tit-for-tat
When the math class representative walked into the classroom with the test paper, Lu Jinyu was spinning an apple with a black fountain pen.
The sunlight shone through the window onto the back of his hand. The blue veins under his snow-white skin were faintly visible as he turned his hand, causing several girls in the front row to look back frequently.
“Swish——”
Xu Yang suddenly placed a thick book called "Analysis of Real Mathematical Questions" on the edge of the table, just blocking the movement from Lu Jinyu's side.
He heard a light laugh behind him, but the apple continued to turn. The subtle sound of the peel rubbing against the table was like a feather, tickling him.
"Xu Yang, it's time to hand out the papers." The class representative slapped the top paper on his desk. "This is the final question of the mock exam. I heard only three people in the whole grade managed to answer it."
Just as Xu Yang's fingertips touched the edge of the test paper, he heard Lu Jinyu's voice from behind the book: "Oh? So difficult?"
He didn't look back, but he couldn't help but tense his back when he opened the test paper.
The last additional question was densely written in three lines, and the function graph curled up into a complex spiral in the corner. It was indeed the most difficult question in last year's national exam.
The moment the pen tip touched the draft paper, there was a sudden sound of paper flipping behind me.
Lu Jinyu seemed to be looking at the test paper as well. His breathing sounded from half an arm's length away, with a hint of the cool scent of mint candy.
Xu Yang tightened his grip on the pen, focusing his attention on the question—the domain of the known function f(x) is R...
"Wouldn't it be simpler to use Lagrange's mean value theorem here?"
A sudden sentence hit his ears, and Xu Yang's pen tip drew a crooked line on the draft paper.
He turned his head suddenly and saw Lu Jinyu leaning his chin on his hand, reading his draft. His eyelashes cast a light gray shadow under his eyes, and his fingertips pointed at the derivation process he had written on half a page.
"This theorem isn't even mentioned in the high school textbooks." Xu Yang pulled the draft paper back, his tone wary, "We can solve it using conventional methods."
"The conventional method requires three more lines of steps." Lu Jinyu raised an eyebrow, pulled a black pen from his pencil case, and quickly drew an auxiliary function on his draft paper. "Look, constructing g(x) = f(x) - e^x can prove monotonicity in one step."
Xu Yang's eyes fell on the concise line of proof, and his heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
This solution is indeed clever, bypassing the tedious classification discussion, but it requires an extremely keen intuition about the properties of functions - this is exactly what he is least good at.
"Taking shortcuts." He slammed down the three words and turned back to continue his calculations, but the tips of his ears felt uncontrollably hot.
Lu Jinyu chuckled and tapped the back of his chair with his pen. "Xu Xueba, the purpose of doing the test is to get points, not to see who can write more steps."
Xu Yang ignored him, but the tip of his pen remained on the paper for a long time, his mind full of ideas for constructing the auxiliary function.
Sunlight filtered in from the edge of the pages, casting flickering spots of light on the draft paper, much like the dazzling lights on the basketball court four years ago.
In the last thirty seconds of that day, Lu Jinyu did the same thing. He used a fake move that no one expected to get past his defense and made the game-winning shot the moment the whistle sounded.
Amidst the cheers from the sidelines, he saw the other person's raised mouth corners, overlapping with the smile that was now written on the draft paper.
"Hey, did you figure it out?" Lu Jinyu's voice suddenly came closer. "It took me four minutes and seventeen seconds."
Xu Yang suddenly came back to his senses and found that he had been staring at a simple differentiation problem for three minutes.
He gritted his teeth and quickly wrote down the answer on the test paper. His voice was as cold as ice: "Three minutes and fifty-nine seconds."
Lu Jinyu raised his eyebrows, said nothing, and turned back to continue doing the questions.
The only sounds in the classroom were the rustling of pens across paper and the occasional chirping of cicadas outside the window.
Xu Yang felt as if there was an invisible string stretched in the air. The faster he wrote, the faster Lu Jinyu's pen tip sped up, and even the rhythm of turning the pages seemed to be in competition.
It wasn't until the math teacher came in with the lesson plan that the tension eased a little.
Xu Yang folded up the test paper and stuffed it into the desk. Just as he was about to take out his textbook, he heard Lu Jinyu chuckle behind him: "It seems that even Xu Xueba has his moments of difficulty."
He tightened his grip on the textbook, leaving a crease on the edge. He thought to himself, "You big-headed idiot! If it weren't for Lu Jinyu, he wouldn't have been in a daze for three minutes."
The math class was about conic sections, and the blackboard was soon covered with red formulas.
Xu Yang listened intently, his pen scribbling rapidly on his notebook, until the teacher suddenly called his name: "Xu Yang, tell me about the second solution to this problem."
When he stood up, he caught a glimpse of Lu Jinyu looking at him with his chin supported, a smile on the corner of his mouth.
Xu Yang calmed himself down, took the chalk and walked up to the podium. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Lu Jinyu's voice from below: "Teacher, I have a simpler solution."
The entire class's attention instantly turned to the back row. The math teacher adjusted his glasses and said, "Oh? Then, you tell me about it."
When Lu Jinyu stood up, a gust of wind blew up, and the hem of his school uniform jacket brushed Xu Yang's arm.
Xu Yang stood beside the podium, watching him walk to the blackboard, pick up the chalk and write the parametric equation in the blank space, his fingertips tapping out a light rhythm on the blackboard.
"Using polar coordinate conversion," he turned around, twirling the chalk in a circle on his fingertips, "we can save four steps of calculation."
The sunlight shone through the window onto his shoulders, outlining the profile of his face clearly.
Xu Yang looked at the simple problem-solving steps on the blackboard and suddenly remembered the math competition in junior high school.
It was the same at that time. He painstakingly derived a proof of half a page, but Lu Jinyu solved it with just one line of auxiliary lines. On the podium, the other party raised his chin towards him while holding up the trophy, and the pride in his eyes was exactly the same as it is now.
"It's indeed more concise." The math teacher nodded with satisfaction. "Student Lu Jinyu is very proficient in the use of parametric equations."
Lu Jinyu smiled and deliberately bumped into Xu Yang's shoulder as he walked back.
It was a very light movement, but it was like an electric current running up his arm. Xu Yang's hand holding the chalk trembled violently, and the chalk head fell to the ground with a "pop", breaking into two pieces.
A few low laughs echoed through the classroom. Xu Yang's face darkened instantly. As he bent down to pick up his chalk, he heard Lu Jinyu whisper in his ear, "It seems you can't beat me in math, not just basketball."
These words were like an invisible thorn that pierced Xu Yang's heart, making it impossible for him to breathe.
He stood up holding the half-broken chalk, and almost bumped into Lu Jinyu's chest when he turned around.
The two were so close that he could smell the faint scent of laundry detergent on the other person, mixed with a hint of sun-kissed air.
Xu Yang's heartbeat suddenly became chaotic. He took two steps back before he could regain his balance. There was a subtle anger in his voice: "It's still uncertain who will win or lose."
Lu Jinyu raised his eyebrows, said nothing more, and sat back in his seat.
For the rest of the class, Xu Yang listened very attentively.
He copied the parametric equation solution that Lu Jinyu had explained into his notebook, wrote three question marks next to it with a red pen, and then re-derived the conventional solution below, with the steps as neat as printed text.
The sunlight moved from the window to the corner of the table, casting a small spot of light on the notebook, but he felt that the spot of light was like Lu Jinyu's eyes, staring at him all the time.
When the bell rang, Xu Yang's notebook was already half full.
He closed the notebook and was about to stand up when he saw Lu Jinyu standing at the back door of the classroom holding a basketball. His school uniform jacket was draped over his shoulders, with two buttons open at the collar, revealing a bit of his collarbone.
"See you on the court after school." Lu Jinyu raised his chin towards him, his tone full of unquestionable provocation, "Whoever loses will bring the other person a week's worth of breakfast tomorrow."
Xu Yang paused. He hadn't touched a basketball in two years. Ever since that junior high league match, his parents had taken it away from him, telling him not to touch such "useless things" until his senior year of high school.
But at this moment, looking at the smile in Lu Jinyu's eyes, the sneakers that were stepped on two years ago, the final whistle blown by the referee, and those mocking eyes, suddenly came to his mind all at once.
"Okay," he heard his own voice say, with a bit of desperate determination, "Anyone who doesn't come is an idiot."
Lu Jinyu smiled and turned to walk out of the classroom. The basketball bounced in the corridor, making a thud that seemed to hit Xu Yang's heart.
Xu Yang was restless all afternoon. In physics class, he stared blankly at a force analysis diagram, his mind full of the parabolic trajectory of a basketball. When his English teacher called on him to recite a text, he stood up only to realize he had read the wrong paragraph. Even when he went to get water during break, he nearly spilled the hot water on his hands.
The girl in the front row turned to him and asked, "Xu Yang, what's wrong with you today? You keep getting distracted."
"It's okay." He shook his head and clenched the water cup in his hand. The cool touch climbed up along his fingertips, but it couldn't suppress the heat in his heart.
The moment the school bell rang, Xu Yang packed his schoolbag almost immediately.
He did not choose to escape, but went around to the equipment room and took out the dusty basketball from the corner.
The grooves on the rubber surface are a little worn. It was a gift from his father on his second birthday in junior high school, and it was also the ball he used in his last competition.
The moment he wiped off the dust, he suddenly remembered how Lu Jinyu stepped on these sneakers and his arrogant smile.
Xu Yang walked towards the court holding a basketball. The setting sun stretched his shadow very long, like a taut string.
Some students had gathered around the court to watch the fun.
Lu Jinyu was wearing a black T-shirt and was standing outside the three-point line shooting. The basketball drew a beautiful arc and went into the net.
He turned around and saw Xu Yang, raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I thought you didn't dare to come."
"I told you, anyone who doesn't come is an idiot." Xu Yang threw his schoolbag onto the stands and patted the basketball in his hand. "How do we compete?"
"Simple." Lu Jinyu pointed to the basket. "One round determines the outcome. Three-pointers. Whoever makes five first wins."
Xu Yang nodded, bent down and patted the ball. The sound of the basketball hitting the ground echoed in the empty court. He took a deep breath and dribbled the ball to the three-point line.
I haven't touched a ball in two years, so my hands feel very stiff. When my fingertips touch the rubber surface, they even tremble slightly.
"What? Are you scared?" Lu Jinyu folded his arms and looked at him, with his usual teasing expression on his face.
Xu Yang said nothing, bent his knees, jumped, and shot. The basketball brushed the rim and rolled out, bouncing twice on the ground.
A few low laughs echoed from the sidelines. Lu Jinyu picked up the ball, twirled it around his fingertips, and easily made a three-pointer. "1-0." He raised his chin at Xu Yang.
Xu Yang's face was full of black lines. He took the ball and stood back at the three-point line.
This time he adjusted his breathing, staring at the center of the basket. When he exerted force on his wrist, he suddenly remembered how Lu Jinyu explained the parametric equation - the same parabola, and the same precise angle was required.
The moment the basketball went into the net, he heard his heartbeat louder than the cheers.
"Not bad." Lu Jinyu raised his eyebrows. When he scored the second goal, his movements were so beautiful that they looked like a slow motion shot.
For the next ten minutes or so, the two of them were in a tight race. Xu Yang regained some of his touch from the past. When he scored the third goal, he even heard someone calling his name on the sidelines.
The setting sun dyed the court a warm orange. Sweat flowed down my forehead, dripping onto the scorching ground and instantly evaporating into white smoke.
4 to 4 Usually, Xu Yang's arms have started to feel sore.
He took the ball, his fingertips turned white from the force, and the soreness in his wrist reminded him of the last moment of that game in junior high school - it was the same score, the same sunset, and in the end he lost, lost miserably.
"What? Are you tired?" Lu Jinyu's voice was tinged with laughter, sweat dripping down his jawline. "If you can't do it, just admit defeat. Don't force yourself."
Xu Yang gritted his teeth and said nothing. He dribbled the ball and suddenly made the same fake move that Lu Jinyu had done back then. At the moment when the opponent jumped to block the shot, he flicked his wrist lightly, and the basketball flew past his fingertips and flew towards the basket.
“Swish——”
The sound of the basketball passing through the net was particularly clear. Xu Yang lost his balance when he landed and stumbled back two steps, before Lu Jinyu reached out and held his arm.
A warm touch came from my elbow, and instantly ran through my body like an electric current.
Xu Yang suddenly broke free from his hand and retreated beyond the three-point line, his heart beating loudly in his chest.
"I won." He heard himself say, his voice trembling with breath.
Lu Jinyu stood there, the setting sun fell on his face, making it impossible to see his expression.
After a few seconds, he suddenly smiled, picked up the basketball on the ground and threw it over: "You are awesome."
When Xu Yang caught the ball, his fingertips were still a little numb. He watched Lu Jinyu turn around and walk towards the stands, his back stretched out by the setting sun. He suddenly remembered the moment when he was supported just now, and the warmth of the other's palm seemed to still remain on his arm.
"Hey!" he couldn't help but shout.
Lu Jinyu turned around, his eyebrows raised: "Why, do you want to regret it?"
"No." Xu Yang clenched the basketball in his hand, "You don't need to bring breakfast for next week."
Lu Jinyu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, his voice echoing across the empty court: "Why, Xu Xueba has also become soft-hearted?"
Xu Yang was so angry that he laughed: "I'm not soft-hearted, I just think some people are ridiculously bad, so I want to give in to them."
Lu Jinyu smiled and said nothing.
When Xu Yang turned and walked towards the equipment room, he heard the sound of a basketball falling to the ground behind him, again and again, like knocking on his heart.
As the sun set, Xu Yang walked home, holding his basketball. The evening breeze was a bit cool, blowing on his sweaty back, but it couldn't dispel the heat in his heart.
He touched the place on his arm where he had been supported, and his fingertips seemed to still retain the warmth of the other person.
The street lights came on, casting his shadow into a distorted state.
Xu Yang suddenly felt that this competition that started in the second year of junior high school seemed to have just entered the real stage.
The invisible dividing line between him and Lu Jinyu seemed to have blurred a little on the basketball court today.
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