Genius Club-Chapter 241 - 61 Surprise_2

Listening to Chu Anqing’s words, Lin Xian didn’t say much.

Ji Lin’s family was indeed very complex.

Listening to his personal description...

His parents had also been killed when he was very small, and he was then adopted by Ji Xinshui, who also gave him his name.

It seemed that besides Ji Lin, Ji Xinshui had adopted many other children, so naturally, there was no time to celebrate their birthdays. It was almost like they were raised in an orphanage, where the smartest children would eventually be brought back to stay beside him.

When Lin Xian had listened to Ji Lin’s description, he hadn’t taken these details to heart.

Subjectively, because he considered Ji Lin an enemy, he naturally didn’t trust the intelligence that came from him. Therefore, when the truth was hard to discern, there was no need to delve into the details of these words.

However, through this period of interaction with Ji Lin...

He didn’t know why, but he always felt that Ji Lin might not have lied about such matters.

This feeling was hard to describe.

Lin Xian could also sense that maybe because of the lack of familial affection, Ji Lin valued birthdays and family, the sort of things ordinary people take for granted, very much.

Especially his birthday party, which he had mentioned numerous times, as if afraid that Lin Xian would forget.

[Birthday party.]

Lin Xian began to ponder...

Could Ji Lin be planning to make a move on him after the birthday party?

It was hard to say.

Because a normal birthday party, no matter what, wouldn’t go on until 00:42.

Especially since that day’s birthday party had Chu Anqing and her college classmates attending, and those girls would have to return to school by 9:00 p.m., at the latest by 10:00 p.m. Surely Lin Xian and Ji Lin wouldn’t just sit around in the villa chatting awkwardly for three hours?

That would be too terrifying...

Lin Xian absolutely couldn’t sit through that.

However.

Nothing was absolute.

At least from what he could see now, Ji Lin’s birthday party was still the only time that came closest to meeting the conditions for an assassination.

Because he was so cautious now, they simply couldn’t find any opportunity.

Especially being run over on the road was even more unlikely, as Lin Xian would now stay far away whenever he saw a road.

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In comparison...

Ji Lin’s birthday party, where he was the main character, gave him a certain ability to control when he would leave, and it was possible that he could come up with a way to keep Lin Xian there until 00:42.

Besides, the Linhu Villa area, where Ji Lin and Chu Anqing’s villa was located, had very wide internal roads, wide enough to run two trucks side by side, and under such road conditions, it was also possible to commit murder with a taxi.

[Given that Lin Xian was already clearly wary of the roads...they would very likely make their move on this kind of informal road!]

Lin Xian nodded silently.

Regardless, he would still need to be cautious on the day of Ji Lin’s birthday party.

"Ha ha, since Senior Lin Xian you agree, then let’s do it this way!"

Seeing Lin Xian nodding, Chu Anqing happily took out her phone and started flipping through photos in her album.

"Huh?"

Lin Xian, who had been deep in thought, was a bit confused.

What happened?

What proposal had Chu Anqing just made?

His nod had been in contemplation of his own matters...how did it turn into him agreeing to Chu Anqing’s plan by some misunderstanding?

"Look Senior, this photo turned out really well!"

Saying this, Chu Anqing held the photo up in front of Lin Xian’s eyes.

Lin Xian took the phone.

On the screen was a photo taken at Chu Anqing’s birthday party—

Standing at the stairway entrance, Lin Xian and Ji Lin had just come down from upstairs shoulder to shoulder; Chu Anqing, grinning, was standing in front of them with victory signs, beaming with joy, while the two men behind her looked down at her with slightly surprised eyes...

Although this photo was taken without preparation, it unexpectedly gave off a very harmonious, warm feeling, as if the three were close friends.

Staring at the photo, Chu Anqing explained her previous proposal to Lin Xian:

"Because the birthday gift Ji Lin gave me was also a painting... it shows that he values meaningful mementos more than ordinary common gifts. So for Ji Lin’s birthday, let’s also give him a painting!"

"Just like I said earlier, you draw the sketch base for this photo, Senior, and then I’ll color it in with watercolors~ That way, this gift would be a collaboration between the two of us, very meaningful to give to Ji Lin, and he will definitely like it!"

"Although my drawing skills aren’t that great, I’ve specially learned watercolor, so I have confidence in doing the coloring well!"

Sketch + watercolor?

What a weird combination.

Lin Xian couldn’t help but laugh:

"Perhaps this mix-and-match style will turn out... much worse than you imagine."

"It’s okay Senior~ what matters is the thought!"

Chu Anqing swung Lin Xian’s arm playfully:

"Just agree to it, Senior! Trust me, Ji Lin will definitely love this painting!"

"Alright then."

Lin Xian softly agreed.

Since Chu Anqing had said so, and was so enthusiastic, he wouldn’t dampen her spirits.

Speaking of which, he was still somewhat curious.

"An Qing, what exactly did Ji Lin draw for you on your birthday party? Can he even paint?"

Upon hearing Lin Xian’s inquiry,

Chu Anqing bit her lip, her eyes wavering uncertainly:

"Ah... The painting he gave me, uh, I’ll show it to you later! Hehe..."

Lin Xian nodded, handing the phone back to Chu Anqing:

"Then send me the original photo on WeChat, and I’ll finish the sketch draft in the next few days, then color it for you, and afterwards we can decide whether to frame it or something else."

...

Evening.

Back home.

Lin Xian took out a piece of drawing paper, unlocked his phone, enlarged the photo, and began sketching from the three-person selfie.

He sketched himself and Chu Anqing with ease and familiarity.

But when it came to capturing Ji Lin’s delicate features and his languid eyes...

Lin Xian tried to start several times, but couldn’t bring himself to flesh out the details of Ji Lin.

He thought of Xu Yun, who died on the streets, her body split open, blood pouring out.

He also thought of Tang Xin, with dilating pupils, shakily raising her hand, leaving a bloody mark on his cheek.

Thud.

Lin Xian tossed the pencil onto the table.

Clatter, clatter... as he watched the pencil roll off the table, bounce once, and the graphite tip shattering into pieces upon impact.

"No, I can’t do this," Lin Xian closed his eyes:

"I can’t continue."

Years of accumulated anger and hatred meant he couldn’t just calmly prepare a birthday gift for Ji Lin as Chu Anqing could.

No matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to draw a portrait for a murderer.

What’s more...

The murderer’s birthday party on May 3 might just be his own final dinner party.

"I should advise Chu Anqing to choose a different gift," Lin Xian decided, opening his eyes and gazing at the full moon gradually taking its place in the sky.

An enemy is an enemy, a murderer is a murderer.

Blood debts...

Must be repaid in blood.

Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling ding-a-ling——

Just then, the phone rang.

Quite coincidentally.

The time on the phone screen was exactly 00:42

And the caller’s name...

Was Ji Lin.

Lin Xian picked up the phone and pressed the answer button.

"Lin Xian, I knew you’d be awake,"

"How do you know?" Lin Xian asked.

On the other end of the phone, Ji Lin’s voice came through:

"Because you always stay up late."

Lin Xian remained silent.

Certainly, when they were living together in the Donghai City Public Security Bureau dorms, Lin Xian had indeed stayed up past 00:42 every night to avoid having his wake-up routine discovered.

"Is there something you need, Ji Lin?"

"I was wondering if you’re free tomorrow afternoon," Ji Lin spoke with a laugh:

"I’ve bought a lot of stuff to decorate the house, and it has all arrived. If you’re available tomorrow afternoon... do you want to come over and help me decorate the living room?"

"My birthday is coming up, and I had previously promised to invite everyone over, but I don’t have any experience throwing birthday parties, so I could really use your help."

"Ji Lin."

Lin Xian paused:

"What gift would you like for your birthday?"

"Anything is fine, didn’t you say you weren’t going to tell me in advance?"

On the other end of the phone, Ji Lin chuckled:

"It’s getting close now, only a few days away, you still shouldn’t tell me. Let it be... a surprise for me."

Lin Xian looked down at the half-finished sketch on the table, the only person not depicted being Ji Lin:

"A surprise, huh..."

"Then look forward to it."