Genius Club

This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation

Lin Xian looked at CC without speaking.

Finally, he nodded.

“Alright then.”

He said no more, gently ruffled CC’s soft hair, and smiled. “Let’s go back to Brooklyn.”

Perhaps for CC, these past few days had brought changes too overwhelming to process or believe. Lin Xian understood this completely. When he first realized the dream world was a reflection of the real world 600 years into the future, he had felt the same resistance to accepting it.

Just days ago, CC had been a poor girl from Brooklyn, living on the streets with nothing. Even catching a whiff of a hot dog had seemed like an unattainable luxury. But now, she had lived in Manhattan’s tallest hotel, feasted on its finest cuisine, worn the most beautiful dresses, and attended its grandest balls.

Anyone experiencing such a drastic shift would feel disoriented, as if caught in a dream like Alice in Wonderland. Add to that the tense Cold War era, with the looming threat of nuclear war. The blinding light of hydrogen bomb tests and towering mushroom clouds brought CC’s thoughts back to harsh reality.

Lin Xian called for a large suitcase from the hotel staff. CC packed away all the clothes, jewelry, and other items she had bought during her time in Manhattan. She left no trace of her presence in that bustling and unfamiliar city.

This time, their journey over the Brooklyn Bridge was vastly different. On their way to Manhattan, they had ridden a motorcycle in the night breeze, CC’s white wedding dress billowing behind her. Now, they sat in a taxi, dressed impeccably in sophisticated attire.

The only imperfection was CC clutching Lin Xian’s sleeve. She didn’t let go until they were well past the bridge, as if finally relieved to leave Manhattan behind.

By three in the afternoon, they had checked into a small inn in Brooklyn Heights. The room wasn’t large—just a 20-square-meter twin-bed standard room with two single beds, a set of chairs and a table, and a black-and-white television. The conditions couldn’t compare to Manhattan, but in Brooklyn, it was among the better accommodations: clean and cozy.

CC loved the snug and homely environment. As soon as she entered, she flopped onto one of the beds with a cheerful laugh.

“See? I told you, small rooms like these feel cozier. Those huge rooms just make you feel insecure. As much as Manhattan is glamorous, I still prefer Brooklyn.”

Lin Xian smiled faintly and pushed her oversized suitcase into a corner before sitting on a chair. “Didn’t you say your life’s dream was to live in Manhattan? Giving up on that so soon?”

“It’s not really giving up…” CC hugged a pillow and sat up, looking at him. “Dreams are meant to be fulfilled, aren’t they? I’ve already been to Manhattan, stood on top of the Empire State Building—what’s left to regret?”

Lin Xian opened the silver briefcase he had taken from the gang. Inside were bundles of cash—thousands of crisp green bills, still untouched.

“Do you have anything else you want to do? Or anything you want?” he asked, gesturing to the money. “We’ve still got plenty to spend.”

“Do we have to spend it?” CC tilted her head, puzzled. “We could save it for later. Life’s still so long.”

“Uh…” Lin Xian hesitated.

“Life isn’t that long anymore.”

It was already November. Though no one knew exactly when CC’s 20th birthday was, it had to be soon—perhaps in a few days, tomorrow, or even today. Yet she showed no signs of transforming into the Millennial Stake.

But that transformation might happen in an instant. Her life was already counting down.

Lin Xian had traveled to 1952 for this purpose: to witness this chapter of history and use it as a clue to save the Millennial Stake. He couldn’t alter history. To ensure the kite string tethered to the timeline of 2234 remained intact, he could only watch as CC turned into blue star fragments, powerless to interfere.

It was the second time he’d face the tragedy of a Millennial Stake girl disappearing before his eyes. The guilt weighed on him, deeply and sincerely.

So, the only thing he could do was act like a genie, granting CC’s wishes and filling her final days with happiness and fulfillment.

“Don’t worry; we won’t run out,” Lin Xian said with a smile, patting the briefcase. “We’ve been living it up, and the money still hasn’t decreased. Whatever dreams, wishes, or regrets you have, tell me, and I’ll make them happen.”

CC smiled sweetly. “Thanks to you, I’m already so happy. I don’t feel like I have any regrets.”

“There’s no rush,” Lin Xian replied, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve got time. Surely your dreams and regrets aren’t limited to just visiting Manhattan?”

“Think of anything, big or small,” he added. “This money’s ill-gotten anyway—better to spend it than to let it sit around.”

CC seemed to waver, nodding slightly in agreement before closing her eyes in thought.

Despite the happiness overflowing in her heart, a small voice whispered—was there anything she still longed for? Anything she regretted?

As she drifted through her memories, an old wish surfaced, one buried so deep she had almost forgotten it herself.

“Fireworks,” CC murmured softly.

A faint smile curled her lips, her face lighting up with crescent-shaped eyes and charming dimples. “If I could really make a wish… I’d love to see fireworks, just for me.”

For a moment, Lin Xian held his breath. Fireworks. He never expected to hear that word here and now. It felt as though history had completed a full circle.

Six hundred years into the future, CC had said the same thing. At the end of the Seventh Dreamscape, she had also expressed an obsession with fireworks. Lin Xian had jokingly asked her back then what birthday gift she’d want if she ever made it to her 20th birthday. Without hesitation, she had replied, “Fireworks. I’ve always wanted fireworks just for me.”

Her answer had surprised him. The simplicity and dreamlike quality of her wish were unexpected, even for CC. She couldn’t explain why either, only that the idea of fireworks had always stayed with her.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Later, Lin Xian learned that even Chu Anqing, another Millennial Stake, would mutter about fireworks in her sleep. Her dreamscape must have included a scene with fireworks as well. Now, it all seemed to make sense.

Whether it was Chu Anqing’s dreams or CC’s obsession, it all traced back to this moment in 1952. This first-generation CC was the origin of everything.

CC scratched her head, laughing. “Am I being unreasonable? Honestly, I was just saying it offhand. I really do love fireworks, but I’ve never had the chance to see a proper display. In Brooklyn, nobody sets off fireworks.”

“Manhattan has them sometimes, but it’s so far away. They look like tiny specks, barely visible. That’s why I’ve always dreamed of seeing fireworks just for me—exploding right overhead, lighting up the entire sky around me.”

She sighed, her smile bittersweet. “But as I got older, I realized it was just a silly, impossible dream, so I gave up on it. You only reminded me of it because you kept pushing me to think of my wishes.”

Lin Xian spread his hands, smiling. “What’s so hard about fireworks? That’s probably the easiest wish to grant.”

“Really?!” CC’s eyes sparkled.

“Of course.”

To Lin Xian, it seemed almost laughable. What could possibly be difficult about arranging fireworks? With enough money, the sky could light up like day.

He stood up confidently. “Since you’ve said it, this genie of yours will make it happen. Don’t worry—tonight or tomorrow night, I’ll prepare a fireworks show that will light up all of Brooklyn just for you.”

Without delay, they sprang into action. After a simple dinner, Lin Xian and CC began visiting shops, asking around for fireworks. However, they quickly ran into an issue.

In New York, the sale and use of large aerial fireworks were strictly prohibited. Small handheld fireworks could be freely bought and used, but large-scale displays were tightly regulated. It was likely due to safety concerns, given the many skyscrapers in the city.

Luckily, Lin Xian understood American culture well. In this land, the greatest superpower was money.

With a stack of crisp bills in hand, Lin Xian found a shopkeeper who had been adamant about the rules suddenly change his tone.

“Well, uh, you know, the ban isn’t completely enforced,” the shopkeeper said with a cough. “Every year, people manage to set off large fireworks displays. The cops are too busy to catch everyone.”

“And don’t worry,” the shopkeeper assured, “setting off fireworks is a personal activity. It won’t bring any trouble to you. But, uh… the real problem is, we don’t have any fireworks in stock.”

“Large-scale fireworks are much harder to regulate,” he continued, “but selling them? That’s easy for the authorities to control. Nobody in New York dares to sell high-altitude fireworks. Most people drive out to Pennsylvania to buy them and bring them back.”

Lin Xian slapped more bills into the man’s hand. “No problem. Just tell me—how soon can I have my fireworks?”

“Tomorrow night at the latest!” The shopkeeper thumped his chest in promise. “With the money you’re offering, I’ll take every brother I’ve got and load up our trucks. By dawn, we’ll bring back as many fireworks as we can fit in every vehicle!”

“Tomorrow morning, come by and tell me the time and place you want the display. After that, you won’t have to lift a finger. Just find the best spot to watch. We’ll make sure every firework bursts in the sky, turning night into day!”

The deal was struck perfectly.

Lin Xian shook the shopkeeper’s hand firmly. “Reliable.”

“Pleasure doing business!” the shopkeeper replied with a grin.

…

Under the moonlit room, Lin Xian and CC lay on their respective beds. CC twisted and turned, her excitement refusing to let her sleep. She rolled over, bundling herself tightly in her blanket, and gazed at Lin Xian’s back on the opposite bed.

“Lin Xian, you’re so good to me. I don’t even know how I could ever repay you,” she said softly.

“You don’t need to repay me,” Lin Xian replied gently.

“But I must,” CC said, her eyes fixed on the silhouette of Lin Xian’s head illuminated by the pale moonlight. “I have to do something for you. You’ve done so much for me—helped me fulfill so many dreams. And yet, I haven’t been able to do anything for you.”

“Don’t say that,” Lin Xian responded, turning to face her. The moonlight cast a soft glow over CC’s face. “You’ve helped me in ways that I could never repay, not even in a lifetime.”

CC blinked, startled. “Huh? What are you talking about, Lin Xian? We’ve only known each other for a few days. I haven’t helped you with anything, really.”

“Well, maybe on the first day, when you helped me escape and shared the church’s free meals with me. If anything, I only painted a couple of big promises for you—like bringing you back a gift from space one day or using my long-held wish to hope you could become the savior you dream of being.”

“But those are just empty words. Don’t take them seriously, okay?”

Lin Xian chuckled lightly and closed his eyes. “Those promises, even if unfulfilled, are enough. They’re precious.”

…

The next day, November 2, 1952.

Lin Xian rose early, preparing to visit the fireworks shop and finalize arrangements with the owner.

“CC, are you coming along?” he asked.

CC shook her head from the comfort of her bed. “I’ll skip it. I didn’t sleep well last night. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Alright,” Lin Xian nodded. “But don’t wander off, okay? Stay here.”

After giving his instructions, he left the hotel and headed to the shop. The fireworks store owner was as reliable as promised. He excitedly told Lin Xian that he had worked overnight to bring in ten truckloads of fireworks from Pennsylvania. His “devotees,” as he called them, were already standing by, ready to bombard Brooklyn with a grand display that very night.

“Where would be the best place to set off the fireworks?” Lin Xian asked.

The owner’s professional suggestion was immediate. “Brooklyn Heights Promenade is ideal. It’s an open area by the river with no tall buildings obstructing the view. It also has ample space for the setup. For watching, you could find a rooftop nearby.”

Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. A rooftop nearby… What was Brooklyn’s tallest building in 1952? His knowledge sifted through, settling on a landmark: the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower.

The building had etched itself in Lin Xian’s memory not from historical knowledge but from a popular animated film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A scene in the movie showed two Spider-Men hanging upside down on a clock tower overlooking Brooklyn’s skyline. That iconic clock tower was the Williamsburg Savings Bank.

Viewing the fireworks from that rooftop would be a perfect experience. But it was a bank—would they even allow anyone up there at night?

“Best to ask first,” Lin Xian thought.

By midday, Lin Xian decided to return to the hotel to fetch CC for the adventure. He took a cab back and opened the door to their room, only to feel a jolt of shock freeze him in place.

The room was empty.

CC was gone.

His entire body turned cold, as if plunged into an icy abyss. Could it be…?

“CC!” he called out desperately, racing to fling open the bathroom door. Empty.

“CC!!” He yelled again, rushing into the corridor.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the stairwell. “Coming! I’m here, Lin Xian!” CC’s hurried footsteps thudded on the stairs as she emerged, panting slightly.

“I—I just couldn’t sit still anymore while waiting for you. So I went out to wander around nearby,” she explained, smiling sheepishly.

Lin Xian heaved a sigh of relief. “You scared me.”

“Why?” CC teased, grinning mischievously. “Afraid I got lost? Don’t worry, I’ve wandered Brooklyn for years. I’m not going anywhere.”

Lin Xian checked the clock on the wall. It was 11:28 a.m. He realized he had overreacted—there was no way CC would simply disappear at this hour.

“Let’s go. I’m taking you somewhere,” he said, leading her out.

After a short cab ride, the iconic clock tower of the Williamsburg Savings Bank came into view, its grandeur matching the scene from the movie. The building, also known as One Hanson Place, had been Brooklyn’s tallest structure before other skyscrapers rose.

To his delight, Lin Xian learned that the tower welcomed visitors, even at night. A security guard explained that the building housed various offices, not just the bank, so access was unrestricted. The guard even hinted that he would be on duty tonight. Lin Xian understood the implication and discreetly handed over a crisp Franklin bill to smooth things along.

“Come on, CC. Let’s go up,” Lin Xian said, leading her to the elevator.

At the top, they stepped onto the tower’s observation deck, greeted by a panoramic view of Brooklyn. Lin Xian leaned against the railing, pointing toward the Brooklyn Heights Promenade near the river.

“Tonight, when it’s dark, the fireworks will light up there. From here, it’ll be your own private, grand show,” he said, turning to CC.

But instead of rushing to the railing as he expected, CC stood still, her hands behind her back, staring at him quietly.

Lin Xian blinked, puzzled. “Why aren’t you coming over? The view is great.”

CC shook her head gently, her expression suddenly serious and tinged with guilt. “I’m sorry, Lin Xian.”

“Sorry?” Lin Xian was taken aback.

“There’s something I’ve been hiding from you.” CC’s voice was quiet but firm as she met his gaze.