Lin Zhixia didn't hesitate in the slightest and readily agreed, "No problem."
Just like that, she brought Jiang Yubai home.
Both Mom and Dad were out, and Lin Zeqiu also had to go to work.
Lin Zeqiu slung his backpack over his shoulder and glanced at Jiang Yubai. Having heard that Jiang Yubai was extremely busy with work, having missed two consecutive meals, and now coming hungry early in the morning to pick up his sister, he suddenly felt that this guy was a case of "the hateful have their pitiable aspects." Reluctantly, he offered a few kind words: "There's hot congee and steamed buns in the kitchen, and pickled radish and sour beans on the table. Have something to fill your stomach."
Jiang Yubai, standing behind him, responded without any reservation, "Thank you, Brother-in-law."
Lin Zhixia burst into laughter.
Lin Zeqiu stiffened all over.
He hadn't formally acknowledged Jiang Yubai's status as a "brother-in-law" yet, and this guy had already blurted out "Brother-in-law" without any shame! He pushed open the main door at the entrance and left without looking back.
"My brother doesn't seem to argue with you anymore," Lin Zhixia summarized.
Jiang Yubai agreed, "Arguing doesn't solve problems."
Lin Zhixia sighed again, "Your emotions are really stable and mature, unlike when we were kids. Back then, if I teased you just a little, your ears would turn red."
As she spoke, she walked forward. Passing by a pillar, Jiang Yubai raised his hand to lean against it, blocking her path. She leaned against the cool surface of the pillar, initially lowering her head. Then, her gaze slowly traveled up from his collar and settled on his neck. He bent down, their breaths mingling, and whispered her name, "Xia Xia..."
Whenever he murmured "Xia Xia" as if talking to himself, the underlying message was: I want to kiss you, I want to be close to you.
He always remembered Lin Zhixia's extraordinary memory. Every prelude to their intimacy was filled with an uncontrollable tone of passion, and because he usually displayed a conservative, ascetic demeanor, the contrast he revealed made Lin Zhixia's blood boil.
The white gauze curtains fluttered incessantly, the spacious living room felt somewhat empty, and the room fell into silence. Lin Zhixia leaned close to his ear, her lips brushing against his earlobe, and replied in French, "Tu peux m'embrasser (You can kiss me)." She emphasized, "Tout le temps (Any time)."
They kissed in the morning sunlight. All words melted away in that moment. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city was just awakening from the morning mist, and the marble tiles on the terrace reflected the fading glow of the dawn.
At nine o'clock this morning, Lin Zhixia had to teach undergraduate students.
She needed to leave by 8:30.
Around 8 a.m., Lin Zhixia was still sitting at the table, feeding Jiang Yubai a spoonful of congee—Jiang Yubai seemed rather embarrassed. After just one bite, his movements hesitated slightly. Although he enjoyed Lin Zhixia's care, in his memory, he had never troubled anyone like this before.
Lin Zhixia, however, was as excited as if she had discovered a new continent: "Have a little more."
With that, she held out the spoon, bringing it to his lips.
Jiang Yubai actually picked up a bowl of plain congee and downed half of it in one gulp, like a butcher chugging alcohol. He even picked up his chopsticks and added a few pieces of "stir-fried pickled radish" to the bowl, showing not the slightest sign of being picky. He seemed like someone who was very easy to please.Lin Zhixia had served him all the steamed buns, and he ate every one without making a sound throughout—Lin Zhixia had shared many meals with him, and she always found observing him drink or eat infused with a certain joy of life.
She rested her chin on one hand, watching him intently.
He set down his chopsticks and met her gaze.
Lin Zhixia’s eyes remained as clear and bright as ever, as if a sky full of stars shimmered within them. Jiang Yubai found himself captivated, even tempted to propose to her today... He had already bought the ring, its velvet box placed on his bedside table.
Lin Zhixia couldn’t guess Jiang Yubai’s thoughts. She simply said, "It’s almost time. I need to get to work."
Jiang Yubai checked his watch and picked up his suit jacket. "I’ll walk you to the university."
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia set out from home, strolling along the road.
Lin Zhixia’s neighborhood was very close to the university district. On the way, she ran into several students—she had seen these young men during the college’s opening ceremony, and they had also seen Lin Zhixia’s photo more than once. Carrying soy milk and fried dough sticks bought from an off-campus breakfast shop, they occasionally glanced back at Lin Zhixia, whispering a few words among themselves, their anticipation for today’s "Quantum Bit and Computer" class growing.
Every student’s face was lit up with smiles.
Lin Zhixia introduced them to Jiang Yubai: "They’re all my students."
"Undergraduates?" Jiang Yubai asked further.
"Yes," Lin Zhixia replied.
As their "honorary grand-teacher," Jiang Yubai offered a polite remark: "They all seem quite bright."
"I think so too," Lin Zhixia explained methodically, "which is why I’ve carefully designed the final exam and major course assignments."
Jiang Yubai recalled the notebook of practice problems Lin Zhixia had once given him, filled with competition questions she had "meticulously designed." Those marked as "most difficult"... were each more daunting than the last. Before consulting the answers, Jiang Yubai had racked his brains trying to figure out how to solve them.
Jiang Yubai had initially been somewhat bothered by the glances those young men cast toward Lin Zhixia. But then, he felt a faint, almost imperceptible sympathy for that group of boys.
He casually reminded her, "At your university, the average course grades usually fluctuate within a certain range."
Lin Zhixia understood immediately: "Yes, I have to control the overall average. I’ll calculate their exam scores and regular grades, then weight the average so that everyone’s results follow a normal distribution."
Before she finished speaking, Lin Zhixia reached the university gate.
She waved to Jiang Yubai: "You go on with your work. We’ll meet again when you have time."
Jiang Yubai grasped her fingertips, just as a student’s exclamation reached his ears: "Honorary grand-teacher!"—it was Xu Lingbo’s voice. Jiang Yubai released her hand and bid Lin Zhixia farewell: "See you tomorrow."
See you tomorrow.
It was another coded phrase between them.
Lin Zhixia smiled and said, "See you tomorrow."
Jiang Yubai’s driver had long parked the car outside the campus gate. Lin Zhixia watched Jiang Yubai get into the car, just as her student Xu Lingbo happened to run over: "Hey, Professor Lin? Is honorary grand-teacher leaving already?"
Lin Zhixia explained on Jiang Yubai’s behalf: "He’s especially busy with work these days."
Xu Lingbo spread his hands: "When your family runs a business, you’ve got to stay busy. I’m busy too, selling stuff on campus..."Only after Xu Lingbo had spoken did he realize what a colossal mistake he had made!
It was already too late to take it back.
Lin Zhixia asked him directly, "What are you selling at school?"
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