Chapter 57
As the third mock exam ended, the countdown numbers on the blackboard, like quicksand falling rapidly in an hourglass, dwindled from three digits to two.
A silent atmosphere of tension permeated the senior high school building of No. 9 Middle School.
The playful banter during breaks and the idle chatter in the corridors of the past have disappeared, replaced by figures everywhere, sitting or standing, engrossed in their studies.
Everyone was holding their breath, and dared not relax until the very last moment.
Xie Qingyan was the same. Although he had memorized all the knowledge points by heart, he still dared not relax. His goal was always Jiang Ci. No matter what he did, he had to do his best.
Jiang Ci knew that Xie Qingyan was a perfectionist, so he devoted the rest of his time to Xie Qingyan, giving him various tests every day. These tests targeted Xie Qingyan's weakest areas, and he listed the question types and solutions for each knowledge point in as much detail as possible.
Xie Qingyan devoted himself wholeheartedly to the "sea of questions" strategy that Jiang Ci had tailored for him, spending every day either in class or doing practice problems.
He only wanted to narrow the gap between himself and Jiang Ci as much as possible, not to show off, but simply to live up to Jiang Ci's expectations of him.
The countdown numbers relentlessly ticked: 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10.
In the last ten days, Xie Qingyan finished all the intensive practice of rote memorization and endless practice questions. Because for every possible variation of the question, Xie Qingyan could write at least three solutions. For all the weak knowledge points, no matter how Jiang Ci set the questions, Xie Qingyan could escape Jiang Ci's traps and see the essence of the problem.
Jiang Ci collected all the extra test papers. "Go back to the textbook," he said, "and then, believe in yourself."
On the contrary, the teachers at No. 9 Middle School began to get nervous. Teachers of each subject privately talked to Jiang Ci and Xie Qingyan to get a feel for their abilities and comforted them, telling them not to be nervous and to just perform at their usual level.
As a result, the teachers of each subject were comforted by Xie Qingyan.
The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) arrived as scheduled in the height of summer, as the cicadas began to sing.
Outside the examination hall, a dense crowd of people came to see the test takers off. Inside, the only sound was the scratching of pens on answer sheets.
Xie Qingyan and Jiang Ci were not in the same examination room. But when they stepped into the examination room separately, they felt very calm. The sweat of the past, the lights of the night, the encouragement of each other, and the storms and sunshine they had gone through together all turned into the confidence and composure in their writing at this moment.
When the bell rang to signal the end of the last exam, Xie Qingyan put down his pen and let out a soft sigh of relief. He didn't get up immediately, but sat quietly for a few seconds. Then, he tidied up his stationery and calmly walked out of the examination room.
The summer sun was a bit too bright. He squinted slightly, and then, in the bustling crowd, he spotted the figure leaning against a pillar, waiting.
Jiang Ci also saw him, straightened up, and walked over.
"How are you feeling?" Jiang Ci asked, his voice calm but his eyes gentle.
Xie Qingyan met his gaze:
"Thank you so much, Teacher Jiang, for the exam predictions," he paused, his smile widening, "80 or 90% of the questions were correct."
These four simple words carry a thousand unspoken meanings.
The sounds of laughter and tears filled the air; everyone was genuinely happy that the college entrance exam was over. Regardless of the results, at least during this period after the results were released, everyone could put everything aside and enjoy a well-deserved vacation.
Mr. and Mrs. Xie squeezed through the crowd, hugged their two children tightly, their eyes red-rimmed, and stammered, "It's good that the exams are over! It's good that the exams are over! Let's go! Let's go out to eat! Let's have a big meal!"
The day after the college entrance examination ended, Jiang Ci took Xie Qingyan on a flight to Europe.
Passports and visas were already prepared, and Jiang Ci's itinerary was meticulously planned. Xie Qingyan only needed to bring herself; Jiang Ci would take care of everything else. Rather than a trip, it was more like a long-planned elopement, or rather—a honeymoon.
Upon learning this, Wen Heng was furious and offered to sponsor the entire trip, only asking that Jiang Ci take him along. Jiang Ci's refusal was cold and direct: "We're going on our honeymoon. What would it look like if you came along?"
A muffled groan of frustration came from the other end of the phone.
Xie Qingyan, who had never set foot outside the country, displayed a peculiar composure towards exotic customs. After all, the grand spectacle of all nations paying tribute during the prosperous Dajing era was already etched into his memory. To him, blond-haired, blue-eyed pedestrians were no more surprising than the curly-haired foreign merchants on the streets of Chang'an in the past.
What truly captivated him were the magnificent buildings standing tall under the blue sky and white clouds, weathered by time. The sharp, piercing spires of Gothic cathedrals, the luxurious and dramatic feel flowing beneath the intricate carvings of Baroque palaces, the silent testament to eternity and vicissitudes of the Roman ruins. Each building is an epic written in stone, a concrete manifestation of the soul of a nation.
He often stands in front of a building for half a day, his gaze sweeping over every arch, every statue, and every mottled stained glass window, as if having a silent conversation with the designers and craftsmen of hundreds of years ago.
"You like it that much?" Jiang Ci asked softly as she stayed by his side.
"Hmm." Xie Qingyan nodded, her gaze still lingering on the ancient stone walls. "They are not just shelters from the wind and rain. They are frozen music, three-dimensional poetry, messengers that communicate with humanity across time. What kind of magnificent yet delicate heart must the person who designed them have?"
Jiang Ci looked at his profile, which was gilded by the foreign sunlight, and saw the undisguised amazement and infatuation in his eyes, and her heart softened.
"Do you want to study this abroad in the future?" he asked.
Xie Qingyan turned his head, his eyes clear and firm: "I hadn't decided what I wanted to study before. But now, I think I've found it." He looked at the spire of the church in the distance, his voice clear, "I want to study architectural design. I want to know how to use steel, cement, and glass to write our own poetry in this era."
Jiang Ci smiled, unsurprised. "Okay." He took Xie Qingyan's hand. "Whatever you choose, I will be by your side."
The following month was a long vacation purely for the two of them. No schoolwork, no pressure, no destinations they had to reach. They got lost in the canals of Venice, whiled afternoons in cafes on the Left Bank of Paris, woke up in a small town at the foot of the Swiss Alps, and kissed at sunset on the Aegean Sea in Greece. Every day felt like a gift stolen from time itself—lazy, sweet, and full of unplanned poetry and surprises.
The day my flight landed back home coincided with the release of the college entrance examination results.
As the two dragged their suitcases, before they even approached the Xie family's courtyard, they heard a slightly heated argument coming from inside.
"We arrived first!"
"We were the ones who made the initial contact!"
Jiang Ci and Xie Qingyan exchanged a glance, both puzzled.
The argument ceased abruptly as the courtyard gate was pushed open. Two formally dressed, agitated middle-aged men immediately turned around.
"You must be Jiang Ci and Xie Qingyan?" One of them stepped forward quickly and shook Xie Qingyan's hand tightly. "Jiang Ci! Consider Tsinghua University! You can choose any major, and the scholarships are generous!"
Not to be outdone, another squeezed in: "Jiang! Peking University is offering the best! A combined Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral program, with your choice of advisor!"
Xie Qingyan awkwardly withdrew her hand: "Sorry, I am Xie Qingyan."
"Ah! Xie, you chose Peking University!"
"Tsinghua University! Tsinghua University is more suitable!"
Jiang Ci instantly understood—this was the annual "talent war" waged by admissions officers from Tsinghua and Peking Universities. He never expected this dramatic scene to unfold in his own life. He even found it somewhat novel and interesting.
"Teachers," he stepped forward, shielding Xie Qingyan slightly behind him, his tone calm, "may we ask what our specific scores and rankings are?"
At this moment, Xie's parents also rushed back upon hearing the news. They were somewhat bewildered by the scene in the courtyard.
The two admissions officers calmed down a bit, but their voices were still excited: "Jiang Ci, you are the top science student in our province! A total score of 748! Xie Qingyan, the second-highest scorer in the province! A total score of 742! Congratulations to both of you! Truly, heroes emerge from among the young!"
748, 742.
When those two numbers hit, even Jiang Ci was momentarily stunned, before regaining his composure. As for Xie Qingyan, upon hearing the words "second place," it was as if a string that had been taut for a long time was finally released, followed by an overwhelming sense of peace and fulfillment.
finally.
In this new era, with this new identity, he once again stood at a height comparable to the person beside him through his own efforts.
This is not transcendence, but a return. It is his solemn crowning of his knowledge and character after traversing a thousand years.
Mr. and Mrs. Xie were so excited they didn't know what to do, and Mrs. Xie's eyes even welled up with tears.
Jiang Ci looked at the two earnest teachers, his tone still calm: "Thank you for your kindness, Tsinghua University and Peking University. This is an affirmation of our three years of hard work in high school. However, we need to carefully consider our major and personal plans before making a decision on which school to choose."
Xie Qingyan nodded in agreement: "Thank you, teacher. We will seriously consider it."
The two admissions officers, observing the two teenagers' composure and clear planning after learning of their astonishing achievements, were even more impressed. Such composure destined them for greatness. They left behind a thick stack of admissions materials and repeated assurances before reluctantly taking their leave.
In the following days, the Xie family courtyard was bustling with activity. Congratulatory phone calls, visiting relatives, and media reporters who had heard the news... it was as lively as the New Year. Teacher Mo also called promptly, pleased but not forgetting to remind him: "Choose your major carefully, and follow your heart."
Unable to bear the disturbance any longer, Jiang Ci and Xie Qingyan decided to retreat to Jiang Ci's house with a sea view, seeking some peace and quiet. There, they laid out information about the two top universities, combining Xie Qingyan's architectural dreams with Jiang Ci's pure interest in basic mathematics, and carefully discussed their plans to rent an apartment together during university and put them on the agenda.
Later, unable to avoid it any longer, they gave a brief joint interview.
The reporter asked, "As the top two scorers, what are the secrets to your success?"
Jiang Ci looked at Xie Qingyan beside him, his gaze calm and gentle: "Thank you to my deskmate for pulling me back from the abyss."
Xie Qingyan smiled and looked back at Jiang Ci: "Thanks to my deskmate, I discovered that there is also a cosmic level of romance hidden in the formulas of the science exam."
Ultimately, Hsieh Ching-yen chose the prestigious School of Architecture at Tsinghua University. Chiang Ci, on the other hand, followed his passion for the fundamentals of mathematics and entered the School of Mathematical Sciences at Peking University.
The two schools are not far apart. For the next four years, or even longer, they will continue to write their stories in the same city.
After submitting their college applications, the long vacation finally began. They enjoyed a period of undisturbed leisure, reading, taking walks, watching movies, or doing nothing at all, just staying together.
As the holiday drew to a close, Xie Qingyan and Jiang Ci decided to tell Xie's parents everything.
After dinner, the two cleaned up the dishes, made tea, and invited their parents to sit down in the living room. Xie Qingyan took a deep breath and clasped Jiang Ci's hands tightly under the table.
"Dad, Mom," he began, his voice clear and firm, "there's something I want to tell you. Jiang Ci and I are together. Not just friends, we're lovers."
After he finished speaking, he held his breath, waiting for the expected shock, doubt, and even opposition.
However, the living room was silent. Mr. and Mrs. Xie exchanged a glance, but their faces showed little surprise.
After a long silence, Xie's mother sighed first, then laughed, her eyes slightly moist: "You two silly children, we saw it coming a long time ago."
Mr. Xie nodded, his expression gentle: "At first we were a little worried that society wasn't so tolerant of children like you. But seeing you support each other all the way, becoming better and better, more and more outstanding, we've long since put our minds at ease. You are both good children, you know what you are doing and where you are going. As your parents, we only hope that you are safe and happy."
There were no turbulent waves, no fierce conflicts. Only the simplest understanding and the deepest blessings.
Xie Qingyan choked up instantly, and Jiang Ci also gripped his hand tightly, bowing solemnly to the two elders: "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."
At that moment, all their anxieties vanished. The road ahead may still be filled with storms, but they now have the strongest support and the warmest harbor.
The cicadas' chirping in the height of summer gradually fades, and the prelude to autumn faintly begins in the distance.
The countdown on the blackboard had long since reached zero, and their life's story was slowly unfolding into a vast and infinitely possible new chapter.
The college entrance examination is both an end and a beginning.
Holding starlight in their hands, the young people walked side by side toward the next, radiant dawn.
(End of article)
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