Genius Playground

”Cut the act, my star disciple... You’ve already helped the Dragon Country Academy of Sciences solve major research problems. You must have some idea of what you want to study.”

”Just be honest. What’s your general research direction?”

With that, Zhang Yang leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and looked at Jiang Ran with great interest.

He was waiting to see.

’What kind of earth-shattering research project is this super genius going to propose! Could he really say something that would shock me?’

...

Looking at the sulking Zhang Yang, Jiang Ran felt utterly miserable.

It was obvious.

He was angry.

’And the reason he’s angry,’ Jiang Ran thought, ’is most likely because he thinks I’m acting like a big shot and disrespecting him, my mentor.’

’I’ve been wronged!’

’If you were to rank the people in this world who respected Teacher Zhang Yang the most, if I said I was number two, no one would dare claim to be number one.’

’Our friendship was forged back in a prison in 2045. The bond between us is like father and son; how could I ever dare to disrespect him in the slightest?’

’But...’

’Now, my dozen or so ”not interested” replies have really set him off.’

’It’s not that I don’t dare to respond.’

’It’s because I’ve never heard of any of the topics or research subjects he mentioned.’

’If I really said I was interested in one of them, Teacher Zhang Yang would start asking follow-up questions.’

’My cover as an ’academic fraud and thief’ would be blown in an instant, wouldn’t it?’

’Right now, if I don’t propose a general research direction, Zhang Yang won’t let me leave.’

’But if I do propose a direction, he’ll definitely grill me to test my knowledge.’

’What do I do.’

’What do I do.’

’What do I do.’

’Is there a way... to bluff my way through this, avoid his questions, and still maintain my facade as a ’super genius capable of solving Goldbach’s Conjecture’?’

’Huh?’

Suddenly, Jiang Ran thought of something...

’Brilliant.’

’It’s a perfect solution!’

’It can perfectly resolve my current predicament!’

Abruptly, Jiang Ran smiled faintly, his face filled with confidence.

Zhang Yang sat up straight again, placing his hands on his knees as if facing a formidable opponent.

”Teacher Zhang, you’re right.”

Jiang Ran leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

”You’re a good judge of character. I have indeed had a plan for some time, and I’m willing to devote my entire life and all my energy to this research.”

”This project is my life’s pursuit, my ultimate conviction. I won’t rest until it’s done. The only reason I didn’t mention it before is that the research is so far ahead of its time, I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to accept it.”

”What a joke!”

Zhang Yang scoffed.

”Is there any topic I couldn’t accept? It doesn’t matter how difficult, tricky, or niche it is. Just say it. I have very high expectations for you, so I’m already mentally prepared.”

”In fact, Jiang Ran, your current attitude actually puts me more at ease. You’re a genius who far surpasses ordinary people, so it’s only natural for your thinking, ideas, and vision to be different.”

”Go on, just say it. I, your teacher, will support you with everything I have! It may be my first year advising graduate students, but—not to brag—I’ve accomplished a lot myself. Don’t you dare underestimate Dean Gao Yan’s final disciple.”

”Come, tell your teacher! What is it? What is your life’s pursuit, your ultimate dream!”

Jiang Ran took a deep breath.

Zhang Yang held his breath.

With a grave expression, Jiang Ran stated earnestly:

”Teacher Zhang, the topic I want to research is—”

”The Time Travel Machine.”

...

...

...

...

In that instant, time stopped, and the world fell silent.

Outside the window, sparrows chirped on willow branches, and the whispers of passing students drifted in from the hallway.

The hot summer sun struck the windowpane, its refracted light illuminating the dust motes that drifted chaotically through the air.

But inside the room, there was no warmth to be felt.

The cold air from the air conditioner poured down their necks and up their pant legs, a terrifying chill that seemed to freeze not just time, but also their numbed souls.

”You...”

Zhang Yang blinked, unable to believe his ears.

”What did you just say?”

”A Time Travel Machine.”

Jiang Ran repeated.

”You know, the kind that lets people travel through time and space, to go back to the past... a time machine...”

”Are you insane?!”

Zhang Yang slammed his hand on the desk and shot to his feet, cutting Jiang Ran off.

”Jiang Ran, as your teacher, I have to say something. You’ve gone too far today!”

”I am trying to have a serious discussion with you about your research topic and direction, and what is this nonsense? A Time Travel Machine? Is that a serious subject for research?!”

”I am serious.”

Jiang Ran also stood up.

”I really do want to research the Time Travel Machine. It truly is my life’s pursuit.”

’That’s right.’

’This was the perfect solution I’d just thought of in a flash of inspiration.’

’No matter what legitimate scientific project I chose, I’d face the risk of my academic incompetence being exposed, of being revealed as a fraud. If Zhang Yang reported this ’bait-and-switch’ to Dean Gao Yan, the consequences would be unimaginable.’

’Therefore, to avoid being exposed and maintain my super-genius persona...’

’...I had to choose a research project that no one understood, that had no precedent, no data, no standards, and about which no one could ask any expert questions.’

’And the Time Travel Machine I’d heard about from the Assassin... perfectly met all these demanding criteria.’

’First of all, since no one understands the Time Travel Machine and there’s no theoretical basis for it, neither Zhang Yang nor any teacher I meet later will be qualified to ask me anything about it. Even if they do, it won’t matter; there are no right answers for something that doesn’t even exist.’

’Second, something this complex, with no foundational theory or equipment to support it, can’t possibly be built in a short time. Even if I muddle along for a year or two without any results, it would be completely understandable and reasonable.’