Genius Club-Chapter 247 - 65 Wish

"Happy Birthday!"

As everyone finished singing the birthday song, in the dimly lit room with only the candlelight surrounding the dining table, a round of applause erupted, sending 22nd birthday wishes to Ji Lin.

22 years old.

At this age, to experience your first truly celebrated and blessed birthday is probably a sad thing.

Even in many poor families, parents will still celebrate their children’s birthday on time every year, even if they can’t afford a cake.

In this respect, there really is a vast difference between children with parents and those without.

Lin Xian, while clapping, watched Ji Lin, whose smile contained a hint of embarrassment.

It was evident that Ji Lin was still a bit shy at the moment.

But he was happy, too.

"Ji Lin, come blow out the candles and make a wish! Remember to make a wish before blowing out the candles, okay!"

Chu Anqing and several female classmates were very cheerful today, urging Ji Lin to make a wish towards the cake.

In this regard, Ji Lin clearly had little experience and was somewhat awkward.

He thought for a long time, then looked at the cake flickering with candlelight and said softly:

"Actually, I’ve never had many wishes. Besides not having parents, I’ve had a pretty happy life in all other aspects since I was young, and to say that I had everything I needed wouldn’t be an exaggeration."

"Ji Lin… you can’t say your wishes out loud," Chu Anqing reminded him softly:

"If you say them, they won’t come true."

However…

Lin Xian raised his hand to interrupt Chu Anqing:

"Let him speak. He seems to want to express it more."

Always.

Ji Lin gave off the impression of being inarticulate and even disinclined to socialize.

Indifferent, reticent, and isolationist.

But after spending some time with him, Lin Xian felt it wasn’t really the case.

There are no truly isolationist people in this world.

Being a recluse is often a passive choice, a kind of self-protection forced by circumstances.

Like this childish birthday party akin to coddling a child.

It’s normal for 19-year-old Chu Anqing.

And it’s very normal for a 9-year-old child as well.

But for Ji Lin, a globally best-selling novelist, a famed Oscar-winning screenwriter, a detective genius at the age of 22…

It’s not normal at all.

You probably couldn’t find a second 22-year-old adult who still experiences such childish birthdays, being pampered like a child.

But Ji Lin felt no discomfort whatsoever.

He was very content.

And he greatly enjoyed this moment.

This was what he most lacked and most desired in his life of more than two decades, where he had everything he asked for and lived in affluence.

Only…

This birthday song was still sung too late.

One yearns to buy cassia flowers to drink along with wine, but it can’t compare to the days of one’s youth.

So.

If Ji Lin had any words he had hoarded for more than two decades without saying, then let him speak them out today.

Ji Lin smiled at everyone and continued:

"I’ve never had much company since I was young, and what I did most every day was reading books and solving math problems. Maybe because my parents were both mathematicians... I had a knack for problem-solving, and I never made a mistake on any question. Really, I’ve never gotten a single problem wrong."

"I enjoy the process of solving problems, and I take pleasure in getting the right answers, the sense of achievement from every problem and every Sudoku puzzle. I always thought that getting problems right was the proper thing, the meaning of my existence in this world. I didn’t want to get any problem wrong or come up with the wrong answers."

"But today, if I could say I truly have a wish..."

Ji Lin turned his head to glance at Lin Xian, then at Chu Anqing, and then lowered his gaze to the birthday cake, whose candles had burned more than halfway. His expression grew intense:

"I only wish that I had gotten one problem truly wrong."

…

As Ji Lin’s words fell, the lavishly decorated living room fell into complete silence.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, not understanding what Ji Lin meant by his wish.

The atmosphere was turning awkward.

At that moment.

Gao Yang, as if awakened in his genes, leapt to his feet with applause like thunder:

"Good! Well said!"

The title of top salesman was not in vain; he immediately brought the atmosphere back:

"I think what Ji Lin said is very true."

Gao Yang swept his gaze across the bewildered crowd and explained earnestly:

"Ji Lin’s wish is really special, mainly because his life has been too outstanding. Whether it’s his writing career or his career as a screenwriter, he became famous at a young age, reaping both fame and fortune, and has never faced any setbacks or difficulties."

"So, what seems insurmountable to us ordinary people — failure and defeat — for Ji Lin, are precious experiences he has never had! Just as Ji Lin said, a life without failure is incomplete. What’s the point of a life where you always get the answers right? That’s an incomplete life, a meaningless one!"

Gao Yang became more and more impassioned as he spoke, his stirring words bringing him to his feet with a grand gesture:

"Just like the famous saying by Oliver Goldsmith, an 18th-century English writer — "

"[Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall!]"

...

...

At this moment, the entire room was shocked!

Chu Anqing and the female college students were all dumbstruck, never expecting the seemingly greasy and unremarkable Gao Yang... Not only to perfectly smooth over the awkwardness of the situation, but to actually elevate Ji Lin’s wish to a new level!

It was nothing short of art!

Even Lin Xian, looking at the surging Gao Yang, was taken aback by his shouting.

What the hell?

Were the female college students here really that influenced by him?

How did his literary prowess suddenly become so high? He’s even quoting 18th-century writers!

But...

Let’s be honest.

Gao Yang really does have a talent when it comes to setting the mood.

Since childhood, this was not the first time Lin Xian had seen Gao Yang control and save the situation.

He always had a knack for sensing changes in the atmosphere or awkward situations and would immediately jump in to draw attention and turn the tide.

No wonder he’s the top salesman at the 4S store.

If Zhao Yingjun could be considered to have an innate body for racing, then Gao Yang could definitely be considered to have an innate body for sales. He was born to be a salesman.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!

Eager applause rose once again!

It seemed as though everyone was applauding for Ji Lin’s profound wish, but in reality, it was more for Gao Yang, the master of scene-saving.

"So it turns out, Ji Lin, your wish is to experience failure!"

Chu Anqing clapped and looked at Ji Lin:

"That’s quite a unique wish... But I guess that’s the difference between a genius like you and us ordinary people. To us, failure often feels very painful and sad, but for you, it may be an even more precious experience and material for creation."

The other female college students, meanwhile, were staring at Gao Yang with stars twinkling in their eyes:

"Senior Gao Yang, you’re really amazing, so learned."

"Yes, yes, that speech just now sounded so beautiful. Can you tell me which book it’s from?"

"Senior, do you also like reading books a lot? Where did you learn all this knowledge from?"

"Wow... turns out the adult world is really complicated, huh? It takes someone like Senior Gao Yang to understand Ji Lin’s thoughts."

These girls, inexperienced in the ways of the world, had been amused by Gao Yang a moment ago, and now, after his "forceful explanation," they looked at him with even greater admiration.

"Hahaha, actually, I’m just showing off what little I know..."

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Gao Yang was quite honest.

He laughed as he scratched the back of his head and opened his phone to show everyone his Moments feed on the table:

"What I’ve been talking about, I learned from this [Psychologist]’s Moments. Look, this Doctor Liu is the most famous psychologist in Donghai City. She just posted this on her Moments today, quoting the English writer."

"When I’m free, I like to read the articles shared by this psychologist and learn a bit about psychology. And don’t think it’s useless – actually, this knowledge is quite helpful — "

As he spoke, Gao Yang put his arm around Lin Xian’s shoulder and patted him:

"Lin Xian here used to have all sorts of weird dreams and was fretting every day, so I took him to see the psychologist."

"When a professional gets to work, you know if they have what it takes! Doctor Liu diagnosed him, and with just a few words, she solved Lin Xian’s problems! Isn’t that right, Lin Xian? Doctor Liu is really skilled!"

"Stop talking nonsense." Lin Xian kicked Gao Yang under the table, signaling him to shut up.

However…

Across the still-lit birthday cake...

Ji Lin said nothing, his gaze fixed on Lin Xian…

"Lin Xian."

He opened his eyes, and for the first time, Lin Xian saw Ji Lin’s pupils fully.

For so long.

He had never seen the normally listless Ji Lin with such wide-open eyes.

The other looked as though he was gripping the throat of a cheetah, his gaze sharp and profound as he stared at Lin Xian:

"Have you... seen a psychologist?"