Genius Playground

6:05 AM.

Unexpected, yet also expected.

This was the exact time Jiang Ran had sent the [Time SMS]!

He turned his head and met Qin Feng’s gaze. A silent understanding passed between them, and the other man gave a slight nod.

Bingo!

Perhaps this was the key factor they had been missing all along.

The identical time.

And the coincidentally electricity-related Electron Beam.

So.

If the Positron Cannon really could fire some kind of high-energy Electron Beam and bombard the transformer distribution box... what would happen?

Jiang Ran didn’t know.

But his intuition told him—

’It’s highly likely that the Positron Cannon, the high-energy Electron Beam, and the high-voltage transformer caused a chain reaction, making the text message’s radio waves travel through time to the past in that instant!’

Whatever the truth was.

In any case, they had to hold on to this Positron Cannon clue!

”Speaking of which...”

Jiang Ran looked around.

”Senior, where’s that Positron Cannon? I don’t see it.”

”Oh, the Student Council confiscated it.”

Yan Rui said,

”The day they came to the Film Club to investigate, they took it away as a prohibited electronic device. It’s probably in some warehouse now.”

Huh?

The lead they’d just gotten their hands on was already a dead end.

”Can we get it back?” Jiang Ran asked, concerned.

”Get it back...”

Yan Rui scratched his head.

”It’d probably be hard to get it back. But honestly, there’s no need to.”

”Why?”

”Because... see for yourselves.”

Yan Rui took a piece of paper from a bookshelf and handed it over.

The three of them took it and looked.

”Club disbanded?!”

”Notice of Club Disbandment”

As the Film Club has had fewer than 5 members for two consecutive years, in accordance with the East Sea University club management regulations, the Film Club is hereby disbanded and its activity room reclaimed. Please remove all personal belongings by May 31st and return the activity room key to the Club Management Office.

...

Uh.

Jiang Ran and the others were all campus ”drifters” who hadn’t joined any clubs, so this was a real blind spot for them.

”Then what about all this tra... ahem, junk?” Jiang Ran asked, pointing at the room full of miscellaneous items.

”Probably, it’ll be thrown out as trash along with that Positron Cannon.”

Yan Rui’s tone was casual.

”It’s nothing to be sad about, really. Film cameras and film rolls are products that have been phased out by the times. I heard that over twenty years ago, the Film Club was a pretty glamorous club on campus.”

”Just think about it, owning a camera back then was a pretty amazing thing. To be honest with you, I have no interest in film cameras either.”

He chuckled lightly.

”I was just dragged in by my seniors to fill a spot. After they all graduated, I was the only one left, and I rarely come here myself.”

”I’m graduating this year too, so it’s only natural for the club to be disbanded.”

”Can the three of us join the Film Club?” Jiang Ran asked.

Yan Rui looked at the three of them.

”Do you guys like film cameras?”

...

”Nope.” ”Don’t know the first thing about them.” ”Not interested.”

The three of them were very honest.

Of course, that was obvious.

”Then what’s the point?”

Yan Rui smiled.

”Besides, the club’s status has been revoked, so it can’t recruit new members anymore.”

”So, just respect the fate of all things. That’s how the world works.”

”Some things are just destined to be eliminated by the times.”

...

「On the athletic field.」

The three of them stood in silence.

Cheng Mengxue leaned against the horizontal bar.

”According to school rules, unless the club president shows up to write an application, a letter of guarantee, and go through a whole bunch of other messy procedures, you can’t get back a prohibited electronic device.”

Jiang Ran snorted.

”The club’s gone, so there’s no president.”

Now they were in a bind.

’But... I have to get my hands on that device nicknamed the Positron Cannon.’

According to Qin Feng, it was absolutely impossible to fire a positron beam through the air.

’The principle is unknown, the effect is unknown.’

That was the problem.

No one knew what kind of contraption the Film Club’s seniors had cobbled together.

But miraculously, this slapped-together toy was, in all likelihood, the most crucial part of the [Time SMS experiment].

In terms of construction and effect, this Positron Cannon was truly one of a kind—nothing like it in heaven or on earth, a peerless, legendary artifact.

’How am I going to get my hands on it?’

”Let’s just go find the Student Council President.”

Cheng Mengxue suggested.

”We’ll try our best to apply and strongly express our desire to join the Film Club!”

...

「Thirty minutes later, in the Student Council President’s office.」

”I understand what you’re saying.”

The Student Council President took a sip of tea and spat out a tea leaf fragment.

”But the Film Club has already been disbanded. If you really like film cameras, you can gather five members next semester and reapply to establish the club.”

”But we can’t wait that long!” Cheng Mengxue stood up.

Once the semester ends, the Positron Cannon and the Film Club’s junk will all be disposed of, and the activity room will be cleared out.

’Even if we could form a new Film Club, what would be the point without the Positron Cannon?’

”See? Getting anxious again,” the president said unhurriedly.

”Can’t you make an exception for a special case?” Qin Feng proposed.

The president adjusted the collar of his administrative-looking jacket and looked at the blinds.

”Regarding this matter of yours, it’s not that we won’t handle it. Ahem, of course, when it comes to student needs, there isn’t a single matter where we say one way or another, right? Making a special exception, is that possible? If there’s truly a need, truly a necessity, it’s not to say it can’t be done. But anything we do must be done precisely, meticulously, and methodically. Including this matter of yours, we will certainly consider it and take a look when the time comes. Alright, that’s all for now.”

SLAM.

The office door closed, leaving the three of them standing outside.

Cheng Mengxue’s eyes were wide with a blank expression.

”Um, the president said so much, but what did he actually mean? Can someone translate?”

”It means no.”

...

Leaving the building, the dejected trio returned to the athletic field once more.

”Huh? There you are. I was just looking for you.”

The three looked up and saw a familiar face. It was the president of the Film Society, Xu Yan, whom they had seen a few days ago while shooting the movie.

”Sis!”

Cheng Mengxue ran over and grabbed her hand.

”You were looking for us?”

Xu Yan’s other identity was Cheng Mengxue’s older cousin, the daughter of her maternal uncle.

Every summer vacation, Xu Yan would come to stay at Cheng Mengxue’s house for two months, and their relationship was like that of real sisters.

Since Jiang Ran and Cheng Mengxue were childhood sweethearts, he and Xu Yan were ”two-months-a-year” childhood playmates long before college and knew each other very well.

For this same reason, when applying for college, they had chosen East Sea University, where Xu Yan was studying.

”Mhm.”

Xu Yan handed Cheng Mengxue a USB drive and looked at Jiang Ran and Qin Feng.

”We finished editing the short film yesterday. I brought it for you guys to see. If you have any opinions or suggestions, you can give us some feedback.”

Jiang Ran smiled.

”We’re all amateurs, what kind of suggestions could we have? You don’t need to worry about us.”

”Don’t say that.”

Xu Yan raised her eyebrows.

”You wrote the script, and you and Qin Feng were the lead actors. Whether or not we win an award at the film festival this time, it’s our Film Society that’s basking in your glory. You guys are our great benefactors.”

”Now you’re being too formal.”

Jiang Ran waved his hand.

”We’ve been friends for so many years since we were kids. Helping out a little is what we should do. It’s not worth mentioning.”

”Haha.”

Xu Yan ruffled Cheng Mengxue’s hair.

”Anyway, don’t be stingy with your suggestions. Let us know if you have any thoughts.”

”By the way... what are you guys doing here, looking all down in the dumps?”

Looking wronged, Cheng Mengxue poured out all her grievances.

”Ooooh...”

Xu Yan understood, but she was a little confused.

”You three are interested in film cameras, film rolls, and stuff?”

”Not at all.”

Jiang Ran answered truthfully.

”But we’re interested in the old equipment in the Film Club.”

Hmm...

Xu Yan rested her chin on her hand, pondering for two seconds.

”Alright then.”

She shook her head, tossing her beautiful hair behind her shoulders.

”You guys helped me out so much, so I have to help you with this. I’ll take care of the Film Club matter.”

?

Cheng Mengxue’s eyes widened.

”Sis, you can help us?!”

”Of course. It’s a small thing.”

Xu Yan bent down and gave a mysterious smile.

”Do you guys know... who my boyfriend is?”

The three of them shot up in sudden realization.

”Don’t tell me it’s the Student Council President!” ”How did I not know you were dating someone?!” ”Are we pulling strings?”

”Hey, what are you talking about? Stop guessing wildly!”

Xu Yan looked disgusted.

”Who would want to date someone so stuffy and bureaucratic? He’s so annoying.”

”Alright, leave this to me. See you tomorrow.”

...

「The next day, Xu Yan found the trio.」

”There’s a clause in the club management regulations. For clubs with insufficient members but which show potential for development, you just need a joint application from ten club presidents and the signatures of five faculty advisors to postpone the disbandment for one year.”

”...” ”...” ”...”

The three looked at each other in dismay.

That requirement was even harder than overthrowing the Student Council, three heroes fighting Lü Bu, or shooting the halberd at Yuanmen.

”Um, do you have some misunderstanding about our social skills...”

”It’s already taken care of.”

Xu Yan pulled a piece of paper from her bag.

It was a joint Petition Letter, with the signatures of far more than ten club presidents and five faculty advisors.

This move truly shocked the three of them.

’What kind of heaven-defying network is this!’

”Here, take it. Remember to go to the Club Management Office to get the key.”

She stuffed the Petition Letter into Jiang Ran’s arms.

”If you have any good scripts in the future, you have to show them to me, okay?”

Then, she looked back with a smile and waved.

She turned and walked away on her small high heels.