Genius Playground

October 1st, 2025.

The first day of the National Day Golden Week. The weather was clear, not a cloud in the sky.

”Jiang Ran! Over here, over here!”

In front of the dormitory building, Cheng Mengxue stood on her tiptoes, waving at Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran slung his backpack over his left shoulder and looked over.

Today, Cheng Mengxue had a fresh, bright look. She wore a white dress and stood in the sunlight, looking even more radiant than the sun itself. A soft, wheat-colored sun hat sat on her head, swaying in the gentle breeze along with the hem of her dress.

’She seems to have always dressed like this, ever since we were kids.’

Her fair arm waved high, a simple bracelet adorning her wrist. Most girls seemed to prefer wearing a hair tie there, ready to put up their hair when eating or exercising.

But Cheng Mengxue’s nimble, chin-length bob was free and easy, having no need for such restraints.

She rarely wore jewelry, but today a delicate necklace sparkled below her collarbone. It swayed with her movements, refracting the sunlight into a rainbow that danced in Jiang Ran’s eyes.

”You actually brought a suitcase?”

Jiang Ran walked over and noticed a tiny suitcase behind Cheng Mengxue. Given its size, it probably couldn’t hold much more than his own backpack.

”Well, of course!”

Cheng Mengxue was in a great mood. She giggled, pinching the brim of her sun hat.

”It’s different for girls when we go out, you know. We have to bring a lot of things!”

Jiang Ran adjusted his collar, reached out to take the suitcase from her, and smiled slightly.

”Then... shall we get going?”

After leaving the campus, they took a taxi to the high-speed rail station. They scanned their IDs to enter, and an announcement soon informed them that their train had arrived and boarding had begun.

Once on board, sitting side-by-side in seats D and F, Cheng Mengxue was a little excited.

”You know, this is our first time traveling together, and our first time taking a high-speed train.”

Jiang Ran nodded.

’On this World Line 1, that’s true.’

The day after the college entrance exams, Cheng Mengxue was in a car accident. Unlike in World Line 0, she never went to East Sea University with him.

Naturally, they never even had the chance to take a high-speed train together.

But from Jiang Ran’s perspective in World Line 0, they had done this every winter and summer break—every holiday, really. They would sit side-by-side on the high-speed train, watching the telephone poles flash past the window.

Right.

’Back then, Qin Feng was there too.’

The three of them were always inseparable. They would always sit in a row—seats A, B, and C—talking and laughing. Time would fly, and before they knew it, they’d be home, their journey filled with laughter.

Jiang Ran unconsciously touched the button on his collar...

’There should be plainclothes officers from the East Sea City Public Security Bureau in this same car, right?’

He just didn’t pay too much attention.

Just as Officer Liu said yesterday, today’s trip needed to be as natural as possible.

Cheng Mengxue blinked, gazing out the window in silence for a long time.

”I used to imagine this scene.”

”Which one?” Jiang Ran turned his head.

”This one, right now.”

She turned back, leaned against the seat, and closed her eyes.

”Going to university in another city together, leaving together on a high-speed train, and then coming home together on a high-speed train for the holidays.”

”It’s a very ordinary scene, but it makes me feel so relaxed. It’s like... no matter where I am, as long as you’re by my side, it feels like I’m in Hang City.”

Slowly, Cheng Mengxue opened her eyes, looked at Jiang Ran, and giggled.

”After all, we’ve been together since we were kids. Except for these last two years, we’ve almost never been apart.”

”The United States doesn’t have high-speed rail. All they have are straight highways that stretch on as far as the eye can see. I’ve always felt that trains are a special kind of romance unique to Dragon Country People, a symbol of homecoming etched into our very bones.”

”The first word that pops into many people’s minds when they see a train is ’homecoming.’ I don’t know why... but I really like riding trains. Of course, now they’re called high-speed rail, but in my mind, there’s not much of a difference.”

Jiang Ran listened quietly as Cheng Mengxue murmured to herself.

’She’s talking a lot today.’

But that was normal.

Because Cheng Mengxue had always been a little chatterbox.

”Homecoming!”

Cheng Mengxue stretched, her small, pink fists trying to touch the luggage rack above.

”It feels so good to be going home.”

She turned her head to look at Jiang Ran.

”Hey, did you buy our return tickets?”

”Not yet.” Jiang Ran shook his head.

Cheng Mengxue blinked.

”Why not? There’s so much traffic during the National Day holiday. If you don’t buy them in advance, won’t they sell out?”

”It’s fine for the trip from Hang City to East Sea.”

Jiang Ran smiled.

”You do need to rush to get long-distance tickets, but for a short trip like Hang City to East Sea, you can even make it with a standing ticket. So there’s no hurry.”

’To be honest, her question caught him a little off guard.’

’He still...’

’...hadn’t really considered the return trip.’

’It seemed he already had the answers to many things in his heart. He just wasn’t ready to face them until the moment truly arrived.’

...

”Whoa—”

At the main entrance of Hang City Paradise, Cheng Mengxue was dumbfounded.

”There are so many people! I thought you said this place was past its prime!”

Jiang Ran was also shocked.

After their train arrived, they had a simple lunch and headed straight for Hang City Paradise.

The entire way there, it was packed with people—bustling crowds, shoulder to shoulder. In some places, people were practically stacked on top of each other.

It was as if a hundred million people had gathered in Hang City for the National Day holiday.

He had assumed that once they reached the supposedly ”past its prime,” ”long-faded,” and ”on the brink of bankruptcy” Hang City Paradise, the sea of people would thin out a bit.

But to his complete surprise, the place was still utterly packed, giving the false impression of a grand opening.

”There are just too many Dragon Country People...”

Jiang Ran couldn’t help but sigh.