Permanent pass!

These five words made Lin Zhixia feel even better.

Lin Zhixia walked up the stairs and entered a long corridor. Exquisite reliefs adorned the ceiling, tall sculptures were placed around, and various items were displayed in glass cabinets. She stopped and quietly observed.

Jiang Yubai stood beside her, like a guide in a museum.

Lin Zhixia pointed at a roughly crafted wooden bowl and whispered to him, “Is this some kind of antique?”

Just as Jiang Yubai was about to speak, Lin Zhixia earnestly suggested, “Jiang Yubai, don’t tell me yet. Let me guess. I’ve read many books on antique appraisal, maybe I can guess the age and origin of these things.”

Jiang Yubai silently watched her as she continued with more enthusiasm, “I’m sure I can guess it!”

Jiang Yubai suddenly smiled, “Are you sure?”

“Don’t you believe me?” Lin Zhixia was filled with fighting spirit.

Jiang Yubai turned sideways and stepped back, “Observe. If you guess correctly…”

Lin Zhixia started playing her favorite betting game with Jiang Yubai again: “If I guess correctly, you’ll call me Teacher Lin. If I guess wrong, I’ll call you Teacher Jiang, and you’ll tell me the correct answer.”

Jiang Yubai was completely confident. He slightly raised his head and readily agreed, “No problem.”

Lin Zhixia summoned her full attention, examining the worn artifact from all angles.

She searched her memory, repeatedly digging for details, and finally concluded: “This wooden bowl likely comes from a traditional tribe in Africa. I saw something similar on the Discovery TV channel where two explorers experienced life in an African tribe. The locals all made bowls from wood, shaped like this… Yes, Jiang Yubai, this must be an African collection in your home. You’ve even given it preservation treatment. It’s probably a wooden bowl from the modern era with tribal cultural value.”

“It’s a bowl my grandfather made himself,” Jiang Yubai corrected.

Lin Zhixia was greatly surprised, “Really?”

Jiang Yubai described in detail: “Last century, my grandfather was doing business in Southeast Asia and offended the local gang. All the pots and pans in his house were smashed. He made this wooden bowl himself. Later, when he was trading small electrical appliances, his enemies found him. He threw the wooden bowl on the ground, creating some noise, and while his enemies were distracted, he escaped in the dark.”

This experience of Jiang Yubai’s grandfather was beyond Lin Zhixia’s imagination.

Lin Zhixia held her breath, “Your grandfather’s life was like a movie.”

“It’s hard to tell what’s true and what’s not,” Jiang Yubai said. “What adults say isn’t necessarily true.”

Lin Zhixia praised him, “Jiang Yubai, your critical spirit is worth learning from.”

Then Lin Zhixia asked, “What about your grandfather’s enemies? Where are they now?”

“They’re all dead,” Jiang Yubai honestly relayed his grandfather’s words.

Lin Zhixia solemnly concluded, “I understand. This object is a symbol of your family’s spirit.”

Jiang Yubai nodded, “The family spirit of escaping in the dark when encountering bad people.”

Lin Zhixia laughed out loud, “You’re so funny.”

She quickened her pace, running along the smooth marble floor, calling out: “Teacher Jiang, Teacher Jiang, Teacher Jiang!” Then she added, “Teacher Jiang, look, don’t I resemble Duan Qiyan now?”

“Why are you imitating Duan Qiyan?” Jiang Yubai questioned her.

Lin Zhixia tilted her head, “Because it’s fun.”

Jiang Yubai asked again, “Can you imitate a person?”

“I’ll try!” Lin Zhixia declared. “Now I’m going to imitate Jiang Yubai.”

Jiang Yubai suddenly felt a bit nervous for some reason. He stood still under a branched chandelier, the bright light falling on him, making him look like an otherworldly visitor untouched by mortal concerns.

Lin Zhixia straightened her back and walked slowly toward him, “Jiang Yubai.”

Jiang Yubai turned sideways, ignoring her.

Lin Zhixia ran to stand directly in front of him and called out again, “Jiang Yubai.”

Jiang Yubai turned in another direction again.

Lin Zhixia persistently insisted on speaking to him face to face, but he told her, “You’re imitating me? I wouldn’t possibly be like you…”

“Like me how?” Lin Zhixia asked with perfect justification.

Jiang Yubai couldn’t find the right adjective.

Lin Zhixia hopped and skipped, circling him, “No matter which direction you face, I can turn to be in front of you. You’re the sun, I’m Mercury. You’re Earth, I’m the moon. Can you calculate my orbital period, Jiang Yubai?”

Jiang Yubai asked in return, “Why do you like circling me?”

“I don’t know,” Lin Zhixia replied, “just like I don’t know why you like going to the playground to hang from the horizontal bar.”

She suddenly stopped, thoughtful, “I often observe your every move.”

In the corner of the corridor stood an antique copper mirror inlaid with shells.

Jiang Yubai glanced at the mirror and slightly adjusted his collar. Lin Zhixia’s voice sounded again, “Sometimes, I can guess your inner thoughts. For example, right now, you’re very attentive to your appearance because you want to maintain a good state for me to observe.”

Jiang Yubai paused in the act of smoothing his cuffs.

He changed the subject, “I have some personal collections.”

“Your collections?” Lin Zhixia approached with great interest.

Jiang Yubai led her across the corridor. He entered a password and opened a security door. They walked into an unremarkable small room with reliefs on the ceiling that allowed light and air to pass through. The light was cut into a picture, illuminating a wall.

Lin Zhixia looked around, her thoughts drifting.

“This wasn’t made by your grandfather,” Lin Zhixia pointed toward a glass cabinet.

“These are carvings I’ve collected,” Jiang Yubai introduced.

Lin Zhixia crouched in front of the glass cabinet, “Traditional Chinese handicrafts?”

Jiang Yubai crouched beside her, “Traditional craftsmanship, contemporary works.”

On the first level of the cabinet sat a stone carving of a landscape, exquisitely crafted with ingenious design. The mountains were magnificent and imposing, perfectly formed, and the blue lake water glittered as if just brushed by a breeze.

“You can touch it,” Jiang Yubai suggested.

Lin Zhixia shook her head vigorously, “No, they look so precious, I can’t touch them.”

But Jiang Yubai said, “Objects are dead, people are alive. You are more precious than they are.”

Jiang Yubai was right, and Lin Zhixia felt greatly encouraged. She carefully opened the cabinet door and touched the jade-carved landscape, saying, “I guess the mountains are jasper, the trees are moonstone, and the lake is celestite.”

“Yes,” Jiang Yubai confirmed.

Lin Zhixia asked him, “Why do you collect carvings?”

Jiang Yubai recalled the past, “I visited my grandfather’s house, and he let me pick some items to take home…”

“No wonder!” Lin Zhixia suddenly understood, “I was just wondering why these treasures all seem like collections from grandparents. So they did come from your grandfather’s house.”

Then, she shyly added, “Jiang Yubai, the eleventh birthday gift I gave you was just like this stone carving, also with trees, a pond, and a small house.”

Jiang Yubai casually revealed, “I keep it in my study.”

“Your study?” Lin Zhixia was overjoyed, “That’s wonderful, it can accompany you while you study every day.”

The joyful emotions emanating from Lin Zhixia’s heart infected Jiang Yubai.

In this bright and transparent room, the air was incredibly fresh and sweet. Jiang Yubai reached out to open another cabinet door, and Lin Zhixia saw several clock crafts.

Jiang Yubai invited her to appreciate them, “Eighteenth-century European antique clocks.”

Lin Zhixia nodded repeatedly, “Yes! They’re all table clocks. I’ve seen them in European history books at the library.”

She examined them closely, wanting to remember every detail.

Jiang Yubai handed her a pair of gloves. She immediately put them on and gently touched the eighteenth-century clocks and seventeenth-century tableware. She and Jiang Yubai began playing a historical time-travel game.

Jiang Yubai played the king, and Lin Zhixia played the queen.

Lin Zhixia, composed and serene, held a scepter. Imitating lines from Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” she declared war on Jiang Yubai, “The surging sea foretells a storm, King Jiang Yubai, your era faces change…”

Jiang Yubai defeated her with the words, “The one who sent me the crown was you. The one who crowned me was also you. Have you forgotten?”

Lin Zhixia was instantly stunned.

Jiang Yubai’s light remark left Lin Zhixia completely defeated. Lin Zhixia immediately changed her tone, “Well, let’s reconcile.”

Jiang Yubai lowered his head and smiled. Perhaps because there were only the two of them in the room, he had no concerns and naturally responded, “How will you reconcile with me?”

Lin Zhixia said, “By signing a contract.”

Jiang Yubai’s current role was “King Jiang Yubai,” and a wise king should remain calm in any situation. He raised his scepter with one hand and calmly replied, “I cannot sign a contract with you.”

“Why not?” Lin Zhixia asked.

Jiang Yubai explained, “Signing a contract requires a lawyer present.”

Lin Zhixia laughed, “As expected of Young CEO Jiang.”

Jiang Yubai took a step back, and Lin Zhixia chased after him, calling out, “Young CEO Jiang, Young CEO Jiang, Young CEO Jiang.” He held his scepter across in front of her, reminding her, “Boundaries, maintain boundaries.”

“You’re just like my brother,” Lin Zhixia remarked casually.

Jiang Yubai asked in return, “How so?”

“Well, my brother often tells me to mind boundaries,” Lin Zhixia recounted word for word. “Brother says girls shouldn’t be friends with boys, a girl’s best friend should be another girl. This issue is quite serious, I’ve argued with him about it.”

Jiang Yubai responded coldly, “Good for you.”

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the door. Lin Zhixia also heard her father’s voice—she almost thought she was hallucinating.

Lin Zhixia ran to the door and looked out. She did see her father, along with Jiang Yubai’s uncle, Jiang Shaoqi.

On the wide, straight corridor, the two adult men appeared quite tall. Jiang Shaoqi walked alongside Lin Zhixia’s father, and after several steps, Jiang Shaoqi asked, “Your full name is… Lin Fugui?”

Lin Fugui mechanically repeated a gesture. He clasped his hands together, palms joining then separating, separating then joining. He gazed at the ceiling and numerous collections in the private gallery, saying hoarsely, “Yes, I’m Lin Fugui. I’m Lin Zhixia’s father.”

Jiang Shaoqi showed a gentle smile, “We’ve met in Professor Shen’s laboratory.”

“I remember, I remember,” Lin Fugui echoed.

It was now early March, with temperatures still low and not yet warming up. Lin Fugui wore an old, pilled sweater with a faux leather jacket over it. His clothes were clean and quite comfortable, but in such a luxurious collection room, his attire and demeanor seemed somewhat out of place.

This manor left Lin Fugui in awe. The design of the building and its interior decoration were beyond anything he had ever dreamed of. He was anxious to take his daughter home. After catching sight of Lin Zhixia, he quickly beckoned, “Come, Xia Xia, come quickly.”

Lin Zhixia ran “pitter-patter” toward her father.

Jiang Yubai followed slowly behind her. He hadn’t yet had the chance to invite her for lunch—he had been planning this meal since last month because he wanted to celebrate her achievements. She had won several gold medals, and by rights, there should have been a celebration banquet.

But Lin Fugui took hold of his daughter’s wrist and instructed her, “Xia Xia, say goodbye to your friend.”

Lin Zhixia hesitated, “Dad, I had such a good time with my friend today… could we have a meal together with him?”

But her father said, “Xia Xia, your mother has prepared lunch for you, let’s go home.”

Jiang Yubai watched this scene and still behaved very politely. He seemed to have achieved true composure, even though his heart was experiencing unspeakable disappointment. His and Lin Zhixia’s historical time-travel game had only been halfway through; they hadn’t yet returned from Europe to ancient China—Lin Zhixia had said she wanted Jiang Yubai to be a general while she would be Wu Zetian the Second.

Lin Zhixia’s father had come to take her home, and Jiang Yubai had no reason to keep her.

Jiang Yubai looked toward his uncle, who immediately began explaining, “Little Jiang, last time when I took you to University Town, I exchanged contact information with Lin Zhixia’s father. Lin Zhixia has an IQ of 174, so her father and I exchanged phone numbers—that’s a consideration between parents, you know? Your uncle is a thoughtful person. Today, you invited Lin Zhixia to our home, but no matter what, Lin Zhixia is only eleven and a half years old, so you need to inform her parents. I made a phone call for you…”

Jiang Yubai understood his uncle’s good intentions.

Lin Zhixia was still young, and her parents needed to know her whereabouts.

Although he and Lin Zhixia got along well, Lin Zhixia’s parents didn’t know him well. When his uncle called, Lin Zhixia’s father probably became very concerned—young girls need more care and protection.

Jiang Yubai took the initiative to escort Lin Zhixia and her father to the parking lot. His family’s driver would take them home. He watched Lin Zhixia get into the sedan, and she even rolled down the window to wave at him, “See you Monday, Jiang Yubai!”

Jiang Yubai stood in place, watching the car leave, “See you Monday, Lin Zhixia.”

*

On the way home, Lin Zhixia’s father didn’t say a word.

After they got out of the car at the entrance to Ancheng Community, her father suddenly sighed. The community streets were busy with people coming and going on Saturday morning, surrounded by the sounds of conversations, dogs barking, and chaotic footsteps.

Her father took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Just as he was about to take out a cigarette, Lin Zhixia grabbed his sleeve, “Dad, Dad, don’t smoke.”

Her father called to her, “Xia Xia.”

Lin Zhixia put her hands behind her back, “Xia Xia is here.”

Her father didn’t take Lin Zhixia home immediately. He found a bench in the community. He had Lin Zhixia sit beside him, and then said, “Xia Xia, your friend Jiang Yubai is different from you. I’m not saying you can’t play with him. I just want to tell you that now that you’ve won international competition awards and have other friends at school…”

Lin Zhixia stretched out her legs, “I understand.”

“You understand? I haven’t got to the point yet,” her father exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Zhixia looked up at the sky, “Mm, I can guess what you mean. You want to tell me that there’s a big risk in being friends with Jiang Yubai.”

Her father took out the cigarette pack again, “Xia Xia is too smart.”

He gave an example, “Dad came from a village. In our village, when the village chief’s son bullied others, there was nowhere to complain. What could you do? Just endure it.”

“Jiang Yubai is good,” Lin Zhixia argued. “Dad, if you could spend some time with him, you’d know.”

Her father lit a cigarette. White smoke spread like dust, permeating the surrounding air.

Lin Zhixia sneezed.

Her father had barely taken one puff before immediately extinguishing the cigarette. He threw the butt into the garbage bin beside the seat and said in a low voice, “Dad doesn’t understand Jiang Yubai. You need to be more careful in general. I’m telling you this, and you can make your own decisions. Ah, you’ve been abroad, you’ve seen more of the world than I have.”

Lin Zhixia patted her father’s shoulder, “No matter how many places I go in the future, I will always be your daughter, and you will always be my father.”

This short sentence seemed to move her father. Lin Zhixia seized the opportunity to say, “Dad, please keep this a secret. Don’t let my brother know I went to Jiang Yubai’s house, or he’ll explode.”

Her father hadn’t expected his son to be even more serious than himself. His face showed a bit of surprise, “Has Qiu Qiu had any dealings with Jiang Yubai?”

“No, never,” Lin Zhixia was quite regretful.

Her father thought carefully for a few seconds, then agreed, “Alright, Dad will keep your secret, but there won’t be a next time. Xia Xia, before you turn eighteen, you still can’t go to a male classmate’s home.”

“After I turn eighteen, can I go whenever I want?” Lin Zhixia questioned.

Her father stood up and led her home. “By then, you’ll be an adult, and Dad and Mom won’t be able to control you.”

Lin Zhixia said nothing. She was afraid her father might slip up in front of her brother. She and her father entered the house one after the other, and her brother happened to be in the living room peeling an apple. Seeing her return, he asked, “Whose classmate’s house did you go to play at, Lin Zhixia?”

Her brother sat on a chair, holding an apple in his left hand and a peeling knife in his right. He was like a feudal patriarch from the old society, investigating every trivial matter within the family. Lin Zhixia avoided his gaze and hid behind her father’s back.

Her father took over the conversation, “I just came back from outside and happened to meet Xia Xia.” Then he asked, “Qiu Qiu, how’s your studying going recently? Is your health holding up?”

In three months, Lin Zeqiu would take the high school entrance examination.

Since the beginning of this semester, Lin Zeqiu had only ranked first in his class once, and his grade ranking was not as good as before. His classmate said that some smart people only start studying hard in ninth grade and make rapid progress, better than students like Lin Zeqiu, who had always been diligent. Lin Zeqiu didn’t believe this.

In Lin Zeqiu’s eyes, only someone at his sister’s level qualified as a “smart person.” His sister was always first in her grade, whether she studied or not, and even ranked first internationally at the 2007 Romanian Masters competition.

When his father mentioned grades, Lin Zeqiu became lost in thought, completely forgetting to question Lin Zhixia.

Lin Zhixia encouraged her brother, “Brother, keep going! Brother, if you encounter problems you can’t solve, you must come find me.”

But her brother said, “Forget it.”

Lin Zhixia insisted, “I can save you time!”

Her brother glanced at her, “You still have your math competitions.”

Lin Zhixia explained in detail, “I’m not planning to participate in this year’s International Mathematical Olympiad. The strongest and most experienced dozen or so contestants from the winter camp are already in the second round of training. I believe they can win gold medals.”

Her brother took a bite of the apple. “Lin Zhixia, what else do you have to keep you busy at school?”

“Information competition!” Lin Zhixia poured herself a glass of water. “Three-person team information competition, it’s fun, and the prize money is especially good. With this opportunity, I want to give it a try.”

After making her plan, Lin Zhixia quickly put it into practice. She joined the information competition team in the second year of high school and stood out in the selection competition at Provincial No. 1 High School.

By April, while Lin Zeqiu was still diligently reviewing for the high school entrance examination, Lin Zhixia had already represented Provincial No. 1 High School and advanced to the finals of the provincial high school information science competition.