Genius Club

Chapter 155: Chapter 4 Curiosity Chapter 155: Chapter 4 Curiosity “`

“What a joke!”

“`

Gao Yang slammed the table:

“For the record, there are only 41 people at this reunion!

Where did you get 42 from?

Did you pull a ghost out of thin air?!”

Xia Yuan suddenly coughed violently beside him and grabbed Gao Yang:

“Ahem…

It’s the New Year; don’t talk nonsense.”

…

42.

Lin Xian instantly felt sober.

Again, that mysterious and odd number.

He squinted at Gao Yang:

“How many people actually came today?”

“Definitely 41!

Even if the Jade Emperor himself attended, it would still be 41!” Gao Yang abruptly stood up, took out a crumpled list from his pocket, and showed it to Lin Xian:

“Look!”

Lin Xian took the crinkled list, which had the classmates’ names printed in three columns, and indeed, the final number was 41.

There was a check mark behind each classmate’s name; everyone was accounted for.

“I refuse to believe this nonsense!”

Gao Yang burped, turned around, and started counting from table to table:

“1, 2, 3…

39, 40, 41!”

After counting, he gave a cold snort and looked at the server:

“See!

There are clearly 41 people in this room!”

“…” Lin Xian looked at Gao Yang speechlessly:

“Are you saying you don’t count as a person?”

“Huh?” Gao Yang scratched his head and had a sudden epiphany!

The private room burst into laughter immediately, ha ha ha ha ha filled with a jovial atmosphere.

Lin Xian looked down at the list in his hand again…

As expected, Gao Yang’s name wasn’t even on it; the guy had completely forgotten to count himself!

“You really are a character,” Lin Xian teased.

“Hahaha!

My bad, my bad!

Waiter, 42 servings will do!

Hahaha…”

Gao Yang sat down, laughing awkwardly, and raised his glass again:

“Come on!

Let’s celebrate!”

“Celebrate what?

Class monitor, you should drink three more as a penalty!” a classmate at the table joked.

Everybody laughed together once again.

But only Lin Xian…

Couldn’t really smile.

He knew that this time, the number 42 wasn’t deliberate, nor did it carry any special meaning.

It was purely Gao Yang’s blunder.

But…

It was still 42.

If every blunder ultimately points to 42, are they really blunders?

The sample size was too small for Lin Xian to make a judgement.

He just found it strange.

Two people at the reunion gave him an odd feeling.

One was Tang Xin, and the other was Zhou Duanyun.

[Both seemed too familiar with him…

perhaps overly so.]

Zhou Duanyun was understandable, even if they hadn’t interacted much in high school; after all, they had spent three years together, and it made sense that Zhou would remember his face clearly.

But as for Tang Xin…

They were classmates for just a brief time, almost like strangers just passing by each other.

Yet Tang Xin recognized him at first glance from afar and was so certain…

this was what Lin Xian couldn’t comprehend.

Then there was the incident earlier in Zhao Yingjun’s office.

The woman who claimed to be Huang Que listed his personal information as if it were precious treasures at her fingertips, even knowing so clearly the Space-time Law he had whimsically created…

What’s the deal with these people?

Could they all read minds?

Or was he, like Truman in ‘The Truman Show,’ devoid of any privacy, with every detail of his life being broadcast by a TV station around the clock?

…

Lin Xian picked up his glass of alcohol, and with Gao Yang’s cheering, celebrated the arrival of the watermelon plate and downed a drink.

He truly drank quite a bit today.

His head was already feeling somewhat dizzy, but the confused thoughts meeting the chaotic alcohol actually gave Lin Xian a strong impulse to figure everything out thoroughly.

All along, he had been too passive.

Pulled to and fro by various maelstroms.

Now that the clue to the Genius Club had completely vanished, and since that Huang Que had warned him that trouble would find him even if he didn’t seek it, even mentioning that his game of ‘Catch Me If You Can’ had already begun.

Then the only straw he could grasp now…

was the “cosmological constant 42”.

He didn’t know if the 42nd classmate from the recent blunder was some sort of sign from the universe to remind him.

But…

It was indeed time to set out, to visit Shanxi University and meet the original author of ‘Introduction to the Cosmological Constant’.

The 42nd classmate?

Lin Xian bit into the watermelon, a light chuckle escaping him unbidden.

An interesting thought.

But who was the 42nd classmate truly?

Gao Yang, who forgot to include himself?

Tang Xin, who hardly qualified as a classmate?

Or Zhou Duanyun, who was the last to arrive at the hotel?

“What’s up, Lin Xian, you seem so happy?”

Turning his head.

There was Tang Xin, smiling cheerfully at him.

Lin Xian smiled faintly and shook his head:

“Nothing much, just reminiscing about our youthful days, remembering the rich years gone by.”

“Well said!” Gao Yang slammed the table!

Lifting his glass high:

“Everybody, raise your glasses!

To our youth!”

“…” Lin Xian felt that Gao Yang might actually be a genius.

“Come on, Lin Xian, let’s have a drink.

I haven’t had a chance to drink with you today,” Zhou Duanyun approached with a glass in hand, smiling, as they clinked glasses:

“Actually, back in school, I always envied you.”

“There’s nothing to envy about me,” Lin Xian replied with a courteous smile:

“On the other hand, your current success is more enviable.”

“You can’t say it like that.” Zhou Duanyun shook his head, his gaze fixed on Lin Xian, his eyes reflecting nostalgia for the days of youth:

“In high school, you were popular, good at sports, and even won the parkour championship three times.

Both the boys and girls in the class gathered around you, and everyone really liked you.

You were also a good person, always standing up for everyone.

I truly admired you.”

“It might be a bit embarrassing to say, but in high school, my biggest dream was to become someone like you, someone who could be respected, trusted, and recognized by everyone.”

“Come on, you’re exaggerating.”

Lin Xian was genuinely surprised by Zhou Duanyun’s flattery.

He had thought this guy was seriously showing off by driving a Rolls-Royce and now was heaping such high praise, was there some other motive:

“There’s a saying, ‘the child prodigy may not turn out to be a capable adult.’ That’s exactly who I am.

As a kid, I could run and jump, but growing up and stepping into society, the real test began.”

“To be frank, I was just a little bit capable in high school, and now I’m just a wage earner.

I’m far from being a big boss like you, who is a late bloomer and gaining momentum.”

Lin Xian watched Zhou Duanyun with a smile:

“If we really switched lives, you definitely wouldn’t want to.”

“I would.”

Zhou Duanyun, clearly having drunk quite a bit, his eyes reddish, still answered decisively:

“Of course, I would.” He laughed softly:

“In fact, all these years I’ve worked so hard are just to catch up with you guys from back then.”

“You’ve had too much to drink.” Lin Xian patted Zhou Duanyun’s shoulder, finished his drink with him, and returned to their respective seats.

He wasn’t unaware of Zhou Duanyun’s feelings.

Some people spend their lives healing their childhood, while others use their childhood to heal their lives.

For the poor and insecure high school Zhou Duanyun, today’s Rolls-Royce Phantom might not compare to a pair of sneakers from high school.

Lin Xian knew.

In high school, Zhou Duanyun’s clothes were always tattered, as were his shoes.

He often sat at his desk, unwilling to come out, for fear that others would see his cracked shoe glue.

Even so, his classmates took care to manage Zhou Duanyun’s emotions.

But it was this deliberate “care” that sometimes was the needle that hurt Zhou Duanyun the most deeply.

Good intentions turned into bad.

But fortunately, Zhou Duanyun made it, and at today’s class reunion, he was the brightest star, with a Rolls-Royce Phantom enough to make everyone forget his unenviable and humble high school days.

Actually.

Everyone had long forgotten.

The only one who probably couldn’t forget…

was Zhou Duanyun himself.

…

After five years, the classmates had endless topics to talk about.

People came and went intermittently, but those who stayed kept gathering at tables, and the last people, including Lin Xian’s table, survived until the early morning, reluctantly parting ways.

All the girls had left already.

Only Tang Xin remained, sitting silently next to Lin Xian.

She didn’t contribute much to the conversation, just listening with a slight smile, seemingly happy, staying up late with these drinking buddies.

No party lasts forever.

The class reunion finally ended, and everyone at the last table had drunk a lot…

after all, with Gao Yang, the drink-encouraging demon, it was impossible to drink less.

People were making their way home, Zhou Duanyun had a driver and also gave a lift to classmates on his way, others called for a designated driver or a taxi.

Lin Xian and Gao Yang were definitely the last to leave.

Gao Yang went to the service desk to pay the bill, and Lin Xian walked Tang Xin to the restaurant entrance:

“Tang Xin, how did you get here?”

“I took a cab.”

Tang Xin pointed to the waiting taxi by the road:

“I’ll just cab it back home.”

She smiled and waved at Lin Xian:

“Then I’ll be going first, Lin Xian.

Take it slow on the road with Gao Yang, and we’ll see each other again in Donghai City!”

Lin Xian nodded with a smile:

“Then let’s meet in Donghai City, and be careful on your way home, especially since it’s so late.”

As if by reflex, Lin Xian lifted his wrist to look at his watch—

00:41

“Wait a minute!”

Lin Xian took a step forward and grasped Tang Xin’s delicate wrist.

“Eh?”

Tang Xin turned around in surprise.

Looking at Lin Xian, looking at her wrist that was being held tightly and even a bit painfully.

She blinked her eyes.

Looking at Lin Xian.

With some confusion.

Lin Xian didn’t let go of her wrist, realizing his breath smelled heavily of alcohol, but he still managed to respond, saying with a smile:

“Actually…

there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

“Sure.”

Tang Xin turned back around, still as relaxed and straightforward:

“Shall we find another place to talk, or…?”

“Here is fine.”

Lin Xian made sure she wouldn’t leave offended, then let go of her wrist.

He admitted his actions were a bit abrupt…

but remembering the night Professor Xu Yun died, he couldn’t help worrying whether something might happen to Tang Xin at 00:42.

After all…

Tang Xin’s field of study was also hibernation.

Lin Xian glanced at the taxi by the side of the road.

The driver inside was lazily swiping his phone, and there were no other vehicles in sight, not for a long stretch…

Maybe he really was being too sensitive.

But in any case, it would be better to delay past 00:42.

If his deduction was correct, the killers would only strike between 00:42 and 00:43.

“What’s up, Lin Xian?”

Tang Xin scratched the short hair behind her ear, then stood with her hands behind her back, swaying slightly on the balls of her feet, smiling at the silent Lin Xian:

“Why aren’t you talking?”

Lin Xian came to his senses and looked at her:

“Actually, I’m still curious about something.”

“What’s that?”

“You mentioned earlier that the side effects of hibernation aren’t just memory loss but also other more severe side effects.”

“Yes.” Tang Xin giggled lightly, nodding as if to relax.

She dropped her hands, stopped swaying, and stood still:

“Are you really curious?”

“I am a bit curious.”

Lin Xian said with a smile:

“Could you explain it to me?”