Genius Playground

The barbecue stall was bustling with noise.

The small wooden table was covered in skewers, and several empty beer bottles littered the ground. Wang Hao grumbled as he ate:

"Look at you. I don’t care how busy you are, you could at least reply to Xiuxiu’s messages!"

"Seriously, I’ll help you lie to anyone else, but don’t make me lie to Xiuxiu... She’s so good to you. If you don’t order a few more grilled kidneys, my conscience won’t be able to take it!"

...

Jiang Ran didn’t hear a word of his complaints. His mind was entirely on Cheng Mengxue.

In truth, he had no visceral sense of Cheng Mengxue’s death.

After all, from his perspective, Cheng Mengxue had been alive and well just a few days ago. This "death" that others spoke of didn’t feel real.

Besides, he had the Positron Cannon now. He just needed to repair it, and he could bring Cheng Mengxue back to life.

But Wang Hao’s words, "visit Cheng Mengxue’s grave," had dragged his thoughts right back to reality...

Visiting her grave.

That meant there was a burial mound, a Tombstone.

It was proof of a person’s actual death, the last trace of them left in the world.

A hole, a handful of dirt—enough to bury a person’s entire life.

He couldn’t explain why, but the moment he realized this, Jiang Ran’s mood plummeted, and he felt a suffocating pressure.

"I’ll go back with you,"

he said softly.

"What?"

Wang Hao looked up from stuffing his face.

"You mean go back to Hang City?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Ran raised his beer glass.

"I want to visit Xiaoxue’s grave, too. To see her."

"Right! That’s more like it!"

Wang Hao also raised his beer glass, and they clinked them together.

"Seriously, I was stunned when you said you weren’t going back. What could be more important than this?"

He drained his glass and wiped the foam from his mouth.

"Man, look at us. Every time we drink alone, we end up talking about Xiaoxue..."

"If you’re talking about moving on, I haven’t been able to either. The three of us hung out together all through high school. A girl that great, gone just like that... Who wouldn’t be upset?"

"I bet it’s not just us. Xiaoxue was so well-liked, everyone in our class must miss her."

"Oh, right, that high school reunion notice I sent out? A lot of our classmates said they’re coming. You can’t bail on me, you hear? You have to be there!"

Jiang Ran sighed.

"You’ve said that eight hundred times. Can you please stop bringing it up over and over?"

Wang Hao froze, a lamb skewer halfway to his mouth.

"Have I told you before?"

Jiang Ran paused, too.

’He hasn’t?’

He immediately realized that was a memory from World Line 0. Here in the current World Line 1, this must have been the first time Wang Hao had mentioned the reunion to him.

"I’ll be there,"

he said dismissively.

The high school reunion Wang Hao was planning was during summer break, which was still a long way off.

With that much time, he was sure he could use the Time SMS to resurrect Cheng Mengxue.

Even if he couldn’t find Qin Feng by then, he would have Cheng Mengxue to go with him to the reunion. He wouldn’t be as lonely as he was now.

"By the way, how many people were in our high school class?"

He suddenly grew curious, recalling that Qin Feng’s student number was 42, and the mysterious message associated with that number: "Don’t trust 42."

"Forty-two,"

Wang Hao snorted.

"I’ve noticed your memory’s been terrible lately. You’ve forgotten everything."

So it was still 42 people.

Jiang Ran looked down, thinking.

’It seems just like I thought the other day. History can change, but no position will be left empty.’

Cheng Mengxue didn’t come to East Sea University, and Chi Xiaoguo came "in her place."

So if Qin Feng didn’t attend Hang City High School, someone else would have "replaced" him in class as well.

A place for everyone, and everyone in their place. History was like a revolving-door banquet; it never cared who was just passing through.

"Heh heh,"

Wang Hao chuckled slyly.

"Speaking of the reunion, are you going to take Nan Xiuxiu with you?"

"You’ve got such a pretty girlfriend, you have to show her off. The guys from our class will be totally jealous!"

Jiang Ran let out a dry laugh.

"You mean they’ll laugh me to death?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?!"

Wang Hao’s expression turned serious, and he slammed the table.

"You’re not all that, but you sure act like it! What is it about Nan Xiuxiu that you’re so ashamed of?!"

"And don’t act all high and mighty! If you really had all these problems with her, why did you say yes when she confessed to you a few days ago?!"

"I’d like to know, too,"

Jiang Ran said helplessly.

"I want to know why I agreed to it more than you do."

"Oh, give me a break,"

Wang Hao waved a dismissive hand, finished his beer, and couldn’t be bothered with him anymore.

"You’re a classic case of getting lucky and still complaining! Come on, drink up, drink up..."

The meal ended up costing a lot of money.

Jiang Ran’s wallet took a major hit.

Unlike on World Line 0, he hadn’t won the lottery. He didn’t have millions in his pocket; his living expenses were very limited.

"Let’s take the bus back," he suggested.

They say it’s hard to go from luxury to a frugal life, but what else could he do?

...

「The next day, in the school cafeteria.」

Jiang Ran, Wang Hao, and Nan Xiuxiu were eating together.

"Huh?"

Nan Xiuxiu put down her chopsticks and looked at Jiang Ran.

"You’re going back to your hometown for the May Day holiday?"

"Yes."

"Why the sudden change of plans?!"

She was clearly displeased.

"Didn’t we already agree we were going to Disney?"

Nan Xiuxiu was fuming.

"Jiang Ran, have you gone too far?! We just started dating and you’re already ghosting me and giving me the silent treatment! Is this how you think a relationship works?"

"You don’t answer my calls, you don’t reply to my WeChats, and you even deleted the dating app! What have you been doing these past few days?"

Jiang Ran lifted his head and looked at Wang Hao.

’Yeah, what *have* I been doing these past few days? What was the excuse you came up with?’

Wang Hao quickly swallowed a mouthful of rice and tried to smooth things over.

"Ahem, Xiuxiu, didn’t I tell you? Jiang Ran is working on a competition project with his friends from East Sea University."

"If they win an award for this project, it’ll be a huge deal! It’ll even get him extra credit for his bachelor’s transfer program!"

"Uh, he’s just busy with this for a little while. Once it’s over, he’ll have time to spend with you. Right, Jiang Ran?"

Jiang Ran silently nodded and continued to eat.

Nan Xiuxiu fumed for a moment longer.

"Fine,"

she said, her tone softening.

"Then why are you going to your hometown for the May Day holiday? Is it also for the competition?"

"Of course it is!" "To visit a grave."

Wang Hao and Jiang Ran answered at the same time.

"..." "..." "..."

Nan Xiuxiu narrowed her eyes at Wang Hao, while a speechless Wang Hao stared at Jiang Ran.

Wang Hao was at his wit’s end.

He couldn’t understand it.

He had told Jiang Ran time and time again not to mention Cheng Mengxue in front of Nan Xiuxiu, so why did he insist on touching the one sore subject?

Even if Nan Xiuxiu was very understanding, was it really a good idea to keep bringing up another girl in front of his girlfriend?

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but Wang Hao had a feeling that Jiang Ran was doing it on purpose. It was like he was intentionally pushing Nan Xiuxiu away, completely disregarding her feelings.

Nan Xiuxiu turned to Jiang Ran, taking a deep breath through her nose.

"Going to visit Cheng Mengxue’s grave?"

She put heavy emphasis on the name.

"Yes." Jiang Ran didn’t deny it.

Nan Xiuxiu shot to her feet and slung her handbag over her shoulder.

"Then you go,"

she said, then turned and strode away without a backward glance.

"Hey! Xiuxiu!"

Wang Hao hurriedly stood up to stop her, but in the blink of an eye, Nan Xiuxiu was already gone.

"Jiang Ran!"

Seeing Jiang Ran still eating at a leisurely pace, he flared up, snatching the chopsticks from Jiang Ran’s hand.

"You’re still eating?!"

"What is it?" Jiang Ran looked up.

"What is it?!"

Wang Hao slammed the chopsticks on the table.

"Xiuxiu just stormed off because of you! Aren’t you going to stop her?!"

"Let her go,"

Jiang Ran picked up a napkin, wiped his mouth, and said nonchalantly,

"I was just telling the truth."

"You!"

Wang Hao’s face flushed with anger. He stomped his foot, took a few deep breaths, and stared at Jiang Ran.

"You’ve changed,"

he said, his voice sounding distant.

"Ever since you had that freak-out the other night, you’ve been like a completely different person. Not like you were before at all."

Jiang Ran looked up.

"What was I like before?"

Wang Hao bit his lip, hesitating.

Finally, he heaved a long sigh and looked toward the cafeteria entrance where Nan Xiuxiu had disappeared.

"At least... you wouldn’t bully someone like that."