The academy assigned four undergraduate students to Lin Zhixia. She was responsible for tutoring these four students in their coursework. On the first day of class, to make herself look mature and steady enough, Lin Zhixia dressed quite formally.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, the four students arrived at a small classroom right on time.
Coincidentally, all four students were Chinese, with two male students from Shanghai and the other two female students from Taipei and Macau. They chatted animatedly in Chinese and sat around a round table.
Lin Zhixia stood in front of a whiteboard, holding a marker, explaining the knowledge framework in English. As the students were still whispering to each other in Chinese below, Lin Zhixia asked, “Would you prefer me to speak English or Chinese?”
A male student named Li Zirui said, “Teacher Lin, speak Chinese, with some English terms mixed in…”
Before Li Zirui could finish, Lin Zhixia agreed, “Okay, then we’ll have class like we’re just chatting, it would be best if you could relax.”
Another female student named Wu Pinyan raised her hand and asked, “Do we need to submit homework every week?”
Lin Zhixia handed each of them a printed document.
Wearing a suit skirt set, with a calm expression, she said seriously, “You’ll need to write a short academic paper each week, about 2,000 words, and I’ll grade your papers. Today is the first class, I want to understand your academic interests and your purposes for choosing this course. If you just want to get high scores… that’s simple, I can tailor plans for you and recommend some broad materials. If you’re particularly interested in a certain research field, we can also discuss it more in class. Of course, the focus should still be on learning the course itself.”
Wu Pinyan, hugging her backpack, asked again, “I downloaded last year’s homework and finished it, but I struggled with the quantum computing model problems and almost failed. Could we talk more about quantum computing models?”
“Yes, of course,” Lin Zhixia readily agreed.
Seeing how accommodating she was, another male student asked, “Did you just publish a Nature paper on reconstructing quantum algorithms? You proved the algorithm’s superiority from two aspects: mathematical analysis and experimental results… oh, right, the news said you’re only eighteen years old.”
He unintentionally mentioned Lin Zhixia’s age, and the atmosphere in the classroom suddenly became a bit awkward.
Li Zirui lowered his voice and said, “Hey, she’s our tutor.”
That male student rubbed his hands, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“It’s okay,” Lin Zhixia smoothed things over, “If you’re interested in my paper, I can take a few minutes to briefly introduce the content to everyone.”
“Sure!” Wu Pinyan enthusiastically supported.
Next, Lin Zhixia inquired in detail about each student’s situation.
Lin Zhixia was close to the students’ age, shared the same cultural background, and spoke in a gentle tone.
Lin Zhixia told everyone that she would randomly ask questions in class, conduct random checks, and write “classroom feedback reports” honestly. If students had any questions, they could interrupt her at any time or email her after class. She accepted all relevant questions in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and computer science.
Li Zirui asked her, “Do you understand all subjects?”
Lin Zhixia smiled and answered, “If I don’t know something, I’ll find materials to learn about it.”
Li Zirui nodded and asked no more questions.
Since today was the first class and the students didn’t have much to study, time flew by quickly. In the last few minutes, Lin Zhixia explained her latest Nature paper on the whiteboard. The speed at which she derived physics formulas amazed the four students present. She didn’t need any reference materials; she cited classics effortlessly and could mentally calculate complex mathematical operations.
Based on her paper content, she created a problem on the spot.
She asked Wu Pinyan, “This is a quantum computing model problem. Do you have any thoughts?”
Wu Pinyan paused her breathing.
Wu Pinyan didn’t give up.
She opened her newly bought notebook and quickly copied the expression Lin Zhixia had written on the blackboard. Lin Zhixia was very thoughtful and used English for the problem, because the final exam questions would certainly all be in English. The four students present were already accustomed to English exams and were not very sensitive to professional terms in Chinese.
While copying the problem, Wu Pinyan said, “I have an idea now.”
Li Zirui turned his head to look at her.
Wu Pinyan’s pen flew across the paper. Lin Zhixia walked to her side, bringing a faint, refreshing fragrance. Wu Pinyan took a deep breath and said cheerfully, “I’ve written down the method.”
Lin Zhixia looked at her handwriting and said directly, “This won’t work.”
Wu Pinyan asked, “Why not?”
Lin Zhixia held her pen, bent over, and added to the operation on the paper. Wu Pinyan suddenly understood. Lin Zhixia looked up at the clock and said, “Alright, time’s up. See you all next week.”
The students bid her farewell one after another.
The first tutoring class concluded successfully.
*
The next day was Saturday, and Lin Zhixia had arranged to go to the gymnasium with Jiang Yubai.
In the tutoring class, Lin Zhixia was gentle, calm, and patient, but in front of Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia laughed and said, “It was so interesting! You didn’t see me teaching students, it was so fun! There was a boy who told everyone that I had just published a Nature paper and that I was only eighteen years old. All the students became very shy. I was worried a few days ago that they would think I was too young to be their tutor, but I didn’t expect everyone to accept reality so quickly. I’m very happy.”
What else could they do?
Besides accepting reality, what else could they do? Jiang Yubai thought secretly.
But on the surface, Jiang Yubai said, “You’re indeed suitable to be a teacher.”
“I think so too,” Lin Zhixia jumped on the spot, “I’m just very suitable to be a teacher.”
Jiang Yubai held her hand and led her through the gates of the gymnasium.
Lin Zhixia was still immersed in the excitement of being a tutor.
She talked nonstop about the classroom scene. She also said that she would arrange rich and diverse learning tasks for those four students to ensure their research work would proceed smoothly and yield results.
Jiang Yubai silently pondered what “rich and diverse learning tasks” meant.
He implied, “Don’t pressure yourself.”
“I don’t feel pressured,” Lin Zhixia held onto his arm, “I’m just a bit afraid that I’ll put pressure on them, like the senior student did. The senior is quite nice. When her paper was rejected by the editor, she didn’t blame anyone. She was down for just a short week before she threw herself back into work. I admire her tenacity. Indeed worthy of being a top student from the Indian Institute of Technology!”
After hearing her talk so much, Jiang Yubai just felt that she was very lively, optimistic, and adorable. In a secluded corner with no one around, he stopped, bent down to get closer to her, and she became a bit nervous. “Didn’t you say your classmates might come here?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yubai admitted.
“Then don’t kiss me,” Lin Zhixia said softly, “Don’t let others see.”
Jiang Yubai stepped back, moving further away from her. He put his hands in his pockets and, though he had no intention of doing anything improper, he tempted her in a low voice, “While no one’s around…”
Lin Zhixia’s cheeks reddened. “While no one’s around, hurry and tell me where we can play squash.”
Today, the reason Lin Zhixia wanted to come to the gymnasium with Jiang Yubai was that she hadn’t exercised for a long time.
Since starting her PhD, she has no longer stuck to daily exercise like she did during her undergraduate years. A few days ago, when she called her mother, her mother asked how her health was and if she had been running or jumping rope. Her mother also mentioned that Lin Zeqiu exercised regularly and had participated in the “Capital Universities Student Basketball League” last semester. Although Lin Zeqiu’s team was eliminated in the first round, his sporting spirit was commendable.
Lin Zhixia was greatly inspired.
She decided to develop a sports skill.
She made a list including rock climbing, swimming, and squash, each requiring skill and good for physical exercise.
Moreover, each of these sports was a specialty of Jiang Yubai’s.
Lin Zhixia tactfully asked Jiang Yubai to be her sports teacher, and he agreed without hesitation.
Lin Zhixia was very happy, “I’ll teach you academics, you teach me exercising.”
In front of Lin Zhixia, Jiang Yubai felt like a male college student from a sports university.
Jiang Yubai had reserved a squash room. The room had solid walls on three sides, with glass on the door side. After entering, Jiang Yubai took off his coat and handed Lin Zhixia a racket. He said, “I’ll demonstrate first, then you can follow me.”
“Okay, okay!” Lin Zhixia was elated.
It was time for her favorite role-playing session again.
She called him in a sweet voice, “Teacher Jiang.”
Jiang Yubai paused while picking up the ball.
“What’s wrong, Teacher Jiang?” Lin Zhixia moved closer to him.
Lin Zhixia was wearing a sports outfit. The skirt was relatively short, not covering her knees. When she bent down, her neckline appeared lower, something she hadn’t noticed at all, but Jiang Yubai said, “Stand straight.”
Lin Zhixia stood perfectly straight.
Jiang Yubai hooked the zipper of her top with his fingertip and slowly pulled it to the top, still not letting go.
Lin Zhixia’s breathing quickened, her chest slightly rising and falling, the round, full curves becoming more apparent.
She called out again, “Teacher Jiang.”
Jiang Yubai seemed to truly transform into a serious and proper young teacher. He no longer looked at Lin Zhixia. He asked her to sit on a sofa chair and personally demonstrated how to play squash.
Jiang Yubai’s movements were smooth, his reactions swift. The small ball flew back and forth between the wall and his racket, not missing a single hit. Lin Zhixia watched him without blinking… becoming dazzled and enchanted, her heart racing.
Outside the glass door, there were some passersby.
Several young men stood at the door, watching Jiang Yubai play squash.
Jiang Yubai had strong arm strength, playing hard and fiercely, with extremely fast ball speed, drawing attention. But he stopped in time, before people could cheer for him. He called Lin Zhixia over, “I’ll teach you.”
Lin Zhixia extended a hand to him.
Jiang Yubai noticed that Lin Zhixia was wearing the ring he had given her.
The memory of that ring from last New Year’s Eve was almost deeply etched in his mind. He caught Lin Zhixia’s wrist and first taught her how to hold the racket.
Jiang Yubai said in a low voice, “Spread your fingers.”
Lin Zhixia then asked, “Teacher Jiang, have you taught other students before?”
Jiang Yubai answered honestly, “No, you’re the first one.”
Lin Zhixia broke free from his side, “With so little experience, can you teach me?”
Jiang Yubai hadn’t expected Lin Zhixia to play this role.
This squash room was a public area. Whatever Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia did inside, passersby from outside could see—their university classmates often came here to work out, and since stepping into the gymnasium, Jiang Yubai had met many acquaintances. From this perspective, Jiang Yubai was quite restrained.
Jiang Yubai said, “Trust me, I can teach you well. Come here, let’s start with the swing.”
Before he finished speaking, someone outside called Jiang Yubai’s name.
Jiang Yubai turned his face and saw several friends he got along well. Those people were all in the same college as him, all handsome guys with broad shoulders, long legs, and strong physiques.
Jiang Yubai went out to greet them, and they formed a group of male models with an average height above 1.85 meters.
Lin Zhixia was still swinging the racket in the room when suddenly she heard someone shout, “Teacher Lin! Teacher Lin! Teacher Lin, you’ve come to play too?”