Jiang Yubai was a distinguished QQ VIP member with exclusive privileges. The QQ system pinned him to the top of the friends panel, and his username "JiangJiangJiangJiang" was displayed in eye-catching bright red. Whenever Lin Zhixia glanced at her contact list, her attention would be completely captured by Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai's QQ signature contained only four words: Binary Star System.
Lin Zhixia understood the profound meaning behind it. Suddenly, she didn't feel like typing anymore—she wanted to hear Jiang Yubai's voice. So, she sent a video chat request, which Jiang Yubai accepted without hesitation.
It was only at this moment that Lin Zhixia remembered—Jiang Yubai had never seen her room before.
She immediately turned her head to check if her bedroom was clean and tidy. Last night, her Brother had mopped the floor and helped her wipe the bookshelf. The view captured by the camera satisfied her.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yubai was sitting in a study. Behind him stood a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a neatly trimmed, vibrant green lawn. The fading glow of the sunset pierced through the glass, casting a soft light on him that made him appear somewhat ethereal.
They both put on their headphones simultaneously. Lin Zhixia spoke into the microphone, "How have you been at school?"
Jiang Yubai answered her question in detail. He said his class had only eleven students. On the first day of school, he discussed future plans with his teacher and finalized his high school course selections. He also planned to join the school's golf team. In the first half of next year, he would participate in the National Economics Challenge... and so on.
Lin Zhixia couldn't help asking, "Have you made new friends?"
Jiang Yubai replied, "I'm not sure."
Lin Zhixia probed gently, "You're not sure... whether the classmates you've met are your friends?"
Jiang Yubai answered briefly, "Yes."
Unconsciously, Lin Zhixia lifted her fingers and rested them quietly on the desk. Then, Jiang Yubai turned the question back to her, "Who is your new deskmate?"
Lin Zhixia answered honestly, "Tang Tingting is my deskmate. Shen Fuxuan and Han Peng sit behind me. Oh, and Jin Baihui is also in my class. I'm now in Class 27 of Grade 10."
Jiang Yubai seemed slightly tense, "Has Jin Baihui given you any trouble?"
Lin Zhixia reached for her Little Penguin. Holding it in her arms, she relaxed and chatted casually with Jiang Yubai, "No. In today's class meeting, our homeroom teacher asked everyone to stand up and introduce themselves. Jin Baihui said she aims to get into Tsinghua University's Yao Class and contribute to the advancement of human science. I think she's quite a pure person. She has firm goals and doesn't care about others' opinions..."
Jiang Yubai leaned forward, moving closer to the camera. He asked, "Do you care about external evaluations?"
Lin Zhixia fell silent. After careful thought, she admitted, "I do."
Then, she became even more candid, "I don't have Jin Baihui's resilient mental fortitude. That's why I haven't accepted any media interviews so far. I don't want to be exposed to public scrutiny."
Jiang Yubai discussed the issue with her, "You've handled it correctly. Attention and public discussion are both double-edged swords.""Yes," Lin Zhixia said with remarkable calm, "I don't have any noteworthy research achievements yet. I'm still feeling my way forward on this academic path."
Jiang Yubai encouraged her: "You've made a great start."
Lin Zhixia leaned back against her chair, hugging a plush Little Penguin tightly. She spoke her mind to Jiang Yubai: "Jiang Yubai, these past two years... you know, I joined the national training team and participated in some international competitions. I've met students from various countries and regions. I've developed some new perspectives."
Jiang Yubai clasped his hands together, adopting an attentive expression: "What perspectives?"
Lin Zhixia's fingers absently played with the Little Penguin's wings. She said: "Although teachers and classmates often praise me, I think I've just compressed the learning process."
Jiang Yubai cited a real-world example: "My dad invested in an e-commerce company in Beijing. They've been working on database compression recently."
Lin Zhixia immediately perked up: "Database compression?"
"Database compression technology," Jiang Yubai described, "can save storage space."
Lin Zhixia slowly straightened up in her chair: "But I remember current database compression technologies aren't very efficient."
Jiang Yubai got to the point: "If compression efficiency improves by even one percentage point, the results become quite noticeable."
Lin Zhixia suddenly understood: "I see. Are you trying to compliment me, saying my brain is like a compressed database? Much more powerful than others?"
Jiang Yubai had been mentally preparing his words. He intended to help Lin Zhixia build strong self-confidence and make her clearly recognize how exceptional her talent was. Yet after just two sentences, she had already guessed his intention.
Lin Zhixia sighed: "Jiang Yubai, you're so kind, praising me in such a roundabout way... When I chat with you, I feel so relaxed, like I can tell you anything."
Jiang Yubai lowered his head and chuckled, though he wasn't sure what he was laughing about.
Lin Zhixia placed the Little Penguin on her lap. Facing the computer screen, she made a serious proposal: "How about if you're online every day at 6 PM, I'll video chat with you for just ten minutes?"
Jiang Yubai asked her: "Why only ten minutes?"
Lin Zhixia explained logically: "I don't want to disturb your studies. I heard Cambridge University is quite difficult to get into. If I take up too much of your time and delay your study progress, causing you to miss getting into Cambridge, I'd feel terribly guilty."
Jiang Yubai hadn't expected Lin Zhixia to have such concerns.
Remaining completely unflustered, he said with exceptional steadiness: "I have two years to prepare."
"Yes," Lin Zhixia looked to the future with him, "in the fall of 2010, you'll submit your application and then receive the admission notice."
Jiang Yubai suddenly realized that if his plan proceeded smoothly, he'd be going to university at just sixteen. Of course, Lin Zhixia would start even earlier - she would become a university student at fourteen.
After thinking for a moment, he asked her: "Are you planning to participate in any competitions this year?"
Lin Zhixia considered her answer carefully: "It depends. I haven't decided yet."She smiled at the screen. "If you're going to participate in the North American Economics Challenge, I can practice with you. Back when I was building the economic background for Exploring the Universe , I read a lot of books in the library."
Jiang Yubai recalled that period. At the time, he would consult his elders every day and then incorporate economic theories into the comic's storyline.
Lin Zhixia wanted to say a few more words to Jiang Yubai when her mom's voice came from outside the bedroom door: "Xia Xia, Qiu Qiu, dinner is ready. Come and eat."
Lin Zhixia removed her headphones, and her mom called out again: "Xia Xia, Qiu Qiu, stop studying. Studying on an empty stomach is miserable. Come eat quickly before the dishes get cold."
"I have to go eat," Lin Zhixia told Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai typed two words in the chat window: "Okay."
Lin Zhixia replied with a cute smiley face and said to him, "I'm logging off now. Bye." She closed the chat window, logged out of her QQ account, slipped on a pair of pink fluffy slippers, and joyfully dashed toward the living room.
Lin Zhixia's online nickname was "Summer Strawberry." Jiang Yubai had changed her contact name to "Xia Xia." And now, "Xia Xia" had gone "offline."
Jiang Yubai scrolled through his chat history with Lin Zhixia again. Then, he shut down the computer, opened his backpack, and began previewing the next day's lessons.
The study door was gently knocked. He looked up and saw his uncle and grandfather.
Grandfather was dressed in comfortable home clothes. His hair was entirely white, neatly combed, and his eyes sparkled brightly. Neither his expression nor his voice showed any sign of age. He said to Jiang Yubai, "You study very diligently."
Uncle immediately chimed in, "When my elder brother and I were young, we studied very hard too. It's a family tradition."
Grandfather turned to look at him and called him by his full name: "Is your left hand still hurting, Jiang Shaoqi?"
Some time ago, Jiang Shaoqi's orchestra had gone to the UK to participate in the "Glastonbury Festival." After the festival ended, the orchestra traveled to multiple venues across Europe. Jiang Shaoqi had been working intensely for four consecutive months. Relying on his youth, he didn't mind the tight schedule, but unfortunately, he developed symptoms of tenosynovitis and had to pause all arrangements.
Jiang Shaoqi was like a balloon with its skin punctured. Feeling very guilty, he said, "It doesn't hurt. It's a minor issue."
Jiang Yubai stood up and walked over to Jiang Shaoqi. "Balance work and rest, Uncle."
Jiang Shaoqi studied him for a moment and remarked with emotion, "Our Xiao Jiang has grown up so much. After just a few months apart, Xiao Jiang has gotten taller and more handsome. With such an impressive appearance, I can tell at a glance that he's a child of our family."
Jiang Yubai responded politely, "Thank you." He added, "Appearance is fleeting; inner substance is what matters most."
Grandfather recited a poem: "White clothes and gray dogs have no constant form, but uncarved jade and unrefined gold possess inherent qualities."
"White clothes and gray dogs have no constant form, but uncarved jade and unrefined gold possess inherent qualities"—this poem was written by the Song Dynasty literary figure Qin Guan.
Jiang Yubai and his grandfather began discussing Qin Guan's life experiences. Jiang Shaoqi listened in confusion, unable to interject a single word. He could only follow behind his father and nephew as they walked toward the dining room. As they walked, Jiang Shaoqi began to sense that something was amiss.Jiang Shaoqi's father asked, "Shaoqi, what do you think of your nephew?"
Jiang Shaoqi quickly responded, "My nephew? I've said it before—Xiao Jiang is handsome and excels in every aspect. My elder brother has put a lot of effort into educating his son over the past decade, and it has all been worth it."
His father continued, "Your elder brother had Jiang Yubai when he was your age."
Jiang Yubai suddenly heard his name but remained silent. He knew that his grandfather was urging his uncle to find a partner, fall in love, get married, and have children.
Seeing his uncle's expression of embarrassment, frustration, helplessness, and shame, Jiang Yubai decided to lend a hand. He slowly sat down at the dining table and spoke as if it were a casual remark, "Forced melons are not sweet; marriage and having children depend on fate."
Before Jiang Yubai could finish his sentence, both his uncle and grandfather fixed their eyes on him.
His uncle chuckled. Jiang Yubai persisted, "Grandpa, don’t pressure Uncle. Uncle has long been over eighteen—he’s an adult and has the right to make his own choices."
His uncle praised him enthusiastically, "Xiao Jiang, I haven’t spoiled you for nothing. You’re so young, yet you understand so much. Truly a good child of our family."
His grandfather, quick-witted, took a different approach, "With such a fine child, don’t you want to raise one yourself?"
His uncle argued logically, "Elder brother already has a child, so the Jiang family has an heir. Why must I raise one myself? Besides, I need to have a girlfriend first."
His grandfather stopped eating and asked quietly, "Where is your girlfriend? Your mother and I haven’t seen a single strand of her hair."
His uncle flushed slightly, "Dad, over the years, I’ve traveled all over the world. How could I have time to worry about a girlfriend or children? Do you know how fierce the competition is in an orchestra? Back then, I went through all kinds of hardships..."
His grandfather unexpectedly retorted, "Do you know how much sponsorship I’ve secured for your company?"
His grandfather held a bowl in his left hand and chopsticks in his right, picking up a spring roll and placing it in his bowl. His demeanor was elegant and refined, but his words were like a bomb dropped into the water. Jiang Shaoqi, jolted to the surface by his father’s remark, hurriedly asked, "You donated money to our company?"
His grandfather spoke in a steady tone, calm and composed, "Did you think becoming famous is easy? That you became the concertmaster at twenty-three solely through your own efforts? When you were young and showed some talent and interest, your mother and I invited performers from Germany to teach you one-on-one. I hired teachers to watch you practice ten hours a day... Raising a child is never effortless."
Jiang Shaoqi spread out a napkin, took a deep breath, and said, "Dad, you’re giving me a headache."
Jiang Yubai came to his uncle’s aid again, "Raising children is the parents’ responsibility. If someone isn’t ready to take on that responsibility, they shouldn’t bring a child into this world. Uncle has already achieved success in his career; Grandpa shouldn’t be too hard on him."
By challenging his grandfather’s authority face-to-face, Jiang Yubai not only didn’t anger him but earned his grandfather’s approval, "Your father has raised you very well."After that conversation, Grandpa never questioned Uncle again. He conveyed his wish for Uncle to get married soon, then washed his hands of the matter. He told Jiang Shaoqi to rest well, focus on recovering, treat the recovery period as a vacation, and not worry about work or other trivial matters for now.
Jiang Shaoqi readily agreed, eating his meal very slowly. As he ate, he thought to himself that Beijing's medical facilities were better than those in the provincial capital. Staying in Beijing to recuperate while also caring for his nephew's studies would fulfill his unclely duties and accumulate experience for eventually becoming a qualified father—not a bad thing at all. When his nephew grew up, he could even pass on this valuable experience to him.
Thinking this, Jiang Shaoqi's mood lifted slightly.
The next morning, Jiang Shaoqi offered to take Jiang Yubai to school.
In his current condition, Jiang Shaoqi couldn't drive. He and Jiang Yubai sat together in the back seat of the car. After the driver started the engine, Jiang Shaoqi asked about Jiang Yubai's school life and his social circle.
Jiang Yubai revealed that his social situation was similar to when he studied in Singapore.
Jiang Shaoqi understood and remarked, "A gentleman's friendship is as light as water." He then asked, "Xiao Jiang, are you still in touch with your middle school classmates? That exceptionally intelligent Lin Zhixia—has she called you during this time?"
Jiang Yubai answered honestly, "Yesterday evening, I had a QQ video call with her."
Jiang Shaoqi was somewhat surprised. "You two are that close?"
Jiang Yubai didn't respond. The car sped along the wide road as Jiang Yubai silently gazed out the window. The towering skyscrapers reminded him of the buildings near Provincial No. 1 Middle School. He drifted off for a while until Jiang Shaoqi called out, "Xiao Jiang, we're here. Oh, your school gate is quite impressive. Are any of your classmates at the entrance?"
Jiang Yubai glanced around and confirmed, "There's a Thai classmate."
"Is she from your class?" Jiang Shaoqi asked.
"Yes," Jiang Yubai replied indifferently.
Like a caring father, Jiang Shaoqi gently encouraged, "Alright, Xiao Jiang, get out and greet your Thai classmate. Show your poise and demeanor in front of our foreign friend."
Jiang Yubai opened the car door and headed straight for the school gate.
His Thai classmate was a fifteen-year-old girl with delicate, pretty features, a slim and well-proportioned figure, a thick ponytail, and a bow tied in her hair.
Upon seeing Jiang Yubai, the Thai classmate first said, "Good."
Then, she slowly enunciated in non-standard Chinese, "Jiang... Yu... Bai."
Jiang Yubai felt somewhat awkward.
He ought to respond politely. The problem was, he had forgotten this Thai girl's real name. Thai names were very hard to remember, and he didn't have Lin Zhixia's memory, so he could only mumble vaguely to get by.
Watching his nephew chatting with the Thai girl and noticing the thoughtful expression on his nephew's face, Jiang Shaoqi couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Distance is the biggest obstacle."
The driver in the front seat didn't catch what he said and glanced back, sensing the somber atmosphere. "What did you say?"
"Nothing," Jiang Shaoqi said quietly. "Let's go. We'll head to the hospital first and come back to pick up Xiao Jiang at noon."Jiang Shaoqi believed that with Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia separated by thousands of miles, their connection would gradually fade away.
Reflecting on his over twenty years of life, Jiang Shaoqi had experienced countless farewells. In most cases, he never knew which day's parting with certain people would be their last in this lifetime.
Throughout September 2008, Jiang Shaoqi stayed at his Beijing home. He shared a villa with Jiang Yubai. On the few occasions Jiang Shaoqi passed by the study, he would always hear Jiang Yubai chatting with someone - talking freely about everything under the sun without restraint... It was then that Jiang Shaoqi discovered Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia would have daily QQ video calls between 6:00 and 6:10 PM. Then, starting from 7:00 PM, the two would initiate another QQ video session, maintaining silence while studying together under each other's supervision.
By late September, Jiang Yubai proposed returning to their provincial capital. His grandfather, thinking he was homesick, immediately approved. Only Jiang Shaoqi suspected that Jiang Yubai's late-night flight back to the provincial capital wasn't solely due to homesickness.
At 8:00 PM on September 30th, the plane landed at the provincial capital's airport. Jiang Yubai's mother personally came to pick him up. During the drive home, she asked Jiang Yubai many questions - whether he had adjusted to life in Beijing, if he got along well with his classmates.
Jiang Yubai's international high school followed a "small-class teaching" model. His class had only eleven students, six of whom weren't Chinese - these students came from wealthy families in Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and other countries. Frankly speaking, the vast majority of classmates Jiang Yubai encountered in high school were quite friendly. He got along well with them. However, his best friend remained Lin Zhixia.
He and Lin Zhixia had agreed to meet at the Provincial Library on October 2nd.
On the morning of October 2nd, at 4:10 AM, Lin Zhixia suddenly woke up.
The room was dimly lit - dawn hadn't broken yet.
Her Little Penguin stuffed animal was clutched in her arms, the walls were pale pink, and she was covered by a soft cotton quilt. Immersed in this warm and secure environment, she was about to close her eyes and sleep a bit longer when a sudden, sharp abdominal pain struck so intensely she couldn't even cry out.
Lin Zhixia was utterly panicked.
As soon as she caught her breath, she opened her door and called out: "Mom, Mom, my stomach hurts so much..."
Dad, Mom, and Brother all woke from their sleep.
Mom threw on her coat and rushed barefoot to Lin Zhixia's bedroom door. Lin Zhixia was curled up on the bed, wrapped tightly in her blanket. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her whole body felt chilled, and a heavy sinking sensation in her abdomen temporarily robbed her of the ability to think clearly. She could only hold her breath, barely alleviating the pain.
What was happening?
Maybe appendicitis.
Just last night, Lin Zhixia had eaten a full bowl of rice. Would she need to go to the hospital today to have her appendix removed?
Fear formed like a dark cloud hanging over Lin Zhixia's head. She felt deeply anxious about her fate, both startled and frightened. But after feeling her forehead, Mom had Dad and Brother leave her room.
Lin Zeqiu's face had turned pale with fright: "Let's just call 120! She's in so much pain - could it be acute leukemia?"
Dad stumbled, nearly falling as he turned his ankle. He hurried toward the living room: "Let's quickly take a taxi to Provincial People's Hospital. Provincial People's Hospital is the best hospital. The 120 emergency service might not necessarily take Xia Xia to Provincial People's Hospital..."Lin Zeqiu had just gotten out of bed and hadn't fully dressed yet. He hurriedly found his jacket and trousers, stammering, "Dad, you... you bring money and your phone. I'll go out to hail a taxi."
While Lin Zeqiu was speaking with Dad, Mom closed Lin Zhixia's door tightly. Mom sat by Lin Zhixia's bedside and softly called her by her pet name: "Xia Xia, are you still feeling unwell?"
Lin Zhixia mumbled in response: "Mom..."
Mom said, "Can you stand up, Xia Xia? Let me help you to the bathroom and check your pants. You're thirteen now, it's about time. My friend's daughter got hers at twelve."
Lin Zhixia understood that when Mom said "got hers," she was referring to a girl's first period.
Prompted by her mother, Lin Zhixia belatedly realized that her stomach wasn't the most uncomfortable part. She sat up in bed and shifted forward slightly, her eyes instantly welling up with tears: "I... I stained the bedsheet."
Mom comforted her gently, "It's alright, Xia Xia. I'll change it for you right away."
At that moment, Lin Zeqiu burst in without knocking and said, "Mom, keep an eye on Lin Zhixia. I'm going to hail a taxi on the street."
Lin Zhixia immediately covered herself with the blanket. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she leaned forward due to abdominal pain, the blanket draped over her head, trapping her in a stuffy environment. Mom said to her brother, "Alright, Qiu Qiu, stop making a fuss. You and your dad go back to sleep. Xia Xia is fine."
Lin Zeqiu's breath hitched.
Wearing a pair of sandals, with only a loose tank top and boxers on, he stood in the chilly living room, disregarding his disheveled appearance, and insisted, "Lin Zhixia is seriously ill. We need to go to the hospital today. She's always been well-behaved and never lied since she was little. If she weren't in excruciating pain, she wouldn't have woken us all up at four in the morning. Mom, Dad, don't waste any more time. I'm going to hail a taxi..."
Mom hurriedly blocked his path to the door: "Lin Zeqiu, stop causing trouble. Go back to your room. I've told you, your sister is fine. I can tell."
Lin Zeqiu believed that Lin Zhixia's condition was critical and required immediate hospital attention. He nearly argued with his mother.
After whispering a few words to Dad, Mom seemed to ease his worries. Dad then turned to reason with his son, though he felt too embarrassed to explain explicitly.
Dad was certain that Provincial No. 1 High School had implemented sex education and must have covered this topic. During a previous parent-teacher meeting at the school, the homeroom teacher had discussed "Physiological Health Education" and advised parents to pay attention to their children's psychological states.
Dad pulled his son onto the sofa and tactfully told him, "Your sister... has grown up."
Those seven words were enough.
Dad couldn't bring himself to say more.
Lin Zeqiu still didn't grasp his father's meaning. If he were Lin Zhixia's sister, he might have understood immediately, but as her brother, he had no personal experience with such matters. He racked his brains but remained confused, his thoughts tangled like a pot of porridge.
What necessary connection was there between Lin Zhixia growing up and her pitiful state?
Anxiously, Lin Zeqiu stood up and paced back and forth in their living room.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhixia had just been taken to the bathroom by Mom.
Mom pulled out a pack of sanitary pads, opened one in front of Lin Zhixia, and gently placed it in her hand.
This was Lin Zhixia's first time touching an unfolded sanitary pad. Yet, all she could think about was the stained bedsheet from earlier. She vowed never to stain the bedsheet again... She would be extra careful from now on.Mom walked out of the bathroom, quickly changed Lin Zhixia's bedsheets, and helped her back to bed. Lin Zhixia tightly wrapped herself in the blanket and asked with teary eyes, "Mom, when you had your first period... did your stomach hurt badly too?"
Mom honestly told her daughter, "Some people experience severe pain, while others don't. You're my daughter, just like me when I was young—it's been hard on you."
Lin Zhixia turned her face sideways with a pitiful expression, pressing her cheek against a clean pillowcase. She whispered, "Will I feel this terrible every month?"
"No," Mom stroked her forehead, her hand coming away damp with sweat, "You'll feel better after today. Don't be afraid, Xia Xia. Mom will go get you a hot water bottle and make some brown sugar ginger tea."
But Lin Zhixia said, "Don't go, Mom..." She grabbed her mother's wrist, instantly reverting to her childhood self. Back then, she was afraid of the dark, ghosts, and being abducted by aliens—every night required her mother's comforting to fall asleep. This situation had significantly improved after Lin Zhixia turned six.
Now at thirteen years old, when her body felt unwell, the first person she thought of was still her mother.
Mom called for Dad.
Dad took on the responsibility of caring for his daughter. He boiled water in the kitchen and instructed Lin Zeqiu to find the hot water bottle.
Lin Zeqiu finally understood the source of Lin Zhixia's condition. There was a girl in his class who would bring a hot water bottle to school for two or three days every month. The boys privately called it "that time of the month."" Lin Zeqiu had overheard his classmates' discussions and learned that some girls needed hot water bottles and heating pads to relieve discomfort during their periods.
Lin Zeqiu dashed to the storage cabinet, found a large-capacity hot water bottle, washed it clean in the bathroom, and handed it to Dad.
Dad filled the bag with boiling water, wrapped it in a clean towel, then used yarn from a wool ball to secure the towel in place, preventing it from coming loose and burning Lin Zhixia.
Without delay, Dad delivered the hot water bottle to Lin Zhixia's hands.
Clutching the hot water bottle, Lin Zhixia fell into a drowsy sleep.
She slept until eight in the morning when her alarm clock woke her.
Lin Zhixia hated the sound of alarm clocks. She never set alarms unless something important was happening. After thinking for a moment, she remembered she was supposed to meet Jiang Yubai today.
She was supposed to meet Jiang Yubai today!
Lin Zhixia nearly jumped out of bed.
But she felt completely drained. Forget going to the provincial library—she couldn't even make it out her own front door. She could only pick up the receiver from her bedside table and painstakingly dial a string of numbers. Even in her current state, she could recite all of Jiang Yubai's phone numbers from memory.
At that very moment, Jiang Yubai was packing his schoolbag.
Jiang Yubai had brought back some local specialties from Beijing. He wanted to give them to Lin Zhixia as gifts. Just as he zipped up his backpack, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed Lin Zhixia's home number, and he immediately answered: "Good morning, Lin Zhixia."
In this phone call, Lin Zhixia spoke in a faint, weak voice: "Jiang Yubai..."
Having known Lin Zhixia for four years, Jiang Yubai had never heard her speak in such a tone before. He recalled how even when she had developed a high fever in the classroom after receiving her Hepatitis B vaccine, her voice had carried more strength than it did now.Jiang Yubai pressed further, "What's wrong with you?"
His bedroom was on the third floor, with windows overlooking the garden where birds chirped clearly and tree shadows swayed, weaving together into a vibrant autumn scene. Yet Jiang Yubai had no heart to appreciate the view—his mood had plummeted to rock bottom.
Lin Zhixia had neither answered his question nor hung up the phone, making him grow increasingly worried. He asked repeatedly, "Why aren't you speaking? Are you safe right now?"
How could Lin Zhixia bring herself to say it?
Just last month during their QQ video call, she had firmly declared that she could tell Jiang Yubai anything... Yet now, she found herself facing an unspeakable predicament.
Once again, Lin Zhixia buried her head under the blanket and mumbled indistinctly, "I'm sick, but I'll be better in a few days. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
"What kind of sickness?" Jiang Yubai asked. "Last night at six during our QQ video call..."
Lin Zhixia explained, "I was in a healthy state then. Now, I'm in a weakened state."
Jiang Yubai sat down on a chair. "Weakened state... Did you catch a sudden illness?"
All sorts of chaotic associations flooded Jiang Yubai's mind.
The furniture in his bedroom seemed to vanish, his vision and soul turning hollow—this ethereal state of consciousness lasted about two or three seconds before Lin Zhixia told him, "It's just a minor illness, like a cold, similar to when I had a fever after getting the Hepatitis B vaccine in fourth grade... I'm really fine, just too weak to speak properly and my voice doesn't sound good. I can't meet you at the provincial library today. Wait for me a few days, and when I recover, I'll come find you."
Jiang Yubai immediately agreed.
Lin Zhixia bid him goodbye and hung up.
Having resolved her worries, she felt completely unburdened. Closing her eyes, she continued sleeping, sinking into deep slumber.
She slept from morning until dusk, and neither Mom nor Dad came to wake her.
Around five in the evening, Lin Zhixia woke up from hunger.
Sitting on the bed, she called out three times in a row: "Mom, Mom, Mom..."
Mom opened her bedroom door and brought in a bowl of warm brown sugar ginger soup.
Although Lin Zhixia didn't know what this was supposed to do, she was so hungry she'd eat anything.
Thus, she drank the brown sugar ginger soup.
Mom added, "Your brother made this soup."
"Brother made it?" Lin Zhixia was utterly astonished.
After all, Lin Zeqiu's most hated food in life was ginger. When he was six or seven, if he discovered any dish contained ginger, he'd jump up and shout hysterically. He absolutely detested the taste of ginger.
Unexpectedly, at sixteen years old, Lin Zeqiu had broken through his limits, enduring the smell of ginger to stand in the kitchen and dutifully prepare soup.
Lin Zhixia was instantly moved.
Cherishing their sibling bond, she exclaimed emotionally, "Mom, please thank Brother for me."
Mom helped her change clothes and asked, "Is Xia Xia going to eat? I saved a bowl of rice and a plate of dishes for you."
Just as Lin Zhixia prepared to get up, Mom made her stay in bed.
After a while, Mom brought a small bed tray, set it up on Lin Zhixia's bed, and arranged the rice, dishes, and utensils on it.
Clutching her hot water bottle tightly, Lin Zhixia refused to let go, so Mom simply took a spoon and fed her. By this time, Lin Zhixia felt much better, with only a slight, negligible pain remaining.Even so, she remained in bed for three days.
On the fourth day, Lin Zhixia resumed her usual routine.
She called Jiang Yubai and arranged to meet him at 1 p.m. on October 7th. That day happened to be the club preparation day for the high school division of Provincial No. 1 Middle School. If Jiang Yubai was willing to go to the school with her, he could meet many of his former junior high classmates.
Jiang Yubai agreed without hesitation: "Sure."
October 7th was a clear, beautiful day.
At 1 p.m., white clouds drifted across the vast blue sky. A bright flag fluttered in front of the teaching building, and the entire high school division was bustling with activity. Ground-mounted broadcast speakers continuously played the school song.
Though Jiang Yubai had sung the school song countless times, he was stopped at the gate of Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
The security guard asked if he was a student of Provincial No. 1 Middle School, whether he had a student ID card, and requested to see it.
Jiang Yubai explained that he was a graduate of the junior high division of Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
"A graduate?" The security guard shook his head.
The guard didn't let him in until Lin Zhixia ran to the school gate.
Lin Zhixia asked the guard to contact a teacher via the internal phone line. She thought of their junior high Olympiad coach, Teacher Zhai.
During every National Day holiday, winter break, and summer vacation, Teacher Zhai never rested. He would always organize intensive training sessions for the junior high Olympiad class at school. Moreover, Teacher Zhai knew Jiang Yubai. Jiang Yubai was a student he highly valued, and he was well-acquainted with Jiang Yubai's character, so he would certainly be willing to vouch for him.
Lin Zhixia's logic was meticulous. Her deduction wasn't wrong. The security guard followed her request and called Teacher Zhai's office.
Soon, Teacher Zhai responded, confirming that Jiang Yubai was a student from their Olympiad class and agreeing to let Jiang Yubai enter the campus again.
Only then did the security guard allow him through.
Just like usual, Lin Zhixia gently held onto Jiang Yubai's backpack strap. She pulled him into the high school division of Provincial No. 1 Middle School, introducing him to the development and origins of various clubs. She asked him, "Jiang Yubai, what are the clubs like at your high school?"
Under the bright daylight, Jiang Yubai carefully examined her face. He observed her expression, complexion, and demeanor. He gazed into her eyes for a long time, wanting to confirm whether she had fully recovered.
Lin Zhixia's cheeks flushed slightly, like the pale pink dawn of a summer morning or the light vermilion cherry blossoms blooming in spring.
For the first time, she actively avoided his gaze and stammered, "I... my high school club..."
"Have you recovered?" Jiang Yubai asked directly.
"I've recovered," Lin Zhixia replied with utmost certainty.
Jiang Yubai walked side by side with her.
They moved through the dense shade of trees, their shadows overlapping in the lush green bushes. Jiang Yubai returned to their original topic: "The clubs at my high school are similar to those at Provincial No. 1 Middle School."
"What club do you want to join?" Lin Zhixia asked him.
Jiang Yubai answered almost without hesitation: "The Classical Literature Club."
After starting tenth grade, Lin Zhixia had become the president of Provincial No. 1 Middle School's "Classical Literature Club." She couldn't help but wonder to herself: Was Jiang Yubai genuinely interested in joining the Classical Literature Club, or was he giving that answer specifically because she was the president?
The Classical Literature Club had its own dedicated activity classroom.The classroom was located on the second floor of the comprehensive building, a room with limited floor space. Inside, eight desks and chairs were arranged neatly, along with a blackboard and a bookcase filled with collections of Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan dramas, and Ming-Qing literature.
Luo Ying, the former club president, had managed the Classical Literature Club with remarkable order during her three years at the school. Before leaving for Peking University in July, she personally handed over the club to Lin Zhixia and even pinned the president's badge onto her.
Now, like a fully empowered president, Lin Zhixia patiently guided Jiang Yubai through her domain and book collection.
OpenNovel