With six months remaining until the end of his third year of graduate studies, Xu Lingbo used all his abilities to finally squeeze out a paper and submit it to Lin Zhixia—that was the highlight of Xu Lingbo’s life.
Although he hadn’t washed his hair for four days, his entire body radiated the fragrance of knowledge, his heart filled with the dew of wisdom.
Wearing a wrinkled jacket, with a straight back and determined gaze, he stood properly in front of Lin Zhixia’s desk and politely said, “Professor Lin, please review my paper. Thank you, Professor.”
Lin Zhixia pulled over a chair, placed it next to her black leather chair, and calmly said, “Please sit.”
Xu Lingbo’s heart instantly rose to his throat: “Ah?”
“I’ll correct it page by page for you,” Lin Zhixia said, taking out a red pen. “If you have any questions, just ask me directly. We’ll try to submit your article as soon as possible, to ensure you graduate on time with your master’s degree.”
Xu Lingbo coughed violently, then steeled himself and sat down beside Lin Zhixia.
He placed both hands on his thighs, staring at his paper.
Lin Zhixia read through the entire article, silently simulating the experimental process in her mind, confirming that the data in the figures and tables were valid.
Afterward, she began correcting from the first paragraph of the article.
Generally speaking, the first part of a scientific paper is the literature review. If the review is poorly written, it indicates that the author’s knowledge reserve is insufficient, with inadequate accumulation in the relevant field. Therefore, Lin Zhixia placed great importance on this section.
Based on Xu Lingbo’s experimental design and results, Lin Zhixia added some reading materials for him and summarized the core ideas of the literature. She also supplemented necessary formula derivations in the later text—she only wrote the beginning of the calculations, leaving the remaining work to Xu Lingbo, but she had already elevated the entire article to a higher level.
Watching her write without pause, Xu Lingbo was once again shocked, thinking to himself: If Professor Lin’s brain is a combat bomber, my brain is a children’s rocking horse. She flies high and far, quick as lightning. While I can only rock in place, swinging my head, thinking my mind is active when it’s just the amplitude of my head-shaking that’s too large.
Alas, perhaps Cui Yiming was right, I deserve to have my graduation delayed… Xu Lingbo thought to himself.
Xu Lingbo sighed helplessly, but then heard Lin Zhixia say, “You’ve written well, showing great progress. Once you’ve revised the article, it will certainly meet the school’s graduation requirements, and you might even be recognized as an ‘Outstanding Graduate.'”
“Professor Lin?” Xu Lingbo looked up in surprise.
Lin Zhixia smiled and said, “I’m quite satisfied with your work. Keep it up, revise it soon, and publish it early.”
Xu Lingbo nodded repeatedly.
He took back his paper from Lin Zhixia’s hands, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders. All the anxiety, difficulties, distress, and troubles gradually faded away. He walked with light steps on his way back to the men’s dormitory. The sky showered down bright sunshine, and in his heart was the clarity of a sky after rain.
*
For Xu Lingbo, the winter break of 2018 was a special holiday.
He didn’t go home for the Spring Festival.
He became studious, not ashamed to ask questions, consulted his advisor every week, and could sit quietly in the laboratory for an entire day. Fang Yiwen said he had been “reborn,” while Cui Yiming mocked him for “overestimating himself,” but he remembered Lin Zhixia’s teachings, blocking out negative external interference, with his heart and eyes focused only on his paper.
Every day, he went out with the morning glow and returned to his dormitory with the moonlight. The cold wind of midwinter was like a knife, freezing his nose red and his ears stiff, but he didn’t fear hardship or fatigue. Finally, on the second day after the winter break ended, he submitted his revised paper to Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia finalized it for him in a single night, praised his achievements, and submitted his article to an SCI journal.
Two months later, Xu Lingbo received the good news that the journal had accepted his article.
In other words, from now on, Xu Lingbo was also someone who had published an SCI paper.
Strangely, he wasn’t as happy as he had previously imagined, nor did he feel his research results were particularly important; he just had a sense of indescribable satisfaction permeating his whole body. He printed out the paper, held it to his chest, and slept a long, peaceful sleep.
*
Although Xu Lingbo had published a Tier 2 SCI paper as the first author, Lin Zhixia knew that Xu Lingbo didn’t particularly enjoy research. He planned to work directly after earning his master’s degree, so Lin Zhixia reminded him to pay attention to the school’s spring recruitment fair.
This year’s spring recruitment fair primarily had two forms: dual-selection meetings and recruitment presentations.
The dual-selection meetings were held in the school gymnasium, attracting more than a hundred enterprises from within and outside the province, including Chai Yang’s “Yangyang Live Streaming.” Each enterprise occupied a booth in the gymnasium, setting up stalls to attract passing students.
Recruitment presentations were generally held in the school auditorium or lecture halls, organized by individual enterprises. Lin Zhixia’s quantum technology company held a large-scale presentation at the end of April. Luo Ying and Lin Zeqiu served as the main speakers, respectively representing the company’s research group and technology group.
Luo Ying was skilled at engaging the audience, and their response was unprecedentedly enthusiastic.
In the first row of the auditorium sat several young professors from the School of Physics—among them, a long-haired female professor caught Luo Ying’s attention. This professor was beautiful with an exceptional temperament. She applauded for Luo Ying while pursing her lips in a smile, her smile extremely beautiful.
After the presentation, Luo Ying calmly left the stage. She heard from others that the female professor was named Meng Liansi, a lecturer at the School of Physics.
Meng Liansi had collaborated with Tan Qianche and was about to join Lin Zhixia’s “Four-University Joint Research Group.” She specifically came to listen to the quantum technology company’s presentation to learn more about the dynamics related to the “Four-University Joint Research Group.”
She also wanted to get Luo Ying’s contact information.
She occasionally turned her head, her gaze quickly sweeping over Luo Ying.
At this moment, Lin Zhixia had just entered the auditorium through the side door and stood beside Luo Ying.
Luo Ying said, “Quite a few students came today. The company’s email account received over a hundred resumes. Our research group is only recruiting ten people, so the competition is quite fierce.”
“Thank you for your hard work, senior,” Lin Zhixia asked, “You’ve been standing on stage for an hour. Would you like to sit down and rest for a while?”
Luo Ying smiled and said, “I’m not tired.”
Lin Zhixia handed Luo Ying a bottle of water. The mineral water bottle retained her residual warmth.
Luo Ying’s palm lightly touched the bottle, a multitude of feelings surging in her heart. Perhaps because her shirt was too tight, her chest felt heavy, and her thousands of words condensed into one sentence: “In four more months, you and Jiang Yubai will hold your wedding, right?”
“Yes,” Lin Zhixia considered for a moment before asking, “Will you attend the wedding, senior?”
Her voice was as sweet and pleasant as ever, pronouncing the term “senior” extremely well.
Luo Ying smiled and nodded: “I will.” After a pause, she murmured, “I really… sincerely hope you’ll be happy.”
In the surrounding dim light, with blurred figures, Luo Ying gazed forward, her fingers gripping her skirt, her nails slightly snagging, seemingly tearing the fabric.
At this moment, Lin Zhixia replied: “I feel the same way, senior.”
Her implication was: I also hope you will be happy.
Luo Ying lowered her head slightly, smiling with acceptance.
Lin Zhixia suddenly asked: “May I give your WeChat contact to Professor Meng? Professor Meng’s full name is Meng Liansi, she’s sitting there…”
After a pause, Lin Zhixia pointed to the first row of seats in the auditorium: “She just sent me a message, subtly asking for your WeChat. She works at the School of Physics and is about to join our ‘Four-University Joint Research Group.'”
Luo Ying looked in the direction Lin Zhixia pointed, just meeting Meng Liansi’s gaze. Meng Liansi immediately sat up straight. She clasped her hands together, resting them on her legs, her neatly trimmed nails pressing against each other, gently rubbing—but Luo Ying couldn’t see these details.
“Is that alright?” Lin Zhixia asked carefully once more.
Luo Ying softly agreed: “Sure.”
Lin Zhixia curled her lips: “Mmm, I’ll forward Meng Liansi’s WeChat contact card to you now.”
*
Meng Liansi specialized in a branch of condensed matter physics.
Her research area was relatively small, and she didn’t have many students. But after joining the “Four-University Joint Research Group,” she brought significant support and also lightened Fang Yiwen’s burden.
Fang Yiwen had already met the graduation requirements for doctoral students. Last year, she also won the prestigious title of “Best Paper of 2017” from a renowned journal. She still diligently worked in the laboratory, partly to learn more, and partly to contribute to Lin Zhixia’s research.
Lin Zhixia instead told her not to work too hard and sent materials about postdoctoral research groups to her email.
Fang Yiwen began planning for the next phase of her work. Time passed day by day, and she didn’t have a precise sense of it. Before she knew it, it was June—the graduation season of that year.
Spring gave way to summer, the weather gradually became hotter, and the area below the student dormitories was packed with people, filled with the sound of rolling suitcases.
Fang Yiwen had few possessions. She carried a suitcase in one hand and a backpack on her shoulder, heading directly from the women’s dormitory toward the school gate.
Xu Lingbo accompanied her.
As they approached the gate, they both spotted Lin Zhixia.
Fang Yiwen called out first: “Professor Lin?”
“I came to see you off,” Lin Zhixia said, handing out two cloth packages, “Small gifts I made yesterday.”
Fang Yiwen opened the package to find a seal engraved with her name in seal script. Xu Lingbo’s package contained the same. Both were momentarily speechless.
The June morning sun was warm and gentle as Lin Zhixia’s voice drifted softly into their ears: “Congratulations on your graduation, goodbye.”
She stepped back, standing quietly on campus.
Memories surfaced in their minds. The teacher’s patient guidance seemed like just yesterday, but their student lives were now ending, without grand farewell ceremonies, accompanied only by the gentle morning breeze. Xu Lingbo took a deep breath and said goodbye to Lin Zhixia: “Goodbye, Professor Lin!”
Fang Yiwen reached out to Lin Zhixia, and before Lin Zhixia could react, Fang Yiwen quickly embraced her, whispering like in a dream: “Professor, goodbye.”
A tear slid from the corner of Fang Yiwen’s eye, and she rubbed her face. In the distance were the vast blue sky and boundless white clouds. She picked up her suitcase, waved goodbye rather casually, and didn’t look back.
Lin Zhixia stood still, watching her students leave.
This was June 2018. Lin Zhixia’s two founding disciples had each set off on their paths. That evening, she wrote in her diary: “Without realizing it, I’ve been an advisor for two years. So this is what it feels like to see students off. I couldn’t have imagined it without experiencing it firsthand. Fang Yiwen has joined the research group I used to be in, and Xu Lingbo has found a job in Shanghai. Different people make different choices; I wish them all bright futures…”
As Lin Zhixia wrote in her diary, Jiang Yubai sat beside her.
Jiang Yubai watched her write. As she wrote, she said, “Today I also applied for marriage leave. We’ll hold our wedding in August, just when students are on summer break and new students haven’t started yet. After the wedding, we’ll go on our honeymoon.”
Jiang Yubai picked up a pen and began composing their imagined honeymoon life on a piece of white paper.
His words were implicit yet concise.
Lin Zhixia leaned on his shoulder, seemingly watching him write a novel. As his description deepened, her cheeks began to blush, and she said softly, “I can make them come true.”
Jiang Yubai almost broke the pen tip from gripping it too hard.
Lin Zhixia whispered in his ear: “I’ve memorized it all.”
He reached behind to grab her, but she ran away laughing.
Jiang Yubai wasn’t in a hurry. He folded the white paper, placed it in a drawer of the bookcase, locked it, and then got up to find Lin Zhixia.
He found Lin Zhixia in the bedroom. She was holding a wedding dress, standing in front of a mirror, seemingly deep in thought.
Jiang Yubai approached silently, keeping a distance from her, quiet and restrained as he had been in his youth. Having spent many years with Lin Zhixia, often reading her diary and observing her behavior, he could guess her thoughts—for instance, now he said: “Whether married or not, you are free.”
Jiang Yubai raised his left hand, placed it on the mirror, covering the reflection of Lin Zhixia’s right hand.
Lin Zhixia suddenly recalled a line of love poetry: “Let my love be like sunlight, surrounding you and giving you brilliant freedom[1].”
She immediately put down the wedding dress, gently pressing the back of Jiang Yubai’s hand, and said seriously: “You and I will never part.”
Jiang Yubai remained silent for a long time. After quite a while, he asked softly: “When you get busy, can you call me once a day?”
Lin Zhixia’s memory returned to that night with Jiang Yubai in the Swiss hotel. At that time, he sat silently on the bay window, the cool breeze disheveling his hair and making his collar float. She could understand his feelings.
She slowly leaned against him: “I’ll move in with you in a couple of days and live with you. What’s the point of phone calls? I want to see you every day. In my heart, no one compares to you.”
Lin Zhixia spoke sweet words without any hesitation. However, Jiang Yubai was already accustomed to her frankness and directness. He seemed to just smile, and Lin Zhixia thought he doubted her sincerity.
She asked casually: “You don’t believe me?”
But he said, “I’ve believed since I was young.”
Lin Zhixia probed: “Do you still remember what I said to you when I was little?”
Jiang Yubai recited her famous quote word for word: “Even if there are many unattainable things in life, at least meeting you is something rare and precious… truly, friendship between friends is priceless.” He said the last sentence with special meaning.
Lin Zhixia’s face turned crimson, thinking: His memory is also very good.
*
From this day on, Lin Zhixia began to look forward to the wedding.
In April of last year, Lin Zhixia had taken a group of colleagues on a business trip to Hong Kong. She had originally planned to explore Hong Kong Island with Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu. Unfortunately, they were all too busy at that time, unable to squeeze out any leisure time.
This August, Lin Zhixia took more than half a month off, especially traveling to Hainan for the wedding.
Hainan is an island, and Lin Zhixia’s family all enjoyed seafood and sea views—on the afternoon of their arrival in Sanya, Hainan, Lin Zhixia gathered her relatives and friends, headed straight to a seaside restaurant, set up a barbecue stand, and happily grilled crabs, lobster, scallops, and various other fresh delicacies.
Lin Zhixia’s university friend Deng Shasha asked with her mouth full: “Professor Lin, I feel like you’re not here for a wedding, but for a vacation?”
Lin Zhixia cracked open a crab leg and reasoned, “You need energy for a wedding.”
“Yes!” Deng Shasha suddenly slapped her thigh vigorously.
Deng Shasha’s excitement wasn’t because she agreed with Lin Zhixia, but because she saw a stunning beach scene—Jiang Yubai, Lin Zeqiu, Duan Qiyan… and Jiang Yubai’s group of friends, who seemed like male models, all wearing light clothing, carrying surfboards, standing at the edge of the beach.
They were tall with long legs, athletic bodies, muscles gleaming, making one’s mouth water.
“Your brother and husband are going surfing,” Deng Shasha said excitedly, “Damn, so many super handsome guys. Lin Zhixia, I’m keeping you as a friend! Your husband’s friends are all so handsome. Which one of them might be interested in me?”
Lin Zhixia’s father, mother, uncle, and aunt were sitting nearby. Feng Yuan quickly covered Deng Shasha’s mouth: “Lower your voice! Don’t let Xiaxia’s parents hear; they’ll think we’re not proper.”
Deng Shasha hurriedly remedied: “As a provincial science top scorer in the college entrance examination, I’m certainly proper.” Then she asked: “Professor Lin, do you need a sister-in-law?”
Lin Zhixia raised her head from a pile of crab shells.
She remembered that her brother couldn’t swim, nor could he surf.
Sure enough, among that group of handsome men, her brother was the most conspicuous—not because he was the most handsome, but because while everyone else carried a surfboard, only Lin Zeqiu held an inflatable swimming ring.
Lin Zhixia laughed out loud.
She took another bite of lobster, wiped her hands clean, and at Deng Shasha’s urging, walked with her toward Lin Zeqiu. Before they got close, azure waves suddenly surged forth. Jiang Yubai and his friends nimbly entered the water, while Lin Zeqiu remained in place, hesitating, unable to advance or retreat.
In the end, he just stood in the shallow waters, soaking his feet.
Lin Zhixia nearly died laughing at him.
Lin Zeqiu heard his sister’s unrestrained laughter and, without turning his head, coldly asked: “Why did you come looking for me while eating your barbecue?”
He thought Lin Zhixia would say “to watch you surf,” but instead she said: “To watch you soak your feet.”
Lin Zeqiu couldn’t bear it anymore: “Lin Zhixia, I warn you…”
Lin Zhixia pushed Deng Shasha forward, but unexpectedly, Deng Shasha was a giant in language but a dwarf in action. Upon seeing Lin Zeqiu wearing only swimming trunks, her cheeks burned red, her ears dripped blood, and she couldn’t catch her breath.
Lin Zhixia whispered in her ear, “Shasha, how can you be a sister-in-law if you’re this nervous? You need to relax a bit first.”
Deng Shasha felt that her soul was about to be stripped away by this beautiful pair of siblings. She stammered: “Y-your brother…”
Lin Zeqiu turned around and looked at her. After a moment’s recollection, he asked: “You’re Lin Zhixia’s classmate?”
Deng Shasha said, “No, I’m her sister-in-law.”
Lin Zeqiu looked at her as if she were mentally ill. She finally came to her senses and hurriedly turned to leave. Lin Zeqiu watched her retreating figure and asked: “Has your friend had too much to drink?”
“I think so,” Lin Zhixia went along with him, “We were just having a barbecue.”
Lin Zeqiu relaxed.
Lin Zhixia occupied a good position to watch Jiang Yubai surfing on the sea. He was skilled at sports, catching the highest wave. Lin Zhixia gazed at him steadily and revealed, “I like Jiang Yubai.”
Lin Zeqiu asked her: “Why?”
Lin Zhixia thought for a moment before saying, “Because Jiang Yubai is a very good person.”
“Just one sentence?” Lin Zeqiu questioned.
“A sentence that condenses thousands of words,” Lin Zhixia patted his shoulder like an elder, “The day after tomorrow, you’ll walk the red carpet with me.”
The day after tomorrow was the day of Lin Zhixia’s wedding.
Lin Zeqiu felt somewhat uneasy.
Lin Zhixia, however, was quite composed.
On the wedding day, Lin Zhixia slept in, happily ate a meal, and then changed into a white wedding dress with a cinched waist and long train. Her long hair was pinned up by several makeup artists.
Jiang Yubai’s mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother all came to see her, bringing gift lists for her perusal—according to the Jiang family tradition, elders would present congratulatory gift lists on the day of the bride and groom’s wedding.
Lin Zhixia was momentarily stunned.
Jiang Yubai’s relatives all said: “We’re family now.”
“Of course,” Lin Zhixia readily agreed, “From now on, we can discuss everything together as a family.”
Jiang Yubai had once mentioned to Lin Zhixia that his father often said that, as a family, everything can be discussed.
Lin Zhixia’s comment, filled with the Jiang family spirit, elicited laughter from his aunt. She affectionately linked arms with Lin Zhixia: “You’re so beautiful, how can you be so pretty?”
“Thank you,” Lin Zhixia remained modest, “It’s mainly because I spent two hours on makeup.”
The aunt was greatly amused and asked: “Are you nervous?”
Lin Zhixia said, “I’m curious.”
“Curious about what?” Jiang Yubai’s mother asked.
Lin Zhixia answered honestly: “I haven’t seen the wedding venue; Jiang Yubai has kept it a secret from me.”
Lin Zhixia hoped that Jiang Yubai’s four female elders might reveal some information, but they skillfully avoided the topic with great coordination—they were masters of conversation, consistently keeping the focus on Lin Zhixia.
This greatly aroused Lin Zhixia’s exploratory desire.
Lin Zhixia could hardly wait for the ceremony to begin.
Through a spacious floor-to-ceiling window, Lin Zhixia saw the hotel staff coming and going, busy with preparations. Her curiosity swelled to its peak. She waited anxiously until the wedding began, finally walking toward the grand hall in the company of her father, mother, and brother, as the bride.
The red carpet extended to its end, the golden bronze carved doors slowly opened, light and deep red roses bloomed on both sides of the path, glass-carved steps embedded with gorgeous star and moon patterns beneath, silver thread patterns glittering, and the orchestra’s ensemble played melodious music.
Lin Zhixia slowed her pace, the white dress trailing behind her. Flower girls picked up her dress train as she seemed to enter a dream filled with dazzling stars. She saw the vast ceiling dark as night, pendant lamps suspended in the air like a galaxy of stars, fixed shapes of light-colored brocade resembling nebulae, pale gold fountains representing the gas rings of active galactic nuclei, rose beds spread beneath the glass floor, and guests’ long tables and soft chairs all custom-made to complement the nebula theme.
Lin Zhixia momentarily felt as if she were in the vast universe. Lin Zeqiu had just recovered from his shock, murmuring: “Jiang Yubai has put in a lot of effort, decorating it beautifully… He showed me the video, but the actual scene is much more impressive than the video.”
Lin Zeqiu escorted his sister along a long path. Lights fell on the heads of their family, with their parents’ eyes rimmed red. Hidden aerial cameras captured the scene of their father lowering his head to wipe away tears, though Lin Zhixia didn’t notice this detail.
She looked straight ahead.
Jiang Yubai seemed to have been waiting for her for a long time.
He wore a neat suit, exceptionally handsome and dashing. His eyes seemed to see only her. He received her from her father’s hands, and she felt his warm palm, her heart also burning. Just as she was about to whisper some sweet words, she glimpsed from the corner of her eye her father and brother shedding tears on the spot.
In contrast, Lin Zhixia’s mother was the strongest. Mother didn’t cry.
As expected of my mother, Lin Zhixia thought.
The long, light background music echoed in the hall. Lin Zhixia recognized the melody as “Momentary Eternity.”
Jiang Yubai occasionally played this piece at home. “Momentary Eternity” was used by its composer, Schumann, to confess to Clara, and Schumann and Clara were childhood sweethearts.
The jumping notes penetrated Lin Zhixia’s heart. As Jiang Yubai put the ring on her finger, she honestly said: “I love you, more each day than the day before.”
The ring exchange ceremony had ended, and Jiang Yubai slowly lifted her snow-white veil, revealing the rippling light and boundless tenderness in her eyes. Being gazed at with such a look, he truly wanted, like her, to remember this moment forever.
Jiang Yubai mentioned: “Childhood sweethearts…”
Lin Zhixia continued: “A hundred years of harmony?”
He said, “Forever united in heart.”
“Alright, alright,” Lin Zhixia agreed.
Witnessed by relatives and friends, Jiang Yubai bent down to kiss her. The cicada-wing-thin veil fell, obscuring their profiles, making the kiss hazy and shadowy. The scent of roses wafted in the proximity, like a dream, like an illusion.
*
The day after the wedding ceremony, the hall hosted a ball.
Many of Jiang Yubai’s relatives attended. Since there was no age restriction for this ball, teenagers could also participate. Following the family hierarchy, some called Jiang Yubai uncle, some called him brother, and correspondingly, Lin Zhixia became their aunt or sister-in-law.
Lin Zhixia once again amazed Jiang Yubai’s grandparents.
She clearly remembered every relative’s name, appearance, and personality traits without any confusion. She navigated various social circles with ease and could vividly mimic the demeanor, tone, and actions of all her conversation partners.
However, she only enjoyed performing for Jiang Yubai.
Lin Zhixia drank half a glass of champagne and then imitated a stranger, saying to Jiang Yubai: “Hello, you look familiar. You’re young and accomplished, I suppose your schedule must be busy.”
Jiang Yubai clinked glasses with her but cautioned: “Drink less.”
Lin Zhixia’s eyes flickered: “I appreciate your concern, but I can hold my liquor well.”
Then she touched his finger.
He withdrew his hand.
Lin Zhixia toasted him: “Deep feelings, bottoms up.”
The focus of the ball was not on the newlyweds Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia, as they deliberately sat in a dimly lit corner. People wandered in the brightly lit central area, and Jiang Yubai was content with the tranquility. He clinked glasses with Lin Zhixia but said, “You can’t play role-play with me in public.”
Lin Zhixia reverted to her original personality: “I just wanted to chat with you.”
Jiang Yubai put down his glass and took her hand. They left the lively ball scene and returned to the luxury sea-view room on the top floor of the hotel.
Lin Zhixia was indeed drunk. She hugged a pillow, fell onto the bed, and patted the space beside her vigorously: “Come here, sleep with me.”
Jiang Yubai unbuttoned his shirt while asking: “What did my mother tell you this afternoon?”
Lin Zhixia suddenly went quiet.
Jiang Yubai braced himself on the side of her body with one hand, kissed her cheek, and coaxed her very gently in a low voice. Lin Zhixia particularly enjoyed being coaxed by him, deliberately waiting for a long time before saying: “Your mother…”
That afternoon, Jiang Yubai had reviewed a batch of documents. Although he was on vacation, he couldn’t completely detach from company affairs.
Soon, Jiang Yubai heard that around two o’clock in the afternoon, Lin Zhixia had been taken away by her mother-in-law. They talked for an hour, and no one knew what topics they covered.
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia had already held their wedding and obtained their marriage certificate, with all relatives and friends as witnesses. On the second day of the wedding, his mother talked with Lin Zhixia—what could they discuss? Just as Jiang Yubai was about to inquire in more detail, Lin Zhixia summarized in one breath: “Your mother wants to buy me cars, houses, clothes, bags, and shoes.”
Lin Zhixia truthfully relayed: “She came to see me at noon, saw my wardrobe, was silent for a while, and said I was good in every way except being too frugal.”
After finishing, she rolled over.
Jiang Yubai pulled her back, and she candidly said, “I understand your mother’s good intentions and appreciate her very much. But things I want, I generally buy myself.”
“The company pays you too little,” Jiang Yubai implied.
“It’s already high enough,” Lin Zhixia sighed, “Honestly, I can’t even spend all the money I earn now. I have nowhere to spend it, so I’m investing.”
She yawned: “There’s still so much to do… The chip prototype is out, but from sample to application is another hurdle. The company will go public next year, another student is graduating with a master’s degree, the dean wants me to teach graduate courses, I really can’t manage it all…”
Her voice gradually lowered.
“Sleep if you’re tired.” Jiang Yubai stroked her hair. He pondered Lin Zhixia’s wording, guessing the elders’ attitude towards her, and finally felt somewhat reassured. He had been afraid that Lin Zhixia might be mistreated in his family, but so far, everything seemed fine.
Lin Zhixia hugged him and kissed him several times before falling into a deep sleep.
*
According to Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia’s plan, their wedding would last only two days. After two days, once the relatives had left, they would honeymoon on Hainan Island, enjoying some rare time alone together.
Jiang Yubai’s relatives were mostly busy. Especially his parents, who flew to Beijing on the evening of the second day of the wedding. His grandparents, uncle, and aunt departed respectively in the morning and evening of the third day.
After seeing off the immediate family members, Jiang Yubai settled his work matters and caught Lin Zhixia for a day of fun. The newlywed couple didn’t leave the hotel room from morning till night, inseparable, sweet as honey, increasingly reluctant to part. During the following two weeks of vacation, they often walked on the beach and also tried diving, surfing, and jet skiing. After nightfall, their activities were limited to the bedroom or bathroom. Lin Zhixia was captivated by Jiang Yubai, but still didn’t forget her work and tasks.
After the vacation ended, Lin Zhixia quickly flew back to the provincial city.
She brought souvenirs and wedding candies for many teachers and students, then plunged into the laboratory, continuing her previous work. She quickly grasped the research progress of the “Four-University Joint Research Group” over the past half month—as she had anticipated, the basic functions of the chip had been validated in a simulated environment, providing experimental evidence for her theoretical design. Just organizing the data results from those training sets, validation sets, and test sets could yield a paper of special significance.
Their research group had taken a small step forward.
Conservatively estimated, the next big step might require three years, or even ten years, to complete.
Lin Zhixia herself no longer had the “pressure to publish a certain number of papers every year.” Rather than paper quantity, she cared more about whether she had made the progress she should. Her performance in the Four-University Joint Research Group was recognized by many renowned professors, who nominated her to the International Academic Committee for the 2018 “Global Top Scientists Under Thirty” selection activity, which would ultimately select ten young academic elites from around the world.
Lin Zhixia had a Russian mathematical genius friend who had pioneered a new graph theory research method. He had won the Fields Medal, known as the “Nobel Prize of mathematics,” last year. He had just turned thirty, also meeting the qualifying criteria for “Global Top Scientists Under Thirty.”
Lin Zhixia thought that her Russian friend would be the ultimate winner, claiming the title of “one of the most outstanding young generation scientists” after seizing the Fields Medal. After all, he worked in pure theoretical research and opened up the development of a new field.
In the autumn of 2018, the Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies suddenly received a phone call congratulating Professor Lin Zhixia on her award.
The 2018 award ceremony will be held in Beijing.
Lin Zhixia immediately rushed to Beijing to attend the ceremony.
That week, Jiang Yubai happened to be on a business trip to Beijing. He carved out time from his busy schedule and headed straight to the solemn Great Hall of the People to witness his wife’s glorious moment. Lin Zhixia’s ultimate goal was to realize her life’s value, and the medal was recognition of her achievements thus far.
The Great Hall of the People was packed without a single empty seat. The scene was magnificent as Lin Zhixia stood on the platform, delivering a brief, dignified, and steady speech: “I am very honored to stand here. Science is a long-term endeavor that requires cooperation. Whether I can receive this medal depends not only on personal effort but also on the struggle and collaboration of team members. During the initial establishment of the quantum computing platform, I made progress every day, but my energy was limited. During its rapid development, my teammates contributed greatly. In a sense, I am not the holder of the medal, but a representative of a group of people. Finally, I thank my family, teachers, friends, and loved ones who have been with me on my journey.”
When mentioning “friends, loved ones,” Lin Zhixia’s gaze shifted slightly, fixing on Jiang Yubai.
He was in the audience, she was on stage, both with smiles in their eyes.
Lin Zhixia emphasized: “Thank you very much for the support of the National Natural Science Foundation and the 863 Program projects.”
Applause erupted from the audience as Lin Zhixia bowed deeply. She stood straight and continued: “Thank you. I will continue to work hard, strive to uncover more research findings, and constantly fight for the realization of ideals and technological transformation.”