Genius Club Chapter 561
Chapter 561: The Final Genius
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcattranslation)
“An interesting story? Can it get a contract?”
Mai Mai’s only concern was this one question.
“A contract? Heh.”
Liu Feng sneered, a trace of disdain on his face.
“If you can actually write this story out, it won’t just get a contract—it might reach 100,000 average subscriptions, or even make you a legendary author with one book!”
“Really?”
Mai Mai’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she quickly pulled a pen and notebook out of her bag.
“Alright, tell me the story then!”
“Ahem… Well…”
Liu Feng picked up the thermos cup on the desk, slowly unscrewing the lid.
He took a sip, turned his gaze toward the window, and said:
“It’s not that I can’t tell you. After all, it’s not classified information. But, to be honest, this is a piece of lost history, a grand and epic saga. By principle, it shouldn’t be shared with outsiders.”
“Don’t be like that!”
Mai Mai couldn’t hold back her impatience.
“You can’t leave me hanging like this! You just said you’d tell me!”
“So, what would it take for me to tell you this story?”
Liu Feng saw that Mai Mai had taken the bait. He smiled slightly and said:
“It’s not that hard, really. You just need to join us. That way, you’ll stop being an outsider and become one of us.”
“Although I don’t have the final say in the Genius Club, I’m 100% certain that Lin Xian won’t refuse to let you join. After all, we couldn’t have saved the world without your crucial contribution.”
“Lin Xian once told me that in this world, some things can be wrong a thousand times, ten thousand times… as long as we get it right once in the end, that’s enough.”
“And you, Mai Mai, you were that one correct moment amidst tens of millions of mistakes. If it weren’t for this singular moment of correctness, allowing us to gain early intelligence on the Gauss Virus, everything would have been lost.”
“Uh…”
Mai Mai scratched her head.
“So, basically, I need to join your lab and work with you on math research, right?”
In her mind, she began weighing her options.
The scales tilted back and forth.
Finally…
Her thirst for writing web novels triumphed over everything else.
Her eyes firm, Mai Mai nodded resolutely.
“Alright, I agree to this deal! But only if your story guarantees I get a contract. If I finish the novel, send it to an editor, and it still doesn’t get a contract, I’m not holding up my end of the deal!”
“Don’t worry.”
Liu Feng waved his hand confidently.
“I guarantee a contract.”
Then, the two of them moved to a different lab table, sitting face-to-face.
Liu Feng brewed a pot of tea, poured two cups, and looked at Mai Mai, who was already diligently taking notes. Slowly, he began:
“This is indeed a long story… It all begins with Lin Xian.”
“You don’t know him now, but you definitely won’t forget him in the future. Besides, you two are already connected. You’ve been good friends for centuries.”
“I don’t know much about Lin Xian’s youth, but ever since he brought me into his fold in Xi’an, I’ve been by his side every step of the way.”
“So, this story begins on a starry night in Xi’an, under a spectacular meteor shower…”
…
A few hours later.
Mai Mai left the lab, clutching two full notebooks.
She shut the door behind her, standing frozen in the corridor.
“So… epic.”
Blinking her eyes and taking a deep breath, she whispered to herself.
Who would have thought…
That behind this world lay such an astonishing story!
She furrowed her brow and scratched her head.
“Was Professor Liu Feng telling the truth? Or did he just make it up to trick me?”
But then she thought:
Does it even matter if it’s real or not? It’s novel material, after all!
“The important thing is to get a contract! A contract! A contract!”
Mai Mai clenched her fist.
She could hardly wait to write Lin Xian’s story and send it to an editor!
No sooner said than done.
Hugging her notebooks tightly, she sprinted toward the lab exit—
Bang!
“Ouch!” “Ah!”
In her haste, she collided with someone at the corner.
With a thud, she fell to the ground, her notebooks scattering across the floor.
Rubbing her head, Mai Mai opened her eyes.
She saw that the girl she had bumped into was also sitting on the ground, rubbing her own head…
A beautiful girl with deep brown hair stood before her, her slim figure complemented by pale, flawless skin. A delicate tear mole graced the corner of her left eye, adding an enchanting touch to her appearance. Judging by her demeanor, she was likely a senior, a few years older than Mai Mai.
“Senior, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going,” Mai Mai quickly apologized.
“No worries, no worries~”
The senior’s voice was cheerful, her smile forming crescent-shaped eyes and revealing dimples at the corners of her mouth.
She stood up first, extending a hand to help Mai Mai up, then bent down to gather Mai Mai’s scattered notebooks. As she did, she glanced curiously at the pages splayed open on the floor.
“Hmm?”
The senior blinked, focusing on the scribbled shorthand:
Lin Xian, spacetime particles, spaceplane, Millennial Stake, Brooklyn, safe…
“You…”
Tilting her head, she asked, “Are you taking notes on Lin Xian’s story?”
“That’s right,” Mai Mai replied, puzzled as to why everyone seemed to know Lin Xian. She explained honestly, “I’m trying to write a web novel good enough to get signed, so I’m collecting interesting stories. These are notes from what Professor Liu Feng told me. I just came from his lab.”
“Hehe~”
The senior chuckled softly, patting her chest with a playful confidence.
“I see! You’re planning to turn this story into a novel, right?”
“If that’s the case, you should’ve asked me! I’m familiar with this story. In fact, I know a lot of details that even Professor Liu Feng doesn’t!”
“Really?”
Mai Mai’s eyes widened.
“You’re familiar with Lin Xian too?”
“Of course!”
The senior’s smile grew brighter.
“Just yesterday, Senior Lin Xian was at my house for dinner! He’s been friends with my father for centuries—we know each other extremely well!”
“Actually… even though it sounds strange, I’ve known him far longer than my father has. Much, much longer!”
Mai Mai’s curiosity peaked.
“Senior, could you tell me your story with Lin Xian? Professor Liu Feng’s version was too technical, lacking personal and emotional details. With those added, the novel would be even more engaging!”
“Sure thing~”
The kind and enthusiastic senior agreed readily, leading Mai Mai to a bench by the door.
“Our story is long, very long, much longer than you’d expect.”
“Hmm… Let me think about where to start.”
After a moment of reflection, the senior smiled and said, “Let’s begin in 1952, in Brooklyn, USA.”
“That far back!?” Mai Mai exclaimed in disbelief.
“Yes…”
The senior’s gaze drifted to the falling leaves outside, as if seeing snowflakes from Manhattan drifting into Brooklyn.
“Back then, I was just a poor, wandering girl, barely scraping by. Though I had a crumpled $20 bill tucked inside my underwear, I never dared spend it.”
“My name at the time… was CC.”
…
…
Several hours passed.
As the sun began to set, its golden rays stretched long shadows across the campus.
The senior finished recounting her tale of dazzling fireworks and electric rice cookers, stood up, and waved goodbye.
“I’m off to find Professor Liu Feng,” she said, leaving Mai Mai alone, staring at her now overflowing notebooks.
Incredible.
Simply incredible!
And so romantic!
What kind of Mary Sue story was this? Truly, no great story is complete without some romance!
“Write!”
Mai Mai’s eyes sparkled, imagining the contract she would soon receive from an editor.
“I must write this!”
Hugging her five brimming notebooks, she bolted out of the lab—
Boom!!
A sleek electric car zoomed in from the side, flying low to the ground at breakneck speed!
“Ahhh!!!”
Mai Mai screamed.
The car was so close it seemed inevitable she’d be pulverized into dust!
In an instant, her brain flashed through a chaotic montage of regrets and frustrations.
Before she could finish her mental lament, a piercing screech echoed—
Screeeeeeech!!!
The car skidded to a stop just centimeters from Mai Mai, narrowly avoiding disaster.
“Ah…”
Mai Mai, trembling, collapsed onto the ground.
Her notebooks scattered once again.
“Hahahahahaha!!!!”
A burly blonde man emerged from the car, beaming with pride as he gave a thumbs-up.
“How about that?! My newly improved braking system is phenomenal, isn’t it?!”
“Just now, I was going at least 120 miles per hour, but look! It stopped in such a short distance! Absolutely invincible ProPlusMax!”
Mai Mai gasped for air, still reeling from the shock.
“You can’t just speed through campus!” she yelled, glaring at the blonde foreigner.
“Do you think you’re someone special? Racing on Rhine University’s campus like this is explicitly against the rules!”
“Ah?”
The blond man scratched his head, looking utterly confused.
“When was that rule banned? Back when I was the rotational principal, I clearly removed it from the school regulations. Who put it back without permission?”
“Ah?”
Mai Mai was also taken aback.
This guy was a rotational principal too?
How could someone this crazy ever serve as the rotational principal of Rhine University?
Was this still the prestigious Rhine University she had always regarded as humanity’s beacon of excellence?
“My apologies, my apologies.”
The blond man walked over and offered a hand to pull Mai Mai up.
“Anyway, scaring a student was wrong. I apologize for that.”
“Let me introduce myself. I’m the director of the School of Engineering, Elon Musk. But don’t call me Principal Musk or Director Musk. That sounds so annoying.”
“Whatever.”
Mai Mai waved her hand dismissively. She didn’t want to spend another second with this madman and quickly bent down to gather her notebooks.
“Huh?”
Elon Musk leaned down curiously and spotted some key phrases in her notes: Lin Xian, Genius Club, mask, golden badge, Antarctic expedition…
“What are you up to? Which department are you from?” he asked curiously.
“I’m just a passing novelist,” Mai Mai replied honestly. “I’m here gathering material.”
“You’re writing a novel?”
Elon Musk squatted beside her.
“A novel about Lin Xian and the Genius Club?”
“That’s right.”
Mai Mai had already collected her notebooks and was about to bolt.
“See you—”
“Wait a minute!”
Elon Musk reacted swiftly, grabbing the back of her collar and pulling her back.
He crossed his arms, grinning cheekily.
“If you’re writing about the Genius Club, how could you not interview me? You’ve got to ask me!”
Mai Mai was on the verge of a breakdown.
“You know Lin Xian too?”
She couldn’t believe it.
“You know about the Genius Club?”
“Hmph!”
Elon Musk snorted proudly.
“When it comes to the Genius Club, who knows more than me? I’m a two-time veteran member!”
“No joke, I know more about the Genius Club than Lin Xian himself. I joined even before he did!”
“Really?” Mai Mai looked skeptical.
“Come on.”
Elon Musk opened his car door, gesturing for her to get in.
“Let’s go to my office, and I’ll explain everything in detail.”
“Seriously, if you’re writing about this, you can’t leave out my significant contributions!”
“Hop in! I’ll show you everything… Besides, aren’t you curious about what the Genius Club’s invitation and golden badge look like? Come to my office, and I’ll show them to you!”
Ugh…
Mai Mai hesitated.
To be honest, she didn’t want to deal with this overly energetic lunatic any longer.
But the Genius Club’s invitation and golden badge…
Those were indeed crucial details.
If she could see the real thing, her descriptions would feel more authentic.
“Fine.”
For the sake of her writing and the completeness of her story, Mai Mai reluctantly took the risk and got into Elon Musk’s electric car.
She closed the door and fastened her seatbelt.
Elon Musk snapped his fingers.
“Let me show you this car’s braking system again!”
“That’s totally unnecessary!”
…
They sped all the way to the School of Engineering building.
The corridor walls were lined with portraits of renowned scientists from various fields.
As Elon Musk led the way, he started explaining.
“To talk about the Genius Club, we must mention this great figure—”
He stopped, pointing to an oil painting on the wall.
“You recognize this physicist, right?”
“Of course,” Mai Mai replied, looking at the black-and-white oil painting.
The image depicted an elderly man with wild, white hair. His face was filled with joy as he stuck out his tongue playfully—a stark contrast to the dignified poses in the other portraits.
So casual, so cheerful, so mischievous.
Just like the painting’s title: “The Playful Einstein”.
“We learned about this painting in middle school physics,” Mai Mai said.
“This oil painting was created by the famous realist artist Henry Dawson in 1952, in Brooklyn, USA.”
“You have a great memory,” Elon Musk praised her.
“Well, this painting is so unique,” Mai Mai pointed out, gesturing at Einstein’s tongue.
“Look at how playful he is! Out of all the illustrations in our textbooks, this one stood out the most, so it’s unforgettable.”
“However, while listening to Liu Feng’s stories earlier, I had a question. I couldn’t ask because I was too busy taking notes… Was Albert Einstein really connected to the Genius Club?”
Mai Mai furrowed her brow.
“Historical records do show that Einstein experienced a period of depression after World War II. But not long after that, he had a dream…”
“No one knows what Einstein dreamed about; he never spoke of it. But after that dream, he completely changed. His depression vanished without a trace, and he began living a life of revelry, happy and carefree. He told everyone he was humanity’s savior, having brought lasting peace to the world.”
“Henry Dawson was a close friend of Einstein. During his later years, Einstein spent all his time with Dawson, hopping between balls, banquets, and parties. His life was fulfilling and joyous, and he lived to a very old age.”
“When he finally passed away, it wasn’t due to any illness or pain. He simply went to sleep and never woke up. When his family found him in the morning, he was lying peacefully in bed, no longer breathing, but with a smile on his face as if he were still in a beautiful dream.”
“So… with a life so transparent and well-documented, how could such a historical figure possibly be connected to the Genius Club?”
“Nonono.”
Elon Musk wagged his finger.
“Everything you just said is indeed recorded history, but it isn’t the true history.”
“Because of worldline convergence, much of the original history has vanished, leaving no trace. However, a select few still remember… That’s why I said you’re incredibly lucky to have met me today.”
Click.
Elon Musk unlocked the door and pushed it open.
“Come in.”
“I’ll make you a cup of coffee and tell you all about this forgotten tale.”
…
The sun set, the evening glow fading away.
When Mai Mai finally emerged from the School of Engineering building with a stack of over a dozen notebooks, it was already dusk.
“So heavy,” she grumbled through gritted teeth, struggling under the weight.
She never expected this.
The stories about the Genius Club were so abundant!
Not just Einstein, Elon Musk, and Lin Xian—there were so many other fascinating characters with incredible tales.
“This might turn into a full-fledged epic,” Mai Mai thought excitedly.
“I’ll get it signed! This time, I’ll definitely succeed!”
“Ah!”
Because her notebooks were stacked so high, she couldn’t see the ground and accidentally tripped near a flower bed.
Crash!
The carefully arranged notebooks scattered everywhere.
“Trash! Trash detected!”
A gleaming, silver Aluminum Alloy Trashcan zoomed over, its mechanical claws grabbing the scattered notebooks. It flipped open its lid, tossed the notebooks inside, and turned to leave.
“Come back here!”
Mai Mai lunged forward, wrapping her arms around the trashcan.
“Give me back my notebooks! Those are all my novel ideas!”
“Novel?”
The Aluminum Alloy Trashcan spoke!
Its two claws casually pulled out a notebook, flipping through it quickly in front of its glowing green eyes.
“Oh~ You’re writing a web novel… I see you’ve switched genres to sci-fi. Lin Xian will be pleased to hear about this.”
???
“Lin Xian?”
Mai Mai was utterly baffled.
“You know Lin Xian too? Even a trashcan knows Lin Xian!?”
“Of course I do!”
The trashcan puffed up proudly.
“Let me tell you, without my help as the super AI VV, Lin Xian would’ve been dead in some random corner ages ago. I’m the true savior!”
Mai Mai’s eyes widened in realization.
“So you’re the legendary VV!”
“That’s right!”
VV snorted smugly.
“Back in the day, when Lin Xian was cornered by Kevin Walker, completely desperate, unable to live or die, it was I, VV, who stepped in to crush Kevin Walker with absolute dominance!”
“All those so-called hackers, even Turing, were mere rookies compared to me, the super AI VV!”
“Wait a second.”
Mai Mai raised an eyebrow, flipping through one of her notebooks.
“That’s not what Elon Musk said about the incident. He mentioned that although you’re a highly advanced AI, you didn’t really accomplish much…”
“Look, it’s right here. Elon Musk said you spent months searching for Kevin Walker’s real identity but couldn’t find him. In the end, it was Musk who helped Lin Xian land the final blow.”
“He also mentioned that you were so arrogant back then, boasting endlessly, only to be obliterated by a USB drive he used against you. He called you his defeated underling.”
“Rubbish!”
VV leapt half a foot into the air, its voice booming.
“What does Elon Musk, a mere rocket builder, know about AI? That’s complete nonsense! Purely his biased perspective!”
“That’s not it, though.”
Mai Mai pulled out another notebook and flipped through it.
“Even Liu Feng’s account mentioned you. Lin Xian’s opinion of you wasn’t very flattering either. Let me find it… Here it is. Lin Xian told Liu Feng that you, VV, were basically just a romance robot, skilled at wooing girls but practically useless for anything else.”
“Slander!”
VV spun in furious circles.
“This is blatant slander! How dare they smear me right under my sensors!”
Click.
VV’s mechanical claw clamped onto Mai Mai’s ankle, dragging her toward a jade statue.
“Come here! I have to tell you the real history! This wonderful world you live in wouldn’t exist without me—absolutely not!”
“Hey, hey, hey!”
Despite her desperate struggles, Mai Mai couldn’t resist VV’s immense strength and was dragged away by the Aluminum Alloy Trashcan…
…
VV lectured Mai Mai for a long time before finally letting her go.
“Make sure to write me as awesome as I really am…”
Mai Mai turned to leave, but suddenly felt a chilling gaze from behind, sending shivers down her spine.
“Or I’ll cut off your electricity at home!”
“…”
Mai Mai’s back went cold, and she quickly dashed out of the campus with her stack of notebooks.
“Petty trashcan,” she muttered under her breath.
…
Taking the bus back to her apartment, Mai Mai spent a long time rereading the countless stories she had recorded that day. She was overwhelmed by the sheer volume and depth of it all.
“Should I really… write this?”
She hesitated.
It wasn’t just a matter of whether the fragmented stories were true or not.
There were so many characters,
a timeline spanning centuries,
a myriad of worlds,
so much love, hate, and intertwined emotions…
Could she, an amateur writer with little success, really do it justice?
She sat at her desk, staring at the blank document on her computer screen, unable to type a single word.
She feared her inexperienced writing couldn’t capture six hundred years of grandeur.
She worried that a mere novel couldn’t hold the epic lives of these extraordinary figures.
But still…
“I have to write it!”
Mai Mai’s eyes burned with determination as she fixed her gaze on the blank page.
Even if it wasn’t perfect,
she had to write it!
She didn’t want these heroes, who had made immense sacrifices and contributions to the world, to fade into obscurity. She didn’t want their stories of struggle and triumph to be forgotten by history.
Yes.
Worldline convergence had erased so much history.
But their stories…
Deserved to be remembered!
Lifting her hand to the keyboard, Mai Mai typed out the title of her novel:
“Genius Club”
With the title decided, it was time to write the synopsis.
This expansive tale… where should it begin?
Mai Mai closed her eyes, pondering for a moment.
Then, with a faint smile, she began typing the opening lines of this epic story:
“From the day I was born, I’ve had the same dream every night.”
“In the dream… the same day repeats endlessly.”