Genius Club

The match between Argentina and Croatia began with Argentina showing dominance, securing a 3-0 victory and advancing to the finals.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!”

Messi fell to his knees on the field in joy.

“!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh” Gao Yang echoed the excitement, rolling across the living room floor in ecstasy.

“We won! Holy crap! Lin Xian, we’re rich!!” Gao Yang jumped up and grabbed Lin Xian’s hand enthusiastically. “Comrade Lin Xian! Our bright future is in your hands now!”

Lin Xian pulled his hand back. “Weren’t you the one who just said my dreams were nonsense, not actual glimpses into the future?”

“Uh…” Gao Yang scratched his head, glancing at the heap of lottery tickets on the coffee table. “I guess I need more evidence before making any conclusions. So, what about tomorrow’s semi-final between France and Morocco? Who’s winning?”

Lin Xian thought back to his dream. “Argentina will clinch the championship by defeating France in a penalty shootout. That means France is winning tomorrow. Are you really planning to bet again? Maybe you should quit while you’re ahead.”

Gao Yang flashed a mischievous grin as he gathered the lottery tickets. “No worries, I’ve got this figured out. I’ll be here tomorrow for the match!”

“Oh, come on, you’ll be awake at 00:42 anyway. Stay up and we can verify your dream!”

The following night, Gao Yang showed up as promised, flaunting a thick stack of lottery tickets.

“Look at this! The tickets from yesterday netted over ten thousand! I put in another thirty thousand today betting on France! Lin Xian, if France wins, we could be looking at seventy to eighty thousand!”

“And if they lose?”

“Quiet! Don’t jinx it!”

By three in the morning, with Lin Xian struggling to keep his eyes open, France delivered a relentless performance and secured a 2-0 win, advancing to the finals.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!” Gao Yang became a whirlwind of joy, sliding around Lin Xian’s living room.

“Lin Xian, you’re a genius! We did it! We made a year’s salary overnight!!”

“Aren’t we missing the whole point here?” Lin Xian wondered, watching Gao Yang’s ecstatic display. “I invited you over to talk about my dreams, not to binge-watch the World Cup.”

“Haha…” Gao Yang stopped his antics and paced thoughtfully. “I still can’t wrap my head around the idea that your dreams can predict the future. It seems far-fetched. But if Argentina wins the final as your dream predicted, then maybe there’s something to it!”

“The final’s in a few days. I’ll come over again!”

Lin Xian sighed in frustration. “We don’t need more tests. And please, don’t come over again. Even a football newbie like me could’ve guessed these outcomes. The skill difference is clear.”

“Hey, next time you should buy some lottery tickets too. It wouldn’t be fair for me to be cruising in a new car while you’re still struggling. Let’s bet everything on Argentina for the final!”

“We’ll see, I’m not really feeling it.”

After Gao Yang left, Lin Xian slept through to lunchtime. It was the weekend, and he had no work commitments, so he indulged in the extra sleep. However, he had plans for the afternoon. Lin Xian intended to visit Professor Xu Yun’s daughter in the hospital.

Zhao Ying Jun had recently tasked Lin Xian with making this visit. According to his investigation, Professor Xu Yun only visited the hospital on weekends due to his weekday commitments at the lab. The weekend was thus the optimal time to meet him.

Post-lunch, Lin Xian picked up some gifts and took a taxi to Donghai University’s affiliated hospital.

Recognized as one of the top medical facilities in the city, Donghai University Hospital was the referral center for cases that were deemed untreatable elsewhere in the country. If the experts here believed there was no hope for Professor Xu Yun’s daughter, then her prognosis was grim indeed.

Contemplating the fate of a girl who had been in a vegetative state since early childhood was profoundly saddening. Lin Xian puzzled over why Professor Xu Yun wouldn’t capitalize on his failed experiments to secure more funds for his daughter’s care or better treatment. Could a scientist’s pride truly outweigh such needs?

The inpatient building soared above twenty floors, with Professor Xu Yun’s daughter located on the 17th. Lin Xian quickly navigated to her room, marked by a doorplate reading “Xu Yiyi.” The door was ajar.

Lin Xian tapped gently on the door, which swung open to reveal a room crowded with high-end gifts and floral arrangements, each bearing cards from major global cosmetic brands. It appeared Zhao Ying Jun was right; despite considering his discovery a failure, the wider industry valued it highly.

By the window, a multi-functional hospital bed held a frail girl, her limbs thin and muscleless, resembling a delicate porcelain doll.

Lin Xian stood silently at the doorway, absorbing the sight. Even with regular stretching, the girl’s muscles would have atrophied beyond functional recovery.

As Lin Xian watched, Professor Xu Yun completed a series of rehabilitation exercises with his daughter before turning to face him.

“Take the gifts away; this room is overflowing as it is.”

Lin Xian placed his gifts by the door, addressing the professor softly, “Please look after yourself as well. These supplements are for you.”

Professor Xu adjusted his glasses and scrutinized Lin Xian. “Are you a student at Donghai University?”

Lin Xian nodded, curious about the professor’s intuition. “Yes, I graduated from there.”

“Did you host the anniversary and freshman welcome events?”

Again, Lin Xian nodded, impressed by the professor’s memory. “Yes, that was me for three years.”

Professor Xu’s expression softened. “I thought you looked familiar. I recall seeing you at Mr. Chu’s banquet.”

Perhaps due to a natural affinity for his students, Professor Xu’s demeanor was unexpectedly warm today. He gestured for Lin Xian to come closer to the bed—a surprising invitation, as Lin Xian had braced for a quick dismissal.

Approaching the bedside, Lin Xian gazed at the pale girl lying there.

“Young man…” Professor Xu addressed him solemnly, “Do you know why I refuse to sell that so-called failed product?”