Genius Club-Chapter 176 - 19 Battle Royale

"..."

Lin Xian was at a loss for words.

This, now, what the hell is going on!

Chu Anqing and Tang Xin had each given him a ticket to the same concert, which was already a difficult situation...

But at least they were both performers on stage, so all he had to do was sit in the audience, which avoided any conflict and was still solvable.

At most, he could take Gao Yang with him, occupy both seats, and everything would be reasonable—

"Because I got an extra ticket, so I brought a friend with me."

What’s wrong with that?

But now things were not looking good...

Zhao Yingjun was also giving him a ticket, and obviously, she intended to go watch the concert with him!

There was no avoiding it now!

And in the current situation, he couldn’t refuse either, since he had already agreed to attend the concert with Chu Anqing and Tang Xin. If Zhao Yingjun went by herself and ran into him there, that would be truly awkward.

Sigh.

What is this even about?

Lin Xian felt very wronged.

He hadn’t done anything, so why was he stuck with the troubles of a playboy?

Lin Xian took a ticket from Zhao Yingjun’s hand.

Sure enough, it was a VIP seat, as if specifically designed to play a trick on him.

Zhao Yingjun looked at Lin Xian and smiled:

"Then I’ll see you tomorrow night."

...

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

In the small fried rice restaurant, Gao Yang laughed heartlessly:

"This is a Battle Royale! I want to see bloodshed!"

He slapped the table with both hands, as happy as a baboon that had successfully mated:

"Getting three tickets at once is just absurd! Being too popular isn’t always a good thing!"

Lin Xian, looking at the three tickets laid out side by side on the table, also felt the dramatic irony of life.

"So what are you going to do? Which seat are you going to take?" Gao Yang looked at Lin Xian as if watching a drama:

"You have three tickets, but only one butt; you can only sit in one seat."

"That’s why I’ve come to borrow a butt from you."

"What?"

Gao Yang suddenly stopped smiling, his eyes narrowed as he quickly grasped Lin Xian’s intention:

"I get it, you want me to take two of your places."

"Yes." Lin Xian nodded:

"It’d be best if you could bring someone else too. Since I promised to go with Zhao Yingjun, I definitely have to sit next to her."

"Zhao Yingjun and Chu Anqing are very close, so I definitely can’t lie to them about it, nor is there any need to. I’ll just be straightforward, and if I run into Chu Anqing, I’ll tell her the company arranged a ticket for me, so I gave my other one to a friend... which means you."

"The ticket from Tang Xin... Ah, I do feel a bit guilty, as out of the three, getting a VIP seat was probably hardest for Tang Xin, since she’s just a regular person. But thankfully, she’s not familiar with either Chu Anqing or Zhao Yingjun, so you could bring any friend or colleague to take her seat, and I’ll figure out how to explain it later if questions arise."

...

"Brilliant." Gao Yang gave Lin Xian a thumbs-up, completely in awe:

"Clear thinking, meticulous planning, covering all bases without missing a detail."

Lin Xian held his forehead and sighed:

"There’s no better solution. Otherwise, I’ll have to find an excuse not to go tomorrow night."

"But truthfully, why shouldn’t I go when I’ve done nothing wrong? I have no relationship with any of these three, so why am I falling into this trap of having to prove myself?"

"[That actually shows that you don’t truly believe there’s no relationship at all.]" Gao Yang pointed at Lin Xian, speaking earnestly:

"If those three gave me tickets, I wouldn’t worry where to sit, I’d just sit wherever I want! That’s true peace of mind! Since you’re worried, it means you feel guilty!"

Gao Yang once again became a life coach:

"They say the onlooker sees more of the game. In my opinion... apart from your clear and innocent relationship with that girl Chu Anqing, no desire and no courage, you definitely have a complicated heart regarding President Zhao and Tang Xin."

"Maybe you don’t even realize it, so that’s why an observer can see more clearly... People are made of flesh, not machines and computers. It’s obvious that these two are interested in you, and they are both beautiful women, so what man wouldn’t be moved? Moreover, you’re not a monk, and there’s no need to reject this completely normal situation."

"That’s true..."

Lin Xian watched as the server brought over a plate of spicy chicken, the hot steam and fiery zest rising up, vibrant and intense.

That’s true.

But in his current predicament, he didn’t have the luxury to think about these things.

He was aware that he might be in danger, perhaps an unseen killer, the invisible "cat," was lurking in the shadows watching him.

Recalling Xu Yun, who was brutally murdered in the street, and his beloved daughter who died together with Big Face Cat’s father within The First Dreamland...

Lin Xian didn’t want to repeat history and involve others because of himself.

This was also why he didn’t want to tell Gao Yang about what had happened recently, especially regarding the dream; he wanted to avoid pulling those around him into danger.

"Regardless, it’s time you gave Tang Xin a proper answer."

Gao Yang looked down and picked at peanuts with his chopsticks, popping them one by one into his mouth:

"We’re all adults here, playing dumb isn’t appropriate. Besides, at our age, what can’t we accept? Even if you tell Tang Xin you don’t like her, she won’t cry her heart out like a little girl... From what I know of Tang Xin, she’d probably just laugh it off and move on."

"Honestly, Lin Xian, sometimes I don’t know what you’re hesitating over. Tang Xin is a good person all around, it’s just dating, not like she’s forcing you to marry her, why be so cautious? We’re old classmates, what’s wrong with trying to get along?"

"Mm."

Lin Xian responded softly.

Indeed...

It was time to face Tang Xin’s feelings for him.

Just as Gao Yang had said.

Not giving a clear answer was indeed a bit impolite.

At this moment.

Lin Xian let go of his inner doubts about the cosmic constant 42 as never before, dropped his guard against the Genius Club, brushed aside his concerns about the unknown murderer in Catch Me If You Can, and his curiosity about the safe CCVV and New Donghai City in his dreams...

He cast aside everything to seriously consider his feelings for Tang Xin—what exactly were they?

Dislike?

That definitely wasn’t it; there was nothing about Tang Xin that he found distasteful.

Like?

Lin Xian wasn’t sure about that either.

Even though he had been popular with girls in high school and college, the reckless freedom of his dreams back then had been more attractive to him, so he hadn’t been in a relationship until now, and he didn’t have a clear definition or understanding of feelings.

"You’re right," Lin Xian looked up at Gao Yang:

"It’s time to give Tang Xin an answer."

...

The next day, in the evening.

The music concert was set to officially start at 8:30 p.m.

But Lin Xian arrived early, getting there just after seven, when the vast venue was sparsely populated, with only a handful of people sitting here and there.

He checked the seats in the VIP area in advance... and found his worries were somewhat unnecessary.

Although called VIP seats, the first 20 rows were all VIP, and the area was quite large. It took Lin Xian quite a while to find his own seat.

"I’m feeling a little bit guilty here; Chu Anqing and Tang Xin probably don’t even know where the tickets they gave me are located."

This was also why Lin Xian arrived early; because Tang Xin needed to rehearse and get makeup done in advance, the performers had begun their preparations here in the afternoon. Lin Xian was preparing to visit Tang Xin backstage.

Guided by Tang Xin, Lin Xian smoothly arrived backstage, where the performers were.

Today, Tang Xin was dressed in a black evening gown with very prim makeup, fitting the temperament of a violinist.

"Our piece is the ninth one, which is relatively early in the show."

As soon as she saw Lin Xian, Tang Xin’s smile never stopped.

Lin Xian nodded:

"I’ve seen the program. Your performance time is the longest, very heavyweight."

"Hehe, I hope I can perform well today."

"You’ll do fine," Lin Xian encouraged her:

"Being made the lead violinist as soon as you joined the orchestra means you really are strong."

"Actually, I find it quite strange too," Tang Xin laughed softly with her head lowered:

"I don’t know why everything has gone so smoothly, from auditioning for the orchestra to the rehearsals and joining the official team, becoming the lead violinist. Even I find it unbelievable."

"Maybe Lady Luck is looking out for you," Lin Xian joked:

"But in any case, it’s good that things are going smoothly."

"Lin Xian... could you wait for me at the theater entrance after the concert tonight?" Tang Xin suddenly spoke in a softer voice. She scratched her cheek with her index finger, appearing a bit shy:

"I have something I want to give you."

"Okay."

Lin Xian agreed immediately, as it happened, he had something to discuss with Tang Xin too.

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"It might be a bit late," Tang Xin smiled apologetically:

"After the curtain call, I have to go backstage to pack up, take off my makeup, change clothes... It might take some time."

"No problem, take your time, I’ll wait for you at the theater entrance."

"Senior Lin Xian!" An unexpected call interrupted the conversation between Lin Xian and Tang Xin.

Lin Xian turned his head, looking beyond Tang Xin...

Indeed, he hadn’t heard wrong; that clear and pleasant voice belonged to Chu Anqing!

But the Chu Anqing before him was different from Tang Xin; she wasn’t in formal performance attire or makeup. She had a bare face and was dressed in casual clothes.

"Aren’t you also performing today?" Lin Xian asked.

"Solo acts like mine were rehearsed yesterday," Chu Anqing chuckled as she walked over:

"This afternoon was mainly for group rehearsals, and if you wear a ballet costume too early, it gets wrinkled."

"I see," Lin Xian nodded.

Tang Xin looked at the two of them in surprise, then turned back to Lin Xian:

"Lin Xian, who is this?"

"Ah, let me introduce you." Lin Xian gestured to Chu Anqing, addressing Tang Xin:

"This is my junior at East Sea University, Chu Anqing."

Then he pointed to Tang Xin, facing Chu Anqing:

"Anqing, this is Tang Xin, a violinist with the East Sea Symphony Orchestra, and also my..."

"High school classmate."