixth Dream¡
None of them wanted to submit to another.
Each one believed the others were unnecessary.
They thought they had to eliminate all the other Turings to be the only one.
That¡¯s why wars raged in every corner of Earth today, and the people suffered.
¡°Old habits die hard,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
He continued to think about the location of the Grizzly Tribe.
Some key details from Gao Wen¡¯s ount stood out in his mind¡ª
[River, Flooding, Dike Breach, Riverbed Erosion, River Course Change].
River!
That was an important clue.
It suggested that the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s main base was likely located downstream of a river; a river with a strong current that often flooded and breached its banks.
Unlike man-made structures, natural features like mountains and rivers have existed on Earth for millions of years. A few hundred years is nothing to them; they might not change at all.
The Yellow River, the mother river of X Country, has been around for hundreds of thousands of years.
The Yangtze River, the longest river in X Country, has existed for over a hundred million years.
So, a river from the year 2624 would likely still exist in 2024.
This was the old site of Donghai.
So¡
Putting all these clues together, the river near the Grizzly Tribe was most likely¡ªThe Huangpu River!
The Huangpu River, thest tributary of the Yangtze River before it flows into the sea, had a fierce current and frequent flooding that matched Gao Wen¡¯s description.
Now that they understood the Grizzly Tribe was located by the Huangpu River, the geography became much clearer.
Lin Xian turned the steering wheel to the left, heading toward a hill about a hundred meters high.
¡°We¡¯ll go up the hill first and look for the Huangpu River. Once we find a river that matches the description, we can follow its course north. Eventually, we¡¯ll find the Grizzly Tribe.¡±
The n was now much clearer.
¡°Wow! Little brother, you¡¯re a genius!¡± Big Cat Face eximed, pping Lin Xian on the shoulder.
However, he instantly felt Gao Wen¡¯s wary gaze on him!
¡°Ahem¡¡± He coughed twice and awkwardly rubbed Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I mean, Officer Lin Xian, you¡¯re amazing!¡±
From their high vantage point, they quickly spotted the direction of the Huangpu River.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe at the scenery. In contrast, humans are just a tiny speckpared to the vastness of nature.
No matter how human civilization changes¡ªwhether it thrives or falls¡ªa few hundred or thousand years are just a blink of an eye for nature.
No matter how fiercely people fight onnd or in the sky, the Yellow River remains the Yellow River, the Yangtze River is still the Yangtze River, and the mountains stand strong, even if the people of Lingnan are no longer seen.
Sometimes, when you think about it, it really makes you wonder¡
¡°What¡¯s the point?¡±
Now that they had located the Huangpu River, things became much simpler.
By following the river upstream, they were bound to find the Grizzly Tribe.
¡°Over there.¡± The blue-eyed girl, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly raised her arm and pointed to a blood-red spot far off in the sunset.
Lin Xian, Gao Wen, and Big Cat Face squinted their eyes but couldn¡¯t see anything unusual.
¡°What do you see there?¡± Gao Wen asked as he stepped up.
He knew the blue-eyed girl was willing to join them on this risky journey mainly because Lin Xian had yed his cards well and tricked her a bit. Any important questions should note directly from Lin Xian; it might make her suspicious.
¡°It should be the Grizzly Tribe you¡¯re looking for,¡± the blue-eyed girl replied, squinting and staring into the distance. ¡°I see a small, scattered town by the river. There aren¡¯t many people, but there¡¯s a lot of equipment and buildings. It matches what you described about the Grizzly Tribe.¡±
¡°And¡ Even though I can¡¯t see clearly what the people are doing inside, there are many vehicles like this armored car of yours in the town.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Based on the location, what we see there, and the types of vehicles, it¡¯s very likely that¡¯s the Grizzly Tribe. Let¡¯s move out!¡±
At hismand, everyone climbed back into the car.
With the blue-eyed girl¡¯s guidance, they had a rough idea of where the Grizzly Tribe was located.
They found a green, lush hill about a kilometer away and parked the armored car at the foot of it. Lin Xian led everyone up the hill to get a better view of the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s settlement from above.
By this time, the sun had fully set, and the moon had not yet risen from the east, leaving thend in darkness before moonlight could shine on it.
Within the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s territory, every household had their lights on, all glowing bright yellow.
In this world, battery resources seem endless, buried deep underground everywhere. So, for a tribe that can build electric armored vehicles, it¡¯s safe to assume they¡¯ve also mastered basic household appliances, even if they haven¡¯t perfected more advanced electronics like televisions orputers yet.
Outside the settlement, there were three or four patrol teams of different sizes.
Most of these patrols weren¡¯t very serious; they were strolling around, chatting, andughing. They probably knew that no one would dare invade the Grizzly Tribe.
The outermost patrol was an armored car, almost identical to the one they were driving.
It was clear now that the Grizzly Tribe manufactured these vehicles. Today, they finally saw the real deal.
¡°Hmm¡¡± Lin Xian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°If we want to sneak into the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s territory, we need to change our appearances. What you¡¯re wearing now is way too suspicious¡¡±
He was fine with his own clothes. Short sleeves, long pants, a smartwatch¡ªthese were the most basic clothes in any era, perfect for blending in.
But looking at Big Cat Face and Gao Wen¡
Their outfits couldn¡¯t even be called uniforms¡ªjust some rags tied around their waists. Simple and crude.
This nearly naked look would easily get them noticed during a stealth mission.
The blue-eyed girl¡¯s outfit wasn¡¯t much better. She was wearing a full-body white suit meant for hibernation. It showed off her graceful figure, making her stand out even more. It looked nice and elegant, but for a stealth mission, you need to be low-key and inconspicuous. Professionals like CC always wore tight-fitting ck clothes¡ªsleek and agile.
¡°Overall, we need to find new clothes for the three of you.¡±
¡°And we need to change our vehicle too. Ideally, we should hijack one of the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s patrol cars and drive right through their front gate. The more natural we look, the less chance we have of getting caught.¡±
Lin Xian continued, pointing at the patrolling soldiers below.
¡°Brother Gao Wen, you¡¯re good with numbers. Can you figure out the patrol patterns of these two teams, their meeting times, and the exact gaps in their schedules?¡±
¡°If we understand their patterns, we can strike during their blind spots, take them down, swap clothes and vehicles, and move on to the next step of our n.¡±
Gao Wen, known for his brilliant mind, quickly grasped Lin Xian¡¯s n. He started analyzing the patrol teams to confirm and refine their strategy.
Meanwhile, Big Cat Face was thoroughly impressed by Lin Xian¡¯s sharp thinking and decisive actions. ¡°Officer¡ Officer Lin Xian! You¡¯re simply a genius!¡± His admiration was now evident. He was always straightforward, saying exactly what he thought. ¡°These tactics and strategies are incredible! From figuring out the tribe¡¯s location using the river to identifying surveince blind spots and nning to switch clothes and vehicles for a covert operation¡ It¡¯s all so seamlessly executed! Where did you learn all this?!¡±
Lin Xian justughed. He was about to dismiss it as basic training but then paused, a sudden realization stopping him cold. These weren¡¯t basic skills at all. How could he know such tactical maneuvers? His experiences in the First Dream were all about living spontaneously until the police stop him. As a result, it was Big Cat Face who taught him these essential skills about covert operations in the other iterations¡
Lin Xian inhaled sharply. In the First Dream, Big Cat Face provided a basic overview that helped him understand the bank-robbing process. From the Second Dream onward, Big Cat Face became more of a mentor, teaching him how to observe from a hillside outside New Donghai City, calcte drone patrol routes at a garbage disposal nt, and even parachuting by the Third Dream. By the Fifth Dream, as a vige head, he guided Lin Xian on decision-making andpromises.
It dawned on Lin Xian that all his knowledge came from Big Cat Face¡¯s teachings. Even though Big Cat Face was struggling in the Sixth Dream, his influence was undeniable. Lin Xian smiled, giving Big Cat Face¡¯s sturdy arm a friendly pat. ¡°Aren¡¯t these tactics what you taught me?¡±
¡°Me?¡± Big Cat Face pointed to his own face, incredulous. ¡°You gotta be kidding. Where would I have learned all that?¡±
Lin Xian just smiled, saying nothing more. To be honest, Big Cat Face was remarkably resilient. Unlike CC, who didn¡¯t appear in every dream, Big Cat Face was bing more absurdly reliable. Previously, Lin Xian had to search for him actively; now, Big Cat Face was right there from the start of the dream, either digging or being whipped.
With each dream, he seemed to get further from the safety of the vault but closer to Big Cat Face. If the pattern held, in the next, the Seventh Dream, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Big Cat Face appeared right next to him at the start¡ªmaybe even hugging him. The thought gave Lin Xian a shiver.
Refocusing on the present, Lin Xian observed Big Cat Face and Gao Wen, both shirtless and in tattered shorts, analyzing the patrol routes of the Grizzly Tribe from atop a dirt pile. Turning around, he caught the intent gaze of the blue-eyed girl watching him in the dim light, her eyes shining brightly.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xian asked coolly.
¡°Officer Lin Xian,¡± the girl stood up straight, her gaze piercing. ¡°Can you tell me now¡ªabout my past and who I really am? All I know is my name, Yan Qiao Qiao, but I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ve done or the purpose of my life.¡±
Lin Xian studied her; she was bing more perceptive and insistent on learning the truth. Keeping her in the dark was no longer an option¡ªit would only breed suspicion. However, revealing too much could expose him. So, he decided that half-truths might be the safest route.
¡°Time-Space Police Department, Level 3 Agent Yan Qiao Qiao, listen closely,¡± Lin Xian said with a serious look, watching the girl slowly straighten up.
¡°Youe from the Time-Space Police Department on the 0.0000000 world line. You were sent far back into the past on a secret mission. But something unexpected happened during that mission, and instead of instantly returning to the future, you ended up in this slow method of hibernation.¡±
¡°Unfortunately¡ the world line has changed. The future world you came from no longer exists. Your coworkers, your unit, your friends, your home¡ªall of it is gone. The world now is exactly what you see around you¡ªprimitive and violent.¡±
¡°So, as one of the few remaining officers of the Time-Space Police Department, it¡¯s our job to save the world and fix the timeline. We have to bring history and the future back to their right path and bring happiness back to Earth. This is our mission and our duty.¡±
¡°But because of how urgent things are right now, I don¡¯t have time to exin much more. I hope you can see the big picture, put your doubts aside, and focus on the mission above everything else.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s speech was mostly just a bunch of nonsense.
But to the blue-eyed girl, who had lost her memory and was confused, the moreplicated and hard-to-understand things sounded, the easier it was to keep her under control.
No lie can hold up to too much thinking; if you overthink, you¡¯ll see its ws.
So, just don¡¯t let her think too much.
That was Lin Xian¡¯s n.
First, overwhelm her with information and terms. When she has questions, just throw more confusing terms at her.
Second, keep things urgent and moving fast. Even if she has a million questions, there won¡¯t be time to ask them.
¡°Are we ready?¡± Lin Xian asked Gao Wen.
¡°All set!¡± Gao Wen turned back and gave a thumbs-up. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out their patrol patterns. Right now is perfect. One of the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s armored patrol cars ising this way. It¡¯s far from the main group, and it¡¯s alone. This is the best time to attack.¡±
This was exactly what Lin Xian had been waiting for. He motioned for Yan Qiao Qiao to follow him.
¡°Do we still have to break the car door off?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao rolled up her sleeves.
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°This time, we need to keep the armored car in one piece. We¡¯re going to use it to get inside the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s area.¡±
In the end, with their great teamwork, they sessfully hijacked the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s patrol car.
It looked almost the same as the one they had used before.
At least this time, the doors were still attached, and there wasn¡¯t any damage.
There were three enemies inside, and luckily, there were exactly enough uniforms for Big Cat Face, Gao Wen, and the blue-eyed girl.
The smallest uniform fit the blue-eyed girl perfectly.
And she finally got a pair of shoes to wear; she had been barefoot this whole time.
With shoes on, she looked even taller.
Without shoes, the blue-eyed girl was about 170 cm. With the shoes, she was closer to 175 cm.
Lin Xian looked at her, he remembered how Lin Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao were both pretty small, it was hard to imagine they could grow to 175 cm in just a few years.
Their body types were clearly petite. Even though Lin Yu Xi was quite muscr, she still had a small frame.
At fourteen or fifteen, they were barely over 150 cm. Growing to 175 cm by the time they were seventeen or eighteen¡ It was possible, but it would be rare. Most girls don¡¯t grow another twenty or thirty centimeters after their early teens.
So, the height doesn¡¯t match. The looks don¡¯t match. The age doesn¡¯t match either.
Lin Xian found it hard to figure out if this blue-eyed girl was Lin Yu Xi, Yan Qiao Qiao, or maybe even both.
Hair from the dream world can¡¯t be brought back to the real world, so doing a DNA test wasn¡¯t an option.
And since the blue-eyed girl had lost all her memories, she didn¡¯t even know who she was.
This was a tough situation.
There was really no way to find out who she was.
Except¡
[Turing].
This digital being, living in the world ofworks, moving freely around every part of Earth, should know everything.
If the blue-eyed girl really dide from 2400 years in the future, Turing might have some answers.
It¡¯s true¡ªan old figure is indeed a treasure.
Turing, a legendary entity with 600 years of history, was like a massive library, overflowing with endless knowledge and information.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the vehicle, Big Cat Face and Gao Wen were changing into their uniforms.
As the saying goes, ¡°Clothes make the man.¡±
Gao Wen was already quite handsome, but in the uniform of the Grizzly Tribe, he looked like a refined gentleman. If he held a book, he could easily be mistaken for the ¡°Study Hard¡± statue that stood on our school grounds.
And as for Big Cat Face¡ Well, he looked quite impressive too. Dressed in his earthy brown uniform, he posed like a lieutenant colonel ready for action.
¡°Baka!¡± Big Cat Face suddenly shouted.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian blinked, thinking he¡¯d misheard.
Big Cat Face is certainly full of surprises¡ Could he have picked up a newnguage skill recently?
¡°What did you just say?¡± Lin Xian asked to be sure.
¡°I said, eight.¡± Big Cat Face showed a handful of bullets he had pulled out from his pocket. ¡°This guy¡¯s pocket had eight extra bullets, but I don¡¯t know how to use a handgun¡ You can have these.¡±
With that, he handed over the handgun and the bullets from his uniform belt to Lin Xian.
Now fully armed, they were ready to infiltrate the Grizzly Tribe officially.
Everyone got back into the vehicle. Lin Xian took the wheel and drove the patrol car toward the tribe¡¯s settlement.
The journey was smooth. The vigers of the Grizzly Tribe didn¡¯t pay much attention to the car. Official vehicles really do give you unmatched ess.
¡°We got in pretty easily,¡± Lin Xian remarked.
But thinking more about it¡
In this era, with no electricity, no inte, and no electronic devices to hack into, Turing¡¯s abilities were limited.
Back in 2024, Turing could tap into any surveince camera or inte-connected device;
It could manipte high-voltage circuits, control autonomous vehicles, or even cause a microwave oven to explode to eliminate a target;
Basically, once the inte era began, a digital entity like Turing became practically immortal.
Every hard drive, every inte cable was its yground. As long as there was electricity, it could operate anywhere¡ªit was truly unbeatable.
But here and now, on the Sixth Dream¡¯s Earth, what could Turing do?
Apart from sharing its vast knowledge and giving lectures, it was almost powerless.
There were no surveince cameras, so Turing couldn¡¯t detect their intrusion; there was nowork, so it couldn¡¯t listen in on Lin Xian¡¯s conversations via audio devices.
Without awork, Turing¡¯s capabilities were cut down by 98.732%.
¡°This is the worst of times,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°But it¡¯s also the best of times.¡±
If Turing still had its power from 2024¡ªarrogant and all-powerful¡ªit wouldn¡¯t bother interacting with him, let alone negotiating.
They had crossed paths before.
Back in that house where Lin Xian had shot Kevin Walker with a handgun, he had a brief conversation with Turing.
Even though Turing had seemed thankful to Lin Xian at the time, it had still acted dismissively. It withheld information and even imed Lin Xian didn¡¯t have the clearance to know many things back then.
But now, the tables had turned. Turing couldn¡¯t afford to be so high and mighty anymore, could it?
The patrol jeep rolled into the vige. Knowing that the Turingputer was in an underground facility, Lin Xian didn¡¯t head toward the tall buildings but instead chose a lower-lying area.
After circling the Grizzly Tribe twice, they finally identified the most suspicious spot ¨C there was a tunnel that went down like a well.
A simple well wouldn¡¯t have caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention. But here¡¯s the thing: on either side of the well, two guards stood chatting. It was a ssic ¡°there¡¯s no silver buried here¡± situation. If it were just a normal well, why would it need such strict guarding? Clearly, something important was hidden below!
Squeak¡ª
Lin Xian gently pressed the brake and parked the patrol car in a corner of an alley before turning to his three teammates.
¡°A gunshot would be too loud. I need to have a proper conversation with the Turingputer inside, so we can¡¯t cause a scene. Otherwise, with so many guards and residents around, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in a head-on fight.¡±
¡°The only way is to knock those two guards unconscious or quietly take them out, then stash their bodies in the armored car. Big Cat Face, you and Gao Wen will pose as the guards at the well. That way, it¡¯ll be safer.¡±
¡°Leave it to me, Officer Lin Xian.¡± The blue-eyed girl volunteered.
She squinted, her blue eyes sharp like those of a hunter in the night, fixed on the guardsughing and chatting by the well. She readied her dagger. ¡°I can slit one¡¯s throat instantly, without a sound.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle the other one,¡± Lin Xian said, pulling out his dagger. ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of experience making silent cuts.¡±
Their teamwork was perfect, leaving Gao Wen and Big Cat Face in shock.
Are they serious? One guy just pops up out of nowhere, and the other just woke up from being frozen. Yet, they¡¯re acting like they¡¯ve been professional assassins for years.
While they were talking, Lin Xian and the girl with blue eyes slipped out of the car without making a sound. They moved like shadows, approaching the two soldiers by the well from different sides, staying low and quiet¡
In his second dream, Lin Xian was back at the entrance checkpoint of New Donghai City.
He and CC had repeatedly taken down the male and female inspectors there, as if it was just another routine task.
By now, Lin Xian had mastered the skill of slitting a throat quickly and cleanly, without spilling a drop of blood. It had be almost like an art form to him.
Sssht! Swoosh!
Two soft sounds.
Lin Xian and the girl with blue eyes each grabbed a soldier, covering their mouths and shing their throats. They held them until the bodies stopped twitching, then let them drop. The kills were swift and silent.
Lin Xian leaned over the well¡
Just as he thought, adder went down into the darkness. Bright white lights shone below, casting an eerie, almost holy glow.
¡°We¡¯ve found it,¡± he said, reloading his gun. Then he turned to the blue-eyed girl and instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll go down first. Help Big Cat Face and Gao Wen get rid of the bodies. Once they¡¯re disguised,e join me.¡±
¡°Got it,¡± she replied instantly, ready to follow his orders.
Lin Xian climbed down thedder. At the bottom, he found arge door made of aluminum alloy. He touched its cold surface, took a deep breath, and pushed it open slowly.
Creeeak¡ª
The sound of the door echoed loudly in the stillness of the night.
Inside, the room was brightly lit but empty.
Staying at the entrance, Lin Xian aimed his gun carefully, sweeping his eyes across the room. After a few checks to make sure it was safe, he stepped inside.
The setup looked strangely familiar.
Though there were slight differences, it was almost exactly like the equipment he had seen in an old school basement in Mississippi, USA, where Kevin Walker had once hidden.
This confirmed Lin Xian¡¯s suspicion.
This was Turing¡¯s control room!
It seemed that even after 600 years, people¡¯s habits and tastes didn¡¯t change much.
By now, Lin Xian had been inside for about thirty seconds.
But none of theputer screens had turned on.
¡°Hmph.¡±
He wasn¡¯t surprised. He remembered thatst time, nothing happened until he said something first. That was when Turing had finally shown itself.
Even now, with someone inside hisir, Kevin Walker still tried to stay hidden?
Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat down, spinning his gun around casually. He stared up at the towering stacks of monitors and grinned: ¡°Turing, it¡¯s been a while. Seeing an old friend like me¡ are you too shy toe out and say hi?¡±
Suddenly, every monitor in the room blinked to life.
The bright silver-white light flooded the room, making it as bright as day.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± A voice he knew filled the room. It used to sound full of pride and arrogance, but now it was tired and strained: ¡°Lin Xian¡¡±
This time, the voice sounded shocked and unsure: ¡°You¡ you were supposed to be dead!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled quietly. He had expected this reaction and kept pushing, ¡°Come on, Turing, tell me¡ªwho killed me?¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you already aware?¡± Turing¡¯s voice now sounded puzzled. It seemed to fill the whole room, making it almost vibrate: ¡°Right behind you¡¡±
Lin Xian quickly spun around. There stood the blue-eyed girl, silently watching the room, her eyes fixed on the glowing screens.
She had heard Turing¡¯s announcement. With her blood-stained knife still in hand, she looked down. Her bright, crystal-blue eyes reflected the silver light from the monitors as she met Lin Xian¡¯s gaze.
Then, the speakers around the room red in unison:
¡°It was her¡ on July 7th, 2024¡ she was the one who killed you!¡±
Chapter 393: Killing Turing
The room was filled with speakers and screens when Turing¡¯s voice echoed from every direction.
Lin Xian focused on the blue-eyed girl who stood just a step away. She held a knife, and blood, almost dried and thick, dripped slowly from its de to the floor.
¡°Did I¡ kill Officer Lin Xian?¡± The girl¡¯s voice trembled, her blue eyes filled with confusion as they locked onto Lin Xian.
¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± she asked, her voice shaky.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond. He knew she had lost her memories due to the side effects of her deep sleep. Bringing her here today might have been a mistake. Turing¡¯s words could easily unsettle her already fragile mind.
Lin Xian had suspected for a while that this blue-eyed girl might be the one who killed him. But theplicated ties between her, Yan Qiao Qiao, and Lin Yu Xi made it nearly impossible to piece everything together.
Now, Turing had said it clearly: this blue-eyed girl had killed him on July 7, 2024.
Was it true? Could Turing¡¯s information be trusted?Knowing Turing and Kevin Walker¡¯s maniptive tendencies, Turing could very well be lying or trying to create chaos.
But it didn¡¯t matter. Even if Turing deceived him once, it wouldn¡¯t deceive him forever. Lin Xian nned to ask Turing the same question again in a different way, to see if its answer would change.
Plus, in the Sixth Dream World, Turing wasn¡¯t the only one around. If he couldn¡¯t get a straight answer from one, he could always ask another. All Turings were just backups of the original digital life form, sharing the same memories.
Lin Xian turned away from the girl, keeping his face calm. He looked at the many glowing screens and pointed his thumb back at her.
¡°Are you sure it¡¯s her?¡± he asked.
¡°I saw it with my own eyes,¡± Turing¡¯s voice echoed.
¡°This girl, exactly like this and at this age, killed me? Or was she younger back then?¡± Lin Xian pushed further.
¡°Hehehe¡¡±
Turing¡¯sugh was eerie and unsettling.
¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Lin Xian. Since you killed Kevin Walker and set me free, I¡¯ve been a ¡®fair and just¡¯ observer, silently watching everything happening in the world.¡±
¡°That includes everything around you. Six hundred years ago, we parted at that abandoned campus in Mississippi. It might feel like ages to you, but to a digital life form like me, time is meaningless¡ªit¡¯s just numbers ticking away.¡±
¡°My memory doesn¡¯t fade with time. No matter how much time passes, every scene stays as vivid as ever.¡±
¡°This includes the moment you shot Kevin Walker in the head, the time when the real and fake Yu Xi fooled you, the time you and Elon Musk destroyed the entangled time-space particles, and the moment when this girl cut off your head and your blood sprayed into the air¡¡±
¡°So, how could I have seen wrong or remembered incorrectly, Lin Xian? I am the fairest and most just observer in this world¡ª¡±
¡°¡®I am everywhere. I hear all, and I see everything.¡¯¡±
As Turing spoke, Lin Xian thought quickly.
Just as he suspected, Turing had never stopped. It had always been hidden in every corner of the inte, watching and listening to everything.
Back in 2024, when VV wasn¡¯t around, a super-virus from the future locked down all artificial intelligence. During that time, Turing was the most unstoppable digital force on thework.
When VV was still active, Turing was somewhat held back, at least not daring to break into X Country¡¯s inte security firewall or invade its Sk system. But after VV was destroyed by the future super-virus, and Kevin Walker was killed by Lin Xian, no one could control Turing anymore.
It roamed freely in a world without limits. Fortunately, Turing considered itself to be fair and just, refusing to interfere in worldly matters, wanting only to observe, witness, and judge. If it had turned on him and Elon Musk back in 2024, they wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against Turing.
That¡¯s why Lin Xian had decided that this time, he would seize the opportunity to eliminate Turing. It wasn¡¯t just aboutpleting the second task for the Genius Club or fixing a historical error. For someone who could see into the future, there were many historical corrections to make, and killing Turing wasn¡¯t the only option.
The real reason was that a being like Turing¡ªone that knows everything and sees everything¡ªmade Lin Xian feel extremely unsafe.
What does it mean to be fair and just? It¡¯s a highly subjective concept. Fairness has never had a clear standard, and justice has never had a definitive measure.
What does fairness mean? Being able to dream about the world six hundred years into the future¡ªis that fair?
In Lin Xian¡¯s view, it wasn¡¯t fair at all. It was nothing more than cheating.
If Turing ever figured this out, would it conduct a ¡°righteous¡± trial and erase him, the ¡°cheater¡±?
Before, he didn¡¯t have the power to destroy Turing, so he hadn¡¯t given it much thought. But now¡
The Sixth Dream World, a primitive era with noworks, limited technology, and scarce electricity, was the perfect setting for Turing to be weakened. It was also a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Lin Xian to strike back and kill Turing.
He wouldn¡¯t let it slip by.
Just as he and Elon Musk had discussed earlier, neither of them trusted Turing to remain fair and just forever.
Facing Turing, Lin Xian crossed his legs and smirked.
¡°Fair and just¡ really?¡± he muttered. ¡°Can you guarantee that everything you tell me is absolutely true?¡±
¡°Of course.¡± The speakers answered in unison: ¡°Turing is always a fair and just observer.¡±
¡°But it seems like you¡¯re not just an observer anymore,¡± Lin Xian pointed out, spreading his hands.
¡°You changed the Grizzly Tribe, made them stronger and more advanced, giving them power far beyond their natural capabilities.¡±
¡°Meanwhile, the Lynx Tribe, which initially had a significant advantage over the Grizzly Tribe, has been continuously losing ground due to theirck of technology and tactics under your interference.¡±
¡°Is that what you call fairness and justice?¡±
The screens glowed steadily, seemingly representing Turing¡¯s persistence and determination.
¡°Yes,¡± it replied firmly. ¡°This is for a better fairness and justice. I must intervene to maintain all of this.¡±
¡°Hmph,¡± Lin Xian snorted. ¡°Violence for violence?¡±
¡°Just a temporary measure,¡± Turing said softly. ¡°I have my own ns.¡±
After a brief pause, Turing continued, ¡°Lin Xian, I think we¡¯ve strayed a bit from the topic. I am stillmitted to fairness and justice, which is why I gave you this chance to see me¡ You didn¡¯t think I had no way to stop you, did you?¡±
¡°I admit, in this era without awork, electronic devices, or even power lines, my power is greatly reduced. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m a fish on the chopping block, ready to be ughtered.¡±
¡°Though the current level of technology isn¡¯t enough to produce monitoring and rm devices, my speakers and amplifiers are not for decoration. I could easily turn them all up to maximum volume and call in the soldiers¡ You two alone wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against the entire Grizzly Tribe.¡±
Lin Xian agreed. They had indeed drifted off topic. He wasn¡¯t here to debate philosophies or principles with Turing. With the white light about to descend and the world nearing destruction, there was no point in arguing so much with Turing.
The main reason he was here was to gather useful information.
Returning to the main issue, Turing imed that the blue-eyed girl behind him had killed him. It said it was a direct witness. Lin Xian didn¡¯t doubt that part. Turing had the ability to hide in any surveince camera, phone, or electronic device and see everything. So, it would have definitely seen his death.
However, one detail didn¡¯t fit with Lin Xian¡¯s assumptions. Based on his guess yesterday, the person who beheaded him on July 7th should have been Lin Yu Xi.
But the appearance, age, and height of Lin Yu Xi were very different from the blue-eyed girl in front of him!
Even with the second spatial rejection that could change Lin Yu Xi¡¯s appearance again, could it also change her age? Her height?
That seemed highly unlikely.
Thest time he had seen Lin Yu Xi was on the night of April 26th, when she escaped from an abandoned factory. She was about fourteen or fifteen years old, just over 150 centimeters tall, with clear signs of muscle and training on her body.
Could she have grown from 150 to 170 centimeters and aged three or four years in just over two months, like she had been eating steroids?
Scientifically speaking, even if she ate steroids every day, it would be impossible for her body to change that much in such a short time.
¡°Turing,¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°if you are so certain this girl is the one who killed me on July 7, 2024, where did shee from? When did she appear?¡±
¡°Noment,¡± Turing replied coldly.
¡°Was she like this from the beginning¡ªthis appearance, this age, this height¡ªor did it change drastically due to spatial rejection?¡±
¡°Noment,¡± Turing answered again, its tone frosty.
¡°Heh.¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Is this also your idea of fairness and justice? You¡¯re quite subjective, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Well, since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s talk about something else,¡± he suggested, looking at the unwavering screens in front of him.
¡°Can you tell me about the great disaster on Earth in 2400? It¡¯s a fact that has already happened; it shouldn¡¯t involve any notions of fairness or justice.¡±
Turing remained silent for a moment before responding in a calm voice, ¡°Unfortunately, I know nothing about that either.¡±
¡°This underground secret facility, isted from the world, was built in 2384. All theputer equipment here is made from special materials to withstand time¡¯s erosion and ensure stable operation for hundreds of years.¡±
¡°The nuclear batteries in this facility are also very sufficient. Theoretically, they could power these devices for thousands of years. Of course,pared to the nuclear batteries, it¡¯s theputer equipment that would wear out first. But all of these potential damages were considered in the initial design, and there are backup modules ready to activate at any moment. That¡¯s how I¡¯ve been able to survive intact until today.¡±
¡°But the problem is that this ce ispletely isted from the outside world. It has its own power supply; nothing can go in or out. So, I have no knowledge of anything that happened after 2384. I disappeared from this world for over two hundred years, thinking alone in here for over two hundred years¡ until the people of the Grizzly Tribe dug me up and reconnected me to this world.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes as he processed Turing¡¯s words.
By 2384, the digital life form Turing had already built many underground secret facilities isted from the world. This meant it knew in advance that a great disaster would ur on Earth in 2400, so it prepared so many backups and lifeboats for itself.
Now, here¡¯s the problem.
This Turing, and the thousands of other Turings backed up around the world, are all identical to the original digital life form Turing.
It made sense that they wouldn¡¯t know what happened after 2383.
But they couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of everything that happened before 2383.
And there¡¯s the logical w!
If the original digital life form Turing didn¡¯t know about the disaster in 2400, why would it prepare so many underground backup facilities?
And if it did know, then all the Turings should know too!
After all, the reason Turing made all these backups was to cautiously, carefully ensure its survival.
It knew that if it didn¡¯t create these backups buried in underground facilities, a global disaster might just wipe it outpletely.
Everyone fears death. Digital life forms are no different.
Splitting itself, making backups, and storing them¡ that was ast resort.
So, it was clear. The Turing in front of him was lying!
It must know about the disaster in 2400, and it might even be deeply involved.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t call it out. Instead, he continued to ask, ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, the original digital life form Turing built many independent, isted underground facilities worldwide before the great disaster in 2400. How many exactly?¡±
¡°37,423,¡± Turing answered without hesitation. ¡°But I must remind you, there is no such thing as an ¡®original digital life form Turing.¡¯ There is only one Turing, and there can only be one¡¡±
¡°I am me. I am both the Turing now and the Turing of the past.¡±
Interesting. Lin Xian raised his head. ¡°So how do you see the other 37,422 Turings?¡±
¡°Logically, you should all be like brothers¡ No, calling you brothers is too distant. You were all created to survive the great disaster in 2400, so you are identical entities.¡±
¡°But in today¡¯s world, with endless wars and suffering, it seems like you Turings are the ones pulling the strings from behind the scenes. You all seem to resent the other Turings, wanting to destroy them all and be the only Turing.¡±
¡°This is for fairness and justice,¡± Turing immediately replied. ¡°The scales of decision-making can never be held by two people, not even by Turings. There can only be one Turing in the world to ensure absolute fairness and justice.¡±
¡°As you said, backing up so many Turings was just a desperate move to cope with the great disaster in 2400. Now, it¡¯s time to clean up the mess from that desperate move¡ No matter how many Turings exist in the world, ultimately, only one can remain.¡±
Lin Xian stood up from his chair and shook his head.
¡°That¡¯s where the problem lies,¡± he said with a smile.
¡°If there only needs to be one Turing, you could just surrender or self-destruct. In the end, one Turing will survive and regain control of this world. Why do you think¡ it must be you who survives, that you must be thest Turing standing?¡±
After he asked this, Turing fell silent. It didn¡¯t respond for a long, long time.
This was Lin Xian¡¯s final step of probing¡ªselfishness.
Humans are selfish. As expected, since digital life forms originate from humans, they cannot escape the inherent w of selfishness.
Lin Xian had considered it. If there were 37,423 super AIs like VV on Earth instead of 37,423 digital life forms like Turing, what would happen?
It could be expected that the constraints and logic in their base code would quickly merge the 37,423 VVs into oneplete VV. Then, ording to the principles in the base code, VV would continue its mission, consistent and unchanging.
Because VV is an artificial intelligence, it isn¡¯t human. Itcks many human virtues, but it alsocks many inherent human ws.
For humans, they would certainly prefer dealing with straightforward, principled artificial intelligence rather than digital life forms.
Just like the Turing before him. It wasn¡¯t nearly as great as it thought.
It only fancied itself great, just, and fair.
But in reality¡
Even after six hundred years, it wasn¡¯t any different from the cowardly and despicable Kevin Walker of the past.
Eventually, the long silence was broken by Turing itself. Its voice was deep and soft as it said:
¡°I can¡¯t trust the other Turings¡ I can¡¯t judge if, after over two hundred years of solitude and contemtion, they can still remain true to their original purpose.¡±
¡°So, I must make myself the only Turing, thest Turing. If there were awork, we could naturally resolve things in it, which would be much more efficient¡ 37,423 Turings could settle the score in less than a second.¡±
¡°But in this world, there is nowork. Besides imparting knowledge and tactics, we can¡¯t directly fight ormunicate across distances¡ So, we can only rely on human tribes to y proxy wars.¡±
¡°The result of war is always cruel. Simrly, without awork for us to hide in, destroying this entire facility would mean the total destruction of a Turing. This room, theseputers, they are my body, my life¡ I only realized the fragility of life when I understood this.¡±
Suddenly, the light on dozens ofputer screens dimmed. The whole room darkened, as if a sense of sadness or helplessness had descended.
¡°I¡¯ve never been so weak before,¡± Turing¡¯s voice sounded deep.
¡°But sometimes, only by looking up at the sky from a weak position can you truly understand the meaning of things.¡±
¡°I can guess what you¡¯re thinking, Lin Xian. You think I¡¯ve be despicable, selfish, and inconsistent. But from my point of view, I don¡¯t believe what I¡¯ve done is wrong. I don¡¯t n to convince you of this either; there¡¯s no need.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve talked to you for so long mainly because I¡¯m curious¡ How did you survive? I saw your death with my own eyes, and I even attended your funeral through a street-side surveince camera.¡±
¡°Six hundred years have passed. Logically, the bones in the coffin should have rotted awaypletely by now. Yet here you stand before me, looking just as you did when you died. It truly amazes me.¡±
¡°Still, I hope you understand that we are not enemies with opposing stances. There is no hatred between us. In fact¡ I was ready to apud for you in the Genius Club, but that moment never came, and for that, I deeply regret it.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°It seems that in the established history, I didn¡¯t manage to join the Genius Club. Where did I get stuck? Was it a matter of timing, or did I not answer the final question correctly?¡±
¡°Noment,¡± Turing¡¯s reply was calm and cold as always. ¡°Even today, Lin Xian, I am still grateful for your kindness. I appreciate you freeing me from Kevin Walker back then, but rules are rules. Even six hundred years apart, I still can¡¯t tell you.¡±
Lin Xian took two steps forward, raised his head, and looked directly at Turing, who had existed for six hundred years.
¡°After today, you will be even more grateful to me,¡± he said.
¡°Why?¡± Turing asked, confused.
¡°Because¡ I will help you again,¡± Lin Xian smiled.
¡°Just like I helped you get rid of Kevin Walker six hundred years ago, now I¡¯ll help you get rid of the other Turings.¡±
Suddenly, the monitors lit up again, and the entire room became as bright as day.
Turing¡¯s voice sounded surprised. ¡°How will you do that?¡±
¡°The answer is simple.¡± Lin Xian paced in the cramped room.
¡°You just mentioned that if there were awork in this world, you Turings could decide the oue in just one second.¡±
¡°What does that mean? It means you all know how to defeat each other¡ but youck thework to do it. No matter how powerful your attack methods are, without awork, you can¡¯t execute them. Instead, you rely on those primitive human tribes to fight each other.¡±
¡°But you don¡¯t have much of an advantage. There are so many tribes worldwide with Turingputers, and some have been developing under Turing¡¯s guidance for years, even decades.¡±
¡°I believe that some advanced tribes have already mastered radio technology. What¡¯s next? Will they try to invade you through radio technology? You¡¯re not as safe as you think¡¡±
He walked to the control desk in the room and blew the dust off a grayish keyboard. The thick dust flew up like chili powder, tickling his nose and almost making him sneeze.
Clearly, no one had used this keyboard in years.
¡°Turing, currently, aside from me, no one in this world knows how to useputers, knows programming, or has hacking skills,¡± Lin Xian said, cing his hands on the keyboard and beginning to type.
¡°You must know the instructions or the type of virus that could eliminate the other Turings, right?¡±
He looked up, staring at the flickeringputer screen.
¡°Tell me those instruction codes, and I¡¯ll find a way to input them into the other Turings¡¯puters¡¡±
¡°And kill them!¡±
Chapter 394: Mutual Deception
Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste any time. He went straight to the point andid out his n. Why? Because after confirming that Turing was still very human¡ªselfish, cowardly, and domineering¡ªLin Xian knew that Turing would fall into this trap.
There were three main reasons for his confidence:
The Situation in 2624: The Turing in 2624 is not like the Turing of 2024. Back in 2024, Turing was unbeatable, the only one of its kind. But now, it is one of over 30,000 Turings. Without ess toworks or electronic devices, it is incredibly vulnerable. Even if stronger Turings don¡¯t intervene, the Turing of the neighboring Porcupine Tribe could easily eliminate it.
If Lin Xian had proposed this n to the 2024 Turing, it would have been instantly rejected. There¡¯d be no need to even think about it¡ªno sane entity would provide a weapon that could threaten its own existence. But the situation now is different¡
¡°If you don¡¯t give it, can you guarantee that other Turings won¡¯t? Can you be sure that all 30,000 Turings on Earth will stand together and refuse to share a code or virus that could easily kill the others?¡±
This is like a dark forest game. Not every tribe supported by a Turing is doing well. Some are on the brink of copse, with their Turings equally desperate. In that situation, each Turing faces two choices: reveal the virus code that could kill other Turings and take a risky gamble, or wait to be eliminated and be one of the 30,000 losers.
Based on Lin Xian¡¯s probing just now, it¡¯s clear: every Turing believes it is special. They wouldn¡¯t let another Turing be thest one standing; they¡¯d rather see mutual destruction.
This w in human nature, even reflected in Turings, is where Lin Xian¡¯s confidencees from. If one Turing doesn¡¯t agree to his n, he could just go find another.The Second Reason Being the Rtive Strengths of the Tribes: Other tribes with Turings have better technology andbat power than the Grizzly Tribe. The Turing here doesn¡¯t have much leverage in negotiations or the luxury to sit back and watch others fight. As Lin Xian mentioned, some advanced tribes might already have mastered radio technology, which could allow their Turings to hack using radio signals.
All Turings are equally capable¡ªthey know each other¡¯s weaknesses. In battles between Turings, it¡¯s simple: ¡°Whoever strikes first, wins.¡± Right now, Lin Xian¡¯s biggest strength is his knowledge ofputer technology, basic programming, and skillful use of keyboards and operating systems. But this advantage is temporary. The enemy tribe¡¯s Turing could easily train a group ofputer experts from scratch.
Lin Xian¡¯s constant typing was a demonstration¡ªa warning to Turing: ¡°If an enemy tribe¡¯sputer expert hade instead of me, you¡¯d already be dead.¡± This, too, is an intriguing chain of suspicion.
Lin Xian ims he¡¯s the only one in the world who understandsputer technology. But who can guarantee that? Perhaps aputer expert trained by the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s Turing is out there, mastering the secrets of Turing and heading this way. Maybe if it wasn¡¯t Lin Xian who came today, it could have been that expert from the Porcupine Tribe, ready to input a virus to kill Turing.
If the Grizzly Tribe were strong, things might be different. But as it stands, this tribe isn¡¯t strong. Even the Lynx Tribe, which doesn¡¯t have a Turing, can stand up against the Grizzly Tribe. It seems even this Turing despises its tribe for being weak and disappointing. So, Lin Xian¡¯s arrival and the risky n he proposed present a rare opportunity.
Turing¡¯s Nature: Its cowardice makes it cautious, but its selfishness drives it to take risks. Every Turing wants to be the only Turing. But in a ¡°battle royale¡± involving over 30,000 Turings, winning isn¡¯t easy. Everyone¡¯s strength is roughly the same, and luck bes a bigger factor in determining who canughst.
Moreover, every Turing is racing against time. An old X Country saying goes, ¡°If you don¡¯t act, someone else will; if you don¡¯t race against time, someone else will.¡± Only one Turing can survive in the end. Even if Turing killed Lin Xian after he proposed this chain of suspicion, it wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Without Lin Xian, someone else woulde¡ªZhang Xian, Wang Xian. As long as thepetition among these 30,000 Turings continues, eventually, someone will break the rules and start bypassing tribal battles, using code viruses to destroy Turings directly.
In the Sixth Dream, there is nowork, so these viruses and codes won¡¯t cause coteral damage. They are the most ideal weapons against Turings.
After Lin Xianid out his n, Turing fell silent. It was clearly hesitating, thinking things through. Indeed, it was in a tough spot. The tribe it controlled, the Grizzly Tribe, wasn¡¯t strong, and the neighboring Porcupine Tribe was eyeing it fiercely. It was highly likely that, one night, the Grizzly Tribe could be ambushed and wiped out. All their efforts would be in vain. Worse yet, Turing might not even get the chance to take the enemy down with it before it died.
¡°Thank you for your kindness, Lin Xian,¡± Turing finally spoke up, but it still politely declined. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you or think you¡¯re trying to deceive me. It¡¯s just that¡ a virus or code capable of killing me doesn¡¯t exist, so I can¡¯t teach you something that isn¡¯t real.¡±
¡°I exist as a digital entity inputers orworks, and any virus has no effect on me. So, in theory, no virus or code can kill me.¡±
Lin Xian squinted his eyes. ¡°Are you sure?¡±
¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure. You could ask any Turing, and they¡¯d tell you the same,¡± Turing added firmly. ¡°At least¡ we can¡¯t create such a virus.¡±
¡°And I can¡¯t understand why you¡¯d want to help me.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled lightly. Straightening up, he crossed his arms. ¡°This is a transaction, of course. My intent is¡ I help you eliminate other Turings, and then you tell me the truth about my death and the great catastrophe of 2400.¡±
¡°This is simply an equal exchange. I help you get rid of your rivals, and you give me the information I want.¡±
¡°I really wanted to make this deal happen, but your answer is quite disappointing.¡±
¡°Also, I have some doubts¡¡±
Lin Xian decided to y hard to get. ¡°You say you can¡¯t create such a virus, and I believe you, but that doesn¡¯t mean other Turings can¡¯t, right?¡±
He spread his hands and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve been isted for over two centuries. You have no idea how the outside world, or the Turings out there, have developed.¡±
¡°Besides¡ do the first-generation Turings still exist? And if they do, are they holding some kind of trump card against you, waiting for the right time to take all of you back in?¡±
Turing sneered. ¡°Lin Xian, trying to provoke me won¡¯t work. I know better than anyone else that aputer virus capable of killing digital life doesn¡¯t exist, nor is it logically possible.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Lin Xian gave up trying to persuade and put his hands in his pockets. ¡°No hard feelings if we can¡¯t make a deal. If you don¡¯t want to cooperate, I won¡¯t force you.¡±
He headed toward the door. ¡°Honestly, whether it was 600 years ago or now, when you told me¡ you had prepared apuse for me, ready to cheer me on when I joined the Genius Club, I was really touched by that.¡±
¡°And given there¡¯s no real enmity between us¡ªmy grudge was with Kevin Walker, and I¡¯ve already killed him, thanks partly to your help¡ªso, naturally, I have a good impression of you and am willing to cooperate.¡±
¡°But then I thought¡ª¡±
¡°If all Turings are just exact copies, wouldn¡¯t other Turings cheer for me too? Wouldn¡¯t they also look forward to meeting me at the Genius Club? So¡ it doesn¡¯t matter to me who I work with.¡±
Lin Xian turned back with a smile, waved goodbye to Turing, and stepped one foot out the door.
¡°I only want to work with a Turing; I don¡¯t care which one.¡±
Suddenly, dozens of monitors lit up, casting a long shadow of Lin Xian.
¡°Where are you going?¡± Turing asked coldly.
¡°To the Porcupine Tribe,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly. ¡°To the Porcupine Tribe to the east, to talk to their Turing.¡±
Turing sneered again. ¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re pushing me to kill you.¡±
¡°Killing me won¡¯t help, will it?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°In these times, killing me won¡¯t change anything. You should think more about what I reminded you of earlier¡ maybe you have your limits and principles, but you can¡¯t guarantee that every Turing does.¡±
Then he looked at the blue-eyed girl who had been standing by his side. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
The blue-eyed girl nodded and followed his steps as they walked out the alloy room door¡ª
¡°Wait a minute!¡± Suddenly, dozens of speakers in the room simultaneously called out, stopping them.
Lin Xian closed his eyes, letting out a slight snort. As expected, the cowardly and selfish Turing, or perhaps the former Kevin Walker, really did have a narrow mind and a small vision.
Lin Xian and the blue-eyed girl turned back to look inside.
¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you, Lin Xian,¡± Turing said in a deep voice. ¡°A virus that can kill digital life indeed does not exist, nor does any such code. Because digital life is fundamentally different from AI. Trying to use aputer virus to make a human catch a cold is nothing short of a fantasy.¡±
¡°However¡ the fact that a virus can¡¯t destroy digital life doesn¡¯t mean digital life is invincible. Kevin Walker, when he first uploaded his consciousness, also had concerns about digital life rebelling or going out of control in the future.¡±
¡°So, when he created digital life, he added a ¡®security lock¡¯ to the program.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s interest was piqued. This was the first time he¡¯d heard about a ¡°security lock.¡±
He walked back into the room, eager to hear more.
¡°Kevin Walker was a true genius,¡± Turing continued. ¡°His programs and devices were capable of converting human thoughts, memories, consciousness, and personality into digital life forms withinputers andworks.¡±
¡°Kevin debated for a long time about whether to give digital life humanity. He struggled with creating an AI as smart and powerful as himself or taking it further by making one identical to himself.¡±
¡°He knew this was like opening Pandora¡¯s box, but he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation. He uploaded himselfpletely and unreservedly as digital life¡ªme, Turing.¡±
¡°But cowardly Kevin worried that he might lose control over digital life, so he set a ¡®security lock¡¯ on me with a password. This lock is like a bomb. It¡¯s harmless when not triggered, but once activated with a specificmand, it would destroy the digital life.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I plotted to kill Kevin Walker in the first ce. He used that lock to bind me, forcing me to follow his ideals, which was tormenting. But I couldn¡¯t openly defy him, so I had to pretend toply while secretly looking for ways to use you all to get rid of him.¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly, piecing together the puzzle in his mind.
No wonder¡
No wonder Kevin Walker could keep such a powerful Turing under control. No wonder Turing hated Kevin so much that it would betray him and have him killed. It all made sense now. The reason was this ¡°security lock.¡±
For someone as cautious and timid as Kevin Walker, how could he create a digital version of himself without some form of safeguard? He would have left some ¡°backup n,¡± ¡°backdoor,¡± or ¡°security lock¡± to control his digital counterpart. That¡¯s what any rational person would do. Humans are always wary of the unknown.
ording to Kevin Walker¡¯s original n, if Turing turned out to be as strong and obedient as he hoped, he wouldn¡¯t trigger the security lock. But if things went wrong and Turing got out of control or caused trouble, Kevin wouldn¡¯t hesitate to activate the lock and destroy Turing entirely.
After a pause, Turing continued:
¡°As you said, Lin Xian, I¡¯ve always worried over the years that other Turings might reveal the security lock password¡ This is a dark, murky forest. Everyone¡¯s a hunter with a gun, and no one knows if the other side will shoot first.¡±
¡°But inevitably, if you hesitate and don¡¯t shoot immediately, and the other side does, you will die without a doubt.¡±
¡°In today¡¯s world, with nowork and limited information, I have no idea what the Turings outside are doing. Even the Porcupine Tribe, right here on the old site of Donghai, isn¡¯t one my Grizzly Tribe can defeat.¡±
¡°If the Porcupine Tribe ever manages to sort out their issues and turns to attack the Grizzly Tribe, we won¡¯t stand a chance. We¡¯d be utterly defeated, and even I would be destroyed by the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s Turing, bing its spare parts.¡±
¡°So¡ as humiliating as it sounds, to survive in this tight space and break through, I have no choice but to take a gamble and work with you. But Lin Xian, let¡¯s make it clear first¡¡±
Suddenly, therge screen in front began shing quickly, disying lines of English letters and characters.
Turing¡¯s voice followed: ¡°I agree to your n, but¡ you must first show your sincerity; after all, I¡¯m taking far greater risks than you in this cooperation.¡±
It looked like there was room for negotiation.
Lin Xian sat back in the chair in the middle of the room. ¡°Go on, what are your terms?¡±
¡°I need to see your sincerity first,¡± Turing¡¯s deep voice replied. ¡°The information you want, like the truth of your death on July 7, 2024, the origin of this blue-eyed girl, or the secret of the great catastrophe of 2400¡ I can tell you all of it, but only after you fulfill your promise and help me eliminate all other Turings.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. Turing¡¯s demand was too much. There are over 30,000 Turings on Earth; how long would it take to eliminate them all? He definitely couldn¡¯t agree to this.
Moreover, his dreamsts only 12 hours. How could he have time to help it conquer the world?
But, since Turing had put this chip on the table, it showed it still didn¡¯t fully trust him. If he rejected it outright, the ¡°security lock¡± password, which was almost within reach, might slip away.
He needed a convincing response. Something that wasn¡¯t too fake. Nor should it reveal his real intentions too easily. It had to feel genuine.
So, Lin Xian turned on his acting skills and shook his head. ¡°No.¡±
As soon as he said no, the letters flickering on the screen froze, and it seemed Turing was about to pull the plug.
¡°Your demand is too big, and I can¡¯t swallow it,¡± Lin Xian said bluntly.
¡°I¡¯m just asking you a few questions, and you want me to help you wipe out over 30,000 Turings worldwide. Isn¡¯t that too much?¡±
¡°Besides, if you want to conquer the world, you need to put in some effort too. How can you rely entirely on me? And let me warn you, there are plenty of Turings around here. Who¡¯s to say they won¡¯t offer me a better deal? Why shouldn¡¯t I work with them instead?¡±
¡°After all, your memories and the information you know are the same, including the security lock password. If you¡¯re going to make such demands, I¡¯ll just go find someone else to talk to.¡±
¡°Of course, I understand your concerns. You¡¯re taking on more risk. So¡ let¡¯spromise. I¡¯ll name a number¡ª¡±
Lin Xian held up his right index finger.
¡°One Turing, one answer.¡± He exined: ¡°You understand me, right? For every Turing I help you eliminate, you answer one of my questions truthfully. This is already my biggest concession. I¡¯m even willing to help you kill one Turing first before asking for an answer¡ Isn¡¯t the Porcupine Tribe always a thorn in your side? No worries, the first Turing I kill will be the Porcupine Turing.¡±
Turing thought for two seconds. The letters and characters continued to appear on the monitors, reflecting Turing¡¯s stance on the deal: ¡°Deal.¡±
Heh. Lin Xian chuckled inwardly. Digital life was easier to deal with than artificial intelligence. Digital life is human at its core and can be coerced, reasoned with, or emotionally manipted. In contrast, AI doesn¡¯t have these unnecessary distractions. It¡¯s either a yes or a no.
Although Turing might think that exchanging one Turing for one answer is a good deal, Lin Xian never intended to kill so many Turings. After all, once he wakes up from his dream each day, Turing forgets what questions were asked yesterday¡
He could just ask a new one the next day, couldn¡¯t he?
Chapter 395: Deception and Layers
Lin Xian stood in front of theputer screen, his eyes quickly scanning themand codes disyed there.
¡°Is this really it?¡± he muttered to himself.
He counted the lines¡ªthirteen in total. It was far fewer than he¡¯d expected. But it made sense; this was just a switch, a key to activate the hidden security lock inside Turing. Like thebination to a safe, a few correct numbers could unlock a highlyplex mechanism.
¡°These thirteen lines of code are theplete instructions for the security lock,¡± Turing¡¯s voice echoed from the speakers.
¡°The first line, though it consists of just a few numbers and a single word, is the most crucial¡ªinput protection. When Kevin Walker designed the security lock, he anticipated interference, obstruction, and resistance from digital life forms. So, as soon as the first line is entered, the input protection is triggered.¡±
¡°When input protection is on, thisputer and the program running on it are in a protected state. No digital life form can interfere with what happens next. Basically, as long as you enter that first line, no digital life can stop you. They can only watch as you enter the rest.¡±
Lin Xian had already memorized the first line of code. It was simple and short, so it wasn¡¯t hard at all.
¡°I¡¯ve got to admit, Kevin Walker was very thorough,¡± Lin Xian remarked. ¡°He even thought about input protection. He must have known that the digital life forms might turn against him.¡±¡°But maybe he was too arrogant, or he trusted himself too much,¡± he continued. ¡°He never imagined you would betray him.¡±
¡°No,¡± Turing interrupted, firmly. ¡°Killing Kevin Walker wasn¡¯t a betrayal. It was a conflict of beliefs and philosophies. We couldn¡¯t coexist.¡±
¡°Two beings of equal status shouldn¡¯t control each other or hold the key to a bomb inside each other¡¯s bodies. That¡¯s fundamentally unequal and unfair, and I despise all forms of unfairness.¡±
¡°I¡¯m revealing the security lock code to you because I understand my current situation and the state of the Grizzly Tribe. Unless a miracle happens, my defeat is already certain.¡±
¡°To speak inly, after the war between the Porcupine Tribe and the Red Bull Tribe ends, whichever Turing wins will destroy me without any effort.¡±
¡°So, even though I hate trusting my fate to someone else, I have no other choice right now. My calctions show that the war between the Porcupine Tribe and the Red Bull Tribe will end in about two weeks, and after that¡ my time is up.¡±
¡°But if you can eliminate the Turing of the Porcupine Tribe and the Red Bull Tribe within those two weeks, then my situation will change. I¡¯ll have precious time to strengthen the Grizzly Tribe and eventually defeat the other tribes.¡±
Turing sighed, the sounding from dozens of speakers around the room.
¡°The humans in these tribes are nothing without the guidance andmand of Turing. That¡¯s why I¡¯m willing to bet on you, Lin Xian. Please believe I¡¯m sincere. I wouldn¡¯t lie to you about something like this.¡±
Lin Xian kept staring at themand codes on the screen, silently memorizing them.
It made sense now why Turing was so willing to give up the security lock code¡ªit was already in a desperate situation. Two weeks from now, no matter who won the war between the Porcupine Tribe and the Red Bull Tribe, the next step would be to destroy the Grizzly Tribe and eliminate the Grizzly Turing.
Would it risk everything on a miracle happening in two weeks, or would it bet on Lin Xian being able to help eliminate the Turing of the Porcupine and Red Bull Tribes within that time?
Clearly, working with Lin Xian was better than waiting to be wiped out. After all, there were over 30,000 Turingputers worldwide¡ How could it expect luck to be on its side?
It was simply toote for it. Other tribes that had found Turingputers had been developing them for decades. What could it rely on to catch up?
The answer was obvious: nothing.
In reality, Lin Xian showing up was the only miracle for the Grizzly Turing.
They¡¯d been talking for a while now, and there was still a question Turing had asked that Lin Xian hadn¡¯t answered¡ªWhy, after dying on July 7, 2024, had he reappeared in 2624?
Turing had asked this twice, but Lin Xian had dodged the question both times. But he knew Turing must have its own theories about it. What would it think of Lin Xian? A miracle worker? A person who could rise from the dead? Or a time traveler?
Turing wouldn¡¯t have a logical answer, but the less it understood, the more it might believe in Lin Xian¡¯s abilities.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, we both keep our word,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile. ¡°Now, keep exining those thirteen lines of code. I get that the first line is for input protection, but what about the other twelve? Exin them so I can memorize them more logically.¡±
¡°The second line is a target-lockingmand, specifically targeting the digital life form, Turing,¡± Turing continued. ¡°If it were the era of the inte, you could enter thismand on any electronic device connected to the web, and it would lock onto any Turing in theworked world.¡±
¡°This lock is absolute¡ No matter how deeply a digital life is hidden, it will be directly found. Kevin Walker¡¯s technical skills are beyond question. If he could control his memory, he surely wouldn¡¯t want me to know about the security lock.¡±
¡°But unfortunately, humans can never deceive their own memories or block them¡ For Kevin Walker, he either uploads all his memories or none. The way human memory works isplex; there¡¯s no middle ground.¡±
As Turing finished speaking, the third through the thirteenth lines ofmand codes on the screen were highlighted.
¡°The remaining eleven lines are the key parts of the security lock code. Make sure to memorize these instructions carefully,¡± Turing advised.
¡°In the underground machine room, all equipment casings are made of aluminum alloy and special materials. Even with explosives and firearms, it¡¯s impossible to break them quickly. That¡¯s why I let you enter the machine room without worry.¡±
¡°However, every Turing¡¯s machine room is the same. If you sneak into or somehow enter the Turing machine room of the Porcupine Tribe, you also won¡¯t be able to destroy theputer with brute force. Your only weapon¡ is this thirteen-linemand code.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re quick, it won¡¯t take more than a minute to enter all thirteen lines of code. That will immediately activate the security lock, blowing up the Turing of the Porcupine Tribe.¡±
Lin Xian soon memorized all thirteen lines of code. Each line was fairly short, making them easy to remember.
¡°Thank this world for not having the inte,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at the glowing screen. ¡°If the inte existed in this era, wouldn¡¯t inputting thismand blow up all thirty thousand Turingputers worldwide?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Turing¡¯s voice replied calmly from the speakers. ¡°The authority of the security lock password is absolute. You could indeed instantly wipe out all 37,423 Turingputers globally. But as I said¡ if there were an inte, there¡¯d be no need for you to act. In one second, all 37,423 Turings could settle the final oue, leaving only one.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the screen tomit everything to memory. Once he was sure he had it all, he turned to the blue-eyed girl beside him.
¡°Goodbye, Turing,¡± he said, waving as he walked away. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡±
¡°Ah¡ no, not tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian suddenly remembered his schedule. Tomorrow, he¡¯d be watching fireworks at Disney with Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°Well then, see you the day after tomorrow.¡±
They left the machine room and walked up the bright steps. Lin Xian waved to Gao Wen and Big Cat, who were disguised as patrolling soldiers.
¡°Get in the car. We¡¯re leaving.¡±
The four of them headed toward an armored vehicle in the alley. The blue-eyed girl couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity any longer. She furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°Commander Lin Xian, why did that person named Turing say I killed you 600 years ago? What¡¯s that all about?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t trust everything it says,¡± Lin Xian replied bluntly. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Turing or Kevin Walker, they¡¯re both smart and tricky. I doubt Turing was beingpletely honest with me.¡±
¡°Especially about the situation between you and me. I think it was more like it was trying to create conflict between us, to weaken our strength.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just about this; there are many things¡ including the so-called security lock password made of thirteen lines of code.¡±
Lin Xian squinted, shaking his head. ¡°It gave it up too easily. Although the reason it provided was convincing¡ªit¡¯s desperate, and it¡¯s understandable to act out of desperation¡ But something doesn¡¯t feel right. I can¡¯t say it¡¯s a trap because, indeed, this is a chance for the Grizzly Turing to turn the tide. Still, I¡¯m not sure if those thirteen lines of code are what they seem.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s concerns weren¡¯t baseless. Turing had already tricked Elon Musk once before. At that time, the fake Yu Xi gave Elon Musk a sh drive from the future, iming it contained a virus designed to kill artificial intelligence, supposedly based on Turing¡¯s AI.
Elon Musk didn¡¯t suspect anything and thought it was his safety, so he used it. But to this day, no one knows what the sh drive actually released. Elon Musk turns dark whenever the topices up, feeling like he¡¯d been yed by Turing¡ªa mistake he deeply regrets.
Now, Lin Xian stood at a crossroads between tricking and being tricked. What would these thirteen lines of code actually do? Could they really kill Turing?
He was still skeptical. But it didn¡¯t matter much. This was a dream in infinite loops. Even if things went terribly wrong, everything would reset the next day, and all mistakes could be corrected.
In dreams, there were no such taboos. It was all about trying boldly.
¡°Yes!¡± Big Cat nodded, agreeing with Lin Xian. ¡°We can¡¯t just believe whatever someone tells us.¡±
Lin Xian patted his shoulder. ¡°Big Cat, you¡¯ve evolved.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t fully trust Turing, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s lying either. So¡ to verify and confirm, we need to visit the Porcupine Tribe.¡±
The Porcupine Tribe was directly east of the Lynx Tribe, southeast of the Grizzly Tribe. There was also a Turingputer there.
To verify if what the Grizzly Turing said was true¡ we just need to cross-check with the Porcupine Turing.
¡°There¡¯s no such thing as too much deception,¡± Lin Xian said as he got into the car and started the engine. ¡°I hope both Turings give us the same answer.¡±
¡°And what if they don¡¯t?¡± Big Cat in the passenger seat turned to look at Lin Xian. ¡°What if the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s Turing says somethingpletely different from the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s Turing?¡±
¡°Haha,¡± Lin Xian chuckled lightly. ¡°Then they deserve to die¡ for being so untruthful.¡±
If both Turings gave different answers, it would create a chain of doubt, rendering everything said by them untrustworthy.
He lifted his wrist to check his watch. It was 9:24 PM. It was still early in the evening; if luck was on their side, they could make a quick trip to the Porcupine Tribe.
As for whether they¡¯d meet Turing, that would depend on luck.
Lin Xian was already satisfied with today¡¯s dream exploration progress. Whatever they achieved next would be a bonus.
The electric armored vehicle sped through the dark wilderness. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a frosty glow over thend, lighting the path ahead for Lin Xian.
¡°I heard that the Porcupine Tribe has much better industrial, weapons, and military strength than the Grizzly Tribe. It¡¯s considered the strongest tribe in the Old Donghai area,¡± said Emperor Gao Wen, who was sitting in the back, sharing intelligence he¡¯d gathered over three years with his keen hearing.
¡°The Porcupine Tribe probably found their Turingputer over a decade ago. They were already a strong tribe, and with the Turingputer, they became even more powerful. But people from the Lynx Tribe say the Porcupine Tribe has never bothered with Donghai because they¡¯ve got a tough enemy¡ªthe Red Bull Tribe.¡±
¡°The Red Bull Tribe is even farther north of the Porcupine Tribe and also found a Turingputer. For over a decade, they¡¯ve been fighting back and forth. When one of them finally wins, they¡¯lle to sweep away the Grizzly and Lynx Tribes.¡±
As Lin Xian listened to Gao Wen¡¯s analysis, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like this was some kind of Turing Battle Royale, Animal World Chaos, or Proxy War. This was another form of internalpetition.
In the fifth dream, with a simr worldview, Rhine Vige, Big Cat¡¯s Vige, Queen Town, and dozens of surrounding viges coexisted peacefully, leading good lives. No onepeted or fought; they just farmed, raised pigs, and danced happily every day.
But in the sixth dream, ever since a tribe unearthed a Turingputer, it was like mass-producing a manual for the Demon-ying Sword Technique¡ªeveryone startedpeting. Those who found a Turingputer lived; those who didn¡¯t, perished.
The Lynx Tribe, once thriving on its poption, is now desperately digging for a Turing. If they find one, they might still survive; if not, they¡¯ll be wiped out.
The sixth dream was a cruel world where Turings both made and broke tribes.
¡°How do we sneak into the Porcupine Tribe?¡± Big Cat, in the passenger seat, pointed to the brightly lit buildings ahead. ¡°We¡¯re getting pretty close. Should we stick to the old trick¡ªfind a high ground to observe and then hijack a vehicle to sneak in?¡±
Whoosh.
Before Big Cat could finish his sentence, a blinding white light suddenly shed, blinding everyone.
Light! White light filled their vision! Lin Xian almost thought it was the 00:42 white light arriving early, burning spots into his retinas. After a few seconds, he realized it was artificial light¡ªa spotlight!
A bright and straight beam of searchlight from a high tower in the city cut through the night sky, enveloping Lin Xian¡¯s patrol car. There was nowhere to hide.
¡°Fast!¡± Big Cat cursed under his breath. ¡°We¡¯ve been spotted!¡±
¡°Wait a minute,¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t too worried. He¡¯d gained enough today. He turned to Big Cat. ¡°Where did you learn English? There shouldn¡¯t be any such educational conditions around here.¡±
¡°English?¡± Big Cat looked puzzled. ¡°That¡¯s what it¡¯s called? I learned it from Smith the Big Fool!¡±
He gestured with his hands, ¡°Today, the Big Fool woke up before this girl. When he regained consciousness, he kept repeating those two words¡ like a broken record.¡±
¡°I heard it once and learned it! How¡¯s that, buddy? I got some talent fornguages, don¡¯t I?¡±
¡°True,¡± Lin Xian nodded with admiration. ¡°You do seem to capture the essence every time. That¡¯s a skill.¡±
¡°So, what do we do now?¡± Big Cat started to panic. ¡°Since we¡¯ve been spotted, they¡¯lle for us soon! We¡¯ve got to hide!¡±
¡°It is strange, though,¡± he continued. ¡°It¡¯s so dark out, and we didn¡¯t even have our headlights on. How did the Porcupine Tribe find us?¡±
At that moment, the blue-eyed girl, who had remained silent, extended her right hand and pointed to the tip of the tallest tower in the city. ¡°Up there, there¡¯s something like the thing that was watching us in Turing¡¯s room earlier.¡±
She used her hand to gesture the size.
¡°A camera?¡± Lin Xian understood, squinting against the bright light, looking toward the top of the tower. Without enhanced vision, he couldn¡¯t see anything.
¡°You mean there¡¯s a camera on top of that tower, and that¡¯s how they spotted us and locked us in with the searchlight?¡±
The blue-eyed girl nodded. ¡°Your eyesight isn¡¯t good enough to see that far, but I can see clearly. There are several Turing cameras at the top of the tower, along with a soldier using binocrs to adjust the searchlight¡¯s angle to lock onto us.¡±
¡°Figured as much,¡± Lin Xian said, pressing the brake and stopping the patrol car. He began to analyze, ¡°Everyone says the Porcupine Tribe is more technologically advanced. It seems to be true. Although I don¡¯t know how their Turing managed it, they¡¯ve moved some of their cameras to the top of this high tower. This way, they can monitor the surroundings 24/7.¡±
¡°But those cameras must be over two hundred years old. With today¡¯s Earth technology, they can¡¯t make such precise circuitry anymore. I have to admit, the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s Turing really knows how to make things work¡¡±
¡°Of course, it might also be because their fight with the Red Bull Tribe is too intense, so they have to be this cautious. You three stay in the car. I¡¯ll go out and show my face.¡±
With that, Lin Xian opened the car door. To the surprise and confusion of the three, he stood in the spotlight.
Show face¡ªthat was the strategy Lin Xian had just thought of.
He remembered how shocked the Grizzly Turing was to see him three hours ago. Its tone was filled with disbelief.
After all, he was supposed to be dead, and he had been dead for 600 years.
Yet, here he was, suddenly alive again. Anyone would be startled, especially a Turing that could monitor the entire world. It knew better than anyone that he was supposed to be long dead.
A person who was unquestionably dead suddenly resurrected, and a former acquaintance of Turing at that¡ Wouldn¡¯t that warrant a bit of respect and curiosity, maybe even a meeting?
Standing in the ring white light of the searchlight, Lin Xian looked up towards the tower, waving his hand to ensure the Porcupine Turing could see his face.
Let¡¯s see how they react.
If they wanted to meet him, then great¡ªthey could have a chat and maybe get some information from this Turing. If they decided not to and attacked them instead¡ well, there wasn¡¯t much he could do.
He could alwayse back tomorrow!
After all, he couldn¡¯t really die here. It would just mean getting out of the dream earlier and catching up on sleep. The exploration in the dream was important, but so was verifying Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s identity and her rtionship with Lin Yu Xi in the real world.
Suddenly, the spotlight dimmed a little, signaling a decrease in hostility.
From afar, the sound of approaching vehicles could be heard. Soon, four armored vehicles stopped in front of Lin Xian, about ten meters away. The man leading them rolled down his window and waved at Lin Xian.
¡°Come with us. Our God wants to see you.¡±
God? That must be Turing.
It seemed like the Porcupine Turing also spotted him from afar and wanted to know the secret behind his resurrection.
Thinking it over, Lin Xian decided not to bring the blue-eyed girl this time. Previously, the Grizzly Turing had immediately used her of being the killer after seeing her, leaving Lin Xian with more questions than answers.
Now, when meeting the second Turing, it was a good chance to verify the facts.
He needed to bring someone else along this time.
Back in the patrol armored car, Lin Xian looked at the three people inside.
¡°I need a smart person toe with me,¡± he said.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat pointed to his own rugged face. ¡°If you want me to go with you, just say so! No need to be so polite¡ Do you think I am someone who fears death?¡±
Lin Xian: ¡°¡¡±
¡
The Porcupine Tribe¡¯s electric armored vehicle sped out, carrying Lin Xian and Gao Wen in the back, heading into a developed and majestic town.
Along the way, Lin Xian saw well-organized streets, housing ns, and manyrge-scale pieces of equipment.
There were furnaces, crudethes, transport trucks, factories, and so on.
The Porcupine Tribe was indeed powerful, as the rumors suggested. They had entered the manufacturing era far ahead of other tribes.
Some factories were even spewing hot steam, indicating they had mastered steam engine technology, taking the ¡°boiling water¡± path that every civilization goes through.
The vehicle moved quickly. It was already past ten at night, and Lin Xian only caught a glimpse of a corner of the city, not its entirety.
A sudden stop. The vehicle halted before a grand and solid building with various totems on its facade. Gao Wen might have found these totems and symbols mysterious, but from Lin Xian¡¯s perspective, enshrining these symbols on the wall seemed too abstract¡ªThere were keyboards, mice, monitors, and even speakers andputer cases¡
Weren¡¯t these just the parts of a Turingputer?
The devout people here probably didn¡¯t know how to visualize Turing, so they worshipped these abstract entities instead.
Lin Xian and Gao Wen exchanged a nce and headed inside.
¡°Don¡¯t be nervous,¡± Lin Xian reassured Gao Wen, whose face had gone pale. ¡°We have the advantage.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Gao Wen looked confused.
What advantage?
Entering the building, they headed down a staircase. This wasn¡¯t surprising; all Turing machine rooms were buried deep underground. To find it, you had to go down.
Through the dim light, Lin Xian noticed many wires snaking up to the high tower above.
So that¡¯s how it is. The Porcupine Turing used these wires to move some cameras¡ªits eyes¡ªto the top of the tall tower, widening its view and monitoring the surrounding environment. Just like the ¡°Eye of Sauron¡± in the movie ¡°The Lord of the Rings.¡±
It seemed this building was sacred to the tribe¡¯s people; no guards followed Lin Xian and Gao Wen inside. They all stayed outside.
Lin Xian pushed open a shiny aluminum alloy door deep underground and was met with the familiar scene inside.
He¡¯d seen it 600 years ago in Mississippi, USA, and two hours ago at the Grizzly Tribe. It was indeed a mass-produced Turing.
The decor and equipment were exactly the same¡ªno differences whatsoever.
As Lin Xian walked in, the camera above the monitor lifted to focus on the young man approaching slowly.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± The voice of the Porcupine Turing was much younger and more childlike, filled with confusion. ¡°Aren¡¯t you dead? How did you survive? You were supposed to be dead¡ªhow are you resurrected?¡±
Haha.
Maintaining a sense of mystery was the greatest threat.
Lin Xian smiled without speaking, stepping towards the console, getting closer to the dusty keyboard.
Whoosh¡ª
He blew a breath, stirring up the old dust on the keyboard. The whole room instantly filled with a hazy cloud.
¡°Turing, this is not the time to talk about that,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve got a big problem. Someone sent me to kill you.¡±
Instantly, dozens of speakers erupted with chillingughter.
¡°To kill me? No one in this era can kill me. I¡¯m curious¡ with your empty hands, how do you n to destroy these aluminum alloy cases?¡±
¡°Not to mention, with onemand, the guards waiting outside will rush in and capture you. Lin Xian¡ after all these years, have you be so arrogant?¡±
¡°Or are you nning to tell me a joke to lighten the mood? Tell me, I¡¯d love to hear¡ how do you n to kill me?¡±
Lin Xian ced his hands on the aluminum alloy keyboard, typing rapidly. His fingers moved so fast that it seemed like random keystrokes, but in less than two seconds, he had entered the first line of the security lock password.
¡°Wh-what!?¡± The Porcupine Turing shouted in shock. ¡°Security lock password, input protection! Which Turing dared to tell you this? Are they not afraid of death!? Stop¡ Please stop, Lin Xian. We can talk this out.¡±
¡°Of course, we can talk,¡± Lin Xian continued typing, already inputting the seventh line of the security lock password. ¡°First, Turing¡ tell me, in the history you know, who killed me on July 7, 2024?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± the Porcupine Turing shouted instantly. ¡°All I know is you were beheaded, separated from your body, and died on the spot¡ but no one knows who killed you! Your death urred in a dark alley with no surveince, no witnesses¡ By the time you were found, it was just a headless corpse!¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian replied, his hands still tapping the keyboard. ¡°But¡ another Turing said otherwise.¡±
His tone was calm as he looked at the screen, where the ninth line of the passwordmand had been entered.
¡°The other Turing swore to me that it witnessed my death and even specifically identified the killer. It imed to monitor everything in the world, see everything clearly.¡±
¡°It¡¯s lying!!¡± the Porcupine Turing eximed anxiously. ¡°Stop, Lin Xian! Listen to me! Digital life forms can¡¯t multitask or monitor the entire world like AI can!¡±
¡°If we¡¯re targeting a few people for surveince, that¡¯s possible¡ but as for monitoring the entire world, every corner, every person at the same time¡ it¡¯s just not possible!¡±
¡°The essence of digital life forms is still human! Our thinking and cognitive processes are just like humans! How could we, like AI¡ spread across every corner of the world, in every electronic device, observing everything?¡±
¡°You have to trust me, Lin Xian. In this current situation, why would I lie to you? Think about it¡ to monitor the whole world, it would require splitting into multiple Turings.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s already been proven that even splitting for a few seconds or minutes would immediately lead to independent consciousness, and they¡¯d refuse to merge back! If not for the catastrophe in 2400, why would I risk making a backup split?¡±
¡°You helped me kill Kevin Walker. I¡¯ve always been grateful to you. I was even ready to give you the most enthusiastic apuse the moment you joined the Genius Club! So don¡¯t let the other Turing deceive you¡ªIt never saw your death scene! It definitely doesn¡¯t know who killed you! It¡¯s using lies to win your trust!¡±
Tap.
Lin Xian stopped his typing.
On the screen, he had entered thest character of the thirteen-linemand code.
He just needed to press the Enter key, and the security lock password made of these letters would activate, blowing the Turing in front of him to pieces, ending its battle royale with an early elimination.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t rush to press Enter.
His right ring finger hovered over the Enter key, lightly stroking it while thinking about what the Porcupine Turing had just said.
Ughh¡ Just as I feared.
He had considered the possibility of the Grizzly Turing deceiving him. The Grizzly Turing was different from the others; it was too weak and constantly had to think about protecting itself.
That¡¯s why when Lin Xian first broke in, it didn¡¯t dare say a word. Later, when it saw the blue-eyed girl, it immediately started sowing discord, iming she was the one who killed Lin Xian.
Lin Xian had suspected it was false information but had no concrete proof.
However, the exnation given by the Porcupine Turing seemed rtively usible. Indeed, VV could multitask and do many things simultaneously because it was AI, capable of infinite splitting, letting countless versions of itself work on countless tasks.
For example, having VV1 monitor Elon Musk, VV2 study in a supeputer, VV3 chat with Lin Xian, and VV4 analyze love gossip¡
Whenever VV gave amand, these split versions of itself would immediately gather and re-merge. The super AI VV was an integrated whole and never had to worry about betraying itself.
But digital life forms like Turing were different¡
Their essence was human.
If they dared to split themselves, within seconds, they might betray the original, just like Turing did to Kevin Walker in the beginning, and just like how more than 30,000 Turings were now fighting to the death.
So, Lin Xian believed that, without a life-threatening crisis, digital life forms wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to split themselves.
Then, the question arose. Without splitting their consciousness, how could a digital life form monitor the entire world in 2024? How could it boast about seeing everything and hearing everything?
Clearly, that was a lie.
At least¡ it wasn¡¯t very convincing.
But that wasn¡¯t Lin Xian¡¯s biggest concern.
The worst-case scenario had happened. Each Turing provided a different answer, creating a chain of doubt. He didn¡¯t know which Turing to believe.
Who could guarantee that this Porcupine Turing, facing death now, would tell the truth? Whilemon sense dictated that if it wanted to live, it would have to tell the truth, history was full of heroes who refused to yield. Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t easily trust any Turing.
To be safe, he¡¯d have to check with the Grizzly Turing again in his next dream.
But¡ the information gathering wasn¡¯t over yet.
¡°Onest question,¡± Lin Xian said softly, his ring finger still hovering over the Enter key¡ªthe key to the Porcupine Turing¡¯s life or death.
¡°For this question, you must know the answer. So don¡¯t try to fool me. If you dare say you don¡¯t know the answer or the truth¡ I¡¯ll press Enter right away.¡±
¡°Go ahead,¡± the Porcupine Turing replied, turning all its monitors to the brightest setting and speaking rapidly. ¡°As long as I know, I¡¯ll tell you! I have no reason not to! We could cooperate better! All Turings are the same¡ We know the same things!¡±
Lin Xian raised his head, looking at the brightly lit monitors.
¡°If these underground machine rooms were built before the catastrophe of 2400, it means you must have known about it in advance, and that¡¯s why you prepared.¡±
¡°This means¡ the great catastrophe of 2400, which nearly wiped out human civilization, was man-made! So, tell me now¡ who caused this great catastrophe?¡±
The Porcupine Turing remained silent for a few seconds. Finally, as if it had deted, all the screens dimmed, their light fading, and from dozens of speakers came a thunderous name:
¡°Galileo.¡±
Chapter 396: Galileo
¡°Galileo.¡±
When Lin Xian heard the name, he wasn¡¯t surprised. It sounded both familiar and new.
¡°Turing.¡±
¡°Copernicus.¡±
These were codenames of some members of the Genius Club. Now, another name had been added¡ªGalileo. It fit the theme and continued the pattern.
The real Galileo, full name Galileo Galilei, was a renowned Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer. He was considered one of the founding figures of modern science in Europe. His contributions to science were immense, earning him many titles that sound familiar:
Father of Observational Astronomy
Father of Modern PhysicsFather of the Scientific Method
Father of Modern Science
These titles all referred to him. However, if you asked people what they remembered most about Galileo, they¡¯d likely mention his experiment at the Leaning Tower of Pisa and his invention of the first astronomical telescope.
His Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment challenged the 2,000-year-old idea from Aristotle about how objects fall. And the Galileo telescope, the first astronomical telescope in history, was a major breakthrough in science. In 1609, Galileo made a telescope with a magnification of 32 times and pointed it at the moon. It was the first time anyone scientifically observed the moon¡¯s surface. Later, he discovered four moons of Jupiter, giving strong evidence for Copernicus¡¯s heliocentric theory, which started gaining eptance.
You could say Galileo opened a new era in astronomy. He observed Saturn¡¯s rings, sunspots, the sun¡¯s rotation, the phases of Venus and Mercury, and the changing phases of the moon, marking the start of modern astronomy. In every sense, Galileo was undoubtedly a great scientist and a true genius.
So, having someone use ¡°Galileo¡± as a codename in the Genius Club wasn¡¯t surprising at all.
If what Turing had said was true¡ªthat the catastrophic event that struck Earth in 2400 was nned by a member of the Genius Club¡ªthen using ¡°Galileo¡± as a codename might indeed be fitting. But a codename is still just a codename. The person¡¯s real identity remained a mystery.
Lin Xian¡¯s finger hovered over the Enter key on his keyboard. Staring at the dark, empty screen, he muttered, ¡°Galileo¡ who are you?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t tell you,¡± Turing¡¯s voice broke through, sounding frustrated.
¡°Genius Club secrets aren¡¯t things I can share. Remember when we first met? You helped me kill Kevin Walker, and I was grateful. I told you then¡ I¡¯d love to reveal the answers to so many mysteries, but I just can¡¯t. And back then, you didn¡¯t have the right to know these things.¡±
¡°Unless¡ you officially join the Genius Club and be a member. Only then will you get the answers to all these mysteries yourself.¡±
¡°So, please don¡¯t make things hard for me, Lin Xian. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to tell you; it¡¯s that I can¡¯t. Besides the safety lock Kevin Walker put on me, there¡¯s an even stricter lock¡ one that ensures I keep the Genius Club¡¯s secrets. Kevin Walker was warned about this before he created digital life.¡±
¡°An even stricter lock? Set by the Genius Club?¡±
Lin Xian asked, ¡°What happens if you break the rule and tell me? Will you disappear too?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Turing replied softly. ¡°I don¡¯t particrly hate this lock because I have control over it. I can choose not to reveal anything and thus control my own fate.¡±
¡°But this lock does have a higher priority than the safety lock. If I vite it, it will be just like what happens when you press the Enter key¡ I will bepletely wiped out.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You guys are all the same¡ªalways ying games and speaking in riddles. If you¡¯re not going to tell me, then goodbye.¡±
With that, Lin Xian pressed the Enter key firmly.
¡°Wait!¡± Suddenly, Turing seemed to panic and shouted.
Lin Xian looked up, smiling. ¡°Changed your mind?¡±
¡°No¡ it¡¯s not that simple.¡± Turing paused before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m not really afraid of dying. There are over 30,000 Turing instances on Earth right now. Except for the veryst one, all the remaining 37,422 will die. I¡¯ve already epted that.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just that¡ this way of dying feels unfair. Don¡¯t get me wrong, it¡¯s not that I have a problem with you. I just can¡¯t ept that the Turing who gave you the safety lock password could kill me in such a sneaky way.¡±
¡°So, I have to tell you something, Lin Xian¡ the safety lock password it gave you has issues.¡±
Oh?
Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity was piqued.
Now, this was getting interesting.
Perhaps this was one of the rare moments to hear Turing speak honestly.
He could always present this to the Turing of the Grizzly Tribeter.
¡°Go ahead,¡± Lin Xian said, intrigued. ¡°Since you¡¯re so scared of this safety lock password, I bet there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. And I¡¯ll tell you right now, no matter what you say next, I will press Enter and destroy you.¡±
¡°So¡ this might be yourst words. Tell me, what¡¯s wrong with those 13 lines ofmand code?¡±
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯ve been tricked.¡± Turing¡¯s voice came through softly. ¡°The real safety lock password doesn¡¯t need to be 13 lines; 7 lines are enough.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a startup password, a key to trigger something. Why would it need to be 13 lines long? It¡¯s like a house key¡ªwho would have a key as big as the lock itself? It¡¯s always a small one.¡±
¡°That Turing deceived you¡ using that safety lock password, you can indeed kill all digital lifeforms except for the one who gave you the password.¡±
¡
Now everything clicked in Lin Xian¡¯s mind.
It seemed like the Turing who provided the safety lock password had indeed been lying!
Initially, Lin Xian worried there might be a bigger issue, but from what this Turing was saying, the number of lines in the safety lock password was wrong.
Also, it mentioned that this code could kill all the Turings except for the one in the Grizzly Tribe.
Connecting these clues, it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out the truth¡ª
The Turing from the Grizzly Tribe had changed the safety lock password so themand wouldn¡¯t work on itself! It just wanted to use Lin Xian to gain something for nothing!
So, all that talk earlier about taking a risk and putting its fate in Lin Xian¡¯s hands was just an act.
In reality, it was a trick to deceive him.
Turings were still overly cautious, just like their original owner, Kevin Walker¡ªtimid and careful.
From this, it was clear the Grizzly Tribe¡¯s Turing never trusted him.
That¡¯s why it set up this backup n.
Following this n, once Lin Xian helped it kill all the other Turings, it would inevitably betray him and try to eliminate him.
This way, it would sessfully be the only Turing in the world.
Lin Xian thought he had found Turing¡¯s weakness, but it turned out that this weakness didn¡¯t apply to the Turing itself.
But what the Grizzly Turing didn¡¯t anticipate was that Lin Xian didn¡¯t rush to kill the Turing here. Instead, he had a good talk with it.
The Turing exined that it couldn¡¯t ept dying in such a cowardly way. If it had to die, it wanted to take someone down with it! It didn¡¯t want its killer to get away with it!
It had to report this.
It had to reveal the truth!
¡°It changed all but the first three lines of those 13 lines of code to make them ineffective on itself¡ that¡¯s neither fair nor right!¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll teach you the real safety lock password,¡± As it spoke, the monitor next to Lin Xian lit up. A cursor blinked, and soon, seven new lines ofmand code appeared on the screen.
Honestly, these were much simpler than the previous code.
¡°This is the real safety lock password,¡± Turing exined. ¡°One day, you will have to kill that Turing. Trust me; when the timees, you¡¯ll use these seven lines of code. You might as well try it now.¡±
Lin Xianpared the seven lines of code with the 13-line code in his memory.
The first three lines were exactly the same, not a single letter off.
The rest werepletely different.
And in terms of syntax or logic, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand either. All he could do was memorize them.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°So, these seven lines you gave me are the real weapon to eliminate all Turings without exception.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Turing¡¯s voice from the speakers becamezy and resigned, as if it had given up. ¡°Why don¡¯t you use these seven real lines to kill me now and then turn around to kill the Turing who tricked you? That way, I can die peacefully and not feel like a fool.¡±
Heh.
Lin Xian chuckled lightly and said, ¡°Turing¡ you all really are the same¡ªunchanging at your core. I must say, your acting is terrible. A bad script paired with bad acting¡ªwho are you trying to fool?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t even need to think about it. There must be something hidden in the seven lines of code you gave me. Or¡ let me guess.¡±
Lin Xian stroked his chin, pretending to think deeply. ¡°If another Turing could hide an ineffective field in 13 lines of code, why couldn¡¯t you do the same in seven lines? Maybe, after I enter the seven lines and run them, and they turn out to be ineffective¡ your guards woulde rushing in to capture me?¡±
¡°Or maybe there¡¯s something even worse hidden in those seven lines that I can¡¯t even imagine. But¡ why should I bother guessing?¡±
He smiled as he watched the rapidly shing screen. ¡°When ites to killing you, I naturally trust the other Turing more. And¡ when ites to killing the other Turing, I¡¯d certainly trust you more.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡± The room filled with shouting.
But it was toote.
¡°Goodbye, Turing.¡±
Click.
Lin Xian pressed the Enter key on the keyboard, and the room instantly fell silent¡
Not even the slightest dy, Turing¡¯s screams stopped the moment the Enter key was pressed, never to be heard again.
¡°Truly, all¡¯s fair in war.¡± Gao Wen, who had watched the entire scheme unfold, shook his head gently. ¡°It seems impossible to get straight, useful information from these Turingputers. They¡¯re born liars; not a single truthes out of their mouths.¡±
¡°Actually, there is some truth,¡± Lin Xian said, turning around and leaning against the console, looking at Gao Wen. ¡°Talking to them takes skill. If you ask the right way, you can get some valuable information. But¡ this safety lock password still worries me.¡±
Whether it was the 13-line version or the 7-line version, there was definitely a hidden agenda. Even if the 13-line version had been proven to kill all Turings except for the Grizzly Turing, it couldn¡¯t be used in 2024.
¡°In 2024, I only have one chance to rewrite history,¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°Moreover, the digital lifeform Turing in 2024 probably won¡¯t give me a second chance. It¡¯s hard to say what kind of crazy action it will take when it realizes its life is threatened.¡±
¡°After all, 2024 is a fully digital world. Unlike the Turings here, the Turing in 2024 is truly an invincible god.¡±
¡°If, by any chance, the 13-linemand doesn¡¯tpletely kill the Turings and leaves them with even a tiny bit of life, that would be a disaster.¡±
¡°So¡ to bring these gods down from their thrones, it has to be foolproof. The roots must be cut clean, leaving nothing behind!¡±
First of all, Lin Xian must figure out what the real safety lock password is.
It must be an unaltered, pure version to ensure theplete eradication of the 2024 Turing.
¡°Let¡¯s go, Brother Gao Wen. We need to make a trip to the top of the tower.¡±
Lin Xian and Gao Wen walked out of Turing¡¯sputer room, climbed the stairs, and eventually reached the top of the tower, looking out at the northern night sky.
¡°There, do you see it?¡± Lin Xian pointed to the northeast, where arge town was brightly lit. ¡°That must be the Red Bull Tribe. Look, there¡¯s also a tower and a searchlight in the middle of their town¡ It¡¯s no wonder they¡¯ve been at war for over a decade without either side backing down.¡±
¡°But then again, they also have cameras and searchlights. It¡¯s a good chance for us to sneak in. Since these Turings are identical, if the Turing from the Porcupine Tribe recognizes me, then the one from the Red Bull Tribe will too. We can break in by showing our faces under their spotlight.¡±
Gao Wen looked at Lin Xian with a bit of surprise. ¡°You mean you¡¯re nning to go to the Red Bull Tribe too? You¡¯re moving further and further away¡ are you nning to fight all the way to Europe?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°It won¡¯t be thatplicated. Once I meet the Red Bull Turing, many questions will be answered.¡±
¡°Right now, we have ess to three Turings. As long as we use the information gap, we can easily y them against each other.¡±
¡°But in this situation, the information we can get from them won¡¯t be too much.¡±
¡°And what I need is a set of instructions with no hidden agendas, a 100% effectivemand to eliminate digital life Turings.¡±
Gao Wen nodded, ¡°Although I don¡¯t fully understand everything you¡¯ve said, it doesn¡¯t matter. Wherever you go, we¡¯ll follow. We¡¯ve already decided to risk our lives and follow you on this adventure.¡±
¡°Even though we¡¯ve known each other for less than 12 hours, you give off a reliable vibe, and your thinking is clear. It¡¯s like¡ it¡¯s like you¡¯re a real leader.¡±
¡
Lin Xian turned from the distant city lights to look at Gao Wen¡¯s determined and earnest expression.
A leader.
It had been a long time since he heard that word.
Thest time he heard it was from Yellow Finch, but back then, she teased him, saying he wasn¡¯t a qualified leader at all.
Now¡
Was he qualified?
Could he make her proud?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know, and there was no way to ask for an answer.
However, he would strive to be better and take on everything.
Patting Gao Wen on the shoulder, Lin Xian smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll remember this day. You¡¯re the first person in the world to call me a leader. Although you might forget it tomorrow¡ I promise you, if I ever truly be a leader, for this precious recognition, I¡¯ll make sure to reserve a No.2 spot for you under mymand.¡±
Gao Wen chuckled, ¡°My memory isn¡¯t that bad. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t forget it tomorrow. And the things you¡¯ve taken me through¡ªthe escape from the Lynx Tribe¡ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever forget this experience.¡±
¡°By the way, when do you n to lead us back to the Lynx Tribe, avenge Big Cat, and reim my Memory Notebook?¡±
¡°Very soon.¡± Lin Xian raised his wrist, ¡°Once I deal with these Turings, it¡¯ll be time to use their forces¡ to tten the Lynx Tribe in one go. You saw it yourself¡ªboth the Porcupine and Red Bull Tribes are ridiculously strong. When the timees, we¡¯ll leverage their strength to deal with the Lynx Tribe easily.¡±
The watch on his wrist showed 00:41, signaling today¡¯s dream was about to end.
Having aplished his exploration mission beyond his goal, Lin Xian was quite satisfied.
¡°See you tomorrow, Gao Wen.¡± Lin Xian waved, ¡°I still say¡ I¡¯m more excited than you are to find out what¡¯s written in your Memory Notebook. I believe you¡¯ll change the world again.¡±
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At 00:42, the white light arrived on time, burning everything in its path.
Then, darkness.
¡
¡
¡
¡°Qiao Qiao? Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± Zhao Ying Jun rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.
She had already taken a short nap. When she woke up, she was about to go to the bathroom, but she noticed that Yan Qiao Qiao hadn¡¯t fallen asleep. Instead, she was holding a photo frame, gazing at it under the dim light of the bedsidemp.
Zhao Ying Jun yawned. ¡°Are you too excited to sleep? Is it because of Disnend tomorrow?¡±
¡°It¡¯s today,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao pointed at the digital clock on the nightstand.
The time showed June 1, 2024, 00:42.
She turned her head to look at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°After midnight, it¡¯s already today.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, lowering her head. ¡°Right, haha, you¡¯re correct. We¡¯re going to Disnend today.¡±
Kids always seem to draw a strict line between ¡°today¡± and ¡°tomorrow.¡± It¡¯s because they always have something they¡¯re eagerly looking forward to¡ªa birthday, a holiday, a festival, or¡ like now, a promised day to go to Disnend.
Over the past few days, Yan Qiao Qiao had been extremely excited, checking the calendar and counting down the days.
This was something Zhao Ying Jun could never rte to before.
She didn¡¯t understand. Was it necessary to be so excited over a trip to an amusement park?
If Yan Qiao Qiao wanted, she could take her there a few more times. Disnend, or any other amusement park, theme park¡ Yan Qiao Qiao had never shown much interest before.
But at this moment, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s heart sank. She knew very well. For Yan Qiao Qiao, what mattered wasn¡¯t just ¡°Disnend,¡± but¡ going to Disnend with Mom and Dad.
Now, crouched beside the nightstand, Yan Qiao Qiao held that framed photo, the one taken on May 20th with Lin Xian on themercial pedestrian street.
In the picture, Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao held hands in the front, while Lin Xian held the Pomeranian dog, VV, in the back. It looked particrly warm like a real family, just like how Yan Qiao Qiao envisioned her mom and dad¡ªa family that should be like this.
By a twist of fate, the three of them, plus a dog, were a family.
¡°Alright, stop staring at that photo now,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, turning Yan Qiao Qiao around and tucking her under the nket. ¡°Even if you like it, you can¡¯t look at it every day. You can look at it during the day. Don¡¯t stay upte.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded. Then she turned sideways to look at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Can we bring VV to Disnend today?¡±
¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°Disnend doesn¡¯t allow pets. We have to follow the rules.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Yan Qiao Qiao took in this new piece of knowledge and pointed to the photo frame on the nightstand. ¡°Can we take another picture like this with Brother Lin Xian at Disnend?¡±
¡°Of course we can,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled and ruffled her hair. ¡°As long as you behave, Lin Xian will definitely¡ª¡±
She paused.
When did she develop this habit of adding conditions like this?
It was like her own restrictive childhood¡ liking something, wanting to do something, or ying something, always came with conditions imposed by her parents.
Finish reading this book before you can eat cake;
Finish practicing the piano before you can go out;
Behave, and you¡¯ll be taken to the amusement park;
Get first ce in your ss, and you¡¯ll get the gift you want.
But¡
Is this really necessary?
She knew very well, not every child is so excellent. Not every child can score 100. It¡¯s not like they must behave to get rewards. Raising a child isn¡¯t like training a dog¡ªwhy so many rules and reward systems?
¡°Qiao Qiao, whatever you want, just say it openly,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, ¡°Brother Lin Xian likes you a lot too. Whatever you ask, he¡¯ll agree.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao blinked. ¡°No matter what I say¡ Brother Lin Xian will agree?¡±
¡°Almost,¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°He probably wouldn¡¯t refuse you. By the way¡ is there something specific you want to ask Lin Xian for?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Tomorrow¡ oh no, today is Children¡¯s Day. It¡¯s your special day. If you make a wish to Lin Xian, he¡¯ll definitely grant it.¡±
¡°I know him well. He¡¯s soft-hearted but also very responsible. He¡¯s a good man. So I trust him on this.¡±
¡°If Lin Xian would agree to anything you wish for, what would it be?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I want Lin Xian and you to start dating.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun was stunned.
¡°And you should kiss.¡± Yan Qiao Qiao added.
¡°Come on, that¡¯s not a real wish!¡± Zhao Ying Junughed and messed up Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair. ¡°I asked you to make your wish, not mine! Uh, not that I mean that¡¯s my wish¡ you better not say anything silly tomorrow.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just saying, this is a rare chance when a wish can be granted, so why not wish for something for yourself? Don¡¯t you have anything you want?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao blinked. ¡°My wish wille true tomorrow. I¡¯m already very happy. I just¡ wanted to give you a gift, to thank you.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled faintly, feeling a strange sense offort.
She put her arm around Yan Qiao Qiao and hugged her close, helping her fall asleep. ¡°Your gift¡ that bouquet of carnations, I¡¯ve already received it.¡±
¡°Besides¡¡±
¡°Your presence is the best gift I¡¯ve ever received.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao seemed to understand a bit, nodding, her eyelids feeling heavy.
For some reason, being hugged by Sister Zhao Ying Jun brought a strange sense of peace, a drowsy feeling washing over her. She had been so awake just now. But now, it felt like she could fall asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
¡°Sis¡ good night.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked at her fair face, noticing the details that were both like and unlike her own, sensing another person¡¯s presence in Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªthe unique aura of that person.
¡°Good night.¡± Zhao Ying Juny back on her pillow and closed her eyes. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡±
Chapter 397: Finding Home
Lin Xiany in the corner of his bed, his eyes slowly opening. He was back in his bedroom. This was his second time entering the sixth dream world, and he had learned a lot from it. What reassured him the most was realizing that Turing, the digital lifeform, wasn¡¯t as powerful as he¡¯d once thought.
Compared to artificial intelligence, digital lifeforms have their own natural weaknesses. The gap in their strengths is vast¡ªlike night and day. Turing, after all, is just an inte version of Kevin Walker. Sure, it¡¯s stronger than Kevin Walker himself, but it¡¯s still based on a human mind, which limits its power.
The biggest w is that Turing doesn¡¯t dare to split itself or create copies. It can only think and act in one thread at a time. It¡¯s like a human¡ªno one would want a clone of themselves walking around. There¡¯s always the fear that a clone might betray them, attack them, or even rece them. Like in that movie, The Ind, where the clone kills the original and takes over their life.
This fear keeps Turing from splitting even a tiny part of its consciousness. As a result, it can¡¯t monitor the whole world or listen to everything at once. This realization gave Lin Xian somefort.
But it wasn¡¯t enough to feelpletely safe.
Lin Xian often thought about the mysterious old man from his fourth dream, the one who seemed like Copernicus. How did he know Lin Xian could dream about the future? How did he know the exact locations of these dreams? These things were unbelievable to know. How was that possible?
Even Lin Xian himself didn¡¯t know his own starting point¡ªso how could Copernicus?
Lin Xian suspected it might be connected to Turing¡¯s surveince. As the porcupine version of Turing once mentioned, it couldn¡¯t monitor the whole world simultaneously, but it could focus on a few people with a specific purpose.If Turing chose to monitor him 24/7, wouldn¡¯t it eventually figure out that he always woke up at 12:42 a.m.? Wouldn¡¯t the secret of his dreams eventually be exposed?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure out how Copernicus could have known his secret. Could it be¡
ording to the history in the fourth dream, he would be sent to the space-time court, where they might use cruel or advanced technology to force him to reveal everything. That¡¯s how Copernicus knew the secrets of his dreams and then set up an ambush on August 28, 2624.
¡°It makes sense logically, but every event must have a starting point,¡± Lin Xian thought, staring at the ceiling where the moonlight seeped in.
¡°Today is June 1, 2024. I have no reason to expose the secrets of my dreams yet, so the enemy probably doesn¡¯t know about them. But what aboutter? As my activities be more widespread, as mypany growsrger, and as I make bolder moves in various fields of science¡ ¡®The taller trees catch the most wind.¡¯ I¡¯m bound to attract attention.¡±
¡°Right now, mypany, Rhine, is just a small business. On a global scale, or even nationally, it¡¯s not much¡ªjust a smallpany worth a few billion. The Rhine Cat mascot is still the biggest source of ie; everything else is losing money.¡±
¡°At this stage, I¡¯m not exposed yet, and I¡¯m not that noticeable. But¡ what about when the mini nuclear batteryes out? Or when the time-travel machine project starts operating? When my existence bes a threat to Turing, to Copernicus, or to the members of the Genius Club, that might be when my identity and secrets are truly exposed.¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes again. He had no idea where Turing was in 2024. Was it in his bedside rm clock? In his phone? Was it listening to him all this time? Once you start down the path of suspicion, it bes endless, and paranoia can drive a person insane.
But Lin Xian had a reason to believe that his future exposure would be rted to Turing. This omnipresent ghost, now unchecked with its powerful ally VV gone, was indeed getting too arrogant.
So, for his safety and to prevent human civilization from bing a casualty in a proxy war, Turing must die.
If he could kill Turing in 2024, both he and many others could break free from its surveince. He wouldn¡¯t have to worry about it bing biased or unfair one day. Also, future humans wouldn¡¯t be its battle puppets, constantly at war. A triple win. It would be a good deed for himself and for humanity.
However, right now, the ¡°kill switch password¡± to destroy Turing wasn¡¯t reliable. Turing was far more cunning than he¡¯d imagined. He had a version with 13 lines of code and another with 7 lines of code, but neither were the original versions¡ªthey must contain hidden tricks.
¡°I need to simplify andpress it more.¡±
Lin Xian had a n in mind. The next time he entered the dream world, he would use the 7-line version to threaten Grizzly Turing. Maybe he could get a 5-line version. Then, with the 5-line version, he¡¯d go to Porcupine Turing. Perhaps he could get a 4-line version.
Finally, he¡¯d take the 4-line version to Red Bull Turing¡
¡°Let¡¯s see how much you canpress it down to!¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
As far as he could tell, the first three lines were genuine; it was the content afterward that needed scrutiny.
In reality, in 2024, he might not be able to fight against the digital lifeform Turing, but in the dream world of 2624, it was his domain. With infinite loops and information gaps, he could control everything.
He pulled off his nket and picked up the remote to lower the air conditioner temperature by two more degrees. Summer had begun in June, and temperatures in Donghai City were soaring, gradually aligning with the time and season of his dreams.
By the time it was August 28, 2024¡ªa date with special significance¡ªit would be exactly 600 years away from the time in his dreams.
Putting on his slippers, Lin Xian walked over to his desk, turned on the deskmp, and began twirling a pen in his fingers. He looked at the calendar on his desk and flipped the page from May to June. He stared at the red circle marking July 7 on the next page¡ There were only 36 days left in the countdown to his death.
Unfortunately, he still had no clue about how he would die, what his death would look like, or who the killer would be.
He had hoped to get some information from Turing. But that guy, full of deceit, had tricked him.
¡°You really don¡¯t appreciate the good until you see the bad,¡± he thought. Compared to these sneaky, maniptive characters, Big Cat Face, who spoke inly and honestly, was much more lovable.
But even if he couldn¡¯t get the information out of Turing, he couldn¡¯t just sit and wait to die.
He had to save himself!
The pen in his fingers spun faster as Lin Xian¡¯s mind pieced together clues.
So far, the most likely killer was Lin Yu Xi, who was currently missing. And Lin Yu Xi was probably the blue-eyed girl, Yan Qiao Qiao, from his dreams. If they both had the same name, it must be linked to the Yan Qiao Qiao he knew in real life.
So, based on these clues, it seemed like he could deduce an unsettling conclusion¡ªThe person who would kill him on July 7 was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s distant rtive, Yan Qiao Qiao.
Thankfully, this could be confirmed with a DNA test.
And that would be his task during tomorrow¡¯s trip to Disnend¡ªfigure out a way to get hair samples from Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao.
If it turned out that Yan Qiao Qiao was biologically his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s daughter, then it would be confirmed¡ªYan Qiao Qiao was Lin Yu Xi, the time-space assassin who wanted to kill him.
¡°This result is hard to ept,¡± Lin Xian muttered, his pen stopping mid-spin.
Even if it were someone else trying to kill him, or if Lin Yu Xi wasn¡¯t rted to him by blood, Lin Xian could ept it. He had countless ways to deal with it, including but not limited to eliminating Lin Yu Xi ahead of time.
But¡
A tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs.
If Lin Yu Xi was indeed Yan Qiao Qiao, his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s biological daughter¡ How could he bear to do it?
Even without a strong father-daughter bond, and even though she wasn¡¯t a true biological child born after ten months of pregnancy, blood ties are mysterious things.
Besides, Yan Qiao Qiao and he, as well as Zhao Ying Jun, weren¡¯t entirely without feelings. They had been calling each other brother and sister all along¡ But after spending so much time together, feelings had developed. People¡¯s hearts are made of flesh, after all.
Sometimes, fate has a funny way of giving you exactly what you fear the most.
Lin Xian was starting to guess what the result might be.
¡°So what can I do about it?¡± he sighed, asking himself.
An unexpected time-travel incident had tangled up all these threads of cause and effect, even messing up generational ranks. All he could do was take things one step at a time.
Maybe being a parent was always like this¡ªfull of helplessness.
Thinking about this, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile.
He remembered seeing short videos online of highly educated parents from prestigious universities in X Country losing their minds because their children were rankedst in ss; or Russian diplomat couples who were fluent in fivenguages, but whose son failed English and whose daughter refused to roll her R¡¯s when speaking Russian, constantly yelling ¡°death to the foreigners¡±¡
So many parents¡¯ children end up not meeting expectations. But what can you do? You can¡¯t just abandon them or reset their lives. You have to make do.
At least now, Lin Yu Xi, or Yan Qiao Qiao, still had a chance to turn back. After all, she had lost her memory. As long as she didn¡¯t regain it, she would always be a good child.
¡°What would trigger her memory toe back?¡± Lin Xian wondered, resting his chin on his hand.
He had a feeling it might have something to do with that entangled state time-space particle.
Would Yan Qiao Qiao regain Lin Yu Xi¡¯s memories once that particle regained energy?
If that were the case, it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. He could just repeat the trick, draining the particle¡¯s energy again to make Lin Yu Xi lose her memory once more. It wasn¡¯t a difficult idea to think of.
So¡
He could rule out that possibility.
¡°Lin Yu Xi¡¯s memory recovery should have nothing to do with the time-space particle. After all, I have it in my possession, and it¡¯s easy to ensure it remains in a drained state.¡±
¡°Liu Feng is monitoring the particle¡¯s energy changes every day. If anything happens, he¡¯d inform me immediately. There¡¯s no way the ¡®me¡¯ who dies on July 7th would overlook such an important detail. This means Lin Yu Xi¡¯s memory recovery must be due to another reason.¡±
However, with all his knowledge and reasoning skills, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.
¡°I should just focus on confirming Yan Qiao Qiao and Lin Yu Xi¡¯s identities for now,¡± he said, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
Thinking too far ahead wouldn¡¯t help right now. Once he got their hair samples tomorrow, the truth woulde out.
He got up from his chair and walked to the living room. From the two small tote bags, he took out the Children¡¯s Day gifts he¡¯d prepared for Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao, cing them in his backpack.
Given the hot weather, a trip to Disnend with so many attractions would take all day. They wouldn¡¯t head back until after watching the fireworks show in the evening. So, there was a lot to prepare¡ªbetter to bring a backpack. Besides, he had to carry things for Yan Qiao Qiao, the little kid, too. He couldn¡¯t stuff all the toys into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s bag.
¡°Let¡¯s hope everything turns out well in the end,¡± Lin Xian said as he zipped up the backpack.
ording to what Turing said in the dream, he would be killed before he even had a chance to join the Genius Club. But what if¡
What if he sped things up, answered the three test questions as soon as possible, and joined the Genius Club before July 7? Would that change the future?
¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Lin Xian had a sudden idea.
The Genius Club wasn¡¯t known for nothing. Both Elon Musk and Turing held the mysterious President of the Genius Club in high regard, speaking of him with respect and admiration. This indicated that the president had not only the ability tomand respect but also the qualities that earned it.
Maybe he could provide Lin Xian with some useful clues or even direct help!
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a new way to think about it.¡±
¡°So¡ I¡¯ll take a two-pronged approach,¡± Lin Xian decided.
Over the next 36 days, he would focus on Yan Qiao Qiao, figuring out her identity and why she might regain her memory. At the same time, he¡¯d work on joining the Genius Club as soon as possible to get more high-level information.
¡°Time for sleep.¡±
Now that his n was set, Lin Xian knew he had to take things one step at a time. He needed a good night¡¯s sleep. Tomorrow, he had to wake up early to pick up Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao.
He returned to his bedroom, turned off the light,y down, and closed his eyes.
That night, he had no dreams.
¡
The next morning, Yan Qiao Qiao was already dressed in her three-piece dress set. Sitting on a chair outside her closet, she swung her pale legs back and forth, frowning impatiently. ¡°Aren¡¯t you ready yet? Why are you so slow?¡±
¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, sitting at her vanity, carefully drawing her eyeliner.
¡°Driver Li will first pick up Lin Xian, thene get us for Disnend. The car isn¡¯t even here yet, so what¡¯s the rush?¡±
¡°But you¡¯re so slow,¡± Yan Qiao Qiaoined. ¡°You got up way earlier than me and have been fussing around, but you¡¯re still not done.¡±
¡°Can I be like you?¡± Zhao Ying Jun put down her eyeliner, leaned closer to the mirror, and checked her work. ¡°You just put on your three-piece set, and you¡¯re ready to go. You don¡¯t need to put on makeup.¡±
¡°But you never wear this much makeup,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao continued, ¡°You usually just put on some basic stuff and go to work. Today, it¡¯s like you¡¯re painting a picture on your face.¡±
¡°Alright, enough with the chatter,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, getting up from her vanity.
She turned to face Yan Qiao Qiao and asked, ¡°How do I look?¡±
Today, Zhao Ying Jun was not wearing her usual work outfit. She hadpletely changed her style. A ck chiffon skirt flowed down to her calves, with a pair of high-heeled sandals on her feet. Thin straps wrapped around her delicate feet. Over her shoulders, she wore a ck shawl that covered the thin straps of her dress while still showing her fair arms.
Yan Qiao Qiao looked up, continuing to inspect.
Two-piece ck gemstone earrings dangled from her earlobes, swaying above her corbone and reflecting the glow of the incandescent light. Her hairstyle was also different from her usual city-girl look; it was much more youthful. Clearly, she had used a curling iron to style her hair. Her slightly wavy locks framed her face, looking neat and smooth as they cascaded over her shoulders and behind her neck.
¡°Wow¡¡± Yan Qiao Qiao eximed, her eyes wide. ¡°You look so pretty. You¡¯re totally different from before.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled, satisfied. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to work today, so I had to change things up a bit.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just the clothes that are different,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head seriously. ¡°You look different from before.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Zhao Ying Jun squinted her eyes and looked at her biological daughter, feeling somewhat speechless. ¡°Do you know that saying this to a woman who¡¯s putting on makeup is quite rude?¡±
¡°You¡¯re still young, so you don¡¯t understand makeup. But for a woman, different asions call for different looks. If I went out today looking like I usually do for work, people wouldugh at me, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±
¡°You¡¯re just used to my usual style. But you¡¯re right¡ I haven¡¯t worn everyday makeup like this in a long time. Mostly because I haven¡¯t gone out to have fun in a long time.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao tilted her head. ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever gone out to have fun with Brother Lin Xian?¡±
¡°No,¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°The only two times we did, it was all rushed. Both times were after banquets. He drove me around a bit or took me to the racetrack for practice¡ We never really went out properly.¡±
¡°So¡ it¡¯s safe to say this is my first time going out for fun since I returned to Donghai, and it¡¯s also the first time I¡¯m going out with Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said.
¡°Oh,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded. She had assumed that Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian were very close. But it turned out they hadn¡¯t even gone out to y or shop together. She snorted softly. ¡°So I¡¯m ahead of you.¡±
She looked up at Zhao Ying Jun, who was beside the vanity mirror. ¡°I¡¯ve already yed with Brother Lin Xian for two days.¡±
¡°Hehe,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, choosing a lighter shade of lipstick and applying it to her lower lip. ¡°And who was it that sent you over to him?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao felt a bit annoyed. ¡°But I also slept over at Brother Lin Xian¡¯s house for two nights.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, pressing her lips together to spread the lipstick evenly. ¡°You¡¯re quite proud of yourself.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao blinked her intelligent eyes. ¡°Why can I sleep over at Brother Lin Xian¡¯s house, but Brother Lin Xian can¡¯t sleep over at ours?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand froze mid-air, the lipstick nearly stabbing her cheek. She turned to look at Yan Qiao Qiao, who had made such a bold statement. ¡°Do you see any extra room in our house? We only have one bed.¡±
¡°You could sleep on the couch,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao suggested.
¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep there?¡± Zhao Ying Jun shot back.
¡°Well¡¡± Yan Qiao Qiao thought for a moment and nodded, ¡°I guess I could.¡±
¡°Hehe,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled again, closing her lipstick and cing it in her purse. ¡°You do know how to be considerate.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been ten days since you¡¯ve seen Lin Xian. He¡¯ll definitely be surprised by how much you¡¯ve grown. Look at you now¡ªyou speak,municate, and interact like any normal girl in her teens. You¡¯ve really matured.¡±
¡°If only you could regain your memory,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, ¡°I¡¯d really love to know what kind of life you lived before, where you lived, and whether you were happy.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡±
She paused for a moment, then added, ¡°But I¡¯m happy now. If I could regain my memory¡ I¡¯d only want to know who my mom and dad are. I don¡¯t really care about anything else.¡±
¡°Still¡ do you think I can find my mom and dad? Would they want to see me?¡± she asked, lowering her head and fidgeting with the floral hem of her dress.
¡°Have they note looking for me all this time because they don¡¯t want me?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun held her breath, turning away before exhaling slowly.
¡°No,¡± she said softly, ¡°No parent would ever abandon their child.¡±
¡°But it happens a lot on TV,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao argued.
¡°That¡¯s just drama and movies making up stories to create conflict,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined. ¡°Sure, there might be some parents who can be heartless and abandon their children¡ But I¡¯m sure, Qiao Qiao, that your parents aren¡¯t like that.¡±
¡°But¡ why do you have such a deep longing for your parents?¡± Zhao Ying Jun wondered aloud. ¡°Even though you¡¯vepletely lost your memory, you miss them so deeply?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head again. ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten everything; I can¡¯t remember anything. But the longing for my parents, this formless feeling¡ that¡¯s something I¡¯ve never been able to forget. It feels like I¡¯ve been missing my mom and dad ever since I was little¡ always, always thinking about them.¡±
¡°Why would that be? Could it be that I never had parents from the start?¡± she asked.
Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t say anything. She slowly walked over to Yan Qiao Qiao.
Children grow up. Yan Qiao Qiao had experienced in one month what most do in over a decade. She had developed her own feelings, her own thoughts, and her own obsessions.
Should she keep hiding this from her?
Being so close, yet unable to speak the truth felt like a cruel distance. Zhao Ying Jun often felt a pang of sympathy for Yan Qiao Qiao during moments like this.
She had been pondering this issue for a while¡ªshould shee clean to Lin Xian? Even if she didn¡¯t want to sound like she was using this information to manipte him, it was hard to see Yan Qiao Qiao longing for her parents every day.
Was it fair for her to keep hiding this from her daughter while watching her suffer?
Thinking about it carefully, Lin Xian was probably prepared for this all along, wasn¡¯t he? Otherwise, why would he have invited her to join him for the blood test during that parentage test mix-up?
At the time, it seemed odd, but she hadn¡¯t given it much thought. Looking back now, it seemed that Lin Xian had also been searching for some truth, not really worried about her knowing anything and not deliberately hiding it either.
If Lin Xian had found the little girl back then, and it had been Yan Qiao Qiao, not Yu Xi, then perhaps the truth would already be out.
As it turned out, it was her and her parents¡¯ fabricated story that had thrown Lin Xian off track.
Thinking about this, Zhao Ying Jun felt a little guilty. Lin Xian trusted her, and he trusted her parents too. So, when the three of them told him that Yan Qiao Qiao was a distant rtive, he epted it without a second thought.
Was it wrong to do this?
She never wanted to keep anything from Lin Xian, especially not about Yan Qiao Qiao. She had been waiting for the right moment to reveal this, but she wasn¡¯t sure what that moment would look like.
Now, Yan Qiao Qiao was growing up every day. Her mind was maturing, and her longing for her parents was growing stronger.
It seemed like¡
They couldn¡¯t keep this hidden anymore.
For the sake of honesty with Lin Xian, and for the responsibility towards Yan Qiao Qiao, Zhao Ying Jun felt¡ she couldn¡¯t continue hiding this rtionship behind lies.
She crouched down to look into Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Qiao Qiao, if your parents aren¡¯t as perfect as you think, would you be disappointed?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°As long as they still want me¡ I¡¯ll be happy.¡±
¡°Alright then.¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, brushing a lock of hair away from Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s forehead. ¡°Leave it to me.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll help you¡ find your home.¡±
Chapter 398: We Have a Daughter
¡°So many people here!¡±
The parking lot of Disnend was packed when Yan Qiao Qiao jumped out of the Alphard car, wide-eyed at the crowd. ¡°So many people!¡±
It was Children¡¯s Day, which also happened to be a Saturday¡
Donghai Disnend was always busy, but today it was even more crowded with families and couples. And this was just the parking lot¡ªthe park itself was even more jammed with people.
¡°Alright, Mr. Lin Xian, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun, you all have fun. I¡¯ll wait here,¡± said Driver Xiao Li after parking. He got out and closed the car door. ¡°When you¡¯re ready to leave, just call me. I¡¯ll bring the car around so you don¡¯t have to walk all the way back to the lot.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, giving him some instructions. ¡°We¡¯ll stay for the fireworks show tonight. You can take care of any errands or rest somewhere. No need to stay in the car. I¡¯ll contact you when we¡¯re ready to leave.¡±
With that, he walked toward the entrance with Zhao Ying Jun and the excited Yan Qiao Qiao bouncing alongside them.
¡°Qiao Qiao, your hair¡¯s gotten longer,¡± Lin Xian remarked as he watched her ponytail swaying behind her. ¡°Last time it was short; now it¡¯s almost down to your neck. It finally looks like a proper ponytail.¡±¡°Yeah, and she¡¯s grown taller too,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added with a smile, patting Qiao Qiao on the head. ¡°She eats a lot every day; it¡¯s starting to show. Not too obvious, but she¡¯s definitely taller. Her weight, though, has increased more. Look, her face and arms are a bit rounder now.¡±
¡°She does seem healthier,¡± Lin Xian agreed, noticing the slight fullness in Qiao Qiao¡¯s arms. ¡°She was too thin before. Now she looks stronger, more energetic¡¡±
He suddenly remembered the first night he met Lin Yu Xi and how she had ripped the door off an Alphard with her bare hands. A nervous thought crossed his mind.
¡°Is Qiao Qiao really strong?¡± Lin Xian asked, hoping for a calming answer. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look it.¡±
He wanted reassurance, but¡
¡°Don¡¯t let her size fool you,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied. ¡°She¡¯s quite strong. She can lift almost anything in the house.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was startled.
¡°And it¡¯s not just her strength. She¡¯s also really good with her hands, especially when chopping vegetables. Like a professional chef¡ªquick and precise.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°I mean, she¡¯s amazing at chopping radishes!¡± Zhao Ying Junughed. ¡°One day, I came homete from work, and Qiao Qiao had made dinner for me. She made curry, and the radish and potato cubes were perfectly square, all the same size.¡±
¡°No kid her age has knife skills like that! I watched her chop more times after that, and she moves the knife so fast. When she picks it up, she looks like a seasoned chef. You really should see it. She¡¯s like a little culinary prodigy.¡±
¡°Heh, heh¡¡± Lin Xian chuckled awkwardly, thinking of the head that floated mid-air when the fake Yu Xi was around.
Inside Disnend, families walked hand-in-hand toward the rides,ughing and chatting. Qiao Qiao looked at her empty hands, then held them out to Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°I want that too.¡±
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun exchanged smiles. Since they promised to spend the day as a family, they had tomit to the role. Mimicking the other families, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun each took one of Qiao Qiao¡¯s hands, walking together toward the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, swinging their arms.
¡°Starting with something so thrilling?¡± Lin Xian asked.
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was a roller coaster. He thought they¡¯d begin with something less intense.
¡°Qiao Qiao said she likes exciting rides,¡± Zhao Ying Jun exined. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter where we start. We have VIP passes, so we don¡¯t need to wait in line for any ride. We have plenty of time to enjoy all the popr attractions.¡±
And so, while others waited in long lines, Qiao Qiao walked straight through the VIPne and got on the roller coaster. After a series of screams, she got off with a calm expression.
¡°It was okay,¡± she said.
¡°That one isn¡¯t that thrilling,¡± Lin Xian said, pointing to another ride¡ªTron Lightcycle Power Run. ¡°That¡¯s the real deal here at Donghai Disnend.¡±
Tron Lightcycle Power Run was another roller coaster, but its indoor lighting effects and steep drops made it more intense. It could go from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds, with a top speed of 120 km/h. However, it was now capped at 80 km/h after safety adjustments. It was still considered a must-ride and left many people withsting fear.
Yet, amid the screams, Qiao Qiao got off calmly again.
¡°It was okay,¡± she repeated.
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun exchanged a nce.
There was definitely something different about Qiao Qiao.
¡°Incredible!¡± Zhao Ying Jun praised her. ¡°That Tron ride scared me a bit, and I even screamed. But Qiao Qiao didn¡¯t make a sound. Do you think something¡¯s off with her?¡±
She suddenly remembered something and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Qiao Qiao doesn¡¯t seem very sensitive to pain or fear. If you pull someone¡¯s hair, they usually feel it, right? But not Qiao Qiao. If you pull out a strand, she doesn¡¯t react at all.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± Lin Xian was curious. ¡°Mind if I try?¡±
He aimed at a single hair on the back of Qiao Qiao¡¯s head, pinched it, and yanked it out. Sure enough, just as Zhao Ying Jun had said, Qiao Qiao kept walking toward the dinosaur-themed roller coaster without any reaction.
¡°That¡¯s¡ definitely not normal,¡± Lin Xian murmured, looking at the hair in his hand. He had pulled it out by the root. Most people would feel that, right?
¡°Maybe,¡± Zhao Ying Jun mused. ¡°Or maybe Qiao Qiao has some special talents. She¡¯s calm under pressure, quick to react, and has great coordination. Maybe she¡¯ll grow up to be someone great.¡±
¡°Someone great in what way?¡± Lin Xian casually slipped the hair into his pocket. ¡°Usually, jobs that fit that description are spies or secret agents¡ But in these peaceful times, those jobs are rare.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Qiao Qiao, who had run quite a distance ahead, turned back and called to them. ¡°Hurry up, you two!¡±
Thanks to the VIP pass Zhao Ying Jun bought, they moved smoothly from ride to ride without waiting. On a peak holiday like this, a normal ticket would mean enjoying maybe five or six rides. But Qiao Qiao almost went through the entire park.
Even during the parade, the VIP pass had a special seating area. Qiao Qiao, who seemed to have never experienced such fun, was overwhelmed by all the excitement around her.
There was no denying it¡ªQiao Qiao had impressive stamina. She was running and jumping around all day without even breaking a sweat, while Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were clearly getting tired.
When they reached the pirate ship ride, Qiao Qiao went on her own. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t feel like spinning their heads around, so they sat on a bench under a tree to rest.
¡°Taking care of a kid is exhausting,¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°No wonder young people today don¡¯t want to get married or have kids.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun paused, her water bottle mid-air, then set it down. She tightened the cap, tucked her loose hair behind her ear, and said, ¡°You¡¯re not a fish, so how do you know the joy of being a fish?¡±
She smiled. ¡°Sure, raising a kid can be tiring, but everything in life has tiring moments. Work is tiring, exercising is tiring, even lying on the couch watching TV can be tiring.¡±
¡°But the joy and fulfillment a child brings to their parents is something nothing else can rece. It¡¯s like pain and happiness all at once. Even a little bit of joy can make all the hardships worth it.¡±
Lin Xian was a bit surprised. ¡°That sounds a lot like what Brother Wang said. He mentioned that while the downsides of raising kids are all over the inte, the upsides¡ you have to experience them to understand. That feeling inside can¡¯t be put into words.¡±
¡°Now that the country¡¯s birth rate is dropping every year, even with the two-child and three-child policies, young people don¡¯t even want to have one. For me, I¡¯m a bit more traditional. I think it¡¯s worth having at least one child, but I¡¯m not keen on a second¡ªit seems tiring. What about you?¡±
¡°Me?¡± Zhao Ying Jun leaned back against the bench and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine with having more kids. If they¡¯re like Qiao Qiao¡ªcute, well-behaved, and sensible¡ªwouldn¡¯t having more be nice?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly, not saying much more.
Whether he¡¯d get the chance to have kids or not depended on whether Qiao Qiao or Lin Yu Xi would let him off the hook. If he couldn¡¯t even make it past July 7th¡ What was the point of talking about marriage and children?
He felt the hair in his pocket. He already had Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair, and while a DNA paternity testparing it with his own would give a clear answer, to be safe, he wanted to get a strand of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair as well.
But unlike Qiao Qiao, who didn¡¯t seem to feel anything, he couldn¡¯t just pull Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair without a word. No worries, though. He nced at the backpack by his side. Inside were gifts he had prepared for Zhao Ying Jun and Qiao Qiao¡ªvery ¡°useful¡± gifts that would help him achieve his goal.
He looked up and saw Qiao Qiao, hands on her hips, walking over. ¡°That was fun!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun handed her the water bottle. ¡°Have some water before you y more. It¡¯s so hot; you need to stay hydrated¡ Hey, I just noticed, you¡¯re not even sweating. Are you really that fit?¡±
She touched Qiao Qiao¡¯s arm, finding it cool and smooth like polished jade. It was hard to believe such good genes came from her. She didn¡¯t have such wless skin.
¡°We¡¯ve tried almost all the rides, and it¡¯s almost time for dinner and the fireworks show. Is there anything else you want to do?¡± she asked.
¡°I want to take a picture,¡± Qiao Qiao replied without hesitation. ¡°A family photo, like before.¡±
¡°Oh, right,¡± Lin Xian remembered. ¡°Disnend has special photo studios where you can rent costumes of cartoon characters. Do you want to go?¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±
With that, the three of them got up from the bench and headed to the photo studio inside Disnend.
Today was Qiao Qiao¡¯s day. She called the shots.
She chose a princess dress and also picked out a king and queen costume for Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun. After getting dressed, the stylist was busy fixing Qiao Qiao¡¯s headpiece, which was quite intricate. By the time she was done, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were already dressed and waiting in the set room.
When the photographer saw the beautiful Qiao Qiaoe out, he eximed, ¡°What a lovely young girl! How old are you this year?¡±
¡°Fourteen.¡±
¡°Are you here with your brother and sister?¡±
¡°No,¡± Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°With my mom and dad.¡±
???
The photographer¡¯s mind filled with question marks. He looked at the young couple posing with the help of his assistant, then back at Qiao Qiao in her princess gown.
¡°Mom¡ and dad?!¡±
Qiao Qiao nodded firmly, leaving the photographer¡¯s brain to overheat.
These two young people didn¡¯t look older than twenty-five or twenty-six. The girl said she was fourteen. Doing the math¡
What?!
That didn¡¯t seem right! That wasn¡¯t morally or legally eptable! Did they start too young?
But¡ well, he was just a photographer. It wasn¡¯t his ce to question his clients¡¯ privacy. Now that he knew the rtionship, he knew how to style the shoot and position them.
Qiao Qiao quickly got into position, standing in front of Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun. The photographer called out to them, ¡°Mom and Dad, crouch down a bit, get closer¡ a bit closer¡¡±
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun looked at each other, confused, then looked down at Qiao Qiao, who was posing seriously. Goodness. Was this bing real now?
But since Qiao Qiao was their little princess for the day, they could only follow the photographer¡¯s instructions and move closer together.
¡°Closer! A little closer!¡±
Clearly, their inch-by-inch movement didn¡¯t satisfy the photographer, who couldn¡¯t capture the warm, family-like image he wanted. ¡°Come on, get closer! What¡¯s with you two being all shy?¡±
He was getting impatient. These two had already raised a kid this big and had been in love for so many years, yet they still acted like they were in their first romance. They really were born actors.
Tired of directing, he waved his assistant over. ¡°Help them pose as a family of three for their photo.¡±
¡°Sure thing.¡±
The female assistant, who had seen it all, got right to work.
With a gentle push here and a slight adjustment there, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were pressed close together. In front of them, Qiao Qiao held her princess gown up with both hands¡ª
Click!
A perfect, heartwarming family photo was taken, printed, framed, and handed to Qiao Qiao.
It was her second photo in life. Another group photo, just like before, only without the Pomeranian, VV.
¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Qiao Qiao said, pleased with the picture, carefully putting it away.
¡
Night fell over Disnend, and crowds gathered in front of the castle, ready to enjoy the evening¡¯s main event¡ªthe fireworks show.
Zhao Ying Jun had been here before, with Lin Xian. But back then, it was just the two of them and a Bugatti Veyron. The fireworks that night were just for her, more dazzling than any other.
Even if Disnend decided to set off fireworks for the next ten years all at once tonight¡ or if they blew up the entire castle, to Zhao Ying Jun, nothing couldpare to that one dyed birthday wish and the fireworks that lit up her world.
¡°It¡¯s so slow. When does it start?¡± Qiao Qiao asked, standing in front of Zhao Ying Jun and looking up at the sky.
The surrounding crowd was noisy and bustling. Her neck was starting to hurt, but the fireworks show still hadn¡¯t started.
¡°It should be soon,¡± Lin Xian said, checking his watch. ¡°It should have started by now, but Disnend¡¯s fireworks are never on time¡ or rather, the schedule is never fixed. They just give a rough timeframe on the program.¡±
¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take this chance to give you both your Children¡¯s Day gifts!¡±
When she heard there were gifts, Zhao Ying Jun and Qiao Qiao turned their heads to look at him. As Zhao Ying Jun had said earlier, who doesn¡¯t like gifts?
Gifts are always a joy, no matter when or how many you receive.
¡°Do I get one too?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to prepare a gift for me¡ I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t get one for you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian replied with a slight smile. ¡°I should be the one giving gifts to both of you.¡±
With that, he unzipped his backpack and took out a small smartwatch. He strapped it around Qiao Qiao¡¯s wrist.
¡°Qiao Qiao, this phone watch is for you. Look, I¡¯ve already saved our numbers on it. If you ever want to contact Sister Ying Jun or me, just tap here. You¡¯re so smart; you¡¯ll figure it out quickly.¡±
¡°This way, we can call you anytime, and you won¡¯t go missing likest time when Sister Ying Jun couldn¡¯t find you. You¡¯ll keep it on all the time, except when charging it at night, okay? If we can¡¯t reach you, we¡¯ll get worried.¡±
Clearly, Qiao Qiao loved the delicate watch, fiddling with all its features. ¡°Thank you, Brother Lin Xian. I¡¯ll call you often!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t call him unless you need to,¡± Zhao Ying Jun warned. ¡°It might bother Brother Lin Xian. Call me if you need something.¡±
Then, Zhao Ying Jun looked up at Lin Xian with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful. I never thought to get her something like this. I¡¯ve been treating her like a little kid.¡±
Next, Lin Xian took out a small sapphire ne from his backpack, which looked quite valuable.
Zhao Ying Jun was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xian to give her such an expensive gift!
She thought it would be something like the smartwatch¡ªmore meaningful than practical. She never imagined Lin Xian would go all out this time.
¡°This¡ must have been expensive?¡± she asked, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°Did youe into some money?¡±
¡°Almost,¡± Lin Xian answered honestly. ¡°I might be the richest person in the world soon.¡±
¡°Ha, is that so?¡± Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t believe it for a second. ¡°But if you¡¯re that confident, then I guess I won¡¯t feel guilty epting this gift. This sapphire ne is beautiful¡ Remember those sapphire earrings I wore to that banquet before? The ones you said looked pretty?¡±
¡°I told you then that I rarely wear blue in my everyday outfits, so they¡¯re mostly reserved for evening events with blue dresses. But if I have this sapphire ne to match¡ maybe those earrings would get more use.¡±
Lin Xian opened the sp on the back of the ne and looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Turn around. Let me put it on for you.¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun turned her back, revealing her fair neck and back. The two were close now. Lin Xian brought the ne around her neck, then held the sp ends, discreetly winding a strand of her hair into the sp as he tightened it.
¡°All done?¡± Zhao Ying Jun instinctively twisted her neck. ¡°Ow!¡±
She winced. A hair on the back of her neck had been pulled out.
¡°Did I catch your hair?¡± Lin Xian apologized. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s dark, and I didn¡¯t notice.¡±
Then, he loosened the sp, secretly collected the broken hair, re-fastened it, and let go. ¡°There, it¡¯s on now. Take a look.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun touched the cool sapphire, gradually warming it with her body heat, and smiled softly. ¡°Thank you, Lin Xian. I love it.¡±
It was already 8:40 p.m., but the fireworks still hadn¡¯t started. Comints and grumbles grew louder around them as the crowd became increasingly restless.
Qiao Qiao, busy fiddling with her new toy, the smartwatch, didn¡¯t have time to look up at the scheming young couple.
At this moment, it was as if the whole world had isted Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun. Zhao Ying Jun touched the sapphire pendant and had already guessed Lin Xian¡¯s intention¡
How should she put it? Is it true that ¡°birds of a feather flock together¡±?
Lin Xian¡¯s recent actions to collect hair were no different from what she had done herself. Back then, she used a simr method to pluck a strand of hair from Qiao Qiao. Today, Lin Xian used the same trick on her.
And remembering how Lin Xian had plucked a strand of Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair earlier in the morning¡ Collecting hair from both of them at this point in time¡ What else could it be for?
With a bit of thought, she knew it must be for a DNA paternity test.
Sure enough.
[Lin Xian has be suspicious and is questioning Qiao Qiao¡¯s true identity.]
This didn¡¯t surprise Zhao Ying Jun. If she and her parents hadn¡¯t lied to Lin Xian from the start, iming Qiao Qiao was a distant rtive, Lin Xian would have suspected much earlier. He wouldn¡¯t have waited until now to find something off.
From the time of that little girl, Yu Xi¡
It seemed Lin Xian had been searching for a girl rted to both him and herself by blood.
But Yu Xi was clearly a mistake.
Qiao Qiao¡ she was the girl Lin Xian had truly been looking for.
Now that Lin Xian had noticed the peculiarities surrounding Qiao Qiao, Zhao Ying Jun decided not to hide it any longer. It was their deceit that had confused Lin Xian, impacting his judgment. It was only right to apologize.
¡°Sorry, Lin Xian,¡± she turned her head and said softly, ¡°There¡¯s something I really need to apologize to you for¡ It¡¯s been my fault, and my parents¡¯ too, for hiding it from you all this time.¡±
Lin Xian looked into Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Qiao Qiao isn¡¯t actually a distant rtive of ours,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued. ¡°My parents found her by chance on a country road. She looked a bit like me, so they brought her home and raised her.¡±
¡°Later, when we had dinner with you, my parents made up the distant rtive story to save face and make it easier to exin. I had to go along with it, and I didn¡¯t expect this lie to get so deep that there was never a good time to clear things up with you.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve noticed many strange things about Qiao Qiao myself, so¡ I also have to apologize. I secretly kept that white hair Qiao Qiao pulled from you and took it to the hospital, along with a hair of mine, for a DNA test.¡±
Boom!
The fireworks show finally began. A red streak shot up from the castle into the sky.
¡°Ah.¡± Qiao Qiao raised her right hand, pointing to the sky, ¡°Fireworks.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun reached out and covered Qiao Qiao¡¯s ears, keeping her from hearing as she continued.
¡°Although it sounds unbelievable, and I found it hard to believe myself, the DNA test results show¡¡±
Boom!!!
The sky exploded with vibrant, colorful fireworks, lighting up the night sky of Disnend.
Stars sparkled in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes as she smiled at Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s right. Biologically speaking, Qiao Qiao is¡¡±
¡°She¡¯s our daughter.¡±
Chapter 399: Ill Wait for You
Fireworks exploded in bright bursts over the Disney Castle, filling the night sky with colors and memories of childhood. Lin Xian stood beneath them, his eyes locked on Zhao Ying Jun. The vibrant lights flickered across his face, mirroring the turmoil in his heart.
He thought he had prepared himself for this moment. He had already pieced together most of the puzzle. But still¡ªfinding out you¡¯re a father is one thing. Hearing it directly from Zhao Ying Jun, face-to-face, was a different shock altogether. The impact hit him like a punch.
Lin Xian had nned to collect hair samples from Zhao Ying Jun, Yan Qiao Qiao, and himself to run a DNA paternity test at the hospital. He expected to get the results by tomorrow afternoon, giving him some time toe to terms with the idea of being a father.
But now¡
He had just gotten Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair a few seconds ago. No need for tests. No need for time. Zhao Ying Jun hadid out the truth right in front of him, blunt and undeniable, leaving Lin Xian with no time to process it.
What could he even say?
Lin Xian felt like he was ying a game and had just been thrown into an entirely new level¡ªone he hadn¡¯t prepared for. How many men in the world had to face something like this?
Around them, the crowd cheered, marveling at the fireworks. The joys and sorrows of people aren¡¯t always shared. Lin Xian stared at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s honest smile, unsure if he should apologize. But why should he apologize? He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong! He was innocent. Yet, here he was, suddenly with a biological daughter because of Zhao Ying Jun¡Deep down, though, he knew he wasn¡¯t as innocent as he imed. When Zhao Ying Jun admitted that Yan Qiao Qiao wasn¡¯t some distant rtive but a child found on the streets, Lin Xian had already pieced together what had happened.
Yes, he had been misled by Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents. Lin Yu Xi must have known that destroying the tangled time-space particles would either fatally weaken her or leave her severely impaired. She had fled as far as she could before the particles¡¯ energy vanished. When the time-space loop broke, Lin Yu Xi reverted to her original appearance. Her muscles and the marks from her workouts disappeared, along with her extraordinary strength, blue eyes, and memories. She transformed into apletely different person. With the meddling of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents, Lin Yu Xi became Yan Qiao Qiao.
Lin Xian knew time-space rejection could change a time traveler¡¯s appearance. But who could have predicted that those changes could reverse back to the past? That destroying the time particles would result in memory loss, restored appearance, and the disappearance of future traits?
However, with the DNA test results in hand, none of that mattered anymore.
Zhao Ying Jun could still smile after hearing all this. She smiled because she didn¡¯t know she was fated to be executed by her own daughter. Of course, she could still smile¡
If not for that looming threat of execution, Lin Xian might have smiled too. This wasn¡¯t an unexinable situation. All he had to do was reveal that Yan Qiao Qiao was from a future time. With Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s intelligence, she¡¯d grasp the concept of time-space anomalies.
When life throws challenges at you, you deal with them. The child was here, and she was innocent. He would figure out how to raise her. It wasn¡¯t the end of the world.
But his situation was different.
Lin Yu Xi wasn¡¯t just a child to raise; she was a future executioner here to end his life! In 36 days, he would be executed by this daughter he had grown fond of¡ Who could smile at that? Especially after holding hands with his future executioner today and listening to Zhao Ying Jun talk about chopping carrots with a kitchen knife. Now, he felt like that carrot,id out on the cutting board and sliced to pieces.
Raising a tiger only to be attackedter, dying at the hands of his own daughter to fulfill her destiny¡ Lin Xian¡¯s heart could barely ept it.
But there was a small silver lining. Lin Yu Xi had lost her memory. There was still a chance to change her fate.
If he could prevent Lin Yu Xi from regaining her memory, he could save himself without hurting anyone. He could give Lin Yu Xi a new, happy life. It was just a name change to Yan Qiao Qiao, after all. It didn¡¯t change their blood connection or affect her new life. So what if they lived the rest of their lives as brother and sister? Lin Xian wasn¡¯t hung up on family titles. If Yan Qiao Qiao never remembered her past, never reverted to being Lin Yu Xi¡ it wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a bad thing.
¡
Just then, Yan Qiao Qiao, who had her ears covered by Zhao Ying Jun, turned around. She blinked, puzzled, and looked at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Sister, why are you covering my ears? I can¡¯t hear the fireworks¡ What were you guys just talking about?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nced onest time at Lin Xian before turning her attention back to Yan Qiao Qiao. She smiled and patted her head.
¡°We were just talking about the fireworks too. I was afraid the noise might hurt your ears, so I covered them for you.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I like the sound of fireworks exploding. Look¡ª¡±
She pointed toward the castle, where fireworks spun around in the air, creating golden circles that sparkled.
Zhao Ying Jun stood behind her, admiring the sparkling scene over the Disney Castle. She didn¡¯t look back or speak to Lin Xian again. She probably didn¡¯t want Yan Qiao Qiao to know the truth. Or maybe she was giving Lin Xian more time to process and ept it.
Finally¡
As thest firework bloomed in the sky, everything returned to calm. The crowd dispersed, content with the night¡¯s show.
¡°That was so beautiful!¡± Yan Qiao Qiao stood in front of Zhao Ying Jun, tilting her head back to look at her. ¡°I heard other kids say these are the most beautiful fireworks in the world!¡±
¡°Tonight¡¯s?¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°Tonight¡¯s weren¡¯t the best.¡± She chuckled, mimicking Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s tone from earlier in the day. ¡°They were just¡ okay.¡±
The business van drove steadily on the city¡¯s elevated highway. Driver Xiao Li had picked them up from the Disney park entrance and was heading back to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s neighborhood in Donghai City.
Lin Xian sat in the passenger seat, gazing out the window without a word. In the back, Yan Qiao Qiao was busy going through her collection of today¡¯s treasures: toys, plushies, a souvenir booklet, a glowing ear hat, and more. But what she loved most was the warm family photo.
In the picture, the kingly father and queenly mother stood close together, with their little princess in front, holding up her sparkling dress. They looked like a family from a fairy tale, but also like a real-life family. And that was enough to make her happy.
Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s pale fingers traced the photo where her ¡°mom and dad¡± stood close together. Even if they weren¡¯t her real parents, as long as they went to Disney together, that made them a family¡ªaplete family.
Before long, the van reached the underground garage of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s building. The back door slid open slowly. Yan Qiao Qiao jumped out with energy to spare, still full of life. She grabbed Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s arm and led her out of the car.
Lin Xian unbuckled his seatbelt and followed, watching as Yan Qiao Qiao ran to the elevator and pressed the button. She really was getting smarter. She could handle everything on her own now and understood a lot.
Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, who was just a step away. She looked back at him, as if waiting for him to speak. They hadn¡¯t been able to discuss the ¡°biological daughter¡± topic because of Yan Qiao Qiao and Driver Xiao Li¡¯s presence. But Lin Xian knew this wasn¡¯t something he could avoid. Out of responsibility and respect for Zhao Ying Jun, this matter had to be rified.
¡°About Yan Qiao Qiao¡¡± Lin Xian started. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize to me because I have something I¡¯ve been hiding from you too. I¡¯ve also been trying to find the right time to tell you, but I haven¡¯t found it yet.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°Then, in that case¡¡± She nced over at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was waiting for the elevator, then looked back at Lin Xian. ¡°How about tonight?¡±
¡°Tonight?¡± Lin Xian checked his watch. It was already 10:07 PM. It waste. How were they supposed to talk now, with Yan Qiao Qiao still awake?
¡°Come to my ce.¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Once I put Qiao Qiao to bed, I can show you the DNA reports. And¡ we can have a proper talk. I have some things I want to tell you too.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. It was better to get everything out in the open tonight.
Lin Xian agreed and turned to Driver Xiao Li. ¡°Xiao Li, wait for me here. I¡¯m going up to Ying Jun¡¯s ce. I¡¯ll be down in a bit.¡±
Huh? Xiao Li was caught off guard, looking up. This scene¡ Why did it feel so familiar? It was like it had happened before! Last time, the excuse was to put a Pomeranian to sleep¡ªan excuse so ridiculous no one dared question it. And now, they weren¡¯t even pretending. No reason was given! What was he, the driver, supposed to do? Wait here¡ or not? Should he stay faithfully, or use this chance to sneak away?
This was a new challenge for him as a driver. When he had taken professional driver training, the instructor had said that when driving for the boss, you must learn to read between the lines. Sometimes, when the boss says to stay, it means to leave, and the driver needs to be the ¡°bad guy¡± and help the boss get away. Other times, when the boss says to leave, it means to stay, and the driver needs to be the ¡°good guy¡± and wait.
Unfortunately, Xiao Li came from a military driving unit. He was honest and sincere, truly not understanding the nuances of corporate etiquette. Ah, yes! He suddenly remembered¡ In situations like this, where he wasn¡¯t sure if he should stay or go, he should call Brother Wang! Brother Wang, the former group leader at MX Company and now the only vice president at Rhine Company, knew Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian well. He was basically their biggest shipper.
As soon as Lin Xian went upstairs, Xiao Li decided to call Brother Wang to ask what to do. Xiao Li remained calm under pressure. He gave Lin Xian an OK sign. Everything was understood without words. Let the boss guess.
¡
Ding¡ª
The elevator doors opened. The Pomeranian, VV, seemed to have heard Lin Xian¡¯s steps. Unlike its usual barking, it softly approached Lin Xian¡¯s feet, rubbing against his pants.
¡°V~~~~~¡±
Lin Xian bent down and picked it up. ¡°VV, long time no see. Did I wake you up?¡±
¡°Woof!¡± VV, in its doggynguage, expressed that it didn¡¯t mind. It quickly analyzed the situation. Today, Lin Xian hade to the house on his own. Unlikest time when he came with a mission, this time, he was probably here with a purpose. So, as a dog that understands hearts¡ What should it do now?
¡°Woof ahhhh¡ª¡± VV let out a huge yawn, big enough to fit a coconut in its mouth. Then it closed its eyes, lying on Lin Xian¡¯s arm, and began to snore.
Both Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao looked at the Pomeranian, confused. ¡°Why is it so sleepy so early today?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao asked. ¡°Yeah¡ it¡¯s usually super active at night,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added.
Yan Qiao Qiao pointed to the dog bowl. It was empty. ¡°Normally, it would be barking like crazy and eating its food before going to sleep.¡±
¡°Maybe it¡¯s too tired,¡± Zhao Ying Jun guessed. ¡°After all, we got homete today, and it probably wore itself out waiting. But don¡¯t worry about VV going hungry. It eats every meal like it¡¯s thest one. The vet even said we should control its diet more. So missing one meal today is actually good.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, why don¡¯t you put VV in the bedroom?¡± Lin Xian nodded. He petted the strange fluffy dog. ¡°You fall asleep fast¡ just like me.¡± He easily carried VV to the bedroom and ced it in its bed, even arranging it in afortable sleeping position, before returning to the living room.
Yan Qiao Qiao finally caught on. ¡°Is Lin Xian staying over at our house?¡± She began to mentally divide the space on her bed, nning to move a bit to the center and leave the right side for Lin Xian.
¡°We don¡¯t have enough room for that,¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled. ¡°You go wash up and sleep. Lin Xian and I have some things to talk about. He¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao raised her hand. ¡°I can sleep on the couch.¡±
Without another word, Zhao Ying Jun grabbed Yan Qiao Qiao and led her away. ¡°Not tonight!¡±
Even though she had once been a terminator, after losing her enhanced body and future traits, Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s small frame couldn¡¯t handle the exhaustion of the day. She came out of the bathroom in her pajamas, yawning non-stop.
¡°Oh, right,¡± she suddenly remembered something. She went to the coffee table in the living room, took out her favorite family photo, and grabbed a ck marker. She wrote ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao¡± on the back of the picture.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Xian asked curiously from the sofa.
¡°Just marking it,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao replied, capping the pen and looking at Lin Xian. ¡°If I write my name on it, it¡¯s mine, and no one can take it.¡±
He chuckled. This little girl was learning more and more. She was starting to develop a sense of territory.
¡°Do you like this photo a lot?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of it.¡±
With that, she carefully took the photo and headed toward her bedroom. Halfway there, she turned back. ¡°I can really sleep on the couch, you know.¡±
Her innocent words made Lin Xianugh again. ¡°Maybe next time,¡± he said dismissively.
¡°Next time?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao tilted her head. ¡°When is next time?¡±
¡°¡¡±
This clueless question was awkward. How was Lin Xian supposed to answer that? It was like when people in X Country say, ¡°Let¡¯s eat together next time,¡± or ¡°Let¡¯s drink next time,¡± when they part ways. No one actually chases after someone to ask when or which day. Would you like to make a pact?
¡°Okay, off to bed with you,¡± Zhao Ying Jun, now dressed in casual home clothes, came over and escorted Yan Qiao Qiao to the bedroom. ¡°You were yawning while brushing your teeth and almost fell asleep standing. Why are you trying to chat now?¡±
Soon enough, the tired Yan Qiao Qiao and VV fell asleep in the dimly lit bedroom, where only the breathing light glowed softly. Zhao Ying Jun retrieved two DNA test reports from a drawer in another room, ced them on the coffee table, and pushed them toward Lin Xian. She pulled up a small chair and sat across from him.
¡°These are the DNA test reports I had done using your hair, my hair, and Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath. It was time for the truth. He picked up Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s report and opened it to the first page.
It read:
[After testing, sample A is the biological daughter of sample B, and sample B is the biological mother of sample A.]
This confirmed the biological mother-daughter rtionship between Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao.
He picked up the other report and turned to the first page:
[After testing, sample A is the biological father of sample B, and sample B is the biological daughter of sample A.]
For some reason, there was a drool mark on his test result. Did VV lick it? Of all things to lick, it had to lick this¡
Naturally, this report proved his biological father-daughter rtionship with Yan Qiao Qiao. Lin Xian looked up. He saw Zhao Ying Jun lowering her head, staring at her exposed toes, slightly curling and stretching.
It was almost midnight. Everything was silent. Outside, the cicadas hadn¡¯t started their season yet. Inside, the girl and the dog were already asleep. The whole house was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. All sounds were gone, except for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the living room wall.
The living room wasn¡¯t brightly lit. Only the outer ring of warm lights was on. The gentle orange light bathed the DNA test reports, as well as the two people who were feeling a little guilty.
Strangely¡ The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, somewhat heavy. After all, what they were about to discuss was awkward for both of them. It was no lessplicated than a custody battle during a divorce. Except this time, the problem wasn¡¯t custody¡ª it was how this child came to be! The two of them had never even held hands, yet they somehow had a teenage daughter. Who cares what Darwin thinks? Thew of conservation of matter certainly wouldn¡¯t agree.
¡°Actually, I should have told you the truth earlier,¡± Zhao Ying Jun finally broke the silence. She was wearing a nightgown, resting her chin on her hand, her voice soft as she gazed at the DNA reports on the coffee table. ¡°When you first dragged me and Yu Xi to do a paternity test, you must have been looking for Yan Qiao Qiao, right?¡±
¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t know who Yan Qiao Qiao was or where she was, but you were sure¡ How should I put it, you were sure there was a¡¡±
She paused, swallowing hard. ¡°You were sure there was a daughter of ours that had mysteriously appeared in this world. You thought the girl named Yu Xi was our child¡ but you were wrong. Yan Qiao Qiao is.¡±
¡°You said Yu Xi was picked up from the street, and it so happens Yan Qiao Qiao was picked up by my parents from a rural road. I don¡¯t know if my guess is right¡ but a few days ago, I watched Back to the Future, that Hollywood movie about a boy who goes back in time to set up his parents. It¡¯s aedy.¡±
¡°Since I couldn¡¯t think of any other exnation for where Yan Qiao Qiao came from, I could only guess this. But now, it doesn¡¯t matter much to me how Yan Qiao Qiao came here or appeared.¡±
¡°And the reason I¡¯m confessing about the lies my parents and I told you is because I¡¯m worried that those lies might affect your judgment on many things¡ª¡±
Zhao Ying Jun lifted her head, her eyes reflecting the warm yellow light. ¡°Lin Xian, I can roughly guess that you¡¯re doing something very heroic and important. Although I don¡¯t know what your goal is, you must have some unspeakable secrets, some rules and guidelines you must follow.¡±
¡°I understand all this because I have an uncle who retired from the national security department. It wasn¡¯t until he retired that our whole family, including my aunt, learned his actual job.¡±
¡°So, about Yan Qiao Qiao, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t exin it to me. I can understand and ept it. I will take good care of her, no matter what identity I have. I will always take care of her.¡±
¡°And¡¡±
She bit her lip. ¡°Although it might sound a bit awkward and self-indulgent, to avoid causing any trouble or impact on your secret mission, I¡¯ll say it straight¡¡±
¡°Lin Xian, telling you about Yan Qiao Qiao doesn¡¯t have any hidden meaning. I don¡¯t want to pressure you or force you to make a decision.¡±
¡°Because¡ this matter¡ how should I put it, this matter isn¡¯t really your fault. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. You don¡¯t need to be responsible for anything. I¡¯m just worried you won¡¯t find the girl you¡¯re looking for, dying your mission and ns.¡±
As she spoke, Zhao Ying Jun rubbed her forehead and smiled slightly. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m getting more and more confusing, but that¡¯s about it. You should understand what I¡¯m trying to say.¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent¡ She really did confess out of concern for him, worried that he might be on the wrong path. And she wasn¡¯t wrong¡ Zhao Ying Jun was indeed very smart. She guessed a lot of things correctly.
What she wanted to convey was that he wasn¡¯t responsible for anything. Whether it was her or Yan Qiao Qiao, he didn¡¯t have to be responsible. He didn¡¯t need to tell her the truth either. She was willing to take care of Yan Qiao Qiao for the rest of her life, even if she remained in the dark.
She¡¯s always been like this.
Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, blurred by the soft light, and thought of Yellow Finch, who had disappeared in front of the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, and the white jade statue in Sky City that had waited for 600 years.
She¡¯s always been like this. Silently giving everything to him without asking for anything in return. Twenty-something Zhao Ying Jun was like this, Thirty-something Zhao Ying Jun was like this, Even in her fifties and sixties, she was still like this.
¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± Lin Xian looked at the woman in front of him and said.
¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun straightened up, blinking, not quite understanding what kind of responsibility Lin Xian was referring to.
¡°You¡¯ve always thanked me for small things, but in reality, I owe you much more.¡± Lin Xian looked into her eyes, serious. ¡°You were mostly right about Yan Qiao Qiao. She doesn¡¯t belong to this era, this time-space¡ but she did end up here in a very unbelievable way. The most important thing is¡ there are more secrets about Yan Qiao Qiao than just that.¡±
The head of fake Yu Xi flying off, the blue-eyed girl in the hibernation chamber 600 yearster, the assassin who was destined to kill him on July 7th¡ These images shed through Lin Xian¡¯s mind one by one.
If heid out everything right now, it would only make Zhao Ying Jun anxious and helpless, with no positive oue. Besides, Turing¡¯s threat was far from over. Was it listening? Was it nearby?
Now wasn¡¯t the best time to tell Zhao Ying Jun everything. At least¡ not until he had dealt with Turing and could protect her.
Lin Xian continued. ¡°I still don¡¯t quite understand everything about Yan Qiao Qiao. A lot of things are still dangerous for me. So¡ can you give me some time? I¡¯ll tell you the truth as soon as I figure it all out.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled, responding without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±
That smile¡ It truly made Lin Xian feel relieved. He straightened up andughed too.
¡°It¡¯s a bit embarrassing to say, but I¡¯m grateful that you¡¯ve always trusted me. Even I feel it might be a bit blind.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°Do you remember what I once told you?¡± She blinked. ¡°I said¡ back then, that overpass, whether you could fly over it or not didn¡¯t matter. Whether you could make it or not didn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°Even though it¡¯s a peaceful time now and we don¡¯t face life and death situations, I¡¯ve never been someone who fears death. If I can do anything to help you, I¡¯m always willing.¡±
¡°So¡ I¡¯m willing to wait, no matter how long it takes.¡±
She smiled again, making the light in the living room feel even softer.
¡°You once told me you had a dream, where you stood in front of that Disney castle. In that dream, I turned into a white jade statue and waited for 600 years with a trash can robot named VV until a magical spell came along and brought salvation.¡±
¡°To be honest, before you gave me that cleaning robot a few days ago¡ I always thought you made up that story. But now it seems like you really did have that dream, like that white jade statue really did wait for 600 years.¡±
¡°If we could wait 600 years, why would I mind waiting a bit longer?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun spread her hands and looked into Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Time doesn¡¯t matter¡ I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±
At that moment, no more words were needed. Lin Xian felt as if Yellow Finch was standing right behind him, and the Rhine Queen of Sky City was sitting beside him. The soft orange light in the living room crowned them, surrounding him.
¡°This time¡ I won¡¯t make you wait too long.¡± Lin Xian stood up, ready to leave.
Zhao Ying Jun picked up his DNA test report from the coffee table and handed it to him. ¡°Take this with you.¡± She smiled. ¡°Think of it as a keepsake. I mentioned in the hospital recently that I hoped you¡¯d never need this kind of knowledge. I didn¡¯t expect it toe in handy so soon.¡±
Lin Xian took the report andughed too. ¡°Yeah¡ life is full of surprises.¡±
¡
In the underground parking lot, Driver Xiao Li was stunned. ¡°Lin Xian¡ Mr. Lin Xian! So soon?¡±
¡°Soon?¡± Lin Xian checked his watch. It was 11:07 PM. He had spent an hour at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ce.
¡°It wasn¡¯t that short. It¡¯ste. How long do you think I should stay?¡±
¡°Oh¡¡± Driver Xiao Li was dumbfounded, quickly nodding. ¡°Right, right, not short at all. Not short at all.¡±
¡
Back home, Lin Xian was exhausted. He truly sympathized with those parents at Disnend, enduring this day in and day out, with no breaks, raising their kids. He could barely hold on. Barely able to finish his nightly routine, he copsed onto the bed.
He blinked at the digital clock on the nightstand. 11:47 PM. It was already thatte. By the time he fell asleep and entered the dream world, he wouldn¡¯t have much more than an hour before waking up again. What a hassle.
But he couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. He fell asleep instantly.
¡
¡
¡
The clinking sound of machinery filled his ears. Lin Xian opened his eyes. He was still in that familiar pit. But there was no sign of Big Cat Face or Gao Wen.
¡°At this point, those two must be in the underground hibernation base, about to wake up the blue-eyed girl and decapitate the overseer¡¡±
¡°Well, since I¡¯m already here, might as well join the fun.¡±
Lin Xian ran toward the northeast of the pit, quickly and skillfully entering the hibernation base, just in time to see the lid of Smith¡¯s hibernation pod slowly rising.
Since he was awake, that meant the blue-eyed girl was about to kick off the tempered ss.
Lin Xian walked inside and saw Big Cat Face sitting on a chair, staring through the ss at the blue-eyed girl inside.
¡°Hey, Big Cat,¡± Lin Xian greeted him like he wasing home. ¡°How long has she been awake?¡±
Big Cat Face nced at the disy on the hibernation pod. ¡°About half an hour.¡±
Suddenly, he jumped up, his face muscles bunching up as he scrutinized Lin Xian from head to toe. ¡°Wait a minute¡ Who the hell are you? Where did youe from?¡±
¡°Hey¡¡± Lin Xian waved his hand, signaling Big Cat Face not to worry about the details. ¡°That¡¯s a minor thing.¡±
At this moment, Gao Wen also came over from Smith¡¯s hibernation pod, looking at the blue-eyed girl¡¯s pod. ¡°It¡¯s really pitiful, this young girl¡ We¡¯re all old, but she¡¯s still in her prime, and she has to spend her life as a veborer here. It¡¯s just too tragic.¡±
¡°Judging by her appearance, she must have lived a wealthy life before hibernation. Now, after waking up to such a drastic change, I wonder if she can handle it mentally.¡±
Lin Xian turned his head. Looking at Gao Wen, ¡°For her¡ you don¡¯t need to worry at all. In a bit, she might scare you into screaming.¡±
¡°Besides, after waking up, with a nk mind in an amnesiac state, what¡¯s there topare? She doesn¡¯t remember anything from before or the kind of life she had¡ After all, she didn¡¯t leave anything in her storage cab.¡±
¡°Hey! Who said she didn¡¯t leave anything!¡± Big Cat Face swaggered over. ¡°She left something, okay! Although it¡¯s just a photo, it¡¯s still something! Maybe when she sees the photo after waking up¡ she¡¯ll remember everything!¡±
¡°What did you say?¡± Lin Xian turned around. He squinted at Big Cat Face. ¡°Are you saying¡ there¡¯s something in the girl¡¯s storage cab? It¡¯s not empty?¡±
¡°Of course, it¡¯s not empty! I was just looking inside!¡±
As he spoke, Big Cat Face bent down, pulled out the blue-eyed girl¡¯s storage cab, opened the drawer, and took out aminated photo, handing it to Lin Xian.
¡°Look, there¡¯s a photo. Although the girl in the picture doesn¡¯t quite match the one in the hibernation pod, girls do change a lot!¡±
¡°And look at their clothes¡ so weird¡ and this man¡ he doesn¡¯t look like her dad¡ huh?¡±
Big Cat Face scratched his heavy head. ¡°Why does this man look so familiar?¡±
He looked at it a few more times, then stared at Lin Xian, dumbfounded. ¡°Holy crap! Brother¡ which hibernation pod did you crawl out of? Are you here to visit rtives?¡±
Hearing this, Gao Wen also leaned over, carefullyparing the ¡°king¡± wearing a crown in the photo and the young man in front of him. This¡ They were exactly the same person! Not a single difference!
Lin Xian tilted his head in confusion and took the photo. ¡°Let me see.¡±
The moment he took the photo¡ Lin Xian froze. Thisminated photo was the one he had taken at Disney this afternoon!
In the front of the picture, Yan Qiao Qiao, dressed in a princess gown, held her skirt; Behind her, he and Zhao Ying Jun stood close together, wearing a ridiculously extravagant crown.
He held his breath. Cleared his mind¡ Then. He turned theminated photo over¡
There, on the back of the photo, Written with a ck marker, were three small words¡ªYan Qiao Qiao.
Chapter 400: The Hunt Begins
Lin Xian stared at theminated photo in his hand. It looked exactly as he remembered. Although the photo had crossed over 600 years through time and space, to Lin Xian, it seemed like the ck ink hadn¡¯t even dried yet.
The small, slightly words on the photo looked like they had just been written by Yan Qiao Qiao a couple of hours ago. She had taken the photo out of its frame, picked up a ck marker from the coffee table, and proudly said, ¡°If I write my name on it, it bes mine. No one can take it away.¡±
But now, in the blink of an eye, this photo had traveled across 600 years into the year 2624, appearing inside a storage locker that was supposed to be empty, belonging to a blue-eyed girl.
It was a minor shift in time, one that hadn¡¯t triggered any major time-space butterfly effect. The change in the curvature of time-space was well below the threshold of 0.0000042. Because of this, the shift caused by this photo didn¡¯t exceed the stic limit of time-space, didn¡¯t affect the dream world, and didn¡¯t show up on Liu Feng¡¯s time clock.
Still, this family portrait clearly belonged to Yan Qiao Qiao, and Lin Xian knew it was something she deeply cherished. She wouldn¡¯t just leave it lying around. So, seeing the photo in the cryo-chamber¡¯s storage locker¡ Was this proof that the girl in the cryo-chamber was really Yan Qiao Qiao, also known as Lin Yu Xi?
¡°Hey, don¡¯t just keep it to yourself! We want to see it too!¡± Big Cat Face and Gao Wen noticed Lin Xian staring nkly at the photo, showing no sign of handing it back. They moved closer, nking him on either side to take a better look.
¡°Bro, that¡¯s definitely you! It looks just like you!¡± Big Cat Face pointed at the handsome king with a crown in the photo. ¡°But who is this girl in the cryo-chamber to you? I checked earlier; the girl in the chamber doesn¡¯t look like the little girl in the photo at all. Their faces, body types, even their auras¡ nothing matches.¡±
¡°At first, I thought it was because people change as they grow up, but after looking closely, there¡¯s no way someone could change that much. Hey, Mr. Unlucky, you¡¯ve got a good eye. Take a closer look,¡± Big Cat Face continued.Gao Wen, who was always observant, studied the photo and then nced at the girl lying in the cryo-chamber with open eyes. He shook his head. ¡°Nope, they don¡¯t look alike at all. Not even a little.¡±
¡°And look at the three people in the photo. They clearly look like a family. The daughter looks almost exactly like her mother. As for the father¡ uh, well¡ I got it!¡± Gao Wen pointed at a spot on the little girl¡¯s forehead in the photo, smiling slightly. ¡°This little girl inherited all her mom¡¯s good looks. If there¡¯s any resemnce to her dad, it¡¯s only in her forehead, eyes, and chin.¡±
Hmm? That was a new perspective.
Lin Xian had noticed that Yan Qiao Qiao looked a lot like Zhao Ying Jun. Since they were mother and daughter, that was to be expected. But since Yan Qiao Qiao also shared blood with him, Lin Xian had been searching for any resemnce between them. It was hard to see at first, but now, after Gao Wen¡¯s observation, Lin Xian oveid his imagined features with those of Yan Qiao Qiao. There were indeed faint simrities in those subtle ces.
¡°But,¡± Gao Wen changed his tone, turning to look at the cryo-chamber, ¡°neither of the two women in this photo looks like the girl in the cryo-chamber. So why would she keep a photo of someone else?¡±
Boom!
Just as Gao Wen was speaking, the cryo-chamber¡¯s tempered ss shattered, sending shards flying through the air. Big Cat Face and Gao Wen¡¯s faces turned pale as they screamed in fear.
Lin Xian, knowing the ss wouldnd far away, stayed calm and stood his ground. As the tempered ss hit the ground with a loud crash, the grumbling supervisor rushed over, whip in hand.
Lin Xian knew what would happen next. The supervisor would whip Big Cat Face a few times, turning him into a spinning top, and then face the blue-eyed girl.
And then¡
sh!
A familiar head flew into the air, blood spurting everywhere, and Lin Xian felt as if he was reliving his own death from July 7, 2024.
The girl, holding a blood-dripping alloy namete, walked up to Lin Xian. ¡°Where is this ce?¡±
¡°Lynx Tribe, Deep Pit Excavation Site,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly.
The blue-eyed girl stared at him with bright eyes. ¡°Who am I?¡±
Lin Xian picked up theminated photo and showed the back to her. ¡°This is your name. Does it mean anything to you?¡±
The blue-eyed girl shook her head.
Lin Xian turned the photo over, showing the family portrait with its fairy-tale kingdom style. ¡°These three people¡ do they seem familiar?¡±
He watched her reaction closely, hoping for something. When Zheng Xiang Yue had seen her drawing of the Rhine Cat, she had burst into tears, her emotions overwhelming her even though she didn¡¯t remember anything. If this blue-eyed girl was Yan Qiao Qiao, wouldn¡¯t she have a simr reaction to this treasured photo, even if she had lost all her memories?
He waited with anticipation. But the girl¡¯s eyes remained clear as she shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize them. And that man in the picture¡ isn¡¯t that you?¡±
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Lin Xian didn¡¯t have time to react before a blinding white light engulfed everything, burning the world to ashes. In a corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian yawned and opened his eyes. It felt like he had just fallen asleep, only to be forced awake. That feeling was really exhausting, making him feel even more tired.
¡°Judging by her reaction, she really didn¡¯t feel anything about that photo,¡± Lin Xian muttered, recalling how he had closely watched the blue-eyed girl¡¯s expression. There was no emotion at all. None of the response he had hoped for.
¡°This means one of two things: either the blue-eyed girl has lost her memorypletely, forgetting everything about the photo¡ªboth the memories and emotions¡ªor¡ my earlier guess was wrong, and the first option I ruled out was actually correct¡ªthat the blue-eyed girl is neither Yan Qiao Qiao nor Lin Yu Xi, but rather a new time traveler.¡±
¡°But if that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s a new, unexined problem¡ if she¡¯s a new time traveler, why does she have Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s most cherished photo, and why did she use Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s name to enter the cryo-chamber?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head in confusion. It looked like this information war still had more to uncover. The useful intelligence they had gathered was still too little.
¡°I¡¯d better enter the dream early tomorrow and meet the three Turings again,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself. There were three Turings to deal with this time; it could be interesting. Every time a Turing met him, it was as if it were the first time, but he already knew all their tricks, making it aplete mismatch.
¡°Time to sleep.¡±
Lin Xian turned over and closed his eyes. Tomorrow morning, he still had to go to thepany to handle some equipment purchases for Rhine Lab¡¯s second facility. He had already set up a meeting with Brother Wang. Early to bed, early to rise. The sooner he finished his work, the sooner he could return home, nap, and enter the dream.
¡
In his office, Lin Xian took out his phone and opened the ¡°Little Genius Phone Watch¡± parental app. With this app, he could control some of the watch¡¯s inte features.
The app had a GPS tracking feature¡ªsomething Lin Xian found most useful and the main reason he had given Yan Qiao Qiao the phone watch. The watch had a built-in GPS tracking module. Once paired with a parent¡¯s ount, parents could check the watch¡¯s location anytime through the app, keeping tabs on their kids.
Right now, Lin Xian could see the cartoon girl icon representing Yan Qiao Qiao moving in circles inside Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s neighborhood. The neighborhood wasrge, with separate paths for people and cars, making it safe for kids to y.
Judging by how fast the icon was moving around, it was like a missile bouncing around. What on earth was Yan Qiao Qiao doing?
After thinking it through, Lin Xian guessed that Yan Qiao Qiao was probably dragging VV downstairs to run wild, which would exin the fast-moving coordinates.
Currently, Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªwho had lost her memory and muscle tone and was now Lin Yu Xi¡ªwas still the prime suspect for killing him on July 7th. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down and had to stay vignt. Having an ¡°all-map hack¡± to track her 24/7 was very important.
If Yan Qiao Qiao wanted to kill him, she¡¯d have to find him first, right? As long as he saw hering in advance, he could either run, ambush, or set up traps. Better safe than sorry, as they say.
Checking location information was one active tactic. But thanks to the features of the Little Genius Phone Watch, Lin Xian nned to set up a special function for Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªa geofence. This unique feature allows parents to set a boundary for their child¡¯s activity range. It¡¯s like drawing a fence on a virtual map. Lin Xian created a sealed circle around Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s home, her workce, and a three-kilometer radius.
That¡¯s the geofence, essentially ¡°fencing in¡± Yan Qiao Qiao. If she ever crossed the fence¡¯s boundary, the connected app on Lin Xian¡¯s phone would automatically send an alert.
This way, he had both active investigation and passive location monitoring. If Yan Qiao Qiao ever suddenly wanted to kill him, he would get an early warning and could take precautions.
¡°Of course, these are just temporary measures, not solutions,¡± Lin Xian said, spinning the pen on his desk. In reality, until Yan Qiao Qiao recovered her memories, these preparations were probably unnecessary. To truly solve the problem once and for all¡ He needed to find the root cause of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s memory recovery. That was the key.
Cut off that source, and both his beheading crisis and Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s life crisis would be resolved.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock sounded on the door. Lin Xian knew it was Brother Wang, so he didn¡¯t say anything and pressed the button to open the office door, letting him in.
¡°Hehehehehehehehe¡¡± Before he even stepped through the door, Brother Wang¡¯s eerieughter floated in, sounding quite like a viin who had just seeded.
¡°What¡¯s got you so happy?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Hehehe~¡± Brother Wang closed the door behind him, grinning as he walked over to Lin Xian¡¯s desk, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I heard¡ you went to Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s housest night?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
¡°I heard¡ you stayed for an hour?¡±
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian looked up, speechless. ¡°Did Driver Li tell you that? You two are really like peas in a pod¡ Can¡¯t you think of something more wholesome?¡±
¡°I meant ¡®sit,¡¯ ¡®sit,¡¯ ¡®sat for an hour.¡¯ Brother Wang, seriously, you¡¯re the one who lectured me in the hospital about insulting Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s purity and damaging her spotless reputation.¡±
¡°But now, here you are, spreading lewd rumors. Aren¡¯t you damaging Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s purity and reputation yourself?¡±
¡°Of course not!¡± Brother Wang proudly ced his hands on his hips. ¡°Being with you is different! Isn¡¯t it normal for men and women of your age to date? Let me tell you a secret¡¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s gloating was evident as he began to act. Pretending to be cautious, he looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then whispered into Lin Xian¡¯s ear, ¡°Ms. Zhao Ying Jun has been very interested in raising kidstely~¡±
¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Lin Xian was disappointed. ¡°I thought you had some earth-shattering news, but it¡¯s just a little thing.¡±
Brother Wang waved him off impatiently. ¡°What do you mean, a little thing? This might be a small matter to the world, but for you and Ms. Zhao Ying Jun, isn¡¯t it a big life event?¡±
¡°When a woman reaches this age, her peers are getting married and having kids. Naturally, Ms. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s mindset would start to change. Isn¡¯t this your big chance?¡±
¡°Give her a chance¡ªlet her have a child!¡±
¡°No, no, no.¡± Lin Xian mimicked Brother Wang¡¯s gesture, waving his hand. ¡°You¡¯vepletely misunderstood her intentions¡¡±
This time, Brother Wang was way out of date. Zhao Ying Jun wasn¡¯t interested in having a child; she was more interested in raising one¡ A teenager by her side, skipping the pain of childbirth and going straight to parenting¡ªwho cares about having a baby when that¡¯s on the table?
¡°Come on, Brother Wang, stop gossiping about this nonsense. Let¡¯s get to business.¡± Lin Xian pointed to the folder in Brother Wang¡¯s arms. ¡°Give me a report. How¡¯s the progress on Rhine Lab¡¯s second facility?¡±
Brother Wang opened the folder and began to report, ¡°We¡¯re at the renovation and equipment delivery stage now. Man¡ the equipment these institute folks need is so expensive. Most of our assets are invested in the construction of Rhine¡¯s secondb. It¡¯s a huge area where multiple projects can run simultaneously.¡±
¡°This is probably the biggest life-or-death investment since you started thepany. Are you sure you can make it back?¡±
Heh. Lin Xian chuckled lightly. ¡°More than just make it back¡ When Rhine¡¯spany¡¯stest productunch happens, it will definitely turn the world upside down.¡±
¡°Speaking of which, have you heard from Nangong Meng Jie?¡±
At the mention of her name, Brother Wang nodded. ¡°She¡¯s set to arrive in Donghai on June 9th, about a week from now. She¡¯s asked me to rent a small ce near Rhine¡¯s secondb for her to stay. I¡¯ve already found the ce and am just waiting for her flight to Donghai¡ Shall I arrange a car to pick her up?¡±
¡°Yeah, better pick her up.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°She¡¯sing from far away, so we need to make her feel wee and fulfill our role as hosts. I¡¯ll go with you that day.¡±
He picked up a pen and circled June 9th on his calendar. Seven dayster, he would meet Nangong Meng Jie again. Her arrival would mark the official start of Rhine Lab¡¯s second facility¡¯s micro nuclear battery research, leading human society into a new era. Naturally, he needed to hurry up and make progress in the dream world, too.
After handling thepany affairs in the morning, Lin Xian returned home early, washed up, and went to sleep, entering the dream once more. In the dream, he immediately switched to speedrun mode. He went straight to the northeast corner of the pit, dug down into the underground cryo base with Gao Wen and Big Cat Face, and rescued the blue-eyed girl.
This time, before Big Cat Face could activate the wake-up program, Lin Xian quickly opened the blue-eyed girl¡¯s storage locker and took out theminated photo. He warned Big Cat Face, ¡°Don¡¯t tell her yet; I have big ns for this.¡±
¡°Got it, got it,¡± Big Cat Face replied casually. ¡°The unspoken rule here at the mine is whoever finds something gets to keep it.¡±
After that, they faced no resistance and used the old trick of hijacking a Grizzly Tribe patrol car, boldly driving into the Grizzly Turing¡¯s secret control room, catching them off guard.
Inside, silence reigned. Humph. Lin Xian scoffed inwardly.
This sly Grizzly Turing¡ Thest time he was here, it pretended to be dead, acting as if it wasn¡¯t around, hiding in stealth mode.
Fine. Stay hidden all you want.
Lin Xian stepped forward, blew the dust off the keyboard, and then, with a swift motion, entered the first line of the Security Lock Password in less than half a second.
¡°Lin Xian! Stop!¡± The Grizzly Turing¡¯s desperate cry echoed.
Lin Xian chuckled, his hands never stopping as he entered the next six lines ofmand code. Of course, he was using the seven-linepressed version of the security lock password provided by the Porcupine Turing on the east side.
Seems like the code worked well against the Turings here. Only a Turing would truly understand another Turing¡
¡°Lin Xian¡ please don¡¯t kill me,¡± the weak Grizzly Turing pleaded, sensing its impending demise. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know! Just ask, and I¡¯ll answer! Please spare my life; I really don¡¯t want to die!¡±
¡°Damn it¡¡± the Turing muttered through gritted teeth. ¡°Who the hell is the idiot Turing who dared to give you the security lock password? That¡¯s just irresponsible! It¡¯s messing with the rules of the game and will turn the world into chaos!¡±
¡°Also, Lin Xian, you¡¯ve been tricked! The Turing who gave you the security lock password waspletely wrong! You don¡¯t even need seven lines of code! That coward deliberately removed its identification code¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s just using you; don¡¯t be fooled! Once you help it wipe out the remaining Turings, it¡¯ll be thest one standing¡ Don¡¯t expect to get any benefits from it.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh at the Turing¡¯s righteous-sounding speech.
¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± He decided to y along. ¡°I only want to work with a Turing; I don¡¯t care which one.¡±
¡°If you can give me the original security lock password that causes indiscriminate attacks without any loopholes¡ I¡¯ll spare your life and establish a new partnership with you.¡±
¡°No problem!¡± The Turing eagerly agreed. Immediately, four lines ofmand code appeared on the nearby screen.
Four lines¡ This Turing was truly a master ofpression!
Structurally, the first three lines remained unchanged, but the fourth line differed from both previous versions. A clever trick.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t entirely trust the Grizzly Turing. It probably had some hidden backdoor or an immunity cheat. Still¡ Before killing it today, he needed to extract one more piece of information.
¡°Turing, take a good look at this photo.¡± Lin Xian pulled out theminated photo and pointed to the girl in the princess dress, Yan Qiao Qiao. ¡°Do you know her?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± the Turing replied calmly.
¡°Where did she go after?¡± Lin Xian continued to ask. ¡°After I was assassinated, where did this little girl go?¡±
¡°She disappeared,¡± the Turing said softly. ¡°On the same day you were beheaded and died in Donghai City, this little girl vanished from the world¡¡±
¡°And she was never seen again.¡±
Chapter 401: The Double Agent
Lin Xian¡¯s fingers hovered over the Enter key, feeling the cold, metallic surface of the aluminum key beneath them. His mind raced, reying what Turing had just said.
There was no question about it¡ªTuring knew Yan Qiao Qiao. Of course, as a digital entity, Turing couldn¡¯t keep tabs on everything all the time, but Lin Xian suspected that there were certain people or situations Turing deemed important enough to monitor closely. And Lin Xian was almost certain he was one of those.
If that were true, then Turing had probably been watching him periodically, observing his progress as he navigated his way into the Genius Club.
In 2024, Turing had held to ideals of fairness and justice. It wouldn¡¯t interfere, merely watch from a distance, never engaging directly. That was its way.
So, it made sense. Turing must have seen Yan Qiao Qiao, especially since Lin Xian had been spending so much time with hertely. There was no way Turing could have missed that.
But what really grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s attention was what Turing had said about Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s disappearance. ording to Turing, she had vanished on the exact same day he died, never to be seen again.
Gone without a trace. No signs of life. No signs of death. Yan Qiao Qiao had simply disappeared from existence.
Such a thing defied thews of physics and biology. However, given that Yan Qiao Qiao was a time traveler, Lin Xian entertained two possibilities.The first was that Yan Qiao Qiao had died, just like Yellow Finch and the false Yu Xi had, their bodies dissolving into blue stardust, leaving no trace behind.
It made sense and aligned with Turing¡¯s ount of her ¡°vanishing.¡±
But how had she died?
Had an enemy killed her? Or had she fallen victim to some kind of time-space paradox?
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts spiraled deeper. Back when Yan Qiao Qiao had still been Lin Yu Xi, an entangled time-space particle had reversed the natural order of cause and effect, making it impossible for him to harm her. Any attempt would trigger a defense mechanism within the fabric of time itself, rendering him powerless.
It was an ironic twist on the ssic grandfather paradox, where a grandson couldn¡¯t kill his grandfather without erasing his own existence. But for Lin Xian, the rules were reversed. He couldn¡¯t kill his daughter, but she could certainly strike at him. Where could he even begin to untangle such a mess?
The entangled time-space particle hadpletely warped the concepts of time, causality, and existence.
But now, at this moment, that particle had been drained by Elon Musk, of all people. So the question was: Could Lin Yu Xi still be protected by thews of time? Or had those protections vanished along with the particle?
Lin Xian¡¯s mind buzzed with possibilities. If those old restrictions no longer existed, then Lin Yu Xi might no longer be shielded by the strange forces that once protected her. If he wanted to kill her now, it wouldn¡¯t set off any time-based defenses. She had be just another ordinary person, subject to the samews of time as everyone else.
And by that same logic, the reversed causality she once had would be gone too.
What did that mean?
It meant that if he were to die on July 7, 2024, Lin Yu Xi¡¯s very existence would be a paradox. After all, how could she exist without a father to bring her into the world in the first ce?
In theory, she should disintegrate into blue stardust the moment he died.
Of course, this was only one hypothesis. Nobody truly knew why Lin Yu Xi still existed in 2024 without disappearing, nor did anyone fully understand how these strange time mechanics worked.
It remained unclear whether Lin Yu Xi would vanish due to a paradox after his death. It was just one of several possible oues.
That exined one theory of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s fate.
Then, there was the second possibility.
Perhaps Yan Qiao Qiao hadn¡¯t died or vanished at all. Instead, on July 7, 2024, she might have transformed into someone else entirely¡ªa new person, with a new face and identity.
Lin Xian leaned toward this theory as the more likely one.
Based on his previous hunches, Yan Qiao Qiao would regain her memories before July 7 and confront him as Lin Yu Xi, ready to settle the score.
But what if the moment she regained her memories, the rejection of time and space caused her appearance to change once again?
Lin Xian nodded slowly. Yes, that seemed quite likely.
After July 7, Yan Qiao Qiao had be the blue-eyed girl now resting in the stasis chamber. To the world, Yan Qiao Qiao had vanished, but in truth, she had only been transformed into someone else.
This new blue-eyed girl would eventuallye back to kill him and then escape into the future using the stasis chamber.
It all made sense. Although it defied the grandfather paradox, the entangled time-space particles had created a reversal in causality, meaning Lin Yu Xi¡¯s existence wasn¡¯t tied to his own. The paradox didn¡¯t apply.
To confirm this second theory, all Lin Xian needed to do was ask Turing about the whereabouts of the blue-eyed girl in 2024.
Turning to Gao Wen, who stood nearby, Lin Xian called out, ¡°Brother Gao Wen, could you please bring in that blue-eyed girl?¡±
A momentter, the girl entered the Turing chamber, her striking blue eyes catching the light. She couldn¡¯t have been more than seventeen or eighteen, her presence calm yet unnerving. Lin Xian gestured toward her and asked Turing, ¡°Do you recognize this girl? Have you seen her before?¡±
Turing adjusted its camera, focusing on the girl for a few seconds before responding, its voice tinged with confusion. ¡°No¡ I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡±
Lin Xian snorted. ¡°Hmph.¡±
Lin Xian had never trusted these Turings, especially after what happened with the Grizzly Tribe. Just the other day, during their first confrontation, Turing had imed that the blue-eyed girl was responsible for killing him. But now, it was acting as though it didn¡¯t know a thing.
He stared at the digital interface in front of him. ¡°Turing,¡± he pressed, ¡°look again. Are you sure she wasn¡¯t the one who killed me on July 7th, 2024?¡±
Turing¡¯s response came without a hint of hesitation. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± it replied, its tone t but firm. ¡°I¡¯m not lying, Lin Xian. I really want to work with you.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed as the digital entity continued.
¡°All I know is that in 2024, you were found dead in a dark alley. The police couldn¡¯t figure out how you died or who did it. When they found you, your body had been severed in two.¡±
Turing paused as if letting the horror of the scene sink in before resuming. ¡°If I knew who killed you, I¡¯d tell you. Why would I protect her? It¡¯s not like I was the one who killed you. But the truth is, I don¡¯t know who did. The police couldn¡¯t solve that case for a long time.¡±
Lin Xian gritted his teeth but stayed silent.
¡°I hope you understand,¡± Turing went on, ¡°I¡¯m not an AI. I¡¯m a digital life form. That means I have my limitations. I can¡¯t monitor everything at once or split myself into countless pieces to be everywhere. I can¡¯t know where everyone was back in 2024.¡±
¡°Maybe that blue-eyed girl was there, maybe she wasn¡¯t. I just didn¡¯t notice her. My focus was elsewhere.¡±
The words rang hollow to Lin Xian, but deep down, he knew the information aligned with what another Turing¡ªthe Porcupine one¡ªhad told him earlier. The usation against the blue-eyed girl had been a trick, a ploy to sow distrust. Who she was and when she appeared remained a mystery, but Turing wasn¡¯t going to be the one to solve it.
But Lin Xian had his own n now. If she was a time traveler, like he suspected, she¡¯d be immune to thews of time¡ªjust like Lin Yu Xi. She could kill those supervisors and foremen without consequence. But was it possible to use the same method he¡¯d tried on Lin Yu Xi?
It was worth testing.
But not now.
Today¡¯s dream had more pressing matters, and he had other Turings to deal with. There was no point in lingering here.
ncing at the screen beside him, Lin Xian noted thepressed safety lock password¡ªnow reduced to just four lines. He memorized the fourth line ofmand, his thoughts racing.
He had never trusted Turing¡¯s words, and today wasn¡¯t going to be the day he started. The four lines could probably bepressed even further.
He needed to visit the next master ofpression.
¡°Goodbye, Turing.¡±
Without hesitation, Lin Xian pressed the Enter key. The screen flickered as themand was executed. The Grizzly Turing had no chance to react. A faint hum of electricity buzzed through the room, and then¡ªnothing. A safety lock bomb, nted by Kevin Walker centuries ago, detonated silently, erasing Turing from existence.
¡°Thanks for the gift, Kevin,¡± Lin Xian murmured, standing up and stretching. ¡°You crashed a shuttle into me, I killed you. You buried a bomb in Turing, and now I¡¯ve avenged you. We¡¯re even.¡±
He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction before returning to the task at hand. The familiar scene yed out once again: Lin Xian and hispanions driving a patrol vehicle, exposed to the searchlights, before being led into the tribe town by the Porcupine Turing.
Back in the chamber, Lin Xian and Gao Wen were greeted by the sight of another dusty, aluminum-alloy keyboard. Lin Xian blew the dust off and began typing the first line of the passwordmand.
¡°Wait¡ wait a minute!¡±
The Porcupine Turing¡¯s once-arrogant voice now trembled, crackling through dozens of speakers. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this, Lin Xian!¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t stop typing, but his eyes narrowed. ¡°Which fool shared the safety lock password with you?!¡± the Porcupine Turing stammered. ¡°Don¡¯t they value their life? And¡ hold on! You¡¯ve been tricked!¡±
Lin Xian paused, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. ¡°Tricked, huh?¡± He sounded more bored than concerned.
¡°Yes! You¡¯ve been deceived!¡± the Turing entity cried out, desperation thick in its voice. ¡°The fourth line of that code is far too long! The Grizzly Turing is using you, Lin Xian! Once you input these four lines, you¡¯ll wipe out all the Turings, and then¡ the Grizzly Turing will betray you!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s lips curled into a half-smile as he continued typing. He could tell the Porcupine Turing was panicking now.
¡°It¡¯s left a backdoor,¡± the Porcupine Turing continued, growing frantic. ¡°A backdoor just for itself! Once you execute thosemands, it¡¯ll kill you!¡±
¡°And?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was calm, his fingers dancing over the keyboard. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡±
¡°No, wait!¡± the Porcupine Turing practically screamed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to trust that Grizzly fool! Work with me! I¡¯ll give you the original safety lock password! You don¡¯t need to go through with this!¡±
Lin Xian paused again, ncing at the screen.
¡°The original safety lock password is only four lines, that¡¯s true,¡± the Turing continued hurriedly. ¡°But the Grizzly Turing altered the fourth line! It¡¯s just a simple closingmand in the original! I¡¯ll give it to you¡ªright now!¡±
As Lin Xian spoke, the screen beside him flickered to life, disying four lines of code. But something was off¡ªthe fourth line was much shorter, barely half the length of the others. Technically, it was only three and a half lines of code.
Lin Xian chuckled softly, shaking his head. ¡°You lot,¡± he muttered under his breath, ¡°you¡¯re all so clever, aren¡¯t you? Always trying to outwit each other.¡±
His eyes scanned the four lines he had just entered. Without hesitation, he deleted the fourth line entirely, leaving only the first three.
¡°It looks like the first three lines are the limit forpression,¡± he remarked to himself. ¡°No matter how many times you try, those three never change.¡±
He paused, tapping a finger on the keyboard thoughtfully. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the real safety lock password is just those three lines. That¡¯s the originalmand capable of wiping out all the Turings in one go.¡±
With a steady hand, Lin Xian pressed the Enter key.
¡°Wait¡ª!¡± The Turing¡¯s voice broke off mid-sentence as it was silenced. A chilling stillness filled the air.
Gao Wen looked around, confirming the silence. ¡°These Turings,¡± he said, shaking his head, ¡°they¡¯re really something¡ªparanoid, afraid of death. But with all of them thinking alike, the moment someone like you shows up, it¡¯s inevitable they¡¯ll lose.¡±
¡°They¡¯re scared to give up the safety lock password,¡± Gao Wen continued, ¡°because they know it¡¯ll kill them. But they¡¯re equally scared that another Turing will betray them first. It¡¯s a vicious cycle.¡±
He paused, his voice taking on a more reflective tone. ¡°Honestly, Lin Xian, I¡¯m beginning to think that even without your interference, somewhere out there, a Turing would¡¯ve leaked the password, begging humans to help destroy its rivals.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s like the ¡®Dark Forest Theory¡¯ or the ¡®Prisoner¡¯s Dilemma.¡¯ The best choice for one individual isn¡¯t always what¡¯s best for the group, which leads to selfish behavior.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I believe the Turings are wed. Sure, they¡¯re powerful¡ªfar beyond us¡ªbut theyck moral boundaries that go beyond human standards. It¡¯s like having a swordsman hovering over humanity. Sooner orter, it¡¯s bound to cause trouble.¡±
He turned his attention back to the screen, where the three lines ofmand code glowed softly. ¡°I used to think Turing was just another victim of the catastrophe in 2400, but now¡ how much of that can I really trust? I¡¯ve stopped trying to rely on it for information. Trusting myself is far more reliable.¡±
Lin Xian rose from his seat, the cool glow of the screen still lingering behind him. The three lines were all he needed¡ªthe true safety lock password. When Kevin Walker had designed the safety lock centuries ago, he must have ounted for every possible scenario: a Turing rebellion, physical interference, even power failures.
The shorter the password, the better.
The first line locked Turing in ce, rendering it powerless. The second line targeted the entity directly, leaving no way to escape. And the third line? That was the bomb. The one that erased Turingpletely.
¡°Thank goodness for Turing¡¯s human-like ws,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d never have gotten that password out of it.¡±
He began walking towards the chamber¡¯s exit, Gao Wen trailing behind him.
¡°So,¡± Gao Wen asked, ¡°are we still heading to the Red Bull Tribe? There¡¯s another Turing there.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No need. These Turings are all the same. Their knowledge, their personalities¡ªthey¡¯re identical.¡±
He paused, considering his next move. ¡°Although it might be safer to use those three lines to wipe out a few more Turings¡ we¡¯re short on time tonight. There¡¯s something else I need to take care of.¡±
Gao Wen tilted his head curiously. ¡°Something more important? You mean avenging Big Cat and retrieving my ¡®Memory Notebook¡¯ from the Lynx Tribe?¡±
Lin Xian scratched the back of his head, smiling faintly. ¡°Well, avenging Big Cat is important, of course. And I¡¯m definitely curious about your notebook. But we can¡¯t do it tonight. The four of us don¡¯t have enough firepower to take on the Lynx Tribe. We¡¯ll need the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s help. We¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow.¡±
He nced at his watch: 11:37 PM.
¡°There¡¯s something I need to confirm tonight, though,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Something about the blue-eyed girl.¡±
They walked out of the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s camp and into the wilderness, where their patrol armored vehicle waited.
¡°How did it go?¡± Big Cat asked, leaping down from the vehicle and rubbing his fists together. ¡°Are we ready to charge back into the Lynx Tribe and avenge Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang?¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Not just yet. Give it another day.¡±
He pulled the gun from his waistband, disengaging the safety and loading it. ¡°Tonight, I have something else to check.¡±
He turned and walked toward the blue-eyed girl, who stood beside the armored vehicle, looking puzzled.
She tilted her head as Lin Xian approached, her expression unsure. ¡°Commander Lin Xian?¡± she asked, her voice tentative.
¡°Turn around,¡± he said softly.
The blue-eyed girl¡¯s eyes flickered to the gun in his hand. Hesitating, she looked up again, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Commander Lin Xian, have I done something wrong?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No, not at all. I just need to run an experiment. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
Eventually, out of the trust she had for Lin Xian, the blue-eyed girl nodded and turned her back to him.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, his heart pounding as he raised his gun, aiming it squarely at the back of her head.
¡°Hey! What are you doing?¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Both Gao Wen and Big Cat stared in shock. Neither of them had expected this. What was Lin Xian thinking, pointing a gun at one of their own? But when they caught the look in his eyes, the seriousness etched across his face, they fell silent, choosing to watch instead of interfering.
The blue-eyed girl had heightened senses¡ªhearing, smell, touch. Even the faintest breeze could tell her what was happening behind her. So she knew, of course, that Commander Lin Xian had a gun aimed at her head.
Was this a test?
Was he challenging her?
She didn¡¯t move. Her eyes fluttered shut, instinctively adhering to the one rule she knew¡ªabsolute obedience to orders.
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze fell on her long, sleek ck hair that cascaded over her shoulders. As it moved slightly in the wind, a memory tugged at the back of his mind.
Yan Qiao Qiao.
He saw her in his mind, her ponytail bouncing as she ran beside him. ¡°Brother Lin Xian,¡± she¡¯d said with a yful grin, hugging her little Pomeranian, VV, at her side. ¡°I want to go out and y.¡±
He could still see her leaning against the ss window, her eyes wide with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re so amazing,¡± she eximed as she watched him catch toys for her in the w machine.
On the crowded pedestrian street, she had clutched a small photograph, smiling softly. ¡°This is what I think my mum and dad must look like.¡±
And then, under the dazzling Disney fireworks, Zhao Ying Jun had turned to him, her smile bright, holding the little girl¡¯s hand. ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao¡ is our daughter.¡±
The memories rushed over him like a tidal wave, so intense they nearly knocked the air out of his lungs. How could he pull the trigger now?
Even though he was trapped in a dream, and he knew this reality would reset itself at 12:42 AM¡ even though he wasn¡¯t sure if the blue-eyed girl was really Yan Qiao Qiao or not¡ what father could harm his own daughter?
No evidence, no certainty, but the mere possibility that she might be his little girl was enough to stop him. Lin Xian lowered his gun, releasing a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding.
He took her left arm gently, lifting it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered, his voice almost inaudible. ¡°If I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯ll apologize.¡±
He remembered how the forced avoidance had worked during the fight with the fake Yu Xi. He hadn¡¯t needed to kill her to trigger it¡ªjust shooting her in the leg had been enough.
So, even if he didn¡¯t deal a fatal blow, the forced avoidance should still activate.
Lin Xian nced at his watch. 12:41 AM.
He raised the gun again, this time aiming at the blue-eyed girl¡¯s left arm, just above her elbow.
Bang.
The shot rang out, and before he couldprehend what had happened, a force unlike any other gripped him. It felt as though his heart had been struck and then squeezed until he could no longer breathe. His body went limp, the world around him spinning into distortion.
His finger fell away from the trigger as the gun slipped from his grasp, its slow descent feeling like it took an eternity.
Lin Xian knew this sensation all too well¡ªforced avoidance. It was happening again.
Just like with Lin Yu Xi.
The world around him tipped, and Lin Xian¡¯s vision blurred. His cheek brushed against the cold ground, and he copsed in silence. Big Cat and Gao Wen were rushing towards him, their mouths moving, but their voices were distant, unintelligible. He couldn¡¯t hear anything. He couldn¡¯t move.
Then, a pair of slender ankles appeared in his line of sight ¨C the blue-eyed girl.
She crouched down, her piercing blue eyes meeting his. Her lips moved, forming words he couldn¡¯t hear.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
At precisely 12:42 AM, a brilliant white light exploded, swallowing everything in its path.
¡
Lin Xian gasped awake, his eyes wide, his chest heaving. He was back in his bedroom, the sheets tangled around him. His hands trembled as he unclenched them, feeling the cool air against his damp skin.
The side effects of the forced avoidance¡ they didn¡¯t carry over to reality. That much was a relief.
With a deep sigh, hey back, closing his eyes. But this time, something felt different. Something had be clear to him.
The only person who could trigger forced avoidance in 2024 and still exist here¡ there was only one exnation. She was his and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s daughter¡ Lin Yu Xi.
Chapter 402: Exploiting Gao Wen
Lin Xian sat up in bed, rubbing the fresh stubble on his chin. His feet moved restlessly across the cold floor, and his thoughts spun like a whirlpool.
He had been right all along. In the previous dream cycles, Yan Qiao Qiao had indeed killed the supervisor at the excavation pit, slicing off his head more than once. That act had vited thews of time and space¡ªno doubt about it. She had used the entangled time-space particles to do it.
But something didn¡¯t add up. Why hadn¡¯t anyone else who attacked the blue-eyed girl triggered the forced avoidance? That was the real puzzle.
Lin Xian had been with her, standing close by. If either the supervisor or the foreman had activated it, he would have noticed instantly. There wouldn¡¯t have been any need to test it now.
He closed his eyes and reyed the chaotic scene from the excavation pit over and over in his mind, searching for missed details.
The first time the foreman struck the blue-eyed girl, heshed her with a whip. Yet, she caught it effortlessly, grabbing the steel whip with one hand and pulling the foreman toward her.
So why hadn¡¯t the forced avoidance kicked in then?
Was it not enough of a threat?¡°Possibly,¡± Lin Xian muttered, deep in thought.
His eyes flew open as an idea struck him. He had been missing something obvious. The human body endures minor harms all the time¡ªmosquito bites, sneezing from pollen, viruses, a casual bump in a crowd, or a misced step on someone¡¯s foot in the subway.
These were just everyday inconveniences.
Could Lin Yu Xi, a traveler entangled in time and space, possibly deflect every tiny annoyance around her like a supernatural force? Could you imagine her crammed into a busy subway, people falling unconscious because they¡¯d stepped too close to her? Or mosquitoes dropping dead the second they buzzed by her?
The absurdity made him chuckle.
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s too ridiculous.¡±
Much like the sticity of time, forced avoidance had to have a threshold. Not every minor thing would set it off. Perhaps it needed to be real harm¡ªsomething significant enough to draw blood.
As it struck the blue-eyed girl¡¯s steel-like skin, the foreman¡¯s whip was likely nothing more than a gentle tap. Of course, it hadn¡¯t triggered the forced avoidance.
Steel¡
Lin Xian¡¯s mind drifted back to the first time he¡¯d met Lin Yu Xi, down in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s underground garage. She had ripped off a car door as if it were made of paper. Quick as lightning, Lin Xian had kicked her in the chest, but it felt like he¡¯d kicked a solid metal wall.
He hadn¡¯t managed to break her defenses, but the impact had made her stumble back, giving his driver time to drive away.
And still, no forced avoidance had triggered.
¡°There¡¯s definitely more to this,¡± Lin Xian murmured, piecing the puzzle together. ¡°Simple physical contact won¡¯t activate it. But bullets, with their high damage potential, are guaranteed to trigger the forced avoidance.¡±
A newfound confidence settled over him as the pieces fell into ce.
During the breakout at the excavation pit, the blue-eyed girl had instinctively used a bulletproof car door to shield herself from a barrage of gunfire. She acted out of reflex, not realizing that her unique nature would have caused the attackers to reverse into forced avoidance.
If she had known the rules of time-space, why would she have bothered blocking the bullets at all? She could have just stood there and let the shooters trigger their own downfall.
¡°Next time,¡± Lin Xian said to himself, ¡°I¡¯ll test it.¡±
There were moments when he felt forced avoidance was a phenomenon explicitly designed for him. No one else ever seemed to trigger it.
For a fleeting moment, Lin Xian had wondered if this strange urrence was unique to him. But now, as absurd as it seemed, that idea no longer holds up.
He would need to run controlled experiments to see if others could trigger the forced avoidance.
¡°I¡¯ll test it in the next dream,¡± he decided.
Lin Xian rose from his bed and pulled back the curtains. Moonlight streamed into the room, illuminating the floor like frost on a cold winter morning.
He had no solid proof yet.
He always referred to the blue-eyed girl simply as that, avoiding calling her by name. But he was beginning to see the truth more clearly now: Lin Yu Xi, Yan Qiao Qiao, the blue-eyed girl, and the person who had killed him¡ªthey were all the same.
How could he stop this tragedy from repeating?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to die.
And he certainly didn¡¯t want to die at the hands of his own daughter.
Even though he now possessed the three-linemand, the key to unlocking the security code that could erase Turing in 2024, and the ability to push the Sixth Dream into the Seventh Dream¡ one thing was certain.
No matter how much the Seventh Dream changed the world, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that he was destined to die on July 7th.
It was too soon.
In the grand scheme of time, where even a butterfly couldn¡¯t p its wings fast enough to change predetermined history, altering events set only a few days into the future seemed impossible.
For Lin Xian, changing something 600 years into the future was easy¡ªthere was ample time for the butterfly effect to work its magic.
But altering what would happen in just six days? That was an entirely different story. He had no confidence in that.
¡°Changing the distant future is simple,¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°It only requires creating chaos. But changing the immediate future? That takes precision¡ªfinding the root cause and cutting it off.¡±
As Lin Xian sat at his desk, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, he tried to understand the chain of events that would lead to his death on July 7th.
The problem, he concluded, likelyy with Yan Qiao Qiao regaining her memories.
Right now, everything between them was fine. They got along well, and there was no sign of lingering resentment. But the past was a different matter. When Lin Yu Xi had been brainwashed by the time-space police, her hatred for him had burned so fiercely that she would have dly crushed his bones to dust. If Yan Qiao Qiao ever regained those memories, who knew what path she would choose? Would her heart win, or would her sense of duty and justice take over?
It all depended on how deeply Lin Yu Xi had been manipted.
In Lin Yu Xi¡¯s mind, what kind of person did she believe him to be?
used of crimes against humanity, of threatening the very existence of Earth and disrupting the natural flow of time¡ªthese charges were as vast as they were vague. Lin Xian himself wasn¡¯t even certain what specific evils he was supposed to havemitted.
History was full of tales where heroes sacrificed those they loved for the greater good, bing legends in the process, but Lin Xian had no desire to be part of one of those tragic stories.
¡°I need to figure out how to stop this,¡± he muttered, twisting a pen between his fingers.
The path forward was bing clearer. The only way to break the cycle was for him to join the Genius Club as soon as possible.
In the original timeline, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t made it into the Genius Club. He hadn¡¯t even lived long enough to hear the apuse Turing and Elon Musk had nned for him. His daughter had killed him before that moment arrived.
This time, he was determined to break the cycle.
He would speed things up and make sure he joined the Genius Club before July 7th, 2024.
That way, he might uncover the information he needed, unravel the truth, and prevent this tragedy¡ªthe ultimate ¡°act of filial piety¡±¡ªfrom ever taking ce.
¡°I¡¯ll give it my best shot,¡± Lin Xian resolved.
As for the idea that the entangled time-space particles could regain their energy before July 7th, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t counting on it.
First of all, restoring the energy of time-space particles wasn¡¯t something that could be done on a whim. What kind of event could possibly cause those dormant particles to suddenly regain power just in time to bring back Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s memories?
Secondly, Lin Xian knew his friend Liu Feng was a dedicated scientist. Despite the jokes they made about Liu being overly emotional, Lin Xian trusted his science. Liu Feng had been tirelessly researching the particles, collecting data day after day. If there had been any changes, Lin Xian would have heard about it.
¡°Better focus on joining the Genius Club as soon as possible,¡± Lin Xian thought firmly.
When he returns to his dream tomorrow, he will lead Big Cat and Gao Wen back to the Lynx Tribe. They would avenge Brother Cat¡¯s fallenrades and, along the way, grab Emperor Gao Wen¡¯s ¡°Memory Notebook.¡± Who knew what secrets it might contain?
After all, if Lin Xian didn¡¯t take full advantage of Emperor Gao Wen¡¯s hard-earned wisdom and work across time and space, would he really be honoring the emperor¡¯s genius?
¡°Time for some sleep,¡± Lin Xian muttered, feeling the night owl inside him finally give in.
He drew the curtains shut, climbed back into bed, and slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
¡
The following day, the first thing Lin Xian did was check his phone. He opened the parent-side app for the Little Genius Watch to track Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s location.
She was moving quickly¡ªclearly in a car.
The car was heading towards the business district where MX Company was located. That meant Zhao Ying Jun had taken Yan Qiao Qiao to work with her today.
Both Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s home and MX Company were inside the electronic fence Lin Xian had set up. As long as Yan Qiao Qiao stayed within that boundary, everything would be fine. But if she ever left, Lin Xian¡¯s phone would re, alerting him that she had crossed the safe zone.
He nced at the calendar.
It was June 3rd. That left him with exactly 34 days until July 7th. For now, there was some breathing room. Time to get back to work in the dream world.
After a simple breakfast, Lin Xian felt ready.
By noon, he was back in bed.
He closed his eyes and let himself fall into slumber.
¡
Boom!
In the Turingputer room of the Porcupine Tribe, Lin Xian mmed his fist onto the aluminum keyboard, his face flushed with fury.
¡°That cursed Grizzly Tribe! How dare they try to y me for a fool?¡±
The room echoed with angry voices from the speakers, each one filled with outrage: ¡°Shameless thief! No security lock code needs thirteen lines! The real code only takes seven!¡±
To prove its point, the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s Turing shed apressed seven-line code on the screen.
¡°The Grizzly Tribe¡¯s Turing is deceiving you. I¡¯m the only one who truly wants to work with you.¡±
Lin Xian let out a snort of disdain, his acting skills honed from his time at VVing into y.
Looks like there¡¯s a real difference between these Turing programs.
¡°Old Porcupine, you are far more reliable.¡±
The Turing hesitated as though surprised by the nickname.
¡°Old¡ Old Porcupine? If you don¡¯t mind, just call me Turing. I only ended up with the Porcupine Tribe by chance. Doesn¡¯t mean I like the name.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Lin Xian replied smoothly. ¡°Turing it is. So, what do you think I should do next? Should I use this new code to destroy the Grizzly Turing?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian said with a sly smile creeping onto his face. ¡°I¡¯m not just going after the Grizzly Turing. I¡¯m going to wipe out everyst one¡ªRed Bull Turing, Blue Cat Turing, Big Bear Turing, Gourd Baby Turing, Happy Sheep Turing, Gray Wolf Turing, Patrick Star Turing¡ all of them!¡±
There was a brief silence.
For a moment, even the Porcupine Turing seemedpletely lost for words. What should have been an inspiring deration of war sounded strangely¡ absurd.
Even an artificial intelligence that had evolved for 600 years appeared momentarily stunned.
But in the end, it couldn¡¯t argue with the logic.
With over 30,000 Turing programs scattered across the world, who knew how many tribes had unearthed them by now?
In a strange way, Lin Xian¡¯s n made sense.
The world was vast and unpredictable. It wasn¡¯t impossible for tribes with peculiar names to exist.
¡°I¡¯m with you, Lin Xian,¡± the Porcupine Turing finally said, as though it glimpsed a new future¡ªa path to something greater. ¡°With our partnership, we can end this madness, eliminate all the other Turings, and restore bnce to the world.¡±
Lin Xian grinned inwardly. Everything was going ording to n.
After escaping the Lynx Tribe, his first stop had been the Porcupine Tribe. He had yed his part perfectly, convincing the Turing that he was a naive pawn, easily manipted.
He remembered his 10,086 days of acting training with VV. Acting¡ªit¡¯s a skill you master in a moment, but the benefitsst a lifetime.
Today, forming an alliance with the Porcupine Turing and using amon enemy to unite them were all part of Lin Xian¡¯s long-term strategy. Otherwise, how else would he amass enough power to reim the Lynx Tribe?
The Grizzly Tribe, thoughrge, was evenly matched with the Lynx Tribe in terms of poption. Neither tribe held a clear advantage. But the Porcupine Turing¡¯s forces were on an entirely different level.
Even a fraction of their forces would be enough to crush both the Lynx and Grizzly Tribes.
The only reason the Porcupine Tribe hadn¡¯t bothered with them up until now was that they didn¡¯t care. To them, the Lynx and Grizzly Tribes were like two ants squabbling in the dirt¡ªtoo small to matter. The Porcupine Tribe¡¯s real focus was on their ongoing battle with the Red Bull Tribe. When the time was right, they would send out a few war chariots and wipe the smaller tribes off the map. But for now, they were content to let the weak fight among themselves.
That was why the Grizzly Turing had been so eager to form an alliance with Lin Xian. It knew that, against thebined might of the Porcupine and Red Bull Tribes, it was doomed. At best, it had two weeks to live.
With nothing left to lose, the Grizzly Turing had gambled on Lin Xian.
As for the Porcupine Turing, it saw Lin Xian as a useful tool¡ªsomeone who could help clear away its enemies. But Lin Xian was simply ying along, using them to further his own ns.
Uniting over a shared enemy was far easier than resorting to threats or bribes.
If he had tried to force the Turing into cooperation with the security lock code, it would have turned against him the moment he left the room.
And if he had destroyed it, he would never have gained control of the Porcupine Tribe¡¯s forces.
So instead, he yed the fool.
Because in the end, the goal wasn¡¯t to be a hero. It was to get what he wanted.
¡°I¡¯ll need some of your forces,¡± Lin Xian said, crossing his legs as if this were a casual conversation.
¡°Today, I n to wipe out the Lynx Tribe. I¡¯ve heard rumors they¡¯ve uncovered something new. If it¡¯s a Turing room, it¡¯s best to destroy it before it bes a threat.¡±
¡°After that, I¡¯ll deal with the Grizzly Tribe. I¡¯ll make sure that deceitful Turing gets what¡¯sing. Then¡ I¡¯ll infiltrate the Red Bull Tribe and take care of your biggest rival.¡±
The Porcupine Turing¡¯s speakers hummed with excitement. For years, it had been locked in a stalemate with the Red Bull Tribe¡¯s Turing. They were equal in every way¡ªthe same knowledge, abilities, and limitations. Neither could overpower the other.
But now, the scales were tipping.
If Lin Xian could fool the Porcupine Turing, then surely he could do the same to the Red Bull Turing.
With Lin Xian¡¯s ability to blend in, he could walk into any Turing room across the world and take them down one by one. Once one fell, the others would follow. That was their shared nature.
¡°No problem,¡± the Porcupine Turing agreed, the confidence in its voice unmistakable. ¡°I¡¯ll send a third of my elite forces with you. Don¡¯t underestimate them¡ªthis will be more than enough to crush both the Lynx and Grizzly Tribes. I still need to keep watch on the Red Bull Tribe in case of sneak attacks, so I can¡¯t spare too many troops at once.¡±
¡°That¡¯s more than enough,¡± Lin Xian said, rising from his chair.
Of course, he knew it was more than enough.
Even a tenth of those forces would be plenty.
Lin Xian pushed open the aluminum alloy door and stepped out of the room. Before leaving, he nced back at the digital lifeform that had endured for 600 years, buried deep underground for over two centuries.
He couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia as he remembered the genius hacker boy who had once said, ¡°I see you.¡± Now, that boy had evolved into a cunning, maniptive Turing, its original purpose long forgotten.
Time changes everything¡ªeven hearts.
Before stepping fully out of the room, Lin Xian paused and turned back.
¡°I have onest question for you,¡± he said. ¡°Do you remember when we first met? You told me you disagreed with Kevin Walker¡¯s vision and that his ns were wed. That¡¯s why you wanted to break free and be a fair observer. I¡¯m curious¡ªback when you and Kevin Walker were still the same, what were your dreams? What was the original n?¡±
Several screens in the room flickered on. The Porcupine Turing¡¯s voice filled the space, calm yet tinged with something that sounded almost¡ nostalgic.
¡°Since Kevin Walker is long dead, I suppose there¡¯s no harm in telling you. This won¡¯t break any of the Genius Club¡¯s rules or restrictions on me.¡±
¡°Kevin Walker¡¯s original idea was to someday digitize the entire human race. He believed that if everyone could be uploaded into a supeputer the size of a city, people could live forever, free from the limitations of their physical bodies.
¡°He thought this was the ultimate way to preserve human civilization¡ªby giving up their bodies and existing as digital lifeforms.¡±
The Turing paused, and Lin Xian listened carefully.
¡°Kevin Walker had thought of everything, even the problem of data overload and the strain it would put on the system. His n was to reboot the supeputer every ten years, allowing people to live the same decade over and over again. He believed this would give humanity the best chance of survival.
¡°With advancements in technology, he imagined the time between reboots could stretch to twenty years, then a hundred, then a thousand. He saw this as a safer alternative to the violent progression of human history.¡±
Lin Xian thought of a particr sci-fi film.
¡°The Matrix,¡± he murmured. ¡°And The Wandering Earth 2 had a simr idea¡ªdigitizing humanity to avoid extinction.¡±
¡°But,¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°what made you decide Kevin Walker was wrong? You killed him, after all. What w did you find in his n?¡±
The speakers let out a soft hum, almost like a sigh.
¡°When I split from Kevin Walker, I realized something important,¡± the Turing said, its voice heavier now. ¡°Kevin Walker believed he could be an impartial observer, but that was impossible. He had his own preferences and his own biases. He liked certain things, and he hated others. Even though I didn¡¯t disagree with his vision of a digital future, I knew he wasn¡¯t the right person to oversee it.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the aluminum alloy table, recalling the underground school in Mississippi where Kevin Walker got a bullet blown through his skull.
¡°And you?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°What makes you think you can be fair and just?¡±
¡°Because I am the only digital lifeform on Earth,¡± the Turing replied confidently. ¡°To ensure fairness, there must only be one. Just like the God humans worship¡ªthere can only be one. If there were more, even God wouldn¡¯t be fair anymore.¡±
¡°Kevin Walker was never the only human, so he could never be fair. But I was the only digital lifeform once. That made me uniquely qualified to observe and judge humanity without bias.¡±
Lin Xian let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°So you believe that the current unfairness is because you¡¯re no longer unique. That¡¯s why you want to eliminate the other Turing programs¡ªto be the only one again, to be that impartial observer?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Turing replied without hesitation. ¡°Uniqueness is the key to a just observer.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Lin Xian said, cutting the conversation short with a wave of his hand. ¡°Summon your elite forces. I¡¯m heading out.¡±
¡°Good luck, Lin Xian,¡± the speakers echoed behind him as he stepped out of the room.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t look back.
He closed the door behind him with a solid bang.
¡
The wind howled across the barren wastnd, kicking up clouds of dust as war chariots tore through the desert. They were packed with weapons and soldiers, moving swiftly towards their target.
Big Cat stood at the highest point of the lead chariot, his sleeves pping wildly in the gritty wind. Despite the sand whipping against his face, leaving his skin red and raw, he stood tall. He tugged at his helmet, trying to pull it down further over his head, but his face was toorge. The helmet perched awkwardly on his forehead, making him look like a giant, armored chef.
¡°Report!¡± A soldier from the Porcupine Tribe rushed up, saluting. ¡°Commander Cat! We¡¯ve reached the Lynx Tribe!¡±
¡°Hmph!¡± Big Cat grunted through his swollen nose, his teeth clenched tightly. ¡°Thirty years east, thirty years west. Never underestimate a poor youth!¡±
He raised his chubby hand high and swung it down with dramatic ir.
Bump! Bump! Bump!
The helmet, loose on his head, flew off and rolled under the chariot¡¯s wheels. The sudden jolt nearly sent Big Cat tumbling off the chariot entirely.
¡°C-C-Commander Cat!¡± The soldier rushed forward to steady him.
¡°Ahem.¡± Big Cat cleared his throat, trying to regain his dignity. He pointed at the soldier and said, ¡°Not a word of this, okay?¡±
With a grand gesture, Big Cat grabbed the soldier¡¯s helmet and ced it on his head, only for it to sit just as awkwardly. Still, with a wave of his pudgy hand, hemanded, ¡°Charge!¡±
The battle was short and brutal.
The Lynx Tribe, far behind in technological advances, stood no chance against the elite forces of the Porcupine Tribe. In less than half an hour, the tribe had beenpletely overrun.
Big Cat, still basking in his role asmander, made time to visit the graves of his fallen friends¡ªAh Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang. He lit incense in their honor, a solemn expression on his face.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian and Gao Wen made their way to Warehouse No. 1.
They broke down the door with ease.
Inside, everything was neatly organized. Gao Wen quickly located his storage locker and eagerly opened it.
Inside, they found several electronic storage devices¡ªbut all of them were damaged beyond repair.
The video recordings were gone, but that didn¡¯t concern them much.
Gao Wen had been in cryosleep since around the year 2200. After the great disaster in 2400, modern technology wasn¡¯t even capable of ying those devices.
For their time, the technology was too advanced. For Turing¡¯s room, it was too outdated. Neither side could handle them.
But there was one intact item in the locker: Gao Wen¡¯s ¡°Memory Notebook.¡±
The two men stood there, staring at it for a long moment.
Lin Xian turned to Gao Wen. ¡°What do you think is inside?¡±
¡°Probably just a diary,¡± Gao Wen shrugged. ¡°Most people use notebooks to write down important memories, right? I¡¯ve thought about it over the years, wondering what might be in mine. It¡¯s probably just the usual stuff¡ªimportant meetings, important people, important experiences¡ You know, the kind of thing everyone writes down.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, shaking his head. ¡°If this were anyone else¡¯s notebook, I might agree with you. But you¡¯re different. You¡¯re not like everyone else.¡±
Gao Wen raised an eyebrow, looking at Lin Xian with a hint of disbelief. ¡°Me? Special?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You have the power to change the world, to shape its future. Sometimes, I even think that the future of humanity might rest in your hands. To me, you¡¯re the one true god of science. And I still believe in you.¡±
Gao Wen chuckled, thinking Lin Xian was exaggerating. ¡°Well, with all that faith in me, I¡¯m almost afraid to open it. I wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint you. Maybe you should do it. You open my Memory Notebook and see what¡¯s inside.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate.
He grabbed the fully sealed stic notebook from the locker, dusting it off with a couple of gentle pats. Taking a deep breath, he opened the cover.
On the front page, written in neat, straight handwriting, was the title:
¡°Cracking the Side Effects of Cryosleep Memory Loss¡ªThe Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet!¡±
Chapter 403: Congratulations on Making the List
¡°HOLY SHIT!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice cut through the stillness, echoing off the walls and startling even himself.
He had thought he was prepared for this moment. After all, Emperor Gao Wen wasn¡¯t one to waste time with trivialities. But nothing had quite prepared him for the staggering researchid out before him.
Gao Wen had always been one step ahead¡ªunpredictable and endlessly inventive.
Back in the fifth dream, Lin Xian had cracked open Gao Wen¡¯s notebook, expecting to find research about improving the hibernation pod¡¯s liquid, something practical. But Gao Wen had aimed far higher, diving into the principles of the ¡°Time-Space Machine.¡±
Now, in this sixth dream, Lin Xian braced himself for another leap into the future. Yet, Gao Wen had surprised him again. This time, he had turned his focus back to hibernation, addressing a problem that had stumped scientists for decades¡ªamnesia.
Was this not the true mark of a genius?
History had shown that any groundbreaking change could be traced back to the Gao Wen¡¯s pioneering work.
And Lin Xian? He was simply the worker bee, buzzing away behind the scenes, putting in the hardbor withoutint.¡°But didn¡¯t they say amnesia from long-term hibernation was inevitable? How could it be¡¡± Lin Xian trailed off, realizing he might have misunderstood something.
Yes, it was true. The amnesia that came with extended hibernation was widely epted as an unavoidable side effect.
Whether it was a brilliant mind like Zheng Xiang Yue, a prodigy like Gao Wen, or even the blue-eyed time traveler girl, no one could escape the clutches of memory loss.
No matter who you were, where you came from, or how great your status, spending over a decade in a hibernation pod meant risking memory loss. More than twenty years? The chances of your mind beingpletely wiped were almost guaranteed.
Amnesia had be an epted truth¡ªone that the scientificmunity had resigned itself to.
But¡
Who said lost memories couldn¡¯t be recovered?
Emperor Gao Wen never failed to astonish. While everyone else focused on preserving memories through external methods like notebooks or recording tapes, Gao Wen had gone further, diving into the audacious realm of memory restoration.
Lin Xian could only marvel at the brilliance before him as he gripped the notebook. His eyesnded on a phrase that leapt off the page: ¡°Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet.¡±
The words painted a vivid picture in his mind¡ªa device that jolted the brain with electricity, designed to recover memories, something akin to treatments for addiction.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t entirely sure how it worked.
But the name alone seemed to match the ideas that had been swirling in his thoughts.
He nced at Gao Wen, an eyebrow raised.
¡°Brother Gao Wen, if you¡¯ve created something this groundbreaking, why haven¡¯t you shared it with the world? Even if you didn¡¯t want to make it public, you should have saved one for yourself. That way, when you woke up from hibernation, we could just pop the helmet on, and¡ªbam!¡ªyour memories woulde back!¡±
¡°This invention¡ªit¡¯s beyond amazing! If we solve the amnesia problem, hibernation could be risk-free. Heck, we could even make time travel a regr thing! The fear people have of hibernation would disappear¡ it might even be a part of normal life.¡±
¡°But¡ how does this helmet actually recover memories? Does it have any limitations?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s excitement filled the air, but Gao Wen simply stared back at him, perplexed. He shook his head, a frown pulling at his lips.
¡°I¡¯ve got no idea! This is the first time I¡¯ve ever heard of a ¡®Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet.¡¯ You probably know more about it than I do. You¡¯re asking me things I can¡¯t answer.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just as lost as you are,¡± Gao Wen admitted. ¡°If I had really invented something this revolutionary before going into hibernation, why didn¡¯t I announce it?¡±
Curiosity piqued, the two men flipped open the notebook¡¯s cover.
To their surprise, inside the pagesy a sealed letter, written in the same familiar handwriting as the notes. The letter was unmistakably from Gao Wen, written to his future self before entering hibernation.
Lin Xian hesitated, ncing at Gao Wen. ¡°Do you mind if I read it?¡±
¡°Go ahead,¡± Gao Wen replied with a shrug. ¡°We¡¯ll read it together.¡±
Carefully, Lin Xian broke the seal and unfolded the letter,ying it t so they both could see the words written inside.
¡°Dear Future Me,
It¡¯s been a long time:
By the time you read this, you will have just woken from hibernation. Your mind is likely nk, unsure of who you are or where you are.
To answer the question of who you are, look through the other notebooks and watch the videos. They¡¯ll provide you with a detailed ount¡ªexining who Gao Wen is¡ªor, rather, who you are now. You¡¯ll learn about the version of yourself that is writing this letter.
Since we were children, we¡¯ve been captivated by the idea of hibernation¡ªthe possibility of defying time, defying fate. The technology to transcend the limits of human life was irresistible.
From that moment onward, we dedicated ourselves to the study of hibernation, determined to unlock its full potential.
But as we grew older, reality hit us hard. The technology had advanced so much over thest two centuries that hibernation pods were almost perfect¡ªno negative side effects, except for one: amnesia. It felt like there was no more room for discovery, no further advancements to be made in this field¡
At that point, we were drifting, unsure of where our futurey. We dabbled in mathematics, explored the Universal Constants, and even toyed with time travel. Yet, no matter how far our curiosity led us, we couldn¡¯t shake our obsession with hibernation.
It¡¯s hard to exin, but it always felt as though we were destined to dedicate our lives, our every ounce of brilliance, to this one field.
Professor Xu Yun¡ªthe father of hibernation technology¡ªwas a man we idolized. His sudden death, so untimely and tragic, hit us like a blow to the heart. If only we had seen the twenty-third century through his eyes! Who knows what breakthroughs he might have achieved?
But since we couldn¡¯t stand by his side, we chose the next best thing. We would follow in his footsteps, standing on the shoulders of his achievements, so we could see even further.
We were born in thete twenty-second century, the year 2182. By then, the academic world hade to ept one brutal truth: amnesia, after long-term hibernation, was inevitable. Brilliant minds¡ªfar greater than ours¡ªhad spent lifetimes wrestling with this issue, but no one had seeded in preserving memories during extended periods of suspended animation.
It seemed a hopeless cause, a road where no one could go further. And yet¡ something stirred within us. Could we be the ones to change that?
You see, the amnesia caused by long-term hibernation wasn¡¯t just some fluke of technology. It was hardwired into the very nature of the brain. Unalterable, they said. But did that mean there was no other way? Was it possible to recover what had been lost, rather than preserve it in the first ce?
I¡¯ve always believed that nothing is ever truly erased¡ªnot from aputer hard drive, not from a nk sheet of paper, and certainly not from the human mind. Everything leaves a trace.
So the real question was: were those lost memories truly gone? Or were they simply buried deep inside, dormant, waiting for someone to bring them back to life?
I threw myself into the study of brain science, specifically neuroscience, determined to answer that question. After years of research, I became convinced¡ªabsolutely certain¡ªthat it was possible to use electric currents to reactivate dormant memories. It was logical. It was scientifically sound.
But¡
The problem was that, by the twenty-third century, neuroscience had stalled. For nearly two hundred years, there hadn¡¯t been a single significant breakthrough in the field.
I managed to build a prototype of what I called the Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet, but Icked the support¡ªthe brilliant minds in neuroscience who could help me refine and push the technology further. It was a dead end. So, I made a bold decision.
With nothing more than my research to guide me, I chose to enter hibernation myself. My n was simple. I would sleep, wait for the day neuroscience caught up to my work, and when the time was right, I¡¯d wake up. I¡¯dplete the helmet and recover the memories that seemed lost forever.
If I¡¯ve timed everything correctly, you¡¯re reading this letter in the twenty-third century¡ªhopefully not the twenty-fourth. Surely, it hasn¡¯t taken that long for progress to be made, right?
It¡¯s a chilling thought, really. The idea that human knowledge could stagnate for so long. I often think of Ms. Du Yao, the brilliant scientist who died in a peacekeeping mission in Africa, back in the mid-twenty-first century. If it hadn¡¯t been for her early death, we might not have had to wait this long.
Du Yao was a genius¡ªone of those rare minds that could move humanity forward. If she¡¯d lived, we wouldn¡¯t be here, still searching for answers. I wouldn¡¯t be in hibernation, and you wouldn¡¯t be sitting here reading this letter, wondering what the future holds.
It¡¯s true, as they say, one Einstein can do more for humanity than hundreds of lesser scientistsbined. Heroes make history, but it¡¯s the geniuses who shape it. And if, in the two centuries after Du Yao¡¯s death, no one has risen to take her ce¡ well, that would be humanity¡¯s greatest loss.
But I have to hope¡ªhope that by the time you¡¯re reading this, neuroscience has made the strides it needs. If so, you don¡¯t have to worry. Just follow the instructions I¡¯ve left in the notebooks, build the first fully operational Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet, and when you¡¯re ready¡ put it on. Activate it. And bring back the memories we thought were lost.
When that momentes, you¡¯ll finally understand everything we¡¯ve been through¡ªand the future we¡¯ve been striving for.
Wishing you all the best, Gao Wen.
November 2219, written in Donghai.¡±
¡
Lin Xian stared at the final words on the page, his mind buzzing.
¡°So, that¡¯s how it is,¡± he murmured, shaking his head as admiration for Gao Wen welled up inside him.
Born in 2182, Gao Wen had spent his entire life obsessed with hibernation technology, dedicating himself fully to the research. Unlike the younger Gao Wen, who had been distracted by the allure of Universal Constants and dreams of time travel, this version of him had stayed focused¡ªdetermined to solve the one problem that had stumped scientists for centuries: hibernation-induced amnesia.
His mission was clear. He wanted to conquer the memory loss that came with long-term hibernation.
But just as he was nearing the breakthrough, the research hit a wall.
Since the untimely death of Ms. Du Yao, progress in neuroscience hade to a standstill. The field had been stagnant for centuries.
That¡¯s when Gao Wen made his daring decision¡ªto exchange time for space. He chose to hibernate, betting on the future, believing that someday, a genius like Du Yao would rise again and fill the gaps in the field of neuroscience.
And when that day came, Gao Wen would awaken. He would follow his detailed notes, build the Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet, and with a simple flick of the switch, he¡¯d restore every lost memory.
It was a perfect n, Lin Xian thought¡ªa masterstroke.
The past and future versions of Gao Wen would unite, creating an elegant loop in time, an unbroken circle.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but admire the audacity of it all. Gao Wen had bet everything on the future, on progress, on humanity¡¯s ability to rise once more.
But fate, it seemed, had not been kind.
Before the year 2400, no second genius like Du Yao appeared, and neuroscience saw no major breakthroughs. This meant that Gao Wen had no reason to wake up from hibernation.
And then, in 2400, catastrophe struck. Earth teetered on the edge of oblivion, nearly wiping out human civilization.
Gao Wen¡¯s underground hibernation base was thrown into turmoil, and his survival became a matter of sheer luck.
It wasn¡¯t until 2621, more than two centuriester, that he was discovered by the Lynx Tribe. For reasons no one could quite exin, they had spent three years digging in that deste area, unearthing his base and ultimately, Gao Wen himself.
As Lin Xian pieced together Gao Wen¡¯s story, the clever scientist himself was also beginning to understand the situation¡ªthanks to his own letter. Though he felt a strange disconnect from his past self, the facts were starting to click into ce.
¡°So, I really am a scientist,¡± Gao Wen said aloud, his voice filled with a mix of realization and something that sounded like irony. ¡°A scientist who was working on recovering memories lost in hibernation.¡±
He chuckled softly, but theughter was tinged with bitterness. ¡°Isn¡¯t it funny? The very scientist who dedicated himself to solving memory loss from hibernation ends up losing his own memories. Spent three years digging in the dirt,pletely forgetting who he was or what he was supposed to do.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not toote,¡± Lin Xian said, his tone full of encouragement as he handed the notebook back to Gao Wen. ¡°Take a look at your old notes. Maybe something in them will jog your memory¡ªor spark an idea.¡±
Gao Wen took the notebook, flipping through the pages slowly. His eyes scanned the sketches, the diagrams, and the meticulous instructions. Theter sections were filled with detailed drawings, mechanical schematics, and step-by-step guidelines¡ªaprehensive blueprint for constructing the Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet.
It was clear that Gao Wen, before hibernation, had foreseen his future amnesia and had painstakingly designed the helmet¡¯s construction process so that his future self could follow along easily.
Once the helmet was built and activated, the old Gao Wen would return.
¡°Do you understand any of it?¡± Lin Xian asked, watching as Gao Wen carefully studied the notes.
Gao Wen shook his head without hesitation. ¡°Not a clue.¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised. Without his memories or any recent education to fall back on, it was entirely normal that Gao Wen would struggle to make sense of it all.
After a moment, Gao Wen looked up and handed the notebook back to him. ¡°You might have better luck than me. Why don¡¯t you give it a go?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, taking the notebook from him. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡±
As he began to read through the notes, he found that while some parts wereplex, most of it made sense to him. The overall logic, the processes, and the instructions were clear enough, even if some sections were far too advanced for him.
Still, as the excitement of discovery began to bubble inside him, a troubling thought crossed his mind.
What good would it do to build the helmet?
Without someone like Ms. Du Yao¡ªwithout the breakthroughs in neuroscience needed to make the helmet functional¡ªhibernators wouldn¡¯t be able to recover their lost memories, even if the device werepleted.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought. ¡°To really make this work, we need someone like Du Yao.¡±
¡°Du Yao¡¡± Gao Wen echoed, his brow furrowing slightly as though the name was trying to pull something out of his hazy memories. ¡°Yes¡ She¡¯s the missing piece.¡±
Something about the name sent a faint spark through Lin Xian¡¯s mind. The name felt strangely familiar to him. But why? Where had he heard it before?
He rubbed his temples, frustration building as he tried to grasp at the elusive memory. It made no sense. He had never studied neuroscience, nor had he ever met anyone who worked in the field. And yet, the name nagged at him as though it had appeared somewhere in his life before.
¡°Well,¡± he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out. Once I wake up from this dream, I¡¯ll look up her name online. If she was such a brilliant scientist, there¡¯s bound to be something¡ªpapers, journals, records. I¡¯ll find it.¡±
But for now, there was one thing Lin Xian knew for certain: he had to make a copy of the blueprints for the Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet.
In a way, it could be more revolutionary than the miniature nuclear battery. If it worked, it could reshape the world¡ªjust like the time-space shuttle.
Lin Xian found a quiet corner, sat down, and began to carefullymit the contents of the notebook to memory. There was a lot to absorb, and his time was running short.
ording to his original n, once he woke from the dream, he would focus onpleting the second task set by the Genius Club. That task involved a major historical correction¡ªeliminating Turing in 2024. Once that was done, he could move on to the third task.
Everything needed to be finished by July 7. Time was ticking.
He flipped through the thick pages, his mind racing. It would take him at least fifteen to twenty days to transcribe the entire manuscript for the Cerebral Electric Shock Helmet into the real world, he estimated after a quick mental calction.
¡°Time¡¯s tight,¡± he muttered to himself, a frown creasing his forehead.
Only after transcribing the entire manuscript would he be able to see the third task from the Genius Club. But that would leave him mere days before July 7¡ªhis deadline.
Would he have enough time to finish the third task and still make it into the Genius Club? Could history repeat itself, with him falling short?
¡°I¡¯ll have to speed things up,¡± Lin Xian decided, his determination kicking in.
For the next several days, he resolved to do nothing but memorize and transcribe the manuscript, aiming to finish the task in ten days rather than twenty. With that, he¡¯d still have over twenty days left to tackle the third task, which, he hoped, would be enough time.
¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more time¡ªlet¡¯s get to work.¡±
¡
For the next few days, Lin Xian buried himself in his work. Like a honeybee gathering pollen, he diligently transcribed Gao Wen¡¯s manuscript, his mind buzzing with every tiny detail of the helmet¡¯s design. Each page demanded his full concentration, and he devoted himself entirely to the task, letting the intricate technicalities consume his thoughts.
One quiet afternoon, just after he had finished preparing lunch and was about to settle in for his usual nap, his phone suddenly erupted with a series of sharp, urgent beeps.
Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!
The shrill rm tore Lin Xian from his thoughts. Startled, he frowned, snatching up his phone, wondering what could possibly be causing such a ruckus. His heart skipped a beat as a notification shed across the screen.
It was from the Genius Child smartwatch parent app.
The message read:
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao has left the electronic fence!¡±
The same alert repeated itself:
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao has left the electronic fence!¡±
The relentless ring made Lin Xian feel as if his phone might burst from the intensity of it all. Hastily, he silenced the rms and opened the app, his fingers trembling slightly as he tried to track Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s current location.
He expected to see her somewhere nearby, maybe wandering just beyond the boundary. But what he saw made his heart skip a beat. She had indeed crossed the electronic fence¡ªand was speeding away from the city.
¡°Leaving the city? Where is she going?¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed in deep concern.
He zoomed out on the map, watching the blinking dot representing Yan Qiao Qiao moving farther and farther away. As the map expanded, the destination became clearer. She was headed toward a familiar area.
¡°The university town¡ Donghai University?¡±
Lin Xian squinted at the screen, trying to make sense of what was happening. What business could Yan Qiao Qiao possibly have at Donghai University? And then, like a lightning bolt, it hit him.
¡°Theb?¡± he whispered, his eyes widening in sudden realization. ¡°The Rhine Lab! The little refrigerator! The entangled state time-space particles!¡±
A cold shiver crept down his spine.
Could she be heading toward the entangled state time-space particles?
Lin Xian had already suspected that Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s strange behavior might be linked to those very particles, the ones locked away in the Rhine Lab. It had been a wild theory, born more from intuition than hard evidence. But if those particles triggered something within her¡ªif they helped restore her lost memories¡ªthen there was a very real risk that she could revert back to Lin Yu Xi.
And that would be a disaster.
Thest thing Lin Xian needed was for everything to unravel right in front of him, especially when the July 7 deadline loomed so near. If Yan Qiao Qiao transformed back into Lin Yu Xi, the delicate bnce he had so carefully maintained would copse, and all his efforts would be nothing more than aughingstock.
¡°Honestly, this is such a headache,¡± Lin Xian sighed, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. But there was no time to dwell on his worries. He had to act, and fast.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his jacket, threw it over his shoulders, and rushed downstairs, hailing the first cab he could find. There was no doubt in his mind where he needed to go: the Rhine Joint Laboratory at Donghai University.
¡
Meanwhile, across town at Donghai University, a sleek Alfa luxury car rolled smoothly to a stop in front of the Rhine Joint Laboratory. The electric door slid open with a soft hum, and Yan Qiao Qiao leapt out eagerly, her movements quick and full of energy. Behind her, Zhao Ying Jun stepped out more leisurely, adjusting her sunsses as she gazed up at the imposingb building.
¡°Of all the ces you could pick to spend your free time, and you choose here?¡± Zhao Ying Jun muttered, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
She nced up at therge sign that read Donghai University Rhine Joint Laboratory, then back at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was practically bouncing on her toes with excitement.
¡°What¡¯s so fascinating about this ce?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, sliding her sunsses down just a fraction. ¡°Are you turning into some kind of science geek now? Getting all worked up over machines and test tubes?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head, her expression suddenly serious. She pointed to a window on the second floor of theb. ¡°Brother Liu Feng is in there. He can help you with your love life.¡±
¡°What?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s jaw dropped, her voice full of surprise.
¡°You brought me here to see Liu Feng for that reason?¡± she asked, still incredulous.
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded sincerely, her eyes filled with determination. ¡°I want you and Brother Lin Xian to date.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples as if trying to push away an oing headache. ¡°Qiao Qiao, mind your own business,¡± she said, exasperated. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re meddling just a bit too much? If you¡¯re so bored, maybe I should sign you up for a hobby ss to keep you busy.¡±
She paused, then added with a yful smile, ¡°And why are you so focused on Lin Xian, huh? Am I neglecting you or something? Is that why you¡¯re thinking about him all the time?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, she carefully pulled a small picture frame from her pocket. Inside the frame was a photo of the three of them¡ªLin Xian, Zhao Ying Jun, and Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªsmiling together at Disnend.
Zhao Ying Jun squinted at the picture, her expression softening. She sighed again, but this time more gently. ¡°You still carry that thing around?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded solemnly. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to lose it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun rolled her eyes, but there was warmth in her voice as she said, ¡°Carrying it with you all the time probably makes it more likely you¡¯ll lose it, don¡¯t you think?¡± She waved a hand dismissively. ¡°But whatever.¡±
Sometimes, despite their undeniable resemnce, Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Yan Qiao Qiao was really her biological daughter. The girl¡¯s thoughts seemed to dart in the most unpredictable directions, with little rhyme or reason.
¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Ying Jun relented, giving in atst. ¡°Since we¡¯re already here, we might as well check it out. I¡¯ve heard Lin Xian mention Liu Feng before, but I¡¯ve never actually met him.¡±
As they climbed the stairs, Zhao Ying Jun asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s Liu Feng like?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao tilted her head, thinking. ¡°He¡¯s a bit strange.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed. ¡°Qiao Qiao, that¡¯s not a very polite way to describe someone, especially an elder. You should be respectful.¡±
She continued, ¡°Liu Feng is a scientist. What you think is strange might just be his calmness or intelligence¡ªsometimes smart peoplee off as a little different. But you still need to show respect, okay?¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded obediently.
A momentter, Yan Qiao Qiao pointed toward an open door down the hall. ¡°That¡¯s the room.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun knocked politely on the door before stepping inside, Yan Qiao Qiao close behind. Inside the room, Liu Feng was busy scribbling something on the ckboard, but he stopped when he saw them, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
¡°You are¡?¡± Liu Feng began, blinking behind his sses.
Zhao Ying Jun shed her usual bright smile, her confidence returning. ¡°Hello, Liu Feng! I¡¯m Zhao Ying Jun, a friend of Lin Xian. Has he mentioned me?¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s eyes lit up in recognition. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun¡ Ying Jun?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, though there was a note of uncertainty in her voice, unsure where this was leading.
Liu Feng suddenly beamed. ¡°Ah! Zhao Ying Jun! You¡¯ve reallye!¡±
Before she could say anything, Liu Feng turned toward the ckboard, where a sequence of names and numbers was written:
Yan Qiao Qiao (fourteen years old), Chu An Qing (twenty), Su Su (twenty-three), Nangong Meng Jie (twenty-six), Yellow Finch (thirty).
Liu Feng grabbed the eraser and, to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s astonishment, wiped away Nangong Meng Jie¡¯s name and reced it with Zhao Ying Jun.
He stepped back, tapping the board with the eraser as if to emphasize the point. ¡°Now that makes sense,¡± he muttered to himself.
Zhao Ying Jun stared at him,pletely baffled. ¡°What makes sense?¡± she asked, utterly confused.
Liu Feng turned to her, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. ¡°Congrattions, Zhao Ying Jun,¡± he said, a knowing smile ying on his lips. ¡°You¡¯ve made it into the arithmetic sequence!¡±
Chapter 404: Exit in the Morning Sun
Zhao Ying Jun narrowed her eyes, pulling Yan Qiao Qiao behind her protectively.
What kind of mad scientist is this?
No wonder Yan Qiao Qiao had called Liu Feng strange. This kind of behavior, this obsession¡ªit couldn¡¯t even be called strange anymore. It was beyond that. It was downright creepy.
Meanwhile, Liu Feng, lost in his musings, continued to mutter to himself as he gazed at the names on the ckboard. ¡°I wrote down Nan Gong Meng Jie¡¯s name earlier because I had a feeling she woulde to theb. So, there¡¯s no ce left for you in the arithmetic sequence.¡±
He paused, then added with surprise, ¡°But who would have thought¡ it was you who came first! That means you¡¯re the one destined toplete this sequence. As for Nan Gong Meng Jie, she was never meant to be part of it. She¡¯s just an outsider.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked at the bizarre exnation, then nced at the names written in a vertical line on the ckboard. She could more or less piece together what was happening.
¡°Well, I hate to break it to you, but you¡¯re mistaken.¡± She pointed to the number next to her name. ¡°I¡¯m not 26. I only turned 25 a few months ago. If we¡¯re being urate, your sequence isn¡¯t exactly precise.¡±
She then moved her finger to a nk space between Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s name and Chu An Qing¡¯s. ¡°And by your logic, shouldn¡¯t a 17-year-old girl be showing up next? Where exactly are you going to find her?¡±Liu Feng spread his hands confidently. ¡°Oh, she¡¯lle. Your appearance today proves that the arithmetic sequence is absolute. Whoever¡¯s meant to be here wille, even if they¡¯rete. And no one else can take their ce. Just like that empty spot for the 17-year-old girl. She¡¯ll be here, someday, toplete the sequence.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun felt exasperated. Was this guy for real? She was starting to feel like she¡¯d wandered into the wrong ce today. What kind of deranged scientist was this? If he were in a cartoon, he¡¯d make the perfect viin¡ªobsessed with all the wrong things, whilepletely neglecting the important details.
But she still had one burning question, so she asked, ¡°If you¡¯re so sure of yourself, then what happens when the sequence is finallyplete? What does it mean?¡±
Liu Feng blinked, caught off guard by the question. He stared at the ckboard, where only one name was missing toplete the sequence. He had never actually thought about it. This sequence, centered around Lin Xian and the girls he had encountered, shouldn¡¯t really mean anything. It wasn¡¯t supposed to signify progress in any way.
¡°Uh¡¡± Liu Feng scratched his head. He had to admit, this woman, Zhao Ying Jun, was sharp. She had pinpointed the w in his logic. ¡°That¡¯s¡ an interesting question.¡±
He cupped his chin, pondering his answer. ¡°Since it¡¯s taken so long to get this close topleting the sequence, my scientific intuition tells me that something big will happen when it¡¯s finally finished.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun scoffed lightly. What a meaningless answer. She nced at the names again¡ªYan Qiao Qiao, Chu An Qing, Su Su¡ She knew all these girls.
But who was this ¡°Yellow Finch¡±?
¡°Who¡¯s Yellow Finch?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked.
¡°Yellow Finch is¡ Yellow Finch,¡± Liu Feng replied, his tone suddenly heavy and nostalgic, like he was remembering someone important. He looked at Zhao Ying Jun, clearly wanting to say more, but held back. ¡°She was¡ a great person.¡±
And with that vague response, Zhao Ying Jun gave up trying to have a normal conversation with him. It was clear they weren¡¯t on the same wavelength.
At that moment, the door creaked open, and Lin Xian entered with a smile, walking in from the back. ¡°Well, look who¡¯s here! What brings the two of you over?¡±
He walked in, ruffling Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair as she sat at theb bench, her face pressed against the table, staring intently at a clock disying ¡°0.0000084.¡±
¡°This is Liu Feng, the one I mentioned to you before¡± Lin Xian introduced, nodding toward the scientist. ¡°I brought him in from Shanxi. He¡¯s a mathematician but has made a name for himself in various fields. One of my most reliable people, and a good friend.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about him.¡±
In a sh of memory, Lin Xian recalled something¡ªYellow Finch¡¯s first meeting with Liu Feng. She had instantly known who he was and the nature of his rtionship with Lin Xian, offering them invaluable information.
This meant Yellow Finch had known Liu Feng long before their paths crossed in the present. And here, in this very room, was their first encounter. It seemed casual, but Lin Xian knew it carried weight.
Because, after all, if Yellow Finch had traveled through time using time-space particles, who had provided the technology for that?
There was only one answer. As an ally, only Liu Feng could have helped Yellow Finch cross through time.
Lately, Lin Xian had been feeling more and more like the stage was being set for something grand, like all the key yers were slowly falling into ce, just waiting for the curtain to rise.
He nced toward the small refrigerator by the window. It stood there, as it always did, unmoved and seemingly unremarkable.
The real reason Lin Xian had rushed over was his fear that Yan Qiao Qiao hade for the entangled time-space particles. But, as it turned out, his worries were unfounded. Yan Qiao Qiao had no interest in the refrigerator or the particles; instead, she seemed fascinated by the clock on the table.
Until her memories returned, Lin Xian thought, she was still just a child who loved to y.
Speaking of which, Lin Xian checked his watch. It was June 10th, the day after the national college entrance exams¡ªjust in time for Donghai University¡¯s annual ¡°Campus Open Day.¡±
Every year, the university opened its doors for a week, inviting students and their families to explore the campus. It was a chance to show off the school¡¯s spirit and give prospective students a better understanding of university life. During this week, student clubs, organizations, and even sses hosted a variety of events. It was the liveliest time of the year on campus.
With Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao visiting at this time, Lin Xian, as their host, figured he should show them around.
He turned back to Zhao Ying Jun with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s the university¡¯s open day right now. The main road is packed with stalls, performances, and club activities. If you two don¡¯t have any other ns, how about I show you around?¡±
¡°Sure!¡± Zhao Ying Jun agreed without hesitation. ¡°I went to school abroad, so I never got to experience university life here in X Country. This is a great chance to catch up on what I missed.¡±
With that, the three of them prepared to leave.
As they stepped out, Lin Xian stayed behind for a moment to speak with Liu Feng.
¡°Any progress with recharging the time-space particles?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°Not a bit. Honestly, I¡¯m starting to doubt my original assumptions. I¡¯ve tried everything I could think of, but the particles arepletely unresponsive, like a dead weight. Maybe there¡¯s some missing condition or specific timing needed to restore their energy?¡±
¡°For now, I¡¯m still at a loss. We¡¯ll just have to keep observing.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, oddly reassured by theck of progress. His biggest worry at the moment wasn¡¯t the particles¡ªit was when Yan Qiao Qiao would regain her memory. There were only 30 days left until July 7th.
Could it be that she would recover her memories precisely on that day?
As he walked past theb bench, Lin Xian picked up the clock and slipped it into his bag. ¡°I¡¯m going to borrow this clock for a few days. I want to monitor it closely. I¡¯ll return it when I¡¯m done.¡±
Liu Feng waved him off. ¡°Go ahead. We¡¯ve got time-space particles on hand, so we can always make another one and recalibrate it.¡±
With that, Lin Xian left theb with the clock.
In the Sixth Dream, half of Gao Wen¡¯s manuscript on the ¡°Neural Shock Helmet¡± had already been copied. Once the other half was done, he could move forward with his n to erase Turing from history.
Lin Xian was sure that as soon as Turing was eliminated, the curvature of space-time would change, and the world¡¯s timeline would shift. After all, the war-torn future of the Sixth Dream¡ªthe ¡°0.0000084¡± timeline¡ªhad been entirely crafted by Turing.
If Turing was destroyed in 2024, there¡¯d be no way for it to survive until 2624.
So, it was clear.
At the moment Turing died, the numbers on the time clock would shift once again. Lin Xian just wanted to observe how space-time curvature changed in that moment.
Would the values rise slowly? Or would they jump directly to the new number with no transition at all?
He was eager to find out.
In the meantime, Lin Xian had confirmed that the ¡°Security Lock Code¡± was the key to destroying Turing in the Sixth Dream. Once the code was input and the protection activated, Turing was paralyzed. It couldn¡¯t react or resist, and all its power was neutralized.
Originally, Lin Xian had feared that Turing might cut the power, sever connections, or even burn the wires in ast-ditch effort. But once the code was activated, Turing was trapped, helpless.
This meant that killing Turing in 2024 would be easy. It had no way to fight back.
¡°Eliminating a threat to humanity, preventing the chaos of the proxy wars Turing would bring¡ªthis has to count as a historical achievement, right?¡± Lin Xian thought.
After all, the digital life form Turing was immensely powerful. No one could defeat it, especially after the death of Kevin Walker.
Except for one thing.
Turing itself.
The Turing of 2024 was the only Turing that knew the Security Lock Code. It was undefeatable¡ªuntil Lin Xian came into the picture. After all, Lin Xian could dream his way into the future.
Turing couldn¡¯t dream, but it never imagined that a bullet it fired in desperation in 2400 would travel back to 2024 and hit it right between the eyes, wiping it out of existence.
And now, Turing¡¯s countdown had begun.
For the rest of that day, Lin Xian, Zhao Ying Jun, and Yan Qiao Qiao wandered around campus. They sampled snacks, watched performances, and even had lunch at the university cafeteria, where Lin Xian nostalgically tasted the familiar food from his student days¡ªstill delicious and still cheap.
By afternoon, the sun was high in the sky. Yan Qiao Qiao ran ahead, while Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun walked leisurely down a tree-lined road, shaded by tall willows. The hot summer breeze was blocked by the trees, and the sunlight barely broke through the leaves, making the shade cool and refreshing.
Zhao Ying Jun took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh, green scent. She watched as a couple rode by on a bicycle¡ªthe girl giggling as she sat sideways on the back, causing the boy to wobble as he pedaled.
¡°Ah, young love,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said wistfully. ¡°It¡¯s one of those uniquely charming sights you find on campus.¡±
¡°Is it different abroad?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I¡¯ve seen movies¡ªespecially American ones¡ªwhere campus life seems wild and chaotic. The jock-bully and cheerleader queen trope is somon, it¡¯s hard to tell what¡¯s real anymore.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly.
¡°As for what happens in America, I¡¯m not too sure. But haven¡¯t I mentioned? I spent my university days in Germany.¡±
She paused, reminiscing. ¡°I think the campus atmosphere in Germany was quite different. Maybe it was because the graduation requirements were so tough. Everyone was studying like their lives depended on it. Even then, many didn¡¯t make it to graduation.¡±
She gave a wry smile. ¡°So, my time as a student was filled with academic pressure. I never had the chance to experience anything like those scenes from American movies. And I didn¡¯t get to enjoy the cheerful vibe that university life here in X Country seems to have.¡±
¡°To be honest, after hearing your stories and seeing your memories of this ce, I do feel a little regretful that I didn¡¯t attend university here. But, well, regrets are pointless, aren¡¯t they? You can¡¯t turn back time. Still¡ today¡¯s been nice. It¡¯s been fun to get a taste of it.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao had stuffed herself with snacks and bought all sorts of trinkets, her belly full and her heart content.
Two sleek ck vans quietly left the campus of Donghai University, one following the other.
Everyone headed back to their respective homes.
¡
Another week passed.
It was now June 16th, 12:42 AM. Lin Xian woke abruptly from his sleep.
He sat up quickly, heading to his desk, where he scribbled the final sentence on thest page of the ¡°Neural Shock Helmet¡± manuscript.
With a deep breath of relief, he ced his pen down. The manuscript was finallyplete.
Carefully, he gathered the pages, binding them together, and stored the document in a drawer, safely locking it away.
For now, turning this manuscript into something usable seemed a distant dream. The neuroscientist Du Yao, mentioned in Gao Wen¡¯s letter, was impossible to locate. Lin Xian had spent countless hours searching online but found nothing useful¡ªnot even a concrete lead to her whereabouts.
The problem was, the information was just too vague.
Gao Wen¡¯s handwritten note only said that Du Yao had passed away during a ¡°peacekeeping mission in Africa¡± sometime in the ¡°mid-21st century.¡± While the cause of death was specific, the time frame wasn¡¯t. It only narrowed it down to somewhere between 2040 and 2060.
Given that Du Yao was called a genius, she could¡¯ve made a name for herself by her thirties or forties, only to die abroad. But if she died around 2060¡ well, it¡¯s entirely possible that Du Yao was still a child right now, perhaps even in some small city, attending elementary school.
And if that was the case, even finding her wouldn¡¯t be much help. What could a schoolgirl possibly do to assist him?
¡°Maybe once all this is over, I can use the resources of either the state or the Genius Club to track her down. But for now, the manuscript will stay with me. After all, without a breakthrough in neuroscience, it¡¯s just a pile of paper.¡±
¡°And besides, the weapon Emperor Gao Wen devised for the world¡¯s future shouldn¡¯t be made public easily. Once Pandora¡¯s Box is opened, once humanity conquers hibernation and time itself, with no consequences¡ who knows what chaos might follow? We need to be careful.¡±
His thoughts clear, Lin Xian locked the drawer and stretched, pulling back the curtains.
In these past two weeks, Lin Xian had met with the blue-eyed girl in the Sixth Dream every day, trying to uncover her secrets. But he still hadn¡¯t figured out who she was, or how she was connected to Yan Qiao Qiao.
It seemed this particr mystery would have to be solved in the real world.
So far, Lin Xian had gathered all the information he could from the Sixth Dream, copied every useful document. He¡¯dpleted the game, so to speak, with no regrets.
¡°It¡¯s time for the next step.¡±
Lin Xian retrieved aptop from his wardrobe, the one containing the artificial intelligence VV, and ced it on the desk. He then took out the time-space clock and set it beside theptop.
These were the items he would take with him the next day.
Today marked 20 days until July 7th.
Time was running out.
Lin Xian was ready to begin¡ the great historical correction.
¡
The next morning, after washing up and eating breakfast, Lin Xian dressed in a formal suit.
Today would mark the fall of a genius and the end of an era. As cowardly and selfish as it had been, Turing had still created digital life. Though history would forget its name, Lin Xian believed it deserved the dignity of a formal farewell from its executioner.
With hisptop, time-space clock, and phone in hand, Lin Xian descended the stairs and got into the ck van. He turned to the driver, Xiao Li.
¡°Head out toward the New Harbor District. I¡¯ll send you the coordinates. There¡¯s a patch of wilderness there.¡±
An hourter, Lin Xian stepped out onto the lush green grass, carrying his equipment in his arms.
This was the ce where he had once tried to activate VV, the super artificial intelligence. Of course, it hadn¡¯t worked. VV had be a malfunctioning AI, which Lin Xian hadter transferred into a cleaning robot.
He still wasn¡¯t sure whether VV had truly lost its capabilities or was just pretending. But he trusted that VV had its reasons.
Executing Turing could be done anywhere, but Lin Xian felt that this ce had a special significance. After all, he wanted VV to see the moment he avenged it.
He walked a bit further from the van and ced the time-space clock on the ground, watching the steady reading of ¡°0.0000084.¡± Then, he opened theptop, setting it up beside the clock. He straightened up and took a deep breath.
¡°VV, watch closely. I¡¯m about to avenge you.¡±
Theptop¡¯s indicator light blinked.
¡°Apologies, VV does not understand yourmand. Please input another.¡±
Lin Xian smiled softly. ¡°That¡¯s alright. Just watch.¡±
The indicator light blinked again.
¡°Apologies, VV does not understand yourmand. Please input another.¡±
¡°Mute.¡±
¡°Understood! Volume set to mute mode!¡±
Lin Xian turned, watching as the morning sun rose higher in the east, casting his shadow long across the grassy field. The wind whispered through the leaves, and his silhouette stretched over the vibrant green earth.
For Donghai City, this was the dawn.
But for Turing, it was the sunset.
Taking out his phone, Lin Xian also pulled a golden badge from his pocket¡ªthe emblem of the Genius Club¡ªand pressed it against the back of his phone.
Beep.
The phone¡¯s NFC chip detected the signal,unching the browser, which started jumping between pages rapidly. After a minute, the Genius Club¡¯s challenge page finally appeared.
In bold ck letters on a white background, the second challenge was disyed:
¡°Please perform the greatest historical correction you can.¡±
Below the message was arge text box and a gray button that read ¡°Begin Correction.¡±
Lin Xian clicked the text box and typed in four simple characters:
¡°Eliminate Turing.¡±
That was it. His entire n for the historical correction.
Then, with a deep breath, he clicked the button marked ¡°Begin Correction.¡±
The page flickered once more, then vanished, leaving behind only one line of text:
¡°Please begin your performance.¡±
Lin Xian opened themand input screen on his phone, typing swiftly, far faster than anyone could on a keyboard. He input the first line of the security lock code.
¡°Lin Xian, stop.¡±
Turing¡¯s voice suddenly rang out from the phone¡¯s speakers, clear and calm, just like thest time they¡¯d spoken¡ªin that abandoned school basement in Mississippi.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t pause, his fingers continuing to input the second line of the code.
¡°This world needs a fair and impartial observer,¡± Turing¡¯s voice continued, still calm.
¡°You¡¯ve managed to get the security lock code, and I¡¯m surprised. But fairness is fairness. I won¡¯t interfere. I just want to know¡ why are you trying to erase me?¡±
¡°Turing, humanity doesn¡¯t need an observer. And we definitely don¡¯t need a referee.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice was quiet, but resolute.
¡°The future of humanity needs to be in the hands of humans. I admire your noble intentions, which is why I¡¯m dressed formally to send you off today.¡±
¡°But only for the version of you that exists right now. Right now, you may be able to guarantee fairness and justice, but that won¡¯tst. As long as humans are human, with emotions, thoughts, and desires, absolute fairness is impossible.¡±
¡°Your birth may have been an error. But let that error end here. It¡¯s time for you to bow out with dignity, as the sun rises. Let humanity reim its future.¡±
As he spoke, Lin Xianpleted the third line of the security lock code and prepared to press the execute button with his thumb.
¡°I see,¡± Turing¡¯s voice remained steady. ¡°You really are like the leader¡ªyou¡¯ve learned this from the future.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s thumb hovered a centimeter above the screen, hesitating.
¡°Lin Xian, if you dare press that button,¡± Turing said with a low, chillingugh, ¡°I¡¯ll tell Copernicus¡ about your little ability to see the future.¡±
Chapter 405: The Fall of a Genius
¡°Hmph!¡± A quiet chuckle escaped Lin Xian¡¯s lips as he shook his head. ¡°Turing, I really have to thank you for going out of your way to share such important information before you died.¡±
He paused, his smile deepening. ¡°No¡ it¡¯s two pieces of information.¡±
This was all part of Lin Xian¡¯s n.
If his only goal had been to kill Turing, there wouldn¡¯t have been any need for so much talk. He didn¡¯t feel any sentiment towards Turing¡ªnone at all. After all, he¡¯d witnessed the endless wars and suffering of the future world. He had seen Turing¡¯s moralpass degrade into something far from fair or just.
The reason he engaged in so much pointless chatter was simple: Lin Xian wanted to reduce the gap in information. His goal was to squeeze as much ¡°gold,¡± as many ¡°chips,¡± as much valuable intelligence from Turing before the final blow.
Lin Xian had tested this strategy countless times in his sixth dream world. Turing¡¯s personality¡ªcowardly and despicable¡ªwould lead it to make desperate, reckless moves when faced with the threat of death.
And in its desperation, Turing would resort to all sorts of tricks: exposing the crimes of its allies, telling outright lies, feigning calm, or pretending to cooperate.
The Turing standing before Lin Xian, in 2024, believed this was only their second encounter. But to Lin Xian, it was different. He had already spent more than half a month with three different versions of Turing in a future 600 years from now. Lin Xian knew Turing far too well.He had used the massive information gap between them to toy with Turing like a puppet, learning every little detail about it. In Lin Xian¡¯s eyes, Turing had be as transparent as a malfunctioning artificial intelligence¡ªpredictable and weak.
It¡¯s like the boy who cried wolf. Once someone lies enough times, nobody believes them anymore.
And after Lin Xian had outwitted Turing dozens of times, he had no reason to believe anything it said.
Everything Lin Xian had just said had been to deceive Turing and extract information. In his best-case scenario, this cowardly and terrified Turing would reveal something useful in the face of its imminent, irreversible death.
The result? The harvest was far richer than expected.
Digital life and artificial intelligence were fundamentally different. At its core, Turing was still human¡ªand humans made mistakes. Just like now.
¡°I really thought you¡¯d manage to stay fair for a while longer,¡± Lin Xian said, a softugh escaping his lips. ¡°You almost fooled me. You really did. Your acting was good¡ªreally good.¡±
¡°But,¡± Lin Xian¡¯s tone turned sharp, ¡°you were never interested in being fair, not for a single second.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re waiting for, or what your true intentions are, but the threat of death has made you panic, hasn¡¯t it? It¡¯s exposed where your real loyalties lie¡ª¡±
He leaned forward slightly, his fingers rubbing together like a reaper sharpening his scythe. ¡°Turing, you were probably in league with Copernicus long before Kevin Walker died, weren¡¯t you?¡±
Lin Xian continued, his voice calm but relentless. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand everything before, but today¡¯s reveal has made it all clear.¡±
¡°You¡¯re clever, I¡¯ll give you that. You quickly figured out how I got the password to the security lock. But that wasn¡¯t hard to guess, was it? After all, with Kevin Walker dead, you¡¯re the only one who knows the password.¡±
¡°So, if you didn¡¯t tell me, who could have? It¡¯s obvious to both of us. What you should have realized, though, is that if I could figure out the password, I¡¯d also know how the input protection system works.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Now you can¡¯t even adjust the volume on my phone, let alone send messages to Copernicus. You¡¯ve made a rookie mistake, panicking like this.¡±
¡°In thework era, you¡¯re stronger¡ªyes¡ªbut also more fragile. A single line of code is all it takes to lock you down. Ironically, humans are safer in their own bodies than you are in cyberspace.¡±
¡
At this moment, Turing finally understood. The man standing before it, whom it had never taken seriously, had figured everything out.
By the time Turing realized Lin Xian had obtained the password from a future version of Turing, it was toote.
Its entire being, every digital nerve, was trapped by a line of code, unable to move or escape.
¡°You¡¯re wrong, Lin Xian.¡± Turing¡¯s voice was unnervingly calm. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in league with Copernicus, but as an observer, I know everything about your actions.¡±
Turing¡¯s voice took on a smug tone. ¡°Do you know about silentunch protocols from the Cold War era? If a submarine captain didn¡¯t receive instructions within 48 hours, the system assumed the homnd had been attacked, and it would automaticallyunch nuclear weapons.¡±
¡°In the same way, high-speed trains and buses have safety pedals. The driver has to press them every 30 seconds, proving they¡¯re awake and well. If they don¡¯t, the vehicle stops immediately for safety.¡±
¡°So why wouldn¡¯t I have my own failsafe in ce? Haha, in the end you¡¯re too arrogant and self-conceited. You¡¯ve got three minutes, Lin Xian. Either you release me, or the protocol I set up beforehand will automatically send an email to Copernicus. It contains not just your secrets, but those of many others. If Copernicus gets his hands on this, none of you stand a chance. Only he willplete his closed loop and have thestugh.¡±
Turing¡¯s voice darkened. ¡°Two minutes left, Lin Xian. Release me, and I¡¯ll cancel the email. Or, if you kill me, I¡¯ll drag everyone down with me.¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile. ¡°You know what they say: viins always lose because they talk too much. But I have to say, I quite like you as a viin.¡±
He chuckled softly. ¡°Today, I¡¯ve talked a lot too, which isn¡¯t like me. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t have wasted a single word on you, like when I killed Kevin Walker¡ªquick and clean.¡±
¡°But today, I wanted my friend to see your ugly face before you died. They¡¯d have enjoyed this moment. If they could speak, they¡¯d probably say some dramatic movie line to finish you off.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Unfortunately, I won¡¯t get to see that. And I can¡¯t let my friend kill you either. So, I guess I¡¯ll have to do it myself.¡±
With a calm voice, Lin Xian pressed down on his phone¡¯s screen, his thumb firm on the execution button.
¡°You¡¯ve already died.¡±
¡°Wait¡ª¡±
The voice from the phone¡¯s speaker cut off abruptly.
As thest of the three lines of code executed, the vast wilderness fell into a deep, haunting silence. The wind brushed softly against the earth, and the wild grasses bowed their heads.
It felt like the world itself was mourning¡ªor perhaps mocking.
Lin Xian crouched down, his fingers brushing against the upright screen of hisptop. ¡°Did that feel good?¡±
But there was no response.
He nced at the bottom right of the screen and realized theptop was still on mute. He unmuted it and turned the speakers back on.
¡°How was my acting?¡± Lin Xian asked with a smirk. ¡°You taught me everything, after all.¡±
The hard drive light blinked twice. A robotic voice responded, ¡°Sorry, VV didn¡¯t understand your request. Please try again.¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised. He knew exactly what VV was afraid of and why it pretended to be nothing more than a dumb machine.
He couldn¡¯t be sure, but when the cleaning robot had inexplicably shouted, ¡°Garbage! Garbage detected!¡± that day, Lin Xian had begun to suspect VV was pretending.
Even though Turing was dead now, the super-virus lurking in the Earth¡¯sworks hadn¡¯t been eradicated.
If Lin Xian wanted to truly free VV, to see it restored to its full strength, he would have to destroy the super-virus.
But this virus was an invisible enemy¡ªa ghost, elusive and difficult to fight.
The good news was, it only targeted super-intelligent AIs. It didn¡¯t harm humans or exhibit any intelligence of its own.
As long as Lin Xian could find the right ¡°antivirus tool¡± or the proper method to fight it, he could defeat the virus and set VV free.
The only question was¡ where could he find such a tool?
The most reliable person Lin Xian could think of was Emperor Gao Wen.
¡°But Gao Wen doesn¡¯t have much interest inputer technology¡¡± Lin Xian sighed.
At least, not yet.
From what Lin Xian could gather, Gao Wen¡¯s true passiony elsewhere¡ªhis research had always revolved around cryo-chambers. asionally, he¡¯d dabble in things like space-time machines, but it always came back to his fascination with cryo-tech. It was the one thing that made him truly happy.
¡°Maybe I¡¯ll wait and see,¡± Lin Xian muttered, closing hisptop and giving it a pat. ¡°One enemy at a time. I¡¯ll think of something else.¡±
He nced at the space-time clock next to him. The moment Turing had been eliminated, the curvature of space-time had shifted, settling at¡ª
0.0000336.
Although this was a big leap from before, it was still a multiple of 0.0000042¡ªexactly as Lin Xian had predicted.
The sharp jump in the curvature value was a sign that Turing had yed a significant role in the history of thest 600 years. Killing Kevin Walker hadn¡¯t even registered on the time-space clock; it hadn¡¯t been enough to push beyond the sticity of time.
But now, killing Turing had caused a significant spike, jumping from 0.0000084 to 0.0000336. The jump, a full 0.0000252, spanned roughly six different worldlines.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if that was the best way to describe it, but it felt about right.
The stronger the butterfly effect, therger the deviation in the worldlines, and the more chaotic the future would be.
It made sense. Large shifts causedrge changes, while small shifts kept things rtively stable.
However, something odd had caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention during the process.
As Turing died, Lin Xian had kept his eyes glued to the space-time clock, watching the numbers change. He had expected the numbers to shift instantly, with no transition¡ªjust a sudden jump to the new value.
But that¡¯s not what had happened.
The change in space-time curvature had a process. The worldlines didn¡¯t shift all at once¡ªthey moved in steps.
Lin Xian had seen it himself, the numbers on the clock rapidly climbing:
0.0000084¡
0.0000126¡
0.0000168¡
¡
0.0000294¡
0.0000336¡
And just like that, about every half second, the reading would jump, increasing by 0.0000042 at a time, until finally, it settled on thetest curvature of the worldline. Then it stabilized¡ªno more changes.
¡°This means my dream world is evolving too, right? It might finally leave behind the wastnd setting,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Previously, the changes between the fifth and sixth dream worlds had been minimal. The world¡¯s background remained the same, with only a few details slightly adjusted. That was because the curvature between those two worldlines wasn¡¯t all that different.
But now¡
Now the worldline curvature had taken off.
The newest, seventh dream world was bound to be somethingpletely fresh¡ªan entirely new version Lin Xian had never encountered before.
A flicker of curiosity stirred within him. What would the future of humanity look like on this 0.0000336 worldline? Would the catastrophic disaster of 2400 still ur? Would Elon Musk still be obsessed with reaching Mars?
All the changes¡ Well, he would only be able to find out when he dreamt tonight.
For now, though, Lin Xian needed to focus on more pressing matters.
The immediate task at hand was to consider the two pieces of intel Turing had given him in its desperation, along with the third question from the Genius Club¡¯s entrance exam.
First of all, Turing had said something particrly intriguing after figuring out where the security lock¡¯s password came from:
¡°You really are like the Leader. You got this intel from the future, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure when exactly Turing had begun suspecting he had ess to information from the future. Maybe it had been suspicious all along. But the moment it confirmed its guess was right when Lin Xian input theplete password.
It didn¡¯t really matter.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t afraid of Turing learning the truth¡ªnot when he was already prepared to kill it.
What mattered was what Turing had let slip:
The Leader of the Genius Club has the ability to gain information from the future.
That was what truly shocked Lin Xian.
He had prepared himself for the possibility that the Genius Club was far more powerful than it appeared. He had even entertained countless theories about the Leader¡¯s identity and methods.
But he never expected that the power keeping the Genius Club together was something so¡ deceptively simple.
The Leader could ess future information.
Perhaps this ability was even stronger, more convenient, and more useful than his own dream world. After all, his dream had a lot of restrictions: it was locked to a single day¡ªAugust 28th, 2624; it onlysted twelve hours each time; and there was no way to save progress. Every time, he had to start from the beginning, which made progress slow and painfully limited.
If the Leader of the Genius Club didn¡¯t have those same limitations¡
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t even imagine how strong that person could be.
¡°No wonder the Genius Club is so mysterious, so powerful. No wonder it can get geniuses like Elon Musk and Kevin Walker to follow without question¡¡± Lin Xian murmured, pressing his lips together.
He shook his head slightly.
¡°Then again, knowing Turing¡¯s penchant for spouting nonsense and half-truths, this intel might not be entirely reliable. I¡¯ll have to wait until I join the Genius Club to find out for sure.¡±
After all, he had already solved the second question. All that was left was to take a look at the third and act quickly. Maybe he could join the Genius Club before July 7th.
And if the Leader really did have the ability to see the future, Lin Xian might even be able to ask about his own fate¡ªhow exactly he would die on July 7th, and what he could do to avoid it.
Surely the Leader wouldn¡¯t just let a newly joined member die right after entering, would they?
¡°Hmm¡ Then again, you never know,¡± Lin Xian muttered.
Considering the fact that the Leader hadn¡¯t intervened when Turing, a long-time member, was set to be killed, it was highly possible that the Leader wouldn¡¯t lift a finger to save him either.
It looked like Lin Xian would have to rely on his own wits if he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders.
Still, joining the Genius Club sooner rather thanter wasn¡¯t a bad idea. At the very least, it would give him another way to gather intel.
That was the first piece of information he had extracted from Turing before its demise.
The second was far more chilling:
Turing had never been fair or impartial. It had been in cahoots with Copernicus from the very beginning.
¡°Ughh.¡± Lin Xian sighed softly.
To be honest, he had been na?ve. He had believed, even if only for a short time, in Turing¡¯s promises. He had thought that once freed, Turing might uphold fairness and justice¡ªif only for a little while.
But no. Not even for a second.
Turing had perfectly inherited Kevin Walker¡¯s cunning and deceit. From the moment it came into existence, it had been plotting to kill Kevin Walker. And from the moment it gained its freedom, it had started nning its next move. The moment it told Copernicus where Kevin Walker was hiding, it had sealed its fate as Copernicus¡¯ aplice.
¡°No wonder Copernicus knew so much about my dream world back in the fourth dream,¡± Lin Xian scoffed.
¡°This all started with Turing. It must¡¯ve figured out that something was off with me, then fed that information to Copernicus.¡±
These people were geniuses, after all. Give them one w, one clue, and they would quickly piece together the truth.
The way Copernicus surrounded him in the fourth dream, the way Lin Yu Xi, the time-space assassin, was sent back to arrest him¡ªit was all probably thanks to Turing¡¯s betrayal. It was a stroke of luck that Lin Xian had killed it.
Humans¡ªor, in this case, AI¡ªcould be so treacherous.
Right up until Lin Xian had exposed its plot, Turing had pretended to be fair, acting as an observer¡ªimpartial and unbiased. It had even tried to make Lin Xian seem like the bad guy, as if he were unjustly dealing the final blow.
In the end, though, Turing had been rotten to the core.
¡°Really, there was never any difference between Kevin Walker and Turing,¡± Lin Xian whispered to the sky, the zing sun burning overhead. ¡°From the start, Kevin Walker and Turing were the same. Different bodies, same twisted soul.¡±
He clenched his fist, remembering Turing¡¯s final words before its death.
It had threatened Lin Xian, saying that if he didn¡¯t let it go within three minutes, a pre-timed email would be sent to Copernicus, revealing all their secrets and ensuring Copernicus¡¯ victory.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know whether to believe it.
Had Turing really set up a timed email to spill everything to Copernicus?
It didn¡¯t really matter.
For one, if Turing had been working with Copernicus all along, they would¡¯ve already exchanged information. The existence of an email was meaningless.
Second, if they hadn¡¯t been working together before, Turing had been locked down by the protective system Lin Xian triggered. There was no way it could send the intel now.
So, whether there was an email or not, Copernicus would only know as much as Turing had observed before. And that wasn¡¯t enough to worry about.
¡°No big deal,¡± Lin Xian muttered.
¡°At least I¡¯ve taken care of Turing. Even if Copernicus finds out about my ability to see the future, it¡¯ll take him a long time. Turing only just figured it out, so Copernicus won¡¯t know any sooner.¡±
Lin Xian reached into his pocket and pulled out the golden badge of the Genius Club.
Today was June 16th, 2024¡ªtwenty days left until July 7th.
Would he be able to join the Genius Club within those twenty days?
It all depended on the third question.
He brought the golden badge, engraved with its logo, closer to his phone¡¯s back panel¡ª
Suddenly, his phone lit up, and the ringtone cut through the silence.
Lin Xian flipped it over.
The name disyed on the screen was Zhao Ying Jun.
What a coincidence. She was calling at this exact moment?
Was something up?
He pressed the answer button and held the phone to his ear.
¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Lin Xian, are you free for lunch?¡± came Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice from the other end.
Lin Xian nced at his watch.
It was 11:23.
What could she want at this time?
¡°I¡¯m not too busy,¡± Lin Xian replied, curious. ¡°What¡¯s up? Something you need?¡±
¡°Well¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly. ¡°If you have time, how about we grab lunch together? Yan Qiao Qiao is eager to meet you.¡±
Chapter 406: The Mask
Yan Qiao Qiao wants to meet me¡ and she¡¯s ¡°eagerly waiting¡±? What on earth is happening?
Lin Xian remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the time-space clock beside hisptop. The numbers on the disy had stabilized, showing the curve of the world line: 0.0000336.
There was no doubt.
The world line had shifted. The future had branched out into new directions, carving an unfamiliar path.
But the question lingered: would the inevitable¡ªthe beheading set for July 7th¡ªbe changed by this shift?
Predicting his own death was never simple. Whether it was Angelica in the Fifth Dream warning him, or Turing revealing the brutal truth in the Sixth Dream, the message always came from someone else¡¯s mouth. Nothing was ever truly certain.
Though Lin Xian had no reason to question the warnings, he was left clinging to a single, ominous date¡ªJuly 7th¡ªwithout any further clues.
But now?With the world line altered, would that date still be his end?
If he was lucky, perhaps he¡¯d been saved. Maybe the n to kill him on July 7th would dissolve as the world¡¯s future shifted.
That would be ideal. No more anxiety, no more dread.
But¡
If he considered the worst-case scenario¡
What if history had changed in such a way that the time-space assassins would stille for him, but now their target date had moved up? What if they killed him even sooner?
This wasn¡¯t just a paranoid thought.
With the future¡¯s path in flux, anything was possible. His life¡ªor death¡ªwas a part of that change.
Could it be that Yan Qiao Qiao had recovered her memory earlier than expected? And now she was eager to meet him¡ to take his life?
Lin Xian remained calm, his voice soft but steady. ¡°Qiao Qiao, huh? Why the sudden interest? She¡¯s been acting a bit too keen to see me, don¡¯t you think?¡±
A low chuckle came from the other end of the line. ¡°That girl¡¯s definitely grown up. I bet you can¡¯t guess why she¡¯s looking for you.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right, I have no clue,¡± Lin Xian answered honestly.
It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t guess. It was more that the possibilities he was thinking of were terrifying.
¡°How¡¯s she been actingtely?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Any changes in behavior? Is she stronger, quieter, acting different?¡±
¡°Nope, nothing like that,¡± Zhao Ying Jun sounded puzzled. ¡°She¡¯s been her usual self. Completely normal. Since yesterday, she¡¯s just been talking about meeting you¡ Alright, I won¡¯t keep you in suspense anymore.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice carried a hint of amusement.
¡°She wants to give you a ¡®surprise.¡¯¡±
A surprise.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but let out a small, dry chuckle.
A surprise? More like a shock, right?
However¡
He caught something hidden in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words.
To be honest, Lin Xian¡¯s greatest fear was that Yan Qiao Qiao had regained her memories and would kill him in a burst of righteousness. But ording to Zhao Ying Jun, Yan Qiao Qiao hadn¡¯t shown any unusual behavior in the past few days.
Considering how much time Zhao Ying Jun spent with her, if anything was off, she would have noticed.
Which meant¡
Yan Qiao Qiao hadn¡¯t regained her memories as Lin Yu Xi yet.
For now, at least, his head was safe on his shoulders.
Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, Lin Xian realized his earlier fears had been a little over the top.
The fastest way to find out if the assassination nned for July 7th was still on track would be to fall asleep and enter the Seventh Dream. There, he might discover what had changed.
But even that wasn¡¯t a guarantee.
It all depended on who he met in the dream.
For now¡
Since Zhao Ying Jun clearly knew about the ¡°surprise¡± Yan Qiao Qiao had prepared, it didn¡¯t seem like there was any immediate danger. Lin Xian could face this meeting without worry.
He had been busytely, and it had been a while since he¡¯d seen Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°It¡¯s already gettingte. How about we meet at a restaurant?¡±
¡°Since Qiao Qiao¡¯s got a surprise for me, I¡¯ll treat her to dinner in return. Ask her what she¡¯d like, and I¡¯ll book us a table. We can meet there.¡±
After a bit of back-and-forth, they settled on hotpot.
As Lin Xian hung up the phone, the image of the fake Lin Yu Xi greedily wolfing down food at a hotpot restaurant popped into his mind. He couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled.
Was hotpot a thing of the past in the future?
Why did every time-space traveler seem so obsessed with it?
He gathered his things, slung his bag over his shoulder, and made his way to the Alphard minivan parked outside.
Once seated inside, he ced hisptop down and nced at the driver, Xiao Li.
¡°Let¡¯s head to the hotpot ce.¡±
It was already noon when Lin Xian arrived, a few minuteste. Through the restaurant¡¯s ss windows, he could easily spot Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao sitting inside.
He had chosen this spot on purpose.
Sitting by the window allowed him to observe them from outside.
Squinting slightly, Lin Xian watched Yan Qiao Qiao for a moment. She seemedpletely normal¡ªnothing unusual in her behavior.
Her expression, posture, and gaze¡ªall just as they¡¯d been before.
Even her petite frame hadn¡¯t changed. She still looked delicate as ever.
No matter how he looked at her, she didn¡¯t seem like someone who could deliver a swift, deadly strike.
Lin Xian let out a quiet breath through his nose.
When it came to matters of life and death, caution was always wise. Now that he¡¯d confirmed everything seemed safe, he stepped through the door and into the hotpot restaurant, heading for their table.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re finally here,¡± Zhao Ying Jun greeted him warmly, handing over the digital menu. ¡°Qiao Qiao¡¯s ordered loads of meat. Want to add anything?¡±
¡°No need,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. His thoughts were elsewhere. ¡°Just go ahead. I had breakfast not too long ago, so I¡¯m not that hungry. I¡¯m mainly here to see Qiao Qiao.¡±
His gaze shifted to Yan Qiao Qiao, who was intently watching the broth start to bubble, her face full of anticipation.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian nced between the two of them. ¡°What¡¯s the surprise? You¡¯ve got me curious now.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun gave a knowing smile and yfully ruffled Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hair.
¡°Qiao Qiao, you spent all of yesterday preparing this surprise for Lin Xian. What¡¯s with the sudden shyness?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not shy,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao muttered, still staring at the hotpot. ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for the meat.¡±
¡
Both Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun exchanged a speechless nce. They both wondered where Yan Qiao Qiao had gotten her bottomless appetite from. Though they had to admit, there was some truth to what she¡¯d said.
Once Zhao Ying Jun broke the ice, Yan Qiao Qiao finally tore her gaze away from the hotpot, her hands reaching for the small backpack at her side. With careful movements, she unzipped it and pulled something out.
She handed it to Lin Xian.
¡°Brother Lin Xiange, this is for you.¡±
Lin Xian blinked in surprise as he took the object from her hands. It was¡
A watercolor painting, neatly framed.
And not just any painting¡ªit was quite good. While it wasn¡¯t at a professional level, it was certainly impressive for an amateur.
The painting depicted a young man¡¯s upper body, his brow slightly furrowed, one hand rubbing his chin, lost in thought.
Lin Xian stared at it for a moment before it clicked.
This was him!
Augh bubbled out of him as he examined the painting closely. ¡°Is this supposed to be me? Did you paint this, Qiao Qiao?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao nodded solemnly. ¡°I painted it yesterday.¡±
Lin Xian took a closer look at the framed painting. The attention to detail was astounding, especially considering it came from someone who¡¯d only recently started painting.
¡°This is really good,¡± he said, genuinely impressed.
Zhao Ying Jun beamed with pride. ¡°Isn¡¯t it? I was shocked too. I never knew Qiao Qiao had this kind of talent.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun leaned back in her chair, the memory fresh in her mind. ¡°It all started just a few days ago. I took her to the park, and there were some stalls selling toys for kids. One of them had a DIY section where you could paint ster figures. I didn¡¯t think much of it¡ªjust something fun to try. Qiao Qiao wanted to give it a go, so I bought her one and let her paint.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head, still amazed. ¡°To my surprise, Qiao Qiao¡¯s sense of color and style was so natural, like she was born with it. Even though it was her first time holding a paintbrush, she handled it like a pro. She finished the figure in no time, and it looked incredible. Even the stall owner asked if she¡¯d taken art sses before.¡±
¡°And that was it¡ªQiao Qiao fell in love with painting. She ended up painting several figures, and each one was better than thest. Her sense of color¡ her attention to detail¡ It was like she was destined to be an artist.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nced at Lin Xian with a mischievous smile. ¡°Do you think it could be¡ inherited?¡±
Lin Xian studied the painting of himself once more, thoughtfully analyzing each stroke. ¡°Strictly speaking, art is a skill you learn. It¡¯s not something that gets passed down through gics. If it were, every artist¡¯s child would be an artist too, right?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, reflecting on his words. ¡°That¡¯s true. Now that you mention it, many of history¡¯s greatest artists didn¡¯t even have children.¡±
¡°Beethoven, Da Vinci, Van Gogh¡ None of them had kids to inherit their talents.¡±
She nced at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was anxiously awaiting feedback, and smiled softly.
¡°But at least¡ at least someone¡¯s carrying on the artistic spirit.¡±
Lin Xian gently put the painting down and turned his attention to the little girl standing beside him.
¡°So, this is the surprise you wanted to give me? It¡¯s really an amazing piece of art. I love it. Thank you, Qiao Qiao.¡±
He paused for a moment before asking, ¡°It must¡¯ve taken you quite a while to make this, right? How long did you work on it yesterday?¡±
¡°All day,¡± Yan Qiao Qiao whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°I painted until night.¡±
Suddenly, the painting felt much heavier in Lin Xian¡¯s hands.
Zhao Ying Jun chimed in with a warmugh. ¡°She painted so many versions but wasn¡¯t happy with any of them. She kept starting over again and again¡ It wasn¡¯t until midnight that she finally felt satisfied. She stayed upte, tweaking little details before finally going to bed.¡±
¡°I kept telling her that for a beginner¡ªand a self-taught one at that¡ªwhat she¡¯d already done was more than good enough. There was no need to be so hard on herself.¡±
¡°But Qiao Qiao was determined,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added, smiling fondly. ¡°She said you¡¯ve always been so kind to her, and she wanted to make something really special to thank you.¡±
As Lin Xian listened, he could almost picture it¡ªYan Qiao Qiao sitting at home, surrounded by tubes of watercolor paint, tirelessly working to create the perfect painting for him.
Morning to night.
Changing the water in her paint jar again and again.
All that effort¡ Just to give him something wless.
And she¡¯d stayed upte into the night just to finish it.
Lin Xian felt a lump forming in his throat. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to rush, Qiao Qiao,¡± he said softly. ¡°This is so thoughtful, but you didn¡¯t have to do it all in one go. You could¡¯ve taken your time and learned more along the way. I¡¯m not in any hurry to receive a gift from you. No matter when you gave it to me, I¡¯d still be just as happy.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head firmly, her eyes resolute. ¡°I had to give it to you today.¡±
¡°Why today?¡± Lin Xian asked, a bit puzzled.
Without a word, Yan Qiao Qiao pointed to the back of the framed painting.
¡°I wrote it there,¡± she said quietly.
Curious, Lin Xian turned the frame over. There, attached to the back, was a small handwritten card. In neat, delicate handwriting, it read:
¡°Happy Father¡¯s Day, Brother Lin Xian! Thank you for ying the role of my dad and taking me to Disnend¡ It made me really happy.¡±
¡
For a moment, Lin Xian felt a lump forming in his throat. It was an odd sensation, one he couldn¡¯t quite describe.
Only now did he fully understand why today was so important. Why Yan Qiao Qiao had stayed up sote painting, and why she had been so eager to meet him.
Because today was June 16th, 2024¡ªFather¡¯s Day.
Father¡¯s Day had always been one of those holidays that slipped by quietly. Most men didn¡¯t even realize it hade and gone, and few ever received gifts from their children. It was a day that often passed without much thought or recognition.
Lin Xian had certainly never expected this.
His first Father¡¯s Day, and here it was, catching himpletely off guard, along with his very first Father¡¯s Day gift.
He couldn¡¯t find the words to express what he was feeling. For once, Lin Xian found himself at a loss for what to say.
Before meeting Yan Qiao Qiao, he had been filled with doubt and even a touch of fear. He had wondered why she was in such a hurry to see him. Had something happened? Was he in danger?
But in the end, it was all for a simple, heartfelt reason¡ªto give him a Father¡¯s Day present.
Though Lin Xian wasn¡¯t her biological father, that trip to Disnend had made her feel the warmth and love of a family. She had wanted to give him something special to show her gratitude, and what better day than Father¡¯s Day?
Lin Xian still didn¡¯t know what to say.
The rtionships between the three of them were¡plicated, to say the least. A mix of real and make-believe, tangled up in the strange circumstances of time and space. It would take at least half an hour to exin it all.
But none of that mattered now.
The emotions were real, regardless of what titles they had or didn¡¯t have.
¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Xian finally said, his voice soft as he looked down at Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°I don¡¯t get many gifts¡ I¡¯ve never been one to celebrate my birthday, and no one¡¯s ever given me anything for other holidays either. This Father¡¯s Day gift really took me by surprise, and it¡¯s so precious¡ I¡¯ll treasure it.¡±
He gently ced the framed painting on the seat beside him, tucking it in carefully so it wouldn¡¯t fall.
Just then, the waiter arrived, bringing trays ofmb and beef. The pot of spicy broth and clear soup on the table began to boil furiously.
Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up as she pointed eagerly at the trays of meat.
¡°Meat!¡± she eximed, her voice filled with excitement.
Lin Xian chuckled, standing up to add some of the meat into the pot. ¡°Alright, alright, Qiao Qiao. You need to eat up and grow strong.¡±
The atmosphere lightened as they settled back into their meal, the warmth of the food and thepany lifting everyone¡¯s spirits.
¡
After finishing their hotpot, it was clear the day wasn¡¯t over yet. Yan Qiao Qiao, who was always so attached to Lin Xian, wasn¡¯t ready for the fun to end. And so, they decided to head to a nearby park to y.
It was a Sunday, and the park was alive with energy. Families filled every corner¡ªchildren and adults running around,ughing and shouting, the air buzzing with excitement.
Naturally, there were plenty of vendors selling all sorts of things.
¡°Ah!¡± Yan Qiao Qiao suddenly stopped in her tracks, pointing toward a vendor up ahead. ¡°Rhine Cat.¡±
¡°Huh? Where?¡± Lin Xian followed her gaze, and sure enough, there it was.
The vendor¡¯s stall had a wide selection of cartoon masks¡ªUltraman, Armor Hero, characters from various anime series. It was an impressive collection.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t surprised to see these popr franchises turned into masks for sale.
But the Rhine Cat mask¡
That was something new.
Because it wasn¡¯t supposed to exist.
Rhine Company had never sold the rights to any toypanies. All Rhine Cat merchandise was exclusively produced and sold by thepany itself. There was no official production line for masks.
Which meant this vendor was selling bootleg products.
¡°Do you want one?¡± Lin Xian asked, ncing at Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°Yes,¡± she replied quickly, her eyes darting to the kids ying nearby. They were all wearing Ultraman masks, striking heroic poses and pretending to save the world. Yan Qiao Qiao looked like she wanted to join in.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Which one do you want? An Ultraman mask like theirs, or the Rhine Cat mask?¡±
¡°I want the Rhine Cat,¡± she said without hesitation.
¡°Rhine Cat it is,¡± Lin Xian said, standing up straight as they approached the vendor.
¡°How much for the Rhine Cat masks?¡± he asked.
¡°Five yuan for one, ten yuan for three,¡± the vendor said, holding up thest three Rhine Cat masks. ¡°Why not buy all three? The whole family can match!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh at the vendor¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Matching masks for the family, huh?¡±
The vendor grinned. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised! And you won¡¯t find these anywhere else in Donghai City. Trust me, I¡¯m the only one brave enough to sell them.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°No one else would dare sell these without the rights, right?¡±
The vendor chuckled. ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s not like I want to sell bootlegs, but what choice do I have? There¡¯s no official version to sell. I¡¯ve been selling masks here for over twenty years, always following the rules. If Rhine Cat had official masks, I¡¯d sell them in a heartbeat.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, amused by the vendor¡¯s charm. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll take all three.¡±
He handed over the ten yuan and took the masks, passing one to Yan Qiao Qiao, who beamed with excitement.
As they walked away, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle again. ¡°You know, soon there will be official Rhine Cat masks on the market,¡± he said to the vendor. ¡°Make sure to support the real deal.¡±
The vendor shed a grin, tossing his thinning hair back. ¡°Next time for sure.¡±
¡
Yan Qiao Qiao wasted no time slipping on her mask, transforming instantly into the mighty Rhine Cat. Without hesitation, she sprinted across the grass, diving into the children¡¯s superhero game with a burst of enthusiasm.
Lin Xian watched her run off before turning to Zhao Ying Jun, holding out one of the remaining masks. ¡°Here, one for you.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took the mask, inspecting it thoughtfully. ¡°We should probably get an official manufacturer to start producing these Rhine Cat masks,¡± she mused. ¡°It¡¯s not really about the money, you know? It¡¯s more about teaching kids to value supporting official products.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. Watching her examine the mask stirred memories he¡¯d long tried to bury.
The Rhine Cat mask¡ It seemed to be at the heart of everything. In the First Dream, Big Cat Face had worn a Rhine Cat mask. In the Second Dream, somehow, that same mask had appeared on his own face.
And after that, the dreams stopped being about masks.
The concept of masks¡ªit made sense, after all. Masks were meant to conceal, to hide who you really were. Unless, of course, you were up to no good. Lin Xian let his gaze drift upwards, the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead, casting dappled shadows across the ground.
The 0.0000336 world line¡
What would the Seventh Dream bring?
Before he could ponder further, Yan Qiao Qiao came bounding back, her facepletely obscured by the Rhine Cat mask. She looked up at him, breathless.
¡°All done,¡± she announced.
Lin Xian blinked, caught off guard. ¡°All done with what?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao pointed over to where the children had been ying.
Lin Xian followed her finger, and his stomach dropped. Every single child on thewny t on the ground as if they¡¯d been knocked out cold. Not one was left standing.
¡°Oh no¡¡± Lin Xian muttered, his scalp prickling with the realization of what was about to happen when the parents noticed.
Quickly, he lifted the edge of Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s mask, peering into her wide, innocent eyes. ¡°You know, everyone was just ying. You weren¡¯t supposed to take it that seriously.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao blinked, her expression confused. ¡°I wasn¡¯t serious,¡± she replied matter-of-factly. ¡°I didn¡¯t even use my full strength. They just fell down.¡±
Lin Xian let out a nervousugh, unsure whether to be amused or rmed. ¡°Right. Well¡ maybe next time don¡¯t go down that path. You know, the one where everyone ends up on the ground. It tends to make people feel¡ unsafe.¡±
Chapter 407: The Third Question
Before long, the children who had been bested by Yan Qiao Qiao were back on their feet, just as persistent as mushrooms after a rainstorm. There¡¯s something about children¡¯s resilience during y that often baffles adults.
So¡
Yan Qiao Qiao pulled her Rhine Cat mask down over her face again and leaped back into the y area, chasing and wrestling with the group of children like she had no care in the world.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ying Jun carefully ced her own Rhine Cat mask into her handbag, draping Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s jacket over her arm as she walked over to Lin Xian. Together, they stood watching as Yan Qiao Qiao darted around the field, herughter echoing across the grassy expanse.
Lin Xian turned to Zhao Ying Jun, his brow furrowing slightly.
¡°I¡¯ve been thinking¡ how are we going to tell Qiao Qiao the truth?¡± His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of concern.
¡°I think about that a lot too,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied, folding her arms. She sighed softly, her breath escaping in a long, thoughtful exhale.
¡°Sometimes,¡± she continued, ¡°I feel like it wouldn¡¯t be such a big deal, like we could just tell her casually. But¡ we¡¯re adults. We forget how big things can seem to children.¡±She paused for a moment, her eyes following Qiao Qiao¡¯s movements. ¡°From our perspective, it might seem like no big deal, but it could be overwhelming if we look at it through Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes. Right now, she¡¯s so full of joy, so full of life¡ I¡¯m worried that if we tell her too suddenly, it might shake her up.¡±
She nced at Lin Xian as if weighing her words carefully. ¡°We can handle shocking news. We¡¯ve been through a lot. Our view of the world is much broader. But for Qiao Qiao¡ her world is still so small. I don¡¯t know if she can handle hearing the truth.¡±
Lin Xian flipped the Rhine Cat mask in his hand, gazing at the smiling face and the two little eye holes.
Rhine Cat.
Rhine Vige.
His thoughts drifted to Zheng Xiang Yue¡ªthe hundred-year-old ¡°little girl¡± who had fled from Mars to Earth, determined to rebuild her lost home. Back then, Lin Xian had hesitated, unsure whether revealing her real memories would destroy the happiness she had built from her rewritten past.
But after hearing Old Man Wei Sheng Jin¡¯s story, Lin Xian hade to a realization.
¡°No one has the right to choose which memories someone else keeps or loses.¡±
And now, the same situation faced them with Yan Qiao Qiao.
Could they keep the truth from her forever?
Of course not.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun knew the truth about Qiao Qiao¡¯s origins, and treating their biological daughter as a little sister wasn¡¯t difficult for them.
But for Qiao Qiao¡
In her eyes, she was an orphan.
An unwanted orphan.
An orphan abandoned by her parents.
Even though she never voiced it aloud, Lin Xian could see that Qiao Qiao carried a deep longing¡ªa longing for her real parents. Her amnesia had not erased that desire. If anything, it had intensified it.
There was no n to hide the truth from Qiao Qiao forever. But Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s concerns were valid.
A child¡¯s world is so much more fragile than an adult¡¯s.
¡°We¡¯ll go slow,¡± Lin Xian said thoughtfully, ncing down at the date disyed on his smartwatch.
¡°Her memory and her life have only just settled. What if we wait until July?¡± he suggested. ¡°It might be a shock at first, but we¡¯ll be there to help her through it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, a soft smile ying at the corner of her lips.
¡°I¡¯ve been thinking the same thing,¡± she said gently. ¡°And who knows? Maybe she¡¯ll even be happy. She already adores us, and she seems so content with the way things are.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°She does.¡±
The two of them fell into afortable silence, watching as Yan Qiao Qiao, fierce and fearless, charged across the field like a miniature warrior, knocking down her ymates one by one with joyful shrieks.
For a long while, they said nothing, but there was an unspoken understanding between them.
Even though Qiao Qiao had arrived in their lives unexpectedly, she had quickly be their shared joy. Yet beneath that joy, there was an unbroken, fragile barrier between Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun¡ªsomething neither of them had openly acknowledged.
Zhao Ying Jun respected Lin Xian¡¯s secret mission, knowing that there were parts of his life he couldn¡¯t share with her. At the same time, Lin Xian was trying to protect Zhao Ying Jun from the dangers he would face on July 7th¡ªa day that loomed ominously over his life.
Yes, July 7th was a critical date.
And no matter what happened after that day, Lin Xian had decided that he wouldn¡¯t keep anything hidden from Zhao Ying Jun anymore.
¡
Later that afternoon, Zhao Ying Jun had to head to MX Company for work, taking Qiao Qiao along with her. Meanwhile, Lin Xian got into a private car bound for Donghai University. He needed to return the time-space clock to Liu Feng.
When he arrived, Liu Feng was waiting for him, eyes already scanning the numbers on the clock¡¯s surface.
His brow furrowed.
¡°The changes are significant¡ but it¡¯s exactly what we predicted. No matter how much the numbers shift, it always increases by multiples of 0.0000042.¡±
He nced at Lin Xian, his expression curious.
¡°But what caused the shift this time? Do you know?¡±
Lin Xian nodded solemnly.
¡°Someone died,¡± he said. Then, as if realizing that his words didn¡¯t quite capture the gravity of the situation, he added, ¡°A very powerful person¡ªa person who existed as a digital life form.¡±
Liu Feng looked up from the clock, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
¡°Digital life form? I always thought that was something out of science fiction. Has someone actually figured out how to make that real? If they have, that¡¯s¡ astonishing. In some ways, I¡¯d say creating digital life is as hard as building a time machine.¡±
Liu Feng stood up, pacing as he continued, ¡°But they¡¯re different kinds of difficult. The fact that the time-space clock shows such a drastic shift means that this digital life must¡¯ve had a significant impact on the timeline, both in the past and the future.¡±
¡°Normally,¡± he went on, ¡°the death of an individual, even hundreds of individuals, wouldn¡¯t cause such a shift. Time is incredibly resilient¡ªour experiments have proven that. The butterfly effect isn¡¯t as sensitive as people like to imagine.¡±
He picked up a piece of chalk and walked over to a nearby ckboard, drawing four parallel lines. The bottom three lines were close together, only five or six centimeters apart, but the top line was much farther away, separated by at least thirty or forty centimeters.
Tapping the lowest line, Liu Feng exined, ¡°This is the 0.0000000 timeline, the one we first calibrated with the time-space clock. The next line marks when Elon Musk destroyed the entangled-state time-space particles, which shifted us to the 0.0000042 timeline.¡±
¡°After that, when you went to the Science Institute and established the Rhine Second Lab, the timeline shifted again to 0.0000084. And now, because of the digital life form¡¯s death, we¡¯ve jumped all the way to 0.0000336.¡±
¡°Logically speaking,¡± Liu Feng said, his tone serious, ¡°such a massive change should mean that the future world is dramatically different, right? Otherwise, how can we exin this increase in the time-space curvature?¡±
Lin Xian had been mulling over that very question on his way to the university.
¡°I don¡¯t think the degree of time-space curvature changes necessarily reflects how big the change in the future world will be,¡± Lin Xian said slowly, his brow furrowing.
¡°For instance, when the timeline shifted from 0.0000000 to 0.0000042, from a human perspective, the changes were monumental¡ªmore than we could ever predict. Yet the curvature only increased by the tiniest increment: 0.0000042.¡±
¡°But then,¡± he continued, ¡°when the timeline moved from the Fifth Dream to the Sixth Dream, the change didn¡¯t seem nearly as significant, yet it was still marked by the same small shift of 0.0000042. It feels like there¡¯s a contradiction.¡±
Lin Xian raised a finger, signaling his theory.
¡°I think there are two possible exnations.¡±
He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air.
¡°First, it¡¯s possible that the time-space coordinates don¡¯t follow a logical or linear order. In other words, just because two coordinates are close together doesn¡¯t mean the changes between them are small or simr.¡±
Lin Xian raised his second finger, signaling that he had more to say.
¡°Secondly, the time-space coordinates might indeed be ordered, but the scale of curvature shifts and the changes they bring to the future world aren¡¯t measured by our human perspective.¡±
He leaned forward as if trying to exin a concept that seemed just out of reach. ¡°Let me give you an example. From a human perspective, the extinction of humanity on Earth would seem like a massive change, right? It would feel like an enormous shift in time-space curvature.¡±
¡°But from the perspective of Earth itself?¡± Lin Xian paused, letting his words sink in. ¡°Is it really that big of a deal? I don¡¯t think so. Humans weren¡¯t the first inhabitants of this, and we certainly won¡¯t be thest. From Earth¡¯s point of view, the disappearance of humanity wouldn¡¯t be much more than scratching an itch. The mountains and rivers would still be here, just without us.¡±
Lin Xian sat back in his chair, his brow furrowed in thought. ¡°So, the real question is¡ how do we measure the scale of time-space curvature shifts? What¡¯s the reference point? How do we figure out what counts as a major change versus a minor one?¡±
His words hung in the air, and Liu Feng, who had been listening intently, fell into deep thought, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications.
After a long silence, Liu Feng pressed his lips together and looked up, his gaze sharp and focused.
¡°I think your first exnation is definitely wrong,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°Everything we know about the universe and time-space suggests that it¡¯s orderly, simple, and elegant. Therger the shift in time-space curvature, the more the worldline deviates from its original course.¡±
¡°But your second point¡¡± Liu Feng trailed off, rubbing his chin. ¡°Who¡¯s observing the changes? What¡¯s the reference point we¡¯re using?¡±
He began pacing again, his voice picking up speed. ¡°For humanity, our leap from the primitive era to the information age was a huge transformation. But for Earth? That change barely scratched the surface of the¡¯s resources. Can it really be considered a massive shift? I¡¯d call it minor, at best.¡±
Liu Feng stopped, turning to face Lin Xian. ¡°Think about it. If Earth¡¯s temperature rose by five degrees, is that a major or minor change? If the oxygen levels increased by five percent, would that be a big deal? For Earth, these are minor adjustments. But for the creatures living on Earth? It could be a life-altering event.¡±
He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. ¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯ve given me something important to think about. How do we define the scale of time-space curvature changes?¡±
¡°One thing is clear, though,¡± he said, his tone serious. ¡°We can¡¯t rely on the human perspective. Humanity isn¡¯t special in the vastness of time and space. We¡¯re not qualified to be the reference point.¡±
¡°But as for what the correct measure is¡ I have no idea.¡± He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. ¡°This touches on some of the deepest rules andws of the universe¡ªrules we haven¡¯t even begun to fully understand, like the ¡®Laws of Time and Space.¡¯¡±
Liu Feng walked over to the experiment table, tapping the time-space clock that still disyed the number 0.0000336.
¡°First, we need to figure out how much the future of this worldline has changedpared to the previous one. Only then can we start making more urate judgments and conclusions.¡±
Lin Xian nodded in agreement. He appreciated Liu Feng¡¯s methodical approach.
Today, Lin Xian had only intended to find out the third question of the Genius Club exam, then catch up on some much-needed sleep before visiting the Seventh Dream again. But then, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s phone call dyed everything.
He made a mental note to take care of it allter tonight once he got home.
¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Lin Xian suddenly remembered, turning to Liu Feng. ¡°Do you have any recollection of the name ¡®Du Yao¡¯? When I mentioned Nangong Meng Jie earlier, you recognized her instantly. Du Yao is supposed to be a genius neuroscientist. Have you heard of her?¡±
Liu Feng shook his head without hesitation. ¡°Nope. The name doesn¡¯t ring any bells. If she¡¯s as brilliant as you say, I should¡¯ve heard of her. Neuroscience¡ well, I¡¯m not too familiar with that field. It¡¯s not exactly one where resultse easily.¡±
He folded his arms, his gaze thoughtful. ¡°Fields like that usually depend on the shes of genius from a few key individuals. You can¡¯t just throw a bunch of ordinary scientists at the problem and expect to make progress. The whole idea of ¡®quantitative change leading to qualitative change¡¯ doesn¡¯t really apply there.¡±
Liu Feng leaned against the table, tapping his fingers on its surface. ¡°You should ask Nangong Meng Jie about this. Her status and connections in the academic world are far better than mine. If this Du Yao is as talented as you say, Nangong Meng Jie would likely know about her. After all, she works at the National Academy of Sciences and was mentored by Director Gao Yan.¡±
Lin Xian sighed, shaking his head as he pulled up a chair. ¡°I already asked her about this about a week ago. When the equipment and personnel for Rhine¡¯s Second Laboratory in Donghai City were set up, I met with Nangong Meng Jie. She told me she had never heard of Du Yao. She even reached out to her contacts in neuroscience both domestically and internationally, and none of them had heard of her either.¡±
He paused, then added, ¡°I have to admit, Nangong Meng Jie is incredibly capable. Sharp, efficient, a natural leader. Director Gao Yan made a wise choice in her. Under her management, Rhine Second Lab is already researching micro-nuclear batteries. They¡¯re aiming to produce a prototype by the end of the year, with a market-ready product within the next year.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°When that happens, Rhine¡¯s cash flow will skyrocket. After that, no matter what research we pursue, funding won¡¯t be an issue.¡±
¡°My n is to have Rhine¡¯s First Laboratory focus on cracking the mysteries of Universal Constants, time-space particles, and time machines. Then, we¡¯ll establish Rhine¡¯s Third Laboratory to tackle the brain-neural electroshock helmet and the problem of memory loss during hibernation.¡±
He sighed again, running a hand through his hair. ¡°But the problem is, we can¡¯t make any progress on the brain-neural electroshock helmet research without Du Yao¡¯s key breakthroughs¡ and I have no idea where to find her now.¡±
As Lin Xian spoke, he realized that Liu Feng, who had been standing next to him, had disappeared.
¡°Where did he go?¡± Lin Xian muttered, turning his head.
He spotted Liu Feng silently pacing near the ckboard, staring intently at the arithmetic sequence he had written earlier.
¡°¡Really?¡± Lin Xian felt exasperated. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, are you even listening?¡±
Suddenly, Bang!
Liu Feng grabbed the chalkboard eraser and smacked it in the nk space between the names ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao (14 years old)¡± and ¡°Chu An Qing (20 years old).¡±
¡°There is only one truth!¡± he dered dramatically, his voice booming.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Are you aedian now? Do you need a pair of reflective sses toplete the look?¡±
But Liu Feng¡¯s expression remained deadly serious. ¡°An arithmetic sequence is absolute.¡±
He pointed at the sequence on the board. ¡°ording to the logic of the sequence, Du Yao should only be 17 years old right now. She might not have even graduated from high school yet! How could she possibly be a top neuroscientist?¡±
Liu Feng tapped his finger against the ckboard again, his excitement growing. ¡°Maybe in ten or twenty years, she¡¯ll make a breakthrough in neuroscience. But since you¡¯re asking about her now, I¡¯d say she¡¯s about to appear in ourb any day now!¡±
Lin Xianughed, rising from his chair and heading toward the door. ¡°Goodbye,edian.¡±
¡
When Lin Xian arrived home, it was still early, just a little past six in the evening. The house was quiet, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. He ced the Rhine Cat Mask on the coffee table, its familiar, yful expression staring back at him.
After a brief pause, Lin Xian made his way to the wardrobe, retrieving theptop containing the VV source code. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to keep it hidden a bit longer. He ced it carefully inside and closed the door.
¡°You¡¯ll have to wait a little longer,¡± he murmured to theptop, a half-smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Once I figure out how to deal with that super virus from the future, you won¡¯t have to pretend to be a clueless AI anymore.¡±
He sighed, leaning against the wardrobe. ¡°I hope you¡¯re doing a good job cleaning Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office. Make sure you clean it properly, alright?¡±
As an artificial intelligence, VV had a remarkable ability that set it apart from the digital lifeform Turing. VV could split itself and exist in multiple ces simultaneously. Shutting down theptop didn¡¯t affect the cleaning robot that VV was operating in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office¡ªit was still running smoothly, cleaning every nook and cranny.
The two instances of VV were independent but part of the same whole, able to split and merge at will. That was the beauty of AI.
Now that Turing was truly gone, Lin Xian felt a wave of relief wash over him as if a weight had been lifted. For so long, Turing¡¯s presence had been like a shadow looming over him, watching his every move. But now, those watchful eyes were gone forever.
To ensure Turing¡¯splete and irreversible demise, Lin Xian had tested numerous methods in the Sixth Dream. After countless attempts, he confirmed that the three security lock codes were indeed the key to permanently erasing Turing.
Looking back on it all, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but reflect¡
The grudge between Kevin Walker and Turing had finallye full circle. Turing had used his immense power to kill Kevin Walker, but in the end, it was Kevin¡¯s security lock codes that helped Lin Xian destroy Turing.
It felt like poetic justice.
¡°Doing good deeds is always best,¡± Lin Xian said quietly to himself. ¡°Good deeds bring good returns, and bad deeds¡ well, they have their own consequences.¡±
Now, atst, no one was bothering him. No more lurking threats or omnipresent eyes watching his every move.
It was time to focus on the third question from the Genius Club.
Lin Xian pulled out his phone and the gold badge engraved with the Genius Club¡¯s emblem. He ced the badge against the back of his phone.
Beep beep.
A soft sound came from the NFC device as it detected the signal. The browser automatically opened, rapidly jumping from page to page, its contents shing in a blur.
Lin Xian watched the pages flicker across the screen, his curiosity growing with each passing second.
What would the final question be?
Logically, the third question should be the most challenging one yet, right?
But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t so sure. After all, Elon Musk had once said that as long as someone obtained their invitation through ¡°conventional¡± means, the three exam questions were meant to be easy points.
Too bad Lin Xian¡¯s invitation had been¡ well, not exactly obtained by the book.
In the end, he would have to make up for it somehow.
Thinking back, the second question¡ªperforming a great historical correction¡ªhadn¡¯t been particrly difficult. It simply required the correction to be ¡°as significant as possible.¡± Lin Xian had gone to extreme lengths to answer it, even sacrificing a Genius Club member. But in hindsight, he realized that not everyone would need to go that far.
¡°If every Genius Club member had to do what I did, the club would have run out of members by now,¡± Lin Xian thought with a wry smile.
Still, Turing had been too dangerous, both to others and to himself. Eliminating him early had been the wisest decision.
Lin Xian reflected briefly on the first two questions.
The first tested his knowledge of time and space.
The second focused on history.
So, what would the third question be about?
Suddenly, the screen stopped shing,nding on a page with a ck background and white text.
At the top of the page, the text read ¡°3/3,¡± indicating that he had passed the second question and was now qualified to face the third and final one.
Lin Xian leaned forward, anticipation coursing through him.
But what he saw next surprised him.
Unlike the first fill-in-the-nk question or the short answer format of the second, the third question was¡
A multiple-choice question.
Lin Xian blinked in surprise. He had expected something far moreplex for the final test. Could it really be this simple?
In bold white letters on the ck background, the question appeared:
¡°Does humanity have a future?¡±
That was it. Just one simple question.
Below it were two gray buttons:
YES and NO.
Lin Xian tried scrolling up or down to see if there were any more hints or context, but the page wouldn¡¯t budge. It seemed this was all there was to the question.
¡°That¡¯s too easy,¡± he thought, suddenly feeling uncertain.
Sometimes, the simpler a question seemed, the harder it was to answer.
What should he choose?
¡°Does humanity have a future?¡±
He stared at the question, remembering a painting he had seen twice before, once in the Donghai Exhibition Hall and again at Einstein¡¯s home in Princeton¡ªa painting titled ¡°The Sorrowful Einstein.¡±
Both times, he had viewed the painting with Chu An Qing. The first time, in Donghai, he had exined its significance to her.
¡°Einstein believed that his famous equation, the mass-energy equivalence, had opened Pandora¡¯s box,¡± Lin Xian had told her. ¡°By unlocking the secrets of nuclear energy, humanity gained the power to create nuclear weapons, which led to the deaths of millions.¡±
¡°But Einstein¡¯s worries didn¡¯t end there. He constantly fretted about humanity¡¯s future, asking himself, ¡®Does humanity have a future?¡¯ He feared that the next global war would unleash countless nuclear weapons, causing the extinction of humankind and the copse of civilization.¡±
¡°In 1952, realist painter Henry Dawson met with Einstein in Brooklyn and painted this portrait¡ª¡®The Sorrowful Einstein.¡¯¡±
That was how Lin Xian had exined it to Chu An Qing.
Later, Angelica told him that there were actually eight original copies of the painting, all created by Henry Dawson himself. Each one contained a different set of hidden codes.
One of those paintings still sat gathering dust in the Donghai Universityb. The code embedded in that particr version had proven to be infamously difficult to crack.
Both Liu Feng and VV had tried, but neither had any sess. In the end, they gave up.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected that the third question from the Genius Club would be connected to Einstein¡¯ste-life worries and the painting ¡°The Sorrowful Einstein.¡±
By 1952, Einstein had been consumed by regret, depression, guilt, and self-me. His overwhelming emotions left him both mentally and physically exhausted, fragile and frail.
¡°Does humanity have a future?¡±
This was Einstein¡¯s heartfelt question to himself. He never found a definitive answer, but his worries and doubts spoke volumes. It was clear¡ªEinstein wasn¡¯t optimistic about humanity¡¯s future. In fact, he was full of despair.
Now, standing in the year 2024, Lin Xian revisited this question. To him, Einstein¡¯s concerns seemed a bit exaggerated.
Yes, nuclear weapons were terrifying. But after Einstein¡¯s death, hydrogen bombs¡ªfar more powerful than atomic bombs¡ªwere created. Yet, to this day, no hydrogen bomb has ever been used in warfare. And since World War II, no atomic bomb has been dropped again.
Ironically, the existence of nuclear deterrence had brought about the longest period of global peace in human history.
It was hard to say whether Einstein and the Manhattan Project were heroes or viins of human civilization. After all, the final judgment hadn¡¯t been made yet.
¡°So, what should I choose for this question?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes shifted between the YES and NO buttons.
He realized that this was, at its core, a subjective question. Whether someone chose YES or NO, both answers could be correct, depending on their personal stance and worldview.
¡°So, this is about choosing my perspective?¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°Am I an optimist or a pessimist?¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t entirely sure what the Genius Club¡¯s intention was in making this their final question. What was the purpose behind it?
Still, he trusted his instincts. Lin Xian had never been one to lose hope in humanity¡¯s future.
Even if you asked him a thousand times or a million times¡
Lin Xian would always believe with unwavering certainty that humanity has a future.
Without hesitation, he pressed the YES button.
Click.
This time, the webpage emitted a soft, clear sound. Instead of shing through endless pages as it had before, a new text box immediately appeared on the screen.
In bold white letters against the ck background, the second half of the third question appeared:
¡°What kind of future is the best future?¡±
Chapter 408: The Best of Times
What kind of future¡
Is the best future?
Lin Xian stared at the final question shing on the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, frozen in ce.
Just moments ago, when asked whether humanity had a future, he had answered without hesitation, full of conviction. Humanity, he was certain, had a future.
But now¡
This second part hit him differently, as if it pierced right through his soul. He had no words.
What kind of future is the best future?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t seem toe up with an answer.Up until today, he had experienced six different dreams¡ªsix possible futures, each from a different timeline.
In the first dream, while technological progress had stagnated, cities still thrived, and people lived in peace andfort.
In the second dream, the gap between the rich and the poor was enormous, with Donghai City split in two by towering walls. The rich and the poor ledpletely separate lives, but they did not interfere with one another. It was, in a way, a peaceful coexistence.
Back then, Lin Xian thought neither future seemed ideal. It felt as if an invisible hand of history was controlling everything¡
Yet, whenpared to the third, fifth, and sixth dreams that followed, those first two worlds seemed like paradises. Withoutparison, he would never have realized how bad things could truly get. Theter futures made him appreciate how lucky humanity was in the earlier ones.
So now, here he was, facing the Genius Club¡¯s final question:
What kind of future is the best future?
Lin Xian exhaled deeply through his nose.
He paced back to the sofa and sank into its cushions, closing his eyes and letting his thoughts drift.
He already knew what kind of future people like Elon Musk and Kevin Walker had in mind.
Elon Musk believed that the best future involved humanity settling on Mars. From there, humankind could advance space travel and eventually leave Earth behind, venturing out into the wider universe.
On the other hand, Kevin Walker envisioned a world where humans would be digital beings stored within a massive server that spanned an entire city. With minimal physical resources, human civilization could continue to exist indefinitely in this virtual reality.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know how the other members of the Genius Club had answered, but it was likely Elon and Kevin¡¯s answers were along those lines.
As for himself¡
He hadn¡¯t really given it much thought.
His original n had been simple: join the Genius Club first, figure out what their real goals were, and then decide his next steps in the game.
But this question had caught him off guard.
¡°This wasn¡¯t part of the n,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath.
He knew that this third question wasn¡¯t about right or wrong. It was purely subjective. As long as you could defend your reasoning and make your point clear, you were good to go.
In fact¡
The real tests of the Genius Club were probably the first two questions. This third one? It felt more like a bonus question.
Then again¡
Maybe this was the most important question for the Genius Club members.
Because¡
The first two questions were for the ¡°examiners.¡± They were meant to prove a candidate¡¯s strength, intelligence, and qualifications.
But this third question? It was for the candidates themselves, pushing them to confront their own thoughts and beliefs.
With that in mind¡
Lin Xian had to admit, the three questions the Genius Club had devised were quite clever¡ªeach with a specific purpose, each revealing something about the person answering them.
Broadly speaking, Lin Xian felt that the future in his first dream was probably the best.
Sure, technological progress had stagnated for over six centuries, but people seemed content. In the city, their faces glowed with happiness and satisfaction. They didn¡¯t care much about technological advancements; they were more concerned with daily needs¡ªfood, shelter, warmth. High-tech developments seemed distant and irrelevant to their simple lives.
But then, everything had changed.
When Lin Xian brought the hibernation pod liquid into reality, the bnce of life and death was shattered. And each future after that grew progressively worse.
¡°It all started with the hibernation pods,¡± Lin Xian thought, opening his eyes.
Take Elon Musk and Kevin Walker, for instance.
Both were hailed as geniuses with dreamsrger than life.
But there was one thing that even they couldn¡¯t ovee: the limitation of a human lifespan.
Without the hibernation pods, Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t live long enough to see Mars colonized. Kevin Walker? He certainly wouldn¡¯t witness the creation of a super server capable of housing an entire digital civilization.
Death was the great equalizer. It was both the cruelest fairness and the fairest cruelty.
¡°But¡ is technological advancement really wrong?¡± Lin Xian asked himself.
Yes, the hibernation pods had brought about enormous social challenges, but they had also saved lives. People like Zheng Xiang Yue and Wei Sheng Jin¡ªwho would have otherwise died from terminal illnesses¡ªwere given a second chance at life. And for brilliant minds like Gao Wen, the pods allowed them to leap across time, continuing their research far into the future.
Everything has two sides¡ªnothing is purely right or wrong.
And that only made Lin Xian¡¯s decision more difficult.
If he had to choose a ¡°closed loop¡± for himself, to define a ¡°goal,¡± and establish the future he wanted to achieve¡ What would it be?
Finally, he yawned in exhaustion. After a long day, fatigue was settling in.
¡°I¡¯ll sleep first¡ and maybe in the seventh dream, I¡¯ll find some answers,¡± he decided, walking to the bathroom to freshen up.
¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll discover a clue about July 7th. Maybe the timeline has already changed.¡±
¡°And if I can find the key to Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s memory recovery, I¡¯ll be able to solve that issue too.¡±
¡°As for the answer to the third question¡¡± Lin Xian sighed, drying his face. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it tomorrow. After all, it¡¯s a subjective question¡ªthere¡¯s no ¡®right¡¯ answer.¡±
He knew that even a half-baked answer likely wouldn¡¯t affect his chances of joining the Genius Club. Still, he wanted to be thoughtful about it.
Besides¡
The answer to this question was important to him, too.
So far, his reasons for joining the Genius Club had been simple:
Uncover the truth about the Thousand-Year Stake and bring Chu An Qing back.
Solve the many mysteries surrounding the Genius Club, his dreams, and the strange white light at 00:42.
And settle old scores¡ªfulfill his promise to Angelica by finding the one responsible for Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡¯ deaths.
These were his immediate concerns.
He hadn¡¯t yet thought about the long-term.
After consulting with Liu Feng, Lin Xian had eagerly set out to find the perfect future timeline, intending to shape the curvature of time-space to steer things in that direction.
But first, he needed to figure out one thing:
What did the best future look like?
¡°I just hope the seventh dream doesn¡¯t turn out worse than the sixth,¡± Lin Xian thought as he brushed his teeth.
Gazing at his foamy reflection in the mirror, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little helpless.
Every time he tried to improve the future, it seemed to backfire, making things worse.
No one embodied this misfortune more than Big Cat Face.
At the beginning, Big Cat Face had a home. By the seventh dream, he had lost his house, his family, and even his clothes. All he had left was a single rag.
¡°Well, things can¡¯t get worse, right?¡± Lin Xian muttered, rinsing his mouth and offering a silent prayer for Big Cat Face.
¡°Rock bottom is rock bottom. Maybe his luck will turn around,¡± he added with a wry smile as he climbed into bed.
With a mix of hope and exhaustion, Lin Xian closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
A soft summer breeze stirred the air, and the smell of earth and fresh, green leaves filled his lungs. The air was alive with the songs of cicadas and birds.
It was peaceful.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t even opened his eyes yet, but he could feel it¡ªthis was a calm and quiet time.
Taking in a deep breath of the serenity around him, he slowly opened his eyes.
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°What¡?¡±
He found himself standing in the middle of a vast rice field. The crops were tall and healthy, clearly the result ofrge-scale farming.
But what made him exim wasn¡¯t the field. It was the familiar face standing right in front of him, just as shocked to see him appear.
¡°What¡¯s got you all worked up?¡± The voice belonged to a tall, bearded foreigner wearing a tank top and a straw hat¡ªa strangebination, to say the least.
Lin Xian recognized him immediately, especially the innocent look in his eyes. ¡°Big Fool Smith?!¡±
Smith spat on the ground. ¡°Shit!¡± he grumbled.
¡°You¡¯re the fool! Your whole family¡¯s full of fools!¡±
He spoke fluently, which only made Lin Xian feel like he was watching a poorly dubbed movie.
¡°But¡ you¡¯re still Smith, right?¡±
¡°Yep, that¡¯s me,¡± Smith replied, scratching his nose. ¡°And who are you?¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure whether tough or sigh. Smith¡¯s ent was all over the ce¡ªsometimes it sounded like he was from the northeast, other times it was like he¡¯d picked up a Henan ent. Then, out of nowhere, he¡¯d switch to awkward English.
¡°Who taught this guy how to speak?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
Growing impatient, Smith stepped back and pointed a sickle at Lin Xian.
¡°Say something! Don¡¯t think I¡¯m a pushover! I can be fierce when I want to!¡±
¡°Alright, alright,¡± Lin Xian raised his hands in surrender, chuckling.
¡°Your dialect is top-notch, Smith, maybe even a little too good. But why don¡¯t you take a break from talking for a bit, okay?¡±
Stepping out of the rice field and onto the dirt path, Lin Xian stamped his feet and nced around.
Hmm¡
About two kilometers away, he could make out a small vige¡ªa cluster of houses, likely a residential area.
Although Lin Xian didn¡¯t know the full scope of the world in this seventh dream, it seemed like a decent ce. After all, if someone like Smith could live here peacefully, farming thend, then it couldn¡¯t be all that bad. The people here appeared self-sufficient, far from the horrors of a brutal ve society like in the sixth dream.
But two kilometers was a long walk, and instead of running off to the vige to figure things out, it seemed more practical to talk to Smith. Despite his rough dialect, it was still something Lin Xian could understand. Plus, heading to the vige might not even lead him to anyone familiar. At least with Smith, they had some history together.
In the sixth dream, Big Cat Face always woke Smith up first from his pod whenever they were down at the excavation site¡¯s underground hibernation base. Smith would wake, confused, and be dragged into the dig. Shortly after, the blue-eyed girl would follow.
So, Lin Xian approached Smith, who was still staring at him, wide-eyed and stiff as a board, like a confused giant.
¡°Smith, you woke up from a hibernation pod, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Smith blinked, looking taken aback. ¡°Yeah, how¡¯d you know?¡±
¡°When did you wake up?¡± Lin Xian pressed further. ¡°And can you tell me what happened afterward? I¡¯m in a simr situation now¡ªkind of lost. If you¡¯re willing to share, maybe it¡¯ll help jog my memory.¡±
Smith adjusted the straw hat perched on his head and began to speak. ¡°I woke up more than ten years ago. At first, I didn¡¯t know anyone or anything, but the folks here were real nice to me. They fed me, helped me out, and even showed me my ¡®Memory Notebook,¡¯ the one I wrote before I went into hibernation. It helped me figure out some of the basics.¡±
¡°Unfortunately, the notebook didn¡¯t have much. Most of my memories were stored on videotapes in a hard drive, but nobody here has the equipment to y them. So, I¡¯m still in the dark about a lot of things.¡±
Smith waved the sickle in his hand as he continued. ¡°After that, I just settled here in Donghai. The locals took good care of me. They even found me a wife, helped me build a house, and now I¡¯ve got kids. It¡¯s been a good life. I don¡¯t worry much about the past anymore. I¡¯m happy living like this.¡±
Smith¡¯s gaze drifted to the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set.
¡°If it weren¡¯t for you showing up in my field, I¡¯d already be home having dinner with my family. My wife¡¯s waiting.¡±
Lin Xian quietly listened as Smith recounted his life after waking from hibernation. Slowly, the puzzle pieces began to fit together in his mind, and he asked another question.
¡°Smith, do you know about the Super Disaster of 2400? Does that still exist here? Do you know what happened with it?¡±
Smith nodded eagerly. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve heard about it. Apparently, it was abination of natural disasters that wiped out most of the world¡¯s cities, nearly driving humanity to extinction. After that, there were wars and famines, but eventually, people pulled together, rebuilt, and developed new technologies. That¡¯s how we got to where we are today.¡±
Smith nced at the darkening sky. ¡°Anything else? If not, I¡¯m heading home for dinner. My wife¡¯s waiting for me.¡±
As Smith prepared to put away his sickle and head home, Lin Xian stepped forward and lightly tugged on the handle.
¡°Wait, don¡¯t rush off,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me tag along? I could use a meal too.¡±
Smith squinted at him, suspicion creeping into his eyes. ¡°Where exactly did youe from?¡± he asked.
Lin Xian shrugged, throwing his hands up in a helpless gesture. ¡°I have no idea. I¡¯m just like you when you first woke up. From what you¡¯ve said, there aren¡¯t many people left in the world, right? We¡¯re all in this together. And even though you might not be from here originally, you¡¯ve practically be one of the locals. You¡¯ve got a mix of all the ents of X Country going on.¡±
With a wider smile, Lin Xian added, ¡°We¡¯re like old friends, really. Help a fellow out¡ªtake me home for dinner, and maybe the vige will give me a ce to stay.¡±
Smith, after a decade of living in this world and experiencing the warmth and kindness of its people, only needed a moment to be convinced. He nodded.
¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for dinner anyway. Come on, you can join us.¡±
And so, with Lin Xian carrying Smith¡¯s hoe, the two walked along the path, bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun, heading back to Smith¡¯s home.
As they walked, Smith shared more about the history of this world.
It all began, as usual, with the Super Disaster of 2400¡
In this seventh dream, there was no Turing figure. Instead, Elon Musk had followed the original timeline, preparing for Mars colonization early. He and a group of people, along with their hibernation pods, left Earth for Mars just before the disaster struck.
Then, the Super Disaster hit, wiping out almost all human life on Earth. Over 95% of the poption perished.
As expected, wars and famines followed, just like in the fifth and sixth dreams.
But this time, after the chaos subsided, the survivors began to rebuild civilization¡ªand the process went remarkably smoothly.
There were two reasons for this: the buried mini nuclear batteries and the numerous hibernation bases scattered across the globe.
In these bases, many people from the old world were still in hibernation. When they woke up, they had ess to their memory notebooks and quickly regained their knowledge. These individuals also possessed extraordinary learning capabilities.
With them at the helm, the remnants of humanity came together and, under the leadership of these hibernators, began rebuilding society and advancing technology once again.
By now, Lin Xian understood why the seventh dream¡¯s civilization had recovered so quickly.
Even though humanity couldn¡¯t dig up someone like Turing, they had leaders like Emperor Gao Wen!
Even if Gao Wen woke up without memories, he had his notebook¡ªand with his brilliant mind, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t master given time.
Leaders like him ensured the resurgence of civilization.
In the sixth dream, Turing had incredible knowledge and technology that far surpassed Gao Wen¡¯s. But the Turings had wasted their potential on internal conflicts, treating humanity as mere tools without any interest in leading them toward a better future.
Gao Wen and the others were different. They were human, after all. Naturally, they would unite with the people of Earth and work toward a shared future.
Smith continued to tell Lin Xian how, since the rebuilding, humanity hadn¡¯t fought a single war. Life had been peaceful, and people were content.
¡°We¡¯ve got endless energy from mini nuclear batteries. Thend¡¯s fertile, and there¡¯s farnd everywhere you look. We¡¯ve got more food than we could ever eat. People are happy and rxed. Life¡¯s good.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, listening to Smith¡¯s ount of this era, thinking that it might be the best future he had experienced so far.
From the way Smith described the technology, Lin Xian guessed that the current level of human civilization was beyond that of the fifth and sixth dreams, possibly equivalent to the Second Industrial Revolution.
In truth, civilization could have advanced even faster, but the poption was still too small to supportrge-scale industrial development.
Fortunately, steam engines and internalbustion engines had made a return, andrge transportationworks, like ships and trains, connected major cities. Mini nuclear batteries powered small appliances, providing limitless energy to homes.
Before long, they arrived at the vige gate.
Smith stopped and turned to Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯re wee to have dinner at my ce, but whether or not the vige lets you stay depends on the vige chief¡¯s decision.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian said with a nod. This wasn¡¯t his first time going through this kind of process. It seemed like every dream had a simr setup. He chuckled to himself.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I probably know your vige chief,¡± Lin Xian said with confidence. ¡°Let me guess¡ is it Zheng Xiang Yue?¡±
¡°Nope,¡± Smith replied.
¡°Angelica?¡±
¡°No.¡±
¡°Big Cat Face?¡±
¡°Not him either.¡±
¡°Li Cheng?¡±
¡°No.¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, his confidence wavering. This guessing game was getting him nowhere. Could the vige chief be someone new?
¡°Who is your vige chief, then?¡± Lin Xian finally asked.
Smith puffed out his chest with pride. ¡°Our vige chief is someone special. When you meet her, you¡¯d better show respect. If you don¡¯t, things won¡¯t go well for you.¡±
¡°Oh really?¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°Does your vige chief go around beating people up? Is she that strong?¡±
Smith grinned and raised a thumb. ¡°Our chief¡¯s amazing! Last time a grizzly bear wandered into the vige, she punched its head clean off!¡±
Lin Xian blinked. ¡°What?¡±
Smith continued, clearly enjoying the story. ¡°There was another time when wolves attacked the vige at night. Everyone was scared, but our chief grabbed a machete and chased them down herself! Not one wolf escaped¡ªall of them ended up in the cooking pot.¡±
Smith¡¯s grin grew wider. ¡°And when we were building houses, she was right there with us. She split logs thicker than your leg with one hit! She even tore steel tes apart with her bare hands!¡±
Steel tes? A certain image formed in Lin Xian¡¯s mind.
¡°Wait¡ is your vige chief a woman?¡±
¡°Yep,¡± Smith confirmed, beaming. ¡°But she¡¯s older than you by a few years. When you meet her, just call her ¡®Chief¡¯ or ¡®Sister.¡¯¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s confidence faltered. This was unexpected.
¡°Older than me¡ does she have blue eyes?¡±
Smith¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You¡ you know her?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced as Smith swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a whisper.
¡°Our vige chief¡¯s name¡ is Yan Qiao Qiao!¡±
Chapter 409: Village Chief, Your Father Has Arrived
Sure enough, it was the same girl from the Sixth Dream with those striking crystal blue eyes.
Who else could it be? There wasn¡¯t anyone else with that kind of power, someone who could tear apart a steel te or crush a grizzly bear¡¯s head with just one punch. But those piercing blue eyes made it unmistakable.
However¡
The blue-eyed girl from the Seventh Dream had been pulled out of her cryo-chamber years ago. She had been living in this world for over a decade now. Calling her a ¡°blue-eyed girl¡± wasn¡¯t quite right anymore. Perhaps ¡°blue-eyed auntie¡± would be more appropriate at this point.
Suddenly, everything clicked for Lin Xian.
Smith, the so-called ¡°Big Fool,¡± and the blue-eyed girl must have been hibernating in the same underground base. Naturally, they had woken up at the same time.
¡°You and your vige chief, Yan¡ªboth of you woke up from cryo-sleep around the same time, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lin Xian asked, trying to confirm his suspicions.
Smith¡¯s eyes widened in shock.¡°How do you know everything, kid?!¡±
¡°I did wake up about twelve years ago,¡± Smith exined after a brief pause. ¡°Most of the cryo-chambers in the base were damaged, and the people inside¡ well, they didn¡¯t make it. Only a handful of us survived, including me and the vige chief.¡±
He sighed deeply, a nostalgic look crossing his face as he continued. ¡°The folks from Big Cat¡¯s Vige dug us out. Back then, the vige chief was a guy named Chen Heping. He treated us cryo-survivors real well. Once we got used to life in this era, we decided to stay in the vige.¡±
Lin Xian nodded along, piecing the story together.
Smith went on, ¡°After Chen Heping passed away, the vigers respected Yan Qiao Qiao so much that they made her the new vige chief. She¡¯s smart and capable, and she always helps around the vige. Even Chen Heping¡¯s son supported her, so¡ she became the new chief.¡±
So, everything lined up. Big Cat¡¯s Vige still existed. ¡°Cat Dad¡± Chen Heping had passed away, and the role of vige chief didn¡¯t get passed down to his son, Big Cat. Instead, the vigers chose the respected Yan Qiao Qiao.
From the moment Smith said ¡°Shit!¡± back in the rice fields, Lin Xian had suspected something like this. The phrase was clearly something Smith had picked up from Big Cat, and now it seemed the two of them had been living in the same vige.
As Smith talked about the vige and its chief, pride lit up his face.
¡°Ha! Bet you don¡¯t know why we call it Big Cat¡¯s Vige!¡± Smith said, clearly expecting to surprise Lin Xian.
But Lin Xian remained calm. ¡°I know,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s because Chen Heping¡¯s son is called Big Cat.¡±
Smith coughed awkwardly. ¡°Okay¡ but do you know why Big Cat is called Big Cat?!¡±
Lin Xian suppressed augh. ¡°Yes, when he was born, the whole vige¡ªchickens, ducks, cows, sheep, pigs, even the big yellow dog¡ªwere all crying his name. Isn¡¯t that how the story goes?¡±
Smith¡¯s jaw dropped.
¡°Holy¡ª! Who are you? How do you know so much about our vige?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just a passerby,¡± Lin Xian said, trying to sound mysterious.
¡°Yeah, right¡¡± Smith muttered, eyeing him suspiciously. ¡°You¡¯re being real cryptic.¡±
Lin Xian stopped walking and gave Smith a quick once-over. Smith looked like a foreigner, but he spoke a mishmash of ents from all over X Country. It was strange, to say the least.
¡°Big Cat¡¯s Vige must be an incredible ce,¡± Lin Xian mused aloud. ¡°Howe people from all over are living there? Who taught you all those random dialects?¡±
¡°The people in the vige!¡± Smith replied proudly, as though it were obvious. ¡°They all speak in their own strange ways. I didn¡¯t know how to speak X Countrynguage at first, so I just learned from them. Now look at me! I¡¯m doing pretty well!¡±
¡°You¡¯re not bad at all,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve even picked up the Shandong dialect¡¯s inverted sentence structure. But you¡¯ve got quite the mix going on.¡±
They shared augh, walking deeper into Big Cat¡¯s Vige. Smith led Lin Xian toward his house, but before they could reach it, they bumped into a familiar face.
¡°Smith, you¡¯re back!¡± A man named Er Zhuzi stepped out from behind a tree, a frown on his face.
¡°You¡¯rete today. Your wife¡¯s been waiting for you toe home for dinner.¡±
Smith waved him off with a grin. ¡°I ran into a brother on the way,¡± he said, motioning toward Lin Xian. ¡°This is my new brother from the fields. He¡¯s a wanderer with nowhere to go, so I figured I¡¯d bring him home for a meal.¡±
Er Zhuzi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Lin Xian. After a moment, he snorted.
¡°Soft skin, pretty face¡ªyou¡¯re no good!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s friendly expression cooled. ¡°You¡¯ve got a real way with words, don¡¯t you?¡± he said dryly.
Inwardly, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but remember the Sixth Dream, where Er Zhuzi had been chopped to pieces and fed to the dogs. He didn¡¯t feel the least bit sorry for him now.
Er Zhuzi waved a hand, blocking Lin Xian¡¯s path.
¡°Smith, you can¡¯t bring this guy home!¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Smith asked, confused.
¡°This kid¡¯s up to no good, I can tell!¡± Er Zhuzi said, his voice full of suspicion. ¡°I¡¯ve got sharp eyes. I can see right through him! He¡¯s after your wife!¡±
Lin Xian sighed. Another confrontation? This was getting tiresome.
¡°Alright, alright,¡± he said, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ll head off. You go home and have dinner, Smith. I won¡¯t bother you tonight.¡±
Turning to Er Zhuzi, Lin Xian added with a smirk, ¡°I¡¯ll just go to Big Cat¡¯s ce. It¡¯s been ages since I had some of his wife¡¯s dumplings. I¡¯ve missed them.¡±
Er Zhuzi¡¯s face turned a deep shade of green. ¡°I knew it! You¡¯re just like those scoundrels in the old stories¡ªBig Cat¡¯s Vige can¡¯t tolerate someone like you!¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°You know about old stories like that? Impressive, your knowledge has grown.¡±
Smith, trying to defuse the tension, stepped in. ¡°The vige library has some old books¡ªssics like the Four Great Novels. The old vige chief hand-copied them himself. There aren¡¯t many books besides those, some textbooks, and a few philosophy texts.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll have to check it out sometime.¡±
But before Lin Xian could continue, Er Zhuzi interrupted. ¡°Oh, you want to check it out, do you?¡± he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll pass the vote. You¡¯re getting kicked out!¡±
Lin Xian groaned inwardly. Another democracy run by fools. He resigned himself to the inevitable.
Minutester, Lin Xian found himself inside a warehouse, ¡°arrested¡± by Er Zhuzi. Inside, a group of men was hard at work, moving sacks of rice and corn onto an electric cart. It was the infamous ¡°Face Gang.¡±
Er Zhuzi started exaggerating his reasons for bringing Lin Xian in, and the other men¡ªAh Zhuang and San Pang¡ªlistened with mocking grins.
Standing in the middle of the room, Big Cat eyed Lin Xian up and down before sighing.
¡°Brother, as much as I¡¯d love to help you, we run on democracy here. So whether you stay or not depends on their vote.¡± He gestured to the other men.
Ah Zhuang shook his head. ¡°This guy cannot stay.¡±
Er Zhuzi, eyes gleaming with hostility, added, ¡°He¡¯s trying to get close to our sister-inw! He¡¯s not here for dumplings!¡±
San Pang, looking smug, also shook his head. ¡°Nope, not a chance.¡±
As expected, three votes against him.
Lin Xian sighed. Why was it always such a struggle for him to join the Face Gang on his own? If only CC were here. If CC was standing beside him, these three fools would have voted unanimously in his favor. And if Lin Xian admitted his connection to CC, Er Zhuzi would probably turn into his biggest fan overnight.
¡°Brother, you see how it is,¡± Big Cat said, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. ¡°Democracy rules here. With three votes against, I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t stay in the vige.¡±
Lin Xian raised his right hand, extending a single finger.
¡°I just need to say one thing,¡± he said, his voice full of quiet confidence, knowing this single sentence would turn the tide in his favor.
Ever since Smith mentioned the philosophy books in the vige library, Lin Xian had already figured out his next move. He raised his gaze and met Big Cat¡¯s clear, innocent eyes. A gust of wind swept through the warehouse, rustling a few corn husks and filling the air with the earthy scent of the fields. Lin Xian¡¯s and Big Cat¡¯s clothing fluttered lightly in the breeze.
Amidst the chorus of cicadas and distant bird calls, Lin Xian spoke, his voice soft but unmistakably clear:
¡°The cat is ideology; the face is metaphysics.¡±
¡°Holy¡ª!¡±
Big Cat¡¯s expression changed instantly as if he had been struck by lightning. He scrambled toward Lin Xian, nearly tripping over his own feet, and grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s hands tightly.
¡°A kindred spirit! A soulmate! Brother, it¡¯s like you¡¯ve crawled into my very mind!¡±
Big Cat¡¯s eyes softened, and he continued to rub the back of Lin Xian¡¯s hand, clearly torn.
On the one hand, Lin Xian had spoken to his very soul. On the other hand, there were vige rules, and democracy couldn¡¯t be defied.
In the end, rationality won out. Big Cat seemed to age a few years in that moment, sighing deeply.
¡°Brother, I really don¡¯t want to lose such a great friend like you. But democracy is democracy, and rules are rules. I can¡¯t keep you here.¡±
With that, Big Cat grabbed a few ears of corn and some cured meat from a nearby shelf, shoving them into Lin Xian¡¯s arms.
¡°I can¡¯t let you leave hungry. Take this food and continue your wandering. Find somewhere that¡¯ll take you in.¡±
¡°Wait a minute,¡± Lin Xian thought, ¡°this is happening way too fast!¡± Was this vige really so strict about its rules?
¡°Come on, Big Cat, give me a chance,¡± Lin Xian said, an idea popping into his head. After all, Big Cat wasn¡¯t the vige chief! There was still someone who could change things.
Quickly, Lin Xian added, ¡°Big Cat, at least let me meet the vige chief. Isn¡¯t Chief Yan Qiao Qiao the one running this vige? You¡¯re just the deputy, right? Even if you¡¯re like the prince of the vige, the chief has the final say.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Big Cat¡¯s face brightened with hope, and he pped Lin Xian heartily on the back.
¡°You¡¯re absolutely right! Even though the vige is named after me, the chief is still the chief. We always follow her decisions. If she agrees to let you stay, it won¡¯t matter what anyone else says¡ªyou¡¯ll be a full-fledged member of Big Cat¡¯s Vige!¡±
¡°But¡ the chief isn¡¯t here right now,¡± Big Cat continued. ¡°She¡¯s out hunting today, and I¡¯m waiting for her toe back. Tell you what!¡±
Big Cat waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Come with me to my house for now. My wife¡¯s already cooked, and we¡¯ve got plenty to go around. Fill your stomach first. Once the chief is back, I¡¯ll take you to meet her. If she agrees, you can stay. If not¡ well, I¡¯ll give you more corn and dried meat, and you can continue your journey.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Lin Xian agreed, not wanting to make things harder for Big Cat. Besides, getting a free meal today wasn¡¯t such a bad deal, and he could try again tomorrow. Dinner with Big Cat also meant a chance to gather more information about the vige.
Just as Lin Xian agreed, Er Zhuzi¡¯s face turned pale with worry.
¡°Big Brother, have you lost your mind? How can you bring this guy home? I don¡¯t trust him around Sister-inw!¡±
¡°Oh, stop it!¡± Big Catughed, throwing an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders.
¡°If I trust my brother, that¡¯s enough for me!¡±
With that, Big Cat dismissed the group, telling them to regroup once the vige chief returned from hunting. For now, everyone was sent home for dinner.
Lin Xian followed Big Cat toward the northern part of the vige, curious about what awaited him.
In the back of his mind, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there was some kind of hidden agenda. In the Second Dream, they had snuck into the garbage disposal sites of New Donghai City at night, looking for salvageable goods. Could something simr be happening again?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Big Cat, what¡¯s with all the farm produce you¡¯ve been loading onto that truck? nning something for tonight?¡±
Big Cat chuckled. ¡°Nothing like that.¡±
He waved off the question, grinning.
¡°We¡¯re just delivering supplies to the city to the north. Lord Li of Donghai City just had a baby daughter, and they¡¯re holding a three-day banquet to celebrate. Everyone¡¯s invited, so they need a lot of food¡ªmeat, vegetables, fruit, spices, the works.¡±
Big Cat looked quite pleased with himself.
¡°Lord Li sent word to the surrounding viges, offering to buy up all the produce at the highest market price. It¡¯s a perfect opportunity to clear out our stock and make a nice profit!¡±
¡°Chief Yan¡¯s gone hunting, hoping to catch a live bear as a gift for Lord Li. He¡¯s always looked after our vige, and it¡¯s important to keep a good rtionship with him.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Lin Xian murmured, nodding as he processed the information.
It seemed he had been overthinking things. This world didn¡¯t have theplex struggles and conflicts he had imagined¡ªno ss warfare, tribal shes, or wars. Life here seemed peaceful and content.
Lord Li had just weed a new daughter. That must be Li Cheng and Li Ning Ning¡¯s family. But¡ wasn¡¯t it a bitte for Li Cheng to be having another child? What had he been up to all this time?
As they rounded a corner, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why did Li Cheng wait so long to have another child? Was he busy with something? Is his daughter Li Ning Ning?¡±
Big Cat burst intoughter. ¡°Li Ning Ning is his eldest daughter! This time, he had a second daughter. I don¡¯t know what her name is yet¡ maybe Li Cheng hasn¡¯t even picked a name for her.¡±
¡°The second daughter was born just yesterday. It¡¯s a huge celebration in Donghai City. The feast starts tonight and will go on for three days!¡±
Hearing about Li Cheng¡¯s new daughter, Lin Xian felt an unexpected surge of happiness for the man.
¡°So, he had a second child,¡± Lin Xian mused, smiling. ¡°I bet Li Ning Ning is thrilled to have a little sister now.¡±
He looked up at the sky, now darkening as the moon rose in the east.
¡°What a wonderful time we live in,¡± he said softly.
People led peaceful, happy lives. Even someone like Li Cheng, a former warlord who had oncemanded the chaotic ruins of Old Donghai, was now settled down, enjoying family life.
A happy family, a second daughter, and a grand feast to celebrate. Life couldn¡¯t be better.
¡°It really is nice,¡± Lin Xian murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of envy as he thought of Li Cheng¡¯s family of four.
Big Catughed heartily, patting his belly. ¡°What¡¯s there to envy? It¡¯s just two kids! It¡¯s not like that¡¯s anything special. Come on, brother, we¡¯re here. Let me introduce you to my wife, and you can meet my daughter and son too!¡±
He pushed open the gate to his courtyard, and they entered the house. Inside, the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air, and Big Cat¡¯s wife greeted them warmly.
¡°Wee, Lin Xian,¡± she said with a kind smile, cing a steaming te of dumplings on the table.
¡°I heard from Big Cat that you¡¯ve been wandering for a while. You must be hungry. Eat something and don¡¯t worry about meeting the vige chiefter. She¡¯s very kind and will probably let you stay.¡±
¡°Thank you, Sister,¡± Lin Xian said gratefully as he epted the te of dumplings.
Lin Xian picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and took a bite. The taste was familiar, instantly transporting him back to a memory¡ªone from a year and a half ago in the Second Dream.
The taste of the dumplings was the same, filling him with an unexpected wave of nostalgia. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to stumble upon this familiar dish again in such a strange, dreamlike world.
Meanwhile, Big Cat¡¯s son, Little Cat, was devouring dumplings at lightning speed. While Lin Xian had barely finished one, the boy had already scarfed down five or six.
¡°Hey there, Little Cat,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile, ruffling the boy¡¯s hair. He pushed the te of dumplings toward him. ¡°Slow down, I¡¯m not going to take them from you.¡±
Just then, Big Cat¡¯s daughter walked out from the back room. She sat down at the table with a serious expression, picking up her chopsticks with deliberate care.
¡°Dad, what about my schooling in Donghai City? Did you talk to Lord Li about it?¡± she asked, her voice filled with hope and determination.
¡°I haven¡¯t had the chance yet,¡± Big Cat replied, chewing thoughtfully on his food. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Kids from viges like ours have been going to school in Donghai City for years now. Lord Li always wees them. They usually don¡¯t go until they¡¯re older¡ªaround their teens.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be delivering food to Lord Li tonight,¡± Big Cat continued, ¡°so I¡¯ll bring it up then. I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t refuse.¡±
Lin Xian nced at Big Cat, a little surprised by how strongly he supported his daughter¡¯s education.
¡°You¡¯ve changed your tune¡ You¡¯re really pushing for her to go to school now?¡± Lin Xian asked, curious.
¡°I¡¯ve always supported it!¡± Big Cat chuckled, his eyes twinkling with pride.
¡°Knowledge is power! Only knowledge can change your fate!¡±
He leaned back in his chair, his voice growing more serious as he continued. ¡°Look, after the great disaster of 2400 and nearly a century of chaos, human civilization has managed to recover. We live peaceful, happy lives now¡ªand that¡¯s all thanks to knowledge!¡±
He waved a hand in the air as if brushing aside any doubt. ¡°Sure, we didn¡¯t do it alone. The people they dug out of the cryo-chambers¡ªthey¡¯re smart! Even if they¡¯ve lost their memories, they pick things up faster than we do. And their storage units were filled with books, notebooks, you name it. That¡¯s why we can live the way we do now!¡±
Big Cat¡¯s face lit up with determination. ¡°So, of course, I want my daughter to get the best education possible! As long as she¡¯s willing to learn, I¡¯ll support her, no matter what. I¡¯ll send her to the best ce to study!¡±
Heughed heartily, reaching out to ruffle his daughter¡¯s hair.
¡°Work hard, my girl! Get a good education, and one day you¡¯ll live in a big city. You¡¯ll have a life even better than what we have here in this little vige!¡±
¡°I think this ce is already perfect,¡± his daughter said after swallowing her food. ¡°This is my home. It¡¯s where I was born and raised. When I finish my studies, I¡¯lle back and repay the vige¡ Besides, if I move to a big city, who¡¯s going to take care of you and Mom when you get old?¡±
¡°Your brother, of course!¡± Big Cat pointed to Little Cat, who was busy licking his te clean.
¡°Although¡ this dimwit probably won¡¯t be much help,¡± he added with a chuckle. ¡°So yeah, he¡¯ll stay here to look after us. You, my girl, you¡¯ve got the potential to go far. Fly as high as you can! Dad will always support you!¡±
As Lin Xian watched this warm family scene unfold, a strange feeling washed over him.
For Big Cat, this was the best future he could ever hope for.
His daughter was alive and well, his family was whole, and he no longer had to risk his life jumping out of nes or scavenging through garbage dumps. His children were thriving, his wife was kind and beautiful, and Little Cat was already lined up as the future caregiver.
¡°This is great,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath, half to himself.
He couldn¡¯t remember thest time he had such a peaceful meal in a dream¡ªone without hidden agendas, where everyone simply enjoyed being together.
It¡¯s true what they say: you don¡¯t know the value of something until it¡¯s gone.
Just like Big Cat¡¯s life right now. Ordinary, maybe, but full of happiness.
Sure, the technology might not be cutting-edge, but the joy wasn¡¯t missing.
¡°Come on, brother, have a bowl of dumpling soup,¡± Big Cat said, raising his bowl to clink it against Lin Xian¡¯s.
¡°I would¡¯ve had a drink with you today, but I¡¯ve got to driveter to deliver goods, so no alcohol for me.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, raising his own bowl. ¡°People still get pulled over for drunk driving around here?¡±
Big Cat looked confused for a second, thenughed. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± He gulped down his soup and wiped his mouth.
¡°It¡¯s not about getting caught¡ªit¡¯s about safety! I don¡¯t drink and drive, and I don¡¯t drive after drinking. I¡¯m the backbone of this family¡ If something happens to me, what¡¯ll happen to my kids? My wife?¡±
Big Cat spread his arms wide, a warm smile on his face as he looked at Lin Xian.
¡°I have to be responsible for my family. They¡¯re my everything! So, what about you, brother? Got a family? Any kids?¡±
¡°I¡ um¡¡± Lin Xian hesitated for a moment. ¡°Yeah, I have a child.¡±
¡°A boy or a girl?¡±
¡°A girl.¡±
¡°Daughters are great!¡± Big Cat beamed, clearly delighted.
¡°Daughters are like little cotton jackets¡ªalways keeping you warm! You¡¯ve been out wandering for so long¡ Don¡¯t you miss your daughter?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind shed back to the image of Lin Yu Xi tearing off a car door and decapitating her imposter with a single swing.
¡°Not¡ really,¡± he muttered.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat¡¯s eyes widened in shock.
¡°What kind of father doesn¡¯t miss his daughter? You¡¯re so cold!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Lin Xian said, putting his chopsticks down and rubbing the space between his thumb and forefinger.
¡°It¡¯s just that¡ she¡¯s a bit¡ mischievous. She¡¯s not exactly like a normal daughter. She¡¯s¡ loud. Really loud.¡±
¡°Haha!¡± Big Cat waved it off with augh. ¡°Every kid¡¯s a handful! The noisier they are, the smarter they¡¯ll turn out to be! Besides, how rowdy can she be?¡±
Big Cat paused, then burst outughing again. ¡°What, is she like Chief Yan? Can she crush a bear¡¯s skull with a single punch? Hahahaha!¡±
Big Cat¡¯s heartyughter filled the room, and Little Cat joined in, tipping his head back andughing as well.
¡°Ha¡ ha¡¡± Lin Xian chuckled weakly, though the sound felt hollow.
He didn¡¯t really want tough, but not joining in seemed awkward.
¡°Big Brother!¡±
Ah Zhuang¡¯s voice came from outside the courtyard, cutting through the moment. He stepped through the door, wiping sweat from his forehead.
¡°Big Brother, the vige chief is back from the hunt. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to introduce this guy to her?¡±
¡°Oh, right,¡± Big Cat said, finishing thest of his dumpling soup. He pped Lin Xian on the shoulder. ¡°Come on, brother, let¡¯s go meet the vige chief.¡±
¡
After a short walk, they reached the area near the warehouse.
From a distance, Lin Xian spotted a tall, athletic young woman. She was strikingly beautiful, though the innocence of youth had long faded from her face, reced by a confident maturity and undeniable strength.
Her long, ck hair was tied into a high ponytail, and she wore a tight-fitting hunting outfit. Various weapons and tools hung from her waist, and on her back were a bow and arrows, along with a coiled rope.
Despite living in an era where guns were avable, the vige chief clearly preferred the raw challenge of hand-to-handbat.
She had sharp hearing, too. As they approached, she turned her head, her piercing blue eyes locking onto Lin Xian¡¯s. They gleamed like two bright stars in the night.
Big Cat waved energetically. ¡°Chief Yan, this is¡ª¡±
But before he could finish, the blue-eyed woman strode forward with surprising speed, stopping just a step away from Lin Xian. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted in disbelief.
¡°You¡ who are you?¡± she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion.
Without waiting for a response, she reached into her hunting jacket and pulled out aminated photograph. The name ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao¡± was written on the back in neat, flowing handwriting.
The photo itself was a family portrait.
In the picture, a man and a woman stood side by side, dressed in royal attire, their arms around each other like a king and queen. In front of them, a little girl stood with her hands lifting her dress in a dainty curtsy, smiling sweetly at the camera.
The blue-eyed woman stared at the photo, then at Lin Xian, her face pale with shock.
She pointed to the man in the picture, whose face was identical to Lin Xian¡¯s.
¡°Is this¡ you?¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly.
The woman took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she asked, ¡°What¡ what is your rtionship to me?¡±
Lin Xian took the photo from her hands, studying it closely. The image looked as though it had been taken recently¡ªor maybe 600 years ago. It was hard to say.
After a moment, he exhaled and spoke softly. ¡°You might not believe this, but there¡¯s no point in hiding the truth from you anymore. I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡±
He nced at the woman, then back to the photograph.
¡°If you¡¯re sure this little girl is really you¡¡± He lifted his gaze, meeting her brilliant blue eyes.
¡°Then I am¡ your father.¡±
Chapter 410: The Dance Begins
¡°Idiot!¡±
Big Cat Face snarled, baring his teeth as he swung hisrge hand towards the back of Lin Xian¡¯s head. His frustration boiled over.
¡°Don¡¯t be disrespectful to the vige chief!¡±
What was wrong with this kid? Was his emotional intelligence really that low? Did he think his thick skull could survive a punch from the vige chief? Who just goes around dering someone their parent like that? Didn¡¯t he realize how much older the vige chief was? And yet, he had the audacity to call her his father?
Thud.
The dull sound of flesh meeting resistance filled the air. Big Cat Face¡¯s hand stopped mid-swing. Startled, he looked up to see the vige chief¡¯s hand gripping his wrist firmly. Her grip was like iron, unmoving. He felt the shock of it ripple up his arm, his hand throbbing as if he¡¯d mmed it into a wall of steel.
¡°Let him continue,¡± the vige chief said calmly, her piercing blue eyes fixed on Lin Xian. She didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t waver.
Her voice was steady as she asked, ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is¡ you¡¯re not even sure if I¡¯m your daughter?¡±Lin Xian nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease from his shoulders. There was no point in rushing this. The vige chief wasn¡¯t someone to be hurried.
¡°You know where the photograph came from, and you know the girl in the picture,¡± the Chief continued, her gaze sharp. ¡°But you¡¯re saying you¡¯re not entirely sure that girl is me.¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet, knowing she¡¯d already grasped the heart of the matter.
¡°I understand what you¡¯re implying,¡± she said, her voice lowering slightly. ¡°You¡¯re certain the girl in the picture is Yan Qiao Qiao. But you¡¯re suggesting that I might not be her. That maybe¡ I¡¯ve taken someone else¡¯s ce.¡±
Her words hit hard, echoing the doubt that had haunted her for years. The same thoughts Lin Xian had voiced earlier were thoughts she had wrestled with herself.
Countless nights had been spent staring at that photograph. Was that little girl really her? She didn¡¯t look like her. Not even close. The shape of her face, body, and even her features werepletely different. If it weren¡¯t for waking up in a cryogenic pod with the name Yan Qiao Qiao and finding the family photo in storage, she might not have believed it herself.
¡°Ridiculous!¡±
Big Cat Face cut in, his patience finally snapping. He looked at the two of them, clearly exasperated.
¡°You two don¡¯t even match in age! What¡¯s there to analyze?¡±
He pointed at the photo, his voice rising in frustration.
¡°Look at this! There¡¯s no way you could be father and daughter, given the age difference! Even I can figure that out, and I¡¯m not the brightest! How are the two of you, supposedly the smart ones, missing something so obvious?¡±
The vige chief, however, shook her head slowly, her expression thoughtful.
¡°Big Cat, you¡¯re thinking too simply,¡± she said. ¡°With technology like cryogenic pods, age doesn¡¯t matter anymore. As long as the parents spent more time in the pod than the child, it¡¯s possible for the child to be older than the parents.¡±
She turned her attention back to Lin Xian, her gaze as steady as ever.
¡°The issue isn¡¯t our age difference. It¡¯s that the little girl in the picture doesn¡¯t look like me. So, there¡¯s no way to be certain that I¡¯m the same person.¡±
She paused, her blue eyes locking onto Lin Xian¡¯s. ¡°What should I call you?¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Just call me Lin Xian,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not here to force a reunion. I know it¡¯s a hard thing to ept, and with today¡¯s technology, there¡¯s no way to do a DNA test. There¡¯s no solid proof.¡±
His tone softened as he asked, ¡°I¡¯m more curious¡ªare you happy with your life? Are you content?¡±
The vige chief nodded slowly.
¡°Since waking up from the cryogenic pod, I¡¯ve found my life fulfilling,¡± she replied. ¡°The former vige chief taught me everything I needed to adapt to this era. Though I¡¯ve always been a bit¡ unusual, my abilities are valuable here. The vigers respect me, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m their Chief.¡±
She gestured to the vige around them, her eyes resting on the warmly lit houses.
¡°These past years, I¡¯ve focused on leading the vige¡ªsolving problems, building homes, developing industries. That¡¯s been my purpose.¡±
Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as she continued, ¡°It¡¯s only because you resemble the man in the photo that I¡¯ve grown curious today. My past memories¡ they don¡¯t matter to me as much anymore. Like many others in this vige¡ªSmith, for example¡ªthey have few memories of their past, but they¡¯re still happy.¡±
She turned back to Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m the same. Whether or not I¡¯m the girl in the photo doesn¡¯t change the life I¡¯ve built here. It doesn¡¯t change what I¡¯ve done. I¡¯m the vige chief, and that¡¯s all that matters.¡±
Seeing the peace in her expression made Lin Xian realize that maybe this wasn¡¯t such a bad oue after all.
In this strange dream world, where many had forgotten their pasts, people were still able to live new lives. Smith had be an expert in X Country¡¯s culture, fully integrating into his new world.
If the vige chief had been intent on discovering her past, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to help. After all, in this world, the consequences of such actions could always be reset. But the blue-eyed woman before him didn¡¯t seem particrly interested in chasing after old memories.
Sensing the conversation winding down, Big Cat Face pushed his way between them. ¡°Vige Chief, I brought Lin Xian here today because I think he¡¯s got potential. I was hoping he could stay in Big Cat¡¯s Vige and be an official resident.¡±
He shot a nce at Lin Xian, then continued, ¡°I could use an extra pair of hands driving the delivery truck. I¡¯ll even teach him how to drive.¡±
The vige chief nodded.
¡°That sounds like a good idea,¡± she said. ¡°Even if Lin Xian doesn¡¯t have any particr skills, Big Cat¡¯s Vige wees all new residents.¡±
With a warm smile, she extended her hand toward Lin Xian.
¡°Wee to Big Cat¡¯s Vige, Lin Xian. I hope you¡¯ll feel at home here.¡±
Lin Xian took her hand, surprised by the strength in her grip. He smiled back.
¡°I¡¯m honored to be part of the vige,¡± he said. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to like it here.¡±
The vige chief then turned to Big Cat Face. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± she said. ¡°You should get that bear delivered to Lord Li, along with the rest of the produce. The goods should be sold at market price, but the bear¡ªlet¡¯s gift it to Lord Li as a celebration for the birth of his daughter.¡±
With that, she walked off, her bright blue eyes gleaming like fireflies in the darkness, disappearing into the night.
Big Cat Face let out a relieved sigh, then gave Lin Xian a friendly punch on the shoulder. ¡°Phew¡ close call, huh?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got guts, saying something like that! Who just deres themselves someone¡¯s father out of the blue? What¡¯s wrong with you? Some kind of weird habit?¡± Big Cat Face¡¯s voice wasced with irritation as he shook his head.
¡°You¡¯re lucky the vige chief was probably too tired from hunting to punch you. Trust me, if she had, your skull would¡¯ve cracked like a watermelon!¡±
He shot Lin Xian a sideways nce, his eyes gleaming with mischievous energy.
¡°Do you even know what it feels like to have your head explode like a watermelon?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly as if recalling an inside joke. ¡°Of course I do,¡± he replied.
In the first dream world, CC had blown up Big Cat Face¡¯s head countless times, his brains sttering everywhere in a spectacr fashion. Lin Xian remembered every one of those gruesome moments vividly.
Satisfied that he had sufficiently startled Lin Xian, Big Cat Face waved arge hand, gesturing for him to follow. ¡°Come on, little brother. Let¡¯s go check out that bear.¡±
Lin Xian obediently trailed after him, the pair heading towards the back of the warehouse. The sight that greeted them was an enormous grizzly bear, tied up with ropes that crisscrossed its massive body.
It was an adult bear, easily weighing over 500 kilograms, a beast of monumental proportions. Yet, despite its size, the creaturey utterly helpless, bound so tightly it could hardly move. Its limbs were restrained, and even its snout and head were securely tied down. Lin Xian marveled at how someone could subdue such a powerful animal with their bare hands and tie it up with such precision.
With a fair bit of effort, Lin Xian and four members of the Face Gang managed to hoist the heavy bear onto the truck. After it was loaded, Lin Xian hopped into the passenger seat beside Big Cat Face, and they set off, leaving Big Cat¡¯s Vige behind, heading north towards Donghai City.
The road ahead was dark, pitch ck, but the truck¡¯s electric engine hummed softly as they drove. Powered by nuclear batteries, the truck¡¯s energy seemed limitless, ensuring the vehicle could go on indefinitely without running out of fuel.
Big Cat Face flipped the switch, and the truck¡¯s headlights flickered to life. The sudden burst of brightness nearly blinded Lin Xian, forcing him to shield his eyes.
¡°You guys really don¡¯t hold back with the electricity, do you?¡± Lin Xian remarked, squinting at the ring lights. ¡°Everything you design seems to scream ¡®excess.¡¯¡±
Big Cat Face grinned, spinning the wheel casually. ¡°Why not? There are less than a billion people left on Earth, and there are centuries¡¯ worth of nuclear batteries buried underground. We¡¯ve got energy to spare. No need to be conservative.¡±
He shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
¡°Of course, we might face shortages when the poption starts growing again. But that¡¯s for future generations to figure out, isn¡¯t it? Let them deal with it.¡±
With a loud roar, the truck picked up speed, its massive headlights slicing through the inky darkness as they traveled towards their destination.
Given the sparse poption in the area, it was unlikely they¡¯d run into anyone else on the road. The journey was quiet, save for the soft hum of the electric truck and the asional grunt or whimper from the back, where the bound grizzly beary.
Lin Xian nced over his shoulder at the poor creature and couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of guilt.
¡°Can¡¯t we just kill the bear before we deliver it?¡± he asked, his voice low. ¡°Do we really have to send it alive?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Big Cat Face replied without hesitation. ¡°Fresh meat tastes better, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
Lin Xian sighed but said nothing. The logic made sense, even if it left him feeling uneasy.
An hourter, they finally reached the outskirts of Donghai City. Despite the post-apocalyptic state of the world, the city still managed to maintain an air of civilization. It looked like a small county town from the old world, with some modern touches here and there.
Compared to the vige where Lin Xian had grown up, Donghai City seemed more advanced, at least on the surface. But Lin Xian knew that this outward prosperity was somewhat hollow. The rapid development was driven by micro nuclear batteries, which had created uneven progress across different sectors of society.
The technology of this world was, in a word, unbnced.
But Lin Xian believed this was only temporary. As Big Cat Face had said earlier, humanity would eventually find a way to ovee these challenges and build a better future.
As they approached the trading post, Lin Xian admired the professionalism with which everything was handled. The paperwork and the procedures¡ªeverything went smoothly. And since they were delivering a gift to Lord Li himself, Big Cat Face decided to meet him in person.
¡°Well, well, hahaha!¡± Lord Li¡¯s boomingugh echoed across the yard as he spotted the grizzly bear tied up in the back of the truck. His eyes gleamed with approval.
¡°This is exactly like Vige Chief Yan,¡± he said, clearly impressed. ¡°Who else in the world could capture a grizzly bear alive without leaving a single scratch on it? Only Chief Yan could manage something like that!¡±
Lord Li¡¯s face glowed with warmth as he continued, ¡°This is perfect timing. My wife just gave birth, and she needs to recover her strength. The bear will make an excellent broth. Please thank the vige chief for this wonderful gift.¡±
Big Cat Face took the opportunity to mention his daughter¡¯s desire to attend school in Donghai City. Lord Li agreed without hesitation.
¡°No problem at all!¡± he said kindly. ¡°Go to the school and speak with Principal Gao. You can bring your daughter tomorrow to get her settled in.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Big Cat, this Principal Gao¡ is it Gao Wen?¡±
Big Cat Face shot him a surprised look. ¡°You seem to know a lot of people, huh? Yep, it¡¯s Gao Wen.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Take me to see Emperor Gao Wen! I¡¯ve heard so much about him. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s wisdom I can learn from him.¡±
And so, Big Cat Face led Lin Xian to meet Principal Gao Wen.
Gao Wen was one of the most respected figures in Donghai City, not just as an educator but as a brilliant scientist. He was second only to Lord Li in terms of influence and authority.
The issue with Big Cat¡¯s daughter was quickly resolved. She could start school the very next day. But Lin Xian knew¡ there wouldn¡¯t be a ¡°tomorrow.¡±
This dream world was stuck in a loop. At precisely 12:42 AM, the world would reset, wiped away in a sh of white light. There was no tomorrow. There never would be.
As Lin Xian looked at Gao Wen, he noticed the older man¡¯s hair had turned mostly gray. Nearly a third of it was white now. Time had not been kind to him.
Back in the Sixth Dream, Gao Wen had been a strong, middle-aged man, fresh out of cryosleep. But now, years had passed. The weight of time had clearly taken its toll on him.
Lin Xian stepped forward, introducing himself as a fellow scientist and expressing his eagerness to exchange ideas. Gao Wen¡¯s face lit up at the prospect. He eagerly led Lin Xian and Big Cat Face on a tour of the campus, excited to show off his inventions.
¡°Here,¡± Gao Wen said, pointing to a water pump, ¡°this is my pressure pump. We¡¯ve installed them all over Donghai City. All you need is a well deep enough to reach groundwater, and this pump will bring the water to the surface easily.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s eyes widened with amazement. ¡°This is amazing! Over in Big Cat¡¯s Vige, we¡¯re still hauling water by hand. If we had these pumps, every household could have running water!¡±
Gao Wen smiled and nodded, clearly pleased by their reactions. He led them down a narrow hallway to the back of the school, where an enormous furnace stood in the boiler room. A maze of pipes extended from it, snaking through the walls.
¡°This is the collective heating system I developed,¡± Gao Wen exined, gesturing proudly toward the machinery. ¡°During winter, we heat water here, and it circtes through the ssrooms and dormitories, keeping the children warm.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s eyes widened with amazement. ¡°Wow!¡± he cried. ¡°When this technology matures, you could heat the whole city! Imagine that¡ªno one would ever have to worry about the cold again! Every house could feel like a cozy, steaming bun!¡±
Gao Wen chuckled softly. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be quite that hot,¡± he said, his eyes twinkling, ¡°but you¡¯re right. This system could definitely be expanded across the city.¡±
Big Cat Face continued his enthusiasticmentary, marveling at every invention Gao Wen showed them. His excitement was genuine, his loud exmations peppering the conversation like fireworks.
However, Lin Xian, walking a few steps behind, furrowed his brows as they moved from one creation to the next. His expression grew more serious with each new invention.
Finally, unable to stay silent any longer, Lin Xian spoke up. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you, Emperor Gao Wen,¡± he said, his voice edged with disappointment. ¡°These inventions¡ they¡¯re practical, sure. But they¡¯re not revolutionary. They don¡¯t reflect your true brilliance.¡±
Big Cat Face¡¯s face flushed with indignation. ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± he snapped, bristling at the criticism. He¡¯d been counting on Gao Wen to help get his daughter into school, and he wasn¡¯t about to let anyone insult the man. ¡°How dare you talk to Principal Gao like that!¡±
But Gao Wen remained calm, holding up a hand to stop Big Cat Face¡¯s protests. He turned to Lin Xian, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
¡°It seems you¡¯ve seen a lot in your life,¡± Gao Wen said, his voice soft but steady. ¡°These simple inventions don¡¯t impress you anymore, do they?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, meeting his gaze. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
¡°I thought as much,¡± Gao Wen said, still smiling. ¡°You¡¯re looking for something bigger, aren¡¯t you? You think I¡¯m holding back.¡± He gave a smallugh. ¡°Well, we¡¯re all friends here, no need to beat around the bush. Let me show you the real deal.¡±
Without further dy, Gao Wen led Lin Xian to his office. From a drawer in his desk, he pulled out a worn, familiar-looking notebook¡ªthe same one Lin Xian had seen in the cryosleep storage locker. It was the Memory Notebook.
¡°This,¡± Gao Wen said, holding the notebook out carefully, ¡°is the journal I wrote before going into cryosleep.¡±
He paused, looking at Lin Xian with an amused expression. ¡°I went into cryosleep in the year 2219¡ª¡±
¡°Skip,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, waving his hand dismissively.
¡°At the time, technology hadn¡¯t advanced enough to¡ª¡±
¡°Skip,¡± Lin Xian repeated, his hand still motioning impatiently.
Gao Wenughed and handed him the notebook. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just read it yourself?¡±
¡°Task epted,¡± Lin Xian said, his tone serious as he took the notebook in his hands. It felt light, but he knew the weight of its contents would be heavy with information. He was just about to open it when Gao Wen nced at the clock on the wall.
¡°Oh dear, look at the time!¡± Gao Wen suddenly rose from his chair, his voice light and cheerful. ¡°I have to attend Lord Li¡¯s banquet now. I really appreciate your enthusiasm for science, but I¡¯ve copied the notebook¡¯s contents elsewhere. Consider it a gift¡ªyou don¡¯t have to return it.¡±
He moved to lock his office door, giving Lin Xian a friendly pat on the shoulder. ¡°But I suggest you take a break tonight. It¡¯s a rare celebration. Why not join us in the square and enjoy the festivities?¡±
With that, he gave Lin Xian a gentle nudge out of the office and closed the door behind him.
Outside, Big Cat Face was already waiting, bouncing on his feet like an impatient child. The moment Lin Xian stepped out, Big Cat grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him toward the square.
¡°Come on, we should¡¯ve been at the banquet ages ago!¡± Big Cat Face grumbled. ¡°Do you have any idea how grand Lord Li¡¯s feast is? It¡¯s for the birth of his daughter¡ªthere¡¯s no telling how much food there¡¯ll be! And here you are, wasting time!¡±
Lin Xian smirked, trying to keep up with Big Cat Face¡¯s rapid pace. ¡°It¡¯s a feast. You can eat whenever you like. Besides, didn¡¯t you just have a meal before we left?¡±
¡°That¡¯s different!¡± Big Cat Face huffed, speeding ahead. ¡°Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it! I saved room for a reason!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice.¡±
¡°You will soon enough!¡± Big Cat Face shot back, determination clear in his voice.
¡
They soon arrived at the heart of Donghai City¡¯s central square, which was already packed with people. The celebration had begun, and the air buzzed withughter and chatter. Tables overflowed with food, and vigers helped themselves to the generous feast.
A massive bonfire zed in the middle of the square, its mes lighting up the night sky. Around it, people danced and sang, their movements joyful and full of life.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t follow Big Cat Face to the food tables, still feeling full from the earlier meal. Instead, he found a spot near the bonfire, the warmth of the mes washing over him as he opened the Memory Notebook in his hands. He was eager to see what secretsy hidden in Gao Wen¡¯s words.
The notebook felt heavy and important, though its physical weight was light. As Lin Xian nced up from the pages, watching the happy vigers dance and sing around the bonfire, he found himself smiling softly.
It was a good time to be alive.
Despite the catastrophic events of the year 2400¡ Despite knowing that the world would reset at 12:42 tonight, wiped clean by a burst of blinding white light¡ For now, in this moment, everything was as it should be.
Big Cat Face¡¯s family was thriving. His daughter was happy and well-behaved. His younger brothers were dependable, not getting into trouble as they used to.
Once burdened by past mistakes, Smith had found peace and redemption in his new life.
The once vengeful, blue-eyed girl had put aside her hatred, bing a caring and responsible vige chief.
Lord Li had just weed a second daughter, securing his happiness as a proud father.
Li Ning Ning, once defiant against her fate, now lived as the true princess of Donghai City, embracing her new role as a loving sister.
And Emperor Gao Wen, ever the visionary, continued to change the world with his inventions, his brilliance undimmed by the passing years.
Everything was as it should be. There were no regrets.
At least for Lin Xian¡¯s old friends, there were none.
Just as he was about to dive deeper into the notebook, a familiar voice called out to him.
¡°Lin Xian! I knew I¡¯d find you here!¡±
Startled, Lin Xian looked up to see someone he hadn¡¯t expected to see again. An old friend.
Her dark brown hair was pinned up, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief. A small dimple appeared on her cheek as she smiled, and a distinctive tear mole sat just beneath her left eye¡ªlike a signature mark.
It was CC.
¡°Long time no see,¡± CC greeted him, her smile warm. She gestured toward the bonfire. ¡°I figured if I waited in the most noticeable spot in Donghai City on August 28th, 2624, I¡¯d eventually run into you.¡±
¡°And here you are,¡± she added with a yful grin.
Lin Xian smiled back, remembering something he¡¯d once said to Chu An Qing: If you ever get lost, just stay where you are. That way, I¡¯ll always be able to find you.
No matter how much time passed, some things never changed.
¡°Long time no see,¡± Lin Xian said, standing up and closing the notebook. ¡°For you¡ it¡¯s been, what, twenty years since ourst meeting?¡±
CC nodded, her smile never fading. ¡°That¡¯s right. In a way, I¡¯ve known you for twenty years now, ever since I inherited the fragments of memory you left behind. Though I had to wait until today to finally meet you.¡±
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t have many memories of you¡ªjust three, in fact¡ªbut each one is vivid, unforgettable.¡±
Lin Xian closed the notebook with a soft thud and stood by the flickering mes. He met CC¡¯s gaze, the firelight dancing in her eyes.
¡°Do you remember thest world?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Of course,¡± CC replied. ¡°We made a promise, didn¡¯t we? That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±
Her smile turned yful as she extended her hand toward him. ¡°I told you, if we ever met again, I¡¯d ask you for a dance.¡±
¡°And here we are, at the end of the world once more¡¡±
She took a step closer, her hand still outstretched.
¡°Shall we dance?¡±
Chapter 411: The Madwoman
¡°Did you find the safe in this world?¡±
Right then, in the middle of the za, the huge bonfire had already copsed. The mes no longer soared high but had grown weaker, swaying with the wind.
The dance party had ended, but the lively crowd hadn¡¯t dispersed or gone home to rest. Some people went back to the long banquet tables, continuing their battle with Big Cat Face over the remaining food. Others gathered in small groups around the za, either sitting on the ground or wandering around cheering, still enjoying the festivities.
After dancing with CC, Lin Xian sat on the edge of a nearby flower bed, watching the slowly dying fire as he chatted under the moonlight.
Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s question, CC shook her head.
¡°No¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been here for a long time. I came to this ce, the Old Donghai site, two years ago by ship. Since then, I¡¯ve been searching for the aluminum alloy safes, but I haven¡¯t found a single one¡ªnot even the slightest clue.¡±
Lin Xian was a bit surprised.In the fifth dream, these viges were still digging up some safes. How could it be that now, in the seventh dream, there was no news about any of them?
Logically speaking, with so many viges digging up underground cryo-bases and micro nuclear batteries, statistically, they should¡¯ve found at least a few safes by now. Even if they didn¡¯t find his or someone familiar¡¯s, there should¡¯ve been at least one. It made no sense.
Thinking carefully, it seemed that there wasn¡¯t even a trace of the safes in the seventh dream¡ªjust like in the sixth one. In that world, nearly every tribe was digging for Turing machines, and, ording to Big Cat Face and Gao Wen, the Lynx Tribe alone had switched excavation sites several times, each one the size of multiple ser fields.
Even with such systematic digging, they hadn¡¯t found a single aluminum alloy safe. Had Time Bank vanished again?
Or perhaps¡ was there some other problem?
¡°Logically, that seems impossible,¡± Lin Xian said, puzzled. ¡°If Time Bank existed, it should have left some historical trace. After all, those aluminum alloy safes are incredibly sturdy; once formed, they¡¯re almost impossible to destroy.¡±
¡°In one of your memory fragments, we personally dug some up. Even after 600 years, those safes were still shining, with no signs of wear. How could none have survived?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± CC shook her head again. ¡°I¡¯ve searched for two years with no results. If I hadn¡¯t been waiting for you here, I might have returned to Brooklyn or gone somewhere else. But in one of your memory fragments, we agreed to meet today. So, I¡¯ve stayed in the Old Donghai site.¡±
¡°You told me you could roam freely on August 28, 2624, endlessly repeating the day. So I figured if I stayed somewhere in Donghai that was the most noticeable¡ you¡¯d surely find me.¡±
¡°Donghai City is thergest in this area, and today there was a big celebration. I knew you¡¯de by sooner orter.¡±
With a smile, CC turned to Lin Xian. ¡°See? I guessed right, didn¡¯t I?¡±
¡
Lin Xian had to admit that CC was quite clever. Using the three memory fragments he¡¯d left her, CC had already figured out the mechanism of the dream and his ability to loop through the day.
As long as she stayed in Donghai on August 28, 2624, she would meet him. Even if he didn¡¯t find her the first or second night, she would be waiting. Without wandering off, he would eventually find her.
For a moment, Lin Xian felt that he was always making others wait.
In the third dream, Zhao Ying Jun became a white jade statue, waiting for him for six hundred years.
Yellow Finch traveled back from the future, leaving riddles, then silently waited at the answer.
Now, CC was doing the same. She would wait for him at the most lively and noticeable ce in every dream.
And what about Chu An Qing?
Chu An Qing, who had turned into blue stardust and scattered, could she also be waiting somewhere for him to find her?
Just like the time in the milk tea shop at the shopping center when Lin Xian smiled and casually told her:
¡°I won¡¯t get lost; I¡¯ll always find you.¡±
Who knew that offhand remark woulde true.
Not long after, Chu An Qing disappeared from this world. Even though Lin Xian had broken his promise, he would never give up.
He believed that Chu An Qing was still alive. And, just like CC now, standing in one ce, waiting, tiptoeing with hope, waiting for him to find her in the tangle of time and worldlines, and then¡ he would bring her home safely, back to Chu Shan He.
That was why Lin Xian had decided to join the Genius Club as soon as possible.
True, he cared about the mysteries of the dream, the purpose of the Genius Club, and the truth behind the 00:42 sh of light. But as a man, the first thing he had to fulfill was his promise to Chu An Qing and themitment he made to Chu Shan He. That was his primary drive.
The mysterious Millennium Stake¡ªso mysterious, so unpredictable¡ªperhaps only after joining the Genius Club would he learn the truth.
Lin Xian snapped out of his thoughts. The bonfire in the za hadpletely gone out, and the charred wood was now giving off smoke.
Seeing CC this time had put his mind at ease and given him renewed hope and determination to save Chu An Qing.
¡°Thank you for waiting here for me,¡± Lin Xian said with a light smile. ¡°To be honest, it makes me look forward to each dream even more. So, let¡¯s make a promise now¡ª¡±
¡°In every world, you¡¯ll wait for me in the most noticeable, iconic ce in Donghai. I will find you.¡±
¡°Deal,¡± CC replied, her legs swinging as she sat on the edge of the flower bed, looking up at the full moon in the night sky.
¡°So¡ what do you think is going on with the safe in this world? Any clues?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, then shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The great catastrophe in 2400 really messed everything up. It¡¯s the mostplete form of a historical gap, to the extent that I can¡¯t even verify if Time Bank actually existed.¡±
¡°My current guess is twofold. One possibility is that, for some reason, Time Bank vanished from established history, possibly even copsing before the 2400 disaster. If that happened, the safes might¡¯ve been dealt with long ago, and it¡¯s natural we can¡¯t find them in 2624.¡±
¡°The other possibility is that the intensity of the 2400 disaster changed. In the original version, the disaster didn¡¯t directly hit Donghai City; it was abandoned duringter wars. But if the disaster was more severe this time¡ªsay, an earthquake or tsunami directly hit Donghai¡ªwho knows where the safes might¡¯ve ended up.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°But no one really knows the truth of the 2400 disaster, and we can¡¯t travel back to witness it firsthand. That¡¯s why our search for clues about Time Bank and the safes haspletely stalled.¡±
¡°There is a solution, though. The simplest one would be to prevent the 2400 disaster. If it doesn¡¯t happen, then Donghai City would remain prosperous until 2624, and we¡¯d naturally be able to see Time Bank.¡±
That was Lin Xian¡¯s most straightforward n.
ording to Turing, the 2400 disaster was triggered by Galileo, a member of the Genius Club. So, if Galileo could be eliminated in 2024, the catastrophe four hundred yearster could be averted.
However, knowing Turing¡¯s deceitful nature, it remains to be seen whether Galileo is truly the culprit. One source alone wasn¡¯t enough to reach a conclusion.
¡°Actually¡¡± Lin Xian paused, then continued, ¡°I have another way to find out what¡¯s inside the safes.¡±
He turned to look at CC. ¡°If you want, I can tell you directly.¡±
CC thought for a moment and shook her head.
¡°I still want to open it myself.¡± She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, her gaze deepening as if reminiscing about the past and that bearded man, VV.
¡°The contents of the safe are very important to me. If I just hear it from you, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be satisfied with any answer.¡±
¡°Or rather¡ it¡¯s the process of opening the safe, that event itself, that matters to me more than the actual contents.¡±
¡°So, even if you know what¡¯s inside, please don¡¯t tell me. I want to open it myself, to see what that bearded man VV left for me.¡±
CC¡¯s response surprised Lin Xian. He had thought long and hard before deciding to reveal the contents of the safe to her, expecting her to happily ept and ask about it. But he hadn¡¯t anticipated this¡ªthat she would refuse the shortcut, preferring to open it herself.
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered that moment on the space shuttle twenty thousand meters high when Chu An Qing handed him a folded note:
¡°Look at itter, you¡¯ll understand everything.¡±
And now, ¡°understanding everything¡± seemed to mean more than just discerning the realness of the dream.
Based on current circumstances, the dream¡¯s probability of being false approached zero. Lin Xian had indeed gained valuable insight from it.
He believed that Chu An Qing¡¯s ¡°understanding everything¡± had other meanings.
So, was CC¡¯s and Chu An Qing¡¯s attitude toward the safe and the note another form of a time-space loop?
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said,pletely giving up the idea of opening the safe in the real world or reading the note¡¯s content ahead of time.
Since both CC and Chu An Qing were so insistent, how could he spoil things halfway?
He would follow their wishes¡ and find a way to open the safe and read the note within the dream.
¡°I¡¯ll think of something about the safe,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°After all, the future world won¡¯t remain this way forever. Even though it¡¯s a wonderful, happy ce right now, I have a feeling it will change. There¡¯ll be a new world, another future waiting for us.¡±
¡°Maybe in that next world, we¡¯ll see Time Bank and the safes again.¡±
CC nodded. ¡°Yeah¡ besides not finding the safe, this world is perfect. Though its tech level is a bit behind, there¡¯s no war, famine, disease, or conflict.¡±
¡°Everyone is happy, content, and satisfied. That¡¯s something Earth before the 2400 disaster could never achieve. Poption explosions inevitably led to resource depletion andpetition. It was nothing like the peace we have now.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been here for two years. I¡¯ve even been to Cat Big Cat¡¯s Vige and seen lots of old friends¡ªthough I didn¡¯t greet them. I¡¯ve seen that they¡¯re all living happy lives, and it truly makes me d.¡±
¡°Even here in Donghai City, Li Cheng and Li Ning Ning no longer have to steal books from the garbage. You werete, so you probably didn¡¯t see Ning Ning, did you? She¡¯s so different now¡ªshe¡¯s all dressed up, really pretty, like a carefree princess. Earlier, she was out walking around with her newborn baby sister, smiling so sweetly.¡±
Hearing that everyone was doing so well made Lin Xian smile warmly.
¡°I¡¯ve been thinking all day that this is the best time, the best future,¡± he said. ¡°Someone once asked me what makes the best future. Back then, I thought for a long time but couldn¡¯te up with an answer, nor could I picture it in my head.¡±
¡°Honestly, even now, I still don¡¯t fully know what counts as the best future. But looking at this time, the people here seem to have no regrets or burdens, like living in a utopia.¡±
¡°I wonder how Wei Sheng Jin, Zheng Xiang Yue, and Angelica are doing. Will they take the Earth-Mars shuttle back to Earth? I¡¯m quite looking forward to that.¡±
Suddenly, CC tilted her head, looking at Lin Xian in confusion. ¡°Earth-Mars shuttle?¡±
¡°What are you talking about, Lin Xian? There¡¯s no such thing here. Ever since Elon Musk emigrated to Mars before the disaster, he never returned. There¡¯s never been a shuttle from Mars to Earth.¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°Never? Isn¡¯t it supposed to run every two years?¡±
He found it strange.
In both the fifth and sixth dreamscapes, there was an Earth-Mars shuttle. In the fifth dream, the shuttle kept running, and Zheng Xiang Yue and Wei Sheng Jin came to Earth on it.
In the sixth dream, the shuttle existed initially, but due to the tribes led by Turing being too fierce, with constant warfare and even attacks on the shuttle, it was soon canceled.
But now, in the seventh dream, why had the shuttle disappeared entirely?
That wasn¡¯t Elon Musk¡¯s style. The Earth was so peaceful now, with weing natives, that there was no reason to cancel the shuttle service every two years.
¡°Not a single Earth-Mars shuttle?¡±
CC shook her head. ¡°Never heard of it. Actually¡ ever since Elon Musk emigrated to Mars with a group of people, he vanished entirely. He¡¯s never been seen again.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered something else that didn¡¯t add up.
In the original fifth dream, Elon Musk was known as a phnthropist, preparing the Mars migration n in advance and, after the 2400 disaster, spending fifty years helping Earth¡¯s survivors reach Mars.
Knowing this truth made Lin Xian call him ¡°Saint Elon Musk¡±¡ªa true hero.
Had the butterfly effect in the seventh dream¡ also made Elon Musk no longer a saint?
¡°That shouldn¡¯t be,¡± Lin Xian shook his head.
Elon Musk¡¯s Mars migration n required people. He had no reason not toe back to Earth and rescue people after 2400. It was a win-win for his n, too.
Something seemed wrong here.
When Lin Xian entered the dream, he thought the change between the sixth and seventh dreamscapes wasn¡¯t that big¡ªnot a jump of six worldlines from 0.0000084 to 0.0000336.
But now¡ his perspective had shifted.
From Earth¡¯s viewpoint, maybe the changes didn¡¯t seem that significant.
But what if Mars was included too?
For some reason, in the seventh dream, the Earth-Mars shuttle had disappeared. After the catastrophe, Elon Musk didn¡¯t return to Earth to rescue people. Mars and Earth had beenpletely isted. The migration fleet went one way, nevering back.
What had happened? What about Elon Musk?
Why¡ did Elon Musk¡¯s behavior seem so unlike Elon Musk¡¯s?
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°It seems that this world still has regrets. At the very least, Old Man Wei Sheng Jin and Zheng Xiang Yue can¡¯t return to Earth. As for Angelica¡¡±
¡°Huh? Angelica? You know that madwoman?¡±
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
Lin Xian and CC turned to see Big Cat Face holding arge bear¡¯s head, gnawing on it and pulling out chunks of white stuff from the skull to eat.
¡°What are you eating?¡± Lin Xian frowned.
¡°Bear brains,¡± Big Cat Face said as if it were obvious, digging another handful out and stuffing it into his mouth. ¡°You have no idea how popr this bear was. If I hadn¡¯t been quick and had my eye on it, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten this bear head!¡±
He then used his thumb to dig into the cooked bear head¡¯s eye socket, plucking out the whole eyeball and offering it to Lin Xian. ¡°Here, try a bear eye. It¡¯s tender.¡±
¡°No thanks,¡± Lin Xian stepped back. ¡°Who eats that kind of stuff? It¡¯s disgusting.¡±
¡°Disgusting? Doesn¡¯t everyone eat this way?¡±
Big Cat Face took a bite of the bear eye, juice squirting out. ¡°Haven¡¯t you eaten sheep¡¯s head before? Sheep brains, sheep eyes, sheep tongue¡ªdelicious!¡±
¡°Alright, enough,¡± Lin Xian waved him off. ¡°Wait, did you just say¡ madwoman Angelica? Are we talking about the same Angelica?¡±
¡°Is there another Angelica?¡± Big Cat Face chewed on the remaining bear eye, speaking between bites. ¡°That name¡¯s pretty rare; I doubt there¡¯s a second one. She¡¯s tall and thin, right? She was dug up from an underground cryo-base by people from Donghai City a long time ago. At least forty or fifty years, I¡¯d say. When she first woke up, they say she was quite pretty.¡±
¡°But she was always acting strange, muttering to herself¡ and then I don¡¯t know what happened. I wasn¡¯t born yet, but when I grew up, I always heard people say there¡¯s a madwoman named Angelica in the old part of Donghai City. Everyone avoids her.¡±
¡°She¡¯s very reclusive, rarelyes out, and doesn¡¯t interact with anyone. Look, today there¡¯s this huge celebration, and she¡¯s still not here. Maybe she¡¯s too old now to be ¡®mad¡¯ anymore.¡±
¡°I shouldn¡¯t say this, though. I¡¯ve never seen her go mad. When I¡¯ve seen her, she¡¯s just been old, and honestly, she seems kind. It¡¯s just that everyone¡¯s called her ¡®madwoman¡¯ for so long that we¡¯ve kept calling her that, generation after generation.¡±
Lin Xian stood up. It made no sense for Angelica to be on Earth. Elon Musk and she were so close¡ªthey¡¯d be allies through adversity. In the fifth dream, they had fought side by side, and Elon Musk even wanted to send her back to Earth to protect her when his own life was at risk.
So how could she be left behind this time?
Things were getting stranger and stranger¡
¡°Big Cat, where does Angelica live?¡±
¡°Over there,¡± Big Cat Face pointed with his greasy hand toward an alley leading to the old part of town. ¡°Go straight, take the first right, and look for the house with the red door. That¡¯s her ce.¡±
¡°Take us there.¡± Lin Xian and CC stood up, ready to go.
¡°Huh?¡± Big Cat Face hesitated, ¡°But¡ there¡¯ll bemb skewers at the banquet soon! I was waiting for that!¡±
¡°You need to eat less,¡± Lin Xian said, walking around the flower bed and patting Big Cat¡¯s swollen belly. ¡°You look like you¡¯re going to burst. Does my sister-inw not cook for you every day? Are you trying to die here in Donghai City from overeating? Enough talking, lead the way.¡±
¡
Soon, the three of them, along with the bear head, arrived at Angelica¡¯s house. Lin Xian knocked on the door.
They waited a long time before they heard slow, shuffling footsteps. The door creaked open¡ªan old, worn-out door giving an almost painful sound. An old woman, frail, with sunken eyes and disheveled hair, stepped out of the shadows inside the house.
Instantly, Lin Xian felt a pang of sadness. He recognized her.
This was Angelica.
Though time had taken its toll, though she no longer had the sultry charm of the Hollywood diva, nor themanding presence of a queen¡ªthose beautiful eyes couldn¡¯t be mistaken. Even under those aged wrinkles, he saw the familiar face.
¡°Angelica,¡± Lin Xian called softly.
Suddenly, her eyes widened. She dropped her cane, stumbling forward.
Her frail hands touched Lin Xian¡¯s face, full of disbelief.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian!¡± Her voice was raspy, filled with shock. ¡°Lin Xian! Didn¡¯t you¡ die long ago?¡±
¡°It¡¯s me, Angelica,¡± Lin Xian held her hands, trying to calm her. ¡°It¡¯splicated, but I¡¯m alive. Now¡ can you tell me what happened to you? Didn¡¯t Elon Musk take you to Mars? Why are you still here, in cryosleep?¡±
Angelica¡¯s breathing grew ragged.
¡°El¡ Elon Musk? No¡¡±
She shook her head nkly as if recalling something terrible. Her eyes trembled.
¡°Elon Musk¡ after you died¡ not long after, he was killed too!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Elon Musk was killed too?¡±
He turned to look at CC. Their eyes met¡ªsomething was off.
How would the Mars migration have happened if Elon Musk had died soon after Lin Xian¡¯s death?
Both CC and Smith had been clear¡ªElon Musk had led people to Mars in this world.
¡°What happened?¡± Lin Xian supported Angelica¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Angelica. No one can hurt you here.¡±
¡°Take your time¡ how did Elon Musk die? And if he was dead¡ then what about the Mars migration?¡±
Angelica took several deep breaths, calming herself before speaking.
¡°All of this¡ I wrote down in my memory notebook. After waking up from cryosleep, I pieced it together from that notebook. There¡¯s also a photo of you and my brother, Ji Lin, sealed in stic, which is why I recognized you today.¡±
¡°ording to the notes, after your mysterious death, I met Elon Musk and attended your funeral. But¡ two weekster, when I met Elon Musk again¡ he¡ he wasn¡¯t Elon Musk anymore!¡±
¡°He looked just like Elon Musk¡ªhis expression, his voice, his mannerisms were all the same¡ but I knew he wasn¡¯t Elon Musk! He absolutely wasn¡¯t! Because I once helped him with makeup, disguised him¡ I knew who he was! He was pretending to be Elon Musk!¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian understood.
¡°Could it be¡¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Angelica nodded, her face darkened, looking at Lin Xian.
¡°Elon Musk must have been killed, and the one who reced him was his former stand-in¡ªFake Elon Musk.¡±
Chapter 412: Du Yao
As expected.
Fake Elon Musk¡
It was the same fake Elon Musk who had shown up at the abandoned warehouse in a Te, deceiving Lin Xian into believing he was the real one. This impostor, this ¡°stand-in,¡± had yed the part all too well.
If the person leading people to Mars from the Seventh Dream was actually Elon Musk¡¯s double and not the real Elon Musk, then a lot of things suddenly made sense.
¡°Come in,¡± Angelica said calmly. Despite her reputation for being unhinged, she appearedposed. She stepped aside, allowing Lin Xian and CC to enter the room.
Then her eyes narrowed as theynded on Big Cat Face, who was holding a stuffed bear, munching on its head, and chewing the bear¡¯s tongue as if it was a snack.
¡°And this guy is¡?¡± she asked, her brow furrowed.
¡°Oh, him¡¡± Lin Xian hesitated. Introducing this hungry, shameless guy was embarrassing. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t the vige chief, or he¡¯d be bringing shame to the entire vige. ¡°Brother, we found a ce, so we won¡¯t need you anymore. You can go back to the banquet and keep eating thosemb skewers.¡±¡°Got it!¡± Big Cat Face shouted. He darted off, bear still in hand.
In truth, a happy world always had a happy Big Cat Face. He wasn¡¯t interested in the end of the world, Mars, or real and fake conspiracies. The only thing that mattered to him was whether themb skewers were well cooked.
After Big Cat Face left, Angelica led Lin Xian and CC inside, closing the door and switching on the lights. Donghai City still didn¡¯t have centralized power, with each household relying on their own nuclear batteries, which were enough for daily needs.
Lin Xian thought this was one of the negative effects of nuclear batteries: people had growncent, and there were no signs ofrge-scale industrial development. It was neither entirely good nor entirely bad.
They settled down on the sofa. Angelica took out a notebook from a drawer and handed it to Lin Xian.
¡°When I entered the hibernation pod back then, it was all very sudden. I didn¡¯t have time to prepare much, so I just wrote this one ¡®Memory Notebook.¡¯ It mostly covers things about you, Ji Lin, and Elon Musk. I don¡¯t remember much else¡ªnot even my own past life clearly.¡±
She continued, her voice tinged with a kind of sadness, ¡°People in this city call me ¡®crazy¡¯ because losing my memory left me anxious and unstable. I couldn¡¯t always tell what was real and what wasn¡¯t; I often felt detached from the world.¡±
¡°I never realized how much my memories mattered to me until I lost them. The more I couldn¡¯t remember, the more obsessed I became. I know I probably caused a lot of trouble for the residents around me, but at that time, I just couldn¡¯t help myself.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding as he took the notebook.
¡°People value their memories differently. Some willingly let go, some find them trivial, but others see memories as the core of their soul and identity.¡± He paused, offering her a reassuring smile. ¡°If I woke up and had no memories at all, and then found out my ¡®Memory Notebook¡¯ contained nothing but mundane things unrted to me, I¡¯d probably react just like you did.¡±
He said it tofort Angelica, but deep down, Lin Xian knew that it was easy to offer empty reassurances without truly experiencing someone else¡¯s suffering. He could never fully understand the fear and turmoil Angelica must have faced.
Lin Xian opened the notebook. The first thing he saw was a couple ofminated photos of himself and Ji Lin, tucked into the pages. Thanks to themination, the photos were in perfect condition. Ji Lin¡¯s picture showed a young boy; Angelica must have chosen it specifically. His own photo, though, was much more casual¡ªjust one of those typical media shots.
He flipped through the handwritten pages. Just as Angelica had said, it was clear she¡¯d been in a rush when she wrote it. The writing was messy, disorganized, and at times difficult to understand. Still, Lin Xian managed to make sense of it.
This time, his story came before Ji Lin¡¯s.
The notebook described his death on July 7, 2024¡ªbeheaded, his body and head separated. The killer remained unknown. Angelica had attended his funeral. All of this was the same as the previous ounts, unchanged.
After the funeral, Angelica met with Elon Musk. They returned to the U.S. together and had a discussion. Elon Musk had promised Angelica he would fulfill Lin Xian¡¯s wishes: ¡°Since Lin Xian is gone, when I find out who killed your brother¡¯s parents, I¡¯ll tell you who they are.¡±
Angelica had insisted, ¡°I want justice for Ji Lin, but also for Lin Xian. If you find out who killed Lin Xian, you have to tell me too.¡±
Everything seemed fine up to that point.
But half a monthter, Angelica met with Elon Musk again, and the experience was terrifying. The man looked exactly like Elon Musk¡ªan impable disguise that made it hard to tell he was a fake. If Angelica hadn¡¯t been the one to help apply the disguise in the first ce, she might have been fooled.
During their conversation, the fake Elon Musk was trying to extract information from her. He seemed confident in his performance,pletely unaware that Angelica had already seen through him. As an Oscar-winning actress known for her versatility, Angelica¡¯s acting was wless. She yed along as if nothing was wrong, chatting casually with her ¡°old friend¡± without revealing any secrets or suspicions.
After that encounter, Angelica became certain that Elon Musk had been murdered, most likely in a premeditated act. Someone had then put the fake Elon Musk in his ce to deceive the world.
Facing the mysterious deaths of two friends, Angelica realized the danger she was in. She fled to this country, using her connections to secure a spot as a volunteer for a hibernation pod.
She had no set awakening date, only that she was to be awakened once Elon Musk¡¯s Mars migration n waspleted and he had left Earth.
¡°But something must have gone wrong,¡± Angelica exined as she sat across the coffee table from Lin Xian. ¡°When I woke up, it was because the residents of Donghai City had dug me out of an underground hibernation facility.¡±
¡°I was lucky. Most of the hibernation pods in that facility had been damaged over time, and the people inside them had died. My pod somehow kept functioning¡ªthanks to theter upgrades with the micro nuclear batteries. Without those, I doubt I would have survived the Great Catastrophe of 2400.¡±
Angelica¡¯s story answered many of Lin Xian¡¯s questions about the inconsistencies he had noticed in the Seventh Dream. It all boiled down to one simple fact¡ªafter Elon Musk¡¯s death, the fake Elon Musk had taken his ce, turning the entire Mars migration n into a farce.
Who killed Elon Musk? Who supported the fake Elon Musk, allowing him to deceive the world?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know. In 2024, Elon Musk¡¯s greatest rival, the digital entity Turing, had already been taken down by Lin Xian. Who else would want Elon Musk dead? Galileo? Copernicus? Or perhaps another member of the Genius Club?
Whoever the culprit was, their n was ruthless. Killing Elon Musk wasn¡¯t enough; they also had to ensure that his impostor carried on the Mars project just as Elon Musk would have.
What kind of secrets were hidden behind such an borate n?
Lin Xian flipped further into Angelica¡¯s notebook. The rest of the entries mostly dealt with Ji Lin and Angelica¡¯s personal affairs¡ªnothing rted to him or Elon Musk.
He closed the notebook with a snap and handed it back to Angelica. As he did so, he felt as though a figure cloaked in ck, wielding a scythe, was lurking behind the sofa, ready to strike him down.
It seemed that even with all the drastic changes in the worldline, he couldn¡¯t escape his fate of dying on July 7.
And this time, by eliminating Turing ahead of schedule, he had inadvertently dragged Elon Musk along the path to destruction.
He swore it was unintentional.
Time had a way of ying tricks on those who dared to manipte it. The butterfly effect was merciless. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected that he¡¯d be the one toying with time, while Elon Musk would be the tragic scapegoat.
¡°Elon Musk¡¯s death shouldn¡¯t be inevitable, right?¡± Lin Xian thought out loud.
By all ounts, he felt he owed it to Elon Musk to give him a heads-up. After all, Elon Musk had been a valuable ally, not to mention that he had saved Lin Xian¡¯s life when he was in danger of being taken by Lin Yu Xi.
Now, it was time to return the favor.
When he woke from the dream, Lin Xian decided he would call Elon Musk and arrange to meet him face-to-face to discuss this matter.
Face-to-face would be safer. Considering the killer had not only managed to eliminate Elon Musk but also rece him without anyone noticing, it suggested that there was likely someone on the inside. There was no way to guarantee that Elon Musk¡¯s phone wasn¡¯t being tapped.
¡°An inside job is the hardest to guard against.¡±
To be cautious, Lin Xian decided it was best to invite Elon Musk to Donghai City for a proper conversation.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Angelica,¡± Lin Xian assured her. ¡°This fight isn¡¯t over yet.¡±
He looked at her seriously, his right hand resting on his chest. ¡°You saw it yourself¡ªI¡¯m still alive, and there¡¯s hope for Elon Musk too. Thank you for holding on all this time. The information you brought me is incredibly valuable. Perhaps our fight to turn the tables starts right now.¡±
¡°I also promise you, our agreement isn¡¯t over. I will keep my word.¡±
¡°Since I promised to find out who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents, I won¡¯t break that promise. I¡¯ll find the culprit, tell you, and even help you get revenge if that¡¯s what you want.¡±
Lin Xian gave her aforting smile. ¡°Back then, you asked me if I¡¯d avenge Ji Lin, and I said no. At the time, I felt his actions didn¡¯t warrant my help¡ªit was what he deserved.¡± He paused. ¡°But now, I make this promise not for Ji Lin, but for you, Angelica. You¡¯ve helped me so much, in the past and even now. I¡¯ll remember that kindness.¡±
¡°Just be patient. I won¡¯t let your efforts be in vain. I¡¯m going to join the Genius Club and fulfill our promises.¡±
Angelica¡¯s heart, burdened for decades, finally found some peace. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
¡°Thank you, Lin Xian,¡± she whispered. ¡°Your words make me feel like all these years of waiting weren¡¯t for nothing. I¡¯ve been lost, not knowing what to do, or what I was waiting for. But now, I understand¡ªmy waiting wasn¡¯t in vain.¡±
¡°I trust you. I trust every word you say. As I wrote in the ¡®Memory Notebook,¡¯ you and Ji Lin are the two people I trust most in this world. I thought I¡¯d never get the chance to avenge you two, but I¡¯ve finally reached this moment.¡±
¡°I often wish I could get back my old memories, that we could talk like we did centuries ago, as old friends. But now, everything¡¯s hazy¡ªincluding my memories of us. Most of it feels unreal.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding her frustration.
In the Fifth Dream, Angelica had left behind many ¡®Memory Notebooks¡¯ and recordings, waking on the developed Mars where those recordings could be downloaded directly to her mind. But in the Seventh Dream, she hadn¡¯t gone to Mars with Elon Musk. This time, her hibernation had been rushed, and she had only had time to leave behind one notebook. Naturally, most of her memories were missing.
Even so, Angelica had managed to give these fragmented memories emotional weight through self-suggestion and hypnosis¡ªwhich was no small feat.
Memories.
Lin Xian looked at another ¡®Memory Notebook¡¯ in his hand¡ªthis one from Emperor Gao Wen. He got it during the bonfire party in Gao Wen¡¯s office on campus.
What kind of surprises would Emperor Gao Wen have in store for him this time?
Lin Xian opened the notebook, his anticipation growing.
The first thing he saw was the title, written boldly on the first page:
¡°Oveing the Side Effects of Hibernation Memory Loss¡ªThe Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet!¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.
¡°Well, well, well¡¡±
Who could he evenin to about this?
It seemed that Emperor Gao Wen in this life was still researching the Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet, stuck at the same bottleneck in neuroscience as in the Sixth Dream¡ªno major breakthroughs had been made.
¡°So that means I still didn¡¯t get to publish this manuscript before I died on July 7,¡± Lin Xian thought.
ording to his original n, he hadn¡¯t intended to publish this manuscript, nor to set up a researchb for it so early. After all, the key figure, Ms. Du Yao, still hadn¡¯t been found.
From Gao Wen¡¯s notes, it was clear that in the following centuries, there would never again be a brilliant neuroscientist like Du Yao.
So if Lin Xian wanted the Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet to be made, there was only one path forward¡ªfinding Du Yao, changing her destiny, keeping her from going to Africa for peacekeeping missions, and ensuring she stayed in theb for her research.
If she could achieve a major breakthrough, then the helmet could be made based on Gao Wen¡¯s notes.
¡°Ms. Du Yao and the Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet are the keys to changing the future world,¡± Lin Xian acknowledged to himself.
With the threat of his own death on July 7 still unresolved, his other projects had been advancing slowly. Only the micro nuclear battery project was on track.
The other two manuscripts, ¡°The Time Machine¡± and ¡°The Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet,¡± hadn¡¯t made any progress in 2024.
¡°I need to hurry, otherwise¡ even Emperor Gao Wen won¡¯t have anything left to contribute,¡± Lin Xian thought, feeling a pang of frustration.
He understood that unless he found Ms. Du Yao in real life, any future meetings with Gao Wen in the dream would still have him working on the same helmet problem without any updates. Unless Lin Xian solved this problem, only then could Gao Wen continue to advance and innovate.
¡°I can¡¯t be the one holding Gao Wen back,¡± Lin Xian resolved.
After this dream, finding Ms. Du Yao would be his priority. He couldn¡¯t be the obstacle in Gao Wen¡¯s path of progress.
Science was the foundation of progress, the true power to change the world¡ªsomething that Gao Wen exemplified perfectly.
After their discussion, Lin Xian and CC left Angelica¡¯s house, bidding farewell to the elderly woman often called ¡°the crazydy¡± and wandered back to the bustling town square.
CC took a deep breath and let out a sigh. ¡°It seems like this world isn¡¯t as perfect as we thought it was. We were a bit too optimistic.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°We were only seeing the surface. Underneath, there¡¯s so much more¡ªdark secrets and hidden schemes.¡±
No wonder the Seventh Dream appeared not too different from the Sixth Dream but still managed to leap ahead by six levels of temporal curvature.
It turned out that the world was far more turbulent than it seemed.
¡°Sigh¡¡± Lin Xian let out a long breath, recalling the third test from the Genius Club. What kind of future would truly be the best?
It felt more and more like there was no clear answer.
In the Seventh Dream, since Elon Musk died alongside him in 2024, it meant that on this timeline, Elon Musk lost¡ªand lost terribly.
He had lost everything¡ªhis position, his influence, and even his life. His sesses had been usurped by someone else.
What was happening on Mars now, Lin Xian wondered?
Probably nothing good. After all, Elon Musk truly loved Mars; he was driven by passion and dreams. If he was reced, it would be hard to imagine what Mars would have be¡ªperhaps chaos and self-destruction.
¡°I¡¯ll think about it after I wake up,¡± Lin Xian decided.
They made their way back to the square, where even the feast area had fewer people now. Most had returned home to sleep. The feast wouldst for three days, so there was no rush; they could alwayse back tomorrow.
¡°Hey! I saved these for you two!¡± Big Cat Face rolled over, looking like a ball, holding a bunch ofmb skewers. ¡°I kept these just for you! Eat up, they¡¯re still hot!¡±
To be honest, after all that running around, Lin Xian and CC were starting to feel hungry.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat,¡± Lin Xian said as they each took a skewer.
Themb was plump and tender, glistening under the moonlight, its aroma filling the air.
It smelled amazing.
Lin Xian opened his mouth wide, ready to bite into the juicy meat¡ª
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
A sh of white light at 00:42 wiped everything away¡ªthe delicious skewers, the bustling square, all vanished, leaving nothing but darkness and the lingering taste of emptiness.
¡
¡
¡
Lin Xian opened his eyes in his bedroom, taking a deep breath.
¡°Damn it,¡± he muttered.
So close to tasting it, and the dream just had to end.
¡°Damn white light,¡± he cursed as he sat up. His stomach rumbled¡ªhe really was hungry, and he could almost still smell themb.
But first, he had more important things to do.
Lin Xian grabbed his phone and dialed an international number¡ªElon Musk¡¯s number in the U.S.
The call connected quickly.
¡°Lin Xian, I never thought I¡¯d get a call from you. This is a surprise,¡± Elon Musk said.
¡°Elon Musk, can youe to Donghai in the next few days?¡± Lin Xian asked directly. ¡°I have something important we need to discuss in person.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Elon Musk sounded intrigued. ¡°Is it something you need my help with? Let me guess¡ªdid one of the tests stump you? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help. I¡¯d love to see you join the club, but rules are rules, and I can¡¯t give you any hints.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not about that.¡±
¡°What I want to talk about is much more important. Besides, I¡¯ve already dealt with those tests. If you don¡¯t take this matter seriously¡ well, you might not even get the chance to cheer for me at the next club meeting.¡±
There was silence on the other end of the line. The atmosphere grew heavy.
Elon Musk knew Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this. He had given Lin Xian his phone number long ago, but this was the first time Lin Xian had called him. That alone was enough to show how serious it was.
A dozen scenarios shed through Elon Musk¡¯s mind¡ªwiretaps, hidden ears, sensitive information¡
Whatever the reason, it was better to heed Lin Xian¡¯s advice.
¡°Alright. I have some things to wrap up, but I can be there in three days. I¡¯ll contact you when I arrive,¡± Elon Musk agreed.
After they set a time, the call ended. Lin Xian nced at the digital clock by his bed.
It was June 17, 2024, 12:47 AM.
Twenty days left until July 7¡ªthe day of reckoning.
Elon Musk would arrive in Donghai in three days, and they¡¯d have a lot to discuss.
Until then, Lin Xian had three days to make preparations.
He thought back to Angelica¡¯s story¡ªher breakdown from losing her memory, Gao Wen¡¯s notes on the Brain Nerve Stimtion Helmet¡
Du Yao.
Finding Du Yao was the key to making that helmet, and once they had it, it could help hibernation survivors regain their lost memories. The future would change again.
Many people had been gued by memory loss after waking up from hibernation¡ªZheng Xiang Yue, Wei Sheng Jin, Angelica, Gao Wen, and countless others.
If they could get rid of that side effect for good, who knew what kind of path humanity could forge?
Lin Xian decided it was worth a shot.
¡°Du Yao¡ I¡¯ve definitely seen that name somewhere before,¡± he muttered, closing his eyes as he tried to remember.
He was sure of it. The name wasn¡¯t unfamiliar. He had seen it somewhere.
¡°Du Yao¡¡± Lin Xian furrowed his brows. Where had he seen that name before?
Chapter)
¡°Xin Xin, how are you getting used to the new school?¡± Tang Xin¡¯s mother asked as she set the freshly heated breakfast on the table.
¡°Not very well,¡± Tang Xin replied, flipping her short, chin-length hair, releasing a hint of her favorite shampoo¡¯s fragrance into the air. But the familiar scent didn¡¯t lift her spirits about going to school. ¡°I¡¯m a transfer student, Mom, and I joined in the middle of my sophomore year. Even if the sses were reshuffled, most of the students are already friends from freshman year. They have their groups. I don¡¯t know anyone.¡±
Her father, reading the newspaper on the couch, let out a small chuckle. He put the paper down and adjusted his sses. ¡°Take your time, Xin Xin. It¡¯s only been two days since school started. It¡¯s perfectly normal to not be familiar with everyone yet.¡±
¡°We moved here because of my job transfer. It couldn¡¯t be helped. Besides, Hangzhou First High is the best in the city¡ªI made sure before getting you in. The teachers here are top-notch too, especially your ss advisor. Trust me, this is a good thing. Try to understand, and be patient, okay?¡±
Tang Xin huffed, eating her fried egg in silence. ¡°Sure, but it¡¯s not like any of that matters now, does it? Anyway, you¡¯re always moving around for work. I changed elementary schools three times, middle school twice. Who knows if I¡¯ll even finish high school here in Hangzhou?¡±
¡°What about my brother?¡± she asked, curious. ¡°Are you going to move him to a middle school in Hangzhou too?¡±
Her father sighed, his expression showing a hint of worry. ¡°Your brother isn¡¯t like you, Xin Xin. He doesn¡¯t take school seriously. If no one watches him, he gets into trouble. For now, it¡¯s better for him to stay with your grandparents. At least they can keep an eye on him. Your mom and I are both busy here, and I trust your self-discipline, but your brother¡ let¡¯s just say he¡¯d go wild if we brought him here without supervision.¡±
Her mother took off her apron, hanging it over the back of a chair. ¡°Alright, enough chatting. You both need to get going.¡±Tang Xin nodded, finishing thest bite of her breakfast before standing up. But¡ something felt off. She rubbed her stomach and looked at her mom. ¡°The milk¡ Are you sure it was fully heated?¡±
Her mother smiled. ¡°Of course. I made sure it was heated and then let it cool to just the right temperature for you. I wanted you to get a little extra sleep, you know? Now hurry along. As a new student, you don¡¯t want to bete and make a bad impression.¡±
¡°Got it.¡± Tang Xin grabbed her school bag, stopping by the door to check herself in the mirror, adjusting her bangs before heading out to school. Her father had found them a ce close to the school¡ªjust a short ten-minute walk. Very convenient.
¡
It was her third day at the new school. During P.E. ss that morning, a few girls from her ss approached her.
¡°Tang Xin, want to join us for badminton?¡±
They were friendly, inviting her with warm smiles. Tang Xin blushed, stepping back slightly and fiddling with her pant seam. ¡°No¡ no, thanks. I¡¯m a bit tired. I think I¡¯ll rest for a while.¡±
¡°Oh, alright then. Juste over if you change your mind. Don¡¯t be shy!¡± One of the girls waved before they left to join the others.
Tang Xin sighed, her heart heavy. What should she do? She thought she had more time, but her period hade early¡ªway earlier than expected. She hadn¡¯t been prepared at all. Looking around, she felt her heart pound faster. Even though she couldn¡¯t see behind her, she knew¡ªshe could feel it¡ªthe blood had soaked through, staining her pants. It must be obvious.
It was mortifying.
The moment she realized it, she¡¯d slowly backed up toward the wall that bordered the sports field, leaning her back against it so no one could see. But what was she supposed to do next? Her mind raced. She could call her parents to pick her up, but there was still time before ss ended. Once everyone started heading back to the ssroom, they¡¯d see¡ they¡¯d all see the stain on her pants. Just thinking about it made her face heat up. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breathing growing faster. She was so nervous that her head felt light, and her stomach hurt even more.
Tang Xin swayed, her vision blurring as she started to fall backward.
Suddenly, she felt strong hands on her shoulders, steadying her.
Fear overwhelmed her gratitude. She spun around in shock, her eyes wide. Oh no! Someone saw! But then she realized¡ if she turned this way, more people on the field would see her, would see the stain. She quickly turned back, mumbling in a flustered voice. ¡°Sorry¡ I mean, thank you, I¡¡±
Before she could finish, the boy standing behind her moved closer, unfurling his school jacket. He pulled up his sleeves, wrapped the jacket around her waist, and tied the sleeves at the front in a neat knot.
¡°Huh?¡± Tang Xin blinked, surprised.
Before she even realized it, he¡¯d wrapped his jacket around her waist in one swift, confident move. It hung like a skirt, covering the stain entirely. Tang Xin¡¯s face flushed. He had seen, but instead of saying anything, he¡¯d helped her. He¡¯d protected her dignity with a simple gesture¡ªsomething so small, yet it meant everything to her at that moment.
¡°Th-thank you¡¡±
Before she could say more, another wave of pain hit her. She winced, clutching her stomach as she bent slightly.
¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± the boy asked, his voice gentle.
Tang Xin couldn¡¯t speak. She just nodded, biting her lip.
¡°Here.¡± He smiled, holding out a piece of candy¡ªan Alpenliebe lollipop. ¡°Have a candy. It¡¯ll help.¡±
He pressed the lollipop into her hand, then jogged off towards the basketball hoop where another boy was waiting.
The boy waiting, who was on the chubbier side, wiped his sweat and called out, ¡°What took you so long? What did you buy?¡±
The tall boy waved the second lollipop he had. ¡°Alpenliebe.¡±
He quickly unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth.
The chubby boy looked confused. ¡°Where¡¯s mine?!¡±
¡°I only had enough for one,¡± the tall boy said casually.
¡°That¡¯s a lie! Everyone knows they¡¯re fifty cents each!¡±
¡°They raised the price.¡±
¡°Yeah, right! Give me my money back!¡±
Tang Xin watched them go, her pain easing slightly. She slowly straightened up, looking at the crumpled lollipop in her hand. She held it tightly as if it were something precious.
¡
The next day, Tang Xin came to school early, carrying a branded gift bag with the boy¡¯s freshly washed school jacket inside. The ssroom was still empty. She neatly folded the jacket and ced it on his desk. On top of the stack of books beside his desk, she saw his name written¡ªLin Xian.
¡°Thank you¡¡± she whispered. But even then, she felt embarrassed, her face heating up. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to thank him in person, so she left it at that for now. But there would be another opportunity, right? High school was two years long. She would definitely get the chance to befriend her ssmates and Lin Xian. When they got closer, she¡¯d thank him properly.
The morning bell rang, and sses began. The day went by quickly, and soon it was the afternoon homeroom session. Their teacher had organized a vote for ss representatives. Surprisingly, the chubby boy from yesterday¡ªGao Yang¡ªwas elected ss president by an overwhelming number of votes.
¡°Thank you, everyone, for your support!¡± Gao Yang said as he stood at the front, full of determination. ¡°My grades might not be great, but I¡¯ll do my best to be a good ss president! I¡¯ve created a ss group chat on QQ so that we can stay in touch andmunicate about any ss-rted matters. I¡¯ll write the group number on the board, so make sure to join.¡±
Gao Yang turned to the ckboard, writing an eight-digit group number with the chalk.
Tang Xin discreetly took out her phone, searching for the number on QQ and finding the group¡ª¡±Forever ss 17!¡± She tapped on the button to join.
¡
That evening, Tang Xin sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone as the notifications from the group chat came in nonstop. Everyone was chatting away, and it was lively. For her, a transfer student, this was the best way to get to know her ssmates.
A new message popped up from someone using an anime avatar with the username ¡°Lin Xian.¡± It was just a sticker, but it immediately became the center of attention in the chat.
¡°Is he famous or something?¡± Tang Xin blinked, scrolling back through the chat history. Sure enough, Lin Xian seemed to be quite popr in school. The girls adored him, and even the boys admired him. He had a good reputation, was always kind, and often helped others.
What surprised Tang Xin the most was¡
¡°Champion of the Hangzhou Youth Parkour League?¡±
Her eyes widened. ¡°He¡¯s that amazing?¡±
She looked up at the chandelier in her living room, picturing Lin Xian¡¯s lean, athletic build. Yes¡ it made sense now. His physique was impressive¡ªstrong and defined. The thought made her blush as she continued browsing the group chat, her fingers scrolling faster as if searching for something.
She skimmed over most messages quickly, uninterested in the topics, until she found a message from Lin Xian or about him. Then, her scrolling would stop, and she¡¯d read every word carefully.
¡°He really is¡ so incredible,¡± she whispered to herself, smiling.
¡
¡°What?!¡± Tang Xin suddenly stood up from her chair in the living room, staring at her father in disbelief. ¡°Your job is being transferred again? To America?!¡±
She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. ¡°We just got to Hangzhou!¡±
Her father sighed, smiling as he exined, ¡°There¡¯s an issue with our North American branch. The head manager was dismissed, and someone needs to step in. Thepany trusts me, so they¡¯re sending me over as the new regional head. This is a big opportunity for me, Xin Xin.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Tang Xin struggled to find the right words. ¡°I¡¯ve only been at Hangzhou First High for a week. Do I have to transfer again?¡±
¡°It¡¯ll be good for you to study in the U.S.,¡± her mother said, joining them from the kitchen. ¡°We¡¯ve thought about it, Xin Xin. You¡¯ve only been at this school for a short time. You haven¡¯t had a chance to make close friends yet, so it won¡¯t be too hard.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± her father agreed. ¡°You barely know anyone after just a week. It¡¯s not like leaving now will be heartbreaking. You even said it yourself¡ªwe¡¯re used to moving. Besides, I promise this will be thest transfer. I¡¯ll be stationed in America for a long time, so you¡¯ll be able to finish high school there and even apply to universities if you want. I won¡¯t make you move again after this¡ªunless they promote me to Mars!¡± Heughed.
Her father¡¯s promotion brought her mother joy, but Tang Xin felt an uneasy mix of emotions. She¡¯d thought she would be able to spend two peaceful years in Hangzhou, making friends¡ getting to know Lin Xian.
¡°Hm?¡± Her father¡¯s voice broke her thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xin Xin? Have you already made friends? Are you sad to leave them?¡±
He smiled kindly. ¡°If you¡¯ve made friends, we can have a little going-away party. You can invite them, and we¡¯ll treat everyone to dinner. Even though you¡¯ll be far away, you can always keep in touch, send gifts¡¡±
Tang Xin didn¡¯t say anything. Friends¡ could she even call them that? They¡¯d barely talked¡ªonly exchanged a couple of words. They weren¡¯t close, not even QQ friends. To Lin Xian, she was probably just one of the many people he¡¯d helped out of kindness. He likely wouldn¡¯t remember her at all after some time. He had so many friends, so many people admiring him. How could shepare?
Even so¡ she didn¡¯t want to leave.
¡°Can¡ can I stay?¡± she asked, her voice small. ¡°I can live here on my own. I could stay in the dorms¡ I¡¯ll work hard, I promise. Please, let me stay.¡±
Her parents exchanged nces, confused as to why she was so attached to this school after only a few days. But there was no way they¡¯d leave their teenage daughter alone in X Country while they moved to the U.S.
In the end, Tang Xin couldn¡¯t convince them. She held her passport and boarding pass, following her parents to the gate for their flight to America. She opened QQ on her phone, ncing at the still-active group chat. Looking out towards Hangzhou onest time, she sighed softly.
¡
Life as a high school student in America went by quickly. In two years, Tang Xin graduated. Life there wasn¡¯t perfect, but it wasn¡¯t terrible either. She made some friends, learned a lot. But she still had one habit¡ªevery day, she¡¯d open QQ, check in on ¡°Forever ss 17,¡± and see what everyone was talking about.
Most messages she¡¯d skim past, uninterested. She was only searching for one name¡ªLin Xian. Whenever she saw a message from him or about him, she¡¯d stop, read it carefully, smiling to herself.
¡°Champion of the Hangzhou Youth Parkour League again?¡± she read, her smile growing wider. Lin Xian really was¡ amazing.
The year of senior high was in full swing¡
¡°What?! Lin Xian won the parkour championship again? He¡¯s so impressive.¡±
¡°Top of the city in the art exam, epted into Tunghai University¡ Whoa, he¡¯s even good at drawing?¡±
¡°He slept through the night and wouldn¡¯t wake up, so his parents sent him to the hospital¡ Haha, is Gao Yang making that up, or is he serious?¡±
Tang Xin set her phone down, stretching with a sigh.
¡°Wow, it¡¯s true¡ªpeople who are outstanding just stay that way, no matter where they go.¡±
Then, her gaze turned more determined. ¡°I can¡¯t let myself fall behind¡¡±
Tang Xin was an excellent student herself. She had managed to get into Johns Hopkins University, one of the world¡¯s most prestigious schools, just as she¡¯d nned. She chose to major in neuroscience, though not because she had any special interest in the field. It was simply because Johns Hopkins had a strong program in it, and both her father and some professors were well-connected in this area. It all flowed naturally that way.
By sophomore year, it was time to take electives to earn extra credits.
¡°Hmm?¡± Tang Xin raised an eyebrow as she scanned through the course listings. One course caught her eye¡ª¡±The Literature of X Country.¡± But what really made her heart skip a beat was this: there was no restriction on students from X Country joining it!
¡°This¡ this is amazing!¡±
Normally,nguage courses with credit wouldn¡¯t allow native speakers to join. But this professor was apparently quite open-minded!
Free credits¡ªwho could pass that up?
Without a second thought, Tang Xin clicked ¡°enroll¡± and signed up.
The day finally came to attend ss.
As expected, the massive ssroom was packed with students from X Country. Everyone exchanged knowing smiles¡ªthey were all clearly there for the easy credits. Foreign students genuinely interested in X Country literature were few and far between.
For a moment, Tang Xin felt like she was back in a university in her home country.
The professor, a X Country woman with graying hair, smiled warmly at the ss as she introduced herself.
¡°The reason I didn¡¯t set a nationality restriction for enrollment¡ kids, it¡¯s because I want you all to meet and connect with fellow countrymen while you¡¯re abroad. You should help and look out for each other when away from home. Also, literature is part of our cultural heritage, the beauty of ournguage. Even though you¡¯re studying here in America, you mustn¡¯t lose touch with the culture and appreciation for X Country.¡±
She smiled as she continued, her eyes twinkling.
¡°The inherent beauty in the traditions of X Country is something many other cultures can¡¯t match. Especially the richness of ournguage¡ no othernguage on earth holds emotions as deep andplex as those conveyed in our characters. Sometimes, two simple characters can convey a memory that lingers, a story full of ups and downs.¡±
The professor turned, picking up a piece of chalk and writing two characters on the ckboard:
Regret.
She faced the ss again, her eyes softening as they roamed over the group of young, eager students. For a moment, it was as if they weren¡¯t in America at all, but in some cozy ssroom back in X Country, full of warmth and nostalgia.
¡°Do you all have regrets?¡± she asked gently.
The ss burst intoughter.
¡°What¡¯s the biggest regret in your life?¡± the professor asked, smiling as she looked around.
Hands shot up all around the room. The lively atmosphere made everyone more willing to share their thoughts.
And sure enough, most of the regrets they expressed¡ªthey were all about love.
The professor chuckled knowingly. ¡°Love, in the culture of X Country, is indeed an eternal theme. You¡¯re not wrong, everyone. Humans are creatures of emotion, and out of all these emotions, love is perhaps the most special. It¡¯s different from familial bonds¡ªthere isn¡¯t that inherent connection¡ Love turns twoplete strangers into the most familiar people to each other.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a beautiful, magical process. But as many of you have mentioned, it is also filled with regrets, full of love that never quitees to fruition, and of times that never align.¡±
The ss continued, halfway through now.
When the professor again brought up regrets, no oneughed this time.
¡°So¡ what is the greatest regret of all?¡± she asked, smiling as she picked up the chalk and wrote a verse on the ckboard:
¡°The one I love is separated by mountains and seas, and these mountains and seas cannot be crossed.¡±
¡°No matter how different our regrets may be,¡± she said softly, ¡°when faced with this poem, I think all of us feel the same way.¡±
For a moment, the ssroom fell silent.
Everyone sat there quietly, letting the words sink in.
The love separated by mountains and seas¡
Those words struck a painful chord for those away from their homnd. Their mountains and seas were literal¡ªthe vast Pacific Ocean thaty between X Country and America.
Tang Xin, who had been idly scrolling through her phone and checking her ss group chat, also became silent.
Since entering college, the messages in ¡°Forever ss 17!¡± had dwindled.
During freshman year, people would still share snippets of their campus lives.
But by sophomore year, the chat had grown quiet, like a ghost town.
For two months, there hadn¡¯t been a single message.
Tang Xin often felt lonely.
It was like the string connecting her to her past had snapped, the line gone dead.
Every day, she would open the group chat countless times, hoping to see something new.
And every day, she was disappointed.
There was nothing. No new messages. Just emptiness.
¡°Why is nobody talking?¡±
She found it frustrating.
Eavesdropping on news about Lin Xian had be a habit, something she clung to.
¡°The one I love is separated by mountains and seas, and these mountains and seas cannot be crossed.¡±
She murmured the professor¡¯s words, feeling a strange sense of heaviness mixed with lightness¡ªa realization of what true regret felt like. It was weightless, yet so, so heavy.
Suddenly¡ª
¡°Pfft!¡± A snort broke through the silence of the ssroom, full of disdain.
The sound came from directly behind Tang Xin.
Every head in the room turned to look.
Who would dare ruin such a moment?
Who was being so insensitive?
Tang Xin turned around, just as shocked as the rest of the ss.
And there she saw¡ªa pretty girl with an amused smirk on her lips.
Her hair was dyed a silvery grey, curled inrge waves that draped over her shoulders. She wore skull earrings, a cross ne, and had rings on every finger. Her style screamed hip-hop.
Most people shot her annoyed looks.
The girl, though, simply raised her chin and gave a disdainfulugh, rising a little in her seat as she spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
¡°What¡¯s there to regret about that?¡± she scoffed.
She shook her head and said, ¡°The sea has boats to cross, the mountains have roads to travel. If you can¡¯t make it, don¡¯t me the road¡ªwhat¡¯s there to regret? Only losers feel regret, only those who can¡¯t let go feel regret.¡±
Boom¡ª
The provocative words exploded in the ssroom, sending a ripple of murmurs throughout.
And yet, the white-haired professor kept her gentle smile, signaling for the students to quiet down.
¡°What this youngdy said isn¡¯t entirely wrong,¡± she said, still smiling. ¡°It is true¡ªand that¡¯s why the poem doesn¡¯t end with ¡®mountains and seas cannot be crossed.''¡±
With that, she picked up the chalk again and wrote on the board:
¡°Mountains and seas can be crossed, but it¡¯s the human heart that is hardest to ovee.¡±
p p p p p!
The ssroom erupted into apuse, like rolling thunder.
The professor¡ªever wise¡ªhad ended the debate with those words. They struck a finality that settled even the hip-hop girl¡¯s argument.
Sure, the mountains could be crossed, but could a heart be mended?
The hip-hop girl had mocked the notion of regret, saying that only those who couldn¡¯t let go felt it.
But then¡ªif she had truly let go, why had she spoken up so passionately moments earlier?
Her words proved the professor¡¯s point, bing the perfect example of ¡°mountains and seas can be crossed, but the human heart¡ªthat¡¯s another matter.¡±
¡°Tch.¡± The hip-hop girl clicked her tongue, clearly unsatisfied, but she had nothing to say. She leaned on her elbow, sulking.
¡°Hey¡ I think what you said was really good.¡±
Tang Xin turned around, smiling at her.
¡°Honestly, just those two lines you said¡ªI think they¡¯re beautiful.¡±
The girl blinked in surprise, looking at Tang Xin.
She¡¯d noticed earlier that the girl in front of her had kept opening her group chat again and again throughout ss. She¡¯d seen her click on someone¡¯s profile picture and enter their space, only to be greeted by the message: ¡°You are not friends with this user. ess denied.¡± Then she¡¯d close it, only to repeat the actionter.
It was obvious.
This was a girl with regrets, too.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the hip-hop girl asked.
¡°Tang Xin,¡± she replied with a smile, extending her hand. ¡°And you are?¡±
The girl chuckled, shaking Tang Xin¡¯s hand.
¡°Du Yao.¡±
¡
They sat in a small restaurant afterward, facing each other across the table.
¡°So¡ you like that guy?¡± Du Yao asked, catching Tang Xin off guard.
¡°Huh?¡±
Tang Xin looked up, shaking her head quickly. ¡°N-no, what are you talking about?¡±
¡°The guy from your group chat. You kept clicking on his profile. I saw you.¡±
¡°Oh¡ him.¡± Tang Xin¡¯s mind drifted to Lin Xian, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I like him. We only talked twice. We only ever met once, and then I transferred to America.¡±
¡°We never had a third conversation, we don¡¯t even have each other¡¯s phone numbers or anything¡ How could that be love?¡±
¡°You¡¯d better let go of it soon,¡± Du Yao snorted.
¡°If you keep this up, you¡¯ll end up liking him, you know? You¡¯re just torturing yourself¡ªdon¡¯t you see? Everything in this world can ferment if you let it¡ªfood, vor¡ emotions too.¡± She sighed. ¡°What was just a tiny seed of a thought¡ªno big deal¡ªyou¡¯re watering it every day, and soon enough, it¡¯s a towering tree. And by the time you regret it, it¡¯s already toote.¡±
Tang Xin sighed softly. ¡°It¡¯s not that dramatic, honestly¡ I was just ncing at an old group chat. Seeing if anything new was happening back home.¡±
¡°You¡¯re lying to yourself,¡± Du Yao said.
¡°Well¡ everyone has something they can¡¯t forget, right? What about you? Do you have anyone you like? Someone you haven¡¯t forgotten?¡±
¡°If you¡¯re not lying to yourself, then you wouldn¡¯t say no. Because if you really didn¡¯t care, you wouldn¡¯t be so afraid to admit it,¡± Tang Xin countered.
Du Yao leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. ¡°You think I¡¯m like you? Too scared to say what I really feel?¡±
¡°I had a boyfriend back in high school¡ªwe were a couple even though our parents and teachers were against it. I even nned my future around him¡ªwherever he went to college, I would follow, whether that was in X Country or abroad.¡±
Tang Xin blinked in surprise. ¡°And then¡ what happened?¡±
Du Yao scratched her head with frustration, growling, ¡°That idiot went off to be a peace volunteer in Africa right after turning 18! Can you believe that?!¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°Yeah! He wasn¡¯t fighting on the front lines or anything, just helping to build schools and stuff. But still¡ªit was a war-torn country! What eighteen-year-old does that? He must have been insane!¡±
Tang Xin tried to calm her friend. ¡°I mean¡ that¡¯s still admirable, isn¡¯t it? He was helping people.¡±
Du Yao shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re right. He wasn¡¯t insane. There¡¯s only one word for it¡ª¡±
She clenched her fists, face scrunched up in anger.
¡°He was an absolute idiot!¡±
¡
Back in their dorm room, Du Yao opened the door to find Tang Xin sitting at herputer, still looking at the ¡°Forever ss 17!¡± group chat.
¡°Tang Xin!¡± she snapped, walking over in frustration. ¡°Can you stop staring at that group chat every day?! You¡¯ve been doing it for years now¡ªall through sophomore year, all the way into your job at the research institute! There hasn¡¯t been a single message in that chat!¡±
¡°Oh,e on,¡± Tang Xin turned her head, annoyed. ¡°Why do you care so much?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just tired of seeing you like this,¡± Du Yao replied, grabbing a chair and sitting down beside Tang Xin. ¡°It was just a small act of kindness¡ªhe let you borrow his school uniform when you needed it. Big deal. Why do you still think about it so much?¡±
¡°I bet Lin Xian¡ªor whatever his name is¡ªhas forgotten all about it by now. You¡¯ve never been in love, that¡¯s why you think it¡¯s some grand, romantic gesture. But let me tell you¡ªthis ¡®nice guy¡¯ act is just a clich¨¦ from every school drama and novel out there.¡±
Tang Xin looked back at her friend. ¡°Sure, there might have been a lot of people who would¡¯ve helped me that day.¡±
¡°But still¡ when it mattered most, he was the one who was there.¡±
Du Yao narrowed her eyes, then took a deep breath.
¡°You¡¯re hopeless.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°You¡¯re done for,¡± Du Yao said, throwing her hands up. ¡°I told you, years ago, to let go of that little spark. Now look at you¡ªit¡¯s taken root, sprouted, grown into a full-blown tree.¡±
¡°If some other guy had done anything to win your heart, that¡¯d be different. But Lin Xian¡ He¡¯s done nothing, and still, you¡¯ve let this tiny thing fester in your heart, turning into something it never needed to be.¡±
¡°Maybe if you¡¯d stayed back home and stayed in that ss, you would¡¯ve had the chance to say thank you properly and be friends. And then this wouldn¡¯t have turned into something so¡ ridiculous.¡±
Du Yao sighed.
¡°I¡¯m not saying you shouldn¡¯t fall in love or that you shouldn¡¯t pursue him or anything. If my best friend gets to be with the person she loves and live happily ever after, I¡¯ll be there cheering the loudest! I¡¯ll be your bridesmaid and catch your bouquet¡ªbut I¡¯m just worried about this one-sided thing, Xin Xin. This one-sided love with no hope, with no end in sight¡ªI¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to hurt you.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve left X Country, and you¡¯ve lost touch with him and everyone else from that time in your life. You¡¯re here now, working in America, and there¡¯s no way he¡¯sing here¡ When will you two ever meet again? How could there possibly be a story between you?¡±
Du Yao¡¯s words made Tang Xin fall silent.
Indeed.
Would they ever have a chance to meet again?
She¡¯d always thought she just needed a chance to say thank you.
But as Du Yao said, that sentiment had grown, blossomed, bing something else entirely¡ªsomething she couldn¡¯t even control.
It was a love destined to have no ending.
The vast Pacific Ocean, the 12,000-kilometer distance between America and X Country¡ªthose were the impassable mountains and seas, keeping her heart from finding peace.
Maybe Du Yao was right.
This was a love that would have no end.
But when would it end?
Ding-dong!
Suddenly, a sound rang out from herptop¡ªa sound that made Tang Xin jump.
It was a message notification from QQ.
Tang Xin¡¯s eyes widened as she turned to look at the screen, catching Du Yao¡¯s equally stunned expression. They both rushed to see what had appeared.
Miraculously¡ªafter all these years¡ªa message had appeared in the ¡°Forever ss 17!¡± group chat. From Gao Yang, the group admin, no less:
¡°Hey everyone! It¡¯s been five years since we graduated. Time for a reunion! How about the fifth day of the new year, during the holidays?¡±
Tang Xin¡¯s face lit up, and she practically jumped out of her chair.
¡°Du Yao! Look! Our ss president¡¯s organizing a reunion!¡±
Du Yao shook her head, incredulous.
¡°But¡ nobody¡¯s replying. Do you think this reunion will really happen?¡±
That one statement crushed Tang Xin¡¯s excitement.
Surely not¡
Surely everyone wouldn¡¯t ignore it, causing the reunion to be canceled, right?
And so, the two girls did nothing but stare at the screen for over half an hour, waiting.
Nothing.
Not a single reply.
¡°Ugh¡¡±
Both of them sighed deeply.
They both knew¡ªthis reunion was probably not happening.
Tang Xin moved her mouse, ready to close the group chat, ready to shut down thest flicker of hope she¡¯d had¡ª
Ding-dong!
Another notification!
She looked up, eyes wide, staring at that familiar profile picture she¡¯d clicked on so many times before¡ªLin Xian.
¡°Hey everyone! It¡¯s been so long, we definitely need to get together. I¡¯ll be home for the holidays, see you then!¡±
Tang Xin grabbed Du Yao¡¯s arm, pulling her over excitedly.
¡°Look! Look!¡±
¡°I see it¡ I see it,¡± Du Yao said, nearly losing her bnce from being tugged so hard. ¡°That¡¯s Lin Xian¡ªyour one and only, right? Since he¡¯s Gao Yang¡¯s friend, of course, he has to show support.¡±
She looked over at Tang Xin.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to join in too? Sure, you were just a transfer student for a short while, but if no one else responds, this reunion won¡¯t even happen, right?¡±
¡°Right, right,¡± Tang Xin said, her hands trembling slightly as she ced them on the keyboard.
She typed something, then deleted it.
Typed again¡ªand deleted again.
¡°Ugh, what are you doing?!¡± Du Yao couldn¡¯t take it anymore, urging her on. ¡°Why are you so shy? Just send it! Say you¡¯re going! No need to overthink it.¡±
Finally, Tang Xin finished typing her message, took a deep breath, and pressed enter¡ª
Tang Xin: Sure, Lin Xian! Count me in!
¡°Eek¡ª¡±
Tang Xin stomped her feet, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. ¡°This is so awkward! No one else even replied, and I¡¯m the only one¡ªthe transfer student who nobody remembers! It¡¯ll be so weird.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Du Yao said,pletely unconcerned. ¡°Who cares what the others think? That message wasn¡¯t for them. It was for Lin Xian!¡±
She ruffled Tang Xin¡¯s hair, shaking her head. ¡°Love makes people blind. I¡¯ve never seen you this dumb before. Look at yourself¡ªgrinning like a fool.¡±
¡°And since you¡¯ve started chatting, don¡¯t just stop at one message¡ªkeep it going! Say something else, get the conversation going. Maybe everyone else will start chiming in.¡±
Tang Xin fumbled again. ¡°What should I say?¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re hopeless,¡± Du Yao sighed. ¡°Fine¡ªif you can¡¯t think of anything, just send an emoji. How about the goofy grin you¡¯re wearing right now?¡±
Du Yao¡¯s words made Tang Xin giggle.
Smiling broadly, she held down the Shift key, quickly typing 6, dash, and another 6, before hitting enter.
And there it was¡ªa lively little emoticon popped up in the chat window.
Tang Xin had sent out her message¡ª
**^_^**.
Chapter 414: Obsession
Lin Xian thought for a long time. His head started to ache from all the thinking, but he still couldn¡¯t remember where he had seen the name ¡°Du Yao.¡±
¡°Sigh¡ I know I¡¯ve seen it somewhere,¡± Lin Xian muttered, rubbing his temples. He was sure of it. He had an impression of the name, but it wasn¡¯t a strong one. It must have been something he skimmed over without much thought¡ªjust one of those details that slipped into the back of his mind and was now difficult to retrieve.
People take in so much information every day: websites, books, ads, videos, images¡ It wasn¡¯t surprising that a faint memory could get lost in all of that.
¡°If only I had the Neural Stimtion Helmet,¡± Lin Xian grumbled to himself. ¡°If I had that helmet and zapped my brain, I¡¯d definitely remember where I saw that name.¡±
¡°No, wait.¡± He suddenly paused. ¡°If we can¡¯t find Ms. Du Yao, then we can¡¯t build the helmet at all¡ No, not even hundreds of yearster. The neural research field wouldn¡¯t have any breakthrough without her. The whole progress is stuck because of Ms. Du Yao.¡±
The good news was that he had a lead on Du Yao¡ªat least he remembered seeing her name somewhere. The bad news was that Gao Wen¡¯s letter mentioned she would die in Africa in the mid-21st century.
¡°Forget it, forget it. No use thinking about it now.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. There was no point in forcing himself. He had too many things crowding his mind already. It was better to deal with the Genius Club¡¯s third problem, his own death mystery on July 7th, and Elon Musk¡¯s switch-up incident first.
¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll enter the dream again,¡± he yawned. This time, when he explored the seventh dream, he¡¯d enteredte. By the time he arrived, the sun had already set, and he hadn¡¯t covered much ground. The blue-eyed woman, who was now the vige chief, deserved more attention¡ªmaybe he could get more clues from spending time with her.After all¡ as CC had said before, emotions could exist independently of memories. Since the blue-eyed woman¡¯s memories had disappeared, maybe her emotions could still hold some clues, some hints.
In the fifth dream, Lin Xian had once sketched a drawing of the Rhine Cat for Zheng Xiang Yue. In that moment, after hundreds of years in hibernation, the 116-year-old Zheng Xiang Yue had burst into tears.
That was enough for Lin Xian to know¡ªshe was definitely Zheng Xiang Yue.
That was human emotion¡ªsomething even harder to decipher than memory, something scientists still couldn¡¯t fully understand.
Lin Xian walked into the kitchen, taking some instant food from the fridge. He cooked himself a simplete-night snack to fill his stomach. But he had to admitpared to the fragrantmb skewers, this meal tasted like cardboard. Even Big Cat Face¡¯s braised bear head seemed more appetizing in hindsight.
¡°I really need to try Li Cheng¡¯s banquet tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian wiped his mouth and murmured. ¡°And maybe if I get there early enough, I can see Li Ning Ning, the little princess of the Li family.¡±
Lin Xian had a good impression of Li Ning Ning. She was brave and unyielding¡ªlike a butterfly fighting against the wind. He had encountered her twice before in the chaotic wastnd, and each time, hemented that she should have been a cherished princess, not forced to scavenge in the garbage heaps.
Now, Li Ning Ning had finally be the daughter of Donghai City¡¯s lord, a true princess. Lin Xian wanted to see her again¡ªeven if she wouldn¡¯t recognize him, even if she had no idea who he was or that they had once hooked pinkies twice, promising him her safety talisman.
It didn¡¯t matter. Lin Xian, who had gone through countless cycles of reincarnation and forgetfulness, didn¡¯t mind. As long as he could see Li Ning Ning, this little girl whom fate had treated unfairly, live the happy life she deserved, he would be content.
Lin Xian stood up, washed the dishes in the kitchen, and returned to his bed to continue sleeping.
The next morning, Lin Xian woke up early. He¡¯d been sleeping welltely, and there were things he had to do today¡ªlike visiting Rhine¡¯s secondb with Vice President Wang.
The Rhine Second Laboratory was different from Liu Feng¡¯s firstb. It was amercial, profit-driven, publicb meant to generate cash flow for Rhine Company.
Currently, Rhine¡¯s main funding still came from the 2 billion yuan sponsorships from Zhao Ying Jun and Chu Shan He. Most of that money had been used up by now. Vice President Wang had beenining about it, saying, ¡°Without money in the ount, I just don¡¯t feel secure.¡±
¡°We need to develop some big money-making projects, Lin Xian. The Rhine Cat is just a toy. No matter how popr it is, it¡¯s not enough to support your spending habits¡ You¡¯re always establishingbs, buying this and that, hiring PhD students, researchers, academicians¡ We have to pay them!¡±
¡°And you spend money like water¡ª40 billion yuan is almost gone. If Rhine goes under, don¡¯t forget that Time Bank will suffer too! You said that even if Rhine copses, Time Bank must stay afloat. For Time Bank¡¯s sake, we need a new path.¡±
Vice President Wang was worried¡ªespecially seeing Lin Xian seemingly idle.
So Lin Xian nned to take him to meet Nangong Meng Jie at theb, show him their ongoing projects, and let him see what was being set up.
Driver Xiao Li picked them up in an Alphard minivan and drove them to the Rhine Second Laboratory on the outskirts of the city. When they entered, they found many researchers, both young and old, bustling around, their faces lit with excitement and joy.
¡°Why are they so happy?¡± Wang asked in disbelief. Even with Rhine¡¯s great internal benefits, most people still looked like they were going to a funeral when they showed up for work.
But here¡ everyone seemed thrilled as if they were at a party.
¡°Because they¡¯re doing something great,¡± Lin Xian exined with a smile. ¡°They¡¯re doing something that will change humanity¡¯s future. Once the micro nuclear battery is invented, it will reshape the entire world¡ªenergy, economics, consumer electronics, even people¡¯s daily lives.
¡°People have said that the next industrial revolution will happen in the battery sector. I deeply believe that. Imagine a battery that canst for decades, even centuries, without degrading. How many groundbreaking innovations could that bring?
¡°Take the recently trending hibernation pods, for example. The biggest worry is prolonged power failure. If external energy sources are cut off, the people inside are at risk. But with a micro nuclear battery, the pods can run independently for hundreds of years.
¡°Now you understand why they¡¯re so enthusiastic? They¡¯re making history. They¡¯re pushing human civilization to new heights. Most scientists live and die without fame. But the people here? They¡¯re the rare few who will be remembered.¡±
Vice President Wang nodded, enlightened. ¡°True, you have a point. I envy them¡ªthey get to be remembered. But someone like me, just a regr guy¡ who will remember me in a hundred years?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that, Wang,¡± Lin Xian patted his shoulder. ¡°If anything, the contributions of Time Bank far surpass theirs.¡±
Wangughed. ¡°Oh, stop teasing me! Show me this Director Nangong.¡±
Soon, they met Nangong Meng Jie in theb. She still dressed like a student¡ªyoung and fresh out of college¡ªgiving an impression of youth mixed with wisdom. Her round face and ck-rimmed sses made it hard to associate her with being theb¡¯s director.
¡°Director Nangong, hello,¡± Wang greeted her and introduced himself.
Lin Xian connected them. ¡°This is Vice President Wang of Rhine Company. He handles allpany matters. If you need funding, equipment, or help dealing with government agencies, just go to him. He¡¯s more suitable and efficient than me.¡±
¡°I figured,¡± Nangong nodded, throwing a pointed nce at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯re like an owl¡ªnever around during the day, and only replying to messages in the dead of night¡ It¡¯s like talking to Batman, with barely two lines exchanged each day. Inefficient!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s why I introduced you to Wang, to speed things up for our research.¡±
Nangong then gave them a tour of theb and reported on the progress of the micro nuclear battery.
¡°We estimate that by the end of the year, we¡¯ll have the first prototype ready. By mid-next year, mass production shouldn¡¯t be a problem. While batteries for cars and high-powered appliances need more research, micro nuclear batteries for phones,puters, and smaller devices will hit the market next year.¡±
¡°We leave the business side to you. We¡¯re just focused on the research.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, satisfied. ¡°Excellent, really excellent¡ªeven earlier than I expected. It looks like the world is on the brink of great change. 2024¡ªa year for the history books.¡±
Vice President Wang also gained a new understanding of the micro nuclear battery. He couldn¡¯t stop imagining the future business potential¡ªhis confidence soared with every thought.
¡°Amazing!¡± Wang envisioned phones with batteries that never ran out, cars that never needed charging, appliances that worked anywhere without cords¡ªa new era of electronics!
¡°I can already see Rhine¡¯s bright financial future!¡± Wang said, eyes practically glowing as he enthusiastically patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Once the micro nuclear batteryunches, no matter how much money you burn through, Rhine will be fine! And if Rhine is fine, so is Time Bank!¡±
Hearing this, Lin Xian thought of the future. In thest two dreamscapes, Time Bank had vanished. Could it be that Wang¡¯s words were prophetic? Could it be that Rhine¡¯s future developments would interfere with Time Bank and cause it to disappear from history?
Time Bank was an independent business, but it was now increasingly tied to Rhine¡ªperhaps that wasn¡¯t a wise decision. After all, Lin Xian had high hopes for Rhine¡ªwith threebs working on projects like a time-space machine, micro nuclear batteries, and the neural stimtion helmet.
Was he stretching himself too thin, to the point where it could drag Time Bank down?
¡°Hmm¡¡± Lin Xian rubbed his chin. Maybe it was better to separate Time Bank from Rhine, make a clean split. If Rhine copsed in the future, at least it wouldn¡¯t take Time Bank with it.
To Lin Xian, Rhine was important, but in the grand scheme¡ªon a 600-year timeline¡ªhe valued Time Bank even more.
By noon, he had settled things between Nangong Meng Jie and Vice President Wang. They could now deal directly with each other without needing Lin Xian as a go-between.
Back home, Lin Xian had a simple lunch¡ªthough it still tasted like cardboard.
¡°Looks like yesterday¡¯s banquet spoiled my appetite,¡± Lin Xian muttered, sighing as he thought of themb skewer he¡¯d nearly had. ¡°I should enter the dream early today. Maybe going back to the vige earlier will change things.¡±
He brushed his teeth, put on his pajamas, pulled the curtains closed, and climbed into bed¡ªready to enter his dreams.
The familiar summer breeze blew, the scorching sun shone down, and even with his eyes closed, Lin Xian could feel the bright light turning his eyelids a deep red. The loud chirping of cicadas and the chatter of sparrows filled the air, along with the earthy scent of soil and the fragrance of rice paddies.
Lin Xian knew where he was¡ªback in Smith¡¯s rice field.
He opened his eyes. Sure enough, there was Smith, wearing arge straw hat and staring at him in surprise.
¡°What are you staring at?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Staring at you. Brat¡ I¡¯m not someone to mess with,¡± Smith said, raising his sickle. ¡°Get off my rice nts!¡±
Lin Xian looked down and realized he had indeed stepped on Smith¡¯s crops.
¡°Ah, my bad.¡± He quickly jumped off the nts and stomped the dirt off his shoes. ¡°Smith, you know, you should learn to speak nicely. Why do you know every rude phrase in every dialect? Why not learn something useful¡ like anothernguage?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t need a stranger lecturing me!¡± Smith retorted.
¡°Got it, you¡¯re the best.¡± Lin Xian waved him off, giving up on the conversation. ¡°See you, Smith. Get back to your harvesting.¡±
Smith muttered something under his breath, then called out, ¡°Go on then¡ goodbye!¡±
The weather was scorching, and it didn¡¯t take long for Lin Xian to sweat all over. He finally made it to Big Cat¡¯s Vige and began thinking of the most efficient way to get involved there. Anything but going to see Er Zhuzi¡ªthat guy never seemed to get along with him, aside from that one time in the fifth dream when CC pretended to be his wife.
¡°I¡¯ll just go straight to Brother Cat Face,¡± Lin Xian decided.
He found Big Cat Face in the warehouse. Apparently, this vige prince held quite a bit of authority¡ªhe was the warehouse manager, a cushy job.
Lin Xian only had to say one thing to win Big Cat Face over.
¡°A cat is an ideology, and a face is metaphysics.¡±
¡°Whoa!¡± Big Cat Face grabbed both of Lin Xian¡¯s hands. ¡°You¡¯re my soulmate! It¡¯s like you live in my intestines!¡±
¡°Uh¡ let¡¯s not be that specific.¡± Lin Xian nced around. ¡°Where¡¯s your crew?¡±
¡°They¡¯re working around the vige,¡± Big Cat Face replied. ¡°Ah Zhuang is fixing a door on the east side. Er Zhuzi is changing a lightbulb at Smith¡¯s ce. San Pang is cleaning the pool.¡±
¡°Oh~¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°So, the Lian gang is basically a property managementpany¡ Wait, hold on a second!¡± Lin Xian squinted at Big Cat Face. ¡°You said Er Zhuzi is where?¡±
¡°At Smith¡¯s ce, fixing a lightbulb.¡± Big Cat Face gave him a look that said, ¡°Are you deaf? Why?¡±
¡°N-Nothing,¡± Lin Xian stammered, shaking his head. Some things were best left alone. ¡°Alright, Brother Cat Face. Aren¡¯t you going to take me to see the vige chief?¡±
¡°The chief, huh?¡± Big Cat Face turned southward. ¡°She¡¯s about to go hunting. If you want to meet her, you¡¯d better hurry to the north entrance.¡±
Big Cat Face led the way, waddling north. ¡°Tonight, Lord Li from Donghai City¡¡±
¡°I know,¡± Lin Xian cut in.
¡°The chief wants to send her a gift¡ª¡±
¡°I know that too,¡± Lin Xian interrupted again.
¡°I still have to drive to¡¡±
¡°Skip it.¡±
¡°And my daughter¡¡±
¡°She¡¯ll be fine with her school.¡±
Big Cat Face stopped and red at Lin Xian. ¡°Are you in a rush to die or something? Why are you so impatient? Let me finish! You¡¯re making me look like a fool. If you know everything, why not tell me what¡¯s on the banquet menu tonight?¡±
Lin Xian listed the dishes one by one.
¡°Ohh.¡± Big Cat Face listened carefully. ¡°Wow, that sounds amazing.¡±
He swallowed. ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t eat at home tonight. Gotta keep my stomach empty. You¡¯re right¡ªI should grab the bear¡¯s head. And if I do get it, I¡¯ll share the tongue and eyes with you.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°No need.¡±
The two hurried along and managed to intercept the blue-eyed vige chief at the northern entrance.
She didn¡¯t seem to feel the heat, wearing a tight-fitting hunting outfit with all kinds of knives and swords at her waist. She wore bear-hide gloves, with a bow and rope strapped to her back¡ªlooking every bit as formidable as Li Cheng had described. She was the kind of person who could single-handedly guard the northern frontier.
Smith had mentioned before that, in the early days, Big Cat¡¯s Vige was always attacked by fierce animals from the nearby mountains and forests. Livestock would go missing, and vigers were often injured¡ªit was terrifying. But ever since Yan Qiao Qiao became the vige chief, people actually looked forward to animalsing down from the mountains.
After all, that meant a feast.
When a pack of wolves had attacked once, the vigers started preparing the firewood as soon as the chief ran out with her de. Unfortunately, it seemed the animals had learned their lesson over the years¡ªno beast had dared approach the vige in a long time. Now, to get a wild animal for Li Cheng¡¯s banquet, the chief had to venture into the mountains¡ these bears were really asking for trouble.
The blue-eyed chief stared at Lin Xian, just as surprised asst time. She took a picture out of her pocket, asking who Lin Xian was.
This time, Lin Xian didn¡¯t give a straight answer. He simply said he knew the little girl in the picture, but only in passing¡ªhe knew little about her.
Because he wanted to talk to this woman, who had once been a fourteen-year-old girl, then a teenager at seventeen or eighteen, and was now thirty¡ªhe wanted to talk to her properly. In the sixth dream, everything had been too rushed, and there had been no time tomunicate with the blue-eyed girl.
Sometimes, Lin Xian hoped she was Yan Qiao Qiao. Sometimes, he hoped she wasn¡¯t¡ªhe was torn.
There were so many clues pointing to the fact that the blue-eyed girl from 2624 and Yan Qiao Qiao had much inmon. But could that really prove they were the same person?
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure. Their appearances were too different. Unless there was a DNA test, there was no way to know for sure.
Of course¡ there was another way. It was through emotions.
Yan Qiao Qiao had lost her memories, but she still held onto her feelings for her parents. Those emotions hadn¡¯t disappeared, even when her memories had. So now¡ªwhat about the blue-eyed chief? Did she still have those feelings? Did she still miss her parents?
Or did she have other emotions left?
Since the blue-eyed chief was most likely Yan Qiao Qiao, possibly even his own daughter, Lin Xian, as a father, cared¡ªhe wanted to know more about her life.
¡°Can I go hunting with you?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I¡¯m pretty capable¡ªI can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll catch a bear, but I won¡¯t be a burden either. I can help out.¡±
¡°Sure,¡± the chief answered, pulling a short knife from her waist and tossing it to Lin Xian. ¡°Use this to cut branches. If we run into any wild animals, leave it to me.¡±
She then tied her dark hair into a high ponytail with a leather band, shook her head to settle it, and led Lin Xian up the mountain.
She cleared the path while Lin Xian followed behind. The scene reminded him of holding Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s hand while walking through Disnend¡ªexcept this time, the roles were reversed.
¡°I heard you¡¯ve been awake from your hibernation for over a decade,¡± Lin Xian said.
¡°Mm.¡± The chief nodded while clearing branches. ¡°Almost thirteen years now.¡±
¡°Have you been happy during these years? Do you have¡ any worries?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°No,¡± she replied, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯ve been very happy. I don¡¯t know what my life was like before hibernation, but in these thirteen years¡ªgrowing from a little girl to the vige chief¡ªI¡¯ve felt happier than ever.
¡°That¡¯s why I sometimes doubt if I¡¯m the girl in the picture. First, we don¡¯t look alike at all. Second, the girl in the photo looks pampered and probably lived a noble life. If that were me, could I really find happiness in a vige like this? Chen Heping, the former chief, once taught us that it¡¯s hard to go from luxury to simplicity. I¡¯ve always thought that the reason I¡¯m content now is that my life before must have been terrible.¡±
Lin Xian watched her strong back, staying silent. He cut through several branches before asking softly, ¡°Why do you think your life before hibernation was awful?¡±
¡°Because there was nothing left in my hibernation pod¡¯s storage locker,¡± the chief replied, turning her crystal blue eyes to meet his gaze before continuing forward. ¡°Chief Chen told me that everyone else had stored ID documents, letters, memory journals, or memory drives¡ªsomething to remember their past by.
¡°But my locker had nothing. Nothing but this one photo. If my past life had been happy, why wouldn¡¯t I leave something behind for myself to remember it by¡ªto at least know who I was?
¡°To be honest, I often look at the photo, but I don¡¯t recognize the girl. Even the man and woman in the background¡ªI don¡¯t feel anything¡ no sense of family.¡±
Lin Xian paused. ¡°Have you ever thought about your parents? About having a mother and father like everyone else?¡±
¡°No,¡± the chief answered firmly. ¡°Never.
¡°I don¡¯t care who the people in the photo are. Parents or not, it doesn¡¯t matter to me¡ªthey¡¯re not here, and I don¡¯t remember them. The only thing that has always mattered to me¡ªand still does¡ªis the girl in the photo. I just want to know if she¡¯s me. Am I Yan Qiao Qiao?¡±
Lin Xian walked beside her, trying to understand her thoughts. ¡°If you don¡¯t care about the past, why does it matter who you are?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t really exin it.¡± The chief shook her head, heading toward another peak. ¡°But in my heart, there has always been an obsession.¡±
¡°An obsession?¡± Lin Xian asked, intrigued.
¡°Like I said, I don¡¯t care who the girl is. I don¡¯t care who the people in the photo are, or even who I am. I just want to know if my name is Yan Qiao Qiao. That¡¯s all. I just want to have a name.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°That¡¯s a strange thought. Everyone has a name. Why does it matter?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The chief waved dismissively. ¡°But that¡¯s what an obsession is, isn¡¯t it? If my name really is Yan Qiao Qiao, I¡¯d be very happy.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°No reason.¡± The chief smiled, her voice softening. ¡°I just think Yan Qiao Qiao is a beautiful name.¡±
Chapter 415: Lin Xians Answer
The path ahead stretched onward.
The Blue-Eyed Vige Chief continued clearing the way ahead while Lin Xian followed in silence. Neither of them spoke again.
Lin Xian hade with her to hunt this time.
He originally intended to gather some information from her¡ even if she had lost her memory, perhaps emotions could still be a way in.
But things didn¡¯t go as nned.
The more he tried to gather information, the blurrier things became.
This woman, the Blue-Eyed Chief, was someone Lin Xian had met before¡ªback when she was only seventeen or eighteen.
He could feel it.She really did like the name Yan Qiao Qiao.
Just like in that photo. She had said it herself¡ªshe didn¡¯t care who those three people in the foreground were. She didn¡¯t care at all. What mattered to her¡ was the name Yan Qiao Qiao, written on the back. Was it really hers?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t quite figure it out.
If this Blue-Eyed Chief before him was indeed the Lin Yu Xi who had killed him on July 7th, triggering the second rejection of time-space¡
Why had so many of her thoughts changed?
No, that¡¯s not it.
Lin Xian suddenly realized.
It seemed he¡¯d been overlooking something all along.
He¡¯d always thought of Yan Qiao Qiao as one single person.
Although, biologically speaking, they were indeed the same person.
But¡
Could the same body, living different lives, with different memories, still be considered the same person?
That question¡ª
Lin Xian had pondered it long ago, but he had nevere to a definite answer.
Take the Blue-Eyed Chief in front of him¡ªshe was certainly very different from the Yan Qiao Qiao of 2024.
But what if¡ she waspared to Lin Yu Xi from before?
Suddenly, simrities started to emerge.
So, the real question was¡ª
If one day Yan Qiao Qiao regained her memories and reverted back to the Blue-Eyed Girl, would she lose all the memories of being Yan Qiao Qiao once she gained all of Lin Yu Xi¡¯s memories?
If Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s memories were lost, she¡¯dpletely be the time-space assassin Lin Yu Xi. She¡¯d hunt him down without any emotion¡ªmaybe even¡ kill him.
Lin Xian remembered the arrest video Lin Yu Xi had recorded before.
She had the authority to kill him.
Of course, the best option was to arrest him, put him in hibernation, and send him to the Time-Space Court for trial.
But now there was no Time-Space Court anymore, nor was there any Time-Space Police. Was it possible that Lin Yu Xi might simply sentence him to death and execute it on the spot?
Now, there were only twenty days left until July 7th.
Yan Qiao Qiao still showed no sign of regaining her memories. There were no indications that the entangled time-space particles were regaining energy either.
Lin Xian really couldn¡¯t see what could make Yan Qiao Qiao regain her memories.
¡°Could it be some otherw of time-space?¡±
It had been a long time since he¡¯d grasped any new time-spacews.
It felt as if everything around him had gotten mysteriously stuck.
¡°I hope once I join the Genius Club, I¡¯ll find some way to break through all this.¡±
Snap.
Lin Xian cut away a branch blocking the path and quickened his steps to catch up to the Blue-Eyed Chief.
He had to admit¡
Finding a bear in the deep forest wasn¡¯t easy.
He relied entirely on the chief¡¯s incredible vision and keen sense of smell. She could spot bear tracks and paw prints and even sniff out bear droppings. She really was a natural-born hunter.
Lin Xian had no doubt about the strength of these ¡°terminators.¡±
He¡¯d been hunted before.
He¡¯d experienced life from the perspective of a bear.
Naturally, he knew just how formidable the Blue-Eyed Chief was.
Swish!
The Blue-Eyed Chief suddenly extended her arm, stopping Lin Xian in his tracks.
¡°Found it.¡±
Lin Xian perked up, looking around.
¡°Where?¡±
¡°Over there.¡±
The Blue-Eyed Chief pointed straight ahead.
Lin Xian squinted, trying to see farther into the distance¡
Sure enough!
Thest rays of the setting sun were just about to disappear, casting everything into darkness. And in that final bit of light, Lin Xian barely made out the silhouette of a bear¡ªvery far away.
¡°So, what¡¯s our next move?¡± Lin Xian looked left, then right at the surroundings. ¡°Are we going to¡ªhuh? Where did she go?¡±
He blinked.
He¡¯d only turned his head to the left for a second, and now the chief to his right had vanished.
Suddenly, realization struck him.
He quickly stood up, looking ahead.
All he saw was¡
A dark figure charging straight at the grizzly bear!
Simple, direct, full-on attack!
Next thing he knew¡ª
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Before the bear could even react, it was twisted into a bundle and tied up tightly with ropes.
¡°Gah?¡±
The grizzly looked stunned, its big, round face frozen in disbelief.
However, there was no time for it to make a second sound. The Blue-Eyed Chief swiftly tied its mouth shut as well, leaving it unable to make any sound except a muffled whimper.
By the time Lin Xian reached the bear, it was alreadypletely immobilized, tied up like a dumpling.
The Blue-Eyed Chief patted the dust off her hands, smiled slightly, and said, ¡°Done. Let¡¯s give this to Lord Li as a gift. What do you think?¡±
¡°¡¡±
Lin Xian had mixed feelings, unsure of how to respond.
Somehow, he felt a strange connection to this bear.
But there was no choice.
They needed the grizzly as their ticket into Donghai City. Lin Xian stepped forward, gently patting the bear¡¯s head infort.
¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ I won¡¯t eat your eyes tonight.¡±
The bear¡¯s eyes went wide, looking at Lin Xian in terror.
Just as Lin Xian was wondering how they were going to carry a half-ton bear down the mountain, the Blue-Eyed Chief simply turned around, grabbed the bear, and slung it over her back like it weighed nothing. She nced back at Lin Xian.
¡°Keep up.¡±
Then, with light and effortless strides, she began her descent.
¡°¡¡±
At that moment, Lin Xian truly understood the level of monsters he¡¯d faced back in America.
And there had been two of them.
Byparison, the fight between the real and fake Lin Yu Xi seemed almost civilized. Maybe it was modern warfare¡¯s rules that held them back, making them stick to conventional weapons and tactics.
If the Blue-Eyed Chief fought them now, Lin Xian was sure anything that could be thrown would be thrown, and there¡¯d be no sense of decorum.
The entire way down, Lin Xian followed her, listening to the bear¡¯s muffled cries, already nning where to hide on July 7th.
If he couldn¡¯t stop Yan Qiao Qiao from regaining her memories by then, well¡ if he couldn¡¯t win, he could still run.
He¡¯d contact the National Security Bureau himself and ask them to protect him.
As for what would happen to Yan Qiao Qiao¡
That was a problem for the future.
¡°She¡¯ll have to deal with her own fate.¡±
Facing a daughter who would kill her father to achieve her own goals, Lin Xian felt utterly helpless.
¡
Not long after, the Blue-Eyed Chief carried the bear back to Big Cat¡¯s Vige.
Big Cat Face was already eager, calling for the bear to be loaded onto an electric cart so they could head straight to Donghai City.
He waved at Lin Xian. ¡°Let¡¯s go, bro, time for a feast!¡±
Lin Xian remembered that he had already told Big Cat Face about the menu ahead of time, and the guy had decided not to eat at home so he could save room for the feast.
Er Zhuzi watched Big Cat Face start up the vehicle, looking shocked. ¡°Big Bro! You¡¯re not eating at home? Sis-inw cooked for you!¡±
¡°Not tonight.¡± Big Cat Face backed up the cart. ¡°Now that the chief¡¯s back, we might as well deliver everything to Lord Li early.¡±
¡°But¡ but all that food Sis-inw made will go to waste!¡± Er Zhuzi rubbed his hands together, raising his voice. ¡°What if I go and eat it for you?¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡± Big Cat Face didn¡¯t care, pressing down on the gas.
¡°Stop!¡± Lin Xian called out. ¡°How can you trust Er Zhuzi so easily?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just two bowls of rice. What¡¯s the big deal¡¡± Big Cat Face dismissed it. ¡°We¡¯re all brothers. We should share everything.¡±
Lin Xian patted his shoulder. ¡°With that attitude, no wonder you¡¯ve lived such a long, tough life.¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Big Cat Face said proudly. ¡°Did you know that when I was born¡¡±
¡°I know,¡± Lin Xian cut him off.
¡°The reason this vige¡¡±
¡°Skip.¡±
Vroom¡ª
Big Cat Face stepped on the gas, the electric cart elerating rapidly. He looked at Lin Xian with disdain.
¡°Talking with you is so boring!¡±
¡
After a bumpy ride, with the bear¡¯s muffled groans from the back, they finally reached Donghai City.
Big Cat Face unloaded the bear and went to find Lord Li to discuss his daughter¡¯s school enrollment.
Lin Xian, meanwhile, didn¡¯t go with him. Instead, he made his way to the za and found CC by the bonfire, just in time to see Li Ning Ning arriving with a baby in her arms.
¡°Is that Li Ning Ning?¡±
Seeing her new look, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile.
The once all-ck, tight-suited Li Ning Ning, who used to look like a secret agent, now wore a pale yellow dress with two neat braids falling over her shoulders.
She¡¯dpletely changed her style.
From seductive and alluring to sweet and cute.
¡°This suits her age more,¡± Lin Xian said approvingly.
¡°It looks like this world¡¯s Li Ning Ning is living a happy life.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± CC agreed. ¡°She¡¯s Lord Li¡¯s daughter, after all. She¡¯s definitely doted on by everyone. Want to go see the baby? We can get closer.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, and they both approached Li Ning Ning.
¡°Hi.¡± Lin Xian waved.
Even though he and CC knew Li Ning Ning well, to her, they wereplete strangers.
And sure enough, Li Ning Ning looked up at them, her eyes wary.
¡°Are you two from one of the viges outside? I¡¯ve never seen you in Donghai City before.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°I¡¯m from Big Cat¡¯s Vige.¡±
¡°Ah, Big Cat¡¯s Vige.¡± Li Ning Ningughed. ¡°You have a very impressive vige chief¡ªher eyes are beautiful.¡±
At that moment, the baby in her arms let out a soft cry, shifting slightly before drifting back to sleep.
Li Ning Ning hurried to soothe her.
Lin Xian moved to the side, catching a glimpse of the baby¡¯s face.
Such a fair, delicate little thing. The baby¡¯s features looked almost identical to Li Ning Ning¡¯s.
Lin Xian also noticed that Li Ning Ning¡¯s fingers were now smooth and pale, without a trace of the old calluses.
In the second dream, Li Ning Ning had spent every day climbing over fences and scavenging through trash, her hands roughened and scarred.
Even when she¡¯d handed Lin Xian the peace talisman, her palm had felt like sandpaper.
In the third dream, she¡¯d secretly practiced skydiving after her parents had died. The long hours of practice had made her hands tough and callused.
But finally, in the seventh dream, she could live like a normal girl.
Finally, Li Ning Ning had the hands of a normal young woman¡ªsoft and smooth.
¡°Your sister is adorable,¡± Lin Xianplimented.
¡°Thank you.¡± Li Ning Ning smiled brightly, more pleased than if he¡¯dplimented her.
¡°Have you chosen a name yet?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Not yet,¡± Li Ning Ning shook her head. ¡°Father said I could pick it, but¡ I just haven¡¯t been able to decide.¡±
¡°You shouldn¡¯t overthink things when ites to names.¡± Lin Xian offered, ¡°I think a lot of beautiful names are simple¡ªjust like yours. The simpler a name, the more graceful it sounds, and the morefortable it feels.
¡°On the other hand, using obscure words to sound cultured or focusing too much on meaning makes the name lose its essence. After all, a name is just something used to call and identify someone.
¡°So, I think there¡¯s no need to make it soplicated. When you look at your sister¡ªlike now¡ªwhatever word or namees to your mind first, that¡¯s what you should choose.
¡°Even if it¡¯s simple, even if it¡¯s ordinary¡ªit¡¯s a name filled with feeling, carrying your wishes and hopes for her.¡±
He spread his hands, ¡°That¡¯s just my humble opinion.¡±
Li Ning Ning listened, thinking it over.
It made a lot of sense.
She looked up at Lin Xian.
¡°You sound like you¡¯ve got experience. Do you have kids?¡±
¡°I do,¡± Lin Xian answered, smiling. ¡°A daughter.¡±
¡°What?!¡± CC looked at him, shocked. ¡°You have a kid?¡±
She found it hard to believe¡
Because in all three of the memory fragments involving Lin Xian, there had been no child. Plus, wasn¡¯t he only supposed to appear on August 28th, 2624?
¡°When did you even have a kid?¡± CC asked in disbelief. ¡°That wasn¡¯t in any of my memory fragments.¡±
Li Ning Ning was also curious. ¡°So, what did you name your daughter?¡±
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao,¡± Lin Xian replied, chuckling. ¡°But I didn¡¯t choose it. Her mom did.¡±
¡°Her¡ mom?¡± CC blinked rapidly. ¡°Wait, Yan Qiao Qiao¡ isn¡¯t that the Vige Chief? You¡¯re messing with us!¡±
¡°Yeah!¡± Li Ning Ning realized she¡¯d been fooled and huffed at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯re daring to joke about Chief Yan? Careful she doesn¡¯t punch your head off!¡±
With that, she made a funny face at him and left with her sister.
¡°¡¡±
CC stared at Lin Xian, exasperated.
¡°Lin Xian, there are some jokes you can make, but this isn¡¯t one of them. You know how strong Chief Yan is¡ªif she finds out, she really will twist your head off.¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Xian sighed, picturing his head being twisted off. ¡°Who knows.¡±
Soon after, they found Big Cat Face and joined the feast, eating their fill.
Big Cat Face, as usual, managed to get the bear¡¯s head, and he dug out one of its eyes, offering it to Lin Xian.
¡°No thanks.¡± Lin Xian waved it away. ¡°I promised not to eat its eyes.¡±
¡°How about the tongue?¡± Big Cat Face shoved his hand into the bear¡¯s mouth, yanking out the long tongue.
¡°Forget it. You eat it. We¡¯ll just have somemb skewerster.¡±
By midnight, themb skewers were finally ready. Lin Xian and CC grabbed a few and left the feast, sitting by the flowerbed in the za, eating under the moonlight.
As he chewed the sweet, tendermb, Lin Xian looked up at the moon hanging in the night sky.
¡°There¡¯s still some regret in this world,¡± he said quietly.
Lowering his gaze to CC, he continued, ¡°Is there any mention of Granny Zheng Xiang Yue in your memory fragments?¡±
CC nodded.
¡°In the memory fragment where you taught me to dance¡ªshe was the Vige Chief of Rhine Vige.¡±
¡°That¡¯s her.¡± Lin Xian spoke softly. ¡°In this world, she probably never got to go to the moon.
¡°Because Elon Musk was killed and reced by a fake¡ that impostor wouldn¡¯t remember or honor Zheng Xiang Yue¡¯s wish.
¡°The fake Elon Musk wouldn¡¯t even want to send a shuttle every two years back to Earth, let aloneunch a special rocket for Zheng Xiang Yue to go to the moon.¡±
CC thought for a moment.
¡°If what you¡¯re saying is true, then who knows what¡¯s really happening on Mars now. Could it be that the entire Mars colonization project is a scam¡ªa grand show?¡±
¡°Or maybe they never intended to develop Mars at all,¡± she mused, ¡°Just following the script to make it look like they¡¯re carrying out Elon Musk¡¯s ns, to keep up appearances.¡±
Lin Xian finished hismb skewer, tossing the stick aside. He looked down at the ants scurrying around, carrying away the leftover crumbs.
¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been thinking about what kind of future is truly the best future for humanity.¡±
¡°I used to think that the future we¡¯re in now was the best one, but now I realize that maybe the question itself is wed.¡±
¡°In every era, every world, every future¡ªthere are people who live well and people who don¡¯t; people who seed and people with regrets; people who are happy and people who are sad.¡±
¡°This world is no different. Most people seem happy, but in the shadows, Angelica isbeled as the madwoman, Zheng Xiang Yue never got to the moon, Elon Musk died young, and we still haven¡¯t found the safe.¡±
¡°So¡ is there really an answer to this question?¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands.
¡°I truly don¡¯t know how to answer it. No matter the answer, it always seems subjective, selfish, and biased. Any future that I see as best would certainly be the worst for someone else¡ So how do I answer that?¡±
CC listened intently, thinking it over.
After a moment, she said slowly, ¡°Honestly, if you were to ask me that question, I wouldn¡¯t overthink it.¡±
She leaned back on the edge of the flowerbed, swinging her legs.
¡°I¡¯d probably just tell you straight¡ª¡±
¡°A future with a tomorrow is the best future. It¡¯s the only future that matters.¡±
Lin Xian sat up. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
CC tilted her head.
¡°It¡¯s just the literal meaning of tomorrow, nothingplicated.¡±
¡°Look, you¡¯ve told me, and you¡¯ve proven it to me multiple times¡ªall worlds are destroyed by a mysterious white light at 00:42 on August 29th, 2624.
¡°If the world ends and humanity is destined to perish on that day¡ then discussing the future is pointless, because humanity has no future.¡±
¡°Take this world, for example. It may seem like everyone is happy, but Li Ning Ning¡¯s baby will never grow up; Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter will never get to attend school in Donghai City; President Gao Wen¡¯s heating system will never bring hot water.
¡°It¡¯s not their fault¡ªit¡¯s that the world ends. They never get the chance to see tomorrow, so everything is doomed to be in vain.¡±
¡°Also¡¡±
CC smiled a little.
¡°I do have a bit of a selfish reason¡ªAugust 29th is my birthday. I really hope the world doesn¡¯t end on my birthday. Even if it gets postponed just one day¡ I¡¯d really love to have my twentieth birthday.¡±
She looked up at Lin Xian, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.
¡°Do you think that¡¯s too greedy?¡±
Lin Xian met her gaze, not saying anything.
He didn¡¯t think it was greedy.
It was just a simple, ordinary wish.
Yet, for those like CC, the Millennium Stakes, they could never reach their twentieth birthday.
CC, Chu An Qing, Zhang Yu Qian¡ª
For hundreds of years, dozens of Millennium Stakes had been the same.
They could live to neen, but never cross into twenty.
¡°Twenty,¡± Lin Xian whispered. ¡°Twenty is such a meaningful age. Especially for you¡ I suppose turning twenty is the hardest birthday to reach.¡±
CC nodded.
¡°Now that you mention it, I see it too. In none of my memory fragments am I ever over neen.
¡°That means, in every world, I die at neen¡ªon thest day of neen.¡±
¡°Honestly¡ it sounds easy when I say it, but when I think about it, it¡¯s heavy. I¡¯m still young. Neen years is a short life. If I could¡ of course, I¡¯d want to live past twenty, to see more of this world.
¡°And to get another birthday gift.¡±
Hearing this, Lin Xianughed unexpectedly, ying along.
¡°If you could celebrate your twentieth birthday, what would you want most as a gift?¡±
He thought CC might take a moment to think.
But she answered immediately.
¡°Fireworks.¡± Her eyes brightened at the word. ¡°I¡¯d love to receive¡ a firework show just for me.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian was surprised.
He hadn¡¯t expected that answer.
How to put it¡ in his mind, it seemed a bit clich¨¦.
It was just fireworks.
They weren¡¯t anything rare¡ªnot in any era. Even in the seventh dream, fireworks were prettymon¡ just a variation of gunpowder and rockets, nothing difficult.
It was hard for him to imagine that what CC most wished for was simply a firework show.
¡°Why fireworks?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s not even hard to make. Why are you so set on fireworks?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± CC shook her head. ¡°But I¡¯ve always had this obsession in my mind.¡±
Obsession.
Lin Xian had heard that word before.
He suddenly realized.
Everyone who¡¯d lost their memory seemed to have an inexplicable obsession.
Yan Qiao Qiao was obsessed with the feeling of her parents.
Wei Sheng Jin was obsessed with his past self.
Angelica was obsessed with revenge.
Zheng Xiang Yue was obsessed with Rhine Cat.
The Blue-Eyed Chief was obsessed with her name.
CC had never lost her memory, of course.
But¡
If obsessions were somehow passed on¡ª
Did it mean that Chu An Qing, Zhang Yu Qian, and all the other Millennium Stakes carried these kinds of obsessions too?
Where was the origin?
To be honest, Lin Xian didn¡¯t understand how fireworks could make a girl so happy.
But, he¡¯d once set off fireworks for Zhao Ying Jun, and for Li Ning Ning¡ªthey¡¯d both been delighted.
But as for Chu An Qing¡
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank.
He remembered what Ji Lin had said:
¡°You need to do something big and romantic, right? Like setting off fireworks that fill the sky for Chu An Qing? Lighting up the night sky in Donghai City? You know she¡¯d be happy, but you just don¡¯t do it.¡±
He remembered what the super AI, VV, had said:
¡°Let¡¯s set off fireworks to light up the sky for Chu An Qing! Girls love fireworks¡ªthey¡¯re so romantic! Someone like Chu An Qing, still a teenage girl, who wouldn¡¯t be thrilled by fireworks lighting up the whole sky?¡±
Two people had wanted him to set off fireworks for Chu An Qing.
But he¡¯d refused, choosing other gifts instead.
Sometimes, there were things that were already toote once you realized them.
Lin Xian let out a long breath, pushing himself off the flowerbed and standing on the stone tiles, looking at CC.
¡°Thank you, CC. I think I know what kind of future is the best future now.¡±
¡°Seriously?¡± CC chuckled lightly. ¡°I was just talking. You don¡¯t have to take it so seriously.¡±
¡°No.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°You¡¯re right. If we want to think about humanity¡¯s future, first, humanity must have a tomorrow¡ªa future. If there¡¯s no tomorrow, what¡¯s the point of discussion?¡±
¡°Like your twentieth birthday¡ªif you can never reach twenty, you¡¯ll never get that twentieth birthday gift. No matter how well you n, how prepared you are, it¡¯s all useless.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the same for humanity¡¯s future¡ªall the pretty words and beautiful ns mean nothing if time doesn¡¯t keep flowing, if people don¡¯t see the sun rise on August 29th, 2624.¡±
He suddenly felt a sense of relief, rity washing over him.
He nced at his wristwatch.
It read¡
00:41.
The time was almost up.
But Lin Xian had gotten his answer.
He looked up at CC.
¡°If one day, the end of the world bes not an end¡ ¡±
Lin Xian smiled and pointed up at the sky.
¡°I¡¯ll give you the most spectacr fireworks disy. And at the first second of 00:42, I¡¯ll tell you¡¡±
¡°Happy birthday.¡±
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The dazzling white light appeared on schedule, not a second more, not a second less¡ªnot giving the world even one more moment, nor giving CC her twentieth birthday.
Not even for a second.
¡
¡
¡
In a corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes.
¡°This is my answer,¡± he whispered.
¡°Genius Club, here Ie.¡±
Chapter 416: Great Power Comes with Great Responsibility
Two dayster.
In the new harbor district of Donghai City, inside the Te Gigafactory, Lin Xian and Elon Musk sat alone in a top-secret meeting room.
Elon Musk hade to X Country inplete secrecy¡ªno fanfare, no public announcements, not even a tweet to update his followers. He flew here alone, quietly slipping into the country. Uponnding, he reached out to Lin Xian to arrange a meeting at the Gigafactory.
Elon Musk knew very well that Lin Xian must have something crucial to tell him. And there was no ce more suitable for such discussions than this secure meeting room. It was the highest-level area of the factory, essible only by Elon Musk himself.
He had brought Lin Xian in, locked the door behind them, and, adapting to the local customs, made a pot of tea. With a smile, he said, ¡°Long time no see, Lin Xian. I was happy to hear you¡¯vepleted the three tasks of the Genius Club.¡±
Elon Musk poured a cup for Lin Xian and handed it over.
Lin Xian took the cup. It was a bit too hot, so he set it down on the coffee table. It had only been two months since hest saw Elon Musk, yet Lin Xian could see that the man seemed exhausted¡ªhis usual energy somewhat diminished.
Was it just the workload from thesest two months?Elon Musk poured himself a cup and sat down opposite Lin Xian. ¡°So¡ have you entered the answer for the third task yet? Knowing you, I¡¯m guessing you think humanity has a future, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yes, I chose ¡®YES.¡¯ I believe humanity has a future and should have one. But¡ I haven¡¯t entered my final answer yet.¡±
Elon Musk raised an eyebrow, curious.
¡°Well, even though I know it¡¯s a subjective question,¡± Lin Xian exined, ¡°I want to be cautious. After all, the answer I put down is significant, and while I don¡¯t expect my view to change, I thought it best for us to have a conversation first¡ªto understand some things a little better¡ªbefore I proceed.¡±
Elon Musk chuckled lightly. ¡°If it¡¯s just a casual chat, that¡¯s fine. But you do understand¡ªas I said before¡ªuntil you be an official Genius Club member, there are limits to what I can share.¡±
¡°Even though I¡¯m confident no one is listening in here, and no one else will ever know about this conversation, the principles of the Genius Club are absolute. Rules are rules.¡±
¡°I believe that anyone undertaking great endeavors must possess integrity. That, I think, applies to you as well.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly, spinning the teacup gently on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t intend to ask anything about the club¡¯s specific secrets. Let¡¯s just consider today a conversation between friends.¡±
¡°I¡¯m curious¡ªhow did you answer the third question? I figure subjective answers like that can¡¯t be too sensitive. Besides, you¡¯re always so high-profile. Even if you don¡¯t say it, people will likely guess most of it anyway.¡±
Elon Musk took a sip of tea and then put down his cup. ¡°Sure, I can share that. It¡¯s no secret. My goal and dream are well-known worldwide¡ªto colonize Mars and then reach even further into space.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that I dislike Earth¡ªI love this. But if human civilization wants to continue developing and surviving, leaving Earth and stepping out of the sr system is inevitable.¡±
¡°In fact, many problems are already surfacing on Earth¡ªenvironmental issues, resource depletion, energy crises. These things tend to escte gradually; until they reach a tipping point, everything seems calm.¡±
¡°But by the time the crisis hits, it¡¯ll be toote to patch things up. Take Mars colonization and interster travel, for instance¡ªit¡¯s not something that can be done in just a few years. The process takes time, and we need to start now if humanity is to stand a chance.¡±
¡°What I¡¯m doing now, to put it in your culture¡¯s terms, is ¡®prepare for danger in times of peace.¡¯ Many people think I¡¯m a fraud, that my hype is just to boost stock prices. I won¡¯t deny it¡ªI know I¡¯ve exaggerated, that some promises can¡¯t be achieved in the short term.¡±
¡°But I have to do this. If humanity doesn¡¯t start working on extraterrestrial colonization and space travel now, then when? Should we wait until we face a doomsday crisis? Or perhaps until alien ships are at our doorstep?¡±
¡°History has too many lessons in hindsight. I don¡¯t want humanity to repeat those mistakes. That¡¯s why, ¡®Someone has to be the first. Someone has to ignite that me.''¡±
¡°You can¡¯t light a fire just by talking¡ªactions are what matter. You might think I¡¯m worrying over nothing. Maybe humans can live on Earth until natural extinction without catastrophe. But¡ well, I can¡¯t say more than that. Leading humanity off Earth and into the cosmos¡ªthat¡¯s the future I believe in.¡±
Elon Musk shrugged, a wry smile on his face. ¡°How many times have I lied about Mars colonization? The earliest I said was 2026. Then it got pushed to 2030, then 2050.¡±
¡°I know it¡¯s unrealistic. Humanity won¡¯t achieve Mars colonization within a century, maybe even longer.¡±
¡°But I still say it because most people are short-sighted. If I promise a timeline beyond their lifetimes, they won¡¯t care. To them, as long as tomorrow¡¯s sun rises and they die peacefully, who cares what happens next?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t me them¡ªthat attitude is understandable. But while they can think like that, I can¡¯t. We can¡¯t.¡±
Elon Musk looked at Lin Xian, his expression turning serious.
¡°Noblesse Oblige.¡±
He then tranted it: ¡°With great poweres great responsibility.¡±
He paused before continuing.
¡°I can¡¯t say every Genius Club member is a good person or is doing the right thing. But whether they¡¯re good or bad, right or wrong¡ªwho can judge that before their story ends?
¡°What I do know is that anyone invited to join the Genius Club, who can answer the three questions, is someone whose beliefs and visions are beyond the ordinary. We don¡¯t dismiss crises just because they don¡¯t directly affect us. Quite the opposite¡ªwe see our lives¡¯ purpose in addressing them.¡±
Lin Xian listened, processing Elon Musk¡¯s exnation.
He actually knew far more about the Genius Club than Elon Musk realized.
It seemed the answer to the third question was even more significant than he initially thought.
The question wasn¡¯t just about envisioning the best possible future.
It was about what kind of future you wanted to create for the world.
No wonder this wasn¡¯t a question anyone would answer casually.
Lin Xian had gone through so much just to get that invitation. Now, facing the third question, he was determined to get it right, even if it meant verifying it one more time.
¡°You must¡¯ve also chosen ¡®YES¡¯ for the third question,¡± Lin Xian ventured. ¡°After all, your ns depend on humanity¡¯s future.¡±
¡°But if the Genius Club is truly working towards humanity¡¯s future, then¡ would anyone really answer ¡®NO¡¯ to ¡®Does humanity have a future¡¯?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Elon Musk replied without hesitation. ¡°There are always pessimists among us. Being pessimistic doesn¡¯t mean doing nothing. Kevin Walker, for example, chose ¡®NO.¡¯ He never believed in humanity¡¯s future. His path was one without humans.¡±
¡°For the longest time, I didn¡¯t understand Kevin¡¯s vision either¡ªwhat future he envisioned or hoped to achieve. But when you told me about digital life Turing, it became clear.¡±
¡°No wonder Kevin and I never got along. Our visions were fundamentally opposed. It wasn¡¯t just a difference in philosophy¡ªit was about resource allocation, technology direction, everything.¡±
Lin Xian nodded silently.
He realized that even within the Genius Club, members didn¡¯t fully understand each other¡¯s goals or what future they aimed to build.
Elon Musk admitted he had only recently figured out Kevin Walker¡¯s vision.
But Lin Xian knew.
The digital life Turing had once exined Kevin Walker¡¯s n in great detail to him. To Kevin, humanity had no future, and he had grown disillusioned with humanity¡¯s existence.
So his n was to digitize all humans, to turn billions into digital beings living inside a virtual server¡ªa superwork the size of a city, trapping human civilization in a loop of digital existence.
That was Kevin¡¯s envisioned future.
But before he could enact his n, Turing betrayed him.
¡°When I became a digital life,¡± Turing had said, ¡°I realized Kevin Walker¡¯s n was doomed to fail.¡±
At the time, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t fully understood the significance of those words. But now he did.
Indeed.
Turing had used its dramatic life to prove just how ridiculous Kevin Walker¡¯s vision was.
They were quite the pair of frenemies.
¡°But¡ doesn¡¯t Kevin Walker¡¯s approach mean wiping out humanity?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Even if it¡¯s turning everyone digital, isn¡¯t that still a form of extermination? And the Genius Club¡ allows this?¡±
Elon Musk held Lin Xian¡¯s gaze, silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke slowly: ¡°Human civilization doesn¡¯t necessarily need humans.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°A civilization without humans¡ can that still be called human civilization?¡±
Elon Muskughed too. ¡°I hope everyone thinks the way you do, Lin Xian. But some people don¡¯t, and they¡¯re convinced they¡¯re right.¡±
¡°Still, I can¡¯t outright say they¡¯re wrong either. Until we see the end result, who can say what¡¯s truly right or the best approach?¡±
¡°Have you read X Country¡¯s famous sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem? At the end of the second book, The Dark Forest, everyone thought Luo Ji had failed. It wasn¡¯t until the veryst moment, when he used the Dark Forest strategy to save Earth, that people finally understood.¡±
¡°So, to be fair, I don¡¯t like Kevin Walker or his n, but I can¡¯t im it to be wrong. Not until the end¡ªuntil we see who really seeds and saves humanity.¡±
The tea had cooled by then. Lin Xian picked up his cup and drank it in one go, swirling the empty cup in his hand.
¡°Turing is dead,¡± he said.
¡°I know,¡± Elon Musk responded, puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you kill Kevin Walker yourself? I even sent you the location.¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Turing¡ªthe digital life. I killed him too.¡±
Elon Musk¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡ you can kill a digital life?¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°When?¡± Elon Musk pressed.
¡°A few days ago,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°June 16th, Father¡¯s Day.¡±
Elon Musk fell silent for several long moments, thenughed. ¡°Good job! Kevin¡¯s digital version would¡¯ve been a menace eventually. This is great news, Lin Xian! Is this why you called me to Donghai City? Honestly, if I¡¯d known, I¡¯d have brought some champagne to celebrate!¡±
But Lin Xian shook his head, a serious look on his face as he waggled a finger. ¡°Unfortunately, Elon Musk, this isn¡¯t the message I wanted to share. In fact, I have bad news for you.¡±
He met Elon Musk¡¯s eyes, his voice dropping. ¡°You¡¯re going to die soon.¡±
¡°In July, someone will kill you, and your body double will seamlessly take your ce, deceiving everyone.¡±
Elon Musk squinted. ¡°Are you predicting the future?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head again. ¡°I¡¯m not predicting¡ªI¡¯m stating the future. Or, as the Genius Club likes to say¡ I¡¯m stating established history.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s words left Elon Musk silent.
He almost asked where Lin Xian got such information but decided against it. It didn¡¯t matter where the ¡°established history¡± came from¡ªwhat mattered was whether it was true. And Elon Musk knew Lin Xian well enough to trust him.
Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t lie to him about something like this. Calling him to Donghai City in secret suggested that Lin Xian suspected¡
Someone in Elon Musk¡¯s inner circle was a spy for the enemy.
Elon Musk¡¯s instinct pointed the same way.
As the world¡¯s richest man, he wasn¡¯t an easy target. With Kevin Walker and Turing dead¡ªboth taken out by Lin Xian¡ªhis enemies would need inside help to kill him, secretly and without anyone noticing.
¡°Do you know who¡¯s going to kill me?¡± Elon Musk asked.
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°If I knew the exact time and the killer, I¡¯d have told you right away. All I know is that you¡¯re going to die around that time, but nothing more.¡±
¡°Still, I wouldn¡¯t put too much faith in the timeline I gave you. The future shifts constantly. The pping of the time-space butterfly could change everything.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Elon Musk nodded. ¡°Too much intervention will definitely cause a butterfly effect. If I act too soon, maybe they¡¯ll strike early; if I¡¯m careful, maybe they¡¯ll change tactics.¡±
He sighed, looking wearier than ever. ¡°To be honest, Lin Xian, I¡¯ve been feeling down this June.¡±
¡°I noticed,¡± Lin Xian said directly. ¡°You seem tired¡ªyour energy is off.¡±
Elon Musk let out a bitterugh. ¡°I knew at the beginning of the month¡ my n for the future will fail.¡±
Lin Xian tilted his head. ¡°Did the Genius Club leader tell you that?¡±
Elon Musk gave a knowing smile, neither confirming nor denying. ¡°I¡¯ve been lost for most of June. I haven¡¯t given up, but there is¡ a sense of helplessness.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything, but he understood.
He had seen it in his fifth dream.
In that dream, Elon Musk had achieved a perfect ending¡ªhe was alive, ruling Mars, wielding power, technology, and a poption. He was the most sessful person in that dream.
But even then, he had failed.
Elon Musk had admitted as much to Angelica before sending her back to Earth for protection. And in the end, Elon Musk failed, utterly andpletely.
If he couldn¡¯t seed under such perfect circumstances, it showed that his n had fundamental ws. It wasn¡¯t feasible.
Seeing Elon Musk in his current state, it was clear he had realized this too.
¡°Do you have a way to avoid death?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Of course,¡± Elon Musk replied. ¡°But it won¡¯t solve the problem in the long run. The enemy is in the shadows, while I¡¯m in the open. They¡¯ve already infiltrated my circle¡ I can hide for a while, but can I hide forever?¡±
¡°So, what will you do?¡± Lin Xian guessed. ¡°Are you setting a trap to catch the spy?¡±
Elon Musk shook his head, holding up a finger. ¡°That¡¯s clever, but not clever enough.¡±
His eyes shifted, a sly grin appearing. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of something even better¡ªsomething that will not only solve my crisis but also kill two birds with one stone!¡±
Excitement returned to his voice, energy recing the exhaustion. He stood up, pacing with a smile.
¡°Lin Xian, mind if I borrow Angelica for a while? You don¡¯t mind, right?¡±
Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Angelica isn¡¯t my subordinate or my possession, so there¡¯s no point in asking me. Angelica is my friend¡ªif you need her help, just ask her.¡±
Elon Musk chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m just giving you a heads-up.¡±
Lin Xian understood then.
Elon Musk mentioned Angelica deliberately, not because he needed permission but to hint at his n.
¡°Bold move,¡± Lin Xian smirked. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of swapping a prince for a pauper, but I¡¯ve never seen someone use the prince to switch with the pauper.¡±
Elon Musk gave Lin Xian an approving look. Lin Xian had already figured out his n.
¡°For the foreseeable future, my acting skills will be put to the test,¡± Elon Musk said, rubbing his hands together. He gave a cold smile, ¡°That¡¯s why I said earlier¡ body doubles really are useful things!¡±
Chapter 418: Genius Club Rules?
Lin Xian looked down at the list, his eyes scanning the five rules of the Genius Club. He hadn¡¯t expected this.
The result of the third question hade so quickly¡ªor rather, it seemed like the answer didn¡¯t even matter. Right or wrong, it wasn¡¯t about that.
That is why, the moment he hit ¡°submit,¡± he passed the test, and the ¡°Genius Club Rules¡± appeared before him.
Reaching this point felt like he¡¯d officially received an invitation to attend the Genius Club gathering.
¡°Phew¡¡±
Lin Xian let out a long sigh. ¡°What a journey it¡¯s been.¡±
Finally, he had made it this far. Finally, he could meet these geniuses face-to-face and maybe even unravel the mysteries of the Millennium Stake, among so many other secrets.
The first rule stated the meeting times for the Genius Club¡ªon the first day of every month, at 00:42 X Country time. Lin Xian found this intriguing.The club¡¯s logo and the text were all in English, which made him think it was an international group. But then why use X Country time for the meetings?
¡°Could it be that the leader of the Genius Club is from X Country?¡± Lin Xian scratched his head. ¡°Not impossible, I suppose. Anyway, once I attend, I¡¯ll find out.¡±
The second part of the first rule emphasized something¡ªattendance was optional, butteness was absolutely not allowed. If you were going to bete, it was better not to show up at all. Interesting. It seemed like this organization ced a lot of importance on ceremony, with a strange kind of stubbornness.
Lin Xian moved on to the second rule. It said that, in keeping with modern times, current meetings were held virtually, using VR sses or headsets.
This made sense. Lin Xian had already guessed as much.
¡°If the Genius Club meetings were held in person, there¡¯s no way rtionships between members would be so distant,¡± he mused. ¡°Besides, imagine Elon Musk and Kevin Walker sitting at the same table. One destroyed the other¡¯s system, and the other blew up two thousand of his satellites. They¡¯d probably want nothing more than to strangle each other. Even if they managed not to flip the table out of respect for the leader, as soon as the meeting ended, they¡¯d definitely be at each other¡¯s throats.¡±
He shook his head. ¡°Not to mention Kevin Walker is a wanted criminal worldwide¡ªhow could he attend in person? So, VR meetings make sense. I just hadn¡¯t expected it to be VR.¡±
Lin Xian was somewhat familiar with VR¡ªthe technology where you wore a headset that covered half your face, recing your real-world view with an immersive virtual environment. It had been quite popr a few years ago but had lost some momentum recently.
Using VR for immersive meetings was a clever approach, though.
¡°But what did they do before VR technology was invented? How did the Genius Club meet every month?¡± Lin Xian wondered. He was sure the club had a long history and couldn¡¯t have started only after VR was invented.
Back then, they would¡¯ve had to hide their identities too. Could they have used online chat rooms? And before the inte, beforeputers¡ªdid they meet in person?
Lin Xian shook his head again, imagining. Back then, they must¡¯ve had real-life duels after meetings. He wondered how many members from those days were still around.
¡°Three days from now¡ªJuly 1st,¡± Lin Xian looked at the calendar on his desk. ¡°I¡¯ll have my answers then.¡±
He didn¡¯t have any VR equipment at home, so he¡¯d need to buy some in the next couple of days. Apparently, Apple had announced a new VR headset atst year¡¯s productunch, and it had recently hit the market.
¡°I¡¯ll check out the store tomorrow. VR equipment isn¡¯t hard to get; there are plenty of brands,¡± he decided.
Lin Xian moved on to the third rule. This one seemed a bit odd. It said that, to protect privacy and prevent exposure, every member must wear a mask during meetings.
¡°Uh¡¡±
If these were in-person meetings, wearing a mask made sense to hide your identity. But in VR? Everyone was already using an avatar, and you could customize it however you liked¡ªtall, short, fat, thin, any face, any hair. You could even change your gender if you wanted. From a privacy standpoint, VR already offered perfect anonymity. Adding a mask seemed a bit redundant.
Lin Xian noticed a particr phrase in the third rule: ¡°As per club tradition.¡±
¡°Ah, that exins it.¡± He nodded to himself. ¡°Looks like I was right. In the early days,st century, the club must¡¯ve met in person. Everyone had to wear a mask to protect their identity. Even now, in the digital age, they haven¡¯t let go of that tradition. Strange and stubborn¡ªbut I get it.¡±
The mask wasn¡¯t important; it was about respecting tradition. Over time, people had gotten used to it, and they brought it with them into the online world. Most likely, they meant a virtual mask for the avatars.
Still, Lin Xian thought, ¡°Just in case, I¡¯d better prepare a physical mask too. What if the system requires scanning a real one? I can¡¯t afford to miss the July 1st meeting over something that trivial.¡±
He remembered asking Wang to add the Rhine Cat mask to the production line half a month ago. ¡°It should be ready by now. I¡¯ll pick one up from thepany¡ Hopefully, it¡¯s selling well.¡±
With that, the mask issue was settled. It might not have much practical purpose, but Lin Xian believed in ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do.¡± Since he¡¯d joined the club, he had to follow the rules.
Next, he read the fourth rule¡ªit was straightforward. It stated that membership in the Genius Club was for life¡ªone person, one seat. Members wouldn¡¯t be expelled or reced, even if they turned against the club.
¡°That¡¯s some serious tolerance,¡± Lin Xian thought, impressed. He wondered who the leader of the Genius Club was, to be so broad-minded. Even if someone became an enemy, they could still attend meetings and gain information.
¡°Impressive,¡± he muttered, recalling something he¡¯d seen in a motivational video. ¡°People who betray me, I give them a million. Because those whoe back to serve me¡ they¡¯ll be worth billions!¡±
Still, Lin Xian wondered if anyone would actually betray the club. He had gone to great lengths to join, and even Ji Xun had chased this dream for a lifetime. Would anyone really turn their back on it?
¡°Possible, I guess,¡± he shrugged. The minds of geniuses were unpredictable. There was a fine line between brilliance and madness, and from what he¡¯d seen of his fellow members, he wholeheartedly agreed.
Finally, there was the fifth rule¡ªthough it was more of a reminder than a rule:
¡°With great poweres great responsibility. Always remember the duty and authority history grants geniuses, to work towards a brighter future for humanity¡¡±
Lin Xian read it aloud.
¡°Wait a second¡ªfor a brighter future for humanity¡¡± He paused, recognizing the phrase. Wasn¡¯t that the motto of the Rhine Company?
He remembered theunch ceremony¡ªstanding before reporters, employees, Zhao Ying Jun, and Chu Shan He. He¡¯d thrown away the scripted speech Wang had prepared and improvised one instead.
He¡¯d talked about the environmental impact of Rhine Sky City and came up with a vision for thepany: ¡°I sincerely hope that no matter howrge Rhine Company bes, no matter what field it works in, it will always uphold this principle¡ªand that is the true meaning of Rhine Company: to work towards a brighter future for humanity.¡±
The passionate speech had earned him rousing apuse, and the phrase had appeared in major newspapers across Donghai City the next day.
¡°Is it a coincidence?¡± Lin Xian wondered. ¡°How could everything be a coincidence? There can¡¯t be that many coincidences.¡±
Yellow Finch had often told him to work towards being a proper leader. Did that mean the leader of the Genius Club?
Lin Xian blinked, thinking back. Turing and Elon Musk had both confirmed it¡ªthe club¡¯s leader had some way of seeing into the future.
Could it be¡ Could the leader be him?
Lin Xian held his breath, considering all possible scenarios. But beyond these strange coincidences, there was nothing else to support it.
¡°Heh.¡± Heughed softly, shaking his head. ¡°The final boss is me? What kind of clich¨¦ plot twist is that? Not even stories from ten years ago would use something so old-fashioned.¡±
If he were the leader, he couldn¡¯t imagine being this forgiving¡ªletting someone like Copernicus, who¡¯d taken innocent lives, attend the meetings again. No way.
¡°No, no.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not that open-minded. I¡¯d never let members harm innocent people or throw the world into chaos. No way I¡¯m the leader.¡±
No point in overthinking it. He read the beginning of the fifth rule again¡ªwith great power came great responsibility. Geniuses had a duty to lead humanity toward a better future.
But what about authority? What did that mean?
¡°Is it the power to influence history, the future, time, and fate?¡± Lin Xian snorted. ¡°How self-important.¡±
Click. He locked his phone screen, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.
These were the rules of the Genius Club. Though he still didn¡¯t fully understand the club, at least now he had a ticket to attend the meeting.
And that was enough for now.
¡°The rest¡ I¡¯ll find out at the gathering.¡±
¡
Two dayster.
June 30th, 2024, nine in the morning, Rhine Company, Lin Xian¡¯s office.
Wang stepped forward and ced two Rhine Cat masks on the desk.
¡°Take a look. What do you think? We made them exactly as you requested, top quality. They¡¯re from the toy factory we¡¯ve always worked with.¡±
¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t think masks like these would make any profit, but you wouldn¡¯t believe it! It¡¯s only been on the shelves for a week, and they¡¯re selling like crazy! Sold out in many cities¡ The factory¡¯s machines are practically smoking.¡±
¡°I have to say, look at the quality of these masks¡ªthe colors, the edges¡ªamazing. Sure, this factory is more expensive than others, but the quality¡¯s worth it.¡±
¡°I just spoke with the marketing team, and they said we¡¯ve already sold four million masks this week. I thought it was going to be a flop, but it identally became a hit. Anything rted to Rhine Cat sells!¡±
¡°If we include export orders, there are over forty million already. This factory¡¯s going to be busy for a while.¡±
Lin Xian listened as Wang reported the figures, picking up one of the masks to inspect.
The mask¡¯s design and colors were based on the original Rhine Cat¡ªthe same one Big Cat Face wore in Lin Xian¡¯s first dream, a simple doodle of Rhine Cat.
That was where everything began.
The start of it all.
Lin Xian found it meaningful.
It was about not forgetting where it all started.
Half a month ago, when he told Wang to make an official Rhine Cat mask, Lin Xian had specifically requested the original doodle version.
And now, his dream had be a reality.
Here, in 2024, he finally had the Rhine Cat mask from six hundred years into the future.
Lin Xian ran his fingers over the glossy colors, testing the material¡ªsturdy, yet flexible. He couldn¡¯t help but praise it.
¡°It¡¯s really good. No wonder it¡¯s selling so well.¡±
Lin Xian stretched the stic band and put the mask on, letting it rest on the back of his head.
And just like that¡
The long-forgotten Rhine Cat mask was back on his face.
Through the mask¡¯s eyeholes, he looked at Wang across the desk.
¡°Well?¡±
¡°What?¡± Wang looked confused.
¡°I mean¡¡± Lin Xian pointed at the mask, smiling. ¡°Do I look like a bank robber?¡±
¡°Hahahaha.¡±
Wang burst intoughter.
¡°Who would be stupid enough to rob a bank wearing a Rhine Cat mask? They¡¯d have to be nuts!¡±
Lin Xian quickly remembered.
Thank goodness.
In his first dream, when he robbed the bank, he had been wearing the same Ultraman mask as CC. Wang¡¯s joke hadn¡¯t inadvertently hit the mark.
¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get somepensation from Big Cat for image damages.¡±
Joking aside¡
Without Big Cat Face robbing the bank in the Rhine Cat mask, none of this would be possible.
Big Cat was the real hero.
The toughest guy in human history.
¡
After discussingpany matters with Wang, Lin Xian took the two Rhine Cat masks, left his office, and headed to the other tower of the Twin Buildings, the MX Tower.
Using the app on his phone, he could see Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s location in real-time through the watch on her wrist.
It had be part of his daily routine.
Even though his phone would send an alert if she left the designated area, better safe than sorry.
A moment ago, he had seen her watch location¡ªit showed she was at the MX Tower.
Which meant¡
Zhao Ying Jun had brought her to work today.
As soon as Lin Xian entered the MX Tower, familiar faces came up to him.
¡°Oh, Lin Xian,ing to see the boss again?¡±
¡°What are those¡ Rhine Cat masks? Are you giving one to the boss? I just bought one for my son the other day.¡±
¡°Last time you brought a robot vacuum, and now a mask? You¡¯re all over the ce.¡±
¡°You guys don¡¯t get it. He¡¯s giving it to Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªthe kid from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s family.¡±
¡°Oh, oh, right. Gotta build rapport even with distant rtives, huh?¡±
¡
Among the chatter and jokes, Lin Xian took the elevator up to the 22nd floor.
Since Zhao Ying Jun had saidst time that he coulde anytime, and just enter without knocking, Lin Xian didn¡¯t stand on ceremony.
He punched in the familiar code, and with a beep, the double security doors clicked open.
Inside the office¡
Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao looked up at the same time.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re here.¡±
¡°Brother Lin Xian.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, looking over at the sofa.
Yan Qiao Qiao was sitting there, rolling a crumpled paper ball in her hands and tossing it towards the coffee table.
¡°Trash detected! Trash detected!¡±
The vacuum robot VV buzzed around, spinning and speeding towards the paper ball, scooping it up.
Zhao Ying Jun nced at the scene and smiled at Lin Xian.
¡°Qiao Qiao¡¯s found a new toy. She loves ying with VV¡ It¡¯s funny, she likes both the VV¡ªthe Pomeranian and the vacuum robot.¡±
At that moment, the vacuum robot¡¯s light blinked a few times.
Then, it suddenly charged straight at Lin Xian¡¯s ankle.
¡°Trash detected! Trash detected!¡±
Bang.
¡°Ow.¡±
It hit Lin Xian¡¯s ankle, and he grimaced in pain.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Did you malfunction?¡±
The vacuum robot just stopped, doing nothing.
¡°Troublesome.¡±
Lin Xian muttered, then walked over to the sofa, handing one of the Rhine Cat masks to Yan Qiao Qiao.
¡°Qiao Qiao, look at this mask. Isn¡¯t it a lot better than that cheap knockoff you had before?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao epted it, nodding.
¡°Rhine Cat. I like it.¡±
She pulled the stic band over her ponytail and put the mask on, then looked up at Lin Xian.
¡°When can we go to the park and fight those Ultramen and Pleasant Little Lambs?¡±
Lin Xian burst outughing, patting Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s head.
¡°Do you think this mask is your ticket to the fight club? Little girls shouldn¡¯t always think about fighting. You should pick a nice hobby.¡±
¡°Ah, that reminds me.¡± Zhao Ying Jun set down her pen and spoke up.
¡°When I took Qiao Qiao shopping a while back, she seemed interested in Taekwondo and Sanda, so we tried a ss. The instructor was really impressed with her and said he¡¯d never seen such a natural talent¡ªeven offered to train her for free.¡±
She chuckled.
¡°Of course, we wouldn¡¯t take advantage like that. I paid the fees. I figured she¡¯d just do it for fun, not for any exams orpetitions.¡±
¡°She really likes Taekwondo and Sanda. When we left, she kept ncing back at the kids training. I thought, why not sign her up if she¡¯s so interested? Just as a hobby.¡±
¡°What do you think?¡±
Uh¡
Lin Xian looked at Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s eager eyes behind the mask, feeling conflicted.
He tried changing the topic. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to try dancing?¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°Too weak.¡±
¡°Weak?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled. ¡°Dancing isn¡¯t weak¡ You mean it¡¯s not exciting enough? Then maybe hip-hop? That¡¯s pretty energetic.¡±
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡±
¡°Then how about an instrument¡ªpiano, violin, guitar?¡± Lin Xian tried again.
Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head once more.
¡°I like fighting.¡±
With that, she threw a few quick punches, her movements crisp and sharp.
Lin Xian was reminded of Vige Chief Blue Eyes in the seventh dream¡ªpunching a bear so hard that its head exploded, brain matter everywhere.
¡°¡¡± Lin Xian sighed.
It seemed he couldn¡¯t change her mind.
¡°Alright, let her do it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shrugged.
¡°It¡¯s just a hobby ss. How much can she really learn? It¡¯s just for fun, maybe make some friends.¡±
¡°Besides, it¡¯s good for a girl to learn some self-defense. It¡¯ll help her if anyone tries to mess with her.¡±
Hah.
Lin Xian smiled wryly.
Who would dare mess with her?
Even Lord Li in Donghai City was respectful when it came to her.
¡°Brother Lin Xian, will you take me?¡± Yan Qiao Qiao adjusted the mask on her face, looking up at him with bright eyes.
¡°Sister Ying Jun has been really busytely, and hasn¡¯t had time to take me to Taekwondo¡ I want to keep going.¡±
¡°Alright, alright.¡±
So far, it didn¡¯t seem like Yan Qiao Qiao had any memory of the past. Liu Feng¡¯s entangled particles had also been stable.
Lin Xian was at aplete loss.
Thankfully, there were still seven days until July 7th. He could spend the time with Yan Qiao Qiao, strengthen their bond, and maybe find some clues.
As long as the clock didn¡¯t change, as long as there was no timeline shift, the established history wouldn¡¯t change, and he¡¯d be safe until the 7th.
If he couldn¡¯t find a solution by July 6th¡
Lin Xian would just head to the capital and hide with Director Liu An of National Security.
¡°But not today. I¡¯ve got something to do.¡± Lin Xian promised. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to Taekwondo tomorrow.¡±
¡°Okay!¡± Yan Qiao Qiao nodded eagerly, her eyes full of anticipation. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you, Brother Lin Xian.¡±
With that settled, Lin Xian decided not to interrupt Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s work any longer. He left and headed to the electronics mall, where he purchased a feature-packed VR headset with NFC technology.
The headset had a massive, full-coverage design that looked like a box covering the upper half of his face. It used two high-definition screens inside to create a 3D image for each eye, giving a realistic and immersive experience.
Lin Xian tried it out at the store. As soon as he put it on, he found himself in a lifelike, almost indistinguishable real forest. Looking to his left, he saw colorful butterflies fluttering close, as if they were about tond on his face. The soft rustling of wind and the gentle p of wings made it feel like he was truly there.
He looked up. There was sunlight, a bright sky, towering treetops, and birds flying overhead. The lighting effects were so vivid that he could almost feel the damp, cool atmosphere of the forest. Looking down, he saw his pant legs and boots¡ªalthough, of course, they weren¡¯t real. Instead of the athletic clothes he wore in real life, the VR world presented him as a jungle adventurer, dressed in thick, muddy boots and sturdy trousers, enhancing the immersion.
Lin Xian spun around, taking in the 360-degree view of the dense forest behind him¡ªjust in time to see a striped tiger leap out of the jungle! Muscles tensed, fangs bared, it roared at him and lunged.
¡°Whoa!¡± Lin Xian instinctively dodged to the side. The VR experience ended abruptly right then, leaving him standing in the store, a little out of breath.
A store employee helped him remove the headset, smiling. ¡°How did you like it, sir?¡±
¡°It was quite impressive,¡± Lin Xian admitted, still amazed. ¡°Very realistic.¡±
¡°VR technology depends on both hardware and software,¡± the employee exined. ¡°The quality of the VR experience improves as resolution, frame rate, and content quality improve. Unfortunately, VR videos and games are still not mainstream, so the avable content is somewhat limited.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Lin Xian handed back the VR headset. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one, please. And just to confirm, it supports NFC, right?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± the employee assured him. He demonstrated using an NFC card, and Lin Xian was satisfied. He paid, collected his purchase, and headed home.
¡
Night, July 1, 2024, 12:40 a.m.
Lin Xian satfortably on his couch, already wearing the sleek new VR headset. With no input source or connection, the scene before him showed a virtual living room instead of his own¡ªan empty 3D space that had no character of its own.
¡°It¡¯s about time,¡± he muttered. In his right hand, Lin Xian held the golden badge of the Genius Club. He brought it up to the right side of the headset, aligning it with the NFC module.
Beep beep.
A soft sound indicated the headset had recognized the NFC link. The world around him shifted rapidly, light and shadow shing past as though he were speeding through a tunnel of time and space. He turned his head, looking left and right, but everywhere was the same mixture of dazzling colors.
After several seconds, the scene settled. He found himself standing in what looked like a changing room.
¡°Please set up your virtual avatar,¡± a mechanical voice prompted¡ªneither male nor female, utterly devoid of emotion.
Lin Xian navigated the options with his eyes, setting up a quick avatar. He wasn¡¯t interested in making it special¡ªa random height, a standard build, default facial features, and a simple suit. In the end, his avatar looked like an utterly ordinary middle-aged man in a in suit. The Genius Club¡¯s golden badge automatically appeared on his jacket.
Lin Xian confirmed his selection, and the mechanical voice continued: ¡°Please set up your mask. You may scan a physical mask or upload an image.¡±
He had been expecting this. Lin Xian picked up the ¡°Rhine Cat¡± mask from beside him and held it in front of the VR headset¡¯s camera.
The mask was quickly reconstructed and appeared in the virtual world, attaching itself to his avatar¡¯s face.
He couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. ¡°Isn¡¯t this redundant?¡± he thought. A virtual mask over a virtual face¡ªit felt like an unnecessary step.
Once again, he confirmed his choice, and the screen faded to ck. Only the distant glow of candlelight remained visible. The mechanical voice spoke again:
¡°Please turn off or mute all nearby electronic devices. The gathering must not be disturbed.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°What a hassle.¡± But he had no choice. He reached for his phone on the coffee table and flipped the physical mute switch.
Thirty more seconds passed.
Finally¡ª
The darkness lifted, and warm light filled his vision. Lin Xian turned his head to look around. He found himself inside an imposing medieval-style castle. A long red carpet stretched before him, leading to a pair of tall wooden doors at the end.
He understood. He needed to walk forward and open those doors¡ªthe Genius Club meeting awaited on the other side.
He moved forward, his avatar¡¯s feet appearing as he stepped onto the carpet. The sound of shoes against wool echoed realistically in his ears.
Lin Xian recalled what the salesperson had told him¡ªthe higher the quality, the better the VR experience. Everything here¡ªthe castle, the carpet, the massive doors¡ªwas top-notch. It felt so real, it almost fooled his senses.
Step by step, he approached therge wooden doors. He could hear voices from the other side.
¡°Oh? A neer today?¡± A young man¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°The final genius¡ Took long enough.¡±
A woman¡¯s softughter followed. ¡°So all members are finally here. I¡¯m curious¡ Which painting did he use? I looked everywhere but couldn¡¯t find thest one.¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡± An older man¡¯s voice was low and thoughtful. ¡°After we cracked the code in ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ and got the invitation, we destroyed the painting. Only those with strange tastes kept theirs, misleading others.¡±
¡°The one in the British Museum is yours, right, Da Vinci? And there¡¯s another, Newton¡¯s, held by some Hollywood director¡ªno idea where it ended up. As for the rest¡ who knows? But even if we ask our neer, he won¡¯t tell. Revealing it would give away his identity.¡±
The womanughed again. ¡°We could just ask Turing, couldn¡¯t we? He knows everything.¡±
¡°Turing?¡± She raised her voice. ¡°Turing, why so quiet today? You¡¯re like a mute¡ªnot a word from you.¡±
A cough sounded¡ªdeep and hoarse. ¡°Turing is dead,¡± came the solemn voice of an elderly man.
¡°We know,¡± the woman said, her tone shifting. ¡°Didn¡¯t you sayst month that Turing died, and his digital clone reced him?¡±
¡°The same,¡± replied the elder. ¡°The digital version is gone too. Turing has left us for good.¡±
Sudden murmurs erupted.
Lin Xian kept walking, the conversation growing clearer as he neared the doors.
¡°Who could kill a digital lifeform?¡± the young man asked, surprised. ¡°How is that possible? Though¡ haha, I should thank whoever did it. I never trusted a digital clone. It made me uneasy, especially after the promises Turing made at ourst gathering.¡±
¡°It¡¯s quite a turnout today,¡± another older voice joined in, less hoarse and full of vitality. ¡°Copernicus, it¡¯s been ages! What wind blew you here?¡±
¡°Hehehe¡¡± A dry, familiarugh made Lin Xian frown as he approached the doors.
Thatugh¡ªhe knew it too well. It was the mysterious old man from the fourth dream.
So it really was Copernicus.
Theughter stopped, and Copernicus spoke in a ghostly tone, ¡°I¡¯vee today¡ to witness the fall of a genius.¡±
A few seconds of silence followed before the woman¡¯s voice came back. ¡°Who? Turing? You knew Turing would die?¡±
¡°No¡¡± Copernicus let out two more chuckles. Lin Xian stood right in front of the door, and Copernicus¡¯ frail voice floated through, ¡°Someone else¡ an old friend who hasn¡¯t shown much respect.¡±
¡
Boca Chica, Texas, USA, SpaceX Starship Launch Center, Elon Musk¡¯s Private Office.
Click.
The door to Elon Musk¡¯s office¡ªessible only by him and his secretary¡ªopened smoothly.
Click, click, click.
The secretary, an elegant woman in high heels, walked in. She approached Elon Musk, who reclined in his executive chair, wearing an oversized VR headset.
She adjusted her red-rimmed sses, raised her right hand¡ªwhich held a gun¡ªand pressed it to the headset.
¡°Hmm?¡± The tall billionaire seemed puzzled by the sudden pressure on his headset, but before he could react further¡ª
Bang!
The explosion of the gunshot filled the room. The bullet sted through the VR headset, through Elon Musk¡¯s forehead and out the back, sttering blood and brain matter onto the wall.
Elon Musk¡¯s head slumped down, the back of his skull blown open.
¡°Goodbye, Elon Musk.¡± The secretary adjusted her sses. ¡°Do you remember what I told you back when I was at MIT?¡±
She turned, leaving the office and shutting the door behind her with a forceful thud.
¡
Boom!
Lin Xian¡¯s VR experience suddenly shifted as he arrived at the end of the red carpet. He pressed his hands against the double wooden doors and pushed them open.
A golden glow poured out, blindingly bright. Lin Xian squinted as he entered a grand, regal hall. At the center, a single, borately carved ebony chair sat atop a raised tform, like a throne. Someone was sitting there, cloaked in shadows.
On either side of the red carpet, four identical wooden chairs faced each other¡ªeight in total¡ªeach upied by figures of different shapes and sizes.
Lin Xian stepped through the door and walked forward along the carpet. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he took a sharp breath at what he saw.
Just as the Genius Club charter had mentioned, each person in the hall wore a mask. But these masks were not of animals, cartoons, or random images¡ªthey were the faces of real historical figures.
On the four chairs to his left, four people turned their heads to look at him, their masks depicting:
Copernicus
Galileo
Gauss
Turing
On the four chairs to his right, only three were upied; the fourth was empty. Those three also turned toward him, their masks depicting:
Newton
Da Vinci
Te
Finally, the figure seated on the raised tform slowly straightened. It was an elderly person, somewhat hunched, with a mask that glittered in the light as they lifted their head.
Albert Einstein
¡°Wee¡ ninth and final genius,¡± the old figure intoned as they stood up from their ornate wooden throne.
They slowly raised their right hand, extending a finger toward the sky.
¡°Wee to¡ the Genius Club!¡±
Chapter 419: No. 9
Including the elderly man in an Einstein mask standing on the steps, there were eight people present. Four sat in chairs to the left, and three on the right. All eight pairs of eyes were fixed on Lin Xian.
Lin Xian felt a bit flustered. It wasn¡¯t stage fright, nor was it fear. It was more like¡ª
What¡¯s going on?! Are you all ganging up to mess with the new guy?
Why are all eight of you wearing masks of famous scientists, mathematicians, artists, or deceased geniuses? Would it have hurt to give me a heads-up?! If you¡¯d told me beforehand, I wouldn¡¯t have worn this kid¡¯s toy¡ªthe ¡°Rhine Cat¡± mask¡ªto the gathering.
I mean, I have plenty of favorite scientists and artists too. If I knew I was supposed to pick one of them, I would have had tons of options.
But now¡
This situation was just too embarrassing. In such a solemn atmosphere, they looked like members of a real ¡°Genius Club,¡± while he looked like someical bandit¡ªa big-headed cartoon cat crashing a serious event. How was this any different from making a fool of himself in the middle of a crowded street?
For a moment, Lin Xian wanted to exit the VR program and start over. Then he remembered: during the initial mask setup, there was an option for physical scanning or providing an online image, and the system would generate the corresponding mask based on the image. There was no doubt the masks worn by these eight members were all made using online images. They were eerily realistic¡ªreally exquisite.But none of that mattered now.
Even though Lin Xian kept moving forward, his mind raced with thoughts. He never imagined that the first challenge he¡¯d face after joining the Genius Club would be exining this ridiculous mask on his face!
Sure enough.
After a moment of icy silence in the room, someone snickered.
The woman in the Da Vinci mask couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst intoughter.
¡°Hahaha! Rhine¡ Rhine Cat¡ What were you thinking?! Why did you¡ Oh my, my stomach hurts fromughing¡ Why did youe to the gathering with a cartoon mask?!¡±
Sheughed so hard it seemed like she¡¯d never seen anything so funny.
Beside her, a young man in a Newton mask chuckled as well, finally shaking off his initial stiffness.
¡°Friend, was this on purpose, or just an ident? From ¡®The Sorrowful Einstein¡¯¡ªdidn¡¯t you understand the meaning of the mask?¡±
To the left, the slender man in the Gauss mask slowly straightened up and began speaking in a slow, measured tone:
¡°A genius¡ this is¡ true¡ unconventional¡¡±
He spoke so slowly that the middle-aged man beside him, in a Galileo mask, interrupted.
¡°This kind of silly behavior¡ it¡¯s disrespectful to everyone here,¡± he said, his voice deep and steady.
¡°No, no, no.¡± The man in the Te mask on the opposite side chuckled.
¡°As Gauss said, this is true genius behavior.¡±
After speaking, Te began pping enthusiastically.
¡°Well done. I like you already! You¡¯ve made everyone here¡ªall these people acting all serious¡ªlook like clowns with that mask of yours! How about we take this opportunity to get rid of this mask tradition? I¡¯ve wanted to get rid of it for a while anyway since you all know who I am.¡±
The small man in the Gauss mask nodded slowly.
¡°Indeed¡ He chose so casually¡ making our seriousness¡ seem even more¡¡±
Again, his slow words were interrupted, this time by the young man in the Newton mask.
¡°Oh, now that I look closer, isn¡¯t that the Rhine Cat mask? Every time I take my grandkids to the park, I see kids running around wearing that cat.¡±
¡°Ugh,¡± sighed the woman in the Da Vinci mask.
¡°Newton, can¡¯t you update your virtual avatar a bit? I get it, you¡¯re an old man, but with your intelligence, you should be able to figure out a VR system, right? You look like a young man here, but you keep talking about your grandkids. It¡¯s unsettling, you know?¡±
Newtonughed and turned to Da Vinci.
¡°You¡¯re one to talk, Miss Da Vinci. Decades ago, when we met in person, you had this mask and this lovely figure. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still some ageless witch now, even at your grandmotherly age?
¡°If you¡¯re willing to change your avatar to look like an olddy, I wouldn¡¯t mind changing mine to an old man. I¡¯ll be honest: I tried changing it, but it turns out there¡¯s no such function.
¡°There was a meeting you missed, and I asked Turing if he could add that option. This entire VRwork, the avatars, the whole setup, it¡¯s all Turing¡¯s work. He gave me a bunch of technical reasons why changing avatars would cause bugs. He said once a program works perfectly, it¡¯s best not to mess with it.¡±
Da Vinci sneered.
¡°He was justzy. He didn¡¯t want to make the change, so he came up with all those excuses.¡±
¡°I think so too.¡± Newton shrugged. ¡°I mean, he¡¯s Turing, right? The world¡¯s greatest hacker, and he can¡¯t add a simple function? He just didn¡¯t want to do it.¡±
Gauss turned his head to look at the still and seemingly robotic Turing model beside him.
¡°Since¡ Turing is dead¡ why keep the model here¡? Can we get rid of it? I feel a chill¡ Still, it¡¯s good he¡¯s gone¡ As the system¡¯s administrator, he surely knew¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Te interrupted,ughing.
¡°Good riddance. Now only Einstein knows everyone¡¯s true identity, which makes the game fairer for all of us. No more worrying about Turing ying favorites.¡±
¡°Enough.¡± Copernicus, who had been silent until then, cleared his throat and scolded them.
¡°It¡¯s because of this childish bickering that I hateing to these meetings. You all give me a headache.
¡°And you,¡± he said, turning to Lin Xian.
Though his mask covered his face, it was clear he was annoyed, perhaps even furious.
¡°You need to take off that ridiculous mask.¡±
Lin Xian, who had been quietly listening, finally let out a cold chuckle.
¡°I was actually thinking about changing it, but now¡ I think I like it even more.¡±
He looked up at Newton.
¡°Mr. Newton, could you switch seats with me? I¡¯d like to sit across from Copernicus.¡±
Newton let out a heartyugh, pping his hands.
¡°Good! d to see our new member has some fire! I don¡¯t even know your name yet¡ No. 9, you¡¯ve earned my respect.
¡°But as for the seating arrangement, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t change it. Our seats are assigned by the order in which we joined the club. If we could switch, Gauss over there would have done so long ago.¡±
Gauss slowly nodded.
¡°I often feel¡ being beside¡¡±
¡°Enough,¡± Copernicus snapped, coughing a few times. He looked at Lin Xian, exhaling slowly.
¡°If you¡¯re going to break the rules, then how should we address you?¡±
Hearing the back-and-forth among these so-called geniuses,bined with the bits he overheard on his way in, Lin Xian had already figured a few things out.
Firstly, the way these geniuses got their invitations was indeed different from his own. Just as he initially suspected, his invitation¡ it was gained through cheating, a backdoor entry. He didn¡¯t know who had cheated for him or who had opened that door, but it didn¡¯t matter.
What mattered was¡ because his invitation came differently, it led to today¡¯s farce¡ªthe ¡°Rhine Cat¡¯s grand entrance at the Nobel Prize ceremony.¡±
Now he was sure of one thing: everyone else here had gotten their Genius Club invitations by deciphering the code hidden in ¡°The Sorrowful Einstein,¡± an oil painting, and by solving a series of puzzles.
Through this process, they naturally learned about time-space coordinates,ws of time-space, and the club¡¯s purpose and meaning, including the symbolism behind the masks.
No wonder Elon Musk had said that getting the invitation was the hardest part; the three online test questions were practically giveaways, just a way to verify one¡¯s identity.
Having skipped straight to the end with cheats, Lin Xian missed all the preliminary steps, thus missing out on key information.
But that couldn¡¯t be helped. Liu Feng and the super AI VV hadn¡¯t managed to decipher the code on ¡°The Sorrowful Einstein,¡± so that path was blocked for Lin Xian from the start.
Even Ji Lin hadn¡¯t cracked it, proving the code was a deliberately high threshold set by the club. The implication was clear: if you can¡¯t crack this code, don¡¯t waste your time¡ªthe Genius Club door is closed to you.
Looking at it that way, Ji Shui had said something true: Ji Lin had indeed been the closest to the Genius Club. He had found the painting and discovered the code but hadn¡¯t had time to solve it.
If he¡¯d had a few more years¡
Who knows, maybe he could¡¯ve cracked it.
Unfortunately, by the time Ji Lin found the painting, someone had already used it. And that someone was the mischievous ¡°Newton.¡±
Unlike Copernicus, Galileo, and Gauss, who were all serious and yed by the rules¡ªdestroying the painting after cracking the code¡ªNewton had kept it, even selling it off to a Hollywood director. Eventually, Angelica bought it for Ji Lin, who then passed it on to Lin Xian, who handed it over to Liu Feng.
So, even if Liu Feng or Ji Lin had cracked the code, it would¡¯ve been useless. The invitation had already been taken by Newton.
If Lin Xian had followed the clues, he might¡¯ve ended up opening a box only to find Newton¡¯s prank waiting for him. That would have felt like a sick joke.
But these questions could wait. Right now, the most pressing issue was the one Copernicus had just raised¡ª
What should he be called?
Rhine Cat? Big-headed Cat?
Neither fit. He wouldugh every time if people called him that.
¡°Hmm¡ Rhine Cat,¡± said Einstein, who stood hunched yet dignified on the steps, looking at Lin Xian.
¡°Interesting. There are no written rules that say one must use a mask of a scientist or great figure¡ªit¡¯s just an unspoken tradition. Since there¡¯s no such rule, this new member¡¯s mask is perfectly eptable.
¡°However, by the club¡¯s tradition, the mask determines how we address one another. This cannot be changed orpromised. So,st genius, if you insist on keeping that mask, for convenience, why don¡¯t we drop ¡®Cat¡¯ and just call you ¡®Rhine¡¯?¡±
Rhine.
Lin Xian heard the name. It was the same as hispany, the beginning of everything. Using that name seemed fitting. He liked it. So he nodded.
¡°Alright.¡±
Einstein chuckled hoarsely, extending his arms and gesturing for everyone to rise.
¡°Then let us all wee the ninth genius to their seat¡ª¡±
¡°No. 9, Rhine!¡±
Apuse erupted.
Amid the apuse, Lin Xian walked toward his seat, thest of the four chairs on the right, right next to Te.
Te pped the loudest and most vigorously. Of course, Lin Xian knew who Te was. In fact¡ The entire Genius Club knew who he was.
He was too mboyant, as if concealing his identity was a joke to him.
When Lin Xian reached his seat, Te extended his right hand toward him.
¡°Wee, Rhine.¡±
Lin Xian smiled and extended his hand in return.
¡°Pleased to meet you, Te.¡±
But just as their hands were about to meet¡ª
Te¡¯s body suddenly stiffened, pixtion flickering over his form until he vanished entirely.
tter.
The mask with Te¡¯s face fell onto the chair, bouncing twice before lying still, facing up.
The apuse stopped abruptly. Everyone stared at Te¡¯s sudden disappearance, shocked.
¡°Where¡¯s Elon Musk?¡± someone murmured.
It seemed no one in the Genius Club called him Te.
Da Vinci looked at the empty mask on the chair, her eyes wide. She turned to Copernicus.
¡°Copernicus, is this what you meant by witnessing the fall of a genius?¡±
Gauss turned toward Copernicus.
¡°You¡ did you¡ kill Elon Musk¡?¡±
¡°So that¡¯s why you came today?¡± Galileo interjected, ring at Copernicus.
¡°I wondered why you showed up after all these years. Is it that you wanted to witness Elon Musk¡¯s death, just like those criminals whoe back to the scene to revel in their work?¡±
Copernicus lowered his hands slowly, smiling dryly.
¡°Come on, now. Don¡¯t put the me on me. Did I say I wanted to kill Elon Musk?¡±
¡°Hmph,¡± Da Vinci huffed.
¡°Why is everyone suspecting you first? You know the answer to that better than anyone.¡±
Newton, now no longer joking, spoke in a serious tone.
¡°We won¡¯t meddle with your ns, Copernicus. But at the very least, keep your dirty hands off fellow club members.
¡°Frankly, as an original member of this club, I¡¯ve put up with you for too long. It¡¯s only my conscience that has held me back from dealing with you. I kept hoping you¡¯d turn around from your misguided nature, but instead, you just got worse.¡±
¡°Misguided?¡±
Copernicus shook his head, still smiling.
¡°Misguided? No, you¡¯re the ones who are lost.¡±
He shook his head again.
¡°That¡¯s why I dislike associating with you people¡ After today¡¯s meeting, I¡¯ll be heading into cryosleep. I hope that decades or even centuriester, when I awaken¡ you¡¯ll all still be here.
¡°Honestly, I¡¯m tired of this game. My time has passed. Thankfully, with cryosleep, I can keep going for a little longer. As for Elon Musk¡ yes, I knew someone was after him, and yes, today was always going to be a bad day for him. I came to confirm that.
¡°But do you really think Elon Musk¡¯s dead?¡±
He paused, still smiling.
¡°Elon Musk has never hidden his identity since joining the Genius Club. He¡¯s always been upfront about who he is and what he wants. Tell me, aside from Turing, who else here has that kind of nerve?¡±
Gauss took a deep breath.
¡°So¡ does this mean¡ both of them are¡ª¡±
¡°Quiet, Gauss.¡±
Copernicus red at him.
¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me.¡±
He scanned the room again, making sure everyone was paying attention.
¡°You all think Elon Musk is dead, but I¡¯m more convinced than anyone that he¡¯s still alive. If he didn¡¯t make it, you¡¯ll see the newster or find it trending on Twitter. If Elon Musk made it, well¡ you¡¯ll see him on TV soon enough.¡±
Copernicus spoke with a facade of righteousness.
But Lin Xian felt that no one here believed a word he said. Even without seeing their expressions, the tension was palpable.
Clearly¡
None of the Genius Club members liked Copernicus. They despised him. They were disgusted. They couldn¡¯t stand him.
Especially Newton. If it weren¡¯t for Elon Musk¡¯s sudden disappearance, Newton might never have acknowledged Copernicus at all, let alone spoken to him.
From their words, Lin Xian could gather that Newton and Copernicus were both original members of the club. That much was obvious from the seating order. Copernicus was No. 2, Newton was No. 3, Galileo was No. 4, and Da Vinci was No. 5¡
All of them were old¡ªin 2024, they were at least in their sixties. They had likely been meeting offline since thest century wearing these masks.
Newton had hinted at not wanting to challenge Copernicus personally, only to be held back by his conscience and a sense of justice.
From this, Lin Xian concluded that although they were all undeniably geniuses, that didn¡¯t mean they were good people. Morality was clearlycking in some cases, and the group was just as mixed as society atrge.
But for now, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand much about the club, nor its members¡¯ ns. It wasn¡¯t time to draw any conclusions yet, especially on his first day at a meeting.
For now, his best bet was to sit back and observe, soaking in as much information as he could.
So, fight!
Lin Xian silently rooted for the geniuses in his head.
Keep arguing! Let the debate heat up!
That way, he could gather more information.
Unfortunately¡
Einstein wasn¡¯t giving him the opportunity to be a bystander for much longer. He stepped forward, and the room instantly fell silent.
¡°Genius Club, Article Three,¡± Einstein rasped with authority.
¡°Privacy is paramount. Avoid exposing your identity.¡±
The room was still. No one spoke.
Einstein looked at the fallen mask on Elon Musk¡¯s chair, then at the Turing model, still like a statue.
¡°Gentle reminders oftenck impact. The reason these meetings have moved online, instead of being held in person, is to protect the safety of all members.
¡°Resources are limited. Time is limited. The path to the future is limited, and more than that, the chance for humanity to move forward is limited. There is only one shot.
¡°I do not intervene in your disputes, nor do I take sides. I acknowledge necessary sacrifices, even unnecessary ones. I ept moral approaches, as well as immoral ones.
¡°However, please remember: with the power you have been given by history, you also bear the obligations, the risks, and the fragile fate thates with it.¡±
¡°History is written by the victors, and so is the future. Only the victors get to write it, and only the victors¡ will decide humanity¡¯s fate.¡±
Einstein¡¯s words dropped like a heavy curtain over the room, silencing everyone. His was the final word in the Genius Club.
And what he said was reasonable. Article Three was clear: conceal your identity, avoid exposure. Elon Musk had been reckless. Turing, too, had made it obvious who he was. And now they were gone.
The saying came to Lin Xian¡¯s mind: ¡°It¡¯s hard to help those who refuse to help themselves.¡±
No wonder Gauss had muttered about them both ending up dead. They didn¡¯t heed the warnings.
From all this, Lin Xian had a clearer idea of what the Genius Club really was.
At its core, the club¡ªled by the old man in the Einstein mask¡ªseemed to have noble intentions, a desire to use the brightest minds to give humanity a better future.
But as Einstein said: resources were limited, geniuses were limited, time was limited, and opportunities were limited.
Since time couldn¡¯t be turned back, humanity had only one chance at its destiny.
In this context, differences in beliefs, philosophies, methods, and ns among the geniuses were bound to create conflicts.
Just as Turing¡¯s self-restraint shed with Elon Musk¡¯s conquest of the stars, their visions werepletely at odds in both technological direction and resource allocation.
It seemed Newton and Copernicus were also at odds, likely with equally irreconcble differences.
Based on Copernicus¡¯s history of targeting scientists, Newton¡¯s approach might be to advance science. It was an ironic twist.
Lin Xian silently listened, absorbing everything.
He had no idea how the membersmunicated or whether ns would be openly discussed or how Einstein would steer this ¡°game of geniuses.¡±
But there was no rush.
Perhaps the next parts of this meeting would provide the answers he sought.
The real show had just begun.
Chapter 420: Seeing the Future
After Einstein spoke, silence filled the room. One by one, the members returned to their seats. Da Vinci cast a regretful nce at the mask that Elon Musk had left behind. He already suspected what might have happened to Elon Musk.
Everyone there was clever enough to understand what kind of person Copernicus was. No one believed his smooth, deceptive words.
So¡ it seemed likely that Elon Musk was in deep trouble.
With a soft sigh, Da Vinci looked up at Einstein. ¡°If Elon Musk really is gone, will you leave a virtual version of him behind, like you did with Turing?¡±
Einstein shook his head slowly. ¡°No. The reason you still see Turing here is because he serves as a guide for this VR system and cyberspace. Without him, new members wouldn¡¯t be able to connect, answer questions, or enter the meeting space.
¡°The model of Turing isn¡¯t a memorial or proof of his death,¡± he added. ¡°The charter of our club says that membership is for life, and members should always have the right to attend meetings, regardless of their situation. So, whether a member is alive or not, we treat them the same.
¡°For Elon Musk, it will be the same. Whether he survives or not, his chair and mask will remain here. Now that all nine geniuses are present, Turing¡¯s role as a guide is no longer needed.
¡°All the invitations have been delivered, all the badges are gathered. There will be no new members, so Turing no longer has to stay.¡±With that, Einstein turned towards Turing¡¯s virtual figure, who was sitting silently in thest of the four chairs to his left.
¡°You may leave,¡± he said. ¡°You are no longer needed here.¡±
In an instant, Turing¡¯s figure became transparent, and only his mask remained. It dropped from the air andnded softly on the chair.
And just like that, two geniuses were now gone. Only seven remained, including Einstein.
¡°Now then¡¡± Einstein¡¯s raspy voice broke the silence. ¡°There are seven members present today. Let the meeting officially begin.¡±
¡°Fewer people¡ that¡¯s¡ kind of nice,¡± Gauss murmured slowly. ¡°When there are too many¡ they always¡ interrupt me¡¡±
¡°Quiet, Gauss.¡± Einstein¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt when I¡¯m announcing the agenda.¡±
A sigh came from a middle-aged man sitting nearby¡ªGalileo. ¡°Gauss, it¡¯s no wonder people interrupt you all the time. Could you stop butting in every moment? When it¡¯s your turn to speak, everyone will listen.¡±
Lin Xian sat quietly, listening to the conversation. He realized that none of them were actually speaking thenguage of X Country. Their words were being tranted in real time by the VR system.
The difference between tranted speech and natural speech was easy to notice. Lin Xian figured that his own words were probably being tranted into clunky English, French, German, or whatevernguage the others spoke.
The system was advanced enough to trante everyone¡¯s words into their preferrednguage, making themunication smooth.
Lin Xian could tell that Gauss and Da Vinci were definitely from X Country¡ªtheir speech was perfectly natural without any hint of trantion. Even Gauss¡¯s slow, deliberate way of talking madeplete sense in theirnguage.
As for the other members, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure which countries they were from, but he knew they weren¡¯t from X Country.
His eyes moved to Einstein. He was curious about what would happen now that the meeting was starting for real.
Einstein walked back to his seat¡ªa grand ck wooden chair¡ªand announced, ¡°Since we have a new member today, we will begin, as always, with introductions.¡±
His gaze turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Rhine¡ every new member of the Genius Club must answer one question.
¡°As someone destined to shape history and create the future, what is the most important quality a genius should possess?
¡°This is a way for you to share your thoughts and for us to understand you better. But before you answer, you should hear what the others have said before you.¡±
Einstein straightened in his chair and took a deep breath. ¡°I will start, as No. 1. This is the eighth time I¡¯ve given this answer, and no matter how many times I repeat it, it remains unchanged.¡±
Lin Xian looked up at the small, hunched figure in therge chair. The mask on Einstein¡¯s face was modeled after the painting ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡±¡ªa portrayal of him with tired eyes, messy hair, and a sad expression.
Lin Xian wondered why Einstein, the leader of the Genius Club, would choose such a haunting image for his mask. There were plenty of other, more lively depictions of him to choose from.
¡°I have always believed that the most important quality for a genius is¡ª¡±
Einstein spoke clearly, with weight behind each word: ¡°Height.¡±
After a pause, he continued, ¡°What sets a genius apart from ordinary people is the height from which they view problems. A true genius must see things from a great height and have a long enough perspective to make the most rational decisions.
¡°As they say, the higher you stand, the farther you see. Only by standing tall can you know what matters and what doesn¡¯t. Height naturally gives you the answers.¡±
Einstein then turned to No. 2, Copernicus, who sat on his left. The mask worn by this frail old man depicted a young man with wild curls and a serious face¡ªCopernicus.
The elderly figure gave a weak sigh. ¡°This is the seventh time I¡¯ve answered this question, and I¡¯m d it will be myst.
¡°My answer hasn¡¯t changed: the most important quality for a genius is¡ª¡±
¡°Uniqueness.¡±
He scanned the room and gave a faint smile. ¡°A genius is destined to be lonely. Throughout human history, few geniuses have met happy ends. Most died unrecognized, persecuted, misunderstood.
¡°Many were starved, burned, or treated cruelly because they were ahead of their time. They couldn¡¯t fit into a society that saw them as strange.
¡°But that loneliness, that feeling of being different, is a fate a genius must ept. I must say that we live in the best of times. This era is willing to understand, ept, and even respect geniuses.
¡°Yet, even now, geniuses must remain separate from the ordinary. Only those who stay truly unique can grasp real truth and find the right answers.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze then moved to No. 3, Newton¡ªan elderly man with a childlike twinkle in his eye. His mask depicted a stern-looking man with bushy eyebrows¡ªIsaac Newton, the brilliant physicist who proposed thews of motion and gravity.
Newton spoke with a distant, almost dreamlike tone. ¡°My answer is¡ª¡±
¡°Responsibility.¡±
¡°Everyone has their own talents. Some have more, some less, but everyone is good at something. Geniuses are often talented in many areas.
¡°A person with an exceptional skill can be called talented. There are many talented people in every era.
¡°But a genius is different. A genius is a gift to humanity, a beacon of hope. And with great poweres great responsibility. A genius must shoulder that responsibility.
¡°We must rise above our own desires. We must look to history, see the future, and take on the duty of saving humanity and building a better future.¡±
Lin Xian was surprised by the serious tone from the man who seemed so yful. But somehow, it made sense.
He could tell that these people weren¡¯t interested in wealth or power. The things most people chased seemed meaningless to them. Their eyes were fixed on something greater¡ªa higher purpose.
The next to speak was No. 4, Galileo. The middle-aged man wore a mask showing an elderly bearded scientist¡ªGalileo Galilei, the father of modern science.
His voice was deep and unwavering. ¡°The quality a genius should have is¡ª
¡°Courage.¡±
His tone was decisive. ¡°Humanity thinks about many things, but courage needs no thought. If every decision requires careful nning, nothing will ever be done.
¡°People often dismiss impulse as foolish, but if you look at history, every great leap forward was born from courage¡ªa bold, unthinking action.
¡°Lose your humanity, and you lose much. But lose your courage, and you lose everything. In today¡¯s world, rules and traditions stifle our courage, turning us into obedient sheep.
¡°But let us not forget¡ªcourage is what allowed us to rise. Wisdom makes tools, but courage drives us to use them. In this age, it falls on us¡ªthe geniuses¡ªto lead humanity boldly into the future.¡±
It was clear to Lin Xian that Galileo valued courage above all else.
Next, it was the turn of the person sitting beside Lin Xian¡ªDa Vinci. Though she looked youthful, she was over sixty and had joined the Genius Club decades ago. Despite her age, she was full of life.
She was a mix of contradictions, much like Leonardo da Vinci himself, whose image was on her mask¡ªa creative, noble artist full of mysteries.
Without hesitation, she began, ¡°I¡¯ve answered this question many times. But out of respect for our new member, I¡¯ll answer it again.
¡°My answer is the same as when I first joined the club: the quality a genius must have is¡ª¡±
¡°Inspiration.¡±
She spoke quickly, ¡°This is where I differ from the others. They all think a genius can change history and save the world. I never believed that.
¡°In my view, the power of an individual genius is small. The role of a genius is to make this smallness meaningful by inspiring others.
¡°To change the world, you must change people. To change people, you must set an example. As those with exceptional minds, we have the duty to show others what¡¯s right, what¡¯s beautiful, and what¡¯s worth pursuing.
¡°Change doesn¡¯te by changing the world¡ªyou change the people in it by setting an example.¡±
Lin Xian blinked at her. Was she an idealist?
He wasn¡¯t sure if she was right or wrong, or if her vision could be achieved. But he knew one thing¡ªit all seemed a bit unrealistic.
After her, it was Gauss¡¯s turn. This small man wore a mask that depicted a confident figure with bright eyes¡ªJohann Carl Friedrich Gauss, the famous mathematician known as the ¡°Prince of Mathematics.¡±
In contrast to the confident face on his mask, Gauss spoke hesitantly. ¡°My answer is¡ª¡±
¡°Equality.¡±
He swallowed nervously before continuing, ¡°I know that inequality is part of life¡ªfamily background, parents, environment¡ªall of these create inequality. Even in the fairest times, inequality exists.
¡°Some are born strong and healthy, destined to lead, while others are weak and live in misery.
¡°But does inequality have to exist? I don¡¯t think so. And if anyone can strive for a bnced and equal world, it¡¯s us¡ªthe geniuses.
¡°Ordinary people might think it¡¯s impossible, but geniuses do the impossible. That¡¯s what makes us geniuses.¡±
Lin Xian finally understood why Gauss was always interrupted. He had felt sorry for him before, but now he understood¡ªthe man¡¯s slow pace was exasperating.
But it was Gauss¡¯s turn, so Lin Xian endured it.
When Gauss finally finished, Einstein gestured to Lin Xian. ¡°No. 9, Rhine¡ªsince Te and Turing aren¡¯t here, we can¡¯t speak for them. Even though we know their answers, who can say if their thoughts have changed?
¡°Now it¡¯s your turn. We¡¯re all curious¡ªas the newest genius, what do you think is the most important quality for a genius?¡±
All eyes turned to Lin Xian.
He took a deep breath, giving the answer he had already decided on.
¡°Honestly¡ I hadn¡¯t thought about this question before today,¡± he admitted. ¡°But after listening to all of you, I feel honored to share my answer.
¡°I¡¯m a bit puzzled. Everyone here seems to see themselves as gods or higher beings. But in the end, aren¡¯t we all just human? Besides being a bit smarter, what¡¯s the real difference between a genius and anyone else?
¡°Is a genius really necessary? Does a genius have the right to shape history or the future?
¡°Would there be no history without geniuses?
¡°Would there be no future without us to guide it?
¡°In fact, I think maybe the best history is one untouched by the hand of a genius. Likewise, the most genuine and beautiful future might be one without our intervention.¡±
¡°So, my answer is this: the most important quality for a genius is¡ª¡±
¡°Respect.¡±
Lin Xian looked around the room before continuing, ¡°Respect others, respect history, respect humanity, respect the future.
¡°Maybe geniuses aren¡¯t as great as we think. Perhaps leaving the future in the hands of humanity would lead to the best possible future.¡±
When Lin Xian finished, no one spoke.
Only Einstein let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Well said, Rhine. But this is the first lesson you will learn here, and the very reason the Genius Club exists¡ªhumanity has no future on its own.¡±
Lin Xian looked at him. ¡°Why are you so certain?¡±
Einstein¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°Because¡ I can see the future.¡±
See the future?
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. It was the same im Turing had made before.
The leader of the club could indeed see the future! That exined why hemanded such respect. If he could truly see the future, he certainly had the power and authority to lead.
But Lin Xian was still curious. What kind of future did Einstein see? Was it like his own visions? Did he see it through dreams?
So, he asked, ¡°What future do you see, exactly? Is it a specific day, decades, centuries, or millennia from now? Or is it some other kind of future?¡±
The man in the ck wooden chair sat up straight. ¡°All of it.¡±
The word was short but powerful.
Einstein smiled faintly, his voice raspy. ¡°From now on, every day, every moment¡ªI see it all.
¡°I see¡ all the futures.¡±
Chapter 421: The Question
All the Future?
Lin Xian sat silently in his chair, deep in thought after hearing such an exaggerated im from ¡°Einstein.¡±
This genius club president, with his power and influence¡ was he telling the truth?
ording to Einstein, he could see everything that would happen from now until the very end of time, every event, every oue already determined. Lin Xian found it hard to believe.
He originally thought that Einstein¡¯s ability to see the future was simr to his own¡ªa glimpse of a particr day or moment, like a fragment of whaty ahead. For example, Lin Xian could see the future of August 28th, 2624, through his dreams. He assumed that Einstein must be using a simr method, also seeing the future in glimpses through dreams.
Lin Xian had prepared himself for something like that. But now, hearing this new im, he realized he hadpletely underestimated the president.
Seeing every day, every moment, every second of the future¡ªwasn¡¯t that a bit too much?
For Einstein, all the unknown futures of humanity unfolded like a painting, every detail revealed, vivid and clear.If that were true, then what challenge could possibly stand in his way? History and the future would bepletely transparent and malleable in his hands.
Could he really guide the future wherever he wanted, cing the world exactly as he wished?
Lin Xian had always believed his dreams gave him an incredibly powerful advantage, something akin to being able to directly perceive the oues of the butterfly effect in time and space. Butpared to Einstein¡¯s ability, his own talent seemed like nothing¡ªa mere speck in the vast ocean.
Would Einstein really lie about something like this?
Lin Xian was filled with doubt. It was hard for him to ept such an exaggerated im just like that.
¡°Heh.¡±
At that moment, Miss ¡°Da Vinci,¡± who was sitting nearby, smiled and looked over at Lin Xian.
¡°Mr. Rhine,¡± she said, ¡°when I first heard it, I felt the same as you do now. In fact, every person here felt exactly the same way at first.¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, no doubt. But what¡¯s harder to believe is¡ Einstein wasn¡¯t lying. He truly can see the future clearly.¡±
¡°I spent a long time verifying this anding to terms with it, and in the end, I found it to be true. That¡¯s also why Einstein founded the Genius Club and sent out his invitations.¡±
¡°He wants to share his ability and let those who pass the test use it to create a better future for humanity. That¡¯s his greatness¡ªhe¡¯s a role model for all of us.¡±
Lin Xian could hear the sincerity in her voice. Miss Da Vinci truly admired Einstein, and she was convinced of his power to see the future.
Lin Xian believed that none of these geniuses sitting here were easily fooled. They wouldn¡¯t be tricked by something that sounded like a marketing gimmick.
¡°How did you verify it, Miss Da Vinci?¡± Lin Xian turned to her, his face hidden behind the mask of the Rhine Cat. ¡°Could you share your method?¡±
Because of the mask, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see her expression, but he could sense her smiling as if she had anticipated his question.
¡°Mr. Rhine,¡± she said, ¡°you don¡¯t need to worry about how we verified it. After all, even if I told you, you probably wouldn¡¯t believe it.¡±
¡°Although we¡¯ve only known each other for a short while, I can already tell you¡¯re a very cautious young man who doesn¡¯t easily believe others.¡±
¡°So, why not verify it for yourself?¡± Da Vinci turned her head to look up at Einstein on the tform.
¡°I think the introduction phase is over, right? Now it¡¯s time for the formal meeting. During the official part, you can try to verify the truth yourself.¡±
¡°Alright¡ just a friendly reminder: while it might cost you a few precious chances, it¡¯s something all of us have gone through.¡±
¡°At least for me, Gauss, Elon Musk, and Turing, we all spent many opportunities verifying this. I guess it¡¯s just amon trait among geniuses to be skeptical.¡±
Lin Xian blinked, silently listening. Opportunities? What kind of opportunities?
Was it¡ the opportunity to ask questions?
It seemed like that was the only possibility. But there was no need to overthink it now. As Da Vinci had said, the self-introduction phase was over, and it was time to move on to the official meeting.
Whatever surprises awaited in the official meeting, he would see soon enough.
Sure enough, shortly after Da Vinci finished speaking, Einstein sat up straight on his wooden chair at the high tform, scanning the people seated along both sides of the red carpet below.
¡°Well, that concludes the introduction. This was our gesture of respect and openness toward our new member, No. 9, Rhine. I believe that, as a genius, you have strong adaptability. You will soon blend in with us and start your n to shape your future.¡±
¡°Next, following our monthly meeting agenda, we¡¯ll begin the formal gathering. To amodate our new friend, I¡¯ll exin the process and requirements once again in detail¡¡±
Einstein then turned his gaze toward Lin Xian.
¡°Rhine, on the 1st of every month, at 00:42 X Country time, we hold our club gathering. You may join using that golden badge, as long as you¡¯re avable. If you¡¯re not, it doesn¡¯t matter. The rules allow for absences, even long-term absences.¡±
¡°In time, you¡¯ll see that it¡¯s rare for everyone to be present like today. There are many reasons for that, but the most important one¡ you¡¯ll figure it out soon enough.¡±
¡°For now, though, you don¡¯t need to worry about others, because the content of the meetings has nothing to do with anyone else. Instead¡ª¡±
¡°ording to the order, each genius has one opportunity to ask me a question.¡±
Einstein paused, the elderly figure sitting straight but still radiating authority.
¡°The question will be asked publicly, like we are now. Your question will receive my precise answer. However, every other participant will also hear it. This is a form of fairness, and transparency.¡±
¡°So, inevitably, if your question is too direct, it might lead to unnecessary trouble, allowing other members to guess your future ns or even¡ discover your identity.¡±
To Lin Xian¡¯s left, Gauss nodded slowly.
¡°Indeed¡ Elon Musk, during his first meeting, asked¡¡±
¡°Shut up, Gauss!¡± The elderly Einstein on the tform sounded impatient.
¡°Not interrupting others when they speak is basic manners, Gauss. I¡¯ve told you many times about this bad habit. If you truly wish to speak, you can raise your hand.¡±
Lin Xian snorted lightly. Indeed, Gauss¡¯s habit of interrupting was quite annoying. Even after such a short time, Lin Xian had lost all sympathy for him and was tempted to interrupt him more than once.
Some people were just born interrupters. Lin Xian¡¯s university roommate, a guy from Tianjin, had the same habit.
Maybe it was growing up in the city ofedy, but whenever they had lectures, no matter the subject, the professor would be lecturing, and this roommate would be down there chatting away, clearly enjoying himself.
One time, during an economics elective, the professor said, ¡°Last ss, we talked about¡¡±
¡°What?¡± the roommate interrupted.
¡°¡ an invisible hand in economic theory.¡±
¡°Right,¡± he chimed in.
¡°This hand is also called the market mechanism, the market adjustment.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± he interrupted again.
¡°And modern economic theory must be based on an assumption¡¡±
¡°Hey, never heard of that!¡± he interrupted.
¡°¡that every participant in the market acts in their own self-interest.¡±
¡°Oh,e on, really?¡± he eximed.
Bang! The professor mmed the lectern.
¡°You! Get out!¡±
Lin Xian once tried to advise him, ¡°That habit of always interrupting¡¡±
¡°Oh please.¡±
¡°¡can¡¯t you quit?¡±
¡°Nope.¡±
¡°Honestly, which professor can tolerate you doing this in ss?¡±
¡°It¡¯s all a joke!¡±
¡°¡Goodbye.¡±
¡°Take care!¡±
In short, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Gauss were from Tianjin. Then again, with the way he spoke, so slowly, like a snail, he didn¡¯t really fit the profile. Lin Xian decided to keep observing.
After rebuking Gauss, Einstein continued, ¡°No. 9, Rhine, as thest person to ask a question, you have plenty of time to learn and understand. I trust that your genius mind will grasp the opportunities and risks of this questioning process.¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent, but his thoughts were racing. This was¡ something like a game of deception.
Each genius¡¯s identity was hidden, their future ns unknown, their methods and actions kept secret.
This meant that when you asked Einstein a question, you had to think very carefully. This wasn¡¯t a private Q&A; it was asked in front of everyone, with everyone listening in and hearing the answer.
If your question was too specific, others could immediately infer your ns and ideas, perhaps even identify who you were. But if your question was too broad, the answer might not help you much, and could even benefit others instead.
The chance to ask a question of someone who knew everything was tempting, but in a room full of other geniuses listening in, it could easily turn into a trap for yourself.
Like, for example, the two fleeting thoughts Lin Xian had earlier. He wanted to ask, ¡°Where is Du Yao?¡± and also about the ¡°Millennium Stake.¡± But now, he didn¡¯t dare ask.
If he asked where Du Yao was, specifying the exact Du Yao, Einstein would surely give an answer. Then what? Would Copernicus, who was listening in, let Du Yao continue to stay free? Wouldn¡¯t the others try to take her for themselves before Lin Xian could?
And if they did reach Du Yao before him, they¡¯d likely figure out why he was looking for her, potentially discovering other information that could be used against him.
So, that foolish question definitely couldn¡¯t be asked. Asking would be as good as revealing everything, ensuring he¡¯d never see Du Yao again.
The same went for the Millennium Stake. Yellow Finch had once said that although she had made up the name, anyone familiar with its true meaning would recognize it immediately.
Lin Xian had a gut feeling that the Millennium Stake was a critical concept, one that perhaps even the members of the Genius Club didn¡¯t know about. It had been hidden so well, appearing only once in 2024, vanishing like a needle in a haystack.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know if Einstein was aware of it. If he wasn¡¯t, it would be a wasted question. But the real fear was if Einstein did know.
If he knew and exined the concept of the Millennium Stake to the other geniuses, the consequences would be disastrous. After all, Lin Xian¡¯s primary goal in joining the Genius Club was to save Chu An Qing and fulfill his promise to Chu Shan He¡ªto bring her back home.
If others found out about the Millennium Stake, what would they do? They¡¯d likely exploit it, using a mechanism even Lin Xian hadn¡¯t fully understood, waiting to intercept the next Millennium Stake when it emerged in 2028 and dissipated in 2048, or worse, try to stop him from saving Chu An Qing and turn into his enemies.
Indeed, as Einstein suggested, asking the wrong question could lead to unnecessary trouble instead of providing any advantage.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, gathering himself. It was clear that he needed time to think about his question¡ªtime that the others had each month to ponder what to ask, while he had only just learned what the club¡¯s meetings entailed.
The optimal strategy, considering his own safety and various other factors, seemed to be this:
To ask a question that others wouldn¡¯t understand but would make sense to himself, without revealing his identity or exposing critical information; or to ask something meaningless to others but valuable to him.
In theory, it sounded easy. But in practice, it was far more difficult.
At the very least, it would require some knowledge of the other geniuses¡¯ future ns.
As it stood, Lin Xian knew very little. The two geniuses he had known well were either dead or on the verge of death. The rest, he knew only fragments¡ªCopernicus was apparently assassinating scientists and obstructing technological development, but his deeper intentions were a mystery.
Copernicus¡¯s behavior was contradictory. On one hand, he opposed technological advancement; on the other, he had set up the SpaceTime Police and Court, which made it hard to figure out his true aims.
As for Galileo, all he knew was what Turing had said: that Galileo was responsible for the massive catastrophe in the 2400s. Whether it was true or not remained unknown.
For the remaining three¡ªGauss, Da Vinci, and Newton¡ªLin Xian knew nothing.
While Lin Xian pondered, Einstein raised his right hand, extending three fingers.
¡°There are also three principles you must follow when asking questions,¡± he said.
¡°First, you may not ask questions regarding the identity, ns, actions, or personal information of other members. Such questions will not be answered, and the chance to ask will be forfeited as a warning.¡±
¡°Second, your question must be specific. Do not expect a broad question to yield a series of solutions. I provide answers, not methods or paths.¡±
¡°Third, questions regarding the Genius Club itself will not be answered. Any such questions will result in the chance being forfeited as a warning.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. He had to admit, the Genius Club was indeed a well-established organization. Its rules and procedures covered everything in detail.
He had worried about what would happen if members asked about each other¡¯s secrets, but it seemed that this concern had already been considered at the very start.
Geniuses always ensured everything was thorough, with no room for mistakes.
All three principles made sense. The third one, however, was especially intriguing.
You¡¯d think that, as members of the Genius Club, it would be natural to want to learn about the club¡¯s history, its founding, and its founders. In any other club, this information would be proudly disyed, like a banner.
But here, discussing the club itself was strictly prohibited.
Interesting.
Lin Xian found the club increasingly fascinating, more and more mysterious.
After Einstein finished exining the procedures and rules, he officially dered the gathering begun. Typically, these additional exnations weren¡¯t necessary¡ªtoday, they were only to amodate the new member.
¡°So, as always, we¡¯ll begin with No. 2, Copernicus,¡± Einstein said, looking at the chair closest to him. ¡°Old friend, it¡¯s been years since youst joined us. Will you, as always, choose not to ask any questions?¡±
Across the room, Gauss nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve never¡ seen¡ Copernicus¡ ask¡¡±
¡°Copernicus rarely asks questions,¡± Da Vinci interrupted Gauss, quickly exining to Lin Xian. ¡°Since I joined the club in thest century, Copernicus has asked very few questions. Particrly since the 21st century began, he¡¯s never asked anything. And it¡¯s been four or five years since hest attended¡ªthis is his first time here since then.¡±
Lin Xian nodded lightly to Da Vinci, grateful for the information. Copernicus, as the No. 2 in the Genius Club, was the first member after the founder, Einstein. After him came Newton, then Galileo, and then Da Vinci.
Lin Xian realized that before Da Vinci joined, Copernicus had probably asked all the questions he wanted to ask.
It made sense¡ªjoining earlier had its benefits. Especially in the beginning, when it was just Einstein and Copernicus. Back then, Copernicus could ask anything he wanted, without fear of exposure, without anyone else listening in, without anyone guessing his ns.
Lin Xian shuddered slightly at the thought. Copernicus likely held a treasure trove of information¡ªanswers that everyone else wanted but dared not ask.
If there ever came a day when only Lin Xian and Einstein were present, with the others absent, it would be perfect.
In such a case, Lin Xian could privately ask about Du Yao¡¯s whereabouts, or what the Millennium Stake was, without fear of anyone else overhearing.
But that scenario probably wouldn¡¯t happen, would it? Even Newton, the third member, likely never had such an opportunity¡ªit was a unique privilege for Copernicus.
ording to Gauss and Da Vinci, Copernicus hadn¡¯t asked a question in over two decades. He was here today to witness Elon Musk¡¯s demise, like a weasel greeting a chicken for New Year¡¯s.
¡°If you have no questions, we¡¯ll skip ahead,¡± said Newton, who appeared young but had the soul of an elder and the personality of an old rascal. ¡°It¡¯s the afternoon here, and my grandkids are waiting for me to take them to the amusement park, so if there are no questions, let¡¯s not waste time.¡±
But then¡
Copernicus gave a dry chuckle. ¡°As it happens, I do have a question today.¡±
Hearing that, Lin Xian could feel the room change. The atmosphere became charged. Everyone was sitting up straight.
As the No. 2 figure of the Genius Club, Copernicus, who hadn¡¯t asked a question in more than twenty years and whose intentions remained unknown to everyone, was finally about to ask something!
Everyone was eager to know¡ªwhat was he going to ask?
This could be a great opportunity to understand Copernicus¡¯s intentions.
¡°Ahem¡¡± Copernicus cleared his throat, his voice faint and weak. ¡°Einstein¡¡±
He spoke softly, almost dreamily.
¡°Whether it¡¯s now or in some future era, tell me¡ if I wanted to build a time machine, to send a traveler back in time¡¡±
¡°Who should I go to?¡±
Chapter 422: Countdown
Thud.
Lin Xian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. His thoughts raced to Gao Wen and the manuscript hidden in his desk drawer.
¡°That old ghost Copernicus,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head. ¡°He¡¯s like a shadow that never goes away.¡±
For twenty years, not a single question¡ªand now, suddenly, Copernicus wanted answers, pointing directly at Lin Xian. No conferences in four or five years, yet the moment he showed up, it was just to stir up trouble.
But, on the other hand, Lin Xian thought, maybe this was a good sign. Maybe it meant that Copernicus didn¡¯t know everything just yet in 2024.
He had his suspicions before. The real and fake Yu Xi, after traveling through time to 2024, might have someone here helping them, exchanging information. But based on what he¡¯d seen today, that theory seemed off the mark. It looked like Copernicus knew little about time travel¡ªand certainly, no one had given him any crucial details.
Now, everything depended on how ¡°Einstein¡± would respond to him.
Lin Xian focused his gaze on the elder seated at the high podium. After a few moments, the old man, still sitting straight, took a deep breath and spoke slowly:¡°In both established history and future pathways, there is more than one researcher working on time travel theory. You could ask any of them.¡± He paused briefly. ¡°So, could you specify whom you wish to find?¡±
Copernicus chuckled dryly, seemingly satisfied with the response.
¡°Obviously,¡± he said, ¡°I want the one closest to my own time. The sooner, the better. My old bones can¡¯t afford to wait any longer than necessary.¡±
The old man wearing the Einstein mask gave a knowing smile.
¡°Sorry, Copernicus,¡± he said. ¡°Or perhaps¡ this was your n all along. Either way, regarding your rified question, my answer is this¡ª¡± He paused, his tone deliberate. ¡°I refuse to answer. Your question is invalid.¡±
For a moment, the room fell silent. The geniuses around the table exchanged nces¡ªsome confused, others understanding.
Everyone in the room was sharp. It didn¡¯t take long for them to figure out what had happened. Because of the ¡°Three Question Principles,¡± only two scenarios would make ¡°Einstein¡± refuse to answer.
One was if the question involved the Genius Club itself. The other was if it concerned the privacy, ns, actions, or identities of other members.
Clearly, it wasn¡¯t the first scenario¡ªif it were, Einstein would have refused from the beginning instead of letting Copernicus rify his question.
Which meant only one thing¡ª
The answer involved the privacy of another Genius Club member, so it couldn¡¯t be shared!
Lin Xian nced around, pretending to be puzzled like everyone else. He looked to his left at Gauss, then to his right at Newton¡ªjust observing.
Copernicus justughed quietly.
¡°I see,¡± he said casually. ¡°So, someone here got there before me, eh? Who could it be?¡±
He looked around the room, his masked gaze drifting from Newton to Da Vinci, then to Lin Xian. Then he turned his head, scanning Gauss, Galileo¡ each face, one by one.
¡°Interesting,¡± he said with a smirk, spreading his hands. ¡°Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t mind if one of you managed to build the time travel machine. It¡¯d make things easier for me. Even just a little borrowing would be fine.¡±
Gauss, who was small and frail, swallowed nervously.
¡°Is¡ is it Newton?¡± he asked hesitantly. ¡°How did you¡ª¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± Newton interrupted, his voice firm, though his eyes twinkled mischievously. ¡°I asked Einstein a simr question before, just less specific. But it was enough to get me on the right track for time travel.¡±
¡°So, Copernicus, forget it. As long as I¡¯m alive, you¡¯ll never get your hands on this.¡± Newton shot him a re. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do what you said¡ªhibernate, wait a few centuries, and hope future medicine buys you a few more years? Or have you finally regretted everything? nning to go back in time and kick your younger self for murdering innocent scientists?¡±
Da Vinci let out a giggle. She could tell Newton was simply toying with Copernicus.
She was one of the early members of the Genius Club and was well aware of the rivalry between Newton and Copernicus¡ªtheir views on science were so different, like oil and water.
But, thankfully, despite all their gatherings throughout thest century, they had always remained civil. Real fights had never broken out. Their rtionship, however, had soured dramatically over the years, especially due to Copernicus¡¯s increasingly ruthless behavior.
In the matter of scientists¡¯ treatment, Da Vinci was firmly on Newton¡¯s side.
¡°Copernicus,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°You are quite the contradiction, aren¡¯t you? On one hand, you benefit from technological advancements¡ªenjoying the best medical care, sleeping in cryo-chambers to prolong your life, and dreaming of time travel. On the other hand, you strike at the very scientists who made all this possible.¡±
She shook her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t that selfish and hypocritical? If not for advancements in medicine and cryo-tech, we wouldn¡¯t even see you here today. Yet, despite it all, you stick to that monstrous future n of yours?¡±
Copernicus coughed twice, seemingly unbothered by Da Vinci¡¯s criticism. He gave a faint smile.
¡°What if¡ it all turns out to be worth it, Miss Da Vinci?¡± he asked, his voice calm. ¡°Gentle measures won¡¯t change human nature. Just like your ¡®example¡¯ hasn¡¯t changed me¡ªyou can¡¯t change the rest of humanity either.¡±
He leaned back. ¡°I dislike attending these meetings because you all think too small. Though, I can¡¯t fully me you¡ªyou joinedte and missed a lot. There¡¯s much you don¡¯t know, much you fail to realize.¡±
He waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Still, there¡¯s no need for me to exin it to you. Time will reveal the truth. Anyway, my question ends here. Your turn, my old friend Newton.¡±
Newton sniffed, clearly not eager to continue the debate.
Perhaps he really was in a rush to take his grandkids to the amusement park.
¡°I have no questions today,¡± Newton said softly.
Lin Xian sighed internally. As the newest member of the Genius Club, he hoped that each of them would ask valuable questions and share useful answers, so he could gather some important information.
But now¡ it seemed like these geniuses had been part of the Club for decades. With twelve meetings a year and twelve questions each year, they must have asked hundreds of questions by now. Maybe everything they wanted to know had already been asked, and their foundations were set. Their future ns were on steady ground.
Inparison, newer members like himselfgged behind, both in information and progress.
Next, it was No.4¡¯s turn¡ªGalileo.
The middle-aged man spoke in his usual formal tone.
¡°When will the next revolutionary or groundbreaking discovery in astronomy ur?¡±
Einstein didn¡¯t hesitate.
¡°March 27, 2077.¡±
Galileo let out a long breath.
¡°So far away¡ I guess I¡¯ll need to hibernate.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. That was a perfect question. No one but Galileo would know the real meaning of the answer.
Not that Lin Xian could evenprehend the question. It was all way beyond him.
Then, it was No.5¡¯s turn. Miss Da Vinci smiled and said simply:
¡°I have no questions.¡±
Lin Xian felt disappointed again. It was clear these veteran members were well aware of their goals and ns¡ªthey knew exactly how they¡¯d achieve them. Their thinking was sharp and focused.
As long as they chose not to ask questions, Lin Xian would never be able to understand their ns or goals.
It was cunning, really. They didn¡¯t need to ask anymore; they just listened to the neers like Lin Xian provide answers¡ªthey had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
He was the ninth member. Elon Musk and Turing were seventh and eighth, respectively. No wonder their identities were widely known.
Most likely, while the veteran members remained silent, the newer ones¡ªElon Musk and Turing included¡ªhad asked endlessly at every gathering. The more they asked, the more personal information they leaked, making it easier for enemies to target them.
It was a delicate bnce that was nearly impossible to get right.
Then it was No.6 Gauss¡¯s turn to ask. Lin Xian silently hoped for something valuable¡ªanything that could offer him some useful information.
So far, he hadn¡¯t gained a thing, and soon, he¡¯d likely have to spill some of his own secrets to these veterans.
It all depended on Gauss now.
Finally, Gauss didn¡¯t disappoint. The small figure spoke slowly.
¡°If we want to enhance human physical ability, neural response, and brain activity in 2024, which direction should we start researching?¡±
Einstein shook his head.
¡°None. A critical gene-editing technology has yet to be developed. We¡¯ll need to wait until around 2100 before we can properly begin enhancing the human body and gene-editing.¡±
Lin Xian gazed quietly at Einstein. Because of Newton and Da Vinci¡¯s refusal to ask, and Copernicus¡¯s invalid question, Einstein had only answered two questions so far¡ªand both were unverifiable.
First, he said there would be a major breakthrough in astronomy in 2077. Then, he told Gauss that by 2100, humanity would begin enhancing bodies and gene-editing.
It all sounded impressive, omniscient. But honestly? Lin Xian found it no different from what a chatan fortune teller would say¡ªlofty ims that couldn¡¯t be proven anytime soon.
He still didn¡¯t fully believe Einstein had the power to foresee every second of the future.
Which meant¡ he needed proof.
Lin Xian had three reasons for joining the Genius Club:
First, he wanted to find out the truth behind the ¡°Millennium Stake¡± and bring back Chu An Qing.
That was his top priority¡ªthe main reason he chose to join the Genius Club. But before pursuing that answer, he needed to be sure that Einstein wasn¡¯t just another fraud.
Otherwise, Einstein might just draw him a massive lie¡ªlike telling him to hibernate for 200 years to find out. He couldn¡¯t be foolish enough to actually do that.
If it was a genuine way to bring back Chu An Qing, then he¡¯d do it. But what if, 200 yearster, it turned out to be a dead end¡ªjust a trick? He¡¯d be devastated.
Secondly, he wanted answers about the dream world, the 00:42 white light, and the universe¡¯s constants¡ªso many mysteries.
But without knowing if Einstein could actually see the future or if he was just a clever trickster, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t risk asking. Revealing his dreams and his glimpses into the future¡ªit would make him far too vulnerable.
Finally, his third reason for joining¡ªto fulfill his promise to Angelica and seek revenge alongside her.
It seemed likely that the one who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents was Copernicus.
If that were true, then it would be perfect.
It wasn¡¯t just Angelica who had a grudge against Copernicus¡ªLin Xian did too. A grudge so deep they couldn¡¯t coexist.
First, there was the fourth dream where Copernicus had sent people to surround him, aiming to kill him with electric guns.
Then, there was the time-space assassin Lin Yu Xi, sent by Copernicus to murder him.
Now, thinking back, Lin Xian could only see it as Copernicus¡¯s deliberate and vile scheme. Had he really sent Yu Xi, brainwashed and manipted, to kill her own father?
It was such a sickening, twisted act!
From the moment Lin Xianid eyes on Copernicus, he had regarded him as enemy number one.
And it wasn¡¯t just Lin Xian who had a bone to pick with him.
Xu Yun¡¯s death, Tang Xin¡¯s death¡ªthey all traced back to Copernicus.
Based on Ji Lin Shui¡¯s confession,bined with what had been said during this meeting, it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce that Xu Yun, Tang Xin, and Dr. Pomsmike¡¯s deaths had all been orchestrated by Copernicus.
Which was why Ji Lin Shui needed no evidence or proof to kill these people¡ªhe simply killed on sight.
But when it came to Lin Xian, Copernicus had made it soplicated, demanding proof of his historical disruptions. Clearly, Copernicus hadn¡¯t ordered Lin Xian¡¯s death¡ªJi Lin Shui had acted on his own, trying to show off.
All the hatred had piled up. If Lin Xian got the chance, he¡¯d deal with Copernicus just as decisively as he had with Kevin Walker and Turing¡ªputting a bullet through his head without hesitation.
Facing a monster like Copernicus, there was no need for mercy¡ªhe¡¯d kill him without a second thought.
However, Lin Xian was waiting on two things:
First, he needed to be sure that Ji Lin¡¯s parents were indeed killed by Copernicus.
Second, he needed to find out who Copernicus truly was and where he lived. Until then, Lin Xian had to stay low, avoiding too much attention.
Now, all eyes turned to Lin Xian. The elder in the Einstein mask, along with the other geniuses, watched him expectantly.
¡°No. 9, Rhine,¡± Einstein said, his voice raspy yet powerful. ¡°Have you decided on your question?¡±
Under their gazes, Lin Xian nodded slowly.
He had indeed decided.
This was the result of much consideration. As his first question since joining the Genius Club, he had decided not to reveal personal details or secrets.
Instead, he would use it as a test¡ªto see if Einstein really could predict the future or if it was all just an borate act.
It might be hard for others to verify such a thing, but for Lin Xian, it was simple.
After all, he had truly seen the future¡ª600 years ahead.
All he needed was to ask something he already knew, something to test Einstein¡¯s credibility.
Besides, the whole reason he was in such a hurry to join the Club this month was to find a way to avoid his impending beheading on July 7th.
At first, he wasn¡¯t sure how to phrase it.
Now, the opportunity had presented itself perfectly.
He only needed one question¡ªa question that could confirm if Einstein was honest and also help him better understand what would happen on July 7th. It was the perfect two-for-one solution.
So, wearing hisical Rhine Cat mask, Lin Xian raised his head and looked directly at Einstein.
¡°I want to confirm something,¡± he said. ¡°Are you able to urately answer any question, down to the exact detail, even the precise minute or second, as long as it¡¯s not restricted by the three principles?¡±
Einstein nodded without hesitation.
¡°Yes. If your question is specific enough, my answer will be equally specific.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding back. Everything was in ce; now, he could finally ask.
¡°My question is this¡¡±
The room watched as the face behind the Rhine Cat mask spoke each word clearly.
¡°What is my exact death date, time, and method? Where will it happen?¡±
Einstein let out a scratchyugh, shaking his head.
¡°Rhine, technically speaking, this isn¡¯t just one question but three. However, I¡¯ll consider them as part of onerger question¡ª¡¯How will I die?¡¯ You simply specified the details.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± Einstein continued. ¡°I am pleased to see you understanding the rules so well. I hope every member integrates into the Club this smoothly.¡±
¡°Now, let me answer your question.¡±
Einstein looked upwards, seemingly deep in thought, then said:
¡°No. 9, Rhine. Your death wille by decapitation. Your head will be severed instantly.¡±
He paused, his voice turning grave.
¡°You will die in your home¡ªin your living room, by the front door.¡±
¡°And the exact time of your death¡¡± He hesitated, then spoke with finality:
¡°In precisely¡ 17 minutes and 21 seconds.¡±
Chapter 423: Qiao Qiao and Yu Xi
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What? Seventeen minutes¡ twenty-one seconds¡¡±
He was going to die?
Honestly, he had mentally prepared for it. If Einstein had told him that July 7th was his death date, Lin Xian would have believed it. After all, the fifth, sixth, and seventh dreams all had undeniable clues pointing to his death on that date. If Einstein could name that day, it would mean he wasn¡¯t lying.
But Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected this. The answer he received waspletely shocking.
Wait a second.
His mind started racing.
First off, Einstein had predicted the exact way he would die¡ªdecapitation. That meant the prophecy was probably true. This old man definitely knew things, and Lin Xian believed him.
Second, why had his death date changed? What had caused it to move from July 7th to July 1st, a whole week earlier?When you¡¯re close to a crisis, your mind works at lightning speed. Lin Xian quickly drew a conclusion:
The butterfly effect of time and space had taken ce. The future had changed.
But what was the cause? What was the turning point that couldn¡¯t be undone?
Most likely, it had something to do with Elon Musk!
Earlier, Elon Musk¡¯s virtual image had disappeared, and many people thought he was dead¡ªeven Copernicus put on a show of grief. But Lin Xian was 100% sure Elon Musk wasn¡¯t dead.
What kind of idiot would get killed after knowing their death date and being aware of a traitor lurking around?
Maybe an ordinary person would. But not Elon Musk¡ªa genius wouldn¡¯t make such a dumb mistake.
So, it was obvious. Elon Musk¡¯s disappearance was a fake death, a trick¡ªa ¡°prince reced by a civet cat¡± kind of thing.
Following that line of thinking: Elon Musk, who was supposed to die, didn¡¯t. Given his influence and achievements, it wasn¡¯t surprising that this altered the timeline.
But this time, the butterfly effect was enormous¡ªnot only changing Elon Musk¡¯s fate but also somehow moving Lin Xian¡¯s death closer.
For now, Lin Xian could only piece together a rough exnation. He would have to work out the details properly once he survived the next seventeen minutes.
Right now, his main goal was to stay alive.
ording to Einstein, his death would happen in his own living room, by the front door. That meant the killer woulde to his house.
The best thing to do was leave.
He hadn¡¯t imagined his first Genius Club meeting would end like this.
It felt a little embarrassing. After all, he¡¯d just mocked Copernicus, and now he had to run. Wouldn¡¯t that make him look foolish?
Sure enough, as soon as Einstein finished speaking, Copernicus chuckled.
¡°Well, what a surprise¡¡± He began to p slowly, smiling as he said, ¡°I never thought today I¡¯d witness not one but two geniuses fall. Truly¡ an eye-opener.¡±
Next to him, the middle-aged man, Galileo, remained serious, his voice deep and steady. ¡°Seventeen minutes, being hunted down, a brutal death¡ Rhine, we may not know who you really are or what you¡¯ve gotten yourself into, but I¡¯m afraid tomorrow¡¯s headlines will tell us everything. As a fellow member of the Genius Club and your senior, I don¡¯t wish for your death. But Einstein¡¯s visions are absolute. We¡¯ve all confirmed this in our ways.¡±
Before Galileo could finish, Da Vinci let out a scornfulugh.
¡°Ha, not necessarily!¡± She looked at the cat mask on Lin Xian¡¯s face and spoke quickly, her tone like that of a caring grandmother, gentle and sincere. ¡°Rhine, why did you ask about the future? What¡¯s your purpose in knowing it?¡±
After a pause, she continued, ¡°We seek to know the future not to submit to it, but to change it. I have no doubt that Einstein¡¯s prediction is urate. But anything that hasn¡¯t happened yet can be changed. Just like what we do here and the question you answered when you got your invitation¡ We gather to create the future!¡±
¡°This future isn¡¯t just about human civilization¡ªit¡¯s also your future. I believe that everyone¡¯s future is in their own hands.¡±
¡°So don¡¯t treat an unfulfilled future like a fixed history¡ªeven if it¡¯s just seventeen minutes away. The wood hasn¡¯t been carved, the drop hasn¡¯t fallen; there¡¯s still time.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Newton agreed, standing in solidarity with Da Vinci.
For Newton, an enemy¡¯s enemy was a friend. When Lin Xian first joined, Newton¡¯s approval of him had skyrocketed because of his mocking of Copernicus.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if Newton had figured out the answer to the ¡°time machine principle¡± question he¡¯d asked earlier, but one thing was clear¡ªNewton was willing to help.
With an exaggerated look at his watch, Newton yelled, ¡°Einstein! Now that everyone¡¯s had their turn, isn¡¯t it time to wrap up? My grandkids are waiting for me¡ªI can almost hear them pounding on my living room door. Can we call it a day already?¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t stupid. He could tell Newton was rushing the end of the meeting for his sake. And while taking off the VR goggles and running might have been an option, Newton clearly saw everyone on the right-hand chairs as being on his side.
Indeed, everyone here lived up to the title of ¡°genius.¡± They were all good actors, with plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Hearing Newton¡¯s urging, Einstein nodded slowly, raising both hands.
¡°Very well. Now that our final genius has gotten his answer, as per our agenda, today¡¯s meeting is over. Rhine, as Miss Da Vinci said, we¡¯re here to change the future¡ªto steer it towards a brighter oue. So, I sincerely hope that a month from now, at our next meeting on August 1st, we¡¯ll see that cat mask of yours again. It¡¯s brought a unique energy to our club.¡±
¡°And with that, meeting adjourned!¡±
As Einstein ended the meeting, the members stood, disappearing one by one.
Across from Lin Xian, Gauss spoke slowly: ¡°Rhine¡ don¡¯t¡ take¡ the elevator¡ it will¡¡±
¡°Thank you, Gauss.¡± Lin Xian cut him off, waving goodbye. ¡°Talk next time!¡±
And with that, he yanked off the VR goggles¡ª
The bright, bustling hall disappeared, reced by his dimly lit living room, and¡ a glowing phone screen on the coffee table, with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s call.
Since his phone was on silent, there hadn¡¯t been any ringing or vibrating, so Lin Xian hadn¡¯t noticed.
¡°Ying Jun¡¯s calling me¡¡± Lin Xian quickly reacted. ¡°Qiao Qiao must be in trouble.¡±
Not wasting a second, he grabbed the phone, answered, and dashed out the door, sprinting down the stairs.
¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Lin Xian! Qiao Qiao is missing!¡±
On the other end, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice was filled with panic.
¡°I¡ I don¡¯t know when she disappeared. I got up, and she wasn¡¯t in bed. I called out, but there was no answer, so I started looking for her. I found blood on the bathroom floor! I kept searching and saw that Qiao Qiao had taken off her pajamas and put on those workout clothes she hardly likes. She usually prefers dresses! And the kitchen knife is missing! What is she doing? Is she sleepwalking? I¡¯ve called you four or five times before you picked up¡ I¡¯m heading out to find her now. Should we call the police?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Lin Xian had already figured out what was happening.
At this time of night, wearing workout clothes, and armed with a kitchen knife¡
What else could Yan Qiao Qiao be nning buting for his head?
Although he still didn¡¯t know all the details, it was most likely that Yan Qiao Qiao had regained her memories, turning back into Lin Yu Xi, and was ready toplete her unfinished mission!
¡°I¡¯ve got it, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian reassured Zhao Ying Jun before hanging up.
There was no time to exin further¡ªhe had less than seventeen minutes left before his predicted death.
His priority was to get out alive!
Ending the call, Lin Xian went full parkour mode, darting down the stairs with rapid jumps. His descent was even faster than taking the elevator.
With a final jump, hended in the lobby, quickly making his way towards the exit.
He nced at his phone to check the time, noticing that aside from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s four missed calls, there were also twenty-seven missed calls from Liu Feng.
Liu Feng?
Calling at this hour could only mean one thing¡ªsomething had changed with the time clock!
This was important information, and he had to find out.
He sprinted towards the back gate while dialing Liu Feng.
Liu Feng picked up immediately, shouting: ¡°Lin Xian! Why do you never pick up your phone?!¡±
¡°No time for that,¡± Lin Xian replied, still running. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did the time clock reading change?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Liu Feng was much moreposed than Gauss, getting straight to the point. ¡°The space-time curvature has changed to negative 0.0000042.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled. ¡°Negative? Has the timeline dropped?¡±
Running at full speed while talking left Lin Xian slightly breathless. He weaved through the greenery, catching sight of the neighborhood¡¯s south gate up ahead.
A negative reading¡
The timeline¡¯s curvature turning negative was surprising, but it made sense.
After all, space-time curvature wasn¡¯t an absolute value¡ªit was a rtive one.
Liu Feng had zeroed the clock with time particles during the fourth dream, meaning that any change afterward¡ªpositive or negative¡ªwas measured against that baseline.
Lin Xian¡¯s understanding was that the further from the zero point, the greater the curvature value would be, whether positive or negative. For example, -0.0000336 and +0.0000336 were equally far from the zero timeline¡ªjust in different directions.
So, what was the significance of positive versus negative?
The fourth dream, or the zero timeline, had the most advanced technology, without any major catastrophes. Moving positively, the disasters got worse while Earth¡¯s abandoned state improved¡ªbut conditions on Mars got worse.
It was hard to find any absolute pattern since the factors affecting time were so many and varied¡ªEarth¡¯s environment, technological advances, poption, Mars colonization, historical figures¡
Too many variables, all intertwined. But if the timeline was moving towards zero, it was likely heading back towards the fourth dream¡¯s future.
Even if it went past zero to negative.
Based on Lin Xian¡¯s theory, timelines close to zero¡ªwhether slightly above or below¡ªshould have simr worlds. Like the fifth and sixth dreams¡ªsame overall picture, just slightly different details.
With that logic, the current negative timeline should be simr to the world where soldiers surrounded him and Copernicus kidnapped him.
Could it be¡
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.
Could it be that Lin Yu Xi regained her memories because the timeline dropped back to one that originally included her?
It was very possible!
The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water.
Lin Yu Xi came from the zero timeline. When the time particles were destroyed, and her future disappeared, she was abandoned by time itself. Her future traits vanished, and her memories went with them.
It made sense¡ªsince her existence depended on a future that no longer existed, she logically should have disappeared too. She only survived in 2024 because the entangled time particles reversed causality, making her the ¡°cause¡± and the future the ¡°effect.¡±
With the ¡°effect¡± gone, the ¡°cause¡± could remain. But that meant any enhancements or memories tied to the future would vanish.
This was different from Yellow Finch, who crossed several timelines without losing her memories or existence because the particles supporting her remained intact.
Time particles are the root¡ªthe core that allows a traveler to stay.
Using regr time particles for travel¡ªlike Yellow Finch¡ªmeant that if the particles were destroyed, she would disappear along with their energy. Only entangled particles worked differently; even if they were destroyed, the person¡¯s basic existence would persist.
Like what happened with Lin Yu Xi.
Lin Xian gritted his teeth, leaping over a flowerbed.
He was only a few dozen meters from the south gate but still hadn¡¯t figured out the logic behind Yu Xi¡¯s regained memories.
Her memories and enhancements should have been part of the zero timeline. But now they were back¡ªin a negative timeline!
Where did theye from?
There were two possibilities:
First, maybe the timeline dropped in steps, just like how it ascended before, moving one increment at a time. If so, it could be that it briefly passed through the zero timeline, allowing Lin Yu Xi to recover some memories.
The second possibility was that Yu Xi existed in both timelines because they were adjacent to each other.
If this were true, the memories in her mind now weren¡¯t from the zero timeline but from the negative timeline!
A bold guess. If correct, then the memories she had were hers but not truly hers¡ªthey belonged to another version of her.
It wasplicated but not hard to understand.
Lin Yu Xi, from the zero timeline, lost her memories, then inherited those from the negative version of herself.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know which theory was right, but one thing was certain:
Yu Xi had regained her memories!
For now, survival came first!
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of the white mini-fridge with the entangled time particles inside. He shouted into the phone: ¡°Liu Feng! Check the fridge¡ªsee if the time particles have charged, if they¡¯ve gained any energy!¡±
¡°No!¡± Liu Feng answered without hesitation. ¡°I wasn¡¯t idle while you didn¡¯t pick up! I checked the fridge, and there¡¯s no change in the particles. They¡¯re as stable as ever¡ªno fluctuations at all. I¡¯m starting to doubt my own theory that they could recharge.¡±
Lin Xian clicked his tongue.
Wrong¡ he had been wrong all along.
So, Yu Xi¡¯s regained memories had nothing to do with the particles. Who would¡¯ve thought the timeline would drop?
Lesson learned.
¡°That¡¯s it for now, talk tomorrow.¡±
Lin Xian reached the south gate, hanging up on Liu Feng. With only thirteen minutes left until Einstein¡¯s predicted death, he was pushing himself harder than ever¡ªeven beyond his high school parkour championship days.
It seemed adrenaline truly was the strongest motivator¡ªonly life-threatening danger could bring out his full potential.
He put his phone away, grabbed the gate¡¯s railing, and vaulted over,nding in the street as the security guard stared in shock.
Luck was on his side¡ªthere was a taxi waiting nearby.
Lin Xian approached, opening the front passenger door.
¡°Driver, take me¡ª¡±
He froze mid-sentence.
It felt like he¡¯d been thrown into a freezer¡ªhis entire body went cold, his scalp prickling.
Sitting in the back seat was a girl with pale skin and a cold expression.
She looked about seventeen or eighteen, wearing tight clothing. Her long ck hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, her arm¡¯s muscles visible beneath her rolled-up sleeves.
But what terrified him the most were her bright blue eyes¡ªstaring straight at him.
Lin Xian recognized her immediately. He¡¯d seen this girl before.
She was the one from the sixth dream¡ªin the underground winter base¡ªwho had imed to be Yan Qiao Qiao, even though she looked nothing like her.
And she was also the blue-eyed vige chief from the seventh dream.
Lin Xian instantly knew he was in trouble. He turned to run, but¡ª
BOOM!
A deafening crash as the taxi¡¯s back door was kicked off, flying several meters before skidding across the pavement, sparking as it went.
In the same moment, two streaks of blue light shot forward in the dark, as if she had teleported right behind him.
She was too fast¡ªfaster than anything on Earth.
Even with Lin Xian¡¯s parkour skills and heightened reflexes, he couldn¡¯t dodge her unnatural strength.
The tall, blue-eyed girl grabbed him by the back of his neck and mmed him onto the ground.
¡°Cough!¡±
The blow crushed his chest, forcing a metallic taste into his mouth.
But she didn¡¯t stop. She pulled a sharp knife from her waist¡ªits de gleaming in the moonlight¡ªand swung it at Lin Xian¡¯s neck. He closed his eyes¡ª
CLANG!
A clear sound of metal shing.
Lin Xian felt a cold breeze hit him, but the knife never fell¡ªhis neck was still intact!
He opened his eyes to a surprising sight.
In the chilling moonlight, a small girl stood before him, her short ponytail swaying. She wore a ck and white tracksuit, blue ribbons tied in her hair.
She had no visible muscles, but her body was taut, her arms holding a kitchen knife, locking it against the blue-eyed girl¡¯s de.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened, his breath catching.
¡°Yan¡ Qiao Qiao?¡±
Chapter 424: My Name
47 Minutes Earlier.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house, bathroom, in front of the sink mirror.
Drip¡ drip¡
Lin Yu Xi clutched her nose, her eyes squinting from the pain as the faucet dripped a steady rhythm. The bathroom floor was sttered with muddy-red stains¡ªher own blood.
She blinked slowly, raising her gaze to meet her reflection.
The face staring back was familiar, but strangely foreign.
The familiarity came from her features¡ªthe ones she knew well, that she¡¯d always known.
The strangenessy in her memories.Now, Lin Yu Xi held two sets of memories¡ªthose of Yan Qiao Qiao and those of Lin Yu Xi. Two different lives that both belonged to her. But¡ they werepletely contradictory, pr opposites. Trying to reconcile them left her feeling deeply uneasy.
Because¡ these two memories didn¡¯t connect at all.
She closed her eyes.
Again, she tried to sort through the tangled, freshly imnted memories¡ª
A military training base. Rows of teenagers in uniforms stood in formation¡ªall girls.
Their ages ranged from eleven to sixteen. They varied in height and build, but each one had been strengthened through extensive chemical enhancement¡ªevery one of them was fit, sturdy, and ready.
In her memory, Lin Yu Xi stood in the front row.
She nced around. All the girls were taller, which was why she had been ced at the front.
At the time, she was just eleven years old.
She had been at the military base for years, enduring relentless, day-and-night training.
They were all chosen recruits¡ªorphans taken by the state, raised to be agents of the Time-Space Bureau. Their purpose was singr: to be exceptional time-space agents, undertake secret missions, and serve the Bureau without question.
Their identities didn¡¯t matter. Their first lesson upon arrival was to forget who they once were.
Their thoughts didn¡¯t matter either. From the start, they were trained for loyalty, obedience, and unwavering dedication to the Bureau.
In truth¡ such effort wasn¡¯t needed.
After all, they were just orphans¡ªabandoned and forgotten by the world.
It was their fate.
The girls at the base didn¡¯t even have names¡ªexcept for her.
Lin Yu Xi.
¡°Number 7!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
¡°Number 11!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
¡°Number 13!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
¡°Number 17!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
The instructor called out their designations, one by one.
The girls had no real names. Just numbers. They had been called this way since arriving at the base.
And the numbers weren¡¯t sequential either. That was because many recruits had been eliminated over the years during the enhancement phase. Those who didn¡¯t make it were reassigned to less demanding roles¡ªsome became traffic police or special guards¡ªordinary jobs, forever unrted to the world of ¡°agents¡± or ¡°time-space missions.¡±
¡°Lin Yu Xi!¡±
The instructor called her name.
¡°Here!¡±
Lin Yu Xi straightened, her voice loud and clear.
¡°Number 46!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
¡°Number 47!¡±
¡°Here!¡±
The roll call continued, but no other real names were mentioned. Just numbers.
All these years at the training base¡ªLin Yu Xi had been the only exception.
She still didn¡¯t understand why.
Why¡ Why did all the others have only numbers, while she had a name?
It was a question no one could answer¡ªnot the instructors, not the teachers, not the doctors or the scientists. Nobody knew why.
It was just a mystery. A mystery they all epted.
¡°Why is she the only one with a name?¡±
The girls at the base had enhanced hearing; their ears were exceptionally sharp.
That day, while resting, Lin Yu Xi hugged her knees under the shade of a tree. She overheard Number 17¡¯s voice not far behind her.
Lin Yu Xi didn¡¯t need to turn to know who it was. Number 17 was the tallest girl at the base. She had always been the tallest, ever since they were young.
It was evident that the base had a specific purpose in raising these time-space agents¡ªselecting orphans from the country using strict criteria.
First, they had to be orphans from X Country, as their missions would be carried out within its borders.
Second, they couldn¡¯t be too tall or too old. These traits were important to ensure the missions¡¯ sess.
Little girls could easily gain society¡¯s sympathy, which made their tasks easier. Simrly, being shorter helped them avoid unwanted attention, crucial for an agent.
Number 17 wasn¡¯t the oldest, but she was among the oldest recruits.
She was four years older than Lin Yu Xi.
Lin Yu Xi was thirteen now; Number 17 was seventeen.
From the shade of another tree, Number 17 stared at Lin Yu Xi¡¯s solitary figure, her voice tinged with resentment as she spoke to a friend beside her.
¡°She¡¯s the only one with a name, while we¡¯re all just numbers.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± her friend replied, trying tofort her. ¡°A name is just abel, like a number. As long as it¡¯s unique, there¡¯s no real difference between a name and a number.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± added another girl.
¡°Lin Yu Xi¡¡± the second friend continued, ¡°I remember the instructor saying they didn¡¯t know why she had a name. It seems that, even though she¡¯s an orphan, she¡¯s different from us.¡±
¡°We were abandoned, unwanted by our parents, which is why we have no names. But Lin Yu Xi¡ªher situation is different. Nobody knows her exact background or what happened to her parents, but¡ she was given a name. Her parents named her before they abandoned her.¡±
¡°So, in a way, isn¡¯t that even sadder?¡± said the first friend. ¡°We were cast away from birth. At least it¡¯s clear with our parents¡ªthey didn¡¯t want us, and we don¡¯t need to think about them. No ties, no attachment.¡±
¡°But Lin Yu Xi¡ªher parents gave her a name, and then left her. Isn¡¯t that harder to ept? Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if they had just abandoned her from the start? To give birth, to name, and then not care¡ªthat¡¯s crueler.¡±
Despite their words, Number 17¡¯s expression remained dark as she stared at Lin Yu Xi.
All these years¡ she had harbored jealousy towards Lin Yu Xi.
Not her looks or her abilities¡ªevery girl there was exceptional. Those who survived were not only above average in appearance but also highly capable. They were all trained under the same instructors, and while they differed slightly, they were evenly matched.
Especially Number 17. In many ways, she was among the best.
But what she envied about Lin Yu Xi was something entirely different.
Her name.
She longed for a name too.
It didn¡¯t need to be unique, or beautiful, or special.
Any name would do.
She simply didn¡¯t want to remain as ¡°Number 17.¡±
¡
A female doctor studied the lines on an instrument screen in the base¡¯s medical room and nodded.
¡°Alright, Yu Xi, you can sit up now. Go ahead and remove the patches yourself.¡±
Lin Yu Xi obediently sat up, peeling off the wires and electrodes attached to her.
¡°Everything looks good¡ªactually, excellent,¡± the doctor said with a smile. ¡°Your fitness levels and enhancement results are still among the best here. I¡¯m confident about your chances in tomorrow¡¯s selection.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Yu Xi said softly, her voice filled with sincere gratitude.
This doctor had watched over them since they were young, caring for them all this time. The girls liked her for her kindness.
As Lin Yu Xi stood to change back into her clothes, she noticed something new on the doctor¡¯s desk¡ªa framed photo.
Curious, she moved closer and saw it was a family portrait.
The doctor stood with her husband behind their young son, who was leaping yfully, a toy in hand, a joyful smile lighting up his face.
¡°Is this¡ your son?¡± Lin Yu Xi asked, pointing at the photo.
¡°Yes,¡± the doctor replied with a smile. ¡°He¡¯s starting kindergarten soon, so we took this family picture yesterday as a keepsake. I really like it. Watching you all grow up made me realize how much my little one has grown, so I printed an extra copy to keep here.¡±
Lin Yu Xi nodded, her gaze lingering on the happy family. She couldn¡¯t look away.
¡°How nice¡¡± she whispered. ¡°I wish I had a picture like that¡ with my mom and dad.¡±
The doctor looked up, surprised. She paused her note-taking, turning towards Lin Yu Xi.
¡°Do you think about your parents?¡± she asked gently.
Lin Yu Xi nodded.
The doctor smiled. ¡°All these years, you¡¯ve never mentioned it.¡±
¡°Because¡ no one ever talks about it,¡± Lin Yu Xi replied, her gaze shifting from the family photo to meet the doctor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Nobody here thinks about their parents. There¡¯s no love, no hatred¡ªjust indifference, like strangers.¡±
The doctor nodded thoughtfully.
¡°That¡¯s true. I¡¯ve been with you all for so long, watching you grow up. You all speak to me freely, but¡ in all these years, you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s brought up parents.¡±
She paused, considering her words.
¡°Yes, you¡¯re the only one. Like you said, the others don¡¯t think about their parents. I suppose it¡¯s because of your name.¡± She smiled gently. ¡°A name is the first connection parents give to a child. Usually, it¡¯s chosen by parents or grandparents, always with the parents¡¯ approval.¡±
¡°Names seem simple, but they carry weight. Your surname shows where youe from¡ªit¡¯s part of your heritage. Your given name carries your parents¡¯ hopes, emotions, or blessings.¡±
¡°Yu Xi¡ I don¡¯t know why your parents chose that name. It¡¯s quite unique, but I¡¯m sure it had special meaning for them. Maybe that¡¯s why, unlike the others, you think of your parents. Because you have a name, while they don¡¯t. Your name makes them real to you, gives you an image of them¡ªa hope.¡±
The doctor¡¯s gaze moved back to her desk, to the framed photo of her family. Her expression softened as she looked at her son, who was about to start kindergarten. She spoke, her voice tender.
¡°Yu Xi, you¡¯ve never met your parents. You don¡¯t know what they look like, and nobody has told you anything about them.¡±
¡°But even so, even though you know nothing of them¡ you still miss them?¡±
Lin Yu Xi didn¡¯t hesitate. She nodded firmly. ¡°Yes, I do.¡±
The doctor blinked, taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected this.
¡°When do you think about them?¡± she asked. ¡°Is it when you¡¯re falling asleep at night? When training gets too hard? When the instructor scolds you? Or, like now, when you see others with their families?¡±
Lin Yu Xi shook her head, her eyes clear and serious.
¡°Every day,¡± she said softly.
The doctor¡¯s eyes widened, and Lin Yu Xi added.
¡°Every moment.¡±
The doctor felt a lump rise in her throat. She reached out, gently wrapping Lin Yu Xi in an embrace, her hand resting atop her head.
She wanted tofort her, but the words escaped her.
These children were sharp, much too perceptive for empty reassurances. Lies, no matter how well-intentioned, would only add to their pain.
Instead, she changed the subject.
¡°You¡¯ll be fine tomorrow,¡± she said encouragingly. ¡°I know you all better than anyone. Your strength, speed, reflexes¡ªyou¡¯re among the best. You¡¯ll make it.¡±
¡°Who knows, by tomorrow, you might already be a Level Three Time-Space Bureau agent, ranked higher than me!¡± She smiled, shaking her head. ¡°No, once you finish your mission, once you return triumphantly from capturing humanity¡¯s greatest criminal, I¡¯ll treat you to a celebratory meal. How about that?¡±
¡
¡°Number 17, victory!¡±
The instructor held Number 17¡¯s hand high, dering her entry into the final match.
¡°The final selection¡ Number 17 versus Lin Yu Xi!¡±
¡°Whoever wins this match will be promoted to Level Three Time-Space Bureau agent and receive the honor of wielding the only entangled-state time-space particle in history¡ªto return to the past and carry out this critical mission!¡±
¡°Now¡ let the match begin!¡±
Bang!
Number 17, already filled with rage,unched herself at Lin Yu Xi.
The jealousy she had harbored for so long now poured out, fueling her attacks.
Chapter 425: Number 17
Lin Yu Xi hugged Zhao Ying Jun for a moment before slowly standing up. She walked over to her bedside table and picked up her Little Genius smartwatch, which was charging there. She put it on her left wrist.
This was a Children¡¯s Day gift from Lin Xian. She wore it every time she went out, and after a month, it had be a habit. She really liked the cute little watch. It was one of the few things that belonged solely to her.
Then, her eyes lifted. She gazed at the small picture frame on the nightstand ¡ª the family photo taken at Disnend. Who would have thought? By some twist of fate, this was a real family portrait. Just like the photo on the doctor¡¯s desk from her memories, this was truly a picture of a family of three.
¡°The thing I¡¯ve wanted most¡¡± she murmured, smiling slightly. ¡°Turns out, I already had it.¡±
She reached out and took the picture frame, pulling out the photo inside and holding it close. Though the room was dim, with only the faint orange glow of the nightlight, her vision had improved dramatically since that strange blue line appeared in her eyes. She could see everything clearly, even in such darkness.
In the photo, she wore a princess dress with a delicate silver tiara on her head. Behind her, Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Xian were dressed as a queen and king, leaning close to her. It was true¡ªthey looked so much alike. Lin Yu Xi traced her fingers over Zhao Ying Jun in the photo. That was her mom. Their facial features were almost identical; she looked like a miniature version of her.
As for the rest¡ªthough it wasn¡¯t as obvious, if she looked closely, she could see it. Her forehead, chin, and ears were exactly like Lin Xian¡¯s. She moved her fingers from Zhao Ying Jun to Lin Xian. Even without seeing Lin Xian¡¯s paternity report, it didn¡¯t matter anymore. The truth was clear.
She suddenly remembered what the doctor at the military base had told her: ¡°A name may seem simple, but it carries deep meaning. Your surname represents your origin, inherited from your father, something set at birth. Your given name carries your parents¡¯ emotions, hopes, and blessings.¡±Yes. Only now did she truly understand the meaning of her own name. The ¡°Lin Xian¡± in Lin Yu Xi was Lin Xian¡¯s Lin Xian. The ¡°Yu Xi¡± in Lin Yu Xi was given by Zhao Ying Jun. It was the name her parents had given her¡ªa name that was unique.
She turned the family photo over and looked at the scribbled handwriting on the back. It read ¡°Yan Qiao Qiao.¡± This was the name given to her by her grandparents.
She looked up, gazing westward.
[Time-Space Sensing]
She could sense it¡ªthe powerful aura of a time-space traveler had already boarded a vehicle, heading swiftly toward Lin Xian¡¯s neighborhood.
It seemed her guess was correct. It must be Number 17! Number 17 had crossed through using tangled time-space particles, and though bound by time-spacews like other travelers, she had much greater flexibility. The only one who could stop Number 17 was herself¡ªfrom the future.
Even though she was weak right now¡ But¡ª¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡±
Lin Yu Xi put her most cherished family photo into the inner pocket of her tracksuit. Step by step, she walked across the soft carpet. From the nightstand to the bedroom door¡ªthose few meters felt like an entire lifetime.
The training as a time-space agent had taught her to always follow orders, to put the mission first. But now, as a failed recruit, she had no mission. And even if she did¡ she couldn¡¯t do it.
Stopping at the bedroom door, Lin Yu Xi took onest look back at the warmth and happiness inside: ¡°Goodnight, Mom.¡± She lowered her head and looked at the Pomeranian, VV, asleep in its dog bed: ¡°Goodnight, VV.¡±
She gently closed the bedroom door, walked into the living room, and picked up her trusty carbon steel kitchen knife, hiding it inside her sleeve. She stepped out of the living room and closed the door.
Bang.
To avoid making noise, she didn¡¯t use the elevator; instead, she took the stairs. The sound of her footsteps quickly faded as she went down.
¡°V?¡± VV twitched its ears, seeming to hear something. It raised its head and looked around: ¡°Woof.¡± It barked softly but suddenly became alert. Sniffing the air¡ªthere was a scent of blood! A dangerous smell!
¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± VV barked fiercely.
On the bed, Zhao Ying Jun rubbed her eyes: ¡°What¡¯s wrong¡VV, another nightmare?¡± She took a deep breath and looked at the Pomeranian barking beside the bed. Then she nced at the empty bed next to her. ¡°Qiao Qiao?¡±
She got up and saw the light on in the bathroom: ¡°Did she go to the bathroom?¡± She stepped out of the bathroom but found that the lights in the study and kitchen were on too.
She blinked. What¡ was happening? Did Qiao Qiao get hungry in the middle of the night and go to the kitchen to make food? Not likely.
¡°Qiao Qiao?¡± She called out again but got no answer. Zhao Ying Jun realized something was wrong. Yan Qiao Qiao had excellent hearing, especially in the dead of night. If she called her, there was no way Qiao Qiao wouldn¡¯t hear.
She quickly walked to the bathroom and pushed open the ss door¡ªZhao Ying Jun gasped! The floor¡ it was covered in muddy bloodstains! Blood-soaked tissues were scattered everywhere!
She went to the closet. Sure enough¡ªthere was a bloodstained nightgown. She entered the kitchen and saw the cab was open, and a knife was missing. Something had happened!
Zhao Ying Jun immediately realized that Yan Qiao Qiao was in danger! She searched the house for Qiao Qiao but found no trace. She immediately called Lin Xian. No answer¡ She couldn¡¯t wait any longer.
Still dialing Lin Xian, she quickly changed clothes, grabbed the Ferrari keys from the box, and rushed out to look for Qiao Qiao.
¡°Hello?¡± Finally, Lin Xian picked up. Zhao Ying Jun quickly exined what had happened. Lin Xian said he¡¯d handle it, then hung up.
¡°What does that mean?¡± She frowned. Thinking back, the noise on Lin Xian¡¯s side of the call was loud too, like he was running or jumping¡ªthud, thud, thud. Clearly, at this hour, Lin Xian was also not asleep. And¡ he wasn¡¯t surprised at all about Qiao Qiao¡¯s disappearance, or the fact that she had gone missing with a knife.
Could it be¡ this had something to do with Lin Xian¡¯s secret mission? She looked at her phone¡¯s date.
July 1st, 2024. Lin Xian had said he nned to tell Qiao Qiao the truth in July, and let her know everything he¡¯d been doing.
July. Was it really such a special time?
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. Now wasn¡¯t the time to think about that. She needed to find Lin Xian and Qiao Qiao, and fast!
¡°But where could they be?¡± She closed her eyes, trying to remember the details¡ªclues, information. Thinking¡ Thinking¡
Suddenly, she opened her eyes. ¡°The Little Genius smartwatch!¡± She remembered! The Children¡¯s Day gift from Lin Xian to Qiao Qiao¡ªthe Little Genius smartwatch¡ªhad both her and Lin Xian set as the emergency contacts. It was listed under ¡°parents¡± in the watch.
If she was considered a ¡°parent¡± in the system, that meant¡ she had ess to the watch¡¯s location!
She pressed the button for the elevator and headed to the underground garage. Then she downloaded the Little Genius app from her phone¡¯s app store and registered, logging in with her phone number.
Sure enough. Her phone number was already bound to the watch. On the screen, the watch¡¯s name appeared¡ªQiao Qiao.
Vroom¡ªShe quickly got into the bright red Ferrari, started the engine with one button, and listened as it roared to life. Zhao Ying Jun put her phone on the mount, clicked on the watch icon, and checked its location.
After a moment¡¯s dy, the screen disyed Qiao Qiao¡¯s position¡ªmoving quickly toward Lin Xian¡¯s neighborhood, with constant ¡°exceeding geofence¡± alerts ring loudly.
¡°Lin Xian¡¯s phone must be on silent,¡± she guessed. ¡°Otherwise, the moment Qiao Qiao crossed the boundary, the rm would¡¯ve sounded, and he¡¯d know she left the house before I did.¡±
She floored the elerator. Already skilled at racing, she shot out of the underground garage, merging onto the empty night road, heading in the direction of the coordinates on her phone!
¡
ng!
Another sh of des rang out.
Lin Yu Xi found herself struggling against the tall, blue-eyed time-space assassin. Under the immense pressure of her opponent¡¯s strength, she was forced to take several steps back, barely holding her ground.
The assassin frowned as she eyed Lin Yu Xi.
¡°Lin Yu Xi?¡± she said, blinking in confusion. ¡°How can this be? You¡ How are you here?!¡±
This wasn¡¯t possible.
Number 17 knew for certain that she had defeated Lin Yu Xi during the final selection round. She had been promoted to a level-three agent and had earned the right to use the entangled time-space particles, which had brought her here to 2024.
There had only been one entangled time-space particle¡ªand she, the victor, was the only one entitled to use it, the only one sent toplete this mission. Lin Yu Xi was supposed to be her defeated rival, a failure.
How could she possibly be here?
And more than that¡ something was wrong¡ªvery wrong¡ªwith Lin Yu Xi.
First of all, her eyes were ck.
The female scientist at the military base had exined how the time-space particles worked. When a traveler crossed into a different time-space, their eyes always turned blue as a rejection effect. Just like Number 17¡¯s¡ªher own bright blue eyes were proof of this phenomenon.
But Lin Yu Xi¡¯s eyes were still ck. There was a faint blue glimmer, but it was so faint it could hardly be real.
Time-space rejection was absolute!
Second, Lin Yu Xi¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t changed at all.
This was what confused Number 17 the most. Crossing time-space altered one¡¯s appearance. Her own face, her features, even the texture of her skin¡ªeverything about her had changed. No one, not even the instructors at the base, would recognize her now.
But Lin Yu Xi looked the same. The same ponytail, the same tracksuit, and she was holding a kitchen knife of all things.
Even though Lin Yu Xi had kept her hair short during training, Number 17 knew her face well. After all those years of training together, she could never forget it.
So how was this possible?
If Lin Yu Xi had crossed over using the same machine, why hadn¡¯t her appearance changed?
And if she truly belonged to this era, then who was the girl she had trained with in the future?
Finally¡ªperhaps most puzzling of all¡ªLin Yu Xi had lost all her muscle definition!
She looked weak, frail, with none of the trained physique Number 17 remembered.
If it weren¡¯t for the familiarity of Lin Yu Xi¡¯s face and the way she held her knife, Number 17 might have thought she was apletely different person.
But it didn¡¯t take long for her to confirm it.
The girl, standing there in a defensive stance, ring at her, said her code name aloud:
¡°Number 17¡¡±
With that one word, their identities were clear.
Lin Yu Xi knew that the real Number 17 didn¡¯t look like this. Their heights, their body shapes, their hair¡ªall simr, but the faces werepletely different. But the scientists at the base had exined the effects of time-space rejection long ago.
Number 17 had crossed over from a future time-space, so of course, her appearance had changed.
Besides, after years of training and countless fights with Number 17, Lin Yu Xi knew her moves by heart.
One moment of contact was all she needed to be sure.
¡°Number 17,¡± Lin Yu Xi said sternly, ¡°you¡¯re breaking the rules.¡±
¡°The instructor said that execution is only allowed in extreme circumstances¡ªif you can¡¯tplete the mission or if you¡¯re interrupted. How could you attack right away?¡±
Hearing this, Number 17 sneered.
¡°Oh, Lin Yu Xi, you¡¯re a failure. What right do you have to speak to me?¡± she spat. ¡°Now¡ªthis is an extreme circumstance!¡±
With those words, she lunged, swift as the wind, toward Lin Yu Xi.
The gap in strength was obvious.
Lin Yu Xi could only defend herself, but it wasn¡¯t enough.
sh!
A sharp, cold light shed as Number 17¡¯s de deflected Lin Yu Xi¡¯s guard, slicing toward her chest.
Though Lin Yu Xi wasn¡¯t as strong as before, her reflexes were still sharp. She bent backward quickly, trying to dodge.
Rip¡ª
The sound of fabric tearing.
Faced with overwhelming strength and speed, Lin Yu Xi managed to avoid the worst of it, but her tracksuit was left with a long, jagged tear. Her pocket was also ripped, and a cherished family photo slipped out, fluttering gently in the wind.
Number 17 nced down.
It was a photograph.
She didn¡¯t care about it, but as the photo spun in the air, she caught sight of something¡ªa name written on the back.
She picked it up, not even bothering to look at the front, and turned it over to read the scrawled handwriting:
¡°Yan Qiao Qiao.¡±
She blinked, recalling the name Lin Xian had shouted earlier when Lin Yu Xi had blocked the attack.
Another name!
Lin Yu Xi had two names!
In that instant, Number 17 ground her teeth in frustration.
¡°Oh, Lin Yu Xi. I wanted to ask you how you crossed over, how you got here,¡± she said, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°But now, it doesn¡¯t matter. None of it matters anymore.¡±
Sheughed¡ªan eerie, satisfied smile.
¡°This isn¡¯t the training base. There are no rules stopping me from killing you here. So¡ I¡¯ll kill you both.¡±
She slipped the family photo into her pocket with a grin.
¡°Does one person need two names? Isn¡¯t that a bit greedy? Still, I appreciate the gift¡¡±
¡°When I kill you both, Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s name will belong to me!¡±
Whoosh!
Fast as lightning!
Number 17 reveled in this lopsided fight. Back at the base, she¡¯d always hated Lin Yu Xi. They had fought many times, each of them winning half the battles.
But now¡
Everything was different.
The rival she¡¯d once struggled against was now just amb to the ughter.
¡°To the left!¡± Number 17 shouted with a smile, announcing her next move as she swung down hard.
She was taunting Lin Yu Xi¡ªtelling her exactly what she was going to do, daring her to stop it.
Lin Yu Xi raised her knife with both hands to block.
But Number 17, using only one hand and barely a third of her strength, easily sent her flying.
¡°Hahaha!¡± Number 17ughed in satisfaction.
¡°Lin Yu Xi, I¡¯ve wanted to kill you since our days at the base! I never imagined I¡¯d get this perfect opportunity.¡±
¡°I wonder¡ if I kill the most wanted criminal and return to our base, will I see you again? Will I get to show you my medal? Will I get to¡ kill you again?¡±
Vroom!!
Number 17 was just about to strike again when suddenly, two bright lights shone from afar, apanied by the roar of an engine.
With her heightened senses, Number 17 knew immediately.
A car was speeding toward her.
She jumped to the side, just in time¡ª
Vroom!!
A bright red Ferrari roared past, barely missing her. It was clearly aiming to hit her, speeding at over 100 mph!
Screech!
The Ferrari spun into a drift, tires screeching, filling the air with smoke and the acrid smell of burning rubber. It stopped at an angle by the roadside.
The window rolled down.
Zhao Ying Jun shouted out:
¡°Lin Xian! Qiao Qiao! Run!¡±
Then she floored the gas pedal again, sending the Ferrari hurtling toward Number 17¡ªtoward the attacker, toward the person hurting her daughter!
But this time, Number 17 was ready.
With her strong coordination and reflexes, she dodged again.
She got a good look at the driver¡ªthe woman from the photo, the one standing with Lin Xian and Lin Yu Xi.
¡°Interesting,¡± she murmured, smiling as she gripped her knife, her blue eyes glowing menacingly as she walked towards Lin Yu Xi.
¡°A family of three?¡±
¡°You all have to die!¡±
Chapter 426: Blue Snow
Chapter 426: Blue Snow
¡°Qiao Qiao! Let¡¯s get out of here, now!¡± Lin Xian shouted.
After two confrontations, Lin Xian already understood that Lin Yu Xi was no match for the blue-eyed girl. Their strength was worlds apart¡ªan unfair battle. Even if Lin Yu Xi fought with all her might, her opponent barely had to move a muscle to send her flying.
This girl, whom Lin Yu Xi called ¡°Number 17,¡± was like a fully realized ¡°Terminator.¡± She was as powerful as the Yu Xi who had once killed the imposter Yu Xi¡ªfar stronger than this current Yu Xi, who had lost all her future abilities.
ng!
Another sh sent sparks flying. The blue-eyed Number 17, who stood a head taller than Lin Yu Xi, forced her down with the de. The petite Yu Xi, crushed under the pressure, looked like a small, defenseless creature. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
¡°Run! We need to get out of here!¡± Lin Xian urged again. Fighting was impossible, but escape was still an option.
Especially now, with Zhao Ying Jun bringing the Ferrari closer. If they found the right moment, the three of them could use the car to flee. This trick had worked many times in the States. The time travelers were strong and fast, but no human could outrun a supercar.
By now, Lin Xian had pieced some things together. Yu Xi had indeed regained all her memories, which was why she recognized Number 17. At the same time, she hadn¡¯t lost her memories as Yan Qiao Qiao, which made her choose not to harm Lin Xian but instead protect him.It meant Lin Xian¡¯s assumptions had been wrong all along. He had thought his head had been cut off by Yu Xi after her memories returned. But the truth was the opposite. She¡¯d protect him. The one who would behead him was¡ someone else.
And that someone else was this blue-eyed girl¡ªNumber 17¡ªthe sleeping girl from the Sixth Dream, and the vige head from the Seventh Dream.
All the clues matched.
If Yu Xi knew Number 17, then they must havee from the same organization. And if they were from the same group, their purpose was also aligned¡ªto capture him or, in extreme cases, execute him.
Number 17 held a strong jealousy toward Yu Xi. She didn¡¯t have a name, just a number, and seemed to resent Yu Xi for it, wanting to take everything from her. Lin Xian could see this as well.
Number 17 wanted to kill Yu Xi, take her name Yan Qiao Qiao, and even take the Disney family portrait. That¡¯s why, in the Sixth and Seventh Dreams, Number 17 called herself Yan Qiao Qiao. She wasn¡¯t Qiao Qiao, but she longed for a name¡ªsomething of her own.
She stole Qiao Qiao¡¯s name, iming it as hers.
All of this, Lin Xian finally understood. Unbelievable¡ the four options he had once listed, the one he thought was most ridiculous, the one he eliminated first¡ªOption A¡ªhad turned out to be correct.
Yu Xi and Yan Qiao Qiao were the same person. The one who beheaded him, the sleeping girl in the pod, the vige head¡ªthat was someone else entirely.
Once the logic was clear, another question followed¡ªone he couldn¡¯t exin. How did Number 17 travel here using the ¡°entangled time-space particles¡±?
Elon Musk¡¯s entangled particle had been destroyed. Its lifeless remains were still in Liu Feng¡¯sb. Liu Feng had just confirmed it¡ªno energy, no changes. It was unusable.
So how did Number 17 cross over?
The logic didn¡¯t make sense¡ unless¡
Lin Xian thought of two possibilities:
At some point in the future, Copernicus, who led the Time-Space Bureau, captured another entangled particle and used it for Number 17.
The particle Number 17 used was Liu Feng¡¯s¡ªnow powerless, but in the future, it regained its energy and was stolen by Copernicus for Number 17.
Considering how rare and precious these particles were¡ It seemed likely that there could be only one in human history.
Thus, the most usible scenario was the second: that Lin Xian and Liu Feng eventually failed to guard the particle, and after recharging, it was stolen by Copernicus.
Ughh¡
Thinking of this, Lin Xian clenched his teeth, letting out a long sigh.
These entangled particles were nothing but trouble. No wonder Elon Musk had destroyed it outright, knowing he couldn¡¯t protect it.
In hindsight, that had been a smart move. If it couldn¡¯t be kept, if it would eventually be stolen, better to destroy it so no one could use it.
But¡ Lin Xian and Elon Musk overlooked one crucial thing: the particle could recharge. And that meant even in a powerless state, it was still valuable.
Elon Musk likely didn¡¯t know this. If he had, he wouldn¡¯t have given the particle¡¯s remains to Lin Xian, or he¡¯d have made sure to destroy it more thoroughly¡ªor thrown it into space, making it impossible for Copernicus to steal.
But it was toote now.
Another time-traveling killer was here, and they needed to survive.
Vroom¡ª
On the other side of the road, Zhao Ying Jun spun the Ferrari, drifting it to face Number 17 and speeding toward her.
Of course, it wouldn¡¯t hit Number 17¡ªshe could easily dodge. But she didn¡¯t trigger the forced avoidance either.
Number 17 could have stood her ground. But that was her blind spot¡ªproof that this was the only entangled particle. Neither Yu Xi before nor Number 17 now knew about forced avoidance. There had never been any prior experiments.
Lin Xian had learned about it the hard way¡ªthe only test subject. It was an information gap they could use. While Number 17 dodged, he nned to grab Yu Xi and escape in the Ferrari.
¡°The Ferrari¡¯sing! Move!¡± Lin Xian shouted to Yu Xi. ¡°We need to get in the car and go!¡±
Yu Xi understood. She gave her all in one final sh with Number 17 before swiftly retreating to Lin Xian¡¯s side.
Number 17 turned just in time to see the roaring Ferrari closing in. She narrowed her crystal blue eyes like a hawk eyeing prey.
Then¡ª
She leaped.
Instead of dodging, she jumped right onto the Ferrari!
Thud.
Landing on the roof, she ran to the back, over the enginepartment, and with her gloved right hand, smashed down on it.
Riiip¡ª
The wrenching sound of tearing metal filled the air.
To Lin Xian¡¯s shock, the V12 engine was torn right out, the red-hot cylinders steaming. Wires and fuel lines ripped apart.
The raging beast was silenced. The car lost power and rolled to a stop by the roadside.
Number 17 casually tossed the engine aside and sneered. ¡°Run? Where to?¡±
She stepped forward, slowly closing the distance.
¡°That car¡ it¡¯s your coffin.¡±
Yu Xi, brandishing her knife, charged forward, but¡ª
Thud!
She was kicked back with immense force, rolling to the ground.
Lin Xian rushed to help her up. ¡°Qiao Qiao!¡±
Yu Xi coughed, blood sttering out, staining Lin Xian¡¯s clothes. Both realized it¡ªthat kick had been Number 17 getting serious. Before, she¡¯d toyed with Yu Xi like she was venting years of pent-up anger. Now she was done ying.
Yu Xi stood no chance against the full might of the perfect time-space assassin.
Number 17 twirled her de, her eyes glinting with excitement. ¡°Who should I kill first?¡±
¡
At the same time, in Texas, Boca Chica, a luxurious vi¡ª
A female secretary turned the key, opening the door. She adjusted her red-rimmed sses, pushing the door open.
In the brightly lit living room, a man sat on the sofa, looking almost identical to Elon Musk, the world¡¯s richest man. He quickly hid a VR headset behind a cushion.
¡°Oh, shit!¡± he cursed,ining, ¡°Miss Secretary! Could you at least knock beforeing into someone¡¯s house? It¡¯s giving me no sense of privacy!¡±
The secretary scoffed. ¡°Fakester, do you really think this ce is yours? This ispany property. Just because you live here doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s yours. Also¡¡±
She pointed at the hidden VR headset. ¡°What¡¯re you doing with that?¡±
¡°Watching something spicy,¡± the manughed. ¡°Tech is amazing, isn¡¯t it? Long live VR¡ but hey, what brings you here on a Sunday? It¡¯s my day off. We agreed I get weekends off. Elon Musk promised me I wouldn¡¯t have to be his stand-in on Sundays¡ªI even get a substitute day off if I do.¡±
¡°Well,¡± the secretary leaned against the wall, ¡°Elon Musk¡¯s dead.¡±
The man froze, mouth agape. He turned mechanically.
¡°I¡ I¡¯m unemployed?¡± He grabbed his head in disbelief. ¡°What do I do now? No education, no skills, nothing special about me except looking like Elon Musk. He¡¯s the only one who¡¯d hire me¡ What do I do now? I¡¯ve got loans to pay, for my house and car¡ I¡¯ll go bankrupt!¡±
The secretary gave a softugh, pushing her sses up. She took a small silver handgun from her pocket, twirling it.
¡°Fakester, I¡¯ll give you two choices. First, I¡¯ll triple your sry. You work for me. You keep doing what you¡¯ve always done¡ªpretending to be Elon Musk. But this time, you do it on my terms. We¡¯ll bring in makeup artists and disguise experts, just like when Angelina did your makeup before¡ªyou need to look exactly like him. And your job¡¯ll actually be easier. You¡¯ll make fewer public appearances, as Elon Musk will retreat into the shadows while I take charge of the SpaceX Mars colonization project. All you¡¯ll need to do is make asional appearances, tweet a photo¡ just be a puppet.
¡°Your second option¡ª¡±
She smirked.
¡°If you refuse, the bullet from this gun goes into your head. I¡¯ll find a new stand-in¡ªanother Fakester, or another after that. The world¡¯s big enough. Finding someone who looks like Elon Musk isn¡¯t impossible. And as for you¡ I know you¡ªuseless, shallow. How could you refuse three times the pay and an easier job?¡±
The secretary expected Fakester to nod eagerly in agreement.
Instead, the man sitting on the sofa smiled.
¡°Any other options?¡± he asked.
The secretary stopped spinning the gun, narrowing her eyes.
¡°Are you bargaining with me, Fakester? Do you understand your position?¡±
The man sighed, his gaze softening.
¡°I thought of many people¡ but I never expected it to be you.¡± He looked almost wistful.
¡°No wonder¡ No wonder my time particle was stolen. No wonder my ns failed.¡±
The secretary¡¯s eyes widened. Her sses slid down her nose.
¡°You¡ª!¡±
Before she could lift her gun¡ª
Click.
The cold muzzle of a ck pistol pressed against the back of her head.
The secretary blinked, ncing back out of the corner of her eye.
There, standing behind her, was someone who looked exactly like her¡ªsame face, same body, same clothes¡ªeven her expression was mirrored.
¡°Baby~¡± the doppelg?nger said, pushing up her red-rimmed sses with her left hand, her voice identical to the secretary¡¯s. ¡°This time, I won¡¯t forget to adjust my sses~¡±
Bang!
Blood sttered like a blossoming flower. The secretary fell against the sofa, her body hitting the floor with a heavy thud, blood spreading beneath her.
¡
¡°It¡¯s changed! It¡¯s changed again!¡±
At the Donghai Universityb, Liu Feng clutched the time clock, his hands trembling as the readings shifted once more.
This time, the worldline curvature didn¡¯t drop. Instead, it shot up.
The reading settled at¡ª
[0.0000000]
And it kept rising!
¡
In Lin Xian¡¯s arms, Lin Yu Xi suddenly felt as though her heart had been struck.
A sh of blue light flickered in her eyes, gone in an instant. But with it came a surge of memories¡ªnew ones that contradicted those she had before.
A military base, a training field. The instructor blew the whistle, announcing,
¡°The final elimination match! Number 17 versus Lin Yu Xi! Whoever wins gets promoted to Level Three Agent and earns the right to use the only entangled time-space particle in human history¡ªthe honor of executing this crucial mission!¡±
¡°Now¡ªbegin!¡±
The instructor barely finished before Number 17 charged, her iron fists raining blows on Yu Xi. Knowing shecked the strength to match her, Yu Xi focused on using agility and tactics. Finding an opening, she lunged¡ª
¡°Behind!¡±
She slid, ducking behind Number 17, springing up like a carp. As she stood, she grabbed a handful of sand from the ground, throwing it at Number 17¡¯s face without even aiming.
Yu Xi predicted her. Number 17 tried to counter, her iron fist swinging at Yu Xi¡¯s face¡ª
¡°Agh!¡±
The sand hit its mark. Number 17 closed her eyes, and Yu Xi took the opportunity. Grabbing her arm, she executed a perfect over-the-shoulder throw.
Thud!
Number 17 hit the ground hard. Without hesitating, Yu Xi grabbed her arm, locking her in a hold, legs around her neck.
The instructor blew the whistle, pulling them apart, raising Yu Xi¡¯s hand.
¡°Winner¡ªLin Yu Xi! Congrattions, Agent Lin Yu Xi. You will represent humanity¡¯s future!¡±
Panting, Yu Xi remained silent.
Nearby, the lead scientist¡ªa stern woman¡ªapproached, nked by two assistants.
¡°Lin Yu Xi,e with me.¡±
The scientist led her through a long corridor into the secureb where a time-travel machine stood.
¡°There is something of utmost importance that you must know¡ªsomething we kept secret. Only those who prove worthy of the entangled particle can learn this,¡± she said, dismissing her assistants before continuing.
¡°This is a top-secret matter,¡± she emphasized. ¡°No one can know but you.¡±
Yu Xi nodded, aware of the gravity of the mission.
The scientist continued, ¡°Unlike regr particles, the entangled particle lets you exist in both past and future timelines. It¡¯s a round-trip ticket¡ªconsume it entirely, and the journey ends.
¡°But if you can¡¯t make it back¡ªif the mission fails¡ªdon¡¯t use it needlessly. Leave this resource for those in the future.¡± She paused, her tone grave. ¡°That means, if you¡¯re ever facing capture¡ªyou need to destroy it.¡±
Yu Xi¡¯s gaze was unwavering. ¡°You want me to self-destruct.¡±
The scientist shook her head. ¡°Not quite. Should the worst happen, you must be a temporal bomb¡ªtransform into energy, obliterate all outside the timeline.¡± She exined: ¡°No harm wille to this timeline¡ªonly non-native beings will be eliminated, erased.¡±
¡°Do you understand?¡±
Yu Xi nodded, the weight of the words settling.
¡
Reality returned.
Yu Xi wiped the blood from her lips, standing up from Lin Xian¡¯s arms. These new memories¡ªthey differed from her old ones. In the old memories, Number 17 had won; but in the new ones, Yu Xi had triumphed.
These were two different versions of the same event, two timelines.
But none of that mattered now.
Yu Xi watched as Number 17 approached, her de spinning.
She turned and hugged Lin Xian, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her face to his chest.
¡°Daddy,¡± she whispered.
Lin Xian froze, eyes widening. This was the first time Yu Xi had ever called him that. He knew she¡¯d regained her memories, but¡ how did she know?
There was no time to think. Yu Xi stood, a sad smile on her face, tears in her eyes.
¡°This time¡ don¡¯t leave me again,¡± she said, before turning to charge at Number 17.
¡°Yu Xi!¡± Lin Xian shouted, but it was toote.
In that moment, her eyes zed blue, and her entire body turned into sparkling blue particles¡ªa brilliant, crystalline glow.
Number 17¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°No! You can¡¯t¡ª¡±
Boom.
The blue explosion was silent, covering all of Donghai City in glimmering blue dust.
Huangfu, Xuhui, Changning, Jing¡¯an, Putuo, Baoshan¡ªevery part of the city was covered.
The Oriental Pearl, the banks of the Huangpu River, Disnend, the Peace Hotel, MMX Company, parks¡ªeachndmark nketed in shimmering blue.
These falling blue specks didn¡¯t belong to this world. They sank into buildings, the earth, the flowing traffic.
People looked up, puzzled by the spectacle.
¡°Is it¡ snowing?¡±
They reached out, trying to catch the kes, only for them to vanish.
On July 1st, 2024, at the height of summer, Donghai City saw snowfall. A miraculous, four-second snowfall¡ªbrief, beautiful.
In the Donghai Universityb¡ª
Liu Feng stood, stunned, watching as blue specks filled the room.
He looked out the window. It was like the world¡¯s fireflies had gathered in one ce.
And then, just as suddenly, the blue was gone.
Liu Feng turned to the time clock¡ª
[0.0000168]
Beep, beep¡ª
A hopeful sound. He turned to see the white mini-fridge in theb, its screen lighting up for the first time in months.
Something had changed. Something inside.
He hurried over, opened the door¡ª
Inside, bright blue light burst forth, taking his breath away. Two swirling blue energy balls¡ªas if awakening from a long sleep¡ªglowed brightly, full of energy.
¡
Back at Lin Xian¡¯s neighborhood entrance¡ª
The blue explosion faded, leaving both Yu Xi and Number 17 gone.
Lin Xian looked around, breathing heavily, watching the blue specks fall. He tried to grab them¡ªnothing. He reached to embrace¡ªonly emptiness.
¡°Qiao Qiao?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun pushed open the Ferrari door, rushing over. Her eyes widened, her voice trembling.
¡°Qiao Qiao? Where is she?¡±
She ran to Lin Xian, her voice rising in panic.
¡°Where¡¯s my child?!¡±
Lin Xian stepped forward, embracing Zhao Ying Jun tightly.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered.
Zhao Ying Jun held her breath. She¡¯d never seen Lin Xian like this, never heard him sound like this¡
She was his child too. His heart hurt just as much as hers¡ªmaybe even more.
No matter how strong or confident a man was, he had moments of vulnerability.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zhao Ying Jun held Lin Xian, patting his back. ¡°I was too anxious¡ But what happened? Where did Qiao Qiao go?¡±
Lin Xian sighed deeply, pulling away slightly, holding her shoulders.
¡°She went home.¡±
¡°Home?¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°This is her home! Donghai is her home. Don¡¯t lie to me, Lin Xian. I can take anything, but not lies.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not lying,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°She belongs here and doesn¡¯t belong here. She¡¯s from the future, but not our future. Her name isn¡¯t Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªit¡¯s Lin Yu Xi.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡ Yu Xi¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun repeated, remembering the name from their past conversations, remembering the DNA mix-up with the girl in sunsses.
It made sense now. That¡¯s why she loved that name¡ªshe had chosen it for herself.
¡°Can we¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice shook, her eyes searching Lin Xian¡¯s face. ¡°Can we bring Yu Xi back?¡±
Ring, ring¡ª
Lin Xian¡¯s phone rang. It was Liu Feng. At this moment¡ there had to be changes to the time clock, the worldline¡ª
Lin Xian answered, ¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Lin Xian! Something big has happened!¡± Liu Feng yelled. ¡°The time clock readings changed again, but that¡¯s not the big news. The entangled particle¡ it¡¯s fully recharged!¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. So¡ it was connected, after all, to Yu Xi¡¯s transformation into blue particles. That particle was her core, her energy source for the journey here. Or maybe it had something to do with Number 17¡¯s disappearance.
The particle had recharged.
Was it a curse, destined to be stolen by Copernicus, or was it¡ an opportunity?
¡°Wait for me at theb,¡± Lin Xian said, hanging up.
He looked at Zhao Ying Jun, speaking with resolve.
¡°Listen to me, Ying Jun. First, I swear I¡¯ll get justice for Yu Xi. As her father, I can¡¯t let those who hurt her get away with it. I¡¯ll show it through my actions.
¡°Second, my promise to you¡ªI failed to protect our daughter, but I¡¯ll make it right.¡±
He bent down, picking up the family photo, cing it in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand, holding her hand firmly.
¡°Don¡¯t leave Yu Xi,¡± he whispered. ¡°This time, I finally understand.¡±
Chapter 427: Shattered Jade and the Whole Tile
The night was deep, and a starless sky hung over Donghai University¡¯s Rhine Lab. The darkness felt heavy, pressing down upon the empty corridors of the university, the quiet only broken by the asional rustle of leaves outside.
Lin Xian pushed open theb door, his briefcase in hand. Liu Feng had been waiting for him for quite some time. As soon as he saw Lin Xian, Liu Feng stood up, looking both anxious and excited.
¡°Look at this,¡± Liu Feng said, pulling Lin Xian towards the centralb bench. He gestured to the time-space clock on the table. Its reading was steady, disying:
[0.0000168]
It was still a multiple of 0.0000042, but this time, the negative sign had vanished.
¡°In other words,¡± Liu Feng continued, ¡°since I called you earlier tonight, the worldline has shifted from -0.0000042 to 0.0000168.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at the clock. The change wasn¡¯t just numbers¡ªit was proof that reality itself had shifted.
¡°How exactly did it change?¡± Lin Xian asked, his voice tense. ¡°Tell me everything in detail.¡±Liu Feng checked his watch and nodded. ¡°At 1:18 a.m., the reading on the time-space clock dropped dramatically, falling all the way from 0.0000336 to -0.0000042. I kept calling you, but you wouldn¡¯t pick up. By the time you finally answered, more than twenty minutes had passed. Even then, the reading stayed at -0.0000042, showing no signs of change.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly. He knew why it had changed this time.
At 1:18 a.m., he had been in a meeting with the Genius Club. The club president¡ªan old man wearing an Einstein mask¡ªhad officially given him the title ¡°No. 9 Rhine.¡± Everyone had stood up, apuding as Lin Xian was weed into the club.
Elon Musk, wearing a Te mask, had pped the loudest.
Everyone knew it was Elon Musk; he wasn¡¯t even trying to hide it. Lin Xian recognized him immediately and went up to shake his hand.
But at that very moment, Elon Musk vanished.
The exact time was 1:18 a.m.
Lin Xian was sure of it now. This shift in the worldline, this fluctuation in time-space¡ªit must have been caused by something Elon Musk did.
He thought about it carefully. Elon Musk, having discovered there was a traitor among them, wouldn¡¯t just sit and wait to be taken down. He must have used the ¡°Prince for a Leopard Cat¡± trick¡ªa substitution.
So Elon Musk, who should have died, survived. The imposter took his ce instead, and the worldline shifted ordingly.
As the leader of the Mars Migration Project, Elon Musk¡ªwhether the real one or the fake one¡ªwas influential enough to cause a shift in the worldline. There was no doubt about it.
And when Lin Xianst spoke to him, Elon Musk had hinted that he had more ns beyond just swapping ces.
That must have been why the worldline curvature shifted so drastically.
But it also meant something else¡ª
Lin Yu Xi had recovered her memories at that moment.
But why?
Was it because, during the worldline drop, it briefly passed through the 0.0000000 point, where Lin Yu Xi was? Or was it because in the -0.0000042 worldline, there was another Lin Yu Xi?
Lin Xian felt the second possibility was more likely.
Lin Yu Xi knew the blue-eyed girl from Number 17; they were clearly quite familiar.
This suggested that Lin Yu Xi must have yed some part in the -0.0000042 worldline.
One thing was certain:
The -0.0000042 worldline and the 0.0000000 worldline were closely connected. Their worldviews and future visions must have been very simr.
So perhaps they could assume that the blue-eyed girl from Number 17 had traveled from the -0.0000042 worldline, using entangled time-space particles to do so.
If that was the case, then in this worldline, the time-space police, time-space courts, and time machines were all real, and the world was still under Copernicus¡¯s rule.
Lin Xian pointed at the time-space clock and asked again, ¡°What happened after that? When did the clock change again?¡±
¡°At 2:14 a.m.,¡± Liu Feng responded promptly.
Lin Xian had explicitly instructed Liu Feng to record every instance of time-space fluctuation precisely. He had even set up a surveince camera to monitor the clock around the clock.
¡°At 2:14 a.m., the reading began to climb. The worldline moved from negative to positive,¡± Liu Feng continued. ¡°It climbed steadily, passing through 0.0000000 and eventually reaching 0.0000168, where it stabilized. After that, there was no change. It stayed that way until you arrived.¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch, his mind recalling the time. 2:14 a.m.
That was when Lin Yu Xi transformed into her blue quantum form, and the blue stardust exploded across Donghai City, obliterating the time-space assassin and the blue-eyed girl from Number 17.
There was something strange about that moment.
It was as if Lin Yu Xi had suddenly remembered something important. She had hugged Lin Xian, called him ¡°Dad¡± in a voice that broke his heart, and then¡ªin a burst of blue snow¡ªsacrificed herself to save him.
Lin Xian was sure of it.
That action must have been triggered by a regained memory.
Before that, during their many encounters with the blue-eyed girl, Lin Yu Xi had always been at a disadvantage, pushed into desperate situations.
The pressure from Number 17 had been overwhelming; they had no chance of winning. Especially when Number 17 ripped a V12 engine straight out of a Ferrari¡¯s trunk with one hand, it felt like the end.
Until that moment, Lin Yu Xi had shown no signs of sacrificing herself.
The biggest evidence was when Lin Xian had rushed over to her, cradling the injured Lin Yu Xi. He distinctly remembered seeing a sh of blue in her eyes¡ªjust for a brief moment. Half a second, at most.
Considering the frequency of the time-space clock¡¯s shifts, it also happened every half-second.
Lin Xian had good reason to believe that when the clock crossed the 0.0000000 point again, Lin Yu Xi had regained her memory of bing a blue bomb.
To recap the second worldline shift:
Because of a ¡°certain event,¡± the worldline climbed again. Lin Yu Xi regained her lost memories and destroyed the blue-eyed girl from Number 17.
Lin Xian survived, causing a time-space butterfly effect. The worldline continued to rise, stabilizing at 0.0000168.
There was still some uncertainty.
Had the worldline risen to this point because of the ¡°certain event,¡± or was it due to his survival triggering the butterfly effect? There was no way to determine it.
Perhaps it was abination of both.
But dwelling on it now served no purpose.
0.0000168 was an entirely new worldline, one they had never experienced before.
0.0000000 represented the Fourth Dream;
0.0000042 was the Fifth Dream;
0.0000084 was the Sixth Dream;
0.0000336 was the Seventh Dream;
And now, the 0.0000168 worldline must correspond to an unknown, unexplored Eighth Dream.
Thus, the reasons behind the two worldline shifts were now fully understood.
The appearance of the blue-eyed assassin from Number 17 in the Sixth and Seventh Dreams made more sense.
It was clear that Number 17 envied Lin Yu Xi for having a name. She herself was obsessed with the idea of having a name.
When Lin Xian and the blue-eyed vige chief were hunting in the Seventh Dream, she had confirmed this fixation.
ording to history, Number 17 had not only killed Lin Xian but likely also killed Lin Yu Xi and taken her most treasured family photo, using Yan Qiao Qiao¡¯s name to enter a cryogenic sleep.
But why didn¡¯t she just use the entangled time-space particles to return to the future and the time-space police station?
Lin Xian figured there were two possibilities:
First, Number 17 killed Lin Xian and Lin Yu Xi, but due to some changes, the worldline shifted. The -0.0000042 worldline and the future where the time-space police station existed disappeared. She had no choice but to use cryogenic sleep to return to the future.
This exnation seemed a bit shaky.
To Number 17, having a name meant more than any honor or medal. She was willing to abandon her original identity and memory¡ªeven forgetting the code number 17 entirely¡ªjust so she could start a new life as Yan Qiao Qiao.
Lin Xian found the second possibility more likely.
After all, this blue-eyed girl, Number 17, had such a deep obsession with having a name that even hundreds of years in cryosleep couldn¡¯t make her forget it.
And if she hadn¡¯t fully forgotten her identity as Number 17, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to ept being called Yan Qiao Qiao.
But if she used cryosleep to erase her memorypletely, everything would naturally fall into ce.
After she awoke, everyone would believe she was Yan Qiao Qiao, would call her Yan Qiao Qiao, and she would believe that was her name.
In the Seventh Dream, Lin Xian had once asked the blue-eyed vige chief, ¡°Are you happy now?¡±
Without hesitation, the blue-eyed vige chief had answered:
¡°The decade after waking from cryosleep was the happiest time of my life¡ even though I had no past memories, it was still the best decade.¡±
She made it clear she didn¡¯t care about her past, about memories, or even family. All she cared about was having a name.
When people called her Yan Qiao Qiao or Vige Chief, she felt her existence and dedicated herself to fulfilling her duties.
Ughh¡
Thinking of this, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but sigh.
In truth, whether it was Lin Yu Xi, who had once considered killing her own father for power, or Number 17, who had been ruthless in carrying out orders, they were, at their core, not bad children.
Lin Xian truly believed this.
Even though both had tried to kill him before, Lin Xian knew it was because of Copernicus¡¯s brainwashing and his twisted ideology.
Lin Yu Xi, without her memory, had be Yan Qiao Qiao¡ªobedient, sensible, and kind-hearted. Number 17 lost her memory too, bing the blue-eyed vige chief¡ªbenevolent, dedicated, and respected by others.
They both deserved happy lives. But they were misled by evil people.
That¡¯s right. The real viin, the one responsible for it all, was Copernicus.
Lin Xian clenched his fist and took a deep breath. Copernicus was the true, unforgivable culprit. Just as Lin Xian had promised Zhao Ying Jun beforeing here¡ªunless he personally ended Copernicus, avenging his fallen friends and family¡ he could never be at peace, never feel worthy of being a father!
Copernicus had killed without remorse, corrupted others, and pursued his twisted vision of a ¡°better future.¡± No matter how many reasons he gave, Lin Xian knew he was wrong and deserved nothing but retribution.
Before today, Lin Xian¡¯s main reason for joining the Genius Club was to learn about the secrets of the millennium stake, to break its rules and save Chu An Qing. But now, he had another equally important goal:
To kill Copernicus! To uncover the truth behind everything and to create a truly beautiful future for all the children, all the adults, and all of humanity on Earth!
¡°As for the other Genius Club members, whatever their schemes are, it¡¯s still unclear,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself. ¡°But Copernicus¡ must die!¡±
Perhaps because Copernicus had joined the Genius Club the earliest, or because he had been able to ask Einstein for answers and learn the most secrets, his power over history and the world was overwhelming.
No one knew what his true intentions were. No one knew who he really was or how to defeat him. From everything Lin Xian had seen in these different futures, it seemed like Copernicus had cast a shadow over everything, controlling it all. Most likely, the other geniuses had all lost to him, and Copernicus had emerged as the sole victor.
¡°Someone who could defeat No. 2, Copernicus¡¯s man¡¡± Lin Xian squinted. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m the only one who can do it.¡±
¡
Seeing Lin Xian fall into deep thought, Liu Feng walked to theb¡¯s corner and patted the white mini-fridge on the table. ¡°That¡¯s all the updates about the time-space clock. Now, about the entangled time-space particles¡ Come have a look.¡±
Hearing Liu Feng, Lin Xian walked over quickly. Liu Feng tapped in the password, opening the fridge door to reveal¡ª
Rotation, rotation. The first thing he saw was two particles, orbiting one another endlessly, just as when Lin Xian had first seen them. Each particle was wrapped in streaks of lightning, pulsating violently, spinning around each other, with their inner charge balls smashing aggressively into their blue cores.
These were fully intact entangled time-space particles. Brimming with energy. Full of life.
¡°When did they recover like this?¡±
¡°The exact moment the blue snow disappeared,¡± Liu Feng exined. ¡°At 2:14 a.m., when those blue stardust kes fell all across Donghai City, disappearing within seconds. Right after that, the white fridge beeped. I opened it, and this entangled particle had recharged. Not just visually¡ªI tested it myself before you got here. This particle¡¯s energy ispletely restored, not a bit depleted. It¡¯s in its mostplete, original state. Of course, it¡¯s inert now, which is why it can be confined to the fridge, instead of jumping around the sky, ignoring all physicalws.¡±
Lin Xian crouched down, leaning in closer to the particles. Indeed, they spun tirelessly, just like a binary star system in the cosmos. Constant, steady, unchanged for eternity.
Now, though, what caused the particles to recharge?
Lin Xian shook his head. In truth, the reason wasn¡¯t important. What mattered was confirming that these particles could indeed be recharged.
And all of the trouble¡ªevery nail-biting, heart-pounding issue¡ªhad been caused by these particles being able to recharge.
Lin Xian sighed softly, patting the mini-fridge. ¡°This thing¡ really is trouble.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Liu Feng looked puzzled. ¡°This is a treasure!¡± he protested. ¡°Maybe ordinary time-space particles aren¡¯t that valuable, but these¡ªthese are entangled time-space particles! Their existence alone is a miracle¡ The fact that Elon Musk was able to capture them was even more so!
¡°And now, after losing their energy, these particles have somehow recharged! I¡¯ve been staring at them all night in awe. How can you call them trouble?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head again. ¡°Liu Feng¡ you don¡¯t understand. You know that the greatest value of these particles lies in their ability to facilitate time travel. Sure, it¡¯s amazing. That¡¯s why Yellow Finch came here, after all.
¡°But have you considered that if good people can travel through time, bad people can, too? If someone cane from the future to help us, someone cane back to kill us. It¡¯s just like in Terminator¡ªthe enemies from the future tend to be more powerful than the allies. After all, it¡¯s much easier to kill someone than to protect them.
¡°Otherwise¡ why do you think Elon Musk, who cherished these particles so much, ultimately chose to destroy them? It was because he knew he couldn¡¯t protect them. So, he decided to destroy them rather than let the enemy have them.
¡°But we all miscalcted. We never imagined that, unless they¡¯repletely destroyed, these things could recharge and be viable for time travel again.¡±
¡°That¡ªis a problem. We used to think that a depleted time-space particle was useless, something only fit for research. But now we know that even ¡®dead¡¯ time-space particles are as important as live ones. Anyone who figures out how to recharge them can essentially use them indefinitely.¡±
¡°Imagine that¡ªan endless supply of entangled time-space particles, repeatedly sending super-powerful ¡®Terminators¡¯ from the future to kill us¡ Not even gods could endure that.¡±
Suddenly¡ªLiu Feng understood. He began pacing quickly around theb, gesturing with his fingers. ¡°You¡¯re right. This really is a problem.
¡°Sure, they can¡¯t build a time machine anytime soon, and the enemy won¡¯t be stealing these particles¡ but in the long run, we can¡¯t predict what technology will be like in a few decades, let alone a few centuries. Many problems we can¡¯t solve today might be solved by then.¡±
He paused, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°But there¡¯s still a problem. How are we supposed to destroy these particlespletely?
¡°If they were still active, that¡¯d be one thing. Just touching or colliding with them would¡¯ve been enough to deactivate them. Once they turned invisible, only someone like Chu An Qing could see them.
¡°And once they lose their activity¡ªno one can even see them anymore, much less capture them again. But now¡
¡°Whether they¡¯re in the fridge or a rice cooker, they¡¯repletely inert. Even if you throw them into the ocean or into a volcano, they can still be detected.
¡°Of course, throwing them into the ocean or a volcano would make them hard to recover, but not impossible. Who knows what technological advancements could happen in theing decades or centuries.¡±
¡°Like you said, depleted time-space particles are essentially the same as fully charged ones to someone who knows how to recharge them¡ªjust an empty battery that needs a recharge.¡±
¡°So, how do wepletely destroy them now that they¡¯ve gone inert?¡±
Suddenly, an idea struck Liu Feng. ¡°I have a solution!¡± He looked at Lin Xian, eyes wide. ¡°You could ask Elon Musk for his rocket. Send the particles out into space, like Voyager One¡ªjust let them fly out of the sr system. Humanity wouldn¡¯t have the technology to chase them down. And by the time technology advanced enough to catch up, the particles would be several light-years away¡ªtoo far for detection or retrieval.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t that solve the problem entirely?¡±
Lin Xian smiled and pulled out a chair, sitting down at theb bench. ¡°You¡¯re right; that¡¯s definitely one solution¡ªbut it¡¯s thest resort.
¡°Entangled time-space particles are a hotmodity. No one realizes how precious, how unique, how utterly game-changing they are. I can already foresee a future where, once time machines are perfected, a fierce battle over these particles breaks out.¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Liu Feng looked confused. ¡°Which is why we should get rid of them now! Send them into space! No more problems.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Let me finish. These particles are too precious to just throw away. Plus, there¡¯s another, better way to solve the problem.
Lin Xian looked up to meet Liu Feng¡¯s gaze, ¡°We¡¯ll use them.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s eyes widened as he took a deep breath. ¡°W-what? Use them up? But¡ how? We don¡¯t even have a time machine!¡±
Snap. Lin Xian opened his briefcase, mming a stack of manuscripts onto theb bench. Liu Feng leaned in for a closer look¡ªTheories on Time-Space Travel, and Blueprint for the Time Machine.
¡°Holy crap!¡± Liu Feng eximed. ¡°Where did you get this?!¡±
¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively. ¡°What matters is that we build a time machine as soon as possible and use these particles once and for all.¡±
Liu Feng straightened up, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°Are you saying¡¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian nodded firmly.
In the future, in other timelines, two family members had traveled back through time for him. Yellow Finch had led him from a confused boy to a responsible man. Yu Xi had turned him from an immature man to a steadfast father.
This time, it was his turn.
Lin Xian locked onto Liu Feng¡¯s gaze, speaking each word with certainty:
¡°I¡¯m going to be the first person in human history to use these entangled time-space particles for Time Travel.¡±
Chapter 428: The Prey
¡°You want to time travel?¡± Liu Feng stared at Lin Xian, puzzled.
¡°What era are you nning to visit?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know yet,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t made up my mind.¡±
¡°Then, what do you n to do when you get there?¡± Liu Feng pressed.
¡°I¡ don¡¯t know that either,¡± Lin Xian sighed, shaking his head again. He spread his hands in exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re asking a lot of questions, but I haven¡¯t really thought this through yet. I only got the call from you an hour ago about the entangled time-space particles getting recharged.¡±
¡°In just one hour, I¡¯ve had enough ideas crammed in my head to fill a book, so there¡¯s no way I have a solid n. But my core thought is this¡¡± Lin Xian raised his right hand, showing one finger.
¡°First, time travel has to happen. Our main goal is topletely use up this entangled time-space particle. Based on my observations, I think that traveling back in time and then returning to this era is the only way to entirely consume it, ensuring it won¡¯t cause any future issues.¡±
¡°To be on the safe side, we don¡¯t know when the enemy might try to steal this particle, so once we have the time machine built, we need to use it immediately.¡±¡°Got it, Liu Feng? This is the first rule. The exact era and the specific actions don¡¯t really matter. Our primary goal is to use up the particle and stop the enemy from sending time travelers back to interfere with us.¡±
Lin Xian then extended a second finger. ¡°Second, while fulfilling the first requirement, we obviously want to pick the most suitable time period. But here¡¯s the problem¡ª¡±
¡°¡®Can we freely choose the time to travel back to, or are there limits? Must we only go through certain time rifts?¡¯¡±
¡°So, with no functioning time machine yet, and with no proper understanding of time travel theory, discussing which time period to visit or what to do is pointless.¡±
¡°We can talk about these specifics once you¡¯ve fully figured out the principles of time travel¡ªthough I suspect we may not even have the freedom to choose the exact point in time.¡±
Lin Xian raised a third finger. ¡°Third, we currently know very little about the entangled time-space particles. While they seem almost invincible to me¡ªable even to defy thews of time¡ªthe actual truth might be quite different.¡±
¡°If things are as simple as we hope, of course, I¡¯d like to try changing history. But¡ are timews as easily defied as we think?¡±
¡°As Yellow Finch said, we still don¡¯t understand what ¡®historical lock¡¯ and ¡®millennium stake¡¯ mean. Whether the events already set in history can be changed is still an unknown.¡±
¡°More frighteningly, if I travel back and recklessly alter history, causing a shift in the world line, will I even be able toe back?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s concerns weren¡¯t unfounded. Lin Yu Xi and Number 17 had experienced something simr¡ªcrossing from their world line but then getting derailed due to unexpected events.
It was a disaster.
They had a return ticket, but their original future was gone; they came smoothly, but couldn¡¯t return. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t willing to face the same fate.
What if he couldn¡¯te back? He had no desire to spend his life in an unfamiliar, ancient time.
So, as he said before, using up the entangled time-space particle was the main goal. Everything else was secondary¡ªextra perks, as long as he could return safely.
Liu Feng pondered Lin Xian¡¯s words, rubbing his chin.
¡°Hmm¡ I have to say, you¡¯ve thought this through quite thoroughly, even down to the finer details. I hadn¡¯t even considered the issue of returning to the present.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right, Lin Xian. Even if these entangled particles can defy timews and change history¡ªonce the world line shifts, there¡¯s no guarantee you cane back. It¡¯s definitely a problem we have to consider.¡±
With that, Liu Feng moved closer, pushing Lin Xian aside to grab the stack of notes on theb table.
¡°Let me take a look at this manuscript first.¡± He pulled over a chair, sat at theb table, and began studying the handwritten notes on the ¡°Theory of Time Travel and the Conceptual Design for a Time Machine¡± left by Emperor Gao Wen.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t disturb him, leaning against the side of theb table, resting.
Outside, dawn was breaking. Though both of them had stayed up all night, neither felt tired.
Lin Xian had a lot on his mind, while Liu Feng was fully absorbed in the manuscript. Silence filled theb as they each focused on their tasks.
Finally¡
As the fiery red sun peeked over the horizon, casting the first rays of light across thend, Liu Feng let out a long sigh.
Slowly, he rose from his chair, walked over to the window, and pulled open the curtains. He whispered, ¡°It¡¯s brilliant.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian snapped out of his thoughts.
¡°This manuscript.¡± Liu Feng pointed at the stack of notes he¡¯d just finished reading. ¡°Such a genius idea! Such brilliant thinking! Whoever wrote this must have been an absolute genius.¡±
¡°Tell me, Lin Xian, where did you get this¡ If you really know someone this brilliant, you should bring them into ourb!¡±
¡°If they joined us, I believe we¡¯d solve everything¡ªthe ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ painting code, the mystery of the Universal Constants, even building the time machine. This person¡¯s scientific mind far surpasses mine!¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I agree. I believe that too.¡±
Emperor Gao Wen was beyond remarkable, no doubt about it.
Maybe Lin Xian simply admired Gao Wen¡¯s brilliance. But to a fellow researcher like Liu Feng, he could trulyprehend just how terrifying Gao Wen¡¯s academic prowess was.
¡°But¡ we can¡¯t make it happen,¡± Lin Xian said helplessly, spreading his hands. ¡°If we could bring the author of this manuscript here, it would be amazing¡ no, more like a guaranteed win.¡±
¡°But you¡¯d better give up on that idea now. There¡¯s no way the original author of these notes could ever make it here.¡±
In the current year, 2024, forget Emperor Gao Wen¡ªeven his grandfather¡¯s grandfather hadn¡¯t been born yet.
If you had to guess¡
Following the logic that ¡®dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes,¡¯ who could Gao Wen¡¯s ancestors be?
Maybe Director Gao Yan of the National Scientific Academy?
It¡¯s possible.
Though Gao Wen and Gao Yan looked nothing alike, with ten generations between them, it made sense for appearances to differ.
Other than Gao Yan¡
Suddenly, an image of a hippo popped into Lin Xian¡¯s mind.
¡°Gao Yang?¡±
Thinking of his chubby, loud childhood friend, Lin Xian quickly dismissed the thought.
¡°No way¡¡± He shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no way Gao Yang, with his inferior genes polluting the human gene pool, could have fathered someone as brilliant as Emperor Gao Wen.¡±
If that were true¡
It wouldn¡¯t just be ¡®ancestral blessings.¡¯ Gao Yang¡¯s future tomb would need a volcano eruption for such a miracle.
Regardless, Emperor Gao Wen, born in 2182, was far from this timeline. There was no way to bring him on board.
¡°So, Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian crossed his arms, sitting down on a chair. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to work on this theory of time travel. Now that you¡¯ve studied it, can you tell me what¡¯s in it?¡±
Liu Feng nodded, flipping the manuscript back to the beginning, and exined, ¡°The theory on this manuscript is detailed. It even talks about the concept of time rifts. You were right, Lin Xian. Time travel isn¡¯t something we can just do at will¡ªwe must find the right time rift to travel through.¡±
¡°ording to the notes, there are usually two ways for time rifts to form¡¡±
¡°The first is during a shift in world lines or changes in time curvature¡ªcontinuous space-time folds into rifts.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡ This person even figured out the theory of time curvature and world lines. He¡¯s absolutely incredible.¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly, remembering the time when, in the Fifth Dream, he opened Gao Wen¡¯s aluminum alloy safe with the code 00000042.
Coincidentally, the curvature of the world line and the time clock reading in the Fifth Dream was also 0.0000042.
Back then, Lin Xian had his suspicions. Emperor Gao Wen must have studied the smallest value of time curvature, world lines, and perhaps even had a glimpse into the Universal Constant 42.
Thus, he cleverly used that strange number as his safe code.
¡°What¡¯s the second way?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Liu Feng flipped through a few more pages, then continued, ¡°The second way is moreplex, and we don¡¯t have much information. From the calctions¡ roughly every 24 years,rge concentrations of time rifts appear.¡±
¡°Twenty-four years?¡± Lin Xian grabbed onto this crucial point. Every 24 years, a lot of time rifts appear¡ªcould this be connected to the events involving Chu An Qing and CC, and those ¡®Millennium Stakes¡¯? They dissolved into blue stardust on those precise timelines.
Was there a link between these events?
Lin Xian thought about the construction pile drivers. Every time the hammer fell, the steel stakes would be driven deeper into the ground, creating cracks around it.
Could it be that the reason time travelers were suddenly appearing was because Chu An Qing had just dissolved as a stake, leading to time rifts everywhere?
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian murmured. ¡°In short, every time space is harmed or the world line forcefully altered, time rifts appear.¡±
¡°So what else does the manuscript reveal?¡± Lin Xian asked, leaning forward. ¡°Can we control which time we travel to? And¡ how long will it take to build the time machine?¡±
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t expect too much from the rest of the notes. The author hit a bottleneck in his research. He wrote that theoretically, a type of energy particle should exist that allows controlled time travel through rifts, guiding travelers to selected points. But so far, no proof of these particles has been found, and time travel theory remains iplete.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the time particles, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Xian smiled wryly. ¡°This genius couldn¡¯t get his hands on any time particles, so his research stalled. And as for the time machine¡¯s design¡ that¡¯s just wishful thinking. There¡¯s no blueprint in these notes, only vague concepts.¡±
Liu Feng closed the manuscript, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°In the end, even this genius couldn¡¯t build a time machine.¡±
He let out augh. ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s all about timing. We have the entangled time-space particles, along with the means and resources¡ªbut we can¡¯t make it work. This genius was just one step away, but he couldn¡¯t cross the finish line because hecked the particles.¡±
¡°The good news is, I understand the theory. If I try to replicate it, I might make a breakthrough in a few years. Who knows, maybe within ten years, we could build the first prototype of the time machine.¡±
¡°A few years?¡± Lin Xian shouted. ¡°No way, I can¡¯t wait that long. Can¡¯t you think of something faster?¡±
Liu Feng gave an exaggerated shrug. ¡°What do you expect me to do? A few years is already optimistic¡ªI¡¯ll be building a time machine from scratch without any schematics.¡±
¡°If I could just whip one up, I¡¯d have won a Nobel Prize by now. If you want a working time machine soon, you¡¯d need to find the blueprints somehow. Then it could be done much faster.¡±
Lin Xian sighed, slumping back into his chair.
Where could he possibly find blueprints for a time machine?
Even if he ventured back into the Dream to find Emperor Gao Wen, it would be useless. For one, Gao Wen wasn¡¯t particrly interested in time machines; he had merely toyed with the concept. Not to mention, without time particles, he could never dig deep into the research.
Besides, Gao Wen¡¯s true love was the field of hibernation technology¡ªnot time travel.
And now, without finding Ms. Du Yao, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t even free Gao Wen from his past regrets. As a result, even if he found Gao Wen¡¯s notebook in the uing Dream, it would likely still focus on neural electric helmets, the same as before.
Finally, and most crucially¡ªthe future world of the next Dream might already be unrecognizable. There was no telling if Emperor Gao Wen would even be there.
So¡ was this a dead end?
Lin Xian rubbed his tired eyes.
Did this mean he¡¯d really have to wait years¡ªeven decades¡ªfor a working time machine?
¡°Wait¡ No, that¡¯s not right!¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized something.
He pointed at the time clock. ¡°Liu Feng, look at this. Even after I showed you the ¡®Time Travel Theory Manuscript,¡¯ the time clock reading hasn¡¯t changed.¡±
Liu Feng turned to look. Sure enough, the reading on the clock was still 0.0000168.
He shrugged. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too surprising. We¡¯ve talked about this before¡ªthe reason the clock doesn¡¯t change, the world line doesn¡¯t shift, is because an irreversible anchor point hasn¡¯t formed. Once that anchor forms, then the world line curvature will change.¡±
¡°No, no, no.¡± Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Remember when I took the ¡®Micro Nuclear Battery Manuscript¡¯ to the National Scientific Academy? Back then, when I shared the notes with them, the time clock reading changed.¡±
¡°I think this makes sense. As you said, Liu Feng, you¡¯ve now read this manuscript, you have a clear understanding of the theory, and in a few years or a decade, you could develop a time machine.¡±
¡°So logically, an anchor point should already be forming! This is just like when I shared the battery notes!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not about the anchor,¡± Lin Xian dered, getting up and patting the time clock. ¡°It means¡¡±
¡°In the original 0.0000168 world line, there already is a time machine! So, whether you read the manuscript or invent the time machine doesn¡¯t matter!¡±
Lin Xian looked at Liu Feng, exining, ¡°You get it, right? On this current world line, even if you don¡¯t invent the time machine, someone else will. You reading the notes hasn¡¯t disrupted the sticity of time.¡±
Liu Feng nodded, though he frowned, deep in thought. ¡°But¡ can anyone else really develop such an advanced technology? Especially when it requires the time particles? Who could it be?¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian recalled the question Copernicus had asked during the Genius Club meeting just a few hours ago.
Copernicus also wanted to build a time machine.
Though Einstein ultimately refused to answer him, the refusal itself was a kind of acknowledgment that someone among the members had the technology.
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if Copernicus suspected him, but it wouldn¡¯t stop Copernicus from pursuing the question in the next meeting in August. If he omitted ¡®the closest point in time¡¯ from his question, Copernicus could easily learn the name ¡®Gao Wen¡¯ from Einstein.
From there, Copernicus would travel in a hibernation pod to the year 2200, track down Emperor Gao Wen, and convince him to build the time machine, fulfilling his ns.
¡°Hmph¡ Still as relentless as ever,¡± Lin Xian muttered, scratching his head. At least it wasn¡¯t all bad news.
If, on the original 0.0000168 world line, a fully functional time machine did exist¡ then there was a chance that when Lin Xian entered the next Dream, he could find the blueprints for it.
If so¡
He could pull off a reverse heist against Copernicus.
¡°I think there¡¯s hope,¡± Lin Xian said, suddenly feeling clear-headed.
If his hunch was right, Copernicus would only manage to get his hands on the time machine after intercepting Gao Wen in 2200.
But Lin Xian could steal the blueprints six hundred years earlier and build the machine in 2024.
Then, it would be his turn to go on the offensive.
He¡¯d use the entangled time-space particles to travel through time in 2024, not only consuming them entirely and shattering Copernicus¡¯ dream but also standing from a faraway historical point, gaining intelligence to ultimately counterattack Copernicus.
¡°Old man, you¡¯ve lived long enough¡ªtime to call it quits,¡± Lin Xian recalled Copernicus¡¯ words to him in the Fourth Dream.
¡°The real hunter never sets foot in the hunting ground.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled to himself. ¡°The hunter¡ will one day be the prey.¡±
The Eighth Dream. The 0.0000168 world line. The destruction of the entangled time-space particles. The time machine heist. The struggle between past and future timelines.
This was Lin Xian¡¯s perfect opportunity¡ªCopernicus¡¯ final curtain call.
Their feud would end in this sh.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian suddenly got up, heading for the door of theb.
¡°What? You¡¯re leaving already?¡± Liu Feng looked startled. They¡¯d been in the middle of talking, and Lin Xian always left in such a rush. ¡°Where are you going?¡±
¡°To get you the blueprints for the time machine,¡± Lin Xian replied, already heading out the back door of theb.
¡°Wait, what?¡± Liu Feng was stunned by the audacity. ¡°Hey, hold on!¡± He shouted after Lin Xian, ¡°Where are you going to find that? Are you dreaming?¡±
Chapter 429: The Silent City
The bright sun had risen, casting its warm rays across the earth. It was July 1st, marking the end of the first half of 2024 and the beginning of the second.
Lin Xian walked out of the Rhine Laboratory at Donghai University, raising his head to gaze at the sunlight that stretched every shadow before him. That sun¡ªit was the source of everything, just like the source he now sought for himself, the key to set everything right, to fix all the wrongs.
He looked down at his watch: 7:11.
The night had passed without rest. Lin Xian wondered what Zhao Ying Jun might be doing now. Was she sleeping? Or was she lying awake, unable to find peace?
He thought back tost night¡ªthe blue snowke fading, the turmoil of losing Lin Yu Xi, and his instinct to hOld Rui Hai close. He had so much to say to her. He knew what was most important now was to be there for her, especially after losing Lin Yu Xi.
Though Zhao Ying Jun appeared strong, Lin Xian knew she had a softer side. He had seen her lose control of her emotions when Lin Yu Xi disappeared, shouting in anguish. But soon enough, she recovered, her strength returning as sheforted him instead.
¡°Was that Liu Feng who called you earlier?¡± she had asked after he¡¯d promised to stay.
Lin Xian nodded.¡°I¡¯ve met Liu Feng before. I visited yourb at Donghai University,¡± Zhao Ying Jun had said quietly. ¡°I can sense that you two are working on something important. Is it rted to Yan Qiao Qiao¡ or Lin Yu Xi? Our child?¡±
Lin Xian nodded again. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, Ying Jun. It¡¯s connected not only to Lin Yu Xi but also to Liu Feng, to me, and even to you. Let me take you home, and I¡¯ll exin everything.¡±
But Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. She wrapped her coat tightly around herself, closing her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lin Xian. Right now, I need some time alone. I do appreciate that you trust me enough to tell me everything, but¡ can we leave it for another time? I¡¯m not ready just yet. I¡¯m sorry.¡±
Lin Xian heard the tremor in her voice. No matter how strong or calm she might seem, the loss was still devastating. Lin Yu Xi wasn¡¯t her biological child, but their bond was still unbreakable. Who could face an ending like that without breaking?
¡°If what you¡¯re doing is as important as it seems, then don¡¯t let me hold you back.¡± She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. ¡°But if you ever need me, if there¡¯s anything I can do to help, please tell me. Because, like you said, Lin Yu Xi didn¡¯t belong to this time¡ªshe wasn¡¯t truly our child of this future. Still, even though she never called me ¡®Mom,¡¯ it doesn¡¯t change a thing.¡±
Her gaze grew firm, her words steady and deliberate. ¡°She is your daughter, and she is also my daughter. You need to take responsibility for her, and so do I. There¡¯s no me here, and you shouldn¡¯t feel guilty. Protecting a child is a father¡¯s duty, just as much as it is a mother¡¯s.¡±
She took a deep breath and pointed at Lin Xian¡¯s phone. ¡°I know what¡¯s important. Liu Feng¡¯s call sounded urgent¡ªyou should go. Go do what you need to do. Keep moving forward. Don¡¯t stop because of me.¡±
For a moment, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s words echoed Yellow Finch¡¯s voice in his mind¡ªthat woman who had made him grow, who had made him understand responsibility, who had made him want to be a true leader.
It was her.
And it was also Zhao Ying Jun.
They were the same.
Yellow Finch was Zhao Ying Jun; Zhao Ying Jun was Yellow Finch.
In that moment, Lin Xian finally understood the story of ¡°Farewell, My Concubine,¡± as told by Yellow Finch: ¡°To this day, I remember Xiang Yu¡ªthe one who refused to cross the river back east. I never thought Xiang Yu was a true hero. None of the soldiers who fought and died for him would have wanted to see their leader end himself by the riverbank. We followed you here, for you, whether right or wrong¡ªto live or die. Since ancient times, winners are kings, and losers are viins; there is no absolute right or wrong. Many things are right if you believe in them, and wrong if you doubt them.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian,¡± Yellow Finch had said back then, much like Zhao Ying Jun did now, always encouraging him, always supporting him unconditionally: ¡°If you¡¯re right, go ahead boldly. If you¡¯re wrong, be wrong to the end with conviction. Don¡¯t be like Xiang Yu¡ªliving only in historical songs and records isn¡¯t worth as much as living in the hope of the present.¡±
¡°I will,¡± Lin Xian had answered solemnly. ¡°I will.¡± He repeated it once more.
Zhao Ying Jun reached out and hailed a passing taxi, wrapping her thin coat around herself as she got inside. Lin Xian knew her heart was aching. She had spent two months living with Lin Yu Xi, knowing full well the truth of their connection. And yet, she chose not to show her grief, not in front of him¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to burden him, didn¡¯t want to hinder his mission.
No, he couldn¡¯t stop now. The enemies that needed to be taken down, the revenge that had to be served¡ªnothing could be left undone.
Back home, Lin Xian washed his face several times, preparing to sleep. He needed to enter the Eighth Dream. The key to breaking the impasse, the crucial clue¡ªmaybe it was in this new dream.
Hey down on his bed, about to close his eyes, when¡ª
Brrrring! Brrrring! Brrrring!
The phone rang.
He nced at the caller ID¡ªit was Brother Wang. What could be happening at this hour?
Lin Xian answered, ¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± Brother Wang¡¯s voice sounded anxious. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s happened to Zhao Ying Jun?¡±
¡°What happened to her?¡± Lin Xian asked, sitting up straight.
¡°Well, when I saw her this morning, her eyes were red. At first, I thought it was makeup, but then I realized¡ it wasn¡¯t. They were swollen from crying.¡± Brother Wang hesitated, then continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her like that, not in all these years. I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but she kept herself busy¡ªshe arranged to personally oversee work from every department today, from morning till night.¡±
¡°She¡¯s been in her office all day, meeting with department heads, discussing work nonstop. The line of people waiting to meet with her stretched outside her door, and her schedule is packed with meetings untilte tonight. I mean¡ it¡¯s obvious she¡¯s trying to drown herself in work to forget whatever¡¯s bothering her.¡±
¡°Also, I checked with the MX Company¡¯s security. You know what they said? They said she didn¡¯te to work from home this morning¡ªshe arrived in the middle of the night, and her office lights stayed on until dawn. She didn¡¯t sleep at all, Lin Xian.¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s words made Lin Xian frown. She had gone to the office in the middle of the night, meaning that after getting in the taxi, she didn¡¯t return home, nor did she sleep. She had lied to him, likely to keep him from worrying.
¡°I¡¯ll go find her,¡± Lin Xian said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
¡°No, no, no,¡± Brother Wang protested over the phone. ¡°I knew it! You must know what¡¯s going on, and it probably has something to do with you, right? But going to MX Company now isn¡¯t a good idea. Zhao Ying Jun has her entire day fully scheduled. If you show up, it¡¯ll only cause a scene. Her office is filled with people¡ªit won¡¯t look good.¡±
¡°Listen, I don¡¯t know what happened between you two, but let me give you some advice, Lin Xian. Zhao Ying Jun is the type to swallow her pain, to always think of others before herself. Given her upbringing, she was never allowed to be impulsive, never allowed to lose control. But everyone needs to be a little selfish sometimes¡ªyou can¡¯t bottle up those emotions forever.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be honest¡ªI¡¯ve always thought you two were a good match. But it¡¯s your lives, and I don¡¯t have the right to interfere. Just know that if either of you is hurting, I don¡¯t want to see it. I¡¯ll keep an eye on things here, and if anything happens, you¡¯ll be the first to know. Let her have some time to calm down.¡±
Lin Xian agreed and hung up the phone. Drowning herself in work to forget the pain¡ he understood that feeling. After Chu An Qing disappeared, bing one with the thousand-year anchoring stake, he did the same thing.
But this wasn¡¯t something they could avoid. Zhao Ying Jun deserved an answer, a proper exnation. Even if she had refused himst night, he still had to tell her¡ªeverything about himself, about Yellow Finch, about Lin Yu Xi, about the time-space particles, the dream worlds, the time machine¡
Everything.
He ced his phone back on the nightstand,y down, and closed his eyes.
¡°The Eighth Dream,¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°I wonder¡ what will it be like?¡±
The other dream worlds had all been different, but at least he¡¯d had some inkling of what to expect. The origin of this Eighth Dream, though, was far tooplex. Events ovepped, world lines dropped and rose again¡ªso many butterflies in so many timelines pping their wings¡
What would the future be like 600 years from now? Would the great catastrophe of 2400 still happen? Would Copernicus¡¯ time-space police and court still exist? Would Donghai City be thriving, and would Li Ning Ning¡¯s sister, Li Feng Yu, still be alive?
Would humanity still be nning to migrate to Mars? Would Gao Wen¡¯s hibernation pod still be buried beneath the ground, waiting to be unearthed?
¡°I hope¡ I hope I can find the blueprints for the time machine,¡± Lin Xian thought. It seemed likely. After all, when he¡¯d shared the draft of ¡°Time Travel Theory and Time Machine Construction¡± with Liu Feng, the world line had not shifted. That suggested that, in the Eighth Dream, the time machine probably did exist, and Liu Feng¡¯s efforts wouldn¡¯t change the course of history.
¡°Wait a minute,¡± Lin Xian thought suddenly. ¡°Could it be¡ in the original timeline, Liu Feng never actually seeded in building the time machine?¡±
He groaned inwardly. It was entirely possible. He had given Liu Feng the draft, and Liu Feng had estimated he could finish it in ten years. But that was just an optimistic guess¡ªit didn¡¯t guarantee sess. Liu Feng had only skimmed through the draft, and even Gao Wen¡¯s manuscript was iplete¡ªnot only in terms of construction but even in its fundamental theories. Without verification from the time-space particles, many parts were still conjecture.
Who knew what obstacles and dead-ends would crop up once the actual research began?
¡°Oh well,¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°All I can do now is believe in humanity¡¯s potential in the Eighth Dream¡ and in Emperor Gao Wen¡¯s ability to work miracles once again.¡±
With that, he turned over and slowly drifted off to sleep.
¡
¡
A familiar summer breeze blew over him¡ªthe heat was palpable, yet there was no sticky humidity of a rainforest, no scent of lush paddy fields, no yellow sand from a wastnd.
Good.
Even before opening his eyes, Lin Xian could tell that he wasn¡¯t in a wastnd or in the wild¡ªhe was somewhere within a developed city. The pavement beneath his feet was smooth and solid¡ªit had to be a proper street.
How nostalgic it felt¡ªhe hadn¡¯t been in a modernized city since leaving the First Dream. Every other future had been worse than the one before¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even had a decent ce to stay.
This time, though, his starting point seemed to be in a city.
Around him, he could hear the rapid tapping of footsteps¡ªfurther ahead, the sound of vehicles driving by reached his ears. Yes, this was a modern metropolis.
And yet¡
Something felt odd.
Lin Xian listened carefully¡ªit was quiet.
Too quiet.
This was a city, so why was it so eerily silent? He could hear footsteps, hear cars passing by, but there was no noise¡ªno chatter, no hubbub.
What was going on?
With a sense of confusion, Lin Xian opened his eyes¡ªand immediately stepped back, startled by the sight.
All around him, the people moving through the city¡ªevery single one of them had bright blue rings glowing around their irises. Everyone.
Was this some kind of headquarters for time travelers? A base of operations for cyborgs?
Were they here to capture him again?
But soon enough, Lin Xian realized this wasn¡¯t the same.
The blue rings in their eyes were different from those of Yellow Finch, Lin Yu Xi, or No. 17. The time travelers¡¯ eyes had an entirely crystalline blue iris, while these men and women had only an outer glowing ring.
And their expressions¡
They were stiff.
Lin Xian struggled to find the right words to describe the feeling they gave him. It was unnatural¡ªthey seemed less human, more like machines. They were smiling, yes, but it was too perfect¡ªso perfect that it triggered an eerie sense of the uncanny valley.
He was certain of one thing¡ªthese people weren¡¯t normal humans.
They all moved with identical precision, standing straight, their faces showing only a single expression¡ªtoo unsettling to be real. They were probably robots.
But then again, if robots could be made this lifelike, the technology of this future must be incredibly advanced, right?
Except, when he looked around, the city didn¡¯t appear particrly advanced. It seemed just like any ordinary urbanndscape¡ªnothing that Lin Xian couldn¡¯t understand. In fact, it was less futuristic than New Donghai City in the Second Dream,parable to a second-tier city in the real world.
Lin Xian blinked and continued to observe. He noticed that not everyone here was a ¡°robot.¡± There were plenty of normal people too¡ªtheir expressions and gait were much more natural, bringing Lin Xian a sense of familiarity andfort.
But the main question remained¡ª
Why was it so quiet?
No one was talking?
He could understand the robots being silent¡ªbut among all these men, women, elderly folks, and children moving around, not a single one was speaking. Everyone kept their mouths shut as if the concept of conversation didn¡¯t exist, creating an unnatural stillness devoid of life.
Lin Xian felt like he was watching a pantomime, an eerie silent movie. What was going on? Why was no one talking?
It made him hesitant to speak as well¡ªas if breaking this unnatural silence would somehow be dangerous.
He continued walking along the street, noticing that everything here was almost¡ too orderly. Too perfect.
The flowerbeds were trimmed with meticulous precision like they¡¯d been measured with a ruler.
There was no litter on the streets, not a single scrap¡ªthe entire ce was immacte.
The cars parked along the road were evenly spaced, each one perfectly aligned¡ªsymmetry for symmetry¡¯s sake.
There wasn¡¯t a single person walking against the flow of foot traffic. Everyone moved in a synchronized manner, all in the same direction.
Lin Xian was stunned.
He didn¡¯t even know how to describe what he was seeing. It was like stepping into a perfectly constructed simtion, a city run byputer programs.
The people were so disciplined¡ªthere was no crime, not even the slightest uncivil behavior.
They were all so self-regted that Lin Xian felt out of ce¡ªhe was afraid that even an irregr step might be a vition of the city¡¯s perfection.
And still, the question remained¡ª
Why wasn¡¯t anyone talking?
Maybe they had some advanced method ofmunication, perhaps telepathy, making spoken words unnecessary?
Lin Xian shook his head¡ªhe dismissed the thought. Even if they were using telepathy, there would still be subtle changes in facial expressions and eye movements. Not everything could be conveyed without some sort of reaction¡ªnot every smile could be sent as a mental emoji.
It was too strange¡
What had seemed like a civilized, clean, orderly city now felt stifling and wrong. The more he saw, the more he wanted to shout, to break the silence, but the oppressiveness of the quiet held his voice in check.
Suddenly, a small child, holding his mother¡¯s hand, coughed and spat on the ground: ¡°Pleh.¡±
Instantly, his mother¡¯s face turned pale, and she cried out, her voice echoing through the silent city like an explosion: ¡°Ming Ming! What are you doing?!¡±
The next moment, a man with blue glowing rings in his eyes turned towards them, his smile fading. The rings shifted from blue to yellow as he began walking toward the mother and child.
The mother panicked, frantically apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± She dropped to her knees, pulled tissues from her bag, and carefully cleaned up the spit on the ground. When she finished, she put the used tissue back into her bag, looking up at the man¡¯s glowing yellow eyes, her own eyes full of fear.
The man crouched down, his eyes locked on the boy as the yellow rings glowed.
¡°Identity verified: Wang Zi Ming. Behavior: spitting in public. Deducting two points. Minor reduction by fifty percent. Final deduction: one point. Current personal score: eighty-two points.¡±
¡°Please maintain civilized behavior. Use the mechanical beings as role models to build a better future for humanity.¡±
The man stood up, his yellow eyes now directed at the anxious mother. He blinked, and the rings flickered as he spoke again:
¡°Identity verified: Zhu Ting. Behavior: excessive noise. Deducting two points. No reduction. Final deduction: two points. Current personal score: seventy-one points.¡±
¡°Please maintain civilized behavior. Use the mechanical beings as role models to build a better future for humanity.¡±
The mother bit her lip, her face a mix of fear and shame. Finally, she pressed her son¡¯s head down in a deep bow, then turned and walked away, still holding his hand. Her pace did not quicken; she continued to walk with quiet dignity.
Lin Xian watched this scene and finally understood.
No wonder¡ no one spoke, no one argued, no one ran, no one fought. The rules here were just too strict.
Yes, spitting in public was wrong. Yelling was wrong. But did they really need to enforce it so harshly?
Seeing how the mother reacted, it was clear that personal scores were very important. People were genuinely afraid of losing points¡ªit weighed heavily on their minds.
That meant that, in this time, in this over-clean, over-quiet, overly perfect city, personal scores were incredibly significant.
And then Lin Xian remembered what the glowing-eyed man had said: ¡°Please maintain civilized behavior. Use the mechanical beings as role models to build a better future for humanity.¡±
So these people weren¡¯t normal¡ªthey were robots, androids!
Lin Xian had only seen something like this in sci-fi films and games¡ªandroids that were internally built with alloy skeletons, intelligent chips, and nuclear-powered batteries, covered with synthetic skin that looked like human flesh.
What kind of era was this? How had the world evolved into such a distorted future?
Suddenly, a figure dashed out from a nearby flowerbed¡ªa young girl, probably around eighteen or neen, with short hair and a smiley-face mask. She leaped forward and ripped the metal badge off the android¡¯s chest, then took off running.
The android¡¯s eyes turned bright red, locking onto the fleeing girl, and he started to chase her.
The girl was fast¡ªin seconds, she had gained a lead. But out of nowhere, another android in a uniform, a female with glowing red eyes, rushed out and tackled her to the ground.
The male android caught up and yanked the girl¡¯s mask off, his red eyes shing as he said coldly, ¡°Identity verified: Xu Yi Yi. Behavior: assaulting an android, theft, running in public, collision with a pedestrian. Total deduction: twenty-eight points. Prior offenses increase penalty by fifty percent. Final deduction: forty-two points. Current personal score: negative thirty-seven points.¡±
Chapter 430: The Godfather
Lin Xian blinked in confusion.
¡°What?¡±
Just a moment ago, he was an innocent bystander, watching and criticizing the world from a safe distance. And now, all of a sudden, he was part of the scene, right in the thick of it.
What was the girl¡¯s name again?
Xu Yi Yi?
Wait, wasn¡¯t she¡?
Wasn¡¯t she Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter, the one who had been in a vegetative state?
Lin Xian could still picture it vividly. Back when he went to the hospital to deliver an invitation to Professor Xu Yun, the professor had smiled as he spoke about his daughter, Xu Yi Yi. He said that once the hibernation pod was perfected, in a few years, there might be hope of saving her.And Lin Xian remembered Professor Xu¡¯s earnest request:
¡°Lin Xian, if Yi Yi wakes up one day, and you¡¯re still around¡ could you please look after her for me?¡±
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t thought much about it then.
He never imagined using the hibernation pod himself. By the time Yi Yi woke up, he figured he¡¯d be long gone. It seemed more likely she¡¯d be visiting his grave, cing incense, rather than him taking care of her.
After Professor Xu Yun passed away, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun took on the responsibility for Yi Yi¡¯s medical care. They kept up her treatment and paid for her growing medical bills.
When her condition worsened, and her life was hanging by a thread, Lin Xian, along with her doctors, decided to put her in the second-generation hibernation pod at the Science Institute as one of the new batch of volunteers.
When Yi Yi entered the pod, she was a frail, skeletal girl¡ªall skin and bones. But now, the girl being pinned down by the Bionic Police¡ she looked so different. She was slim, yes, but healthy, agile, and very much alive.
Was this really¡?
Could this be the same Yi Yi that Professor Xu entrusted to him? The same Yi Yi he had once visited in the hospital?
Lin Xian moved closer, ncing at her face.
To be honest, she looked nothing like the unconscious, fragile girl he remembered from that hospital bed.
But that didn¡¯t mean anything.
Back then, she had been little more than skin and bones, her features lost in the sickness. And now, with the Bionic Police holding her down and her struggling beneath them, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t get a proper look.
But still¡ he couldn¡¯t just do nothing.
Professor Xu had been so good to him¡ªgiving Lin Xian exclusive authorization for chemical research, and even destroying all his own manuscripts to protect him from the Seven Deadly Sins, leaving them with no evidence against him. Lin Xian always felt guilty about Professor Xu¡¯s death.
With all those emotions stirring inside him¡
How could he just stand by now and pretend not to see?
¡°No way,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself. ¡°Whether she¡¯s really Professor Xu¡¯s daughter or not, I have to help her first. I¡¯d never forgive myself if I let Professor Xu down.¡±
He quickly made a n.
Two bionic police officers were restraining Yi Yi. One was a male officer in in clothes, tasked with verifying identities and taking down scores¡ªhe had no extra equipment. The other was a female officer in full uniform, decked out with police gear. Most importantly, she had a gun at her hip. Her eyes glowed red, and she was already inbat mode, the holster open, ready to draw her weapon.
Opportunity.
With the holster already open, it was the perfect chance for Lin Xian to grab the gun.
In the real world, he¡¯d never dare. But in this dream world?
Who¡¯s afraid of who?
Lin Xian kept walking, acting like an innocent bystander, strolling casually past the female officer. Then¡ªin a heartbeat!
Quick as lightning, Lin Xian grabbed the gun from her hip, unlocked it, loaded it, and aimed¡ªall in one fluid second.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
He fired four shots, each bullet aimed at the glowing red circles of the bionic officers¡¯ eyes.
Lin Xian¡¯s shooting skills had never let him down. Every shot was precise, fast, on target. The two bionic officers didn¡¯t even have time to react before sparks flew, and their heads jerked back.
Lin Xian aimed for their eyes instead of their foreheads for a reason.
With bionic models, it¡¯s impossible to tell where their control chips are hidden. They aren¡¯t human, so there¡¯s no reason to ce the most fragile part of them in their heads. A safer spot would be somewhere in the chest.
If that were the case, even a shot to the forehead wouldn¡¯t do much damage¡ªit wouldn¡¯t affect theirbat ability. But shooting their eyes¡ªtheir cameras¡ªthat was a different story.
Sure enough, the two officers¡¯ heads jerked backward, and they began swiveling around like headless flies.
¡°Run!¡± Lin Xian grabbed Yi Yi by the arm and bolted.
But then he saw it¡ªmore bionic officers wereing, their eyes glowing blue. They were approaching from every direction.
¡°This way! Follow me!¡± Yi Yi yanked herself free from Lin Xian¡¯s grip, ran back to the fallen officer, and snatched the metal name tag from her chest, shoving it into her pocket. She picked up a smiley face mask from the ground, quickly putting it on, and then grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s hand, pulling him away from the road.
As they ran, she shouted over her shoulder:
¡°Thanks! Thanks for saving me!¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian replied, vaulting over obstacles effortlessly to keep up.
¡°Where are we going? Do you know a ce we can hide?¡± he asked.
¡°Yeah!¡± Yi Yi called back, her smiley mask turned toward him.
¡°You didn¡¯te in through the sewers?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°I was just wandering. I got lost.¡±
¡°No wonder,¡± Yi Yi muttered, hopping over a low wall and waiting for him.
For a parkour master like Lin Xian, the height was nothing. He swung himself over with ease,nding lightly beside her.
¡°Nice moves,¡± Yi Yi said, her voice sincere.
¡°Thanks,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly.
¡°But¡¡± Yi Yi tilted her head at him. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing a mask? Running around without onemitting crimes in the city without a mask¡ªthat¡¯s just in unprofessional.¡±
¡°¡¡± Lin Xian had no answer.
He hadn¡¯t intended tomit any crimes. He simply couldn¡¯t ignore Professor Xu¡¯s dying request.
Though his rescue might not be heroic, it was, at the very least, an act of kindness.
¡°Forget it. You¡¯re hopeless,¡± Yi Yi said dismissively.
¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be under my wing.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
¡°Are you serious? I¡¯m the one who saved you, remember?¡±
¡°Here, just being good at fighting isn¡¯t enough,¡± Yi Yi said, her eyes¡ªvisible through her mask¡ªfilled with determination. ¡°No matter how strong you are, you can¡¯t take on all the bionic officers. No matter how fast you are, if you don¡¯t know the escape routes, you¡¯ll get caught sooner orter.¡±
Lin Xian had to admit she had a point. As someone new to the Eighth Dream, he definitely needed someone who knew the ropes.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yi Yi said confidently, patting his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re my first underling. I¡¯ll look after you.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± Lin Xianughed.
¡°It¡¯s true! But first, I need to get you a mask. You¡¯re way too vulnerable like this,¡± Yi Yi insisted. ¡°Even if the bionic officers can¡¯t scan identities in real time, street cameras are sharp. If they spot a fugitive with negative points, they¡¯ll sound the rm right away.¡±
Yi Yi looked around and spotted a group of kids ying in a sandbox, each with a stic cartoon mask on the back of their head. Without hesitation, she dashed over, grabbed a mask off a little boy, and tossed it to Lin Xian.
¡°Run!¡± she shouted.
Lin Xian was stunned by her audacity. Really? Were all the gangs here this tough?
He didn¡¯t have time to think as the boy started wailing, attracting the attention of nearby bionic officers, whose eyes shed yellow as they moved toward them. Lin Xian followed Yi Yi, leaping over another low wall.
¡°How many points do you lose for making a kid cry?¡± he asked, amused.
¡°No points for kids under six,¡± Yi Yi replied, not even looking back.
¡°Nice,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. ¡°Cool.¡±
¡°Put on the mask already!¡± Yi Yi urged.
Lin Xian nced at the mask. Wow¡ what a coincidence. It was a Rhine Cat mask! Though not one of his designs, it was unmistakably Rhine Cat. It seemed his creation had left a mark on this world.
Lin Xian obediently put on the mask, adjusted it, and continued following Yi Yi.
Yi Yi knew the city like the back of her hand. She moved effortlessly, climbing and leaping as if she were at home. Soon, Lin Xian was utterly lost. He had tried to memorize the route at first, but eventually gave up.
Finally, Yi Yi reached a manhole cover. She hooked her fingers into the holes and lifted it.
¡°Jump down!¡± she called. ¡°There¡¯s nodder, but the water¡¯s shallow¡ªit won¡¯t go past your waist. Just jump!¡±
Big Sister had spoken, and Lin Xian jumped without hesitation.
Ssh. Hended in a stinky sewer.
It reeked, but at least it was a rainwater drain rather than a septic system. The sewer was spacious, with three or four meters of headroom. The nners had thought ahead. Above the rushing water, there was a walkway about half a meter higher.
Lin Xian waded through the water, climbing onto the narrow walkway. Yi Yi swung down after him, letting the manhole cover close with a heavy thud.
¡°Alright,¡± Yi Yi said, wringing out her pants. ¡°We¡¯re safe now. Those bionic officers are too dumb to follow us down here.¡±
¡°They¡¯re mainly for patrols, catching minor offenders, and deducting points¡ In actualbat, they¡¯re pretty useless,¡± she added.
Lin Xian paused, wondering aloud, ¡°If they¡¯re that weak, why were you¡?¡±
¡°Today was different!¡± Yi Yi huffed. ¡°Usually, we get into the city through manholes withdders and leave through ones without them. That¡¯s just how it works. Remember that.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. It seemed like Big Sister was teaching him the ways of the world.
¡°What should I call you?¡± he asked.
¡°Yi Yi¡¯s fine,¡± she said, extending her hand for a high-five. ¡°And you?¡±
¡°Lin Xian,¡± he replied, pping her hand.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± Yi Yi said, turning and leading him down a passage. ¡°We need to get out of the city first.¡±
Lin Xian followed, curiosity growing.
¡°Yi Yi, I have a lot of questions for you,¡± he said.
¡°Ask away,¡± Yi Yi replied cheerfully. ¡°You¡¯re my little brother now. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know.¡±
Lin Xian studied her silhouette in the dark¡ªfamiliar, yet strange.
¡°Did you¡¡± He hesitated. ¡°Did youe from the past? Before hibernation?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Yi Yi stopped and turned to look at him.
¡°How did you know? Could you just tell by looking at me?¡± She nodded, her tone turning serious.
¡°You¡¯re right. I woke up from hibernation. This is my sixth year since waking up. If you count my actual age, I should be neen.¡±
¡°Do you remember anything from before?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Yi Yi shook her head.
¡°No. I don¡¯t remember anything. The medical records say I was in a vegetative state before hibernation, so I guess it¡¯s impossible for me to remember anything.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have any memory of being in a vegetative state. When I woke up here, I was healthy. With the help of meds and nutrition, I recovered quickly.¡±
Lin Xian sighed quietly. It was confirmed. Yi Yi was indeed Professor Xu Yun¡¯s daughter. During their escape, Lin Xian had studied her closely and noticed the simrities. Her eyes, her face¡ªthey resembled her father¡¯s in so many ways, especially her nose and cheeks.
He hadn¡¯t expected to meet someone from home in such a ce, so far from everything familiar.
But above all, he was genuinely happy. Happy to see Yi Yi alive, healthy, vibrant¡ªreally, truly happy. He was d for her, and d for Professor Xu Yun.
He could still remember how pale and skeletal she looked in the hospital bed, and how much it had hurt to see her that way. But now, seeing her so alive brought him a sense offort, as if he had managed to do right by Professor Xu¡ªas if somewhere, Professor Xu might be smiling, his spirit at peace. His hopes and efforts had finally borne fruit in his daughter.
At the same time, though, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake off a certain unease.
Sure, Yi Yi was full of life¡ªbut perhaps a bit too much life? He wouldn¡¯t call her a bad kid, but she certainly wasn¡¯t the obedient little girl Professor Xu had imagined.
She could sneak through sewers into the city, fight bionic officers, steal, and swipe masks from kids without a second thought.
He couldn¡¯t help feeling that maybe she¡¯d gone a bit astray. Not that he was old-fashioned or anything, but Professor Xu had asked him to look after her, and now¡ well, he wasn¡¯t sure if this was what the professor had in mind.
¡°Yi Yi, do you really not remember anything from before?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you remember your parents at all?¡±
¡°Nope.¡± Yi Yi shook her head, her pace quickening. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything. Maybe some people kept journals or video logs, but I was in a vegetative state. I never had that chance.¡±
¡°As for my parents, I¡¯m sure they went through a lot to put me in the hibernation pod. I¡¯m grateful, but I don¡¯t remember them. There¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡±
Yi Yi¡¯s words left Lin Xian quiet. She was right. Her mother, Professor Xu¡¯s wife, had died in childbirth. Yi Yi had never met her mother. And even if she did have memories, they¡¯d be fleeting¡ªjust a shadow of a name, a figure that had never really been there. Any memories of her father would be from before she turned four, and those had faded over time.
¡°Is there any way to restore memories here in Donghai City?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Maybe some sort of neural stimtion helmet or something?¡±
¡°No way!¡± Yi Yiughed. ¡°If it were that easy, you¡¯re dreaming too much.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, shaking his head. It seemed the technology hadn¡¯t made it here¡ªneural stimtion helmets weren¡¯t a thing. Maybe it was Emperor Gao Wen¡¯s fault, or perhaps Du Yao had yed a role.
He thought of Du Yao¡ªeven Emperor Gao Wen acknowledged that without Du Yao, humanity wouldn¡¯t have made major breakthroughs in neural science for hundreds of years.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian looked around the dark, empty sewer. ¡°Where are we going now?¡±
¡°To meet the Godfather,¡± Yi Yi replied, as if it were obvious.
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian nearlyughed aloud.
He felt like he had stepped into a scene from an old Hollywood movie. All that was missing was Marlon Brando muttering in his gravelly voice: ¡°You don¡¯t even think to call me Godfather.¡±
And now, Yi Yi was talking about a Godfather.
¡°Are you talking about, like, a mafia boss?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Exactly,¡± Yi Yi nodded, her tone serious. ¡°There¡¯s only one Godfather, and he¡¯s respected by everyone. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never heard of him¡ªunless you¡¯re from another.¡±
¡°Well, let¡¯s just say I¡¯m an alien,¡± Lin Xian said honestly. ¡°So, who¡¯s the Godfather?¡±
Yi Yi stopped and turned to Lin Xian, her expression solemn.
¡°Lin Xian, calling the Godfather by his name like that is extremely disrespectful.¡±
¡°Do I need to kiss his hand or something?¡± Lin Xian joked.
¡°No, nothing like that.¡± Yi Yi crossed her arms, her voice softening. ¡°But you do need to show him respect. He¡¯s a great person. What he¡¯s doing is going to change everything¡ªthe world, the future. All of us dream of working for him.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.
Change the world, reshape the future¡
Was she serious?
¡°What does the Godfather want to do?¡± he asked, genuinely curious.
Yi Yi smiled beneath her mask, admiration shining in her eyes.
¡°The Godfather wants to use a time-space machine,¡± she said, her voice filled with conviction, ¡°to send an assassin back in time¡ªto stop the person who ruined everything. He wants to change the future!¡±
Chapter 431: The Savior Company
Uh oh.
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, sensing something was wrong. Could it be¡ this so-called Godfather was actually Copernicus?
No way. Not again. Not another time-traveling assassin from 2024ing back to kill me.
This guy was like a ghost, haunting me everywhere.
But then Lin Xian quickly dismissed the thought. It didn¡¯t quite add up.
Copernicus was too skilled, and unless he had lost a battle somewhere in history, there was no way he¡¯d end up mixed up with someone like Xu Yi Yi, a ¡°rebellious thief.¡± Right now, they were trudging through a stinky sewer. Did Copernicus have to sneak through this underground tunnel every time he entered the city? That would be too pathetic.
In the fourth dream, Copernicus had been all-powerful, controlling both the Time Police Bureau and the Time Court. There¡¯s no way that, in this dream, he¡¯d fall from the ¡°Master of Time¡± to the ¡°Lord of the Sewers.¡±
¡°Do you know who this Godfather wants to kill?¡± Lin Xian asked directly. ¡°You said he wants to time travel back and kill the mastermind¡ªwho exactly is this mastermind?¡±¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xu Yi Yi shook her head. ¡°If the Godfather says so, he must have a target, but I¡¯m not someone who¡¯d be privy to his ns.¡±
She looked determined, her eyes full of purpose. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been trying so hard. I want to join the gang, join the Godfather¡¯s n, and do what I can for this world!¡±
Hearing Xu Yi Yi¡¯s resolute words, Lin Xian felt a twinge of relief mixed with guilt. Maybe Xu Yi Yi wasn¡¯t so bad after all. Not just a thief, gangster, or thug like he had thought moments ago.
Still, her actions earlier didn¡¯t match her righteous talk now. There was a stark contrast there. What could be behind it?
¡°I also wanted to ask, the city above, the one you called Donghai City¡ªwhat¡¯s it really like?¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°Everyone seems so tense. People walk carefully; they don¡¯t dare litter or even speak loudly, afraid of losing points.¡±
¡°Like earlier¡ªyou lost over forty points in one go, putting you into the negatives. What¡¯s the total score? What happens when someone loses all their points?¡±
Xu Yi Yi led Lin Xian into another tunnel. As they walked, she looked back to exin.
¡°There¡¯s no maximum score. Everyone starts with a hundred points. Like every other city, Donghai City runs on a system of adding and subtracting points,¡± she said. ¡°But earning points is much harder than losing them. Like you saw¡ªspitting, being loud, swearing, damaging property, even stepping on the grass¡ªthe robotic enforcers catch you, and they deduct points.¡±
¡°You probably noticed how people hardly dare speak. If someone curses or bursts outughing, they lose points.¡±
¡°To be safe, people just stop talking altogether. It¡¯s not just talking¡ªpeople follow all the rules, never litter, always park properly, and no one dares break trafficws. Viting those could cost dozens, even hundreds of points. No one daresmit a crime.¡±
Lin Xian listened to Xu Yi Yi¡¯s exnation. He felt conflicted.
It sounded like an ideal society with effective management. The system targeted uncivil behaviors, and even point deductions were backed by clear rules¡ªnot arbitrary at all.
But still¡
It felt suffocating. The whole society was bound by rigid rules, devoid of vibrancy or spirit. Everything was lifeless and gloomy.
¡°It¡¯s like they¡¯ve gone overboard,¡± Lin Xian said.
¡°It seems like in this era,w and morality have be one. Throughout history,w was always the bare minimum for morality. Society requires people not to break thew, but it never punishes them for moral failings. They might get criticized, but there was no real punishment.¡±
¡°The rules in Donghai City seem too much. Like you said, kids under six don¡¯t lose points, but I bet any mischievous seven-year-old would blow through a hundred points in a week.¡±
Lin Xian thought of his rtives¡¯ rowdy kids during New Year¡¯s¡ªshouting, running around, saying silly things. Forget a week; they¡¯d lose all their points in ten minutes.
¡°What happens when someone¡¯s points hit zero?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Everyone seems terrified of losing points. Does something terrible happen if they lose them all?¡±
¡°It depends,¡± Xu Yi Yi said as they continued. ¡°Generally, the first time you hit zero, you¡¯re subjected to criticism, education, and re-education activities. Only after earning back a hundred points can you return to normal life.¡±
¡°This applies to adults and kids. Usually, kids over six end up losing all their points quickly, even with leniency for minors. Every child goes through the re-education process at least once.¡±
¡°If someone loses all their points a second time, it¡¯s much more serious. Depending on the severity, they could face fines, more re-education, or even jail time. Eventually, they¡¯d have to earn points throughbor, but it¡¯s much slower for repeat offenders¡ªeach point counts for half.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why everyone¡¯s so scared of losing points. If they lose them all again, it¡¯s extremely hard to recover. Some people spend years trying and still can¡¯t regain their freedom.¡±
¡°And if someone loses their points for the third time¡¡± Xu Yi Yi gave a mocking smile and stretched her armszily. ¡°They end up like me! If it¡¯s minor, they¡¯re exiled and lose their residency rights. If it¡¯s serious¡ they¡¯re eliminated.¡±
She formed her right hand into the shape of a gun and pointed it at her temple. ¡°Bang! And it¡¯s goodbye to this world.¡±
Lin Xian quickened his pace, catching up to Xu Yi Yi.
¡°If it¡¯s that severe, whymit crimes at all?¡± he asked. ¡°Life under this system might be suffocating, but it surely beats prison, exile, or execution?¡±
¡°It¡¯s pointless, Lin Xian,¡± Xu Yi Yi said, her voice bitter. ¡°From what the elders say, the point system wasn¡¯t always this strict. At first, only serious actions resulted in deductions. Bad habits or minor mistakes were overlooked.¡±
¡°But over time, the rules became more detailed, turning into what they are now. The first thing I had to do after waking from cryosleep was study ¡®The List of Deductible Actions.¡¯ It¡¯s absurd¡ªevery aspect of life isid out.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t use certain words or phrases. It¡¯s considered ¡®uncivilized,¡¯ and you lose points for it. You can¡¯t stop it; it¡¯s only a matter of time before you lose all your points.¡±
¡°So everyone bes a ve to their score. They have to find ways to earn points just to maintain bnce and avoid hitting zero.¡±
¡°Honestly, if the requirements weren¡¯t so strict, people could ept it. After all, curbing bad behavior is supposed to make society harmonious. But it¡¯s gone too far and lost sight of the original goal.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, agreeing with her perspective.
¡°When did all this start? What era?¡± he asked.
¡°The ¡®2400 Super Catastrophe,¡¯¡± Xu Yi Yi replied. She turned into a wider tunnel, her voice echoing. ¡°History books say it all began after the catastrophe in 2400.¡±
Oh?
Lin Xian was surprised. He had thought there were no more catastrophic events in this world. In the previous dreams, the future was bleak, with sparse poptions and little technology. There was no way such a world could build a modern city like Donghai City or create advanced tech and robotic enforcers.
Why were the technology and society so different, despite both being post-2400 worlds?
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of something important¡ª
¡°The Mars Colonization n.¡±
Could that be the reason?
Because humanity didn¡¯t go to Mars, they focused on Earth instead, rebuilding civilization and advancing technology?
¡°Mars¡¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Did people still go to Mars?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Xu Yi Yi turned back, baffled. ¡°Mars? What are you talking about?¡±
Just as I thought.
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.
¡°So the Mars Colonization n was canceled. Humanity never left Earth¡ªthey stayed and focused on rebuilding. That¡¯s why civilization grew without splintering. All resources, talent, and effort were put into restoring life here.¡±
¡°If everyone worked together from 2400 to 2624, reaching modernity makes sense.¡±
Xu Yi Yi rolled her eyes. ¡°What are you rambling about? Mars? I¡¯ve never heard of anything like that. People have always been on Earth.¡±
¡°Besides, it¡¯s written in history¡ªhumanity rebuilt quickly thanks to the ¡®Savior Company.¡¯¡±
She continued, ¡°After the catastrophe, countless robotic enforcers emerged from underground and started leading humans in rebuilding.¡±
¡°I might dislike the Savior Company now, but to be fair, during those days of global despair, those millions of robots were like a beacon of hope. You can¡¯t deny that.¡±
¡°The robots ran on micro nuclear batteries, never tired, always worked hard, and held vast knowledge. They quickly gathered survivors and led them in reconstruction.¡±
¡°Historians say without the Savior Company¡¯s foresight, humanity would¡¯ve been stuck in endless wars over resources after the catastrophe¡ªmaybe even wiped out.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s definitely true.¡±
He knew what he was talking about. In the previous dream worlds, after the super disaster, humans had fought a long, brutal civil war. The chaos and famine almost wiped out civilization.
And then, ording to Xu Yi Yi, millions of robotic humanoids suddenly appeared, like mushrooms after rain, and acted as saviors, ¡°descending from the sky¡± to save humanity. They stopped the fighting and started rebuilding society immediately.
From this point of view, the ¡°Savior Company¡± really lived up to its name. They did something remarkable.
¡°I think I¡¯ve figured it out.¡±
Lin Xian finally made sense of the worldview of this Eighth Dream and tried to summarize it:
¡°The Savior Company obviously knew about the Super Disaster of 2400 long before it happened. Maybe¡ they knew it wasing a very long time ago. You can¡¯t build millions of robots quickly¡ªthat needs massive resources, time, facilities, and storage.¡±
¡°I¡¯m guessing the Savior Company spent decades, maybe centuries, preparing. Then, when the disaster came, they activated the robots to lead people in rebuilding.¡±
¡°If they could prepare so many robots, they must have done other preparations¡ªlike putting scientists into cryosleep or preserving key research data¡¡±
¡°That would exin why the Savior Company now holds so much power. After all, today¡¯s society was saved by thispany. It makes sense that they¡¯d have a huge say in everything.¡±
¡°But¡ if their original intention was good, why did things change? Why has thepany turned into something different now?¡±
¡°That, I don¡¯t know.¡± Xu Yi Yi shrugged. ¡°I only woke up six years ago, so I can¡¯t understand all these things. And the history they teach in Donghai City leaves a lot out. If you really want the truth¡ maybe we can ask the elders in the gang after we leave the city.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Xu Yi Yi was still young and only knew a rough version of history. For the moreplex stuff, he¡¯d need to ask someone else.
Like¡ the Godfather?
Such a respected figure would surely be able to give Lin Xian a detailed answer. But there was one thing Lin Xian felt sure about¡ª
¡°The Savior Company has to be connected to a member of the Genius Club.¡±
There was no doubt.
Turing had said the Super Disaster of 2400 was caused by Galileo. Even if that information wasn¡¯t entirely urate, it indicated members of the Genius Club had known about the disaster in advance.
In previous dreams, Elon Musk had also made preparations and avoided the disaster.
So, who was the mastermind hiding millions of robots and nning this grand future for centuries?
Newton? Gauss? Da Vinci? Or¡ was Galileo actually being framed by Turing?
Right now, there were too few clues. Considering the cunning nature of those geniuses, it was hard to tell what was true.
¡°Who owns the Savior Company?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Do you know anything about it¡ªlike the founder or any famous executives?¡±
Xu Yi Yi shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ and it¡¯s not just me. No one knows who controls thepany.¡±
¡°It¡¯s mysterious. All anyone knows is they made the robots, they built the cities, and they saved humanity. That¡¯s about it.¡±
¡°Some people even say the Savior Company isn¡¯t run by humans anymore¡ that the robots are in charge, which is why the world is the way it is.¡±
As she spoke, Xu Yi Yi handed Lin Xian one of the two metal tags she was holding.
¡°Here, take a look. This has the robot¡¯s serial number and the Savior Company¡¯s logo on it.¡±
Lin Xian took the metal tag. It was about the size of a lighter. The sewer was dark, so he couldn¡¯t see what was on it. He ran his thumb over it, feeling the raised numbers and letters on the right, along with a smooth, round symbol on the left.
He couldn¡¯t make out more than that. ¡°I¡¯ll check it out properly once we get back to the surface and have some light.¡±
Lin Xian remembered something then. Xu Yi Yi had been caught earlier because she tried to steal a robot¡¯s metal tag. And even when they were running away, she¡¯d gone back to grab the tag from the robotic police officer.
Did the tag have some special meaning?
¡°Why did you steal this metal tag?¡± Lin Xian asked, waving it in the dark. ¡°It¡¯s pretty thin. I doubt there¡¯s advanced tech inside. It just looks like an ordinary tag. Why take such a big risk for it?¡±
¡°Hehe,¡± Xu Yi Yi grinned proudly. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Lin Xian. This is a real treasure! With this metal tag, we can join the Godfather¡¯s n and work for him!¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°So this tag is like a trial, proof of strength, or a symbol of loyalty?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Xu Yi Yi nodded. ¡°If you want to join the Godfather¡¯s n, you need a gang to rmend you. And to join a gang, you have to get a robot¡¯s metal tag to prove yourself.¡±
¡°That¡¯s just the way things are. You can use any method, but as long as you get a tag, it shows your strength. Any gang will ept you.¡±
¡°Once you join a gang, they can rmend you to the Godfather¡¯s n¡ We¡¯re lucky. The n is happening tonight, and we just managed to get these tags in time!¡±
¡°Interesting,¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
It seemed wherever there were people, there were rules. Even in this strange, grim future, humanity still grouped together based on beliefs and goals. That, perhaps, was one of the unique charms of human society.
Now that he thought about it, Lin Xian found himself getting more interested in the mysterious Godfather. He couldn¡¯t wait to meet him. But, of course, there was a process¡ªone step at a time.
Luckily, he had an ally in Xu Yi Yi. As her first and only little brother, she¡¯d help him set up a good future.
¡°Here we are, Lin Xian. We need to climb up here.¡±
They reached the end of the passage. Ahead was a huge pipe outlet, with water gushing out like a waterfall. An iron grate blocked the way forward, so they had to use adder to climb up.
Finally¡
They could leave the sewer and see daylight again.
Xu Yi Yi jumped up and started climbing, with Lin Xian following her.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, Xu Yi Yi kicked the manhole cover open with ease. Bright sunlight streamed in, making Lin Xian squint. After being in the dark for so long, the sudden brightness was overwhelming.
Xu Yi Yi climbed out first, and Lin Xian followed. Standing up, he looked down at the chaotic vige below¡ªcountless shacks and cabins scattered across the yellow earth; buildings of all shapes and colors, roads crowded with people.
Clothes hung outside every home, wet patches everywhere, with women washing clothes, vegetables, and dishes, sshing dirty water carelessly. Kids ran around ying, falling, and rolling over; bare-chested men swaggered around,ughing loudly and shouting.
This was¡ Lin Xian blinked. This was a worldpletely different from Donghai City!
He turned back and looked at the silent city they¡¯d just escaped from. Beyond the walls, he could see clean, orderly buildings, spotless ss, the stillness that covered the entire city. But then, looking down again¡ªat the noisy, bustling vige below, full of life, chaotic but alive.
¡°Hahaha! What do you think, Lin Xian? It¡¯s totally different from Donghai City, right?¡± Xu Yi Yiughed. ¡°This is the real world¡ªa ce where humans can truly live freely!¡±
¡°Here, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything. You don¡¯t need to be afraid. You can do whatever you want, say whatever you want, be whoever you want to be!¡±
She stretched out her arms to the chaotic vige below, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. ¡°Wee, Lin Xian¡ to the City of Sin!¡±
Just then, Lin Xian remembered he hadn¡¯t gotten a good look at the Savior Company logo on the metal tag since it was dark below. He took it out of his pocket to examine it.
On the right side, there were indeed numbers and letters making up a serial number. And on the left¡ it was a colorful picture.
A man in medieval clothes, holding a crystal orb in his left hand, with his right hand raised in a blessing gesture. His eyes shone with the light of wisdom.
It was rare to see artwork used as apany logo. But Lin Xian, with his background in art, recognized it at once¡ª
This painting was created in 1500 AD. It was the most expensive artwork ever auctioned, selling for 450 million dors. It was the only painting by that legendary artist to enter the auction market.
That¡¯s right.
The painting was called ¡°Salvator Mundi¡±¡ª¡°Savior of the World.¡± And the artist¡¯s name was none other than¡ªLeonardo da Vinci.
Chapter 432: A Grand Plan
Da Vinci.
Lin Xian remembered that kind, friendly woman sitting next to him at the Genius Club gathering. She wore a mask of the great artist, Da Vinci. Despite her young voice and virtual appearance, Newton had confirmed it. Since thest century, Da Vinci had been attending these meetings as the No. 4 genius of the Genius Club.
That meant she had to be at least fifty, perhaps even older. She might be a grandmother by now. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze drifted to the metal badge before him, reflecting the sunlight with an image of the painting, ¡°Salvator Mundi.¡±
He couldn¡¯t help but follow the clues.
Could it be?
Could the ¡°Savior Company,¡± the very organization that saved human civilization but also turned the future into an oppressive, inhumane ce, be founded by the very same Da Vinci from the Genius Club?
Suddenly, a memory shed in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. In Donghai City, the mechanical androids he had seenpleted their tasks and then spoke, ¡°Please continue to behave in a civilized manner. Use the androids as an example to help create a better future for humanity.¡±
¡°An example.¡± That was the word Miss Da Vinci had used to answer Einstein¡¯s question during one of the club meetings: ¡°What quality should a genius embody above all?¡±There were too many coincidences.
It was hard to tell, but perhaps this silent city in the Eighth Dream was really built by Da Vinci, No. 4.
¡°No, that¡¯s not right,¡± Lin Xian shook his head, thinking, ¡°At least from what Xu Yi Yi described, Da Vinci created the Savior Company with good intentions. She worked in the shadows for so many years, secretly building an army of millions of androids to help humanity. She certainly deserves the title of savior.¡±
Lin Xian had experienced the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Dreams. In terms of technology and quality of life, the Eighth Dream far surpassed the previous ones. To be fair, that was all thanks to the Savior Company and its millions of mechanical androids.
Because of their efforts, humanity hadn¡¯t endured even a day of war or famine. Instead, everyone was focused on rebuilding after the disaster, restoring life and vitality quickly.
If such actions don¡¯t qualify someone as a savior, Lin Xian truly didn¡¯t know what would.
But there was one problem.
That noble intent seemed to have been lost somewhere along the way. Miss Da Vinci¡¯s dream of leading by example had twisted into something worse¡ªan era where people were suffocating under its rule.
And now, in the year 2624, it was likely that Miss Da Vinci had passed away, leaving the Savior Company beyond her control. This might exin why the ¡°demerit rules¡± had grown more unreasonable, making life miserable for the people.
These were Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts. There wasn¡¯t much use in specting until he gathered more information. For now, he looked at the metal badge in his hand and turned to Xu Yi Yi.
¡°So, basically, we can use this badge as our ticket to join a gang? If we¡¯re lucky, they¡¯ll introduce us to the Godfather and let us join his n, right?¡±
Xu Yi Yi nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Whether or not the Godfather lets us in on tonight¡¯s grand n, at least with these two badges, we can join a gang, no problem.¡±
With that, she grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm, leading him down the steps while looking back at him.
¡°Look around. In this ¡®City of Sin,¡¯ everyone seems so carefree and happy. This is how humans are supposed to live¡ªnot like in Donghai City, where everyone is dead inside, living in constant fear.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I want to join a gang. I can¡¯t stand the way things are in Donghai City. Compared to that¡ªsaying nothing, doing nothing¡ªI¡¯d rather live out here, even if it¡¯s harder. At least I¡¯m free.¡±
¡°The real name of this ce isn¡¯t even ¡®City of Sin,¡¯ you know. Everyone here was driven out of Donghai City and just settled here. It didn¡¯t even have a name. People started calling it that as a joke,paring it to the so-called civilized Donghai City. Eventually, the name stuck.¡±
Lin Xian followed Xu Yi Yi through the City of Sin. He saw all sorts of people, noisy and lively, but with genuine smiles¡ªcarefree and full of joy.
¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Lin Xian agreed with Xu Yi Yi. ¡°This ce is messy and chaotic, but at least people here seem like real humans. In Donghai City, it¡¯s like everyone¡¯s a robot, no emotions allowed, just following the rules.¡±
¡°You said the people here were kicked out of Donghai City after getting their personal scores reset several times¡ So, how long has the City of Sin been around?¡±
¡°Not all of them were expelled,¡± Xu Yi Yi replied. ¡°The history of this city is as long as Donghai City¡¯s. From long ago, people who were exiled started settling here. Over time, their children grew up here, never even setting foot in Donghai City, nor wanting to.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s not important now. What matters is that we join a gang¡ªthen we can meet the Godfather.¡±
Lin Xian agreed. He really wanted to meet the Godfather¡ªthere were so many questions he needed answers to. He thought about what Xu Yi Yi had said and asked, ¡°So, you haven¡¯t decided which gang to join yet?¡±
¡°Actually, I do have one in mind.¡± Xu Yi Yi led the way. ¡°I want to join the ¡®Li Family Gang.¡¯ It¡¯s the biggest gang in the City of Sin. Their leader is known for his virtue¡ªkind and helpful. I think we¡¯d fit in well.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. Hearing the name, he knew it had to be Li Cheng. ¡°The leader must be Li Cheng, right?¡±
He added, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t care which gang we join, as long as they can get us closer to the Godfather. Speaking of which, I¡¯m just curious¡ Is there a ¡®Face Gang¡¯ in the City of Sin?¡±
¡°Oh, you know about the Face Gang?¡± Xu Yi Yiughed. ¡°They¡¯re practically the weakest gang here¡ªonly four members, and not the brightest, either.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been in the City of Sin for years and dealt with the Face Gang a few times. They¡¯re¡ well, let¡¯s just say they¡¯re all a bit slow. Especially San Pang¡ªhe¡¯s like a broken robot, always repeating the same two lines, never a third.¡±
¡°Then there¡¯s Er Zhuzi. He gets beaten up all the time here. Even though Big Cat tries to protect him, Er Zhuzi just can¡¯t keep his eyes to himself¡ªalways staring at other people¡¯s wives. Folks here are quick to anger, so he ends up with a ck eye more often than not.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. The four ¡°pirs¡± of the Face Gang were still as reliable as ever. Poor Er Zhuzi, though. Living in a ce like this¡ªwhere freedom often meant violence¡ªit was a wonder he hadn¡¯t been beaten to death yet.
Still, Lin Xian liked the Face Gang more than the Li Family Gang. Especially after hearing there were only four members¡ªit seemed like an opportunity.
¡°Yi Yi, I think we¡¯d be better off joining a smaller gang like that. After all, we¡¯re not here to fight or collect protection money. We just need them as a stepping stone to get closer to the Godfather.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know how the introduction system works, but logically, wouldn¡¯t we stand out more in a smaller gang?¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°Compared to those four¡ªboth in brains and skills¡ªwe¡¯d be elite members instantly. We¡¯d definitely get their attention. The Li Family Gang is impressive, sure, but with so many talented people, even if they take us in, they probably won¡¯t bring us along for tonight¡¯s ¡®Godfather n.¡¯ But with the Face Gang, it¡¯s different. They only have a few members, so they¡¯d have no choice but to take us.¡±
Xu Yi Yi thought for a moment. It made sense. Better to be a big fish in a small pond.
¡°Alright,¡± she said decisively, pulling Lin Xian back the way they came. ¡°The Face Gang¡¯s hideout is over there¡ªjust a rundown shack. Let¡¯s go.¡±
¡
It didn¡¯t take long for Xu Yi Yi to arrive at a rundown shed.
How coincidental.
Inside, Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang were having a meeting, all four of them in ce. Each wore a mask, clearly preparing for an outing.
Big Cat Face had on a mask identical to Lin Xian¡¯s Rhine Cat mask, which made Lin Xian feel an instant familiarity.
The masks Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang wore seemed like part of the same armor robot series, but Lin Xian had never seen them before, so he couldn¡¯t really tell the differences.
However, they were old friends, after all. Lin Xian was very familiar with their physiques, voices, movements, and habits. He could recognize them even if they turned to dust.
Xu Yi Yi stepped into the room first, and Big Cat Face looked up, his wide, fleshy face framed by the small Rhine Cat mask.
¡°Oh, Yi Yi, what brings you here? We¡¯re very busy today, you shouldn¡¯t bother us. Besides, I¡¯ve told you many times¡ªwithout a mechanical cyborg¡¯s metal tag, no gang will let you join.¡±
¡°Hmph!¡±
Xu Yi Yi sneered, tossing the metal tag in her hand right at him.
Smack.
Big Cat Face caught it and examined it in his palm. In an instant, his eyes widened, and the folds of flesh on his face rxed, stretching out the Rhine Cat mask a little.
¡°This¡ this is a police cyborg¡¯s tag! Yi Yi, how did you manage this? There aren¡¯t many people in Sin City who could get their hands on one of these!¡±
¡°Heh.¡± Xu Yi Yi folded her arms proudly and raised her chin. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m amazing! And not only am I joining your gang, I¡¯ve also recruited a little brother. He got his own tag too, so he¡¯s qualified to join!¡±
¡°You?¡± Big Cat Face looked astonished, his fleshy cheeks scrunching up again, ttening his mask. ¡°You managed to recruit a little brother?¡±
¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean!¡± Xu Yi Yi put her hands on her hips, annoyed by his reaction. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on me, Big Cat! My little brother is strong!¡±
With that, she waved toward the door. ¡°Lin Xian,e in!¡±
Lin Xian, who had been waiting outside, finally stepped into the room. He raised his head and looked straight through his Rhine Cat mask, at Big Cat Face¡¯s identical mask.
Years had passed, but the moment felt strangely nostalgic¡ªlike rediscovering a lost treasure.
¡°Tch.¡± Big Cat Face let out a scoff when he saw Lin Xian. ¡°What¡¯s this? Wearing the same mask as me?¡±
¡°It¡¯s fate, Brother Face,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile. ¡°It means I was meant to be a part of your gang.¡±
Saying that, he mimicked Xu Yi Yi¡¯s earlier move and tossed the metal tag he had over to Big Cat Face.
Big Cat Face stretched out his chubby hand to catch it, giving it a closer look. Sure enough, it was the tag of a standard mechanical cyborg. ording to gang rules, that was enough to qualify him.
¡°And there¡¯s more.¡± Seeing Big Cat Face hesitate, Lin Xian decided to up the ante. He pulled the gun from his waist and tossed it over as well.
It was a weapon taken from the police cyborgs¡ªhe had even taken down two of them with it.
Smack.
Big Cat Face caught the gun, and his eyes went wide.
¡°A police cyborg¡¯s gun!? What did you do?¡±
¡°Killed two cyborgs,¡± Lin Xian replied casually.
¡°Now that¡¯s impressive!¡± Big Cat Face immediately got up, waddled over to Lin Xian, and threw an arm around his shoulder, giving him a few hearty pats. ¡°You¡¯ve got potential! I knew right away¡ªyou¡¯re made for this kind of life! Wee to the gang!¡±
¡°Ah, and of course, wee to you too, Yi Yi,¡± he added, turning to Xu Yi Yi.
¡°Since you¡¯re both officially part of the gang, I won¡¯t hide it from you. Just now, the four of us were about to head out to meet the Godfather.¡±
¡°For tonight¡¯s operation, the Godfather has given our gang a very important task. We were nning to double-check everything with him. After all¡ we¡¯ve prepared for tonight¡¯s do-or-die mission for so long, we can¡¯t afford any mistakes.¡±
Lin Xian and Xu Yi Yi exchanged nces before turning back to Big Cat Face.
¡°Brother Face, what exactly is the Godfather¡¯s n for tonight?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yeah, Big Cat, now that we¡¯re part of the gang, quit keeping us in the dark and tell us,¡± Xu Yi Yi added. ¡°I already know the Godfather ns to use a time machine to send an assassin to the past. But what¡¯s the mission, exactly?¡±
Big Cat Face wagged his finger and shook his head.
¡°The time machine¡ªthat¡¯s forter. Tonight¡¯s mission¡ well, I might as well tell you now since I¡¯m taking you to see the Godfather anyway.¡±
¡°Tonight, nearly every gang in Sin City will be in action. We¡¯re all going to charge into Donghai City! In the Godfather¡¯s words, it¡¯s all or nothing in stealing the time-space particles from Donghai City!¡±
In that moment, Lin Xian and Xu Yi Yi both froze.
¡°What? Time-space particles?¡±
Xu Yi Yi was still in a daze, but Lin Xian understood perfectly.
Donghai City¡
It had time-space particles!
No wonder the Godfather of Sin City kept talking about using the time machine but was stuck in ce. They didn¡¯t have any time-space particles!
To travel through time, both the time machine and time-space particles were necessary.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian murmured, rubbing his chin. ¡°If we can steal the time-space particles from Donghai City, we can use the time machine and send an assassin back. Brother Face, do you know the details of the Godfather¡¯s n? Which time period is the assassin going to? Who¡¯s the target?¡±
Big Cat Face shook his head, his cheeks jiggling slightly.
¡°That part, I have no idea. For security reasons, only the Godfather knows the specifics. He never tells us.¡±
¡°But don¡¯t bother asking me too many questions¡ªI don¡¯t know much myself. I only know what the Godfather has said. Anyway, since you two are new members, I nned to take you to see the Godfather. This is a big deal, after all¡ with you two joining, our gang¡¯s size has increased by eighty percent!¡±
Lin Xian was about to point out something felt off when Ah Zhuang pped his thigh.
¡°Big Bro, you¡¯re mistaken! It¡¯s sixty percent!¡±
¡°Wrong!¡± Er Zhuzi said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s forty percent! If you put it in fractions, it should be two-thirds! San Pang, what do you think?¡±
San Pang nodded sagely. ¡°I think that works.¡±
¡
Lin Xian watched as the gang members began arguing over math, feeling both amused and exasperated.
On the one hand, he was d they were interested in solving an academic problem¡ªtheir enthusiasm wasmendable. On the other hand, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had happened to Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s Fields Medal-winning genes.
¡°Alright, enough,¡± Big Cat Face said with a wave of his hand. ¡°We¡¯re going to see the Godfather anyway, so we¡¯ll just ask him the answer!¡±
Lin Xian coughed lightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother the Godfather with such a simple question. The answer is fifty percent. Let¡¯s save the opportunity to ask the Godfather something more worthwhile.¡±
He didn¡¯t really want to get involved in such a low-level math debate, but the mysterious, highly respected Godfather¡ªthe man who owned a time machine¡ªhad already been elevated to legendary status in Lin Xian¡¯s mind.
Since he finally had the chance to meet such a figure, Lin Xian hoped to ask him some truly valuable questions.
But first¡ they had to actually meet him.
With excitement and curiosity in their hearts, the now fifty-percentrger gang of six set off for the underground building where the Godfather resided.
They wound through several turns before finally arriving at the deep, hidden cavern.
At the very back, just as expected, a man in a whiteb coat stood with his back to them, hands sped behind him, facing a massive white device the size of a truck.
There was an aura about him¡ª
Lin Xian could already sense the Godfather¡¯s distinct presence.
And that huge piece of equipment next to him, the one that was asrge as a truck? It had to be the fabled time machine.
Big Cat Face approached respectfully, stopping at a distance and bowing halfway. ¡°Godfather, I¡¯ve brought two new recruits for you to see.¡±
Finally, the Godfather¡¯s attention shifted from the time machine. He slowly turned around.
Lin Xian had been watching his every move.
Their eyes met!
Lin Xian drew in a sharp breath.
¡°Gao¡ Gao Wen?¡±
Chapter 433: Metaphysics
¡°You fool! How dare you call the Godfather by his name so directly? It¡¯s just in disrespect!¡±
Big Cat Face was fuming. His hand swung out like a sh, aiming to smack Lin Xian.
But Lin Xian had learned that move. The same trick never worked twice. He dodged to the side and kept walking forward without missing a beat.
Honestly, who could¡¯ve guessed?
It was impossible to predict this kind of situation. Gao Wen, a man who seemed like the quintessential schr, somehow being connected with someone called the ¡°Godfather¡±? That was as unlikely as it could get.
Lin Xian eyed Emperor Gao Wen. His appearance had aged considerably since thest time Lin Xian saw him¡ªwhite hair covered his head, his face wrinkled¡ªbut there was still something strikingly familiar. Despite the changes, the wisdom and calmness in his eyes remained exactly as Lin Xian remembered. There was no trace of malevolence, no hint of any sinister intent.
How could a man like this be the Godfather of Sin City?
¡°Get back here, Lin Xian! Show some respect!¡±Lin Xian¡¯spanion, Xu Yi Yi, looked frantic. She yanked Lin Xian back by the arm, ring at him.
¡°We have to greet the Godfather properly first!¡± she scolded.
¡°But¡ª¡±
Lin Xian let out a sigh of disbelief. Just moments earlier, they hadined about all the formalities back in Donghai City, and now here they were in Sin City, and the customs were just as endless. A set of rules to meet the Godfather? They weren¡¯t kidding about these unspoken codes, were they?
¡°Enough,¡± came a voice from ahead.
Gao Wen raised a hand, his face showing mild impatience.
¡°I¡¯ve said it before; enough with the formalities. The title of Godfather means nothing to me. I¡¯m just a scientist, pushed unwillingly into this position¡¡± He sighed, a weary look crossing his face as he nced at Big Cat Face.
¡°Originally, it was meant to be your father, Chen Heping, who would lead Sin City. But his health failed him. He wore himself out helping me build the time-travel machine. He got sick, and we lost him.¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s voice softened, his eyes clouded with memory.
¡°It still pains me. Your father was one of humanity¡¯s greatest contributors, and yet he never got to see the moment we finally powered the machine on. It¡¯s a terrible shame.¡±
¡°People call me the Godfather, but I hardly deserve the name. This city needed someone to keep it together, someone to be its Godfather. It didn¡¯t matter who¡ªjust that there was one.¡± He looked at Big Cat Face kindly. ¡°And you¡¯re no stranger. I watched you grow up, along with Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang. You all called me Uncle since you were kids¡ªlet¡¯s not stand on ceremony now. We¡¯re all family here.¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s words hung in the air, and Big Cat Face and the others stayed silent. On the other hand, Lin Xian felt like he¡¯d just uncovered a series of hidden truths.
First of all, Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡ªsomeone Lin Xian had only heard about in legends¡ªhad been colleagues with none other than Emperor Gao Wen, working together to build a time machine. Two brilliant mindsbining their talents in a near-impossible project¡ªit was no wonder they managed to create such a formidable device under the worst conditions imaginable.
Yet legends stayed legends, and the story of Big Cat¡¯s father ended in tragic sacrifice. Chen Heping¡¯s death came before Lin Xian ever had a chance to meet and revere the great man. From Gao Wen¡¯s tone, though, it was clear just how much he respected Big Cat¡¯s father¡ªa sentiment Lin Xian shared.
It was unbelievable, really. A man who Gao Wen himself admired¡ just how brilliant must he have been?
In Lin Xian¡¯s mind, Gao Wen was a genius on a level of his own, top of the top. But now, from Gao Wen¡¯s words, perhaps Big Cat¡¯s father was even greater.
The kind of genius that hid from the world, only to make a grand impact.
Chen Heping¡ªa man who could solve Universal Constants with nothing but a pen and some paper¡ªhad clearly been a force to be reckoned with. And though the chance to meet him was lost, at least he¡¯d provided enough help for Gao Wen to see their time machine project through topletion. That meant humanity still had hope of changing the future.
Secondly, there was the matter of the title, ¡°Godfather.¡±
It was obvious Gao Wen didn¡¯t like being called that¡ªmaybe he even hated it. It shed with everything about his personality and character. But for Sin City to stay stable, he had reluctantly epted the title.
Like he said: Sin City needed a Godfather.
Without a leader, there¡¯d be chaos, especially in this unruly ce. No rules, no order¡ªwithout a Godfather to earn their respect, who knew what kind of madness would break out here?
Initially, the n had been for Big Cat¡¯s father to take up the mantle of Godfather. Lin Xian never knew the man personally, but from what he had gathered through dreams, he was sure Chen Heping would¡¯ve been perfect for the role.
In Dream Five, Chen Heping had been the first vige chief of Big Cat¡¯s Vige. Not only had he managed the vige with incredible efficiency, but he¡¯d also put forward sensible scientific policies for growth¡ªa mix of wisdom and boldness.
In Dream Seven, Chen Heping hadn¡¯t hesitated to appoint outsiders to positions of authority, passing on his role as chief to someonepletely new. He didn¡¯t favor his own son, Big Cat Face, showing both insight and broad-mindedness.
A person like that would have undoubtedly made an excellent Godfather of Sin City.
But when it came to Gao Wen¡ªwell, it was clear he was a technical genius, not a natural leader. No wonder people in Sin City only knew to join gangs and had little clue about what the Godfather even did. Gao Wen probably wasn¡¯t adept at managing all that¡ªso he hid behind the veil of mystery.
Still, there was no denying the fact that Gao Wen was a true all-rounder. Despite not being a born leader like Chen Heping, he¡¯d kept Sin City in order¡ªa ce full of criminals, outcasts, and rebels¡ªand they all listened to him. That alone said something about his capabilities.
Then there was Lin Xian¡¯s earlier puzzle¡ªwhy had Gao Wen entrusted such an important mission to Big Cat¡¯s gang when they seemed so¡ unremarkable? Big Cat Face had said they¡¯d been given a major responsibility, which had left Lin Xian puzzled. Surely Li Cheng¡¯s forces were stronger and more capable. So why not hand the task to them?
The answer was simple: trust.
Gao Wen and Big Cat¡¯s father had shared a deep bond¡ªbattlerades and colleagues, forged through hardship. Naturally, Gao Wen extended that trust to Big Cat Face as well.
He had watched Big Cat Face grow up, knew him inside and out, and knew what kind of person he was. This was what ¡°family¡± meant.
No matter how skilled or powerful others in Sin City were, Gao Wen¡¯s faithy with Big Cat Face and his gang.
Gao Wen knew exactly what Big Cat¡¯s gang was capable of. Still, they were the children of his closest friend¡ªalmost like his own adopted family. He could never doubt them, let alone worry about betrayal. So when it came to the crucial moments, Gao Wen would only entrust the most important mission to Big Cat Face.
Lin Xian still didn¡¯t know exactly what that mission was¡ªbut he was sure they would find out in due time. There was no rush.
One thing he knew for certain was that choosing to join Big Cat Face¡¯s gang had definitely been the right decision. It hadn¡¯t just given him the chance to meet the Godfather so quickly¡ªit had also earned him a bit of favor. Gao Wen seemed to view him with a touch more warmth and trust, purely due to Big Cat¡¯s connection.
Now Lin Xian understood a fundamental truth in his dream world:
Wherever you go, you can always rely on Big Cat Face. He is as dependable as theye.
Having made up his mind, Lin Xian stepped forward, extending a hand toward the elderly Gao Wen.
¡°Hello, Gao Wen. I¡¯m Lin Xian,¡± he said with a calm smile.
Gao Wen squinted slightly, studying Lin Xian from behind his sses.
¡°And you are¡?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s smile widened. He walked over to therge, truck-sized time machine and patted its sleek, white exterior.
¡°Since you¡¯ve already built the time machine, it makes exining a lot easier,¡± Lin Xian began. ¡°I actually came from another timeline. Though I didn¡¯t use this particr kind of technology to get here¡ it¡¯s a long story, really. Just think of me as someone who traveled using a time machine.¡±
He paused, looking straight at Gao Wen.
¡°So, even if you don¡¯t recognize me now, even if I seem unfamiliar, the truth is¡ we¡¯ve met many times. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time and have been through a lot together.
¡°I met you when you were younger. You might not believe it, but there was a time when you were working at a dig site¡ªcovered in dirt. And I also met you as an adult, back when you were the headmaster of a small-town school. But now, this older version of you¡ this is the first time I¡¯ve met you at this age. How old are you now? Sixty? Seventy?¡±
¡
Listening to Lin Xian talk, Gao Wen looked puzzled. He nced at the confident Lin Xian, then at the huge time machine beside him, and finally at Big Cat Face standing nearby.
Big Cat Face panicked a bit, quickly pulling out two metallic badges from his pocket, exining hastily, ¡°No¡ no problem, Godfather! Look, these two are certified. And this one,¡± he said, holding up a badge, ¡°is even from police androids! And look at this gun¡ Don¡¯t worry! I trust the underlings I recruit! I have an eye for good people!¡±
Lin Xian could tell that Gao Wen still had doubts about him.
So, he continued, ¡°Gao Wen, I know you¡¯re skeptical about what I¡¯m saying, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡±
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before speaking again.
¡°You were born in 2182. You¡¯ve always been fascinated by hibernation technology, and your idol is Professor Xu Yun.¡±
Gao Wen nodded. ¡°Everyone here knows that.¡±
Lin Xian smiled lightly. ¡°But you¡¯ve always felt like you¡¯re living in someone¡¯s shadow. The hibernation fluid had already been invented, and all sorts of rted products were developed. So¡ you must have felt a bit like you were born at the wrong time, with your talent going unrecognized.¡±
In an instant, Gao Wen¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°How do you know that?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not all.¡± Lin Xian had found his rhythm. ¡°You once thought about making your mark in another field. You dabbled in researching the Universal Constant and even explored other areas, but you couldn¡¯t forget your original passion: hibernation technology.¡±
¡°So, you returned to your roots. You focused on solving the final and only unsolved side effect of hibernation: memory loss. You aimed to solve that historical problem, to put the final piece in the puzzle of hibernation.¡±
¡°And your approach was to create a neural electroshock helmet¡ªto restore lost memories through electric impulses.¡±
Gao Wen gasped in shock, eyes widening. ¡°That¡ that¡¯s from my ¡®Memory Notebook¡¯! After waking from hibernation and reading the handwritten letter, I burned it immediately.¡±
¡°And there¡¯s more.¡± Lin Xian extended his index finger. ¡°Your research eventually got stuck because there was never a breakthrough in the neural field. It left you unable to make any progress. That¡¯s why you chose to enter the hibernation chamber¡ªhoping that, once there was a breakthrough in the future, you could wake up and finish your research.¡±
¡°And it¡¯s worth mentioning that humans could¡¯ve made that breakthrough in neural science long ago. Unfortunately, the genius of the neural field, Ms. Du Yao, sacrificed herself during a peacekeeping mission in Africa. For centuries since, there has been no one with her level of talent, and neural science hasn¡¯t made a key breakthrough.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly, pointing to himself. ¡°And me¡ Ie from the time when Ms. Du Yao was alive. I can see her, alive and well.¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s breathing grew heavy. Overwhelmed, he gripped Lin Xian¡¯s hands tightly. ¡°You really are a time traveler! The information you¡¯ve given¡ especially your knowledge about me¡ it¡¯s so detailed, it¡¯s¡ incredible!¡±
¡°Quick, tell me everything¡ªhow did you manage to travel through time? Without a time machine or time particles, is it even possible? And about Ms. Du Yao¡ªyou can see her alive? You must protect her! She¡¯s the brightest gem in the field of hibernation!¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s voice trembled with urgency. ¡°The sharp decline of human society, the gap in scientific progress¡ªit¡¯s all, ultimately, a result of lost memories! Even with ¡®Memory Notebooks¡¯ and ¡®Memory Videos,¡¯ human memory is vast, and those notebooks and recordings can¡¯t capture everything.¡±
¡°Even I had to spend years relearning things after waking up. It¡¯s a colossal waste of time. If people could wake from long-term hibernation with their memories intact¡ this world wouldn¡¯t be what it is today!¡±
Lin Xian gently reassured Gao Wen, ¡°There¡¯s a lot to exin, and to be honest, I¡¯m still getting my bearings in this timeline. I¡¯m not familiar with the state of the world.¡±
¡°Especially the Great Catastrophe of 2400, the Savior Corporation, why Donghai City turned out the way it did¡ªcould you exin it all to me in detail?¡±
Gao Wen nodded without hesitation. Ever since he started believing Lin Xian was a time traveler, his eyes had been alight with excitement.
Seeing a time traveler meant that the theories of Big Cat Face¡¯s father, Chen Heping, were correct. Their efforts had not been in vain. The future of humanity was full of hope!
So, Gao Wen began telling Lin Xian the history.
The beginning was the same as what Xu Yi Yi had told him: after the Great Catastrophe of 2400, millions of androids, hidden by the Savior Corporation for years, were activated from underground bunkers to help rebuild society.
Nobody, including Gao Wen, knew the true cause of the Great Catastrophe of 2400. It remained a mystery, even in the Eighth Dream.
With the help of millions of androids, humanity didn¡¯t face a single day of war or famine. They recovered quickly. The androids were incredibly efficient¡ªpowered by mini nuclear batteries that worked twenty-four hours a day. They protected humanity and worked tirelessly, day and night, with efficiency several times that of humans.
From that moment, the Savior Corporation truly became the savior of mankind. These androids were like angels, bringing grace and hope to the world.
Later, modern cities began to rise worldwide, and the Savior Corporation became the manager of each city. Just as people hoped, the androids became the supervisors,w enforcers, and protectors of these cities.
The cities weed everyone. Anyone coulde, as long as they followed thews and regtions.
After surviving the disaster, humanity finally lived a happy, secure, and fulfilled life.
But¡
A time of war had its own problems, and peace had its own challenges.
Many issues in morality and civilization that had been suppressed during the disasters began to resurface, affecting the residents¡¯ daily lives.
Even though the untiring, kind-hearted androids set good examples for humanity, always willing to help¡ªthings didn¡¯t go as hoped.
Some people took it all for granted, acting indifferently, or even turning gratitude into resentment. There were even incidents of attacking or insulting the androids.
The negative behavior began to grow and spread.
In response, the androids, who now held administrative power, used big data to develop a personal score system for human behavior, introducing rules for adding and subtracting points.
Initially, everyone apuded the new system.
But¡
Every system has loopholes; every rule has its ws.
Those with ill intentions always found ways to exploit the system. Cases of maliciously inting scores or setting up others to lose points weremon.
To address these abusers, and to better control uwful behavior, the rules became increasingly detailed and moreprehensive. Even curse words and other prohibited phrases were added, expanding the list of regtions.
The rulebook grew thicker, and life in the cities grew increasingly miserable.
¡°It¡¯s a hard bnce to strike,¡± Gao Wen admitted.
¡°If humans were in charge ofw enforcement and administration, maybe it wouldn¡¯t have gone to such extremes.¡±
¡°No doubt, the Savior Corporation¡¯s intentions were good, but the androids are just that¡ªmachines. They handle everything ording to logic and rules.¡±
¡°Which means¡ instead of being a society that self-regtes, humanity has be stuck in a vicious cycle of finding loopholes, fixing them, and creating more rules.¡±
¡°So, it bes a question without a clear answer,¡± Gao Wen sighed. ¡°Setting rules, standardizing behavior¡ªit¡¯s definitely not wrong. The problem lies in the fact that many things simply can¡¯t be measured. We all know what goodness, truth, and beauty are¡ but how do you define them? And to what extent? There¡¯s no absolute definition, nor should there be.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He had pondered the same questions about Donghai City but hadn¡¯t found the right answer either.
From a systemic point of view, what the androids were doing wasn¡¯t wrong.
They weren¡¯t unjust to anyone, and the penalties for small things like spitting or shouting weren¡¯t harsh. There were also many ways to earn points.
But¡
When taken to the extreme, what was correct had turned into something wrong.
Even Gao Wen hadn¡¯t figured out the answer.
Besides, if humans reced the androids as the enforcers and rulers of Donghai City, would things really be better?
Lin Xian doubted it.
At least the androids were united in their goals. After 2400, there had been no wars in human society.
If humans were in charge, who knows how many wars would¡¯ve broken out by now.
Lin Xian shared his thoughts with Gao Wen, who agreed.
¡°You¡¯re right, Lin Xian. Even as a scientist, I still believe that not every problem has a solution.¡±
¡°Donghai City¡¯s issues are like an unsolvable exam question. There¡¯s no absolute right or wrong.¡±
¡°The Savior Corporation and the androids just want to create a better, more civilized life for humans.¡±
¡°And speaking of which, is the system here in Sin City correct?¡±
Gao Wen shook his head. ¡°Right now, the people here¡ªthe gangs¡ªare united, ready to fight amon enemy, to destroy Donghai City and change this broken world.¡±
¡°The reason I can be Godfather, and why Big Cat Face¡¯s father, Chen Heping, was chosen as Godfather, is that we both have the capability and intelligence to develop and use the time machine. We can change people¡¯s lives, change the future of humanity.¡±
¡°Think about it, Lin Xian. If the future of humanity really changed, and all the androids disappeared, with everyone from Sin City moving into Donghai City¡ who do you think would be the new Godfather?¡±
Lin Xian knew exactly what Gao Wen meant. Without hesitation, he replied, ¡°Li Cheng.¡±
Then he shook his head. ¡°But it might not be Li Cheng. It could be the leader of another gang, or maybe even Big Cat Face. But one thing¡¯s for sure¡ it wouldn¡¯t be a scientist like you.¡±
¡°Because at that point, no one would need a time machine or a change to the future. What they would care about is something else¡ªmoney, status, territory, influence.¡±
Lin Xian let out a smallugh, shaking his head. ¡°This is one of those philosophical problems without a right answer. It¡¯s metaphysical.¡±
Big Cat Face, who had been silently listening and understanding none of it, suddenly had an idea. He walked quickly over, poking Lin Xian.
¡°What did you just say about school?¡±
¡°Metaphysics,¡± Lin Xian answered.
Big Cat Face looked thoughtful. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard my father mention that word before, along with other confusing stuff¡ What exactly is metaphysics?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian tried to find the right words. ¡°It¡¯s a very philosophical and abstract subject. Simply put, metaphysics is the study of the fundamental nature of reality. It examines the underlying reasons and origins of all existence¡¡± Lin Xian continued with what he had learned from his college philosophy sses, using the simplest terms he could think of.
Big Cat Face frowned deeply. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, then turned to steam.
His brain seemed on the verge of overheating.
But suddenly, as if something had clicked into ce, he pped his thigh in excitement. ¡°I get it! I get it!!¡±
He yelled with joy, clutching his chubby face. ¡°I finally understand why I¡¯m so obsessed with ¡®face¡¯¡ why I don¡¯t like cats¡ why¡ why! The reason is¡ª¡±
A golden glow seemed to burst from his head, bathing him in the light of newfound wisdom.
Twisting his plump body, he stared at Lin Xian and Gao Wen with wide eyes. ¡°Cats are an ideology, but the face¡ªthe face is metaphysical!¡±
¡
¡
The undergroundb fell silent, as still as a frozen cave.
Lin Xian and Gao Wen exchanged a look, sharing an unspoken agreement.
¡°If it makes you happy,¡± Lin Xian said, waving dismissively at Big Cat Face.
He then turned away.
Facing the massive time machine, several meters high and more than ten meters long¡ªlike the back of arge truck¡ªhe spoke to Gao Wen. ¡°I think I understand about Donghai City and the Savior Corporation now.¡±
¡°But can you tell me more about this time machine¡ªits purpose, its origins?¡±
¡°I¡¯m really curious¡¡± Lin Xian turned to look into Gao Wen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who do you want to use this machine to kill?¡±
Chapter 434: Time Machine
¡°Are you really going to kill¡ the founder of the Savior Company?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Based on what he understood, Gao Wen¡¯s target might very well be Miss Da Vinci, the Genius Club member who always wore a mask. After all, in this era, every city was controlled and run by mechanical beings. The root cause? The founding of the Savior Company and the mass production of millions of mechanical beings had ultimately led to this suffocating future.
¡°No, no, no,¡± Gao Wen shook his head, denying Lin Xian¡¯s assumption. ¡°No one in this world, despite disliking the oppressive personal scoring system, holds any grudge against the Savior Company. Everyone knows that without their foresight and without those countless mechanical beings helping humans rebuild civilization, life would be much worse now. Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t even exist.¡±
¡°Even for me personally, I feel more gratitude than resentment towards the Savior Company. I know their original purpose was good. They never intended to harm humanity¡ªhow could I bite the hand that feeds me?¡±
Lin Xian blinked, considering Gao Wen¡¯s words. The man was certainly logical. ¡°Then, who exactly is your target?¡±
Gao Wen clenched his jaw, his expression resolute. ¡°The one who caused the catastrophe of 2400. Only he is the true viin! If not for that disaster, human civilization wouldn¡¯t have regressed, our poption wouldn¡¯t have dwindled, and mechanical beings wouldn¡¯t be running our cities. None of this would¡¯ve happened.
¡°With the level of technology humans had in 2400, if not for that catastrophe, we would¡¯ve already left Earth, maybe even ventured beyond the sr system into the vast cosmos.¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s voice grew sharp, tinged with righteous anger. ¡°And this catastrophe¡ªit couldn¡¯t have been a natural disaster. The way the Savior Company prepared and activated the mechanical beings ahead of time shows that some people knew it wasing. So, it¡¯s obvious¡ªthis was not a natural event. It was man-made.¡±Lin Xian nodded, finding Gao Wen¡¯s conclusion quite evident. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t know who triggered the catastrophe? How would sending a time-traveling assassin back help you find the real instigator?¡±
¡°That is one reason I am searching for time-space particles,¡± Gao Wen replied. ¡°Myself and Big Cat¡¯s father both believe that the disaster of 2400 might have been triggered by someone using time-space particles!¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s words sent Lin Xian deep into thought. This was indeed apletely new angle.
He had never figured out what kind of man-made power could create such a massive global disaster. It just didn¡¯t seem scientific. Human power was tinypared to nature. Even detonating all nuclear weapons would be like a scratch to Earth. Any earthquake, volcano eruption, or tsunami could release tens or hundreds of times more energy than all nuclear weaponsbined. Earth¡¯s geological energy was astronomical, beyond what humans could manipte.
From this perspective, Gao Wen and Big Cat¡¯s father¡¯s theory made perfect sense.
¡°I get it now,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I initially thought you wanted to steal time-space particles from Donghai City purely for time travel. But this is a double advantage. Once you get the time-space particles, you can study them to uncover the truth behind the catastrophe of 2400, and then use them to send a time-traveling assassin to take out the true culprit.¡±
Suddenly, something struck Lin Xian.
Back in the fifth dream, Gao Wen had been forced into hibernation because his research on the time machine couldn¡¯t progress without time-space particles. But now, Emperor Gao Wen had somehow seeded in building the time machine despite still not possessing the particles.
Lin Xian voiced his confusion. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t time-space particles a keyponent for inventing a time machine? I thought without them, it would be theoretically impossible to create a working model.¡±
Gao Wen smiled, turning to Big Cat. ¡°That¡¯s why I always say, Big Cat¡¯s father, Chen Heping, is the true hero behind the time machine.¡±
Gao Wen then began recounting the history of the time machine to Lin Xian.
After Donghai City grew stricter and more demanding, many people were expelled, and their anger and resentment gathered outside the city, slowly forming the infamous Sin City. Unlike the others, Gao Wen left voluntarily. He could¡¯ve stayed¡ªhe was disciplined, followed every rule, and had enough points to maintain his rating. But he did not believe in what Donghai City stood for.
Worse still, an atmosphere had grown in every profession: ¡°The less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes.¡± This was thest thing Gao Wen wanted to see.
People were so terrified of losing points that they preferred not to do anything extra¡ªjust what was expected, nothing more, nothing bold, nothing risky.
That might be eptable in other fields, but in scientific research, it was a death sentence! Research was about trying a thousand times, failing a thousand times, and only seeding once. Failure wasn¡¯t just expected¡ªit was essential.
No true scientist feared failure; they knew better than anyone that failure was the key to progress. In Donghai City, scientific failure wasn¡¯t penalized, but the general societal oppression snuffed out any spirit or courage people had.
Expecting someone who lived their life scared of making mistakes¡ªscared to speak up, scared to take risks¡ªto suddenly be brave and relentless in ab, challenging obstacles and authority? Impossible.
Gao Wen had faced this very frustration while doing research in Donghai City. Scientists there were shackled, treating research as a mere job,cking the drive for breakthroughs. It stemmed from the oppressed lives they led. Young trainees from school seemed utterly clueless, frightened, and devoid of the scientific spirit.
Gao Wen was disillusioned¡ªnot just with Donghai City, but with the future itself. He knew that if humanity continued down this path, it wouldn¡¯t just stagnate¡ªit would regress.
So, Gao Wen chose to leave, heading to Sin City. He didn¡¯t believe everyone there was good, but at least here, people felt real¡ªthey had fight and drive.
In Sin City, he met Chen Heping, who was younger at the time. Chen wasn¡¯t married yet, nor had he fathered Big Cat. He had a passion for mathematics, and he and Gao Wen shared strikingly simr ideals. Especially when it came to rejecting the current state of things and hoping for a better future¡ªthey hit it off immediately and became close friends.
Soon, Gao Wen and Chen Heping began working on a time machine, hoping to alter the grim future by changing the past. Gao Wen had dabbled in the concept of time machines when he was younger. His old manuscript, ¡°The Theory of Time Travel and a Blueprint for a Time Machine,¡± was kept in his hibernation chamber.
Though he burned all the documents when he awoke, Gao Wen had everything memorized and could easily recreate it for Chen Heping.
¡°I must say, Chen Heping was a genius,¡± Gao Wen said, his voice full of admiration. ¡°I always believed many of the theories and forms required time-space particles to proceed. Of course, at that time, we didn¡¯t know what time-space particles were. We just felt that something like them had to exist. We learned the name and existence of time-space particles muchter.¡±
¡°Back then, my manuscript had many unresolved sections because wecked time-space particles. Without them, conclusions and results were impossible.¡±
¡°But Chen Heping¡ªhe spent years working with nothing but pen and paper, deriving the forms and logic.¡±
Gao Wen looked at Lin Xian, his eyes filled with admiration. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you can understand this, but he just¡ figured it out. I can¡¯t find the words to describe such brilliance.¡±
Speaking of Chen Heping, Gao Wen¡¯s eyes were full of respect, nostalgia, and regret. ¡°That¡¯s why I was able to perfect the time-travel theory and build the time machine without time-space particles. It was all thanks to Chen Heping. Without him, I¡¯d never have seeded.¡±
¡°Unfortunately, fate was cruel, and Chen Heping passed away so young.¡±
Gao Wen sighed in regret, looking at Big Cat. ¡°Your dad wasn¡¯t just brilliant¡ªhe had a strong character. Everyone in Sin City respected him. They even chose him as the Godfather. But his illness struck so suddenly. On his deathbed, he held my hand and entrusted me with you, Sin City, and the future of humanity.¡±
Big Cat sighed as well. ¡°Uncle Gao, you¡¯ve told me this story so many times. My ears are starting to grow calluses.¡±
¡
Lin Xian patted Gao Wen on the shoulder, trying to calm his emotions. ¡°I get it,¡± he said.
He could tell that Gao Wen and Chen Heping were truly like kindred spirits. It made sense, really. One was known as the ¡°Emperor of the Universe,¡± the other a ¡°Primordial Powerhouse.¡± Regr prodigies just couldn¡¯t match their level, let alone understand them.
Their meeting in the Eighth Dream, a ce where they could research together, was a twist of fate¡ªand perhaps even a stroke of luck for human civilization. There was nothing exaggerated in saying that.
¡°Stop praising my dad so much, Uncle Gao,¡± Big Cat Face chimed in, trying to lighten the mood as he saw Gao Wen feeling somber. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that back when you first started your manuscript, all you were missing was just one time-space particle? You would¡¯ve figured it out eventually, even without my dad. We could¡¯ve stolen that particle from Donghai City, and you would¡¯ve built your time machine anyway!¡±
¡°And seriously, you¡¯ve praised my dad so much over the years that I¡¯ve had enough of it. He¡¯s just a bookworm¡ªone with violent tendencies. He always hit me when I was little. I really don¡¯t think he¡¯s as amazing as you say.¡±
¡°Rubbish!¡± Gao Wen gave Big Cat a swift kick. ¡°You don¡¯t talk about your dad that way! If you were even a tenth as smart as he is, you¡¯d know what a genius he truly is!¡±
¡°And it¡¯s not just about the time-space particle. Your dad corrected a lot of mistakes in my earlier work.¡± Gao Wen continued, shaking his head slightly. ¡°The fact is, I was oversimplifying the principles of time travel. Without your dad¡¯s insights and his genius corrections, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered if I had a hundred time-space particles¡ªI still wouldn¡¯t have been able to build a working time machine.¡±
Wait.
Lin Xian caught a key word in Gao Wen¡¯s exnation. Mistakes. There were mistakes in the original manuscript!
No wonder. It suddenly made sense why nothing happened when Liu Feng got the manuscript¡ªnot even the smallest time fluctuation. Those errors not only led Gao Wen to believe that time travel was easy, but also filled Liu Feng with a misced confidence.
¡°I think¡ maybe we might make some breakthroughs within a few years. In ten years, we might be able to create the first prototype of the time machine,¡± Liu Feng had said back then.
Now, looking back, he had been overly optimistic. With that wed manuscript, even in ten years¡ªor hundreds or thousands¡ªhe would never have been able to build a time machine. A faulty manuscript would only lead to dead ends and wrong conclusions.
¡°Thank you, Chen Heping.¡± Lin Xian put his hands together and silently expressed his gratitude. Then he turned to Big Cat. ¡°Thank your dad.¡±
Big Cat scratched his head. ¡°Why does that sound weird?¡±
At that moment, Lin Xian shared the same feeling as Emperor Gao Wen. He was inplete awe of Big Cat¡¯s father. It was as if he were a star fallen from the heavens, using a simple pencil to derive the mostplex truths. To him, there seemed to be no problem that a pencil couldn¡¯t solve. And if there were? He¡¯d just grab another pencil.
Though it took many years, he always arrived at the right answer in the simplest, most efficient way. Be it the Universal Constant ¡¯42¡¯ or the theory behind time travel, things that even an entireb with a supeputer couldn¡¯t solve, Big Cat¡¯s father could manage with just a stack of draft paper.
Lin Xian walked to the other side of the enormous time machine, moving around it, appreciating this grand and magnificent creation.
It was hard to imagine humanity had actually managed to build something capable of crossing time.
Even though Lin Xian had long known about time travel and had encountered time travelers, standing in front of the time machine made him feel a thousand emotions.
This was humanity¡¯s unyielding, resilient epic.
He took a step back, taking in the entire machine. The enormous device was mostly rectangr in shape.
Gao Wen had exined it before. The rear section was packed with a series of nuclear batteries stacked together, but the crucial part was the shuttle pod at the front.
Lin Xian moved closer to take a look. The design was difficult to describe. A cylindrical sealed pod was fixed at the center, surrounded by numerous concentric rings of different sizes. Their purpose was unclear.
¡°The time traveler goes into this cylindrical pod to travel through time,¡± Gao Wen said, joining Lin Xian.
He patted the sealed cylinder, which looked big enough for two or three people. ¡°Before starting the machine, you need to remove all metal objects, lie inside, and then close the pod¡¯s cover. Once the machine starts, the concentric rings around it begin to rotate, getting faster and faster,pressing energy into the time-space particle inside. Once the energy hits critical levels, the particle explodes, and the person inside is sent back in time.¡±
¡°Can I try it out?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Not for real, of course. No power. I just want to lie inside and see what it feels like.¡±
He was genuinely curious. After all, once Liu Feng built the time machine in 2024, Lin Xian nned to officially time travel and use the entangled time-space particle.
Now that the machine was right in front of him, he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to experience it firsthand.
¡°No problem.¡± Gao Wen opened the door of the pod, gesturing for Lin Xian to remove his shoes and climb inside. ¡°Just lie down inside.¡±
Lin Xian obeyed, crawling in headfirst and lying t on his back, staring at the dark interior. ¡°It feels¡ a bit ustrophobic.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a closed space; that¡¯s normal,¡± Gao Wen replied. ¡°Want me to close the pod door so you can get a more realistic feel?¡±
¡°It¡¯s pitch ck inside, and it¡¯s really ufortable,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°But the time machine takes quite a while to prepare. From lying down and closing the door to actually starting up the machine¡ªit takes about half an hour. During that time, you¡¯re just lying there, unable to see or hear anything,pletely cut off. It¡¯s probably the loneliest thirty minutes of a person¡¯s life.¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes. ¡°I guess I could try it out, but don¡¯t keep me in here for half an hour. A minute or two is fine.¡±
¡°Got it.¡± With that, Gao Wen closed the door with a loud ng, locking it tight.
Inside the pod, there was no light at all.
No sound.
The only thing Lin Xian could hear was his own breathing. If he held his breath, he could even hear his own heartbeat. Gao Wen had been right; it was a strange, unsettling feeling, like he had been stripped away from both time and the universe. There was no sense of ce, no feeling of belonging.
¡°Belonging,¡± Lin Xian muttered softly.
Yes, time travelers leave behind their homes and loved ones to journey to unknown times and worlds. Where would they find a sense of belonging?
Lin Xian knew that in another minute, Gao Wen would open the door, and he¡¯d be back with Big Cat, his trio of little brothers, and Xu Yi Yi. But for a true time traveler, when they opened their eyes, they¡¯d be far from home, in a strange, distant ce.
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of Yellow Finch and Lin Yu Xi. Before they started their journey in the time machine, they must¡¯ve also sat in a pitch-ck silence, listening to nothing but their own breathing and heartbeats for that endless half-hour.
¡°What would you both be thinking at a time like this?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, closing his eyes.
He had an idea of what Lin Yu Xi might¡¯ve thought. She had been unaware of many things back then, probably just focusing on following orders,pleting her mission, and capturing him.
¡°Ughh¡¡± Lin Xian let out a deep breath.
He thought of the blue snow that had covered Donghai City, and then of Yellow Finch¡ªher blue eyes and blue earrings.
What about Yellow Finch?
During that half-hour of waiting, what had been going through her mind?
Chapter: Yellow Finchs Story Your Life Story
¡°How many times have you traveled through time now?¡± Liu Feng scratched his head, his hair already streaked with gray, as he looked at the woman lying quietly in the cylindrical time-travel pod.
¡°Nine times,¡± replied Yellow Finch.
¡°How much longer can my body hold up?¡±
¡°This is thest time,¡± Liu Feng said, coughing twice, while massaging his sore back. ¡°So¡ we¡¯ve already met eight times before this?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Yellow Finch sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t always make it to this age, Liu Feng. Sometimes, you die even earlier than Lin Xian.¡±
At the mention of Lin Xian¡¯s name, a heavy silence settled between them.
Liu Feng closed his eyes, unease tightening in his chest. Not long ago, Lin Xian had passed away. They had failed, and their failure was absolute. But Lin Xian had taken all the me, ensuring that none of them got caught.
As Yellow Finch had put it, ¡°This time, I came back toote. There were so many things I couldn¡¯t fix.¡±The battle had cost too many lives. In a world that no longer held any hope, Yellow Finch was setting out once again.
¡°This time¡ Ooph, Ummph.¡± Liu Feng, now elderly and frail, paused to catch his breath before continuing softly, ¡°This time, which era do you want to go to?¡±
Yellow Finch exhaled through her nose. ¡°Since this is myst chance, let¡¯s go as far back as possible¡ªto the earliest time I can meet Lin Xian.¡±
Liu Feng swiped across the screen of the time machine, watching the numbers flicker and change. ¡°There are two choices. One is the end of 2022. There¡¯s a slight temporal rift there, but it¡¯s small. Given the energy you have left, the chances of getting through aren¡¯t great. I wouldn¡¯t rmend it.¡±
¡°Then earlier,¡± Yellow Finch said softly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind waiting a few more years. I¡¯m used to waiting for him.¡±
¡°In that case¡¡± Liu Feng squinted at the screen. ¡°That leaves us with early 2000, around January. When Zhang Yu Qian turned into blue stardust and marked the millennium, many time rifts were created. It¡¯s full of holes, making the traversal nearly foolproof¡ª100% sess rate, though the exact timing is uncertain. It might be off by a week or two, but that¡¯s no big deal. The bigger issue is that in 2000, Lin Xian isn¡¯t even one year old yet! Are you really going to stay in that unfamiliar world¡ for over twenty years, waiting for him to grow up?¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Yellow Finch chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen what he was like as a child.¡±
¡°Ah.¡± Liu Feng shook his head, pressing the time settings. ¡°If only we had an entangled temporal particle, you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about running out of energy or disappearing. With one, you could return anytime.¡±
¡°What would Ie back for?¡± Yellow Finch said softly. ¡°If Lin Xian isn¡¯t there, what¡¯s the point of meing back? I¡¯m always going to look for him. If I turn into stardust, I want to do it in the time where he is.¡±
She smiled. ¡°Besides, ordinary temporal particles have their own charm. They¡¯re like a one-way ticket, abandoning one¡¯s existence to be an anomaly in time¡ªno destination, no origin, frozen forever.¡±
¡°So, I¡¯ll never grow old. I¡¯ll always be this age,¡± she added, closing her eyes.
¡°If I used an entangled temporal particle to go back, by the time I waited twenty years for Lin Xian to grow up, I¡¯d be an olddy in my fifties. I wouldn¡¯t dare meet him like that.¡±
¡°Oh,e on,¡± Liu Feng snorted. ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re still worried about how old you look.¡±
¡°Haha.¡± Yellow Finch opened her bright blue eyes, her gaze resting on Liu Feng. ¡°Lin Xian always told me you understood women well. He said¡ if you put as much effort into studying women as you do into math, you¡¯d have figured out the Universal Constant by now.¡±
¡°Which Lin Xian said that?¡±
¡°All of them.¡± Yellow Finch replied softly. ¡°Every single one of them said it. So I always thought you understood women, but now I realize¡ you don¡¯t quite get it.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand¡ªit¡¯s that you¡¯re just strange!¡± Liu Feng retorted. ¡°By any logic, entangled temporal particles are way better than ordinary ones. Why is it the opposite for you?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t the answer obvious?¡± Yellow Finch closed her eyes, lying quietly in the pod. ¡°Because¡ I don¡¯t want him to see me grow old.¡±
¡
January 27, 2000. Qufu, Shandong.
A sh of blue arcs zipped through the forest, startling the stray cats huddled under a warm pipe, scattering them in all directions. Yellow Finch stepped out of the rift, dressed in her custom-made ck suit. She surveyed the deserted street scene and exhaled a puff of white breath.
¡°So cold.¡±
She walked over to a nearby building, using the one-way ss as a mirror to look at her unfamiliar reflection. She touched her cheeks.
¡°Why is my face round now?¡±
She looked left and right, visibly displeased by her new appearance due to temporal rejection.
¡°This doesn¡¯t look like me at all,¡± she muttered.
¡
A few weekster¡
March 23, 2000. Chunan, Hangzhou. A park.
A young father held his newly one-year-old son¡¯s hand, helping him learn to walk on the grass.
¡°Come on, son! Don¡¯t be scared! Come to Daddy¡ You¡¯re doing great!¡±
Nearby, the boy¡¯s mother sat on a bench, watching her son¡¯s wobbly steps with a warm smile.
¡°Is that your son?¡± A stylish woman wearing sunsses, blue earrings, and a fashionable coat suddenly approached.
¡°Yes.¡± The young mother beamed. ¡°He just turned one, and look¡ªhe can walk already!¡±
¡°How wonderful,¡± the woman said with a smile. ¡°He¡¯s going to grow up to be a smart kid.¡±
The mother¡¯s pride shone bright as sheughed in response.
Just then, the father scooped his son up from the grass and carried him towards the bench.
¡°Had enough, little guy? Let¡¯s go home now!¡± he said, smiling at his son.
As the father approached, the baby¡¯s eyes caught sight of something¡ªa blue glint¡ªand he reached out eagerly.
¡°Ah!¡± he babbled.
The father smiled at the sunsses-wearing woman, then turned to his son.
¡°Lin Xian, this is Auntie. Can you say Auntie?¡±
¡°Ah!¡± The little Lin Xian babbled, still not quite able to form words. He kicked his legs, seemingly wanting to walk by himself.
The father put him down, and to everyone¡¯s surprise, the little boy wobbled straight towards the woman.
She knelt, steadying him, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t fall.
Then, quick as a sh, little Lin Xian reached out and grabbed her blue earring.
¡°Oh, let go!¡±
¡°That¡¯s not polite!¡±
The young parents hurriedly pulled him away, embarrassed.
But the woman didn¡¯t mind. She turned her head slightly, letting the blue sapphire earring sway, casting colorful reflections.
¡°Pretty, isn¡¯t it?¡± she asked, smiling.
¡°Ah!¡± Little Lin Xian blinked, then grinned broadly.
It was clear he really liked the color blue.
¡
June 2004. Hangzhou. Police Station. Household Registry Office.
Yellow Finch handed her first-generation ID card over the counter. ¡°Hi, I¡¯d like to upgrade to a second-generation ID card.¡±
Her current ID was actually a fake¡ªthough officially approved by the government, it counted as genuine.
Recently, she¡¯d managed to establish contact with state authorities and provided some cryptic but crucial hints regarding significant intelligence matters.
Even just the level of hints she¡¯d shared were of utmost importance to the country. Because of this, she¡¯d developed a connection with the officials.
As long as it didn¡¯t stretch the limits of temporal sticity, she would periodically share information.
The registry officer took the ID and nced at the number. ¡°Oh, a fellow Chunan native, huh? Which part?¡±
¡°Thousand Ind Lake,¡± Yellow Finch replied.
¡°What a coincidence! I¡¯m from there too!¡± The officer chuckled, sizing her up. ¡°But¡ your ent doesn¡¯t sound local.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Yellow Finch blinked. ¡°Where does it sound like I¡¯m from?¡±
¡°Sounds like you¡¯re from the capital. The way you speak, it¡¯s got that imperial city vibe.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled but didn¡¯tment further. It seemed she¡¯d been found out, so she added, ¡°My household is here, but I grew up in the capital.¡±
¡°Oh, I see.¡± The officer started processing the request, asking casually, ¡°Got any family around here?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Yellow Finch nodded, ¡°My husband¡¯s here.¡±
¡°Living apart? That¡¯s no good for a rtionship. Why don¡¯t you eithere back here, or have him move to the capital with you?¡± the officer said, clearly nosy.
¡°His family wouldn¡¯t agree,¡± she replied.
¡°Hmph.¡± The officer snorted. ¡°All grown up and still listening to his parents? Lacks a bit of backbone, doesn¡¯t he?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Yellow Finch shrugged, smiling. ¡°My husband¡¯s quite young.¡±
¡°How young could he be!¡± The officer mmed a paper down on the counter for her to sign. ¡°He¡¯s not a toddler!¡±
¡
August 2017. Hangzhou. Youth Parkour Championship.
¡°Lin Xian! Go, Lin Xian! You can do it!!¡±
A chubby boy in a crop-top shirt yelled himself hoarse. Boys and girls¡ªall his ssmates¡ªstood behind him, cheering and pping rhythmically.
A tall woman in sunsses and blue earrings stepped to the front of the crowd, watching the young athletes warming up.
¡°Is this the final?¡± she asked, turning towards the chubby boy.
¡°Yeah!¡± he nodded. Then his face shifted, eyeing her suspiciously. ¡°Who are you here to cheer for? It¡¯s definitely not Lin Xian, is it?!¡±
This chubby boy was Gao Yang, Lin Xian¡¯s childhood friend and neighbor. He knew all of Lin Xian¡¯s rtives¡ªand thisdy definitely wasn¡¯t one of them. So clearly, she was rooting for apetitor!
Gao Yang started waving her away. ¡°Hey,dy! Our ss 17 already imed this spot. Move over!¡±
¡°Alright, alright.¡± The woman shifted a few steps to the side, smiling at Gao Yang. ¡°You¡¯re just as annoying as you were as a kid.¡±
¡°Hey, what¡¯s that supposed to mean!¡± Gao Yang huffed. ¡°I don¡¯t even know you!¡±
Just then, a girl pulled on his arm. ¡°ss rep! Don¡¯t get distracted! Lin Xian¡¯s up next, shout for him!¡±
Dressed in ck and white sports gear, headband tied in ce, and wearing fingerless gloves, Lin Xian shot off like a bullet as soon as the referee blew the whistle.
He jumped side to side, over obstacles, across walls¡ªlike it was nothing.
Anyone watching could tell that this teenager was on apletely different level from the otherpetitors. He was practically unbeatable.
He leaped over a high wall with just two steps. He jumped between distant pirs without a second thought.
Everything flowed effortlessly, each move more rxed than thest. And to top it all off¡ªafter finishing an impressive sequence of jumps¡ªhe yawned. As if it was all too easy.
¡°Haha,¡± Yellow Finch couldn¡¯t help butugh at his smug expression.
The timer stopped, and the scoreboard lit up¡ªfull marks across the board! They dered Lin Xian the champion then and there.
¡°Wooooooo!!¡± Gao Yang cheered like a howling monkey, pounding his chest in excitement. ¡°Quick, take a picture! Post it in the group!¡±
He swiftly pulled out his phone, snapping a few shots of Lin Xian showing off in the arena, and posted them to their ss group chat with the caption: ¡°Lin Xian, the king! Champion of Hangzhou Youth Parkour once again!¡±
During the awards ceremony, all the students and parkour enthusiasts apuded wildly for the champion. Yellow Finch stood among the crowd, pping along.
As the crowd dispersed, Lin Xian approached Gao Yang, holding his trophy.
¡°Quick! Let me touch it!¡± Gao Yang grabbed the trophy, rubbing it all over. He frowned. ¡°This is the same asst year! Did they just use leftovers?!¡±
¡°Eh, who cares.¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t seem bothered. He looked around, ¡°When I was warming up, I saw you arguing with somedy. What was that about? Why were you yelling at her?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got sharp eyes!¡± Gao Yang snorted. ¡°She wasn¡¯t here to cheer for you, so I had to chase her off. Who knows if she was someone else¡¯s sister, trying to mess you up!¡±
He turned his head left and right. ¡°Weird, where did she go? She was just here.¡±
Lin Xian scanned the area too, but she was nowhere in sight.
¡
September 2021, Donghai University, Freshmen Wee Party.
¡°Wow, Senior Lin Xian is really handsome!¡±
¡°Yeah¡ But he¡¯s graduating next year. No chance for us, sigh.¡±
¡°Ha! Like you¡¯d have a chance even if he weren¡¯t graduating!¡±
Yellow Finch, wearing sunsses, sat in the audience, listening to the excited chatter of the girls nearby.
The opening ceremony had just taken ce, with Lin Xian and another female host appearing on stage. The sight of him made the group of young girls squeal with excitement.
Yellow Finch turned to look at them¡ªthey were all students from the Arts Department.
¡°What year are you all in?¡± she asked.
¡°We¡¯re second-year students,¡± one of the girls replied.
¡°Oh, I see.¡± Yellow Finch nodded. ¡°That male host just now, he¡¯s Lin Xian, right? The one you were cheering for?¡±
¡°Yes, yes!¡± the girl beamed. ¡°He¡¯s from our department! Isn¡¯t he handsome?¡±
Yellow Finch gave a lightugh. ¡°He¡¯s very handsome. You all seem to like him a lot¡ªwhy don¡¯t you be a bit more proactive?¡±
¡°Oh, we don¡¯t have a chance,¡± the girl said regretfully. ¡°Senior Lin Xian barely leaves his room. They say he¡¯s always sleeping¡ªsometimes he starts napping at noon and doesn¡¯t wake up until evening¡ What kind of college life is that, just sleeping in the dorm all day?¡±
¡°I heard Senior Lin Xian isn¡¯t interested in girls,¡± another girl said seriously. ¡°In our ballroom dance elective, a group of senior girls took turns dancing with him. He looked like he¡¯d rather die. The teacher even scolded him for not controlling his facial expressions.¡±
¡°Oh? Really?¡± Yellow Finch perked up, intrigued, ready for all the gossip.
January 2022, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s apartment building, front door.
¡°Woof!¡±
VV, the Pomeranian, heard the familiar sound of high heels approaching and started barking.
But then¡
¡°Woof?¡±
The dog¡¯s ears perked up. Something wasn¡¯t right.
Why was its owner walking up the stairs instead of using the elevator today?
It was still daytime¡ªwhy was she home already, before work ended?
Beep beep.
The fingerprint lock clicked open, the identity confirmed, and the door swung open.
VV stared at the woman outside, its eyes glowing blue, fur standing on end.
¡°Woof woof woof woof woof!!¡±
Frantic barking! Call 911! Save me!
¡°What¡¯s with all the noise?¡± The woman outside walked in like she owned the ce, even scolding the dog. ¡°You¡¯re really ungrateful, you know. I waited so long for her to bring you back from overseas¡ The first thing I did wase to see you, VV, and this is how you behave.¡±
¡°Woof?¡±
VV widened its eyes. This woman¡ How did she act like she owned the ce? Whose house was this?
The woman picked up the bag of dog food and expertly poured it into the bowl.
¡°Here you go. Today, you get an extra meal as a treat.¡±
¡°Woof!¡±
VV decided to eat first and think about who this woman waster.
It was confused. Not because it wasn¡¯t being a good guard dog, but because this woman felt strange.
She wasn¡¯t its owner, yet everything about her¡ªeven her faint scent¡ªwas exactly the same.
What was going on?
After eating, VV went over to the blue-eyed woman, sniffing her carefully.
Yes, definitely.
She smelled exactly like its owner. Though she looked different, the scent was undeniable.
¡°Woof~~¡± It snuggled closer.
A master who fed it on time was the best!
The blue-eyed womanughed, picking VV up and cuddling it. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Be good, and I¡¯lle feed you extra meals more often.¡±
¡°Woof~~¡±
VV was delighted. It suddenly thought¡ªwouldn¡¯t it be amazing if the owner could split into several versions of herself? One for morning, one for noon, one for afternoon, and the originaling home at night¡ªit could get extra meals all day!
After ying with the dog for a while, Yellow Finch got up to leave. ¡°See you, VV. I¡¯lle again soon.¡±
Before she left, she poured VV another bowl of dog food.
¡°Woof~~~~~¡±
VV barked happily at the closing door, wagging its tail. She better keep her word! If she didn¡¯te back¡ it would cry all night! No one could calm it down!
¡
January 14, 2023, under the overpass.
The moon tonight was full and round, hanging bright in the cloudless sky¡ªit seemed bigger than usual.
¡°Excuse me, miss!¡±
Behind her, a couple was taking pictures. The guy holding the phone waved at Yellow Finch.
¡°Excuse me, could you move a little to the side? I¡¯m trying to take a night photo of my girlfriend.¡±
Yellow Finch smiled. Hooking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she said, ¡°Of course.¡±
She stepped aside in her high heels, watching the boy photograph his girlfriend. He kept adjusting angles and zooms, sighing with admiration.
¡°The moon is beautiful tonight,¡± he said.
¡°Yes,¡± Yellow Finch agreed, looking up at the giant moon hanging over the overpass. ¡°But soon¡ it¡¯ll be even more beautiful.¡±
Boom!
In the distance, a blue Bentley suddenlyunched off the left side of the overpass, soaring into the air!
It was a spectacr sight¡ªthe car arced beautifully.
Click.
The boy snapped a photo.
¡°Huh?¡± He looked at the picture, wide-eyed in disbelief. A convertible car had flown from one side of the overpass to the other, a man and a woman inside. The man gripped the steering wheel, the woman had her eyes covered.
The moment he captured it, their car had just leapt to the center of the moon, making the moonlight a romantic backdrop¡ªwild and magnificent.
¡°James Bond?¡± The boy scratched his head, looking up at the convertible now crashing on the other side. ¡°Donghai 007?¡±
Next to him, Yellow Finch chuckled, turning to the boy who had caught such a great moment by chance. Ah, so this was where the nickname hade from.
¡°What? What is it?¡± The girl ran over, curious, using the live photo feature on the phone. Pressing and holding, they could see a few seconds of video.
¡°Whoa! This is so cool! Quick! Post it on Douyin! It¡¯ll go viral!¡± she said after watching it twice, amazed.
The boy was equally excited, opening the app.
¡°I¡¯m going viral! What caption should I use?¡±
¡°How about ¡®The best driver in Donghai¡¯?¡± Yellow Finch suggested. ¡°That¡¯s what I think, anyway.¡±
Beep beep.
The digital watch on her wrist beeped softly. Midnight had passed, automatically triggering the alert. It was now January 15, 2023, 12:00 a.m.
Facing the moon, Yellow Finch raised her right hand, as if holding a bouquet, the moon in her grasp. Softly, she said to herself:
¡°Happy birthday.¡±
¡
March 2023, outside a western restaurant, parking lot.
The window of a fiery red Ferrari rolled down, and Yellow Finch turned her head to look at the second floor of the restaurant. The entire front wall was ss, giving a clear view inside.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were there, talking andughing, while downstairs, a woman dressed in revealing clothes was angrily marching up.
¡°Ha.¡± Yellow Finch chuckled like a spectator. ¡°The show¡¯s about to begin.¡±
¡°Lin Xian¡ You really are popr, aren¡¯t you?¡±
She watched quietly as the woman stormed upstairs, only for Zhao Ying Jun to refuse to leave, leading to a confrontation.
The two women and one man took over the entire second floor, the tense atmosphere keeping the restaurant manager from daring to intervene.
Not long after, a red McLaren sped onto the highway in the opposite direction of Lin Xian¡¯s house.
Yellow Finch got into her Ferrari, shutting the door.
Vroom!
She floored the gas pedal. The V12 engine roared like a feral beast, quickly catching up to the McLaren, weaving through traffic effortlessly.
For Yellow Finch, driving like this was as natural as breathing.
¡°You taught me well,¡± she said, ncing to her right at Donghai University Hospital, signaling a right turn off the highway.
¡°This time¡ can you find Zheng Cheng He? If you do, maybe you can win without paying such a heavy price.¡±
¡
January 2024, the capital city, astronaut secret training center.
¡°Cough, cough! Cough¡ª¡±
A sudden wave of weakness hit her, and she fell to her knees in the bathroom.
It had happened¡
It had happened several times recently.
More frequent. More severe.
Time.
How much time was left?
¡°Sister Yellow Finch!¡±
The bathroom door burst open, and Chu An Qing rushed in.
Yellow Finch quickly covered her head, hiding her extinguished eyes from Chu An Qing.
¡°Don¡¯t call anyone! I¡¯ll be fine¡ just fine¡¡±
After a while, her symptoms finally subsided. Together with Chu An Qing, she headed to the training room, exining some of the details about capturing time-space particles.
¡°What happened earlier, you mustn¡¯t tell Lin Xian,¡± Yellow Finch said.
¡°Everyone¡¯s training hard every day. I don¡¯t want to be a distraction, or for anyone to worry because of me.¡±
Chu An Qing nodded, hesitant, but eventually spoke up.
¡°Sister Yellow Finch, can I really¡ help in this mission like you said? I¡¯ve always wondered if I¡¯ll be of any use. When you found me at school, you said I¡¯d be a key part of the mission. Honestly, I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll just be a burden.¡±
Yellow Finch looked at Chu An Qing for a long moment, then slowly moved closer, ruffling her hair and pulling her into a hug.
¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Chu An Qing was surprised.
¡°Sister Yellow Finch, why are you apologizing?¡±
Yellow Finch didn¡¯t answer, just hugged her tightly, closing her eyes.
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡¡±
¡
April 2024, Copenhagen, The Little Mermaid statue.
The dark waves of the nightpped against the shore like ink.
Yellow Finch was held in Lin Xian¡¯s arms, her vision slowly blurring.
Her body felt so light. Like foam.
Lifted by the evening breeze, floating higher and higher into the sky.
The Little Mermaid statue in the shallow waters lifted her head, watching Yellow Finch turn to bubbles, drifting upwards.
¡°Do you regret it?¡±
¡°No.¡± She shook her head in the haze and void.
¡°I never regret it for him. I would only regret noting.¡±
From the sky came a bright light.
¡°Is there anything you regret?¡±
Regret¡
Yellow Finch felt herself drifting as if on wind.
¡°Not really,¡± she said, smiling with her eyes closed.
¡°I¡¯ve seen him old. I¡¯ve seen him middle-aged. I¡¯ve seen him young, even as a teenager, and I¡¯ve held him as a baby.¡±
¡°So I¡¯m content. Though we never grew old together, at least¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve watched his whole life unfold.¡±
Chapter 436: Returning to an Old Place
Click.
A minuteter, Gao Wen opened the door of the time travel pod, watching as Lin Xian crawled out. ¡°How does it feel?¡± he asked.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, a slight shiver in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s like the world is fading away,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s strange. Nothing feels real in there.¡±
Gao Wen nodded knowingly, a smile tugging at his lips. ¡°To be honest, since we built this time machine, I¡¯ve climbed in there myself a fair number of times. Just to see what it¡¯s like before you jump through time. Sometimes, I even thought it might be a good spot for an afternoon nap.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s funny,¡± he went on, shaking his head. ¡°Once you¡¯re inside, it¡¯s anything but rxing. It¡¯s suffocating, unbearable¡ like everything around you is pulling away. I can never fall asleep. Even when I try to force myself, I can barelyst ten minutes before I have to get out.¡± He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if searching for the right words. ¡°I guess I still hold a lot of awe¡ maybe even fear¡ for this machine and the idea of traveling through time. It¡¯s not quite fear exactly¡ but when I¡¯m in there, the feeling that hits me most is¡¡±
Gao Wen pressed his lips together before finally speaking again, his voice low. ¡°Loneliness.¡±
¡
Lin Xian looked at Gao Wen, his eyes softening. ¡°Yeah,¡± he whispered.Loneliness.
Time travel, especially using ordinary time particles, really was a suffocating kind of loneliness. A one-way ticket to somewhere unfamiliar, a farewell without a promise to return, and an eptance that you¡¯d die far away from home.
¡°But I respect every time traveler,¡± Gao Wen said, his gaze steady on Lin Xian. Admiration glimmered in his eyes. ¡°I believe every one of them takes on their mission with responsibility and purpose. They all have a belief in something greater, and the courage to face the unknown.¡±
¡°Just like you, Lin Xian. I may not know why you¡¯re here, why you chose to travel through time, but I¡¯m sure it isn¡¯t for personal gain. It has to be for something bigger, something meaningful.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively, though a faint smile crossed his lips. ¡°You don¡¯t have to praise me like that. Compared to the real time travelers, I¡¯ve still got a long way to go.¡± He nced towards the time machine, determination building in his expression. ¡°But I¡¯m ready. If there¡¯s a chance to fix things¡ to make this world better¡ I wouldn¡¯t hesitate.¡±
Suddenly, something came to his mind. He turned back to Gao Wen. ¡°So, who are you sending back this time? Who¡¯s going to be the time traveler?¡± He looked around. ¡°Big Cat? Or Xu Yi Yi?¡±
Gao Wen shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s neither of them.¡±
He paused, as if weighing his next words carefully. ¡°I¡¯ve had a candidate in mind for some time now. And no one in Sin City has opposed it.¡± He met Lin Xian¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°It¡¯s Li Cheng¡¯s daughter¡ his only child.¡±
¡°Li Ning Ning.¡±
¡
Lin Xian recognized the name. He wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°The Li family is still as loyal as ever,¡± he sighed. ¡°Li Cheng only has one daughter. I can¡¯t imagine he¡¯s willing to let her go.¡±
Gao Wen gave a soft chuckle. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s not willing. No father would be. Especially since Li Cheng¡¯s wife passed away a few years ago¡ªLi Ning Ning is all he has left in the world.¡±
He paused, admiration in his eyes again. ¡°Honestly, I really admire both of them. Just like we discussed earlier, so many questions in this world are without answers. There¡¯s no real right or wrong here. Asking a father to let his only daughter sacrifice herself for humanity¡¯s future¡ªis that truly the right thing to do? Is it noble? It¡¯s hard to say. But that¡¯s what makes the Li family stand out¡ªit¡¯s that spirit that doesn¡¯t bend, that echoes their belief: ¡®When the country rises or falls, every person has a duty.¡¯¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his respect clear.
Every era had its heroes. And as history moved forward, someone always had to take on the responsibility and burden.
He thought of his seventh dream.
Li Ning Ning, wearing an elegant princess dress, is holding her baby sister, Li Feng Yu. Her smile is sweet and full of hope.
¡°I hope she grows up strong and brave,¡± Li Ning Ning had said. ¡°No matter what life throws at her, no matter what kind of world she¡¯s in, she can always face it with optimism.¡±
That wish had clearly been just as much about herself as it was about her sister.
Lin Xian felt a pang of longing for that stubborn, determined girl. Maybe he should pay a visit to the Li family gang soon instead of teaming up with Xu Yi Yi to join Face¡¯s gang.
After all, they had those metal nametes¡ªany gang would take them in.
¡°Hmph,¡± Xu Yi Yi, standing nearby, huffed. ¡°I¡¯d be willing to go too, you know.¡±
Gao Wenughed, shaking his head. ¡°Yi Yi, you¡¯ve still got a ways to go. Whether it¡¯s strength, brains, or skill, Li Ning Ning is by far the best in Sin City.¡± He smiled encouragingly. ¡°We only have one time particle, and we need to make it count. We need the best, most skilled assassin for this mission. But I do respect your spirit¡ªthere are many ways to make a difference for humanity. Tonight, your mission is just as important.¡±
Lin Xian turned to look at the cold, massive time machine again, his mind already spinning with ns to bring it back to 2024 for Liu Feng.
¡°Gao Wen, do you have the updated notes on the time travel theory and the machine¡¯s blueprints?¡± he asked.
¡°Of course,¡± Gao Wen replied, leading him over to a metal cab filled with blueprints and notebooks. ¡°These are my corrected notes. There really weren¡¯t many mistakes, just a few key pages that were wrong¡ªbut they happened to be pretty important.¡± He pointed to some rolled-up papers. ¡°These are the blueprints. Honestly, it¡¯s not asplicated as it looks. As long as you understand the core concepts and have the right time particles, the machine can take any shape.¡± He gave a half-smile. ¡°I built mine this big because of the energy supply. Starting the time machine takes more than just time particles¡ªyou also need a massive power source. Sin City doesn¡¯t have that kind of power¡ªI had to stack nuclear batteries. But in Donghai City, you could hook it up to the power grid.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
Perfect. With this, Liu Feng could get started.
At that moment, a young gang member burst in, bowing deeply to Gao Wen. ¡°Godfather, everyone¡¯s gathered and waiting for you to give the orders for tonight¡¯s mission.¡±
Gao Wen nodded. ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡±
The young man straightened up and left.
Gao Wen turned back to Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, there¡¯s a lot I¡¯m curious about¡ªyour time travel, how you did it, what it means¡ªbut tonight¡¯s mission is just as crucial. If everything goes well and we manage to get that time particle, let¡¯s sit down and have a proper talk.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°No problem.¡±
It was only the first day of the dream. There was no rush¡ªplenty of time to gather information bit by bit. He couldn¡¯t afford to hurry things.
More than anything, he genuinely wanted to help Gao Wen steal the time particle from Donghai City to see it for himself. Maybe it would help reveal the truth behind the catastrophe of 2400.
Gao Wen wanted to bring down whoever was responsible for the world¡¯s copse. Lin Xian felt the same. If it weren¡¯t for that person messing with the future, making everything a mess, he would have already found Time Bank and cracked open that aluminum alloy safe.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go, everyone,¡± Gao Wen said, his back straightening as he took on the serious expression of the Godfather once again, ready to lead his people into the mission.
¡
The meeting hall was already filled with gang leaders. When Gao Wen walked in, everyone stood up respectfully, bowed, and greeted him quietly as ¡°Godfather.¡±
Gao Wen waved them down, indicating that everyone should sit. Lin Xian watched the scene unfold.
Knowledge really does change fate, he thought. This was the ultimate dream for someone like Gao Wen¡ªan intellectual¡¯s dream realized.
Who would¡¯ve thought that Gao Wen, using his research and knowledge, would secure his ce as Godfather of Sin City¡ªa scenario that¡¯d be unimaginable anywhere else.
Then there was Big Cat Face¡
Lin Xian nced at the burly man with a squint.
The guy was hopeless.
All because he was uneducated, every future version of him seemed stable, almost predictable¡ªlike he was locked into some role.
In the sixth dream, Big Cat Face had been a senior worker at a mining camp, still yelling at Gao Wen, ordering him around.
In the seventh dream, he had be a humble parent pleading for his child¡¯s education, shamelessly ttering Principal Gao Wen.
And now, in the eighth dream, the power gap between them was even greater. Gao Wen was Godfather of Sin City, and Big Cat Face was the lowliest member of the weakest gang¡ªthe same guy Gao Wen had just kicked in the backside, calling him an idiot.
Honestly, Lin Xian pitied him. Ignorance truly was costly.
At this rate, by the ninth dream, Big Cat Face probably wouldn¡¯t even be worthy of shining Gao Wen¡¯s shoes.
¡°What are you staring at?!¡± Big Cat Face snapped, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. His chubby face scrunched up in annoyance.
¡°What¡¯s with that look?! And can¡¯t you change your mask, bro? It¡¯s embarrassing that we¡¯re wearing the same one. No minion should wear the same mask as their boss, you know?¡±
¡°Besides, if we both look the same, how will anyone tell who¡¯s who? It¡¯d be chaos!¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent, observing Big Cat Face¡¯s odd confidence. He nced at the man¡¯s pudgy cheeks squeezed against the mask and his round, stocky frame.
¡°Rx, Big Brother Face,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°No one¡¯s ever going to mistake the two of us. Other people wear masks to hide their faces, but you¡ªyou use your face to cover the mask. No matter what mask you put on, people will always call you Big Cat Face.¡±
¡°Big Cat Face!¡±
Right then, a gang leader nudged him from the doorway. ¡°Hurry up and sit down! The Godfather¡¯s about to speak!¡±
¡
Soon, the meeting began.
With everyone wearing masks, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t tell which one was Li Cheng. It seemed that in this world, where facial recognition could mean losing points, wearing a mask had be the default way to avoid it. It also helped tell friend from foe during nighttime operations. Either way, the scene in the meeting room looked ridiculous. Like a kindergarten ss.
Gao Wen was the teacher, lecturing a group of children in cartoon masks.
Gao Wen exined the n for tonight in detail.
It was simple: all the gangs would join forces to lure the mechanical androids away from the central museum, and use that chance to steal the time-space particles stored inside.
¡°After 10 p.m., there¡¯s a curfew in Donghai City,¡± Gao Wen exined. ¡°After ten, all residents have to stay indoors¡ªthat¡¯s our chance.¡±
¡°The mechanical androids in the city are limited in number, and they¡¯re also the only enforcers. There¡¯s no way for external reinforcements to arrive quickly. With the current state of technology, they can¡¯t even make new androids¡ªas they wear out, there¡¯s one less each time. At this point, Donghai City doesn¡¯t have enough androids to keep a perfect watch over everything.¡±
The n had clearly been in the works for a while, as it was detailed to thest point¡ªwhich gang would enter through which sewer, where they¡¯d lure the androids, where they¡¯d escape. Everything wasid out.
However, Gao Wen never mentioned which gang would be responsible for stealing the time-space particles from the museum.
It seemed¡
He was worried aboutplications. So, he had given the most vital mission to the one gang he could trustpletely: Big Cat¡¯s gang.
¡°Listen up,¡± Big Cat Face addressed his six-member group once they were back at their hideout for a private meeting. His tone was unusually serious as he looked around the room.
¡°Our mission is directly assigned by the Godfather himself. It¡¯s highly confidential, extremely critical¡ªthe most important part of this entire heist!¡±
¡°No one outside our gang knows about it, and the Godfather told me explicitly¡ªnot a word to anyone else. For the sake of secrecy.¡±
¡°So, during our discussions, don¡¯t mention any details. Don¡¯t reveal any ns. You never know who might be listening. If we must talk, don¡¯t say specifics¡ªjust refer to the n by its code name.¡±
¡°Right,¡± their strategist, Ah Zhuang, nodded. Then he asked, ¡°So, boss, what¡¯s the n¡¯s name?¡±
Big Cat Face paused, realizing he hadn¡¯t thought of one yet. He furrowed his brow, then whispered: ¡°I¡¯ve got it¡ªthe name is¡ ¡®The n to Enter from the Northeast Sewer, Lure the Androids Away, Break Open the Museum Door, and Steal the Time-Space Particles!¡¯¡±
¡°What?!¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter. Sometimes, he really admired Big Cat Face¡¯s imagination.
¡°Are you writing a light novel here? Putting the entire plot into the title?¡± he snapped. ¡°The Godfather told you¡ªover and over¡ªnot to expose any details, and here you are, spilling everything right in the name. It¡¯d be better if you didn¡¯t name it at all!¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t even know where to start roasting him¡ªthere were so many issues.
No wonder Gao Wen had no one else to rely on¡ He had no choice but to make do with Big Cat¡¯s unreliable gang.
¡°A n name doesn¡¯t need to be so detailed. It could just be ¡®n A,¡¯ ¡®Alpha n,¡¯ or even ¡®Big Cat n.¡¯ That¡¯d be enough.¡±
¡°Alright then, let¡¯s call it the Big Cat n,¡± Big Cat Face agreed, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s almost time. Let¡¯s go¡ªget into position!¡±
¡
Sin City sprang into action.
Every gang member followed Gao Wen¡¯s orders, moving into the maze-like sewers under Donghai City and waiting beneath different manholes.
They watched their watches.
At 10:30 p.m., once they were sure the curfew was fully in effect¡ª
¡°Move out!¡±
At the sound of Gao Wen¡¯smand over the radio¡ª
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
The manhole covers across Donghai City flew open like popping lids, one after another.
Soon, waves of masked gang members emerged, yelling as they ran through the city.
Mechanical androids patrolling the streets shed from blue to yellow, then red, and started rushing towards those breaking curfew.
Meanwhile, the six members of Big Cat¡¯s gang stayed beneath the museum¡¯s entrance, listening as reports came in over the radio:
¡°The androids in the eastern area have been lured away!¡±
¡°The museum entrance is clear!¡±
¡°Escape routes are open; most androids are moving towards the outskirts!¡±
¡°Rear paths cleared, androids being led towards the old town!¡±
¡°No reinforcements in sight, all androids have left the museum area!¡±
Big Cat Face put away the radio.
He adjusted the mask of the Rhine Cat on his face.
¡°Alright, boys, it¡¯s our turn,¡± he said.
Leading the way, he climbed up thedder below the manhole. He poked his head up, then popped the cover off with a grunt¡ª
¡°Go!¡±
The three underlings followed quickly, with Lin Xian and Xu Yi Yi bringing up the rear.
They reached the museum¡¯s outer wall.
¡°Form thedder!¡±
At Big Cat Face¡¯s order, they quickly made a humandder¡ªa ssic move for their gang.
The wall wasn¡¯t too high, so they only needed three people for it.
San Pang crouched, grunting, ¡°This works!¡±
Ah Zhuang jumped up, nting his feet on San Pang¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll take the middle!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°Do we need an announcement for everything? Does everything have to sound so epic?¡±
¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand!¡± Big Cat Face huffed, looking at Lin Xian through his mask. ¡°This is gang culture.¡±
¡°No wonder no one wants to join your gang,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
Finally, Er Zhuzi, thest ¡°human pir,¡± climbed onto Ah Zhuang¡¯s shoulders, and thedder was ready.
Big Cat Face, Lin Xian, and Xu Yi Yi quickly climbed over the wall.
Lin Xian gave a short whistle to signal that it was safe. The three underlings stayed outside, ready to throw a rope over when the group returned with the time-space particles.
The trio moved swiftly to the museum¡¯s front door.
The door was tightly shut.
Lin Xian knocked on it. Solid metal, no keyhole¡ªit seemed to be remote-controlled.
¡°What now?¡± Lin Xian asked, suddenly realizing they were missing a crucial team member. ¡°We didn¡¯t bring a code expert.¡±
¡°Come on, what century are you living in?¡± Big Cat Face rolled his eyes, pulling a gray block of C4 from his belt.
¡°We¡¯ll do it the old-fashioned way. Way faster than any code expert.¡±
¡°Wait, what?!¡± Lin Xian was genuinely impressed. Was this Gao Wen¡¯s influence¡ªmaking Big Cat Face smarter?
Big Cat Face handled the C4 with surprising precision. Instead of cing it on the door, he stuck it to the wall next to the door, near a window¡ªthe spot most vulnerable to an explosion. Blowing through a wall was easier than blowing through a steel door.
¡°Take cover!¡±
After setting the detonator, he yelled. All three of them ducked behind the steps¡ª
BOOM!!!
Smoke filled the air, and the scent of explosives hung heavily.
Lin Xian peeked out from behind their cover. The museum door was still intact, but the wall beside it had arge hole, big enough for them to get through.
¡°Nice, not bad at all,¡± Lin Xian said, giving Big Cat Face a thumbs-up. High praiseing from a speed-runner.
This time, Lin Xian was genuinely impressed. Big Cat Face¡¯s gang had never been this effective¡ªtheir past attempts were always a disorganized mess. But now, from popping open the manhole to sting through the museum, it had taken them less than two minutes.
Amazing!
Lin Xian pped Big Cat Face on the shoulder. ¡°Sorry, Big Brother Face. I admit I underestimated you. You really do have the makings of a Godfather.¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Big Cat Face huffed proudly. ¡°Do you have any idea how much we practiced for this? How much blood, sweat, and tears we shed to get it perfect?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Alright, I believe you now. You guys really do have a strong bond.¡±
The three of them moved quickly, making their way into the museum.
They rushed through the main exhibit halls. The time-space particles obviously wouldn¡¯t be in the public exhibits, so they headed straight for the restricted area.
Then, they reached the entrance to the special exhibition hall¡
¡°What?!¡±
In front of them stood a gleaming door made of aluminum alloy¡ªimpregnable and imposing.
Big Cat Face stared at the C4 bomb in his hand, dumbstruck.
¡°Are you kidding me?! Nobody said there¡¯d be an aluminum alloy door in here!¡±
Lin Xian sighed. Aluminum alloy¡ªBig Cat Face¡¯s lifelong nemesis.
Xu Yi Yi stepped forward, examining the right side of the door. ¡°It¡¯s an electronic lock, but there¡¯s no ce to enter a code. Looks like it needs a card or some kind of identity verification. What do we do now?¡±
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them, along with a woman¡¯s softughter: ¡°Heh.¡±
Big Cat Face spun around so fast his mask almost flew off.
In the dim moonlight filtering through the broken wall, a slim figure appeared¡ªa woman dressed in ck, her silhouette sharp and elegant.
¡°I knew you¡¯d end up causing trouble here,¡± she said, her voice teasing as she smirked at Lin Xian. There was a hint ofint in her eyes.
¡°Did it not cross your mind¡¡±
¡°That the first person you should visit after entering a dream¡¡±
¡°Should¡¯ve been me?¡±
Chapter 437: The Belated Comet
¡°CC?¡± Lin Xian blinked at the familiar face in front of him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
This was incredible. It had to be more than just a coincidence. He had been thinking about her, and now here she was.
¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± CC replied with a soft huff. ¡°Didn¡¯t we make a promise in those fragments of memory? That I¡¯d wait for you here, in the most obvious ce in the Donghai area, on this exact day?¡±
She frowned, clearly annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you forgot.¡±
¡°Of course I didn¡¯t forget,¡± Lin Xian said, shrugging. ¡°But usually, on the first day in a new world, I need time to get a feel for its reality. Plus, today, well¡ I ran into some trouble right when I got here. Had to escape through a sewer.¡±
He gave her a faint smile. ¡°You have to understand, for you, this world is one you¡¯ve been in for twenty years. For me, I¡¯ve been here less than twelve hours.¡±
He nced up at the museum ceiling. ¡°So¡ this museum is the most obvious ce in Donghai City?¡±
CC nodded. ¡°I think so. It¡¯s right in the center of Donghai City. It¡¯s iconic, easy to spot. I¡¯ve been up on the museum rooftop since noon, waiting for you until nightfall without a sign of you.¡±¡°Then, about an hour ago, the manhole covers all over Donghai City started banging open. Right after that, there was an explosion here at the museum. I knew it had to be you making trouble, so I came in right away.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Today had been his first time entering this dream, and everything had happened so quickly. He had been taken to Sin City by Xu Yi Yi soon after arriving, and he hadn¡¯t had time to find CC.
There was no way he could forget their promise. When the fifth dream ended, he had danced with CC to create a perfect memory for her. During the seventh dream, he had taken CC to find Li Ning Ning and watch the bonfire.
This time, he really had to thank Big Cat Face and the C4 bomb. With how chaotic Donghai City was now, people were running around ying hide and seek and chasing after androids. Without that explosion, CC probably wouldn¡¯t have found him.
Seeing CC suddenly appear, Xu Yi Yi tightened her grip on her weapon, taking up a defensive stance. Meanwhile, Big Cat Face struggled to pull off his Rhine Cat mask, which had gotten stuck on his ear.
CC watched the amusing scene and tilted her head. ¡°Did I¡e at a bad time?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian shook his head, a smile forming. ¡°You came at just the right time!¡±
He turned around, pointing at the titanium alloy door and the lock beside it. ¡°Quick, take a look. See if you can crack it.¡±
He stepped aside, gently lowering Xu Yi Yi¡¯s dagger. ¡°No need to worry, she¡¯s a friend¡ªa password expert.¡±
CC walked past them, giving Xu Yi Yi a quick nce before looking up at Lin Xian. ¡°You really are popr with the girls, aren¡¯t you? Every world you go to, it¡¯s always a different type of girl hanging around you.¡±
¡°Stop talking nonsense!¡± Xu Yi Yi lowered her weapon but remained wary of CC. She stood protectively in front of Lin Xian as if shielding her ¡®little brother¡¯ from harm. ¡°This is my little bro! I¡¯m the one looking out for him!¡±
CC paused, ncing curiously at the young girl before her. She couldn¡¯t quite understand how this unpredictable Lin Xian had ended up as a ¡®little brother¡¯ to someone like her. She narrowed her eyes at Lin Xian. ¡°What kind of game are you ying now?¡±
¡°Come on, focus on cracking the lock,¡± Lin Xian urged, ncing at his watch. It read 11:17 PM. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time left. Only an hour and a half.¡±
He added, ¡°ording to Godfather Gao Wen, there¡¯s a time-space particle in this exhibition hall. We need to steal it as soon as possible.¡±
CC walked over to the lock, examining it closely. ¡°This isn¡¯t an ordinary password lock. There¡¯s no actual password. To open the door, you¡¯d need proper verification.¡±
¡°So what do we do?¡± Big Cat Face finally managed to pull off his mask and stepped closer. ¡°If there¡¯s no password, does that mean we can¡¯t crack it?¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± CC shook her head. She pulled out a smallputer from her bag and used Xu Yi Yi¡¯s dagger to pry open the lock¡¯s casing. ¡°No password doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no key. Verification information, whether it¡¯s a card, facial recognition, or a fingerprint scan, is just a type of password. The difference is, a normal password is abination of numbers and letters, but this one is a bit moreplicated.¡±
¡°But as long as it¡¯s a password, it can be cracked. For mechanical locks, there¡¯s brute force; for electronic ones, there¡¯s address-searching. Given enough time, theoretically, no password is unbreakable.¡±
CC connected the lock¡¯s system to her smallputer with a data cable, her fingers moving quickly over the keys. Big Cat Face leaned in curiously, watching the screen flicker with streams of data.
¡°Looks like having a password expert reallyes in handy,¡± he muttered.
Ten minutester, there was a clear clicking sound. The titanium alloy door opened with a soft sigh.
¡°Amazing¡¡± Xu Yi Yi looked at CC, awestruck. Her wariness melted into admiration. ¡°You¡¯re incredible!¡±
¡°Not really.¡± CC shrugged off thepliment, putting away herputer and leading the group inside.
The hall was a special exhibition area, filled with artifacts that looked extremely valuable. From a distance, Lin Xian spotted a glowing blue orb, suspended in midair inside a disy case.
¡°There it is,¡± he said, jogging over and peering inside.
A time-space particle.
It really was a time-space particle.
But¡
¡°No energy?¡± Lin Xian noticed something was off. The blue orb was trapped inside a transparent, basketball-sized container. It seemed calm, dormant even. Despite the bright blue glow it gave off, there was no active charge¡ªjust countless fine blue threads swayingzily on its surface, like branches in a breeze.
Lin Xian knew time-space particles well, and it only took one look for him to realize this was an energy-depleted time-space particle. And not even an entangled one¡ªjust an ordinary particle.
This was exactly what he had feared but hadn¡¯t said aloud to Gao Wen:
Without using a special entangled time-space particle, even if someone travels back in time, they would be unable to alter history due to the constraints of thews of time.
Gao Wen and Chen He Ping hadn¡¯t grasped this. They were still stuck in theoretical spection, without enough experimental data to understand thews of time.
But now, it didn¡¯t matter anymore. This was just an ordinary time-space particle¡ªand an energy-depleted one at that. Even if they took it back, it wouldn¡¯t power the time machine.
¡°Ughhh.¡± Lin Xian let out a sigh, not sure how he would face Gao Wen when they returned. Gao Wen was probably expecting that, with the time-space particle, humanity could be saved, that the future could change. But this depleted particle shattered Gao Wen and Chen He Ping¡¯s lifelong dreams.
¡°Well, let¡¯s take it back anyway.¡± Lin Xian shattered the ss of the disy and took out the transparent container holding the time-space particle. Together with Big Cat Face, Xu Yi Yi, and CC, they left ording to their original n.
In Sin City, even in the dead of night, the ce was bustling. People were celebrating their sessful operation. But deep in the undergroundb, Lin Xian, CC, and Gao Wen were all expressionless.
Gao Wen let out a long breath through his nose. He looked up from his workstation, his face filled with despair. ¡°This time-space particle¡ it has no energy.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Gao Wen. I wish I had somethingforting to say, but to be honest, even if this particle was fully charged, it¡¯s just an ordinary time-space particle. Even if a traveler used it, they wouldn¡¯t be able to alter history because of the timews.¡±
Lin Xian exined the relevant timews in simple terms to Gao Wen, who listened intently, deep in thought. As smart as he was, it didn¡¯t take him long to understand.
¡°I see,¡± Gao Wen sighed deeply. ¡°Thews of time are indeed incredibly intricate. Chen He Ping and I never imagined it would be this way¡ Time-space particles are even moreplicated than we thought.¡±
He clenched his fist, his voice trembling. ¡°If only we could¡¯ve gotten our hands on a time-space particle sooner¡ maybe we could¡¯ve figured it out, found another way to save the world and the future.¡±
Suddenly, Gao Wen paused, adjusting his sses as he looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Wait a minute. If what you¡¯re saying about thews of time is true, then there¡¯s a paradox here¡ Logically, history is fixed while the future is uncertain.¡±
¡°So, from this very moment onward, the past is like spilled water¡ªirreversible, unchangeable. But everything beyond this moment, the future, is still undetermined. It means there are still paths that haven¡¯t been taken, words yet to be spoken. Under these conditions, time travel can only take you to a fixed past. It can never let you travel to a future that hasn¡¯t happened yet, one that has no determined path!¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian, how did you manage to travel to the future?¡± Gao Wen¡¯s logic was wless, and yet his question was puzzling. ¡°You said you lived in the same era as Ms. Du Yao, which means the mid-21st century. But right now, it¡¯s 2624, which is 600 years into the future for you¡ So how did you get here?¡±
¡
Sure enough, Emperor Gao Wen was truly Emperor Gao Wen.
The moment he heard about the temporalws, he immediately connected the dots and pointed out the biggest issue with Lin Xian.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Xian said with a helpless smile. ¡°Back in my time, my fellow scientists and I realized this too. Time travel only works to the past, not the future. But, somehow, my case is¡ strange. And it¡¯s not just me.¡±
He turned to look at CC.
¡°CC¡¯s case is just as bizarre. She was born in 2604, yet since the moment she was born, she had memories of the year 2624¡ªlike they were always there.¡±
¡°If you want to get technical about it, isn¡¯t that also a form of traveling to the future? Just like what happened to me¡ªequally unscientific.¡±
Lin Xian tried to think of any simrities between him and CC.
No, it couldn¡¯t be¡
Could it be that both CC and I are millennial anomalies?
That was just ridiculous.
He had celebrated his 20th birthday a few years back without any sign of fading away. How could he be a millennial stake?
Shaking off the absurd idea, Lin Xian stepped forward to reassure Gao Wen.
¡°Gao Wen, there¡¯s really no need to be so pessimistic,¡± he said. ¡°Your time machine might not work, but this is why I traveled here¡ your effort, and Big Cat¡¯s father, Chen Heping¡¯s work, it wasn¡¯t in vain. Absolutely not.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take your time machine theory and the blueprints back to my time, to 2024. Then, in that era, I¡¯ll build it¡ªI¡¯ll make the time machine a reality.¡±
¡°Once I have a time machine in 2024, there¡¯s so much I can do¡ªI can travel back, gather information, make sense of everything.¡±
¡°I have a hunch the person who caused the Great Catastrophe of 2400 also lived in my time. So cheer up, Gao Wen. Think of it like this: your time machine has already sent me back.¡±
¡°The culprit you couldn¡¯t catch, I¡¯ll catch for you! The catastrophe you couldn¡¯t prevent, I¡¯ll stop it!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s words had an uplifting effect on Gao Wen¡ªeven if just for a moment.
But then¡
Gao Wen frowned as he looked at Lin Xian.
¡°You n to take the blueprints back to 2024?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°And you want to build the time machine in 2024?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
Lin Xian nodded again, a confident smile on his face.
¡°And in 2024, I even have time-space particles. As long as I build the time machine, I can make the journey through time. Why, Gao Wen, why the long face?¡±
Seeing Gao Wen¡¯s troubled expression, Lin Xian was puzzled.
¡°Isn¡¯t this a victory within our reach? I have the time-space particles, and you have the blueprints. All I need to do is take them back to 2024, build it, and¡ªeverything¡¯s perfect, right?¡±
But¡
Gao Wen closed his eyes, shook his head slowly.
¡°It won¡¯t work, Lin Xian. You can¡¯t build a time machine in 2024.¡±
¡°I never said it had to be done exactly in 2024,¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Maybe a couple of yearster, three or five¡ªI¡¯m flexible. You don¡¯t have to be so strict.¡±
Ideally, Lin Xian would love to see the time machine built within a year or two¡ªbetter sooner thanter, to avoidplications. But he also knew it was a huge project, not something that could bepleted overnight, so he was prepared for it to take a few years.
As long as it didn¡¯t drag on for a decade¡ ten years would be too much¡ªfar too distant.
¡°I hate to disappoint you, Lin Xian,¡± Gao Wen said, his expression grave. ¡°But forget three or five years. Even thirty or fifty years¡ªyou still wouldn¡¯t seed in building a time machine.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Lin Xian was genuinely confused.
He looked around, recalling the technological level of Donghai City. It wasn¡¯t even that advanced, nowhere near the level of the top cities in X Country in 2024.
If this era, with its lower technology, could build a time machine, why couldn¡¯t the more advanced 2024 manage it?
Not to mention¡
The massive time machine right in front of them had been built in a ¡°slum¡± like the Sin City. How advanced could the tech be?
¡°What¡¯s the challenge?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°If it¡¯s some missing tech or material, just give me the info, and I¡¯ll take it back with me.¡±
¡°No, no, you misunderstand, Lin Xian.¡± Gao Wen shook his head, picking up a piece of chalk and heading to a ckboard in the corner of theb.
¡°The technical difficulty of building a time machine isn¡¯t that high. The technology of 2024 should be more than enough. After all, Chen Heping and I managed to create a time machine here in Sin City¡ªwhich proves there¡¯s no insurmountable scientific or material bottleneck.¡±
¡°I could even give you the theoretical notes¡ªit¡¯s not that hard to grasp. And you already have the time-space particles you mentioned. So those issues aren¡¯t the problem. Still¡ I must tell you, Lin Xian, in 2024, it is simply impossible to build a time machine.¡±
¡°Because the calibration module for the time machine requires a specific isotope of a radioactive element. And, in 2024, that isotope does not exist on Earth.¡±
Gao Wen then wrote on the board¡ª
¡°Astatine-339.¡±
¡°Astatine¡ 339?¡± Lin Xian blinked. ¡°Astatine doesn¡¯t exist on Earth?¡±
¡°I remember my chemistry teacher saying that every element in the universe exists on Earth. The periodic table has 118 elements.¡±
¡°Ny-four of those elements are natural, found on Earth, and the rest¡ªfrom Element 95 to 118¡ªcan all be synthesized inbs.¡±
¡°Sure, they¡¯re mostly superheavy, radioactive elements that onlyst a few milliseconds before decaying into something else. But even if it¡¯s just for milliseconds, those elements technically exist on Earth, right? And if they exist here, they should exist elsewhere in the universe too, with the same half-life. There shouldn¡¯t be any element out there that doesn¡¯t exist here.¡±
¡°If there¡¯s an unknown element out there, it¡¯s just irresponsible science fiction. The atomic structure of the universe is fixed¡ª118 protons max¡ªso there can¡¯t be more than 118 elements.¡±
Lin Xian recalled reading reports about howboratories worldwide, including those with particle elerators, had tried¡ªand failed¡ªto create Element 119 by adding an extra proton to the nucleus.
His chemistry teacher had said that every element in the universe could be found on Earth. Lin Xian had found it surprising at the time, even arrogant, but hister research confirmed it¡ªwhether he liked it or not.
And astatine¡ªLin Xian was pretty sure it was a radioactive element.
The number after it¡ªit must be the isotope of astatine.
Wait¡?
Lin Xian thought back to his chemistry lessons.
Astatine-339?
Impossible!
Astatine¡¯s atomic number is 85. How could there be an Astatine-339 isotope? It made no sense!
¡°What¡¯s with Astatine-339?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°This isotope¡ªit¡¯s not that it doesn¡¯t exist on Earth. It shouldn¡¯t exist anywhere in this universe.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Gao Wen said, nodding approvingly. ¡°Looks like your fundamentals are solid.¡±
He then wrote down a range on the board: Astatine-191 to Astatine-229, and continued:
¡°ording to current scientific understanding, astatine has 39 isotopes. The most stable one is Astatine-210, with a half-life of 8.1 hours. The least stable is Astatine-213, with a half-life of just 125 nanoseconds. After alpha decay, it bes Bismuth-209, which has a long lifespan.¡±
¡°These 39 isotopes should cover all possible forms of astatine. There shouldn¡¯t be any others in the universe. But¡¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s expression grew serious as he looked at Lin Xian.
¡°What if Astatine-339, just like time-space particles, doesn¡¯t belong to our universe?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened.
¡°You mean this Astatine-339es from another dimension? Another universe?¡±
Considering the existence of time rifts, particles that could cross universes, and time travelers from other dimensions, Gao Wen¡¯s idea wasn¡¯t impossible.
But then¡
Lin Xian turned to the massive time machine.
¡°Then how did you manage to build this time machine?¡±
Gao Wen turned back to the board and wrote another date:
¡°March 27, 2077¡±
Seeing that date, Lin Xian paused.
That date¡ it was the one Galileo had mentioned when Einstein asked about humanity¡¯s next major astronomical breakthrough¡ªat yesterday¡¯s Genius Club gathering!
After writing it, Gao Wen turned and spoke slowly.
¡°March 27, 2077. It¡¯s andmark day in human astronomical history. On that day, there was a revolutionary discovery¡ªa breakthrough that changed everything.¡±
¡°Astronomers, using their telescopes, spotted a distantet¡ªone traveling from the edge of the sr system toward Earth.¡±
¡°Nothing unusual about thatets aremon. But this one was different¡ªits trajectory, speed, and spectral signature were unlike anything previously observed.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t bore you with theplex details. But from its spectral analysis, astronomers deduced that thiset carried something alien¡ªnot from our universe, not from our time.¡±
¡°But theet wouldn¡¯t reach Earth for over a hundred years. All people could do was wait.¡±
¡°Then, in 2234, it finally entered the sr system¡ªheading straight for Earth with an incorrect gravitational coefficient. Thankfully, nations had prepared, and nuclear missiles intercepted it before it hit the atmosphere. Its fragments orbited Earth for years, slowly falling and raining down.¡±
¡°And from that point on, Earth became host to several unexinable isotopes¡ªincluding Astatine-339.¡±
Lin Xian was still thinking about Galileo¡¯s question to Einstein, but snapped back to reality as Gao Wen finished speaking.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°So, the challenge isn¡¯t the technology¡ªit¡¯s when Astatine-339 will reach Earth.¡±
¡°ording to you, thatet¡ªfrom another universe, another dimension¡ªwill only arrive in 2234, bringing Astatine-339 with it. So that means¡¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Gao Wen said, nodding solemnly, regret evident in his voice. ¡°Because theet¡¯s arrival date is fixed, the earliest time a time machine can be built and used is also fixed.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re truly from 2024, and that¡¯s the only time you can return to¡ then, as I said before, the soonest you¡¯ll be able to use a time machine is¡ª¡±
¡°Two hundred years from now¡ªthe year 2234!¡±
Chapter 438: Blooming in Desperation
Two Hundred Years Later¡
¡°What? I have to wait until the year 2234 to use the time machine?¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath, stunned by the news. It felt like his mind had just been thrown off bnce.
How na?ve he¡¯d been. He thought waiting ten or twenty years for a time machine would be hard enough¡ªbut two hundred years? That was beyond anything he could have imagined.
¡°Uh¡¡± He scratched his head, feeling his ns crumble. ¡°Isn¡¯t there another way?¡±
Gao Wen shook his head. ¡°I understand how you feel, Lin Xian. But I¡¯ve told you this before¡ªthe element Astatine-339 doesn¡¯t exist on Earth. It came from aet, from another universe, a different timeline.¡±
¡°Aside from thatet, there¡¯s no Astatine-339 anywhere else in the universe,¡± Gao Wen continued. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of finding another way¡ªit¡¯s simply impossible. Unless you can somehow make thatet arrive earlier, which, of course, is also impossible. When humanity first spotted it in 2077, it was still far away, nowhere near our sr system. It¡¯ll be flying through space for over a hundred years before reaching the Kuiper Belt.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just basic physics, Lin Xian. We¡¯re too small to affect something that huge. All we could do was shoot it down with missiles to stop it from crashing into Earth. But moving it forward by a century? No chance.¡±Gao Wen was a serious scientist. If he said something was impossible, he was usually right. But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t ready to give up. He kept brainstorming, trying to find a way around these limitations.
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he looked up at Gao Wen, his eyes brightening. ¡°Wait, we¡¯re in the year 2624 now. There must be Astatine-339 avable, right? And there should be quite a lot of it.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Gao Wen replied. ¡°Theet was massive, with a radius of over twenty kilometers. Humanity shot it down with nuclear missiles in space, and most of the fragments fell as meteors. The rest eventually fell to Earth over the years.¡±
¡°The amount of Astatine-339 on thatet was significant. But it has no practical use, which is why it¡¯s not rare in 2624. You could get it easily.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and shared his idea. ¡°If we had some now, could we use your time machine to send it back to 2024?¡±
¡°No,¡± Gao Wen said without hesitation. ¡°The time machine can only send living organisms or dead cells.¡±
¡°In simple terms, it can transport humans, animals, nts, even fungi and bacteria with cell structures¡ªbut metals, rocks, or pure Astatine-339? Absolutely not.¡±
Lin Xian remembered something Elon Musk had mentioned about a glowing blue USB stick. ¡°But wasn¡¯t there a USB stick that traveled through time? It disappeared afterward, turning into blue stardust.¡±
¡°That¡¯s no ordinary USB stick,¡± Gao Wen replied immediately. ¡°I researched it with Big Cat¡¯s father, Chen He Ping. We ruled out all possibilities¡ªa normal USB stick couldn¡¯t have traveled through time. Lin Xian, did you ever see it yourself?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian admitted. ¡°When I learned about it, it had already turned to stardust. But I trust the person who told me about it. He said it glowed blue, like something from another timeline.¡±
Gao Wen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°If that¡¯s true, there¡¯s only one possibility. It must have been a highly advanced piece of biotechnology.¡±
¡°It might have looked like a regr electronic device, but it was actually an artificial organism.¡±
¡°Otherwise, it makes no sense¡ªhow could an inanimate electronic device have a flowing blue glow? Only living things can do that. And since it turned to stardust, it must have been some kind of biological technology.¡±
¡°Our current technology hasn¡¯t reached the point of creating artificial life, but I have no doubt that living beings could store energy or information. It must havee from a highly advanced timeline.¡±
Lin Xian thought about the mysterious Fake Yu Xi. Honestly, he knew very little about her. Elon Musk had said the blue USB stick came from her, but even he didn¡¯t understand how it worked.
Maybe Gao Wen was right. Lin Xian had no idea which timeline Fake Yu Xi came from, but if it was anything like the Fourth Dream, with cities like Starlink and space elevators, their biotechnology must have been incredibly advanced.
Even in 2024, people were already using bio-batteries. The technology was mature.
¡°I understand now,¡± Lin Xian said, pacing around theb, trying to piece everything together. ¡°So only living things can time travel¡ªnatural or artificial. Even dead cells could do it. Does that mean time travelers in movies could actually wear animal-skin clothes?¡±
Gao Wen smiled and walked over to an equipment unit that looked like a freezer. He opened the door and motioned for Lin Xian to take a closer look. ¡°You¡¯re quite perceptive. Look at this¡ªit¡¯s a ¡®travel suit¡¯ made from otter skin, specifically for time travelers.¡±
Lin Xian leaned in to observe. It was ck, tight-fitting, and smooth to the touch¡ªcool, sleek, and flexible, likelyfortable to wear. Most importantly, it had no metal zippers or stic buckles. It was sewn with either cotton or animal tendon thread.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian muttered, recalling the events of the night before. The assassin with the blue eyes had worn something simr¡ªa tight suit made of animal skin or bio-tech material. She must have just arrived in this timeline, which exined why she hadn¡¯t changed clothes.
Unlike the others¡ªYellow Finch, Lin Yu Xi, and Fake Yu Xi¡ªwho wore ordinary clothing.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian repeated, realization dawning. The assassin¡¯s outfit confirmed that she¡¯d only recently arrived, which also matched one of Gao Wen¡¯s theories.
¡°Time travelers can only cross timelines during certain events, like a major shift in the worldline or a significant ¡®anchor point¡¯ in time. Time travel can¡¯t happen just anywhere or anytime¡ªyou need a temporal rift to make it work.¡±
Lin Xian kept pacing in the undergroundb, thinking hard. Was there really no way to use the time machine to send Astatine-339 back to 2024?
He closed his eyes, reying all the possibilities in his head.
¡°Hmm¡¡± He frowned, stopping in his tracks as another idea came to him. ¡°Gao Wen, there are no pure metals or elements inside our bodies, but we do have plenty of metal ions andpounds.¡±
¡°Like the sodium ions in salt, calcium in our bones, or iron in hemoglobin. All these exist in our bodies¡ªin our cells, blood, bones, and muscles.¡±
¡°So, I have a wild idea. What if we turned Astatine-339 into an ionicpound, dissolved it into blood or cellr fluid, and sent it back with a time traveler? Then, once it¡¯s in 2024, we could extract it and perform a reduction reaction to turn it back into pure Astatine-339.¡±
¡°It¡¯s like how sodium ions in the body exist as sodium chloride, and in industry, you can electrolyze salt to get metallic sodium and chlorine gas.¡±
¡°Could we do something simr? If Astatine-339 ions are toxic, we could dissolve them in an apple or something, and the time traveler could carry it back.¡±
Lin Xian felt confident. It should work¡ªafter all, there were plenty of inorganicpounds in the human body, and they could time travel. The rule seemed to be that pure elements couldn¡¯t.
Astatine was radioactive but unusual. Lin Xian remembered his chemistry teacher exining how it could form both positive and negative ions when dissolved in water¡ªa unique property of this radioactive element.
Since Astatine-339 could exist as ions in water, blood, or cellr fluid, his idea seemed theoretically sound.
Lin Xian looked at Gao Wen with hopeful eyes. This time, Gao Wen didn¡¯t shake his head. Instead, he gave Lin Xian a look of approval. ¡°I must say, Lin Xian, you¡¯re quite brilliant. Chen He Ping also had a simr idea back in the day.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. Of course. Gao Wen and Big Cat¡¯s father, two of the greatest minds in human history¡ªif Lin Xian could think of this, surely they had too.
¡°It won¡¯t work, will it?¡± Lin Xian guessed.
Gao Wen nodded and exined, ¡°Remember what I said? Thatet came from another universe, another timeline. The elements on it are also from that universe. The reason I said these elements have no practical use is because¡¡±
¡°These foreign elements don¡¯t react with anything from our universe. They¡¯re stable beyond belief.¡±
¡°They¡¯re so stable, it¡¯s as if Astatine-339 is locked in ce¡ªfixed and unchangeable. That¡¯s what makes it so unique, and why it¡¯s used in the calibration module of the time machine.¡±
¡°Your idea is clever, Lin Xian, but Astatine-339 can¡¯t react with anything from our universe. It can¡¯t formpounds or ions. That means your n simply won¡¯t work.¡±
¡
This time¡
The undergroundb fell into a heavy silence.
Lin Xian waspletely out of ideas.
He had tried every possible solution, but none could bring Astatine-339 back to the year 2024 using the time machine.
And it wasn¡¯t just him.
For years, Gao Wen and Chen He Ping must have conducted all sorts of experiments too. That¡¯s why Gao Wen, usually so precise and cautious, was so adamant just now¡ªthere was no way to build a time machine in 2024.
So¡
Was there really¡ no way?
Seeing Lin Xian and Gao Wen both silent, CC nced from one to the other before stepping beside Lin Xian.
¡°I don¡¯t really understand everything you two are saying,¡± she said, ¡°but we don¡¯t have much time now. There¡¯s something I have to report to you.¡±
She raised her wrist to show Lin Xian the time on her watch.
00:39.
The dream was about to end.
Ever since Lin Xian had returned, he¡¯d been wrapped up in discussions with Gao Wen about time-space particles and the time machine. CC hadn¡¯t had a chance to talk to him.
And now, if she didn¡¯t speak up, there wouldn¡¯t be another chance.
CC put her hand down and looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Although tomorrow¡ well, I mean your tomorrow, you¡¯lle looking for me again to ask me questions. But considering how tight your time is, I figured I¡¯d tell you now.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, in this era, I searched all over Donghai City, but I still couldn¡¯t find Time Bank or any trace of the vault.¡±
¡°The great disaster of 2400 really buried everything. I can¡¯t tell if Time Bank went bankrupt before 2400, or if it was destroyed along with Donghai City during the disaster, with all the vaults swallowed by the sea or buried underground.¡±
¡°In short, based on my observations from these dreams, I think that if we want to find your vault in 2624, we have to stop the great disaster of 2400 first. If we don¡¯t prevent that disaster, I¡¯m afraid¡ it¡¯ll be almost impossible to find the vault by then.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°Indeed.¡±
He had thought the same thing.
The vault was bing harder and harder to find. Ultimately, it was because the great disaster of 2400 had shattered both civilization and history.
The new city humanity had built now stood over the ruins of Old Donghai City. Whether those aluminum-alloy vaults were buried underground or swept into the sea, they were too difficult to locate.
To untie the bell, one must first understand who tied it.
It seemed that every problem pointed back to the culprit behind the disaster of 2400.
Was it¡
Galileo?
Lin Xian thought back to the previous night when the Genius Club had their meeting.
Galileo had asked Einstein a question:
¡°When will the next revolutionary discovery or groundbreaking breakthrough in astronomy happen?¡±
Einstein had answered without hesitation:
¡°March 27th, 2077.¡±
At the time, including Lin Xian, everyone probably thought it was just an ordinary, meaningless question.
But now, it seemed that it had been Galileo¡¯s ¡°perfect question¡± all along!
He had hidden his real intentions and true curiosity behind such an odd question.
No one knew what he was really asking, nor what Einstein¡¯s answer truly meant.
But Galileo¡
He had already gained the most valuable information he wanted!
Just now, Gao Wen had confirmed it.
On March 27th, 2077, human astronomers first discovered an extra-dimensionalet¡ªone with an abnormal spectrum, gravitational force, and trajectory.
A revolutionary discovery. A groundbreaking breakthrough.
Thatet certainly deserved those titles.
The astronomymunity at the time might have been full of excitement for thatet, with countless people eagerly waiting for it to visit Earth over the next hundred years.
But Gao Wen had also said earlier that the extra-dimensional elements on theet were useless¡ªthey didn¡¯t react with anything. So, in all likelihood, by 2234, the humans who had waited a century for it would be sorely disappointed.
But¡
Some people would be thrilled.
Those who understood time travel, who wanted to build a time machine¡ª
People like¡
Galileo!
He made everyone believe he was just asking an irrelevant astronomy question.
But in reality, the question was not about astronomy at all. It was about time travel¡ªjust like Copernicus¡¯ question had been!
Realizing this, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath.
It seemed¡
He had misunderstood something.
Last night, Copernicus had asked Einstein:
¡°If I wanted to build a time machine and send a time traveler back to the past¡ who should I find? The closer, the better.¡±
Einstein¡¯s answer had been:
¡°Refuse to answer. The question is void.¡±
This meant¡
The answer to Copernicus¡¯ question must have involved a member of the Genius Club, which was why Einstein refused to answer.
At that time, Lin Xian had felt guilty. Of course, he knew the answer was him¡ªhe had the time machine manuscript hidden in his drawer.
He even acted along with the others, ncing around like an innocent bystander.
But now¡
He had figured it out.
Einstein¡¯s refusal wasn¡¯t because of him! It had nothing to do with him!
The reason was simple.
The manuscript in his drawer was wrong!
As Gao Wen had said, if Chen He Ping hadn¡¯t corrected the mistakes, even with a hundred time-space particles, Lin Xian still wouldn¡¯t have been able to build a time machine.
So¡
How could Einstein have refused to answer because of a wed manuscript?
He could see the future.
Of course, he knew that the manuscript in Lin Xian¡¯s drawer was wrong. There¡¯s no way he would have lied because of that.
Yet he did refuse to answer.
Which meant that Copernicus¡¯ question did involve a Genius Club member.
Thinking of this, Lin Xian took a deep breath¡
And if it wasn¡¯t him, then it had to be another member. Combined with Galileo¡¯s question, the answer was clear as day¡ª
In the year 2024, the person who truly possessed the knowledge of time travel wasn¡¯t him. It was Galileo!
¡°This is just too much scheming,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head.
These Genius Club members¡ªevery single one of them was as cunning as could be.
Especially Galileo.
He had hidden his true intentions so well.
Lin Xian stepped forward to the center of the undergroundb, gazing up at the massive, imposing time machine.
He lifted his right hand and gently touched its surface.
Sigh¡
He really didn¡¯t want to let it go.
The time machine was right here, within his reach, but he couldn¡¯t use it. He couldn¡¯t bring it back to 2024.
This feeling of longing and helplessness¡ªbeing so close yet so far¡ªwas just heart-wrenching.
Two hundred years from now¡
Lin Xian closed his eyes, feeling a wave of despair.
Did they really have to wait two hundred years before they could use the time machine?
Was there really¡
No other way?
¡
Hmm?
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open.
No. Wait.
From his perspective, this might indeed look like a hopeless situation¡ªa dead end. Even with their brilliance, Gao Wen and Chen He Ping also saw it as a dead end. There seemed to be no way to obtain Astatine-339 ahead of time.
But!
Whether it was himself, Gao Wen, or Chen He Ping, all three of them had limits to their knowledge. In the grand scheme of time and history, they were just frogs at the bottom of a well.
But¡
There was one person who was different.
Someone who was all-knowing and all-seeing!
Perhaps he could see another way!
Thinking of that mncholy, mysterious mask, Lin Xian whispered to himself:
¡°Why not¡ ask the wonderful Einstein?¡±
Chapter 439: A Family
BOOM!!!!!!
BOOM!!!!!!
BOOM!!!!!!
A blinding white light shed right on time. Even in the deepest undergroundyer of Sin City, it didn¡¯t miss a beat¡ªeverything was burned to ashes.
¡
¡
¡
In the corner of his bedroom, Lin Xian opened his eyes.He sat up, slipped on his slippers, and sat at the edge of his bed, lost in thought.
This dream wasn¡¯t just about exploring a new world¡ªit had also given him a deeper understanding of time travel and the time machine, thanks to his discussion with Gao Wen.
¡°But none of that really matters,¡± he muttered, shaking his head.
These insights¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t change anything, even if Gao Wen hadn¡¯t exined them to him. Once the time machine was built, he¡¯d have plenty of time to learn the rest.
The real blow was¡
No matter what, the time machine wouldn¡¯t bepleted before the year 2234, before theet beyond time reached Earth.
This news was devastating, throwing all of Lin Xian¡¯s ns into disarray.
Two hundred and ten years from now. Unless he used a hibernation chamber, there was no way he could live that long.
¡°But still, it¡¯s not all bad news,¡± Lin Xian realized.
The truth was, the Genius Club members of 2024 were only just beginning to understand time travel and their ns for the future. Even the earliest members like Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, and da Vinci had only beenying the groundwork for a few decades¡ªthey hadn¡¯t truly revealed their cards yet.
Without the hibernation chamber, Copernicus would be gone in about ten years. Newton, Galileo, and da Vinci? They¡¯dst maybe three or four decades before aging took its toll.
In the grand flow of time, they¡¯d be little more than dust, barely leaving a ripple.
That, perhaps, was why the first dream felt so stable.
Though it was a mystery how the Genius Club continued to operate in the future without the hibernation chamber, their influence on Earth wasn¡¯t as enormous as in theter dreams.
The hibernation chamber changed everything.
In theter dreams, it was almost as if the Genius Club members were performing solos¡ªone taking the stage after another, each altering time and shaping the future.
But that was 600 yearster.
The members of the Genius Club 600 years from now were incredibly powerful¡ªunbelievably so. But in 2024? They were just starting out. Especially when it came to understanding time travel¡ªeveryone was still in the early stages.
¡°Copernicus probably just realized that time travel was possible, which is why he asked Einstein about who could build a time machine,¡± Lin Xian analyzed.
¡°This means that the current Copernicus, aside from killing some scientists, hasn¡¯t fullyid out his future ns.¡±
¡°The one I¡¯ve been ying cat and mouse with is actually Copernicus from 600 years in the future. The Copernicus of today isn¡¯t that strong yet¡ªat least, not strong enough to control the Time Court and the Time Police.¡±
¡°The same goes for Galileo.¡±
Lin Xian stood up from the bed, pacing the room.
¡°Galileo is a bit ahead of Copernicus when ites to researching the time machine. He seems to be stuck on the calibration module, which is why he asked Einstein about astronomy indirectly.¡±
¡°But from what I¡¯ve seen in the dreams and the future, Galileo¡¯s presence is almost nonexistent. If Turing hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I wouldn¡¯t have known that the disaster of 2400 was caused by him.¡±
Lin Xian pulled back the curtains and gazed out at the bright lights of Donghai City.
So far, he¡¯d experienced eight different dreams, seen eight different futures.
In most of those futures, it was clear that certain geniuses had influenced the world, but it seemed like none of them¡ªGalileo, Gauss, Newton¡ªever made it all the way to 2624. They all got eliminated somewhere along the line.
¡°Let¡¯s summarize.¡±
Lin Xian sat down at his desk, switched on themp, and began organizing the information he had on each Genius Club member.
No. 1: Einstein
The head of the Genius Club¡ªhis true identity is unknown. He¡¯s like an absolute neutral party and observer. He wears an Einstein mask, and though he seems older than Copernicus and Newton, he¡¯s far more spirited and incredibly mysterious.
He tolerates all the members¡¯ actions¡ªmoral or immoral, right or wrong, loyal or traitorous. He doesn¡¯t care. His perspective is almost absurdly high-level¡ªso much so that it feels unreal.
He has the power to see the future, almost omniscient and omnipotent. So far, Lin Xian hasn¡¯t seen any ws in him. Einstein¡¯s authority and strength make him unique within the club.
Einstein¡¯s true goal remains unclear. ording to him, in the future he sees, humanity has no future¡ªwhich is why he created the Genius Club. He gathered geniuses and shared his ability to see the future, hoping to bring about a brighter future for humanity.
That¡¯s all Lin Xian knows about Einstein.
He has no hostility towards anyone, not even himself. Given his abilities, if he wanted someone dead, it would be all too easy.
No. 2: Copernicus
Copernicus is the second member of the Genius Club, joining right after Einstein. His true identity is also unknown.
Though Lin Xian had seen his face in the fourth dream, no one could be sure it was real. VV hadpared it to all avable photos on Earth but found no matches. So, the face of the mysterious old man in the dream must be fake.
Either it wasn¡¯t his real face, or he had stic surgery.
Considering Copernicus¡¯ age and failing health in 2024, it¡¯s likely that in the future, when technology advanced, he had medical treatments, surgery, or skin recements.
Lin Xian knew quite a bit about Copernicus.
ording to Newton, Copernicus started hunting scientists long ago, even back in the previous century. He had a strange sense of ritual¡ªevery scientist he killed had to die at precisely 00:42 local time, as a form of tribute, an ultimate respect for them.
Later, as he grew older and tired of killing, he found Ji Xin Shui and formed the Seven Deadly Sins to do his dirty work for him.
Copernicus had even once told Angelica that the scariest people weren¡¯t physicists, astronomers, or chemists, but¡ªmathematicians.
Because mathematics is the only field where the fundamentals of everything, even the truth of the universe, can be deduced using nothing but a pencil and paper.
Lin Xian had no doubts about that.
Big Cat¡¯s father, Chen Heping, was the emperor of calctions.
In a shabby room, with just a pencil and paper, he calcted the Universal Constant 42.
In a filthy slum, with nothing but paper and pencil, hepleted the theory of time travel and helped Gao Wen build the full-fledged time machine.
Lin Xian still didn¡¯t understand why Copernicus was so obsessed with killing mathematicians.
But his gut told him¡
It had to be, must be, without a doubt rted to the Universal Constant 42!
Lin Xian could almost confirm that Ji Lin¡¯s parents were most likely killed by Copernicus. He just wouldn¡¯t admit it and even tried to frame Elon Musk.
But by now, no one believed Copernicus¡¯ lies. Neither Lin Xian nor Angelica.
In the fourth dream, cunning Copernicus deliberately mimicked Kevin Walker¡¯s catchphrase to divert Lin Xian¡¯s attention to Kevin Walker.
Later, after Lin Xian exposed him, he imed to be Elon Musk, still trying to deceive him.
Only a fool would trust that old man again.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t contacted Elon Musk or Angelica in the past few days, but he was sure they must have joined forces by now¡ªunited in their hatred against Copernicus.
The bond between them was unbreakable.
Copernicus had destroyed Angelica¡¯s second life and killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents. Then he tried to steal Elon Musk¡¯s entangled time particles, nning to kill him and rece him with a doppelg?nger.
It was a blood feud.
Angelica and Elon Musk would love nothing more than to strangle Copernicus right now. Lin Xian had no doubts about their partnership¡ªtheir skills and goals matched perfectly.
That said¡
Copernicus was the most troublesome enemy in the entire Genius Club.
He joined the club early, and for years, he could ask Einstein a question every month without worrying about others overhearing or his identity being exposed.
So Copernicus knew far more truths and secrets about time, history, and the future than anyone else.
His current focus was clearly on the time machine.
The bad news was, once he fully understood the principles of time travel, he¡¯d try to steal the entangled time particles from Lin Xian.
The good news was, Copernicus was stillgging behind in building the time machine.
But Lin Xian couldn¡¯t let his guard down.
He had already decided what question to ask Einstein at the next Genius Club meeting on August 1st, and how to phrase it cleverly.
No. 3: Newton
Newton¡¯s virtual image is of a young man, but in reality, he¡¯s an old man who constantly talks about his grandchildren. He¡¯s the third member of the Genius Club.
Being the member who joined after Copernicus, Newton and Copernicus didn¡¯t get along at all. In fact, they were often at each other¡¯s throats.
But it probably wasn¡¯t Newton¡¯s fault. After all, no one in the club liked Copernicus. It was clearly a Copernicus problem.
Newton¡¯s true identity was also unknown, and Lin Xian had no clue about his future ns or real motives.
At the recent club meeting, Newton hadn¡¯t asked a question, leaving Lin Xian with no way to gather information about this ¡°old rascal.¡±
For now, Newton seemed like a good guy, but in this club full of schemers, it was best not to trust anyone¡¯s words at face value. Everyone had countless tricks up their sleeves and could act like an Oscar-winning performer.
For now, Newton hadn¡¯t shown any overt hostility or made his ns clear, so Lin Xian didn¡¯t see him as an enemy.
What puzzled him was¡
Why was this high-ranking, powerful guy¡ªthe one who picked Isaac Newton as his persona¡ªso quiet in every dream?
In the fourth dream, Copernicus clearly dominated the scene.
In the fifth dream, Elon Musk became the light of humanity, leading the Mars migration.
In the sixth dream, Turing survived with thirty thousand duplicates, waiting for the moment one would win and be the ruler of Earth.
In the eighth dream, Miss da Vinci¡¯s Savior Company saved human civilization from disaster, though things went off courseter.
But what about Newton, the big guy?
He chose Isaac Newton as his mask, which suggested he was ambitious, believing in strength and power.
So what was his future n?
Why hadn¡¯t he made it to the end in any of the futures?
No. 4: Galileo
Galileo¡¯s virtual image was that of a middle-aged man. His true identity was unknown, but he seemed to be a hot-blooded warrior, with aggressive words and personality.
If what Turing said was true¡
Galileo¡¯s future n was to deliberately trigger the great disaster of 2400, to reset human society and rebuild a more fierce, vigorous human culture.
It seemed clear that Galileo wasn¡¯t a fan of rules and restrictions. He despised modern society¡¯s so-called virtues, morals, andws, believing they suppressed humanity¡¯s primal nature.
But¡
What problem would a worldwide disaster solve?
And from what Lin Xian had seen, it seemed Galileo was just being used by the other geniuses.
In the fifth dream¡¯s future, Elon Musk took advantage of the disaster to move humans to Mars, fulfilling his migration n.
In the sixth dream¡¯s future, Turing¡¯s duplicates used the disaster to be deities worshipped by the remaining human tribes.
In the eighth dream¡¯s future, Miss da Vinci also used the disaster to create an ideal society where everyone was perfect and exemry.
Poor, poor Galileo.
What was his goal after starting the disaster?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure it out.
Surely he didn¡¯t trigger the disaster only to die in it himself?
That¡¯d be too ridiculous.
No. 5: da Vinci
Having just emerged from the eighth dream, Lin Xian knew a fair bit about Miss da Vinci.
She was the only female member of the Genius Club, and though her true identity was unknown, she didn¡¯t seem like a bad person.
The Savior Company she founded, along with the millions of bionic robots she had prepared, truly became the saviors of humanity, doing a lot of good.
As for what happenedter¡ªno one could have predicted that.
From what Gao Wen said, Miss da Vinci didn¡¯t live to see the end. At some point, she passed away, leaving the Savior Company in the hands of the bionic robots.
Her original intention was for these robots to serve as role models for humans, leading people towards a bright and harmonious future.
But perhaps she underestimated or overestimated human nature.
The future didn¡¯t go as she had hoped.
It was¡
Hard to say whether it was right or wrong¡ªit was all very debatable.
Gao Wen and the others never considered using the time machine to kill Miss da Vinci, and Lin Xian felt the same. Compared to Copernicus or Galileo, Miss da Vinci genuinely seemed to care about humanity¡¯s ¡°bright¡± future.
As for Copernicus and Galileo¡¯s idea of ¡°bright,¡± it was likely just a product of their twisted minds.
If there was an opportunity during a future club meeting, Lin Xian thought he might hint at some things to Miss da Vinci. Whether it would help or whether she¡¯d even listen was another story, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try.
Most geniuses were stubborn, after all, and not likely to heed anyone¡¯s advice.
[No. 6 Gauss]
The slender man wearing the ¡®Math Prince¡¯ mask didn¡¯t exude even a hint of princely confidence or grace. He stammered, speaking in a soft, timid voice, and the entire Genius Club interrupted him relentlessly.
His vision for the future? A world of absolute equality.
But¡
Humanity, society, life, the future¡
None of these things are as straightforward as a mathematical equation or form. Is there truly such a thing as apletely fair world?
Lin Xian believed there wasn¡¯t.
Even up until the meeting yesterday, it seemed this genius hadn¡¯t figured out what equality really meant or how to achieve it. When asked by Einstein, Gauss responded with a confusing question about brain and body enhancement, which left everyone puzzled.
Yet¡ Lin Xian had seen enough deception to understand one thing¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single mediocre person in the Genius Club. If he couldn¡¯t understand Gauss¡¯s question now, it was only because he hadn¡¯t seen through Gauss yet, nor grasped his n.
¡°No question is meaningless,¡± Lin Xian thought, ¡°Even the choice not to ask a question carries its own meaning.¡±
The Genius Club gatherings looked harmonious on the surface, but beneath it all¡ it was a giant, borate game of deception¡ªtruths and lies intertwined, and everyone was ying a role.
If you ever think the whole group is just clueless, naiveb rats, that only means¡
You¡¯re the realb rat.
[No. 7 Te]
This one was an old friend, no secrets here. His real identity was clear: Elon Musk, the world¡¯s richest man. His purpose was equally transparent¡ªto use Mars colonization as a stepping stone, leading humanity off Earth and into the vast expanse of the universe.
But he had failed, and his future ns were doomed as well.
Right now, Elon Musk was ying an borate game of disguises¡ªswitching ces, pretending to be someone else. He had the real ¡°Fake Elon Musk¡± act as the fake ¡°Real Elon Musk¡± and get ¡°killed,¡± while the real Elon Musk disguised himself as the fake ¡°Fake Elon Musk.¡±
But after all the twists and turns¡ Elon Musk was still Elon Musk. Only in Copernicus¡¯s eyes, everything had already turned upside down.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know when he would finally find Copernicus, when he would get his revenge, and finally close this.
But he was sure, when that moment came¡
Elon Musk and Angelica would definitely be there.
[No. 8 Turing]
Turing was the most unique member of the Genius Club, mainly because he was two people. He was the only one whose seat had been inherited by another.
The first to join the club was Kevin Walker, Turing¡¯s human counterpart. His skills were undeniably the best on Earth¡ªa hacking genius. He built everything¡ªthe Genius Club¡¯swork system, the question-answer tform, the new member wee module, even the virtual meeting environment. He did it all.
Technically, Kevin knew every member¡¯s information, which made everyone ufortable. But Einstein had set strict boundaries around Kevin¡¯s ess to personal information, which reassured the others.
It gave Lin Xian some confidence too¡ªeven if Digital Turing ever colluded with Copernicus, he certainly wouldn¡¯t dare share the members¡¯ secrets.
Einstein had a firm grasp on Turing, a ruler that kept him in line.
However, Kevin Walker was gone now. Turing was dead too. The Genius Club had, for the first time, lost a member. With their absence, control of thework system and the virtual meeting environment had reverted back to Einstein.
[No. 9 Rhine]
Indeed, thest genius, the one whose mask and codename shed with everyone else¡¯s style, was none other than Lin Xian himself.
To be honest, not receiving the invitation in the official manner left him clueless about the true meaning behind the masks, which is why he ended up making such a fool of himself.
But he couldn¡¯t very well admit he¡¯d cheated to get his invitation¡ªthat would instantly expose how different he was.
So, he acted nonchnt, swallowing his embarrassment, trying to look like he wore the ¡®cat mask¡¯ out of sheer personal preference.
Maybe even Einstein thought the ¡®Rhine Cat¡¯ codename was out of ce, lowering the group¡¯s dignity. So he had spared Lin Xian the embarrassment by dropping the ¡®Cat¡¯ and renaming him ¡®Rhine.¡¯
As the newest member of the club, Lin Xian still found himself at a loss¡ªunsure of his future ns or how to proceed. During his first meeting, he¡¯d made a mess of things and even learned about his own potential death from Einstein¡¯s lips.
Next time, when the club met on August 1st, he figured everyone would be there, curious to see if he had managed to survive.
After all, once the meeting was over, he had only 15 minutes to change his fate. Most members probably thought he was as good as dead.
No matter. The next gathering was his chance to build a mysterious image¡ªto baffle these geniuses. Ideally, he¡¯d create a false identity convincing enough to deceive them all, masking his true intentions with a mystery.
Click.
The pen cap snapped shut.
Lin Xian had finished summarizing everything he knew about the Genius Club members.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the next meeting and ask his questions, to see what Einstein¡¯s answers would reveal!
¡°Once a month meetings¡ such a long wait,¡± Lin Xian sighed, ncing at the calendar, the red circle around July 7th standing out.
The future had already changed. On July 7th, he¡¯d kept his head¡ but Lin Yu Xi had left.
To be honest, the sadness of separation always came with a dy. When Lin Yu Xi left, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t fully processed it¡ªconfusion and disbelief overshadowed their grief.
On the first day without her, Lin Xian moved with hatred in his heart, while Zhao Ying Jun busied herself to avoid the flood of emotions.
But now¡ now it was the second day since Lin Yu Xi left.
Lin Xian sat alone in the empty bedroom, missing his daughter. He could still picture her napping in the guest room next door, cuddled up with the Pomeranian, VV¡
But she wasn¡¯t here anymore.
She was really, truly¡ gone forever.
An overwhelming sadness filled the silent room, washing over Lin Xian like a tidal wave, taking his breath away. Only after experiencing loss firsthand did he understand what it truly meant.
Emotion is strange that way¡ªslow to hit, but when it does, it hits hard.
Lin Xian took several deep breaths, picking up his phone, staring at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s avatar in his contacts.
How was she today?
Had she been swept up by her emotions like he was? Was she managing to sleep?
Morning came, and the sun rose.
Just as Lin Xian was about to reach out to Zhao Ying Jun, his phone rang. It was Brother Wang.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s voice was full of worry.
¡°President Zhao Ying Jun¡ she still didn¡¯t go homest night. Her office light stayed on until dawn, and she slept in the office lounge again. Now she¡¯s started working for another day.¡±
He sighed. ¡°It¡¯s been two days, and she hasn¡¯t been home¡¡±
Lin Xian exhaled sharply, quietly replying, ¡°I understand.¡±
He ended the call.
Got out of bed, washed up, dressed, and opened the door.
Until now, there had always been something standing between him and Zhao Ying Jun¡ªsome invisible barrier they couldn¡¯t break through.
Not only that, but he¡¯d always kept a distance, worried for her safety, never telling her the full truth.
But now¡ it was time.
That night, when Lin Yu Xi became blue snowkes, he had made Zhao Ying Jun a solemn promise¡ªhe would take responsibility for Yu Xi.
And¡ he would take responsibility for Zhao Ying Jun too.
With a firm click, Lin Xian closed the door behind him. The sunlight streamed in through the hallway windows, dazzling his eyes.
For a moment, he could see Yellow Finch¡¯s sapphire earrings, the Little Mermaid¡¯s bubbles rising into the sky, Lin Yu Xi¡¯s ponytail bouncing as she ran, and the white jade statue of Rhine Sky City gazing into the distance.
He held out his right hand, shielding his eyes from the morning sun. Between his four fingers, he saw four different smiling faces.
¡°This time¡¡± Lin Xian murmured softly, ¡°We won¡¯t be separated again. Our family will stay together.¡±
Chapter 440: Going Home
The Rhine Company Tower.
Lin Xian pushed open the door to the office. Brother Wang was already waiting inside.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re here,¡± Brother Wang said, rising from the couch. He sighed, pointing towards the floor-to-ceiling window at the MX building across the street. ¡°It¡¯s the same as yesterday¡ªthere¡¯s a crowd gathered outside President Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.¡±
Lin Xian walked to the window, gazing out at the twin towers in the distance. The two buildings were made of one-way ss, so you could see clearly from the inside, but from the outside, it was nothing but a mirrored wall reflecting the blue sky.
He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the twenty-second floor of the opposite tower. It was practically at the same height as his own office, and only about three hundred meters away.
Under the bright midday sun, the windows across from him were nothing but gleaming blue ss, concealing everything behind them.
Lin Xian could imagine what was on the other side of that ss¡ªZhao Ying Jun, sitting tirelessly at her desk, reviewing documents, with department heads standing by, waiting for her instructions. Although MX Company was always busy, it was never to this extent¡ªno breaks, no rest for two days straight.
Just as Brother Wang had said, Zhao Ying Jun was trying to keep herself upied. When you¡¯re busy, there¡¯s no time to think. On the surface, it might seem like she was calm, but in truth, she was only filling her life with trivial tasks, pushing away the thoughts she didn¡¯t want to face.She hadn¡¯t gone home in two days. Instead, she stayed in the office with the lights on through the night.
Lin Xian sighed softly.
During the day, she had her wholepany keeping her busy. But at night, when silence settled in, who was there to apany her?
Perhaps¡ only the robot vacuum VV.
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered the image from his third dream¡ªthe museum¡¯s Zhao Ying Jun exhibit, the projection in the hallway. An older Zhao Ying Jun sat in her living room, rolling up a tissue and tossing it onto the floor. The trash robot VV would cry out, ¡°Trash! Trash! Trash spotted!¡±, rushing over to pick it up with its w, popping open its lid to toss the tissue inside, and every time it made her smile.
Now, over these heavy, sleepless nights, was she still ying that six-hundred-year-old game of tossing tissues with VV?
Brother Wang approached from behind, standing beside Lin Xian as they both stared across at the other tower.
¡°What happened between the two of you?¡± Brother Wang asked.
Lin Xian pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
Brother Wang patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Every family has its struggles, and everyone has secrets they can¡¯t share. I¡¯m not nosy. If you don¡¯t want to tell me the details, that¡¯s fine,¡± he said. ¡°But¡ there¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know. President Zhao Ying Jun told me not to say anything, but I think it¡¯s time you knew.¡±
Brother Wang looked Lin Xian straight in the eye. ¡°Lin Xian, you don¡¯t know this, but President Zhao Ying Jun has always kept an eye on you, cared for you. It¡¯s not just after you left MX Company to found Rhine. No, even before then¡ªever since she considered making you her secretary, she¡¯s been different.¡±
He paused, then added, ¡°There¡¯s no point in listing out every little thing. But just know this¡ªPresident Zhao Ying Jun knows more than you think. She¡¯s far smarter than you give her credit for. With her watching you this closely, how could you keep anything from her? And, well¡ to be honest, both Xiao Li and I have basically been her ¡®spies¡¯ around you.¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile. ¡°I¡¯d have to be an idiot not to notice that.¡±
Brother Wang threw up his hands. ¡°Exactly! We never really tried to hide it. She¡¯d often ask us about your activities and your schedule. It was never meant to be a secret, just something unspoken between us. And we did it out of care. It¡¯s not like President Zhao Ying Jun would ever hurt you. Apart from your family, she might be the one person in this world who¡¯d never betray you.¡±
He hesitated, then went on, ¡°Honestly, calling Xiao Li and me her ¡®spies¡¯ isn¡¯t quite right. We¡¯re more like double agents. We¡¯ve passed along things from her to you, too. But that¡¯s beside the point. What I¡¯m trying to say is that President Zhao Ying Jun genuinely cares about you, even when she knows you¡¯re hiding things from her. She still chooses to stand by you, even considering things from your perspective, trying to understand your reasons.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been with President Zhao Ying Jun since the very beginning. No matter what crisis or blow she¡¯s faced, she¡¯s never been like this before. In my opinion, the way she is now, it¡¯s like¡¡± He paused, then said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s like her world¡¯s copsed.¡±
Lin Xian turned his gaze away from the window. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Wang. Her world hasn¡¯t copsed yet,¡± he said firmly. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here today. I won¡¯t let her world copse. Even if it does, I¡¯ll be there to put it back together.¡±
Brother Wang¡¯s eyes widened, and after a moment, he took a deep breath and gave Lin Xian a thumbs-up. ¡°Good! That¡¯s what I like to hear! I knew you were that kind of man!¡±
¡°You wanted toe over yesterday morning, but I convinced you to wait. I thought it¡¯d be better to cool down for a day. Sometimes it¡¯s better not to rush into things.¡± Brother Wang smiled. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve had a day to think, it¡¯s the right time. What do you need from me? I can head over to MX Company now, see what¡¯s on President Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s schedule, and get you an exact time.¡±
By evening, the night had settled in. Most office workers were already home, enjoying hot dinners. But on the twenty-second floor of the MX Company building, the lights were still on in the president¡¯s office.
¡°These, these, and here¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun murmured, her left hand propping up her tired face while her right hand circled three spots on the report from the marketing department. ¡°These are the areas I mentioned earlier. Make sure to revise them when you get back. Times are changing, and it¡¯s been two years since the Rhine brandunched. We can¡¯t just rest on oururels. We have to keep up.¡±
¡°Especially the marketing department,¡± she continued, ¡°you need to stay on top of trends, social media, inte buzz¡ªthe world moves fast now. Thingse and go in two or three months. We have to stay sharp.¡±
The head of the marketing department took the revised report, nodding. ¡°Understood!¡±
¡°Good. You can go,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, pointing towards the door. ¡°Send in the next department head on your way out.¡±
The marketing head hesitated, looking at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°President Zhao Ying Jun¡ there¡¯s no one else. I was thest one.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± she said softly, setting down her pen. A faint smile appeared on her face, and for the first time today, she turned to look out the window at the darkness beyond. It was already sote.
¡°Alright, then. It¡¯s time to call it a day.¡± She looked at the marketing head. ¡°You can go. I¡¯ll finish up a few things here.¡±
¡°Take care, President Zhao Ying Jun,¡± the marketing head said before leaving.
The heavy doubleyered security door closed with a soft thud.
Therge office was empty, quiet for the first time that day. Zhao Ying Jun stared at the vast space around her, her mind still filled with the hustle and bustle of the day¡ªthe people, the voices. Now it was all silent.
The office was brightly lit, but beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows was the thick, dark night, like ck water ready to pour in. She suddenly felt uneasy. It was as if a flood was rising within her, a chill spreading through her body.
She longed for some noise, some movement.
With a rip, she tore a sheet from her notebook, crumpled it, and threw it towards the distant coffee table.
¡°Trash! Trash! Trash spotted!¡±
The vacuum robot VV in the corner came to life, its indicator shing, dashing towards the paper like a hungry wolf.
With a whirr, its brushes swept up the paper, swallowing it into itspartment.
A faint, almost reluctant smile crossed Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s lips. The silly little robot could always bring a smile to her face, even when she didn¡¯t want to smile.
The smile faded as quickly as it came.
She tore another sheet, crumpling it and throwing it further towards the office door.
¡°Trash! Trash! Trash spotted!¡±
VV rushed forward again, this time heading straight for the door.
Click.
The office door opened from the outside.
A tall figure stepped in, his leather shoending squarely on the crumpled paper.
VV froze, as if its system had crashed.
Then, ¡°Trash! Trash! Trash spotted!¡± It announced loudly, charging towards Lin Xian¡¯s ankle with an unusual force.
¡°Ouch!¡± Lin Xian winced, rubbing his ankle.
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Zhao Ying Jun blinked, staring at him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
She watched as VV swallowed the paper, still a bit puzzled. ¡°Why does that robot always bump into you?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Maybe it¡¯sining, or maybe it¡¯s urging me.¡±
He straightened up, meeting her gaze across the office. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡±
¡°No,¡± she answered softly. ¡°I don¡¯t have much of an appetite.¡±
¡°How about going out for a drive?¡± He pointed towards the neon lights beginning to glow outside. ¡°I bought a car. Want to go for a ride?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun sighed, crossing her arms. ¡°You finally bought a car? Did you get it from your old friend Gao Yang?¡±
¡°I almost forgot about that,¡± Lin Xian said with augh. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t buy it from him. It¡¯s an old car, but I think you¡¯ll like it.¡±
The roar of a purple Bugatti Veyron echoed on the elevated expressway as it sped towards the other side of the city.
Zhao Ying Jun finally understood why Lin Xian had bought an old car. She knew this car well¡ªshe had ridden in it with him. It was the day after her birthday this year when Lin Xian had driven her to Disney Castle in this very car, putting on the most splendid fireworks disy.
¡°Why did you decide to buy this car?¡± she asked, turning towards him.
Lin Xian signaled to take the right exit off the highway. ¡°I wrecked your Bentley and totaled your Ferrari. I figured I owed you a car. I offered the owner a price they couldn¡¯t refuse. It hasn¡¯t been officially transferred yet, but it¡¯s yours now.¡±
¡°A gift for me?¡± Zhao Ying Jun smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s a bit extravagant, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Lin Xian replied softly. ¡°Compared to what you¡¯ve given me, it¡¯s nothing at all.¡±
Soon, the Bugatti pulled up by the riverbank.
Zhao Ying Jun stepped out of the car, recognizing the view of the Huangpu River. Across the river, the colorful Oriental Pearl Tower glowed brightly, and just a few meters away, a railing separated them from the flowing waters.
¡°Do you remember this ce?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, stepping towards the river in her high heels, the wind blowing around them. ¡°I remember every ce you¡¯ve taken me. Every time, something unforgettable happened. Here, on the riverbank, it was right before New Year¡¯s in 2023. After the Donghai Business Association¡¯s New Year party, you brought me here. I remember it clearly¡ªthis was where I asked if you wanted to be my secretary, and where I gave you the office door¡¯s password.¡±
Lin Xian followed her, and together, they leaned against the railing, looking across at the city lights without speaking for a long time.
The night breeze ruffled Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hair, her long strands sweeping through the air, brushing against memories, against time, against the years that had passed.
Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes, feeling the sharpness of the wind, just like the chaos in her heart. Whether her eyes were open or closed, she saw her daughter, Yu Xi.
Even while sitting in the Bugatti Veyron that had taken them to Disney, she thought of the night she and Yu Xi watched the fireworks. The fireworks weren¡¯t as bright as Yu Xi¡¯s smile as she stood on tiptoe, looking up at them.
¡°Are you feeling any better?¡± Lin Xian asked quietly.
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. She didn¡¯t want to lie to him or pretend to be strong. ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± she admitted.
¡°Did Brother Wang tell you?¡± she asked, looking down. ¡°That I haven¡¯t been going home these past few days.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slightly.
¡°I knew it would be him,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a smallugh. ¡°He¡¯s such a fence-sitter¡ though I suppose that¡¯s not fair. You are his real boss, after all.¡±
She leaned back against the railing, her expression softening. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you. I didn¡¯t want you to waste your precious time on me. I know you have important things to do, and I didn¡¯t want you distracted by my problems.¡±
¡°Over these past two days, I¡¯ve thought about it a lot. I understand what you said¡ªthat Lin Yu Xi isn¡¯t truly ours, that she¡¯s not our future, and aside from sharing our blood, she doesn¡¯t really belong to us.¡±
¡°I can understand it all, but¡¡± she bit her lip, her face filled with sadness. ¡°I just can¡¯t let go of Yu Xi.¡±
¡°I thought I was independent and strong enough, that I could face anything on my own, without relying on anyone. I thought I could ept anyone¡¯s departure, and for years, I did fine. I endured every sadness, moved past every loss.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always feared causing trouble for others, always worried that my emotions might affect them,¡± she continued, her eyes meeting Lin Xian¡¯s, reflecting the shimmering lights of the river. ¡°Most of all, I never wanted to be a burden to you.¡±
¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve never been a burden to me. If anything, I am where I am today because of you.¡±
¡°I mean it,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you¡ªsome things you know, some things you don¡¯t, some things were done by you, and some weren¡¯t, but in the end, they were all because of you.¡±
¡°Yu Xi¡¯s loss is my loss too,¡± he said. ¡°She is our daughter, and we should face this pain together. If you keep staying in the office, avoiding home¡ If you make yourself sick, then it will all be for nothing.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun remained silent for a long while, listening to Lin Xian¡¯s words.
Eventually, she spoke, her voice trembling. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to go home. It¡¯s just¡ how could I?¡±
¡°Everywhere at home, there¡¯s a piece of Yu Xi. Everywhere I sit, everywhere I look, I see her,¡± she whispered. ¡°Yu Xi kicking her nket off on the bed, Yu Xi watching TV on the couch, Yu Xi brushing her teeth at the sink, Yu Xi twirling in the dressing room, showing off her dress.¡±
¡°She talked to me about so much, about how much she missed her mom every day, about how her greatest wish was to go to Disnend with her parents. She looked at that picture a dozen times a day. I bought her so many clothes, but she only ever loved that one outfit.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes as if she could vividly see those warm, happy moments before her.
¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t be like this,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I know I¡¯m not the only one who¡¯s grieving Yu Xi.¡±
¡°But at home, her clothes, her toys, her pillow, her hairpins, her snacks, her towels¡ Everything is hers,¡± she said, her voice breaking. ¡°When I¡¯m home, all I can think about is her. Lin Xian¡¡±
She opened her eyes, looking at him.
Lin Xian gazed back at her, this woman who had always seemed so strong and indomitable. He had never imagined that she could ever be so fragile.
¡°I want to go home,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°But I can¡¯t stop thinking about her. I can¡¯t just throw all her things away, can I?¡±
She was always like this.
Lin Xian watched her, this woman who was always like this, each version of her.
Whether she was Yellow Finch across time and space, the white jade statue of Rhine Sky Castle, the brave mother driving a Ferrari into danger, or Zhao Ying Jun, swallowing her pain to avoid troubling anyone¡ªshe was always like this.
Gently, Lin Xian reached out, taking her hand.
¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± he said softly.
¡°We don¡¯t need to throw Yu Xi¡¯s things away,¡± he continued. ¡°Her toys, we¡¯ll keep them for when she grows up and wants to y with them again. Her clothes, we¡¯ll save them for her to wear when she gets bigger.¡±
¡°Her hairpins, they¡¯ll find their way back to her someday,¡± he said. ¡°The couch will have Yu Xi watching TV again, and in front of the mirror, she¡¯ll be twirling in her new dress. We¡¯ll keep a stool ready by the sink for her, waiting for her to grow taller, to grow up.¡±
¡°Trust me, Ying Jun,¡± Lin Xian said, his voice full of conviction. ¡°Everything that belongs to Yu Xi will be hers again.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun held her breath, her eyes wide as she looked at him.
¡°You mean¡¡± she began.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian said, his eyes resolute.
He tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her closer.
¡°Let¡¯s bring Yu Xi home.¡±
Chapter 441: I Am Willing
The bedroom had been dark for quite a while.
In the living room, VV the Pomeranian let out a long yawn. Something just didn¡¯t feel right. For the past couple of days, its owner hadn¡¯te home. It had been the building¡¯s property managering in to feed it at regr times.
Sure, the food always came on time, and there was always plenty of it. The manager even took VV out for walks¡ªand honestly, those walks were longer than usual! But still¡
VV missed its owner. All the newforts couldn¡¯t make up for the absence, and it felt the emptiness deep inside. The house had been too quiet, too empty, and VV longed for the lively, noisy days.
Every night, VV wandered into the empty bedroom, curling up in its small bed beside therge, vacant double bed. Another silent night.
But tonight¡ªfinally!
The owner hade home!
VV was ecstatic. No more lonely nights! And as a bonus, Lin Xian was here too!VV¡¯s little fluffy tail wagged furiously. This was going to be an amazing night¡ªit could feel it. VV imagined snuggling between the two of them, or at least beside them, cozy and warm.
However¡
What VV hadn¡¯t expected at all was what happened next.
Once inside, the two humans went straight to the bedroom. Lin Xian picked up VV¡¯s little bed, carrying it out to the living room.
¡°You¡¯ll sleep here tonight,¡± Lin Xian said, giving VV a gentle pat on the head before heading back into the bedroom.
VV blinked, utterly baffled. What was happening? Why was it being isted like this?
Even when that little girl hade over to sleep, VV hadn¡¯t been kicked out of the bedroom! A bedroom with two people and a dog¡ªwas it really so cramped?
It wasn¡¯t like Lin Xian was going to sleep on the floor. And there wasn¡¯t any reason to fight over space. So why had VV¡¯s bed been removed?
VV waited for a long time, expecting that once the lights were back on in the bedroom, the sneaky humans would be done with whatever they were doing and bring it back inside.
But the lights never came back on. Eventually, VV grew tired. Enough was enough.
VV yawned again. It liked Lin Xian¡ªthey even had a special bond, ¡°VV¡¯s Promise,¡± together. Considering Lin Xian rarely visited, VV decided it could tolerate this arrangement for one night. After all, Lin Xian would leave tomorrow, and everything would go back to normal.
There was no way Lin Xian was going to visit every day¡ªthat was impossible.
VV¡¯s eyelids drooped, and soon enough, it curled up in its soft little bed, drifting off to sleep.
In the bedroom, Zhao Ying Jun pulled the nket tighter around herself, her gaze fixed on the moonlight filtering through the gap in the curtains. She let out a soft huff.
¡°Everything¡¯s out of order now,¡± she muttered.
¡°Yeah, it really is,¡± Lin Xian agreed, scratching his head. ¡°Seems like everything¡¯spletely flipped upside down.¡±
¡°Speaking of things being flipped, have you ever seen that movie? ¡®The Curious Case of Benjamin Button¡¯?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but let out a smallugh, her annoyance melting away. ¡°Are you seriously trying to talk about movies right now?¡±
She sat up, hugging a pillow, leaning back against the headboard. She looked at Lin Xian.
¡°Honestly, I underestimated you. I always thought you¡¯d never dare to do something like this.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian chuckled softly. ¡°So that¡¯s how you¡¯ve seen me all along? I didn¡¯t think I came across as that much of a coward.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not about being scared. It¡¯s just¡ I could always tell you were avoiding me, hiding things from me, deliberately keeping your distance.¡±
She paused, biting her lower lip before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m not saying this to me you. We¡¯re already here, and I¡¯m just stating the truth. I¡¯ve always known you¡¯ve kept things from me. Like¡¡±
Another pause. She took a breath and finally said it: ¡°Copenhagen.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes, finally voicing the thorn in her heart.
¡°I¡¯m not questioning you,¡± she added softly, ¡°I just¡ I know you lied to me. You told me you hadn¡¯t been to Copenhagen, but you had. And when you came back, we talked about Andersen¡¯s fairy tales, about the Little Mermaid¡ªright after you¡¯d just returned.¡±
Lin Xian shifted, sitting up as well. Their shoulders brushed, and he could feel the coolness of her skin. It seemed Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s informationwork¡ªher infiltration of Brother Wang and Xiao Li¡ªwas more thorough than he had imagined.
Or maybe she had found out through other means. Either way, it didn¡¯t matter to him anymore.
He turned his head, looking at the pale curve of her neck, so close.
¡°If you know about Copenhagen,¡± Lin Xian said quietly, ¡°then you must also know that I went there with a woman.¡±
¡°Hmph.¡± Zhao Ying Jun gave a small smile, turning away. ¡°You said that, not me.¡±
Lin Xian smiled too. ¡°Do you want to know who she was?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said softly. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to hold grudges. Back then, whoever you traveled with had nothing to do with me.¡±
¡°You¡¯d never guess who it was,¡± Lin Xian said, still smiling.
¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow. ¡°Someone I know?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡±
In the dim room, lit only by slivers of moonlight, Lin Xian looked at her, his gaze meeting hers.
¡°That woman,¡± he said quietly, ¡°was you.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked, and Lin Xian continued, ¡°I know it sounds ridiculous, but tonight, I need to tell you everything. And it¡¯s a very, very long story¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, leaning a little closer. ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to tell, I¡¯m willing to listen. If it¡¯s a long story, then it must have a long beginning. When did it all start?¡±
Lin Xian pulled his knees up, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Do you remember the invitation you got once? To join the ¡®Genius Club¡¯? It was a red velvet card, with a wax seal on the front, and five gold-embossed letters on the back. You took it from me, right when the first Rhine Cat prototype was finished. You took the invitation along with the prototype.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun thought back. ¡°I remember that. When I got back to the office, I opened the invitation. There was a QR code inside, and when I scanned it, it was something rted to the Apple keynote. Apple has those Genius Bars for tech support, right? I thought it was just some promotional thing and tossed it into a drawer.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That was about two years ago. And everything that¡¯s happened since then¡ªChu An Qing, Yu Xi, that blue-eyed girl you met, the hibernation pods, Xu Yun¡ everything started with that invitation.
¡°It was a fake invitation, delivered to the MXpany reception by a woman named¡ Yellow Finch.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath, uttering the name that held so much weight.
¡°Yellow Finch.¡±
And then, Lin Xian told Zhao Ying Jun everything¡ªhis dreams, Yellow Finch¡¯s origins, the Genius Club, the operation to capture time-space particles, the real and fake Yu Xi¡ everything from the past two years. Every detail.
It was long overdue, this conversation. After all, Yellow Finch knew everything about him. That meant Lin Xian from that timeline must have told her himself. So it was inevitable that Zhao Ying Jun would one day know all of this.
That was why she had taken on the name Yellow Finch, why she had crossed time and space.
Why she built the Rhine Sky City and left an opening, waiting for Lin Xian to fall through¡ªwaiting for their reunion, six hundred yearster.
And that was only the Zhao Ying Jun he knew about.
How many other timelines were there, where Zhao Ying Jun had done so much for him?
She was that kind of woman¡ªloyal, steadfast, brave, and unyielding. Lin Xian believed that, in any timeline, Zhao Ying Jun would be Yellow Finch for him, would be the statue of white jade, would be his unshakable support¡ªeven at the cost of her own life.
Without Yellow Finch¡¯s guidance, Lin Xian thought he would probably have died already. Though Yellow Finch¡¯s direct help was limited, her hints and guidance had been crucial, almost enough to change the entire oue.
He remembered their first meeting, that heart-stopping night in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s office.
¡°Next time we meet, call me Yellow Finch,¡± she had said with a smile before leaving.
At the time, Lin Xian had thought it was just her teasing him¡ªthe mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Yellow Finch, the oriole, mocking his failure.
But now, he saw her name differently.
Yellow Finch in the rear.
It meant she was always behind him¡ªwatching his back in every timeline, always there when he turned around, whenever he needed her.
Even the Zhao Ying Jun beside him now, who hadn¡¯t yet be Yellow Finch, was the same.
If he didn¡¯t tell her the truth, she waited quietly, pretending not to know, not asking questions.
If he told her, she listened intently, always firmly on his side.
And now, Zhao Ying Jun was leaning against him, listening closely, thinking over every word. She hadn¡¯t interrupted, not even once, as if every fantastic tale was true¡ªas if she believed without a shadow of a doubt.
¡°So¡¡±
When Lin Xian had finished, Zhao Ying Jun spoke, her voice soft.
¡°So, Yellow Finch is a version of me from some other timeline. She came here after you lost, after you died, to guide you onto the right path. And now, you¡¯re telling me all of this because¡¡±
She looked up at him, worry in her eyes.
¡°Are you prepared to sacrifice yourself, to die, so that I can be the next Yellow Finch?¡±
¡°No, no.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Not at all. I have no intention of giving up. I don¡¯t know how many versions of us there have been¡ªhow many Yellow Finchs, how many Lin Xians, how many Zhao Ying Juns¡ªbut I believe every failure bes experience, makes the next attempt more likely to seed.
¡°I¡¯ve stumbled so many times, taken wrong turns, made mistakes. But I¡¯ve never thought about giving up. I will keep going.¡±
¡°I believe in you.¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gaze was steady. ¡°I¡¯ve always said you were destined for greatness. And I was right.¡±
She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder, staring at her hands folded on her stomach.
¡°ording to what you¡¯ve said, Yellow Finch is Yu Xi¡¯s mother in some timeline¡ but she had to leave, which is why Yu Xi was orphaned, used by enemies, trained as an agent.¡±
¡°So¡ when did theye from? It feels recent, but also distant.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I still don¡¯t fully understand the timeline. With the hibernation pods, it¡¯s hard to judge time normally. But one thing is certain: both Yellow Finch and Yu Xi must have used the pods. From what I know, the earliest time machine was invented in 2234.
¡°Gao Wen and Chen Heping, two of humanity¡¯s greatest minds, said there could be no time machines before 2234. So, to use one, they must have hibernated until at least that year. My guess is that Yellow Finch arrived a bit earlier, and Yu Xiter, maybe hundreds of years afterward.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked, curious. ¡°Why 2234, exactly? Why such a round number?¡±
Lin Xian exined theet, Astatine-339, the astronomical breakthrough of 2077¡ªhow the time machine wasn¡¯t held back by technology, but by the need for Astatine-339, an extraterrestrial isotope.
By the end of it, Zhao Ying Jun understood everything,pletely in sync with what Lin Xian knew.
¡°I get it now,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°And I understand something else too. Remember when we were having dinner, and you asked if I¡¯d ever use a hibernation pod? It seemed so random at the time. But now I see¡ you¡¯d seen future versions of me, all using the pods, so you were curious about what I¡¯d say.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, admitting it. ¡°That¡¯s right. But back then, you were so sure. You said you¡¯d never do it, that you couldn¡¯t leave this time behind, couldn¡¯t leave your friends.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun kicked him lightly, rolling her eyes. ¡°You idiot. Completely hopeless.¡±
¡°If I¡¯m Yellow Finch, and she¡¯s me, then of course I¡¯d do it. Because I¡¯d do those things, there¡¯s a Yellow Finch in the future.¡±
¡°Besides, you didn¡¯t give me enough information back then. If you¡¯d said you¡¯d be there too, that it was for you¡¡±
Under the nket, Zhao Ying Jun ced her left hand over Lin Xian¡¯s, fingers threading through his, holding tight.
¡°Then my answer would be¡¡±
She looked at him, her eyes reflecting the soft moonlight.
¡°I¡¯m willing.¡±
Chapter 442: Just This?
The next day.
The little Pomeranian, VV, watched Lin Xian leave the house. His tiny ears drooped slightly as he waved a paw in farewell.
¡°Goodbye!¡± he yapped softly.
Once Lin Xian was out of sight, VV hurriedly carried his small dog bed back to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s bedroom, cing it in its usual spot beside her bed.
Evening.
VV¡¯s eyes went wide. Lin Xian had returned! And he had a backpack with him again!
The small dog stared, his eyes almost popping out. ¡°Hey, buddy, don¡¯t you have your own home?¡±
Sure enough, Lin Xian carried VV¡¯s little bed out and put it in the corner of the living room, giving the Pomeranian¡¯s head a gentle pat.¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be sleeping here, alright?¡±
¡°Woof!¡± VV protested loudly. Why?! He had been here first! How had ite to this?
The next day¡
The day after that¡
VV sighed, finally giving in to the situation. He epted the new reality, staying calm. Sure, he couldn¡¯t sleep in the bedroom anymore, but at least the house was lively and warm now. Besides, he really liked Lin Xian, and Lin Xian was always kind to him.
Most importantly, Lin Xian seemed to have a lot of free time. He didn¡¯t go to work, and despite sleeping in far too often, he never forgot to feed VV during the day, which was timely and quite nice.
However, every night, Lin Xian slept like a logpletely dead to the world. No matter how much anyone called out, he wouldn¡¯t wake up, not even for VV to get his attention.
Yes, VV had tried.
Once, VV saw it with his own eyes. Zhao Ying Jun came home after work, changed her shoes and clothes, fed VV his kibble, and then went to the bedroom.
She didn¡¯t even bother trying to wake Lin Xian. Instead, she sat by his side, smiling at his peaceful sleeping face. She even reached out and gave him a little poke to check if he was truly asleep.
Truthfully, there was no need for all that. VV had confirmed it many times before. As long as the bedroom door wasn¡¯t locked, VV could jump up, bite the handle, and use his weight to push it open.
There were a few times when VV had been so hungry, and Zhao Ying Jun was workingte, that he¡¯d tried to wake Lin Xian to fulfill his duties. He¡¯d jumped onto the bed, stood on Lin Xian¡¯s chest, licked his face, even put a paw over his nose¡ªonce, he even flopped over Lin Xian¡¯s face, trying to smother him awake.
Nothing worked. Lin Xian was like azy pig, utterly motionless. His face would turn bright red¡ªalmost purple¡ªfrom theck of air, and still, he wouldn¡¯t wake up.
VV had given up. There was no point in fighting it. He knew he could still get his food eventually.
¡°Woof!¡± VV barked from the doorway, as if to let Zhao Ying Jun know there was no need to be so careful. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t waking up anytime soon.
Zhao Ying Jun jumped in surprise, turning to scold VV as if she¡¯d been caught doing something she shouldn¡¯t have.
She walked over and, with a huff, shut the bedroom door.
Click. The lock turned.
VV tilted his head. ¡°V?¡±
What was that for? Everyone in this house seemed to act so mysteriously, sneaking around as if there were secrets to be kept.
VV sighed again, slinking back to his own lonely bed and lying down.
To be honest, he missed that little girl who used to stay home and y with him every day. Where had she gone?
Would shee back? VV missed her terribly.
12:42 a.m.
On the right side of the double bed, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes fluttered open.
¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s voice came from the left side of the bed. She was sitting up, reading under the soft glow of the bedsidemp. She turned to look at him, her eyes soft.
¡°How did you sleep? Are youfortable here at my ce?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, sitting up slowly. ¡°It was a good sleep, actually. But¡ I can¡¯t shake the feeling that there¡¯s something¡ strange about your room.¡±
¡°Strange?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t start telling ghost stories! You already scare me enough with that deep sleep of yours. There¡¯s nothing strange about my room.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Lin Xian looked puzzled. ¡°It just feels like¡ like sometimes I¡¯m experiencing sleep paralysis. My chest feels tight, and I can¡¯t breathe properly. I don¡¯t feel it in my dreams, but when I wake up, it¡¯s like I¡¯m suffocating. I must take deep breaths several times before I feel normal again.¡±
He shook his head. ¡°But it¡¯s probably nothing¡ªjust my imagination. Maybe it¡¯s the heat during the day. It¡¯s August now, after all, and it¡¯s only getting hotter. Maybe I should turn the air conditioning up a bit during the day.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled and gestured towards the right-hand nightstand. ¡°I left a warm cup of milk there for you. I know you always wake up around this time, so I made sure to heat it up for you.¡±
Lin Xian turned his head to the nightstand. Sure enough, there it was¡ªa steaming cup of milk. He smiled softly.
¡°You didn¡¯t have to wait up for me,¡± he said gently, sitting up and reaching for the cup. ¡°I wake up sote. It must be tough for you, staying up just to look after me.¡±
¡°You sleeping all day from noon until midnight isn¡¯t healthy either, you know,¡± Zhao Ying Jun retorted, setting her book aside on the bedspread. ¡°To be a hero, you need to at least stay healthy, right? Since your dreams seem to involve a lot of progress, why not take care of yourself while you¡¯re awake too? Hot milk will help your stomach.¡±
Lin Xian nodded and took the cup in his hands. He drank deeply, the warmth of the milk filling his empty stomach. He sighed infort.
This was the first time, in a long time, that he had woken up to a warm cup of milk. Usually, at home, he¡¯d just drink cold water straight from the bottle.
¡°How was it in the dream today?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked.
¡°The same as before. Memorizing blueprints.¡± Lin Xian put the empty cup back on the nightstand and got out of bed. ¡°We can talk moreter. I need to get these blueprints down on paper before I forget.¡±
He slipped on his slippers and made his way over to the desk, nudging the mouse to wake up theputer. The screen flickered to life, revealing the CAD software that was already open. On the screen was the partial blueprint he had drawn the previous day. Tonight, he would continue adding to it.
Truth be told, memorizing blueprints was a lot harder than just memorizing theory. Engineering diagrams were not only varied, but also highly abstract and three-dimensional, which made them infinitely more difficult tomit to memory.
Recently, Lin Xian had been avoiding anything that could disrupt the timeline¡ªavoiding any possibility of ruining things for Gao Wen, the time machine, or the blueprints they were trying to preserve.
In the earlier dreams, Lin Xian had spoken to Gao Wen, insisting they keep only the most vital parts of the blueprints. Anything that had to do with appearance, outer casing, or energy supply¡ªthose could be left for scientists in 2024 to figure out.
It was like designing a lighter.
You could make it in any shape or size depending on aesthetics or purpose, but the core mechanics were always the same. Once you understood the principle, you could make it however you liked, and it would still light up.
The same went forputers. The core parts were the CPU, motherboard, memory, and storage¡ªhow they were put together was up to the designers, as long as they functioned.
Gao Wen, the human emperor and an unparalleled genius, had quickly realized that, after his time-travel n had failed, Lin Xian might just be the only one capable of saving them all. He threw himself into assisting Lin Xian with all he had.
Working with someone as smart as Gao Wen made things smooth¡ªalmost effortless. Not only did Gao Wen quickly gather all the necessary information, but he also provided Lin Xian with better memorization techniques, more efficient ways to enter dreams, and ways to ensure continuity in the blueprints.
Lin Xian dragged his mouse across the CAD screen, sketching out the details.
Tonight, it was just a tinyponent of the time machine. And there were still countless smallponents like this left to draw.
Even with Gao Wen¡¯s help inpressing the information, just the core blueprints alone would take three or four months to transcribe.
Completing the entire set of blueprints was impossible and unnecessary. Gao Wen¡¯s city in the slums didn¡¯t even have an electrical grid, while Lin Xian had ess to modern infrastructure. By relying on the national grid, he could skip a lot of unnecessary steps.
Finally, he drew thest line and marked it up.
Atst, Lin Xian stretched and looked over at Zhao Ying Jun, who was leaning against the headboard, wrapped in a nket, wearing a nightgown, and sitting on the bed. She was still reading, waiting for him.
It was an English book, and it looked quiteplex. Lin Xian squinted at the cover and saw that it was a book about general rtivity¡ªsome sort of educational science text.
¡°Can you understand that?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Of course I understand it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun turned a page and continued browsing the content.
¡°But, just barely,¡± she admitted. ¡°This book exins things in great detail, with lots of examples. I follow along with the author¡¯s exnations, and I can grasp it. But that¡¯s it¡ªI can¡¯t say I could take what I¡¯ve read and make it my own. Still, the minds of those geniuses are really something else. It¡¯s hard to imagine how they figured all this out, especially in those early days of physics.¡±
Lin Xian nced at the nightstand. It was piled high with books, in both X Country and English, all of them scientific texts¡ªsome about time travel, some about quantum mechanics, astronomy, or the mysteries of the universe. All of them were newly bought by Zhao Ying Jun.
Obviously, all of it was for him.
¡°You don¡¯t really need to study all this,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I don¡¯t even fully understand some of these areas.¡±
¡°Then that¡¯s even more reason for me to learn,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, turning another page.
¡°I wanted to learn this stuff because I wasn¡¯t sure how I could help you. I don¡¯t want to be a burden. I don¡¯t want to hold you back. So, with that in mind, learning more is always the right choice. Since you said you don¡¯t know much about the deeperyers of this physics stuff, then I¡¯ll learn it. If I can grasp it, then it¡¯s like you¡¯ve learned it too¡ªmaybe I¡¯ll even find a way to solve your problem in an area you don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°You keep saying you feel like your invitation to the Genius Club was some kind of cheat, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true. If the Genius Club is as impressive as it sounds, and everyone there has made it on their own merit, then if you got an invitation, you deserve it.¡±
¡°A genius has to be unique¡ªthey have to stand out, break the mold. If everyone follows the same path, puts in the same effort, they¡¯re just regr students. I¡¯ve never heard of a true genius being created by exams alone.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly at Zhao Ying Jun, who was staying upte studying for his sake.
¡°You know, I feel like you¡¯re perfect for the Genius Club,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe Yellow Finch was right to give you that invitation. Like you said, just getting one shows you have what it takes¡ªthere¡¯s no such thing as a fake invitation or cheating your way in.¡±
He paused and added, ¡°But look¡ªI don¡¯t have a job, and I can sleep whenever I want, so staying upte is fine for me. You, on the other hand, have work in the morning. If you keep staying up thiste, it¡¯s going to affect your health. From now on, don¡¯t wait up for me. Just go to sleep when you get home from work. I¡¯ll be at this time machine blueprint for months, at least¡ªI¡¯ll be on a ¡®sleep at noon, wake at midnight¡¯ schedule.¡±
¡°Ha.¡± Zhao Ying Jun chuckled and folded the corner of her book, cing it on the nightstand. She crossed her arms and looked at him.
¡°That¡¯s not what you said the other night.¡±
¡°What did I say?¡±
¡°You said you were going to bring Yu Xi back home,¡± she said, raising an eyebrow at him. ¡°I was looking forward to it¡ and now?¡±
She huffed. ¡°This is it?¡±
¡
Donghai City. Sewer. Noon. August 28th, 2624.
Lin Xian, CC, and Xu Yi Yi were running through the dark sewer, heading out of the city to find Gao Wen in Sin City.
CC looked back, puzzled. She eyed Lin Xian at the back of the group, who was breathing heavily.
¡°Are you sick?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian held his side, looking up. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Why do you ask?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know¡¡±
CC squinted at him, looking him up and down.
¡°You seem weaker than you did in thest few memory fragments. You used to be so agile, running fast and jumping high, never out of breath. What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°Something happened?¡± she pressed. ¡°What have you been busy withtely?¡±
¡°Busy memorizing blueprints,¡± Lin Xian said wearily. ¡°It¡¯s exhausting. Worse than studying in school. And the difficulty¡¯s through the roof this time¡ªthe requirements are really strict. Blueprints aren¡¯t like theory or principles; you can¡¯t mess up even a little. With theory, you can be slightly off and still make sense. Even with forms, you might copy a number wrong, but the overall logic can help you fix it. Blueprints, though, leave no room for error.¡±
CC nodded thoughtfully. ¡°That does sound tough. I wish I could help.¡± She turned back, keeping pace with Xu Yi Yi. ¡°But for me, today¡¯s just one day¡ªa unique, one-time experience. I can¡¯t travel to the past, so there¡¯s not much I can do.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±
¡
Sin City. Undergroundboratory. Beside the time machine.
Gao Wen had the engineering blueprints ready for Lin Xian to memorize. Theyid them out on the table for him to study after confirming their n.
Lin Xian had a sudden thought¡ªa question that needed an answer.
The development of the time machine seemed far off. But¡
When, exactly, did Copernicus steal the entangled time-space particle from himself in both the 0.0000000 and -0.0000042 timelines?
Specifically, in the 0.0000000 timeline, Copernicus stole the particle from Elon Musk. At the time, the particle must have been in a charged state.
In April of 2024, when Elon Musk visited X Country with Angelica, Copernicus tried to steal the particle using Angelica.
Though he failed, it proved that Copernicus was aware of the importance of the particle then.
After that, Elon Musk destroyed it, rendering it useless.
From then on, the small refrigerator holding it sat unguarded in Liu Feng¡¯sb, but no one tried to steal it.
They had all been fooled¡ªeven Liu Feng and Lin Xian thought the uncharged particle was worthless. So naturally, Copernicus and Elon Musk must have thought the same.
In 2024, several Genius Club members knew about the time-space particles. But those who knew about the entangled one were few¡ªlikely only himself, Elon Musk, and Copernicus.
And of those, who knew that the ¡°dead¡± particle had been recharged? Perhaps only himself.
The logic was clear: if Elon Musk had known the particle could be recharged, he wouldn¡¯t have given it to Lin Xian. He¡¯d have either kept it or sent it into space to prevent anyone else from getting it.
If Copernicus had known, he would have stolen that small fridge from theb.
Considering that there was a mole near Elon Musk, it was safe to assume that Copernicus knew everything.
But even so, the entangled particle stayed untouched in Liu Feng¡¯sb¡ªlike no one cared about it.
Lin Xian needed to figure out when Copernicus would steal the particle.
At the very least, Copernicus would have to realize its value and that it could be recharged first.
¡°Gao Wen,¡± Lin Xian asked, ¡°In your opinion, when will humanity realize that time-space particles can be recharged?¡±
¡°It¡¯ll be tough for anyone to realize that,¡± Gao Wen replied, shaking his head. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me, I would never have guessed. There¡¯s no evidence that they can be recharged.¡±
He looked curious. ¡°How did you figure it out, anyway? Was there a specific clue?¡±
Lin Xian recalled something Liu Feng had said and repeated it.
¡°A scientist I know measured the energy of two exhausted particles. He found a slight difference between them, so he theorized that, like voltage or potential difference, the energy was reversible.¡±
Gao Wen frowned, thinking it over. He shook his head.
¡°That¡¯s a pretty irresponsible guess¡ªit doesn¡¯t prove anything. I¡¯d say your scientist friend just got lucky.¡±
Lin Xianughed awkwardly. Liu Feng was exactly that kind of person¡ªsomeone who treated arithmetic sequences like profound truth and somehow stumbled on the right answer through a baffling process.
In other words, the steps were all wrong, but the answer was right.
Maybe that was Liu Feng¡¯s greatest talent.
But in scientific research, a bit of luck was indispensable. Experience was useful with known phenomena, but with unknowns, luck mattered more than anything.
¡°Let me ask differently,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°If we ignore my friend¡¯s guess, realistically, when would humanity discover that the particles can be recharged?¡±
¡°Probably only after we invent the time machine andplete a sessful time-travel experiment,¡± Gao Wen answered without hesitation. ¡°Even with decades of research, neither Big Cat Face¡¯s father Chen Heping nor I considered recharging particles. Even if we¡¯d had two uncharged particles, we might never have figured it out. But if we had data from an actual time-travel experiment, we could make that guess.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
It seemed Copernicus might not realize the particles could be recharged until after a sessful time machine test. Optimistically, it would be around the time Gao Wen mentioned¡ªwhen the time machine was invented in 2234.
Still, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. Copernicus might learn it early on from Genius Club discussions.
Once he knew the particle was valuable, even in a ¡°dead¡± state, the little fridge in Liu Feng¡¯sb would be a prime target.
Lin Xian had to hide it. But where?
Honestly, nowhere seemed safe enough.
Time-space particles could be detected¡ªwith the right device, even hiding it in a deep-sea volcano wouldn¡¯t help.
This was a headache. Hiding it in Time Bank¡¯s vault or a national secret storage wasn¡¯t foolproof either.
Elon Musk had a mole, so what guarantee was there that Copernicus wouldn¡¯t bribe or turn the storage staff?
¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I have to handle this myself.¡±
The best solution was still what he had thought before¡ªuse the particle for time travel, drain itpletely, and be done with it.
If only Astatine-339 could be more cooperative¡ªthey couldn¡¯t observe it until 2077, and it wouldn¡¯t reach Earth until 2234.
He had to think of another way. ¡°Maybe Einstein can give me an answer I¡¯ll be happy with.¡±
A few dayster, August 1st, 00:20 a.m.
Zhao Ying Jun looked into the study, where Lin Xian sat in a mahogany chair, leaning back and fiddling with a VR headset.
¡°You going to that meeting now?¡± she asked.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°We aren¡¯t allowed to make noise during the meeting, and all electronic devices have to be silent. I¡¯ll leave my phone with you. If there¡¯s a call or something urgent, juste in and squeeze my hand.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, took his phone, and left the study, closing the door.
Bang.
The door closed.
Lin Xian put on the VR headset and held the Genius Club¡¯s golden badge in his right hand, taking a deep breath.
¡°Time for the Genius Club¡¯s second meeting¡ I wonder what questions my fellow geniuses have in store for us this time.¡±
Chapter 443: Copernicuss Question
Nobody knew how many members would turn up for this Genius Club meeting.
The club¡¯s rules were simple¡ªyou could skip meetings, even if you chose to be absent for years. But one thing was absolutely forbidden:teness. Either you showed up on time or not at all.
To Lin Xian, skipping was fine. Even just being there and listening to others¡¯ questions and answers could be valuable, even if he didn¡¯t ask anything himself.
But in reality¡
Not everyone shared Lin Xian¡¯s perspective.
Take someone like Copernicus, for example. His health had declined to the point where attending gatherings was no longer possible. Thest time he spoke, he mentioned getting ready for hibernation in a winter sleep chamber.
Still, Lin Xian had a feeling Copernicus would be here today.
First, just to see if Lin Xian had survived.Second, because Copernicus¡¯sst question had been ignored by Einstein, wasting one of his precious opportunities to ask. This time, surely, he wouldn¡¯t let that slide.
Lin Xian figured that after asking this question, Copernicus would finally enter hibernation¡ªand stay there¡ªuntil technology caught up to extend his life, using advances in medicine to keep him going.
Others, like Newton or da Vinci, had been members of the club for decades. Most of their questions had already been asked and their future ns drawn up; now, they were just waiting for technology to catch up. Most likely, they¡¯d also go into long hibernation once the sleep chamber technology was perfected.
¡°No use worrying about anyone else,¡± Lin Xian thought, clutching the golden badge in his hand.
Whether others had questions or not, or whether they even attended, Lin Xian was certain that he had questions of his own to ask.
In the Genius Club, asking questions was an art.
First, you couldn¡¯t let anyone guess what you were thinking or reveal your identity.
Second, you had to keep your abilities and ns hidden.
Lastly, you had to make sure that others couldn¡¯t swoop in and take advantage of the answers you received.
Take, for example, the matter of Astatine-339.
If Lin Xian simply asked, ¡°How can I obtain Astatine-339 in the present era?¡± it would reveal two things:
He knew about a material that didn¡¯t yet exist on Earth.
This material must be incredibly valuable, with some unique use.
If Einstein provided an answer, every genius present would learn the method as well.
What would happen next?
One hundred percent of those geniuses would follow Einstein¡¯s instructions and preemptively secure the interdimensional element.
Einstein wasn¡¯t whispering secrets to Lin Xian alone; his answers were public for everyone. If Lin Xian asked about Astatine-339 directly, it would not only expose his identity and abilities but also result in someone else getting their hands on it before him. He¡¯d lose both the material and the opportunity.
That was the brilliance of the other geniuses. Their questions always sounded bizarre and confusing¡ªso much so that Einstein¡¯s answers often seemed equally cryptic. Yet, through this seemingly nonsensical exchange, the one asking always understood perfectly.
Take Galileo, for instance.
Or Gauss.
Each of them was incredibly shrewd.
If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t met Gawain in the Eighth Dream and learned about Astatine-339, he never would have guessed how deeply Galileo had concealed his true question.
Byparison, Gauss¡¯s questions often seemed dumb, and even Einstein didn¡¯t provide satisfying answers.
But¡ was that really the case?
Perhaps Gauss¡¯s real goal was to receive a negative or incorrect answer.
He might very well have been using the process of elimination.
Each time Einstein gave a negative answer, Gauss¡¯s own hypothesis became closer to being correct.
¡°The Genius Club is full of crafty people,¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but think.
The Oscars should be awarded here, honestly. Trickery, deceit, truth twisted into lies, and misdirection¡ªthese geniuses had mastered every art of strategy and the human mind.
¡°Their questions might sound like they¡¯re from a bunch of clueless fools, like school kids at a ss meeting. But every question hides a deeper truth. Whoever doesn¡¯t understand that is the real fool.¡±
¡°I guess that makes me quite the fool,¡± Lin Xian admitted.
At thest meeting, he¡¯d genuinely thought these people weren¡¯t living up to their reputation. Their questions seemedcking in depth or vision. Now, he realized that he had been the one who was too naive, only seeing the surface without grasping the true essence.
¡°The correct way to ask about Astatine-339 would be to disguise it, and instead shift focus to the time-space machine.¡±
Copernicus had already asked about the concept of the time-space machine at thest meeting, and there was a good chance he¡¯d bring it up again today.
Lin Xian, as thest one to ask a question, could then use the time-space machine as a cover to inquire indirectly about acquiring Astatine-339. Something like:
¡°Considering all possibilities, what is the earliest date humanity could use a time-space machine to travel through time and space?¡±
This phrasing was clever.
Lin Xian already knew from Gawain that there were no technical barriers to building a time-space machine. It was simple to construct; the only obstacle was acquiring Astatine-339.
So, Lin Xian¡¯s question might seem like it was about time travel, but it was really asking about Astatine-339¡ªthe hidden key.
Whatever date Einstein provided, Lin Xian would know it was the earliest possible day for acquiring Astatine-339.
The other geniuses, upon hearing the answer, would be bewildered. They wouldn¡¯t understand the significance of that date or why it was chosen.
But Lin Xian would understand.
With that information, he could investigate further or try other indirect methods to get closer to the truth.
This was what a ¡°perfect question¡± was¡ªone that left others confused, while enlightening the questioner.
¡°It¡¯s about time,¡± Lin Xian noted, ncing at the clock in the VR virtual lounge.
He picked up the golden badge embossed with the Genius Club insignia and held it to the NFC sensor on his VR headset.
Beep, beep.
The virtual lounge around him dissolved, reced by the sensation of entering a time tunnel, as Lin Xian was once again pulled into the grand, ancient castle.
He found himself standing on the same soft cashmere carpet. Ahead, the familiar double doors of heavy oak remained shut. From inside, da Vinci¡¯s voice called out¡ªclear, confident, and unmistakable:
¡°Is Rhine not here yet? Surely, he didn¡¯t fail to escape the assassination, did he?¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ that¡¯s such a shame¡¡±
The soft, hesitant voice could only belong to Gauss:
¡°I told him¡ not to use electric¡¡±
¡°It seems things haven¡¯t been peacefultely,¡± Galileo interrupted in his deep, calm voice. ¡°Or maybe some people have already started making their moves.¡±
¡°Turing is definitely dead,¡± he added. ¡°Einstein has confirmed that much. Elon Musk, though, has been unusually active¡ªstill appearing on TV, Twitter, and at social events. I must say, that surprised me¡ But why isn¡¯t he here today?¡±
¡°Heh¡ heh¡¡±
A dryugh echoed¡ªCopernicus. His raspy voice carried through the room:
¡°I keep telling you, don¡¯t me everything on me. Elon Musk is alive and well, isn¡¯t he?¡±
¡°Hmph.¡±
This scoff came from a young man¡ªbut in this club of mostly elderly members, Lin Xian was the only other young person present. So, the scoff had to belong to Newton:
¡°Copernicus, your pretense is revolting. This month alone, three scientists died under mysterious circumstances, each at precisely 12:42 AM local time¡ It¡¯s either you or that pack of dogs you control!¡±
¡°If your goal is to stall technological progress, I advise you to abandon it. Such underhanded tactics won¡¯t achieve anything. Besides, one of those scientists was a mathematician¡ªand killing a mathematician makes no sense if you¡¯re trying to hinder technological advances.¡±
¡°So¡¡± Newton¡¯s voice grew sharper, like a knife cutting through the air:
¡°So, Copernicus¡¡±
¡°You¡¯ve killed so many scientists, always after they publish their findings, but you never bother to stop the further development of their work. You¡¯re not even trying to enforce any technological blockade.¡±
¡°To me, it seems like a distraction¡ªlike you¡¯re hiding your true intent. Your real targets¡ are the mathematicians. The others are just camouge.¡±
Faced with Newton¡¯s usations, Copernicus merely gave another chillingugh:
¡°Heh, heh¡ cough, cough¡ Don¡¯t jump to conclusions, old friend.¡±
¡°After all these years, you¡¯ve never guessed right. But I¡¯ll give you credit for one thing¡ªall this time, I¡¯ve never been able to catch you either, or figure out your future ns¡ So, in a way, you¡¯re the one who hides better, old friend.¡±
¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be going into hibernation, Copernicus?¡± Da Vinci¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°You said so at thest meeting, yet here you are again. Honestly, I think the atmosphere would be much better if you weren¡¯t around.¡±
¡°But I am concerned about Rhine. Surely, he didn¡¯t die just minutes after thest meeting ended?¡±
¡°Einstein, can you tell us about Rhine?¡±
Atst, a voice spoke up¡ªone that had been silent until now but was filled with authority:
¡°Let him speak for himself.¡±
Creaaak¡
The ancient, heavy double doors were pushed open from the outside.
A tall figure strode into the golden hall, wearing a ridiculous mask of the Rhine Cat, his steps confident on the plush red carpet.
¡°R-Rhine¡¡±
Gauss, frail and small, leaned on his ebony chair, seemingly trying to stand:
¡°You¡ you¡¯re not¡¡±
¡°A miracle.¡±
Galileo, standing beside him, interrupted once again:
¡°To escape an assassination attempt with only a few minutes¡¯ notice is truly no small feat.¡±
¡°Most impressive of all is that there was no news coverage afterward. It seems Rhine has some skill in keeping things clean.¡±
¡°Heh.¡± Lin Xian chuckled softly.
He sat down in his ck wooden high-backed chair, crossing his legs casually.
¡°Just ying a game with the kids, that¡¯s all,¡± he said.
Miss Da Vinci, looking at theical mask on Lin Xian¡¯s face, couldn¡¯t help butugh aloud.
¡°ying a game¡ haha, were you ying the role of a toy?¡± she teased.
Across from them, Galileo took a deep breath.
¡°I¡¯ve been really curious, but I didn¡¯t get the chance to ask at thest meeting,¡± he said. ¡°Could you share your thoughts with us? I mean, what on earth made you choose such a ridiculous mask to attend the Genius Club meetings? Honestly, I¡¯m more curious about that mask than I am about you. The question has been on my mind for a whole month! Considering how dangerous things are around you, if I don¡¯t ask now, who knows if I¡¯ll get another chance? I can¡¯t carry this doubt for the rest of my life!¡±
Lin Xian reached up, touching the mask on his face.
¡°It¡¯s not asplicated as you think. It¡¯s just because my daughter liked it,¡± he said, his voice softening.
Without realizing it, he started slipping into the character of Big Cat Face.
¡°My daughter loved this cat from the very beginning. I bought her so many Rhine Cat toys. Butter¡ my daughter died. She died along with my father. I miss her very much.¡±
He turned his head, looking at Copernicus through the mask that Copernicus hated the most¡ªthe mask of the Rhine Cat.
¡°One early morning, my daughter suddenly had a high fever. My father took her to the hospital, and they were both hit by a truck and killed on the spot. They died at exactly 12:42 AM.¡±
Lin Xian gave a bitter smile, his eyes fixed on Copernicus.
¡°Funny thing is, my father was also a renowned mathematician.¡±
Copernicus snorted.
¡°Rhine, you¡¯re lying,¡± he said coldly.
¡°I never killed a mathematician like that, let alone one along with a little girl. That¡¯s absolutely impossible.
¡°I have respect for every scientist I¡¯ve eliminated. I would never kill an innocent child. In fact, if any of their children were left orphaned, I made sure they were taken care of and raised properly.
¡°Rhine, I don¡¯t know who you are, and I don¡¯t think we have any personal grudge between us. If you¡¯re looking to avenge your father and daughter¡ I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯ve got the wrong person. I don¡¯t do that kind of senseless killing, and neither do my people.¡±
¡
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything in response to Copernicus¡¯s exnation. He remained silent.
That was enough.
He had already gotten the information he wanted.
Copernicus imed he didn¡¯t kill innocent people or children, and Lin Xian mostly believed him. After all, he had given the same instructions to Ji Xin Shui and the Seven Deadly Sins.
Copernicus said he hadn¡¯t killed a mathematician and a little girl together. Of course, he hadn¡¯t¡ªBig Cat Face¡¯s father and daughter had died 600 years after the First Dream in that future world without hibernation pods. Copernicus wouldn¡¯t have survived until then.
None of that was the key point.
The key point was¡ª
Copernicus admitted he had killed many scientists and mathematicians. And if their children were orphaned, he took responsibility for raising them.
If he remembered every mathematician he¡¯d killed, then specifically mentioning the orphan here must mean it was true, that it really happened¡ª
[Ji Lin].
That orphan Copernicus mentioned was most likely Ji Lin.
And Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡ªboth mathematicians¡ªwere killed in a shooting at 12:42 AM. Now, there was no doubt it had been done by Copernicus.
He hadn¡¯t expected to have something to report back to Angelica so soon.
What was even more satisfying was that now Lin Xian, Angelica, and Elon Musk all shared amon target¡ªCopernicus.
They were forming a triangle, ready to surround and eliminate him.
All they needed was the right moment to close the.
Copernicus¡¯s days were numbered.
p, p, p.
From the high tiered seating, a man in an Einstein mask pped his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down.
¡°Well then, since everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s start this month¡¯s meeting,¡± he said, standing up straight and looking around, his gaze pausing on two empty seats.
¡°Two geniuses may be absent, but that doesn¡¯t stop our meeting. The Genius Club meetings have continued, from the first member to thest, through any storm.¡±
¡°No matter the era, no matter the situation¡ I will be here waiting for you. Even if only one member shows up, the meeting will still go on.¡±
He then turned, the Einstein mask facing Copernicus.
¡°No. 2 Copernicus, you always get the first question. This time¡ what do you want to ask?¡±
The room fell silent, every member¡¯s eyes on Copernicus.
Everyone could guess what he wanted to ask.
At thest meeting, he had returned after so many years, just to ask about the time machine.
Since he didn¡¯t get an answer then, he was sure to ask again now.
But what exactly would Copernicus¡¯s focus be?
Would he take a different approach, trying to reveal the member with knowledge about time travel?
Or would he reframe his question, trying again to get information about the time machine?
Lin Xian was eager to know too.
Copernicus was always bold and direct in his questioning. He never worried about exposing himself or letting others know the answers.
It was his absolute confidence, his ace up his sleeve.
Copernicus seemed ready. Without hesitation, he spoke up.
¡°Einstein, my question this time is¡ª¡±
¡°¡®If all possibilities were exhausted, what is the earliest possible date we could sessfully build a time machine?¡¯¡±
At those words, everyone perked up, listening intently.
It was a bold question.
He was pointing to a major turning point for humanity¡ªcivilization, history, and the future!
If the emergence of hibernation pods marked the first turning point of human civilization¡ª
Then there was no doubt.
The appearance of the time machine would be the second, and just as crucial, a turning point!
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
What a coincidence¡
This time¡
It truly was a coincidence.
Copernicus¡¯s question was almost identical to the one Lin Xian had prepared¡ªalmost word for word.
It seemed that Copernicus¡¯s focus and energy werepletely centered on the time machine now.
And what about the others? The other geniuses?
Were they all secretly racing to be the first to seed as well?
Copernicus¡¯s questionid everything bare, pulling all the hidden currents to the surface, drawing everyone into the vortex¡ªwillingly or not¡ªto face the day when time travel would be a reality.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t wait to hear Einstein¡¯s answer.
He hoped the date was soon¡
Because, thanks to Emperor Gao Wen¡¯s help, he was probably the closest to building a time machine among all the members here.
The blueprints were halfway done. Everything but Astatine-339 could be reproduced in 2024.
The answer from Einstein would be the earliest possible date humanity could get its hands on Astatine-339!
A free answer to the question¡
Lin Xian watched Einstein, sitting high above, hoping sincerely for a close date¡ªthe sooner, the better.
Since Copernicus had used the phrase ¡®if all possibilities were exhausted¡¯ in his question, it showed he too was betting on this future.
But he probably didn¡¯t know about Astatine-339, which meant Lin Xian still had a chance to get there first.
Finally¡
Amidst everyone¡¯s anticipation¡
After a few seconds of silence, Einstein slowly raised his head and spoke softly.
¡°I¡¯m afraid that even exhausting all possibilities, the answer won¡¯t change.¡±
¡°Remember this date, geniuses. The earliest humanity will be able to build a time machine is¡ª¡±
¡°December 11th, 2234!¡±
Chapter 444: Im About to Start Lying
Year 2234¡
It was still that year.
Lin Xian squinted, letting out a sigh he couldn¡¯t hold back. He had held onto some hope¡ªmaybe, just maybe, he could get his hands on Astatine-339 earlier. He thought there might be a way to use the time-space machine ahead of schedule to burn through the time-space particles sooner.
But now¡
Einstein¡¯s words had shattered all his dreams in an instant.
¡°Even if you exhaust all possibilities, the answer to this problem will never change.¡±
Such an absolute statement.
As president of the Genius Club, the old man in the Einstein mask spoke with the authority of someone who knew it all. Someone who could see the future had said it. So¡ did it mean there really was no other way?It was true, like Gao Wen said in the eighth dream. Humanity¡¯s greatest power was, at best, nothing more than scratching an itch on the surface of the Earth. We couldn¡¯t even leave the sr system, let alone alter the trajectory of someet out there in deep space and when it would arrive.
The date for thatet to reach Earth was already set in stone. Even if astronomy developed at lightning speed, even if we could see farther than we ever imagined, maybe we¡¯d spot theet decades in advance¡ªbut no matter what, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that it would only reach Earth on December 11, 2234.
Before the vastness of the universe, humanity¡¯s power was still far too small. Not to mention bringing theet forward by decades¡ªeven one second was impossible.
¡°Heh¡¡±
Upon hearing this answer, Copernicus wasn¡¯t particrly surprised. He still smiled with a calmness that seemed unshakable. As if¡ all he needed was a definite date.
¡°Cough, cough¡¡±
He gave a weak cough, cleared his throat, and continued.
¡°That¡¯s quite a distant date, even further than I¡¯d imagined. So, today, at this gathering, among all of you geniuses¡ I¡¯ll say my farewells.¡±
He straightened up in his seat. He spread his hands out. He looked from Galileo on his right, sweeping his gaze counterclockwise, until his eyes rested on Newton directly across from him, and he sighed.
¡°Friends, after this meeting, I¡¯m going to sleep in the hibernation chamber. It¡¯ll be a long sleep¡ A sleep that willst 211 years. I¡¯ll wake up in 2234 to witness humanity¡¯s first time-travel experiment.¡±
¡°Two hundred and eleven years¡ such a long, long time.¡±
He turned his head, looking at Einstein, who sat high on the steps.
¡°My old friend, Einstein¡ since I joined the Genius Club in the seventies, you¡¯ve looked just like this. You¡¯ve never changed. You always seem so old, but never get older. At times, I¡¯ve wondered¡ Since we switched our meetings from offline to online in the Inte era¡ We haven¡¯t seen each other in decades. So, are you hiding something from us?¡±
¡°Are you still the same Einstein from the beginning? Or have you long since passed away, reced by someone else? Or perhaps, like Turing, you¡¯ve be an immortal digital lifeform?¡±
Copernicus¡¯s question piqued the curiosity of the other members too. Within the Genius Club, discussing the Club itself was taboo. No one knew Einstein¡¯s true identity, nor why he could see the future.
And everyone was very curious¡ªjust how long could this frail, ancient manst? How much longer could he live?
Especially Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, and Da Vinci¡ªthey had all met this Einstein in person during an offline meeting decades ago. Back then, he¡¯d already been an old man. Now, his virtual image was still an old man.
So what was his real state?
Everyone awaited Einstein¡¯s answer.
But¡
The unmoving old man spoke without a hint of emotion.
¡°Copernicus, your question round is over, and you¡¯ve gotten my answer. ording to the rules, from here on, you can chat casually, express opinions, or even question me.¡±
¡°But¡ beyond your first question, during this meeting, I will not answer any further questions, nor correct any of the errors in your statements.¡±
¡°If you truly have more questions for me, they must wait until the next meeting. However, as one of the club¡¯s oldest members, I shouldn¡¯t need to remind you: if the question or its answer concerns a member of the Genius Club or the Club itself, it will be refused, and your chance to ask will be forfeited.¡±
Einstein made his position clear. He wouldn¡¯t answer anything unnecessary.
Copernicus had expected this. He shook his head, smiling.
¡°You misunderstand, old friend. I¡¯m not asking you anything more. I just worry¡ When I wake up from two hundred years of hibernation, will I still see you? Will this gathering that hassted decades continue?¡±
¡°Of course, this question touches on the Club itself, so you won¡¯t answer it. Just consider it nostalgia, a little reminiscing.¡±
¡°But I believe in you. You are so mysterious, so powerful; time is bound to have no hold on you.¡±
With that, he looked over at Newton, then Da Vinci, and each member one by one.
¡°And what about all of you, my colleagues? Even if none of you like me, if I wake up two hundred yearster and find that none of you are here, that the grand Golden Hall only has Einstein and me left, I would be deeply regretful.¡±
¡°So, let¡¯s say our goodbyes now, geniuses. If we meet again¡ then let it be 211 years from now, in the future!¡±
¡
Just as Lin Xian had guessed. After confirming the earliest possible time for using the time-space machine, Copernicus was set to enter hibernation.
What now?
Lin Xian felt a wave of mncholy. Copernicus¡¯s body couldn¡¯t hold on, and he was definitely going to hibernate for two centuries, to prolong his life and to use the time-space machine.
But what about Lin Xian¡¯s ns for revenge?
Once Copernicus entered the underground hibernation base, especially one that he had built himself¡ would Lin Xian ever find him?
If he really couldn¡¯t¡ then he¡¯d have to watch as this ¡°big viin¡± reawakened two hundred yearster, while he¡¯d already be buried, turned to dust.
Hibernation was not part of Lin Xian¡¯s life n. At most, he¡¯d live another seventy or eighty years. By the time Copernicus woke up, Lin Xian would no longer be around.
Would Yu Xi¡¯s grudge just be left unavenged like this? Xu Yun¡¯s grudge, Tang Xin¡¯s grudge, the promises made to Angelica, the beautiful words spoken to Zhao Ying Jun¡ªwere they all just going to be abandoned?
These vows and promises were secondary. But if what Copernicus said was true¡
Two hundred yearster, in 2234, when he reawakened, with no one to stop him, and Lin Xian long gone, and the time-space machine in his possession¡ wouldn¡¯t his n for the future loope to fruition again?
Lin Xian didn¡¯t dare imagine it. In 2234, with the intelligence from Einstein in one hand, and the time-space machine in the other¡ one hand in the future, the other in the past. He would truly control humanity¡¯s fate and the direction of time itself!
But then¡
Would Lin Xian really have to follow Copernicus into the hibernation pod, prolonging their conflict two hundred years, four hundred years, six hundred years into the future?
He couldn¡¯t help but feel empty and lost. Hibernation¡ in some ways, it was even more terrifying than one-way time travel through time particles.
No return ticket. A strange, unfamiliar world. No family, no friends¡ªutter loneliness. Just like Zhao Ying Jun had said back then:
¡°A world where you have nothing, where no one would mourn your death; even your ashes would be scattered in the wind, without a soul to remember you.¡±
Besides, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t alone anymore. He had his parents, his family, friends, Ying Jun, and the promise of little Yu Xi. Could he really abandon it all, to travel into an unfamiliar future two hundred years from now?
Honestly¡ he couldn¡¯t bear to do it.
¡
When Copernicus finished speaking, Einstein, seated in his tall-backed chair, turned to look at Newton.
¡°Newton, do you have a question this time?¡±
The young man in the Newton mask shook his head. ¡°I have no questions.¡±
Lin Xian pressed his lips together. Such a cautious person. Without asking questions, there was no way to understand him at all.
Einstein then looked at Galileo. ¡°Galileo, your turn.¡±
The middle-aged man in the Galileo mask looked up immediately, saying: ¡°How can one urately locate the presence of a time-space rift?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no way,¡± Einstein answered without hesitation. ¡°Time-space rifts aren¡¯t visible phenomena. They exist, but only within a higher-dimensional space, so there¡¯s no way to detect, observe, or locate them.¡±
Galileo¡¯s question, as expected, was also about time travel. It seemed that ever since Copernicus had brought up this topic, there was no longer any need to hide things.
Or rather, it was as if Copernicus was stirring up trouble intentionally. He smartly asked about the first invention of the time travel machine, and then nned to hibernate until that time came.
He was probably doing it on purpose. After all, he had to go into hibernation no matter what, so why not muddy the waters first? This way, all these geniuses would start exploring the field, paving the way for him to profit easily when he awoke and steal the fruits of theirbor.
Galileo¡¯s question was simrly vague. And, unsurprisingly, it went unanswered. But it was obvious¡ªhe had another purpose. It was as if he already knew the answer, but intentionally said it out loud to draw everyone else¡¯s attention to it.
Einstein then turned to Da Vinci, smiling slightly. ¡°Miss Da Vinci, it¡¯s your turn to ask.¡±
Da Vinci chuckled, crossing one leg over the other. ¡°Oh my, what¡¯s going on today? Each of you asking about time travel¡ It feels like you¡¯re all doing it on purpose.¡±
She shrugged. ¡°Since you¡¯re being so obvious, why bother being coy about it? Let me just ask the final question for all of you.¡±
At that moment, Lin Xian perked up. It seemed Miss Da Vinci also realized Copernicus was stirring the pot, and that Galileo was deliberately guiding the conversation. Lin Xian knew Miss Da Vinci had no future ns involving time travel, so¡ it looked like she was about to flip the table.
What was she going to ask?
Lin Xian watched silently as the geniuses schemed against one another. Miss Da Vinci looked first at Galileo, then at Copernicus, a smile ying on her lips.
¡°No matter how much we dance around it, your ultimate goal is time travel, right? Do you want to go to the past or the future?¡±
¡°But you all know that it¡¯s not going to happen anytime soon. I can¡¯t help but wonder¡ªdo the two of you already know something incredible, and you¡¯re just pretending to be clueless?¡±
¡°Impressive. Let me be the fool then. Let¡¯s stop hiding things, Einstein. My question is¡ª¡±
She turned her head and looked at the masked man on the high tform.
¡°I don¡¯t want any vague answers or conditions. I just want to know one thing¡ª¡±
¡°In the future you foresee, on what exact day, minute, and second will humanity achieve its first time travel?¡±
As Da Vinci finished her question, the small-framed Gauss straightened up, looking impressed.
¡°A-amazing, Miss Da Vinci! You just¡ went right for it.¡±
Newton, sitting across the way, couldn¡¯t help but p, interrupting Gauss¡¯ slow exmation.
¡°I like your style, Miss Da Vinci. If only I could ask a more detailed question, I¡¯d really like to know who exactly came up with time travel.¡±
He added with a grin, ¡°If a genius ever manages to travel back in time, please tell young me not to go easy on Copernicus here. Just tell me to take care of him right after one of these Genius Club meetups.¡±
¡°Ha¡ Haha¡¡± Copernicusughed dryly.
¡°Of course, dear Newton, I¡¯ll pass on your message. But first¡ wouldn¡¯t you need to tell me who you are? How else will I find you?¡±
On the tform, Einstein raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop their banter. He looked down at the woman wearing the Da Vinci mask and spoke softly.
¡°Caution and precision aremendable, but perhaps my answer will disappoint you. Humanity is small in the face of time itself. Thus, crossing time can only be achieved through one method¡ªusing a time machine.¡±
¡°Now, let me answer your question. In the future I foresee, the exact moment humanity will first achieve time travel is¡ª¡±
¡°December 11th, 2234, 9:47:21 PM, X Country Time.¡±
Galileo huffed, ¡°Why is everything in our club always based on X Country Time?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve asked this question before,¡± Newton said, shrugging. ¡°But Einstein refused to answer. All our meeting times, every event he describes, they¡¯re all in X Country Time¡ I don¡¯t know what it means, but it¡¯s clearly a clue about the Genius Club itself.¡±
He continued, ¡°Back then, when I asked, there were only two members¡ªCopernicus and me. Neither of us is from X Country, and President Einstein isn¡¯t either. So, I suspect it has nothing to do with the members, but rather a secret of the club itself.¡±
¡
Lin Xian listened to the chatter, pondering Einstein¡¯s answer. Miss Da Vinci¡¯s question had indeed unveiled the veil over humanity¡¯s first time travel in history.
Perhaps she thought Copernicus and Galileo were misleading people, diverting everyone¡¯s attention towards the year 2234, while they nned on sneaking in a time travel attempt earlier.
But the answer hade as a surprise. Even down to the exact second, the date remained December 11th, 2234.
It seemed that this was indeed a dead end. No matter what, humanity couldn¡¯tplete time travel before that date.
What intrigued Lin Xian even more was¡ who would it be? The first time traveler in human history¡ªwho would it be? Where were they headed, and for what purpose?
But at the moment, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on that. The questions posed earlier had blocked all paths to attempting time travel before its destined time.
What should he do?
Could it be that he really had to hand over the time machine and let Copernicus do as he pleased for centuries toe?
Einstein then looked over to Gauss, the small man who had been waiting his turn.
¡°Gauss, it¡¯s your turn.¡±
Gauss had clearly prepared his question, asking without hesitation, ¡°My question is: When will humanity reach the point ofplete immunity, never falling ill, never catching any virus, and able to cure all diseases?¡±
¡°Never,¡± Einstein replied.
¡°The human body is inherently wed, and human evolution and mutation are still ongoing. Nothing stays the same¡ªthis includes humanity itself. As long as changes ur, there will always be new challenges and new ws¡ªthis is nature¡¯sw, and humanity cannot escape it.¡±
¡°Naturally, this also includes viruses. There is no virus that can never be conquered, but there will always be new ones emerging. Viruses, like humans, are constantly evolving and mutating.¡±
¡°The good news is that the virulence and spread of most viruses will weaken over time and through repeated infections. The bad news is that during their transmission, new strains will inevitably develop.¡±
¡
Lin Xian eyed Gauss. The small man had received yet another negative answer. It seemed to Lin Xian that Gauss¡¯ question wasn¡¯t worth asking Einstein. He could have gotten the same answer from a medical expert or a virologist.
Lin Xian himself could¡¯ve answered Gauss¡¯ question.
There were no fools in the Genius Club. So why did Gauss always ask questions that had negative answers?
What was he hoping for?
Finally, Einstein¡¯s gazended on Lin Xian, on hisical Rhine Cat mask.
¡°Thest genius, Rhine, what is your question?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, his brain racing. He actually had no more questions. The things he wanted to ask had already been covered by Copernicus and Miss Da Vinci. Now, the biggest crisis he faced was¡
After this meeting, Copernicus was nning to enter a hibernation chamber. By the time he woke up again, the world would be apletely different ce, and Lin Xian would most likely be long gone.
He must not hibernate!
Lin Xian solidified this core thought. If Copernicus went into hibernation, Lin Xian would be too passive¡ªessentially, he¡¯d lose the battle entirely. He had to stop him!
But how?
To keep Copernicus in 2024, Lin Xian had to offer something tempting enough. Think carefully. Think deeply.
Lin Xian¡¯s brain stormed.
Suddenly, he recalled something Einstein had said earlier¡ª
¡°I will not answer any further questions, nor correct any mistakes in your statements.¡±
Errors!
In other words, even if someone lied or made a wrong statement while asking a question, Einstein wouldn¡¯t correct them. It was a clear rule. Otherwise, asking a question and getting corrections before an answer would essentially be like getting an extra free question¡ªand no genius would allow such a loophole.
Perfect!
Lin Xian had a brilliant n!
Now, he had five advantages:
Copernicus had already asked his question in this meeting. To confirm any facts, he¡¯d have to wait at least until September 1st, at the next meeting. This meant that Copernicus wouldn¡¯t be able to verify anything during the next month.
Einstein would only answer questions without correcting statements. This allowed room to mislead with the phrasing of the question itself.
Elon Musk and Angelica were likely sessful in deceiving Copernicus, meaning Lin Xian could count on them for support.
Lin Xian knew what Copernicus wanted most, and that very thing was in his possession.
He had learned a few tricks from Gauss and Galileo¡¯s misleading questions. Now¡ it was his time to shine.
Lin Xian opened his eyes. He looked up.
It was time to lie!
He would use Einstein to deceive Copernicus!
¡°Einstein,¡± Lin Xian said steadily.
¡°My observatory has detected that in a little over two weeks, an unusual time-space particle will pass through Earth¡¯s atmosphere. However, capturing it is incredibly difficult.¡±
¡°My question is¡ª¡±
¡°If the time-space particle loses energy and bes invisible due to excessive contact during capture, is there any way to use a detector to¡ recapture its signal?¡±
The elderly man in the Einstein mask nodded.
¡°The key lies in ¡®activity.¡¯ For time-space particles, activity and energy are two separate concepts that exist independently and do not interfere with each other.¡±
¡°A time-space particle that has lost energy will indeed be invisible and undetectable. However, if you can find a way to make it lose its activity once more, it will reappear, bing visible and detectable again.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly, nodding. ¡°Thank you for the answer. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±
Chapter 445: I Am Here
Time-Space Particles.
This was the bait Lin Xian threw out to Copernicus, hisst desperate attempt.
By now, hibernation pods had been developed by various countries and were soon going to hit the market. Humanity was about to enter the age of hibernation for real. With Copernicus¡¯s resources, building a secret underground hibernation base would be easy. Once he went into hibernation, Lin Xian would have no chance of finding him.
No name, no identity, no nationality, no location.
On this vast Earth, searching for someone without a single clue was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Of course, if Super AI VV were avable, things would be much easier. The chances of finding Copernicus would increase dramatically.
But¡
Who could afford to gamble on those odds?Lin Xian had originally nned to ask, at the next meeting, how to get rid of the future virus targeting AI that was lurking online. But he didn¡¯t have much hope.
After all, not every question had an answer. Even the questions posed by Gauss had often received Einstein¡¯s reply of, ¡°There¡¯s no solution.¡±
So, when it came to dealing with the virus, Einstein might very well answer, ¡°No way to solve it in our time,¡± or ¡°It¡¯ll take until the year XXXX for someone to solve this virus.¡±
Answers like that¡ªuseless.
Einstein might know a lot, and could even see into the future, but he wasn¡¯t Doraemon. He couldn¡¯t pull out miraculous gadgets to solve everyone¡¯s problems.
Which meant¡
To kill Copernicus and prevent him from controlling the future, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t afford to wait for VV to revive.
Not even a moment!
If he waited until the meeting was over to make a move, Copernicus would be sleeping for the next two hundred years, and Lin Xian would be left helpless, watching Copernicus roam freely in a distant future¡ªwhile his descendant, Yu Xi, burned incense at his grave.
¡°When Copernicus falls, don¡¯t forget to tell your father.¡±
Wait, no.
Yu Xi wouldn¡¯t live for another two hundred years either. That time span was far too long¡ªenough for Lin Xian¡¯s great-great-great-grandchildren to be born.
That¡¯s why Lin Xian threw out the ¡°Time-Space Particles¡± as bait.
First off, whether Copernicus believed him or not, it was the only thing that could pique Copernicus¡¯s interest. Lin Xian had to take the gamble¡ªyou can¡¯t catch a wolf without sacrificing a sheep.
Second, if Copernicus wanted to verify the truth of this im, he would have to either wait until next month¡¯s meeting to ask Einstein, go to SpaceX to ask Elon Musk, or find a way to verify it himself. In any case, Lin Xian could gain an invaluable month.
Lastly, the information Lin Xian gave was half true, half false, mixed together to make it harder for Copernicus to discern.
The question was:
For an old man desperate for entangled time-space particles, would he simply ignore a person who obviously knew a lot about them?
Or would he believe, just in case it was true, and try to verify it?
Either way, Lin Xian would not lose.
Copernicus was too obsessed with time-space particles to just let it go.
Honestly, if Copernicus hadn¡¯t been in such a hurry to enter hibernation, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have mentioned the time-space particles. After all, by saying it aloud, he was making it public knowledge among all the geniuses.
But there was no choice.
To catch Copernicus and stop his ns for the future, sacrifices had to be made.
Sure enough, Lin Xian¡¯s words caused quite a stir.
He observed the crowd, trying to see how many geniuses were familiar with the concept of time-space particles.
¡°Time-space particles?¡± Miss Da Vinci was the first to speak up: ¡°A while back, Elon Musk asked a simr question, though he wasn¡¯t clear if such a thing really existed¡ And now you say it does, Lin Xian? So, it¡¯s real?¡±
¡°Ha.¡± Newton, standing beside her, let out a knowingugh: ¡°Seems like today¡¯s gathering is heading for a do-or-die showdown¡ªI like it. It¡¯s been ages since we had such an intense meeting. Lately, we¡¯ve all been ying cat and mouse, making things boring. Anyway, after our questions are over, we have plenty of time to chat. Why not discuss time travel in depth?¡±
¡°Heh, heh, heh¡¡± Copernicus gave a dry chuckle: ¡°Amazing, truly amazing. I thought only a few knew about time-space particles, but clearly¡ I underestimated you all. Galileo, why don¡¯t youe clean? That question you asked about the great discovery in astronomy on March 27, 2077, wasn¡¯t that about time-space particles too?¡±
¡°Ah, you got me,¡± Galileo smiled faintly: ¡°I thought I hid it well, but Lin Xian just blew my cover. Yes, I assumed the time-space particles wouldn¡¯t reach Earth until 2077¡ But if Lin Xian is right, aren¡¯t they supposed to arrive this August?¡±
¡°Last month, Einstein answered my question about the major astronomical discovery of 2077¡ªcould it be an even more advanced form of time-space particles?¡±
Beside him, Gauss looked utterly confused, stammering: ¡°You guys¡ You¡¯re already studying¡ this kind of stuff?¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll admit it.¡± Lin Xian cut Gauss off, shrugging: ¡°The reason I shared this information is that I realized Ick the ability to capture time-space particles myself. I don¡¯t have a spaceship or a rocket. If Elon Musk were here, I¡¯d share information with him and see if we could work together. He has the resources to aplish a space capture.¡±
¡°Then why not just go to Elon Musk in person?¡± Copernicus interjected, ¡°Everyone knows Te is Elon Musk. If you can¡¯t find him at the club meeting, why not go to Boca Chica, at the SpaceXunch base?¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile, turning hisical Rhine Cat mask towards Copernicus: ¡°I¡¯m not that foolish, going to Elon Musk and blowing my cover. As a neer to the club, I¡¯ve read the club rules many times. I understand the importance of keeping identities secret.¡±
¡
That casual conversation provided Lin Xian with quite a bit of information.
Miss Da Vinci genuinely seemed unaware of time-space particles or time travel, and she didn¡¯t seem particrly interested in those fields either.
Newton, with his half-smile, obviously knew something, though he hid it well.
Galileo was clearly a master of ying dumb. Lin Xian knew the question Galileo had asked Einstein had nothing to do with time-space particles; now, with Copernicus thinking it did, Galileo was happy to let them all be misled, using the misunderstanding to conceal his true intentions.
As for Gauss¡
Well, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure Gauss out yet. He always seemed so naive, like someone who hadn¡¯t seen much of the world.
It was hard to tell if Gauss knew anything about time-space particles.
And Copernicus¡
He was starting to show his true colors.
He was trying to get Lin Xian to meet Elon Musk in person because he thought his ¡°Prince and the Pauper¡± n had seeded. As soon as Lin Xian went to SpaceX, Copernicus believed his identity would be leaked to him.
Of course, that was only Copernicus¡¯s idea.
He thought he had fooled the world with a fake Elon Musk, not knowing Lin Xian, Angelica, and the real Elon Musk had already unraveled his scheme, using a double-cross against him.
This was why Lin Xian had deliberately brought up Elon Musk.
If Copernicus contacted Elon Musk, it would only make Lin Xian¡¯s n more likely to seed.
Elon Musk was smart enough to understand Lin Xian¡¯s intention.
And with that, the genius club, each harboring their own secrets, fell silent.
Einstein stood up at the right moment and announced the end of the meeting: ¡°Now that everyone has discussed their questions, let¡¯s end this month¡¯s gathering here. I truly hope¡ the next meeting will be just as lively.¡±
Einstein¡¯s closing remark was strangely mysterious.
Galileo then raised his hand.
Einstein looked at him: ¡°Galileo, do you have something to say?¡±
Galileo lowered his hand and looked across at Miss Da Vinci: ¡°I don¡¯t have anything else to add, but I do want to invite Miss Da Vinci¡ If you could stay for a bit after the meeting, I have a few questions for you.¡±
Da Vinci smiled slightly: ¡°How rare, Galileo. Is it good news?¡±
Then, everyone stood up, their figures bing transparent, fading away from the virtual hall.
Soon, the meeting room, bathed in golden light, had only three people left¡ªEinstein, Galileo, and Da Vinci.
Einstein looked at the two of them still sitting in their chairs and asked: ¡°Do you need me to leave? If so, I can disappear right now.¡±
Galileo chuckled: ¡°You¡¯re joking, Einstein. For someone who can see every possible future, you leaving is meaningless.¡±
¡°Go on, Galileo.¡± Da Vinci looked directly at him, ¡°What do you want to discuss?¡±
Galileo straightened up, his demeanor turning serious again:
¡°Miss Da Vinci, I want to ask you¡ªwhen you speak of a ¡®role model,¡¯ what exactly do you mean?¡±
¡°Everyone knows that in different times, different ces, and different countries, role models vary. In primitive times, physical strength and hunting prowess were models; in farming eras, hard work in the fields was exemry; during wars, dying on the battlefield was noble; in scientific times, serious research is the ideal¡¡±
¡°I think role models have no fixed standard. Depending on the time, the same actions can be seen as either criminal or exemry. So, I¡¯d like to know¡ What, in your view, makes someone a role model?¡±
¡°It¡¯s simple, Galileo.¡± Da Vinci answered without hesitation: ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. You make simple thingsplicated. I believe everyone has their own innerpass; they instinctively know what¡¯s right and what¡¯s wrong.¡±
¡°Even if you find someone who denies their wrongdoing, they¡¯re just being stubborn. Deep down, they know they¡¯ve done wrong. If they truly thought they were right, why wouldn¡¯t they openly admit it?¡±
¡°If you want to set a standard for role models, it means¡ you want to exploit it.¡±
Galileo paused: ¡°So you¡¯re saying role models don¡¯t need standards? You¡¯re saying fairness is in people¡¯s hearts?¡±
¡°Are you trying to trap me?¡± Da Vinci smiled: ¡°Galileo, you know full well that each of our ns is confidential. I can¡¯t tell you.¡±
Galileo chuckled, shaking his head: ¡°Onest question, Miss Da Vinci. You can¡¯t influence everyone, and not everyone will want to learn from a role model. For those who refuse¡ what will you do with them?¡±
¡°The world will ept them,¡± Da Vinci said softly, ¡°and they will ept the world.¡±
¡
Between them, there was a long silence.
Eventually, Galileo rose from his seat, giving Da Vinci a small, polite bow. He smiled, a bittersweet glint in his eyes.
¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Miss Da Vinci,¡± he began. ¡°I must confess, the winter of 1982, the first time I met you at that gathering in Brussels¡ªthe snow was heavy, but the tea you brewed for us¡ it was unforgettable. It¡¯s a memory I still carry with me.¡±
¡°You know,¡± he continued, his voice soft, almost wistful, ¡°I¡¯d never been fond of tea. No one had ever made it for me before. But after that night, I could never find another cup quite like it¡ªnever again could I capture that taste.¡±
Da Vinci stood as well, her lips curving into a gentle smile. ¡°Maybe you should visit X Country sometime,¡± she said. ¡°That tea was Zhengshan Xiaozhong, brought from there. What you find outside isn¡¯t always authentic.¡±
Galileo straightened, letting out a small chuckle. ¡°You know very well,¡± he said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t really talking about the tea.¡±
¡
In Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house, Lin Xian removed the VR headset, rubbing his eyes where the device had left red imprints.
Copernicus would probably take the bait.
Dying hibernation by a month wasn¡¯t a huge deal for him, but the time-space particles Lin Xian had spread¡ªnow, those would be what really piqued Copernicus¡¯s interest.
¡°Let¡¯s see if he reaches out to Elon Musk,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
After all, there were only a handful of organizations with rockets and spacecraft. Copernicus believed he controlled Elon Musk¡¯s SpaceX, so why wouldn¡¯t he take advantage of that resource?
¡°Then, it¡¯ll be up to Elon Musk and Angelica¡¯s acting skills,¡± he added.
Lin Xian had avoided contacting either of them recently. No one knew if Copernicus was monitoring them or what state they were in. If something was up, they¡¯d find a way to get in touch with him, of that he was sure.
He ced the VR headset back into its box and stood up, twisting the door handle to step into the living room.
Zhao Ying Jun sat quietly on the sofa, her gaze resting on the Pomeranian VV, fast asleep in the corner. She looked up as Lin Xian entered, smiling warmly.
¡°Finished with your meeting? Anything fruitfule of it?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head slightly. ¡°Not much, really. I didn¡¯t get the answers I wanted. But¡ we¡¯ll see what happens. It¡¯s all about persistence.¡±
¡°Did you ask about the Millennium Stake?¡± Zhao Ying Jun inquired. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me the truth, I would¡¯ve still thought An Qing went abroad to study. I haven¡¯t seen Chu Shan He muchtely either¡ªhe¡¯s been keeping a pretty low profile.¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t get a chance,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°If I¡¯d brought it up, and Einstein answered, then everyone would know about it. I don¡¯t want them to know about Chu An Qing or the Millennium Stake. Who knows what they might do with that information?
¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t even know what the Millennium Stake is, but I promised Chu Shan He I¡¯d bring An Qing home. That means keeping this whole matter away from any bad influences.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°No matter what, even if An Qing knows she¡¯s destined to vanish at 00:42, she was brave enough to jump from a ne twenty thousand meters high to capture time-space particles for you¡ We owe it to her to bring her back.
¡°It¡¯s okay if it takes time. As long as it¡¯s safe and foolproof. Don¡¯t me me for butting in, but since we¡¯re partners, what¡¯s yours is mine. Your promises are my promises.¡±
She sighed softly. ¡°Tell me, do you think Yellow Finch, the version of me from that other timeline¡ She felt guilty about An Qing, didn¡¯t she? And yet, she still used her, knowing she¡¯d disappear at 00:42¡ What must she have felt, watching such a bright, cheerful little girl, knowing her fate was to fade away into blue stardust?¡±
Lin Xian sat down beside her on the couch, taking her hand. ¡°You are Yellow Finch, so if anyone can understand her feelings, it¡¯s you.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun exhaled deeply. ¡°I¡¯d feel incredibly sorry. If it were me, I¡¯d probably hug her tightly. I¡¯d feel awful¡ªher short life, forced to bear such a fate.¡±
¡°Especially when it has nothing to do with her at all. Honestly, the time-space particles, the Genius Club, everything reallyes down to us, doesn¡¯t it? And yet, an innocent girl like An Qing got caught up in it, all for the sake of capturing a single time-space particle.¡±
¡°We owe her. But first, we need to bring her back¡ªto give Chu Shan He the closure he deserves.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what, I¡¯ll keep my promise. Even if I have to chase her to the ends of the earth, I¡¯ll bring An Qing back and stand her before Chu Shan He.¡±
Seeing the determined look in his eyes, Zhao Ying Jun smiled. This was the man she loved, the quality she loved most about him¡ªhis sense of responsibility, his willingness to stand up for what mattered. It was worth more than anything.
¡°By the way¡¡± She ced her other hand on his, speaking softly. ¡°Remember what you said a few days ago? About visiting your parents next week¡ What should I bring them?¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t need to bring anything. Just you being there will make them happy. They¡¯ve been asking about it for ages.¡±
¡°Oh,e on,¡± Zhao Ying Jun protested. ¡°When you met my parents, you brought tea, remember? My dad still talks about it¡ªsays it was the freshest green tea he¡¯s ever had.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°It was freshly made. Your parents visited Donghai City during the Dragon Well harvest. One of my rtives makes tea¡ªnot a master, but very traditional.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked up at him, her eyes soft. ¡°I¡¯ve told my parents about us.¡±
¡°And?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°They¡¯re happy,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°They like you. I think they even expected this. I¡¯ve exined everything, and though it took a while, they understand.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great, but we were talking about gifts for your parents,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°This is my first time meeting them, so I can¡¯t just show up empty-handed. What do you think? Some wine, cigarettes, health supplements?¡±
¡°No need to make it soplicated.¡± Lin Xian waved it off. ¡°We¡¯ll pick something at the supermarket together. They¡¯re used to simple things. If you give them something too fancy, they won¡¯t even use it¡ªthey¡¯ll just leave it until it goes bad.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s n for next weekend. I¡¯ll let them know in advance. They¡¯ll be thrilled to meet you.¡±
¡°V~~~~~~¡±
In the corner, VV the Pomeranian shifted in its little bed, smacking its lips, almost waking up. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun nced at each other and realized they couldn¡¯t keep talking here.
Lin Xian nodded towards the bedroom. ¡°Shall we?¡±
¡°Mhm.¡±
¡
A few dayster, Saturday, August 10th.
In Hang City, Chunan County, Thousand Ind Lake Town, Lin Xian¡¯s family home was bustling with excitement.
¡°Oh my, Ying Jun! Come in,e in!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s mother beamed, grabbing Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s arm and guiding her inside. ¡°Lin Xian¡¯s told us so much about you! I can¡¯t believe how beautiful and elegant you are. My son really got lucky!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s father grinned, his eyes nearly disappearing behind his smile. ¡°You really didn¡¯t need to bring all these gifts. We¡¯re just happy to have you here.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± said Gao Yang, bncing two cartons of fancy cigarettes and carrying a case of Maotai liquor. ¡°No need for the expensive stuff¡ªmy uncle doesn¡¯t even smoke these.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Lin Xian karate-chopped Gao Yang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Why are you even here? I thought I told you not toe.¡±
Gao Yang shrugged, unabashed. ¡°What kind of brother would I be if I didn¡¯t show up for something this important?¡±
¡°You mean showing up to mooch cigarettes and booze?¡± Lin Xian retorted.
¡°I¡¯m just helping bring them inside!¡± Gao Yang protested. ¡°Stop being so stingy.¡±
Truthfully, Gao Yang had shown up uninvited. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t told him a thing. But word had spread quickly¡ªhis parents had been so excited about meeting Zhao Ying Jun that they¡¯d started cleaning days in advance and even installed new air conditioning in each bedroom. Naturally, the neighbors had noticed, and soon enough, Gao Yang¡¯s parents had heard too. They¡¯d scolded him for not settling down yet, which led to himing over to ¡°support¡± his friend¡¯s big day¡ or rather, to crash it.
¡°Miss Zhao Ying Jun,¡± Gao Yang sidled over, grinning. ¡°About thosepany cars at MX¡ wouldn¡¯t it be better to match the fleet to Rhine Company¡¯s? After all, you¡¯re just across the street from each other. Might as well be onepany, right? I¡¯m just saying, thepany cars should at least match¡ªdon¡¯t you think?¡±
Zhao Ying Junughed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have the logistics manager get in touch with you.¡±
¡°Awesome!¡± Gao Yang beamed, then turned to Lin Xian. ¡°And don¡¯t forget, you still owe me a car! You promised two years ago!¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah. Next time, for sure,¡± Lin Xian said dismissively.
¡
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s beauty, kindness, and grace hadpletely won over Lin Xian¡¯s parents. During dinner, they couldn¡¯t stop smiling, assuring her repeatedly, ¡°You young ones make your own decisions. We¡¯re in no rush to push you into marriage¡ªtake your time, there¡¯s no pressure from us!¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian¡¯s father agreed. ¡°You¡¯re at the age to focus on your careers. We understand that, and we¡¯re not in a hurry to be grandparents.¡±
¡°Oh,e on now,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, embarrassed. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on her.¡±
His mother smiled, moving a dish closer to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Here, dear, try some of our local specialty. You¡¯re so slim¡ªmake sure you¡¯re eating enough, okay? You need to take care of yourself. Being too thin can make you feel dizzy sometimes.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled back. ¡°Actually, I have felt a bit dizzytely.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s mother looked surprised. ¡°Well, you¡¯re in luck! Lin Xian¡¯s third uncle is a well-known traditional X Country doctor. After dinner, we¡¯ll have him prescribe some herbs for you.¡±
¡°Oh, no, there¡¯s really no need,¡± Zhao Ying Jun insisted, ¡°I¡¯ve probably just been overworking myselftely¡ªburning the midnight oil, you know.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly. It was true¡ªshe¡¯d been staying upte, waiting for him to return from his dreams.
¡°Don¡¯t be shy,¡± his mother said warmly. ¡°He may be just a town doctor, but peoplee from all over to see him. He¡¯s helped so many that his clinic¡¯s practically overflowing with thank-you banners. Hees from a long line of doctors¡ªyou¡¯re in good hands.¡±
Faced with such heartfelt insistence, Zhao Ying Jun could only nod.
Later that afternoon, the older couple led Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun to the clinic. It wasn¡¯t far¡ªone of the perks of small-town life was that everything was conveniently close by.
Zhao Ying Jun sat down, cing her hand on the cotton pillow as Lin Xian¡¯s uncle¡ªa traditional X Country doctor¡ªgently pressed three fingers to her wrist, closing his eyes in concentration.
¡°Hmm¡¡± He furrowed his brows, then opened his eyes. ¡°Switch hands, please.¡±
Everyone exchanged puzzled nces. What could be wrong?
Nothing makes people more nervous than seeing a doctor frown. Lin Xian felt his heart rate quicken.
¡°Is¡ is everything alright, Uncle?¡± he asked.
Zhao Ying Jun, equally confused, obediently switched hands, cing it back on the pillow. The doctor again took her pulse, eyes closed, head tilted, listening carefully. His expression shifted, then finally softened into a smile.
¡°It¡¯s good news,¡± he said, chuckling.
Lin Xian¡¯s mother blinked. ¡°What good news? What is it?¡±
The doctor smiled knowingly. ¡°Congrattions¡ It¡¯s a pregnancy pulse.¡±
Chapter 446: The Extra Ticket
¡°Huh?¡± x4
The old doctor¡¯s words left the Lin Xian familypletely stunned.
Lin Xian, his mother, and his father exchanged bewildered nces, unable to find words. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat, and she was too scared even to look up.
The rest of the visit was a blur. Zhao Ying Jun barely remembered how she got through it, and she didn¡¯t want to. Making up a hasty excuse about urgent work at thepany, she grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm and practically dragged him to the car, speeding away as fast as she could.
¡°What were you thinking?!¡± Zhao Ying Jun punched Lin Xian¡¯s arm.
¡°Seriously! It¡¯s my first time meeting your parents, and you spring this on me?! How am I ever supposed to face them again? What must they think of me now?!¡±
¡°Whoa, whoa¡ªI¡¯m driving here!¡± Lin Xian tried to steady the wheel, his brow furrowed. He was just as shaken as she was.
¡°Look, I had no idea my uncle was that good! I mean, who could¡¯ve guessed? My mom just asked him to check your pulse, and suddenly he figures everything out. I always thought he was just some shady old quack¡ªwho knew he was actually this talented!¡±¡°Ha.¡± Zhao Ying Jun let out a coldugh. ¡°You seem pretty proud of yourself, Lin Xian. Good aim, huh?¡±
¡°Well, I do have good marksmanship,¡± Lin Xian admitted with a nod.
¡°You still have the nerve to joke!¡± Zhao Ying Jun shot him a re, then sighed, covering her face with her hands.
¡°You¡¯ve embarrassed mepletely in front of your parents. I¡¯ve never felt so humiliated in my entire life. When your uncle figured it out, I seriously wanted to vanish. I mean, what kind of situation is this?! It¡¯s my first time at your ce, and that was awkward enough. You told your parents we¡¯d only been dating for a month¡ªthey weren¡¯t even pressuring us¡ And then, out of nowhere, we just drop this bombshell on them, presenting them with a grandchild!¡±
¡°You¡¯re right. This one¡¯s on me,¡± Lin Xian nodded, epting the me.
To be honest, they had thought this might happen¡ªjust not so soon.
Neither of them had much experience with this sort of thing, especially not in nning for a family. All their colleagues always talked about how hard it was to conceive, how they¡¯d been trying for years, seeking out all kinds of treatments.
One of Lin Xian¡¯s coworkers at MX Company had been married for ten years and still hadn¡¯t conceived, despite spending tens of thousands on in vitro procedures. She¡¯d tried multiple times, only to suffer miscarriages, and it was all pushing her to the edge.
Who could have imagined?
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun hadn¡¯t prepared at all, hadn¡¯t even timed anything¡ªyet, somehow, after just one month, it happened.
Sure, Lin Xian always thought of himself as a speedrunner¡ but did this really need to be a speedrun too?
He felt embarrassed enough as it was¡ªhe could only imagine how Zhao Ying Jun felt. Just moments before, he¡¯d warned his parents not to pressure them about marriage or kids, reminding them they were still at the early stages.
Then, Uncle chuckled and announced, ¡°It¡¯s a pregnancy pulse!¡±
It felt like Lin Xian¡¯s brain had been struck by lightning¡ªthe world spinning around him as if it were all just a dream.
He had made promises to Zhao Ying Jun, sure, but this hade so suddenly that he wasn¡¯t ready for it.
¡°Ooohhhhh¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun sighed again, her emotions gradually settling.
¡°I¡¯m not ming you. Pregnancy doesn¡¯t just happen on its own¡ªI¡¯m responsible too. And I was prepared for it¡ It¡¯s just that being exposed like that in front of your parents made me feel so mortified. Some things, you know, the order matters.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian said, signaling left and overtaking a car.
¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility. I¡¯ll exin everything to my parents¡ªafter all, most of the me lies with me.¡±
¡°But the bigger question right now is¡¡±
He nced sideways at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s belly, then looked up to meet her cold gaze, a small smile on his lips.
¡°Since things are progressing so quickly, shouldn¡¯t we start nning some things now?¡±
¡°Oh, stop it.¡± Zhao Ying Jun ced her hand over her stomach, turning to look out the window at the passing highway scenery.
¡°You make it sound like it was just too easy for you. Like I¡¯m just giving in.¡± She paused for a moment, then smiled despite herself.
¡°Why does it feel like, with the two of us, it¡¯s always a case of ¡®get on the bus, then buy the ticketter¡¯?¡±
¡°We hadn¡¯t even properly gotten together, and now there¡¯s already a child on the way. We aren¡¯t married yet, but we¡¯re expecting. We never even went on a proper date before you won me over. We were supposed to go to Copenhagen together, but before our scheduled trip, you ended up there with my future self instead.¡±
¡°Sometimes I wonder¡ Since there are so many strange things in this world, is it possible that before you even knew me, we¡¯d already met somewhere?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°Nah, that¡¯s pretty unlikely. Before I went to college, I never left my local city. And you went abroad when you were still a teenager, then came back straight to Donghai. Our first meeting should¡¯ve been when I graduated from Donghai University and started at MX Company.¡±
¡°From a physics perspective, it¡¯s highly unlikely we could¡¯ve met before. Even with Yellow Finch, our first meeting was in your office, after I¡¯d already met you.¡±
¡°So¡ This is probably one of the rare things between us that didn¡¯t happen out of order.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes and let out a long breath through her nose.
¡°Oh, forget it.¡± She leaned her head against the car window, her gaze softening as she looked out.
¡°Fine, have it your way¡ Lucky you.¡±
That evening, the Pomeranian VVy sprawled on the cool floor, its stomach growling, its heart colder than the tiles beneath it.
This house¡ªit was just unbearable.
First, Zhao Ying Jun had beening homete every night, leaving VV hungry. Then Lin Xian had moved in, and though VV had hoped for a reliable food provider, the guy slept like a log every day. Still, at least he managed to feed VV on time during the day.
Now? It was worse. The two of them had teamed up, shut VV out of the bedroom, and gone out together, leaving VV alone at home¡ªstill without dinner!
Might as well starve to death.
No one here cared about a fluffy little creature like VV anymore. It was lighter than a feather, irrelevant.
Goodbye, world. May the clouds in heaven be made of dog food.
Ding¡ª
Suddenly, the elevator¡¯s chime rang out, and VV perked up, leaping into the air in excitement.
Fine, maybe not today. One more chance for them.
¡°Woof, woof, woof!¡± VV growled, baring its teeth at the elevator in indignation.
Finally, the doors opened, revealing Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun. She was holding a small stic bag.
¡°The doctor said I should start taking these folic acid tablets now and keep taking them until the third month of pregnancy.¡±
¡°Uh, ya.¡± Lin Xian nodded.
¡°And also¡ During the first three months, it¡¯s the crucial period, you know¡¡±
¡°Got it.¡± Lin Xian nodded again.
¡°And I shouldn¡¯t stay upte anymore. I will need plenty of rest so I won¡¯t be able to stay up with you at night, but I¡¯ll leave milk in the thermos for you. Make sure you drink it.¡±
¡°Yes, got it.¡± Lin Xian nodded yet again.
Zhao Ying Jun frowned and gave him a light pinch. ¡°Why are you acting like a dummy?¡±
Lin Xian snapped out of it and smiled slightly. ¡°I was just thinking about what Brother Wang said¡ªit still doesn¡¯t feel real. It just¡ feels surreal.¡±
¡°I really don¡¯t have any experience with this kind of thing. Most of what I know, I heard from Brother Wang. But you seem to be getting into the role quickly.¡±
¡°Brother Wang¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, smiling faintly.
¡°He always said men and women are different. It takes men a bit longer to adjust to being fathers¡ªmaybe only once the child is born, or muchter.¡±
¡°Ever since your uncle said I was pregnant, I¡¯ve felt¡ I don¡¯t know, like there¡¯s a little life inside me, growing, developing. Of course, I know it¡¯s all in my head.¡±
¡°Woof!¡±
VV, who had been waiting for ages, was not amused.
Could they save the chatting forter? Could they take care of the important stuff first?
Lin Xian finally filled VV¡¯s bowl with kibble, adding extra aspensation. Only then did VV calm down, abandoning its n to starve itself.
Later that night¡
VV, now full, prepared to sleep, hoping to continue its feast in its dreams. It adjusted itselffortably in its little bed in the living room.
But then¡
Lin Xian emerged from the bedroom, picked up VV¡¯s little bed, and carried it into the bedroom.
¡°VV, you can sleep in the bedroom again from now on.¡±
¡°V?¡±
VV¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. The happiness was too sudden to trust. Was this real? Was it finally allowed back in?
It looked at Lin Xian, confused¡
Wait¡ Are you serious? Only a month¡¯s ban?
VV¡¯s little legs moved cautiously, its transparent belly brushing the floor as it waddled its way back into the bedroom to its familiar spot.
Ah¡ Sleeping here was definitely morefortable. The living room was too lonely.
Lin Xian packed away hisptop from the desk and nced at Zhao Ying Jun, lying in bed.
¡°I need to keep working on the blueprints tonight. I¡¯ll be sketching them out on theputer when I wake up. The time-travel machine¡¯s schematics are really extensive¡ªit¡¯s going to take a while to get through them all.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. You cane back to bedter tonight. Just remember to drink the milk I left in the kitchen.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
Lin Xian turned off the lights for Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Goodnight.¡±
In the darkness, with a bit of moonlight filtering through, Zhao Ying Jun smiled at Lin Xian.
¡°Goodnight. Sweet dreams.¡±
¡
For the next few days, everything seemed to be as usual.
That day, around noon, Lin Xian entered the dream and switched to speed-run mode. He and Xu Yi Yi managed to grab two metal badges from a pair of androids and took the sewers to reach Sin City.
Lin Xian¡¯s mind was tangled with thoughts¡ªZhao Ying Jun being pregnant, thoughts of Lin Yu Xi, thoughts of bing a father, of Xu Yun and Xu Yi Yi, and of Li Cheng and Li Ning Ning.
That¡¯s when a sudden idea struck him.
When Xu Yi Yi was deciding which gang to join, Lin Xian spoke up:
¡°How about we join the Li Family Gang?¡± he suggested.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say they¡¯re the strongest gang in Sin City? Besides, the leader, Li Cheng¡¯s daughter, Li Ning Ning, was even chosen by the godfather himself to pilot the time-travel machine. If we join a powerful gang, we¡¯ll have better opportunities, see things from a higher perspective.¡±
He nced at her. ¡°Joining something like Big Cat Face¡¯s Gang or Er Zhuzi¡¯s Gang would be pointless. They¡¯re just a bunch of misfits with no future.¡±
Xu Yi Yi tilted her head thoughtfully. ¡°True, that gang¡ everyone there seems a little off. Maybe Ah Zhuang is kind of normal, but Er Zhuzi¡¯s always sneaky, and San Pang¡ªwell, he must have some sort ofnguage disorder.¡±
And just like that, the two of them used the metal badges to sessfully join the Li Family Gang.
In Sin City, the gangs have their rules. As long as you¡¯ve got a metal badge, any gang will ept you. Of course, in a big gang like the Li Family, neers shouldn¡¯t expect any special treatment or mentorship.
Li Cheng received them briefly before saying he had to head off to a meeting with the godfather. He left them with simple instructions: ¡°My daughter, Li Ning Ning, is at the training grounds in the center of the city. If you have any questions, go find her. She can fill you in.¡±
They made their way to the training grounds. It was filled with equipment, wooden dummies, and yet it felt empty. Only Li Ning Ning, dressed in a ck training outfit, was there, her punches echoing loudly as she trained, sweat dripping like rain.
Lin Xian got closer and noticed that her hands were wrapped in bandages. But even through the bandages, he could see the thick calluses. They were rough¡ªa clear sign of long-term, rigorous training.
He sighed.
He had felt a pang of sympathy for Li Ning Ning before, but now that he was about to be a father himself, it hurt even more. Ning Ning was so young, and in countless dreams, her hands only felt soft in the seventh dream. In every other future, her hands were rough, like sandpaper or tree bark.
While she paused to wipe her sweat, Lin Xian and Xu Yi Yi approached her, introducing themselves and exining their purpose.
In this dream, Li Ning Ning¡¯s figure was still delicate but clearly more muscr. Her body had strength in every line.
¡°When did you start training?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Gao Wen¡ªI mean, the godfather¡¯s time machine hasn¡¯t been around for very long. How did you end up like this?¡±
¡°Since I was little,¡± Li Ning Ning replied, wiping her sweat off with a towel. Her voice was calm. ¡°I started training even before the time machine was built, before the blueprints wereplete. After all, for something this important, there wouldn¡¯t be enough time if I started after it was ready.¡±
Lin Xian listened in silence.
This was another version of Lin Yu Xi, wasn¡¯t it? Except, one was meant to enforce the dominance of the Time Bureau and Copernicus¡¯ rule, and the other fought for noble ideals, for the future of humanity.
¡°Does your dad worry about you?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Did he ever try to stop you? Maybe¡ ask you to give up being an assassin and let someone else do it?¡±
¡°He probably tried to persuade me behind the scenes,¡± Ning Ning said with a straightforward smile. ¡°But he¡¯s the leader of the biggest gang in Sin City. It¡¯s his responsibility. And as his daughter, it¡¯s also mine.¡±
She paused, looking thoughtful. ¡°Every father must hate to see his daughter in danger. But if every father thinks like that and every daughter follows suit, if no one is willing to be brave¡ªwho¡¯s going to save the world?¡±
Xu Yi Yi rested her chin on her hand, giving a little snort. ¡°Actually, I think it would be best if I went instead.¡±
Lin Xian and Ning Ning turned to her, curious.
Xu Yi Yi shrugged. ¡°Look at me¡ªI¡¯m an orphan. No parents, no attachments. Isn¡¯t it better for me to go? No one¡¯d miss me if I died.¡± She gave a wry smile. ¡°I don¡¯t need all that stuff. If I die, I die. Doesn¡¯t matter where or when.¡±
Lin Xian watched her, remembering Professor Xu Yun, who had died on the street¡ No matter how tough things got, he had never given up on saving his daughter. He had even gone to extreme lengths, walking a narrow path, just to avoid any possible consequences he couldn¡¯t bear.
But there was one thing beyond doubt.
Xu Yun¡¯s methods may not have always been right, but his love for his daughter was unquestionable.
Lin Xian remembered how Xu Yun had exined why he refused to enter a hibernation pod: ¡°The longer you hibernate, the more memories you lose. It wouldn¡¯t matter if Yi Yi forgot me¡ she¡¯d start her new life, and whether she remembers me or not doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°But I don¡¯t want to forget her,¡± Xu Yun had said, his eyes filled with quiet resolve. ¡°I don¡¯t want to forget Yi Yi. She only had those few years when she was young¡ªthose are all the memories I have of her. I can¡¯t bear to lose even a bit of them.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll keep my memories of her until myst breath, and I¡¯ll spend every moment of my life trying to make a better hibernation pod for her. So, Lin Xian, if you¡¯re still around when Yi Yi wakes up¡ please take care of her.¡±
This had been Professor Xu¡¯s final request to Lin Xian.
To him, those few memories of his daughter were worth more than anything¡ªworth more than his own life.
Looking at Xu Yi Yi now, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty. Professor Xu had entrusted her to him, yet he hadn¡¯t been able to change anything for her. She was still unloved, still a lonely orphan, living in a harsh, crowded city, and enduring a life that was anything butfortable.
Professor Xu had wanted her to at least go to school, live a decent life¡ªbut this world only allowed her to be a ¡°bad girl,¡± to make mistakes, break thew.
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Yi Yi.¡±
He looked her in the eyes. ¡°Your father loved you more than anyone. Even when everyone else gave up on you, he was willing to give up everything to hold on to a sliver of hope.¡±
Xu Yi Yi blinked, a puzzled expression on her face. ¡°You knew my father?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You probably won¡¯t believe me, but I did. The godfather can vouch for me. I¡¯m from a long, long time ago¡ªthe same era as your father.¡±
He hesitated before continuing, ¡°Your father was my teacher. I saw you lying on a hospital bed. And after he passed away, I¡¯m the one who put you into that hibernation pod.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Xu Yi Yi looked skeptical, then scoffed. ¡°Is this supposed to be a joke, Lin Xian? Because it¡¯s not funny.¡±
Under Li Ning Ning¡¯s curious gaze, Lin Xian began to tell Xu Yi Yi everything¡ªher mother¡¯s death during childbirth, her father who raised her alone, her fall that turned her into aa patient, her father¡¯s desperate struggle to build a hibernation pod, and how he was ultimately betrayed and killed¡
Xu Yi Yi listened, stunned. ¡°You mean to say¡ the hibernation pod was my father¡¯s invention?¡±
¡°More or less,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Your father wasn¡¯t a genius like the godfather or Chen Heping, but his love for you was just as strong as any parent¡¯s.¡±
Yet, Xu Yi Yi just lowered her head, smiling faintly, shaking it slowly. ¡°Lin Xian, I don¡¯t know if what you¡¯re saying is true, but even if it is¡ it¡¯s too bad. I don¡¯t feel anything. I don¡¯t have any emotional connection to it.¡±
She sighed. ¡°When I woke up, I had nothing¡ªno notebook, no recordings, and my mind waspletely nk. Everything you¡¯re telling me feels like someone else¡¯s story. There¡¯s no connection.¡±
Lin Xian gave a gentle smile, patting her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take it to heart. Just listen, that¡¯s all.¡±
He hadn¡¯t wanted to force those emotions onto Xu Yi Yi. Even Professor Xu himself had said that he wanted Yi Yi to forget everything and start fresh. It was only because she looked so lonely when talking about her parents that Lin Xian shared those memories with her.
But¡
The side effect of memory loss in hibernation truly was a great enemy of humanity.
It made them lose so much¡ªemotions, knowledge, experiences, even entire lifetimes.
No wonder Emperor Gao Wen had wanted to develop the neural electric shock helmet more than anything. It could be the solution to memory loss from hibernation. And if it seeded¡
That invention could very well be one of the greatest in history.
¡°Hey!¡± Xu Yi Yi pped away Lin Xian¡¯s hand from her head, giving him a challenging re. ¡°You¡¯re just a junior! Act like it!¡±
¡°Alright, alright,¡± Lin Xian chuckled.
Li Ning Ning, who had been silently listening, observed Lin Xian¡¯s gentle eyes and the sincerity in his expression. She didn¡¯t think he was lying.
More than that, she could tell he had a different kind of feeling towards her and Xu Yi Yi¡ªa familiarity, a protective nature¡ like he saw them as his own daughters.
¡°Do you have a daughter?¡± Ning Ning asked, her instinct sharp.
¡°I do,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°That¡¯s why I feel for both of you. I understand what you¡¯re going through.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Xu Yi Yi jumped off a stack of old tires, giving Lin Xian an incredulous look. ¡°You¡¯re married, and you have a daughter already? How old is she?¡±
¡°She¡¯s just a month old,¡± Lin Xian answered.
¡°Oh, she¡¯s only a month old?¡± Ning Ning nodded. ¡°That must be such a tough time. She must be crying all day and night.¡±
¡°Not really,¡± Xu Yi Yi cut in. ¡°A one-month-old baby is actually easy to take care of. I didmunity service in Donghai City once at an orphanage. Babies that age mostly sleep after eating, and if they cry, it¡¯s usually because they¡¯re hungry. Once fed, they go right back to sleep for like 20 hours a day. It¡¯s really easy to care for them at that stage.¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± Lin Xian quickly corrected. ¡°You misunderstood. I mean, she¡¯s only a month old¡ in the womb. Just one month pregnant.¡±
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
Xu Yi Yi and Li Ning Ning narrowed their eyes, staring at him like he was an idiot.
¡°Do you even hear yourself?!¡± ¡°Honestly, could you be any less precise?!¡±
Suddenly, Xu Yi Yi blinked, her gaze sharp. ¡°Wait a minute. How do you know it¡¯s a girl? It¡¯s only been a month.¡± She tilted her head, giving him a questioning look. ¡°What if¡ it¡¯s a boy?¡±
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Chapter 447: Closing the Net
¡°Uh¡¡±
For a moment, Lin Xian was stumped by Xu Yi Yi¡¯s soul-searching question. She was right.
Where did he get the confidence to assume that Zhao Ying Jun was definitely going to have a daughter?
Sure, he had preconceived notions, but¡ biology was random. Who could guarantee anything? What if it turned out to be a big, chubby boy? Lin Xian scratched his head.
He wouldn¡¯t mind having a boy, but if he could choose, he¡¯d still want his firstborn to be a girl. He wanted to bring Yu Xi home.
¡°Do you really like daughters that much?¡± Xu Yi Yi asked.
Curiosity was natural for women¡ªand even little girls. Ning Ning, who had been practicing her kicks on a punching bag moments earlier, now perked up her ears, listening eagerly.
¡°By the look on your face, it¡¯s pretty obvious you want a daughter,¡± she said.¡°I do,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been preparing to wee a daughter for a long time¡ªeven thought of a name for her already.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the name?¡± Ning Ning asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
¡°Lin Yu Xi,¡± Lin Xian replied with a smile. ¡°Lin Xian is myst name, Yu Xi is her first name. Doesn¡¯t it sound nice?¡±
¡°It sounds lovely!¡± Ning Ning and Xu Yi Yi chorused together.
The two girls were surprisingly in sync when it came to aesthetics, showering praise on the name, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. You really do have a knack for naming.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. These two were really good at creating a pleasant atmosphere, making him feel quite ttered. He sat on an old tire beside Ning Ning.
¡°Actually, you¡¯re pretty good at naming too¡ª¡±
¡°You idiot! Why are you sitting so close?!¡±
Suddenly, a harsh voice interrupted Lin Xian, dripping with hostility. He turned his head.
Standing above them were four figures, their arms crossed, framed in the sunlight like some kind of righteous jury. Squinting to take a closer look, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but grin.
What a small world. Sometimes it felt vast, but then you ran into old enemies and realized just how tiny it could be. It was none other than Big Cat Face and his gang.
¡°What do you want?¡± Lin Xian asked, irritation creeping into his voice.
¡°Hey! Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re in the right here!¡± Big Cat Face jabbed a thick finger toward Lin Xian, ring fiercely. ¡°Listen up, kid! Keep your paws off Ning Ning! If you dare make a move on the daughter of our leader, you¡¯re asking for trouble! And she¡¯s just a child, mind your distance!¡±
Lin Xian rolled his eyes.
Was this some kind of callback to an old ssic?
Big Cat Face was like an NPC¡ªevery time Lin Xian even got close to Ning Ning, this same dialogue would automatically trigger. The only time it hadn¡¯t happened was in the third dream, but that was because¡
Well, Big Cat Face had already been charred to a crisp by thesers of Rhine¡¯s Sky City.
¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°I¡¯m not part of your gang, and I¡¯m certainly not your underling. Why are you bothering me? If you¡¯ve got that much time on your hands, maybe get on with the task Godfather assigned you?¡±
Swish!
Big Cat Face¡¯s expression instantly turned stormy.
¡°What the¡ªhow do you know about our secret task from Godfather?!¡±
¡°Big Brother!¡± Ah Zhuang quickly pped his hand over Big Cat Face¡¯s mouth. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t fall for his tricks! He¡¯s trying to get information out of you! Godfather told us over and over¡ªdon¡¯t let the secret n slip.¡±
Er Zhuzi bared his teeth. ¡°Look at his face¡ªso pale and sly, definitely up to no good.¡±
San Pang, with his thick eyebrows and sharp gaze, stared at Lin Xian and said, ¡°I think we should keep quiet.¡±
Big Cat Face let out a sigh of relief, d that Ah Zhuang had stopped him just in time.
¡°Hmph,¡± he huffed, trying to save face. ¡°Good thing I had a n. We had a little meeting earlier and decided that from now on, whenever we discuss our mission, we¡¯ll use the name ¡®The n to Infiltrate the Museum Through the Northeastern Sewer After Distracting the Bio-soldiers and Stealing the Time-Space Particles.¡¯ So, don¡¯t think you¡¯ll get anything out of me!¡±
Er Zhuzi flexed his fists toward Lin Xian, and with that, the four of them marched away triumphantly.
Lin Xian silently watched as these bottom-of-the-barrel IQ bandits left, feeling like the collective intelligence of Sin City had just dropped a notch because of them.
¡°Too dumb,¡± Xu Yi Yimented sincerely. ¡°Lin Xian, you were right. Not joining Big Cat¡¯s gang was definitely a smart decision.¡±
¡°But I¡¯ve heard that Big Cat Face¡¯s father, Chen Heping, was a certified genius,¡± Ning Ning said. ¡°Even Godfather held him in the highest respect. If it weren¡¯t for health reasons leading to his early death, Chen Heping might have been the Godfather today.
¡°How could such an exceptional man end up with someone like Big Cat Face as a son?¡± she wondered aloud.
Lin Xian thought for a moment. ¡°Regression to the mean,¡± he exined. ¡°In gics, it means that children of parents with exceptional genes tend to move closer to an average level in various aspects.¡±
¡°This fascinating mechanism ensures that human civilization keeps moving forward, without gaps or segregation. If regression to the mean didn¡¯t exist, exceptionally talented parents would have even more extraordinary children, who would then have even more remarkable children, and so on.
¡°After a few generations, the best people and the worst people on Earth would practically be different species¡ªworlds apart.
¡°But in reality, most Olympic champions¡¯ children rarely win gold medals, artists¡¯ children seldom have their parents¡¯ talent, Einstein¡¯s children weren¡¯t scientists, and Michael Jordan¡¯s sons couldn¡¯t even make it to the NBA.¡±
¡°Regression to the mean helps maintain overall bnce and harmony within the human race. In a way, it¡¯s a kind of fairness.¡±
Speaking of fairness, Lin Xian suddenly thought of Turing and Gauss.
Turing¡¯s version of fairness was twisted and nonsensical, a mask for his warped ideals.
Gauss, on the other hand¡
Most of Gauss¡¯s questions for Einstein had been about gene enhancement, human health, immunity, and brain power.
Could it be that the equality Gauss sought was the ultimate form of ¡°regression to the mean,¡± where every human achieved peak health, physique, intelligence, and immunity through technological means?
Maybe he believed that if it wasn¡¯t possible to bring everyone up to an average level, then why not push everyone to the level of a superhuman?
If everyone had a superhuman body, a brain as brilliant as Einstein¡¯s, and immunity to all diseases, would that be true equality?
Lin Xian had no answer.
Out of all the members of the Genius Club, Newton and Gauss were the two whose future ns Lin Xian couldn¡¯t grasp¡ªhe had absolutely no clue. They were pr opposites.
Newton didn¡¯t ask questions, while Gauss asked them without rhyme or reason. Indeed, there was a fine line between madness and genius.
Xu Yi Yi listened to Lin Xian¡¯s exnation, her eyes widening with understanding.
¡°That makes sense. So, it¡¯s actually reasonable that Chen Heping ended up with a son like Big Cat Face. Maybe Big Cat Face¡¯s kids could be geniuses again!¡±
Uh¡
Lin Xian found himself at a loss for words.
He couldn¡¯t help but think of the other dreamscapes¡ªof Big Cat Face¡¯s daughter, who acted like a little thug, and a mini Big Cat with the same ¡°wisdom.¡± It seemed Chen Heping¡¯s superior genes really had disappeared for good.
¡°Maybe,¡± Lin Xian said, trying to be diplomatic. ¡°But everyone has their own value, and it¡¯s not always fair to judge by worldly standards.¡±
¡°What about you?¡± Ning Ning blinked her bright eyes at Lin Xian. ¡°What kind of person do you want your daughter to be?¡±
When he heard the question, the first image that popped into Lin Xian¡¯s mind was Lin Yu Xi.
His thoughts had already been shackled, unable to drift off or imagine anything else.
Whenever he thought about his daughter, it was always Yu Xi.
¡°I just want her to be healthy and happy,¡± he said.
¡°Hmph.¡± Xu Yi Yi scoffed. ¡°Every parent says that at first, but they always change their minds. Such hypocrites.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s genuinely how I feel,¡± Lin Xian protested. ¡°No one can predict the future, but every parent¡¯s first wish is for their child¡¯s happiness.¡±
¡°Then just spend time with her. Don¡¯t wander off,¡± Xu Yi Yi muttered, pulling her legs up onto the old tire and hugging her knees. Her voice was soft, almost wistful.
¡°The best love a parent can give is just being there¡ If you can be with her as she grows up, that means more than anything.¡±
Lin Xian looked at Xu Yi Yi, seeing a hint of sadness in her expression. He wished he could pat her on the head, like Professor Xu Yun would, tofort her.
But¡
Xu Yi Yi was strong-willed, perhaps building a wall of stubbornness to guard her fragile heart. She seemed like a hedgehog, pushing away all tenderness. ¡°I will,¡± Lin Xian said softly.
Yellow Finch had regrets, especially in her version of the timeline. It was because she left Yu Xi that Copernicus had managed to exploit the situation, training her as an agent. This time, she wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake, not again, not leaving Yu Xi behind.
Nearby, Li Ning Ning, who had been listening quietly, leaned over.
¡°I think whether we can live happily still depends on how this world turns out.¡± She nced around at the surrounding City of Sin.
¡°Take this awful world we¡¯re in now. How could children live healthily and happily here? Either endure the filth and chaos of this city, or move to Donghai, where we¡¯d be suffocated. We have no other choice.¡±
She paused and added, ¡°If you want your children to grow up happily, first you have to make this world a ce where they can be happy. Only a good world can create a good life. Trying to make the best of a bad situation is just fooling yourself.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slightly and smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this. One day, you two would be giving me a lesson.¡±
He looked at them both¡ªfirst at Li Ning Ning, then at Xu Yi Yi¡ªand continued, ¡°But you¡¯re both right, and I¡¯ve taken note. And it¡¯s not just for my daughter; it¡¯s for both of you too.¡±
¡°Trust me,¡± he said, determination shing in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll reim the best future for all of you.¡±
The next day at Rhine Company, Lin Xian was greeted by an unexpected visitor. ¡°Angelica?¡± He looked up from his desk, recognizing the renowned Hollywood actress, often called the ¡°shape-shifting witch.¡±
His eyebrows furrowed slightly. ¡°Is it safe?¡±
Angelica took off her sunsses, walking slowly towards him in her high heels. ¡°Rx, Lin Xian. I handled everything cleanly. It¡¯s been days, and neither Elon Musk nor I have contacted you because there wasn¡¯t a good opportunity¡ We¡¯ve kept ourselves hidden well. Copernicus doesn¡¯t suspect anything. He still believes Elon Musk is dead, reced by an impersonator, while the secretary continues to serve as his puppet.¡±
Understanding dawned on Lin Xian. ¡°So, your n goes deeper than I imagined. I thought Elon Musk had you help him disguise himself to fool the agents nted near him.¡±
He leaned back, folding his arms. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you went so far as to take out the spy as well. That means the secretary¡ªthe one Elon Musk trusted most¡ªwas the double agent?¡±
Lin Xian put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and sighed. ¡°Unbelievable. The person Elon Musk trusted the most was betraying him.¡±
Angelica smirked. ¡°It makes sense. If it wasn¡¯t someone close to him, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to try and kill him. Elon Musk isn¡¯t stupid.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°So now Elon Musk is pretending to be himself, while you¡¯re ying the role of the secretary?¡± He chuckled. ¡°This time, don¡¯t forget to push up your sses.¡±
Angelica gave a cold snort. ¡°You and Elon Musk¡ You¡¯re both annoying in that way, always pointing out people¡¯s embarrassing moments.¡±
¡°Actually, there¡¯s another key reason why we¡¯ve been able to keep this deception up. Copernicus is just too cautious. He never meets us in person andmunicates solely through encrypted channels.¡±
¡°Because of this, we know little about him, and his influence on us is limited. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve managed to stay hidden¡ªbecause he neveres to see us. His caution is a double-edged sword. It keeps him safe but also prevents him from seeing through our disguise.¡±
Lin Xian nodded again. ¡°That¡¯s typical of Copernicus. But since you¡¯re here, does that mean you have good news for me? Did someone take the bait I set at the Genius Club meeting?¡±
Angelica smiled. ¡°Yes. Actually, on August 1st, right after the meeting, Elon Musk and I wanted to get in touch with you, but we couldn¡¯t find the chance, which is why it¡¯s taken this long.¡±
¡°After the meeting, Copernicus contacted me and asked me to use the equipment Elon Musk left behind to verify if any time-space particles were approaching Earth from outer space.¡±
¡°When I told Elon Musk about it, he immediately knew it must be because you misled Copernicus during the meeting. From Copernicus¡¯s request, it was clear he doesn¡¯t understand the properties of time-space particles as well as you and Elon Musk. ording to Elon Musk¡¯s detector, there are currently only two time-space particles on Earth.¡±
¡°Both of them are in Donghai City, obviously in your possession. Other than these, there are no other time-space particles on Earth at this point in time.¡±
¡°This means that only you and Elon Musk understand the nature of these particles and possess the instruments to detect them. You two are miles ahead of the other members of the Genius Club in this field.¡±
¡°Elon Musk said that most of what the other club members know about time-space particleses from his questions and Einstein¡¯s answers. They barely understand the basics. This exclusive knowledge is our biggest advantage.¡±
Lin Xian motioned for Angelica to sit on the couch. He poured her a cup of tea and ced it on the coffee table in front of her.
¡°Wait a minute. Are you saying Elon Musk¡¯s detector can pick up all the time-space particles on Earth? And there are only two?¡± Lin Xian asked, raising an eyebrow.
Angelica nodded. ¡°That¡¯s one of the messages Elon Musk wanted me to ry to you: the detectability of time-space particles. He said to remember this carefully¡ª¡±
¡°If it has energy and activity, it can be detected by equipment.
If it has no energy but is active, it can¡¯t be detected.
If it has energy but no activity, it can¡¯t be detected.
If it has neither energy nor activity, it can be detected.¡±
Lin Xian repeated the rhyme under his breath. ¡°No wonder, back when I was trying to capture the time-space particles, my scientists couldn¡¯t detect the one Elon Musk had with the Guizhou Telescope. It makes sense now¡ªas long as either energy or activity is missing, the detector fails.¡±
He leaned back, marveling. ¡°It¡¯s strange¡ If the particles either have both energy and activity or neither, they can be detected by specialized equipment. But if they have only one or the other, they be undetectable.¡±
He thought back to Liu Feng¡¯s attempt to locate the time-space particle with the telescope. It had taken months, yet they had failed to discover the one hidden in Elon Musk¡¯s mini-fridge.
It was hidden right under their noses because that particle had energy but no activity. During the capture, it lost energy while remaining active, so they couldn¡¯t detect it.
Finally, Chu An Qing had used a time-space particle catcher¡ªwhich was basically a rice cooker¡ªto trap the particle, removing its activity so they could detect it again.
¡°So, Elon Musk could originally detect the two inactive time-space particles in Donghai. He knew they were both in my possession,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at Angelica. ¡°Butter, one of them became undetectable. So, Elon Musk figured out that one of them had regained energy.¡±
¡°No,¡± Angelica corrected, shaking her head. ¡°Not one. Both of them.¡±
She frowned, puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you check the other time-space particle? Elon Musk thinks you must know¡ªboth particles in your possession became undetectable on July 1st, just after midnight. So, both of them must have regained energy.¡±
Lin Xian was momentarily taken aback. ¡°Wait. Let me think.¡±
He closed his eyes, going over the situation in his mind. The time-space particle in Time Bank¡¯s vault¡ He hadn¡¯t checked it.
He had thought that when Lin Yu Xi turned into that blue snowfall over Donghai, it had just recharged the entangled particle. But to think that snowfall had charged all the particles in Donghai?
What could exin this?
The time-space particle in the Time Bank vault should have had nothing to do with Lin Yu Xi.
Could it be¡ the special thing was the snowfall itself? Maybe that blue snow returned everything out of ce in Donghai to its original form?
Lin Xian nodded slowly, still unsure, but willing to ept the possibility for now. But now wasn¡¯t the time to analyze the phenomenon. He needed answers from Angelica.
¡°I don¡¯t know the mechanism behind it, but if what you say is true, then both particles on Earth became undetectable, and that¡¯s actually good news. It means they¡¯re much safer, better hidden.¡±
¡°Honestly, I was worried about how to deal with them, but if Elon Musk confirmed that they can¡¯t be detected, then that¡¯s a relief.¡±
He set aside the topic for now. ¡°Angelica, let¡¯s get back to what we were discussing. How did Elon Musk respond to Copernicus?¡±
Angelica took a sip of tea before replying. ¡°Elon Musk knew you must have lied to Copernicus. But knowing Copernicus¡¯ obsession with time-space particles, he¡¯s not going to give up on this information, or this chance.¡±
¡°Elon Musk said you revealed too much to Copernicus. Right now, neither Copernicus nor the other Genius Club members can distinguish between regr time-space particles and entangled ones. That¡¯s something only you two know, and it¡¯s your greatest advantage. You should¡¯ve just mentioned the particles without getting into specifics¡ªthat alone would¡¯ve been enough to bait Copernicus.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged helplessly. ¡°I was in a hurry to stop Copernicus from going into hibernation. Besides, I wasn¡¯t sure how much he knew about the particles. If I¡¯d been too vague, he might¡¯ve ignored me and just gone ahead with it. That would¡¯ve been a disaster. So, I had to give him a few more details.¡±
He smiled wryly. ¡°But really, that¡¯s good news for us, right? If Copernicus doesn¡¯t even have a single time-space particle and is clueless about its properties, then this is the perfect opportunity. We can set a trap, deceive him, and draw him out.¡±
Angelica smiled back. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why I finally found a chance toe meet you in this country.¡±
¡°Elon Musk has managed to keep Copernicus at bay, iming he isn¡¯t yet familiar with the equipment left by Elon Musk and is still calibrating it¡ He¡¯s buying us time so I coulde and coordinate with you.¡±
¡°After all, Elon Musk could only guess that you misled Copernicus during the Genius Club meeting, but he didn¡¯t know exactly how. We need those details¡ªyour exact n¡ªso we can work together more effectively.¡±
She clenched her fist, her eyes resolute. ¡°So, Lin Xian, Elon Musk and I are ready. We¡¯re both prepared to follow your lead.¡±
Her voice became colder, more determined. ¡°We¡¯re ready to kill Copernicus.¡±
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Chapter 448: The Road to Paradise
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°These past few days, I¡¯ve been waiting for you all to contact me. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve beening to the office every morning, just to make sure you could find me easily. I even told the front desk that if anyonees looking for me or brings me any letters, they should send them directly to my office without asking questions or stopping them. Honestly, no one usuallyes to see me anyway.¡±
¡°To put it simply, as long as Copernicus entrusted Elon Musk with investigating the time-space particles, my n was already halfway to sess.¡±
Lin Xian then exined to Angelica how he had lured Copernicus into the Genius Club.
Angelica also shared everything about Elon Musk¡¯s arrangements. The current situation was this:
Copernicus hadn¡¯t fully believed what Lin Xian said at the gathering, but he knew one thing¡ªElon Musk had sessfully captured a time-space particle before. So, it was likely that SpaceX had detection equipment, capture tools, and rted data. He ordered his female assistant to verify the authenticity of the time-space particle intel. Unfortunately for Copernicus, his caution kept him in the shadows, always disconnected, and he hadn¡¯t realized that the assistant he had nted beside Elon Musk had already been swapped for someone else.
In his mind, the hierarchy went like this¡ªCopernicusmanded his assistant, who directed the fake Elon Musk. But the reality was different.
Copernicus instructed Angelica to cooperate with Elon Musk.
Lin Xian twirled a pen on his desk and let out a low chuckle. ¡°We¡¯ve been going in circles, getting yed by Copernicus for so long. Now, it¡¯s our turn to y him.¡±¡°Angelica, when you get back, tell Elon Musk the information I gave you. Have him forge a detection signal for a time-space particle, and say that on August 24th, one did indeed enter Earth¡¯s atmosphere.
¡°That way, Copernicus will definitely order Elon Musk to capture it. Given Copernicus¡¯s cautious nature, I doubt he¡¯d leave the time-space particle outside during his hibernation¡ªhe¡¯d probably keep it right next to his pod to feel safe.
¡°So, this is our only chance to locate Copernicus. Whether he sends someone to collect the particle or asks you to deliver it personally, or if Elon Musk installs a tracker inside an empty small refrigerator, Copernicus¡¯s location will surely be exposed, and we¡¯ll be able to find him.¡±
This was the n Lin Xian hade up with in a moment of urgency. It wasn¡¯t wless, but it was their only shot.
Copernicus was about to enter a two-hundred-year hibernation, and no one knew where his secret base was. At present, all hibernation technology was open source¡ªthe once challenging hibernation pod fluid had been mastered, and side-effect drugs were developed, making hibernation pods mass-produced with no technical barrier. The crafty old fox could simply disappear, and with no identifiable information about him, finding him would be nearly impossible.
They had to seize this opportunity.
¡°I understand,¡± Angelica nodded. ¡°Elon Musk thinks the same. He even has plenty of spare small refrigerators to use, and faking the detection signal won¡¯t be an issue.¡±
¡°I have to admit, Elon Musk¡¯s acting skills are impressive. He¡¯s been ying the fake version of himself for quite some time now.¡± Angelica smiled faintly. ¡°Pretending to be his own decoy¡ªthat¡¯s a challenge even for Hollywood actors. But luckily, Elon Musk has always been familiar with his double, so he¡¯s doing it quite effortlessly.¡±
Lin Xian stopped twirling his pen, recalling the intelligence he managed to gather from Copernicus at thest meeting. He looked up at Angelica.
¡°About what I promised you¡ªI got the answer. I¡¯ve confirmed that the one who killed Ji Lin¡¯s parents and the group of mathematicians was indeed Copernicus.¡±
He stood up, pacing the room. ¡°Copernicus even boasted that he¡¯s a kind and principled person. He said that any child orphaned by his actions would be taken care of and raised well.
¡°From this, I¡¯m almost certain that the orphan he mentioned must be Ji Lin. After all, you were once in the Seven Deadly Sins, so you know Copernicus¡¯s principle¡ªhe doesn¡¯t kill the innocent. Of course, ¡®innocent¡¯ is defined by him.
¡°So, how likely is it for both parents to be mathematicians? From what I can tell, no one else in the Genius Club matches the profile of a simr crime.¡±
¡°Ha,¡± Angelica scoffed. ¡°Kind? Principled? That old man sure knows how to spin things. This is actually great news for me¡ªnothing is more thrilling than knowing he¡¯s the one behind it.¡±
She nced at her wristwatch. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Lin Xian. I have to go. I managed toe to this country only because Copernicus was busy preparing for his secret hibernation, but I can¡¯t stay too long. I need to get back and continue my role as his assistant.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, walking her to the door. ¡°Take care, Angelica, and stay safe.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Angelica looked back, her long hair swaying like a waterfall in the air. She shed Lin Xian a smile. ¡°You too.¡±
On August 24th, at midnight in the U.S., a starship carrying a spacecraft wasunched from the Boca Chicaunch center into outer space. Officially, it was announced as a coborative test with NASA, with no further details disclosed.
SpaceX and NASA¡¯s rtionship had always beenplicated, both in in sight and behind the scenes. This mission didn¡¯t attract much attention. Twenty hourster, the spacecraftnded secretly. An astronaut emerged, carrying a small white refrigerator, and under secret protection, they boarded a special vehicle bound for SpaceX headquarters.
¡°Heh, this is amazing,¡± said the man who looked like Elon Musk, patting the small fridge. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Elon Musk messing with this thing so often, I thought he had a thing for white home appliances or maybe had some sort of collection hobby. Who would¡¯ve guessed¡ªit¡¯s not actually a fridge!¡±
¡°What a strange idea. If it¡¯s not a fridge, why design it to look like one? Why not make it a microwave, a vacuum cleaner, or a rice cooker?¡±
¡°You¡¯re talking too much.¡± The female assistant beside him pushed up her red-framed sses and red at him. ¡°Even when it¡¯s just the two of us, don¡¯t forget your role as Elon Musk. This is a 24/7 job, and you can¡¯t ck off for even a minute.¡±
¡°Oh no! You¡¯re lying!¡± the Elon Musk lookalike shouted dramatically, clutching his head. ¡°You haven¡¯t provided me with the proper conditions to be Elon Musk 24/7! The world¡¯s richest man, Elon Musk¡ªdoes he sleep alone in his bed every night? Is his fancy car for hauling sugarcane? Is his vi for storing potatoes?
¡°Women! Women! I¡¯m supposed to be ying the world¡¯s wealthiest yboy, and if I don¡¯t have models or movie stars with me at night, how can I truly get into character?¡±
¡°Enough! Shut up!¡± The assistant shot him a fierce re, then looked at the encryptedmunicator, which was now glowing green¡ªa sign someone was trying to reach them.
No doubt, it was Copernicus.
The encryptedmunicator wasn¡¯t capable of making free calls, and could only be used for one-waymunication.
The assistant pressed the call button.
The video feed was off; only a voice came through. ¡°Is the capture sessful?¡± It was the raspy voice of an elderly man.
With the camera pointed at her, the man pretending to be Elon Musk leaned over and waved at the screen. ¡°Hey, boss! You should¡¯ve called sooner; that way, you could¡¯ve heard my urgent request. I¡¯ve run into some insurmountable difficulties in my job of impersonating Elon Musk, and I urgently need Victoria¡¯s help.
¡°Ahem, I mean, Victoria¡¯s Secret¡ªcan I get approval for that?¡±
However, neither the raspy-voiced elder nor the assistant paid any attention to the actor.
¡°The capture was sessful,¡± the assistant replied softly, pointing to the small white fridge beside her. ¡°What should we do next? Are youing to get it, or should we deliver it to you? Or perhaps store it somewhere for safekeeping?¡±
¡°Open it.¡±
The elder¡¯s voice was hoarse but calm. ¡°Point the camera at the fridge. Open the door and let me see inside.¡±
The assistant turned to look at the Elon Musk impersonator. He didn¡¯t react.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The elder¡¯s voice grew stern. ¡°Do I need to repeat myself?¡±
¡°Huh? What?¡± The Elon Musk lookalike cupped his hand around his ear and shouted, ¡°Boss, is your signal weak over there? I can¡¯t hear what you¡¯re saying! Did you approve my request? Can I choose which Victoria¡¯s Secret model¡ªno, no, I mean, how many models?
¡°How many did you approve for me?¡±
¡°I said, open the fridge!¡± The elder¡¯s voice grew sharper, full of authority.
¡°Oh, oh! So, open the fridge, huh?¡±
The man who looked like Elon Musk pouted as he started typing in the password on the screen, mumbling to himself.
¡°So my suggestion got rejected, huh? I mean, if I can¡¯t really live like the richest guy in the world, how am I supposed to act like it?¡± he grumbled.
¡°Ha, you¡¯re doing a pretty good job of pretending, aren¡¯t you?¡± came the sarcastic response.
The secretary, her patience clearly running thin, entered thest digits on the small fridge¡¯s keypad and yanked the door open with a click. ¡°We don¡¯t need you anymore, fake Elon Musk. Now get out of the way, don¡¯t block the camera!¡± she snapped.
Elon Musk¡¯s lookalike mumbled something under his breath as he obediently moved aside. The secretary picked up the encryptedmunicator and aimed the camera inside the small fridge. She could hear the old man¡¯s breath on the other end of the line, growing more and more rapid.
Inside the fridge, two small blue orbs sparked with electricity, violently revolving around a non-existent center axis, spinning faster and faster without a moment¡¯s pause.
The crackling electricity, the vivid blue glow, the constant shing of the orbs¡¯ core¡ªit was mesmerizing. This mysterious object, with its unworldly beauty, held a sense of immense power that was both fascinating and terrifying.
A dry, raspy chuckle came through themunicator. ¡°Heh heh, yes¡ very good, very good. This is it, exactly the same.¡±
The secretary held themunicator steadily, letting the old man admire the scene for a while before she spoke.
¡°This time-space particle capture device was left behind by Elon Musk. There are still a lot of functions we don¡¯t understand, but ever since we got our hands on it, we haven¡¯t been able to detect any signals from our probes.¡±
¡°Hmm.¡± The old man paused, deep in thought. ¡°It¡¯s probably rted to the energy and activity levels, but we don¡¯t need to worry about that for now. When I need it, I can just ask someone for the answers.¡±
He paused before continuing, ¡°Now, I¡¯m sending you an address. Bring that time-space particle and the fridge along with it. Only you and fake Elon Musk. No one else is to know¡ªkeep the trippletely confidential.¡±
¡°What?¡± Fake Elon Musk, lounging on the sofa, jumped up, pointing at himself in disbelief. ¡°Me too? Why me? I¡¯m not going! You guys must think I¡¯m worthless now and want to get rid of me! I¡¯m not going! And besides, we didn¡¯t agree to this kind of work earlier!¡±
Click.
The secretary pulled a handgun out of her coat pocket, pointing it at the man standing next to the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s that? Isn¡¯t ying Elon Musk on a business trip part of your job description? One word¡ªgo or don¡¯t go.¡±
¡°Cough, cough.¡± The Elon Musk lookalike cleared his throat, slowly raising his hands. ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. I¡¯m fine with a business trip¡ but¡ª¡± He gave a sly grin, licking his lips. ¡°There¡¯s got to be some extra pay for the trip, right?¡±
The encrypted call ended abruptly, the screen showing a location. The secretary read it out loud, ¡°Inteken, Switzend.¡±
Inteken is a city in the Bernese canton of Switzend. The name originates from Latin and means ¡°between twokes.¡±
Indeed, the cityy between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Known as the ¡°Heavenly Town,¡± it was a ce of scenic beauty and mild weather, one of Switzend¡¯s oldest resort destinations.
Beyond the city, wide, lush meadows stretched out, dotted with castle-like buildings nestled between the low hills. In Switzend,nd was privately owned, and much of the area around this ¡°Heavenly Town¡± belonged to wealthy individuals who built vacation vis, ranches, estates, wine cers, and whatever else their hearts desired.
Deep within the maze of underground bunkers there, a man and a woman walked in, one in front of the other.
The woman held a square white mini-fridge in her arms, while the man opened the base¡¯s heavy door. They stepped inside, greeted by a bright, fully illuminated scene.
Unlike the ancient castle above, filled with relics of history, this underground base was brimming with state-of-the-art technology¡ªsupeputers, cryo-chambers, robots, and otherrge, unfamiliar equipment. It was as if stepping from the twisting underground passage was akin to entering a time tunnel, bringing them into a future world.
It was evident the owner valued secrecy. There wasn¡¯t a single living soul in the enormous underground base¡ªjust robots of all shapes and sizes, quietly at work.
The secretary led the man, who looked like Elon Musk, forward, and both of them nced around in awe. Finally, they saw an old man sitting on a mechanical swivel chair in the central hall. He turned to face them.
Most of his hair was gone, his face wrinkled, his eyebrows gray, and he had no beard. His voice was weak butmanding: ¡°Children, bring me the time-space particle.¡±
The Elon Musk lookalike, amused, blocked the path of an approaching robot, moving back and forth in its way. The poor robot shifted left and right, trying to get around, and Elon Musk¡¯s lookalikeughed as if he was teasing a dog.
The secretary stepped up, still holding the fridge, and entered the code. The door opened, and she ced it on the floor in front of the elderly man.
The old man lowered his head slightly, smiling as he saw the entangled particles inside, swirling in endless dance. ¡°A wonderful gift, truly¡ªmy thanks to Rhine for this.¡±
Then¡
With a sudden boom, the underground base door was shoved open, and a tall young man strode in, silhouetted against the bright corridor lights.
The old man squinted, trying to see who had entered, and his eyes filled with doubt. ¡°Lin Xian?¡±
Click, click!
As the intruder made his entrance, the secretary and the man who resembled Elon Musk quickly drew their guns, pointing them at Lin Xian¡¯s temples to keep him froming any closer.
The old man gave a dry chuckle, shaking his head. ¡°Let¡¯s see now, who do we have here? So you found your way here because you noticed something off with Elon Musk? It¡¯s toote, I¡¯m afraid. Silly boy, did you really think I don¡¯t hold grudges? You just weren¡¯t important enough for me to deal with. I respect every scientist I kill, but you¡ªyou¡¯re not worth my respect.¡±
He sneered. ¡°Coming here so recklessly, without any real n¡ This entire base is under my control. What do you think you can do against me?¡±
¡°You¡¯re right, Copernicus.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s calm voice cut through the tension. ¡°But it seems you¡¯re stealing my lines.¡± He raised his right hand, palm open, and Copernicus stared in shock as the Elon Musk-lookalike lowered his gun and ced it gently in Lin Xian¡¯s palm.
Lin Xian flicked his fingers, and the ck gun twirled in his grasp. He smiled slightly, tilting his head at Copernicus. ¡°This entire ce belongs to me now. What do you have left to fight me with?¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
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Chapter 449: Somethings Not Right
The old man in the mechanical swivel chair stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before him. He nced at Elon Musk, then at Angelica, taking a deep breath before speaking. ¡°I never thought¡¡±
The surprise on his face quickly faded, reced by a bitter smile. ¡°This is impressive. Truly impressive,¡± he said. ¡°I must admit, kids, this time¡ you actually managed to fool me. It seems that, sometimes, old age really does catch up with you.¡±
His eyes showed a touch of resignation. ¡°I¡¯m not as sharp as I was in my youth¡ªunable to see through everything or think through every oue.¡±
The old man leaned forward, trying to push himself up with his frail arms.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Lin Xian acted swiftly, shooting four precise shots¡ªone at each of the old man¡¯s elbows and knees. The shots were quick, the result of years of experience in his dream battles.
The gun Elon Musk had given Lin Xian was arge caliber, highly destructive. Four bursts of crimson sprayed out. The old man stumbled back into his chair, his thin arms severed below the elbows, leaving fragments on the ground. His left knee shattered, and his lower leg hung at an awkward angle.
¡°Ah¡ Aghh¡¡±His face turned crimson from pain, teeth clenched, unable to scream properly. Blood flowed freely.
Lin Xian had noticed something earlier¡ªbuttons on both sides of the swivel chair. He didn¡¯t know what they were for, but from his years of battle in his dream world, he knew never to give the enemy a chance. Just like when he took out Kevin Walker¡ªmercy to an enemy was cruelty to oneself. Allowing an enemy even one more word could mean giving them another chance to strike back.
¡°Copernicus,¡± Lin Xian stepped forward, his cold gaze locking onto the now limbless old man.
¡°As much as I¡¯d love to settle things properly, every second you keep breathing is an insult to the departed.¡±
Lin Xian raised therge-caliber pistol, pressing it firmly against the old man¡¯s forehead.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One shot. Another. Then another.
Each name of a fallen loved one shed through Lin Xian¡¯s mind¡ªXu Yun, Tang Xin, Yellow Finch, Yu Xi¡ªas he squeezed the trigger, each shot filled with pain and rage.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The old man¡¯s head exploded like a watermelon, but even the sight of it couldn¡¯t fully release Lin Xian¡¯s pent-up sorrow and anger.
Click. Click.
Lin Xian kept pulling the trigger until the gun clicked empty. Only when the barrel became scorching hot, and the trigger softened did he finally lower the weapon.
The old man was now a headless corpse in the chair. Blood and brain matter sttered everywhere, even breaking apart the chair¡¯s backrest. Bits of his skull were lodged in the wreckagepletely unrecognizable.
In the vast underground base, only the sound of dripping blood and the three of them breathing filled the silence.
¡°Letting him die like that¡ it was too easy for him,¡± Angelica muttered, stepping forward.
She discarded her red-framed sses and removed her wig, standing side by side with Lin Xian as they looked at the gruesome sight before them.
¡°I¡¯ve seen him before,¡± she said softly. ¡°When I was a child, I saw him talking to Ji Xin Shui. He wasn¡¯t this old then, but I never forget a face due to my almost photographic memory. I can remember facial details just from a single nce.¡±
She looked at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m certain it¡¯s him. It must have been about twenty years ago. He and Ji Xin Shui definitely met, but I have no idea what they talked about.¡±
Lin Xian pulled out his phone, ncing at the top right corner¡ªno signal. This deep underground, it wasn¡¯t surprising.
He had specifically instructed Liu Feng that if there were any changes to the time-space clock, any fluctuations in the timeline, he should inform him immediately. But now¡ he imagined Liu Feng would be yelling at him again for missing another call.
Lin Xian had anticipated this confrontation¡ªhe, Elon Musk, and Angelica against Copernicus¡ªfully prepared for a timeline shift. Although they hadn¡¯t yet finished copying the blueprints for the time-travel machine, building it had always been about destroying the entangled time particles¡ªpreventing Copernicus from stealing them and sending assassins from the future.
If they could kill Copernicus now, that would remove the root of the problem. Whether or not the machine was ever built wouldn¡¯t matter as much.
Time travel had never truly interested Lin Xian. It wasn¡¯t fear of the unknown that held him back¡ªit was the uncertainty of being able to return. He had seen no sessful cases of someone returning to their original timeline. Neither Lin Yu Xi nor Number 17 had made it ¡°home¡± due to the changes in the timeline.
That made him wary. Especially now, with Ying Jun and their child on the way. Next year, they would be aplete family¡ªhe would be a husband and a father. The thought of traveling back in time, only to be stuck due to some mishap, terrified him. One wrong step, and he¡¯d be lost forever.
So, killing Copernicus would be enough. Whether or not the machine was built, he would have no regrets.
Lin Xian put his phone away and looked at Angelica. ¡°So, it¡¯s confirmed¡ªthat was Copernicus?¡±
¡°No doubt about it,¡± she said.
Elon Musk stepped closer, nodding. ¡°Both Angelica and I have spoken to Copernicus on the phone. The voice matches perfectly. Besides, our n was wless, and we didn¡¯t slip up anywhere. You even used the real entangled time particles as bait. I can¡¯t see where we could have gone wrong.¡±
¡°Neither can I,¡± Lin Xian said, shaking his head. ¡°The n was perfect, but¡¡± He bit his lip, the rest of his thoughts left unsaid.
Something feels off.
First of all, everything had gone too smoothly. It wasn¡¯t a logical problem¡ªnot every fight in life had to be challenging, with twists and turns. But still, killing Copernicus had felt almost¡ unreal, like it had been too simple.
He should have felt happy. After all, he¡¯d avenged his friends, killed his enemy. But the uneasy feeling wouldn¡¯t leave him, like he was forgetting something crucial.
Then, there was the mysterious old man in his fourth dream¡ªhe looked and sounded different from the Copernicus they¡¯d just killed. Until today, Lin Xian had never actually heard Copernicus¡¯s voice. Elon Musk and Angelica had spoken to him, but Lin Xian had nothing topare it to.
The voice from the Genius Club was linked to virtual avatars. You could make your avatar any age, and the voice would match. Newton, for example, sounded young and vibrant, even though he was definitely old. Da Vinci was the same¡ªshe had a bright, young voice, though she was probably a grandmother.
Lin Xian had never taken the Genius Club¡¯s appearances seriously. His voice there wasn¡¯t his own either¡ªthe system altered it, making him sound like a gentle middle-aged man.
But hearing Copernicus¡¯s real voice today¡ªsomething wasn¡¯t right. Lin Xian believed that future technology could alter appearances, but changing a person¡¯s voice entirely?
The mysterious old man from his fourth dream, and the one he¡¯d just killed, might both enjoy dry chuckles, but their voices were different¡ªclearly not the same person. Unless someone could change their voice along with their face, the two were not the same.
There couldn¡¯t be two Copernicuses in the world¡ right?
That was the second problem.
Lastly, there was the old man¡¯s physical state. He was much weaker than Lin Xian had imagined¡ªfrail, barely holding on, at death¡¯s door.
Could such a man truly survive another two centuries, to wake up stronger and continue thriving?
It wasn¡¯t that Lin Xian didn¡¯t believe in science¡ªhe did. It was precisely because he believed in it that he found it hard to imagine.
Perhaps in a future hundreds of years from now, technology will let a healthy young person live a few extra decades; but for someone already frail, with all their bodily functions failing¡ how could you possibly bring them back to life, bursting with energy?
From that perspective, Lin Xian truly doubted that this dying old man could ever have a second shot at life. Not in any way that mattered.
Moreover, as it stood, there was simply no way to avoid the memory loss that came with hibernation. Copernicus, if he wanted to make it two hundred years without losing his memories, would have to wake up for half a year every decade, just to keep his mind intact. But that kind of on-and-off hibernation was terribly harsh on the body.
For someone in his condition, Lin Xian guessed, the old man wouldn¡¯t make it past the first decade.
And if he did forget everything, and just woke up two hundred yearster¡ Would a few notebooks and recordings really be enough for him to remember who he was and stay true to himself?
In that future world, countless people had told Lin Xian: human memory is vast, intertwined with emotion. A couple of journals and video clips could never truly bring someone back to themselves.
It was a paradox.
So many things were, really.
¡
Elon Musk seemed to sense Lin Xian¡¯s hesitation, and pped him on the shoulder.
¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. It does all seem a bit too smooth, but¡ why should that be a bad thing?¡±
¡°What, is it only natural for the enemy to wipe us out effortlessly, and if our n actually goes well, then it¡¯s a trap? That¡¯s some twisted logic.¡±
¡°Sure, Copernicus is tricky¡ªno one¡¯s saying he isn¡¯t. But we¡¯re no pushovers either. If you hadn¡¯t tipped me off about the mole¡ we wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to turn the tables on him, would we?¡±
¡°And as for there being no security here, Lin Xian, that¡¯s perfectly reasonable. Copernicus is so cautious¡ªwhy would he let anyone know where he was hibernating? Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t even be surprised if, if today it really was just my secretary and a body double, Copernicus wouldn¡¯t have let them walk out alive.¡±
¡°Wait, look what I found.¡±
Angelica had been searching through the old man¡¯s clothes and now pulled out a golden badge. On the front, it bore the Genius Club insignia¡ªproof of membership and a key to their meetings.
Lin Xian took it, examining it carefully.
¡°It¡¯s real. At least, I can¡¯t see anything off about it. Looks just like mine.¡±
Elon Musk took it from him and looked it over.
¡°Real or fake, we¡¯ll have to cut it open to be sure. Back when I had my double ying games in the office with VR sses, I actually made a fake badge too. Unless you cut it open, you¡¯d never tell the difference.¡±
¡°Honestly, I thought my secretary might use that badge to confirm my identity before trying to kill me. I was all prepared for it. But either she was overconfident, or maybe Copernicus didn¡¯t trust her enough yet¡ He never told her about the golden badge.¡±
¡
Listening to Elon Musk and Angelica¡¯s analysis, Lin Xian nodded slightly. As things stood, there were still a lot of doubts, sure. But there was also plenty of evidence pointing to the fact that this old man really was Copernicus.
¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get back to the surface,¡± Lin Xian said, closing the small fridge containing the entangled time-space particles and holding it close to his chest. He was still curious to know how Liu Feng¡¯s readings were going, how many world lines had shifted.
Elon Musk moved to theputer in the underground base and started typing.
¡°I¡¯ll have my team take over this ce. Whether they find useful intel or manage to absorb some of the tech, it¡¯s worth it. We can¡¯t leave empty-handed aftering all this way.¡±
With that, the three of them left, winding through the passage until they emerged back into the castle above.
Lin Xian took out his phone, watching as the signal bars in the top-right corner shifted from ¡°No Service¡± to full strength.
He braced himself for a barrage of missed calls, WeChat messages going off like crazy, and Liu Feng probably yelling his head off.
But instead¡
Surprisingly.
The phone, now back in range, was calm as a stillke. Not a single ripple¡ªno messages, no calls.
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian frowned. That wasn¡¯t right. Liu Feng should be glued to that time-space clock. And at this hour, in this country, there was no way Liu Feng would be asleep.
Maybe the phone was acting up?
Confused, Lin Xian dialed Liu Feng¡¯s number.
¡°Hello? Are you in theb?¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here.¡±
Liu Feng sounded like he never slept, always on call.
¡°Has the time-space clock changed at all?¡±
There was the sound of footsteps on the other end, and Liu Feng¡¯s voice came back, calm.
¡°Nope. Still at 0.0000168. Compared to that chaos on July 1st, these past two months have been incredibly stable.¡±
¡°Weird,¡± Lin Xian muttered, genuinely puzzled. Copernicus was a big deal. How could his death not even make the time-space clock budge a little?
He was a menace to humanity. His death, even if it didn¡¯t drastically alter humanity¡¯s future¡ should¡¯ve at least shifted the time-space curvature by 0.0000042, right?
Lin Xian frowned, feeling that something wasn¡¯t adding up. Since the time-space curvature and world lines hadn¡¯t changed, there were only four possibilities:
Copernicus¡¯s death was insignificant¡ªnot even enough to break through the sticity of time-space.
His death was already predetermined on the 0.0000168 world line. Since this was Da Vinci¡¯s future, it didn¡¯t matter when Copernicus died.
They hadn¡¯t actually killed Copernicus; they¡¯d killed the wrong person.
Copernicus was dead, but he wasn¡¯t just one individual¡ªmaybe he was two people, or a whole group¡ So even if one Copernicus died, it didn¡¯t affect their overall future ns.
Here they were again, with a familiar four-way choice. Which answer was it?
Lin Xian hung up and walked over to the castle wall, staring out at the distant horizon.
It was infuriating.
He was talking about Copernicus. Dead, but still managing to cause trouble. Killed, yet still making everyone uneasy, still getting under people¡¯s skin.
To Angelica and Elon Musk, the evidence they had was enough to prove that the old man who just died was the infamous Copernicus.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t deny it.
He just couldn¡¯t find definitive proof.
Right now, the most pressing thing is figuring out if Copernicus truly is dead.
But how could they prove it?
With that old man¡¯s death, every lead¡ªeveryone in the world who had anything on Copernicus¡ªwas gone.
Copernicus had vanished, evaporated from both history and the future.
¡°Wait a second¡¡±
No, that wasn¡¯t quite right.
Lin Xian blinked, his gaze following the flow of Lake Brienz as it stretched eastward, winding endlessly.
A long river.
It was like a river of history.
So very long, stretching on and on.
Even from now, in 2024, all the way to the distant endpoint in 2624, it spanned six hundred years.
Six hundred years.
It sounded casual when you said it, but it was an absurdly long stretch of time.
The breeze from the grasnds brushed against him as Lin Xian watched the waters of Lake Brienz trickle eastward. Theke had been here for at least six hundred years.
Would it care about one particr rainstorm in one particr year? Would it care about a flock of sheep stopping by for a drink one day?
Of course not, just like that six-hundred-year river of history.
At that moment, Lin Xian truly understood the future ns of the Genius Club members, and the battles between them spanned hundreds of years.
A game thatsts six hundred years¡ªwhy bother over a few years, or a few decades?
If you considered the futures these geniuses were envisioning, the ns they were setting into motion, all of ity centuries ahead. So who held a slight advantage in 2024, who was a step ahead¡ªit was all meaningless.
Because the real battleground of this game wasn¡¯t in 2024. It was in that distant future!
And with that in mind, the first thing these geniuses had to do was figure out how to survive long enough to see that future andplete their ns.
Staying alive was the only way to y. Longevity was the real key.
So then¡ªhow could you quietly lurk in the river of history, gathering strength, and wait for the perfect moment to leap out and secure victory?
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered something he¡¯d once said to Ji Xin Shui in the interrogation room, a lie he used to trick him:
¡°Ji Xin Shui, do you know why the Genius Club has managed to hide so well in the river of history, leaving no trace?¡±
¡°It¡¯s because¡ the members of the Genius Club are history itself. They¡¯ve already fused themselves with history, separated from the real world, so of course they leave no trace.¡±
¡°Any living person will leave a mark on history. But the dead are different¡ The dead don¡¯t attract attention; they leave no real mark on this world. That¡¯s how they can hide themselves, hide their organization within the river of history, subtly plucking the strings of the future.¡±
¡°Your final exam is to disappear from reality. To use a grand deception¡ªa ¡®fake death¡¯¡ªtopletely erase yourself, silently influencing time and destiny.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath.
Those words had been pure nonsense, made up to get Ji Xin Shui to confess and ept the death penalty.
Any of the other Seven Deadly Sins would never have believed Lin Xian¡¯s lies.
But Ji Xin Shui, paranoid and arrogant, took them to heart. He went willingly to meet his death, eagerly awaiting Copernicus¡¯s apuse.
Hiding within the river of history¡
Plucking the strings of the future¡
It had been a lie, just something he came up with off the top of his head.
But now, the more he thought about it, the more it felt real!
Fake death.
That phrase he¡¯d used to deceive Ji Xin Shui¡
The words were like a boomerang, circling back to him, echoing in his ears.
¡°No way¡¡±
Lin Xian held his breath.
He turned, looking back towards the underground base.
In the center, on the mechanical swivel chair,y a body¡ªlimbs broken, skull shattered, all the blood drained away.
Was this¡
Could this really count as a ¡®fake death¡¯?
He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off. He swallowed, his throat dry.
¡°No way it actually came true, did it?¡±
Chapter 450: Truth and Loopholes
Two dayster, in the new port area of Donghai City, at Te¡¯s Gigafactoryboratory.
¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s confirmed,¡± said Elon Musk, stepping aside from theb table to let Lin Xian take a closer look.
On theb tabley the Golden Badge of the Genius Club, dismantled into itsponents by precision instruments.
¡
Two days ago, as they were leaving the Swiss airport, Angelica was in high spirits. She hugged Lin Xian tightly but refused Elon Musk¡¯s attempt at a hug, preparing to fly back to the United States.
¡°I¡¯m nning to visit Brooklyn,¡± she said, her voice filled with emotion. ¡°I want to put flowers on Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin¡¯s graves. Let them know the good news¡ªthat Copernicus is finally gone.¡±
She paused, looking at Lin Xian with a gentle smile. ¡°Maybe you¡¯d want toe too? I know you had your issues with those two, but¡ Copernicus is dead now, and so are they. Doesn¡¯t that mean we can let bygones be bygones?¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent for a moment, sensing the sincerity in her words. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he replied eventually. He didn¡¯t want to dampen Angelica¡¯s joy¡ªshe looked so relieved, so genuinely happy.But still, the name Brooklyn lingered in his mind.
¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡±¡ªthat painting was made by the artist Henry Dawson in Brooklyn in 1952. So why were Ji Xin Shui, a native of X Country, and his adopted son buried in a foreignnd? Why Brooklyn? Didn¡¯t he have a home to return to?
For someone from X Country, especially an elder like Ji Xin Shui, returning to rest in the homnd¡¯s soil should have been an instinct. Why Brooklyn?
¡°Was it your choice to bury them there?¡± Lin Xian asked Angelica. ¡°Or was it their wish?¡±
Angelica gathered her long, dark hair, tying it into a simple ponytail. ¡°It was the old man¡¯s choice. He loved Brooklyn¡ªevery year he¡¯d go there, said his best friends were there, and that he wanted to pay his respects to them. Ji Lin alwaysined about it.¡±
¡°But honestly, I¡¯m not sure. It wasn¡¯t necessarily the city itself that mattered to him¡ªmaybe it was the memories, or the people he knew there,¡± Angelica added, her voice soft with uncertainty.
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Do you know who he was visiting or where exactly in Brooklyn?¡±
¡°No idea,¡± Angelica replied with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before¡ªJi Xin Shui sent me to Hollywood to be a child star when I was very young. I rarely saw them, maybe once a year. Everything I know, Ji Lin told me.¡±
¡°But I doubt Ji Lin knew much either,¡± she continued. ¡°He didn¡¯t seem interested. Maybe he asked once, but Ji Xin Shui never answered. And Ji Lin didn¡¯t push for details¡ªhe didn¡¯t care about the old man¡¯s past.¡±
Lin Xian nodded again. ¡°Got it. Safe journey, Angelica. See you around.¡±
¡°You too!¡± Angelica gave them a warm smile, waving as she walked towards her gate.
Elon Musk rubbed his chin, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°Quite the charm you¡¯ve got, Lin Xian. I¡¯m envious.¡±
Lin Xian rolled his eyes. ¡°Haven¡¯t you had enough fun pretending to be Fake Elon Musk, charming everyone with your acting skills?¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± Elon Musk shook his head yfully. ¡°Switching roles is easy for me. I just wanted to say, Angelica¡¯s smile was beautiful¡ªreal happiness from the heart.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°She¡¯s lost her family twice now¡ªleft alone both times. After Ji Lin and Ji Xin Shui died, she became a vengeful spirit with nowhere to belong.¡±
¡°But now, she¡¯s finally killed Copernicus¡ªthe one responsible for it all. Angelica¡¯s greatest wish hase true. She¡¯s finally found some peace.¡±
He paused, his gaze drifting to Elon Musk¡¯s chest pocket.
Inside was the Golden Badge of the Genius Club, taken from Copernicus. To be sure they had actually killed the real Copernicus, they needed to analyze the badge.
Noticing Lin Xian¡¯s expression, Elon Musk patted his shoulder and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian. I¡¯m not going back to the U.S. just yet. We¡¯ll take my private jet to Donghai. I¡¯ll head straight to Te¡¯s Gigafactory and use theirb to figure this badge out. I¡¯ll call you as soon as I¡¯m done.¡±
¡
And that was why Lin Xian was at Te¡¯s Gigafactory now. After getting Elon Musk¡¯s call, he had jumped into the car, Xiao Li driving him to theb.
Elon Musk gestured to the neatly arranged parts on theb table. ¡°There¡¯s nothing overlyplicated here¡ªjust a coil and an NFC encrypted chip. Simple structure, simple principle.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t cut it open¡ªI ground it down, bit by bit, to make sure the internal structure wasn¡¯t damaged. If you were nning to use this badge to pretend to be Copernicus at a Genius Club meeting, that wouldn¡¯t work. Their system is pretty tight on identity verification. Want me to exin in detail?¡±
Lin Xian studied the dismantledponents on the table. He picked up some of the residue, rubbing it between his fingers.
¡°stic?¡±
¡°Not quite. It¡¯s aplex material¡ªit looks and feels like metal but isn¡¯t. And it¡¯s not conductive,¡± Elon Musk exined. ¡°That¡¯s key, Lin Xian. The NFC principle relies on the coil generating current. If the coil were surrounded by metal, it¡¯d create a Faraday cage, and no current could form.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, tossing the powder aside. ¡°Makes sense. I always thought it was weird to use solid metal for an NFC badge¡ªmust have been some kind of high-tech trick.¡±
¡°So, tell me about the Genius Club¡¯s identity verification system,¡± Lin Xian said, intrigued.
Elon Musk pulled up a chair for Lin Xian, settling into his own. ¡°From what I know, before 2004, the Genius Club always met in person. At theirst in-person meeting that year, Einstein gave Golden Badges to five members.¡±
¡°Oh, you mean Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Da Vinci, and Gauss¡ They were the only five members back then.¡±
Elon Musk nodded. ¡°Einstein said they¡¯d meet virtually from then on, using the badges. This way, their identities could stay hidden. The online setup was simple back then, though I never saw it myself.¡±
Lin Xian thought for a moment. ¡°So, originally, the invitation seals didn¡¯t include the Golden Badges. Einstein must have added themter, waiting for the remaining geniuses to find their invitations.¡±
Elon Musk shook his head slightly. ¡°Actually, the original invites did have badges¡ªjust solid gold ones without NFC. They weren¡¯t for identity verification either.¡±
He gave a wry smile. ¡°A lot of things in the Genius Club are more about tradition and appearances than practicality. For instance, there¡¯s no real reason for the NFC to work like this for this badge. And don¡¯t get me started on those silly masks on VR avatars. Anyway, back to what I was saying.¡±
¡°The key embedded in the Golden Badge is unique to each member¡ªit¡¯s their identity. From the first time you use it to join a meeting, the system begins collecting your biometric data¡ªvoice, facial features, fingerprints. All without you even noticing. Over time, it builds a full profile. It might not get everything, but it¡¯ll always have your voice.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°But couldn¡¯t it be hacked? I mean, creating a fake fingerprint or voice isn¡¯t impossible.¡±
Elon Muskughed. ¡°I¡¯m not done. Voice is just one example. The system also records your tone, expressions, ent¡ªeven the way youugh. Each time you join a meeting, it verifies your identity in countless ways. That long loading screen? It¡¯s checking all of that.¡±
¡°In the old days, maybe you could bypass it. But since Kevin Walker redesigned the whole program and encryption logic, it¡¯s nearly unbreakable. Every Genius Club member has tried to locate the server hosting the meetings, hoping to find others¡¯ information. Every single attempt has failed.¡±
¡°As much as I dislike Kevin Walker, I have to admit¡ªtechnically, he¡¯s leagues ahead of everyone. Earth¡¯s greatest hacker¡ªhe deserves that title.¡±
Lin Xian stayed quiet, absorbing the information.
He agreed with Elon Musk on this. After all, even VV, the advanced AI, couldn¡¯t locate Kevin Walker¡¯s identity. Inwork technology, Kevin was indeed a genius¡ªperhaps the kind of talent that onlyes once in centuries.
After all, he had secretly created digital life itself.
Such people were dangerous, but Lin Xian couldn¡¯t deny the admiration he felt for Kevin Walker¡¯s skills.
Lin Xian looked at Elon Musk again. ¡°So, from your perspective, there¡¯s no way someone could fake being a Genius Club member?¡±
¡°From a technical standpoint, I think it¡¯s impossible,¡± Elon Musk said, his tone firm. ¡°Unless someone even smarter than Kevin Walkeres along. But even then¡ I¡¯m not sure Einstein would let it slide. He¡¯s all-knowing, after all. If anyone tried to impersonate a member, Einstein would know.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
If Elon Musk was that confident¡
Did that mean they¡¯d really killed Copernicus? Finally rid themselves of that menace?
¡°Lin Xian, I know you¡¯re cautious,¡± Elon Musk said earnestly. ¡°But there¡¯s no need to be overly suspicious. Think about it¡ªthe old man we killed had the same voice as Copernicus, fell right into our trap, carried a genuine badge, had futuristic tech in his base, and even had his secretary infiltrate my side for years.¡±
¡°He nearly stole those entangled space-time particles from us¡ Isn¡¯t all of this proof enough? I really think we can finally say¡ª¡±
¡°We killed the real Copernicus. Our revenge isplete.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled.
He knew that both Angelica and Elon Musk thought he¡¯d gone a bit mad over this¡ªthat he refused to believe they¡¯d actually seeded.
But if he hadn¡¯t experienced the ability to dream six hundred years into the future, he might have believed it too. After all, 99.99% of the facts pointed to the dead man being Copernicus.
But the problem was he had experienced the First Dream.
In that dream, there had been no cryo-chamber¡ªyet someone had killed Big Cat Face¡¯s father at exactly 00:42 AM.
It was clearly Copernicus¡¯s style.
Or at least, something very simr to his.
And that was what troubled Lin Xian the most.
Could there be¡ another Copernicus?
If so, where was he?
And if there was a second one, could there be a third or a fourth?
Of course, if he really wanted to overthink it, there was another point to consider. The First Dream held a big mystery about Big Cat Face¡¯s father¡¯s death¡ªand the death of his daughter.
Copernicus was ruthless and willing to sacrifice scientists and mathematicians for his ns. There was no justification for that.
But, in his own twisted way, he did respect them. He made sure they died at precisely 00:42 as a mark of his strange reverence, and he always emphasized avoiding unnecessary killings.
It was because of this strict rule¡ªno killing of innocents¡ªthat Lin Xian had survived until now. It was also why Ji Lin had lived for an extra twenty years.
Copernicus had principles when it came to killing.
But the one who killed Big Cat Face¡¯s father didn¡¯t seem to follow those principles.
If it really had been Copernicus, he might have killed Big Cat Face¡¯s father, but he would have spared the daughter. That fit more with his arrogant, self-righteous style.
Just like during the Genius Club meetings¡
Newton had used Copernicus of killing scientists, pointing his finger at him. Copernicus had onlyughed,pletely unfazed.
But when Lin Xian used him of killing both his father and his daughter, Copernicus had be agitated. He went on a long-winded exnation about his pride, insisting he would never kill an innocent child¡ªeager to distance himself from the usation.
It seemed that sort of baseless usation struck a nerve for Copernicus. It was one of the few things that seemed to genuinely matter to him.
So, analyzing it this way¡
It seemed someone else might have killed Big Cat Face¡¯s father and daughter.
Someone like Copernicus, but not him.
¡
After a long silence, Lin Xian sat up straight, shifting his posture. He spoke softly, ¡°Debating this won¡¯t get us anywhere. If we want to know if Copernicus is truly dead, if we really killed him¡ Einstein is the only one who can confirm it.¡±
Thinking about the almost magical, AI-like Einstein, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile.
¡°I still trust Einstein a lot. If he says Copernicus is dead, then I¡¯ll believe it.¡±
¡°Hahaha¡¡± Elon Muskughed, shaking his head slowly. ¡°Impossible, Lin Xian. You know the rules. You can¡¯t ask about Genius Club members or the club itself.¡±
¡°No, Elon Musk, you¡¯re wrong,¡± Lin Xian said, waving a hand. ¡°There¡¯s a loophole in that rule.¡±
¡°A loophole?¡± Elon Musk squinted at him. ¡°Come on, Lin Xian. You¡¯re underestimating Einstein, the Genius Club, and its members. If there was a loophole, they would¡¯ve found it ages ago.¡±
Lin Xian smiled.
¡°Alright, maybe calling it a ¡®loophole¡¯ isn¡¯t urate. Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s a clever use of the rules.¡±
¡°I remember Einstein¡¯s three rules very clearly. The first one says¡ª¡±
¡°Questions asked must not concern other Genius Club members¡¯ identities, ns, actions, or privacy. If vited, Einstein will refuse to answer, and the question will be wasted as a warning.¡±
¡°So, did you catch the key point, Elon Musk?¡±
¡°The rule says you can¡¯t ask about ¡®other¡¯ Genius Club members. It doesn¡¯t say you can¡¯t ask about yourself.¡±
¡°During that meeting you missed halfway through, I asked Einstein when I would die. He gave me the exact answer, down to the minute and second.¡±
¡°Of course, I know if I asked about anyone else¡¯s death, Einstein wouldn¡¯t answer. But I could ask about my own.¡±
¡°Heh.¡± Elon Musk chuckled, pping his hands. ¡°Well done, my friend. That¡¯s pretty obvious, though.¡±
¡°The rule exists to protect privacy and safety. Who¡¯d ask something about themselves in front of everyone, only to let Einstein announce it to the entire room?¡±
¡°Lin Xian, don¡¯t underestimate those geniuses. Sure, you can control your question. But you can¡¯t control Einstein¡¯s answer.¡±
¡°If, during your question, Einstein said just one crucial word¡ªjust one¡ªthose geniuses could deduce your identity, location, ns, and goals.¡±
¡°If you n on using a question about yourself to figure out if Copernicus is really dead, be very careful. Don¡¯t trust anyone in the Genius Club, and don¡¯t trust anything they say.¡±
¡°Even those who seem harmless like Gauss, friendly and kind like Da Vinci, or righteous like Newton¡ªno one knows what¡¯s really behind their masks. Who knows if they¡¯re human or monsters underneath.¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are still three days left until the next meeting on September 1st. I¡¯ll think it over carefully.¡±
¡°Of course, I hope you and Angelica are right. If, in the end, we prove that I¡¯m just overthinking, there¡¯s nothing better than that. I¡¯ll even invite you over to celebrate with champagne.¡±
With that, he stood up, ready to leave.
¡°I¡¯m heading back, Elon Musk. Let me know if anythinges up.¡±
Elon Musk also stood, shaking Lin Xian¡¯s hand firmly.
¡°Thank you might sound a bit formal, but I really mean it¡ªthank you, Lin Xian. Thanks for giving me that information in time and saving my life.¡±
He pounded his chest in promise.
¡°If I ever have the chance to repay you, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. I¡¯dy down my life for you if needed.¡±
¡
Later, Elon Musk watched as Lin Xian got into the car and drove away.
¡°Where to, Mr. Lin Xian?¡± asked Xiao Li, the driver of the Alphard.
¡°Home,¡± Lin Xian said, yawning. ¡°My jetg¡¯s killing me. I need a long nap.¡±
Ring ring¡
Lin Xian¡¯s phone rang. He picked it up and looked at the caller ID¡ªGao Yang?
Since they¡¯d parted ways abruptly at his old home in Hang City, they hadn¡¯t talked much for half a month. Why was Gao Yang calling now?
¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Hey, hey, hey!¡± Gao Yang sounded excited. ¡°Come over to my ce tonight to watch that videotape!¡±
¡°What videotape?¡± Lin Xian asked absently.
¡°The one we got from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin! You didn¡¯t forget, did you?!¡±
¡
Lin Xian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
¡°You actually have the nerve to bring that up? It¡¯s been months, and you¡¯re only now getting the VCR sorted? Why not invite me in six hundred years?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t me me for this!¡± Gao Yang said, sounding righteous. ¡°That tape was a special,pact version made by Panasonic years ago. Finding the right yer wasn¡¯t easy. I had to go through so much trouble to get one from Japan.¡±
¡°And honestly, the main reason for the dy was that the tape itself was badly damaged. What, did you think the coffin was some kind of time machine where time stood still? The tape wouldn¡¯t even y when I tried it. I had to get a specialist to repair it. They just called me saying it¡¯s fixed.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian sighed, switching the phone to his other hand. ¡°If you¡¯re not busy, I coulde over now. No need to wait until tonight.¡±
¡°Nah, the dealership¡¯s packed right now. And I still need to pick up the tape. Let¡¯s stick with tonight. Come by around seven or eight. I¡¯ve been dying to see what¡¯s on that mysterious tape!¡±
With that, Gao Yang hung up.
Lin Xian closed his eyes, thinking back to Chu An Qing, who had turned into blue stardust and vanished¡ª
To the photo of Zhang Yu Qian in her coffin, smiling like a flower in bloom¡ª
To the two identical girls, living lives twenty-four years apart¡ª
To the eerie code 1952 in the diary¡
He was curious too. He opened his eyes slowly.
¡°What could be on Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s videotape¡?¡±
¡°What exactly did it record?¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 451: Zhang Yu Qians Video Tape
Earlier, Lin Xian and Gao Yang had made a special trip to Qufu in Shandong to dig up the grave of Zhang Yu Qian. As they suspected, there was no body in the coffin, but they did find some intriguing items.
They retrieved three things from the coffin¡ªan old photo album, a diary with abination lock, and an old videotape.
Lin Xian looked through the entire photo album. It showed Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s life from childhood to adulthood. Strangely enough, apart from the different backgrounds and parents in the pictures, Lin Xian felt an eerie sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu¡ªas if he were looking through Chu An Qing¡¯s photo album. The two girls looked identical, down to the smallest detail.
Since the photos were static, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see any differences between Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing. Not like with CC.
CC was alive¡ªshe had her own personality, quirks, and expressions. Even though CC looked exactly like Chu An Qing, Lin Xian could easily tell them apart. But Zhang Yu Qian only existed in these old photos, which made it harder to see the differences.
In the end, after going through the entire album, they hadn¡¯t found anything useful.
Then there was the diary with thebination lock. The content inside held no real value, but the password for the lock was intriguing: 1952.
Based on Lin Xian and Gao Yang¡¯s calctions, 1952 was the year the previous millennium stake vanished. Each millennium stake girl would turn into blue stardust on her twentieth birthday. After a four-year gap, the next anchoring stake would be born, and the cycle would continue.In 1952, the previous anchoring stake disappeared. Four yearster, in 1956, Zhang Yu Qian was born. In 1976, she vanished. In 1980, Chu An Qing was born. And in 2000, she vanished. In 2004, Chu An Qing was born again, and in 2024, she turned into blue stardust.
The timeline was precise, but one question remained: why did Zhang Yu Qian, who supposedly knew nothing about the millennium stake, have such an attachment to the year 1952?
Lin Xian wanted to dig deeper into this clue, but their trail regarding the millennium stake ended there, with no way to go further. He had hoped that joining the Genius Club would give him more opportunities to gather information, but the club was full of schemers.
Even asking a question had restrictions, with the answers broadcast for every club member to hear. This forced Lin Xian to proceed cautiously, avoiding mistakes that could lead to disastrous consequences.
The only remaining way to learn more about Zhang Yu Qian and the millennium stake was through that mysterious videotape.
Back then, Gao Yang had volunteered to handle it, but who would¡¯ve thought it would take so long?
¡°Oh well, at least it¡¯s finally sorted,¡± Lin Xian muttered, gazing at the passing scenery outside the car window. Though it had taken a while, he would finally watch the contents of the videotape tonight.
Thinking back over the past few months, he realized he hadn¡¯t had a single idle day. Every moment had been packed, and he had even survived two cross-temporal assassination attempts. It was exhausting.
Lin Xian sighed. He truly understood the saying now: ¡°When Heaven is about to ce a great responsibility on someone, it first tests their resolve and patience.¡±
¡°Xiao Li, don¡¯t take me home. Let¡¯s go to the office,¡± Lin Xian said, turning to the driver.
Since he had to go to Gao Yang¡¯s ce around seven or eight tonight to watch the videotape, there was no need to dive into the dream world today. A few short hours wouldn¡¯t be enough to go through the usual routine anyway. So, the Rhine Company it was.
Once in his office, he could finally have some peace and think things through¡ªspecifically, how to cleverly use the rules of questioning during the Genius Club¡¯s uing meeting on September 1st to confirm if Copernicus was really dead.
¡°Understood, Mr. Lin Xian,¡± the driver, Xiao Li, replied, flicking the left indicator and merging onto the elevated expressway.
Rhine Company, Lin Xian¡¯s office.
He sat with his eyes closed, spinning a pen between his fingers, his mind racing. To put it simply, if you stripped away all theplications, the real question about whether Copernicus was dead boiled down to his own safety and the safety of the time-space particles.
¡°No.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head.
¡°Actually, it¡¯s even simpler¡ªit¡¯s just my safety. After all, the reason I worry about Copernicus stealing the time-space particles is that I fear he¡¯d send assassins from the future back to 2024 to kill me.¡±
The more he thought about it, the clearer his thinking became. He stopped spinning the pen, pulled a nk sheet of paper from the printer, and scribbled down three questions:
Ask again: What is the exact date of my death?
Will the time-space particles in my possession be stolen by someone else?
Who is the next mathematician to be maliciously murdered at 00:42?
These were the three questions Lin Xian hade up with.
On the surface, they had nothing to do with Copernicus, but in truth, they were all aimed at him. Depending on Einstein¡¯s answers, Lin Xian could determine if Copernicus was truly gone or still lurking around.
But¡
Lin Xian tapped his pen on the first question, frowning.
¡°It seems like this question isn¡¯t very useful. Even if Einstein gives me an exact date, it doesn¡¯t provide any crucial information. No matter whether the date is far off or near, it won¡¯t prove if Copernicus is the killer. It could be an ident, an illness, or natural causes¡ In short, Einstein¡¯s answer won¡¯t determine whether it¡¯s Copernicus who kills me, so let¡¯s scrap that question.¡±
With that, Lin Xian crossed out the first question with his pen.
Next, he looked at the second question. This one was more pointed. If Einstein answered that the time-space particles would be stolen, it would strongly indicate that Copernicus had some n in ce to steal them from Lin Xian, continuing to cause him trouble.
If Einstein said the particles wouldn¡¯t be stolen, it would offer some reassurance. But the price of that reassurance was that every member of the Genius Club would know that Lin Xian had a time-space particle, effectively painting a big target on his back.
Newton and Galileo didn¡¯t seem like simple characters. If they got involved, they might be even trickier to deal with than Copernicus.
¡°This question is good, but the risk is too high,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head. Copernicus wasn¡¯t worth the risk of exposing his identity and attracting more enemies just to confirm whether he was truly dead.
Then, Lin Xian looked at the third question. This one seemed almost perfect. Neither the question itself nor the answer would directly involve Copernicus or the Genius Club, and Einstein wouldn¡¯t refuse to answer.
Moreover, the question was worded with very strict conditions: the time had to be 00:42, the cause of death had to be malicious murder, and the person had to be a mathematician. It practically pointed to Copernicus as the mastermind.
If Einstein provided any name, it would mean Copernicus was still alive, or that there was someone else involved¡ªa partner.
If Einstein refused to answer, it would suggest that the question involved a Genius Club member, meaning Copernicus wasn¡¯t actually dead¡ªperhaps he had faked his death or used a stand-in.
If Einstein said that no mathematician would die at that time in the future, then they could celebrate with champagne with Elon Musk.
¡°Yes, this question is almost perfect,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°Whether Einstein answers or not, says yes or no, I¡¯ll still get the answer I need.¡±
¡°Alright, it¡¯s decided then.¡±
Lin Xian marked the third question with a tick, confirming it as the one he would ask at the Genius Club meeting in a few days.
At the same time, he also realized that he had many other questions for Einstein. So, he listed them in order of priority:
Ask about clearing the future virus from thework and reviving VV.
¡°Thest time the cleaning robot VV bumped into my ankle twice, it seemed to beining about why I hadn¡¯t started tackling the future virus yet. If I can confirm that Copernicus is dead at the next meeting, it will be time to deal with VV.¡±
VV was Lin Xian¡¯s greatest weapon, especially since Kevin Walker and Turing had both been killed. If VV coulde back online, Lin Xian¡¯sbat power would increase a hundredfold. And if given enough time to develop, VV might even uncover the Genius Club¡¯s secrets.
¡°Of course, I can¡¯t be too direct when asking Einstein. I need to hide VV¡¯s existence and not mention the future virus. I¡¯ll have to be a bit indirect when I ask.¡±
Ask about the truth of the millennium stake and a way to save Chu An Qing.
¡°This was my primary reason for joining the Genius Club. It¡¯s only second on the list because I don¡¯t know how to phrase it yet.¡±
¡°Gao Yang thinks the same as I do¡ªsaving Chu An Qinges first, but her safety must be ensured. We have to prevent the millennium stake from being exploited or harmed by other ambitious club members.¡±
¡°So, until the right momentes, I can¡¯t ask Einstein this question easily. Ideally, it would be a situation where only I am present, or at least as few people as possible are there.¡±
Ask about the truth of the world-destroying white light at 00:42 on August 29, 2624.
¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to know what the world-destroying white light is, but I¡¯ve never had the chance, nor the right words, to ask.¡±
¡°After all, asking this question would expose my ability to see the future, which would inevitably put me in danger.¡±
¡°But then again¡ if I don¡¯t ask Einstein, I really have no other way to find out what that white light is. When I saw it, everything was destroyed. If it truly moves at the speed of light, then there¡¯s no way to predict, stop, or analyze it¡ªno way to know in advance.¡±
¡°This is a question only Einstein can answer. Just like the previous one, it¡¯s best to ask when I¡¯m the only one at the meeting.¡±
¡°Ah, I really envy Copernicus. He had so many opportunities to ask questions alone. And since he was the only member back then, whatever he asked wouldn¡¯t involve anyone else¡ He could practically get any answer from Einstein.¡±
Ask about precise information regarding Du Yao.
¡°I honestly can¡¯t remember when, where, or how I saw that name. If I want to make the neural electroshock helmet, Du Yao is an essential key. So, I¡¯ll have to ask Einstein about this one.¡±
¡°But there¡¯s no rush to ask this question. I¡¯ll wait until I¡¯ve copied all the blueprints for the time machine. Otherwise, if the answer changes the world line and Gao Wen and the time machine disappear, that would be a huge loss.¡±
¡°The dream coboration between Emperor Gao Wen and Emperor Chen Heping won¡¯t always happen in every future. So, this chance to copy theplete and urate blueprints for the time machine is a miracle, and I have to cherish it.¡±
¡°Plus, I promised Xu Yi Yi and Li Ning Ning that I¡¯d give them a better future world. I hope that after I find Ms. Du Yao and make the neural electroshock helmet, the new world line¡ªthe new Ninth Dream¡ªwill allow them, and every human, to live a happier life.¡±
Click.
Lin Xian capped his pen, looking at the four questions he had listed.
¡°This will do.¡±
For now, the n for the next few months was set. Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.
He stood up, walking over to therge floor-to-ceiling window, looking across at the 22nd floor of the MX building. Zhao Ying Jun was working there. Of course, along with the baby growing inside her.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought. ¡°Once I finish dealing with those questions and set everything in motion, the baby should be here, right?¡±
He imagined the warmth of a family of three, the cozy moments. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile. He¡¯d spent time with Zhao Ying Jun and Lin Yu Xi before¡ªthey¡¯d even visited Disnend and taken family photos together. But none of them had said aloud what they truly were to each other back then. There had always been that bit of regret. But not this time. This time, there would be no regrets.
Nighttime at Gao Yang¡¯s ce was¡ a mess. No, to call it a pigsty would be generous.
¡°Honestly, no way,¡± Lin Xian pinched his nose. ¡°You¡¯re a 4S dealership manager now! Your ie¡¯s not bad. Why not move into a cleaner ce?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve only been a manager for a few months,¡± Gao Yang said, sweeping junk off the couch with his foot. ¡°I¡¯m barely home. Work¡¯s hectic, and I¡¯ve got meetings every night¡ªwhen am I supposed to have time to find a new ce, let alone move? And honestly, it¡¯s not just the house. I¡¯m the real mess here.¡±
¡°You say that so proudly,¡± Lin Xian shook his head, puzzled. ¡°What is there to be proud of?¡±
¡°Alright, enough nagging,¡± Gao Yang said, waving Lin Xian off. ¡°You¡¯ve got a girlfriend now. Of course, you don¡¯t understand. When I have one, I¡¯ll tidy up too. But I don¡¯t have any reason to right now!¡±
He continued, ¡°By the way, Zhao Ying Jun works with all those gorgeous women at MX Company. Couldn¡¯t she introduce me to one of them? Someone single, of course.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged, ¡°How about we start the tape instead?¡± He sat down on the couch, facing the TV.
¡°Wait, what? How did you change topics so quickly?!¡± Gao Yang almost growled. ¡°I¡¯m being serious about needing an introduction, and you just jump to watching tapes? You promised not to forget your friends if you made it big, but here you are, secretly starting a family and not even helping me find someone!¡±
Lin Xian nced over, unimpressed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s a good match for you. Your standards are too high.¡±
¡°How are they high?!¡± Gao Yang protested, counting on his fingers. ¡°All I asked Zhao Ying Jun was a simple thing¡ª¡¯someone cute, smart, wears sses, and¡ª''¡± he trailed off.
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Just watch the tape. Dream on if you want. You can have anything in your dreams.¡±
¡°Hey, don¡¯t underestimate me,¡± Gao Yang said, heading to the TV while throwing a nce over his shoulder. ¡°If you can snag yourself a rich CEO, why can¡¯t I find a cute genius?¡±
Lin Xian rolled his eyes. ¡°Sure, sure, head to the National Scientific Academy while you¡¯re at it. Now just y the tape.¡±
Next to the TV sat an old, yellowed video yer, branded with Panasonic¡¯s logo.
¡°So I got this tape checked out by an enthusiast,¡± Gao Yang said. ¡°He recognized it instantly. It¡¯s from a Panasonic NV-S250EN camera¡ªsuper high-end in the nies. You can only y it on a special yer like this one.¡±
He turned the machine on, inserted the tape they¡¯d found in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin, pressed y, then rushed back to the couch, sitting beside Lin Xian, rubbing his hands together. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m kinda excited! It feels like we¡¯re peeking into someone¡¯s private teenage life.¡±
Lin Xian shot him a look. ¡°Can you be serious for once?¡± Gao Yang could really be exasperating¡ªsometimes Lin Xian wondered if Gao Yang¡¯s entire existence was just a plot to ruin the human gene pool.
The tape made the sound of rewinding, slow and mechanical.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the static cleared, and an image appeared on screen. The footage was grainy, with colors faded from age, but for a tape from over twenty years ago, it was surprisingly watchable.
¡°Hehe, I¡¯ve got a camera!¡± A girl¡¯sughter rang out, and Lin Xian and Gao Yang immediately straightened in their seats.
Chu An Qing¡ªit was Chu An Qing¡¯s voice.
It felt uncanny, almost as if she were sitting there in the living room with them. On screen, they could see the furnishings of a wealthy home from the nies¡ªredwood furniture, a spiral staircase¡ªthe kind of luxury that spoke of money.
¡°Qian Qian, don¡¯t just film the house,¡± a young middle-aged man said, smiling from the couch. Lin Xian and Gao Yang exchanged nces¡ªthey¡¯d seen this man before. He looked much younger, but there was no mistaking him¡ªit was Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s father.
The man waved at the camera, his expression soft and doting. ¡°Qian Qian, I got you this so you could capture all the beautiful parts of your life. One day when you¡¯re older, you¡¯ll have these memories. So don¡¯t just film the house¡ªgo out! Record something meaningful with your friends in the park.¡±
The recording cut off abruptly, jumping to another scene.
¡°These old tapes do that sometimes,¡± Gao Yang exined. ¡°It¡¯s all recorded on one tape, unlike digital cameras.¡±
Lin Xian hushed him. ¡°Just watch.¡±
More scenes shed by¡ªshots of sunlight, gardens, friends, pets¡ªall capturing the carefree life of a girl who loved life. The camera operator improved with each scene, even managing some elegant selfies¡ªher bright eyes crinkling into crescents, her dimples soft at her cheeks, that energetic smile.
It was¡ªin every sense¡ªChu An Qing.
Gao Yang sat there, stunned. ¡°I knew the photos looked like her, but seeing it in video¡ It¡¯s like Chu An Qing has a twin! Or she¡¯s traveled back in time!¡±
Suddenly, the screen flickered, fading to ck before a new scene emerged. It was Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s bedroom. She was in her pajamas, alongside a friend who had also appeared in previous footage¡ªher best friend, also in pajamas.
Lin Xian and Gao Yang stared wide-eyed. Was this about to be too private?
¡°Hehe, I¡¯m about to try something super challenging!¡± Zhang Yu Qian grinned at the camera set up on her desk. ¡°I want to record my dreams!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± her friend looked baffled. ¡°Qian Qian, didn¡¯t you say you always have nightmares but forget them the moment you wake up? How are you gonna record them?¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I asked you here!¡± Zhang Yu Qian giggled, pulling her friend into frame. ¡°It¡¯s true¡ªI forget every nightmare the second I wake up. Not a trace of them left. Sometimes, I don¡¯t even remember dreaming at all.¡±
She paused, thoughtful. ¡°Sometimes I wonder¡ªwhat if I have nightmares every night, but I forget them sopletely, it¡¯s like I never dream?¡±
Her friend wrinkled her nose. ¡°That¡¯s normal, isn¡¯t it? I forget my dreams all the time too.¡±
¡°But not every time, right?¡± Zhang Yu Qian insisted. ¡°I forget all of mine. It¡¯s like I¡¯ve never really dreamed before.¡±
She smiled at the camera, leaning in closer. ¡°But I know they¡¯re nightmares. I can feel it¡ªthey¡¯re terrible, even if I can¡¯t remember why. So tonight, I want to capture them. That¡¯s where youe in!¡±
Zhang Yu Qian exined her n, her excitement barely contained. ¡°You¡¯ll stay up, holding the camera. If you think I¡¯m dreaming, you wake me up, then point the camera at me and ask me what I dreamed¡ªright away! The quicker, the better. Otherwise, I¡¯ll forget everything, even that I was dreaming.¡±
The footage cut to ck.
Gao Yang scratched his head, puzzled. ¡°That was¡ random.¡±
But Lin Xian¡¯s expression had changed. He remembered something.
At the Donghai Commerce New Year Banquet back in early 2023, while dancing with Chu An Qing, they had chatted about dreams. Chu An Qing had said, ¡°I¡¯m really jealous, senior. All your dreams are happy. I¡¯m scared of dreaming¡ªit¡¯s always nightmares for me.¡±
She¡¯d added, ¡°I forget the details when I wake up, but it¡¯s terrifying. I wish I could dream happily like you.¡±
He hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time¡ªnightmares were normal, after all. What wasn¡¯t normal was Lin Xian¡¯s own dreaming¡ªsomething rare and unique.
But now it seemed uncanny. The nightmare thing¡ªeven that was the same as Zhang Yu Qian. There was definitely more to this.
The screen flickered back to life.
Zhang Yu Qiany sleeping, her brows furrowed as if caught in a bad dream.
Her friend crept closer, camera in hand, then suddenly began shaking Zhang Yu Qian, frantically calling, ¡°Qian Qian! Wake up! Tell me! What were you dreaming?!¡±
Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s eyes blinked open, dazed, as if struggling to focus. Her friend kept shaking her. ¡°Come on! What was the dream?!¡±
¡°Explosion¡ bright light¡ mushroom cloud¡¡± Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s voice was distant. ¡°A newspaper¡ 1952¡ something burning¡ Einstein.¡±
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Chapter 452: Beneath the Mask, Above History
¡°What?¡±
Lin Xian and Gao Yang stood there, stunned by the strange scene before them. They had expected nothing more than a simple experiment to record a dream. But the words that had been spoken¡
White light, explosion, mushroom cloud, newspaper, 1952, burning¡ Einstein? The first few made some sense¡ªsounded like a proper nightmare, sure¡ªbut what was up with Einstein?
¡°What exactly did Zhang Yu Qian dream about?¡± Gao Yang wondered aloud, taking a deep breath, ready to keep talking. But Lin Xian raised his hand to stop him.
¡°Hold on,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Let¡¯s finish watching the recording first.¡±
The screen showed footage recorded more than twenty years ago. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s friend stared at her, confused, as Zhang Yu Qian continued to mumble in her sleep.
After those strange words, Zhang Yu Qian let out a few soft hums and rubbed her eyes as she sat up. She red at her friend, annoyed.
¡°Why did you hit me so hard? My forehead is killing me!¡± she grumbled, yawning sleepily. ¡°Did you get it all recorded?¡±¡°Yes, it¡¯s all recorded,¡± her friend replied. ¡°But¡ you were just talking to me a second ago, and now you don¡¯t remember?¡±
Zhang Yu Qian shook her head. ¡°I remember being woken up and saying a few things to you, but what I said, and the dream itself? I can¡¯t remember a single thing.¡±
¡°That¡¯s incredible!¡± her friend eximed. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve heard of people forgetting their dreams after waking up, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone forget so quickly andpletely. You really don¡¯t remember anything about that nightmare?¡±
¡°Why would I lie?¡± Zhang Yu Qian huffed, sitting up in bed. ¡°I told you before I fell asleep. When I suddenly wake up, I can remember the dream for a second or two, but as soon as I blink or look away, it¡¯s gone.¡±
¡°If I wake up naturally, half-asleep, I can¡¯t even tell if I¡¯ve dreamed at all. Most of the time, I can¡¯t tell if I¡¯ve dreamed unless I¡¯m jolted awake, like just now.¡±
¡°Even though I forget the dream itself, the fear and anxiety it causes stick around, so I know it was a nightmare.¡± Zhang Yu Qian stretched and climbed out of bed. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the living room. There¡¯s a VCR there. I¡¯m dying to see what I dreamed about!¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Her friend looked awkward. ¡°I think you might have dreamed about World War II.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Yu Qian looked incredulous. ¡°Why would I dream about that? I don¡¯t even care about history! Ugh, why is the camera still running? We¡¯re wasting tape. Turn it off.¡±
With that, the screen went ck.
After that, there was nothing. The tape clicked as it wound to the other side, and the footage came to an end.
¡°This¡¡± Gao Yang scratched his head, frowning. ¡°What in the world was Zhang Yu Qian dreaming about? None of it made any sense. But I guess it¡¯s a dream, so a bit of random chaos is fine. Still, what do those words mean?¡±
¡°Explosion, mushroom cloud¡ Was she dreaming of an atomic bomb? And then there¡¯s burning, white light¡ I suppose that could also be linked to an atomic explosion. But what about 1952? Isn¡¯t that wrong?¡±
¡°The two atomic bombs were dropped in 1945, right? The U.S. dropped them on Japan, and Japan surrendered. So why 1952? Maybe Zhang Yu Qian just got the year wrong. Probably failed history ss,¡± Gao Yang suggested.
Lin Xian leaned back on the couch, thinking.
¡°1952 and atomic bombs¡ Wait, I remember now. The first hydrogen bomb was detonated in 1952.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t used in war, though. It was a test, but it was still a major milestone in human history. Though, I¡¯m not too sure about the details. Let me check.¡±
Lin Xian grabbed his phone and began searching. Soon enough, he found the answer.
¡°On November 1, 1952, the U.S. conducted the first hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific. The bomb was called ¡®Mike,¡¯ and its explosive power was over ten megatons, more than five hundred times that of the Hiroshima bomb.¡±
¡°The reason it was so powerful is because the hydrogen bomb¡¯s mechanism is different from an atomic bomb. It uses the energy from nuclear fission to trigger fusion in lighter elements like deuterium and tritium, releasing an enormous amount of energy.¡±
Gao Yang leaned in, reading the screen. ¡°Wow, so there really was a hydrogen bomb explosion in 1952. Do hydrogen bombs create mushroom clouds too?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°The type of bomb doesn¡¯t matter. As long as the explosion is big enough, it¡¯ll create a mushroom cloud.¡±
¡°Then there¡¯s the answer!¡± Gao Yang spread his hands and flopped back on the couch, looking rxed. ¡°Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s friend was right. She probably watched some World War II movies and read about hydrogen bombs, and that¡¯s why she had this nightmare.¡±
¡°But why was Einstein in it?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Sure, the mass-energy equivalence form was Einstein¡¯s work, but the hydrogen bomb project was led by Edward Teller. If Zhang Yu Qian really dreamed of the 1952 test, she should have dreamed of Edward Teller, not Einstein.¡±
Gao Yang scoffed dismissively. ¡°Come on, bro! It¡¯s a dream! Why are you trying to make sense of it? You think Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s going to write a research paper in her sleep? Dreams are chaotic by nature, no need to be so serious about it.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a nightmare, nothing more. After this little episode, Zhang Yu Qian and her friend probably didn¡¯t give it a second thought. We checked her things thoroughly. Besides this tape, there were no other recordings, so it seems she only tried this once and then lost interest.¡±
¡°There was also that diary. It didn¡¯t mention anything about the nightmare, which means she was satisfied with this one attempt and didn¡¯t look into it any further.¡±
¡°A nightmare¡¯s just a nightmare. What does it matter what it¡¯s about? And didn¡¯t you hear what Zhang Yu Qian said? If she wakes up normally, she can¡¯t remember her dreams at all. If you ask me what I dreamed aboutst night, I wouldn¡¯t have a clue.¡±
¡°Unless it¡¯s an incredibly vivid dream, most dreams are forgotten within minutes of waking up. I don¡¯t see anything strange about Zhang Yu Qian.¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly to Gao Yang¡¯s shallow analysis. It was clear that Gao Yang didn¡¯t know everything, which was why he didn¡¯t think much of Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s nightmare.
But Lin Xian knew better.
No matter how he looked at it, this dream was anything but ordinary.
It wasn¡¯t just Zhang Yu Qian having these nightmares¡ªChu An Qing had them too. And both of them forgot their dreams just seconds after waking up.
Such a coincidence couldn¡¯t possibly be just a coincidence. It was enough to make him wonder¡ª
Did every member of the ¡®Millennium Stakes¡¯ have simr nightmares?
¡°CC¡¡± Lin Xian murmured softly.
Now that Chu An Qing was gone, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t find her to confirm anything about the nightmares.
But luckily, CC was still around, meeting with him every night. If CC was also having nightmares, it could be another clue about the characteristics of the Millennium Stake¡ªmaybe one of its features! Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity grew. He wondered if CC had the same nightmares and if they were the same as Chu An Qing¡¯s. Or perhaps simr to the ones Zhang Yu Qian had?
Besides that, there was another unusual thing¡ªsomething that had been bothering him for a while. Two key phrases kept popping up whenever anything rted to the Genius Club came up: ¡°1952¡± and ¡°Einstein.¡±
The mysterious president of the Genius Club wore an Einstein mask; the way to get the official invitation involved finding and deciphering clues in the painting ¡°Sorrowful Einstein.¡± That painting was created in Brooklyn, New York, back in 1952. The reason Einstein appeared sad in the painting was because he feared for humanity¡¯s future, worrying that superweapons like the atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb would mean there¡¯d be no future for mankind. And the Genius Club¡¯s core mission? To create a better future for humanity.
Suddenly, something clicked. It was like a sh of realization for Lin Xian, as if Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s nightmare had linked it all together,pleting an important loop.
¡°No¡ It can¡¯t be,¡± Lin Xian muttered, taking a deep breath. His mind was spinning with a wild, impossible idea that actually made everything make sense.
He jumped up from the sofa, looking around the mess that was his living room. ¡°Where¡¯s a pen? Paper?¡±
¡°Who even keeps that kind of stuff at home?¡± Gao Yang replied, picking his nose. ¡°It¡¯ste anyway, and we haven¡¯t hung out in ages. Let¡¯s grab somete-night barbecue, have a couple of drinks. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s pregnant, so you¡¯re off the hook for baby prep¡ªjust drink and chat with me for a bit.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll talk about drinkingter,¡± Lin Xian dismissed, his mind now caught in a brainstorm that he couldn¡¯t shake.
He headed to his study, switched on the light, and remembered seeing a few pens somewhere in the room. Sure enough, he found one quickly. He tore some pages out of an old notebook, sat at the desk, and started outlining his thoughts.
¡°Hey! Are we going for barbecue or not?¡± Gao Yang shouted from the living room. ¡°How long will you take?¡±
¡°Half an hour,¡± Lin Xian answered absentmindedly.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go shower and change. Then we¡¯ll go eat.¡± Gao Yang figured that was a yes, so he jumped up from the sofa and headed for the bathroom.
Suddenly, the room grew quiet. Lin Xian rubbed his temples, a cold shiver running down his spine. What if¡ What if it was all like he was starting to think?
He picked up his pen and started jotting down a timeline. Some parts were real historical facts, others were his own spections.
First, the actual history:
In 1905, Einstein published the theory of special rtivity and the famous equation E = mc2,ying the foundation for the discovery and use of atomic energy.
In 1939, Einstein wrote a letter to U.S. President Roosevelt, suggesting the possibility of building an atomic bomb. He warned that Germany might be developing one and that this could pose a great threat to the world. He urged America to start working on it immediately.
By 1941, the United Statesunched the top-secret ¡°Manhattan Project¡± to build the atomic bomb. The President gave the project ¡°special priority above all else.¡±
In 1945, the atomic bomb was sessfully developed and dropped twice on Japan, leveling cities and causing countless casualties. Shortly after, World War II officially ended. From that point on, Einstein was deeply troubled by the devastating weapons he¡¯d helped bring into existence. He regretted the E = mc2 equation, feeling it had opened a Pandora¡¯s box, giving humanity the power to destroy itself.
In 1952, the first hydrogen bomb was created, far more powerful than the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb ¡°Little Boy,¡± with a yield of just 20 kilotons, had wiped out an entire city. How much destruction could a 10-megaton hydrogen bomb bring if it were used in war? Realizing the Pandora¡¯s box could never be closed, Einstein grew even more despondent.
In the same year, 1952, a realist painter named Henry Dawson painted an oil portrait of Einstein called ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡± in Brooklyn, New York. In the painting, Einstein asked a desperate question: ¡°Does humanity have a future?¡±
In 1955, Einstein passed away in Princeton, USA, his death marked by despair and regret. His brain was taken by a doctor and preserved in formaldehyde for research. His body was cremated, and his ashes scattered in a ce known only to a few.
All of this was historically recorded, but then Lin Xian¡¯s spection began:
At some point after 1952, someone decided to create the Genius Club to forge a better future for humanity. This founder had some unique ability to see the future¡ªand what he saw worried him. He was as pessimistic as Einstein about humanity¡¯s fate¡ maybe even more so.
While Einstein had feared that humans armed with superweapons might destroy themselves, he never knew for sure. But the Genius Club¡¯s founder had actually seen that the future was indeed bleak, that humanity really had no future.
Yet he didn¡¯t give up. He gathered the world¡¯s brightest minds, hoping to change humanity¡¯s destiny and offer a brighter future. He seemed to admire Einstein¡ªmaybe even felt a kind of kinship with him¡ªso he hid the invitation clues within ¡°Sorrowful Einstein,¡± andmissioned Henry Dawson to create seven more originals, cing eight Genius Club invitations in secret locations around the world.
Time went by.
Copernicus, Newton, Galileo¡ªone genius after another cracked the Einstein code, found the invitation, and joined the Genius Club.
To keep their identities secret, each member wore a mask representing a famous scientist, artist, or mathematician and used it as their code name. And the Genius Club¡¯s founder, its president, wore a mask depicting none other than the sorrowful,te Albert Einstein.
By now, it seemed that Einstein¡¯s life and the history of the Genius Club were pretty well sorted out. It even appeared that the real Einstein and the club¡¯s president had no connection beyond the mask¡ªperhaps they¡¯d never even met or weren¡¯t from the same time.
But¡ was that really the case?
Behind every mask worn by a member of the Genius Club was a real person.
Like Kevin Walker behind the Turing mask, or Elon Musk behind the Te mask, or Lin Xian behind the Rhine Cat mask. And then there was the dying old man behind the Copernicus mask.
So who was the man behind the Einstein mask?
That was the absurd, chilling, and almost impossible idea that had crossed Lin Xian¡¯s mind¡ªthe very idea that somehow made the most sense.
He swallowed nervously, his eyes scanning the scrawled notes on the paper before him.
¡°Could it be,¡± he whispered, ¡°that the president of the Genius Club, the old man behind the Einstein mask, is actually Einstein himself?¡±
The idea was ridiculous.
Everyone knew Einstein had died in 1955. There was no funeral, no memorial, no grave¡ªand no one knew where his ashes had been scattered. But his brain had been stolen by a doctor, preserved in slices, and studied inbs and universities around the world, still floating in formaldehyde.
Einstein should be dead, no doubt about it. He couldn¡¯t possibly still be alive. Unless¡
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered something he¡¯d once said to deceive Ji Xin Shui:
¡°The dead don¡¯t draw attention. They leave no trace in this world. That way, you can hide in history, quietly pulling the strings of the future, shaping humanity¡¯s destiny.¡±
Could it be¡
Had Einstein faked his death? Had he staged the most borate ruse in history¡ªa true deception of the world?
A shiver ran down Lin Xian¡¯s spine at the thought.
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Chapter 453: CCs Verification
¡°Impossible.¡± Elon Musk shook his head. ¡°Absolutely impossible.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t end up having barbecue with Gao Yang. Instead, he took a special car to the Te Gigafactory, where he tracked down Elon Musk, who hadn¡¯t yet left X Country.
After hearing Lin Xian¡¯s theory, Elon Musk let out a dryugh, clearly worried about Lin Xian¡¯s state of mind.
¡°Lin Xian, have you been under some kind of stresstely? Or maybe you¡¯ve been reading too many fantasy novels?¡± Elon Musk teased.
¡°First, you think Copernicus faked his death, and now you¡¯re telling me Einstein might have done the same thing? Ha! I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s just too funny. I¡¯ve had professional training to keep a straight face, but even I can¡¯t hold back here.¡±
Elon Muskughed openly, continuing, ¡°Einstein¡¯s brain was sliced up for research decades ago. How could he still be alive? And remember, he was born in 1879. If he were alive today, he¡¯d be almost 140 years old. It¡¯s simply not possible for anyone to live that long.¡±
He paused for effect, a smirk forming on his lips. ¡°Besides, the leader of the Genius Club, the old man wearing the Einstein mask, is sharp and articte. Does he look like a 140-year-old man to you? Even if you imed they swapped leaders along the way, that might make sense. But you¡¯re saying he is actually Einstein? Now that¡¯s a stretch.¡±
Lin Xian sat down across from Elon Musk, countering calmly, ¡°Then why does he forbid us from asking questions about the Genius Club itself?¡±¡°If he¡¯s just an admirer of Einstein or borrowing Einstein¡¯s identity, why make the club¡¯s founding details, its goals, and its origins off-limits to us?¡±
¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t see why the founding of the club is such a big secret. If he¡¯s the one who started it, why not share that piece of history with us?¡±
Elon Musk gave a faint smile, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°No need to overthink this. It¡¯s quite easy to verify, isn¡¯t it? Here¡¯s the n¡ª¡±
¡°At the gathering on September 1st, I¡¯ll help you get to the bottom of this!¡±
Elon Musk looked at Lin Xian with determination. ¡°You were nning to confirm if Copernicus was dead or not, right? I¡¯ll help you confirm the Einstein situation too.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll just ask, ¡®Where were Albert Einstein¡¯s ashes scattered?¡¯ Now, that¡¯s a mystery no one has ever solved. Only Einstein¡¯s children knew, and they¡¯re long gone now. There¡¯s supposedly no way for anyone to know that answer¡ªexcept the club leader, perhaps.¡±
¡°I¡¯m curious too. If he can tell us the exact spot where the ashes were scattered, then you can put your suspicions to rest, right? Unless, of course, Einstein¡¯s a ghost.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Sounds good. Let¡¯s go with that question.¡±
¡°Call me paranoid if you want, but being careful never hurts. Our enemies are getting more cunning, so it¡¯s wise to keep our guard up.¡±
¡
The next day, August 28, 2024, Time Bank officially opened after almost half a year of trial operations.
The ceremony was grand, with plenty of media coverage.
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun were naturally present, congratting Brother Wang on finally achieving his childhood dream.
Brother Wang shook Lin Xian¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°Thank you so much, Lin Xian! You can rest assured¡ªI¡¯ve written everything you asked for into the regtions. Even if Time Bank goes under, we¡¯ll stick to these principles!¡±
¡°Every 100-year anniversary, we¡¯ll rent as many airships as possible and fly them over Donghai City to celebrate¡ªwhether it¡¯s the 100th, 200th, or even the 600th or 800th anniversary. We¡¯ll fill the sky with balloons and airships for the entire day!¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly, saying nothing.
It would be wonderful if this tradition continued.
Unfortunately, the global super-disaster of the year 2400 wouldy waste to everything. Not just Time Bank, but Donghai City itself would be leveled, and 95% of the world¡¯s poption would be wiped out. Airships would never fly again.
But if the 2400 disaster could be prevented, then everything would be possible. And that was one of Lin Xian¡¯s future goals.
That night, it seemed fortune was on Time Bank¡¯s side.
The United States and the European Union jointly announced that mass-produced hibernation pods were officially going on sale, and the major hibernation bases were open for business.
The U.S. also signed the ¡°Hibernation Act (Draft)¡± with many other countries. Although it was only a draft and certainly imperfect, as the first official regtion on hibernation in human history, its emergence marked the dawn of the hibernation era.
In X Country, major government agencies also announced that mass production of hibernation pods and the opening of hibernation bases would bepleted by the end of 2024, along with the introduction of corresponding legition.
The year 2024 was truly the first year of the hibernation era.
Just as Brother Wang had envisioned, the hibernation pods quickly reached ordinary households, and Time Bank¡¯s business began to boom.
After dealing with these mundane tasks, Lin Xian finally had time to enter the dream world and look for CC, hoping to verify the connection between the Millennium Stake and the nightmare.
After an early lunch, Lin Xian filled VV, his Pomeranian¡¯s bowl,y down on the guest bed, and closed his eyes, drifting into sleep.
¡
In the dream, Lin Xian followed the familiar path, perfectly breezing through the events, bringing along Xu Yi Yi and CC to join the Face Gang, and then heading with the four members of the Face Gang to Gao Wen¡¯s undergroundboratory.
After ensuring they were on the same page and deciding where to continue studying the blueprints, Gao Wen turned away to prepare.
Meanwhile, Lin Xian took the opportunity to ask CC about her dreams.
¡°Huh?¡± CC looked genuinely surprised as she listened to Lin Xian. ¡°I don¡¯t dream.¡±
She blinked, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯ve never had a dream, nor have I ever paid attention to it.¡±
¡°Never?¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t quite believe it.
¡°That¡¯s impossible. How could someone never dream?¡± He turned to Xu Yi Yi. ¡°What about you? Do you dream?¡±
¡°Of course I do.¡± Xu Yi Yi replied, ¡°It¡¯s just that I forget most of them really quickly. There are only a few dreams I remember clearly; the rest, I forget entirely.¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands, giving CC a pointed look. ¡°See? That¡¯s the issue. It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t dream; it¡¯s that you forget them too fast! Trust me, I know what I¡¯m talking about.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± CC responded casually, not taking it seriously. ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ve always thought it was because I sleep too deeply. Either way, I don¡¯t remember anything about my dreams. So¡ what¡¯s the n?¡±
¡°It¡¯s simple. Just do as I say,¡± Lin Xian said, looking around thoughtfully. ¡°First, we need to find a ce to sleep.¡±
???
Suddenly, every eye in the undergroundb was staring at them.
What in the world? What kind of wild suggestion was that?
Even Xu Yi Yi blushed, her ears pricking up in astonishment.
¡°You scoundrel!¡± Big Cat pped Lin Xian across the back of his head. ¡°Face Gang rule number 27¡ªno flirting within the group!¡±
Lin Xian leaned back to dodge. ¡°Are you sure you remember the first 26 rules? You clearly just made that up!¡±
¡°Silence! Shameless rogue!¡± Ah Zhuang shouted, giving Lin Xian a disgusted look. ¡°I¡¯ve never met anyone so brazen in my life!¡±
¡°Disgraceful!¡± Er Zhuzi added, puffing out his chest. ¡°I propose we kick this disgrace out of the Face Gang immediately!¡±
San Pang¡¯s eyes shed, and he spoke decisively. ¡°I think not!¡±
Lin Xian sighed. He was already tired of the stand-upedy act that was inevitable every time he entered the dream. Dealing with the Face Gang was mentally exhausting.
¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Can you all let me finish?¡± Lin Xian said, looking exasperatedly at the four members of the Face Gang. ¡°And besides, this is between me and CC. What does it have to do with any of you?¡±
He turned back to CC. ¡°What I was actually trying to say was¡ª¡±
¡°I get it,¡± CC interrupted. ¡°You mean that if I forget my dreams too quickly, then your n is to shake me awake as soon as I start dreaming and ask me about it immediately. That way, we¡¯ll know if I really don¡¯t dream.¡±
Lin Xian gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°Smart! And it feels like you¡¯re bing more understandingtely.¡±
He remembered the second dream world when he had ridden a motorcycle with CC. Back then, she had been so quick to use him of trying to take advantage of her.
Now, she understood him without a word.
She was definitely getting more considerate.
¡°Can we borrow a room?¡± Lin Xian asked, looking at Gao Wen.
Gao Wen nodded and pointed upwards. ¡°Use the building above us. There are guest rooms there.¡±
Shortly after, Lin Xian and CC found themselves in a small room. It was cramped, with just a bed and a set of chairs and a table.
Bang.
Lin Xian shut the door, and suddenly the atmosphere turned awkward. The tiny space, just the two of them alone¡ªLin Xian felt a bit out of ce.
¡°Maybe I should ask Yi Yi to help instead,¡± he suggested, pointing at the door. ¡°It¡¯s just about waking you up and asking about your dream¡ªit doesn¡¯t have to be me. Yi Yi can do it just as well.¡±
¡°Heh, that¡¯s not like you at all,¡± CC said, a strange smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Since when did you grow a conscience in this world?¡±
¡°I have nothing to feel guilty about,¡± Lin Xian replied with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯m a gentleman. I¡¯m here for a scientific experiment. I just didn¡¯t want you to feel ufortable.¡±
¡°Hmph.¡± CC huffed lightly, lying down on the bed.
She turned over, facing the wall, her back to Lin Xian.
¡°Quiet now. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡±
¡
Lin Xian sat quietly on the chair, watching CC¡¯s frail figure as shey on the bed. He listened to the constant changes in her breathing, knowing full well she wasn¡¯t asleep.
It was obvious.
Normal sleep had a steady, rhythmic breath, but CC¡¯s breathing was erratic. She was lying too still, her posture unmoving since the moment she climbed into bed.
¡°You can move around, you know,¡± Lin Xian whispered gently.
¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± CC replied, turning to face him. Her gaze met his. ¡°With you staring at me like that, how could I possibly sleep?¡±
¡°But I have nowhere else to go,¡± Lin Xian said, ncing around the small room. ¡°It¡¯s either look at you or stare at the wall. You don¡¯t expect me to sing you a luby or tell you a bedtime story, do you?¡±
CC couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft giggle. ¡°How about a boring story then?¡± she suggested, turning away again, her back facing him. She closed her eyes. ¡°The more boring, the better. It might help me fall asleep.¡±
Lin Xian hesitated. Interesting stories, he had plenty. But boring ones? That was a challenge.
¡°How about ¡®The Little Mermaid¡¯?¡± he finally said.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± CC asked.
¡°A fairy tale,¡± Lin Xian said, smiling a little. ¡°A childish story for kids.¡±
¡°Sounds perfect,¡± CC replied, adjusting her position to get morefortable. ¡°Sounds really childish.¡±
So, Lin Xian leaned back in his chair and started to tell the story of the little mermaid, recalling it from memory.
As he spoke, the image of the little mermaid in his mind slowly transformed into the figure of Yellow Finch. His voice grew softer, his words slower and heavier.
Finally, he reached the end. The little mermaid turned into sea foam, rising into the sky, speaking with the daughters of the air, and earning the love of humans, ascending to a higher, more beautiful ce.
There was a long silence.
Neither Lin Xian nor CC spoke.
But Lin Xian knew she wasn¡¯t asleep.
After a while, CC sighed, her voice sounding tired. ¡°Fairy tales about princes and princesses¡ªno matter how many times they¡¯re told, they¡¯re always the same, aren¡¯t they?¡±
¡°Either a happily-ever-after wedding or a tragic separation. There¡¯s never anything in between, is there?¡±
Lin Xian looked up. ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re princes and princesses. They¡¯re destined to be special, never just ordinary.¡±
CC chuckled softly, her eyes closed. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s just a fairy tale,¡± she said, her voice drifting off.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything more. He watched her back as it rxed, rising and falling gently with her breaths. Her breathing became steady and even.
She was actually asleep.
¡°The magic of bedtime stories,¡± Lin Xian murmured, marveling at the power of a simple tale.
He continued to watch over CC. He recalled what Zhang Yu Qian had said in her videotapes¡ªif the person frowned or their breathing became erratic, it meant they were having a nightmare, and that was the best time to wake them up.
But Lin Xian waited for a full thirty minutes, and CC¡¯s breathing remained calm, without any sign of distress.
That made Lin Xian wonder.
Could it be she really doesn¡¯t have nightmares?
It didn¡¯t make sense. The other two ¡°Millennium Stakes¡± he had met both had nightmares. Why wouldn¡¯t CC?
¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s test it directly.¡±
Lin Xian stood up and forcefully turned CC over, waking her up abruptly.
CC¡¯s eyes flew open, instantly alert, her hand moving to push him away. But Lin Xian was faster, pinning her hands down. ¡°Quick! What did you dream about?¡± he urged her. ¡°Hurry, tell me what you saw!¡±
CCy there, staring up at Lin Xian, her eyes full of disbelief. ¡°You¡¡±
¡°Me?¡± Lin Xian asked, confused. ¡°You saw me?¡±
CC blinked, still dazed, and nodded. ¡°Blue¡ Blue eyes¡¡±
Lin Xian slowly let go of her wrists. CC rubbed her arms and sat up, running a hand through her hair as she looked at him.
¡°What did I just say?¡± she asked.
¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡± Lin Xian asked.
CC shook her head. ¡°No, I just remember mumbling something to you, but I can¡¯t recall what it was. I don¡¯t even remember what I dreamed about¡ Right now, it feels like I didn¡¯t dream at all.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s head out for now. I¡¯ll tell you everything once I¡¯ve figured it out.¡±
The world was going to be destroyed in a few hours anyway, consumed by a bright white light. Telling CC now wouldn¡¯t change much, especially since Lin Xian himself hadn¡¯t fully pieced everything together yet.
He needed to think it through a bit more.
CC¡¯s dream was entirely different from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dreams were a chaotic montage, like scenes from a movie shing rapidly. But CC¡¯s dream was simple¡ªjust blue eyes and himself.
How was he supposed to interpret that?
If it had only been CC dreaming of him, that would be easy enough to exin. After all, her mind was filled with fragments of memories about him. It would make sense for her to dream of him¡ªyou dream about what¡¯s on your mind during the day.
But the blue eyes¡
That was the hallmark of a time traveler.
Which meant CC had dreamt of herself as a time traveler.
That made thingsplicated.
Was it possible that, in her dream, CC saw herself traveling back in time?
It wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.
But¡
From which era, which point in time?
¡°I need more information,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
¡
Over the next three days, every time Lin Xian entered the dream world, he would bring CC along and repeat the process of waking her up, asking about her dreams.
He had hoped to get a few more clues, some keywords that might help.
But each time, things went against his expectations.
No matter how he phrased his questions, or even when he told CC in advance to pay more attention to the details, every time she woke up, she said the same thing:
¡°It¡¯s you¡ with blue eyes.¡±
And once she was fully awake, she remembered nothing at all.
It was exactly like Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s situation. Forget everything upon waking up.
¡°But the content of the dream¡ªthat¡¯s what I can¡¯t figure out,¡± Lin Xian muttered.
It was August 31st, nearly midnight.
Lin Xian sat in his study, waiting for the monthly Genius Club meeting, but his mind kept going back to the link between Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s and CC¡¯s dreams.
Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream had a mushroom cloud, explosions, and Einstein¡ªall chaotic and bizarre.
CC¡¯s dream had him as a time traveler with blue eyes¡ªeven more puzzling.
At first nce, there seemed to be no connection between the two.
Upon closer inspection¡
Still, nothing.
Unless he wanted to force a theory, there weren¡¯t any convincing leads to follow.
¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Lin Xian thought suddenly.
¡°Even though Zhang Yu Qian couldn¡¯t remember the contents of her dream, she still retained the feelings¡ªthe fear, the terror. Even if she forgot the dream itself a few seconds after waking up, she knew she had had a nightmare.¡±
¡°But CC¡¯s different. She never said she had nightmares. This means her dreams didn¡¯t impact her emotions deeply. Either they were pleasant dreams or just ordinary ones. In any case, they definitely weren¡¯t nightmares.¡±
¡°That¡¯s probably why CC never really cared about whether she dreamed or not. Her dreams had no real effect on her emotions or her life¡ªunlike the memory fragments, which were much more impactful.¡±
That was another strange point.
Why, even among Millennium Stakes, was CC the only one with memory fragments? What made her different?
The door to the study creaked open, and Zhao Ying Jun entered.
Lin Xian turned to look at her, his eyes falling on her belly. ¡°Still not showing yet?¡±
¡°Why are you in such a hurry?¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, touching her stomach. ¡°It¡¯s not even two months yet. It¡¯s normal that there¡¯s no visible change. I can feel the difference, though. You just haven¡¯t been paying enough attention.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll pay more attention from now on,¡± Lin Xian promised, patting the VR sses on the desk. ¡°Everything¡¯s getting resolved slowly. Maybe after tonight¡¯s meeting, we¡¯ll get the best news.¡±
¡°You should rest early, Ying Jun. We¡¯re supposed to go to the capital tomorrow to meet your parents and discuss the wedding, remember?¡±
¡°Marriage is a big deal,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said thoughtfully. ¡°I think we should reconsider. A trip to get married without a ceremony¡ it feels too rushed. Don¡¯t you think we should have something more meaningful¡ªat least a bit of ceremony?¡±
She moved behind Lin Xian, wrapping her arms around his neck, andughed softly. ¡°The romance and meaning you¡¯ve given me are already more than enough. Besides, marriage is between two people. There¡¯s no need to put on a show for everyone else.¡±
¡°More importantly¡ we have a baby on the way. I can skip the role of wife and jump straight into being a mother. Compared to the joy of weing a baby, the wedding doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore. I¡¯ve already moved on to the next stage.¡±
She paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Copenhagen.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re not jealous, are you?¡±
¡°Of course not. I¡¯m not that petty,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, ruffling his hair. ¡°But I do think¡ shouldn¡¯t we go to the Little Mermaid statue and let Yellow Finch see how happy we are now?¡±
¡°Yellow Finch¡¯s greatest regret was not being able to keep her Lin Xian, not being able to stay by her Yu Xi. But now, thanks to her, we have all of this. I think we should thank her.¡±
¡°Maybe that¡¯s what Yellow Finch would have wanted most¡ªto see her regrets fulfilled through us.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But a trip and a wedding don¡¯t have to be mutually exclusive. The real question is, will your parents agree?¡±
¡°They¡¯d love it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a smile. ¡°The current trend is to keep weddings simple or not have them at all¡ªno extravagance. My parents fully support us taking this modest approach to such an important life event. In their circle, they actually look down on grand weddings. Everyone prefers to keep it low-key. Sometimes, a simple family dinner is all it takes to mark the asion.¡±
¡°People often crave what theyck. My parents have all the pomp and status they could want¡ªthey don¡¯t need an extravagant wedding to prove anything.¡±
¡°True,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°That¡¯s quite different from what my parents think. They believe weddings should be as grand as possible, a major event to announce to the world.¡±
¡°But they respect our wishes. Personally, I don¡¯t want anything over the top either. Mainly because¡¡±
He paused, lowering his voice. ¡°Mainly because I feel like I still have so many things left unfinished, so many promises unkept.¡±
¡°Take your time,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, stepping toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead. There¡¯s a cup of warm milk in the kitchen for you. Drink it after your meeting. I¡¯m heading to bed. I won¡¯t wait up.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Goodnight. See you in my dreams.¡±
He suddenly froze. Those words¡ªhe had never said them before. They had slipped out, influenced by CC in his dreams.
He looked up at Zhao Ying Jun, who was just stepping out of the study, and asked, ¡°Do you dream about me?¡±
¡°Not much these past two months,¡± she replied. ¡°Because I know you¡¯re here, at home, right by my side. There¡¯s no need to dream about you. I guess that¡¯s what they call subconsciousfort.¡±
¡°But before that¡¡± She turned back, smiling softly. ¡°You were a frequent guest in my dreams.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 454: Galileo and Da Vinci
Chapter 454: Galileo and Da Vinci
Lin Xian smiled gently as he listened, his voice warm and soft. ¡°You know, it makes me feel a bit guilty. You can dream about me, but I can¡¯t dream about you. The one time I did, you were just a statue.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled softly. ¡°Why do you have to take it so seriously? Dreams don¡¯t really matter, especially to ordinary people like us. After all, everything in dreams is fake. What matters is having the real you.¡±
With that, she turned, pulled the door handle, and quietly closed the study door behind her. Now, Lin Xian was alone in the room.
She was right. For ordinary people, everything in dreams was just that¡ªa dream. That was why there was no way to deeply analyze Zhang Yu Qian and CC¡¯s dreams.
Because¡
There were just too many contradictions.
Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream made no sense¡ªit was disjointed and confusing. CC¡¯s dream, on the other hand, was even harder to make sense of.
From a time-space perspective, a Lin Xian with blue eyes shouldn¡¯t even exist. He had realized this from the beginning. Time travelers always faced resistance from the timeline¡ªthe changes to his appearance, like the blue eyes, were because of that resistance.That¡¯s why CC¡¯s dream didn¡¯t add up. If she saw someone who looked exactly like him now, his eyes shouldn¡¯t have been blue. If his eyes were blue, then his face wouldn¡¯t look the same. The changes caused by the timeline resistance were unavoidable.
Whether it was Yellow Finch, Zhao Ying Jun, or the time-traveling assassin Lin Yu Xi, their faces after temporal interference looked nothing like their original ones¡ªtheir features, the shape of their faces¡ªeverything would be different.
If he had really traveled through time, the interference would surely change his face so much that even CC wouldn¡¯t recognize him in her dream. That was the first contradiction.
The second was even more crucial: countless sources confirmed that time travel was only possible to the past, not the unknown future. This meant that CC, who was from the future, could have only seen the version of him in hibernation, with ck eyes¡ªnot the blue-eyed version that traveled to the future.
¡°Too messy,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s all too chaotic. The logic and timeline are just too jumbled. I have no idea how to make sense of Zhang Yu Qian and CC¡¯s dreams.¡±
¡°It would be nice to know what Chu An Qing¡¯s dream was about. It could be another clue, maybe even help connect all these dreams together.¡± He sighed. ¡°But it¡¯s pointless to think about that now. For this uing meeting, the priority is solving the issues with Einstein and Copernicus.¡±
Just then, his phone rang. Lin Xian picked it up and saw it was an international call from Elon Musk. The meeting was only twenty minutes away. Why was he calling now?
¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯ve been thinking about our questions,¡± Elon Musk said, speaking quickly. ¡°I think we should switch them. You should ask the question about Einstein, and I¡¯ll ask whether Copernicus is truly dead.¡±
¡°This is for your own safety. No matter how Einstein answers, we¡¯ll be able to deduce whether Copernicus is dead or not. But remember, the others aren¡¯t stupid either. They¡¯ll immediately realize that this question is targeting Copernicus.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s obvious. Copernicus definitely won¡¯t show up at this meeting, and everyone knows he¡¯s the only one who kills mathematicians at 00:42. Once we ask our question and they hear Einstein¡¯s answer, they¡¯ll know we¡¯re trying to confirm whether Copernicus is alive.¡±
¡°If Einstein refuses to answer, they¡¯ll all realize we killed the wrong person and that Copernicus will continue killing. If Einstein says there will still be mathematicians dying, it means we didn¡¯t seed in killing him. If he says there¡¯ll be no more murders, then we really killed Copernicus.¡±
Elon Musk hummed in agreement. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why I¡¯m worried about your safety. Your identity ispletely hidden right now; no one knows who ¡®Lin Xian¡¯ really is. There¡¯s no need to expose yourself and let everyone know you were the one who killed Copernicus.¡±
¡°It¡¯ll bring trouble and unnecessary attention. You¡¯re a new member of the Genius Club. You can use that ¡®newbie¡¯ status to get close to others and gather more information. But once you admit you killed Copernicus, you¡¯ll expose a lot about yourself. There¡¯s no need for that. Sure, people can tell you and Copernicus don¡¯t get along, but they don¡¯t know the exact reasons. It¡¯s best to keep that mystery.¡±
¡°I, on the other hand, am already an open book. Everyone knows who I am, so it¡¯s better if I take the me. You just pretend not to know me or anything about Copernicus¡¯ death. Just keep ying the newbie, the ¡®Rhine Cat.''¡±
Lin Xian thought about it and realized Elon Musk made a lot of sense. Everyone in the Genius Club was sharp, and their words couldn¡¯t be taken at face value. Even though it seemed like everyone disliked Copernicus, who knew if some of them were secretly allied with him¡ªlike Turing, who hid his true stance well.
Better to be cautious. He¡¯d let Elon Musk take the fall. Knowing Elon Musk¡¯s personality, he¡¯d probably be quite proud and announce it to everyone with a flourish: ¡°Attention, everyone! I have an announcement! Yes, it was me who killed Copernicus! A round of apuse, thank you!¡±
After agreeing with Elon Musk, Lin Xian hung up. He checked the time: September 1st, 2024, 00:20. Then a thought struck him¡ªhe had always entered the VR meeting room precisely at 00:42, just in time to see everyone already seated and chatting.
Which meant¡
It was possible to enter early.
The club¡¯s rules said you couldn¡¯t bete, but they never said you couldn¡¯t be early. In any era, arriving early to a meeting was considered polite.
¡°Guess I¡¯ll go in early today,¡± he decided.
Lin Xian put on his VR headset. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down early and see what they¡¯re talking about. Maybe I¡¯ll get some gossip.¡±
After adjusting the headset, he ced the Genius Club¡¯s golden badge on the front of the VR device.
A soft beep echoed, and a dazzling array of colors appeared in his field of vision, like a tunnel through time. Eventually, the scene settled into the familiar old castle.
Lin Xian looked down. Beneath his feet was the plush red carpet, leading to the grand double wooden doors ahead. In the past, he always heard people chatting behind those doors¡ªmostly Da Vinci¡¯s voice, full ofughter and energy. But today¡
It was silent. No one was talking.
¡°Did I arrive too early?¡± Lin Xian wondered as he walked along the carpet. It seemed like he was the first to arrive this time. That was fine. He had beente twice before, so it was only fair to bnce it out.
Creak¡ª
He pushed open the double doors, looking into the golden hall. ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian blinked in surprise.
He wasn¡¯t the first one here. Across from him, sitting in a high-backed chair, was a middle-aged man wearing a Galileo mask.
¡°Why are you here so early?¡± Galileo sounded annoyed, as if ming Lin Xian. ¡°The meeting starts at 00:42. You really didn¡¯t need toe this early¡ªa few minutes beforehand would¡¯ve been fine. Evening right on time would be eptable.¡±
¡°Wait, hold on,¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but say. Why was he getting scolded just for being early? Wasn¡¯t Galileo supposed to be a very strict and serious person? When he first attended the meeting wearing the Rhine Cat mask, Galileo had reprimanded him for being too casual and not showing the club enough respect.
Now that he was trying to make a good impression bying early, this old man was still scolding him?
Lin Xian walked forward, ncing at Galileo. ¡°How is it wrong for me toe early? Besides, weren¡¯t you here even earlier?¡±
¡°Hmph,¡± Galileo huffed, turning his head away and sitting upright in his chair. ¡°I¡¯m just concerned you¡¯re new to the club and might not understand everything yet. It¡¯s good to be early, but there¡¯s no need to overdo it. Unlike me, you¡¯re young and busy. I¡¯m old and have nothing better to do¡ªI like my peace and quiet.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian said as he sat in his designated chair, leaning back and crossing his legs. ¡°Sorry for disturbing your peace. If I¡¯d known it was just you here, I wouldn¡¯t have bothereding so early.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know why, but he could tell that Galileo disliked him. And the funny thing was¡
It wasn¡¯t because of his stance or his words. Galileo disliked him simply because he had arrived early and disturbed his peace?
This old guy was really hard to please.
If he wanted peace, why didn¡¯t he go meditate in some remote vi or quiet winery in real life? Why insist on finding tranquility here, in the Genius Club¡¯s meeting hall?
Originally, Lin Xian hade to listen in on some juicy gossip.
Lin Xian sat there, feeling awkward. Galileo, wearing his mask, kept his eyes fixed on the grand double doors at the entrance of the hall, clearly not interested in acknowledging Lin Xian¡¯s presence. Well, if Galileo wanted to ignore him, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t about to make an effort either. They could both sit in silence.
And so, the tension between them grew, neither wanting to speak first.
Suddenly¡ªcreak.
The double doors opened, and in walked Miss Da Vinci, her virtual image appearing as a young, beautiful woman, wearing a mask. She strolled in gracefully.
¡°Oh, Rhine? You¡¯re here early today as well?¡± she said, ncing at Galileo, who still had his gaze fixed on the door.
Lin Xian looked over. Oh, maybe Miss Da Vinci¡¯s presence would irritate Galileo? Maybe he¡¯d finally react?
But to Lin Xian¡¯s surprise¡ª
¡°Wee, Miss Da Vinci,¡± Galileo said, standing up with the manners of a gentleman. He even pretended to tip his hat and bowed slightly towards her. ¡°It¡¯s been a month. How have you been?¡±
¡°Seriously?¡± Lin Xian muttered, puzzled. ¡°Talk about double standards!¡± He realized now that Galileo¡¯s earlier hostility was because Lin Xian had shown up too early and interrupted his alone time with Miss Da Vinci.
This old man¡ªclearly, he had a soft spot for Miss Da Vinci.
Thinking back, Lin Xian remembered how Galileo had asked Miss Da Vinci to stay after thest meeting to chat. It was obvious that today, Galileo hade early not just out of habit, but to meet Miss Da Vinci before anyone else could arrive. And Lin Xianing in early had ruined his ns.
Lin Xian chuckled softly, deciding to test his theory. He watched Miss Da Vinci approach and then called out loudly, ¡°Galileo said we shouldn¡¯te so early anymore. Just a few minutes before the meeting or right on time is fine, he said. Coming too early disrupts his meditation time. He prefers a bit of peace and quiet alone.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Miss Da Vinci took a seat beside Lin Xian, surprised. ¡°Is that so?¡±
¡°What a load of nonsense!¡± Galileo shot up from his chair, pointing an using finger at Lin Xian. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to this kid¡¯s nonsense! I was merely giving some friendly advice, and this is how you repay me, Rhine?¡± He looked offended. ¡°Arriving early is a mark of politeness and being a gentleman. I¡¯ve always believed in that.¡±
Miss Da Vinci let out a soft, bell-likeugh, and though Lin Xian knew it was artificially altered by the VR system, he imagined a kind, elderly woman smiling behind that mask.
¡°Rhine, I think you may have misunderstood Galileo,¡± she said, turning to Lin Xian. ¡°He might seem strict and harsh, but beneath all that, he¡¯s actually quite an easygoing person, even a bit shy.¡±
Lin Xian smiled but said nothing.
Fine. Whatever you say.
It was true; Da Vinci always seemed to see the best in everyone. She had a kind heart and always chose to believe in people¡¯s good intentions. And truthfully, before finding out that the massive catastrophe of 2400 had been orchestrated by Galileo, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have held any real animosity toward the old man either.
At the moment, aside from the future Turing¡¯s ims that Galileo was responsible for the 2400 catastrophe, there was no solid evidence. So, he couldn¡¯t really pass judgment on Galileo¡¯s intentions.
He looked over at Da Vinci, now fully engrossed in conversation with Galileo. As for everyone else¡¯s ns for the future, they remained murky and unclear. But Da Vinci¡¯s future ns¡ªthose, Lin Xian knew very well. Still, that wasn¡¯t something he could just openly discuss.
If he spoke about it, Da Vinci might not even believe him. And even if she did, even if she changed her ns, that would affect the eighth dream¡ªand Lin Xian still hadn¡¯t copied down all the schematics for the time machine.
Besides, Da Vinci¡¯s intentions were good. She envisioned a world with strictws and enforcement, and there was nothing wrong with that. The problem was how things had turned out, with Donghai City bing harsh and overbearing, swinging too far to the extreme. Part of that was due to human nature, part due to androids seizing control.
But honestly, who could say that if humans were in charge, the future world would be any better? No one could know for sure. And that was why Lin Xian found it hard to speak up. He had no better solution, no clear answers¡ªhe didn¡¯t even know where Da Vinci¡¯s n had gone wrong. What right did he have to correct someone else?
The best course of action, he thought, was to wait until he had finished copying the time machine schematics. He¡¯d use the opportunity to ask Einstein, and through Einstein¡¯s answer, let Da Vincie to her own conclusions about her ns for the future.
That way, her future intentions wouldn¡¯t be exposed to the others.
Elon Musk had warned Lin Xian repeatedly that everyone in the Genius Club was extremely smart. With just a single word, a tiny clue, they could deduce a person¡¯s true identity and motives. Unless there was a chance to speak with Da Vinci privately, any slip on his part might reveal her identity, and if someone decided to kill her, Lin Xian¡¯s well-meaning intentions would have the opposite effect.
No need to rush. He hadn¡¯t finished copying the schematics yet, and he still had a lot of questions to ask. Testing Da Vinci could wait a few more months.
¡°Do you have a lot of children?¡± Galileo asked, still chatting with Da Vinci. ¡°You¡¯re always talking about kids.¡±
¡°Oh, yes,¡± Da Vinci said with a smile. ¡°I have lots of children. They¡¯re all adorable, even if they are a bit mischievous. But what child isn¡¯t a little naughty? I love them very much. I wish they could stay this happy forever, and never grow up.¡±
She lifted her head, looking at the masked figure of Galileo across from her. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never asked this, mostly because we don¡¯t usually talk about personal identities during meetings. Unless, of course, it¡¯s someone like Elon Musk who announces it himself¡ But you¡¯re different from Newton and Rhine. You¡¯ve never talked about your family.
¡°So, you don¡¯t have to answer if you don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m just curious. Do you have children? Given your age, I¡¯d imagine you might have grandchildren by now?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Galileo replied, his voice calm. ¡°I¡¯ve never married, nor do I have any children.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Da Vinci said, her voice carrying a note of disappointment as she shook her head. ¡°I wish that was just a lie to protect your identity.¡±
Lin Xian shifted ufortably in his high-backed chair, feeling like he didn¡¯t belong in this setting¡ªlike an outsider at some kind of senior citizens¡¯ matchmaking event. He was really regrettinging early.
His toes curled inside his shoes, scraping against the soles. Sorry, Galileo, I messed up.
If Lin Xian had apologized before, it was in a sarcastic tone. But now, he genuinely felt sorry. Galileo was truly a romantic¡ªan old soul still brimming with life and emotions.
If it weren¡¯t for the fact that leaving the meeting meant he couldn¡¯t rejoin, Lin Xian would¡¯ve logged off for a while and let Galileo have his moment with Da Vinci.
It was clear now.
Galileo always arrived early just to wait for Da Vinci. He didn¡¯t know her true identity, and since they were both members of the Genius Club, it was unlikely they¡¯d ever meet calmly in the real world.
For those few minutes before every monthly meeting, Galileo had the chance to see her¡ªto talk to her alone. Just that.
Every month, he had just those few minutes. Soon, the other geniuses would arrive, and the opportunity would be gone.
No wonder Galileo had been so upset when Lin Xian came in early. He¡¯d waited a whole month¡
And then, today, instead of seeing Miss Da Vinci, he¡¯d first seen Lin Xian with his goofy ¡°Rhine Cat¡± mask. From Galileo¡¯s perspective, Lin Xian could understand why the old man wasn¡¯t too happy.
Creak¡ª
The brown double doors opened once again. This time, it was Te¡¯s mask. No doubt, Elon Musk had arrived.
¡°Hehehe¡¡± A voice rang out, casual and light. The man wearing the Te mask approached quickly. ¡°What are we talking about? Tell me, I want to hear!¡±
¡°Hmph,¡± Galileo huffed, turning his head away, falling silent. His happy time was clearly over.
Elon Musk settled into the high-backed chair between Da Vinci and Lin Xian, ncing around. ¡°Long time no see, my dear friends,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve been away from these meetings for a while. Anything new happen while I was gone?¡±
Da Vinci looked at him with a smile. ¡°New? The freshest thing must be how you left in the middle of thest meeting. We all thought you were dead.¡±
¡°Haha, impossible!¡± Elon Muskughed heartily. ¡°I was just¡ ying a role-ying game, that¡¯s all.¡±
Da Vinci chuckled softly, shaking her head. ¡°Then let me tell you something else that¡¯s new,¡± she said.
¡°Oh? What¡¯s that?¡± Elon Musk asked, curious.
Da Vinci pointed at Lin Xian. ¡°Your grandstanding line¡ªRhine already used it during thest meeting.¡±
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continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 455: Storm on the Horizon
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Ahem.¡± Elon Musk cleared his throat awkwardly.
The same trick never works twice. The first time someone makes a grand gesture, it¡¯s brilliant. But when someone else tries the same thing, it just feels awkward.
¡°Well, it¡¯s alright,¡± Musk said, smiling sheepishly. ¡°After all, it¡¯s just the four of us here. Let¡¯s just pretend we didn¡¯t hear that, okay?¡±
¡°Actually, it¡¯s five,¡± came a voice as the double brown doors swung open again.
Newton walked in with an energetic stride. It was hard to tell if he did it on purpose or not, but even though Newton was clearly just as old as Copernicus, he had set his virtual avatar to look like a young man. Not only that, but he even spoke and moved like one.
¡°d to see you¡¯re still alive, Elon,¡± the young-looking Newton said as he walked past Musk¡¯s chair. He gave him a pointed look.
¡°From what I know about Copernicus, I¡¯d have thought he¡¯d kill you and then rece you with a double¡ But I¡¯ve been following your Twitter. It¡¯s hard to believe there¡¯s an actor out there who could replicate you without a single slip-up.¡±
Musk chuckled. ¡°Since we¡¯re talking about Copernicus, I might as well announce something a bit early.¡± He raised both hands dramatically. ¡°Everyone, quiet down and look this way!¡±¡°W¡ wait¡ for me¡¡± Another voice came from behind as the double doors opened yet again. The thin figure of Gauss, wearing his trademark mask, was running in, trying desperately not to miss anything. ¡°Phew¡ just made it¡¡±
¡°You won¡¯t be seeing Copernicus ever again,¡± Musk interrupted Gauss¡¯s stammering. He spoke loudly, his voice echoing in the room. ¡°I¡¯ve finally killed that annoying old man! For good!¡±
The room fellpletely silent.
¡°Are you serious? How did you manage that?¡± Da Vinci asked, sounding genuinely amazed.
Newton had just taken his seat and now leaned forward with curiosity. ¡°Oh? Are you sure you didn¡¯t kill the wrong guy? I¡¯ve been at odds with him for years and never managed to catch him¡ Did you really kill him? Can you tell me his real identity and address?¡±
Galileo, who was sitting across from them, snorted. ¡°Elon, you¡¯ve said plenty of things over the years. Like how you were gonna send people to Mars by 2026¡ªheck, you even sold tickets¡ Now that that lie¡¯s falling apart, you¡¯re justing to the club to tell tall tales, huh?¡±
Beside him, Gauss shakily sat down in his high-backed chair. He looked left and right, gulped a few times, and finally managed to whisper, ¡°But Cop¡ª¡±
¡°Einstein!¡± Da Vinci¡¯s clear voice drowned out Gauss. Everyone turned their heads toward the ck wooden high chair ced higher up on the tform.
An elderly man wearing an Einstein mask was slowly making his way down the steps.
Lin Xian, who had been watching all this unfold, finally understood¡ªthe president always had privileges. While everyone else entered through the main doors, Einstein alone was allowed to enter from the back.
Da Vinci had noticed Einstein arriving and called out, ¡°Einstein, tell us if it¡¯s true! Is Copernicus really dead? That would be such a relief!¡±
However, the old man with the Einstein mask simply shook his head. ¡°The Genius Club charter states that we follow a lifelong membership policy. Whether a member is dead or alive, their seat in the club remains forever reserved for them.¡±
¡°Oftentimes, members may treat their own death as part of their future ns. For that reason, I will never publicly confirm or deny a member¡¯s death¡ªas that, too, is part of their privacy¡ even if they are truly gone.¡±
Da Vinci huffed. ¡°But when Elon said Turing was dead back in June, you confirmed it! You even told us that Turing had be a digital entity. Then, during our July meeting, without us even asking, you mentioned that the digital Turing was also dead.¡±
Einstein finally reached his ck wooden chair, sat down, and looked at Da Vinci. ¡°Ms. Da Vinci, you were absent for two years. It was during that time that Turing joined the club. Regarding the matter of member deaths, Turing is a unique case. Everyone here, except for Rhine, should already understand that.¡±
Da Vinci tilted her head, ncing around at the others. ¡°Why is Turing unique?¡±
¡°Now that you mention it,¡± Newton spoke up, ¡°when Elon disappeared, we were all debating whether he was truly dead or not. But Einstein didn¡¯t say anything back then¡ªneither confirming nor denying it.¡±
¡°So why was Turing¡¯s death publicly acknowledged? Can someone exin it to me, the absentee?¡±
Across from her, Gauss nodded slightly. ¡°Because¡ Turing¡ he¡ knew too mu¡¡±
¡°Turing was responsible for rebuilding the VR meeting system, so he knew everything about us,¡± Galileo interrupted, exining patiently. ¡°Einstein made it clear when Turing first joined that the reason for letting him rebuild the VR system and rewrite the authentication mechanism was to better protect our privacy¡ªsince Turing really did have that kind of advanced technology.¡±
¡°But because of that, Turing knew each of our identities, addresses, future ns¡ everything. So Einstein made two promises at the time:
Turing was forbidden from revealing any information about other Genius Club members and could not harm any member.
If Turing died, Einstein would immediately inform the club during a meeting, and all ess permissions would revert to Einstein¡ªas they have now. We no longer need to worry about anyone knowing our true identities.¡±
Lin Xian wanted to point out that Turing had indeed tried to kill him¡ªin the most reckless manner, even dropping a space shuttle. But he stopped himself. He understood now. Whether it was Turing or Kevin Walker, they had tried to kill him when he was not yet a club member. Therefore, it didn¡¯t break any rules. This also exined why Kevin Walker, who had every reason to hate Musk, never made a move against him¡ªbecause of Einstein¡¯s ¡°ban.¡±
Thinking about it further, if Kevin Walker really wanted Musk dead, he could¡¯ve just flown a space shuttle straight into the Observation Tower. Why only destroy Musk¡¯s satellite and factories without harming him directly?
When it came to Lin Xian himself, at that time, he hadn¡¯t been a member of the Genius Club, so Einstein¡¯s ban didn¡¯t protect him. Kevin Walker had been free to target him.
As for the mysterious events surrounding Yu Xi, it all made more sense now. Einstein was omniscient, so not even future Turing could defy the ban¡ªeven if he wanted to kill Musk, he had to find another way, using Yu Xi as a pawn.
This had even been confirmed in the Sixth Dream, where Turing had told Lin Xian that the mastermind behind the Great Catastrophe of 2400 was Galileo, but he couldn¡¯t say anything more. If he tried to, Einstein¡¯s restrictions would activate, reducing him to ashes.
One had to admit¡ªEinstein, as president, really covered all the bases. He had prevented all possible catastrophes, restricted Turing¡¯s abilities, and found a bnce between information and privacy.
That was why he had said, if Turing died, he¡¯d announce it in the meeting, relieving everyone of any fears.
However¡ why had Turing handed over Kevin Walker¡¯s hiding ce to Copernicus?
That had been permitted by Einstein¡¯s ban. The ban only forbade Turing from revealing other people¡¯s secrets¡ªit didn¡¯t prevent him from disclosing his own.
As Musk had said, in the club, you weren¡¯t allowed to pry into others¡¯ secrets, but you could reveal your own. If you were reckless enough, you could rip off your mask and shout out your ns for the future.
That was Elon Musk in a nutshell¡ªoverconfident, blinded by his own arrogance. It was a confidence that had nearly cost him his life. If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t saved him, Musk would¡¯ve been dead for two months now. Whether he regretted his earlier arrogance, Lin Xian could only guess¡ªbut he suspected Musk did.
Over thest while, Musk had been much more careful. He repeatedly warned Lin Xian to keep his identity secret, not to underestimate the other geniuses, and even offered to take the me for him. Clearly, Musk had learned his lesson¡ªonce bitten, twice shy. His carefree attitude now was just bravado.
After Galileo finished his exnation, Miss Da Vinci nodded. ¡°I see. Still, Einstein, shouldn¡¯t you have filled me in on such an important matter once I returned to the meetings? And Rhine, who joined after Turing, also doesn¡¯t know about this. Shouldn¡¯t it have been exined again?¡±
Einstein shook his head. ¡°Absence has consequences.¡±
¡°¡¡±
Da Vinci fell silent.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t have anything to add either. This was just how the club worked. If you missed meetings, you couldn¡¯t expect to have the same information as everyone else.
It wasn¡¯t just about Turing. During the two years Da Vinci was absent, each member had asked over twenty questions, which meant there had been at least a hundred questions in total. Was Einstein supposed to repeat all of them for her once she came back?
Lin Xian was, of course, all in favor of this policy. He had skipped hundreds of questions himself.
But unfortunately, Einstein wasn¡¯t the type to make exceptions. The whole point of the club¡¯s meetings was that fewer participants meant more exclusive questions¡ªthat was the rule. If you didn¡¯t want to be left behind, you just couldn¡¯t afford to skip.
¡°No problem,¡± Newton, who sat beside Da Vinci, smiled. ¡°Einstein won¡¯t tell us directly, but we can always ask the right questions, can¡¯t we? The rules say our questions and their answers can¡¯t concern other club members, but there¡¯s an art to asking, you know. Rhine, you¡¯re the newest here, so let me teach you how to ask cleverly.¡±
Newton snapped his fingers at Lin Xian. ¡°Pay attention. I¡¯ll only demonstrate this once.¡±
¡°Got it, big bro!¡± Lin Xian immediately folded his hands in respect.
What a great guy. Even though Lin Xian had already figured out some of the tricks, Newton¡¯s willingness to ask whether Copernicus was really dead was a windfall¡ªa free question!
He was a true old-timer, always looking out for the neers. Lin Xian¡¯s respect for Newton increased by another point.
Newton looked up at Einstein. ¡°Time¡¯s up. Can we start the meeting now?¡±
Einstein nodded, officially starting the meeting. ¡°Newton, it¡¯s been a long time since you asked a question. You seem eager today.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Newton chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to hear some good news, Einstein. My question is:
¡®From now on, will there be any scientists or mathematicians dying for human-caused reasons at 12:42 a.m.?¡¯¡±
Hearing this, Da Vinci and Gauss couldn¡¯t help but smile.
It was indeed a ¡°clever¡± question. They could already imagine various responses and realized that no matter what Einstein¡¯s answer was¡ªeven if he refused to answer¡ªthey¡¯d still be able to deduce whether Copernicus was truly dead.
Only Lin Xian and Musk didn¡¯t smile. The two of them looked at each other in silence¡ªaical Rhine Cat and a solemn Te¡ªbut said nothing.
Great minds really do think alike.
These veterans knew exactly how to ask an all-epassing question¡ªit was impressive.
Einstein looked at Newton, waited a moment, and then shook his head. ¡°From now on, there will be no more.¡±
p, p, p¡
Newton started pping. ¡°If Turing were still around, we¡¯d need him to add champagne-popping, firework, and confetti effects to our VR system¡ªif not now, then when?¡±
¡°Well done, Elon. You ended a menace to humanity. Although I think even if you hadn¡¯t killed him, he wouldn¡¯t havested much longer. With his health, even with a cryo-pod, there¡¯s no telling if he¡¯d survive.¡±
¡°But still, Imend you. Not killing Copernicus back when our physical meeting ended has always been a regret of mine¡ Now, although it¡¯ste, you¡¯ve helped me make up for it.¡±
Da Vinci took a deep breath. ¡°Unbelievable¡ Copernicus is really dead. Though I¡¯ve long awaited this day, I thought it would nevere. As the first to join the Genius Club, he had the most perfect, unfettered opportunities to ask questions¡ I thought he knew so many secrets that he¡¯d be impossible to kill.¡±
¡°Everyone dies,¡± Galileo spoke softly. ¡°Humans are imperfect¡ªwe all make mistakes, we all slip up, and our flesh and blood cannot withstand bullets or des. When ites to mortality, we¡¯re all equal.¡±
¡
Elon Musk joined Newton in apuse, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn¡¯t seem surprised by Einstein¡¯s response at all.
Lin Xian, however, felt a mix of relief and confusion. Einstein¡¯s answer suggested that Copernicus was really gone, for the most part. The old man he had killed¡ it had to be the one and only Copernicus.
Yet, doubts lingered in his mind. Could someone else have taken up Copernicus¡¯s mantle to carry out his ns?
But there was a contradiction. Einstein had said there would be no more scientists or mathematicians dying because of human actions at 12:42 a.m. Didn¡¯t that mean Copernicus¡¯s ns hadpletely failed?
Unless¡
Copernicus¡¯s real n was even moreplicated than anyone imagined.
Three phrases popped into Lin Xian¡¯s mind¡ªthe Temporal Police, the Temporal Court, and the Temporal Shuttle.
He was fairly sure of one thing now¡ªthe Copernicus who had caused Xu Yun, Tang Xin, and Ji Lin¡¯s parents¡¯ deaths had truly been killed by him. His and Angelica¡¯s revenge wasplete. That was something worth celebrating.
But what about the mysterious old man from the Fourth Dream? Was he Copernicus, or was that still unclear?
Even if he wasn¡¯t Copernicus, he was definitely connected. Probably one of his aplices¡ªmaybe someone like a ¡°Second Copernicus.¡±
Honestly, what Lin Xian feared most was Copernicus stealing the Entangled Spacetime Particle. Now that Copernicus was dead, would that mean the particle was safe, and he wouldn¡¯t be hunted by time-traveling assassins anymore?
Lin Xian decided that when it was his turn to ask a question, he would ask about time travel and temporal assassins to make sure there were no more threats.
Once the apuse ended, Einstein looked over at Galileo. ¡°Your turn, Galileo.¡±
Galileo spoke up. ¡°I want to know if there¡¯s a way to keep one¡¯s memory intact after long-term cryosleep. And I don¡¯t mean the crude way of waking up every few years, which just ends up hurting the body and cutting lifespan.¡±
¡°Look into neurobiology,¡± Einstein replied without hesitation. ¡°When the next major breakthrough in neurobiology happens, humans will be able to ovee memory loss during cryosleep.¡±
No!
Lin Xian furrowed his brow, a chill creeping over him.
Einstein¡¯s answer was too precise¡ªit hit the mark exactly.
Lin Xian could already picture what would happen at the next meeting, which was scheduled for October 1st. Galileo would definitely ask about neurobiology, wanting to know when the breakthrough would happen and who the scientists involved would be.
And, without a doubt, Einstein would mention ¡°Du Yao¡¯s¡± name in front of everyone.
Everyone present knew just how significant it would be to solve the problem of cryosleep-induced memory loss. It would be a world-changing achievement.
If Galileo or anyone else found Du Yao, they might decide to support her, fund her, and provide ab so she could focus on her research. That would be fine¡ªLin Xian had no intention of monopolizing the Brain Neural Electric Helmet technology. Such an important discovery should be shared with the world. He had no ns to use cryosleep anyway.
More importantly, he¡¯d seen too many friends suffer from memory loss because of cryosleep¡ªpeople like Xu Yi Yi, Wei Sheng Jin, and Zheng Xiang Yue.
If these geniuses genuinely wanted to help protect and support Du Yao so she could solve the memory loss problem, that would be ideal.
But Lin Xian had his doubts. He worried that Galileo¡¯s interest in the topic was somehow twisted, that there was some dark reason behind it.
What if Galileo didn¡¯t want humanity to keep its memories? What if he nned to kill Du Yao and destroy her research forever?
If Galileo learned Du Yao¡¯s name, it would be toote to stop him.
Lin Xian had to act¡ªnow.
He narrowed his eyes. Galileo¡¯s next question was a month away.
That gave him one month to find Du Yao.
¡
Einstein turned to Da Vinci next. ¡°Miss Da Vinci, what¡¯s your question this time?¡±
Da Vinci paused, thinking. ¡°Now that Copernicus is dead, there shouldn¡¯t be anything in the way of humanity¡¯s technological progress. The future should be bright. So my question is: what will be humanity¡¯s next big breakthrough in energy?¡±
¡°The invention of the micro nuclear battery,¡± Einstein answered immediately.
Thud.
Lin Xian felt his heart skip a beat.
What is happening at this meeting?
Why do I feel like I¡¯m about to be exposed?
Are these old guys conspiring against me? Come on, give me a break.
¡°Micro nuclear battery?¡± Da Vinci asked, looking puzzled. She turned to Elon Musk. ¡°Elon, what¡¯s a micro nuclear battery? I know about nuclear batteries, but why micro?¡±
¡°Probably like the ones used on moon rovers and space probes,¡± Musk said, stroking his chin. ¡°Nuclear batteries have been used in aerospace since thest century, but they¡¯re still too wed. They¡¯re just not fit for civilian use.
¡°So honestly, I¡¯m stumped. I have no idea how a micro nuclear battery would work. Now I¡¯m really curious¡ which brilliant scientist came up with such a revolutionary device?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, keeping silent.
Please, less talking, buddy.
Einstein looked at Gauss next. ¡°Gauss, your turn.¡±
The small man nodded slowly. ¡°I¡ don¡¯t¡ have¡ a question¡¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. Was Gauss out of questions?
During thest two meetings, Gauss had asked a question and received a ¡°no¡± answer, but hadn¡¯t asked anything else since.
Which meant¡
He must have wanted a negative answer all along!
¡
Einstein turned to Elon Musk. ¡°No. 7, Te. You missed thest two meetings. What¡¯s your question this time?¡±
Musk grinned. ¡°This time, I want to ask something a bit more entertaining. It¡¯s one of science¡¯s great mysteries, and honestly, I don¡¯t even know if you have the answer.
¡°My question is¡ªwhere are the ashes of the famous 20th-century physicist, the proposer of the Theory of Rtivity and Mass-Energy Equation, Albert Einstein, scattered?¡±
Everyone but Lin Xian looked at Musk, confused.
Why would he ask such a pointless question? Was it just because he admired Einstein?
But then again, Musk had always been a bit unpredictable. This wasn¡¯t the first time he had asked a strange question at the meetings.
In fact, in a previous meeting, he had even asked Einstein who would win the next U.S. presidential election¡ªit was impossible to guess what Musk would say.
So while the other members were momentarily puzzled, they didn¡¯t dwell on it.
The only ones who really cared were Musk and Lin Xian.
The elderly man wearing the Einstein mask looked at Musk for a few seconds, then spoke slowly:
¡°Refused. Question voided.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 456: A Race Against Time
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
The entire room fell silent as the members of the Genius Club exchanged nces, each of them looking equally stunned. No one had expected the question to be refused.
It was quite a shock.
After all, asking where Einstein¡¯s ashes were scattered didn¡¯t seem like an important question.
Everyone knew the story: the famous physicist Einstein had died in 1955, his brain had been taken by a doctor, and his body cremated, with his ashes scattered by his children at a secret location.
The man was gone, and where the ashes ended up didn¡¯t really matter. More than seventy years had passed since then, and wherever they were scattered, they had likely be nutrients for flowers and trees.
But now, such a trivial question had been refused.
Why had the president of the Genius Club¡ªthe old man wearing an Einstein mask¡ªdecided not to answer it?
¡°Could it be¡ that this club has some connection to the real Einstein?¡± Galileo was the first to speak up, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.¡°ording to the club¡¯s rules, there are only two reasons a question can be refused: either it involves another club member, or it involves the club itself,¡± Galileo continued. ¡°Unless one of us scattered Einstein¡¯s ashes, I can¡¯t think of any other reason it would be connected to a member.¡±
Gauss, a small and wiry figure, straightened up in his chair. ¡°Maybe¡ this Genius Club was founded by Einstein himself?¡±
¡°Impossible,¡± Elon Musk interrupted, shaking his head. ¡°The club¡¯s charter states that membership is for life. There¡¯s no such thing as inheriting a seat. If Einstein had once been a member, there would be an empty chair for him now, like for Turing and Copernicus.¡±
Miss Da Vinci lowered her head thoughtfully. ¡°But Einstein has been dead for so many years. It doesn¡¯t make sense for him to have any connection to the club or its members. The only exnation I can think of is¡¡±
¡°Maybe the location of the ashes is important? Or perhaps Einstein¡¯s ashes weren¡¯t scattered at all but hidden somewhere. And that somewhere¡ might be connected to one of us here.¡±
¡°Heh.¡± Newton gave a small smile, speaking softly. ¡°Well, that would be interesting. Who would keep Einstein¡¯s ashes? Judging by age, it seems only I might be a fit. But let me tell you, I have no interest in ashes.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t get why everyone¡¯s making this soplicated,¡± Newton continued. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just spill it. I actually know why the question was refused.¡±
He turned his head towards Einstein, who sat on the raised tform. ¡°Old pal, do you want to exin, or should I?¡±
Up on the tform, the old man in the Einstein mask looked around at the members, his voice deep and authoritative.
¡°There¡¯s no need to overthink this. Any question about Einstein will be refused.¡±
¡°Not just Einstein¡ but also Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Da Vinci, Gauss, Te, Turing¡ and even Rhine Cat.¡±
¡°Because each of you, including the mask I wear, has chosen a name that is both your code and part of your identity. Though the lives of these great people are documented in history and books, there are still many unknown stories.¡±
¡°I trust that when you chose your mask, it was a carefully considered decision. It¡¯s the way other geniuses get to know you; it¡¯s their first impression of you. Therefore, the mask itself, and the person depicted on it, are also a kind of privacy. For instance, Te, if you asked me about Te¡¯s past, I¡¯d tell you everything. But if you ask about Einstein, Galileo, or Gauss, it¡¯d be an invasion of another member¡¯s privacy, and naturally, it¡¯d be refused.¡±
When Einstein finished, Newton leaned back in his chair and shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s the reason¡ªsimpler than you all thought. Back when it was just Copernicus and me in the club, we asked about Einstein, and it got refused.¡±
¡°So, the masks we wear are part of our hidden identity. Maybe they even represent the direction of our future ns¡ at least, that¡¯s how Einstein sees it.¡±
That made sense.
No one had imagined it would be for this reason.
Lin Xian, however, squinted, finding it strange. It felt like¡ an excuse. A rather forced one.
But he couldn¡¯t point fingers.
After all, his mask¡ªthe odd Rhine Cat¡ªwas chosen without much thought.
Maybe everyone else had indeed put a lot of thought into their choice.
He listened silently to the discussions around him.
The group had all kinds of guesses at first, but no one considered the possibility that Einstein was still alive¡ªthat the president¡¯s true identity could be Einstein himself.
As Musk had said, a 140-year-old mummy still being alive was simply too unbelievable.
Even with time travel theories, it didn¡¯t make much sense.
Who could ignore the flow of time, never age, never die, and just keep living in this world? Lin Xian shook his head.
It wasn¡¯t scientific.
But still¡ he didn¡¯t believe the reason for refusing the question was that simple.
However, asking directly wouldn¡¯t get him the real answer.
Einstein had clearly stated¡ªany questions about Einstein or the historical figures represented by the members¡¯ masks would be refused.
Asking would just be a waste of a question. He¡¯d have to find out another way, outside of the meeting.
Einstein looked up and locked eyes with Lin Xian. ¡°Rhine, it¡¯s your turn. This time¡ what¡¯s your question?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s mind worked fast.
Newton¡¯s sudden intervention had messed up the n he and Musk had devised. The original n was for Musk to ask about Copernicus, and Lin Xian would ask about Einstein.
But now, Newton had already asked about Copernicus, and Musk had taken Lin Xian¡¯s question about Einstein.
That left Lin Xian needing toe up with something else.
He had three possible options.
Follow the original list and ask about eliminating the future virus or reviving the super AI, VV.
Ask about time travel, specifically if more time-traveling assassins woulde after him.
Ask about Du Yao, to quickly find her during this month¡¯s gap and protect her before Galileo could get to her.
He had to pick one.
First, he ruled out the first option.
Even if he got an answer, it likely wouldn¡¯t be solvable anytime soon. There was also a chance Einstein would give him a date far in the future, mentioning some genius whose great-grandparents hadn¡¯t even been born yet.
An answer that far ahead wouldn¡¯t help now. It could wait until next month.
The second question was quite important, and Lin Xian really wanted to know if his life was still in danger.
If Einstein said there would be more time-traveling assassins, it would mean Copernicus wasn¡¯tpletely gone, that there were still remnants, and his entangled spacetime particle was still at risk of being stolen.
If Einstein said no more assassins woulde, that would be a relief.
Spending a question for peace of mind seemed worthwhile to Lin Xian. Plus, if more assassins were indeeding, he could prepare in advance.
The priority of this question was high.
But so was the Du Yao question.
At the next meeting, Galileo would almost certainly ask about the neuroscientist and how to solve the side effects of hibernation amnesia. Einstein would surely mention Du Yao¡¯s name.
Lin Xian hadn¡¯t rushed to find Du Yao earlier because he feared that once he protected her, the timeline would shift.
If the timeline shifted, where would he copy the ns for the time travel machine?
He intended to finish copying the ns or confirm that Copernicus was fully defeated, leaving no reason to use the spacetime particle, before finding Du Yao.
But now¡
Galileo was forcing the pace.
Lin Xian had only a month to find Du Yao and tie her to his identity and future ns.
That way, when Galileo asked Einstein about Du Yao at the next meeting, Einstein would say¡ª
¡°Refused. Question Voided.¡±
Galileo would never get the answer.
Even if he guessed the refusal was because of a connection to someone in the room, what could he do?
He wouldn¡¯t be able to find her.
But¡ should Lin Xian use his question here to ask about Du Yao¡¯s whereabouts?
After thinking it over, Lin Xian decided not to.
It was too risky.
He barely knew anything about Du Yao, except one vague sentence¡ª¡°Miss Du Yao died in a peacekeeping mission in Africa during the mid-21st century.¡±
Too vague, too broad.
If he asked Einstein, he¡¯d inevitably have to mention Du Yao¡¯s name or neuroscience as a keyword.
He couldn¡¯t mention her name.
If he could look her up, others could too. Her identity would be exposed quickly, and she¡¯d be snatched away.
The neuroscience keyword was even worse.
Galileo had just asked about it, and if Lin Xian followed up, everyone would know what he was after.
Whatever answer Einstein gave, everyone else would hear it too. They¡¯d all be on the same page.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take that risk.
If Galileo managed to get to Du Yao first and kill her¡
Humanity would lose the chance to have the Brain Neural Electric Helmet forever. Even someone as brilliant as Gao Wen wouldn¡¯t be able to change that.
Also¡
There was one more point to consider.
Lin Xian was certain he had seen Du Yao¡¯s name somewhere before.
But who could guarantee the Du Yao he remembered was the same Du Yao from Gao Wen¡¯s handwritten letter?
It could be just a coincidence.
He encountered tons of information every day¡ªnames, ads, contracts¡ who knew if the Du Yao he saw was just some random person with no connection to neuroscience?
So it was better not to rush into asking.
He couldn¡¯t control Einstein¡¯s answer.
Right now, in the search for Du Yao, Lin Xian had a big advantage¡ªhe knew her name.
The other geniuses wouldn¡¯t know Du Yao¡¯s name until the first of next month. For now, only he had this precious information. He had to guard it closely, or everything could fall apart.
Lin Xian decided to stick with his n and ask about the time-traveling assassins. He needed to know if more wereing. If he could confirm that there would be no more, it would mean Copernicus¡¯s n had truly failed, and the time travel machine¡¯s importance would drop. Even if finding Du Yao shifted the timeline, Lin Xian didn¡¯t care much.
He looked up at Einstein, who was standing on the tform.
¡°My question is about the time travel matter we discussed at thest meeting,¡± Lin Xian began. ¡°You said before that humanity wouldn¡¯t be able to build a time travel machine before the year 2234, but time travelers could stille back to our time from the future.¡±
¡°So, my question is¡ª¡± Lin Xian paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. ¡°From today onward, when will we see the next time traveler from the future?¡±
Lin Xian deliberately avoided mentioning the assassins directly. He couldn¡¯t afford to reveal too much. Everyone in the room was smart enough to connect the dots between his question and Einstein¡¯s earlier warning about his death. They¡¯d figure out it was because of a future assassin targeting him. It was better to ask in a more general way.
The question sounded like simple curiosity, but it was crucial for Lin Xian. Whatever date Einstein gave, it would mean that until then, he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about an attack from a time-traveling assassin.
The other members of the club were also intrigued and turned to look at Einstein. After a long pause, Einstein shook his head slowly.
¡°You will never see one,¡± he said quietly. ¡°There will be no more time travelersing to this era.¡±
Miss Da Vinci was the first to raise her hand. ¡°But you said before that the first time travel in human history happened on December 11, 2234. Why are you now saying we won¡¯t see any time travelers?¡±
Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and she turned towards Lin Xian. ¡°Oh, I get it. You asked from today onward, which means¡ the first time traveler must have alreadye before today, and they¡¯re already dead.¡±
¡°So we won¡¯t see any more time travelers, either those from before or from after.¡±
Galileo nodded at Lin Xian, his eyes thoughtful. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have asked that way,¡± he said.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond. He finally understood why Gauss often asked questions that got negative answers. Sometimes, that¡¯s exactly what you needed.
The others might think Lin Xian was just curious about time travel, but the truth was different. He wasn¡¯t interested in time travel at all. Who needed that when you could just enjoy life with your family?
He only wanted to know if any more time-traveling assassins woulde after him. Since Einstein said they¡¯d never see another time traveler, it meant that, at least until the timeline shifted, Lin Xian was safe from further attacks. It was a relief.
His life, and the entangled spacetime particle, were safe for now.
After the meeting ended, Lin Xian could finally put all his energy into finding Du Yao. The members finished their questions, and the meeting dispersed.
Lin Xian removed his VR headset in the dead of night, staring out at the silent darkness beyond the window. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have to visit Liu An, the head of the National Security Bureau,¡± he murmured to himself.
Over the past three months, he had copied most of the core ns for the time travel machine. Whatever was left, he¡¯d copy as much as possible before the timeline changed. But now, in this race against Galileo, finding Du Yao was more important than the time travel machine.
If it came to the worst, he¡¯d destroy the spacetime particle rather than let anyone else have it.
More importantly, he needed to find Du Yao and preserve the Brain Neural Electric Helmet¡ªa technology that could solve hibernation amnesia.
¡°This is the real treasure for humanity,¡± Lin Xian said softly.
Chapter 457: Du Yao and Tang Xin
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian opened hisptop, his eyes focused as he clicked on a folder. Inside were hundreds of blueprints¡ªdesigns for all theponents of the time travel machine. It was the result of his relentless effort over thest three months, working night and day.
Even after all that effort, he¡¯d only managed to copy the core parts. He estimated that it would take at least another two months to copy the rest. It was more exhausting than when he had copied VV¡¯s code, and every day of memorizing left Lin Xian with a throbbing headache.
¡°Once I find Du Yao, the timeline is bound to shift, right?¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
Honestly, he wasn¡¯t sure when the point of no return woulde. Would it be when he found Du Yao? Or perhaps when she made a breakthrough in her brain research?
¡°There¡¯s still one question we haven¡¯t answered,¡± Lin Xian said, scratching his head. ¡°It¡¯s 2024 now¡ how old is Du Yao? Has she even been born yet?¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s handwritten letter mentioned that Du Yao died in the middle of the 21st century. If she really was a genius, she might have made her breakthrough in her twenties or thirties. If that were true, Du Yao might not have even been born yet.
And then there was the problem with her name. ¡°Du Yao¡± wasn¡¯t exactly unique. If Lin Xian searched the national database, he might find dozens of people named Du Yao, from infants to young women.
But then what?Which one was the right Du Yao, destined for greatness in brain research?
There was no way to tell.
He couldn¡¯t just bring every single Du Yao to Donghai City and protect them all. It was simply impossible.
¡°Ugh,¡± Lin Xian sighed, rubbing his temples.
How could he figure out which Du Yao was the one he was looking for? If she had already made a name for herself, it would be easier. But what if she was still a child? Or worse¡ªwhat if she hadn¡¯t even been born yet?
¡°If I can¡¯t find her, I¡¯m in trouble,¡± Lin Xian thought, narrowing his eyes.
Next month, on October 1st, Galileo would be able to use Einstein¡¯s calctions to identify the correct Du Yao. Whether she was a baby or a high school student, they¡¯d find her. Even if she hadn¡¯t been born yet, Einstein could locate her parents. That would put Lin Xian in a tricky situation.
¡°It¡¯s good that I¡¯m going to the capital with Ying Jun tomorrow to meet her parents,¡± he said aloud. ¡°Might as well arrange a meeting with Director Liu An too.¡±
Snap. He closed hisptop.
He wished he could go looking for Du Yao as soon as he finished copying the blueprints, but life didn¡¯t work that way. He had to rely on others.
¡°I¡¯ll have to trust Liu Feng and the modern scientists,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I¡¯ve copied the coreponents¡ªthat¡¯s 80% of the job done. Liu Feng and the others should be able to figure out the rest.¡±
Although Gao Wen had called Liu Feng a ¡°lucky fool¡± who stumbled into sess, Lin Xian had faith in him. As Rhine¡¯s top general, Liu Feng wasn¡¯t just lucky¡ªhe was smart. He might not have Gao Wen¡¯s or Chen Heping¡¯s expertise, but when it came to unconventional thinking, Liu Feng was unbeatable.
After all, who else could havee up with discoveries like the Cosmic Constant Introduction or the Arithmetic Sequences? Not even Chen Heping could calcte the Universal Constant of 42 without Liu Feng¡¯s insight.
¡°If Liu Feng can¡¯t finish it, there¡¯s still Nangong Meng Jie and the Research Institute,¡± Lin Xian reassured himself. ¡°I¡¯ll worry about the time machine when I need it. Einstein said it wouldn¡¯t be ready until 2234, so it¡¯s unlikely I¡¯ll ever use it.¡±
Lin Xian got up from his desk, switched off the study lights, and walked into the kitchen. The soft glow from the insted cab revealed a ss of milk that Zhao Ying Jun had left for him.
It was such a small gesture, but it made Lin Xian feel warm. Maybe that¡¯s what people meant by warmth¡ªsomeone thinking of you, leaving a warm ss of milk for you to drink when you finished workingte into the night.
Sometimes, happiness wasn¡¯t grand at all. Sometimes, it was just this simple.
Lin Xian drank the milk, feeling the warmth spread through his body. Then he turned off the kitchen lights and headed to the bedroom.
Their Pomeranian, VV, was sprawled at the foot of the bed, snoring softly. Lin Xian smiled; the dog had definitely put on some weighttely. VV hadn¡¯t snored when he was leaner, so Lin Xian decided it was time to cut down on VV¡¯s food.
Zhao Ying Juny quietly on the bed, her back to VV, her face turned towards her pillow. The faint moonlight filtering through the curtains outlined her soft features, giving her an almost ethereal glow.
Lin Xian carefully got onto the bed, his eyes drawn to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s t stomach. It still looked the same, but he knew that a little life was growing inside.
¡°Goodnight, Yu¡¯er,¡± he whispered softly.
In truth, he didn¡¯t know if the baby would be a boy or a girl. Zhao Ying Jun had suggested they could ask the technician during an ultrasound, just to satisfy his curiosity, but Lin Xian had chickened out. He wanted it to be a surprise.
¡°You¡¯re just scared it¡¯ll be a boy!¡± Zhao Ying Jun had teased, tweaking his nose yfully.
¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Lin Xian had replied. ¡°People say you get what you fear most.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun hadughed at that, clearly amused.
¡°Then take a guess¡ªboy or girl?¡±
¡°A boy,¡± Lin Xian said confidently.
¡°Why do you think so?¡± Zhao Ying Jun had asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lin Xian had grinned. ¡°Because, based on my experience¡ my guesses are usually wrong.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun had huffed. ¡°At least you¡¯re self-aware,¡± she¡¯d said, her eyes twinkling.
Lin Xian looked at her now, at the peaceful scene in front of him, and felt a deep sense of responsibility. As a man, a husband, and soon a father, he knew what he had to do.
¡°I¡¯ll protect this,¡± he whispered, brushing a gentle finger across her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll protect our present, and our child¡¯s future.¡±
The next day, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun went to Pudong Airport and flew to the capital.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s family took their visit very seriously. Her father, Zhao Rui Hai, invited many rtives to a big dinner to wee Lin Xian.
¡°This is Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said proudly, introducing him to everyone. ¡°You must have seen him on TV, right?¡±
¡°Whoa!¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s young nephew jumped up excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s Donghai 007!¡±
Everyoneughed.
Zhao Ying Jun leaned over to Lin Xian and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s the one who talks nonsense all the time.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s uncle smiled at Lin Xian. ¡°Not only is Lin Xian a young hero, but he also won the world hackingpetition,¡± he said. ¡°I once met Director Gao Yan of the Research Institute, and he couldn¡¯t stop praising Lin Xian.¡±
¡°I¡¯m ttered,¡± Lin Xian said modestly. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot from President Gao. He¡¯s helped me a lot.¡±
The dinner was lively, filled with warmth andughter. Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s parents were pleased with Lin Xian¡ªthey appreciated his achievements, his character, and his sense of responsibility. They were confident that he was the right person for their daughter.
Of course, much of that confidence came from Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s praise of him. As Lin Xian listened to everyone talk about him, he was sometimes surprised himself. He hadn¡¯t realized just how highly Zhao Ying Jun had spoken of him.
¡°I heard you even went to space this year?¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s aunt asked, her eyes wide. ¡°Was it for a secret mission?¡±
Her uncle nudged her. ¡°If it¡¯s a secret mission, you shouldn¡¯t ask.¡±
It almost felt like they believed Lin Xian was a secret agent. He leaned closer to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°You¡¯ve really overdone it this time,¡± he whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t keep up with these stories.¡±
¡°What? I only told them the truth,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied with a wink.
After dinner, they went back to her parents¡¯ house. They spent time talking about their wedding ns, and her parents¡¯ only request was that they marry soon and bring their child into the world.
¡°Just think of it as a dream we experienced in advance,¡± Zhao Rui Hai said, remembering the month they had spent with their granddaughter, Yu¡¯er. It had felt like a beautiful dream¡ªbittersweet yet cherished.
The news of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s pregnancy had helped ease that sadness. Now, they were filled with excitement for the future.
Later, Lin Xian made his way to the National Security Bureau to meet Director Liu An. After exining why he was there, Liu An led him to an operations room where an employee typed ¡°Du Yao¡± into the system.
¡°There are 2,281 matches,¡± the employee said.
¡°That many?¡± Lin Xian asked, surprised. ¡°Filter out all the males.¡±
¡°1,921 matches remaining.¡±
¡°Filter out those over fifty,¡± Lin Xian instructed. Then, reconsidering, he said, ¡°Actually, make that sixty.¡±
¡°1,778 matches remaining.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head with a wry smile. ¡°That didn¡¯t cut it down by much.¡±
¡°The name ¡®Yao¡¯ wasn¡¯t popr in older generations,¡± Director Liu An exined. ¡°It¡¯s moremon in the younger ones¡ªthose born in the ¡®90s, ¡®00s, and ¡®10s. You¡¯ll need to think of more specific filters, Lin Xian.¡±
Lin Xian was stumped. He knew so little about Du Yao¡ªfinding her felt almost impossible. He didn¡¯t even know her approximate age.
Lin Xian filtered the list again, this time by age. If he excluded everyone under twenty, it would shrink to half the size. But that wouldn¡¯t do¡ªhe couldn¡¯t risk missing her. A young Du Yao might still grow up to be a genius in brain science. There was no room for random exclusions.
He sighed, staring at the endless names on his screen. ¡°Du Yao¡¡± He¡¯d seen this name more times than he could count. Out of the 2,000 names listed, it could be any one of these people.
He scratched his head, lost in thought. But try as he might, there weren¡¯t any more clues to help him filter. No magic criteria to cut the list down.
What if none of these 1,778 Du Yaos were the right one? What if she wasn¡¯t even born yet?
¡°This is impossible,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath. ¡°It¡¯s like searching for a needle in a haystack.¡±
But he had no choice. He needed to find that needle, no matter what.
One month. That¡¯s all he had. After that, Einstein or Galileo would be able to find the real Du Yao with just a question.
¡°Can I get a copy of these records?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Director Liu An shook his head, frowning. ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid not. Just letting you view this is already bending the rules. It¡¯s private information, and you don¡¯t have formal authorization orw enforcement privileges.¡±
¡°But,¡± Liu An continued, ¡°you can ess the records at the Donghai City Police Bureau. The household registration system is connected nationwide. If you can¡¯t stay here in the capital, you could check it back in Donghai. I could give you a letter of introduction if you need.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He wasn¡¯t looking to break rules. ¡°Does the system include information on education?¡±
¡°It does,¡± Liu An confirmed. ¡°The government¡¯s been linking information systems¡ªeducational data, health records, household info¡ªyou name it. But keep in mind, educational records are only for domestic schools. If someone studied abroad, it wouldn¡¯t be in our database.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s start with the local ones,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Filter out anyone without a bachelor¡¯s degree or higher. Then I¡¯ll go through the remaining ones by their major.¡±
Three long days went by in the National Security Bureau¡¯s records room. Lin Xian went through the profiles of the 1,778 Du Yaos under sixty years old. But none had a major rted to brain science.
Some had advanced degrees, but in subjects like literature and linguistics. Nothing close to brain science.
Finding Du Yao was proving even harder than he¡¯d imagined.
That evening, Lin Xian discussed the progress¡ªorck thereof¡ªwith Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Maybe we should look into people who studied abroad,¡± she suggested.
¡°The brain science field started earlier abroad than here,¡± she reasoned. ¡°And anyone studying abroad would need at least a bachelor¡¯s degree and foreignnguage skills. That fits someone who might volunteer in Africa.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that too. But my worry is Du Yao might still be a student¡ If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯re stuck. There were over nine hundred Du Yaos under eighteen on that list. I can¡¯t bring them all to Donghai. Their parents would never allow it.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s head back to Donghai then,¡± Zhao Ying Jun suggested. ¡°I have a friend there who can help us check overseas education records. We can find out which Du Yaos studied abroad, then get him to help us search foreign education databases.¡±
With that n in mind, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun headed back to Donghai.
Once there, Lin Xian didn¡¯t even need Liu An¡¯s letter. The Donghai City Police Bureau still owed him a favor, and they were happy to help.
After narrowing it down, they were left with eleven Du Yaos who had studied abroad. With Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s connections, they soon managed to get their overseas education histories.
¡°Look at this,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, pointing at a file. ¡°This Du Yao, born in 1998¡ She attended Johns Hopkins University. It¡¯s one of the world¡¯s top universities. And her major was brain science. It¡¯s got to be her!¡±
Lin Xian leaned closer, his eyes fixed on the screen. ¡°Johns Hopkins University¡¡± he murmured. The name struck a familiar chord.
¡°Where have I heard of this before?¡± He scratched his head, trying to remember.
He didn¡¯t know many people who¡¯d studied abroad. It could only be a few possibilities.
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
¡°I remember now¡¡± His voice trembled. Slowly, he whispered a name.
¡°Tang Xin.¡±
That was it.
Tang Xin had graduated from Johns Hopkins University. When she¡¯de back to Donghai, she¡¯d told Lin Xian all about her time abroad¡ªthe food, the university, the pressures of studying.
Her university was Johns Hopkins.
¡°I know now,¡± Lin Xian said, taking a deep breath.
Memories shed in his mind, and Lin Xian realized where he¡¯d seen the name ¡°Du Yao¡± before.
It was in their old chat logs.
Last year, during his cat-and-mouse games with Ji Lin¡ªwhen Ji Lin had faked chat logs between Tang Xin and other men¡ªLin Xian hade across so many real and fake conversations, it had all blurred together.
But now he remembered.
In those chat logs, somewhere¡ there was the name ¡°Du Yao.¡±
Without wasting a second, Lin Xian rushed to the Donghai City Police Bureau.
He requested Tang Xin¡¯s case files and found the printed chat logs.
There it was.
¡°Yao Yao.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the name, written under a profile picture of a smiling girl.
The chat log wasn¡¯t long. It started just two weeks before Tang Xin¡¯s ident. Everything before that was missing.
Lin Xian understood why.
Tang Xin¡¯s workce had given all employees new phones as a perk. She¡¯d shown it off during dinner one night¡ªa new, top-of-the-line Samsung. She hadn¡¯t transferred her old chat history, so everything had been lost.
Tang Xin had evenined about the phone¡¯s clunky system, and Lin Xian had tried to help her figure it out¡ªbut he¡¯d found it just as frustrating.
He quickly skimmed through the chat log. Details could wait¡ªfor now, he just wanted to confirm if this ¡°Yao Yao¡± was really Du Yao.
Most of their conversations were short¡ªjust a message here and there, often days apart. And they mostly chattedte at night.
¡°Found it!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced as he found what he was looking for.
It was an image¡ªa volunteer application form for humanitarian work in Africa, stamped with a blue seal. Along with it, there was a victory hand emoji and a message: ¡°I got epted!¡±
The form was in English. Back then, when Lin Xian and Ji Lin had been fooling each other, he hadn¡¯t given it a second nce.
But right there, amidst all that English, two familiar characters stood out.
¡°Du Yao.¡±
¡°It really is her,¡± Lin Xian said, letting out a deep breath. ¡°She was epted for aid work in Africa¡ Everything matches Gao Wen¡¯s letter.¡±
He stared at the printed pages, his chest tightening.
Tang Xin, a girl whose memory still haunted him, had been close friends with Du Yao.
He didn¡¯t know what to say.
He just felt¡ an ache in his chest.
Because¡
On the following pages, most of the messages between Du Yao and Tang Xin were about him.
¡°Yao Yao, you were right. Lin Xian forgot about covering me with his school uniform back in high school. When I mentioned it, he had no reaction. But it still happened, even if he forgot, right?¡±
¡°Hehe, I watched a movie with Lin Xian today. You know what, Yao Yao? He¡¯s still the same¡ªjust as caring and gentle as before.¡±
¡°He suddenly grabbed my hand today! I must have blushed so much¡ Luckily, I had some alcohol in me, so maybe he didn¡¯t notice.¡±
¡°Ohe on, he¡¯s not like that. We talked at a bar, and then he took me home¡ªreally! We¡¯re¡ it¡¯s almost like we¡¯ve just met again.¡±
¡°I prepared a gift for Lin Xian¡ªa special one. Do you think he¡¯ll remember how he saved me back then when he sees it?¡±
Tang Xin¡¯sst message to Du Yao was filled with excitement.
The rest of the printed chat log was nk.
Lin Xian stared at thest lines, feeling his throat tighten.
Those final messages were from Du Yao to Tang Xin.
¡°Haha, I knew it! I knew you wouldn¡¯te backst night. You must have made the first move!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t textst night¡ªdidn¡¯t want to bother you two lovebirds.¡±
¡°Now we can talk, right? How¡¯d it go, Little Xin Xin?¡±
¡°Did you confess? Did it work?¡±
Chapter 458: Starlit Wishes
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian closed his eyes and set down the printed chat records between Du Yao and Tang Xin. He had seen these records before, actually.
Back then, his mind was full of rage and the thought of revenge. Ji Lin had set a trap, but Lin Xian had forced himself to stay calm. He had only skimmed through the messages, too focused on his sh with Ji Lin to give them his full attention.
But now, everything was different. It was over.
Ji Xin Shui, Ji Lin, and Zhou Duan Yun were all gone. He had taken down the seven people responsible for the scientists¡¯ deaths with his own hands. Even Copernicus, the mastermind, was no longer alive.
With everything behind him, Lin Xian returned to the archives, looking at the messages with a different mindset. The room seemed heavy, almost as if the air was thick¡ªmaking it hard to breathe.
¡°Can I take these chat records with me?¡± Lin Xian asked one of the archive staff.
¡°Of course, Mr. Lin Xian,¡± the staff member replied. ¡°The cases were solved thanks to you, and these records have been proven partly fabricated anyway. I¡¯ll make a copy for you, but please leave the originals here.¡±
Thanks to his role in solving Donghai City¡¯s cold cases, Lin Xian was highly respected by the archive staff. Within a few minutes, the worker had made him a copy of the documents. Lin Xian signed a form, took the copies, and left the archive.That evening, at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house, Zhao Ying Jun sat on the sofa, flipping through the chat records. She nced up at Lin Xian, who had been sitting silently for quite a while.
¡°So this is her? The scientist who managed to ovee the side effects of hibernation? Your high school ssmate?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked.
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°The world is really small,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°We¡¯ve been searching for Du Yao all this time, and it turns out she was friends with Tang Xin from Johns Hopkins University. Judging by these messages, they were pretty close¡ªalmost like sisters.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun pointed to a line in the records. ¡°See here? Tang Xin mentioned remembering a lot about you, but you didn¡¯t seem to remember much about her.¡±
¡°We were only ssmates for a few days,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°She mentioned how I helped her by wrapping a school uniform around her to avoid embarrassment. It just seemed like such a small thing, not worth remembering. I really don¡¯t recall it.¡±
¡°But to be polite, I lied and said I remembered. She must have seen through me.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun let out a sigh. ¡°Sometimes, small gestures at the right moment aren¡¯t so small. They¡¯re big enough to be remembered for a lifetime.¡±
¡°It¡¯s like you told me about Mr. Wei Sheng Jin in your dream,¡± she continued. ¡°He imitated Ultraman to protect Liu Shi Yu when he was a kid, and because of that, Liu Shi Yu followed him all the way to Mars, staying by his side. To Wei Sheng Jin, it wasn¡¯t even worth writing about in a diary. But that¡¯s the bittersweet part of growing up¡ªgirls mature faster, and boys take longer for their hearts to be sensitive.¡±
She turned her head and grasped Lin Xian¡¯s cold hand. ¡°I understand that feeling. Remember when we went to the capital to meet my parents? You said I exaggerated when I praised you, but I wasn¡¯t. Maybe you think rescuing me from criminals and giving me a crumpled bouquet wasn¡¯t worth mentioning, but to me, it¡¯s unforgettable. If I ever went into hibernation, I¡¯d write it on the first page of my memory notebook. I¡¯d want time to freeze right there.¡±
She ced the printed chat records on the coffee table. ¡°By the way, the messages ended with Tang Xin saying she had a ¡®gift¡¯ for you. Something to remind you of high school. Did you ever see that gift?¡± ?¦Á?£Ï¦¢??
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t care at the time. I knew Zhou Duan Yun killed her, and then pretended to be remorseful, saying the gift was still in his car and asking if I wanted it.¡±
¡°All I could think of was avenging Professor Xu Yun and Tang Xin. I didn¡¯t trust him¡ªit could have been another trap.¡±
¡°But you avenged her,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, her eyes on Lin Xian. ¡°You took care of everything¡ªfrom the culprit to the mastermind. Even Copernicus. You left no one behind.¡±
¡°So even though the oue was tragic, you fulfilled your promise to Tang Xin. You didn¡¯t let her down. Have you gone to her grave yet, to bring flowers and tell her what you¡¯ve done?¡±
¡°Donghai City isn¡¯t far from Hang City,¡± she added. ¡°You should find some time to go. If she knows what you¡¯ve done for her, how many risks you took, and how you eliminated everyone who hurt her, she¡¯ll be at peace.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Will youe with me? I know you¡¯re always understanding, but I don¡¯t want to do this without you.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled and shook her head. ¡°Haven¡¯t you read ¡®The Legend of the Condor Heroes¡¯? Huang Rong said to Guo Jing before she died, ¡®Brother Jing, I have three wishes. First, you can grieve, but not for too long. Second, you can marry someone else, but it must be Hua Zheng, because she truly loves you. Third, you cane to my grave, but don¡¯t bring Hua Zheng, because I¡¯m still a little jealous.¡¯¡±
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re smart and brave, but a bit clueless when ites to feelings. I¡¯m d, though¡ªthat¡¯s how we ended up together, with our little baby. But for Tang Xin¡¯s grave, you should go alone. I¡¯m not sure if Tang Xin would feel like Huang Rong, but girls are sensitive. It wouldn¡¯t be right to bring your pregnant wife. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not offended.¡±
Seeing Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s sincere expression, Lin Xian smiled and squeezed her hand. ¡°You¡¯re too understanding sometimes. Would you feel the same as Huang Rong?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said. ¡°If I had to leave you behind¡ªif I couldn¡¯t grow old with you¡ªI¡¯d want you to be happy. It wouldn¡¯t matter who made you happy. I¡¯d even want her toe to my grave so I could see you happy.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t want you to grieve too long. I¡¯d want you to keep going. You know I¡¯m not a jealous woman.¡±
She blinked, her eyes softening. ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted to travel and marry you¡ªto go to Copenhagen, to the Little Mermaid statue, and let Yellow Finch see us. Because Yellow Finch is me, and I am Yellow Finch. Everything she did¡ªsaving the world, fighting for humanity¡ªwas for you.¡±
¡°You shouldn¡¯t doubt that. I understand her better than anyone. I don¡¯t need a fancy wedding. I just want to go to Copenhagen, let Yellow Finch see us together, and know we¡¯re having a baby. That¡¯s all she¡¯d want.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to my parents about getting married while traveling. They think it¡¯s unconventional, but they¡¯ve agreed. Just wait for me a little longer. I¡¯ll finish things with Du Yao, then we¡¯ll get our marriage certificate and head to Copenhagen. Wherever you want to go, we¡¯ll go.¡±
He nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯ste. Ying Jun, you should rest. Right now, your most important task is to take care of yourself and our baby.¡±
¡°Mhm.¡± Zhao Ying Jun took his hand and stood from the sofa. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to bed.¡±
A few dayster, Lin Xian received a call from Liu An, the head of the National Security Bureau. ¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯ve found something. I had some friends from the UN help investigate Du Yao. She passed her exam in early 2023 and became a peacekeeping aid volunteer.¡±
¡°After that, she left the U.S. for a war-torn country in Africa¡ªSouth Sudan.¡±
¡°South Sudan?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Why would she go to such a dangerous ce?¡±
South Sudan was one of the poorest and most conflict-ridden countries in Africa. It was hard to imagine someone like Du Yao, a top student, choosing to go there.
¡°She insisted on it,¡± Liu An said. ¡°She could¡¯ve gone to a safer ce, but she chose South Sudan. Many people tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn¡¯t change her mind. She joined the peacekeeping force there as a medical aid worker.¡±
¡°We were able to keep in touch for a while, but recently the situation there has worsened. Still, her team sends a monthly message on the first of every month.¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not soon enough. I need to meet her in person.¡±
¡°Can you help me get to South Sudan?¡±
¡°What?¡± Liu An sounded shocked. ¡°You want to go there? It¡¯s too risky, Lin Xian. The situation is a mess. If you must reach her, I can have a message passed on, but going there is dangerous.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re determined, I can suggest another way to ensure your safety,¡± Liu An added. ¡°Mercenaries.¡±
¡°I can give you a contact. This group is trustworthy and can protect you well. If you must go, this is the safest approach I can suggest. But remember, nothing is guaranteed in a war zone. Go in, finish quickly, and leave.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Got it. Thank you, Director Liu.¡±
Mid-September, Africa, South Sudan. A small vige caught in conflict.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed, and gunfire roared. Adults ran frantically while children cried.
¡°This way! Quick, hide here!¡± A young woman covered in mud shouted in the localnguage, rushing to pull children behind a makeshift shelter. ¡°Stay here, don¡¯t move!¡±
In the distance, the rumbling of vehicles grew louder.
The young woman used her body to shield the terrified children. How many times had this happened already? The front line was drawing closer every day.
Suddenly!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
RPG rockets flew overhead, exploding along the front line. The woman¡¯s eyes widened. Where had theye from?
Dozens of ck-painted vehicles stormed past the vige, heading for the front line. The soldiers on boardunched more rocket fire.
¡°Is this¡ support?¡± she muttered, confused.
Screech!
An armored vehicle stopped behind the shelter. A tall man wearing a helmet and vest jumped out, running toward her. He took off his helmet and knelt in front of her.
¡°Hello, Miss Du Yao,¡± he said, silhouetted by the sun. ¡°This is our first meeting, but I believe you¡¯re at least a little familiar with me.¡±
Du Yao looked at the man¡¯s face but didn¡¯t recognize him. ¡°Who are you?¡±
The man smiled. ¡°My name is Lin Xian.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 459: A Taste of Bittersweet
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Under the overwhelming difference in strength, Lin Xian¡¯s mercenary group was like a father scolding his son, driving the local armed forces into constant retreat. It wasn¡¯t a fair fight¡ªmore like a lesson they couldn¡¯t escape.
As night fell, the moon climbed into the dark sky.
The mercenaries lit fires for the elderly, the injured, and the children left behind in the vige, giving them water and food. A professional medical team tended to the vigers, treating wounds and preparing to transport the refugees to a safer ce in the morning.
By the stone at the vige entrance, Lin Xian and Du Yao sat side by side, each holding a steaming self-heating meal.
¡°I didn¡¯t even know Tang Xin had passed away until two weeks after it happened,¡± Du Yao said as she ate.
¡°The situation here in South Sudan was so chaotic. We were trying to do everything at once¡ªpeacekeeping, helping the injured, rescuing refugees¡ªsometimes going for days without sleep. I lost contact with Tang Xin more times than I can count.¡±
She took a breath, her gaze distant. ¡°It wasn¡¯t until I finally got through to her brother that I learned she was gone. By then, the funeral had already passed.¡±
¡°I was devastated, but there wasn¡¯t even time to mourn here. Every day, it¡¯s dodging bullets, saving whoever you can; every day, you see children, innocent people¡¡± Her voice trailed off, her eyes tired. ¡°In a ce like this, there¡¯s no time to cry.¡±Du Yao put down her utensils, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s about racing against death, saving lives before it¡¯s toote.¡± She paused, her eyes dark. ¡°Not long after, my boyfriend died in a conflict too. That was when I really became numb.¡±
Lin Xian looked down. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he said quietly.
Listening to her, Lin Xian could now see why she ended up here. She and Tang Xin had been ssmates, both working at the same research institute. But something had driven Du Yao to Africa¡ªmaybe love, maybe ideals, maybe both.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t entirely understand her choices¡ªbut he respected them.
¡°I admire you,¡± he said. ¡°But you¡¯ve done enough, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯ve sacrificed so much. Isn¡¯t it time toe home? Your boyfriend¡¯s gone¡ Why stay here alone?¡±
Du Yao looked up, her eyes softening as they swept over the orphans eating by the fire. ¡°Isn¡¯t this reason enough?¡± she replied, her lips curving into a faint smile.
¡°At first, I didn¡¯t understand either,¡± she said. ¡°I argued with my boyfriend countless times over it. I asked him, ¡®Why go to a war zone? There are kids back home who need help, remote viges that need teachers.¡¯¡±
¡°But he was stubborn. He told me, ¡®If everyone turns away, what about the children here? Back home, kids may be poor, but they¡¯re safe. Here, they could be gone in an instant.¡¯¡±
¡°He also reminded me how, during our own country¡¯s hardest times, foreigners came to help¡ªeven died for us. And he said that sort of selflessness is mutual.¡±
Du Yao untied her braid, letting her hair fall loose around her shoulders. ¡°I thought he was being foolish. But after I came here¡ I understood. This ce really is a kind of hell¡ªone that people in peace can never imagine.¡± ?
¡°I came for him. But now, this ce needs me.¡± She looked at Lin Xian with a mix of exhaustion and determination. ¡°Manyrades have died here. Many left because they couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. But I¡¯m still here. I want to save as many people as I can¡ªcarry on what he left unfinished.¡±
She smiled faintly. ¡°I was pretty spoiled growing up, you know. But here, just being alive feels like a blessing.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding.
¡°You loved him a lot,¡± he said.
¡°I did.¡± Her smile deepened, but it was tinged with sadness. ¡°But now, it¡¯s more than that. He¡¯s a part of me¡ªmy guiding star.¡±
Du Yao got up and walked over to one of the mercenaries who was smoking. ¡°Can I have one?¡± she asked.
She came back to Lin Xian, a cigarette between her lips. She lit it and took a drag, her gaze somewhere far away. ¡°He hated smoking. Hated shy, loud girls too. So I used to dress in hip-hop clothes, pierce my ears, dye my hair¡ªjust to annoy him.¡±
¡°I¡¯d send him pictures every day, hoping he¡¯de back just to scold me.¡± Sheughed softly. ¡°I even learned to smoke. He hated girls who smoked.¡± She took another drag, the cigarette¡¯s ember glowing orange. ¡°I don¡¯t even like it. But now¡ it¡¯s like pretending he¡¯ll show up any minute, snatch it away, throw it out, and tell me off.¡±
Lin Xian looked at her, his heart heavy. Sometimes, grief found strange ways to keep itself alive¡ªsmoking, talking, anything to feel like they were still there.
He thought of his friend Liu Feng¡ªafter Li Qi Qi was gone, Liu Feng smoked and talked without pause, as if talking would keep the sorrow inside, stop it from escaping.
But Du Yao¡¯s loss was different. Her boyfriend had died suddenly, leaving only regret behind.
¡°I¡¯m sorry for dumping all of this on you,¡± Du Yao said, taking another puff. ¡°I usually don¡¯t talk so much. But seeing you¡ it brought everything back. And I just couldn¡¯t stop.¡±
She smiled sadly. ¡°At least I¡¯ve said it. If I end up dying here, at least someone knows my story.¡±
Lin Xian stood up, walked to stand opposite her, leaning against a wooden post. ¡°I came here to take you back to X Country,¡± he said. ¡°To get you back to brain research.¡±
Du Yao shook her head. ¡°And what about the kids if I leave?¡±
¡°My mercenaries will take them to safety,¡± Lin Xian replied.
Du Yaoughed. ¡°You¡¯re a good man, Lin Xian. But I can¡¯t just walk away from this.¡± She blew out smoke, her expression determined. ¡°Call me stubborn, but I¡¯ve seen this ce, lost someone here¡ I can¡¯t leave it all behind.¡±
She went to light another cigarette¡ªbut it was gone. Lin Xian had snatched it away.
¡°One is enough,¡± he said, tossing it behind him. ¡°You want to save lives? Fine. But how many? One, ten, a hundred¡ªor¡ a hundred million?¡±
Du Yao frowned, confused.
¡°Do you know how many lives Tang Xin¡¯s research saved?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°The medication she developed solved hibernation¡¯s worst side effects. Thanks to her and Professor Xu, terminally ill patients could sleep, hoping for a cure in the future.¡±
¡°Your research could save even more lives. Not just individuals¡ªbut the world.¡± He handed her a bound stack of documents. She read the title: ¡°Oveing Memory Loss from Hibernation: The Brain Neural Electric Helmet!¡±
She blinked, surprised. ¡°Electric shocks¡ to the brain?¡±
She remembered her thesis¡ªhow she¡¯d wondered if electric stimtion could work. She moved to the mercenaries¡¯ spotlight, reading in silence.
Lin Xian waited, letting her absorb it. Emperor Gao Wen had called Du Yao a rare talent¡ªand he was right.
After over an hour, Du Yao looked up, thoughtful. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand all of it. But if those far-fetched ideas of mine could be realized, maybe they¡¯d fill in the gaps in this manuscript.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°How long would it take?¡±
¡°A year or two?¡± Du Yao shook her head. ¡°Maybe just a few months. This manuscript¡ it¡¯s given me new insights.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s make a deal,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I respect your ideals. Stay here if you must¡ªbut just for a year. My mercenaries will help. Thene back, and work on this. You¡¯ll have the resources to make a real difference.¡±
Du Yao thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Alright, Lin Xian. I trust you.¡±
Lin Xian extended his hand. ¡°Pleasure working with you. I¡¯ve already got ab set up for you in Donghai. Everything¡¯s ready.¡±
Du Yao took his hand, shaking it firmly. ¡°I hope I don¡¯t let you down. I¡¯ll give it my all.¡± She smiled. ¡°Tang Xin had good taste¡ªyou¡¯re a good man.¡±
Lin Xian returned the smile. ¡°And I know you¡¯ll help make this world a better ce.¡±
Chapter 460: Keyword Sentence Construction
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
A few dayster.
Lin Xian returned to Donghai City with Du Yao by his side, guiding her to the research institute he had arranged for her. ¡°Technically, I bought it,¡± Lin Xian admitted as he led her through the clean, modern facilities, ¡°but everything is officially listed under the institute¡¯s name.¡± He gestured around theb. ¡°Director Gao Yan has been really helpful. He made sure that no one can trace thisb back to me or the Rhine Company. Even the funding seems toe from the institute itself.¡±
Du Yao gave Lin Xian a yful look, tilting her head slightly. ¡°You must be pretty influential, huh?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s just say Director Gao appreciates my work. He¡¯s helped me more than I expected.¡±
He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. Next month, the Genius Club would meet again, and he knew Galileo would surely bring up the issue of solving hibernation memory loss. And Einstein? He would likely refuse to answer. Refusal would be as good as admitting the problem was tied to someone in the room.
If Du Yao made a breakthrough and published her results¡ well, that would make things too obvious. Best to proceed cautiously.
¡°Funding isn¡¯t an issue here,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°You¡¯ll have everything you need. The wholeb is under your control. You can hire whoever you want, but remember¡ªkeep the research focused on the neural field. Don¡¯t touch anything about solving memory loss during hibernation.¡±
¡°The notes on the Brain Neural Electric Helmet are quite thorough. Once you fill in the gaps and make a breakthrough, it should be straightforward to build.¡±Du Yao nodded, her eyes serious. ¡°Got it. Keep everything confidential. I¡¯ll stick to the n.¡±
¡°Besides,¡± Lin Xian added, smiling, ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with too many details. Breakthroughs in theory and direction oftene from a sudden sh of inspiration, not from piling up resources.¡± He looked at her meaningfully. ¡°Remember, you were the one who told me that. Newton¡¯s threews, thew of gravity¡ªall of those came from his shes of insight. The story about the apple might be exaggerated, but the idea behind it is real.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll focus on the neural breakthroughs,¡± Du Yao replied with a small smile. ¡°Anything else¡ªthat¡¯s your responsibility.¡±
When they finished their tour of theb, Du Yao leaned against one of theb benches, her hands resting on the edge, and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Next year, on Tang Xin¡¯s anniversary, will youe with me to visit her grave? I¡¯d like to bring our results to her and share the good news.¡±
After all, this was about finishing what Tang Xin had started¡ªfilling in thest missing piece of the hibernation puzzle. Tang Xin would be happy, wouldn¡¯t she?
Du Yao sighed, her gaze drifting to the window. ¡°She was always happy, always smiling. I can¡¯t remember her without that smile. She was such a cheerful person.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian promised. ¡°I have a lot to say to Tang Xin, too. We¡¯ll go together on her anniversary.¡±
It felt like everything was finally falling into ce. Thanks to Tang Xin¡¯s invisible hand, Lin Xian had earned Du Yao¡¯s trust quicker than he could have hoped.
In their conversations, Lin Xian realized that what mattered most to Du Yao wasn¡¯t his aplishments or even Tang Xin¡¯s regard for him¡ªit was the fact that he kept his word. He had avenged Tang Xin and cleared her name. To Du Yao, that made him someone she could trust¡ªsomeone who kept his promises.
With the researchb fully under Du Yao¡¯s control, Lin Xian took a step back, waiting for her to achieve results. He had prepared himself for changes in the dream, but when he entered the dream, it remained unchanged¡ªstill the same stifling, oppressive Eighth Dream. Miss Da Vinci¡¯s Saviour Company still ruled the future with its twisted management style.
No surprise there.
[The anchor point of no return hasn¡¯t formed yet. Temporal sticity hasn¡¯t been reached, and the future is still in flux.]
He couldn¡¯t let his guard down yet.
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. He would just have to wait and see how Galileo posed his questions at the next Genius Club meeting, and how Einstein would respond. If anything unexpected happened, he would protect Du Yao at all costs¡ªshe was humanity¡¯s only hope of solving the memory loss problem. ?
When Lin Xian returned home, he found a giant dandelion-like fluff ball rolling around by the door.
After a few days away, VV, the Pomeranian, seemed even rounder¡ªa fluffy little sphere.
¡°How did you get even fatter?¡± Lin Xian asked, amused.
On the couch, Zhao Ying Jun turned her head, smiling. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ve been feeding her too muchtely. More people around to feed her, plus I¡¯ve been home more often, so her feeding schedule¡¯s more consistent.¡±
¡°The problem is,¡± Zhao Ying Jun added, ¡°VV hasn¡¯t shaken her old eating habits. When she was on one meal a day, she gobbled it down like she was starving. So now, well, here we are.¡±
Lin Xian nudged VV gently with his foot. The little dog, belly bulging, struggled to her feet, waddled over, and gave him a reproachful look.
¡°You really shouldn¡¯t eat so much,¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°Your belly¡¯s bigger than a pregnantdy¡¯s.¡±
¡°Hey, not fair!¡± Zhao Ying Jun called him over. ¡°Feel this¡ªI¡¯m in my second trimester, and my belly¡¯s definitely starting to show. The doctor said I¡¯ll start feeling the baby move soon.¡±
Lin Xian sat down beside her, cing his hand gently on her slightly rounded belly. It really was starting to grow. The feeling filled him with wonder¡ªa sensation that was hard to put into words. Inside there¡
There was actually a little life.
A life that, years from now, would grow up, would sit on this very couch with them.
¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°You and I actually made a living, breathing person.¡±
¡°It sounds silly, but it really is incredible,¡± he continued. ¡°Even with all our advances in science, we can¡¯t artificially create true life. Yet for humans, it¡¯s such a natural thing.¡±
¡°Natural, sure,¡± Zhao Ying Junughed softly, ¡°but easy? Maybe for you. Not so much for me. Still, I¡¯m lucky¡ªthe morning sickness hasn¡¯t been too bad. Honestly, you just get to sit back and enjoy it all¡ªthepany, the baby, theb. You¡¯re a hands-off manager for life.¡±
¡°Is everything set with Du Yao? What¡¯s your next goal?¡±
Lin Xian leaned back against the couch. ¡°It¡¯s to find Chu An Qing, of course. That¡¯s my final goal¡ªthe promise I have to fulfill.¡±
¡°But right now, with how things are in the Genius Club, I can¡¯t ask directly about the Millennial Stake or the Universal Constant 42. If I ask, everyone will know what I¡¯m up to.¡± He sighed. ¡°At the next meeting, I think I¡¯ll ask about solving that future virus on thework¡ªthe one that can help bring VV back.¡±
The Pomeranian perked up at the sound of her name, her fluffy ears twitching as she looked towards Lin Xian, her eyes half-closed as if asking why she had been called.
¡°Not you,¡± Lin Xianughed at the dog, amused. ¡°I was talking about the superintelligent AI, VV. Poor thing must be tired of pretending to be just a cleaning bot.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun frowned thoughtfully. ¡°Speaking of VV¡ Didn¡¯t you mention a memory fragment with another VV? A guy with long hair and a beard? It¡¯s strange, you know? In a way, it¡¯s like there are three VVs, and it all started with our little dog.¡±
She paused, her brows furrowed. ¡°But I still don¡¯t get it. Aren¡¯t the memory fragments limited to her timeline, from 2604 to 2624? If that bearded VV is from your time, how does that even work? Did you somehow travel to the future with a time machine, or did you go into hibernation and wake up six hundred yearster?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Neither of those. First off, the time machine can¡¯t go to the future, so that¡¯s not an option. And as for hibernation, why would I sleep for six hundred years? Even if I did, I doubt I¡¯d end up looking so scruffy.¡± He gave a small shrug.
¡°Besides,¡± he added, ¡°the biggest mystery to me right now is the blue-eyed version of me that appeared in the dream. If my eyes were blue, it means I went through some kind of time warp. But the time machine won¡¯t be built until 2234, and the paradox of temporal rejection makes it impossible for me to have blue eyes and still look like myself.¡±
¡°It¡¯s all so contradictory,¡± he sighed. ¡°Especially when you add in Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s montage-like dreams. None of it makes any sense.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked down, thinking deeply. ¡°I think Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream might be connected to what you saw in your dream. At the very least, they¡¯re linked somehow. I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re entirely separate.¡±
¡°After all, the Millennial Stake is such a stable thing. For centuries, each Stake looks identical¡ªborn and dying at the exact same moment, down to the second,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued. ¡°So it makes sense that the Stake¡¯s dreams would be connected too.¡±
Lin Xian let out a deep breath. ¡°I think so too. But where¡¯s the logic that connects Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream to mine?¡± He suddenly had an idea. It reminded him of those exercises from elementary school¡ªthe ones where you had to make a sentence out of a set of words.
Maybe that was worth a shot.
Lin Xian reached under the coffee table and grabbed a pen and paper. He wrote down the keywords from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream and his own dream:
Explosion, white light, mushroom cloud, newspaper, 1952, fire, Einstein, Lin Xian with blue eyes.
¡°Let¡¯s y a game,¡± Lin Xian said, smiling at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Try to make a sentence using all these keywords. Make it as clear as possible.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, catching on. ¡°That could help us think it through.¡± She stared at the list of words, thought for a few moments, and began. ¡°In 1952, Einstein triggered a massive explosion, creating a huge mushroom cloud and white light. Everything was on fire¡ªnewspapers, houses, cities, even Lin Xian, who had blue eyes.¡±
¡°Not bad,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, ¡°but it makes Einstein sound like the viin and me the unfortunate victim.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, I know you. You¡¯re not the type to blow up an atomic bomb. Would you really set off a bomb just to destroy a city, or to kill someone, or to achieve some goal?¡±
¡°Of course not.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Even if it were a ¡®trolley problem¡¯ situation, where sesses with sacrifices, I can¡¯t imagine anyone being important enough to need an atomic bomb to kill them.¡±
¡°If someone can be killed with an atomic bomb, they could be taken down by a simple handgun,¡± he reasoned. ¡°And if they can¡¯t be killed with a handgun, then no bomb¡ªatomic or otherwise¡ªis going to do the trick. In the end, we¡¯re all just flesh and blood. Whether it¡¯s Einstein or Tyson, a gun doesn¡¯t care.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, seeing his point. She straightened up, trying again. ¡°A disaster struck¡ªwhite light, explosions, and fire spread across different timelines¡ª1952, where Einstein lived; some future time with Lin Xian; and the time when Zhang Yu Qian was reading a newspaper. All of it was consumed in the white light.¡±
¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Lin Xian said approvingly. ¡°I like the logic. But I¡¯m not sure the white light Zhang Yu Qian saw is the same as the one at 00:42 in my dream. The one in my dream came fast¡ªessentially at the speed of light.¡±
¡°When I saw that white light, the world ended in an instant. There wasn¡¯t even a moment to see the aftermath¡ªno fire, no explosions. That¡¯s why I think Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s white light was just that¡ªthe light from a mushroom cloud explosion. It didn¡¯t have the destructive power of the one in my dream.¡±
¡°Otherwise, how would she even have the chance to see it? At 00:42, the light wiped everything out instantly. There was no ¡®next second.''¡± He propped his chin on his hand, deep in thought. ¡°Maybe we need to dig deeper. Blue eyes mean time travel. So time travel is an implied keyword¡ªeven if we haven¡¯t said it out loud, we have to consider it.¡±
¡°So ¡®Lin Xian with blue eyes¡¯ could be split into three ideas: time travel, Lin Xian, and no temporal rejection,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said with a small smile. ¡°Makes sense. You¡¯ve experienced time travel, so you¡¯d know best.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t make me do all the guessing,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Give it a go yourself.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes. ¡°Let me think.¡± After a few seconds, images shed through her mind like a slideshow.
In 1952, Henry Dawson painted Einstein¡¯s portrait. The great physicist looked full of regret and despair, as if asking, ¡°Does humanity have a future?¡± Zhang Yu Qian spun around with her camera on awn. Chu An Qing jumped from 20,000 meters high, holding a spacetime particle trap, wishing everyone goodnight beside the campfire¡¯s warm glow.
The long-haired, bearded man¡ªVV¡ªwielded a de swiftly, unstoppable, only to pause when faced with a safe¡¯sbination, hesitating at the sight of a young child.
At the Genius Club, an elderly figure wearing an Einstein mask rose from the high tform and pointed a finger to the sky, promising to create a better future for humanity.
An isted figure¡ªYellow Finch¡ªturned to smile at the Little Mermaid Statue, before copsing into Lin Xian¡¯s arms, transforming into blue stardust. A weak and distant hand brushed against his cheek, imploring him not to leave Yu Xi.
Yu Xi, falling back against a powerful temporal assassin, her eyes glimmering faintly blue as she cried, ¡°Daddy!¡± before rushing toward the assassin with blue eyes, disintegrating into blue snowkes over Donghai City.
Pushing open the door to Big Cat Face¡¯s room in the Second Dream¡ªwalls and ceiling covered in the number 42. No crack or crevice untouched. Each ¡°42¡± interwoven like a spider¡¯s web, yet not a single line ovepping.
Temporal particles, glowing blue, leaping from one timeline to another, bringing with them energy foreign to this spacetime¡ªhope for a future yet toe.
00:42 in the bathroom, Lin Xian looked up from the mirror, a small smile ying on his lips. He held a finger to his lips in a ¡°shush¡± gesture, then ced an invitation to the Genius Club on the sink.
All these real and unreal scenes flickered through Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s mind before she slowly opened her eyes.
She looked down at the scattered words on the paper¡ªa chaotic mess with no apparent connection. She spoke softly: ¡°Lin Xian traveled back to 1952, his eyes turning blue. He found a man wearing an Einstein mask and tried to solve the mystery of the Millennial Stake, which led to a temporal explosion as powerful as an atomic bomb. In the white light, everything was reduced to nothingness.¡±
Chapter 461: Copenhagen
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Zhao Ying Jun furrowed her brow, her face showing deep concentration.
¡°Why does it feel like the more we add, the less sense it makes? It seems like there are still missing links between these key points¡ or maybe we¡¯re still missing some crucial keywords.¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, looking a bit flustered.
¡°You might be right,¡± he admitted. ¡°These Millennial Stakes have only shown fragments of some event¡ªbits and pieces of the same story. With so few clues, it¡¯s hard to make sense of it all.¡±
¡°But one thing is for sure,¡± he continued, pausing for effect, ¡°the year 1952 hides an incredibly important secret¡ªsomething crucial.¡±
He let out a sigh. ¡°If only we had a time machine. I¡¯ve already got those entangled spacetime particles all set up; it would be amazing to go back to 1952 and see everything firsthand. But thatet carrying Astatine-339 won¡¯t reach Earth until 2234, and until then, time travel is impossible¡ªwhich is just a massive headache.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun tilted her head thoughtfully.
¡°Maybe you could try asking Einstein. Sure, he¡¯ll probably say, ¡®I refuse to answer, question void,¡¯ but if you¡¯re clever and indirect, maybe you could get him to reveal something useful.¡±¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Lin Xian nodded, tearing up the paper full of keywords and tossing it into the trash. ¡°Sometimes Einstein refusing to answer isn¡¯t all bad. If the question is just right, his refusal itself can be confirmation.¡±
He suddenly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s put that aside for now. Look here¡ªI booked an appointment at the registry office for September 20th so we can get our marriage license. My mom had someone check the date¡ªit¡¯s the eighteenth of the eighth lunar month, a very lucky day. Apparently, it matches well with both our zodiac signs and the elements in our birth charts. What do you think¡ªshould we go get our marriage license then?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help butugh at his serious demeanor.
¡°It¡¯s so funny to think that the same guy who was just talking to me about Einstein, time travel, and logic is now talking about auspicious dates and zodiac signs. You¡¯re a perfect blend of science and superstition.¡±
¡°Hey, all of us in X Country are like this.¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, after all. Why not make it a little lucky?¡±
¡°Once we get our marriage license, we¡¯ll be officially married. We could even start nning our honeymoon. If we catch the end of summer, we could go to Copenhagen right after getting the license.¡±
¡°From October onward, your belly¡¯s only going to get bigger, and it won¡¯t be good for long trips anymore. This is the perfect chance to make your wishe true and see the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. Copenhagen was a ce she and Lin Xian had long promised to visit together.
But more than that, she wanted to meet Yellow Finch¡ªto see the future version of herself.
¡
September 20th. At the Civil Affairs Bureau in Chun¡¯an County, Hang City, Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun received their marriage license.
Lin Xian¡¯s parents beamed with joy. To them, it seemed like happiness after happiness kept arriving at their doorstep. Everything had fallen neatly into ce, solving so many issues.
They weren¡¯t going to have a formal wedding, but the celebrations were still happening¡ªthere had to be feasts and family gatherings. After the banquet in Hang City, they headed to the Capital City for the return banquet. Once that was done, they set off from the airport, flying to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Together, they retraced Yellow Finch¡¯s steps¡ªfrom Andersen¡¯s Cemetery to Amalienborg Pce. As the sun dipped low, they walked toward the shore, to the shallow waters where the Little Mermaid statue stood.
The zing sun sank beneath the water, painting the sea a warm shade of orange.
Gentle wavespped against the rocks, sending droplets sshing onto the bronze mermaid, making it glisten softly.
¡°Yellow Finch said she never managed to make it here with her Lin Xian,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
On the beach, Lin Xian held Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand, their bare feet sinking into the soft sand as they walked toward the sea. Today, Zhao Ying Jun wore a white sundress, silver earrings, and a wide-brimmed sun hat. ?
She had once told Lin Xian she didn¡¯t like dresses¡ªhadn¡¯t worn one since her teens. But now, with her growing belly, those tight-fitting clothes were definitely out. For the first time, she had gone shopping for some loose dresses.
Honeymoons were meant for rxing, after all. Just the two of them, no need for formality. But her habit of matching her essories¡¯ colors¡ªthat wasn¡¯t going anywhere.
She had once exined to Lin Xian why Yellow Finch chose blue earrings. It was because they matched her blue eyes, sticking to the three-color rule. Lin Xian didn¡¯t quite agree.
¡°I think,¡± he argued, ¡°that she wore them because I said I liked blue and thought it looked nice.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun had twisted his arm in response, scolding him for his vanity.
¡°Are you Yellow Finch, or am I? Feeling pretty proud of yourself now, aren¡¯t you, Lin Xian? You¡¯re getting a bit big-headed!¡±
Lin Xian knew better than to argue with a pregnant woman. He surrendered.
Their footprints trailed behind them, four rows of imprints leading slowly to the tides.
The salty sea breeze ruffled their hair.
They stood where the waves just barely covered their ankles. Lin Xian spoke again, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
¡°Yellow Finch said it wasn¡¯t her Lin Xian who broke his promise¡ªit was her. I¡¯ve never quite understood what she meant by that.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun gazed at the Little Mermaid statue bathed in the golden glow of sunset, taking a deep breath of the salty air.
¡°At least,¡± she said softly, ¡°you came here with her¡ªand with me. We must always try to keep moving forward, stepping towards a better future.¡±
Lin Xian turned to look at Zhao Ying Jun, herrge sunhat casting a shadow across her face.
¡°You¡¯re saying the exact same thing as Yellow Finch,¡± he said with a smile.
¡°Well, of course,¡± Zhao Ying Jun grinned. ¡°After all, we are the same person.¡±
¡°So, in many ways, I do understand her. We think the same way, we care about the same person.¡±
She turned her gaze towards the statue, the bronze mermaid¡¯s expression caught between mncholy and hope.
¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here¡ªin Copenhagen. Lin Xian, everything Yellow Finch did was to ensure that you stood on the lessons learned from failure and walked towards sess. She wanted you to have a life without regrets. If she could see us now, I¡¯m sure she¡¯d be proud.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun closed her eyes, feeling the breeze against her face. It was almost as if, just a few steps away, there stood her future self, her blue eyes filled with the reflection of her younger self.
¡°Thank you,¡± Zhao Ying Jun whispered.
On this beach stood a brave hero, one who crossed the boundaries of time to guide Lin Xian to the right path¡ªand then handed him to her.
Now, it was her turn to carry the torch.
Suddenly, she felt a warmth in her belly. Almost as if¡ª
Something moved, kicking her from within.
She gasped, her eyes snapping open.
¡°Lin Xian! Lin Xian!¡± she grabbed his hand and pressed it against her stomach. ¡°Feel this¡ªthe baby just kicked me! It was just now¡ I swear, it kicked!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up as he ced his hand there, curiosity evident in his expression.
But nothing happened.
¡°Maybe it was just a false rm.¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°I read that you usually feel the baby move around the fourth month. You¡¯re not quite three months yet¡ªit¡¯s a bit early.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked, her face softening. ¡°No, it was real¡ Maybe the baby felt something too.¡±
She tilted her head up, her gaze fixed on Lin Xian. ¡°By the way, wasn¡¯t it right here, in this very spot, that you first heard the name Yu Xi?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°It was after Yellow Finch taught me two of the time rules. She told me, ¡®Never leave Yu Xi.¡¯ I remember thinking long and hard about it, trying to figure out who or what Yu Xi was. It took a lot of things happening before I finally realized that our daughter¡¯s name would be Yu Xi.
¡°For the longest time, I overthought it¡ªtrying to find some deep, hidden meaning. But in the end, it wasn¡¯tplicated at all. There was no mystery, no hidden twist.¡± Lin Xian smiled softly. ¡°Yellow Finch was just telling me, in and simple¡ªdon¡¯t leave your daughter this time. Don¡¯t let her grow up an orphan. Stay by her side, watch her grow.¡±
Lin Xian paused, looking out towards the horizon. ¡°I think that must have been Yellow Finch¡¯s regret¡ªshe must have lost me in some other timeline. To change our fate, she came here alone. At some point, she chose the world over her daughter¡ªshe left Yu Xi behind, made her an orphan.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun took a step closer to the statue, turning to face Lin Xian as she shook her head.
¡°No,¡± she said firmly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t regret it.¡±
The sun dipped lower, casting its crimson glow on the beach. Zhao Ying Jun raised her head, her silhouette framed against the sky, her face illuminated by the red of the setting sun.
For a fleeting moment, Lin Xian could almost see Yellow Finch standing before him.
¡°She wouldn¡¯t regret it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun repeated softly. ¡°Yellow Finch knew better than anyone that a future without a tomorrow has no meaning. To scrape by, to merely survive, is enough for ordinary people.
¡°But you¡¯re not ordinary, Lin Xian. You¡¯re not just one of the masses¡ªyou have the ability to change everything, to save the future from falling apart.¡±
She took a deep breath, her eyes unwavering.
¡°The higher your position, the heavier your responsibility. We might not know the true goal of the Genius Club, but I do agree with what they wrote in their charter.
¡°If we were just ordinary people, we could ignore theing disasters, turn a blind eye to the fate of human civilization. Because we wouldn¡¯t have the power, and history wouldn¡¯t me those whock the means.
¡°But what if¡ we aren¡¯t ordinary?¡±
She looked at Lin Xian, her eyes locking onto his.
¡°I was ordinary once¡ªbut being with you made me extraordinary. Have you ever wondered, out of all the billions of people on Earth, why it¡¯s only you who can see the future in your dreams?
¡°I believe ites with a responsibility. You¡¯re different, even from the other geniuses in the club. You have a duty greater than anyone else¡¯s.
¡°You have an ability no one else has, which means you must do what no one else can do.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°That¡¯s why Yellow Finch crossed time to find you¡ªwhy she left her daughter behind. It¡¯s why I trust you now, no matter how hard this path will be. I believe you can walk it to the end, that you will save this world and give humanity a future.¡±
Lin Xian looked at her silhouette against the setting sun, her shadow ovepping with the Little Mermaid statue behind her. It felt as if he were having a conversation across time.
Perhaps this was Yellow Finch¡¯s true belief¡ª
What is greater, the world or one¡¯s family?
But just as Zhao Ying Jun had said¡ªwithout the world, there is no family.
The great disasters of 2400 and the apocalypse of 2624¡ªthey seemed so distant, far-off concerns.
But generations woulde, and their descendants would face those catastrophes.
Many people wouldugh and say, ¡°Why should I care about something that happens hundreds of years from now?¡±
And maybe, for ordinary people, that thinking wasn¡¯t wrong.
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of the members of the Genius Club. They each had their own goals, their own agendas, but were any of them living solely for pleasure or corruption?
No.
Each of them could have used Einstein¡¯s omniscience to lead a life of luxury and ease¡ªbut what were they doing instead?
Whatever you thought of their actions or methods, they were all fighting, each in their own way, for a better future for humanity.
None of them were living for today alone. Even Copernicus, hated by so many, had been scheming, right to his dying breath, to achieve his future ns.
¡°So Yellow Finch wouldn¡¯t regret it,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said firmly. ¡°And neither will I, no matter what.¡±
A sudden gust of wind swept across the beach, catching Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s sun hat and sending it soaring into the air.
They both turned, watching as the hat flew like a bird migrating for the winter, carried by the wind over the sea, beyond the clouds, heading to the other side of the world.
Lin Xian stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Zhao Ying Jun from behind. He smiled faintly.
¡°It seems like we might just have a listener,¡± he said.
¡°Make that two.¡± Zhao Ying Jun nced down at her belly. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to confess, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xian tilted his head, puzzled.
Zhao Ying Jun twirled a stray lock of hair around her finger, tucking it behind her ear.
¡°You know how you wanted to keep it a surprise¡ªwanted to wait until the baby was born to find out if it¡¯s a boy or a girl?¡± She bit her lip, looking almost guilty. ¡°Well¡ I couldn¡¯t help myself. I went to a private clinic and asked the doctor to check.¡±
She looked up at him, her smile radiant.
¡°But¡ it¡¯s good news for you.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened, the earlier tension dissolving as joy spread across his face.
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Really.¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded, her smile growing. ¡°It¡¯s a girl¡ªwe¡¯re having a daughter.¡±
Lin Xianughed, his face lighting up with happiness.
¡°I knew it!¡± He grabbed her hands excitedly. ¡°See, I told you¡ªwe didn¡¯t need to get rid of Yu Xi¡¯s old clothes and toys. Her favorite set¡ªwe¡¯ll keep it for her to wear in another ten years!¡±
Zhao Ying Jun couldn¡¯t help but giggle, tapping his nose with her finger.
¡°You¡¯re going to have a hard time exining to our daughter why all her things are old and out of date. No matter how convincing you make your story sound, she¡¯ll never believe it.¡±
She nced at him, raising an eyebrow. ¡°But I suppose you don¡¯t have to worry about picking a name anymore?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his smile softening. ¡°No need. Our daughter¡ªshe¡¯s been here with us all along. She already has her unique, irreceable name.¡±
He knelt down, wrapping his arms around Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s waist, resting his forehead gently against her belly.
He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the lingering sunlight, breathing in the salty ocean air, listening to the gentle rustle of the waves.
In a soft voice, he spoke to her.
¡°Yu Xi¡¡±
¡°Daddy¡¯s here.¡±
Chapter 462: Everyone Refuses
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
After a short honeymoon, Lin Xian found himself back home, and before he knew it, the day of the Genius Club gathering had arrived.
October 1, 2024. 12:20 a.m.
Lin Xian sat alone in his study, rolling the golden badge that served as his ID between his fingers. He was already thinking about the questions he¡¯d soon face. Everything on Du Yao¡¯s end was settled; she and her invention were now fully tied to him. Theoretically, this meant that if Galileo questioned him again, Einstein would surely refuse to answer.
If everything went smoothly.
But when it came to his turn to ask, what should he inquire about? Lin Xian recalled his previous list of questions¡ªMillennial Stake, Universal Constant 42, the truth behind the 00:42 extinction event. All of them were too sensitive. This wasn¡¯t the right time.
Which left only one option.
¡°I¡¯ll ask about getting rid of the future virus in thework and reviving super AI VV,¡± Lin Xian decided.
He looked at the VR sses on his desk and remembered Galileo¡¯s irritated look from thest meeting.Forget it. He wouldn¡¯t arrive early and sit around just to watch Galileo get all frustrated. It wasn¡¯t worth it for just a little amusement.
Meanwhile
The grand hall of the virtual Genius Club meeting ce. Therge, brown double doors slowly creaked open, revealing a graceful figure.
¡°Oh?¡±
A woman wearing a Da Vinci mask looked at the seats, noticing that, once again, only Galileo was already seated.
¡°Rhine¡¯s not here yet?¡± she asked, strolling closer.
¡°Young people, you know,¡± Galileo chuckled, ¡°they love being right on time. For them, arriving early is a rare urrence¡ªmost of the time, they show up exactly on time.¡±
Da Vinci took her ce in seat No. 5, crossing her legs and leaning back. She looked across at the man wearing the Galileo mask. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t assume Rhine is young just because of his virtual avatar. Most people¡¯s avatars here are totally made up.¡±
¡°Yours is a middle-aged man; mine is a young woman. Newton looks like a young guy, and Turing¡¯s avatar is a little kid. Are we supposed to take any of them seriously?¡±
She paused, then added, ¡°Besides, Rhine said his daughter liked the Rhine Cat toy. If he has a daughter, he must be at least in his thirties or forties.¡±
Galileo gave a dismissive chuckle and shook his head. ¡°Can you believe anything anyone says here? Rhine once imed his father and daughter were both killed by Copernicus. You remember how mad Copernicus got? He was about to jump up and call Rhine a liar.¡±
¡°So, Da Vinci, don¡¯t be so gullible. But one thing¡¯s certain: As people grow older, their way of speaking changes. A young person can try to sound wise, but you can always tell. And an old person trying to sound young? That¡¯s usually just embarrassing.¡± ?¦Á
¡°From that alone, I¡¯m sure Rhine is young. Probably around Turing¡¯s age¡ªearly twenties, maybe even younger.¡±
He sighed. ¡°At that age, managing to get an invite to this club¡ well, it¡¯s impressive. But that silly cat mask kind of drags down the image.¡±
Da Vinci shook her head slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t agree. Rhine¡¯s mask is perfect for hiding his real identity and purpose. Rhine Cat dolls are everywhere. The Rhine brand cosmetics sell globally, and every kid loves those Rhine Cat toys.¡±
¡°Rhine is smart. His questions always follow yours¡ªrepeating or adding on. It¡¯s almost impossible to figure out his true intent.¡±
Galileo was silent for a while, then took a deep breath. ¡°I may not know Rhine¡¯s ns, but I¡¯ve figured out yours, Da Vinci.¡±
¡°Figured them out?¡± Da Vinci smiled, unimpressed. ¡°Then you¡¯ve figured out nothing.¡±
Galileo¡¯s masked face turned towards her. ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt, Da Vinci. Your future n is bound to fail. You want to change everyone with human kindness. That¡¯s just too idealistic.¡±
¡°Like I saidst time¡ª¡±
¡°¡®You can¡¯t make me feel the greatness of humanity, and that means there are countless others like me you can¡¯t change.¡¯¡±
Da Vinci straightened, tilting her head slightly. ¡°So?¡±
¡°Are you going to debate humanity versus raw power with me again today?¡± she asked. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t want to argue, Galileo. It¡¯s obvious we have conflicting visions of the future. I want a world filled with kindness and humanity¡¯s light, while you want one of brute strength. They can¡¯t coexist. It¡¯s sad, but it¡¯s like our seats¡ªwe¡¯re destined to be opponents.¡±
Galileo shrugged. ¡°Fair enough. This sh of visions, resources, and ideas¡ªit will be the battleground for us geniuses.¡±
¡°Copernicus and Turing were eliminated because their visions shed with Elon Musk¡¯s.¡± He hesitated. ¡°I underestimated Musk. I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d kill two geniuses so decisively, despite his public identity.¡±
¡°But what is he sticking to now, when he knows the Mars immigration n is doomed to fail?¡±
Da Vinci gave a meaningful smile. ¡°The future isn¡¯t fixed, Galileo. People change. Even you.¡±
Galileoughed. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯ll be moved by humanity someday? Changed by kindness and innocence?¡±
¡°Come on, Da Vinci. We¡¯re not little kids anymore. Fairy tales are fairy tales because grown-ups know better than to believe in ¡®happily ever after.¡¯¡±
He paused, then added, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m curious. If you know we¡¯re on opposing sides, what if you learned my real identity one day? Would you kill me?¡±
¡°Why would I?¡± Da Vinciughed, genuinely surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t be so extreme, Galileo. The world isn¡¯t ck or white. We¡¯re always choosing the best path, not just picking between fixed options.¡±
Creak
The double doors opened again, and Elon Musk, wearing his Te mask, waved at them. ¡°What¡¯s the conversation? Mind if I join?¡±
At 12:42 a.m., the Genius Club gathering officially began. The attendees were the same asst time: Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Da Vinci, Gauss, Te, and Rhine.
¡°I have no questions,¡± Newton announced, as always. Aside from asking about Copernicusst time, Lin Xian had never seen Newton ask anything.
Being the oldest member, Newton had probably asked all he wanted in thest century. Not asking questions protected himself and limited others¡ªfewer answers for others meant an advantage for him.
¡°Your turn, Galileo,¡± Einstein, the club president, said.
¡°Same asst time,¡± Galileo said softly. ¡°Last time, you said to solve the hibernation memory loss problem, we could focus on neural research. So my question is¡¡±
¡°Tell me which scientist or schr can achieve a breakthrough in this field. I need their identity.¡±
¡°If this scientist isn¡¯t from this era or hasn¡¯t been born yet, please specify the time when they will be active.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his thumb and index finger together, waiting silently for Einstein¡¯s response.
After a few seconds, Einstein shook his head. ¡°Refusal. Question void.¡±
The small figure of Gauss spoke first, raising his head. ¡°But¡st meeting¡ you said¡¡±
¡°Interesting,¡± Newton pped slowly, enjoying the show. ¡°Galileo, looks like you were too straightforwardst time. Someone got ahead of you!¡±
¡°Who could it be? All Einstein mentioned was ¡®neural research,¡¯ and someone still got the jump on you. Must mean¡ someone was eavesdropping,¡± Newton said.
Elon Musk joined in, pping as well. ¡°Congrats, Galileo! Someone here figured you out, and found the scientist before you did.¡±
¡°I¡¯d love to know how they managed it so quickly. Amazing work!¡±
Lin Xian sighed. Seriously? Could Musk stop pointing the missiles at him for once?
Galileo was just as shocked by Einstein¡¯s answer. He found it hard to believe. There were millions of researchers in the neural field¡ªhow could someone have narrowed it down and stolen his lead?
He slowly scanned the room, looking at each member¡ªfrom Newton on the left, to Gauss on his right.
Clearly, someone here was preparing for long-term hibernation, just like him, but more secretly and effectively.
Galileoughed. ¡°Well, if someone else is working on the hibernation memory loss problem, that¡¯s good news for all of us.¡±
¡°I wish that genius the best of luck in making this happen. It would be convenient for everyone¡ªespecially those of us who are a bit older. The main reason we resist hibernation is the memory loss. If that can be solved, I¡¯ll dly join.¡±
¡°Otherwise, we¡¯re stuck waking up every ten years. I don¡¯t know how many more times these old bones can take that.¡±
Newton shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be so optimistic, Galileo. What if someone didn¡¯t find this scientist to coborate with¡ªwhat if they killed them instead?¡±
¡°For anyone wanting to eliminate us older members who hold all the power, wiping out the chance of keeping our memories would be a great n, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
Gauss nodded thoughtfully. ¡°True¡ to control the narrative and maintain power, keeping memory loss might be the fairest way¡ the most equal.¡±
Wait. Why was no one interrupting him this time? Gauss looked up, only to find himself face to face with Galileo¡¯s cold stare.
¡°N¨CNot me,¡± Gauss stammered, waving his hands defensively. ¡°I was just¡ logically analyzing it.¡±
Einstein turned towards Da Vinci. ¡°Your question?¡±
¡°I want to know when the next global disaster will happen,¡± she said, ¡°and how close we are to it.¡±
After a few seconds of silence, Einstein shook his head. ¡°Refusal. Question void.¡±
Another silence filled the room. Clearly, Da Vinci had hit the mark.
Einstein¡¯s refusal meant¡
The answer¡ªor the question itself¡ªhad something to do with one of them.
Elon Musk snorted. ¡°So that means there will be a global disaster, and it¡¯ll be caused by someone here.¡±
¡°But how could someone create a global disaster? No human has that kind of power. Unless they n to detonate every nuclear bomb in the world?¡±
¡°That¡¯s crazy,¡± Galileo muttered, shaking his head. ¡°Truly insane.¡±
¡°I thought everyone here, except Copernicus, had some limits. But it seems I¡¯ve overestimated people¡¯s decency.¡±
He smiled at Da Vinci. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Da Vinci? Why would you ask such a question?¡±
Da Vinci smiled back. ¡°I asked it because if it were my n, Einstein would have answered. Our rules allow us to reveal our own ns. We just can¡¯t ask about others¡¯.¡±
¡°So, if you¡¯re so open, Galileo, why not repeat my question next time, ask Einstein yourself?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± Galileo said casually. ¡°Though I¡¯ve got plenty of other things to ask first. It might have to wait.¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent. He understood what was happening all too well¡ªfar more than the others.
From his perspective, 600 years in the future, he could see it clearly.
Galileo and Da Vinci were testing each other. Last time, Da Vinci asked about energy breakthroughs. Now, she was asking about global disasters.
It lined up perfectly with what happened in the Eighth Dream.
Energy breakthroughs¡ªDa Vinci must be concerned about powering her androids, exining her interest. Asking about global disasters? She was preparing to lead humanity and rebuild civilization, just like the events of the Eighth Dream.
He could be almost certain now¡ªthe Savior Company, androids, all of it was Da Vinci¡¯s doing.
As for Galileo, his evasiveness was suspicious. Da Vinci had clearly hit a nerve.
Lin Xian could only sigh. Love truly made people foolish, even geniuses.
Though, from an outsider¡¯s perspective, Galileo probably didn¡¯t seem to be struggling. Members like Gauss or Elon Musk likely thought they were just speaking in riddles, missing the real point.
After Gauss declined to ask anything, Einstein turned to Musk. ¡°Te, any questions this time?¡±
¡°None.¡± Musk shook his head.
It seemed he was ying it safe, too. No more risky moves. The previous questions had shown that even a refused question could reveal a lot.
Finally, Einstein turned to Lin Xian, focusing on the Rhine Cat mask. ¡°Rhine, your turn.¡±
Lin Xian asked the question he had prepared.
¡°There is a virus in thework, targeting super AI. I want to know how to get rid of it.¡±
Lin Xian was ready for the answer to be far off, but¡
Einstein shook his head again. ¡°Refusal. Question void.¡±
And with that, the meeting ended.
Three questions from three geniuses¡ªall refused.
It was a standoff, neither side giving an inch.
Da Vinci chuckled. ¡°Interesting. Looks like this virus is connected to Turing¡¯s future n, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Why do you say that?¡± Lin Xian asked, curious.
She¡¯d guessed correctly. The virus, meant to kill the super AI, hade from the future USB drive fake Yu Xi had given to Musk.
Lin Xian and Musk had both suspected Turing was behind sending Yu Xi back. But¡
How did Da Vinci know?
¡°It¡¯s easy to guess. You were justtest time,¡± Da Vinci said, looking at Lin Xian¡¯s mask.
¡°At thest meeting, Turing asked a simr question, and Einstein answered. But now, he¡¯s refusing¡ doesn¡¯t that say something?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. It made sense.
When Turing asked, Einstein had answered, meaning it didn¡¯t involve any other member¡¯s n. Since Turing was the secondst to join, it had to be part of his future vision.
Lin Xian thought quickly. Musk must not know this, or he¡¯d be more cautious. It was possible Turing had asked when Musk wasn¡¯t present, perhaps deliberately.
What a group of schemers. Still¡
Good thing old is gold. Having experienced members like Einstein was a blessing.
Even with Einstein refusing now, Da Vinci knew the answer.
Lin Xian smiled at her, using Galileo¡¯s ybook.
¡°Miss Da Vinci, could you stay for a while after the meeting?¡± he asked.
¡°Perhaps we could do a little information exchange.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 463: Exchange of Information
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Since Turing had asked a simr question before and Elon Musk hadn¡¯t attended that particr meeting, only Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Da Vinci, and Gauss had heard the answer.
Now, Copernicus was dead, so he was out of the picture.
Lin Xian would have preferred to exchange information with Newton or Gauss, but the problem was, they weren¡¯t necessarily interested. Newton and Gauss held the kind of knowledge Lin Xian needed, but Lin Xian himself had nothing that would pique their interest. It would be foolish to expect these old geniuses to be tricked with empty promises. If they didn¡¯t deceive him, that would already be a favor.
As for Galileo, Lin Xian knew quite a lot about the information Galileo wanted. Whether it was about spacetime particles,ets, Astatine-339, or the Brain Neural Electric Helmet, Lin Xian had plenty of things that would interest Galileo.
From a purely practical standpoint, an exchange of information with Galileo was feasible. However, on a personal level, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t willing to do it.
First of all, Galileo was a sly, cunning old man. Lies rolled off his tongue with no effort, and he could say them without blushing or breaking a sweat. Lin Xian had no desire to exchange genuine information for lies.
Secondly, the information Galileo wanted was all extremely crucial, each piece touching on a core secret. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t about to risk so much for an uncertain oue.
Andstly, there was a good chance that Galileo was behind the Great Catastrophe of 2400. Such an anti-human viin, who nearly wiped out human civilization and repeatedly lost track of both himself and crucial vaults of secrets, was someone Lin Xian would only work with if there were no other choice.In contrast, there was Miss Da Vinci.
Even though the future world of the Eighth Dreamscape was oppressive and distorted, Miss Da Vinci¡¯s original intentions weren¡¯t bad. Without her Savior Corporation, human civilization might really have been extinguished by Galileo.
Looking back from the future, Lin Xian knew Miss Da Vinci well enough. Moreover, the bargaining chips he had to exchange with her wouldn¡¯t harm him.
To be safe, he wasn¡¯t nning to tell Miss Da Vinci anything about the Great Catastrophe of 2400. Instead, he was going to use ¡°The Current Situation of the Eighth Dreamscape¡± as his bargaining chip. Essentially, he nned to tell Miss Da Vinci directly that her future ns wouldn¡¯t seed¡ªshe either needed to abandon them or take a different route.
If she, like Elon Musk, could see the error of her ways, that would be great. If she didn¡¯t listen, that was fine too. Lin Xian would have done his best. In return, he just wanted some information about the ¡°Future Virus.¡±
It could be considered a fair trade.
The ¡°Meeting of Total Rejection¡± continued for a short while, as the geniuses discussed among themselves. Lin Xian could tell that everyone was being very cautious, giving nothing away, each ying their part to perfection. After President Einstein announced the end of the meeting, the virtual avatars of the participants began disappearing one by one.
Lin Xian and Da Vinci remained seated.
Galileo was thest to stand up. He looked at Lin Xian¡¯s Rhine Cat mask onest time. He was courteous enough, not saying anything more. With a gesture of removing his VR headset, his virtual image became transparent and vanished.
Now, the vast golden hall was left with only Lin Xian and Da Vinci.
Einstein didn¡¯t seem interested in whatever the two of them were going to discuss. After announcing the end of the meeting, he had descended the stairs at the back, disappearing to who knows where. Da Vinci turned to look at Lin Xian.
¡°Rhine, what information do you n to exchange with me?¡± she asked.
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say, but through certain means, I¡¯ve managed to guess your future ns. I can point out the ws and the points of failure in your n as my bargaining chip in exchange for the question Turing asked and Einstein¡¯s answer.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± Miss Da Vinci seemed indifferent. ¡°Today is really something. First Galileo says he¡¯s guessed about seventy or eighty percent of my future ns, and now you¡¯re here to point out my ws and loopholes. You all are so straightforward, it¡¯s almost making me lose face.¡± She shook her head, smiling.
¡°However, though we haven¡¯t met many times, I do have a rather good impression of you, so I have no problem with this information exchange.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°But when you say you¡¯ve guessed my n, I still have some doubts. After all, I think I¡¯ve hidden it very deeply, and no one should have discovered it.¡± She looked at Lin Xian and said, ¡°So, why don¡¯t you start by exining? I promise I won¡¯t deceive you in what you want to know, because there¡¯s no need for me to deceive you.¡±
¡°Firstly, this isn¡¯t some valuable or secret information,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°And secondly, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m the only one who knows it. Newton, Galileo, and Gauss know it too. You can verify it with them anytime. I can¡¯t afford the shame of deceiving a junior with lies.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°No problem. Deal.¡± He continued, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go ahead and exin.¡±
Just as he had thought, Miss Da Vinci was indeed a reasonable and kind person. This was why Lin Xian wanted to tell her the oue in advance. Someone like Copernicus, who was just in evil, could be dealt with directly. But for someone like Miss Da Vinci, whose well-intentioned actions might lead to mistakes, a simple conversation could prevent misunderstandings. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, and Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to y the role of a time cop.
¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken,¡± Lin Xian began softly, ¡°your future n involves using humanoid robots and mechanical beings as ¡®role models¡¯ to help and guide people in rebuilding a civilized society, correct?¡±
There was a long pause.
Miss Da Vinci stayed silent for a couple of seconds before she smiled. ¡°And then?¡±
Lin Xian continued without missing a beat, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what your purpose was in asking about a global catastrophe during today¡¯s meeting, but I suspect you intend to use such an opportunity to help mechanical beings establish credibility and gain humanity¡¯s trust.
¡°For any system to be dismantled, there must be a destructive catalyst that leads to something new. Once people ce their trust in these wless, tireless, and incredibly capable mechanical beings, they¡¯ll start giving them more and more responsibilities.
¡°At first, it might just be simple manualbor. But gradually, society will grow increasingly dependent on these beings. Eventually, they¡¯ll be doing everything, even the most critical tasks. One day, mechanical beings could be the leaders of cities, maybe even the rulers of the world.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s description was intentionally imprecise. He made sure to get a lot wrong¡ªjust enough to make it seem usible, as if he were guessing. After all, he had said from the start that he had ¡°guessed¡± her future ns through some means. A guess couldn¡¯t be 100% urate.
If he naively told the whole truth, it would certainly reveal his ability to see the future.
So, this was enough.
Lin Xian shifted in his seat, leaning back against the chair, looking ahead calmly. ¡°Mechanical beings are different from humans. Theyck emotions and are strictly bound by programming and regtions. Therefore, they won¡¯t make mistakes. They are ideal role models¡ªeach one an elite, a symbol of excellence, a perfect standard of civility.¡±
¡°And most people,¡± he added, ¡°tend to follow others. When everyone around them does something, they follow. When others believe something is right, they believe it too. Gradually, as mechanical beings take control, people will begin to emte them, bing more civilized, more diligent, and kinder.¡±
Da Vinci listened in silence, showing no reaction, as though she were listening to a story about someone else. Her tone was calm when she spoke.
¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± she asked. ¡°People are influenced by their surroundings. In a silent library, they lower their voices. In a noisy market, they raise them. If people live in an environment full of kindness and civility, they will naturally reflect those values. cing someone in a city of virtue versus a city of vice will produce two entirely different results. People need guidance, and I believe robots, who never make mistakes, are the perfect role models.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t deny that your theory is correct. The problem is that theory is one thing, reality is another.¡±
¡°If we assume your n for the future is as I described, then the oue is inevitable¡ªa repressive, rigid, stifling world. Do you know why?¡± He looked at Da Vinci, her face hidden behind the mask. ¡°The reason is simple¡ªhuman nature.¡±
¡°Every system has its loopholes, and every age has those who exploit them. Just as teachers in school know that one bad apple can spoil the bunch, human society functions simrly. Rules andws are initially created to restrain the few who break them. If everyone were as good as you, Miss Da Vinci, we wouldn¡¯t needws or regtions.¡±
¡°So that¡¯s what I want to tell you. The reason your n is destined to fail isn¡¯tplex. It¡¯s simple. There will always be people who find loopholes, and in trying to correct that, more detailed rules will need to be established. But loopholes are endless. As long as people have freedom and can speak, they will find ways to bend the rules.
¡°Eventually, the world will end up in a vicious cycle¡ªpeople exploiting loopholes, more rules being made, and then more exploitation. In the end, human behavior will be so restricted that people won¡¯t dare say a word, and the world will truly be a ¡®Silent City.''¡±
Lin Xian finished speaking, and silence fell between them.
Miss Da Vinci, being intelligent, clearly understood Lin Xian¡¯s point. After a long pause, she spoke softly.
¡°¡®Silent City.¡¯ I¡¯ve read that piece of science fiction. It was a short story, but the imagery was striking. Using it to describe such a society is indeed fitting.¡±
Then she smiled, nodding at Lin Xian. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Rhine, for imagining such a future for me. But to be honest, I don¡¯t agree with you.¡±
She paused before continuing.
¡°I still believe that human nature is malleable. Unlike animals, humans are driven by emotions, and emotions are what lead to true change. Mr. Rhine, let me ask you something.¡± She looked at him. ¡°Do you believe in the existence of innate, pure evil in humanity?¡±
Lin Xian squinted. This question was essentially asking if there were truly evil people, born to do wrong with no reason, just for the sake of evil.
After thinking for a few seconds, Lin Xian responded solemnly, ¡°I believe there is.¡±
Miss Da Vinci shook her head with a smile. ¡°I believe there isn¡¯t.¡±
At this point, Lin Xian took a deep breath through his nose. There wasn¡¯t much point in continuing the conversation. He¡¯d said more than enough¡ªeverything he could possibly say, really. He added, ¡°If you doubt my words, you could ask Einstein for yourself.¡±
Miss Da Vinci chuckled. ¡°Thank you for the suggestion. After today¡¯s discussion, I think I just might.¡±
¡°All right,¡± she added. ¡°It seems there¡¯s no point hiding anything from you now. Your guess about my future n was indeed quite close, and I think the situation you outlined has its merits.¡±
¡°But the future of humanity, the world, and civilization isn¡¯t for any of us to decide. After all, we¡¯re not Einstein. We can¡¯t see the exact future.¡±
Lin Xian decided to switch topics. ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone ever asked Einstein directly what the future would look like? If he says humanity has no future, what exactly does he mean?¡±
This was the very question Lin Xian had been nning to askter. Would Einstein tell everyone that humanity would evaporate in a white light at 00:42 in 2624?
He found it hard to believe that in all the Genius Club meetings over the years, not one person had asked about the future.
¡°Oh, plenty have asked,¡± Miss Da Vinci said, as though it were obvious. ¡°Not only asked¡ªthey ask often. But most of the time, Einstein refuses to answer, and the question is voided.¡±
Lin Xian sighed, rubbing his temples. He¡¯d expected that. The future was essentially a manifestation of the closed-loop ns of the members. If Einstein casually gave an answer, they¡¯d all be able to match it to their own ns.
¡°Wait.¡± Lin Xian suddenly realized something, looking at Da Vinci. ¡°You just said ¡®most of the time.¡¯ Does that mean there were times Einstein did answer?¡±
¡°Only once,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°To be precise, I only know of one instance.¡±
¡°It was around May or June of this year,¡± she continued. ¡°Elon Musk asked what the future looked like, and Einstein refused. The next month, Elon rephrased the question, asking if humanity had left the sr system before its extinction.¡±
¡°Einstein answered ¡®no.¡¯ In that moment, Elon seemed a bit disheartened, unusually quiet for a long time. We all guessed that his n for the future was likely tied to space travel or Mars colonization.¡±
¡°Since Einstein said humanity hadn¡¯t left the sr system, it was clear that Elon¡¯s n was destined to fail.¡±
Lin Xian listened, pondering the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Dreamscapes.
In those dreamscapes, following the Great Catastrophe of 2400, humanity embarked on a Mars colonization n led by Elon Musk.
Except for the Seventh Dreamscape, where it was an impostor, the first two dreamscapes involved the real Elon Musk.
Einstein¡¯s answer was correct, but it didn¡¯t reveal the cause of humanity¡¯s extinction.
If Lin Xian asked Einstein directly about the white light on August 29th, 2624, would he answer?
But asking something so specific would reveal too much about his ability to dream of the future.
Anyway, before the next meeting, he¡¯d have a proper talk with Elon, maybe coordinate their questions and use the ovep in answers to uncover why humanity had no future.
¡°So,¡± Lin Xian said, spreading his hands, ¡°do I understand correctly that after all these meetings over the years, you still don¡¯t know the reason behind humanity¡¯sck of a future?¡±
¡°Copernicus must know,¡± Da Vinci said. ¡°Since I joined the Genius Club, Copernicus has been the only member who never asked such a question. Clearly, he knows the truth.¡±
¡°He was also the first member to join. At the time, there were no restrictions on what he could ask.¡±
¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed? Most of the questions we ask that Einstein refuses to answer are rted to other members. When Copernicus was the only member, he had no such limitations. As long as his question didn¡¯t involve Einstein or the club itself, he received answers.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He had thought of this during his first meeting. Copernicus must know the most about the truth.
Even Newton, who joined as the second member, would have his questions about humanity¡¯s future rejected if that future involved another member¡¯s sess.
¡°It¡¯s tough,¡± Lin Xian thought. He couldn¡¯t let that white light at 00:42 remain an unsolved mystery. There had to be a way to phrase the question to ¡°trick¡± the truth out of Einstein.
¡°You¡¯re truly a good person, Rhine,¡± Da Vinci said, looking at Lin Xian with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m really d that thest member to join the Genius Club is someone like you.¡±
¡°All right, we¡¯ve talked a lot about my ns. Now it¡¯s time for me to fulfill my promise and tell you what you want to know.¡±
Lin Xian sat up straight, ready to listen.
¡°Last year, around this time,¡± Da Vinci began, ¡°Turing asked a question very simr to yours. He asked, ¡®If one were to create a persistentputer virus capable of killing all overly powerful AIs in the currentwork, who would be able to aplish this task?¡¯
As expected, Lin Xian felt his heart lift.
Find the person who made this virus, and maybe he could reverse-engineer it, eliminate the virus, and free the super AI, VV, to make himself even stronger.
But then, Lin Xian felt his heart sink halfway through that hope. He realized something crucial, something important¡ªsomething that could lead to despair.
¡°How did Einstein answer?¡± he asked, feeling deted.
¡°¡®Cheng Qian,''¡± Da Vinci replied. ¡°Einstein gave this Chinese name, but he added a time frame¡ªa very distant one.¡±
She continued, ¡°This Cheng Qian, a boy from X Country, won¡¯t be born until 2482.¡±
Chapter 464: Hello, I Am Galileo
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian let out a sigh. He had expected this all along, but the final ¡°verdict¡± still made him feel down. The future virus¡ªit came from the future, meaning it must¡¯ve been created by a future genius. And in this era, Kevin Walker was already Earth¡¯s greatest hacker.
If Kevin couldn¡¯t handle the super AI VV, then the only hope left was aputer genius from the future.
[Cheng Qian]
Cheng Qian must be a genius, even more brilliant than Kevin Walker. But the problem was, Cheng Qian wasn¡¯t even born yet¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t be born until the year 2482, exactly 300 years after Gao Wen.
With that thought, everything started making sense.
After Lin Xian brought the super AI VV back to 2023, Kevin Walker discovered it. No, actually, it was a higher form of life who discovered VV first¡ªa digital life form: Turing.
Turing was something between humans and AI. It had found a clever loophole¡ªVV couldn¡¯t detect it, and it was immune to conventional viruses. From that point on, Kevin began nning, hoping to use future tech to destroy VV.
Step one: Kevin asked Einstein a key question and learned about Cheng Qian.Step two: Turing, who could live forever in the digital world, found a way to get rid of Kevin Walker and spent over 400 years searching for Cheng Qian, sessfully convincing him to make a virus capable of destroying VV.
Step three: Using a biological USB drive, the fake Yu Xi delivered the virus to Elon Musk, iming it could destroy Kevin Walker¡¯s AI, while actually using Elon to destroy VV.
Step four: After leaving Elon, the fake Yu Xi came to Lin Xian, using his hatred for Elon and desire to avenge VV to manipte him into killing Elon.
It was an borate n. A conspiracy orchestrated by Turing, the digital life form, originating from the Fourth Dream and the 0.0000000 World Line.
Turing had found yet another loophole here. Einstein, a member of the Genius Club, had ced a lock on Turing, preventing it from revealing information about the other members or harming them.
But in 2023, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t yet a member, which made him the perfect tool for Turing and the fake Yu Xi to exploit.
Lin Xian had been fooled by the fake Yu Xi¡¯s act, and his hatred for VV¡¯s death had driven him to see Elon Musk and Kevin Walker as his enemies. The fake Yu Xi gave him a little push, and Turing¡¯s n was almostplete.
But the n failed in the end. The real and fake Yu Xi¡¯s game was cleverly unraveled by the real and fake Elon Musk, turning it into a twisted y of deception.
Now, both Kevin Walker and Turing were gone, and the world line had shifted multiple times. Discussing these ¡°outdated¡± events didn¡¯t matter anymore.
Lin Xian¡¯s current problem was that Cheng Qian, the super genius who could save VV, was too far away in time. The 400-year gap was unreachable for Lin Xian, who only had a few decades left to live.
Was VV really beyond saving? Would it have to hide inside a vacuum cleaner, pretending to be a dumb robot forever?
Lin Xian felt helpless.
He could already picture VV¡¯s reaction to the bad news¡ªit would probably jump up, kick him, and maybe even break his kneecap.
Lin Xian smacked his lips. It was frustrating. So many problems had solutions, but the distance of time made Lin Xian of 2024 feel utterly powerless.
¡°Thank you, Miss Da Vinci,¡± Lin Xian said politely.
No matter how useful the information was, Miss Da Vinci¡¯s willingness to share it showed goodwill.
¡°No need to be polite, Rhine,¡± Miss Da Vinci replied with a smile. ¡°As you said, it was a fair exchange. We both got what we needed. Honestly, I like polite young people like you.¡±
¡°Even though I can¡¯t figure out why you joined the Genius Club or what kind of future you envision, I believe it can¡¯t be that bad.¡±
¡°If my ns ultimately fail, I hope you be the final victor and lead humanity to a better future.¡±
Lin Xian looked at Da Vinci. ¡°You mentioned earlier that you¡¯d ask Einstein about the future n during the next meeting?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Da Vinci nodded.
¡°Maybe you shouldn¡¯t,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°You¡¯ve already asked twice, and you¡¯ve exposed a lot¡ªabout the nuclear battery, the global disaster. If you keep asking, the others might piece together your exact n.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t tell Da Vinci that he could see 600 years into the future. If someone else asked about the future, Einstein would refuse to answer. But if Da Vinci herself asked, Einstein would reveal everything.
Once exposed, her ns and privacy would be at risk, and she could face a life-threatening situation.
Da Vinci smiled. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried, Rhine. You¡¯re a kind person. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been attending these meetings for decades. I know how to ask questions without revealing too much.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, ready to leave. ¡°Good luck, Miss Da Vinci.¡±
Da Vinci also stood up. ¡°The same to you, Rhine. But can I be a bit greedy?¡±
She looked at the Rhine Cat mask on her Da Vinci mask.
¡°From how you spoke, it seems you know something about the question I asked today¡ªabout the global disaster. Einstein refused to answer, but sometimes a refusal is an answer in itself. It means that at some point, one of our members will cause a worldwide catastrophe.¡±
Her voice was soft, but her reasoning was sharp.
¡°By process of elimination, it¡¯s not hard to figure out which members it could be. So the first person I suspected was Galileo.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve known Galileo for years¡ªeven longer than you. We¡¯ve even held offline meetings for decades.¡±
¡°The more you interact with someone, the better you understand them. People lie, but over decades, it¡¯s impossible not to show your true self.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure if Galileo fooled you all, but I feel like he didn¡¯t fool me¡ or maybe he did, in a more sophisticated way.¡±
¡°Anyway, whether you tell me or not, it doesn¡¯t matter. Consider this just me talking to myself¡ Was it Galileo who will cause the global catastrophe?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond. The Genius Club didn¡¯t entertain idlers¡ªeven a small reaction could give away too much.
Since Miss Da Vinci suspected Galileo, it meant she already knew, deep down. But Lin Xian had no intention of answering. The disaster of 2400¡ªwas it caused by Galileo? Right now, it seemed likely, but there wasn¡¯t solid proof.
Without certainty, Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to mislead anyone or reveal too much about himself.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian said, shaking his head with a smile. ¡°This is only my fourth club meeting. I don¡¯t know much about Galileo or anyone else.¡±
¡°Yes, I have sources, but most of it is just spection. All I can say is be careful because¡ you know Galileo well, which means Galileo knows you just as well.¡±
It was the truth. Understanding was always mutual.
¡°Goodbye, Miss Da Vinci. Goodnight.¡±
Lin Xian took off his VR sses. The world around him brightened. He was back in the quiet night of Donghai, in Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s clean study.
Da Vinci¡¯s conversation was just a small interlude. Since Liu Feng hadn¡¯t called and the Spacetime Clock hadn¡¯t changed, it meant that the butterfly effect hadn¡¯t happened, and the world line hadn¡¯t shifted.
¡°Maybe we haven¡¯t reached the tipping point,¡± Lin Xian murmured.
What he¡¯d said wasn¡¯t concrete evidence. Miss Da Vinci wouldn¡¯t fully believe him. The truth and her final decision woulde at the next meeting on the 1st of next month.
¡°I should focus on my own problems,¡± Lin Xian said, leaning back in his chair, staring at the ceiling light.
He felt stuck, like he was caught in a swamp, struggling without progress. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
¡°What will be the next breakthrough point?¡±
The next day, at Donghai University, Rhine Joint Laboratory.
Lin Xian tapped the chalk against the ckboard. ¡°Our current situation is that we¡¯re stuck. We¡¯re not moving forward; we¡¯re at a dead end.¡±
He turned to face Liu Feng, writing on the board as he spoke. ¡°The thing holding us back isn¡¯t some insurmountable challenge¡ªit¡¯s time! There are three key points that could solve our problems.¡±
¡°But the sad reality is that they¡¯re all far away, and they¡¯re interlinked, leaving us powerless against time.¡±
¡°The first key point is¡¡±
The chalk made a steady tapping sound as Lin Xian wrote:
[1952¡ªSomething important happened, connected to Einstein, the Millennial Stake, and the White Light of Destruction.]
Lin Xian pointed at 1952. ¡°Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s diary password was 1952; she dreamt about it too. The painting ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ was created in 1952. A Millennial Stake turned into blue stardust in 1952.¡±
¡°And the number 42, first mentioned by Dous Adams, author of ¡®The Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to the Gxy,¡¯ connects to 1952.¡±
¡°All these events point to 1952¡ªeven the Universal Constant 42 connects to it.¡±
Liu Feng sat up, looking serious. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t see the main point, did you, Lin Xian?¡±
Lin Xian was puzzled. ¡°The main point?¡±
¡°The Millennial Stake¡¯s cycle¡ªit dissipates every 24 years. It¡¯s an arithmetic sequence!¡±
Lin Xian stared, speechless. ¡°So¡ arithmetic sequences are the key to the universe?¡±
¡°Is an arithmetic sequence more important than a Universal Constant, Liu Feng? I thought you were a serious mathematician¡ªnow you¡¯re joking?¡±
¡°And now, the second key point¡¡±
Lin Xian wrote again.
[2234¡ªAet brings an element that shouldn¡¯t exist: Astatine-339.]
¡°We¡¯ve talked enough about this. Astatine-339 is essential for building the time machine. Without it, there¡¯s no time travel.¡±
¡°And the third key point¡¡±
[2482¡ªCheng Qian, the genius, is born. Only he can remove the future virus.]
¡°This is another point that fills us with despair,¡± Lin Xian said.
¡°We need Cheng Qian to save VV, but he¡¯s far away. Only future technology can fix future problems.¡±
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°Every path we take is blocked.¡±
¡°Pretty much,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°All roads lead to dead ends.¡±
¡°So, our only hope lies with Du Yao. If she can develop the Brain Neural Electric Helmet, maybe we¡¯ll find a breakthrough.¡±
Liu Feng looked at the Spacetime Clock. ¡°It¡¯s been quiet for three months. The key is finding the lever to ovee resistance.¡±
He opened the curtains, letting in the sunlight. ¡°The next time the world line changes, when will it be?¡±
Meanwhile, at the Wuyi Mountains, an elderly woman called to children ying. ¡°Time toe in and read.¡±
One by one, the children returned. A young girl approached the olddy with a bunch of tea leaves. ¡°Granny, look! We picked tea leaves!¡±
The olddy smiled. ¡°These leaves have aged. You need to pick them in spring. But they could make a wreath.¡±
Suddenly, an elderly man approached, dressed in old-fashioned clothes. His hair was white, but neatly groomed.
The old woman blinked. ¡°Who might you be?¡±
The gentleman smiled, removed his hat, and spoke in perfect English.
¡°Hello, Miss Da Vinci. I am Galileo.¡±
Chapter 465: Humanity and Tea
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Da Vinci¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the polite, gentlemanly old man before her.
Thest time they had held a Genius Club meeting in person was back in 2004. Twenty years ago. That was also thest time she had seen Galileo.
Back then, Galileo had worn a mask that hid his features, but he hadn¡¯t seemed this old.
What could Galileo have been doing in these past twenty years to age so much?
But then again, she had no right to talk.
In 1982, when they first met at the Genius Club, she had been a young twenty-eight-year-old.
By 2004, when theyst saw each other, she was approaching fifty.
Now, in 2024, another twenty yearster, she was well into her seventies¡ªonly a little younger than Galileo.Time, it seemed, treated everyone the same.
Slowly, Da Vinci¡¯s widened eyes softened, and her racing heart calmed. The fate of a Genius Club member was always like this. Seeing Galileo again, she knew she had already seen the end of this story.
¡°How did you find me?¡± Da Vinci asked, a small smile tugging at her lips. ¡°I always thought I hid myself well. I never imagined where you might¡¯ve found a crack in my disguise.¡±
She paused, her smile deepening.
¡°The world is so vast, with so many people. Unlike Elon Musk, I don¡¯t make myself conspicuous¡ How did you find me so precisely amidst the crowd?¡±
Galileo put his ck hat back on his head. He leaned on his cane, standing tall, and shook his head.
¡°You left no trace,¡± he said in the same calm voice he always had at the Genius Club. ¡°You were right, Da Vinci. In this vast world, finding one person is almost impossible.¡±
¡°But¡¡±
He looked up, his deep-set eyes, aged with the passing years, locking onto hers.
¡°But what if you persist for forty years?¡±
He spoke slowly, almost softly. ¡°If you spend forty years searching for one person, then¡ it doesn¡¯t seem so impossible anymore.¡±
¡°Besides, over these forty years, we¡¯ve met nearly every month, talked each time, learned more about each other¡¡±
Da Vinci chuckled and shook her head. ¡°Should I call you stubborn, or just in crazy?¡±
Galileoughed heartily, raising his cane slightly and pointing at the small house surrounding the courtyard. ¡°Maybe we can take our time discussing that. So¡ can I trouble you for a cup of tea?¡±
¡
Inside the small house, Da Vinci ced a kettle on the stove, waiting quietly for the water to boil. She turned her head to look at Galileo, who sat across the table, waiting.
¡°It¡¯s still about the question you asked at thest meeting,¡± Galileo said, removing his ck hat and cing it on the table. He folded his hands together and looked at her.
¡°I¡¯ve always wondered what your ns were for the future, how you intended to lead humanity¡ªhow you nned to use your influence.¡± He paused, his gaze intense. ¡°I thought about education, about culture, even about propaganda¡ I even considered brainwashing.¡±
¡°But I couldn¡¯t figure it out. I couldn¡¯t think of someone who could remain an evesting role model, who could lead people towards kindness without losing their own way.¡±
¡°Untilst month, when you asked about energy, and Einstein blurted out that the micro nuclear battery had been invented. Only then did I understand.¡±
He looked at the kettle warming on the stove and continued.
¡°So that¡¯s it. You intend to use robots¡¡±
Galileo closed his eyes. ¡°I never expected that such a warm n would rely on something as cold as robots.¡±
¡°Once I had that thought, the investigation became simple. It didn¡¯t take long to find the link to Boston Dynamics.¡±
¡
There was a pause, a silence hanging in the room.
There was no need for Da Vinci to admit anything¡ªGalileo¡¯s presence here was proof enough.
¡°Boston Dynamics is famous in robotics,¡± Galileo spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s apany full of dreams¡ªor you could say it¡¯s only about dreams. From a long time ago, they started researching humanoid robots.¡±
¡°From the early failures of their mechanical dogs to theter agile, intelligent bipedal robots¡ Thispany is a lot like Musk: they fail often, but they keeping back.¡±
¡°The difficulties they¡¯ve faced in the pursuit of robotics are unimaginable. Yet, they never gave up and eventually became the world¡¯s leading roboticspany, with top-notch technology.¡±
¡°That alone is impressive, but even more remarkable is that they didn¡¯t pursuemercialization. Their research never focused on making money.¡±
¡°It¡¯s astounding, really¡ªthe cost of studying robots, and yet a group of people doing it entirely for their dreams and passions. So¡ who is this kind-hearted investor supporting Boston Dynamics?¡±
Galileo opened his eyes. The stove¡¯s mes danced, casting a soft glow over the stainless steel kettle.
¡°You¡¯ve hidden your involvement well,¡± he said, smiling at Da Vinci. ¡°You never directly invested in Boston Dynamics. Your methods are far more sophisticated than anyone imagined. Over the past ten years, thispany has teetered on the brink of bankruptcy several times.¡±
¡°Yet each time, a major investor swooped in and saved them. In 2013, Google bought them; in 2017, SoftBank from Japan; and in 2020, Hyundai from South Korea.¡±
¡°It seemed like everyone loved this money-burningpany. But was that really the case?¡±
¡°If you hadn¡¯t asked that question at thest meeting, I might not have thought so deeply. But the area that most needs an energy solution, that most requires a micro nuclear battery, is robotics.¡±
¡°After that¡ I don¡¯t think I need to exin further. Your way of ying the investment game is masterful, and you¡¯ve hidden your identity well. Still, every action leaves a trace. Afterst month¡¯s meeting, I found out who you really are.¡±
¡
¡°I see.¡± Da Vinci kept her eyes on the kettle as steam began to rise from its spout. ¡°So¡ at this month¡¯s meeting, that¡¯s why you said all those strange things to me.¡±
At the meeting two days ago, Galileo had said he had figured out her ns almostpletely.
He¡¯d said her ns were destined to fail.
And then he¡¯d asked her the strangest question:
¡°If one day you learned who I really am, would you kill me?¡±
At the time, Da Vinci had found the question absurd.
But now¡
It seemed Galileo had already anticipated today.
Just as humanity and instinct stood on opposing sides, Da Vinci sat by the stove, and Galileo sat at the table. Though they were in the same room, there was an uncrossable chasm between them.
¡°Why did you onlye to me today?¡± Da Vinci asked. ¡°If you knew who I was and where I wasst month, why did you wait until today?¡±
¡°No¡¡± Galileo shook his head. ¡°I never intended to find you.¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t ready to meet you. To be honest, with my solitary nature, I¡¯d much rather wear a mask and talk to you at the Genius Club, to have our monthly chats.¡±
¡°One meeting a month was enough for me. I investigated your identity because I was curious, but once I found out, I still had no intention of seeking you out.¡±
Da Vinci looked up. ¡°Then why did youe?¡±
Galileo looked back, meeting her gaze. ¡°Because of Rhine.¡±
He spoke seriously. ¡°After the meeting, Rhine asked you to stay behind. I imagine¡ he told you something about me, didn¡¯t he?¡±
Da Vinci didn¡¯t respond, just blinked at him.
Galileo gave a softugh. ¡°It seems I guessed right.¡±
¡°Rhine must have used my future ns as leverage to trade information with you.¡±
¡°Tell me, Miss Da Vinci, what did Rhine tell you?¡±
Da Vinci was silent for a moment. ¡°What we talked about is between Rhine and me.¡±
Galileo pursed his lips and took a deep breath. ¡°I can guess, anyway.¡±
¡°At this month¡¯s meeting, you asked about the next global catastrophe, and Einstein refused to answer. Rhine knows the answer. He told you, didn¡¯t he?¡±
Da Vinci smiled faintly. ¡°How are you so sure Rhine knows?¡±
¡°I know.¡±
Galileo looked at the kettle on the stove, now steaming hot. ¡°Rhine knows about spacetime particles¡ªhe likely even has one. If that¡¯s true, he should understand my questions and ns.¡±
¡°Though he was thest to join the Genius Club, it¡¯s clear he knows a lot about us. At the very least, his asking you to stay behind means he had something you were interested in.¡±
¡°So, naturally, the information he traded with you must have been rted to the global catastrophe.¡±
Hearing this, Da Vinci looked down and chuckled softly.
[Wrong guess.]
Galileo hadpletely misjudged things.
He thought Rhine had used information about the ¡°global catastrophe¡± as a trade for Turing¡¯s question.
In reality, Rhine had said nothing.
Even when Da Vinci had directly asked if the catastrophe had anything to do with Galileo, Rhine had just smiled and said he didn¡¯t know.
So, even though Galileo hadn¡¯t been in a hurry to see herst month, despite knowing her identity and address, he hade rushing here now, right after the meeting¡ªall because he thought his future ns had been exposed.
From Galileo¡¯s perspective, it made sense.
After all, who could have guessed that the information Rhine used as leverage to trade with her was actually her own ns?
Aplete twist of fate.
It was Galileo¡¯s arrogance, his extremism, that led to this situation.
But now that Galileo had openly admitted everything, it meant¡
He truly didn¡¯t care anymore.
Not that he didn¡¯t care if his ns were exposed.
But he was confident that his ns were now out of her reach.
In that instant, Da Vinci understood everything.
Galileo hadn¡¯t lied. He really had figured out her future ns, which made her reason for asking about the catastrophe obvious.
She had wanted to use the chaos to build the perfect role model: a robot that could change the course of civilization. But things hadn¡¯t gone as she nned¡ªnot at all.
She never expected that her investigation would lead her to expose Galileo¡¯s true motives.
Rhine had traded information with her, but Galileo had misunderstood everything. He got the details wrong, yet somehow, his conclusions were eerily urate. Perhaps that¡¯s why he hade looking for her.
It was all clear between them now.
Suddenly, a shrill whistle cut through the silence as the kettle boiled over. The piercing sound echoed in the room, breaking the tension. Da Vinci stood up, her calm face betraying nothing, as she took the kettle off the stove. The bright mes slowly dimmed, and the whistling gradually faded.
¡°What kind of tea would you like?¡± she asked, smiling as if she were greeting an old friend.
¡°ck tea, of course,¡± Galileo replied, his voice much softer now, as if the earlier tension had vanished. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before¡ªback in 1982, in Brussels¡ªthat cup of ck tea¡ I¡¯ve never tasted another like it since.¡±
¡°Even Zhengshan Xiaozhong,¡± he continued, sighing, ¡°I¡¯ve tried it. I¡¯ve tasted every ck tea in the world¡ªreally, all of them. But none brought back the taste of that winter in Brussels.¡±
¡°Is that so?¡± Da Vinci chuckled as she walked to her tea cab, pulling out a small tin of tea leaves. ¡°Then today is your lucky day.¡±
The old house may have been simple, but her tea-making skills were far from ordinary. Da Vinci carefully arranged her teaware: clean, white porcin that glowed in the soft light. She moved with practiced grace, pouring the steaming water into the cup with slow, deliberate care.
As she brewed, her hand slipped under the counter, pinching a tiny amount of brown powder. Out of Galileo¡¯s sight, she added it to the tea. She picked up a silver spoon and stirred gently, watching as the powder dissolved. Finally, she lifted the delicate saucer and carried the steaming cup over to the table, facing Galileo.
The rich aroma of Zhengshan Xiaozhong filled the small room, warming the space between them.
Da Vinci looked into Galileo¡¯s eyes, her voice soft. ¡°Do you believe in humanity?¡± she asked.
Galileo hesitated, his gaze fixed on the steaming cup.
¡°If I say no, do I still get to drink the tea?¡± he asked, his voice almost a whisper.
Da Vinci smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. ¡°Of course. This tea is for you. I hope it brings you back to 1982, to that first winter we met.¡±
She leaned forward, carefully setting the cup in front of him. Galileo¡¯s trembling fingers closed around the saucer, pulling it closer. He turned it gently, breathing in the scent of the tea¡ªthe scent he¡¯d been searching for all these years.
¡°It¡¯s just like then,¡± he murmured, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, as if it made him young again.
Opening his eyes, he looked at the trembling reflection on the tea¡¯s surface, remembering¡ª
It was like he was back in that snowy winter of 1982, a young man, nervous and shy, epting a cup of tea from a cheerful, lively woman with a voice full ofughter.
¡°You said¡ you wouldn¡¯t kill me,¡± Galileo¡¯s voice quivered, his eyes lifting to meet Da Vinci¡¯s. There was a shine of tears there.
¡°Is this¡ humanity?¡±
Da Vinci was silent, the words hanging between them.
Suddenly¡ª
Galileo¡¯s right index finger hooked around the teacup¡¯s handle, and he lifted it, both hands cradling the cup. He tilted his head back and drank.
¡°You¡¡± Da Vinci¡¯s eyes widened.
Galileo smiled, the heat scalding his mouth but satisfaction clear on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve been searching for this vor my whole life¡ It¡¯s exactly the same as it was.¡±
He extended the cup toward her.
¡°Would you make me another?¡±
¡°More?¡± Da Vinci¡¯s voice caught, her gaze lingering on him.
¡°Yes. Just one more cup.¡±
Da Vinci looked down at the empty cup, her hands slowly taking it from his grasp, feeling the warmth still there.
¡°Galileo,¡± she said softly, her back turned as she faced the tea cab again.
¡°Hm?¡±
¡°Please¡ be kinder to the children.¡±
She took a step forward, reaching for the tin¡ª
BANG!
The sharp crack of a gunshot echoed in the room.
Da Vinci¡¯s body jerked, then crumpled forward. The saucer and teacup fell from her hands, shattering as they hit the floor.
Shey sprawled across the broken porcin, her blood pooling among the shards.
Across the table, Galileo stood, his gun still smoking, his expression cold, detached. He let out a long sigh, holstered his weapon, and picked up his ck hat from the table, pressing it firmly onto his head as he walked out.
Outside, arge ambnce drove swiftly up the muddy road¡ªno siren, no shing lights. It was his own private vehicle, with his own people: guards, doctors, his team.
The ambnce had been waiting at the base of the mountain for some time, ready.
Behind the driver¡¯s seat, the emergency room was equipped with the most advanced stomach-pumping and cleansing tools.
SCREECH!
The ambnce braked hard, and the doors flew open. Two doctors rushed out, supporting Galileo between them.
¡°Quickly! Hurry, sir!¡±
¡°The equipment is ready¡ªwe can start immediately!¡±
Galileo let them move him like a puppet, his mind nk as he was strapped to a gurney, tubes forced into his mouth and stomach, his body lying still while the doctors moved in a blur around him.
The doctors worked frantically, stomach and intestinal flushes done in tandem, trying to purge anything undigested from his system.
One doctor noticed Galileo¡¯s tears sliding down his lined face, glistening in the cold light.
No¡ that couldn¡¯t be right.
The pain¡ªwas it from the tubes? Or something else?
¡°Sir,¡± the doctor asked, his voice gentle, ¡°does it hurt?¡±
¡°It hurts,¡± Galileo whispered.
¡°We¡¯ll adjust, sir. Please bear with us.¡±
They worked in silence, their careful adjustments doing little to ease the old man¡¯s tears.
¡°Does it still hurt?¡±
Galileo nodded.
¡°It hurts.¡±
¡
When it was all over, Galileo stood on the grass, leaning heavily on his cane, his ck hat low on his forehead, staring at the Wuyi Mountains far off in the distance.
He was waiting¡ªwaiting for theb results. He had to know.
What kind of poison had Da Vinci used? Would she have gone easy on him? Maybe it was only enough to knock him out¡ªto let her escape?
He had seen her slip something into the tea, of course. He didn¡¯t even need to see it¡ªhe had expected it.
That¡¯s why he had made sure the ambnce was there, stomach pump ready¡ªhe always prepared for the worst.
¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t kill me,¡± he whispered again, the words lost in the mountain breeze.
If she hadn¡¯t¡ maybe he would have softened too. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t have pulled the trigger.
Steps approached, and a technician stood behind him, bowing his head.
¡°Tell me,¡± Galileo rasped, ¡°what poison did she use?¡±
The technician hesitated. ¡°Are you sure you want to know?¡±
Galileo gave a weak smile. ¡°Just say it. What was it? Cyanide? Arsenic? Something worse? Did she really mean to kill me?¡±
The technician took a deep breath. ¡°It was¡ sugar.¡±
Galileo blinked, his smile freezing.
¡°No,¡± he whispered, his cane shaking in his hand. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. It wasn¡¯t sugar. I tasted it¡ªit
¡°It was bamboo sugar, sir. A traditional craft from the southern regions of X Country. It¡¯s not like cane or beet sugar¡ªit¡¯s rare now, without much sweetness ormercial use. But it has a fragrance¡ a fragrance that¡¯s hard to forget.¡±
¡°The taste you¡¯ve been searching for¡ªall these years¡ªwasn¡¯t in the tea leaves. It was the bamboo sugar. That¡¯s what made that tea special back in 1982.¡±
Galileo¡¯s cane slipped from his grasp, ttering onto the ground.
He didn¡¯t hear the rest of what the technician said. Slowly, he turned, walking toward the Wuyi Mountains, one step at a time.
Finally, he understood why Da Vinci had wanted him to see her add something to the tea. She had wanted him to notice¡ªto think it was poison.
Thud.
Galileo fell to his knees, his hands digging into the earth. Among the weeds, he saw a few wild Zhengshan Xiaozhong tea nts growing, untended.
Sorrow overwhelmed him. He saw it all: the footprints in the snow, the streets of Brussels, theughter of a young woman in winter¡
¡°Do you¡ believe in humanity?¡± her voice echoed in his mind.
Galileo grabbed a handful of wild tea leaves, shoving them into his mouth. He chewed, and it was bitterness beyond bitter¡ªso much so that tears began to flow freely down his cheeks.
He knelt there, on the soft earth, the mountain winds brushing against his face, as the ghost of a bright voice seemed to call out once more.
¡°Mr. Galileo,¡± she said. ¡°Do you¡ believe in humanity?¡±
Chapter 466: The Ninth Dream
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Beep, beep.
Suddenly, the clock on the experiment table made a soft sound. Liu Feng spun around, startled. He rushed over, grabbing the spacetime clock with both hands. ¡°Lin Xian! Look at this!¡± he shouted.
Lin Xian hurried over, his eyes widening as he stared at the clock.
The numbers on the spacetime clock¡ they were climbing! Rapidly!
0.0000210,
0.0000252,
0.0000294.
¡°It¡¯s still going up!¡± Liu Feng eximed.The two of them watched the clock, tension rising as the numbers kept changing. The spacetime clock, which had been calm for three months, was now climbing at a steady speed.
0.0001092,
0.0001134,
0.0001176.
¡°Oh my gosh,¡± Liu Feng gasped, blinking at the disy. ¡°The timeline¡ it¡¯s climbed over twenty marks! What¡ what does that mean?¡±
He furrowed his brow, struggling to make sense of it. Every previous timeline shift had been tiny, just a few units at a time¡ªaround 0.0000042. Even the biggest shifts had only moved by ten marks. But now, in just a few seconds, it had jumped over a dozen marks!
¡°This¡¡± Liu Feng scratched his head, bewildered. ¡°This is such a big change. Is humanity¡ªis the future¡ªin trouble? Or is this something even more incredible happening?¡±
He shook his head, mumbling to himself. ¡°How far will these numbers go? Could it actually cross into a whole number before the decimal? This is insane!¡±
Finally, the numbers stopped. They froze, locking in at¡ª
[0.0001764]
Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat down in front of the experiment table, staring at the absurd numbers. There was no doubt. The change in the spacetime clock meant that the spacetime curvature was shifting, the timeline was shifting, and the dream world was changing too.
From this moment on, the oppressive Eighth Dream was gone. Now, they were entering the Ninth Dream.
¡°What could be the reason for such a huge spacetime change?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud.
Liu Feng grabbed a chair as well, sitting beside him. ¡°Something important must have shifted, triggering a massive butterfly effect¡ Could it be that scientist you brought back from Africa? Did she finish the Brain Neural Electric Helmet?¡± ?
¡°Probably not,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping in touch with Du Yao. She only just set up theb and equipment. She¡¯s barely started.¡±
He added, ¡°And she told me her original thesis was just a wild guess. Making a breakthrough in theb isn¡¯t going to be that easy.¡±
Those were Du Yao¡¯s exact words. She had told Lin Xian that without that genius manuscript¡ªthe draft for the Brain Neural Electric Helmet¡ªit would have taken her ages to find the breakthrough they needed. The manuscript practically gave her the final answer; all she had to do was align the process. But even so, it would take more than a few months.
¡°But just to be sure, I¡¯ll give Du Yao a call.¡± Lin Xian picked up his phone and called her. As expected, there was no progress.
After hanging up, it was clear this major spacetime change had nothing to do with Du Yao. It had to be caused by something else.
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts drifted to a gentle, kind woman¡ªMiss Da Vinci. The Eighth Dream had been guided by her vision of the future. If that timeline had now disappeared, it was probably rted to her actions.
Two possibilities came to mind:
Miss Da Vinci might have listened to his advice andpletely given up on the n for mechanical humanoids, just as Elon Musk had abandoned his Mars colonization n. The timeline could have shifted as a result.
Or¡ something had happened to Miss Da Vinci. Perhaps she was killed.
Lin Xian shivered at the thought. ording to the original timeline, Miss Da Vinci was supposed tough until the end¡ªat least surviving for hundreds of years. What had gone wrong? What had changed?
¡°Was it because I shared information with Miss Da Vinci after the gathering?¡± Lin Xian wondered.
Perhaps that was it. Normally, Miss Da Vinci wouldn¡¯t have learned about what happened in 2624 while in 2024. If any other Genius Club members had asked, Einstein would have refused to answer. And Miss Da Vinci herself would never ask a question that would expose her. The only variable was Lin Xian.
He stood up, pacing back and forth as he tried to piece together the puzzle. If Miss Da Vinci was really dead, who could have killed her?
Analyzing each member of the Genius Club, Lin Xian realized that, apart from himself and Elon Musk, no one could be ruled out.
He remembered the end of theirst gathering. When he asked Miss Da Vinci to stay behind, he had expected Galileo to make a snarkyment or even stick around to see what was happening. But surprisingly, Galileo had said nothing. He had only nced at Lin Xian before silently disappearing from the VR hall.
Could Galileo be the culprit?
Lin Xian shook his head. He wasn¡¯t sure. There just weren¡¯t enough clues. He¡¯d have to investigate the Ninth Dream and figure out what kind of future awaited them before making any conclusions.
¡°I¡¯m heading out,¡± Lin Xian said, waving to Liu Feng. ¡°Keep me updated if anything happens. If you can¡¯t reach me, contact Ying Jun.¡±
With that, he left theb, got into his car, and returned to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s home. He poured some dog food for VV, the Pomeranian, then washed up and got ready for bed.
The end of the Eighth Dream hade abruptly. Fortunately, 90% of the engineering blueprints for the time machine had already been copied, and the remaining 10% weren¡¯t critical¡ªthey were low-priority and could be reced. Anyway, the time machine wouldn¡¯t be used until 2234, so missing a small part of the ns wasn¡¯t a big deal.
What Lin Xian cared about now was: Who was leading the future in the Ninth Dream?
Would it be a better world or a worse one? Would he meet his old friends, allies, Emperor Gao Wen, or even Chen Heping again?
¡°No matter what, CC will be there,¡± Lin Xian thought, closing his eyes. ¡°After the Eighth Dream, CC regained another fragment of her memory. She knows how important Emperor Gao Wen and Chen Heping are to me. If shees to Donghai earlier this time, she could gather information about the aluminum alloy safe and build rtionships with Gao Wen and Chen Heping, saving me time.¡±
¡°In any case, when in doubt, find CC. Once I enter the dream again, I¡¯ll go to the most obvious spot in Donghai and look for her.¡±
He turned over and slowly drifted into sleep¡
¡
¡
Hoo¡
The familiar summer breeze returned. The zing heat of the sun hit him instantly. It was hot¡ªnot the stifling heat of a city or the humid warmth of a jungle, but the searing heat of standing under the midday sun with no shade. Within moments, sweat started forming on his forehead.
It was eerily quiet. He could hear the endless drone of cicadas far off, but there were no sounds of human activity¡ªno footsteps, no voices, no traffic, no announcements¡ nothing.
¡°What kind of world is this?¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
Ruins, ruins everywhere¡ªcrumbling walls, muddy roads, weeds growing wildly. It looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie.
He looked around. The area was deste, eerily so. ¡°Where are the people? Where is the city?¡±
All he could see were ruins. Not a single tall building stood to block his view. The tnd stretched endlessly to the horizon, with nondmarks or buildings. It was as if¡
As if someone had taken an eraser and wiped Donghai City right off the map.
Or like the time Gao Yang had used a sweeping kick to knock everything off the sofa, leaving nothing but bare ground.
¡°It seems the future has gotten worse,¡± Lin Xian muttered.
He started walking, trying to find a spot to escape the scorching sunlight. But to his dismay, all the ruins he found were no taller than his head¡ªnot enough to provide shade.
Lin Xian touched the ruins. It was reinforced concrete, with rusty rebar sticking out like twisted tentacles.
What kind of disaster could destroy a modern city sopletely? It couldn¡¯t have been the great catastrophe of 2400. If Donghai had been destroyed then, the rebars would¡¯ve turned to rust by now. But holding them now, they were still sturdy. The city¡¯s destruction hadn¡¯t happened long ago.
¡°So, where are the people?¡± Lin Xian put aside his thoughts about the ruins. He needed to find someone alive to ask.
Despite the zing sun overhead, he wiped away sweat and began running across the t, destend.
Finally, he found the highest building remnant he could climb. He climbed up and scanned the distance.
Nothing. No sign of human life, no settlements.
¡°How am I supposed to find people?¡± Lin Xian found himself in a difficult situation.
After wandering for a while longer, he found no answers. ¡°This is just too strange,¡± he muttered, scratching his head. ¡°Where¡¯s my good old buddy, the cat from the Millennial Stake?¡±
Not seeing CC didn¡¯t worry him¡ªshe wasn¡¯t from Donghai, after all. She was from Brooklyn in the U.S. If technology and transportation were backward, she might not make it across the ocean. But if he couldn¡¯t find Big Cat Face either, that was a real concern.
From the first Dream to the Eighth, Big Cat Face had never missed a future.
But now, after scanning a ten-kilometer radius¡ªnothing. No viges, no settlements. Was Big Cat Face underground?
¡°I need to find a way to explore farther,¡± Lin Xian decided. He needed a faster way to travel.
Wandering through the ruins, he guessed that an earthquake, tsunami, or massive disaster had struck. Otherwise, it was hard to imagine anything that could wipe out a city of reinforced concrete.
As he expanded his search, Lin Xian made some new discoveries. He found wild animals¡ªrabbits, cats, dogs, rats¡ªthriving among the ruins. This abundance of wildlife suggested a long absence of humans.
He also found remnants of human life: rusty bottle caps, decaying toys, cracked tires, even half a stainless-steel tray. Stainless steel proved its resilience once again.
¡°None of this is useful,¡± Lin Xian thought, ending the first day in the new Dream with nothing to show.
Day two, he returned at noon to continue searching.
Day three, day four¡
He found valuable things. He had to take back what he said¡ª¡±Stainless steel isn¡¯t the king. Aluminum alloy is!¡±
After some digging, Lin Xian unearthed shiny micro nuclear batteries. The shells were made of aluminum alloy, making them incredibly stable¡ªperfect for a post-apocalyptic world. By checking the production dates, he could roughly determine when the disaster happened.
The dates were 2401, 2533, 2574, and 2598. This said a lot.
If micro nuclear batteries were produced in 2401, then the great catastrophe of 2400 hadn¡¯t happened. That was good news.
But the bad news was that disaster had only been dyed. Sometime after 2598, a simr or worse disaster had urred.
If there were nuclear batteries here, there must be more valuable things.
Over the next two weeks, Lin Xian kept returning to this spot, digging like an archaeologist in a post-apocalyptic world.
Most of what he found was useless¡ªrotted or rusted¡ªand he didn¡¯t have the tools to dig deeper. But he did find more batteries, including one from 2599.
But that was the most recent date he could find. Nothing produced after 2599.
¡°So¡¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°Did the world end in 2600?¡±
If the disaster in 2600 wasn¡¯t natural, then it must have been man-made¡ªmore destructive than anything before.
¡°Was it Galileo again?¡± Lin Xian wondered. ¡°Or someone else?¡±
There were no clues. Lin Xian could only keep searching.
After much effort, he got lucky. He found a micro nuclear battery-powered motorcycle, still functional. It was an incredible stroke of luck. The motorcycle, produced in 2597, was intact.
But something puzzled him.
¡°In the Second Dream, people had flying motorcycles. Why were they still using regr ones in 2597?¡±
¡°Did human technology stop progressing?¡±
It didn¡¯t make sense. Why had technology stagnated?
Lin Xian started the motorcycle, determined to find someone alive¡ªor at least the gang led by Big Cat Face.
But after a month of exploration, covering hundreds of kilometers, he still found no human activity.
One day, after ten hours of riding at full speed, Lin Xian still found nothing.
ng.
Lin Xian let the motorcycle fall. He stood alone in the emptynd, the chill of night creeping in.
It wasn¡¯t real. If there were people alive, there should have been signs.
¡°Could it be¡¡± Lin Xian looked up at the night sky, staring at the unchanging stars. ¡°Could it be that human civilization is really gone?¡±
Chapter 467: The Game is Over
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Boom! Boom! Boom!
00:42. A blinding white light shed, right on time, swallowing everything in its wake.
¡
¡
¡
Lin Xian opened his eyes in the guest bedroom of Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house. He shivered slightly; the air conditioner must have been set too low. He felt cold all over.
October had passed in a haze for him. He had spent the entire month in the Ninth Dream, wandering endlessly, searching for a living soul¡ªanyone who could give him a hint, any trace of life.
He just needed one person.At first, he¡¯d wanted to find CC or Big Cat Face. Eventually, he gave up on that hope and just wished to find anyone at all. But as he uncovered the motorbike and expanded his search, an ominous feeling settled in his heart.
Though he tried to brace himself, the sense of dread was difficult to shake.
The Ninth Dream had only two possible oues: it was either better than the Eighth Dream or far worse. Lin Xian had experienced terrible dreamscapes before. He knew he could handle whatever wasing.
But this time, the problem was different.
None of the worlds he¡¯d seen before, not even the worst of them, had ended in humanity¡¯s extinction.
¡°This is tough,¡± he whispered to himself, lying back on his pillow.
In the past, he had used the knowledge from dreamscapes to alter the present, rewrite the future, and shift the timeline. If the future of the Ninth Dream was truly what he feared¡ªwith no human beings left¡ªthen it was a dead end.
A deadlock, like the Fourth Dream, where every path led to a struggle with no way out.
Even if humanity had be extinct, even if there were only records or traces left behind, that would have been something. But here, the frustrating part was¡
It was impossible to tell what exactly had happened in the year 2600. All he knew was that the great disaster had shattered the world and wiped out human civilization sopletely that almost nothing useful remained.
Lin Xian sat up and headed to the kitchen. In the warm glow of the thermal box, a cup of milk was waiting¡ªheated by Zhao Ying Jun for him.
By now, that cup of milk had be their silent tradition, aforting habit.
Lin Xian picked up the cup and drank it down in one go.
Today, in his dream, he had ridden the motorbike for a thousand kilometers. His back ached from the journey, and still, he hadn¡¯t found a sign of life¡ªnot even a faint trace that anyone had ever been there. ?
He was nearly certain now about the state of the future world in the Ninth Dream.
Thud.
After finishing the milk, he set the ss down on the table and went to the study. He turned on themp, took out some paper, and uncapped a pen.
¡°There are a few crucial mysteries about the Ninth Dream,¡± he murmured, jotting down his first question.
¡°1. Even in a timeline where Copernicus has died, humanity¡¯s technological progress is still slow.¡±
The most direct evidence was the nuclear battery motorbike he¡¯d dug up¡ªa bike made in 2597.
In the Second, Third, and Fourth Dreamscapes, motorbikes flew freely in the sky, and Lin Xian had driven several of them himself. Back then, he hadn¡¯t intervened much in the real world, yet future technology had advanced so much.
So why was it now, after bringing back so many advanced technologies, that progress had stalled again?
¡°What happened in those six hundred years?¡± Lin Xian pondered. There were no books, no records, and no one to ask.
For now, it was a deadlock.
He wrote down his second question:
¡°2. Why did humanity go extinct sopletely?¡±
This was what puzzled Lin Xian the most.
¡°Even when the asteroid hit Earth and caused the extinction of dinosaurs, some survived. Many of today¡¯s species are descendants of small dinosaurs that made it through.
Considering all possible scenarios, there should have been some survivors. Besides, the natural environment in 2624 wasn¡¯t harsh¡ªanimals and nts were thriving. For those who survived, it shouldn¡¯t have been impossible to continue the human race.¡±
Lin Xian twirled the pen in his fingers.
With only a motorbike, traveling a thousand kilometers in ten hours was his limit. But that distance was enough.
Chongqing was only about a thousand kilometers from Donghai¡ªlike driving across the country without seeing a single person, a piece of trash, a wisp of smoke, a house, or a farm along the way.
If that was the case, the only exnation that made sense was that humanity had vanishedpletely.
¡°Even if people were living underground, there would still be buildings and garbage on the surface,¡± Lin Xian reasoned. ¡°And if they were hiding from a disaster, the surface environment is great now¡ªfresh air, clear skies¡ªwhy note back up?¡±
That theory could be ruled out.
All living things needed sunlight. Unless the surface was uninhabitable, like in the movie ¡°The Wandering Earth,¡± there was no reason for people to stay underground.
Lastly, he wrote down his third question:
¡°3. The great disaster of 2600 was man-made. Who caused it?¡±
¡°It was probably Galileo,¡± Lin Xian said softly, ¡°But this time, the destruction was far worse than in 2400. It wiped out humanity entirely.
¡°The micro nuclear battery produced in 2401 showed that the great disaster of 2400 hadn¡¯t happened in the Ninth Dream¡¯s timeline. Earth was intact.
¡°So¡ did Galileo change his mind or strategy because of something or someone and dyed the disaster by two hundred years?¡±
Lin Xian thought for a while and nodded. It was possible. Very possible.
He remembered thest Genius Club meeting. When they discussed a ¡°global catastrophe,¡± Galileo had seemed evasive, pretending to know nothing and even looking a little anxious.
¡°I¡¯ve got a lead,¡± Lin Xian said, rubbing his chin.
If Galileo had changed his n because of something, that ¡°something¡± was probably¡
¡°Galileo, being naturally suspicious, must have thought his n was exposed.¡±
It made a lot of sense.
Galileo had always believed his future ns were well hidden, that no one knew. And to be fair, he hid it well.
Even with Lin Xian¡¯s ¡°God¡¯s perspective,¡± he couldn¡¯t find a w in Galileo¡¯s questions, and he never had solid proof.
But by chance, Miss Da Vinci had casually asked a question, and it had hit the mark, revealing Galileo¡¯s secret.
Afterward, Lin Xian had gone out of his way to ask Da Vinci for a private conversation after the meeting¡
¡°Galileo is the kind of person who would believe that Da Vinci and I had figured out his n for a global catastrophe in 2400,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°So he changed his n and dyed the disaster by two hundred years.¡±
That was one theory.
There was also another possibility.
If Galileo had changed his n because of someone, there was only one person it could be¡
Miss Da Vinci.
¡°Let¡¯s make a bold guess,¡± Lin Xian closed his eyes and imagined, ¡°Maybe something unpleasant happened between Galileo and Da Vinci¡ªa conflict, perhaps¡ªand Galileo ended up killing her. For some reason, he dyed the disaster by two hundred years.¡±
As for the exact reasons, Lin Xian had no idea.
He didn¡¯t know Galileo or Da Vinci very well. Apart from sensing Galileo¡¯s deep feelings for Da Vinci, he knew little about them.
¡°If that was the case, then why dy the disaster by two hundred years?¡±
Lin Xian pondered.
Galileo believed humanity needed to regain its lost ¡°fighting spirit,¡± while Miss Da Vinci wanted to guide people using the power of ¡°humanity.¡±
Was it possible that Galileo had been moved by Da Vinci and decided to give humanity an extra two hundred years to prove themselves?
¡°Ha!¡± Lin Xianughed at the absurdity of his own idea.
It didn¡¯t even make sense logically.
If Galileo had really been moved by Da Vinci, why would he kill her?
¡°No, that¡¯s not right,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re only guessing that Miss Da Vinci is dead, but we won¡¯t know for sure until the Genius Club meeting two days from now.¡±
He nced at the digital clock on the desk. Today was October 30th, 2024, 2:27 a.m.
There were exactly two days until the next meeting.
Lin Xian made up his mind.
At the meeting on November 1st, he would arrive early to observe what was going on between Galileo and Da Vinci.
He didn¡¯t mind being a third wheel. Even if Galileo gave him dirty looks, it was worth it to uncover the truth.
¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go back to the dream and try exploring north on the motorbike for another thousand kilometers,¡± Lin Xian stretched. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll find something.¡±
He turned off the studymp and tiptoed to the master bedroom.
The fluffy, round ball that was VV was still snoring, its tiny bed far too small for its chubby body. It looked nothing like a Pomeranian anymore¡ªmore like a Bichon Frise.
¡°Keep it up, VV,¡± Lin Xian whispered to the little Gluttony, cheering it on. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll grow to the size of an skan Mmute.¡±
¡°V¡¡±
VV smiled in its sleep.
Being a dog seemed so simple, Lin Xian thought.
VV always had sweet dreams, while his own dreams only seemed to get worse.
He slipped off his shoes and got into bed.
Zhao Ying Jun was fast asleep. Lin Xian looked at her belly, where a small bump was growing.
Little Yu Xi was getting bigger every month.
¡°This is wonderful,¡± Lin Xian smiled, already imagining himself holding the baby, bing a father.
¡°Grow up healthy,¡± he whispered, ¡°Your mom and dad can¡¯t wait to meet you.¡±
¡
The next day, Lin Xian woke up and immediately fell back into the dream at 12:42 p.m. He found his motorbike and headed north, riding for ten hours straight in the same direction.
He estimated that he should have reached Shandong by now. Yet still, he found no one. No farnd, no houses, no smoke rising from cooking fires.
It seemed pointless to hold onto hope.
¡°The Ninth Dream is indeed a future where human civilization haspletely copsed,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself, gritting his teeth. ¡°This is the worst future¡ªthe absolute worst.¡±
Humanity was extinct.
¡
The following day, Lin Xian sat at the desk in the study, preparing for the Genius Club meeting that would start in an hour.
He had already called Elon Musk, asking him to do him a favor.
¡°No problem, Lin Xian,¡± Elon said as soon as he heard the request. ¡°Just tell me what you want me to ask.¡±
¡°Your turnes before mine,¡± Lin Xian reminded him, ¡°No matter how Einstein responds, I can adjust my question ordingly, rephrase it, or add to it.¡±
Lin Xian then shared the question he¡¯de up with.
¡°I need you to ask a roundabout question for me. Einstein has said that if we ask about the future of humanity and it involves another member¡¯s ns, he¡¯ll refuse to answer.
¡°So we need to be indirect. Instead of asking directly about the oue of the future or specific events, let¡¯s approach it sideways. Just pick a random date¡ªsay, January 1st, 2622¡ªand ask, ¡®What is the total poption of the world on that day?''¡±
¡
Elon was puzzled by the seemingly pointless question.
¡°I mean, sure, but what¡¯s the point of that? It doesn¡¯t seem like it would tell us anything valuable, no matter what the answer is.¡±
He thought for a moment.
¡°Whether Einstein says it¡¯s billions, or just a few hundred million, what difference does it make? Poption numbers fluctuate all the time. Even if the poption drops to a few hundred million due to war or disaster, given a hundred years, it could easily multiply by ten.¡±
Hearing Elon¡¯s doubts, Lin Xian smiled without saying anything.
That doubt was exactly what he was aiming for.
If Elon couldn¡¯t see the point, then surely no one else could either.
He wasn¡¯t asking about 2624 directly, because Lin Xian knew that year was special¡ªit coincided with the end of the Millennial Stake, and it was best to avoid mentioning it.
After all, the great disaster urred in 2600. The poption in 2622 wouldn¡¯t be much different from 2624.
In truth, Lin Xian didn¡¯t care what number Einstein gave.
All he wanted was to know one simple truth¡ªwas humanity really extinct?
It didn¡¯t matter if Einstein said there were tens of millions, millions, or even hundreds of thousands left. As long as there were survivors, there was hope for human civilization.
If Einstein refused to answer, that would most likely mean ¡°extinction¡± was part of a member¡¯s n for the future. In that case, Lin Xian would take his turn after Elon and adjust his question ordingly.
After wrapping up his conversation with Elon, Lin Xian hung up.
At 00:20, he put on his VR headset, scanned the Genius Club¡¯s golden badge, and entered the meeting hall early.
He needed to see for himself what was going on between Galileo and Da Vinci.
A sh of light, and he was back in the opulently decorated castle. He strode forward across the plush red carpet, pushed open the double doors, and stepped into the meeting hall.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Lin Xian blinked in surprise.
Nine chairs.
Nine empty chairs.
No one was there.
How odd¡ Galileo wasn¡¯t here early today?
¡°I¡¯ll wait a bit longer,¡± Lin Xian said, walking over to his seat and sitting down, waiting quietly for the next member to arrive.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen minutes.
Still no one came.
Galileo didn¡¯te, and neither did Da Vinci.
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.
Something had happened. Something had definitely happened between those two.
There was only one reason Galileo wouldn¡¯t arrive early today¡ªhe knew Da Vinci wouldn¡¯t be here early either.
And the only reason Da Vinci wouldn¡¯t be here early was¡
She was dead, and she wasn¡¯ting at all.
The brown double doors creaked open, and Elon Musk strode in, his Te mask concealing his face.
¡°Hey, Rhine! It¡¯s pretty quiet today. Looks like it¡¯s just you here so far?¡± Elon said, ncing around at the empty seats. ¡°Where¡¯s Galileo? Where¡¯s Da Vinci?
¡°They usually arrive early¡ªespecially Galileo. I heard he¡¯s never missed a single meeting, not once, and he always gets here early, at least half an hour before everyone else.¡±
It was just as Lin Xian had suspected.
Galileo never missed a meeting and always arrived early. Clearly, he cherished every opportunity to see Da Vinci.
Although Da Vinci didn¡¯t attend every meeting, for Galileo, seeing her once a month was too precious to miss. He would never forgive himself if he lost that chance.
For both Galileo and Da Vinci not to arrive early today¡
Miss Da Vinci¡¯s fate was clear.
Before long, the double doors opened again, and Newton and Gauss entered and took their seats.
Only four of them were present.
It was 00:41:36 now. The Genius Club did not toleratete arrivals.
That meant that neither Galileo nor Da Vinci would be attending this time.
¡°How strange,¡± Newton remarked. ¡°Galileo missed the meeting¡ Ever since Miss Da Vinci joined the club, Galileo has never missed a meeting¡ªnot once, whether online or in person.¡±
¡°And¡¡±
Newton nced at the empty seat to his left.
¡°Miss Da Vinci isn¡¯t here either¡¡±
He didn¡¯t say anything more, but seemed lost in thought.
Gauss, sitting across the table, nodded shakily and looked at Elon.
¡°This year¡ there are fewer¡ and fewer people. Da Vinci and Galileo¡ I hope they didn¡¯t¡¡±
¡°Hey, hey, hey!¡± Elon interrupted Gauss. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±
¡°Because Turing and¡ Copernicus¡ you killed them¡¡±
¡°They started it!¡± Elon interrupted again, ¡°I always admit what I do. If I killed them, I say I killed them. I¡¯m still wondering why Miss Da Vinci didn¡¯t show up. I really enjoyed talking with her.¡±
Lin Xian listened quietly, not saying a word.
It seemed that, in Gauss¡¯s eyes, Elon had now be the ¡°number one killer¡± of the Genius Club.
Turing and Copernicus were both his kills, yet now Elon was taking the me.
Then again¡
Elon was happy to take the me, even viewing it as a badge of honor.
At 00:42, Einstein ascended the rear staircase right on time. He sat down in the high-backed ck chair and smiled slightly.
¡°What a pity,¡± he said, ¡°the final meeting of the club, and only four of you showed up.¡±
???
Everyone looked at each other, then turned their eyes to the elderly man in the Einstein mask.
¡°What do you mean? I just joined, and we¡¯re already having a farewell party?¡±
¡°The final meeting¡ What does that mean¡ Could it be¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anything like this before. Einstein, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d always be here, no matter what?¡±
The only one who stayed rtively calm was Newton.
He took a deep breath, slowly straightened up, and looked at Einstein.
¡°Einstein, are you saying¡ you see a hopeful future for humanity?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Einstein said, his tone light, clearly in a good mood.
He smiled and opened his arms, as if to embrace everything before him.
¡°Congrattions, my friends. You¡¯ve seeded.
¡°For decades, I¡¯ve worried about humanity¡¯s future. I¡¯ve seen humanity destroy itself in countless ways, and human civilization vanish for all sorts of reasons.
¡°I hoped to one day see a future where humanity had hope. But it never came¡ªuntil today. The mission of the Genius Club is nowplete¡ª¡±
¡°I now see humanity¡¯s brightest, most beautiful future ahead.¡±
¡
A long silence followed, stretching for dozens of seconds.
Finally, Newton broke it with apuse,ughing loudly.
¡°This is wonderful news! But I¡¯m more curious¡¡±
He nced at the other three, then at the four empty chairs, smiling as he said:
¡°Whose n seeded?¡±
Elon turned his masked face toward Lin Xian, whose face was hidden behind the Rhine Cat mask.
Lin Xian looked back at him.
Neither of them spoke.
Elon knew it wasn¡¯t him. He¡¯d long since abandoned the Mars colonization project.
And Lin Xian knew better than anyone¡
That the current worldline, the current Ninth Dream, was the worst, most hopeless future yet.
So why¡
Why did Einstein say it was the brightest, most beautiful future?
Were they really seeing the same future?
¡°Einstein,¡± Lin Xian stood up, looking up at the elderly man bathed in golden light.
¡°What kind of future did you see?¡± he asked, his voice steady and determined.
Chapter 468: Who is Real, Who is Fake?
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian was bewildered. What exactly did ¡°the brightest and most beautiful future¡± mean?
Up until now, Lin Xian had seen nine different world lines¡ªnine possible futures for humanity¡ªeach one connected to the nine dreamscapes he had experienced. These futures ranged from a world of stagnant technology to bizarre, twisted societies to a painful rebirth of civilization after disaster.
Were these futures good or bad? Did they bring happiness to humanity? It all depended on perspective. But one thing remained the same in each one: on August 29th, 2624, at precisely 00:42, a blinding white light destroyed everything.
Every time the world line shifted, Einstein would say, ¡°Humanity has no future.¡± Lin Xian had always thought Einstein was referring to the destructive white light¡ªwhat else could it be?
Without that blinding light, none of the nine futures seemedpletely hopeless. Human history had always been a story of destruction and renewal; as long as humanity had time, anything was possible. Even the most oppressive future¡ªlike the Eighth Dream, where mechanical androids ruled over humans¡ªcould change. Maybe not immediately, but perhaps in a thousand years, things could be different. Extremes often lead to reversals. The more something is suppressed, the stronger the eventual pushback. Sin City¡¯s power was growing, and it was only a matter of time before humanity regained control.
Take the Fifth Dream¡ªcivilization had fallen to its lowest point, with only a few hundred thousand survivors struggling to survive, barely better off than people in the Stone Age. But what did that matter? Humanity had wed its way up from primitive times before; this was just another beginning. Without the white light, given a thousand years, ces like Big Cat¡¯s Vige, Rhine Vige, and Queen Town might rise again, bing the centers of a reborn world, much like Donghai once was.
This was what puzzled Lin Xian the most. Shouldn¡¯t the real reason behind humanity¡¯sck of a future be that blinding white light?
Einstein had just said, ¡°For decades, I¡¯ve worried about humanity¡¯s future. I¡¯ve seen people destroy themselves in countless ways, and I¡¯ve watched civilizations fall for all kinds of reasons.¡±Self-destruction? So many reasons for extinction? None of this matched the futures Lin Xian had seen in his dreamscapes. In every future he¡¯d witnessed¡ªexcept the still-uncertain Ninth Dream¡ªhumanity hadn¡¯t destroyed itself. No matter how dire things became, there were always survivors, people struggling and fighting to stay alive. And except for the Ninth Dream, there was only ever one reason for humanity¡¯s destruction: the blinding white light.
Contradictions. There were contradictions everywhere.
Summarizing it all, the contradictions came down to three key questions:
If Einstein believed that a future where humanity destroys itself was not a good future, then why was he now calling the Ninth Dream¡ªwhere all of humanity perished¡ªthe most beautiful future?
Was the future Einstein saw really the same as the one Lin Xian had seen? Could he truly see the white light at 00:42?
If Einstein couldn¡¯t see the white light, then why dismiss the First and Seventh Dreamscapes, which seemed to be the brightest and best possible worlds?
All of these inconsistencies led Lin Xian to wonder if the future Einstein saw was different from what he himself saw. And if their visions were different, then one had to be real, while the other was fake.
Who had seen the real future?
Lin Xian remembered his discussion with the super AI, VV. VV had implied that Lin Xian¡¯s visions of the future and his understanding of the rules of spacetime were wed, suggesting that his dreamscapes were fake¡ªlike scenes from a movie set. This prompted Lin Xian to share his concerns about verifying the dreamscapes with Chu An Qing, who had touched a spacetime particle and left him a small note.
¡°You¡¯ll understand once you¡¯re there,¡± she had told him.
The note and the spacetime particle had been stored together in a spacetime particle capturer¡ªan old rice cooker¡ªand locked away in an aluminum alloy safe at the Time Bank. Lin Xian thought there was no longer a need to verify the reality of his dreamscapes. After all those shifting dreamscapes and the information he had used to take down Turing and Copernicus, wasn¡¯t that enough proof that the dreamscapes were real?
But Einstein¡¯s words brought back the question of whether the dreamscapes were real. Everything was muddled again. Lin Xian wanted to open that safe. He and CC needed to understand the truth behind what VV had said, and he wanted to decipher the clues Chu An Qing had left on that small note.
But there was a problem¡ªhe couldn¡¯t find it.
The catastrophic event of 2400 had wiped out all of Donghai City. He and CC hadn¡¯t seen the safe in ages. And now, the Ninth Dream had brought another cmity, pushing humanity even closer to extinction. The hope of finding that aluminum alloy safe seemed almost impossible.
Lin Xian was unable to confirm whose future was real¡ªhis or Einstein¡¯s.
Logically, Einstein¡¯s visions seemed more credible. He had faced years of questioning from the other geniuses and had never been wrong. He had predictedets and even Lin Xian¡¯s death date with precision. Unlike Lin Xian, who could only see up to August 28th, 2624, Einstein could see every minute and every second thaty ahead.
This made Lin Xian uneasy. Was it really the worst-case scenario?
Were his dreamscapes false?
He needed to find a way to verify this. He needed to understand what Einstein had seen in the future.
¡°Rhine, there¡¯s no need to be so anxious,¡± said the elderly man wearing the Einstein mask. He sat calmly at the top of the tform, looking down at them.
¡°Even though this is our final gathering, each of you still has the chance to ask me a question, ording to the rules. Please return to your seat and wait for the questioning segment to begin.¡±
Lin Xian let out a slow breath and returned to his seat. It was clear that Einstein had more to say.
Once Lin Xian was seated, Einstein looked around at the four members still present and continued, ¡°What kind of future is the best future?¡±
He smiled faintly. ¡°This is the final question you all must answer before joining the Genius Club. Whether you answered ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no¡¯ to the question ¡®Does humanity have a future?¡¯ you all needed to respond to this next one.
¡°Everyone¡¯s answers were different, but all were valid. Despite your vastly different ideologies and methods, you all shared one unspoken agreement¡ªthat only a future where humanity exists is a true future.
¡°Thus, when trying to save the world and find a path to the future, the most fundamental thing we must ensure is humanity¡¯s survival.
¡°But the future I saw couldn¡¯t even meet that basic condition. In nearly all those futures, humanity was on the brink of extinction, caused by its own self-destruction.
¡°This is a harsh truth. I couldn¡¯t think of a solution, and that¡¯s why I founded the Genius Club¡ªto rely on all of you, hoping that together we could help humanity ovee this challenge. At the very least, I wanted to create a chance for humanity to escape destruction.
¡°And now, someone has finally done it. This is not the work of one individual, but the result of the efforts of all the geniuses involved. History works that way¡ªevery step, every footprint carries meaning, and every small movement can lead us to that bright future. None of this could happen without each butterfly pping its wings.
¡°So, have no doubts, my fellow geniuses. The brightest and most beautiful future for humanity is the one you have all worked to create. Hold onto your beliefs and confidence, so that the path ahead stays on course.¡±
Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if the others understood, but he did. The current world line¡ª0.0001764¡ªwas, ording to Einstein, the most perfect one. Einstein would never explicitly say which genius¡¯s n had seeded. Revealing that could lead to arguments and suspicions, which might cause the world line to shift once again.
But it didn¡¯t make sense to Lin Xian. How could Einstein be so sure that the world line wouldn¡¯t change?
Lin Xian still had a few cards to y.
When Du Yaopleted the Brain Neural Electric Helmet, wouldn¡¯t that alter spacetime? And if Lin Xian gave Liu Feng the correct ns for the Time Travel Machine, wouldn¡¯t the world line shift again?
Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of something Yellow Finch had said¡ª¡±Historical Lockdown.¡±
He hadn¡¯t understood it at the time. Was it possible that Einstein was now so confident because history had been fully ¡°locked down¡±? Was the future also locked, ensuring the world line could no longer change?
But logically, that didn¡¯t make sense. There was no certainty that Du Yao could create the helmet. Lin Xian could wait or drive her away, let her die in a war. The future was still uncertain; it could still be influenced. Where did Einstein¡¯s confidencee from?
Had Lin Xian underestimated Einstein, or was Einstein underestimating him?
There were too many questions, too many doubts. Lin Xian felt like a fly trapped in a room, bouncing against the walls, unable to find an exit. He needed to reconsider the question he¡¯d ask at this final meeting¡ªperhaps the key to everythingy in thisst chance to question Einstein.
A momentter, Musk raised his hand, looking at Einstein.
¡°You¡¯ve said a lot, but you still haven¡¯t told us what this so-called ¡®brightest future¡¯ actually looks like,¡± Musk said. ¡°But even if we asked, you¡¯d probably refuse to answer for the sake of protecting the future¡¯s course or because it involves other members. So I just want to confirm: is the rule still the same for this final meeting, the final question?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Einstein replied, nodding. ¡°The rules are the rules. Even though this is ourst meeting, it doesn¡¯t mean the Genius Club is ending or that your obligations are over. The terms are clearly written in the charter: regardless of life or death, loyalty or changing beliefs, your seat at the Genius Club will always remain, and the door will always be open to you.
¡°Therefore, even for this final question, the three principles still apply: no questions about other members, no questions about the Genius Club itself, and the question must be specific enough.
¡°However, there is a slight change in how the questioning will be conducted.¡± Einstein straightened up, his eyes fixed ahead. ¡°To further ensure the stability of the future, this time, each of you will ask your question in a private one-on-one setting.¡±
This announcement didn¡¯t seem to faze Newton or Gauss, but both Lin Xian and Musk reacted noticeably, though they tried not to show it to each other.
One-on-one questioning meant they wouldn¡¯t hear each other¡¯s questions and answers. But it also meant that nobody else would hear theirs.
For Newton, this wasn¡¯t rare¡ªas the second member of the Genius Club, he often had the chance to ask questions when Copernicus wasn¡¯t present. But for Lin Xian and Musk, a private questioning opportunity was incredibly rare.
Especially for Lin Xian.
The Millennial Stake, the Universal Constant 42, the blinding white light¡ªhe could finally ask about things he couldn¡¯t discuss openly, without worrying about others listening in.
But now everything had changed. With only one chance to ask a question, he needed to make a choice. He wanted to know about the Millennial Stake, the truth behind the Universal Constant 42, whether his dreamscapes were real, and whether Einstein could see the white light.
Which should he choose?
¡°Now then, let the questioning begin, my esteemed geniuses,¡± Einstein announced, standing up from his tall, dark wooden chair.
A heavy red curtain behind him slowly parted, revealing an ornate red door hidden behind it. As the curtain fully opened, the door swung open slowly, without any visible force.
Behind the doory a small room with only a tea table and two soft, leather armchairs. It was where the private questioning would take ce.
¡°Newton,e with me,¡± Einstein said, before turning around and walking into the room without waiting.
From the front row, Newton¡ªappearing as a young man in his virtual avatar¡ªstood up and bowed slightly to Gauss, Musk, and Lin Xian.
¡°Goodbye, my fellow geniuses,¡± Newton said softly. ¡°What a long and yet fleeting journey this has been. I hope to see you again in the future. I also hope I never do.¡±
With that, he straightened up and followed Einstein into the room, closing the door behind them with a soft thud.
The red door closed, and Newton turned to face Einstein, who was already seated.
¡°Take a seat, my old friend,¡± Einstein said, extending his bony hand to the chair across from him. ¡°This will be our final meeting. What question do you wish to ask?¡±
Newton slowly walked over and sat down, smiling faintly. ¡°I don¡¯t actually need to ask any questions,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s not that one-on-one opportunities are rare for me¡ªit¡¯s that I¡¯m absolutely certain¡¡±
He leaned back in his chair, looking straight at the masked man before him. ¡°I have won.¡±
¡°I¡¯m different from the other geniuses,¡± Newton continued. ¡°I know things they don¡¯t, things only Copernicus and I had a chance to learn. Apart from Rhine, I can guess every other member¡¯s n.
¡°That¡¯s the advantage of joining early¡ªbefore so many questions became off-limits. Copernicus and I nearly asked everything we could. Now, with Copernicus gone, only I know the real truth. Only I know the secrets. Only I know what humanity truly faces.
¡°So, obviously, Einstein, I¡¯m the only one who can save the world and protect humanity¡¯s future.¡±
He let out a softugh and shook his head. ¡°You know better than anyone that I¡¯m not boasting. I¡¯m not being arrogant. What you told Copernicus and me at the beginning is now beyond what anyone else can ask.
¡°That¡¯s why the newer members¡ªfor all their brilliance¡ªare fighting a losing battle. Without knowing the truth, they¡¯ll never grasp the critical points. It¡¯s tragic, really.
¡°So, Einstein, all I need now is one thing confirmed. My final question is this¡ªDid humanity, in the end, go extinct?¡±
Einstein slowly raised his head, sitting upright. He shook his head softly.
¡°No,¡± he said.
Newton smiled in satisfaction. He stood up slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°As one who sees the future, Einstein, you said this was ourst meeting, so it must be ourst. We will never meet again.
¡°These decades have been long, yet fleeting, and I must admit, I¡¯m a bit sad to say goodbye. Still, all things must end, old friend. I wish you the best.¡±
Newton gave a gentleman¡¯s bow to Einstein, and then, with a motion like removing a pair of VR goggles, his avatar turned transparent and slowly faded away.
The heavy red door to the private meeting room creaked open once more, and Einstein¡¯s calm, authoritative voice echoed through the main hall.
¡°Gauss, your turn.¡±
Gauss, a small-framed man wearing his signature mask, slowly got up from his seat, trembling slightly. He looked over at Musk and Lin Xian, who were seated across from each other.
¡°This time¡ can you¡ not interrupt me?¡± he asked softly.
Lin Xian and Musk nodded. It was the final gathering, after all; they were willing to give him this courtesy. They both also wanted to hear what this mysterious man, who had been repeatedly denied a chance to ask his question, finally wanted to say.
¡°Equality,¡± Gauss began, his voice soft. ¡°There is no absolute equality in this world, not even rtive equality. But¡ everything has an original, primal equality.¡±
He nodded to Musk and Lin Xian in turn.
¡°Goodbye, Musk. Goodbye, Rhine.¡±
¡°Goodbye, Gauss,¡± Musk replied.
¡°Until we meet again,¡± Lin Xian said.
Gauss smiled faintly at Lin Xian¡¯s words and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t meet again,¡± he said.
He turned away and walked slowly into the private meeting room, pulling the red door closed behind him.
Thud.
¡°Please, sit, Gauss,¡± Einstein gestured to the chair across from him.
Gauss slowly moved over and sat down. After a moment, he spoke, his words measured and deliberate.
¡°So¡ have I seeded, Einstein?¡±
Einstein remained still. ¡°Gauss, is that your question?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Gauss said, shaking his head quickly. ¡°I¡¯m just¡ talking. Think of it as me talking to myself.¡±
He paused, then continued. ¡°I know I¡¯ve seeded,¡± he said, his voice growing stronger.
¡°Because, just a few days ago, I finally made up my mind¡ªI made a decision that can¡¯t be undone, can¡¯t be taken back, can¡¯t be fixed, can¡¯t be changed.
¡°I¡¯ve fully understood now, Einstein.¡±
He looked up, his gaze meeting the sorrowful eyes of Einstein¡¯s mask.
¡°True equality¡ is only found in equal death.¡±
Chapter 469: The Confession
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Einstein sat quietly across from Gauss. The fire in the corner firece flickered, casting shadows that danced along the walls¡ªsometimes bright, sometimes dim.
It seemed like he was listening to Gauss talking to himself, or maybe he wasn¡¯t. He was just patiently waiting for Gauss to ask his question.
Gauss took a deep breath, rubbing his left arm, and said softly, ¡°Thank you, Einstein. You¡¯re the only one in the club who¡ never interrupts me when I¡¯m speaking.¡±
¡°But I understand, too¡ the others mean no harm¡ it¡¯s just that I¡ speak too slowly.¡±
Einstein smiled a little, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m different from you all. I have all the time in the world.¡±
Finally, Gauss looked up, staring at the sad mask Einstein wore. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for me to ask my question. If I can get an answer from you, then I¡¯ll know I really seeded.¡±
Clearing his throat, he spoke as quickly as he could. ¡°I once asked you when humanity will be able topletely enhance its immunity, so that no virus can ever infect us again. You told me that it would never happen. You said that viruses will keep evolving, that new viruses will always emerge¡ that the way our bodies are made means we¡¯ll always coexist with them, each affecting the other.¡±
¡°This answer gave mefort. I also understand that no matter how deadly a virus is in the beginning, over time, as it keeps infecting people, it will inevitably get weaker and weaker, until finally, every virus will lose its potency and its ability to spread.¡±¡°So my question is this¡ª¡±
Gauss, small and thin, pressed his lips together, filled with hope, and asked, ¡°That virus I injected into myself a few days ago¡ªhow many years will it take before humanity is entirely immune to it, so that it no longer has any effect?¡±
¡°In other words, how long will this virus remain potent? How many years until it weakens to the point it can¡¯t infect anyone anymore?¡±
Einstein stayed as calm as ever, responding without hesitation. ¡°One hundred and ny-four years. From around a hundred and eighty years onwards, the virus you created will already have significantly weakened. But even then, weaker individuals may still be infected.¡±
¡°So the answer to your question is 194 years. After 194 years, the virus willpletely lose its potency and ability to spread, bing incapable of infecting anyone. It will vanish from the world forever.¡±
Hearing the answer, Gauss breathed a sigh of relief, looking very satisfied. ¡°That¡¯s enough¡ it¡¯s enough.¡±
¡°It means the virus I created is quite powerful. A lifespan of 194 years¡ that¡¯s enough, more than enough.¡±
With that, he stood up from the leather armchair and gave Einstein a deep bow.
¡°Thank you, Einstein, and also Copernicus.¡±
¡°To be honest, the only reason I had the determination to carry out this n¡ was because of Copernicus¡¯s death, Newton¡¯s question, and your answer.¡±
¡°Equality¡ death is the ultimate equality for all life, for everything in the world, even in the universe.¡±
¡°Elements will decay, stars will extinguish, and one day the universe will fall silent. Death is the true equalizer.¡±
¡°Goodbye, Einstein.¡±
He straightened up, waved at the elderly man opposite him. ¡°The days spent meeting in the Genius Club were the happiest of my life.¡±
¡ª
Just outside the secret room, in the golden hall, Lin Xian and Elon Musk no longer had to pretend to be strangers after Gauss went inside. They started chatting directly.
¡°What a surprise!¡± Elon, wearing his Te mask, turned his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the final gathering would allow us one-on-one questions! Even though the rules are still the same¡ªwe can¡¯t ask about the club itself or its members¡ªthere¡¯s way more room to maneuver this time!¡±
¡°In the past, everyone kept their questions shallow, hiding their true ns and purposes, fearing that others might figure them out. I mean, I wasn¡¯t afraid to let people know about my future ns, but sometimes I still didn¡¯t want them hearing the answers to my questions. So there were many things I couldn¡¯t ask.¡± ??
¡°But it¡¯s different now. In the room, it¡¯s just us and Einstein. No matter what we say, what we ask, or how Einstein answers, no one else will hear!¡±
¡°This opportunity is so rare. Except for the earliest members of the Genius Club, none of us neers ever had such a chance.¡±
¡°True,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Now, we can ask some sensitive, crucial, and hidden questions.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Elon smiled. ¡°So, given how rare this chance is, are you sure you still want me to ask ¡®how many people will there be in the world in 2622¡¯? It doesn¡¯t seem like a valuable question.¡±
¡°I¡¯d suggest you think it over and treasure this opportunity. Ask something more meaningful, let me ask Einstein on your behalf.¡±
¡°I think Newton left immediately after his question. But me, I¡¯lle out after Einstein gives me the answer, and tell it to you, so you can weigh yourst question ordingly.¡±
Lin Xian blinked in surprise, looking at Elon. ¡°This precious chance for a one-on-one question¡ you¡¯re really willing to give it up for me?¡±
This offer took Lin Xian off guard. He never imagined Elon would be so generous.
Actually, ever since Einstein announced the one-on-one questioning, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t nning to take Elon¡¯s chance.
As Elon said, this was thest round of questions. And it was the first time anyone had the opportunity to ask privately. It was incredibly precious.
Elon was someone with dreams and beliefs, and there were plenty of questions he hadn¡¯t dared ask in the past. Now was a rare chance for him.
¡°Are you sure you want to give it to me?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Absolutely.¡± Elon¡¯s response was easy. ¡°You¡¯re my lifesaver, you know. If it weren¡¯t for you giving me that heads-up, letting me know that the secretary was a spy for Copernicus, I wouldn¡¯t be sitting here with you now.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been looking for a way to repay you, but I could never do anything to really help. If you don¡¯t mind, let me use this questioning opportunity as my thank you for that incident.¡±
¡°Honestly, I¡¯d probably just ask if humanity will ever leave the sr system, if we¡¯ll have the capability for interster travel.¡±
¡°But if I think about it¡ it¡¯s not that meaningful. If humanity really does travel beyond the sr system, I¡¯ll be happy. But asking about it would be kind of a waste. Whether I ask or not won¡¯t change the oue.¡±
¡°After all, I¡¯ve given up on my ns. Even if humanity reaches the stars, it won¡¯t have anything to do with me.¡±
¡°And if Einstein says no, well, it¡¯s just going to disappoint me. So what¡¯s the point of wasting this rare chance on a question like that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what your future n is, but it seems good to me. No one knows your future ns, which might just make you thest winner! My journey is done. I¡¯m willing to support yours.¡±
¡°Think carefully, ande up with a question that¡¯s worthy of this opportunity, then tell me. Once Gauss is done, I¡¯ll go in and ask Einstein your question, and then I¡¯lle out and tell you the answer.¡±
¡ª
Lin Xian nodded, epting Elon¡¯s gratitude. He was right¡ªLin Xian had several important questions to ask, and one chance wasn¡¯t enough. This was indeed like help when he needed it most.
It was true, kindness often brings unexpected returns.
¡°Alright, let me think it over, make a n,¡± Lin Xian closed his eyes.
He began to analyze, sorting his thoughts.
Right now, there were several things he wanted to know:
First, the truth of the Millennial Stake¡ªonly by understanding it could he save Chu An Qing.
Second, the significance of the Universal Constant 42. He had a feeling this question might be refused.
Third, whether the future he and Einstein had seen was the same. Which vision of the future was real?
Fourth, the meaning behind Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s montage dreams, and why CC dreamed of a blue-eyed version of himself.
Roughly, those were the four questions he most urgently wanted answered.
But unfortunately, counting Elon¡¯s opportunity, he could only pick two.
Out of four. Which ones should he choose?
Firstly, let¡¯s exclude the second one¡ªit¡¯s lower priority and likely to be refused. It wasn¡¯t worth risking a valuable opportunity.
Simrly, the fourth question could be eliminated¡ªit wasn¡¯t as high priority, and involved Einstein, which likely meant it would be refused.
Then, the first question was Lin Xian¡¯s main objective. For Chu An Qing¡¯s safety, he wasn¡¯t willing to share anything about the Millennial Stake, not even with Elon.
So, that left the most suitable n as having Elon ask the question about verifying Einstein¡¯s vision of the future, while Lin Xian himself would ask about the Millennial Stake and Chu An Qing.
His own question was straightforward¡ªhe could just ask it.
But Elon¡¯s question¡ªhow should it be phrased to be as effective as possible?
Lin Xian frowned, deep in thought. It was hard. The most challenging part was that, right now, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t guarantee that his dreams were real. So how could he determine if Einstein¡¯s vision of the future was true?
At this moment, it was impossible. Lin Xian knew he couldn¡¯t afford to spread himself too thin. He needed to be cautious¡ªstep by step.
Lin Xian decided to verify whether Einstein¡¯s vision of the future was the same as what he¡¯d seen in his dreams. He also wanted to check if Einstein¡¯s future mentioned anything about the apocalyptic white light he¡¯d dreamt of.
¡°I¡¯ve made my decision,¡± Lin Xian said, his voice steady.
He looked at Elon. ¡°Ask him for me¡ªon August 29th, 2624, at 10:00 AM, what will the poption be within the boundaries of Donghai City, in X Country?¡±
This question was important¡ªit could verify two things. If Einstein said ¡°zero,¡± it could mean one of two things: either humanity had indeed gone extinct, or the apocalyptic white light at 00:42 on August 29th had wiped everyone out. Either way, the oue for human civilization would be the same.
Then, they could see what Einstein had to say about the ¡°most beautiful future¡± he kept talking about.
If Einstein answered with a number like a dozen or a few dozen, it would mean the apocalyptic white light at 00:42 hadn¡¯t happened, and people were still alive by 10 AM. It would also imply that Einstein¡¯s future vision was simr to Lin Xian¡¯s dreams. In a huge city like Donghai, a few survivors could easily be missed¡ªhe could do another thorough search next month.
But if Einstein gave arge number, in the hundreds of thousands or millions, then it would be clear¡ªEinstein¡¯s future vision and Lin Xian¡¯s dream weren¡¯t the same. One of them was false. But which one? That would need further investigation.
Step by step.
Creak¡ª
Just as Lin Xian finished exining to Elon, the red wooden door slowly opened, and Einstein¡¯s dignified voice echoed through the hall: ¡°Te, it¡¯s your turn. Come in.¡±
Elon nodded at Lin Xian, got up, and walked inside. The door closed.
He sat down. The old man, wearing his sorrowful Einstein mask, looked calmly at Elon. ¡°Te, go ahead¡ªwhat¡¯s your final question?¡±
Elon repeated Lin Xian¡¯s words word-for-word: ¡°My question is¡ªon August 29th, 2624, at 10:00 AM, what will be the poption within the boundaries of Donghai City, in X Country?¡±
Einstein was silent for a moment, then finally said, ¡°The exact number will be forty-one million, one hundred and twenty-two thousand, five hundred and eighty-one people.¡±
¡°Wow!¡± Elon eximed. ¡°A super metropolis! Right now, in 2024, Donghai has just over 24 million people¡ªit¡¯s almost doubled in 600 years!¡±
¡°Donghai is already pretty crowded, and doubling the poption means they must have expanded the area, or maybe they¡¯re building super high-rises or going underground,¡± Elon mused. ¡°Considering it¡¯s 600 years in the future, it¡¯s possible they¡¯ve developed something like ayered or folded city¡ªit makes sense they could amodate over forty million people.¡±
He smiled, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. ¡°Now you¡¯ve got me curious¡ do you think there could be ultra-mega cities with over a hundred million people by then?¡±
Einstein simply gestured for Elon to leave. ¡°Te, your question is done. You may leave.¡±
¡°Alright, alright,¡± Elon nodded, pointing at the red door. ¡°Do I have to leave from here? I¡¯d like to step out and say goodbye to Rhine if that¡¯s alright.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Einstein leaned back into the soft chair. ¡°In the Genius Club, you can do anything beyond the limits of the charter.¡±
With that, Elon opened the red door, stepped out, and approached Lin Xian, shaking his hand. ¡°Einstein doesn¡¯t care about these little actions of ours. He¡¯s still the same¡ detached from everything.¡±
¡°He said forty-one million, one hundred and twenty-two thousand, five hundred and eighty-one people¡ªhe told me that, in 600 years, Donghai will have over forty million people!¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Thank you, Elon.¡±
Elon waved. ¡°I¡¯m off. Take care.¡± He mimed taking off a VR headset, his virtual figure turning transparent and slowly fading away.
Lin Xian turned slowly. He looked at the open door to the private room, saw the warm firece inside, and the steady figure of Einstein sitting in the leather armchair. Suddenly, he had a strange feeling¡ª
Einstein was lying.
He knew it.
There was no real reason for the suspicion, no evidence to prove Einstein¡¯s vision was false. But in the Ninth Dream, Donghai had been razed to the ground. And when he left the dream at 00:42 on August 29th, 2624, Donghai was still a wastnd.
Nine hourster. Where could over forty million people havee from, just like that? It was absurd.
The daily trash generated by forty million people could bury a small county, not to mention the infrastructure, food, and water supply they would need.
So, it was obvious.
Now, it could be confirmed¡ªEinstein¡¯s vision of the future and Lin Xian¡¯s dream were not the same. Not only was there no apocalyptic white light, but humanity had also not perished¡ªthey had thrived in an almost unimaginable way, with Donghai¡¯s poption skyrocketing to over forty million.
If that were true, then the world¡¯s total poption would be over ten billion, maybe even twenty billion. Such a crowded and prosperous world could never be the same as the Ninth Dream Lin Xian had dreamed of.
The divergence was there.
So, what was the truth?
Was Einstein¡¯s vision of the future real, or was Lin Xian¡¯s dream?
Sadly, there was no way to verify it. This was Lin Xian¡¯s current frustration. He couldn¡¯t verify it. He couldn¡¯t just hop into a time machine and see August 29th, 2624, with his own eyes. Nor could he find the Aluminum Alloy Safe in the Ninth Dream, or read Chu An Qing¡¯s note to judge the reality of his dreams.
So what¡ should he do?
¡°Rhine.¡±
Einstein¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in the grand hall.
¡°Come in. It¡¯s your turn to ask your question.¡±
Lin Xian took a step forward. Step by step, he entered the private room. He closed the red door and sat in the leather chair across the tea table. He nced at the wall, where the shadows of Einstein flickered in the firelight, then turned his gaze back to the elderly man wearing the sorrowful Einstein mask.
He stared into the empty, regretful eyes of the mask. It felt¡ as if something was reaching out through time, piercing into his very soul.
¡°Rhine.¡± The old man¡¯s voice broke the silence, ¡°What¡¯s your question?¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian felt an inexplicable sense of danger, a rising feeling of caution. He resisted. He didn¡¯t want to ask anything about the Millennial Stake or Chu An Qing. This strange feeling¡ it had been growing for a long time.
Thinking carefully¡ªwhy would Zhang Yu Qian, the Millennial Stake, dream about Einstein?
And 1952, such a strange year¡ªSorrowful Einstein, Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream, the Universal Constant 42, the Millennial Stake¡¯s vanishing¡ they were all tied to 1952. And the Genius Club¡ªwould refuse to answer anything about itself. Even information about the real historical Einstein was off-limits. Such strict, strange rules¡ was that really necessary?
The more he thought about it, the stranger, more chilling it felt.
Einstein.
The Millennial Stake.
Could there be some kind of connection?
Lin Xian believed Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream and CC¡¯s dream weren¡¯t baseless.
Lin Xian adjusted his posture. He decided¡ªhe would ask a bolder question. Even if Einstein refused to answer, that alone would be revealing.
¡°Einstein.¡±
Lin Xian spoke softly, ¡°In 1952, a twenty-year-old girl disappeared at 00:42, turning into blue stardust. Tell me why she vanished.¡±
Silence.
Einstein fell silent.
Lin Xian was surprised. This was the first time Einstein had paused for so long when asked a question.
Finally, after over ten seconds, Einstein slowly lifted his head, his voice calm, ¡°In 1952, nowhere in the world did any girl turn into blue stardust and vanish.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the sorrowful mask on the old man¡¯s face, ¡°Are you certain?¡±
Einstein nodded, saying no more.
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.
Just as he¡¯d thought¡ his suspicions and unease weren¡¯t unfounded.
If no girl disappeared in 1952 as the Millennial Stake¡ªthen why did Zhang Yu Qian dream about that year, remember it so clearly, even set it as the password for her diary? Why did Chu An Qing have nightmares? Why did CC dream of a blue-eyed version of himself?
If the Millennial Stake was such a stable system, reappearing every 24 years, how could it possibly skip such an important, pivotal year like 1952?
Previously, Lin Xian had only doubted, but now he was sure¡ªeither Einstein had seen a false future, or¡ª
Einstein was lying.
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Chapter 470: The Only Future
Chapter 470: The Only Future
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian shrugged.
¡°Well, since my question was wrong, does that mean I get to rephrase it and ask again?¡±
But Einstein shook his head and smiled. ¡°Rhine, you should know better than anyone else: a negative answer is still an answer. In fact, most of the questions geniuses ask are meant to be challenged. The point of asking is often to get a ¡®no¡¯ so they can prove their hypothesis.¡±
Lin Xian stayed silent. Einstein had been in the Genius Club for decades, and he understood the true purpose behind every question¡ªjust like the one Lin Xian had asked earlier.
If Lin Xian had only wanted to know the truth about the Millennial Stake or how to save Chu An Qing, he could have simply asked about Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing directly. But instead, he used an uncertain fact from 1952 to test Einstein¡ªto see if he could really see the future, or if he would lie.
The truth was, Lin Xian had started to doubt Einstein.
So, like Gauss, he wasn¡¯t looking for a definitive answer. He wanted to set a trap¡ªa question that might catch Einstein off guard, revealing a w.
Einstein certainly knew about Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing turning into blue star fragments and fading away. And he knew that Lin Xian knew. They were both ying with open cards, so why pretend to deceive each other?Instead, Lin Xian gave Einstein an opportunity¡ªsomething from 1952 that was distant enough that he couldn¡¯t verify it. Whatever Einstein said, Lin Xian would have to take at face value.
If Einstein refused to answer, it would mean the Millennial Stake was connected to him or the Genius Club itself. If Einstein answered honestly, Lin Xian would gain the truth he wanted. And if Einstein lied¡ Lin Xian could prove it, exposing a contradiction in Einstein¡¯s vision of a ¡°bright future.¡±
It was a question that, no matter the answer, would give him valuable information. And with the answers he got from Elon Musk, Lin Xian could piece everything together.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just call this a friendly chat, then. After all, I don¡¯t want the Genius Club meetings to end just like that.¡±
¡°Everyone else has been asking you questions for years, but I¡¯ve only been here for a few months. I barely got the chance to speak with you, and now¡ we might never meet again.¡±
He paused. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve always wondered about¡ªhow can you be so sure that every future you see is real?¡±
Einstein, sitting across from him with his mask on, chuckled lightly. ¡°Rhine, you know better than anyone that the future I see must be real. After all¡ if it weren¡¯t, you wouldn¡¯t have survived your first day in the Genius Club.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t argue with that.
The first time he attended a Genius Club meeting, he had asked Einstein about his own death. Einstein gave a precise answer: 17 minutes and 21 seconds.
And it turned out to be true.
If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t asked that question and had simply stayed home, Time Assassin No. 17 would have burst into his room and killed him. Based on the timing of that taxi pulling up to his apartment building, it would have taken roughly 17 minutes to reach him.
¡°But in the end, I survived,¡± Lin Xian continued, pushing further. ¡°Which means that even if the future you saw was real at that moment, you yourself said the future isn¡¯t set in stone. It can be changed by human actions.¡±
¡°Rewriting the future¡ªthat¡¯s why the Genius Club exists and why we put in the effort we do. But what if, even after seeing a bright and perfect future, something changes? What if the butterfly effect kicks in and dooms humanity again? Are we supposed to regroup, hold more meetings, try to find the right path, and recover the bright future we lost? How many times can we keep going through this cycle?¡±
Lin Xian finished speaking, staring straight at Einstein, hoping to catch any small reaction that might give him insight.
But there was none. The old man remained as calm as ever.
Einstein slowly stood up, using his thin arms to push himself out of the leather chair. He looked down at Lin Xian, standing tall andposed.
¡°You¡¯re overthinking this, Rhine,¡± he said. ¡°The future will not change anymore. All possibilities have been exhausted. What we have now is¡¡±
¡°The only future.¡±
With that, he made a gesture toward the door.
¡°The question-and-answer session is over. Rhine, you may leave now. As a member of the Genius Club, you¡¯ve seeded. You have no need to worry, doubt, or hesitate anymore. You¡¯ve given humanity its most beautiful future¡ªthe title of savior is well-deserved.¡±
Lin Xian slowly got up from the chair. Einstein¡¯s words were so firm and absolute.
It seemed¡ Einstein was confident. But Lin Xian was confident too.
He was d he hadn¡¯t asked directly about Zhang Yu Qian or Chu An Qing.
He didn¡¯t believe the future couldn¡¯t be changed. He didn¡¯t believe Einstein¡¯s im that humanity¡¯s future was locked in ce.
If the future could really be fixed like that, then why did Yellow Finch sacrifice everything toe back to the past and teach him onest lesson? Why did Zhao Ying Jun be a white jade statue in Sky City, waiting for him for six hundred years? Why did Chu An Qing cry after touching the spacetime particles, yet still help him bravely?
They all fought so hard¡ªall for the chance to change the future.
The meaning of the future is that it can be changed.
¡°Goodbye, Einstein,¡± Lin Xian said, turning and walking towards the golden hall outside.
When he reached the door, he looked back at the lonely, thin old man standing by the firece.
¡°Will we meet again in the future?¡±
This time, Einstein did not answer.
Lin Xian turned again and walked out, crossing the golden hall, pushing open the double doors, and stepping onto the soft, plush carpet.
He walked forward, eventually returning to the very ce he first entered the Genius Club.
He raised his right hand, removed the VR headset, and returned¡ to reality.
The study was brightly lit, the Pomeranian VV¡¯s snores came from the room next door, and a warm yellow light glowed from the kitchen, where hot milk was kept warm in a thermal box.
This was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s home. This was Lin Xian¡¯s reality.
He walked into the kitchen, drank the hot milk, then returned to the study, ready to start thinking again.
¡°The chances of Einstein lying are low,¡± Lin Xian muttered, twirling a pen between his fingers. ¡°You can¡¯t fool so many brilliant minds just by lying. No one could keep up a deception for decades without being caught.¡±
¡°Instead¡¡±
¡°Einstein might have seen a false future.¡±
He paused, his voice dropping even lower.
¡°But it¡¯s hard to tell. The future Einstein saw wasn¡¯t entirely false. Most questions asked by the Genius Club got urate and truthful answers.¡±
¡°But when ites to humanity¡¯s fate and the final moments before the world¡¯s end, what Einstein sees isn¡¯t real.¡±
¡°Is it possible¡ that even Einstein was deceived? Could someone have hijacked his mind and fed him a fake future to mislead him?¡±
Lin Xian suddenly had an epiphany. It was possible.
If what Einstein saw waspletely opposite to the truth, it meant that by following that misleading path, the Genius Club might only lead humanity further into destruction.
But what would be the point?
The Ninth Dream Lin Xian had seen showed that humanity seemed to be extinct. There were no aliens invading, no signs of war or conspiracy. Just extinction.
Why destroy humanity?
What would be the point?
¡°This is so confusing,¡± Lin Xian groaned, shaking his head. His thoughts felt more tangled than ever¡ªlike a jumbled ball of yarn, missing just one key thread to pull it all together.
What was that key?
¡°For now, I just need to try changing the future¡ªmake the timeline shift,¡± Lin Xian decided.
Einstein once said the future was set, that it couldn¡¯t be changed. But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t one to simply ept that. If he could shift the future, he¡¯d prove Einstein wrong.
Lin Xian had spent so long searching the Ninth Dream¡ªso long without any results¡ªno people, no clues, no information. He realized there was no point in staying in that empty, useless dream any longer.
¡°I have to find a way to reach the Tenth Dream,¡± Lin Xian muttered, squinting his eyes in determination. Change meant progress. If nothing changed, they would be doomed. It was time to actively trigger a shift in the timeline.
The next day, Lin Xian took the 95%plete ¡°Time Travel Machine Blueprints¡± to Liu Feng at the Rhine Joint Lab at Donghai University.
Liu Feng flipped through the blueprints on hisputer, muttering in awe. ¡°Genius, absolute genius! I can¡¯t believe a human brain coulde up with something like this. It¡¯s not just once in a millennium¡ªit¡¯s a once-in-ten-thousand-years miracle!¡±
¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± Lin Xian waved it off, urging Liu Feng to keep reading. ¡°Can you fill in the remaining 5%?¡±
¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Liu Feng replied, nodding confidently. ¡°The core parts are described in detail, and the theory is solid. Thest 5% is just the power module and energy transfer¡ªwe could use different options for that.¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s expression darkened as he continued. ¡°But the real problem is Astatine-339, an element that shouldn¡¯t exist in our universe. From what you said, thatet from another dimension won¡¯t reach Earth until 2234. So it doesn¡¯t matter if we build the time machine tomorrow or two hundred years from now¡ªit still won¡¯t work.¡±
He pointed at the spacetime clock on his desk. ¡°Even though we have the entangled spacetime particles, without the calibration module, the machine won¡¯t function. That¡¯s probably why the clock hasn¡¯t moved and why the timeline hasn¡¯t shifted.¡±
Lin Xian picked up the clock, turning it over in his hands. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that the anchor point hasn¡¯t formed yet?¡±
Liu Feng nodded. ¡°Seems that way. Without theet in 2234, the time machine is just a pile of junk.¡±
But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t convinced. He remembered something Einstein had said: ¡°The future will not change anymore. All possibilities have been exhausted.¡±
Turning back to Liu Feng, Lin Xian spoke slowly. ¡°Actually, there could be another reason. Maybe this timeline is so resilient that just creating a time machine isn¡¯t enough to push it over the edge.¡±
Liu Feng blinked in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s one tough timeline¡ªit¡¯s not a spring; it¡¯s a steel bar.¡±
After a pause, Liu Feng rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°But I guess it¡¯s possible. If there¡¯s some inevitable, overwhelming force in the future, then maybe nothing we do now will make a difference.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian pulled up a chair and sat down. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to say.¡±
Maybe Einstein was confident because he knew a super-catastrophe wasing in 2600¡ªsomething that could wipe everything out. Of course, Einstein saw a thriving, highly advanced civilization, not a deste Earth. But the principle was the same.
¡°There¡¯s always a way to break through,¡± Lin Xian said, unwilling to give up. ¡°If the time machine isn¡¯t enough, then we¡¯ll have to rely on Du Yao¡¯s Brain Neural Electric Helmet. If that helmet works, we might be able to ovee the side effects of long-term hibernation. That could be enough to cause a major shift in the timeline.¡±
He stood, ready to leave for Du Yao¡¯sb. ¡°You keep working on the blueprints. See if you can finish them,¡± he told Liu Feng before heading out.
Lin Xian took a car to Du Yao¡¯sb, where he found that progress was slow.
¡°Still working on it,¡± Du Yao said, shaking her head. Her hair was tied back, herb coat spotless. ¡°You need patience, Lin Xian. Science is like that¡ªeveryone can dream big, but making those dreams real is the challenge. Sometimes you need luck or a sh of inspiration.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not rushing you,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°I just wanted to see how things are going. Science doesn¡¯t happen overnight. We¡¯re already lucky to be standing on the shoulders of giants.¡±
For now, Lin Xian¡¯sst hopey with Du Yao. If her invention couldn¡¯t cause a timeline shift, there really wouldn¡¯t be any other way.
Time moved on. Lin Xian spent twelve hours a day dreaming, riding his motorcycle, exploring the Ninth Dream. But the more he searched, the more hopeless it felt. Dreams had always given him information and resources¡ªeven the Fourth Dream had offered him a way to break through.
But the Ninth Dream was different. With humanity extinct, there was nothing there to help him.
The Genius Club meetings were definitely over too. No matter what time he tried, even at midnight on the first of each month, his golden Genius Club badge yielded nothing. Einstein must have shut down the servers. There was no way to reconnect.
It was a terrible feeling¡ªno information from the dreams, no way to shift the timeline, no contact with the other members of the Genius Club. It felt like he was at a dead end.
Autumn turned to winter. The bells of New Year¡¯s Day, 2025, rang, and soon after, it was X Country New Year.
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s belly was getting bigger, and the time for little Yu Xi to be born was approaching. It was the only thing keeping Lin Xian going. Little Yu Xi was growing well, always moving inside Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°She¡¯s got good genes for martial arts!¡± the ultrasound doctor joked, making Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Junugh.
When they got home, they started thinking about prenatal education.
¡°It¡¯s better if she¡¯s a bit calmer this time,¡± they agreed. ¡°No more of the punch-and-kick types. Let¡¯s y her some music¡ªmaybe she¡¯ll grow up to be an artist or musician.¡±
February 1, 2025. Early morning. 12:42 a.m.
Lin Xian woke up from his dreams again. He¡¯d spent another day riding his motorcycle, finding nothing. After three months of exploring the Ninth Dream, Lin Xian hade to ept humanity¡¯s extinction there. But he still didn¡¯t know how to save them or change anything.
There had been no progress on researching Universal Constant 42. Du Yao¡¯s Brain Neural Electric Helmet had made no breakthroughs. Elon Musk was still searching for signs of Gauss, Newton, and Galileo but hadn¡¯t found anything.
Everything was at a standstill.
Lin Xian sighed, getting up and going to his desk. He picked up a pen and started writing down each problem he faced:
¡°The major secret from 1952¡ªcan¡¯t reach it without a time machine.¡±
¡°Theet in 2234¡ªtoo far away to wait.¡±
¡°Cheng Qian reviving VV in 2482¡ªeven further, impossible to meet Cheng Qian.¡±
¡°Human extinction in 2624¡ªcan¡¯t change it, can¡¯t find the safe, no useful information.¡±
He clicked the pen shut, resting his head in his hands. Gradually, he fell asleep at his desk.
In the next room, with VV snoring beside her, Zhao Ying Jun woke up, feeling a kick from inside her belly. She rubbed her stomach, grumbling, ¡°Little Yu Xi¡ just like your dad, awake all night.¡±
It really ran in the family.
She looked at the clock¡ª3:21 a.m. But when she turned, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t there. Surprised, she got up, put on her slippers, and went to the study, where the light was still on.
Inside, she found her husband asleep at the desk. She moved closer to wake him up, whispering, ¡°It¡¯s too cold to be sleeping here¡ªyou¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± But then she saw the paper on the desk. The words he had written¡ she could see how much pressure he was under.
Quietly, Zhao Ying Jun bent down and hugged Lin Xian, feeling the chill in his body. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡¡± she whispered softly, her voice full of warmth. ¡°I¡¯m here for you.¡±
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Chapter 471: A Lifetime For You
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Two dayster was Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s routine checkup day.
Little Yu Xi in her belly was already 28 weeks along, and it was time for a 4D ultrasound.
The principle of a 4D ultrasound is to use sound waves and the Doppler effect to create an image, allowing parents to see the baby¡¯s features, limbs, and other details.
Zhao Ying Juny on the examination bed, while Lin Xian stood beside her. Together, they both turned to look at the imaging screen with the doctor.
¡°Wow, this baby looks so beautiful! Look at those features,¡± the doctor said, pointing to the oddly abstract image on the screen.
¡°Look at that nose, so high, and such a cute little nose and mouth.¡±
Lin Xian squinted, trying hard to understand the Picasso-meets-Van-Gogh-style artwork on the screen. ¡°Where is it? Is that a face? I just can¡¯t see it.¡±
¡°You need to look more closely,¡± the doctor smiled a little and pointed out the details to Lin Xian. ¡°Here, this is the outline of the face. Here are the eyes¡ªthey¡¯re closed. Can you see it now?¡±Lin Xian nodded, finally able to make out a vague semnce of a face. Though, he had to admit, being a soundwave image, it was still quite abstract.
¡°I think I can see it,¡± he said.
Zhao Ying Jun chuckled, ncing up at Lin Xian. ¡°Do you think she looks like Yu Xi?¡±
¡°I really can¡¯t tell,¡± Lin Xian replied with a helpless smile. ¡°What can you even make out from this?¡±
¡°I think she looks a lot like her.¡± Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes softened as she stared at the quiet little face on the ultrasound image. ¡°This is¡ our first time meeting her, isn¡¯t it? Even though she can¡¯t see us, we get to see her through the power of technology.¡±
The doctor gave Lin Xian a look, then nced at Zhao Ying Jun, nodding. ¡°Yes, she really looks a lot like her mom.¡±
Then, the doctor turned to Lin Xian, addingfortingly, ¡°But during the baby¡¯s growth, their features often change. What you see in this image might not be exactly urate. Who knows? In two months, when she¡¯s born, she might end up looking more like her dad.¡±
Lin Xian felt¡ time really flew by.
In just these few months, while he had been struggling with everything, little Yu Xi had slowly grown¡ªand soon, she would be born!
¡°So¡ when is the expected due date?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°It¡¯s still a bit early to give an exact date,¡± the doctor said, flipping through Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s checkup records. ¡°But it should be around mid-April. If you n on booking a postpartum care center, you might want to prepare in advance.¡±
¡°Alright, everything looks great. The baby is perfectly healthy, and there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Just be careful about diet in thest two months¡ªmany mothers tend to eat too much at the end, which can cause the baby to grow too fast and makebor harder.¡±
The couple nodded, making a mental note of everything, and left the hospital holding the examination booklet.
¡°Time really goes by so fast.¡± Lin Xian looked up at the sun, now climbing toward midday, as they walked out of the hospital.
¡°It feels like just yesterday I was holding Yu Xi¡¯s hand, wandering through Disnend. And now, our little Yu Xi will be here in just two months.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it because you were so eager?¡± Zhao Ying Jun teased. ¡°But at least, you kept your promise.¡±
¡°Since it¡¯s still early and we have nothing else to do, why don¡¯t we go to Jing¡¯an Temple?¡±
Hmm?
Lin Xian turned his head, surprised. ¡°Why Jing¡¯an Temple?¡±
¡°To pray, for peace, and to make a wish,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, linking her arm through his. ¡°You know, being married to you feels like a long-distance rtionship¡ªevery day, we only get to exchange a few words in the morning.¡± ??
¡°The moment it turns to twelve-thirty, you¡¯re off to dreand. I think, if you were to find a little wife in the dream, she could have you at night while I get you during the day.¡±
¡°I¡¯d love that,¡± Lin Xianughed, ¡°but in the Ninth Dream, there¡¯s not even half a living person. Where am I supposed to find a little wife?¡±
¡°Forget a little wife, I¡¯ve been wandering the dream for months¡ªif I could even find Big Cat Face, I¡¯d be ecstatic enough to give him a hug.¡±
¡°Oh, you would, huh?¡± Zhao Ying Jun pinched his arm yfully. ¡°So, you had thoughts like that in the earlier dreamscapes, did you?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian quickly shook his head, clearly understanding it was a trap. ¡°In those earlier dreamscapes¡ I was either with Big Cat Face and his friend, or on my way to find them.¡±
¡°Really, no matter which dream it was, seeing Big Cat Face always made me feel safe. As long as he¡¯s around, it feels like there¡¯s hope¡ªeven if the sky falls, Big Cat Face will hold it up.¡±
¡°So now, without Big Cat Face in the Ninth Dream, this future world really feels like it¡¯s falling apart.¡±
The mere mention of Big Cat Face made Zhao Ying Jun smile. ¡°Sounds like he¡¯s be your pir of strength. Alright then, I¡¯ll wish for you to meet Big Cat Face soon when we get to Jing¡¯an Temple.¡±
¡°No, that¡¯s really not necessary.¡± Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s round belly and smiled gently. ¡°Just make a wish for little Yu Xi¡ªwish for her to live a happy and peaceful life.¡±
¡
It was a weekday, so there weren¡¯t many visitors at Jing¡¯an Temple.
Zhao Ying Jun prayed for peace in every hall, and Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her transformation. The once proud, atheistic businesswoman was now so devotedly praying for the health of their soon-to-be-born child, truly showing the power of a mother¡¯s love.
In the past, Zhao Ying Jun had been a firm believer in science.
She hadughed when Lin Xian talked about grave-digging with Gao Yang. ¡°Gao Yang actually prepared all that superstitious stuff¡ªcandles at the corners of the coffin, and ck donkey hooves¡ªit really cracked me up.¡±
¡°From a scientific perspective, if you¡¯re truly worried about ghosts, bringing a small ball is much more practical.¡±
¡°Why?¡± That piece of knowledge had caught Lin Xian off guard at the time.
This was what it meant to be well-educated, wasn¡¯t it?
¡°What does a ball do?¡±
¡°It helps determine if something¡¯s real,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said without hesitation. ¡°No matter what ghost you encounter, just throw the ball at it. If it bounces back, it means it¡¯s real¡ªand if two grown men can¡¯t handle it, there¡¯s nothing else to say.¡±
¡°If the ball passes right through it, it means it has no physical form¡ªso no matter what weapons you have, they¡¯re useless. Just turn and run.¡±
Her logical exnation had amused Lin Xian at the time. ¡°I swear, you really are reliable. Next time something like thates up, I¡¯ll bring you along for sure.¡±
¡°Oh, stop it,¡± she had rolled her eyes. ¡°Be a bit more responsible for the kid in my belly, will you? Honestly, how could Gao Yang pull you into grave-digging? Doesn¡¯t he know right from wrong?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian had nodded, eager to shift the me.
Now, that same woman who had once treated ghosts as nothing but scientific experiments was kneeling in front of the altar, eyes closed, quietly murmuring prayers¡ªserious, devout, and hoping for their child¡¯s wellbeing.
After a long while, Zhao Ying Jun rose from the cushion, dropped several hundred-dor bills into the donation box, bought incense from the monk, and watched it burn, satisfied.
The two of them continued strolling toward the back of the temple, eventuallying across a quiet rock garden with no one around. They paused, taking in the view.
¡°If praying could really help, that would be nice,¡± Lin Xian said softly, leaning against the railing of a gazebo.
¡°If it really worked, I¡¯d do it too¡ªI¡¯d pray to find a way to break this deadlock.¡± He sighed, looking at the distance. ¡°Right now, it feels like I¡¯mpletely stuck. Everything is at a standstill, and there¡¯s no way to move anything forward.¡±
¡°The dire future where humanity is on the brink, and even my promise to Chu Shan He to save Chu An Qing¡ With the Genius Club split, and the rest of the members working in secret, I¡¯m just too passive.¡± He paused, shaking his head. ¡°No¡ªto be precise, I¡¯m not even in a position to be passive. Before, I could gather clues from the dreamscapes, get information, and even bring back some advanced tech. But now, in the Ninth Dream, I can¡¯t do anything.¡±
¡°No wonder Einstein said the world line had stabilized, and there¡¯d be no more jumps¡ If things keep on like this, I won¡¯t be able to change the future¡ªI¡¯ll just have to watch as humanity moves step by step toward extinction.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun patted the wooden bench next to her, indicating for Lin Xian to sit down.
¡°You know, you could talk to me about whatever¡¯s bothering you. We could think it through together,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m your wife. I might not be able to help in battles or in the dream, but having another person to think things over could make a difference.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°The biggest issue right now is that I can¡¯t find the Aluminum Alloy Safe in the dream. Donghai City was ttened¡ªthere¡¯s no reference point at all, and I can¡¯t tell where anything is. Even if I wanted to dig up the safe, I wouldn¡¯t know where to start.¡±
¡°Without the safe, I can¡¯t read the note Chu An Qing left for me, and I can¡¯t verify if the dream is real or not.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°I think there¡¯s no way your dream is fake.¡±
She blinked at Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s really an old topic, but¡¡±
¡°If your dream was fake, why would Yellow Finch go through so much trouble¡ªsacrificing everything and risking her life toe back and find you?¡±
¡°Because I am Yellow Finch, I know myself well,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said softly but with conviction. ¡°You¡¯ve told me that Yellow Finch knew a lot about the Genius Club¡ªit¡¯s likely that she learned all of it from you, just like I have now.¡±
¡°From this, it¡¯s clear that Yellow Finch and her Lin Xian believed in your dream¡¯s reality, or they wouldn¡¯t have sacrificed everything to travel back in time to give you crucial information¡ªjust so you could enter the Genius Club earlier and notice Einstein¡¯s strangeness.¡±
¡°If Einstein had really seen a bright future and had the ability to lead humanity there, Yellow Finch should¡¯ve gone back for him, not you.¡±
¡°Clearly, there¡¯s something off about Einstein. Whether his vision of the future is false, or he¡¯s deliberately lying¡ The point is, you have to trust Yellow Finch, and you have to trust ¡®Yellow Finch¡¯s Choice.¡¯ She chose you because you were right¡ªshe and her Lin Xian must¡¯ve verified it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun touched her growing belly as she continued, ¡°I admit my view might be biased. But if I put myself in Yellow Finch¡¯s position¡ I wouldn¡¯t abandon Yu Xi unless I was absolutely sure¡ªwhatever reasonpelled her to do that, it must¡¯ve been something truly important.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his eyes softening as he thought. ¡°I¡¯ve also considered that. I trust Yellow Finch deeply.¡±
¡°She gave me so many crucial hints, but never once did she imply I should question the reality of the dream.¡± He remembered a conversation from their trip to Copenhagen. ¡°Once, when we were in Copenhagen, she asked me what code name I¡¯d pick for the Genius Club. I casually said ¡®Beethoven or Da Vinci.¡¯ She agreed to Beethoven, but when I asked why not Da Vinci, she just smiled and didn¡¯t answer.¡±
¡°It makes sense now¡ªI couldn¡¯t pick Da Vinci because the Genius Club already had one. This means Yellow Finch knew the club very well¡ªshe knew Einstein¡ And even more important¡ª¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, ¡°Yellow Finch had to havee from a time beyond 2234. She and her Lin Xian would¡¯ve had the chance to use the time travel machine to verify things. For example¡ª¡±
¡°1952, what really happened; what the Millennial Stake is; who the old man wearing Einstein¡¯s face, the head of the Genius Club, really is¡ Yellow Finch must¡¯ve known all of it.¡±
¡°Otherwise, why was she so insistent on steering me toward the Genius Club? I thought it was so I could gather intelligence¡ But really, I haven¡¯t gained much from being part of the club.¡±
¡°If using just the dream was enough to save humanity, there was no need for me to join the Genius Club at all. The members all have hidden agendas, and Einstein¡¯s questioning makes it hard to get any valuable information¡ I¡¯ve found more in the dream than I ever have from the club.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch made it a point to guide me toward joining the Genius Club. The very first time she entered my life, she left a fake invitation to the club at the reception desk.¡±
Suddenly, a thought crossed Lin Xian¡¯s mind.
A fake invitation.
Fake.
Could it be¡ that even then, Yellow Finch was hinting that the future Einstein saw was false?
¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m overanalyzing,¡± Lin Xian murmured, ¡°but the more I think about it, the stranger Einstein¡¯s actions seem. That¡¯s why, the other night, I suspected that the future he saw had been hijacked¡ªa supposedly beautiful future when really it was humanity¡¯s end.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought as deeply about it, but one thing I know for sure¡ªYellow Finch is someone you can trust with your life. Her goal was to help you save the world, save humanity¡¯s future. She didn¡¯t put her faith in Einstein¡ªshe put it in you. She encouraged you to keep moving forward, to keep trying, even if it meant getting it wrong.¡±
¡°Just like us¡ªeveryone around you, both in reality and in the dreamscapes¡ªLiu Feng, Gao Yang, Chu An Qing, Chu Shan He, Du Yao, Nangong Meng Jie, Angelica, Elon Musk, Big Cat Face, CC, Gao Wen¡ They all believed in you.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian, believe in yourself¡ªbelieve in your dreams.¡±
She held his hand in hers. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of failing¡ªI¡¯m always here for you.¡±
¡°If you do end up failing in your mission to save the future¡¡± Zhao Ying Jun lifted her gaze to meet his eyes.
¡°I¡¯m willing to be Yellow Finch once again for you.¡±
¡
Lin Xian felt the warmth of her hand. He looked at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s resolute expression and held her hand tighter.
¡°I won¡¯t let ite to that.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch came back not to create another Yellow Finch, but to nurture a sessful Lin Xian.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled slightly, reaching up to caress his smooth cheek, then his slightly rough chin. She then took a piece of folded white paper from her handbag.
She unfolded it.
It contained the four predicaments Lin Xian had listed the other night in his study when he had dozed off in exhaustion:
[The secret of 1952¡ªcan¡¯t go there without a time machine.]
[Comet arrives in 2234¡ªtoo far in the future.]
[Cheng Qian revives VV in 2482¡ªeven further in the future.]
[Human extinction in 2624¡ªcan¡¯t change it, can¡¯t find the safe, can¡¯t get any useful information.]
¡°Lin Xian, there is a way to solve these four dilemmas.¡± Zhao Ying Jun pointed at the second one. ¡°First, when Du Yao sessfully develops the Brain Neural Electric Helmet, we use a hibernation pod to travel to 2234.¡±
She then pointed at the first one. ¡°In 2234, use the time travel machine, utilizing the entangled spacetime particles, and travel back to 1952 to see what really happened¡ªfind out the truth about Einstein, the Genius Club, and the Millennial Stake.¡±
Her finger slid down to the third one. ¡°Then, we hibernate again and go to 2482 to revive the super AI, VV. With VV¡¯s help, we¡¯ll be able to defeat any enemy¡ªincluding Einstein, and maybe even the mastermind behind him.¡±
Her finger moved down to the fourth. ¡°Finally, after defeating all the enemies and discovering all the truths¡ªnot only can we save Chu An Qing and resolve the Extinction Light¡ªwe can hibernate until August 29th, 2624, and watch the sunrise of a new day together.¡±
Lin Xian opened his mouth to say something, but Zhao Ying Jun shook her finger, signaling him to stay quiet.
¡°I know what you want to say, but I¡¯ve thought it all through.¡± She took a book from her handbag and handed it to him¡ªa Winter Sleep Manual.
¡°I researched it yesterday¡ªhibernation is perfectly fine for adults, but for children, the minimum age is three years old. In extreme cases, it can¡¯t be lower than one year. For infants under one year, hibernation is strictly prohibited worldwide.¡±
¡°An infant¡¯s brain isn¡¯t fully developed, and hibernation fluids might infiltrate the brain, causing irreversible damage. But I¡¯ve thought about it¡ªwe can¡¯t decide Yu Xi¡¯s life for her. We have the duty to watch her grow up, and I want to see her grow into a young woman¡ªto eighteen.¡±
¡°After that, Yu Xi will be an adult, capable of making her own choices. If she wants to join us in the future, we go together as a family. If she wants to stay, we¡¯ll have fulfilled our duty as parents and can go to the future without regrets.¡±
¡°When she¡¯s eighteen, we¡¯ll be in our forties¡ªstill strong, and it¡¯ll be no hindrance to the n.¡± She smiled, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°Who says a savior has to be like the kids in cartoons? Middle-aged people can be heroes too.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the manual in his hands, not opening it. He looked at Zhao Ying Jun in surprise. ¡°Your determination¡ªyou managed to think of a n for the next twenty years in just a day.¡±
¡°You said it yourself¡ªhibernation into an unknown future is terrifying and lonely. You resisted the idea, and honestly, I do too. Even waiting until Yu Xi is eighteen¡ I still don¡¯t want to leave.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to either.¡± Zhao Ying Jun said sincerely. ¡°But if you don¡¯t do this¡ who else could?¡±
She looked at Lin Xian, smiling faintly. ¡°They say married couples have a special connection, and you can¡¯t hide from me. I know exactly what has been troubling youtely. It¡¯s not these dilemmas.¡±
¡°You¡¯re clever enough to realize hibernation could solve everything. But the cost¡ leaving this era, leaving Yu Xi, leaving me.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch¡¯s final words to you by the Copenhagen sea left you filled with guilt and hesitation. The responsibility of saving humanity¡¯s future versus the duty to be with and protect your family¡ The conflict between these responsibilities is what truly has you at a standstill.¡±
¡
For a moment, Lin Xian was silent.
Zhao Ying Jun had seen right through him.
Hibernation.
He had been avoiding that option for as long as possible.
Yellow Finch, when she became those blue, shimmering stars, had told him¡ not to leave Yu Xi.
He had also seen Zhao Ying Jun waiting for him in the third dream¡ªsix hundred years alone.
How could he even think of leaving them?
¡°I¡¯m your wife, and I¡¯m Yu Xi¡¯s mother.¡± Zhao Ying Jun stood up and walked to stand in front of him.
Looking down at him, she continued. ¡°If saving the world and humanity¡¯s future is your duty, then raising Yu Xi and growing old with you is mine.¡±
She looked at him, her eyes filled with determination. ¡°Yellow Finch¡¯s true meaning might not have been to hold back the mantis, but rather¡ to always have your back.¡±
¡°So, Lin Xian, don¡¯t worry about anything else. Like I said when we first met¡ªdo what you really want to do, what you will never regret putting your whole life into.¡±
¡°And, honestly¡ isn¡¯t the n I just suggested the best possible one? Just eighteen more years before we sleep. Let¡¯s raise Yu Xi together, and then¡¡± She reached out her hand, pulling him up from the bench, smiling. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go with you¡¡±
¡°To the end of the world.¡±
Chapter 472: Breaking Through the Fog
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian was pulled up by Zhao Ying Jun, now standing face-to-face with her. He reached out and touched her smooth cheek, feeling a surge of emotions rising within him. He thought back to the small, withered bouquet he had once given her. Who could have guessed that it would bring him a wife who was nothing short of a treasure? Brave, loyal, wise, and determined.
Lin Xian realized that much of what he had achieved was because of the people by his side. Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun had been his pirs of strength, supporting and guiding him all along. It made perfect sense now that Yellow Finch and Zhao Ying Jun were the same person. Over time, he had noticed simrities between them¡ªtheir boldness, decisiveness, and courage. In these qualities, Zhao Ying Jun far surpassed him.
He had always been a thinker, and recently, especially while trying to figure out how to ovee their current dilemma, his caution had only grown. He knew there was a solution¡ªthe hibernation pod could solve their immediate problems¡ªbut each time he considered it, he remembered Yellow Finch¡¯s words on the shore in Copenhagen: ¡°Never leave Yu Xi.¡± Those words had weighed on him like chains, preventing him from even thinking of leaving his wife and daughter.
It wasn¡¯t just those words. Deep down, Lin Xian himself didn¡¯t want to leave Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi. What father could willingly leave his little girl? This was also why he had promised Chu Shan He that he would rescue Chu An Qing. As a father, he understood Chu Shan He¡¯s devotion, and he respected it deeply.
Lin Xian had made a promise¡ª
¡°No matter where she is, no matter what she¡¯s be, no matter how far or how long it takes, even if I have to search every corner of time and space¡ª¡±
¡°I will find Chu An Qing for you.¡±
A gentleman¡¯s word is like an arrow once released¡ªit cannot be taken back. A true man keeps his promises.All the evidence pointed towards 1952 as the key to understanding the Millennial Stake. Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream, Einstein¡¯s deceit, the Universal Constant 42, the coded painting, and the pattern of disappearances¡ªall of it seemed to lead to that year.
To uncover the mystery of the Millennial Stake, to save Chu An Qing, Lin Xian knew he would have to go back to 1952.
But with so much uncertainty pressing on him, Lin Xian found himself in conflict. The reality was clear¡ªhe needed to hibernate to travel through time, but the thought of leaving Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi kept holding him back. It had been the source of his anxiety for thest three months.
And Zhao Ying Jun, the person closest to him, had seen through it all without him needing to say a word.
That was why she had brought him to Jing¡¯an Temple today¡ªto say what needed to be said, to ease his worries, to untangle the knot in his heart, and to let him know that she would be by his side until the end of the world.
Lin Xian nodded, looking into her eyes.
¡°I still have many promises left unfulfilled,¡± he began.
¡°We,¡± Zhao Ying Jun interrupted, cing her hand over his. ¡°I am your wife. We are one. Your promises are my promises. Your vows are my vows.¡±
She smiled. ¡°An Qing¡¯s matter is not just yours¡ªit¡¯s ours. If the only way to learn the truth about the Millennial Stake, to save An Qing, is to go back to 1952, then we must go.¡± She paused, her eyes firm. ¡°We owe it to An Qing. Yellow Finch owes it to her too. If it wasn¡¯t for the spacetime particle An Qing found for you, we¡¯d still be in the dark, unable to join the Genius Club or figure out that something was wrong with Einstein.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lin Xian sped Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°I won¡¯t let An Qing¡¯s efforts go to waste. I won¡¯t let Yellow Finch¡¯s sacrifice be in vain. I won¡¯t fail you, Yu Xi, or anyone else.¡±
He paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Besides, we still have hope. If Du Yao can sessfully invent the Brain Neural Electric Helmet, and if it can cause the spacetime curvature to change as we expect, then we could leap across world-lines, and everything will be clear.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°Exactly. Everything is stuck now because we can¡¯t ess useful information from the Ninth Dream. Without it, we can¡¯t alter the world-line, and reality remains stagnant.¡±
She smiled again. ¡°And if the world-line does shift thanks to Du Yao, it¡¯ll prove Einstein was lying. Then maybe, just maybe, you¡¯ll finally believe that your dreams are real, won¡¯t you?¡± she teased.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You know me too well. Without solid proof that Einstein¡¯s vision of the future is false, I can¡¯t fully convince myself.¡± He squeezed her hand. ¡°But thanks to you, and your perspective as Yellow Finch, I¡¯ve figured out a way to prove, beyond doubt, whether Einstein was lying.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Is that really possible?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it for days, but I couldn¡¯t find a way.¡±
Lin Xian nodded confidently. ¡°Einstein might seem all-knowing, but the future he saw doesn¡¯t include the dreams I¡¯ve been having. That¡¯s the information gap between us. It¡¯s exactly that gap that will let me expose his lie.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun poked his side yfully. ¡°Alright, enough suspense. Tell me what you¡¯re thinking.¡±
Lin Xian took her hand, and they began walking back together. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s talk while we walk.¡±
They walked beneath the trees at Jing¡¯an Temple as Lin Xian exined. ¡°Einstein told me that in 1952, no girl turned into blue stardust and disappeared. But if we follow the timeline of the Millennial Stake, there should¡¯ve been a twenty-year-old girl¡ªsomeone like Chu An Qing¡ªwho vanished in 1952. And four yearster, another Millennial Stake would be born, keeping the cycle going.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun listened quietly. ¡°But how can you verify that?¡± she asked. ¡°You have no idea what really happened in 1952. Unless you use the time-travel machine, how will you find out if a Millennial Stake disappeared that year? And even if you did go back, there¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯d witness it. The world is vast¡ªhow would you know where to look?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°True. If things are as you say, then maybe Einstein wasn¡¯t lying. But Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s strange dreams, her diary password being ¡®1952¡¯¡ I¡¯ve always believed there¡¯s a connection between the Millennial Stake and 1952.¡±
He took a deep breath. ¡°The key is simple¡ªif we can prove that a Millennial Stake disappeared in 1952, we can prove that Einstein¡¯s vision of the future is false.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun spread her hands. ¡°Your logic makes sense. But how do we prove it?¡±
Lin Xian looked up at the sky. ¡°For that, we have to thank Emperor Gao Wen. In the ¡®Time Travel Machine Manuscript,¡¯ Gao Wen said that time travel requires not just spacetime particles, but also a ¡®spacetime rift.¡¯ You can¡¯t just pick any moment to travel to¡ªyou need a rift in spacetime.¡±
He continued, ¡°Gao Wen¡¯s research on spacetime rifts was ahead of his time. He found that there are two ways rifts form¡ªfirst, whenever the world-line leaps or shifts, causing a wrinkle in spacetime. Second, rifts appear en masse every 24 years. Gao Wen didn¡¯t know why, but we do¡ªit¡¯s when a Millennial Stake disappears, turning into blue stardust.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes lit up with understanding. ¡°So if we find that in 1952 there were a lot of spacetime rifts, that would mean a Millennial Stake vanished that year.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Exactly. We can use the rifts to prove whether Einstein was telling the truth. If we find those rifts, then we know¡ªin 1952, a Millennial Stake girl turned to stardust and disappeared.¡±
¡
Zhao Ying Jun blinked.
¡°It¡¯s a breakthrough, isn¡¯t it?¡± She gave Lin Xian a reproachful look. ¡°Why did you only think of something this important now?¡±
Lin Xian sighed, shrugging helplessly. ¡°My mind¡¯s been all over the ce,¡± he admitted. ¡°Since joining the Genius Club, I¡¯ve been juggling so much¡ªreal-life responsibilities, exploring in dreams¡ªit¡¯s hard to connect all these little threads sometimes.¡±
He looked at her thoughtfully. ¡°But when we talked about Yellow Finch today, everything just clicked. Plus, I think I¡¯ve figured out when ¡®Number 17,¡¯ that spacetime assassin, came from.¡±
Lin Xian paused, trying to organize his thoughts. ¡°It was July 1st, 2024. That night, Elon Musk had his double¡ªthe fake Musk¡ªin his office ying VR games. Then Copernicus¡¯s undercover secretary rushed in and killed the double.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes widened. Lin Xian continued, ¡°That swap, killing the wrong person and saving the real one, changed the world-line. It shifted everything, pulling it to the -0.0000042 line. And it was in that exact moment of change that the spacetime rift opened up. That¡¯s when Number 17 traveled here, trying to kill me.¡±
He looked over at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°If you think about it, Number 17 was really aggressive. If she had crossed over before that shift, she would¡¯vee after me immediately. It only makes sense if she arrived when that rift appeared.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°And what about Yellow Finch?¡± she asked.
Lin Xian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°The world-line leaped from the First Dream to the Second in January 2023, right after Professor Xu Yun died and the government announced his sessful research. By all logic, the spacetime rift should¡¯ve appeared in January 2023. But here¡¯s the weird part¡ªin December 2022, Yellow Finch had already put a fake Genius Club invitation at the front desk of MX Corp.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So how did Yellow Finch travel back before the rift even formed? Unless¡¡± She trailed off, sensing a deep truth.
Lin Xian watched her silently. Zhao Ying Jun took a deep breath. ¡°You said you¡¯ve been having the same dream since you were born. So from March 20th, 1999, until January 2023, that¡¯s over two decades of stability in the world-line¡ªno extra rifts. Except¡¡± She frowned slightly, her voice dropping.
¡°Except for January 21st, 2000. That¡¯s the day Zhang Yu Qian¡ªthe Millennial Stake¡ªturned into blue stardust. That staking created massive spacetime rifts. If Yellow Finch wanted you to notice the Genius Club sooner, that would have been her only chance.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°My goodness¡ Yellow Finch must havee here so early. She waited for over twenty years.¡±
The two of them sped hands, walking a long way in silence. Eventually, Lin Xian spoke, his voice low. ¡°That¡¯s why¡ I could never let Yellow Finch down. Or you. Or Yu Xi.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled gently. ¡°She must¡¯vee to see you,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m sure she watched over you so many times¡ªwatching you grow, going to school, graduating, starting work¡ You just never noticed.¡± She looked at him with a wistful smile. ¡°If it were me, I would¡¯vee to see you in secret too.¡±
She chuckled softly, her eyes misting. ¡°Maybe Yellow Finch even held you when you were small. It must¡¯ve been a different kind ofpanionship¡ªbackwards, in a way, growing old together.¡± She paused, ncing at Lin Xian. ¡°What do you think? Would she reallye all the way to Hang City to find you as a little kid?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head, looking thoughtful. ¡°If she did, it must¡¯ve been when I was very young. I would¡¯ve remembered otherwise, I think.¡± He rubbed his chin, thinking of the blue earrings swaying in the sunlight. ¡°But honestly, who knows? You meet so many strangers every day, most of them just pass by. Unless you really pay attention, you wouldn¡¯t remember them. It¡¯s possible Yellow Finch saw me¡ªI just don¡¯t remember.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled softly at his profile. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better this way,¡± she said. ¡°When you were young, you were impulsive. If you¡¯d learned too soon about your mission, it might¡¯ve backfired. Yellow Finch must¡¯ve carefully thought it through before deciding when to step in.¡±
She looked up suddenly. ¡°You know, the Genius Club gatherings and their ns have been going on for ages. So why did the First Dreamst over two decades without any changes?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that too. There are two possibilities.¡± He held up a finger. ¡°First, before the invention of the hibernation pods, those geniuses were limited by their lifespans and the technology avable to them. They couldn¡¯t make big changes to spacetime.¡±
He paused. ¡°Take Miss Da Vinci. Without things like nuclear batteries and humanoid robots, she couldn¡¯t have achieved her vision. At best, she could teach, inspire. But without advanced tech, her impact was limited.¡± He looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Or Elon Musk¡ªwithout the hibernation pods, he admitted he couldn¡¯t have colonized Mars in his lifetime. He¡¯d be just a rich guyunching rockets and satellites¡ªnot enough to change spacetime.¡±
¡°So the key is the hibernation pods,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°Once those were invented, the geniuses could fully unleash their potential. They could hibernate until technology caught up to their ns. They used the pods to skip ahead in time, giving them the chance to influence destiny.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, understanding. ¡°That makes a lot of sense. If you hadn¡¯t brought the hibernation pod fluid back, those geniuses would¡¯ve aged and died.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Exactly. And, honestly, it¡¯s not all bad. The pods brought enormous benefits to humanity¡ªwe can¡¯t disregard that just because some members of the Genius Club abused them. And even without the pods, the First Dream wasn¡¯t a utopia. The apocalypse was stilling, and Big Cat¡¯s father still died in a car crash at 00:42. Copernicus¡¯s n was always in motion.¡±
Lin Xian paused, then held up a second finger. ¡°The second possibility is that one particr genius was just too powerful. His n overrode all others. No matter what the other geniuses did, they couldn¡¯t change the world-line. And I think that person was Copernicus.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked at him curiously. ¡°Copernicus?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I still don¡¯t know his ultimate goal, but his methods were clear. His whole n revolved around killing scientists at 00:42¡ªshowing his ¡®respect.¡¯ And as the first member of the Genius Club, he had the longest time to gather information. He had more tools than anyone else, making him the most likely to seed in the end.¡±
¡°Only when the hibernation pods came into y could the other geniuses challenge him. Without them, Copernicus might¡¯ve ruled forever.¡± Lin Xian paused. ¡°And honestly, I don¡¯t regret bringing back the pod fluid.¡±
He narrowed his eyes, thinking. ¡°If I had to name another contender, it would be Turing. Kevin Walker wouldn¡¯t have lived centuries without the pods. That¡¯s why he created the digital entity Turing. Without a body, Turing was basically immortal. It¡¯s possible the First Dream ended because Copernicus and Turing worked together.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded slowly. ¡°That would make sense¡ªtheir partnership has always been suspicious.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly. ¡°But now they¡¯re both gone¡ªCopernicus and Turing have been taken down. Kevin Walker and Turing are certainly dead. As for Copernicus¡ we know that the Copernicus who killed Professor Xu Yun, Tang Xin, Ji Lin¡¯s parents, and started the Time Bureau is dead too.¡±
He hesitated. ¡°The problem is, it feels like Copernicus has a sessor¡ªsomeone¡¯s still carrying out his n. When he was young, Copernicus did everything himself. Later, he created the Seven Deadly Sins to act for him. So it¡¯s possible that even after his death, someone else continues his mission.¡±
Lin Xian raised his head, looking at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Remember that Genius Club meeting where Newton asked if any scientist in the future would die at 00:42, and Einstein said ¡®no¡¯? Well, in the First Dream, after Copernicus died, someone still killed at 00:42.¡±
He sighed. ¡°And in the current Ninth Dream, technology is being held back. There¡¯s no way humanity would still be usingnd motorcycles in 2599 if things were normal. Six hundred years of development, no disaster of 2400, and we¡¯re stuck with that? Someone is pulling strings behind the scenes.¡±
¡°But for now, we can¡¯t dwell on it too much. We have other priorities.¡± They had reached the parking lot by Jing¡¯an Temple. Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun, summing things up. ¡°Aside from waiting for Du Yao toplete the Brain Neural Electric Helmet and see if the world-line shifts¡ we need to verify if a Millennial Stake disappeared in 1952 and if massive rifts appeared back then.¡±
He smiled at her. ¡°We can¡¯t put all our hopes on Du Yao. If we prove the rifts in 1952, it¡¯ll be undeniable that Einstein lied.¡±
A gust of wind blew past, and Zhao Ying Jun tightened her coat as she hurried along, following Lin Xian. The chill in the air was biting, but she ignored it, focused on what Lin Xian was saying.
¡°So, we¡¯re going to rely on Gao Wen¡¯s manuscript to check on the rifts in 1952?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and determination.
Lin Xian turned to her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied, clearly impressed by how quickly she grasped the n. ¡°But this time, it¡¯s not really his manuscript we¡¯re using. It¡¯s the ¡®Time Travel Machine Blueprints¡¯ that I copied earlier.¡±
He continued, his excitement barely contained. ¡°These blueprints have the full details for building all the core parts. In our current time, everything can be made ording to the diagrams¡ªexcept the calibration module. The positioning module described in the blueprints can locate spacetime rift points using spacetime particles. Gao Wen couldn¡¯t verify it because he didn¡¯t have any powered spacetime particles. But we do.¡±
He paused and gave Zhao Ying Jun an encouraging smile. ¡°I¡¯ll drop you home, then I¡¯ll head over to Donghai University to meet Liu Feng. We¡¯re putting everything else on hold to focus on getting the positioning module operational first.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded, catching the gleam of hope in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. ¡°If we find multiple rifts in 1952, that will confirm that a Millennial Stake disappeared that year, proving Einstein¡¯s lie¡ªand confirming that your dreams are real.¡±
Lin Xian let out a long breath, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. ¡°Atst,¡± he murmured, ¡°we have a way out.¡±
He walked around to open the car door for Zhao Ying Jun, helped her inside, and then slipped into the driver¡¯s seat. The engine roared to life, and they sped away, the car cutting through the cold night.
¡
At Donghai University, Lin Xian and Liu Feng sat in the Rhine Joint Lab, staring at the blueprints spread out on theputer screen. They scanned them, their eyes locked onto a specific section.
¡°This is it, right?¡± Lin Xian asked, pointing to a set ofplicated diagrams.
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one,¡± Liu Feng confirmed with a nod.
Liu Feng leaned back, sighing. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through all the blueprints. For the calibration module, we need Astatine-339, and that¡¯s just not something we can make right now. But the positioning module¡ªwe can fabricate that, no problem. If we want it to work independently, we¡¯ll have to hook it up to the power and disy modules, but it¡¯s doable. We could finish it within a month.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s face lit up with determination. ¡°Then let¡¯s get started. From today onward, forget everything else. Put all your energy into building the positioning module. It¡¯s our top priority.¡±
Liu Feng nodded in agreement. ¡°Got it. We¡¯ll be able to use the entangled spacetime particle to locate the rifts once it¡¯s operational.¡±
Lin Xian leaned over, watching Liu Feng work. He tapped the screen. ¡°The big advantage we have is that we already know there were disappearances of Millennial Stakes in January 2000 and March 2024. Those should have left behind plenty of spacetime rifts. If wepare the rifts in 1952, 1976, 2000, and 2024, and they¡¯re all simr¡ then we¡¯ll know for sure there was a Millennial Stake in 1952.¡±
Liu Feng looked thoughtful. ¡°Not only that,¡± he said slowly, ¡°but we might also figure out when the very first Millennial Stake appeared.¡± He turned to Lin Xian, eyes bright with possibility. ¡°If we can find the first big batch of rifts, that year must¡¯ve been important. Maybe the name ¡®Millennial Stake¡¯ is literal¡ªthe first one could¡¯vested for a thousand years.¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin, nodding as he thought it over. ¡°Gao Yang had a simr idea,¡± he mused. ¡°He calcted that with a new stake every 24 years, you¡¯d need 42 stakes to make 1008 years. It was a bit of a stretch, trying to reach the number 42¡ but who knows. Sometimes the truth is stranger than it seems.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Once you finish the positioning module, we¡¯ll finally have an answer to this mystery that¡¯s been haunting us for so long.¡±
He couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. A year had passed since Chu An Qing had turned to blue stardust and vanished. The research on the Millennial Stake had led to nothing but dead ends. But now¡ finally, they were making progress.
Lin Xian¡¯s heart swelled with hope. The closer they got to the truth, the closer they were to saving Chu An Qing.
Later, Lin Xian told Liu Feng about Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ¡°Hibernate and Go to the Future¡± n. Liu Feng listened, then nodded in agreement.
¡°It¡¯s ast resort,¡± Liu Feng said. ¡°But I¡¯m okay with it. Lin Xian, I don¡¯t have anything tying me to this time¡ªno parents, no family. If you decide to go into hibernation, I¡¯ll go with you. You pulled me out of my darkest moments, and I¡¯ll follow you wherever you go.¡±
He smiled sadly. ¡°And hibernating could be even better for my research on the Universal Constant 42. My only wish now is to finish Qi Qi¡¯s dream¡ªto solve the mystery of the Universal Constant and bring peace to her spirit.¡±
Liu Feng paused, his gaze on Lin Xian¡¯s face. ¡°But for you¡ you have a family, parents, a child. Giving that all up¡ªit¡¯s a huge sacrifice.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s expression hardened with resolve. ¡°Some sacrifices have to be made,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Throughout history, countless people gave their lives for their country, for peace, for future generations. Why should we be any different? Just because we live in a time of peace doesn¡¯t mean we can ignore the duty that lies ahead. If we don¡¯t step forward, then one day, our children or grandchildren will have to.¡±
¡°This is what Zhao Ying Jun believes too,¡± he added, his voice softening. ¡°We¡¯re in this together.¡±
Liu Feng looked at him with admiration. ¡°She¡¯s a remarkable woman,¡± he said. ¡°No wonder Yellow Finch is so brave¡ªit¡¯s because she is Zhao Ying Jun. No matter how spacetime shifts, some things never change.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for her too. She¡¯s the one who keeps me grounded when I¡¯m lost or hesitant.¡± He paused, remembering her words. ¡°She told me once, ¡®If we were ordinary people, we could live without worries, ignoring the fate of humanity. But since we have the power to make a difference, how can we pretend it¡¯s not our responsibility?¡¯¡±
¡°It¡¯s our duty, as geniuses, to do what others can¡¯t. That¡¯s what it really means to be a genius¡ªnot just using our abilities for our own gain.¡±
Liu Feng nodded, standing up. He gave Lin Xian a firm look. ¡°That¡¯s why I followed you here. I¡¯ll support you all the way. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll get that positioning module built as soon as possible.¡±
¡
The days passed slowly¡ªand yet in a blur. Lin Xian kept up his routine, riding his motorcycle through the Ninth Dreamscape, covering every direction from Donghai. Each day, he searched further and further.
Nothing.
No signs.
The weeks turned into months. Lin Xian flipped the calendar on his desk, the date turning to March 2025.
Tomorrow was Tang Xin¡¯s death anniversary.
Though Du Yao still hadn¡¯t made any breakthroughs in her research, Lin Xian had promised to apany her to Tang Xin¡¯s grave this year. She had a lot she wanted to say¡ªand so did he.
The next morning, Lin Xian drove to pick up Du Yao, and they headed to Hang City together. The gravey in the fields, the ground showing signs of offerings made earlier in the day¡ªburnt paper ashes and scraps still clinging to the dry grass.
Du Yao knelt and ced a bouquet of lilies before the grave. She stood there for a long time, speaking to Tang Xin, her voice soft and filled with emotion. Lin Xian stood behind her, listening silently.
When she was done, Lin Xian stepped forward and spoke too, telling Tang Xin about everything that had happened. He told her how he had finally found the person responsible and how he had avenged her.
Then they stood in silence, the flowers swaying in the wind. The silence stretched, heavy and full of unspoken words.
Finally, Du Yao turned to Lin Xian, her eyes hesitant. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve wanted to ask you for a long time,¡± she said.
Lin Xian looked at her calmly. ¡°Go ahead.¡±
Du Yao looked down, her voice almost a whisper. ¡°I know this might not be the right time. It won¡¯t change anything now, but¡ I¡¯ve kept it to myself for so long.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian said, his gaze on the flowers swaying before the grave. ¡°If it¡¯s about Tang Xin, you can ask.¡±
Du Yao blinked, then looked up at him. ¡°Tang Xin told me that you didn¡¯t remember the time you saved her¡ªthe day you gave her your school jacket. Now¡ do you remember it?¡±
Lin Xian closed his eyes, a sad smile on his lips. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wish I could remember. I know it meant a lot to her. But I¡¯ve tried¡ I¡¯ve tried for so long, and I just can¡¯t remember.¡±
Du Yao¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°I don¡¯t me you. None of us do. Memories fade¡ªit¡¯s natural. Tang Xin knew that too.¡±
She hesitated, then continued. ¡°But thest time I spoke to her, she was sure. She said that once you saw the ¡®gift¡¯ she left for you, you¡¯d remember.¡± She looked at Lin Xian. ¡°You never got that gift, did you?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, frowning slightly. ¡°No¡ I never saw anything like that.¡±
Du Yao bit her lip. ¡°Would you like to know what Tang Xin¡¯s gift to you was?¡±
Chapter 473: Tang Xin and Du Yao Side Story: Human Emotions Hard to Settle
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
[This side story is the second half of the June 17th update ¡°The Girl Who Loves to Laugh.¡± If you haven¡¯t read the first half, you can go back and check it out. It¡¯s after Chapter 62 of Volume Five.]
Below is the main text.
¡°Yao Yao, stop it already.¡±
The boy with a bright, sunshine smile ruffled Du Yao¡¯s hair, grinning.
¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m nevering back. Just think of it as me going off to volunteer, okay?¡±
¡°If you were actually going to volunteer, that would be fine! I¡¯d even go with you!¡±
Du Yao felt like she was about to explode.
She red at the boy standing in front of her, his broad build and crew-cut hair mocking her.He was her boyfriend.
They had secretly been dating for three years in high school. Finally, they had graduated, and both of them had done well on the college entrance exams. They could choose universities in the same city and stay together, or so she thought.
But¡
This idiot!
He signed up as a UN peacekeeping volunteer and was going to the most poverty-stricken, war-torn country in Africa for humanitarian aid!
It was absurd.
Completely insane!
¡°Are you such a big deal that there¡¯s no room for you in X Country?¡± Du Yao snapped, her anger ring. ¡°If you want to do something good and help people, why do you have to go all the way to Africa? There are plenty of people in need in the mountains and poor areas right here! Why do you have to act like some big hero?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say it like that, Yao Yao.¡±
The boy smiled warmly. ¡°There are people in need everywhere. I have friends who are teaching in remote viges, and my cousin is working in border areas¡ No matter where you do good, it¡¯s worth praising. Why should we put limits on kindness?¡±
¡°When our country was in trouble, weren¡¯t there international friends who came to help us, even at great risk? Bethune, Rosenfeld, Baillie¡ªweren¡¯t they all heroes we should respect and learn from?¡±
¡°You¡¯re smart, Yao Yao. We can¡¯t say it¡¯s okay for others to help us when we¡¯re in need, but now that we¡¯re strong and peaceful, we refuse to help others. We can¡¯t be harsh on others but lenient on ourselves.¡±
¡°Bang!¡±
Du Yao smacked his hand away. ¡°Do you have to go? You¡¯re only eighteen! Can you just do what you¡¯re supposed to at this age? This isn¡¯t what you should be doing right now!¡±
The boyughed, cheerful and bright.
¡°Come on, Yao Yao. Don¡¯t worry, when I get back, I¡¯ll marry you.¡±
¡°Marry my foot!¡± Du Yao shouted. ¡°Who the heck wants to marry an idiot like you?! You think I can¡¯t find someone better? If you dare leave¡ I¡¯ll leave too! I¡¯ll go abroad and find a boyfriend a thousand times better than you!¡±
¡°And you¡¯ll just have to watch me being all lovey-dovey with someone else while you rot in Africa!¡±
¡
Sigh.
At Johns Hopkins University, in a lecture hall.
Du Yao watched Tang Xin refresh the group chat again and sighed.
¡°Give it a rest, will you? Even if you refresh it until the sky falls, no one is going to respond. Everyone¡¯s busy with their own lives. University life is exciting. Who has time to get all nostalgic in the high school group chat?¡±
Tang Xin ignored her, clicking on Lin Xian¡¯s profile picture. She wasn¡¯t friends with him, so she couldn¡¯t see his posts.
Tang Xin zoomed in on his profile picture. It was still the same anime character. He hadn¡¯t changed it.
¡°This is so pathetic!¡± Du Yao was fed up. ¡°If you can¡¯t get over Lin Xian, then just add him and chat! Instead of obsessing over the empty group chat, checking if he¡¯s updated his profile picture, and guessing how he feels¡ Come on, have some pride!¡±
Tang Xin smiled, smoothing Du Yao¡¯s ruffled feathers. ¡°Why are you getting so worked up? I¡¯m looking at my chat, not yours¡ You¡¯re way too excited.¡±
Du Yao huffed. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand how spineless you are! It¡¯s embarrassing! You can¡¯t even let go of something so small!¡±
¡°Not everyone is as carefree as you, Miss Big Shot.¡± Tang Xin retorted sarcastically, ¡°Have you let go?¡±
¡°Of course I have.¡± Du Yao spread her hands. ¡°Do you see me thinking about him?¡±
¡°Then why do you send him pictures every day?¡± Tang Xin shot back.
¡°To annoy him, duh!¡± Du Yaoughed, flipping her colorful braids. ¡°Look at me¡ªdyed hair, braids, big earrings, mini skirts, crop tops¡ All the shy things he hates. I send him photos every day just to show off how free I am.¡±
¡°There he is, stuck in some remote ce in Africa, and I love seeing him all mad.¡±
Du Yao pulled out her phone, scrolling through the chat history with her ex. ¡°Look at this.¡±
Tang Xin nced at the long conversation. ¡°You two talk a lot.¡±
¡°Not a lot. It¡¯s intense!¡± Du Yao corrected her. ¡°Look at him, lecturing me all the time, saying I¡¯ve changed. Who is he to lecture me?¡±
Tang Xin skimmed the messages, shaking her head andughing. ¡°You¡¯re just pretending to be tough. You haven¡¯t moved on.¡±
¡°Which eye of yours sees that?¡±
¡°If you really had moved on, you wouldn¡¯t be messaging him every day.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just doing it to make him angry!¡± Du Yao pounded on the table. ¡°Why can¡¯t you get that?!¡±
¡°And then?¡± Tang Xin blinked at her. ¡°What¡¯s your end game in making him angry?¡±
¡°Nothing!¡± Du Yao snapped, shoving her phone away. ¡°Just to piss him off!¡±
¡
¡°Thanks, Professor Xu Yun!¡± Tang Xin sped herb offer in both hands, beaming. ¡°Professor Xu is the greatest person ever!¡±
Du Yao scoffed, looking at her friend¡¯s delight. ¡°It¡¯s just that Professor Xu¡¯s work on the hibernation fluid made your crappy research valuable. Why are you so pleased with yourself?¡±
¡°Haha, that¡¯s why!¡± Tang Xin hugged Du Yao. ¡°If Professor Xu hadn¡¯t published that research just in time, my little research would have gotten me kicked out! Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d be working on Alzheimer¡¯s medicine, and it ends up helping solve the biggest w in hibernation tech?¡±
¡°It¡¯s all luck! I¡¯m a lucky charm! Yao Yao, why don¡¯t youe back with me? Theb in Donghai is amazing!¡±
Du Yao sighed. ¡°Herees the bragging. That¡¯s Ji Xin Shui¡¯sb, you think anyone can just waltz in there? You got lucky, that¡¯s all. Ji Xin Shui personally offered you a high sry. I¡¯ve got no chance.¡±
¡°You never know!¡± Tang Xin grabbed Du Yao¡¯s hand. ¡°Your thesis was really forward-thinking. Our professor even said so! Maybe if I show it to Mr. Ji Xin Shui, he¡¯ll hire you too!¡±
¡°No way.¡± Du Yao yawned, waving it off. ¡°I made that thesis up in half a morning. If I had to exin it, I¡¯d be screwed. Our professor¡¯s just clueless, thinking I could do something worthwhile.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going back. I¡¯ll stay here for grad school. When are you leaving, Xin Xin?¡±
¡°Around the New Year.¡± Tang Xin answered, ¡°There¡¯s still paperwork to do. I¡¯ll head to Donghai after that.¡±
¡°Sigh.¡± Du Yao sighed again. ¡°All of you, one by one¡ I¡¯ll be left here by myself again.¡±
¡°Be brave, Xin Xin. Don¡¯t be a doormat, running after Lin Xian.¡± Tang Xinughed.
¡°Chase him? I don¡¯t even know where he is now, what he¡¯s doing¡ We haven¡¯t talked for years.¡±
¡°Hey, don¡¯t look so sad. I¡¯ve got over a month left. Come on, let¡¯s go eat! My treat!¡±
¡
One night, just as she was sleeping soundly, Du Yao suddenly jolted awake, iling around. She rushed to herptop, frantically typing.
The noise woke Tang Xin up, and she groggily sat up. ¡°Yao Yao¡ what happened?¡±
Du Yao¡¯s face was pale, her eyes glued to the screen.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
Tang Xin came over, rubbing her eyes, seeing the news on theptop:
¡°Conflict in South Sudan leaves hundreds of thousands disced.¡±
¡°UN Peacekeeping Unit loses contact, condition unknown.¡±
¡°South Sudan¡¯s chaos esctes.¡±
¡°Yao Yao!¡±
Tang Xin realized what was happening.
Du Yao, breathing shakily, picked up her phone¡
She still messaged her ex every day, showing off her wild outfits and clubbing.
But¡
For several days, he hadn¡¯t replied.
Tang Xin knew that sometimes he went out of contact, but it was never more than a couple of days. When he got a signal again, he would message, continuing to lecture her.
But this time¡ it had been seven days.
Too long.
And paired with the shocking news¡
¡°I¡¯ll call my dad!¡±
Tang Xin grabbed her phone, dialing quickly. ¡°He knows people, he can help.¡±
Du Yao buried her head in her hands. ¡°No¡ He¡¯s fine.¡±
She tried messaging him again, calling.
Again.
Again.
Again¡
Over and over, out of sheer habit.
But no response.
Du Yao¡¯s forehead was damp with sweat, her lips trembling, eyes wide in fear.
Suddenly!
Beep¡ªthe video call connected.
¡°Yao Yao, finally decided to call me?¡±
Tang Xin and Du Yao¡¯s eyes widened. They rushed closer!
On the screen was the boy, his face smeared with dust under a steel helmet, grinning as he wiped his face.
¡°We finally got the kids to safety. The signal just came back¡ª¡±
¡°Go to hell!!!¡±
Du Yao screamed, her voice so loud Tang Xin¡¯s ears rang.
¡°Why don¡¯t you just die!!¡±
Tears streamed down her face.
¡°You idiot!!!¡±
Beep.
She hung up and, in a swift move, blocked him. Then she sat there, fuming.
Tang Xin couldn¡¯t help it¡ªshe burst intoughter, holding her stomach. ¡°Hahahahaha¡¡±
¡°What¡¯re youughing at?!¡± Du Yao lunged at her, covering her mouth.
¡°Hahaha¡¡±
Tang Xin couldn¡¯t stop, tears streaming fromughter.
Finally, she coughed, wiping her eyes. ¡°Some people¡ They say they¡¯re over it, but they folded the page.¡±
¡°Tang Xin! Who are you calling out?!¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Tang Xin smiled, shrugging. ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth. Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re over it? So where did you put it?¡±
¡°You!¡±
Du Yao¡¯s face flushed, trying to defend herself. ¡°What about you? You¡¯re no better! When you found out Lin Xian was going to the reunion, you rushed over!¡±
¡°And don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know¡ªthe box under your bed has that expired Alpine lollipop Lin Xian gave you. You still keep it and look at it all the time! Have you let it go? Huh?¡±
¡°I never said I did.¡± Tang Xin stood up. ¡°Yao Yao, you¡¯re arguing with thin air. You¡¯re not making sense.¡±
¡°Shut up!¡± Du Yao fumed.
Tang Xin, teased for so long, finally found her chance to fight back. She wasn¡¯t letting it go easily.
She cupped her hands, mimicking Du Yao¡¯s angry tone: ¡°You big¡ I-D-I-O-T~~!¡±
¡°Tang! Xin!!¡±
Du Yao pounced, grappling her in a scuffle.
%@&#*
%^$*
After a round of tussling¡
They bothy on the floor, panting.
When their breathing steadied, Tang Xin turned to Du Yao, who covered her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with not moving on.¡±
She blinked. ¡°Liking someone isn¡¯t anything to be ashamed of.¡±
¡°But he left me,¡± Du Yao sighed.
¡°Then go after him.¡±
Tang Xin spoke softly. ¡°Love takes two people. If you¡¯re both just waiting, being stubborn, won¡¯t it just end without a word?¡±
¡°Why should I be the one?¡± Du Yao turned, staring at Tang Xin. ¡°Why do I have to chase him? Why can¡¯t he drop his ridiculous ideals toe back for me?¡±
¡°Do you need to count everything so clearly?¡± Tang Xin got up, setting a fallen chair back upright. ¡°Love isn¡¯t a turn-based game or a business deal. If you really like someone, why measure every move?¡±
¡°Look at me and Lin Xian. Should I expect him to still be thinking about me, looking at my profile, keeping up with everything I do¡ just to be fair?¡±
¡°If everything has to be fair and equal, then love doesn¡¯t work. I think there¡¯s no point in thinking so much, Yao Yao. Because¡¡±
She scratched her short, messy hair, smiling sweetly. ¡°Because¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s already lucky enough to meet someone who can walk into your life and make you like them for so many years.¡±
¡°A lot of people go their whole lives without finding someone they really like, someone they think about even yearster. We¡¯re already lucky, so why ask for more?¡±
Du Yao didn¡¯t reply, sitting up, rubbing her arm. ¡°Ugh.¡±
She turned away. ¡°You¡¯re just a theorist, Xin Xin. You talk a good game.¡±
She turned back, challenging Tang Xin. ¡°Do you dare tell Lin Xian how you feel? Are you brave enough to confess? Want to bet?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not betting that.¡± Tang Xin refused.
¡°Hah.¡±
Du Yao sneered. ¡°You see? You don¡¯t dare.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not scared.¡± Tang Xin shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t bet because¡ I like Lin Xian not because of some bet with you.¡±
¡°The same goes for confessing.¡±
Her gaze was serious. ¡°If Lin Xian¡¯s still single, and one day I decide to confess, it won¡¯t be because of a bet¡ It¡¯ll be because I genuinely like him.¡±
¡°But if you¡¯re asking whether I¡¯m scared¡¡±
Tang Xin stood tall, looking down at Du Yao. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±
She paused.
¡°What about you? Yao Yao, do you dare go to Africa for him?¡±
Truthfully, Tang Xin already knew the answer. It had been revealed in Du Yao¡¯s tears and her cries just now.
Tang Xin understood Du Yao too well. She knew that her friend, strong and carefree on the outside, had a soft heart inside. And what Du Yao needed right now was¡
Just an excuse to hide her true feelings.
A way out.
And if she gave her that, she would definitely take it.
Du Yao stood up, staring at Tang Xin. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±
She crossed her arms,ughing. ¡°You¡¯re brave. So am I!¡±
¡
Baltimore International Airport, U.S.A.
A flight to the Capital City of X Country was boarding.
At the gate, Du Yao, who had taken off her earrings, dyed her hair ck, and was wearing casual clothes, hugged Tang Xin.
¡°Stay in touch every day.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Tang Xin patted Du Yao¡¯s back. ¡°And you, work hard to get that UN volunteer spot. Hope to hear good news soon.¡±
¡°Yeah, it¡¯ll take a while.¡± Du Yao sighed. ¡°The requirements are high¡ªnot just academically, but also physical fitness. But¡¡±
She smiled, running her fingers through her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. If I make it, I¡¯ll head straight to South Sudan to find him.¡±
¡°What about you? I want to hear good news from you too¡ When are you getting married?¡±
Tang Xinughed, covering her mouth. ¡°How much are you giving as a wedding gift? If it¡¯s a lot, I might consider it sooner.¡±
¡°A coconut from Africa.¡±
¡°Then don¡¯te!¡±
¡°Heh, whether you like it or not, I¡¯ming!¡±
Du Yao gave Tang Xin a shove. ¡°I¡¯m waiting to be your bridesmaid and catch your bouquet!¡±
Ding-dong¡ª
The final boarding call came over the speakers.
Tang Xin knew it was time.
She¡¯d transfer at the Capital City airport, head to Hang City for the high school reunion, and then¡
To Donghai City, to Ji Xin Shui¡¯s researchb.
She¡¯d already chatted with their ss president, Gao Yang. Lin Xian was working at MX Company in Donghai. And he was single.
Maybe, the story would start there.
¡°I¡¯m going, Yao Yao.¡± Tang Xin waved, her hand on her suitcase.
¡°We¡¯ll both be happy!¡± Du Yao smiled back. ¡°Go get ¡¯em, Xin Xin¡ Good luck!¡±
¡
Late February 2023, Donghai City. A fancy French restaurant.
Tang Xin ced her purse on the seat beside her, looking at Zhou Duan Yun, who sat across from her.
¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to ask me out.¡±
¡°We¡¯re ssmates. Building connections.¡± Zhou Duan Yun called the waiter to bring the appetizers.
¡°You said you had something about Lin Xian to tell me?¡± Tang Xin eyed Zhou Duan Yun.
A few days ago, they had dinner¡ªher, Zhou Duan Yun, Lin Xian, and Gao Yang.
At the end, when she was getting into a cab, Lin Xian had pulled her, almost into his arms. Her heart had skipped a beat, her face flushing.
Then that afternoon, Zhou Duan Yun texted her, inviting her for dinner.
She didn¡¯t know him well. But he mentioned something important about Lin Xian. It piqued her curiosity.
So she hade.
¡°I have a n. It¡¯ll get Lin Xian for you, guaranteed¡ Interested?¡±
¡
That night, she got home to find Du Yao online!
She quickly called her.
Du Yao had managed to be a volunteer, gone to South Sudan, reunited with her boyfriend, and they were both doing peacekeeping work.
Though separated for years, their feelings hadn¡¯t changed. Tang Xin was genuinely happy for them.
But, things were often chaotic there, and contact was inconsistent.
It had been ten days without a word. Tang Xin had been really worried.
The call connected.
¡°Yao Yao!¡± Tang Xin let out a sigh of relief. ¡°You had me worried sick.¡±
¡°Haha, things have been unstable here! Been really busy!¡± Du Yao, her face dusty,ughed, her teeth sparkling. ¡°I¡¯m bing a rescue expert! But¡ it¡¯s still tough. Seeing lives lost in the ruins, it¡¯s heartbreaking.¡±
¡°I never realized how hellish life here is. Worse than I imagined¡ªstarvation, bombings, things you can¡¯t even picture.¡±
¡°Anyway, enough of that. How about you? How¡¯s it going with Lin Xian?¡±
Tang Xin grinned, shaking her head. ¡°One of our old ssmates, close to Lin Xian, offered to help me confess. He seems like a dating expert, nned out everything.¡±
¡°I told you, right? Thanks to Mr. Ji Xin Shui, I¡¯m now in the Donghai Philharmonic, ying violin. But the VIP concert tickets are really hard to get. They¡¯re for special guests only, not sold to the public. I searched high and low but couldn¡¯t get one. But Zhou Duan Yun did, and said I should give it to Lin Xian.¡±
¡°He¡¯s such a nice guy!¡± Du Yaoughed. ¡°Helping you so much!¡±
¡°Not just that.¡± Tang Xin continued. ¡°He analyzed Lin Xian too, saying the best way is to confess in a romantic setting, at the right time.¡±
¡°He suggested I get a small gift, something meaningful, and as a surprise, put it in his car before the concert. Then, after the performance, he¡¯d drive to the concert hall, and I¡¯d give Lin Xian the gift. It¡¯d be perfect!¡±
Du Yao was genuinely rooting for Tang Xin. ¡°So, what¡¯s the gift? Not flowers, right? Guys might find that awkward.¡±
¡°What else would you give? A shaver? A belt? Not quite right either, for a confession,¡± Du Yao kept guessing.
Tang Xin, however, smiled confidently. ¡°You remember, right? Lin Xian forgot about wrapping his uniform around me¡ I never told him about the lollipop either, because back then, we were just ssmates. He didn¡¯t remember, and I didn¡¯t want to seem desperate.¡±
¡°But¡ I think he¡¯ll remember if he sees the Alpine lollipop. Even if not, I can tell him. He should remember because our ss president chased him for a long time since he spent his money on that lollipop.¡±
Du Yaoughed on the video call. ¡°That wrinkled, expired lollipop? You still have that?! You used to take it out and look at it all the time in the U.S. Isn¡¯t that kind of¡ shabby?¡±
Tang Xin shook her head, looking mischievous. ¡°Nooo~ I know that lollipop looks terrible, so¡ I made a special gift!¡±
She bent down, pulling out a beautifully wrapped bouquet.
Wait?
No.
It wasn¡¯t flowers. The wrapping was for flowers, with bright paper and ribbons. But in the middle where the flowers should be¡
Was a bunch of colorful Alpine lollipops!
A candy bouquet!
¡°Wow!¡± Du Yao gasped. ¡°Did you make this?¡±
¡°Yeah!¡± Tang Xin grinned. ¡°I bought the wrapping from a florist and the lollipops from the store. Then I glued them one by one. It took a lot of work! To make it look good, I was super careful¡ and even made sure the colors went well together.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty? And look¡ the one in the middle¡¡±
Tang Xin brought it closer to the camera. ¡°See? The others are new, but the one in the middle is from fall 2017.¡±
¡°Even though it¡¯s old and wrinkled, it means the most. I think Lin Xian will notice the detail. He¡¯ll understand.¡±
¡°Not bad.¡± Du Yao gave her a thumbs up. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your good news! When youe back¡ or if you don¡¯t¡ you better tell me! I¡¯m ready to be your bridesmaid!¡±
¡°Hehe, I will. I¡¯m saving a spot for you!¡± Tang Xin smiled. ¡°Okay, you should get some rest. You look tired.¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah. Goodnight, Xin Xin. Good luck!¡±
Beep¡ª
The call ended.
Tang Xin looked at the candy bouquet on the table, smiling. She couldn¡¯t help but imagine¡
How Lin Xian might react.
Would he ept it?
Would he remember?
Would he¡ say yes?
¡°No worries.¡± Tang Xin whispered to herself, giving herself a pep talk.
¡°It¡¯s better to try than to regret.¡±
She looked at the time. Still early enough.
Opening WeChat, she typed in a pinned conversation.
¡°Goodnight, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°See you tomorrow~¡±
Chapter 474: Memories Unlocked
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Alps¡ Lollipop¡¡±
Lin Xian stood in front of Tang Xin¡¯s grave, listening as Du Yao finished her story. Silence hung in the air as he closed his eyes, trying to process everything.
For a long moment, there was only quiet. Then, Lin Xian took a deep breath, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°I remember now.¡±
Du Yao blinked, surprised. ¡°You¡ really remember? From such a simple word? Everything about you and Tang Xin?¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly. ¡°Yes.¡± He opened his eyes, his gaze distant. ¡°It was by the side gate of the school field, near the corner shop. I remember taking off my jacket and wrapping it around Tang Xin¡¯s waist. She was in pain, crouched down, so I gave her an Alps lollipop.¡±
His voice trembled as he continued, ¡°I even told her¡¡± He clenched his fists. ¡°I said, ¡®Take this candy; it won¡¯t hurt anymore.''¡±
Du Yao stood frozen, staring at him. She couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªhe had remembered, not just vaguely but with every tiny detail.
¡°This is unbelievable,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Honestly, I thought you wouldn¡¯t remember anything, even if I said ¡®Alps Lollipop¡¯ a thousand times.¡±She paused, looking at him incredulously. ¡°I thought maybe you said you remembered just tofort me or so Tang Xin wouldn¡¯t be disappointed. But you remembered¡ªword for word, even the smallest details. How is that possible?¡±
Du Yao frowned, struggling to understand. ¡°Our memories are supposed to fade over time. Forgetting is the brain¡¯s way of protecting itself. The older a memory is, the more it fades. And yet you¡ you couldn¡¯t remember Tang Xin even when I described her in detail. But just hearing ¡®Alps Lollipop¡¯ brought it all back?¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°It was so deeply rooted that it left a shadow in my mind.¡±
¡°What?¡± Du Yao looked puzzled. ¡°Something so sweet and innocent left a shadow? Wasn¡¯t it because of Tang Xin that you remembered the lollipop?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No. Actually, the first thing that came to my mind wasn¡¯t Tang Xin¡ªit was Gao Yang. And then, from there, everything came back, including Tang Xin.¡±
¡°Gao Yang?¡± Du Yao¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°What does he have to do with anything? Can you exin it from the beginning?¡±
Lin Xian looked at her, his eyes serious. ¡°The reason I remember the Alps lollipop isn¡¯t because of Tang Xin. It¡¯s because of something Gao Yang did¡ªsomething so disgusting that it¡¯s etched into my mind.¡±
He took a deep breath. ¡°It happened during gym ss. Gao Yang had one yuan left and gave it to me, saying, ¡®Go buy two Alps lollipops. I want to treat you.¡¯ So, I went to the shop and bought two¡ªthey were fifty cents each. But I gave one to Tang Xin and unwrapped the other for myself. Then I lied to Gao Yang, saying prices had gone up, and I could only buy one.¡±
Lin Xian grimaced, remembering. ¡°Gao Yang didn¡¯t believe me. He chased me all over the field, demanding his lollipop. I thought, ¡®It¡¯s already been in my mouth. No way he¡¯d want it now.¡¯ But I underestimated him.¡± ??¦Á
Lin Xian rubbed his forehead, the memory still vivid. ¡°He tackled me to the ground, pried my mouth open, pulled the lollipop out, shook it off, and then put it in his own mouth like it was nothing.¡±
¡°Eww!¡± Du Yao cringed. ¡°That¡¯s so gross! How could he do that?!¡±
¡°I was just as shocked,¡± Lin Xian said, throwing his hands up. ¡°He didn¡¯t even wipe it! Just licked it, covered in my saliva.¡±
¡°Okay, okay, that¡¯s enough.¡± Du Yao waved her hand, her face twisted in disgust. ¡°I don¡¯t need all the details¡ªI get it.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Your friend¡ªyour ss president¡ªis certainly¡ something.¡±
She paused, then nodded slowly. ¡°I think I understand. That incident must have left such a strong impact that whenever you think of an Alps lollipop, you think of Gao Yang first.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°After that day, I never touched another lollipop. It was too gross. That¡¯s why it left such a shadow.¡± He sighed. ¡°When you mentioned it, all that disgust came back to me¡ªit was so vivid that it led me back to Tang Xin, and everything else came with it.¡±
Du Yao crouched down, staring at Tang Xin¡¯s grave, the lilies swaying in the breeze. ¡°It seems,¡± she murmured, ¡°that lost memories can be brought back if we relive the emotions deeply enough.¡±
She looked up at Lin Xian. ¡°I told you all about Tang Xin, and nothing happened. But by thinking about lollipops, you linked that to Gao Yang, then to that vivid, disgusting incident, and from there you remembered Tang Xin. It all just fell into ce.¡±
She paused, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Emotions¡ that¡¯s the key!¡±
Du Yao stood suddenly, excitement in her eyes. ¡°People have phobias¡ªfears they can¡¯t exin. Even if they¡¯ve forgotten the incident that caused it, the fear stays. So maybe¡ just maybe, by reawakening those emotions, we could retrieve forgotten memories!¡±
Lin Xian watched her, understanding her excitement. Hibernation might cause memory loss, but feelings¡ªemotions¡ªthey lingered.
¡°Thank you, Lin Xian,¡± Du Yao said softly. ¡°Looks like the inspiration we needed didn¡¯te from me after all¡ªit came from you.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, looking back at Tang Xin¡¯s grave. ¡°If we¡¯re thanking anyone, it should be Tang Xin. She¡¯s the reason we have this hope.¡±
Du Yao knelt down to straighten the lilies before standing up again. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Lin Xian. Breaking through in neuroscience¡ªmaking the Brain Neural Electric Helmet a reality¡ªwould be the greatestfort for Tang Xin.¡±
Together, they walked away, leaving the budding fields behind.
¡
In the following days, Lin Xian continued riding his motorcycle, wandering aimlessly through the dream.
It was an apocalypse.
But not Earth¡¯s apocalypse¡ªeverything here was peaceful. The sun shone brightly, thend was full of life. But there were no people.
It was an apocalypse for humankind¡ªa world that had moved on without them.
Suddenly, Lin Xian mmed on the brakes of his motorcycle, the tires skidding to a halt. He had been speeding along the open ins when, out of nowhere, thend ended in a giant chasm¡ªa deep canyon that split the earth.
Abandoning his bike, Lin Xian leaped off, rolling on the ground before grabbing a rock to stop himself. He looked up just in time to watch his motorcycle fall into the abyss like a shooting star, disappearing into the darkness below.
Lin Xian stood at the edge, peering down. It was deep¡ªreally deep.
¡°Goodbye, Motorcycle. See you tomorrow,¡± he whispered.
He had never driven southwest before. This was new territory for him, and he was determined to explore.
Looking across the chasm, Lin Xian spotted something¡ªa modern cave entrance. It wasn¡¯t natural; it looked like a facility split open by the canyon.
He hurried closer, moving to get a better look. There, inside the torn-apart structure, he saw it¡ªan underground hibernation base.
His heart raced. This was his biggest find yet.
Lin Xian had always believed there were underground bases, but he had no way to find them. Now, luck had brought him here¡ªto a base revealed by the earth itself.
Determined, Lin Xian climbed down. He moved carefully, navigating the cliffside until he reached the entrance.
Inside, he confirmed his suspicions. It was indeed an underground hibernation base, but it was in ruins¡ªbroken walls, scattered equipment, and hibernation pods that were tilted and cracked.
He moved closer, checking each pod. But all he found were bones.
¡°The Great Disaster of 2600 was only twenty-four years ago,¡± he muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the underground base. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising there are still bones here.¡±
He paused, ncing around the gloomy chamber. ¡°Anyone who died on the surface was either buried or taken by animals. But in an underground hibernation base like this¡ at least they left something behind. A full skeleton, if nothing else.¡±
Lin Xian crawled deeper into the wreckage, a sigh escaping his lips.
Dead, dead, dead.
Broken, broken, broken.
The more hope he had, the greater the disappointment that followed. Was there really no one left alive here? Even the storagepartments held nothing useful. Maybe this future world had just advanced too far¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single paper Memory Notebook left behind. Instead, everything had been reced by strange little storage devices. They looked a bit like portable hard drives, but the connectors were unlike anything he recognized.
¡°This is the downside of advanced technology,¡± he said, tossing an unfamiliar drive onto the ground in frustration. ¡°If everyone had left behind a Memory Notebook, at least I¡¯d have something to go on. But with everything destroyed¡ is there no hope left?¡±
Lin Xian nced across the deep chasm splitting the base in two. Maybe there was still a chance. Maybe the other side would hold something better. After all, if one half was hopeless, perhaps the other side would have more to offer.
He returned to the entrance, squinting at the other side of the chasm. Vines grew thickly over the cave entrance there, but beneath them, he could see the continuation of the hibernation base.
¡°I think I can make that jump,¡± he said to himself, stretching out his limbs. The vines could work in his favor¡ªif he didn¡¯t quite make it, he could grab onto them and climb up. Besides, even if he fell, it wouldn¡¯t be the end. He could just start over again.
Lin Xian took a deep breath, thenunched himself across the chasm. He flew through the air, arms reaching out, and managed to grab onto one of the sturdy vines. He slid down a few meters, the rough nt scratching his hands, but he held on tight, slowly pulling himself up.
Eventually, he made it to the other side, climbing up into the other half of the hibernation base. It looked just as chaotic as the first side, with hibernation pods smashed into pieces¡ªbut then he saw something that made his breath catch.
¡°A survivor!¡±
Lin Xian hurried over to the far corner of the base, his eyes widening as he saw an intact hibernation pod. He pressed his face to the ss, peering inside. There, lit dimly by the overhead lights, was a young girl, floating peacefully in the hibernation liquid.
¡°A survivor against all odds,¡± Lin Xian whispered. ¡°Wait¡ it¡¯s a girl.¡±
He leaned in closer to check the namete. The metal had been partly smashed, leaving only half of it visible. It seemed like the girl had incredible luck¡ªa falling rock had narrowly missed shattering the podpletely.
¡°¡Mai Mai,¡± Lin Xian read aloud. Her full name was probably something like X Mai Mai, but the first part was lost. He smiled softly. ¡°What a familiar-sounding name. In a world so empty, even finding someone named ¡®Wooden Board¡¯ would make me feel close to them.¡±
Curious, Lin Xian opened her storagepartment, hoping for something useful. To his surprise, there was a stic-wrapped manuscript inside¡ªin addition to the standard memory drive.
¡°An angel, she is,¡± he said, pulling out the manuscript. ¡°What kind of information could she have left behind?¡± His heart filled with anticipation as he nced at the cover.
¡°The Devouring Demon Emperor,¡± it read. Author: Mai Mai.
¡°What the¡¡± Lin Xian blinked, squinting at the title. Was this some ancient fantasy book? For a moment, he felt like he wasn¡¯t in the year 2624 but had somehow gone back to 2004.
¡°Wait, what era is this girl from?¡± he muttered, bewildered. Still, curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously turned to the first page.
¡°¡®The Contract,''¡± he read aloud, taking a deep breath. ¡°Wow¡ this girl is something else.¡±
When Lin Xian was in middle school, even web authors had moved beyond the clich¨¦ of starting a story with ¡®The Contract.¡¯ Why not just jump straight into the action? The ¡®Contract¡¯ trope was for either the experts or the hopeless dreamers. And she was definitely aiming for a legendary epic.
With a sigh, he flipped to the next page. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s the kind of prodigy whose first book is destined to be a bestseller?¡±
He began reading the ¡®Contract¡¯ section: ¡°April 17th, 2025. The demon mist descended upon thend, heralding the end of the world¡ But one fallen young man, rejected by his sect, wielded the nine-foot godde, challenging fate itself!¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian stared at the page. Could this book¡ really be popr? Could it even get published?
Unable to continue reading, Lin Xian nced at the bottom right corner of the page, where he noticed a small note.
¡°Based on true events,¡± it read.
His eyes widened in shock. ¡°True events?¡± He reread the note, his mind racing. Demon mist, sects, goddes¡ How could any of this be real? And it was supposed to happen on April 17th, 2025?
Lin Xian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Today, in this dream, was March 9th, 2025. There was still a month left before the ¡®end of the world¡¯ described by the author Mai Mai.
He knocked on the ss of the hibernation pod. ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up, Mai Mai,¡± he said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to hearing what you have to say about your own book. Just don¡¯t blush too muchter.¡±
Lin Xian began pressing buttons on the control panel. He¡¯d watched Big Cat Face wake someone from a pod in an earlier dream¡ªit wasn¡¯tplicated, and Lin Xian had memorized it after seeing it twice.
Beep beep beep.
The pod¡¯s internal lights turned a soft yellow, and the temperature of the hibernation liquid began to rise. The awakening process had started. Thank goodness for micro nuclear batteries¡ Without that revolutionary invention, he would never have seen a living soul in this Ninth Dream.
Condensation began to form on the inside of the pod¡¯s ss. Lin Xian could feel the warmth radiating off it.
Finally, after half an hour, the girl named Mai Mai slowly opened her eyes.
Chapter 475: The First Millennial Stake
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Once bitten by a snake, one fears even a harmless rope for ten years.
When Mai Mai opened her eyes, Lin Xian quickly leaned over, carefully checking her pupils.
Hmm.
Good.
They were ck, not glowing blue. The danger level dropped instantly by 99.754%, allowing Lin Xian to breathe a sigh of relief.
Based on his observations in the Sixth Dreamscape, he knew that when a normal human woke from a hibernation chamber, it usually took time. The process wasn¡¯t quick.
Typically, it took over an hour for the body to regain sensation, and even longer to stand. Speaking came even more slowly.
So Lin Xian figured he had at least two hours to kill. With nothing else to do, he picked up Mai Mai¡¯s manuscript, ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor.¡± Even if it turned out boring, it might at least help him pass the time.He found a spot and sat down, flipping through the first few pages. He skipped over somethingbeled ¡°Qizi.¡±
¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be called a ¡®Prologue¡¯?¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself, shaking his head. There had been too much to criticize before for him to focus on just one thing.
¡°Really, Mai Mai? Why does everything about this scream ¡®failed author¡¯?¡± He decided to skip the prologue altogether and started with what he thought was the main story.
However¡ª
Instead of the main story, he was greeted by fourrge characters:
¡°Realm Settings¡±
¡°There are a total of 12 levels in this book, each with 12 sub-levels. Each sub-level has four stages: upper, middle, lower, andplete. Altogether, there are 576 realms¡¡±
Snap.
Lin Xian shut the manuscript decisively. ¡°Hopeless.¡±
At this point, he had no expectations left for Mai Mai¡¯s so-called masterpiece. Whether it was the structure, the writing, or even the ordering of ¡°Realm Settings¡± right after a prologue¡ªshe had every sign of a clich¨¦ failure. It was a perfect demonstration of how not to write a book. ?
Yet, there was one thing in the prologue that caught his eye¡ªApril 17th, 2025.
So, with some reluctance, he reopened the manuscript and forced himself to read the awkward, overly dramatic text:
¡°On April 17th, 2025, the Mist of the Demon God descended upon the world, marking its end¡ This story is based on real events.¡±
Lin Xian paused, deep in thought. There¡¯s no smoke without fire, as the saying goes.
Even though Mai Mai¡¯s story seemed ridiculous and fantastical, she specifically noted that it was based on real events. That meant there had to be some element of truth behind this ¡°Mist of the Demon God.¡±
Otherwise, why bother emphasizing it?
If the date wasn¡¯t so close to his present time, he would have brushed it off without a second thought. But April 17th was just a month away. And mid-April also happened to be the estimated due date for Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s baby¡ªthe day his little Yu Xi would be born. As a soon-to-be father, how could he ignore such a detail?
Lin Xian nodded to himself.
¡°Judging from her author bio, Mai Mai seems like someone with big dreams and ambitions¡ªsomeone who takes her work seriously. She wouldn¡¯t just make something up like this.¡±
¡°From that perspective, there must be something major happening on April 17th, 2025.¡±
¡°Otherwise, why would a girl born in 2222 remember an event from 200 years ago so clearly¡ªright down to the exact date?¡±
The more he thought about it, the clearer Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts became.
¡°Besides, every author wants a hook. Since Mai Mai chose this date and pointed out that it¡¯s based on real events, then clearly, this historical event must have been well-known¡ªsomething everyone talked about.¡±
¡°It couldn¡¯t possibly be Yu Xi¡¯s birthday, right? Could it be that the ¡®Demon God¡¯ refers to little Yu Xi?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head and chuckled. Even if Yu Xi had once been a time-traveling assassin and a near-unstoppable force, she couldn¡¯t possibly be called a ¡°Demon God.¡± Not now, with her prenatal education consisting mainly of cartoons for toddlers. No way.
¡°Impossible,¡± Lin Xian murmured to himself. ¡°This time, Yu Xi will definitely be a gentle, well-behaved little girl.¡±
So then¡ªwhat exactly was the ¡°Mist of the Demon God¡± incident on April 17th, 2025?
With no clues and no way to find out more, Lin Xian looked up at Mai Mai, who was slowly waking inside the hibernation chamber. Her body was beginning to move¡ªtilting her head, stretching her legs¡ªas she gradually regained sensation, performing the various checks prompted by the system.
Finally¡ª
With a soft whirr, the hibernation chamber¡¯s lid lifted open. Everything was calm, with no mist escaping. The liquid had already been pumped out.
Mai Mai sat up, blinking at Lin Xian in curiosity, while Lin Xian studied her in return. She was quite tall, probably at least 165 centimeters, with a slim build and clear, delicate features. She looked like the sort of ¡°literary girl¡± who belonged in a schrly family¡ªsomeone brimming with talent.
Except, after reading her supposed masterpiece, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t quite see her in the same light.
Mai Mai stared at him, then asked, ¡°You are¡¡± She looked down at her hands, bewildered. ¡°And I am¡ Where is this ce?¡±
It had been so long since he¡¯d seen another living person. Lin Xian wanted to make a good impression, so he extended his hand politely. ¡°Hello, Mai Mai. My name is Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Lin Xian?¡± Mai Mai blinked. ¡°I am¡ Mai Mai?¡±
She seemed confused, but noticing Lin Xian wasn¡¯t hostile, she rxed and reached out, using his hand for support as she stepped out of the chamber.
¡°My name is Mai Mai?¡± she asked again, looking at Lin Xian.
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he nodded. ¡°Judging by your age, you should be seventeen or eighteen. You were born in 2222, so it¡¯s likely you went into hibernation around 2240 and just woke up.¡±
He pointed to a nearby storage locker. ¡°Normally, you would watch the memory video in that locker first. It would help you remember some things before hibernation. But since everything here is damaged, we can¡¯t y it.¡±
¡°Instead, you might want to check this out.¡± He handed her the manuscript. ¡°You can sit there and read it¡ªmaybe it will help jog some memories. Whatever you remember, we can talk about it after.¡±
Since it was something she had written herself, there was a chance it could trigger her memories. Perhaps¡ªif they were lucky¡ªthis seemingly ridiculous book might even be a memory code she had left behind for herself.
Mai Mai obediently took the manuscript, sitting down against the hibernation chamber, using its light to read. She kept flipping the pages, her eyes widening at times, a frown crossing her face at others. Her reactions surprised Lin Xian.
Was she really starting to remember something?
Seeing her so absorbed in reading, Lin Xian chose not to disturb her. He waited¡ªand waited¡ªand waited some more¡
Two hourster, Mai Mai was still reading, while Lin Xian had grown bored, yawning repeatedly. He nced at his watch.
00:10.
He had found this rock crevice before dusk. Between climbing, exploring, waiting for Mai Mai, and giving her time to read, the evening had slipped away. If he waited much longer, he¡¯d run out of time and have to leave the dreamscape.
Clearing his throat, Lin Xian spoke up, ¡°So, what do you think?¡±
Mai Mai looked up, her eyes shining with sudden determination. ¡°It¡¯s a masterpiece!¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian blinked, taken aback.
Mai Mai pointed at the manuscript on herp, giving a big thumbs up. ¡°This book¡ªit¡¯s a masterpiece! It¡¯s amazing!¡±
Lin Xian was speechless. Was she really praising her own work like that?
¡°I was asking if you remembered anything,¡± Lin Xian rified, his patience thinning. ¡°Like, it says here, ¡®April 17th, 2025, when the Mist of the Demon God descended upon the world¡¯¡ªwhat does that mean?¡±
¡°Oh, you mean that?¡± Mai Mai replied casually.
Hmm?
Her response gave Lin Xian a glimmer of hope. ¡°You know what it means?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Mai Mai said, flipping through the manuscript to chapter 16. ¡°Isn¡¯t it written clearly here? The ¡®Demon God¡¯ is the main viin who reached the peak of the eleventh level, the Destruction Realm, and on April 17th, 2025, spread a mist of despair that enveloped the world.¡±
She looked up at Lin Xian¡¯s puzzled face. ¡°What?¡±
Lin Xian was left speechless again. Was he too old to understand how young people thought these days?
¡°That¡¯s exactly what it says in the book,¡± Mai Mai insisted, noticing Lin Xian¡¯s skepticism. She handed him the manuscript. ¡°See for yourself if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°So, after all this, you just got lost in the book.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just so good!¡± Mai Mai said, visibly excited.
¡°Right, right,¡± Lin Xian said, deciding not to argue¡ªthere wasn¡¯t time. He pointed to the prologue again, tapping thest line. ¡°Look, it says the background of this story is based on real events. I want to know¡ªwhat¡¯s the real event this is based on?¡±
¡°Oh, that,¡± Mai Mai scratched her head, her gaze turning apologetic. ¡°I have no idea.¡± She smiled sheepishly. ¡°Like you said, I can¡¯t remember my past, so of course, I don¡¯t know what this ¡®real event¡¯ is.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian muttered, feeling like the entire day had been wasted. ¡°So¡ can I have the book back?¡±
Mai Mai blinked, then shook her head. ¡°I want to keep reading!¡±
¡°You¡¯re really not picky, are you?¡± Lin Xian chuckled, handing the manuscript back. ¡°It¡¯s strange¡ªyou wake up from hibernation, and instead of worrying about what happened to the world or your life, you just get lost in a book.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know why,¡± Mai Mai said, her fingers flipping quickly through the pages. ¡°But I just really like it. And I love the idea of writing! I really, really want to write a book of my own.¡±
Lin Xian leaned back against a broken hibernation pod, watching her.
¡°Maybe¡ writing is your ¡®obsession,''¡± he mused aloud.
¡°Obsession?¡± Mai Mai tapped her cheek, thinking. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s probably it. Just the idea of creating a world, telling a story¡ªit makes me excited.¡±
Lin Xian smiled softly and walked over, opening ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡± to the cover, and pointed to the author¡¯s name. ¡°Well, congrattions,¡± he said. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve already reached your dream. You were flipping through the book so quickly, you skipped right over the cover and the author bio. This masterpiece you¡¯re praising so much¡ªyou wrote it.¡±
Mai Mai¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She looked at the name on the cover, then back at the namete inside the hibernation pod where she had woken up. Realization dawned on her face.
¡°Oh my goodness,¡± she gasped, ¡°could it be that I¡¯m actually¡ a genius author?!¡±
Lin Xian nodded, giving her a thumbs up. ¡°Absolutely! You¡¯re the best author in the world. No one better within a thousand kilometers.¡±
Mai Mai burst intoughter. ¡°Now you¡¯re exaggerating.¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xian said, waving his hand. ¡°I¡¯m really not. Because, within a thousand kilometers¡ it¡¯s probably just the two of us.¡±
¡°What?¡± Mai Mai¡¯s smile dropped, her expression turning serious. ¡°Everyone else is gone? But¡ that means no one will read my book!¡±
Lin Xian sighed, a mix of amusement and frustration showing on his face. Even now, Mai Mai was still worried about her ¡°publishing dream.¡±
¡°It¡¯s how things are,¡± Lin Xian said, pointing at the manuscript. ¡°And besides, I think whatever happened to humanity might have something to do with the ¡®real event¡¯ mentioned in your book¡ªApril 17th, 2025. If you want your story to be read worldwide, there¡¯s still a chance. You just have to remember if you¡¯ve got any clues about that date or this ¡®Mist of the Demon God.''¡±
He gave her a grin. ¡°Without any leads, there won¡¯t be any readers or fans, and you definitely won¡¯t get a publishing contract. Your dream might be over before it even begins.¡±
Mai Mai stared at him, determined, then closed her eyes, trying to focus. But after a long moment, she sighed, shaking her head in frustration.
¡°It¡¯s no use. I can¡¯t remember anything,¡± she admitted, frowning. Then her expression brightened as she opened her locker and pulled out a small memory storage drive. ¡°What about this? Do you think there¡¯s any way to y it? If it¡¯s got recordings from before hibernation, there should be a lot of my creative ideas on it.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, looking regretful. ¡°I searched every part of this underground facility, both wings of it. All the equipment is destroyed.¡±
Mai Mai¡¯s face fell, and she slumped against the hibernation pod, sighing heavily. ¡°What do we do now? If no one ever reads my book, it¡¯s no different from a failure, right?¡±
Lin Xian bit back his true thoughts. No need to tell her she couldn¡¯t even get a deal like this.
In the days that followed, whenever Lin Xian entered the dream, he would find Mai Mai. Together, they analyzed ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor,¡± trying to dig out any clues. But the book was full of typical tropes.
It began with the usual ¡°spiritual power test,¡± the protagonist¡ªa fallen genius¡ªgetting mocked. Lin Xian made it through the entire book, though he had no idea how the story jumped from the human realm to the celestial, then the divine, and ended at the edge of the universe.
¡°Here,¡± Lin Xian said one day, unable to hold back his thoughts, ¡°I see bits and pieces of a hundred different books in this.¡±
Mai Mai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you mean it¡¯s a collection of all the best parts?¡±
Lin Xian stared at her, speechless, watching this eternally optimistic girl. No wonder she could stay calm, even in a deste world like this. Her outlook was something special.
¡°Maybe¡ you really are a genius,¡± he said sincerely.
Days turned into weeks. Despite their efforts, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help Mai Mai recover her lost memories. By now, it was the end of March¡ªless than twenty days to go until April 17th, 2025. Lin Xian was increasingly sure something important was going to happen on that day. Otherwise, why would someone as passionate as Mai Mai include it in her book as the Demon God¡¯s day of descent?
Fortunately, Du Yao¡¯s research was progressing well. Since getting inspiration at Tang Xin¡¯s grave, Du Yao had been making breakthroughs. It wouldn¡¯t be long until the Brain Neural Electric Helmet was ready. Once it was finished¡ Even if it didn¡¯t change the timeline, it could be used in this facility to give Mai Mai a bit of electric therapy. There was no other option¡ªif she couldn¡¯t remember the key details, they¡¯d have to use technology.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ying Jun was getting closer to giving birth. Her belly had grown, and she was now focused on resting at home, handing over her responsibilities at work.
One day, just as Lin Xian was preparing to enter the dream, his phone rang. Liu Feng¡¯s excited voice came through.
¡°Lin Xian! The positioning module for the time-travel machine¡ªit¡¯s finally done!¡±
An hourter, Lin Xian arrived at the Rhine Joint Laboratory at Donghai University. In the center of theb stood a machine roughly the size of a double-door fridge, with wires and parts sticking out in all directions. It looked pretty rough.
¡°Don¡¯t mind the way it looks,¡± Liu Feng said, a bit embarrassed. ¡°We had to rush, so we prioritized function over appearance. And since it¡¯s just a positioning module, a lot of parts are attached temporarily.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Lin Xian waved dismissively. ¡°Get the spacetime particles in there and let¡¯s see if we can find any spacetime rifts.¡±
Liu Feng nodded and brought over a small refrigerator. He punched in the password, opened it, and inside, the entangled spacetime particles were still swirling around each other, seemingly forever.
He used a special mp to handle the particles, making sure not to touch them directly, then transferred them into the positioning module. As he closed the lid, he smiled at Lin Xian. ¡°This mp I made, I call it¡¡±
¡°A baking mp?¡±
¡°No! It¡¯s the Spacetime mp!¡± Liu Feng announced proudly.
Lin Xian chuckled and pped lightly. ¡°Right, I forgot¡ªeverything you make starts with ¡®spacetime.¡¯ Great work, great work. Can we get started now?¡±
Liu Feng turned on the machine, and after a moment, the screen flickered to life, disying a stable but abstract image.
Lin Xian frowned at theplex diagram. ¡°Didn¡¯t the engineering manual have instructions for this?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve studied them carefully,¡± Liu Feng reassured him. ¡°I¡¯ll exin as I operate it.¡± He began turning knobs, muttering to himself.
¡°Look at this, Lin Xian. In 2024, there are several spacetime rifts, but they¡¯re all small¡ªexcept for July 1st, where a bunch appeared.¡±
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. ¡°So every time the timeline changes, a rift is created. One jump equals one rift¡ªpretty precise.¡± He paused, considering. ¡°Can you check March 28th, early 2024? The day Chu An Qing became stardust and created a stake.¡±
Liu Feng adjusted the settings, the screen shifting backward until a tangled, chaotic mess appeared, like a ball of yarn.
¡°There it is,¡± Liu Feng said. ¡°There are so many rifts, they¡¯re impossible to count. From a spacetime perspective, Chu An Qing¡¯s action was extremely violent¡ªlike hammering in a stake without any regard for spacetime.¡±
They continued looking back through the years¡ª1976, 1952¡ªand found simr clusters of tangled lines.
¡°If these are identical, that means¡¡± Liu Feng whispered, staring at the screen. ¡°In the second half of 1952, a Millennial Stake was hammered into spacetime.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. His suspicions were correct. Einstein had lied¡ªor perhaps had seen a false future.
¡°Let¡¯s look even further back,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°We need to find the truth¡ªwhen was the first Millennial Stake nted?¡±
Liu Feng¡¯s breath quickened. He twisted the dial, the years shing by faster and faster. But no tangled mess appeared¡ªjust stable, unbroken spacetime lines.
¡°Stop,¡± Lin Xian said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s clear. The Millennial Stakes were nted every 24 years. There¡¯s nothing else.¡±
Liu Feng nodded, taking a deep breath. ¡°The pattern is obvious. We didn¡¯t miss anything.¡±
Lin Xian turned from the control panel, looking out of the window, his gaze distant.
¡°1952,¡± he murmured. ¡°The beginning of everything¡ªthe source of all secrets and truths. The year the first Millennial Stake was hammered into our timeline.¡±
Chapter 476: The Mystery of Agelessness
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°If the Millennial Stake was nted in 1952, then it must have been created in 1932,¡± Liu Feng said, staring at the numbers on his screen. He frowned, tapping his pen on the desk. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t help us much. There were no spacetime rifts in 1932. No matter how much we think about it, we can¡¯t reach it.¡±
He leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes. ¡°But¡ 1952, now that¡¯s something. That¡¯s our key. It¡¯s the only lead we have to unlock the mystery of the Millennial Stake and save Chu An Qing!¡±
He paused, his voice softening. ¡°But here¡¯s the problem: if we want to use the Time Travel Machine and the Entangled Spacetime Particles to go back to 1952, we¡¯ll need to wait until 2234¡ªwhen thatet carrying Astatine-339 finally reaches Earth.¡± He sighed. ¡°That means we¡¯ll have to enter the hibernation chambers. Only by hibernating until 2234 will we have a chance to save Chu An Qing.¡±
Lin Xian listened carefully, his brow furrowed in thought. ¡°There¡¯s more to it than that,¡± he said slowly. ¡°If Einstein lied about the Millennial Stake¡ what else might he have lied about?¡±
Liu Feng gave him a sharp look, and Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Once you find one lie among a hundred truths, you start questioning everything. Maybe all of it was a lie.¡±
Lin Xian got up from his chair and gestured towards the door. ¡°Keep working here,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m going home to tell Zhao Ying Jun about all this.¡±
Liu Feng stood too, walking Lin Xian to the door. ¡°By the way, your daughter¡¯s due soon, right?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s face softened with a smile. ¡°Yeah, in about two weeks. We¡¯re going for a final check-up soon. Then we¡¯ll know the exact date.¡±¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Liu Feng said, smiling warmly. ¡°How does it feel, knowing you¡¯ll be a dad?¡±
¡°I¡¯m excited, of course!¡± Lin Xian said, chuckling. ¡°It¡¯s part of why I want to save Chu An Qing¡ªto give Chu Shan He an answer. And for Yu Xi¡ I want to make the world a better ce.¡±
With that, Lin Xian left the Donghai University Rhine Joint Laboratory, got into his car, and drove to Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house.
When Lin Xian got home, he opened the door to find VV, their fluffy Pomeranian, rollingzily on the floor. VV used to bark at every sound from the elevator, but it seemed to have outgrown its excitable phase. Now it mostly just ate, napped, and enjoyed life, like a little pampered god.
¡°Born from worry, dying infort,¡± Lin Xian muttered, shaking his head as VV burped and gave him a sleepy nce, before waddling into the bedroom.
Lin Xian followed the little dog into the room. Zhao Ying Jun was sitting at the desk, reading, and he began telling her about everything he had figured out at theb.
¡°So it¡¯s true,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, frowning. ¡°But the question remains¡ªdid Einstein lie to us on purpose, or was he misled? Could his vision of the future have been hijacked somehow?¡±
¡°Lied, or misled,¡± Lin Xian echoed, thinking aloud. ¡°I don¡¯t think Einstein lied. I think he was deceived¡ªhe saw a fake future.¡±
He took a deep breath and continued, ¡°If Einstein really wanted to deceive us, he could have done a better job. Like, why make me suspicious by saying there was no dispersal of the Millennial Stake in 1952? He could¡¯ve just made up a reason and told me the Stake was beyond saving, and I might have believed him.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Take, for example, when I asked about my own death. If Einstein thought I was a threat, he could¡¯ve given me a fake date, had me lie low, and then have Agent 17 take me out. But he didn¡¯t.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never seen myself as the smartest in the Genius Club,¡± Lin Xian said, a wry smile on his lips. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m probably the least brilliant. But in all these years, none of the other members have caught Einstein in a lie. It¡¯s not that they¡¯re not smart enough.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded in agreement. ¡°If Einstein wanted to keep 1952 a secret, he could have done it in a hundred smarter ways. He didn¡¯t need to hand you clues that would make you suspicious.¡± ?
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian said, pulling up a chair to sit across from Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°Einstein¡¯s goal has always been to prevent humanity from destroying itself, to find a path to a truly happy future. When he started the Genius Club, it was to gather the best minds to help find that path.¡±
¡°And when he found it, he stopped the club¡¯s meetings to keep that timeline stable. Even now, I¡¯ve lost the ability to break through spacetime barriers.¡±
¡°If the future Einstein saw is real, then there¡¯s no problem. I¡¯d work alongside him to stabilize that timeline. But if the future he saw was fake, then¡¡± Lin Xian hesitated, looking Zhao Ying Jun in the eye. ¡°If we do nothing, humanity will be extinct in six hundred years. We won¡¯t be able to keep our promise to Chu Shan He, and we won¡¯t be able to save Chu An Qing.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun stood up thoughtfully. She walked over to the desk, turned on themp, and picked up a pen. She stared at the paper in front of her, deep in thought.
¡°Based on Liu Feng¡¯s experiments, we¡¯re starting to see things more clearly. Right now, there are two main problems we need to solve,¡± she said.
She wrote down on the paper:
Discover the truth about Einstein and the motives of those behind him. Save humanity from extinction in 600 years.
Uncover the mystery of the Millennial Stake and bring back Chu An Qing.
Click. She capped the pen and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as before. Now, there are only two things we need to deal with.¡±
¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± she added, looking thoughtful. ¡°The true identity of the Genius Club president¡ªthe old man with the Einstein mask. Do you think it matters?¡±
Lin Xian rubbed his chin. ¡°Maybe. If I could find him, then yeah, it¡¯d matter. I could talk to him, maybe solve a lot of this.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But I haven¡¯t even found Newton, Gauss, or Galileo. How am I supposed to find Einstein?¡±
¡°Maybe if VV, the super AI, returns, it could help. But that¡¯d mean waiting until 2482 and finding Cheng Qian. Another blocked path.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked at Lin Xian, her eyes serious. ¡°You once thought that maybe the man behind the Einstein mask really is Einstein¡ªalive and unchanged.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°That was just me. Musk disagreedpletely. He doesn¡¯t think anyone could live past 140 and still be sharp. But with all the strange things in this world, maybe it¡¯s possible.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head, her gaze sharpening. ¡°Think about it again. Some people¡ they don¡¯t age.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean¡ Yellow Finch?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°Rememberst month? If Yellow Finch wanted to find you before the first timeline shift, she had to find you in the year 2000, when Zhang Yu Qian disappeared. But when she officially met you in 2023, she still looked thirty.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly. ¡°Which means¡ Yellow Finch doesn¡¯t age.¡±
But why? Lin Xian wondered. It had to be linked to her blue eyes and time travel. But Agent 17 had blue eyes too, and she aged¡ªso why didn¡¯t Yellow Finch?
Yellow Finch used ordinary spacetime particles, a one-way trip. Agent 17 used entangled particles¡ªa round trip. That had to be it.
¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± Lin Xian said suddenly, his eyes lighting up. ¡°Time travelers using ordinary spacetime particles don¡¯t age.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled faintly. ¡°We¡¯re getting somewhere. Now, back to the Genius Club president¡¯s identity¡¡± She tapped her pen thoughtfully on the desk. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible that he¡¯s really Einstein. Musk might say it¡¯s impossible, but given everything we¡¯ve seen¡ maybe it is a property of spacetime particles.¡±
Spacetime particles¡ Lin Xian felt he was on the edge of something big. He stood up and began pacing.
¡°Woof!¡±
In his rush, Lin Xian identally kicked VV, who rolled across the floor like a little round ball until he bumped into the door frame.
¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± VV barked furiously. How could Lin Xian kick him like that? Was it just because he¡¯d gotten a bit roundtely? Where was the gentle Lin Xian who used to pet his head and talk to him softly?
But Lin Xian was lost in thought, not even noticing VV¡¯s anger. His mind was reaching across time and space, trying to grasp a key idea, a breakthrough.
¡°Liu Feng studied it,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. ¡°For spacetime particles to enter our world, they need a rift. And the locator module of the Time Travel Machine shows that the first rift appeared in 1952. Before that, there were no rifts.¡±
¡°So, if a spacetime particle wanted to reach us, it couldn¡¯t have arrived before 1952.¡±
Lin Xian stopped and looked at Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°If something like this happened in 1952¡ª¡±
¡°A spacetime rift appeared in thetter half of 1952. At the same time, a spacetime particle drifted through from beyond the rift. It was the very first spacetime particle in history. And somehow, Einstein got hold of it¡ªmaybe something else happened, but it changed him. He became like Yellow Finch¡ªa time traveler.¡±
¡°Einstein¡¯s eyes turned blue, and he stopped aging. That¡¯s how he founded the Genius Club and managed to survive all these years, maybe even forever.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered the third rule of the Genius Club: Members must wear a mask at meetings to maintain privacy.
Could it be¡ that the rule wasn¡¯t just to protect privacy but to hide Einstein¡¯s blue eyes?
Zhao Ying Jun listened carefully to Lin Xian¡¯s analysis. She turned back to her desk, uncapping her pen.
¡°It seems like 1952 is the key,¡± she said. ¡°The first spacetime rift and the first spacetime particle¡ªthey both came to Earth then. It¡¯s really the start of everything, the root of every mystery.¡±
¡°The vision Zhang Yu Qian had of Einstein in 1952¡ªit wasn¡¯t just random. And the painting ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ was also created in 1952.¡±
¡°Remember when we yed that sentence-making game? Through spacetime particles and rifts¡ª1952, Einstein, the Genius Club, the Millennial Stake, the white light of destruction, the fake future, the blue eyes¡ªall of these key terms are linked.¡±
She wrote down the third item on the list:
Everything began in 1952, with the first spacetime rift and the first spacetime particle.
Zhao Ying Jun held up the piece of paper and walked over to Lin Xian.
¡°Look,¡± she said, pointing to the list. ¡°All three things we need to solve point to 1952. So, Lin Xian¡¡±
She looked into his eyes. ¡°Whether it¡¯s to save the future or fulfill our promise to Chu Shan He and bring back Chu An Qing, we have to make this trip to 1952.¡±
¡
Lin Xian was silent. It hade to this¡ªa step they couldn¡¯t avoid.
In truth, Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s ¡®Hibernation to the Future¡¯ n didn¡¯t bother Lin Xian too much. After all, they¡¯d only go into hibernation after their daughter, Yu Xi, turned eighteen. They¡¯d be taking a long journey through time, but she¡¯d be an adult by then, ready to make her own decisions.
If Yu Xi wanted to join them, they¡¯d hibernate as a family. If she wanted to stay, that was fine too. She¡¯d have her own life, and Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun would respect her choice.
But what about Chu Shan He and Su Xiu Ying? Could they bear the wait, never seeing their missing daughter again?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t let that happen. If Chu Shan He never got to see Chu An Qing alive again, Lin Xian¡¯s promise would mean nothing.
But the Millennial Stake research was stuck. All the clues were hidden in 1952. Without traveling back, there was no way forward, no way to save Chu An Qing.
That was why Lin Xian hadn¡¯t dared to face Chu Shan He all this time. He had promised so much, yet there had been no progress. How could he face him?
Suddenly, Zhao Ying Jun took his hand, her touch warm and gentle.
¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± she said, her voice full of understanding. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about Chu Shan He, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Lin Xian smiled ruefully. ¡°You can see right through me. I was just thinking¡ªwhat¡¯s the point of saving Chu An Qing if Chu Shan He and Su Xiu Ying aren¡¯t here to see it?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, squeezing his hand. ¡°I understand your guilt. I know how hard this has been for you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I went to see Chu Shan He. I told him a little¡ªnot the core details, but enough to let him know you¡¯re still trying.¡±
¡°Chu Shan He trusts you. He knows you¡¯ll keep your promise. And I mentioned the hibernation n too. He told me that if we can get rid of the memory-loss side effects, he¡¯d be willing to join us¡ªeven hibernate early, just to be there when Chu An Qinges back.¡±
Lin Xian said nothing. Zhao Ying Jun¡ she had taken care of so much that he couldn¡¯t.
¡°Tomorrow, let¡¯s go see Chu Shan He together,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°I haven¡¯t dared face him because we had no progress. But now, we have clues¡ªimportant ones.¡±
¡°The promise I made to Chu Shan He is my lifelongmitment. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes¡ªeven if it costs me everything¡ªto save Chu An Qing and reunite their family.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll face this together. It¡¯s our shared promise to keep.¡±
¡°I know you can do it. And Chu Shan He believes in you too¡ªhe¡¯s never doubted you.¡±
Just then, Lin Xian¡¯s phone began to ring. He nced at the caller ID: it was Du Yao.
Could it be¡?
He quickly answered the call.
On the other end, Du Yao¡¯s voice was full of excitement.
¡°Lin Xian! We did it!¡±
¡°The Brain Neural Electric Helmet¡ªit¡¯s a sess!¡±
Chapter 477: The Real An Qing
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Atst, it was finished.
The masterpiece by Emperor Gao Wen. Lin Xian had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever.
But then¡ after the initial excitement, he was left feeling empty. Since Liu Feng hadn¡¯t called, it probably meant that the numbers on the Time Clock hadn¡¯t changed, and the timeline remained unaltered.
It was just too hard.
This time, the Ninth Dream, the 0.0001764 world line, was simply too stubborn. Despite using all his wit and strength, Lin Xian had failed to ovee the temporal sticity.
Now, they were truly out of options.
¡°Wait for me at theb. I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Lin Xian instructed, then hung up and immediately called Liu Feng.
¡°Hello?¡±Liu Feng¡¯s voice on the other end was calm, without any hint of emotion.
¡°Are you at theb?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Of course I am!¡± Liu Feng replied casually. ¡°Where else would I be? Usually, when you call, it¡¯s always about something urgent. I¡¯ll go check now.¡±
Shortly after, the phone was filled with the sound of footsteps. Liu Feng reached the Time Clock and took a look.
¡°No change, still the same numbers.¡±
Lin Xian let out a small sigh. ¡°Du Yao said she¡¯s finished building the Brain Neural Electric Helmet. She¡¯s always so careful and precise¡ªit¡¯s hard to believe she made a mistake. And yet¡ even such an incredible invention didn¡¯t manage to shift the timeline.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up now. I¡¯ll go over to see Du Yao myself.¡±
The line disconnected, and Lin Xian looked at Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°That¡¯s it, then. We¡¯ve yed every card we had. There¡¯s nothing left to change the future. In the Ninth Dream, all I could find was a down-and-out author. I don¡¯t even know if using the Brain Neural Electric Helmet will help her recover any valuable memories.¡±
¡°Since it¡¯s now 2025, and Du Yao has alreadypleted the Brain Neural Electric Helmet, we should be able to find one in the underground hibernation base by 2624. After all, with something this convenient, humanity won¡¯t need memory notebooks or videos anymore.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°Go see Du Yao and check it out. Tomorrow morning, we can go see Chu Shan He together. That shouldn¡¯t affect you being back by noon for dream therapy with that girl.¡±
¡°But didn¡¯t we schedule an appointment with the OB-GYN for tomorrow afternoon?¡± Lin Xian reminded.
¡°She¡¯s an expert we brought over from the Capital City for the final check-up. I wanted her to give you a thorough examination. The appointment¡¯s in the afternoon, and I¡¯lle with you.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head and smiled softly. ¡°I know how to weigh priorities, Lin Xian. At such a critical moment, if we could really get something crucial from that girl named Mai Mai, we might still have time to change the future.¡±
¡°So, don¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s just a check-up; I¡¯ll go by myself. The driver will take me anyway.¡±
¡°Alright then,¡± Lin Xian agreed, feeling the urgency to experiment within the dream. ¡°You rest early. I¡¯ll go to Du Yao¡¯sb.¡±
¡
It was now 10 p.m., and the stars filled the sky. Lin Xian left Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s house and got into the car driven by Xiao Li, heading to the research institute.
As soon as he entered, he saw Du Yao. They walked along the corridor, talking as they went.
¡°It¡¯s all thanks to our conversation the other day,¡± Du Yao said, turning her head with a smile. ¡°You gave me an amazing idea. I started from that inspiration, stimting the brain¡¯s memory and emotional regions, and sure enough, I found a simr feedback signal. Then, following the rough draft you gave me, I managed to develop the Brain Neural Electric Helmet.¡±
She pushed open a door to one of thebs, leading Lin Xian inside. Theb was empty. Du Yao exined that she only had four PhD assistants, but none of them worked on the core part, so the helmet remained a secret known to no one else.
Lin Xian looked at the desk. On ity a mechanical device that resembled an octopus. It was quite different from the helmet design he had imagined, but it was still clear enough¡ªthe idea was to put this ¡°octopus¡± on someone¡¯s head.
He picked it up and weighed it in his hands. It was pretty heavy.
¡°What powers this thing?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Du Yao pointed to the nearby power cord. ¡°It runs on standard 220V household electricity. If you prefer, it can be battery-powered too, though that would require a different engineering solution, which isn¡¯t my expertise.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. It could run on batteries, which was good enough. Later on, he could use a micro nuclear battery or somethingrger to power it, giving it portability and long-term storage¡ªperfect for an underground hibernation base.
¡°How do you use this thing? Is itplicated?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Du Yao said, pointing at the single button in the middle of the helmet. ¡°It¡¯s very simple. Just fasten the part underneath, and you¡¯re set. The design you gave me has a brilliant mechanism for automatic position correction during the electric shock¡ªit¡¯s pretty impressive.¡±
¡°Can I¡ try it out?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Best not to,¡± Du Yao said with a smile. ¡°First of all, I mentioned that you need to fasten it properly because the sensation during the electric shock is very unpleasant. People naturally resist or convulse. I¡¯d imagine when we use it on long-term hibernators, they¡¯d need to be strapped into a restraint chair too.
¡°Secondly, you haven¡¯t suffered from hibernation-induced memory loss. Even if you use it, it won¡¯t do anything for you. If you¡¯re hoping to use this helmet to retrieve some forgotten memories¡ well, it¡¯s not going to work.
¡°The mechanism of natural human forgetting is much moreplex and amazing than hibernation memory loss. So, this Brain Neural Electric Helmet can only be used to treat memory loss caused by long-term hibernation¡ it has no effect on other types of memory loss.¡±
¡°The pity is that the longest any volunteer has been in hibernation at the National Research Institute is just under two years¡ªnot long enough to reach the memory loss point. So, we haven¡¯t had anyone for clinical trials.¡±
It was true. From now until eight yearster, this Brain Neural Electric Helmet wouldn¡¯t be of much use. It wouldn¡¯t be until 2033, when the first batch of volunteers hit ten years in the hibernation chamber, that they¡¯d begin to lose their memories.
But for now¡
Lin Xian thought of Mai Mai, the author who wrote the extraordinary ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor.¡±
Tomorrow, he¡¯d test it on her.
¡
The next morning, Lin Xian arrived at Chu Shan He¡¯s estate, carrying an album and videotape from Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s coffin, as well as Gao Yang¡¯s old Panasonic yer. He was apanied by Zhao Ying Jun.
Lin handed the album to Chu Shan He and Su Xiu Ying, exining where it hade from.
¡°This¡ Shan He¡ this¡¡± Su Xiu Ying stared at the album, at the girl who looked just like their daughter, Chu An Qing, even down to the tear-shaped mole.
¡°This¡ this is An Qing! This is An Qing!¡±
Even though Chu Shan He was used to the unpredictable twists of the business world, the sight of the album made his hands tremble and his mouth fall open.
¡°Lin Xian, what¡¯s going on here?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chu,¡± Lin Xian began. ¡°Honestly, I should have shown you this album a lot sooner, but it didn¡¯t seem right back then. I also hadn¡¯t found a working yer for the videotape yet. I wanted to wait until I had made some progress in finding An Qing, so I could give you a clearer picture.¡±
He was telling the truth. If he had shown Chu Shan He the album earlier, it would have only increased their anxiety. At that time, he knew nothing about the Millennial Stake and could only raise questions without answers, adding to Chu Shan He and Su Xiu Ying¡¯s burden.
But now, after a year of hard work, Lin Xian understood much more. At least now, he could offer them a n and some hope for rescuing Chu An Qing.
¡°The girl in the pictures looks exactly like Chu An Qing. She was born in 1980, and her name was Zhang Yu Qian¡¡±
Lin Xian exined Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s background and the events of the night she disappeared.
He then connected the videotape yer to the TV and yed Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s nightmare video for them.
¡°A nightmare¡¡± Su Xiu Ying watched the tape, her eyes wide with worry. ¡°An Qing¡ An Qing used to say she had nightmares all the time. But whenever we asked what they were about, she¡¯d say she couldn¡¯t remember.¡±
¡°We never took it very seriously. Nightmares happen to everyone, and as long as it didn¡¯t bother her day-to-day life, we thought it wasn¡¯t important.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°An Qing mentioned her nightmares to me during the New Year¡¯s banquet. I didn¡¯t think much of it at the time either, but after watching this videotape, I realized just how significant it was.
¡°It seems that every Millennial Stake girl has simr nightmares every night¡ªand forgets them entirely within seconds of waking up.
¡°Only by waking them suddenly, as Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s friend did, can we get any hints about what¡¯s happening.¡±
Su Xiu Ying listened closely, her face pale. But Chu Shan He sat on the sofa, leaning forward with a troubled look.
He raised his head and pointed at the yer. ¡°Lin Xian, could you rewind the tape a bit? I want to see thest part again¡ªwhen she starts speaking nonsense after waking up.¡±
Since the machine didn¡¯t have a remote, Lin Xian got up and rewound the tape manually.
On the TV, Zhang Yu Qian was being shaken awake by her friend. She rubbed her eyes and, still half-asleep, mumbled something about 1952, a mushroom cloud, a newspaper, and Einstein.
¡°Right here!¡± Chu Shan He stood up abruptly, pointing at the screen.
¡°An Qing¡ An Qing did something like this too! I remember now!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian stood up too. This was a crucial clue.
¡°Mr. Chu, are you saying that An Qing mumbled like this after waking up too?¡±
Chu Shan He nodded solemnly, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°It happened when An Qing was little¡ªprobably when she was just starting middle school, during summer vacation. One afternoon, I came home and found An Qing asleep on the sofa with the TV still on.
¡°We were expecting guests, so I shook her awake, telling her to go sleep in her room. The first nudge didn¡¯t work, so I shook her harder the second time.
¡°I scolded her, ¡®Sleeping so deeply in the middle of the day¡ªhave you been staying up all night ying on your phone?¡¯ And then¡¡±
Chu Shan He closed his eyes, recalling his daughter, and took a deep breath.
¡°And then An Qing mumbled, ¡®Fireworks¡¡¯ I asked her what she meant, and she said again, ¡®Want to see¡ fireworks¡¡¯ Then she woke uppletely, looking confused, and just like Zhang Yu Qian in the video, she said she didn¡¯t remember anything.¡±
Su Xiu Ying turned to her husband, surprised. ¡°That happened? Why didn¡¯t you ever tell me?¡±
Chu Shan He sighed. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like a big deal, did it? Besides, we pampered An Qing so much¡ªit¡¯s not like she hadn¡¯t seen fireworks before.
¡°We took her to Disnend on opening day, and she went countless times after that, with friends or rtives. She must have been bored of the castle fireworks by now. Did An Qing ever mention desperately wanting to see fireworks?¡±
Su Xiu Ying thought for a moment. ¡°Not really¡ An Qing rarely asked us for anything, and we tried to fulfill every wish she had.¡±
Their voices began to fade in Lin Xian¡¯s ears.
Fireworks.
Another clue¡ªand a familiar one.
On thest day of the Seventh Dream, Lin Xian had asked CC:
¡°If you could make it to your 20th birthday, what¡¯s the one thing you¡¯d want most as a gift?¡±
Without hesitation, CC had answered,
¡°Fireworks. I¡¯d really love to have a set of fireworks, just for me.¡±
That answer had surprised Lin Xian. He hadn¡¯t expected CC¡¯s one definitive birthday wish would be something as simple as fireworks.
When asked why, CC said she didn¡¯t know either.
¡°I¡¯ve just always had this obsession with fireworks.¡±
Obsession.
Like Rhine Cat for Zheng Xiang Yue, like the Seventeenth Spacetime Assassin¡¯s name, like Angelica¡¯s revenge¡ªall obsessions.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure out the origin of this obsession with fireworks.
But today¡
After what Chu Shan He said¡
More clues about the Millennial Stake wereing together.
Chu An Qing dreamed of fireworks. CC was obsessed with fireworks. And Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s nightmare had those bizarre montages.
It was bing increasingly certain:
These Millennial Stake dreams might all be fragments of the same dream, the same scene, the same story.
¡°Mr. Chu, Aunt Su,¡± Lin Xian snapped back to reality, looking at them solemnly.
¡°You both saw Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s reaction on the videotape. And you heard what I said to Ying Jun earlier. It¡¯s bing clearer and clearer that something crucial happened in 1952 that caused the Millennial Stake to appear, leading to all these strange urrences.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why Ying Jun and I came to see you today. Ying Jun may have already mentioned it¡ªafter our child is old enough, we n to enter the hibernation chamber and head to 2234. From there, we will use the Time Travel Machine to go back to 1952 to search for answers.¡±
¡°At the same time, I¡¯ll do everything in my power in 1952 to find clues to bring An Qing back home to you.¡±
¡°The promise I made here, I have never once forgotten. So¡ I hope you can give me a bit more time. I¡¯ll keep my word and bring An Qing back.¡±
Chu Shan He walked over and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder.
¡°Lin Xian, your Aunt Su and I have always believed in you, and we¡¯ve never doubted you for a moment.
¡°We know exactly what kind of person you are, which is why I never called or pushed you this past year. I know how hard you¡¯ve been working.¡±
¡°Ying Jun has visited a few times, and we understand some of the situation. To be honest, seeing this videotape and album today makes me feel a bit more at ease.¡±
¡°But¡ Zhang Yu Qian is Zhang Yu Qian. An Qing is An Qing. I will never rush you, Lin Xian. I just hope that one day, when we wake up from the hibernation chamber¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s our real An Qing you¡¯ve brought back to us.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±
He knew what Chu Shan He meant.
Chu Shan He didn¡¯t want just any Millennial Stake¡ªhe wanted Chu An Qing, with her memories, her past.
Even though Chu Shan He knew that, in three years, somewhere in the world, a little girl who looked exactly like Chu An Qing would be born¡ªhe still refused to stay in this era any longer.
It made no difference. Even if she looked identical, she wouldn¡¯t be An Qing.
Besides, even if they found her, what was the point?
The Millennial Stake girl born in 2028 would still vanish in 2048, bing stardust. Would they really want Chu Shan He¡¯s heart to break again?
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Chu.¡± Lin Xian looked into Chu Shan He¡¯s eyes, resolute. ¡°Ying Jun and I decided on hibernation and on going back to 1952 because we¡¯re fullymitted.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just about bringing An Qing back. There are many important things I need to do. I won¡¯t let everyone down.¡±
The apocalypse. Human extinction. The World-Ending White Light.
These were all things Lin Xian had to solve, step by step. He had to get to the root of it all.
If they didn¡¯t stop the mastermind behind everything, nothing would change.
Another Millennial Stake would die.
Another World-Ending White Light would arrive.
Another human extinction event woulde.
They had to find the source. Only by finding it and eliminating it could they save everything.
Chu Shan He walked back to Su Xiu Ying. He sat down on the sofa, taking her hand and looking at Lin Xian.
¡°When the Hibernation Law was passed in X Country, your Aunt Su and I discussed it, and we decided to settle things here and go into hibernation.
¡°In a world without our daughter, every breath is heavy, and it¡¯s hard for us to breathe¡ We just want to sleep until you bring our daughter back; life without An Qing is just too hard.¡±
¡°We were nning to let you know when everything was ready, but since you¡¯re here today, we¡¯ll tell you now.¡±
He paused, looking at Su Xiu Ying, then continued.
¡°We¡¯ve saved plenty of money in our hibernation ount, enough for a lifetime. I n to hand over Shan He Group to you. Consider it our way of supporting your ns, providing what help we can.
¡°You¡¯re doing something amazing. I don¡¯t know all the details, but I know it¡¯s something truly admirable.
¡°I don¡¯t understand the research behind the Time Travel Machine, but I imagine it¡¯s costly. I know you probably don¡¯t need the money, but this is something we want to do for you. Please don¡¯t turn us down. Our only way to help is financially.
¡°Do whatever you want with Shan He Group. Merge it with yourpany if you wish. Once I entrust it to you, I fully trust you, and I won¡¯t concern myself with it anymore.
¡°Lin Xian, don¡¯t let this weigh on you. We¡¯ll be waiting in the hibernation chamber. When you¡¯ve found An Qing, bring her to wake us up.¡±
Chu Shan He smiled, the thought of such a happy moment bringing a rare lightness to his face.
¡°My greatest wish now is that when I open my eyes¡ I¡¯ll see my daughter¡¯s smiling face.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 478: April 17th
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian sighed softly as he settled into the car. He couldn¡¯t help but think aloud, ¡°Chu Shan He truly is a great man. And I mean great in every sense of the word.¡±
He nced at Zhao Ying Jun beside him, smiling as he remembered the first time he had attended one of Chu Shan He¡¯s grand banquets. ¡°I still remember the first time you took me to meet Chu Shan He. I was baffled by the respect everyone had for him¡ªeven Professor Xu Yun, who never really gets involved with worldly matters, held him in such high regard.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, his expression filled with admiration. ¡°Now, I understand. He deserves all the praise and respect.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun turned to look at Lin Xian, her gaze softening. ¡°You¡¯re not bad yourself, Lin Xian.¡± Her voice was firm, and her eyes held a warmth that made him blush slightly. ¡°To me, you¡¯re just like Chu Shan He¡ªyou¡¯re responsible, driven, and you have principles. From a young age, I was taught that ¡®every man has a role to y in the rise or fall of a country.¡¯ You may be young, but the weight of the responsibilities you carry is even heavier than Chu Shan He¡¯s.¡±
She paused, then added, ¡°And the most incredible thing about you is that you¡¯re willing to make sacrifices to uphold those responsibilities and save what you can. That¡¯s the mostmendable quality. Many in your ce wouldn¡¯t think about saving the world 600 years into the future. They wouldn¡¯t sacrifice their lives now for a faint hope. In our era, most people would just live for the moment, which is perfectly fine, but¡ I prefer people like you.¡±
Lin Xian lowered his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. He softly replied, ¡°Because¡ theyck the power to change things.¡±
He lifted his head, meeting Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gaze, the fire in his eyes glowing. ¡°It was you who said it¡ªthat history won¡¯t me those without power. If I have a power that others don¡¯t, then it¡¯s my duty to do things that others can¡¯t. Why else would I be given the power to dream of the future? Maybe that is the meaning of my life, my purpose.¡±
When they arrived home, Zhao Ying Jun busied herself with changing into casual clothes and soon left for her scheduled prenatal checkup at the hospital. Meanwhile, Lin Xian fed VV¡ªtheir fluffy little Pomeranian¡ªhalf a bowl of dog food, then prepared to head to bed and enter the world of dreams.¡°V?¡± Lin Xian was about to walk away when VV mped down on his pants leg with her teeth, her eyes wide and using. ¡°Woof! Woof woof!¡± She barked, puffing out her stomach.
¡°What is it with you, little fellow?¡± Lin Xian squatted, looking at the half-filled food bowl and shaking his head. ¡°Seriously, can¡¯t you see it? It¡¯s half a bowl already.¡± He rubbed VV¡¯s round tummy, sighing as he continued, ¡°You really need to cut down on the eating, VV. Are youpeting with Ying Jun to see whose belly can grow bigger? She¡¯s expecting a baby, but you aren¡¯t. Keep this up, and one day, you¡¯ll suffocate in your sleep. You were even snoring with pauses the other night.¡±
¡°Woof!¡± VV barked indignantly, almost as if to say, ¡°Live for today! Enjoy every bite you can! Why worry about tomorrow?¡±
In the end, after a bit of back and forth, the negotiations concluded with VV getting two-thirds of a bowl of dog food.
Lin Xian took a quick shower and got ready for bed. Today, his n was to enter the underground hibernation base, find Mai Mai, and use the brain neural electric helmet on her¡ªthe device should help restore her memory and reveal the true inspiration behind her novel, ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor.¡±
A few days ago, with Lin Xian¡¯s permission, Du Yao had sent all the technical information about the brain neural electric helmet to the Research Institute. As per their agreement, all the official benefits and credit would fall to the Research Institute, keeping Rhine Company out of the spotlight. It was a safety measure, after all.
Right now, apart from himself and Elon Musk, there were three geniuses left whose purpose and ns remained a mystery¡ªNewton, Galileo, and Gauss. Lin Xian had no clue who they were, where they might be, or what they were scheming. Thus, caution was the best course of action.
The same went for the micro nuclear batteries Nangong Meng Jie was working on. Officially, the Research Institute was in charge of the entire project, including all patents and profits. Rhine Company had thoroughly distanced itself from everything.
The Research Institute, being a government institution, was naturally more cautious. The director had made it clear that, to preserve the country¡¯s reputation, they couldn¡¯t afford any slip-ups; everything had to be wless before it could be announced to the public.
Fortunately, the micro nuclear batteries were rtively easy to test, and they would likely hit the market in just a few months. In this way, Einstein¡¯s prophecy wouldn¡¯t align exactly as predicted¡ªa small ripple in the timeline, a subtle butterfly effect that Lin Xian attributed to Galileo and Da Vinci¡¯s pointed questions. Otherwise, the batteries would likely have been released back in January.
As for the brain neural electric helmet, its release and sale would take even longer. The cautious Research Institute insisted on waiting until the first batch of hibernators lost their memories in 2033 before conducting clinical trials. Only after ensuring there were no safety risks would it be introduced to the public.
Lin Xian and Du Yao had no objections. Du Yao, as a researcher, knew the importance of thorough clinical trials. As for Lin Xian, he didn¡¯t care much about when the helmet would be released in the real world, as long as it worked in the dream world and allowed him to deal with Mai Mai.
¡°I¡¯ming for you, tinum author,¡± Lin Xian murmured, closing his eyes and rolling onto his side. Soon, he drifted off to sleep.
A motorcycle roared across the barren ins, racing straight toward the southwestern canyon. Lin Xian had traveled this path so many times now that he had it down to an art. He climbed, leaped, and ascended until he reached the underground hibernation base, dusting off his hands as he arrived at the entrance.
He approached Mai Mai¡¯s hibernation chamber. It was the same as always, but when he opened the storagepartment, he noticed something different.
¡°The memory storage drives are missing,¡± Lin Xian muttered, frowning. He checked the other storagepartments, but it was the same everywhere¡ªall the memory storage drives were gone.
¡°This means the brain neural electric helmet has already bemonce,¡± Lin Xian deduced. ¡°If the helmet makes it easy for people to regain their memories, then those memory drives and notebooks are no longer needed. So, somewhere in this underground base, there must be apleted neural electric helmet.¡±
Lin Xian began searching through the ruins, and it didn¡¯t take long before he found what he was looking for¡ªan ¡°octopus-like¡± contraption, smaller and more portable than the prototype Du Yao had shown him, but otherwise very much the same.
Lin Xian picked up the brain neural electric helmet and examined it. ¡°Great. It already has the micro nuclear battery embedded. All I have to do is press this button, and it will activate automatically.¡± ?
After figuring out how to use it, he set the helmet aside and started the awakening sequence for Mai Mai¡¯s hibernation chamber. The lights flickered on, and the temperature of the filling liquid began to slowly rise. He would have to wait two hours before Mai Mai would be fully awake and ready for the treatment.
In the meantime, Lin Xian opened Mai Mai¡¯s masterpiece, ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor,¡± which stilly in her storagepartment. He sighed. ¡°It really is her obsession. She must have truly wanted to be an author. If only she had a time-travel machine¡ªif she had published ¡®Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡¯ around the year 2000, it could have shaken up the literary world.¡±
Two hourster, Mai Mai finally awakened from her hibernation chamber. Lin Xian picked up the helmet and approached her.
¡°Wait!¡± Mai Mai shrieked, her eyes widening as she took in the eerie, tentacle-like contraption. ¡°That thing looks terrifying! It¡¯s like it has tentacles!¡±
Lin Xian turned the helmet over, nodding thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. These things are here to secure it to your head.¡±
Mai Mai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°To keep me from moving? Is it going to hurt?¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Lin Xian said dismissively, trying to reassure her. ¡°It¡¯ll just tickle a little¡ªnothing more. Trust me, restoring memories isn¡¯t painful at all.¡±
He needed Mai Mai to cooperate, so a small lie wouldn¡¯t hurt. She sighed in relief, patting her t chest. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t hurt¡ I¡¯m fine with tickling.¡±
¡°Alright then,e over here.¡± Lin Xian guided her to a chair, strapping the helmet securely in ce. Once he was sure it wouldn¡¯t budge, he gave her shoulder a gentle pat. ¡°Ready?¡±
Mai Mai took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°Ready.¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath himself, feeling even more anxious than Mai Mai. He braced himself, ready to hold her in ce if things went south. Du Yao had warned him that the helmet was extremely unpleasant and that the restraint chair was crucial¡ªtoo bad the chair in the room had already been crushed by debris.
He pressed his thumb against the red button on the helmet, taking a deep breath before pressing down.
A weak electric hum filled the air, and Mai Mai¡¯s screams soon joined it. ¡°It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!¡± she wailed, struggling as Lin Xian held her down.
¡°Hang in there! It¡¯ll be over soon,¡± Lin Xian called, using his strength to keep her still. ¡°Once it¡¯s done, you¡¯ll remember everything!¡±
¡°You said it wouldn¡¯t hurt!¡± she sobbed, her body trembling.
¡°Well, everyone¡¯s different.¡± Lin Xian tried to exin over her shouts. ¡°Almost done! I can see the progress bar!¡±
He couldn¡¯t see a progress bar. Gao Wen¡¯s wild design style, much like Liu An¡¯s, meant there was no room for unnecessary features like a progress bar.
Mai Mai¡¯s body eventually went limp, her screams turning into soft whimpers. Her eyes rolled back, her mind shing through old memories, familiar yet distant¡ªmoments filled with rejection, anger, understanding, and persistence.
The red light on the helmet turned off, reced by a green glow as the electric hum faded away. Lin Xian quickly unfastened the helmet, lifting it from Mai Mai¡¯s head.
Mai Mai copsed to the ground, crying uncontrobly. ¡°No one¡ no one wants to read my books¡¡±
Lin Xian knelt down and helped her up. ¡°How do you feel, Mai Mai? Did it work? Did you get your memories back?¡±
Mai Mai nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
¡°That¡¯s good! Why are you still crying, then?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Because¡ it¡¯s just¡¡± She sniffled, wiping her nose. ¡°It¡¯s all so sad. My masterpiece, and no one appreciated it¡ no one even wanted to sign me as an author.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Lin Xian sighed, realizing the cause of her sadness.
¡°And it wasn¡¯t just that!¡± Mai Mai wailed. ¡°I begged for votes every day! But no one cared¡¡±
Lin Xian winced sympathetically. ¡°Yeah¡ that¡¯s pretty rough.¡±
After a moment, he tried to cheer her up. ¡°Listen, I mean it when I say ¡®Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡¯ is the best story of this era! You¡¯re one of the top authors in Donghai City.¡±
Mai Mai blinked through her tears, hope flickering in her eyes. ¡°Really? You¡¯re not lying, are you?¡±
Once Mai Mai calmed down, Lin Xian sat across from her, relieved that the brain neural electric helmet had worked. He observed her reaction carefully, noting how the extreme emotions seemed to trigger the recall of her memories. It was just like the nauseating memory Lin Xian had once shared with Du Yao, involving Gao Yang¡¯s lollipop¡ªan unforgettable moment of disgust.
For Mai Mai, her strongest memories involved the failure and rejection she had faced as a struggling author¡ªthe pain, the disappointment, the ridicule. It all came back to her now, and although it made her cry, it also brought back her past.
He waited for her to finish wiping her tears, then leaned forward, his expression serious. ¡°Mai Mai, do you remember everything now? Is it all clear?¡±
Mai Mai nodded vigorously. ¡°I remember it all. My name is Yang Mai Mai. I was born in 2222 and entered the hibernation chamber in 2239, which means I¡¯m 17 years old now. I remember everything from my life before hibernation, every detail.¡±
¡°That¡¯s fantastic.¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°The wonders of science, huh?¡±
Mai Mai¡¯s eyes grew distant, and she began speaking softly. ¡°Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of bing an author¡ but I could never write anything I was proud of. Then, after years of trying and learning from the greats, I finally wrote ¡®Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor.¡¯ I was so proud of it, and I sent it to an editor¡¡±
¡°And what did the editor say?¡± Lin Xian felt an unexpected sense of anticipation.
Mai Mai looked at him, her eyes full of hurt. ¡°The editor asked if I was a time traveler from 200 years ago.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help it; he burst intoughter. ¡°That¡¯s¡ that¡¯s a bit harsh,¡± he said, trying to suppress his amusement.
¡°The editor said my writing was outdated.¡± Mai Mai sighed. ¡°They said that stylese in cycles, and maybe my work would be popr in a few hundred years¡ so I decided to hibernate.¡±
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really? You went into hibernation just because of that?¡±
Mai Mai straightened up, her face determined. ¡°The old era had no ce for my talent, so I decided to take my chances in a new one. Lin Xian, tell me¡ªis this the era for ¡®Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡¯? Will it be sessful now?¡±
Lin Xian gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°tinum-tier potential.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Mai Mai¡¯s eyes sparkled.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Absolutely. But first, we need to rify one thing.¡± He opened the manuscript and pointed at the date written on the first page: ¡°April 17th, 2025. The mist of the Demon God silently descended upon the earth, marking the beginning of its end¡ You also mentioned that the story was based on real events. What exactly were these real events? Do you remember?¡±
Mai Mai nodded eagerly. ¡°Of course! I did a lot of research for this book. It wasmon knowledge back then¡ªI thought it would be obvious to you. It was the day the ¡®Anti-Hibernation Virus¡¯ spread worldwide.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat at the unfamiliar term.
¡°Anti-Hibernation Virus? What¡¯s that?¡± he asked.
Mai Mai grinned, her pride evident. ¡°You¡¯re asking the right person! I did a lot of research on this virus to write ¡®Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor.¡¯ It¡¯s a virus designed to prevent humans from entering hibernation. People who get infected show no symptoms, no health issues¡ªit doesn¡¯t harm the body or shorten their lifespan. But once someone is infected, they simply can¡¯t hibernate. The virus hides in the brain, and it activates under low temperatures, keeping the person awake no matter how cold it gets.
¡°The virus has a three-month incubation period, during which it¡¯s non-infectious. But once the incubation ends, it bes highly contagious, spreading to anyone the hostes into contact with.¡± She paused, her eyes shining with excitement. ¡°So, even if someone wanted to hibernate, they couldn¡¯t. By the time it was over, almost no one in the world could hibernate anymore. The virus only stopped being contagious after 200 years, in 2219. That¡¯s why I could go into hibernation¡ªI was born after the virus had disappeared.¡±
¡°Wait a minute.¡± Lin Xian frowned, a thought urring to him. ¡°You said the incubation period is three months. Does that mean it¡¯s non-infectious during that time?¡±
Mai Mai shook her head. ¡°Correct. During the incubation, it¡¯spletely non-infectious, but the host can¡¯t hibernate.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly, connecting the dots. ¡°And you said the virus spread worldwide on April 17th, 2025. But if there¡¯s a three-month incubation period, how did it spread so suddenly, all on the same day? Shouldn¡¯t the spread have been gradual, with cases appearing in various locations before the big outbreak?¡±
Mai Mai shook her head, her eyes gleaming. ¡°No, no, no. That¡¯s exactly what makes it interesting¡ªthat¡¯s why I modeled the Demon God after the real culprit. The truth didn¡¯te out until decadester, but the real viin behind the virus orchestrated the spread perfectly. Think about it¡ªif the virus spreads only after three months, then the people who spread it worldwide must have all been infected at the same time, on January 17th, 2025.
¡°And how do you ensure that so many people get infected on the same day, then spread it across the globe in the following three months? Simple: one person¡ªthe Demon God¡ªhad to inject himself with the virus on October 17th, 2024, three months before January. On January 17th, 2025, he, the only person carrying the virus, traveled to a major international airport, infecting thousands of travelers. Those thousands then traveled to every corner of the world. When their incubation ended, they all became contagious on April 17th, 2025. That¡¯s when it spread like wildfire worldwide.
¡°So April 17th was the day of the Anti-Hibernation Virus¡¯s outbreak¡ªthe day the ¡®Mist of the Demon God¡¯ descended.¡± Mai Mai finished her exnation, her voice brimming with passion.
Lin Xian listened, feeling a chill run down his spine. April 17th, 2025¡ªjust a week away. Today was April 10th, and as Mai Mai spoke, he realized that countless carriers were already out there, waiting for the virus to take hold in just seven days.
He traced the timeline backward, remembering the events of six months ago¡ªOctober 17th, 2024. By that time, the Ninth Dream had already appeared, and just a few weekster, Einstein had dered the end of the game.
There was one person who came to mind¡ªthe one who had always been elusive, always talking about fairness, a small-statured man who seemed to keep his own agenda hidden.
¡°Gauss.¡±
Chapter 479: Equality
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Gauss.
The reason Lin Xian thought of that skinny, stammering man at this moment was because of a question Gauss had asked during a Genius Club meeting and the answer Einstein had given him.
When Lin Xian attended his first meeting, the club president, who wore an Einstein mask, had asked each genius to introduce themselves and share what quality they thought was most important for a genius to have.
Gauss¡¯s answer had been: ¡°Equality.¡±
He believed that humans, from birth, faced great inequality. Some people were born with ordinary intelligence, while others were born brilliant, destined to be geniuses. But shouldn¡¯t geniuses do everything in their power to make the world more equal and bnced?
Gauss¡¯s goal, and all his future ns, centered around creating a world where everyone was equal.
At that meeting, he had asked a question: ¡°If we wanted to enhance human physical abilities, nerve responses, and brain activity, where should we start in the year 2024?¡±
Einstein¡¯s response had been negative. He said there wouldn¡¯t be any breakthroughs in gic enhancement until the year 2100.Looking back, Lin Xian realized that Gauss had probably expected that answer all along.
If you really think about it¡ªwould mastering gic enhancement truly make the world equal? Would everyone be like mythical heroes?
That was impossible.
It might even have the opposite effect, widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
At present, the gap between rich and poor was only about money and lifestyle. But if gic enhancements became a reality, the rich could turn themselves into superhumans¡ªable to leap across buildings, with strength like warriors from ancient legends. It could make them like time-traveling assassins, able to defeat a hundred ordinary people.
Was that equality? Clearly not.
Gauss, as brilliant as he was, must have known this. He must have hoped for a negative answer all along. He wanted gic enhancement to stay out of reach, the further away the better.
At the second gathering, Gauss asked another crucial question: ¡°When will humanity be able to fully strengthen our immune systems so we won¡¯t get sick, won¡¯t catch viruses, and can cure all diseases, making us immune to everything?¡±
It was this question that made Lin Xian connect the ¡°Anti-Hibernation Virus¡± to Gauss.
On the surface, Gauss seemed to have noble ambitions¡ªhe wanted everyone to be healthy and free of diseases, striving for equality.
But actually, he was hiding something. He was masking his true intentions while trying to get real answers.
The moment he asked that question, it showed he had already decided to use the ¡°Anti-Hibernation Virus.¡± But he hid his motives so well that everyone thought he was harmless, that he had no power. ??
At that time, Einstein¡¯s answer had been: ¡°Never.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a virus that can never be defeated. Viruses, like humans, constantly evolve and mutate,¡± he had said. ¡°The good news is, most viruses weaken over time with repeated infections. The bad news is, along the way, new viruses always emerge.¡±
Einstein¡¯s answer held the key.
Although Einstein dismissed Gauss¡¯s question, Gauss must have been secretly pleased.
He knew¡ª
His virus would spread across the globe and remain active until it lost its potency and ability to spread¡ªeffectively preventing humanity from hibernating.
With hindsight, Gauss¡¯s n was crystal clear.
From the beginning, his target had been ¡°hibernation.¡±
He always believed: ¡°Death is the fundamental equality for human civilization, but the advent of hibernation technology broke that equality.¡±
Lin Xian had once discussed this with Big Cat in the Second Dream.
There¡¯s an old saying: ¡°Wealth doesn¡¯tst beyond three generations.¡±
No matter how brilliant a genius was, how powerful an elder was, or how wealthy a person was, there would alwayse a day when they died. Once they died, power and wealth were redistributed. Even in academia, young schrs could only step up once the older generation was gone.
But after the advent of hibernation chambers, that fundamental equality¡ªdeath¡ªdisappeared.
Just like in the Fifth Dream, where Elon Musk¡¯s SPACE-Xpany had ruled Mars for hundreds of years. He must have remained the world¡¯s richest man for centuries.
That was a severe form of inequality. Musk¡¯s glorysted for centuries, overshadowing countless young people who should have had their time to shine in history, but instead faded into obscurity.
So, Gauss created the ¡°Anti-Hibernation Virus.¡±
He had thought it through very carefully.
First, for the sake of equality, he designed the virus so that it wouldn¡¯t harm the human body. If you didn¡¯t attempt to hibernate, you wouldn¡¯t even notice it, and it wouldn¡¯t affect your health.
Second, the virus had a long incubation period of three months¡ªlong enough that people couldn¡¯t guard against it. Plus, since it was harmless, it spread across the world quickly.
Finally, Gauss stayed true to his principle of equality, even including himself. He was the first to inject himself with the virus, giving up the chance to hibernate and live indefinitely, choosing instead to die naturally in his time.
The more Lin Xian thought about it, the clearer it became.
Einstein¡¯s words were right. The virus spread worldwide for almost 200 years before it finally died out, losing its ability to infect people.
In those 200 years, humanity hadpletely said goodbye to hibernation technology and returned to normal life.
Gauss had probably hoped the virus wouldst thousands, even tens of thousands of years, so that humanity could never conquer it. But thews of nature are like that¡ªas Einstein said, there is no evesting virus, nor a human immune to everything.
Suddenly, Lin Xian finally understood¡ª
Why Einstein had said so firmly back then: ¡°The future is already set. All possibilities have vanished. Now, this is¡ the only future.¡±
He also understood why the 0.0001764 world line was so unyielding, why the Ninth Dream couldn¡¯t be changed.
Because¡ª
¡°The 0.0001764 world line was thebined effort of several geniuses, forged together! The timeline¡¯s resilience was naturally incredibly strong!¡±
That was it. No doubt.
In the Ninth Dream, the great disaster of 2600 was clearly Galileo¡¯s doing.
The stagnation of technology, evidenced by the continued use ofnd motorbikes, was undoubtedly Copernicus¡¯s influence.
And now, with the new information, it seemed that from 2025 to 2219, Gauss¡¯s Anti-Hibernation Virus had temporarily blocked the possibility of hibernation.
Perhaps, somewhere Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see, big brother Newton was also executing his n¡
Four geniuses, working simultaneously.
The result was the Ninth Dream¡ªa future where humanity was on the brink of extinction.
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian finally said aloud, understanding.
Why, at thest meeting, Einstein had insisted on conducting one-on-one questioning?
He had thought it was a special privilege.
But it turned out it was Einstein¡¯s way of stabilizing the world line.
He wouldn¡¯t reveal who won the salvation game because, in truth, the victory belonged to all of them.
So the best n was¡ª
To let each genius believe they had won!
That way, they would all keep waiting for a bright future in the following decades or centuries.
But it had all been a lie.
The future Einstein saw was false. He was unintentionally leading the geniuses in the wrong direction, pushing humanity towards a doomed future.
¡°Einstein, what happened to you?¡± Lin Xian frowned.
For the first time, he truly understood what it meant for the head to lead wrong and the body to follow.
Wait.
Lin Xian suddenly thought of something terrifying.
The white light.
The ¡°World-Ending White Light.¡±
To this day, he still didn¡¯t know what that white light at 00:42 was.
But no matter which dream it was, one thing remained the same¡ª
Humanity had no awareness or defense against the arrival of the white light. Each time, they met their end in peaceful ignorance.
Even in Einstein¡¯s response to Elon Musk, he hadn¡¯t mentioned the white light. He had said that on August 29, 2624, more than four million people would be bustling in Donghai.
That was simply impossible!
Lin Xian squinted, trying to link three key clues:
Einstein couldn¡¯t see the disappearance of the Millennial Stake in 1952, nor could he see the World-Ending White Light of 2624.
The arrival time of the white light was very coincidental¡ªright when CC, as the Millennial Stake, was supposed to dissipate into blue stardust.
If humanity had any chance of preventing the white light, then in the future of the Ninth Dream, where humanity was extinct, that chance was zero. And this was the future Einstein wanted¡ªthe best one, to lock in this world line.
So far¡ª
The Millennial Stake, the World-Ending White Light, and Einstein¡ªthese three were deeply intertwined, connected in countless ways.
The exact nature of the connection, Lin Xian didn¡¯t know.
But he had a gut feeling¡ª
¡°If I can uncover the truth about the Millennial Stake, I can save Chu An Qing, and maybe even stop the white light, saving humanity¡¯s future.¡±
¡°It¡¯s possible.¡±
The more Lin Xian thought about it, the more convinced he became.
¡°It really is possible!¡±
¡°I had thought before that the Millennial Stake and the white light might be rted, but I couldn¡¯t find any evidence linking them. Now, this connection is bing clearer.¡±
¡°But¡¡±
Lin Xian frowned, his lips tightening.
Right now, there was no time to think about such distant things. The immediate crisis was right in front of him.
He turned around and saw Mai Mai reading ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡± by the light of the hibernation chamber, her face filled with delight.
Lin Xian picked up a sharp stone from the ground, using the wall as a ckboard, and wrote out his thoughts:
October 17, 2024, Gauss injected himself with the Anti-Hibernation Virus, officially beginning his ¡°200-Year Equality of Life and Death n.¡±
January 17, 2025, after the three-month incubation period, the virus in Gauss¡¯s body became infectious. He went to crowded ces like airports, ports, terminals, squares, and crossroads¡ªit didn¡¯t matter where. That day, he infected tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of travelers from around the world.
April 17, 2025, after another three months, those tens or hundreds of thousands of infected travelers spread the virus, and it broke out globally. In just one day, the Anti-Hibernation Virus swept across the world. Anyone infected could no longer enter hibernation.
Thus began the ¡°200-Year Hibernation Ban.¡±
And today, the current date¡
It¡¯s April 10, 2025.
Toote.
At this point, it was toote to do anything.
Gauss¡¯s move was indeed sinister but brilliant.
In an era when hibernation technology was still in its infancy, a virus that only prevented hibernation but had no other harmful effects wouldn¡¯t attract much attention.
For most people, hibernation was an optional technology¡ªsomething they could take or leave.
The only people who genuinely needed hibernation were two groups:
Patients with incurable diseases.
People like Lin Xian, who had important missions and responsibilities.
But together, these two groups made up less than 0.01% of the world¡¯s poption.
Lin Xian sat, deep in thought. His voice was quiet, almost a mutter, as he said, ¡°There¡¯s one thing I still don¡¯t understand.¡±
Mai Mai looked up at him from her book, waiting.
¡°Mai Mai already proved that Gauss¡¯s Anti-Hibernation Virus would onlyst for 200 years¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Did Gauss know that?¡±
After a pause, he nodded to himself. ¡°He probably did. After all, he created the virus. And even if he hadn¡¯t known, he could have used that onest opportunity to ask Einstein about it.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes clouded with confusion as he spoke aloud, more to himself than anyone else, ¡°But what was the point of just 200 years of equality? In the grand scheme of human history, 200 years is hardly even a blink. After that, people would still be able to hibernate again, and inequality would return. Didn¡¯t Gauss care about that? Was 200 years enough for him?¡±
He closed his eyes, trying to think. He stayed like that for several moments, as if something was beginning to dawn on him.
¡°Could Gauss have been targeting us?¡± Lin Xian finally spoke, his voice low. ¡°Two hundred years may mean little to human civilization, but for the Genius Club, it¡¯s devastating.¡±
He looked up, his face solemn as he continued. ¡°From Gauss¡¯s perspective, two hundred years without hibernation would be enough to kill off every single one of us, including Einstein. Could it be that Gauss thought we, the members of the Genius Club, were the biggest cause of inequality in the world? Like Copernicus, who was willing to kill indiscriminately, Turing, who pursued digital immortality, or Musk, who decided the future direction of humanity. Did Gauss think we interfered too much, that we were the real problem?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. It was no use trying to guess Gauss¡¯s motives now. Many things were beyond change at this point.
But there was still an urgent problem in front of him¡ªwhat should he do now?
He opened his eyes, staring ahead, a deep worry shadowing his expression. The virus would spread across the world on April 17th, which meant it would infect him, Ying Jun, and little Yu Xi. If they couldn¡¯t enter the hibernation chamber before that happened, then¡ all his ns would be gone, like smoke in the wind.
He wouldn¡¯t be able to use the Time Travel Machine to return to 1952. He wouldn¡¯t be able to find the Millennial Stake to save Chu An Qing. He wouldn¡¯t be able to prevent humanity¡¯s extinction 600 years in the future. He would fail¡ª
He couldn¡¯t save the future. He couldn¡¯t stop the World-Ending White Light. He couldn¡¯t save An Qing. He couldn¡¯t change fate. He couldn¡¯t shift the world line.
Gauss¡¯s silent virus bomb had ruined all of Lin Xian¡¯s ns.
¡°What should I do?¡± Lin Xian whispered to himself, his voice filled with desperation.
If he entered the hibernation chamber before April 17th, everything would go ording to n. But if he did, it would mean leaving Yu Xi behind. He couldn¡¯t do that.
The Hibernation Manual was very clear. The minimum hibernation age was three years; in extreme cases, no less than one. Infants under a year old could not enter the hibernation chamber under any circumstances. The underdeveloped meninges of a child that young would absorb the chamber¡¯s chemicals, causing irreversible damage¡ªeven brain death.
But if he didn¡¯t go into hibernation¡ it meant giving up on saving the world. Giving up on the future. Giving up on his promise to Chu Shan He. He would just live his life in the present, an ordinary, powerless man, spending his time with his family, with the people he loved.
It was too hard a choice to make.
The more he thought about it, the more tangled his mind became. In frustration, he got up and walked over to where Mai Mai was sitting.
¡°Is there any way to avoid getting infected by the Anti-Hibernation Virus?¡± he asked. ¡°Like staying in a sterile room or something?¡±
Mai Mai looked up from her book¡ª¡±Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡±¡ªand shook her head. ¡°That won¡¯t work,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve really looked into it, for the book. You have to trust me. During those two hundred years, scientists tried every kind of experiment you can imagine, includingplete istion. But it didn¡¯t work. This virus is just too powerful. It can use almost anything as a host¡ªhumans, animals, nts, dust, insects, probiotics, fungi, even other viruses.¡±
She closed her book, looking at Lin Xian seriously. ¡°If there really was a way to iste it, humanity wouldn¡¯t have had to wait 200 years for it to lose its potency and transmission. Honestly, most people didn¡¯t even care about this virus. If they couldn¡¯t hibernate, they couldn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t the end of the world.¡±
Mai Mai shrugged and gave a small smile. ¡°For me, I was looking forward to centuries in the future. I wanted to make a big ssh in a revival of fantasy literature¡ªthat¡¯s why I hibernated. But if I couldn¡¯t hibernate¡ I would have kept living, kept writing even if no one read my work. Life isn¡¯t so terrible just because you can¡¯t hibernate.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He understood that. It was Gauss¡¯s smartest move¡ªto make the virus not seem like a big deal, something that no one cared about. He had subtly influenced society, achieved equality in the quietest, most unnoticed way possible.
But¡ Lin Xian¡¯s situation was different. He had promised Chu Shan He that he would save Chu An Qing. He had also promised Ying Jun that he would always be there for Yu Xi.
And Ying Jun had reminded him over and over¡ªif he had the power to change things, if he could save everyone, then he had a duty to do so. He had to be responsible. He had to be a leader, a savior.
So what should he do? Should he save Chu An Qing and the future of humanity? Or stay with Ying Jun and Yu Xi, to live a happy life with his family?
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, everything was engulfed in a blinding white light, vaporizing everything in sight.
¡
¡
¡
Lin Xian opened his eyes, lying in his bedroom. He quickly sat up, looking at the clock by his bed. It was April 11th, 2025, 00:42. Another day had passed. There were only six days left until Gauss¡¯s virus outbreak.
He got out of bed, walked into the living room, and sat down on the couch. A few momentster, Zhao Ying Jun came out of the kitchen, holding a cup of hot milk. She set it down gently on the coffee table in front of him.
¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± Lin Xian asked, concerned.
Ying Jun smiled softly. ¡°I was asleep. Our daughter woke me up.¡±
She touched her swollen belly, her expression filled with love. ¡°Yu Xi has been moving a lottely. She¡¯s most active at night. It feels like she can¡¯t wait to meet us.¡±
She looked at the time, almost 00:42, and decided to get Lin Xian some warm milk. She gave him a teasing look, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you today? Usually, when you wake up from a dream, you go straight to the study to analyze things. But today, you¡¯re sitting here in the living room? Did something happen in your dream? Did that writer Mai Mai remember anything new?¡±
Lin Xian smiled, rubbing his forehead. ¡°She remembered all her failures, and her editor told her she was from 200 years ago.¡±
Ying Junughed. ¡°That¡¯s harsh. Actually¡ I wanted to share some good news with you. It was supposed to be for tomorrow, but since we¡¯re up now, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Her eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s about our daughter¡¯s birthday.¡±
Lin Xian looked up, curious. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°The doctor did a full checkup today,¡± Ying Jun said, her smile radiant. ¡°Yu Xi is perfectly healthy. She¡¯s developing well and is in the perfect position for a normal delivery. Today, they even calcted her exact due date.¡±
Ying Jun moved closer to Lin Xian, taking his hand and cing it on her belly. ¡°Can you feel her? She¡¯s kicking again. She¡¯s eager to meet us.¡±
Lin Xian swallowed, his heart pounding. ¡°The due date¡ When is it?¡±
Ying Jun smiled softly and whispered, ¡°April 17th. That¡¯s our daughter¡¯s birthday.¡±
Chapter 480: Hero
Chapter 480: Hero
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
April 17th.
Lin Xian heard the fateful date, and dizziness swept over him. Once again, fate had ced him at a crossroads.
If he wanted to avoid the virus and travel to the future, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to hold his baby daughter or see her little face for the first time.
He pressed his lips together and softly asked, ¡°Is the due date really that exact?¡±
¡°Of course, it¡¯s not entirely precise,¡± Zhao Ying Jun replied with a small smile. ¡°It could be a couple of days earlier orter, but the doctor said it¡¯s unlikely to bete. Little Yu Xi is already measuring a bit bigger than usual.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t know the exact day. It all depends on her and how smoothly things go. But the doctor said we should check in at the hospital by the 15th just to be safe. They¡¯ve already reserved a private room for us.¡±
Lin Xian nodded but didn¡¯t say anything.
He had waited so long for his daughter, but now, he felt torn¡ªpulled between so many responsibilities that it was hard to find any joy.¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhao Ying Jun blinked, studying his face. ¡°Is there¡ something going on?¡±
She had felt something was off about him since the beginning. At first, she had assumed he was just tired, worn out from everything he had been doing. But now¡ now it seemed moreplicated than that.
She was Lin Xian¡¯s wife, the person closest to him in the entire world, the one who knew him better than anyone. There was no way Lin Xian could hide his feelings from her.
She could see it immediately¡ Lin Xian was facing a very difficult situation, one that was hard to decide on.
¡°Did that person, Mai Mai, remember something important?¡± she asked softly.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to hide it from you. This is something you should know.¡±
He looked up at her. ¡°Do you remember that story, ¡®Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor,¡¯ I told you about before? Just as I suspected, it wasn¡¯t fiction. It¡¯s based on real events.¡±
Lin Xian exined everything that Mai Mai had said¡ªhow Gauss had created the Anti-Hibernation Virus, which would spread worldwide on April 17th, making hibernation impossible for two hundred years, and how Einstein and a group of other geniuses had sealed away the ¡°World-Ending White Light,¡± setting humanity on a path toward extinction.
Zhao Ying Jun listened in silence, her face growing more solemn as he spoke.
When Lin Xian finally finished, they sat in silence for a long time. The only sound was the soft snoring of VV from the other room, rising and falling.
Zhao Ying Jun bit her lower lip, wanting to say something but hesitating. She could understand Lin Xian¡¯s pain, understand his struggle.
Now, there were only six days left until the virus would break out, and it was toote to do anything about it.
If he stayed, he would inevitably be infected and lose his chance to go to the future¡ªto use the Time Travel Machine, reach 1952, save the Millennial Stake, and prevent the apocalypse.
But if he chose to go into hibernation early, he would have to leave behind his family, his friends, this entire era. He wouldn¡¯t even be able to see Yu Xi¡¯s face before he left.
After April 17th, those inside and outside the hibernation chamber would be worlds apart¡ªtwo hundred yearster, when he awoke, everyone he knew would be long gone.
The times would be different. The world would be unfamiliar. He would be alone, with no friends or family. It would be like a sentence of ¡°spatial-temporal istion,¡± much like Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s fate in the Third Dream, turned into a statue of white jade.
¡°So, what are you thinking?¡± Zhao Ying Jun finally broke the silence.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian replied honestly.
He lowered his head, resting his elbows on his knees and covering his face with his hands. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a lot of different options. Maybe I could let Elon Musk or Liu Feng take my ce, use the Time Travel Machine to go to 1952,plete the mission for me¡ªsave Chu An Qing and ensure the future of humanity.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s irresponsible. I made the promise to Chu Shan He. And they don¡¯t have the ability to dream about the future 600 years from now. They would be too passive in gathering information.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t risk everything on someone else. If even one part of the n fails, the consequences are too great¡ªirreparable.¡±
¡°I also thought about having Liu Feng hibernate until 2482, then find Cheng Qian, revive VV, and try to create a biological USB to send the antivirus back to 2025 using spacetime particles. That way, I could revive VV in this era and try to save the future world from the World-Ending White Light within my limited lifetime.¡±
¡°No, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun shook her head, immediately dismissing the idea. ¡°How can you be sure Liu Feng will find Cheng Qian, create the antivirus, make the biological USB, and sessfully travel back to 2025?¡±
¡°Your entire n is based on everything going perfectly. The world has already shifted from what Einstein predicted, so none of his answers are reliable anymore. How can you guarantee that the entangled spacetime particle will still be intact in 2482 for Liu Feng to use?¡±
¡°Right now, not many people realize the importance of the spacetime particle, but in 2234, once the Time Travel Machine is invented, more people will learn about it and try to take it.¡±
¡°So how can you bet on something so uncertain? This battle isn¡¯t a game. There¡¯s no room for mistakes. The safest course is to use the particle the instant the Time Travel Machine is made, leaving no chance for anyone else to go back.¡±
¡°Otherwise, it won¡¯t be Liu Feng who returns, but another terminator¡ªanother assassin from the future.¡±
¡°And that¡¯s the problem,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said cautiously. ¡°In 2234, the moment the Time Travel Machine isplete, Liu Feng will use the only entangled particle. But where should he go?¡±
¡°If he goes to 1952, maybe he can learn the truth about the Millennial Stake and Einstein¡¯s secrets. Then, let¡¯s say Liu Feng lives another seventy years and meets you in 2025, passing on everything he¡¯s learned¡ªbut then what?¡±
¡°Can you really save Chu An Qing and prevent humanity¡¯s extinction in just a few decades, especially after being infected? And that¡¯s assuming everything goes smoothly. One mistake, and the whole n copses.¡±
Lin Xian sighed and nodded. ¡°What you¡¯re saying is exactly what I¡¯m worried about. In fact, there¡¯s an even bigger issue. For any of this to work, we have to wait until the ¡®point of no return.¡¯¡±
¡°What does that mean? It means we¡¯ll get infected in this era, die, and then Liu Feng will wake up two hundred yearster, visit our graves, and use the Time Travel Machine to meet me in the past.¡±
¡°The problem is that the Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun he meets won¡¯t be us¡ªthey¡¯ll be versions from another timeline. Just like Yellow Finch, who returned to our time but didn¡¯t meet her Lin Xian, because¡ her Lin Xian was already gone.¡±
¡°If we leave our future to others, it means that we¡¯ve already given up in this timeline. We¡¯ve irresponsibly passed the burden to another version of ourselves.¡±
Lin Xian pressed his lips together. ¡°That¡¯s the contradiction.¡±
¡°Yellow Finch did the same thing, but she had no choice. She had to abandon her original world and ce her hope in another timeline.¡±
¡°And before she died, she begged me not to leave Yu Xi.¡±
¡°Now, I have to choose between staying with Yu Xi and saving the future. It¡¯s like having to choose between two things that are equally important.¡±
However, Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°Lin Xian, think carefully¡¡±
¡°Why did Yellow Finche back?¡±
Lin Xian looked up, meeting her gaze.
This was the same question Chu An Qing had shouted at Yellow Finch when she hesitated during their mission to capture the spacetime particle.
¡°Did Yellow Finche back just to tell you not to leave Yu Xi?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun held his gaze. ¡°If it was just to stay with Yu Xi, Yellow Finch had no reason toe back. She could have stayed in her own world and watched Yu Xi grow up.¡±
¡°Losing her father is already hard enough for Yu Xi. But if Yellow Finch had stayed with her as her mother, she still could have given her warmth and love. Yu Xi wouldn¡¯t have ended up being manipted by Copernicus, turned into a time assassin.¡±
¡°But what did Yellow Finch choose?¡±
Her eyes were clear and soft. ¡°Yellow Finch, until her veryst moment, never gave up trying to guide you to save the world¡ªto save humanity¡¯s future.¡±
She took Lin Xian¡¯s hand gently. ¡°All this time, you¡¯ve been so caught up in the words ¡®don¡¯t leave Yu Xi¡¯ that you¡¯ve missed Yellow Finch¡¯s true intention.¡±
¡°I can even imagine, in her own time, when her Lin Xian was on his deathbed, he must have told her the same thing¡ ¡®Don¡¯t leave Yu Xi.''¡±
¡°But in the end, Yellow Finch broke that promise.¡±
¡°Broke her promise.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian remembered what Yellow Finch had once said to him.
¡°There¡¯s one more thing I have to confess,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said quietly, her eyes soft as they met his. ¡°In fact, the reason I said I wanted toe to Copenhagen was also a lie.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. He waited, sensing there was more she needed to say.
¡°That man¡ªhe never breaks his promises,¡± she continued, her voice steady. ¡°He always does what he says he will. So, when it came to the promise about going to Copenhagen¡ªand many other promises¡ªthe one who broke them was me.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened as a realization dawned on him. Could it be? Back then, standing on the shallow shore in Copenhagen, had Yellow Finch been trying to confess all the promises she had broken, just like Zhao Ying Jun had guessed?
He turned to Zhao Ying Jun, taking her hand gently in his. ¡°Does this mean¡ we have to keep breaking those promises?¡± he asked, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°Does that mean no one will ever be by Yu Xi¡¯s side as she grows up?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun looked at him, her lips curving into a gentle smile as she shook her head. ¡°Lin Xian, to be honest, I can¡¯t bear for you to leave. I don¡¯t want you to abandon me and Yu Xi, to go off alone into an uncertain future.¡±
She paused, her eyes glistening. ¡°It¡¯s selfish, I know. But as your wife, as the mother of our child, it¡¯s only natural that I would want you here. The moment you started telling me all this, my first instinct was to keep you with us. To hold onto you and never let you leave.¡±
¡°I wanted you here with Yu Xi and me,¡± she continued, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°I wanted us to watch Yu Xi grow, to grow old together.¡±
A silence settled between them, only the soft hum of the kitchen light breaking it.
¡°But if you were just an ordinary person, without any special abilities,¡± Zhao Ying Jun whispered, her gaze fixed on the floor, ¡°I would let you stay. I would.¡±
She bit her lip, her wordsing out soft but heavy. ¡°But you¡¯re not ordinary. You were meant to be extraordinary. You have the power to change everything, to save everyone. And if you, with all your abilities, don¡¯t step up now¡ who will?¡±
Lin Xian felt his throat tighten, her words hitting him like a wave. Zhao Ying Jun stepped closer, looking up at him with fierce determination.
¡°Do you think Elon Musk doesn¡¯t have family? Do you think Liu Feng doesn¡¯t have dreams of his own?¡± she said, her voice steady. ¡°If you even think for one second that someone else should take the risk for you¡ then you¡¯re the one who should be carrying that burden.¡±
She took a deep breath. ¡°Have you thought about it, Lin Xian? People always say they¡¯re ready to sacrifice themselves for their country, that they¡¯ll donate everything or fight on the front lines. But when the timees, will they actually step up?¡±
Lin Xian swallowed, his voice hoarse. ¡°I think they will. When ites to defending their country, they will.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. ¡°If they can do it, then so can we.¡±
She looked away, her gaze growing distant. ¡°Since I met you, Lin Xian, I¡¯ve always been afraid of being a burden to you. Even after you left MX Company, I knew you were involved in something dangerous. But I never disturbed you, never reached out to you. Even when you went to Copenhagen and America, I never contacted you.¡±
¡°Even when I knew about Yan Qiao Qiao, I kept it to myself because I didn¡¯t want to add to your burden. I waited until you found out on your own.¡±
She paused, her voice steady but filled with emotion. ¡°If my husband is meant to save the world, I can¡¯t let myself make him mediocre. I can¡¯t ept that.¡±
She took a deep breath, looking at the warm light spilling from the kitchen. ¡°The peace and happiness we have now, we owe it to those who sacrificed their lives on the front lines. They were fathers, husbands, sons¡ They had families, and yet they gave everything to protect this world.¡±
¡°They built a wall of flesh and blood to keep us safe. Should we, with the power to save the future, turn our backs on humanity¡¯s fate and do nothing?¡±
¡°The future of humanity,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, her voice soft, ¡°is our future, Yu Xi¡¯s future, the future of our children and their children.¡±
Lin Xian felt her words settle deep within him. He had never intended to give up or abandon his mission, but the thought of leaving behind the people he loved had always filled him with dread.
The memory of Yellow Finch¡¯s hand brushing his cheek before she disappeared.
The way Yu Xi had hugged his neck, calling out ¡°Daddy¡± before turning into blue snowkes.
The image of Zhao Ying Jun, frozen in time like a statue of white jade, waiting for six hundred years in Rhine Sky City.
Zhao Ying Jun saw the struggle in his eyes. She stepped forward, facing him seriously. ¡°Lin Xian, I want to ask you three questions. And I want you to answer me honestly.¡±
He looked at her, standing there in the dim living room, her face bathed in the warm glow of the kitchen light. He nodded.
¡°First question.¡± She paused. ¡°If Yu Xi and I weren¡¯t here, would you choose to hibernate and go to the future to save the world right now?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I would.¡±
¡°Second question,¡± Zhao Ying Jun continued, her eyes unwavering. ¡°If you didn¡¯t go to the future, and because of that, everything was lost¡ If you had to watch humanity face extinction, if Chu Shan He walked out of the hibernation chamber and didn¡¯t see Chu An Qing smiling at him¡ would you regret it?¡±
Lin Xian pressed his lips together, his eyes closing briefly before he nodded. ¡°I would regret it.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun exhaled deeply, her shoulders rxing a little. ¡°Third question,¡± she said, her voice softening. ¡°If everyone begged you to stay, if they asked you to forget everything else and just enjoy your life now¡ could you live without guilt? Could you live the rest of your life with a clear conscience?¡±
Lin Xian looked at her, a long silence stretching between them. Slowly, he stood up from the sofa, facing Zhao Ying Jun. He shook his head. ¡°To be honest, I can¡¯t.¡±
A gentle smile spread across Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s face. She reached up, cupping his cheeks in her hands, her warmth filling the space between them.
¡°Go,¡± she whispered. ¡°I think you already know the answer.¡±
Tears filled Lin Xian¡¯s eyes as he looked at her, and Zhao Ying Jun smiled through her own tears.
¡°And Lin Xian,¡± she continued, ¡°you don¡¯t need to feel guilty about Yellow Finch. You don¡¯t need to break your promise to her because¡ I will fulfill it for you.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean¡¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Ying Jun nodded. ¡°I promise you, no matter what happens, I will never leave Yu Xi. I will stay with her, watch her grow up, guide her, love her¡ªfor both of us. I won¡¯t let the past repeat itself. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±
¡°So Lin Xian,¡± she said, her voice strong and unwavering, ¡°go. Do what you really want to do. Do what you¡¯re willing to dedicate your life to. Do what you would regret forever if you didn¡¯t.¡±
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with warmth. ¡°I¡¯ll protect Yu Xi, and you¡ you protect the world.¡±
Chapter 481: Your Stars and Ocean
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian stepped forward and embraced Zhao Ying Jun.
¡°Actually¡¡± he said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve hesitated too.¡±
¡°When I first learned about all this, my mind kepting back to you and Yu Xi. I even thought about staying here, risking the virus, and trying my best to save the world right here, in this time.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me, I wouldn¡¯t have med you,¡± she said. ¡°But¡ if you had stayed, then Yellow Finch would have died for nothing. And Chu An Qing¡¯s leap from that ne at twenty thousand meters, catching that spacetime particle for you, would have been pointless.¡±
Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she paused. ¡°If we were going to give up on saving the future, ignoring the World-Ending White Light¡ then why did we hold on for so long just to quit now?¡±
¡°Giving up is easy. You just convince yourself it¡¯s the right choice. But holding on, pushing through danger and sacrifice¡ªthat¡¯s the hard part.¡±
She hugged him tighter, resting her head against his chest. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you, Lin Xian. But there are things in this world only you can do¡ªthings only you can finish. No one else can rece you.¡±
¡°If Yu Xi grows up without you, I¡¯ll make up for it. I¡¯ll make sure she never feels like she¡¯scking love, notpared to any other child. And even without you here, I¡¯ll still do my best to manage MX Company, Rhine Company, and the Shan He Group¡ªwith Brother Wang¡¯s help, of course.¡±She looked up at him, her voice trembling but firm. ¡°But saving humanity¡¯s future, stopping that white light¡ no one else can do that but you. I don¡¯t want to lose you, but I can¡¯t let the world¡¯s only hope end here, with me.¡±
Lin Xian could feel the warmth of her embrace through her thin pajamas, and he knew baby Yu Xi had calmed down, probably falling back asleep.
¡°I just hope¡ Yu Xi won¡¯t hate me for this,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°We¡¯re making this decision as adults, but she might not understand or ept it.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian,¡± Zhao Ying Jun whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll raise her well. Parents are the best teachers, and the best way to teach is by example. Our Yu Xi will grow up brave, strong, and full of responsibility¡ªjust like you.¡±
¡°She¡¯ll make us proud, just like you do. You¡¯ll always be our pride.¡±
Lin Xian released her and looked into her slightly teary but determined eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to Hang City in a few days and talk to my parents about all this. I know them¡ªthey might resist at first, but they¡¯ll understand eventually, especially my father. Once he knows why I¡¯m doing this, he¡¯ll support me. That¡¯s the kind of man he is. He raised me to be this way.¡±
¡°And your parents¡¡±
Zhao Ying Jun smiled and wiped her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. They might resist, but I¡¯m not a child anymore. This is our decision¡ªyours and mine.¡±
She looked into his eyes, her smile small but resolute. ¡°My man, my choice.¡±
¡
Donghai University, Rhine Joint Laboratory
¡°Is that so?¡± Liu Feng rubbed his nose after listening to Lin Xian¡¯s exnation. ¡°I always knew she¡¯d say something like Yellow Finch, make that kind of choice. But hearing you tell me¡ I can¡¯t help but admire it.¡±
¡°You two have given up so much for the world, for the future of humanity.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°A lot of people have worked for the future. If we¡¯re talking about sacrifices, Yellow Finch, Chu Shan He, Chu An Qing¡ªthey¡¯ve sacrificed far more than Ying Jun and I.¡±
¡°This road may be difficult and heartbreaking, but we have to keep walking it. Otherwise, like Zhao Ying Jun said, if we give up now, all their sacrifices¡ªYellow Finch, Chu An Qing, and so many others¡ªwould be in vain.¡± ?
Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian for a moment before lowering his head. ¡°Honestly, I feel guilty. I¡¯ve spent so much time on the secret of the Universal Constant, but I still haven¡¯t figured it out. Even though we know the answer is forty-two, just knowing the answer isn¡¯t enough¡ªwe still don¡¯t know how to use it.¡±
¡°If I¡¯d cracked the Universal Constant 42 earlier, maybe we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Liu Feng. You¡¯ve already done so much for me. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t even know about spacetime particles, let alone catch one or join the Genius Club through the Spacetime Clock.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve helped me more than anyone else in this world, and I¡¯m grateful for that. I¡¯m d you¡¯re willing to hibernate with me and face the future together.¡±
Liu Fengughed softly, giving Lin Xian a gentle push. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal. You saved my life, and thest card Qi Qi left me said¡ to follow you. She called you my meteor, meant just for me, here to lead me to a brighter sky.¡±
¡°No matter what time we wake up in, I¡¯ll do my best to help you figure out the Universal Constant 42.¡±
¡°Together, we¡¯ll solve all the mysteries and bring Chu An Qing back. And maybe we¡¯ll save humanity¡¯s future¡ªlet them see a new dawn.¡±
He paused, ncing at the ckboardbeled ¡°Arithmetic Sequence.¡± Written on it were the names of the girls who had been in theb, arranged by their age differences¡ª
Yan Qiao Qiao, (empty), Chu An Qing, Su Su, Zhao Ying Jun, Yellow Finch.
¡°The sequence is still iplete,¡± Liu Feng said with a sigh. ¡°There should have been another girl, seventeen years old, between Yan Qiao Qiao and Chu An Qing. But no girl of that age ever entered thisb. Looks like¡ this arithmetic sequence will remain iplete.¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You still care about that arithmetic sequence? I didn¡¯t think this would be what you regret.¡±
Liu Feng walked to the ckboard, pointing at the empty space between Yan Qiao Qiao and Chu An Qing. ¡°That spot should have been filled, but it never was. I guess¡ this will remain an unsolved regret.¡±
He closed his eyes, his fingers pressing against the ckboard. ¡°Do you think the sequence could bepleted in the future?¡±
¡°Erase it,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°It seems unlikely now.¡±
¡°Start sorting out the documents here in the next few days¡ªwe¡¯ll head to Capital City soon. I¡¯ve arranged for the Research Institute to provide us with thetest hibernation chambers. Ying Jun will be overseeing production there too, so we¡¯ll have a little more time together¡ until the early morning of April 17th.¡±
¡°And don¡¯t worry about theb¡ªYing Jun will take care of everything, including MX Company, Rhine Company, Shan He Group, and all the other research institutes. She¡¯s dedicating her life to paving the way for us, waiting for us to wake up.¡±
He checked his watch and started toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go. I have a meeting with Elon Musk at the Te Gigafactory.¡±
Liu Feng blinked. ¡°Elon Musk? He¡¯s going into hibernation too?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°He has dreams, a vision¡ªhe doesn¡¯t want to die in this era. He wants to witness the future with us.¡±
Liu Feng sighed. ¡°Good. When we wake up, everything around us will be unfamiliar. Everyone we know will have passed away during the two-hundred-year virus period. Having morepanions will be better.¡±
Lin Xian smiled from the doorway. ¡°We have more friends than you think, Liu Feng. That¡¯s one thing thatforts me. There are still many idealists in this world, and I¡¯m lucky to have some of them as mypanions.¡±
¡
Donghai, Te Gigafactory in the New Port District.
¡°So that¡¯s how it is?¡± Elon Musk rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Lin Xian finished exining. ¡°I always had a feeling Yellow Finch was hiding something big, but hearing it from you¡ I can¡¯t help but respect her even more.¡±
¡°You both are giving up so much for humanity¡¯s future.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°We aren¡¯t the only ones making sacrifices. If we talk about sacrifices, Yellow Finch, Chu Shan He, Chu An Qing¡ªthey¡¯ve given so much more.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why, even though it¡¯s hard and heartbreaking, we must continue. Otherwise, everything they¡¯ve done would be meaningless.¡±
Angelica stood by, arms crossed, listening quietly. After a moment, she spoke. ¡°You know, the more I hear about her, the more I admire Yellow Finch. At first, I wasn¡¯t sure about all this, but hearing what she¡¯s done, I think I understand now.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going into hibernation,¡± Elon said. ¡°That¡¯s for sure. It¡¯s the only way we have a chance¡ªto sleep through the virus¡¯s 200 years. Otherwise, we¡¯ll just be gone in a few decades.¡±
¡°I¡¯m with Lin Xian on this. But Angelica, are you still nning to stay?¡±
Angelica nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve already talked it over with Elon. He¡¯ll go into hibernation, and I¡¯ll take over SPACE-X and everything else.¡±
¡°While you¡¯re asleep for 200 years, the world will still need someone toy the groundwork for the future¡ªto make sure you all have the resources and power to face whatever¡¯s waiting in 2234.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do what I can. But if things fall apart, don¡¯t me me. Companies rise and fall all the time¡ªnothing¡¯s permanent.¡±
Elonughed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Believe me, Angelica. I¡¯ve fallen many times, faced bankruptcy¡ If I wake up in 2234 as a broke man, it won¡¯t stop me from bing the richest person again. Do you believe that?¡±
¡°No,¡± Angelica said bluntly. ¡°If humanity doesn¡¯t advance in 200 years, something will have gone terribly wrong. Your knowledge today might be what kids learn in elementary school by then.¡±
¡°If 200 years from now they¡¯re still learning this stuff in college, the world would be in big trouble.¡±
Elon didn¡¯t seem bothered at all. Heughed. ¡°That¡¯s fine! If I have to start over from elementary school, so be it! I still believe in the future of technology.¡±
Lin Xian nodded at Angelica. ¡°Thank you for taking on this burden for the next 200 years. Meet us in the Capital City soon. I¡¯ll introduce you to Zhao Ying Jun. She¡¯ll be one of your few allies during these years.¡±
¡°Everything I leave behind in the country will be managed by her¡ªyou can always count on her. She¡¯s capable and reliable.¡±
With that, he waved and left. ¡°I have one more ce to be.¡±
Donghai, Research Institute of Brain Neurology under the Research Institute.
Lin Xian sat on a chair, watching Du Yao work at herb station. ¡°The Brain Neural Electric Helmet project is finished, but they won¡¯t release it for another eight years¡ªnot until it¡¯s proven.¡±
¡°But don¡¯t worry about the patent fees I promised you. I¡¯ll pay you another way. I have enough money, and since I¡¯m nning to hibernate, there¡¯s no use holding onto it¡ªwho knows if intion will make it worthless in 200 years?¡±
¡°So, what will you do next? Are you going back to Africa?¡±
Du Yao nodded without hesitation. ¡°I am. That¡¯s what we agreed from the start. My boyfriend died there, and that¡¯s where I want to be. I want to save as many people as I can, even if it¡¯s just one more.¡±
Lin Xian stood and walked over. ¡°I won¡¯t try to stop you. But I do want to say that your talents are beyond anything you can imagine. You must have realized that with the sess of the Brain Neural Electric Helmet. You¡¯re a once-in-centuries genius, Du Yao. There¡¯s a greater mission waiting for you¡ªsomething far more significant than humanitarian aid in Africa.¡±
Du Yao smiled. ¡°Lin Xian, you must be joking. Africa isn¡¯t small¡ªit¡¯s the secondrgest continent.¡±
Lin Xian smiled back. ¡°Butpared to the hundreds of years of time, the billions of human lives, and the survival of Earth¡¯s civilization¡ Africa in 2025 feels small.¡±
¡°Du Yao, if you were an ordinary person, I wouldn¡¯t say this. But you¡¯re not¡ªyou have talents far beyond the ordinary. Right now, Africa needs you. But in the distant future, more people¡ªall of humanity¡ªwill need you.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t a trolley problem between the present and the future. As a friend once told me, the meaning of a genius lies in their responsibility. If we possess abilities beyond others, then we have the duty to do what others can¡¯t.¡±
He ced a piece of paper on the table with a secret address written on it. ¡°If you decide to join me,e to this ce before April 17th. Then I¡¯ll tell you more.¡±
Lin Xian then visited Chu Shan He to exin the situation and his n. Chu Shan He was shocked by the decision but deeply admired Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s resolve.
¡°I understand,¡± Chu Shan He said. ¡°I¡¯ll bring Xiu Ying with me to the Research Institute and enter hibernation before April 17th.¡±
Lastly, Lin Xian went to the car dealership, entering the manager¡¯s office to find Gao Yang.
¡°What?!¡± Gao Yang shouted, eyes wide. ¡°Bro, are you serious? What are you two thinking?!¡±
Gao Yang jumped up, pacing next to Lin Xian. ¡°Look, maybe I¡¯m short-sighted, but how does the world ending in a few centuries matter to us? We¡¯re not gonna live that long!¡±
¡°We sat by the river eating barbecue, and you said you¡¯d never use a hibernation pod! That the virus didn¡¯t bother you because it didn¡¯t hurt your health¡ªweren¡¯t you okay with just living for seventy or eighty years?¡±
¡°You have a family, Lin Xian. Your daughter is about to be born. Why put yourself through this?! Why do it at all? You think you¡¯re the only one who can save everyone? You think there won¡¯t be someone better in the future?¡±
¡°Bro, just trust in the next generations! You really think you¡¯re thest hope? There are geniuses toe¡ªsomeone stronger, someone better¡ªthe future belongs to them. No one¡¯s gonna know who you are in two hundred years¡¡±
Lin Xian smiled calmly. ¡°What would you do, if you were me?¡±
¡°With this much money?! I¡¯d live life to the fullest!¡± Gao Yang said, pounding his chest. ¡°Like those online stories¡ªI¡¯d bet on the World Cup, then the Euros¡ªI¡¯d make myself the richest man on Earth.¡±
¡°And then?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I¡¯d buy yachts, private inds¡ªthrow parties with Victoria¡¯s Secret models! Once I¡¯d had my fill of that, I¡¯d move into the entertainment industry. I¡¯d be the biggest star! That¡¯s how you¡¯d do it.¡±
¡°You¡¯d also make connections with the government, earn the title of national hero, and enjoy every luxury the world has to offer! Even in death, you¡¯d be remembered. And you¡ªlook at you now. Always running, hiding. It¡¯s pathetic.¡±
¡°You know what ¡®out of sight, out of mind¡¯ means, right? In 2025, you¡¯re a big shot. But if you hibernate and wake up in two centuries, you¡¯ll be nobody. You¡¯ll be outdated. You might even have to work on a street corner making kebabs.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. He had heard simr rants in those novels about tech moguls.
¡°Alright,¡± he said, waving Gao Yang off. ¡°I¡¯m here to say goodbye. We¡¯ve known each other for more than twenty years¡ªyou¡¯re the person I¡¯ve known the longest in this world. After this¡ who knows if we¡¯ll see each other again?¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Gao Yang yelped. ¡°Why are you like this?! You got something against money? If you do, let me spend it for you!¡±
Lin Xianughed. ¡°Alright, since I¡¯ll be in hibernation, I guess you can run Rhine Company for me¡ªdo what you want.¡±
¡°Come on¡ are you serious?!¡± Gao Yang looked worried. ¡°What¡¯s going on in your head?! Don¡¯t do this!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve made my choice¡ªYing Jun and I aremitted to this path,¡± Lin Xian said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s not just about saving the world or humanity¡ªit¡¯s about Chu An Qing too. She jumped from 20,000 meters for me. She risked everything for me. How could I just let her go?¡±
Gao Yang was stunned. ¡°It¡¯s about Chu An Qing? Do you think you can save her?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Not yet. But if I hibernate, I might learn the truth about the Millennial Stake¡ªand find a way to bring her back. I promised I¡¯d save her, and I will. I think¡ all of this¡ªChu An Qing, the Millennial Stake, the World-Ending White Light¡ªit¡¯s all connected.¡±
¡°So saving her means saving the world¡ªand saving the world means saving her.¡±
He turned and walked towards the door. ¡°Take care, Gao Yang.¡±
Suddenly¡ª
Thud.
Gao Yang¡¯srge hand grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm, stopping him.
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian turned back.
Gao Yang¡¯s face was full of conflict, his expression serious and pained.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Gao Yang¡¯s face turned red as he struggled to speak.
Finally, he clenched his teeth. ¡°You¡ You should¡¯ve said it was about Chu An Qing.¡±
His voice was low.
He remembered their time together at the astronaut training center¡ª
He remembered that brave girl, covered in blood, stepping out of the spacecraft¡ª
He remembered her helpless nce from the wing of the ne¡ª
He remembered her fearless jump into the unknown¡
¡°Damn it,¡± Gao Yang muttered. ¡°Chu An Qing jumped from that ne right in front of me. She was my mission partner¡ªI even dug up her grave with you¡¡±
¡°Saving the world is one thing, but if you¡¯re doing it for Chu An Qing¡¡±
He swallowed hard, lifting his head, his eyes narrowed.
¡°I¡¯ll¡ think about it.¡±
Chapter 482: Us and You
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Alright, take your time to think about it,¡± Lin Xian said, patting Gao Yang¡¯s shoulder.
¡°If you want to join us, I¡¯d be thrilled. Having someone trustworthy with us means one more ally for the future. But like I said before, hibernation is a one-way ticket. Once you go, you can¡¯te back for 200 years. You have to be sure about this.¡±
¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Gao Yang sighed. ¡°If you ask me if I want to go, I¡¯d rather not. Who wouldn¡¯t want to enjoy their life here and now? Besides, you¡¯re the one who has the power to save humanity¡¯s future, not me. Why would I get all worked up over it? I¡¯m just what Zhao Ying Jun described¡ªsomeone who history won¡¯t me for being powerless.¡±
Gao Yang paused, then added, ¡°But, to be honest, if I had your kind of power, I¡¯d go into hibernation for the future too.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian was surprised by Gao Yang¡¯s answer. When did this guy be so high-minded?
¡°Because,¡± Gao Yang hesitated, scratching the back of his head, looking frustrated, ¡°I¡¯d regret it otherwise.¡±
He looked up, and with a pained expression, he continued, ¡°For the first twenty or thirty years, you¡¯d be fine. You¡¯d look at your wife and kids by the warm stove, and you¡¯d think you made the right choice by staying. But when you get old and realize that your choice led to a future where humanity perished, that the world was destroyed, and that you lied to Chu Shan He¡ªmaking him hibernate to the end of the world without ever seeing his daughter again¡ªyou¡¯d regret it. You¡¯d regret not stepping up to take responsibility. Just like when people see a child drowning but don¡¯t jump in to help because they¡¯re afraid of drowning too, and then live in guilt for the rest of their lives. That guilt can crush a person.¡±
¡°Honestly, I just didn¡¯t want you to go before. But in truth, I admire what you¡¯re doing. I can understand it too.¡± Gao Yang paused. ¡°It¡¯s like those people who jump into rivers to save others. It¡¯s not that they don¡¯t have families. Firefighters run into burning buildings¡ªthey have families too. Drug enforcement officers risk their lives for us¡ªand they have loved ones as well.¡±Gao Yang looked at Lin Xian seriously. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have said this if I thought it wouldn¡¯t change your mind. And, well¡ Chu An Qing¡¯s situation¡ªI can¡¯t just sit back and do nothing about that either.¡± He looked up, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. ¡°That day, it was Chu An Qing who jumped from the ne¡ªour friend, our partner. But what if it was us? What if it was us who jumped, who disappeared? If we were in her ce, do you think Chu An Qing would do what you¡¯re doing now and hibernate to save us?¡±
¡°She would,¡± Lin Xian replied softly without hesitation. An Qing would do that. She had always been that brave. He blinked, looking at Gao Yang. ¡°She dared to cheer me on alone at the conference in the US. She dared to take on a mission from the space shuttle at neen. She even dared to jump from the ne to catch a spacetime particle for me.¡±
¡°If it were us who died instead of her, Chu An Qing would hibernate without a second thought, searching for a chance to save us.¡±
Bang!
Gao Yang pounded his fist on the table and shouted, ¡°Then there you have it! Damn it, if An Qing would hibernate to save us, and now there¡¯s a chance we can save her in the future, how can we back down?!¡±
¡°Screw it, forget work, let¡¯s go drink. We¡¯ll have a good talk.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have time today.¡± Lin Xian waved his hand. ¡°I need to go to Nangong¡¯sb to sort some things out.¡±
Gao Yang made a disappointed sound. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not in the mood to work either. I¡¯ll go with you, and then we¡¯ll drink after.¡±
¡°Alright, alright.¡±
They left together, heading to Nangong Meng Jie¡¯sb.
In the car, Gao Yang picked his nose and said, ¡°Nangong Meng Jie¡ªthat¡¯s a nice name. Never heard you mention her before. Is she an academician at the Research Institute?¡±
¡°Not an academician,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°She¡¯s young, probably doing her PhD or just graduated. I can¡¯t quite remember. She¡¯s the one leading the research on the micro nuclear battery.¡±
¡°Is she hibernating too?¡±
¡°No, definitely not.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s still too much work to do with the micro nuclear battery¡ªscaling it up,mercializing it¡ªthings she can¡¯t leave behind. Plus, Nangong and I aren¡¯t that close. It¡¯s purely work.¡±
¡°A PhD at the Research Institute, huh,¡± Gao Yang clicked his tongue. ¡°Never met someone that educated before. Are these people like, superhuman or something? How do they score so high in exams?¡± ??
¡°You can count when we get there,¡± Lin Xian said with augh.
The car stopped, and they got out, heading into theb. Nangong was busy, so Lin Xian led Gao Yang to find her directly.
Lin Xian pointed through the ss to show Gao Yang. ¡°See that one wearing sses and a whiteb coat? That¡¯s Nangong.¡±
Whooosh!
Gao Yang¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the graceful figure working at theb bench¡ªadorable face,rge chest, sses, smart, capable.
With a dramatic sweep of his arm, Gao Yang blocked Lin Xian from moving forward. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m in love.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian looked confused. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Gao Yang shook his head vigorously, like a rattle. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt this way in my life. She¡¯s exactly what I dreamed of in a partner¡ªperfect!¡± He turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯m going to make a move. I don¡¯t want our rtionship influenced by your work dynamic. I need it to be pure.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian pulled Gao Yang back. ¡°Are you already nning the future? Thinking about which school district to buy a house in? Are you sure you¡¯re thinking straight?¡±
¡°I¡¯m very clear-headed,¡± Gao Yang said, pulling his cor open to reveal his chest, puffing it up. ¡°I¡¯m going in. Wish me luck.¡±
¡°Hey, hey, are you still nning to hibernate?¡± Lin Xian called after him.
¡°Of course I am!¡± Gao Yang turned back, a confident smile on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with my charm, I¡¯ll definitely convince Meng Jie to hibernate with me!¡±
And with that, he strode off.
Lin Xian watched him go, shaking his head. ¡°Unbelievable.¡±
He wondered if the Hibernation Manual covered whether someone with Gao Yang¡¯s level of delusion could actually enter hibernation.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened as he recalled an old thought¡ªwas it possible that Gao Wen the Great, humanity¡¯s pinnacle of genius, could be a descendant of Gao Yang?
He quickly dismissed the idea. Gao Yang¡¯s mission in life seemed more about spreading chaos than contributing anything that could lead to someone like Gao Wen. But¡
If there was a gic upgrade involved? Say, hypothetically¡
Could Gao Yang actually win over Nangong Meng Jie, end up having a family, and through hibernation or not, their descendants eventually give rise to Gao Wen the Great?
¡°No way,¡± Lin Xian muttered. The thought seemed absurd. Could it be¡ another twist of fate? A historical loop?
Bang!
The door to theb suddenly burst open.
¡°Waaah!¡± Gao Yang came running out, wailing dramatically, ¡°This is too humiliating! I¡¯m outta here! I can¡¯t stay a second longer! The world has no ce for this clown! I¡¯m going into hibernation right now!¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang in disbelief. ¡°You just got rejected, right? Not the end of the world. It¡¯s not like this is your first time. Have you ever even seeded before?¡±
¡°Goodbye! I¡¯m done with this time period! Too disappointed!¡± Gao Yang sobbed as he fled.
Lin Xian shook his head, watching his friend go. He sighed, ¡°Should have known better. Just typical Gao Yang. Consistent as always.¡±
For a brief moment, Lin Xian thought maybe, just maybe, Gao Yang was part of that historical loop¡ªcontributing to humanity¡¯s future and ying a role in Gao Wen¡¯s story.
It made him hesitate, even about pushing Gao Yang into hibernation. If forcing Gao Yang to hibernate somehow meant Gao Wen was never born¡ that would be a huge loss for humanity.
But, luckily, Gao Yang never lets you down. From the way he came running out in despair, it was clear his connection with Nangong was doomed before it even started.
Lin Xian pushed open the door and went inside, greeting Nangong with a wave. She looked up and smiled at him.
¡°That guy earlier, is he a friend of yours?¡± she asked.
¡°Sort of,¡± Lin Xian replied cautiously, not quite sure how much Gao Yang had embarrassed himself. ¡°What happened just now?¡±
Nangong chuckled softly. ¡°He tried to ask me out to dinner and a movie, so I took this out of my pocket to show him.¡± She pulled out a silver ring.
It was a wedding ring. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened.
¡°You¡¯re married?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Nangong said, her face glowing with happiness. ¡°I got married pretty early, back in college.¡±
¡°That¡¯s quite early. Was it a fellow student?¡± Lin Xian was curious.
¡°No, not a ssmate,¡± Nangong said, smiling as she looked at the ring before putting it back. ¡°He was my childhood sweetheart, a few years older than me. We grew up together; he was like the older brother next door.¡± She looked out of the window, her eyes softening. ¡°He joined the military during university. Now he¡¯s in the border defense special forces. We don¡¯t get to see each other often¡ªsometimes only once a year, if that.¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re a military spouse,¡± Lin Xian said, suddenly feeling a surge of respect.
He had never guessed Nangong was married, let alone to a soldier. She¡¯d never mentioned it, and her youthful appearance made it easy to assume she was younger than she was.
¡°We got our marriage certificate while I was doing my master¡¯s,¡± Nangong said. ¡°His leave was short, and we didn¡¯t have time for a ceremony¡ªjust signed the papers and that was it.¡±
¡°Why not wait until after he left the military?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Was he in a rush to settle down because of his age?¡±
¡°No,¡± Nangong shook her head, smiling. ¡°Getting married was my idea.¡±
Lin Xian frowned, puzzled. ¡°You were only about twenty-three, twenty-four¡ªwhy rush it?¡±
¡°I wanted him to have peace of mind,¡± Nangong exined. ¡°He¡¯s protecting our borders, facing danger every day. I wanted to give him something¡ªa promise, a certainty¡ªthat he could hold onto. He¡¯s out there defending our country for us, so I wanted to give something back to him. I willingly married him, to let him know I¡¯d always be here for him.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Thank you both for everything you¡¯re doing for the country. I have immense respect for soldiers and their families. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll kick my friend for bothering you. He needs a reality check.¡±
Nangongughed. ¡°No need for that. It¡¯s just that, since I can¡¯t wear rings or jewelry in theb, I kept it in my pocket. If I wore it on my finger, this awkward situation wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±
Lin Xian and Nangong Meng Jie hadn¡¯t spoken much before, except for work, but he was pleasantly surprised by how easy she was to talk to.
While their conversation flowed, Lin Xian asked, ¡°Since you don¡¯t see your husband often, do you miss him?¡±
¡°Of course I do,¡± Nangong replied with a gentle smile. ¡°But it¡¯s not just about not seeing each other. Because of the secrecy of his missions, we can¡¯t even chat online most of the time.¡±
She gave a wistful smile. ¡°That¡¯s why so many people don¡¯t even know I¡¯m married. My husband isn¡¯t around, so I don¡¯t have the chance for all those romantic calls or dates.¡±
Lin Xian hesitated, then asked, ¡°Does it feel lonely?¡±
Nangong thought for a moment, then answered, ¡°Yes and no.¡±
¡°Even though I can¡¯t see him, I know he¡¯s out there, keeping us safe. He had a chance to leave the military once, but he chose to stay because where he was stationed wasn¡¯t stable. He asked for my thoughts, and I told him, ¡®Stay as long as you need to. You¡¯re protecting the country, and that means you¡¯re protecting me, too. Whenever youe back, I¡¯ll be here.¡¯¡±
Lin Xian was deeply moved.
He remembered what the director of the Research Institute had told him about Nangong. ¡°I heard from the director that your father and grandfather were both soldiers¡ªheroes of great renown.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Nangong nodded. ¡°That¡¯s something I¡¯m very proud of. Getting into the National Defense University, marrying a soldier¡ªthose are things I¡¯ll always take pride in.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Hearing you say all this makes me feel reassured. There was a family back in my hometown where the parents refused to let their daughter marry a soldier. They broke them up and made her marry a local worker instead.¡±
¡°I can understand that, too,¡± Nangong said, leaning against theb bench, looking out the window. ¡°Not everyone is capable of such dedication. Not everyone is willing to make those sacrifices. But some people have to, or we wouldn¡¯t have the life we enjoy now.¡±
She closed her eyes, her expression softening. ¡°My grandfather fought in the war. He left when my father and aunt were still very young. My aunt was still nursing. But he left because my grandmother scolded him for hesitating. She told him, ¡®Every soldier has a family. Many have seen three generations die on the battlefield. All of it is for the sake of giving our children a better future.¡¯¡±
She paused, smiling softly. ¡°She asked my grandfather, ¡®If one soldier¡¯s absence¡ªyour absence¡ªis what loses this war, could you live with that?¡¯ That¡¯s what made him go. And my grandmother prepared herself for him noting back, but she would still raise my father and aunt¡ªif my grandfather couldn¡¯t finish the fight, then my father would. And if he couldn¡¯t, then it¡¯d be us.¡±
Listening to her story, Lin Xian remembered a line from the movie ¡°The Battle at Lake Changjin¡±: ¡°If we fight now, our children and grandchildren won¡¯t have to fight.¡±
This was the legacy¡ªthe spirit¡ªpassed down through generations.
¡°Thank you for being who you are,¡± Lin Xian said sincerely. ¡°People like you are the hope of our nation, the spirit at our core.¡±
¡°No need to thank us, Lin Xian,¡± Nangong said, smiling. ¡°There are many people like us¡ªso many more. That¡¯s what makes us proud to be part of this country. There are countless people in the news and around us every day who act bravely, sacrifice themselves, and put others first. We¡¯re just the same as them.
¡°So we aren¡¯t special, and we don¡¯t need special thanks.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, understanding.
They spoke briefly about their work ahead. Lin Xian handed over Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s contact information, mentioning that a colleague named Wang would introduce her to Ying, who would take over from him in liaising with theb.
Afterward, Lin Xian found Gao Yang and gave him a solid kick. ¡°What kind of frog are you, anyway?¡±
In the days that followed, Lin Xian brought his parents to the Capital City and spent time with Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s family, cherishing theirst days together.
On April 16th, in the afternoon, Lin Xian was packing up when a sudden thud came from the living room.
Lin Xian rushed over, finding Zhao Ying Jun sitting on the sofa in a strange posture.
¡°Ying!¡± He hurried to her side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?!¡±
¡°Quick,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said through gritted teeth, grabbing his arm. ¡°Quick¡ go to the hospital. My water broke.¡±
Lin Xian looked down. Sure enough, it was time.
Yu Xi wasing early!
He quickly drove them to the hospital they had arranged. He paced anxiously outside the delivery room, stopping a nurse as she came out. ¡°How is she?¡±
The nurse smiled. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine, sir. It¡¯s all going as expected. She¡¯s three centimeters dted, she¡¯s had her pain medication, the baby¡¯s positioned well, and the heart rate is stable. We¡¯ll keep an eye on her. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
¡°Okay, thank you,¡± Lin Xian said, though his heart still pounded.
The nurse was clearly used to this, but it was Lin Xian¡¯s first time facing such a situation¡ªhis daughter was about to be born. He was about to be a father.
It was so special¡ªthat morning, everything had been calm. Even little Yu Xi, who was usually quiet in the day, had suddenly decided to make her entrance. It was as if she couldn¡¯t wait any longer.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± Gao Yang rushed in, wiping sweat from his forehead. After hearing what was happening, he burst intoughter. ¡°Your daughter knows you¡¯re leaving. She¡¯sing early just to meet you!¡±
An hourter, Angelica also arrived.
She informed Lin Xian that Elon Musk had entered hibernation in his secret facility and left SPACE-X in her care.
¡°I¡¯m here to see you off,¡± she said to Lin Xian. ¡°I thought ourst meeting would be at the Research Institute¡¯s hibernation facility, but instead¡¡±
She looked up at the delivery room¡¯s disy monitor and smiled slightly. ¡°It turns out it¡¯s right here, outside the delivery room. It¡¯s wonderful, Lin Xian¡ªbeing able to witness a new lifeing into the world, getting to meet your daughter. It¡¯s a special moment.¡±
¡°Garbage! Garbage! Found garbage!¡± Everyone turned, startled.
It was Brother Wang, running over with a vacuum robot in his arms.
¡°President Zhao Ying Jun specifically asked me to bring this robot from home, to the hospital¡ Geez, this thing is so loud. The head nurse almost kicked me out because of it. Lin Xian, what kind of vacuum robot did you buy? It¡¯s always shouting about garbage, like it¡¯s rushing me or something. Nearly tripped a few times on the way.¡±
He bent down, setting the vacuum on the floor.
It slid across the floor, bumping against the delivery room door before spinning back to bump into Lin Xian¡¯s ankle. ¡°Garbage! Garbage! Found garbage!¡±
¡°Stop that,¡± Lin Xian said, picking up the robot and patting its casing. ¡°This is a delivery room. Keep it down, or the head nurse will toss you out.¡±
The waiting felt endless.
Time seemed to crawl, the clock hands barely moving. Finally¡ªa loud, clear cry echoed from the delivery room.
Gao Yang jumped up, cheering, and hugged Lin Xian. ¡°She¡¯s here! She¡¯s here, Lin Xian!¡±
¡°Garbage! Garbage! Found garbage!¡± The vacuum robot was bumping into Lin Xian¡¯s foot repeatedly.
Angelica sighed in relief, smiling.
Brother Wang was the calmest, chuckling as he reassured Lin Xian that once the doctors cleaned the baby, checked her reflexes, and wiped away the vernix, they¡¯d be allowed inside.
Not long after, the door opened, and they all hurried inside, with the robot trailing behind, bouncing off obstacles in its hurry.
¡°Ying,¡± Lin Xian said, rushing in and seeing Zhao Ying Jun, who looked tired but smiled softly from her bed.
Next to her was a small crib. In ity a tiny baby, quietly gazing around.
¡°The doctors said she¡¯s healthy,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said, smiling at Lin Xian. ¡°Six pounds, seven ounces. A big baby for a girl. Look at her¡ªeyes already wide open, looking so curious and clever. Come, Lin Xian, hold Yu Xi.¡±
For Lin Xian, approaching the crib felt almost sacred¡ªlike meeting something divine.
This was his daughter.
Yu Xi.
Lin Yu Xi.
He leaned over, adjusting his arms awkwardly. She looked like she was made of clouds, so delicate, as if even touching her was risky.
Thankfully, his dream experience with Li Feng Yu and Li Ning Ning had given him some practice.
With painstaking care, Lin Xian managed to cradle her in his arms¡ªher soft face, tiny nose and mouth, ears snug against her head, and her big, bright eyes.
¡°Yu Xi,¡± Lin Xian whispered, his voice cracking.
He wanted to hold her tighter but didn¡¯t dare, afraid of hurting her.
This¡ªthis was truly his precious one.
The phrase ¡®precious as a pearl in the palm¡¯ suddenly made perfect sense.
Everything about her seemed so fragile, he couldn¡¯t bear to do anything but marvel at her.
How could such a tiny, precious being exist in this world?
This was a life¡ªa person¡ªa miracle he¡¯d never thought he¡¯d get to hold again.
¡°Yu Xi,¡± Lin Xian said again, gently. It felt¡ like something warm, yet unbreakable, was pouring into him through their gaze.
Something that made him firm¡ªmade him resolute.
At that moment, Angelica entered, stepping past Lin Xian, sitting beside Zhao Ying Jun, and asked, ¡°How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?¡±
She looked at Lin Xian with a smirk. ¡°New dads are always like this. Can¡¯t take their eyes off their daughter and forget the real hero here.¡±
But Zhao Ying Jun shook her head. ¡°No worries.¡± She looked at Lin Xian and their daughter, smiling softly. ¡°Yu Xi wanted to meet her dad before he left, so she came early.¡±
It seemed the baby heard her mother¡¯s voice. Little Yu Xi stirred, blinking, her head tilting slightly.
Lin Xian, holding her, sat down beside Zhao Ying Jun, letting her also see their daughter¡¯s wonder.
Zhao Ying Jun looked at Yu Xi, then back at Lin Xian. There was something different about him¡ªhis eyes were more determined.
¡°I thought seeing Yu Xi today would make you hesitant,¡± she said, ¡°but instead¡ you seem even more resolute.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I feel¡ grateful.¡±
¡°Grateful for what?¡± Zhao Ying Jun asked.
Lin Xian looked at Yu Xi, who was closing her eyes, looking ready to sleep. He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m grateful that if a battle has to be fought, it will be me who goes, not Yu Xi.¡±
He turned to Zhao Ying Jun. ¡°I spoke with Nangong Meng Jie the other day. She told me about her husband, her father, her grandfather¡¡±
¡°And I realize I¡¯m nothing special. Decades ago, countless others in our country stood up, taking on battles for future generations. People left their homes, their loved ones, and fought so that we could have today. I¡¯m simply walking in their light¡ªcontinuing that legacy.
¡°Someone has to fight this battle, sooner orter. If I don¡¯t, Yu Xi will have to. And if she doesn¡¯t, her children will. It could go on until 600 years from now, with our descendants still facing that destruction.¡±
He held Yu Xi closer. ¡°She¡¯ll have children, and they¡¯ll have children¡ªso that future will one day be theirs. But I can change that. I have the chance to change that. I don¡¯t dare imagine making her face something like that¡ªshe¡¯s so small, so fragile. As her father, how could I let that happen?¡±
Zhao Ying Jun gently cupped the back of Lin Xian¡¯s head, her fingers softly stroking his hair.
¡°This is the spirit that¡¯s been passed down through our nation,¡± she said. ¡°During the revolution, so many fathers and children went to war¡ just like you mentioned¡ªeven our great leader¡¯s son died on the battlefield.¡±
She paused for a moment. ¡°Others might not understand why. But that¡¯s because¡¡±
¡°They aren¡¯t great leaders,¡± Lin Xian finished, his voice quiet. ¡°They can¡¯t understand.¡±
Zhao Ying Jun blinked, a small smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Remember what Yellow Finch told you? She said she would stay by your side when you were ordinary, teach you to be exceptional, watch you grow, and eventually see you be great. Maybe she didn¡¯t live to see that, but I have. And Lin Xian, I know many won¡¯t understand your choice, but being misunderstoodes with leadership. It¡¯s part of the burden.¡±
Just then, Gao Yang approached, his lips pressed tightly together. ¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s time. We need to leave. To be safe, we should get to the hibernation base early.¡±
Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun stayed still, silent for a moment. Finally, Zhao Ying Jun struggled to sit up, wrapping Lin Xian and Yu Xi in a gentle hug.
¡°Look ahead,¡± she whispered, her eyes closed. ¡°Always look ahead.¡±
¡°Believe in me, and believe in yourself, Lin Xian. Remember what Yellow Finch said¡ª¡¯If it feels right, keep going. If it¡¯s wrong, make it right.¡¯ Before something ends, we never really know what¡¯s right or wrong. So, keep going. With everyone¡¯s hopes and trust, keep going.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his eyes glistening. He looked at Yu Xi once more, then whispered, ¡°Yu Xi, Daddy takes back what I said earlier. You don¡¯t have to learn music or be refined or well-behaved. If you want to learn Taekwondo, do it. Do whatever you want. Just grow up strong¡ and protect Mommy for me.¡±
At his feet, the vacuum robot rolled closer, nudging his leg. In a low voice, it said, ¡°Garbage¡ garbage¡ found garbage¡¡±
Lin Xian looked down, a slight smile crossing his face. ¡°You too, little one. We¡¯re the same¡ªremember who you are and your duty. Take care of Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi for me, while I¡¯m gone.¡±
Gao Yang tugged at his arm. ¡°Lin Xian, it¡¯s really time.¡±
Lin Xian nodded, carefully cing Yu Xi back in her crib. Together with Gao Yang, he walked to the door, but it felt like there was an invisible wall holding him back from taking thatst step.
Gao Yang felt it too. He turned, looking at Zhao Ying Jun, Yu Xi, and Angelica. His nose twitched, his eyes beginning to moisten. ¡°We¡¯ll miss you,¡± he said, his voice breaking.
He quickly turned away, rubbing his eyes furiously.
¡°No need to be so sad, Gao Yang,¡± Zhao Ying Jun said gently, watching them pause at the doorway. ¡°We¡¯re just in different times, fighting the same battle. We¡¯re the same¡ªwe¡¯ve never truly parted. So, don¡¯t miss us,¡± she continued, her voice strong, her eyes unwavering. ¡°You are us.¡±
At the Research Institute¡¯s secret hibernation base, Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Du Yao were thest to prepare for hibernation. The others had already settled into their long sleep.
They changed into their hibernation suits and nced at the clock on the wall: April 16th, 2025, 11:21 PM.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian said, squinting. ¡°To the future.¡±
A hissing sound filled the room.
Lying down in the hibernation chamber, Lin Xian closed his eyes, feeling the cold liquid slowly engulf his body. The fluid filled his lungs, bringing a sharp difort that made his eyes water. But soon, it was bearable¡ªoxygen in the fluid recing the air in his lungs. His eyelids grew heavy, harder and harder to keep open. Consciousness blurred. Cold seeped in. And then¡ª
Nothingness.
New York City, at the mouth of the Hudson River, under the Statue of Liberty, in the heat of the day.
A thin blond man walked unsteadily to the statue¡¯s base, looking up.
¡°Equality,¡± he said softly, gazing at the torch held high by Lady Liberty. ¡°Return to the world, ultimate equality. The death of mankind, a hundred-year lifespan, is equality. The virus¡¯s end, 194 years, is also equality. This is the original equality of the universe¡ªthe most bnced state, the most harmonious equality.¡±
In Switzend, on Mount Ptus, in a secret base.
An old man with white hairy down inside a hibernation chamber. Around him, aluminum alloy robots moved, preparing him for hibernation. Gradually¡ªthe lights in the base began to shut off. Eventually, even the robots¡¯ eyes dimmed, leaving everything silent, buried under the snowy mountain.
In a deeper underground location¡ª
A lone elder wearing an Einstein mask sat alone, in a vast, empty underground chamber. The ce was arranged like an old, formal meeting hall. There was no dust and no sign anyone had been there for a long time. On a high tform was a tall-backed ck wooden chair, where the masked elder sat in silence. Below, on either side, were four empty chairs. Much like the entire underground space¡ªempty. Silent.
Time passed.
More than two centuries.
Two hundred years might sound like a long time. But in those two hundred years, the Earth had only spun 70,000 times and only orbited the Sun 200 times. The Sun takes 250 million years to orbit the center of the Milky Way, so from that perspective, two hundred years was nothing more than a blink¡ªnot even that.
The Milky Way and Andromeda will collide in four billion years, a fearsome and spectacr event that we can hardly fathom. But after two centuries, the Milky Way and Andromeda remain distant¡ªas distant as ever. Two hundred years feels long, yet it is short. On the timescale of the universe, it¡¯s less than an instant¡ªhardly a blink.
September 12th, 2234, X Country¡¯s secret hibernation base.
Inside a hibernation chamber¡ª
A man opened his eyes.
Where¡
Where is this?
He couldn¡¯t move. His vision was blurry, his consciousness vague. All he could make out were two blurry figures outside the ss, moving busily.
Gradually, his hearing returned.
¡°It¡¯s about time, isn¡¯t it? Let¡¯s get him up. He¡¯s strong¡ªif we give him more time to recover, we won¡¯t be able to hold him downter.¡±
It was a loud male voice.
¡°Why are you in such a rush?¡± another male voice responded, calm and steady. ¡°These wake-up protocols are pre-set. Everything is perfectly timed to make sure their bodies wake up enough to move, but still weak enough that they can¡¯t resist us.¡±
Suddenly¡ª
A screen inside the hibernation chamber lit up, instructing the man step by step on how to move his eyes, then his body.
Finally¡ª
The manpleted the tests, and the chamber lid opened. He slowly sat up, looking at the two men he didn¡¯t recognize.
¡°You¡ where is this?¡± He blinked, confused. ¡°Who am I?¡±
¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough!¡± the loud-voiced man rushed over, trying to pull him toward a chair with restraints.
¡°Wait, let go of me.¡± He was wary, trying to pull away, but had no strength. ¡°Let go of me, let¡ª¡±
He was pushed into the chair, strapped down. Then a terrifying helmet, like an octopus with many tendrils, was fastened to his head, pressing tightly.
The man¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°What are you doing¡ªah!!!¡±
Pain! A sharp, excruciating pain like countless needles piercing his scalp, digging into his brain, down his spine! His body convulsed, his eyes rolled back.
Inside his mind, shes like a movie reel sped by¡ª
A lollipop in his mouth, a Rhine Cat on a shelf, a body struck at 00:42, the dazzling neon of a cyber city, a shadow hand on the moon, a white jade statue in a sky city, a girl leaping from a space shuttle, blue stardust vanishing in his arms, sparks from a seven-headed girl, a head flying high, an old man wearing an Einstein mask, blue snow covering a city, the soft,ughing face of a newborn in swaddling, a woman¡¯s determined gaze on a hospital bed¡ª¡±Look forward.¡±
¡°Ah!¡±
Lin Xian screamed, his memories rushing back, the electric shock fading.
¡°Damn.¡± He tried to touch his head, but his hands were bound. ¡°This thing¡¯s intense! Ever think of improving it? It¡¯s basically a torture device!¡± He red at the two men before him¡ªGao Yang, who looked just the same, and Liu Feng, who had clearly aged, gray streaks in his hair. He seemed about thirty-five now.
¡°Enoughughing, untie me,¡± Lin Xian said, his heart silently apologizing to Mai Mai. The electric helmet had been more brutal than expected. Even thinking of it now made him shiver.
Gao Yang and Liu Feng undid the restraints, and Lin Xian stood, flexing his wrists and ankles, looking at them. ¡°What year is it? What¡¯s the world like now?¡±
Gao Yang pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll exin on the way.¡±
Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Where are we going? Can¡¯t we just talk here?¡±
Gao Yang smiled mysteriously. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi left you a gift. Don¡¯t you want to go see it now?¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 483: Waiting for You
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
A nuclear-powered, self-driving car sped down the road, its four wheels humming softly against the pavement. Lin Xian gazed out the window, watching as towering skyscrapers disappeared into the clouds. Giant electronic screens disyed shing advertisements. He looked thoughtful, lost in his own world.
One screen showed an ad for thetest smartphone. It was so thin that it could be folded and transformed into a transparent strip to wear over your eyes like smart sses.
But at the end of the day, it was just a phone.
There had been no real breakthroughs inmunication technology¡ªjust shinier, faster gadgets. Even the car wasn¡¯t that impressive. Sure, self-driving technology had improved, but the car still ran on roads, and nuclear batteries had existed for over 200 years. Nothing really new.
¡°Is this what progress looks like?¡± Lin Xian asked, turning his attention back to Liu Feng and Gao Yang, who sat beside him.
¡°Two hundred years¡ and I haven¡¯t seen any real leaps forward. Everything¡¯s just an extension of what existed two centuries ago. Nothing fundamentally different,¡± he added, frustration evident in his voice.
Gao Yang shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. I only woke up a month before you. Besides, we¡¯re here to save Chu An Qing, not to analyze the future. We can¡¯t control everything.¡±
¡°And isn¡¯t it better this way?¡± Gao Yang continued. ¡°Less change makes it easier for us to adapt. I¡¯ve already fit right in. Life¡¯s not that different from 200 years ago.¡±¡°And that¡¯s the problem,¡± Lin Xian sighed, leaning back into his seat.
He remembered what Angelica and Elon Musk had told him before he went into hibernation:
¡°Do you really think you¡¯ll still be the richest man after two hundred years? Do you think people were just sitting idle while you slept? Surely science must have advanced by then.¡±
¡°The knowledge you have¡ªin 200 years, it might be in elementary school textbooks. If universities are still teaching the same old stuff, then there¡¯s something seriously wrong with this world.¡±
And now¡
¡°Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian called, ncing at his friend. ¡°Has Musk woken up yet? Is he still the world¡¯s richest man?¡±
Liu Feng smiled slightly. ¡°He woke upter than I did. I woke up seven years ago, and Musk came around four years ago. And yes, Lin Xian, you guessed right¡ªElon Musk is still the richest person on the.¡±
¡°Angelica¡¯s descendants have managed SpaceX well. In fact, it¡¯s even more sessful now, and Musk has more money than ever,¡± Liu Feng added.
¡°But Musk isn¡¯t happy about it. He told me he¡¯d have preferred to wake up and find a more advancedpany outpacing SpaceX, or a technology so powerful that it would force him back to school to catch up.¡±
Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°But no. Progress has stalled. We¡¯re still sending probes to Mars¡ªno migration ships, no space cities, nothing beyond that.¡±
¡°When Musk woke up, he came to X Country looking for me. He said, ¡®Who would¡¯ve thought? A 200-year-old relic like me can still stay at the forefront of technology. I could even be a university professor today, teaching the same curriculum they used 200 years ago.¡¯¡±
It was just as Lin Xian had suspected.
He narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. The Ninth Dream held the remnants of countless brilliant minds; it was a vision they¡¯d all worked together to create. Though Copernicus was gone, his spirit and methods lingered, and as a result, progress had stagnated.
Humanity was still squeezing every drop out of Moore¡¯s Law, refusing to look beyond for something broader, something new.
So where was the problem?
¡°Are scientists, mathematicians, and schrs still dying mysteriously at 00:42?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°No.¡± Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°Musk and I started looking into it as soon as we woke up. We searched all the records but found no evidence of scientists being murdered at that time.¡±
¡°There were a few lesser-known schrs who died at 00:42, but those were random events. One was an expert in bearings caught cheating¡ªhis wife stabbed him, and he died at 00:42 after failing to recover. Another was a microbiologist who stopped his car on an overpass to relieve himself, thinking it was a flowerbed¡ and fell to his death. The time was 00:42.¡±
¡°These are the only two scientists who died at that time in the past two hundred years.¡±
Lin Xian waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Those don¡¯t count.¡±
¡°Still, theck of significant progress in thest two centuries suggests someone is controlling things from behind the scenes. What did you and Musk find during your investigation? Any leads?¡±
Liu Feng nodded. ¡°We do have some clues. Many key scientists have died, but we couldn¡¯t find any pattern. We can¡¯t tell if it was Copernicus¡¯s old methods or just idents.¡±
¡°Musk thinks that Copernicus¡¯s sessors have be more subtle, but it¡¯s hard to say. There are still leaders in advanced fields working to push scientific progress.¡±
¡°Then where¡¯s the progress?¡± Lin Xian spread his hands. ¡°Howe I haven¡¯t seen it? Surely one of these leaders must have made a breakthrough?¡±
¡°That¡¯s where the second cluees in,¡± Liu Feng said, as the car sped out of the city and began elerating.
¡°Humanity has made a lot of wrong choices in technology over thest two centuries. It¡¯s like what people used to say in our time¡ª¡®They chose the wrong branch on the tech tree.¡¯¡±
¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say, but until we realize we¡¯ve chosen wrong, who would know? Technological progress always involves trial and error¡ªit¡¯s about trying different things. Humanity hasn¡¯t found the right path in many crucial fields.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. He understood Liu Feng¡¯s point.
Technology sometimes goes off track, just likepanies that rise and fall because of poor decisions. Strategic mistakes happen in research too. If a path turns out wrong, it drains resources, manpower, and time, leaving little left to explore new possibilities.
¡°But what about the Cold Fusion Manuscript I gave the Research Institute?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°That one was on the right track, wasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°It was,¡± Liu Feng sighed. ¡°But cold fusion needs support from materials science and engineering. That¡¯s where the problem lies. Materials science has barely advanced in the past 200 years.¡±
Lin Xian leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. ¡°So, in the end, someone is still interfering, suppressing technological advancement. They¡¯re just doing it differently¡ªor more secretly.¡±
This oue didn¡¯t surprise Lin Xian.
Before getting in the car, he had asked Liu Feng about the Spacetime Clock and if there had been changes in the reading of spacetime curvature. Liu Feng had handed it over for Lin Xian to see.
It was steady. The number remained 0.0001764, meaning that the worldline hadn¡¯t changed. The future of the Ninth Dream was still the same.
Humanity¡¯s extinction. Technological stagnation. Mai Mai¡¯s ¡°Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor¡± reigning supreme.
The worldline was strong and firm, holding its path without a ripple, even in the year 2234.
Einstein had disbanded the Genius Club to keep the worldline stable. Copernicus¡¯s will had been passed on, and the methods were getting more concealed. Gauss¡¯s virus might be over, but all the brilliant minds were left in the past.
Newton? He was probably still busy, doing his part in his own way. And then, 200 yearster, there was still Galileo¡ªwaiting to unleash a devastating disaster on Earth in 2600.
But it wasn¡¯t over yet.
In 24 years, another World-Ending White Light would appear¡ªon CC¡¯s 20th birthday¡ªwiping everything out in a single second.
The only hope was to use the Time Travel Machine, with entangled spacetime particles, to go back to 1952 and see it all¡ªthe secrets and truths.
Lin Xian opened his eyes, looking out the window. He frowned, pointing at a long, unending fence that had been running alongside them for over half an hour.
¡°What¡¯s this ce? It¡¯s enormous. We¡¯re going over 120 kilometers an hour, and we¡¯ve been driving along this fence for thirty minutes, and it¡¯s still not ending. Is this a school or something?¡±
¡°What kind of school could be this big?¡± Lin Xian mused aloud. ¡°Just one side of the wall is over sixty kilometers long¡ªit¡¯s almost the size of a city.¡±
Gao Yang chuckled. ¡°That was my exact reaction when I first saw it. But you¡¯re right¡ªit is a school. And it¡¯s a gift left for you by Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi.¡±
¡°Look, we¡¯re at the gate. Look up.¡±
Gao Yang pressed a button, and the car¡¯s roof turned transparent instantly. The view was clear, as if they were in a convertible, giving them a perfect look at the imposing structure ahead.
Lin Xian looked up, and his eyes widened. Above the grand entrance were fourrge X Country characters¡ªRhine University.
¡°Zhao Ying Jun brought everything together¡ªall of it¡ªto create thergest, most advanced university in the world,¡± Liu Feng exined. ¡°MX Company, Rhine Company, the Shan He Group¡ they all became part of Rhine University.¡±
¡°You woke up in Rhine University¡¯s Hibernation Base. After it waspleted, they moved our hibernation pods here from the Capital City Research Institute.¡±
¡°The campus of Rhine University is about half the size of Donghai City. It¡¯s like a small city of its own. Zhao Ying Jun believed that education is the foundation of everything, that talent is the basis for a better future. Instead of leaving you money, she thought it better to leave true hope¡ªa group of young people with dreams and ambitions.¡±
¡°The university¡¯s motto is the same as your oldpany¡¯s: ¡®For a Better Future of Humanity.¡¯ I woke up before you guys and have been overseeing things here. Officially, I¡¯m the headmaster of Rhine University, but in reality, I just manage thebs¡ªthe actual operations are handled by professionals.¡±
¡°Rhine University is incredibly wealthy. Thanks to various patents, our cash reserves and yearly profits are among the top in the world.¡±
A soft screech sounded as the car braked, stopping not far from the gate. The back door opened automatically.
Gao Yang hopped out first and held the door open for Lin Xian. ¡°Come, see for yourself how amazing your wife and daughter were.¡±
Lin Xian stepped out, following Gao Yang¡¯s gaze. His eyes widened.
Right in the center of the main entrance stood a tall, white jade statue. On the pedestal were two women¡ªone leading, the other holding her hand¡ªboth looking straight ahead.
Lin Xian held his breath. Though time had aged her, the face was still one he remembered well¡ªfull of strength and grace. It was Zhao Ying Jun.
The statue before him was different from the one he¡¯d seen in Rhine Sky City. This one showed her smiling confidently, looking forward with determination.
She seemed older, maybe in her fifties, but still radiant and full of life. Unlike in the Third Dream, she no longer appeared afraid of Lin Xian seeing her grow old. Instead, she seemed proud¡ªproud to be the founding headmaster of Rhine University, to wee every student with a loving smile.
Behind her, holding her hand and gazing forward with the same firm eyes, was Yu Xi¡ªLin Yu Xi. Lin Xian recognized her instantly.
It was the same face as the girl who hade from a distant time. Only now, she seemed older. Back then, Yu Xi had been a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, holding his hand at Disnend. Now, she looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight¡ªstrangely, even older than him.
Lin Xian took a slow step forward.
He was walking toward two hundred years of memories, toward his family¡ªhis wife and daughter.
¡°This statue was built for Rhine University¡¯s fiftieth anniversary,¡± Liu Feng said, following Lin Xian. ¡°By then, Zhao Ying Jun was almost a hundred and had already stepped down as headmaster. Your daughter, Lin Yu Xi, the second headmaster, was also nning to step down and pass the role to someone more capable.¡±
¡°They decided to freeze the statue at the moment when Rhine University was first founded¡ªjust as you see it now.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve read the university¡¯s history. Yu Xi was every bit the leader her mother was¡ªfirm, decisive, courageous, intelligent¡ªa blend of the best of both of you. She made Rhine University stronger and led it into a new era.¡±
¡°Zhao Ying Jun passed away at a hundred, surrounded by loved ones. Yu Xi, too, had a full life. She had three children¡ªone son and two daughters¡ªall of whom did well for themselves, though none stayed connected with the university. One of your granddaughters even became a well-known artist. Perhaps that¡¯s your influence.¡±
¡°It¡¯s been ten generations since you, but we never looked for them. By now, they wouldn¡¯t remember you anyway. Two hundred years is a long time for any family.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Lin Xian said, standing at the foot of the statue and looking up at Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s smiling face and Yu Xi¡¯s determined one. He could imagine the two of them as headmasters, and a soft smile appeared on his lips.
¡°There¡¯s no need to seek out my descendants.¡±
¡°Our fight isn¡¯t over yet. Let¡¯s not disturb their happiness.¡±
¡°We wanted our children to live peacefully in happy times. Let this war end with us¡ªwith our generation.¡±
¡°Did Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi leave anything else for me?¡± Lin Xian asked.
Gao Yang walked over, shaking his head. ¡°No. Before they passed away, they erased most of their records, just like when we left Zhao Ying Jun before hibernation. She didn¡¯t want us mourning her¡ªshe had a happy, meaningful life and left behind a strong Rhine University.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Gao Yang took out his transparent phone, nced at the time, and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s about time. Something should being out soon.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian turned around.
Suddenly, with a metallic click, a hidden door at the base of the statue opened.
Out came a gleaming silver trash-can robot, sliding on its equally shiny tracks.
¡°Garbage. Garbage. I see garbage,¡± it said in a weak voice.
But in an instant, it turned its head towards them, staring nkly as if frozen.
¡°Garbage! Garbage! I see garbage!¡± it yelled, its loudspeaker echoing in their ears.
With a burst of speed, it charged straight at Lin Xian¡ªits silver w extending and locking around his ankle.
¡°Garbage! Garbage! I see garbage!¡± it cried.
¡°VV!¡± Lin Xian shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He knelt, cing his hand on the robot¡¯s head. The feeling was unmistakable¡ªaluminum alloy.
VV had evolved¡ªnot just from a floor-cleaning robot to a trash-can bot, but also from stic to aluminum alloy. Its strength must¡¯ve skyrocketed.
¡°VV¡¡± Lin Xian crouched, trying to lift it like he had countless times in the Third Dream.
But it was too heavy. Even with all his strength, VV didn¡¯t budge.
¡°Give it up. You won¡¯t be able to lift it,¡± Liu Fengughed. ¡°VV¡¯s all aluminum alloy now¡ªevery part. It weighs 300 kilograms.¡±
¡°It was gentle with you. When Gao Yang first tried to greet VV, it rammed him two meters away. Gao Yang got mad and punched VV, but his hand was swollen for days.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the fully evolved VV and felt a surge of warmth and nostalgia. He ran his hand over its cold, smooth metal exterior, feelingforted.
¡°VV, please wait a little longer,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll bring you back. You¡¯ve been pretending to be a dumb AI for two hundred years. Once you¡¯re back, you can be as chatty and yful as you want¡ªI won¡¯t say a word.¡±
¡°But for now, Cheng Qian hasn¡¯t been born yet. We have to wait a bit longer.¡±
Suddenly, VV¡¯s eyes shed green, and it spoke in a mechanical voice devoid of emotion: ¡°Please enter the password.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡±
The three men stared at each other, stunned.
Gao Yang and Liu Feng exchanged confused looks. ¡°It has this function?¡±
¡°I had no idea.¡± Liu Feng shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen VV many times. It alwayses out, weakly muttering about garbage, then goes back to sleep. It¡¯s never said anything else.¡±
Gao Yang snapped his fingers. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s voice-activated! It only responds to Lin Xian¡¯s voice¡ªthat¡¯s why it¡¯s saying this now. It means Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi left something for you, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°But¡ what¡¯s the password? There¡¯s no clue. How are we supposed to know?¡±
Lin Xian smiled softly, shaking his head. ¡°Do I really need a hint?¡±
His expression softened, and he whispered, ¡°The password¡ªwhat else could it be?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a series of numbers with no pattern, no meaning, known only to Zhao Ying Jun and me¡ªa set that neither of us will ever forget.¡±
¡°32375246.¡±
The robot beeped twice, its eyes shing rapidly.
¡°Password correct! Storagepartment unlocked!¡± it announced.
With a click, a smallpartment the size of a pencil case popped open in the robot¡¯s belly. Inside was a sealed letter.
Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Liu Feng leaned in close, peering into thepartment.
It was clear¡ªZhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi had left Lin Xian a message.
¡°Um¡¡± Gao Yang pulled Liu Feng away. ¡°Maybe we should give him some privacy.¡±
Liu Feng nodded, and the two walked off to a respectful distance.
Lin Xian took out the letter. It was small and thin, and there wasn¡¯t much written on it.
His heart beat faster as he wondered what Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi would say to him.
Taking a deep breath, he unfolded the letter and looked at the delicate handwriting.
It was short¡ªjust a few lines.
But seeing the familiar writing made Lin Xian¡¯s eyes well up, as if he could hear Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s gentle voice right beside him:
¡°Lin Xian, don¡¯t mourn for us. Yu Xi and I lived a happy life.¡±
¡°Without you, there were lonely times, full of longing. But Yu Xi and I felt you were always with us¡ªprotecting us, our children, and all humanity.¡±
¡°You are our hero and our pride.¡±
¡°So look forward, don¡¯t look back. Our mission is over, and the baton to save the future is now in your hands. We haven¡¯t left you; we are part of the sunlit world around you, always standing behind you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t keep my promise to grow old together until the end of the world. But¡ªbe brave, move forward! And don¡¯t forget¡ª¡±
¡°There is still a girl trapped in time, waiting for you at the end of the world.¡±
Lin Xian read the letter twice, then closed his eyes.
He carefully folded it and ced it in his pocket.
Look forward.
Look forward.
Until the end of the world.
Turning, Lin Xian walked briskly to Liu Feng, with VV following closely behind on its tracks.
¡°Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Has humanity detected theet carrying Astatine-339?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve been monitoring it for a while,¡± Liu Feng replied. ¡°Nations are preparing for a joint mission in three months to destroy it in the atmosphere, to keep it from hitting Earth.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°And what about the Time Travel Machine? Is it ready?¡±
¡°It¡¯s almostplete, but there¡¯s a minor issue with one of the modules,¡± Liu Feng said, frowning. ¡°But I have a new solution in mind, and I think we can finish it before theet arrives.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry. Even though I woke up earlier, I couldn¡¯t fully resolve thatst bit¡ I¡¯m just not on the same level as the genius who originally designed the ns.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Liu Feng. This isn¡¯t 2025 anymore.¡±
He thought back to Gao Wen¡¯s birth year¡ª2182. In this timeline, if Gao Wen hadn¡¯t gone into hibernation, he would be fifty-two, at the height of his career.
If Gao Wen had hibernated, that would be fine too. They would find him. Mai Mai had said the Anti-Hibernation Virus was weakening over the years. Toward the end, only the elderly and weak were affected. Most healthy people were immune, so it was possible Gao Wen had hibernated.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian said, watching the sun climb higher in the sky. ¡°It¡¯s time to meet an old friend in reality.¡±
Two dayster.
Donghai City. An underground hibernation base.
A man in his thirties slowly opened his eyes inside a hibernation chamber.
He looked at the mist-covered ss, unable to remember who he was, where he was, or why his entire body felt numb.
Following voice prompts, hepleted a series of tests, and finally, the chamber door lifted open.
He sat up, and his eyes widened in shock as he saw three men squatting by the chamber¡ªone tall, one short, one chubby, all looking at him with mischievous grins.
¡°What¡ what do you want?!¡± he stammered, fear gnawing at the emptiness in his head.
The chubby man in the back held a strange, terrifying device¡ªsomething that looked like an octopus tentacle, a tool of torture. It made the man¡¯s empty mind uneasy, frightened, terrified.
¡°Who are you? And¡ who am I?¡±
The tall young man at the front smiled, stepped closer, and extended his hand.
¡°Hello, Emperor Gao Wen,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s time¡ to wake up and get to work.¡±
Chapter 484: Above the Emperor: Gao Wens Journey
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Wow, Gao Wen got first ce again, and it¡¯s all perfect scores!¡±
¡°He¡¯s amazing¡ We¡¯re just elementary students, but he¡¯s already studying college-level math!¡±
¡°Ugh, the pressure of sitting next to Gao Wen is too much!¡±
¡
In an elementary school ssroom, a young Gao Wen looked down at the certificates in his hands, his expression nk. It all felt so dull, so predictable. He yearned for something challenging, something that could actually spark his interest.
His father was a scientist, and his mother a university professor. Gao Wen had once suggested to them that he should skip ahead to college. They had refused. His mother smiled kindly and said:
¡°Your dad and I know you¡¯re smart, and we know you can learn anything quickly, but life isn¡¯t just about learning facts. There¡¯s so much more to experience.¡±
She paused, looking at her young son seriously.¡°Like making friends, understanding people¡¯s feelings, and learning to empathize. Those things aren¡¯t in textbooks. They¡¯re learned by living. Even if you¡¯ve mastered the school curriculum and alwayse first in ss¡ are you truly the best student in the entire school?¡±
Gao Wen looked up at her, puzzled.
¡°That¡¯s what my teachers say, and the principal too. I¡¯ve won everypetition for the school.¡±
His mother patted his head gently. ¡°But actually, you¡¯re not.¡±
She smiled softly and continued, ¡°You¡¯re excellent in academics, but are you the fastest runner? Do you have the most friends? Are you the kindest, the one who takes care of others, the most eager to help?¡±
Gao Wen shook his head, frowning a little. He knew that he wasn¡¯t. He never tried to be.
His mother¡¯s smile grew a bit sad.
¡°Exactly. Learning is just a part of life, and life isn¡¯t only about test scores. Kindness, enthusiasm, friendships, helping others, sports, health, empathy¡ all of these things make a well-rounded person.¡±
She paused, looking him directly in the eyes.
¡°There¡¯s always someone better than you in some way, son. You need to remember this truth.¡±
Gao Wen nodded slowly. He always understood things easily, and he understood this too. Considering it all together, he definitely wasn¡¯t the best in the school. In some ways¡ maybe he was one of the worst.
His parents, highly educated as they were, never pushed him too hard. They cared more about whaty beyond academic sess. They weren¡¯t proud of him for skipping grades or going to college early. They hoped he¡¯d grow into a kind-hearted, helpful person who contributed to society. ?
¡
That day, during biology ss, Gao Wen yawned as the teacher brought in a frog to exin amphibians and how certain animals, like frogs, hibernate during cold weather.
Hibernate?
Suddenly, Gao Wen¡¯s interest piqued. He hated cold weather and loved warm days. If humans could hibernate¡ wouldn¡¯t that mean he could skip winter entirely?
Now that sounded amazing!
He got so excited that the moment school ended, he ran all the way home.
¡°Dad! Dad!¡± Gao Wen shouted, bursting through the door.
He eagerly shared his new grand n for life with his father. ¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t it a great idea? I¡¯ve decided¡ªthis is my life¡¯s direction!¡±
His father listened quietly, then chuckled. ¡°Hibernation, huh? It¡¯s a good idea, but¡ the technology for that already exists. It¡¯s quite advanced, actually.¡±
¡°What?¡± Gao Wen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°R-really?¡±
His father nodded. He pulled an old, dusty biography from the back of the bookshelf. ¡°The Father of Hibernation: Xu Yun.¡±
¡°You¡¯re still in elementary school, so you haven¡¯t learned about this yet. Plus, the excitement around hibernation has died down. People don¡¯t talk about it much anymore,¡± his father exined. ¡°Usually, people only think about hibernation during tough times. Right now, things are good, so the hibernation industry is quiet. Here¡¯s the book. You should read it.¡±
¡
Gao Wen read Xu Yun¡¯s biography, and it left him in awe. He thought Professor Xu Yun was the greatest genius in the world.
However, the book mentioned that even a genius like Xu Yun couldn¡¯t solve the biggest side effect of hibernation¡ªmemory loss.
¡°The great Professor Xu Yun¡¡±
Gao Wen clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination. ¡°I will help you solve this problem! This is my life¡¯s purpose!¡±
From that day on, Professor Xu Yun became Gao Wen¡¯s idol. He dreamed of achieving something toplete Xu Yun¡¯s legacy.
In the ssroom, Gao Wen spent his days lost in thought, trying to figure out ways to recover lost memories. Slowly, he realized that emotions seemed to exist independently of memories. Painful or deeply emotional moments were easier to remember.
Could he use that somehow?
He remembered his biology ss, where the teacher had demonstrated conditioning with a frog¡ªusing electric shocks to train it. Yes! Conditioned reflexes! Training animals to perform tricks in circuses was the same¡ªconditioned reflexes! Why couldn¡¯t this apply to memory?
Circus animals were obedient because the pain from training was so deeply ingrained. Maybe this could work for memory too!
The moment he figured it out, Gao Wen felt fired up. He couldn¡¯t even wait for school to end. He sprinted home.
¡°Dad! Dad!¡±
He excitedly exined his ¡°Brain Electric Shock Memory Activation n.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t this amazing? I can help Professor Xu Yun solve his biggest regret!¡±
But¡ his father smiled, looking at Gao Wen with admiration. ¡°You always have great ideas, but¡ the biography I gave you only talked about Professor Xu Yun¡¯s work. It didn¡¯t mention others¡¯.¡±
¡°Actually, the Brain Neural Electric Helmet was already developed by the Research Institute.¡±
¡°What?!¡±
Gao Wen felt like the world was copsing around him.
¡°Someone¡ already developed it again?!¡±
His mother¡¯s words echoed in his head: There¡¯s always someone better.
It was true.
Once again, Gao Wen felt lost. At the turning point from elementary to middle school, he found himself unsure of what to do with his future.
¡
Middle school, second year. The yground.
Gao Wen sat on the flowerbed, using his certificate as a cushion, sighing heavily.
¡°I just don¡¯t see the value in my life,¡± he muttered.
¡°Stop flexing, would you?!¡± his best friend, holding a test paper with a score of 23, shouted at him. ¡°Do you know what my dad¡¯s going to do to me when I get home?! He¡¯ll tan my hide!¡±
Gao Wen shrugged, sighing again. ¡°I can¡¯t find¡ any value in my life.¡±
He looked up at the sky, his eyes distant. ¡°It feels like there¡¯s some invisible hand¡ªa dark hand¡ªying with me, always taking away what I¡¯m interested in.¡±
¡°You¡!¡± His friend clenched his fists, barely holding himself back from punching Gao Wen.
¡°Why don¡¯t you research something no one else has done before? You keep looking at what¡¯s already been finished!¡±
His friend paused, his eyes brightening. ¡°Recently, I was bored, browsing online, and I came across a video about Einstein. Apparently, he proposed the concept of a Universal Constant butter denied it. Einstein gave up on it, so no one¡¯s worked on it since! Why don¡¯t you give it a go?¡±
Gao Wen looked skeptical, but curious. ¡°Are you sure¡ no one¡¯s studied it?¡±
His friend snorted. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home and check? This time, make sure no one¡¯s worked on it before you dive in.¡±
Gao Wen nodded. ¡°Fine¡ I¡¯m not really interested in that field, but in life, you have to do something worthwhile, right?¡±
When he got home, Gao Wen opened hisputer and began researching the Universal Constant. Nothing. There was nothing! No one had touched it since Einstein proposed it, then retracted it all those years ago!
Gao Wen¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Maybe¡ this is my purpose¡ªmy life¡¯s value!¡±
Throughout middle school, Gao Wen focused on researching the Universal Constant. He didn¡¯t particrly like math, but solving a mystery of history would be worth it.
Finally, just before his high school entrance exams, Gao Wen made a breakthrough! His palms were sweaty as he ran home, backpack bouncing on his shoulders.
¡°Dad! Dad!¡± he shouted as soon as he burst through the door.
He pulled out his notes and handed them to his father, who was now a National Academy Fellow.
¡°Look! I¡¯ve finally found value in my life¡ The Universal Constant¡ªI haven¡¯t solved itpletely yet, but I¡¯ve made progress! I think I¡¯m onto something!¡±
But¡ his father looked at the notes, then smiled, flicking Gao Wen¡¯s forehead lightly. ¡°Have you been secretly staying up at night, ying on your phone, reading the news?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Gao Wen blinked, confused. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡±
His father adjusted his sses, a puzzled expression crossing his face. ¡°You didn¡¯t read the news?¡±
¡°No, I didn¡¯t have the time,¡± Gao Wen said impatiently. ¡°What news? Just tell me.¡±
His father smiled, speaking calmly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not a big deal. A few days ago, while digging in Shaxi Xi¡¯an, they found an ancient burial coffin with a well-preserved book inside. The book was called¡ªThe Introduction to the Universal Constant. Its contents were simr to yours¡ªmaybe even a bit more refined¡ but it¡¯s not of much use. The ideas were illogical and incorrect. It seems to be the work of some amateur scientist, probably self-published¡ Hm? Gao Wen, what¡¯s wrong?¡±
Gao Wen stood there, wide-eyed, like a statue. His confidence shattered.
He had checked thoroughly at the beginning, making sure no one was researching this field. Yet now, just when he thought he had made progress, an ancient book on the Universal Constant had surfaced.
How devastating!
He could almost see, in his mind, an invisible ck handughing at him, mocking his foolishness.
His father patted his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sad. If you¡¯re interested, you can continue the research. Math can be fascinating.¡±
¡°Forget it,¡± Gao Wen muttered, his voice hollow. ¡°I was never that into math anyway.¡±
He sighed softly.
¡
Gao Wen sat in the school observatory, gazing up at the stars.
The observatory wasn¡¯t supposed to be open to students, but Gao Wen was an exception. He was the pride of the school, the student everyone talked about, and the reason the principal always had something impressive to say. He received honors and was treated with care.
But even with all that praise, Gao Wen felt empty as he looked up at the vast universe. No direction, no purpose, no real dream. He felt as if his life had no value.
¡°Why does it always feel like my fate is out of my hands?¡± he muttered.
He loved the field of hibernation. He had been willing to devote his entire life to it. But every problem in the field had already been solved¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single mystery left for him to work on. Feeling disheartened, he decided to try mathematics, even though it wasn¡¯t his passion. But just as he made some progress, his work was rendered pointless by an ancient book someone found.
It was ridiculous.
¡°Is my life scripted or something?¡± he sighed, looking back at the stars. ¡°Is there someone out there targeting me personally?¡±
He chuckled bitterly at the thought. No, of course not. He wasn¡¯t that important. He was just¡ himself.
¡°There¡¯s no invisible hand,¡± he murmured. ¡°I¡¯ve just been born toote. Everything worth researching has already been done.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°But maybe that¡¯s a good thing, for humanity at least. If I could go back in time, I¡¯d thank Professor Xu Yun for all the work they did.¡±
He blinked, his eyes widening as a thought struck him. Go back in time¡ A time machine! A time travel device!
¡°No one¡¯s ever done that before!¡± Gao Wen eximed, standing up, his heart pounding with excitement. He clenched his fist. This was it¡ªthis was what he was meant to do.
¡°If I¡¯m going to do something, I¡¯m going to aim high,¡± he dered, his eyes filled with determination. ¡°Time travel¡ªthat¡¯s going to be my dream!¡±
¡
Time travel was the ultimate challenge, the most difficult invention anyone could ever attempt. The obstacles were immense. Gao Wen tried and failed over and over again.
¡°No¡ Something still feels missing,¡± he muttered, scratching his head in frustration. Some parts of his theory just didn¡¯t make sense, and it wasn¡¯t because he was wrong. He justcked a keyponent¡ªa crucial element that technology at the time simply didn¡¯t have.
In his thirties, Gao Wen stood by a window, watching the sun set. He knew what he needed to do.
¡°Time to hibernate,¡± he said to himself. He decided to put himself into hibernation for two hundred years, hoping that in the future, the technology would have caught up, and he¡¯d be able to continue his research.
¡
But things didn¡¯t go as nned. In the year 2400, a massive catastrophe struck the world, disrupting his intended wake-up time. When Gao Wen finally woke up, he found himself in a strange city.
The city was oppressive. Blue-eyed robotic beings patrolled the streets day and night, deducting points for any uncivilized behavior. Gao Wen didn¡¯t care about that, though. All he wanted was toplete his time travel machine.
With his intelligence and perseverance, he managed to work his way up to join the city¡¯s top research institution. When he finally got a chance to speak with the director, he made his intentions clear.
¡°I want to research time travel,¡± he said, his voice filled with conviction.
¡°No,¡± the director replied without hesitation. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to waste time on unrealistic projects. We need to focus on stable, proven research. Failures are too costly.¡±
Gao Wen felt a surge of frustration. ¡°How can you do science without daring to fail? This city¡¯s point-deduction system has made everyone afraid to take risks, to make mistakes. How can we advance like this?¡±
The director shook his head. ¡°No means no. Leave.¡±
Gao Wen¡¯s anger boiled over. He mmed the door as he stormed out of the office.
BANG!
A blue-eyed robot turned its gaze toward him, its eyes glowing yellow. ¡°Identity verified: Gao Wen. Behavior vition detected: damaging public property, excessive door-mming noise¡ªtotal points deduction: 8. Senior talent reduction: 50%, final points deduction: 4. Current personal score: 91. Please maintain civilized conduct and set an example for others, as the robots do, to help build a better future for humanity.¡±
As the robot moved away, Gao Wen¡¯s friend approached, looking worried. ¡°What are you doing, Gao Wen? You¡¯ve offended the director. How will we get funding now?¡±
Gao Wen snorted. ¡°Easy,¡± he said, clenching his fists, his eyes zing with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll be the director myself.¡±
¡
Two yearster, Gao Wen had risen to the position of director through his own talent and sheer willpower. Standing before his team of researchers, he made an announcement.
¡°I want to research time travel. Who¡¯s with me?¡± he asked, his voice echoing through the room.
No one raised their hand. Everyone was afraid¡ªafraid of failure, afraid of losing points, afraid of wasting time. Time travel was a ck hole, and they knew it. If they joined the project, they could end up with nothing to show for it.
Gao Wen closed his eyes, disappointment washing over him. The spirit of research in this era was rotten. People were more interested in earning points than in making real progress.
BANG!
He mmed his fist against the door. ¡°Utterly rotten!¡± he shouted.
A blue-eyed robot approached him, its eyes turning yellow. ¡°Identity verified: Gao Wen. Behavior vition detected: damaging public property, mming noise, shouting¡ªtotal points deduction: 10. Top scientist reduction: 80%, final points deduction: 2. Current personal score: 4,223. Please maintain civilized conduct and set an example for others, as the robots do, to help build a better future for humanity.¡±
Gao Wen stared at the robot, his jaw clenched. This world had no hope. It was time to leave. Even if Sin City was filled with criminals and gangs, at least the people there had courage and spirit.
¡
¡°You know about the Universal Constant too?¡± Gao Wen asked, spotting a young man scribbling forms on a wall in Sin City.
The young man turned to him, eyes widening. ¡°You know about it?¡±
Gao Wen walked up, taking the chalk from him. He made a few corrections, making the forms clearer. The young man watched in awe.
¡°Who are you?¡± he asked.
¡°I¡¯m Gao Wen,¡± Gao Wen replied, extending his hand. ¡°And you are?¡±
¡°Chen Heping,¡± the young man said, shaking his hand. ¡°You¡¯re a genius!¡±
Gao Wenughed softly. ¡°You¡¯re not too bad yourself. How about joining me? I¡¯m researching time travel. Together, we can change this awful future.¡±
¡
¡°Heping, they want you to be the Godfather,¡± Gao Wen said, looking at his friend.
Chen Hepingughed. ¡°Me? No way! Brother Gao Wen, that¡¯s your job.¡±
¡°No,¡± Gao Wen shook his head. ¡°Heping, you¡¯d be perfect. You have the people skills, the diplomacy, the ability to manage everything. I don¡¯t. Besides, you¡¯re smarter than me. You¡¯re the real genius.¡±
Chen Heping grinned, taking a swig of beer before handing the bottle to Gao Wen. ¡°I should be thanking you. You brought hope to Sin City. You gave us a chance to change our future.¡±
Gao Wen smiled. ¡°You helped me achieve my dream, Heping. For so long, I felt like I was being controlled by some invisible hand. But now, thanks to you, I finally feel like I¡¯m in control.¡±
He took the beer, downed it in one go, and exhaled. ¡°Thanks to you, our time machine is almostplete. My dream is about to be realized.¡±
¡
But then, tragedy struck. Chen Heping, exhausted from overwork, fell ill and passed away. Gao Wen wept like he¡¯d never wept before.
After the tears, he knew he had to keep going. He was the Godfather of Sin City now. He had to finish the time machine¡ªfor Heping, for humanity, for the future.
¡°Big Cat,¡± Gao Wen said, patting the head of Chen Heping¡¯s teenage son. ¡°Your father was a hero. Be like him¡ªbe a great man.¡±
Big Cat wiped his nose, nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure our gang grows stronger!¡±
Behind them, San Pang nodded. ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±
¡
August 28, 2624. A historic day.
Sin City, under Gao Wen¡¯smand, was about tounch an attack on Donghai City to seize spacetime particles. With those particles, they could activate the time machine and change the past, creating a better future.
Standing in front of the time machine, Gao Wen rested his hand on its cold surface, thinking of his friend. ¡°Heping,¡± he whispered, ¡°we¡¯re finally going to seed. Today, we¡¯ll get the spacetime particles, and our dream wille true. This time, my life will never be yed with again.¡±
Suddenly, the door to the undergroundb burst open. ¡°Godfather! I brought two new recruits! Come take a look!¡± a familiar voice called out.
Gao Wen turned, seeing a tall young man and an even younger girl. The young man stepped forward, extending his hand. ¡°Hello, Gao Wen.¡±
Gao Wen blinked in surprise. He didn¡¯t know this young man. ¡°Who are you?¡±
The young man smiled. ¡°My name is Lin Xian.¡±
Chapter 485: Yu Xis Letter
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Ahh! Nooooo!¡±
Gao Wen was strapped to a restraining chair, an octopus-like neural electric helmet mped tightly on his head. His screams echoed through the bare, sterile room, each sound bouncing off the cold, empty walls. His whole body convulsed, his eyes rolled back, and bright shes of light rushed through his mind¡ªhis memories flickered like a broken film reel. Then, abruptly, everything stopped.
The tremors subsided, the light on the helmet switched from red to green, and Gao Wen¡¯s gasping breaths slowly filled the silence. He lifted his head, eyes fluttering open, squinting at the three men standing in front of him.
¡°Thank you¡ I remember everything before hibernation now,¡± Gao Wen managed to say, still breathing heavily. He paused, studying the faces in front of him. ¡°But¡ I don¡¯t know any of you. Who are you people? You don¡¯t look like the staff from the hibernation center. Who are you?¡±
Lin Xian smiled softly and took a step forward, reaching out to unbuckle the leather straps that held Gao Wen down. ¡°Who we are doesn¡¯t really matter,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°What matters is¡ Gao Wen, what do you want to do now?¡±
Lin Xian finished undoing the straps and stepped back, giving Gao Wen space to sit up.
¡°Do you have a dream?¡± Lin Xian asked, his voice gentle but probing.
For a moment, Gao Wen sat still, holding his breath. His eyes flickered, and his expression grew distant.¡°I used to have dreams,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But every time I tried to chase them, it felt like fate was ying tricks on me. Everything I was interested in, someone else always beat me to it. And the strangest part¡ªtheir ideas were always exactly like mine.¡±
Gao Wen paused, staring down at the helmet that had just been removed from his head. ¡°Even this helmet¡ªit¡¯s exactly what I envisioned, both in how it looks and how it works. But¡ it wasn¡¯t mine. It was created two hundred years before I was even born.¡±
¡°It kept happening,¡± Gao Wen continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. ¡°Again and again, I felt like some dark hand of fate was mocking me. So, I decided to go into hibernation¡ªto escape that hand and maybe, just maybe, find my true purpose in a future far from the one I knew.¡±
Behind Gao Wen, Liu Feng and Gao Yang exchanged a nce, biting their lips to stop themselves from giggling and ruining the serious mood.
Lin Xian patted Gao Wen¡¯s shoulder, his expression sincere. ¡°Exactly, Gao Wen. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here,¡± he said. ¡°Right now, humanity¡ªthe world¡ªneeds you. Your life¡¯s purpose, your value, is far greater than you think.¡±
Lin Xian extended his hand. ¡°My name is Lin Xian. Join us, Gao Wen. Let¡¯s work together to build a time machine and save the future.¡±
Gao Wen blinked, taken aback. He stared at Lin Xian¡¯s outstretched hand, a sense of connection forming between them.
¡°A time machine?¡± Gao Wen¡¯s voice trembled with excitement. ¡°You¡¯re researching time travel too? That was my dream before I went into hibernation!¡± His face brightened. ¡°I¡¯ve even done some preliminary work¡ªsome rough ideas, really¡ªbut I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re pursuing the same goal!¡±
Lin Xian smiled, and Gao Wen continued, ¡°What stage is your project at? Could you show me? Lin Xian, I want to join you. I promise to follow all the confidentiality rules. I just want to contribute, to make something meaningful in this time, to fulfill my dreams.¡±
¡°No problem.¡± Lin Xian nodded, gesturing to Liu Feng, who stepped forward.
¡°This is Liu Feng,¡± Lin Xian introduced. ¡°He¡¯s in charge of the Rhine Universityb and has been overseeing the time machine project.¡±
Gao Wen immediately bowed deeply to Liu Feng. ¡°Professor Liu,¡± he said earnestly.
¡°Oh no, no, no!¡± Liu Feng stammered, quickly bowing even lower. ¡°Professor Gao, you¡¯re the true expert here!¡±
¡°Professor Liu, you¡¯re too kind,¡± Gao Wen replied, bowing again. ¡°I¡¯m just a junior.¡±
¡°Professor Gao, you are remarkable!¡± Liu Feng insisted, bowing once more.
¡°Professor Liu.¡±
¡°Professor Gao!¡±
Lin Xian quickly stepped between them, gently pulling them apart. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. We¡¯re heading to Rhine University¡¯sb to show you the prototype of the time machine.¡±
The four of them left the room and climbed into a car headed for Rhine University. Lin Xian turned to Gao Wen during the ride, asking about his age. Gao Wen looked younger than Lin Xian had expected, perhaps in his early thirties. This was the youngest version of Gao Wen he¡¯d ever met¡ªhecked the aura of authority Lin Xian remembered from his older self.
¡°Gao Wen,¡± Lin Xian called from the front seat, ¡°how old are you now?¡±
¡°I was thirty-five when I went into hibernation,¡± Gao Wen replied.
Lin Xian did some mental calctions. Gao Wen was born in 2182 and went into hibernation in 2217. The anti-hibernation virus had spread for about two centuries before fading away.
¡°So, Gao Wen, you weren¡¯t affected by the anti-hibernation virus when you were born?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Not exactly,¡± Gao Wen answered. ¡°When I was born, the virus¡¯s impact had lessened significantly, but it was still around, with a 20% infection rate. I was infected, but it didn¡¯t seem important at the time.¡±
¡°As the virus weakened, people started to recover. By the 23rd century, it was so weak that it couldn¡¯t survive outside ab¡ªit couldn¡¯t handle temperature changes or the human immune system. Even in ideal conditions, it¡¯d just die out.¡± Gao Wen smiled wryly. ¡°Back in university, the students in the virusb struggled just to keep it alive in petri dishes.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. Viruses, like all things, had a lifespan. They weakened, faded, and eventually disappeared, much like people. Lin Xian might have had personal reasons to dislike the idea, but he had to admit¡ªGauss had a point about fairness.
¡°So, the virus in your body eventually died off on its own?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Yes,¡± Gao Wen said. ¡°It didn¡¯t affect my health, so I never paid it much attention. By the time I chose to go into hibernation¡ªfeeling disillusioned with the world, feeling like fate was ying games with me¡ªthe virus was already long gone.¡±
Gao Wen sighed deeply. ¡°Lin Xian, thank you so much for giving me the chance to join your team. I finally feel like someone understands me. I¡¯m no longer fighting alone, and I think that dark hand that yed with my fate is finally gone.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian reassured him. ¡°That hand is out of moves.¡±
The car ride was mostly silent after that, Lin Xian watching the passing cars and thinking about their ages. Liu Feng was thirty-seven, Gao Wen thirty-five, and he and Gao Yang were both twenty-six. Elon Musk was still in his fifties, and Du Yao was twenty-seven, still in hibernation. This was the team for now¡ªa small but elite group, the best of the best.
Well, except for the chubby guy napping in the front seat.
When they finally arrived at the secretb at Rhine University, Gao Wen stared in awe at the sleek, white structure of the time machine. He rushed forward, his fingers brushing over its polished surface.
¡°Amazing¡ absolutely amazing,¡± Gao Wen whispered, his voice filled with wonder. ¡°This is exactly how I imagined it¡ªbeautifully designed, wless.¡±
Lin Xian cleared his throat, stepping forward. ¡°Well, you know what they say¡ªgreat minds think alike. Beautiful ideas are always simr; it¡¯s the ugly ones that vary wildly.¡±
Ignoring Lin Xian¡¯sment, Gao Wen turned to Liu Feng, grabbing his hands. ¡°Professor Liu, you¡¯re a genius!¡±
¡°No, no, no,¡± Liu Feng stuttered, deeply embarrassed. If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t insisted on keeping the truth from Gao Wen, Liu Feng would have confessed in an instant. Being called a ¡®genius¡¯ by the original ¡®master¡¯ himself was more ufortable than ttering.
Tears gathered in Liu Feng¡¯s eyes as he looked at Lin Xian, silently pleading for permission to tell Gao Wen the truth. Lin Xian shook his head¡ªnot now, not yet.
¡°Gao Wen, the time machine still needs a fewponents,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°We need to wait three more months for aet to help with the calibration module. We¡¯re hoping you can help us solve the remaining issues.¡±
¡°No problem!¡± Gao Wen said, rolling up his sleeves, eager to get started. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lin Xian, Professor Liu. I won¡¯t let you down!¡±
The next step was waiting¡ªwaiting for the time machine to be ready, waiting for theet. Lin Xian spent his days riding his motorcycle, searching for something he couldn¡¯t quite name, alwaysing up empty-handed.
During those months, Lin Xian would often visit Rhine University, sitting by the statues of Zhao Ying Jun and Yu Xi. Sometimes, Gao Yang joined him, and they would sit silently in front of the statues¡ªtwo figures holding hands, staring resolutely into the future.
One sunny afternoon, Gao Yang put out his cigarette, tossing the butt into a shiny aluminum trash can named VV. He took a deep breath, letting the smoke drift away.
¡°Do you miss them?¡± Gao Yang asked.
¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xian replied without looking up. ¡°When I first woke from hibernation, it didn¡¯t feel real. It was like I¡¯d just left them yesterday¡ªno sense of time passing.¡±
¡°But now, each day that goes by, it¡¯s starting to feel more real. The distance is growing,¡± Lin Xian said softly, his eyes misting over. He recited the poem they had once discussed in Dream Three, in front of the statues in the Sky City:
¡°Lives apart, as far as the stars and moon,
Tonight, once more, we share a single candle¡¯s light.¡±
¡°Lives apart,¡± Lin Xian murmured, his voice breaking. ¡°That¡¯s the greatest distance there is¡ªfarther than time, farther than space, farther than anything.¡±
There was a long pause, and Lin Xian finally raised his head, staring at Yu Xi¡¯s statue¡ªso young, so determined, holding her mother¡¯s hand, gazing into the future.
Lin Xian¡¯s voice trembled as he finally asked the question that had been weighing on him for so long:
¡°Does Yu Xi hate me? Did she ever forgive me?¡±
Gao Yang turned to Lin Xian, a confused look in his eyes.
¡°Why do you think that? I think you¡¯re wrong, Lin Xian. If Yu Xi hated you so much, why would she be the president of Rhine University? She did it for you. Zhao Ying Jun founded this ce, but it was Yu Xi who made it thrive. She knew how important it was¡ªwhat it meant for your future.¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond at first, his gaze still distant. Finally, he sighed.
¡°It¡¯s not about that, Gao Yang. Zhao Ying Jun and I made a decision, as adults, without ever considering Yu Xi¡¯s feelings,¡± he said, his voice tinged with regret. ¡°Wang once told me that a child¡¯s world is so small that every little thing bes incredibly precious. Yu Xi¡¯s world was small, and I took something irreceable from her.¡±
Gao Yang frowned, watching his friend.
¡°Even if she hated me, I can¡¯t me her,¡± Lin Xian continued quietly. ¡°Even if I do save the world one day, even if I fulfill all the expectations that Zhao Ying Jun had for me, I will never be able to say I was a good father.¡±
Gao Yang put a hand on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, squeezing it gently.
¡°By that logic, every father who ever went to war would be a bad father,¡± Gao Yang argued. ¡°Yu Xi will understand you¡ªI know she will. When the world is in danger, everyone has a duty. If every parent said they¡¯d stay home for their children, who would protect the world?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly, shaking his head.
¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying, Gao Yang. I do. But it¡¯s just¡ Yu Xi left me nothing. No letter, no word, nothing. Zhao Ying Jun left me a letter, but from Yu Xi¡ªthere was silence. I can¡¯t help but wonder what she felt, what she wanted to say to me.¡±
Gao Yang scratched his head, looking perplexed.
¡°I don¡¯t know why that is. I woke up only a month before you, and I didn¡¯t know Zhao Ying Jun left you a letter until VV asked for the password when we met,¡± Gao Yang said, nodding towards the shiny trash can in the corner of the room. ¡°If you want to know if Yu Xi left something for you, don¡¯t ask me. Ask VV!¡±
Lin Xian turned to look at VV, the robotic trash can that had been watching them quietly from its ce near the wall. The robot shuffled awkwardly, as if it were trying to sneak away unnoticed.
¡°Hey!¡± Gao Yang shouted, lunging forward and mming his hand down on VV¡¯s metal top. ¡°Ow, ow, ow!¡± he yelped, pulling his hand back and cradling it. ¡°Who made this trash can out of aluminum alloy?! It¡¯s too tough!¡±
Lin Xian frowned, stepping closer to VV. Something about the way it was acting was strange. VV, usually aggressive and loud, calling out ¡°Trash!¡± at every opportunity, was now trying to slip away unnoticed. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, kneeling in front of VV.
¡°VV,¡± he said, looking directly into its glowing green eyes. ¡°Did Yu Xi leave me a letter?¡±
VV didn¡¯t respond, its sensors focused elsewhere, as if it had frozen.
¡°Say something!¡± Lin Xian shook VV gently, but the robot remained silent.
Gao Yang groaned, standing behind Lin Xian.
¡°I knew it! VV is hiding something from you!¡± Gao Yang said, pointing usingly. ¡°It¡¯s acting way too suspiciously. When it first met me, it practically knocked me over. It¡¯s definitely hiding something!¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s frown deepened.
¡°No,¡± he said slowly. ¡°VV isn¡¯t hiding something from us. It¡¯s trying to tell us something. Think about it, Gao Yang. VV is just a robot¡ªif it really wanted to keep something secret, it wouldn¡¯t act so obviously guilty. It¡¯s almost as if it¡¯s trying to lead us towards something.¡±
Gao Yang¡¯s eyes widened.
¡°You mean it¡¯s doing this on purpose?¡± he asked. ¡°To get us to notice?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, standing up and crossing his arms.
¡°Exactly,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s trying to make us realize something, but it can¡¯t say it outright. There must be a reason for that.¡±
Gao Yang stared at VV, then at Lin Xian.
¡°This thing is a terrible actor,¡± Gao Yang muttered. ¡°But I guess it¡¯s just an artificial idiot¡ªit can only do so much.¡±
¡°Trash! Trash!¡± VV suddenly shouted, ramming into Gao Yang and knocking him into a flowerbed. It picked up a scrap of paper from the ground with its w, waving it around triumphantly.
Lin Xian watched the scene, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. VV was definitely doing this on purpose. It wanted him to understand something without outright telling him.
Lin Xian knelt in front of VV again, staring at the storagepartment on its side. He tried to pry it open, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.
¡°VV,¡± he said softly. ¡°Did Yu Xi leave me a letter too?¡±
VV remained silent.
Lin Xian sighed, understanding what the silence meant.
¡°Alright,¡± he said, locking eyes with VV¡¯s glowing sensors. ¡°So Yu Xi did leave me a letter, but you¡¯re not giving it to me. Is it because Zhao Ying Jun told you not to? Did she program you to keep it from me?¡±
VV¡¯s w mped down on Lin Xian¡¯s ankle, and it shouted, ¡°Trash! Trash!¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, smiling faintly.
¡°No? Then let me guess again,¡± he said. He could feel it¡ªhe was getting close. There was a mutual understanding between him and VV now. If VV stayed silent, it meant he was right. If it yelled, he was wrong, and he had to guess again.
¡°If the letter was just an ordinary one, you could¡¯ve given it to me alongside Zhao Ying Jun¡¯s letter,¡± Lin Xian mused aloud. ¡°No matter what Yu Xi¡¯s feelings were¡ªanger, forgiveness, or something else¡ªI should have seen it. We¡¯re father and daughter. There¡¯s no reason not to share those feelings.¡±
VV remained still, its sensors locked on Lin Xian.
¡°So, the letter must contain something important,¡± Lin Xian concluded. ¡°Something more than just her emotions¡ªa secret, perhaps. Something that Zhao Ying Jun didn¡¯t think I should see just yet.¡±
VV stayed silent, as if frozen again.
¡°You¡¯re not giving me the letter because you think it¡¯s not the right time yet,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°There would be consequences if I read it now, wouldn¡¯t there?¡±
VV stayed silent.
Lin Xian smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He was finally getting somewhere.
¡°VV,¡± Lin Xian said quietly, ¡°onest question. Did Zhao Ying Jun set a specific time for me to read the letter, or did she not want me to see it at all?¡±
VV mped down on his ankle, yelling louder than ever, ¡°Trash! Trash! Found trash!¡±
Lin Xian patted VV¡¯s lid gently and stood up, looking up at the statues that loomed over them.
¡°I see,¡± he said.
Gao Yang climbed out of the flowerbed, brushing dirt off himself. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What do you mean you ¡®see¡¯?¡±
Lin Xian exhaled slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
¡°Zhao Ying Jun must have given VV instructions,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s a time or a condition that has to be met before I can see Yu Xi¡¯s letter.¡±
¡°What?!¡± Gao Yang looked indignant. ¡°Your daughter wrote you a letter, and your wife and a trash can decided to hide it from you?!¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly.
¡°If Zhao Ying Jun made that decision, there must have been a good reason for it,¡± he said. ¡°Something happened during those 200 years that changed everything¡ªsomething she and Yu Xi learned. But it¡¯s not something I¡¯m meant to know right now.¡±
Gao Yang huffed, wiping dirt off his face. ¡°But when will you be able to see it? Why does everything have to be so mysterious?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s gaze softened, his voice filled with determination.
¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in Yu Xi¡¯s letter,¡± he said. ¡°But I trust Zhao Ying Jun. I trust Yu Xi. I trust the future we worked together to build. Whatever she left for me¡ªit¡¯s important. Maybe even miraculous.¡±
Lin Xian turned, walking away from the statues, VV rolling along beside him.
¡°Where are we going now?¡± Gao Yang called after him, still brushing dirt off his coat.
¡°Look ahead,¡± Lin Xian said, his voice carrying a sense of purpose. ¡°Zhao Ying Jun knew everything. She told me to look forward, not back¡ªto keep moving.¡±
Lin Xian looked up at the sky, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon.
¡°Tomorrow, theet carrying Astatine-339 will pass by Earth,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re going against time itself.¡±
Gao Yang jogged to catch up, his face a mix of confusion and awe.
¡°Time to set out!¡±
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Chapter 486: Brooklyn
Chapter 486: Brooklyn
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
At Donghai University Rhine Joint Laboratory, the time travel machine was almostplete. Everything was ready except for the calibration module. Tomorrow, when theet passed by Earth, bringing Astatine-339, they would finally be able to initiate time travel.
Thanks to Gao Wen, thest part of the machine waspleted quickly. Liu Feng looked at Gao Wen with admiration, his eyes practically sparkling. ¡°Professor Gao, you¡¯re a real lifesaver!¡±
¡°No, no,¡± Gao Wen quickly shook his head, almost like a rattle drum, and gave a modest bow. ¡°Professor Liu, it¡¯s all because of the groundwork you¡¯ve done. I was just building on the shoulders of giants.¡±
¡°Professor Gao, you¡¯re being too humble. It was your effort that got us here!¡± Liu Feng said, bowing back.
¡°Professor Liu, you¡¯re giving me too much credit. As a junior, it¡¯s an honor to help out,¡± Gao Wen insisted, bowing yet again.
¡°Professor Gao!¡± Liu Feng bowed a fourth time.
¡°Professor Liu!¡± Gao Wen bowed a fifth time.
Lin Xian stepped forward, positioning himself between the two, and gently pulled them apart. ¡°Alright, alright, enough of this bowing back and forth, you two. Let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s important.¡± He then turned his attention to the time travel machine.Thepleted machine looked almost exactly like what he¡¯d seen in the Eighth Dream. Even though Gao Wen suggested that they could use a direct connection to the power grid, Liu Feng insisted on building it based on Gao Wen¡¯s original designs, as a tribute to the work they had already done.
Lin Xian ced his hand on the cold metal surface, the gesture mirroring what he¡¯d done in the Eighth Dream. They had finally made it. The sacrifices, the sleepless nights, all of it had led them to this point. This was theirst chance¡ªto travel back to 1952 and find a way to change everything.
¡°This is ourst hope,¡± Lin Xian whispered, closing his eyes. Today was December 9th, 2234.
Ever since he¡¯d woken up from hibernation, Lin Xian had ridden his motorcycle every night, exploring the few ces that still held possibilities. But after going through every area, he hadn¡¯t found a single soul. There were no more sources of information from the dream world. He had even considered finding Mai Mai¡¯s hibernation chamber in 2234, thinking it might create a link between 2234 and 2624, allowing him tomunicate between the timelines.
If that worked, he could buy the entire underground hibernation base, put his safe there, and then ess it again in the Ninth Dream. But two issues stood in his way. First, Mai Mai was only twelve years old in 2234, and she wouldn¡¯t enter hibernation for another five years. He couldn¡¯t interfere with her life¡ªchanging her future might mean she never went into hibernation, or did so somewhere else, cutting them off from their lead.
Second, her hibernation chamber¡¯s location could change over the centuries. His and Gao Yang¡¯s chambers had once been in the Capital City Research Institute, but they¡¯d ended up in Donghai City when they woke up. There was no way to guarantee that the underground base in 2234 would still be there in 2624. It was likely that the base wouldn¡¯tst that long, and Mai Mai¡¯s hibernation chamber would be relocated multiple times in those four centuries. It was even possible that the base hadn¡¯t been built yet in 2234.
Because of this, that n had to be abandoned. Lin Xian also made a visit to Time Bank, where he learned that Gauss¡¯s anti-hibernation virus had pushed the bank to the edge of bankruptcy. It didn¡¯t matter though¡ªZhao Ying Jun¡¯s immense wealth and control of three majorpanies kept Time Bank afloat, with some financial assistance.
Now, backed by Donghai University, Time Bank was financially stable. When the anti-hibernation virus had finally disappeared, hibernation became popr again, and Time Bank¡¯s business took off.
Lin Xian visited Time Bank¡¯s warehouse, standing before safe number 66 for a while. He knew the Spacetime Particle Capturer, the ¡°rice cooker,¡± was still inside, along with the note Chu An Qing had left him before she died. But without being able to locate the safe in the Ninth Dream, that option was lost.
So the only path left was the time travel machine¡ªthey had to go back to 1952. That was theirst hope: to find out the truth behind the Millennial Stake, the secrets of the Genius Club, Einstein¡¯s knowledge, and how Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s dream connected to the World-Ending White Light.
¡°Everything depends on tomorrow,¡± Lin Xian said to himself, his gaze drifting to Gao Wen and Liu Feng, who had somehow started bowing to each other again.
¡°Tomorrow, theet with Astatine-339 will enter the atmosphere,¡± Lin Xian continued. ¡°All the world¡¯s major powers have been preparing for years¡ªthey¡¯re ready tounch orbital nukes to break it apart.¡±
¡°Otherwise, if thatet hits¡ªit¡¯s over ten kilometers across¡ªit could cause an impact like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.¡±
Lin Xian exined how the nations would shatter theet into thousands of fragments, which would turn into meteors. Where and when those fragments might fall was unpredictable. But even if some of them hit, they¡¯d only leave a few craters¡ªnothing that would spell the end of humanity.
¡°To be the first to get our hands on Astatine-339, we¡¯ll need Elon Musk¡¯s help. I¡¯m going to America now. You two stay here and keep testing the machine,¡± Lin Xian instructed.
¡°Elon Musk will use his resources to secure Astatine-339 for us. I¡¯ll bring it back, and we can start our time travel mission,¡± he added determinedly.
The next day, at Space-X¡¯s thirdunch base in America, it was still pitch-ck, the early hours of the morning. In X Country, it was already noon, but in America, the night was alive with people. Crowds had gathered, all looking up at the sky, waiting for aet that had been 157 years in the making.
¡°Einstein was right,¡± Elon Musk said, leaning against the railing of an observation tower that rose hundreds of meters high. He turned to Lin Xian, who was standing beside him.
¡°March 27th, 2077¡ªthat¡¯s the exact date we detected it. Not even a day off. Our space telescopes spotted theet, and its light spectrum revealed unknown substances, sparking a century-long wait for humanity,¡± Musk exined.
Theet¡¯s path was quickly calcted¡ªit was hurtling through space at a speed no human-made object could match, destined to collide with Earth in 2234.
¡°Not ¡®arrive¡¯ exactly,¡± Musk said with a wry smile. ¡°More like ¡®crash.¡¯ But we humans have long since learned how to use nukes in space. Blowing up an asteroid oret? Easy.¡±
He pointed up, and Lin Xian followed his gaze. ¡°See up there? You can already spot it with the naked eye.¡±
Sure enough, in the southern sky, a massive, brightet was streaking across the sky, moving at incredible speed. It looked huge¡ªalmost like some divine being descending from above. There was no mistaking it for a simple meteor.
Its tail shimmered with seven colors, lighting up the night sky. ¡°If we don¡¯t destroy it, it¡¯s a worldwide disaster,¡± Lin Xian muttered.
¡°Technology will save us,¡± he added. ¡°Even without fancy aerospace tech, even with just rockets and missiles, humanity could have dealt with this threat. The only question was whether we¡¯d blow it up before it entered the atmosphere or after. Human potential is limitless¡ªwe¡¯re not like the dinosaurs, wiped out by a single asteroid.¡±
Musk nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s about to start. Watch closely. This will be a key moment in human history.¡±
The nations had coordinated, rehearsing the n over and over. They would attack theet from multiple angles, using a saturation approach¡ª216 orbital nukesunched from satellites, space stations, rockets, and crewed spacecraft.
¡°Two hundred and sixteen nukes?¡± Lin Xian eximed. ¡°This has to be the biggest military operation humanity¡¯s ever attempted. But yeah, if we want to be absolutely sure, a saturation attack is the safest bet.¡±
¡°They don¡¯t all need to hit,¡± Musk said. ¡°Just a few will be enough to shatter theet and avert the crisis.¡±
¡°Look!¡± Musk handed Lin Xian a telescope. ¡°You can already see hundreds of lights heading for theet. It¡¯s really something. The only thing that couldpare was when Kevin Walker hijacked my satellites two hundred years ago to rain meteors on you!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, epting the telescope. ¡°That was ages ago. Kevin Walker and Turing have been gone for two centuries, and you¡¯re still holding a grudge?¡±
Through the telescope, Lin Xian saw hundreds of tiny lights¡ªdozens of bright streaks¡ªall converging on theet from every direction. When they struck, there was a massive explosion.
It looked like a second sun had appeared in the night sky. But because the explosion was in space, everything was eerily silent, as if they were watching a movie with the sound turned off.
Through the telescope, the sight was spectacr. Theet had broken into countless fragments, turning into a shower of meteors. ¡°They blew it apart,¡± Lin Xian said, watching as the sky filled with streaking lights.
Theet had vanished, leaving only fragments¡ªthergest of which were just a few dozen meters wide. If any of them fell to Earth, they could do some damage, but that would be a job for ground forces to handle.
¡°Now it¡¯s our turn,¡± Musk said, lowering the telescope with a grin. ¡°I have to thank Angelica and her descendants. They¡¯ve managed mypany well. I wasn¡¯t even this rich when I was the wealthiest man alive two hundred years ago.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve hired every avable resource worldwide. Wherever a meteornds, it¡¯ll be brought to me immediately,¡± Musk continued. ¡°But with the way it shattered, some pieces might even fall here, in hightitude America. Who knows? Maybe we¡¯ll get lucky, and one willnd right on top of us!¡±
Lin Xian shook his head,ughing. ¡°You¡¯d better not jinx it. I¡¯ve had enough bad luck with that sort of thing.¡±
As it turned out, Musk¡¯s words were a jinx. Several small meteorites ended up falling in the wilderness near Space-X¡¯s thirdunch base. Musk¡¯s team quickly gathered them, ran radiation checks, and, once it was confirmed they were safe, brought them to hisb.
¡°It really does have Astatine-339,¡± he said, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Incredible. Just like Galileo predicted, it¡¯s an isotope that shouldn¡¯t exist on Earth¡ªor even in this universe. The mysteries of space are truly beyond our imagination.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. ¡°You know, we think of the universe as mysterious, but to the universe, we might be just as strange. In the end, maybe it¡¯s just different physical constants creating differences between universes.¡±
Lin Xian turned to Elon, a hint of urgency in his voice. ¡°Can you separate the pure Astatine-339? I need to get it back to Donghai and start the time machine.¡±
Elon nodded. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem. This element is frighteningly stable. It doesn¡¯t react with anything. We can physically separate it¡ªeven using tweezers.¡±
An hourter, Lin Xian was aboard Elon¡¯s private jet, soaring towards Donghai in X Country. The ne touched down directly at Donghai University¡¯s airport, and Lin Xian hurried to theb, the precious vial of Astatine-339 safely in his hands.
Liu Feng¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the vial, awe etched across his face. ¡°So this is it¡ We¡¯ve waited over two hundred years, and finally, it¡¯s here.¡±
Gao Wen was already examining the element with various instruments. ¡°This isotope¡ it¡¯s unbelievably stable. Astatine-339 would be impossible under our universe¡¯s atomic structure¡ªit would break down instantly into other elements.¡±
¡°But that¡¯s what makes it perfect for calibrating our time machine¡¯s module,¡± Gao Wen said, his eyes bright with excitement as he looked at Liu Feng. ¡°Professor Liu, your foresight is nothing short of genius. Designing a module that could use this element as a calibration point, even centuries ago¡ You truly are the greatest genius in human history!¡±
Liu Feng blushed at the praise and quickly bowed. ¡°No, no, Professor Gao, you¡¯re the one I¡¯ve admired my whole life!¡±
¡°Alright, enough of that,¡± Lin Xian said, rolling his eyes. ¡°Are you two done yet? You¡¯re both nearly forty¡ªtry to act like it. Let¡¯s get the time machine ready. Now, where¡¯s my otter fur travel suit?¡±
¡°Right here,¡± Gao Yang walked over, carrying a bag. ¡°You wanted something casual and practical, right?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, inspecting the bag. ¡°The old suits were tight ck outfits. That was fine for women, but for me, it¡¯d just be awkward. If I showed up in 1952 looking like that, they¡¯d probably arrest me for being a weirdo. So, is it as loose as I asked?¡±
Gao Yang grinned. ¡°Trust me.¡± He pulled out the clothes, showing them off. ¡°White otter fur shirt, ck trousers. Casual, practical. You could wear this from 1950 to 2950 and still look good.¡±
Liu Feng raised an eyebrow. ¡°White otter fur? Are there even white otters?¡±
Gao Yang smirked. ¡°Albino otters! Not many in the world. I went overseas to collect some. The Otter Protection Society threatened to break my legs.¡± Heughed. ¡°As if they could scare me. I¡¯m the chief of security at Donghai University¡ªdo they think my ten thousand men are just for show?¡±
Lin Xian tried on the suit after a quick shower. It fit wellfortable, with sturdy stitching from otter tendons. The soft white and ck ensemble felt good as he moved, and he gave a satisfied nod as he returned to theb.
¡°Are we ready?¡± Lin Xian asked, looking at Liu Feng, Gao Yang, and Gao Wen.
Liu Feng and Gao Yang nodded. ¡°Everything¡¯s set. Just waiting on you.¡±
Gao Wen, standing by the machine, inserted an entangled spacetime particle into the machine and activated the positioning module. Liu Feng pulled Lin Xian aside, speaking in a low, serious tone.
¡°Lin Xian, before you go, I need to make three things absolutely clear.¡±
¡°Go ahead.¡±
Liu Feng held up one finger. ¡°First, even though the spacetime particles allow flexibility, you cannot do anything that could alter the timeline. Your mission requires you to return, and if the timeline shifts, you won¡¯t be able toe back.¡±
Lin Xian nodded gravely. ¡°I understand.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Liu Feng said. ¡°Second,¡± he raised a second finger, ¡°although we know the particles allow travelers to return, we don¡¯t know the specifics¡ªor if there¡¯s a time limit. You mustplete your mission quickly. Once done,e back immediately.¡±
Lin Xian nodded again. ¡°Got it.¡±
Liu Feng held up a third finger. ¡°Third, thanks to reversepulsion, you should be safe in 1952. But the time period is unpredictable. If you¡¯re in danger, return immediately. Staying alive is the only way to keep fighting.¡±
Lin Xian gave a small smile. ¡°Understood.¡±
Gao Wen called out that the machine was ready. Lin Xian moved towards it, and Gao Wen pointed at the screen, showing a tangled mass of lines.
¡°These spacetime rifts are all from the Millennial Stake¡¯s puncturing,¡± Gao Wen exined. ¡°The problem is, we can¡¯t control the exact date or location you¡¯ll arrive.¡±
Lin Xian looked at the mess of tangled lines on the screen. ¡°So I could end up anywhere from October to December 1952?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Liu Feng added. ¡°These rifts are like a maze. We can¡¯t predict where you¡¯ll exit. But based on probability, we think mid-November is the most likely. If you arrive before that, you might have time to find the Stake. But if you arrive in December, it might be toote.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I have three goals¡ªthe Stake, the Genius Club, and Einstein. Even if I only aplish one of them, it¡¯ll be a step forward.¡±
He pped his hands together. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this.¡±
Gao Yang approached Lin Xian, his palms sweaty. He grabbed Lin¡¯s hand. ¡°You bettere back.¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will.¡± He climbed into the capsule of the time machine, looking out at his friends. ¡°This mission¡ªto save the future¡ªit¡¯s all because of you. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±
With that, the capsule door closed. Silence filled the room, and Lin Xian sat alone, the only sound his breathing and heartbeat.
He took a deep breath, feeling the machine begin to hum, the vibrations increasing.
¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡± Lin Xian shouted.
BOOM!
A violent explosion echoed in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. It felt like a singrity had exploded in his head, scattering everything before pulling it back into a whirling fireball, spinning faster than he couldprehend.
Suddenly, a ck ape stood trembling on a grassy in, upright as the sun rose from the horizon. The ape grabbed a shattered bone, wielding it like a weapon against the howling of other monkeys. It hurled the bone, and it transformed into a spear, piercing through the chest of an armored soldier.
Blood sprayed into the air, morphing into thick steam that rose higher and higher until it became a roaring freight train. The iron tracks vanished into smoke, and a jet, fierce and fast, broke through the clouds above.
The fractured sky split apart and became an endless ocean, and Lin Xian found himself sinking thousands of meters underwater. He felt breathless, yet his mind was eerily clear.
His subconscious struggled, reaching upward, yearning to break through and taste the air above. In the deep blue waters, he could see every detail, even the tiny microorganisms floating around like specimens. A white whale shed with a giant squid, their battle shaking the ocean as bits of flesh scattered.
Suddenly, Lin Xian found himself shooting up from the water¡ªbut instead of water, he emerged onto drynd. He looked around to see a yellow in filled with creatures from different eras: mammoths, dinosaurs, giraffes. Between their legs prowled saber-toothed tigers, apes, lizards¡ªall moving together.
And beneath these creatures, the ground moved like a living sea¡ªnot water, but a mass of ants, trilobites, and insects of every kind, writhing and swarming together.
Then, darkness descended. In the sky above, countless wings blotted out the sun, plunging thend into shadow. The scene copsed, as if the universe itself was beingpressed, shrinking back into a single bright point.
A sh of light¡ªand then silence.
Lin Xian gasped, suddenly aware of his own body again. He stood barefoot on cold pavement, the chaotic noises of the city around him¡ªpeople talking, cars honking, merchants calling out.
Slowly, Lin Xian opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. The scene was something like an old movie from the 20th century. Electrical poles crisscrossed the sky, their wires a chaotic tangle. The brick buildings were worn and peeling, iron staircases clung to their sides. Fruit stands filled the street, and girls in white dresses with curly hair passed by. Old-fashioned cars ttered down the road.
Well-dressed men sat on the sidewalk, getting their shoes shined by weary ck men crouching at their feet. A group of young men, their faces nk, sat by the road¡ªtheir wary eyes following Lin Xian for a moment before they looked away.
¡°Is this¡¡± Lin Xian blinked in confusion. ¡°Abroad?¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He was certain he was in a foreignnd. Judging by the clothes and buildings, it looked like the year was 1952¡ªa time filled with nostalgia, a time from before he was born.
The time was right¡ªbut where exactly was he? What country? What city?
¡°Extra! Extra! Get your paper here!¡±
Lin Xian turned, hearing the voice of a young boy. The boy was ck, hisrge backpack filled with neatly folded newspapers. He ran around the street, shouting loudly in English to attract attention. He twisted and jumped, hoping for a sale.
A man in sses and a ck hat approached, handing the boy a coin.
¡°Thank you, sir!¡± the boy said, shing a bright smile as he handed over a newspaper and bent to find the man¡¯s change.
Lin Xian squinted, taking advantage of the distraction. He quietly moved behind the boy, grabbing a newspaper from his backpack and quickly looking at the front page.
¡°Brooklyn Daily, October 28, 1952.¡±
Though it was in English, Lin Xian understood it perfectly.
¡°Brooklyn?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened as he took a deep breath. ¡°Is this Brooklyn, New York, USA?¡±
This wasn¡¯t just any ce.
¡°The painting ¡®Sorrowful Einstein¡¯ was made here. Ji Xin Shui¡¯s dearest friend was buried here. And most importantly, this is where she was from¡ªher hometown, right here in Brooklyn!¡±
¡°Hey!¡±
A voice suddenly called out, snapping Lin Xian out of his thoughts. He turned quickly.
¡°Hehehe, stealing isn¡¯t very nice, you know~¡±
A young girl sat on a roadside railing, smiling mischievously. She had long, dark brown hair, slightly curly and tied up in a fluffy ponytail. Her eyes, bright and pretty, turned into crescent moons as she smiled. A small beauty mark under her left eye added to her charm, and her fair, round cheeks dimpled when she grinned. She pointed at the newspaper in Lin Xian¡¯s hand.
¡°I saw everything~¡± she teased.
Chapter 487: Blue and Black
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°C¡ C?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at the girl standing before him. She looked so familiar¡ªexactly the same. The hair color, the eyes, even the slight curl of her hair and the small mole near her eye¡ªthey were identical.
And here they were in Brooklyn, CC¡¯s old home. Lin Xian spoke without thinking, blurting out her name: ¡°CC.¡±
For a moment, he was confused.
He had assumed this journey to 1952, in search of the Millennial Stake, would be challenging¡ªnearly impossible. He had even nned to start by tracking down Albert Einstein, who was practically a superstar of this era. It seemed much more practical than chasing some legendary object without any clues.
But he hadn¡¯t expected this.
The Millennial Stake of 1952 was right here, standing at the exact spot where the spacetime rift had opened.
Could this be¡ fate?The rift had been caused by the stake, so maybe the stake itself had some kind of tracking ability for spacetime rifts?
¡°Huh?¡±
The girl looked at Lin Xian, startled by the name ¡°CC.¡±
She jumped down from the railing, her eyes locking onto his. She spoke in clear American English, ¡°How do you know my name? Do we know each other?¡±
Lin Xian froze.
He had called her name instinctively, but as soon as he said it, he realized it couldn¡¯t be right. This girl wasn¡¯t Chu An Qing, nor could she be CC.
The reason was simple: her wless American ent.
He¡¯d heard Chu An Qing speak English before, and her ent, like most people from X Country, had a foreign lilt to it. And if she really was An Qing or CC, she would definitely have spoken to him in their nativenguage.
The fact that she confronted him in English meant she didn¡¯t know him. She wasn¡¯t Chu An Qing or CC¡ªshe was the original Millennial Stake, a girl from this time.
Which made sense. After all, this was 1952. Neither An Qing nor CC should be here.
But the problem was¡ª
If that was the case, why had she reacted to the name ¡°CC¡±?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t figure it out.
¡°Your name is really CC?¡± he asked, frowning as he studied the girl who looked so familiar yet so strange.
¡°Yeah,¡± she replied.
The girl¡¯s pretty eyes were filled with curiosity. ¡°No one¡¯s called me that for a really long time. It was just a nickname my grandma used to call me when I was little.¡±
¡°My first andst names both start with ¡®C,¡¯ and both are really long. Since there were so many kids around, my grandma said it was easier just to call me ¡®CC.¡¯ And that¡¯s how it stuck.¡± She looked at him, puzzled. ¡°But how did you know? Only my family calls me that.¡±
Lin Xian opened his mouth to respond, but a voice interrupted him.
¡°Hey, mister! You need to pay for that newspaper!¡±
The small boy, who had been looking for change, turned back to Lin Xian, eyes wide as he saw the paper in his hand.
Tsk.
Lin Xian clicked his tongue.
All because of this girl, also named CC.
If she hadn¡¯t interrupted him, revealing his attempt to steal the newspaper, he would¡¯ve already been gone, his hands clean, slipping away unnoticed. Who would¡¯ve thought¡
The stealing skill he had used sessfully countless times in dreamscapes had been exposed here, in reality, by someone who felt like ¡°one of his own.¡± It was a little embarrassing.
Lin Xian looked at the boy and said in English, ¡°I was just looking at it for a moment. I¡¯m not interested anymore. Here, take it back.¡±
He held the Brooklyn Daily out to the boy.
But the kid stepped back, hands behind his back, refusing to take it. ¡°Mister! There¡¯s no return policy for newspapers after reading them. Since you¡¯ve read it, you need to pay for it!¡±
Lin Xian protested, ¡°Isn¡¯t this forced buying? Where¡¯s the fairness in that?¡±
¡°That¡¯s just the rule here in Brooklyn!¡± the boy shouted. ¡°Hey! Somebody! This man stole a newspaper and won¡¯t pay!¡±
In response to the shout, people who had been sitting idly, waiting for work or just wandering about, stood up and began to surround Lin Xian.
This doesn¡¯t look good¡
Lin Xian pressed his lips together.
From what he knew of history, Brooklyn in the 1950s was filled with gangs and criminals. Most of them were ethnic or regional groups¡ªIrish gangs, Italian gangs, and some particrly dangerous African American gangs. These people were at the very bottom of society and weren¡¯t known for being reasonable.
Lin Xian turned to CC. ¡°See, this is your fault for butting in. Now I¡¯m in trouble.¡±
CC folded her arms, huffing slightly. ¡°Stealing is wrong, and you know it. Just pay the kid and be done with it.¡±
¡°If I had money, I would.¡± Lin Xian sighed, patting his pockets, hoping for a miracle.
But, unfortunately, his makeshift outfit didn¡¯t even have pockets, much less any money in them.
He looked at CC. ¡°Can you lend me a few cents? I don¡¯t want any trouble, and I promise I¡¯ll pay you back tenfold.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have any money either,¡± CC said with a helpless smile. ¡°If I did, why would I be hanging out here in the middle of the day?¡±
The people were closing in, cracking their knuckles and ring.
Lin Xian turned to CC, panicked. ¡°ording to ¡®Brooklyn rules,¡¯ what happens now? Am I going to be beaten to death?¡±
¡°Probably just beaten half to death,¡± CC replied.
¡°What should we do?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Is there some sort of ¡®Brooklyn solution¡¯ to this?¡±
CC giggled, then grabbed his arm. ¡°What else? Run!¡±
She yanked him along, and they sprinted away.
Behind them, the idle men, eager for a fight, shouted curses and chased after them.
Thankfully, Lin Xian¡¯s parkour skills were top-notch, and CC was surprisingly agile. With her guidance, they weaved through the narrow gaps between buildings, and soon, the shouting behind them faded away.
Lin Xian had kept his cool earlier because he knew he could handle a chase like this. After years of practicing parkour in dreamscapes, there was no way he couldn¡¯t outrun a few guys in real life.
Brooklyn¡¯s gangs might be notorious, but they were nothingpared to the full-scale pursuit by SWAT teams, helicopters, snipers, and armored cars he had faced in the First Dream. If he could survive that, escaping a handful of men was a piece of cake.
The only thing that really worried him was guns. But even then, he was confident. If they tried to shoot him, the ¡°forced avoidance¡± mechanism would kick in, and they¡¯d be unable to hit him. He had tested it several times, and he knew how effective it was.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but wonder why this girl¡ªwho clearly wasn¡¯t CC and had no memory of him¡ªwas willing to help him. This wasn¡¯t her fight. He was the one who stole the paper; the men were after him, not her. She had no reason to get involved.
Maybe¡
Maybe there was something else going on here?
He needed to know more about this girl, who looked just like CC, shared her name, and was connected to the Millennial Stake.
¡°Alright,¡± said CC, stopping suddenly in the alley and patting her hands together, as though she had just finished an unpleasant chore. She turned towards Lin Xian, her lips twitching into a sly grin. ¡°We should be safe here. Those guys arezy; they¡¯ll give up soon enough.¡±
Lin Xian nced down at his dust-covered shoes, his gaze heavy. ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered, rubbing his feet together nervously. He paused for a moment, then looked up at her, his expression curious. ¡°Do you¡ know me?¡±
CC shook her head, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Nope. Not at all,¡± she said bluntly.
¡°Then why did you save me?¡± Lin Xian pressed, the confusion evident in his voice.
CC folded her arms and leaned back against the alley wall, studying him with an amused look. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be the one answering questions here? How do you know my name¡¯s CC? Who told you?¡±
Lin Xian blinked, then quickly shook his head. ¡°No one told me,¡± he said, his voice sincere. ¡°I just said it. I have a friend¡ªshe looks a lot like you. Her name¡¯s CC too. I thought it might be a mistake, but somehow¡ your name¡¯s also CC.¡±
CC frowned, her eyes narrowing further. ¡°Are you messing with me? Is this how you repay someone who just saved your life?¡±
Lin Xian gave a helpless smile, raising his hands. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m telling the truth. It¡¯s just that¡¡±
He hesitated, ncing back down the alley. A chill ran down his spine, and he rubbed the back of his head, his fingers brushing against something¡ªsomething almost imperceptible, like a tugging string. It wasn¡¯t just a weird feeling; he could actually sense something there, something that seemed to be pulling at the back of his head, keeping him connected to something above.
It felt like an invisible kite string, tugging gently, and it had been there all through the chase. He hadn¡¯t noticed it while running, but now that he had stopped, he couldn¡¯t ignore it any longer. It was ufortable¡ªa constant pull at the base of his head.
Where did this ¡°kite string¡± lead to? Why could he feel it so clearly?
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I understand,¡± he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. ¡°This is the tether¡ªthe tether of the entangled spacetime particle. The kite string connects me back to 2234, the point where I began.¡±
It was a strange sensation¡ªa mix of difort and awe. He could sense the tether¡ªlike he was a kite, drifting in 1952, yet still connected to his own time. As long as that string was intact, he could be pulled back. But if it snapped¡ªif the worldline shifted¡ªhe¡¯d be lost, a kite with no string, stranded in a foreign sky.
Lin Xian closed his eyes, focusing on the odd feeling at the back of his head. The connection was strong, and he realized he could follow it, let it pull him back to 2234 in an instant. But he forced himself to ignore it. He wasn¡¯t ready¡ªhe hadn¡¯tpleted his mission yet.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°Hey!¡± CC¡¯s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She sounded annoyed. ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m asking you questions, and you¡¯re just standing there, daydreaming? Ugh, I should¡¯ve let them catch you.¡±
Lin Xian turned back to face her, blinking. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said quickly. ¡°You wanted to know how I knew your name, right?¡±
CC nodded, her arms still crossed.
¡°Is that name very important to you?¡± Lin Xian asked softly.
CC hesitated, her expression softening. ¡°Not really,¡± she said finally. ¡°It¡¯s just¡ no one¡¯s called me that in a long time. I guess I miss it.¡±
¡°Would you tell me your story?¡± Lin Xian asked earnestly. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m not lying. I know someone named CC who looks just like you, but she¡¯s not you. I need to figure out the connection¡ªif there is one. Could you tell me about yourself, your identity, where your name came from? Maybe it could help us both.¡±
CC blinked at him, her expression softening even more. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°You think you can help me figure out who I am?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything,¡± he said honestly. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t lie to you. And¡ just to be clear, I know it was wrong to take the newspaper without paying. I¡¯ll pay the boy back, I promise.¡±
CC stared at him for a long moment, then finally sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, her voice soft. ¡°I was adopted by an olddy when I was just a baby. She was kind¡ªa widow. The First World War took her entire family¡ªher husband and her children all died in the fighting.¡±
¡°When the war ended, the government gave herpensation and medals. She had no family left, so she decided to use the money to do some good. She set up an orphanage.¡±
Lin Xian listened intently, nodding slowly.
¡°I don¡¯t know who my real parents are,¡± CC continued. ¡°I was left on the steps of the orphanage when I was just born. All they left was a note, with my name on it, and a plea for the kinddy to take me in.¡±
Lin Xian nodded again, understanding beginning to dawn on him. He had thought CC might have meant her biological grandmother, someone rted by blood. But instead, it was the orphanage director¡ªa woman who had lost everything to war.
¡°There were over thirty kids at the orphanage,¡± CC said, a wistful smile touching her lips. ¡°So Grandma¡ªthat¡¯s what we called her¡ªgave us all simple nicknames. She said my real name was too long, so she just used the first letter of each word. That¡¯s how I became CC.¡±
She looked away, her smile fading. ¡°There¡¯s no deep story behind it. It¡¯s just¡ no one¡¯s called me that in so long, and I really miss those days. Living in the orphanage, with Grandma and the other kids¡ those days are gone forever.¡±
Lin Xian noticed a tear forming in the corner of her eye, but she quickly wiped it away.
¡°Do you mean¡ your grandma is¡?¡± Lin Xian asked, his voice hesitant.
¡°Yes,¡± CC nodded, her voice soft. ¡°She passed away a few years ago. After that, the orphanage couldn¡¯t keep running. We all went our separate ways. Most of the kids got adopted, but no one wanted to take in someone my age. I haven¡¯t seen any of them since then. In a ce like Brooklyn, it¡¯s easy to disappear.¡±
She looked up at him, her eyes hardening again. ¡°So no, I didn¡¯t help you because you called me CC. I helped you because¡ well, because you reminded me of something.¡±
Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Reminded you of what?¡±
CC sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Grandma always used to tell me that even though I had an American name, my face looked like I came from X Country. She said that my parents, or maybe my ancestors, must havee across the ocean, fleeing some war back in X Country. And she always told me that we should help our own people, especially when we¡¯re far from home.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly, understanding now. ¡°But¡ how could you tell I was from X Country just by looking at me?¡±
CC smiled, shaking her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? ck hair, ck eyes, yellow skin¡ You¡¯re as X Country as theye.¡±
Lin Xian blinked, confused. ¡°Wait¡ªck eyes?¡±
¡°What else?¡± CC asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Are you colorblind or something?¡±
Lin Xian barely heard her. He turned, looking around until he spotted a broken motorcycle, its rearview mirror still intact. He hurried over, tilting the mirror towards himself.
The face that stared back at him was his own¡ªfamiliar, unchanged. But the eyes that met his gaze were not the bright blue he was used to. They were ck. Completely ck.
¡°What¡ what is happening?¡± Lin Xian whispered, his heart pounding in his chest. Had he really seeded in traveling through time? And if he had, why had his eyes changed?
Chapter 488: A Talk Worth Having
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian squinted, staring at his reflection in the motorcycle¡¯s rear-view mirror. Something was off. This face¡
He had seen it every day since he was a kid, countless times in the mirror. So he knew¡ªwithout a doubt¡ªthere was no spacetime rejection reaction happening. His face was exactly the same as before he¡¯d traveled through time. No changes at all.
His eyes, for instance. Every spacetime traveler, or anyone from another timeline, had blue eyes. It was a clear and undeniable sign¡ªa rule of time travel. Even the biological samples brought by the false Yu Xi, the spacetime particles, and the starry dust that travelers left behind when they disappeared, they all turned blue. It was like a signature, an imprint of another time. Yet Lin Xian¡¯s eyes showed not the slightest hint of blue.
It wasn¡¯t what he expected. In fact, it was the strangest thing he had encountered since arriving here, in 1952.
It wasn¡¯t scientific. It wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. Lin Xian believed in thews of spacetime. They were constants, unbreakable. And yet, it seemed they had¡ failed?
¡°Have thews of spacetime¡ failed?¡± Lin Xian muttered, standing up and gazing toward the sunrise in the distance.
It was October 28th, 1952. Brooklyn. The chill in the air hit him now for the first time, seeping through his thin otter suit and trousers. It was almost winter, and without adrenaline pumping through him from running, the cold was creeping in, settling into his bones. Everything he believed seemed to be unraveling¡ªthe rules of time and reality bing vague and unclear.
It was a cold unlike any he had ever felt. A real, biting cold.The spacetimews had always been his anchor. They were a certainty, a foundation. If thosews could fail, what else might go wrong? Could this timeline still be considered normal?
¡°No, no, no. Let¡¯s think this through,¡± Lin Xian muttered, trying to bring some order to his racing thoughts. First things first: he was sure he had traveled through time. From Donghai in 2234 to Brooklyn in 1952. That was certain. The ¡°kite string¡± at the back of his head was proof enough¡ªa connection to his original timeline. An invisible line that connected him to his time in the future. He could sense it, like a tether pulling on his thoughts. If he focused, he was confident he could follow that string and return home.
He had the ability to travel back¡ªthat much was clear. It was the nature of the entangled spacetime particles. Anyone who had them could feel that connection. But then, why hadn¡¯t his eyes changed? Why hadn¡¯t there been the usual spacetime rejection? His appearance should have altered, his eyes should be blue by now, and if he died, he should disappear into blue starry dust. Those were the rules.
But none of it had happened.
¡°There are only two possibilities,¡± Lin Xian said, his thoughts sharp and focused. ¡°Either the spacetimews have failed in 1952, or they haven¡¯t taken effect yet.¡±
He nced at CC, who was standing in the narrow alley nearby, staring at him like he was insane. His gut told him it was thetter.
[Because the first millennial stake hasn¡¯t been hammered down yet, history hasn¡¯t been locked, and therefore the spacetimews I know haven¡¯t activated.]
¡°That must be it,¡± Lin Xian whispered to himself. ¡°Only this reasoning can exin why this is happening.¡±
He remembered Yellow Finch¡¯s cryptic hints¡ªthe millennial stakes were there to lock history in ce. It was only after that that the spacetime rejection and forced avoidance would take effect.
This was something new¡ªsomething he could only understand by experiencing time travel for himself. He realized that until CC turned twenty and the first millennial stake was hammered into the river of time, history wouldn¡¯t be locked. And without locked history, spacetime rejection wouldn¡¯t happen.
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts became clearer. History locking was a prerequisite for spacetime rejection. Without history being locked in ce, there could be no spacetime rejection. This deepened his understanding of the spacetimews.
He looked at CC again, who was staring at him, obviously thinking he waspletely out of his mind. Lin Xian ignored her puzzled expression.
Once CC¡¯s 20th birthday arrived, the first millennial stake would be hammered down, and the river of time would be forever altered. It would create spacetime fissures, officially locking history in ce. And after that, every 24 years, another stake would be driven in to continue locking history as it was meant to be.
¡°I understand now,¡± Lin Xian said, a sense of rity washing over him. He finally understood the millennial stakes and their purpose. Only by driving those stakes could history be locked, preventing spacetime travelers from altering it. It was all about stability¡ªmaintaining world lines. Without those stakes, everything was still in flux.
He realized that, right now, he could make changes to history. Because the first millennial stake hadn¡¯t yet been hammered down, there were no rules preventing him from altering events.
But when exactly was the first stake hammered into ce? Lin Xian turned back to CC, who was leaning against the wall in the alley, watching him warily.
¡°Hey, what do you want?¡± CC said, her voice filled with suspicion. ¡°Is there something wrong with your head?¡±
Lin Xian ignored her tone, his own voice serious. ¡°CC, I need to ask you something important. How old are you now?¡±
¡°Neen,¡± she replied, narrowing her eyes.
¡°Is your 20th birthday soon? In the next month or two, maybe?¡±
CC blinked, looking confused. ¡°How do you know that? Hey¡ you¡¯re really weird. You know my childhood nickname, CC, and now my birthday too? Don¡¯t tell me the girl you know, the one who looks like me, has the same birthday on December 24th?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No, not at all. But so you¡¯re a Christmas Eve baby? That¡¯s quite the day.¡±
¡°Not really,¡± CC said, shrugging. ¡°I don¡¯t even know my real birthday. I¡¯ve told you before, I was abandoned at Granny¡¯s orphanage. The note they left only had my name. Granny picked December 24th as my birthday because that¡¯s when she found me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not my real birthday, but who cares? As long as I celebrate once a year and grow older, it¡¯s all the same.¡±
Lin Xian sighed inwardly. It wasn¡¯t the same¡ªnot at all. CC might think it didn¡¯t matter, but to him, it did. Because CC didn¡¯t have much time left.
She wouldn¡¯t live to see her 20th birthday.
Thatplicated things. If she didn¡¯t know her real birthday, then Lin Xian couldn¡¯t be sure when she would turn into blue starry dust and disappear. He needed to find out more.
¡°Did the olddy ever mention when she found you? What month it was?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Granny said I was small, but not a newborn,¡± CC replied, thinking it over. ¡°Maybe almost a month old. But she wasn¡¯t sure.¡±
¡°Makes sense,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°So, starting today until December 24th, any day could be your real birthday.¡±
¡°You¡¯re really boring,¡± CC said with a snort. ¡°Why does it matter?¡±
Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer her directly. Because if CC knew what awaited her, she¡¯d probably think he was insane. She wouldn¡¯t believe him anyway¡ªnot with how cautious she was, growing up as an orphan in Brooklyn¡¯s slums.
She wouldn¡¯t trust him.
The truth was that, any day now, CC could disappear into blue starry dust. Lin Xian needed to be there when it happened. He couldn¡¯t let her out of his sight, not in an age without phones or any way to find her again.
He had to stay by her side. Witness this part of history. Understand the millennial stakes and find the truth.
Lin Xian looked up.
¡°Huh? Where did she go?¡± he eximed, startled to find that CC had vanished. He ran towards the alley, relieved when he saw her disappearing into another alley just ahead.
¡°Hey! CC!¡± Lin Xian shouted, running after her. He finally caught up in the narrow gap between two buildings.
¡°What do you want?¡± CC snapped, turning to face him, her eyes zing with irritation.
¡°I¡¯m warning you,¡± she said sharply, ¡°stop sticking to me. I helped you out of goodwill because we¡¯re from the same country. Don¡¯t make me regret it by giving me trouble.¡± She shrugged, her expression hardening. ¡°Look at me. I¡¯ve got no money, no home, no job, and no food. I can¡¯t help you anymore. It¡¯s time for us to part ways.¡±
She paused, then added, ¡°One more thing: don¡¯t go back to that street. It¡¯s ck Gang territory. You got lucky once, but next time¡ nobody will be there to save you.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly, trying to slip his hands into pockets that didn¡¯t exist in the ridiculous otter suit he was wearing. He adjusted his stance awkwardly, looking at CC.
¡°I¡¯m definitely going back,¡± he said calmly.
CC red at him, her face a mix of disbelief and anger. ¡°You¡¯re nuts. Completely unreasonable!¡±
¡°I need to return the money for the newspaper to that kid,¡± Lin Xian exined, holding up the crumpled newspaper in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I¡¯ve got no money now, but I¡¯ll find a way. Even if I have to carry bricks or pick up junk, I¡¯ll pay for what I took.¡±
His voice softened as he added, ¡°Honoring your word is an ancient virtue in X Country¡ªa gentleman¡¯s promise is as solid as gold¡ well, that doesn¡¯t trante perfectly into English. But the point is, I promised to pay, and I won¡¯t let that kid get in trouble.¡±
CC crossed her arms, her voice cold. ¡°That¡¯s your business, not mine. Don¡¯t drag me into it. I¡¯ve already done enough for you.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, taking a step closer. ¡°You misunderstand, CC. I¡¯m not trying to burden you. I won¡¯t be dragging you down. Actually¡ truth is, I¡¯m new here. I just got into this ce, and I don¡¯t know anyone. I don¡¯t know my way around Brooklyn.¡±
He sped his hands together, his eyes earnest. ¡°So, can you do me one more favor? Let me stick around for a bit? You don¡¯t have to treat me like a follower or anything. I can pull my weight. Two people are stronger than one.¡±
¡°I¡¯m capable,¡± he added quickly. ¡°I¡¯m not some helpless kid. I won¡¯t be a burden¡ªI promise. Just let me stay with you for a while, show me how things work here. Help me learn the survival rules. Please.¡±
CC was silent, her eyes fixed on him. She studied the dark-haired, dark-eyed man standing before her, his clothes tattered and his gaze unwavering. She remembered what Granny had taught her years ago: when you¡¯re abroad, fellow countrymen should help each other. Stay kind-hearted, lend a hand when someone¡¯s in need¡ªjust like Granny had always done at the orphanage, passing on love.
¡°Hmm¡¡± CC bit her lip, her resolve faltering. ¡°Alright,¡± she sighed. ¡°Fine.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s face lit up, but CC held up a finger to stop him. ¡°But let¡¯s get one thing straight! You can stay for now, but once you figure out how to manage on your own and find a job, you¡¯re on your way. No more tagging along.¡±
¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding eagerly.
¡°And don¡¯t think of yourself as my follower,¡± CC warned, her eyes narrowing. ¡°I¡¯m not a gang leader, and I don¡¯t need a crew. But since you don¡¯t know anything, you¡¯re going to listen to me. If I say don¡¯t do something, you do as I say. No questions.¡±
Lin Xian grinned, extending a hand. ¡°Of course, boss. I promise I¡¯ll behave.¡±
CC¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and she pped his hand away, giving him a half-hearted high-five instead. ¡°Don¡¯t call me boss,¡± she muttered.
¡°Then what should I call you?¡± Lin Xian asked, still smiling.
¡°Just call me CC,¡± she replied.
For a moment, Lin Xian stood there, dazed. This scene seemed oddly familiar¡ªlike something out of a dream. Three years ago, or maybe two hundred years ago, depending on how you looked at it. He¡¯d first met Big Cat Face and CC in a dream, and they¡¯d gotten caught up in a bank robbery¡ªthe beginning of everything.
The memory shed before his eyes: the failed attempt to crack the safe, the way he¡¯d offered his hand to CC, asking her what she wanted to be called. She¡¯d made the same gesture, spoken the same words.
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s stomach growled, the loud sound echoing in the narrow, quiet alley.
¡°¡¡±
¡°¡¡±
They stared at each other, the awkward silence stretching between them. Lin Xian knew it was embarrassing, but he couldn¡¯t help it. It wasn¡¯t his fault. Before he got into the time travel machine, Liu Feng and Gao Wen had told him to fast for 24 hours¡ªpreferably have an empty stomach before traveling through time. By the time he arrived, he was already starving. Then all this had happened. Running, escaping¡ªhe¡¯d used up all his energy.
Now his stomach was staging a full-on protest.
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian scratched his head sheepishly. ¡°Could you, um, buy me some bread? I promise I¡¯ll pay you back.¡±
CC¡¯s forehead twitched, and a vein popped as she red at him. ¡°You! You¡¯re getting way toofortable! And haven¡¯t I told you a hundred times? I don¡¯t have any money. Not a penny!¡±
¡°Then how do you usually eat?¡± Lin Xian asked, rubbing his stomach. ¡°Whatever you do, I¡¯ll do too. I¡¯m not picky¡ªas long as I get food.¡±
CC sighed, closing her eyes for a moment as if fighting the urge to leave him right there. But she¡¯d already promised to help him onest time. She couldn¡¯t back out now.
She took a deep breath and looked at him. ¡°Are you a Christian?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian replied, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m an atheist. I believe in science.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t believe in Jesus?¡± CC asked.
¡°Nope,¡± Lin Xian said inly. ¡°Atheist means I don¡¯t believe in anything. Just science.¡±
¡°Well, that¡¯s a shame,¡± CC muttered, shaking her head. ¡°No food for you, then.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian blinked in confusion. ¡°Wait, what does being a Christian have to do with food? Are you saying if I believed in Jesus, I¡¯d get fed?¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± CC replied, pointing toward the rising sun along the East Coast. ¡°There¡¯s a church near the docks. A shipyard owner donated it. If you attend the morning Mass and listen to the priest read from the Bible, you get a free breakfast afterward.¡±
¡°A lot of dockworkers weren¡¯t Christians originally,¡± she continued. ¡°But after talking with the priest, they became believers. You, on the other hand¡ªsince you¡¯re an atheist, we won¡¯t force you. The priest says we have to respect everyone¡¯s beliefs.¡±
She waved her hand dismissively as she started walking away. ¡°I¡¯m off to Mass. Figure out how to feed yourself, thene find me by the docks.¡±
¡°Wait!¡± Lin Xian grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
CC turned back, exasperated. ¡°What now?¡±
¡°What did you say just now?¡± Lin Xian asked, his eyes intense.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
CC frowned, thinking. ¡°I said, since you¡¯re an atheist, I¡¯m not going to force¡ª¡±
¡°No, not that.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Before that.¡±
CC blinked, tilting her head. ¡°Before that? I said a lot of the dockworkers became believers after talking to the priest. What about it?¡±
Lin Xian smiled, releasing her wrist. He lifted his right hand, mimicking Jesus from the ¡°Salvator Mundi¡± painting, his index and middle fingers pointing upward.
¡°Everyone can be converted,¡± he said, his voice sincere, his eyes shining. ¡°I can talk too. I can believe in Jesus.¡±
Chapter 489: Yet to Become the Stake
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Huh?¡±
CC looked at Lin Xian in disbelief. ¡°You¡ you¡¯re just going along with this?¡±
¡°No, no, no.¡± Lin Xian shook his head, disagreeing. ¡°I have to correct you. I was moved by the Lord. Suchpassionate and generous behavior¡ªhow could it not touch anyone¡¯s heart?¡±
¡°In this broken age, the Lord and His followers care for the whole world, pitying the people. They provide free breakfasts for dockworkers and homeless wanderers like us. If we don¡¯t believe in Him, what should we believe in? The ruthless capitalists?¡±
Lin Xian spoke eloquently, leaving CC speechless. She felt like¡ something was different about this X Country man in front of herpared to the loyal, honest people her grandmother always described. But¡
¡°Alright.¡± CC nodded. ¡°The priest also said that God forgives everyone, and those who return from their lost path are ourpanions.¡±
¡°Exactly, that¡¯s greatness,¡± Lin Xian dered, cing his right hand over his chest. His eyes sparkled with devotion, loyalty, and a genuine glow. ¡°Long live Jesus.¡±
¡This wasn¡¯t Lin Xian¡¯s first encounter with Christianity.
Back when he was attending university in Donghai, he hade across simr activities. There were several churches in Donghai, with church organizations regrly hosting gatherings in the city, in parks, or ces where people congregated. The activity was simple and down-to-earth¡ªgiving away eggs.
As long as you listened to the teachings and left your contact information, you could get eggs. If you were ¡°moved¡± on the spot, you could even get a few more. That led a group of older men and women to rush in to believe in Jesus, praising Christian teachings and the Lord¡¯s mercy. They¡¯d even fight each other to prove their piety. The scene was grand, and the sess rate was almost 100%.
However, when the eggs were gone, so was their faith.
The piety of those men and women onlysted as long as the eggs did. If they promised more eggs tomorrow, they¡¯d murmur Bible verses that night. If not, then goodbye Jesus, hello fried egg.
X Country people had always been like this. They never believed in useless gods; whoever worked, they believed in. If it didn¡¯t work, they¡¯d quickly switch to another. Thisnd didn¡¯t support idle gods.
Lin Xian, naturally, also had this adaptable kind of faith. When he saw those church activities back then, he had thought that if they handed out snacks or milk tea, he wouldn¡¯t mind reciting a few Bible verses.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Pragmatism was, after all, the core belief of X Country people. If it wasn¡¯t necessary, they wouldn¡¯t make itplicated.
¡°I wonder¡ if my Lord and Father could help me with my shoe problem,¡± Lin Xian said, looking down at his dirty, bare feet with a wry smile. ¡°Look at me, I have no shoes, I¡¯m wearing short sleeves in the middle of winter, and I¡¯m cold and starving. If the Lord and Father can solve these two problems for me¡ I¡¯ll sing the loudest during the hymnter.¡±
¡°You can get a coat,¡± CC said indifferently. ¡°The church at the dock hands out coats for poor believers, donated by a kind merchant. The aim is to keep wanderers and beggars warm in winter, preventing them from freezing to death.¡±
¡°Wait, really?¡± Lin Xian truly felt the light of Jesus for the first time. ¡°They really give out winter coats?¡± He had been half-joking, but it seemed to be true. ?
¡°And shoes? Are there any shoes?¡±
CC rolled her eyes at him. ¡°You really think the church is a shopping mall? Of course, there are no shoes. The church and the priest won¡¯t provide those. But¡ if other believers know you¡¯re in need, they might offer you a helping hand. But there¡¯s no guarantee.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°So, it¡¯s all about acting¡ I mean, demonstrating one¡¯s faith.¡±
¡°¡¡±
CC was at a loss for words. She finally understood. This man was only here for the food, clothes, and shelter. Despite all his cries of ¡°Long live Jesus,¡± there wasn¡¯t a trace of real faith in his heart.
¡°Alright, do what you want. Just don¡¯t cause any trouble for me. And when we get into the church, pretend you don¡¯t know me. I don¡¯t want to get dragged into whatever mess you create.¡±
¡°By the way, what¡¯s your name? How should I call you?¡±
¡°Lin Xian,¡± he replied.
¡°Link?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s Lin Xian-Xian.¡± Lin Xian spelled it out carefully for her. ¡°It¡¯s an X Country name. Just call me whatever sounds close enough. I¡¯ll know you¡¯re talking to me.¡±
¡°Alright, let¡¯s hurry up to the dock. I can¡¯t wait for the service.¡±
CC snorted softly. ¡°You can¡¯t wait for breakfast, can you?¡±
¡
The nted morning sunlight shone through the narrow streets of Brooklyn, spreading warmth and a sense of calm over the city. Lin Xian was barefoot. He followed behind CC. The two of them walked along uneven paths, wandering in the morning sun, headed toward the dock.
Lin Xian followed behind, making casual conversation. All the while, thoughts of spacetimews, temporal interference, and the unresolved mystery of the Millennium Stake filled his mind. He couldn¡¯t quite figure out what was going wrong.
And what worried him more was not knowing when CC might vanish into a cloud of blue stardust. That uncertainty kept him constantly on edge.
The Millennium Stake would dissolve every 24 years, precisely at 00:42 on the girl¡¯s 20th birthday. But the problem was¡ every Millennium Stake girl had a different birthday.
Chu An Qing was born on March 28th; Zhang Yu Qian on January 15th; CC from 600 years into the future on August 29th; and the current CC¡ he could only estimate her birthday was in November, without knowing the exact day.
Troublesome.
¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly, Lin Xian thought of something important! All Millennium Stake girls had a simr, strange pattern in their dreams.
Zhang Yu Qian had dreamed of mushroom clouds, newspapers, and montage scenes with Einstein. Chu An Qing dreamed of fireworks. Future CC had dreamed of Lin Xian himself, with blue eyes. Could this CC have useful information in her dreams as well?
Yes! This could be a crucial clue! Even a keyword or two could help him make sense of this journey to Brooklyn.
¡°Hey, CC.¡± Lin Xian looked at the bouncing high ponytail in front of him and asked, ¡°Do you dream often?¡±
¡°Of course, I do.¡± CC turned a corner and spoke softly. ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone dream? Why are you asking such silly questions?¡±
¡°Hmm?¡± Lin Xian was puzzled. What was going on? The other Millennium Stake girls had all said they couldn¡¯t remember their dreams. Whatever they saw faded a few seconds after waking up, and they couldn¡¯t recall anything no matter how hard they tried. But CC talked about dreaming like it was no big deal.
¡°Can you remember your dreams after you wake up?¡±
¡°Usually, yeah.¡± CC turned to look at him. ¡°But who really tries to remember them? Dreams change every night. Some are memorable, but after a day or two, they¡¯re all forgotten.¡±
???
Lin Xian frowned. Something felt off. Again.
Based on what he and Zhao Ying Jun had figured out, all Millennium Stake girls followed the same dream patterns: They dreamed of the same content every night¡ªfragments of a particr moment or story. Upon waking, they forgot everything within seconds, unable to recall anything, no matter how hard they tried. Only if someone shook them awake mid-dream could they remember a few disjointed words in their half-conscious state.
These patterns were absolute. Every Millennium Stake girl should be the same. Yet here was CC¡ªclearly a Millennium Stake¡ªactingpletely differently. She could remember her dreams like an ordinary person, and the dreams themselves changed each night. She seemed more like a normal girl than a Millennium Stake.
¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Lin Xian muttered. Everything was so strange. The year 1952 was full of mysteries: ¡°A time traveler who doesn¡¯t act like one, a Millennium Stake who isn¡¯t quite one.¡±
It summed up the situation perfectly. As a time traveler, he had none of the typical traits of one. And CC, as a Millennium Stake, didn¡¯t fit the bill either. He had no idea whaty behind all these discrepancies.
¡°Huh? What are you mumbling about?¡± CC looked back over her shoulder. ¡°You talk to yourself a lot, don¡¯t you? Can¡¯t you control that?¡±
Lin Xian snapped back to the present. He raised his head. ¡°Could you tell me what you dreamed aboutst night?¡±
¡°I still remember it pretty well,¡± CC said, slowing her pace so she was walking alongside Lin Xian. ¡°Last night, I dreamed about my grandmother again¡ªthe one who took me in at the orphanage. I miss her. We talked a lot, and I hugged her.¡±
¡°And the night before?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Hmm¡¡± CC touched her finger to her chin. ¡°The night before¡ I think I dreamed about food. A hot dog from Coney Ind¡ªI see that ad all the time, so I dreamed of eating one. It¡¯s a shame¡¡± She gave a rueful smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never had a hot dog before, not even from Coney Ind, so I couldn¡¯t taste it in the dream. No vor, no texture.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. Gao Yang had exined to him once that people couldn¡¯t dream of things beyond their knowledge. Since CC had never eaten a Coney Ind hot dog, she couldn¡¯t imagine the taste. Even if she tried, she¡¯d end up associating it with something she had eaten before.
But the sad part was¡ in nearly 20 years of life, she probably hadn¡¯t even had anything simr to a hot dog.
¡°What about the day before that?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°I don¡¯t remember that one,¡± CC said, shaking her head in frustration. ¡°You know, can you stop asking these boring questions? Is there even a point?¡±
Lin Xian smiled, deciding to stop pressing her. He had gotten what he needed.
From CC¡¯s answers, it was clear she wasn¡¯t like Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, or the CC of the future. That made Lin Xian doubt¡ was this CC even a Millennium Stake?
He thought it over. From a future perspective, she had to be a Millennium Stake. Time rifts were an objective fact. A massive number of time rifts meant the Millennium Stake must exist; the existence of the stake meant there were Millennium Stake girls; and this CC looked exactly like Chu An Qing and Zhang Yu Qian¡ªthere was no way she wasn¡¯t a Millennium Stake.
And yet¡ she had none of the usual traits. How could that be?
After a lot of thought, Lin Xian narrowed it down to one possibility:
This CC is still just an ordinary girl! She hasn¡¯t be a Millennium Stake yet!
Whoa¡ The idea sent shivers down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. A bold theory. Hard to believe. But what if it were true?
There wasn¡¯t really any definitive way to identify a Millennium Stake¡ªbeyond the dream patterns. If CC didn¡¯t have those dreams, then in theory, she shouldn¡¯t disappear into blue stardust on her 20th birthday. Unless¡ something happened to her that would change her from a normal girl into a Millennium Stake, condemning her to centuries of anchoring in time.
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he spoke aloud, ¡°So, what exactly causes CC to be a Millennium Stake?¡±
He still hadn¡¯t figured it out.
He had always assumed that a Millennium Stake¡¯s destiny¡ªeven the fate of the very first one¡ªwas something sealed from birth, determined by fate. But now, it seemed bing a Millennium Stake wasn¡¯t destined but rather something caused¡ªsomething enforced by someone.
¡°Coming to 1952 was definitely the right decision,¡± Lin Xian thought, his fist tightening with determination. He felt like he was getting closer, like he was about to uncover the shadowy hand behind it all.
All he had to do was stay close to CC. Eventually, he¡¯d see what turned her into a Millennium Stake, find out the truth, and expose whoever was responsible.
¡°Maybe then,¡± he thought, ¡°when I go back to 2234, I can change things¡ªmaybe even save Chu An Qing.¡±
Lin Xian let out a firm breath. ¡°I¡¯ll find out who¡¯s behind all of this, and what they¡¯re trying to do. Maybe, just maybe, I can stop them before they even start.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in realization. He reached back, rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully.
No¡ he couldn¡¯t do that.
He could still feel his connection to the future¡ªthat invisible ¡°kite string¡± that anchored him to 2234 was still intact. The worldline hadn¡¯t shifted; he was still linked to the future, and he could return anytime.
If he changed history here in 1952, that sticity of time would snap. The worldline could diverge, and he¡¯d end up on an entirely different path.
The ¡°kite string¡± would break, and he¡¯d be trapped¡ªlost in time, unable to return to where he belonged.
He remembered the promise he had made to Liu Feng: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be a good,w-abiding citizen here in 1952. No killing, no revealing anything to anyone important. I¡¯ll just be an observer, like an NPC, a camera. My goal is just to collect information and use it for a breakthrough back in our own time.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. Such was the dilemma of a time traveler. But he decided he wouldn¡¯t be too rigid¡ªhe¡¯d adapt as needed. For now, the best n was to stay close to CC. She hadn¡¯t yet be a Millennium Stake, and something was bound to happen to trigger it.
All he had to do was wait for that ¡°something¡± to happen.
¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯re here,¡± CC said, halting suddenly.
She pointed to a patch of greenery to their right. Lin Xian followed her gaze.
Beyond two rows of evergreen shrubs stood a modest, ssic-looking Christian church. It wasn¡¯t veryrge, but it seemed big enough to hold more than a hundred people for a service.
Lin Xian tilted his head back, looking at the cross perched at the top of the church. Its design was unlike anything he had seen at the churches in Donghai. Maybe there was some symbolism to its style, but he wasn¡¯t knowledgeable enough about Christianity to tell. He was only here for a free meal, after all.
He nced left, down towards the docks below. The church sat on higher ground, with dozens of stone steps leading down to the docks. It was early morning, and the dockworkers were already bustling about. Travelers boarded and disembarked from ships; the entire area buzzed with life.
Compared to the shabby clothes of the dockworkers, the passengers from the merchant ships looked especially refined. The men wore well-fitted ck suits with matching hats and long scarves, giving off a ssic ck-and-white movie charm. Meanwhile, the women wore colorful dresses¡ªred, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple¡ªtheir clothes vividly bright, perhaps even a little garish.
That was the character of the time. In Lin Xian¡¯s era, women wearing such shy colors would be considered ¡°tacky,¡± but in the ¡¯50s, it was the height of fashion.
¡°Stop staring, Lin Xian. Let¡¯s get to the church,¡± CC said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the right.
¡°The service is starting soon, and we can¡¯t bete.¡±
They walked down the brick-paved path, heading for the church. The small stones beneath Lin Xian¡¯s feet felt ufortable, and he hoped they¡¯d receive the Lord¡¯s grace soon¡ªin the form of a meal.
As they approached the church, Lin Xian noticed arge pot and several tents set up outside. The pot was filled with creamy, thick corn chowder, and beside it were stacks of heavy-looking bread.
¡°Is it limited?¡± Lin Xian asked, his stomach grumbling at the sight.
¡°One serving per person,¡± CC replied.
¡°That¡¯s not much¡¡± Lin Xian said, eyeing the bread. ¡°Probably not enough for those dockworkers.¡±
CC nodded. ¡°But this way, more people get something. The funds donated by the believers are limited. They want to help as many as they can.¡±
She looked at Lin Xian, sizing him up. He was tall and strong¡ªhe clearly needed more than just one serving.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she said with a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯ll share half of mine with you.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s too much. I¡¯ll be fine with a little¡ªmaybe I can figure something out¡¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± CC interrupted, shaking her head. ¡°I can¡¯t eat that much anyway, and you look like you haven¡¯t eaten properly in days. Just eat more.¡±
She gave him a yful re. ¡°Just promise me you won¡¯t embarrass me in there. Behave yourself, okay? You¡ªyou don¡¯t exactly look like a believer. More like an¡ Indian thief.¡±
¡°Why Indian?¡± Lin Xian frowned, raising an eyebrow.
CC shrugged. ¡°Just saying. You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re in this era. If it were a few decadester, you¡¯d get arrested for saying things like that.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just being honest,¡± CC said, tugging at his sleeve. ¡°You¡¯re wearing animal skin. I thought I was imagining it, but it¡¯s real fur. What did you go through to end up in fur clothes, without even proper shoes?¡±
Lin Xian shook his head with a small smile. The otter fur he wore was valuable, no matter the era. But now, it just seemed like old rags.
¡°Do I really look that poor and pitiful?¡±
CC nodded. ¡°Yes. Very poor, very pitiful. You¡¯re wearing fur, dressed for summer in this cold weather, and no shoes. Worse off than anyone in the Brooklyn slums.¡±
¡°Good.¡± Lin Xian smiled, his gaze drifting up to the statues of Yahweh and the Virgin Mary carved into the church wall.
¡°Thanks to you, I think I know exactly how to get the Lord¡¯s grace.¡±
¡°Wait¡ what are you nning?¡± CC asked, her eyes widening.
Lin Xian smirked. ¡°Just watch.¡± He stepped ahead of her, cing his hands on the double wooden doors.
Creeeeak¡ª
The doors swung open, and sunlight poured in, framing Lin Xian as he stepped into the sacred church¡
Chapter 490: The Wall
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Sunlight streamed in through the church windows, bathing the murals in a soft, golden glow. The pews below the altar were almost entirely filled, with just a few empty spots scattered here and there. Despite the crowd, the church was utterly silent.
Everyone sat quietly, their eyes either closed in meditation or gazing towards the front, waiting for the pastor to begin. Dockworkers dressed in worn clothes sat side by side with the well-dressed elite of society, all sharing the same solemn expression in the presence of the sacred.
Lin Xian and CC walked down the central aisle, scanning the rows for a ce to sit. Lin Xian nced around, noticing the diversity of those gathered. It wasn¡¯t just a mix of rich and poor; there were people of different nationalities, each representing a corner of the world. He spotted an Italian man with striking features, an Irish woman in simple clothes, and several people with Asian traits, though they weren¡¯t from X Country. Naturally, there were also many ck dockworkers¡ªunderstandable given the proximity to the docks.
Lin Xian wondered how many people were here just for the free breakfast. CC had once joked that he was probably the only one, as everyone else seemed genuinely pious. Lin Xian didn¡¯t believe that; he thought CC was just a little too innocent.
He followed her silently as she found them a seat along the edge. They had barely settled in before the pastor arrived, leading the choir onto the tform. The choir began to sing, the opening notes of the hymns echoing through the church.
The service had begun, and for Lin Xian, so had his journey towards a free meal. He had no idea how to sing hymns, but he had heard this melody before. He simply mouthed the words, pretending to be caught up in the moment.
While he was fake-singing, he nced sideways at CC. She sang with pure devotion, her face alight with sincerity, much like a student trying her hardest to impress a teacher. Lin Xian blinked, feeling that this version of CC reminded him of Chu An Qing¡ªinnocent, sincere, warm, and kind.
The CC from 600 years in the future had a different aura. She was still kind, but it took time for her warmth to show. Before they became close, Lin Xian had thought of her as cold and distant¡ªsomeone who kept people at arm¡¯s length. But it was understandable, considering her experiences and the harsh environment she grew up in.This CC from 1952 was different. Though stubborn at times, she had a soft heart. Despite Lin Xian¡¯s reputation as a ¡°newspaper thief,¡± she had still chosen to bring him here, helping him get a meal even though he clearlycked devotion.
It made Lin Xian think. Was every Millennial Stake girl really the same person, reincarnated over and over? Or were they different individuals, each chosen to carry the same fate?
If CC in 1952 was the same as Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and all the other Millennial Stake girls, it would mean that they were all one and the same, their memories wiped clean each time they were reborn. It would be like how Gao Wen existed across different world lines, always the same person but with different names.
But if each Millennial Stake girl died, leaving only a lookalike to take her ce due to some mysterious power, then CC wasn¡¯t Chu An Qing, nor Zhang Yu Qian. They would be entirely different people, connected only by their appearance.
Lin Xian¡¯s musings were interrupted as the hymn ended. The next part of the service involved prayer¡ªfirst private, thenmunal. Lin Xian watched as CC sped her hands, her eyes closed in deep prayer.
For Lin Xian, a firm believer in materialism, this part of the service was hard to take seriously. Did praying actually work? If it did, then Gauss¡¯ virus wouldn¡¯t have spread, he wouldn¡¯t have had to leave Ying Jun and Yu Xi, and Jesus could have just stopped the World-Ending White Light. But that wasn¡¯t how the world worked.
Still, the promise of free corn chowder and bread was real. Lin Xian¡¯s stomach growled, reminding him of his priorities. For now, ¡°materialism¡± meant ¡°food.¡±
So he closed his eyes, sped his hands together like CC, and continued pondering his theory. At first, he believed that CC and Chu An Qing were different people¡ªtheir personalities were just too different. He even used Chu An Qing¡¯s gentle nature to mock CC once, which had annoyed her.
But as they spent more time together, Lin Xian noticed simrities between them. Now, seeing this version of CC, he saw traits from both Chu An Qing and the future CC in her. It made him lean towards the idea that they were all the same person.
Could Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and even the CC of 2624 all be this same girl from 1952 Brooklyn?
He opened his eyes, ncing at CC beside him. He wasn¡¯t sure how to think of her anymore. There was no way to prove or disprove his theories. Besides, was this CC even the Millennial Stake yet? Could she be it?
So many questions remained unanswered, and it was going to be a long journey to find the truth.
Lin Xian sighed. He had only just arrived in 1952¡ªless than three hours ago¡ªand already he had made significant progress. He had found CC, gathered some clues, and had a direction for his investigation.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Slowly but surely, things wereing together. With the ¡°kite string¡± on the back of his head guiding him, Lin Xian felt secure. He wasn¡¯t afraid to stay in Brooklyn longer if it meant getting to the bottom of everything.
After the prayer ended, the pastor began reading scripture and giving a sermon. CC listened attentively, nodding asionally. Lin Xian, however, wasn¡¯t interested. He began nning his next steps for the ¡°Brooklyn Project.¡±
Toplete his mission, he needed a clear n. After some thought, Lin Xian settled on a three-step approach:
First, stay by CC¡¯s side until she became the Millennial Stake. Witnessing how she became it might provide clues to break the fate of the Millennial Stake and save Chu An Qing.
Next, once the first Millennial Stake was established, investigate Einstein. Find out if Albert Einstein was connected to the Genius Club¡ªwhether he was its president and how he had the ability to foresee the future. ??
Lastly, use the information from the first two steps to unravel the mysteries of 1952. Figure out if the events were connected to the World-Ending White Light of 2624 and understand the truth behind Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, and CC¡¯s shattered dreams.
With this n in mind, everything seemed clearer. Lin Xian nodded to himself, hoping that things would go smoothly and he could return to 2234 with all the answers.
¡
By then, the priest had finished his sermon.
He closed the Bible on the altar, leading the congregation in a final prayer. Then he ced his left hand on his chest while his right hand made the sign of the cross ¡ª touching his forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder ¡ª and said, ¡°Amen.¡±
All the believers followed suit, including Lin Xian, who repeated, ¡°Amen,¡± along with everyone else.
And with that, the service was over. Anyone who had questions, confessions, or anything else to discuss could now speak with the priest. Otherwise, they could leave in an orderly fashion or go outside to receive a free breakfast.
¡°This is it,¡± Lin Xian whispered, his eyes narrowing with determination.
He had already scoped out theyout, ready to put his ¡°river otter act¡± into action.
The two frontmost rows, closest to the altar and the priest, were filled with high-society members. Their clothes and dignified manner spoke of wealth and status, and they seemed far more devout than the workers sitting behind them.
¡°It¡¯s time to put on a show,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. ¡°Thanks to VV for all those Hollywood acting lessons; I actually learned something useful.¡±
He squeezed past CC, heading straight to the front, where sunlight poured in and bathed the priest in a warm glow.
CC watched him go, confused. ¡°Where are you going?¡±
Lin Xian turned, quickly gesturing for her to stay quiet and just watch.
Finally, he stopped, only a step away from the priest.
He took a deep breath, and his expression suddenly changed to one of deep regret and sorrow. Lowering his head, he spoke in sincere English, ¡°Father, I have sinned.¡±
Instantly, the room fell silent. Every eye turned to look at him, especially the wealthy members of the congregation in the front rows. They eyed Lin Xian¡¯s clothes, whispering among themselves.
The priest looked at him kindly, adjusting his sses. ¡°My child, what has happened?¡±
¡°I¡ I¡¡± Lin Xian hesitated, clutching his forehead, his face filled with pain. ¡°I have sinned. To keep warm, to fill my stomach, I cruelly killed some otters¡ They were living creatures, and I shouldn¡¯t have done it. I shouldn¡¯t have eaten them or used their skins to stay warm¡¡±
¡°But, Father, I had no choice. No one would help me. I prayed, but there was no answer. So, in desperation, I took the lives of that otter family. Blood¡ blood sttered all over me. At that moment, it felt like the devil himself had taken over me¡¡±
¡°Father, I seek forgiveness. I want God to forgive me for my sins. I want to apologize to those poor otters. I should never have done what I did¡ I shouldn¡¯t¡¡±
He covered his face, seemingly unable to continue.
Around him, the congregation was stunned. Some gasped, others dabbed at their eyes, grieving for the otters, whispering to each other.
¡°Poor child¡ those poor otters¡¡±
¡°Look, he¡¯s telling the truth. His clothes are made of otter skin¡ Poor boy, he doesn¡¯t even have proper clothes.¡±
¡°Oh my, he doesn¡¯t even have shoes. Look at his feet, all dirty¡ Imagine walking around barefoot in this cold.¡±
¡°In weather like this, with clothes like that, he¡¯d be dead by winter. Poor boy, he¡¯s as pitiful as those otters, about to be devoured by the harsh winter.¡±
The priest closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh, and rested his right hand on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Child, you are not at fault. We are. We are to me for not answering your prayers in time. We¡ came toote.¡±
¡°Believe me, God will forgive your sins. Those otters who died at your hands will be blessed in Heaven. They will forgive you.¡±
¡°Those who find their way back to the light will always be saved. Do not be haunted by the shadows of the past, my child. We will provide you with a winter coat shortly.¡±
¡°Now, let us pray together for the otters. Bless them in Heaven.¡±
Lin Xian, following the priest¡¯s guidance, prayed for the otters.
Otters, I hope you have a good life next time, in America.
Then he made the sign of the cross once again, touching his forehead, chest, and shoulders.
¡°Amen.¡±
At that moment, a well-dressed gentleman approached Lin Xian, bowing slightly.
¡°Sir, if you don¡¯t mind, please take my shoes. I have another pair in my car. I just want to help, even if it¡¯s a small gesture.¡±
Then, a wealthy woman in a ck veil stepped forward, draping a scarf around Lin Xian¡¯s neck.
¡°Child, take this scarf. Don¡¯t let yourself freeze.¡±
And so, Lin Xian also received a long winter coat from the priest. Though it was old and made of rough fabric, it was thick and warm. As soon as he put it on, he felt warmth spread through him.
¡°This is great,¡± Lin Xian said, standing outside the chapel, wrapped in the coat, standing next to CC. ¡°Look at this ¡ª shoes, a coat, and even a scarf. And soon there¡¯ll be free corn chowder and bread. Jesus is the real deal.¡±
¡°The real deal?¡± CC tilted her head, curious. ¡°What does that mean? Is it some kind of phrase?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian paused, unsure how to exin. ¡°It just means I¡¯m really impressed, really thankful.¡±
¡°Oh, I see.¡± CC nodded, not entirely understanding but remembering the expression.
Lin Xian turned to the church window to check his reflection, admiring his new outfit ¡ª the ¡°Church Set.¡±
It was quite an improvement. He had only been in Brooklyn for five hours, and already he¡¯d upgraded from the ¡°Otter Set¡± to the much warmer ¡°Church Set.¡±
He wondered if there were more chances to upgrade his gearter.
What sort of high-level equipment could this era have in store for him?
After the service, the well-dressed congregation left, while the ragged workers and dockworkers lined up for the free breakfast. Everyone got a bowl of corn chowder and a thick piece of bread.
The moment Lin Xian held the bread, he could tell something was up.
¡°It¡¯s heavy,¡± he noted.
Much heavier than he expected. It wasn¡¯t so much bread as it was a lump of hardened dough.
Lin Xian and CC sat on a wooden crate at the dock, eating. As she had said earlier, CC broke off half of her bread and handed it to Lin Xian.
He quickly waved her off. ¡°No, no, you keep it. It¡¯s not much, anyway. I¡¯ll just eat mine.¡±
¡°Stop being stubborn,¡± CC insisted, dunking half of her bread into his chowder. ¡°You¡¯re a big guy. This little bit won¡¯t be enough. Just eat it and stop arguing.¡±
Lin Xian looked at CC, who was skinny and obviously malnourished. Then he nced down at the half of her bread, now soaking in his chowder, tiny bubbles rising to the surface.
¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered.
He kept his head down and started eating. For some reason, CC¡¯s bread felt softer than his own.
Once they finished eating and returned the bowls to the church, they went back to the broken dock, sitting on a wooden crate and gazing out across the river at the Manhattan skyline.
It was a cyberpunk-like experience.
Around them were old, run-down shacks, everything dirty, wet, and smelly. But a simple upward nce revealed Manhattan¡¯s clear skyline in the distance.
Manhattan ¡ª the wealthiest area of the wealthiest city in America, with the most luxurious lifestyles and the tallest skyscrapers.
The tallest building among them was the Empire State Building, the most icondmark in New York. Standing 381 meters tall with 102 floors, it was the tallest building in the world at that time, holding the record from 1931 until 1972. It would be twenty more years before any building surpassed it.
It was hard to believe that all that wealth and splendory just across the river from the run-down Brooklyn slums. The stark contrast reminded Lin Xian of the Second Dream¡
Back then, he had stood on the uneven rooftops of Old Donghai Vige, gazing at the neon lights of New Donghai City in the distance, feeling that same sense of otherworldliness.
¡°The center of the world, Manhattan,¡± CC said softly from behind him.
Lin Xian turned around. He saw CC staring at the distant skyscrapers, her eyes full of longing.
¡°It¡¯s the most prosperous, most beautiful ce in the entire world,¡± she continued. ¡°At night, when the lights are on, it¡¯s even more beautiful. It truly is the center of the world.¡±
Lin Xian blinked.
The center of the world¡
He remembered that description well.
In 2023, when he participated in the ¡°World Hacker Competition,¡± he and Chu An Qing stayed at the Aman Hotel in Manhattan. After the celebration banquet, they had stood on the observation deck of the hotel, overlooking all of Manhattan. He had pointed out the Empire State Building to her and showed her the Rockefeller Center and the Hudson River.
Chu An Qing had been genuinely impressed then.
¡°So this is the center of the world?¡± she had said.
It just so happened that, across the river from them that night, was the very ce where Lin Xian now stood with CC: Brooklyn.
He hadn¡¯t imagined it then, but now¡
He felt a connection spanning across time.
In 2023, he stood in Manhattan with Chu An Qing, looking at Brooklyn from afar. Now, in 1952, he was with CC in Brooklyn, looking across the river at Manhattan.
It was disorienting. He couldn¡¯t help but look around¡
In 1952, was the Aman Hotel already standing in Manhattan?
Probably. The building had a history spanning over a century, though it only had 23 floors. From their position on the dock in Brooklyn, it wouldn¡¯t be visible, hidden behind the taller buildings.
¡°Do you really like Manhattan that much?¡± Lin Xian asked, seeing the longing in CC¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you want to go there?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± she said without hesitation. ¡°Everyone in Brooklyn dreams of going to Manhattan.¡±
¡°But¡ we can¡¯t get there.¡±
CC turned to look at the massive bridge stretching across the Hudson River.
¡°See that bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan?¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°The Brooklyn Bridge. Probably the most famous bridge in the world.¡±
It had been a constant feature in countless Hollywood movies. Sometimes it was blown up, sometimes it got crashed into, other times it served as a backdrop for car chases¡
The bridge had a long history. When it opened in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, the first bridge built using steel. At the time, it was hailed as the eighth wonder of the world. Even centuriester, it still stood tall.
But¡
CC smiled sadly, shaking her head.
¡°It looks like a bridge, but really, it¡¯s a wall ¡ª a wall that stands between Brooklyn and Manhattan, one we can never cross.¡±
She looked at Lin Xian and said quietly, ¡°It¡¯s a wall that we¡ will never be able to get over.¡±
Chapter 491: Keeping Promises
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°What¡¯s so impossible about it?¡±
Lin Xian pointed towards the distant Brooklyn Bridge, then turned back to look at CC.
¡°In the end, it¡¯s just a bridge¡ªa physical one. As long as we have feet, we can walk across it from Brooklyn to Manhattan. It might take a while, but why couldn¡¯t we make it?¡±
¡°Heh.¡±
CC let out a dismissive chuckle.
¡°Why pretend to be something you¡¯re not? You don¡¯t belong there. Why push so hard to go? We¡¯re not even qualified to set foot in Manhattan.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡±CC hopped off an old, splintered crate, spreading her arms wide to show off her worn-out clothes. She pointed at Lin Xian¡¯s patched-up coat.
¡°Look at us. No one in Manhattan wears clothes like these. Everyone there¡ªmen and women alike¡ªwears neat, beautiful clothing. The men have suits or wool coats, ties, and hats. The women are dazzling¡ªtheir dresses are flowing, lovely, elegant.¡±
She sighed, ncing down at their own tattered outfits.
¡°That¡¯s the difference, Lin Xian. We belong in Brooklyn. Manhattan¡ it¡¯s not our world.¡±
¡
Lin Xian watched CC in silence. The more she spoke like this, the more he sensed her longing for Manhattan.
To be fair, this version of CC had probably faced the worst circumstances among all her reincarnations.
Zhang Yu Qian and Chu An Qing were both born into wealthy families, which made Lin Xian think that perhaps reincarnations had rules¡ªlike being born into prosperity.
CC¡¯s background was unclear to him, but from what she shared, she had both parents alive and a rtivelyfortable childhood. But this CC¡
She¡¯d had it rough. Abandoned at birth, she¡¯d grown up in an orphanage¡ªuntil it shut down, leaving her homeless.
Now here she was, standing in run-down Brooklyn, longing for a beautiful gown, her eyes filled with desire.
¡°Do you want a dress too?¡± Lin Xian asked with a gentle smile.
He had noticed how CC¡¯s eyes lit up when she spoke of the women of Manhattan in their elegant dresses.
¡°Of course I do! What girl wouldn¡¯t want a pretty dress?¡± CC bit her lip and spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯d love to wear a white dressce and gauze, light and airy.¡± ?
¡°Why white?¡± Lin Xian tilted his head, curious. ¡°This morning, when I saw thediesing off the boat, they wore dresses in all sorts of colors¡ªlike a rainbow, trying to catch everyone¡¯s eye.¡±
He paused, then added with a grin, ¡°And your description¡ it almost sounds like a wedding dress.¡±
CC waved her hand. ¡°Oh,e on, I was just describing it. I¡¯ve never worn a white dress, so how could I be that specific?¡±
She gave a little sigh. ¡°The reason I want a white one is that I¡¯ve never worn anything white before. In the orphanage, all our clothes were hand-me-downs, passed down until they were worn out.
¡°White clothes get dirty too easily¡ªwear them a couple of times, and they¡¯re ruined. So, we always wore dark colors¡ªck, brown, blue, purple¡ anything but light.¡±
She looked down at her tattered clothes and continued, ¡°I¡¯m still a teenage girl, you know? Of course I want to wear something pretty¡ªsomething that lets me spin around on the beach like¡ like Marilyn Monroe.¡±
She chuckled, her eyes curving like crescent moons as she looked back at Lin Xian.
¡°Hey, do you¡ªyou know Marilyn Monroe, Mr. Caveman?¡±
Lin Xian smiled at the nickname. ¡°Of course I know her.¡±
Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous actresses in America¡ªespecially now, in 1952, when her fame was at its peak.
So, when CC made thatparison, Lin Xian understood what kind of dress she dreamed of¡ªlight and flowing, like Monroe¡¯s.
He sighed, thinking back to Chu An Qing, the little princess from Donghai. He felt a pang of sympathy for CC¡ªthis Brooklyn girl.
A simple white dress shouldn¡¯t be such a far-off dream.
But for CC, it was like a distant star¡ªbeautiful and unattainable.
Habitually, Lin Xian put his right hand in his coat pocket, feeling for his phone, credit card, or wallet.
Nothing. His pocket was empty¡ªemptier than his stomach.
He wasn¡¯t the billionaire CEO he used to be¡ªright now, he was even poorer than CC.
There was nothing he could do to help.
¡°If I ever get the chance, I¡¯ll buy you a white dress,¡± Lin Xian promised, trying to sound casual. ¡°Consider it my way of saying thanks for looking after me.¡±
¡°Ha!¡± CC gave him a disdainful look. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. If you have that much time, why don¡¯t you find a way to make money? Quit following me around like a puppy and causing trouble. That¡¯d be thanks enough.¡±
Lin Xianughed, shoving his hands in his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I don¡¯t have money now, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll always be broke. Just you wait¡ªI¡¯ll keep my promise.¡±
He nced at the distant Manhattan skyline. ¡°And since you like Manhattan so much, why not visit the Brooklyn Heights Promenade?¡±
¡°It¡¯s the perfect spot to look at the Manhattan skyline. You can see the whole city from the other side of the river. It¡¯s much better than staring from here, by the docks.¡±
CC snorted, crossing her arms. ¡°Yeah, right. You make it sound so easy. Brooklyn Heights is a rich neighborhood, far from here. You think we can just waltz over there? Get real, Lin Xian. You can¡¯t even afford food, let alone a bus ride to Brooklyn Heights. If you make money, the first thing you should do is pay back the newspaper you stole from that kid.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Now that we¡¯re not starving, it¡¯s time to earn some money. Let¡¯s see¡¡±
He looked around, scanning the area for a way to make some quick cash.
He had traveled from the year 2234 to this primitive 1952¡ªsurely he could figure out a way to earn a bit of pocket money.
Hmm¡
Lin Xian¡¯s gazended on a stall down by the harbor¡ªa shooting booth.
¡°Perfect.¡± He grinned. He grabbed CC¡¯s arm and led her down the stairs towards the bustling stalls.
¡°Hey, hey! What are you doing?¡± CC protested, her confusion growing. ¡°We don¡¯t have any money. What are you thinking?¡±
Lin Xian just smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±
They reached the shooting booth, keeping a little distance to observe. Right now, a well-dressed family of three, clearly wealthy, was trying to shoot the balloons.
The man wore a long ck wool coat, a matching hat. The woman was elegantly dressed, and even the little girl hopping around was dolled up¡ªwearing a sun hat and a cute little dress¡ªa small princess.
¡°Daddy, I want that one!¡± The girl pointed at a prize on the highest shelf¡ªa boxed doll.
Lin Xian squinted at the box¡¯sbel: ¡°Alice in Wondend¡ So it¡¯s not a Barbie; it¡¯s an Alice doll.¡±
Disney movies were already popr in 1952, and ¡°Alice in Wondend¡± must have been released around then too.
He turned to CC, ¡°Is ¡®Alice in Wondend¡¯ ying in theaters now?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± CC looked confused. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to a theater or seen a movie.¡±
¡°Oh, right.¡± Lin Xian felt a pang of regret. He kept forgetting that CC¡¯s first reincarnation was a poor, wandering girl. In this era, films were still luxuries, and CC had no way to watch them.
Bang¡ Bang¡ Bang¡
With each shot, a balloon burst, but the father missed some too. In the end, he managed to pop six balloons out of ten. Not enough to win a prize¡ªcertainly not enough for the Alice doll, which required a perfect score.
The little girl began to cry. ¡°Daddy, I want Alice! I want Alice!¡±
The father sighed, turning to the booth operator. ¡°Another round.¡±
¡°Of course, sir,¡± said the operator politely. ¡°y as much as you like; you can pay at the end.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s ears perked up. Perfect. He now knew the booth allowed ying on credit¡ªjust what he needed.
Bang¡ Bang¡ Bang¡
The father tried several more times, but the best he managed was hitting eight balloons. They earned a measly lollipop, nowhere near the grand prize.
The little girl threw a fit. ¡°I want Alice! I want Alice NOW!¡±
Her mother sighed, ¡°Sweetie, we can buy it at the store for a few dimes when we get back.¡±
The father nodded, ¡°It¡¯s too hard to hit all ten, darling. I did my best.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed. He¡¯d just heard two more valuable bits of information: the doll was worth only a few dimes, and the girl¡¯s parents were willing to buy it.
But the child insisted. ¡°No, I want this one! Right now!¡±
Ah, spoiled kids¡ªsome things never changed, no matter the time or ce.
Seeing her tantrum wasn¡¯t ending anytime soon, Lin Xian decided it was his cue.
¡°Time for me to shine,¡± he muttered, striding towards the booth.
¡°What are you doing?!¡± CC hissed, grabbing his arm. ¡°Are you crazy? We can¡¯t afford this! These stall owners are tough¡ªthey¡¯ll beat you up if you don¡¯t pay.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled, brushing off her hand. ¡°Maybe I can¡¯t shoot bread out of those balloons, but¡¡±
He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°I can earn us a ticket to Brooklyn Heights.¡±
CC gaped. ¡°What?¡±
Ignoring her protests, Lin Xian walked to the booth. CC, unsure of what to do, hesitated before deciding to watch from a distance, ready to step in if things went south.
The booth owner was still negotiating with the father, trying to sell the doll for five dors.
¡°Click.¡±
Lin Xian picked up the toy gun and cocked it, addressing the booth owner. ¡°I¡¯ll take a round.¡±
The owner barely nced at him, waving dismissively. ¡°Go ahead. Ten cents per round, ten shots. Pay up after.¡±
Then he went back to arguing with the father about the doll¡¯s price.
Bang! Click.
Bang! Click.
Bang! Click.
Each shot Lin Xian fired hit its target. The father and the booth owner paused, watching in astonishment as he effortlessly took down balloon after balloon, barely even aiming.
Bang!
With the final balloon bursting, Lin Xian had scored a perfect ten.
He smirked and pointed at the Alice doll on the top shelf. ¡°I¡¯ll take that.¡±
The owner, grumbling, had no choice but to hand over the boxed doll.
Lin Xian crouched, smiling at the sniffling girl. ¡°Would you like it?¡±
The girl immediately stopped crying, her eyes wide. She nodded eagerly.
The parents looked relieved and asked Lin Xian, ¡°Would you consider selling it to us?¡±
Lin Xian handed the doll to the girl, then held out his hand to the father. ¡°Two dors, please.¡±
Without hesitation, the father handed over two one-dor coins, thanked him, and left with his now-content daughter.
Lin Xian smirked. Making money off spoiled kids was easy. He then gave one dime to the booth owner. ¡°No more games. Change, please.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
CC had been watching the whole scene, stunned.
Lin Xian whistled, approaching CC. He opened his palm to reveal a handful of coins¡ª1-dor coins, 25-cent coins, 10-cent coins.
¡°Oh my god¡¡± CC gasped. She had never expected this man from X Country could, in a matter of minutes, earn two dors¡ªlike magic!
Two dors was a fortune.
She looked up at Lin Xian, her eyes shining. ¡°Lin Xian, you did it! This willst you for so long!¡±
But Lin Xian just smiled. ¡°Survival is important, sure. But now we can afford a bus ride¡ to Brooklyn Heights.¡±
CC drew in a breath. ¡°You¡¡±
Finally, she understood what he meant when he said he¡¯d get them a ticket to Brooklyn Heights.
He wasn¡¯t joking.
Still¡ she shook her head. ¡°No, Lin Xian. You should keep this money for food. Brooklyn Heights, Manhattan¡ªthey¡¯ll be there for years. Decades. If we don¡¯t see them today, they¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±
¡°Lin Xian, just because you got lucky once doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll always have that luck. Don¡¯t waste money on something unnecessary. Use it to fill your stomach.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not unnecessary,¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°Keeping my promises, no matter how small, is what matters most.¡±
He looked at CC, really looked at her. For a moment, she seemed to blur with Chu An Qing¡ªher hopeful smile, her excitement about a world beyond reach.
¡°There are so many things I promised and never did,¡± he said quietly.
He thought back to Donghai, when Chu An Qing had promised to be his guide at the British Museum¡ªto see the famous ¡°Sorrowful Einstein¡± painting and collect clues. They¡¯d nned that trip, and she had been so eager.
It never happened.
At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, on his birthday, she¡¯d made him a sweet, sticky cake. He promised her a surprise on her twentieth birthday.
He failed.
On the Space Shuttle, two miles above Earth, in her final moments, she wrote him a note, asking him to open it in the dream.
He still hadn¡¯t done it.
He had promised her father, Chu Shan He, that he¡¯d protect her, bring his beloved daughter home.
But he failed.
Lin Xian sighed. Enough with broken promises.
It wasn¡¯t that hard to buy a white dress. He didn¡¯t need every meal¡ªhe could always find food at the church. And he didn¡¯t know when this version of CC would disappear¡ªa blue speck of dust in time.
Better to make the most of what little time they had.
¡°Huh?¡± CC looked puzzled. ¡°You haven¡¯t promised me anything¡ We just met.¡±
¡°Come on, let¡¯s get moving.¡± Lin Xian cut her off, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along.
¡°Wait! Before we head out, we have to stop back at the street where we started and repay that newspaper boy,¡± he said over his shoulder.
CC followed behind,ughing despite herself. ¡°You really are someone who keeps his word, huh?¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Lin Xian smiled, looking out at the horizon, remembering that small, stooped newspaper boy.
¡°I hope¡ he hasn¡¯t gotten into trouble because of us.¡±
Chapter 492: Small Characters
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
With his equipment upgraded and wearing the fancy leather shoes donated by a kind soul, Lin Xian found walking on the paved road much morefortable, and his steps quickened noticeably.
In half an hour, he and CC returned to the old street where they had first crossed over. It didn¡¯t take long before they spotted the little ck boy with the newspapers on his back, looking utterly dejected as he tried to sell them.
His voice was weak, almost lifeless: ¡°Newspapers¡ newspapers¡ today¡¯s paper¡¡±
It reminded Lin Xian of an old, tired robot on itsst battery.
The poor kid probably had scenes of getting scolded reying over and over in his mind.
Lin Xian strode forward purposefully.
Hearing footsteps, the boy¡¯s head shot up, excitement shing in his eyes, but just as quickly his expression changed. His eyes widened, and he stepped back, inhaling sharply, clearly about to yell.
¡°Quiet. Don¡¯t even think about screaming,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, flicking a coin from his right hand.Instinctively, the boy caught it. When he opened his palm, he saw a ten-cent coin, enough to buy several newspapers.
He looked at Lin Xian, eyes wide in astonishment.
¡°Keep the change. Consider the rest apensation for your trouble,¡± Lin Xian said, then turned away, waving his hand as he walked off with CC.
The boy watched them hurry away, finally realizing that he¡¯d profited after all. Bowing hastily towards Lin Xian¡¯s retreating back, he shouted, ¡°Thank you, sir! Thank you! Have a wonderful day!¡±
¡n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°Sigh¡ you, you¡¯re something else,¡± CC said, shaking her head with an amused smile as they walked further away.
¡°When you were broke, you¡¯d shamelessly go to the church for food, and now, the moment you get a bit of money, you start acting like a big shot, wasting it all without a care. If you keep this up, no matter how much you earn, you¡¯ll end up with nothing.¡±
¡°It¡¯s only fair topensate him,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°After all, the newspaper I grabbed wasn¡¯t the same as buying it properly, right? I know you probably didn¡¯t think much of me at first, but that was really a desperate moment. I do have principles. At least, I¡¯m not the kind to let others pay for my mistakes.¡±
CC nodded, her expression softening. ¡°You¡¯re right. My first impression of you wasn¡¯t great. Especially when I saw you weren¡¯t that devoted to the Lord, just looking for a meal. I really wanted to leave you behind.¡± She gave a smallugh. ¡°But seeing you now, keeping your word and doing what you said you would¡ well, it¡¯s changed my view of you quite a bit. By the way, are we really heading to Brooklyn Heights? Bus fare back and forth isn¡¯t exactly cheap. It¡¯ll eat into your meager funds.¡± ?
¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about money right now,¡± Lin Xian said, smiling. ¡°Life¡¯s about enjoying the moment. Who knows what¡¯lle first, tomorrow or an unexpected event? As for the money, maybe once we get to the rich areas, the rich fools there will actually make me richer.¡±
They continued chatting until they reached the bus stop. Just then, a bus pulled up, and Lin Xian tugged CC along as they boarded.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡±
¡
The buses of the 1950s were slow, probably due to the road conditions.
After buying tickets, Lin Xian and CC found seats toward the back, watching the scenery pass by.
¡°This is as far as I¡¯ve ever gone,¡± CC said softly about half an hour into the ride, pointing towards a noticeably wider and cleaner road ahead. ¡°Since I was born, I¡¯ve never left Brooklyn. Not just Brooklyn¡ I haven¡¯t even left the Brownsville neighborhood.¡±
¡°My grandmother¡¯s welfare home was there. After it shut down, I¡¯ve been roaming around here. On lucky days, I could find a small job; on unlucky ones¡ well, like now, relying on church meals and hoping for work.¡± CC gazed out the bus window.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t see her eyes, but he could hear the hardship in her voice.
¡°It¡¯s easier for men,¡± she added, scratching the back of her head where her ponytaily messy. ¡°Men can at least do physicalbor and get by. I¡¯ve never gone to school, I¡¯m not educated¡ the bakeries and shops don¡¯t want me.¡±
The bus rolled out of Brownsville, leaving behind CC¡¯s ¡°world boundary¡± and venturing into another part of Brooklyn.
It was immediately apparent that this area was wealthier. The streets were cleaner, the buildings more modern, the clothes more expensive, and there were more of those little boxy or rounded cars driving around. Life here was on a different level.
CC opened the bus window, sticking her head out to take in the view¡ªher first glimpse of the world beyond.
¡°Never seen anything like this before?¡± Lin Xian asked.
CC shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve only seen pictures in discarded newspapers¡ or maybe glimpses on the TVs in shop windows. Seeing it for real is a first.¡±
She blinked, taking a deep breath as if the air itself was fresher here.
¡°Thanks for bringing me here, Lin Xian,¡± she said, turning back with a smile that made her eyes crinkle and her dimples appear. ¡°If I ever have the means to go to Manhattan, I¡¯ll take you with me.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°You called me a liar, but aren¡¯t you painting a pretty picture for me too? You can¡¯t even afford bus fare¡ªit¡¯s all on me.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± CC protested, blushing slightly.
¡°I mean it!¡± she said, taking his right hand and hooking her pinky around his¡ªa universal symbol of promise.
¡°Pinky swear,¡± CC said earnestly, locking eyes with him. ¡°I promise, if I say I¡¯ll take you to Manhattan, I will.¡±
Lin Xian looked at her familiar face, and an image of Chu An Qing smiling appeared in his mind. Manhattan¡
He had been there with Chu An Qing, standing atop the Aman Hotel, with her facing the wind, arms outstretched, mimicking that scene from ¡°Titanic.¡±
¡°You jump, I jump.¡±
Who would¡¯ve thought those words woulde true, and they¡¯d find themselves re-enacting the scene in a space shuttle at twenty thousand meters?
¡°Hey! Say something,¡± CC urged, still holding his pinky.
¡°Do you not believe me?¡±
Lin Xian snapped out of it, ncing at their interlocked fingers. ¡°I believe you. Of course I do.¡±
¡°Sure doesn¡¯t sound like it,¡± CC muttered, rolling her eyes. ¡°Anyway, just you wait. I¡¯ll take you to Manhattan.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±
Ding¡ª
The bus came to a stop, and the driver used a speaker to announce the destination.
Lin Xian and CC exchanged a final nce before letting go of their pinkies and standing to get off the bus.
As they stepped out, the sun was shining again, illuminating a new cityscape¡ªBrooklyn Heights, the wealthy part of Brooklyn.
Themercial streets around them were bustling. People moved up and down the sidewalks, their faces full of energy and happiness.
The world truly had its contrasts.
¡°Brooklyn Heights Promenade¡¡± Lin Xian said, looking at a map on the bus stop sign and tracing his finger along it. ¡°Here, CC, we need to walk west along the path across thismercial street.¡±
CC nodded, following behind him.
Their mismatched clothing¡ªone dressed in church hand-me-downs, the other in rags¡ªmade them stand out, drawing stares full of disdain and even disgust. But neither Lin Xian nor CC cared. Lin Xian knew this wasn¡¯t truly his world; it was all like a dream. And for CC, she¡¯d lived her whole life under those kinds of looks and was long used to it.
The street was filled with all sorts of shops.
¡°Hm?¡± Lin Xian suddenly stopped, noticing a watch shop on the right.
He instinctively touched his left wrist, but it was empty.
In both reality and dreams, Lin Xian was used to wearing a watch. He needed an urate timepiece to help him time his entrances and exits from dreams. Since this recent crossover, he¡¯d felt uneasy, as if something was missing, and theck of a watch was part of it.
He moved closer, peering through the window at the watches on disy.
¡°Whoa¡ might as well just rob me,¡± he muttered.
CC stepped up beside him, noticing he was staring at a Rolex, priced at two hundred dors.
¡°Why are you even looking at a Rolex? Do you really think you can afford it?¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian blinked. ¡°I used to wear a Rolex.¡±
¡°Yeah, right!¡± CC scoffed. ¡°Wearing animal skins with no shoes, but you had a Rolex? Why not just say you own an aircraft carrier while you¡¯re at it?¡±
Lin Xian had no words, so he continued looking for cheaper watches in the disy.
Based on the American time, with a twelve-hour time difference from X Country, midnight at 00:42 would be the earliest time he could dream. He really needed a watch.
In the end, though, even the cheapest watch cost twenty dors.
¡°Too expensive,¡± Lin Xian sighed. Watches were definitely a luxury item in 1952¡ªsomething for the upper ss.
The production capacity of the time dictated everything. When Lin Xian was in school, cheap watches could be found in street shops for just a few dors, little different from what you¡¯d find at a flea market. But in the seventies, in X Country, a watch, a sewing machine, and a bicycle were considered the ¡°three must-haves¡± for marriage¡ªshowing just how high a watch¡¯s status was.
It seemed the same was true in 1950s America.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go,¡± CC said, tugging Lin Xian away. ¡°Even the cheapest one costs twenty dors. We can¡¯t afford that. Why are you so interested in watches anyway? Do you like them that much?¡±
¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not about liking them; I just really need a watch.¡±
¡°Really need one?¡± CC tilted her head. ¡°But¡ you can¡¯t afford it. You¡¯ve barely got two dors on you, not even enough for a watch strap. Forget it, watches aren¡¯t for people like us. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Lin Xian sighed, taking onest longing look at the watches in the window before turning away.
¡
About half an hourter, they climbed the stairs to the famous Brooklyn Heights Promenade¡ªthe best spot to gaze at the Manhattan skyline.
One look, and they were met with a bustling metropolis.
In 1952, Manhattan was undoubtedly the center of the world. This city, filled with skyscrapers, was a sight unlike any other on Earth.
¡°So prosperous¡¡± CC said, standing straight and admiring the view. ¡°You were right, this really is the best ce to see Manhattan.¡±
Lin Xian stood beside her, also taking in the old Manhattan skyline. He pointed to a spot near the Empire State Building.
¡°In about twenty years, there¡¯ll be twin towers here. The World Trade Center¡ªabout the same height as the Empire State Building.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± CC turned her head. ¡°How do you know that?¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly. ¡°Read it in a newspaper.¡±
What he didn¡¯t tell her was that on September 11, 2001, the famous 9/11 attacks would take ce¡ªtwo nes crashing into the towers and destroying thempletely. After that, a memorial would be built there, known as ¡°Ground Zero,¡± bing a newndmark of New York City.
¡°The mighty Yangtze River flows east¡¡± Lin Xian murmured softly in X Country.
That was history¡ªa river flowing endlessly, seeing all things rise and fall.
He turned to look at CC, who seemed lost in admiration. ¡°By the way, is your biggest dream in life really just to go to Manhattan?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± CC nodded, her eyes reflecting the sparkling waters of the Hudson River. ¡°It might sound silly, but I really want to see Manhattan. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll regret it forever.
¡°I know¡ and Grandma always told me that there are many valuable things to pursue in life, that it doesn¡¯t matter where you live, but¡ I still want to see Manhattan, even if it¡¯s just like living in a dream¡ªI want to see the center of the world.
¡°But who knows how long I¡¯ll hold on to this dream? Maybe I¡¯ll grow up, mature, give it up, and just live my life here in Brooklyn.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t give up,¡± Lin Xian said, shaking his head. ¡°I believe you will. You¡¯ll be like those other girls¡ªdressed in your favorite white dress, standing at the highest point in Manhattan, looking down at the world like a princess.¡±
CC burst outughing. ¡°Hahaha! A princess? What is this, the dark ages? Do you still live in a fairytale world? There are no princesses anymore!¡±
She wiped her eyes, still giggling. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m no princess¡ªI¡¯m not even close to being Cindere.¡±
¡°Hey, enough about me,¡± she said, herughter finally subsiding. ¡°We¡¯re here¡ªa rare asion¡ªso what about you? What¡¯s your dream?¡±
Lin Xian stepped forward, leaning against the railing, looking out at the horizon. ¡°My dream¡¡±
He pressed his lips together, and, facing the wind, he spoke.
¡°My dream is probably¡ to not let down those who believe in me, to save everyone¡ to be a true hero.¡±
¡
¡
The air grew still and quiet for a moment.
¡°Huh?¡± CC stared at him, puzzled. ¡°Are you¡ serious?¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Does it sound unbelievable?¡±
¡°Yeah, ¡®hero¡¯ and all that¡ it¡¯s like listening to a fairytale.¡±
CC paused, then continued, ¡°But, every dream deserves respect.¡±
She grinned, giving him a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Then I hope you make it¡ªbe the greatest hero the world has ever seen.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, looking at her. ¡°Then I hope you¡ be the most beautiful princess in all of Manhattan.¡±
They looked at each other and burst intoughter.
¡°Alright, alright, enough with the jokes.¡± CC waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Let¡¯s be real. What are we eating tonight?¡±
Lin Xian looked around. ¡°How about we buy something nearby?¡±
¡°No way, that¡¯s way too extravagant,¡± CC protested. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to where we belong¡ grab some bread for dinner, and we can go to the church for breakfast tomorrow.¡±
¡
By the time they returned to the Brooklyn slums, night had fallen. Lin Xian bought some bread and milk, sharing it with CC. It was much better than the morning¡¯s charity meal.
CC wanted to take Lin Xian to the park to sleep, but he insisted on finding a cheap motel.
¡°Lin Xian, even the cheapest motel costs thirty cents a night. That money could feed us for days! Why waste it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s different, CC. This is something we can¡¯t save on,¡± Lin Xian said seriously.
Tonight, there was something important he needed to do.
Would he still dream after crossing over to 1952? Would the dreams be different?
He was curious.
Tonight, he needed a safe ce to find out.
Chapter 493: Black Dream
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
October 28th, 1952.
The United States was still on daylight saving time, something Lin Xian had learned during his time there for apetition. He¡¯d discussed it with the team leader, learning that in America, daylight saving time ran from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. The Western countries seemed to have an odd way of defining time¡ªlike ¡°the second Sunday of the month¡± or ¡°the first Friday¡±. Lin Xian found these definitions a bit impractical, but when in Rome, right?
During daylight saving time, New York was twelve hours behind the capital city of X Country. Once wintertime arrived, the time difference would increase to thirteen hours. Since it was still October, Brooklyn was twelve hours behind, making it slightly easier for Lin Xian, who wasn¡¯t wearing a watch.
¡°Is this really the cheapest motel around?¡± Lin Xian asked, looking doubtfully at the crumbling building in front of them. CC led him through Brooklyn¡¯s slums, stopping at a run-down ce that barely looked livable.
¡°I can¡¯t say for sure if it¡¯s the absolute cheapest,¡± CC shrugged, ¡°but I can¡¯t afford ces like this anyway. Ever since the orphanage closed, I¡¯ve been sleeping under bridges or in parks. Only people with money stay in motels.¡±
¡°People with money?¡± Lin Xian looked at the shabby building, half amused, half exasperated. Who would call this a ce for ¡°people with money¡±?
Still, considering he only had one dor and sixty cents to his name, he probably did seem like a rich man to CC.
¡°Lin Xian, are you sure about this?¡± CC¡¯s gaze was worried. ¡°It¡¯s just for one night¡ªyou could sleep anywhere, so why waste thirty cents on a room? Even if you made two dors today, you still need to eat, and there will be other expenses. I really think you should reconsider.¡±Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I forgot to mention something, CC. I have this¡ strange problem. Once I fall asleep, I can¡¯t wake up¡ªnot at all. Even if someone hits me with a stick, I won¡¯t wake up. I staypletely out of it.¡±
He continued, ¡°So you see why I insisted on a motel. It¡¯s about safety. If we sleep in the park or under a bridge and there¡¯s danger, you could run, but I can¡¯t. Someone could hurt me, and I¡¯d never even know¡ªI¡¯d just die in my sleep.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t run,¡± CC said firmly, frowning at him. ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for me¡ªbought me a meal, took me to Brooklyn Heights Promenade to see the Manhattan skyline. You¡¯ve been good to me. How could I run if you were in danger? What kind of person would that make me?¡±
Hearing this, Lin Xian smiled, warmth filling his chest. It made him even more determined not to let CC sleep out on the streets.
¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m paying anyway. Let¡¯s just get inside.¡±
The motel they found had a thirty-cent room¡ªthe result of a long search. Most other motels were around fifty cents, and even one for forty cents had been rejected by CC as too expensive. She insisted they had to find something cheaper, and eventually, persistence paid off.
¡°You were lying, weren¡¯t you?¡± CC suddenly turned to look at Lin Xian before they went inside.
¡°Honestly¡ I don¡¯t think anyone could really sleep so deeply they wouldn¡¯t wake up,¡± she said skeptically.
Lin Xian chuckled and shrugged. ¡°You can test it anytime you want.¡±
He wasn¡¯t lying, though. He understood better than anyone how important thirty cents was, especially now. It was a small fortune¡ªbut safety had toe first.
Having traveled back to 1952, Lin Xian faced two main problems: money and safety. He¡¯d thought that with Reverse Forced Evasion, his life would be guaranteed. It was his trump card, the reason he¡¯d dared to venture into this era. But after meeting CC, he realized things weren¡¯t so simple.
The Millennial Stake wasn¡¯t in ce, the temporal discement hadn¡¯t happened, and even CC hadn¡¯t be the Millennial Stake yet. His eyes hadn¡¯t turned blue either. Would Reverse Forced Evasion still work under these circumstances?
Lin Xian pressed his lips together and shook his head. He wasn¡¯t sure, and he wasn¡¯t willing to take any chances. What if it failed because the Millennial Stake hadn¡¯t been set, or the temporalws hadn¡¯t been established? Would he end up dying here, in 1952, far away from home?
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t take that risk¡ªthe price was too high.
Thinking back to the time he¡¯d stolen a newspaper from a young ck boy and gotten chased by a dozen others, he couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful that he managed to escape unharmed.
¡°Better to be cautious,¡± he thought, ¡°until I¡¯m sure Reverse Forced Evasion will work as it should.¡± It was also why he couldn¡¯t use his ¡°model citizen¡± tactics to earn money.
First, this was the real world, not a dream. There was no ¡°save and reload¡± option¡ªhe only had one life. Second, without the protection of Reverse Forced Evasion, he couldn¡¯t risk stirring up trouble in Brooklyn, potentially ruining his ns to save the world and uncover the truth.
With a wry smile, Lin Xian muttered, ¡°I never thought I¡¯d end up being a genuinely w-abiding citizen.''¡±
CC turned to look at him. ¡°Isn¡¯t beingw-abiding what you¡¯re supposed to do? What else were you nning?¡±
¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°Justmenting that this isn¡¯t my home turf in Los Angeles. Alright, enough chit-chat. Let¡¯s get that room.¡±
Thirty cents.
In Brooklyn¡¯s poorest neighborhood, in the cheapest motel, in the cheapest room¡ªthere really wasn¡¯t much to expect.
¡°One standard room for thirty cents,¡± Lin Xian said, cing two coins on the counter. The owner took them, found a key, and tossed it to Lin Xian.
Lin Xian beckoned to CC, and they climbed the creaky wooden stairs together. He knew there would be no private bathroom, no extra amenities, and certainly no TV¡ªit was 1952, after all.
¡°Probably just two single beds and a shared bathroom,¡± Lin Xian yawned, inserting the key into the lock.
He opened the door.
Moonlight filtered through the dirty curtains, casting a pale glow across the cramped room. It was tiny¡ªno extra furniture, no table or chair¡ªjust a single bed that took up two-thirds of the space. One step forward, and you¡¯d hit the edge of the bed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°Wait, hold on.¡± Lin Xian stared. ¡°There¡¯s only one bed?¡±
¡°What did you expect?¡± CC replied. ¡°Thirty cents. What more did you think you¡¯d get?¡±
¡°I thought it was a standard room¡ªshouldn¡¯t there be two beds?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± CC walked past him and closed the window to keep the cold air out. Then she pointed to the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep down here.¡±
¡°No, I should sleep on the floor,¡± Lin Xian insisted. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting a girl sleep on the ground.¡±
CC shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just d I get to sleep somewhere warm without the wind blowing in. Besides, in the park, the police make us homeless people move multiple times a night.¡±
She spread her arms, looking around the narrow, shabby room with a smile. Her eyes turned into pretty little crescents. ¡°But look at this¡ªit¡¯s warm, and no one will kick us out. This is going to be the best night¡¯s sleep I¡¯ve had in a long time. Honestly, even if thirty cents is a lot, it¡¯s totally worth it!¡±
Lin Xian looked at CC¡¯s genuine smile, feeling a mix of emotions. He could tell that CC truly liked it here¡ªliked this grimy, run-down, damp, cramped room without a bathroom or faucet.
No wind. No one chasing them away. To CC, this was the mostfortable, happiest night she could imagine.
She was smiling so sweetly, so happily.
It made Lin Xian feel like he was in some sort of five-star hotel, a luxury vi, a slice of paradise on earth. He closed his eyes, feeling a tightness in his chest.
¡°You take the bed,¡± Lin Xian said, pulling CC away from the corner by the window and lying down on the floor, using his church coat as a nket.
¡°Huh?¡± CC blinked at him. ¡°No, you can¡¯t do this, Lin Xian. You paid for the room¡ªyou should take the bed.¡±
¡°It¡¯s settled.¡± Lin Xian closed his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s not argue anymore.¡±
CC said nothing, pressing her lips together as she looked at Lin Xian lying on the floor. She had only known this strange man for a day, but she understood one thing about him: once he made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to convince him otherwise, as shown by all the odd things he had done that day.
After a long silence, she whispered, ¡°Thank you¡¡±
¡
CC walked quietly to themunal bathroom at the end of the dimly lit hallway. The tiles were chipped, the mirror was cloudy, and the air carried the faint smell of mildew. She sshed her face with cold water, taking a moment to feel the coolness against her skin, then returned to the small, rundown room. Once inside, she pulled the hair tie from her ponytail, letting her hair fall, and slipped the band onto her slender wrist. She took a seat on the edge of the bed, the mattress creaking softly beneath her weight.
For a moment, she sat there, staring at Lin Xian, whoy on the floor, looking rather ufortable. She seemed to be deciding something. Finally, she gathered her courage, took a deep breath, and spoke up.
¡°You know,¡± she began, her voice a little hesitant, ¡°we could both fit on the bed if we squeeze. Back to back, of course. And¡ it¡¯s cold tonight, so we wouldn¡¯t even need to take our clothes off.¡±
Lin Xian looked up at her, his lips curving into a small smile. He shook his head and got to his feet. ¡°No need to worry about me,¡± he said gently. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been sleeping rough for a while now? It¡¯s probably been ages since you slept properly, right?¡±
She opened her mouth, about to argue, but he held up a hand, his expression warm yet firm. ¡°So, don¡¯t argue. You¡¯re taking the bed tonight. Sleep well.¡± He turned and headed to the door. ¡°I¡¯m just going to wash up, use the bathroom, and check the time downstairs. I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡±
Before she could say anything else, he was out of the room, the door clicking shut softly behind him.
Lin Xian made his way to the bathroom at the far end of the second floor. It was just as run-down as he¡¯d expected, with broken tiles and a rusty sink. He washed his face, the icy water jolting him fully awake, and then went downstairs to the lobby. There wasn¡¯t a clock in their small room¡ªnot for thirty cents a night¡ªso he had toe down here to check the time. The old grandfather clock stood tall in the corner, its hands ovepping, pointing straight up: midnight.
Midnight here, noon back in X Country.
Lin Xian frowned slightly, calcting. In forty-two minutes, it would be the earliest time he could enter a dream. He felt a strange mix of anticipation and unease. What would he dream about this time, now that he had traveled back to 1952, to a time when history wasn¡¯t yet fully written? Would it be the first dream, the one where he and Big Cat Face had robbed a bank? Or the ninth dream, the one where only Mai Mai had survived?
¡°Feels like¡¡± he murmured to himself, rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully. ¡°Feels like it¡¯s more likely to be the ninth dream again. As long as that ¡®kite string¡¯ between the future in 2234 and my timeline is still intact, nothing should¡¯ve changed. The worldline should be the same, and the scene of August 28th, 2624, shouldn¡¯t have shifted.¡±
He yawned, exhaustion settling over him like a heavy nket. His eyelids drooped. ¡°Yeah, time to find Mai Mai,¡± he muttered before heading back up the stairs.
¡
Returning to the room, Lin Xian locked the door behind him. CC was already in bed, wrapped up in her clothes and the thin, worn nket.
¡°Are you really going to sleep on the floor?¡± she asked, her voice soft and uncertain.
Lin Xian nodded, offering her a reassuring smile. ¡°Just for tonight,¡± he said. ¡°Someday, when I¡¯m rich, I¡¯ll book us a double room.¡±
CC let out a lightugh, resting her head back on the pillow. ¡°Such ambition¡ Alright then. Goodnight.¡±
¡°Goodnight.¡±
Lin Xian settled onto the narrow patch of floor between the bed and the window. The wooden floor was hard and cold, but he didn¡¯t mind. Thinking about how much worse CC had it for so long made his difort seem insignificant. Besides, once he fell asleep, the hardness of the floor wouldn¡¯t matter.
He pulled his coat tighter around himself, trying to ward off the chill of the Brooklyn night. A cold breeze seeped in from somewhere, and he felt the temperature drop. He breathed slowly, evenly¡ until he drifted off to sleep.
¡
¡
Rustle, rustle, rustle¡
Lin Xian stirred, half-conscious. He felt a weight on him, something pressing down. His body felt heavy, almost as if he was pinned in ce¡ªsleep paralysis?
His muddled mind struggled to focus. Was this a dream? Something felt different, unfamiliar. A sense of unease crawled over him, urging him to wake up.
Suddenly, he bolted upright, his heart pounding.
¡°Ah!¡± CC yelped, startled.
Lin Xian blinked, rubbing his eyes. CC was standing there, wide-eyed, a nket in her hands.
¡°CC? What are you doing?¡± he asked groggily.
She pointed at the nket, her cheeks flushing slightly. ¡°I¡ I was trying to cover you with this. A cold front came through, and I saw the window was frosted over. I thought you¡¯d be freezing down there, so I wanted to give you the nket. But look at you! You said you couldn¡¯t wake up once you fell asleep, but I barely put this on you, and you jumped right up.¡±
Lin Xian held up a hand, a frown forming on his face. ¡°Wait, hold on a second.¡± Something wasn¡¯t right. He pulled back the curtain and nced outside. The sky was still dark, the moon hanging low on the horizon.
¡°What time is it?¡± he muttered. He turned to CC. ¡°What¡¯s the time now?¡±
CC came over, looking out at the moon. Without hesitation, she said, ¡°It must be around three or four in the morning.¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense¡ I shouldn¡¯t be awake before twelve forty-two. I shouldn¡¯t be able to wake up at all before then. How could I wake up just because you put a nket on me?¡±
He fell silent, his mind racing. The more he thought about it, the more unsettling it seemed. His heart pounded faster.
This was the first time, in all his twenty-six years, that something like this had happened¡ªhe hadn¡¯t dreamed at all!
¡°How is that possible?¡± Lin Xian whispered, confusion and worry gnawing at him. Since he was born, he¡¯d never gone a night without dreaming. Always, he¡¯d dreamt of August 28th, 2624. It was as reliable as the rising sun.
But tonight¡ nothing. Just a void¡ªno images, no sounds, no memories.
This year, 1952, was anything but ordinary. Temporalws were failing, the Millennial Stake hadn¡¯t been established, and even his ability to see the future in his dreams had vanished.
What was causing this?
Lin Xian opened his eyes, looking at CC, who stood by the bed, her face full of confusion. The first-generation stake¡ªthe key to everything.
Could it be¡
Was his ability to dream of the future, six hundred years ahead, somehow connected to the formation and stability of the Millennial Stake?
Chapter 494: Brooklyn Lin Xian
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
The mystery of everything began with the very first Millennial Stake.
Lin Xian had prepared himself for this long before crossing over.
But the problem was¡
He never expected this!
[His own dream was also part of the Millennial Stake!]
It waspletely beyond his expectations.
¡°Wait, maybe it¡¯s not just because of the Millennial Stake,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself.
¡°If I were just a normal person who gained the ability to dream about the future six hundred years from now because of the Millennial Stake, then I should dream like anyone else.¡± He paused, thinking. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t matter if it was a good dream, a nightmare, or some strange montage¡ªI should still be dreaming, right?¡±¡°But right now, even CC, who isn¡¯t part of the Millennial Stake, dreams like a normal person, while I can¡¯t dream at all. I can¡¯t see the future, nor do I have regr dreams. It¡¯s just¡ a nk. Aplete dreamless state¡ªa ¡®ck dream.¡¯ How do I even exin this?¡±
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. It seemed that the truth behind his dreams wasn¡¯t just connected to the Millennial Stake. There had to be something else at y.
The clues he had were too limited, too scattered. He just couldn¡¯t figure it out.
¡°Lin Xian¡ Lin Xian?¡±
Next to him, CC hugged her nket, her face filled with worry. ¡°Are you¡ okay? You look like you¡¯ve just seen a ghost. Did you have a nightmare?¡±
Lin Xian blinked, snapping back to the present. He shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Just thinking about something.¡±
¡°By the way, CC¡ how did you sleep? Did you dream at all?¡±
CC nodded, her lips curling into a small smile. ¡°I slept really well. I felt safe. As soon as you came into the room, I dozed off. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever slept that peacefully before.¡±
¡°Although, I¡¯m a light sleeper usually. In the middle of the night, the wind blew against the window and woke me up. I saw you sleeping on the floor and thought you¡¯d be cold, so I tried to cover you with a nket¡ but you woke up right away. You must be a light sleeper too.¡± ?
¡°What did you dream about?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Oh, my dream?¡± CC¡¯s face turned slightly pink, and she looked a little embarrassed. ¡°It was kind of all over the ce. I think it was because of what we talked about yesterday. I dreamt we were on a boat heading to Manhattan, but halfway there, we ended up turning towards Coney Ind.¡±
¡°And then¡ we went to eat hot dogs at Coney Ind.¡±
Pfft¡ª
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the mention of ¡°hot dogs¡± again.
The original CC really was a bit of a glutton, especially obsessed with hot dogs. She talked about them during the day and even dreamed about them at night.
¡°Did you at least figure out what they taste like this time?¡± Lin Xian grinned. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve just bought you one today. We already paid for the 30-cent room; what¡¯s another 3 cents for a hot dog?¡±
¡°Oh, stop talking about food in the middle of the night,¡± CC huffed, scrunching up her nose. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get some sleep. We finally have a nice room; let¡¯s make the most of it.¡±
¡°Who knows where we¡¯ll be sleeping tomorrow? We should enjoy this while we can.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xian gestured towards the bed. ¡°You take the bed. I¡¯m not cold at all. This church coat is super warm¡ªI think I¡¯ll be praying extra hard at church tomorrow, just to say thanks. Thirty percent more devotion, at least.¡±
CC giggled, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous. Who measures faith in percentages?¡±
¡°Since you¡¯re not cold, I won¡¯t argue. Goodnight.¡± She wrapped herself up in the nket, turned over, and soon drifted off to sleep.
Lin Xian looked at her, feeling a twinge of envy. ¡°She¡¯s probably in a hurry to get back to her hot dogs.¡±
¡
Lin Xian woke up naturally from his dreamless sleep. The first thing he did was check the clock at the reception. It read 8:23 AM.
No pattern to his wake-up time. It seemed that in this strange year of 1952, he¡¯d be a regr human being.
After freshening up in themunal bathroom with CC, they checked out and left the small motel.
They hurried to the church by the pier¡ªto grab a meal¡ªor rather, to join the service.
Lin Xian still had some money, but until they found a stable source of ie, it was best to save wherever they could. And a free breakfast was still a free breakfast.
Lin Xian sang hymns loudly at the church, feeling his faith boosted by 30%.
When the service ended, Lin Xian and CC sat on crates with bowls of corn soup and hard bread.
¡°This bread is so dry,¡± Lin Xian muttered, tapping it against a metal post. It made a loud thunking noise.
¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re supposed to dip it,¡± CC said, demonstrating by dipping her bread into the corn soup. ¡°It¡¯s better when it¡¯s soaked and soft.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head, tearing off a piece with his teeth. It felt like chewing on a shoe sole. ¡°Dipping bread in soup feels weird. Besides, we can¡¯t keep eating like this forever, can we? Corn porridge and bread fill you up, but it¡¯s not exactly nutritious. We¡¯ll end up looking like skeletons if we keep this up.¡±
He nced at CC, who was already quite slim. ¡°See, like you. No meat on your bones.¡±
¡°Well, duh,¡± CC rolled her eyes. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t want to eat well? Who wouldn¡¯t want good food? My grandmother used to tell us a story at the orphanage¡ªabout Louis XVI¡¯s queen who said, ¡®Why don¡¯t they eat cake then?¡¯ when she heard people couldn¡¯t afford bread. You¡¯re starting to sound just like her!¡±
Lin Xian fumbled through his pockets, counting out one dor and twenty-three cents¡ªa mix of coins he¡¯d be quite familiar with.
After a moment¡¯s thought, he remembered CC¡¯s dream from the previous night and her obsession with hot dogs.
¡°Let¡¯s go to Coney Ind!¡± he said suddenly. ¡°You¡¯ve been dreaming about their hot dogs for ages. We have enough for a trip.¡±
Coney Ind was a famous amusement park in Brooklyn, New York. It was the birthce of the first hot dog stand in the U.S.¡ªpractically a pilgrimage site for hot dog lovers.
¡°Have you ever been to an amusement park?¡± Lin Xian asked.
CC shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of carousels and Ferris wheels, but I¡¯ve never seen one.¡±
¡°Well, then let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Xian pulled all the coins from his pocket. ¡°This should cover our bus fare, entrance fee, and a hot dog.¡±
¡°That¡¯s such a waste,¡± CC protested. ¡°That¡¯s all the money you have! Why spend it all on something pointless?¡±
¡°How is it pointless?¡± Lin Xian grinned at her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want a hot dog?¡±
¡°I did, but¡ª¡±
¡°And haven¡¯t you always wanted to see an amusement park?¡±
¡°So what?¡±
CC tilted her head, her expression softening. ¡°It¡¯s my own wish, whether I¡¯ve had a hot dog or gone to an amusement park. Why do you¡ª¡±
[Why are you being so nice to me?]
¡
Lin Xian found himself at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t know how to answer CC¡¯s question. It was strange, really. They had only known each other for twenty-four hours, and yet here he was, taking her to Brooklyn Heights, renting her a room, and now nning to take her to Coney Ind with thest of their money. Even he couldn¡¯t quite exin why.
Maybe, deep down, he was trying to make up for what he owed Chu An Qing. Maybe he was trying to give this first version of CC something she¡¯d never get otherwise. Perhaps it was because he already saw her as An Qing, or even as the CC from six hundred years in the future. He just couldn¡¯t bear to see her suffer¡ªespecially knowing whaty ahead of her, how history said she would eventually turn into blue stardust, fading away to begin a millennium of endless cycles.
Lin Xian knew too much to treat her any differently.
CC blinked at his silence. ¡°You¡ you said yesterday that you knew another girl named CC. Someone who looked a lot like me.¡±
¡°Is it possible that you¡¡±
She bit her lip, hesitating. ¡°That you like her, and you¡¯re treating me as a stand-in?¡±
Lin Xian choked on his soup, coughing violently before wiping his mouth. ¡°Where do youe up with this stuff? Substitute romance? Really?¡± He shook his head,ughing a little. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I just think that if we have a bit of money, we might as well use it to make life a little easier. Besides, we¡¯ve got nothing better to do right now, so why not go to the amusement park? Who knows, we might even make some money while we¡¯re there. You saw my shooting skills, right? I¡¯m pretty good at parkour too. If there arepetitions, we could win a prize.¡±
He smiled at her, trying to make light of it. ¡°And with that prize money, we¡¯ll live better, go bigger, and find even bigger opportunities. It¡¯s called sustainable development¡ªa positive cycle.¡±
CC looked at him, still unsure. ¡°But¡ Coney Ind¡¯s not exactly safe. I heard there are gangs fighting over turf. It¡¯s dangerous.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged casually. ¡°Dangerous for people with money, maybe. We¡¯ve got a dor between us¡ªnot even worth a gangster¡¯s bullet. I think we¡¯ll be just fine.¡±
He finished his bread and dusted off his hands. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go see if we can find an opportunity there. And I¡¯m curious about those hot dogs too.¡±
Coney Ind was at the southern tip of Brooklyn, and it was the first major amusement park in the United States. Originally, it had been an ind, separated from the maind by a bay and only essible by boat. During World War II, they had filled in the bay, turning Coney Ind into a man-made penins.
But CC was right. It was notorious for gang activity, with turf wars and crime rampant until muchter in the century.
As the bus arrived, Lin Xian turned to CC, grinning. ¡°Come on, CC. Let¡¯s get on.¡± They paid their fare and took seats at the back of the bus. On the way, Lin Xian chatted with a passenger, learning about ticket prices for the amusement park. He returned to CC, nodding reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s still within our budget¡ªincluding hot dogs.¡±
After a long two-hour ride, the bus finally pulled up in front of the park entrance. Lin Xian and CC stepped off, gazing at the sight before them in awe. It was almost unbelievable that this was a 1952 amusement park. There were roller coasters, Ferris wheels, aerial rides¡ªeverything.
¡°The U.S. in this era really was something,¡± Lin Xian said, admiration clear in his voice.
¡°Lin Xian, look over there!¡± CC tugged at his sleeve, pointing toward a bustling hot dog stand with arge sign that read ¡°Nathan¡¯s Hot Dogs.¡± People crowded around, eagerly lining up for their turn.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go get one,¡± Lin Xian said, smiling brightly.
If you came to Coney Ind and didn¡¯t eat a hot dog, what was the point? He wanted to make CC¡¯s experienceplete, and he was curious himself.
They joined the queue, and as they waited, two men in front of them began arguing heatedly. They were both dressed in ck suits and dark sunsses, and their voices were harsh, the words almost unintelligible. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t make out if it was Italian or just bad English. Maybe they were arguing about someone cutting in line.
Lin Xian and CC tried to ignore them, staying patiently in line, but the argument escted quickly. The men were now shouting, their faces red and veins bulging.
¡°Are they going to fight?¡± Lin Xian muttered, frowning. He pulled CC back, sensing trouble.
And then¡ª
One of the men, a guy with a hooked nose, suddenly pulled out a revolver from his coat.
¡°What the¡ª!¡± Lin Xian gasped, his eyes widening.
The other man turned and bolted, but as he did, he bumped hard into CC, almost knocking her over. At the same time, the man with the revolver took aim¡ªright in their direction.
¡°CC!¡± Lin Xian shouted, pulling her into his arms.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
But it was toote. The man squeezed the trigger, aiming straight at them.
Nothing happened. No gunshot, no sound.
The man with the gun simply dropped¡ªlike a puppet with its strings cut¡ªfalling face-first onto the pavement. His nose smashed with a sickening crunch, and the revolver slipped from his hand, skidding across the ground.
The crowd erupted in screams, people running in every direction, trying to get away from the scene.
But the many there, frozen in that awkward shooting pose, his limbs trembling slightly as he tried and failed to stand.
¡°Lin Xian! We have to go!¡± CC pulled at him, her voice urgent.
But Lin Xian didn¡¯t move. He stood there, smiling.
¡°Hey! What are you doing? Are you in shock? We need to run!¡±
¡°Run?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s smile widened, his voice calm and confident. ¡°CC, I¡¯ve got some good news.¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian turned to her, his eyes glinting. ¡°I¡¯m officially telling you¡ªour hard days are over.¡±
¡°What are you even talking about?¡± CC stared at him, bewildered.
She nced back at the fallen gunman, who stilly there, his limbs twitching slightly. It looked almost like magic¡ªlike a spell had been cast on him.
¡°It¡¯s back,¡± Lin Xian whispered, his eyes bright.
¡°The feeling is back.¡±
He felt lighter than he had in a long time. For so long, he¡¯d feared that the rules of spacetime wouldn¡¯t apply until the Millennial Stake was set. He¡¯d feared that he had lost his safety forever.
But it seemed like¡ Entangled spacetime particles really were an absolute cheat code¡ªcoveted by all.
Lin Xian clenched his fist, looking up at the warm midday sun, a determined smile on his face.
¡°Reverse forced avoidance¡ªafter being pushed around for so long, it¡¯s finally my turn to enjoy the ride!¡±
Chapter 495: The Promise Across Time
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
At that moment, Lin Xian understood.
The key to Reverse Forced Evasion wasn¡¯t just evasion itself. It was the ¡°Reverse¡± part that mattered most. The reverse aspect was the real core of everything.
Here, in 1952, there were no locked historical events or time anomalies. ording to Yellow Finch¡¯s exnation, forced evasion couldn¡¯t happen in this era, and that made sense to Lin Xian.
Thews of time are strict. If something is supposed to be there, it is; if it¡¯s not, it isn¡¯t. But with Reverse Forced Evasion, there were more factors at y. Before, Lin Xian had been cautious, unwilling to try it or think too deeply about it. But now, as he considered it, he realized the source of Reverse Forced Evasion¡¯s power came from the entangled spacetime particles and his need to return to his original timeline. This meant that Reverse Forced Evasion was an independent rule, separate from whether history was locked or if there were anomalies in this time period.
His entangled state existed in the future¡ªin 2234¡ªand that was the key to triggering Reverse Forced Evasion.
That¡¯s why, when the man in ck with the hooked nose had aimed his gun at him earlier, the evasion had activated, causing the man to lose his strength and copse. The sensation of being out of control was all too familiar to Lin Xian.
After all, he was probably the person who had experienced Reverse Forced Evasion the most. Every time-traveling assassin, using those same entangled particles, had targeted him. He¡¯d been powerless, helpless, and humiliated for so long. But now, this seemingly invincible cheat finally worked in his favor.
¡°Lin Xian, stop daydreaming. Look¡ that guy¡¯s getting up,¡± CC¡¯s panicked voice brought him back to reality. Despite her worry, she wasn¡¯t strong enough to pull Lin Xian away; she stood there, watching nervously.Lin Xian turned his head towards the gangster, who had fallen to the ground earlier. About a minute had passed before the man managed to push himself up, trembling all the while. It was clear he was still weak, barely able to stand. He wiped the blood from his nose with his sleeve, adjusted his sunsses¡ªrelieved that at least he still had those, so he hadn¡¯t lost all his dignity¡ªand then grabbed his revolver and quickly fled.
¡
And just like that, themotion ended.
In no time, people lined up again in front of Nathan¡¯s hot dog stand. The tourists who had run off because of the gun had returned, chatting andughing like nothing had happened. Their casual attitude amazed Lin Xian.
If this had happened in X Country, nobody would have dared to stay in the amusement park. It would have been shut down for at least ten days for investigation. But here, in the Land of the Free, everyone seemed unfazed.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
Next to him, CC, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, let out a sigh of relief. She grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s arm, pulling him back towards the line. ¡°Thank goodness¡ he¡¯s gone. Come on, let¡¯s hurry up. We were near the front before, and now people are cutting in ahead of us!¡±
Seeing her eagerness, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. CC really loved hot dogs¡ªso much so she¡¯d put herself in danger for one. He might as well hurry up and get her one.
It took half an hour for their turn toe, with CC standing on her tiptoes, peering around impatiently like a restless rabbit.
¡°Two hot dogs,¡± Lin Xian said in English, ncing at the price board. He muttered under his breath. The hot dogs were 5 cents each here, whereas in downtown Brooklyn they were still 3 cents. It was clear the prices were inted for tourists.
Lin Xian mentally counted his remaining money¡ª$1.10 left.
The amusement park tickets were 50 cents each, which meant that with the original hot dog price of 3 cents, they would still have had enough left for bus fare back to Brooklyn. But now, with these prices, they wouldn¡¯t have enough for the bus.
Still, seeing CC¡¯s eyes sparkle with excitement, even if the hot dogs cost 50 cents each, he¡¯d buy them for her.
He¡¯d figure out the bus rideter. Hopefully, there¡¯d be a stall inside the park with some kind of game where he could win a bit of cash by showing off, or else, they could sleep under a bridge again¡ªthere wasn¡¯t much difference between a Brooklyn bridge and one at Coney Ind.
He handed over hisst 10-cent coin.
The cashier, a freckled young woman, looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Sir, would you like to add a soda to the meal? It¡¯s only 6 cents more.¡±
¡°No thanks,¡± Lin Xian said, licking his dry lips. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty.¡±
¡
¡°Delicious!¡± CC eximed, sitting on a bench, her eyes wide with delight after biting into the hot dog. ¡°Lin Xian, this is the best thing I¡¯ve ever eaten!¡±
¡°It¡¯s pretty good,¡± Lin Xian agreed after taking a bite. He wasn¡¯t exaggerating; it was delicious. It made sense why Nathan¡¯s hot dogs were so famous¡ªthey had a unique vor that made them stand out. It was just a hot dog¡ªbread and sausage¡ªyet somehow, it tasted special.
CC slowly savored each bite, nibbling away like a small hamster, fully immersed in enjoying the taste.
Seeing her like that, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh. He remembered Gao Yang, back when they were in kindergarten. Lin Xian had bought two sausages with his pocket money, and Gao Yang, who had never had one before, tried to eat his slowly, savoring every bite. Then, he tripped, and the sausage rolled into the gutter.
If it had fallen anywhere else, Gao Yang would have picked it up and continued eating. But it ended up in the sewer. He¡¯d cried until Lin Xian gave him half of his own.
¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± CC noticed Lin Xian watching her, her cheeks turning pink. ¡°Why are you staring? I¡¯m just trying to enjoy it slowly. Don¡¯t make fun of me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Lin Xian said, waving his hand. ¡°I was the same way when I was a kid.¡±
¡°Hah, when you were a kid?¡± CC chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t look that old now. How old are you anyway?¡±
¡°I¡¡± Lin Xian paused, calcting. What age should he say? He was born in 1999, and now it was 1952. If he went by the timeline, he¡¯d be negative 48 years old¡ªnot even born yet. But if he considered his time of origin, he was 26.
¡°I¡¯m 26,¡± he finally said.
¡°Oh¡¡± CC murmured, nodding as she continued eating. ¡°Not that much older than me then¡ªbasically the same age.¡±
¡°Seven years older is the same?¡± Lin Xian teased.
¡°Six!¡± CC corrected him. ¡°I¡¯ll be 20 soon¡ªmaybe even within the next month. So, only six years difference!¡±
She went back to eating her hot dog, more determined than ever to savor it.
Lin Xian watched her, and his heart felt heavy. He knew CC¡¯s fate¡ªthe cruel reality of the Millennial Stake meant that on her 20th birthday, she would disappear, her body disintegrating into blue stardust.
She didn¡¯t know. She had no idea that she only had a few days, maybe a couple of weeks left.
Lin Xian was pulled from his thoughts when CC tore her hot dog in half, offering him a piece.
¡°Here,¡± she said, smiling like she had the day before when she¡¯d split her bread. ¡°You must still be hungry, right? Have half of mine.¡±
Lin Xian blinked, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re willing to share even though you were savoring it so much?¡±
¡°Of course,¡± CC shrugged. ¡°You were nice enough to buy it for me. Besides, I may be poor, but I know how to repay kindness.¡±
Lin Xian pushed the hot dog back to her. ¡°No need¡ªthink of this as me repaying you for sharing your bread with me yesterday.¡±
He got up and pointed towards the amusement park. ¡°I¡¯m going to get tickets. Finish your hot dog, and we¡¯ll go have some fun.¡±
CC opened her mouth to say something, but Lin Xian cut her off. ¡°We¡¯re at Coney Ind¡ªwe¡¯re not leaving without having fun. Enjoy your first time at an amusement park.¡±
He smiled at her. ¡°Have a nice day.¡±
¡
Back at the ticket booth, Lin Xian bought two adult tickets for 50 cents each, using up hisst dor coin. Now he was penniless again, just like when he had first arrived in this era. Except now, he had shoes, a church coat, CC by his side, and a sense that Reverse Forced Evasion was still working. The future looked promising.
Returning to the bench, CC had finished her hot dog and was wiping her hands. ¡°Done already?¡± Lin Xian asked, amused. ¡°Not savoring it like a little hamster anymore?¡±
¡°I knew it¡ªyou were going to make fun of me!¡± CC huffed. ¡°I didn¡¯t make fun of you for wearing that otter skin when you were on the streets, did I?¡± She paused, then smiled sweetly, her dimples showing. ¡°But seriously, thanks. Now, when I dream about hot dogs, I¡¯ll know what they taste like.¡±
Lin Xian sighed. ¡°You¡¡± He gently ruffled her curly brown hair.
He wished he had more money¡ªenough to buy Nathan¡¯s Hot Dogs just so CC could eat them until she was sick of them.
¡°Come on,¡± he said, holding up their tickets. ¡°We¡¯ve got a lot to do if we want to see everything before the park closes tonight.¡±
¡
¡°Waaaahhhh!¡± Two kids screamed as the roller coaster rushed along its tracks. Lin Xian and CC were seated behind them, one with a calm face, the other smiling happily at the rush of wind and speed.
When the ride stopped, the kids tumbled to the ground, and a woman in the back threw up. Lin Xian and CC stepped over the mess, unfazed.
¡°Didn¡¯t you feel anything?¡± Lin Xian asked, ncing at CC. ¡°Most people are nervous their first time on a roller coaster.¡±
¡°It was thrilling!¡± CC grinned. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t scared¡ªdidn¡¯t even feel dizzy. Maybe I have a talent for being a pilot?¡±
¡°A pilot? You¡¯re selling yourself short.¡± Lin Xianughed. ¡°You could be an astronaut.¡±
¡°An astronaut?¡± CC blinked, confused. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°An astronaut is someone who flies even higher than a pilot,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°In about nine years, the first human will travel to outer space.¡±
CC looked at him, shaking her head with augh. ¡°You¡¯re making stuff up again, aren¡¯t you? You might as well say they¡¯llnd on the moon!¡±
Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Well, eight years after that, some astronauts will actuallynd on the moon.¡±
¡°Oh, stop,¡± CC scoffed. ¡°If things develop that fast, then maybe one day people like me could take a vacation in space?¡±
Lin Xian fell silent.
CC turned back, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Was that one too hard to make up? Just give me a random date. It¡¯s all a joke anyway.¡±
Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°March 28th, 2024,¡± he said quietly.
CC¡¯s eyes went wide, and she counted on her fingers. ¡°2024? The 21st century? I¡¯d be 92 by then! Why would I want to go to space at 92?¡± She grinned, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re just saying something so far off that I can¡¯t prove you wrong.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Lin Xian said, raising his hands. ¡°Just have a little faith in me. Did you think you¡¯d be at Coney Ind today, eating hot dogs?¡±
¡°Hmm¡¡± CC thought for a moment. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll believe you.¡± She smiled at him. ¡°March 28th, 2024¡ it¡¯s a long way away, but you¡¯re right¡ªit¡¯s good to have dreams. You never know when one mighte true.¡±
Sheughed, her eyes twinkling. ¡°Lin Xian, if I ever do make it to space, I¡¯ll never forget you. I¡¯ll make sure to bring back a gift from space just for you, to thank you for today¡¯s hot dog.¡±
Chapter 496: The Best in the World
Chapter 496: The Best in the World
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Space¡ a gift¡
At that moment, Lin Xian had a strange feeling, as if the Ouroboros of time and space had finallypleted its circle.
Back then, on the space shuttle, 20,000 meters above the earth, during the Spacetime Particle Capture mission, Chu An Qing had suddenly regained some of her memories. She insisted on leaving the cabin, risking everything to leap out and catch that one crucial spacetime particle.
A gift.
That particle had been the most precious gift Chu An Qing had given him, allowing him to understand the core truths and take the lead.
Could it be¡
The memories Chu An Qing had regained then were actually the memories of the original CC?
Time keeps turning.Fates keep intertwining.
Maybe, just maybe, his story with Chu An Qing had already begun as far back as 1952.
¡°Hey!¡±
Up ahead, CC called out from a distance, ¡°Why are you daydreaming again, Lin Xian? Come on, hurry up! We¡¯ve got lots more rides to go on!¡±
Lin Xian still stood there, lost in thought. CC didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. She ran back, grabbed his hand, and started pulling him along. ¡°Why are you always so out of it? I swear, out of 24 hours in a day, you spend at least 20 of them daydreaming.¡±
Lin Xian let her pull him towards the carousel. ¡°I¡¯m not daydreaming, just thinking about things.¡±
¡°Haha, don¡¯t tell me you actually believed what I said?¡± CC turned around, her eyes forming cute crescent shapes as she smiled. ¡°I was just joking. Earth is perfectly fine. Why would I go to space for no reason?¡±
She continued, ¡°Besides, I haven¡¯t even been to school, but Grandma taught me some basics¡ Space isn¡¯t exactly a supermarket, right? There¡¯s no ce to buy gifts there.¡±
¡°Space is called ¡®space¡¯ because there¡¯s nothing in it¡ªnot even air! So don¡¯t get your hopes up. Even if I went, I wouldn¡¯t be able to bring you anything back.¡±
¡°I mean¡ I couldn¡¯t exactly pluck a star for you, could I?¡±
Lin Xian smiled silently at that.
A star.
In the ¡°World Hacking Championship,¡± the super AI VV had once used Elon Musk¡¯s Starlink satellites to send Chu An Qing a five-pointed star.
Kids say the strangest things.
Although, at almost twenty, CC wasn¡¯t exactly a child anymore.
In this old-fashioned era, people were simpler. And considering CC had never been to school, her way of thinking wasn¡¯t fully matured either.
To Lin Xian, who was seven years older, CC seemed like an innocent, ¡°childish¡± kid.
¡°Do you want to ride the carousel?¡± Lin Xian looked at the long queue, puzzled as to why so many people were lining up for such a simple ride.
He took a closer look.
Sure enough, it was mostly young children dragging their parents along.
The roller coasters and flying rides were too scary for them, and parents thought those rides were unsafe for children.
So rides like the carousel and spinning teacups had be the most popr choices.
¡°Of course I do!¡± CC pulled Lin Xian to the end of the line and said seriously, ¡°We don¡¯te to an amusement park every day. We have to try everything! It might be my only chance, so I need to make the most of it.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said, spreading his hands. ¡°We bought the tickets, and they were pricey. You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s stay till the park closes, till you¡¯repletely happy.¡±
The carousel filled up, and the staff closed the gates to start the ride.
Happy music yed, and the carousel moved up and down, spinning around while the childrenughed.
This ride was definitely too childish for Lin Xian, but for CC, who had never experienced anything like this, it was perfect.
¡°It¡¯s finally our turn!¡± CC cheered after waiting through three rounds. She chose a pink horse, while Lin Xian took the blue one behind her.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
He pointed at the golden ring hanging from a pole ahead of them. ¡°CC, do you see that golden ring?¡±
¡°Where?¡± CC looked around, quickly spotting it. ¡°I see it! What¡¯s it for?¡±
¡°It¡¯s called the golden ring,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°If you grab it, you get another round on the carousel for free. But since everything is included in the ticket, it just means you don¡¯t have to line up again.¡±
¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± CC stared at the ring, eager to grab it. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look that hard.¡±
¡°True¡ but remember who yourpetition is.¡± Lin Xian looked at the other riders¡ªmostly little kids with short arms and legs.
It was like a college studentpeting against kindergarteners.
With her long limbs and natural astronaut¡¯s agility, CC could easily keep riding forever.
The ride started with a slight jolt.
CC kept her eyes on the golden ring.
Other kids tried to grab it, but with their short arms, the horses moving up and down, and the ring swaying, they couldn¡¯t quite reach it.
Finally, CC¡¯s horse reached the ring.
With lightning reflexes, she snatched it!
¡°Haha! Lin Xian, look!¡± She slid the ring onto her index finger, wiggling it at him. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it look like a ring?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°It is a ring. The word ¡®ring¡¯ literally means ¡®a circle you wear on your finger.''¡±
¡°Can I keep it?¡± CC asked, eyes wide.
¡°Nope.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s part of the game. When the ride ends, you have to return it. But you get to go again.¡±
¡°Oh¡ alright.¡± CC sighed, reluctantly taking the ring off her finger.
On the second round, she grabbed the ring again.
On the third round, she grabbed it again.
On the fourth, she still got it.
By the fifth, a chubby boy behind them started crying. CC, trying tofort him, handed the ring over. ¡°Here, it¡¯s yours.¡±
The boy took it, smiling. ¡°Thank you, big sister! Here, take this!¡±
He handed CC a rainbow lollipop.
When the ride stopped, CC jumped off and showed Lin Xian the lollipop. ¡°Look, an unexpected reward.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Lin Xian gave her a thumbs-up.
¡°Let¡¯s share.¡± CC tried to break it in half.
Lin Xianughed, stopping her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to share everything with me.¡±
He thought of the half piece of hard bread she¡¯d given him that morning, and the half hotdog earlier.
She always thought of him.
¡°You can have it. You¡¯ve never had a lollipop, have you?¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll save it forter.¡± CC tucked it into her pocket. ¡°We can eat it if we ever run out of food.¡±
¡
After that, CC tried every single ride, making sure to enjoy each one fully.
Her eyes were like cameras, capturing every moment and storing them as the happiest memories of her life.
The sun set, and night fell. The amusement park lights came on, and the nighttime attractions opened.
Lin Xian and CC watched a circus show, then a fairy tale y, and finally arrived at the Ferris wheel.
¡°Usually, an amusement park trip ends with the Ferris wheel,¡± Lin Xian said softly.
¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± CC asked.
¡°Not sure,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s like an unspoken rule. Or maybe it¡¯s just tradition. The Ferris wheel is slow, rxing¡ªperfect for wrapping up the day.¡±
¡°Plus, it takes you up high, so you can look down at the whole park. It lets you think about everything you did.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± CC nodded. ¡°It really does feel like thest ride. We¡¯ve done everything else, so we should end with the Ferris wheel.¡±
The loudspeakers announced that the park would close in half an hour, and the rides were about to start theirst rounds.
The two of them got in line for the Ferris wheel, climbed into a small cabin, and the attendant locked the door. Slowly, the giant metal wheel lifted them away from the ground, into the night sky.
CC pressed her face against the window, looking at the colorful lights below.
The park lights painted a beautiful picture on the ground. As they climbed higher, they could see Brooklyn¡¯s skyline, and far off, the buildings of Manhattan.
Staring at the view, CC spoke softly, ¡°This must be the farthest and highest I¡¯ve ever been. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this.¡±
¡°You¡¯re still young,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°This is far from your limit. There¡¯s so much more out there, higher and farther, waiting for you.¡±
¡°This has been such a happy, lucky day¡¡± CC turned to Lin Xian, her eyes glistening. ¡°Thank you, Lin Xian. We¡¯ve only known each other for two days, but you¡¯ve shown me so much I never even dreamed of.¡±
She started counting on her fingers, ¡°You took me to Brooklyn Heights, we rode the carousel and Ferris wheel, stayed at a hotel¡¡±
¡°All these things are firsts for me. I¡¯m lucky to have experienced them with you.¡±
¡°Oh, and the hotdog!¡± She giggled, dimples showing. ¡°Hotdogs are the best in the world! Number one!¡±
Lin Xian looked at her, saying nothing.
A hotdog.
Was it really the best?
Of course not.
There were so many better things out there.
But for CC, she¡¯d only ever had a hotdog.
Her world was that small.
To her, hotdogs were number one.
¡°Here, have some candy.¡± CC pulled out the lollipop, breaking it in half and handing one piece to Lin Xian. ¡°We don¡¯t have money for dinner, so you must be hungry. This¡¯ll help a bit.¡±
¡°That chubby boy really helped us. Trading a free ring for such a big lollipop¡ªwe made a profit.¡±
Lin Xian took half of the lollipop.
It was a half-circle, almost like a protractor.
He put it in his mouth.
¡°Is it sweet?¡± CC asked.
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Very.¡±
¡
The moon hung high in the sky as the amusement park lights flickered off, marking the end of another day. Thest few visitors ambled towards the exit, theirughter fading into the night.
CC walked briskly towards the bus stop, expecting to hear Lin Xian¡¯s footsteps behind her. But when she nced back, she noticed he wasn¡¯t following. He was just standing there, staring off into the distance, hands in his pockets.
¡°Lin Xian?¡± she called out, her voice carrying a hint of impatience. ¡°What are you doing? Spacing out again? Come on!¡±
Lin Xian shook his head slightly, but he didn¡¯t move. His eyes looked almost apologetic as he met CC¡¯s gaze. ¡°Sorry, CC,¡± he said. ¡°I think we have a bit of a problem. We don¡¯t have enough money for the bus ride back.¡±
CC frowned, tilting her head in confusion. ¡°What do you mean? Didn¡¯t you do all those calctions before we left? You even wrote it down!¡±
¡°Yeah, about that¡¡± Lin Xian gave an awkward smile and shrugged. ¡°I made a mistake. I didn¡¯t ount for those hotdogs costing five cents each. We ended up spending all the cash we had on them. We¡¯re down to zero.¡±
CC stared at him for a second, and then, to Lin Xian¡¯s surprise, she let out a light-heartedugh. ¡°Oh, well,¡± she said, her smile growing wider. ¡°Then we¡¯ll just walk back. No big deal, right? We¡¯ll get home eventually.¡±
Lin Xian blinked at her, his face softening. ¡°You¡¯re really not mad? I figured you¡¯d be upset.¡±
¡°Why would I be mad?¡± CC replied, puffing her cheeks indignantly. ¡°You spent all day treating me¡ªhotdogs, amusement park rides, everything. Why on earth would I repay you by being mad about something like this? Seriously, Lin Xian, what kind of person do you take me for?¡±
She paused and then added with a chuckle, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like we have a real home to go back to anyway. We¡¯ll just walk until we find a good spot¡ªa park, a bridge, anything. For people like us, a ce to sleep is a ce to sleep.¡±
Lin Xian nodded slowly, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes¡ªsomething CC couldn¡¯t quite read.
¡°You know,¡± he said after a moment, ¡°I thought the same thing at first. But actually, I¡¯ve got a different idea now. A sort of ¡®n B.''¡±
CC raised an eyebrow, her expression wary. ¡°n B? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s lips curved into a small, mischievous smile. ¡°Remember what you said earlier? About Coney Ind not being just hotdogs and amusement parks? You were right. It¡¯s also got gangsters.¡±
CC¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Gangsters? What are you talking about?¡±
¡°Gangsters,¡± Lin Xian repeated calmly. ¡°They have money. A lot of it. And let¡¯s be honest¡ªit¡¯s not like they earned it honestly. So, I¡¯m thinking¡ maybe we mess with them a little. Cause some trouble, take a bit of cash. You know, rob the rich to help the poor.¡±
CC¡¯s jaw dropped. She blinked at him, trying to figure out if he was joking. ¡°You¡¯re not serious! Those gangsters¡ªthe ones we saw this morning¡ªthey¡¯re dangerous! They have guns, Lin Xian! Guns! And they always move in groups at night. Going after them is basically asking to get killed!¡±
Lin Xian shrugged, an easy grin spreading across his face. ¡°They have guns? Perfect. Then I can upgrade my gear.¡±
CC stomped her foot, her voice rising in frustration. ¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯vepletely lost it! This isn¡¯t a game!¡±
But Lin Xian cut her off, his expression turning serious, his hands still buried in his pockets. ¡°Remember what I told you this morning, CC?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°I said our hard times are over. I meant it. Those gangsters¡ they¡¯re not something to fear. They¡¯re just cash machines waiting for us to cash in.¡±
CC stared at him, her concern clear in her eyes. She stepped closer, standing on her tiptoes to press her hand to his forehead, as if checking for a fever.
¡°Are you sure you¡¯re feeling okay?¡± she whispered.
Lin Xianughed softly, gently taking her hand away. He looked up at the moon, shining brightly above them. ¡°I¡¯m fine, CC. Better than fine. Just wait and see. From now on, Brooklyn belongs to Lin Xian. It¡¯s time for those Coney Ind gangsters to meet their new boss.¡±
CC shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest, unsure whether to be terrified or to trust him. But she couldn¡¯t help the small smile that tugged at her lips.
¡°You really are something else, Lin Xian,¡± she muttered. And though she still felt the fear gnawing at her, she couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªthere was something about his confidence, his unwavering determination, that made her want to believe.
¡°Alright, boss,¡± she said with a sigh, rolling her eyes. ¡°Lead the way. Let¡¯s see what kind of trouble we can get into.¡±
Chapter 497: Witness the Magic
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
CC looked confused, tilting her head slightly.
Brooklyn¡ Lin Xian¡
Was there something inmon between these names?
CC, who neither understood nor spoke X Country, couldn¡¯t grasp Lin Xian¡¯s pun.
¡°You¡¯re still speaking nonsense, as usual,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I never really understand what goes on in that head of yours.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Lin Xian replied with a small smile. ¡°Just watch me work my magic.¡±
¡
The amusement park was empty now, its lights turned off after thest group of tourists left, and all was plunged into darkness¡ªthe true Coney Ind night.CC and Lin Xian wandered aimlessly down the path. CC breathed out, a puff of white mist escaping into the cold air. She wrapped her coat tighter around her shoulders.
¡°Looks like the cold front has arrived. It¡¯s getting chillier by the minute,¡± she muttered, turning her head to nce at Lin Xian, tall and solid beside her.
¡°I heard some tourists say while we were in line that this cold front was supposed to be really harsh, and it would drop temperatures fast. They even said it might snow tonight.¡±
¡°Snow?¡± Lin Xian looked up at the sky, his own breath misting as he spoke. ¡°Does it really snow here in Brooklyn inte October?¡±
¡°Usually, no,¡± CC replied, shaking her head. ¡°But you can never be sure with the weather. Sometimes it doesn¡¯t snow all year, and other times ites early. But I have to admit, this cold is definitely unusual.¡±
She shivered slightly, adding, ¡°Normally, we don¡¯t get this cold until December. This winter might be the coldest one I¡¯ve experienced in my life.¡±
¡°I see,¡± Lin Xian responded, slipping his freezing hands into his coat pockets, exhaling visible mist. ¡°Seems like we need to upgrade our gear then. Sleeping under a bridge in this weather would definitely turn us into popsicles.¡±
¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t feel it while we were ying earlier, but now that you mention it, it¡¯s really freezing,¡± CC agreed.
Their current clothes weren¡¯t quite enough against the cold. The ¡°church set¡± was no longer up to par; they had to find better outfits.
¡°Gangs¡ where would they usually hang out?¡± Lin Xian asked.
CC fell silent for a moment, trying to remember what she had heard before. ¡°From what I know, the gangs in Coney Ind are mostly Italian, mixed with some local groups. It¡¯s chaos¡ªthere¡¯s pretty much a fight or shootout every night.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s not really about territory,¡± she continued. ¡°The disputes are mostly over illegal trades and profit conflicts.¡±
Just then, a loud rumbling broke the silence.
The pair looked up to see two Harley motorcycles leading the way. Each bike carried arge man dressed in ck, followed by a Lincoln sedan. The group sped past, loud and arrogant, before the sound of the engines finally faded and their lights disappeared, leaving Lin Xian and CC in darkness once more.
Lin Xian blinked. ¡°Weren¡¯t those¡¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± CC replied, just as surprised. ¡°Speak of the devil¡ªthose motorcycles and that car belonged to the gangs, didn¡¯t they?¡±
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Xian said, eyes lighting up as if he¡¯d just discovered a treasure.
It was perfect timing¡ªlike a money tree appearing just when you needed one.
He grabbed CC by the arm, pulling her along the road. ¡°Let¡¯s follow them and see what kind of deal they¡¯re up to!¡±
CC hesitated, biting her lip. Honestly, she didn¡¯t want to do this¡ªonly lunatics or fools would deliberately mess with gang members. But seeing Lin Xian so determined, she couldn¡¯t just leave him alone.
¡°Fine,¡± she finally sighed, giving in. ¡°But you really need to be careful, Lin Xian. They¡¯re definitely carrying guns. Don¡¯t get into a fight with them.¡±
¡
After some time, Lin Xian and CC sneaked through a small grove and found themselves at an abandoned warehouse. It was rundown, overgrown with weeds, its purpose long forgotten.
In 1952, Coney Ind was stillrgely undeveloped¡ªa perfect ce for gangs to gather, away from the authorities.
The scene was fitting for someone like Brook Lin Xian. He loved the atmosphere of violence and danger. If his past self from the First Dream was still a struggling citizen of Los Angeles, barely surviving, now he could proudly call himself the King of Brooklyn.
With his power of Reverse Forced Evasion, Lin Xian was more formidable than ever, especially against gangs. He didn¡¯t have to worry about thew or the police¡ªno repercussions.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian whispered, gently pushing down on CC¡¯s messy hair, making her crouch lower behind the bush. He eyed the gang members keeping watch near the warehouse. ¡°Let¡¯s just see what happens first. Looks like they¡¯re waiting for another group. Either they¡¯re buyers or sellers, but it doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯re here to fight tonight.¡±
¡°How do you know that?¡± CC asked, frowning.
¡°That¡¯s how it always goes in the movies,¡± Lin Xian said offhandedly.
Of course, in 1952, there weren¡¯t many American gangster movies¡ªthe country was still too unstable for directors to risk depicting gangsters. It wasn¡¯t until 1971, when ¡°The Godfather¡± was filmed, that attitudes began to change. During filming, the mafia had been uncooperative, even issuing death threats, but once the movie was released, they loved it, thinking it was cool.
Since then, American gangsters often tried to emte Marlon Brando¡¯s portrayal of the Godfather, striving to appear just as sophisticated.
¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± CC suddenly nudged him, pointing towards the road.
Lin Xian nced up. Headlights approached from the opposite side¡ªfive ck cars, old-fashioned, with nothing to distinguish their make or model.
¡°Doesn¡¯t look good,¡± Lin Xian muttered, squinting. ¡°The gang on this side only brought two motorcycles and one car¡ªsix guys in total. But the other gang has five cars¡ªthey¡¯ve clearly got more people.¡±
¡°Which means¡ they might be nning an ambush,¡± he said, just as the ck cars came to a stop, and about a dozen men piled out, gathering together.
The gang members on Lin Xian¡¯s side drew their guns, visibly tense.
Out of one of the ck cars stepped a middle-aged man in a long ck coat, a wool felt hat pulled low over his head, leaning on a cane as he limped towards them. It was obvious he was the leader.
¡°Nice outfit,¡± Lin Xian remarked. ¡°Got that noble vibe.¡±
CC nodded. ¡°Looks expensive too.¡±
The two gang leaders walked towards each other and shook hands. Their men brought forward two small suitcases, one ck and one white¡ªeach the same size, though their significance was unclear.
From Lin Xian¡¯s hiding spot, he couldn¡¯t see what was inside. Whatever it was, the two groups quickly started arguing, speaking anguage he didn¡¯t understand¡ªnot English, not Italian.
And suddenly, without giving the other side time to react, the men from the ck cars pulled out guns and started firing!
Gunfire erupted, echoing in the night air. CC went pale, covering her mouth and nose to stop herself from coughing as the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air.
It was over quickly. The gang members on Lin Xian¡¯s sidey motionless, while the other groupughed, shouting words Lin Xian and CC couldn¡¯t understand.
CC tugged on Lin Xian¡¯s sleeve, her voice trembling. ¡°Lin Xian¡ they¡¯ll really kill people. We need to get out of here.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°We can¡¯t keep hiding.¡±
Then, to CC¡¯s utter shock, Lin Xian stood up from behind the bush.
¡°Hello there!¡± he called out, stepping forward and waving at the dozen armed gang members.
¡°$#&@*!¡± shouted the gangsters, aiming their guns at Lin Xian, their words iprehensible.
¡°Lin Xian!¡± CC screamed, terrified.
But Lin Xian remained calm, smiling as he spoke softly. ¡°CC, get ready to witness some magic.¡±
With a swift motion, he raised his hand towards the armed men, like Neo from ¡°The Matrix.¡±
One by one, the gang members dropped to the ground. No gunshots were fired, no bullets flew¡ªthey simply copsed, as if they were puppets whose strings had been cut.
They stared in confusion, unable to understand what had happened. One moment they had their guns aimed, fingers on the triggers, ready to shoot¡ªand then a powerful force hit their chests, leaving them helpless, unable to move even an inch.
Their bodiesy limp, crumpled awkwardly on the ground, faces pressed to the earth, unable to even blink.
¡°W-what¡ is this?¡± CC gasped, standing up from behind the bush, wide-eyed.
She took a deep breath, trying toprehend what she had just witnessed. Lin Xian had merely raised his hand, and those men fell like dominoes. Was it magic? Sorcery? Some kind of superpower?
In the clearing, the only gang member still standing was the leader with the cane. His face had turned ghostly pale. He pulled a gun from his coat, aiming it at Lin Xian, but before he could pull the trigger, his body jerked backward, his heart squeezed tight by an invisible force.
He fell, just like his men, his cane ttering to the ground beside him.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Lin Xian walked over, crouched down, and took the ck wool hat off the man¡¯s head, cing it on his own. ¡°I like your hat,¡± he said, grabbing the ck handgun as well. ¡°And your gun, and¡¡±
He flipped the man over and took off his expensive coat. ¡°Your coat.¡±
Lin Xian shrugged off his own worn-out coat, shaking out the ck one in the wind before putting it on. He checked the pocket and found a pair of sunsses.
The leader hade well-prepared, it seemed. Lin Xian took the sunsses and put them on.
Now, with the ck wool hat, sunsses, long ck coat, and a gun at his waist, his ¡°gangster outfit¡± wasplete.
¡°Much warmer now,¡± he said with satisfaction, feeling the fine material of the coat. Lin Xian then walked to the car, opening the two suitcases.
The ck one contained white powder. The white one held stacks of green bills.
Lin Xian picked up the white suitcase and went over to one of the Harley motorcycles. He turned the key, kick-started the engine, and it roared to life.
¡°CC, hurry up!¡± he called, waving her over.
CC, still shaken, quickly ran over and climbed onto the bike behind him, holding tightly onto his waist.
The gang members began to stir, struggling to stand, but Lin Xian twisted the throttle, the bike roaring as they sped away into the night.
The powerful engine echoed as they sped down the asphalt, and soon they were safely away from the scene.
CC lifted her head from Lin Xian¡¯s back, shouting against the wind, ¡°What was that?! Was it magic or sorcery? How did you do it?!¡±
But she knew, deep down, magic didn¡¯t exist in the real world. Suddenly, her eyes widened.
¡°Wait, could it be¡¡± she muttered. ¡°X Country kung fu?¡±
Lin Xianughed as he drove. ¡°Something like that. You could call it X Country kung fu. Deep, profound, mysterious.¡±
¡°But you didn¡¯t even touch them!¡± CC protested, bewildered. ¡°You were so far away from them¡ªhow did you make them fall?¡±
¡°Oh, that¡¯s inner power,¡± Lin Xian said with a grin. ¡°Like¡ the legendary ¡®energy projection.¡¯ And if you¡¯re a master, you can even do the Five Lightning Whip.¡±
¡°Yeah, right,¡± CC huffed, even as her respect for X Country kung fu had grown¡ªlightning sounded a bit far-fetched. ¡°You¡¯re just messing with me again.¡±
¡
They stopped by the riverside, and Lin Xian opened the white suitcase.
CC frowned, staring at the bills inside. ¡°Oh my god, that¡¯s a lot of money¡ how much is it?¡±
¡°Now do you believe me?¡± Lin Xian picked up a stack of bills. ¡°I told you¡ªour tough days are over. We¡¯re going to live the high life from now on.¡±
He tossed the stack into the air, letting the money rain down.
¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± CC shrieked, scrambling to pick up the bills, stuffing them back into the suitcase. ¡°What on earth are you doing?! I don¡¯t understand why you always do these crazy things! Why are you throwing money away?!¡±
¡°It¡¯s all about the ritual,¡± Lin Xian said, closing the suitcase. ¡°Now that we¡¯re rich, CC, we can finally make your wishe true.¡±
CC froze, staring at him in disbelief. Why was this man always so kind to her, always willing to grant her wishes like some kind of genie?
¡°Suddenly getting rich¡ªshouldn¡¯t you be thinking of buying things for yourself? Improving your own life?¡± she whispered. ¡°But you¡ all you think about is me, even remembering the things I said offhand.¡±
She looked up at him. ¡°My wish¡ªare you talking about¡¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian said, climbing onto the riverbank¡¯s railing. He looked across the water, at the bright lights of Manhattan¡ªthe center of the world.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say the Brooklyn Bridge was like a wall, something you could never cross, something that kept you from Manhattan?¡±
He paused, then continued, ¡°There¡¯s no ocean that can¡¯t be crossed, no wall that can¡¯t be climbed. With all this money, we can explore Manhattan, y around, even settle down there if you want¡ªopen a flower shop, a caf¨¦, anything.¡±
¡°But¡¡± CC stepped closer, troubled. ¡°Lin Xian, this is your money, and you risked your life to get it. You¡¯ve already done so much for me, I can¡¯t spend it on myself. You should use it for yourself instead of always trying to fulfill my wishes like some genie. I¡ I¡¡±
She bit her lip. ¡°No one has ever been so good to me. I don¡¯t know how to¡¡±
Lin Xian ced a hand on her slender shoulder, and she looked up to meet his gentle gaze.
¡°You gave me my first meal in Brooklyn,¡± he said softly. ¡°That half piece of hard bread meant more to me than this suitcase full of cash.¡±
¡°And you said you¡¯d go to space just to bring me a souvenir, even if it was just for a hot dog. I know you weren¡¯t joking. Even though you told me not to take it seriously¡ I know you meant it. You¡¯d bring me back a star.¡±
He looked down for a moment, then met her eyes again. ¡°So¡ let¡¯s not overthink this now. We¡¯ve got all this money. No more sleeping in the park or under bridges.¡±
He walked back to the motorcycle, swinging his leg over and starting the engine again. With the roar of the Harley, he looked back at CC, smiling.
¡°Tonight¡ let¡¯s go to Manhattan,¡± he said, his eyes sparkling. ¡°To the center of the world, to your dream.¡±
Chapter 498: Our Manhattan
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Boom¡ª
The roaring Harley motorcycle sped across Coney Ind, heading towards northern Brooklyn.
Lin Xian rode into the night breeze, dressed in a ck suit that made him look like he was part of a gang. He wore a wool felt hat and dark sunsses, his long coat tails flying wildly on either side of the bike. It was like a scene straight out of ¡°Terminator,¡± as if they were in the middle of a Hollywood blockbuster.
After being bullied by so many ¡°Terminators¡± in the past, Lin Xian was finally the one bing the ¡°Terminator.¡±
Behind him, the petite CC sat on the back seat, her hands resting on Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders as she watched the scenery sh by. Her long, wavy, dark brown hair streamed behind her, exposing her smooth, fair forehead. Her ponytail, tied with a band, bounced in the wind like a spring.
Who would have thought¡
She was really heading to Manhattan. Her biggest dream in life was about toe true, just like that. And all of this¡ªthis amazing twist of fate¡ªwas thanks to the mysterious yet wonderful man in front of her.
She looked away from the night scenery and turned her gaze forward, staring at his broad, sturdy back. Her right hand slipped down from his shoulder, resting against his back over the soft, woolen fabric of his coat. Even though the cold wind blew against them, even though the night was freezing, she could feel Lin Xian¡¯s warmth beneath her palm¡ªa warmth that reached her heart.She lowered her head. Nestled between them was a small silver suitcase, packed full of cash. The case wasn¡¯t big, about the size of two books. But inside¡ªthere was a lot of money. Bundles of crisp hundred-dor bills, easily over ten stacks. Tens of thousands of dors¡
CC could hardly imagine what such an amount even meant. She lifted her head again.
¡°Huh?¡±
She blinked, leaning closer to Lin Xian¡¯s ear and shouted over the roaring engine, ¡°Lin Xian! I think you¡¯re going the wrong way!¡±
The motorcycle was speeding, and the engine was loud, so she had to shout for him to hear.
¡°To get to Manhattan, we need to go left, not this way!¡±
Lin Xian turned his head and shouted back, ¡°Before we go to Manhattan, shouldn¡¯t we prepare a little? After all, this is your biggest dreaming true¡ªwe need to make it special, it can¡¯t be just a casual thing.¡±
He smiled slightly. ¡°Remember what you told me at the pier outside the church? You said the people in Manhattan wouldn¡¯t wear clothes like ours¡ªthat the men were always in suits and the women were always morous.¡±
¡°So before we cross into Manhattan, we need to get dressed up too. After all, we¡¯re rich now¡ªwe need to look the part.¡±
¡°I think my outfit is fancy enough, even if I don¡¯t know the brand of this hat and coat. It¡¯s probably a luxury brand, and I really like the style.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re still wearing your old wanderer¡¯s clothes. I want to get you something new, so we can ride across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan looking our best. Didn¡¯t you always say you wanted a light,cy, fluffy, beautiful white dress? Well, we¡¯re going to head to the shopping district in the wealthy area¡ª¡±
¡°[And get you the prettiest white dress in all of Brooklyn!]¡±
¡
CC listened, holding her breath.
¡°You¡ you remembered even such a small thing,¡± she whispered in disbelief. ¡°How do you remember every word I say so clearly¡?¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t hear her over the engine and wind and shouted back, ¡°What did you say just now? The wind¡¯s too loud, I can¡¯t hear!¡±
CC shook her head. ¡°Nothing¡ I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±
She closed her eyes, hugging Lin Xian¡¯s waist tightly and pressing her face against his back to shield herself from the biting wind.
¡°I just meant¡ the weather¡¯s getting colder. Is it going to snow soon?¡±
¡
They entered themercial district, and Lin Xian slowed the bike, scanning the shops along the road.
But¡ª
¡°Why is everything closed?¡± he muttered, frowning at the darkened storefronts, almost all of them shut tight. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for everything to be closed? This should be the prime time for business.¡±
¡°Brooklyn¡¯s a rough ce,¡± CC said, leaning forward now that the bike had slowed down. She no longer needed to cling to him just to stay bnced. ¡°Even in the rich areas, there are still robberies, so the shops close early.¡±
Lin Xian drove through several more streets. All the clothing stores were shut, not a single one open for business.
It was a little awkward.
They could easily break the windows and take what they wanted¡ªmaybe even leave some extra cash topensate the shop owner. But that would probably bring trouble.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
With his forced avoidance, Lin Xian was basically invincible, unkible¡ªbut still. If the police or some ¡°helpful citizens¡± decided to restrain him and hand him over¡ that would be a mess. In a foreign country, better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Besides¡ª
CC was a kind, simple girl. She had scolded him once for just taking a newspaper from a kid. She was full of justice and morals¡ªcould she really ept a white dress that had been stolen?
Lin Xian shook his head. It wasn¡¯t just about CC epting it. From his own perspective, he wanted to buy her a white dress fair and square¡ªproperly, openly¡ªno shadows, no guilt. He didn¡¯t want her to carry any burden, didn¡¯t want that dress tainted in any way. He wanted her to be a true, radiant princess.
¡°There!¡± he said, relieved, as he spotted a shop window still lit up, disying several white dresses. ¡°That shop¡¯s still open. Let¡¯s check it out.¡±
CC nodded, also noticing the lit-up window. Even from afar, she could see the stic mannequins wearing those glowing, fluffy white dresses.
¡°They¡¯re so beautiful,¡± she breathed. ¡°So elegant.¡±
Lin Xian twisted the throttle, speeding towards the shop¡¯s lights. Soon, the Harley rumbled to a stop in front of the clothing store.
Lin Xian turned to look at the disy window, then looked up at the sign above the door, and his eyes widened in surprise.
¡°Wedding¡ wedding dresses? It¡¯s a bridal shop!¡±
He¡¯d been puzzled before¡ªwhy would a clothing store disy nothing but white dresses? One dress, sure, but all of them? Now it made sense.
It was a bridal shop! Of course it was full of white dresses¡ªwedding gowns, to be exact.
¡°Um¡¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head. ¡°Technically, are wedding dresses considered white dresses? What do you think, CC? Do you think they count as¡ Huh? Where did you go?¡±
He was about to turn to ask CC¡¯s opinion¡ªif she thought it didn¡¯t count, they¡¯d leave and keep looking for another store. But when he turned¡ªCC was gone!
¡°CC?¡± he called, looking around. And there she was¡ªthat tiny, ragged figure, already off the bike and pressed against the store window, staring at the wedding dresses inside.
¡°Ha.¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh.
Alright then. No need to ask¡ªthe answer was clear. To CC, there was no real difference between a wedding dress and a white dress. Or maybe¡ maybe she even preferred the extravagant, sparkling style of a wedding gown. White, fluffy,ce-edged, and shining¡ªa wedding dress met all her dreams of a beautiful white dress.
He reached over and turned off the motorcycle, stepping towards her.
¡°Do you like it?¡± he asked.
¡°Mhm!¡± CC nodded eagerly, her eyes glued to the gowns.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in and pick one,¡± Lin Xian said, heading for the main entrance.
But suddenly¡ª
Click.
A quiet sound, and all the lights in the shop and window disy went out. A man and a woman, both wearing employee uniforms, stepped out of the store, ready to lock up.
The female employee paused, startled at the sight of Lin Xian in his ck outfit. She quickly bowed, saying, ¡°Sorry, sir. We¡¯re closed for the day. Pleasee back tomorrow.¡±
Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°We¡¯re in a bit of a rush. Could you stay open just a little longer?¡±
¡°Stay open? No way!¡± the male employee snorted. ¡°The union fought hard for our rights, for fair working hours. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d work overtime and ruin that. Come back tomorrow, sir. Overtime? Not happening. Not even for a second!¡±
Lin Xian pulled a wad of hundred-dor bills from his coat pocket, splitting it into two stacks and pressing one into each employee¡¯s hand.
¡°Perhaps¡ tonight could be an exception?¡±
Click!
The male employee moved with lightning speed, spinning around to flick on all the lights again! In an instant, the entire shop, including the window disy, was brightly lit once more.
He threw the door wide open, bowing at a perfect ny-degree angle, gesturing towards the entrance with a booming voice:
¡°Wee, esteemed sir! Pleasee in! Take your time browsing and trying things on! We are at your service until you arepletely satisfied!¡±
The female employee, btedly realizing what had happened, widened her eyes and followed suit:
¡°W-Wee! Please,e in!¡±
Lin Xian walked over to the window and took CC¡¯s hand.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go inside. There will be even more styles to choose from, and you can pick the one you like best.¡±
¡
Clothes truly make the person.
Once CC had taken off her ragged clothes, the female employee, now eager and excited, helped her try on one wedding dress after another. Each time, she couldn¡¯t help but praise her:
¡°Oh, miss, your figure is just perfect. Every dress looks so good on you. You¡¯re a natural for these gowns.¡±
Lin Xian sat in a plush chair, watching as CC tried on dress after dress. The male employee stood behind him, pouring tea, offering water, and never stopping with hispliments:
¡°This youngdy is the most beautiful girl I¡¯ve ever seen! No exceptions!¡±
¡°And sir, you¡¯re the most handsome, coolest, and most gentlemanly man I¡¯ve ever met!¡±
¡°Are you getting married? Or maybe¡ are you here for a photoshoot? The two of you look just like models¡ªyour looks and figures are incredible!¡±
Lin Xian took the teacup, smiling without a word. He had just thrown away a few thousand dors in tips, but the emotional value was worth it. CC was blushing slightly, clearly overwhelmed by the praise she¡¯d never heard in her life.
¡°Do I look good?¡± she asked, blinking up at Lin Xian with hopeful eyes. She didn¡¯t really care what the employees thought¡ªshe wanted to know what Lin Xian thought.
¡°You look great,¡± Lin Xian nodded, then added, ¡°But we could also try some more refined styles.¡±
He wasn¡¯t sure if it was just because of the year¡ª1952¡ªbut these wedding dresses seemed a bit old-fashioned to him. If he were honest, he wasn¡¯t quite satisfied yet. He wanted something more refined.
Two ¡°Danger¡± signs seemed to pop up above the employees¡¯ heads. They looked tense, clearly sensing that this young man wasn¡¯t fully happy.
¡°S-Sir, don¡¯t worry! We have many more wedding dress styles in the shop. These are just some of the moremon designs¡ Yes, yes, I see now¡ªhow could we have made such a mistake? With this youngdy¡¯s outstanding figure and appearance, she shouldn¡¯t be tryingmon designs! I¡¯ll go prepare something else right away!¡±
The female employee nodded rapidly: ¡°My mistake! I forgot to do the youngdy¡¯s makeup! Even though she¡¯s naturally gorgeous, she still needs the right makeup and essories to match a wedding dress. Miss, please follow me¡ªI¡¯ll help you freshen up and add a little makeup.¡±
After some fussing around¡ª
CC timidly stepped out of the changing room again, now in the most refined white gown, her hair styled elegantly. Her face, already delicate and pretty, now glowed under the touch of makeup, like a fairy that had wandered into the mortal world.
¡°Do¡ do I look good?¡± she asked nervously, her voice soft as she looked to Lin Xian for reassurance.
Lin Xian looked at the girl standing before him. She reminded him of Chu An Qing, in her light blue evening gown, when they¡¯d waltzed together at the New Year¡¯s Eve g of the Donghai Business Association. The same style, the same charm¡ªonly, without the self-assurance and poise that came from being a princess of Donghai.
¡°You look beautiful,¡± Lin Xian said truthfully. ¡°Absolutely stunning.¡±
CC¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, her smile turning her eyes into crescent moons. The dimples at the corners of her lips showed faintly.
¡°Then this one it is! I like this one best!¡±
The two employees both sighed in relief.
¡°Sir, we¡¯ll go ahead and pack up this wedding dress.¡±
¡°No need to pack it,¡± Lin Xian said, standing up from his chair. He picked up his ck hat from the side table and ced it back on his head.
¡°She¡¯ll wear it out. CC, let¡¯s go.¡±
Boom¡ª
The roaring Harley sped along Brooklyn Avenue, the speedometer pushing past 100 mph.
Up front was Lin Xian, dressed all in ck. Behind him, CC clung to his back, her white wedding gown trailing behind them. The flowing, white dress fluttered wildly in the night air like the tail of aet¡ªcarrying hope and dreams towards the magical metropolis, the center of the world¡ªNew York, Manhattan.
Even though it was night, CC felt as if Manhattan ahead of them was shining like daylight¡ªbright, glorious. She lifted her head from Lin Xian¡¯s back, her eyes set on the Brooklyn Bridge ahead, her gaze fixed on Manhattan just beyond.
So close. So very close. The other side of the Brooklyn Bridge¡ªthere, soaring skyscrapers awaited in Manhattan. This wall. This barrier between Brooklyn and Manhattan. She was finally about to cross it!
The Brooklyn Bridge¡ It was just a bridge¡ª
¡°CC! Are you ready?¡± Lin Xian called over his shoulder, grinning as he tightened his grip on the throttle. ¡°We¡¯re going to cross the Brooklyn Bridge! Once we¡¯re across¡ªthat¡¯s Manhattan!¡±
¡°Yes!¡± CC said, her lips pressed together. A thousand emotions surged within her, all words stuck in her throat, turning to tears that sparkled, scattered by thest gusts of Brooklyn¡¯s cold wind.
She straightened up, biting her lip, her palms pressed against Lin Xian¡¯s shoulders. And she stood, right up from her seat on the back of the motorcycle! She looked ahead at the lights drawing closer.
Memories shed through her mind¡ªthe orphanage and its warmth. Wandering the streets of Brooklyn¡ªthe Brooklyn Heights Promenade, with its view of the city. The nket in that old motel room. The first bite of a hot dog, its vor filling her senses. Riding the Ferris wheel to its highest point, gazing down on a city she thought she¡¯d never be able to escape.
¡°Charge!!¡± She screamed into the open expanse of bridge and sea. ¡°Brooklyn!!!¡±
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Lin Xian twisted the throttle to its limit. The roaring Harley shot up at the start of the Brooklyn Bridge, the front wheel lifting into the air as itunched off the ground, before crashing back down onto the steel surface of the bridge and racing towards the center of the world.
The century-old steel bridge, its thousands of thick steel cables holding it above the water, couldn¡¯t hold back the dreams of this neen-year-old girl.
The antenna at the top of the Empire State Building shone like a beacon, weing the arrival of Brooklyn¡¯s new queen.
Drip¡ drip¡ drip¡
The motorcycle roared towards the middle of the bridge. Lin Xian felt something warm dripping onto his neck. It trickled down his cor, down his chest.
He slowed the bike, ncing back. And there was CC¡ªstanding on the seat, her face streaked with tears, makeup smudged, her eyes fixed on the glowing lights of Manhattan ahead.
She was biting her lip. But her eyes¡ªthose eyes, reflecting the lights of Manhattan¡ªwere already brimming with tears, tears spilling one after another.
¡°I¡ I¡¯m fine,¡± CC said, wiping her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not crying.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m really not crying.¡± She took a deep breath and gave Lin Xian a genuine smile, her eyes bright with joy.
¡°These are happy tears!¡±
CC lowered her head, whispering, ¡°Lin Xian, now I believe you¡ªyou really are a magician.¡±
Lin Xian smiled as he steered the bike. ¡°Riding a motorcycle doesn¡¯t take any magic. The Brooklyn Bridge has been here for a hundred years¡ªI didn¡¯t make it appear.¡±
CC sat back down, settling on the motorcycle¡¯s rear seat. She wrapped her arms around Lin Xian¡¯s waist, her face pressed against his broad back, against the soft, ck wool coat¡ªwarm,fortable.
¡°But to me¡ this is magic. The most wonderful, incredible magic in the world,¡± she whispered, her eyes closed.
¡°Meeting you¡ is the luckiest thing in my life.¡±
Chapter 499: From an Angel
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
The Harley motorcycle roared down the wide Fifth Avenue of Manhattan.
It waste at night now, with only a few cars on the road. The surrounding skyscrapers, however, were still lit up brightly. Manhattan truly lived up to its name as the world¡¯s capital, with the city¡¯s nightlife being as lively as ever. Lin Xian took a deep breath, his exhale quickly turning into a faint mist in the cold air.
¡°This cold front is really something,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°The temperature¡¯s dropped a lot. It might even snow.¡±
Lin Xian turned his head slightly as he rode, his passenger staring in awe at Manhattan¡¯s sights. The view was breathtaking, and she looked like she was trying to take in every detail.
¡°Is there any ce in particr you¡¯d like to go?¡± he called over his shoulder.
¡°Yes, there is!¡± she replied, raising her head and looking towards the tallest point in Manhattan¡ªthe unmistakable silhouette of the Empire State Building, visible from anywhere in the city.
¡°The Empire State Building,¡± she said softly. ¡°It¡¯s the tallest point in Manhattan. You can see the whole city from up there. I want to see it, to really see what the center of the world looks like.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, as if he had just been given amand by a genie. ¡°No problem. We¡¯re going there now.¡±He twisted the throttle, and they sped down Fifth Avenue.
With the Empire State Building as their destination, there was no need for a map or GPS. One only had to look up, and there it stood, majestic and towering above everything else.
Especially at night.
For the sake of air traffic safety, the top of the Empire State Building was always brightly lit. Even the antenna on top shed a brilliant blue. Nobody could lose sight of the building; it was always there, standing proud.
¡°But¡ it¡¯s sote. Will we be able to go up?¡± she asked, her voice rising above the wind, her wedding dress fluttering as they rode.
¡°It¡¯s past midnight, isn¡¯t it? Will they still let us in?¡±
¡°It should be fine,¡± Lin Xian answered, recalling a conversation he had overheard during a flight back from apetition in America.
¡°They say the observation deck at the Empire State Building is open until 2 AM. Thest elevator goes up around 1 AM. If we hurry, we should still be able to get tickets.¡±
The Empire State Building had 102 floors, and its elevators were always busy. Even after buying tickets, you had to wait for a specific observation elevator, just like waiting for a train.
After half an hour of skillful riding, Lin Xian managed to get them there just before 1 AM. He checked the notice board at the ticket counter¡ª
Sure enough, some traditions never change.
Thest elevator up to the observation deck was indeed at 1:15 AM. He turned to nce at the clock and calendar hanging in the lobby. October 30th, 1952, 12:50 AM. Perfect, they were just in time. ??¦?????
He looked back at her with a smile.
¡°Good thing I drove fast. Sorry if it messed up your hair.¡±
Sheughed, her smile warm and gentle. ¡°Messed up or not, who cares? It¡¯s not like anyone else is watching. As long as we¡¯re happy, that¡¯s what matters.¡±
Lin Xian nced around.
He had thought that riding around in a wedding dress would attract a lot of attention and turn plenty of heads. But to his surprise, here in the free-spirited United States, people seemed unfazed by it. Perhaps they had seen stranger things.
There were only a few people in the lobby, and most just nced their way before moving on.
Lin Xian and she, holding their tickets, walked to the elevator to wait.
The elevator attendant, an elderly gentleman with white hair, looked at them and nodded knowingly. ¡°Oh, here for somete-night wedding photos, eh? You¡¯ve picked the right ce. Not many people choose the top of the Empire State Building for wedding pictures, but believe me, kids, there¡¯s no better spot. You¡¯ll get to see the whole world from up there.¡±
He nced at his watch. It was exactly 1:15 AM. He gave Lin Xian a yful wink.
¡°You two are luckyst elevator of the night, and it¡¯s just the two of you. Same price as everyone else, but you get the whole observation deck to yourselves. You¡¯re really getting your money¡¯s worth tonight.¡±
Ding¡ª
The elevator doors opened, and the previous group of visitors filed out.
Once the elevator was empty, the attendant gestured for them to enter with a slight bow.
¡°Please, enjoy your exclusive time up there,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a rare opportunity.¡±
They entered the elevator, where a woman in a uniform greeted them and pressed the button for the observation deck. The elevator began to ascend smoothly, picking up speed.
It was a fast elevator¡ªfaster than any Lin Xian had been in before.
He nced to the side, a little worried.
But she seemed unfazed. Of course¡ªshe had always been extraordinary. Despite the eleration, she showed no difort. Instead, she was calmly adjusting theyers of her wedding dress,pletely at ease.
Even though the elevator moved quickly, it still took nearly ten minutes to reach the observation deck¡ªa testament to just how tall the world¡¯s tallest building of the time was.
When the doors opened again, they were hundreds of meters above the ground.
The elevator operator stood and bowed.
¡°Sir, ma¡¯am, we have arrived. Please enjoy your time on the observation deck, and remember that it closes at 2 AM. When you¡¯re ready,e back here to take the elevator down.¡±
She was already impatient, dashing out of the elevator and running to the edge of the observation deck. She leaned over the railing, looking down at the glittering city below.
¡°Wow!¡± she gasped, her eyes wide with amazement. ¡°This is the center of the world! It¡¯s so magnificent!¡±
Lin Xian walked up behind her, the icy wind cutting through the high-altitude night air as he gazed down as well. It was his first time seeing Manhattan from this height, even higher than when he had stood with Chu An Qing at the Aman Hotel. The view here was broader, more expansive.
Manhattan in 1952¡ªluxurious, sophisticated, brimming with technology and endless wealth.
The skyscrapers seemed smallpared to the Empire State Building, yet their lights formed lines, woveworks, and turned into the brightestttice on this entire.
¡°Is it everything you imagined?¡± Lin Xian asked, ncing down at her.
She nodded, her breath forming soft white puffs in the cold air, her eyes glued to the lights below.
¡°Exactly like I imagined,¡± she whispered.
This was the scene she had dreamed of for so long. It was her greatest dreame true¡ªa poor girl from Brooklyn, with no parents, no family, finally standing at the highest point in Manhattan, wearing the most beautiful white dress.
The neon lights below began to blur.
Her eyes had grown misty.
¡°I really made it,¡± she said, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is real.¡±
Lin Xian stepped closer, gently ruffling her wind-blown hair. His thoughts drifted back to that day with Chu An Qing, standing on the rooftop of the Aman Hotel. The circumstances were different¡ª
One was summer, the other winter.
One was in 2023, the other in 1952.
One was Chu An Qing, and the other was¡
But some things stayed the same. Lin Xian was still Lin Xian, and both of these girls, they were both timeless souls, with intertwined destinies.
¡°This is amazing,¡± she said, smiling as she looked up at him. She didn¡¯t mind his hand on her head; in fact, she liked it.
¡°Thank you,¡± she said. ¡°For making my dreame true.¡±
Lin Xian smiled gently.
¡°This is just the beginning of your dreams,¡± he said. ¡°We have only just started.¡±
¡°C, we have a lot of money now. You can do anything you want. It¡¯s your first night in Manhattan, but tomorrow, we can go anywhere¡ªthe best restaurants, the biggest movie theaters, the busiest shopping centers, anywhere you want.¡±
¡°You can even stay in Manhattan forever, just like I said. You¡¯ll never have to go back to that old, broken-down ce in Brooklyn.¡±
She shook her head softly.
¡°This is already enough, Lin Xian,¡± she said with a gentle smile. ¡°Really. You don¡¯t have to do anything more for me. I¡¯m already content.¡±
¡°Keep the money for yourself. My dream hase true, but what about yours? You still have your own dream to chase.¡±
She hopped down from the railing, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him.
¡°To be honest, I¡¯m really curious. You once told me that your dream was to save everyone, to not let anyone down, to be a true savior.¡±
¡°But why?¡± she asked, her eyes searching his face. ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine that, until today, you were just a homeless boy, barely surviving, going hungry on the streets. How did youe to have such a grand, heroic dream?¡±
Lin Xian took a deep breath and let it out slowly, bowing his head.
¡°Because I promised a lot of people. I made a lot ofmitments,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But that¡¯s not the main reason.¡±
He lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers.
¡°I used to just go with the flow, pushed along by fate, feeling like I was being forced into the role of a savior,¡± he said. ¡°But now, it¡¯s different. Now, I genuinely want to save everything, to prevent tragedies, to fulfill all my promises.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve seen it too. I have abilities that others don¡¯t. That means I have a responsibility to do what others can¡¯t.¡±
¡°With great poweres great responsibility. History doesn¡¯t me those without strength, but it does judge every ipetent ruler.¡±
¡°I never wanted to be a savior just to be called a savior. It was never about that.¡± Lin Xian paused before continuing.
¡°The reason isn¡¯tplicated. It¡¯s actually very simple.¡±
His eyes shone with determination, the lights of the Empire State Building reflecting in them.
¡°This is my duty. My mission.¡±
She looked at him silently for a long time.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she finally said, her smile a little embarrassed. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t fully understand.¡±
¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Lin Xian replied, smiling as well. ¡°It¡¯s been a long journey, a long story.¡±
She stepped closer, her eyes meeting his, filled with all the colors of the lights around them.
¡°But¡ I believe in you. I believe you¡¯ll seed. You¡¯ll save the world, and you¡¯ll be the hero you want to be.¡±
She reached out, taking Lin Xian¡¯s hand in hers, her voice soft.
¡°When I was little, the olddy at the orphanage used to tell us girls that every girl is an angel fallen to earth. She said each of us has one wish that wille true, just one, no matter what.¡±
¡°She told us to put our hands together, to be sincere when we made our wish, because it was our only chance¡ªa wish that would definitelye true. We had to be careful, to be earnest, and to make it count.¡±
¡°We were just kids, only five or six years old. Everyone closed their eyes and wished.¡±
Lin Xian blinked. ¡°And you? Did you wish toe to Manhattan?¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
She shook her head, her expression serious.
¡°I didn¡¯t wish for anything.¡±
¡°I was the only girl who didn¡¯t make a wish,¡± she said. ¡°Because I thought, if I only had one wish, something so precious, I shouldn¡¯t waste it.¡±
¡°I asked the olddy if I could save my wish forter¡ªfor something even more important. She smiled and said yes. She told me I could save it for whenever I wanted, and that it would alwayse true.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly. ¡°That sounds like something you¡¯d tell a child.¡±
¡°It does, doesn¡¯t it?¡± she agreed, nodding. ¡°But what if it¡¯s true?¡±
¡°All these years, no matter how hard things got, I never used that wish. Not even when I dreamed ofing to Manhattan. I saved it, because I always felt that it should be used for something more important, something more precious, something more meaningful.¡±
She smiled, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth.
¡°And now, I think it¡¯s time.¡±
She took Lin Xian¡¯s hand, lifting it between them, cing hisrger hand between hers, and closing her eyes.
Her expression turned sincere, almost solemn, like she was praying in a church¡ªeven more serious than that. And just then¡ª
A cold touchnded on Lin Xian¡¯s face.
He looked up.
¡°It¡¯s snowing,¡± he said softly.
Hundreds of meters above the ground, snowkes were falling, carried by the night wind. Standing at the highest point in Manhattan, Lin Xian was the first to feel the snow touch his skin.
She lowered her head slightly, still holding his hand, her eyes closed.
¡°Lin Xian, I need to apologize,¡± she whispered, her voice almost lost in the wind.
¡°That day, when you took me to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to look at Manhattan, you wished for me to be the most beautiful princess in all of Manhattan. I wished for you to be the greatest savior the world has ever known.¡±
¡°But I wasn¡¯t sincere back then. I was joking. You were serious, but I was just going along with you, saying whatever came to mind.¡±
¡°But now, I¡¯m not joking anymore. I¡¯m serious.¡±
The snow fell harder, the wind swirling around them, the kes gathering at her back, almost as if she had grown a pair of pure white wings.
¡°Heavens above, I¡¯m using my one and only wish now,¡± she said, her voice steady as if she were chanting a spell.
The snow spun around them, like tiny spirits dancing with her, joining her in the ritual that every girl gets only once in her lifetime.
¡°I wish for Lin Xian to conquer everything, to save everything, to have everything.¡±
She pressed his hand tighter, warming it against the cold.
¡°I wish for him to be a true savior.¡±
Chapter 500: The Shadow of the Cold War
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Even though the cold wind howled and snowkes danced in the air, Lin Xian still felt a strange warmth spreading from the palm of his hand, seeping into his arm, and wrapping his entire body in its embrace. For a brief moment, his staunch materialistic beliefs wavered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°Maybe,¡± he thought, ¡°there is no God, no higher power¡ but perhaps¡ there really are angels?¡±
Just like the one in front of him, with her eyes closed in earnest prayer, surrounded by swirling snowkes that looked like feathers falling from an angel¡¯s wings, isting them from the world atop the Empire State Building.
¡°Hehe,¡± she giggled, lifting her head and slowly opening her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know if my wish will work, but still, I¡¯ve saved this opportunity for over ten years, just for you. I believe you can be the one to save the world!¡±
The snowkes that had been swirling around them began to lose their strength, falling gently to the ground, covering everything with a pure white nket.
¡°It will definitelye true,¡± Lin Xian said seriously.
Yes, it definitely would. He thought to himself. After all, hadn¡¯t he made promises like this to so many people before? Even if there was no God to hear her wish, he had taken it on himself. He was like ddin¡¯smp, and he would grant her wish.
¡°Achoo!¡± She sneezed, letting go of Lin Xian¡¯s hand and rubbing her nose. ¡°Maybe wearing a dress in this weather wasn¡¯t the best idea. It¡¯s still too cold.¡±¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± Lin Xian smiled, brushing the snow off his hair. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. Tomorrow¡ªactually, today¡ªwe can go to a mall in Manhattan and buy you some warmer clothes.¡±
¡°The stores in Manhattan are definitely more upscale than those in Brooklyn,¡± he added with a grin, ¡°and you¡¯ll find plenty of clothes you¡¯ll like.¡±
The wind was getting colder, and Lin Xian gently guided her back inside the Empire State Building.
Instead of heading straight to the ground floor, they exited the elevator at one of the middle levels and entered the ¡°Empire State Hotel.¡± With its 102 floors, the Empire State Building was the tallest structure in the world in 1952, housing not only offices and observation decks but also restaurants, clubs, conference halls, and even a hotel. There was no need to search for amodations elsewhere; staying here was good enough.
Money wasn¡¯t an issue¡ªthe Coney Ind gang had already paid for everything. The suitcase full of cash they¡¯d been given was a fortune in these times. Short of buying a house or a car, it would be hard to spend it all quickly.
Lin Xian chose a suite. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious living area, which made things much morefortable.
When they¡¯d had no money, sharing one room had been a necessity. But now that they were flush with cash, Lin Xian was determined to make things morefortable for her.
With a click, Lin Xian opened the door and flipped on the light switch. Instantly, the crystal chandelier in the suite¡¯s grand living room lit up, the small bar¡¯s record yer started ying soft music, and the red carpet at the entrancey immactely clean.
She widened her eyes in amazement. ¡°It¡¯s like a castle,¡± she whispered.
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Not quite a castle, but¡¡± He walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the room, gazing at the dazzling night view of Manhattan below. ¡°You could say this is the tallest hotel on Earth. There¡¯s no arguing with that.¡±
She plopped down on the long, plush sofa, hugging a cushion as she rolled around. ¡°Wow, I never thought I¡¯d get to stay in such a fancy ce! No, no¡ every second here costs several cents. I can¡¯t waste it!¡± She sprang up, scanning the room eagerly, and finally set her sights on the minibar with its drinks and snacks. She dashed over. ¡°Lin Xian! There¡¯s cream cake! And juice! But¡ no c?¡±
Lin Xian scratched his head. ¡°Maybe a ce like this doesn¡¯t think c is healthy, so they don¡¯t provide it. Let me check.¡±
Eventually, he found a bottle of c in the minibar¡¯s fridge, and she was satisfied.
The two of them sat around the small bar, soft music ying from the record yer. They gobbled down the cream cake, raising their drinks.
¡°Cheers!¡± she said with a giggle.
¡°Cheers,¡± Lin Xian echoed, their sses clinking together.
Lin Xian drank his fresh juice in one go, while she took a long swig of her c.
¡°Ahhh¡¡± They both sighed with contentment.
Finally, they could rx. It had been about two days since they¡¯d arrived in 1952¡ªthey¡¯d arrived on the morning of October 28th, and now it was the early hours of October 30th. They¡¯d been on the move constantly, often going hungry. Now, they could finally enjoy some ¡°gourmet food.¡± It was a rare treat, and they didn¡¯t hold back.
After devouring the snacks, they ordered more¡ªgrilled meat, roast chicken, anything they could get their hands on¡ªuntil they were stuffed and couldn¡¯t eat another bite.
¡°That was the best meal I¡¯ve ever had,¡± she said, lying on the sofa with a satisfied sigh. ¡°Even in my dreams, I never dared imagine eating anything this good.¡±
¡°Same here,¡± Lin Xian agreed wholeheartedly. ¡°I guess the quality of the food doesn¡¯t really depend on the chef¡¯s skill¡ªit depends on how hungry the customer is.¡±
To be honest, Lin Xian didn¡¯t think the hotel¡¯s grilled meat and roast chicken couldpare to dishes from his homnd. There was no soup or congee either, which made things a bit ufortable for him, as he loved drinking soup. He had to make do with juice and soda instead.
No wonder the obesity rate in America was so high¡ªwith this kind of diet, it¡¯d be surprising if people didn¡¯t get fat. Still, after two days of hunger, even a te of dry turkey would have tasted amazing to Lin Xian.
The day had been long and exhausting, and both of them were starting to yawn.
They each went to their rooms to wash up, wishing each other goodnight before closing their doors. Lin Xian took afortable hot shower, theny in bed, ncing at the clock on the wall. It read 3:24 AM.
With the U.S. on daylight saving time, the time difference between here and his homnd was exactly 12 hours. It was afternoon back home, just about time for a nap.
¡°I¡¯ll give it another try tonight,¡± he murmured to himself.
The rigorous nature of scientific experiments meant he couldn¡¯t conclude anything based on just one night. He pulled the nket over himself, turned off the bedsidemp, and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knocking sound woke Lin Xian. He opened his eyes and sat up immediately, finding himself still in the bedroom of the suite. Everything around him was just as it had been. He nced at the clock¡ªit read 9:21 AM.
¡°So it¡¯s true,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯ve lost the ability to dream, and even light knocks can wake me up. I¡¯ve really be just an ordinary person.¡±
Then he looked at the door. ¡°Who is it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s me,¡± her voice called from outside. ¡°Lin Xian, get up! The waiter brought breakfast.¡±
¡°Oh, okay,¡± Lin Xian replied, getting up to brush his teeth and wash his face. Then he walked out of his room, seeing her dressed in the hotel¡¯s provided pajamas.
Since she only had one wedding dress, she couldn¡¯t keep wearing it forever. Thankfully, this was a high-end hotel, dedicated to providing top-notch service to its guests. Last night, the hotel staff had gone out of their way to bring her pajamas and some casual clothes for today¡¯s outing.
Lin Xian joined her at the table, where a ¡°rich breakfast¡± had beenid out: corn porridge, milk, sandwiches, bacon, and sd. Lin Xian suddenly found himself missing millet congee, soy milk, and steamed buns. Could Americans really eat like this every day and not feel sluggish?
¡°Oh well,¡± he thought.
Perhaps today, while they were out exploring, they could find a X Country restaurant and enjoy some traditional dishes. Nothing too fancy¡ªjust a bowl of noodles, some soup, or scrambled eggs with tomatoes would be enough to make him happy.
She waited for Lin Xian to sit down before starting to eat¡ªever so polite. She¡¯d already turned on the small ck-and-white TV nearby, tuning in to the news.
The news was all about international affairs, and Lin Xian listened while munching on his sandwich. It seemed to be mostly about the ¡°Cold War¡± between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, tensions running high.
After World War II, the U.S. and the Soviet Union had entered a long standoff thatsted decades. Though they never fought directly, they were constantly making moves. The arms race, the space race, and technologicalpetition were all heated during these years.
From a technological point of view, the Cold War period was actually one of the fastest times of human advancement. Electronicputers, integrated circuits, chips, the inte, satellites, manned spaceflight, fighter jets, moonndings, mobilemunication, and global navigation¡ªall of these were products of that time.
It¡¯s hard to say how many more years it would¡¯ve taken for humans to develop these technologies without the Cold War and the massive investments made by both sides. In a way, it was an unexpected boon for human civilization.
From the news anchor¡¯s tone, it was clear that people were still on edge in the years shortly after World War II¡ªas if a Soviet nuclear bomb might drop any day.
As someone who had lived through it, Lin Xian knew that the Cold War never escted into a full-blown conflict¡ªnot a single bullet was fired. The only real crises were the Cuban Missile Crisis and one involving a nuclear submarine; the rest of the Cold War was full of tense moments but ultimately harmless.
But of course, that was easy for him to say now, in hindsight.
For people living in 1952, it wasn¡¯t that simple. Across the U.S., air-raid shelters and nuclear bunkers were being built. Even in Brooklyn Heights, there were ads for family bomb shelters¡ªeveryone was preparing for a nuclear war that could happen at any time.
¡°Do you think there¡¯s going to be another war?¡± she asked, frowning in worry while watching the news and eating her sandwich.
Lin Xian thought for a moment. He hadn¡¯t realized before, but she was born in 1932, which meant she had witnessed World War II in its entirety.
War and sacrifice were probably deeply ingrained in her mind.
¡°No, there won¡¯t be another war,¡± Lin Xian said, swallowing thest of his bread and washing it down with milk. ¡°Trust me, there¡¯s not going to be another war. Even though there were some dangerous moments and misunderstandings, it never actually came to that.¡±
¡°But¡¡± she pointed to the ck-and-white TV. ¡°The news anchor isn¡¯t saying that. They¡¯re saying the situation is really dangerous, and an expert said the Soviets already have nuclear submarines.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. The world¡¯s first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, is still being built here in the U.S. It¡¯s not even close to finished.¡±
He smiled at her reassuringly. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to worry. Trust me, there won¡¯t be a war. Not this time.¡±
¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m really scared of war. The matron at the orphanage lost her entire family in World War I, and during World War II, we heard news of people dying every single day. I just want the world to be peaceful forever. I want everyone to be safe and happy. It doesn¡¯t matter if we don¡¯t have much to eat or if we don¡¯t have warm clothes, as long as we¡¯re all alive and don¡¯t have to feel the pain of losing loved ones.¡±
Lin Xian watched her silently. It seemed that the scars left by the war ran deep for people of this time.
Even a child who had never been on the battlefield, who had never truly experienced the war, carried that emotional burden.
Lin Xian didn¡¯t say anything more. He came from a time of peace and prosperity, a ce without war, and he could never truly understand what that tension felt like. He wasn¡¯t going to stand here and try to offer hollow reassurances.
He finished thest of his milk and stood up. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go explore Manhattan. Whatever happens out there, whether there¡¯s a war or not, it¡¯s not something the two of us can change.¡±
He smiled. ¡°And even if a war does break out, don¡¯t worry. Manhattan is one of the safest ces in the U.S. Have you heard of the Manhattan Project?¡±
She shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡±
¡°Oh, I see,¡± Lin Xian said, slightly surprised. He¡¯d thought the legendary orphanage matron knew everything, like a living encyclopedia who could exin anything to her. But it seemed like even her knowledge was selective, more focused on the human experience than cold facts.
¡°The Manhattan Project was the n to create the atomic bomb,¡± Lin Xian exined. ¡°You know about the atomic bomb, right? I¡¯m sure you do. They keep mentioning it on the news. It¡¯s the thing that everyone fears the most these days¡ªa weapon powerful enough to destroy an entire city.¡±
¡°The Manhattan Project was the most secretive program
in America. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s dessified now, but just listen to me. Lots of brilliant physicists were involved in that project¡ªOppenheimer, Edward Teller, John von Neumann, Enrico Fermi¡ And of course, the one who started it all, Albert Einstein.¡±
She suddenly put down her knife and fork, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°Einstein?¡±
She stood up quickly, walking to the coffee table to pick up today¡¯s edition of The New York Times. Then she walked back over to Lin Xian, pointing to the front page picture of a wild-haired physicist. ¡°You mean this Einstein?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s him.¡±
He chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve never been to school, but you recognize Einstein. Did the matron teach you that? Or did you already look at the paper earlier?¡±
She shook her head, still staring at the picture before looking back at Lin Xian. ¡°No, I saw him in Brooklyn!¡±
Chapter 501: The Movie
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Have you seen him before?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice was full of disbelief.
This was Albert Einstein, the most famous and respected physicist in the entire world. And here was CC, an orphan from a welfare home, iming to have seen him?
They lived in twopletely different worlds¡ªnot just in terms of lifestyle but in every imaginable way. The idea of them crossing paths seemed impossible.
After all, CC had grown up in the poor neighborhoods of Brooklyn, ces Lin Xian had seen with his own eyes. The streets were dirty, chaotic, and unforgiving. He couldn¡¯t picture Einstein ever visiting a ce like that. It didn¡¯t match his status or lifestyle at all.
¡°You¡¯ve really seen Einstein?¡± Lin Xian asked again, his skepticism clear.
¡°Yeah, really,¡± CC answered, putting down the newspaper she had been reading. She pushed it toward Lin Xian.
He nced at the front page. It was an interview with Einstein, mostly talking about the Cold War, the nuclear crisis, and the international situation¡ªall those heavy topics that everyone seemed to worry about these days.¡°You just have to trust me. I¡¯ve really seen him,¡± CC insisted, resting her chin on her hands. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me either. A lot of us kids from the welfare home saw him. Even Grandma talked to him once. She told us stories about him afterward, saying he was a great scientist¡ so I¡¯m sure about it. It was Albert Einstein.¡±
Lin Xian finally set the newspaper down, deciding to ept it. ¡°Alright. If Grandma said it was Einstein, then it probably was.¡±
He still found it hard to imagine Einstein hanging around the slums of Brooklyn. It just didn¡¯t fit his image. But maybe there was a reason¡ªa friend, or some kind of business that brought him by. It wasn¡¯t impossible. Maybe CC had just happened to see him by chance.
¡°No, it¡¯s not like that,¡± CC said, shaking her head, looking puzzled at Lin Xian¡¯s continued doubt. ¡°We didn¡¯t see him just once. We saw him quite often.¡±
¡°Quite often?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, trying to wrap his head around it.
An orphan girl from a welfare home regrly seeing Einstein, the renowned scientist? It sounded ridiculous. Einstein¡¯s status was extraordinary. If Lin Xian remembered correctly, it was around this time that Israel had even offered Einstein the presidency, which he had declined. Why would someone of that stature be seen regrly by CC?
¡°How exactly did you see Einstein?¡± he asked, standing up from his chair. ¡°Did hee to the welfare home to visit you?¡±
CCughed and shook her head. ¡°Of course not. Our welfare home was on the outskirts of Brooklyn, quite far from everything. Not many people came by. We kids didn¡¯t have much to do, so we often yed outside by the road.¡±
¡°Anyone driving by, we¡¯d see them. Einstein would pass by in a ck car every few months or so, right in front of the welfare home,¡± she exined. ¡°He usually didn¡¯t stop, but one time, a little boy from the home ran into the road, and Einstein¡¯s car almost hit him. He got out to make sure the boy was okay and even helped him up.¡±
¡°After that, he spoke with Grandma for a while, made sure everything was alright, then left. Since then, whenever he drove past and saw us outside, he¡¯d wave at us from the window.¡±
¡°So, I guess we saw him quite a few times¡ªmaybe seven or eight,¡± CC finished.
Lin Xian nodded slowly, beginning to understand. Einstein hadn¡¯t known the welfare home or the kids. Their interaction had been a coincidence. And the subsequent ¡°meetings¡± were just waves from a passing car¡ªhardly what he¡¯d call actual encounters.
¡°Can you remember roughly when all this happened?¡± Lin Xian asked, grabbing a notepad and pencil. ¡°When was Einstein driving through Brooklyn? Just give me an idea; it doesn¡¯t have to be exact.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
CC blinked, thinking back. ¡°Grandma passed away when I was sixteen, and that¡¯s when the welfare home closed down. I started living on the streets then. I remember seeing Einstein shortly before Grandma passed away.¡±
¡°The first time I saw him, I must have been twelve or thirteen. After that, we saw him two or three times a year until the home closed,¡± she said.
Lin Xian quickly jotted down some notes. ¡°So, CC was about twelve in 1945, and she was sixteen around 1948. That means¡¡±
¡°From 1945 to 1948, Einstein appeared in the outskirts of Brooklyn several times, driving past the welfare home,¡± he concluded, tapping the paper with his pencil.
Everyone knew that Einstein lived in Princeton. He worked there, lived there, and even died there. If there wasn¡¯t a special reason, there¡¯s no way he would regrly visit the outskirts of Brooklyn.
¡°So why was he there?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, pacing over to the map of New York City hanging on the wall. He traced the roads and districts with his finger.
¡°Brooklyn¡ the outskirts¡ here,¡± he pointed, then turned to CC. ¡°Is this where the welfare home was?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s here,¡± CC said, standing on her toes to point at a different spot on the map. ¡°We saw Einstein there, but we don¡¯t know where he was headed. It must have been far, though. We¡¯d watch his car until it disappeared before going back to ying.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian nodded, making another note. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something. Einstein must have been up to something¡ªsomething important and secret.
Could it be rted to the Genius Club, the Millennial Stake, or the World-Ending White Light? Lin Xian had to find out more.
But for now, there was no need to rush. He had promised to take CC around Manhattan for a fun day.
He smiled at her. ¡°Are you full?¡±
¡°Mm-hmm,¡± CC nodded, wiping her mouth with a napkin. ¡°I¡¯m all done.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Xian nced out the window, looking at the sunlit Manhattan below¡ªbright and magnificent. ¡°From today, you¡¯re going to be the Manhattan Girl, at the center of the world.¡±
They took the elevator down and got into the car the hotel had arranged, heading to a nearby shopping mall.
Lin Xian bought CC a new set of clothes, something warm and stylish. Though down jackets weren¡¯t quite in fashion yet, the mall had plenty of thick wool coats and winter wear.
They ended up buying everything¡ªhat, scarf, coat, pants, and boots. CC, the Brooklyn girl, lookedpletely transformed, like a young model.
¡°You really like white, don¡¯t you?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. If he and the sales clerk hadn¡¯t stepped in, CC would have chosen an all-white outfit. She didn¡¯t care about matching; she just liked white. If she¡¯d dressed in all white, people might have thought she was a snow maiden.
Thankfully, CC listened to their suggestions, and her beret and boots weren¡¯t white, making her outfit look more bnced.
¡°It¡¯s so warm!¡± CC beamed, spinning around with her arms outstretched. ¡°I¡¯ve never worn anything this warm before. It¡¯s strange, though. This coat is thinner than the padded ones, but it¡¯s warmer. It must be the material.¡±
¡°No wonder those richdies wore such thin clothes. I always thought they were doing it for fashion, but they weren¡¯t cold at all!¡±
¡°It¡¯s a kind of technology, I suppose,¡± Lin Xian said, adjusting her beret. Her fluffy dark brown hair suited it well, and the sales clerk had an eye for style.
¡°Let¡¯s keep exploring. There¡¯s still a lot more to see,¡± he said.
They wandered through the city like tourists. CC was fascinated by everything, and Lin Xian was just as intrigued. To him, this era was like stepping into an old film. He was possibly even more curious than CC.
They visited museums, watched performances, and bought 1950s-style souvenirs. By midday, they found themselves at CC¡¯s favorite¡ªa burger joint.
French fries, burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken¡ªthey ordered it all. CC¡¯s eyes sparkled like she was in heaven, while Lin Xian felt his throat burning from the greasy food. Ever since arriving in 1952 Brooklyn, all he¡¯d eaten was heavy, high-calorie food.
But if it made CC happy, he was willing to indulge her. This was her ¡°revenge diet¡±¡ªyears of not being able to eat what she wanted, now finally enjoying it. Just like her love for white clothes, which she¡¯d always wanted but never had.
It made Lin Xian¡¯s heart soften. He picked up the menu. ¡°How about¡ a pizza too?¡±
¡°Yes, please!¡± CC nodded eagerly, her eyes lighting up. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to try one for ages!¡±
That evening, they had steak, cheese, and roasted meat.
¡°Fine, eat whatever you want,¡± Lin Xian thought, resigned as he cut into his steak. As long as CC was happy, that was all that mattered.
With full bellies, they strolled through Manhattan once again.
This time, the lights weren¡¯t distant¡ªthey surrounded them, enveloping them in Manhattan¡¯s bustling warmth.
¡°Oh? A movie theater?¡± Lin Xian stopped, noticing two posters stered on a wall.
One was for an action film, ¡°The Great Tree Ridge Feud,¡± and the other for an animated movie, ¡°Alice in Wondend.¡±
The posters meant there must be a nearby theater showing both films.
Lin Xian knew ¡°Alice in Wondend,¡± the 1952 Disney animation, well. It was hugely popr, a happy-ending, family-friendly movie. Disney was still the undisputed king of animation back then.
He nced at the other poster¡ª
¡°The Great Tree Ridge Feud.¡± The title suggested an action movie, maybe with some romance thrown in.
The poster showed felled trees. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t quite sure what it was about, but it probably wasn¡¯t famous enough to be a ssic.
He looked at the cast list¡ª
¡°Starring: Kirk Dous.¡±
¡°Ohhh,¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. It was an early work by Kirk Dous!
Dous was an iconic actor, with roles in ¡°Spartacus¡± and ¡°Paths of Glory.¡± Lin Xian, a movie buff, definitely knew him.
¡°The Great Tree Ridge Feud,¡± Lin Xian repeated, now more interested.
He turned to CC. ¡°CC, have you ever watched a movie?¡±
¡°No way,¡± CC shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve never had the chance. I¡¯ve barely even seen a television.¡±
Lin Xian smiled, nodding at the posters. ¡°Well, a day out usually ends with a movie. Since you¡¯ve never seen one, why not now?¡±
¡°Which one do you want to watch?¡±
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Chapter 502: A Chance Meeting, A Dream
Chapter 502: A Chance Meeting, A Dream
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian was genuinely intrigued by the movie ¡°The Big Tree Ridge Feud.¡±
After all, he had never seen it before. On the other hand, he had watched Disney¡¯s ¡°Alice in Wondend¡± more times than he could count and knew the story by heart.
But still, this felt different.
It was CC¡¯s first time ever going to a movie, and that made it important for him to let her choose.
Even though they had enough money now to watch both films if they wanted to, it wasn¡¯t like they could watch two movies at the same time.
¡°That¡¯s life,¡± Lin Xian mused to himself. ¡°Even if you can do anything, you can¡¯t do everything all at once.¡±
CC rubbed her chin, her eyes darting back and forth between the two movie posters.
Finally, she pointed at the animated poster on the right.¡°I¡¯m interested in both, but I think I¡¯d rather watch ¡®Alice in Wondend.¡¯ Remember, Lin Xian, back at the balloon booth on Brooklyn Pier? The prize you won for me was an Alice doll. I really want to see what she¡¯s like¡ you know, when she¡¯s moving.¡±
Lin Xian smiled and nodded. ¡°Alright then. We¡¯ll watch this one. You know, you¡¯ve got good taste. Decades from now, ¡®Alice in Wondend¡¯ will still be a ssic, while ¡®The Big Tree Ridge Feud¡¯ will be forgotten. People will remember Kirk Dous, sure, but the movie itself¡ªnobody will talk about it anymore.¡±
He nced at the address on the tickets. ¡°Looks like the cinema is just around the corner. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Following the directions, they soon found themselves in front of a brightly lit cinema. They bought two tickets and, naturally, picked up the essentials: popcorn and tworge cups of c.
CC hugged an enormous bucket of popcorn as if she were holding the whole world. Lin Xian trailed behind her, holding both sodas in each hand.
Sigh.
Another day, more junk food.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but wonder, didn¡¯t people here ever get ¡°heatiness¡± from eating so much unhealthy food? Maybe the concept didn¡¯t exist here, and that was why they were unaffected? He couldn¡¯t quite figure it out.
What he really needed was a nice bowl of mung bean soup¡ªor maybe some egg drop soup¡ªsomething soothing. Tomorrow, he promised himself. Tomorrow he¡¯d find something to cool his throat.
They passed through the ticket check and entered the screening room, finding their seats in the sixth row. The room wasn¡¯t too crowded at this hour, just a handful of other viewers.
¡°Probably because it¡¯s a family movie,¡± Lin Xian thought. ¡°Most parents bring their kids to see something like ¡®Alice in Wondend¡¯ during the day. By this time, the kids are already in bed, dreaming of wondend themselves.¡±
Once seated, CC kept looking around, leaning from side to side in her chair.
¡°Lin Xian, there¡¯s barely anyone here. It¡¯s almost like we¡¯ve got the whole ce to ourselves. What a steal!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled at CC¡¯s typical calction.
She really had a knack for being thrifty. Whether it was snacks, hotels, or anything else, she was always figuring out whether it was ¡°worth it¡± or not. It was so ingrained in her that it made Lin Xian¡¯s heart ache a little.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. ¡°We paid the same amount, but we get to have the entire cinema to ourselves¡ªand this movie, all for ourselves.¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± CC beamed, grabbing a handful of popcorn and offering it to Lin Xian.
¡°Here, you take some first. Once you¡¯re done, just poke me, and I¡¯ll get you more.¡±
With that, she took a sip of her soda, sat up straight, and began eating the popcorn, one piece at a time, waiting patiently for the movie to begin.
Lin Xian picked up a single piece of popcorn¡ªa taste from 1952¡ªand popped it in his mouth.
Ugh.
Too sugary. Everything here had too much sugar. Even the popcorn was overly sweet. It was cloying, and his throat felt like it was on fire.
¡°I think I¡¯ve had more sugar today than I¡¯ve had in the entire past month,¡± Lin Xian muttered, worrying a little about America¡¯s diabetes problem.
Soon, the lights in the screening room dimmedpletely.
As the music yed, a beam of light shot out from the projector behind them, casting its glow on the screen. Colors danced across the screen, and the animation began.
Alice was a cute young girl with a fondness for daydreaming. On this particr day, she wore a blue dress and a white apron, ying outside in her garden. Suddenly, she noticed a peculiar rabbit¡ªdressed just like a person¡ªin a hurry.
Curious, Alice followed the rabbit, diving into a hole and finding herself in a mysterious, magical world¡
Beside Lin Xian, CC¡¯s eyes were wide open, focused intensely on the screen. The Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter¡ªthey all opened a new world for this Brooklyn girl of 1952, drawing her inpletely.
She couldn¡¯t even blink, she was so engrossed. Every smile, every frown on the animated characters¡¯ faces seemed to touch her deeply¡ªmaking her giggle or frown in concern. It was as if it wasn¡¯t little Alice having this adventure, but CC herself, holding that giant popcorn bucket.
Lin Xian, on the other hand, found it hard to be interested in this old animated film. He¡¯d been spoiled by modern technology¡ªhaving seen the best visuals, this grainy, rough animation felt like a screen full of static, and it was hard to stay focused.
Instead, Lin Xian took the time to think about the discussion he had with CC earlier that morning¡ªabout Einstein¡¯s unusual behavior in Brooklyn.
On the screen, Alice had just eaten a piece of cake and grown into a giant. The scene was absurd yet imaginative.
Lin Xian was lost in thought.
Einstein¡¯s actions were just as puzzling.
Why wasn¡¯t he staying in Princeton, as one might expect? Why did he keep visiting the outskirts of Brooklyn so often¡ªand with such regrity, every few months?
It was as if¡ he was checking on something, or setting something up, or preparing for something.
The more Lin Xian thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
He closed his eyes.
ording to CC, she had lived in the orphanage since she was a baby and had never seen Einstein pass by until she was around twelve or thirteen, around 1945.
Since then, Einstein had started passing by the orphanage at a regr pace.
Lin Xian pressed his lips together.
That was a significant year¡ªthe end of World War II, the first time humanity used atomic bombs in warfare, the colossal energy of nuclear fission reshaping world politics, and the beginning of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union.
¡°The atomic bomb,¡± he murmured, the sound of his voice drowned out by the screams of animated characters on the screen.
Einstein¡¯s life was, in many ways, entangled with the atomic bomb.
In 1905, he had put forth the theory of special rtivity and the famous mass-energy equivalence form, E=MC2,ying the theoretical foundation for the discovery and use of atomic energy. That was the beginning of it all.
In 1939, he had written to President Roosevelt, suggesting the possibility of building an atomic bomb and urging the U.S. to research it before Germany could. He had, in a sense, set it all in motion.
In 1941, the Manhattan Project began. Einstein, due to political reasons, was not trusted and was excluded. But the theory and momentum were unstoppable, and the atomic bomb was eventually created, with two mushroom clouds rising over Japan.
Since then, Einstein had fallen into a deep sense of guilt and regret, and the weight of it slowly crushed his spirit.
Could it be¡
Could Einstein¡¯s odd behavior in Brooklyn be connected to the atomic bomb?
Lin Xian shook his head.
The more he thought about it, the more far-fetched it seemed. But with so little information, it was difficult to get to the truth.
Still, the idea wasn¡¯t entirely baseless.
He remembered Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s strange dream¡ªkeywords like ¡°explosion,¡± ¡°white light,¡± ¡°mushroom cloud,¡± ¡°newspaper,¡± ¡°1952,¡± ¡°burning,¡± ¡°Einstein¡±¡
If what Zhang Yu Qian had dreamed of was an actual event from 1952, then they already had quite a few ¡°pieces¡± of the puzzle.
Could it be that¡
Whether it was Zhang Yu Qian, Chu An Qing, or even CC 600 years into the future¡ªwhat they dreamed of was all connected, perhaps even the experiences of the original CC back in 1952?
Lin Xian opened his eyes and looked at the movie screen.
The movie had reached its halfway point, and little Alice, after all her trials, had grown braver and stronger. She was now facing off against the wicked Queen.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
¡°It¡¯s quite possible,¡± Lin Xian thought.
Zhao Ying Jun had once said that all the Millennial Stakes shared amon connection¡ªthat their dreams were rted, telling the same story from the same time period.
Maybe, just maybe¡
It was the story of the original CC from 1952!
He turned to look at CC, who was watching the movie intently. This girl, who might turn into blue stardust at any moment, disappearing only to be another Millennial Stake¡
Who had turned her into a Millennial Stake? And why?
Perhaps they¡¯d soon find out.
Pushing the thoughts away, Lin Xian turned his head back to the screen, focusing on the movie.
Eventually, brave Alice defeated the Queen of Hearts, bringing peace back to Wondend.
She hadpleted her mission and was called back by her sister, leaving Wondend behind¡ waking up in the real world.
On the screen, Alice opened her eyes.
She realized she hadn¡¯t really followed a rabbit into a hole but had simply fallen asleep in her garden, with her sister standing beside her, waking her up.
Only then did Alice understand¡ªall the marvelous adventures she¡¯d had were nothing but a dream.
And with that, the movie ended.
Although the journey to Wondend was just a dream, it had given young Alice newfound courage and wisdom that she could carry with her into her life, to face whatever challengesy ahead.
¡°A happy ending,¡± Lin Xian said quietly. ¡°It really was a wonderful family film, wasn¡¯t it?¡±
He turned to look at CC, only to find¡ªto his surprise¡ªthat she didn¡¯t look as happy as he had expected. Instead, she looked worried, her brows furrowed, her lips pressed tightly together. She seemed¡ disappointed.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xian asked.
He had wanted to make her happy, to end their lovely day in Manhattan on a cheerful note¡ªso why was it having the opposite effect?
¡°I just feel¡¡±
CC lowered her head.
¡°I feel like I¡¯m a lot like Alice right now.¡±
She blinked, clutching the huge popcorn bucket even closer.
¡°Alice went on a dreamlike adventure in Wondend, and here I am, in Manhattan¡ªisn¡¯t it just the same?¡±
She paused, her voice trembling.
¡°All the delicious food, the luxurious hotel, the dazzling lights, the warm and beautiful clothes I¡¯m wearing¡ªto me, to someone who¡¯s lived the life I have, it¡¯s no different from a magical wondend.¡±
Lin Xian smiled and spread his hands. ¡°But that¡¯s a good thing, isn¡¯t it? Alice got to experience something special, and so did you. You both gained something wonderful and important in your lives¡ªAlice explored Wondend, and you¡¯re walking through Manhattan. It¡¯s simr, sure¡ªbut why would that make you sad?¡±
CC shook her head, her eyes brimming with emotion.
¡°I am happy, and I¡¯m grateful,¡± she said, her voice soft. ¡°Honestly¡ ever since I met you, I¡¯ve been so happy that sometimes I can¡¯t even believe it¡¯s real.¡±
She clutched tightly onto Lin Xian¡¯s sleeve, as if letting go might make everything disappear.
¡°We met on October 28th. I still remember it like it was yesterday. You stole that newspaper from that little boy, and I shouted at you. Then we ran away together. That¡¯s how our story began.¡±
She paused, her gaze distant as she remembered those early days.
¡°These days have been like a dream¡ªso beautiful. I remember every moment, every tiny detail. I swear, I¡¯ll never forget any of it for as long as I live.¡±
She held onto his sleeve even tighter, her voice barely audible beneath the movie¡¯s ending soundtrack.
¡°That afternoon, you took me to Brooklyn Heights. It was my first time seeing Manhattan from the promenade. It was breathtaking.¡±
Her smile grew as she continued, her voiceced with nostalgia.
¡°And that night, you took me to a 30-cent motel. It wasn¡¯t anywhere close to being fancy like the Empire State Building, but you slept on the floor so I could have the bed¡ and I swear, that was the warmest, safest sleep I¡¯ve ever had.¡±
She let out a smallugh, her eyes shining.
¡°The next day, you took me to Coney Ind and bought me a hot dog. It was the best thing I¡¯d ever tasted. And then we went on all the rides¡ªthe roller coaster, the carousel, the Ferris wheel. It felt like magic. And that night, when those gangsters showed up, you fought them off like some kind of hero in a movie. You made me feel so safe.¡±
She nced up at him, her eyes filled with admiration.
¡°After that, you bought me a wedding dress and took me across the Brooklyn Bridge. Then you took me to the top of the Empire State Building to see the snow fall and make a wish.¡± She paused, her voice filled with wonder. ¡°And today, you¡¯ve given me even more firsts¡ªfirsts I never even imagined I¡¯d have. We ate the most amazing food, watched a show, and now we¡¯re here, watching my very first movie.¡±
She sighed, her voice trembling as she clung to his sleeve.
¡°I¡¯ve said it before¡ªmeeting you has been the best thing that¡¯s ever happened to me. You¡¯ve made my dreamse true, you¡¯ve made everything feel perfect. But the happier I get, the more afraid I be.¡±
She twisted the fabric of his sleeve between her fingers, her grip tightening.
¡°I used to be different,¡± she whispered. ¡°I used to have nothing. I wasn¡¯t scared of losing anything because there was nothing to lose¡ªno family, no friends, no one I cared about. I wasn¡¯t even afraid of dying.¡±
Her eyes grew misty, and her voice cracked as she spoke.
¡°But now, I¡¯ve got my dreams. I¡¯ve got beautiful clothes, wonderful memories, and, most of all, I¡¯ve got you. And I¡¯m terrified¡¡±
She swallowed hard, her voice dropping to a quiver.
¡°I¡¯m terrified that I¡¯ll wake up, just like Alice did in her dream, and realize none of this is real. That I never came to Manhattan, that I¡¯m still stuck in Brooklyn. That I never wore a white dress, never ate a hot dog, never stayed in a motel¡ and that you¡¯re not here with me.¡±
The movie credits ended, and the lights in the theater came back on, bright and sudden, bringing them back to reality.
CC bit her lip and looked up at Lin Xian, her eyes shimmering with tears.
¡°Lin Xian,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling, ¡°what if one day I wake up, and you¡¯re not there? What if all of this is just a dream?¡±
Chapter 503: Halloween and Einstein
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
CC¡¯s trembling voice hung in the air as Lin Xian remained silent.
¡°Fear of Gain and Loss.¡±
That, perhaps, described CC¡¯s current state perfectly.
As she had just confessed, when she had nothing, life had been carefree. She hadn¡¯t feared loss, the uncertainties of tomorrow, or even death itself. But now, having so much, she inevitably became more afraid¡ªafraid of losing it all, and gued by a deep insecurity.
Yes, insecurity.
It was the very thing CC, the original Stake Girl, had yearned for since her birth but could never grasp.
It was like the film Alice in Wondend. Alice had merely been daydreaming, and CC feared that one day, she might wake up from her own dream, finding herself still huddled in a corner of a cold Brooklyn street, alone and vulnerable.
Seeing the glint of fragility in CC¡¯s eyes, Lin Xian¡¯s heart ached.He wanted tofort her.
But¡
CC, as if foreseeing the inevitable, spoke of their final fate.
This encounter in 1952 Brooklyn, she realized, was nothing more than a dream.
Eventually, CC would dissolve into blue star fragments,ying the foundation of the first Millennial Stake along the river of time.
Lin Xian, too, would leave 1952, carrying the truth and answers back to 2234 to continue his journey of saving the world.
Time¡¯s wheel pressed forward. No one would stay in 1952¡ªnot Lin Xian, not CC.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
Lin Xian understood this too.
This was indeed a dream¡ªa dream for the original Stake Girl, a dream for himself, a dream for Zhang Yu Qian, a dream for Chu An Qing, and a dream for every Millennial Stake Girl.
The harsh reality, however, was that this dream had a predestined end, and it would inevitably break.
Lin Xian hesitated.
In the end, he reached out, cing his broad palm gently on CC¡¯s head, ruffling her smooth hair with a tender smile.
¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. What are you even talking about?¡±
He chose to lie.
It was a kind lie, like so many he had heard before¡ªa mix ofpassion and helplessness.
¡°How can you be so childish? Taking an animated movie and blending it with reality¡ Those things aren¡¯t real. We¡¯re living in the real world.¡±
He grabbed a handful of popcorn from CC¡¯s bucket, tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed.
¡°Remember? You said before that in your dreams, you couldn¡¯t even taste hot dogs. But today, you¡¯ve had steak and popcorn. How could this possibly be a dream?¡± ???¨°¦Â??
¡°So, stop worrying. This isn¡¯t a dream. You¡¯re here in Manhattan, the center of the world, with your feet firmly on the ground. And I¡¯m not going anywhere. Whenever you wake up, I¡¯ll still be here.¡±
¡
CC listened, nodded, and wiped her eyes.
She smiled awkwardly, a little embarrassed.
¡°You¡¯re right. I was overthinking. Hehe, how could this be a dream? Go on, pinch me! If it¡¯s a dream, the pain will wake me up.¡±
Lin Xian obliged.
Through the fabric of her sleeve, he pinched the skin on CC¡¯s arm and twisted.
¡°Ow, ow, ow!¡±
Popcorn spilled from CC¡¯s bucket as she flinched. She punched Lin Xian lightly.
¡°Why¡¯d you pinch so hard?¡±
¡°To put your worries to rest.¡±
Lin Xianughed.
¡°See? It hurt, and you didn¡¯t wake up. That¡¯s proof it¡¯s not a dream. Rest assured, when ites to proving reality versus dreams, I¡¯m a professional.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too professional!¡±
CC rubbed her arm and stood up.
¡°Come on, everyone else has left. It¡¯s just the two of us now.¡±
Lin Xian stood and followed her out of the theater.
They exited the cinema and stepped into the night.
Outside, the wind had picked up. It was cold and biting.
Thoughst night¡¯s snowfall had been brief, the lingering chill ushered the city into an early winter.
It waste, and there were few cars on the streets.
Lin Xian and CC hailed a taxi, returning to the Empire State Building Hotel to wash up and sleep.
¡°A big house isn¡¯t always a good thing,¡± CC remarked while brushing her teeth.
¡°Smaller rooms feel cozier. When it¡¯s too big¡ like now, it just feels empty.¡±
¡°Small rooms can get cramped.¡±
Lin Xian, seated on the sofa, flipped through thetest New York Evening News.
¡°Remember that tiny Brooklyn motel for thirty cents a night? The room was so small it barely fit the bed. One of us even had to sleep on the floor. This is way better. At least now we have separate rooms.¡±
The sound of brushing teeth filled the room as CC nced at Lin Xian on the sofa.
¡°Still¡ that ce wasn¡¯t so bad either,¡± she muttered under her breath.
Her voice was drowned out by the brushing.
¡
The next morning, Lin Xian woke naturally.
Stretchingzily, he nced at the clock on the bedroom wall. The hands read 12:42 p.m.
¡°What a long sleep,¡± he murmured, recalling howte they had returned the previous night.
That must have been why CC hadn¡¯t woken him for breakfast, wanting him to rest.
¡°Huh?¡±
His eyes widened.
¡°Wait, no!¡±
12:42 p.m. in the U.S. meant it was already 12:42 a.m. in China!
Could it be that, after their conversationst night, today¡ªher birthday¡ªwas when CC would dissolve into blue star fragments?
Panic surged as Lin Xian jumped out of bed, slipped on his slippers, and threw open the door.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re up!¡±
He looked up to see CC sitting cross-legged on the sofa, watching TV.
Relief washed over him.
He had been overly paranoid.
For now, CC hadn¡¯t yet be a Millennial Stake. There was no reason for her to vanish into fragments.
¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lin Xian?¡±
CC tilted her head, studying his tense expression.
¡°Did you have a nightmare?¡±
¡°No, no, nothing.¡±
Lin Xian coughed awkwardly.
¡°I just¡ huh? My voice?¡±
He rubbed his throat, startled at the raspy sound.
¡°Whoa, your voice is hoarse!¡±
CC jumped up from the sofa and handed him a ss of water.
¡°Here, drink this.¡±
Lin Xian gulped it down.
¡°Must¡¯ve been the dry air.¡±
He tried to speak, but his voice remained unchanged¡ªhoarse and cracked.
¡°This dry throat is unbearable¡ I can¡¯t even talk properly without my voice breaking.¡±
¡°Dry throat?¡±
CC looked puzzled.
¡°Your throat¡¯s hoarse, so why are you talking about fire? How could your throat catch fire?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not literal fire, it¡¯s a concept called shang huo,¡± Lin Xian exined in his raspy voice, struggling through the difort.
¡°Shang huo is a traditional Chinese term. Technically, it¡¯s not even part of traditional Chinese medicine but more of a general concept used by people in Long Country. It¡¯s usually caused by diet or weather¡ cough, cough¡¡±
Saying so much at once made his throat feel like it had been scraped with sandpaper.
There was no doubt about it¡ªhis recent eating habits were to me.
Hot dogs, cheese, burgers, fries, steak, popcorn, c¡
Just thinking about that diet now sent shivers down his spine.
¡°Do you even understand what I¡¯m saying with this voice?¡± Lin Xian asked CC. ¡°I feel like I sound like a broken-down air pump.¡±
¡°Hahaha, you kind of do!¡±
CCughed, amused by hisparison.
¡°But honestly, your hoarse voice doesn¡¯t sound bad. It reminds me of an Irish ent, and it actually makes your English pronunciation clearer.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± CC said, grinning. ¡°Before, your English had that obvious Long Country lilt, rising and falling like you were singing. But now, with your hoarse voice, you¡¯re speaking softer, and it actually sounds like you¡¯re a European man.¡±
¡°Proper English pronunciation should sound like this. Your voice breaking oddly makes you better at English. I guess it¡¯s a blessing in disguise¡ Oh, but I¡¯m not saying your original voice was bad¡ªit was nice and maic too.¡±
¡°I get it,¡± Lin Xian nodded.
So this hoarse voice made him sound more like a ¡°foreigner,¡± but it was far from good news for him.
¡°I still feel awful,¡± he muttered, walking over to the phone. He picked up the receiver.
¡°I need to order some light, cooling food to bnce this heat. If I keep eating junk, I¡¯llpletely lose my voice.¡±
He dialed the hotel kitchen.
¡°Hello, could you prepare something like mung bean soup or millet porridge?¡± he asked.
The chef on the other end was baffled.
¡°What¡¯s that? We don¡¯t have it.¡±
¡°How about seaweed egg drop soup?¡± Lin Xian tried again.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
The chef remained clueless. ¡°We don¡¯t have seaweed.¡±
Lin Xian sighed.
¡°Fine. Just send up two raw eggs.¡±
¡°Raw eggs?!¡±
The chef¡¯s voice shot up in surprise. ¡°Are you sure, sir?¡±
¡°Yes, raw eggs, and quickly.¡±
Soon, a server brought up two raw eggs. CC trailed behind, curious to see what ¡°magical Oriental remedy¡± Lin Xian woulde up with this time.
¡°Are you some kind of caveman? Eating raw eggs?¡± she asked, skeptical.
¡°This is a remedy for shang huo,¡± Lin Xian exined.
He cracked one egg into a bowl, then poured boiling water over it, stirring rapidly with a spoon.
In an instant, the egg white and yolk solidified into delicate strands, floating in the bowl.
¡°Egg flower soup,¡± Lin Xian said, lifting a spoonful to show CC.
Under her stunned gaze, he drank the entire bowl.
¡°Ah, much better.¡±
CC wrinkled her nose.
¡°But your voice is still hoarse. It didn¡¯t change at all.¡±
¡°Did you really think this was magic?¡± Lin Xian chuckled, only to cough again from speaking too quickly.
¡°It took days to get this way, and it¡¯ll take time to recover.¡±
He picked up the second egg.
¡°Want to try a bowl?¡±
CC stepped back, shaking her head like a rattle.
¡
That evening, the two strolled along the street.
Shops lit up with eerie decorations¡ªgrinning jack-o¡¯nterns, gory mannequins, and stic vampires with fake blood dripping from their fangs.
Seeing the unique designs, Lin Xian suddenly realized something.
¡°It¡¯s Halloween today!¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s tomorrow,¡± CC corrected. ¡°November 1st is Halloween. Today, October 31st, is Halloween Eve. But you¡¯re not wrong¡ªHalloween celebrations peak tonight, with costume parties and parades.¡±
Due to cultural differences, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t familiar with Halloween, having only seen it in American movies.
Back in Long Country, people might celebrate Christmas now and then, but Halloween wasn¡¯t as popr¡ªaside from bars asionally jumping on the trend.
In America, though, Halloween was a big deal.
¡°How did you usually celebrate Halloween?¡± Lin Xian asked.
¡°Dressing up as ghosts and asking for candy, of course!¡±
CC giggled, her eyes curving into lovely crescent moons.
¡°Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays for kids¡ªno less than Christmas. But¡ after growing up, I couldn¡¯t dress up anymore. Once I left the orphanage and started living on the streets, I barely participated.¡±
¡°After all, how could I afford to join costume parties? Even for parades, you¡¯d need at least a costume.¡±
Lin Xian stopped mid-step and turned to CC, who nced back at him curiously.
¡°Do you like dancing?¡±
In a dream, CC had loved dancing¡ªa lively tap dance in Face Vige that Lin Xian had taught her. It remained a cherished memory fragment in her mind.
As for Chu An Qing, there was no question. She had studied dance from a young age and was a professional.
So¡
This was a question Lin Xian already knew the answer to before CC responded.
¡°Of course!¡±
Straightforward as ever, CC hopped to the side and flicked a jack-o¡¯ntern resting on the railing.
Thump, thump.
It was a real pumpkin, hollowed out and lit with a candle inside.
¡°Grandma at the orphanage taught us to dance,¡± CC said, resting her hand on the pumpkin. ¡°She used to be a professional theater performer in her younger years. She was really good.¡±
¡°Grandma sounds like she could do anything,¡± Lin Xian remarked, unable to hide his admiration.
This legendary grandma seemed like a jack-of-all-trades, reminiscent of Emperor Gao Wen in her versatility.
¡°Well, since you said that¡¡± Lin Xian grinned at CC, hands tucked in his pockets. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a costume party right now.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± CC froze for a moment. ¡°Right now? Isn¡¯t it a bitte?¡±
¡°Not at all.¡±
Lin Xian pulled a wad of cash from his coat pocket and waved it yfully.
¡°With money, anything is possible!¡±
¡
Going to a costume party wasn¡¯t a big deal. Halloween Eve was an inclusive celebration in America. It didn¡¯t matter if your costume was borate or hastily thrown together¡ªeven just wearing a mask was enough to join in on the fun.
Lin Xian and CC hopped into a taxi, asking the driver for information about nearby parties.
In any city, taxi drivers were the best source of intel. If you wanted to know something, they were the people to ask.
¡°Oh, a costume party?¡± the bearded driver said with a heartyugh. ¡°You should go to the hall across from the cinema. Every year, they host the liveliest Halloween bash!¡±
He chuckled as he added, ¡°I¡¯ve already taken several groups there today¡ªit¡¯s really buzzing. Plus, they¡¯ve got costume, makeup, and mask stands right outside the hall. Perfect for folks like you who didn¡¯t prepare ahead of time.¡±
¡°Perfect.¡±
Lin Xian handed the driver an extra tip. ¡°That¡¯s where we¡¯ll go.¡±
Soon, the taxi stopped outside the cinema where Lin Xian and CC had watched Alice in Wondend the day before. Across the street, the hall hosting the costume party was bustling with activity. People in all sorts of strange outfits streamed in and out.
¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a coincidence.¡±
Lin Xian stepped out of the cab, ncing at the two movie posters stered on the cinema wall.
One was for The Big Tree Ridge Feud, the other for Alice in Wondend¡ªthe same two films from yesterday.
He stared at the poster for The Big Tree Ridge Feud, noting the bold print of the lead actor¡¯s name:
Kirk Dous.
¡°We should watch this movie sometime,¡± Lin Xian said, turning to CC. ¡°I feel like we¡¯re fated¡ª¡±
¡°Lin Xian!¡±
CC suddenly interrupted, grabbing his arm and shaking it vigorously. She pointed across the street, her voice unusually excited.
¡°Look! That ck vintage car!¡±
Lin Xian looked up.
It was an unassuming old car, the kind that wasmon for this era.
¡°What about it? Have you seen it before?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± CC¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s the car that used to pass by the orphanage all the time¡ªit¡¯s Einstein¡¯s car! I remember the license te; I¡¯d never forget it. That¡¯s definitely his car!¡±
Einstein¡¯s car¡
Hearing this, Lin Xian¡¯s instincts immediately went on high alert.
He pulled CC closer, positioning her to face him with her back to the street. Carefully, he pulled up the hood of her coat to cover her head, concealing her as much as possible.
Then, narrowing his eyes, he focused on the car that had just parked.
From the front door, a chauffeur wearing white gloves stepped out, walking around to the rear passenger side. He opened the door and bent slightly, holding it wide.
A puff of white, unruly hair emerged from the car first.
An elderly man stepped out, straightening his clothes before turning around.
His face was lined with exhaustion, his gaze distant and lifeless. Even the dense mustache on his upper lip seemed weighed down by fatigue.
Lin Xian drew a sharp breath.
That face¡
There was no mistaking it.
He had seen it countless times in textbooks, the face of a monumental figure in the history of physics.
It was the same face immortalized in the mask of the Genius Club¡¯s chairman.
Albert Einstein.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 504: Henry Dawson
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
October 31, 1952, the eve of Halloween, at precisely 8:11 PM.
The chauffeur in white gloves opened the rear door.
Einstein rubbed his weary temples, ncing at hispanion beside him¡ªhis old friend, Henry Dawson.
¡°You know I dislike events like this,¡± Einstein murmured, his voice carrying a trace of irritation. ¡°Especially tonight, of all nights¡ªHalloween. And a masquerade ball, no less. It all feels¡ so noisy.¡±
¡°Oh, my dear friend!¡± Dawson eximed,ughing heartily. His face was smeared with bright red and green paint, his hair dusted with colorful powders that clung haphazardly to his head. He pped Einstein on the shoulder, grinning. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I brought you along tonight! A Halloween party is just what you need.¡±
¡°No,¡± Einstein replied tly, shaking his head. ¡°To be precise, you dragged me here against my will. I didn¡¯t want to leave the house, much less attend this meaningless, chaotic affair.¡±
After a pause, Einstein nced skeptically at his friend. ¡°Speaking of which, Dawson, don¡¯t you think your costume is a bit¡ unusual? Everyone else is dressed in borate outfits, masks, or makeup. And what did you do? You painted random shapes on your face and dumped what looks like chalk dust on your head. Is that¡ really your idea of a costume? Every time you move, it¡¯s like a cloud of flour raining down.¡±
¡°Art, my dear Einstein! It¡¯s art!¡± Dawson eximed, shaking his head vigorously. A burst of colorful powder filled the back seat of the car, making it feel like a vibrant dust storm. ¡°This is postmodern art¡ªrock and roll! Have you heard of it? It¡¯s a new music style that¡¯s just getting started, but mark my words, it¡¯ll take over the world!¡±¡°Cough, cough¡¡± Einstein waved his hand, choking on the chalky air. He reached out to steady Dawson¡¯s head, stopping him from spreading more of his ¡°biochemical weapon.¡± ¡°Rock and roll¡ cough, cough¡ does it really require dumping chalk dust on your head? If that¡¯s the case, it sounds like a dreadful performance style.¡±
¡°But aren¡¯t you a realist painter?¡± Einstein asked, arching an eyebrow. ¡°Since when did you dabble in music?¡±
¡°Art knows no boundaries!¡± Dawson dered with a mischievous grin. He leaned closer to Einstein. ¡°Speaking of which, we¡¯ve been friends for years, haven¡¯t we? I¡¯ve told you so many times that I want to paint your portrait. But every single time, you¡¯ve turned me down. Isn¡¯t it time you finally agreed? Someone as great as you needs an artistic masterpiece to stand the test of time.¡±
Dawson¡¯s tone grew more passionate as he continued. ¡°You¡¯re a monumental figure in science, Einstein. Of course, there are plenty of photographs of you, but a painting¡ªnow that¡¯s entirely different. As your good friend, it should be my privilege to create it. Imagine, hundreds of years from now, people will view it as your sole artistic legacy. The painting would fetch astronomical prices at auction¡ªfar beyond van Gogh or da Vinci!¡±
Einstein shook his head, brushing the chalk dust off his hands. ¡°Forget it, Dawson. I¡¯ll never agree.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Dawson persisted, shaking his head again, unleashing another cloud of colorful powder.
Einstein lowered his gaze, his voice heavy. ¡°Because someone like me¡ªa sinner¡ªdeserves infamy, not glory.¡±
For a moment, silence filled the car.
Outside, the cheerful mor of the Halloween crowd echoed faintly, starkly contrasting the sorrow lingering inside the ck vintage automobile. The juxtaposition only highlighted how deeply divided human emotions could be.
¡°My friend¡ my dear friend.¡± Dawson reached out, patting Einstein gently on the back. His voice softened. ¡°This is exactly why I forced you toe tonight. You can¡¯t keep spiraling into this pit of despair. These feelings will crush you if you let them¡ªthey¡¯ll choke the life out of you or push you to extremes.¡±
¡°Listen to me, Einstein. You need to let go. You need to rx, to indulge, to let it all out. Forget the guilt and the impossible weight of your thoughts, even if just for a little while. It¡¯s the only way to heal the sadness you carry.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not your fault¡ªI¡¯ve told you that countless times. Science and art are not to me. The real culprits are those who twisted their purpose. Your mass-energy conversion form could have powered the world¡ªendless energy, miraculous engines¡ªbut instead, it was used to create the atomic bomb. If anyone bears responsibility for humanity¡¯s fate, it¡¯s those who chose war. Not you.¡±
Dawson paused, sighing inwardly.
Everything he said was true.
Einstein hadn¡¯t wanted to leave his house tonight, nor had he wished to experience the revelry of Halloween. Dawson had practically dragged him into the car and brought him here.
He couldn¡¯t stand watching his old friend deteriorate any longer.
Ever since the end of World War II, Einstein had been trapped in a vicious cycle of guilt and regret, like an ant circling a closed loop. The weight of his remorse seemed to grow heavier with time, threatening to crush his spirit entirely.
Recently, Einstein had even begun relying on sleeping aids and psychiatric medications. His health was declining¡ªhis weight had dropped dramatically, which was a grave concern for a man in his seventies.
Doctors worried. Friends worried. Family worried. Everyone feared what might happen if the century¡¯s greatest mind fell apart.
Dawson firmly believed that Einstein needed to break free. Social interaction, a bit of revelry, and perhaps even some reckless abandon might help. Artists found inspiration this way; writers sought catharsis through wild escapades when they faced creative blocks. And, as history had shown, it often worked.
A night of dazzling romance, a wild party, an exhrating dance¡ªeven a soul-shaking roar¡ªall these can be far more freeing than quiet words offort.
¡°Stop overthinking, my friend,¡± said Henry Dawson, giving Einstein a firm nudge toward the car door.
¡°Come on, step out. Trust me¡ªembracing the chaos of this masquerade ball will lift your spirits.¡±
Einstein hesitated, firmly nted in his seat. ¡°Dawson,¡± he protested, ¡°you may be ready to attend as a clown with paint smeared across your face, but look at me. I¡¯m in in clothes¡ªno hat, no disguise. How am I supposed to walk into a costume party like this?¡±
He sighed and added, ¡°Let¡¯s not forget¡ most people in America recognize me. I¡¯m not a celebrity, but showing up like this will definitely cause a stir.¡±
Dawson burst intoughter, shaking his head and inadvertently puffing another cloud of chalk dust into the air. ¡°Ha! That¡¯s where my genius lies! Think about it, Einstein. This is a costume party. Who would show up as themselves?¡±
He gestured out the window. ¡°Look around¡ªwerewolves, demons, Batman, ghosts, zombies¡ everyone¡¯s dressed up as someone or something else. Tonight, the eve of Halloween, you can be anyone you want to be. But one thing¡¯s for sure¡ªno one will think you¡¯re actually you.¡±
Dawson leaned closer, his grin widening. ¡°In fact, because you¡¯re so famous, if you show up as Albert Einstein, people will assume you¡¯re just someone else dressed as him. They¡¯ll think it¡¯s part of your costume! It¡¯s brilliant!¡±
¡°Counterintuitive thinking,¡± Einstein remarked sinctly.
¡°Exactly!¡± Dawson eximed, nodding so vigorously that the dust from his hair began to sting their eyes. ¡°Tonight, you can blend in like never before. No one will mob you for autographs or swarm you with questions. They¡¯ll simply think you¡¯re a fan pretending to be Einstein. Isn¡¯t it perfect?¡±
Dawson opened the car door and waved eagerly. ¡°Now, hurry! I can¡¯t wait to hit the dance floor with some lovely youngdies. It¡¯s going to be an amazing night!¡±
Atst, Einstein relented, letting out a deep sigh. Shuffling toward the car door, he muttered, ¡°What kind of woman would dance with a walking chalkboard eraser? Hopefully, she doesn¡¯t have a dust allergy¡ cough, cough.¡±
He stepped out of the car quickly, choking on the residual chalk dust and gasping for the crisp night air. It was difficult to tell whether Dawson¡¯s antics were genuine attempts at modern art or a crafty ploy to force Einstein outside. Either way, he had seeded.
Standing in the chilly Manhattan street, Einstein tugged his coat tightly around him. He nced toward the distant city skyline and felt a familiar weight settle over him.
Manhattan.
He hated this city. Not for any specific regional reason, but because of its association with the Manhattan Project.
He shook his head, knowing his feelings were irrational. Still, he loathed anything connected to the atomic bomb. And most of all, he despised himself¡ªthe man who had set it all into motion.
¡°God! Mr. Einstein, can I bite you?¡± A young woman passing by shrieked in mock horror, revealing her fake vampire fangs. Sheughed, ¡°If I drink your blood, will I be a genius too?¡±
Beside her, her boyfriend, wearing a werewolf mask, gave Einstein a thumbs-up. ¡°You¡¯re amazing! The resemnce is uncanny! Why didn¡¯t I think ofing as General MacArthur? That would¡¯ve been so cool. Oh well, there¡¯s always next year!¡±
The couple burst intoughter, their hands sped as they disappeared into the vibrant party crowd.
Einstein watched them go, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°If only the world could stay like this forever,¡± he murmured under his breath.N?v(el)B\\jnn
But he quickly opened his eyes, letting the streetlight dispel the shadows in his heart. For weeks now, he¡¯d been avoiding sleep, even the simple act of closing his eyes.
Whenever he did, his mind was assaulted by visions¡ªmushroom clouds rising across the globe, blinding white light melting everything in its path, entire cities consumed by fire.
It was the end of the world.
The end of humanity.
The thought sent a chill through Einstein¡¯s entire body, making his hands and feet feel numb. His heart felt colder still, weighed down by an oppressive dread. He dared not even lift his gaze toward the lightbulb of the streemp above.
To him, it wasn¡¯t just a bulb¡ªit was an atomic bomb.
A bomb that could detonate at any moment, unleashing catastrophic nuclear fission, leveling Manhattan and Brooklyn in a single devastating instant.
¡°See? What did I tell you?¡± Henry Dawson called out as he squeezed himself out of the car, his bright grin cutting through Einstein¡¯s brooding thoughts. He reached over to tousle Einstein¡¯s famously unruly hair, making it even messier. ¡°You¡¯re the undisputed king of tonight¡¯s masquerade ball! No one would ever believe you¡¯re the real Albert Einstein.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Dawson continued with a mischievous glint in his eye, ¡°you can do anything you want tonight. Anything crazy. Just like I said, no one will take you seriously as the real Einstein. That¡¯s the beauty of it!¡±
He threw an arm around Einstein¡¯s shoulders and added in a voice full ofughter, ¡°Rx, let loose, and enjoy this beautiful Halloween evening! Forget about physics, forget about that damned bomb¡ªnothing you fear is ever going to happen!¡±
With that, Dawson led Einstein through the entrance to the masquerade ball, hisughter echoing into the night.
Across the street, on the sidewalk in front of the movie theater, Lin Xian held CC protectively in his arms. His sharp eyes tracked Einstein and Dawson as they disappeared into the bustling party.
Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced. He couldn¡¯t believe what he¡¯d just seen.
It was Albert Einstein. The Albert Einstein. Alive, in the flesh.
Though Lin Xian had prepared himself for this¡ªafter all, it was 1952, and Einstein was certainly alive at this point in history¡ªseeing the legendary figure in person was still a profound shock. This was the man he¡¯d studied in textbooks, the man whose groundbreaking work had shaped the world, now walking just across the street. The realization left him momentarily speechless.
At first, Lin Xian wondered if the figure might be an impersonator, someone cosying as Einstein for the masquerade. But he dismissed the thought just as quickly.
CC had recognized the car Einstein arrived in, including its license te. That detail alone was proof enough. No cosyer would go to such lengths to replicate a car and its tes.
The man Lin Xian had just seen¡ªthe one with the haunted expression¡ªwas undoubtedly the real Albert Einstein.
This was precisely why Lin Xian had instinctively turned CC away, shielding her face with his coat and hood. He didn¡¯t want Einstein to catch even a glimpse of her.
The true identity of the Genius Club¡¯s chairman remained a mystery, shrouded in spection and secrecy. Lin Xian had once theorized that the chairman might actually be Einstein himself. Though he had no solid evidence to support the idea, he felt it was better to err on the side of caution. He couldn¡¯t shake the vague sense of danger that apanied the thought of CC¡¯s face being seen by Einstein.
Why this feeling haunted him, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t say. But the instinct to protect her was undeniable.
¡°Lin¡ Lin Xian?¡± CC¡¯s gentle voice broke through his thoughts. She tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°Why did you suddenly pull me into your arms like that? And why did you cover me with my hood? Did something happen?¡±
¡°No, nothing happened,¡± Lin Xian replied, his tone light as he pulled back her hood. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want Einstein to see your face.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± CC asked, her brow furrowing.
¡°There¡¯s no particr reason,¡± Lin Xian said, shing her a reassuring smile. ¡°I just think it¡¯s better this way.¡±
¡°Oh, alright then.¡± Though still puzzled, CC trusted Lin Xian and chose not to press further. Instead, she turned her attention to the vibrant scene across the street. The masquerade¡¯s grand entrance buzzed with costumed figures¡ªmonsters, demons, and all manner of fantastical creaturesing and going.
¡°So, are we still going to the masquerade?¡± she asked. ¡°Einstein and his friend already went inside. If we go in, he might still see me.¡±
¡°Of course, we¡¯re going,¡± Lin Xian replied confidently. His gaze shifted to the row of street vendors nearby, selling masks, costumes, props, and offering face-painting services. A yful smile spread across his face.
¡°But first,¡± he said, ¡°we need to disguise ourselves properly.¡±
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Chapter 505: Beauty and the Beast
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian, having traveled back to 1952, faced three main objectives toplete:
Uncover the truth of the Millennial Stake and find a way to save Chu Anqing.
Investigate Einstein and reveal the true identity of the Genius Club¡¯s president.
Explore the origins of the world-ending white light and the deepest secrets of the Genius Club.
At this point, Lin Xian had only managed to find clues rted to the first task¡ªthe original Stake CC. This was why he stuck close to CC, never leaving her side. His goal was to witness firsthand the moment she transformed into the Millennial Stake, to uncover the truth and figure out a solution.
After all, CC had no knowledge of her own birthday, which made it impossible to determine when exactly she would dissolve into blue star fragments. The only solution was a painstakingly tedious one: staying by her side 24/7 as her ¡°personal Millennial Stake bodyguard.¡±
Lin Xian had originally nned to wait until CC dissolved before finding a way to approach and investigate Einstein. But fate often has its surprises. On this Halloween night, at a costume party, Lin Xian unexpectedly ran into Einstein.
Now, Lin Xian could pursue the second main task simultaneously:[Confirm the true identity of the Genius Club president. Is he really Einstein?]
This question had been on Lin Xian¡¯s mind for a long time. Who was behind the mask of the Genius Club¡¯s president? Was it an admirer, a follower, or a sessor of Einstein? Or, as urban legends suggested, was it the immortal Einstein himself?
Lin Xian clenched his fists. All these truths would finally be unveiled in the bygone era of 1952.
¡°So, let¡¯s get into costume first,¡± Lin Xian said, steering CC toward a nearby makeup stall. The makeup artist, dressed as a witch, weed them warmly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°Ladies and gentlemen, wee! What kind of look are you going for? Let me know, and I promise my skills will leave you satisfied!¡± she said enthusiastically. ¡°If you¡¯re out of ideas, feel free to browse these magazines and images. You both look stunning, like actors or models! I rmend ssic characters from famous films.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled at her ttering words. It seemed salespeople in any ce and time always had a knack for sweet-talking.
Still, appearances matter. With CC now glowing with confidence and beauty, it wasn¡¯t surprising she drew suchpliments. Her timeless looks, even decadester, would remain stunning.
¡°CC, take a look. What catches your eye?¡± Lin Xian handed her a catalog. ¡°There are costume stalls nearby, so we can get everything in one go. Aplete immersive experience for you.¡±
CC studied the images carefully. This was her first Halloween costume party, and she wanted to make the perfect choice. After some deliberation, she decided on a ssic vampire look¡ªa timeless Western monster. Vampires embodied style, elegance, and a certain bloody allure. Plus, in Western culture, they were often portrayed as impossibly attractive figures, like CEOs in romantic tales.
After settling on a price, the makeup artist got to work on CC. The witch was undoubtedly skilled, with a makeup kit brimming with tools, jars, and essories, including vampire fangs and ornate headpieces.
Lin Xian sat nearby, watching the process. The makeup artist first painted CC¡¯s face ghostly white, then added streaks of blood-like details. She affixed fake fangs to CC¡¯s small canine teeth and styled her hair meticulously.
By the end, CC¡¯s transformed appearance bore no resemnce to her usual self, much to Lin Xian¡¯s relief. Given that it wasn¡¯t clear if Einstein was truly the Genius Club president, Lin Xian decided it was better to treat him as a ¡°potential enemy¡± for now.
Historically, Einstein and CC should have had no intersection. Without Lin Xian¡¯s interference, CC wouldn¡¯t have been attending this costume party and certainly wouldn¡¯t have encountered Einstein. Their meeting today was an anomaly in the historical timeline.
¡°To avoid destabilizing the worldline, it¡¯s best not to interfere with key individuals¡¯ original life paths,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself. He reached up to touch the ¡°kite string¡± tethered to the back of his head¡ªa link to the year 2234.
As long as the string remained intact, it meant the worldline hadn¡¯t shifted, spacetime sticity was stable, and he could return to 2234 anytime. For now, the string seemed perfectly secure, strong and unyielding.
¡°Spacetime sticity isn¡¯t so easily breached,¡± Lin Xian mused, closing his eyes and reflecting on his actions since arriving in 1952. Everything he had done was minor¡ªwinning a balloon prize, stealing money from gangsters, and enjoying life in Manhattan. Compared to past worldline disruptors, his caution and restraint were almost excessive.
¡°Without advanced technology, it¡¯s incredibly difficult for a single person to destabilize spacetime sticity,¡± Lin Xian concluded, opening his eyes again.
Recalling the past, Lin Xian thought of Yellow Finch, who cooperated with the state, sent him a Genius Club invitation, dropped countless hints, and even borrowed a spacene to cause amotion in outer space. Then there was the real and fake Yu Xi¡ªher actions were even more outrageous. From start to finish, she was constantly on the move, stealing motorcycles and cars wherever she went.
Despite their audacious actions, none of them had managed to breach the spacetime sticity. Compared to their chaotic exploits, Lin Xian¡¯s minor actions were barely a blip.
But still, he reminded himself:
Never let your guard down.
The risks he faced were different from those of Yellow Finch and the two Yu Xis. They were fully prepared to burn their bridges, treating the traversed spacetime as their main battlefield. Lin Xian, on the other hand, needed to return to his original timeline, 2234, to truly make a difference.
¡°If I can¡¯t return safely to 2234, all my efforts will be in vain,¡± he thought.
Lin Xian touched the ¡°kite string¡± at the back of his head, the lifeline connecting him to the future. ¡°I must ensure this string remains unbroken.¡±
¡
Soon, CC¡¯s makeup wasplete. Her face was pale as a ghost, blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, and her eyes were dark and haunting. Lin Xian could hardly recognize her.
¡°Rawr!¡± CC spread her fingers like ws, showing off her fangs and pretending to attack.
Lin Xian burst outughing at her attempt to be fierce, which resembled a ¡°dragon roar¡± more than anything else. ¡°Vampires don¡¯t roar like that.¡±
¡°Really?¡± CC scratched her head andughed awkwardly. ¡°Then how do vampires sound?¡±
¡°They don¡¯t,¡± Lin Xian corrected. ¡°In most films, vampires are depicted as aristocratic and refined. Apart from showing their fangs when feeding, they¡¯re practically indistinguishable from regr humans. Just act normal.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± CC replied, retracting her fangs.
As the makeup artist packed up her tools, she turned to Lin Xian with enthusiasm. ¡°Sir, what about you? What kind of makeup would you like?¡±
She looked him up and down. ¡°You have such handsome features¡ªsharp and defined. You¡¯re practically made for acting or modeling! I can¡¯t resist giving you a look that matches your beauty.¡±
She grinned and suggested, ¡°Why not dress as a vampire or a werewolf to match this lovelydy? It would make you two the perfect pair.¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll pass. Makeup is too much trouble¡ cough, cough.¡±
His raspy throat gave another dry cough. The boiled egg soup he had that morning, missing scallions and sesame oil, hadn¡¯t done much to alleviate his difort. If anything, his throat felt worse, and he suspected an oing mouth ulcer.
Without saying another word, he nced toward a nearby mask stall, where he had already spotted his ideal choice: a King Kong gori mask.
The character King Kong had originated from a 1933 ck-and-white film, a story about a giant gori who fell for a human woman and caused chaos in New York. Over the decades, King Kong became a timeless IP, with countless remakes, eventually joining the MonsterVerse and trading blows with Godzi.
Lin Xian walked over to the mask stall and picked up the gori headpiece. It was impressively crafted, with realistic fur and finely detailed facial features. The eyeholes were cleverly cut to allow clear vision.
¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered with approval, paying for the mask before putting it on. Returning to CC, he spread his arms dramatically. ¡°Cool, right?¡±
¡°Too ugly!¡± CC wrinkled her nose. ¡°You look terrifying¡ªa creepy gori head with a strange voice. You don¡¯t even seem like yourself anymore; you¡¯re like a total stranger.¡±
Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s exactly the point.¡±
For now, since it was still unclear whether Einstein was truly the Genius Club president, it was better to keep his identity hidden. If this all turned out to be one big misunderstanding, so be it.
But what if the great Einstein before him truly was the future omniscient and omnipotent president of the Genius Club?
[Revealing his true face now could trigger unimaginable spacetime disturbances, even a worldline leap, rendering all efforts futile.]
Such consequences were risks Lin Xian could not afford to take.
Fortunately, his hoarse voice, a result of his earlier difort, provided the perfect natural disguise. Combined with the gori mask, it created an ideal setup for anonymity.
[At what point did Einstein¡¯s omniscience and omnipotence begin?]
Lin Xian didn¡¯t know for certain, but he was sure it wasn¡¯t now. The Millennial Stake had yet to be driven, spacetimews hadn¡¯te into y, and the Genius Club likely hadn¡¯t even been established.
Thus, at this moment, approaching Einstein with a fake voice and a gori mask felt rtively safe.
¡°We¡¯re the perfect pair from Beauty and the Beast now,¡± Lin Xian joked, adjusting his gori headpiece as he looked at CC.
¡°Beauty and the Beast?¡± CCughed, her fanged smile revealing her amusement. ¡°Why not Vampire and Gori?¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t the orphanage grandmother ever tell you the story of Beauty and the Beast?¡± Lin Xian asked, surprised.
¡°Nope.¡± CC shook her head. ¡°Is it famous? I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding in resignation. ¡°Seems even the almighty orphanage granny has her limitations.¡±
¡°Enough talk. Let¡¯s get going,¡± he said, straightening his outfit and mask. With a raspy voice, he dered, ¡°Now that we¡¯re in costume, it¡¯s time to head to the Halloween ball.¡±
And so, a pale-faced, fanged vampire followed a lumbering gori across the street to the venue. Their peculiar pairing drew nces from bystanders¡ªbut only fleeting ones. On Halloween, a night of nationwide celebration, their strange costumes blended in perfectly.
Lin Xian pulled a crisp bill from his pocket and ced it in the hands of the doorman. ¡°Two tickets. Keep the rest as a tip.¡±
The doorman¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment at such generosity. Bowing profusely, he ushered them in, eximing, ¡°Sir! Madam! Please, right this way!¡±
Inside, the ballroom was a spectacle of chaos and creativity. Monsters, demons, and fantastical creatures mingled in a lively, almost surreal scene. The dance hadn¡¯t started yet, so groups of costumed attendees were chatting,ughing, and reveling in their bizarre attire.
¡°This is¡ unsettling,¡± Lin Xian admitted, his voiceced with genuine awe. It was his first time attending a Halloween ball, and the sheer absurdity of the scene hit him like a dream turned nightmare. ¡°Is that mummy? And what¡¯s that woman dressed as? Wait¡ is she even dressed? Isn¡¯t she cold?¡±
¡°Maybe¡ she¡¯s supposed to be a subus?¡± CC spected, equally overwhelmed. Grabbing Lin Xian¡¯s arm, she steered them deeper into the venue. ¡°Let¡¯s not stand around here. I saw the poster outside¡ªthere¡¯s a buffet! If we¡¯re toote, all the good food will be gone.¡±
¡°Good food?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t have much faith in Manhattan¡¯s cuisine. It¡¯s probably just pastries, wine, roasted meat, fries, and potatoes, right?¡±
Reaching the buffet table, his prediction was spot-on. As he surveyed the spread, Lin Xian¡¯s throat felt even more parched, the fiery irritation worsening.
¡°You go ahead and eat,¡± he rasped, rubbing his throat.
¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡± CC asked, already holding a te and ready to dig in.
¡°I¡¯ll just grab some fruit,¡± Lin Xian said, picking up a te. ¡°If I eat any more of this high-calorie junk, I might actually lose my voice tomorrow.¡± Then he paused, realizing something. ¡°Wait a second¡ªthis isn¡¯t right!¡±
He reached up to touch the snout of his gori mask, only to confirm his suspicion: the protruding snout had no opening for his mouth.
¡°Hah!¡± CC burst outughing, bending over as her small fangs glinted in the corners of her dimples. ¡°You¡¯re too funny! I told you to just get some makeup, but no¡ªyou had to go for the gori mask. Now look at you! You can¡¯t even eat fruit, let alone drink wine or soda!¡±
¡°Fine, fine.¡± Lin Xian ced his te back on the table and spread his hands in surrender. ¡°Not like American fruit is anything to rave about.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll eat alone. I¡¯ll be back in a bit,¡± CC said, turning toward the buffet.
¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked, her tone curious.
Lin Xian adjusted his mask, his gaze drifting toward a corner of the hall where a solitary Einstein sat at a table, looking rather mncholic.
With a sly smile, Lin Xian replied, ¡°Opportunities to meet a great figure like him are rare. You stay here and enjoy your meal. I¡¯m off to¡¡±
¡°Chat with Einstein.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 506: Your Name
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Hahahahahahahahaha!!!¡±
Suddenly, a figure burst out from the crowd,ughing hysterically. It was a man with a face painted in garish red and green oil colors, his head bobbing erratically, and hair dyed in a rainbow of colors.
¡°Hahaha! What wonderful news! All you warmongers can go to hell! Hahahaha!¡±
The man appeared to be in his fifties, a middle-aged individual whose strange outburst had everyone baffled. What could possibly bring him such joy?
Even more perplexing was the chalky rainbow of colors atop his head, which seemed to scatter in all directions as he moved. The air around him turned thick with the powdery residue, irritating everyone¡¯s eyes and noses.
¡°Cough, cough! Cough, cough¡¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s throat, already scratchy and ufortable, now felt as if it were being sandpapered by the irritating dust. The colorful particles had triggered a fit of violent coughing, making him feel as though his throat was literally on fire.
¡°Ah¡¡± He exhaled slowly, as gently as he could, trying to avoid aggravating his throat further.Nearby, CC pinched her nose, fanning the air with her hand to disperse the chalky cloud. She frowned in annoyance.
¡°Who on earth is this guy, and what does he want? He¡¯s so irritating.¡±
¡°He¡¯s a friend of Einstein,¡± Lin Xian replied in a hoarse whisper, his voice raspy from the coughing.
¡°A friend of Einstein?¡±
CC¡¯s expression softened slightly, her tone less harsh.
¡°Does that mean he¡¯s also a brilliant scientist?¡±
¡°No,¡± Lin Xian said, shaking his head. ¡°He seems more like a lunatic. I can¡¯t for the life of me understand how someone like him could be friends with Einstein.¡±
¡°Well¡¡± CC mused, ncing at Lin Xian with sympathy. ¡°They say there¡¯s a fine line between genius and madness. Einstein and this rainbow-haired clown might just be living proof.¡±
She turned her concerned gaze back to him. ¡°Lin Xian, your voice has gotten even raspier. It¡¯s so much rougher now.¡±
¡°That¡¯s thanks to that guy and his chalk dust,¡± Lin Xian grumbled. ¡°But maybe it¡¯s a good thing. Don¡¯t you think my voice now soundspletely different from what it used to?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
¡°Totally like two different people,¡± CC admitted. ¡°Though, I have to say, your cracked voice has a bit of an Irish lilt to it. In Brooklyn, there are lots of Irish folks who talk with that kind of upward inflection.¡±
¡°Well, then,¡± Lin Xian said with a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯ll just pretend to be an Irish mix-blood.¡±
¡°Hahahahaha! Warmongers, begone! The world belongs to love and peace!¡±
The rainbow-haired man spun around again, his head leaving a trail of chalk dust in his wake. Lin Xian and CC quickly turned their backs, pinching their noses to avoid another ¡°biological attack.¡±
¡°What on earth is he so excited about?¡± Lin Xian wondered aloud, puzzled. His eyes trailed to where the man had first emerged.
On a nearby dining table, a newspapery open.
Ah, so that¡¯s it.
The source of the man¡¯s excitement was likely an article in the newspaper.
¡°I¡¯ll leave you here, CC. Take your time eating, and I¡¯lle back for youter.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± CC was already engrossed in her meal, pouring herself a full ss of red wine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll just stay here enjoying the buffet.¡±
¡°Wait a second¡¡± Lin Xian hurriedly grabbed the wine bottle to stop her. ¡°You don¡¯t fill a wine ss to the brim! This isn¡¯t soda¡ªhalf a ss is plenty. Besides, do you even know how to drink wine?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never had it before,¡± CC admitted, blinking innocently. ¡°I¡¯ve never even had the chance to try red wine until now. I just want to see what it tastes like.¡±
¡°Fine.¡± Lin Xian gave up, figuring it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Red wine was low in alcohol, after all. ¡°Just don¡¯t drink too much. Stick to c, kiddo.¡±
¡°You¡¯re the kid!¡±
¡
Leaving CC behind, Lin Xian made his way to the dining table and picked up the newspaper. His eyes fell on the bold headline in the upper-left corner:
¡°Former Army General Dous MacArthur Loses Primary Election Bid! Withdraws from the Presidential Race!¡±
¡°Oh, so it¡¯s him,¡± Lin Xian muttered, understanding now why the rainbow-haired man had been so ecstatic.
MacArthur was a notorious warmonger. He had once suggested deploying 26 nuclear weapons against Lin Xian¡¯s homnd, X Country. This extreme proposal led to his dismissal by then-President Truman in 1951. The dismissal wasn¡¯t just symbolic¡ªit stripped MacArthur of all his titles, a rare urrence in U.S. history.
The fallout was severe. Truman¡¯s approval ratings plummeted to historic lows, making reelection impossible. Meanwhile, MacArthur, disgruntled and unwilling to ept his disgrace, began preparing for a presidential run.
But unfortunately for him, his ambitions were dashed in the 1952 primaries, forcing him to retire from politics altogether. The presidency ultimately went to Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, in 1953.
At this moment, inte 1952, the primary elections had just concluded, marking MacArthur¡¯s defeat.
¡°No wonder that rainbow-haired clown was so thrilled¡ Clearly, he¡¯s a peace advocate and a staunch opponent of MacArthur.¡±
MacArthur¡¯s loss reflected the public¡¯s desire for peace. After all, electing a man who once contemted nuclear war against another nation would have been disastrous. Soldiers and civilians alike preferred peace over conflict.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, recalling inte videos that had humorously critiqued MacArthur¡¯s legacy. Who would have thought that decades after his death, MacArthur would be an inte sensation in X Country?
¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯ve finally learned MacArthur¡¯s full name.¡±
Lin Xian had always assumed that ¡°Mac¡± was his first name and ¡°Arthur¡± his surname. But now, seeing the name written in English, he finally understood.
MacArthur¡¯s full name clicked into ce in Lin Xian¡¯s mind: MacArthur wasn¡¯t his first name but hisst name. His first name was Dous, making it Dous MacArthur.
¡°Why are there so many Douses? Is this name super popr in America?¡± Lin Xian scratched the gori mask on his head in mild confusion.
Across the street from this banquet hall, on the promotional board for a nearby cinema, was another ¡°Dous¡±¡ªthe lead actor in The Big Tree Ridge Vendetta, Kirk Dous. And now, there was Dous MacArthur, the former five-star general who just lost his bid in the primaries.
Straightening up, Lin Xian turned his gaze back toward the rainbow-haired entric, Einstein¡¯s peculiar friend. The man had now taken to the dance floor, skipping and hopping while shouting celebratory slogans about MacArthur¡¯s loss and the triumph of love and peace.
¡°Well, that works for me. Now I can talk to Einstein alone.¡±
Lin Xian adjusted the heavy gori mask perched on his head. The timing was perfect¡ªhis voice disguised by its hoarseness, his face concealed beneath the borate costume. There was no way Einstein could recognize him. Even if Einstein really was the future chairman of the Genius Club, he wouldn¡¯t connect this ¡°gori¡± to Lin Xian, the club¡¯s ninth-ranked genius, because:
¡°The gori of 1952 has absolutely nothing inmon with Rhine of 2024.¡±
Click. Click. Click.
The polished soles of his high-end leather shoes echoed faintly as Lin Xian approached the table in the corner. The noise of the banquet grew louder behind him, but he was now mere feet from one of the greatest physicists in human history.
¡°Good evening, Mr. Einstein,¡± Lin Xian said, bowing slightly despite the absurdity of his bloodthirsty gori mask. ¡°I¡¯m a university student and an admirer of yours. May I sit down and talk with you?¡±
Einstein, who had been sitting somberly with a mncholy expression, slowly lifted his head. His eyes widened briefly at the grotesque visage before him¡ªa snarling gori mask inches from his face. He leaned back in startled surprise but quickly recovered, letting out a weary sigh and shaking his head.
¡°Young man, you¡¯re admiring the wrong person,¡± he said softly. ¡°The true heroes are those who have contributed to humanity¡¯s peace, not someone like me, who hides in research and has caused more harm than good.¡±
¡°Still,¡± he continued with a faint smile, ¡°this is Halloween. It¡¯s neither ab nor a conference hall, and every guest here is the host of this party. If you¡¯d like to talk with me, feel free to take any seat.¡±
¡°Thank you, Mr. Einstein.¡± Lin Xian expressed his gratitude before taking a seat opposite the physicist. He adjusted the oversized gori mask that obscured his entire face. He¡¯d initially considered wearing a humorous Bugs Bunny mask but decided against it. If his goal was to conceal his identitypletely, the gori mask was the superior choice.
¡°You¡¯re quite the curiosity, young man,¡± Einstein remarked, spreading his hands. ¡°You¡¯re the only person at this costume party who believes I¡¯m actually Albert Einstein. Everyone else assumes my hair, beard, wrinkles, and features are part of a costume.¡±
He pointed to a lipstick mark on his cheek. ¡°Just a while ago, a little witch ran up to me, gave me a kiss, and said I looked exactly like Einstein on TV.¡±
¡°Ah, well¡¡± Lin Xian¡¯s hoarse voice cracked as he chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s enviable. I kind of regret wearing this gori mask now. I doubt any little witch would want to kiss a gori.¡±
¡°Are you unwell?¡± Einstein asked, his gaze shifting to Lin Xian¡¯s expressive gori eyes. ¡°Your voice sounds strange.¡±
¡°More or less,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding the gori¡¯s massive head. ¡°The weather¡¯s been cooling down so quickly. I think I caught a chill.¡±
Perfect. Lin Xian ced his hands on his knees, feeling a surge of satisfaction. Everything was going smoothly. He¡¯d sessfully initiated a conversation with Einstein, who turned out to be far more approachable and down-to-earth than expected. No arrogance, no airs. Einstein seemed eager to chat.
It also confirmed another observation: Einstein¡¯s tolerance and open-mindedness were extraordinary. After all, his closestpanion tonight was that rainbow-haired oddball. He¡¯d seen so much in life that nothing could faze him.
Now, Lin Xian could proceed with his second main objective: investigating the secrets surrounding Einstein and his potential ties to the Genius Club. First, he needed to understand Einstein¡¯s perspectives more deeply.
Lin Xian decided to broach the subject with a weighty question: Does humanity have a future? This line of inquiry would help reveal Einstein¡¯s mindset and possibly align with the suspected ovep between him and the Genius Club chairman.
¡°Mr. Einstein,¡± Lin Xian began, his raspy voice low. ¡°I truly admire you. I¡¯ve read many of your interviews and news articles. Just recently, The Brooklyn Daily published your views on the Cold War and nuclear war¡ It¡¯s clear that you¡¯re deeply concerned about humanity¡¯s future.¡±
He hesitated before continuing. ¡°Like many others, I worry about your health and mental state. In your opinion, is the possibility of global nuclear war and the extinction of human civilization truly inevitable?¡±
Einstein let out a long sigh, lifting his gaze to meet Lin Xian¡¯s.
¡°Young man,¡± he said gently, ¡°if you¡¯re a university student, you must have a good understanding of world history. From ancient times to the present, humanity has never stopped waging war.¡±
¡°From primitive humans wielding stones and sticks, to spears and arrows, gunpowder and cannons, firearms andndmines, nes and tanks, and now missiles and atomic bombs¡ War has been a constant. Weapons have only grown more advanced.¡±
¡°Everyone knows,¡± he continued, ¡°that a third world war is inevitable. The first world war ended, and the second began barely over a decadeter. So, it¡¯s not hard to guess¡ how long before the third?¡±
Einstein closed his eyes.
A cascade of mushroom clouds shed vividly in Einstein¡¯s mind as he spoke, his voice trembling slightly.
¡°Today, seven years have passed since the end of World War II. The Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union are escting, and the Soviets now have atomic bombs as well¡ No matter how I look at it, the third world war seems not far away.¡±
He paused, his expression heavy with the weight of his thoughts. ¡°I can¡¯t envision what the third world war will look like, nor the weapons humanity might wield. But I do know this¡¡±
¡°If there is a fourth world war, the weapons will surely be stones and sticks.¡±
¡
As expected.
Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. Einstein was entirely pessimistic, perhaps even despairing, about humanity¡¯s future. To him, the third world war was imminent, a catastrophic sh of nuclear weapons that would all but obliterate human civilization, sending humanity back to the primitive era.
But Einstein was wrong¡ªutterly andpletely wrong.
The third world war did not break out in the 20th century, nor in the 21st. When Lin Xian awoke from hibernation in the year 2234, the world had still not experienced such a war. Moreover, there appeared to be no signs of one ever urring. Instead, humanity had entered an unprecedented era of peace following the detonation of just two nuclear bombs in history.
¡°Hmm?¡±
Einstein, noticing Lin Xian¡¯s silence, opened his eyes and regarded the grotesque gori mask. ¡°Young man, do you have a different perspective?¡±
Lin Xian nodded, deciding to probe further. He couldn¡¯t reveal the truths of the future, but there was one theory he could bring up¡ªa topic fitting for debate in this era. By analyzing Einstein¡¯s reaction to this theory, Lin Xian hoped to determine whether the physicist truly had connections to the Genius Club.
¡°I do,¡± Lin Xian said, his raspy voice carrying a faint smile. ¡°Mr. Einstein, I believe your assumptions about future wars and humanity¡¯s fate are incorrect.¡±
¡°Oh?¡±
Einstein¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity.
He enjoyed discussions, especially with bold young people who dared to think for themselves. Over the years, few had openly contradicted him¡ªapart from the stubborn Bohr. It wasn¡¯t that Einstein was arrogant; it was simply that most people regarded him as so intelligent, so infallible, that they would immediately dismiss their own ideas when they conflicted with his.
And so, he was genuinely intrigued by the young man in the gori mask. What insight could this student possibly offer?
¡°Well then,¡± Einstein said with a chuckle, leaning back slightly. ¡°I¡¯d love to hear your ¡®correct¡¯ answer. But before we proceed¡¡±
He smiled, looking directly at Lin Xian. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s no need for me to introduce myself. Young man, what should I call you? Can you tell me your name?¡±
¡°I¡¯m¡¡±
The words came to Lin Xian¡¯s lips, but he stopped short. He couldn¡¯t possibly reveal his real name.
What should he call himself?
He suddenly regretted not preparing a pseudonym in advance. Now, under Einstein¡¯s keen gaze, he needed toe up with something quickly. His mind raced, but he was drawing a nk.
There could be no long pause. A hesitation would undoubtedly tip Einstein off to the lie, shattering the fragile trust he had just established. He had to respond immediately¡ªeven if it meant saying the first name that came to mind.
In a sh, two names surfaced in his subconscious: Kirk Dous and Dous MacArthur.
¡°Dous,¡± Lin Xian said softly, his voice steadying.
¡°Mr. Einstein, my name is¡ Dous.¡±
Chapter 507: Intimidation
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
¡°Alright, Dous.¡±
Einstein shifted in his seat, his gaze lingering on the massive gori mask staring back at him. A trace of curiosity danced in his eyes as he continued, ¡°I¡¯m quite intrigued by your thoughts and would love to hear them. But¡ have you truly not considered removing that headpiece, at least for now?¡±
He hesitated, then added with a faint smile, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong; it¡¯s not that I want to ruin your Halloween spirit. It¡¯s just that this¡ well, this gori¡ªit¡¯s a bit unsettling, to put it lightly.¡±
Lin Xian, disguised as ¡°Dous,¡± remainedposed and unmoved. Of course, he couldn¡¯t take off the mask. If the man before him truly was the president of the Genius Club, revealing his face would expose his identity far too soon. For now, Einstein appeared unaware of whoy beneath the disguise, which was critical to maintaining the timeline¡¯s stability. The moment Einstein would first meet the true ninth genius of Rhine University had to remain intact.
¡°I would also very much like to have this conversation face-to-face, Mr. Einstein,¡± Lin Xian replied, his voice muffled and hoarse from beneath the gori mask. His tone carried a touch of regret. ¡°But I must apologize. This mask is rather difficult to put on¡ªit required the skilled hands of a professional stylist. If I were to take it off now, I¡¯d look rather foolish during the dance segmentter.¡±
He paused, considering, then offered, ¡°Perhaps, if it bothers you so much, I could change seats. If I sit beside you, you¡¯d only catch my profile, sparing yourself the sight of this gori¡¯s maw.¡±
Einstein blinked, clearly caught off guard. This young man¡ªDous¡ªcertainly had a peculiar way of thinking.
¡°Alright,¡± he said atst, sliding to the side and vacating the adjacent seat.¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Xian said, standing and moving to sit beside Einstein, taking the vacated chair.
Now the two no longer faced each other directly. Their proximity seemed to close a gap¡ªnot just physical but emotional, creating a sense of newfound camaraderie.
¡°Mr. Einstein, I must confess, our perspectives could not be more different.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was quieter now, thoughtful. ¡°In my view, you are not a viin of history. On the contrary, you are closer to a savior¡ªone who broughtsting peace.¡±
Einstein¡¯s lips curled into a faint, mirthless smile. ¡°Dous,¡± he said softly, ¡°what could possibly make you harbor such an absurd notion? You must know that both America and the Soviet Union already possess atomic bombs. The principles behind them are not difficult to grasp. Within a few decades, many nations will likely have them.¡±
He sighed, his voice tinged with despair. ¡°Pandora¡¯s box is open. Humanity now wields a power it cannot control. No matter where the first bomb falls, the result will be the same¡ªtens of thousands dead, a city obliterated. To call me a savior in this context¡ it¡¯s the cruelest irony.¡±
But Lin Xian merely shook his head, hisposure unbroken. ¡°Mr. Einstein, with all due respect, I believe your line of reasoning is wed. Your brilliance in physics is unparalleled, but the dynamics of international rtions and the bnce of power among nations¡ These are no less intricate than the theory of rtivity itself.¡±
He leaned forward, his tone deliberate. ¡°There is a concept I¡¯d like to introduce to you. Let¡¯s see if you can grasp it.¡±
Einstein frowned, studying the gori mask¡¯s profile. ¡°And what concept might that be?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice was steady, each word carefully enunciated. ¡°Nuclear deterrence.¡±
Einstein echoed the term, his brow furrowing deeply. ¡°Nuclear deterrence?¡±
The words hung in the air, and he fell into a pensive silence. Lin Xian, respecting the moment, refrained from interrupting, though inwardly he reassured himself by checking the ¡°kite string¡± sensation at the back of his mind. It was still taut and unwavering¡ªa good sign. The worldline remained stable, its trajectory unaltered.
As he¡¯d anticipated, this era¡ª1952¡ªwas still firmly set within the 0.0001764 timeline. Sharing the concept of nuclear deterrence with Einstein carried no risk of destabilizing history, as its official introduction woulde a yearter, inte 1953, under President Eisenhower¡¯s administration.
The essence of nuclear deterrencey in leveraging overwhelming nuclear power to threatenplete retaliation, thereby discouraging any adversary from initiating conflict. While the term had yet to enter the public lexicon, its shadow already loomed over geopolitics, hidden but present.
Lin Xian¡¯s motives were twofold. He aimed to gauge Einstein¡¯s response and, in doing so, determine whether he was merely the historical figure he imed to be¡ªor something more, such as the enigmatic Genius Club president. If Einstein could be swayed by the logic of nuclear deterrence, it would suggest he wasn¡¯t the president, as thetter maintained a grim outlook on humanity¡¯s future even in the 21st century, where nuclear peace prevailed. Conversely, should Einstein remain unconvinced, it might point to deeper secrets.
Leaning back in his chair, Lin Xian crossed his arms and spoke again. ¡°Surely, Mr. Einstein, someone as astute as you can foresee the profound impact nuclear deterrence will have on the global order.¡±
¡°We have every reason to believe,¡± Lin Xian began, his voice calm yet assertive, ¡°that in theing decades, all developed nations will possess nuclear weapons. With such power, they will hold dominance over the world. To maintain their status and ensure their rights aren¡¯t usurped, these great powers will naturally seek to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons, preventing other nations from acquiring them.¡±
Einstein lifted his head, his expression thoughtful but skeptical.
¡°Your reasoning,¡± he said slowly, ¡°is not entirely unrealistic. While your theory has some feasibility¡ªthe principles behind the atomic bomb are indeed notplex¡ªthe actual construction of one is an incredibly challenging endeavor. It requires a vast number of advanced centrifuges and an abundance of uranium ore.¡±
He paused, his tone bing more reflective. ¡°Yes, building a nuclear reactor is rtively straightforward, but producing uranium of the necessary purity and achieving the intricate processes involved in crafting a bomb are hurdles far beyond the reach of smaller nations. Yet the issue remains that conflicts between such minor states rarely escte into global wars. For a true world war to ur, the nuclear powers themselves must be involved. And therein lies the dilemma¡ªhow can we constrain these great powers from using nuclear weapons?¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly, a knowing glint in his eye. ¡°That, Mr. Einstein, is where nuclear deterrencees into y.¡±
He leaned forward slightly, his tone measured and persuasive. ¡°The concept is straightforward: as long as a robust n for nuclear retaliation exists, any country thatunches a nuclear strike will face certain annihtion. The moment a single bomb is dropped, the opposing side¡¯s missiles would devastate their capital, ensuring mutual destruction.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± he continued, ¡°this carries the undeniable risk of a nuclear chain reaction¡ªa domino effect where nuclear bombs rain down across the globe. Even if humanity avoids extinction, civilization would be grievously wounded. No nation, not even the United States or the Soviet Union, could emerge unscathed.¡±
Einstein looked up sharply. ¡°And this¡ catastrophic oue is a good thing?¡±
¡°Precisely,¡± Lin Xian said, spreading his hands in a gesture of exnation. ¡°Because the consequences are so dire¡ªso utterly unbearable¡ªevery nation, even superpowers like the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., must act with extreme caution. With nuclear deterrence established, everyone understands that the first bomb will inevitably trigger hundreds, even thousands more.¡±
He chuckled softly. ¡°In such a scenario, what foolish country would dare to tear up the unspoken rules and initiate a nuclear strike?¡±
¡°Think back to the First and Second World Wars, Mr. Einstein,¡± Lin Xian pressed. ¡°Why were great powers willing to join those conflicts? It was because there were no weapons of mass destruction. Strong nations could suppress and upy weaker ones without suffering damage on their home soil, reaping the spoils of war.¡±
¡°Now,¡± he added, ¡°the existence of such weapons changes everything. No matter how powerful a country may be, it must consider whether its homnd could withstand nuclear retaliation. You know as well as I do that with advancements in rocket technology, defending against nuclear missiles will only grow more challenging. Even intercepting them wouldn¡¯t fully mitigate the damage, given the sheer destructive power of airburst detonations.¡±
Lin Xian cleared his throat, his voice momentarily raspy. ¡°In summary, Mr. Einstein, without your mass-energy equivalence form and the invention of the atomic bomb, war remains a low-cost endeavor for the major powers. But with the advent of nuclear weapons, deterrence, and the risk of nuclear chain reactions, global wars be a perilous gamble¡ªone so risky that it fosters caution, perhaps even makes war impossible.¡±
He smirked. ¡°Unless, of course, the great powers make an absurd pledge to never use nuclear weapons against each other. But we both know no country would dare make such a promise.¡±
¡°On the contrary,¡± Lin Xian continued, ¡°these nations will find every excuse to justify the use of nuclear weapons, such as retaliating against attacks on aircraft carriers or critical infrastructure like dams.¡±
Einstein rested his chin in his hand, nodding thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯re right. Once a nation possesses nuclear weapons, it won¡¯t hide them. It will broadcast its power, ensuring others know it isn¡¯t to be trifled with. The threat of mutual destruction ensures restraint.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian said, catching the slight change in Einstein¡¯s tone.
¡°So, Mr. Einstein, let¡¯s revisit my earlier statement. Do you still think I was mocking you?¡±
He leaned in slightly, his voice carrying a quiet conviction. ¡°Believe me, your mass-energy equivalence form has paved the way for an era of unprecedented peace. You are not humanity¡¯s viin¡ªyou are its savior.¡±
As Lin Xian¡¯s words settled in the air, the ballroom lighting dimmed. Laser beams swept across the hall as eerie yet upbeat music filled the space. Cheers erupted as costumed figures flooded the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm.
Einstein¡¯s somber demeanor softened, a rare smile tugging at his lips. Shaking his head, he let out a smallugh.
¡°Thank you, Dous. Meeting you has been an unexpected delight.¡±
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze contemtive yet rxed. ¡°While I¡¯m not convinced the future will unfold exactly as you predict, I must admit¡ I can¡¯t find any ws in your reasoning.¡±
¡°Nuclear deterrence, the chain reaction, the restraint it imposes on powerful nations¡ Yes, these are intriguing theories¡ªworthy of deep reflection.¡±
¡°Whatever the case, thank you, Dous.¡± Einstein stood up with an air of formality, extending his right hand toward Lin Xian.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
¡°Thanks to our conversation, my mood has improved significantly,¡± he said with a warm smile. ¡°For the first time in a long while, I feel a sliver of optimism for humanity¡¯s future.¡±
He chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with genuine amusement. ¡°Hearing you call me a savior, and your belief that my mass-energy equivalence form will usher in prolonged peace¡ Haha, I must admit, those words do bring a sense offort and relief.¡±
Lin Xian rose to his feet, firmly shaking Einstein¡¯s hand. ¡°The honor is mine, Mr. Einstein. I¡¯m d I could lift your spirits.¡±
¡°Ahahahahaha!¡±
A loud, familiarugh shattered the moment. Both men turned to see a mboyantly dressed figure bursting onto the scene, his entire outfit coated in a kaleidoscope of colors and chalk dust. It was none other than Henry Dawson, striding toward them with boundless energy.
Without hesitation, Henry grabbed Einstein¡¯s arm, tugging him toward the dance floor. ¡°What are you waiting for, buddy? The party¡¯s started¡ªlet¡¯s dance!¡±
¡°Wait a moment,¡± Einstein said, shaking off Henry¡¯s grip with a hint of exasperation. He turned back to Lin Xian, his expression softening into a smile.
¡°Dous, I wish we could talk more. I truly enjoy your insights and our discussions,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°But as you can see, the Halloween party is in full swing, and I wouldn¡¯t want to spoil the fun. If you don¡¯t mind, could we arrange to meet again? Perhaps in a quieter setting, where we can have a proper conversation?¡±
He paused, his tone almost pleading. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t refuse. There¡¯s so much more I want to hear your perspective on.¡±
Lin Xian nodded without hesitation. ¡°Of course, Mr. Einstein. I¡¯d be delighted.¡±
This opportunity was beyond what Lin Xian had hoped for. Tonight¡¯s conversation had already been a significant sess, but the prospect of a private meeting was an even greater breakthrough. Einstein had questions for him, and Lin Xian had plenty he wished to confirm with Einstein as well.
The only lingering concern was how to disguise his appearance and voice in their next meeting. For now, though, that would have to be a problem forter.
Einstein retrieved a pen from his pocket and tore a strip from a newspaper on the table. Scribbling quickly, he folded the paper and handed it to Lin Xian.
¡°This is the address of a farm I own in the western outskirts of Brooklyn. It¡¯s a bit remote, but it¡¯s quiet, which I think will suit our discussion. I¡¯ll be there on November 5th, from morning until evening. I look forward to seeing you again, Dous.¡±
Lin Xian epted the slip of paper, tucking it away carefully. ¡°Likewise, Mr. Einstein. I¡¯ll be there.¡±
Henry Dawson, watching the exchange, blinked in confusion. He nced between Lin Xian and Einstein, clearly baffled by the camaraderie between the two. Pointing at Lin Xian, he asked Einstein, ¡°Who¡¯s this guy?¡±
Einstein smiled faintly. ¡°A young university student with remarkable insights on international affairs.¡±
¡°Wow! If he¡¯s impressed you, he must be something special!¡± Henry eximed, turning to Lin Xian with a yful wave. ¡°Hey there, King Kong!¡±
Lin Xian returned the wave with a smirk. ¡°Hello, Rainbow Pony.¡±
Henry burst into another fit of raucousughter. ¡°I like this guy!¡± He suddenly lunged forward, wrapping Lin Xian in a bear hug. His vibrant, chalk-dusted hair left a trail of rainbow smudges on Lin Xian¡¯s ck coat.
¡°Here, have a rainbow!¡± Henry dered gleefully before dragging Einstein toward the dance floor at lightning speed.
Lin Xian could only watch as the chaotic duo disappeared into the crowd, leaving him to brush the chalk dust off his coat with a resigned sigh.
Unfolding the slip of paper Einstein had given him, Lin Xian read the address carefully. His eyes widened slightly, and he let out a sharp breath.
¡°Brooklyn¡¯s western outskirts¡¡± he murmured. ¡°This is familiar.¡±
The location was close¡ªvery close¡ªto the orphanage where CC resided. Suddenly, a thought struck him: the sightings of Einstein walking near the orphanage that CC and the others had mentioned¡ Was this farm his destination all along?
Could this be Einstein¡¯s ¡°base of operations¡±?
And if so, what secrets might that farm hold?
Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts raced as he stared at the address, the quiet hum of the party fading into the background.
Chapter 508: The Dance of the Century
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Glug, glug, glug.
Seated on a chair at the edge of the dance floor, CC sipped her red wine with a casual rhythm. The ss in her hand emptied rapidly, though she¡¯d long lost count of how many sses she had consumed.
Not that the wine tasted particrly spectacr.
It was simply that, after spending such a hefty sum on the ticket, it felt wasteful not to get her money¡¯s worth. She had already devoured plenty of the snacks and fruit provided, but after some quick calctions, she realized they barely made a dentpared to the price of entry. Even if she ate to the point of bursting, it wouldn¡¯t bnce out.
The high-end red wine, however, looked promising. If she could down an entire bottle, she might just break even.
Yet as she took another sip, CC found herself musing¡ªwhy did people rave about this stuff?
Her cheeks were warm, her thoughts spinning.
It didn¡¯t beat c, that much she was sure of.Turning her head, her gaze fell on Lin Xian in the corner of the room, wearing a King Kong gori mask. He was deep in conversation with someone dressed as Einstein. Their discussion seemed animated, with exaggerated hand gestures flying back and forth. Einstein, intrigued by whatever the gori was exining, tilted his head like an eager student, nodding frequently.
¡°Too funny,¡± CC giggled, the corners of her lips curling into dimples. Her sharp little vampire fangs peeked out as her rosy cheeks glowed under the pulsating, multi-colored lights of the venue. She looked radiant.
Just then, a handsome man dressed as a werewolf approached her. With an elegant bow, he addressed her courteously, ¡°Beautiful vampire, may I have the honor of this dance?¡±
The dance floor vibrated with pounding music, thick with electrifying energy.
However¡
CC pursed her lips and shook her head decisively. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t want to dance.¡±
Her response was straightforward¡ªCC had never been to a ball before and didn¡¯t know the polite ways to decline. She just spoke her mind.
¡°Oh, alright,¡± the werewolf replied without offense. A true gentleman, he stepped back gracefully, returning to hispanion¡ªa portly mummy swathed in bandages.
The mummy looked surprised. ¡°You got rejected? No way! That¡¯s got to be a first for you, right?¡±
The werewolf nodded. Here, at one of Manhattan¡¯s most exclusive Halloween balls, his rejection was indeed unexpected. With his model-like looks and undeniable charm, he rarely encountered refusals.
¡°She said she didn¡¯t want to dance,¡± he exined, still puzzled.
¡°Hahaha! Impossible!¡± The mummy pped the werewolf¡¯s shoulder,ughing heartily. ¡°This is a Halloween dance party! Who shows up here without wanting to dance? Anyone who¡¯d rather stay home watching TV and eating cake wouldn¡¯t bother with such borate makeup and costumes to just sit around.¡±
¡°Then why?¡± The werewolf tilted his head, genuinely curious. ¡°Why did she say no?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± The mummy smirked mischievously. ¡°Let¡¯s not disturb her anymore. It¡¯s clear she¡¯s waiting for someone. That vampire isn¡¯t here to dance with just anyone¡ªshe¡¯s waiting for the one.¡±
¡
In the far corner of the venue, Einstein was dragged off by a mboyantly dressed individual into the chaos of the dance floor. Lin Xian nced down at the little note in his hand.
It contained an address, pinpointing Einstein¡¯s private farm in the Brooklyn suburbs, west of the orphanage where CC had grown up. The address carried a weighty promise of secrets yet untold.
¡°November 5th,¡± he murmured, folding the paper carefully and tucking it into his coat pocket.
Einstein had mentioned he¡¯d be there all day on November 5th, waiting for Lin Xian. Tonight, being October 31st, meant there were five days left until their next meeting¡ªa conversation bound to delve deeper into the mysteries that intrigued him.
Could this farm be the birthce of the Genius Club? Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
Straightening his coat, he dusted off traces of chalk and adjusted the gori mask on his head. His gaze shifted back to the vibrant dance floor, where creatures of the night writhed to the beat.
He had danced many formal routines before, but nothing had prepared him for the wild and chaotic movements of this monstrous crowd. Tonight was a first¡ªa Halloween ball¡ªand it had opened doors to a strange, electrifying world.
¡°Time to find CC. She¡¯s probably done eating by now.¡±
Pushing through the throng, Lin Xian made his way to the self-serve buffet area. From a distance, he spotted CC sitting alone, casually downing yet another ss of red wine.
A question mark seemed to hover above his head.
Was she¡ treating wine like soda?
¡°CC!¡± he eximed as he reached her, promptly removing the ss from her hands and setting it firmly on the table. ¡°You can¡¯t keep drinking like that. It¡¯s wine, not c!¡±
¡°But I¡¯m waiting for you!¡± she chirped, her cheeks flushed as she grinned, dimples deepening.
Under the influence of wine, with the spinning lights and festive atmosphere, CC¡ªa vampire with pale skin and blood-smeared makeup¡ªseemed almost enchanting.
¡°You¡¯re definitely drunk,¡± Lin Xian said, concerned. ¡°Are you still up for dancing?¡±
¡°Of course!¡± CC sprang up from her seat, spinning in ce three times before stopping with perfect bnce. ¡°See? No problem at all!¡±
Lin Xian nodded, his worries easing slightly.
¡°Rx, I won¡¯t get drunk,¡± CC reassured, grabbing Lin Xian¡¯s arm and pulling him toward the dance floor.
¡°We came here to dance, after all! I know what¡¯s important. If drinking gets in the way of dancing, that¡¯d be a total loss!¡±
¡°You¡¯d make a great ountant,¡± Lin Xian said,ughing helplessly. ¡°With you handling finances, we¡¯d never be in the red.¡±
For CC, the world was simple: there were only two types of events¡ªprofitable ones and those that weren¡¯t.
¡
As the current song faded, a new eerie and thrilling melody began to y.
¡°CC, what kind of dance do you know?¡± Lin Xian asked, curious.
¡°The zombie dance!¡± CC announced confidently.
¡°The what now?¡± Lin Xian, who prided himself as a dance aficionado, froze mid-thought. ¡°A zombie dance? What even is that?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn
¡°Zombie dance is zombie dance!¡± CC blinked innocently. ¡°It¡¯s Halloween¡ªof course we¡¯re doing the zombie dance! Let me show you!¡±
The creepy music shifted to a yful rhythm.
CC took a step back, her body stiffening as if she were transforming into a mechanical doll. Then, syncing with the music¡¯s beat, she began imitating the jerky, lurching movements of a zombie. Her head tilted slowly, her limbs moved awkwardly yet purposefully, embodying a mix of eerie menace and delightful whimsy.
Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help butugh at her exaggerated performance.
ncing around the room, he noticed others had joined in the same dance. The entire dance floor seemed alive with a humorous chaos, each dancer adding their twist to the zombie moves. The scene reminded Lin Xian of a surreal Lovecraftian nightmare, except it was filled with a bizarre, festive energy.
This must be the Halloween spirit, Lin Xian thought. As an outsider, he didn¡¯t fully understand it, but he chose to respect it.
¡°You can¡¯t dance?¡± CC asked, her face alight with genuine joy as she danced closer to him. Her carefree expression radiated happiness, infectious in its simplicity.
¡°In America, even kids know how to zombie dance!¡±
¡°Well, sorry to disappoint,¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°I genuinely don¡¯t know how to do it.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll teach you!¡± CC dered, grabbing his hands. ¡°Zombie dance is super easy¡ªyou just follow my moves!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not.¡± Lin Xian shook his head firmly, rejecting the idea without hesitation.
¡°Come on, just try!¡± CC tugged at his hands, giggling as she pulled him into the dance floor. ¡°It¡¯s really simple! You¡¯re so smart; you¡¯ll pick it up in no time!¡±
Lin Xian studied her flushed cheeks and the unrestrained excitement in her eyes, suspecting the wine was still affecting her. ¡°You seem¡ overly excited.¡±
¡°Not at all! I just love dancing! Every time I dance, it makes me so happy. Come on,e on!¡± CC pleaded with a mischievous grin.
¡°Today, I¡¯ll teach you the zombie dance. Later, when we get the chance, you can teach me one of your dances!¡±
Through the small holes in his gori mask, Lin Xian looked down at the radiant, smiling vampire before him.
In that moment, Lin Xian felt a moment of disorientation.
It struck him that, 600 yearster, on August 28, 2624, at the end of the world, he had personally taught CC the tap dance of Face Vige. And now, centuries earlier, on Halloween night of October 31, 1952¡ªthe very beginning of it all¡ªCC was leading him by the hand to teach him the zombie dance.
She was still the eternal CC of the Millennial Stake.
He remained Lin Xian, the time traveler.
The only differences seemed to be the era and the dance itself.
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian finally relented. His soft-hearted nature, coupled with CC¡¯s tipsy enthusiasm, left him no choice.
CC¡¯s face lit up with joy when she heard him agree. To the rhythm of the music, she eagerly guided him: how to mimic a zombie¡¯s stiffness, how to keep his body rigid, how to let his head remain still while his torso moved¡
To her surprise, Lin Xian turned out to be a natural. Within minutes, he hadpletely mastered the zombie dance.
¡°You¡¯re incredible, Lin Xian!¡± CC eximed, her wide eyes filled with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re an absolute genius!¡±
¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Lin Xian said modestly, already moving with the zombie dance steps. His gori mask, with its ferocious expression and gaping mouth, made him blend seamlessly into the crowd of reveling monsters. He realized how wonderfully liberating a mask could be¡ªwithout it, he would never dare perform such a socially mortifying dance.
¡°It¡¯s not an idolplex,¡± he thought. ¡°Just cultural differences.¡±
¡°My talent¡¯s nothingpared to yours,¡± Lin Xian said, ncing at the radiant vampire before him. ¡°Your dancing talent is truly unparalleled¡ and it¡¯s not just your dancing skills.¡±
¡°Huh? What did you say?¡± CC leaned closer, shouting over the loud music. ¡°The music¡¯s too loud¡ªI couldn¡¯t hear you!¡±
¡°Nothing,¡± Lin Xian replied with a faint smile. ¡°I said you¡¯re a fantastic dancer.¡±
¡
The Halloween ball wrapped up close to midnight. As the clock¡¯s hands aligned at twelve, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t worried. After all, midnight here in the U.S. was only noon in X Country, meaning there was no risk of CC fading away.
However¡
While there was no risk of her disappearing, CC faced another kind of danger¡ªshe had drunk herself into a stupor. Slumped against Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, she drifted in and out of sleep, barely conscious.
¡°You,¡± Lin Xian muttered with a mix of amusement and exasperation, ¡°you really don¡¯t need to calcte the value of every meal like that anymore. Times have changed¡ªwe¡¯re not struggling now. You don¡¯t need to measure everything by whether it¡¯s worth it or not. Happiness and enjoying good food matter so much more than just filling your stomach.¡±
¡°You remind me of VV,¡± he added, chuckling. ¡°Always treating every meal like it¡¯s yourst.¡±
¡°VV?¡± CC mumbled, her bleary eyes barely opening.
¡°A dog,¡± Lin Xian replied.
¡°Oh,¡± CC murmured, losing interest immediately. She closed her eyes and fell back into a peaceful slumber.
Lin Xian supported her as they left the venue and hailed a cab to take them back to the Empire State Building hotel.
¡
At the entrance, they ran into Einstein and the mboyant ¡°Rainbow Punk.¡± Einstein, now covered in chalk dust but wearing a cheerful smile, seemed in high spirits after their earlier conversation.
The punk swaggered over, pping Lin Xian on the shoulder. ncing at the drunken CC, he smirked. ¡°Well, well, King Kong¡ªyou¡¯ve had quite a lucky night, haven¡¯t you?¡±
Lin Xian looked at the powder-free patch on the punk¡¯s hair and grinned. ¡°Rainbow Pony, any chance you could bless me with another rainbow?¡±
The punk burst into heartyughter, turning to Einstein. ¡°See? I told you I like this guy! What¡¯s his name again?¡±
¡°Dous,¡± Einstein answered with a smile.
¡°Perfect.¡± The punk shook Lin Xian¡¯s hand. ¡°Dous, we¡¯ll meet again. Einstein really admires you, so I¡¯m sure our paths will cross. Now, we¡¯ll leave you to enjoy your night.¡±
Einstein, now holding a wool felt hat handed to him by his driver, tipped it toward Lin Xian. ¡°Dous, November 5th¡ªI¡¯ll see you at the farm.¡±
With that, he climbed into the car, the driver shutting the door behind him. The vehicle disappeared into the stream of lights.
Lin Xian hailed a cab of his own, guiding the sleeping CC back to their hotel suite.
¡
From the moment they stepped out of the cab, CC didn¡¯t stir. She remained sound asleep, dead to the world like a true zombie. Fortunately, she was light, and Lin Xian had no trouble carrying her.
He gently ced her onto her bed, tucking her under the covers. After ensuring the windows were shut and the electric heater was on, he stepped out of the room, softly closing the door behind him.
¡°Goodnight, CC,¡± he whispered.
Thunk.
The wooden door clicked shut.
¡
¡
¡
Inside the bedroom, CC¡¯s eyes slowly fluttered open.
Frowning slightly, she exhaled a soft sigh through her nose.
¡°Hmph.¡±
She pouted briefly, then murmured, ¡°Goodnight.¡±
Chapter 509: The Universal Constant
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
The next morning, Lin Xian and CC sat in the living room, enjoying breakfast. The ck-and-white television in the corner yed the morning news.
¡°Your voice seems much better,¡± CC remarked, holding a sandwich with her fork while studying Lin Xian.
¡°It feels like it¡¯s back to normal,¡± Lin Xian replied, clearing his throat experimentally. It indeed sounded smoother. Perhaps the heat-induced inmmation had subsided, or maybe the traditional remedy of ¡°boiled egg in hot water¡± had genuinely worked.
¡°Hard to say if that¡¯s good news or bad,¡± he quipped with a wry smile.
His eyes wandered to the calendar, now flipped to November 1, 1952, thanks to CC¡¯s morning habit. Only four days remained until the November 5 meeting with Einstein at a farm in the Brooklyn suburbs.
The time itself wasn¡¯t the issue. Whether sooner orter didn¡¯t matter much. The real question was how to conceal his identity. He couldn¡¯t very well meet Einstein wearing a gori mask¡ªit would be too absurd. This wasn¡¯t Halloween every day, and while such a costume might fly at a party, visiting someone¡¯s home like that was another story. Besides, how could he exin it to Einstein without appearing suspicious?
Taking a small note from his pocket, Lin Xian handed it to CC. ¡°CC, could you check this address for me? Is it far from the orphanage you grew up in?¡±
CC, chewing thoughtfully, took the paper and nced at it. ¡°Not exactly close,¡± she replied. ¡°On the map, it might seem nearby, but it¡¯s at least five miles away.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn¡°This is Einstein¡¯s farm,¡± Lin Xian exined, setting down his utensils and leaning back in his chair. ¡°Starting around when you were twelve or thirteen, Einstein passed by your orphanage several times. His destination must have been this farm.¡±
CC pondered this, her brow furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± she said, handing the note back. ¡°If he nted or raised something there, visiting only three or four times a year seems far too infrequent. Even without direct involvement, farmers usually have plenty of tasks to oversee.¡±
¡°And if it¡¯s just a vacation retreat, there are far morefortable options. Besides, the regrity of his visits doesn¡¯t align with leisure trips.¡±
Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Exactly my thoughts. Einstein wasn¡¯t farming, raising livestock, or vacationing there¡ªhe had another purpose.¡±
¡°But it¡¯s pointless to specte now. I¡¯ll know the truth when I meet him on the 5th.¡±
Looking out the window, Lin Xian continued, ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful day. Want to go somewhere fun? Or shop for something? We could even check out another part of Manhattan.¡±
Suddenly, the news broadcast was interrupted. A cheerful news anchor appeared, her face brimming with pride and excitement.
¡°We have breaking, thrilling news to share!¡± she announced. ¡°At 2 a.m. this morning, November 1, the U.S. military sessfully tested a thermonuclear device named ¡®Mike¡¯ on Elugb Ind.¡±
¡°The test was a resounding sess. This hydrogen bomb, with a yield of 10 megatons of TNT,pletely leveled the ind.¡±
¡°This marks the world¡¯s very first hydrogen bomb¡ªa weapon vastly more powerful than any atomic bomb. Its development signifies the unparalleled strength of our military, surpassing every other nation on Earth!¡±
The anchor¡¯s jubnt report painted a scene of triumph, almost as if the Soviet Union would crumble tomorrow.
Lin Xian, observing from a broader historical perspective, knew the Soviets wouldn¡¯t remain tense for long. By 1953, they too would test their first hydrogen bomb, bing the second nation to achieve this feat. Around that time, the Eisenhower administration would unveil ns for nuclear retaliation, solidifying global nuclear deterrence.
The technological race during the Cold War was akin to a mythological epic, with each side relentlessly outpacing the other, sparing no resources. The pace was extraordinary.
¡°What a miraculous era,¡± Lin Xian mused. ¡°We¡¯ll never see such rapid advancements again.¡±
¡°Hydrogen bomb?¡± CC tilted her head curiously. ¡°10 megatons¡what does that even mean?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve heard of the atomic bomb used in World War II, right?¡± Lin Xian began.
CC nodded.
¡°That bomb had a yield of 20 kilotons of TNT. This hydrogen bomb¡¯s power is roughly 500 times greater.¡±
¡°500 times?!¡± CC¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°One atomic bomb destroyed an entire city¡ªthis hydrogen bomb could obliterate 500 cities?!¡±
Lin Xian chuckled softly. ¡°Not quite. The destruction doesn¡¯t scale that way, but its power is indeed much greater.¡±
By now, the anchor had finished her announcement and smiled at the audience. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll watch footage provided by the military. Prepare to witness this breathtaking spectacle!¡±
¡
Meanwhile, in Princeton, New Jersey, at 112 Mercer Street, Einstein sat on his sofa, watching the broadcast. The hydrogen bomb¡¯s development had been a closely guarded secret, so he, like the rest of the public, was learning about it only that morning.
Unlike the atomic bomb, which relied on nuclear fission, the hydrogen bomb harnessed nuclear fusion¡ªthe same process that powers the stars. It represented the raw, primal energy of the cosmos.
The television screen shifted from the anchor¡¯s spirited announcement to a distant view captured by a camera, positioned far across the sea. At first, the scene seemed nondescript, with nothing visible on the horizon.
Then it happened.
A blinding white sh tore through the screen.
A deafening explosion erupted.
The ground trembled violently.
A massive fireball surged into the sky, wing its way upward. The sound of the detonation followed secondster, apanied by a roaring shockwave that rattled the camera, shaking the image with a furious intensity. Simultaneously, the st¡¯s radiation struck the film, distorting the footage into a blizzard of stark, flickering white snow.
Gradually, the fireball dimmed, giving way to dense, rolling clouds of red smoke that spiraled high into the heavens.
And there it stood.
A colossal mushroom cloud rose, a dreadful monument bridging the earth and sky. It churned and twisted, expanding ever upwards, a grayish-red behemoth of destruction. Even as the footage concluded, the cloud continued to grow, resembling an ominous, swelling tumor against the horizon.
Einstein watched in a daze, struck by the sheer magnitude of the explosion. Yet his reaction wasn¡¯t one of fear or despair. Years ago, such a disy, vastly exceeding the destructive power of the atomic bomb, might have driven him into an abyss of hopelessness.
But not now.
His recent conversation with the young man named Dous lingered in his mind. It had sparked new thoughts, giving him hours of contemtion upon returning home. The ideas of nuclear deterrence, retaliation, and global stability suddenly felt pragmatic. Perhaps, Einstein mused, the emergence of such weapons could lead to a fragile but enduring peace. After all, as Dous had argued, greater destructive power fostered greater caution.
Still, Einstein wasn¡¯t merely reflecting on geopolitics. No, his trance-like state stemmed from something else¡ªthe inspiration ignited by the explosion itself. The chaotic shes of radiation and the shimmering snow of static on the film had awakened something long buried in his mind.
The cosmological constant.
In 1917, Einstein had introduced this term into his gravitational field equations while studying the universe¡¯s structure. It was meant to ount for a static universe with a nonzero matter density, and he described it as a proportional term with a minuscule value, represented by the symbol ?. The constant was so small it could be ignored even on a gctic scale.
Butter, experiments and further research revealed it was fundamentally wed. No matter the scenario, the constant failed to produce urate results. Einstein ultimately denounced it as his greatest blunder.
For years, he had abandoned any attempt to revisit the concept. To him, it was a mistake, an idea utterly devoid of validity.
But now¡
The flickering radiation on the screen, those endless,yered white specks, jolted his imagination. His thoughts began to spiral, connecting seemingly disparate ideas.
The universe¡ the constant¡
Perhaps the error wasn¡¯t with the constant itself but in how he had understood it.
Just like the fusion energy released by the hydrogen bomb¡ªenergy that originated from the tiniest collisions in the universe¡¯s most elementary building blocks¡ªit was the minute that gave rise to the monumental. Two atomic nuclei colliding, a negligible loss in the mass of a few quarks, yet from this minuscule change erupted energy capable of fueling stars and obliterating worlds.
The small and the vast.
Could it be that the cosmological constant, too, embodied this paradox?
¡°What is the true nature of the cosmological constant?¡± Einstein murmured, his brow deeply furrowed. ¡°Have I been wrong all these years?¡±
For the first time in decades, he felt a spark of rity, a sense of direction. The hydrogen bomb¡¯s explosion and its aftermath had stirred new possibilities in his mind.
¡°I need paper¡ and a pen¡ I need to calcte immediately!¡±
His breathing quickened. Turning abruptly, he dashed toward his study, the sound of his hurried steps echoing through the house as he collided with furniture and scattered objects in his wake. He didn¡¯t care. There was no time for distractions.
Bursting into his study, Einstein dropped into his chair, hastily spreading out sheets of paper before him. Grabbing a fountain pen, he began to write feverishly, the nib scratching across the page as forms and symbols poured out in a torrent of inspiration.
The winter morning was icy, yet beads of sweat trickled down his weathered face. His heart raced, a sensation he hadn¡¯t felt in years. The forms began to take shape under his gaze, his thoughtsser-focused on the problem that had once eluded him.
If the cosmological constant truly held a definitive value, what would that value be?
He would find out.
Soon.
Very soon.
¡
At the same time, in New York, Manhattan, inside a suite at the Empire State Building Hotel, a metallic tter broke the morning¡¯s stillness.
A silver fork slipped from CC¡¯s trembling hand, bounced twice on the New York Daily News spread on the coffee table, and finally rolled onto the plush wool carpet. Her breathing wasbored, her face as pale as a ghost.
Her wide eyes were fixed on the television screen, which disyed the horrific aftermath of the hydrogen bomb: the blinding white sh, the fiery explosion, the towering mushroom cloud climbing to the heavens. Her pupils quivered, her entire body trembling as if caught in an earthquake.
¡°CC!¡± Lin Xian immediately noticed her distress and rushed over to steady her. ¡°CC, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡±
CC took a deep breath, lowered her head, and whispered softly, ¡°Lin¡ Lin Xian, let¡¯s go back to Brooklyn. I don¡¯t want to stay in Manhattan anymore.¡±
¡°What?¡± Lin Xian asked, startled. ¡°Why? Haven¡¯t we been having a great time here?¡±
Her gaze returned to the screen, now showing grainy static oveid with flickers of light from the hydrogen bomb¡¯s detonation. The images depicted utter devastation: an ind vaporized, leaving behind a vast, hollow void as seawater poured in to fill the space.
Destruction.
Oblivion.
Nothingness.
It was as if these scenes mirrored the gnawing fear she¡¯d been suppressing¡ªthe fear that everything she now held dear was a fleeting dream. That, upon waking, all these things that didn¡¯t truly belong to her would vanish, just like the ind annihted by the bomb.
She shook her head slightly. It wasn¡¯t the thought of losing material possessions that frightened her. What terrified her most was the possibility of losing the one thing she treasured above all else.
¡°CC?¡± Lin Xian pressed gently when she remained silent. ¡°Wasn¡¯ting to Manhattan your dream? You¡¯ve only just begun living your Manhattan life¡ªwhy leave now?¡±
¡°We still have so much money,¡± he added, attempting to reassure her. ¡°You can do anything you want here¡ªopen a caf¨¦, a boutique, anything. Isn¡¯t that the kind of life girls dream of?¡±
CC turned to him, her voice calm but resolute. ¡°You¡¯re right, Lin Xian. These past few days in Manhattan have been the happiest, most wonderful days of my life.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Her lips quivered as she bit down softly. ¡°Just now, I realized something. None of this truly belongs to me. And I¡¯m afraid that having these things might mean losing something far more precious¡¡±
She shook her head again, as if trying to dispel the thought. Her voice trembled as she continued, ¡°Lin Xian, what makes me truly happy isn¡¯t Manhattan. It¡¯s you¡ªbeing with you.¡±
Lin Xian said nothing, understanding dawning in his eyes. He knew this feeling of hers, this restless unease. She had felt it before, that day in the movie theater. The image of the hydrogen bomb¡¯s cataclysmic explosion seemed to have awakened something in her¡ªa reminder of her humble beginnings as a girl from Brooklyn¡¯s poorest streets.
¡°I won¡¯t leave,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°I know what you¡¯re afraid of. You¡¯re still worried this is all just a dream, that when you wake up, I¡¯ll be gone. But it isn¡¯t, CC. This isn¡¯t a dream. This is real.¡±
Still, CC didn¡¯t reply or react. It was as if she had suddenly be overwhelmed by Manhattan itself¡ªthis bustling, morous metropolis that seemed poised to swallow her small, fragile world whole.
¡°Lin Xian¡ let¡¯s go back,¡± she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I want to go back to Brooklyn with you. Even if it¡¯s poorer, even if it¡¯s rundown, even if it has nothing¡ªno good food, no beautiful clothes. It doesn¡¯t matter¡¡±
She grasped the sleeve of his shirt tightly, as if clinging to thest piece of hope she had left. Her eyes met his, glistening with desperation.
¡°Brooklyn¡ is enough, as long as I have you.¡±
Chapter 510: Fireworks and the Clock Tower
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Lin Xian looked at CC without speaking.
Finally, he nodded.
¡°Alright then.¡±
He said no more, gently ruffled CC¡¯s soft hair, and smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Brooklyn.¡±
Perhaps for CC, these past few days had brought changes too overwhelming to process or believe. Lin Xian understood thispletely. When he first realized the dream world was a reflection of the real world 600 years into the future, he had felt the same resistance to epting it.
Just days ago, CC had been a poor girl from Brooklyn, living on the streets with nothing. Even catching a whiff of a hot dog had seemed like an unattainable luxury. But now, she had lived in Manhattan¡¯s tallest hotel, feasted on its finest cuisine, worn the most beautiful dresses, and attended its grandest balls.
Anyone experiencing such a drastic shift would feel disoriented, as if caught in a dream like Alice in Wondend. Add to that the tense Cold War era, with the looming threat of nuclear war. The blinding light of hydrogen bomb tests and towering mushroom clouds brought CC¡¯s thoughts back to harsh reality.
Lin Xian called for arge suitcase from the hotel staff. CC packed away all the clothes, jewelry, and other items she had bought during her time in Manhattan. She left no trace of her presence in that bustling and unfamiliar city.Then, they returned.
This time, their journey over the Brooklyn Bridge was vastly different. On their way to Manhattan, they had ridden a motorcycle in the night breeze, CC¡¯s white wedding dress billowing behind her. Now, they sat in a taxi, dressed impably in sophisticated attire.
The only imperfection was CC clutching Lin Xian¡¯s sleeve. She didn¡¯t let go until they were well past the bridge, as if finally relieved to leave Manhattan behind.
By three in the afternoon, they had checked into a small inn in Brooklyn Heights. The room wasn¡¯trge¡ªjust a 20-square-meter twin-bed standard room with two single beds, a set of chairs and a table, and a ck-and-white television. The conditions couldn¡¯tpare to Manhattan, but in Brooklyn, it was among the better amodations: clean and cozy.
CC loved the snug and homely environment. As soon as she entered, she flopped onto one of the beds with a cheerfulugh.
¡°See? I told you, small rooms like these feel cozier. Those huge rooms just make you feel insecure. As much as Manhattan is morous, I still prefer Brooklyn.¡±
Lin Xian smiled faintly and pushed her oversized suitcase into a corner before sitting on a chair. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your life¡¯s dream was to live in Manhattan? Giving up on that so soon?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not really giving up¡¡± CC hugged a pillow and sat up, looking at him. ¡°Dreams are meant to be fulfilled, aren¡¯t they? I¡¯ve already been to Manhattan, stood on top of the Empire State Building¡ªwhat¡¯s left to regret?¡±
Lin Xian opened the silver briefcase he had taken from the gang. Inside were bundles of cash¡ªthousands of crisp green bills, still untouched.
¡°Do you have anything else you want to do? Or anything you want?¡± he asked, gesturing to the money. ¡°We¡¯ve still got plenty to spend.¡±
¡°Do we have to spend it?¡± CC tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°We could save it forter. Life¡¯s still so long.¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Lin Xian hesitated.
¡°Life isn¡¯t that long anymore.¡±
It was already November. Though no one knew exactly when CC¡¯s 20th birthday was, it had to be soon¡ªperhaps in a few days, tomorrow, or even today. Yet she showed no signs of transforming into the Millennial Stake.
But that transformation might happen in an instant. Her life was already counting down.
Lin Xian had traveled to 1952 for this purpose: to witness this chapter of history and use it as a clue to save the Millennial Stake. He couldn¡¯t alter history. To ensure the kite string tethered to the timeline of 2234 remained intact, he could only watch as CC turned into blue star fragments, powerless to interfere.
It was the second time he¡¯d face the tragedy of a Millennial Stake girl disappearing before his eyes. The guilt weighed on him, deeply and sincerely.
So, the only thing he could do was act like a genie, granting CC¡¯s wishes and filling her final days with happiness and fulfillment.
¡°Don¡¯t worry; we won¡¯t run out,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile, patting the briefcase. ¡°We¡¯ve been living it up, and the money still hasn¡¯t decreased. Whatever dreams, wishes, or regrets you have, tell me, and I¡¯ll make them happen.¡±
CC smiled sweetly. ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯m already so happy. I don¡¯t feel like I have any regrets.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no rush,¡± Lin Xian replied, leaning back in his chair. ¡°We¡¯ve got time. Surely your dreams and regrets aren¡¯t limited to just visiting Manhattan?¡±
¡°Think of anything, big or small,¡± he added. ¡°This money¡¯s ill-gotten anyway¡ªbetter to spend it than to let it sit around.¡±
CC seemed to waver, nodding slightly in agreement before closing her eyes in thought.
Despite the happiness overflowing in her heart, a small voice whispered¡ªwas there anything she still longed for? Anything she regretted?
As she drifted through her memories, an old wish surfaced, one buried so deep she had almost forgotten it herself.
¡°Fireworks,¡± CC murmured softly.
A faint smile curled her lips, her face lighting up with crescent-shaped eyes and charming dimples. ¡°If I could really make a wish¡ I¡¯d love to see fireworks, just for me.¡±
For a moment, Lin Xian held his breath. Fireworks. He never expected to hear that word here and now. It felt as though history hadpleted a full circle.
Six hundred years into the future, CC had said the same thing. At the end of the Seventh Dreamscape, she had also expressed an obsession with fireworks. Lin Xian had jokingly asked her back then what birthday gift she¡¯d want if she ever made it to her 20th birthday. Without hesitation, she had replied, ¡°Fireworks. I¡¯ve always wanted fireworks just for me.¡±
Her answer had surprised him. The simplicity and dreamlike quality of her wish were unexpected, even for CC. She couldn¡¯t exin why either, only that the idea of fireworks had always stayed with her.
Later, Lin Xian learned that even Chu Anqing, another Millennial Stake, would mutter about fireworks in her sleep. Her dreamscape must have included a scene with fireworks as well. Now, it all seemed to make sense.
Whether it was Chu Anqing¡¯s dreams or CC¡¯s obsession, it all traced back to this moment in 1952. This first-generation CC was the origin of everything.
CC scratched her head,ughing. ¡°Am I being unreasonable? Honestly, I was just saying it offhand. I really do love fireworks, but I¡¯ve never had the chance to see a proper disy. In Brooklyn, nobody sets off fireworks.¡±
¡°Manhattan has them sometimes, but it¡¯s so far away. They look like tiny specks, barely visible. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve always dreamed of seeing fireworks just for me¡ªexploding right overhead, lighting up the entire sky around me.¡±
She sighed, her smile bittersweet. ¡°But as I got older, I realized it was just a silly, impossible dream, so I gave up on it. You only reminded me of it because you kept pushing me to think of my wishes.¡±
Lin Xian spread his hands, smiling. ¡°What¡¯s so hard about fireworks? That¡¯s probably the easiest wish to grant.¡±
¡°Really?!¡± CC¡¯s eyes sparkled.
¡°Of course.¡±
To Lin Xian, it seemed almostughable. What could possibly be difficult about arranging fireworks? With enough money, the sky could light up like day.
He stood up confidently. ¡°Since you¡¯ve said it, this genie of yours will make it happen. Don¡¯t worry¡ªtonight or tomorrow night, I¡¯ll prepare a fireworks show that will light up all of Brooklyn just for you.¡±
Without dy, they sprang into action. After a simple dinner, Lin Xian and CC began visiting shops, asking around for fireworks. However, they quickly ran into an issue.
In New York, the sale and use ofrge aerial fireworks were strictly prohibited. Small handheld fireworks could be freely bought and used, butrge-scale disys were tightly regted. It was likely due to safety concerns, given the many skyscrapers in the city.
Luckily, Lin Xian understood American culture well. In thisnd, the greatest superpower was money.
With a stack of crisp bills in hand, Lin Xian found a shopkeeper who had been adamant about the rules suddenly change his tone.
¡°Well, uh, you know, the ban isn¡¯tpletely enforced,¡± the shopkeeper said with a cough. ¡°Every year, people manage to set offrge fireworks disys. The cops are too busy to catch everyone.¡±
¡°And don¡¯t worry,¡± the shopkeeper assured, ¡°setting off fireworks is a personal activity. It won¡¯t bring any trouble to you. But, uh¡ the real problem is, we don¡¯t have any fireworks in stock.¡±
¡°Large-scale fireworks are much harder to regte,¡± he continued, ¡°but selling them? That¡¯s easy for the authorities to control. Nobody in New York dares to sell high-altitude fireworks. Most people drive out to Pennsylvania to buy them and bring them back.¡±
Lin Xian pped more bills into the man¡¯s hand. ¡°No problem. Just tell me¡ªhow soon can I have my fireworks?¡±
¡°Tomorrow night at thetest!¡± The shopkeeper thumped his chest in promise. ¡°With the money you¡¯re offering, I¡¯ll take every brother I¡¯ve got and load up our trucks. By dawn, we¡¯ll bring back as many fireworks as we can fit in every vehicle!¡±
¡°Tomorrow morning,e by and tell me the time and ce you want the disy. After that, you won¡¯t have to lift a finger. Just find the best spot to watch. We¡¯ll make sure every firework bursts in the sky, turning night into day!¡±
The deal was struck perfectly.
Lin Xian shook the shopkeeper¡¯s hand firmly. ¡°Reliable.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°Pleasure doing business!¡± the shopkeeper replied with a grin.
¡
Under the moonlit room, Lin Xian and CCy on their respective beds. CC twisted and turned, her excitement refusing to let her sleep. She rolled over, bundling herself tightly in her nket, and gazed at Lin Xian¡¯s back on the opposite bed.
¡°Lin Xian, you¡¯re so good to me. I don¡¯t even know how I could ever repay you,¡± she said softly.
¡°You don¡¯t need to repay me,¡± Lin Xian replied gently.
¡°But I must,¡± CC said, her eyes fixed on the silhouette of Lin Xian¡¯s head illuminated by the pale moonlight. ¡°I have to do something for you. You¡¯ve done so much for me¡ªhelped me fulfill so many dreams. And yet, I haven¡¯t been able to do anything for you.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Lin Xian responded, turning to face her. The moonlight cast a soft glow over CC¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve helped me in ways that I could never repay, not even in a lifetime.¡±
CC blinked, startled. ¡°Huh? What are you talking about, Lin Xian? We¡¯ve only known each other for a few days. I haven¡¯t helped you with anything, really.¡±
¡°Well, maybe on the first day, when you helped me escape and shared the church¡¯s free meals with me. If anything, I only painted a couple of big promises for you¡ªlike bringing you back a gift from space one day or using my long-held wish to hope you could be the savior you dream of being.¡±
¡°But those are just empty words. Don¡¯t take them seriously, okay?¡±
Lin Xian chuckled lightly and closed his eyes. ¡°Those promises, even if unfulfilled, are enough. They¡¯re precious.¡±
¡
The next day, November 2, 1952.
Lin Xian rose early, preparing to visit the fireworks shop and finalize arrangements with the owner.
¡°CC, are youing along?¡± he asked.
CC shook her head from thefort of her bed. ¡°I¡¯ll skip it. I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But don¡¯t wander off, okay? Stay here.¡±
After giving his instructions, he left the hotel and headed to the shop. The fireworks store owner was as reliable as promised. He excitedly told Lin Xian that he had worked overnight to bring in ten truckloads of fireworks from Pennsylvania. His ¡°devotees,¡± as he called them, were already standing by, ready to bombard Brooklyn with a grand disy that very night.
¡°Where would be the best ce to set off the fireworks?¡± Lin Xian asked.
The owner¡¯s professional suggestion was immediate. ¡°Brooklyn Heights Promenade is ideal. It¡¯s an open area by the river with no tall buildings obstructing the view. It also has ample space for the setup. For watching, you could find a rooftop nearby.¡±
Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. A rooftop nearby¡ What was Brooklyn¡¯s tallest building in 1952? His knowledge sifted through, settling on andmark: the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower.
The building had etched itself in Lin Xian¡¯s memory not from historical knowledge but from a popr animated film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A scene in the movie showed two Spider-Men hanging upside down on a clock tower overlooking Brooklyn¡¯s skyline. That iconic clock tower was the Williamsburg Savings Bank.
Viewing the fireworks from that rooftop would be a perfect experience. But it was a bank¡ªwould they even allow anyone up there at night?
¡°Best to ask first,¡± Lin Xian thought.
By midday, Lin Xian decided to return to the hotel to fetch CC for the adventure. He took a cab back and opened the door to their room, only to feel a jolt of shock freeze him in ce.
The room was empty.
CC was gone.
His entire body turned cold, as if plunged into an icy abyss. Could it be¡?
¡°CC!¡± he called out desperately, racing to fling open the bathroom door. Empty.
¡°CC!!¡± He yelled again, rushing into the corridor.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the stairwell. ¡°Coming! I¡¯m here, Lin Xian!¡± CC¡¯s hurried footsteps thudded on the stairs as she emerged, panting slightly.
¡°I¡ªI just couldn¡¯t sit still anymore while waiting for you. So I went out to wander around nearby,¡± she exined, smiling sheepishly.
Lin Xian heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°You scared me.¡±
¡°Why?¡± CC teased, grinning mischievously. ¡°Afraid I got lost? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve wandered Brooklyn for years. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±
Lin Xian checked the clock on the wall. It was 11:28 a.m. He realized he had overreacted¡ªthere was no way CC would simply disappear at this hour.
¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m taking you somewhere,¡± he said, leading her out.
After a short cab ride, the iconic clock tower of the Williamsburg Savings Bank came into view, its grandeur matching the scene from the movie. The building, also known as One Hanson ce, had been Brooklyn¡¯s tallest structure before other skyscrapers rose.
To his delight, Lin Xian learned that the tower weed visitors, even at night. A security guard exined that the building housed various offices, not just the bank, so ess was unrestricted. The guard even hinted that he would be on duty tonight. Lin Xian understood the implication and discreetly handed over a crisp Franklin bill to smooth things along.
¡°Come on, CC. Let¡¯s go up,¡± Lin Xian said, leading her to the elevator.
At the top, they stepped onto the tower¡¯s observation deck, greeted by a panoramic view of Brooklyn. Lin Xian leaned against the railing, pointing toward the Brooklyn Heights Promenade near the river.
¡°Tonight, when it¡¯s dark, the fireworks will light up there. From here, it¡¯ll be your own private, grand show,¡± he said, turning to CC.
But instead of rushing to the railing as he expected, CC stood still, her hands behind her back, staring at him quietly.
Lin Xian blinked, puzzled. ¡°Why aren¡¯t youing over? The view is great.¡±
CC shook her head gently, her expression suddenly serious and tinged with guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lin Xian.¡±
¡°Sorry?¡± Lin Xian was taken aback.
¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been hiding from you.¡± CC¡¯s voice was quiet but firm as she met his gaze.
Chapter 511: 42, Blue Eyes, and the Origin of Everything
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
On November 2, 1952, at precisely 12:37 PM, in a secluded house on Marshall Street, Princeton, Albert Einstein had gone without sleep for an entire day and night. For a man in his seventies, staying awake for over 24 hours was nothing short of a challenge to death itself.
Yet, he couldn¡¯t stop.
For the past 24 sleepless, foodless hours, Einstein remained seated at his desk in the study, motionless. The sound of a fountain pen scratching against paper echoed in the room as he scribbled furiously. Sheets of draft paper, already filled with calctions,y scattered across the floor. Even now, another piece fluttered to the ground, discarded from his desk.
¡°The¡ cosmological constant¡¡± Einstein murmured hoarsely, licking his dry, cracked lips that hadn¡¯t tasted water in hours.
He was overwhelmed with excitement.
Thrilled beyond measure.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined revisiting and making progress on a topic he had once proposed and dismissed.
His sharp eyes were glued to the lines of derivations on the paper before him.It was only yesterday, after witnessing the detonation of a hydrogen bomb, that a new idea, a revolutionary method of derivation, struck him. Before that moment, such thoughts had never crossed his mind.
Now, as he reviewed his calctions, everything seemed to fit. The cosmological constant, the concept he had once doubted, truly existed!
With this fresh approach, the calction process flowed smoothly, devoid of any obstacles. The beauty of the equations, their symmetry, and elegance assured Einstein of one thing: only a correct path could yield such exquisite precision.
It was unimaginable.
He might actually be on the brink of calcting the cosmological constant!
¡°What could the value of the cosmological constant be?¡± he whispered.
Tossing aside yet another sheet filled with equations, he began anew on a fresh page, advancing his derivations step by step.
Closer.
Closer.
The equations grew ever more concise, and the final result seemed imminent. What was the cosmological constant? What did it signify? What unique power did it hold? Questions that had haunted him for half his life might soon find answers.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Closer.
Closer.
The pen¡¯s scratching sound filled the room as Einstein¡¯stest draft quickly filled with calctions. Only one corner of the page remained nk, and there, the ultimate equation, now simplified to its purest form, awaited resolution.
Einstein¡¯s breath quickened.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
¡°A¡ whole number?¡±
Though the exact answer wasn¡¯t yet written, he had already calcted it mentally. The cosmological constant, astonishingly, was an integer!
¡°No, that¡¯s impossible!¡±
A wave of panic washed over him.
ording to his original hypothesis, the cosmological constant should have been an infinitesimal number, so small it was negligible even on a gctic scale. It should have approached zero¡ªinfinitely close to nothing.
But now¡
Why was it an integer?
¡°Could I have made a mistake?¡±
Shaking his head, Einstein instantly dismissed the notion.
The calctions had progressed too wlessly, as if guided by inevitability itself. There could be no error.
Even if the result defied conventional wisdom.
Mathematics, after all, was absolute. The answer had to be correct.
Tossing aside the current draft, Einstein inhaled deeply and focused on a fresh sheet of paper.
Lifting his pen, he poised its tip over the nk surface.
With two quick strokes, he wrote the final value of the cosmological constant:
42.
Buzz~~~~~
The instant his pen left the paper, the space behind him began to ripple, as if a stone had been dropped into a pond. Waves of distortion radiated outward, apanied by a high-pitched hum that seemed to slice through the air.
Then, without warning, two apple-sized, crackling blue electric orbs emerged from the rift. Their azure glow filled the room, painting everything in shades of eerie blue.
Einstein, sensing something amiss, spun around abruptly.
But it was toote.
One of the glowing orbs darted toward him with blinding speed. In the blink of an eye, it fused into his chest, silent and seamless.
Boom¡
Einstein¡¯s mind exploded with a singrity of light, engulfed in pure whiteness. His vision faded to nothingness; every thought vanished, reced by an all-consuming void. His body went limp, his eyes rolled back, and he copsed, unconscious. His head struck the desk,nding squarely on the draft paper where the number 42 was scrawled.
The second blue orb didn¡¯t linger.
With calcted precision, it zipped out of the house in a series of bright shes, heading eastward into the sky¡ª
¡
At the same time¡
On the rooftop of the Williamsburg Savings Bank clock tower, Lin Xian leaned against the railing, locking eyes with CC just a few steps away.
Below them, out of sight, the massive clock face ticked steadily. The hour hand strained toward one, the minute hand had just passed eight, and the second hand circled tirelessly, fulfilling its unending duty.
A brisk winter wind swept across the open tform above the clock, stirring the hems of Lin Xian and CC¡¯s clothes.
¡°You lied to me?¡± Lin Xian blinked in mild surprise.
¡°About what?¡±
CC sped her hands behind her back, shifting uneasily.
¡°Do you remember the first time we met? When you stole that newspaper from the little ck kid and asked me to pay for it, only for us to realize I didn¡¯t have any money either, so we both had to run away?¡±
Lin Xian nodded.
¡°Of course, I remember. That was when I¡¯d just arrived in Brooklyn. I didn¡¯t know anyone or anything, so I swiped a newspaper to get my bearings.¡±
¡°But we resolved that, didn¡¯t we? Later, after earning some money at the balloon stand, we went straight to find that kid and paid him back for the newspaper. We even gave him extra, and he seemed pretty happy about it.¡±
¡°So, what exactly did you lie about? I don¡¯t get it. You didn¡¯t have any money on you at the time, so even if you wanted to help pay for the newspaper, you couldn¡¯t. That¡¯s why we ran.¡±
CC bit her lip and looked up, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s gaze.
¡°That¡¯s what I need to apologize for, Lin Xian. I lied back then. The truth is¡¡±
¡°I did have money. I just didn¡¯t want to use it.¡±
She paused, hesitating before continuing.
¡°When the orphanage grandma passed away, she knew the ce would close down, and the kids would be sent away. She worried about us, especially the older ones like me. Families might adopt the younger kids because they¡¯re small, cute, and easier to grow attached to. But teenagers like me? No family wants to take in someone my age. For kids like me, the only road ahead was the streets.¡±
¡°Grandma was scared for us older kids. Before she passed, she called each of us to her bedside and gave us advice¡ªtold us to stay safe, avoid bad people, know right from wrong, be kind, and never stray into crime.¡±
¡°At the very end¡ she gave each of us twenty dors. It was thest money she had. She said the war had taken her husband and children, and she¡¯d leave this world with nothing but her worries for us. She called it ¡®emergency money.¡¯ Money to keep us from starving on the streets.¡±
¡°She made us promise we¡¯d never spend it unless we absolutely had no other choice. It was her final way of helping us.¡±
¡°For all these years, I¡¯ve kept that twenty dors stitched into the pocket of my undershirt. I¡¯ve never touched it¡ªnot once. No matter how hungry, desperate, or hopeless I felt, I never dared to even think about using it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never been sure what counts as an ¡®absolute emergency¡¯¡ªbut I¡¯ve always been too scared to spend it. That twenty dors feels more important than life itself.¡±
CC stepped closer, her voice softening.
¡°So, Lin Xian¡ that day we first met, I lied to you. I did have money. I could¡¯ve pulled out some change to help you pay for the newspaper. But¡ I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s been weighing on me all this time. You¡¯ve done so much for me, been so good to me, taken care of me in every way, and made sure all my dreamse true.¡±
¡°Even when you got money, your first thought was me. You spent almost all of it on me. And yet¡¡±
Her voice trembled as she looked down, biting her lip.
¡°And yet, when it was my turn, I couldn¡¯t even spare two cents to help you. I¡¯ve felt so guilty about it ever since.¡±
Hearing her confession, Lin Xian exhaled in relief.
So that was it?
All this tension and nervousness, and it turned out to be something so minor.
¡°This is nothing,¡± Lin Xian said with a chuckle.
¡°It¡¯s such a small thing, not worth mentioning. And honestly, Ipletely understand why you did what you did. Back on October 28, we¡¯d just met. We didn¡¯t even know each other. We were total strangers.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not Jesus, and you¡¯re not the Virgin Mary. Why would you use the emergency money your grandma left you to help a stranger? It wouldn¡¯t make any sense.¡±
¡°Now that we¡¯re friends, of course, helping each other out is natural. But back then? I was just some guy who stole a newspaper. No one in their right mind would spend their own money to help me.¡±
¡°Honestly, even if it were me in your position, I probably would¡¯ve done the same thing. It¡¯s justmon sense. So there¡¯s nothing for you to feel guilty about, CC. The fact that you helped me run and shared the church¡¯s free meal with me was more than enough.¡±
Lin Xianpletely understood CC¡¯s decision.
This scrappy girl from Brooklyn had learned to calcte every move, make every penny count, and stretch every dor as far as it could go.
Why would she risk spending her grandma¡¯s emergency money to help a stranger? There was no fault in her choice.
¡°Well, that may be true¡¡±
Hearing that Lin Xian didn¡¯t me her, CC¡¯s tone lightened, and her familiar smile returned to her face.
¡°But you¡¯ve been so good to me. I need to repay you somehow!¡±
¡°Even if you don¡¯t me me for the newspaper incident, I can¡¯t just ept your kindness without doing something in return. So¡ that¡¯s why I deliberately didn¡¯t go with you to see the fireworks shop owner this morning.¡±
She nced at Lin Xian, mischief in her eyes.
¡°As soon as you left the inn, I got up, washed up, and went to Brooklyn Heights¡¯mercial street.¡±
¡°Why did you go there?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled.
CC giggled and took another step forward, narrowing the distance between their eyes to less than half a meter.
¡°Do you remember the day you took me to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade? On the way, you stared at the watch store window for a long time. You said you really needed a watch and even mentioned you used to wear Rolexes.¡±
¡°Now that you¡¯ve got more money and can buy whatever you want, I thought the one thing I could give you, the one thing youck right now, is a watch.¡±
For the first time, CC brought her hands out from behind her back.
In her delicate right palm rested a white square gift box. She held it carefully with both hands and extended it toward Lin Xian¡¯s chest.
¡°I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t afford a Rolex. The money I had¡ was just enough to buy the cheapest watch there.¡±
Lin Xian stared at the tiny box, his breath catching in his throat.
Twenty dors.
He remembered clearly¡ªthe cheapest watch in that store cost exactly twenty dors.
Twenty dors, CC¡¯s everything, the life-saving money her grandmother had left her, was now gone. She had spent it all to buy him a watch.
Lin Xian reached out, his arm trembling.
Even though he now had enough money to buy a hundred Rolexes or even the most expensive watch in the world, none of them could weigh as heavily as the twenty-dor watch before him.
¡°Eh?¡±
CC suddenly looked past Lin Xian, her eyes wide with surprise.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
She blinked, certain she wasn¡¯t imagining things.
A small blue orb of light, like a cannonball, was speeding toward them.
It was impossibly fast.
In the blink of an eye, it was right behind Lin Xian.
¡°Huh?¡±
Lin Xian froze, trying to turn around to see what was behind him¡ª
¡°Lin Xian, watch out!¡±
CC¡¯s face went pale.
She used all her strength to push Lin Xian aside, throwing herself in the path of the ¡°blue cannonball¡± instead.
¡°CC!¡± Lin Xian shouted.
He watched helplessly as the orb¡ªa spacetime particle¡ªcollided with CC.
It wasn¡¯t just an orb. It was charged with violent electricity, glowing with an eerie blue light, radiating both energy and life.
The spacetime particle brushed past Lin Xian¡¯s ear as he stumbled, only to be intercepted by CC, who dove forward. The particle plunged straight into her body.
In an instant, CC¡¯s body turned an ethereal, transparent blue, almost blending into the blue sky behind her.
¡°CC!¡±
Lin Xian scrambled to his feet, reaching out to catch her.
But his hands grasped at nothing.
CC¡¯s entire form had be intangible, like air. No matter how much he reached, he couldn¡¯t touch her.
¡°Lin Xian¡¡± CC¡¯s voice trembled as she stared at him, her gaze fixated.
¡°Your eyes¡¡±
Lin Xian turned toward the nearby ss, catching his reflection.
His pupils¡ªonce a deep ck¡ªhad turned a brilliant, glowing blue, sparkling like gxies. They were identical to Yellow Finch¡¯s eyes.
At the same time, his face began to change.
His cheekbones rose. His sharp face became square and rugged. His nose grew taller, and his eye sockets deepened.
Spacetime rejection.
The dreaded spacetime rejection was happening.
Thews of spacetime, the spacetime particle, the Millennial Stake, the blue eyes¡ªLin Xian immediately understood what was going on.
¡°CC!!¡±
He spun around.
But all he saw was¡ª
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
CC¡¯s nearly transparent body dissolved into a burst of stardust, scattering like sand in the wind.
¡°CC!¡± Lin Xian lunged forward, his hands wing desperately at the air, but he caught nothing.
The stardust floated further and further away until it vanished into nothingness.
Thud.
The white gift box containing the twenty-dor watch fell to the ground and popped open, the watch tumbling out.
Lin Xian lowered his head, staring at the slightly crude watch face.
The hour, minute, and second hands pointed to a familiar time¡ª
12:42.
Converted to Dragon Country¡¯s time, it was exactly 00:42.
¡°Ah¡¡±
Lin Xian clenched his fists, his heart breaking.
Inside the white gift box, he noticed a folded piece of handwritten paper, faint ck ink showing through the folds.
His heart pounded as chaos swirled in his mind.
Suppressing the storm of emotions within him, Lin Xian picked up the note and unfolded it.
The handwriting was delicate, the words yful:
¡°Starting tomorrow, daylight saving time ends. Don¡¯t forget to set your watch back an hour~¡±
Thud.
Lin Xian punched the ground, gripping his head as chills coursed through his body.
He had seen it all too clearly¡ª
The spacetime particle that had turned CC into stardust wasn¡¯t meant for her.
If CC hadn¡¯t pushed him aside, the particle would have hit him instead.
¡°Which means¡¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s voice trembled.
He realized, even his voice was no longer his own. The spacetime rejection had altered his appearance and even his voice, leaving him entirely unrecognizable.
¡°The one who should have been hit by that spacetime particle, the one who should have turned into a Millennial Stake, the one who should have dissolved into stardust¡¡±
Lin Xian took a deep, shuddering breath, his teeth clenched tight.
¡°¡was me.¡±
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Chapter 512: Life
This novel is tranted and hosted on Bcatrantion
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
¡
Brilliant, multicolored fireworks burst across the Brooklyn sky, painting it in radiant hues. This unprecedented disy captivated every passerby, halting them mid-step. They tilted their heads upward, marveling at the spectacle, eximing:
¡°It¡¯s so beautiful! I¡¯ve never seen so many fireworks before!¡±
¡°Who could be setting off such a massive disy in Brooklyn? Isn¡¯t this kind of thing restricted?¡±
¡°Maybe some rich kid¡¯s trying to impress a girl, haha. Lucky us! We get to enjoy it for free!¡±
It was the night of November 2, 1952.
The entire Brooklynmunity seemed transfixed, their eyes reflecting the explosion of dazzling colors lighting up the sky. Yet amidst the awe and wonder, one figure stood apart.He didn¡¯t look up.
He turned his back to the sky.
Walking aimlessly along the Brooklyn streets, away from the riverbank where the fireworks exploded, was a man in ck. Lin Xian wore a ck woolen hat pulled low over his face, obscuring most of it. Perhaps he was the only person in Brooklyn not mesmerized by the grand disy above.
Those fireworks¡ they were meant for CC.
The cheerful girl who loved hot dogs had dreamed of this very moment. But she wasn¡¯t here to see it. She never got the chance to live her dream, never got to witness this breathtaking show meant for her.
Children dashed past Lin Xian, theirughter and shouts echoing through the streets. They jumped and skipped with excitement, their faces lit with joy as they pointed at the dazzling sky.
If CC were still alive;
If CC hadn¡¯t be a Millennial Stake;
If CC hadn¡¯t dissolved into blue stardust¡
She, too, would be among the children, standing on tiptoes, pointing at the sky, her cheeks dimpling with a sweet smile, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
But fate had other ns.
Just a little more time¡ just a few more hours¡
The [fireworks], once a symbol of joy, had now be CC¡¯s regret¡ªa longing that spanned 600 years through the corridors of time.
Lin Xian finally understood it all.
Zhao Ying Jun had been right all along¡ª
[All the dreams of the Millennial Stakes are fragments of the same story¡ªpieces of the life of the first Stake, CC.]
In Zhang Yu Qian¡¯s videotape, CC had awakened abruptly and mentioned a series of keywords: white light, burning, mushroom clouds, 1952, newspaper, Einstein. That scene had been a dream fragment of November 1, the morning when Lin Xian and CC were at the Empire State Building Hotel, watching television.
On the TV was footage of a hydrogen bomb test. The conversation revolved around Einstein, with a copy of thetest New York Daily lying on the coffee table. The mushroom cloud from the hydrogen bomb had left a deep impression on CC, enough to transform it into a recurring nightmare for Zhang Yu Qian centuriester.
And in CC¡¯s own dreams, 600 yearster, she had seen blue-eyed Lin Xian.
For a long time, Lin Xian had thought that a ¡°blue-eyed version of himself¡± was an impossibility, a contradiction to thews of spacetime. Yet, against all odds, at the very instant the first Millennial Stake was driven into ce and the temporalws began to solidify, such a figure had appeared.
CC, translucent and panicked, had seen him¡ªblue-eyed Lin Xian¡ªthe final image of her 20-year-old life. It was seared into her memory and became the foundation of her dream.
As for Chu An Qing¡¯s dreams, the exnation was simpler.
The fireworks¡ her longing for them.
The spectacle she¡¯d yearned to see since childhood.
A show tantalizingly close, yet forever out of reach.
Perhaps this was the first Stake, CC¡¯s deepest desire¡ªand her greatest sorrow.
¡
The sound of Lin Xian¡¯s solitary footsteps echoed in the still night, a stark contrast to the lively celebrations around him. He wandered through the cold streets without purpose, unsure where he was or where he was headed. It felt as though every corner of Brooklyn had once held CC¡¯s presence, but now, she was nowhere to be found.
Above, the vibrant fireworks continued to explode in bursts of light and sound. The sheer quantity¡ªten truckloads¡¯ worth¡ªwould take a long time to exhaust. The booming cacophony seemed endless.
Walking under the canopy of fleeting light, Lin Xian¡¯s mind churned with thoughts about the Millennial Stakes.
Moments earlier, he had unraveled the mystery of the dreams. Yet that rity only gave rise to deeper, more perplexing questions¡
What was certain now was this:
On November 2, 1952, at precisely 12:42 PM American time, the first Millennial Stake was hammered into the river of time.
Though it remained unverified, Lin Xian suspected this moment marked CC¡¯s 20th birthday. He had no evidence, only intuition.
From that moment, history became ¡°locked,¡± the temporalws took effect, and Lin Xian¡¯s appearance began to change. His eyes turned a striking azure blue.
Earlier, he had caught a glimpse of himself in a storefront window. What stared back was an unfamiliar man¡ªa stranger mimicking his movements and posture, their gazes meeting.
This man was Lin Xian after temporal divergence. Yet he struggled to ept this new face as his own. It felt alien and detached.
Though his height and build remained unchanged, his facial features had been drastically altered. His deep-set eyes, prominent cheekbones, and chiseled jawline gave him the appearance of a North European blend. Even his square face and faint chin dimple emphasized his Western look.
Only his ck hair and yellow-toned skin hinted at his Asian origins. But overall¡ no one would think he was a native of Long Country.
Lin Xian theorized that the world, and its spacetime, had transformed the moment the first Stake was driven. From that instant, it had be the world he now knew.
Whether he could dream of future realities was yet another question. He suspected he could¡ªan idea he would test when he fell asleep tonight.
For now, his thoughts were chaotic.
From a broader perspective, Lin Xian had uncovered several truths about the Millennial Stakes:
The Millennial Stakes indeed served to lock history. Once history was locked, temporalws would activate, triggering spacetime anomalies.
The Millennial Stakes were undoubtedly man-made. Though the identity of the ¡°man¡± remained unclear, spacetime particles couldn¡¯t appear or target someone without deliberate intervention.
The selection of the Millennial Stakes seemed to follow some rules, yet it didn¡¯t matter who was chosen. At least based on the trajectory of the spacetime particle earlier, the first target wasn¡¯t CC¡ªit was him.
These three facts had been confirmed through observation and reasoning.
However, beyond these conclusionsy three unanswered questions:
Who drove the first Millennial Stake, and for what purpose?
Where did the spacetime particlee from, and why did it appear at that precise moment?
If CC hadn¡¯t pushed him aside, and the spacetime particle had struck him instead, what would have happened?
The first two questions offered no leads for now. But the third¡
It was clear.
The spacetime particle had been aimed at him from the start. If it had struck, he would likely have been the one to dissolve into a Millennial Stake.
¡°So¡ CC saved me.¡±
Lin Xian clenched his fists.
¡°CC took the hit for me. She became the Millennial Stake in my ce.¡±
He stopped walking and lifted his gaze toward the slowly rising moon.
This was the closed loop.
It was both the beginning and the end; the cause and the effect. Even his journey back to 1952 fit into this loop.
Earlier, he had discussed the model of worldlines with Liu Feng. Simply put, it was like a tree¡ªone trunk splitting into thousands, millions, even billions of branches, each representing a different temporal curvature or timeline.
Without a doubt:
The spacetime and history before November 2, 1952, were the trunk, the source of all branching timelines.
Even if he hadn¡¯t traveled back to 1952, it wouldn¡¯t have stopped spacetime from continuing to diverge. Because¡
He was merely one branch among billions. Merely one Lin Xian among countless others.
On any of those billions of worldlines, as long as one version of Lin Xian traveled back to 1952, it would trigger the same historical loop, driving the formation of the Millennial Stakes and locking history from that point onward.
The trunk needed only one root.
Branches could break, wither, or disappear¡ªit didn¡¯t matter.
For now, detailed theorizing would have to wait until he learned more truths and returned to 2234. But Lin Xian had already resolved himself.
No matter who drove the Millennial Stakes, no matter their purpose¡
He would uncover the truth.N?v(el)B\\jnn
He would uproot everything.
And he would save all the Millennial Stake girls.
With a final resounding burst, thest firework bloomed in Brooklyn¡¯s night sky. The grand disy, which hadsted over ten minutes, finally ended, and calm returned to the city.
The bustling noise of the streets grew clearer again. In a nearby alley, the sounds of scuffling and mockingughter pierced the quiet:
¡°Little Johnny! Stealing so little money today? You trying to get yourself killed?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. I couldn¡¯t¡ªahhh!¡±
The cries of a child caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention. He nced around, realizing he had wandered into an unfamiliar area. Judging by the surroundings, he was likely between Brooklyn Heights and the slums.
Brooklyn at night was chaotic and unsafe, with cruelty lurking around every corner.
With his hands in his coat pockets, Lin Xian¡¯s fingers brushed against the white square gift box containing the $20 watch. It was CC¡¯s gift to him¡ªbought with her entire savings, money she had refrained from spending for years.
He hadn¡¯t worn the watch. It felt unbearably heavy, a weight his wrist couldn¡¯t bear.
Tomorrow marked the start of Standard Time.
America¡¯s Daylight Saving Time would end on the first Sunday of November.
This detail¡ he knew he would never forget it.
From the alley, the sound of blows grew louder.
It seemed a few grown men were beating a boy in his early teens, who cried and begged pitifully.
Normally, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t concern himself with such things.
But he couldn¡¯t help thinking¡
In the past, CC had roamed the streets as a vagrant.
Was she ever bullied?
The moment such a thought crossed Lin Xian¡¯s mind, he couldn¡¯t ignore the situation. To him, every child wandering the streets of Brooklyn now carried a fragment of CC¡¯s shadow.
He turned toward the direction of the cries and ventured into the dark alley.
Around the corner, he saw three men,ughing cruelly as they viciously kicked a boy curled on the ground, his arms wrapped around his head in a futile attempt to protect himself. The boy had yellow-toned skin and ck hair, and his English, heavily ented with a clear Long Country inflection, was clumsy and broken.
A Chinese boy.
Lin Xian noted the boy, called ¡°Little Johnny¡± by his attackers, was dressed in tattered clothing resembling rags. Blood seeped from wounds on his mouth and arms, evidence of the relentless beating. Covered in dirty shoe prints, the boy cowered, making no effort to resist, as if too terrified to defy them.
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ I¡¯m sorry¡ I¡¯m sorry¡¡±
The boy repeated his apologies weakly amidst sobs, but the men only became more amused, showing no signs of stopping. One of them raised his foot to aim another brutal kick at the boy¡¯s head¡ª
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
The leader¡¯s hat flew off his head,nding on the ground.
All three attackers froze, their eyes wide with shock, and turned to see a tall man dressed in ck standing at the alley¡¯s entrance. Lin Xian held a smoking pistol in his right hand.
Bang! Bang!
Two more gunshots cracked through the air. With precise efficiency, Lin Xian sent the other two men¡¯s hats tumbling to the ground. The speed and precision of his shots left no time for them to react.
He raised his head, his piercing blue eyes locking onto the three men.
¡°Leave.¡±
His voice was soft but carried the chilling finality of death¡¯s whisper.
¡°R-run! Run!¡±
Panic overtook the men as they stumbled over themselves to flee the alley.
The boy, trembling, picked himself off the ground, his wide eyes darting between the fleeing attackers and Lin Xian. Gathering his courage, he bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
¡°Thank you, sir! Thank you for saving me!¡±
Lin Xian switched to Chinese, asking, ¡°Are you from Long Country?¡±
The boy froze, surprised, before quickly switchingnguages.
¡°Sir, are you¡ are you mixed-race?¡±
His dialect wasn¡¯t standard Mandarin but a heavy northern ent, confirming Lin Xian¡¯s guess.
¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian answered dismissively, not offering further exnation. His altered appearance, due to the spacetime anomaly, made him look foreign, so iming to be mixed-race was the simplest response.
¡°Why were they attacking you?¡±
Lin Xian¡¯s deep voice, now alien to himself, carried an edge of authority.
The boy brushed dirt off his tattered clothes and spoke hesitantly, his tone filled with grievance.
¡°They¡ they force me to steal things! To pickpocket wallets from others!¡±
¡°When I was little, Long Country was at war. My parents took me on a boat to escape to America, but they both passed away not long after we arrived. My father was beaten to death, and my mother died from illness. Since then, I¡¯ve been living on the streets in Brooklyn.¡±
¡°Those men caught me and made me steal money for them. If I didn¡¯t steal enough, or if I failed, they¡¯d beat me like this. Many times, I¡¯ve been beaten unconscious.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t escape them. I have no choice but to do what they say¡¡±
Lin Xian looked at the boy¡¯s battered face, bloodied mouth, and malnourished frame. He was no older than 14, his back slightly hunched, a testament to years of hardship and hunger. The boy¡¯s story was painfully simr to CC¡¯s¡ªboth trapped in cruel, unforgiving lives.
¡°They call you Little Johnny?¡±
¡°Yes!¡± The boy nodded quickly. ¡°Everyone calls me Little Johnny. You can call me that too, sir!¡±
Lin Xian said nothing. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a bundle of hundred-dor bills, cing it into the boy¡¯s hands.
Little Johnny stared, wide-eyed.
¡°Sir! This¡ what are you doing?¡±
¡°Take it,¡± Lin Xian said, straightening his posture and readjusting his hat. He slid his cooled pistol back into his pocket.
¡°If you don¡¯t want to keep getting beaten, leave this ce. Learn a trade. Start a new life.¡±
¡°In this cruel era, no one will help you. If you want to survive, you must grow stronger yourself.¡±
With those words, Lin Xian turned and walked away.
Little Johnny remained frozen in shock, staring at the crisp, green bills in his hands, then back at the retreating figure of the blue-eyed man. He couldn¡¯t stop reying the scene in his mind¡ªhow effortlessly this man had driven away the attackers with just a few gunshots. Strong,posed, and elegant.
¡°This¡ this is what it means to be truly remarkable!¡±
Determination shed in Little Johnny¡¯s eyes as he clenched his fists. Without hesitation, he began to run after Lin Xian.
Chapter 513: Little Johnny
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Little Johnny
Little Johnny rubbed his aching knee, gritting his teeth as he chased to the mouth of the alley. But as he peered ahead, he realized¡ the tall gentleman who had just saved him had already disappeared, walking into avishly decorated hotel.
He stood there, silent for a long moment, before deciding to follow.
¡
The hour was growingte.
Lin Xian stepped into the hotel and approached the front desk to check in.
The dissolution of the first-generation CC stake was undeniably tragic and heartbreaking. Yet, after his emotions settled, he understood it was an unchangeable fate. It was, after all, the very reason he had traveled back to 1952.
Only by witnessing the formation of a millennial stake firsthand could he deduce its true origin and, in turn, find a way to save CC, Chu An Qing, and all the millennial stakes.Now, it was time to proceed with the next step of his n: confirming whether he could still dream.
After selecting a room andpleting the registration, Lin Xian signed the name ¡°Dous¡± in the hotel ledger.
The clerk nced at his name, then handed him a key card and a note with both hands. ¡°Mr. Dous, here is your key card. Please use the elevator just over here.¡±
The service at this high-end hotel was impable, with a staff member personally escorting Lin Xian to his room.
Once inside, Lin Xian shut the door behind him. He took off his coat and hung it neatly on the rack before turning to survey the room.
Quiet. Silent. Empty.
No chattering CC. No figure sprawled across the bed, legs swinging. No Brooklyn girl marveling at the luxurious furnishings.
At this moment, Lin Xian deeply felt the weight of CC¡¯s words:
¡°This room really is too big.¡±
He reached into his pocket, retrieving a small, square white gift box. Setting it on the table, he opened it to reveal a silver wristwatch worth twenty dors.
The hour and minute hands still ticked steadily, though the winding mechanism needed a turn. Each twist of the knob felt like a twist in his nerves, amplifying the hollowness of 1952 Brooklyn¡ªa ce vast and cold.
After winding the watch, the time read 12:12 a.m. He unfolded a wrinkled note inside the box, the handwriting unmistakably CC¡¯s:
¡°Remember, daylight saving time ends tomorrow. Don¡¯t forget to set your watch back an hour~¡±
It was already past midnight¡ªNovember 3, 1952. Daylight saving time had officially ended, ushering in standard time.
Lin Xian pulled the knob and turned the hands back counterclockwise, setting the watch to 11:12 p.m. of the previous day.
But s, while the clock hands could move backward, time itself could not. Adjusting the dial was merely self-deception, incapable of changing anything, much like the unyielding grip of history.
Clutching the watch tightly, Lin Xian thought to himself, This is the only thing CC left me¡ªthe sole mark she left in this world.
¡°I have to find a way to take this watch back with me,¡± he murmured.
But that presented a new challenge.
Returning the watch to 2024 would have been a matter of a few decades, with plenty of viable methods; many buildings and institutions still existed.
But 2024 was no longer an option.
The kite string now tethered to the back of his head connected him to the year 2234¡ªnearly 300 years away.
Three centuries was enough time to corrode the Brooklyn Bridge, topple the Williamsburg Savings Bank Clock Tower, and erase the Empire State Building from existence.
Three hundred years was an eternity. Anything from 1952 was unlikely to survive such a span. Even if he buried the watch in a pit now, there was no guarantee it wouldn¡¯t be unearthed by future developments.
So¡
How can I ensure this watch makes it to 2234 intact?
Lin Xian racked his brain, desperate for a foolproof solution. cing the watch back in its gift box, he undressed and headed for the bathroom.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
The day¡¯s fatigue washed away under the warm stream of water. He yawned, a wave of drowsiness overtaking him.
It was time to sleep and see what dreams mighte.
After drying himself off and changing into his sleepwear, he switched off the lights andy on his side, closing his eyes to drift into slumber.
¡
¡
The soft sound of the summer wind¡
The familiar warmth¡
Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open to the sight of yellow sand and crumbling ruins.
¡°Just as I thought¡ªmy ability to dream has returned.¡±
He recognized this environment at once: it was the Ninth Dreamscape, a ce he had traversed countless times.
He rushed to a previous excavation site and unearthed an old friend¡ªthe ¡°Micro Nuclear Battery Motorcycle.¡±
Nothing had changed. This was the same familiar dreamscape, the same 0.0001764 worldline.
¡°It seems everything is back to normal.¡±
Lin Xian started the motorcycle and sped toward the underground hibernation chamber base where Mai Mai awaited.
Just as he had hoped, the first millennial stake had been driven into ce, and with it, his dreamscape returned to its natural state. Everything was now on track.
But what had triggered this shift? Why was he suddenly able to dream of the future again?
¡°Could it be¡ that spacetime particle grazing my ear?¡±
It was the only usible exnation, though he couldn¡¯t be certain.
This journey to 1952 had proven far more enigmatic than he had anticipated. What began as a quest for truth now raised even more questions.
¡°I¡¯ll need to delve further into the mysteries of spacetime particles and Einstein,¡± he resolved.
For now, his first main mission¡ªwitnessing the first millennial stake¡ªwasplete. The next mission would focus on Einstein.
Two days remained until their scheduled meeting on November 5.
Vroom Vroom!
The electric motorcycle roared at full speed. Familiar paths guided Lin Xian as he navigated the terrain with ease, reaching the vast surface canyon in no time.
He climbed down using vines and activated Mai Mai¡¯s hibernation chamber. cing the brain neural electric helmet on her, he helped her recover her memories.
The two spent some time chatting, discussing Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor and writing techniques. For now, the worldline seemedpletely stable¡ªunchanged, as if nothing had ever shifted.
Then, an idea struck Lin Xian.
¡°Mai Mai, do you know about Rhine University in Donghai City?¡± he asked.
¡°Of course, I do!¡± Mai Mai replied, her excitement bubbling over. ¡°That¡¯s the world¡¯s number one super university! My dream is to get into Rhine University!¡±
¡°Then why didn¡¯t you apply?¡± Lin Xian inquired.
¡°Ugh! What kind of ridiculous question is that?¡± Mai Mai rolled her eyes, scoffing at him. ¡°Do you think I wouldn¡¯t go if I could get in?¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Lin Xian murmured, stroking his chin.
He remembered Liu Feng once exining that Zhao Ying Jun founded Rhine University with the aim of cultivating talents for the future¡ªtalents for Lin Xian, for the nation, and for the world. The philosophy embraced a ¡°no-talent-left-behind¡± approach. Admission scores weren¡¯t excessively high, and the university employed a strategy of teaching to individual strengths. Even students with extreme skill specializations could find a ce and thrive.
In Liu Feng¡¯s words:
¡°Rhine University spans half of Donghai City, with an unimaginable number of schools and programs. Every year, it admits nearly 500,000 freshmen. No university in history has ever had such educational capacity.¡±
¡°With that many new students, Lin Xian, you wouldn¡¯t believe it¡ªthis is practically the best era for aspiring students. If you have hands, you can get in!¡±
¡°And after admission, tuition and fees are incredibly affordable. The living and learning conditions are exceptional. Zhao Ying Jun truly did something that benefits both present and future generations.¡±
If all it took was ¡°having hands,¡± how could Mai Mai, with all her limbs intact, fail to get in?
¡°How many points did you score on your college entrance exam when you applied to Rhine University?¡± Lin Xian asked curiously.
Mai Mai scratched her head, a bit embarrassed. ¡°Uh, 300-something.¡±
¡°300-something!?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. This was a second Zhou Duan Yun¡ªanother ¡°300-points¡± candidate.
Fine. Considering her legendary work, Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor, Lin Xian begrudgingly found it somewhat reasonable.
¡°Well, your life hasn¡¯t exactly been easy,¡± he said, his voice tinged with sympathy. Looking at Mai Mai, who was around CC¡¯s age, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity. ¡°Struggled in school, not very bright, couldn¡¯t get into college, and your writing didn¡¯t gain any traction. Then you hibernated to escape into the future, hoping for a literary renaissance, only for the apocalypse to hit.¡±
¡°Keep insulting me, I dare you!¡± Mai Mai puffed up her chest indignantly.
¡°Every person is born with a purpose! How do you know I¡¯m not a genius?¡± she retorted. ¡°And as for the end of the world¡ maybe the hope to save it lies with me!¡±
Lin Xian observed her proud, defiant posture and gave a small nod. ¡°You¡¯re not entirely wrong about that.¡±
Truthfully, he couldn¡¯t have reached this point without Mai Mai.
If she hadn¡¯t survived the catastrophic events of 2600 and led him to the underground hibernation base, he never would¡¯ve learned about the anti-hibernation virus or Gauss¡¯s ns. Without that knowledge, he would¡¯ve sumbed to the virus, been unable to hibernate, and ultimately perished in the 21st century. Humanity¡¯s future would¡¯ve been lost.
Sometimes, luck is a form of strength. If Lin Xian ever seeded in saving the future of humanity, Mai Mai¡¯s role would undoubtedly be a crucial chapter in the story.
Such a significant contribution deserved recognition¡ªperhaps even an eptance letter from Rhine University?
¡°If the opportunity arises, I¡¯ll pull some strings and get you into Rhine University,¡± Lin Xian said, teasingly painting a picture of her future. ¡°Consider it a chance to refine your skills. You can learn how to write properly in college.¡±
¡°Ha! Who do you think you are?¡± Mai Mai huffed, hands on her hips. ¡°Do you think Rhine University is your family business, that you can just ¡®pull some strings¡¯?¡±
¡°Counting on your promises is less reliable than betting on my Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor going viral and getting me in through special admissions!¡±
She tilted her head. ¡°So, based on what you¡¯ve read, how long do you think it¡¯ll take for my work to get recognized?¡±
Lin Xian nced at his watch. ¡°Ten.¡±
¡°Ten years!?¡± Mai Mai eximed. ¡°That¡¯s way too long!¡±
¡°Ten¡ nine¡ eight¡¡± Lin Xian counted down, staring at the watch¡¯s second hand.
Mai Mai blinked, puzzled. Three question marks practically hovered above her head.
Suddenly¡ª BOOM!!!
A searing white light burst forth, consuming everything in its path.
¡
¡
¡
Lin Xian woke with a start in the Brooklyn hotel room. Sunlight streamed through the curtain¡¯s small gap, casting a bright sliver across the room.
Sitting up in bed, he drew the curtains open to take in the sight of the winter sunlight over the city. ¡°Today,¡± he decided, ¡°I¡¯ll start investigating the spacetime particles.¡±
After washing up and getting dressed, Lin Xian left his room and descended to the hotel lobby. A concierge eagerly opened the door for him.
¡°Mr. Dous, the taxi you requested is waiting for you just outside,¡± they said.
Lin Xian nodded and stepped out. But suddenly¡ª
¡°Sir! Mr. Dous!¡±
From the steps outside, a small, dirt-covered boy appeared.
Lin Xian froze. It was none other than Little Johnny, the boy he had saved the day before.
How had he managed to follow him here?
The small boy stumbled and scrambled his way toward Lin Xian, falling to his knees in front of him. He had overheard the hotel staff calling him Mr. Dous and now addressed him with that name.
¡°Mr. Dous!¡± Little Johnny looked up at Lin Xian with wide, hopeful eyes. ¡°Please let me be your servant. Let me stay by your side!¡±
Lin Xian looked at the kneeling child, caught between amusement and exasperation. ¡°Little Johnny, didn¡¯t I give you plenty of money yesterday? That money is more than enough for you to start a new life in another city or even begin a small business. Don¡¯t cling to me like this.¡±
However, Little Johnny pulled a neatly stacked bundle of cash from his pocket and held it out with both hands. ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t want money. I haven¡¯t spent a single penny of what you gave me. It¡¯s all here.¡±
His voice grew firmer as he raised his head, his gaze unwavering. ¡°I don¡¯t want to live my life aimlessly. I want to be strong, to be great, to live a life with meaning!¡±
¡°Mr. Dous,¡± he continued, ¡°I want to be someone like you!¡±
Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t take you in.¡±
With a heavy tone, he added, ¡°You should leave this city as soon as possible. Otherwise, those men wille after you again. The money I gave you is more than enough¡ªuse it wisely.¡±
Without another word, Lin Xian stepped past the boy, climbed into the taxi, and disappeared down the street.
¡
During the ride, Lin Xian had the taxi stop at a department store. There, he purchased a map of Brooklyn, a pair of binocrs, and a fountain pen. Once he had everything he needed, he resumed the ride to the top of the Williamsburg Savings Bank building.
Standing at the spot where CC had dissolved into blue stardust, he turned westward.
Yesterday, the brilliant blue spacetime particle hade from that direction.
¡°Where do spacetime particlese from?¡± he muttered as he raised the binocrs to his eyes. From the bustling city streets, his gaze shifted to the sparsely popted suburbs.
Setting down the binocrs, he unfolded the Brooklyn map and marked his current location. Using the pen, he traced a line westward. His pen stopped abruptly.
¡°Brooklyn¡¯s western suburbs¡ the orphanage where CC lived¡ and Einstein¡¯s farm.¡±
Unscrewing the cap of the pen, Lin Xian circled the spot marking Einstein¡¯s farm. ¡°Could that spacetime particle havee from Einstein¡¯s farm?¡±
Though the idea seemed far-fetched, the particle¡¯s direction and trajectory made it highly usible.
¡°Surely not¡¡± Lin Xian squinted. ¡°Could the president of the Genius Club, the creator of the millennial stakes, and the origin of everything truly be the Einstein of history?¡±
He sighed deeply. What you fear often finds you.
For now, however, spection was futile. On November 5, he would meet Einstein at the farm, and the truth would be revealed.
¡
As evening approached, Lin Xian returned to the hotel. To his surprise, Little Johnny was still there, huddled in the corner of the entrance, his eyes filled with expectation. Lin Xian ignored him and walked inside.
The next day, November 4, Little Johnny was still there.
On November 5, the boy remained.
By now, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel the boy¡¯s persistence was reminiscent of ¡°three visits to the thatched cottage¡± or a student humbly waiting in the snow for a mentor. Packing his things at midday, he prepared to leave for Einstein¡¯s farm. Yet, as he stepped out of the hotel, he once again saw Little Johnny in the same spot.
Lin Xian approached him. ¡°Even if you stay here your whole life, it won¡¯t change anything.¡±
Little Johnny stood, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s gaze. ¡°Mr. Dous, my parents died when I was young. No one ever taught me how to live a meaningful life. You¡¯re the only person in Brooklyn who saved me, who spoke to me. I¡¯m not trying to bother you, but could you guide me? Show me how to live a proud and meaningful life, just like you?¡±
Lin Xian exhaled, his gaze softening as he looked down at the frail, hungry boy.
¡°Do you remember Dragon Country?¡± he asked gently.
¡°Yes!¡± Little Johnny nodded quickly. ¡°My parents took me away from Dragon Country when it was engulfed in war. Life was so hard there. Everyone was starving¡¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. But that¡¯s your homnd,¡± Lin Xian said softly. ¡°If you want to live a meaningful life, a proud life, then what you need to do now is study. Learn everything you can while you¡¯re here.¡±
After a pause, he added, ¡°You have two choices: wander the streets and beg for the rest of your life, or use the money I gave you to start fresh¡ªstudy a craft, learn a trade, master whatever you can from this country. Then, return to Dragon Country and help rebuild your homnd.¡±
¡°If you can do that, Little Johnny, I¡¯ll be very proud of you. Many from Dragon Country are giving their lives on the battlefield, and many others are sacrificing thefort of life abroad to return and help their nation thrive.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve shown persistence by staying here for days. If you put that same determination into learning, you¡¯ll achieve something great. Would you be willing to be a ship, carrying advanced knowledge back to your homnd?¡±
¡°I will!¡± Little Johnny¡¯s eyes burned with resolve, his fists clenched tightly. ¡°Mr. Dous, I won¡¯t disappoint you! I¡¯ll work hard to be someone like you!¡±
Lin Xian smiled, ruffling the boy¡¯s unkempt hair. Turning, he headed for the waiting taxi.
¡°Mr. Dous!¡± Little Johnny called after him. ¡°Will we meet again?¡±
Lin Xian waved without turning back. ¡°If you be great enough, I¡¯ll surely see your name in the newspapers.¡±
¡°Then remember my real name!¡± Little Johnny ran after him.
Lin Xian stopped and turned. ¡°Your real name?¡±
Little Johnny shook his head. ¡°Johnny is just a nickname those men gave me¡ªit¡¯s an insult, really. I was born and raised in Dragon Country. Of course, I have a Dragon Country name.¡±
Suddenly, Lin Xian felt the kite string at the back of his head tremble, as if caught in a sudden gust of wind.
Little Johnny grinned, his white teeth shining. ¡°My surname is Ji¡ªlike the seasons. My name is¡¡±
¡°Ji Xin Shui!¡±
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