Genius Club

Chapter 158: Chapter 6: A Genius Beyond His Time Chapter 158: Chapter 6: A Genius Beyond His Time Entirely mistaken.

This was already the second time Lin Xian had heard these words.

To the mathematical experts 600 years later, their evaluation of “Introduction to the Cosmological Constant” was the same as Teacher Qi Yan’s current assessment of Liu Feng…

Entirely mistaken!

For a scholar, these four words were as devastating as a mighty blow.

But then again.

Perhaps it was precisely because everyone thought “Introduction to the Cosmological Constant” was wrong, invaluable, that the book managed to remain unscathed over 600 years and even escaped the Genius Club’s Five Fingers Mountain.

Otherwise, with the Genius Club’s such cautious approach.

Let’s not talk about how long Liu Feng could live.

Just the drafts Liu Feng wrote on paper, likely, not a single sheet would have remained in this world.

If one were to reason from this perspective…

[Perhaps, the present Genius Club equally doesn’t understand what the Cosmological Constant is, doesn’t grasp what exactly 42 is, what 42 really signifies.]

[They also didn’t comprehend the true nature and power of the Cosmological Constant until the year 2624, when Big Face Cat’s father calculated the result of 42.]

Quite interesting.

A theory everyone deemed wrong was in fact the most correct.

The result of the Cosmological Constant being the number 42 was not important, the important thing was…

why it was 42, and what 42 meant.

Undoubtedly.

The person best suited to answer this, was Big Face Cat’s father, the unique insider in the flow of history.

And the second person closest to this answer…

Lin Xian believed, might be Liu Feng, the author of “Introduction to the Cosmological Constant.”

…

Since this mentor Qi Yan also considered “Introduction to the Cosmological Constant” to be entirely mistaken, there was no need to continue the exchange.

Lin Xian got Liu Feng’s address from him and left.

He also found out on the way.

Liu Feng and Li Qiqi were both students of Shanxi University, both from poor family backgrounds, almost like orphans, who met and fell in love through working part-time and being frugal.

After their undergraduate studies, Liu Feng continued on to graduate school, while Li Qiqi started working in society to support Liu Feng, earning money to support his studies and research.

It’s just a pity…

Fate often snaps at the thinnest strain, calamity always seeks out those already suffering.

Shortly after Liu Feng’s master graduation, just as the two were discussing marriage, Li Qiqi was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is known as the king of cancers mainly because it has the lowest survival rate and the highest death rate, with most diagnosed individuals not living past three years and a five-year survival rate of only 5%.

No wonder.

Lin Xian recalled the small slip of paper found in the book “Introduction to the Cosmological Constant” 600 years later, it seems, that was indeed Li Qiqi’s last words before her imminent death.

“Hope I can still meet the living Li Qiqi.”

Lin Xian left Shanxi University with Liu Feng’s home address, took a taxi to their residence.

…

Liu Feng’s home was quite remote.

Far from the city center, in the very corner of a county, it was evident his living conditions were not good.

It was already dark when Lin Xian arrived.

This place was full of haphazardly constructed homes, just as Lin Xian was wondering where to start looking for Liu Feng’s home…

Squeak.

An iron gate of a low-walled courtyard was pushed open, and a man wearing a yellow helmet and a yellow vest came out pushing a motorcycle.

On the back seat of the motorcycle, a large yellow box was tied up.

This!

This familiar color scheme!

A food delivery outfit!

And when this delivery guy raised his head to adjust his helmet strap, Lin Xian happened to see his face—

“Liu Feng!?”

Lin Xian’s voice was quite loud.

Because seeing such a contrasting outfit on a master’s degree holder was really too surprising!

The guy was slightly startled and looked at Lin Xian:

“Who are you?”

Seeing his reaction, it was definitely Liu Feng, no doubt about it,

Lin Xian stepped forward, extending his hand to shake hands with Liu Feng:

“Hello Liu Feng, my name is Lin Xian.”

Liu Feng shook hands with Lin Xian in a daze, then looked at him:

“What do you want?

I don’t seem to know you.”

Lin Xian explained his intention:

“I’ve met your mentor Qi Yan at Shanxi University, and to be honest, I’m very interested in your research project.

I want to fund you.”

“Which project?” Liu Feng was quite surprised:

“The Cosmological Constant?”

“Yes,” Lin Xian nodded:

“Even though many people say your theory is wrong, I think it might actually be right.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to provide you with a laboratory and financial support, hoping you can continue your research.”

Liu Feng chuckled lightly.

Then he lowered his head, opening the food delivery app on his phone’s holder:

“Thank you for saying that.

But…

I’m sorry, things like the Cosmological Constant don’t matter to me anymore.”

“Is it because of Li Qiqi?”

Lin Xian spoke frankly:

“I can also bear all of Li Qiqi’s treatment costs.

Don’t be fooled by my young appearance; I actually am quite wealthy.”

“Is this all what Teacher Qi Yan told you?” Liu Feng said blandly as he operated his cellphone.

Lin Xian nodded again:

“I understand a bit about your situation…

I think you’re mainly doing food delivery to earn money, right?”

“Yes,” Liu Feng sighed:

“Qi Qi’s treatment is very expensive, with special medication, regular dialysis, chemotherapy, and so on.

I do some tutoring normally, and I run food deliveries in my spare time.

An ordinary job can’t cover the costs of a cancer patient, especially for people like us without any family wealth.”

“So…” Lin Xian patted Liu Feng’s shoulder:

“Why not consider the offer I just made?

I can fund your research and also take care of Li Qiqi’s medical expenses.

It would be beneficial for both of you, so why not do it?”

“Thank you for your kindness, but I’m sorry, I’ve already decided not to research the cosmological constant anymore.”

Ding-dong.

A notification for a food delivery order sounded on Liu Feng’s cellphone.

As he swiped the phone screen, he said softly:

“Teacher Qi Yan indeed told you a lot, but there are things even Teacher Qi Yan doesn’t know.

Qi Qi has always been in poor health.

Originally, to let me attend graduate school and conduct research, she worked several jobs a day…

Her current condition, I’m afraid, is largely due to the exhaustion from back then.”

“Now that I think about it, Teacher Qi Yan was right, we kids from backgrounds like ours should prioritize living.

It was my fault for being so obstinately fixated back then.

And most importantly…”

Liu Feng lifted his head and looked at Lin Xian, his expression one of utter desolation:

“Qi Qi is in the late stages of pancreatic cancer and doesn’t have long to live.

With the limited time left, I want to spend as much of it with her as possible.”

Lin Xian looked into his eyes, which seemed like a stagnant pool of water:

“Don’t you want to know…

whether your ‘Introduction to the Cosmological Constant’ is right or wrong?”

“It’s wrong,”

Liu Feng answered without hesitation:

“Both within and beyond mathematics, it’s undoubtedly wrong.”

“I’m sorry, I have to go.”

Liu Feng kicked up the motorcycle’s stand and took one last glance at Lin Xian:

“I haven’t researched the cosmological constant in a long time…

If you hadn’t mentioned it today, I would’ve almost forgotten about it.”

Putt-putt-putt-putt-putt…

The motorcycle, belching black smoke, sped away and disappeared into a labyrinth of alleyways.

…

Lin Xian, feeling the evening breeze and smelling the exhaust that gradually dissipated into the air, watched the direction in which Liu Feng had left…

Liu Feng’s eyes had that lifeless look of utter hopelessness, like a walking corpse.

He seemed indifferent to everything.

But Lin Xian believed…

He must have fought and strived at some point, just that the world was truly too unkind to the little guys at the bottom.

The hardships of life are enough to crush all dreams and perseverance.

Not every artist who dies becomes a Van Gogh.

And a more painful fact is…

When Van Gogh was alive, he wasn’t Van Gogh; he was just an unknown soldier, his paintings worthless.

Just like Liu Feng in front of him.

Perhaps.

His research was simply too ahead of its time…

Far ahead of the era.

Too far ahead.

Even 600 years later, humans still couldn’t understand his works, categorizing it as a valueless, entirely erroneous “testament of love.”

It didn’t even qualify to be displayed in the academic publications section.

Lin Xian suddenly thought of a comment about Mendel, the founder of genetics—

[Genius surpasses its time, bringing only loneliness and contempt.]

In this world now…

Perhaps only he firmly believes that ‘Introduction to the Cosmological Constant’ is correct.

Really only him.

Because from Liu Feng’s eyes just now…

Lin Xian could feel that even he himself had little confidence in ‘Introduction to the Cosmological Constant’.

Or maybe…

he had given up on himself after countless rejections and denials.

The dark clouds dispersed.

Moonlight filtered down.

The secluded suburb became bright as well, but most likely inhabited mostly by factory workers.

At a time when every home should be brightly lit and bustling, this place was dim and lifeless.

Creak————

The door of Liu Feng’s small yard with a low wall opened.

After about fifteen seconds, a wheelchair slowly emerged.

A frail girl wearing a large white beret, dressed in white cotton and covered with a white blanket, wheeled herself out from the house.

Her arms were very thin…

It was evident, just turning the wheels of the chair was taking all her strength.

It took her several minutes to laboriously move from the house to the middle of the yard, where she looked up at the dark yet bright night sky.

Perhaps noticing Lin Xian’s gaze…

She turned her head, looked at Lin Xian with a slight smile, nodded, and greeted him.

The girl was really thin.

She was just slightly more fleshed out than Xu Yiyi lying in the hospital bed.

There was no need to guess, this must be Liu Feng’s girlfriend, or perhaps his already wedded wife, Li Qiqi.

Lin Xian slowly smiled as he walked up to the chest-high courtyard wall, deliberately maintaining a certain distance, and waved to Li Qiqi:

“Hello, Qi Qi, may I have a chat with you?”