Genius Club

“Sir, how was the movie? Did you enjoy it?” A young attendant greeted him with a warm smile as he stepped out of the private cinema lobby.

“It was fine,” Lin Xian replied, adjusting his glasses. “I watched it a long time ago and felt like seeing it again today.”

“You must love sci-fi! Check this out!” The attendant grinned, pulling a poster from under the counter. It featured a vibrant collage of famous sci-fi movie characters with a large, deep blue “42” prominently in the background.

“Is this for me? Your service is impressive,” Lin Xian inquired, intrigued.

“No way!” The attendant quickly folded the poster back up. “This is a collector’s item! I just got it yesterday at the Donghai Exhibition Hall.”

Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. “They sell things like this at the Donghai Exhibition Hall?”

“Yes,” the attendant nodded eagerly. “I’m a huge sci-fi buff too. My favorite is ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.'”

As they discussed their shared interest, the attendant became even more animated. “Since you’re here for an Adams film, you must be a dedicated fan, right? Most of our visitors prefer romances, comedies, or Hollywood blockbusters. It’s rare to meet someone who appreciates classic sci-fi films. If you’re a fan of ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ you should definitely check out the Donghai Exhibition Hall. They’re currently hosting a sci-fi exhibition with rare manuscripts and first editions from renowned authors, including some of Adams’ notes and sketches.”

This piqued Lin Xian’s interest. “Douglas Adams’ original manuscripts? From ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’?”

“Yes!” The attendant confirmed, glancing at his phone. “Tomorrow is the last day of the exhibition, so you should go soon if you’re interested.”

“Is there a special significance to the number 42?” Lin Xian asked curiously.

The attendant laughed. “Not really! Adams chose that number to add mystery and humor to the story. It doesn’t have a deeper meaning, but it’s become a popular sci-fi reference. For instance, in the Marvel movies, the main universe is numbered 42, and it’s also mentioned in ‘League of Legends.’ And in ‘Spider-Man 2: Across the Spider-Verse,’ the spider that bites the protagonist comes from Universe 42, marked with the number 42.”

Lin Xian nodded, impressed by the attendant’s enthusiasm and detailed knowledge. “Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try to visit if I can.”

“If you like movies this much, why not get a membership card? Then you can visit more often!”

“I’ll consider it,” Lin Xian replied as he walked out into the bright midday sun.

The cycles of stars and the rotation of the moon and sun continued. Yet, in a dream world 600 years in the future, time was eternally frozen on August 28, 2624.

There, time did not flow. The world was perpetually stuck at 00:42, the moment of its destruction.

Again, 42. Why is it always 42?

Lin Xian had never noticed before, but ever since he stumbled upon the odd occurrences in Big Cat Face’s father’s room and discovered that the universal constant was 42, he felt surrounded by this number.

“It seems I need to visit the Donghai Exhibition Hall to see Douglas Adams’ manuscripts for ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.'”

Lin Xian knew that the references to 42 in Marvel movies, ‘Spider-Man,’ and ‘League of Legends’ were merely nods to popular culture without real significance.

But the 42 in Adams’ ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ was not just a random choice.

After all, why did Adams choose 42 out of all possible numbers?

Lin Xian sensed there was more to uncover. Perhaps Adams had stumbled upon 42 somewhere, or maybe it had some connection to the Genius Club.

“There must be more to this. I need to see for myself.”

Lin Xian hailed a taxi and headed to the Donghai Exhibition Hall.

The Donghai Exhibition Hall, also known as the Donghai Exhibition Center, was a grand, historic building erected in 1955. It was one of Donghai City’s landmark structures, designed in the Russian classical style, similar to the Exhibition Hall in the capital.

This venue had hosted many international events and witnessed significant historical moments. When no major events were scheduled, the various halls were rented out for different public activities.

Lin Xian had never visited before. Upon arrival, he was slightly overwhelmed by the vastness of the place, which included over 40 large exhibition halls, most of them occupied by different events.

After some searching, Lin Xian located the hall mentioned by the cinema attendant: the “World’s Best Sci-Fi Works Exhibition.”

Being a weekday, the hall was not overly crowded. Compared to the bustling atmosphere in other exhibition halls, this one was relatively quiet.

Perhaps the audience for sci-fi works was still small in the country.

Lin Xian glanced at the directory at the entrance and entered the exhibition hall. The displays were rich and diverse, featuring dedicated sections for many well-known sci-fi works, complete with concept art, original film reels, props, rare materials, and videos. It was a haven for sci-fi fans.

Excited shouts from young men echoed through the air, likely over discoveries that captivated them. There were a few women, but most appeared to be accompanying their boyfriends and showed little interest in the exhibits.

After exploring several corridors, Lin Xian reached the section dedicated to ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.’

This area was smaller than others featuring more popular IPs. The movie wasn’t very famous, except for the widely recognized 42 joke.

Lin Xian headed directly for the glass case displaying Douglas Adams’ original manuscripts. Inside were many valuable items, with a bound replica available for viewing.

Though the handwritten notes were in English, Lin Xian’s proficiency allowed him to grasp their essence. Adams was a sci-fi writer, not a scientist, making the notes accessible.

The content of the manuscripts was intriguing, reflecting Adams’ quirky and imaginative mind.

Soon, Lin Xian found the notes about the number 42. Adams’ explanation was straightforward:

“I can’t explain it. When I was writing the stories in ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ 42 was the first number that popped into my subconscious. It has no special significance to me or anything else. It was just the first number I thought of…”

He described his intention for the supercomputer’s answer to be dramatic, surprising, and convincing. And 42 was the number that instantly came to mind.

From Adams’ notes, it was evident that 42 was a random choice, a spur-of-the-moment decision meant to serve the story’s twist.

But Lin Xian focused on a key term—subconscious.

He recalled Gao Yang’s words:

“Do you understand the subconscious? It’s something you aren’t aware of, but it influences your actions, emotions, and dreams! You might think you’ve forgotten something, but your subconscious remembers, leading to feelings of déjà vu.”

Lin Xian closed the manuscript replica and placed it back in the glass case. He gazed at a photograph of Douglas Adams on the wall.

If Adams really thought of 42 from his subconscious, as Gao Yang’s psychology suggested, it might indicate that Adams had encountered the universal constant 42 somewhere.

If that’s true, the Genius Club’s influence might stretch further back in history than Lin Xian had imagined.

Lin Xian closed his eyes, envisioning a river flowing eastward, culminating at 00:42 on August 29, 2624.

Where did it begin?

Lin Xian felt he was on the verge of uncovering something significant.