Genius Club

Ji Lin didn’t reach for the list on the table. Instead, he spun his pencil around, pulled out the April issue of Math Monthly from his backpack, and flipped straight to the Sudoku page. He began penciling in numbers methodically.

“You know, I’ve always found the way you talk a bit odd,” he said quietly, his eyes not leaving the page. “You always speak about the future, yet you keep referencing history.”

“That’s just how I talk; it’s not really important,” the old man responded, wandering over to the floor-to-ceiling window. He stared out at the moon, a hint of redness in his eyes. “Xu Yun… he was the most cherished student I ever had.”

“I can see that,” Ji Lin muttered, his attention still on his Sudoku. “You even promised him your daughter’s hand in marriage. To ensure he’d accept, you told him she was your niece. But that wasn’t entirely a lie, was it? Because she doesn’t know she’s actually your daughter from a careless youthful affair.”

The old man spun around, his eyes wide in shock. “How did you find out? I’ve never told anyone that.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Ji Lin put down the magazine, his face serious. “Ever since you adopted me, my ‘sister’ has taken care of me. Though I call her sister, she’s been more of a mother to me.”

“It’s not hard to see she’s your illegitimate daughter. You’ve kept it well hidden, though. Even she doesn’t know the truth.”

“Have you told her?” the old man asked, his gaze intense.

“No, why would I?” Ji Lin shrugged, grabbing the May issue of Math Monthly and turning to the puzzles. “She once complained to me about how you were forcing her to marry Xu Yun, calling him a bookworm she disliked.”

“But after they spent more time together, she started to find him quite pleasant, and they ended up marrying. You really went all out for their wedding.”

The old man was silent for a long moment before sighing deeply. “Xu Yun’s death… it pains me more than anyone could know. I must find the person responsible!”

“When your sister died in childbirth, Xu Yun threw himself into his research on the hibernation chamber. I tried everything to dissuade him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Frustrated, I kicked him out, hoping he’d return eventually. But his death—it was that meddler, someone who disturbed history!”

“Xu Yun wasn’t destined to solve the hibernation chamber’s fluid problem. Not even the world’s top scientists could manage that alone!”

…

Ji Lin set aside the June issue and picked up the July one. “I actually liked Xu Yun. He often visited when I was a child, always bringing books.”

“My sister used to mock him, saying nobody gifts books to kids and calling him a stubborn bookworm.”

“But I loved the books he brought. Xu Yun might not have been the brightest in research or feelings, but like my sister, I liked him.”

“The first time we met, he gifted me a copy of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. He said it was for children, but it was the full version. I cherished that book, always eager for his next visit and the next book he’d bring.”

“But then, after Xu Yi Yi’s incident… everything changed, and he never visited again.”

The old man chuckled, a twinkle of nostalgia in his eyes. “So, Xu Yun was your literary mentor? He never told me that.”

“No wonder you, normally so reclusive, traveled all the way to Donghai for his memorial when you heard of his passing.”

“That wasn’t typical for you. You didn’t even try to avoid the press. I saw the news; you were swamped at the airport, with reporters snapping pictures. Now, the entertainment sections are filled with stories about you and Xu Yun.”

…

“What does it matter if they took photos?” Ji Lin tossed aside the July issue and picked up the August one, beginning another Sudoku puzzle. “I’m not hiding; I just prefer solitude.”

“If something catches my interest, or if I meet interesting people, I’m willing to interact.”

“But with my sister gone and Xu Yun alienated by you… I lost the desire for social engagements.”

“After realizing Xu Yun would never return, I felt a profound sadness. Despite his lack of scientific brilliance, his knowledge and passion inspired me as a child.”

…

The old man’s expression darkened once more. “Things shouldn’t have turned out like this…”

“I always hoped Xu Yun would return. Many investors wanted to back his research, but I turned them all away.”

“I thought he’d hit a dead end and come back. Even though your sister passed away, I treated Xu Yun like my own son.”

“There’s no difference to me. You’re adopted, and if I had my own child, I would treat him no differently than I treated Xu Yun.”

“When Xu Yi Yi had her accident, I was devastated, perhaps even more so than Xu Yun. Since you know all this, I’ll be straightforward. She was my granddaughter, and I wanted only the best for her.”

“I flew in every expert I could from around the world to Donghai City. But not one could offer hope for her recovery.”

The old man closed his eyes and bowed his head.

…

The Sudoku puzzle in the August issue lay untouched as it fell to the floor.

“So, can you tell me now?” Ji Lin picked up the September issue but didn’t open it. For the first time, he stopped his routine and faced the old man directly.

“Why… did you kill Xu Yun?”