After Pei Chuan finished speaking, he hung up the phone. He was silent for a moment, then said to the taxi driver, “Go to Third Middle School.”

September’s first autumn rain came unexpectedly. Raindrops struck the car roof, ding-dong-ding-dong, disturbing and irritating. He didn’t turn back to see what expression she wore. In fact, in over ten years, this was the first time Pei Chuan had spoken to her this way.

Bei Yao at the bus stop was somewhat dazed.

She looked at her pink new phone, feeling that the Pei Chuan who had just spoken to her was both familiar and strange. In places she couldn’t see, he too had grown up in another cruel way.

Bei Yao looked dejectedly at the rain striking the ground. Though her thoughts were a bit slower than ordinary people’s, she wasn’t stupid. He had deceived her. He hadn’t gone to Sixth Middle School. All along, she had been the only one thinking they would both attend Sixth Middle School.

Bus 522 quickly arrived. This time she had no way to wait for him and could only board the bus, following it toward Sixth Middle School.

An hour and a half later, the bus stopped at the entrance to Sixth Middle School.

Bei Yao looked up at the Sixth Middle School gate. Everything was as it appeared in her memory. The silver gate rails had a substantial, imposing air. At the very top hung a new semester banner—”Warmly Welcome New Students!”

Inside the school gate was a huge electronic screen that would often scroll through major school events or announcements, hung in the most conspicuous place so students could see it when coming to school.

Entering through the school gate, there were two rows of willow trees swaying in the wind.

A former teacher had said that willow trees carried the meaning of “staying,” hoping that years later, students would deeply cherish their alma mater.

Bei Yao held an umbrella in one hand, wore a backpack on her back, and in her other hand carried heavy clothing.

Originally, Zhao Zhilan was home watching the child, and Bei Licai had planned to take Bei Yao. Bei Yao had refused: “Every year I’ve gone to register by myself. Don’t worry, there’s no problem. Besides, Pei Chuan will be going with me. If Dad goes, he’ll feel uncomfortable.”

Bei Licai had then given up on the idea. But unexpectedly, this year of high school, in the end she still came alone.

She had heard that Fang Minjun had also gotten into Sixth Middle School, but Bei Yao hadn’t run into her. Hua Ting had gotten into First Middle School, and Chen Hu had gone to vocational high school back in ninth grade. Growing up was sometimes cruel—the first thing it taught children was separation.

Bei Yao struggled to carry her clothing and register. This year of high school, she could only board at school—after all, the school was too far from home. Fortunately, Sixth Middle School’s management was the most humane of the three high schools and didn’t restrict boarding students from leaving campus.

The new homeroom teacher’s surname was Li, called Li Fangqun. She was about thirty years old, her long hair pulled up high, her shirt rolled to her elbows, making her appear very capable.

When Bei Yao went to register, Li Fangqun was first surprised by this new student’s beauty. She thought to herself that this year, Sixth Middle School hadn’t divided into experimental and regular classes but was implementing the country’s first year of free-form education, with students randomly assigned. This pure and moving young girl was the best-looking new student Li Fangqun had ever seen. According to Teacher Li’s experience, this type of student’s grades were often at the bottom.

Teacher Li took out the roster. “What’s your name?”

“Bei Yao.”

“…” Teacher Li looked at Bei Yao, who was second in the class, and sighed inwardly. It seemed experience couldn’t be entirely trusted.

Teacher Li said, “Hello, student Bei Yao. Are you choosing to board or commute?”

After a round of procedures, when Bei Yao reached Dorm Room 615, her body was already covered in a thin layer of sweat. The new students this year were quite unlucky—the dorm was on the sixth floor. In Bei Yao’s memory, the next class would live on the third floor.

The school’s most annoying aspect was that to avoid regulations requiring elevators for buildings above seven floors, they had created a “negative first floor,” so that what was nominally the sixth floor was actually the seventh. Bei Yao didn’t really mind this. She would actively exercise anyway.

Her home was far, so she arrived late. Upon entering the dorm, she discovered the other three roommates had already arrived.

A girl on an upper bunk complained, “What’s this about? Didn’t they say this year we’d live in the new apartments? Not only are we still in the old apartments, we’re assigned to the seventh floor.”

A slightly plump girl on the lower bunk, Chen Feifei, said, “Yang Jia, stop complaining. I’ve been listening to you all morning.”

“What’s wrong with that? Am I not allowed to vent a little?”

The dorm’s third girl was called Wu Mo. Wu Mo gave Chen Feifei a look, indicating she shouldn’t start fighting with Yang Jia. Chen Feifei puffed out her cheeks indignantly, not planning to let it go. Just as she was about to open her mouth to say something, she happened to see Bei Yao about to enter at the doorway.

The fifteen-year-old young girl had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead and smiled at her. “Hello, I’m Bei Yao.”

Chen Feifei was dazzled for a moment and forgot what she was going to say to Yang Jia. Her eyes sparkled brightly. “Hello!”

The dorm’s other two girls also cast surprised gazes at Bei Yao.

Wu Mo almost blurted out, “You’re really beautiful.” Like a gardenia blooming after rain, a little fairy walking out of the forest.

The little fairy curved her almond eyes. “Thank you, you’re very pretty too.”

Though Wu Mo herself was already quite good-looking, for some reason, hearing Bei Yao’s praise made her feel an impulse to blush.

Unexpectedly, Bei Yao’s arrival calmed a war that hadn’t yet begun.

Only one upper bunk remained, and Bei Yao finally settled there.

Life in the first year of high school was even busier than imagined. Because First, Third, and Sixth Middle Schools were in competition, even though Sixth Middle School was somewhat more relaxed, they would still only get one two-day break per month. The rest of the time, they’d get one day off each Sunday, and students often wouldn’t go home on this day, just staying at school, though they could wander around wherever.

This was the first year Bei Yao and Pei Chuan were separated.

At first, she wasn’t quite accustomed to it. That young man who was always cold-faced had exited her life in a hateful way. Around her, girls chattered cheerfully and adorably. No one would get unhappy at the drop of a hat anymore, requiring her to spend effort coaxing them.

Bei Yao thought, future self, I’m sorry to you. I may not be able to fulfill your wish. Pei Chuan has grown up. She had no right to control another young man’s life.

What’s more, after entering high school, though this body gradually matured, the memories that increased every year or so had yet to arrive.

Bei Yao had a bold guess—her memories might only go up to senior year of high school. The rest would be an entirely new life.

In the first month of school, the campus forum had a popular post floating at the very top with countless replies.

The post was titled [First-year Underclassman Girl, Heaven-Defying Beauty]

Clicking in showed a photo of Bei Yao doing morning exercises.

Morning light spilled down from the sky. At that time, it wasn’t yet fully light, and Bei Yao wasn’t very awake either. She followed the rhythm of the morning exercises, stretching her limbs. A sleepy hibiscus face, indescribably beautiful.

Almost as soon as the post appeared, Bei Yao became famous.

She replaced the previous year’s second-year senior and became Sixth Middle School’s new campus beauty.

Sixth Middle School’s original campus beauty was called Wan Xian’ai. Someone had once jokingly called her “everyone’s darling.” Wan Xian’ai had been praised for over a year, only to be knocked down by a newcomer who had just arrived at school—with an unedited photo, no less. She was quite angry in her heart but had no recourse.

That photo was too ethereal. Wan Xian’ai didn’t believe anyone had such an aura and appearance. She thought to herself, the newcomer has tactics—it must be photoshopped, right?

However, in the second month, she happened to see this junior in the Yifu Teaching Building. Wan Xian’ai’s face went pale.

She could no longer comfort herself that it was a fake photo, because Bei Yao in person looked even better than the photo. The photo was too ethereal, but Bei Yao herself was very youthful and warm.

Wan Xian’ai pressed her lips together and quickened her pace to leave. Out of pride as the former campus beauty, she didn’t want to be around Bei Yao.

In the first year of high school, Bei Yao was exceptionally popular.

Though she wasn’t outgoing and lively enough, her personality was very gentle. Plus, with good grades, everyone liked to ask her questions.

Bei Yao never kept to herself what she knew and would earnestly explain things to classmates. Not only did the boys in class like her, most of the girls liked her very much too.

The first place student in Class 5 of the first year was a rather short but decent-looking male student. Bei Yao’s entrance exam score was second place.

High school life was hectic. When the first year ended, Bei Yao still had a sense of unreality.

She went home every month but had never seen Pei Chuan.

Everyone said Pei Chuan no longer came home.

The once-lively residential complex was cold and cheerless. Uncle Pei had married a new wife called Cao Li. Bei Yao had seen Pei Chuan’s stepsister. The person was quite delicate-looking, with a very thin figure, appearing frail and weak. Her name was Bai Yutong.

The first time she saw Bai Yutong in the complex during winter break, Bai Yutong was holding her mother’s arm, laughing and playing around. Both mother and daughter were stunned when they saw Bei Yao and Zhao Zhilan approaching, their gazes falling on Bei Yao.

Neither of them had expected that in such an old residential complex, there would be such a beautiful and moving young girl.

Zhao Zhilan greeted them first. “Cao Li, Xiao Tong, hello. This is my daughter Bei Yao.”

Cao Li quickly said, “Oh, it’s Yao Yao. I’ve heard people mention you before. You’re beautiful and have especially good grades too.” She pretended to tap Bai Yutong’s forehead with her hand. “If you were as outstanding as Yao Yao, I’d have peace of mind.”

Bai Yutong felt uncomfortable inside but still smiled and called out to Bei Yao.

Bei Yao nodded at her. “Hello.” Bei Yao knew she was being too cold, but thinking about how Pei Chuan had lost his home in his teens, she found it hard to be warm toward this mother and daughter.

Although Pei Chuan was also bad, they had grown up together after all.

The frustration from Pei Chuan tricking her when they just started high school had long since gradually dissipated with time.

The second semester of the first year gradually arrived, and Bei Yao still hadn’t seen Pei Chuan.

She didn’t know what he looked like now, whether he was going hungry, how tall he was, whether he was still unhappy.

~

In the second semester of the first year, there was a citywide joint exam, meaning the grade rankings were unified rankings across First, Third, and Sixth Middle Schools.

When grades were released, the school put up a red honor roll.

Bei Yao thought of something and ran downstairs. Chen Feifei was extremely surprised. “Yao Yao, wait for me!”

On the very long red honor roll list, Bei Yao’s first glance went to first place.

“Zhang Jierui.” She said quietly, “How is that possible?”

Bei Yao patiently looked down the list. The result was that even in the top two hundred citywide, she didn’t find the two characters “Pei Chuan.”

Chen Feifei said, “Yao Yao, what are you looking for?”

“I had a friend before. His grades were especially good. Later he went to Third Middle School. I wanted to see if his name was there.”

“Then tell me what his name is, and I’ll help you look together.”

Bei Yao was stunned, then said softly, “Pei Chuan.”

The result was that the two girls searched again and again but never saw Pei Chuan’s name.

Chen Feifei said, “Could it be that your friend had good grades in middle school but after getting to high school wasn’t adapting well and his grades declined?”

“That’s not possible.” Bei Yao was very certain. “He’s especially smart. In middle school, he could already do high school problems. And get perfect scores.”

“That amazing…” Chen Feifei subconsciously exclaimed, then suddenly frowned with a strange expression. “What did you say your friend’s name was? Which high school is he at again?”

“Pei Chuan, Third Middle School.”

Chen Feifei: “…” She pulled Bei Yao to a corner and, with a complex expression, took out her phone. Her phone had a touchscreen. After tapping on it, she said to Bei Yao, “Prepare yourself mentally. The Pei Chuan you’re talking about isn’t this one, is it?”

Bei Yao looked down and was also stunned.

The photo had been taken recently, before this summer. Pei Chuan was leaning against a basketball hoop, wearing a bright red jersey with a black “Number 5” printed on the chest.

He had grown taller and had completely changed.

The young men around him all wore shorts, but he alone wore athletic long pants.

Under the July sunlight, his formerly refined brows and eyes had become sharp. The corners of his mouth held a lazy smile that dismissed everything. His slender fingers held a cigarette.

Everything had changed.

He never used to smile. When angry, he needed people to coax him before he’d be happy. But this sharp young man with a smile—Bei Yao almost couldn’t recognize him.

Bei Yao held the phone, unable to react for a long while.

Chen Feifei said, “No way! Your friend is really him? Then do you know who he is? He’s a big shot at Third Middle School that you can’t mess with. He almost never goes to school for classes, spends all day hanging around with those people in class who have especially poor grades. I heard he’s even involved with society, smoking and fighting and stuff. In any case, he’s very scary.”

Bei Yao was in a daze.

Chen Feifei continued, “He’s also especially rich. I heard last month he drove a Mercedes S350—over a million yuan. People on the forum are all guessing where his money came from. Could it be from crime…” Chen Feifei remembered this person was Bei Yao’s friend after all. Seeing Bei Yao’s poor complexion, she didn’t continue sharing more explosive news.

Bei Yao pressed her lips together. “Can you send me the link to this post?”

“I can, but you need to save it quickly. I’m afraid it’ll get deleted.”

“Okay, thank you, Feifei.”

“Don’t mention it. Friends don’t say such things.”

However, that evening, after Bei Yao finished washing up and got into bed to rest, she took out her phone. Her phone was still the flip phone Zhao Zhilan had bought her last year.

This phone was gradually falling behind the times. The signal in the school dormitory building wasn’t good. Bei Yao finally managed to connect to the internet and click into the QQ message link Chen Feifei had sent. That little circle spun and spun, and finally the screen displayed—

“Sorry, the post you’re browsing has been deleted.”

Chen Feifei’s reminder to save it quickly seemed still to be ringing in her ears. Bei Yao curled up in her blanket and gently curved her lips. From childhood to now, one thing still hadn’t changed—everyone found him untouchable.

Her heart held some guilt. She even wanted to say sorry to the self who had written the little notebook. In his sixteenth year, Pei Chuan had still gone bad.

She had worked hard to become a warm, good girl, but he had grown wildly into the big bad guy everyone mentioned with fear.