Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai had been deskmates for a week.
During this week, they had developed a deeper understanding of each other.
Back when Jiang Yubai was attending elementary school in Singapore, no one in the entire grade could match him. Now, after returning to China, he was no longer his former self. Every morning, he even felt reluctant to get out of bed, dreading school.
This absolutely couldn’t continue!
To rebuild his self-esteem, Jiang Yubai officially regarded Lin Zhixia as his competitor. He also requested his parents: “I want to learn physics.”
At that moment, the family was having dinner.
The dining room was surrounded by six enormous floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, the vast darkness of night had dyed the entire lawn, while inside, the crystal chandelier shone brilliantly. Jiang Yubai picked up a glass, and even the cold water inside gleamed under the dazzling light.
Jiang Yubai took a sip of cold water and repeated: “I want to learn physics.”
His mother put down her chopsticks and asked: “Why did you suddenly have this idea?”
Jiang Yubai’s mother was approaching forty but was exceptionally well-maintained. Her face had not a single wrinkle, delicate and beautiful, graceful in every glance, making it impossible to guess her age. She was very beautiful, and her tone was equally gentle: “How old are you, Jiang Yubai? You already have so many classes to attend, it would be too exhausting to learn more.”
“It’s not exhausting,” Jiang Yubai held up his rice bowl and declared firmly, “I like physics.”
“Is that so?” his father casually asked.
Jiang Yubai nodded: “Yes.”
His father asked him: “Every week, besides going to school, you also have martial arts classes, piano lessons, English and French studies at home. Can you manage all that?”
This question stumped Jiang Yubai.
His father continued: “Your mother and I both want you to have a relaxed and happy childhood. If you’re truly interested in physics, of course, we’re willing to nurture that interest. But you’ve never mentioned it before, never talked with us about physics, and today you suddenly changed your mind and insist on studying physics. What’s going on?”
His father had just returned from the company and was still wearing a shirt and suit. While talking to Jiang Yubai, his expression remained unchanged, but his gaze examining his son was full of inquiry.
Jiang Yubai sensed his father’s deeper meaning. His parents didn’t seem to want him to pursue a scientific path in physics research.
He said: “I’ll think about it some more.”
His father raised his hand and gently patted Jiang Yubai’s shoulder: “Mathematics is the conceptual expression of physical reality. If you want to learn physics, you might as well study mathematics. I only have one son, and when you grow up, you’ll inherit my…”
His mother coughed once, and his father changed his words: “Of course, I don’t want to pressure you.”
Jiang Yubai lowered his head and ate his rice.
He couldn’t help wondering: What attitude did Lin Zhixia’s parents have toward her? Would her parents support her no matter what she did or studied?
To resolve this question, the next afternoon after school, Jiang Yubai sent a text message to his driver: I’m going to the stationery store with a classmate to buy supplies. Please wait for me at the school gate for half an hour.
The driver replied: Alright, Young Master Jiang.
*
After a week of school, Jiang Yubai had made a friend. This friend was named Ding Yan.
Ding Yan had been learning Taekwondo since childhood, while Jiang Yubai often practiced martial arts. The two of them had fought on the school playground over the debate of “which is stronger, Chinese martial arts or Korean Taekwondo”—boys’ friendships are strange. After the fight, they came to admire each other, discussed the hardships of practicing martial arts, understood each other, and thus became good friends.
Jiang Yubai told Ding Yan his plan: “I want to follow Lin Zhixia.”
Ding Yan was startled: “What?”
Jiang Yubai explained in detail: “Lin Zhixia has said that her home is close to school. We’ll follow her together, and we can reach her home in fifteen minutes.”
“She… she’s not someone to mess with. Before you transferred here, no one wanted to be her deskmate,” Ding Yan warned.
At five in the afternoon, the sun was slanting westward. As dusk approached, dark red clouds filled the sky, and only the day’s duty students remained in the classroom. The warm glow of the setting sun penetrated a window, carving golden powder-like traces between the desks and chairs. Lin Zhixia arranged the desks and chairs, finished sweeping the floor, said goodbye to the labor committee member, and walked out of the classroom with her backpack.
She didn’t look back.
Jiang Yubai grabbed Ding Yan, strictly executing the “tracking plan.”
“If she discovers us,” Ding Yan warned, “you’re dead.”
But Jiang Yubai said: “If she kills me, she won’t have a deskmate anymore.”
Ding Yan shook his head: “No, you’re wrong, she doesn’t hit people. But those who offend her…”
Jiang Yubai asked in a low voice: “What happens if you offend Lin Zhixia?”
Ding Yan didn’t know how to begin.
After hesitating for a moment, Ding Yan said: “People who offend Lin Zhixia all become extremely unlucky. For instance, Zhou Bufeng, who sits in front of you, likes to steal things from others. He steals pens, steals money. Zhou Bufeng also stole from Lin Zhixia… then during PE class, he was always stung by a swarm of wasps. Zhou Bufeng told us that Lin Zhixia is a freak.”
Jiang Yubai coldly mocked: “You believe what a thief says?”
Ding Yan immediately said: “I-I don’t believe it.”
Jiang Yubai sarcastically remarked without mercy: “Are you afraid of Lin Zhixia? You, a boy, afraid of a girl…”
Ding Yan tightly gripped his backpack straps: “Who’s afraid of her? I’m not afraid at all!”
Jiang Yubai ran quickly forward: “Keep up with me!”
Ding Yan was very helpless. He could only keep pace with Jiang Yubai, jointly exploring Lin Zhixia’s family environment. He also told Jiang Yubai that he had seen Lin Zhixia’s mother during a previous parent-teacher meeting at school. He said: “Lin Zhixia’s mother is quite pretty.”
Jiang Yubai casually remarked: “Lin Zhixia is also very pretty.”
After saying this, his face turned bright red.
He simply couldn’t forgive himself for making such a grave error in front of his classmate.