Genius Club

The evening banquet wrapped up around 9 PM.

Lin Xian returned to his apartment, discarded his formal attire, and refreshed himself. Seated quietly at his desk in his bedroom, he was lost in thought.

The day’s events had left a deep impression on him. Despite residing in the same city of Donghai, the disparity in lifestyles was stark. Billions were tossed around as mere pocket change in discussions. Their lives seemed like scenes from a fairy tale, each person playing the role of royalty. It was all very real, yet felt more fantastical than any dream.

A realization struck Lin Xian. The true outsider in that opulent Golden Hall wasn’t Professor Xu Yun—it was himself. Professor Xu belonged there with his remarkable talents and accolades. On the other hand, Lin Xian fit into that world only by virtue of the expensive suit he wore—a gift from Zhao Ying Jun.

“I’m way out of my league,” he whispered to himself.

He remembered Zhao Ying Jun’s question: “Which man wouldn’t want to be Chu Shan He?”

Indeed, who wouldn’t envy Chu Shan He? The man spent lavishly yet commanded immense respect and wielded influence that could shake the globe. Every man dreams of leveraging wealth to perform grand acts for their nation and people, aspiring to become heroes celebrated by all. Yet, many falter at the initial hurdle of lacking wealth.

Clutching his head, Lin Xian’s eyes wandered to two white papers on his desk, remnants of a recent analysis involving the mysterious Big Cat Face and CC from his dreams. One paper was labeled [Story Flow], outlining the conflicts and disputes between the two. The other, [Unsolved Mysteries], posed three puzzling questions:

1.What exactly is hidden in the safe?

3.Why did CC save me? Her demeanor towards me is oddly subtle and peculiar.

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The first question was an enigma. Even in his own dream, Lin Xian was clueless about what could be so crucial to lock away in a bank vault. Yet, CC’s actions indicated its immense importance to her.

“What could be inside?” he pondered. Since it was his dream, the contents should be within his knowledge, but nothing came to mind.

The second question was equally perplexing. A password is straightforward; it either works or it doesn’t. Despite trying every conceivable eight-digit combination, nothing had opened the safe. How was it that he couldn’t crack his own safe?

The third question was the most troubling. He read the note again: Why did CC save me? Her behavior towards me is oddly nuanced and complex. This query had potential leads—CC knew the answer but wasn’t sharing.

“CC.” The thought of her, always behind that Ultraman mask, stirred a mix of emotions. Recalling how he had embarrassingly divulged his secrets in an attempt to crack the safe’s password made his skin crawl.

Reflecting on CC’s familiar-sounding voice, Lin Xian considered, “Is it just a trick of the mind?” Many people share similar vocal tones. “There are numerous girls on Douyin with voices like Lazy Sheep’s.”

Brushing aside these thoughts, he refocused on the lingering question: Why did CC save me? To her, both he and Big Cat Face were criminals. There was no logical reason for her to eliminate Big Cat Face yet spare him, especially since he was the mastermind behind the bank explosion.

With a red pen, Lin Xian circled the third question vigorously. To uncover the truth, he needed to confront CC directly. But that was the catch-22: CC held the answers but would only reveal them if he helped open the safe—yet he didn’t know the combination. It was a classic deadlock.

Then it struck him.

“Breaking the deadlock!” Lin Xian’s eyes gleamed with newfound resolve. He realized straightforward methods wouldn’t work with someone as cunning and equipped as CC. He needed a different approach, one involving deception and strategy.

He devised a plan:

1.Connect with Big Cat Face, earn his trust by revealing the deception he fell for.

2.Form an alliance with Big Cat Face to set a trap for CC at the bank’s warehouse.

3.When CC shows up, use tactical advantage to overpower her and extract the information.

“I can’t do this solo, but with Big Cat Face on my side, we could manage a two-on-one confrontation,” he thought, spinning the pen between his fingers. His objective wasn’t to harm CC but to compel the truth from her. Once he had his answers, they could part ways amicably.

Glancing at the clock, it read 9:45 PM. He usually met Big Cat Face around 10 PM, so there was still time if he managed to drift into sleep swiftly. He turned off his bedside lamp and lay down, eyes closing in anticipation.

…

A familiar hot summer breeze brushed against Lin Xian’s face, carrying the dry scent of the season. He opened his eyes to a familiar scene, lit by the glow of an electronic display reading 9:54 PM.

“I need to get the Ultraman mask quickly,” he thought, watching two boys playing nearby, shouting “Ultraman kick!” and “Ultraman elbow!” as they sparred.

These kids were old acquaintances from Lin Xian’s childhood. Back when he was smaller, he’d often join them in their superhero games, always ending up as the underdog. Now, towering over them, he felt like their elder brother, although the boys remained engrossed in their timeless game.

“Ultraman kick!” “Ultraman elbow!” The boys continued their play, leaving their masks momentarily unguarded on the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xian stepped forward and picked up the Ultraman mask.

“Key item, get!”