Lin Zhixia had her own selfish motives. She really wanted Jiang Yubai to stay at Provincial No.1 High School. However, she should consider things from a friend's perspective.
So she asked, "Jiang Yubai, do you like math competitions?"
Jiang Yubai answered evasively, "I haven't been participating in competitions for very long."
Having known Jiang Yubai for three years, even when he spoke in roundabout ways, Lin Zhixia could guess his true thoughts. She nodded, "I understand. You mean you don't like math competitions."
Jiang Yubai didn't refute this.
Lin Zhixia said seriously, "Students in the first-year Olympiad class have to complete the entire high school curriculum within one year, plus study university-level specialized courses in advance. If you go to Beijing for high school earlier, you can spend your time on things you're more interested in. If you transfer to Beijing in your second year of high school, you'll need time to adapt to the new environment while preparing for A-levels and IELTS exams. Wouldn't that be a bit rushed?"
A-levels were equivalent to the British college entrance exams, while IELTS was an English proficiency test. For Jiang Yubai to attend Cambridge University for his undergraduate studies, he first needed to achieve excellent results in both A-levels and IELTS - these were the undergraduate admission requirements for Cambridge.
Lin Zhixia was putting herself in Jiang Yubai's shoes, and he found her reasoning very sound. He should thank her for the reminder. But since parting had become inevitable, all words seemed inadequate. Unable to find the right words, he simply remained silent.
Jiang Yubai took out the Romanian decorative egg from his pencil case and stood it upright on the table, balancing it with just one finger on top of the shell.
Lin Zhixia extended her right index finger and carefully touched the bottom of the eggshell. She said, "Jiang Yubai, I'll write you letters and call you."
Jiang Yubai tore off a piece of scratch paper and wrote a line: "This is my Beijing address."
"Do you also have a home in Beijing?" Lin Zhixia asked curiously.
Jiang Yubai paused his writing: "My grandparents have lived in Beijing for many years."
"Are you planning to live at your grandparents' house?" Lin Zhixia asked him.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yubai said, "Both my parents have residences in Beijing."
So that's how it was.
Jiang Yubai had several homes in Beijing, several addresses.
This was the lifestyle of the wealthy.
Lin Zhixia remembered that back in Experimental Primary School, Jiang Yubai had mentioned that his family even had a private jet. So for Jiang Yubai to return from Beijing to the provincial capital would only take two or three hours.
Thinking this, Lin Zhixia's spirits suddenly lifted. She said quite frankly, "Chief Jiang Yubai is going to pursue his goals. After Captain Lin Zhixia completes her own mission, she will find Jiang Yubai and reunite with him at the new location."
Jiang Yubai handed the scratch paper with the Beijing address to Lin Zhixia. They agreed to send each other letters every week. Jiang Yubai would also return to the provincial capital during Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, winter break, Qingming Festival... and all other holidays.
"Such a detailed plan!" Lin Zhixia marveled. "Even if you go to Beijing for high school, we're actually not really separating."
"Mm!" Jiang Yubai readily admitted.Lin Zhixia took out her "Human Observation Diary" and earnestly wrote: January 4, 2008, Jiang Yubai and I have finalized our high school academic plans. Jiang Yubai will go to Beijing for high school this September, while I'll spend another year at Provincial No. 1 Middle School. Next September, Jiang Yubai and I will reunite in Beijing. I suddenly thought of the binary star system in astrophysics - two stars with their own orbits revolving around the same center. Jiang Yubai is like my binary star partner; we travel along different paths, yet our center remains forever the same.
After writing this passage, Lin Zhixia deliberately brought it before Jiang Yubai's eyes.
Jiang Yubai had encountered the term "binary star system" countless times in physics Olympiad problems, but he never imagined Lin Zhixia would use it to describe him this way. Feeling both pleased and somewhat embarrassed, he asked: "Are the other classmates in Class 17 also stars in the universe?"
Lin Zhixia pondered thoughtfully: "They're all independent entities."
During the first two years of middle school, Lin Zhixia was always busy with competitions and rarely chatted with classmates. Instead, many students frequently approached her with exercise books, seeking her help with problems. She would solve difficult questions in just a few moves, often leaving classmates standing there dazed, filled with admiration for her.
Lin Zhixia's status in class was equivalent to "a deity descending to earth."
Her binary star partner was destined to include only Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai also told Lin Zhixia that their elementary school classmates wanted to treat her to a meal at Provincial No. 1 Middle School's cafeteria.
Last September, many students from Experimental Elementary School successfully entered Provincial No. 1 Middle School, such as Dong Sunqi, Ding Yan, Wei Rongjie, Tang Yueqin... even Liu Xingjian. Everyone felt they should get together appropriately, but since Lin Zhixia was busy with informatics competitions during the first semester of ninth grade, they didn't dare occupy her precious time and didn't mention gathering.
Now, hearing Jiang Yubai mention their elementary school classmates, Lin Zhixia happily agreed: "Okay, let's have lunch together in the cafeteria."
That noon, Dong Sunqi led several elementary school classmates, stepping solemnly into Provincial No. 1 Middle School's cafeteria.
Dong Sunqi had been class monitor for six years at Experimental Elementary School. At Provincial No. 1 Middle School, his official luck continued smoothly, steadily securing the class monitor position.
Although Dong Sunqi didn't get into the Olympiad class, he became an honorable member of the advanced class. Currently, he was thriving in Class 1, Grade 7, where classmates respectfully addressed him as "Monitor Dong," while some called him "Brother Dong."
Dong Sunqi occasionally mentioned to others that Lin Zhixia, the competition overlord in ninth grade, was his elementary school classmate. Classmates in Class 1, Grade 7 who heard this all expressed genuine admiration, praising his extensive connections, broad knowledge, and high-quality social circle.
Dong Sunqi resolved to treat Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai to a meal.
Noon was the cafeteria's peak dining hour, bustling with noise and crowded with people everywhere.
Dong Sunqi had foresightedly secured seats. He, Wei Rongjie, Ding Yan, and Tang Yueqin waited about ten minutes before Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia arrived belatedly.
Lin Zhixia ran toward them with her backpack: "Sorry we're late! Our teacher kept us after class!"Dong Sunqi said magnanimously, "Being ten minutes late is fine. Everyone, give me some face and don't make a big deal out of it."
Dong Sunqi's personality really hadn't changed one bit.
Dong Sunqi patted Ding Yan's shoulder: "Come on, Ding Yan, let's go get the dishes together."
Ding Yan was Jiang Yubai's closest male classmate from their elementary school days. As he stood up, Ding Yan looked at Jiang Yubai: "Jiang Yubai, when you have time, let's play tennis together at the school gym! Damn, my tennis skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and I'm still using the racket and tennis balls you gave me."
Jiang Yubai wasn't particularly good at tennis.
He often swung his racket heavily at the ball, sending it flying straight into the vast lawn, disappearing without a trace. This wild and rough way of hitting was quite inconsistent with his usual demeanor. He declined: "Carrying a racket and tennis balls around school is somewhat inconvenient."
Ding Yan probed: "Do you still often go to the playground to hang from the horizontal bar after class?"
Jiang Yubai fell silent for a few seconds.
Last week, for about three or four days, Jiang Yubai and Shen Fuxuan had made plans to go to the playground to practice on the horizontal bar. However, it wasn't for fun but to prepare for the physical education test in the high school entrance exam. The boys' events included pull-ups, and Shen Fuxuan was still hovering around the passing mark, for which Duan Qiyan had teased him relentlessly.
Shen Fuxuan pretended not to care on the surface, but inside he was extremely nervous. In Class 17 of ninth grade, Shen Fuxuan got along quite well with Jiang Yubai. Jiang Yubai generally didn't casually mock others. Thus, through their daily "pull-up" sessions, the friendship between Shen Fuxuan and Jiang Yubai grew stronger.
Before Jiang Yubai could respond, Lin Zhixia explained for him: "Hanging from the horizontal bar is very important. Pull-ups are a mandatory event for boys in the high school entrance exam physical test. You should start practicing pull-ups now, set a small goal, like doing 180 reps every day..."
"180 pull-ups?" Ding Yan was shocked. "Is ninth grade that tough?"
Jiang Yubai never showed weakness in front of Lin Zhixia. Without blushing or his heart racing, he calmly said: "It's not that tough. You get used to it." He took out his ever-present insulated cup from his backpack, poured a cup of warm water, and continued: "My classmates and I often practice pull-ups during breaks. If you have time, you can come find me on the playground."
Jiang Yubai described pull-ups in such a casual tone that all the boys present looked at him with admiration. Even Lin Zhixia praised him profusely, openly commending his diligence and effort, saying he was the type of person she admired most.
The warm water in the insulated cup seemed to taste even better. Jiang Yubai took a sip and glanced at the cafeteria menu, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding.
The student cafeteria supported group activities. At the end of last year, the cafeteria grandly launched a series of "party packages." Dong Sunqi had already arranged with the cafeteria lady in advance and bought two "party packages." He and Ding Yan brought the dishes back, neatly arranging them on the table for all the classmates to see.Jiang Yubai picked up his stainless steel bowl and cautiously picked up a piece of fish tofu. Having studied at Provincial No.1 High School for two years, he had never eaten a single meal in the student cafeteria. His uncle once said that Jiang Yubai was rather particular about his food, adding that most people in their family were like that.
Jiang Yubai had to admit the fish tofu was a bit too salty and the rice somewhat too hard. Comparatively, the food in the teachers' cafeteria suited his taste better. He savored his lunch unhurriedly, eating even slower than Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia picked up a chicken drumstick for him: "Want some chicken?"
He instinctively replied: "Thank you."
Lin Zhixia scooped some braising sauce with her spoon and poured it over the chicken drumstick she had given him. She explained: "My Mom makes super delicious braised chicken drumsticks. If you ever get the chance to visit my home, you must try our special homemade braised chicken drumsticks."
"No problem," Jiang Yubai agreed.
Lin Zhixia then asked: "Jiang Yubai, what's your favorite food? Like how much I love strawberries."
Ding Yan interjected: "Jiang Yubai is picky about food."
Dong Sunqi let out a second-tone "ai" before saying: "Ding Yan, today our elementary school classmates are happily gathered together, don't talk about Jiang Yubai like that."
The person in question, Jiang Yubai, lifted his bowl and insisted: "I'm not picky. Ding Yan, you don't really know me. I really like chicken drumsticks."
Lin Zhixia burst into laughter.
A joyful atmosphere filled the dining table when Wei Rongjie suddenly asked Lin Zhixia: "You and Jiang Yubai are graduating from middle school this year. Will you both attend high school at Provincial No.1 High School?"
Lin Zhixia answered frankly without evasion: "Jiang Yubai will go to Beijing for school. I'll study at Provincial No.1 High School for one more year. Then I'll go to Beijing for undergraduate studies. My provisional undergraduate major is in the Department of Information Technology in the School of Mathematics. My undergraduate advisor's research focuses on artificial intelligence and Quantum Computing, and I also want to study philosophy of mind. As for my doctoral plans, I haven't thought that through yet... But I know that as long as I do my best at every stage, the future will develop in a positive direction."
Dong Sunqi led the applause for her: "The Earth Legion's Chief Strategist is truly remarkable."
"Of course," Jiang Yubai added quietly, "Lin Zhixia is the pride of the Earth Legion."
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