Genius Girlfriend

Jiang Shaoqi fell head over heels in love.

For three whole months, Jiang Shaoqi hadn't touched his violin. He traveled around the world with Jessica. He gave Jessica both his first kiss and his first night. In Jiang Shaoqi's eyes, he already belonged to Jessica—his heart and soul were hers, and whether they married or not was irrelevant.

Jessica insisted on having a wedding ceremony, and Jiang Shaoqi naturally didn't object. They set their wedding date and formally visited both sets of parents. They spent half a month in Singapore before returning to Beijing and moving into the mansion owned by Jiang Shaoqi's father.

It was only at this point that Jiang Shaoqi remembered his nephew.

He hadn't contacted his nephew in ages.

As the world's best uncle, Jiang Shaoqi wanted to make it up to Jiang Yubai. Upon learning that Jiang Yubai was about to take the IELTS exam, he immediately volunteered: "Good nephew, your uncle will take you to the IELTS test."

Jiang Yubai responded coldly: "Thank you, I have a driver."

Jiang Shaoqi threw an arm around Jiang Yubai's shoulders: "Xiao Jiang, while traveling abroad, I bought you many gifts. Jessica also asked about your academic performance. We both care about you very much."

"Uncle," Jiang Yubai pointed out his new observation, "you can't go three sentences without mentioning Jessica now."

Jiang Shaoqi immediately corrected his nephew: "Xiao Jiang, she's your aunt. Don't call her by her first name—call her Auntie."

Then, Jiang Shaoqi enthusiastically described his travel experiences with Jessica. They prayed at temples in Chiang Rai, Thailand, strolled near the Taj Mahal in India, and visited every blue-domed church on Santorini Island in Greece... Jiang Shaoqi described his future wife this way: "She is the bow, I am the string. My music carries her shadow."

There was a time when Jiang Shaoqi was someone who constantly boasted about himself.

But now, Jiang Shaoqi had become someone who couldn't stop talking about his wife.

Jiang Yubai found it somewhat unsettling.

Jiang Yubai even suspected that his family genes contained an element of "being easily swept away by love."

Fortunately, Jiang Yubai was different from both his father and his uncle. Jiang Yubai would absolutely not be swept away by love. He hoped that as an adult, he would be a calm, self-controlled, mature, and rational man—advancing steadily step by step, achieving career success, and earning Lin Zhixia's approval.

Jiang Yubai clearly recognized this—he genuinely longed for Lin Zhixia's praise and encouragement.

On the day of the IELTS written test, Jiang Yubai sent Lin Zhixia a text message: "I'm going to take the IELTS exam."

Lin Zhixia replied instantly: "Okay, okay! You're the best!"

Jiang Yubai felt very happy inside. In the IELTS examination hall, he wrote furiously, his thoughts flowing freely. The boy sitting next to him spent the entire time spacing out, and later, the boy simply adjusted his posture and stared dumbly at Jiang Yubai writing his essay.

The pencil in Jiang Yubai's hand seemed to come alive, as if it had gained a soul in that vast examination hall. The tip of the pencil scraped against the answer sheet, making a "swishing" sound—this was the cry of a master, representing near-perfect capability.

Jiang Yubai had practiced English handwriting. His writing was neat, balanced, and possessed a flowing beauty. The candidate next to him glanced at him and marveled in admiration, just as Jiang Yubai finished writing the final word.For so many years, Jiang Yubai had never interrupted his English studies.

The money spent on hiring private tutors had not been in vain.

Sitting up straight and capping his pen, Jiang Yubai thought to himself: nailed it.

After the IELTS written test concluded, Jiang Yubai walked out of the classroom and happened to run into several of his high school alumni. Many of his classmates had signed up for that day's exam, and when someone asked how he did, Jiang Yubai replied with unusual modesty, "Not bad."

Autumn had long since settled over Beijing. On this crisp, clear day with high skies and thin clouds, thick frost and brisk winds, Jiang Yubai's mood was as bright and expansive as the heavens. After exchanging a few pleasantries with his classmates, he pulled out his phone from his backpack and sent Lin Zhixia a text: "Finished my IELTS. Did really well."

He waited a few minutes before Lin Zhixia replied with a long message: "That's great! I knew you'd do well. You're the best! You're always so organized and achieve your goals. You've been testing for nearly three hours—aren't you tired? You should rest first. Have something delicious for dinner tonight..."

Jiang Yubai was more concerned about Lin Zhixia: "Have you been tired lately?"

Lin Zhixia said that recently, the university had launched an investigation into the laboratory accident. Their group's senior, Yang Shuwen, had taken primary responsibility, while Tan Qianche and another senior shared secondary responsibility. The school had also reimbursed her medical expenses. She felt her foot was almost healed and wanted to return to work in the laboratory.

Jiang Yubai knew that Lin Zhixia was destined for research. He supported her decision, though he repeatedly urged her to be careful.

She happily agreed, "Okay! See you next month!"

Jiang Yubai also said, "See you next month."

After recovering from her foot injury, Lin Zhixia bustled around campus just as she had before. She attended classes on time, thought diligently, and frequently visited the laboratory to learn from her teachers and seniors, continuously absorbing knowledge. She could achieve top scores in exams and shine brilliantly in group collaborations, fully demonstrating her extraordinary mental agility.

Lin Zhixia got to know all the seniors in the Quantum Computing group. At first, they still saw her as a child, but later, most treated her with considerable respect—with a few exceptions, such as Senior Yang Shuwen.

Ever since the laboratory explosion, Yang Shuwen had been living in constant fear, once believing he would be expelled. However, the university dealt with him leniently, neither imposing harsh penalties nor even making him pay for the damages.

He decided to devote himself completely, igniting the torch of scientific research.

He became one of the hardest-working students, eating, sleeping, and living in the laboratory, busy until 11 p.m. every night and rising at 5 a.m. to work. Even Tan Qianche viewed him with newfound respect.

Even so, Yang Shuwen's rate of progress still couldn't match Lin Zhixia's.

Whenever Yang Shuwen ran into Lin Zhixia, he would mostly take a detour.

He adhered to the principle of "not interfering with each other," maintaining a peaceful coexistence with Lin Zhixia.

However, one day in late November, Yang Shuwen heard that Lin Zhixia had already proposed an innovative idea and sent the first draft of her paper to Professor Gu Likai for review.Yang Shuwen found Tan Qianche and had a conversation with him. Plunged into deep self-doubt, he couldn't help but sigh: "I saw a quote on the forum that perfectly describes me—'The greatest contribution I can make to academia is to leave academia.' Don't you think so?"

Tan Qianche had just returned to the laboratory from outside. Carrying a faint scent of perfume with him, he remarked calmly, "I've been meaning to tell you—stop comparing yourself to others all the time. Compare yourself to who you were before."

Yang Shuwen murmured to himself, "Lin Zhixia..."

Tan Qianche tried to divert his attention: "My paper citation count is much higher than Lin Zhixia's. Stop focusing on her and focus on me instead."

They mentioned the name "Lin Zhixia." Not far away, Lin Zhixia overheard their voices and emerged from the operation room, quietly sneaking up behind them.

She heard Tan Qianche say, "Pressure is a good thing—it pushes you forward. But you can't let pressure ride on your back. You're too tense; you need to relax. You're a Peking University alumnus, after all..."

Yang Shuwen, however, countered, "Only undergraduates count as alumni. Master's and doctoral students don't."

"The time you've spent at the university might be longer than that of undergraduates," Lin Zhixia interjected.

Yang Shuwen wiped cold sweat from his brow: "I just want to graduate early. Ah, Lin Zhixia, don't talk to me. I get anxious just seeing you."

Lin Zhixia didn't understand where his anxiety came from.

Lin Zhixia wrote about her observations in the laboratory in an email and sent it to Jiang Yubai. Jiang Yubai replied via text message, suggesting they invite Yang Shuwen along during their autumn outing the day after tomorrow.

Jiang Yubai believed Yang Shuwen was the main culprit behind the recent explosion incident. Yang Shuwen needed to adjust his mindset to avoid blowing up the laboratory again and endangering Lin Zhixia's safety. For this reason, Jiang Yubai was willing to sacrifice his personal time to personally resolve Yang Shuwen's inner conflicts.

Having grasped how to rebuild self-esteem at the age of nine, Jiang Yubai intended to impart his way of thinking to Yang Shuwen.

He told Lin Zhixia, "The autumn outing is on Sunday. You can invite a few more doctoral students."

Lin Zhixia first consulted the class monitor and the Youth League branch secretary. Upon hearing that doctoral students would be joining, they responded enthusiastically. The class monitor even called the Quantum Computing laboratory directly, earnestly inviting those highly accomplished seniors to participate in the autumn outing.

By sheer coincidence, the class monitor ended up inviting Tan Qianche.

Tan Qianche kindly brought Yang Shuwen along.

Yang Shuwen accepted Tan Qianche's invitation like a bashful young bride.

Despite the low outdoor temperature in late November, it couldn't dampen the young people's enthusiasm. Lin Zhixia's classmates, along with friends they had brought, gathered at a wild barbecue restaurant near Shangzhuang Reservoir, chatting and laughing boisterously.

A recent rain had just filled the reservoir to the brim. Willow trees drooped along the bank, their branches brushing the ground, enveloped in the mist of an autumn after-rain. From a distance, lush reeds swayed in the wind like vast, hazy waves. The silhouettes of willows, reeds, and flying birds reflected on the water's surface, weaving a scene of profound depth and beauty.

Suddenly, the Youth League branch secretary of Lin Zhixia's class stepped forward.The Youth League branch secretary stood with his back to the reservoir and greeted everyone: "Quantum Computing group seniors, friends from other schools, hello. My name is Ji Bohan..." He mumbled as if exhaling: "I'm this class's Youth League branch secretary."

As soon as Ji Bohan finished speaking, Lin Zhixia clapped and cheered for him: "Secretary Ji! Secretary Ji!"

Following Lin Zhixia's lead, her three roommates chimed in: "Secretary Ji!"

These were Ji Bohan's few supporters.

Ji Bohan cherished this public speaking opportunity. He cleared his throat and proposed: "Let's have our classmates introduce... who they brought from other schools today?"

To set an example for everyone, Ji Bohan took his girlfriend's hand: "This is my partner, from Renmin University, she studies insurance."

Lin Zhixia's roommate Yuan Wei asked loudly: "How long have you been dating?"

Classmates laughed collectively, and both Ji Bohan and his girlfriend raised hands to cover their mouths, hiding their embarrassment. Ji Bohan rubbed his chin and admitted: "We started dating in senior year of high school. I was top of science class, she was top of liberal arts class."

His girlfriend said somewhat awkwardly: "Didn't perform well on the college entrance exam... originally wanted to get into Guanghua School of Management..."

Ji Bohan quickly added: "My fault, my fault. I called your house the night before the exam.Their first love's budding appearance touched Tan Qianche's thoughts. Tan Qianche held a beer can and focused on setting up the barbecue grill.

Since Tan Qianche remained silent, none of the Quantum Computing group seniors present spoke up. Thus, the atmosphere inexplicably stagnated.

Lin Zhixia bravely stepped forward. She said: "I brought my best friend, Jiang Yubai!"

Jiang Yubai stood beside Lin Zhixia and briefly introduced himself: "I'm Jiang Yubai, currently in my second year of high school..."

Before Jiang Yubai could finish, Ji Bohan interrupted: "How old are you?"

"He's the same age as me," Lin Zhixia answered proudly.

Jiang Yubai's height surpassed many undergraduates. His appearance and demeanor were the best among everyone present - even senior Tan Qianche couldn't compare. He was born to be the center of attention.

Though everyone's gaze focused on Jiang Yubai, he remained completely unfazed. Sitting beside the barbecue grill, he called out: "Lin Zhixia, come sit here. It's warmer on my side."

Lin Zhixia immediately dragged her small stool over.

Classmates began chatting in small groups, with some approaching Tan Qianche's side to deliberately strike up conversations with the Quantum Computing seniors. All the seniors exchanged contact information except Tan Qianche, who repeatedly declined.

Yang Shuwen quietly asked him: "Hey? Tan Qianche, you... you're completely unrestrained, flying high up there. When girls ask for your number, you won't give it?"

Tan Qianche took a sip of beer, slightly intoxicated: "Who says I'm unrestrained? I've comforted so many lonely girls, international humanitarian organizations should give me an award."

Yang Shuwen neither agreed nor disagreed, simply shaking his head.

The barbecue shop owner, hearing they were university students, treated them favorably. They ordered vegetables, lamb, beef, sausages, chicken wings and other ingredients, with the owner additionally providing complimentary sweet potatoes and green peppers.The students gathered in several circles, grilling their own food. The aroma of food wafted everywhere as tender beef and lamb sizzled on the grill, emitting wisps of white smoke that dissipated instantly while the scent grew increasingly rich.

The barbecue grill had been used for many years, coated with a layer of mottled rust. Ji Bohan held a pair of iron tongs and lightly scraped the edge of the grill, sending a shower of rust flakes to the ground. He said with a laugh, "Just like the grill at my house."

Lin Zhixia chimed in, "My family has a grill too. We light it every winter."

Yuan Wei added, "Oh, my family used to heat a brick bed..."

Jiang Yubai couldn't join this conversation. Silently, he picked up a plate, added some already grilled dishes, sprinkled on a bit of seasoning, and handed the plate to Lin Zhixia.

Ji Bohan's girlfriend pouted and said, "Bohan, look at him."

Jiang Yubai smoothed things over by saying, "I'm not hungry, I just happened to pick up a plate of food."

"Don't you want to eat anything?" Lin Zhixia quietly asked him.

He immediately replied, "I was just about to eat."

In fact, before heading out today, Jiang Yubai had already eaten lunch in advance. Upon hearing that the barbecue would be held outdoors, he couldn't accept it—his mild mysophobia didn't allow him to eat barbecue in a dusty outdoor setting. But he didn't want Lin Zhixia to think he was picky. Calmly, he picked up a skewer of sweet potato.

In the cold and bleak autumn wind, Jiang Yubai took a small bite of the sweet potato, unhurried and chewing slowly, as if he were savoring truffles and caviar. Watching his movements, Ji Bohan suddenly suggested, "Let's play a game of Werewolf."

Lin Zhixia's roommate Feng Yuan had never played Werewolf before. Feng Yuan immediately agreed, "Sure, let's play Werewolf."

Ji Bohan stood up and shouted, "Anyone want to play Werewolf?"

Tan Qianche responded, "Count me in!"

Yang Shuwen forced himself to say, "I'll join too!"

Lin Zhixia excitedly cried out, "I want to play too! I want to play too!"