Chapter 14
After Lin Ting agreed to come back and continue tutoring Chen Zhiyi, she extended the tutoring time by an hour, from 3 pm to 5 pm. She asked Chen Zhiyi to finish his summer homework in the morning and then check and correct it in the afternoon. For the wrong questions, she would explain the knowledge points covered in detail.
Lin Ting: This question mainly discusses how to find the general term {an) in a sequence. Common problem-solving methods include: first, the formula method; second, mathematical induction; third, using the relationship between an and Sn; and fourth, the method of undetermined coefficients, which is often used when there are unknowns. Now, take a look and see which method is suitable for this question.
Chen Zhiyi: Given Sn, we can definitely use the third method, the formula an = Sn - Sn-1, to calculate it. While explaining, he quickly wrote down the detailed solution process on paper and swiftly arrived at the answer.
Before long, Lin Ting discovered that Chen Zhiyi was very smart. Once he understood a question he missed once, he didn't miss any similar questions afterward. Two hours was more than enough time to correct mistakes, so she would give him extra practice on the spot. As a result, Chen Zhiyi solved problems quickly and accurately, scribbling formulas on scratch paper and filling in "ABCD" in his workbook incredibly fast. Lin Ting even suspected that he was deliberately hiding his brilliance at school. When she asked him about his academic level at school, he said it was average, just average.
What's so ordinary about it? It's definitely a top-tier university, though not a key one. Thinking about it this way, Lin Ting suddenly felt that he should stand with his parents. It's a real pity that he has the talent to take the art exam.
She looked at Chen Zhiyi, who was doing a math test. His hair was falling in wisps, his skin was smooth and delicate without a single pimple, his eyelashes were long and his nose was pert, and his jawline was well-defined. It has to be said that he was indeed a pleasing age to look at.
Lin Ting suddenly remembered a popular app that tests facial attractiveness. You import a picture into the app for facial scanning, and the system scores your face. But that's not all; it also gives a comment. The comment is the real gem. Those with high attractiveness are showered with compliments, while those with low attractiveness are so infuriating they'd faint on the spot.
Lin Ting had never played it, but her friends had. It was all just for fun, but now she was feeling playful and wanted to try it out on Chen Zhiyi.
So she took out her phone and took a side profile photo. What looks better on camera than in real life is bone structure beauty, what looks better in real life than on camera is skin beauty, and what looks good in both is divine beauty.
Lin Ting imported the photo into the app, and unsurprisingly, it was a perfect score. Even though it was a profile shot, she pursed her lips. He was truly God's darling, given a golden key and outstanding looks. He had everything he could want, yet he always felt that nothing went right. Lin Ting gritted her teeth and mentally beat up little Chen Zhiyi.
One comment jumped out: "Your beauty is enough to melt ice and snow."
Pfft, Lin Ting couldn't help but laugh out loud. What the hell is this?
Hearing the noise, Chen Zhiyi turned to look at her, only to see her staring at her phone with a broad smile, looking like a spectator watching the drama unfold.
Looking at her with suspicion, she leaned over and asked, "Sister, what are you looking at? You're laughing like that."
Lin Ting immediately turned her phone face down on the table. Caught playing on her phone, she blinked to hide her embarrassment and could only force a smile at him, her lips curving upwards with great effort. "Nothing? Just some funny videos online."
Chen Zhiyi was taken aback by her sudden laughter. Having seen her always calm expression so often, he found her laughter, though fake, quite vivid and cute. His face gradually became unnatural, and his ears burned. He turned his head away and looked elsewhere. "You watch these kinds of videos too? I thought you didn't pay attention to these things."
"Ah! We're all just ordinary people. Sorry, I just played with my phone on a whim, I won't do it again."
Chen Zhiyi thought for a moment and said, "Sister, do you sometimes get bored when I'm doing my homework here? Why don't you sit on the sofa for a while? There are some magazines over there. Or you can bring your laptop over. I heard from Uncle Chen that you'll be a senior in the fall and are preparing your graduation thesis. You can bring it here to write it, so your time won't be wasted."
Lin Ting was somewhat tempted, but still felt it was inappropriate and somewhat contrary to professional ethics. Although she didn't have a teaching certificate and couldn't be considered a true teacher, she had always held herself to the standards of a teacher.
Chen Zhiyi saw her concerns and smiled, "Sister, you don't need to worry too much here. Just relax and do whatever you want. As you said, learning mainly depends on yourself, so I will definitely ask you questions when I encounter something I don't understand. Don't feel pressured."
Lin Ting's graduation design involves a lot of handicrafts, such as embroidery, beading, and weaving. These are not difficult for her, but they are time-consuming and energy-intensive. If she could bring some detachable details to work on, the production progress could be accelerated. During the day, she can only focus on her graduation design in the morning, as her afternoons are taken up by part-time jobs. She can only slowly work on these intricate details when she returns to her dormitory at nearly 10 p.m.
But university dorm lights go out at 11 p.m., and before her insomnia relapsed, Lin Ting had been doing crafts by nightlight for several nights in a row, which was quite hard on her eyes. Even so, the results weren't satisfactory, so she had to throw them away.
After much thought, Lin Ting still felt that it was inappropriate to do this. If Uncle Chen and the others found out, wouldn't it be a slap in the face to his generous vow? His "serious and responsible" image would also be greatly diminished in their eyes, and they would think that he was a hypocrite who talked a good game but did little.
"Sister, are you worried that Uncle Chen seeing this will have a bad impact? Don't worry about it, he won't say anything. In fact, he said at breakfast today that he thinks my recent study performance is excellent, and it's all thanks to you. You're the number one benefactor in this family now, they practically worship you, how could they dislike you? And this also proves that Teacher Lin is very knowledgeable and explains things thoroughly. Once students understand, they will never make the same mistakes again, so don't feel embarrassed."
Since their last meeting at the West City Park, Chen Zhiyi seemed like a different person. He no longer had that haughty, aloof demeanor; his tone was casual and lively, and he even offered to bring her a water glass. This matched the description his mother had given him when they first met—a warm-hearted person. He even offered to walk her to the bus stop afterward, which startled her. She was worried about getting this delicate, pampered young man sunburned in the heat, and she quickly refused. But Chen Zhiyi insisted, "I'm determined to change your 'three-no' image of me."
Lin Ting asked curiously, “What are the three no’s?”
Chen Zhiyi calmly stated, "Blind, brainless, and heartless."
Lin Ting was both amused and exasperated, finding him both adorable and clingy.
After Chen Zhiyi pestered her repeatedly, Lin Ting agreed to let him accompany her to the bus stop every day.
Consider it a daily exercise opportunity for him. Boys should have a darker complexion; being too pale makes them easy to be called a pretty boy.
The next day, while Chen Zhiyi was doing his homework, Lin Ting took out a needle and thread and a piece of fabric stretched out on a round embroidery frame and started embroidering. This fabric would later be used on the stand-up collar of the clothes to add a retro feel.
Although this was the second time Chen Zhiyi had seen Lin Ting's embroidery, he was still amazed. When he was nine, he didn't understand and just thought his sister was so cool, since many female warriors in TV dramas used needles as weapons. As he grew older and learned more, he realized that embroidery was an ancient technique. In ancient times, women would take pride in having excellent needlework skills and even support their families with it. However, as it has been passed down to this day, fewer and fewer people are learning and studying this technique.
The rapid development of modern society has given rise to many convenient methods that can replace the cumbersome methods of the past. This is a sign of social progress, but it also reflects human laziness, causing more and more excellent intangible cultural heritage techniques to be eliminated and forgotten.
While enjoying the convenience brought by modern technology, we should not forget our roots. We should integrate tradition with modernity, discard the dross and select the essence, so that traditional culture can go further and future generations can see the great wisdom of our ancestors.
So just watching Lin Ting embroider quietly from the side, Chen Zhiyi thought she was very beautiful, so beautiful that he couldn't look away and couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
Her fingers flew across the paper, the colorful threads dancing in her hands. Her hands, like a pair of butterflies in flight, left exquisite patterns on the embroidery cloth with perfect precision. The insertion and removal of the needle were effortless and fluid, the stitches flowing like clouds and water, leaving the viewer in awe.
Chen Zhiyi: "Sister, what kind of embroidery is this? The thread is so fine." Although he didn't know how to embroider, he knew that there were several different schools of embroidery.
Lin Ting didn't look up, focusing on her work. "This is called Suzhou embroidery. It uses 0.5 split embroidery thread, which is ordinary embroidery thread that is split into several threads, so it looks finer."
Chen Zhiyi: "When I see other people embroidering up close, it still feels like a scene from a TV show."
Lin Ting smiled and said, "I'm not like the people on TV. Don't be surprised. As I told you, my hometown is mainly engaged in light textile industry, so weaving, embroidery, dyeing, and sewing are basic survival skills. My mother used to make a living by embroidery. When I was a child, I helped her split silk, thread the needle, and lay out the pattern. I learned a little embroidery from her. But my skills are still quite immature. I can only embroider some flowers and plants. If you are skilled enough, you can embroider portraits. The accuracy is no less than that of painting."
"Sister, you're too modest. You're already very impressive. You're the first person I know who can embroider, and you're even skilled in Suzhou embroidery. Although I don't know much about it, I've heard of Suzhou embroidery. It's an important intangible cultural heritage. Government leaders sometimes choose Suzhou embroidery as gifts for foreign dignitaries."
Lin Ting looked up at him, grinned, and said, "You seem to know quite a bit, don't you?"
"I'm just showing off my limited skills in front of an expert, so please don't laugh at me." Chen Zhiyi asked curiously, "Do you know any other styles of embroidery, like Hunan embroidery or Sichuan embroidery?"
Lin Ting shook her head. "No, my hometown is near the birthplace of Suzhou embroidery, so I'm inheriting this school of thought. Embroidery is a skill that requires a long time of in-depth study and practice. The outstanding Suzhou embroidery masters I know all spent their entire lives to earn the title of master. You have to learn one skill to master it, and once you've established a school of thought, it's a lifelong commitment. As for me, I've only picked up a little bit through exposure and observation. I'm really not as good as you imagine."
Chen Zhiyi: "Then what are you embroidering?" He could tell at a glance that it was the same as the one he embroidered nine years ago, only now it was more exquisite and vivid.
"This is called a gardenia."
"Gardenia?" Chen Zhiyi murmured softly. He had heard the name but had never seen the actual flower. It was mainly grown in the south and was quite common, not particularly precious. He thought, "Aren't flowers that are usually embroidered on fabric precious or rare, like peonies, clivias, or herbaceous peonies? Why does Lin Ting favor it so much?"
Why did you choose to embroider it?
Lin Ting opened her sketchbook and pointed to a page. "I'm studying fashion design. My graduation project is to choose a theme and create a series of ready-to-wear garments. This is a design I made with gardenias as the theme."
Chen Zhiyi looked over and saw four evening gowns: a cheongsam, a long fishtail skirt, a mid-length A-line dress, and a long, fitted pleated skirt. The styles were all common evening gowns, but they were quite different from what he had seen on the red carpet. How so? They were conservative, dignified, and traditional, clearly not the preferences of young people.
Lin Ting noticed the doubt in Chen Zhiyi's eyes. "This was designed for my mother."
Chen Zhiyi suddenly realized, "How did you come up with the idea of designing evening gowns for them, and even using gardenias as the theme?"
Lin Ting: "Actually, the inspiration came from an idol drama I once watched called 'Oriental Juliet.' The female lead designed a series of clothes for her mother with daisies as the theme, and I also wanted to design a set for my mother. If possible, she can wear these clothes to walk the runway during our graduation performance. She is a very ordinary small-town woman who has never worn such clothes before, but loving beauty is a woman's nature, and she will also look forward to wearing such a beautiful evening gown. As for choosing gardenias, it's because this flower is abundant in our area, and you can smell the rich fragrance of flowers as early as May. Moreover, its flower language is a lifetime of waiting, and I hope that we can wait for each other for a lifetime."
Chen Zhiyi noticed that Lin Ting's eyes would light up with happiness when she mentioned her mother, which showed that she must have a mother who loved her very much, and whom she loved very much in return. Although her material life was not as good as his, it was the kind of ordinary life he envied, with three meals a day, family and friends, and the warmth and life of everyday people. It was vibrant and lively, just like her. She seemed aloof and plain, but when she mentioned her family, she had a kind of friendly and warm temperament that made people want to get closer to her.
He reached out to touch the embroidery; it was smooth and soft, neither rough nor prickly, but he noticed something unusual: "Why is this fabric slanted?"
"This is called a 45-degree bias cut. You have a real talent for clothing. Only an expert could tell that?" Lin Ting said, somewhat surprised.
Chen Zhiyi: "Why cut it on the bias? It looks strange."
Lin took out a piece of the same fabric but in a square shape from her bag. "Tear the two pieces together. What's the difference in feeling?"
Chen Zhiyi tugged at it and it seemed that the bias cut was more elastic, but wasn't it the same piece of fabric?
Lin Ting: "This is called a 45° bias cut. The force between the warp and weft yarns is the least in this direction, and the fabric is easy to deform. So, for parts with a large curvature, such as collars and sleeves, bias cuts are usually used to make them easier to sew and smoother in shape. But this is a piping strip, which will be sewn onto the collar after the embroidery is finished, so the fabric is cut on the bias."
The charm a person exudes in their familiar and controlled field is unique, and Lin Ting is no exception. Chen Zhiyi saw that radiance emanating from her at that moment. "Sister, you're quite professional."
“I already said it’s a profession. You’ll definitely need to master these basic skills to make a living in the future.” Lin Ting put down what she was doing and joked, “I think you have a lot of talent in this area. Why don’t you consider studying fashion design?”
Chen Zhiyi leaned back slightly, looking terrified. "I'd rather be forced to study management."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ting laughed.
Seeing her smiling face, Chen Zhiyi felt a flutter in his heart and nervously asked, "Sister, could you embroider one for me too?"
Lin Ting did not refuse, "Sure, where would you like me to embroider? However, my embroidery skills are limited, so I can't take custom orders."
"I'll embroider anything," Chen Zhiyi blurted out, already happy that he was willing to embroider for her.
Lin Ting thought for a moment, "Where's your school uniform?"
Chen Zhiyi took it out of the closet; it was a typical British style: a suit, trousers, a white shirt, and a plaid vest.
Lin Ting pulled out the shirt and looked at it, then rubbed it against the breast pocket, an idea forming in her mind. "Can your school uniforms be altered at will?"
"Of course, if the school doesn't allow it, I can just order another set."
Lin Ting nodded, glanced at the time on her phone, and said, "Then I know what to embroider. You continue with your homework, and I promise to give it to you before get out of class ends."
Chen Zhiyi was overjoyed. He was distracted while doing his homework, always glancing at it, eager to know what Lin Tingxiu had.
She clutched her breast pocket, her needle and thread flying up and down, first black thread, then yellow and green. The rustling sound of the needle was like a cat's paws scratching an itch, making him unbearably itchy.
Lin Ting finished right on time at five o'clock. She neatly tied a knot and bit off the knot, then handed the shirt to Chen Zhiyi.
It turned out that she had embroidered a clivia on her breast pocket, a single, lifelike bloom.
Lin Ting explained, "This way, your shirt will be unique. You won't have to worry about someone else wearing it by mistake at school. It will have your own special mark. In addition, the clivia, as one of the four gentlemen of flowers, has an upright posture and is a symbol of nobility and elegance. It is often used to represent the character of a gentleman. May you live a bright and upright life."
There is such a person who can make your palms sweat, your heart race, and make you feel that life is wonderful and fulfilling. At this moment, Chen Zhiyi knew very clearly that he had admitted defeat.
Later, every time Chen Zhiyi wore this shirt, he would constantly rub the embroidered flower. He liked it very much, very much. It was close to his heart, and every beat of his heart was for it.
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