Gu Likai and his students stayed in Cambridge for two full weeks. During this period, Lin Zhixia visited many laboratories. She met a very powerful professor whose research fields included theoretical physics, astronomy, quantum theory, computational physics, applied mathematics, molecular medicine, etc. Their research in the field of "quantum computing" is also at the world's top level.
The professor's students each have their own main research directions. Lin Zhixia chatted with them and gained a lot of new ideas. She gradually got rid of the anxiety of "not being able to publish a paper". At this time, she thought back to the draft of the paper she handed to Professor Gu last October, and she found many imperfections. Although her framework was fine, the topic of the paper was too big and there was too much content to fill in. She couldn't eat a fat man in one bite, and she should further refine the problem.
Tan Qianche did a great job. He was good at finding the right entry point.
Lin Zhixia decided to read all of Tan Qianche's papers.
Before this academic exchange trip was over, Lin Zhixia felt that she had gained a lot. She was happy every day, but Tan Qianche often looked listless.
Lin Zhixia thought he was having trouble adapting to the local climate.
One afternoon, Lin Zhixia overheard the conversation of her seniors and learned about Tan Qianche's life experience. Tan Qianche's first love had agreed to go to Peking University with him, but she dumped him in her second year of high school and went abroad to study, and she never met him again.
In this regard, Yang Shuwen commented: "Tan Qianche is a pitiful man. Well, if you ask me, his life experience is too much like a PUA tutorial. The PUA tutorial is to let a man pretend to be hurt by his ex-girlfriend and harmed by society, so that others can influence him and induce others to self-sacrifice and self-sacrifice..."
Lin Zhixia listened to every word Yang Shuwen said.
She asked rigorously: "Is PUA related to Stockholm syndrome?"
Yang Shuwen is a senior researcher of "PUA theory". The reason why he studied PUA theory was to adjust his psychological pressure and adapt to the reality that he had been suppressed by Lin Zhixia for many years.
When Lin Zhixia mentioned "PUA", Yang Shuwen was concerned about her age and did not dare to discuss it in detail. He just said: "Alas, this is not within my scope of thinking."
He ran away while talking.
Lin Zhixia seemed to be thinking about something.
The day before leaving Cambridge, Lin Zhixia made a special trip to Trinity College of Cambridge University.
Lin Zhixia heard Jiang Yubai say that he wanted to study at Trinity College, so she took a detour to the college gate and took many photos.
Near Trinity College, there is a bookstore called "Heffers". It is said that this bookstore has a history of more than 130 years. The first owner was named William Heffer, and the name of the bookstore originated from the owner's surname.
Lin Zhixia picked two books in this bookstore as gifts for Jiang Yubai. Each book cost about 15 pounds, a total of more than 30 pounds, which is about 300 yuan in RMB. But she didn't feel bad at all, she was willing to spend money on books.
The "Heffers" bookstore provides a paper bag-like packaging bag with a red circle printed on it and the English name of Cambridge written inside the circle. Lin Zhixia packed the books in this paper bag and attached a greeting card with the words: Jiang Yubai, I wish you all the best.
Since May this year, Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai have had much less contact.
Some time ago, Lin Zhixia had been absorbed in academics, with her mind full of quantum theory and various algorithms, and she had no time to miss Jiang Yubai. After the academic visit to Europe ended, it was late August, and Jiang Yubai's birthday was approaching. Lin Zhixia called Jiang Yubai and asked directly: "Jiang Yubai, how was your summer vacation? Do you have time to go out and play?"
The heat of August was unbearable, and the night wind was muggy.
Lin Zhixia stood in the dormitory corridor, facing a half-open window. She leaned against the windowsill, looking at the moon, and waited for several seconds before she heard Jiang Yubai say, "See you tomorrow?"
Lin Zhixia heard a hint of grievance in his voice.
What is he feeling wronged about
Lin Zhixia said to him softly, "Okay, okay, see you tomorrow. This summer, I went to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. I bought you souvenirs in each place. I have been thinking about you."
She said, I've been thinking about you.
Jiang Yubai knew that this kind of longing represented the true friendship between friends.
Just like Yuan Zhen’s longing for Bai Juyi led him to write the famous line “My soul is confused due to illness, and I only dream of idle people, not you”; just like Yu Boya’s longing for Zhong Ziqi led to the creation of the eternal story of “High Mountains and Flowing Water”.
Jiang Yubai responded politely: "I am the same as you."
Lin Zhixia asked him: "Did you buy souvenirs too?"
He whispered back, "I was thinking about you, too."
Jiang Yubai rarely expresses his emotions openly.
Lin Zhixia couldn't help but take a deep breath. The conversation between her and Jiang Yubai was like a tug-of-war - when he became frank and direct, she became nervous and shy, and could no longer speak frankly like usual.
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia made an appointment to meet at the gate of Lin Zhixia's school at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.
This summer, Jiang Yubai did not return to the provincial capital. He stayed in Beijing to prepare for the Cambridge University entrance interview in the second half of this year. After Lin Zhixia went abroad, there was a time difference with China. She and Jiang Yubai were busy with their own things and always had no time for QQ video chat.
At eight o'clock in the morning on August 30th, the two of them finally met.
Jiang Yubai arrived ten minutes early. After waiting for a while, he heard Lin Zhixia calling him, "Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai!"
She hasn't used this title for a long time.
His heartstrings moved and he turned to look at her.
She handed him a handbag: "My gift to you, happy fifteenth birthday."
After not seeing each other for a few months, Lin Zhixia had grown taller. She looked up at him and saw her reflection in his eyes. She reminded him softly, "Aren't you going to open the presents?"
Jiang Yubai opened the bag and saw two books, one of which was a university economics handbook, and the other was a hard science fiction novel about the robot revolution in the era of artificial intelligence. He also found a box of 3D puzzles of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, two city postcards of Los Angeles, and a "Bottled Ship" craftwork - a delicate boat in a transparent wine bottle, with the seven words "Jiang Yubai marches forward courageously" printed on the white sail.
"This is Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia's boat. I made it myself during this winter vacation." Lin Zhixia explained.
Jiang Yubai said "thank you". He held the bag in his left hand and stretched his right hand to the side, subconsciously trying to hold her wrist. She did not avoid him, nor did she notice his intention. When his fingertips touched the back of her hand, he instantly regained his senses and put his right hand behind his back.
He clutched the nylon string of the handbag in his left hand, with the fingertips of his right hand clasped in his palm, and did not hear clearly what Lin Zhixia was saying.
From May to August this year, Lin Zhixia was busy with her studies and inadvertently ignored him. He originally thought that he would not care much, but the fact was that he cared for three whole months.
He couldn't deceive himself anymore.
He's not a fool, that's probably not friendship.
He stopped suddenly.
Lin Zhixia turned around and looked at him: "Jiang Yubai?"
Lin Zhixia didn't notice Jiang Yubai's little action of "wanting to hold her hand but not daring to do so". She walked up to him and said with interest: "I just mentioned that I saw several swans by the river in Cambridge, snow-white swans... Do you like swans?"
Jiang Yubai's inner world is extremely rich, but he said it calmly and concisely: "I like it."
"I like it too." Lin Zhixia agreed.
Today, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia planned to visit Xiangshan Park together. Jiang Yubai put the bag in the car and asked the driver to keep it. Then, he and Lin Zhixia walked into the main gate of Xiangshan Park together.
Xiangshan Park has lush trees and beautiful scenery. There are also many unique ancient buildings with nice names, such as "Qiyue Villa", "Tiyunshan Pavilion", "Yunchao Pavilion", "Xiangwu Cave", etc.
Lin Zhixia was in a good mood. She talked to Jiang Yubai about the history of Xiangshan. Xiangshan was originally a royal garden, and the names of the scenic spots on the mountain were very particular. Lin Zhixia also thought of the various areas in Jiang Yubai's home, and she asked: "Did anyone name your swimming pool, tennis court, and rose garden?"
Jiang Yubai said truthfully: "I haven't heard of it."
Lin Zhixia laughed.
Xiangshan Mountain is more than 500 meters high. Lin Zhixia climbed the mountain very slowly. She stopped and walked, admiring the scenery everywhere. When she saw a squirrel, she would point it out to Jiang Yubai: "A squirrel."
Jiang Yubai was about to walk over when Lin Zhixia grabbed his sleeve again: "The squirrel ran away."