September 1, 2008, was a clear and sunny day.
Lin Zhixia followed behind Lin Zeqiu as they stepped through the gates of Provincial No. 1 High School together.
Along the way, Lin Zeqiu had been earnestly advising her: "Lin Zhixia, high school is different from middle school. Your Olympiad class is highly competitive, and most students are around fifteen or sixteen. I don’t need to spell it out—you understand, right?"
Lin Zhixia looked at him blankly. "Understand what?"
Ancient poets often used the phrase "budding youth" to describe thirteen-year-old girls. At this moment, Lin Zhixia was in her budding youth. Having inherited excellent genes for appearance, she was growing more beautiful by the day, which made Lin Zeqiu unconsciously wary.
Lin Zeqiu was now a sophomore in high school. In his class, there were three pairs of secretly dating couples, and several boys who liked to gather and quietly discuss the looks and figures of their female classmates... In short, no matter what thoughts filled the minds of those high school boys, Lin Zeqiu was determined to nip any potential trouble in the bud.
Patiently, Lin Zeqiu continued to explain: "High school boys..."
He had only uttered these four words when Lin Zhixia nodded and said, "I understand."
Lin Zeqiu questioned, "Do you really understand?"
"Mm-hmm," Lin Zhixia replied calmly. "Brother, you talk about the same thing all day long. As soon as you start, I can imagine what you’re going to say next. It’s the same old story, just phrased differently."
Lin Zeqiu froze for a second. "Are you saying I’m nagging?"
"How could that be?" Lin Zhixia answered casually. "How could I think you’re nagging? Brother, you’re not nagging at all. You’re someone who speaks very concisely and would never go on and on endlessly..."
By the end of her sentence, even Lin Zhixia didn’t believe her own words. She stopped praising Lin Zeqiu and ended with a string of "Hahahaha."
Lin Zeqiu really wanted to figure out what kind of image he held in Lin Zhixia’s mind. Slowing his pace, he was about to interrogate her when a burst of cheers suddenly reached his ears: "Lin Zhixia, great news! You and I are in the same class!"
Lin Zeqiu turned around and saw Tang Tingting.
The temperature in early September was still high, with the lingering heat of summer. Tang Tingting wore a light blue short-sleeved shirt and a denim pleated skirt, radiating the unique youthful energy of a teenage girl. She naturally walked over to Lin Zhixia, linked arms with her, and said affectionately, "We’re both in Class 27 of Grade 10. Our homeroom teacher is Kong Yuankai, a male teacher in his forties."
"I’ve met him," Lin Zhixia described. "He was a math teacher for last year’s senior Olympiad class."
Tang Tingting’s gaze drifted over Lin Zeqiu’s face. "Yes... he’s a math teacher."
At this moment, Lin Zeqiu felt a sense of relief. He had always hoped that Lin Zhixia would interact more with the girls in her class, believing that only girls could truly understand girls. He had thought Lin Zhixia wasn’t taking his words seriously, but it turned out she had already consciously made friends with her female classmates. Seeing this, he thought his little sister really was a well-behaved and obedient girl.
Lin Zhixia proactively suggested, "Tang Tingting, can we be desk mates?""Okay, okay," Tang Tingting gazed toward the distant teaching building, "let's go to the classroom early and pick good seats."
Tang Tingting pulled Lin Zhixia as they ran a short distance. Lin Zhixia glanced back at her brother, who immediately said, "After school ends at noon, I'll come to your classroom door to pick you up and take you home."
"Okay!" Lin Zhixia replied in a bright, clear voice.
When Lin Zhixia started seventh grade, she walked alone through the unfamiliar campus, anxiously exploring the unknown environment. She clearly remembered how, as she approached her classroom and saw Jiang Yubai, her mood instantly became light and joyful—like a hermit crab living on the beach that, after a long journey, finally found its most beloved shell.
Today, as Lin Zhixia stepped into the classroom of Class 27, Grade 10, and looked at the familiar faces, she felt as if she had returned to her middle school days. However, Jiang Yubai was no longer her classmate, nor her desk mate who spent every day with her.
How was Jiang Yubai doing today?
Had he adjusted to life in Beijing?
Was he also missing Lin Zhixia?
Lin Zhixia put on a thoughtful expression as she walked past the front of the classroom.
She overheard whispers from the students in the front row: "Look up, quick, that's Lin Zhixia—the 'Competition Princess' of Provincial No. 1 High School, champion of the 2007 Romanian Master of Mathematics, pre-admitted to Peking University's School of Mathematical Sciences, and the one who published a SCI physics paper last February."
Someone asked, "What is Lin Zhixia thinking about?"
Duan Qiyan interjected, "Isn't that obvious? What else could it be? Definitely a difficult math problem, or maybe informatics competitions."
Another student nodded slightly and analyzed knowingly, "Right, that's how true masters are. Their brains are always running at high speed, constantly pondering math problems when they're awake."
Lin Zhixia felt embarrassed. Since entering the classroom, she hadn't thought about anything related to mathematics at all.
The classroom of Class 27, Grade 10 was spacious and bright, with neatly arranged desks and clean, reflective blackboards. Lin Zhixia scanned the room and finally chose a seat by the window, which offered an open view of the empty playground and the azure sky.
On the playground stood the horizontal bar that Jiang Yubai loved most.
Lin Zhixia opened her "Human Observation Diary" and wrote: Today is September 1st, 2008, the first day of 10th grade. I've begun a brand new high school life. I've been assigned to Class 27, Grade 10, with forty-nine classmates in total. Although I wish Jiang Yubai were one of those forty-nine, I hope even more that Jiang Yubai gains abundant knowledge during his studies in Beijing.
Pausing her writing, she put down the "Human Observation Diary" and pulled out a stack of stationery from her backpack.
It was a carefully selected set of stationery with a pearlescent light pink background, printed with several pale red strawberries that reflected her personal style. Every greeting card she had ever given Jiang Yubai featured her lifelong favorite fruit—strawberries.
Lin Zhixia's fingers touched the strawberry patterns. After a moment of thought, she began writing a letter—
To Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai:
I hope this letter finds you well.This is the first letter I've sent you. It's currently September 1, 2008, 7:40 AM Beijing time, and I'm sitting in the High School Class 27 classroom waiting for our homeroom teacher to appear. I've been reminiscing about our junior high school days. Every time I walked into Class 17, you were always my deskmate. Therefore, the Class 17 classroom was a place full of anticipation for me. As for High School Class 27, it feels more like a familiar environment. Shen Fuxuan, Duan Qiyan, and Jin Baihui have all become my high school classmates, while Tang Tingting is my new deskmate. Senior Luo Ying has entrusted her Classical Literature Club to me, and I am now the new president of the Classical Literature Club.
The osmanthus trees on the campus of Provincial First High School have bloomed, and they're incredibly beautiful. I'll take photos of the osmanthus trees and include them with this letter, which will be like you enjoying the scenery with me. If you have a friend who knows your heart, distance cannot keep you apart.
Wishing you: Great success in your studies and smooth sailing in all matters!
(September 1, 2008, written at Provincial First High School, High School Classroom)
This letter is rather brief.
Lin Zhixia read through it once more, feeling quite satisfied, and very solemnly added a signature: "Lin Lin Lin Lin Zhixia."
The morning breeze drifted into the classroom, tousling her hair. She focused intently on folding the letter paper, shaping it into a very neat form.
Her deskmate Tang Tingting asked: "Are you writing a letter?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia admitted, "I'm writing to a good friend."
Tang Tingting nodded. After a moment, Tang Tingting guessed directly: "Is it Jiang Yubai?"
Lin Zhixia reached out her fingers to cover the letter tightly: "Mhmm."
Suddenly, Tang Tingting pulled out a pack of strawberry-flavored Swiss candy. She unwrapped it and prepared to distribute the strawberry candy to classmates around them. To Lin Zhixia, this was like a smoker seeing their neighbor pull out a carton of soft Chunghwa cigarettes.
Lin Zhixia accepted a piece of strawberry soft candy from Tang Tingting and happily thanked her: "Thank you, Tang Tingting."
Tang Tingting said generously: "You and I are like family, no need to be so polite."
Just as Tang Tingting was halfway through distributing the candy, she encountered a rather unusual classmate - a boy sitting directly in front of Lin Zhixia. This boy wore a long-sleeved plaid shirt, appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, and was approximately 180 cm tall. He had handsome features, relatively dark skin, and when he smiled, revealed a set of white teeth: "Oh ho, two girls giving me candy on the first day of school."
Tang Tingting immediately withdrew the strawberry candy: "I'm not giving it to you anymore."
The boy reached out to grab it: "What about the candy you promised?"
Lin Zhixia was unwrapping her candy. With a pious attitude full of ceremony, she first placed the soft candy on her left palm, then lifted her right fingertips to peel open the thin wrapper. She could already smell the sweet strawberry fragrance. Just at that moment, the boy in front bumped her wrist, and the strawberry candy immediately fell to the ground.
Lin Zhixia froze.
The boy in front apologized with a smile: "Sorry, sorry, I-I-I-I... I'll bring new ones for both of you beautiful girls this afternoon."
Lin Zhixia tilted her head: "Two beautiful girls?"
"What are you talking about, Shao Dongxu!" Tang Tingting righteously scolded, "Lin Zhixia is only thirteen years old this year, show some respect."
So this boy was named Shao Dongxu.Shao Dongxu attended the Affiliated Elementary School of Normal University during his primary education. He was Tang Tingting's elementary school classmate. Having failed to enter the provincial No. 1 High School's middle school Olympiad class, he devoted himself to studying at the city's No. 2 Middle School for three years. Eventually, he won a trophy in the middle school mathematics competition and successfully entered the provincial No. 1 High School's high school competition class.
When he heard Lin Zhixia's name, both he and his deskmate turned around without hesitation to scrutinize her. At the same time, Lin Zhixia was also observing them.
An intangible undercurrent surged in the surrounding air. Shao Dongxu stared at Lin Zhixia for a full ten seconds before saying, "So you're Lin Zhixia? The top scorer in the 2008 high school entrance exam, the provincial No. 1 High School's competition princess, gold medalist in the 2007 Romanian Master of Mathematics..."
Shao Dongxu couldn't recall all of Lin Zhixia's numerous titles.
Before the school year began, he had joined a QQ group for provincial No. 1 High School students. The group members enthusiastically discussed Lin Zhixia, listing her achievements as if they were treasured possessions. As an outsider, Shao Dongxu was subjected to a mental whirlwind.
He never expected the top student of provincial No. 1 High School to be this formidable.
Lin Zhixia wasn't particularly adept at handling prolonged stares from classmates. So, she decided to emulate Jiang Yubai's demeanor. She nodded slightly, feigning composure: "Those are all things of the past, not worth mentioning."
Lin Zhixia believed she could only imitate Jiang Yubai's surface mannerisms, without capturing his elegance and essence.
Shao Dongxu, however, clasped his hands in a martial arts salute before turning back to continue solving problems. Both Shao Dongxu and his deskmate seized every possible moment to study. Their desks were piled with several high school math competition preparation books, one of which Shao Dongxu had already completed half of. This diligent spirit earned Lin Zhixia's deep respect.
Even though Shao Dongxu had his back to her and couldn't see her movements or expressions, Lin Zhixia still returned the salute with clasped hands.
The classroom gradually quieted as teachers' conversation could be heard from the corridor.
The homeroom teacher of Class 27, Grade 10 walked slowly to the podium carrying a teaching plan.
This homeroom teacher was a nearly forty-year-old male instructor named Kong Yuankai. Dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, Mr. Kong appeared neat and tidy, speaking in soft, measured tones: "Students of Class 27, hello, I'm your homeroom teacher Mr. Kong. The three years from 2008 to 2011 are crucially important for your entire lives... Each of you should cherish the atmosphere of the competition class - study more, practice more, question more, and think more. Our class is the best in the grade. When you encounter difficulties, remember that you are the best, and always approach things from a positive perspective."
After briefly encouraging his students, Mr. Kong stepped down from the podium and asked each student to stand up according to seating order, introducing themselves to the class by sharing their interests, hobbies, aspirations, and goals.
Duan Qiyan's seat was in the first row, first column.As soon as Teacher Kong finished speaking, Duan Qiyan eagerly stood up and said loudly: "My name is Duan Qiyan - Duan as in Duan the Prince from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Qi as in inspiration, Yan as in language. I won the gold cup in the Hua Luogeng Mathematics Competition in elementary school, and first prize in the provincial mathematics league in middle school. In high school, I want to achieve first prize in the high school mathematics league, and my target university is Peking University."
The entire class broke into enthusiastic applause.
Teacher Kong smiled and said: "Duan Qiyan, I wish you early admission to Peking University."
Duan Qiyan twisted his fingers in his clothes, looking slightly embarrassed as he returned to his seat.
Three rows behind Duan Qiyan's seat sat his arch-rival Jin Baihui.
Jin Baihui's deskmate was a male classmate who had discovered upon entering that there were no empty seats left, so he could only sit beside Jin Baihui. He also noticed that Jin Baihui had never stopped working on problems.
When it was Jin Baihui's turn for self-introduction, she finally put down her pen, stood up and said: "My name is Jin Baihui. Throughout three years of middle school, I never went to bed before midnight. I want to test into Tsinghua University's Yao Class, and I want to advance humanity's scientific development."
As soon as she finished speaking, Teacher Kong applauded for her: "What an admirable ambition."
Teacher Kong's applause received almost no response from others.
Because over half the students in Class 27 of Grade 10 came from the provincial No. 1 Middle School's junior high Olympiad class.
Jin Baihui's introduction fell flat.
But she didn't care. Immersed in the world of mathematics, she completely tuned out external noises.
The class introduction activity continued. When it was Lin Zhixia's turn, she quickly stood up and said concisely: "My name is Lin Zhixia - Lin as in forest, Zhi as in knowledge, Xia as in summer. I hope we can all get along well, thank you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted throughout the classroom. Her former Class 17 classmates were all cheering for her, with Duan Qiyan leading the loud commotion: "Class Monitor Lin! Class Monitor Lin!"
With Lin Zhixia receiving such enthusiastic support, Teacher Kong simply went along with popular sentiment and appointed: "Lin Zhixia, since you were class monitor in middle school, you must have handled class affairs well. Could you serve as class monitor for our Class 27 of Grade 10?"
Lin Zhixia placed her hands behind her back and said reservedly: "Okay."
Just like that, Lin Zhixia once again took on the important responsibility of class monitor.
She had to share this news with Jiang Yubai!
That evening after returning home, Lin Zhixia couldn't wait to turn on her computer and log into QQ. To her delight, she discovered that Jiang Yubai was online, and his status was even "Q me." It seemed Jiang Yubai wasn't busy at all right now and really wanted to chat! Lin Zhixia had come at the perfect time!
Lin Zhixia sent him a message: Jiang Yubai, I'm home, are you at home too?
Jiang Yubai replied instantly: Yes.
Lin Zhixia happily told him: I was elected class monitor again today.
Jiang Yubai instantly replied again: Congratulations, Captain Lin Zhixia.
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