At a little past nine o’clock in the evening, Eastern Time, on March 17, 2009, Jiang Yubai arrived at his residence in Manhattan, New York.

A few years ago, his father had purchased a large 570-square-meter apartment in the heart of Manhattan. After the competition ended, Jiang Yubai moved into this apartment. Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows, he overlooked Central Park. Night lights illuminated the dense forest, distant skyscrapers stood in neat rows, and the unending stream of cars merged into a prosperous boulevard.

While admiring the night view, Jiang Yubai raised a wine glass. The glass contained freshly squeezed orange juice, which Jiang Yubai sipped slowly as if tasting fine wine.

After finishing half a glass of juice, he walked slowly toward the bedroom to check his QQ message box.

He discovered that Lin Zhixia was already offline.

Today was the day of the city’s second mock college entrance examination. Provincial First High had given holidays to students in their first and second years. Logically speaking, Lin Zhixia should have been at home, free to chat with Jiang Yubai, but the QQ contact panel showed “Xiaxia” as offline.

Jiang Yubai sent Lin Zhixia a message: “I’m home.”

These four simple words concisely summarized his status, appearing both reserved yet sufficiently proactive.

He also changed his QQ chat status to “Q me.”

After another ten seconds or so, Jiang Yubai didn’t receive a response from Lin Zhixia, but instead got a message from Duan Qiyan: “Are you awake?”

Jiang Yubai replied: “I’m about to go to sleep.”

Duan Qiyan typed a string of question marks, then asked: “Are you in Beijing right now?”

Jiang Yubai told the truth: “In New York, America.”

Duan Qiyan’s parents restricted his internet time at home, so he rarely encountered Jiang Yubai on QQ. And Jiang Yubai’s chat status was exactly “Q me,” indicating that Jiang Yubai was feeling empty, lonely, and cold in New York. Duan Qiyan asked with sympathy: “Are there no classmates around you?”

Jiang Yubai’s classmates had organized a celebration party at the hotel. They were enthusiastic, planning to stay up all night. But Jiang Yubai had claimed he had something to do and didn’t attend.

Jiang Yubai insisted on going to bed before ten o’clock every night—early to bed and early to rise makes for a healthy body and growth into a tall, straight man.

He told Duan Qiyan, “It’s getting late, I’m going to sleep first.”

Duan Qiyan responded: “Alright, bye.”

Just at that moment, Lin Zhixia suddenly appeared.

Lin Zhixia’s avatar was a strawberry. Her avatar changed from the gray of “offline status” to the crimson of “online status.” Like a hunter wandering in the forest who accidentally discovers prey waiting to be captured, she immediately pounced, calling out: “Jiang Yubai!!!!”

She typed four exclamation marks on the keyboard, each representing her intense emotions.

Jiang Yubai steadied his keyboard and quickly typed a sentence: “I just came online not long ago.”

Lin Zhixia excitedly said, “The sunlight was nice today. Mom was drying radishes on the balcony, and my brother and I both went to help.”

So that’s why Lin Zhixia had been drying radishes.

Jiang Yubai had never dried radishes before. His fingers hovered over the keyboard when Lin Zhixia sent him a video request, which he accepted without hesitation. They both appeared on each other’s computer screens.

Jiang Yubai humbly asked: “How do you dry radishes?”

Lin Zhixia answered in detail: “This morning my mom bought four jin of white radishes from the market. We peeled and cut the radishes into pieces, laid them on a mesh screen on the balcony, and after the moisture evaporates, we get delicious dried radishes.”

She also asked: “Do you like dried radishes?”

Jiang Yubai said softly: “I’ve never had them.”

Lin Zhixia tilted her head: “If you can come to my home as a guest in the future, I’ll treat you to some.”

Jiang Yubai asked uncertainly: “Can I visit your home?”

“Of course,” Lin Zhixia said with certainty, “you’ve treated me to several meals, so it’s only reasonable for you to visit my home.”

Jiang Yubai held his glass: “Would your brother agree?”

Lin Zhixia suddenly fell silent.

Jiang Yubai backed off: “Forget it, it’s fine, there will be opportunities in the future.”

His magnanimous and tactful demeanor sparked Lin Zhixia’s rebellious attitude. Lin Zhixia agreed with him that in July of this year, she would invite him to her home for a meal. Then, Lin Zhixia ran to the living room and resolutely announced: “Mom, I’ve invited my good friend to visit during summer vacation.”

Her brother’s hands, which had been drying radishes, stopped.

Mom turned to look at Lin Zhixia: “Your good friend?”

Lin Zhixia frankly said: “A good friend I’ve known for five years.”

Mom immediately agreed: “That’s fine, come whenever you want. Mom will make lunch for you.”

Her brother seemed like he wanted to say something but held back. With a dejected look, he carried a white radish and marched straight toward Lin Zhixia’s room. Lin Zhixia quickly closed the door and locked it.

He knocked on the door outside: “Lin Zhixia.”

Lin Zhixia put on her headphones and sent a message through QQ: “It’s settled, see you in summer.”

Jiang Yubai replied instantly: “See you in summer.”

“It’s ten o’clock New York time, you should go to sleep soon,” Lin Zhixia urged, “you’re still growing, don’t stay up late.”

Jiang Yubai complied: “Good night.”

Lin Zhixia typed a parenthesis and noted within it: “(My second paper needs minor revision, the reviewers and editor think I should make some small changes to the article. It’s not a big issue, and it will probably be published this summer.)”

Jiang Yubai shook the chat box and said: “I congratulate you in advance on publishing your second paper.”

Lin Zhixia replied with a smiley face.

*

Life was so wonderful.

Jiang Yubai had won the runner-up in the North American high school competition, Lin Zhixia’s second paper was as good as published, and Peking University’s admission letter and training plan had also been delivered to Lin Zhixia.

In classroom 27 of the first-year high school, Lin Zhixia opened her admission letter in front of many classmates and read it word by word.

Her deskmate Tang Tingting sighed: “You’re amazing, you’re amazing.”

Lin Zhixia waved her hand and modestly said: “No, I’m not amazing, I just had a bit of luck.”

Lin Zhixia thought to herself: Yes, it’s all luck, it’s luck that made me naturally different from everyone else.

A circle of classmates surrounded her seat, all wanting to share in Lin Zhixia’s joy.

Duan Qiyan squeezed out of the crowd, stretched his arm, and successfully touched the Peking University admission letter. He immediately turned around, walked up to Jin Baihui, and said: “Lin Zhixia has received the formal admission letter.”

Jin Baihui’s pen tip paused.

It was March, and the weather was still cold. Jin Baihui sat by the window, next to a gray, rainy scene. Her hair was tied tightly with a band, faintly revealing her white scalp. She raised her hand, smoothed her hair, and slowly said: “Does Lin Zhixia’s admission letter have anything to do with me?”

Duan Qiyan shrugged and didn’t speak further.

Jin Baihui persisted: “Does Lin Zhixia’s academic performance have anything to do with you?”

The wind howled, and the rain scattered with a sudden gust. The window was slightly open, and water droplets splashed onto Jin Baihui’s desk, wetting her notebook—the thickest notebook Duan Qiyan had ever seen.

Jin Baihui’s notes were very beautiful, the best in the class.

She had prepared separate excerpt notebooks and error-correction notebooks for each of the six main subjects. She used the famous “Cornell learning method,” dividing each sheet of paper into two parts, placing notes on the right and thoughts on the left. She strictly followed the “Ebbinghaus forgetting curve,” regularly arranging for herself to review and summarize learning content, creating a “self-test sequence.”

In Class 27 of the first-year high school, no one was more diligent than Jin Baihui.

Duan Qiyan looked down at her handwriting, not knowing why he was moved.

He was just wondering, what kind of persistence was this? Day after day, year after year, even though Lin Zhixia stood like a mountain firmly on the throne of “first in the grade,”… Jin Baihui had never slackened for a day, never shown a hint of compromise.

Duan Qiyan sighed.

He helped Jin Baihui close the window tightly and prepared to leave this place of conflict, but Jin Baihui called out to him again: “You’re mediocre, how dare you judge me? You’ve never been in the top three in Class 27. Lin Zhixia’s grades have nothing to do with you, yet you bring her up to me—I remember you only got eighty points on the last monthly math exam. You’ve been studying math competitions for six and a half years from elementary to high school, and you scored a pathetic eighty on the monthly exam…”

Jin Baihui snorted: “You’re so weak.”

The nearby chattering gradually disappeared.

Rain still fell, the sky was gray, and droplets pattered against the glass window—the only ambient noise in the world.

Duan Qiyan swallowed, and the sports committee member Cao Wu quickly consoled him: “Brother Duan, Little Jin doesn’t mean that, don’t take it to heart.”

Duan Qiyan’s face lost all traces of a smile. His back curved, his head drooped, and his gaze drifted to the corner of the wall.

It should have ended there. Jin Baihui remained silent, but Duan Qiyan suddenly blurted out: “What are you so arrogant about? Studying 24 hours a day is still useless for you. Last year’s high school math competition, you failed to make the provincial team. A boy from next door’s Class 26 made the provincial team, and even more second-year seniors made it. There’s always someone stronger, Jin Baihui, you’re not better than others, stop looking down on people.”

Jin Baihui stood up from her seat.

Cao Wu again tried to mediate: “Sister Jin, Little Duan speaks without thinking, don’t take him seriously.”

Jin Baihui yanked Cao Wu’s hand away.

Jin Baihui’s deskmate couldn’t stand it anymore and also tried to persuade her: “Stop arguing with Duan Qiyan, class is about to start.”

“Get out of my way,” Jin Baihui snapped at her deskmate.

Jin Baihui’s deskmate was a naturally shy and introverted boy. This boy was sixteen years old. In his sixteen years of life, he had never argued with anyone and rarely refused others’ requests. At the beginning of the first year of high school, he accidentally became Jin Baihui’s deskmate. Later, he had the opportunity to change seats, but Jin Baihui asked him to stay, and he kindly agreed.

Usually, he and Jin Baihui didn’t interfere with each other.

Today was the first time Jin Baihui had shouted at him.

He stood up and stepped aside.

Jin Baihui pointed at Duan Qiyan and questioned him: “You mentioned the math competition, fine, I’ll calculate for you. You got first prize in the middle school competition league, and that was it, nothing more. Last year’s high school math competition, you got a provincial second prize, the worst ranking I’ve ever heard of. Did you not think when doing the exam, or did you simply not try at all? Hanging out with Tang Tingting and Shen Fuxuan all day, their grades are getting better and better, yours are getting worse and worse. When you first entered middle school, you were third in the class, but in high school, Class 27, you couldn’t even make the top five in the class. If I were you, I would choose to drop out. You don’t deserve to participate in competitions.”

This time, even Cao Wu had nothing to say.

All the students in Class 27 of the first year regarded competitions as the ultimate goal.

Telling a student in Class 27 of the first year, “you don’t deserve to participate in competitions,” was like telling a well-trained soldier, “you don’t deserve to charge into battle, you don’t deserve to be on the battlefield.”

Every sentence from Jin Baihui made the situation more serious.

Duan Qiyan stood ramrod straight. He raised his chin and looked at Jin Baihui with a gaze never seen before. In a steady tone, he said: “Jin Baihui, you were originally a student from the previous grade. You dropped out of a gifted class in Beijing and transferred to Class 18 of the first year at Provincial First High. You’re quite experienced at dropping out, I can’t compare to you. You’re the champion of the dropout competition. I’m not qualified to participate in the dropout competition.”

Jin Baihui’s face turned from white to red.

Her chest heaved slightly, her anger unabated.

That experience of dropping out of Beijing was a thorn that Jin Baihui couldn’t remove from her heart. No one knew what she had encountered in Beijing. She was unwilling to spend time making friends, so naturally, she had no friends who could inquire about her troubles.

Jin Baihui’s grades were better than Duan Qiyan’s, which was her lifeline. Jin Baihui repeatedly emphasized this point, which also fueled Duan Qiyan’s anger.

They blocked the aisle between the third and fourth large groups of desks.

The whole class was watching them.

Quite a few students in the class had minor grievances against Jin Baihui.

Most students in Class 27 of the first year were top students. Competition among top students was fierce, yet they still maintained a peaceful atmosphere. Normally, classmates would exchange notebooks and share problem-solving experiences, but Jin Baihui never participated in such activities. No one could borrow her notebooks; she always bluntly refused, claiming: “I won’t lend it to you, in case you lose my notebook.”

Duan Qiyan, on the contrary, was a very helpful person. Whoever sought his help with problems, he would offer guidance.

After Duan Qiyan and Jin Baihui had just argued for a few sentences, a passing classmate nearby asked: Did Jin Baihui offend Duan Qiyan?

Jin Baihui was displeased: “It was Duan Qiyan who provoked first!”

Duan Qiyan laughed: “During the winter training camp in middle school, you wrongly accused me first. Years have passed, and you haven’t apologized to me.”

As Duan Qiyan mocked and Jin Baihui couldn’t bear it anymore, she raised her hand, about to punch Duan Qiyan’s shoulder, when suddenly someone gripped her wrist.

She turned her head and saw Lin Zhixia.

Lin Zhixia said softly: “Calm down a bit.”

Jin Baihui forcefully pulled her hand back: “Mind your own business.”

“I’m the class monitor,” Lin Zhixia stood in front of her, “of course, I should manage this.”

Duan Qiyan called out to Lin Zhixia: “Don’t interfere, Class Monitor Lin. Jin Baihui isn’t a normal person.”

Lin Zhixia replied: “Actually, I’m not a normal person either.”

Duan Qiyan never expected Lin Zhixia to say such a thing.

How could Lin Zhixia not be normal?

She was the most normal. She never showed off her grades in front of classmates.

Duan Qiyan stepped back, slightly frowning: “You’re going to speak for Jin Baihui?”

Duan Qiyan pressed his lips together. He gripped his jacket zipper, his finger joints visibly whitening. He sighed: “I thought we had a good relationship.”

“It’s useless to discuss relationships,” Shen Fuxuan suddenly interjected.

The entire class was immersed in an unprecedentedly awkward atmosphere. The words Jin Baihui used to insult Duan Qiyan could be applied to any student except the top five in the class.

Lin Zhixia stood beside Jin Baihui, facing the many classmates, and sincerely said: “My views are completely different from Jin Baihui’s. I’d like to ask everyone to listen to what I have to say…”

“Listen to what?” Duan Qiyan interrupted, “You’ll graduate from high school this semester, there’s no need to get involved in our affairs. Alright, let’s all go back to our seats.”

Duan Qiyan had a hint of grief.

Shen Fuxuan sat at the side of the third large group. He stretched out a leg, just blocking Duan Qiyan.

Duan Qiyan challenged him: “What are you doing?”

Shen Fuxuan turned his head: “Making you listen to the class monitor speak.”

Duan Qiyan retorted: “What if I don’t want to listen?”

Shen Fuxuan smiled: “Oh, you’re even less mature than Jin Baihui.”

In other words, Shen Fuxuan meant—you’re more childish than Jin Baihui.

Duan Qiyan held his breath. He absolutely couldn’t accept Shen Fuxuan’s accusation. But he had just argued with Jin Baihui, and he couldn’t have another dispute with Shen Fuxuan; that would make him look like a hot-headed fool.

He closed his mouth, stood still, and remained in place.

Lin Zhixia began speaking: “I know everyone cares about academic performance, and you feel bad when you don’t do well. Many factors can determine the final score of an exam paper, no one can always be perfect. All students in Class 27 of the first year have gone through rigorous selection, and the school believes you can all participate in competitions…”

Jin Baihui sat back in her seat. She didn’t say a word and buried herself in her work.

Lin Zhixia greatly admired Jin Baihui.

Lin Zhixia continued to explain: “I support the parallel universe theory. It’s said that after the Big Bang, countless parallel universes were created, just like when you blow into a bowl of water with a straw, countless bubbles emerge from the bottom. Parallel universes influence each other—the more positive your attitude, the more likely all versions of you in all parallel universes will move in a positive direction, becoming better and better. Parallel universes don’t evolve independently; everyone is unique, and your thoughts and soul are more meaningful than test scores.”

Jin Baihui interjected: “You can’t say that doing poorly on tests means grades aren’t important.”

“Tests are indeed important,” Lin Zhixia agreed, “tests are a life experience. This experience has no distinction between good and bad; it’s just a component.”

She raised her head, looking at everyone: “We are all very young, the future is full of hope. Youth means time, and time means all possibilities.”

Nearby, silence fell.

Lin Zhixia enthusiastically encouraged: “Everyone, keep going! I’ll keep going with you!”

Outside, the rain fell harder, soaking the entire campus, washing trees and flowers clean. Cao Wu scratched his head and said quietly: “Brother Duan, let’s go back to our seats. Be more optimistic, don’t get angry, it can affect the parallel universe. If the Duan Qiyan in the parallel universe is doing well, you’ll get better and better in our world.”

Duan Qiyan turned to look out the window: “I’m not angry at all. I can’t be bothered to be angry with Jin Baihui.”

Lin Zhixia responded: “Don’t bother her in the future.”

Duan Qiyan protested: “I didn’t bother her.”

“She won’t talk to you first,” Lin Zhixia analyzed with reason, “The next class is math. During this break, she should be doing some math problems.”

As soon as Lin Zhixia finished speaking, the class bell rang.

Students scattered in all directions, quickly returning to their seats.

Homeroom Teacher Deng, carrying a stack of test papers, walked cheerfully into Class 27 of the first year. Standing on the podium, looking at his group of proud students, he didn’t know that during the ten-minute break just now, his two most admired students had publicly fallen out.

“This class, we’ll have a pop quiz,” Teacher Deng announced.

Usually, whenever Teacher Deng mentioned “pop quiz,” there would be some voices of opposition in the class. But today, everyone silently accepts the reality.

Teacher Deng couldn’t quite figure it out. While distributing the test papers, he asked: “Have our class’s students… suddenly developed a liking for exams?”

Duan Qiyan, sitting in the first row, answered: “Teacher Deng, we all want to live more positively.”

Teacher Deng smiled with satisfaction and said appreciatively: “Good, that’s good. You should think more, learn more, practice more.”

*

Lin Zhixia thought that the dispute between Jin Baihui and Duan Qiyan had come to an end.

But she hadn’t anticipated that her words had also influenced Jin Baihui.

In the evening after school, Jin Baihui followed behind Lin Zhixia, from the first-year high school teaching building to the school gate of Provincial First High.

Lin Zhixia stood still outside the school gate, and Jin Baihui brushed past her.

Lin Zhixia asked her: “Why are you following me?”

Jin Baihui stopped: “There’s only one way out of the school.”

Tang Tingting, linking arms with Lin Zhixia’s left hand, whispered: “I’m so conflicted… I want to be positive, to influence the parallel universe. But I still can’t talk to Jin Baihui. I’m afraid when I see her, the way she scolded Duan Qiyan sounds like my father scolding me. She has a parental demeanor—is she our peer?”

Lin Zhixia comforted her: “Don’t be afraid, she’s not your father.”

Jin Baihui turned the tip of her foot to face Lin Zhixia. She said: “I didn’t make the provincial team.”

Lin Zhixia nodded: “You’re only in your first year of high school; there will be many more opportunities.”

Jin Baihui continued: “I didn’t make the provincial team for physics or math. I have no more chances.”

Her words were without emotion, merely stating a fact.

She pushed her glasses up. Her prescription had deepened again, making the lenses thicker, though her vision remained clear.

Lin Zhixia couldn’t fathom her thoughts and casually said, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I think you’re too tired. I suggest you go home, have your mother make a table of your favorite dishes, eat your fill, take a hot bath, and go to bed early. Tomorrow morning, we can talk again about the provincial team.”

After speaking, Lin Zhixia moved around Jin Baihui.

Lin Zhixia and Tang Tingting still walked arm in arm.

Tang Tingting asked about Lin Zhixia’s favorite dishes, and Lin Zhixia named two or three. Tang Tingting and Lin Zhixia chatted cheerfully, while Jin Baihui’s umbrella-holding hand tilted slightly, unable to block the falling raindrops.

Dusk fell, and the rain continued.

Under the lights, the rain formed a dense screen, like thousands of threads.

Jin Baihui passed through the barrier formed by the water screen and again walked to Lin Zhixia’s front.

She just wanted to say one thing.

She told Lin Zhixia: “My mother could never make a table of dishes I like. If I don’t do well on tests, she won’t let me enter the house. Have you ever stood in the yard on a winter night?”

As she wished, Lin Zhixia’s expression turned surprised and confused.

Jin Baihui raised her umbrella handle, like a strong victor, coldly passing by many classmates. She didn’t greet anyone. She didn’t need friendship, and certainly didn’t need sympathy.

Lin Zhixia called after her: “Jin Baihui, Jin Baihui!”

Jin Baihui quickened her pace.

Suddenly, she wanted to shake off Lin Zhixia. She needed to hurry to the bus stop.

Lin Zhixia left Tang Tingting and ran behind Jin Baihui.

They stood on a sidewalk, with students around saying: “Wow, look, that’s the first and second in the grade, what are they doing?”

Another student said: “Arguing, I guess. I heard from people in Class 27 that they don’t get along.”

Lin Zhixia, as the top student in the grade, suddenly spoke up: “Jin Baihui…”

Jin Baihui, as the second in the grade, turned her back: “I don’t want your pity.”

Lin Zhixia did indeed find Jin Baihui somewhat pitiful.

If Lin Zhixia’s mother scolded her even slightly, she would be very unhappy and would only feel better after her mother consoled her. If her mother made her stand in the yard on a winter night as punishment, she would probably cry and make a scene, disturbing the neighbors at midnight, making life difficult for the whole family.

The rain grew denser, and the air filled with mist. Lin Zhixia held her umbrella, her fingers slightly cold, and she firmly said: “Jin Baihui, you will become an extraordinary person.”

She also said: “Child abuse is illegal. You can talk to your mother about it.”

“Mind your own business,” Jin Baihui commented.

Lin Zhixia turned away: “I won’t interfere then. Keep going, just two more years, and the road ahead is wide!”

Jin Baihui said for no apparent reason: “I still really dislike you.”

Lin Zhixia thought: I don’t care whether you like me or not, but outwardly, she said: “Have you seen the Taiji Bagua diagram? All things give birth to and restrain each other, depend on and exist with each other, yang within yin, yin within yang…”

“Are you telling fortunes?” Jin Baihui asked her.

Lin Zhixia shook her head and explained: “In this world, there are people who like me and people who dislike me. This is the way of yin and yang, the law of conservation of energy.”

Jin Baihui honestly revealed: “I dislike you. You’re always first in the grade.”

Lin Zhixia laughed: “That can’t be helped, I am first in the grade. Everything has two sides. I can’t just get the ‘good’ side and reject the ‘bad’ side. What I call ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are relative concepts, characteristics of a matter that I can currently see. When I get older and have more experience, I’ll redefine what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ about a matter.”

Rain slanted with the wind, falling on Jin Baihui’s face. She took off her glasses, wiped her face, and then said: “No wonder you always score high on essays.”

Lin Zhixia stepped back: “I’ve said what I needed to say. I’m going home now.”

Tang Tingting was still waiting for her at the original spot.

Lin Zhixia approached Tang Tingting, who folded her umbrella and took shelter under Lin Zhixia’s. They crossed the road and walked to the bus stop.

Rain soaked the streets, and passing car wheels splashed water.

Jin Baihui walked while muttering to herself: “You sleep, I study; you eat, I study; you play games, I still study. I want the name ‘Jin Baihui’ to be printed in textbooks… I can’t do it, I can’t make the provincial team. You can do it, you have the ability.”

She rambled incoherently, her voice neither loud nor soft.

Nearby classmates didn’t understand what she meant.

Jin Baihui suddenly closed her umbrella, allowing the bitter wind and cold rain to beat upon her without hindrance. All thoughts in her mind gradually subsided, and feelings of both inferiority and arrogance faded simultaneously. She finally adjusted her mindset and became the Jin Baihui of usual days.

*

Jin Baihui’s personal experience stimulated Lin Zhixia’s contemplation.

Lin Zhixia acknowledged a principle: if parents don’t cherish their child’s body enough, haven’t taught them how to cherish themselves, then the scars of childhood might need quite a long time in adulthood to be smoothed over.

After returning home, Lin Zhixia stuck to her mother like a piece of soft candy: “Mom…”

Lin Zeqiu had taken tests all day and arrived home later than Lin Zhixia. After changing his slippers, he heard Lin Zhixia asking in the kitchen: “Mom, do you like me?”

Mom lifted the iron pot and transferred the braised pork into a plate: “Of course, I like you. Mom likes Xiaxia the most.”

Lin Zhixia asked again: “When I go to school, do you miss me?”

Mom opened the cabinet and answered: “When you go to school, it’s only half a day, isn’t it? Go in the morning, return at noon, go in the afternoon, return in the evening.”

Lin Zeqiu couldn’t stand it anymore. He extended his finger and knocked on the kitchen door: “Mommy’s girl, you’re fourteen years old, stop acting like a child and being clingy all day.”

“I never act clingy with others,” Lin Zhixia justified, “is it any of your business?”

Lin Zeqiu indeed couldn’t control her.

He left the kitchen in defeat.

At this moment, Lin Zhixia took out an admission letter: “Mom, the official admission document has arrived.”

The sound of the spatula stir-frying ceased. Mom turned off the gas stove, put down her work, and took the admission letter. She lowered her gaze, closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes turning reddish: “Xiaxia is going to college.”

“Yes,” Lin Zhixia acknowledged.

Mom stood at the kitchen door and pushed Lin Zeqiu: “Go call your father.”

Lin Zeqiu hesitated: “Dad is still at the store.”

Mom walked toward the door: “You two eat first, the dishes are all ready. I’ll take the admission letter to show your father. Your father has never seen a college admission letter, let him be happy today.”

Mom took the admission letter to the family supermarket.

After looking at it, Dad was so happy he couldn’t speak. He clasped his hands together, feeling emotional. With his wife’s permission, he closed the store for half an hour, walked back home, sat at the dining table, and shared a meal with his wife, son, and daughter.

For him, the whole family happily eating a meal together was a rare joy in life.

Dad sighed deeply, “Ah,” and all the depression in his chest was swept away. He rolled up his sleeves and said heroically: “Open the wine, I’ll have some baijiu tonight.”

“Don’t,” Mom reminded him, “you can’t handle alcohol.”

Dad didn’t listen to Mom. He opened the cabinet and took out a treasured bottle of baijiu. He pried off the cap, poured a small bowl, and instantly the aroma of alcohol filled the air, making him slightly drunk.

Dad held the bowl of alcohol and returned to the table. He drank the baijiu in one gulp, savoring the wonderful blend of alcohol and the braised pork on the table. He sniffled and said softly: “Xiaxia, this is great, our Xiaxia has been admitted to such a good school. When I was in school, I couldn’t even dream of this school.”

“I wasn’t admitted,” Lin Zhixia corrected, “I was recommended.”

“Recommended, recommended…” Dad repeated twice.

Lin Zeqiu said nothing.

Mom put food on Lin Zhixia’s plate.

Dad opened up tonight. After a while, Dad said again: “Which school did your uncle graduate from? I don’t remember a good school. Ah, when I wanted to marry your mother back then, your uncle mocked me—no money, no education, no brains, no ability. He called me a ‘four-no youth.’ I was so annoyed, so angry, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I wanted to create better conditions for your mother, let you and your brother live in a big house in the city center… not have to envy your uncle’s children…”

“I don’t envy Ke Zhuangzhi,” Lin Zhixia said directly.

Ke Zhuangzhi was the son of the uncle’s family. He was Lin Zhixia’s cousin and also Lin Zeqiu’s cousin.

Lin Zeqiu echoed: “I don’t envy Ke Zhuangzhi either.”

After a pause, Lin Zeqiu added: “Who would envy Ke Zhuangzhi? What kind of person is he anyway?”

Ke Zhuangzhi had once had a fierce argument with Lin Zhixia. One Spring Festival, while celebrating the New Year at their hometown, Lin Zhixia almost got into a fight with Ke Zhuangzhi. Lin Zeqiu completely supported Lin Zhixia, so Ke Zhuangzhi was essentially facing two opponents. He might have been able to defeat Lin Zhixia, but he had no chance against Lin Zeqiu, so he didn’t dare make too much of a scene.

Dad’s words reminded Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu of that experience.

Mom smoothed things over: “Alright, let’s eat.”

Under the bright lights, Mom’s eyes were slightly red. The steam from the dishes rose and dispersed. Lin Zhixia looked at her mother and softly asked: “Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Mom will miss you,” Mom wiped her eyes, “you’re only fourteen, and you’re already going to college. Your classmates are all eighteen or nineteen years old; don’t let them bully you.”

Dad comforted her: “Good students at good schools don’t bully people.”

Lin Zeqiu coldly interjected: “Impossible. Wherever there are people, there’s competition; where there’s competition, there are winners and losers; where there are winners and losers, there’s despicable malice. Don’t overly beautify the good students at good schools—that’s my experience.”

Neither Mom nor Dad responded.

Lin Zhixia tugged at her brother’s sleeve: “Don’t be so tense. I’m not stupid; I can take care of myself. Good students are busy with their affairs and don’t have time to mess around with me.”

The rice in the bowl gradually cooled. The egg custard soaked in the bowl, each grain of rice distinct, plump, and glossy. Lin Zeqiu lowered his head, took a mouthful of rice, and chewed silently for a while.

Lin Zhixia continued on her own: “After I graduate with my doctorate, I want to return to the provincial capital, become a professor at the university, and be a colleague of Professor Shen Zhaohua.”

“Great, great,” Dad said excitedly, “our family will have a professor, right? Will you be a professor?”

Lin Zhixia happily responded: “Yes, I want to be a professor! Do research, lead a team, cultivate talent.”

Dad was extremely excited: “Great, Xiaxia, our family’s ancestral graves must be smoking. In over a dozen generations of ancestors, neither your mom’s nor my side has produced a scholar. You’re the first to enter university and even become a professor.”

Lin Zeqiu reminded him: “Becoming a professor is still far from certain.”

Dad put down his wine bowl: “If your sister says she can do it, then she probably can.”

“Exactly!” Lin Zhixia agreed.

That night, while chatting on QQ video, Lin Zhixia held up her admission letter to the computer camera. Jiang Yubai praised her generously and said to her: “See you in Beijing.”

She replied with anticipation: “See you in Beijing.”

*

The university stage would be a new chapter in Lin Zhixia’s life.

She was eager to embark on a new journey.

The final exam of the first year of high school would be Lin Zhixia’s last major exam during her high school years.

On the day of the final exam, the sunshine was exceptionally brilliant, the sky painfully blue, the school buildings seemed to be gilded with light, and the campus scenery was more beautiful than usual.

Lin Zhixia was in a good mood.

However, she was assigned to the same examination room as Jin Baihui.

In early June this year, Jin Baihui had cut her hair short. She no longer wore a ponytail; the short hair looked crisp and neat. Lin Zhixia asked her why she cut her hair short, and she only said: It’s easier to manage.

Jin Baihui’s seat was diagonally in front of Lin Zhixia. During the exam, when Lin Zhixia raised her head, she could see her. Her thin spine supported the pure cotton fabric, revealing the shape of her underwear. She was too thin; her arms were like two parallel straight lines with a bone sandwiched between them.

She wore a faded red garment. She always liked to wear red during exams.

Lin Zhixia pondered thoughtfully.

The first-year high school exams lasted three days, covering Chinese, math, English, physics, chemistry, biology, politics, history, geography… a total of nine subjects. Lin Zhixia carefully answered all the questions—except in Chinese, where she didn’t write the essay.

On the day the results were announced, for the first time in her life, Lin Zhixia fell to second place in the grade, while Jin Baihui rose to first. Their names were printed on the honor board of the first-year high school building. All the students were amazed, saying that Lin Zhixia had regressed while Jin Baihui had improved.

“Did you really regress?” Lin Zeqiu, having heard the rumors, asked his sister when he got home.

But Lin Zhixia said: “I think I’ve improved, brother.”

His sister’s ambiguous answer left Lin Zeqiu puzzled about her meaning. He casually said: “Don’t be sad. Even at your worst, you’re still second in the grade. It won’t affect your college admission.”

Lin Zhixia replied with enthusiasm: “I’m not sad at all. I’m so happy that summer vacation has begun.”