Genius Club

“Chu An Qing!?” Lin Xian and Gao Yang exclaimed together, their eyes wide with astonishment as they stared at the young girl standing before them.

Previously, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Yellow Finch had hinted she would introduce a reliable new team member. Lin Xian, placing his trust in Yellow Finch’s extensive connections, hadn’t dwelled on it, expecting perhaps someone with a background in aerospace or a related scientific field.

However, the last person he expected was Chu An Qing—an apparently ordinary 19-year-old art student. The idea of her boarding a space shuttle to collect time-space particles seemed almost laughable!

“Hehe~” Chu An Qing performed a playful salute, then relaxed her stance, giggled, and swayed slightly as she faced Lin Xian. “Senior Lin Xian, long time no see!”

….

A few months back, just three days after the World Hacker Competition wrapped up, the triumphant X Country Information Security Team assembled at a private jet terminal in New York’s airport. Surrounded by the protective detail of the National Elite Forces, they readied for their flight home.

“An Qing, did you manage to pack everything?” Lin Xian called back to Chu An Qing, noticing she was traveling light.

Chu An Qing flapped her arms, mimicking a bird. “This is all I have. I sneaked out, so I didn’t have time to pack properly. If I had gone home, my parents would’ve noticed. Worried I’d miss the competition, I rushed directly to the airport and flew here.”

Lin Xian sighed. “Please, don’t do that again; it’s too risky. What would I say to Mr. Chu if something happened to you? I can handle my issues. When I need help, I’ll ask for it.”

“Sure, sure!” Chu An Qing laughed. “Just call me anytime! I’m always ready to help!”

As they spoke, two security agents from X Country maneuvered a carefully wrapped art piece towards the cargo hold. They passed by Lin Xian and inquired, “Mr. Lin Xian, is this packing satisfactory? We couldn’t find better materials on short notice.”

After inspecting the package, Lin Xian nodded. “It’s adequate. Just ensure it’s securely fastened. The frame can endure some damage, but the painting itself must not be touched.”

“Understood,” they acknowledged, loading the artwork titled “Einstein in Sorrow” into the jet.

“Hmm…” Chu An Qing pondered aloud. “Lin Xian, do you think the ‘Einstein in Sorrow’ we saw at the Donghai Exhibition, part of a global oil painting tour, could contain different hidden codes from the one you have? Comparing both could accelerate the decryption process. It’s like in ‘The Imitation Game’—the movie about Alan Turing—where identifying similar patterns in different codes aids in breaking them.”

“You’re onto something,” Lin Xian agreed, recalling his research from the previous night. “There are unverified theories online about this painting. Some believe there are multiple originals, but no one knows the exact count. Currently, only two are confirmed: one from the tour and another previously owned by a famous Hollywood director, now in the hands of the actress Angelica and given to Ji Lin, which is the one we possess.”

“The hypothesis about there being eight originals was proposed by Ji Lin after analyzing the codes. It’s speculative, but Ji Lin’s confidence in his decryption might suggest he’s onto something.”

Chu An Qing felt a twinge of sorrow at the mention of Ji Lin. She remembered the two paintings in her room, gifts for her adulthood: one a sketch of herself by Lin Xian, mischievously taken from his notebook by Ji Lin, and the other a watercolor of a group photo with Lin Xian and Ji Lin, painted by her.

But Ji Lin was no longer around.

She avoided mentioning Ji Lin around Lin Xian to spare him the grief. Despite her unresolved feelings towards Ji Lin, she recognized the pain it could cause Lin Xian.

Chu An Qing was aware that Lin Xian had devised the plan that ensnared Zhou Duan Yun, with Ji Lin likely collaborating smoothly and swiftly. She also knew the festive birthday party was Ji Lin’s strategy to target Lin Xian, and Lin Xian’s mercy towards Ji Lin was part of a larger plot.

In public records, Zhou Duan Yun was innocent. After Ji Xin Shui’s demise, only Ji Lin knew of Zhou’s misdeeds. To protect himself, Zhou aimed to eliminate Ji Lin, the sole witness to his crimes.

Her father, Chu Shan He, had explained, “Ji Lin was clever enough to predict Lin Xian’s scheme. He realized at the police station, seeing the announcement exonerating Zhou, that Lin Xian intended to use him as bait.”

Chu An Qing marveled at the complexity of their plans, something she struggled to grasp, unlike Lin Xian and Ji Lin, who navigated these strategies with an understanding of each other’s thoughts.

“But why?” she had once asked her father.

“If Ji Lin knew he was bait and risked being killed by Zhou, why did he proceed?”

Chu Shan He sighed. “Perhaps Ji Lin believed Lin Xian would rescue him in time, or maybe he underestimated Zhou’s ruthlessness. But I suspect Ji Lin, understanding Zhou well, hoped Lin Xian would save him.”

“Of course, this is mere conjecture. Zhou acted too swiftly for the police to intervene.”

Chu Shan He had chuckled, tousling her hair. “The games of such intelligent individuals are beyond our comprehension. Just live happily, free from these burdens.”

Chu An Qing had nodded, deciding to let go of her thoughts on Ji Lin’s choices. Why would someone knowingly walk into danger, possibly facing death? Was it truly for a noble cause?

She recalled a lesson: some deaths carry the weight of Mount Tai, while others are as light as a feather. Ji Lin’s death seemed insignificant, lacking heroism or meaning.

Shouldn’t one desire their death to be purposeful?

“Forget it, I won’t dwell on it,” she resolved, shaking off the heavy thoughts.

….

Back in the present, Chu An Qing watched Lin Xian as he stood before the plane, deep in thought about the painting’s codes.

“I have a great idea!” Her face lit up, radiant as the sun.

“We saw ‘Einstein in Sorrow’ at the Donghai Exhibition Hall, usually housed in the British Museum. Since international travel is straightforward these days, why don’t we visit the museum together?”

“Just like at Ji Lin’s, I can assist you. I’ll hold the light while you photograph the painting’s codes. Then we can compare them to what we have and decipher them faster!”

Lin Xian smiled, appreciating her enthusiasm. “That’s a practical plan. Since we don’t know the locations of the other six originals, the one at the British Museum is our best bet. We’ll find a safe time to visit.”

“Promise you’ll take me!” Chu An Qing exclaimed, standing on her tiptoes and raising her hand high. “I can be your guide! I visited the British Museum during a high school summer trip. While I didn’t focus much on the art, I know the layout well. Make sure to include me when you go!”

“Absolutely,” Lin Xian agreed. “But next time, you’ll need your father’s permission. No more sneaking around.”

“Hehe, don’t worry,” she replied, scratching her head sheepishly. “I’ll let him know next time.”

They boarded the plane, settling into their seats. As the aircraft rumbled to life and began its ascent, Lin Xian turned to Chu An Qing.

“By the way, what did the woman who looked after you at the hacker competition tell you?”

“She said her name was Yellow Finch. Odd name, isn’t it?”

Chu An Qing blinked, looking curious. “Do you know her? Is she a friend?”

“Sort of,” Lin Xian answered, uncertain how best to describe his connection with Yellow Finch. “She has helped me before. She’s mysterious, always appearing unexpectedly, but she doesn’t seem harmful. She protected you during the competition, so we owe her our gratitude.”

Chu An Qing nodded. “Yellow Finch was kind. She protected me well. And her eyes! They were so striking, like staring into the Milky Way. They seemed to shine and swirl, like galaxies within her eyes.”

“I remember her eyes the most. At first, I thought she might be Zhao Ying Jun, but their appearances and voices are quite different, though they share a similar presence. She told me I was brave and that we’d meet again soon. I clearly remember her words.”

“She also called Kevin Walker a coward and suggested he should face you directly. That’s all I remember.”

A coward…

Lin Xian pondered the term. It seemed Yellow Finch knew that the hooded boy at the competition wasn’t the real Kevin Walker. Labeling him a coward might have been her way of critiquing Kevin Walker’s reluctance to reveal himself.

Considering Yellow Finch’s statement about being a member of the Genius Club and the possibility that Kevin Walker was too, the nickname “coward” could be an inside reference within the club.

Another intriguing point was Yellow Finch’s promise of a future meeting with Chu An Qing. Chu An Qing was just an ordinary girl, while Yellow Finch had numerous aliases—a member of the Genius Club, a suspected time traveler, a mysterious figure, and someone influential enough to secure access to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Lin Xian shelved these questions for later consideration.

….

Ten hours later, the private jet touched down at the capital’s airport before taking off again towards Donghai Pudong Airport. After their long journey, Lin Xian and Chu An Qing disembarked, stretching their limbs under the daylight.

“It feels like ages ago,” Chu An Qing mused. “We left in the daytime, and it’s still daytime! Hehe, did we travel through time or reverse it? Lin Xian, is today the same day we left the USA?”

Her question caught Lin Xian off guard. He considered the time difference. “X Country is 12 hours ahead of the USA. So technically, you didn’t travel back in time; you moved forward. You left the USA on the morning of the 19th, and now it’s noon on the 20th here.”

“In a way, you lost a day of your life. But don’t overthink it. It’s a bit complex and beyond my area of expertise.” He smiled. “This trip abroad was my first, thanks to the official arrangements.”

Chu An Qing laughed. “I didn’t think you had any blind spots in your knowledge, senior. I guess you don’t know everything after all!”

“You’re giving me too much credit,” Lin Xian chuckled. “You got me this time. Maybe one day you’ll surpass me, and I’ll be the one asking you questions.”

“That day will never come,” Chu An Qing shook her head. “My brain isn’t sharp enough; I’ll never catch up to you!”

Chu An Qing brightened with a new idea, her eyes twinkling. “If flying from the USA to X Country means moving forward in time, does flying back mean reversing time? If we kept flying east without stopping, wouldn’t we stay in an eternal today, never reaching tomorrow?”

Lin Xian laughed, caught up in her infectious imagination.

“Congratulations,” he played along. “You’ve discovered a glitch in the world, granting you immortality.”

“Really!?” Chu An Qing’s eyes shaped like crescents. “If we kept flying, we’d never see tomorrow! We’d always be in today!”

“Exactly,” Lin Xian agreed.

“Then if the plane flew faster, we’d really travel back to yesterday!” Chu An Qing exclaimed, thrilled.

“Impressive!” Lin Xian clapped.

“Hey, I’m serious!” Chu An Qing pouted, giving Lin Xian a playful punch. “Explain it to me! Am I right or not? It feels like it makes sense, theoretically.”

Lin Xian straightened. “Your theory holds under one condition.”

“What condition?” Chu An Qing’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“If Einstein agrees to rewrite the theory of relativity,” Lin Xian said, grinning.

“Oh, you’re teasing me!” Chu An Qing huffed, punching Lin Xian playfully. “I really thought I’d discovered a glitch in the world!”

Their conversation was interrupted by a car horn. Lin Xian’s Alphard pulled up, and the driver began loading their luggage.

“I’ll drive you back to school, An Qing,” Lin Xian offered. “Sorry to burst your Nobel Prize dreams. But if you’re interested in this topic, you should take Professor Zhang Yang’s elective next semester. He makes relativity, light speed, and time travel fun and accessible. I took his class at Donghai University, and it was fascinating.”

“Okay,” Chu An Qing smiled. “I’m interested. Time travel sounds amazing. If I could really travel through time…”

Lin Xian handed his luggage to the driver and looked at Chu An Qing. “Would you go back in time or to the future?”

“I’d definitely go back,” she responded immediately. “The future doesn’t interest me. I’m not even 20 yet; I can live to see the future. With hibernation chambers becoming practical, anyone can travel to the future. The past, however, remains unreachable, no matter how advanced technology gets. If I had the power to time travel, I’d choose the past every time.”

Lin Xian was intrigued. “That’s an unusual choice. Most people would opt for the future. Do you have a specific reason or something you’d like to change from the past? If you could travel back in time, what would you do?”

“Hehe…” Chu An Qing smiled mischievously, dimples appearing. She pressed a finger to her lips. “That’s a secret~”