"Do you really think Aunt Zhao believes it?"
"Of course not. You only believed it for ten seconds, but that's not important. What's important is that if you think about the motive behind this lie a little, you will understand that we are serious."
—Xie Lan pondered over Dou Sheng's last sentence the whole time but still couldn't figure it out.
I arrived at Northwest University with great confusion. I met He Xiu as soon as I got in the car and went straight to the Mathematics and Physics Building with my bag on my back.
At the end of August, the campus of T University was shaded by green trees and blooming flowers. Students were walking around with books and computers in their arms. Bicycles were riding the wind down the slope and whizzing past Xie Lan.
He Xiu showed his student ID in front of the Mathematics and Physics Building, went in, and stopped to wait for Xie Lan for a while.
Xie Lan still stood there, looking back and gazing at the university.
I have been to many top universities in Britain and the United States. Those schools have elegant and solemn buildings and perfectly maintained gardens, but none of them are as large as this one. The rich academic atmosphere and the heavy sense of history are overwhelming, which makes people happy.
Xie Lan trotted again to catch up with He Xiu.
"How do you feel?" He Xiu asked with a faint smile.
“A little surprised.”
"Surprised?" He Xiu was a little surprised. "What's surprising?"
Xie Lan thought for a while, "I thought the scholarly atmosphere was very solemn..." He was not sure if the word solemn was accurate enough, so he paused and continued, "But just now I felt that the scholarly atmosphere here was very lively."
He Xiu raised his lips and smiled, then he climbed up the stairs and said softly, "Indeed."
The written test started in a small classroom. There was a professor named Wu, who was in his forties, and also He Xiu.
After a brief self-introduction, He Xiu went straight to the point, took out a test paper from the file bag and placed it on Xie Lan's desk.
"The written test lasts 3 hours. Choose 2 out of 3 questions to answer. Let's start now."
Xie Lan didn't understand what the 3-choose-2 operation was at first, but after turning over the paper and glancing at the questions, he suddenly understood.
Each IMO competition lasts 4.5 hours and usually has 3 questions. The admissions office sets the exam time based on this average question-solving time.
IMO is not quite the same as the domestic math competition, but for me, it feels familiar. Among the three questions, there is a hunter and rabbit question, which is a variation of the super difficult question in IMO in a certain year. I guess the admissions office of T University assumed that this question would not be selected, so it was kind enough to leave it aside. After that, the first two questions were quite satisfactory.
Xie Lan was a little excited holding the test paper.
The admissions office of T University was very considerate and even gave me an English test paper, which I haven't seen in a long time.
I couldn't help but touch the printed text on the scroll lovingly.
Professor Wu and He Xiu sat in the front. He Xiu also took a test paper, frowned, leaned close to Professor Wu's ear and asked in a low voice. Professor Wu pointed at the test paper and replied.
He Xiu nodded after a long time, and when he glanced over, he saw Xie Lan had already started calculating quickly on the paper.
For 3 hours, Xie Lan had a very satisfying fight after a long time.
Math competitions don't bring this kind of experience. The mental and physical energy consumption during math competitions is very peaceful. Although sometimes I feel confused when I don't understand the questions, and sometimes I think hard when the questions are a bit tricky, it feels like doing ordinary math problems with some brain teasers. It's hard, but it's a weird kind of difficulty. IMO questions are completely different. Each one is as heavy as a whole math test. Brain cells are burning like crazy, and I look for that kind of pleasure in constant deduction and overturning. Even if I take ten dead ends, I still have a kind of self-abuse-like happiness.
He was muttering to himself as he used up a thick stack of calculation paper. From time to time, he would throw his pen on the table, suck his fingers, then pick up the pen and continue writing.
He Xiu moved on the podium several times, as if he wanted to come over to see what was going on, but he was afraid of disturbing everyone, so he didn't move in the end.
When there were about ten minutes left before the end, Xie Lan sat up straight.
The student dropped his pen and raised his hand, "I want to hand in the paper."
He Zheng was about to stand up, but Professor Wu held him down and said to Xie Lan with a smile, "Try the last question as well. It won't count against your time. If you have any ideas, just write them down."
"I have done it." Xie Lan hesitated for a moment, then picked up the light test paper and thick calculation paper, "I have finished three questions."
There was a moment of silence in the classroom, and Professor Wu and He Xiu's expressions were obviously stunned.
Xie Lan explained frankly: "The invisible rabbit question is a real question from two years ago. My former coach taught me to practice it. This question has changed its basic structure, but there are still a few similarities, and it is simpler than the original question, so I tried to do it."
Coach Wu then said "Oh" and turned to look at He Xiu.
He Xiu looked calm, stood up and took the paper in front of him, "What about the other two questions?"
"I haven't done the other two questions before." Xie Lan said, "I feel pretty good when I get started."
Professor Wu asked kindly, "Didn't you grow up in the UK? Why did you choose AMC instead of BMO?"
"They are almost the same," Xie Lan said. "One is from the US and the other is from the UK. I have taken both. But AMC is more widely used in different countries. Before, I... my father also planned to let me apply to schools in the US."
Professor Wu nodded and asked, "Have you ever officially joined the British or American national team?"
Xie Lan shook his head, "Not in time, I have met the coach of the training camp, and he has trained me for a long time."
Professor Wu nodded, took the paper from He Xiu and looked through it.
Xie Lan stood there waiting and watching, then sucked another finger.
After more than ten minutes, Professor Wu raised his head and said, "Let's stop here today. We will discuss the contract tomorrow. Is this your first time at T University?"
Xie Lan was stunned for a moment after hearing this, because the arrangement he received was for an interview tomorrow, but there was no mention of signing a contract.
But he still replied: "It's the first time."
"Then let He Xiu take you around tonight." Professor Wu patted He Xiu's arm and said, "This person is not from our department, but a student assistant from the admissions office this year. Come with him to see the campus. Oh, by the way, is there any social music festival at the School of Architecture tonight?"
He Xiu smiled and said, "Well, our department and the Central Conservatory of Music's student union jointly organized it. I'm taking my junior to relax."
Xie Lan didn’t quite understand, but felt it was very powerful.
said goodbye to the professor and walked out with He Xiu.
Leaving the classroom, He Xiuyi was very approachable and asked with a smile, "How do you feel?"
Xie Lan also breathed a sigh of relief, "That's right. I haven't done an English test in a long time."
He Xiu casually asked, "I saw you throwing your pen repeatedly during the test. Which question was so difficult?"
"No, Senior." Xie Lan sighed, "I got a thorn in my finger."
He Xiu's feet suddenly paused.
From Xie Lan's perspective, his facial lines seemed a little stiff.
He looked at Xie Lan and asked, "What thorn?"
Xie Lan raised the tip of his right index finger that was holding the pen, "Here, can you see it?"
On the premise of keeping a certain distance from him, He Xiu tried to get closer to take a look, then shook his head and said, "I can't see it."
"I can't see it either." Xie Lan retracted his hand, gently twisted the thorny spot with his thumb, and muttered, "It's clearly there, but I just can't see it. This is probably called turning a blind eye."
"…?"
He Xiu revealed a confused expression that was somewhat inconsistent with his cold and handsome face.
I originally thought that the written test would follow the time limit of the mathematics competition and would only take an hour, but it ended up taking almost four hours. It was still noon when I entered the building, and through the corridor window on the upper floor, I saw that it was already evening outside.
There is a low round teaching building nearby. A large group of students are coming out of the building. The wind brings the sound of their chatting and laughing into the window, which is so real.
He Xiu said as he walked upstairs, "The admissions office originally wanted to recruit you directly, but Professor Wu was reluctant. Today's test paper probably convinced him completely. From what I heard, you will most likely be exempted from the interview."
Xie Lan walked beside the teacher with his schoolbag on his back, looking a little absent-minded.
He Xiu called: "Xie Lan?"
"Hmm?" Xie Lan came back to his senses, "What's wrong?"
He Xiu laughed, "What are you thinking about?"
“No…” They passed by another window, which faced the opposite direction of the previous one, towards the shade of a tree.
Xie Lan glanced quickly at the lush branches and leaves and sighed softly.
Suddenly I missed Dou Sheng a little.
Although we had dinner together at home yesterday, it felt like we had been separated for a long time.
18:18. Dou Sheng should have boarded the high-speed train by now, so we should be able to meet soon.
Thinking of this, Xie Lan's mood brightened up again. "What concert was Professor Wu talking about just now?"
He Xiu smiled and said, "It's our hospital. It's about to start. I'll take you there."
you
Xie Lan just stepped onto the last few steps on the first floor. The hall of the mathematics and physics building was open, and a familiar figure was standing by a tree outside the building.
It's the person I was thinking about just now.
Dou Sheng casually pulled at the thin and tough branch hanging by the side of his face, wondering whether or not to send Xie Lan a message.
If not, the waiting would be a bit boring, but if yes, I'm afraid of disturbing Xie Lan's exam.
"Dou Sheng."
The evening breeze suddenly brought Xie Lan's voice into my ears.
Dou Sheng turned around unexpectedly, and Xie Lan ran up the stairs in front of him and rushed in front of him like the wind, bumping into him.
She suddenly realized what was happening and caught her boyfriend with both hands, hugging him tightly.
When we were young, hugs were all hard, with bones touching bones, and they had to hurt each other before it seemed like proof of their close relationship.
But if the relationship gets closer, you will find that both of you are still soft.
"I've been waiting for you here." Dou Sheng sank his fingers into Xie Lan's fingers and clenched them.
Xie Lan nodded and immediately asked, "How is Aunt Zhao?"
"I'm sleeping at home. I didn't sleep well last night." Dou Sheng said, and he wanted to pinch her fingers subconsciously, but the action suddenly paused, "Have you removed the thorns?"
"No." Xie Lan felt the pain in his fingertips again when he heard that. "Help me check it out when we get home tonight."
After Xie Lan said this, he suddenly remembered He Xiu and turned away a little embarrassedly, but saw He Xiu walking towards him with a smile and putting his phone in his trouser pocket.
"Let's go. My boyfriend has taken up a picnic blanket over there and it's about to be lost."
The music party was held outdoors. There was an open lawn between the two teaching buildings and a shallow grove of trees behind them. There was a pit in the middle, surrounded by slopes, and picnic blankets were spread everywhere on the slopes. Students chatted and played in groups of three or five, and a few people occupied a hammock between two big trees and read books on tablets under the moonlight.
There were two student bands from the Central Conservatory of Music, one orchestral band and the other folk music band. Both sides played as the music pleased, interweaving with each other, and the surroundings were immersed in a relaxing atmosphere.
As soon as Xie Lan and the others entered, they saw a boy with very fair skin wearing a red T-shirt jumping up and waving not far away.
He Xiu's "boyfriend" was the boy whom she saw from a distance in the administration building of Yingzhong last time.
They walked around the picnic blankets all over the ground. The boy rushed over and hung on He Xiu, half of his body hiding behind him. He waved at Xie Lan and Dou Sheng, "Hello, juniors, are you done with the exam?"
Xie Lan nodded and took off her schoolbag. "Hello, senior. I'm Xie Lan."
Dou Sheng casually took the bag and threw it on the grass beside him. "I'm Dou Sheng."
"I'm Yes Si. Please sit down." Yes Si sat down, and then asked He Xiu to sit down as well, and quickly opened the paper bag on the ground.
There were four words printed on the paper bag: "Fat Brother's Kebabs".
"This is delicious." Yesi said, "The big bag is spicy, the small bag is not spicy, take what you want to eat."
He pulled out a huge thermos from his backpack and said, "I also brought peach wine and ice cubes. I made them myself. They're really strong."
He Xiu heard this and moved closer to sniff, "Is it time?"
"Here we are, here we are. I've been drinking secretly for a week." Yesi filled up four cups. "Come on, future junior, have one."
Xie Lan was originally planning to break the ice in his heart, but it seemed that there was no need to do so. He glanced at Dou Sheng, who raised his glass naturally, so he did the same, and the four of them clinked their glasses casually.
The peach wine is very cold. As soon as you take a sip, the sweetness of peach rushes to your head, and then the taste of wine spreads on the tip of your tongue. It is really delicious.
Xie Lan drank half the cup in one gulp. When he put down the cup, he felt a wave of dizziness rushing to his head, like a sea wave, which slowly subsided after a while.
Dou Sheng drank a cup in two gulps, and Ye Si poured him another cup. Dou Sheng said to Xie Lan, "Have some more. You have an interview tomorrow."
He Xiu smiled, "I think we can discuss the terms tomorrow and sign the contract. You did very well on the written test today."
Dou Sheng curled his lips upon hearing this, but quickly regained his composure and said lightly, "Xie Lan is just great."
The aroma of grilled meat, cumin, and wine mixed together. Xie Lan sat next to Yesi, and she didn't know if it was an illusion, but she felt a faint smell of disinfectant on him.
"Senior, are you also from T University?"
Ye Siya bit the skewer and said vaguely: "Just call me by my name, don't call me senior. I'm from next door."
Dou Sheng nodded, "What's your major?"
“Clinical Medicine.”
Xie Lan was stunned. "Medical student?"
He Xiu smiled and continued, "Isn't that amazing? In a few years, you will be Doctor Ye."
Hearing this, Ye Si kicked him and said, "Stop supporting me. If the hospital doesn't accept internships next year, I will kill you."
Dou Sheng then asked about their college entrance examination experience that year. Xie Lan listened to their conversation with one ear and the band's performance with the other.
There are two violinists here tonight, both are very good, and one of them is especially good. The one playing the violin is a senior girl in a black dress.
The other side's Pipa band was also very impressive. The seemingly random student band was actually very luxuriously equipped with Pipa and drums. The passionate Pipa playing just now had Xie Lan so fascinated that the whole audience applauded when it ended. Someone even called out the name of the song, "The Qin King's Battle Music".
Xie Lan couldn't help but clap along, and only after the music paused did he start to dance again with a hint of nostalgia.
Ye Si lay on He Xiu's legs in a very ungraceful manner and ate with a bamboo stick, while He Xiu was chatting with Dou Sheng.
"Old Ma is going to teach the senior year again." He Xiu sighed with a smile, "Last time he said he would never teach the senior year, and now he's been slapped in the face again."
"It is said that this is the last time we will teach the senior class." Dou Sheng poured another glass of peach wine, "Who knows."
Xie Lan didn't know that he had drunk three cups in this time, but he could see from the night that his cheeks were very red.
Dou Sheng's face turns red very easily when he drinks, and the only time he turned red was when he drank a lot.
"You are the up-loader, right?" He Xiu asked with a smile, "I think I've seen your video before, the one where you speak in dialect."
Dou Sheng remained calm and said, "It's me." He paused and asked, "Have you seen Xie Lan's?"
“I’ve seen it!” Yesi struggled to raise his hand. “The one that was really popular a while ago, blah blah blah, ding ding ding dong—that song. What anime was it from?”
Xie Lan was shocked. "Are you talking about Shi Jianxin Mingyue?"
"Yes!" Yes clapped his hands, "I like it very much. I even learned to sing it."
Xie Lan: “…”
No comment.
Xie Lan's cell phone suddenly vibrated, and he took it out, only to see Aunt Zhao on the screen.
After being stunned for a moment, Dou Sheng patted the back of her hand and said, "Go answer it."
"Yeah." Xie Lan quickly got up, found an empty tree with his phone, and answered the call.
"Aunt Zhao." He was so nervous that his heart was pounding. He answered the phone and said immediately, "I just finished the exam with my seniors and Dou Sheng. I'm sorry that Aunt Zhao didn't tell you right away. Dou Sheng said you were asleep, so I haven't..."
Zhao Wenying smiled and asked, "How did you do in the exam?"
His voice was very gentle, perhaps because he was sick, it was even softer than usual.
The words that Xie Lan had been holding in his throat suddenly disappeared, his heartbeat suddenly slowed down a little, and he said slowly: "I did very well in the exam. I will go back with Dou Sheng tomorrow night and bring back some delicious food from here."
She paused for a moment, looked at Dou Sheng in the distance, lowered her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry, Aunt Zhao."
The music started again on the lawn, this time it was a violin solo, melodious and soothing, but there was a hint of loneliness in the night.
The noisy voices stopped, the world became quiet, and everyone listened to the violin performance.
It's captivating, this is the magic of the violin.
There was silence on the phone for a long time, and then Zhao Wenying sighed softly.
"If you and Dou Sheng are serious, Aunt Zhao can bless you." Zhao Wenying said softly, "But you have to be responsible for yourselves and each other. In addition to not delaying your studies, you two have some influence on the Internet. It's okay to be a little bit wild, but you have to know the limit and know how to protect yourself, understand?"
The evening breeze was warm, and Xie Lan suddenly choked up. He paused for a moment in embarrassment before humming, "I see. Thank you, Aunt Zhao."
Zhao Wenying didn't say anything else. She reminded him to lock his door at the hotel and not to leave his ID on the plane. Before hanging up, she also casually mentioned that Dou Sheng should take her to eat Peking duck tomorrow. In fact, it would be fine if they didn't have time to play for a day.
After hanging up the phone, Xie Lan stood behind the big tree and stared at the violin humming in the wind for a long time.
It was so long that the violin finished playing three solos. Dou Sheng looked back a few times. Each time he smiled faintly and turned back, leaving her alone.
The sky went from gloomy to dusky, and another piece of music started on the field. This time it was a combination of orchestral and folk music, and it was the last piece of music tonight.
When the prelude sounded, Xie Lanfang felt his legs were numb from standing. He walked slowly back to the picnic blanket, only to see that Ye Si was already sitting on He Xiu's lap. He Xiu was holding her waist, his lips touching her cheek vaguely, and whispering something.
Xie Lan shifted his gaze somewhat embarrassedly and sat next to Dou Sheng with his back to them.
Dou Sheng was live streaming on his phone, with the rear camera facing the band on the stage.
When Xie Lan went over, he heard a low, magnetic voice, "You're back."
Dou Sheng's face was all red from his ears to his cheeks and deep into his neck. He glanced back at Xie Lan, his black eyes were clear as if they were soaked in a pool of water, his eyes trembled slightly, and he looked drunk.
The screen is full of confusing comments.
-What's back
-Who's back? Xie Lan
- Didn't you go to London
-I was confused. Didn't Xie Lan come to T University for an exam today? Why did he go to London? And why did he come back
-It is reasonable to suspect that London is the name of a street in city B... This back and forth is too fast
-Where are you now? Where are you? Where are you guys? ?
Xie Lan was stunned and nudged Dou Sheng with his elbow. "What are you talking about?"
-Xie Lan is next to you?
- Damn, you're poisonous
-What’s the phone number of the anti-fraud center
Dou Sheng turned around and glanced at Xie Lan quickly, then looked away and sighed softly.
"Do you have a problem understanding? When did I say I was going back to London? What I just said was, ahem, listen carefully, the greatest fear in my life came when I knew Xie Lan was going back to London."
Xie Lan's heart trembled, and her cheeks quickly heated up. She pulled at his sleeve and said, "Stop talking nonsense."
-?
-Isn't this what we thought it meant
-Bean, did something happen to you? Mom is so worried.
Dou Sheng was a little speechless. He threw his phone onto the grass and watched the live screen go dark. He muttered, "That's right. I didn't say that what I know must be right. I misunderstood."
-…
-Off. Spectrum.
-I...I x you...
-Just go ahead and be wild, we fans are shameless
- Stop scolding, stop scolding, Douzi is drunk, isn't it obvious
-I've been following Douzi for three years, and this is the first time I've seen it.
-Really, I always thought that I could drink a thousand cups without falling down.
-Beans, please let us pick them up, thank you
"No." Dou Sheng raised his hand to put on Xie Lan's shoulder, and gently played the piano on his collarbone, "Quit the live broadcast yourself, I'm too lazy to move."
-…
- I'll crawl along the network cable and beat you to death
-Are there any big audiences? Go put on the sack!
Xie Lan leaned close to Dou Sheng's ear and asked quietly, "Are you drunk?"
“A little bit.” Dou Sheng blinked a little slower than usual. He stared at her for a while and whispered, “You almost scared me to death today.”
As he spoke, his center of gravity was not stable. Although one hand was holding Xie Lan's waist, his lips were still close to Xie Lan's ear bone.
Xie Lan said “Hmm…”
-What are you talking about? I can't hear you even if I prick up my ears
- I heard music and loud background noise
-It's too noisy. You two probably didn't talk.
-But it's weird that neither of them is talking anymore
-I always feel like something big is about to happen
- Same, hold your breath and wait
- I just don't dare to move at this moment
Dou Sheng stared at Xie Lan for a long time, then leaned over to pick up his phone. The live broadcast screen shook violently on the lawn, and then disconnected very roughly.
The host is browsing Bilibili, come back later.
Question marks flew across the comment area.
The music on the field ended with a gorgeous final note. Dou Sheng pressed Xie Lan to the grass and gently kissed her boyfriend's eyes.
Those eyes that had been separated for a whole day and night.