Genius Club

Ji Xin Shui nodded gravely, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

“The first injection is an anesthetic—it puts you to sleep. The second is a muscle relaxant, which stops your breathing. The third, usually potassium chloride, stops the heart.”

Ji Xin Shui’s expression turned to one of shock and confusion.

“Are you… suggesting that I undergo an execution?” he asked, his voice laden with disbelief.

Lin Xian nodded, his face calm and composed.

“Yes. Just like today, everything is prearranged. At the time of your supposed execution, we’ll swap the second and third injections with saline. You’ll fall asleep due to the anesthetic, and a prearranged coroner will declare you dead. Afterward, we’ll legally transport your ‘body’ out.”

“This way, you’ll be legally dead to the world, but you’ll rise again within the Genius Club, making history.”

Ji Xin Shui remained silent, pondering the enormity of the plan.

Lin Xian wanted Ji Xin Shui to willingly accept the risk of ‘death’. The bait was an enticing, almost unbelievable invitation to the Genius Club. Lin Xian was betting on Ji Xin Shui’s ambitions and obsessions.

If Ji Xin Shui were pragmatic, he would likely dismiss the plan, recognizing the risks and refusing to stake his life on Lin Xian’s scheme. However, if Ji Xin Shui were driven by ambition, obsession, or madness—if he were the type to betray his loved ones, sacrifice his favored student, exploit his subordinates, and trample over others’ lives—then Lin Xian believed he would accept the offer.

People often say that with enough incentive, even the most cautious might risk everything. Would the allure of the Genius Club be enough for Ji Xin Shui?

Ji Xin Shui hesitated, his face a mask of uncertainty. He murmured softly, “I’ll be cleared of all charges in just over ten hours… Maybe then I can arrange a more dignified and respectable way to fake my death.”

Lin Xian’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t press further, unsure if Ji Xin Shui doubted him or simply valued the dignity of his ‘death’ more than the plan itself. Either way, it was time to leave.

Talking too much could spoil the plan.

“Ji Xin Shui, this is a test,” Lin Xian stated, his fingers brushing against the invitation as he pulled it back towards himself. “You can choose whether or not to participate. But for us, we’re seeking a trustworthy partner.”

Lin Xian stood up, collected the invitation, and waved the Genius Club’s emblem before Ji Xin Shui.

“Goodbye, Ji Xin Shui.”

He returned the invitation to its envelope and walked toward the door of the interrogation room.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the Genius Club.”

The door of the interrogation room closed with a thud.

Lin Xian exhaled a deep breath of relief.

He had managed to maintain his bluff. The outcome of this risky maneuver now hinged on whether Ji Xin Shui could overcome his ambitions.

Walking down the corridor, Lin Xian returned to the interrogation monitoring room. The staff, Chu Shan He, and Officer Liu immediately surrounded him, eager for an update.

“How did it go?”

“Any progress?”

“Did he change his mind?”

Lin Xian smiled and shook his head, gesturing towards the dark monitor screen.

“Turn on all the monitors in there. Let’s see what he decides to do next.”

The staff quickly activated the cameras in Ji Xin Shui’s room.

Lin Xian leaned forward to watch, observing Ji Xin Shui sitting there, eyes closed, his expression grave and thoughtful.

Ji Xin Shui was in a state of internal conflict. The invitation to the Genius Club was incredibly tempting; the club was so mysterious and prestigious that merely being considered was an honor. The emblem on Lin Xian’s invitation had only added to its allure.

Ji Xin Shui didn’t seem to question the authenticity of the invitation. Maybe he had seen a genuine one before, or he knew what they looked like.

If Lin Xian won this bet, it would be due to sheer luck.

Time passed slowly, marked only by the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Lin Xian remained focused on the monitor, watching Ji Xin Shui still sitting in the metal chair, deep in thought.

What would Ji Xin Shui decide? Would he wait out the ten hours, be released, and miss the chance to join the Genius Club? Or would he accept Lin Xian’s final test, risking his life, reputation, and status to prove his loyalty to the club?

Lin Xian didn’t know Ji Xin Shui well enough to predict his choice. What kind of life had he led? What experiences had shaped him? What drove him?

Many people have compelling reasons to fight for something more important than their own lives. Zheng Cheng He fought for his sister with a heart condition, Li Qi Qi wished on a meteor shower for Liu Feng, and Zhou Duan Yun, despite his deceit, sent nightly texts to his mother. CC braved dangers with Lin Xian in New Donghai City, Lei Cheng was a hero for his people, and Big Cat Face sought vengeance for his daughter.

This world is filled with people with reasons to fight, no matter the risk.

Lin Xian reflected on his own life. Did he have something worth risking his life for?

He didn’t yet. But perhaps in the future, he might find that cause.

“People change,” he recalled telling Zhao Ying Jun.

“Lin Xian, pursue what you love, commit to it not to prove something to others but because you’re willing to bet your life on it,” Zhao Ying Jun had advised him.

Maybe, just maybe, something in the future would be worth that risk.

Suddenly, on the monitor, Ji Xin Shui lifted his head and stared directly into the camera.

Everyone in the monitoring room held their breath.

“Send in the interrogation officers,” Ji Xin Shui announced, a determined smile on his face.

“I have something to say.”

At that moment, Ji Xin Shui had made his decision. He had never feared death, not at his age of 86. Especially not since he had already ‘died’ once at 56, before Copernicus had saved him. Back then, he was just an ordinary researcher at Donghai University, struggling after fleeing abroad during wartime and losing his parents.

At 56, he had been ready to end his life on a rooftop when Copernicus appeared, offering him an invitation to the Genius Club that changed everything. Copernicus helped him achieve great success and influence, but Ji Xin Shui valued his role as a research institute director the most.

He loved sitting in his office, sipping tea, watching students, and reflecting on the building he almost jumped from. The Ji Xin Shui who had been ready to end his life at 56 had indeed died that day, but the one who aspired to join the Genius Club was born.

When Copernicus asked him to sacrifice Xu Yun, his beloved student, it was painful, but he couldn’t refuse. His life, granted by Copernicus, was devoted to the Genius Club, in hopes of earning his own invitation.

After Xu Yun’s death, he secretly looked out for Xu Yi Yi and arranged for Zheng Xiang Yue’s room to be next to hers. Yet he never visited again, aware that the path to the Genius Club required sacrifices.

Now, it was time to let go of everything, vanish from reality, and become a part of history.

This was the final test of the Genius Club.

The 86-year-old Ji Xin Shui would ‘die’ by lethal injection but be reborn in the Genius Club. He imagined standing beside Copernicus, overlooking the world. He had no fear of death, only the hope of being remembered and honored.

Realizing that letting go of everything for a purer existence in history was key, he felt enlightened. In that moment, he could almost hear Copernicus applauding him.

“Welcome to the Genius Club!”