Jiang Yubai longed for Lin Zhixia’s voice, her breath, her warmth, and the way she looked at him, the soft laughter against his ear, the fingers that traced his neck and shoulders… He couldn’t recreate past scenes in his mind, but these fragmented pieces were enough to keep him bound by yearning.

At six in the evening, the plane landed at Boston airport.

Jiang Yubai rode in a sedan from Boston, crossed the “Longfellow Bridge,” and quickly arrived in Cambridge. The driver parked by the roadside, and Jiang Yubai called Lin Zhixia again. She hurriedly ran down from upstairs and jubilantly rushed toward Jiang Yubai: “I’ve missed you so much!”

In the biting, bone-chilling wind, Lin Zhixia’s cheeks were slightly reddened from the cold. Her eyes were astonishingly bright, as if countless stars were twinkling within them. The white light from the street lamps stretched her shadow, and she repeated: “I’ve missed you so much.”

With just four words, Lin Zhixia broke through Jiang Yubai’s defenses. He reached out his hand to her, which she eagerly grasped, and she softly asked: “Did you miss me?”

Jiang Yubai sighed deeply: “How could I not?”

He led Lin Zhixia into the car.

The headlights cut through the darkness as the sedan continued forward.

Throughout the journey, Lin Zhixia discussed her recent research progress with Jiang Yubai. She worked fourteen hours every day, waking up at six in the morning and going to bed at eleven at night. She even caught colleagues during lunch to discuss research topics. Jiang Yubai asked her: “Are your colleagues working as hard?”

Lin Zhixia summarized: “Most colleagues in our group work quite hard because the boss has high admission standards and work requirements… I joined this group specifically to access their laboratory, and now I’ve used all their equipment.”

When experimental equipment was mentioned, Jiang Yubai shifted the topic to Lin Zhixia’s “ptsic” quantum programming language platform.

Currently, the entire platform is affiliated with Senior Wei Ruoxing’s laboratory, but Wei Ruoxing has her own research projects, and her laboratory can’t fully meet Lin Zhixia’s development needs.

Jiang Yubai planned to establish a quantum technology company for Lin Zhixia under the name of an internet company, fully supporting the future development of “ptsic” without troubling Wei Ruoxing to use her laboratory resources.

Jiang Yubai took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Lin Zhixia: “This is the first draft of the business plan for the ‘Quantum Technology Laboratory.’ Take a look when you have time. We can discuss the specific collaboration details after you return to China.”

Lin Zhixia stared intently at Jiang Yubai: “You…”

Jiang Yubai met her gaze: “Me?”

Lin Zhixia solemnly uttered: “Little President Jiang.”

Jiang Yubai leaned close to her ear: “I’m not little anymore.”

Lin Zhixia’s breath caught.

Indeed.

Jiang Yubai wasn’t little anymore.

Years ago, whenever Lin Zhixia called him “Little President Jiang,” he would become particularly embarrassed and uncomfortable, avoiding her gaze. Now, his reaction was beyond Lin Zhixia’s expectations.

*

Jiang Yubai had booked a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, priced at over four thousand dollars per night, exceeding Lin Zhixia’s monthly rent. Lin Zhixia had long grown accustomed to this economic disparity. Carrying her backpack, she walked confidently into the room, headed toward the master bedroom, and pressed her hands on the mattress.

Jiang Yubai took off his coat and casually said, “I’m going to take a shower.”

Lin Zhixia turned to look at him: “Me too.”

Lin Zhixia meant that she would use the other bathroom to shower. However, Jiang Yubai unbuttoned one button of his shirt, deliberately exposing his collarbone, and left the bathroom door wide open, welcoming Lin Zhixia to come in and observe at any time.

Why was it like this?

After just a few months apart, Lin Zhixia felt that Jiang Yubai’s methods of baiting her had multiplied.

Jiang Yubai indeed had his considerations.

Jiang Yubai guessed that Lin Zhixia was willing to meet him during Christmas because most research group projects were paused during this time, with researchers going home for the holidays. Given this rare opportunity to be alone with Lin Zhixia, he decided to appropriately relax his self-restraint.

After mentally preparing himself, Jiang Yubai turned on the bathtub faucet. The sound of water resonated loudly, warm mist filled the air, and as he sat in the rippling pool, he heard Lin Zhixia ask: “Are you bathing now?”

He didn’t respond.

Lin Zhixia sneaked in.

Jiang Yubai leaned back slightly.

Lin Zhixia, wearing a nightgown, knelt at the edge of the bath. She examined his entire body through the crystal-clear, mirror-like water. She froze for a moment, then cautiously reached out to touch him: “I… I’m seeing you for the first time…” She paused, suddenly looking up, and stammered: “I don’t dare look anymore.”

Jiang Yubai grabbed her wrist and kissed the back of her hand. Then he let go and moved to another position to sit quietly. Lin Zhixia, looking at his silhouette, was so enchanted that she inexplicably followed him into the water. The water level rose past Lin Zhixia’s thighs before she came to her senses and retreated to the edge.

Jiang Yubai was Lin Zhixia’s swimming coach. She clearly remembered how he looked in swimming trunks, but her exploration of him had never gone to the final step. Even though they had lived together for a year, Lin Zhixia had never crossed the most dangerous boundary.

Those brief ten-plus seconds left a deep impression on Lin Zhixia.

Strong curiosity drove her to follow Jiang Yubai, but reason advised her to stay still. Her heart was filled with countless conflicts, and eventually, she quickly fled the scene.

*

Throughout the Christmas holiday, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai stayed at the hotel. During the day, they went out for walks; in the evening, they played games that only the two of them understood; at night, they shared a bed as always, though Lin Zhixia became particularly well-behaved and no longer asked Jiang Yubai to unbutton his shirt for her to study.

Boston’s winter was cold and damp, but the room was bright and warm. On the last day of the Christmas holiday, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia said goodbye at the bedroom door. Lin Zhixia gave Jiang Yubai a packet of golden camellia seeds. She said that when Jiang Yubai returned home, he could plant the golden camellia in a flowerpot, and by autumn next year, when the golden camellia bloomed, Lin Zhixia would return to China.

The golden camellia, native to China, was obtained by Lin Zhixia at a botanical academic exchange meeting. Its flower language is “ideal love.”

That pot of golden camellia became the first plant Jiang Yubai personally cultivated.

Jiang Yubai placed the flowerpot on the windowsill of his office, caring for it diligently every day. He even found time to read two books on “flower gardening” and consulted with a professional bonsai master.

Both their daily work schedules were busy, and they maintained a routine of weekly calls. Lin Zhixia published papers at a faster rate than during her doctoral studies. Jiang Yubai observed her growth, like waiting for a golden camellia to bloom.

Senior Wei Ruoxing guided Lin Zhixia step by step on how to apply for the “Youth Thousand Talents Program.” With Lin Zhixia’s academic credentials so far, she quickly passed the university’s resume screening and submitted her evaluation materials in June 2015.

Lin Zhixia wasn’t aware of how competitive this year’s “Youth Thousand Talents Program” was. She didn’t try to inquire through connections, only briefly sharing her plans with Professor Shen Zhaohua—if she were lucky enough, she would become Professor Shen Zhaohua’s colleague.

Professor Shen Zhaohua promptly replied, asking how her research in America was progressing.

Lin Zhixia honestly said that during this year in America, she had maintained early mornings and late nights, limited social interactions, focused on research, and lived a very peaceful life, like being in secluded cultivation. Lin Zhixia had also provided many new ideas for their research group, collaborated on two papers with the group leader, and found all colleagues to be diligent and hardworking. She had learned many new concepts and knowledge, and now, she was eager to return to China.

The next moment, there was a “ding” notification sound from her email.

Lin Zhixia opened an email from Jiang Yubai. She saw a golden camellia blooming in a flowerpot, with delicate yellow petals and lush foliage, creating a beautifully exquisite scene.

In his message, Jiang Yubai wrote: “The flower has bloomed, it’s time to come home.”

Lin Zhixia replied to Jiang Yubai with four words: “See you Monday.”