Genius Playground

Chapter 11 Voting

Chapter 11 Voting
"I agree."

Cheng Mengxue raised her hand without hesitation:
"I don't think there's anything to hesitate about. Isn't the purpose of our research on time-space text messages to make up for regrets and avert tragedies?"

"If it were a stranger, that would be fine, but I wouldn't be so overly compassionate as to want to save everyone."

“But Sister Xu Yan is different! She is not only my sister, but also your friend. It was thanks to her help that we were able to get the positron cannon back.”

"Now that we have the ability to send text messages to the past thanks to the positron cannon, Xu Yan deserves some credit for that, right? How can we just stand by and watch her die?"

She turned to look at Jiang Ran.

“I object,” Jiang Ran said.

"you!"

Cheng Mengxue opened her eyes wide.

“I feel the same way you do; I also want to save Xu Yan.”

Jiang Ran raised her head and met Cheng Mengxue's gaze:

"If it weren't for that mysterious text message, that string of incomprehensible numbers... I would definitely have activated the positron cannon without hesitation, sent a time-space text message, and saved her life."

“Like you said, there’s nothing to hesitate about. She’s our friend, your sister, and my childhood playmate. If it won’t cause any loss or consequences, then of course we should save her.”

"But in this situation, who can say for sure that the text message, that string of numbers, wasn't a warning sign? A danger signal?"

He paused, then let out a long breath:

“I’m afraid that if we act rashly, things will not only not get better, but... will get worse.”

"Is it possible that after we sent the time-space text message again, Xu Yan was brought back to life, but you, me, or Qin Feng died?"

"Besides, I didn't say I would stand by and watch someone die. I just suggested that we first figure out what that text message and that string of numbers meant and what they represented; and only after we were sure there was no risk should we go and save Xu Yan."

Cheng Mengxue snorted:
"But we can only send text messages from three days ago; we can only change history within the last three days."

She pointed to the calendar as a reminder:

"Today is March 26th. If we can't crack that string of numbers by March 29th, we'll have lost our chance to save her forever!"

"This can probably be improved in the future."

Jiang Ran sharpens his fists:

"There should be a way to... send text messages to people in the past."

"You're just trying to fool a child!" Cheng Mengxue slammed her hand on the table in anger.

"No, no, no, don't make noise, don't make noise."

Qin Feng quickly ran between the two to comfort them:

"I think Jiang Ran has a point. Being safe and secure is better than anything else."

"We still have two days, so let's take our time to make a decision and focus all our efforts on cracking this code first, shall we?"

……

Three days later, on February 3th.

In the morning, on the rooftop terrace.

Qin Feng pushed open the stairwell door and looked at Jiang Ran sitting on the edge of the stairs:
Why don't you go to the activity room?

Jiang Ran sighed:

"Asking knowingly."

Over the past three days, the three of them have tried many methods to decipher the mysterious string of numbers.

The ending was disheartening, and its actual meaning remains unclear.

Jiang Ran lowered his head:

"You probably also think I'm overly cautious and overly sensitive."

"A little."

Qin Feng answered truthfully:

"But I understand you."

"Because you are different from us, the unknown reasons within you allow you to retain memories from before the changes in spacetime and to personally experience the process of those changes. Therefore, you have a deeper understanding of the essence of spacetime, and naturally, you have more concerns as well."

Jiang Ran stood up and looked at the fiery red sunrise:

"I'm also conflicted, and I'm not heartless."

He turned around:

"But the whole time-space text message thing started because of me, and I'm the one who dragged you two into it, so I have to be responsible for your safety and lives."

"Don't say that."

Qin Feng stepped forward:
"It wasn't you who dragged us into this; it's that we're willing to follow you, obey your commands, like you, and agree with you."

"You are my best friend. I am willing to share any pain with you and face any adventure with you."

"Ever since we met in high school, you've always been a genius, with an endless stream of ideas; although your grades aren't great, you definitely have a lot of interesting ideas, and I really admire that." "Please..."

Jiang Ran was helpless:
"I've already studied well enough, okay? 680 on the college entrance exam and you call that not studying well? Anyone can score 740 like you?"

"You just need to practice more."

"Oh, you're putting on an act now? Why don't you practice more in games and beat me?"

"Everyone's constitution is different."

……

Jiang Ran looked at Qin Feng speechlessly.

"hehe."

I couldn't help but laugh.

He knew that Qin Feng must be secretly pleased at this moment, right?

These are Jiang Ran's exact words to Qin Feng a few days ago when they were moving positron cannons from the warehouse.

At the time, Qin Feng was speechless and blushed with embarrassment, but now he has turned the tables and retaliated.

"You're so high and mighty. If you got 740, why don't you go to Tsinghua University instead of squeezing in here with us?"

"If I go to Tsinghua, I won't be able to be with you guys anymore?"

Qin Feng looked at Jiang Ran:

"To me, you two are more important than Tsinghua University... much more important. You are my only two friends, and I hope we will always have such a good relationship."

"Don't be so mushy."

Jiang Ran glanced at his watch.

9:37
Xu Yan drowned three days ago at noon; the time-space text message could only be sent three days prior.

So, if we don't make a decision soon... it will really be too late.

"Vote."

"What?" Qin Feng asked, puzzled.

"You haven't voted yet, have you?"

Jiang Ran turned around:

"Xiaoxue and I have already voted on whether to use time-space text messages to save Xu Yan, one in favor and one against. But you haven't voted yet."

"Since we are a group, let's follow our previous rules: the minority obeys the majority. Now we just need your crucial vote."

As the sun rises, their shadows shorten and overlap.

"As you said, the three of us are best friends, and we should decide things together."

"So, state your choice, Qin Feng."

Jiang Ran put her hand on Qin Feng's shoulder:
"I believe you."

……

Qin Feng was silent for a few seconds, then said in a deep voice:
“I’ve thought a lot these past two days. But I feel that there’s no way out of this quagmire where things are stuck. Just relying on those numbers and making wild guesses.”

“This might be a bit risky, but what scientific experiment doesn’t involve risk? Besides, we have absolutely no idea what that string of numbers represents, and your guess about a danger warning… to be honest, might not be correct.”

"Besides, it's just changing history from three days ago; it won't have any dramatic butterfly effect."

"If any unexpected consequences occur... can't we still send text messages to the past? We can find a way to make up for it."

Jiang Ran looked at him:
"So what do you think?"

"I agree."

Qin Feng said firmly:

"I agree with using the time machine we built to send a text message to ourselves three days ago..."

"【Revive Xu Yan.】"

Sparrows leaped from the power lines and flew away in flocks.

Just like the film shoot that day.

On the rooftop, in the slanting shadows, two people gaze at each other.

……

at last.