Genius Club

Lin Xian always found one aspect of his dreams particularly absurd: they were set on August 28, 2624—a date 600 years in the future. Despite this, the lifestyle and technology mirrored those of 2022. How could human progress remain completely stagnant for six centuries?

In his dreams, he scoured libraries and the internet for answers, but all historical information was frustratingly vague. There were no detailed records of lottery numbers, ancient events, or significant news stories. The available histories felt as flimsy and fictional as poorly written novels, failing to satisfy his curiosity.

“Maybe it’s because your imagination is limited,” his friend suggested during one of their discussions. “Dreams are constructed by the brain using what it knows. It can’t create what you don’t know. Maybe watching more sci-fi movies would expand your horizons.”

Lin Xian found this explanation reasonable. Yet, even after immersing himself in countless sci-fi films, his dreams remained unchanged. He eventually reconciled with the illogical setting, musing, “Dreams, by nature, are fictional. Perhaps their irrationality is what actually makes them rational.”

Yesterday, he had arranged to meet Big Cat Face at ten o’clock. Now, it was time to take action. Lin Xian approached two boys engrossed in their game, shouting “Ultra Kick!” and “Ultra Elbow!” as they playfully chased each other, their masks occasionally slipping from their faces.

Lin Xian seized an Ultraman mask that had fallen to the ground and slipped it on. Suddenly, two sharp whistles cut through the air. Before he could react, a strong hand clamped onto his arm and yanked him forward.

“Found you, bro! This square is swarming with kids wearing Ultraman masks; you’re a tough one to find!” Lin Xian looked up into the familiar cat mask, recognizing the face beneath it.

“Come on, follow me! The car is over there, and my buddy is already at the bank,” Big Cat Face urged. Lin Xian hesitated.

“Hold up Brother Face, I have a question,” he said.

“That cartoon character on your mask, what’s its name?”

“This?” Big Cat Face pointed at the caricature on his mask. “It’s Coco Cat. Haven’t you heard of it? It’s pretty popular.”

“You’re surprisingly up-to-date for your age,” Lin Xian teased.

“My daughter adored this cat. Bought her all the toys,” Big Cat Face reminisced.

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“Alright then,” Lin Xian responded, releasing Big Cat Face’s hand. “I forgot something. You head to the car; I’ll catch up in a minute.”

As Lin Xian turned to leave, a heavy hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

“Have we met before?” Big Cat Face asked, his gaze piercing.

“No, this is the first time,” Lin Xian replied smoothly.

“Then why call me Brother Face?” Big Cat Face inquired with a mix of curiosity and challenge.

The atmosphere tensed as a hot summer breeze whisked around them, the nearby laughter of children creating a stark contrast to their standoff. Big Cat Face rested his hand on his waist, poised for conflict.

Lin Xian faced him squarely, Ultraman staring down Coco Cat. “You want to know?” he asked.

“I do,” Big Cat Face confirmed.

“Because your face is so big,” Lin Xian blurted out, unable to suppress a grin.

“Huh?” Big Cat Face scowled, his mask contorting.

“Sorry, I can’t overlook the obvious. If it bothers you, I’ll call you something else,” Lin Xian offered, half-joking.

Big Cat Face burst into laughter. “You guessed right! Everyone calls me Big Cat Face. ‘Brother Face’ works too. Now hurry up and get your stuff. We’re on a tight schedule!”

Lin Xian waved him off and entered a nearby toy store. “Hello,” he greeted the clerk. “I’d like to buy a Coco Cat doll.”

“Right this way, sir,” the clerk directed him to a shelf brimming with Coco Cat dolls, proving Big Cat Face’s point about their popularity.

Lin Xian selected a basic model and scrutinized its design and details, noting its structure, proportions, and clothing. He needed to remember these features to sketch them when he woke up at 00:42. The doll was as adorable as Hello Kitty, he mused, questioning the ethics of replicating something from his dream. “Is it plagiarism if I copy from my own dream? Since everything in my dream stems from my imagination, I’m the original creator, right?”

“What are you doing? We don’t have all day!” Big Cat Face’s booming voice startled him as he approached, practically dragging Lin Xian out of the store. He slapped a thousand-yuan bill on the counter, declaring, “Keep the change!” and ushered Lin Xian into the car parked just outside.

As the car roared to life, Big Cat Face glanced at the doll in Lin Xian’s arms. “You think that’s going to help you crack the code?”

“Just give it to your daughter,” Lin Xian suggested, placing the doll on the dashboard.

Big Cat Face’s demeanor changed abruptly; his fierce look softened, and he fell silent, focusing on the road ahead. After a few tense seconds, he spoke in a hoarse voice, “Thank you.”

“Did your daughter grow up?” Lin Xian asked casually, resting his chin on his hand.

“She died,” Big Cat Face responded, his voice thick with emotion. “Been dead for years. Only made it to six.”

“Was it an accident?” Lin Xian inquired softly.

“No,” Big Cat Face replied abruptly, slamming on the brakes. “She was murdered.”

“Why would anyone—” Lin Xian started, but Big Cat Face cut him off, pointing to the bank across the street.

“Brother, we’re here. Time to focus. Let’s rob this bank, and I’ll finally avenge my daughter. We can talk more later.”

He loaded his gun, adjusted his mask, and said, “Let’s do this, brother! Get the job done!”

Big Cat Face exited the car swiftly, heading towards the bank with a determined stride.

Lin Xian remained in the vehicle, watching Big Cat Face disappear into the distance. Beside him, the Coco Cat doll sat silently, a stark reminder of the day’s gravity. Lin Xian recalled a detail from his dream the previous night: “The bank vault is full of safety deposit boxes, not a single penny in cash, Big Cat Face…”