Jiang Yubai's driver worked tirelessly, first taking Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai to the restaurant, then after their meal, driving Lin Zhixia back to the university campus gate.
Before getting out of the car, Lin Zhixia thanked the driver and asked, "Jiang Yubai, are you free tonight? Would you like to take a walk with me near the campus?"
Jiang Yubai readily agreed. With his backpack slung over one shoulder, he followed Lin Zhixia onto another street.
It was just past seven in the evening. The sky was pitch black, with figures lurking in the darkness. A few ground lights hidden in the grass flickered as the wind rustled through, resembling drifting fireflies.
Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai walked side by side, still maintaining some distance between them. In the cool night breeze, Lin Zhixia felt relaxed and brought Jiang Yubai into a accessories shop by the street—inside were many female university students... and their boyfriends.
The moment Jiang Yubai stepped across the threshold, he felt out of place. But he didn't retreat. He followed closely behind Lin Zhixia, watching her select hair ribbons and bows, and even told her, "Red suits you best."
She asked, "What about blue?"
"Blue is nice too," Jiang Yubai's voice grew deeper, "Any color looks good on you."
Lin Zhixia chose a deep red bow—the fabric smooth and neatly crafted, the satin ribbon long and flowing. She also picked out a 40-yuan electronic watch—something Jiang Yubai didn't notice.
Standing near Jiang Yubai was a campus couple around eighteen or nineteen years old. Intoxicated by sweet romance, they were being affectionate in the corner as if no one else was around, forcing Jiang Yubai to turn his back to them.
He pretended to be examining a row of hair ties until Lin Zhixia tugged at his sleeve: "Let's go check out."
Jiang Yubai happened to have a hundred-yuan bill in his coat pocket. He paid for Lin Zhixia's items and followed her back onto the street. She tightly clutched the 40-yuan electronic watch while removing the expensive Cartier watch, returning it to Jiang Yubai along with its packaging box.
Jiang Yubai was taken aback: "You..."
"I can't accept this," Lin Zhixia explained, "Wearing this watch would give me psychological pressure."
There was a bench by the roadside. Lin Zhixia sat down on it, and Jiang Yubai took a seat to her left, listening as she said, "If you gave me this watch, I'd definitely wear it every day, look at it constantly... but I'm not used to luxury items. I'm sorry."
"I should be the one apologizing," Jiang Yubai held the watch box, reflecting deeply, "I should have considered your habits. I'll make it up to you with another gift in a couple days."
Lin Zhixia immediately unwrapped the electronic watch: "No need! This is the gift you just gave me!"
She extended her left hand: "Could you help me put it on again?"
Jiang Yubai held the electronic watch's strap, his fingertips lightly brushing against her wrist. He leaned closer to her, fastened the watch properly, then met her eyes—feeling this moment was far more precious than any luxury item in the world.
Lin Zhixia said happily, "Thank you, Jiang Yubai! I have a new watch now!"
After Jiang Yubai adjusted the electronic watch's time for her, he asked, "When I graduate from university and start working, will you be able to accept my gifts then?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia said firmly, "By the time you graduate, I'll have graduated long ago too. I'll be able to afford things you like as well."Jiang Yubai automatically ignored the remark, "By the time you graduate from university, I'll have long since graduated."
He looked up at the night sky, contentedly saying, "Alright, it's settled then."
Lin Zhixia hooked his pinky finger: "Pinky promise?"
Jiang Yubai readily agreed: "Sure."
Lin Zhixia lowered her head slightly, her voice soft as she said: "Pinky swear, a hundred years no changing."
Their pinkies entwined, fingertips touching, and Jiang Yubai felt her palm was very warm. He asked: "Is it 'pinky swear to ride the sedan chair' or 'pinky swear to hang'?"
"I don't know," Lin Zhixia explained. "I personally prefer the sedan chair version."
"Me too," Jiang Yubai expressed his support.
Lin Zhixia stood up. Worried Jiang Yubai might get lost, she personally escorted him back to where his driver was waiting. Jiang Yubai rolled down the car window and waved at her. She smiled at him again: "Goodbye."
He responded: "Goodbye."
On her way back to the dormitory, Lin Zhixia ran into her senior, Luo Ying.
Luo Ying had just come out of the library. Spotting Lin Zhixia from afar, she stood under a streetlamp and called out: "Lin Zhixia?"
Lin Zhixia bounced over to Luo Ying: "Senior!"
Luo Ying was wearing a long dress and carrying a laptop bag. She adjusted the strap longer and slung it over her shoulder, asking gently: "Where did you go today?"
"The Forbidden City," Lin Zhixia answered proudly.
Luo Ying glanced around: "Did you go alone?"
"No," Lin Zhixia said, "I went with my best friend."
Luo Ying raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked at Lin Zhixia and complimented: "You look very beautiful today."
Lin Zhixia casually replied: "Senior is the truly beautiful one."
The night breeze carried the fragrance from Luo Ying. Her long hair was tousled by the wind, and she self-deprecatingly said: "My hair's a mess, do I look like a madwoman?"
"No," Lin Zhixia's praise was sweeter than honey, "Senior will always be a goddess."
Luo Ying accompanied Lin Zhixia to the fourth floor of the girls' dormitory. As Lin Zhixia was about to return to her room, she noticed her senior still watching her. Finding it strange, she asked: "Senior, is there something you need?"
Luo Ying thought for a moment and found a topic: "Have you been to Professor Gu Likai's laboratory?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia said full of aspiration, "Starting next week, I'll be working in Professor Gu Likai's laboratory."
Luo Ying seemed somewhat concerned about her: "Can you handle it? The physics students I know all say Gu Likai has high academic demands, gives low grades, and is strict with people."
Gu Likai's laboratory primarily focuses on building quantum computers—this is an emerging field that receives significant attention from both academia and industry, with exceptionally broad development prospects. As a newly enrolled undergraduate, having the opportunity to enter Gu Likai's laboratory, Lin Zhixia felt the trust from her professor.
Lin Zhixia didn't care at all about Gu Likai's strictness, nor about his grading standards. But she politely said: "It's alright, I'll work hard to meet the experimental requirements."
"That's true," Luo Ying said, "You're so smart, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to."
Lin Zhixia appeared slightly shy: "Mhmm."Luo Ying held onto the stair railing and took a step upward. She wore black leather shoes, her ankles slender and snow-white, creating a striking contrast. Stepping onto one stair, she asked, "Do you still miss home lately?"
"A little," Lin Zhixia admitted. "I often dream of Mom, and sometimes I dream of Brother."
"It's a pity you can't go home for National Day. You have to work in the laboratory," Luo Ying said.
Lin Zhixia remained high-spirited. She explained that after Teacher Gu's guidance, she suddenly realized that it was a tool to assist thinking, experiments were a way to train her hands, and cultivating scientific literacy and intuition was an inevitable path in her growth. She cherished this laboratory work opportunity immensely.
Luo Ying asked her, "Can your laboratory bring visitors?"
Lin Zhixia countered, "Do you want to come, Senior?"
Luo Ying said, "I just want to take a look from the doorway."
"Great, great," Lin Zhixia clapped her thigh and decided immediately. "Next Wednesday at 6:30 in the morning, I'll come find you at your dorm room door, Senior."
After making the arrangement with her, Luo Ying bid her farewell. They exchanged goodnights in the stairwell of the girls' dormitory, then Lin Zhixia turned around and cheerfully walked back to her room.
On Wednesday morning at six o'clock, Lin Zhixia woke up on time. She quickly finished washing up, put on her clothes and pants, and glanced in the mirror before heading out. Her roommate Feng Yuan, lying on the upper bunk, said, "Stop looking. You're so beautiful."
Lin Zhixia opened the dorm room door, full of fighting spirit: "A new day has begun! I'm heading out now. Let's all work hard together and get studying done!"
Behind her, her three roommates said in unison, "Let's do it!"
Lin Zhixia jogged along the corridor. She skillfully rushed toward the stairs, and after a few more minutes, she found Senior Luo Ying's room. Standing outside the door, she lightly knocked and called out quietly, "Senior?"
After just one call, the door opened.
Luo Ying was neatly dressed and wearing light makeup. She stood 1.72 meters tall with a slim figure, truly like a clothes hanger—everything looked good on her.
Imitating her roommate Feng Yuan, Lin Zhixia complimented, "Senior, you're so beautiful."Luo Ying asked her, "Liang as in beautiful?"
"Of course," Lin Zhixia affirmed with utmost certainty.
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