Genius Playground

He contacted Chi Xiaoguo via WeChat and looked up Teacher Zhang Yang’s class schedule.

Perfect.

Teacher Zhang Yang had a general education class this afternoon.

Jiang Ran slipped into the large lecture hall, listened to the entire class from the back row, and waited for the students to leave in droves.

Then, he walked up to the lectern, looked at Teacher Zhang Yang who was unplugging his USB drive, and greeted him with a smile:

"Teacher Zhang, do you remember me?"

Zhang Yang looked up.

Seeing who it was, he chuckled:

"Well, look who it is. If it isn’t my Sect’s head disciple?"

Jiang Ran was amused by the joke.

’As expected of a master and student who have connected spiritually across time and space. Birds of a feather flock together; our minds work in such similar ways.’

"I could forget anyone, but I’d never forget you!"

The young, talented, and energetic Teacher Zhang Yang walked over with a smile, patted Jiang Ran on the shoulder, and then pointed to the healed scar on his right palm:

"You practically carved your name into my hand. Whenever I see this little bluish dot, I remember you stabbing me with that pencil."

Teacher Zhang Yang had always been witty and humorous, rattling off jokes one after another. He had no airs about him, which was why he was so well-liked by the students.

Jiang Ran looked at Zhang Yang’s palm.

In the area below his thumb, the wound from the pencil had long since healed, leaving behind the characteristic small, blue-gray dot.

This "tattoo" was destined to last a lifetime, just like the small, blue-gray dot on the back of Jiang Ran’s neck.

"You’re not even a student at East Sea University."

Zhang Yang said with a grin:

"That day you and that girl with the two hair buns came to ask me a question, I checked the student roster when I got back. Not only were you not enrolled in my general ed class, but there was no one by your name in the computer science department either."

"But I didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until Teacher Gao called me at noon that I found out you study at another school."

"Sorry, Teacher Zhang."

Jiang Ran said:

"I just wanted to consult you about something, so I lied."

"Heh, it’s nothing."

Zhang Yang chuckled, not minding at all:

"For us teachers, all students in the world who are eager to learn and ask questions are the same. There’s no difference."

"So, it doesn’t matter if you’re my student or if you attend my class. As long as someone asks me a question, I’ll always answer everything I know. Don’t worry about it. Every teacher is the same."

"Dean Gao Yan was my graduate advisor. He should have told you—I’m his last disciple. He’s always looked out for me."

"He said on the phone that you’re an incredibly talented kid, that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call you a genius. It just so happens I’m starting to advise graduate students next semester, so he said he’d give me a promising seedling to cultivate. I really didn’t expect it to be you."

"It seems we were brought together by fate after all."

Jiang Ran nodded.

’You have no idea.’

’Our fates are deeply intertwined.’

’We’re not just master and student, we’re future cellmates. Not only will we be in the same classroom, but we’ll be facing each other in jail.’

He handed the recommendation letter written by Dean Gao Yan to Zhang Yang, who glanced at it and handed it back. He said he would handle the rest, and the official documents would be sent to him.

He told Jiang Ran to keep the letter as a memento. He also told Jiang Ran not to worry about a thing; just come to East Sea University and register according to the standard procedure after the next semester begins.

Then, he asked Jiang Ran to set up a dedicated email address, saying he would send over his research focuses and projects for Jiang Ran to consider his own path of development for his graduate studies:

"It’s a bit early to decide this sort of thing, but you’re not like other students. You’re a [genius], so you can get an earlier start and begin planning."

"Teacher Gao is waiting for you to graduate early and go study for your doctorate with him at the Longke Institute. That’s why he specifically told me to get you started on research projects early. He even joked that I shouldn’t hold you back, haha."

Hahahahaha...

Jiang Ran could only force a bitter laugh.

’Suddenly, my future feels incredibly bleak.’

A horrifying scene of what would happen next semester already flashed before his eyes:

Teacher Zhang Yang, beaming with pride, would push him to the front of the stage:

"Everyone, this is my head disciple, Jiang Ran. An unparalleled super genius, and your most reliable senior brother. If you have any questions in the future, you can all ask him."

’Sigh...’

’Me, a genius?’

’A genius, my ass!’

’I’m just a time-traveling delivery boy who stole Lu Yu’s research. I don’t have an ounce of real knowledge in me.’

’Please, Teacher Zhang, don’t have such high expectations for me...’

Jiang Ran didn’t dare to imagine that the next time he saw Teacher Zhang Yang in the Future Prison in 2045, he’d be hearing him say, "My head disciple is a complete idiot."

Faced with this sudden pressure, he could only hope to repair the Positron Cannon sooner, or perhaps build the Time Travel Machine sooner.

That way, before his "super genius" identity was exposed, he could hurry up and save Cheng Mengxue, return the Goldbach’s Conjecture to Lu Yu, and quickly slip back to World Line 0 to live out his days.

All things considered, the only good news was that Dean Gao Yan had indeed kept his promise and not told Zhang Yang about him solving Goldbach’s Conjecture.

It had to be said, Dean Gao was truly a man of high prestige and strong principles.

He said he would help keep the secret, and he kept it an absolute secret, remaining tight-lipped even with his own final disciple...

This allowed Jiang Ran to breathe a sigh of relief, saving him from even greater academic pressure.

...

After bidding farewell to Teacher Zhang Yang, Jiang Ran went to the Film Club’s activity room, where Chi Xiaoguo was waiting for him.

"Oh my god!"

Chi Xiaoguo held the recommendation letter high, taking tiny steps around the coffee table in a Brownian motion:

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!"

She looked up at the paper in the air as if gazing upon the Holy Grail, capable of granting any wish on earth:

"From a vocational program straight to a Master’s! Not even to a Bachelor’s, but directly to a Master’s! Senior, you’re incredible! I’ve never even heard of a way to ascend like this!"

"Hehe, from now on, you’ll really and truly be my senior."

Chi Xiaoguo was right.

Although they were the same age, after the next semester started, Chi Xiaoguo would be a third-year undergraduate, while Jiang Ran would already be a graduate student.

Now, the title of "Senior" was well and truly deserved.

"Senior, Senior."

Chi Xiaoguo sidled up to him, her eyes full of anticipation:

"So, so, so, when you come to East Sea University next semester, you have to join the Film Club!"

"You’re the one who saved this club in the first place! It can’t go on without you, its pillar of support!"

Jiang Ran smiled and nodded:

"Of course, that’s not a problem."

In fact, he absolutely had to join the Film Club.

After all, this place...

...was where all the miracles would happen in the future.

"But, I have a small request."

Jiang Ran looked at Chi Xiaoguo:

"Xiaoguo, I understand that the Film Club needs to recruit new members and hold activities to survive."

"It’s just... I hope you can continue to keep the Positron Cannon, and the experiments I’m conducting, a secret from everyone."

"Also, after next semester starts, I’ll still need your help to run experiments in the early morning, late at night, or at other suitable free times... I hope you can still cooperate with me."

"Of course, I’ll find a way to repay you. Whether it’s with the Film Club’s future recruitment and activities, or with other school matters, I’ll do everything I can to help you. Consider it repayment for the kindness you’ve shown by helping with my experiments."

Chi Xiaoguo waved her hands dismissively:

"Oh, Senior, you’re being a stranger by saying all that. We’re good friends who have been through so much together. It’s only natural we help each other out!"

"Don’t worry, I get that the Positron Cannon is a secret. I’ve always understood that, and I won’t tell anyone else."

"And whenever you need me, I’ll be there to help you start up the Positron Cannon. I’ll keep my word on that, no matter what!"

Hearing Chi Xiaoguo say that, Jiang Ran felt relieved.

She really was a very smart and sensible girl.

For over a month, after so many experiments back and forth, Chi Xiaoguo had never once asked him for any details.

’Perhaps...’

’A girl as quick-witted as Chi Xiaoguo should have guessed something by now.’

’The circuit board with the dial for the year, month, and day at the beginning, plus all the text messages and phone calls later on... really, anyone who paid the slightest bit of attention wouldn’t find it hard to guess what kind of experiment Jiang Ran was doing.’

But.

Even so.

Chi Xiaoguo had never opened her mouth to ask.

She chose to trust Jiang Ran unconditionally and to respect his wishes. The secrets Jiang Ran didn’t want to talk about, she didn’t ask about.

For this, Jiang Ran was truly grateful to Chi Xiaoguo from the bottom of his heart.

Perhaps in the future, when the opportunity arose, he would share these secrets with Chi Xiaoguo.

Perhaps.

All along, he had maintained an indifferent attitude toward everything in World Line 1.

He was always thinking things like, ’After the world line is reshaped, everything will change.’ ’After I save Cheng Mengxue, all my current relationships will disappear.’ ’Everything here is a dream; it’s not a world that belongs to me...’

It was precisely because of this mindset that he was able to stay clear-headed and calm, remain firm in his original goal, and not get too emotionally attached to the current world line.

But...

How long could this state last?

Jiang Ran often couldn’t help but worry and feel anxious.

Much of the time, he could only numb his mind with chaotic thoughts and a busy reality.

...

After chatting for a bit and imagining a wonderful future for the Film Club with Chi Xiaoguo, she left for class, leaving Jiang Ran by himself in the activity room.

"Sigh..."

Sitting on the sofa, he let out a long sigh.

Whenever he was alone in this room, he would involuntarily think of Cheng Mengxue, of Qin Feng, and of all the things from the past.

Now, many of the difficult issues he faced had been safely resolved—

Although the Positron Cannon had malfunctioned, Chi Xiaoguo had found many clues about the 2005 Film Club, which might lead him down a path to finding a way to repair it;

The Time Travel Machine definitely existed at East Sea University—this was easy to confirm from the Assassin’s various actions. So even if the Positron Cannon couldn’t be fixed, he could build the Time Travel Machine to "physically travel" two years into the past and save Cheng Mengxue before the car accident;

The matter of jumping from a vocational program to a Master’s was successfully settled, even exceeding expectations. Not only had he gotten to know the powerful and influential Dean Gao Yan, but he had also successfully become a student of Teacher Zhang Yang. Future operations within East Sea University would surely be more convenient;

Lu Yu, the true, unparalleled genius whose academic achievements he had stolen, would arrive at East Sea University as a freshman in three months. By then, Jiang Ran, as a senior graduate student, could legitimately get close to him, and even pull him into his team to conspire on the great matter of time and space;

These four major things were the main achievements of this period.

They could be considered a solid foundation for his original goal and ultimate purpose: saving Cheng Mengxue and returning to World Line 0...

Now, he just had to wait for all the subsequent key moments to appear and let the miracle unfold!

’It seems there’s only one thing left to resolve now.’

Jiang Ran turned his head.

He looked out the window at the sound of a girl’s beautiful, bell-like laughter.

A boy in a jersey rode a shared bike, speeding past the Film Club window.

Behind him, a girl in a short white skirt stood on the rear wheel axle, her hands on the boy’s shoulders, smiling freely amidst the willow branches and sunlight.

In that instant, the square glass window of the Film Club was like a film camera’s viewfinder, freezing that moment into a painting with the blink of a shutter.

Freezing it... into a film of youth.

A sweat-soaked jersey, a skirt fluttering in the sun.

The willows and wintergreens colored their love; the cicadas and magpies sang for their youth.

It was just a shame.

This was their youth.

Jiang Ran’s youth was still buried in the tomb of a world line, buried in the burned-out ruins of Kaihua County.

Jiang Ran lowered his head:

"The last thing... it’s time to resolve the matter of Nan Xiuxiu."