Gu Likai and his students stayed in Cambridge for a full two weeks. During this period, Lin Zhixia visited many laboratories. She met a highly accomplished professor whose research fields included theoretical physics, astronomy, quantum theory, computational physics, applied mathematics, molecular medicine, and more. Their research in the field of "Quantum Computing" was also among the world's top tier.
The professor's students each had their own specialized focus. Through conversations with them, Lin Zhixia gained many new ideas. She gradually freed herself from the anxiety of "not being able to publish papers." Looking back now at the draft she had submitted to Teacher Gu last October, she identified many areas that needed improvement. Although her framework was sound, the topic of the paper was too broad and required too much content to fill in. She couldn't achieve everything at once—she needed to break the problem down further.
Tan Qianche was doing very well in this regard. He excelled at finding precise entry points.
Lin Zhixia decided to read all of Tan Qianche's papers.
Even before this academic exchange trip concluded, Lin Zhixia felt she had gained immensely. She was happy every day, yet Tan Qianche often appeared listless and dispirited.
Lin Zhixia thought he might be struggling to adapt to the new environment.
One afternoon, Lin Zhixia overheard a conversation among the senior students and learned about Tan Qianche's life experiences. Tan Qianche's first love had originally promised to attend Peking University with him, but she broke up with him during their second year of high school, went abroad to study, and never saw him again.
Regarding this, Yang Shuwen commented, "Tan Qianche is a pitiful soul. Honestly, his life experience is too much like a PUA tutorial. PUA tutorials teach men to pretend they've been hurt by an ex-girlfriend or damaged by society, to make others want to 'save' them, inducing self-sacrifice and devotion..."
Lin Zhixia listened to Yang Shuwen's words intently.
She asked rigorously, "Is there a connection between PUA and Stockholm Syndrome?"
Yang Shuwen was a seasoned researcher of "PUA theory." He had studied PUA theory to cope with his psychological stress and adapt to the reality of being consistently outperformed by Lin Zhixia.
When Lin Zhixia brought up "PUA," Yang Shuwen, mindful of her age, avoided going into detail and simply said, "Ah, that's beyond the scope of my consideration."
As he spoke, he hurried away.
Lin Zhixia pondered thoughtfully.
On the day before leaving Cambridge, Lin Zhixia made a special trip to Trinity College at the University of Cambridge.
Lin Zhixia had heard Jiang Yubai mention that he wanted to study at Trinity College. So, she detoured to the college entrance and took many photos.
Near Trinity College, there was a bookstore called "Heffers." It was said to have over 130 years of history, with its first owner named William Heffer—the bookstore's name derived from his surname.
Lin Zhixia picked out two books from this bookstore as gifts for Jiang Yubai. Each book cost around fifteen pounds, totaling over thirty pounds, roughly equivalent to more than three hundred yuan. But she didn't mind the expense at all—she was happy to spend the money.The "heffers" bookstore provided packaging bags resembling paper sacks, printed with a red circle containing the English name of Cambridge. Lin Zhixia used this paper bag to pack the books, accompanied by a greeting card that read: "Jiang Yubai, may everything go well for you."
Since May of this year, communication between Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai had significantly dwindled.
During the previous period, Lin Zhixia had been completely absorbed in academic pursuits, her mind filled with quantum theory and various algorithms, leaving no time to miss Jiang Yubai. After her academic visit to Europe concluded in late August, as Jiang Yubai's birthday approached, Lin Zhixia called him and asked directly: "Jiang Yubai, how has your summer vacation been? Do you have time to hang out?"
The August heat was unbearable, with evening winds feeling stifling and humid.
Lin Zhixia stood in her dormitory corridor facing a half-open window. Leaning against the windowsill while gazing at the moon, she waited several seconds before hearing Jiang Yubai respond: "Shall we meet tomorrow?"
Lin Zhixia detected a hint of grievance in his voice.
What was he feeling wronged about?
Lin Zhixia softened her tone: "Okay, okay, let's meet tomorrow then. This summer, I visited the United States, Britain, and Germany. I bought souvenirs for you in each place - I've been thinking of you all along."
She said, I've been thinking of you all along.
Jiang Yubai knew this kind of missing represented the sincere friendship between friends.
Just like Yuan Zhen missing Bai Juyi and writing the famous line "Now ill, my soul wanders confusedly, dreaming of idle folk but not of you," or like Yu Boya missing Zhong Ziqi, giving rise to the eternal tale of "High Mountains and Flowing Waters."
Jiang Yubai reciprocated accordingly: "I feel the same as you."
Lin Zhixia asked him: "Did you also buy souvenirs?"
He replied quietly: "I've been missing you too."
Jiang Yubai rarely expressed his emotions so frankly.
Lin Zhixia involuntarily took a deep breath. Their conversation felt like a tug-of-war - when he became open and direct, she instead grew nervous and shy, unable to speak as straightforwardly as she normally would.
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia agreed to meet at eight the next morning at the entrance of Lin Zhixia's school.
This summer, Jiang Yubai hadn't returned to his hometown province. He had remained in Beijing, preparing for his Cambridge University admission interview scheduled for the latter half of the year. After Lin Zhixia went abroad, the time difference between them, combined with their respective busy schedules, left no opportunity for QQ video calls.
At eight o'clock on the morning of August 30th, they finally met.
Jiang Yubai arrived ten minutes early. After waiting briefly, he heard Lin Zhixia call out: "Jiangjiangjiang Jiang Yubai!"
She hadn't used this form of address in a long time.
His heartstrings stirred as he turned to look at her.
She handed him a gift bag: "My present for you. Happy fifteenth birthday! May you be happy every day, enjoy good health, and achieve academic success."
Having not seen each other for months, Lin Zhixia had grown taller. Looking up at him, she caught her own reflection in his eyes, and softly reminded him: "Aren't you going to open your gift?"Jiang Yubai opened the bag and saw two books—one was a university economics handbook, the other a hard science fiction novel about robotic transformations in the age of artificial intelligence. He also found a 3D puzzle of Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, two city postcards of Los Angeles, USA, and a "Ship in a Bottle" craft—inside a transparent liquor bottle rested an exquisite miniature ship, its pure white sail printed with seven characters: "Jiang Yubai Forges Ahead Fearlessly."
"This is Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia's ship. I made it myself during winter break this year," Lin Zhixia explained.
Jiang Yubai said, "Thank you." Holding the bag in his left hand, he instinctively reached out with his right, wanting to grasp her wrist. She didn't avoid him, nor did she notice his intention. When his fingertips brushed the back of her hand, he instantly regained his composure and withdrew the offending right hand behind his back.
Clutching the nylon strap of the tote bag in his left hand, his right fingertips pressed into his palm, he didn't quite catch what Lin Zhixia was saying.
From May to August this year, Lin Zhixia had been preoccupied with her studies and had unintentionally neglected him. He initially thought he wouldn't mind much, but the truth was, it bothered him for three whole months.
He could no longer deceive himself.
He wasn't a fool—this might not be just friendship.
He abruptly stopped walking.
Lin Zhixia turned back to look at him: "Jiang Yubai?"
Completely unaware of Jiang Yubai's "wanting to hold her hand but not daring to" internal struggle, she stepped closer to him and said enthusiastically, "I was just saying, I saw several swans by the river in Cambridge, snow-white swans... Do you like swans?"
Jiang Yubai's inner world was exceptionally rich, but his words remained calm and concise: "Yes."
"I like them too," Lin Zhixia agreed.
Today, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia planned to visit Fragrant Hills Park together. Jiang Yubai placed the tote bag in the car, entrusting it to the driver for safekeeping, then he and Lin Zhixia entered through the park's main gate.
Fragrant Hills Park boasted lush forests, beautiful scenery, and many uniquely styled ancient buildings with poetic names like "Qiyue Mountain Villa," "Tiyun Mountain House," "Yunchao Pavilion," and "Xiangwu Cave."
Lin Zhixia was in high spirits. She told Jiang Yubai about Fragrant Hills' history—it was originally an imperial garden, and the names of its mountain attractions were quite deliberate. She then thought of the various areas at Jiang Yubai's home and asked, "Did anyone give names to your swimming pool, tennis court, and rose garden?"
Jiang Yubai answered truthfully, "Not that I've heard."
Lin Zhixia laughed heartily.
Fragrant Hill stands over 500 meters high. Lin Zhixia climbed slowly, pausing frequently to admire the scenery, pointing out even a squirrel to Jiang Yubai: "A squirrel."
Just as Jiang Yubai started to move closer, Lin Zhixia tugged his sleeve: "The squirrel ran away."
Jiang Yubai stepped back to his original spot, and Lin Zhixia released his clothes.
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