Genius Club

Looking at CC's melancholic eyes, Lin Xian said nothing.

[Gains and losses].

This probably... is CC's current situation.

As she just said, when she had nothing, it was actually her most carefree moment—unafraid of losing, unafraid of tomorrow, not even fearing death.

But now, having so much, she inevitably becomes more afraid of losing, feeling insecure.

Indeed, a sense of security.

This is what the First Generation Pillar, CC, has yearned for since birth, but has never been able to reach.

Just like in the animated movie "Alice in Wonderland," where Alice was merely having a daydream... CC is also worried she might accidentally wake up one day, finding herself still curled up on the corner of a Brooklyn street, clutching her legs in the cold wind, with no one to rely on.

Seeing the gleam in CC's eyes, Lin Xian felt truly a bit distressed.

He really wanted to comfort her.

But...

CC, however, spoke a prophecy, revealing the eventual conclusion.

This encounter in Brooklyn in 1952, to be straightforward, isn't it just a dream?

CC will eventually turn into Blue Stardust and dissipate, striking the first Millennium Stake that locks history into the river of time;

Lin Xian will also eventually leave 1952, bringing truth and answers back to 2234, continuing his salvation journey;

The wheels of time roll forward, and no one will remain in 1952—there will ultimately be no Lin Xian here, nor CC.

Lin Xian realized this too.

It was indeed a dream.

A dream of the First Generation Pillar CC, his own dream, Zhang Yuqian's dream, Chu Anqing's dream, the dream of every girl of the Millennium Stakes.

At the same time, even more cruelly...

It is a dream with a predetermined outcome and one that is destined to awaken.

Lin Xian hesitated to speak.

But in the end.

He extended his large right hand, stroked CC's smooth head, brushed her dark brown hair, and smiled slightly:

"How is that possible, what kind of joke are you telling?"

He chose to lie.

Just like many lies he had heard before, it was well-intended, yet helpless:

"How can you be like a child, taking an animated film into the real world... the settings in a cartoon can be taken seriously? We are in the real world."

He grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bucket in CC's arms, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed:

"You forgot? You said before that you didn't even know what a hot dog tasted like in dreams, but today you've had steak and popcorn, how could it be a dream?"

"So... there's no need to worry, this isn't a dream, you are standing firmly in Manhattan, in the center of the world; and I won't go anywhere, you can see me whenever you wake up."

...

After hearing this, CC nodded and wiped her eyes.

Smiled apologetically:

"True, I'm overthinking. Haha, how could it be a dream! Come on, pinch me, if it's a dream, I'll surely wake up from the pain."

It's better to comply than to be courteous.

Lin Xian grabbed the skin on CC's arm through her clothes and twisted!

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"

The popcorn in the bucket bounced with CC's movement, and CC punched Lin Xian:

"Why are you doing it so hard!"

"To reassure you."

Lin Xian, smiling wryly:

"Now do you believe? Hurting this much and still not waking up, that's enough proof this isn't a dream. Don't worry, when it comes to distinguishing dreams from reality, I'm a professional."

"You're overly professional!"

CC rubbed her arm and stood up:

"Let's go, everyone's left, it's just the two of us now."

Lin Xian stood up as well, following CC.

They walked out of the theater.

Out of the cinema.

It was windy outside, very cold and icy.

Although last night's snow fell for only a short while, the cold wave's power remained, pushing the whole city into an early winter.

It was already very late, and there were few vehicles on the street.

Lin Xian and CC took a taxi back to the Empire State Building Hotel, preparing to freshen up and sleep.

"Having a big house isn't always a good thing."

CC said while brushing her teeth:

"A small room feels cozier, if it's too big... like now, it feels kind of empty."

"Small rooms can be very cramped."

Lin Xian sat on the sofa, picked up the latest "New York Evening News" to read:

"Like that time at the 30-cent motel in Brooklyn, the room was so small it only had a bed and nothing else, we had to pick someone to sleep on the floor... isn't this much more comfortable? One room each."

Brush, brush, brush...

The toothbrush shuttled back and forth in CC's mouth, she looked at Lin Xian on the sofa:

"Actually... it was pretty nice there."

She whispered.

Her voice was drowned out by the sound of the toothpaste.

...

The next day, Lin Xian woke up naturally.

Stretching lazily.

He looked at the time on the bedroom clock, which showed 12:42 PM.

"That was a really long sleep."

Since it was already late when they returned to the hotel yesterday.

Perhaps it was for this reason that CC did not wake him for breakfast, not wanting to disturb his rest.

"Huh?"

He opened his eyes wide:

"No wait, hold on!"

Mi Country time is 12:42, which is 00:42 in China!

Didn't he just discuss those things with CC yesterday, and today just happens to be her birthday, could she have turned into Blue Stardust and disappeared?

Lin Xian hurriedly got out of bed, put on slippers, and pulled open the bedroom door—

"Huh? Lin Xian, you're awake!"

He looked up.

Seeing CC sitting cross-legged on the sofa watching TV, Lin Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He was indeed a bit overly cautious.

The current CC shouldn't have turned into a Millennium Stake yet, so she shouldn't yet possess the premise of turning into Blue Stardust and dissipating.

"What's wrong Lin Xian?"

CC tilted her head, looking at him:

"You look really tense, did you have a nightmare?"

"No, ahem."