He Shangqing didn’t want to hear Jiang Yubai speak. He rushed to say: “Don’t be angry, I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
He lightly tapped the table, his tone fluctuating: “I asked several students from the previous year, whose software development progress fell behind, and there were problems connecting the front-end and back-end. Lin Zhixia, if you write both the front-end and back-end by yourself, wouldn’t we avoid connection problems?”
If Lin Zhixia wrote both the front-end and back-end herself, it would mean she was bearing more than seventy percent of the workload alone.
Lin Zhixia stared straight at He Shangqing: “Fine, I accept. However, I will speak to the teaching assistant, and I’ll write in the report… that you all were slacking off.”
He Shangqing wasn’t afraid of her at all: “Is it us slacking off, or you not letting others participate in the project?”
“What do you mean?” Lin Zhixia asked in return.
He Shangqing kindly explained to her: “If you go complain to the teacher, I won’t stay silent. Let me give you an example, not saying it’s true, so don’t get angry…”
Lin Zhixia held her breath.
He Shangqing smiled and revealed: “I might say that you’re too eager for high grades, you always think that the more content you’re responsible for, the higher your score will be. Because you look down on others’ code, you’re unwilling to delegate work. Your accusation of us slacking off is because you’re too arrogant, you disregard others’ efforts—this has led to all four group members having nothing to do. The ‘Software Engineering’ course tests more than just coding ability. No matter how well you write, if you don’t understand communication and harm other classmates, your total score for ‘Software Engineering’ won’t exceed ninety.”
He Shangqing’s move was too underhanded; his three roommates began to feel ashamed. One roommate even considered switching sides on the spot, but He Shangqing stopped him, and then asked: “Lin Zhixia, what do you think?”
Lin Zhixia leaned back against her chair: “Are you threatening me?”
He Shangqing shook his head.
Lin Zhixia declared: “Let me tell you, in this world, no one can threaten me.”
Lin Zhixia was pretty and pure-looking, with a soft voice. When she got angry, she was like a little cat showing its claws, not intimidating anyone at all. He Shangqing smiled with pursed lips: “I’m not threatening you, don’t get excited.”
The sun climbed higher, the tree shadows grew denser. The shadows fell on Lin Zhixia, covering half her face as she calmly said: “I understand what you mean. I will draft a task planning document and send it to your and the teaching assistant’s emails. If you don’t do as I say, I’d rather give up the ‘Software Engineering’ course.”
“What about Luo Ying?” He Shangqing pointed at Luo Ying. “Are you willing to give up ‘Software Engineering’?”
Luo Ying was so angered she laughed: “I’d rather take a year off than be in a group with you.”
Luo Ying was, after all, a beautiful girl. Her attack on those boys made them lose face.
One of He Shangqing’s roommates tried to smooth things over: “You can talk nicely, don’t get so heated.”
How could they not get heated?
They were being bullied right to their faces!
Luo Ying was furious. She proclaimed: “You’re from the Physics Department, and I know many people there. I’ll let your classmates see how you behave in group assignments.”
Luo Ying wasn’t very good at scolding people. She couldn’t use precise language to express her agitated emotions.
Around the square wooden table sat seven people in total—He Shangqing and his roommates on one side, Lin Zhixia, Jiang Yubai, and Luo Ying on the other. Neither Lin Zhixia’s nor Luo Ying’s intimidation had any effect, not shaking He Shangqing’s position in the slightest.
At this point, Jiang Yubai looked at He Shangqing and said slowly: “You’re very clever, understanding the mentality of good students. Good students are often perfectionists, picky about their work, with high self-expectations. You think Lin Zhixia won’t dare give up ‘Software Engineering,’ and once she starts coding, she’ll do a good job and help you write complete software.”
“If you put it that way, I have no defense,” He Shangqing tilted his head, adjusting his hairstyle. “Lin Zhixia and I are in the same boat. I’m not refusing to do work. Why don’t you persuade Lin Zhixia to efficiently complete the software, so all six of us can have a good time?”
“I won’t do it!” Lin Zhixia was resolute.
He Shangqing sighed: “If my three roommates and I make shoddy software, and we frankly tell the teacher that you refused to contribute and want a zero, would that satisfy you?”
Jiang Yubai interjected: “You want Lin Zhixia to complete the software alone, then divide her achievement into four parts, distributed equally among the four of you. I think this is unrealistic.”
“You’re sowing discord.” He Shangqing smiled.
Jiang Yubai pushed away a drink placed in front of He Shangqing: “I’m telling the truth. You and your three roommates can’t write the software report. You don’t understand a software’s front-end and back-end; during the presentation and defense phase, you won’t be able to answer the teacher’s questions and will lose points. Whether Lin Zhixia is willing to cooperate with you or not, she can’t escape the risk, after all, all four of you in the dorm are slackers.”
Back in his elementary school graduation year, Jiang Yubai had learned the term “slacker” from Duan Qiyan.
“Slacker” was Duan Qiyan’s catchphrase.
Jiang Yubai applied it flexibly: “You’re all slackers, nobody will cooperate with slackers. I suggest you go to the teacher, drop ‘Software Engineering,’ and choose another course.”
“Exactly!” Lin Zhixia straightened her back. “He Shangqing, you dare threaten me, you think this is a ‘prisoner’s dilemma’…”
“What does this have to do with the ‘prisoner’s dilemma’?” He Shangqing asked impatiently.
The prisoner’s dilemma is a classic problem in game theory. Two prisoners are simultaneously caught by police. If they both lie, each gets one year in prison. If they both confess, each gets eight years. If one confesses and the other lies, the former goes free, while the latter gets twenty years.
Everyone present knew this simple problem.
Lin Zhixia didn’t waste words. She said directly: “You just think that if I help you complete the assignment and then lie together with you, we’ll get the best outcome… It’s impossible, don’t even think about it. For me, honesty is more important than grades. I can get zero, retake the course, even drop out of school, but I won’t cheat, much less help you lie. You shouldn’t threaten me with the ‘Software Engineering’ grade. I don’t even care about dropping out, why would I care about one course? This isn’t a prisoner’s dilemma game; only you are a prisoner, I’ve always been on the police’s side.”
He Shangqing’s lips curled slightly as he looked into her eyes.
Lin Zhixia stood up and looked at He Shangqing’s three roommates: “The fact that you’ve made it to junior year without dropping out shows your grades are passable… When you received your admission letters, were your family and friends happy? When you first entered university at eighteen, did you have dreams for the future? This is the best university in the country; professors hope you’ll succeed, families hope you’ll grow. When you leave these gates, can you face yourself?”
Lin Zhixia gripped the table with both hands. Though her voice was soft, it penetrated deeply.
The three roommates’ eyes darted around, and He Shangqing’s expression changed: “Don’t try to brainwash people.”
Lin Zhixia pressed on: “I believe in you. You have the opportunity to prove yourselves in group work, to be dignified people who earn their living with their abilities, who live by their skills. There’s no need to beg along with He Shangqing. Everyone learns at different speeds; we can’t reach the sky in one step, but at least we should have the right attitude toward learning. He Shangqing isn’t trying to save you time; he’s depriving you of your right to think, not allowing you to learn programming through a practical project. He Shangqing, who is brainwashing whom?”
Luo Ying listened in amazement.
Jiang Yubai had long witnessed Lin Zhixia’s eloquence. He calmly chimed in: “Not learning well yourself, yet not letting others learn…”
“Not learning well yourself, yet not letting others learn” was a phrase Jiang Yubai’s middle school homeroom teacher often used. Jiang Yubai still remembered the teacher’s tone as he criticized a group of seniors like a teacher, thoroughly angering He Shangqing.
He Shangqing frowned and said in a deep voice: “You’ve all misunderstood my meaning. From beginning to end, I never said I was a slacker. If Lin Zhixia can do the assignment well by herself, why not let her do it? It’s like managing a company, reducing labor costs…”
Just as Lin Zhixia was about to refute him, Jiang Yubai held her sleeve: “I brought a voice recorder.”
Everyone at the table was shocked.
Jiang Yubai took out a silver metal tube from his pocket. He placed the metal tube on the table, his fingertip on a button: “I recorded our entire conversation. I heard your school rules are very strict; cheating on exam results in expulsion.”
He showed a hint of regret: “He Shangqing, you’re a junior; being expelled would be such a shame.”
He Shangqing’s mouth opened slightly. After two seconds, he said: “You recorded secretly, violating my privacy.”
Jiang Yubai denied: “I didn’t violate your legal rights. You weren’t constrained or forced, and I was a participant in the conversation. This voice recorder could be evidence in court.”
After Jiang Yubai finished speaking, a man at the next table suddenly joined in: “Let me give you my contact information. If you take that voice recorder to the school, I’m willing to be your witness. I’ll testify that He Shangqing was threatening you. It’s terrible. I was also bullied by classmates when I was in university.”
This man handed over a business card with a line that read—”Chai Yang, Dongyang Technology Company, Chief Executive Officer.”
Jiang Yubai accepted the card.
He Shangqing covered the lower half of his face with both hands. Hot air from his nostrils escaped through his fingers. Two of his roommates moved to sit closer to Lin Zhixia, leaving only his best friend by his side.
Since the first semester of sophomore year, their entire dorm had become obsessed with a game. He Shangqing held a high position in the game, which helped him relieve real-life pressure. The brothers played together, having a great time. Unexpectedly, the harmonious relationship in their dorm was disrupted by a young girl.
He Shangqing picked up his laptop bag and walked out of the café without looking back. One roommate chased after him, leaving two roommates in the café—they were willing to discuss the software design goals with Lin Zhixia and Luo Ying.
The four of them began talking.
Jiang Yubai asked Chai Yang: “Are you waiting for someone?”
Chai Yang sighed: “I… across from me, an investment client was sitting earlier. He didn’t wait for me to finish my proposal, just drank a few sips of coffee and left. Before leaving home this morning, I was still fantasizing about securing an angel investor today.”
Jiang Yubai smoothed things over: “He might have had an emergency.”
During this period, Jiang Yubai had just begun exploring the startup investment field. He casually asked: “Would it be convenient to tell me what your company’s main business is?”
Chai Yang’s smile was warm: “You’re a high school senior, right? Focus on your college entrance exam first.”
“I’ve already taken it,” Jiang Yubai said. “I’m preparing to study abroad.”
Chai Yang folded a company proposal document into a tube shape. He absentmindedly tapped the table with the tube, thinking: he had been going around among investors like a lost thousand-mile horse, yet to meet his talent scout. He couldn’t help but doubt himself—was he a thousand-mile horse? Perhaps he was just an old ox plowing fields.
An old ox’s broken plow wasn’t very useful.
He simply gave the proposal to Jiang Yubai.
He said: “We spent over four years developing an intelligent recognition system, got a patent, but the user base is too small. Investors all think it has no future.”
He stood up, organized his briefcase, and waved: “I’m leaving. Take care.”
Shortly after Chai Yang left, Lin Zhixia’s discussion ended.
The other classmates returned to campus. Lin Zhixia handed her laptop to Senior Luo Ying for safekeeping, then held Jiang Yubai’s sleeve as they strolled along a street.
The gentle spring breeze blew through her hair as she smiled and said: “Walking with you makes me happy.”
Jiang Yubai inadvertently touched her little finger. She immediately bent her pinky, hooking his index finger. His hand experienced a series of sensations—from initial warmth to eventual numbness, all happening within just a few seconds.
He almost believed she had insight into his heart.
If she suddenly told him she could read minds, he wouldn’t be surprised.
On the busy street, she stood still and looked up at him.
The breeze played mischievously, and tree shadows danced. Her eyes were expressive, seemingly about to speak but hesitating.
Jiang Yubai suddenly felt a shameful, inappropriate expectation. He softly encouraged her: “Just say what’s on your mind.”
Lin Zhixia stepped back slightly and asked directly: “Is your voice recorder fake?”
Jiang Yubai paused for a few seconds before asking in return: “Is that what you wanted to say?”
“What else?” Lin Zhixia was somewhat confused.
Jiang Yubai took out the metal tube from his pocket: “This is a remote control, not a voice recorder. You guessed correctly.”
“Why do you carry a remote control with you?” Lin Zhixia persisted.
“I have a cat at home,” Jiang Yubai said. “I’ll give you a remote control for an electronic mouse, and you can come play with the cat at my home.”
Lin Zhixia was indeed deeply attracted by his pet. Her eyes lit up: “That’s wonderful! I love kittens the most!”
In a few months, Jiang Yubai would be going to England for school, while Lin Zhixia would still be in Beijing for her junior year. While he was still in the country, Jiang Yubai wanted to spend as much time as possible with Lin Zhixia. He tactfully invited her: “Are you busy recently? If you have time…”
Lin Zhixia held the remote control, thoughtfully saying: “Tomorrow, I’m attending a North American academic exchange meeting. A professor from North America is visiting our school with several students from their group. I heard from Senior Yang Shuwen that Tan Qianche’s first girlfriend is also coming; she’s also a doctoral sister.”
Lin Zhixia selflessly shared the gossip she had heard. Her focus was actually on the “doctoral sister,” while Jiang Yubai recalled the entire quantum computing group. He reminded her: “Most people in your group are students from the Physics Department, possibly also teaching assistants there.”
Lin Zhixia was in sync with him: “I understand. If He Shangqing causes me trouble, I’ll find teachers and teaching assistants from the Physics Department.”