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This was the bait Lin Xian threw out to Copernicus, his last desperate attempt.

By now, hibernation pods had been developed by various countries and were soon going to hit the market. Humanity was about to enter the age of hibernation for real. With Copernicus’s resources, building a secret underground hibernation base would be easy. Once he went into hibernation, Lin Xian would have no chance of finding him.

No name, no identity, no nationality, no location.

On this vast Earth, searching for someone without a single clue was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Of course, if Super AI VV were available, things would be much easier. The chances of finding Copernicus would increase dramatically.

But…

Who could afford to gamble on those odds?

Lin Xian had originally planned to ask, at the next meeting, how to get rid of the future virus targeting AI that was lurking online. But he didn’t have much hope.

After all, not every question had an answer. Even the questions posed by Gauss had often received Einstein’s reply of, “There’s no solution.”

So, when it came to dealing with the virus, Einstein might very well answer, “No way to solve it in our time,” or “It’ll take until the year XXXX for someone to solve this virus.”

Answers like that—useless.

Einstein might know a lot, and could even see into the future, but he wasn’t Doraemon. He couldn’t pull out miraculous gadgets to solve everyone’s problems.

Which meant…

To kill Copernicus and prevent him from controlling the future, Lin Xian couldn’t afford to wait for VV to revive.

Not even a moment!

If he waited until the meeting was over to make a move, Copernicus would be sleeping for the next two hundred years, and Lin Xian would be left helpless, watching Copernicus roam freely in a distant future—while his descendant, Yu Xi, burned incense at his grave.

“When Copernicus falls, don’t forget to tell your father.”

Wait, no.

Yu Xi wouldn’t live for another two hundred years either. That time span was far too long—enough for Lin Xian’s great-great-great-grandchildren to be born.

That’s why Lin Xian threw out the “Time-Space Particles” as bait.

First off, whether Copernicus believed him or not, it was the only thing that could pique Copernicus’s interest. Lin Xian had to take the gamble—you can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a sheep.

Second, if Copernicus wanted to verify the truth of this claim, he would have to either wait until next month’s meeting to ask Einstein, go to SpaceX to ask Elon Musk, or find a way to verify it himself. In any case, Lin Xian could gain an invaluable month.

Lastly, the information Lin Xian gave was half true, half false, mixed together to make it harder for Copernicus to discern.

The question was:

For an old man desperate for entangled time-space particles, would he simply ignore a person who obviously knew a lot about them?

Or would he believe, just in case it was true, and try to verify it?

Either way, Lin Xian would not lose.

Copernicus was too obsessed with time-space particles to just let it go.

Honestly, if Copernicus hadn’t been in such a hurry to enter hibernation, Lin Xian wouldn’t have mentioned the time-space particles. After all, by saying it aloud, he was making it public knowledge among all the geniuses.

But there was no choice.

To catch Copernicus and stop his plans for the future, sacrifices had to be made.

Sure enough, Lin Xian’s words caused quite a stir.

He observed the crowd, trying to see how many geniuses were familiar with the concept of time-space particles.

“Time-space particles?” Miss Da Vinci was the first to speak up: “A while back, Elon Musk asked a similar question, though he wasn’t clear if such a thing really existed… And now you say it does, Lin Xian? So, it’s real?”

“Ha.” Newton, standing beside her, let out a knowing laugh: “Seems like today’s gathering is heading for a do-or-die showdown—I like it. It’s been ages since we had such an intense meeting. Lately, we’ve all been playing cat and mouse, making things boring. Anyway, after our questions are over, we have plenty of time to chat. Why not discuss time travel in depth?”

“Heh, heh, heh…” Copernicus gave a dry chuckle: “Amazing, truly amazing. I thought only a few knew about time-space particles, but clearly… I underestimated you all. Galileo, why don’t you come clean? That question you asked about the great discovery in astronomy on March 27, 2077, wasn’t that about time-space particles too?”

“Ah, you got me,” Galileo smiled faintly: “I thought I hid it well, but Lin Xian just blew my cover. Yes, I assumed the time-space particles wouldn’t reach Earth until 2077… But if Lin Xian is right, aren’t they supposed to arrive this August?”

“Last month, Einstein answered my question about the major astronomical discovery of 2077—could it be an even more advanced form of time-space particles?”

Beside him, Gauss looked utterly confused, stammering: “You guys… You’re already studying… this kind of stuff?”

“Alright, I’ll admit it.” Lin Xian cut Gauss off, shrugging: “The reason I shared this information is that I realized I lack the ability to capture time-space particles myself. I don’t have a spaceship or a rocket. If Elon Musk were here, I’d share information with him and see if we could work together. He has the resources to accomplish a space capture.”

“Then why not just go to Elon Musk in person?” Copernicus interjected, “Everyone knows Tesla is Elon Musk. If you can’t find him at the club meeting, why not go to Boca Chica, at the SpaceX launch base?”

Lin Xian gave a small smile, turning his comical Rhine Cat mask towards Copernicus: “I’m not that foolish, going to Elon Musk and blowing my cover. As a newcomer to the club, I’ve read the club rules many times. I understand the importance of keeping identities secret.”

…

That casual conversation provided Lin Xian with quite a bit of information.

Miss Da Vinci genuinely seemed unaware of time-space particles or time travel, and she didn’t seem particularly interested in those fields either.

Newton, with his half-smile, obviously knew something, though he hid it well.

Galileo was clearly a master of playing dumb. Lin Xian knew the question Galileo had asked Einstein had nothing to do with time-space particles; now, with Copernicus thinking it did, Galileo was happy to let them all be misled, using the misunderstanding to conceal his true intentions.

As for Gauss…

Well, Lin Xian couldn’t figure Gauss out yet. He always seemed so naive, like someone who hadn’t seen much of the world.

It was hard to tell if Gauss knew anything about time-space particles.

And Copernicus…

He was starting to show his true colors.

He was trying to get Lin Xian to meet Elon Musk in person because he thought his “Prince and the Pauper” plan had succeeded. As soon as Lin Xian went to SpaceX, Copernicus believed his identity would be leaked to him.

Of course, that was only Copernicus’s idea.

He thought he had fooled the world with a fake Elon Musk, not knowing Lin Xian, Angelica, and the real Elon Musk had already unraveled his scheme, using a double-cross against him.

This was why Lin Xian had deliberately brought up Elon Musk.

If Copernicus contacted Elon Musk, it would only make Lin Xian’s plan more likely to succeed.

Elon Musk was smart enough to understand Lin Xian’s intention.

And with that, the genius club, each harboring their own secrets, fell silent.

Einstein stood up at the right moment and announced the end of the meeting: “Now that everyone has discussed their questions, let’s end this month’s gathering here. I truly hope… the next meeting will be just as lively.”

Einstein’s closing remark was strangely mysterious.

Galileo then raised his hand.

Einstein looked at him: “Galileo, do you have something to say?”

Galileo lowered his hand and looked across at Miss Da Vinci: “I don’t have anything else to add, but I do want to invite Miss Da Vinci… If you could stay for a bit after the meeting, I have a few questions for you.”

Da Vinci smiled slightly: “How rare, Galileo. Is it good news?”

Then, everyone stood up, their figures becoming transparent, fading away from the virtual hall.

Soon, the meeting room, bathed in golden light, had only three people left—Einstein, Galileo, and Da Vinci.

Einstein looked at the two of them still sitting in their chairs and asked: “Do you need me to leave? If so, I can disappear right now.”

Galileo chuckled: “You’re joking, Einstein. For someone who can see every possible future, you leaving is meaningless.”

“Go on, Galileo.” Da Vinci looked directly at him, “What do you want to discuss?”

Galileo straightened up, his demeanor turning serious again:

“Miss Da Vinci, I want to ask you—when you speak of a ‘role model,’ what exactly do you mean?”

“Everyone knows that in different times, different places, and different countries, role models vary. In primitive times, physical strength and hunting prowess were models; in farming eras, hard work in the fields was exemplary; during wars, dying on the battlefield was noble; in scientific times, serious research is the ideal…”

“I think role models have no fixed standard. Depending on the time, the same actions can be seen as either criminal or exemplary. So, I’d like to know… What, in your view, makes someone a role model?”

“It’s simple, Galileo.” Da Vinci answered without hesitation: “You’re overthinking it. You make simple things complicated. I believe everyone has their own inner compass; they instinctively know what’s right and what’s wrong.”

“Even if you find someone who denies their wrongdoing, they’re just being stubborn. Deep down, they know they’ve done wrong. If they truly thought they were right, why wouldn’t they openly admit it?”

“If you want to set a standard for role models, it means… you want to exploit it.”

Galileo paused: “So you’re saying role models don’t need standards? You’re saying fairness is in people’s hearts?”

“Are you trying to trap me?” Da Vinci smiled: “Galileo, you know full well that each of our plans is confidential. I can’t tell you.”

Galileo chuckled, shaking his head: “One last question, Miss Da Vinci. You can’t influence everyone, and not everyone will want to learn from a role model. For those who refuse… what will you do with them?”

“The world will accept them,” Da Vinci said softly, “and they will accept the world.”

…

Between them, there was a long silence.

Eventually, Galileo rose from his seat, giving Da Vinci a small, polite bow. He smiled, a bittersweet glint in his eyes.

“I’m truly sorry, Miss Da Vinci,” he began. “I must confess, the winter of 1982, the first time I met you at that gathering in Brussels—the snow was heavy, but the tea you brewed for us… it was unforgettable. It’s a memory I still carry with me.”

“You know,” he continued, his voice soft, almost wistful, “I’d never been fond of tea. No one had ever made it for me before. But after that night, I could never find another cup quite like it—never again could I capture that taste.”

Da Vinci stood as well, her lips curving into a gentle smile. “Maybe you should visit X Country sometime,” she said. “That tea was Zhengshan Xiaozhong, brought from there. What you find outside isn’t always authentic.”

Galileo straightened, letting out a small chuckle. “You know very well,” he said, “I wasn’t really talking about the tea.”

…

In Zhao Ying Jun’s house, Lin Xian removed the VR headset, rubbing his eyes where the device had left red imprints.

Copernicus would probably take the bait.

Delaying hibernation by a month wasn’t a huge deal for him, but the time-space particles Lin Xian had spread—now, those would be what really piqued Copernicus’s interest.

“Let’s see if he reaches out to Elon Musk,” Lin Xian murmured.

After all, there were only a handful of organizations with rockets and spacecraft. Copernicus believed he controlled Elon Musk’s SpaceX, so why wouldn’t he take advantage of that resource?

“Then, it’ll be up to Elon Musk and Angelica’s acting skills,” he added.

Lin Xian had avoided contacting either of them recently. No one knew if Copernicus was monitoring them or what state they were in. If something was up, they’d find a way to get in touch with him, of that he was sure.

He placed the VR headset back into its box and stood up, twisting the door handle to step into the living room.

Zhao Ying Jun sat quietly on the sofa, her gaze resting on the Pomeranian VV, fast asleep in the corner. She looked up as Lin Xian entered, smiling warmly.

“Finished with your meeting? Anything fruitful come of it?”

Lin Xian shook his head slightly. “Not much, really. I didn’t get the answers I wanted. But… we’ll see what happens. It’s all about persistence.”

“Did you ask about the Millennium Stake?” Zhao Ying Jun inquired. “If you hadn’t told me the truth, I would’ve still thought An Qing went abroad to study. I haven’t seen Chu Shan He much lately either—he’s been keeping a pretty low profile.”

“Didn’t get a chance,” Lin Xian replied. “If I’d brought it up, and Einstein answered, then everyone would know about it. I don’t want them to know about Chu An Qing or the Millennium Stake. Who knows what they might do with that information?

“Honestly, I don’t even know what the Millennium Stake is, but I promised Chu Shan He I’d bring An Qing home. That means keeping this whole matter away from any bad influences.”

Zhao Ying Jun nodded. “No matter what, even if An Qing knows she’s destined to vanish at 00:42, she was brave enough to jump from a plane twenty thousand meters high to capture time-space particles for you… We owe it to her to bring her back.

“It’s okay if it takes time. As long as it’s safe and foolproof. Don’t blame me for butting in, but since we’re partners, what’s yours is mine. Your promises are my promises.”

She sighed softly. “Tell me, do you think Yellow Finch, the version of me from that other timeline… She felt guilty about An Qing, didn’t she? And yet, she still used her, knowing she’d disappear at 00:42… What must she have felt, watching such a bright, cheerful little girl, knowing her fate was to fade away into blue stardust?”

Lin Xian sat down beside her on the couch, taking her hand. “You are Yellow Finch, so if anyone can understand her feelings, it’s you.”

Zhao Ying Jun exhaled deeply. “I’d feel incredibly sorry. If it were me, I’d probably hug her tightly. I’d feel awful—her short life, forced to bear such a fate.”

“Especially when it has nothing to do with her at all. Honestly, the time-space particles, the Genius Club, everything really comes down to us, doesn’t it? And yet, an innocent girl like An Qing got caught up in it, all for the sake of capturing a single time-space particle.”

“We owe her. But first, we need to bring her back—to give Chu Shan He the closure he deserves.”

Lin Xian nodded. “Don’t worry. No matter what, I’ll keep my promise. Even if I have to chase her to the ends of the earth, I’ll bring An Qing back and stand her before Chu Shan He.”

Seeing the determined look in his eyes, Zhao Ying Jun smiled. This was the man she loved, the quality she loved most about him—his sense of responsibility, his willingness to stand up for what mattered. It was worth more than anything.

“By the way…” She placed her other hand on his, speaking softly. “Remember what you said a few days ago? About visiting your parents next week… What should I bring them?”

Lin Xian smiled. “You don’t need to bring anything. Just you being there will make them happy. They’ve been asking about it for ages.”

“Oh, come on,” Zhao Ying Jun protested. “When you met my parents, you brought tea, remember? My dad still talks about it—says it was the freshest green tea he’s ever had.”

Lin Xian chuckled. “It was freshly made. Your parents visited Donghai City during the Dragon Well harvest. One of my relatives makes tea—not a master, but very traditional.”

Zhao Ying Jun looked up at him, her eyes soft. “I’ve told my parents about us.”

“And?” Lin Xian asked.

“They’re happy,” she said with a smile. “They like you. I think they even expected this. I’ve explained everything, and though it took a while, they understand.”

“That’s great, but we were talking about gifts for your parents,” Lin Xian replied. “This is my first time meeting them, so I can’t just show up empty-handed. What do you think? Some wine, cigarettes, health supplements?”

“No need to make it so complicated.” Lin Xian waved it off. “We’ll pick something at the supermarket together. They’re used to simple things. If you give them something too fancy, they won’t even use it—they’ll just leave it until it goes bad.”

“Alright, let’s plan for next weekend. I’ll let them know in advance. They’ll be thrilled to meet you.”

“V~~~~~~”

In the corner, VV the Pomeranian shifted in its little bed, smacking its lips, almost waking up. Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun glanced at each other and realized they couldn’t keep talking here.

Lin Xian nodded towards the bedroom. “Shall we?”

“Mhm.”

…

A few days later, Saturday, August 10th.

In Hang City, Chunan County, Thousand Island Lake Town, Lin Xian’s family home was bustling with excitement.

“Oh my, Ying Jun! Come in, come in!” Lin Xian’s mother beamed, grabbing Zhao Ying Jun’s arm and guiding her inside. “Lin Xian’s told us so much about you! I can’t believe how beautiful and elegant you are. My son really got lucky!”

Lin Xian’s father grinned, his eyes nearly disappearing behind his smile. “You really didn’t need to bring all these gifts. We’re just happy to have you here.”

“Exactly,” said Gao Yang, balancing two cartons of fancy cigarettes and carrying a case of Maotai liquor. “No need for the expensive stuff—my uncle doesn’t even smoke these.”

“Hey!” Lin Xian karate-chopped Gao Yang’s shoulder. “Why are you even here? I thought I told you not to come.”

Gao Yang shrugged, unabashed. “What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t show up for something this important?”

“You mean showing up to mooch cigarettes and booze?” Lin Xian retorted.

“I’m just helping bring them inside!” Gao Yang protested. “Stop being so stingy.”

Truthfully, Gao Yang had shown up uninvited. Lin Xian hadn’t told him a thing. But word had spread quickly—his parents had been so excited about meeting Zhao Ying Jun that they’d started cleaning days in advance and even installed new air conditioning in each bedroom. Naturally, the neighbors had noticed, and soon enough, Gao Yang’s parents had heard too. They’d scolded him for not settling down yet, which led to him coming over to “support” his friend’s big day… or rather, to crash it.

“Miss Zhao Ying Jun,” Gao Yang sidled over, grinning. “About those company cars at MX… wouldn’t it be better to match the fleet to Rhine Company’s? After all, you’re just across the street from each other. Might as well be one company, right? I’m just saying, the company cars should at least match—don’t you think?”

Zhao Ying Jun laughed. “Alright, I’ll have the logistics manager get in touch with you.”

“Awesome!” Gao Yang beamed, then turned to Lin Xian. “And don’t forget, you still owe me a car! You promised two years ago!”

“Yeah, yeah. Next time, for sure,” Lin Xian said dismissively.

…

Zhao Ying Jun’s beauty, kindness, and grace had completely won over Lin Xian’s parents. During dinner, they couldn’t stop smiling, assuring her repeatedly, “You young ones make your own decisions. We’re in no rush to push you into marriage—take your time, there’s no pressure from us!”

“Exactly,” Lin Xian’s father agreed. “You’re at the age to focus on your careers. We understand that, and we’re not in a hurry to become grandparents.”

“Oh, come on now,” Lin Xian interrupted, embarrassed. “We’re just getting started. Don’t put too much pressure on her.”

His mother smiled, moving a dish closer to Zhao Ying Jun. “Here, dear, try some of our local specialty. You’re so slim—make sure you’re eating enough, okay? You need to take care of yourself. Being too thin can make you feel dizzy sometimes.”

Zhao Ying Jun smiled back. “Actually, I have felt a bit dizzy lately.”

“Oh?” Lin Xian’s mother looked surprised. “Well, you’re in luck! Lin Xian’s third uncle is a well-known traditional X Country doctor. After dinner, we’ll have him prescribe some herbs for you.”

“Oh, no, there’s really no need,” Zhao Ying Jun insisted, “I’ve probably just been overworking myself lately—burning the midnight oil, you know.”

Lin Xian chuckled softly. It was true—she’d been staying up late, waiting for him to return from his dreams.

“Don’t be shy,” his mother said warmly. “He may be just a town doctor, but people come from all over to see him. He’s helped so many that his clinic’s practically overflowing with thank-you banners. He comes from a long line of doctors—you’re in good hands.”

Faced with such heartfelt insistence, Zhao Ying Jun could only nod.

Later that afternoon, the older couple led Lin Xian and Zhao Ying Jun to the clinic. It wasn’t far—one of the perks of small-town life was that everything was conveniently close by.

Zhao Ying Jun sat down, placing her hand on the cotton pillow as Lin Xian’s uncle—a traditional X Country doctor—gently pressed three fingers to her wrist, closing his eyes in concentration.

“Hmm…” He furrowed his brows, then opened his eyes. “Switch hands, please.”

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. What could be wrong?

Nothing makes people more nervous than seeing a doctor frown. Lin Xian felt his heart rate quicken.

“Is… is everything alright, Uncle?” he asked.

Zhao Ying Jun, equally confused, obediently switched hands, placing it back on the pillow. The doctor again took her pulse, eyes closed, head tilted, listening carefully. His expression shifted, then finally softened into a smile.

“It’s good news,” he said, chuckling.

Lin Xian’s mother blinked. “What good news? What is it?”

The doctor smiled knowingly. “Congratulations… It’s a pregnancy pulse.”