Genius Playground

Chapter 4 Punishment
"Scientists have many conjectures about time travel and the nature of spacetime."

In a general education class, the teacher writes on the blackboard:
"There is a theory that there are countless parallel universes in our universe. Every tiny change or choice will split off into a completely different world line."

"These parallel universes, similar yet different, are like countless threads, starting from a single point and radiating outwards into the unknown future, constantly splitting apart as they move forward..."

"This is what we're going to talk about today: the worldline theory."

……

General education courses, also known as elective courses, offer a wide variety of options. There are no restrictions based on major or college; anyone interested can enroll.

Jiang Ran rested her chin on her hand, closed her eyes, and fell into deep thought.

The experiment yesterday afternoon also failed.

All 60 text messages sent were successfully delivered to Cheng Mengxue's phone without any loss, and the dizziness and vertigo she had experienced did not occur.

Hey.

So why is that?

Why is it that only that one text message transcended time and space, and can never be replicated?
Poke.

Cheng Mengxue nudged Jiang Ran's elbow.

"Are you feeling disappointed?" She looked into Jiang Ran's eyes.

"A little bit."

Jiang Ran answered truthfully:

"But it's alright, I was mentally prepared. If it were that easy to send text messages to the past, wouldn't the world be in chaos by now?"

"Hehe~"

Cheng Mengxue smiled and pushed a piece of paper over:

"Look, here are the key points I've summarized for you."

Jiang Ran looked at the manuscript paper, where the top line of large characters read—

Major Events in Time-Space SMS! Key Takeaways!

puff.

He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

As soon as class started, Mengxue started writing something. I thought she was paying attention in class, but I didn't expect that she was writing this.

Why did you write this?

"Let me help you organize your thoughts~"

Cheng Mengxue leaned closer, her voice very soft:
"I can tell you've been looking gloomy all day because you're thinking about that text message."

"I can't really help you much, but I'll summarize the points you discussed with Qin Feng and see if it can give you any inspiration."

Ha ha.

Jiang Ran chuckled softly:
"You're so thoughtful. I'll bring you a small gift next time we go shopping."

"Can you buy me a Rhinecat rice cooker?" Cheng Mengxue suggested.

"How much."

"3000."

???

Jiang Ran gasped:

"Why don't you just rob it!"

"Even this is priceless and unavailable!"

"Then let it cool down and go out of season before buying it."

Jiang Ran snorted:
"Can this Rhine Cat thing stay popular for hundreds of years?"

……

Whispering was not allowed in the classroom, so Jiang Ran looked at the manuscript paper.

Her handwriting is beautiful.

The notes are all about what we discussed at the bubble tea shop the day before yesterday.

I just said whatever came to mind at the time, but now that I've organized my thoughts, they're much clearer.

[Event Summary]

1. On the afternoon of March 17, Cheng Mengxue lost her phone. She found Jiang Ran and sent a text message to the lost phone.

2. The text message unexpectedly traveled through time and space, returning to the past, and was sent to Cheng Mengxue's phone on March 14th.

3. On March 14, Jiang Ran refused to admit to sending the text message, but the butterfly effect was created, and the original course of history was changed.

4. Cheng Mengxue started paying attention to her phone because of the text message content, so her phone was not lost on March 17, and she did not go to look for Jiang Ran. Naturally, Jiang Ran did not send that text message.

5. The trajectory of history changes, and spacetime shifts occur. Therefore, from Jiang Ran's perspective, all spacetime shifts are completed within 2 seconds. When he opens his eyes, Cheng Mengxue and the text messages he sent have disappeared.

6. The most inexplicable problem is that Jiang Ran has memories of the time-space change but no related memories of the time-space change, and does not remember the argument three days ago.

"So, students, pay attention!"

The general education teacher suddenly raised his voice and banged on the blackboard:
"This act of jumping from world line A to world line B is called a 'world line jump'!"

Many students who were daydreaming looked up at the podium.

"Of course, this worldline theory is just an unprovable conjecture."

"Time travel, even within the realm of serious physics, is a very romantic concept." The teacher put down the chalk and smiled.

"There are many similar spacetime hypotheses. If you are interested, you can learn about them after class."

"get out of class is over!"

……

The trio followed the inevitable path and arrived once again at the old spot, next to the familiar transformer distribution box.

Jiang Ran looked at this behemoth and listened to the crackling sound of electricity:
"Although we considered many factors such as time, location, position, and orientation."

"But I think...we've still missed some key factors."

Qin Feng followed Jiang Ran's gaze:

"You wouldn't be thinking of tampering with the distribution box, would you? That belongs to the State Grid. High-voltage electricity is dangerous, and damaging it is illegal."

"I'm not stupid."

As Jiang Ran spoke, he turned on his phone's flashlight and peered into the electrical box through the ventilation opening.

Unremarkable.

Inside was just a very ordinary transformer.

This device converts tens of thousands of volts of high-voltage electricity into low-voltage electricity for civilian use, and it is found all over the school.

It's currently peak electricity consumption time, and the distribution box is getting quite hot, filled with equipment noise.

He suddenly thought.

In the science fiction movie "The Terminator", every time a futuristic robot travels through time, it is accompanied by a violent electrical discharge, with blue arcs crackling and popping.

In the Back to the Future trilogy, the Doctor also uses the energy of lightning to travel through time.

Electric arc, lightning, high voltage.

and so.

Could it be...

Is the principle behind time travel related to high-voltage electricity?

Tsk.

Jiang Ran smacked his lips.

Difficult.

Speaking of high-voltage electricity, the transformer distribution box here is so stable. It was exactly the same as it was on March 17th when the text message was sent, it's very stable now.

Why was the text message from March 17th able to be sent in the past, while all subsequent attempts failed?
"What exactly was missed?"

Having personally experienced time travel and spatial shifts, Jiang Ran desperately wanted to understand the reasons... especially the unique aspects of himself.

He shook his head:

"Let's go to the cafeteria and get something to eat."

……

The next day, the three of them went to class as usual.

When I passed by the student club activity building, I noticed that many students were gathered in front of the notice board.

Upon closer inspection, a disciplinary notice was found posted on it:

【notice】

[On the evening of March 17th, Yan Rui, a student from the film camera club, violated regulations by using a high-power electrical appliance, causing damage to the power lines. In accordance with school regulations, he has been given a warning, and this is hereby publicized.]

"Film camera company?"

Cheng Mengxue tilted her head:

"What?"

"It must be a club for old-fashioned film camera enthusiasts, right? Nowadays, everyone uses digital cameras and mobile phones to take pictures; film cameras have long been obsolete."

Qin Feng replied:

"Tears of the times."

Jiang Ran stood in front of the notice board, staring at the date of the announcement, and squinted his eyes:
"I think I've found the key factor we missed."

? ?
The two of them turned to look at him.

Jiang Ran smiled slightly:
"Do you guys remember which gang owned the window behind that transformer distribution box?"

Recalling the film canister on the windowsill and the photos clipped to the clothesline, Cheng Mengxue suddenly realized!

"It's the film company!"

Then he turned back and carefully read through the disciplinary notice.

On the evening of March 17th... a high-power electrical appliance... the power line was damaged...

"Yes."

Jiang Ran stepped forward:
"On the evening of March 17th, I was sending the text message right outside the window where this senior was using a high-powered appliance."

He held up his index finger and pointed to the name of the senior student who had been disciplined:

"So, it's very likely..."

"The secret to text messages traveling through time and space is related to that high-powered electrical appliance!"

(End of this chapter)