To comfort Deng Shasha, Lin Zhixia promised: “When you encounter difficult problems, you can take photos with your phone and send them to me. As long as I see them, I’ll reply to you.”
Deng Shasha responded with a nasal “Mm.”
Lin Zhixia also left a handwritten letter for each roommate. Her words were soft and sincere, inspiring them line by line, which made Deng Shasha cry.
At the end of June that year, Lin Zhixia was about to leave the university.
Before leaving, Lin Zhixia specifically visited the Quantum Computing Laboratory, where Teacher Gu Likai happened to be present. Lin Zhixia greeted all the senior students and teachers, thanking them for their care over the past three years. Teacher Gu said he wanted to treat everyone to lunch, also serving as a farewell for Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia instinctively asked: “Are we going to the cafeteria now?”
“Not the cafeteria,” Teacher Gu said, “We’re going to Beihua Hot Pot.”
“Beihua Hot Pot” was a well-known restaurant nearby, famous for its lamb, fatty beef, and fried flatbread.
Lin Zhixia jubilantly followed everyone toward the restaurant. Along the way, everyone was chatting and laughing. Yang Shuwen was happier than Lin Zhixia. His face beamed with a bright smile as he repeatedly confirmed: “Lin Zhixia, you’re graduating and going home in a couple of days, right?”
“Yes,” Lin Zhixia agreed.
Yang Shuwen felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Lin Zhixia added: “I’m the graduate representative for our college. Tomorrow I’ll be giving a speech on stage.”
Yang Shuwen wasn’t surprised at all.
He had worked with Lin Zhixia in the same laboratory for three years, witnessing her rapid progress firsthand. She was intelligent, studious, had clear goals, was patient, and hardworking. All classmates believed that her future would be bright and promising.
*
During lunch, Yang Shuwen ordered a bottle of beer. He clinked glasses with Lin Zhixia, silently celebrating her graduation.
On the table was a dual-flavor hot pot. The burning charcoal sent out waves of heat, bringing the soup to a boil. Lin Zhixia put in a large plate of lamb and beef when Tan Qianche suddenly said, “The cost of living abroad is high, and the cafeteria is expensive. At Cambridge, a meal costs at least several dozen yuan. You’ll probably need to learn how to cook… Going abroad before coming of age and having to take care of yourself.”
Lin Zhixia was unconcerned: “It’s fine. I’ve grown up.”
Tan Qianche took a small sip of beer and didn’t continue the conversation.
Teacher Gu sat directly across from Lin Zhixia. The steam rose like white mist, making the table and chairs unclear. Teacher Gu wiped his glasses with a napkin before saying, “Studying abroad isn’t easy. When you encounter difficulties, try to overcome them. Be thorough with your studies and avoid being too eager for quick results. I heard from you and your senior that you want to complete your PhD within two years…”
“Yes,” Lin Zhixia admitted.
Teacher Gu advised her: “You have a sharp mind, one of the students with the best thinking abilities I’ve ever taught. The standards for a PhD are far different from those for an undergraduate. Take it naturally, read and practice more, don’t be impatient, and success will come naturally.”
Teacher Gu’s words not only encouraged Lin Zhixia but also comforted Yang Shuwen.
Yang Shuwen was emotional: “Teacher Gu, if I take things naturally, read and practice more, can I succeed in the physics field right away?”
Teacher Gu smiled: “Those words were meant for your junior.”
What did that mean?
His junior could take things naturally, while he could only resign himself to fate?
So far, Yang Shuwen has also published two papers. His citation count was relatively low, less than one-tenth of Lin Zhixia’s. However, he was backed by a strong team, and their group’s output was extremely prolific. Tan Qianche was particularly willing to guide him. As long as he stayed close to Tan Qianche, he would graduate smoothly.
Yang Shuwen cast a grateful look at Tan Qianche.
Tan Qianche continued eating in silence. His personality showed great contrast—sometimes cheerful and optimistic, sometimes gloomy and depressed. Yang Shuwen quietly encouraged him: “Our junior is about to graduate. Cheer up a bit, otherwise when she remembers this day, she’ll only recall your depressed face.”
Tan Qianche smiled slightly: “Lin Zhixia.”
Lin Zhixia looked up: “Senior.”
“Study hard abroad and never be lazy,” he earnestly advised.
“Your junior knows what to do,” Teacher Gu mediated.
Afternoon, more guests arrived, and there were no more empty seats nearby. The atmosphere in the restaurant became livelier. The hot pot soup was refilled twice. Lin Zhixia was very full, and the other seniors also put down their chopsticks. Teacher Gu called for the server, stood up, and paid with his card. His temples were graying, and he was slightly hunched, but his steps remained steady as he walked in front of all the students, like a tireless guide.
Outside, the sunshine was beautiful, and the students followed in small groups.
Near the school gate, Lin Zhixia formally said goodbye: “I’m heading back now. See you.”
Everyone waved to her.
Shadows overlapped outside the school gate as she walked away under the gaze of her seniors. Her steps were light, and she moved forward without hesitation toward her predetermined direction.
*
The next morning, three people from the Quantum Computing Group decided to attend Lin Zhixia’s graduation speech—Tan Qianche was one of them.
Tan Qianche could always see reflections of his younger self in Lin Zhixia. She was spirited and determined, just like he had been at sixteen or seventeen. Then he suddenly remembered that Lin Zhixia was actually in that sixteen-to-seventeen age range. Youthful ambition knows no worries—that made sense.
Tan Qianche, Yang Shuwen, and another female doctoral student went together to the Mathematics Department’s graduation ceremony. They arrived just in time, waiting only about ten minutes before the host announced loudly: “Please welcome the outstanding graduate representative of the class of 2012, student Lin Zhixia, to deliver her speech.”
The deep red curtains fell, and the lights in the auditorium shone brightly.
Lin Zhixia wore an academic gown and cap, walking slowly onto the stage. She adjusted the microphone, and the tassel of her cap swayed slightly, brushing against her cheek. She couldn’t control herself and sneezed, immediately triggering a wave of gentle laughter from below.
Yang Shuwen was far from her. Standing at the back of the last row of seats, he couldn’t see Lin Zhixia’s facial expression. He was somewhat worried that Lin Zhixia might feel embarrassed, forget her words, or make a fool of herself in public. However, Tan Qianche put his arm around Yang Shuwen’s shoulder and revealed: “Her memory is similar to mine, maybe even a bit better.”
Yang Shuwen didn’t understand.
Tan Qianche didn’t explain further.
The tassel of the academic cap stopped swaying, and Lin Zhixia stood straight. She began: “Respected teachers, fellow students, and parents, hello. I am Lin Zhixia, a graduate of the class of 2012. Today is the day we part with our alma mater. Starting tomorrow, we will all embark on new journeys…”
Her opening was conventional, and some classmates listened absent-mindedly.
Yang Shuwen also commented: “She didn’t mention that she’s a genius or talk about her string of papers.”
“In our Physics Department,” Tan Qianche smiled, “there are also several genius undergraduates.”
Yang Shuwen couldn’t help asking: “Compared to them, who is stronger, Lin Zhixia or them?”
Tan Qianche still had his arm around Yang’s shoulder: “Some students are especially intelligent, but they don’t necessarily like academic work…”
On the stage, Lin Zhixia continued: “I am honored to be selected as this year’s outstanding graduate representative to speak. First, I want to thank our alma mater for nurturing me and providing such a good environment for growth. Second, I want to say that I also experienced periods of confusion. From childhood, I always ranked first in exams. During my four years in secondary school, my science scores were perfect… After entering university, I encountered many difficulties in my studies. My derivations had errors, experiments failed, the chip materials I designed were pending, and for a long period, I didn’t publish a single paper. I was anxious, irritable, nervous, and suffered from insomnia. For the first time, I felt that I was wasting resources. Only then did I realize how much I feared failure.”
The entire hall was silent.
She raised her voice: “My initially set goals were wrong. Later, I finally understood—what standard should I use to evaluate myself? I should use my own experiences and accumulations. This is a three-dimensional standard. Under this standard, both failure and success are multifaceted. Because everyone makes mistakes, the number of mistakes may exceed the number of successes, and life is a continuous process. The value brought by certain experiences changes with time. Our hope is eternal and precious; it will accompany us as we forge ahead on unknown paths.”
At this point, she looked at the entire audience: “I sincerely wish everyone to stay forever young, forever determined, and to realize all possibilities in your dreams…”
Yang Shuwen thought Lin Zhixia had finished. He took the lead in applauding and even shouted: “Genius!”
Before his voice faded, many classmates turned to look at him.
Lin Zhixia still stood motionless.
Yang Shuwen then realized—the speech hadn’t ended; Lin Zhixia had more to say. He seemed to have unintentionally disrupted Lin Zhixia’s rhythm. After all, apart from him, no one else was applauding at that moment.
The back of the auditorium was dimly lit, and Yang Shuwen wished he could find a crack in the ground to disappear into. He turned toward the exit but was held back by Tan Qianche’s hand on his shoulder.
At this moment, Lin Zhixia suddenly spoke: “I have always believed that thoughts are a precious treasure that creates life’s meaning, and meaning cannot be measured; it involves every person. If I am a genius, then all of you are geniuses too. May we continue to pursue equality, confidence, and hope day after day, even after leaving our alma mater.”
“Can I applaud now?” Yang Shuwen asked.
He couldn’t hear Tan Qianche’s answer clearly, as their voices were drowned out by the applause in the auditorium.
Lin Zhixia bowed to everyone.
Only then did Tan Qianche recall Lin Zhixia’s earlier words—she said she had grown up.
Lin Zhixia lightly left the stage. In her heart, she counted the major events of her university phase: she had experienced a laboratory explosion, earned money by writing software, published three papers, and most importantly, her understanding of herself and others had become increasingly clear and bright.
Lin Zhixia descended the stairs and walked through the aisle. None of her classmates were present; only senior students from the fourth year were there.
She saw Luo Ying, Yang Shuwen, Tan Qianche… They all applauded her without exception. The sound was like a passionate high song, and she followed its rhythm, step by step, never stopping her forward journey.
Unlike in elementary and middle school, Lin Zhixia was no longer afraid of partings. She knew that every experience has an endpoint, and every reluctance to part would transform into the joy of reunion.