The fact that Xia Yaojin was a “straight girl” had become a near universal consensus at Beijing’s A University. In her eyes, there was only study, she maintained an academically friendly distance from humans of any gender with complete impartiality.
Strangely, however, this consensus did not stop certain things from happening.
Foreign Languages Department Tea Party, Friday Night
Li Ting had just finished sharing the good news that her crush, a senior was finally single when the topic somehow drifted to Xia Yaojin.
“So, is Yaojin really straight?” asked a short haired girl. She was a sophomore in the Foreign Languages Department who had just come out last year.
“One hundred percent,” Zhou Xiaoyu, as Xia Yaojin’s roommate, spoke with the most authority. “The way she looks at boys and the way she looks at girls is exactly the same, it’s just, ‘Oh, a human.'”
“Then how does she look at Zhu Yawen?”
Zhou Xiaoyu thought for a moment. “There’s a slight difference… it’s more like, ‘Oh, a particularly hardworking human.'”
A wave of laughter erupted at the tea party, but the laughter carried a certain complex emotion.
“But don’t you think,” another long haired girl whispered, “that it’s precisely this ‘indiscriminate treatment’ that makes her so attractive?”
The tea party fell silent.
The short haired girl nodded. “Exactly. She won’t be extra gentle to you just because you’re a girl, nor will she be extra guarded just because you’re a guy. She just… purely treats everyone as a person.”
“And she’s brilliant,” someone added. “So brilliant you can’t look away.”
“Focused,” someone else said. “Focused people are the most charming.”
“And there’s that… charm of not knowing she has charm.”
The group sank into contemplation.
Li Ting suddenly spoke up: “So, in our department, how many girls actually like Yaojin?”
An awkward silence followed.
Then, one after another, seven or eight hands went up.
There were fifteen people at the tea party in total. Over half.
“My god…” Zhou Xiaoyu stared, dumbfounded.
The Same Scene, Different Departments
Physics Department Lab, Late Night
A few graduate students were chatting after finishing their experiments, and the conversation inevitably turned to Xia Yaojin.
“Honestly, if Yaojin weren’t straight, I would have pursued her long ago,” a senior sister sighed. She was the undisputed “Alpha” of the lesbian circle in the lab.
“Me too,” another senior agreed. “But her ‘straight girl aura’ is too strong, strong enough that people don’t dare to step out of line.”
“But the way she is with Zhu Yawen…”
“That’s just because Zhu Yawen is thick-skinned,” the senior said, hitting the nail on the head. “And Yaojin’s treatment of her is actually no different from how she treats us, teaching her how to do problems, helping her find solutions, and discussing academics.”
“But Zhu Yawen persisted.”
The lab fell silent for a moment.
“So,” someone said, “it’s not that Yaojin is special, it’s that Zhu Yawen is special.”
“Correct.” The senior nodded. “Yaojin is like the sun, shining equally on everyone. But only Zhu Yawen isn’t afraid of being burned and keeps looking up at her.”
“What about us?”
“We are mortals,” the senior laughed. “Mortals gaze at the sun, but they don’t dare get too close. Only someone like Zhu Yawen, someone you can’t tell if they’re brave or just foolish, would keep chasing the sun.”
On the Campus Forum
The phenomenon was finally formally discussed in a thread.
[Academic Discussion: On the Special Attraction of Straight Female Overachievers to Lesbians]
OP (Sociology Grad Student): As a sociology researcher and a “Wen Jin” shipper, I’ve observed an interesting phenomenon: Xia Yaojin, a recognized straight girl, holds extremely high popularity within the lesbian community. According to incomplete statistics, over thirty girls from the Foreign Languages, Arts, and Economics departments have admitted to having feelings for her. Why?
I believe it’s due to the following points:
Her “gender neutral treatment” creates a safe space where lesbians don’t have to worry about being looked at strangely.
Her focus and purity possess a charm that transcends gender.
Her “Iron Wall of Straightness” actually triggers a desire for conquest, the harder she is to reach, the more people want to get close.
Zhu Yawen’s pursuit provides a “proof of feasibility” look, someone is doing it.
Feelings from other departments are welcome.
1L (Psychology Observer): To add: Xia Yaojin’s personality traits rational, independent, goal-oriented, happen to fit the ideal type for many lesbians. Moreover, her “straightness” isn’t based on rejecting the same sex, but on maintaining an equal distance from everyone. This makes her straightness feel less hurtful.
2L (Foreign Languages L-A): Speaking as an involved party: honestly, part of liking Yaojin is because… she never looks at you with that “You’re a homosexual” gaze. In her eyes, you are just you.
3L (Arts L-B): And she’s smart. Intelligence is the ultimate sexiness.
4L (Economics L-C): And her patience when teaching people how to solve problems… My god, who can resist a genius who is both brilliant and patient? Plus, she’s so beautiful!
5L (Physics L-D): But we also know we don’t stand a chance. So we just admire her from afar. Unlike Zhu Yawen, she’s the one who actually dares to go for it.
6L (Everyone): Saluting the brave warrior!
In the Library
Xia Yaojin was completely unaware of these discussions.
She was helping a girl from the Foreign Languages department revise a paper, one of the girls who had raised her hand at the tea party. The girl was currently blushing, her heart racing as she listened to Xia Yaojin’s explanation.
“The citation format here is wrong; you should use APA 7th edition,” Xia Yaojin pointed at the screen. “And this argument needs more data support. I recommend you look at these few papers…”
The girl’s gaze moved from the screen to Xia Yaojin’s profile, then quickly looked away.
“Thanks, Yaojin…” she whispered.
“You’re welcome,” Xia Yaojin said, then returned to her own book.
As the girl left, she ran into the newly arrived Zhu Yawen at the door.
The two made eye contact, the girl’s face turned even redder as she hurried away.
Zhu Yawen sat down opposite Xia Yaojin. “That girl just now…”
“Foreign Languages department. She had problems with her paper and asked for help.” Xia Yaojin didn’t even look up.
“She seems to… like you.”
Xia Yaojin finally looked up, her expression blank. “Like me? Why?”
Looking at her pure, uncomprehending eyes, Zhu Yawen suddenly smiled. “Nothing, I’m just talking nonsense.”
She had known for a long time that many people liked Xia Yaojin.
But she knew even better that Xia Yaojin’s heart was like a castle with the gates tightly shut. On the walls, a sign was posted: “Academic Zone. No Unauthorized Entry.”
And she was the one who had pitched a tent outside those gates, prepared for a long-term encampment.
She wasn’t afraid of waiting.
Because she knew the master of the castle wasn’t keeping the gates closed on purpose, she just… didn’t know there was anyone outside.
The Art Exhibition: “Boundaries”
Over the weekend, the Arts Department hosted a small exhibition themed “Boundaries.”
Zhu Yawen’s Poem of the Algorithm was placed in the center of the hall, right next to her newest creation: 《The City Wall and the Tent》.
The painting depicted an abstract city. In its center stood a fortress with its gates tightly shut, while a tiny tent was pitched just outside the walls. Inside the tent, a warm light glowed, revealing the faint silhouette of a person.
The explanatory text beside the painting read:
“Some walls are not a rejection, they are simply gates that have forgotten how to open. And the person in the tent is willing to wait until the day the wall remembers.”
Many people attended the exhibition, a significant number of them being lesbians from across the campus. They stood before the painting in silence.
“Zhu Yawen is truly… brave,” a short-haired girl whispered.
“And incredibly patient,” her friend beside her replied. “If it were me, I would have given up ages ago.”
“But Xia Yaojin is worth it.”
“Is she?”
“She is,” the short-haired girl said firmly. “Even just to be her friend, she’s worth it.”
As they were leaving, they ran into Xia Yaojin at the entrance, she had been dragged to the exhibit by Zhu Yawen.
The “Academic” Critique
Xia Yaojin stood before The City Wall and the Tent for a long time.
“This painting…” she finally spoke. “The structural design of the fortress is flawed. The walls are too high and the moat is too wide, which is inefficient for the transport of supplies and the movement of personnel. It might function as a military stronghold, but if it’s a residential castle, it should be more open.”
Zhu Yawen: “…” The eavesdropping students nearby: “…”
Xia Yaojin continued her analysis: “Furthermore, the tent is positioned too close to the moat. If it rains and the water level rises, it would be dangerous. It should be moved back at least twenty meters.”
Zhu Yawen took a deep breath, forcing a smile. “Alright, I’ve noted that. I’ll make improvements in the next version.”
Xia Yaojin nodded with satisfaction and moved on to the next painting.
The onlookers exchanged glances, a mix of helplessness, amusement, and a tiny bit of… envy.
Envy for Zhu Yawen, who could have such a unique “interaction.”
Envy for Xia Yaojin, who could live forever in her own pure world.
And envy for the connection between them, one that could never be replicated by anyone else.
The Forum: New Theories
OP (Art Exhibit Informant): Latest observation: When Yaojin looked at Yawen’s painting, she offered academic feedback on structural irrationality and hazardous tent placement. Yawen accepted with a smile. The onlookers are experiencing complex emotions. Question: Where exactly does the attraction of a straight-girl genius lie?
1L (Psychology Observer): Perhaps the attraction lies in this: She is always herself. She doesn’t change because of others’ affection, nor does she posture because of others’ gaze. This absolute self-consistency is a powerful charm in itself.
2L (Sociology Grad): Additionally, her world is so rich that she doesn’t need “romance” to fill a void. This “lack of need” actually makes her more attractive because those who approach her aren’t there to fill a hole in her life, but to share in her abundance.
3L (Foreign Languages L): At the end of the day, we don’t like “straight girls” we like “Xia Yaojin.” It just so happens she is straight.
4L (Arts L): And the one Zhu Yawen likes is also just “Xia Yaojin.” It just so happens Xia Yaojin is a girl.
5L (Everyone): So it’s not a sexual orientation issue; it’s a person issue!
6L (Admin Xiao Liu): Uh… discussion is fine, but please don’t disturb the subjects…
7L (President’s Office Secretary Li): President Su says this discussion has great sociological value and suggests compiling it into a paper for publication.
8L (Everyone): THE PRESIDENT IS HERE AGAIN!!! Sir, can’t you take a break?!
The Drawbridge
That night, Zhu Yawen walked Xia Yaojin back to her dormitory. At the bottom of the stairs, Xia Yaojin suddenly asked, “Why do girls like me?”
Zhu Yawen froze. “Why do you ask?”
“At the exhibit today, I heard several people say, ‘I like Yaojin but there’s no chance,'” Xia Yaojin frowned. “I don’t understand. I haven’t done anything special for them.”
Looking at her confused expression, Zhu Yawen’s heart softened completely. “Because you are wonderful,” she said softly. “So wonderful that people can’t help but like you.”
“But I don’t need them to like me.”
“Liking someone is a personal matter, it doesn’t require the consent of the person being liked,” Zhu Yawen explained. “Just like my liking you is my business. You don’t have to accept it, but you can’t stop me from feeling it.”
Xia Yaojin thought for a long time before finally nodding. “I see. Like my love for mathematics, it doesn’t require the consent of mathematics.”
Zhu Yawen laughed. “Exactly. Just like your love for math.”
“Then…” Xia Yaojin paused. “Does your liking me cause you any trouble?”
“No,” Zhu Yawen shook her head. “On the contrary, it makes me better. Because of you, I learned math, I learned programming, and I painted things I could never paint before. So, liking you is a good thing.”
Xia Yaojin nodded. “That’s good then.”
She turned to go upstairs, then stopped and looked back. “By the way, regarding that painting of the wall and the tent… I suggest you add a drawbridge.”
“That way, if the person inside the wall wants to come out, or the person in the tent wants to go in, it’s much more convenient.”
With that, she went upstairs.
Zhu Yawen stood rooted to the spot for a long time.
A drawbridge.
Xia Yaojin had suggested adding a drawbridge between the wall and the tent. This wasn’t a rejection. This was… a solution. A solution to allow two worlds to connect.
Zhu Yawen smiled, her eyes tearing up with joy. Her Yaojin always rational, always direct. She was always responding to the world in her own way. Including responding to her love.
The night grew deep. The forum discussions continued. But the story of the two protagonists had entered a new chapter.
One suggested a drawbridge. The other was ready to paint it.
This was “Wen Jin.”