6:05.
Unexpected, yet within expectations.
It was precisely the moment Jiang Ran had sent the [Spacetime Text Message]!
He turned back and met Qin Feng’s eyes. Their gazes locked in tacit understanding, and Qin Feng gave a slight nod.
Bingo!
Perhaps this was the key factor they had been overlooking all along.
The exact same point in time.
And, by another seeming coincidence, an electron beam related to electricity.
Then.
If the positron cannon really could fire some sort of high-energy electron beam and strike the transformer distribution box… what would happen?
Jiang Ran didn’t know.
But his intuition told him—
[It was very possible that the positron cannon, the high-energy electron beam, and the high-voltage transformer had produced a chain reaction, causing the radio waves of the text message to pass through spacetime in that instant and return to the past!]
Whatever the truth was.
In short, they had to seize the lead of the positron cannon!
“Speaking of which…”
Jiang Ran looked around.
“Senior, where is that positron cannon? Why don’t I see it?”
“Oh, it was confiscated by the university student council.”
Yan Rui said:
“After they came to investigate the Film Camera Club that day, they took it away as a prohibited electrical appliance. It’s probably sitting in some warehouse now.”
Huh?
The clue that had just fallen into their hands was cut off just like that.
“Can we get it back?” Jiang Ran was very concerned.
“To get it back…”
Yan Rui scratched his head.
“It’ll probably be very difficult. But actually, there’s no real need to get it back.”
“Why?”
“Because… see for yourselves.”
Yan Rui took a sheet of paper from the bookshelf and handed it over.
The three of them took it and looked:
“The club’s been dissolved!?”
“Notice of Club Dissolution”
As the Film Camera Club has had fewer than five members for two consecutive years, in accordance with Donghai University’s club management regulations, the Film Camera Club is hereby dissolved, and its club activity room shall be reclaimed. Please remove all personal belongings before May 31 and return the activity room key to the Club Management Office.
…
Uh.
Jiang Ran and the other two were all campus “idlers” who had never joined any clubs, so this was truly a blind spot in their knowledge.
“Then what happens to all this tras— cough, cough, all these old items?” Jiang Ran pointed at the room full of miscellaneous things.
“They’ll probably be disposed of as garbage along with that positron cannon.”
Yan Rui’s tone was very casual.
“Actually, there’s nothing much to feel sorry about. Film cameras and film rolls are things that have already been eliminated by the times. I heard that more than twenty years ago, the Film Camera Club used to be a very prestigious club on campus.”
“Think about it. Back then, owning a camera was an incredible thing. To be honest, I’m actually not interested in film cameras at all either.”
He chuckled lightly.
“Back then, I was also dragged in by the seniors just to make up the numbers. Later, all the seniors graduated, leaving only me. I rarely came here in the first place.”
“This year, I’m graduating too. It’s only natural for the club to be dissolved.”
“Can the three of us join the Film Camera Club?” Jiang Ran asked.
Yan Rui looked at the three of them.
“Do you like film cameras?”
…
“No.” “Don’t understand them at all.” “Not interested.”
The three of them were very honest.
Of course, this was obvious too.
“Then why bother?”
Yan Rui smiled.
“And now that the club’s qualifications have been revoked, it can no longer recruit new members.”
“So, respect the fate of every object. That’s just how this world is.”
“Some things are destined to be eliminated by the times.”
…
The sports field.
The three of them were silent.
Cheng Mengxue leaned against the horizontal bar.
“According to university rules, unless the club president personally comes forward to write applications, letters of guarantee, and a whole bunch of messy procedures, prohibited electrical appliances can’t be retrieved.”
Jiang Ran gave a soft snort.
“The club’s gone. Where would there still be a president?”
This was difficult now.
But… that device jokingly called the positron cannon had to be obtained.
According to Qin Feng, firing a positron beam through the air was impossible no matter what.
“The principle is unknown, and the effect is unknown.”
That was precisely the problem.
No one knew what kind of thing the seniors of the Film Camera Club had blindly cobbled together.
But the miraculous part was that this haphazardly assembled toy was very likely the most important link in the [Spacetime Text Message Experiment].
In terms of structure and effect, this positron cannon truly had no counterpart in heaven or on earth. There was only this one, a unique relic.
How could they get their hands on it?
“Why don’t we go straight to the student council president?”
Cheng Mengxue suggested:
“We’ll work hard on the application and strongly express our desire to join the Film Camera Club!”
…
Thirty minutes later, in the student council president’s office.
“I understand what you’re saying.”
The student council president took a sip of tea and spat out a bit of tea leaf.
“But the Film Camera Club has already been dissolved. If you really like film cameras, you can gather five members next semester and submit a new club establishment application.”
“But we can’t wait!” Cheng Mengxue stood up.
Once the semester ended, the positron cannon and the Film Camera Club’s miscellaneous items would all be disposed of, and the activity room would be emptied.
Even if they could establish a new Film Camera Club, what meaning would there be if they lost the positron cannon?
“See? You’re getting anxious again.” The president spoke unhurriedly.
“Can’t this be handled as a special case?” Qin Feng suggested.
The president straightened the collar of his administrative jacket and looked toward the venetian blinds.
“As for your matter, it’s not that we won’t handle it. Cough, cough. Of course, students’ needs—there isn’t a single matter where we simply say this or that, right? Can special cases be handled specially? If there is indeed a need, and it is indeed necessary, it’s not that we’re saying anything absolute. But when handling any matter, it must be handled precisely, carefully, and systematically. Including your matter, when the time comes, we will definitely consider it and take a look. All right, let’s leave it at that for now.”
Bang.
The office door closed, and the three of them stood outside.
Cheng Mengxue’s eyes widened, her face blank.
“Um, he said so much, but what did he actually mean? Can one of you translate?”
“It means no.”
…
After leaving, the down-and-out trio returned to the sports field once more.
“Hm? You’re here. I was just looking for you.”
The three of them looked up and discovered that the newcomer was someone they knew. It was Xu Yan, the president of the Film Society, whom they had seen a few days ago while filming.
“Sis!”
Cheng Mengxue ran over and took her hand.
“You were looking for us?”
Xu Yan had another identity: she was Cheng Mengxue’s older cousin, the daughter of her maternal uncle.
Every summer vacation, Xu Yan would stay at Cheng Mengxue’s house for two months. Their relationship was like that of real sisters.
Because Jiang Ran and Cheng Mengxue were childhood sweethearts, long before university, he and Xu Yan had also been “two-months-a-year limited edition” childhood playmates, and they were very familiar with each other.
For the same reason, when they filled out their university preferences, they chose Donghai University, where Xu Yan studied.
“Mm.”
Xu Yan handed Cheng Mengxue a USB drive, then looked at Jiang Ran and Qin Feng.
“We finished editing the microfilm yesterday. I brought it for you to take a look. If you have any opinions or suggestions, feel free to give us feedback.”
Jiang Ran smiled.
“We’re all laymen. What suggestions could we have? No need to take us into consideration.”
“Don’t say that.”
Xu Yan raised her brows.
“You wrote the script, and you and Qin Feng were the leads. Whether we win an award at the film festival this time or not, our Film Society is basking in your glory. You’re our great benefactors.”
“Now you’re making us sound like strangers.”
Jiang Ran waved his hand.
“We’ve played together for so many years since we were kids. Helping out with this little thing is only natural. It’s not worth mentioning.”
“Hehe.”
Xu Yan ruffled Cheng Mengxue’s hair.
“In any case, don’t hold back on suggestions. Tell us if you have any thoughts.”
“Speaking of which… what are you doing here, looking so gloomy?”
Cheng Mengxue, as if she had suffered a grievance, poured out all her complaints.
“Oh~~~~”
Xu Yan understood, but she was somewhat puzzled.
“You three are interested in film cameras and film rolls?”
“No.”
Jiang Ran answered truthfully.
“But we’re interested in the Film Camera Club’s old equipment.”
Mm…
Xu Yan propped up her chin and pondered for two seconds.
“All right.”
She tossed her head, sweeping her beautiful hair behind her shoulders.
“You helped me so much, so I have to help you with this. I’ll resolve the Film Camera Club matter.”
?
Cheng Mengxue’s eyes widened.
“Sis, you can help us?”
“Of course. It’s a small matter.”
Xu Yan bent down and gave a mysterious smile.
“Do you know… who my boyfriend is?”
The three of them suddenly stood up in realization.
“It can’t be the student council president!” “How come I didn’t know you were dating someone!” “Are we going through the back door?”
“Oh, what are you all talking about? Stop making wild guesses!”
Xu Yan looked disgusted.
“Who would want to date someone so bureaucratic? Too annoying.”
“All right, leave this matter to me. See you tomorrow.”
…
The next day, Xu Yan found the trio.
“There’s a clause in the club management system. For clubs with insufficient active members but development potential, as long as there is a joint application signed by ten club presidents and approval signatures from five club faculty advisors, the dissolution deadline can be delayed by one year.”
“…” “…” “…”
The three looked at one another.
This requirement was practically even harder than overthrowing the student council, three men fighting Lü Bu, or shooting the halberd at Yuanmen.
“Um, do you perhaps have some misundersta—”
“It’s already solved.”
Xu Yan pulled a sheet of paper from her bag.
It was a joint petition, with far more than ten club presidents’ signatures on it, as well as signatures from five faculty advisors.
This move truly shocked the three of them.
What kind of heaven-defying connections were these!
“Here, keep it safe. Remember to go to the Club Management Office to get the key.”
She stuffed the petition into Jiang Ran’s arms.
“If you have any good scripts in the future, make sure to show them to me.”
Then she looked back with a smile and waved.
Stepping in her low heels, she turned and left.