Chapter 5

Xie Qingyan said solemnly, "Jiang, you must know my grades. Don't worry, since I'm determined to start over, I will study hard and will not waste your time."

Jiang Ci: "...Let's start with math." He picked up his math textbook, flipped to the chapter on functions, and casually drew a coordinate axis and a parabola. "This is the most basic linear function, understand?"

Xie Qingyan leaned forward slightly, staring at the diagram, his brows gradually furrowing, as if he were studying some martial arts manual. He pondered for a moment, then cautiously spoke: "This diagram... could it depict the trajectory of an object being launched? It seems to have some similarities to the equations in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, but its method of expression is more refined and intuitive."

Jiang Ci's hand holding the pen stopped. This was the first time he had heard someone use the trajectory of a projectile and the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" to understand linear functions. This understanding... couldn't be wrong, but something just felt off.

“…I suppose so.” Jiang Ci gave up on explaining and went straight to the point, “Let’s look at the domain and range first…”

The next three hours were a huge test for both of them.

For Xie Qingyan, it was a difficult task to translate the ancient mathematical system ingrained in his mind into modern mathematical language. When Jiang Ci mentioned derivatives, he would subconsciously think of infinite subdivision and the simple idea of ​​substituting curves with straight lines, but understanding its strict definition of limits and symbol system proved extremely difficult.

For Jiang Ci, it would take all the patience he had ever had to deal with Xie Qingyan's uniquely quirky questions.

Why is this symbol read as sigma instead of the letter 和?

"Is the conservation of energy similar to the principle in the Book of Changes that essence and vital energy constitute matter, and wandering spirits bring about change?"

"Does this formula composed of English letters, like the Qieyun system of our dynasty, have its own phonetic rules?"

Jiang Ci gripped his pen tightly several times, a vein throbbing on his forehead, but whenever he met Xie Qingyan's pure, inquisitive eyes, his frustration inexplicably subsided. He found himself having to break free from the established teaching framework and try to explain these science concepts in a more fundamental, almost philosophical way.

Xie Qingyan, however, did not blindly accept everything. After understanding a point of knowledge, he would often cite examples from ancient classics to corroborate it. His ability to make connections across time and space occasionally surprised Jiang Ci.

"stop."

When Xie Qingyan tried to forcibly link the periodic table of chemical elements with the theory of the five elements, Jiang Ci finally couldn't bear it any longer and shouted to stop.

Jiang Ci rubbed his temples, his face showing obvious fatigue, but his eyes had lost some of their usual coldness and lifelessness, and gained some of the liveliness that came out of anger.

“Ten-minute break.” He said it almost through gritted teeth. “You… memorize these things separately first. Modern science has its own rules.”

Xie Qingyan readily agreed, but also realized that he seemed to have gone a bit overboard. He apologized and said, "I was being presumptuous and have caused trouble for Jiang."

Jiang Ci ignored him, silently opened the insulated lunchbox, and began to eat the slightly chilled breakfast. The millet porridge was cooked until soft and sticky, the fried egg was cooked to perfection, and the ham was roasted until fragrant. He ate quickly, but without any embarrassment.

Watching him eat, Xie Qingyan felt much less anxious due to the difficulties of his studies. He picked up the English book Jiang Ci had placed aside, looked at the dense letters on it, and murmured to himself, "ABCD... This foreign language is quite interesting."

Jiang Ci looked up and saw him facing the English phonetic symbol chart, reciting the letters in a tone almost like reciting ancient poetry, and paused for a moment.

Sunlight streamed through the huge glass window, bathing the two of them. One was leisurely enjoying a warm breakfast, while the other curiously explored the seemingly incomprehensible alphabet.

This peaceful Saturday began formally and somewhat chaotically with a breakfast and a tutoring session where everyone was talking past each other. And a certain unspoken understanding quietly blossomed amidst these clashes of boundaries.

As lunchtime approached, the library gradually emptied out as people left their seats to find food.

Even though Xie Qingyan was eager to learn, he had no choice but to succumb to hunger.

“Jiang…”

After Jiang Ci finished explaining the last English grammar point, Xie Qingyan decisively said, "I'm a little hungry, why don't we go have lunch first?"

Jiang Ci rubbed his temples; he was indeed hungry. He put away his books and said, "Let's go."

---

The midday sun was a bit dazzling. After finishing their arduous morning practice, Jiang Ci and Xie Qingyan left their seats one after the other. As soon as they stepped out of the library, they bumped into a familiar figure.

"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this our class's newly crowned genius?" Li Ming, hands in his pockets, leaned against the doorpost, his face full of undisguised sarcasm, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Xie Qingyan and Jiang Ci. "I was wondering why there was such a strong smell of manure here. This isn't a vegetable garden. Xie Qingyan, did you come to the wrong place? A vegetable farmer's son should go back to the vegetable garden; that's more suitable for you."

He emphasized the words "vegetable farmer's son," his tone filled with disdain.

Jiang Ci's eyes instantly turned cold, and the pressure around him plummeted. He took a half step forward, shielding Xie Qingyan behind him, and stared at Li Ming with eyes like ice-cold knives, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Just as he was about to have an attack, a warm hand gently pressed on his forearm.

“Jiang, classmate.” Xie Qingyan’s voice was calm and even, carrying a strange soothing power. He shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn’t need to do anything.

Xie Qingyan stepped out from behind Jiang Ci, facing Li Ming directly. His posture was as upright as bamboo, his face showing no anger at the humiliation, but rather a composure bordering on pity. He cleared his throat and spoke in a clear, resonant voice that echoed at the library entrance:

“Student Li, you are mistaken. As the Zuo Zhuan says, ‘The livelihood of the people depends on diligence, and diligence will ensure abundance.’ My parents work the fields themselves, earning a living with their sweat and providing for my education and moral development. This is the right way of life, so what is there to be ashamed of?”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the passersby who were gradually gathering around due to the argument, and continued speaking unhurriedly:

"In the past, Zhu Maichen carried firewood to study and eventually became a famous minister; Guan Ning cut his mat in half, aspiring to the way of sages and virtuous men, not to be limited by his noble or lowly birth. Confucius also said, 'When rites are lost, seek them in the countryside.' How can true learning and integrity be limited by social status?"

He quoted extensively from classical texts, speaking eloquently, each word like a clear, resonant jade striking the eardrums of everyone present. His refined scholarly spirit and wisdom, transcending a thousand years, created an invisible aura that made Li Ming's crudeness and contempt seem utterly ridiculous.

People around took out their phones and started filming, whispering among themselves: "Which school is that student from? He speaks so well!" "He has such good manners!" "He's so handsome!"

Li Ming's face turned from red to green, then from green to white. Under Xie Qingyan's overwhelming response and the pointing and whispering gazes of passersby, his sarcasm seemed utterly pale and powerless. He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that his meager vocabulary contained no words to counter it.

"You...you..." He stammered for a long time, and finally, amidst a chorus of boos and laughter, he angrily shouted, "Bookworm! Crazy!" Then, like a defeated rooster, he awkwardly pushed his way through the crowd and ran away.

Watching Li Ming flee in disarray, Xie Qingyan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint and smug smile. She turned to look at Jiang Ci, her eyes gleaming with the bright light of "I've won."

Seeing him like this, Jiang Ci's earlier hostility dissipated, replaced by a complex and indescribable emotion. He chuckled, his tone softening without his own awareness, and commented:

"Bookworm. His head can hold so many classical Chinese phrases, yet he can't even remember the simplest mathematical formula."

Xie Qingyan's smile froze. He was about to retort and prove that he wasn't just knowledgeable in classical Chinese. He subconsciously took a step back, wanting to argue with Jiang Ci.

Just then, a food delivery scooter sped up from the side, honking its horn in a piercing manner!

Xie Qingyan was still immersed in the depression of being called a "bookworm" and was completely unaware of it.

"careful!"

Jiang Ci's expression changed drastically. Almost instinctively, he stretched out his long arm, grabbed Xie Qingyan's waist, and pulled him forcefully into his arms!

The electric scooter whizzed past, creating a gust of wind as it brushed against Xie Qingyan's clothes.

Caught off guard, Xie Qingyan bumped into Jiang Ci's arms. His nose was instantly filled with a clean scent, faintly fragrant with soap and sunshine, a stark contrast to Jiang Ci's usual coldness. Through the thin school uniform, he could clearly feel the slightly rapid heartbeat emanating from Jiang Ci's chest.

Jiang Ci's hands were still tightly wrapped around his waist, so tightly they were almost embedded in him.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

Only after the electric scooter had driven away did Jiang Ci suddenly release his grip as if burned, pushing Xie Qingyan away slightly, his ears involuntarily flushing red. He turned his face away, his tone regaining its usual coldness, even carrying a hint of exasperation:

"Watch where you're going! All you think about is classical Chinese, you're risking your life?"