Genius Playground

At first, Wang Hao had suggested bringing a small pair of scissors to secretly snip a few strands of Cheng Mengxue’s hair.

But Jiang Ran reminded him that to use hair for a DNA test, you needed the complete follicle. The hair shaft itself is just dead keratin and can’t be used for DNA testing.

All right.

The next step...

Jiang Ran narrowed his eyes, his gaze landing on the burgeoning bald spot on Xu Yan’s father’s head.

’Sorry, Uncle.’

’Just one, please.’

Entering the living room, Xu Yan and her mother were chattering away with Cheng Mengxue. They even used her phone to call her parents, who were all the way in the United States.

Xu Yan’s father was an excellent cook and was in the kitchen reheating the dishes. Jiang Ran seized the opportunity and walked in.

"Uncle, let me help you with that."

"Haha, you’re a good kid. Jiang Ran, right? I hear Yanyan mention you all the time. You two always played together during summer vacation when you were little. I think I must have seen you a couple of times back then."

"Uncle, you have great hair."

Jiang Ran offered an awkward compliment:

"It’s so dark and lustrous!"

"Ah..."

The bane of a middle-aged man’s existence:

"About the only thing it has going for it is the color. Look, I’m already going bald in the middle."

"I see a gray hair," Jiang Ran said, his eyes like a hawk’s.

"What? No way." Xu Yan’s father was clearly devastated.

"Uncle, let me get that for you."

Without giving him a chance to refuse, Jiang Ran leaned in, wrapped the strand around his index finger, and gave a sharp tug—

"Ouch!"

Xu Yan’s father gasped and spun around.

"Where is it? Let me see the gray hair."

"Ah, haha..."

Jiang Ran gave an embarrassed laugh.

"It must have been the light. I was mistaken. Don’t worry, Uncle, your hair is perfectly fine—dark and lustrous!"

A nice bookend, returning to the "dark and lustrous" compliment.

Xu Yan’s father’s breathing was heavy, his expression unreadable.

"Thanks,"

he said coldly.

@#$%!*@#!*

...

The table was laden with more than a dozen dishes, clearly prepared over a long time, all specially made to welcome Cheng Mengxue.

Xu Yan’s family and Cheng Mengxue chatted harmoniously while Jiang Ran and Wang Hao just buried their heads in their food.

For one, it was a family reunion, and they, as outsiders, couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

For another, they were on edge and just wanted to get back and run the DNA test as soon as possible.

"Xiaoxue, your parents said that after they wrap things up over there, they’re going to move back to the Dragon Country to live. So, will you still be going back to the United States for school?" Xu Yan’s mother asked.

"Mhm."

Cheng Mengxue swallowed a mouthful of rice.

"I definitely have to go back, but I’m thinking of applying to be an exchange student here in the Dragon Country for a year starting next semester."

"My university in the United States has exchange programs with a lot of schools here. I’d like to stay in the country for an extra year if I can, but for final exams and graduation... I’ll still have to go back to the States."

"So where will the diploma be from?" Xu Yan’s father asked, very concerned.

"It’ll still be from my university in the United States, of course," Cheng Mengxue replied.

"Ah..."

Xu Yan’s father looked disappointed and shook his head.

"What a shame, what a shame."

PFFT—

Xu Yan spat out a mouthful of rice.

"Dad! What’s there to be ashamed of? Xiaoxue goes to the University of Pennsylvania! It’s ranked higher internationally than Qinghua and Peking Universities!"

"You can’t take the civil service exam."

Xu Yan’s father frowned.

"You can’t take the civil service exam with a foreign degree!"

"..." "..." "..." "..."

The collective speechlessness of a graduate student, an international student, an undergrad, and a vocational college student.

「After dinner.」

Jiang Ran and Wang Hao made an excuse to leave, not wanting to disturb Cheng Mengxue as she caught up with her aunt and uncle.

"Well, Jiang Ran, Wang Hao, be careful on your way back."

Cheng Mengxue walked them to the door to see them off.

"I’ll be staying at my cousin’s for about a week, then I’m heading back to the States to sort out my school schedule."

"Hee hee, see you back in the country, then! You both go to school in East Sea City, so I’ll choose a university in East Sea City for my exchange program, too. We can all hang out again next semester!"

Jiang Ran and Wang Hao, anxious to get going, didn’t say much more and just waved goodbye.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

On the way, Wang Hao was a nervous wreck, twitching in the passenger seat as if trying to urge the car forward faster.

"It’s so late. Will the hospital still be open?"

"I found a private clinic that specializes in DNA testing."

Jiang Ran answered.

"The good thing about private clinics is that as long as you’ve got the money, they’ll meet any request."

"Their best technician is waiting for us. They promised results in less than an hour."

Soon, the car arrived at the clinic.

They handed the two hairs, labeled Sample A and Sample B, to the doctor at the private clinic, and then waited outside.

Wang Hao paced back and forth outside, chain-smoking one cigarette after another.

He was making Jiang Ran dizzy.

"Why are you more nervous than I am? Weren’t you so sure the Cheng Mengxue is the real deal?"

Wang Hao smacked his lips.

"I... I don’t know. It feels like waiting outside a delivery room. What father wouldn’t be nervous?"

"..."

Jiang Ran was speechless.

"That metaphor... You’re starting to ramble."

Wang Hao lit another cigarette and took a drag so deep it was legendary.

"The truth is, I’m just scared of the result... what if the DNA says they’re not related? That Xiaoxue isn’t Xu Yan’s father’s niece."

"Honestly, if that’s the result, I’d have a really hard time accepting it. I don’t dare think about what it would mean, or why someone would impersonate Xiaoxue."

Jiang Ran watched Wang Hao start pacing again.

He exhaled slowly through his nose.

"True. The more you think about it, the more terrifying it gets."

...

An hour later, the DNA test results were ready. A nurse handed Jiang Ran the report, which was in a stiff cardboard envelope.

Jiang Ran took it immediately and reached out to tear the seal.

SLAP!

A chubby hand slapped down, stopping him.

"What are you doing?" Jiang Ran asked, looking at Wang Hao.

"Remember what you promised me."

Wang Hao looked at Jiang Ran, his expression serious.

"You promised me this morning. This is the last time you’ll doubt Xiaoxue."

"Mhm."

Jiang Ran nodded and went back to tearing the seal.

And yet... Wang Hao’s chubby hand was still pressed down, refusing to let him.

Jiang Ran looked up.

"You don’t trust me?"

"[You have to swear.]"

Wang Hao said with immense gravity.

"I’m begging you, Jiang Ran. Swear that this is the last time, that you’ll never be paranoid about Xiaoxue again."

"Promise me, seriously, just this once. If this DNA test proves Xiaoxue is innocent, that she’s the real deal..."

"[...then you have to accept reality and go back to how things were in high school. Treat Xiaoxue as your best friend in the world, as your closest childhood friend, and stop doubting who she is.]"

...

As far as Jiang Ran could remember, outside of joking around, Wang Hao had never begged anyone for anything so seriously.

"Fine."

Jiang Ran nodded again.

"I swear."

Only then did Wang Hao pull his hand away, his eyes wide as he stared at the report.

RIIIP—

Jiang Ran tore off the seal and pulled out the report.

The data section was thick, but the results page was thin.

He and Wang Hao exchanged a look. They could both feel their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Open it! Hurry up and open it!" Wang Hao’s breathing was as ragged as a steam engine.

Jiang Ran closed his eyes.

He took a deep breath.

He opened his eyes.

And flipped to the results page—

[Based on the analysis, Sample A and Sample B are biologically related!]

[Conclusion: Sample A and Sample B share a maternal uncle-niece relationship!]

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