LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 19:
Chapter 19: The Suspension Bridge Effect:
Twenty minutes later, Lin You finished solving the set of questions. There weren’t many—just fifteen—but each was uniquely challenging, with designs he had never encountered before. He had to think carefully for each one, taking just over a minute per question.
After completing them, Lin You leaned back, exhaled deeply, and asked, “Li Ruochen, where did these questions come from? I’ve never seen anything like them in the textbook. Don’t tell me this is some mock college entrance exam paper you got from a secret source.”
Without answering, Li Ruochen retrieved the standard solutions and compared them to Lin You’s answers. To her astonishment, all fifteen answers were correct. Yet, what shocked her more was that Lin You had solved eleven of them using non-standard methods.
The test was designed to take two days. That’s right—participants were given forty-eight hours to solve these fifteen questions. But Lin You had finished them in just twenty-three minutes and seventeen seconds.
This wasn’t just brilliance. This was transcendent. Lin You wasn’t merely a top student; he had reached the level of a genius, perhaps even a learning immortal.
Li Ruochen knew she had never shared these questions in class before. Even if she had, most students wouldn’t be able to solve them without hints. Lin You’s physics teacher, while supportive, had always considered him a challenging student in the subject. The teacher had only persevered with Lin You because of his high overall IQ, believing he was worth saving.
But for Lin You to suddenly display this level of mastery meant only one thing: he had been hiding his abilities.
Why? What could he possibly be afraid of?
As an analytical thinker, Li Ruochen quickly arrived at a conclusion: Lin You must have been worried about her. Perhaps he feared that excelling in physics would threaten her position as the class representative.
And why would he care so much about her feelings? The only plausible explanation was that Lin You had a crush on her.
The thought made her face flush. The boy in front of her, brilliant and enigmatic like the stars in the sky, was deeply in love with her. Overwhelmed by this realization, she found herself falling into the suspension bridge effect.
The suspension bridge effect suggests that people misattribute feelings of excitement or anxiety, like those caused by crossing a shaky suspension bridge, as attraction toward someone nearby. In this case, her accelerated heartbeat, born of awe at Lin You’s abilities, convinced her that she felt something more.
Meanwhile, Lin You was completely oblivious to her thoughts. He remained immersed in the thrill of problem-solving, silently cursing the perverse genius who had created the questions.
Breaking her silence, Li Ruochen leaned closer to him, her voice unusually soft. “I plan to apply to Jiangnan University,” she whispered, her words carrying an unspoken meaning.
Before Lin You could respond, she grabbed the test paper from his hands, covered her face, and hurried out of the classroom. If she stayed a moment longer, she feared she might confess her feelings outright. Surely, Lin You, with his intelligence, would understand the significance of what she had just said.
Lin You was left stunned, unable to comprehend her sudden departure or her cryptic words. “Jiangnan University?” he murmured. What did that have to do with him?
He knew that for a top student like Li Ruochen, gaining admission to Jiangnan University was practically guaranteed. She could even aim for Peking University or Tsinghua University. As for himself, despite his recent physics breakthrough, Jiangnan University was still a distant goal. But now, it felt attainable.
Still, Lin You didn’t care about universities. His goal wasn’t tied to academic prestige. He wanted only to prove to the Lin family that he wasn’t the failure they thought he was. He wanted them to see the value they had overlooked and underestimated.
And as for Lin Tianyang? Lin You’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. If Tianyang was destined to be the Lin family’s gravedigger, Lin You intended to make sure he lived up to the role—arrogance, shortcomings, and all.
…
Meanwhile, Lin Shengnan was walking along the sidewalk of the East Suburbs Manor Villa District, her military bag slung over her shoulder. She pulled out her phone, preparing to call Xiao Zhao for a ride, when a familiar voice called out behind her.
“Fourth Sister, let me take you.”
It was Lin Shiyan, pulling up in her Cullinan. Among the Lin siblings, Shengnan was closest to Shiyan due to their similar temperaments.
Without hesitation, Shengnan tossed her bag into the back seat and climbed into the passenger seat. Shiyan started the car but drove slowly, unsure where Shengnan wanted to go.
After a few minutes of silence, Shiyan finally spoke. “Shengnan, I think you’re being unreasonable about what happened today.”
Shengnan turned her head to look out the window, refusing to engage.
“Do you know how hard Dad worked for you?” Shiyan continued. “He’s been so busy, yet he found time to meet with city government officials and leaders from the political and legal departments. He’s done everything he can. If you didn’t get into the Municipal Bureau, it’s not his fault. Besides, you’re young. With your performance at the grassroots level and the Lin family’s connections, you’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future.”
Finally, Shengnan turned to face her sister, her voice icy. “Second Sister, do you really think I’m upset because I didn’t get into the Municipal Bureau?”
“Isn’t that why?”
Shengnan shook her head. “Don’t you feel there’s something wrong with the Lin family? Doesn’t it all seem… unnatural?”
Shiyan blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Ignoring her sister’s question, Shengnan continued, “I never planned to join the Municipal Bureau. I’m a soldier. I prefer the grassroots level. It’s where real growth happens and where I can build a solid foundation for my future. Skipping that step to join the Municipal Bureau would only hurt me in the long run.”
Before Shiyan could respond, Shengnan added, “Take me to the Four Seasons Hotel on Longnan Road.”
“A motel? Really?” Shiyan frowned. “That’s so embarrassing. Our family owns a four-star hotel. If you don’t want to stay there, at least pick somewhere better than a motel.”
Suddenly, Shengnan turned to Shiyan, her sharp gaze cutting through the air. “Is it embarrassing for a Lin family member to stay in a motel? Then what about Lin You living in a basement for four years? Is that not shameful?”