Gu Likai and his students stayed in Cambridge for a full two weeks. During this time, Lin Zhixia visited many laboratories. She met a very impressive professor whose research fields included theoretical physics, astronomy, quantum theory, computational physics, applied mathematics, molecular medicine, and more. Their research in the field of quantum computing was also among the world’s top level.

That professor’s students each had their areas of specialization. Lin Zhixia chatted with them and gained many new ideas. She gradually freed herself from the anxiety of “not being able to publish papers.” At this point, when she thought back to the draft paper she had submitted to Professor Gu last October, she found many areas that needed improvement. Although her framework was fine, the topic of the paper was too broad, requiring too much content to fill in. She couldn’t accomplish everything at once and should further refine the problem.

Tan Qianche did very well in this regard. He was good at finding precise entry points.

Lin Zhixia decided to read all of Tan Qianche’s papers.

The academic exchange trip wasn’t over yet, but Lin Zhixia already felt she had gained a lot. She was happy every day, but Tan Qianche often appeared listless.

Lin Zhixia thought he was experiencing culture shock.

One afternoon, Lin Zhixia overheard a conversation among the senior students and finally learned about Tan Qianche’s life experience. Tan Qianche’s first love had originally agreed to attend Peking University with him but dumped him in his second year of high school and went to study abroad, never seeing him again.

Regarding this, Yang Shuwen commented: “Tan Qianche is a pitiful person. I’d say his life experience is too much like a PUA tutorial. A PUA tutorial teaches a man to pretend he’s been hurt by his ex-girlfriend, harmed by society, to make others want to change him, inducing others to self-sacrifice…”

Lin Zhixia heard every word Yang Shuwen said.

She rigorously asked: “Is PUA related to Stockholm Syndrome?”

Yang Shuwen was a seasoned researcher of “PUA theory.” The reason he studied PUA theory was to adjust his psychological pressure and adapt to the reality of being constantly suppressed by Lin Zhixia.

When Lin Zhixia mentioned “PUA,” Yang Shuwen, considering her age, didn’t dare to discuss it in detail and only said: “Ah, this is beyond my scope of thinking.”

As he spoke, he ran away.

Lin Zhixia was thoughtful.

*

The day before leaving Cambridge, Lin Zhixia specifically visited Trinity College at Cambridge University.

Lin Zhixia had heard Jiang Yubai say he wanted to study at Trinity College. So, Lin Zhixia took a detour to the college entrance and took many photos.

Near Trinity College, there was a bookstore called “Heffers.” Reportedly, this bookstore had over 130 years of history, with its first owner named William Heffer, and the bookstore’s name derived from that owner’s surname.

Lin Zhixia picked out two books in this store as gifts for Jiang Yubai. Each book costs around fifteen pounds, totaling over thirty pounds, which converted to roughly over three hundred yuan. But she didn’t mind at all; she was willing to spend money on him.

The “Heffers” bookstore provided a paper bag-like packaging, with a red circle printed on the bag containing Cambridge’s English name. Lin Zhixia packed the books in this paper bag, accompanied by a greeting card that read: “Jiang Yubai, wishing you all the best.”

Since May of this year, contact between Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai had decreased significantly.

During the previous period, Lin Zhixia had been engrossed in academics, her mind filled with quantum theory and various algorithms, leaving no time to think of Jiang Yubai. After the European academic visit ended, it was late August, and Jiang Yubai’s birthday was approaching. Lin Zhixia called Jiang Yubai and asked directly: “Jiang Yubai, how was your summer vacation? Do you have time to come out and play?”

The August heat was unbearable, and the night wind was stuffy and hot.

Lin Zhixia stood in the dormitory corridor, facing a half-open window. She held the windowsill, gazed at the moon, and waited for several seconds before hearing Jiang Yubai say: “Shall we meet tomorrow?”

Lin Zhixia detected a hint of grievance in his voice.

What was he feeling aggrieved about?

Lin Zhixia spoke to him in a gentle voice: “Okay, okay, let’s meet tomorrow. This summer vacation, I went to the United States, England, and Germany. I bought you souvenirs from each place. I’ve been thinking about you all along.”

She said, “I’ve been thinking about you all along.”

Jiang Yubai knew that this kind of thinking represented the sincere friendship between friends.

Just like Yuan Zhen missed Bai Juyi and wrote the famous line “I’m now sick with my soul upside down, dreaming only of idle people but not of you,” and like Yu Boya missed Zhong Ziqi, creating the timeless story of “high mountains and flowing waters.”

Jiang Yubai reciprocated: “Same as you.”

Lin Zhixia asked him: “Did you also buy souvenirs?”

He answered softly: “I was also thinking of you.”

Jiang Yubai rarely expressed his emotions frankly.

Lin Zhixia involuntarily took a deep breath. The conversation between her and Jiang Yubai was like a tug-of-war—when he became frank and direct, she instead became anxious and shy, unable to speak directly as usual.

Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia agreed to meet at eight o’clock the next morning at the entrance of Lin Zhixia’s school.

This summer vacation, Jiang Yubai hadn’t returned to the provincial city. He had stayed in Beijing, preparing for his Cambridge University admission interview later this year. After Lin Zhixia went abroad, there was a time difference with China. They both had things to busy themselves with and never had time for QQ video chats.

At eight o’clock on the morning of August 30th, they finally met.

Jiang Yubai arrived ten minutes early. He waited for a while before hearing Lin Zhixia call out to him: “Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai!”

She hadn’t used this form of address for a long time.

His heart stirred as he turned to look at her.

She handed him a bag: “My gift to you. Happy 15th birthday. Wishing you happiness every day, good health, and success in your studies.”

After not seeing each other for several months, Lin Zhixia had grown taller. She looked up at him, seeing her reflection in his eyes, and softly reminded him: “Aren’t you going to open your gift?”

Jiang Yubai opened the bag and saw two books, one a university economics handbook and the other hard science fiction about a robot revolution in the age of artificial intelligence. He also found a box of 3D puzzles of Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle, two postcards of Los Angeles, and a “ship in a bottle” craft—a transparent wine bottle containing an exquisite small ship, with seven characters printed on the white sail reading “Jiang Yubai Forge Ahead Bravely.”

“This is Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia’s little boat. I made it by hand this past winter vacation,” Lin Zhixia explained.

Jiang Yubai said, “Thank you.” He held the bag in his left hand and extended his right hand toward her, instinctively wanting to hold her wrist. She neither avoided him nor noticed his intention. When his fingertips touched the back of her hand, he instantly regained his senses and put his transgressing right hand behind his back.

He gripped the nylon string of the bag with his left hand, his right fingertips curled into his palm, not hearing clearly what Lin Zhixia was saying.

From May to August this year, Lin Zhixia had been busy with her studies and unintentionally neglected him. He originally thought he wouldn’t mind much, but the truth was, he had minded for a full three months.

He could no longer deceive himself.

He wasn’t a fool; it might not be friendship.

He suddenly stopped walking.

Lin Zhixia looked back at him: “Jiang Yubai?”

Lin Zhixia had completely failed to notice Jiang Yubai’s small gesture of “wanting to hold her hand but not daring to.” She walked up to him and said with enthusiasm: “I was just saying that I saw several swans by the river in Cambridge, snow-white swans… Do you like swans?”

Jiang Yubai’s inner world was extraordinarily rich, but his words were calm and concise: “I like them.”

“I like them too,” Lin Zhixia agreed.

Today, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia planned to visit Xiangshan Park together. Jiang Yubai placed the bag in the car, entrusting it to the driver, and then he and Lin Zhixia walked through the main entrance of Xiangshan Park.

Xiangshan Park had lush forests, beautiful scenery, and many distinctive ancient buildings with lovely names such as “Qiyue Mountain Villa,” “Tiyun Mountain Lodge,” “Yunchao Pavilion,” “Xiangwu Cave,” and so on.

Lin Zhixia was in a good mood. She told Jiang Yubai about the history of Xiangshan, which was originally an imperial garden, and the naming of the scenic spots on the mountain was quite particular. Lin Zhixia also thought of the various areas in Jiang Yubai’s home and asked: “Has anyone named your swimming pool, tennis court, and rose garden?”

Jiang Yubai truthfully said: “Not that I’ve heard of.”

Lin Zhixia laughed heartily.

Xiangshan was over five hundred meters high. Lin Zhixia climbed slowly, stopping here and there to admire the scenery. When she saw a squirrel, she had to point it out to Jiang Yubai: “A squirrel.”

Just as Jiang Yubai was about to walk over, Lin Zhixia grabbed his clothes: “The squirrel ran away.”

Jiang Yubai returned to his original spot, and Lin Zhixia released her grip.