The people in “Seventh Prison,” more or less all had important relatives or friends who would come visit them on “visitation days.”

The people in this prison all had futures.

Every year, many people left from here to become people who worked specifically for the country. After all, they were all rare high-intelligence talents, and the mistakes they’d made hadn’t caused particularly severe consequences.

However, in the year Pei Chuan entered, he worked harder than everyone else, yet no one had ever come to visit him.

In the past year or so, over four hundred days and nights, every person’s name had been called except for Pei Chuan’s.

Everyone seemed to tacitly assume that this taciturn young man had no relatives left. However, today someone had actually come to visit. And looking at Pei Chuan’s reaction, the person who came was very important?

Of course, “Seventh Prison” respected human rights very much. Pei Chuan could choose not to go.

“Former biologist” Cheng Zhenghai looked at the young man’s suddenly silent expression and spoke up: “Go take a look. It’s New Year, it’s so cold outside, and this place is so remote. No matter who came, it wasn’t easy.”

Yes, this winter’s snow was especially heavy. Sometimes water droplets on tree branches would freeze into ice before they could even fall.

Pei Chuan still went.

The prison guard came to push his wheelchair. After Pei Chuan signed the agreement upon arriving here, he no longer wore prosthetic limbs. His daily work hours were very long. Standing with prosthetic limbs for too long would actually hurt, and sitting down and bending his knees wasn’t convenient either. Later, the country simply switched him back to a wheelchair.

In the small meeting room, a dim yellow light was on.

Outside the skylight, large white snowflakes were flying. She waited for him under the meeting room light.

She had grown up a bit. Her features were delicate and gentle, and her always watery eyes had become a bit more calm. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, and she wore a water-red down jacket.

Very festive and lovely. Just like in his dreams, yet different from his dreams.

Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, his pale fingers gripping the wheelchair armrests tightly.

Bei Yao also quietly looked at him.

She understood why he wouldn’t look directly into her eyes. Pei Chuan had gotten thinner. His youthful features had faded. The tempering here had given him a man’s resolute features. He didn’t look much like Pei Haobin—he was a bit more refined than Uncle Pei.

However, his hair had been cut short. Bei Yao had read prison-related materials. His hair should have been shaved, then grew long and was cut short again.

In his own eyes, this appearance couldn’t look good.

Her heart ached quietly as she watched.

Her young man swallowed his pain alone, yet always thought about her future.

If she didn’t come find him, perhaps it would be just as he expected—in this lifetime, they would have no more connection. She would quietly finish university, marry a good man. In the future, somewhere unknown, he would lick his wounds alone.

The door was closed by the prison guard. Visitation had time limits.

Bei Yao hadn’t seen him sitting in a wheelchair in many years. Pei Chuan was proud. Ever since he wore prosthetic limbs in elementary school, he would never sit in a wheelchair in front of others again.

This year should be the most disheveled year of his life.

Because of his status as C City’s top science scorer in the college entrance exam, he had received attention, only to fall into the dust the next moment. From the very beginning to later entering “Seventh Prison,” he had been very calm and quiet. But at this moment, he could no longer be calm.

Bei Yao squatted down in front of him.

Her almond eyes looked directly at his lowered eyes: “Pei Chuan.”

He responded in a low voice: “Mm.” After all, his silent heartbeat began to beat. He looked at the young woman’s features and asked her softly, “Why did you come?”

It was very cold here. Summer was fine—it provided relief from the heat. But in winter, even indoors, it was icy cold.

When he thought about how she had braved the wind and snow, not knowing how much effort it took to come, his throat went dry.

Bei Yao’s eyes stung: “Because I missed you.”

He bit down hard on the flesh in his mouth. After a long while, he said in a low voice: “Yao Yao, don’t say such things anymore.”

If it were before, he could still endure being disliked by Aunt Zhao and Uncle Bei in order to treat her well. Now, being in “Seventh Prison,” he didn’t even have the qualification to hear her say such things.

Since she had grown up, she should understand how heartless and worldly this world was. Society wouldn’t accept her liking someone like him, and her parents wouldn’t accept it either.

Why was it that the more beautiful she became, the more things she had seen, yet she still didn’t understand these things?

Her eyes brimmed with moisture, looking like she was about to cry.

He really wanted to reach out and touch those tear-filled almond eyes, but Pei Chuan also understood that a year had passed. She had gone to university and surely had seen many interesting and fun things. According to Lawyer Zhen, she was still the campus beauty. Such a beautiful girl with such a good personality would be very popular anywhere.

Bei Yao would no longer be confined by the moon of her hometown. Her horizons were getting broader and broader, so she wouldn’t be curious about the feeling of young love anymore, because there would be many excellent people pursuing her, wanting to be with her.

She should understand how not worthwhile it was to be with someone like him in her youth.

Bei Yao said: “Why can’t I say such things? I miss you, miss you so much. Sometimes when I wake up from sleep, it’s as if I’m still studying at Sixth Middle School. You’re right there at a nearby school, very close to me.”

She said: “You always said when I grew up I’d understand what liking was, what curiosity was. I’m an adult now. I know the meaning of every word I say. Pei Chuan, I like you.”

His Adam’s apple moved, his fingers trembling slightly: “Don’t say it.”

But she still continued: “I like you very much, very much. It’s not sympathy, and it’s not pity.”

As if afraid of something, his voice turned cold, yet his speech was extremely rapid: “Wake up. Look at where this is? Outside it’s snowing, people are celebrating the New Year lively, but here there are only four walls and a group of criminals who kill and commit arson! I’m not from some wealthy prestigious family, I have no status or reputation. All my assets were forfeited to the state. No reputation, no money, no future—I have nothing!”

She sobbed twice. In her clear eyes, there was still only his image.

In her eyes reflected a cold young man with very short hair wearing prison clothes.

He closed his eyes. After all, he would never yell at her. His fingers gripped the wheelchair tightly: “Go back. Don’t come again, and don’t say you like me. Otherwise…”

She suddenly threw herself into his arms.

This February was especially cold. She carried the chill of the wind and rain from outside. His embrace was like a furnace, burning with a man’s love and pain.

She hugged his neck, with a slight nasal tone: “But I just like you.”

Like an unreasonable child.

“I just like you. I only like you.”

Her small hands were ice cold, her hair slightly damp. She didn’t need to reason, and there was nothing good to say. Simple yet fervent, making one’s heart burn.

He couldn’t help but clasp her waist. His suppressed emotions crumbled completely.

Bei Yao suddenly remembered Qin Dongni’s words from that night. Some things could be suppressed, but love couldn’t be concealed.

The man was clearly trembling. He kept saying she wasn’t clear-headed, but in the end he still held her tight. She broke into a smile through her tears, her chin resting on his shoulder: “Pei Chuan, you said girls can’t be bullied. I said I missed you, so you have to say you miss me too.”

His heart rolled through fire, then was covered in honey. His mouth was filled with the bloody taste from biting himself to suppress his emotions.

“I…” He closed his eyes and said hoarsely, “I miss you, Yao Yao.”

Miss you so much, miss you like crazy.

During every daytime when he first entered, he worked desperately. At night, he could never sleep. Some people’s world is a vast world. Some people’s world is so small it can only contain one person.

Pei Chuan had thought countless times that it would be better if she had never entered his life. Without ties or attachments, in the future no matter which corner he died in, even if he rotted into a withered bone no one could recognize, at least there would be no longing in his heart.

But she came—a teenage girl, simple and naive, yet burning intensely like a flame, making him not know what to do with her.

Yet he also understood how grateful he was that she had come into his life.

All colors were painted by her. All bitterness was given by her, and so was all sweetness.

She said: “Pei Chuan, look—I never lost you again.”

That night she had tied a balloon to the young man’s hand, telling him she would never lose him in this lifetime. She said: “You’re not allowed to make me cry anymore either. Here, quickly wipe them for me.”

The corners of her lips curved up, but the tears in her almond eyes were about to fall but didn’t.

His pitch-black eyes looked at her. He cupped her face, his rough fingertips wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes. She blinked, her long lashes falling on his fingertips, stirring up bashful sweetness.

He was always breaking his initial principles and plans step by step, compromising for her again and again. It was bitter yet sweet, difficult to give up.

Bei Yao originally had many things she wanted to ask, wanted to know if he was tired or in pain, but the man before her would never complain, nor would he wallow in the past.

She also wanted to ask if it was because of her that he ultimately chose this more difficult and bitter path, but when the words reached her lips, Bei Yao didn’t ask anymore.

He was so sensitive—she couldn’t let him misunderstand that she said she liked him because of guilt.

Nothing was more delightful than the future.

Perhaps because they were young and spirited, his embrace was very warm. The man’s body was solid, and she warmed up in no time. The visitation time was about to pass. She said softly: “Pei Chuan, Happy New Year.”

The young woman searched in her pockets, pulling out a bank card and paper money, stuffing them all into his hands: “I heard you can buy things in here. Pei Chuan, if you’re cold or hungry, ask people to buy things, okay?”

He held the bank card and paper money, looking at this silly girl.

There were still so many things he hadn’t taught her yet. A good man would never spend his woman’s money. But she was so foolish—if she got deceived, how pitiful that would be.

Pei Chuan put these things back in her pocket and patted her hair: “These aren’t needed in here. Did you sell the diamond?”

She shook her head.

Pei Chuan said: “Sell it and buy a new house in the city center.” Fortunately, things like diamonds and gold never depreciated.

She said: “I won’t sell it. In the future, I’m going to have you use it to set a ring.”

He looked at her in disbelief.

She lowered her gaze, her lashes like two small fans: “Pei Chuan, you have to take good care of yourself here. Everyone makes mistakes in their life. Making mistakes is shameful, but correcting and making amends for them is not shameful. We face our mistakes squarely and make amends for them, but we can’t see them as lifelong indelible shame. Look forward, okay?”

She said: “Pei Chuan, you’re not allowed to look down on yourself.”

His throat was so dry it hurt. He couldn’t say a single word. This girl, such a soft little thing, yet he had no way to deal with her.

After a long while, he said: “Mm.”

She smiled, gently stroking his face, her voice very gentle: “How many more years, Pei Chuan?”

He said in a low voice: “Eight years.”

There was no disappointment in her eyes either. Instead, she said with a smile: “Then I’ll ask Uncle Prison Guard when you can have visitation next time. I’ll come see you again then, okay?”

“Mm.”

When she left following the prison guard, the wind and snow filling the sky had lessened considerably. The sky had darkened somewhat. That bicycle was already covered with thick snow.

She brushed off the snow and sat on it, wrapping her scarf around herself again. Her petite figure disappeared into the wind and snow.

Such a delicate body, yet with such resilient and burning power.

Usually one never saw this cold young man so emotional, but when this young woman came, Pei Chuan’s entire being was at her mercy.

The prison guard smiled and shook his head, then asked Pei Chuan: “Why are you deceiving her?”

Where were there eight more years? “Seventh Prison” was different from all other prisons—it was also a cradle for reforming talent. Pei Chuan’s performance was very good. He had originally turned himself in, and at the time hadn’t caused severe consequences. Not only that, he also had meritorious service for completely wiping out that organization.

Pei Chuan was openly sentenced to eight years, but after being sent to “Seventh Prison,” the agreement Pei Chuan received was for four years.

Work for the country for four years. His ideology and conduct had to be upright. Usually he also had to properly accept education and continue learning. Of course, he also had to see a psychologist regularly. When each person’s agreement period ended, they would come out as regular national employees.

Young people like Pei Chuan had futures. He had originally been a top student who had gone astray due to a poor upbringing environment in his youth. The country would give such people another chance.

Pei Chuan had already “served” for over a year. In just over two more years, he could get out.

Pei Chuan didn’t answer the prison guard’s question.

He was just giving her a chance to reconsider and leaving room in the future.

Pei Chuan continued back to eat the reunion dinner with his “prison mates.”

He changed chopsticks and picked up his bowl. These “prison mates” had no conscience—they had already picked out all the meat, leaving only soup and broth. He ate white rice with the broth, still showing no expression.

“Former biologist” Cheng Zhenghai said with a smile: “Pei Chuan, in a good mood?”

Pei Chuan kept a straight face and didn’t speak. He was the youngest here. Everyone inside was shrewd, but Pei Chuan’s mind worked well too.

“Seventh Prison” was full of people with promising futures, so it had always been quite harmonious. Who knew—they might become colleagues sometime in the future.

Several people looked at Pei Chuan’s cool demeanor. Someone took the lead and laughed out loud.

Cheng Zhenghai slapped his thigh, laughing uncontrollably: “Pei Chuan, if you’re happy then laugh! Why keep a straight face while eating?”

Pei Chuan’s chopsticks paused. He looked at the group of people before him.

Someone really couldn’t hold back: “Pei Chuan, on your neck—that’s a lipstick mark your little sweetheart rubbed on, right? Oh my, your heart must be bursting with joy, yet you’re still sitting here so calmly eating!”

“What restraint, what restraint.”

Pei Chuan put down his bowl and touched where the little girl had been whimpering earlier. Looking at his fingertip, there was indeed a very faint lipstick mark. Who knew when the little girl had rubbed it on.

It seemed to still carry a snow-like young woman’s fragrance.

Pei Chuan finally smiled and said to the group of joking people: “Scram.”

Everyone laughed heartily.

This winter really wasn’t too cold.

When Pei Chuan first entered, he worked harder than any of the old-timers inside. Later, after a long time, someone said that Pei Chuan wanted to become a scientist in the future.

Those who could leave this place and still become scientists were extremely rare, yet he worked day and night, very diligently.

No one understood what this stubbornness was for. Not until today, when a year later someone came to see him, did everyone realize that some people’s faith and love never die. No matter how long or bitter, they always remember everything.

He remembered that time when they first rode on an airplane. Bei Yao spoke of scientists like speaking of great heroes, her eyes full of love and anticipation for this world.

~

Finding him, Bei Yao also breathed a sigh of relief.

What people feared most was having no hope. The next “visitation” day would be in April next year, when it would already be spring.

Naturally, Bei Yao couldn’t return to C City for New Year anymore.

She no longer needed to run back and forth to the law school and could peacefully study her own major.

When the February holiday ended, classmates gradually returned.

The first to come to the dorm was local B City resident Qin Dongni. Qin Dongni thought she was the first to arrive, but seeing Bei Yao returning from the library, she said in surprise: “Yao Yao, you came back so early?”

Bei Yao smiled and nodded.

This year was 2010. Bei Yao and the others studying medicine had a five-year program. Qin Dongni saw her holding a very thick stack of books and came over to look: “What are all these books? Huh? Nursing and massage—Yao Yao, we don’t study this. Why are you reading these?”

Bei Yao arranged the books properly and smiled without speaking. Although she didn’t mind Pei Chuan’s body, she didn’t like using what he minded as casual conversation topics.

Fortunately, Qin Dongni was just asking casually and quickly started talking about New Year anecdotes.

The next day was the final deadline for school to start. Wang Qiankun and Shan Xiaomai also arrived.

Shan Xiaomai even brought local specialties from her hometown for her roommates. She was timid and looked like a minor. Carrying such a large bag up to the fifth floor scared even Wang Qiankun.

At that time, freshmen had one chance to change majors. Shan Xiaomai really wanted to transfer.

Of the four people in the dorm, only she would faint and scream during dissection class, and would cry when seeing corpses soaked in formalin. Qin Dongni’s expression was normal, Bei Yao could also endure it. As for Wang Qiankun… no need to mention her—she chose this because she loved the field.

But Shan Xiaomai’s mother wouldn’t let her transfer, so she didn’t.

Wang Qiankun lifted her things with one hand and put them away: “Maimai, why does your mom want you to study medicine?”

Shan Xiaomai lowered her head: “My younger brother’s health isn’t good.”

A condition brought from the womb—congenitally deficient.

As soon as Shan Xiaomai said this, the others exchanged glances and didn’t ask anymore. Many families of origin had unspeakable pain. Shan Xiaomai’s family favored sons over daughters.

Wang Qiankun casually put her arm around Shan Xiaomai’s shoulder: “Come on, Maimai, let me show you specialties from our area.”

Family pain would affect children. Compared to Qin Dongni, Shan Xiaomai had much more of an inferiority complex. She always felt excellent boys looked down on her. Usually she was also taciturn.

Bei Yao looked at the massage and nursing books on her right. He always said when she grew up, her horizons would broaden, she’d understand human nature, and then she’d realize he wasn’t worthy of being loved.

But how grateful she was that the more she grew up, the more she could understand him.

She loved his gentleness, loved his cool pride, and was beginning to understand his unspeakable sensitivity and sense of inferiority.