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“I need to see things differently,” Lin Xian mused, closing his eyes for a moment. In this complex game of hide and seek, he felt at a disadvantage. As Yellow Finch had pointed out, while he was out in the open, his adversaries lurked in the shadows.

“It’s easier to dodge a threat when you can see it. How can you consistently protect yourself from an unseen thief? To win this game, I have to outsmart them first.”

Time was of the essence. Lin Xian reopened his eyes, resolute. “The first one to reveal themselves loses.”

Outskirts of Donghai City

Tonight, a usually dimly lit villa was fully illuminated. Ji Lin was sorting through a heap of printed papers. These were documents from Donghai University, retrieved from Xu Yun’s lab. After Xu Yun’s sudden death, the university decided to digitize and release his documents publicly, as per his last wishes. Among these, Ji Lin focused on the handwritten notes.

A Rhine Cat doll signed by Lin Xian sat on the nearby table. The signature, magnified, showed a mix of Chinese characters, English letters, numbers, and symbols. Handwriting, much like fingerprints, is unique. The way one applies pressure to strokes, curves numbers, connects letters, and sequences their writing can reveal their identity—making it a powerful tool in criminal investigations.

Ji Lin squinted at the last document on the table, analyzing every mark. Exhausted, he flung the document onto the floor and reclined in the sea of papers, hands behind his head, gazing up at the opulent crystal chandelier.

Beep beep.

A buried phone vibrated with a new message. Ji Lin retrieved it. The message from Envy read: “He’s back in Donghai.”

Ji Lin’s fingers flew over the keyboard to reply: “Begin.”

Next Few Days

Lin Xian had been busy wrapping up all the accumulated work since the term started. He managed his tasks and those assigned by Zhao Ying Jun. Despite being her part-time assistant, Lin Xian committed to his role wholeheartedly.

Zhao Ying Jun placed great trust in him, sharing company secrets and business insights generously. For Lin Xian, who had never been involved in high-level business dealings before, her mentorship was like learning a secretive martial art—typically, such knowledge is guarded closely in the competitive business world. Lin Xian was deeply appreciative of Zhao Ying Jun for this invaluable training.

These business skills were essential for his current predicament. He had plans, including costly research by Liu Feng, requiring significant financial backing—something royalties and licensing fees alone wouldn’t cover. Eventually, Lin Xian would need to leave MX Company to generate substantial income to support Liu Feng’s research on the Universal Constant 42.

What exactly the Universal Constant and 42 represented remained unclear even to Liu Feng. In the future, Big Cat’s father would extend Liu Feng’s initial research over more than a decade to unravel 42. Lin Xian didn’t expect immediate breakthroughs but knew the sooner they uncovered these secrets, the better. Understanding the mystery of 42 would arm Lin Xian with a powerful tool against the Genius Club, helping solve many puzzles and ensuring his safety.

However, before he could fund Liu Feng or seek justice for Xu Yun, he had to eliminate the hidden threats lurking around him. The memory of Xu Yun’s tragic demise haunted him still. For now, Lin Xian knew he must tread carefully. Becoming wealthy too quickly or using novel methods from his dreams to make money could expose him to grave risks.

So, Lin Xian devised a careful three-step strategy for himself:

Stay low-key at MX Company, not altering history or using insights from his dreams until his enemies make a move.

Act immediately upon any hint regarding Xu Yun’s killer or the elusive “cat”, aiming to neutralize the threat swiftly.

Once all threats are mitigated and he has adequate self-protection, leverage his dream-derived knowledge to amass wealth and construct the state-of-the-art laboratory for Liu Feng to explore the Universal Constant 42.

This plan was the safest bet. At MX Company, on the 22nd floor, inside Zhao Ying Jun’s office, Lin Xian stood behind her, absorbing her explanations of document details while jotting notes in his black notebook. He was seriously learning, laying the groundwork for his future business ventures. Without this base, even dream-derived innovations could leave him vulnerable in the ruthless business world.

“Lin Xian, you’re catching on incredibly fast,” Zhao Ying Jun commented with a turn and a smile as he scribbled away. “It’s only been a few days, and I already feel I can trust you with a lot.”

“That’s because you’re an excellent teacher,” Lin Xian responded, snapping his notebook shut. “Is everything arranged in the office to your liking?”

“Absolutely,” Zhao Ying Jun admired her neatly arranged desk and the organized files. “My office has never been this orderly. A good work environment really lifts my spirits every day.”

Lin Xian’s gaze drifted to the sofa near the cabinet. That was where the woman who called herself Yellow Finch had been seated that night. He still puzzled over how she had managed to enter the office.

Zhao Ying Jun cherished her privacy, and notably, there were no security cameras on the 22nd floor. Thus, the mystery of Yellow Finch’s entry persisted. Zhao Ying Jun had assured him that only they knew the security code to the door, yet somehow Yellow Finch had it too.

This was baffling. Was Yellow Finch a master at cracking codes, or had she obtained the code through some other means? Given Zhao Ying Jun’s usual caution, it was unlikely she had inadvertently disclosed the password.

But Yellow Finch was a mysterious figure. Lin Xian had never shared his knowledge of space-time laws with anyone, yet she was aware of them. Considering this, it wasn’t too surprising she knew Zhao Ying Jun’s password as well. Could she possess some kind of superpower, like mind-reading or clairvoyance?

Lin Xian had braced himself for the fact that members of the Genius Club were no ordinary people, but superpowers seemed a bit far-fetched. It wasn’t as if they were part of the Avengers. How could there be so many extraordinary abilities?

The next day, Gao Yang called, announcing that both Duan Yun and Tang Xin were available that evening. “The Donghai crew needs a reunion! Let’s make it a welcome back celebration for you.”

Lin Xian agreed. It had been in the works for a while.

Evening

Gao Yang selected a cozy Hunan restaurant, not upscale but perfect for their intimate gathering, featuring home-style dishes and a small private room. Tang Xin looked as charming as ever, and Duan Yun was dressed in his usual suit. Compared to them, Lin Xian and Gao Yang felt underdressed, like minions next to royalty.

Gao Yang leaned in and whispered to Lin Xian, “What’s with them? It’s like they’re dressing for tea with royalty.”

“Maybe the suit is just Duan Yun’s true skin,” Lin Xian whispered back, amused.

The four enjoyed their time in the secluded room. Whether by chance or design, Gao Yang seated Duan Yun next to him, leaving Tang Xin next to Lin Xian. As they drank, Duan Yun was in high spirits, sharing tales from his life. He had attended a prestigious university but dropped out to launch his own business, which had thrived significantly.

“So, what are you into these days?” Gao Yang inquired.

“A bit of everything,” Duan Yun replied with a grin.

“You missed our graduation photo shoot… Rumor had it you won the lottery. Is that true?” Gao Yang asked after a few drinks.

Duan Yun finished his drink and wiped his mouth, “Between us, yeah, I got lucky with the lottery. Used that to kickstart my business.”

“I’m so jealous!” Gao Yang raised his glass in a toast, “Pass some of that luck our way!”

“Yeah, share some of that good fortune!” Tang Xin laughed, lifting her glass. They all toasted.

“And what about you, Tang Xin?” Duan Yun turned to her.

“I work at the Donghai Revival Pharmaceutical Research Institute,” she replied.

“Oh,” Duan Yun chuckled, “I know your boss!”

“Really?” Tang Xin was surprised. “He’s a big name, used to mentor Professor Xu Yun. You know him?”

“We’ve done some deals. But honestly, I find him too arrogant,” Duan Yun stated bluntly.

“I’ve heard different,” Tang Xin shrugged. “I think he’s alright.”

“If he’s so great, why did he abandon Xu Yun?” Lin Xian chimed in, unable to hide his disdain. He was deeply aware of Xu Yun’s struggles and held no fondness for his mentor.

“You seem to hold a grudge against this man,” Tang Xin observed. “Were you close to Professor Xu Yun?”

“Somewhat. Xu Yun taught at Donghai University, not directly to me, but my company did business with him. I met him a few times,” Lin Xian shared, his gaze fixed on his drink. “He also has a daughter in a coma. Sometimes, it feels like misfortune follows him.”

Bang!

Gao Yang slammed his fist on the table. “That reminds me! It’s been a while since the New Year, and they still haven’t caught Xu Yun’s killers!” Clearly inebriated, Gao Yang cursed loudly. “Those scumbags! Killing an innocent scientist? They should go after the real criminals! If they catch them, it shouldn’t just be a quick execution—they deserve to be tortured!” He looked around at his friends, seeking agreement, “Right? Isn’t that right?”