The Lin family's living room is small, the walls are painted white, and the furniture is about 60% to 70% new.
The armrests and backrest of the sofa were covered with a beige embroidered cloth to keep out dust. The sofa had been used for a long time, the cushions were slightly sagging, the edges were faded, and it looked a little worn, but it was kept neatly.
"Please sit down first. I'll bring you some fruit." Lin Zhixia greeted him generously.
Jiang Yubai stood motionless at the entrance: "Should I change my shoes?"
Lin Zhixia was well prepared.
A few days ago, she bought a pair of brand new men's slippers, secretly wrapped them in a plastic bag, and hid them in a clean box on the top floor of the shoe cabinet.
Now, in front of Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia took out the plastic bag and handed it to Jiang Yubai. Then, she shouted towards the kitchen: "Mom, my friend came in."
The mother was cooking in the kitchen. When she heard her daughter's voice, she put down the spatula and walked towards the living room.
The aroma of food drifted into the living room - it was the aroma of braised chicken legs, which Lin Zhixia was very familiar with. She happily circled around her mother and expressed her feelings in plain words: "Thank you, mom. Mom has made a lot of delicious dishes. My friend will definitely like them."
Mom didn't reply. She saw Jiang Yubai, paused for a moment, and then asked, "Xia Xia, is this your good friend who you have known for five years?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia introduced, "Jiang Yubai was my deskmate in Experimental Primary School. The day after I got a fever after getting the hepatitis B vaccine, Jiang Yubai came to our house to give me my homework. Mom, do you remember?"
Mom had a vague impression. She clutched her apron tightly and lowered her voice: "Please sit down. Sit down."
Jiang Yubai's attitude was polite and courteous: "Hello, Auntie. I'm Jiang Yubai. I transferred to the Experimental Primary School in the fourth grade of primary school, and later skipped a grade to study in the competition class of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School. I was Lin Zhixia's classmate in primary school and junior high school."
Lin Zhixia observed her mother's expression and added positively: "Jiang Yubai is in the top five in our junior high school. When I participated in competitions, Jiang Yubai would always rank first in the grade. I often discuss problems in mathematics, physics, philosophy, and economics with Jiang Yubai. Jiang Yubai has carefully read every paper I published."
Mom smiled and loosened her apron with her fingers: "All the students in No. 1 Middle School are good kids."
Jiang Yubai would never go to someone's house empty-handed when he visited. He took out a can of green tea, a box of Hong Kong-style cakes, and a set of exquisite tea sets, and slowly placed them on the table as gifts for visiting. Lin Zhixia and her mother kept watching him.
Jiang Yubai took a step back and said politely: "I brought something, it tastes pretty good..."
Before Jiang Yubai could finish his sentence, Lin Zhixia interrupted him and said, "You came to my house to play, I can't accept your things for no reason."
"This is not for no reason," Jiang Yubai defended, "Auntie cooked a lot of dishes, I want to treat her to tea."
Lin Zhixia suddenly approached Jiang Yubai and asked him softly, "Jiang Yubai, you have changed a lot. You can talk now compared to when you were a child. Did you read a lot of books when you were studying in Beijing? Did you use the 31-day bookmark I gave you?"
Perhaps because she didn’t want her mother to hear, Lin Zhixia’s voice became very soft: “Use a bookmark every day and think of Lin Zhixia once a day.”
Jiang Yubai fell into a long-lost state of being at a loss for words.
He stood there quietly, his ears slightly red. He slowly turned his face to avoid Lin Zhixia's gaze. His immature and ignorant look made Lin Zhixia's mother feel relieved.
My mother ordered, "Xia Xia, watch TV with your friend for a while. The pressure cooker is still stewing pig's trotters. I'm going to check the fire."
"Okay, Mom." Lin Zhixia agreed.
Mom turned around and went to the kitchen to cook. At noon today, she prepared a sumptuous meal of six dishes and one soup to entertain Lin Zhixia's good friends.
Lin Zhixia brought a glass basin from the kitchen, which was filled with oranges, bananas, longans, lychees and other fruits that were easy to peel. She placed the glass basin on the coffee table, bent down, and gently pushed the coffee table, moving it closer to Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai sat on the sofa, hesitated for a moment, and picked up a lychee.
He peeled the fruit and the rich juice splashed everywhere.
Lin Zhixia opened a pack of wet wipes, took one out and handed it to him. Lin Zhixia also said, "I bought some fruits and put them in the refrigerator to chill them for a while. It's too hot today, and I'm afraid you will feel uncomfortable."
The outdoor temperature was as high as 34 degrees, and Lin Zhixia's home did not have air conditioning.
The floor fan was facing them, spinning and blowing a gust of wind. Lin Zhixia's skirt was like a lotus leaf in a pond, flowing with the waves and floating gracefully. She held her skirt tightly with both hands, letting the edge of the fabric cover her knees.
Jiang Yubai looked ahead without looking away: "Thank you for your preparations."
"You're welcome. Why are you being so polite to me?" Lin Zhixia said generously.
Jiang Yubai's words just now were unconscious. In fact, Lin Zhixia's advice kept echoing in his mind: use a bookmark every day and think about Lin Zhixia once a day.
Lin Zhixia stared at his profile, unable to guess what he was thinking about. He glanced at her, as if he had noticed her peeping: "Are you still looking at me?"
Lin Zhixia asked him: "Is it not possible?"
Jiang Yubai didn't reply. He just smiled. This smile was extraordinary. His eyes were smiling, and everything around him was dyed with warm colors. Lin Zhixia's cheeks flushed.
Lin Zhixia stammered, "I... I won't look at you anymore."
Jiang Yubai suggested: "Let's watch TV."
Lin Zhixia found the remote control and pressed the switch.
On the wooden cabinet against the wall stood a 28-inch color TV. This TV was produced in the last century and accompanied Lin Zhixia throughout her childhood. Lin Zhixia loved watching TV when she was a child, but since she entered junior high school, her entertainment time has been reduced a lot, and she is not sure what programs are more interesting now.
Lin Zhixia simply asked him, "Which channel do you like?"
Jiang Yubai said honestly: "Science and education."
Lin Zhixia happened to turn to CCTV-7.
As we all know, CCTV-7 is a military and agricultural channel. At this moment, CCTV-7 is broadcasting "Greenhouse Vegetable Cultivation" for viewers.
So, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai observed the growth experience of greenhouse vegetables together.
CCTV-7 invited a professor of agriculture to explain in detail "How greenhouses use bees for pollination in winter". In the cold winter, hardworking bees shuttled through the greenhouses, efficiently collecting nectar from vegetables. Several small bees got stuck in the gaps of the film. Experts suggested that vegetable farmers conduct manual intervention and take timely action to save the bees.
Lin Zhixia was watching with great interest, but Jiang Yubai was absent-minded.
Lin Zhixia added: "A few years ago, there was a hornet's nest hanging outside the window of my brother's room. Have you ever seen a hornet? It is much scarier than a bee. A hornet is this big..."
She measured the length with her fingers.
Jiang Yubai lowered his head and looked at her fingers: "Are you scared?"
Lin Zhixia revealed: "I'm fine. I didn't panic when I saw the wasp. My brother is different. He was bitten by a centipede when he was a child, and he is very afraid of insects. When he saw the wasp's nest, he almost went crazy."
Just today, Jiang Yubai grasped Lin Zeqiu's weakness.
Jiang Yubai didn't expect that Lin Zeqiu looked so cold and would collapse when he saw a small insect.
There were bugs in Jiang Yubai's back garden. Even though the gardeners worked hard to remove bugs and weeds, and raise fish and birds, a few flying insects would inevitably escape in the midsummer. Jiang Yubai never cared about those creatures. He didn't react when he saw a wasp, unless it got really aggressive and stung him.
He commented: "Lin Zeqiu's personality... is quite special."
"Yeah." Lin Zhixia agreed.
Jiang Yubai lowered his head and picked up another lychee.
Lin Zhixia's hands were even faster. She had already peeled off most of the hard shell, revealing the white flesh. She pinched the remaining shell, held the lychee steady, and reached her hand to Jiang Yubai's mouth - this move caught Jiang Yubai off guard.
Jiang Yubai immediately stepped back and sat at the corner of the sofa, calling her name: "Lin Zhixia."
Lin Zhixia's mother often fed her lychees, which left a model for her to imitate in her subconscious. She saw Jiang Yubai pick up a lychee and peeled one for him. When he read out her name, she suddenly realized that her behavior was inappropriate.
Her cheeks flushed, she felt embarrassed and annoyed: "You... I, why can't I speak?"
Jiang Yubai remained calm: "It's okay, don't worry, if you have anything to say, you can speak slowly."
Lin Zhixia stood up and invited: "I'll show you my room."
Jiang Yubai followed Lin Zhixia into her bedroom.
The bedroom is clean and tidy, with bright windows and clean desks. The walls are painted light pink, full of the atmosphere of a girl's life. Lin Zhixia has three stuffed toys on her bed - the little penguin she won at the aquarium, the kitten Jiang Yubai gave her, and the Swiss mountain dog Jiang Yubai gave her.
On the first shelf of Lin Zhixia's bookcase, there are a bunch of birthday gifts she received, including a hairpin box, a crystal palace, a physics exercise book, and a spaceship model - all of these things were made by Jiang Yubai.
In short, Jiang Yubai's shadow is everywhere.
Jiang Yubai didn't show it on the surface, but he was secretly happy in his heart. He was about to talk to Lin Zhixia when she suddenly squatted down.
Lin Zhixia pulled out a wooden box from under the bed. The box contained scattered parts, circuit boards, and various tools. Lin Zhixia reached out and rummaged around for a while, and said, "This summer, we can make robots together."
"Making a robot in your home?" Jiang Yubai stood beside her.
"We can go to school," Lin Zhixia planned seriously, "As long as I tell the teacher, the teacher will give me a classroom... Let's go to school. The school has air conditioning and many computers."
Jiang Yubai suggested tactfully: "I also have air conditioning and many computers at home."
"My father doesn't let me go to your house anymore." Lin Zhixia sighed softly.
Jiang Yubai asked in a low voice: "Why?"
Lin Zhixia held her chin with one hand: "The rate of girls under 18 being abused is much higher than that of adult girls over 18. Maybe because of this reason, my father and brother are strict with me."
Jiang Yubai thought for a moment and said succinctly: "From their perspective, I can understand them."
Lin Zhixia held a hammer and hammered the edge of the wooden box: "Jiang Yubai, you are so kind and considerate."
"Thank you for the compliment." Jiang Yubai responded modestly.
Lin Zhixia pushed the box in front of Jiang Yubai.
Jiang Yubai's elective courses in high school included mathematics, physics, economics, and advanced mathematics. He spent a lot of time studying physics, and his physics tutor taught him circuit knowledge systematically. But he never thought about burning a circuit board himself.
He is very interested in robots.
He sat on the floor, looked through the box, and asked, "What other parts do you need?"
Lin Zhixia turned on the electric fan and sat next to him.
The fan created flowing air, and the rotating blades were facing Jiang Yubai. Lin Zhixia felt more clearly that Jiang Yubai smelled good - it was a fresh and elegant, almost imperceptible scent that reminded her of mint in the summer.
Lin Zhixia moved closer to him and proudly declared, "I earned a lot of scholarship money, I want to buy my own parts."
Jiang Yubai said, "We are making robots together, and you should let me bear part of the responsibility."
"Since you said so," Lin Zhixia turned her head to look at him, "Well, I'll make a list for you."
Jiang Yubai took out a circuit board and said, "If I can't finish it during the summer vacation, I will bring everything to Beijing. We will complete the work in Beijing."
"Okay, okay!" Lin Zhixia agreed happily.
Jiang Yubai observed the structure of the route, and Lin Zhixia patiently explained it to him.
Lin Zhixia said that she wanted to make a humanoid robot. She would first use SolidWorks to draw the model, Adams to do the dynamic analysis, and Altium Designer to preset the PCB circuit diagram. It would be best if she could install a camera and a sound transceiver, and then use the pattern recognition algorithm to analyze the video images, and the natural language processing algorithm to analyze the tokens... In short, her and Jiang Yubai's robots must learn to avoid obstacles and implement simple voice responses.
Lin Zhixia became more and more excited as she spoke, and could hardly stop.
Jiang Yubai remained rational and asked calmly, "You mentioned cameras, sensors, sound transceivers, and all the hardware and software equipment. How much do they cost together? Is your scholarship enough?"
Lin Zhixia blinked.
She did a quick calculation of the expenses and was suddenly speechless.
Her ideal robot is a bottomless pit that burns money.
Lin Zhixia said nothing, Jiang Yubai asked, "How much is it?"
Lin Zhixia asked back: "Jiang Yubai, have you ever earned a scholarship?"
During his three years in junior high school, Jiang Yubai also earned a scholarship at the Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
Jiang Yubai clearly remembers that he earned 700 yuan.
His mother said, "700 yuan can buy a lot of things."
His father said, "Not bad, 700 yuan is a lot."
Only his uncle told the truth: "Xiao Jiang, you are very good, and you are worthy of being your father and mother's son. However, your father and mother do not earn more than 700 yuan a minute."
Jiang Yubai was not discouraged. He knew that when he grew up, he would be able to make a fortune and reach the level of his parents. So he said calmly: "I made 700 yuan."
Lin Zhixia patted his shoulder and said, "Let's make a simple robot, not something fancy."
Jiang Yubai actually said: "I want something fancy."
Lin Zhixia seemed to be thinking about something.
Jiang Yubai described it in detail: "I hope the robot can talk, make gestures, and avoid obstacles."
Lin Zhixia held onto the wooden box with both hands, and Jiang Yubai discussed with her, "You can treat me as your partner. You invest in technology, and I invest in capital. We are both shareholders of the robot company."
Lin Zhixia accepted his proposal. But she looked hesitant: "It may cost tens of thousands of RMB..."
Jiang Yubai almost said: Just tens of thousands will be enough
He thought for a moment and changed his tone: "Okay, I believe in your plan."
Lin Zhixia cheered up and threw herself into the task of making the robot. She moved a chair and placed it in front of the desk, letting Jiang Yubai sit next to her.
Then, she opened a word document on her computer: "Jiang Yubai, let's start with 'requirements design'. I want to record the functions of the robot and then send the document to your email."
Jiang Yubai placed his hands on the keyboard. He typed out a line of words: A robot made by Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai.
Lin Zhixia nodded and said approvingly: "Well, it is a testimony to our friendship."
Jiang Yubai looked at the screen and smiled gently: "Give it a name."
Lin Zhixia listed a series of words in one breath: "Xia Bai, Zhiyu, Lin Jiang, strawberry and lychee... I just found out today that you like to eat lychees."
Jiang Yubai only said: "The name Strawberry Lychee is not solemn enough."
Lin Zhixia made the decision: "Lin Jiang, call it Lin Jiang, with a name and surname."
Jiang Yubai used black bold font to mark the robot's name - Lin Jiang.
The bedroom window was wide open, and the summer breeze penetrated the screen window, with warm and long airflow. The wall reflected the swaying shadows of the trees, the cicadas chirped non-stop, and the fan stood behind Jiang Yubai, bringing him a special coolness - this was different from the central air conditioning in his home. Perhaps it was his psychological effect, he always felt that Lin Zhixia's bedroom was hidden with the sweet fragrance of strawberries.
The atmosphere in the room was very relaxed, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia discussed the specific functions of the robot. After a heated and detailed discussion, Jiang Yubai set fourteen goals, and Lin Zhixia marked the software and hardware needed for each goal.
Lin Zhixia was in a very good mood.
The blue sky and white clouds outside the window are a reflection of her inner self. She seems to be floating on the clouds, walking in the air, and wandering in a free space.
At twelve o'clock noon, Lin Zhixia's mother prepared lunch.
Mom stood in the living room and called out, "Xia Xia, it's time to eat. What are you and your friends doing? Are you hungry?"
Lin Zhixia just printed out a requirement document for the robot. She handed the paper document to her mother and said, "Mom, Jiang Yubai and I are planning to make a robot. We have been discussing the details of the robot's functions."
The mother took a quick look and said, "Xia Xia's friends are all the smartest kids."
The paper document was placed on the dining table by her mother. She turned around and told Lin Zhixia, "I remember your father told me about Jiang Yubai."
"What did you say?" Lin Zhixia asked in a thorough manner.
Her mother reminded her: "The secretary of the Parent-Teacher Conference...Did your father tell you about this?"
Lin Zhixia knew what her mother was talking about: the "secretary incident at the parent-teacher meeting."
Every time the school held a parent-teacher conference, Lin Zhixia's father would take the initiative to attend. According to the school's rules, parents should sit in their children's seats. Logically, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai were deskmates, and their parents should have met long ago. However, Lin Zhixia's father had never met Jiang Yubai's parents. He had only met the secretary of Jiang Yubai's mother's secretary.
That’s right, Jiang Yubai’s mother’s secretary also has a secretary.
The secretary of Jiang Yubai's mother's secretary was a girl in her twenties. She represented Jiang Yubai's parents and attended several parent-teacher conferences. She communicated with teachers of various subjects and recorded all the teachers' words with a recorder, which left a deep impression on Lin Zhixia's father.
Lin Zhixia was thinking about her father when her father walked into the house.
Dad, wearing a cotton T-shirt, short cloth pants, and a pair of flip-flops, walked straight into the living room. When he saw Lin Zhixia, he raised his hand and touched her head: "Xia Xia, is your friend here?"
Lin Zhixia said shyly: "Dad, turn around."
Dad turned around and looked into Jiang Yubai's eyes.
Jiang Yubai said: "Hello, uncle."
Dad laughed: "Hello, Jiang Yubai." He didn't say much, took his lunch box and went back to the store to take care of business. During the summer vacation, students often came to buy soda and snacks, and he couldn't stay at home and waste time.
The living room and kitchen of Lin Zhixia's home are closely connected. The so-called "dining room" is a separate area in the corner of the living room, where a round table and four wooden chairs are placed.
Jiang Yubai took the initiative to help and put out the chairs. He, Lin Zhixia, and Lin Zhixia's mother sat down around the table.
Lin Zhixia held the chopsticks and read out the names of the dishes: "Braised chicken legs, spicy pig's trotters, meat wrapped in bean curd sheets, braised prawns, steamed wild rice stems, lettuce with oyster sauce, tomato and egg soup. It's so rich. Mom is so kind."
Mom wiped her face with a wet towel. The temperature in the kitchen was very high and she was sweating a lot. She had just changed her clothes and washed her face before letting Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai come out for dinner.
Lin Zhixia stared at her mother and blurted out, "Mom, let's go buy an air conditioner tomorrow."
Mom said, "No need to buy it. Air conditioning is not a necessity. Xia Xia has money now, so she should spend it wisely."
"Air conditioning is a necessity," Lin Zhixia stated, "The weather is getting hotter and hotter."
Mom picked up a chicken leg for Lin Zhixia and said, "Xia Xia, eat first. We'll talk about the air conditioner tonight."
Jiang Yubai did not express his position. He quietly listened to the conversation between Lin Zhixia and her mother. He was still thinking that Lin Zhixia's parents both called her Xia Xia, and the note he gave her on QQ was also Xia Xia. Lin Zhixia's nickname suited her very well. She was as enthusiastic, cheerful and sunny as summer.
Jiang Yubai's mind was full of Lin Zhixia, who even gave him a piece of pork wrapped in bean curd sheets: "This is my mother's specialty, it's delicious."
Jiang Yubai tasted it, chewed it slowly, and said, "It's delicious. Thank you, Auntie."
Lin Zhixia and her mother both laughed. Lin Zhixia was eating when the door of her house was opened again and she heard heavy footsteps. She turned her head and saw Lin Zeqiu standing quietly at the entrance with a schoolbag slung over one shoulder and a cold aura all over his body.
Lin Zhixia shouted, "Brother, come and eat, today's lunch is super delicious."
Lin Zeqiu walked over without saying a word.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious, and Lin Zeqiu almost thought that Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia were a family - this realization made Lin Zeqiu highly alert and vigilant.
Lin Zeqiu picked up a wooden chair and placed it between Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai, forcing Jiang Yubai to move and make room for Lin Zeqiu.
Jiang Yubai took his bowl and sat at the edge. He accepted his fate without saying a word, and only used his chopsticks to pick up the two dishes in front of him. His eating manners were still very good, attracting Lin Zhixia's full attention.
Lin Zhixia stood up from her seat and rearranged the plates on the table. She moved the plate of braised chicken legs to Jiang Yubai's left hand side and scooped a spoonful of braised prawns for Jiang Yubai.
She turned the fan to the maximum gear and adjusted the angle. When the wheel at the bottom rotated, the fan could just blow towards Jiang Yubai.
Lin Zhixia took such good care of Jiang Yubai that Lin Zeqiu could hardly eat his lunch today.
The bright and dazzling sunshine in midsummer could not illuminate the haze in Lin Zeqiu's heart. Lin Zeqiu put down his bowl and said, "Jiang Yubai, when will you come to my house?"
Jiang Yubai told the truth: "Ten o'clock in the morning."
Ten o'clock in the morning?!
Lin Zeqiu raised his head and looked at the clock on the wall.
It is now 12:10 noon Beijing time - this means that Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai have been alone together for more than two hours.
Dad is busy in the supermarket, Mom is cooking in the kitchen, and Lin Zeqiu is taking extra classes at school... No one is looking after Lin Zhixia. Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai are in the same room, and they may forget the proper manners for interactions between boys and girls.
Lin Zeqiu sighed silently in his heart.
Lin Zhixia whispered, "Brother."
Lin Zeqiu covered his forehead.
Lin Zhixia shouted again: "Brother!"
Lin Zeqiu ignored his sister.
Mom said, "Qiuqiu, Xiaxia is calling you, answer her."
Lin Zeqiu's attitude did not soften at all. He squeezed out a cold laugh from his throat: "Haha."
Mom had already eaten half a bowl of rice and drank half a bowl of soup. She grabbed the key on the table and said casually, "It's too hot today. There are several guests in the community who asked your dad to deliver beer. Qiuqiu, you stay at home and take care of your sister's friends. Mom will go to help your dad. Your dad can't handle it alone."
"Okay," Lin Zeqiu agreed very readily, "Jiang Yubai and I have known each other for a long time, and we have a good relationship."
Jiang Yubai did not expose Lin Zeqiu. He cooperated very well and said, "Yes, we have a good relationship."
As an insider, Lin Zhixia was stunned. She held her rice bowl and a chicken leg in her mouth, trying to figure out her brother's intention.
With a bang, the door slammed and mom left. Lin Zeqiu tapped the table with his left hand and said unkindly, "I don't have classes this afternoon. If you two want to play any games, take me with you."
Before Lin Zhixia could say anything, Jiang Yubai said quickly, "Lin Zhixia and I are designing robots. We plan to use Adams for dynamic analysis and combine pattern recognition and natural language processing algorithms to process video and audio... You can come too, it will be more fun if we play together."
Lin Zeqiu didn't understand the first half of Jiang Yubai's sentence at all.
He was keenly aware of Jiang Yubai's hostility.
Indeed, the more he looked at Jiang Yubai, the more he disliked him.
He nonchalantly responded, "I just wanted to play with the robot."
After saying that, he put a chicken drumstick into Lin Zhixia's bowl: "Your favorite chicken drumstick, I dipped it in soup for you. Is this meal delicious? It seems that our family understands you best."
Jiang Yubai smiled. He twisted off the shrimp head with chopsticks and clamped the shrimp tail: "Lin Zhixia, I can help you peel the shrimp."
"Really?" Lin Zhixia didn't refuse, "Then help me peel one."
Jiang Yubai had washed his hands once before eating.
After Lin Zhixia finished speaking, Jiang Yubai went to the kitchen to wash his hands. He took out a disinfectant wipe, wiped his fingertips carefully, and sat back in his seat with an elegant posture of a person in a high position.
Then, he started peeling shrimps like a worker on a factory assembly line.
He ripped out two shrimps and put them on a plate.
Lin Zhixia ate all the shrimps and said happily, "Okay, I've tasted it and I appreciate your kindness. You're the guest, you eat your food, you don't have to take care of me."
Lin Zeqiu looked at Jiang Yubai coldly and thought: This boy is really good at pretending.
No wonder my sister was deceived by Jiang Yubai.
However, Lin Zeqiu always has a clear mind and a clear vision.
Lin Zeqiu pushed away the plate of shrimps that Jiang Yubai had put on it. He served Lin Zhixia a bowl of soup and asked her about her well-being: "What have you been busy with recently? How did you sleep last night? Do you want to go to the library this weekend? I'll go with you."
Lin Zhixia was flattered.
She and Lin Zeqiu have been siblings for more than ten years, but Lin Zeqiu has never called himself "brother" in front of her.
Jiang Yubai didn't know this.
Jiang Yubai just felt that Lin Zeqiu was comparing himself with him.
Jiang Yubai would not give up easily. He seized the opportunity and changed the subject: "Where can I buy the motor driver board and motor base plate? Do I have to start making the robot from the base plate?"
In this round of competition, Jiang Yubai was better - Lin Zhixia answered Jiang Yubai's questions first.
Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai were talking about robots, and Lin Zeqiu couldn't get a word in at all.
Jiang Yubai glanced at Lin Zeqiu, showing his "invincible" demeanor.
Lin Zeqiu's face turned pale. He was so angry that he almost exploded on the spot.
Lin Zeqiu quickly finished the rice in his bowl, picked up his schoolbag, and walked towards the bedroom. He stopped at the door of the room, and at that moment, he came up with a plan.
He turned his back to Lin Zhixia and said, "I got 29 points in math, out of 150."
29 points
Lin Zhixia was stunned.
No matter what Jiang Yubai said to her, she couldn't listen. She hurriedly asked: "Brother, did you encounter a lot of questions that you couldn't answer?"
Lin Zeqiu hurt his enemy 800 times and himself 1,000 times: "There are too many questions I can't answer. When you finish your meal, if you are willing to explain the questions to me, come over and explain them to me. If you don't want to, it's okay. I can figure it out on my own."
Her brother will be a senior in the next semester, and his math score has dropped to 29 points, which makes Lin Zhixia very worried. She knows that her brother is a proud person, and he will never reveal his grades unless it is a critical moment, let alone ask Lin Zhixia for help.
Jiang Yubai stood up and reminded, "I heard that Lin Zeqiu was among the top students in the high school department, and suddenly he got 29 points..."
Lin Zhixia blinked.
Jiang Yubai changed the topic and said, "Did he encounter any difficulties?"
Lin Zhixia didn't even eat. She ran into Lin Zeqiu's bedroom and slammed her hands on the desk: "Brother, take out your test paper with 29 points, I'll help you check it."
Lin Zeqiu didn’t get 29 points on the test paper at all!
Yes, he just lied.
In his schoolbag, there was only a test paper with a score of 139.
Jiang Yubai came up behind Lin Zeqiu like a silent ghost. Jiang Yubai calmly suggested, "Take out the test paper, Lin Zhixia will help you check for any missing points."
Lin Zeqiu didn't expect this guy to be so cruel. He looked noble and arrogant, but he wanted to kill so many people!
How could Lin Zeqiu get a math test with a score of 29? He could only say, "Don't worry about it. I'll think about it myself first."
Lin Zhixia recalled her brother's inconsistent words and deeds. Her unconditional trust in her brother faded a little. She turned into a little devil and asked directly: "Did you really get 29 points? When can you take the exam?"
Lin Zeqiu couldn't hide the truth from Lin Zhixia at all.
He knew that Lin Zhixia would pursue clues and force him into a corner - this is how Lin Zeqiu survived from childhood to adulthood. He simply tidied up his desk and ordered him to leave: "I'm sleepy, I want to take a nap."
"Okay, then we won't disturb you. You can rest for a while." Jiang Yubai greeted politely.
Then, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia returned to Lin Zhixia's bedroom to continue discussing their robot project.
Lin Zeqiu passed by the door several times, but never stepped in. Jiang Yubai was holding on to the "29-point math test paper", and Lin Zeqiu had no idea of a response for the time being.
It was his mistake.
He underestimated Jiang Yubai.
Lin Zeqiu walked around the living room for ten minutes, and then sat on the sofa for half an hour. Every once in a while, he would go and look at Lin Zhixia. In the end, he was really sleepy and tired - he didn't close the screen window properly last night, and a few mosquitoes came in, disturbing his sleep.
He walked back to his bedroom, lay down on his bed, and thought: I only sleep for ten minutes.
Who knew that I would sleep for three hours.
When he woke up, the house was quiet. He was shocked and rushed to Lin Zhixia's bedroom barefoot without even putting on slippers.
He only saw Lin Zhixia.
"Where is Jiang Yubai?" Lin Zeqiu asked.
"He went home," Lin Zhixia licked a mouthful of ice cream, "He just left ten minutes ago."
This evening, Jiang Yubai's parents hosted a banquet for Miss Jessica.
Miss Jessica's father is a big shot on the global rich list. She has three older brothers. She is the only daughter in the family and the apple of her father's eye. This rich girl from Singapore is likely to become Jiang Shaoqi's future wife.
It is reasonable for Jiang Yubai to attend the banquet tonight.
So, Jiang Yubai had just left not long ago.
Lin Zhixia sent him out and went to the supermarket at home, bringing back a strawberry ice cream cone. She was eating happily, but her brother said in a daze: "I didn't hear any sound..."
"You were sleeping too soundly," Lin Zhixia revealed, "Jiang Yubai and I were talking in low voices, afraid of disturbing you."
My brother remained silent.
"There is chilled watermelon in the refrigerator. Do you want to eat it, brother?" Lin Zhixia asked again.
As expected, my brother brought the watermelon over. He sat in Lin Zhixia's room, quietly eating the watermelon, completely losing the arrogance he had a few hours ago.
Lin Zhixia looked at him and said to herself, "I will definitely miss you when I go to Beijing to study."
My brother paused for a moment, then whispered, "Me too."
From July to August 2009, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai often met at the Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
Lin Zhixia asked the teacher for a small classroom in the science and education building. She and Jiang Yubai made the robot here. They wanted a robot with complex functions, so Lin Zhixia made it very finely.
She taught Jiang Yubai how to solder circuit boards.
During his first experiment, Jiang Yubai accidentally burned himself, leaving a scar on the back of his left hand. He didn't care at all, but Lin Zhixia felt a little guilty. Jiang Yubai said, "Scars are a sign of growth."
Lin Zhixia was amused by him.
They worked together for more than a month and implemented some basic functions.
In late August, Lin Zhixia was about to leave for Beijing, so she entrusted the robot to Jiang Yubai. She said to him solemnly: "Jiang Yubai, Lin Jiang is in your care. When I settle down in Beijing, we can play together again."
Jiang Yubai hugged Lin Jiang and promised: "Don't worry. I will protect it when you are not around."
"Yeah!" Lin Zhixia smiled.
Before leaving for Beijing, Lin Zhixia's classmates held a farewell party for her in the cafeteria of the Provincial No. 1 Middle School.
Dong Sunqi, Duan Qiyan, Shen Fuxuan, Tang Tingting and others were all present. To Lin Zhixia's surprise, even Jin Baihui came.
Jin Baihui appeared for about two minutes. She flashed past everyone. When she passed by Lin Zhixia, Jin Baihui said, "You must work hard when you go to college."
Lin Zhixia replied: "Of course."
Jin Baihui nodded. Then, she ran out of the cafeteria.
No one understood Jin Baihui's behavior.
Shen Fuxuan joked: "This scene seems familiar. My first impression of Duan Qiyan was that he ran out of the classroom like crazy..."
When Shen Fuxuan said this, everyone present burst into loud laughter.
Duan Qiyan pursed his lips, feeling embarrassed and angry.
Tang Tingting was also laughing at him. He stretched out his right hand and waved it in front of Tang Tingting's eyes. Tang Tingting was very fierce to him: "What are you doing?"
Duan Qiyan insisted: "Running is youth, running is vitality."
Dong Sunqi stood up slowly and clapped his hands vigorously: "Good! Well said! Running is youth, running is vitality!"
Everyone quieted down and focused their attention on Dong Sunqi.
Dong Sunqi calmly presided over the situation: "Hello, seniors, I am Lin Zhixia's elementary school classmate Dong Sunqi. I have an idea. Lin Zhixia is going to Beijing to attend university. Let's take turns to send her a word of blessing to make the atmosphere happy!"
Jiang Yubai was the first to agree: "Okay, start with me."
Lin Zhixia turned her head and looked at him, and heard him say, "I wish all of Lin Zhixia's questions can be answered, and that she can move forward courageously on the unknown road with smooth sailing."
"Okay!" Lin Zhixia was full of energy.
Shen Fuxuan continued: "I wish you... a happy life every day. You in the parallel universe should also be happy."
"Just this one sentence?" Duan Qiyan said, "You are too casual."
Shen Fuxuan smiled but said nothing.
Duan Qiyan was eager to try: "Just look at me, Lin Zhixia, I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea, longevity as great as the Southern Mountains, peace and prosperity every year, and a long life as long as the sky..."
Duan Qiyan recited more than a dozen idioms in one breath, and everyone at the table was shocked by him. He was very satisfied, tasted the milk, and smacked his lips. Tang Tingting said to him: "Don't smack your lips, I beg you."
Shen Fuxuan also asked him: "Have you ever drunk milk?"
Duan Qiyan was puzzled. He spoke so beautifully, why did he become the target of everyone's attack? He leaned over to eat his meal, and the farewell activities continued.
The cafeteria was deserted during the summer vacation, with only students from the competition and gifted classes standing firm. The entire cafeteria seemed spacious and empty, and the students' voices drifted far away.
At the corner of the long table, Shao Dongxu knocked the iron basin with a spoon. He asked, "Lin Zhixia, when you turn 18, can you get together with us?"
Tang Tingting was extremely alert and asked, "Brother Dong, what do you want to do?"
Jiang Yubai detected a subtle atmosphere in Tang Tingting's tone. He looked at Shao Dongxu carefully, smiled faintly, and said perfunctorily: "We'll talk about it when the time comes."
Shao Dongxu is still waiting for Lin Zhixia's reply.
Lin Zhixia took a bite of the steamed dumpling and ate it attentively. When someone blessed her, she clapped her hands happily.
This gathering did not bring any sad mood. The classmates talked about their interesting experiences in school and laughed together.
When the show ended, Lin Zhixia waved to everyone and said, "Bye, everyone, you are the best!"
The students of Class 17, who had known Lin Zhixia for four years, felt a hint of sadness belatedly.
Lin Zhixia was gone, and their sense of security was gone with it.
No other student in the class can maintain a gentle attitude like Lin Zhixia, quickly answer a difficult question, and then unravel the problem and teach it to her classmates in the simplest way. She is enthusiastic, lovely, helpful, willing to teach others, and full of energy every moment.
And now, she was walking forward alone, with Jiang Yubai following behind her.
At the gate of Provincial No. 1 Middle School, Tang Tingting chased after him: "Lin Zhixia..."
Lin Zhixia stopped, turned around and smiled at her: "You are my favorite classmate in the first grade class."
Tang Tingting's eyes were filled with tears. She calmly accepted the reality and said, "We are destined to meet again."
Lin Zhixia nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I will for sure."
It was hot in the summer, cicadas were chirping, and the wind was blowing her hair. She turned to her classmates again and said firmly: "I will never forget you!"
"I won't forget you either!" Duan Qi Yan declared loudly.
"No one will forget." Shen Fuxuan murmured to himself.
Wan Chunlei looked up at the sky: "Time flies so fast. It seems like it was just yesterday when we were rehearsing the play "Changes" together."
Tang Tingting looked into the distance and shouted, "Goodbye, Lin Zhixia!"
Lin Zhixia borrowed Jiang Yubai's words as a parting gift to her and her classmates. She said seriously: "I hope all your questions can be answered, and you can move forward bravely on the unknown road and have smooth sailing... I'm leaving first, goodbye!"
The sultry summer breeze makes people sweat. The air seems to be frozen, but the sun is still grand and bright.
This summer ended early.