365: The Youth of Five Virtues (1)

The Youth of Five Virtues (1)

"Maybe you're right…" Shi Yao remarked in agreement before trailing off. A moment later, she continued, "… I think we have strayed a bit too far from our initial topic. Forget it, let's not talk about my fiancé anymore. All in all, what I want to say is that the probability of me and him getting together is zero."1

Zero?

May I ask which formula did you use to calculate out this probability?

As a top student in the Math Faculty, the answer that I have arrived at each time I tried to calculate this probability is 100%. To put it in simpler terms, even if we were to repeat this for another hundred times, the outcome will still end with us coming together… 

Lin Jiage was dying to argue this matter, but he feared that he would incur Shi Yao's suspicion if he were to get hung up over a matter like this. Left with no choice, he could only suppress that stifled feeling in his chest and force himself to remain silent. 

Math had never been Soft Bun's strength. Back then, she got half of the questions in her Math paper wrong when she did it before him. So, there was no need for him to pay any heed to the probability she has calculated out… There was no need to question it⁠ at all—it had to be wrong!

What was more crucial at the moment, aside from deciding how to confess to Soft Bun, was for him to find a way to make Soft Bun realize that he didn't have such peculiar tastes in women, and more important than that, convey to her that he was extremely healthy in the mind! 

In the first place, he was a very positive young man, definitely qualifying as a Youth of Five Virtues[1]!

But speaking of which, what were the five virtues again?

Excellence in studies, righteousness in thought, positive attitude in work, adherence to rules, and excellence in conduct… No, that wasn't right. It should be… excellence in income, diligence in housework, expertise in cooking, positive attitude toward Yaoyao, and most importantly, ensuring that Yaoyao is well-fed… 

… 

They continued playing for quite a while, concluding their final game only at six-thirty in the evening as Shi Yao said that she was intending to head out for dinner.

Before going offline, Lin Jiage habitually asked, "Are you still playing later at night?"

Shi Yao quickly replied, "Probably not. It'll be a little difficult tonight. Our finals are coming up next month, so my roommates and I are intending to brush up on our schoolwork at night."

"Oh, I see," Lin Jiage replied. Recalling how Shi Yao had no classes tomorrow based on the timetable that he had acquired through certain means, he asked, "What about tomorrow?"

Shi Yao: "Tomorrow won't do either. I'm heading to the antique market."

Lin Jiage frowned in bewilderment upon hearing those words. He was unable to connect the dots in the spur of a moment, "Antique market? You dabble in the antiques as well?"

"It's not like that. An elder who treats me really well is having his birthday very soon, so I'm intending to pick out a birthday present for him…" Shi Yao replied.

Realization finally dawned upon Lin Jiage after hearing those words.

He must have hit his head somewhere to actually forget about something as important as that… 

Speaking of that matter though, he had already picked out a suitable inkstone for her. It was just that he hadn't found a feasible way to hand the inkstone over to her yet. Since she had raised this matter with him, this was actually a godsent opportunity for him to do so… 

Harboring such thoughts in mind, Lin Jiage asked, "Are you intending to pick out an antique for that elder?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm intending to do…"

"The antique market is complicated though. It's quite easy to get scammed there. Do you know anyone there?"

"I don't. That's why I'm a little frustrated over this matter. I think I'll just wander around and try my luck tomorrow…"

"Do you need my help then?"

"Hm? How do you intend to help me?"

"I happen to have a relative in the antique market. I can give you his number. If there's anything you need help for, you can just look for him. As long as you show him my WeChat account, he'll give you a decent discount on whatever you need…"

Through the earpieces, Lin Jiage heard Shi Yao squealing in delight, "Really? That would really be great! Do send me your relative's contact number…"

"Alright. I'll send you his number through WeChat," Lin Jiage replied.

After which, he backed out of the game, tapped into WeChat, and sent a string of numbers over to Shi Yao.

[1] This is a term used officially in China to denote positive values that youths should have.

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