Genius Club

Chapter 139: Chapter 129 Peace

Big Face Cat waved a big hand, instructing everyone to put on their masks and board the van.

Lin Xian’s face bore the Rhein Cat mask, as always.

CC still wore the Ultraman mask.

This scene reminded Lin Xian of The First Dreamland, where the three of them sat together in the same van…

It was quite comical.

Only today, there were a few more people in the van, Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, San Pang, and Lee Ningning.

Lee Ningning also wore an Ultraman mask, which was of a different design from CC’s.

The two sat on either side of Lin Xian.

The bumpy van drove on the dirt road, swaying from side to side. The fragrance of the white tea on the left mingled with the scent of the roses on the right, causing Lin Xian to feel somewhat confused.

“We’re here, let’s get off!”

Big Face Cat still parked the van on the dirt slope, and everyone got out.

Seven people, each wearing a mask, lined up and stood atop the hillock, looking out over the neon-lit New Donghai City in the distance…

This inexplicably gave Lin Xian the feeling of the Dawn Organization attacking the Hidden Leaf Village, or Zhang Mazi suppressing bandits.

Sometimes, he was quite glad.

He felt as though he had an extra world out of thin air, an extra world where he could freely embark on adventurous fantasies.

This was a life he could never experience in reality, but now, he had to repeat it every day on the periphery of New Donghai City.

He had often thought lately…

“What is the significance of having these unique dreamscapes?”

He remembered what Zhao Yingjun said to him under the moonlight on the overpass:

“You must do what you like, do what you are willing to persist in, do something you’re willing to bet your lifetime on, not to prove anything to others, but because you’re genuinely willing to do it.”

If there really was such a thing, what would it be?

During this time, Lin Xian’s mindset had indeed changed quite a bit.

He originally thought many things were unrelated to him, including the dreams that repeated every day, the world that kept getting destroyed, the tomorrow that could never be reached…

These things were too far from him.

A full 600 years later.

What did it have to do with him?

Destruction, regardless, happiness and pain, how were they related to him?

All he needed was to live happily.

All he needed was to vent and explore.

But now…

His thoughts had indeed changed a little.

Those in the game are blind to the truth, and he also suddenly realized this—

“In the past, he only saw Big Face Cat, CC, and the others as emotionless NPCs, but now… he inexplicably began to regard them as his friends, friends with flesh and blood, with feelings and lives.”

It wasn’t just the two of them.

It was the same with many others.

Back in the Waste Treatment Plant, even though Lin Xian knew that everyone would die after 00:42…

He still braved the drone’s gunfire and threw Lee Ningning over the wall, saving the girl who stubbornly refused to accept fate.

Lin Xian didn’t understand why he did this.

He couldn’t figure it out.

If everyone would die, would inevitably die, would sooner or later die… why take the risk of his brains being blown out to save a girl who could only live a few more minutes?

He had pondered this before.

If that moment were to come again, would he do the same?

The answer is yes.

Even if it happened ten thousand times, even if it restarted ten thousand times, he would still throw Lee Ningning to safety in that instant…

Even if they were all going to die.

Only able to live for a few more minutes.

But Lee Ningning…

“She was a living person.”

At an age like a blooming flower, she immersed herself in trash heaps filled with foul juices every day, just to throw a few books beyond the high walls.

People’s hearts are made of flesh.

Thinking about the lives of contemporary girls in reality, how could one not feel sympathy?

Lee Ningning could have been like Chu Anqing, she could have been a princess too.

But she didn’t believe in fate.

She wanted to change all that was before her.

That piece of bark that fell to the ground and gradually unfolded truly showed Lin Xian life’s defiance.

And CC.

And Big Face Cat.

They were all striving, all fighting desperately, all defiant, all disbelieving in fate.

Lin Xian now.

Could no longer treat this dreamland as a mere fantasy for venting.

During the day, he would miss these friends.

After falling asleep, he couldn’t wait to meet them.

He very much liked Big Face Cat’s simple and honest silly look,

He loved the youthful promise of Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang,@@novelbin@@

He loved the dumplings made by Sister-in-law Lian,

He worried about the uncertain fate of Big Face Cat’s parents but dared not bring it up to Big Face Cat,

He liked Lee Ningning’s stubborn personality,

He admired Lee Cheng’s vision to let his daughter engage in such dangerous work,

And CC, that mysterious and magical girl who liked to argue.

Lin Xian gradually fell in love with all of this.

He even thought many times…

How wonderful it would be if the dream could last one more day, so he wouldn’t have to get to know these friends again, and he could swagger up to them, throw his arm around their shoulders, and say with a laugh,

“Hey, I’m back!”

Lin Xian closed his eyes…

The neon lights of New Donghai City seemed to be burnt onto his retina, lingering for a long time.

If someone had told him a few months ago,

“Lin Xian, there is a way to save the world 600 years from now, where no one will die, and time flows again. Do you want to give it a shot?”

Then he would have answered without hesitation,

“What do I care? For a matter 600 years later, look for someone 600 years in the future.”

But now.

If asked the same question.

Lin Xian thought he would probably answer…

“I want to try.”

“What?”

Lee Ningning lifted her head, looking at the tall man murmuring in front her.

“Nothing.”

Lin Xian smiled and patted Lee Ningning’s head:

“Just some things… I suddenly felt like trying.”

“Hey—!”

Big Face Cat turned his head in shock, looking at Lin Xian:

“You little rascal, how dare you touch! I war—” “Get lost!”

…

20:42

A group of seven people squatted outside the high walls of Waste Treatment Plant 221 silently waiting for the blind spot in the drone surveillance to appear.

“This is for you.”

Lee Ningning took a small Peace Wallet sachet out of her pocket and placed it in Lin Xian’s hand.

He looked at it.

This was a neatly handmade small sachet.

The size was only half that of a bank card, quite small, and he didn’t know what was inside. There was no fragrance to smell, and it felt slightly hard to the touch, like many granules.

On both sides of the sachet, the word “Peace” was embroidered tightly stitch by stitch.

It was clear that the person who sewed this Peace Wallet was skilled with the needle.

“I really like people who are as brave as you,” Lee Ningning whispered:

“For many years, I’ve heard countless people boast, saying what they would do inside New Donghai City… But you are the first one I’ve seen who really dares to try.”

“Actually, I really wanted to persuade you not to go, it’s truly too dangerous. But my dad also advised you for a long time, and you still insisted on going… This means that entering New Donghai City must be a very important thing for you, right? Perhaps… even more important than life itself.”

Lin Xian nodded.

Lee Ningning smiled, looking at the Peace Wallet in Lin Xian’s palm:

“My mom sewed this Peace Wallet. I’ve carried it for many years and never had an accident, it’s very effective.”

“That’s too valuable, you should keep it for yourself.”

Lin Xian tried to put the Peace Wallet back into Lee Ningning’s hand.

However…

Lee Ningning shook her head.

Her slightly matte hands took hold of Lin Xian’s wide palm, gripping it tightly, clutching the Peace Wallet embroidered with the word “Peace.”

“Lin Xian.”

Lee Ningning lifted her head, looking at him:

“I wish you safety.”