Genius Club

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 00:42
 

Met before?

Lin Xian was somewhat surprised.

In theory, there shouldn’t have been any intersection between their life trajectories.

Even if they were both studying at the same university, Lin Xian had graduated in July of this year, while Chu Anqing only started her studies in September, representing a perfect case of ships passing in the night.

Before today, the closest they had been to each other was probably the distance between the presidential platform and the drill ground’s fence during the military training opening ceremony.

Lin Xian couldn’t think of where else they might have met.

“Have we met before?” Lin Xian asked,

“Where was it?”

“It’s not in reality…” Chu Anqing said with a slight smile,

“In our dance class, the teacher often showed us recordings of performances by seniors from the past years, all taken during various school anniversary celebrations. Before each performance, there was a host who would introduce it, and one male host appeared quite often.”

“The moment I saw you just now, I felt you looked familiar, and your voice was very familiar too. Now I remember, that host was you, wasn’t it!”

“Senior Lin Xian, when you were at school… did you often host various anniversary events? I have a good memory, I usually don’t get it wrong.”

…

So that’s how they had ‘met’.

“Yes, that must have been me.”

Lin Xian explained with a smile,

“During my four years at East Sea University, I did often host various campus events. I was fortunate that my teachers took an interest in nurturing me, giving me so many opportunities to practice.”

“You’re too modest, Senior!”

Once the conversation started, they found it easy to chat.

About the school, teachers, campus anecdotes, gossip… the topics seemed endless.

As they were talking, Lin Xian felt a little dazed.

It seemed like the person he was talking to wasn’t Chu Anqing.

It was CC.

That night in his dream, they had leaned against the safe, chatting like old friends.

To CC, Lin Xian might have been just a temporary team member cobbled together at random.

But to Lin Xian, he had already spent many repeated moments with CC, so calling them old friends wasn’t an exaggeration.

Now, chatting with Chu Anqing as seniors and juniors, he felt the same ease and lack of barriers.

This truly amazed him.

Was this wealthy young lady just naturally outgoing, or had he started to treat her as a shadow of CC?

He couldn’t figure it out, but indeed, talking with her felt very natural.

Until.

Lin Xian happened to look up…

And saw Zhao Yingjun’s motherly gaze, her aunt-like smile spreading as she watched them!

Lin Xian quickly suppressed the corners of his mouth.

Looking left and right.

He noticed the many Rhine Cat Dolls scattered around:

“There are lots of Rhine Cat Dolls over there, Anqing, do you want to pick some to take home?”

“Really, can I?”

Chu Anqing looked around with interest at the various Rhine Cats,

“I see there are many designs that haven’t been released yet.”

“Of course you can.”

Zhao Yingjun also leaned in with a smile,

“Anqing, take a look at what you like, and I’ll have someone take them to the car for you.”

“Hehe, then I’ll just take you up on your generous offer!”

Chu Anqing took Zhao Yingjun’s hand and started to walk towards the outer area,

“I’ve always liked the Rhine Cat, but out of the seven models released initially, there was one that I could never find…”

Watching the two walk away,

Lin Xian breathed a sigh of relief and looked to the other side.

Professor Xu Yun and Chu Shanhe were still deeply engaged in conversation.

“There’s probably nothing I need to be involved in here.”

Lin Xian no longer paid attention to the situation here and went to find Gao Yang, who was indulging in the feast.

…

Chu Shanhe and Chu Anqing didn’t stay too long. Chu Anqing, upon Zhao Yingjun’s invitation, took part in the lottery, winning a large Rhine Cat Doll, and then left with Chu Shanhe.

After the Chu father and daughter left, the dinner party moved into its next phase. Everyone settled down, eating while watching the performances, as they awaited the new year.

As the midnight chimes rang out and everyone counted down… the year 2022 ended just like that.

“A new year, a new atmosphere,”

Professor Xu Yun raised a glass,

“I wish everyone’s dreams come true in 2023, and that all goes smoothly!”

The people nearby followed suit, raising their glasses to wish each other a Happy New Year.@@novelbin@@

After some idle chatter, Professor Xu Yun prepared to leave early:

“You young people have plenty of energy; you can keep on having fun. I, an old comrade, won’t accompany you any longer; I need to go back and rest.”

He didn’t want to dampen everyone’s spirits.

So, instead of leaving through the main hall, he quietly exited through the back door of the guildhall and arrived at a small road without traffic.

“Teacher Xu, we’ve arranged for someone to take you home, don’t rush off yet.”

Lin Xian tried in every way to stop him, but Xu Yun insisted on not troubling them anymore and wanted to take a taxi himself.

He pointed to a taxi parked beside the alley:

“Look, there’s a taxi right there. I can just take it. It’s not too much trouble for you all, and taking a taxi is so convenient.”

Xu Yun patted Lin Xian on the shoulder, not wanting him to come out and be exposed to the snow:

“Go back, Lin Xian; don’t worry about me. I’m very happy tonight.”

“In the new year, I wish us all more and more happiness!”

Seeing that Lin Xian was beyond persuasion, he gave a slight smile:

“Thank you, Teacher Xu. I also wish you smooth sailing and that all your wishes come true.”

“Please be extra careful on the road, and take it slow for safety.”

Xu Yun waved his hand and walked over to the taxi by the road.

The front door didn’t open.

The back door didn’t open either.

At that moment, the glass of the front passenger seat rolled down, and the taxi driver called out:

“The doors on the right are broken, get in from the left side, please!”

Xu Yun didn’t think much of it.

He walked around the back of the taxi, heading toward the road—

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

Behind him, Zhao Yingjun was jogging out holding several gifts; she had just gone to fetch the New Year’s presents prepared for Professor Xu Yun.

She looked helplessly at Lin Xian:

“Professor Xu Yun still insists on taking a taxi?”

Lin Xian sighed:

“Yes, it’s already this late…”

As if by reflex, he lifted his left wrist to look at his watch:

[00:42]

Lin Xian paused for a moment.

BOOM!!!!!!!

A loud roar and crash sound came from ahead! A black sedan suddenly appeared out of the dark night!

The insane speed of the car sent Professor Xu Yun flying high up into the air! He flew far, more than a dozen meters away!

Thump.

He landed heavily on the ground, motionless.

“Teacher Xu!” “Professor Xu Yun!”

Lin Xian and Zhao Yingjun cried out in shock.

Zhao Yingjun, wearing high heels, ran toward Professor Xu Yun!

Lin Xian looked at the driver in the taxi by the roadside.

Mouth mask!

Hat!

Sunglasses!

Fully covered!

It was the same person who had driven Professor Xu Yun here!

“Get out!”

Vroom—Whirr!!!

Before Lin Xian could get any closer, the black sedan and the taxi both sped off with screeching tires, flinging the muddy snow from the ground, and quickly disappeared around the corner of the road.

Lin Xian quickly ran toward Xu Yun.

“Teacher Xu!”

He felt a surge of sadness, his vision blurred.

A ghastly gash stretched from Xu Yun’s head to his abdomen… His split skull was utterly lifeless, and blood poured out from his body in large gushes…

“Teacher Xu…”

Lin Xian’s voice was hoarse.

The spilling blood stained the white snow a spreading crimson.

Xu Yun’s pupils were dilated.

Not a breath of life…