Jin Baihui rested one hand on the windowsill and lifted her chin. She reiterated, "You don't put in any effort at all."
Many students in Class 17 of Grade 9 heard Jin Baihui's words. The classroom gradually fell silent, and Jiang Yubai suddenly stood up, saying, "Every weekend, Lin Zhixia goes to the library and studies from morning till night."
Jiang Yubai originally wanted to mention a few intimidating theoretical books, but he didn't know many and didn't dare to speak carelessly. So he cautiously added, "Lin Zhixia often reads specialized mathematics texts and works very hard. During last year's winter and summer vacations, she came to school every day for training sessions."
Class 17 of Grade 9 fell completely silent.
Lin Zhixia had suffered a crushing defeat in the international programming competition. If her classmates truly believed she relied solely on talent and had been careless during the competition, it would be deeply unfair to her.
Jiang Yubai wanted to loudly tell everyone that Lin Zhixia had loved learning since childhood, possessing an insatiable curiosity for all subjects. She began pondering the meaning of life early on and worked hard to enhance her self-worth. She wasn't born understanding mathematical concepts—she extensively read introductory books and gradually progressed step by step to reach her current level.
While Jiang Yubai was silently praising Lin Zhixia in his mind, she suddenly spoke up: "I will continue learning programming to train my thinking skills. This time, ranking 24th, I've learned my lesson. My life isn't defined by just one competition. Jin Baihui, are you more anxious than I am? Why do you always pay so much attention to me?"
A chilly winter wind swept through the corridor, turning the tip of Jin Baihui's nose and ears bright red. But she remained motionless, standing proudly by the window like a statue. She sternly rebuked Lin Zhixia, "You're the top student in Grade 9. You go to amusement parks, plan school celebrations, spring and autumn outings... Wasting time like this will lead to failure sooner or later. And you're still not worried? How can you expect rewards without putting in the effort?"
Though only fourteen years old, Jin Baihui spoke with the tone of a strict school administrator.
Lin Zhixia gripped the windowsill with both hands. "When I have fun with my classmates, it makes me happy. Why shouldn't I go out and enjoy myself?"
Jin Baihui couldn't find a reason to refute her. She simply closed the window and turned to walk back to Class 18's classroom. This period was a self-study session for both Classes 17 and 18, and neither homeroom teacher had shown up yet.
Lin Zhixia, quick as lightning, grabbed Jin Baihui's sleeve.
She tried to brainwash Jin Baihui: "There's an American scientist named Hilary Putnam. He's an expert in philosophy, mathematics, and computer science. You must want to become someone like him, right? His name is written in textbooks."
Jin Baihui was indeed swayed by Lin Zhixia's words. She turned back and met Lin Zhixia's gaze.
Lin Zhixia continued, "Putnam proposed a concept called 'Brain in a vat.' You know, a person's sensations come from neural signals in the brain. If someone were to remove your brain, place it in a vat to keep it alive, and use a computer to send neural signals to it, how would you know whether you're living in reality or inside a vat?"
Lin Zhixia's brainwashing attempt failed.
Jin Baihui pulled her hand away and hurried toward Class 18.
Lin Zhixia shouted down the corridor, "Jin Baihui, don't run away! You came to me on your own, and I was willing to talk to you. Why are you running off so fast?"Lin Zhixia's voice drifted far away.
The students of Class 18 also heard it.
Jin Baihui stood at the entrance of Class 18, unable to advance or retreat. She simply walked back outside Class 17's classroom and faced Lin Zhixia: "Were you just insulting me?"
"I wasn't insulting you at all," Lin Zhixia argued.
Jin Baihui repeated her exact words: "You said you wanted to dig out my brain and keep it in a vat."
"Wow, you remember so clearly," Lin Zhixia casually agreed.
Jin Baihui glared at her fiercely: "You're insulting me in a roundabout way."
Several bold students from Class 18 had already sneaked out of their classroom. They stood near Class 17, watching Jin Baihui and Lin Zhixia argue.
The students of Class 17 weren't about to be left behind either. Led by Shen Fuxuan, a group had long since left their seats. They gathered behind Lin Zhixia, the classroom filled with a festive atmosphere as everyone watched the two top students with great interest.
Duan Qiyan crossed his arms and interjected: "This Jin Baihui, she's allowed to insult others but can't take it when others insult her? I'm dying of laughter, what audacity."
As Lin Zhixia's deskmate, Jiang Yubai occupied the best viewing position. Sitting at his desk, he stopped Duan Qiyan from speaking further: "Be quiet."
Having long served as acting class monitor, Jiang Yubai held considerable authority within the class. Duan Qiyan unconsciously submitted. He didn't utter another word.
Meanwhile, outside the window, Jin Baihui raised her hand, pointed her index finger at Lin Zhixia and said: "I never insulted you."
"You didn't understand my meaning," Lin Zhixia said, sitting sideways on her chair with both hands resting on the windowsill. "What I just described as 'Brain in a vat' wasn't about digging out your brain, but presenting you with a hypothetical scenario. If all your life experiences were determined by computer-simulated signals, what kind of signals would you want to receive?"
"I want to be first in my grade, top of the entire grade," Jin Baihui answered without hesitation.
Lin Zhixia grasped her pointing finger and turned it back toward Jin Baihui herself: "You're first in the grade. Then what?"
Jin Baihui and Lin Zhixia locked eyes. Lin Zhixia's gaze seemed to possess a certain penetrating quality, and Jin Baihui found herself answering as if bewitched: "Then, I want to attend the best university."
Jin Baihui became lost in her imagined life. However, that fantasy lasted only a few seconds before she broke free from the elusive hypothesis.
Staring straight at Lin Zhixia, she raised her voice and said: "Do you know what I hate most about you? How easily learning comes to you, how you don't realize how precious your abilities are. If I had your abilities, I'd have entered university long ago. I'd be researching the Millennium Prize Problems with professors, studying the Hodge conjecture and Riemann hypothesis, proving Yang-Mills existence and mass gap - I'd put the name Jin Baihui in mathematics textbooks..."
To achieve her aspirations, Jin Baihui was willing to endure any hardship.
Throughout the entire ninth grade, no one could understand Jin Baihui - not even Lin Zhixia. Jin Baihui had once thought Lin Zhixia might become her kindred spirit. But reality proved that Lin Zhixia had no connection with her at all.
Lin Zhixia said thoughtfully: "There's a mathematician in India named Ramanujan. Have you heard of him?"
Jin Baihui replied: "I've studied Ramanujan's identities."Lin Zhixia nodded. "They say Ramanujan was the greatest mathematician of the twentieth century. I think he's much smarter than me. In the early 1900s, he proposed mathematical formulas that could be linked to black holes, back when the concept of Universe black holes didn't even exist. Ramanujan was Indian, dropped out of university, and never received systematic mathematical training. He claimed that the mathematical formulas he created were told to him by a Hindu goddess in his dreams. Even today, many formulas in his manuscripts and notes remain unsolved."
"What are you trying to say?" Jin Baihui demanded.
Lin Zhixia said softly, "There's always someone better. If you keep focusing only on me, you'll definitely get tired. If I stared at Ramanujan every day, could I achieve what he did? No."
Influenced by Lin Zhixia, Jin Baihui retorted, "Ramanujan, Einstein, and Tesla were all geniuses. Are you a genius? You're just an ordinary person with some intelligence who doesn't work hard."
"Really?" Lin Zhixia countered calmly. "I score higher than you on every exam. What does that make you?"
The Class 17 students burst into laughter, and even the onlookers from Class 18 gasped. Jin Baihui's face tightened, her chest rising and falling slightly. She said, "I..."
Before Jin Baihui could finish, Lin Zhixia offered her an out: "Competitions will always have rankings. Being lower in the ranks isn't shameful—every contestant deserves respect. You work especially hard. I not only respect you but also admire you."
Lin Zhixia said this last sentence with particular sincerity.
Jin Baihui, however, seemed unable to accept it. She lowered her head slightly, her fingers stiff. After a long moment, she turned and said, "It's self-study period. Everyone, go back to your classes and study, or I'll report you to the teacher."
Jin Baihui was the academic monitor of Class 18. At her command, the Class 18 students scattered faster than rabbits.
Lin Zhixia watched as Jin Baihui returned to her classroom.
A cool breeze swept through the empty corridor.
Lin Zhixia closed the glass window tightly and sat back down in her seat.
Tang Tingting in the front row sighed, "Class Monitor Lin, you're so gentle."
"No, I'm not gentle," Lin Zhixia explained. "What I said to Jin Baihui was also meant for myself."
The spectators in Class 17 hadn't dispersed yet. Duan Qiyan chuckled, "Class Monitor Lin, next time you argue with Jin Baihui, don't hold back—just curse at her."
Some classmates nearby agreed, "Jin Baihui is always coming to Class 17 to pick fights."
"Enough," Lin Zhixia sat up straight, embodying the authority of a class monitor. "All of you, hurry back to your seats for self-study."
Duan Qiyan couldn't help but retort, "If we don't go back, are you going to follow Jin Baihui's example and report us to the teacher?"
Lin Zhixia was taken aback.
In recent days, Lin Zhixia had been busy with informatics training in the high school division. Later, she went to Moscow, Russia, for a competition and had indeed been away from Class 17 of ninth grade for quite some time. No wonder Duan Qiyan was starting to challenge her too.
Just as Lin Zhixia was trying to regain her class monitor demeanor, Jiang Yubai stepped in for her: "The Class 18 students were willing to listen to Jin Baihui and return to their seats to study. Duan Qiyan, are you inferior to those students, or are you inferior to Jin Baihui?"
That question struck right at Duan Qiyan's weak spot.Duan Qiyan swiftly scrambled back to his seat, not daring to waste a moment as he pulled out his exercise book and began solving problems with utmost seriousness. The stark contrast in Duan Qiyan’s behavior made Lin Zhixia unable to resist applauding Jiang Yubai in admiration: "Jiang, Jiang, Jiang, Jiang Yubai, you’re amazing."
Jiang Yubai modestly replied, "Not as amazing as Lin, Lin, Lin, Lin Zhixia."
As usual, he opened his textbook and placed it on the desk, using it as a mere prop. He praised Lin Zhixia, "What you and Jin Baihui said was quite meaningful. I’ve remembered the concept of 'Brain in a vat.'"
"Have you seen the movie The Matrix ?" Lin Zhixia said enthusiastically. "The core idea of The Matrix shares remarkable similarities with 'Brain in a vat.'"
Jiang Yubai was more concerned about another matter: "When you first entered the classroom earlier..."
Lin Zhixia seamlessly picked up his train of thought, "At that time, I was a bit upset. But now, I feel much better."
Lin Zhixia’s ability to self-regulate seemed to have grown significantly stronger than before. Over the past two-plus years of competition experience, her resilience had been honed. Her courage had expanded, to the point where she even planned to attend university within the next couple of years.
Since Lin Zhixia had won two prestigious gold medals in mathematics competitions, several of the most renowned universities in the country had reached out to her. Though she hadn’t given a definitive response, she already had clear plans and arrangements in mind.
Aside from Professor Shen Zhaohua, Jiang Yubai was the first person to learn about Lin Zhixia’s future plans. Lin Zhixia told Jiang Yubai that she intended to study for one more year in the high school division of Provincial No. 1 High School. Once she turned fourteen, she would go to Beijing for university.
Jiang Yubai asked her why she wanted to spend another year in high school.
Lin Zhixia explained that she was co-authoring a paper with two senior students from Professor Shen’s research group, which involved high-performance computing with computer clusters. She needed to stay in the provincial capital for an additional half-year to monitor the computer clusters and the physical oceanography laboratory weekly. Moreover, she was somewhat reluctant to part with her Mom, Dad, and Brother and wanted to spend one more year with her family. Additionally, there was a minor reason—Lin Zhixia wanted to experience a bit of high school life before starting university. Essentially, most university students had gone through high school, and Lin Zhixia was curious and wanted to try it too.
"Experience a bit of high school life before starting university"—it was this very phrase that left Jiang Yubai speechless.
Jiang Yubai kindly reminded Lin Zhixia, "You’ve been in the high school competition class for over a year."
Lin Zhixia, however, replied, "In the high school competition class, I only attended lectures incidentally. I haven’t truly enjoyed the vibrant high school life."
Jiang Yubai understood Lin Zhixia’s perspective perfectly. He asked directly, "So, you’re going to spend a year in the high school competition class?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia admitted openly.
Jiang Yubai nodded. "I’ve applied to an international high school in Beijing."
An international high school in Beijing.
It sounded extraordinary.
Lin Zhixia suddenly understood. "You’ll be in high school in Beijing, and I’ll be an undergraduate in Beijing. We’ll be living in the same city."
"What about this year?" Jiang Yubai gripped his thermos cup, lost in thought. "I thought you’d be starting university next year..."
Although Lin Zhixia didn’t want to be separated from her good friend, she knew she couldn’t stand in the way of Jiang Yubai’s educational path.Back in the day, when Lin Zhixia had to attend training sessions at the high school division, Jiang Yubai always encouraged her to move forward. She had learned many fine qualities from him, and now, she wanted to give back: "It's alright, it's only a short year. During this year, I'll write to you, call you, and share insights from both studies and life. Jiang Yubai, you must bravely keep moving forward—you'll only become more outstanding. Of course, you're already an excellent person to begin with."
Lin Zhixia's praise was utterly sincere, and Jiang Yubai couldn't help but propose a solution: "I'll study for a year in the high school competition class at Provincial No. 1 High School, then transfer to an international high school in Beijing."
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