At around 9:00 PM Eastern Time on March 17, 2009, Jiang Yubai arrived at his residence in Manhattan, New York City.
A few years earlier, his Dad had purchased a 570-square-meter luxury flat in the heart of Manhattan. After the competition ended, Jiang Yubai moved into this apartment. Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows, he overlooked New York's Central Park. Night lights illuminated the dense groves of trees, while towering skyscrapers stood in orderly rows in the distance, and an endless stream of cars formed a bustling thoroughfare.
While enjoying the night view, Jiang Yubai picked up a wine glass filled with freshly squeezed orange juice. He slowly sipped the juice as if savoring fine wine.
After finishing half the glass, he walked leisurely toward his bedroom to check his QQ messages.
He discovered that Lin Zhixia was already offline.
Today was the day of the city-wide second mock college entrance exams. Provincial First High School had given all tenth and eleventh graders a day off. Logically, Lin Zhixia should have been at home with free time to chat with Jiang Yubai, but the QQ contacts panel showed "Xia Xia" as offline.
Jiang Yubai sent Lin Zhixia a message: "I'm home."
These four brief words succinctly summarized his situation—both reserved and sufficiently proactive.
He also changed his QQ chat status to "Message Me."
Another ten seconds passed, but instead of Lin Zhixia, he received a message from Duan Qiyan: "Are you up yet?"
Jiang Yubai replied: "I'm about to go to sleep."
Duan Qiyan typed a string of question marks, then asked: "Are you in Beijing right now?"
Jiang Yubai told the truth: "In New York, USA."
Duan Qiyan's parents restricted his internet time at home, so he rarely encountered Jiang Yubai on QQ. Since Jiang Yubai's status was set to "Message Me," it suggested he felt lonely and cold in New York. Full of sympathy, Duan Qiyan asked: "No classmates around you?"
Jiang Yubai's classmates were throwing a celebration party at the hotel. They were so enthusiastic they planned to stay up all night. Jiang Yubai had excused himself by claiming other commitments.
Jiang Yubai insisted on going to bed before 10:00 PM every night—early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and tall.
He told Duan Qiyan: "It's getting late, I'm going to sleep first."
Duan Qiyan responded: "Alright, bye."
Just at that moment, Lin Zhixia suddenly appeared.
Lin Zhixia's profile picture was a Strawberry. Her avatar changed from the gray "offline" status to the madder-red "online" status. Like a hunter wandering through the forest who accidentally discovers prey waiting to be captured, she immediately pounced and called out: "Jiang Yubai!!!!"
She typed four exclamation marks on her keyboard, each one representing her intense emotion.
Jiang Yubai steadied his keyboard and quickly typed: "I just came online."
Lin Zhixia said excitedly: "The weather was beautiful today! Mom was sun-drying radishes on the balcony, and Brother and I both went to help."
So, Lin Zhixia had been sun-drying radishes earlier.
Jiang Yubai had never sun-dried radishes before. His fingers hovered over the keyboard as Lin Zhixia sent him a video call request. Without hesitation, he accepted. Both of them appeared on each other's computer screens.
Jiang Yubai humbly asked: "How do you sun-dry radishes?"Lin Zhixia answered in detail: "This morning, my mom bought four pounds of white radishes from the vegetable market. We peeled and chopped the radishes, laid them out on a mesh screen on the balcony, and after the moisture evaporated, we got delicious dried radishes."
She then asked: "Do you like dried radishes?"
Jiang Yubai said quietly: "I've never tried them."
Lin Zhixia tilted her head: "If you can visit my home someday, I'll treat you to some."
Jiang Yubai asked uncertainly: "I can visit your home?"
"Of course," Lin Zhixia said with conviction, "You've treated me to several meals. It's only reasonable for you to visit my home."
Jiang Yubai held his glass: "Will your brother agree?"
Lin Zhixia immediately fell silent.
Jiang Yubai conceded: "Never mind, it's okay. There will be opportunities in the future."
His magnanimous and tactful demeanor sparked Lin Zhixia's competitive spirit. She made an agreement with him to invite him to her home for a meal in July. Then, Lin Zhixia ran to the living room and resolutely announced: "Mom, I've invited my good friend to visit during summer vacation."
Her brother's hands, which were sun-drying radishes, froze.
Mom turned to look at Lin Zhixia: "Your good friend?"
Lin Zhixia said frankly: "A good friend I've known for five years."
Mom immediately agreed: "Of course, they're welcome to come. I'll make lunch for you all."
Her brother seemed to want to say something but stopped himself. Covered in dust, he hugged a white radish and marched straight toward Lin Zhixia's room. Lin Zhixia quickly closed the door and locked it.
He knocked on the door from outside: "Lin Zhixia."
Lin Zhixia put on her headphones and sent a message through QQ: "It's settled. See you during summer vacation."
Jiang Yubai replied instantly: "See you during summer vacation."
"It's 10 PM New York time. You should go to sleep soon," Lin Zhixia urged, "You're still growing. Don't stay up late."
Jiang Yubai complied: "Good night."
Lin Zhixia typed a bracket and noted inside: "My second paper needs minor revision. The reviewers and editor think I should make small changes to the article. It's not a big problem. It should be published around this summer vacation."
Jiang Yubai shook the chat window and said: "I congratulate you in advance on publishing your second paper."
Lin Zhixia replied with a smiling emoji.
Life was so wonderful.
Jiang Yubai won second place in the North American high school student competition, Lin Zhixia's second paper was confirmed to be published, and Peking University's admission notice and training program were delivered to Lin Zhixia.
In the classroom of Class 27, Grade 10, Lin Zhixia opened her admission notice in front of many classmates, reading it word by word.
Her deskmate Tang Tingting exclaimed: "You're amazing, you're truly amazing."
Lin Zhixia waved her hand and said modestly: "No, I'm not amazing. I just got a little lucky."
Lin Zhixia thought to herself: Yes, it's all thanks to luck. Luck made me born different from everyone else.
A circle of classmates gathered around the seats, everyone wanting to share in Lin Zhixia's good fortune.
Duan Qiyan squeezed through the crowd, stretched out his arm, and finally managed to touch the Peking University admission notice. He immediately turned around, walked up to Jin Baihui, and said to her: "Lin Zhixia received the official admission notice."
Jin Baihui's pen tip paused.It was March, and the weather was still cold. Jin Baihui sat by the window, close to a dreary, rain-soaked view. Her hair was tightly tied back with a hairband, faintly revealing patches of white scalp. She raised a hand to smooth her hair and slowly said, "What does Lin Zhixia's admission notice have to do with me?"
Duan Qiyan shrugged and said nothing more.
Jin Baihui pressed him relentlessly, "What does Lin Zhixia's academic performance have to do with you?"
The wind rustled bleakly, and a sudden gust scattered the raindrops. The window was slightly ajar, and droplets splashed onto Jin Baihui's desk, dampening her notebook—the thickest notebook Duan Qiyan had ever seen in his life.
Jin Baihui's notes were exceptionally well-kept, the best in the entire class.
She had separate notebooks for excerpts and mistake corrections for each of the six main subjects. She employed the famous "Cornell Note-Taking System," dividing each page into two sections: notes on the right and reflections on the left. She strictly followed the "Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve," scheduling regular reviews and summarizing her studies to create a "self-testing sequence."
In Class 27 of Grade 10, no one studied harder than Jin Baihui.
Duan Qiyan lowered his head to look at her handwriting, unsure why he felt moved.
He was merely wondering, what kind of persistence was this? Day after day, year after year, even though Lin Zhixia sat firmly like a mountain atop the "top student" throne... Jin Baihui had never slacked off for a single day, never shown a hint of compromise.
Duan Qiyan sighed.
He helped Jin Baihui close the window tightly and prepared to leave this troublesome situation, but Jin Baihui called out to him again, "You're just average in ability—how dare you criticize me? You've never ranked in the top three in Class 27. Lin Zhixia's results have nothing to do with you, yet you flaunt her in front of me. I remember you only scored eighty in math on the last monthly exam. You've been studying math competitions for six and a half years, from elementary to high school, and you ended up with an eighty on the monthly exam..."
Jin Baihui scoffed, "You're so weak."
The nearby chatter gradually faded away.
The rain continued to fall, the sky was gray, and droplets pattered against the windowpane—the only noise between heaven and earth.
Duan Qiyan swallowed hard. The class sports committee member, Cao Wu, quickly tried to console him, "Brother Duan, Little Kim didn't mean it like that. Don't take it to heart."
Not a trace of a smile remained on Duan Qiyan's face. His back hunched, head drooping, his gaze drifted toward the corner of the room.
It should have ended there. Jin Baihui fell silent, but Duan Qiyan suddenly blurted out, "What are you so proud of? Studying 24 hours a day is still useless. Last year's High School Math League, you messed up and didn't make the provincial team. A boy from Class 26 next door made it, and more seniors from Grade 11 joined too. There's always someone better—you're no more special than anyone else, Jin Baihui. Stop looking down on people."
Jin Baihui stood up from her seat.
Cao Wu intervened again, "Sister Jin, Little Duan speaks without thinking. Don't take it seriously."
Jin Baihui roughly pulled Cao Wu's hand away.
Jin Baihui's deskmate couldn't stand it any longer and also tried to mediate, "Stop arguing with Duan Qiyan. Class is about to start."
"Step aside," Jin Baihui snapped at her deskmate.Jin Baihui's deskmate was a boy with a naturally shy and introverted disposition. This male classmate was sixteen years old. Throughout his sixteen years of life, he had never quarreled with anyone and rarely refused others' requests. At the beginning of his first year of high school, he accidentally became Jin Baihui's deskmate. Later, when he had the opportunity to change seats, Jin Baihui demanded that he stay put, and he kindly agreed.
On ordinary days, he and Jin Baihui did not interfere with each other.
Today, Jin Baihui yelled at him for the first time.
He stood up and stepped aside.
Jin Baihui pointed at Duan Qiyan and asked him: "You mentioned the math competition, fine, I'll do the math for you. You won a first prize in a league competition once in junior high, and that was it, nothing more. Last year's high school math league, you only managed a provincial second prize—the worst result I've ever heard of. Did you do the test without using your brain, or did you simply not put in any effort? Spending all your time hanging out with Tang Tingting and Shen Fuxuan, their grades keep improving while yours keep slipping. When you first entered junior high, you were third in the class, but now in Class 27 of high school, you can't even make the top five. If I were you, I'd choose to drop out. You don't deserve to participate in competitions."
This time, even Cao Wu had nothing to say.
All the students in Class 27 of the first year regarded competitions as the supreme goal.
Telling a student from Class 27 "you don't deserve to participate in competitions" was like telling a well-trained soldier "you don't deserve to charge forward, you don't deserve to go to the battlefield."
Every word Jin Baihui spoke made the situation more severe.
Duan Qiyan stood straight with his back erect. He lifted his chin and looked at Jin Baihui with an unprecedented gaze. In a steady tone, he said: "Jin Baihui, you were originally a student from the previous year. You dropped out of Beijing's Elite Class and transferred to Class 18 of the first year at Provincial No. 1 Middle School. You have plenty of experience with dropping out—I can't compare to you, I've never dropped out. You're the champion of the dropout competition. I'm not qualified to compete in the dropout championship."
Jin Baihui's face turned from pale to red.
Her chest rose and fell slightly, her anger unable to subside.
The experience of dropping out from Beijing was a thorn in Jin Baihui's heart that could not be removed. No one knew what she had encountered in Beijing. She was unwilling to spend time making friends, so naturally, she had no friends who could learn about her inner thoughts.
Jin Baihui's academic performance was better than Duan Qiyan's, and this was her lifeline. Jin Baihui repeatedly emphasized this point, which also fueled Duan Qiyan's growing anger.
They were blocking the aisle between the third and fourth large groups.
The entire class was watching them.
Many classmates held slight grievances against Jin Baihui.
The vast majority of students in Class 27 of the first year were top students. The competition among top students was fierce, yet everyone maintained a peaceful coexistence. Normally, classmates would exchange notebooks and share problem-solving experiences, but Jin Baihui never participated in such activities. No one could borrow her notebooks; she would always refuse outright without concealment, stating: I won't lend it to you, to prevent you from losing my notebook.
Duan Qiyan, on the contrary, was a very helpful person. No matter who asked him for help with problems, he would offer guidance.
As soon as Duan Qiyan and Jin Baihui exchanged a few arguments, a passing classmate nearby asked: Did Jin Baihui provoke Duan Qiyan?
Jin Baihui was displeased: "It was Duan Qiyan! The one who starts trouble is the cheap one!"Duan Qiyan chuckled coldly: "During the winter break training camp in middle school, you wrongly accused me first. Several years have passed, and you still haven't apologized to me."
Faced with Duan Qiyan's sarcasm, Jin Baihui could no longer contain herself. She raised her hand, about to punch Duan Qiyan's shoulder, when suddenly someone grabbed her wrist.
She turned her head and saw Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia said softly, "Calm down a bit."
Jin Baihui forcefully pulled her hand back: "Mind your own business."
"I'm the class monitor," Lin Zhixia stood in front of her, "Of course I have to intervene."
Duan Qiyan called out to Lin Zhixia: "Don't bother, Monitor Lin. Jin Baihui isn't normal."
Unexpectedly, Lin Zhixia replied: "Actually, I'm not normal either."
Duan Qiyan never expected Lin Zhixia to say such a thing.
How could Lin Zhixia not be normal?
She was the most normal of all. She never showed off her grades in front of classmates.
Duan Qiyan took a step back, frowning slightly: "Are you taking Jin Baihui's side?"
Duan Qiyan pressed his lips together. He gripped his jacket zipper, his knuckles turning white. He sighed: "I thought we had a good relationship."
"Talking about relationships is useless," Shen Fuxuan suddenly interjected.
The entire class was immersed in an unprecedented awkward atmosphere. The insults Jin Baihui had hurled at Duan Qiyan could apply to any student in the class except the top five.
Standing beside Jin Baihui and facing the numerous classmates, Lin Zhixia said sincerely: "My views are completely different from Jin Baihui's. I'd like everyone to listen to what I have to say..."
"Listen to what?" Duan Qiyan interrupted, "You're graduating from high school this semester. There's no need for you to get involved in our affairs. Alright, let's all return to our seats."
Duan Qiyan sounded somewhat resentful.
Shen Fuxuan was sitting on the side of the third large group. He stretched out one leg, just blocking Duan Qiyan's path.
Duan Qiyan questioned him: "What are you doing?"
Shen Fuxuan tilted his head: "Making you listen to the class monitor."
Duan Qiyan retorted: "What if I don't want to listen?"
Shen Fuxuan smiled: "Oh, you're less mature than Jin Baihui."
In other words, Shen Fuxuan meant—you're more immature than Jin Baihui.
Duan Qiyan held his breath. He completely couldn't accept Shen Fuxuan's accusation. But having just argued with Jin Baihui, he couldn't start another dispute with Shen Fuxuan—that would make him look like a hot-tempered fool.
He shut his mouth, stopped walking, and remained where he was.
Lin Zhixia began speaking: "I know everyone is concerned about academic performance. When you perform poorly on exams, you feel very upset. Many factors determine the final score on a test—no one can be perfect forever. Every student in Class 27, Grade 10 has gone through rigorous selection processes. The school believes all of you can participate in competitions..."
Jin Baihui returned to her seat. Without saying a word, she buried her head in solving problems.
Lin Zhixia greatly admired Jin Baihui.
Lin Zhixia continued expounding: "I support the parallel universes theory. It's said that after the Big Bang, countless parallel universes were created, just like when you blow air through a straw into a bowl of water—countless bubbles emerge from the bottom. Parallel universes influence each other. The more positive your attitude, the more all versions of you across parallel universes might progress in positive directions, becoming better and better. Parallel universes don't evolve independently. Everyone is unique. Your thoughts and soul are more meaningful than exam scores."Jin Baihui interjected, "You can't say that exams don't matter just because you performed poorly."
"Exams are indeed important," Lin Zhixia agreed. "Exams are a life experience. This kind of experience has no inherent good or bad—it's simply a component of life."
She raised her head and looked at everyone: "We're all young, and the future is full of hope. Youth means time, and time means infinite possibilities."
The surroundings fell into silence.
Lin Zhixia encouraged everyone enthusiastically: "Let's do our best! I'll work hard alongside all of you!"
Outside the window, the rain grew heavier, soaking the entire campus and washing the flowers, plants, and trees clean. Cao Wu scratched his head and said quietly, "Brother Duan, let's go back to our seats. Be more optimistic, don't get angry—it might affect parallel universes. If Duan Qiyan in a parallel universe is living well, you'll gradually feel better in our world too."
Duan Qiyan turned to look out the window: "I'm not angry at all. There's no reason for me to be angry with Jin Baihui."
Lin Zhixia added, "Don't cause trouble for her in the future."
Duan Qiyan said indignantly, "I haven't been causing trouble for her."
"She won't initiate conversation with you," Lin Zhixia analyzed logically. "Next period is math class. During this break, she'll probably be working on some math problems."
As soon as Lin Zhixia finished speaking, the class bell rang.
Students scattered in all directions, quickly running back to their seats.
Teacher Deng, their homeroom teacher, walked cheerfully into Class 27 of Grade 10 carrying a stack of test papers. Standing on the podium and looking at his group of prized students, he had no idea that during the previous ten-minute break, two of his most admired students had publicly fallen out.
"This period, we'll have a pop quiz," Teacher Deng announced.
Usually, whenever Teacher Deng mentioned "pop quiz," there would be some voices of protest in the class. But today, everyone silently accepted their fate.
Teacher Deng was somewhat puzzled. While distributing the test papers, he asked, "Has our class... suddenly developed a liking for exams?"
Duan Qiyan, sitting in the front row, replied, "Teacher Deng, we all want to live more positively."
Teacher Deng smiled warmly and said with satisfaction, "Good, that's wonderful. You should think more, learn more, practice more, and do more."
Lin Zhixia thought the conflict between Jin Baihui and Duan Qiyan had come to an end.
But she hadn't anticipated that her words had also affected Jin Baihui.
When school ended in the evening, Jin Baihui followed behind Lin Zhixia, walking from the Grade 10 teaching building all the way to the gate of Provincial No. 1 High School.
Lin Zhixia stopped just outside the school gate, and Jin Baihui brushed past her.
Lin Zhixia asked her, "Why are you following me?"
Jin Baihui halted: "There's only one way out of the school."
Tang Tingting, holding Lin Zhixia's left hand, whispered, "I'm so conflicted... I want to become more positive to influence parallel universes. But I still can't bring myself to talk to Jin Baihui. I get scared when I see her—the way she scolded Duan Qiyan reminds me of how my Dad scolds me. She has such a parental attitude, is she really our peer?"
Lin Zhixia comforted her: "Don't be afraid, she's not your Dad."
Jin Baihui pivoted on her heels to face Lin Zhixia. She said, "I didn't make it into the provincial team."
Lin Zhixia nodded: "You're only in Grade 10 this year, you still have many opportunities."
Jin Baihui continued: "I didn't make the provincial team in either physics or math. I have no chances left."Her words were devoid of emotion, merely stating a fact.
She pushed her glasses up. Her prescription had worsened again, the lenses grew thicker, yet her vision remained clear.
Lin Zhixia couldn't fathom her thoughts and casually remarked, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I think you're too tired. I suggest you go home, have Mom prepare a table of your favorite dishes, eat your fill, take a hot bath, and go to bed early. Tomorrow morning, we can talk about the provincial team."
After saying this, Lin Zhixia stepped around Jin Baihui.
Lin Zhixia and Tang Tingting were still walking arm in arm.
Tang Tingting asked about Lin Zhixia's favorite dishes, and Lin Zhixia named two or three. Tang Tingting and Lin Zhixia chatted and laughed merrily, while Jin Baihui's hand holding the umbrella tilted slightly, failing to block the falling raindrops.
Dusk gathered, and the rain continued unabated.
Under the streetlights, the rain fell densely, as if woven from countless threads.
Jin Baihui passed through the curtain of rain and once again stood before Lin Zhixia.
She only wanted to say one thing.
She told Lin Zhixia, "My mom would never make a table of my favorite dishes. If I don't do well on exams, Mom won't even let me through the door. Have you ever stood in the yard on a winter night?"
As she wished, Lin Zhixia's expression turned surprised and puzzled.
Jin Baihui raised her umbrella higher, like a resilient victor, and coldly passed by numerous classmates. She didn't greet anyone. She didn't need friendship, and certainly not pity.
Lin Zhixia called out to her, "Jin Baihui, Jin Baihui!"
Jin Baihui quickened her pace.
Suddenly, she wanted to shake off Lin Zhixia. She needed to hurry to the bus stop.
Lin Zhixia left Tang Tingting behind and ran after Jin Baihui.
They stood on a sidewalk as other students remarked, "Wow, look, it's the first and second rank holders of the freshman class. What are they doing?"
Another student said, "Arguing, I heard from Class 27 that they don't get along."
As the top-ranked student, Lin Zhixia suddenly spoke, "Jin Baihui..."
As the second-ranked student, Jin Baihui kept her back turned, "I don't want your pity."
Lin Zhixia did indeed feel that Jin Baihui was somewhat pitiable.
If Lin Zhixia's mom even slightly scolded her, she would become very upset and wouldn't be satisfied until her mom coaxed her. If her mom made her stand in the yard as punishment on a winter night, she would probably cry and make a scene, disturbing the whole family's peace late into the night.
The rain grew heavier, filling the air with mist. Lin Zhixia held her umbrella, her fingers growing slightly cold, and she said firmly, "Jin Baihui, you will become an extraordinary person."
She added, "Abusing teenagers is illegal. You should talk to your mom about it."
"Mind your own business," Jin Baihui retorted.
Lin Zhixia turned away, saying, "Fine, I won't interfere. Keep going, endure two more years, and the road ahead will be wide open!"
Jin Baihui said inexplicably, "I still really dislike you."
Lin Zhixia thought: I don't care whether you like me or not, but outwardly she said, "Have you seen the Taiji diagram? All things in the world generate and restrict each other, depend on and coexist with one another. Within yang there is yin, within yin there is yang..."
"Are you telling fortunes?" Jin Baihui asked her.
Lin Zhixia shook her head and explained, "In this world, some people like me, others dislike me. This is the way of yin and yang, the law of conservation of energy."
Jin Baihui confessed honestly, "I dislike you because you're always the top-ranked student."Lin Zhixia laughed heartily, "There's nothing to be done about it—I'm just the top student in our grade. Everything has two sides. I can't only embrace the 'good' aspects while rejecting the 'bad' ones. What I call 'good' and 'bad' are relative concepts, traits of things as I currently perceive them. When I'm older and have broader experiences, I'll redefine what 'good' and 'bad' mean."
Raindrops slanted with the wind, splashing against Jin Baihui's face. She took off her glasses, wiped her face, and then said, "No wonder you always score high on essays."
Lin Zhixia took a step back. "I'm done talking. I'm heading home."
Tang Tingting was still waiting for her in the same spot.
Lin Zhixia approached Tang Tingting, who folded her own umbrella and ducked under the edge of Lin Zhixia's. They crossed the street and walked to the bus stop.
The rain had soaked the streets, and the wheels of passing cars splashed through puddles.
Jin Baihui muttered to herself as she walked, "While you're sleeping, I'm studying; while you're eating, I'm studying; while you're playing games, I'm still studying. I want the name 'Jin Baihui' to be printed in textbooks... But I can't do it. I didn't make it into the provincial team. You can do it—you have the ability."
She rambled on incoherently, her voice neither too loud nor too soft.
None of the nearby classmates understood what she meant.
Suddenly, Jin Baihui closed her umbrella, letting the bleak wind and cold rain beat down on her unimpeded. Gradually, all the thoughts in her mind settled, and her feelings of inferiority and arrogance simultaneously faded. She had finally adjusted her mindset, returning to her usual self.
Jin Baihui's personal experience sparked Lin Zhixia's reflections.
Lin Zhixia believed in one truth: if parents don't cherish their child's well-being or teach them how to care for themselves, the scars from childhood might take a long time to heal in adulthood.
After returning home, Lin Zhixia clung to her mom like sticky candy. "Mom..."
Lin Zeqiu, who had been taking exams all day, arrived home later than Lin Zhixia. As he changed into his slippers, he heard Lin Zhixia in the kitchen asking, "Mom, do you like me?"
Mom lifted the iron wok and transferred the braised pork into a plate. "Of course I do. Mom likes Xia Xia the most."
Lin Zhixia pressed on, "Do you miss me when I'm at school?"
Mom opened the cupboard and replied, "Aren't you only gone for half a day? You leave in the morning and come back at noon, then leave in the afternoon and return in the evening."
Lin Zeqiu couldn't take it anymore. He tapped on the kitchen door with his finger. "Mommy's cling-on, you're fourteen years old. Stop acting like a child and being so clingy all the time."
"I never act clingy with anyone else," Lin Zhixia retorted confidently. "What's it to you?"
Indeed, Lin Zeqiu had no control over her.
Defeated, he left the kitchen.
At that moment, Lin Zhixia pulled out an admission letter. "Mom, the official admission notice has arrived."
The sound of the spatula stirring in the wok ceased. Mom turned off the gas stove, set aside her tasks, and took the admission letter. She lowered her gaze, closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes tinged with red. "Xia Xia is going to college."
"Yes," Lin Zhixia confirmed.
Mom stepped to the kitchen door and nudged Lin Zeqiu. "Go get your dad."
Lin Zeqiu hesitated. "Dad's still minding the store."Mom stepped toward the door: "You two eat first, the meal is all ready. I'll take the admission letter to show your dad. He's never seen a university admission letter before—let him be happy today."
Mom brought the admission letter to the family's supermarket.
After Dad saw it, he was so overjoyed he couldn't speak. He clasped his hands together, emotions surging in his heart. With his wife's permission, he closed the shop for half an hour, walked back home, sat at the dining table, and had dinner with his wife, son, and daughter.
To him, having a happy family meal together was a rare joy in life.
Dad let out a long sigh, the gloom in his chest completely vanishing. He rolled up his sleeves and declared boldly, "Open the liquor—tonight I'll have some baijiu."
"Don't," Mom reminded him. "You can't hold your liquor well."
Dad didn't listen to Mom. He opened the cabinet and took out a treasured bottle of baijiu. He pried open the lid, poured a small bowl, and instantly the aroma of alcohol filled the air—he was already slightly tipsy.
Holding the liquor bowl, Dad returned to the dining table. He downed the baijiu in one gulp, savoring the wonderful blend of liquor and the braised pork on the table. He sniffled and said quietly, "Xia Xia, it's wonderful—our Xia Xia got into such a good school. Back when I was in school, I wouldn't even dare to dream of this university."
"Not through the exam," Lin Zhixia corrected. "It's a direct admission."
"Direct admission, direct admission..." Dad repeated twice.
Lin Zeqiu remained silent.
Mom served Lin Zhixia some food.
Dad was particularly talkative tonight. After a short while, he said again, "Which school did your uncle graduate from? I can't remember—a good one. Ah, back when I wanted to marry your mom, your uncle laughed at me. No money, no education, no brains, no skills—he called me the 'Four-Nothing Youth.' I was so angry, so furious, but there was nothing I could do about him. I really wanted to create better conditions for your mom, so you and your brother could live in a big house in the city... No need to envy your uncle's children..."
"I don't envy Ke Zhuangzhi," Lin Zhixia said directly.
Ke Zhuangzhi was the son of her uncle. He was Lin Zhixia's cousin and also Lin Zeqiu's cousin.
Lin Zeqiu chimed in, "I don't envy Ke Zhuangzhi either."
After a pause, Lin Zeqiu added, "Who would envy Ke Zhuangzhi? With the way he is—what does he have?"
Ke Zhuangzhi had once had a fierce argument with Lin Zhixia. One year during the Spring Festival in their hometown, Lin Zhixia almost got into a physical fight with him. Lin Zeqiu fully supported Lin Zhixia, so Ke Zhuangzhi was essentially facing two opponents. He might have been able to take on Lin Zhixia, but he stood no chance against Lin Zeqiu, so he didn't dare to escalate things too much.
Dad's words reminded Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu of that experience.
Mom smoothed things over, "Alright, let's eat."
Under the bright lights, Mom's eyes were slightly red. The steam from the food rose and drifted. Lin Zhixia looked at her mom and asked softly, "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Mom can't bear to part with you," Mom wiped her eyes. "You're only fourteen, and you're already going to university. Your classmates will be eighteen or nineteen—don't let anyone bully you."
Dad comforted her, "Good students at good schools won't bully others."Lin Zeqiu interjected coldly, "Impossible. Where there are people, there is competition. Where there is competition, there are winners and losers. Where there are winners and losers, there is despicable malice. Don't overly romanticize good students from good schools—this is my personal insight."
Neither Mom nor Dad responded.
Lin Zhixia tugged at her brother's sleeve. "Don't be so tense. I'm not stupid; I can take care of myself. Good students are all busy with their own affairs and don't have much free time to chat idly with me."
The rice in the bowl gradually cooled. Steamed egg custard soaked into the rice, each grain distinct, plump and glossy. Lin Zeqiu lowered his head to take a mouthful of rice, chewing silently for a long while.
Lin Zhixia continued on her own, "After I get my PhD, I want to return to the provincial capital and become a university teacher, working as a colleague of Professor Shen Zhaohua."
"Great, great!" Dad exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "Our family will have a professor! Is that right, a professor?"
Lin Zhixia replied happily, "Yes, I want to be a professor! Conduct research, lead teams, and cultivate talent."
Dad was extremely excited. "Wonderful, Xia Xia! Our ancestral graves are emitting green smoke. For over ten generations, neither your mom's nor my ancestors produced a single scholar. You're the first in our family to not only attend university but also become a professor."
Lin Zeqiu reminded them, "Becoming a professor is still far from certain."
Dad put down his wine bowl. "If your sister says she can do it, then she most likely can."
"Exactly!" Lin Zhixia agreed.
That evening, during a QQ video chat, Lin Zhixia showed her admission letter to the computer camera. Jiang Yubai praised her profusely and said to her, "See you in Beijing."
Filled with anticipation, she replied, "See you in Beijing."
University would be a new chapter in Lin Zhixia's life.
She couldn't wait to embark on this new journey.
The final exams of tenth grade would be her last major tests in high school.
On the day of the final exams, the sunlight was exceptionally brilliant, the sky a piercing blue. School buildings seemed haloed in light, and the campus scenery appeared more beautiful than usual.
Lin Zhixia was in good spirits.
However, she was assigned to the same examination room as Jin Baihui.
In early June this year, Jin Baihui had cut her hair short. No longer wearing a ponytail, her short hair looked neat and efficient. When Lin Zhixia asked why she cut her hair, she simply said: easier to manage.
Jin Baihui's seat was diagonally in front of Lin Zhixia's. During the exams, whenever Lin Zhixia looked up, she could see her. Jin's thin spine stretched the cotton fabric of her clothes, outlining the shape of her undergarments. She was too thin—her arms like two parallel straight lines with a bone sandwiched between them.
She wore a faded red top that had been washed countless times. She always preferred wearing red during exams.
Lin Zhixia pondered thoughtfully.
The tenth-grade exams lasted three days, covering nine subjects: Chinese, Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Politics, History, and Geography. Lin Zhixia conscientiously completed all test questions—except for the Chinese composition, which she left entirely blank.
On results day, for the first time in her life, Lin Zhixia ranked second in her grade, while Jin Baihui rose to first place. Their names were printed on the honor roll of the tenth-grade teaching building. All the students were buzzing with surprise, saying Lin Zhixia had regressed while Jin Baihui had improved.
"Have you really fallen behind?" Lin Zeqiu asked his sister after hearing the rumors.
But Lin Zhixia said, "I think I've improved, Brother."His sister's words were unclear and ambiguous, and Lin Zeqiu didn't understand what she meant. He casually said, "Don't be sad. Even at your worst, you're still second in your grade. It won't affect your college admission."
Lin Zhixia said cheerfully, "I'm not sad at all. I'm so happy—summer vacation has started."
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