Genius Girlfriend

Lin Zhixia once said she found it difficult to forget things she had personally experienced.

Was such a talent a blessing or a curse? Jiang Yubai wasn't quite sure. He hoped her memories would always be filled with laughter and joy. He walked to the front of the sofa and lifted the tablecloth, revealing a glass cabinet beneath the coffee table filled with exquisitely wrapped gifts.

"Birthday girl, open a present first!" Dong Sunqi suggested loudly. "Everyone here, perk up!"

Ding Yan retorted loudly, "Dong Sunqi! Will Lin Zhixia even like what you gave her?"

Dong Sunqi lifted one foot and stomped it heavily on the floor. He assumed a bow stance, steadying himself: "Don't you worry, Ding Yan! As class monitor, I, Dong Sunqi, would never let everyone down!"

The double doors of the glass cabinet were shut, fastened with a hand-carved iron lock. The key Jiang Yubai had given Lin Zhixia finally came in handy. Lin Zhixia found the key, inserted it into the keyhole, and with a gentle turn of her fingertips, the lock clicked open.

Methodically, Lin Zhixia unwrapped five gift boxes, piling the ribbons together. She discovered a music box, a piggy bank, a Cat Paw Lamp, a small rabbit plush toy, and a Yearbook.

Dong Sunqi immediately explained: "I gave that Yearbook! Lin Zhixia! You and Jiang Yubai skipped grades so suddenly, as class monitor, I didn't have time to organize a farewell party for you!"

Dong Sunqi's deskmate Wei Rongjie added: "That's right, Lin Zhixia. You have no idea—Dong Sunqi coerced and bribed the whole class into writing a page each in your Yearbook..."

"Nonsense!" Dong Sunqi unusually argued with his deskmate.

Dong Sunqi justified himself righteously: "How could I coerce or bribe anyone? I was elected class monitor by the students themselves! I care about every single classmate! Even though Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia have moved to Provincial No.1 Middle School, they'll always be part of our Class 1, Grade 5!"

Lin Zhixia opened the Yearbook to the first page, which contained Dong Sunqi's message.

Dong Sunqi had written for her: Lin Zhixia, during your four years at Experimental Primary School, you earned countless honors for our class. Whenever I argued with the Class 2 monitor, just mentioning your name would make him hang his head in shame! I, Dong Sunqi, will remember you forever! I used to be too scared to talk to you, but after Jiang Yubai transferred here, I dared to! Not sure why! Maybe because Jiang Yubai is really strong too!

Lin Zhixia burst into laughter.

She turned to the second page and saw Wei Rongjie's comment: Lin Zhixia, you read widely, express yourself well, and carry mountains, lakes, oceans, and the vast Universe in your heart. Jiang Yubai is exactly the same. Wishing you both success in the Olympiad class—from Wei Rongjie, who also loves reading.

Lin Zhixia didn't finish reading it all. She decided to take the Yearbook home and go through it carefully from start to end.

One last unopened wooden box remained in the glass cabinet.

Lin Zhixia felt along the edge of the wooden box and snapped open the iron clasp with a "click."

The classmates present couldn't help but let out a collective "Wow—ah" of amazement.

Everyone saw that the box contained a Spaceship model—clearly Jiang Yubai's doing. What astonished them even more was that engraved on the Spaceship's tail were the words "Captain Lin Zhixia."

Dong Sunqi deeply regretted not bringing his camera today; he really wanted to take a bunch of photos of this Spaceship.Before Lin Zhixia could voice her opinion, Dong Sunqi was already tearing up: "Holy crap! The military might of the Earth Legion! Tang Yueqin! Did you see that! The spaceship led by Lin Zhixia!"

"Oh my god, the spaceship's hatch can be pushed open," Tang Yueqin crouched beside the coffee table, "We really should have Liu Xingjian come and see this."

Lin Zhixia held the spaceship model carefully, gently pushing open the hatch to reveal the interior furnishings to everyone.

Lin Zhixia suddenly looked up at Jiang Yubai: "Thank you, thank you so much! Jiang Yubai!"

"You're welcome. Lin Zhixia will always be the Navigator," Jiang Yubai stood nearby with his hands in his pockets, appearing modest about his achievement.

Lin Zhixia unzipped her backpack, trying hard to fit all the gifts inside. But her backpack couldn't hold so many things, especially since the spaceship was significantly oversized.

Jiang Yubai suggested: "After we finish eating, I'll take you home. You can't take the bus - it's too crowded and not convenient for carrying fragile items. If this spaceship gets bumped, the glass doors inside the cabin might break."

After serious consideration, Lin Zhixia nodded: "Okay!"

Then Lin Zhixia sat at the dining table and had dinner with her many classmates. The waitress cut the strawberry cream cake, and everyone received a generous portion. The cake tasted absolutely wonderful - soft, sweet, and moist with a rich creamy flavor. The strawberry aroma lingered between teeth, cutting through the richness and satisfying cravings, bringing physical and mental pleasure.

The table also featured dishes Lin Zhixia had never seen before: cod in sauce, steamed chicken with matsutake mushrooms, Shrimp Paste with Fish Roe, Osmanthus Stewed Three Whites... and more. Although she loved eating, her appetite was relatively small, and she was full before long.

Holding her spoon, Lin Zhixia fell into deep thought. She quietly asked Jiang Yubai: "When my Brother celebrated his birthday last year, he treated his classmates to a meal in the school cafeteria. This year for my birthday, I should treat everyone too, right?"

"Wrong," Jiang Yubai denied Lin Zhixia's statement.

Lin Zhixia humbly sought guidance: "What's wrong about it?"

Jiang Yubai's uncle had already instructed him beforehand. After taking a sip of mango juice, Jiang Yubai answered unhurriedly: "This meal is part of our memories, a testament to our friendship."

"Is that so?" Lin Zhixia sounded doubtful.

"Of course," Jiang Yubai was absolutely certain.

Lin Zhixia stopped questioning. She declared solemnly: "Jiang Yubai, you know that I never forget what I remember. I promise you..."

Jiang Yubai couldn't help but meet her gaze. She said: "On your eighteenth birthday, I'll prepare an even bigger surprise for you. I promise!"

"Why eighteen?" Jiang Yubai countered.

Lin Zhixia made a prediction: "By then I'll be in university, with more mature thinking and broader knowledge - I should have more money too. Also, you'll be an adult at eighteen... If we're still classmates then, I'll seriously plan activities, organize our classmates, and help celebrate your birthday."

Jiang Yubai seized the key point: "Lin Zhixia, we will always be classmates."

"Mm!" Lin Zhixia completely believed what he said.

After the birthday party ended, Lin Zhixia shouldered her bulging backpack, carried the spaceship model, and got into the car from Jiang Yubai's family.On the way home, Lin Zhixia felt a bit drowsy. She tilted her head, resting her cheek against the back of her hand, and secretly yawned. Jiang Yubai spoke up again, asking her, "Lin Zhixia, have you signed up for the training camp?"

The "training camp" Jiang Yubai mentioned referred to the winter vacation math competition training camp organized by the provincial No. 1 Middle School's junior high division. As long as they passed the winter and summer intensive training sessions and won first prize in the provincial competition, they would have a chance to receive an internal recommendation from the school to represent it in the national math league.

As soon as Lin Zhixia heard Jiang Yubai bring up the winter training, she began to feel troubled: "Every winter vacation, Mom and Dad take Brother and me back to our hometown."

"Back to your hometown?" Jiang Yubai asked her, "Where is your hometown?"

Lin Zhixia answered honestly, "In the countryside."

She described in detail: "My grandmother's family raises many animals. Have you ever fed chickens? I have! I've even collected eggs from small holes in the wall. My grandfather's family has a flock of goats. I've seen lambs born in winter with my own eyes. It was snowing heavily that day, and the weather was extremely cold. The temperature in the sheep pen was very low. Brother and I were afraid the lamb would freeze to death, so we wrapped it in old clothes and brought it into the house. The mother goat kept bleating outside, and it sounded so pitiful..."

The phrase "countryside life" was beyond Jiang Yubai's range of experience. He quietly listened to Lin Zhixia's story, then asked her, "Did the mother goat know you took the lamb away?"

"It knew," Lin Zhixia said with great certainty. "I'm absolutely sure that some animals have quite complex thought processes."

After saying this, Lin Zhixia circled back to the original topic: "If I sign up for the training camp and my parents go back to the hometown, there would be no one left at home."

Jiang Yubai consoled her, "It's fine. You don't need to attend the training camp at all."

"But I want to go to school with you," Lin Zhixia sighed sincerely.

Jiang Yubai leaned back tightly against his seat: "You can go home first and ask your parents. Maybe you don't have to return to your hometown for the New Year. I read in the newspaper the night before last that next winter will be very cold."

"That makes sense!" Lin Zhixia revealed, "Besides, I don't really like going back to my hometown."

Jiang Yubai glanced at her sideways: "You're not used to countryside life?"

Lin Zhixia shook her head: "My grandmother has issues with me. Brother always does housework at home, but Grandma thinks housework is girls' work. My existence has become a burden to Brother."

As Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia grew closer, his words increasingly showed favor towards her. He tactfully expressed his opinion: "Lin Zeqiu often does housework, so he must be used to it by now."

Lin Zhixia propped her cheek with one hand and didn't respond.

The cool wind gradually died down, the car slowed, and the scenery outside the window stopped moving backward as the car pulled up at the entrance of Ancheng Residential Area.

Lin Zhixia opened the car door, turned around, and waved to Jiang Yubai: "See you on Monday!"

Jiang Yubai responded, "See you on Monday!"

After saying goodbye to Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia hugged the spaceship model with both hands, pushed off with her feet, and sprinted home. She bounded through the door like a little rabbit and, taking advantage of her brother still studying in his room, ran to her bedroom and hid the spaceship in her closet—if Brother saw this spaceship, he would definitely start talking to her again about "girls shouldn't consider boys as close friends."Lin Zhixia emptied all the other items from her backpack. She made a bit of noise, which attracted Lin Zeqiu's attention. Lin Zeqiu leaned against her bedroom doorframe, looking down at her: "Hey, where did you get all this stuff?"

"Gifts from classmates for my tenth birthday," Lin Zhixia said, picking up a Cat Paw Lamp. "This one was from a female classmate."

Lin Zeqiu instructed her: "You should remember to give gifts in return. Don't take advantage of others."

Lin Zhixia obediently agreed: "Mm! Brother is right, I'll definitely return the favor."

Her brother walked closer and stuffed a small box into her hand. She opened it to find a sports watch inside.

"Mom and Dad chose this gift for you," her brother said.

"What about your own gift?" Lin Zhixia looked up at him. "Don't you have anything to give me, Brother?"

Her brother placed his hand on her head: "Lin Zhixia, it's very impolite to ask people for things. You need to mind your manners at home too, especially when speaking to me."

Lin Zhixia angrily turned her head away: "I'll have you know, Lin Zeqiu, it's even more impolite to put your hand on someone else's head! Good thing I have a gentle temper! If you did this to anyone else, they'd jump up and hit you!"

Lin Zeqiu gently stroked her hair, still treating her like he was petting a kitten. Lin Zhixia's expression gradually changed. At first, she was glaring fiercely at him with vicious eyes, but later her eyes became clear, bright, and watery.

"Happy tenth birthday," he said.

Lin Zhixia reached out her hand to him.

He pulled out a "Hebrew Dictionary" from his coat pocket and placed it in Lin Zhixia's palm.

"One night when I came home, someone was setting up a stall near the school gate. This book is ninety percent new, never been read, no one can understand it - isn't it perfect for you?" he said.

Lin Zhixia indeed liked this gift. She opened to the first page and murmured to herself: "Hebrew is the language of Jewish people. After the Jews established Israel through Zionism, Israel made Hebrew one of its official languages."

"Don't tell me these things, I don't want to hear it," Lin Zeqiu said lazily.

Lin Zhixia suddenly closed the book: "By the way, Brother, I'm not going back to our hometown during next winter break. I'm participating in the school's training camp."

Lin Zhixia wasn't asking for her brother's permission. She was simply informing him about this matter. She even ran to her parents and logically explained her perspective.

She said that since she had been admitted to the Olympiad class, she should follow the Olympiad class rules and strive for the opportunity to represent the school in provincial-level competitions, competing against top students from across the province.

Her father asked: "Xia Xia always ranks first - do you still need training camp?"

"Xia Xia needs training camp," Lin Zhixia said sincerely. "Without accumulating steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas. We shouldn't give up training opportunities just because the training camp seems simple."

Actually, in Lin Zhixia's view, that winter training camp was similar to the "Aquarium Autumn Outing" type of activity.

Moreover, Provincial First High School's competition training camp didn't charge a single cent. As long as students could earn training spots through their own abilities, the school would waive all tuition and miscellaneous fees.

Provincial First High School is really great!

She could see her classmates and friends throughout the entire winter break! Lin Zhixia also wouldn't have to spend New Year's in the countryside, wouldn't have to face her grandmother, uncle, and cousin - this was practically her favorite Spring Festival ever.Dad and Mom discussed in low voices for a while. Dad was still hesitating, but Mom had already made a decision: "We won't go back for next year's Spring Festival. Xia Xia, we'll all stay home and celebrate the New Year together as a family of four, alright?"

"That's wonderful!" Lin Zhixia clapped her hands.

When school started on Monday, Lin Zhixia couldn't wait to share the good news with Jiang Yubai.

Jiang Yubai was immersed in his world of practice problems. After nearly a month of intensive special training, his problem-solving approaches and abilities had significantly improved. Each of his private tutors had extensive Olympiad experience, and with many hands making light work, Jiang Yubai was like a blazing wildfire, determined to illuminate the campus of Provincial No. 1 High School.

Even when he went to the playground during breaks to hang from the horizontal bar, he was still thinking about math competition problems.

The Olympiad class had exams as numerous as hairs on an ox—small tests every couple of days, major exams every three days, with the monthly segment exam being particularly crucial. This was because homeroom teacher Teacher Zhang would assign seats based on segment exam results—Jiang Yubai swore that this time he wouldn't let Duan Qiyan rank ahead of him.

Before the mid-October segment exam began, Duan Qiyan was still trying to chat with Lin Zhixia outside the examination room. He asked: "Lin Zhixia, if I rank second in the class, can you sit with me?"

Lin Zhixia responded ruthlessly: "No."

Duan Qiyan was somewhat discouraged. He then moved over to Shen Fuxuan and asked: "Shen Fuxuan, if I rank third in the class, how about you sitting with me?"

Shen Fuxuan smiled warmly: "No way."

In the bleak autumn wind, Duan Qiyan's eyes darkened as he revealed a cold smile: "I'll rank first in the class, making you all unworthy of my company."

Jiang Yubai interjected: "You're dreaming."

Jiang Yubai stood outside the classroom holding his water cup, waiting for the proctor inside to clear the room. Most of Jiang Yubai's clothes were in mature solid colors like deep black, light white, army green, and dark blue. Combined with his taller stature and outstanding demeanor, he actually gave Duan Qiyan a sense of competitive pressure from a peer.

How could this be?

Jiang Yubai was two years younger than Duan Qiyan and had worse grades. Duan Qiyan stepped right up to Jiang Yubai, venting his suppressed anger: "Jiang Yubai, what qualifications do you have to act arrogant with me?"

Jiang Yubai confronted him directly: "Because I'm your Teacher Jiang. And what qualifications do you have to act arrogant with your teacher?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." Shen Fuxuan, who had been listening to their conversation, burst into cheerful laughter.

Duan Qiyan, embarrassed and angry, turned spectacular shades of red and purple. He unbuttoned his jacket, stood on the tiles at the base of the corridor railing, his clothes flapping in the howling wind as he said with great style: "Jiang Yubai, last time you made a bet with me, you took advantage of Lin Zhixia. You're still a slacker yourself. I call you Teacher Jiang only because Lin Zhixia's total score surpassed mine—yours didn't. You're just a fox borrowing the tiger's fierceness—get your head straight?"

Just as Lin Zhixia was about to rush over, Jiang Yubai stopped her. Jiang Yubai said to Duan Qiyan: "For this segment exam, if my total score is lower than yours, I'll respectfully address you as Teacher Duan in front of all our classmates on the first day of winter break training camp.""Always bringing up the teacher, how boring," Duan Qiyan slightly raised his head. "You have to call me 'Your Majesty Duan Qiyan,' stand at attention and bow to me. I'll then ask you who you are, and you must answer that you're my subordinate. How about it? If I lose, I'll do the same and call you Your Majesty."

Han Peng, standing nearby, felt suffocated listening to this: "Oh my god, you two, don't take it this far. Our school's winter training camp not only has eighth-grade seniors but also students from two other middle schools... Just imagine, shouting 'Your Majesty' in a classroom of over a hundred people—that's like having water in your brain! You'd be embarrassed beyond belief."

Jiang Yubai completely ignored this. He only looked at Duan Qiyan: "Deal."

Duan Qiyan and Jiang Yubai sealed their vow with a high-five.

Jiang Yubai confirmed repeatedly: "Don't go back on your word, Duan Qiyan."

Leaning against the railing, Duan Qiyan laughed heartily: "Jiang Yubai, listen carefully. Even if I have to crawl from the first floor to the third floor of the teaching building barking like a dog, I won't go back on my word."

The invigilators in the examination room had already finished inspecting the classroom. Standing at the doorway, the teachers called all the students inside. Everyone immediately fell silent and entered the classroom in an orderly manner.

Jiang Yubai's exam seat was in the first row of the first group. The seat numbers were all randomly assigned, and Jiang Yubai sitting by the drafty doorway wasn't a good omen. Duan Qiyan provocatively raised his eyebrows at him, but Jiang Yubai paid no attention, sitting as calmly as an old monk in meditation.

The invigilator used a paper cutter to open the exam packet. This math test consisted of sixteen pages with complex questions and an astonishing amount of problems. Fortunately, Jiang Yubai had long mastered mental arithmetic and didn't feel the slightest bit nervous.

"Students, relax," the invigilator began distributing the tests. "Everyone focus on solving the problems, and absolutely no cheating."

Jiang Yubai received his test paper, uncapped his pen, and threw himself wholeheartedly into this battle.

Author's note: [Next episode preview: Winter break is coming! A grand opening for the new year! The intensive training life of Class 17's winter training camp! Joy and hardship coexist! (Lin Zhixia's personal joy, everyone else's hardship)]