Lin Zhixia's logic was so airtight that Jiang Yubai couldn't refute it at all.
Jiang Yubai simply accepted Lin Zhixia's reasoning—that his birthdate numbers could make her happy and bring her good luck.
He silently recited Lin Zhixia's phone number. Yet, the more he pondered it, the redder his ears became. Lin Zhixia even asked him, "Why are you blushing again?"
"No," Jiang Yubai insisted, "you've misunderstood. I'm not blushing."
Lin Zhixia moved closer to Jiang Yubai, staring at his profile.
She could almost hear his quickened breathing from nervousness.
She recalled a clear stream she had once seen in the woods near her rural hometown—on a cold, desolate winter day, freezing and piled with snow, the stream hadn't frozen over and was still babbling along. So, she crouched by that stream, holding her breath, intently listening to the soft sound of the flowing water.
People often use "the music of nature" to praise the most perfect melodies, and the original meaning of "the music of nature" is "the various sounds of the natural world." Lin Zhixia believed that what she sought wasn't "the music of nature," but a state of calm and peaceful mind.
Maintaining this spiritual state, she cleverly dissolved her own shyness. She grew bolder in approaching Jiang Yubai, observing his already crimson ears, and whispered to him, "What are you thinking about? Tell me quickly. I'm your best friend; no matter what you say, I'm willing to listen."
Jiang Yubai seemed to suddenly lose his ability to speak. His chin tilted up slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing, appearing both reserved and noble—something to be admired from afar but not teased.
Lin Zhixia's gaze shifted, fixing on his neck.
Then, in a tone reminiscent of a science documentary narration, Lin Zhixia said seriously and precisely, "During puberty, under the influence of male hormones, the Adam's apple develops noticeably. Jiang Yubai, you've grown up."
Jiang Yubai finally turned his face to look at her quietly.
Her eyes were bright and intense.
Jiang Yubai subtly reminded her, "Boys and girls are different."
Lin Zhixia nodded, "I know. I've seen anatomical atlases.Lin Zhixia's knowledge reserve was extensive, and her thinking was highly jumpy. Jiang Yubai had long grown accustomed to her traits. He faced reality calmly and discussed "Pernkopf's anatomical atlas" with Lin Zhixia.
Pernkopf was an Austrian doctor during World War II who swore allegiance to Hitler. The Hitler government frequently transported prisoners' corpses to Pernkopf's Laboratory to facilitate his dissection work. He also had a team of artists dedicated to drawing precise and detailed anatomical illustrations.
It's said that the book series authored by Pernkopf is the most exquisitely crafted anatomical atlas in human history.
Lin Zhixia commented, "Although its content is vivid and scientifically valuable, every page of it is cruel."
Jiang Yubai sat up straight again, looking ahead, "The Pernkopf atlas took twenty years to complete, costing countless lives."
Lin Zhixia frowned, "That book is stained with blood."
The atmosphere in the car grew particularly heavy. Lin Zhixia asked Jiang Yubai about his views on war.
Jiang Yubai had read many World War II documents and watched documentaries. He remembered that both Japan and Germany during World War II were enthusiastic about various human experiments.Jiang Yubai slowed his tone as he chatted with Lin Zhixia about several historical events that left the deepest impressions on him, some of which Lin Zhixia had never heard before. Jiang Yubai described in detail the "Jewish skeletal experiments." Lin Zhixia's face instantly turned pale. Feeling frightened, she distanced herself from him, shrinking into the innermost part of her seat: "Don't say anymore."
Jiang Yubai immediately agreed: "I won't."
This time, it was Lin Zhixia's turn to fall silent.
Jiang Yubai comforted her: "Don't be afraid, let's change the subject."
Lin Zhixia remained motionless.
Jiang Yubai took out a box of strawberry candies from his pocket. He unwrapped one, releasing a sweet strawberry fragrance, and Lin Zhixia was indeed drawn to it, slowly inching closer to him like a little rabbit.
Jiang Yubai placed the strawberry candy in her palm. After eating it, she said contentedly, "So sweet."
"So sweet," Jiang Yubai mimicked her tone with two words.
Lin Zhixia warned him, "Don't copy me."
Jiang Yubai retorted, "Can't I?"
Lin Zhixia lacked conviction. She whispered, "You can."
Jiang Yubai smiled silently.
Lin Zhixia happened to catch his smile. She realized that every time she saw him smile, her cheeks seemed to grow warm, her heartbeat quickened slightly, the air she breathed sank deep into her lungs, and even the tips of her fingers felt weak—all these sensations hinted at something extraordinary.
Lin Zhixia searched through the books she had read in her mind.
She stepped beyond the realm of medicine and began looking for literary works. Suddenly, she remembered that in Gone with the Wind , the author Margaret Mitchell had described it this way: "His heart beat fast, and at the same time, he felt his face flush. She heard in his voice that tone she had often heard in men's voices, the tone that foretold a declaration of love..."
Lin Zhixia was deeply shaken.
She immediately cut off the memory.
She said, "I want to go back to school."
Jiang Yubai was even more surprised: "What's wrong?"
Lin Zhixia rested her chin on her hand: "I need a quiet environment to analyze my own thoughts."
Jiang Yubai understood Lin Zhixia very well. He knew that a true genius often had bursts of intense inspiration in their mind, like an ever-expanding Universe, always requiring more space.
Jiang Yubai suggested, "Don't rush. Tell me your thoughts. We can discuss them while we eat."
"No! I can't tell you!" Lin Zhixia was very firm.
Jiang Yubai's voice grew deeper: "We're best friends. What can't you say?"
Lin Zhixia was stumped by his question. She hugged her small crossbody bag tightly, pretending it was her Little Penguin. Just as she was racking her brains and had nothing to say, the driver in the front seat reminded them, "We're almost there."
Jiang Yubai rolled down the car window. A cold breeze swept through his hair as he calmly said, "After you have dinner at my place, I'll take you back to school."
Lin Zhixia said, "I can take the subway by myself."
But Jiang Yubai replied, "That's not my way of treating a guest."
Lin Zhixia asked again, "What is your way of treating a guest?"
Jiang Yubai answered, "Pick up and drop off by car."The car slowly turned and drove through a massive iron gate, where two guards stood watch. Sensors and security cameras were everywhere—Lin Zhixia was utterly captivated. She pressed her hands against the car window, gazing at the novel scenery before her, and recalled Jiang Yubai's home in the provincial capital—that sprawling estate with its luxurious decor, complete with gardens, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a home theater, and various other facilities.
Lin Zhixia hadn't expected that, even in a different city, Jiang Yubai would still live in a similarly styled place.
This, she thought, was the lifestyle of the wealthy.
After the car came to a stop, Jiang Yubai was the first to step out.
Jiang Yubai opened the car door, and Lin Zhixia slowly emerged. Walking side by side with him, she asked, "Do you live here alone? Are your Mom and Dad with you?"
Jiang Yubai replied, "This house is under my grandfather's name. He often stays here."
Lin Zhixia nodded. "Grandfather."
Jiang Yubai led Lin Zhixia into the main hall. She looked up at the ceiling murals and the enormous chandelier but kept walking. An indoor fountain splashed cool droplets onto the back of her hand. Staring in wonder at the marble sculpture at the center of the fountain, she exclaimed, "What perfect fluid dynamics."
Lin Zhixia would have liked to take a longer look, but her stomach was rumbling loudly. Having been busy all day and eaten very little at noon, by this time in the evening, she was ravenous, her mind filled with thoughts of a lavish dinner.
She closely followed Jiang Yubai's steps, passing through a corridor until they reached a dining area.
The dining room was brilliantly lit, with a floor-to-ceiling window on the south side and a panel of light-colored glass on the east. Between the glass layers, clear water flowed like jade, with slender, graceful aquatic plants and rare tropical fish darting through the water.
Lin Zhixia forgot her hunger for a moment. Clasping her hands behind her back, she stood before the glass wall, observing the school of small fish. "Jiang Yubai, the dining room in your grandfather's house is just like an exhibit at an ocean aquarium."
Before she finished speaking, a voice responded, "I enjoy keeping fish, and not just these varieties."
Lin Zhixia turned her head and saw Jiang Yubai's grandfather—an elderly man who, despite his advanced age, remained spirited and vigorous. Dressed in a silk long-sleeved top and trousers, his silver hair was neatly groomed. He and Lin Zhixia locked eyes for four seconds before he spoke: "Xiao Jiang has a guest tonight, so I came to see you both."
Lin Zhixia quickly greeted him: "Hello! My name is Lin Zhixia—Lin as in forest, Zhi as in knowledge, Xia as in summer. I'm fourteen years old, the same age as Jiang Yubai... To be more precise, Jiang Yubai is one month older than me. He was born in August, and I was born in September."
Jiang Yubai sensed Lin Zhixia's nervousness.
He stepped in front of her, facing his grandfather directly: "I mentioned yesterday that I would have a guest tonight. She's my good friend; we've known each other for five years."
Grandfather was exceptionally kind and amiable: "It's wonderful that you're willing to host friends. Is your good friend Lin Zhixia also attending high school in Beijing?"
Lin Zhixia blurted out without thinking: "I'm not in high school."
Grandfather remained calm and unruffled, his smile unwavering.
However, a young man standing beside Grandfather interjected: "Did you drop out of middle school to venture into society?"The young man appeared to be in his early twenties. He was quite tall, with handsome features and an air of elegance about him, dressed in casual loungewear. He was a relative of Jiang Yubai's family.
After Jiang Yubai introduced him briefly, Lin Zhixia finally understood that this person was the only son of Jiang Yubai's grandfather's cousin's son. His name was Huang Yuxiao, he was twenty-one years old, and he was currently studying at a university in Scotland, majoring in "Middle Eastern and African Studies."
Huang Yuxiao seemed to mistake Lin Zhixia for a middle school dropout.
Lin Zhixia spread her hands and said, "I didn't attend high school because I..."
"Didn't want to go to school," Huang Yuxiao teased.
She chuckled lightly and replied, "Because I'm already in college, majoring in mathematics."
Jiang Yubai calmly added, "She was the national champion of the 2007 Mathematical Olympiad, the champion of the Romanian Master of Mathematics, the top scorer in the city's high school entrance exam, and she studied for three years at a top-tier physics and oceanography Laboratory in the country. She has published two SCI papers, both as the first author."
Huang Yuxiao's expression turned complicated. He loosened his collar, half-convinced and half-skeptical, and retreated behind his grandfather.
The grandfather patted Jiang Yubai on the shoulder, reminding him to entertain the guests. He also exchanged a few casual words with Lin Zhixia. Finally, he called out Huang Yuxiao's name and took him away, leaving only Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai in the dining room.
Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai took their seats one after the other.
Jiang Yubai had been very considerate. He strictly controlled the timing, ensuring that the dishes were served at just the right temperature—neither too hot nor too cold—and each dish was fresh and delicious.
It was Lin Zhixia's first time tasting Peking roast duck. It was truly exquisite—the duck meat, thin pancakes, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce blended together, stimulating her taste buds and providing an extraordinary experience.
The table also featured smooth and delicious caviar pudding and fragrant crab-stuffed oranges. Lin Zhixia could hardly keep up with all the delicacies, while Jiang Yubai continued to savor them slowly and methodically.
Lin Zhixia's drink was freshly squeezed Strawberry grape juice—the ratio of ingredients was absolutely perfect, combining the sweetness of Strawberry with the refreshing taste of grapes.
Lin Zhixia couldn't help but comment, "It's so delicious. I want to name it 'Wonderful.' With just one sip, I can feel the wonders of life."
Jiang Yubai said he would prepare a menu. In the future, when Lin Zhixia visited his home, she could pre-order dishes and drinks by name.
"You're so thoughtful," Lin Zhixia praised him sincerely.
After the meal, following his "principles of hospitality," Jiang Yubai insisted on escorting Lin Zhixia back to her university.
Around nine o'clock in the evening, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai waved goodbye outside the university gates. Jiang Yubai leaned against the car door, watching Lin Zhixia's figure disappear into the campus before turning to get into the car.
From that day on, university life officially began.
Lin Zhixia became familiar with the three other girls in her dormitory. They got along very well, waking up at the same time every morning, going together to the cafeteria for breakfast, and then heading to class.
Lin Zhixia's roommates preferred sitting in the front row, while she herself didn't mind where she sat. The first semester of freshman year consisted of relatively basic courses that hadn't yet touched upon areas outside Lin Zhixia's knowledge, making her feel that university life was quite relaxed.
However, she soon received an email from Professor Gu Likai.Gu Likai was a university classmate of Professor Shen Zhaohua and is currently a renowned scholar in the field of Quantum Computing in China. He served as Lin Zhixia's undergraduate advisor and had invited Lin Zhixia for a face-to-face meeting.
Gu Likai was employed in the School of Physics, while Lin Zhixia belonged to the School of Mathematics. However, this did not hinder their academic exchanges. Lin Zhixia knew that Gu Likai was particularly busy. On the day of their scheduled meeting, Lin Zhixia arrived at Teacher Gu's office ten minutes early.
In the office, there were also several doctoral students.
It turned out that Teacher Gu was holding a brief group meeting.
Lin Zhixia stood at the doorway and waited for over ten seconds before Teacher Gu said, "Is that Lin Zhixia? Please come in."
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