"But there are indeed magic tricks that can accomplish it. You might want to consider revealing the secret behind one... Of course, this time you won't need to swallow cards and glass," Leon Chen retorted mockingly.
Respect begets respect; being a good person doesn't mean accepting humiliation. Leon didn't know who this William was, but seeing him come prepared, Leon was willing to play along.
William's expression soured. Exposing a magic trick was indeed his forte, but how to remove a whole apple from a bottle without breaking it was beyond him.
Due to their back-and-forth, the previously quiet Paranormal Investigation Club booth attracted a crowd of curious students.
Minutes passed, and William still showed no sign of finding the answer.
Just as William grew increasingly embarrassed, a hand patted his shoulder. A refined voice answered with a smile, "Hehe, my younger brother isn't good at solving riddles. Isn't this too difficult for him?"
"Second Brother!!" William cried out emotionally.
The one who came to his rescue was Jason He. He had been showing William around other clubs when they stumbled upon the Paranormal Investigation Club, using a basic psychology question to recruit members. William, remembering his past humiliation, couldn't resist confronting them again after finding the answer.
Jason He smiled kindly. "How to remove the apple depends on how it was put in. If it can go in, it can come out. That's basic logic."
Leon shrugged. This answer was entirely correct.
William was stunned. "But isn't this supposed to be a magic trick?"
"That was just a verbal prompt to fixate your mind on the idea that magic involves hidden mechanisms. The actual answer has nothing to do with how to remove the apple," Jason He explained calmly. The surrounding students were impressed.
What a troublesome guy.
Leon made his judgment internally.
William, in his frustration, seemed ready to make a move.
Jason He patted his shoulder and said nonchalantly, "Looks like my younger brother won't be joining your club."
Is this guy trying to paint the Club as a group of tricksters?
Leon pressed his lips together and smiled, responding, "We're always welcoming anyone interested. When I first joined, I was worse off than your brother."
Jason He smiled, a glint of sharpness in his eyes. He was about to leave when William suddenly called out, "Wait, Second Brother, I didn't come here to be humiliated. I have some questions for this senior."
Jason He frowned as William sneered, "I have three questions for the Club members. Do you dare to accept the challenge?"
"What do you want to ask?" Sandra Yue asked cautiously.
"Hmph, first question: A person works in a morgue and, out of boredom, listens to music and dances in front of a mirror. The next day, someone says something to him, and he commits suicide. What did the person say?"
The club members smiled.
"There are no mirrors in the morgue," Alex Zhu answered.
"In the middle of the Sahara Desert, a corpse is found. He didn't die of thirst, hunger, an attack, or from falling. How did he die?"
Sandra blinked, "He was buried alive by sand."
William gritted his teeth. "American scientists recently discovered a substance in their lab. A little of it brings life to everything, while too much of it brings death. What is this substance?"
This question was tougher, and the Paranormal Investigation Club members fell into deep thought.
William's smug smile grew as he sensed victory. As that woman had predicted, these three questions would plunge the Paranormal Investigation Club into silence.
An American scientist's recent discovery? The periodic table had so many elements, who knew what it could be? No one could find a clear answer in their minds.
So, everyone turned to the club's Vice President, Leon Chen, waiting for his response. "Leon, can't you answer such a simple question? Is the Paranormal Investigation Club so pathetic that it should be disbanded?" William said contemptuously.
"The answer is fire..." Leon muttered.
The students present were stunned.
Fire??
American scientists studying fire???
Jason He was slightly surprised by this answer but, after careful thought, realized it made sense.
William's smile froze. Leon had clearly answered correctly.
"Those were good questions," Leon praised. "The first two involved logic, making people think the third would follow suit. Mentioning American scientists was just a ruse, giving the illusion of a complex and profound substance. Did you come up with these questions yourself?"
"Hmph." William gritted his teeth in frustration.
"By chance, I have a question too. You can try guessing it, but I won't tell you the answer. Maybe you can ask your mysterious question-setter," Leon smiled slightly.
"What's the question?" William wanted to tear Leon apart.
"Recently, scientists in the China also discovered an interesting substance in their lab. A little of it brings life to everything, while too much of it brings death. What is this substance?"
Leon's question left everyone gaping.
They tried to deduce it from fire but found nothing fitting.
William looked desperately at his second brother, but even Jason He, racking his brain, couldn't figure it out. He eyed Leon warily, realizing this junior was quite formidable.
"I'll figure out the answer," William said bitterly before leaving.
Once he was gone, the other students eagerly sought an explanation but were met with a disappointing "no comment."
...
William was nearly fuming. As one of the flashy Four play boys of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, how could he suffer such consecutive humiliations?
"Who helped you with those previous questions?" Jason He asked calmly.
"It was a woman with glasses and slightly curly hair. She's quite pretty but annoyingly assertive," William replied.
"Oh, it was her. No wonder," Jason He mused.
"Second Brother, you saw it. That Leon is so damn arrogant," William said through gritted teeth.
Jason He gave him a dismissive glance. "If someone's reasoning surpasses yours, don't seek trouble with them. It's self-inflicted humiliation."
"But I'm not satisfied. I've never been so humiliated," William retorted angrily.
"There are many ways to disgrace someone you dislike."
"Second Brother, do you have an idea? I'd do anything to make Leon lose face. If this were in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, I'd have called someone to deal with him," William said, cursing.
"I'm glad you know your limits," Jason He smiled faintly.
William was taken aback, vaguely understanding his brother's implication. "But Leon is from Nanhai."
"I'll find a way to bring him to Jiangsu and Zhejiang," Jason He promised calmly. "Until then, don't act rashly. He has good connections in the student council. If you want to stay at H university, you should know that violence won't work here."
"I understand. I'll follow your lead," William replied earnestly.
"By the way, Second Brother, do you know the answer to that last question?"
"Ask the Queen of Deduction. Riddles aren't my strong suit," Jason He shook his head.
William sighed in disappointment.