Genius Club

Big Cat Face snarled, baring his teeth as he swung his large hand towards the back of Lin Xian’s head. His frustration boiled over.

“Don’t be disrespectful to the village chief!”

What was wrong with this kid? Was his emotional intelligence really that low? Did he think his thick skull could survive a punch from the village chief? Who just goes around declaring someone their parent like that? Didn’t he realize how much older the village chief was? And yet, he had the audacity to call her his father?

Thud.

The dull sound of flesh meeting resistance filled the air. Big Cat Face’s hand stopped mid-swing. Startled, he looked up to see the village chief’s hand gripping his wrist firmly. Her grip was like iron, unmoving. He felt the shock of it ripple up his arm, his hand throbbing as if he’d slammed it into a wall of steel.

“Let him continue,” the village chief said calmly, her piercing blue eyes fixed on Lin Xian. She didn’t flinch, didn’t waver.

Her voice was steady as she asked, “So, what you’re saying is… you’re not even sure if I’m your daughter?”

Lin Xian nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease from his shoulders. There was no point in rushing this. The village chief wasn’t someone to be hurried.

“You know where the photograph came from, and you know the girl in the picture,” the Chief continued, her gaze sharp. “But you’re saying you’re not entirely sure that girl is me.”

Lin Xian stayed quiet, knowing she’d already grasped the heart of the matter.

“I understand what you’re implying,” she said, her voice lowering slightly. “You’re certain the girl in the picture is Yan Qiao Qiao. But you’re suggesting that I might not be her. That maybe… I’ve taken someone else’s place.”

Her words hit hard, echoing the doubt that had haunted her for years. The same thoughts Lin Xian had voiced earlier were thoughts she had wrestled with herself.

Countless nights had been spent staring at that photograph. Was that little girl really her? She didn’t look like her. Not even close. The shape of her face, body, and even her features were completely different. If it weren’t for waking up in a cryogenic pod with the name Yan Qiao Qiao and finding the family photo in storage, she might not have believed it herself.

“Ridiculous!”

Big Cat Face cut in, his patience finally snapping. He looked at the two of them, clearly exasperated.

“You two don’t even match in age! What’s there to analyze?”

He pointed at the photo, his voice rising in frustration.

“Look at this! There’s no way you could be father and daughter, given the age difference! Even I can figure that out, and I’m not the brightest! How are the two of you, supposedly the smart ones, missing something so obvious?”

The village chief, however, shook her head slowly, her expression thoughtful.

“Big Cat, you’re thinking too simply,” she said. “With technology like cryogenic pods, age doesn’t matter anymore. As long as the parents spent more time in the pod than the child, it’s possible for the child to be older than the parents.”

She turned her attention back to Lin Xian, her gaze as steady as ever.

“The issue isn’t our age difference. It’s that the little girl in the picture doesn’t look like me. So, there’s no way to be certain that I’m the same person.”

She paused, her blue eyes locking onto Lin Xian’s. “What should I call you?”

Lin Xian smiled slightly. “Just call me Lin Xian,” he said. “I’m not here to force a reunion. I know it’s a hard thing to accept, and with today’s technology, there’s no way to do a DNA test. There’s no solid proof.”

His tone softened as he asked, “I’m more curious—are you happy with your life? Are you content?”

The village chief nodded slowly.

“Since waking up from the cryogenic pod, I’ve found my life fulfilling,” she replied. “The former village chief taught me everything I needed to adapt to this era. Though I’ve always been a bit… unusual, my abilities are valuable here. The villagers respect me, and that’s why I’m their Chief.”

She gestured to the village around them, her eyes resting on the warmly lit houses.

“These past years, I’ve focused on leading the village—solving problems, building homes, developing industries. That’s been my purpose.”

Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as she continued, “It’s only because you resemble the man in the photo that I’ve grown curious today. My past memories… they don’t matter to me as much anymore. Like many others in this village—Smith, for example—they have few memories of their past, but they’re still happy.”

She turned back to Lin Xian. “I’m the same. Whether or not I’m the girl in the photo doesn’t change the life I’ve built here. It doesn’t change what I’ve done. I’m the village chief, and that’s all that matters.”

Seeing the peace in her expression made Lin Xian realize that maybe this wasn’t such a bad outcome after all.

In this strange dream world, where many had forgotten their pasts, people were still able to live new lives. Smith had become an expert in X Country’s culture, fully integrating into his new world.

If the village chief had been intent on discovering her past, Lin Xian wouldn’t have hesitated to help. After all, in this world, the consequences of such actions could always be reset. But the blue-eyed woman before him didn’t seem particularly interested in chasing after old memories.

Sensing the conversation winding down, Big Cat Face pushed his way between them. “Village Chief, I brought Lin Xian here today because I think he’s got potential. I was hoping he could stay in Big Cat’s Village and become an official resident.”

He shot a glance at Lin Xian, then continued, “I could use an extra pair of hands driving the delivery truck. I’ll even teach him how to drive.”

The village chief nodded.

“That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “Even if Lin Xian doesn’t have any particular skills, Big Cat’s Village welcomes all new residents.”

With a warm smile, she extended her hand toward Lin Xian.

“Welcome to Big Cat’s Village, Lin Xian. I hope you’ll feel at home here.”

Lin Xian took her hand, surprised by the strength in her grip. He smiled back.

“I’m honored to be part of the village,” he said. “I think I’m going to like it here.”

The village chief then turned to Big Cat Face. “It’s getting late,” she said. “You should get that bear delivered to Lord Li, along with the rest of the produce. The goods should be sold at market price, but the bear—let’s gift it to Lord Li as a celebration for the birth of his daughter.”

With that, she walked off, her bright blue eyes gleaming like fireflies in the darkness, disappearing into the night.

Big Cat Face let out a relieved sigh, then gave Lin Xian a friendly punch on the shoulder. “Phew… close call, huh?”

“You’ve got guts, saying something like that! Who just declares themselves someone’s father out of the blue? What’s wrong with you? Some kind of weird habit?” Big Cat Face’s voice was laced with irritation as he shook his head.

“You’re lucky the village chief was probably too tired from hunting to punch you. Trust me, if she had, your skull would’ve cracked like a watermelon!”

He shot Lin Xian a sideways glance, his eyes gleaming with mischievous energy.

“Do you even know what it feels like to have your head explode like a watermelon?”

Lin Xian chuckled softly as if recalling an inside joke. “Of course I do,” he replied.

In the first dream world, CC had blown up Big Cat Face’s head countless times, his brains splattering everywhere in a spectacular fashion. Lin Xian remembered every one of those gruesome moments vividly.

Satisfied that he had sufficiently startled Lin Xian, Big Cat Face waved a large hand, gesturing for him to follow. “Come on, little brother. Let’s go check out that bear.”

Lin Xian obediently trailed after him, the pair heading towards the back of the warehouse. The sight that greeted them was an enormous grizzly bear, tied up with ropes that crisscrossed its massive body.

It was an adult bear, easily weighing over 500 kilograms, a beast of monumental proportions. Yet, despite its size, the creature lay utterly helpless, bound so tightly it could hardly move. Its limbs were restrained, and even its snout and head were securely tied down. Lin Xian marveled at how someone could subdue such a powerful animal with their bare hands and tie it up with such precision.

With a fair bit of effort, Lin Xian and four members of the Face Gang managed to hoist the heavy bear onto the truck. After it was loaded, Lin Xian hopped into the passenger seat beside Big Cat Face, and they set off, leaving Big Cat’s Village behind, heading north towards Donghai City.

The road ahead was dark, pitch black, but the truck’s electric engine hummed softly as they drove. Powered by nuclear batteries, the truck’s energy seemed limitless, ensuring the vehicle could go on indefinitely without running out of fuel.

Big Cat Face flipped the switch, and the truck’s headlights flickered to life. The sudden burst of brightness nearly blinded Lin Xian, forcing him to shield his eyes.

“You guys really don’t hold back with the electricity, do you?” Lin Xian remarked, squinting at the glaring lights. “Everything you design seems to scream ‘excess.’”

Big Cat Face grinned, spinning the wheel casually. “Why not? There are less than a billion people left on Earth, and there are centuries’ worth of nuclear batteries buried underground. We’ve got energy to spare. No need to be conservative.”

He shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Of course, we might face shortages when the population starts growing again. But that’s for future generations to figure out, isn’t it? Let them deal with it.”

With a loud roar, the truck picked up speed, its massive headlights slicing through the inky darkness as they traveled towards their destination.

Given the sparse population in the area, it was unlikely they’d run into anyone else on the road. The journey was quiet, save for the soft hum of the electric truck and the occasional grunt or whimper from the back, where the bound grizzly bear lay.

Lin Xian glanced over his shoulder at the poor creature and couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Can’t we just kill the bear before we deliver it?” he asked, his voice low. “Do we really have to send it alive?”

“Of course!” Big Cat Face replied without hesitation. “Fresh meat tastes better, doesn’t it?”

Lin Xian sighed but said nothing. The logic made sense, even if it left him feeling uneasy.

An hour later, they finally reached the outskirts of Donghai City. Despite the post-apocalyptic state of the world, the city still managed to maintain an air of civilization. It looked like a small county town from the old world, with some modern touches here and there.

Compared to the village where Lin Xian had grown up, Donghai City seemed more advanced, at least on the surface. But Lin Xian knew that this outward prosperity was somewhat hollow. The rapid development was driven by micro nuclear batteries, which had created uneven progress across different sectors of society.

The technology of this world was, in a word, unbalanced.

But Lin Xian believed this was only temporary. As Big Cat Face had said earlier, humanity would eventually find a way to overcome these challenges and build a better future.

As they approached the trading post, Lin Xian admired the professionalism with which everything was handled. The paperwork and the procedures—everything went smoothly. And since they were delivering a gift to Lord Li himself, Big Cat Face decided to meet him in person.

“Well, well, hahaha!” Lord Li’s booming laugh echoed across the yard as he spotted the grizzly bear tied up in the back of the truck. His eyes gleamed with approval.

“This is exactly like Village Chief Yan,” he said, clearly impressed. “Who else in the world could capture a grizzly bear alive without leaving a single scratch on it? Only Chief Yan could manage something like that!”

Lord Li’s face glowed with warmth as he continued, “This is perfect timing. My wife just gave birth, and she needs to recover her strength. The bear will make an excellent broth. Please thank the village chief for this wonderful gift.”

Big Cat Face took the opportunity to mention his daughter’s desire to attend school in Donghai City. Lord Li agreed without hesitation.

“No problem at all!” he said kindly. “Go to the school and speak with Principal Gao. You can bring your daughter tomorrow to get her settled in.”

Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. “Big Cat, this Principal Gao… is it Gao Wen?”

Big Cat Face shot him a surprised look. “You seem to know a lot of people, huh? Yep, it’s Gao Wen.”

Lin Xian’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Take me to see Emperor Gao Wen! I’ve heard so much about him. I’m sure there’s wisdom I can learn from him.”

And so, Big Cat Face led Lin Xian to meet Principal Gao Wen.

Gao Wen was one of the most respected figures in Donghai City, not just as an educator but as a brilliant scientist. He was second only to Lord Li in terms of influence and authority.

The issue with Big Cat’s daughter was quickly resolved. She could start school the very next day. But Lin Xian knew… there wouldn’t be a “tomorrow.”

This dream world was stuck in a loop. At precisely 12:42 AM, the world would reset, wiped away in a flash of white light. There was no tomorrow. There never would be.

As Lin Xian looked at Gao Wen, he noticed the older man’s hair had turned mostly gray. Nearly a third of it was white now. Time had not been kind to him.

Back in the Sixth Dream, Gao Wen had been a strong, middle-aged man, fresh out of cryosleep. But now, years had passed. The weight of time had clearly taken its toll on him.

Lin Xian stepped forward, introducing himself as a fellow scientist and expressing his eagerness to exchange ideas. Gao Wen’s face lit up at the prospect. He eagerly led Lin Xian and Big Cat Face on a tour of the campus, excited to show off his inventions.

“Here,” Gao Wen said, pointing to a water pump, “this is my pressure pump. We’ve installed them all over Donghai City. All you need is a well deep enough to reach groundwater, and this pump will bring the water to the surface easily.”

Big Cat Face’s eyes widened with amazement. “This is amazing! Over in Big Cat’s Village, we’re still hauling water by hand. If we had these pumps, every household could have running water!”

Gao Wen smiled and nodded, clearly pleased by their reactions. He led them down a narrow hallway to the back of the school, where an enormous furnace stood in the boiler room. A maze of pipes extended from it, snaking through the walls.

“This is the collective heating system I developed,” Gao Wen explained, gesturing proudly toward the machinery. “During winter, we heat water here, and it circulates through the classrooms and dormitories, keeping the children warm.”

Big Cat Face’s eyes widened with amazement. “Wow!” he cried. “When this technology matures, you could heat the whole city! Imagine that—no one would ever have to worry about the cold again! Every house could feel like a cozy, steaming bun!”

Gao Wen chuckled softly. “It wouldn’t be quite that hot,” he said, his eyes twinkling, “but you’re right. This system could definitely be expanded across the city.”

Big Cat Face continued his enthusiastic commentary, marveling at every invention Gao Wen showed them. His excitement was genuine, his loud exclamations peppering the conversation like fireworks.

However, Lin Xian, walking a few steps behind, furrowed his brows as they moved from one creation to the next. His expression grew more serious with each new invention.

Finally, unable to stay silent any longer, Lin Xian spoke up. “This isn’t like you, Emperor Gao Wen,” he said, his voice edged with disappointment. “These inventions… they’re practical, sure. But they’re not revolutionary. They don’t reflect your true brilliance.”

Big Cat Face’s face flushed with indignation. “Watch your mouth!” he snapped, bristling at the criticism. He’d been counting on Gao Wen to help get his daughter into school, and he wasn’t about to let anyone insult the man. “How dare you talk to Principal Gao like that!”

But Gao Wen remained calm, holding up a hand to stop Big Cat Face’s protests. He turned to Lin Xian, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“It seems you’ve seen a lot in your life,” Gao Wen said, his voice soft but steady. “These simple inventions don’t impress you anymore, do they?”

Lin Xian nodded, meeting his gaze. “That’s right.”

“I thought as much,” Gao Wen said, still smiling. “You’re looking for something bigger, aren’t you? You think I’m holding back.” He gave a small laugh. “Well, we’re all friends here, no need to beat around the bush. Let me show you the real deal.”

Without further delay, Gao Wen led Lin Xian to his office. From a drawer in his desk, he pulled out a worn, familiar-looking notebook—the same one Lin Xian had seen in the cryosleep storage locker. It was the Memory Notebook.

“This,” Gao Wen said, holding the notebook out carefully, “is the journal I wrote before going into cryosleep.”

He paused, looking at Lin Xian with an amused expression. “I went into cryosleep in the year 2219—”

“Skip,” Lin Xian interrupted, waving his hand dismissively.

“At the time, technology hadn’t advanced enough to—”

“Skip,” Lin Xian repeated, his hand still motioning impatiently.

Gao Wen laughed and handed him the notebook. “Why don’t you just read it yourself?”

“Task accepted,” Lin Xian said, his tone serious as he took the notebook in his hands. It felt light, but he knew the weight of its contents would be heavy with information. He was just about to open it when Gao Wen glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Oh dear, look at the time!” Gao Wen suddenly rose from his chair, his voice light and cheerful. “I have to attend Lord Li’s banquet now. I really appreciate your enthusiasm for science, but I’ve copied the notebook’s contents elsewhere. Consider it a gift—you don’t have to return it.”

He moved to lock his office door, giving Lin Xian a friendly pat on the shoulder. “But I suggest you take a break tonight. It’s a rare celebration. Why not join us in the square and enjoy the festivities?”

With that, he gave Lin Xian a gentle nudge out of the office and closed the door behind him.

Outside, Big Cat Face was already waiting, bouncing on his feet like an impatient child. The moment Lin Xian stepped out, Big Cat grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him toward the square.

“Come on, we should’ve been at the banquet ages ago!” Big Cat Face grumbled. “Do you have any idea how grand Lord Li’s feast is? It’s for the birth of his daughter—there’s no telling how much food there’ll be! And here you are, wasting time!”

Lin Xian smirked, trying to keep up with Big Cat Face’s rapid pace. “It’s a feast. You can eat whenever you like. Besides, didn’t you just have a meal before we left?”

“That’s different!” Big Cat Face huffed, speeding ahead. “Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it! I saved room for a reason!”

Lin Xian chuckled. “I didn’t notice.”

“You will soon enough!” Big Cat Face shot back, determination clear in his voice.

…

They soon arrived at the heart of Donghai City’s central square, which was already packed with people. The celebration had begun, and the air buzzed with laughter and chatter. Tables overflowed with food, and villagers helped themselves to the generous feast.

A massive bonfire blazed in the middle of the square, its flames lighting up the night sky. Around it, people danced and sang, their movements joyful and full of life.

Lin Xian didn’t follow Big Cat Face to the food tables, still feeling full from the earlier meal. Instead, he found a spot near the bonfire, the warmth of the flames washing over him as he opened the Memory Notebook in his hands. He was eager to see what secrets lay hidden in Gao Wen’s words.

The notebook felt heavy and important, though its physical weight was light. As Lin Xian glanced up from the pages, watching the happy villagers dance and sing around the bonfire, he found himself smiling softly.

It was a good time to be alive.

Despite the catastrophic events of the year 2400… Despite knowing that the world would reset at 12:42 tonight, wiped clean by a burst of blinding white light… For now, in this moment, everything was as it should be.

Big Cat Face’s family was thriving. His daughter was happy and well-behaved. His younger brothers were dependable, not getting into trouble as they used to.

Once burdened by past mistakes, Smith had found peace and redemption in his new life.

The once vengeful, blue-eyed girl had put aside her hatred, becoming a caring and responsible village chief.

Lord Li had just welcomed a second daughter, securing his happiness as a proud father.

Li Ning Ning, once defiant against her fate, now lived as the true princess of Donghai City, embracing her new role as a loving sister.

And Emperor Gao Wen, ever the visionary, continued to change the world with his inventions, his brilliance undimmed by the passing years.

Everything was as it should be. There were no regrets.

At least for Lin Xian’s old friends, there were none.

Just as he was about to dive deeper into the notebook, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Lin Xian! I knew I’d find you here!”

Startled, Lin Xian looked up to see someone he hadn’t expected to see again. An old friend.

Her dark brown hair was pinned up, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief. A small dimple appeared on her cheek as she smiled, and a distinctive tear mole sat just beneath her left eye—like a signature mark.

It was CC.

“Long time no see,” CC greeted him, her smile warm. She gestured toward the bonfire. “I figured if I waited in the most noticeable spot in Donghai City on August 28th, 2624, I’d eventually run into you.”

“And here you are,” she added with a playful grin.

Lin Xian smiled back, remembering something he’d once said to Chu An Qing: If you ever get lost, just stay where you are. That way, I’ll always be able to find you.

No matter how much time passed, some things never changed.

“Long time no see,” Lin Xian said, standing up and closing the notebook. “For you… it’s been, what, twenty years since our last meeting?”

CC nodded, her smile never fading. “That’s right. In a way, I’ve known you for twenty years now, ever since I inherited the fragments of memory you left behind. Though I had to wait until today to finally meet you.”

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. “I don’t have many memories of you—just three, in fact—but each one is vivid, unforgettable.”

Lin Xian closed the notebook with a soft thud and stood by the flickering flames. He met CC’s gaze, the firelight dancing in her eyes.

“Do you remember the last world?” Lin Xian asked.

“Of course,” CC replied. “We made a promise, didn’t we? That’s why I’m here.”

Her smile turned playful as she extended her hand toward him. “I told you, if we ever met again, I’d ask you for a dance.”

“And here we are, at the end of the world once more…”

She took a step closer, her hand still outstretched.

“Shall we dance?”