Genius Girlfriend

Jiang Yubai sat down beside Lin Zhixia, looking at the email she had received today.

As Jiang Yubai scrolled with the mouse wheel, Lin Zhixia began eating strawberries.

She had only eaten two strawberries when Jiang Yubai said, "Their professor is one of the authors of the HHL Algorithm paper..."

"It's him," Lin Zhixia nodded. "I'm somewhat interested in joining their group."

Jiang Yubai tapped the desk lightly with his fingertip: "Isn't your current group good enough?"

Lin Zhixia described honestly: "Our group is excellent with high interdisciplinary integration. I've learned many new things. I particularly enjoy the weekly group meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as the report sessions and academic exchanges. The topics my advisor selected for me are quite good, offering ample room for independent exploration. As long as I produce results, I can basically publish in journals or conferences. However, publishing papers isn't my only goal—I want to work on practical applications. Back during my undergraduate years, Senior Tan Qianche was doing quite well in this regard."

Jiang Yubai met her gaze, and she continued: "Look at their job posting—the postdoc position involves rather novel work."

As she spoke, she picked up a fork and speared a fresh strawberry.

Her lips were rosy and moist, more delicate and appealing than the fruit flesh.

Jiang Yubai subtly averted his gaze.

Looking straight ahead, he sat upright and composed, reasonably suggesting: "If you've made your decision, apply as soon as possible. This email was sent to doctoral students in related fields across universities worldwide. There's only one position—highly competitive, first come first served."

Lin Zhixia sighed softly: "But you'll graduate from university next year. If I go to the US, wouldn't we be separated again?"

Jiang Yubai murmured in an extremely low voice: "I'm used to it."

Lin Zhixia didn't catch it clearly: "Were you talking to me?"

Jiang Yubai remained enigmatic: "It's nothing."

Lin Zhixia mumbled indistinctly: "Jiang Yubai..." She deliberately slurred her words as if speaking with rice cake in her mouth.

As expected, Jiang Yubai requested: "Say that again."

Lin Zhixia retaliated in kind: "I won't tell you."

Jiang Yubai compromised: "Back in our second year of junior high, when you went to the high school section for training..."

Lin Zhixia gazed at him. He continued: "Since then, I've grown accustomed to temporary separations from you. You moving forward is a good thing—I'll always support you."

Lin Zhixia suddenly recalled what Jiang Yubai had told her during their junior high years. He said that Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai had never truly separated—they were merely executing different tasks during certain phases.

Lin Zhixia clearly remembered that year's playground, the red rubber track, white clouds drifting across the blue sky, their Class 17 classmates, and her deskmate Jiang Yubai. That was six years ago. For some reason, moisture suddenly welled in her eyes, hazy tears blurring her vision. Jiang Yubai pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. He asked gently: "What are you thinking about?"

Lin Zhixia murmured: "Thinking about you and me at twelve years old."

She whispered: "You probably don't remember anymore. I wish I could share my memories with you."

Yet Jiang Yubai said: "I remember very clearly."

"Really?" Lin Zhixia asked him.

He responded with earnest solemnity: "Really."Lin Zhixia believed him. She completed the sentence she had deliberately left vague earlier: "Jiang Yubai, I dreamed about you last night."

Jiang Yubai's heart stirred.

Lin Zhixia rested her chin in her hand. "I dreamed we were in high school together. You were riding a bicycle with me on the back, and I was holding tightly to your waist. We almost got caught by our homeroom teacher because Provincial No. 1 High School forbids puppy love."

Jiang Yubai couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Since when did I start having puppy love with you?"

"You confessed your feelings to me right at the beginning of eleventh grade," Lin Zhixia hinted.

Jiang Yubai pushed his chair back, putting more distance between them. "You were only fifteen then."

Lin Zhixia quickly added, "In the dream, I hadn't skipped any grades."

"Why not?"

"I wasn't very smart in the dream."

—Lin Zhixia was making a tremendous concession.

Jiang Yubai finally told her that he had realized he liked her when he was fifteen. By openly sharing this secret, he successfully won Lin Zhixia's delight.

Lin Zhixia immediately caught on. "So, you had a crush on me for several years? You kept it from me for so long—you're really good at restraining yourself."

It was more than just "having a crush"?

Mentioning the word "restrain," Jiang Yubai felt deeply moved.

Observing the change in his expression, Lin Zhixia grabbed his wrist and pressed further. "Have you ever stayed up late because you were thinking of me? Have you ever seen me in your dreams?"

Without any shame, she recited the famous lines from the Book of Songs: "Long I sought, but could not get her; Awake and asleep, I thought of her; Endlessly, endlessly, I turned and tossed."

After some time of exploration and observation, Jiang Yubai had discovered a pattern—if he acted reserved and restrained enough, Lin Zhixia would cast aside all her psychological burdens, take the initiative to get close to him, and even share a bed with him at night.

So he replied with extra seriousness, "I don't really remember."

Sure enough, Lin Zhixia fell into his trap. She sat on his lap and expressed her feelings: "If you appear in my dreams, it's definitely a sweet dream. The next morning, my mood becomes really good."

Jiang Yubai wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up entirely. Her feet suddenly dangled in the air, leaving her too stunned to speak. And then Jiang Yubai placed her on the bed.

Lin Zhixia pulled him down with her, then flipped over to straddle his waist.

Jiang Yubai's waist was lean and smooth. Lin Zhixia explored it with her palms for a little while. Just as Jiang Yubai was about to reach for her, Lin Zhixia stopped him. "Don't move."

The corner of his lips curled up. "I won't move."

Lin Zhixia nodded in satisfaction.

Jiang Yubai added, "Come closer, and I'll tell you what I did to you in my dreams before."

Lin Zhixia was enticed. With her hands braced on the pillow, she moved closer and closer to him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pressed her down onto the bed, and after struggling for two seconds, she completely gave up resisting. Jiang Yubai was simply too strong—she was no match for him, just as Jiang Yubai's exam scores could never surpass hers, her physical strength could never beat his.

She demanded, "What are you doing?"

He whispered close to her ear, "Describing my dream. Didn't you want to hear it?"

"Mhmm," Lin Zhixia urged, "Hurry up and tell me."

So Jiang Yubai picked two recent dreams and recounted them to her. Lin Zhixia blushed all the way to her ears. "You..."Her chest rose and fell unevenly. Jiang Yubai kissed the tip of her ear: "Still want to listen?"

Lin Zhixia thought for a moment, then surprisingly said: "Mhm."

But Jiang Yubai asked: "What does 'mhm' mean?"

Lin Zhixia felt Jiang Yubai hadn't been like this before. When they were young, he was clearly more prone to shyness than her. To hide his bright red ears, he would deliberately wear hooded clothes so he could pull the hood over his head. She intentionally avoided his question, pretending to have serious matters to attend to: "I'm not playing with you anymore. I need to work on my postdoctoral application."

Jiang Yubai took her seriously. He released her and let go.

Lin Zhixia clasped Jiang Yubai's shoulders with both hands, trying to push him down—of course, this was impossible to succeed at. They began playing around on the bed, like an upgraded version of "cat and mouse," with laughter and joyful noises in the bedroom hardly ceasing.

Lin Zhixia quickly adapted to her new room.

She lived very comfortably.

She always kept in mind her duties as a "home tutor."

Every evening, Lin Zhixia would study with Jiang Yubai. They shared a desk, their chairs placed close together, just like young couples in university libraries.

Lin Zhixia often flipped through Jiang Yubai's class notes, helped him organize materials, and added plenty of content related to mathematics and statistics. She diligently played the role of "home tutor."

When Jiang Yubai opened his notebook, memories from his three years of junior high school instantly flooded his mind.

Back then, Lin Zhixia had tutored him in the same way.

Lin Zhixia seemed to share a telepathic connection with him. She said: "Before we knew it, we've both grown up."

Jiang Yubai didn't respond. He took hold of Lin Zhixia's right hand.

But Lin Zhixia pulled her hand back: "I'm meeting with my advisor tomorrow. Let me finish this proposal first."

Lin Zhixia had her eyes on a research group at MIT. She knew that the professors in their group were pioneers in the entire field, their experimental equipment and academic achievements were world-class, and their research topics were novel and incredible. Lin Zhixia wanted to experience their academic atmosphere firsthand.

So far, Lin Zhixia's advisors had been very helpful to her.

Her doctoral advisor was actually quite approachable. Early the next morning, Lin Zhixia found him in his office and discussed her desire to pursue postdoctoral work at MIT, handing her proposal to him.

Her advisor glanced at Lin Zhixia's document and told her that given her current level, she was indeed qualified for postdoctoral work. The only problem was that she hadn't graduated yet. She should first prepare her doctoral graduation materials and obtain her Ph.D. diploma before transitioning to work in the United States.

Prestigious universities worldwide had countless doctoral graduates, many of whom might be competing with Lin Zhixia.

Lin Zhixia tentatively asked her advisor if it would be possible for her to graduate next year.

Her advisor said he would actively advocate for Lin Zhixia, but specifics needed to be discussed with the university. Because similar precedents were rare, even though Lin Zhixia had published several top-tier journal papers, participated in prestigious conferences, and received invitations from universities in Germany and Switzerland, some of the university's rules weren't easily broken.

Lin Zhixia expressed her understanding.

She couldn't determine her exact graduation timeline. But she still submitted her postdoctoral application materials.Lin Zhixia believed that there were people in the world smarter than her, better at utilizing resources, and who, through years of accumulation, surpassed her in both depth and breadth of knowledge. Could she really secure that postdoctoral position in the major research group? A faint trace of unease and doubt lingered in her heart.

She temporarily set this question aside.

Many hands make light work. By just the middle of August, the "New Quantum Computing Platform" had taken its simplest initial form. The platform was linked to Senior Wei Ruoxing's laboratory for testing. It was only then that Duan Qiyan suddenly realized: "This thing doesn't even have a name yet! Let's give it one!"

Up to this point, Duan Qiyan had been handling miscellaneous tasks in the group chat. He had even brought Tang Tingting into the group. He originally thought Tang Tingting's skills weren't as strong as his, and that after joining she would only look up to him. Unexpectedly, Tang Tingting grasped Wei Ruoxing's circuit design in just a few days.

Tang Tingting quickly became familiar with Feng Yuan, Luo Ying, and Wei Ruoxing, often addressing them as sisters in the group chat. The atmosphere couldn't have been more harmonious or joyful—completely unlike what Duan Qiyan had anticipated.

Tang Tingting was most enthusiastic towards Lin Zhixia.

So far, within the entire group, the person with the heaviest workload was undoubtedly Lin Zhixia.

Yet Lin Zhixia never seemed tired. She always approached her work with sheer delight.

Duan Qiyan privately messaged Lin Zhixia to ask if she was tired, to which she modestly replied, "I didn't do too much today."

Didn't do too much?

As everyone knows, on GitHub (a code hosting website), the more green squares in a user's activity log, the more diligent the person is.

And on Lin Zhixia's GitHub page, that vast array of densely packed squares was all intensely green.

And she calls that "not doing too much"?

Duan Qiyan suggested, "Why don't we just call our platform 'Didn't Do Anything Today'?"

Lin Zhixia asked blankly, "Why that name?"

Duan Qiyan said, "Applying what you just said."

Lin Zhixia frowned slightly. Then, she urged him, "Go ask everyone in the group what they think."

Duan Qiyan hesitated, "No one will agree, right?"

"Not necessarily," Lin Zhixia displayed a leader's demeanor and trust, "Maybe someone will support you."

True.

Duan Qiyan thought to himself.

If he couldn't swallow his pride, he might miss out on everyone's support because of it.

The name "Didn't Do Anything Today" sounded abrupt and casual at first, but it was also very down-to-earth. Duan Qiyan reasoned that they should first lower customers' expectations for the product, then let them experience how impressive it is—a clever and witty marketing strategy.

So, Duan Qiyan brought it up in the WeChat group.

He waited a few seconds, but no one responded.

He specifically tagged all group members.

Tang Tingting was the first to respond: "I'm begging you, bro, use your brain a little. What kind of name is that? It'll make people laugh at us online."

Duan Qiyan wasn't angry. He explained his viewpoint, but it only provoked a long string of "hahahaha" from Tang Tingting.

He couldn't help feeling somewhat irritated and demanded, "Why are you always giving me a hard time?"Tang Tingting retorted, "That's hilarious. You talk as if I'm desperate for your attention. Don't flatter yourself."

Duan Qiyan's train of thought was derailed by her words. "You're deliberately trying to get my attention?"

It was as if he had hit her weak spot.

Tang Tingting immediately fell silent.

She stopped responding to Duan Qiyan.

Duan Qiyan promptly sent her a private message, repeating the same question: "You're deliberately trying to get my attention?"

Tang Tingting remained silent, as if she had vanished from the world.

Duan Qiyan rubbed his thumb across his phone screen, leaving a fingerprint on the WeChat chat interface.

After careful reflection, Duan Qiyan realized he had known Tang Tingting for over seven years. Back in middle school, when they were rehearsing for the school anniversary performance, they had played a married couple. Classmates often teased them about it, and the teasing continued for years, lasting all the way until their high school graduation.

Duan Qiyan considered himself quite clever.

After mulling it over, he sent a WeChat message: "I must have misjudged you. Damn, you're into me..."

Before he could type the next line, Tang Tingting said, "Stop teasing me. There are plenty of handsome guys in that group—why would I focus solely on you?"

Yes.

That group was filled with good-looking guys.

For some reason, Duan Qiyan felt a surge of irritation.

He never judged people by their appearance and paid little attention to his own attire—with one exception. Shortly after starting university, Tang Tingting had criticized him for wearing pants that were too short, saying they made it easy for girls to accidentally touch him and that he should reflect on himself. Though he had grumbled, "What nonsense," he had actually gone out and bought men's capri pants long enough to cover his knees.

Now, he replied, "What good is being handsome? Don't act like a fool who only cares about looks."

He gripped his phone tightly, quietly awaiting Tang Tingting's merciless ridicule.

Duan Qiyan was fully prepared for her to humiliate him without holding back, and he swore he would retaliate fiercely.

However, Tang Tingting said, "You're not bad-looking yourself."

Duan Qiyan placed both hands on his desk and abruptly stood up without warning. His chair scraped against the floor, producing a loud, grating noise.

His three roommates turned to look at him curiously. Shen Fuxuan asked, "What's the big deal? Why so jumpy?"

Duan Qiyan didn't answer Shen Fuxuan. He ran out of the dorm room.

Shen Fuxuan was taken aback.

In Shen Fuxuan's memory, Duan Qiyan had matured quite a bit and shouldn't have suddenly reverted to his middle-school self.

Shen Fuxuan assumed the group chat had provoked Duan Qiyan. He opened WeChat and scrolled through the messages.

Many group members were enthusiastically discussing name ideas.

Jiang Yubai suggested "ptsic," an acronym formed from the English names of everyone's undergraduate alma maters. The proposal was met with unanimous approval, and everyone praised Jiang Yubai for his thoughtfulness and excellent naming skills—except for Lin Zeqiu.

Lin Zeqiu remarked, "Utterly mediocre."

Jiang Yubai sent him a friend request, but Lin Zeqiu rejected it. He included a rejection note: "I have nothing to say to you. Adding you just to delete you later is pointless."

Little did Lin Zeqiu know that at that very moment, Lin Zhixia was sitting right beside Jiang Yubai.Witnessing the scene, Lin Zhixia softly comforted Jiang Yubai, "My brother hasn't spent much time with you. He doesn't know you well enough to see how wonderful you are. Please don't be upset."

Jiang Yubai turned his face away, gazing in another direction. "I thought... he would accept my friend request."

Jiang Yubai had taken the initiative to extend goodwill toward Lin Zeqiu, yet Lin Zeqiu only responded with cold remarks.

It was clear Jiang Yubai wanted to build a good relationship with Lin Zeqiu, but he failed at the very first step. He made no comment about Lin Zeqiu's behavior, likely feigning composure and strength. Lin Zhixia's heart ached for him instantly. She declared, "It's alright. As long as I like you, nothing else matters."

Jiang Yubai seized the key point: "Even your brother's opposition doesn't matter?"

Lin Zhixia coaxed him with gentle words: "Of course. To me, you are the most important."

In the spacious study, all sounds seemed to freeze at that moment. Bright light streamed across the desk as Lin Zhixia lightly grasped Jiang Yubai's fingers. She turned over his palm, opened a drawer, retrieved an invitation, and placed it in his hand.

It was a party invitation clearly stating the date and time: August 31st, 7:00 PM.

August 31st happened to be Jiang Yubai's birthday.

Jiang Yubai leisurely closed the invitation, and Lin Zhixia believed he had already guessed.

She confessed to him frankly, "When we were children, I told you that if I were still your classmate by your eighteenth birthday, I would prepare a huge surprise for you."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Yubai's lips: "I'm nineteen now."

Lin Zhixia stared at his face for a long while, her heartbeat quickening again. She lowered her head slightly and murmured to herself, "Mhm, last year I had just arrived at school, didn't know many people, and hadn't met your friends. This year my social circle has expanded. I've invited some classmates to help celebrate your birthday together."

Strangely, Jiang Yubai's first reaction wasn't excitement or happiness.

The venue Lin Zhixia had chosen for his party was a restaurant near the school—mid-range in pricing, but certainly not cheap. Jiang Yubai had never considered money an issue, but he knew Lin Zhixia had always lived quite frugally.

In Jiang Yubai's imagination, Lin Zhixia had scrimped and saved for many years to finally accumulate some savings. Not only did she refuse to let him cover her expenses, but she went so far as to spend a considerable amount throwing him a party and inviting numerous friends... Jiang Yubai fell silent for a moment. Lin Zhixia looked up just in time to meet his complicated gaze.

Lin Zhixia's long, thick eyelashes fluttered slightly: "Aren't you happy?"

Jiang Yubai knew he couldn't beat around the bush at this moment. He needed to speak his mind plainly to avoid misunderstanding.

So he said, "I've made you..."

He paused, his wording growing more concise: "...spend too much."

Lin Zhixia's eyes lit up: "You want to help me save money? It's fine! The restaurant owner gave me a discount—all food and drinks are 15% off. As for your birthday cake, I plan to make it myself. The chef sister has already agreed to teach me..."

Jiang Yubai's family employed three chefs.

The "chef sister" Lin Zhixia mentioned was most likely a young female chef in her thirties. She was highly skilled in culinary arts, easygoing in personality, and particularly excelled at pastries and cold dishes.Lin Zhixia was intelligent and eager to learn, with exceptional comprehension. She picked up everything quickly, and her mind and hands were both dexterous. With the help of her chef sister, on the afternoon of August 31st, Lin Zhixia personally crafted an exquisitely shaped Lychee Mousse Cake.

Lin Zhixia was overjoyed.

She dashed out of the kitchen to find Jiang Yubai.

Jiang Yubai was exercising in the gym. He effortlessly gripped the horizontal bar, performing pull-ups with perfect form.

Lin Zhixia leaned against the doorframe, secretly observing Jiang Yubai. She remembered how much Jiang Yubai loved playing on the horizontal bar when he was young. Back then, watching him hang from the horizontal bar... he looked quite silly. But now that he had grown up, her gaze lingered on his arms, shoulders, and chest, and her thoughts and feelings were entirely different from those of her youth.

Jiang Yubai noticed her too.

He was in high spirits, his tone laced with laughter: "Just a moment, let me take a shower first."

Lin Zhixia nodded: "Alright, alright. After you shower and change, we'll head out."

With that, Lin Zhixia returned to her own room and rummaged through her wardrobe again. She picked out her favorite dress, put on high heels, tied up her hair, and applied a light touch of makeup. After finishing these preparations, she went back to the kitchen, picked up the cake box, and waved goodbye to the chef.

By seven in the evening, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai had arrived at their destination.

Lin Zhixia had reserved a garden table at a restaurant. She took Jiang Yubai's hand and led him into the lush garden—where the cool night breeze carried the fragrance of summer blossoms.

The sun had set in the west, and the evening glow burned red like fire.

Bathed in the twilight, friends gathered together. They spontaneously broke into a chorus of "Happy Birthday," making the atmosphere even more lively.

All of Jiang Yubai's close classmates were present. He walked over to chat with them, and the group of handsome young men seemed to shine even in the dimming light.

Jiang Yubai's classmate Sun Dawei was also in attendance today.

Sun Dawei noticed that Jiang Yubai's closest male friends were all tall, handsome heirs of wealthy families. Though Sun Dawei's family was quite wealthy too, he wasn't particularly tall, and his masculine pride needed bolstering. Whenever he saw a cluster of tall, good-looking guys, he never felt inclined to join their conversation.

As party games were about to begin, Li Zirui took on the role of referee.

Li Zirui was one of Jiang Yubai's friends and also an undergraduate student Lin Zhixia had once tutored. In Li Zirui's eyes, Lin Zhixia held the status of "Teacher Lin." And since Jiang Yubai was Lin Zhixia's boyfriend, he automatically ranked a level higher. Li Zirui wasn't too keen on playing games with Jiang Yubai anymore—being the referee suited him better.

Li Zirui knew everyone present—the only thing that struck him as odd was the appearance of Lin Zhixia's senior doctoral student named "Wen Qi."

Li Zirui had heard from Wu PinYan that Wen Qi had severe social anxiety; he avoided gatherings and shunned communication with others. Given that, why would Wen Qi show up at Jiang Yubai's birthday party?

The sky grew darker, and the garden lights flickered on.

Strings of small bulbs were draped around the pergola and flower beds, casting a dappled, hazy glow.

Wen Qi was seated beside the flower beds. Today, he had adhered to social etiquette and dressed simply. He had combed all his hair back, evoking the style of old Hong Kong films. He also wore a pure black suit. When he turned his head slightly, the line of his jaw was flawless, complemented by his high nose bridge—an utterly captivating sight.

A few girls at the party tried to strike up conversations with him.

But he barely spoke.Beneath a handsome exterior lay a dull, taciturn, and uninteresting soul. The girls who had once shown some interest in him gradually lost it.

Wen Qi neither participated in party games nor engaged in conversations with others. Laughter and clamor had nothing to do with him; his world was monotonous and silent.

Why?

Even Lin Zhixia found it strange.

Lin Zhixia held a glass filled with red wine. Tonight was her first time tasting it, and she had taken several sips. Jiang Yubai advised her to drink less, seemingly doubtful of her alcohol tolerance.

In front of Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia raised her glass and downed it in one go. He looked at her in surprise, and she declared, "I'm good at drinking. I'm good at everything."

"Are you already drunk?" Jiang Yubai asked her.

Lin Zhixia whispered, "Not at all."

That was a lie.

She felt a bit dizzy.

She walked to the table, grabbed the wine bottle, and held it up to the light, only to discover that the red wine she had just consumed had an alcohol content of 15%. But wait, the red wine Lin Zhixia had ordered was clearly only 8%. Why was there an outlier with 15%?

As Lin Zhixia pondered suspiciously, Jiang Yubai interrupted her thoughts: "Can you handle 15% alcohol?"

The sunset had faded, the sky was dark without moonlight, and colorful lights intertwined under the canopy. The melodious music drifted farther away. Lin Zhixia set down the bottle and stubbornly insisted, "It's only 15%. It's fine."

Before she finished speaking, Sun Dawei chimed in: "I brought a case of wine as a birthday gift for Jiang Yubai. My dad owns a vineyard in France. This batch of red wine is really good, though the alcohol content is a bit high. Lin Zhixia, are you feeling dizzy? Sit down and rest, have some lemon water."

This batch of wine was quite expensive on the market.

Each bottle cost over four figures in RMB.

However, Sun Dawei didn’t mention the price at all.

He thought Lin Zhixia’s family background was similar to Miao Danyi’s. Lin Zhixia had planned a birthday party for Jiang Yubai, prepared so many games, and ensured most guests had a great time and enjoyed the food—this made Sun Dawei somewhat envious.

Sun Dawei tilted his head and glanced at his girlfriend.

Strangely, tonight, his girlfriend Miao Danyi had barely paid him any attention. When he spoke to her, she only replied with brief interjections like "Mm," "Oh," or "Haha," as if she wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

Sun Dawei turned away and chatted with another classmate. At that moment, Li Zirui invited him to join another party game, and Sun Dawei gladly agreed. They started playing tabletop card games, the aroma of wine mingling with the scent of food drifting around them.

Miao Danyi said to Sun Dawei, "I’m going to the restroom."

"Alright," Sun Dawei said. "It’s pretty dark around here. Be careful walking, don’t trip or bump into anything."

Miao Danyi didn’t respond.

She bypassed Sun Dawei and left through another exit—as she passed Wen Qi, she placed a hand on his shoulder. Her hand lingered there for a few seconds. She wore a diamond bracelet, the gems dazzlingly brilliant.

Wen Qi slowly stood up and followed her away.

They left quietly.

Almost no one noticed them.

Except for Lin Zhixia.Lin Zhixia was the organizer of this gathering, but she hadn't invited Wen Qi. She knew Wen Qi didn't enjoy such lively celebrations. He was a social lurker—break through his safe distance, and he'd become utterly disoriented.

So why had Wen Qi appeared at Jiang Yubai's birthday party tonight?

Lin Zhixia couldn't figure it out.

Though she had drunk half a bottle of wine, her mind remained clear. Noticing Wen Qi and Miao Danyi leaving their seats, she instinctively followed them.

Jiang Yubai grabbed her wrist: "Where are you going?"

"Just looking around," Lin Zhixia replied.

Jiang Yubai asked: "Looking at what?"

Lin Zhixia mumbled vaguely: "I don't know either."

Jiang Yubai had just eaten the Lychee Mousse Cake Lin Zhixia made. He had to admit—Lin Zhixia's cake-making skills were impressive. If she wanted to learn something, there was basically no skill she couldn't master.

Jiang Yubai thought Lin Zhixia had prepared an extra surprise for him.

With great interest, he said: "I'll go with you."

"Mm-hmm," Lin Zhixia tightened her grip on his hand, "We need to walk quietly."

Why?

Jiang Yubai didn't voice his question.

He was exceptionally compliant with Lin Zhixia.

Lin Zhixia remembered the direction Miao Danyi had gone. At this moment, she was filled with curiosity—nothing in the world could stop her from pursuing the truth. Affected by the alcohol, her steps were somewhat unsteady.

Jiang Yubai supported her arm.

She told Jiang Yubai: "They're over there, where the bushes are."

"Where?" Jiang Yubai didn't understand.

Lin Zhixia said: "Let's walk a bit closer." Then added: "Are we disturbing them..." She fell into reflection: "If the truth is what I think it is, Wen Qi might be in trouble. He always minds his own business, never bothers others, and often helps people..."

Lin Zhixia's speech was incoherent, but Jiang Yubai pieced together from her fragments that Wen Qi was probably facing some situation. He and Lin Zhixia passed through a patch of dark shadows beneath trees, where broken dry branches lay scattered in the lush grass, emitting soft "crunches" under Lin Zhixia's footsteps.

But she didn't disturb Wen Qi and Miao Danyi.

About five or six meters away from Lin Zhixia, Miao Danyi stood on her toes and smoothed Wen Qi's shirt collar. He immediately turned his head away, but she cupped his face. In the faint moonlight, they locked eyes for a few brief seconds before Wen Qi asked: "The one sitting beside you tonight..."

"He's my roommate," Miao Danyi claimed, "We just came together since we're heading the same way."

Wen Qi pressed his lips tightly together.

Getting him to talk was harder than reaching the sky.

Miao Danyi continued: "The moment I saw you, my heart started pounding. I don't like beating around the bush—to be honest, I like smart people. The smarter you are, the more I like you."

Wen Qi remained silent.

Miao Danyi felt like she was talking to a wall. Still, she spoke with undiminished enthusiasm: "I talk to you every day, without fail. But are there other girls like me..." Before she could finish, Wen Qi slightly bent forward.

He made a move to close the distance between them.

He wasn't made of wood—he could respond too.Wen Qi and Miao Danyi had known each other for nearly a year. Every day, Miao Danyi persistently sent him "good morning" and "good night" messages, inquired about his three daily meals, and occasionally visited his dormitory building. Wen Qi had deleted her four times, only to add her back later. He couldn't understand why she was so steadfast and persistent, as if she could see through his exterior and perceive his inner self.

Such friends were truly rare.

Friendship and love are generally mutual arrows. Miao Danyi didn't need to demand anything from him—he could neither provide her emotional satisfaction nor compensate her in other ways. Having been abroad for so many years, even his relatives weren't as attentive to him as Miao Danyi was.

He stammered, "What do you want to say..."

Miao Danyi grabbed his tie.

Her fingers slowly pulled upward, drawing Wen Qi closer to her.

Leaves rustled in the night breeze, hazy shadows intertwined like mist, and her emotions deepened further. She asked, "What do you think?"

What did he think?

Lin Zhixia was stunned.

Lin Zhixia whispered, "She has a boyfriend. If she and her boyfriend have an open relationship, it wouldn't be a big deal. I once saw Tan Qianche kissing another girl downstairs at the lab building, and that girl's boyfriend was standing right beside them. I was really shocked at the time..."

"Really?" Jiang Yubai was also surprised.

Before he finished speaking, Miao Danyi kissed Wen Qi's chin.

Lin Zhixia grabbed Jiang Yubai and tried to flee with him. Suddenly, she felt that she and Wen Qi were similar in some ways. When faced with unsolvable interpersonal dilemmas, she too wanted to escape—but she stepped on another broken dry branch again. The sudden loud "crack" shattered the serene atmosphere of the moonlit night.

Miao Danyi caught sight of Lin Zhixia's skirt hem and quickly called out, "Lin Zhixia!"

Lin Zhixia couldn't escape anymore.

What should she do?

Jiang Yubai remained calm: "It's fine, let's go."

"Back to the birthday party?" Lin Zhixia asked him.

However, Jiang Yubai led Lin Zhixia into Wen Qi and Miao Danyi's line of sight. He appeared composed and unflustered, as if he wouldn't change expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Miao Danyi clearly hadn't expected Jiang Yubai to appear as well. Her breath suddenly caught.

While Lin Zhixia was still hesitating whether to tell the truth, Jiang Yubai reminded them with a double meaning: "The party is about to end."

Miao Danyi understood his implication. She hurriedly said, "I've been planning to end it for a while."

Lin Zhixia understood too.

Miao Danyi meant that she was going to confront Sun Dawei.

But she had once told Lin Zhixia that Sun Dawei was her source of tuition and living expenses. She wouldn't graduate with her bachelor's degree until next year, and her grades weren't outstanding enough to qualify for scholarships yet.

Lin Zhixia looked at Miao Danyi. Her eyes were pure and clear, and she didn't say a word.

Miao Danyi felt inexplicably downcast.

The scenario she had anticipated—Lin Zhixia "exposing her on the spot"—didn't happen, not even a hint of it. Clearly, Lin Zhixia wanted to save face for Wen Qi and Miao Danyi, and Jiang Yubai probably thought the same.

This matter should have ended here.Miao Danyi lifted her skirt and stepped over the shadows beneath the tree. She took a deep breath, but before she could utter a word, she heard Sun Dawei's voice again: "Miaomiao, oh, you're here? I've been looking for you—you've been gone so long without a trace. Are you alright? You didn't eat much tonight—is your appetite off? Let's go home and have the chef whip up a couple of good dishes for you."

Sun Dawei emerged from the other side of the dense thicket.

He didn't catch sight of Wen Qi.

He only saw Lin Zhixia hiding behind Jiang Yubai. He hadn't yet figured out why—was he that intimidating?

He said to Lin Zhixia, "What I said earlier didn't come out right—I didn't mean the food at your banquet was bad. You organized it wonderfully, and we all had a great time. Your party game ideas were fresh and fun. Jiang Yubai is really lucky to have you as his girlfriend, right, Xiao Jiang?"

Before Jiang Yubai could respond, Wen Qi suddenly asked, "You and Miao Danyi..."

Wen Qi's tone rose: "Are you living together?"