Genius Club

Chapter 135: Chapter 127 CC and VV

Lin Xian held the invitation as he returned to his office.

He thought left and right but couldn’t figure it out…

Why would Chu Shanhe send an invitation specifically to him?

No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t qualify to attend the Donghai Chamber of Commerce’s New Year’s banquet; he didn’t think he had such clout.

However, attending the banquet wouldn’t hurt, especially since he needed to maintain the persona of “MX Tiger” in front of Zhao Yingjun.

He glanced at his watch.

It was already half past six, and even if he entered a dream right now, he wouldn’t catch up to the storyline of the three-knife thief.

In fact, nighttime dreams were no longer of much value to Lin Xian.

Now his exploration of the second dreamland had entered the second phase—

Infiltrating New Donghai City.

“I’ll probably have to enter dreams at noon from now on.”

Last night in the dream, CC had already told him that she was hiding in the forest behind Lee Cheng’s house before evening.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ƝօνǤο.сο

As long as he connected with her by using the secret “VV” at that time, the two could begin their plan to infiltrate New Donghai City.

“So for tonight… just relax for a change.”

Lin Xian stretched lazily, turned off the lights, and left the office.

…

The next day.

Noon.

Lin Xian had a quick lunch at home, watched some TV to induce sleepiness, and checked the time: 2:30 PM.

His earliest dream entry time was 12:42 PM, and to ensure he could fall asleep earlier today at noon, he had stayed up late on purpose before going home the night before.

But as he wasn’t used to taking naps, it took until now for him to feel drowsy.

He drew the curtains and lay on the bed.

Lin Xian closed his eyes.

He slipped into slumber.

…

…

…

There was still no familiar summer breeze, and the closely packed, haphazardly built houses blocked any incoming wind completely.

But the temperature at noon was still quite high.

Upon opening his eyes, Lin Xian immediately took two steps and hid in the shade, feeling the temperature drop significantly.

He looked at his watch.

2:51 PM

Indeed, the speed of falling asleep at noon was still a bit slow.

“First, I need to find CC in the forest behind Lee Cheng’s house.”

Lin Xian looked around him.

Lee Cheng’s house was still some distance away from here.

He could run there… but it would take too long.

“It’s time to adopt the good citizen virtues of Los Angeles again.”

Lin Xian walked straight toward Big Face Cat’s house.

Big Face Cat’s motorcycle might be old and nearly falling apart, but after all, it’s still a motorcycle; in this decrepit, poor village, it’s as significant as a Ferrari.

Moreover, as the village tyrant, Big Face Cat was so arrogant that he never removed the keys from his motorcycle.

He probably had great confidence that in this village, no one dared to steal the boss of Lian Gang’s bike.

“Let’s teach Big Face Cat a lesson today.”

“Let him understand…”

“The difficulty of guarding against an insider thief.”

Thump!

Just as he was walking out of the alley, Lin Xian collided head-on with a man wearing a black hat.

“Get out of the way!!”

The man in the black hat cursed and violently shoved Lin Xian against the wall! Then he picked up the wallet that fell on the ground and quickly left.

“Damn…”

Lin Xian didn’t know what to say.

At a glance, he recognized that the person who had just run past was the three-knife thief who had stolen Auntie Li’s handbag in the evening and the grocery store owner’s cashbox at night!

“… Is there some treasure in this village?”

Lin Xian couldn’t help but be impressed; the dedication and perseverance of this three-knife thief truly matched CC’s.

CC, regardless of how the world turned upside down, had only one goal, which was to crack open Lin Xian’s safe.

The thief was the same…

Staying in this little village from morning till night to steal, he must really love this land, deeply.

“Even the escape route is the same…”

Lin Xian was beyond commentary.

Turning around, he prepared to continue to Big Face Cat’s house, when several ominous faces came towards him.

Big Face Cat, leading three lackeys, was breathlessly rushing over and slapped Lin Xian on the shoulder:

“Young man! Have you seen a thief with a black hat!”

“I have.”

“Which way did he run!”

“That way,” Lin Xian pointed in the direction where the three-knife thief had escaped.

“Chase him!”

Big Face Cat spat viciously and cursed:

“He dares to steal on my turf… going against me!”

Whoosh…

Lian Gang’s motley crew pushed and shoved one another as they chased down the alley.

Lin Xian smiled to himself.

Well, that worked out.

With Big Face Cat lured away, at least no one would stop him from stealing the motorcycle.

Distraction cat from the mountain.

…

Arriving at Big Face Cat’s house.

After checking to make sure it was safe outside, Lin Xian confidently walked in and swung himself onto the motorcycle.

He turned the key, switched it on, then with his right foot he stomped on the kickstarter—

Vrrm.

It didn’t start.

He stomped on the kick starter again—

Vrrm.

Still no start.

“Why does every one of Big Face Cat’s vehicles have to be so broken!”

Lin Xian was speechless.

In The First Dreamland, his manual transmission van was also difficult to drive; the gearbox definitely had issues.

This time the crummy motorcycle had the same problem, it wouldn’t start.

Before, Big Face Cat managed to start it each time with a single kick. Perhaps these junky motorcycles really do require superior starting skills.

“Mom! Someone’s stealing the motorcycle!!”

From the second floor, Big Face Cat’s daughter stuck her head out and upon seeing Lin Xian, she immediately yelled:

“Brother! Bite him!”

Clatter-bang-boom-crash—

A cacophony of pots and pans fighting ensued inside the house, accompanied by a fierce barrage of roaring.

Bang!

The door was bust open by a mini-version of Big Face Cat, who charged forcefully towards Lin Xian!

Clank!

A crisp sound rang out.

The mini-version of Big Face Cat crashed hard against the steel column supporting the grapevines, growing a bump on his forehead that was visibly swelling at astonishing speed!

“Woo—wahhhhh!!!!”

Big Face Cat’s son’s mouth twisted as he sat on the ground, wailing loudly.

Roar———

Just then, Lin Xian finally got the motorcycle started, as thick black smoke billowed from the vibrating exhaust pipe.

“Take care, Little Cat Face.”

Lin Xian took off the helmet hanging from the rearview mirror and placed it on Little Cat Face’s head, then waved with a smile:

“Uncle is off~”

Roar———With the throttle fully open, the motorcycle shot forward amid the smell of burning rubber, speeding out the gate.

…

Lee Cheng’s house was on the other side of the village, right at the edge, which is why he had such a large yard.

Before, Big Face Cat had taken Lin Xian there several times.

He knew the way well.

Screech-screech-screech-screech—

Now Lin Xian understood why Big Face Cat always used the sole of his shoe for braking… because his motorcycle’s brakes were utterly useless.

Fortunately, Lin Xian was braking in the loess forest, where there was enough buffer space to stop without tragedy.

He secured the motorcycle and got off.

This was the forest behind Lee Cheng’s house.

It was lush, with densely packed trees and luxuriant branches and leaves, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate.

An ideal place to cool off.

“CC!!”

Lin Xian called out loudly.

There was no response.

She must be hiding.

“CC!!”

Lin Xian tried again from a different angle, looking left and right amidst the greenery but still, no response.

“Come out! I am VV!!”

After about ten seconds.

Whoosh!

A dark figure dropped from the sky, leaf fall fluttering in its wake.

Lin Xian stared hard and saw the attractive goose egg-shaped face, the teardrop mole by the left eye, the model-like slender figure.

It was CC, no mistaking it.

When CC saw Lin Xian’s face, she paused for a moment, then asked:

“Are you VV?”

“I’m not,” replied Lin Xian honestly.

“Then why do you know the name VV?”

“It was you tonight who told me,” Lin Xian said, looking at CC as he recounted the events that would transpire in the next few hours.

Including her original plan, impersonating Lee Ningning, the human ladder art, and the safe in the Garbage Factory that would be waiting in vain.

He precisely articulated the vehicular information of the Waste Treatment Plant.

He also explained to CC about the fragments of memory in her mind.

Of course.

The crux of the matter was telling her the truth:

“The name VV was given to me by you a few hours from now, with the purpose of making you believe what I’m saying.”

“VV is the name of that long-haired, bearded middle-aged man, right? His voice should sound quite similar to mine; in fact, I think that man is me, but you don’t believe it, and I have no proof. I can’t explain it clearly.”

“Do you have any more questions now? If not, we can start planning our next move.”

…

CC thought deeply for a long time.

At least a good ten minutes.

Lin Xian did not interrupt him.

Because it took time to digest such a fantastical storyline, fit for a fantasy novel.

Even more so for CC, for whom it was difficult to choose between abandoning a long-term plan and trusting a stranger who had just popped up out of nowhere.

“You mean to say… the safe with Lin Xian’s name on it will only reach the Garbage Factory at 00:57, but this world here will be destroyed at 00:42.”

CC frowned deeply, thinking:

“So, to infiltrate New Donghai City and open that safe ahead of time, you traveled back to this present moment.”

Lin Xian nodded:

“Although there’s a slight deviation in your understanding, you’re generally correct, that’s the gist of it.”

“Whether or not you trust me, I have to try infiltrating New Donghai City because it’s the only way to open that safe… You won’t be waiting for it at the Garbage Factory; I have no reason to lie to you on that.”

Eventually…

CC nodded thoughtfully:

“Actually, I don’t believe what you’ve told me, but… firstly, I’ve indeed seen your face in my memory fragments; secondly, since you know the name VV… I can’t understand why you’d know about this, but it certainly is convincing.”

She looked up at Lin Xian:

“And you also know so much about the vehicular traffic of the Garbage Factory… Many of these details were just released this morning. Even if I don’t believe in time travel… it seems there’s no other explanation that makes sense of the current situation.”

“So…”

Lin Xian extended his right hand in a friendly gesture:

“Shall we collaborate? The plan to infiltrate New Donghai City won’t work without you, the Code Expert.”

CC hesitated for a while longer.

Finally.

She swung her right hand and high-fived Lin Xian:

“You’ve guessed a lot about my future plans; I choose to trust you.”

“But now the biggest problem is…”

CC folded her arms and turned to look towards the dark, lifeless steel metropolis in the distance:

“If we want to use the garbage trucks to infiltrate New Donghai City, we must first figure out how to get into the Waste Treatment Plant.”

“Around here, many people like Lee Cheng and Big Face Cat are in the business of stealing from the Garbage Factory. They all use the method of forming human ladders… While it’s troublesome, it’s indeed efficient.”

“But with just the two of us now…”

“How are we going to construct a human ladder and scale the eight-meter high walls of the Garbage Factory?”