In the Capital City of June, the morning breeze carried a hint of the dryness unique to the north.
There was none of the south’s humid heat that clung to the skin. Sunlight streamed through the hotel lobby’s revolving glass doors, casting a brilliant golden-yellow glow on the tiled floor.
7:30 AM.
The buses arranged by the organizing committee were already parked on the service road outside the hotel.
Several buses were lined up in a row, their engines emitting a low rumble. The exhaust fumes shimmered in the morning light, creating a slightly distorted patch of air.
The teams from various provinces were trickling out of the hotel, following their leaders’ instructions to find the buses for their respective provinces.
Teenagers, around fifteen or sixteen years old, carried backpacks and wore loose-fitting summer clothes, gathered in small groups of two and three.
Some were discussing the TV shows they watched last night, some were complaining about the drowsiness from waking up early, and others wore headphones, bobbing their heads gently as they walked.
A cacophony of voices filled the air, a mix of dialects from all over the country.
It was a vibrant energy, unique to this age.
Professor Wang walked at the very front, holding a cup steadily in his hand.
It was filled with freshly steeped strong tea, a few tea leaves swirling on the surface.
He didn’t hurry the students behind him, simply walking at an unhurried pace and occasionally nodding to acquaintances who passed by.
Chen Zhuo followed half a step behind Professor Wang.
Today, he wore a plain white short-sleeved shirt, dark athletic pants, and a black backpack (a new one for the trip, unlike his usual patched one).
He held several contestant IDs and was checking the headcount and information with the volunteer assigned to their bus.
Zhou Kai stood with his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the stream of people lining up to board the bus ahead.
Miao Shian walked beside Zhou Kai, holding a bottle of mineral water, his expression gentle.
He Gui, with his backpack on, followed closely by Miao Shian’s side, his eyes curiously taking in the morning streetscape of the Capital City.
Wang Huashao was bantering with Lin Yi.
He pointed to a breakfast stall by the road, declaring with utter conviction that those deep-fried carbohydrates were the stepping stones of human progress.
She squinted, giving a couple of perfunctory replies. Her steps were a bit slow, the rubber soles of her canvas shoes making a soft scuffing sound on the pavement.
"Su Province Team, Bus Number Two."
After confirming the information, Chen Zhuo turned and waved to his teammates behind him.
The group boarded the bus one by one.
The air conditioning inside the bus was blasting, instantly shutting out the dry heat from outside.
Everyone found seats in the middle and back sections of the bus.
Chen Zhuo and He Gui sat in one row, Zhou Kai and Wang Huashao sat in front of them, and Miao Shian and Lin Yi sat across the aisle.
8:00 AM sharp.
The bus doors slowly closed.
The convoy started up, smoothly merging into the Capital City’s morning rush-hour traffic.
The scenery outside the window began to recede.
The landscape transitioned from a business district dense with skyscrapers to a wide ring road.
Overpasses crisscrossed above, and the traffic below resembled a slowly flowing river of metal.
The bus cabin was a bit noisy.
A few teams from other provinces up front were excitedly discussing whether they could sneak out in the afternoon to buy some souvenirs.
Wang Huashao was pressed against the window, muttering to himself as he looked at the landmark buildings outside.
Zhou Kai leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed, his breathing even.
The bus drove through the city for about forty minutes.
The surrounding architectural style began to change.
The modern buildings of glass curtain walls and reinforced concrete gradually gave way to rows of tall white poplars, with red-brick and gray-tiled roofs peeking out from behind the canopies.
A profound and quiet academic atmosphere drifted in through the cracks of the windows, subtly filling the air.
The convoy turned into the main gate of Jingcheng University.
There were no fancy banners hanging at the entrance.
Only a few uniformed security guards were there, checking license plates.
The bus drove slowly down the wide, tree-lined avenue of the campus.
Sunlight filtered through the lush foliage on both sides of the road, dappling the asphalt with patterns of light and shadow.
Occasionally, students could be seen riding old-fashioned bicycles by the roadside, their baskets filled with thick books.
On a distant field, someone was out for a morning run.
This was the academic holy land in the hearts of countless students.
Even the air seemed to float with a different kind of profound gravity.
The bus finally stopped in front of a grand auditorium with a strong European architectural style.
Huge gray pillars, towering steps, and dark red brick walls.
The passage of time had left mottled marks on the building, yet this only made it appear more stately.
"Off the bus. Grab your personal belongings."
Professor Wang stood up and called out.
The students disembarked from the bus one after another.
They merged into the stream of people heading for the main entrance of the auditorium.
They climbed the high granite steps and passed through the heavy, wooden double doors.
The space inside the auditorium was astonishingly vast.
Rows of enormous, old-fashioned chandeliers hung from the high, vaulted ceiling, emitting a soft yellow light.
Dark red velvet seats were arranged in a fan shape, extending row by row all the way to the second-floor balcony.
Many people were already seated inside.
Several hundred middle school students from all over the country were gathered here.
The sounds of conversation, rustling, and footsteps mixed together, creating a low hum under the vast dome.
It was a clamor full of energy, tinged with a bit of anticipation.
Chen Zhuo led the team to the designated area for the Su Province Team.
It was in a section toward the middle-back.
They all took their seats in order.
The wooden armrests of the seats had been worn smooth and shiny, revealing the wood grain underneath.
He Gui sat in his seat, looking around curiously.
He looked at the teams in the front rows, who were wearing matching school uniforms, and asked Chen Zhuo beside him in a low voice.
"Captain, which province is that?"
Chen Zhuo followed his gaze.
"Judging by the color of their name tags, they’re probably from the Capital City or Shanghai."
He Gui nodded, withdrew his gaze, and placed his hands properly on his knees.
「9:00 AM sharp.」
The lights in the auditorium gradually dimmed.
The somewhat noisy hum, like a receding tide, quickly subsided and finally fell silent.
The lights on the main stage lit up.
A long table covered with a red velvet cloth, a few chairs, and several standing microphones.
No host came out to emcee, nor were there any artistic performances.
Several white-haired old men walked out from backstage and took their seats behind the long table.
Some wore neat Zhongshan suits, while others wore ordinary jackets.
They looked just like ordinary retired old men one might see strolling around campus.
The old man sitting in the very center adjusted the angle of his microphone.
"Students, welcome to the Capital City."
The old man’s voice echoed throughout the auditorium from the huge speakers on either side.
His voice was a bit hoarse and his speaking pace was slow, tinged with a regional accent, but his enunciation was very clear.
The students in the audience unconsciously sat up straighter.
The old man turned over a page in front of him.
"I am the head of the problem-setting committee for this competition. I’m very happy to see so many young faces below."
He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the auditorium.
"The fact that you are sitting here today shows that in the subject of physics, you possess talent and have put in more effort than your peers."
"In your respective schools, you might be used to getting perfect scores, used to every problem having a standard answer."
The old man’s tone grew a bit more serious.
"But today, I want to tell you that in real physics, there often are no standard answers."
"Our country is currently in a phase of rapid development. Our industry, our aerospace program, our semiconductor sector—every field needs the support of fundamental science."
"We don’t just need people who can solve problems on a test; we need people who can pose questions and solve real-world problems."
The old man wasn’t speaking in empty platitudes.
He spoke of the reality of physics, of the nation’s thirst for fundamental science, and of the day-in, day-out perseverance within dull laboratories.
These pragmatic words, carrying a hint of gravity, struck a curious chord within the historic auditorium.
The middle school students below listened in silence.
No one was being loud, and no one seemed impatient.
This grand and authentic narrative tapped into a sense of honor unique to their group.
For once, Wang Huashao wasn’t daydreaming. He watched the old man on the stage, looking thoughtful.
Zhou Kai leaned forward slightly, listening intently.
Chen Zhuo leaned back in his chair.
He looked at the senior experts on the stage.
’Their words held no emphasis on scores, only reverence for the truth.’
’This atmosphere gave Chen Zhuo a sense of comfort he hadn’t felt in a long time.’
The old man’s speech lasted for about twenty minutes.
Finally, he closed the paper in front of him.
"Alright, that’s enough of the grand principles."
A gentle smile appeared on the old man’s face.
"The rest of the time belongs to you."
He turned to a middle-aged man sitting next to him.
"Next, the secretary-general of the competition’s organizing committee will announce the specific schedule for tomorrow and the day after."
The middle-aged man pulled the microphone closer.
"Good morning, students and team leaders."
He cut straight to the chase, with no preamble.
"This year’s National Finals will be divided into two parts: an individual competition and a team competition."
"Tomorrow, we will hold the individual competition."
Everyone in the auditorium perked up their ears.
"The specific arrangements are as follows."
"Tomorrow, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, will be the individual written theory exam. The exam duration is three hours."
"There will be a two-hour break for rest and lunch."
"From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM will be the individual practical lab exam, also lasting three hours."
"The team competition will be held the day after tomorrow."
A low, irrepressible buzz immediately rose from the vast auditorium.
Wang Huashao, sitting in front of Chen Zhuo, couldn’t help but turn around and mutter in a low voice.
"Damn, morning and afternoon back-to-back again? I thought they’d split it into two days."
A boy from another province nearby whispered in agreement.
Zhou Kai didn’t join in the complaining.
He frowned slightly and raised his wrist to glance at his watch.
His mind was already automatically calculating the time allocation for tomorrow and how to most effectively recover his stamina during the two-hour lunch break.
Lin Yi waved her hand dismissively.
"Get it over with quick. We’ll be free by 5 PM, which is great."
Chen Zhuo sat in his seat, his expression unchanging.
For their group, who had been relentlessly drilled by Professor Wang day and night in Jinling for half a month, six hours of high-intensity output in one day wasn’t really an extreme challenge.
He turned his head to the side, looking at He Gui, whose brow was slightly furrowed in apparent nervousness.
"He Gui."
Chen Zhuo’s voice was gentle, carrying a reassuring power.
"After lunch tomorrow, whether you can fall asleep or not, close your eyes and rest in your chair for twenty minutes."
"Force your brain to shut down for a bit. You won’t feel so tired during the afternoon lab."
Hearing Chen Zhuo’s words, He Gui’s tense shoulders relaxed a little. He nodded earnestly.
"Okay, I’ll remember that."
The secretary-general on the stage tapped the microphone, signaling for silence.
"That is the schedule. We hope you will all manage your stamina wisely."
"This concludes today’s opening ceremony. At 2:00 PM, the organizing committee has arranged for each team to visit the exam site to familiarize themselves with the laboratories."
"Will the team leaders please arrange for their students’ lunch and rest."

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