March brought spring, warmer temperatures, lush green grass across campus, and the first blooming of peach and plum trees.

For students in the competition class, “March” meant both challenge and opportunity.

The preliminary round of the 2006 National Junior High Mathematics Competition will be held in mid-March. The exam lasted two hours, with competition so fierce that only ten percent of participants would advance to the finals.

On the day of the preliminary round, Jiang Yubai’s uncle drove him to school personally.

Before Jiang Yubai could say anything, his uncle grew nervous first: “Xiao Jiang, you’ve just started seventh grade, and you’ve skipped two grades. For a national-level exam like this, you should approach it with a calm mind. Even if you don’t do well, it’s not a big deal. When I first auditioned for the symphony orchestra, I wasn’t successful either, but I didn’t get discouraged. Step by step, I reached the position of first violin. Xiao Jiang, true gold will always shine…”

Jiang Yubai interrupted his uncle: “If I don’t do well today, I’ll compete again next year.”

His uncle parked his Porsche by the roadside. Gripping the steering wheel, he turned to look at Jiang Yubai: “Good, Xiao Jiang, go for it! Even though your IQ isn’t 174, in your uncle’s heart, you’re a little genius.”

Jiang Yubai clenched both fists: “Mm!”

Jiang Yubai stepped out of the car full of energy as his uncle watched him leave.

Outside the gates of Provincial No. 1 Middle School, amid the noisy crowd and bustling figures, Lin Zhixia pushed through the throng to reach Jiang Yubai’s side. She carried only a small shoulder bag containing her exam admission ticket, bus card, phone card, and a fountain pen.

She unzipped her small bag and took out her admission ticket. Jiang Yubai immediately asked: “You didn’t bring a pencil case?”

Lin Zhixia replied: “It doesn’t matter, I don’t need a pencil case.”

Jiang Yubai reminded her: “You should at least have a set of compasses and rulers.”

Jiang Yubai took the National Competition very seriously. He had prepared thoroughly and brought two sets of stationery, which indeed proved useful. He put down his backpack, found both sets, and gave Lin Zhixia the more complete one.

Lin Zhixia didn’t refuse. After taking a step forward, she said: “Jiang Yubai, you’re so good.” Her tone was softer than usual, sounding less like she meant for him to hear and more like she was talking to herself.

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Yubai responded calmly. “Just a small matter, no need to thank me.”

Lin Zhixia bounced on the spot: “I used to think what you said with your mouth was different from what you thought in your heart, but now I have a new perspective. Jiang Yubai, you’re very good to your friends, expecting nothing in return, not even a ‘thank you.'”

She stretched out her hand, pointing toward the distance, softly exclaiming: “Jiang Yubai is like a diamond in the sky, bright and brilliant, I can see him as soon as I open my eyes.”

Lin Zhixia’s simple metaphor left Jiang Yubai frozen in place. He had merely given her a set of stationery—why had he received such high praise?

Jiang Yubai almost completely forgot that Lin Zhixia was his competitor.

“Defeating Lin Zhixia” had once been Jiang Yubai’s wish. This wish had been deeply rooted in his heart. But he had to admit that the competitive spirit Lin Zhixia had sparked in him was quietly fading day by day.

Immersed in self-analysis, Jiang Yubai was suddenly startled by someone tapping his shoulder. Looking to the side, he saw Duan Qiyan with a solemn face. Duan Qiyan carried his backpack over one shoulder and asked as he walked: “Lin Zhixia, Jiang Yubai, can you two win first prize?”

After the “lock-picking incident” during the winter break, Duan Qiyan never again provoked his classmates. He had lost his former arrogant air. He discovered that since entering junior high, he was no longer the top warrior but had practically become the top jinx.

Provincial No. 1 Middle School’s “top warrior” should be the invincible Lin Zhixia.

Lin Zhixia confidently said, “The junior high competition isn’t that difficult. I’ll get first prize.”

Neither Jiang Yubai nor Duan Qiyan felt any ripple in their hearts.

“For you, the junior high competition is very simple, right?” Duan Qiyan probed.

Lin Zhixia modestly answered: “It’s okay.”

Duan Qiyan asked again: “Hey, what time do you study until before going to bed?”

Lin Zhixia honestly said: “Before nine.”

Jiang Yubai’s answer was more precise: “Eight-thirty.”

Duan Qiyan’s breath caught. He always persisted until ten-thirty at night before going to bed, thinking he was being a bit lazy, only to find that Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai went to bed even earlier than him.

He had heard that Jin Baihui from Class 18 studied until midnight every night.

Lin Zhixia studied like a slacker yet firmly held the top spot in their grade. If she were as diligent as Jin Baihui, how strong could she become?

To inspire Lin Zhixia’s potential, Duan Qiyan mentioned a senior student from the high school division of Provincial No. 1 Middle School. That senior had won first prize in the National Junior High Mathematics Competition in seventh grade, self-studied the high school curriculum during the summer after seventh grade, and won first prize in the National High School Mathematics Competition in eighth grade. Later, the senior participated in the National Middle School Mathematics Winter Camp and achieved excellent results in the International Mathematical Olympiad. He was one of the most outstanding students Provincial No. 1 Middle School had ever produced.

After detailing the senior’s achievements, Duan Qiyan asked Lin Zhixia: “Hey, Class Monitor Lin, how big is the gap between you and that senior?”

Before Lin Zhixia could speak, Jiang Yubai declared firmly: “Lin Zhixia and the senior are different people. Comparing them is meaningless.”

Jiang Yubai’s words struck a chord with Lin Zhixia. She circled Jiang Yubai: “Jiang Yubai, I also want to participate in international competitions. I want to team up with you for the Romanian Mathematics Masters Competition. That kind of competition seems quite interesting. Every country sends representative teams. I heard that competitors from America, South Korea, and Russia are very strong. We can try to defeat them!”

Both Jiang Yubai and Duan Qiyan had heard of the “Romanian Mathematics Masters Competition.” Jiang Yubai fell silent, while Duan Qiyan directly stated: “The Romanian Mathematics Masters Competition is beyond my reach…”

After a pause, Duan Qiyan continued loudly: “Class Monitor Lin, wait for me for two years. In these two years, I’ll regain my top warrior status. You and I will join forces to win the international championship and have our names printed in the alumni records in Provincial No. 1 Middle School’s archives.”

Frankly speaking, Lin Zhixia didn’t want to team up with Duan Qiyan.

Jiang Yubai had ranked ninth in their class on the entrance exam. During the first weeks of school, Duan Qiyan occasionally came to mock Jiang Yubai, which Lin Zhixia remembered clearly. As the class monitor of Class 17, Grade 7, she couldn’t dampen Duan Qiyan’s enthusiasm for learning in front of him, so she simply said vaguely: “Duan Qiyan, you should first try to get a first prize in the competition.”

Jiang Yubai raised his left hand in front of Lin Zhixia: “I will win first prize.”

Lin Zhixia applauded him: “Of course! Jiang Yubai will win first prize!”

Duan Qiyan noticed that Lin Zhixia’s attitude toward him was completely different from her attitude toward Jiang Yubai. Why was this? Since the beginning of the second semester of seventh grade, Duan Qiyan had frequently tried to get on Lin Zhixia’s good side, but Lin Zhixia usually responded politely but distantly.

In Class 17, Grade 7, Lin Zhixia was the unchanging top student, while Jiang Yubai and Shen Fuxuan would take turns sitting in the “second place” seat. Duan Qiyan consistently ranked fourth or fifth in the class, and none of the students ahead of him would be his desk mate.

As Duan Qiyan was mentally selecting his next desk mate, Shen Fuxuan’s voice came from behind them.

Shen Fuxuan shouted: “Preliminary round, here I come!” His swift figure was like a gust of wind as he rushed past Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai.

Lin Zhixia followed Shen Fuxuan and started running forward: “Charge! Charge!”

Seeing their formation, Duan Qiyan naturally didn’t want to be left behind. He sprinted, his shoe soles scraping the ground, making loud “da da da” sounds. After running quite a distance, Shen Fuxuan was still loudly mocking him: “Hahaha, look at Duan Qiyan, he’s born to sprint wildly.”

Jiang Yubai commented: “Sometimes, I find it hard to believe he’s two years older than me.”

Lin Zhixia laughed cheerfully: “Hahahahahaha, I don’t believe it either.”

The preliminary round of the mathematics competition began in this relaxed and happy atmosphere.

Jiang Yubai summoned his full concentration. He wanted to solve all the problems in both parts of the preliminary exam. When he entered high school, he would participate in the Romanian Mathematics Masters Competition with Lin Zhixia, and then their names would be printed in the historical archives of Provincial No. 1 Middle School.

So the competition paper was no longer just a simple test but a touchstone on his future path.

Jiang Yubai focused intently, writing as if divinely inspired.

His problem-solving thoughts flowed without obstacles, his pen tip making continuous “sha sha” sounds. With ten minutes left before the end of the exam, he had already completed the last major problem. He didn’t hand in his paper early. He carefully checked the multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, mentally verifying his calculations.

This time, he and Lin Zhixia weren’t in the same examination room.

When he looked up and glanced outside the window, he suddenly saw Lin Zhixia’s figure. She had her back to his classroom, standing by the railing, looking up at the pale blue sky with drifting white clouds.

Jiang Yubai recalled what Lin Zhixia had said to him earlier that morning. She said, Jiang Yubai is like a diamond in the sky, bright and brilliant. I can see him as soon as I open my eyes.

*

The results of the mathematics competition preliminary round were released at the end of March. Lin Zhixia, without any suspense, qualified for the final round. In their Class 17, Grade 7, besides Lin Zhixia, seven other students could participate in the finals, and Jiang Yubai was one of those seven.

Teacher Zhai appeared again, serving as their head coach.

Teacher Zhai gathered all the promising students from Class 17 and Class 18 of Grade 7, leading them through daily mathematical special training.

During the winter break training, Lin Zhixia had not yet shown her full potential. But in the April special training, whenever Teacher Zhai called on her, she would answer questions quickly without any concealment. She was not on the same level as the other seventh-grade students. Teacher Zhai perceived her extraordinary talent and quickly found high school competition problems for her.

It was the most beautiful, clear day since spring began, with bright sunshine, a pristine sky, and the sound of students reading from the next classroom.

Teacher Zhai stood on the podium, holding a ruler and pointing to a problem on the blackboard: “This is the fifteenth problem from the 2001 High School Mathematics Competition, involving some basic knowledge of resistance. Has your physics teacher taught you about resistance?”

Jin Baihui raised her hand: “I’ve learned about resistance!”

Teacher Zhai nodded slightly. He had a very good impression of Jin Baihui. Class 18’s Jin Baihui was very diligent and serious. No matter how difficult a task he assigned her, she always completed it on time and in full.

Jin Baihui had also written a sentence on the first page of her mathematics workbook with a marker: “Begin as you mean to go on, and there will be no failures.” Teacher Zhai admired her learning attitude.

Perhaps there was a difference in natural talent between Jin Baihui and Lin Zhixia, but she could make up for that deficiency through her diligence.

Teacher Zhai suggested with full expectation: “Why don’t you all try to solve this problem…”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Zhixia told him: “Teacher Zhai, I’ve finished.”

Lin Zhixia’s seat was in the middle of the second row. Her desk mates were Jiang Yubai and Shen Fuxuan. Jin Baihui sat directly in front of Lin Zhixia. The moment Lin Zhixia spoke, Jin Baihui turned her head to stare at her and asked: “Have you seen this problem before? Why did you only take one minute to solve a proof problem about resistance?”

Lin Zhixia held the edge of her draft paper and slowly raised it, blocking her face and also blocking Jin Baihui’s staring gaze. Her solution process was fully displayed before Jin Baihui’s eyes.

Teacher Zhai quickly walked down from the podium. He picked up Lin Zhixia’s draft paper with both hands, scanned it briefly, and pressed his fingertips on the paper, folding both sides of the draft paper to create a crease. Time seemed to pass slowly; the second hand of the wall clock moved forward four units before Teacher Zhai said: “Lin Zhixia.”

Lin Zhixia looked up at him: “Teacher Zhai.”

She was only eleven years old this year, still a child, but Teacher Zhai came to a conclusion: “Lin Zhixia, after you complete the finals of the Junior High Mathematics Competition in April, you should go on to participate in the high school competition. I’ll help you contact the teachers of the high school competition class. Studying junior high competition material with us won’t work for you, it really won’t. If you join the high school competition class, you’ll have the opportunity to earn more honors… I had a student before with a similar situation to yours. He completed all the high school mathematics, physics, and chemistry content in seventh grade and won first prize in the High School Mathematics Competition in ninth grade. In his sophomore year, he directly won medals in international physics and mathematics competitions. He’s just a junior now and has already been guaranteed admission to Peking University’s School of Mathematical Sciences. You see, that’s the path for you…”

Jiang Yubai asked: “Should Lin Zhixia skip grades to join the high school competition class?”

Teacher Zhai thought for a moment and added, “No need to skip grades. That student of mine didn’t skip grades either. Lin Zhixia can participate in high school competitions while still in junior high. Lin Zhixia, once you’ve accumulated enough competition gold medals, you won’t even need to spend time studying in high school; you’ll be directly admitted like your senior.”

Lin Zhixia remained silent. She exchanged glances with Jiang Yubai for a while.

This was perhaps the most difficult decision Jiang Yubai had ever made. Jiang Yubai turned his face away, avoiding her direct gaze, but his tone was firmer than she had imagined: “Lin Zhixia, you should bravely move forward.”