Genius Club

Chapter 118: Chapter 113: The Judge of Life and Death

Lin Xian raised his head and looked at the incomplete moon in the sky.

Zhao Yingjun, this woman’s life, is simply too full of secrets, too mysterious.

She established a make-up selling company, MX Company, yet she became the super tycoon responsible for building a steel metropolis in the future world.

And then there’s that enigmatic “Zhao Corporation” of the Imperial Capital…

What kind of torrent is swirling within all this?

Lin Xian sat in the chair; his hands propping up his chin.

No matter what.

To save Zhao Yingjun, to rewrite the course of history, to change her original fate,

the first step…

is to figure out how she died.

The incident, the timing, the location, they’re all crucial.

Only by clearly knowing how she died, when she died, and where she died can I ensure a foolproof rescue of Zhao Yingjun.

Trying to save someone from 600 years ago with a vague piece of information from 600 years later is no easy task.

But there is still one important clue at the moment.

Lin Xian took a pen and pressed its tip against the paper, circling the words “Died at the age of 23”.

This is a very important clue.

Zhao Yingjun is now 23 years old.

And when Lin Xian graduated and came to the company last July, she was also 23.

This woman is no witch… She can’t be 23 forever.

“Since the book clearly states that she died at the age of 23, it means that her death date won’t exceed her 24th birthday.”

This conclusion should be correct unless there’s an error in the book’s record, in which case even gods couldn’t save Zhao Yingjun.

Lin Xian turned on his phone and began searching for information about MX Company, as well as interviews with Zhao Yingjun.

MX Company was already somewhat famous domestically.

As such a young CEO, Zhao Yingjun naturally garnered a lot of media attention and there were plenty of reports about her.

Quickly, Lin Xian found her date of birth—

January 15, 1999

“January 15th? That soon!?”

He hurriedly looked at the electronic clock on the bedside table.

The display showed:

January 12, 2023

00:37

“…Such a coincidence?”

Lin Xian review his thoughts in his mind.

In other words, the latest date the shooting incident that led to Zhao Yingjun’s death could have occurred is January 14th.

Because after January 15th, Zhao Yingjun would be strictly 24 years old and could no longer be described as dying at the age of 23.

Reality and the infinite loops of the Dream World are not the same.

Reality does not offer many opportunities to retry.

Zhao Yingjun has only one life, and I only have one resurrection coin.

A tiny mistake can lead to a vast error.

This is a rescue as precarious as walking on thin ice…

“I should treat every day as Zhao Yingjun’s possible death day and not harbor any chances of luck.”

The range of the death date has been generally determined.

As for the specific time, only the phrase “passed away at midnight” gives a rough estimate.

“The time range for midnight…”

Lin Xian pondered for a moment.

When people talk about midnight, it should be around 12 a.m., right?

At least in journalistic terms, before 12 a.m. is referred to as midnight; after 12 a.m. is considered early morning.

Since it’s specifically mentioned as “midnight,”

it means the time of death did not go past 12 a.m.

So.

It can be roughly determined.

[In the original course of history, Zhao Yingjun will die on the evening of one of the following days: January 12, 13, or 14.]

This, then, is the time of Zhao Yingjun’s death.

…

Now that the time of death has been ascertained.

The next step is to figure out the incident that triggered the death, to understand why Zhao Yingjun died.

Lin Xian had already considered this.

Although the book states “died in an accident,” was it truly an accident?

Is it possible that Zhao Yingjun’s death, like Big Face Cat’s father and Professor Xu Yun’s deaths, was murder disguised as an accident?

But Lin Xian felt the likelihood was not that high.

Because if the murderer behind Zhao Yingjun’s death was the same Black Hand who killed Xu Yun, then the time of death would be “early morning,” not “midnight.”

Furthermore, the manner of death would likely be “car accident,” not “shooting.”

“I shouldn’t corner myself into a dead end; it serves no purpose.”

Lin Xian shook his head, stopping himself from thinking too deeply.

After all, his primary goal is to save someone, not to solve a case.

Saving lives is the first priority.

Therefore, whether it is an accident or not, I can proceed as if it were an accident since the shooting is a fact, comparatively speaking the nature of it is not as important.

…

Alright.

Now, the approximate time and cause of Zhao Yingjun’s death have been deduced.

The last remaining element is the location of the death.

The death location is essentially where the shooting incident took place.

But unfortunately…

Based on the information available, it is simply impossible to deduce the location of the shooting incident and Zhao Yingjun’s place of death.

There’s just too little information.

“However, it doesn’t matter.”

Lin Xian put down his pen and stretched.

With the two deductions above, even without knowing the exact location of death, it’s not a big problem.

He already had a rough idea of how to prevent Zhao Yingjun’s death—

[Change the original course of history, that is, to change Zhao Yingjun’s original schedule, so that she avoids being involved in this shooting incident, and thus avoids death.]

“Even though I don’t know where Zhao Yingjun was planning to go on the evenings from January 12 to January 14… As long as I find a way to change this, and make her go to a new place, I can change the original course of history.”

Lin Xian nodded his head.

This was the simplest and most effective method.

Assume that on these three evenings, Zhao Yingjun was planning to go to places A, B, and C respectively.

Then all she has to do is change her plans.

Instead, go to places D, E, and F on these three days.

There’s a high probability that this will help her avoid the accidental shooting incident.

How should I do it?

Lin Xian stood up and took a couple of turns around the bedroom…

“Got it.”

…

After waking up, Lin Xian headed straight for the company.

He had organized the materials for this segment of work, ready to report to Zhao Yingjun.

But unfortunately, Zhao Yingjun was out on an errand and wouldn’t be back until the afternoon.

He waited until the afternoon.

22nd floor.

Zhao Yingjun’s office.

“Very good.”

Zhao Yingjun nodded in satisfaction after reviewing the materials Lin Xian had brought:

“You’re as reliable as ever, doing a beautiful job on various matters.”

“Thank you.”

Lin Xian responded coolly.

Looking at Zhao Yingjun who had been marked by the death note…

“Do you have time this evening?”

“What is it?”

Zhao Yingjun stood up, her head down tidying up the miscellaneous files on the desk, not looking at Lin Xian:

“Is there something you need?”

“Yeah.”

Lin Xian nodded with a smile:

“I’ve booked a nice restaurant, and I would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”

Zhao Yingjun’s hand halting mid-air as she cleared the desk.

A pencil rolled off the table.

Clatter clatter…

Thud!

The pencil rolled across the table, fell to the floor, and disappeared under the desk.

From then on, the vast office was silent, only the withered branches and leaves of the plants swayed feebly.

A gust of wind from an unknown source.

“You want to invite me to dinner?”

Zhao Yingjun let out an inexplicable chuckle.

She put down the files in her hands, extended her left index finger, swept the stray hair on her cheek behind her ear, and looked up at Lin Xian with a smile:

“Is there a reason?”

Lin Xian nodded again:@@novelbin@@

“Nothing special, just to express my gratitude for your trust and the promotions. You’ve helped me a lot, and I want to thank you at least… After all, you’ve given me many opportunities to showcase my abilities, allowing me to have the life I have now.”

“Is that so…”

Zhao Yingjun bowed her head again and continued to organize the files:

“I don’t think that’s necessary. Lin Xian, everything you’ve achieved is deserved; it’s the result of your own efforts and a testament to your talent.”

“Gold will always shine, all of this is your merit, my role is minuscule. Besides, you’re the one who helped MX Company through its biggest crisis, if anyone should be grateful, it should be me thanking you.”

“Actually, there’s something else.”

Lin Xian quickly added.

He had anticipated that Zhao Yingjun might decline his dinner invitation, so he needed a more compelling reason to persuade her.

“Oh?”

Zhao Yingjun raised her head again, looking at Lin Xian with interest:

“Let’s hear it.”

Lin Xian deliberately paused, as if with significance:

“I’m thinking of leaving MX Company.”