Genius Club

Chapter 148: Straight Ball

Liu Feng gazed at Lin Xian, speechless.

He had never thought his explanation of the Universal Constant was anything special, let alone something that could save the world. Yet the man before him always seemed wrapped in mystery and intrigue.

Reflecting on that extraordinary meteor shower, although Liu Feng was skeptical about Lin Xian’s claims, he was somewhat persuaded.

“Can you explain what the Universal Constant is?” Lin Xian asked.

“Well, I know Einstein described it as just a regular constant in his gravitational field equations. But do you really buy that?” Liu Feng replied.

“I don’t,” Liu Feng declared firmly. “I think… Einstein was not being truthful.”

“Not truthful?” Lin Xian raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Einstein eventually renounced the Universal Constant, calling it his biggest blunder. Are you suggesting he intentionally misled us? That he was hiding something?”

“Exactly,” Liu Feng affirmed, nodding. “It makes no sense that Einstein would dismiss the Universal Constant outright. His original research neither proved nor disproved its existence.”

“Why deny it so vehemently? Einstein’s behavior in his later years was odd, not typical of a scientist.”

“Some say it was because he was older, facing hardships and persecution, which led him to act irrationally toward the end.”

“But… I can’t shake this feeling that Einstein was deliberately evasive about the Universal Constant. Sometimes, it seemed like he was trying to mislead us.”

“You’re veering off topic,” Lin Xian interjected, reiterating his main concern. “What I really need to understand is, what exactly is the Universal Constant? What does it mean?”

Liu Feng fell silent for a long moment before shaking his head. “Sorry, I can’t explain it either. My experiments suggest the Universal Constant might not be correct. Honestly, I’m not sure it exists or what its purpose is.”

“Perhaps, as you mentioned, only by verifying the Universal Constant can we begin to unravel its mystery.”

“So…” Lin Xian wasn’t surprised by this revelation. Aware of Liu Feng’s lack of progress, he continued, “So, even if I revealed the solution to the Universal Constant now, you couldn’t confirm it?”

“Correct,” Liu Feng confirmed. “It’s like pi. The number itself isn’t the focus. What matters is what it represents. Pi is known as 3.14, but it’s not called pi because it equals 3.14.”

“The Universal Constant is similar. It could be any number… But without understanding why, what’s the point? In mathematics, knowing the answer outright is useless. The journey is more significant than the destination.”

“Alright,” Lin Xian stood up, outlining his plan. “I’ll set up a specialized lab for you in Donghai City with ample funding and resources to continue your research on the Universal Constant.”

“But for now, you’ll need to keep working from home. Wait for my call. Once everything is in place, I’ll bring you to Donghai City.”

“What do you have to sort out first?” Liu Feng asked, curious.

“I’m gearing up for a strategic game,” Lin Xian replied with a smile. “To be honest, I’m not even sure what my own strategy is. But for our safety, I need to ensure there’s no imminent danger before you start your research.”

Lin Xian’s thoughts turned to the unresolved murder of Professor Xu Yun. How could he allow Liu Feng to delve into the Universal Constant with such a mystery hanging over them?

They were now bound by a common cause. If Liu Feng were targeted due to his research, Lin Xian could be next.

Perhaps the threat didn’t come from within their Genius Club.

Yet, as Yellow Finch had ominously noted in Zhao Ying Jun’s office, “Even if you avoid trouble, it finds you. Maybe you haven’t noticed… but your game has already begun.”

Lin Xian decided to wait for the right moment to uncover any hidden threats. Only by eliminating them could he proceed safely.

He hoped the mysterious enemies and Xu Yun’s killers were the same group. He had deduced their pattern: as long as he stayed off the streets at 00:42, he could avoid harm.

Yet, he remained vigilant.

To date, Lin Xian couldn’t pinpoint why they targeted him. The only link he suspected was the manuscript he’d given Xu Yun.

But since Xu Yun had destroyed that manuscript, there shouldn’t have been any exposure. So, what drove their focus on him?

Lin Xian was still puzzled.

…

After ensuring Liu Feng was well-funded and committed to the project, Lin Xian left Shanxi and returned to Donghai.

He kept a close watch over Liu Feng’s condition for a few days. Turning his sorrow into motivation, Liu Feng was now fully dedicated to unlocking the secrets of the Universal Constant.

This dedication was a tribute to Li Qi Qi’s unfulfilled dreams and softened the blow of her loss compared to the original timeline.

Lin Xian had also instructed Liu Feng to keep the research results confidential, regardless of their nature. They would discuss everything once the lab in Donghai was operational.

Agreeing, Liu Feng noted that since Lin Xian was funding him, he would naturally follow his directives. His sole aim was to validate the Universal Constant, even if only once, to honor Li Qi Qi.

The engines of the Boeing 737 roared as the plane departed Shanxi, heading towards the bustling metropolis of Donghai.

Upon landing, Lin Xian rushed to MX Company to tackle the backlog of work. Having been “away” for an extended period, no one dared rush him, not even Zhao Ying Jun, who had inquired only once about his safety before letting him manage his schedule.

Lin Xian planned to spend a couple of days clearing his workload, then carve out time to connect with CC in his dreams and continue their exploration of New Donghai City for the safe.

Navigating New Donghai City in his second dream was complex. Missing the Three-Knife thief scenario would prevent him from joining the Face Gang, making precise timing crucial.

Before he could align with the Face Gang, he needed to persuade CC in the small forest behind Li Cheng’s house, starting preparations by noon.

“This is becoming too complicated,” Lin Xian sighed, surveying the mountain of paperwork in his office.

Challenges loomed in both his dreams and reality.

No longer needing to stay at MX Company, especially since the invitation had been a misunderstanding, Lin Xian considered resigning.

He wasn’t concerned about losing contact with Yellow Finch. Clearly, she wanted him in the Genius Club. Although he didn’t grasp her motives, Lin Xian felt that when necessary, Yellow Finch would reach out to him.

For now… He would play it by ear.

Everything would unfold once the cat and mouse game commenced… to see who would reveal their intentions first.

Ding dong

As he reviewed documents, his phone buzzed with a WeChat message.

Lin Xian saw it was from Tang Xin.

Tang Xin: Hey Lin Xian, I heard from Gao Yang that you’re back from Shanxi. Hehe, do you have time tonight? I want to have dinner with you.

Tang Xin, huh.

It seemed she had settled in Donghai and joined the research institute where Xu Yun had worked. The dinner was a commitment he had made during their class reunion, making it hard to decline.

Lin Xian responded, “Let me treat you. As the host, it’s my duty.”

Originally, Lin Xian had planned a dinner with Gao Yang, Tang Xin, and Zhou Duan Yun, since his two classmates were also making their way in Donghai City, and he and Gao Yang, having been there longer, should welcome them.

But Gao Yang had claimed he’d be working late.

“Are you really working, or is it just an excuse?” Lin Xian knew Gao Yang well enough to suspect the latter.

“Oh, come on! Can’t you see? If I’m there, wouldn’t Tang Xin get annoyed? Even if it’s fake overtime, today it has to be real!”

Beep beep.

Gao Yang hung up.

So, it would be just him and Tang Xin tonight.

Lin Xian was no fool. He knew Tang Xin harbored feelings for him. But he couldn’t fathom why…

They had only been classmates for a brief period in high school. Was he really that memorable?

Tonight would reveal what Tang Xin wanted to discuss.

…

That evening.

They met at a well-known western restaurant near Zhao Ying Jun’s house, famous for its quality and flavor. Lin Xian had made the reservation.

“This is delicious,” Tang Xin remarked, enjoying the caviar and smiling at Lin Xian.

“It’s better than the Western food overseas.”

“That means it’s not authentic,” Lin Xian teased.

“It’s tasty because it’s not authentic!” Tang Xin was in high spirits, looking particularly attractive tonight. Her makeup was flawless, her outfit carefully selected, and she had even switched to high heels.

She must have gone home to change after work, unlike Lin Xian, who had come straight from the office in casual attire.

“You have no idea how awful the food is overseas!” Tang Xin continued. “For international students, missing food from the home country is a big deal. Every time I come back, I order loads of takeout and eat until I’m stuffed. And I visit all the food stalls near the school.”

“Which school? Hangzhou No. 1 High?” Lin Xian cut into his steak, looking at Tang Xin.

“The food stalls outside our school were top-notch. They had to be excellent to survive the competition.”

“Yes! Even though I wasn’t at Hangzhou No. 1 High for long, I missed those stalls for years!”

Reflecting on the past, Tang Xin’s eyes lit up.

“Actually, I didn’t want to transfer at that time… but I was too young to decide, and my parents moved me to the U.S. even though I cried a lot.”

“But Lin Xian, I was really surprised you remembered me! I thought you wouldn’t recognize me at all. I was so nervous about the reunion, I almost didn’t go… but I really wanted to see you.”

“Oh? Was I that memorable?” Lin Xian saw Tang Xin steering the conversation back and played along.

With Gao Yang absent, no one would interrupt their chat.

“Hehe, I guess you forgot,” Tang Xin rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Lin Xian without a hint of disappointment.

Lin Xian chuckled awkwardly. “It’s been a while. Did something happen between us?”

“Oh, it’s nothing major, really. You probably wouldn’t recall,” Tang Xin paused, then added, “But it’s something I’ve remembered for a long time.”

Tang Xin lifted her head, smiling at Lin Xian. “During a PE class, I got my period unexpectedly. It was my first time, and I wasn’t prepared, so I panicked, not knowing what to do.”

“It was summer, and my pants quickly showed the stain. I didn’t know what to do, so I stood against the wall, too embarrassed to tell anyone since I was the new student.”

“But then you saw me and without a word, took off your jacket, wrapped it around my waist like a skirt to cover the stain, and went back to playing ball.”

“Really… you probably don’t remember this, but for a young girl, it was an embarrassing and distressing moment. Your jacket felt like it saved my life.”

Lin Xian felt a bit embarrassed after hearing Tang Xin’s story. “I did that?”

He laughed awkwardly. Although Tang Xin recounted it vividly, Lin Xian had no memory of it. He didn’t consider it significant. Helping classmates, especially girls, was normal behavior for him.

But such acts were typical of him.

“You’re making it sound more heroic than it was,” Lin Xian said with a smile. “It was just classmates helping each other, nothing extraordinary.”

“Maybe I just happened to be there. Many classmates would have helped you. Everyone was kind.”

“The girls especially. They were all wonderful. Even the guys, like Gao Yang, would have stepped in if they saw you in trouble.”

Was she still thinking about him because of that incident? Lin Xian considered it trivial.

However…

Tang Xin giggled, resting her cheek on her hand. “You’re right. It’s not a big deal. Many people would have helped.”

“But…” Tang Xin played with her fork on the table, her cheeks flushed from the wine, looking at Lin Xian. “But at that moment, it was you I encountered.”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation