The Genius Game - Chapter 4

Qin Man said to auto mechanic Zhang Dayong, “Zhang Dayong, I’m not doubting you. I believe you genuinely want to protect this food right now. But once you’re starving, can you guarantee you won’t devour the steamed bun and water in one gulp? You’re the strongest among us, no one could stop you if you decided to take it.”

Zhang Dayong sighed. “Honestly, the moment the clown finished explaining the game rules, I guessed someone would try to snatch the food and water. That’s why I kept my focus on it, which is how I managed to stop Huo Zimu in time and save our only supplies.”

“Look how fast I reacted, if my first thought had been to take it all for myself, I would’ve grabbed and eaten it before any of you could react. Why would I wait until now?”

“I didn’t hoard it then, and I won’t in the future. I can even promise that I’ll be the last to eat and will take less than anyone else.”

“If you don’t trust me, there’s nothing I can do. After all, I can’t hand the food and water over to just one person. If I did, the others would object.”

“All I can do is guard the food and water without touching it. Over time, you’ll understand my intentions. If you’re still uneasy, keep an eye on me.”

Even so, everyone knew that fatigue would eventually set in for each of them.

Even if Zhang Dayong kept his promise and never took the food for himself, once he grew tired, someone like Huo Zimu might seize the chance to steal it.

Of course, it was likely others would tire before Zhang Dayong. No one could stay alert and watch him indefinitely.

After all, common sense suggested that Zhang Dayong, as an auto mechanic, would have the most stamina.

At that point, high school student Li Chuxia spoke up. “Uncle Zhang Dayong, you could actually entrust the food to someone, someone we’d all feel secure with.”

Zhang Dayong looked puzzled. “Who are you referring to? That young boy, Qu Chen? I believe an autistic child means no harm, but he’s still a child. When a child is hungry, eating is instinctive, you can’t stop them.”

Li Chuxia shook her head. “No, I mean Professor Pan Xian on the hospital bed.”

Hearing Professor Pan Xian’s name, everyone thought it was a brilliant idea.

Professor Pan Xian had been unconscious the whole time and couldn’t possibly scheme.

Even if he woke up, he’d be extremely weak and wouldn’t be immediately hungry because the IV drip contained nutrients to sustain him.

Moreover, if no one told him about the food, he wouldn’t discover it right away.

Jian Tanxi admired Li Chuxia for her intelligence and clarity, always hitting the nail on the head.

Jian Tanxi was the first to agree. “I support placing the food with Professor Pan. We could hide the steamed bun under his pillow and leave the water by the bedside.”

Qin Man added, “I agree too. At a time like this, let’s not worry about hygiene. Even if Professor Pan wakes up, he wouldn’t think to look under his pillow for food.”

Zhang Dayong thought it over and said, “Alright, that might be the best solution. Then I won’t have to exhaust myself guarding the supplies.”

However, Huo Zimu objected, “I disagree. What if Professor Pan is faking it? He might have woken up long ago but hasn’t opened his eyes. If we give him the food, he might eat it right away.”

Li Chuxia was a bit displeased. “Professor Pan is a good person; he wouldn’t do something like that. When he was young, he studied abroad in Country A and later wanted to return to serve his homeland, but Country A intercepted him. He went through life-and-death struggles to make it back to Huaguo and has made tremendous contributions to the field of biology here. Do you really think such a great man would fight you for a steamed bun? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Times have changed. Right now, the seven of us only have one steamed bun in total. Can you guarantee he won’t fight for it?”

Jian Tanxi interjected, “Stop arguing. We’ll find out by testing it.”

Jian Tanxi walked over to the hospital bed and unexpectedly tickled the sole of Professor Pan’s foot.

Professor Pan showed no reaction, he didn’t wake up, frown, turn over, or even retract his foot.

After resting for a moment, Jian Tanxi said, “I plan to tickle his armpit in a bit.”

Qin Man, Li Chuxia, and the others found it strange, why would Jian Tanxi announce his intentions?

At that moment, Jian Tanxi suddenly leaned close to Professor Pan’s ear and shouted loudly.

Professor Pan still showed no reaction.

Only then did everyone realize that Jian Tanxi had deliberately said what he did earlier. If Professor Pan were conscious, he would have been on guard against being tickled under the arms. But what Jian Tanxi actually intended was to shout in his ear. If he hadn’t been prepared, he would have given himself away.

Now, after two tests, Professor Pan remained completely still, proving that he was indeed unconscious.

Everyone felt reassured, and Zhang Dayong placed the steamed bun and water on Professor Pan’s hospital bed.

Then, Zhang Dayong walked back and said to the others, “Now, none of us should approach that hospital bed until we’ve discussed a fair way to distribute the food.”

Huo Zimu complained, “It’s just one steamed bun and a cup of water. Is there even a need to distribute it? Even if one person eats it all, they won’t be full.”

Zhang Dayong replied, “Let’s try to eat as sparingly as possible. Maybe we can last a few more days.”

“Even if we can last two or three days, there’s no way we’ll make it ten.”

Everyone looked at Huo Zimu with some dissatisfaction, but deep down, they all knew he was right.

Just then, the clown paper drifted over as if it wanted to speak.

Zhang Dayong suddenly reached out, trying to grab the paper.

But the paper seemed to have eyes, it drifted aside effortlessly and moved to another spot.

The clown’s mouth didn’t move, but its voice echoed, “Humans, do not attempt to capture or threaten the referee. It is impossible.”

Zhang Dayong asked, “You’re the referee?”

Clown: “That’s correct.”

“By what right are you the referee? By what right do you treat human lives as a game? By what right do you lock us in here and force us to play a game of killing each other?”

Clown: “Player, you have quite a few questions. Considering this is your first time participating in the game, I’ll allow you to ask five more questions. From now on, every question you ask will receive an honest answer, I won’t lie to you. However, if you exceed five questions, I will no longer respond. So, think carefully about what you want to ask. Clever mechanic Zhang Dayong, are you sure you want to ask those questions just now?”

Zhang Dayong frowned. “I… I won’t ask those… I need to think.”

Qin Man asked, “Let me confirm the rules: the seven of us have to survive for ten days with only this one steamed bun and one cup of water?”

The clown replied, “Yes. To be precise, it’s six people sharing these supplies. Professor Pan Xian is unconscious and sustained by an IV drip, so he doesn’t need to eat.”

So, the IV drip attached to Professor Pan was a nutrient solution. Everyone had assumed it was just saline or medication.

Since he was receiving nutrients intravenously, Professor Pan could survive without eating while unconscious.

The problem was, the nutrient solution would eventually run out. A day or two after it was depleted, Professor Pan might wake up from hunger.

The clown seemed to read their thoughts and added, “Oh, one more thing: since Professor Pan was already on an IV when the game started, that state will be maintained. Meaning, the nutrient solution in his IV bag won’t run out during these ten days.”

“However, don’t even think about injecting his nutrient solution into your own bodies. If you do that, you’ll be ruled in violation and immediately eliminated.”

Everyone fell silent.

The clown’s voice was cheerful as he asked, “Any other questions?”

No one dared to waste their chance to ask questions, so they hesitated to speak without careful consideration.

Seeing that no one spoke, the clown said, “Since there are no more questions, then-“

At that moment, Li Chuxia interjected, “Wait. I want to ask: is there a way for all of us to clear this game?”

The clown replied, “Of course there is.”

Li Chuxia asked, “Can you give us more water and food?”

The clown exclaimed, “Wow, you’re really clever to directly ask me for more supplies. But the answer is… no.”

Li Chuxia pressed her lips together, feeling both angry and regretful.

She had asked two questions and felt she shouldn’t have asked the second one, wasting an opportunity.

Jian Tanxi patted her shoulder silently to comfort her.

Huo Zimu then snapped impatiently at Li Chuxia, “Li Chuxia, what were you thinking? You wasted two chances to ask questions! As a minor, you shouldn’t be showing off in a situation like this! We’re all older and more experienced than you. Do you think we hadn’t considered the questions you asked? But we knew better than to ask them. Yet you went ahead and asked two foolish questions…”

Li Chuxia hung her head, her expression growing even more regretful.

Jian Tanxi retorted, “Mr. Huo, that’s not fair. Chuxia’s questions were actually very useful. At the very least, we now know there’s definitely a way for everyone to clear the game. That reduces the likelihood of us turning on each other and gives everyone more confidence.”

“As for the second question, what if the clown had actually given us more food when asked? Then we could have cleared the game more easily. How would we know without asking? Before asking, who could have guaranteed he would refuse?”

Huo Zimu snorted, his eyes full of disdain.

Qin Man said, “I don’t blame Li Chuxia. I think both of her questions were worth asking. I was originally worried that my child wouldn’t survive. But now that we know there’s a way for everyone to clear the game, I’ll strive to find it, at least there’s some hope now. Chuxia, thank you.”

Li Chuxia’s unease and shame faded considerably as she looked gratefully at Qin Man. “Sister Qin, thank you for your understanding.”

Zhang Dayong, the auto mechanic, chimed in, “I think Li Chuxia’s two questions were justified and skillfully posed. I don’t blame her either. Besides, we still have two more questions to ask, don’t we?”

Seeing the others siding with Li Chuxia, the two who remained silent were Qu Chen, the nonverbal autistic child, and Professor Pan Xian, who was unconscious and unable to speak. Huo Zimu felt a sense of isolation. Instead of continuing to blame Li Chuxia, he shot a resentful glare at everyone.

Yet he failed to reflect on why the others had isolated him in the first place.

No one paid any mind to his hostile gaze, and they all regarded him with disdain.