Jiang Yubai printed out the “Operation Guide for Robot Lin-Jiang” and placed it in a document box.

The box contained the first volume of “Human Observation Diary,” a notebook given to him by Lin Zhixia, and the first edition manuscript of the “Exploring the Universe” comic series—all items full of commemorative significance to Jiang Yubai.

After the winter break ended, Jiang Yubai returned to Beijing with his document box. He placed it on his study desk, where it accompanied him daily. He would take his college entrance examination this May, receive the results in August, submit university applications in September… if all went well, by January of next year, Jiang Yubai would receive his university admission letter.

Jiang Yubai didn’t dare slack off at all, studying diligently every day.

For a full three months, even though he and Lin Zhixia lived in the same city, they hadn’t met in person, only communicating briefly through QQ video calls. Lin Zhixia seemed even busier than Jiang Yubai. Her laboratory work wasn’t going smoothly; the quantum computing chip design had encountered obstacles.

The latest chip that Lin Zhixia and her seniors were developing couldn’t be manufactured and could only exist in computer software, being simulated in a virtual environment. Current chip manufacturing technology couldn’t meet Lin Zhixia’s needs, and she suddenly didn’t know what to do—it was as if she specialized in problem A, came up with solution B, but B required C, and she was helpless with C.

Scientific research in cutting-edge fields was more difficult than she had imagined.

She suddenly thought about switching to study chip manufacturing.

Lin Zhixia hadn’t told Jiang Yubai about her worries. During every video call, she claimed everything was fine and encouraged Jiang Yubai to keep going forward bravely.

*

In mid-May, Jiang Yubai faced his college entrance examination.

His father and mother specially put aside their work and flew to Beijing to visit their son. The family reunited in Beijing, with even his uncle and aunt coming together.

During the exam days, his father acted as the driver, personally taking Jiang Yubai to the exam site. Jiang Yubai carried his backpack, stepped through the exam site gates, resolutely walking forward without looking back.

Jiang Shaoqi, watching his nephew’s back, couldn’t help laughing: “Haha, is Little Jiang a bit nervous?”

Jiang Shaoqi’s older brother turned and gave him a look, and he immediately changed his tone: “Little Jiang probably isn’t nervous, just determined. This level of exam is a small case; Little Jiang could score all A’s with his eyes closed.”

Jiang Shaoqi had great confidence in Jiang Yubai, and Jiang Yubai performed quite well.

Jiang Yubai steadily completed all the exam questions and even dared to check answers with his classmates after the exam ended. His classmate asked him: “Did you do well?”

Jiang Yubai admitted: “It was acceptable.”

The classmate asked again: “Can you get into the school you want?”

But Jiang Yubai said: “Not necessarily.”

He wanted to attend Trinity College at Cambridge University, a school that was always fiercely competitive. He didn’t have complete confidence but could only do his best. Strangely, he didn’t feel too much pressure and was even mentally prepared for rejection.

Jiang Yubai once thought he was a perfectionist. However, over many years, under Lin Zhixia’s continuous impact, he had accepted the fact that “he was just an ordinary person.” If he could go to Trinity College, that would be great; if not, it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be without a place to study.

The night after all exams ended, Jiang Yubai felt mentally and physically relaxed. He soaked in a bathtub filled with warm water, like a fish returning to the sea. He turned on the bathroom television and watched CCTV10’s excellent program called “Humans and Nature.”

On the marble shelf beside the bathtub sat a stemmed glass filled with freshly squeezed orange juice. As Jiang Yubai picked up the glass, suddenly his phone rang.

He accidentally pressed the answer button.

Lin Zhixia said happily: “Jiang Yubai! I just left the laboratory. I saw your text message. Congratulations! You’ll definitely get into the school you want! What are you doing now? Let’s video chat later? I’m about to get back to my dorm…”

Jiang Yubai panicked for a moment but quickly calmed down. He replied steadily: “I’m watching TV.”

“What TV show?”

“Humans and Nature.”

Lin Zhixia asked again: “Do you have time for a video call?”

Steam rose in the bathroom, blurring Jiang Yubai’s vision. He raised his head slightly, his vision no longer clear, his heartbeat suddenly quickening. Caught off guard, he said the wrong thing: “Another day.”

“Another day?” Lin Zhixia was a bit confused.

But she quickly agreed: “Okay, let’s talk later then. I need to climb the stairs now. Bye.”

After Lin Zhixia hung up, Jiang Yubai only heard a series of “beep beep beep” sounds. His fingers slipped, and the phone nearly fell into the water.

He put down his phone and turned off the TV.

Water vapor spread everywhere, the light was dreamy, and the bath water flowed in the hazy light. Such a quiet environment was originally conducive to thinking, but Jiang Yubai’s thoughts became muddled.

He lay against the built-in backrest of the bathtub, belatedly feeling that his previous “another day” had sounded too cold and even revealed a hint of impatience… that wasn’t his intention. He stood up, put on his bathrobe, and called Lin Zhixia.

To his surprise—Lin Zhixia had turned off her phone.

Jiang Yubai waited a while and called Lin Zhixia again, but her phone remained off. Jiang Yubai then logged into QQ and checked the contact list—”Xiaxia’s” avatar was gray.

In fact, Lin Zhixia’s phone had run out of battery.

She also had no time to use QQ.

She left her dorm at 7:30 in the morning for class, attended a seminar in the afternoon, and went to Professor Gu Likai’s laboratory to rush work in the evening. She had barely rested all day. Returning to her dorm after 9 PM, she took a shower and fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed.

Lin Zhixia slept very soundly and even had a dream. She dreamed about the chip that she, her seniors, and professors had designed. She put the chip into a machine and immediately collected the data results everyone wanted most. Professor Gu Likai told her that this type of chip could be mass-produced, greatly improving the operational capabilities of traditional computers and bringing revolutionary changes to human society.

Lin Zhixia’s dreams were always very clear, with all images having complete details, enough to deceive her senses and make her unsure whether she was in an illusory imaginary world.

*

The next morning, after Lin Zhixia woke up, she sat dazed on her bed for a minute.

Her roommate Deng Shasha asked her: “What’s wrong?”

Lin Zhixia answered: “I dreamed that our group’s difficult problem was solved, and I promoted the progress of human society.”

Deng Shasha held a cup of coffee in both hands and sighed: “The Goddess Xia is truly the Goddess Xia, solving problems even in dreams. I was like you when I was in my senior year of high school. My mom found someone to tell my fortune, and the fortune-teller said I could get into the best university in the country…”

Lin Zhixia held the bed railing, still thinking silently. She felt certain she could find a solution; she had just forgotten some key element.

She recalled the papers she had read and what her teachers and seniors had told her. Her morning hunger was no longer noticeable. She hurriedly washed up, changed clothes, took a package of cookies and a bottle of mineral water from her cabinet, shouldered her backpack, and ran to the quantum computing laboratory.

Throughout the entire weekend, Lin Zhixia didn’t contact Jiang Yubai.

Jiang Yubai had just finished his exams and could rest for a few days. But he couldn’t reach Lin Zhixia by phone or through QQ. He sent her a text message: “Are you free recently?”

Jiang Yubai didn’t say anything more.

Jiang Yubai had always been reserved and introverted. He couldn’t possibly tell her directly that he was waiting for her call.

His wait was quite long.

On Sunday afternoon, around 4 PM, Jiang Yubai sat in the garden reading “The Practice of Management.” He turned the pages absentmindedly when his phone suddenly burst into sound. He quickly answered and heard Lin Zhixia’s long-missed voice: “I’ve been too busy these past two days. My phone wasn’t charged. Are you doing well?”

Jiang Yubai tossed aside his book: “I’m fine. Grandfather has been teaching me how to work these days.”

“What kind of work?” Lin Zhixia asked.

Jiang Yubai patiently described everything in detail. He also said that this summer vacation, he would prepare for university interviews, and next September, he would go to England to study.

Lin Zhixia’s tone revealed reluctance: “We’ll be separated again.”

Jiang Yubai said: “I’ll come back to China during holidays.”

“Mm!” Lin Zhixia responded.

Jiang Yubai very much wanted to see her, but he knew she was busy during this period and probably had no time to go out and play. He casually asked: “Are you reviewing for final exams?”

“No,” Lin Zhixia said, “I never review.”

Jiang Yubai murmured: “You indeed don’t need to review.”

Lin Zhixia’s thoughts were constantly on her laboratory work. She chatted casually with Jiang Yubai for a few sentences but indeed didn’t invite him to meet.

Lin Zhixia was focused entirely on scientific research, not even eating as actively as usual. She and her seniors were all working hard to simplify the chip design in hopes of producing a successful experimental sample.

Last October, Lin Zhixia submitted her first draft paper to Professor Gu. Professor Gu first praised her, then let her continue studying with senior student Tan Qianche for some time. So far, she had studied for over seven months but still hadn’t produced a paper. She didn’t say it aloud, but her heart was somewhat anxious.

In two more months, Lin Zhixia would accompany her teacher and seniors to attend a quantum academic conference in Los Angeles, USA. Quantum computing was her future development direction; how could she not have a paper to her name?

For the first time in her life, Lin Zhixia understood the anxiety of ordinary people.

Yang Shuwen in their group had instead become more relaxed. Yang Shuwen had co-authored a paper with Tan Qianche, which was successfully published, somewhat showing results. Yang Shuwen’s spirit was different from before. He worked steadily and peacefully in the laboratory, always with a focused expression on his face. No one could tell he had once blown up the laboratory.

He also suggested to Lin Zhixia: “You should say some nice words to Tan Qianche and let him give you an innovative idea to help you publish a paper for practice.”

Lin Zhixia flatly refused: “Thank you, I can publish papers on my own.”

“Experimental physics cultivates intuition,” Yang Shuwen advised her in return. “No matter how smart you are, your experience isn’t as rich as Tan Qianche’s. Being younger than him, your intuition isn’t as strong…”

Lin Zhixia remained silent.

Yang Shuwen sighed: “Have you read ‘Inferiority Complex and Transcendence’? This book enlightened me.”

“I’ve read it,” Lin Zhixia nodded.

Yang Shuwen nodded slightly: “Read it again. It’s useful.”

Lin Zhixia sat on a chair in the laboratory, listening to Yang Shuwen’s narrative: “When I first enrolled last year, I met a doctoral student from the neighboring group. Every time we met, I would ask him: Have you made any progress? Have you produced anything? Has your advisor been pushing you? That person always told me he hadn’t read books, was playing every day, gaming every day. His advisor didn’t push him; he was extremely relaxed…”

“Really?” Lin Zhixia doubted.

“False!” Yang Shuwen sighed repeatedly. “He lied to me. I never understood why he would lie to me. What do you think?”

Lin Zhixia guessed: “He was afraid you’d feel pressured?”

Yang Shuwen waved his hand: “No, he said the same thing to others in our group.”

Lin Zhixia tapped the table lightly with her fingertip: “Are you trying to tell me that voices from outside have both truth and falsehood, and I shouldn’t be influenced by others?”

“That’s right,” Yang Shuwen scratched his hair. “You understand so much. Things that I can figure out, there’s no way you can’t.”

Lin Zhixia murmured to herself: “I’ve read many philosophy books. Philosophy is like mathematical formulas; understanding the formula doesn’t necessarily mean you can apply it to yourself.”

“That’s right,” Yang Shuwen agreed.

Lin Zhixia looked up at him: “No one can have smooth sailing all the way. I’ll continue to work hard.”

Yang Shuwen gave her a thumbs up.

*

From May to June, Lin Zhixia reduced the frequency of calls home. She stayed in the laboratory until after 9 PM every day, then returned to her dorm to take a shower and get ready for bed.

The night before June 6th, Lin Zhixia received a call from home. Her mother asked: “Xiaxia, what have you been busy with lately?”

Lin Zhixia honestly described: “I’ve encountered a difficult academic problem. I really want to solve this problem…”

“Your brother has his college entrance exam tomorrow,” her mother reminded her.

She asked in return: “Does brother want to talk to me?”

Lin Zeqiu sat on the sofa, eating an apple. Her mother handed him the receiver, but he didn’t take it.

Lin Zhixia called out: “Brother?”

Only then did he lower his head, putting his ear to the receiver: “What’s up?”

Lin Zhixia said excitedly: “Wishing brother success in the college entrance exam!”

Lin Zeqiu asked her: “Are all your classmates among the top hundred in the provincial college entrance exam?”

“No,” Lin Zhixia introduced seriously. “Many students in our college were admitted through competition exemptions.”

Lin Zhixia wanted to ask Lin Zeqiu about his class ranking and mock exam total score, but she didn’t dare. She said a lot of encouraging words, constantly cheering for Lin Zeqiu. Lin Zeqiu appeared very steady, which reminded Lin Zhixia of the Russian contestants at the Romanian Mathematics Grand Prix years ago.

Lin Zeqiu attended the best science class at Provincial No. 1 High School, with a ranking in the upper-middle of his class. The top few students in the class could securely enter Tsinghua or Peking University, but Lin Zeqiu still had a considerable gap from them. His goal wasn’t Tsinghua or Peking University—these two universities were the best in the country with the highest thresholds. Lin Zeqiu only wanted to get into a 985 science and engineering university in Beijing, which both matched his ability level and reduced his psychological pressure.

For Lin Zeqiu’s college entrance exam, his parents closed their store and posted a “Temporarily Closed” notice. His father also found a friend with a car, gave him 1,000 yuan, and entrusted him to drive Lin Zeqiu to and from the exam.

On the day of the exam, June 7th, his father accompanied Lin Zeqiu in his friend’s car to the destination and watched his son enter the exam site.

Provincial No. 1 High School sent several teachers to lead the way. Those teachers set up a pavilion on the empty ground outside the exam site, establishing a “Loving Escort Service Station” that provided free mineral water to parents.

The teachers chatted quietly, even discussing the top students in the advanced class.

Lin Zeqiu’s father walked over and very politely asked: “Hello, teachers. I’m a parent of a Provincial No. 1 High School candidate. May I ask, are this year’s college entrance exam questions difficult?”

A young female teacher smiled and asked: “Hello, which class is your child in?”

“My son is called Lin Zeqiu, in High School Senior Class (11). I’m his father, Lin Fugui,” Lin Fugui answered in detail.

The female teacher handed him two bottles of mineral water: “Your child is in Advanced Class One. This exam won’t be difficult for him. Provincial No. 1 High School’s internal mock exams are all harder than the college entrance exam.”

Lin Fugui thanked her. He held the mineral water in both hands and sat on the tiles outside the flower bed.

It had rained earlier this morning, and the flower bed was still damp, perfect for cooling off. The pavilion overhead sheltered Lin Fugui from the scorching sun. He took out a wrinkled newspaper from his pocket and had just read two pages when the female teacher suddenly realized and asked: “Excuse me, parent, is Lin Zhixia your daughter?”

Lin Fugui held the newspaper and looked up: “Ah, yes, yes.”

The surrounding teachers all praised him for his good parenting methods.

He wore a smile on his face but felt guilty in his heart. His daughter Lin Zhixia had always been self-taught; he, as a father, had never helped with her studies.

Last night, he heard his wife say that their daughter had been particularly hard-pressed these two months. She had encountered a difficult problem and couldn’t figure out a solution. Every day she buried herself in the laboratory, coming and going at all hours, and they didn’t know if she was eating properly… After all, at just fifteen years old, still an underage child, she still needed adult care.

Lin Fugui raised his hand to his forehead. Like countless parents, he was concerned about his children. He thought about his daughter far away in Beijing and his son in the exam room nearby, only hoping that both children could smoothly overcome their difficulties.

As the first Chinese language exam of the first day of the college entrance examination was about to end, Lin Fugui opened his backpack and took out an apple. He peeled it and even rinsed it slightly with mineral water.

The doors of the exam site opened, and many candidates walked out. Lin Zeqiu was mixed among a group of young people. He wore inconspicuous clothes, but Lin Fugui still spotted him at a glance. Lin Fugui called out: “Qiuqiu, Qiuqiu, Dad is here!” He walked over holding the apple: “Tired? Dad peeled an apple for you.”

But Lin Zeqiu said: “I’m not hungry. I still have the math exam in the afternoon. I won’t eat cold food now.”

Lin Fugui withdrew his arm: “Good, you’re right. We need to be careful these days.”

Lin Fugui’s friend drove the car over. Lin Fugui got in the car with his son. His son was already taller than him, with broader shoulders, a wider vision, and the vigor of youth. As Lin Fugui thought about this, his throat tightened, and he said softly: “Qiuqiu, whatever your results are, you are Mom and Dad’s good child…”

Lin Zeqiu didn’t respond. He was still recalling the exam questions.

During the college entrance examination period, his parents took meticulous care of Lin Zeqiu. Since Lin Zhixia had gone to Beijing for university, Lin Zeqiu had become the focus of his parents’ attention. He was determined to achieve good results in the college entrance examination, to live up to his parents and his years of hard study.

*

How difficult was the college entrance examination?

As an exempt student, Lin Zhixia had never personally experienced it.

To understand the process of the college entrance examination, Lin Zhixia specifically consulted her classmate Deng Shasha.

Deng Shasha opened a bag of chips and talked while eating: “The college entrance exam? Oh, that was the most glorious period in my life. After the last subject, I knew I would either go to Tsinghua or Peking University. On the day the results came out, admissions officers from both Tsinghua and Peking University came to our high school to meet me. Tsinghua even brought a very handsome doctoral senior student, and I was captivated…”

“Then why didn’t you go to Tsinghua?” Lin Zhixia asked.

Deng Shasha bit a chip with a crunch: “The senior said he already had a girlfriend.”

Lin Zhixia picked up a chip, took a small bite, and asked again: “Did you firmly reject the Tsinghua admissions office?”

Deng Shasha said with backbone: “Yes, our school’s mathematics is better…” Her tone paused, then softened: “It’s just that my math isn’t good. I just hope I can graduate.”

Lin Zhixia comfortingly patted her on the back.

Everyone has troubles, Lin Zhixia thought.

Compared to those classmates struggling with exam week, Lin Zhixia was already quite fortunate. She took final exams as if relaxing, enjoying the quiet and comfortable exam environment, leisurely and happily writing out answer processes, and estimating before turning in her paper that her score would stabilize above 95—in other words, her grades remained perfect.

From a young age, Lin Zhixia had never worried about her exams.

But she was a bit worried about Lin Zeqiu and Jiang Yubai.

In late June, Lin Zeqiu’s college entrance exam results were announced first—he ranked 430th in the province’s science track, better than he had anticipated. Schools in Beijing, except for Tsinghua and Peking University, were his to choose from.

His father was so excited that he wanted to return to their hometown overnight to offer incense at the ancestral graves.

His mother called Lin Zhixia again, reporting the good news. Lin Zhixia was infected by her mother’s joy and excitedly announced in her dorm: “My brother ranked 430th in the province!”

Her three roommates were all stunned.

After several seconds, Deng Shasha was the first to react: “Awesome! The Goddess Xia’s brother is also a god!”

As last year’s science valedictorian, Feng Yuan also nodded slightly in approval: “With several hundred thousand people taking the exam in the province, he could rank 430th…” Feng Yuan applauded: “So strong!”

The dorm was filled with a festive atmosphere. Lin Zhixia dug out a bag of strawberry cookies from her cabinet, opened the package, and generously shared them with her roommates. Her roommates asked about Lin Zhixia’s summer plans, and Lin Zhixia revealed: “This summer, I’ll be flying between several countries.”

Yuan Wei said: “I found an internship at an internet company.”

Feng Yuan said: “I’m doing hidden Markov tree research with my advisor.”

Deng Shasha slapped the bed railing: “I’m going to lie in bed all summer!”

Deng Shasha’s style was unique, so different, so outstanding. Lin Zhixia passed her several notebooks. Deng Shasha’s expression changed dramatically: “What’s this?”

Lin Zhixia sincerely said: “These are notes from a senior mathematics major in her fourth year. That senior ranked in the top three in GPA for the entire department. After graduation, she’s going to work at Microsoft Research Asia. She contributed her notebooks to help younger female students…”

As the object of the senior’s help, Deng Shasha collapsed onto her pillow—this feeling, how to describe it? Deng Shasha was like a household in difficulty in the village, and the senior, out of kindness, went to the countryside for poverty alleviation, coming directly to Deng Shasha’s home.

Deng Shasha asked anxiously: “Do all the fourth-year seniors know my grades are poor?”

“No, no,” Lin Zhixia explained. “That senior is about to graduate. She knows Tan Qianche from our group. Tan Qianche said she wanted to help younger female students, so he gave the notebooks to me.”

Deng Shasha shifted her focus: “Senior Tan Qianche… is quite handsome.”

Lin Zhixia had been in the laboratory for over eight months and had long memorized Tan Qianche’s behavioral patterns. Tan Qianche would date girls every weekend, and each time with a different person. He was so fickle!

Thinking of this, Lin Zhixia stood on the floor, gripping the bed railing, and defended firmly: “No, Tan Qianche is not handsome at all… He doesn’t look as good as my brother, and certainly not as good as my friend.”

“Is your friend that Jiang Yubai?” Deng Shasha carefully recalled and couldn’t help but exclaim: “He is good-looking. Wow, Goddess Xia, birds of a feather flock together.”

Having said that, Deng Shasha became more interested in Lin Zhixia’s brother: “How old is your brother?”

“Eighteen,” Lin Zhixia answered truthfully.

Deng Shasha asked lazily: “How tall?”

“One meter eighty-seven.”

“Does he have a girlfriend?”

“Single for eighteen years.”

“What’s his personality like?”

“Umm…”

Lin Zhixia diplomatically said: “Very distinctive.”

Deng Shasha waved her hand: “Not bad, not bad.”

Lin Zhixia laughed. She realized that the previous conversation seemed strange, as if she were matchmaking Lin Zeqiu and Deng Shasha. She quickly changed the topic and started talking to Deng Shasha about mathematics. Deng Shasha was overwhelmed but still listened patiently, not wanting to miss Lin Zhixia’s face-to-face tutoring.

*

The final exams for the first semester of freshman year had ended, and the students had each begun their summer vacations. But Lin Zhixia didn’t go home. She stayed in her dorm studying, occasionally visiting the laboratory. By early July, Gu Likai took the students in his group to Los Angeles, USA, to attend the annual international quantum computing conference.

This was Lin Zhixia’s first time setting foot on North American soil.

She curiously observed the scenery along the way and took many photos.

Professor Gu and his students checked into a local hotel. They rested for a day and headed to the conference center the next day.

This international quantum computing conference lasted three days, with researchers from various countries gathering together. There were various academic reports during the day and banquets and dinners in the evening. Here, Lin Zhixia met a research group from the University of Tokyo—she tried speaking Japanese with them, which they found quite surprising.

Within the University of Tokyo research group was a doctoral student in her twenties. As always, Lin Zhixia liked to stick close to female doctoral students. She consciously imitated this senior’s Japanese pronunciation to make her tone sound gentler.

The senior handed her a business card.

Lin Zhixia automatically translated her name: Nagano Ayaka.

Nagano Ayaka specialized in quantum computing derivative algorithms. She and Lin Zhixia had a pleasant conversation. Her English was somewhat stuttering, far less comfortable and fluent than her Japanese.

Lin Zhixia also exchanged contact information with Nagano Ayaka.

When Nagano Ayaka heard that Lin Zhixia would only turn fifteen in September, her facial expression froze for two seconds. Then, Nagano Ayaka suddenly said, Please make sure to persist on her current scientific research path.

Nagano Ayaka was older than Lin Zhixia and was also Lin Zhixia’s academic senior. Lin Zhixia had been using respectful Japanese language with her. Suddenly hearing such a formal and polite request from Nagano Ayaka left Lin Zhixia momentarily confused.

Lin Zhixia thought for a moment and tactfully expressed that she felt the number of female doctoral students in science and engineering was still somewhat low. For example, artificial intelligence is now a globally hot research direction. AI researchers generally needed to publish several top conference papers, but the male-to-female ratio of top conference authors was seven to one. She hoped global education could be more equal, not imbalanced due to gender, to supply more female scientists to the research field.

Nagano Ayaka agreed repeatedly.

Lin Zhixia was pulled into the University of Tokyo group.

The seniors from Peking University couldn’t find Lin Zhixia for a while.

Professor Gu Likai was chatting with a professor from Switzerland and hadn’t noticed where his students were distributed. This professor had some ideas very similar to Lin Zhixia’s. Gu Likai immediately grabbed Yang Shuwen beside him and urged: “Quickly find your junior sister.”

In the banquet hall, people came and went amid noisy sounds. Yang Shuwen scanned the surroundings and caught sight of Tan Qianche. Two beautiful female doctoral students stood around Tan Qianche as he discussed several theories of quantum communication with them.

Yang Shuwen ran over quickly and tugged on Tan Qianche’s sleeve: “Lin Zhixia is missing?”

Tan Qianche was greatly alarmed. He pushed his silver-framed glasses up his nose, looked into the distance, and calmly said: “She’s over there, mixed in with the circles from Tokyo University and Kyoto University.”

“How did she end up in the Japanese circle?” Yang Shuwen was shocked.

Tan Qianche only said, “If you want to find Lin Zhixia, first look for female doctoral students. She likes talking to female doctoral students the most. Do you understand? Don’t be so alarmed. There are also two female doctoral students in Berkeley’s group working on quantum limit amplifiers. After Lin Zhixia finishes chatting with that Japanese girl, she’ll most likely dive into the American circle. Keep an eye on her and don’t let her get lost.”

Yang Shuwen awkwardly rubbed his hands: “Professor Gu wants her to come over.”

Tan Qianche took a sip of wine and said calmly: “Go tell her. What’s the use of telling me?”

Tonight’s Tan Qianche had a somewhat harsh tone.

Yang Shuwen didn’t mind. He didn’t fail Professor Gu Likai’s instructions and successfully brought Lin Zhixia to Gu Likai, who then introduced Lin Zhixia to the Swiss professor with an attitude of presenting a proud disciple.

Lin Zhixia’s English was very fluent. Given that the official languages of Switzerland include German and French, she could even alternate between these languages.

That professor patiently conversed with Lin Zhixia. Lin Zhixia felt she understood some things better, with inspiration jumping like points of light in her mind, but when she tried to grasp it, the light disappeared.

Lin Zhixia wanted the professor’s contact information, but Professor Gu interrupted: “For any questions, send an email.”

Lin Zhixia nodded.

On the last day of the conference, Tan Qianche gave a speech specifically explaining the content of his papers over the years. Wearing silver-framed glasses, he appeared scholarly and cultured, with excellent English speaking skills. Tan Qianche’s classmates all praised him for his outstanding demeanor, bringing honor to everyone.

However, Tan Qianche was not the most outstanding student in Gu Likai’s group.

Gu Likai had another doctoral student about to graduate, referred to by juniors as an “academic machine.” Although the number of papers he published wasn’t large, the quality was consistently high. He was about to become a visiting scholar in the United States and was an object of daily admiration for junior students.

In comparison, Lin Zhixia didn’t seem outstanding.

Lin Zhixia wasn’t discouraged at all.

As long as she kept trying…

She was doing her best.

*

As the international quantum computing conference in Los Angeles concluded, Gu Likai led his students to Cambridge, England. A former university classmate of Gu Likai was currently teaching at Cambridge. This classmate sincerely invited Gu Likai to visit and arranged an on-campus lecture for him.

Lin Zhixia said goodbye to America with one foot and stepped into England with the other. She was still not accustomed to long-distance flights. Just out of the airport, she was dizzy, but she still mustered her energy and took photos everywhere with her camera.

Compared to downtown Los Angeles, Cambridge appeared quite peaceful and modest.

On their first night in Cambridge, around 8 PM, it was still light outside, the sky as blue as a lake surface. Lin Zhixia’s seniors suggested going out for a walk. Everyone responded enthusiastically, and Lin Zhixia followed their footsteps.

They walked along ancient streets toward a local supermarket called Sainsbury’s.

In this supermarket, all fruits were displayed in refrigerators not far from the entrance. After entering, Lin Zhixia headed straight for the refrigerator, grabbed two boxes of strawberries, and hugged them without letting go. But she soon noticed that each box of strawberries was priced at 2 pounds, which converted to about 20 yuan per box. Wasn’t that too expensive?

As Lin Zhixia hesitated, Tan Qianche took out a Visa credit card: “Don’t worry, I’ll pay.”

“I have money too,” Lin Zhixia insisted.

Tan Qianche smiled and said: “Come on, you’re only fifteen. Let me treat you.”

Yang Shuwen spoke up: “Senior, can you pay for my things too?”

Tan Qianche agreed: “Sure, go ahead and buy.” He took such good care of his junior classmates that it made people forget his usual lifestyle.

Yang Shuwen was overjoyed and picked two boxes of cake and two cans of beer, returning with his classmates fully loaded.