Genius Playground

September 30, 2025. East Sea City Public Security Bureau, secret command center.

”Here’s our plan.”

The room was dim, the door and windows shut tight, the curtains drawn. A projector displayed a PowerPoint slide on a screen. Officer Liu pointed at the image on it.

”This is a picture of Jingshan Bamboo Public Cemetery. It’s also the place where our current number one suspect, Cheng Mengxue, plans to take Jiang Ran.”

”As for the timeline, the two have decided to depart from East Sea City for Hang City on October 1st. After spending some time in the commercial districts and an amusement park, they will head to Jingshan Bamboo Public Cemetery on the morning of the second day, October 2nd.”

”According to the intel Jiang Ran provided, this girl is likely connected to the Regrets Mutual Aid Association we’re investigating, as well as Wu Yuanzheng.”

”And those two, in turn, appear to be the prime suspects in the Zhou Xiong case in Hang City and the Yan Chonghan case at East Sea University.”

”So, this is a prime opportunity for us to crack the case. The moment Jiang Ran confirms there’s something wrong with this girl, we can arrest her immediately. From there, we’ll follow the leads and wipe out the entire criminal organization in one fell swoop!”

---

”Jingshan Bamboo Public Cemetery, by Cheng Mengxue’s tombstone, is the most suitable location to carry out the divine punishment.”

The lavish conference room was brightly lit. Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows was a view of the bustling Lujiazui. A middle-aged man stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

”I’ve already informed Fang Yang of the time and place. He has already proceeded to the vicinity of the cemetery to await orders. He’s found a suitable sniper’s nest on the rooftop of a building 1,200 meters away.”

”On the morning of October 2nd, when Jiang Ran enters the Jingshan Bamboo Cemetery grounds, walks up the steps, and arrives in front of Cheng Mengxue’s tombstone, he will be perfectly within Fang Yang’s optimal firing range.”

”He is our most professional assassin; he has never made a mistake on a mission. Therefore, your only task is to find a way to lead Jiang Ran to the tombstone.”

”I don’t think that will be a problem. Jiang Ran has no guard up against this. Besides, with the assassin positioned 1,200 meters away, he won’t notice a thing.”

”There’s no need to panic afterward. Lilith will handle all the arrangements, ensuring Fang Yang’s safe escape. Moreover, carrying out the divine punishment in such a remote location won’t attract much attention, so there’s no need to worry about tipping them off.”

---

”Jiang Ran, put this button bug under your collar.”

Officer Liu pinched a listening device shaped like a button.

”For this trip to Hang City, we’ll have plainclothes officers with you at all times to protect you. This is a one-way listening device. You don’t have to worry about it making any noise, but we can monitor your conversations constantly.”

”You said you needed to run one final check on the girl. We’ll wait patiently for your signal. The moment you give the word, we will arrest her immediately, giving her no chance to react.”

Just then, a policewoman standing nearby came forward with a sewing kit.

She took the button from Officer Liu, turned up Jiang Ran’s collar, and began to sew.

”I’ll sew one onto the other side of the collar in a bit for symmetry. But that one is just a matching decoration. Just pretend they aren’t there.”

---

”Put on this necklace.”

The middle-aged man took out a Tiffany necklace and handed it to the girl behind him.

The necklace was small and exquisite, with a uniquely shaped ring for a pendant.

”We originally had a more suitable earring bug, but since you don’t have your ears pierced, we have to use a necklace instead.”

”A basic Tiffany piece fits your student identity well enough. After all, in the backstory we created, your father has a small business in the United States.”

”This necklace bug is for one-way communication, allowing us to monitor your situation at all times. But as I said, your mission itself is very simple. Don’t worry about all that; just focus on bringing Jiang Ran to the tombstone.”

---

”During the trip, Hang City Paradise is another place we need to keep a close watch on. Although we don’t think the probability of danger there is high, we can’t let our guard down for a moment.”

Officer Liu continued his explanation, pointing at the PowerPoint.

”In any case, we will ensure there are plainclothes officers around you at all times, Jiang Ran. You can rest assured on that point.”

”As for your plan, just play it by ear. If anything unusual happens, just speak directly into your collar.”

---

”I am rather surprised... Why add a trip to Hang City Paradise out of the blue?”

The middle-aged man turned to face the short-haired girl behind him.

”Even if you had to come meet with us today, there was absolutely no need to take a trip to this old amusement park, whether you visit the grave on October 1st or October 2nd.”

”I wanted to go.”

The girl blinked.

”I think it will feel more natural this way. At least... if it were Cheng Mengxue, this is what she would think, and what she would do.”

”She wasn’t a girl who took a lot of initiative. Aside from being competitive when it came to swimming, she was actually quite lazy in many ways. A commando-style trip is completely out of character for her.”

”Besides... going to Hang City Paradise has always been a childhood wish of hers. It’s just that Jiang Ran wasn’t interested in those ’childish’ things, so they never got around to it.”

At this, she couldn’t help but smile.

”So you see, she was just that kind of girl, with very little drive. If she really wanted to go to the amusement park, she could have just gone with her parents. Why did she have to wait for Jiang Ran?”

---

”I was also surprised. Why did she have to go to Hang City Paradise?”

Jiang Ran patted the collar with the newly sewn button bug and looked up.

”When we were kids, that park did seem really popular. Now, it feels like it’s on the verge of bankruptcy.”

”But I checked yesterday, and it’s definitely still in business. The foot traffic is decent. I expect there will be even more visitors during the National Day holiday on October 1st.”

”During this rare peak tourist season, the park has added a lot of new shows and attractions. But I definitely won’t be going on any of the dangerous ones like the Pendulum Ride, bungee jumping, or the ’Hand of the Wind God’... At most, I’ll ride the carousel or the Ferris wheel.”

”After all, the main purpose of this operation is to secure evidence and a chain of evidence, to expose the real mastermind, and to bring justice to the deceased!”

”So, this trip to Hang City Paradise is just an act for me. Aside from avoiding the dangerous rides, I don’t plan on tipping them off. Wherever Cheng Mengxue says to go, I’ll follow.”

---

”Priest.”

In the bright conference room, the girl walked to the conference table and faced the old man in the Tang suit.

”My wish, my regret... You will definitely help me resolve it, right?”

”I will.”

The old man in the Tang suit nodded, rolling a gold coin in his hand.

”This is something we agreed upon two years ago. You yourself have seen me resolve the regrets of our followers many times... To keep one’s word is our principle, and it’s the reason so many followers are loyal to us.”

”By October 16th at the latest, I guarantee you will see your brother. Lilith will arrange everything else.”

The girl’s eyes flickered.

”Can you... really find my brother?”

”Of course.”

The old man in the Tang suit smiled faintly.

He flicked his thumb, sending the King gold coin spinning on the tabletop, and watched it whir.

”Lilith is all-powerful.”

---

”That Priest is a con man.”

Officer Liu stood up straight in front of the screen.

”According to the intel from Jiang Ran, the so-called Regrets Mutual Aid Association is, in reality, a cult.”

”All this talk about resolving regrets... it’s nothing but deception backed by power and money. That includes Old Tian’s daughter, Tian Xiaoli, regaining consciousness. While it’s medically difficult to explain, there’s a rational explanation for it. This world has no room for feudal superstitions; everything is founded on scientific materialism!”

”They exploit people’s regrets, their desires, under the guise of resolving their followers’ life regrets, but what they’re really doing is swindling, racketeering, and hiring assassins! They are all a bunch of vicious criminals! We must bring them to justice!”

---

”Everything we do is just.”

The old man in the Tang suit closed his eyes amidst the whirring of the spinning gold coin.

”On the surface, it may seem as though we are stifling the future of humanity. But in reality, humanity’s future should be chosen by the common masses, not decided by the elite at the apex of wealth and power.”

”’The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. The world remains as it was.’ History is written by the victors, and the rules are made by those in power.”

”Only when we win this game and seize the authority to control everything can we guide this world onto the correct path.”

”At that time... all the sacrifices and bloodshed will become meaningful—steps on the ladder leading human civilization toward a better future.”

---

”What’s real is real, and what’s fake is fake.”

Officer Liu looked at Jiang Ran.

”The real can’t be fake, and the fake can’t be real. I believe the facts will give us the answer.”

With that, he walked forward and patted Jiang Ran’s shoulder.

”I can tell that deep down, you still have a sliver of hesitation, a sliver of unrealistic hope.”

”But trust me, Jiang Ran. I’ve been a police officer for 40 years and have seen countless difficult cases. Before they were solved, everyone thought the culprit was supernatural, capable of flight and Earth Escape.”

”But when the case is cracked and the truth comes to light... it’s often quite disappointing. You find that the criminal methods you imagined to be omnipotent and endlessly fascinating are actually not that sophisticated or glamorous. They’re all just for show.”

---

”You still need to be careful.”

The middle-aged man turned from the floor-to-ceiling windows and looked at the girl at the conference table.

”Jiang Ran may not be able to tell if you’re real or fake, but he hasn’t gone back to the Film Club’s activity room to conduct his secret experiments since that day. This proves he’s still on guard against you.”

---

”We’ll always be your strongest support.”

Officer Liu looked into Jiang Ran’s eyes.

”Trust your own judgment.”

----------

”Don’t worry.” ”Don’t worry.”

On opposite sides of East Sea City, Jiang Ran and the girl looked up.

”I will complete the mission.” ”I will complete the mission.”