Lin Zhixia had her selfish desires. She wanted Jiang Yubai to stay at Provincial No. 1 High School. However, she should consider things from a friend’s perspective.
So, she asked: “Jiang Yubai, do you like math competitions?”
Jiang Yubai responded cryptically: “I haven’t been participating in competitions for that long.”
Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai had known each other for three years. Even though Jiang Yubai always spoke in a roundabout way, Lin Zhixia could guess his true thoughts. She nodded once: “I understand. You mean you don’t like math competitions.”
Jiang Yubai didn’t deny it.
Lin Zhixia spoke earnestly: “Students in the first-year competition class have to complete the high school curriculum in one year, and also study university specialized courses in advance. If you go to Beijing for high school earlier, you can spend time on things that interest you more. If you transfer to Beijing in your second year of high school, you’ll need time to adapt to the new environment and prepare for A-levels and IELTS exams. Wouldn’t that be a bit rushed?”
A-levels were equivalent to the British college entrance examination, while IELTS was an English proficiency test. If Jiang Yubai wanted to study for his undergraduate degree at Cambridge University, he would need to achieve excellent results in both A-levels and IELTS, as these were the undergraduate requirements for Cambridge University.
Lin Zhixia considered Jiang Yubai’s situation thoughtfully, and Jiang Yubai found her words reasonable. He should have thanked her for the reminder. But with separation becoming inevitable, all language seemed hollow. Unable to find appropriate words, he simply remained silent.
Jiang Yubai took out the Romanian egg from his pencil case, set it upright on the table, and balanced it with just one finger on the top of the shell.
Lin Zhixia extended the index finger of her right hand and carefully touched the bottom of the eggshell. She said: “Jiang Yubai, I’ll write to you and call you.”
Jiang Yubai tore off a piece of draft paper and wrote a line on it: “This is my Beijing address.”
“Do you have a home in Beijing too?” Lin Zhixia asked curiously.
Jiang Yubai paused his writing: “My grandparents have lived in Beijing for many years.”
“Are you planning to live with your grandparents?” Lin Zhixia asked him.
Jiang Yubai thought for a moment before saying: “Both my father and mother have residences in Beijing.”
So that was it.
Jiang Yubai had several homes, several addresses in Beijing.
This was the lifestyle of wealthy people.
Lin Zhixia remembered that back in experimental elementary school, Jiang Yubai had once revealed that his family even had a private airplane. So, if Jiang Yubai wanted to return to the provincial city from Beijing, it would only be a matter of two or three hours.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhixia’s spirits suddenly lifted. She said quite frankly: “Leader Jiang Yubai is going to pursue his goals. After Captain Lin Zhixia completes her mission, she will seek out Jiang Yubai and reunite with him at a new location.”
Jiang Yubai handed the draft paper with the Beijing address to Lin Zhixia. They agreed to send each other a letter every week. Jiang Yubai would also return to the provincial city for the Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, winter break, Qingming Festival… and all other holidays.
“Such a detailed plan!” Lin Zhixia exclaimed, “Even if you go to high school in Beijing, we’re not separated.”
“Mmm!” Jiang Yubai generously agreed.
Lin Zhixia took out her “Human Observation Diary” and wrote earnestly: January 4, 2008, Jiang Yubai and I have planned our high school academic paths. Jiang Yubai will go to Beijing for high school this September, while I will study one more year at Provincial No. 1 High School. Next September, Jiang Yubai and I will reunite in Beijing. I suddenly thought of the binary star system in astrophysics, where two stars have their own orbits, revolving around the same center. Jiang Yubai is like my binary star companion; we proceed along different orbits, but our center remains the same forever.
After writing this passage, Lin Zhixia deliberately showed it to Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai had seen “binary star systems” countless times in physics competition problems, but he had never imagined Lin Zhixia would use such a metaphor for him. Feeling both pleased and slightly embarrassed, he asked: “Are the other classmates in Class 17 also stars in the universe?”
Lin Zhixia pondered: “They are all independent individuals.”
During the first two years of middle school, Lin Zhixia had been busy with competitions and rarely chatted with her classmates. However, many classmates often came to her with exercise books, seeking her help with problems. She would solve difficult questions in no time, leaving her classmates standing there stunned, filled with admiration for her.
Lin Zhixia’s status in the class was equivalent to that of a “descended deity.”
Her binary star companion was destined to include only Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai also told Lin Zhixia that their elementary school classmates wanted to invite her for a meal in the Provincial No. 1 High School cafeteria.
Last September, many classmates from Experimental Elementary School had successfully entered Provincial No. 1 High School, such as Dong Sunqi, Ding Yan, Wei Rongjie, Tang Leqin… even Liu Xingjian. Everyone felt they should have a proper gathering, but since Lin Zhixia had been busy with informatics competitions during the first semester of ninth grade, no one dared to occupy her precious time, so they hadn’t mentioned the gathering.
Now, when Lin Zhixia heard Jiang Yubai mention their elementary school classmates, she happily agreed: “Alright, let’s have lunch together in the cafeteria.”
*
At noon that day, Dong Sunqi led several of his elementary school classmates, stepping solemnly into Provincial No. 1 High School’s cafeteria.
Dong Sunqi had been the class monitor for six years in Experimental Elementary School. At Provincial No. 1 High School, his official career continued to prosper, and he firmly secured the position of class monitor.
Although Dong Sunqi hadn’t made it into the competition class, he became a proud member of the advanced class. Currently, he was thriving in Class One (1), where his classmates respectfully called him “Monitor Dong” or “Big Brother Dong.”
Occasionally, Dong Sunqi would mention to others that the competition powerhouse named Lin Zhixia in ninth grade was his elementary school classmate. Upon hearing this, his classmates in Class One (1) would sincerely admire him for his wide connections, extensive knowledge, and high-quality social circle.
Dong Sunqi was determined to treat Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai to a meal.
Noon was the peak dining time in the cafeteria, with voices resounding and figures bustling everywhere.
With foresight, Dong Sunqi had secured seats. After waiting for about ten minutes with Wei Rongjie, Ding Yan, and Tang Leqin, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia finally arrived.
Lin Zhixia, carrying her backpack, ran toward them: “Sorry we’re late, our teacher kept us overtime!”
Dong Sunqi magnanimously said, “Ten minutes late, it’s fine. Everyone, do me, Dong Sunqi, a favor and don’t make a fuss about it.”
Dong Sunqi’s personality truly hadn’t changed a bit.
Dong Sunqi patted Ding Yan’s shoulder: “Come on, Ding Yan, let’s go get the food.”
Ding Yan had been Jiang Yubai’s closest male classmate during their time at Experimental Elementary School. As he stood up, he looked toward Jiang Yubai: “Jiang Yubai, when you have time, let’s play tennis in the school gymnasium! Damn, my tennis skills have improved tremendously. I’m still using the racket and balls you gave me.”
Jiang Yubai wasn’t good at tennis.
He often hit the ball heavily with his racket, sending it flying toward the vast lawn, disappearing. This savage and crude way of hitting the ball was quite inconsistent with his usual style. He declined: “Carrying a racket and tennis balls at school is somewhat inconvenient.”
Ding Yan probed: “Do you still often go to the playground to do pull-ups on the horizontal bar after class?”
Jiang Yubai was silent for a few seconds.
Last week, for about three or four days, Jiang Yubai and Shen Fuxuan had arranged to do pull-ups on the horizontal bar at the playground. However, they weren’t doing it for fun, but to prepare for the physical education component of the high school entrance exam. The boys’ events for the physical exam included pull-ups, and Shen Fuxuan was still hovering at the passing line, for which Duan Qiyan had frequently mocked him.
Shen Fuxuan pretended not to care on the surface, but was extremely nervous inside. In Class Three (17), Shen Fuxuan and Jiang Yubai had a relatively good relationship. Jiang Yubai generally wouldn’t casually mock others. Thus, through the daily “pull-up” activities, the friendship between Shen Fuxuan and Jiang Yubai had further strengthened.
Before Jiang Yubai could speak, Lin Zhixia explained to him: “Pull-ups are very important. They are a mandatory event for boys in the high school entrance physical exam. You can start practicing pull-ups now, set a small goal, practice about one hundred and eighty times a day…”
“One hundred and eighty pull-ups?” Ding Yan was shocked, “Is ninth grade that tough?”
Jiang Yubai never showed weakness in front of Lin Zhixia. Without blushing or heart racing, calm as ever, he said: “It’s not that tough, you get used to it.” He took out the thermos he carried with him every day from his backpack, poured a cup of warm water, and continued: “My classmates and I often practice pull-ups during breaks. You can find me on the playground if you have time.”
Jiang Yubai described pull-ups in such a casual manner that all the boys present looked at him with admiration. Even Lin Zhixia couldn’t stop praising him, publicly complimenting him for being diligent and hardworking, the type of person she most respected.
The warm water in the thermos seemed to become more delicious. Jiang Yubai took a sip and caught sight of the cafeteria menu, immediately feeling a sense of foreboding.
The student cafeteria supported gathering activities. At the end of last year, the cafeteria had grandly launched a series of “gathering meal sets.” Dong Sunqi had notified the cafeteria auntie in advance and bought two “gathering meal sets.” He and Ding Yan brought the food back together, arranging it neatly on the table, presenting it before all the classmates.
Jiang Yubai picked up the stainless steel rice bowl and cautiously took a piece of fish tofu. Having studied at Provincial No. 1 High School for two years, he had never eaten a meal in the student cafeteria. His uncle had once said that Jiang Yubai had somewhat picky tastes, and his uncle had added: basically, everyone in their family was like that.
Jiang Yubai had to admit that the fish tofu tasted a bit salty, and the rice texture was a bit hard. In comparison, the food in the teachers’ cafeteria was more to his liking. He savored his lunch slowly, eating even more slowly than Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia picked up a chicken leg for him: “Want a chicken leg?”
He instinctively said: “Thank you.”
Lin Zhixia scooped some braised sauce with a spoon and poured it over the chicken leg she had given him. She introduced: “My mom’s braised chicken legs are super delicious. If you have a chance to visit my home in the future, you must try our specially made braised chicken legs.”
“No problem,” Jiang Yubai agreed.
Lin Zhixia asked again: “Jiang Yubai, what do you like to eat the most? Like how I love strawberries.”
Ding Yan interjected: “Jiang Yubai is picky, right?”
Dong Sunqi let out a second-tone “Ai,” and then said: “Ding Yan, today we elementary school classmates are gathered happily, don’t talk about Jiang Yubai like that.”
The person in question, Jiang Yubai, picked up his rice bowl and insisted: “I’m not picky. Ding Yan, you don’t understand me. I like chicken legs.”
Lin Zhixia burst into laughter.
As a joyful atmosphere pervaded the dining table, Wei Rongjie suddenly asked Lin Zhixia: “You and Jiang Yubai will graduate from middle school this year. Will you both attend high school at Provincial No. 1 High School?”
Lin Zhixia candidly shared without reservation: “Jiang Yubai will go to study in Beijing, and I will study for one more year at Provincial No. 1 High School. Then, I’m going to Beijing for my undergraduate studies. My tentative undergraduate major is in the Information Technology Department of the School of Mathematics. My undergraduate advisor’s research direction is artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and I also want to study the philosophy of mind. As for my doctoral plans, I haven’t decided yet… but I know that as long as I do my best at each stage, the future will develop in a good direction.”
Dong Sunqi led the applause for her: “The first strategist of the Earth Legion is truly remarkable.”
“Of course,” Jiang Yubai quietly added, “Lin Zhixia is the pride of the Earth Legion.”