Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Contradictions
Lin Xian’s mind was in turmoil.
He was absolutely certain that he had never heard of the name “Genius Club” in reality, not to mention knowing anything about this invitation to the club.
In last night’s dream, he first heard the name from Big Face Cat’s mouth.
He had thought that all these things were mere figments of his own imagination, wildly concocted in a dream.
But how did it then appear in reality?
This feeling made him very uneasy, as if everything was a plot orchestrated by someone else, and he was just a puppet being pulled by strings on a stage.
“No, I must figure this out,” he said.
After returning to his office, Lin Xian closed the door and began to organize his thoughts.
Everything had started with the dream he had yesterday, where he met Big Face Cat.
All information about the Genius Club came from Big Face Cat, who spoke of its deep mystery, its concealment throughout history, its tracelessness…
Lin Xian closed his eyes, recalling in his mind the “information about the Genius Club” that Big Face Cat had mentioned:
1. The Genius Club had killed Big Face Cat’s father and daughter, with the primary target being Big Face Cat’s father, a renowned mathematician who had won the Fields Medal.
2. The Genius Club was extremely secretive; despite many years of investigation by Big Face Cat, almost nothing was known about its composition, members, purpose, or location.
3. Rumors claimed that only the wealthiest tycoons, the most extreme geniuses, and the most powerful figures… were the ones who received invitations to the club.
All this information came from Big Face Cat and was based on his years of investigation; its authenticity was unknown.
From the currently known information, it seemed the Genius Club should be an extremely high-end, mysterious, and powerful criminal organization.
Putting aside whether it was criminal in nature, the premeditated murder indicated that it definitely wasn’t any sort of righteous character.
And if one were to think deeper, considering Big Face Cat’s father was a Fields Medalist…
Could the Genius Club be an organization that specifically hunted geniuses?
Although this conclusion was somewhat absurd.
But based on the information available, it seemed the only possibility.
As everyone knows, the highest award in the scientific field is the Nobel Prize. However, due to historical reasons, Nobel’s will did not include a category for mathematics, hence the Nobel Prize does not have a mathematics category.
In contrast, the highest award in mathematics is the Fields Medal, which can be dubbed the Nobel Prize of mathematics.
Mathematics are the foundation of modern science, and those who have won this prize can undoubtedly be called geniuses.
But then, a “contradiction” emerged.
Lin Xian pondered, spinning in his chair:
“Big Face Cat himself said that the Genius Club sends invitations to extremely talented geniuses.”
“So what exactly is this club’s attitude towards geniuses? How come they both issue invitations to join and also run people over with trucks?”
It didn’t make sense.
“And there’s another even more ‘contradictory’ point,” he mused.
Lin Xian’s brow furrowed, his thoughts becoming increasingly muddled.
If Big Face Cat’s information was correct.
That is to say, only the top-tier millionaires, the most extreme geniuses, the most authoritative figures… could receive an invitation from the Genius Club.
Then what was the deal with Zhao Yingjun’s invitation?
While it was true that Zhao Yingjun was a young and promising individual, he was a far cry from a top-tier millionaire, the most extreme genius, the most authoritative figure… wasn’t he?
Even Chu Shanhe, the number one man in Donghai, couldn’t be considered a top figure on a global scale, let alone Zhao Yingjun.
“Zhao Yingjun simply did not qualify to receive an invitation!”
But in reality, right under his own eyes, Zhao Yingjun had firmly taken the invitation.
This was too contradictory!
Lin Xian felt that he had fallen into a vicious cycle of contradictions and logic.
Whether in reality or in dreams, all the information about the Genius Club was rife with contradictions, with too many things that didn’t make sense from beginning to end.
“No, actually these contradictions don’t matter at all.”
Lin Xian opened his eyes.
“This person, Big Face Cat… his words might not be reliable, and I can’t rule out the possibility that he’s deceiving me or lying.”
“In fact, there’s only one question that is most crucial, central, and urgently needing an answer—”
“[Why would things I fabricated in dreams appear in reality?]”
This question was Lin Xian’s biggest concern, so much so it could be described as a supernatural event.
Lin Xian picked up the phone and dialed Gao Yang’s number.
“Gao Yang, something has happened.”
“What’s happened to you again, big brother? It’s not that broken dream of yours again, is it?”
There was a lot of noise on the other end of the phone, like that of a marketplace, and Gao Yang yelled over the din:
“Didn’t I tell you last time! Everything in dreams is fake! It’s all concocted by the subconscious! As long as it doesn’t jump from dreams to reality, it’s not a big deal!”
“You jinx, don’t jinx it.”
Lin Xian rubbed his temples and sighed:
“You really jinxed it!”
The noise at Gao Yang’s end was intense, and if listened to carefully, it was the haggling between customers and salespeople.
It looked like Gao Yang was at a 4S shop, probably selling cars.
“I’m busy now, I’ll come over to your place tonight and explain everything!”
With that, Gao Yang hastily hung up the phone.
That day, Lin Xian sat at his desk, spinning his pen all day long.
What exactly was the Genius Club?
Even though it was all fictitious in his dreams, Lin Xian couldn’t help but be curious.
The invitation to the Genius Club that Zhao Yingjun had, and the Genius Club mentioned by Big Face Cat in the dreams, were they connected? Were they the same thing?
If he wanted to verify this.
The most efficient way would be to directly look at what was written on the invitation Zhao Yingjun received, and the truth would naturally become clear.
Unfortunately, it seemed…
He probably wouldn’t have the chance to see that invitation again.
When he entered Zhao Yingjun’s office in the morning, Lin Xian just happened to see her put the invitation in a drawer.
Zhao Yingjun’s office had two password locks, and Lin Xian was not a real Code Expert, so sneaking in was absolutely impossible.
If this were a dream, he had a thousand ways to enter Zhao Yingjun’s office… he could even use C4 to blast his way in if necessary.
But this was the real world, where consequences had to be considered.
“Is there any way to see that invitation?”
Lin Xian pondered left and right.