That chilling thought… made Lin Xian feel uneasy.

He wasn't sure.

When he asked this question, what kind of answer was he hoping to get from Big Face Cat, and whose name was he hoping to hear?

Zhao Yingjun?

If Big Face Cat told him that now, 600 years later, the towering twin towers in New East Sea City, the president of the X Corporation headquarters… was still Zhao Yingjun… what would he think?

Lin Xian didn't know.

He had never imagined such a sensational scenario.

But, on the other hand…

He also felt that hearing Zhao Yingjun's name would be perfectly reasonable.

First of all.

X Corporation was Zhao Yingjun's sole proprietorship. She founded it, she grew it, and the unique logo hadn't changed at all to this day. Perhaps that was the best proof that she was still in control of the company.

Secondly.

At some point between 2023 and 2624, hibernation pods had been successfully developed. So, theoretically, Zhao Yingjun could have traveled through time in a hibernation pod, arrived in the future world 600 years later, and built X Corporation and New East Sea City in those years.

Finally.

Zhao Yingjun did receive an invitation from the Genius Club. Perhaps she had already joined and become a member. As a powerful organization that influenced the river of history and engraved its logo on the moon… Lin Xian didn't think that crossing 600 years of time and space was a difficult thing for them.

…

So.

In conclusion.

Was it possible… that all of this, including the black hand shadow on the moon, the establishment of New East Sea City and other new cities, and the deformed development inside and outside the steel walls… was all the result of the Genius Club's manipulation behind the scenes?

Lin Xian couldn't figure out this club in the first place.

Now, he could see through it even less.

What exactly was their purpose?

And why did they do it?

He couldn't understand it at all.

Not even a glimmer of an idea.

"I don't know…"

Big Face Cat shook his head blankly:

"We know very little about what goes on inside New East Sea City."

"Don't think we've been stealing things for so many years. In reality, we've stolen very few useful things… You'll understand when you go to that warehouse to find books later. There aren't many to begin with, and they're all useless books."

…

He didn't hear Zhao Yingjun's name from Big Face Cat.

To be honest.

Lin Xian felt a strange sense of relief.

But…

He turned his head and looked at the twin towers suppressing the massive steel behemoth, and the cold light of the X logo illuminating the waist of the building…

But not hearing Zhao Yingjun's name didn't mean that the president inside wasn't her.

If it wasn't Zhao Yingjun, who would it be?

Why did X Corporation stop selling cosmetics for no reason and switch to building New East Sea City?

Mysteries.

More countless mysteries.

"Brother Face, where can I find the development history of X Corporation, or something like a company introduction?"

Big Face Cat pointed to the warehouse just now:

"I don't know if Boss Li's warehouse has any relevant materials and books… Those books were all picked up from the New East Sea City garbage disposal plant. If you're lucky, maybe you can find books about X Corporation, right?"

"Anyway, you're going to the warehouse to find my dad's book, *Introduction to the Universal Constant*, aren't you? Why don't you look for it together."

"If you can't find it anywhere… then I'm afraid there's no other way. Just give up on your curiosity. Only bookstores in New East Sea City can find these real histories… But we can't get into that city, so there's no point in thinking about it."

"If we can see my dad earlier, maybe we can ask him to bring us a few books when he comes back? But I don't think that's realistic. It's already rare enough that New East Sea City invited him to participate in the seminar. How could they let him bring books out?"

Lin Xian didn't say much.

He and Big Face Cat came to the warehouse where Li Cheng stored the "stolen books."

Creak—

As the iron door opened, a foul smell assaulted them.

It was an indescribable smell.

It was like garbage fermented for ten thousand years, a rabbit that had been dead for ten thousand years, and freshly dried shit…

"Pah! It stinks so bad!" Big Face Cat pinched his nose, turned on the warehouse lights, and said in a shrill voice:

"Little brother, books that are turned out of the trash can are the smelliest! They're covered in all kinds of things… You can't wash them with water, so you can only dry them in the sun, and then use your hands to pick out the lumps inside—"

"Alright, Brother Face, stop talking."

Lin Xian frowned and walked in, looking at the bookshelves lining both sides:

"Let's hurry up and find them. When you're looking, please don't just pay attention to the book *Introduction to the Universal Constant*, but also look for any books or reports about X Corporation. I'm still quite curious to know who their president is."

"Okay."

The two separated to find them, one on the left and one on the right.

In fact, Lin Xian thought there would be many books in this warehouse, like a library… But things didn't go as planned. There were actually very few books here.

Lin Xian had about three bookshelves on his side, and Big Face Cat had about five on his side. There weren't many books in total.

This shows… that it's not easy for them to steal things, and they can't always have a bountiful harvest.

Lin Xian also thought of another reason.

According to the descriptions in science fiction movies and games from his era, 2023… it seems that people in the future world no longer read books. They all use advanced high-tech products such as holographic glasses, VR, and thin paper-like iPads.

He didn't know if this was the reason why there were so few people buying and reading books in New East Sea City, so there were also fewer books in the garbage disposal plant, and naturally fewer books they could steal.

Lin Xian searched very carefully.

Indeed, as Big Face Cat said, the books placed here were basically worthless…

There were cookbooks, exercise books, and workbooks, but none of the books were useful.

"Brother Face, have the useful books already been sent out by Boss Li? Like your dad's book, *Introduction to the Universal Constant*?"

"That's right." Big Face Cat pinched his nose and replied:

"Boss Li must have given the truly useful information and books to those who can understand them. What's left here are useless things that were picked over."

Hearing this,

Lin Xian's enthusiasm instantly dropped by half.

He didn't find it on his side, so he went to Big Face Cat's side to help find it.

As a result…

He didn't find it either.

He didn't find any useful books, materials, or clues.

Lin Xian sighed.

He had wasted his time, and he still couldn't avoid the route he had thought of at the beginning—

The only way to find the real history books, find *Introduction to the Universal Constant*, find Big Face Cat's father, and find the name and development history of the real president of X Corporation was to sneak into New East Sea City.

Going around in circles.

If he wanted to know all the answers, there was no shortcut. He could only honestly find a way to sneak into New East Sea City.

"Let's go, little brother, let's go home and eat. Your sister-in-law saved us some food."

Big Face Cat closed the warehouse door and beckoned Lin Xian to get on the motorcycle:

"Let's go home quickly and fill our stomachs, and then we have to gather here at 10 p.m.… to start the night's action!"

Lin Xian nodded and got on the motorcycle.

In fact, he wasn't very interested in the so-called "garbage disposal plant stealing garbage" plan tonight…

He was just curious about what Big Face Cat and Er Zhuzi were secretly doing every night. Now that the truth had been revealed, he didn't have any expectations.

But.

He had already come.

He had already joined the gang and met the boss, so running away now would be a little immoral.

What's more…

His ultimate goal was to sneak into New East Sea City.

Now that he had no clues, why not follow them to observe the entry and exit of New East Sea City up close?

Maybe near the garbage disposal plant, he could find some opportunities and clues to sneak in through some clues.

…

He arrived at Big Face Cat's house.

Sister-in-law Face was still very enthusiastic and specially heated up the food and brought it up.

Big Face Cat opened a bottle of wine and said he wanted to give Lin Xian some courage so he wouldn't be nervous on his first action today:

"Don't be nervous, Lin Xian."

Big Face Cat laughed after clinking glasses with Lin Xian:

"Just listen to your Brother Face's command. You're not familiar with A Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang yet, but you'll get familiar with them slowly. They're all good brothers."

Lin Xian smiled inwardly.

Not familiar?

I'm too familiar with them…

A Zhuang, who had sticky fingers, Er Zhuzi, who seduced his sister-in-law, and San Pang, who wanted to double-cross and betray the organization, had been killed countless times in the first dream.

Judging from the current situation, A Zhuang and San Pang seemed to have turned over a new leaf and reformed.

Only Er Zhuzi, this kid…

Seemed to still be thinking about his sister-in-law, and his nature was hard to change.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the night grew late.

Big Face Cat's son and daughter had already fallen asleep, and Sister-in-law Face began to chop radishes in the kitchen, preparing to pickle pickles for tomorrow morning.

Big Face Cat looked at his watch, drank the last glass of wine, and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder:

"Little brother, take your mask. It's time for us to set off!"

…

After getting on Big Face Cat's motorcycle, they arrived at Li Cheng's house after more than twenty minutes.

In the huge courtyard, A Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang had already put on their masks and were in position.

Lin Xian didn't recognize the masks that the three of them were wearing. They looked like some kind of animal cartoon characters.

Big Face Cat's mask was a mecha helmet, which looked very cool. This time the mask was very large, and it was finally able to completely cover his face, so he could no longer see his fleshy face.

Lin Xian looked at the small Rhine cat mask in his hand…

He couldn't explain the feeling.

Now he was a member of the Face Gang, Big Face Cat's philosophical confidant, Li Cheng's capable subordinate, and a martial arts master recognized by A Zhuang and San Pang.

But it was only for these few hours.

When he entered the dream again tomorrow,

These people would become strangers who had never met him, would doubt him, and would question him…

In fact, from Lin Xian's point of view, it was a little uncomfortable to see his friends, who used to have such a good relationship, looking at him with strange and wary eyes.

"How great would it be if… time could continue to flow forward."

Lin Xian sighed sincerely.

Even if time only continued to flow for one day, even one day would be good…

After he entered the dream, he could swagger to Big Face Cat's house, call out Brother Face, and let him take him for a ride on his motorcycle.

He could also eat melon seeds and watch A Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang make fools of themselves and bicker, and enjoy the unique happiness of the Face Gang, this gang of idiots.

Or he could rely on his identity as someone who had joined the secret operation to come to Li Cheng's house and search the warehouse for fun little things.

But…

No way.

Time stopped at 00:42 at night.

This was a hurdle that could never be overcome, making all of Lin Xian's efforts futile and everything starting over.

"Hehe… everyone came quite early today!"

Li Cheng walked out of the house with a smile, looking at the members of the Face Gang in the courtyard.

"Oh, Big Face Cat has taken in a new little brother!"

Behind Li Cheng.

A charming woman, still with lingering charm, wearing a cheongsam, followed him out. She was graceful and smiling like a flower, with light makeup on her face. Lin Xian was very familiar with her.

Big Face Cat laughed and pushed Lin Xian to the front:

"Lin Xian, let me introduce you! This is—" "Mistress." Lin Xian blurted out.

"Bastard!!"

Big Face Cat slapped Lin Xian on the back of the head, and then smiled apologetically at the woman in the cheongsam:

"Sister-in-law, this little brother of mine is not very smart, but he's good at fighting! He's the kind who's well-developed in the limbs but simple-minded… He's talking nonsense, don't take it to heart!"

The woman was very generous and looked at Li Cheng with a smile:

"This is not nonsense, he is clearly saying what Boss Li is thinking. A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as stealing!"

Li Cheng laughed and brushed the matter aside.

"Is everyone here?" Lin Xian looked around, "When are we leaving?"

"There's still one person missing." Brother Face looked left and right, pointing to the girl walking from the east side of the veranda:

"We were just talking about her, she's here! Our main player!"

Lin Xian looked to the east side of the veranda.

It was a slender girl, as thin as a model, walking with unhurried steps.

The girl was wearing a black bodysuit, and her already shapely figure was made even more graceful by the bodysuit. Her hair was piled high on the back of her head, bulging.

And on her face…

She was wearing a cool Ultraman mask!