Three days after the assessment ended, Xia Yaojin returned to her familiar rhythm.
Morning run at 6:00 AM, library at 7:00 AM, classes at 8:30 AM. Any afternoon without classes was spent entirely in the laboratory or study hall, and she went to bed punctually at 11:00 PM.
That grand welcome ceremony seemed like a brief interlude; her world was quickly refilled with formulas, theorems, data, and papers.
Economics and Management Building Laboratory, 2:00 PM
Xia Yaojin was currently modeling a set of macroeconomic data, her brow furrowed.
Dense lines of code scrolled across the screen. Her hands flew across the keyboard, occasionally pausing to scribble and draw on scratch paper.
The laboratory door was pushed open gently.
Zhu Yawen walked in carrying a small paper bag containing freshly baked cranberry cookies, she remembered Xia Yaojin saying that this sweet and sour flavor was “energy replenishing without being overly cloying.”
“Yaojin,” she called out softly.
Xia Yaojin didn’t react. Her eyes were fixed on the screen as she muttered to herself, “This cointegration relationship isn’t quite right… I should consider the lagged terms…”
Zhu Yawen walked to her side and placed the paper bag on the desk. “Take a break? I brought some snacks.”
Xia Yaojin mechanically reached into the bag, grabbed a cookie, and stuffed it into her mouth. Her chewing was entirely subconscious, her eyes never left the data model.
“Is it good?” Zhu Yawen asked.
“…Mm.” Xia Yaojin nodded, typing a new line of code. “But the sugar content is still a bit high. Next time, you could try using a sugar substitute.”
Zhu Yawen: “…”
She looked at Xia Yaojin’s profile, completely immersed in her academic world. That level of focus made her feel both admiration and helplessness.
This scene was not a first.
Last week in the library, Zhu Yawen sat across from her for two hours, and Xia Yaojin didn’t look up once. It wasn’t until Zhu Yawen stood up to leave that Xia Yaojin asked blankly, “You’re leaving?”
The day before yesterday at the cafeteria, Zhu Yawen served her food. She said “thanks” and continued reading literature on her phone, completely failing to notice that Zhu Yawen had barely touched her own lunch.
And now, the cookies were finished, and Xia Yaojin had entered a new round of brainstorming, unaware of even when the paper bag had been taken away.
Zhu Yawen sat quietly for a while, finally sighed softly, and stood up to leave.
As she reached the door, she looked back.
Xia Yaojin was excitedly drawing something on the scratch paper, her eyes shining as if she had discovered a new continent.
Zhu Yawen gave a bitter smile and gently closed the door.
[Trending Post] Urgent Meeting! Jinjin’s Iron Wall Defense has Upgraded! Wenwen’s Attack Route Needs Adjustment!
OP (Frontline Observer Urgent Report): Sisters!
The situation is bad!
After the assessment, Jinjin has reverted to “Study Only” mode!
Wenwen went to the lab today to give her snacks. She ate them, but she didn’t even notice who delivered them!
This level of concentration… no, this level of shielding! It’s practically an invincible defense!
What should we do?
1L (Psychology Dept. Observer): Analyzing from cognitive psychology, Xia Yaojin may have entered a “Flow State” a state of high focus and total immersion in the current task. In this state, external stimuli are almost impossible to perceive.
2L (Physics Dept. Chen Mo): I can testify to that. I went to ask her a question yesterday and stood in front of her for five minutes, she didn’t even see me. I had to knock on the desk for her to react.
3L (CS Dept. Zhang Ming): In system terms: Xia Yaojin’s process priority is set to 99 for “Academic Tasks” and 1 for “Social Interaction.” When a high-priority process is running, low-priority processes are suspended.
4L (Math Dept. Wang Zhe): Establishing a model: Let S be the total attention resources, A be academic tasks, and B be social interaction. Currently, we observe A rightarrow S and B rightarrow 0. Her attention is entirely occupied by academics.
5L (Arts Dept. Former Rival, Current Strategist): So Wenwen’s gentle offensive… was neutralized?
6L (CP Fan Leader): No, no, no! This is only temporary! We need to adjust our strategy!
7L (Foreign Language Dept. Fanfic Writer): I suddenly have new inspiration: The Iceberg Scholar’s Thousand Layer Scheme: How to Make a Straight Girl See the Light!
8L (Frontline Reporter): Latest news! Wenwen hasn’t given up! She’s on her way to the Physics lab right now! She says she wants to ask about fractal geometry!
9L (All CP Fans): Aaaaah, academic exchange between top students! That’s also sugar!
Physics Laboratory, 3:30 PM
Zhu Yawen stood before the whiteboard with a marker in hand, discussing the calculation of fractal dimensions with Professor Chen.
“…So if we use the definition of the Hausdorff dimension, the boundary of this Mandelbrot set should be…” She wrote down complex formulas with fluid, natural movements.
Professor Chen nodded repeatedly. “Very good! Your understanding is spot on!”
The lab door pushed open, and Xia Yaojin walked in holding a stack of materials, she was there to consult on a problem regarding the intersection of quantum mechanics and economics.
Seeing Zhu Yawen, she paused for a moment. “You’re here too?”
Zhu Yawen smiled. “Yes, I’m asking Professor Chen some questions.”
“Oh.” Xia Yaojin nodded, then immediately turned to Professor Chen. “Professor, regarding that quantum game theory paper you mentioned last week, I have a question…”
She entered full academic mode, beginning an in depth discussion with Professor Chen.
Zhu Yawen stood quietly to the side, listening to professional terminology she could only half-understand, watching Xia Yaojin’s face glow with excitement.
Ten minutes later, the discussion concluded.
Xia Yaojin tucked away her notes with satisfaction, then remembered something and turned to Zhu Yawen. “By the way, what were you discussing just now?”
“Fractal geometry,” Zhu Yawen said. “Thinking about how to apply it to oil painting.”
“Interesting.” Xia Yaojin’s eyes lit up again. “The self-similarity of fractal structures can indeed produce unique visual effects in art. By the way, have you considered using Iterated Function Systems? Those can generate even more complex fractal patterns.”
Zhu Yawen: “…” She hadn’t actually studied that deep yet.
But Xia Yaojin had already taken the marker from her hand and started drawing on the whiteboard. “Look, the basic idea of IFS is…”
She began to explain, speaking quickly with clear logic.
Zhu Yawen listened intently. Though she didn’t understand some parts, she loved watching Xia Yaojin teach confident, focused, with eyes full of love for knowledge.
“…And that’s basically it.” Xia Yaojin finished and put down the pen. “If you need it, I can help you write a program to generate the patterns.”
“Really?” Zhu Yawen’s eyes brightened.
“Yeah, it’s simple,” Xia Yaojin said. “But it’ll have to wait until I finish my paper this weekend.”
“That’s okay, I’m not in a hurry.”
The two chatted about academic issues for a few more minutes, then Xia Yaojin checked her watch. “Ah, I should head to the library. I have a model to run.”
With that, she grabbed her materials and hurried away.
Zhu Yawen stood there, looking at her departing back, then at the complex formulas on the whiteboard, and suddenly laughed.
Professor Chen walked over. “That girl… she only has eyes for studying.”
“I know,” Zhu Yawen said softly. “But that’s just who she is.”
“Don’t you feel… wronged?” Professor Chen asked directly. “You’re so good to her, but she doesn’t seem to… understand.”
Zhu Yawen thought for a moment and shook her head. “I don’t feel wronged.”
She looked out the window. Xia Yaojin’s figure was crossing the lawn with a light step.
“It’s not that she doesn’t understand, it’s just that her world is… too big,” Zhu Yawen said. “Study, knowledge, the things she loves, occupy most of the space.”
“…And love… might just be a very, very small part of that world.”
She paused for a moment. “But it’s okay. I can wait. Wait for her to slowly discover that besides knowledge, this world holds other beautiful things.”
Professor Chen looked at her and suddenly remarked with emotion, “It’s good to be young.”
On the forum, the CP fans were heatedly discussing new strategies.
OP (Strategic Command Center): According to frontline intel, Jinjin’s “Straight Girl Iron Wall” is indestructible! But we’ve found a breach, Academics! Today, Wenwen successfully captured Jinjin’s attention using fractal geometry! The two had an academic exchange lasting a full twenty minutes! So, the new strategy: Use knowledge to conquer knowledge! Use academics to move the top student!
1L (Inter-departmental Strategist Group): Understood! Our respective departments can provide professional support!
2L (Physics Dept.): Can provide papers on the intersection of quantum mechanics and art!
3L (Chemistry Dept.): Can provide materials on color chemistry and pigment science!
4L (Biology Dept.): Can provide research progress on neuroaesthetics!
5L (Math Dept.): Can provide advanced tutorials on fractal geometry!
6L (CS Dept.): Can provide code for graphic generation algorithms!
7L (Foreign Language Dept.): Can provide English literature in related fields!
8L (Arts Dept.): We can provide… our Department Beauty herself!
9L (CP Fan Ecstasy): Yes! Wenwen is the greatest weapon!
10L (Psychology Dept. Observer): From the perspective of behavioral psychology, this is the classic “Similarity Attraction Effect” people are more easily attracted to those similar to themselves. By entering Xia Yaojin’s academic world, Zhu Yawen has increased the similarity between them.
11L (Frontline Reporter): Latest update! Wenwen is in the library right now! She borrowed five math books! She even asked the librarian if there were specialized monographs on Fractal Geometry and Artistic Creation!
12L (All CP Fans): Learning for the sake of love! What kind of divine romance is this!
In the library, Zhu Yawen really was grinding through math books.
Those symbols and formulas were foreign to her, but she studied them earnestly, occasionally noting down key points in her notebook.
Xia Yaojin sat opposite her, writing her paper. Occasionally, seeing Zhu Yawen’s furrowed brow as she thought, she would ask, “What don’t you understand?”
Then, she would explain patiently.
And so they went, one teaching, one learning, sailing side by side through the ocean of knowledge.
As evening approached, Xia Yaojin finally finished the first draft of her paper.
She stretched and looked across the table. Zhu Yawen had fallen asleep leaning on the desk, her cheek pressed against a math book, her hand still clutching a pen.
The setting sun spilled through the window, coating her in a halo of warm golden light.
Xia Yaojin watched her quietly, suddenly noticing that Zhu Yawen’s eyelashes were very long, the bridge of her nose very straight, and her sleeping face very peaceful.
She watched for a long time, then rose gently, took a jacket out of her bag, and carefully draped it over Zhu Yawen.
The movement was light, but Zhu Yawen woke up anyway.
She opened her eyes dizzily, saw Xia Yaojin, and smiled. “I fell asleep?”
“Yes,” Xia Yaojin said. “If you’re tired, go back and rest.”
“I’m not tired.” Zhu Yawen sat up straight and rubbed her eyes. “It’s just these formulas… they’re a bit difficult.”
“Take it slow,” Xia Yaojin said. “If you need, I can set aside time every day to teach you.”
Zhu Yawen’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yes.” Xia Yaojin nodded. “Consider it… a thank you for looking after me lately.”
“Then it’s a deal,” Zhu Yawen smiled. “No backing out.”
“No backing out.”
The two packed their things and walked out of the library together.
Night was just falling, and the campus streetlights were flickering on one by one.
“By the way,” Xia Yaojin said suddenly, “if you’re free this weekend, I can start writing that fractal pattern generation program.”
“Okay,” Zhu Yawen nodded. “I’ll treat you to dinner.”
“No need…”
“I must.” Zhu Yawen said seriously. “This is a transaction. You teach me math, I buy you dinner. It’s fair.”
Xia Yaojin thought about it and nodded. “…Alright.”
They walked side by side under the streetlights, their shadows stretched long.
For the first time, Xia Yaojin felt a sense of anticipation for the “weekend” not because she could study, but because… she could do something interesting together with Zhu Yawen.
On the forum, this new photo sparked another frenzy.
OP (Night Photography Expert): [Photo: Library window, Jinjin putting a coat on a sleeping Wenwen.jpg] Gentle! So gentle! The Iron Wall has developed a crack!
1L (CP Fan in Tears): Jinjin took the initiative to take care of Wenwen! This is a breakthrough!
2L (Psychology Dept. Observer): Caretaking behavior is a significant sign of an intimate relationship. Unconsciously, Xia Yaojin has already included Zhu Yawen in her “category of people to care for.”
3L (Frontline Reporter): Latest update! The two agreed to write a program together this weekend! Jinjin proposed it herself!
4L (CS Dept. Zhang Ming): I can provide technical support! Let’s make their “first collaboration” go smoothly!
5L (Arts Dept. Support Group): We can provide creative ideas! Design the most beautiful fractal patterns!
6L (All School CP Fans): Looking forward to the weekend!!!
The night grew deeper.
Xia Yaojin returned to her dorm, opened her computer, and began preparing the math content she was to teach Zhu Yawen.
She prepared her lesson even more seriously than she prepared for her own exams.
And Zhu Yawen returned to her apartment, opened those math books, and continued to chew through those difficult formulas.
To be able to stand in the same world as her, she was willing to put in every effort.
One was a “straight girl” with eyes only for the sea of problems. One was a Department Beauty who would chase after her even if it meant abandoning her own specialty for love.
Their story continued in its own unique way.
Slow, but steady.
Just like the iterations in fractal geometry, every repetition makes the pattern more complete, more beautiful.
The future is still long. And they have only just begun.