Chapter 151: Showdown

Lin Xian’s mind swirled with memories of countless faces...

Ever since Xu Yun’s death, Lin Xian had met many new people. He interacted with designers, industry experts, business associates, and attended school reunions, meeting old friends and strangers alike. With so many new contacts, it was hard to tell who was truly friendly and who had hidden agendas.

“I need to see things differently,” Lin Xian mused, closing his eyes for a moment. In this complex game of hide and seek, he felt at a disadvantage. As Yellow Finch had pointed out, while he was out in the open, his adversaries lurked in the shadows.

“It’s easier to dodge a threat when you can see it. How can you consistently protect yourself from an unseen thief? To win this game, I have to outsmart them first.”

Time was of the essence. Lin Xian reopened his eyes, resolute. “The first one to reveal themselves loses.”

Outskirts of Donghai City

Tonight, a usually dimly lit villa was fully illuminated. Ji Lin was sorting through a heap of printed papers. These were documents from Donghai University, retrieved from Xu Yun’s lab. After Xu Yun’s sudden death, the university decided to digitize and release his documents publicly, as per his last wishes. Among these, Ji Lin focused on the handwritten notes.

A Rhine Cat doll signed by Lin Xian sat on the nearby table. The signature, magnified, showed a mix of Chinese characters, English letters, numbers, and symbols. Handwriting, much like fingerprints, is unique. The way one applies pressure to strokes, curves numbers, connects letters, and sequences their writing can reveal their identity—making it a powerful tool in criminal investigations.

Ji Lin squinted at the last document on the table, analyzing every mark. Exhausted, he flung the document onto the floor and reclined in the sea of papers, hands behind his head, gazing up at the opulent crystal chandelier.

Beep beep.

A buried phone vibrated with a new message. Ji Lin retrieved it. The message from Envy read: “He’s back in Donghai.”

Ji Lin’s fingers flew over the keyboard to reply: “Begin.”

Next Few DaysNe/w novel chapters are published on no/vel(/bin(.)co/m

Lin Xian had been busy wrapping up all the accumulated work since the term started. He managed his tasks and those assigned by Zhao Ying Jun. Despite being her part-time assistant, Lin Xian committed to his role wholeheartedly.

Zhao Ying Jun placed great trust in him, sharing company secrets and business insights generously. For Lin Xian, who had never been involved in high-level business dealings before, her mentorship was like learning a secretive martial art—typically, such knowledge is guarded closely in the competitive business world. Lin Xian was deeply appreciative of Zhao Ying Jun for this invaluable training.

These business skills were essential for his current predicament. He had plans, including costly research by Liu Feng, requiring significant financial backing—something royalties and licensing fees alone wouldn’t cover. Eventually, Lin Xian would need to leave MX Company to generate substantial income to support Liu Feng’s research on the Universal Constant 42.

What exactly the Universal Constant and 42 represented remained unclear even to Liu Feng. In the future, Big Cat’s father would extend Liu Feng’s initial research over more than a decade to unravel 42. Lin Xian didn’t expect immediate breakthroughs but knew the sooner they uncovered these secrets, the better. Understanding the mystery of 42 would arm Lin Xian with a powerful tool against the Genius Club, helping solve many puzzles and ensuring his safety.

However, before he could fund Liu Feng or seek justice for Xu Yun, he had to eliminate the hidden threats lurking around him. The memory of Xu Yun’s tragic demise haunted him still. For now, Lin Xian knew he must tread carefully. Becoming wealthy too quickly or using novel methods from his dreams to make money could expose him to grave risks.

So, Lin Xian devised a careful three-step strategy for himself:

“So, what are you into these days?” Gao Yang inquired.

“A bit of everything,” Duan Yun replied with a grin.

“You missed our graduation photo shoot... Rumor had it you won the lottery. Is that true?” Gao Yang asked after a few drinks.

Duan Yun finished his drink and wiped his mouth, “Between us, yeah, I got lucky with the lottery. Used that to kickstart my business.”

“I’m so jealous!” Gao Yang raised his glass in a toast, “Pass some of that luck our way!”

“Yeah, share some of that good fortune!” Tang Xin laughed, lifting her glass. They all toasted.

“And what about you, Tang Xin?” Duan Yun turned to her.

“I work at the Donghai Revival Pharmaceutical Research Institute,” she replied.

“Oh,” Duan Yun chuckled, “I know your boss!”

“Really?” Tang Xin was surprised. “He’s a big name, used to mentor Professor Xu Yun. You know him?”

“We’ve done some deals. But honestly, I find him too arrogant,” Duan Yun stated bluntly.

“I’ve heard different,” Tang Xin shrugged. “I think he’s alright.”

“If he’s so great, why did he abandon Xu Yun?” Lin Xian chimed in, unable to hide his disdain. He was deeply aware of Xu Yun’s struggles and held no fondness for his mentor.

“You seem to hold a grudge against this man,” Tang Xin observed. “Were you close to Professor Xu Yun?”

“Somewhat. Xu Yun taught at Donghai University, not directly to me, but my company did business with him. I met him a few times,” Lin Xian shared, his gaze fixed on his drink. “He also has a daughter in a coma. Sometimes, it feels like misfortune follows him.”

Bang!

Gao Yang slammed his fist on the table. “That reminds me! It’s been a while since the New Year, and they still haven’t caught Xu Yun’s killers!” Clearly inebriated, Gao Yang cursed loudly. “Those scumbags! Killing an innocent scientist? They should go after the real criminals! If they catch them, it shouldn’t just be a quick execution—they deserve to be tortured!” He looked around at his friends, seeking agreement, “Right? Isn’t that right?”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation