The Genius Game - Chapter 31

The garden was vast, filled with a wide variety of meticulously maintained plants and flowers. Ahead stood a European-style mansion, suggesting this was the backyard of an affluent estate.

Tall trees towered overhead, with many beautiful birds flitting among the branches.

To the left was a temperature-controlled swimming pool, its crystal-clear water shimmering under the light; to the right lay an exquisite flower garden, blooming with orchids, gerberas, bougainvillea, sage, and some other flowers Jian Tanxi didn’t recognize.

They stood on a winding path, its surface immaculate, without a speck of dust in sight.

Jian Tanxi glanced at the people around her. Besides Meng Yuening, there were a few familiar faces.

One of them was Qin Man, and another was Du Jiaojiao.

Strangely, Du Jiaojiao’s boyfriend, Hong Zicheng, was nowhere to be seen.

When Qin Man spotted Jian Tanxi, she showed a flicker of delight but was mostly flustered and panicked.

Jian Tanxi asked, “Sister Qin Man, what’s wrong? Where’s Xiao Chen?”

Qin Man replied anxiously, “Xiao Chen is missing… Ever since the last game ended and I was transported out, I realized he wasn’t with me. I’ve been searching for him, but I just can’t find him… It’s been several days now, and I’ve been brought here again, but Xiao Chen still isn’t here… I’m so worried. He has autism, he can’t be away from his mother…”

Jian Tanxi was equally startled and began to worry as well.

Given the current dire circumstances, even a typical child would be in grave danger without an adult, struggling to survive, let alone Qu Chen.

That child probably wouldn’t even know how to find edible food or recognize the dangers of places like cliffs and bodies of water, unaware that he should keep his distance.

Without Qin Man’s care, the likelihood of something happening to him was high.

Qin Man’s face was deathly pale. She clenched her fists tightly, struggling to stay composed.

Jian Tanxi could only comfort her, saying, “Sister Qin Man, don’t worry. Everyone’s bodies have been enhanced now, one meal can sustain us for ten days. At the very least, Xiao Chen won’t starve to death.”

Qin Man said, “I know… but he tends to put all sorts of strange things in his mouth… In the past, he’s eaten tissues, stones, even dirt… What if he eats something he shouldn’t, like broken glass? What if he wanders into a dangerous place and doesn’t know to avoid it…”

A thought suddenly struck Jian Tanxi: “I have the ability to read minds. Why don’t I try reading Xiao Chen’s thoughts to see what he’s thinking? If I can read his mind, it would prove he’s definitely still alive.”

The dead have no thoughts, so their minds can’t be read.

Qin Man thought it was a good idea, but she was afraid to let Jian Tanxi try.

Because she was terrified that Jian Tanxi wouldn’t be able to read Qu Chen’s mind.

Jian Tanxi reassured her, “Alright, then I won’t try reading his mind for now. At least this way, we can hold onto hope.”

Qin Man nodded, “Yes, thank you…”

Jian Tanxi had initially assumed that pairs like mothers and sons or couples wouldn’t be separated.

But the reality proved her wrong. Qin Man and her son were separated, and Du Jiaojiao was also apart from her boyfriend.

Du Jiaojiao was running around everywhere, trying to find her boyfriend, Hong Zicheng. But she had no luck.

She attempted to search inside the villa, only to be blocked by an invisible barrier.

It seemed that, for now, their movement was restricted to the garden alone.

Du Jiaojiao checked behind every tree and even moved numerous potted plants aside, desperately searching for any trace of Hong Zicheng.

Meng Yuening couldn’t help but say, “Stop looking. There are only six people who entered the game, and they’re all here. Your boyfriend isn’t among them.”

Du Jiaojiao still refused to give up: “Impossible, we’ve never been separated before…”

Meng Yuening: “We’ve searched everywhere possible. If he’s not here, he’s not here. You’d be better off saving your energy to think about how to clear the level later.”

But Du Jiaojiao continued rummaging through the flowerbed.

Meng Yuening remarked, “The flowers in this bed are so short, they can’t hide anyone, unless he’s been dismembered.”

Du Jiaojiao snapped angrily, “Shut up! You’re just jealous of us! You’re so old and still single, so you can’t stand seeing us happy together…”

Meng Yuening let out a cold laugh and didn’t respond further.

Back in the seesaw level, Meng Yuening had already disliked Du Jiaojiao. Of course, the feeling was mutual.

Meng Yuening had thought she’d never have to see Du Jiaojiao again, but here they were, reunited so soon.

Jian Tanxi also felt a sinking feeling, thinking these aliens really knew how to assign teammates, every time, there had to be one or two people she couldn’t stand.

Counting this, it was already the third time Jian Tanxi had been teamed up with Du Jiaojiao.

With Hong Zicheng absent, she hoped Du Jiaojiao wouldn’t hold them back.

Du Jiaojiao searched through the flowerbed once more but found nothing and finally gave up.

She wailed, “What am I going to do… All my items and pills are with my boyfriend…”

Jian Tanxi: “…”

Meng Yuening: “…”

The others: “…”

Taking the opportunity, Jian Tanxi glanced at her teammates.

There were six people in total who had entered the game, all women. She recognized Qin Man, Meng Yuening, and Du Jiaojiao, but the other two were unfamiliar.

One was a gentle and intellectual-looking young woman, around 25 or 26 years old, about 175 cm tall, wearing a light blue dress. She was tall and slender, with a straight posture and a very approachable demeanor.

The other woman appeared to be in her forties, of average build, wearing a pair of thick black-framed glasses. She had a stern expression, as if she were ready to scold someone at any moment.

She was dressed in a black suit with many old-fashioned prints, the kind usually worn by women in their sixties or seventies, which didn’t quite suit her age.

Everyone began introducing themselves.

After Jian Tanxi and the others finished their introductions, it was the turn of the two unfamiliar women.

The young woman in the light blue dress was named Shen Kexin. She had graduated with a degree in English and was a senior childcare specialist, not only capable of taking care of children but also teaching them to read and learn English.

The stern-looking woman in her forties was named Wang Juanhua, and she was the dean of students at a high school.

Jian Tanxi thought both of their appearances matched their professions perfectly.

The young woman, Shen Kexin, smiled and asked, “How many times has everyone participated in the game?”

Jian Tanxi replied, “This is my fourth time.”

Shen Kexin: “Same for me.”

Qin Man: “Also my fourth.”

Du Jiaojiao: “My fourth as well.”

Shen Kexin: “It seems we’re all about the same.”

Dean Wang Juanhua asked, “Has anyone summarized any useful experiences?”

Although it was a simple question, the way Wang Juanhua asked it carried a strong sense of pressure.

Everyone felt as if they had returned to their student days, answering a teacher’s question.

Jian Tanxi timidly spoke up: “The experience is… to unite and help each other to clear the level together?”

Wang Juanhua nodded: “Well summarized. The rest of you should learn from Jian Tanxi.”

Jian Tanxi: “…”

The others: “…”

Du Jiaojiao: “My experience is that these aliens are just too much. They don’t stay on their own planet but come to ours to cause trouble, it makes me so angry! Right now, I just want to find my boyfriend.”

Wang Juanhua: “You’ve been through four games already and still haven’t summed up any experience? Your head is full of your boyfriend, your performance must not be very good, right?”

Du Jiaojiao: “…”

Du Jiaojiao: “Excuse me, are you the boss of this level? If so, I forfeit. Count me as having failed.”

Wang Juanhua: “You’ve misunderstood. I’m not the boss. I just want everyone to face the new round of the game with better spirit and attitude, competing with style and skill.”

The others: “…”

At that moment, a huge piece of paper appeared before everyone.

On the paper was drawn a clown.

The clown said: “This Teacher Wang really has the demeanor of a head teacher, still rigorously testing her teammates’ abilities at this point. In response to Teacher Wang’s spirit, the task for this level is, idiom chain. Participants: Jian Tanxi, Qin Man, Du Jiaojiao, Meng Yuening, Wang Juanhua, Shen Kexin.

Game rules: I will say an idiom, and the players will begin the idiom chain. It doesn’t have to be the same character, similar or identical pronunciation is acceptable. You must complete 100 idioms to pass the level.

There can be no more than a 3-second pause between idioms, and no repetition of idioms is allowed. Otherwise, all of you will be executed.”

Suddenly, a massive hammer appeared in the air, emitting a crackling sound of electric current.

The clown said: “This is the Thunder Hammer. The electric current it produces will send you straight to heaven, hehehe… Well, I don’t think idiom chains should be too difficult for you. Let’s begin now.”

Jian Tanxi asked: “Wait! Do we have to take turns in order, or is there no restriction?”

The clown replied: “You’re all experienced players; I won’t be that strict. No need to take turns, whoever thinks of one can say it, to avoid wasting time. The person who contributes the most idioms will receive a reward. Let’s start now: Do as you wish.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned because, when thinking of idioms starting with “wei,” their first instinct was “to do as one wishes.”

But that idiom had already been used by the clown.

Jian Tanxi had a sudden inspiration: “to commit crimes.”

“Stunned like a wooden chicken.”

Shen Kexin added: “The chicken and dog rise to the heavens.”

Wang Juanhua: “There is heaven beyond heaven.””

The others: “…”The world is turned upside down.”

“To go into the fire and tread on the blade.”

Qin Man: “People say what others say.””

…

Later on, the others couldn’t think of any more idioms or were afraid of repeating ones that had already been said, thus breaking the rules.

As a result, several players hardly dared to contribute toward the end.

Although Wang Juanhua was a head teacher, she taught mathematics, and Shen Kexin majored in English. So, despite their high education levels, they lacked quick wit in Chinese language skills.

Only Jian Tanxi and Qin Man continued the idiom chain until they reached 100 idioms.

Jian Tanxi wasn’t entirely sure who had contributed more idioms, feeling that the two of them were about equal.

Jian Tanxi was quite surprised. Despite her son being missing, Qin Man had managed to stay composed and come up with so many idioms, her mental fortitude was truly admirable.

Just then, the clown announced, “Congratulations on clearing the stage! The players who connected the most idioms are Jian Tanxi and Qin Man, so I will grant you…”

Before the clown could finish, a furious roar interrupted: “Damn clown, you’re meddling with my game again!”