Genius Playground

”And I’ve already looked it up. You can forget about the possibility of cloning.”

Wang Hao switched to another webpage and showed it to Jiang Ran.

”Look, it says here that with current technology, cloning is far from mature. It’s nowhere near what you see with the human clones in sci-fi movies.”

”Even successful animal cloning experiments have resulted in lots of genetic abnormalities and abnormal organ development... In other words, even a human clone wouldn’t look exactly identical to the original donor.”

”Besides, a clone would have absolutely no memories, because memories come from life experiences, they’re not innate. So you see, Xiaoxue remembers everything that happened before. She has a complete memory, so there’s no way she can be a clone.”

”This means that as long as we can prove on a DNA level that this Xiaoxue is real, then she *has* to be real!”

Jiang Ran nodded.

”Your theory isn’t bad, but the question is, where are you going to get a DNA sample from the original Xiaoxue?”

”Dig up her grave.” Wang Hao’s gaze was sharp.

”What the hell?”

Jiang Ran couldn’t believe his ears.

”Wang Hao! How could you even think of something so messed up!”

”I learned it from a novel I read.”

Wang Hao said bluntly,

”Digging up a grave isn’t the same as robbing one. We’ll just take a little bit of the ash to test the DNA.”

”Stop, stop, stop!”

Jiang Ran quickly cut him off.

”First of all, Xiaoxue’s urn is buried in Jingshan Bamboo Public Cemetery. It has guards, cameras, and surveillance footage. In terms of security, you’d be better off robbing a grave in the middle of nowhere. I guarantee the security guards will be on you the second you start digging.”

”Second, was that novel you read written by an idiot? Ashes are what’s left after being incinerated in a crematorium at 2,000 degrees. At that temperature, all cellular and molecular structures are completely destroyed. There’s no possibility of getting a DNA sample.”

”Huh?”

Wang Hao was crestfallen.

”You really can’t use ashes for a DNA test?”

”Of course not!”

The high-achiever with a score of 680 gave Wang Hao a science lesson:

”The DNA double helix is a nucleic acid molecule... I won’t get into the complicated stuff, but basically, high-temperature incineration is enough to destroy all molecular structures. You absolutely cannot get DNA from ashes.”

”Then Xu Yan will work!” Wang Hao suggested again.

”Xu Yan is Cheng Mengxue’s cousin. They have to be related by blood!”

Jiang Ran thought for a moment, then nodded.

”That’s true. But if you really want to do a DNA test to check for a familial relationship, then Xu Yan’s dad—Cheng Mengxue’s biological uncle—would be a better match.”

”Biologically, Cheng Mengxue and Xu Yan’s father have an uncle-niece relationship. And since he’s her mother’s full brother, that close a family tie can definitely be detected in a DNA test.”

”Then let’s test it!”

Wang Hao stood up excitedly.

”It’s perfect, we’re going to Xu Yan’s house today anyway. We just need to find a way to get a strand of Xiaoxue’s hair and a strand of Xu Yan’s dad’s hair, right?”

Amid his excitement, Wang Hao looked at Jiang Ran, and his expression gradually grew somber.

He placed his right hand on Jiang Ran’s shoulder.

He let out a deep sigh.

”Sigh... man, to be honest, it really hurts to see you like this.”

”I thought it was such a wonderful thing that Xiaoxue could come back from the United States and clear up the misunderstanding from back then. Your best childhood friend is back, my best high school friend is back, our ’iron triangle’ is reunited.”

”I thought there could be no happier time in the world than this. But look at you now... This is the real Xiaoxue, perfectly fine. She’s obviously real. Everyone says she’s real, but you’re the only one who insists she’s fake.”

”You’re not the only person in the world who grew up with her. So many classmates in our year spent three years with her. And Teacher Gao watched Xiaoxue grow up since she was little. Plus, Xiaoxue is about to visit her uncle... Do you really think we wouldn’t know if this Xiaoxue was a fake?”

”So, I hope this DNA test is the **last time**.”

Wang Hao looked Jiang Ran straight in the eye, his expression earnest.

”Over the past two days, you’ve already proven that Xiaoxue’s memories are real, her personality is real, and the feeling she gives off is real.”

”So if this DNA test can prove that her body and her bloodline are also real... Jiang Ran, I hope you’ll let this go. Just accept the reality that Xiaoxue has returned.”

”**If a person’s body, mind, memories, past, personality, the feeling they give off, and everything else are all identical to Xiaoxue’s, then there’s no need to doubt. That person must be Xiaoxue!**”

”I really don’t want to see the three best friends in the world turn on each other like this, with all this suspicion and scheming. Jiang Ran, promise me, this is the last time... okay?”

...

Jiang Ran met Wang Hao’s sincere and serious gaze, and fell silent.

His actions these past two days had hurt not only Cheng Mengxue, but Wang Hao as well.

He couldn’t refute what Wang Hao said.

If a person’s body, mind, and memories were identical to the original person’s, there was indeed no reason to deny that they were one and the same.

’The last time.’

Jiang Ran also felt it was time to bring this matter to a final conclusion.

’Even if that final conclusion is only temporary.’

He had too much to do in the days to come; he didn’t have time to keep wasting here.

’If this Xiaoxue is real, all the better.’

’If this Xiaoxue is fake, then he’ll just ignore her.’

’After all...’

Jiang Ran’s ultimate goal was still to return to World Line 0, to find the undisputed Xiaoxue, to reclaim their lost lives, and to go back to their time in the East Sea University Film Club.