September 1, 2008. The weather was clear with brilliant sunshine.

Lin Zhixia followed behind Lin Zeqiu as they stepped through the gates of Provincial First High School together.

All along the way, Lin Zeqiu had been earnestly advising her: “Lin Zhixia, high school is different from middle school. Your competition class will be intense, with students generally around fifteen or sixteen years old. Without explaining everything explicitly, you understand what I mean, right?”

Lin Zhixia looked at him blankly: “Understand what?”

Ancient people often used the term “age of budding beans” to describe thirteen-year-old girls. Currently, Lin Zhixia is exactly at this age. She had inherited excellent appearance genes and was growing more beautiful by the day, which made Lin Zeqiu instinctively vigilant.

Lin Zeqiu was now a second-year high school student. In his class, there were three couples secretly dating, and several boys who liked to gather together and quietly discuss the looks and figures of female classmates… In short, whatever might be in those high school boys’ heads, Lin Zeqiu would nip all possibilities in the bud.

Lin Zeqiu patiently continued his explanation: “High school boys…”

He only spoke four words before Lin Zhixia nodded and said: “I understand.”

Lin Zeqiu questioned doubtfully: “You understand?”

“Mm-hmm,” Lin Zhixia responded calmly, “Brother, you talk about the same thing all day long. You just need to start, and I can imagine what you’ll say next—same old stuff with different wording, all meaning the same thing.”

Lin Zeqiu paused for a second: “Are you saying I’m long-winded?”

“How could that be?” Lin Zhixia answered casually, “How could I think you’re long-winded? Brother isn’t long-winded at all. Brother is someone who speaks very concisely, absolutely not nagging, endless…”

By the last sentence, Lin Zhixia herself didn’t believe it anymore. She stopped flattering Lin Zeqiu and just ended with a string of “hahaha.”

Lin Zeqiu wanted to figure out what kind of image he had in Lin Zhixia’s mind. He slowed his pace, preparing to question Lin Zhixia, when suddenly a cheer came from nearby: “Lin Zhixia, good news! You and I are in the same class.”

Lin Zeqiu turned around and saw Tang Tingting.

The temperature in early September was still high, with summer’s heat not yet dissipated. Tang Tingting wore a light blue short-sleeved shirt and denim pleated skirt, her whole being full of youthful energy unique to teenage girls. She naturally walked to Lin Zhixia’s side, linked arms with her, and said affectionately: “We’re both in Class 1(27), and our homeroom teacher is called Kong Yuankai, a male teacher in his forties.”

“I’ve seen him before,” Lin Zhixia described, “He was a math teacher for last year’s senior competition class.”

Tang Tingting’s gaze floated past Lin Zeqiu’s face: “Yes… He’s a math teacher.”

At this moment, Lin Zeqiu felt a sense of comfort. He had always hoped Lin Zhixia would interact more with the girls in her class; after all, only girls could truly understand girls. He thought Lin Zhixia hadn’t taken his words seriously, but unexpectedly, she had already consciously made friends with female classmates. Seeing this, his sister truly was an obedient and well-behaved girl.

Lin Zhixia proactively suggested: “Tang Tingting, can I sit next to you?”

“Sure, sure,” Tang Tingting looked toward the distant teaching building, “Let’s go to the classroom early and choose good seats.”

Tang Tingting pulled Lin Zhixia, and they ran a short distance. Lin Zhixia turned her head to look at her brother, who immediately said: “At noon, after school at twelve, I’ll come to your classroom door to find you and take you home.”

“Okay!” Lin Zhixia agreed in a bright tone.

*

In her first year of junior high, Lin Zhixia had walked alone on the unfamiliar campus, anxiously exploring the unknown environment. She clearly remembered that when she approached her classroom and saw Jiang Yubai, her mood suddenly became relaxed and happy, like a hermit crab living on the beach who, after a long journey, finally found her most ideal shell.

Today, as Lin Zhixia stepped into Class 1(27), looking at all those familiar faces, she had a momentary flashback to junior high days. However, Jiang Yubai was no longer her classmate, nor her desk mate with whom she spent day and night.

How was Jiang Yubai doing today?

Had he adapted to the living environment in Beijing?

Was he also missing Lin Zhixia?

Lin Zhixia put on a serious thinking face as she walked past the front of the classroom.

She heard classmates in the front rows whispering: “Quick, look up, look, that’s Lin Zhixia, Provincial First High’s competition class princess, 2007 Romanian Mathematics Master Competition champion, pre-admitted to Peking University’s School of Mathematics, Lin Zhixia who published an SCI physics paper this February.”

Someone asked: “What is Lin Zhixia thinking about?”

Duan Qiyan interjected: “Isn’t that obvious? What else could it be? A difficult math problem, or maybe an informatics competition.”

Another classmate nodded slightly, analyzing knowingly: “Right, that’s how true masters are. Their brains are always running at high speed, and when awake, they’re always pondering difficult mathematical problems.”

Lin Zhixia felt embarrassed. Since entering the classroom, she hadn’t thought about anything related to mathematics at all.

Class 1(27)’s classroom was spacious and bright, with desks and chairs neatly arranged, and the blackboard clean and reflective. Lin Zhixia scanned the surroundings and finally chose a seat by the window, with an open view outside. She could see the empty playground and the azure blue sky.

On the playground, there was also the horizontal bar that Jiang Yubai liked most.

Lin Zhixia opened her “Human Observation Diary” and wrote: Today is September 1, 2008, the first day of high school. I welcome a brand new high school life. I’ve been assigned to Class 1(27), which has forty-nine students in total. Although I wish Jiang Yubai were one of the forty-nine, I more so hope that Jiang Yubai can gain abundant knowledge during his studies in Beijing.

Her writing paused, and she put down the “Human Observation Diary,” then took out a stack of letter paper from her backpack.

It was a stack of letter paper that Lin Zhixia had carefully selected, with a pearlescent light pink background, printed with a few light red strawberries, displaying her style. On every card she gave to Jiang Yubai, there were strawberries, the fruit she had loved her entire life.

Lin Zhixia’s fingers touched the strawberry pattern. After a brief contemplation, she began to write the letter—

To Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai:

Greetings upon receiving this letter.

This is the first letter I’m sending you. It’s now September 1, 2008, 7:40 AM Beijing time, and I’m sitting in Class 1(27)’s classroom, waiting for our homeroom teacher to appear. I recall our junior high days. Every time I entered Class 17’s classroom, you were my desk mate. Therefore, Class 17’s classroom was a place I looked forward to. But in Class 1(27), there’s more of a sense of familiarity. Shen Fuxuan, Duan Qiyan, and Jin Baihui have all become my high school classmates, and Tang Tingting is my new desk mate. Senior Luo Ying has entrusted her classical literature club to me, and I’m the new president of the Classical Literature Club.

The osmanthus trees in Provincial First High School’s campus are blooming, so beautifully. I’ll take photos of the osmanthus trees and send them with my letter to you, which would be like you and me admiring the scenery together. A bosom friend afar brings distant land near.

Wishes: Success in your studies and smooth sailing in all matters!

(September 1, 2008, written at Provincial First High School, First Year classroom)

This letter was relatively brief.

Lin Zhixia read it once more, felt satisfied, and very solemnly added a signature “Lin Lin Lin Lin Zhixia.”

The morning breeze blew into the classroom, making her hair strands flutter messily. She concentrated on folding the letter paper, folding it into a very neat shape.

Her desk mate Tang Tingting asked: “Are you writing a letter?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhixia admitted, “I’m writing a letter to a good friend.”

Tang Tingting nodded. After a moment, Tang Tingting directly guessed: “Is it Jiang Yubai?”

Lin Zhixia reached out her finger to cover the letter tightly: “Mm-hmm.”

Tang Tingting suddenly took out a strawberry-flavored Swiss candy. She unwrapped it, preparing to distribute the strawberry candies to classmates around her. For Lin Zhixia, this was like a smoker seeing a neighbor pull out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes.

Lin Zhixia took a piece of strawberry soft candy from Tang Tingting’s hand and thanked her happily: “Thank you, Tang Tingting.”

Tang Tingting said generously, “You and I are our people, no need to be so polite.”

Tang Tingting was halfway through distributing the candy when she encountered an unusual classmate—a boy sitting right in front of Lin Zhixia. This boy wore a long-sleeved plaid shirt, was about fifteen or sixteen years old, and about 1.8 meters tall. He had a handsome face, darker skin tone, and when he smiled, he had a set of white teeth: “Oh ho, on the first day of school, two girls are already giving me candy.”

Tang Tingting immediately took back the strawberry soft candy: “I’m not giving it anymore.”

The boy reached out to grab it: “Where’s the promised candy?”

Lin Zhixia was unwrapping the candy. She was reverent in her attitude, full of ritual sense, first placing the soft candy in the palm of her left hand, then raising her right fingertips to lift the thin wrapper. She had already smelled the sweet strawberry fragrance. At that moment, the boy in front of her touched her wrist, and the strawberry candy dropped to the ground.

Lin Zhixia froze.

The boy in front apologized with a smile: “Sorry, sorry, I I I I… will bring new ones for you two beautiful ladies this afternoon.”

Lin Zhixia tilted her head: “Two beautiful ladies?”

“What are you saying, Shao Dongxu!” Tang Tingting righteously criticized, “Lin Zhixia is only thirteen years old, show some respect.”

So this boy was named Shao Dongxu.

Shao Dongxu attended Normal University Affiliated Elementary School. He was Tang Tingting’s elementary school classmate. He hadn’t been admitted to Provincial First High’s junior high competition class, so he studied diligently at the city’s Second Middle School for three years, and finally won the junior high mathematics competition trophy, breaking through the doors of Provincial First High’s senior high competition class.

When he heard Lin Zhixia’s name, he and his desk mate both turned around, unabashedly examining Lin Zhixia. Meanwhile, Lin Zhixia was also scrutinizing them.

Invisible undercurrents surged in the nearby air. Shao Dongxu stared at Lin Zhixia for a full ten seconds before saying: “Are you Lin Zhixia? 2008 middle school entrance exam valedictorian, Provincial First High’s competition class princess, 2007 Romanian Mathematics Master Competition gold medalist…”

Shao Dongxu couldn’t recall all of Lin Zhixia’s many titles.

Before school started, he had joined a QQ group for Provincial First High, where members enthusiastically discussed Lin Zhixia, each person familiar with all her titles. Shao Dongxu, as an outsider, had been subjected to a brainstorming session.

He never imagined that Provincial First High’s top student could be this strong.

Lin Zhixia wasn’t very good at handling classmates’ prolonged gazes. So, she decided to imitate Jiang Yubai’s manner. She nodded slightly, feigning calm: “Those are all past events, not worth mentioning.”

Lin Zhixia believed she could only learn Jiang Yubai’s appearance, not his style and essence.

Shao Dongxu made a fist salute to her, with a martial arts style, then turned around and continued working on problems. Shao Dongxu and his desk mate didn’t waste a single minute of study time. Their desks were stacked with several high school mathematics competition materials, one of which Shao Dongxu had already completed half of. This kind of hardworking and diligent spirit made Lin Zhixia very respectful.

Even though Shao Dongxu had his back to Lin Zhixia and couldn’t see her actions or expressions, Lin Zhixia clasped her hands in salute to return his gesture.

The classroom gradually quieted down, and the sound of teachers talking came from the corridor.

The homeroom teacher of Class 1(27) walked slowly toward the lectern, carrying a teaching plan.

This homeroom teacher was a man approaching forty, named Kong Yuankai. Teacher Kong wore a white shirt and black pants, appearing neat and clean, and spoke in a soft, gentle voice: “Students of Class 27, hello, I am your homeroom teacher, Teacher Kong. These three years from 2008 to 2011 are extremely important for your entire lives… Each of you should cherish the atmosphere of the competition class, learn and practice more, ask and think more. Our class is the best in the whole grade. When you encounter difficulties in the future, remember that you are the best, and think more from a positive perspective.”

Teacher Kong briefly encouraged his students. Then, he stepped down from the lectern and asked the students to stand up one by one according to their seating order, face the whole class, and introduce themselves, talking about their interests, hobbies, wishes, and goals.

Duan Qiyan’s seat was in the first row, first column.

As soon as Teacher Kong finished speaking, Duan Qiyan excitedly stood up and said loudly: “My name is Duan Qiyan, the ‘Duan’ from Prince Duan in ‘The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,’ the ‘Qi’ from life inspiration, and the ‘Yan’ from language. In elementary school, I won the Hua Luogeng Mathematics Competition gold cup, and in junior high, I won first prize in the provincial mathematics league competition. In high school, I want to win first prize in the high school mathematics league competition, and my target university is Peking University.”

The whole class erupted in warm applause.

Teacher Kong smiled: “Duan Qiyan, I wish you early admission to Peking University.”

Duan Qiyan twisted the hem of his clothes with his fingers and sat back down somewhat shyly.

Three rows behind Duan Qiyan’s seat sat his arch-rival, Jin Baihui.

Jin Baihui’s desk mate was a boy. This male classmate discovered upon entering that there were no empty seats left, so he could only sit beside Jin Baihui. He also found that Jin Baihui hadn’t stopped working on problems.

When it was Jin Baihui’s turn to introduce herself, she finally put down her pen and stood up, saying: “My name is Jin Baihui. For the three years of junior high, I never slept before midnight. I want to get into Tsinghua University’s Yao Class, and I want to promote the development of human science.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Teacher Kong applauded for her: “Good ambition.”

Teacher Kong’s applause received barely any response.

Because more than half of the students in Class 1(27) came from Provincial First High’s junior high competition class.

Jin Baihui’s introduction fell flat.

But she didn’t care. She was immersed in the world of mathematics, completely deaf to outside voices.

The class introductions continued. When it was Lin Zhixia’s turn, Lin Zhixia quickly stood up and concisely said: “My name is Lin Zhixia, the ‘Lin’ from forest, the ‘Zhi’ from know, the ‘Xia’ from summer. I hope to get along well with everyone, thank you!”

As soon as she finished, thunderous applause erupted in the classroom. Former Class 17 classmates were all cheering and shouting for her, with Duan Qiyan leading the loud clamor: “Class Monitor Lin! Class Monitor Lin!”

Lin Zhixia’s cheers were so high that Teacher Kong simply followed the popular will and appointed: “Lin Zhixia, you were the class monitor in junior high, so you must have done the class work very well. Could you be the class monitor for our Class 1(27)?”

Lin Zhixia put her hands behind her back and said modestly: “Okay.”

Thus, Lin Zhixia once again took on the important responsibility of class monitor.

She had to share this news with Jiang Yubai!

Upon returning home that evening, Lin Zhixia eagerly opened her computer and logged onto QQ. She was delighted to discover that Jiang Yubai was online, and his status was “Q me.” It seemed that Jiang Yubai wasn’t busy at all and wanted to chat with someone! Lin Zhixia came at just the right time!

Lin Zhixia sent him a message: Jiang Yubai, I’m home, are you at home too?

Jiang Yubai replied instantly: Yes.

Lin Zhixia happily told him: I was elected class monitor again today.

Jiang Yubai instantly replied again: Congratulations, Captain Lin Zhixia.