The bright moon leaned against the sky. After Pei Chuan held her for a while, Bei Yao spoke, her voice still nasal: “Then tomorrow let’s go watch the Olympics together.”

The Olympics would be held for a total of sixteen days, but Bei Yao’s vacation time wasn’t enough. The imperial capital’s prices were too high, and the family’s budget wasn’t sufficient either, so Zhao Zhilan only planned to stay in the imperial capital for three days. Tomorrow was the last day.

She wanted to stand at the competition venue together with Pei Chuan.

Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, landing on her slightly reddened eyes, and said softly: “Alright.”

She smiled, tears turning to laughter.

Bei Yao’s almond eyes were dewy. He reached out to brush aside the hair by her cheek, not telling her how difficult her request was.

This foolish girl probably still didn’t know how much her family disliked him.

She was unwilling to accept his conditions. In his heart was a clear mirror—if Aunt Zhao found out, she would definitely scold Bei Yao. He didn’t fear other people’s anger, but those were her parents.

When one day he could no longer be with her, her parents would be the ones who could take care of her for a long time.

Pei Chuan couldn’t alienate them.

So he wouldn’t tell Bei Yao about her parents’ dislike of him.

He said: “Don’t wander around at night. I’ll walk you back.”

Having achieved all her demands, she was now extremely agreeable. Bei Yao now felt quite embarrassed recalling that she’d just cried. She stole glances at him, yet Pei Chuan had actually agreed to everything.

Pei Chuan walked her back. The bright moon wasn’t as bright as the streetlights. In the lamplight, his shadow stretched very long.

She lagged two steps behind him, stepping on his shadow’s hand with one foot.

“Pei Chuan.” The young girl’s voice was crisp, like wind stirring a bell. Was he trying to trick her again? Their whole family had been fooled by him several times. Was he really this agreeable?

Other people dating definitely weren’t like this—Pei Chuan went his own way, wishing not even a strand of her hair would touch him.

Pei Chuan turned back: “What’s wrong?”

She stood under the streetlight, her eyes bright and shining as she looked at him: “You hold my hand.”

Though her cheeks gradually reddened, she just stood there refusing to walk.

Pei Chuan’s gaze fell on her. The young girl was both charming and spirited. He silently walked back, steeled his heart, and grasped her small hand.

A girl’s hand was very soft, downy soft, fingertips carrying some of the summer night’s coolness.

Her cheeks flushed as she turned her head to smile secretly.

Pei Chuan turned his wrist. The way he held her hand changed. The next moment, her five fingers were forced apart, interlocking with his ten fingers.

His palm was scalding hot, like he had a fever.

She stared blankly down at their clasped hands, beginning to feel shy. Ah… he hadn’t tricked her after all.

Pei Chuan held her hand walking back to the hotel. He looked up at the building—the lights were off. Zhao Zhilan and Bei Licai had already gone to sleep.

It was also fortunate they’d gone to sleep, otherwise they’d have the heart to beat him to death.

Pei Chuan sighed softly and looked down at her.

Now she knew to be shy—she didn’t speak the whole way.

Pei Chuan said: “Alright, go back. I won’t forget what I promised you. Tomorrow we’ll watch the Olympics together.”

She nodded and went to take the elevator.

Pei Chuan watched her go upstairs before closing his eyes and leaning against the wall.

The coldness slowly cooled the burning heat in his heart.

She didn’t understand. He couldn’t possibly ignore everything. Bei Yao needed a future—the one thing he couldn’t give was a future.

~

When she woke up the next day, Zhao Zhilan saw her daughter constantly looking behind: “Yaoyao, what are you looking at?”

Bei Yao only now realized this problem. No matter how open-minded Zhao Zhilan was, she wouldn’t approve of her child dating early. She could only say: “Nothing.”

Zhao Zhilan held Bei Jun’s hand: “Tomorrow we’re going back. Tonight we’ll go buy some local specialties before catching the train. We can’t have come all this way for nothing.”

Men were ultimately much more interested in the Olympics. Bei Licai had been very happy these past few days, and even little Bei Jun was very excited.

Arriving at the venue, the competition had already started, yet Bei Yao still hadn’t been able to see Pei Chuan’s figure.

Pei Chuan, big liar! Had he abandoned her and disappeared again?

The liar she spoke of was still outside the venue.

Pei Chuan only had four tickets—he’d given them all to Bei Yao. He’d come to the imperial capital not to watch the competition, but because he was worried about her, so when buying tickets in advance he hadn’t bought a fifth one.

He feared she’d love the outside prosperity, yet also feared her stubborn devotion to terrible him.

But last night’s embrace shattered all his plans. Whatever she wanted, he gave.

Pei Chuan was in a quandary.

This year he didn’t yet have the ability to enter the Olympic venue without a ticket.

He looked down at his watch—it was already nine o’clock in the morning.

Zhao Zhilan should have taken Bei Yao and the others into the venue by now.

Pei Chuan looked up and stopped a middle-aged woman: “Hello, can I buy the ticket in your hand? I’ll give you a hundred thousand yuan.”

The woman rolled her eyes: “Psycho.”

Who came to watch the Olympics without a ticket? Definitely a scammer. Who would pay a hundred thousand for a ticket! Even the opening ceremony’s highest scalped price was only five thousand yuan.

Pei Chuan knew this was difficult, just like Zhao Zhilan’s previous difficulty selling tickets. Offer too high a price and people thought you were a scammer; offer a price that wasn’t high enough, and people came to watch the Olympics for the love of it—who would sell something they treasured?

Package tickets were hard to buy—the kind he’d given Zhao Zhilan. Small package tickets were easier to buy but had sold out long ago because they were cheap.

Pei Chuan’s expression remained calm as he went to ask the next person.

He didn’t know how many insults he’d endured when finally an auntie couldn’t stand watching anymore: “Young man, you really want to get in?”

“Mm.”

“Tell Auntie the reason.”

Pei Chuan lowered his gaze: “I promised… her that I’d watch this competition together with her.”

The auntie smiled broadly: “Your girlfriend?”

Pei Chuan’s eyes were gentle: “No, not yet. I just like her.”

The auntie understood and pitied this youth a bit. With eyes like that, he couldn’t possibly be a scammer: “How about this—I only have small package tickets for today and tomorrow. Forget about that hundred thousand yuan, don’t scare an old person like me. Eight hundred yuan—that’s not excessive, right?”

Pei Chuan nodded: “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Everyone was young once. Go on, be brave. I hope you two get together in the future.”

Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, rubbing the ticket in his hand. He didn’t respond to those words and fell silent.

At ten-ten City B time, Bei Yao received a text message.

“Yaoyao, six o’clock direction.”

She looked across. The sun had risen.

Pei Chuan was across from her. Such a huge venue, such a lively place. Between people, looking with the naked eye, even with the best vision you couldn’t see clearly who was who.

Yet magically, just as he knew where she was, Bei Yao immediately knew his direction.

Her phone beeped. Bei Yao looked down.

He said—

“Yaoyao, happy birthday.”

She couldn’t help but smile, standing up to wave vigorously.

Zhao Zhilan said: “What’s this child so happy about?”

She bit her lip, her almond eyes bright and shining. Bei Yao could only say: “Mom, our national team will win.”

Zhao Zhilan craned her neck to watch the competition: “Yes, yes, they’ll definitely win.”

~

This 2008 Olympics was the world’s grand celebration. Even after school started, classmates still talked about it enthusiastically.

Everyone discussed together how many gold, silver, and bronze medals the country had won, which athletes had had a particularly difficult year.

This excitement hadn’t passed when autumn arrived.

Bei Yao’s class officially entered their senior year.

Seeing students especially restless because of the Olympics, Li Fangqun specially held a “focus recovery meeting.”

Teacher Li said: “When I was your age, the times weren’t this good. Back then, we wanted to keep studying but it wasn’t easy. If you got into university—wow! That was incredible. College graduates were assigned jobs—that was a golden rice bowl. You could see your whole future ahead. But students, although your era is better, the spirit of hard work and struggle cannot be lost. In less than a year you’ll face the college entrance exam. Next June, sitting in the exam hall with your palms sweating nervously, you’ll understand how important what I’m saying today is.”

“After entering university, you can see a broader world, go to cities you want to go to. Of course,” Teacher Li smiled, “you can also freely date. Teachers and parents won’t interfere with you then.”

The class erupted in hooting. Teacher Li slapped the desk: “What are you excited about? What! I’m not saying you can now. Whoever dares date early, on Monday you’ll stand on that platform for me. In short, work hard this year and good days are ahead.”

The class made disappointed booing sounds.

The new semester also brought seat changes. Bei Yao’s deskmate changed to Yang Jia. Yang Jia was also Bei Yao’s roommate—straightforward and frank, easily conflicting with others, not very popular in class.

But Bei Yao quite liked her personality. Yang Jia had no petty scheming—liked meant liked, disliked meant disliked.

Hearing about no early dating, both Bei Yao and Yang Jia froze.

Yang Jia said quietly: “Bei Yao, that rumor this year, about you and Han Zhen—it wasn’t real, right?”

Bei Yao said: “It wasn’t real.”

Yang Jia breathed a sigh of relief.

Bei Yao thought to herself, but with another person, it was real—couldn’t be more real.

Despite the threat of “standing on the platform on Monday,” the sweetness and joy in her heart feared no terror. Bei Yao lowered her head to study.

Since the start of senior year, Bei Yao worked even harder.

She came to the classroom after finishing breakfast in the morning, and in the evening always dragged on until the classroom lights went off before leaving.

Yang Jia said: “You working so hard makes me panic too.”

After all, someone more excellent than her working harder than her was a terrifying thing. Yang Jia also settled down to study hard together.

Bei Yao and Pei Chuan weren’t at the same school, and senior year review was especially heavy. She thought she wouldn’t see him for a long time.

But when monthly leave came in September, Bei Yao saw Pei Chuan and Chen Yingqi at her residential complex entrance.

Not seeing each other for a month, Chen Yingqi hadn’t changed much. Pei Chuan looked somewhat haggard. The tall youth had his hands in his pockets. He said something to Chen Yingqi, who nodded with a serious expression.

Seeing Bei Yao, Pei Chuan patted Chen Yingqi’s shoulder. Chen Yingqi also glanced at Bei Yao, then left.

“Pei Chuan.” She ran over, asking curiously: “What did you say to Chen Yingqi?”

His eyes were pitch black, transforming into complete tenderness when seeing her: “Just chatted with him, asked about life these years.”

“Oh, oh.” Bei Yao was very happy. He was finally trying to get along well with others.

She carefully looked him over: “Why did you lose weight?”

Pei Chuan said: “It’s senior year. Studying hard.”

Bei Yao finally had the same feeling Yang Jia had looking at her. She said: “I’m so nervous. You’re so capable yet work so hard. What if I can’t get into the same university as you?”

She was seriously thinking about this problem. The late September breeze blew through her bangs.

Foolish girl. Having him in her future was probably the most moving love words he’d heard in his life.

He smiled: “You won’t. You won’t fail to get in. Which university do you want to attend?”

Bei Yao said: “If it were me, I’d want to go to a university in City B. I heard it snows there in winter too, just like City C, but not as cold.”

One Olympics had ultimately left different colors in her heart, making her recognize that city.

Pei Chuan said: “Then let’s go to B University.”

He was silent for a moment: “This winter break, I’ll take you to see the snow at B University, okay?”

Bei Yao nodded, her eyes bright and shining. She said: “I’ll definitely work hard. I won’t fall too far behind you.”

He also smiled: “Mm, I believe in Yaoyao.”

Accompanying her to university was his best vision and plan for the future.