Genius Playground

”But I didn’t care back then. I just did whatever I wanted. Do you remember? In high school, after every gym class, we’d go to the school store to buy drinks. I always bought a big bottle of Sprite to take back with me.”

”Huh?”

Cheng Mengxue froze.

”That’s not right. How come I remember you drank Coke back then, too?”

”I don’t think you bought Sprite. You always bought Coke.”

Hmm...

Jiang Ran narrowed his eyes.

’Looks like she’s a pretty high-level opponent. A simple trick like that wasn’t enough to get her to take the bait.’

It was true, he did buy Coke.

However, even if this Cheng Mengxue was a fake, it wouldn’t be hard for her to figure that out from the context.

After all, Wang Hao had just ordered a bottle of Coke, and he’d only brought up the topic after seeing it.

”Oh? Was it Coke?”

Jiang Ran gave a fake smile.

”I can’t quite remember. Your memory is amazing.”

”Of course it is!”

Cheng Mengxue looked a little proud, puffing out her chest and putting her hands on her hips.

”Because you two were always buying comic books back then and never had enough allowance. You were always making me spot you money for drinks, and you often welched on the debt!”

”So of course I remember it crystal clear! In high school, after every gym class, you’d drag me to the convenience store to pay for you. And you were very loyal—you only ever drank Pepsi!”

...

...

...

Heh.

A smile gradually crept across Jiang Ran’s lips.

’Excellent.’

This fake Cheng Mengxue had finally slipped up!

It was one of those small details in life that are easy to overlook.

But it’s often these small details... that determine success or failure.

”Heheheh.”

Jiang Ran laughed out loud.

He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his stomach and watching the girl across from him with great interest.

”A tiny slip in a perfect plan.”

”What?” Cheng Mengxue asked, confused.

”B’GAWK!”

Wang Hao suddenly let out a sharp squawk, like a chicken.

”Shut up!” Jiang Ran shot him a glare, signaling for Wang Hao not to interrupt.

He understood.

’Wang Hao must have noticed the flaw in Cheng Mengxue’s words, too! But now is not the time to give her an opening!’

”I really did like to drink Coke in high school. I was a huge fan.”

Jiang Ran turned back, still smiling as he looked at Cheng Mengxue.

”There were two kinds of cola at school. Pepsi is on the sweeter side, with noticeably less carbonation. Coca-Cola has a slightly tingling feeling and a lot more fizz.”

”B’GAWK!” Wang Hao let out another fierce squawk, desperate to interject.

”Just wait a minute!”

Jiang Ran quickly grabbed his ”chicken neck,” and was even a little angry.

’I’ve told him time and time again!’

’Seriously, I’ve warned him so many times!’

’Why can’t this Wang Hao ever break his habit of blurting things out!’

He held Wang Hao’s ”chicken neck” firmly.

”Wait until I’m finished.”

But he also understood Wang Hao’s reaction.

The huge flaw Cheng Mengxue had just revealed must have shocked Wang Hao, too, making him eager to jump up and expose her.

Wang Hao was his good brother, undoubtedly the real deal. They were inseparable after gym class and when buying drinks, so of course he knew exactly what kind of Coke Jiang Ran drank.

But exposing Cheng Mengxue was a job he wanted to do himself.

”A lot of people say they can’t tell the difference between Pepsi and Coca-Cola.”

He faced Cheng Mengxue again, full of confidence.

”But I can, and I feel the difference is huge. Compared to that cloyingly sweet taste of Pepsi... I much prefer Coca-Cola. Not only does it have more fizz, but that tingling sensation on the tongue is also really refreshing.”

”So, I have never, ever drunk Pepsi. I only drink Coca-Cola.”

Jiang Ran’s smile vanished.

”It seems you’ve never gone with me to buy drinks, and you’ve never paid for me.”

”With the real Cheng Mengxue’s penny-pinching personality, she’d feel the pain of paying for my drink so much that she would absolutely never forget what kind of Coke I bought.”

”Therefore, you are not Cheng Mengxue at all!”

His gaze was sharp as he stared at her.

”Who... are you?”