Genius Playground

”I am... Li Yini.”

...

[December 1, 2023. Weather: Heavy Snow.]

For the past while, I’ve been in the United States, staying at Dr. Gana’s research center.

It’s huge, equipped with every facility imaginable, including a manor and an artificial lake.

I’ve recovered well. My body feels fine, and my mind has adapted to the overlap of two different sets of memories.

To be honest, it hasn’t had much of an impact on me.

My sense of self remains my own. Cheng Mengxue’s memories are just like a movie I’ve watched or a novel I’ve read. The plot has nothing to do with me; it’s simply a story that isn’t mine.

Dr. Gana often asks if I ever get the two confused, or if my sense of self ever shifts to being Cheng Mengxue.

Of course not!

Because I am Li Yini!

What a ridiculous question.

Does watching a Batman movie make you think you’re Batman?

Does reading *Dream of the Red Chamber* make you think you’re Lin Daiyu?

Today, I continued to practice swimming and diving in the pool.

In my memory, Cheng Mengxue was an excellent swimmer. Because of a drowning incident in her childhood, she was always exceptionally diligent in her training classes.

So, to become a better Cheng Mengxue, I have to imitate her in every way and learn everything she knew.

And eventually... become her completely.

...

SPLASH!

Li Yini broke the surface after swimming a length underwater. Wiping the water from her face, she looked toward the edge of the pool.

Over there, Dr. Gana and the Priest seemed to be having a disagreement.

”It’s impossible!”

Dr. Gana seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown:

”It’s really impossible, Mr. Wu! Plastic surgery technology isn’t that advanced! It’s absolutely impossible to make them identical!”

”If you’re demanding a perfect likeness, you might as well just clone her! Although... well, to be honest, cloning a completely identical person is even more impossible.”

”There’s nothing difficult about it.”

Wu Yuanzheng closed his eyes, completely unconcerned:

”Write me a report on the specific technical difficulties you’re facing.”

”It’s not about a specific one...”

”Enough.”

Wu Yuanzheng raised his hand, stopping Dr. Gana’s complaints.

He opened his eyes, his gaze and tone equally imperious:

”Do as I say, Gana. On the 16th of this month, I will deliver a breakthrough for every technology you hope for.”

”Remember, this is for *all* the technologies you require. *Any* technology. I guarantee I will deliver a breakthrough by the 16th.”

”You’re an ambitious man. I’ve invested a great deal of money in you, and I expect you to start producing results. I trust that once you have these breakthrough technologies, you’ll become a rising star in the medical field. You might even win a Nobel Prize in Medicine.”

”But all of this is predicated on you doing what I’ve tasked you to do. I want them to be identical! I want Li Yini surgically altered to be an exact copy of Cheng Mengxue, down to the last detail!”

”I don’t just want a ’key’ who has Cheng Mengxue’s memories. Her appearance, habits, accent, personality... everything must be identical.”

At this, Wu Yuanzheng chuckled.

”Of course, as you know, I’m not the kind of client who makes unreasonable demands. I’m quite responsible. I will help you solve every problem.”

”Minor problems—anything that exists on Earth and is achievable with current technology—Lilith can solve.”

”Major problems, such as technology that doesn’t exist yet or dilemmas that modern science can’t resolve—you bring them to me. I will find a way to solve them personally, and I will never let it drag on past the 16th of the month.”

Li Yini listened to their conversation, her arms resting on the edge of the pool as she tilted her head.

’The 16th of every month.’

’The Priest really likes to mention that date.’

’Why is that?’

’Is there something special about that day?’

...

[September 19, 2024. Weather: Light Rain.]

I no longer look like myself at all.

Now, I am Cheng Mengxue.

After a year of preparation, studying, training, and imitation...

I’ve become identical to the Cheng Mengxue from my memories.

And it’s not just my appearance. I’ve learned her accent and verbal tics, her every smile and frown, the way she walks and her habit of stepping on certain tiles, and all the lore and settings for Rhine Cat. I’ve even started to habitually think with her logic, growing accustomed to her reactions, her jumpiness, her loud voice, her pettiness, and her bickering.

...

Before a mirror in the operating room, Dr. Gana unwrapped the bandages from Li Yini’s eyes. Together, they gazed at the ”Cheng Mengxue” reflected in the glass.

”Perfect!”

Dr. Gana’s face swelled with pride, his eyes fixed on the most satisfying creation of his career:

”I never imagined... everything Mr. Wu promised was true. He helped me overcome unimaginable scientific hurdles, enabling plastic surgery to reach such an unprecedented, perfect state!”

”Yini, look! Not a single scar, not a trace! We even adjusted the color of your irises... You—you’ve now completely become Cheng Mengxue! It’s copy-paste perfect!”

”Hee hee~”

Li Yini revealed a smile identical to Cheng Mengxue’s:

”Of course! This year of hard work wasn’t for nothing!”

Her voice, tone, accent, verbal tics, micro-expressions, and subtle movements... the girl in the mirror *was* Cheng Mengxue. Even her own parents wouldn’t be able to spot a single flaw.

”I think this ’key’ is now perfectly polished.”

Li Yini cupped her chin with both hands, tilting her head from side to side.