This question resonated deeply with countless Chinese netizens—
How did she do it?
[I suspect this perfect score little fairy has latched onto her.]
[My expectations are low. Just let me be half as good as her, with one perfect-score first place in any competition.]
[I doubt you’re even awake right now.]
[I’ve grown tired of using the word ‘excellent.’]
[This proves that beauty and brains aren’t mutually exclusive. Oh, wait—no, it proves that they aren’t mutually exclusive for her.]
[Please, more news like this in the future. Watching a goddess dominate competitions is so much better than watching celebrity feuds.]
[I’ll bet a bag of spicy strips we’ll see Jiang Fuyue at the International Mathematical Olympiad this October.]
[I’ll raise you two bags.]
[Three bags.]
[So, is the goddess aiming to sweep all three major academic competitions this year with perfect scores?]
[Whether she sweeps or not, I don’t know. But as a programmer with five years of experience, I can responsibly tell you that this year’s IOI final question was the toughest in history. It even involved knowledge related to the Millennium Prize Problems. Whoever designed it must be a genius. But that’s not the point. The point is: out of over 300 contestants from around the world, only Jiang Fuyue solved it!]
[Reporting in as a systems architect! I dabble in programming too, and I’m curious how Jiang Fuyue solved that problem. Any experts here to explain?]
….
While the online discussions were lively, Jiang Fuyue and her three companions boarded a flight home after the closing ceremony.
“You?” Jiang Fuyue asked, as the man seated beside her lowered the newspaper covering his face, revealing a familiar visage.
Xie Dingyuan: “What a coincidence.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…” Encountering this man in economy class? Honestly, it didn’t feel coincidental at all.
Twenty minutes later, the flight took off on schedule.
“The spring problem in the theoretical section of the IPhO—did you design that question too?”
The girl suddenly broke the silence.
Xie Dingyuan folded the newspaper, instinctively wanting to call a flight attendant to take it away, but quickly realized he was in economy class. His expression stiffened slightly as he stuffed the paper into the seatback pocket.
“Why do you ask?”
“An old trick with a new twist—very much your style.”
Her confident response elicited a low chuckle from the man. “It seems you know me quite well.”
“So, it really was your question?!”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t answer, but his silence was as good as confirmation.
“Ha! Designing the final questions for two major competitions in a single year—your workload really puts others to shame.”
“I’ve turned it down in previous years,” he said.
But this year was different.
As for why…
Xie Dingyuan slightly tilted his head, glancing at the girl’s somewhat aloof side profile. The sunlight cast over her face gave it an almost translucent quality.
The moment Jiang Fuyue turned to look at him, the man swiftly averted his gaze.
As a result, what Jiang Fuyue saw was the same indifferent face as always, as if he were naturally devoid of emotions, living a life untouched by the slightest trace of worldly desires.
But if one looked closer, they would notice a faint blush spreading behind the man’s ear, and his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbing.
Xie Dingyuan cleared his throat lightly, attempting to mask his unease. “You’ve asked your question. Out of courtesy, isn’t it my turn now?”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. What could possibly interest him enough to ask about?
Still, she replied calmly, “Go ahead.”
Xie Dingyuan asked, “What’s your favorite color?”
“Huh?” Jiang Fuyue thought she must have misheard.
The man repeated himself, his words clear and deliberate: “What’s your favorite color?”
