With six months left until the end of his third year of graduate school, Xu Lingbo mustered every ounce of his ability and finally squeezed out a thesis, handing it to Lin Zhixia—a highlight moment in his life.
Though he hadn’t washed his hair in four days, he exuded the fragrance of knowledge, his heart brimming with the dew of intellectual nourishment.
Wearing a wrinkled coat, he stood ramrod straight before Lin Zhixia’s desk, his gaze resolute, and said politely, “Professor Lin, could you please review my thesis? Thank you.”
Lin Zhixia pulled over a chair and placed it beside her black leather seat, saying calmly, “Have a seat.”
Xu Lingbo’s heart leaped into his throat. “Huh?”
“I’ll go through it page by page with you,” Lin Zhixia said, taking out a red pen. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask. Let’s aim to submit your article early so it doesn’t delay your master’s graduation.”
Xu Lingbo coughed abruptly, steeled himself, and sat down beside Lin Zhixia.
He rested his hands on his thighs, eyes fixed intently on his thesis.
Lin Zhixia read through the entire text, silently simulating the experimental process in her mind to confirm the validity of the data in the figures and tables.
Then, starting from the first paragraph, she began marking corrections.
Generally, the first section of a science or engineering thesis is the literature review. If the review is poorly written, it indicates the author lacks sufficient knowledge and accumulated expertise in the relevant field. Thus, Lin Zhixia placed great emphasis on this part.
Based on Xu Lingbo’s experimental design and results, she added some reading materials for him, summarizing the core ideas of the literature. She also supplemented necessary formula derivations later in the text—she only wrote the beginning of the derivations, leaving the rest for Xu Lingbo to complete. Yet, she had already elevated the entire paper by a notch.
Watching her write without pause, Xu Lingbo was startled again, thinking to himself: If Professor Lin’s brain were a fighter-bomber, mine would be a children’s rocking toy. She soars high and far, swift as lightning, while I just rock in place, shaking my head, deluding myself into thinking my mind is active when it’s really just the exaggerated motion of my head shaking.
Ah, maybe Cui Yiming was right—I deserve to have my graduation delayed… Xu Lingbo lamented inwardly.
He sighed helplessly, but then Lin Zhixia said, “You’ve written well and made significant progress. Once you revise this, it will definitely meet the university’s graduation requirements. You might even qualify for ‘Outstanding Graduate.’”
“Professor Lin?” Xu Lingbo looked up in surprise.
Lin Zhixia smiled. “I’m quite satisfied with your work. Keep it up, finish the revisions soon, and aim for early publication.”
Xu Lingbo nodded repeatedly.
Taking back his thesis from her, he felt as if a weight had been lifted. All his anxiety, exhaustion, distress, and worries gradually faded. Walking briskly on his way back to the men’s dormitory, the sky bathed him in brilliant sunlight, and his heart felt as clear and bright as the sky after rain.
For Xu Lingbo, the winter break of 2018 was a special holiday.
He did not return home for the New Year.He became diligent and eager to learn, unashamed to ask questions. Every week he would seek guidance from his advisor and could sit quietly in the laboratory for entire days. Fang Yiwen said he had been "reborn," while Cui Yiming mocked him for "overestimating his abilities." Yet he remembered Lin Zhixia's teachings, shielding himself from negative external influences, with his mind and eyes focused solely on his thesis.
He left home at dawn each day and returned to his dormitory under moonlight. The biting winter wind turned his nose red and stiffened his ears, but he feared neither hardship nor fatigue. Finally, on the second day after winter break ended, he submitted his revised thesis to Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia helped him finalize the manuscript in one evening, praised his achievements, and submitted his paper to an SCI journal.
Two months later, Xu Lingbo received the good news that his article had been accepted for publication.
In other words, from that day forward, Xu Lingbo had also become someone with a published SCI paper.
Strangely, he didn't feel as happy as he had previously imagined, nor did he consider his research findings particularly significant. Instead, he was filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He printed out the thesis, pressed it against his chest, and slept soundly for a long time.
Although Xu Lingbo had published a Q2 SCI paper as first author, Lin Zhixia knew that Xu Lingbo didn't particularly enjoy scientific research. Since he planned to enter the workforce directly after completing his master's degree, Lin Zhixia reminded him to pay attention to the university's spring recruitment fair.
This year's spring recruitment fair mainly featured two formats: dual-selection meetings and corporate presentations.
The dual-selection meeting was held in the university gymnasium, attracting over a hundred companies from within and outside the province, including Chai Yang's "Yangyang Live Streaming." Each company occupied a booth in the gymnasium, recruiting passing students like market vendors.
The corporate presentations were typically held in the university auditorium or lecture halls, organized by individual companies—Lin Zhixia's Quantum Technology Company held a large presentation in late April. Luo Ying and Lin Zeqiu served as the main speakers, representing the company's research and technical teams respectively.
Luo Ying excelled at energizing the audience, and the crowd responded with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Sitting in the front row of the auditorium were several young faculty members from the Physics Department—among them, a long-haired female professor caught Luo Ying's attention. This professor was strikingly beautiful with exceptional grace. She applauded for Luo Ying while smiling with closed lips, her smile utterly captivating.
After the presentation concluded, Luo Ying calmly stepped off the stage. She learned from others that the professor was named Meng Liansi, a lecturer in the Physics Department.
Meng Liansi had collaborated with Tan Qianche and was about to join Lin Zhixia's "Four-University Joint Research Group." She had specifically attended Quantum Technology Company's presentation to learn more about developments related to the "Four-University Joint Research Group."
She also wanted to get Luo Ying's contact information.
From time to time, she would turn her head, her gaze quickly sweeping over Luo Ying.
Just then, Lin Zhixia happened to enter the auditorium through a side door and stood beside Luo Ying.
Luo Ying remarked, "Many students came today. The company's email account received over a hundred resumes. Our research group is only hiring ten people—the competition is quite fierce."
"You've worked hard, senior," Lin Zhixia responded, then asked, "You've been standing on stage for an hour—would you like to sit down and rest for a while?"
Luo Ying smiled gently. "I'm not tired."Lin Zhixia handed Luo Ying a bottle of water. The mineral water bottle still carried her residual warmth.
Luo Ying’s palm lightly touched the bottle, and a myriad of emotions surged in her heart. Perhaps because her shirt was too tight, her chest felt heavy, and all her unspoken words condensed into one sentence: "In another four months, you and Jiang Yubai will be holding your wedding, right?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia replied after a moment of consideration, "Will you come to the wedding, Senior?"
Her voice was as sweet and pleasant as ever, and she pronounced the word "Senior" with particular grace.
Luo Ying smiled and nodded: "I will." She paused, then murmured to herself, "I truly... hope you’ll be happy."
The surrounding light was dim, and the figures around them were blurred. Luo Ying stared ahead, her fingers clutching her skirt so tightly that her nails seemed to snag the fabric.
At that moment, Lin Zhixia responded, "Me too, Senior."
Her subtext was: I hope you’ll be happy too.
Luo Ying lowered her head slightly and smiled in relief.
Lin Zhixia suddenly asked again, "May I share your WeChat contact with Professor Meng? Her full name is Meng Liansi. She’s sitting over there..."
She paused, pointing to the first row of seats in the auditorium: "She just sent me a message, subtly asking for your WeChat ID. She works in the Physics Department and will soon join our 'Four-University Joint Research Group.'"
Luo Ying followed Lin Zhixia’s gesture and happened to meet Meng Liansi’s gaze. Meng Liansi immediately straightened her posture, sitting upright. Her hands were clasped tightly on her lap, her neatly trimmed nails pressing against each other and rubbing slightly—though Luo Ying couldn’t see these details.
"Is that alright?" Lin Zhixia cautiously asked again.
Luo Ying softly agreed, "Sure."
Lin Zhixia curved her lips into a smile: "Okay, I’ll forward Meng Liansi’s WeChat contact to you now."
Meng Liansi specialized in a specific branch of condensed matter physics.
Her research scope was relatively narrow, and she had few students under her supervision. However, after joining the "Four-University Joint Research Group," she provided significant support and even lightened Fang Yiwen’s workload.
Fang Yiwen had long met the graduation requirements for her Ph.D. Last year, she had even received the honor of "Best Paper of 2017" from a renowned journal. She still remained in the laboratory, working diligently—partly to learn more and partly to contribute to Lin Zhixia’s research.
Lin Zhixia, in turn, urged her not to overwork herself and sent information about postdoctoral research groups to her email.
Fang Yiwen began planning her next phase of work. Time slipped away quietly, day after day, and before she knew it, it was already June—the graduation season of that year.
Spring gave way to summer, and the weather gradually grew warmer. The area below the student dormitories was packed with crowds, the sound of suitcase wheels echoing everywhere.
Fang Yiwen had few belongings. Carrying a single suitcase and a backpack slung over her shoulder, she set off directly from the girls’ dormitory and slowly made her way toward the school gate.
Xu Lingbo accompanied her.
As they approached the gate, they both spotted Lin Zhixia.
Fang Yiwen was the first to call out, "Professor Lin?"
"I came to see you off," Lin Zhixia said, handing them two cloth pouches. "These are small gifts I made yesterday."
Fang Yiwen opened her pouch and found a seal carved with her name in seal script. Xu Lingbo found the same. For a moment, both of them were rendered speechless.The June morning sun was warm and gentle, Lin Zhixia's voice drifting softly into their ears: "Congratulations on your graduation, goodbye."
She took a step back and stood quietly on the campus.
Memories of the past surfaced in her mind—the teacher's patient guidance felt as if it were just yesterday. The student life had come to an end, without any grand farewell ceremony, only the light morning breeze as a companion. Xu Lingbo took a sharp breath and bid farewell to Lin Zhixia: "Goodbye, Teacher Lin!"
Fang Yiwen reached out toward Lin Zhixia. Before Lin Zhixia could react, Fang Yiwen quickly embraced her and whispered like a murmur: "Goodbye, Teacher."
A tear slid from the corner of Fang Yiwen's eye, and she wiped her face. In the distance, the sky was vast and the clouds drifted endlessly. She picked up her suitcase, waved rather spiritedly, and did not look back.
Lin Zhixia stood still, watching her students leave.
It was June of 2018. Lin Zhixia's first two students each embarked on their own paths. That evening, she wrote in her diary: "Unknowingly, I've been a mentor for two years. So this is what it feels like to send off students. I couldn't have imagined it without experiencing it myself. Fang Yiwen joined the research group I used to be part of, and Xu Lingbo found a job in Shanghai. Different people make different choices. I wish them both bright futures..."
While Lin Zhixia was writing her diary, Jiang Yubai sat beside her.
Jiang Yubai watched her pen move across the page. As she wrote, she said, "Today, I also applied for marriage leave. We'll hold our wedding in August, right when the students are on summer break and before the new semester starts. After the wedding, we'll go on our honeymoon."
Jiang Yubai picked up a pen and began crafting his imagined honeymoon life on a blank sheet of paper.
His words were subtle and concise.
Lin Zhixia leaned over his shoulder, as if reading a novel he was writing. As his descriptions grew more detailed, her cheeks began to flush, and she whispered, "I can make them come true."
Jiang Yubai lost control of his grip and nearly broke the pen tip.
Lin Zhixia continued whispering in his ear, "I've memorized them all."
He reached behind him, about to grab her, but she laughed and ran away.
Jiang Yubai was in no hurry. He folded the paper neatly, placed it in a drawer of the bookcase, and locked it before rising to find Lin Zhixia.
He found her in the bedroom. Holding her wedding dress, she stood before a mirror, seemingly lost in thought.
Jiang Yubai walked over silently, keeping a distance, as restrained and quiet as in his youth. Having been with Lin Zhixia for many years, often reading her diary and observing her words and actions, he could roughly guess her thoughts—for instance, at this moment, he said, "Whether we're married or not, you are free."
Jiang Yubai raised his left hand and pressed it against the mirror, covering the reflection of Lin Zhixia's right hand.
Lin Zhixia suddenly recalled a line from a love poem: "Let my love be like sunlight, surrounding you, and giving you the freedom of radiant light."
She immediately set down the wedding dress, gently pressed Jiang Yubai's hand, and said earnestly, "You and I will never be apart."
Jiang Yubai remained silent for a long while. After what seemed like an eternity, he asked softly, "When you're busy, can you call me once a day?"Lin Zhixia's memories drifted back to that night with Jiang Yubai at the Swiss hotel. He had been sitting silently on the bay window, the cool breeze tousling his hair and rustling his collar. She understood exactly how he felt.
She leaned against him slowly. "I'll move in with you in a couple days. What's the point of phone calls? I want to see you every day. In my heart, no one compares to you."
Lin Zhixia spoke these sweet words without the slightest hesitation. But Jiang Yubai had long grown accustomed to her frankness and directness. He seemed to merely smile, making Lin Zhixia suspect he doubted her sincerity.
She asked casually, "Don't you believe me?"
He replied, "I've believed you since we were children."
Lin Zhixia tested him further, "Do you still remember what I told you when we were young?"
Jiang Yubai recited her famous line word for word: "Even if life has many unattainable desires, at least meeting you counts as something rare and precious... truly, friendship between friends is priceless." He imbued the last sentence with particular meaning.
Lin Zhixia's face flushed crimson as she thought: His memory is quite impressive too.
From that day on, Lin Zhixia began to secretly look forward to the wedding.
Last April, Lin Zhixia had taken a group of colleagues on a business trip to Hong Kong. She had originally planned to explore Hong Kong Island with Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu. Unfortunately, they were all too busy at the time, unable to spare even a moment for leisure.
This August, Lin Zhixia took over half a month off specifically to travel to Hainan for her wedding.
Hainan was an island, and Lin Zhixia's entire family loved seafood and ocean views—on the afternoon they arrived in Sanya, Hainan, Lin Zhixia immediately gathered her relatives and friends, rushed to a seaside restaurant, set up a barbecue stall, and joyfully began grilling crabs, lobsters, scallops, and various other fresh delicacies.
Lin Zhixia's university friend Deng Shasha asked between mouthfuls, "Xiao Lin, I get the feeling you're not here for a wedding but just for vacation?"
Lin Zhixia cracked open a crab leg, explaining logically, "I need to eat well to have energy for the wedding."
"Exactly!" Deng Shasha suddenly slapped her thigh enthusiastically.
Deng Shasha's excitement wasn't because she agreed with Lin Zhixia, but because she had spotted a stunning beach scene—Jiang Yubai, Lin Zeqiu, Duan Qiyan... along with Jiang Yubai's friends who looked like they'd stepped out of a male model catalog, all wearing light summer clothes and holding surfboards, standing by the shore.
They were tall with long legs, athletic builds, and muscles gleaming temptingly.
"Your brother and your husband are going surfing," Deng Shasha exclaimed excitedly. "Wow, so many super handsome guys! Lin Zhixia, I'm definitely sticking with you as a friend! Your husband's friends are all so handsome—which one of them might possibly be interested in me?"
Lin Zhixia's parents, uncles, and aunts were sitting nearby, so Feng Yuan quickly covered Deng Shasha's mouth. "Keep your voice down! Don't let Xia Xia's parents hear you—they'll think we're not respectable people."
Deng Shasha immediately corrected herself, "Just joking! As a top science student in the college entrance exams, I'm definitely respectable." Then she asked, "Xiao Lin, your brother is so handsome—are you in need of a sister-in-law?"
Lin Zhixia looked up from her pile of crab shells.
She remembered that her brother couldn't swim, let alone surf.Sure enough, among that group of handsome guys, Brother was the most conspicuous one—not because he was the best-looking, but because while everyone else held a surfboard, only Lin Zeqiu was clutching a swimming ring.
Lin Zhixia burst into laughter.
She took another bite of lobster, wiped her hands clean, and at Deng Shasha's urging, walked over to Lin Zeqiu together.
Before they could get close, a turquoise wave suddenly surged. Jiang Yubai and his friends agilely entered the water, while Lin Zeqiu lingered in place, unable to advance or retreat.
In the end, he just stood in the shallow surf and soaked his feet.
Lin Zhixia was nearly dying of laughter.
Hearing his sister's unrestrained giggles, Lin Zeqiu didn't even turn his head as he coldly asked, "Weren't you eating barbecue? What are you doing here?"
He expected Lin Zhixia to say "I came to watch you surf," but instead she said: "I came to watch you soak your feet."
Lin Zeqiu couldn't take it anymore: "Lin Zhixia, I'm warning you..."
Lin Zhixia pushed Deng Shasha forward, only to discover that Deng Shasha was all talk and no action. The moment she saw Lin Zeqiu wearing only swimming trunks, her cheeks turned crimson, her ears burned bright red, and she could barely breathe.
Lin Zhixia whispered in her ear: "Shasha, if you're this nervous, how will you ever become my sister-in-law? You need to relax first."
Deng Shasha felt like her soul was about to be stolen by this beautiful pair of siblings. She stammered: "Your... your brother..."
Lin Zeqiu turned and glanced at her. After a moment's thought, he asked: "Are you Lin Zhixia's classmate?"
Deng Shasha said: "No, I'm her sister-in-law.Lin Zeqiu looked at her like she was crazy, finally snapping her back to reality as she panickedly turned and fled. Watching her retreating figure, Lin Zeqiu asked: "Is your friend drunk?"
"Seems like it," Lin Zhixia played along, "we were just eating barbecue."
Lin Zeqiu immediately relaxed.
Lin Zhixia secured a good spot to watch Jiang Yubai surfing in the ocean. He was naturally athletic, catching the highest waves. Lin Zhixia gazed steadily at him and revealed: "I really like Jiang Yubai."
Lin Zeqiu asked her: "Why?"
After thinking for a moment, Lin Zhixia said: "Because Jiang Yubai is a very good person."
"That's all you have to say?" Lin Zeqiu questioned.
"A thousand words condensed into one sentence," Lin Zhixia patted his shoulder like an elder, "The day after tomorrow, you'll still be walking me down the aisle."
The day after tomorrow was Lin Zhixia's wedding day.
Lin Zeqiu felt somewhat uneasy.
But Lin Zhixia was completely calm.
On the wedding day, Lin Zhixia slept in, happily finished her meal, then changed into a white wedding dress with a fitted bodice and long train. Several stylists styled her long hair into an updo.
Jiang Yubai's mother, aunts, maternal grandmother, and paternal grandmother all came to see her, bringing along the gift lists for her review—according to Jiang family tradition, elders would present congratulatory gift lists on the day of the wedding.
Lin Zhixia was momentarily stunned by what she saw.
Jiang Yubai's relatives all said: "We'll be one family from now on."
"Okay," Lin Zhixia readily agreed, "from now on, we can discuss anything together."
Jiang Yubai had once told Lin Zhixia that his father often said: In a family, everything can be discussed.Lin Zhixia's meaningful remarks drew laughter from her aunt. The aunt affectionately linked arms with Lin Zhixia: "You're so beautiful, how are you this pretty?"
"Thank you," Lin Zhixia remained modest, "mainly because I spent two hours on my makeup."
The aunt chuckled heartily and asked, "Are you nervous inside?"
Lin Zhixia said, "I'm curious."
"Curious about what?" Jiang Yubai's Mom inquired.
Lin Zhixia answered truthfully: "I haven't seen the wedding venue. Jiang Yubai has been keeping it a secret from me."
Lin Zhixia hoped Jiang Yubai's four elders would reveal some information, yet the elders displayed remarkable tacit understanding in collectively avoiding the topic—they consistently kept the focus on Lin Zhixia.
This greatly piqued Lin Zhixia's curiosity.
Lin Zhixia could hardly wait for the ceremony to begin immediately.
Through a spacious floor-to-ceiling window, Lin Zhixia saw hotel staff coming and going, bustling with activity. Her curiosity swelled to its peak. She endured the agonizing wait until the wedding commenced, finally walking toward the grand hall as the bride, accompanied by Dad, Mom, and Brother.
The red carpet stretched to the end, where gilded bronze carved doors slowly swung open. Light pink and deep red roses bloomed along both sides of the path. Beneath the glass-sculpted steps lay embedded magnificent star-and-moon patterns, with silver thread motifs shimmering brilliantly. The orchestra's harmonious melody drifted gracefully through the air.
Lin Zhixia slowed her pace, her white dress train trailing behind her. The flower girls lifted her gown, making her feel as if she had stumbled into a dream glittering with starlight.
She gazed at the vast ceiling resembling night sky, where hanging lamps resembled a galactic star chart. Fixed-shaped light-colored satin drapes mimicked nebulae, while pale golden fountains represented gaseous rings of active galactic nuclei. Beneath the glass floor lay sprawling rose bushes, with guests' long tables and soft chairs reflecting the colors of the celestial nebulae overhead.
Lin Zhixia suddenly felt as if she were floating in the vast Universe.
Meanwhile, Lin Zeqiu had just recovered from his astonishment. He murmured to himself, "Jiang Yubai has put his heart into this. The decoration is impressive. He showed me videos, but the actual scene is far more breathtaking."
"He showed you videos?" Lin Zhixia questioned.
"Mom and Dad have seen them too," Lin Zeqiu reluctantly praised, "Jiang Yubai is quite meticulous and thorough in his preparations."
Lin Zeqiu escorted his sister along the lengthy path. Light cascaded over their family's heads as Mom and Dad's eyes reddened. A discreet aerial camera captured Dad lowering his head to wipe tears, though Lin Zhixia didn't notice this detail.
Her gaze remained fixed ahead.
Jiang Yubai appeared to have been waiting for her for a long time.
He stood upright, his eyes never leaving her figure, and eventually received her from her father's hand.
Lin Zhixia felt his warm palm, her heart warming in response. Just as she contemplated whispering a few words to him, her peripheral vision caught Dad and Brother shedding tears openly.
In contrast, Lin Zhixia's Mom proved to be the strongest—she didn't cry.
Truly my mother, Lin Zhixia thought.
The lingering, gentle background music reverberated through the hall. Lin Zhixia recognized the melody as "Eternal Moment."
Jiang Yubai occasionally played this piece at home because its composer Schumann used "Eternal Moment" to confess his love to his wife Clara, and Schumann and Clara were childhood sweethearts.
The leaping notes seeped into Lin Zhixia's heart. When Jiang Yubai slipped the ring onto her finger, she honestly confessed, "I love you, more each day than the last."
After the ring exchange ceremony concluded, Jiang Yubai slowly lifted her snow-white veil to find her eyes shimmering with boundless tenderness. Being gazed upon with such affection made him wish to eternally remember this moment, just as she would.
Jiang Yubai initiated, "Childhood sweethearts..."
Lin Zhixia continued, "A harmonious union lasting a hundred years?"
He responded, "Hearts forever intertwined."
"Okay, okay," Lin Zhixia agreed.Surrounded by the warm presence of family and friends, Jiang Yubai lowered his head to kiss her. The veil, thin as a cicada’s wing, drifted down, veiling their profiles and rendering the kiss hazy and indistinct.
The day after the wedding ceremony, a dance was held in the same hall.
Many of Jiang Yubai’s relatives attended. Since the dance had no age restrictions, even teenagers were welcome. Following family hierarchy, they addressed Jiang Yubai as “Uncle” or “Brother,” and accordingly, Lin Zhixia became their “Aunt” or “Sister-in-law.”
Lin Zhixia accepted the titles “Aunt” and “Sister-in-law” with ease and handed out red envelopes to the children. She remembered every guest’s face, name, and personality traits clearly. Everyone sensed her sincerity, and the atmosphere in the hall was warm and harmonious.
Lin Zhixia moved effortlessly through various social circles, even mimicking others’ expressions, tones, and gestures with remarkable accuracy.
However, she only enjoyed performing for Jiang Yubai.
After half a glass of champagne, her mind grew lively. In a bright, cheerful tone, she struck up a conversation with him: “Hello, you look very familiar. What’s your name?”
Jiang Yubai clinked glasses with her but advised, “Don’t drink too much.”
Lin Zhixia’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Don’t worry, I can hold my liquor well.”
With that, she reached for his fingers.
He withdrew his hand.
Lin Zhixia raised her glass to him: “Deep affection calls for a bottom-up toast.”
The newlyweds were not the center of attention at the dance, as they had deliberately chosen a dimly lit corner.
While others mingled in the brightly lit center of the hall, Jiang Yubai cherished the quiet. He clinked glasses with Lin Zhixia but remarked, “You can’t exactly role-play with me in front of everyone.”
Lin Zhixia reverted to her usual self. “I just wanted to chat with you for a while.”
Jiang Yubai set down his glass and took her hand. They left the lively dance and returned to their ocean-view suite on the hotel’s top floor.
Sure enough, Lin Zhixia was drunk. Clutching a pillow, she collapsed onto the bed and patted the empty space beside her. “Come here quickly and sleep with me.”
As Jiang Yubai unbuttoned his shirt, he asked, “What did my Mom talk to you about this afternoon?”
Lin Zhixia fell silent at once.
Jiang Yubai leaned over her, propping himself up with one hand, kissed her cheek, and coaxed her gently in a low voice. Lin Zhixia adored being pampered like this and deliberately waited a long moment before saying, “Your Mom…”
That afternoon, Jiang Yubai had been reviewing documents. Even on his break, he had his own matters to attend to.
Soon, he learned that around two o’clock, Lin Zhixia had been taken aside by her mother-in-law. They had talked for an hour, and no one knew what they discussed.
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia had already held their wedding ceremony, obtained their marriage certificate, and had all their family and friends as witnesses. The day after the wedding, his Mom sought out Lin Zhixia for a conversation—what could it be about? Just as Jiang Yubai was about to press for more details, Lin Zhixia summarized in one breath: “Your Mom wants to buy me a car, a house, clothes, bags, and shoes.”
She relayed truthfully, “She came to see me at noon, saw my wardrobe, fell silent for a while, and said I’m perfect in every way—except I’m too frugal.”
After saying this, she rolled over.Jiang Yubai carried her back, and she confessed frankly: "I understand your mom's kindness and I'm very grateful to her. But the things I want, I usually buy myself."
"The company pays you too little," Jiang Yubai implied.
"It's already quite high," Lin Zhixia sighed. "Honestly, the money I earn now is more than I can spend. I have nowhere to spend it, so I'm learning to invest."
She yawned: "There's still so much to do... The first version of the chip is out, and going from samples to application is another hurdle. The company is going public next year, and I have a student about to graduate. The dean wants me to teach graduate courses - I'm really overwhelmed."
Her voice gradually softened.
"If you're tired, sleep," Jiang Yubai stroked her hair.
He pondered Lin Zhixia's wording, guessing how the elders had treated her, and finally felt somewhat relieved. He had been afraid Lin Zhixia might feel wronged in his home, but fortunately nothing seemed amiss.
Lin Zhixia hugged him, planting several kisses before sinking into deep sleep.
According to Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia's plan, their wedding would last only two days. After the relatives left, they would spend their honeymoon on Hainan Island, enjoying some rare time alone.
Most of Jiang Yubai's relatives were quite busy. Especially his parents, who flew to Beijing the evening after the wedding. His grandparents, uncles and aunts departed on the morning and evening of the third day respectively.
After seeing off the immediate family, Jiang Yubai settled his work matters and spent a whole day fooling around with Lin Zhixia. The newlywed couple didn't leave their hotel room from morning till night, sticking together like glue, increasingly inseparable.
The next morning, as soon as Lin Zhixia emerged from the bathroom, Jiang Yubai asked her to recall the "honeymoon story" he had previously made up.
The curtains blocked the morning glow, while seagull cries echoed in the distance.
"Your that," Lin Zhixia said intermittently, "that honeymoon story..."
"What about it?" Jiang Yubai asked.
Lin Zhixia wrapped herself in the blanket: "Is it the final ending of the 'Exploring the Universe' comic? The ending you wrote as the lead artist for the protagonist."
Jiang Yubai peeled her out of the blanket to hold her tighter: "'Exploring the Universe' has no ending, only sequels."
Lin Zhixia followed his meaning: "Mm, because Captain Lin Zhixia will always explore unknown territories."
She gripped his hands until their palms grew slightly damp: "And you must always stay with me too."
Jiang Yubai still remembered the physics textbook's definition of the "Universe" - the Universe is the unity of time and space. The astronomical community generally believes the Universe is about 13.7 billion years old. Compared to this vast and ancient Universe, human life seems insignificant, brief, not worth mentioning.
Even if time blurs memories, all experiences have become part of the soul. From this perspective, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia could indeed be together forever. Their feelings for each other were profound, enduring, and unwavering.
Having realized this, Jiang Yubai lay on the bed holding Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia laughed: "You seem to be in a good mood."
"Quite good," Jiang Yubai countered, "and you?"
Lin Zhixia beamed with joy: "I'm super happy."
Jiang Yubai discussed with her: "Would you like to extend our vacation?"Lin Zhixia nestled closer into his embrace. "There's still half a month left, that's quite a long time."
She kissed him on the cheek. "I cherish every single moment I spend with you."
He murmured softly, as if talking to himself, "So do I."
During the following two weeks of vacation, they often strolled along the beach and enjoyed activities like diving, surfing, and jet skiing. Lin Zhixia had a thoroughly enjoyable time, yet never forgot her work and responsibilities.
Once the holiday ended, Lin Zhixia swiftly flew back to the provincial capital.
After distributing gifts to numerous teachers and classmates, she immediately immersed herself in the Laboratory, resuming her previous work.
Lin Zhixia quickly caught up on the research progress made by the Four-University Joint Research Group over the past half month—just as she had anticipated, the chip's basic functions had been verified as effective in simulated environments, providing experimental evidence for her theoretical design. Their research group had taken a small step forward.
By conservative estimates, the next major breakthrough might require three years, or even a decade, to achieve.
Lin Zhixia no longer felt the pressure to "publish papers and file patents every year." More than the quantity of papers or patents, she cared about whether she was making the progress she ought to.
Her performance in the Four-University Joint Research Group earned recognition from many renowned professors, who subsequently recommended her to the International Academic Committee to participate in the 2018 selection for "The World's Top 30 and Under Most Outstanding Scientists." The competition judges would choose ten young academic elites from around the world.
Lin Zhixia had a Russian mathematician friend, a genius who had pioneered a new research method in graph theory. The previous year, he had won the Fields Medal, often regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics." He had just turned thirty and also met the eligibility requirements for "The World's Top 30 and Under Most Outstanding Scientists."
Lin Zhixia assumed her Russian friend would be the ultimate winner—after clinching the Fields Medal, he was poised to secure the title of "One of the Most Outstanding Scientists of the Younger Generation." After all, his work was in pure theoretical research, and he had successfully opened up a new field.
In the autumn of 2018, the selection for that year's "The World's Top 30 and Under Most Outstanding Scientists" concluded, and the judges announced the final results—both Lin Zhixia and her Russian friend had won awards. The Frontier Interdisciplinary Academy where Lin Zhixia worked also received congratulatory calls.
The 2018 award ceremony was to be held in Beijing.
Lin Zhixia immediately rushed to Beijing to attend the recognition ceremony.
That week, Jiang Yubai happened to be in Beijing on a business trip.
Jiang Yubai carved out time from his hectic schedule and headed straight to the solemn Great Hall of the People.
The Great Hall of the People was packed, the scene grand and imposing.
Sitting in the audience, Jiang Yubai appeared calm and composed, but his heart was already surging with emotion. He was about to witness Lin Zhixia's glorious moment firsthand—Lin Zhixia's ultimate goal was to realize her life's value, and this medal was recognition of her achievements thus far. She had just turned twenty-three, and there was still a long road ahead of her.Lin Zhixia stood at the podium, delivering her speech with poise and composure: "I am deeply honored to be here today. Science is a long-term endeavor that requires collaboration. Receiving this medal is not only the result of my personal efforts but also the dedication and teamwork of my colleagues. During the early days of the Quantum Computing Platform's establishment, I made daily progress, but my individual energy was limited. During its rapid development phase, my teammates contributed immensely. In a way, I am not merely the holder of this medal but a representative of a collective. Lastly, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my family, teachers, friends... and my beloved, who have given me the greatest encouragement along my journey."
When she mentioned the words "friends" and "beloved," Lin Zhixia's gaze shifted slightly, settling on Jiang Yubai.
He was in the audience, she was on the stage—both their eyes held a shared smile.
Applause erupted from the audience, and Lin Zhixia bowed deeply.
Straightening up, she continued, "I am profoundly grateful for the strong support from the National Natural Science Foundation and the 863 Program. Thank you all. I will continue to strive, uncovering more research achievements, and persistently explore to realize our ideals and drive technological transformation."
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