Chapter 1 A Great Movie

At the exit of the movie theater, Tang Xin stretched happily.

"What a great movie! My colleagues were right to recommend it!"

Lin Xian nodded.

"Yeah, it's much better than the first one."

…

Tang Xin said that tonight was to thank Lin Xian for treating her the other day, and she had arranged everything.

After dinner, Tang Xin took out two movie tickets and invited Lin Xian to see a movie.

*The Wandering Earth 2*.

Lin Xian was indeed tempted.

Lin Xian had wanted to see this movie during the Spring Festival, but he never had time... After the New Year, he went to Shanxi, and after dealing with Liu Feng's affairs, he returned to Donghai. Only now did he have some free time.

I have to say…

This is a real science fiction movie, a real science fiction world.

In *The Wandering Earth* storyline, in 2075, humans were already using fusion engines to push the Earth out of its orbit around the sun, wandering in the universe.

But who would have thought...

In the real future world 600 years later, humans are still huddled in the palm-sized area of New Donghai City, playing Victorian-era cosplay.

According to Lin Xian's observation of the technological level of New Donghai City...

Compared to 2023, there has definitely been development, but the extent of the development is too small.

Lin Xian had thought that this steel city had already conquered controllable nuclear fusion and possessed an inexhaustible supply of energy.

But in fact... it's disappointing.

The related books in the bookstore still pessimistically state that controllable nuclear fusion is difficult to achieve for civilian use, and humanity's current use of nuclear energy is still limited to the field of nuclear batteries.

Although both nuclear batteries and controllable nuclear fusion use nuclear energy, the difference is quite significant. It can be simply understood as the difference between a battery with a very large capacity and a battery with unlimited energy.

In fact, nuclear batteries were already in use in 2023, and even the Voyager 1 space probe launched in 1977 used an early nuclear battery.

In these 600 years, humans have only developed and improved existing technologies. If you really want to say it… it seems that there are no new things or new disciplines.

Therefore.

In the world 600 years later, there is still a mysterious force suppressing the development of technology.

Is it the Genius Club?

Or the murderer who killed Xu Yun?

Or someone else?

The answer... may not be far from him.

"If there really is an apocalypse... where should humanity go?" Tang Xin looked up at the cloudy sky and muttered to herself.

"Although the solar helium flash in *The Wandering Earth* won't arrive so soon, no one can say for sure what the future of humanity will be. If there really is an apocalypse... how should humanity face it?"

Listening to Tang Xin's words, Lin Xian recalled the world-destroying white light 600 years later.

"People probably won't even realize it."

He said softly.

"Perhaps it's not as pessimistic as you think. If it's a preventable doomsday crisis, humans might be able to find a way to avoid it, whether it's the wandering Earth or some other method… humans will always be able to think of a way to survive."

"But if it's an unpredictable crisis, I don't think there's any need to worry about it. Humans won't know it's coming in advance, and by the time they do, it will be too late. I guess everyone won't feel any pain, and they'll just evaporate in their sleep."

Tang Xin nodded silently.

"An unobservable crisis... that's an interesting idea!"

She said with a smile.

"I really hadn't thought about this issue before. It seems that in all science fiction works, humans are aware of the arrival of the doomsday crisis. Whether it's the solar helium flash in *The Wandering Earth*, or the invasion of the alien fleet in *The Three-Body Problem*… humans always predict it hundreds of years in advance."

"With the current level of human technology, even if a giant meteorite is flying towards Earth, it can be predicted and prevented. If there really is an unobservable doomsday crisis..."

"I'm afraid it's only those radiation and rays that come at the speed of light, right?"

"That's right."

Lin Xian had also thought about this issue before.

"If the crisis that destroys the Earth comes at the speed of light, then humans will never be able to predict or observe it. The speed of light is the fastest speed in the universe... when you see it, it's when it arrives, completely impossible to prevent."

"So I've always been curious about how the operation of twisting to dodge lasers is done in those mecha battle works... In theory, light weapons are absolutely impossible to dodge, because the speed of light is too fast."

"If that's the case... then there's nothing we can do." Tang Xin sighed.

"Actually, the longer you do scientific research, the more you feel the insignificance of human beings. The entire Earth is not even a drop in the ocean in the universe, let alone individuals in history."

"Like you said, if there really is a force that destroys the Earth coming at the speed of light, then there's really nothing we can do. Humans can only accept the fate of civilization's demise."

"Within the light cone, everything is destiny..." Tang Xin said with emotion.

There's nothing we can do…

Lin Xian listened to Tang Xin's description without saying a word.

She was right.

If the white light that destroyed the world 600 years from now really came at the speed of light, then there would indeed be nothing humans could do.

The speed of light is that absolute.

The phrase "Within the light cone, everything is destiny" is a famous quote from the book *The Three-Body Problem 2: The Dark Forest*, which Tang Xin cited.

It seems that she is indeed a science fiction enthusiast.

Lin Xian had thought that these rigorous researchers didn't think much of science fiction works, but it seems that this is not the case. According to Tang Xin, many of her colleagues like science fiction movies and novels.

The destiny within the light cone cannot be changed, because those are all facts that have already happened.

But...

What if you are outside the light cone?

The only thing Lin Xian could think of that might be outside the light cone… was the universal constant.

42.

The mysterious power of this mysterious number is terrifying enough to make the Genius Club fear it.

Hopefully, I can resolve the crisis around me as soon as possible and figure out the meaning of 42. Lin Xian thought to himself.

"Speaking of which... you said you had something to give me?"

Lin Xian and Tang Xin walked to the side of the road, and Lin Xian said.

"Oh, I almost forgot after watching the movie and thinking!" Tang Xin finally recovered from her thoughts about the fate of the universe and took out a beautifully printed ticket from her coat pocket, handing it to Lin Xian.

"Hehe, it's for you!"

This…

Lin Xian froze for a moment.

This familiar size and printed pattern…

This is a ticket to the Donghai City Music Concert!

Although he hadn't taken it in his hand yet, Lin Xian recognized it at a glance. After all, Chu Anqing had just given him one a few days ago… and it was still in his drawer.

"Although it's a bit late to give it to you, I mainly wanted to give you a ticket with a good seat." Tang Xin scratched the broken hair behind her ear and smiled embarrassedly.

"I don't know if you have time the night after tomorrow... our orchestra has rehearsed for a long time, and I think the program is very good. And the leaders of the orchestra also value me very much and gave me the position of main violinist... If you have time, you might as well come and see my performance."

Lin Xian took the ticket from her hand.

He took a look.

It was a coincidence.

It was also a premium seat.

Generally speaking, these internal performers will be given a few tickets by the organizers, but they are all ordinary seats, definitely not premium seats.

So this premium seat ticket must have been obtained by Tang Xin with some effort... She is not Chu Anqing, the little princess of Donghai, who has Chu Shanhe, the wishing lamp, so it took her until now to get the ticket for him.

To be honest…

If Tang Xin hadn't mentioned it today, Lin Xian would have almost forgotten about it.

"Then I definitely have to go and appreciate it."

Lin Xian said with a smile.

"Although my musical appreciation level isn't very good, I have to support the performance of my old classmate."

"Hehe, then I have to perform well!"

Hearing Lin Xian's agreement to go, Tang Xin smiled very happily.

Lin Xian put the ticket in his pocket… adding the one Chu Anqing gave him, he now has two premium seat tickets for the concert.

He will bring Gao Yang with him then, so as to avoid embarrassment. He will communicate well with the person in the seat next to him, and they shouldn't mind switching seats so that he and Gao Yang can sit together.

Whether it is Chu Anqing or Tang Xin, they both specially sent tickets over, and Lin Xian can't let down their kindness.

…

The next day, Lin Xian put both tickets in his office drawer, and then took the information to Zhao Yingjun's office for his daily work.

He now has to go to Zhao Yingjun's office several times a day, and he has a lot of work involving company secrets.

Skilledly entering the password, Lin Xian went straight in.

Zhao Yingjun was also not surprised by Lin Xian's arrival, and directly began to ask about work matters.

The two of them working together is indeed much more efficient.

Zhao Yingjun also did not have the previous fatigue during this period, and her complexion was much better. Many people in the company said that President Zhao has been much gentler during this period.

People's emotions are definitely related to their mood, and when work is free, the mood will naturally be better.

"Lin Xian, are you quite interested in music and dance?"

"Ah?"

Lin Xian was a little surprised and didn't know how to answer.

"So-so."

Why did Zhao Yingjun suddenly mention this?

Could it be that she knew about Chu Anqing coming to the company to give him concert tickets that day?

Perhaps Chu Anqing told Zhao Yingjun directly, the two of them seem to have a good relationship in private, and it is even possible that she also invited Zhao Yingjun to go. Chu Anqing must have a lot of tickets in her hand.

"Someone gave me two tickets to the Donghai City Music Concert, which is tomorrow night at the Oriental Art Center."

Zhao Yingjun took out two overly familiar tickets from the drawer… put them on the table, and looked at Lin Xian with a smile.

"Do you want to go together?"