Genius Club

“You! What are you even talking about, Lin Xian? This isn’t your fault!” Gao Yang patted Lin Xian on the back, trying to snap him out of his daze.

“Don’t beat yourself up. Not everything is your responsibility. The police will catch whoever did this. Just wait and see.”

Lin Xian looked up but remained silent. Gao Yang didn’t know the full story, so naturally, he couldn’t fully understand. Lin Xian chose not to share too much; he sensed danger ahead and didn’t want to pull Gao Yang into it.

“Come on, Lin Xian, you’ll catch a cold if we stay here any longer.” Gao Yang helped Lin Xian to his feet and brushed off his clothes. “Let’s go home.”

“Alright,” Lin Xian whispered.

Gao Yang called a taxi and escorted Lin Xian back to his apartment. Concerned, he made sure to accompany him all the way to his door.

“Feeling any better, Lin Xian? Don’t blame yourself. Inviting Professor Xu to the celebration was a thoughtful act! You need to stay strong!”

“If you really want to help, try to remember everything about the incident: the license plate, the driver’s appearance. Help the police find the killer and get justice for Professor Xu!”

Lin Xian nodded. During the ride home, he had some time to think. Like Gao Yang suggested, instead of dwelling on what he couldn’t change, he decided to transform his grief into determination and help find Professor Xu’s murderer and whoever was behind it.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m feeling better now,” Lin Xian assured him.

“Alright, I’ll leave then.” Gao Yang waved goodbye and advised Lin Xian to get some rest soon.

But Lin Xian didn’t go to bed. He wasn’t tired at all. Instead, he took a cold shower, the icy water sharpening his senses.

“Who killed Xu Yun?” Lin Xian mused as he dried off, got dressed, and sat at his desk.

Normally, those threatened by Professor Xu’s invention of the hibernation chamber, such as pharmaceutical giants and capitalists, were prime suspects. Xu Yun’s breakthrough could disrupt their markets significantly.

But…

“It’s not that simple,” Lin Xian mused, shaking his head. These capitalists are shrewd—they wouldn’t make a move against Xu Yun unless it was beneficial.

He recalled something Big Cat Face had once shared:

“Don’t be fooled by my appearance. My father was a renowned mathematician and even won the Fields Medal. When I worked away from home, my daughter stayed with him. One night, she fell ill, and he rushed her to the hospital. But then…”

“But then… they were hit by a truck. It was no accident—they were targeted.”

“My father was a scholar, never involved in any disputes!”

“They are a secretive group, elusive, leaving barely a trace. I’ve searched for ages and found only a name.”

Lin Xian turned on his desk lamp, his mind racing. A mathematician, a midnight accident. Now, a scientist, an accident at 00:42.

The people, the timing, the circumstances—eerily similar.

Was it merely a coincidence?

Or was it orchestrated?

And if it was intentional, why at that specific time?

Lin Xian pondered but couldn’t draw a definitive conclusion.

He couldn’t be certain about Big Cat Face’s reliability.

He could be lying, or he might actually be onto something.

This uncertainty stalled Lin Xian’s deductions.

“If Big Cat Face made it all up, then I’m just overthinking.”

“But if he’s telling the truth…”

It was conceivable—

That the deaths of Xu Yun and Big Cat Face’s father were orchestrated by the same group or killer.

While Lin Xian wasn’t sure if the Genius Club was directly involved, it was clear they were connected to these deaths.

“So, the focus should be on Big Cat Face.”

“I need to verify his claims about the Genius Club before proceeding with my investigation.”

The most pressing task was to find Big Cat Face in the dream world and verify the truth about the Genius Club!

The sky was beginning to lighten. The neighborhood buzzed with activity as people started their day.

“Better get to work. Dwelling here won’t help. I’ll catch up on sleep tonight and look for Big Cat Face in the dream world then.”

After grabbing a quick breakfast, Lin Xian headed to the subway. The news displays mentioned Professor Xu Yun’s death as an accident, but nobody seemed to pay much attention. Everyone was wrapped up in their own routines.

Most people are indifferent to scientific advancements. Even in the dream world’s future, everyday concerns overshadowed scientific progress.

“It’s always been this way,” Lin Xian thought as he boarded the train, feeling the weight of history.

At work, his colleagues briefly expressed their condolences for Professor Xu’s passing, but soon, other topics like new product launches and bonuses took precedence.

That evening, Lin Xian had dinner early and prepared for bed. Glancing at the clock—21:35—he knew it was the perfect time to try and intercept Big Cat Face in the dream.

“I need to find out whether Big Cat Face is being truthful about the Genius Club.”

If Big Cat Face had lied, that would narrow down Lin Xian’s search.

But if the story was true…

If the Genius Club really was behind his father’s murder, if his father really was a Fields Medal laureate, if the timing of the accident was precise…

Lin Xian turned on the bathroom light, contemplating.

“Then at least I have a starting point to uncover Xu Yun’s true killer.”

Big Cat Face’s information could be the key, indicating a connection to his father’s death.

After his nightly routine, Lin Xian got into bed and turned off the lights.

Whoosh!

He was greeted by the familiar summer breeze, the familiar heat, the familiar sound of cicadas.

Lin Xian opened his eyes in the dream world, just as he had left it.

“Ultra kick! Ultra elbow!” Two kids in Ultraman masks tussled in the square, their masks falling to the ground.

Lin Xian walked over, picked up a mask, and put it on.

Then he spotted the burly figure stepping out of a van.

“Big Cat Face!”

“Huh?” The man, his face round and wearing a Rhine Cat mask, turned.

“Uuughhh…” Lin Xian sighed deeply. He was tired of having to repeat the same conversation.

“What do you want? How do you know me?” Big Cat Face looked at Lin Xian, reaching toward his waist—

Smack!

Lin Xian caught his hand.

“I hope this is the last time I have to say this. Listen carefully…”