Genius Club

Chapter 406: The Mask

Yan Qiao Qiao wants to meet me… and she’s “eagerly waiting”? What on earth is happening?

Lin Xian remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the time-space clock beside his laptop. The numbers on the display had stabilized, showing the curve of the world line: 0.0000336.

There was no doubt.

The world line had shifted. The future had branched out into new directions, carving an unfamiliar path.

But the question lingered: would the inevitable—the beheading set for July 7th—be changed by this shift?

Predicting his own death was never simple. Whether it was Angelica in the Fifth Dream warning him, or Turing revealing the brutal truth in the Sixth Dream, the message always came from someone else’s mouth. Nothing was ever truly certain.

Though Lin Xian had no reason to question the warnings, he was left clinging to a single, ominous date—July 7th—without any further clues.

But now?

If he was lucky, perhaps he’d been saved. Maybe the plan to kill him on July 7th would dissolve as the world’s future shifted.

That would be ideal. No more anxiety, no more dread.

But…

If he considered the worst-case scenario…

What if history had changed in such a way that the time-space assassins would still come for him, but now their target date had moved up? What if they killed him even sooner?

This wasn’t just a paranoid thought.

With the future’s path in flux, anything was possible. His life—or death—was a part of that change.

Could it be that Yan Qiao Qiao had recovered her memory earlier than expected? And now she was eager to meet him… to take his life?

Lin Xian remained calm, his voice soft but steady. “Qiao Qiao, huh? Why the sudden interest? She’s been acting a bit too keen to see me, don’t you think?”

A low chuckle came from the other end of the line. “That girl’s definitely grown up. I bet you can’t guess why she’s looking for you.”

“You’re right, I have no clue,” Lin Xian answered honestly.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t guess. It was more that the possibilities he was thinking of were terrifying.

“How’s she been acting lately?” Lin Xian asked. “Any changes in behavior? Is she stronger, quieter, acting different?”

“Nope, nothing like that,” Zhao Ying Jun sounded puzzled. “She’s been her usual self. Completely normal. Since yesterday, she’s just been talking about meeting you… Alright, I won’t keep you in suspense anymore.”

Zhao Ying Jun’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

“She wants to give you a ‘surprise.’”

A surprise.

Lin Xian couldn’t help but let out a small, dry chuckle.

A surprise? More like a shock, right?

However…

He caught something hidden in Zhao Ying Jun’s words.

To be honest, Lin Xian’s greatest fear was that Yan Qiao Qiao had regained her memories and would kill him in a burst of righteousness. But according to Zhao Ying Jun, Yan Qiao Qiao hadn’t shown any unusual behavior in the past few days.

Considering how much time Zhao Ying Jun spent with her, if anything was off, she would have noticed.

Which meant…

Yan Qiao Qiao hadn’t regained her memories as Lin Yu Xi yet.

For now, at least, his head was safe on his shoulders.

Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, Lin Xian realized his earlier fears had been a little over the top.

The fastest way to find out if the assassination planned for July 7th was still on track would be to fall asleep and enter the Seventh Dream. There, he might discover what had changed.

But even that wasn’t a guarantee.

It all depended on who he met in the dream.

For now…

Since Zhao Ying Jun clearly knew about the “surprise” Yan Qiao Qiao had prepared, it didn’t seem like there was any immediate danger. Lin Xian could face this meeting without worry.

He had been busy lately, and it had been a while since he’d seen Yan Qiao Qiao.

“Alright,” Lin Xian agreed. “It’s already getting late. How about we meet at a restaurant?”

“Since Qiao Qiao’s got a surprise for me, I’ll treat her to dinner in return. Ask her what she’d like, and I’ll book us a table. We can meet there.”

After a bit of back-and-forth, they settled on hotpot.

As Lin Xian hung up the phone, the image of the fake Lin Yu Xi greedily wolfing down food at a hotpot restaurant popped into his mind. He couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Was hotpot a thing of the past in the future?

Why did every time-space traveler seem so obsessed with it?

He gathered his things, slung his bag over his shoulder, and made his way to the Alphard minivan parked outside.

Once seated inside, he placed his laptop down and glanced at the driver, Xiao Li.

“Let’s head to the hotpot place.”

It was already noon when Lin Xian arrived, a few minutes late. Through the restaurant’s glass windows, he could easily spot Zhao Ying Jun and Yan Qiao Qiao sitting inside.

He had chosen this spot on purpose.

Sitting by the window allowed him to observe them from outside.

Squinting slightly, Lin Xian watched Yan Qiao Qiao for a moment. She seemed completely normal—nothing unusual in her behavior.

Her expression, posture, and gaze—all just as they’d been before.

Even her petite frame hadn’t changed. She still looked delicate as ever.

No matter how he looked at her, she didn’t seem like someone who could deliver a swift, deadly strike.

Lin Xian let out a quiet breath through his nose.

When it came to matters of life and death, caution was always wise. Now that he’d confirmed everything seemed safe, he stepped through the door and into the hotpot restaurant, heading for their table.

“Lin Xian, you’re finally here,” Zhao Ying Jun greeted him warmly, handing over the digital menu. “Qiao Qiao’s ordered loads of meat. Want to add anything?”

“No need,” Lin Xian shook his head. His thoughts were elsewhere. “Just go ahead. I had breakfast not too long ago, so I’m not that hungry. I’m mainly here to see Qiao Qiao.”

His gaze shifted to Yan Qiao Qiao, who was intently watching the broth start to bubble, her face full of anticipation.

“So…” Lin Xian glanced between the two of them. “What’s the surprise? You’ve got me curious now.”

Zhao Ying Jun gave a knowing smile and playfully ruffled Yan Qiao Qiao’s hair.

“Qiao Qiao, you spent all of yesterday preparing this surprise for Lin Xian. What’s with the sudden shyness?”

“I’m not shy,” Yan Qiao Qiao muttered, still staring at the hotpot. “I’m just waiting for the meat.”

…

Both Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun exchanged a speechless glance. They both wondered where Yan Qiao Qiao had gotten her bottomless appetite from. Though they had to admit, there was some truth to what she’d said.

Once Zhao Ying Jun broke the ice, Yan Qiao Qiao finally tore her gaze away from the hotpot, her hands reaching for the small backpack at her side. With careful movements, she unzipped it and pulled something out.

She handed it to Lin Xian.

“Brother Lin Xiange, this is for you.”

Lin Xian blinked in surprise as he took the object from her hands. It was…

A watercolor painting, neatly framed.

And not just any painting—it was quite good. While it wasn’t at a professional level, it was certainly impressive for an amateur.

The painting depicted a young man’s upper body, his brow slightly furrowed, one hand rubbing his chin, lost in thought.

Lin Xian stared at it for a moment before it clicked.

This was him!

A laugh bubbled out of him as he examined the painting closely. “Is this supposed to be me? Did you paint this, Qiao Qiao?”

Yan Qiao Qiao nodded solemnly. “I painted it yesterday.”

Lin Xian took a closer look at the framed painting. The attention to detail was astounding, especially considering it came from someone who’d only recently started painting.

“This is really good,” he said, genuinely impressed.

Zhao Ying Jun beamed with pride. “Isn’t it? I was shocked too. I never knew Qiao Qiao had this kind of talent.”

Zhao Ying Jun leaned back in her chair, the memory fresh in her mind. “It all started just a few days ago. I took her to the park, and there were some stalls selling toys for kids. One of them had a DIY section where you could paint plaster figures. I didn’t think much of it—just something fun to try. Qiao Qiao wanted to give it a go, so I bought her one and let her paint.”

Zhao Ying Jun shook her head, still amazed. “To my surprise, Qiao Qiao’s sense of color and style was so natural, like she was born with it. Even though it was her first time holding a paintbrush, she handled it like a pro. She finished the figure in no time, and it looked incredible. Even the stall owner asked if she’d taken art classes before.”

“And that was it—Qiao Qiao fell in love with painting. She ended up painting several figures, and each one was better than the last. Her sense of color… her attention to detail… It was like she was destined to be an artist.”

Zhao Ying Jun glanced at Lin Xian with a mischievous smile. “Do you think it could be… inherited?”

Lin Xian studied the painting of himself once more, thoughtfully analyzing each stroke. “Strictly speaking, art is a skill you learn. It’s not something that gets passed down through genetics. If it were, every artist’s child would be an artist too, right?”

Zhao Ying Jun nodded, reflecting on his words. “That’s true. Now that you mention it, many of history’s greatest artists didn’t even have children.”

“Beethoven, Da Vinci, Van Gogh… None of them had kids to inherit their talents.”

She glanced at Yan Qiao Qiao, who was anxiously awaiting feedback, and smiled softly.

“But at least… at least someone’s carrying on the artistic spirit.”

Lin Xian gently put the painting down and turned his attention to the little girl standing beside him.

“So, this is the surprise you wanted to give me? It’s really an amazing piece of art. I love it. Thank you, Qiao Qiao.”

He paused for a moment before asking, “It must’ve taken you quite a while to make this, right? How long did you work on it yesterday?”

“All day,” Yan Qiao Qiao whispered, her voice barely audible. “I painted until night.”

Suddenly, the painting felt much heavier in Lin Xian’s hands.

Zhao Ying Jun chimed in with a warm laugh. “She painted so many versions but wasn’t happy with any of them. She kept starting over again and again… It wasn’t until midnight that she finally felt satisfied. She stayed up late, tweaking little details before finally going to bed.”

“I kept telling her that for a beginner—and a self-taught one at that—what she’d already done was more than good enough. There was no need to be so hard on herself.”

“But Qiao Qiao was determined,” Zhao Ying Jun added, smiling fondly. “She said you’ve always been so kind to her, and she wanted to make something really special to thank you.”

As Lin Xian listened, he could almost picture it—Yan Qiao Qiao sitting at home, surrounded by tubes of watercolor paint, tirelessly working to create the perfect painting for him.

Morning to night.

Changing the water in her paint jar again and again.

All that effort… Just to give him something flawless.

And she’d stayed up late into the night just to finish it.

Lin Xian felt a lump forming in his throat. “You didn’t need to rush, Qiao Qiao,” he said softly. “This is so thoughtful, but you didn’t have to do it all in one go. You could’ve taken your time and learned more along the way. I’m not in any hurry to receive a gift from you. No matter when you gave it to me, I’d still be just as happy.”

Yan Qiao Qiao shook her head firmly, her eyes resolute. “I had to give it to you today.”

“Why today?” Lin Xian asked, a bit puzzled.

Without a word, Yan Qiao Qiao pointed to the back of the framed painting.

“I wrote it there,” she said quietly.

Curious, Lin Xian turned the frame over. There, attached to the back, was a small handwritten card. In neat, delicate handwriting, it read:

“Happy Father’s Day, Brother Lin Xian! Thank you for playing the role of my dad and taking me to Disneyland… It made me really happy.”

…

For a moment, Lin Xian felt a lump forming in his throat. It was an odd sensation, one he couldn’t quite describe.

Only now did he fully understand why today was so important. Why Yan Qiao Qiao had stayed up so late painting, and why she had been so eager to meet him.

Because today was June 16th, 2024—Father’s Day.

Father’s Day had always been one of those holidays that slipped by quietly. Most men didn’t even realize it had come and gone, and few ever received gifts from their children. It was a day that often passed without much thought or recognition.

Lin Xian had certainly never expected this.

His first Father’s Day, and here it was, catching him completely off guard, along with his very first Father’s Day gift.

He couldn’t find the words to express what he was feeling. For once, Lin Xian found himself at a loss for what to say.

Before meeting Yan Qiao Qiao, he had been filled with doubt and even a touch of fear. He had wondered why she was in such a hurry to see him. Had something happened? Was he in danger?

But in the end, it was all for a simple, heartfelt reason—to give him a Father’s Day present.

Though Lin Xian wasn’t her biological father, that trip to Disneyland had made her feel the warmth and love of a family. She had wanted to give him something special to show her gratitude, and what better day than Father’s Day?

Lin Xian still didn’t know what to say.

The relationships between the three of them were… complicated, to say the least. A mix of real and make-believe, tangled up in the strange circumstances of time and space. It would take at least half an hour to explain it all.

But none of that mattered now.

The emotions were real, regardless of what titles they had or didn’t have.

“Thank you,” Lin Xian finally said, his voice soft as he looked down at Yan Qiao Qiao.

“I don’t get many gifts… I’ve never been one to celebrate my birthday, and no one’s ever given me anything for other holidays either. This Father’s Day gift really took me by surprise, and it’s so precious… I’ll treasure it.”

He gently placed the framed painting on the seat beside him, tucking it in carefully so it wouldn’t fall.

Just then, the waiter arrived, bringing trays of lamb and beef. The pot of spicy broth and clear soup on the table began to boil furiously.

Yan Qiao Qiao’s eyes lit up as she pointed eagerly at the trays of meat.

“Meat!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Lin Xian chuckled, standing up to add some of the meat into the pot. “Alright, alright, Qiao Qiao. You need to eat up and grow strong.”

The atmosphere lightened as they settled back into their meal, the warmth of the food and the company lifting everyone’s spirits.

…

After finishing their hotpot, it was clear the day wasn’t over yet. Yan Qiao Qiao, who was always so attached to Lin Xian, wasn’t ready for the fun to end. And so, they decided to head to a nearby park to play.

It was a Sunday, and the park was alive with energy. Families filled every corner—children and adults running around, laughing and shouting, the air buzzing with excitement.

Naturally, there were plenty of vendors selling all sorts of things.

“Ah!” Yan Qiao Qiao suddenly stopped in her tracks, pointing toward a vendor up ahead. “Rhine Cat.”

“Huh? Where?” Lin Xian followed her gaze, and sure enough, there it was.

The vendor’s stall had a wide selection of cartoon masks—Ultraman, Armor Hero, characters from various anime series. It was an impressive collection.

Lin Xian wasn’t surprised to see these popular franchises turned into masks for sale.

But the Rhine Cat mask…

That was something new.

Because it wasn’t supposed to exist.

Rhine Company had never sold the rights to any toy companies. All Rhine Cat merchandise was exclusively produced and sold by the company itself. There was no official production line for masks.

Which meant this vendor was selling bootleg products.

“Do you want one?” Lin Xian asked, glancing at Yan Qiao Qiao.

“Yes,” she replied quickly, her eyes darting to the kids playing nearby. They were all wearing Ultraman masks, striking heroic poses and pretending to save the world. Yan Qiao Qiao looked like she wanted to join in.

“Alright,” Lin Xian smiled. “Which one do you want? An Ultraman mask like theirs, or the Rhine Cat mask?”

“I want the Rhine Cat,” she said without hesitation.

“Rhine Cat it is,” Lin Xian said, standing up straight as they approached the vendor.

“How much for the Rhine Cat masks?” he asked.

“Five yuan for one, ten yuan for three,” the vendor said, holding up the last three Rhine Cat masks. “Why not buy all three? The whole family can match!”

Lin Xian couldn’t help but laugh at the vendor’s enthusiasm. “Matching masks for the family, huh?”

The vendor grinned. “You’d be surprised! And you won’t find these anywhere else in Donghai City. Trust me, I’m the only one brave enough to sell them.”

Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. “No one else would dare sell these without the rights, right?”

The vendor chuckled. “Exactly! It’s not like I want to sell bootlegs, but what choice do I have? There’s no official version to sell. I’ve been selling masks here for over twenty years, always following the rules. If Rhine Cat had official masks, I’d sell them in a heartbeat.”

Lin Xian shook his head, amused by the vendor’s charm. “Alright, alright. I’ll take all three.”

He handed over the ten yuan and took the masks, passing one to Yan Qiao Qiao, who beamed with excitement.

As they walked away, Lin Xian couldn’t help but chuckle again. “You know, soon there will be official Rhine Cat masks on the market,” he said to the vendor. “Make sure to support the real deal.”

The vendor flashed a grin, tossing his thinning hair back. “Next time for sure.”

…

Yan Qiao Qiao wasted no time slipping on her mask, transforming instantly into the mighty Rhine Cat. Without hesitation, she sprinted across the grass, diving into the children’s superhero game with a burst of enthusiasm.

Lin Xian watched her run off before turning to Zhao Ying Jun, holding out one of the remaining masks. “Here, one for you.”

Zhao Ying Jun took the mask, inspecting it thoughtfully. “We should probably get an official manufacturer to start producing these Rhine Cat masks,” she mused. “It’s not really about the money, you know? It’s more about teaching kids to value supporting official products.”

Lin Xian nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. Watching her examine the mask stirred memories he’d long tried to bury.

The Rhine Cat mask… It seemed to be at the heart of everything. In the First Dream, Big Cat Face had worn a Rhine Cat mask. In the Second Dream, somehow, that same mask had appeared on his own face.

And after that, the dreams stopped being about masks.

The concept of masks—it made sense, after all. Masks were meant to conceal, to hide who you really were. Unless, of course, you were up to no good. Lin Xian let his gaze drift upwards, the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead, casting dappled shadows across the ground.

The 0.0000336 world line…

What would the Seventh Dream bring?

Before he could ponder further, Yan Qiao Qiao came bounding back, her face completely obscured by the Rhine Cat mask. She looked up at him, breathless.

“All done,” she announced.

Lin Xian blinked, caught off guard. “All done with what?”

Yan Qiao Qiao pointed over to where the children had been playing.

Lin Xian followed her finger, and his stomach dropped. Every single child on the lawn lay flat on the ground as if they’d been knocked out cold. Not one was left standing.

“Oh no…” Lin Xian muttered, his scalp prickling with the realization of what was about to happen when the parents noticed.

Quickly, he lifted the edge of Yan Qiao Qiao’s mask, peering into her wide, innocent eyes. “You know, everyone was just playing. You weren’t supposed to take it that seriously.”

Yan Qiao Qiao blinked, her expression confused. “I wasn’t serious,” she replied matter-of-factly. “I didn’t even use my full strength. They just fell down.”

Lin Xian let out a nervous laugh, unsure whether to be amused or alarmed. “Right. Well… maybe next time don’t go down that path. You know, the one where everyone ends up on the ground. It tends to make people feel… unsafe.”