Lin Zhixia’s logic was so rigorous that Jiang Yubai couldn’t refute it at all.
Jiang Yubai simply accepted Lin Zhixia’s reasoning—his birth date numbers could make Lin Zhixia happy and bring her good luck.
He silently recited Lin Zhixia’s phone number. However, the more he thought about it, the redder his ears became, prompting Lin Zhixia to ask, “Why are you blushing again?”
“No,” Jiang Yubai insisted, “you’ve misunderstood. I’m not blushing.”
Lin Zhixia moved closer to Jiang Yubai’s side, staring at his profile.
She seemed able to hear Jiang Yubai’s quickened breathing due to nervousness.
She recalled a clear little stream she had once seen in the woods near her childhood home in the countryside—it was a cold, desolate winter day, with freezing temperatures and piles of snow, yet the stream hadn’t frozen and continued to flow gently. So, she had crouched beside that stream, held her breath, and carefully listened to the soft sound of flowing water.
People often use the phrase “sounds of nature” to praise the most perfect music, and the original meaning of “sounds of nature” is simply “various sounds from the natural world.” Lin Zhixia believed that what she sought wasn’t the “sounds of nature,” but rather a stable and peaceful state of mind.
Maintaining this spiritual state, she skillfully dissolved her shyness. She grew bolder in approaching Jiang Yubai, observing his now completely reddened ears, and whispered to him again: “What are you thinking about? Tell me quickly. I’m your best friend. Whatever you say, I’m willing to listen.”
Jiang Yubai seemed to suddenly lose his ability to speak. His chin lifted slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing once, appearing dignified and noble, as if he could only be admired from afar but not teased.
Lin Zhixia shifted her gaze, focusing on his neck.
Then, Lin Zhixia spoke in a tone similar to that of a science documentary narrator, serious and precise: “During puberty, under the influence of male hormones, the Adam’s apple develops significantly in males. Jiang Yubai, you’ve grown up.”
Jiang Yubai finally turned his face toward her, looking at her quietly.
Her gaze was intense.
Jiang Yubai subtly reminded her: “Boys and girls are different.”
Lin Zhixia nodded: “I know. I’ve seen human anatomy atlases.”
Lin Zhixia’s knowledge reserve was extremely rich, and her thinking had great leaps. Jiang Yubai had long been accustomed to her characteristics. He calmly faced reality and began discussing “Pernkopf’s Atlas of Human Anatomy” with Lin Zhixia.
Pernkopf was an Austrian doctor during World War II who swore allegiance to Hitler. The Hitler government frequently transported prisoners’ corpses to Pernkopf’s laboratory for his dissection work. He also had a group of artists dedicated to drawing precise and detailed anatomical illustrations.
Reportedly, this set of books authored by Pernkopf was the most exquisite anatomical atlas in human history.
Lin Zhixia commented: “Although its content is vivid and has scientific value, every page is cruel.”
Jiang Yubai sat upright again, looking straight ahead: “The Pernkopf Atlas took twenty years to write, and countless people died.”
Lin Zhixia frowned: “That book is stained with blood.”
The atmosphere in the car became extremely heavy. Lin Zhixia asked about Jiang Yubai’s thoughts on war.
Jiang Yubai had read many WWII documents and documentaries. He remembered that during WWII, both Japan and Germany were keen on various human experiments.
Jiang Yubai slowed his tone and discussed with Lin Zhixia several historical facts that had left the deepest impression on him, including some that Lin Zhixia hadn’t heard before. Jiang Yubai described in detail the “Jewish skeleton collection.” Lin Zhixia’s face immediately turned pale. She felt afraid and distanced herself from him, shrinking to the farthest corner of the seat: “Please stop talking about it.”
Jiang Yubai immediately agreed: “I’ll stop.”
This time, it was Lin Zhixia who fell silent.
Jiang Yubai comforted her: “Don’t be afraid, let’s change the subject.”
Lin Zhixia remained motionless.
Jiang Yubai took out a box of strawberry candy from his pocket. He unwrapped the candy, releasing a sweet strawberry aroma. Lin Zhixia was indeed attracted by it, slowly approaching him like a little rabbit.
Jiang Yubai placed the strawberry candy in her palm. After eating it, she said contentedly: “So sweet.”
“So sweet,” Jiang Yubai repeated her words in her tone.
Lin Zhixia instructed him: “Don’t imitate me.”
Jiang Yubai asked back: “Is it not allowed?”
Lin Zhixia lacked confidence. She said softly: “It’s allowed.”
Jiang Yubai smiled silently.
Lin Zhixia happened to catch his smile. She discovered that whenever she saw him smile, her cheeks seemed to heat up, her heartbeat would quicken slightly, the air she breathed in sank to the deepest part of her lungs, and even her fingertips went soft—all these sensations indicated something remarkable.
Lin Zhixia searched through the books she had read in her mind.
She moved beyond the medical field and began looking for some literary works. She suddenly remembered that in the book “Gone with the Wind,” author Margaret Mitchell had described: “His heart was beating rapidly, and at the same time, he felt his face flush. She heard in his voice the tone she had heard many times from men, a tone that presaged a declaration of love…”
Lin Zhixia was deeply shaken.
She immediately interrupted her recollection.
She said: “I want to go back to school.”
Jiang Yubai was even more shocked: “What’s wrong?”
Lin Zhixia rested her chin on her hand: “I need a quiet environment to analyze my thoughts.”
Jiang Yubai understood Lin Zhixia very well. He knew that a true genius often had bursts of intense inspiration in their mind, like an ever-expanding universe, always needing more space.
Jiang Yubai suggested: “Don’t rush. Tell me your thoughts. We can discuss while we eat.”
“No! I can’t tell you!” Lin Zhixia was very determined.
Jiang Yubai’s voice deepened: “We’re best friends. What can’t you say to me?”
Lin Zhixia was struck by his question. She clutched her small bag tightly, pretending it was her little penguin. As she racked her brains with nothing to say, the driver in the front seat reminded them: “We’re almost there.”
Jiang Yubai lowered the car window. The cold wind blew through his hair as he calmly said: “After dinner at my place, I’ll take you back to school.”
Lin Zhixia said, “I can take the subway myself.”
But Jiang Yubai replied: “That’s not how I treat guests.”
Lin Zhixia asked again: “What is your way of treating guests?”
Jiang Yubai answered: “Pick up and drop off by car.”
The car slowly turned and drove through a huge iron gate with two guards standing at the entrance, sensors and surveillance cameras everywhere—Lin Zhixia was stunned. She held onto the car window with both hands, gazing at the novel scenery before her, and remembered Jiang Yubai’s home in the provincial city—that estate occupied a large area with luxurious decoration, including various facilities such as gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, and home theaters.
Lin Zhixia hadn’t expected that even in a different city, Jiang Yubai would still live in a similarly styled place.
This was the lifestyle of the wealthy.
After the car stopped, Jiang Yubai got out first.
Jiang Yubai opened the door, and Lin Zhixia stepped out slowly. She walked forward alongside him and asked: “Do you live here alone? Are your parents with you?”
Jiang Yubai answered: “This house is in my grandfather’s name. He often stays here.”
Lin Zhixia nodded: “Grandfather.”
Jiang Yubai led Lin Zhixia into the main hall. She looked up at the murals on the ceiling and the huge chandelier while continuing to walk. The indoor fountain splashed cool water droplets that landed on the back of her hand. She gazed in amazement at the marble sculpture in the center of the fountain and exclaimed: “What perfect hydrodynamics.”
Lin Zhixia originally wanted to take another look, but her stomach was growling. She had been busy almost all day, eaten very little for lunch, and by this time in the evening, she was starving, with her mind full of thoughts of a sumptuous dinner.
She closely followed Jiang Yubai’s footsteps, passing through a corridor and arriving at a dining room.
The dining room was brilliantly lit, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side and light-colored glass on the east side. Within the glass interlayer, water flowed clear as jade, aquatic plants were slender and graceful, and precious tropical fish were swimming through the water.
Lin Zhixia ignored her hunger. She stood before the glass wall with her hands behind her back, observing the group of small fish: “Jiang Yubai, your grandfather’s dining room is like an exhibit at an ocean aquarium.”
Before she finished speaking, she heard a voice respond: “I love raising fish, not just these varieties.”
Lin Zhixia turned her head and saw Jiang Yubai’s grandfather—this elderly man was advanced in age but still spirited and energetic. He wore a silk outfit of long shirt and pants, with his full head of silver hair neatly arranged. He looked at Lin Zhixia for four seconds before speaking: “Young Jiang has a guest tonight, I came to see you both.”
Lin Zhixia hurriedly greeted him: “Hello! My name is Lin Zhixia, ‘Lin’ from forest, ‘Zhi’ from knowledge, ‘Xia’ from summer. I’m fourteen years old, the same age as Jiang Yubai… more precisely, Jiang Yubai is one month older than me. He was born in August, and I was born in September.”
Jiang Yubai noticed Lin Zhixia’s nervousness.
He stood in front of Lin Zhixia, facing his grandfather directly: “I mentioned yesterday that I would have a guest tonight. She is my good friend. We’ve known each other for five years.”
Grandfather was exceptionally kind and gentle: “It’s wonderful that you’re willing to entertain friends. Is your good friend Lin Zhixia also attending high school in Beijing?”
Lin Zhixia spoke hastily: “I’m not in high school.”
Grandfather remained calm, his smile unchanged.
However, a young man standing beside Grandfather continued: “You didn’t finish middle school and go out into society?”
This young man was about twenty years old. He was quite tall, handsome, wearing casual home clothes, with a dignified appearance. He was a relative of Jiang Yubai’s family.
Jiang Yubai briefly introduced him to Lin Zhixia, and Lin Zhixia finally understood that this person was the only son of son of Jiang Yubai’s grandfather’s cousin. His name was Huang Yuxiao, twenty-one years old, currently studying at a university in Scotland, UK, majoring in “Middle Eastern and African Studies.”
Huang Yuxiao seemed to take Lin Zhixia for a middle school dropout.
Lin Zhixia spread her hands: “I’m not in high school because I…”
“Don’t want to go to school,” Huang Yuxiao teased.
But she laughed lightly: “Because I’m already in university, majoring in mathematics.”
Jiang Yubai quite calmly added: “She was the 2007 National Mathematical Olympiad champion, the champion of the Romanian Masters competition, the top scorer in the city’s high school entrance exam, and studied for three years in the country’s top physical oceanography laboratory. She has published two SCI papers, both as the first author.”
Huang Yuxiao’s expression was complex. He loosened his collar, half-believing and half-doubting, retreating behind Grandfather.
Grandfather patted Jiang Yubai’s shoulder lightly, instructing him to entertain his guest. Grandfather also chatted briefly with Lin Zhixia. Finally, Grandfather called Huang Yuxiao’s name and took him away, leaving only Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai in the dining room.
Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai sat down one after the other.
Jiang Yubai had been very thoughtful. He strictly controlled the timing—those dishes were perfectly prepared, neither too hot nor cold, each dish fresh and delicious.
Lin Zhixia tasted Beijing roast duck for the first time in her life. It was truly delicious—the duck meat, pancakes, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce blended, stimulating her taste buds and bringing an extraordinary experience.
There was also smooth and delicate caviar pudding, fragrant crab-stuffed orange—Lin Zhixia could barely keep up with all the dishes while Jiang Yubai continued to savor them methodically.
Lin Zhixia’s drink was freshly squeezed strawberry-grape juice—the proportion of this juice was perfect, with both the sweetness of strawberries and the refreshing taste of grapes.
Lin Zhixia couldn’t help but comment: “It’s so delicious. I want to name it ‘Wonderful.’ With just one sip, I can feel the wonder of life.”
Jiang Yubai said he would prepare a menu. In the future, when Lin Zhixia came to visit, she could request dishes and drinks in advance.
“You’re so considerate,” Lin Zhixia praised him sincerely.
After dinner, Jiang Yubai, following his “way of treating guests,” insisted on taking Lin Zhixia back to school.
After nine o’clock at night, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai waved goodbye outside the university gate. Jiang Yubai held the car door, watching Lin Zhixia’s figure disappear into the university campus before turning to enter the car.
*
From this day on, university life officially began.
Lin Zhixia became well-acquainted with the three girls in her dormitory. They got along very well, waking up at the same time every morning, going to the cafeteria together for breakfast, and then to class.
Lin Zhixia’s roommates all liked to sit in the first row, while Lin Zhixia herself felt it didn’t matter where she sat. The first-semester courses for freshmen were relatively basic and hadn’t yet touched Lin Zhixia’s knowledge blind spots. Lin Zhixia found university life quite relaxing.
However, soon, she received an email from Professor Gu Likai.
Gu Likai was a university classmate of Professor Shen Zhaohua and is currently a well-known scholar in the field of quantum computing in China. He was Lin Zhixia’s undergraduate advisor, and he invited Lin Zhixia to meet with him.
Gu Likai worked at the School of Physics, while Lin Zhixia belonged to the School of Mathematics. However, this did not hinder their academic exchange. Lin Zhixia knew that Gu Likai was particularly busy. On the day they had arranged to meet, Lin Zhixia arrived at Professor Gu’s office ten minutes early.
In the office, there were also several doctoral students.
It turned out that Professor Gu was holding a brief group meeting.
Lin Zhixia stood at the door and waited for about ten seconds before Professor Gu said, “Is that Lin Zhixia? Please come in.”