psychological battlefield
The provincial competition training camp was held in a university laboratory, where the atmosphere was even more serious and professional than on campus. Top contestants from all over the city gathered together, and an invisible competitive pressure permeated the air. For Shi Xu, this was an essential step towards the goal, and also a battlefield requiring intense focus.
When Shi Xu and Yun Xi arrived, Zhou Yu and Xu Yi were already there. Xu Yi was scratching his head, looking at a complicated circuit diagram, while Zhou Yu was quietly flipping through a thick reference book.
However, an unexpected figure brought the pace of time to a standstill.
Shi Zhiyuan.
He sat in the back row of the lab by the window, a brand-new physics competition book open in front of him, his head down, taking notes. Sunlight fell on him, outlining a profile remarkably similar to Shi Xu's, yet radiating a completely different, cold, and focused aura. His presence was like a virus program invading Shi Xu's perceived safe zone.
How did he end up here? The training for the next physics competition isn't scheduled for the same time period.
As if sensing his gaze, Shi Zhiyuan looked up, his eyes precisely capturing Shi Xu's gaze. Then, that familiar, formulaic, faint smile appeared on his face. He closed his book, stood up, and walked over calmly.
"Brother, Zhou Yu, Xu Yi." He greeted them in turn, his tone polite and considerate. Finally, his gaze fell on Yun Xi, and he nodded slightly. "This must be Senior Sister Yun, right? My brother often mentions you. I am Shi Zhiyuan."
His performance was impeccable, like that of a well-mannered top student. But Shi Xu's spine was tense. He had never mentioned Yun Xi in detail to Shi Zhiyuan, much less "frequently." This was a sophisticated psychological tactic, designed to establish a false sense of intimacy and test boundaries.
Yunxi sensed the unusual coldness beneath the politeness, and she responded politely, "Hello."
"You're Zhiyuan's little brother, right?" Xu Yi, oblivious to everything, enthusiastically put his arm around Shi Zhiyuan's shoulder. "Not bad, you've come all the way here? What, are you here to get a taste of the competition atmosphere beforehand?"
Shi Zhiyuan calmly removed Xu Yi's hand, her smile unchanged: "My teachers recommended that I audit the class to learn in advance. I hope it won't bother the senior students." A perfect excuse, concealing her true purpose of reconnaissance.
Zhou Yu adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Shi Zhiyuan and Shi Xu. He didn't speak, but a scrutinizing look appeared in his eyes. He recognized a kindred spirit—a highly rational and purposeful individual.
The training began. The lecturer was a university professor, whose pace was rapid and whose depth far exceeded that of a high school class. Shi Xu quickly became engrossed, temporarily putting aside the distractions posed by Shi Zhiyuan. Yun Xi also focused her attention, trying her best to keep up with the train of thought.
During the break, Shi Xu went to the restroom. When he returned, at the corner of the corridor, he heard Shi Zhiyuan talking to Zhou Yu.
"...So, senior, how do you think the stability of this model will change after introducing nonlinear variables?" Shi Zhiyuan's voice carried a perfectly timed tone of inquiry.
Zhou Yu gave a concise reply.
"I've learned a lot." Shi Zhiyuan said humbly, then subtly changed the subject, lowering her voice as if chatting casually, "My brother... seems to be very busy lately, with competitions and other things to attend to. His relationship with Senior Yun is so good, it's enviable."
The pace of time halted, and his gaze instantly turned cold. The attack began. The objective was clear: to sow discord between him and his allies, and to designate the crevice in the clouds as a "disruptive element."
Zhou Yu's voice remained calm: "I don't know anything about his affairs."
Shi Zhiyuan seemed unsurprised, letting out a light chuckle that lacked any warmth: "That's true. Senior is focused on his studies. However, matters of the heart can indeed be distracting, especially at crucial moments. I hope my brother can handle things well." The toxicity of her words was fully unleashed at this moment, placing "relationships" and "success" in opposition, precisely targeting the two areas that Shi Zhiyuan cared about most.
Shi Xu didn't listen any further and walked out expressionlessly.
Upon seeing Shi Xu, Shi Zhiyuan showed no embarrassment at being caught out. Instead, she greeted him naturally, "Brother, you're back. I was discussing something with Senior Zhou Yu." She possessed excellent composure and was adept at concealing any malice beneath reasonable social behavior.
Zhou Yu glanced at Shi Xu, his eyes calm, as if the conversation had just been a routine exchange. He chose to remain neutral and not intervene in this covert battle between brothers.
Shi Xu ignored Shi Zhiyuan and looked directly at Zhou Yu: "Did you take notes on the key points of the next question?"
"Okay," Zhou Yu responded, handing over the notebook. His actions demonstrated his temporary allegiance.
Shi Zhiyuan stood aside, completely ignored, but the formulaic smile on his face remained unchanged, as if he had already expected this outcome. A barely perceptible glint, like "data confirmation," even flashed in his eyes. He was collecting temporal reaction data to refine his attack model.
During the latter half of the training, Shi Xu could clearly feel the tangible, calmly observing gaze from the back row. Shi Zhiyuan's presence was like a pebble thrown into water; although it didn't create a huge ripple, it made the atmosphere of the entire team subtle and tense. He successfully brought the shadow of psychological warfare into this space that should have been pure.
He is no longer merely a shadow within the family, but has begun to encroach on the foothold of Time in the outside world. This is a strategic escalation, marking an expansion of the scope of the conflict.
After the training, Shi Zhiyuan came over again and said to Shi Xu, "Brother, Dad sent the driver to pick us up. Shall we go back together?"
"No need," Shi Xu refused decisively. "I'm going back to my own place." She drew a clear line and stood her ground.
Shi Zhiyuan nodded, not insisting, but simply smiled and said, "Okay. See you tomorrow." His gaze swept casually over Yunxi beside him, then he turned and walked away with unhurried steps. His final look was a warning, announcing that Yunxi was now on his evaluation list.
Xu Yi scratched his head: "Brother Xu, your younger brother... feels strange, I can't quite put my finger on it." He intuitively sensed something was wrong, but couldn't analyze it rationally.
Zhou Yu closed the book and commented casually: "High IQ, clear goals, lack of empathy. A typical utilitarian personality." This precise psychological profile revealed the true nature of Shi Zhiyuan.
Yunxi walked to Shixu's side, gently touched the back of his hand, her eyes filled with silent inquiry and worry.
Shi Xu gripped her fingertips tightly in his hand. He stared in the direction Shi Zhiyuan had disappeared, his eyes cold and sharp. He sensed her support and was even more acutely aware of the approaching threat.
He knew this was just the beginning.
Shi Zhiyuan, the venomous snake lurking in the shadows, has already bared his fangs. He must be even more vigilant, protecting everything he cherishes, especially the warm light beside him that he had so painstakingly rediscovered. This battle of protection has entered a more complex and dangerous phase because of Shi Zhiyuan's "intrusion."
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