Xie Dingyuan: “Sure.”
He said yes?
He really said yes?!
Zhong Ziang could only watch helplessly as the cake, along with its packaging, was taken from right in front of him and handed over to his uncle.
And Jiang Fuyue personally delivered it.
“Wait… I…” Zhong Ziang stammered. I didn’t say I absolutely didn’t want it!
“Hmm?” Jiang Fuyue glanced at him questioningly.
Zhong Ziang forced a smile. “It’s nothing…”
Just as he was stewing in frustration, Jiang Fuyue added, “There’s something else.”
He snapped his head up. “What else?”
This time, he didn’t dare say no.
Jiang Fuyue took something out of her bag. “Homework.”
Zhong Ziang: “???”
“I checked with Yici. For language, it’s two classical Chinese translations and one essay; for math, one test paper; for biology and chemistry, practice exercises; two physics test papers; and for this semester’s physical fitness test, I’ve applied for a deferred exam for you.”
Zhong Ziang: “???” Am I deaf? I can’t hear this.
Seeing his blank expression, Jiang Fuyue asked considerately, “Do you need me to repeat it?”
“…N-no need.”
“Alright, let’s begin.”
“B-begin what?”
“Homework, of course. Yici mentioned he supervises you until you finish before leaving.”
“…” D*mn it! Curse you, Yici!
“Do you want to start with math or physics?” she asked, referring to the test papers.
Remembering the fear of being utterly dominated by her at the ping-pong table, Zhong Ziang felt a chill in his chest.
“Oh no—my foot hurts!”
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
“It just started suddenly, no warning! I don’t know what’s wrong!” He began clutching his knee dramatically, crying out in pain.
Nearby, Xie Dingyuan’s voice was as cool as ever: “You’re faking.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
Zhong Ziang: “…”
In the end, Zhong Ziang grudgingly completed a math test paper before Jiang Fuyue finally decided to leave.
“What? You’re leaving already?”
“Well, I can stay if you’d like. Just take out the physics paper and continue.”
“Oh! Look at the time—it’s almost six o’clock,” Zhong Ziang exclaimed, feigning a glance at his watch. “The sun’s already setting. You should head home early since it’s safer for a young woman to be out before dark.”
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched slightly.
At that moment, Xie Dingyuan stood up. “I’ll walk you out.”
Her refusal was already on the tip of her tongue, but he had already moved past her and was walking ahead. Seeing she hadn’t followed, he turned back and asked, “Not leaving?”
Only then did Jiang Fuyue follow.
She noticed that Xie Dingyuan had deliberately put on a jacket. The broad-shouldered suit fit him perfectly, without a single crease, and the buttons were meticulously fastened.
This man carried an old-fashioned elegance—refined, polished, and gentlemanly.
“There’s no need to go out of your way to escort me,” Jiang Fuyue said.
“It’s only proper,” he replied.
The two walked in silence.
As they exited the inpatient building, the golden hues of the setting sun spilled over the tree-lined path, elongating the shadows of the man and woman walking side by side.
“Thank you for visiting Zhong Ziang.”
Jiang Fuyue smiled faintly. “I don’t think he particularly wanted me to.”
“He didn’t want to do his homework,” Xie Dingyuan remarked.
Silence fell again, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Suddenly, Xie Dingyuan spoke, “I have an experimental project. I wonder if you’d be interested?”
“Me?” Jiang Fuyue looked at him, surprised.
Given Xie Dingyuan’s prestigious status in domestic research, any signal from him seeking collaboration would cause a scramble among eager candidates.
However, his previous publications rarely list a second author, indicating his preference for independent research over collaborative efforts.
So why extend an olive branch to her?
The man didn’t overlook the question in her eyes. “My research focuses on biochemistry, occasionally involving mathematics and computer science, but I rarely delve into physics. I need an assistant with a strong foundation in physics and a creative approach to the subject.”
What kind of research combines biochemistry and physics? Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help but be curious.
But her rational side prevailed. “Professor Xie, if you need an assistant, I imagine many esteemed figures in the physics community would be more than willing to help. Why choose me?”
Xie Dingyuan laid out his reasoning:
“First, during your time using the lab, I saw the draft of your paper. It was clear to me then that you have the capability. Later, your outstanding performance at the IPhO further confirmed it. What’s even rarer is the interdisciplinary thinking you demonstrated in combining biology and physics in that paper. That’s something even seasoned physicists struggle to achieve.”
“So, I believe you’re a perfect fit for this project.”
“Additionally, the research involves extensive modeling. While we have professional modelers, the results often diverge from the researcher’s intent due to the layers of interpretation. It’s best if a team member can handle the modeling directly. Based on your computing skills, I believe you’re more than capable of doing that.”
Jiang Fuyue clicked her tongue lightly. “You seem to have more confidence in me than I do in myself.”
He paused thoughtfully, then said earnestly, “Perhaps it’s a case of the person on the spot is baffled, the onlooker sees clear.”
Jiang Fuyue asked, “Will the project results lead to published papers?”
“Yes,” he replied with a nod.
“Then I want authorship—second author.”
“Deal.”
Jiang Fuyue was genuinely surprised.
She had only brought it up to test his boundaries, never expecting Xie Dingyuan to agree so readily.
After all, even for run-of-the-mill papers published by average professors, authorship isn’t granted lightly. Let alone Xie Dingyuan, whose caliber ensures every paper he publishes is of exceptional quality—potentially worthy of journals like Nature or Science.
And yet, he was willing to make her the second author?
Xie Dingyuan’s eyes glimmered with satisfaction. “I’ll take that as your agreement.”
“Wait a minute… I’m just a high schooler. Are you really okay with this?”
“Your knowledge and thought process are far beyond a high school level. I don’t judge by academic qualifications; I trust what I see.”
“But I’ll be busy with math olympiad training soon, followed by the national competition, CMO, and IMO. I might not have time.”
“The national competition will be a breeze for you. As for the CMO… if I recall correctly, the winter camp takes place during the holiday season, and the IMO is in March next year. As long as you’re available between the end of the national competition and the start of the term finals, it won’t be an issue.”
“Of course, this might interfere with your regular classes and studies, but I believe whether you attend or not doesn’t make much of a difference for you.”
With everything thoroughly considered by him, what else could Jiang Fuyue say?
The real issue was that research project—she was very curious about it.
Still, to be cautious, she didn’t commit completely.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Alright.” He didn’t push further, maintaining a perfect balance.
While they talked, they had already reached the hospital entrance.
Jiang Fuyue said, “This is far enough. You can head back now.”
“No rush.”
It wasn’t until she got into a taxi, and through the rearview mirror saw him still standing there, that she finally turned her gaze away. The man remained in place, his tall figure eventually shrinking into a tiny black dot as the distance grew.
Meanwhile, Xie Dingyuan turned and walked back only after the taxi had disappeared from sight. The slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his rare good mood.
That sense of satisfaction lasted until he opened the door to the hospital room—where he found Zhong Ziang happily eating cake.
“Old Uncle, you’re back! What took you so long? Has Jiang Fuyue left? Did you make sure she got into the car?” he asked between bites.
“Who told you to eat that?”
“Huh?” Zhong Ziang waved his fork. “You mean the cake?”
Xie Dingyuan’s face darkened. “Exactly.”
“If I don’t eat it, would you? You don’t even like these sugary things, right? Perfect! I took care of it for you!”
“How did you even get it?” The cake had been left on the low table by the sofa, well out of Zhong Ziang’s reach since he couldn’t leave the bed.
“Oh, that was easy.” The boy grinned cheekily. “The nurse came by earlier. I asked him to grab it for me.”
“…”
“Gotta say, this cake is pretty good. Even though it’s that guy Yici’s birthday cake, it somehow tastes extra amazing—probably because Jiang Fuyue brought it over!”
“…”
“Uncle, why does your face look so dark? Who ticked you off?”
“…Shut up.”
“Hey, wait—someone else made you mad, so why are you taking it out on me? I’m still a patient, you know!”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t even want to respond.
“Don’t tell me you’re mad about the cake? Haha, come on! You don’t even like sweets like this! No way you’re upset over something so trivial, right?”
Xie Dingyuan: “…” This is agony.
“Oh, by the way, I’ll snap a photo of this cake and send it to Yici. Let him guess who brought it! Haha, let’s make him jealous!”
Xie Dingyuan threw out one last line: “Take care of yourself. I’m leaving.”
“Wait, Old Uncle! The doctor said we need to pay the medical bills.”
“…” In a past life, he must have committed some grave sin to be saddled with this nephew in this one.
Xie Dog: He ate my cake? He actually ate my cake?! And I still have to pay his medical bills?!
