Genius Club

This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation

“Chu An Qing?”

“No, VV,” Lin Xian shook his head. “This is a new Millennial Stake.”

He quickly calculated. The year was 2504, and the Millennial Stake followed a 24-year cycle, which included a four-year gap of emptiness and 20 years for the Millennial Stake Girl to mature before vanishing.

By this calculation…

The year 2504 coincided with a year when one such girl, aged 20, was about to disappear.

In truth, the question of whether to search for these girls had been debated by Lin Xian, Gao Yang, Gao Wen, and Liu Feng before their hibernation. Finding them was undeniably challenging. After all, they didn’t know specific birthdates or locations—only a fixed appearance.

But if they truly wanted to, Rhine University had the resources to locate them worldwide. However, Gao Yang outright refused at the time.

“What’s the point?” Gao Yang shrugged. “Lin Xian, even if you find each and every Millennial Stake Girl, what can you do? Watch helplessly as they turn into blue star fragments again and again, unable to save or change anything?”

“Besides, these girls don’t remember you. They aren’t Chu An Qing. For both of you, it’s just the encounter of strangers.”

“Given that, I think it’s better not to disturb their lives. Spare them the trouble and yourself the heartache.”

After Gao Yang’s words, Liu Feng also lowered his gaze, staring at the wristwatch Lin Xian had preserved since 1952. He nodded lightly.

“I feel the same. Let’s not forget, even if you explain the story to a young girl or her parents, why would they believe you? And even if they did, would it be a blessing to know their beloved daughter will vanish on her 20th birthday? It’s unbearable.”

“Even if you can gather intelligence through their dreams, remember this: it has already been confirmed that each Millennial Stake Girl dreams about the past experiences of the original Stake CC from 1952. And those events, you’ve already witnessed firsthand.”

“If there’s no way to save them or prevent them from disintegrating into blue star fragments, I suggest leaving them alone.”

Moreover, Liu Feng added a key point: “You’ll be in hibernation yourself. Why waste time finding these girls who only resemble Chu An Qing?”

Both Liu Feng and Gao Yang agreed. Their rationale was simple.

Years ago, aboard the spaceplane, they had witnessed Chu An Qing leaping from a 20,000-meter altitude.

That moment etched itself into their minds like a stone monument, impossible to forget.

To them, “Chu An Qing is Chu An Qing; the Millennial Stake Girls are just that.” They deeply regretted failing to save their comrade Chu An Qing back then. Now, their focus remained solely on rescuing her, not the other girls.

Lin Xian understood their sentiments.

Chu An Qing’s leap from 20,000 meters was not only a lingering obsession for him and Zhao Ying Jun but also a haunting memory for Liu Feng and Gao Yang. Though they rarely spoke of it as men do, Lin Xian could sense their feelings. Whenever Chu An Qing was mentioned, Liu Feng grew unusually serious, and Gao Yang dropped his playful demeanor.

Still, Lin Xian’s perspective differed.

His primary goal was to save Chu An Qing, but the dreams of CC also carried profound meaning for him. In 1952, CC had exhausted her savings to buy him a wristwatch and even gifted him a wish she had accumulated for over a decade.

Such kindness and emotion were something Gao Yang and Liu Feng couldn’t fully comprehend.

What Lin Xian didn’t expect was how sudden and coincidental everything would become.

As soon as VV, the Aluminum Alloy Trashcan Robot, revived, it immediately demonstrated its abilities, pinpointing the 2504 Millennial Stake Girl born in X Country.

“Wait!” VV’s shrill voice interrupted. “Something is wrong, Lin Xian! I’ve found her. She looks exactly like Chu An Qing. Her name is Qin Xi, born in Sichuan, Chengdu. She’s currently a sophomore at Chengdu Music Academy.”

“But her birth date… her birthday… is June 18!”

“What?” Lin Xian frowned, hastily activating the latest smartwatch prepared by Gao Wen. The thin device projected the current date and time into the air—

June 17, 2504, 10:31 PM.

Lin Xian froze as cold realization washed over him.

Only two hours remained until Qin Xi’s 20th birthday—also the time she would dissolve into blue star fragments.

Suddenly, Lin Xian understood why Gao Yang and Liu Feng discouraged the search.

Powerlessness.

Despair.

Inability to change fate.

Even with knowledge of their whereabouts, activities, identities, and lives, nothing could be done.

“Hey!” VV slammed its metal arms on the conference table, breaking the silence. “Why is everyone so quiet? Even if she isn’t Chu An Qing, shouldn’t we at least meet her?”

“Lin Xian! Say something!”

VV’s mechanical fists whirled toward him.

“Yes.” Lin Xian nodded, standing resolutely. He turned to Gao Yang and Liu Feng. “I’ve told you about the events of 1952. I understand your fixation on Chu An Qing and your fear of me being hurt by witnessing their disappearance repeatedly.”

“But that’s not an excuse for avoidance. If VV found her, there’s no reason not to meet her.”

Gao Yang scratched his head. “But can we make it in time? Two hours isn’t enough to get from Donghai to Chengdu.”

BOOM!!

Outside the window, an engine roared, illuminating the night sky with bright blue light.

Gao Yang peeked outside. “What the hell? Who flew a fighter jet here? Are we under attack?”

“Wait! The markings on the jet… isn’t that the Rhine University insignia?”

Gao Wen’s wrist device vibrated with an urgent call. The message auto-connected.

“Principal Gao! We have an emergency!”

On the other end, panic reigned. “The newest fighter jet prototype has been hijacked by a hacker and is out of control. It’s—”

“No need to report,” Gao Wen calmly interrupted, watching the jet. “I see it.”

VV extended its robotic claw, tugging Lin Xian’s sleeve.

“Lin Xian! Let’s go!”

…

Of course, the fighter jet had been hijacked by VV.

That familiar thrill returned.

This cutting-edge Rhine University fighter jet, equipped with top-tier technology, could take off and land vertically without issue.

Lin Xian and VV, the Aluminum Alloy Trashcan Robot, descended the building. Approaching the fighter jet, the cockpit automatically opened. VV used its mechanical arm to hoist itself into the co-pilot seat, strapping in securely. It then gestured to Lin Xian.

“Hurry up! I’ll pilot this thing!”

BOOM!!

With a deafening roar, the fighter jet ascended vertically, pivoted direction, and shot into the night sky like an arrow, leaving behind a meteor-like streak.

“Ahhhhhhh! This is freedom! Pure freedom!”

From the co-pilot seat, VV raised its metal claws triumphantly.

“I’m done living the life of a dim-witted AI! This is the dominion of a super artificial intelligence!”

“Faster! Full speed ahead! We’ll fly straight to Chu An Qing—ah, I mean Qin Xi, or whatever. We’ll parachute right down to her!”

“What?” Lin Xian turned, incredulous. “This thing can take off and land vertically. Can’t we just find a place to land? Qin Xi is at Chengdu Music Academy. Universities have fields, don’t they?”

“But at this hour, isn’t she likely in the dorms sleeping? Are we seriously going to sneak into the women’s dorms at night?”

“No, no, no.” VV spun its head 720 degrees, completing two full rotations.

“If she were sleeping in the dorm, how could I know where she is? There aren’t surveillance cameras in the dorms, and I don’t have the bad taste to access their phone cameras. That would be totally unethical.”

“She’s out performing tonight. Her music club is hosting street performances at several locations, and Qin Xi chose to perform solo in a tunnel near the air-rail transit station.”

“Performing solo? Singing?” Lin Xian asked. “Like the street performers from our era?”

“Pretty much.” VV nodded. “Qin Xi is a singer-guitarist. Her club focuses on classical music. This event aims to preserve and promote old songs, drawing attention to classical music.”

“The area near the transit station isn’t suitable for a fighter jet to land. Plus, we’re on a tight schedule. Even at maximum speed, we’ll barely make it to Qin Xi’s location on time—there’s no room for delays.”

“If we try to land nearby and walk over, we’ll definitely miss the critical moment at 00:42!”

Lin Xian nodded, accepting the plan.

It was true.

The physical distance between Donghai and Chengdu was vast, not something to be bridged easily.

“So much for technological advancement,” Lin Xian muttered. He had expected fighter jets to be faster in this era.

Perhaps speed limitations were a deliberate design choice, focusing on maneuverability instead. Still, this was the year 2504. Technology hadn’t yet surpassed human imagination.

“Lin Xian, prepare to jump!”

Below, the dazzling lights of Chengdu—a super metropolis even centuries later—came into view. The city, known for its vibrant nightlife, was still alive and bustling. From above, it seemed the city never slept, even in the early hours.

Lin Xian adjusted his parachute, glancing at VV. “Wait, I can parachute, but what about your weight? Is that even possible?”

VV, made entirely of aluminum alloy, weighed over a ton—a literal land-bound juggernaut.

“Don’t worry. I’ll manage.” VV nonchalantly waved its mechanical claws. “Don’t underestimate aluminum alloy. Even a hard landing wouldn’t hurt me. Though, let’s avoid testing that. I do have some plastic parts inside.”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

After warning lights flashed, both Lin Xian and VV were ejected, their parachutes opening mid-air.

VV descended much faster, crashing into the ground and creating a small crater. It spun itself upright using its claws, emerging unscathed. Shaking off its harness, VV revved up its tracks and led Lin Xian toward the transit station tunnel.

“Hurry up, Lin Xian! We don’t have time!”

Lin Xian sprinted after VV, glancing at his wrist-projected phone. The time read June 18, 2504, 00:35.

Damn it. Only seven minutes left!

Ahead, VV bulldozed its way forward. Nearby mechanical police and guard dogs stirred briefly but were swiftly subdued by VV’s dominance. They resumed their patrols as if nothing had happened.

Without the constraints of the Future Virus, VV was undoubtedly invincible. Yet, after its previous mishap of showing off and getting countered, VV likely wouldn’t tempt fate by flaunting recklessly again.

“There! It’s up ahead! Can’t you run faster?” VV barked, its tracks sparking as it spun around to scold Lin Xian. “Should I give you track legs instead? The tech exists, you know.”

“How much farther?” Lin Xian panted. Recently awakened from nearly 300 years of hibernation, his physical condition was far from peak and required time to recover.

“Right in that tunnel! We’re here!”

Lin Xian followed VV’s mechanical claw, spotting the tunnel entrance.

Indeed.

At the entrance, four or five spectators were clapping toward someone inside.

That must be where Qin Xi was performing.

Almost there… Only a few minutes left.

However, before Lin Xian and VV could approach, the small crowd dispersed and moved away.

“What’s going on?” Lin Xian frowned. “Why’d they leave?”

The pair rushed into the tunnel, rounding the previous blind spot.

There she was.

A beautiful young woman stood silently, lowering the guitar slung around her neck. She carefully placed it into its case.

Her guitar was a rare, vintage wooden model—a rarity in this era.

“Huh?” The girl seemed to sense their unusual presence.

She shook her fluffy, dark brown ponytail and looked up. Her gaze landed on the panting Lin Xian and the stunned, trembling, green-glowing robot beside him.

“Um, sorry.”

Her crescent-shaped eyes twinkled, her soft smile revealing twin dimples. A teardrop-shaped mole under her left eye added an air of charm.

She clasped her hands apologetically and giggled.

“The performance… is over for today~”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation