Lin Zhixia's tone of voice was exactly the same as usual, but Jiang Yubai found several suspicious points.
First of all, Lin Zhixia always called him at eight o'clock in the evening, and now it was three forty in the afternoon.
Secondly, in this phone call, Lin Zhixia did not mention the "quantum computing laboratory" at all. In recent days, her chat with Jiang Yubai has always been about quantum mechanics. Why did she suddenly avoid all topics related to physics
After some simple reasoning, Jiang Yubai guessed: "What happened to you in the laboratory this afternoon?"
Jiang Yubai waited for a few seconds, but still didn't hear Lin Zhixia's answer. He patiently comforted her, "I am your friend forever. Whatever you want to say, you can tell me directly."
Lin Zhixia lowered her voice and confided in him, "The lab exploded. I keep recalling the scene of the lab explosion... There was a bang, the glass shattered, the seniors were screaming, the wires were hissing, smoke came out, and I fell to the ground, unable to stand up or run... Jiang Yubai, I'm a little scared."
Jiang Yubai hurriedly asked her: "Where are you?"
Lin Zhixia reported the address of the hospital.
Jiang Yubai told Lin Zhixia not to be afraid, he would come to the hospital to see her right away.
Jiang Yubai thought the situation was very serious. He put on a coat and went out. He was very worried about Lin Zhixia's safety and wished he could grow a pair of wings and fly to the hospital.
Deep in his heart, he even felt a little guilty. He and Lin Zhixia lived in the same city, but he couldn't protect "Captain Lin Zhixia" all the time like "Chief Jiang Yubai" in "Exploring the Universe".
Lin Zhixia couldn't even forget the documentary about the Forbidden City, so how unforgettable was her personal experience
She told Jiang Yubai that she was a little scared.
Jiang Yubai felt that she must be very scared.
Jiang Yubai imagined countless scenarios, each of which made him uneasy. He rushed to the hospital and was shocked to find Lin Zhixia sitting in a wheelchair. He took long steps and ran all the way through the hospital corridor, coming to her like a gust of wind.
She raised her face and stared at him blankly.
He asked, "Are you okay?"
Lin Zhixia said honestly: "I twisted my foot and it's swollen."
Jiang Yubai squatted down, looked at her ankle, and asked again: "Is there any source of radioactive contamination in your quantum computing laboratory?"
Tan Qianche, who had been watching for a long time, blurted out: "You mistook the explosion in our laboratory for a nuclear explosion?"
Although Jiang Yubai has read a series of interesting popular science books such as "The Wonderful Quantum World" and "One Hour Introduction to Quantum Mechanics", he is not clear about the daily work of the "Quantum Computing Laboratory". His worries come from the unknown. He admitted: "I thought you encountered shock waves, neutron radiation, light radiation..."
Tan Qianche didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Which college are you from? The College of Arts?"
Jiang Yubai stood up and said, "I am Lin Zhixia's elementary school and junior high school classmate. I am in my second year of high school."
Tan Qianche looked at Jiang Yubai and asked, "Second year of high school?"
Lin Zhixia immediately defended Jiang Yubai: "Yes, Jiang Yubai is my best friend. Senior, don't discriminate against the Faculty of Arts. Every subject has its own meaning. Jiang Yubai is an economics major. He knows a lot about finance, economics, and management. He is very good at math, and is also very good at English and French..."
Before Lin Zhixia could finish her words, Luo Ying came back.
Luo Ying was carrying a plastic bag with three bottles of mineral water in it. She distributed the mineral water to Lin Zhixia and Tan Qianche, and took one for herself. She stared at Jiang Yubai and handed him her bottle of water.
"Thank you," Jiang Yubai replied politely, "I'm not thirsty."
Lin Zhixia tugged at Jiang Yubai's sleeve and said, "Find a place to sit down."
Jiang Yubai wanted to sit next to Lin Zhixia. However, that seat was occupied by Luo Ying.
Luo Ying also asked Lin Zhixia if she wanted to lean on her shoulder, but Lin Zhixia shook her head. Luo Ying asked her again if she wanted to continue playing "Flying Flowers"? They seemed to have been playing "Flying Flowers" for a long time.
There are many patients in the hospital, and they have to queue up to register, get checked, and wait for the results. In order to kill time, Lin Zhixia suggested that the four of them play "Flying Flowers" together, but Tan Qianche immediately jumped out and refused: "No, I haven't memorized a few ancient poems. I don't like reading novels, poems, essays, and the like."
"So what do you usually do when you have free time?" Lin Zhixia asked him.
Tan Qianche kept silent. Firstly, Lin Zhixia was too young and he didn't want to explain to her. Secondly, if he dared to reveal any information, Luo Ying might beat him to death on the spot, and he would have to sleep in the morgue tonight.
He lazily leaned back in his chair and took out his cell phone from his trouser pocket. He received messages from at least seven female classmates, and he replied to each one of them, being extremely gentle to each one. He told them not to worry about him, that he was fine, not injured, and that the laboratory had not suffered much loss.
Jiang Yubai sat next to Tan Qianche and accidentally saw Tan Qianche's phone address book. Jiang Yubai was a little confused as to why there was a row of "baby a, baby b, baby c, baby d..." in Tan Qianche's phone book, with no end in sight.
A few seconds later, Tan Qianche's cell phone rang. He answered the phone and said in a low voice, "Not tonight... Not tonight, baby, I'm accompanying a classmate to see a doctor. I have to see my supervisor tonight. Someone has to be responsible for the explosion... I must be responsible, baby... I'm not responsible for you, I'm responsible for the laboratory."
After this call ended, another girl called. Tan Qianche shouted again: "Baby, you should accompany your boyfriend first today. Um... You and your boyfriend haven't seen each other for several days..."
Jiang Yubai suddenly said to him: "Please change the place to make the call."
Luo Ying raised a hand, pointed to the distance, and coldly agreed: "Tan Qianche, can you go there alone?"
Tan Qianche pulled his coat tightly together awkwardly: "Lin Zhixia sprained her ankle and can't walk. A wheelchair is not as convenient as two legs. If you drive me away, what will happen if no one carries her?"
Jiang Yubai volunteered: "I can carry her."
Tan Qianche smiled: "How old are you? Do you have muscles?"
Jiang Yubai answered modestly: "I have practiced for a few years."
Tan Qianche pinched Jiang Yubai's arm. The lines he felt were hard and solid, with hidden power ready to be unleashed. He exclaimed, "Not bad, young man, you have something."
Thinking of Tan Qianche's "Baby ABCD Series" address book, Jiang Yubai decided to take precautions. Jiang Yubai revealed: "I have been practicing martial arts since I was a child."
"Martial arts?" Tan Qianche became excited. "Where did you take martial arts training?"
Jiang Yubai said, "I have a martial arts teacher."
Tan Qianche didn't understand what he meant: "You are in a training class, there must be a teacher..."
"One-on-one tutor." Jiang Yubai added the complete information.
Tan Qianche unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip of mineral water. He took out his cell phone and said goodbye, "I'm going to answer the phone over there. Call me if you have anything."
"Okay." Lin Zhixia agreed.
After Tan Qianche left, Jiang Yubai sat next to Luo Ying. He asked Luo Ying: "Can we change seats?"
Luo Ying was indifferent: "Why do you want to change?"
Jiang Yubai thought to himself: Because you and Lin Zhixia are the closest.
But on the surface he said: "I have something to tell Lin Zhixia."
"Just say it straight." Luo Ying suggested.
Lin Zhixia turned her head and said in a sweet voice, "What do you want to tell me?"
Jiang Yubai gave up the fight for a seat. He stood beside Lin Zhixia and held the wheelchair handle with both hands. Just at this moment, the electronic announcement system read out Lin Zhixia's name, and her X-ray results came out.
Jiang Yubai pushed Lin Zhixia away, and Luo Ying followed closely behind them.
Jiang Yubai aroused Luo Ying's vigilance. Based on Luo Ying's personal experience, she did not believe in pure friendship between men and women. She had tried to make friends with boys before, but it turned out that those boys with impure motives all wanted to pick her up.
She couldn't tell Jiang Yubai's true nature. She asked tentatively, "Where did you go to high school?"
"An international high school." Jiang Yubai summarized briefly.
Luo Ying asked again: "How long have you and Lin Zhixia known each other?"
"Five years." Jiang Yubai said.
Jiang Yubai walked very fast. He took Lin Zhixia to get the X-ray results and returned to the doctor's office for a follow-up visit. The doctor said that Lin Zhixia didn't have any serious problems and that she would be fine after applying some medicine and would probably be healed in a month or so.
Jiang Yubai finally felt relieved. He took some medicine from the window and noticed that one of the plasters had the words "promote blood circulation, dissipate blood stasis, reduce swelling and relieve pain" written on it. He pushed Lin Zhixia to a secluded corner, knelt on one knee in front of her, rolled up her trouser legs, and personally applied a layer of ointment to her to cover her swollen ankle.
"I know you're in pain," Jiang Yubai said, "you just didn't say it out loud."
Lin Zhixia half lowered her head, stretched out two index fingers, and gently touched the fingertips together: "Actually, I can apply the medicine myself."
She looked very cute like this. Jiang Yubai looked at her for a few seconds, and his ears gradually turned red. His movements became stiff, and he apologized to her: "I'm sorry, I should have asked you first..."
Lin Zhixia interrupted him: "No need to explain, I understand you, you care about me very much."
More than just concern
When he heard the words "laboratory explosion", all his thoughts were occupied by Lin Zhixia. Fortunately, she only sprained her foot. Fortunately, she will recover soon.
He asked earnestly, "Do you remember what the lab explosion was like?"
"Remember." Lin Zhixia sighed.
She is always cheerful and full of energy, and rarely complains.
Jiang Yubai tried his best to comfort Lin Zhixia: "Billions of years ago, the Big Bang created the starting point of time."
Lin Zhixia added: "You are talking about Hawking's theory. Hawking believes that nothing existed before the Big Bang. Nikodem Poplawski proposed another theory. He thinks black holes and white holes are the cause of the Big Bang. Of course, there is also a cosmic cycle theory - the expansion rate of the universe slows down, gravity collapses inward, causing the Big Bang, and constantly rebirth in a cycle..."
"As you think about the Big Bang and recall the laboratory, do you still find it scary?" Jiang Yubai asked her.
She thought about it carefully and nodded.
Her fears were still there.
Jiang Yubai asked again: "What can give you a sense of security?"
Lin Zhixia said honestly, "Jiang Yubai." Then she added, "Jiang Yubai is a piece of shit." This sentence sounded like an insult, so she quickly changed her words, "No, I mean..."
Jiang Yubai laughed: "I understand."
He told her: “You can always call me.”
"If I have a nightmare in the middle of the night, can I wake you up?" Lin Zhixia asked doubtfully.
"Okay," Jiang Yubai said, "It's okay."
Lin Zhixia was very touched: "You are so nice."
Jiang Yubai was modest and reserved: "It's my duty."
Lin Zhixia stared at him for a long time, her eyes were extremely clear and pure. She asked him a request: "Can you hug me?"
Jiang Yubai hesitated for several seconds.
Lin Zhixia gave in and said, "Forget it, I'll go back and hug the little penguin."
If Jiang Yubai continues to stick to the "boundary", the power he brings to Lin Zhixia may not be as great as that of a little penguin stuffed toy.
The little penguin successfully awakened Jiang Yubai's competitive mentality.
Jiang Yubai slowly bent down, gently embraced Lin Zhixia, patted her back soothingly, and said to her: "Don't be afraid, I will always be with you."
“I will remember this moment,” Lin Zhixia said. “It really will always be there, in my mind.”
When Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai were talking, Luo Ying was standing not far away. She actually began to believe in the so-called "pure friendship between men and women", especially in comparison with Tan Qianche, Jiang Yubai seemed reserved, innocent and cautious.
Tan Qianche was still on the third floor, making a phone call. He didn't notice that Lin Zhixia and her group had left. Luo Ying didn't plan to bring Tan Qianche back. She took Lin Zhixia back to school.
The news that Lin Zhixia was injured quickly spread throughout the academy.
Lin Zhixia lay in the dormitory to recover from her injuries for a few days. Her roommates took turns to bring her meals and do her laundry. She suddenly had a life of having food and clothes provided for her, which made her feel flattered.
Dormitory head Feng Yuan said, "We are all a few years older than you. It's okay to help a little. It's not a big deal... It's okay."
Lin Zhixia grabbed the railing of the bed with both hands: "Thank you, I'm so happy to be your roommate."
Another roommate, Yuan Wei, selflessly took out her class notes.
Lin Zhixia didn't need any notes. However, Yuan Wei's enthusiasm was irresistible. Lin Zhixia could only accept her notes and discuss the course content with her.
The three roommates present were surprised to find that Lin Zhixia had not delayed any progress despite not attending classes for a week. She knew all the knowledge in the textbooks without studying, and she understood the special methods taught by the teacher at a glance. She seemed to live in a relaxed world without any challenges.
Yuan Wei couldn't help but ask her: "Is there any smart student that you admire?"
Lin Zhixia leaned against a pile of soft pillows, holding her little penguin in her arms, and said seriously: "Intelligence is a vague concept, and it can be expressed in many ways. If you look at it from different angles, you will get different results. I can admire each and every one of you."
Yuan Wei brought a small stool and placed it at the head of Lin Zhixia's bed. They chatted for more than half an hour, and Yuan Wei commented: "Xia Xia, sometimes you look like you are 28 years old, and sometimes you look like you are 8 years old."
Lin Zhixia said calmly: "Humans are emotionally complex animals, and the environment can affect their emotions. Many people feel like children in front of their parents, but have to act like adults in front of their children."
After she finished speaking, she raised the little penguin with both hands and said in a soft voice, "The little penguin is taking off."
Feng Yuan interrupted: "Xia Xia, have you checked the email and QQ group?"
Lin Zhixia asked back: "What's wrong?"
Feng Yuan made a cup of milk. She came over with the milk and told Lin Zhixia, "Our class has an event. At the end of next month, we will go to the waterfront park at Shangzhuang Reservoir for a barbecue. Students from other schools can bring along. The girlfriend of the League Secretary is studying at the Chinese People's University, and he wants to bring his girlfriend. He gave everyone the green light."
There was a smell of milk in the dormitory. Yuan Wei opened the balcony window, turned around and said, "It's so lively there. The girl in the dormitory next to us, her boyfriend is a graduate student in the School of Software, and he's developing an app."
"Is he handsome?" Feng Yuan asked.
Yuan Wei pursed her lips: "Not bad, not bad. When choosing a boyfriend, you can't just look at the appearance."
Lin Zhixia usually doesn't participate in discussions about relationships. But she likes to listen to her roommates' gossip. She holds the railing with both hands and listens to their conversation openly.
After a while, Lin Zhixia found out that many students would bring friends from other schools with them on the autumn outing next month. Lin Zhixia immediately took out her cell phone, typed a text message, and sent it to Jiang Yubai, sincerely inviting him to join her class on the autumn outing.
Jiang Yubai quickly gave an affirmative answer.
What surprised Lin Zhixia the most was that Jiang Yubai invited Lin Zhixia to attend his uncle's wedding as a courtesy.
It turned out that Jiang Shaoqi and his girlfriend had just been in love for a few months, skipped the engagement stage, and decided to get married. The wedding will be held in January next year, and celebrities and superstars will be there to support. Jiang Yubai hopes that Lin Zhixia can attend this formal occasion with him.
Lin Zhixia had attended a relative's wedding in the countryside. She thought the process of the wedding should be similar, so she agreed without thinking.