Genius Playground

”When that time comes, all this speculation and these conclusions won’t matter anymore. Compared to Xiaoxue’s life, nothing else matters.”

He picked up the blackboard eraser.

SWIPE——————

Jiang Ran wiped the small blackboard clean.

He then turned off the lights, locked the door, and left the activity room, leaving East Sea University.

He took a taxi back to his vocational college and went to the library, where he spent another day studying topics related to cathode-ray tubes, Beam Convergers, electron guns, and Electron Beams.

He didn’t look up until six in the evening, watching the sun gradually set outside the window.

’Time to go.’

He closed his book.

POP—POP—POP—

”Happy birthday!” ”Happy birthday!” ”Happy birthday!”

The moment he pushed open the villa door, several party poppers went off right in front of him, burying him in a flurry of streamers and petals.

Jiang Ran instinctively took a step back, looking at the laughing crowd that had ambushed him by the door.

Leading the group on the right, and laughing the loudest, was none other than Wang Hao.

Behind Wang Hao stood his roommates, #1 through #5, each also holding a party popper and laughing.

This was something Jiang Ran hadn’t expected.

’On this Worldline 1, am I this popular?’

For a simple birthday, all of his roommates had shown up dressed to the nines. He was a little overwhelmed by the attention.

’It seems I do have some personal charm, after all.’

However...

When his gaze shifted to the left, he immediately realized how shallow his thinking had been.

The row on the left was filled with a bevy of beautiful girls.

At the front stood Nan Xiuxiu, holding a party popper. Lined up behind her was her squad of best friends.

He had to admit, the quality of Nan Xiuxiu’s friend group was ridiculously high. Every single one of them was fair-skinned and gorgeous with long legs—like a supermodel troupe or a K-pop girl group.

’It’s no wonder, then.’

No wonder all his roommates, #1 through #5, had shown up. Two of them were even wearing ties...

’They’re definitely here for Nan Xiuxiu’s friends. I’d say there’s an 80% chance.’

’No.’

’98.74%.’

”Birthday boy! Get in here! We’ve been waiting for you forever!”

A familiar-looking girl with blonde hair and a camisole pushed Jiang Ran inside.

Jiang Ran remembered seeing her before.

On the day of the Worldline Jump, at that same birthday party in the villa, this was the girl who had shared a room with Nan Xiuxiu.

The huge villa living room was lavishly decorated, and the atmosphere was incredibly festive.

The large, round table in the center was laden with all sorts of delicacies, along with a massive, 20-inch birthday cake... ’Who’s going to eat all that!’

The cake had ”Happy Birthday, Jiang Ran!” written in frosting, and someone had also thoughtfully drawn a little chibi-style caricature of him in brown icing.

It was just that the melancholic expression, the dismissive gaze, the ridiculously smug pout, and the corners of the mouth quirked up in a way that just begged to be punched...

Jiang Ran was a little confused. He pointed at the little caricature on the cake.

”This caricature... it’s not supposed to be me, is it?”

”It is,” everyone nodded.

”Really?”

”Yes.”

Nan Xiuxiu pointed at the chibi caricature.

”You make that exact sour face every day.”

”That’s not me at all!”

Jiang Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The thing he hated most in school were those try-hard characters who acted all pretentious and profound, with their half-melancholy, half-radiant act.

Nowadays, it seemed the internet had a name for them: ”Jiahao.”

’The punchable punk on the cake was, without a doubt, a ”purebred, show-quality Jiahao.” How could I possibly have that kind of vibe!’

”Hmph.”

Wang Hao snorted, looking at Jiang Ran.

”You’re saying that’s not you?”

”It’s not,” Jiang Ran shook his head.

”I say it’s not you either!!”

Wang Hao suddenly leaped up, his face contorted in a ferocious snarl as he pointed angrily at Jiang Ran.

”You’re not Jiang Ran at all!! Who the hell are you!!!”

...

...

...

The room fell completely silent.

All eyes were fixed on Jiang Ran, an expectant look in them.

Jiang Ran froze on the spot.

Meeting Wang Hao’s furious glare and staring at his outstretched index finger, Jiang Ran felt a shiver run down his spine.

’Wang Hao... he...’

’Has he figured it out?’

Thinking back on their recent conversations, Wang Hao had told him ”you’ve changed” on several occasions.

On this Worldline 1, they were best friends who were practically inseparable. After Cheng Mengxue died, Wang Hao was probably the person on this worldline who knew Jiang Ran best—even better than Jiang Ran knew himself.

So.

’So... had Wang Hao sensed that I’d crossed over from another worldline and replaced the original Jiang Ran, and was now calling me out on it?’

”I...”

Jiang Ran was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

”Huh?”

Wang Hao looked puzzled.

”Bro, how’d you forget your line? Isn’t this iconic dialogue something everyone knows by heart?”

”Huh?”

Jiang Ran was baffled too.

”What are you talking about?”

”What do you mean, ’what am I talking about’?!”

Wang Hao threw his hands up in the air.

”You were the one who started the *Let the Bullets Fly* meme, so how come you can’t even follow up with your line?”

A few of his roommates chimed in scornfully:

”You can’t even keep up with a classic meme? Lame, Jiang Ran!”

”’Ma Bangde, oh Ma Bangde, I told you you weren’t cut out to be governor, but you just had to buy the office!’”

”So lame! We were all waiting for you to say your line, and you just totally dropped the ball!”

The tense atmosphere from moments before vanished instantly, and the living room was once again filled with a sea of laughter.

”You must be exhausted from the last few days, your brain’s not working!”

Nan Xiuxiu popped open a conical birthday hat and placed it on Jiang Ran’s head.

”You looked so scared just now, I really thought Wang Hao had gotten to you.”

”That just goes to show how good my acting is!”

Wang Hao patted his chest.

”How about it? Short-form dramas are all the rage right now, aren’t they? You guys think my acting chops could land me a role? I’m a natural at playing villains!”

Wang Hao’s humor sent the girls into fits of giggles, and no one paid any mind to Jiang Ran’s momentary lapse.

Jiang Ran lowered his head, saying nothing.