Lin Zhixia was not mistaken. Nie Tianqing was indeed planning to raid Group A's base.
Because Group A had collected far more bubble balls than Group B.
Nie Tianqing said to Ding Yan, "Group A's bubble balls are several times more than ours!"
However, Ding Yan only replied, "I'm not going to Group A."
Ding Yan and Gan Shuli had long abandoned the struggle. The two of them had returned to a peaceful life, bending down to pick up balls like diligent farmers. If they managed to pick up more than one bubble ball at a time, Ding Yan's face would light up with the joy of a bountiful harvest.
Ding Yan was no longer the aggressive person he once was.
It was as if he had seen through the conflicts of the world. He vowed never to be a robber or a highwayman again. Ding Yan's sweat was shed only for himself!
Thus, Nie Tianqing had to fight alone.
Nie Tianqing quietly slipped into a pipe and headed toward the slide. With lightning speed, he suddenly appeared in the castle. Dong Sunqi, who was guarding the base, was startled and roared, "Who are you!"
Nie Tianqing replied, "I am Nie Tianqing from Group B!"
Dong Sunqi spread his arms and stood resolutely in front of him: "Nie Tianqing from Group B! I am Dong Sunqi from Group A! I warn you! If you want to steal the bubble balls, you'll have to step over my body first!"
"We are neighbors, good friends," Nie Tianqing looked at him, "For a few bubble balls, you..."
Jiang Yubai stood at the bottom of the castle stairs and shouted upward: "No! It's not about bubble balls, it's about the justice we must protect in our hearts!"
"Yes! It's justice!" Dong Sunqi raised his arms and cheered.
Lin Zhixia also joined in the rallying cry: "It's justice! We fight for justice, for the glory and dignity of Group A! For the everlasting prosperity of Group A, so that Group A will never be invaded by Group B! At this critical moment of life and death, facing Group B's sneak attack, we will never retreat, never cower! We will never give up an inch of territory, never willingly become weak slaves! We are not fighting alone! Behind us are the bubble balls, the embodiment of justice! Charge forward, my comrades! The horn of victory will sound for the brave, and the dawn's sunlight will eventually shine everywhere!"
These shouts brought tears to Dong Sunqi's eyes.
Nie Tianqing was taken aback and tried to win Dong Sunqi back: "Don't get too into the role, we're not filming a war movie."
"Ah!" Lin Zhixia exclaimed, "Nie Tianqing from Group B! He's using a divide-and-conquer tactic on us!"
"How despicable!" Dong Sunqi loudly accused. He had almost forgotten who brought Nie Tianqing over to visit today.
Lin Zhixia took command: "Class Monitor Dong, quickly go protect the bubble balls. I'll deal with Nie Tianqing from Group B!"
But Dong Sunqi said, "I am the class monitor! The monitor must be the last to leave!"
The overhead light cast a white glow, illuminating his head. His figure was slender, but his back appeared tall and imposing.
At this moment, Jiang Yubai even recalled the Dunkirk evacuation of the Allied forces. The fierce German army bombarded back and forth, pressing closer step by step, while the hope for survival lingered in the English Channel to the west.
Jiang Yubai bounded up the castle stairs two at a time, leaping to the top level: "Nie Tianqing! Come at me! Don't harm my comrades!"
Nie Tianqing also got into character: "Too late, Jiang Yubai of Group A! You're too late!"
Jiang Yubai trembled and took a step back: "Impossible!"Not only Jiang Yubai, but Nie Tianqing was actually quite astonished too. Just as Jiang Yubai went upstairs, Nie Tianqing played a round of rock-paper-scissors with Lin Zhixia, and surprisingly, Lin Zhixia lost.
Lin Zhixia actually lost!
How could Lin Zhixia lose?
On the left side of the pipe slide, on the castle floor made of soft mats, Lin Zhixia stood motionless. She said, "Everyone, do not grieve for me. My spirit is with you. Facing a formidable enemy, we shall never retreat."
Dong Sunqi shouted, "Never retreat!"
He extended his right hand toward Nie Tianqing: "Rock-paper-scissors!"
Dong Sunqi made a fist, while Nie Tianqing spread his fingers.
Dong Sunqi lost! He froze in place, howling sorrowfully at the sky, "Why! Why won't Heaven grant Team A a way out!"
His cries even reached Team B's base.
Ding Yan and Gan Shuli both leaned over the balcony railing. Watching Nie Tianqing defeat Lin Zhixia and then Dong Sunqi, they found it utterly unbelievable.
With the sun and moon chandeliers hanging between them, Nie Tianqing's gaze passed over the chandeliers. He looked at Ding Yan from afar and shouted loudly, "I defeated Team A!"
"You're wrong," Jiang Yubai responded, "Team A still has me."
He walked toward Nie Tianqing.
He was 9 years old this year, while Nie Tianqing was 13.
Nie Tianqing was a few centimeters taller than Jiang Yubai, forcing Jiang Yubai to look up at him. This feeling was quite unpleasant. Jiang Yubai resolved to grow taller and taller, as tall as his father.
"Make your move," Nie Tianqing said.
Jiang Yubai waved his hand, and Nie Tianqing responded. In this round, Jiang Yubai was scissors, and Nie Tianqing was paper.
"We won!" Lin Zhixia clapped her hands on the spot, "Justice is the ultimate reward, unity is our medal!"
Nie Tianqing glanced at her: "You... what books do you usually read?"
Lin Zhixia retorted, "Which subject?"
Nie Tianqing hesitated, "Chinese?"
Lin Zhixia probed further, "Literature or linguistics?"
"You're only 9," Nie Tianqing frowned, "You seem like a 9-year-old, yet not like one."
Lin Zhixia replied lazily, "You're 13. Do you act like a 13-year-old every day? Who defined what a 13-year-old should be like? Must you follow it?"
Nie Tianqing fell silent.
Suddenly, the main door of the amusement park was knocked, followed by the sound of a doorbell. Jiang Yubai immediately responded, "Come in."
The main door swung open.
The butler entered with two uniformed staff. The three of them pushed a stainless steel food cart carrying pastries, fruits, bread, and hot drinks.
Jiang Yubai straightened his clothes and led his classmates toward the entrance. He said, "Usually when I get tired from playing here, my mom sends me snacks."
Lin Zhixia cheered happily, "Strawberries!"
She took a sip of hot milk and ate a strawberry.
Everyone gathered around the food cart, sitting on the floor, and only then realized how quickly time had passed.
The afternoon battle between Team A and Team B had drained all the students' energy. After wolfing down a ham sandwich and drinking a glass of juice, Ding Yan lay contentedly on the floor.
"The sun is about to set," Nie Tianqing looked out the window, "It's time to go home."
Jiang Yubai had originally wanted to play the piano for Lin Zhixia and show her his family's garden and private museum, but now it seemed there clearly wasn't enough time.However, it was just as well they didn't go. Jiang Yubai occasionally got lost in his own family's garden. How embarrassing would it be if he led Lin Zhixia astray? Having reasoned this through, Jiang Yubai walked to the door and said politely, "I'll have the driver take you home. Give me a call or send a text when you arrive."
Ding Yan pointed at Jiang Yubai. "Jiang Yubai, you're acting completely different now compared to earlier."
Lin Zhixia asked him, "How is Jiang Yubai different?"
Ding Yan clasped his hands behind his head, leaning back on the soft carpet. Not knowing how to describe it, he said, "Just a feeling. Jiang Yubai acts differently around adults."
Before the classmates left, Jiang Yubai handed each of them a gift bag.
"There's a gift inside," Jiang Yubai said.
Dong Sunqi immediately opened his bag and found a compass set and a fountain pen. He immediately threw an arm around Jiang Yubai. "Thanks, man! You didn't have to! My compass just broke too."
The others received identical gifts.
But Lin Zhixia's gift was different. Her bag felt heavy—definitely not just a pen and compass set. She paused on the marble steps, locking eyes with Jiang Yubai for a moment.
The setting sun cast its remaining glow, dyeing the lawn crimson.
Jiang Yubai waved at her. "See you tomorrow."
Lin Zhixia nodded and replied, "See you tomorrow."
As evening approached, Lin Zhixia returned home.
She stepped out of a black Porsche and dashed into Ancheng Residential Complex. She could smell dinner cooking and hear the sizzle of spatulas in pans. Lights were turning on in every household. Clutching the gift bag from Jiang Yubai, she wondered what he had given her.
What could it be?
She pondered and speculated as she walked.
"Lin Zhixia!" Her Dad's voice suddenly reached her ears.
Lin Zhixia stopped at the entrance of their family's convenience store and called out, "Dad!"
There were still customers in the store. Not wanting to make a scene in front of others, Dad called Lin Zhixia into the back room. Lin Zhixia glimpsed Mom sitting by the cash register, her face dark with anger.
In the Lin family's living room—if this cramped space could even be called that—Lin Zhixia's Dad sat on a plastic chair. Her Brother stood nearby with his arms crossed.
A fluorescent lamp about one meter long hung on the wall, its bright light glaring down on Dad's head. Dad demanded, "Where did you go today?"
Lin Zhixia answered obediently, "I went to a classmate's house. I told you beforehand."
"Lin Zhixia, don't lie to me," Brother scolded. "This afternoon, someone came by and told Dad they saw you getting into someone else's car at the complex entrance? Do you realize how dangerous that is? Do you even have a brain, Lin Zhixia?"
Lin Zhixia immediately defended herself, "That was my classmate's family car! I confirmed it multiple times. Lin Zeqiu, don't you dare say I have no brain, or I'll get angry!"
Lin Zeqiu slammed the table, furious. "You think you're in the right? You're my sister—what's wrong with me lecturing you? You're only nine years old! Do you think you're twenty-nine and can go wherever you want? You absolutely have no brain!""Why can you go to other people's houses, but I can't?" Lin Zhixia demanded angrily. "I never went to kindergarten, and I had no friends. When I finally started elementary school, no one wanted to sit next to me. Now I have a deskmate and friends—is it wrong for me to visit a friend's house?"
It was true that Lin Zhixia had never attended kindergarten.
She had been raised under the watchful eyes of her Dad, Mom, and Brother.
The nearest kindergarten was expensive. Moreover, preschool teachers might not be able to attend to every child. Therefore, before Lin Zhixia turned six, she had never been to school. She stayed at home all the time. She learned things quickly.
The Lin family's supermarket had a bookshelf where secondhand books were collected and resold to other customers. Lin Zhixia's early education came entirely from that bookshelf. Before she was even as tall as the cabinet, she learned to move a stool herself, stand on it, and pick out items from the shelves.
She could read ten lines at a glance and never forgot what she read.
She was like a hard sponge, with all external knowledge being raindrops. She absorbed desperately, yet remained unsatisfied. The tutoring materials left behind by college entrance exam students had long been thoroughly studied by her. By now, even undergraduate-level mathematics and physics textbooks no longer posed any questions for her.
She loved spending time in the library. She also used her father's library card to regularly borrow books from the provincial library, each time reaching the borrowing limit.
Her parents had long noticed that Lin Zhixia was different, but they didn't know how to guide her.
Lin Zhixia's Dad even specifically checked the family genealogy—their Lin ancestors for eighteen generations had been farmers toiling under the sun, let alone producing a genius, not even a single scholar had emerged.
Lin Zhixia's birth was an unexpected joy, a true blessing from the ancestors.
Dad said gently to his daughter, "Xia Xia, you don't know how worried your Mom, Brother and I were this afternoon. Your Mom and I thought you'd gone to Gan Shuli's house. We called Gan Shuli's mother and found out you'd gone to Jiang..."
"Jiang Yubai," Lin Zeqiu reminded.
Dad continued, "Right, to Jiang Yubai's house. Dad isn't saying you can't play with boys, but you need to understand that this world is dangerous, cruel, and unsafe, especially for a little girl as pretty as you since childhood..."
"I know," Lin Zhixia coldly interrupted her father.
She said, "I understand what you mean. I know biology, and I've studied criminal psychology too. If you want me to develop in a certain direction, you should give me some freedom—that's the strategy of a greedy algorithm."
Dad sighed. "You know so much, but do you understand a parent's heart?"
Lin Zeqiu chimed in angrily, "She understands nothing! She thinks she's so smart, fearless and reckless! Just yesterday I read in the newspaper about a girl who was thrown into a sack, tossed into a car, and sold to some remote mountains to be a child bride for an old man. She wasn't rescued until ten years later!"
After saying this, Lin Zeqiu took a deep breath. "This afternoon, because of Lin Zhixia, I was scared out of my wits."
Lin Zhixia retorted, "Then why can you go to other people's houses, but I can't?"
Lin Zeqiu was so angry he nearly exploded. "I'm a boy, you're a girl—why do you think you can't? There are so many bad people in this world! Why can't you understand what I'm saying?"Lin Zhixia braced herself against the wall, standing on tiptoe in an attempt to match her brother's height. She looked up at Lin Zeqiu and told him, "Brother, you're so naive. Do boys never encounter bad people? You're the one who truly understands nothing."
Clutching a handbag, she dashed into her bedroom and slammed the door shut with a loud thud.
The handbag was tossed onto the floor.
Two glass lunch boxes tumbled out from the bag.
Lin Zhixia crouched beside the boxes, observing one filled with strawberries and the other containing the Osmanthus cake she hadn't tasted last time. She continued emptying the handbag and discovered an exquisitely crafted wooden box. Opening it, she found a deep blue fountain pen nestled in pure black velvet.
Her thoughts paused for a moment, and she immediately used the landline in her room to dial Jiang Yubai's cellphone number. She intended to thank him and then ponder how to achieve the "reciprocity" between classmates and friends.
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