Genius Club

Lin Xian made his way to the plaza’s western edge, aiming to meet up with CC at their designated spot. It wasn’t hard to spot her—she was dressed in black, form-fitting attire beneath a plaid trench coat. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail, secured with a red satin ribbon, and she wore an Ultraman mask. It was unmistakably CC.

The last time they’d met, in the bank vault, she’d looked more like a covert operative, entirely in black. Today, she seemed to have added the trench coat to blend in better at the plaza. Her hair wasn’t just stylish but functional; hidden within that voluminous ponytail were two guns—one at her waist, the other ingeniously concealed within her hair.

“What a dangerous woman,” Lin Xian thought as he approached, scrutinizing her meticulously. She was slender, around 165 cm tall. Yet, something felt off… No spark of recognition, no familiarity. Had he really met her before? The contradiction puzzled him. He was certain he’d heard CC’s voice before, yet he couldn’t fathom forgetting someone with such a distinctive presence.

“Best not to dwell on it,” Lin Xian decided. He continued his approach. Ghost or not, her true identity would be clear once the mask was removed.

“Hi,” Lin Xian greeted her from behind, watching as she turned to face him.

“Password expert?” he inquired.

CC surveyed him from head to toe but remained silent. After a moment, she gave a slight nod. “What should I call you?”

Lin Xian smiled. “Everyone calls me Big Cat Face. You can call me Brother Face,” he responded, pointing to a van parked nearby. “The car’s over there. Follow me.”

As he started to walk back, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Yes,” Lin Xian replied, without turning.

“And everyone calls you that?”

“Correct.”

CC continued to scrutinize him. “But your face isn’t big at all. Why would anyone call you Big Cat Face?”

A gentle summer breeze lifted the red ribbon on CC’s head and fluttered the corner of her trench coat. Silence hung between them, the tension palpable. Lin Xian suddenly realized the complexity of his pretense as Big Cat Face. This role wasn’t something a mere mask could conceal. CC was sharper and more cunning than Big Cat Face, whose identity had been easily fooled due to his naivety.

Even without knowing Big Cat Face’s exact appearance or voice, CC’s instincts signaled that Lin Xian didn’t fit the profile of a typical desperado, much less a bank robber. Fortunately, she was only suspicious for the moment; he hadn’t been fully figured out. There was still a chance to turn things around.

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Lin Xian stood tall and slowly faced her. CC’s hand was still on his shoulder, her other hand inching towards her gun…

“Does being called Big Cat Face mean I have to have a big face?” Lin Xian challenged her gaze.

“And what should it be?” CC countered.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“CC.”

“By your logic, shouldn’t you be called AA instead of CC?”

Lin Xian brushed off her hand and walked decisively towards the van, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“Come if you want! I can still blow it open with C4, with or without you.”

He climbed into the driver’s seat, slammed the door shut, and floored the accelerator.

“Wait!” CC hurried over, climbing into the passenger seat and crossing her arms, still visibly irked.

Lin Xian extended his hand, “Give me the gun.”

“What will I use if I hand it over to you?” she retorted.

“You have the one in your hair.”

CC’s eyes widened. After a moment, she slapped the gun from her waist into Lin Xian’s hand and then untied the red ribbon, letting her hair cascade down like a waterfall, revealing another black gun. She bit the ribbon, gathered her hair, and tied it back up.

Lin Xian watched silently, realizing why she opted for a ribbon instead of a hair tie—it allowed for quick access, a necessity he recalled from a previous confrontation. Skillfully, he ejected the magazine from the gun, checked the bullets, reloaded, cocked the weapon, and tucked it into his waistband—all within seconds. Then, he drove on in silence, relieved yet thoughtful.

His advantage lay in the countless scenarios he had rehearsed in his dreams, allowing him to gather near-omniscient knowledge. Reflecting on his initial blunders when facing Big Cat Face and CC, he knew he was now far more prepared. This slight deviation from his plan didn’t matter. He had not only survived the encounter but also gained a critical tool—a gun, essential for dealing with the imminent threats.

The drive continued in silence. The odd pair, Ultraman and Rhine Cat, focused ahead, giving nothing away to the occasional curious passerby. Soon, they arrived at their destination. Lin Xian drew the gun and signaled CC to follow with her laptop. Exiting the van, they approached the bank entrance quickly. A henchman fiddling at the door looked up in confusion at Lin Xian.

“You—”

Bang! A bullet struck his forehead, splattering blood across the wall.

“Nice shot,” CC remarked, impressed by the swift, precise action. “But why did you kill your own man?”

“He was dishonest. Can’t keep those around,” Lin Xian stated simply.

As they rounded a corner, another masked figure rose in surprise.

“You—”

Bang! Another clean headshot!

“And him?” CC asked.

“He messed with the boss’s wife. Think we can trust him?”

CC looked stunned.

“He… betrayed you?”

“No, the other boss. Our mutual boss,” Lin Xian clarified as they advanced, a shadow darting from the basement.

Bang! CC instinctively stepped back as Lin Xian executed another perfect shot.

“How did you become so good?” she asked, touching her own weapon.

“No secret. Just a lot of practice,” Lin Xian replied, nodding towards the silver vault door. “Now it’s your turn, password expert.”