Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Genius Playground
"I really don’t remember."
Jiang Ran was a little surprised.
He hadn’t expected Qin Feng to be so interested in this.
’If I recall correctly...’
’This was the second time he’d brought it up since that day we put on that act.’
"It was really so long ago. Would you remember a diary you wrote in junior high?"
Jiang Ran asked with a smile,
"Besides, it wasn’t written that well. It was all just the baseless fantasies of a cringey teenager."
"If you really like this kind of theme, how about I recommend a similar novel to you?"
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!
A lumbering shadow came scrambling over:
"Shit, I’m finally here! What are you guys talking about?"
The two turned around.
It was Wang Hao.
They hadn’t seen the little fatty in two months, and he’d gotten quite a bit wider.
"I’ll punish myself with three bottles first!"
The heavyweight plopped right down on a small stool, chugged a bottle—GLUG GLUG GLUG—and let out a burp:
"This beer’s a bit too fizzy. I’ll catch up slowly. Waiter!!!"
He roared,
"Two more dishes!"
"Alright, alright, give it a rest..."
Jiang Ran waved his hand dismissively.
"You show up and start ordering everyone around like a conductor. This isn’t your last meal, so what’s the rush? You think we’d let you starve?"
"Hehe, it’s just been a while since I’ve had a proper feast."
Wang Hao deftly snapped open a pair of disposable chopsticks.
"My living expenses are shot, so I’ve been eating vegetarian in the cafeteria every day. Now that I’ve finally caught you guys treating, I have to make the most of it, right?"
He devoured the food in a flash.
"Oh, right."
His cheeks stuffed, he looked at the two of them.
"What were you two talking about just now? I heard something about cringe, novels, fantasies..."
"Oh, that."
Jiang Ran popped open a bottle of beer.
"Just a novel Setting Collection I casually wrote in junior high. A bunch of messy, cringey fantasies."
"Oh, oh, oh, I remember."
Wang Hao nodded like a pecking chicken.
"It was called ’Genius Playground,’ right?"
?
?
Jiang Ran and Qin Feng stared at Wang Hao in disbelief.
"You know about it?"
"Of course I know about it! I’ve even read it!"
Their eyes widened.
"You’ve read it?"
"I... Of course I’ve read it! Hey, hey, why are you two acting like a broken record?"
Wang Hao couldn’t understand their expressions.
"I mean, is this really such a big deal?"
He couldn’t figure out why the two of them were reacting this way.
"Qin Feng probably doesn’t know about it, but Jiang Ran, how could you forget?"
"When you wrote that thing in junior high, didn’t a lot of people in your class read it?"
Jiang Ran nodded.
"A lot of people did see it, but most of them just glanced at it... I’m not surprised that you saw it, but that you remember the name so clearly."
Genius Playground.
That was indeed the name Jiang Ran had given the Setting Collection back in junior high.
He himself had forgotten every last detail inside it.
But he never expected...
That the usually carefree Wang Hao would remember it so clearly.
Jiang Ran let out a soft laugh and looked at Qin Feng.
"Well, now your curiosity can be satisfied. Maybe Wang Hao still remembers some of the details from the Setting Collection."
Qin Feng was interested in the story, but Jiang Ran had truly forgotten everything.
Although he’d promised to go back to his hometown during the break and look for it in the basement... he was really just placating him.
Finding a draft notebook from junior high would be like looking for a needle in a haystack; the chances of finding it were slim to none.
He had thought the story in that Setting Collection was fated to be lost, just like the last 40 Chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber, but he never expected a loyal reader to suddenly pop up out of nowhere.
Qin Feng filled his glass and clinked it with Wang Hao’s.
"Wang Hao, do you remember... what kind of game was Genius Playground, exactly?"
"Don’t remember." Wang Hao picked up a few vinegar-soaked peanuts with his chopsticks.
Qin Feng’s brow furrowed slightly.
"Then... do you remember how the Setting Collection said you could join the game?"
Wang Hao downed his beer and wiped the foam from his mouth.
"Forgot that too."
"..." "..."
Qin Feng resisted the urge to smash the beer glass over his head.
"Then what the hell do you remember?"
"Ptooey!"
Wang Hao spat out a fish bone.
"That was almost ten years ago! It’s a miracle I even remember the title! Besides, the original author is right here, so why are you pestering me?"
’Great.’
He thought Wang Hao would provide a breakthrough, but as it turned out, Wang Hao was as reliable as ever—when it came to letting people down, he never disappointed.
Qin Feng sighed helplessly and looked at the two of them.
"You two... I’m starting to wonder if your brains are secondhand. How can you completely forget something you’ve written and read?"
"Who can be like you?!" "You think we’re you?"
Jiang Ran and Wang Hao were indignant.
Qin Feng did have a photographic memory, but how many people in the world were like him?
"Alright, alright. If you’re really that interested, come home with me during summer break."
Jiang Ran patted Qin Feng’s shoulder.
"You can stay at my place for a few days, and we’ll rummage through the basement to see if we can find that old draft notebook from junior high."
"My parents don’t like throwing things away. All the old books and textbooks are stuffed in the basement, so the Setting Collection is probably in there somewhere."
After that, the three continued to drink and chat.
Wang Hao told them that a lot of people were on board for the class reunion during summer break, and he insisted they bring Cheng Mengxue to liven things up.
Jiang Ran and Qin Feng both said it was no problem, since they didn’t have much to do at home during the break anyway.
Reminiscing, complaining, looking to the future, shooting the breeze...
And so, the small, enjoyable get-together came to an end, leaving them wanting more.
As expected, Wang Hao drank too much. Jiang Ran called a ride-share for him and stuffed him into the car.
"Goin’ now! Let’s do this again!" Wang Hao slurred as the car drove off.
Jiang Ran and Qin Feng also got into the back of a taxi.
"To East Sea University, driver."
...
The car started moving.
It drove off into the night.
The faint buzz of alcohol was starting to get to their heads.
Jiang Ran and Qin Feng watched the scenery retreat outside the window, both silent.
"Qin Feng, have you given it any more thought?"
Finally, it was Jiang Ran who broke the silence.
Qin Feng turned his head.
"What are you referring to?"
"I mean, about using the Time SMS."
The matter had been weighing on Jiang Ran’s mind. He wouldn’t be at ease until it was resolved.
"Have you thought of a better wish? Or is there some regret you want to fix with the Time SMS?"
"As long as we send it to a time within the last month, anything goes. Xiaoxue and I will support you unconditionally."
However, Qin Feng shook his head.
"I really haven’t thought of anything. If not, just skip my turn. Or we can just go with that wish from before, the one about letting me buy that better-looking rotary control board first."
"That’s no problem, of course."
Jiang Ran agreed.
In any case, he had refused Qin Feng before, so there was no way he could skip his turn in this rotation of wishes.
Since Qin Feng couldn’t think of a better wish, they’d just have to make do with the circuit board. It was the participation that counted.
Although using it for such a small thing was total overkill.
But...
Ending this sooner rather than later and fulfilling the wish he owed Qin Feng would be a weight off his chest.
"Then there’s no time to waste. Let’s do it tomorrow night."
Jiang Ran looked at the full moon outside the car window.
"Tomorrow night, we’ll call Xiaoxue to join us."
"We’re going to... send a Time SMS again!"
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