Chapter 55
During the three-day New Year's Day holiday, Xie Qingyan stayed at Jiang Ci's large apartment for three days, citing "post-exam review" as the reason.
For the past three days, the two of them stayed at home during the day to review and fill in any gaps in their knowledge. Jiang Ci was in charge of setting questions, and Xie Qingyan would be "punished" if he made a mistake. When they were hungry, they would order takeout. When they were tired, they would watch TV for a while, or do nothing at all, just sit on the sofa and chat. When they didn't want to chat, they would kiss, whisper sweet nothings, or just daydream.
In the evening, the two of them took a walk hand in hand downstairs in the neighborhood. They were both bundled up in thick down jackets, walking slowly along the quiet paths of the complex. The snow crunched softly under their feet, and the streetlights cast long, overlapping shadows of them.
Jiang Ci loved listening to Xie Qingyan tell stories of that distant dynasty: the shouts of the street vendors, the moonlight over the palace walls, the elegant gatherings of literati... Those details, long buried in the dust of history, flowed out from Xie Qingyan's calm tone, and to Jiang Ci, they were more moving than any legend, and he never tired of listening to them.
After their walk, the two would wash up and then snuggle into bed. Xie Qingyan insisted on studying before sleep, while Jiang Ci would quietly read his own book beside him, or watch the shadows cast by Xie Qingyan's eyelashes and the slight relaxation of his brow as he understood a difficult point by the dim light. Only when Xie Qingyan closed his book and let out a satisfied sigh would Jiang Ci reach out to turn off the light, find him accurately in the darkness, pull him into his arms, and share a peaceful night's sleep.
The three-day holiday flew by, and as soon as the holiday ended, the results for all subjects in the second mock exam were released.
Xie Qingyan's ranking first in the entire grade stunned the entire school's teachers and students.
This rocket-like ascent filled all the division commanders with surprise, but also with awe and anticipation.
Mr. Mo, the homeroom teacher, couldn't shake the smile that day. Looking at the name far ahead on the report card, he pictured the always calm, focused boy with clear, bright eyes. From his initial brilliance in the mock exam, to his steady climb in subsequent tests, and now to this pinnacle, every step he took was so solid and powerful. This first place was well-deserved, and more importantly, a silent encouragement, casting the brightest light into the stagnant pool of senior year.
However, Xie Qingyan remained unusually calm in the face of this result. He even pushed the test paper in front of Jiang Ci and pointed to several bright red deduction marks on the science paper.
"Here, the approach to the comprehensive force analysis of electromagnetic induction has gone astray."
"And this one, which combines optics and atomic physics, had its critical conditions not accurately determined."
His tone was as calm as if he were analyzing someone else's exam paper.
Jiang Ci took the test paper: "You lost more than thirty points. There's still a lot of room for improvement."
A collective gasp filled the air. The students exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes wide with shock and awe, as if asking, "Is this even human language?"
But none of them spoke up in rebuttal. Because they knew that the person who said those words was Jiang Ci. The one who missed the second mock exam, yet left a legend at the Experimental High School, and now returned after a huge family upheaval, his eyes even calmer and sharper.
If he were to take the exam, it's uncertain who would claim the top spot. The world of academic superstars is something they can only look up to.
Xie Qingyan fully accepted this assessment. He took out his special error notebook and listed and analyzed each point he had lost. He had already built the framework of his science knowledge from junior and senior high school, and could even recite it from memory. But in some areas, it was as if there was a layer of clear yet hard glass between him and his mind; he could see them, but he couldn't grasp the core.
Jiang Ci understood this "limitation of knowledge among the ancients." Physics, especially the part that requires highly abstract thinking and the support of modern scientific paradigms, was the most difficult hurdle for Xie Qingyan to overcome. Chemistry and biology were nearly perfected through his efforts, but physics was like a mountain shrouded in mist; the path was clearly under his feet, yet he always lost his way at some turn.
In the end, Jiang Ci brought in Wen Heng as a savior.
"Did I hear that right? The top teacher in the city can't handle this problem, do you think I can enlighten him?"
Jiang Ci remained expressionless, speaking matter-of-factly: "Sometimes I can't understand why he can't understand things at my level of thinking." The implication was that the top student's thought process was too straightforward, making it difficult for him to grasp the stumbling blocks that ordinary people experience when shifting their thinking.
Wen Heng was speechless for a moment, feeling both annoyed and amused. He was, after all, a top student who consistently ranked in the top ten at the Experimental High School, yet in Jiang Ci's words, he had become a reference model for "ordinary classmates." However, he was already familiar with Xie Qingyan, knowing that this person had an exceptionally high IQ, although his thinking patterns were sometimes limited by his established cognitive framework.
He took Xie Qingyan's thick collection of incorrect answers and test papers, and studied them carefully. After a moment, he suddenly realized what he had done wrong, and pointed out several typical mistakes with the tip of his pen:
"Qingyan's problem isn't carelessness or forgetting the knowledge points. Look here, in the combined electromagnetism and mechanics question, he fell into the 'mindset trap' carefully set by the question setter. And this one, which seems to test basic formulas, actually hides an implicit condition that requires reverse derivation."
Wen Heng's analysis enlightened Jiang Ci. He instantly grasped the key point: "His problem is that he always stands from the perspective of a 'problem solver,' passively accepting the information from the questions. If he could switch to the perspective of a 'problem setter,' and see clearly the core concepts and thinking methods that each question is truly testing..."
“Exactly!” Wen Heng chimed in, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “High school chemistry is essentially a game of mathematical equations. High school physics is more about the in-depth application of middle school mathematical models. All the information given in the questions is just the known parts of both sides of the equation. If Qingyan can see at a glance what the teacher wants to test with this equation, then solving the problem will be a ‘dimensional reduction attack’.”
Xie Qingyan listened intently to their conversation, as if someone groping in the dark had suddenly been given a lamp. He reopened his mock exam paper, and the questions that had once puzzled him and caused him to lose points now appeared completely different under the new filter of the "exam setter's perspective."
It turns out that the core of this complex electromagnetic problem was simply to test the combined application of Lenz's law and the law of conservation of energy; the trap in that tricky optics problem lay in a slight misunderstanding of the definition of "refractive index"... The ingenious ideas and rigorous logic of the teacher who set the questions, hidden behind the complicated questions and calculations, were clearly revealed to him like a face without a veil.
A dizzying, enlightening feeling swept over him.
It wasn't physical dizziness, but rather an extreme clarity and shock of having one's mental barriers suddenly shattered and a new world abruptly opened up.
"I...I think I understand!" He suddenly stood up, his eyes shining brightly. "I'm going to review all my previous science exam papers again!"
He didn't even have time to properly thank them before grabbing his schoolbag and rushing out the door, wanting nothing more than to immediately return to his desk and use this new perspective to re-examine and digest the mountain of problems that had accumulated.
That night, Jiang Ci received a message from Xie Qingyan. It was only one line long, but it conveyed an excitement and sense of relief that almost overflowed from the screen:
[Jiang Ci, I understand! Thank you! Also, please tell Wen Heng thank you for me.]
Since then, the students in Class 12 have noticed that Xie Qingyan, who just ranked first in the grade, has not relaxed at all. On the contrary, he seems to have been wound up like a spring, bursting forth with even more amazing enthusiasm for learning. He is always the first to arrive at the classroom and the last to leave. Jiang Ci is the same. The two of them sitting side by side have become a quiet and powerful sight in the empty classroom in the early morning and the silent corridor at night.
What's even more remarkable is Xie Qingyan's complete lack of reservation. Whenever a classmate comes to him with a question, he will put down what he's doing and patiently explain, his thoughts clear and his words gentle, often enlightening the student. His presence is like a star cast into water, not only shining brightly himself but also influencing the entire class's learning atmosphere with his gravitational pull.
Half stimulated by the dazzling light, and the other half infected by the atmosphere of selfless sharing and diligent striving, Class 12 quietly launched a positive internal competition. The sound of discussing problems during breaks replaced idle chatter, the efficiency of self-study periods was unprecedented, and everyone was full of energy, chasing each other while supporting one another. That vigorous, upward vitality, like the grass sprouts eager to break through the frozen soil in early spring, was full of the power of hope.
This atmosphere, like ripples, spread from Class 12, infecting the neighboring classes, and then throughout the entire senior year. In the senior building of No. 9 Middle School, the usual pre-exam anxiety and dullness were replaced by a more positive and focused tension. Every time the principal inspected the classrooms and saw the brightly lit classrooms and students buried in their studies, he couldn't hide his smile, wishing he could award Xie Qingyan and Jiang Ci a banner for "Outstanding Contribution to Academic Atmosphere Development."
This year's college entrance examination seems to be particularly anticipated.
After more than a month of hard work, the winter vacation has arrived.
For senior high school students, winter break is the last chance to rest and recharge. Students have their own plans: traveling to relax, going on trips with friends, studying hard at home… but Xie Qingyan had already decided to work part-time at Moyunzhai.
He had already paid Jiang Ci back the money he spent on the phone, and with the support of the Wen family's connections, his family's vegetable business was thriving, making their lives much more comfortable. But he still chose to stay at the bookstore. There, he found the familiar scent of old ink, the kind smile of Boss Shen, and a quiet atmosphere steeped in knowledge.
Upon learning of his decision, Jiang Ci simply gave a soft "hmm," but a smile flickered in his eyes. He didn't really have any plans anyway; wherever Xie Qingyan was, that was where his focus would be.
However, Xie's parents felt sorry for him: "Winter vacation is only twenty-odd days long. It would be good for him to rest at home and play with his classmates. Why should he have to go to work?"
Xie Qingyan explained earnestly, "If I don't go to the bookstore, I'll probably spend all day in the library anyway. Since I'm reading anyway, I can also help Mr. Shen at the bookstore, so wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?" Seeing that he was determined, his parents had no choice but to let him have his way.
Thus, at the beginning of the winter vacation, Xie Qingyan's life became simple and regular: home and Moyunzhai, a straight line between the two.
He got up very early, leaving home with his schoolbag at the crack of dawn to catch the early bus. The bus would stop one stop away from the bookstore. Jiang Ci would always be there on time.
Hidden near this train station is an unassuming yet incredibly delicious breakfast shop. It was a treasure Jiang Ci stumbled upon one of his trips. After bringing Xie Qingyan there once, the rich, freshly ground soy milk and crispy, golden fried dough sticks became Xie Qingyan's most comforting craving for winter mornings.
Since they couldn't come often during the school year, the two of them agreed to come every weekend. Now, during winter break, coming to this breakfast shop has become almost a daily ritual.
The bus doors opened, and Xie Qingyan jumped off, immediately spotting that tall and imposing figure. The cold wind was biting, and Jiang Ci's face was pale from the cold, but his eyes lit up the moment Xie Qingyan appeared.
Xie Qingyan walked over quickly and grabbed his cold hand without saying a word.
"My hands are cold." Jiang Ci tried to pull away, "Don't let them get cold."
"Perfect, my hands are warm." Xie Qingyan gripped his hand tighter, enveloping his cold fingers in her warm palm. "Next time, just wait for me at the shop, don't let the wind blow on you outside."
"I'll wait at the platform so I can see you sooner," Jiang Ci said softly, letting him hold her hand as they walked side by side toward the small shop steaming with heat.
The shop was warm and inviting, filled with the aroma of soy milk. The two ordered their usual combination and sat facing each other. Xie Qingyan always ate slowly and deliberately, with a classic elegance. After Jiang Ci finished eating, she quietly watched him, her gaze gentle.
He began to imagine the university campus he would soon be in, planning to get into the same city, even the same university, and then rent a small apartment nearby. He envisioned them having breakfast together at a place like this in the mornings, and sleeping in each other's arms at night. Just thinking about it filled his heart with sweetness, every pore radiating warmth.
After breakfast, there was still some time before the bookstore opened. So the two of them took their time and strolled leisurely along the sidewalk covered with a thin layer of snow.
Xie Qingyan meticulously reported her learning experiences over the past few days, her eyes shining: "I feel that my total score can be raised by about forty points in the next mock exam."
Jiang Ci had no doubt. His Xie Qingyan always kept his word.
"I'll wait and see."
Xie Qingyan suddenly stopped and turned to look at him, a hint of eagerness flashing in her eyes: "Jiang Ci, how about we make a bet?"
"What are we betting on?"
"Let's bet on who gets the higher score in the three mock exams."
Jiang Ci raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "What's the bet?"
Xie Qingyan was speechless for a moment. The idea came to him suddenly, and he hadn't thought about the stakes in detail. It was just that the pride and competitiveness that belonged to the top scholar in his bones had been aroused by Jiang Ci, and he wanted to go all out.
"I...haven't decided yet. Do you have any suggestions?"
Jiang Ci took a step closer and lowered his head:
"The loser shall repay the debt with his body."
Xie Qingyan was taken aback, then her cheeks flushed red. This bet sounded like she wouldn't lose out regardless of winning or losing?
However, in his mind, "repaying with one's body" was already a settled fact. He had chosen Jiang Ci, and that was for all eternity. He blinked, a hint of innocent confusion and directness in his eyes, and softly asked:
"But haven't we already pledged our lives to each other? What do you mean by 'repaying each other with one's body'?"
Jiang Ci felt her ears burning at his frank and innocent question, yet she also adored him for it. She had to lean closer and, in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, explained a few more specific and private points.
Xie Qingyan's ears instantly turned bright red, and even his neck flushed pink. Between them, aside from that final boundary, they were already intimately close. He wasn't averse to those things; in fact, he had even developed a taste for them. But being told so bluntly by Jiang Ci, in the form of a "bet," still overwhelmed him with intense shame.
"Are you shy?" Jiang Ci chuckled softly as she looked at his bright red earlobes.
Xie Qingyan seemed to be burned by the laughter, abruptly pulling her hand back and quickening her pace, almost "escaping" to the tightly closed door of Moyunzhai, frantically rummaging for her keys.
Jiang Ci followed at a leisurely pace, and slipped inside the moment the door opened.
"Click." The door closed behind them, shutting out the cold air and sunlight.
The bookstore was dimly lit, with only the faint light reflected from the snow outside the window. Jiang Ci gently pressed Xie Qingyan against the wall behind the door, wrapping his arms around his waist, trapping him in the small, intimate space between himself and the door.
“How about,” he lowered his head, his nose almost touching Xie Qingyan’s, his voice hoarse, “we’ll change the stakes?”
Xie Qingyan turned his burning face away, his heart pounding like a drum, but in an almost inaudible whisper, he gave his answer:
"...No need to change it."
In the darkness, Jiang Ci's eyes suddenly darkened.
“What should I do?” he murmured with a sigh, his kiss landing on her tender, trembling skin. “I think… I can’t wait any longer.”
The unspoken words melted into their intertwined breaths and rising body temperature. The first rays of dawn peeked through the cracks in the bookstore window, stealthily observing the warmth and love that was about to boil within.
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