Even though Pei Haobin knew he had duties to attend to, seeing his unfamiliar, “corrupted” son, he still strode over in several steps, his expression ugly: “You bastard! What are you doing?”

The scene fell silent for a moment. Time stretched out long and drawn. The criminal police entering had already frozen Qingshi’s lively atmosphere. Almost everyone was watching Pei Haobin and his subordinate officers, but when the captain went directly to the bar, it drew probing gazes to fall on Pei Chuan.

With two fingers, Pei Chuan removed the cigarette from his lips and stubbed it out on the bar. Since last time when Pei Chuan’s prosthetic was bitten and damaged and he left, Pei Haobin still hadn’t been able to find him.

Pei Chuan understood this person too well. Pei Haobin kept public and private matters separate. No matter how much he wanted to find him, he could only try to ask colleagues for help rather than abuse his authority to issue desperate orders. Pei Chuan had left him many “clues.” With Pei Haobin’s personal power, the more he searched, the more off-track he’d go. It was like this a year ago and remained so a year later.

However, Pei Haobin also wouldn’t ask other young people in the residential complex. This criminal police officer was cold and rigid, with only average relationships with neighbors. Or more likely, he didn’t really hope for Pei Chuan to come home either.

After all, when Pei Chuan was there, the air in the house was cold and frozen—it interfered with their family’s harmony, didn’t it?

Pei Chuan’s casual, indifferent attitude enraged Pei Haobin. He raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

A crisp sound rang out. The music stopped. Pei Chuan didn’t dodge. That slap landed on his face, hitting until half his face went numb. He turned his head: “Officer Pei, consider this slap repayment for one cheap sperm.”

Voices rose all around. Pei Chuan’s voice wasn’t loud—only the bartender heard this sentence.

Pei Haobin’s heart trembled. He actually took two steps back.

Pei Chuan wiped the corner of his lips with his thumb. His mouth hurt, with fine threads of blood seeping out. Jin Ziyang and the others on the other side of the hall didn’t see this scene. Only Ji Wei sat closest. Ji Wei was frightened and walked over, saying quietly: “Police can’t just hit people randomly.”

Pei Haobin felt somewhat regretful. That slap made his own hand hurt too. However, Pei Chuan’s eyes carried thorns, nailing his footsteps in place.

Behind him, a criminal police officer said: “Captain, there’s still official business. Zhao Ping is still in ‘Qingshi.'”

Pei Haobin said: “I… Pei Chuan…” In the end, he couldn’t say anything and led people to search the seventh floor.

This matter seemed like just a small interlude. The music continued. Half of Pei Chuan’s face was red and swollen. He looked at the room full of drunken splendor and gave a low laugh.

Wasn’t he just the combination of a cheap sperm and egg?

Ji Wei said hesitantly: “Brother Chuan, are you alright?”

Pei Chuan said: “Mm.”

Ji Wei: “Oh.” He didn’t know how to comfort people. He felt that with the smile gone from Brother Chuan’s face, it was quite sad. But if Pei Chuan said he was fine, then he must be fine.

Ji Wei said: “Then I’ll go study?”

“Go ahead.”

Ji Wei’s figure walked toward the corner. He studied hard and diligently but couldn’t get the knack of it, like ancient scholars who no matter how hard they tried couldn’t pass the imperial examinations. Watching him, Pei Chuan didn’t find Ji Wei particularly pitiful—after all, he himself was much more pitiful than Ji Wei.

He lowered his eyes and lit another cigarette.

~

Bai Yutong was extremely unwilling when going out. She hadn’t originally gotten into high school. Later, after Cao Li married Pei Haobin, she pulled strings to have her attend an ordinary high school. She said: “Mom, you know I’m scared of him. I don’t want to go!”

Cao Li glanced at her sideways: “If you don’t go, should I go? That brat is actually studying in C City, deceiving us for so long. Your Uncle Pei hasn’t slept well these past few nights. He’s uncomfortable inside. We have to help share his worries. Only by making him like us mother and daughter more will we have good days ahead.”

Bai Yutong said: “I’ve never been to Third Middle.”

“Don’t you have a mouth to ask? Anyway, go see him today for me, otherwise what will people say about me, this stepmother? We’re moving in a few days. At this critical moment, don’t hold me back.”

Bai Yutong had no choice. Thinking of the luxurious new house, she could only go to Third Middle.

Standing on Third Middle’s campus, she curled her lip. This school was much better than theirs. The synthetic track was clean—at their school, theirs had grass growing on it.

That cripple actually studied here. Thinking about it was quite unbelievable.

She asked her way to Second Year Class 9. Third Middle had just dismissed. Pei Chuan sat by the window. Bai Yutong knocked on the window: “Hey, come out for a moment.”

People in the class all looked over.

Bai Yutong was extremely impatient: “Pei Chuan!”

Pei Chuan frowned and walked out.

Bai Yutong thought, how mortifying. She didn’t want any connection with this person at all. So many people were watching.

Bai Yutong didn’t know what kind of status Pei Chuan had in Class 9. In her understanding, classmates must know Pei Chuan was a cripple and kept a respectful distance. She fumbled in her pocket and took out eight hundred yuan, counted it, and just handed it to Pei Chuan like that: “My mom gave this to you. You better appreciate it.”

Pei Chuan looked at her expressionlessly. The young man’s pupils were pitch black. When he didn’t speak, he was quite unnerving.

Bai Yutong remembered him beating to death that virus-carrying big dog. Her heart felt timid. However, with so many people watching, she had confidence. She threw several red bills at Pei Chuan: “Hurry up. I still have to go back.”

Pei Chuan didn’t take it. The money fell to the ground, scattering.

Bai Yutong felt sorry for the money and quickly crouched down to pick it up.

At the back of the classroom, Jin Ziyang and the others watched dumbfounded. Pei Chuan turned and entered the classroom. This time Bai Yutong didn’t call out either—if he didn’t want it, fine. If he starved to death outside, it wasn’t her business, and she could save eight hundred yuan!

Bai Yutong left. The class was somewhat quiet.

Someone said in a low voice: “Isn’t Pei Chuan quite rich? How come that girl just now…”

“Shh, keep it down. Don’t let them hear.”

As soon as Pei Chuan sat down, Ji Wei turned around, guiltily doing homework. He always felt that at times like this, it was better not to touch Brother Chuan’s bad luck.

Jin Ziyang, being carefree, asked: “Who was that girl, Brother Chuan? She actually stuffed money at you.”

Zheng Hang pulled him. Jin Ziyang said: “Why are you pulling me?”

“Can’t you shut up? Even Brother Wei is more sensible than you.”

Jin Ziyang shut up.

However, this matter still fermented within a few days. Never underestimate the power of probing into someone’s life.

Originally thought to be a hidden rich second-generation, Pei Chuan’s father was a criminal police officer, and his stepsister even came to school to give him money.

Those who used to be afraid of provoking him said: “I thought from his appearance he was so awesome. Turns out he’s so poor he needs handouts.”

Someone laughed loudly.

“Was his face beaten because he asked for money?”

“Hahahahaha.”

Someone even wrote a satirical post that circulated on the school forum. Although it was deleted quickly, many people knew about it.

~

Chen Feifei saw the post and was stunned, her mouth hanging open.

In that post, some people said particularly unpleasant things. When Pei Chuan used to hang out with Jin Ziyang and the others, he’d driven luxury cars. Though some exposed him, most still had to praise him as rich and good-looking. Now knowing his family wasn’t some “can’t-be-provoked” situation, unpleasant words sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain.

They were originally in the third period of the afternoon. Chen Feifei played on her phone during class and saw this post. After class, she quietly told Bei Yao about it.

“I remember you know him, right?”

It was late October then, with the first spring rain falling outside.

Bei Yao was silent for a moment: “Feifei, if the teacher asks next class, just say my stomach hurts and I’m in the bathroom.”

“Hey, hey, you…”

Bei Yao opened her umbrella and ran into the rain.

The umbrella was pale yellow—a birthday gift last year from the young people in the residential complex.

Third Middle’s ginkgo trees were beaten by rain until they fell all over the ground. Pei Chuan sat on the basketball court smoking. Around him was a ground of cigarette butts. Above his head was a rain shelter. His body was slightly damp, carrying autumn’s coolness.

Bei Yao’s hair tips and shoe surface were wet. She walked through layers of seats and stopped beside him.

The pale yellow umbrella dripped water, folded at her side. He looked up. His pitch-black pupils reflected her pretty appearance.

The young man’s forehead hair was slightly damp, half his face still red and swollen. She said softly: “Pei Chuan.”

Pei Chuan stubbed out his cigarette: “What are you doing here?”

“I was afraid you’d be sad.”

“I’m not sad.” He was used to it. That home—what it brought him was always these things, wasn’t it?

Bei Yao put down her umbrella and crouched in front of him, among a pile of cigarette ash.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say his surroundings were dirty. The next moment, his right cheek touched coolness—very light, very gentle.

He looked at her in shock and disbelief. She looked up, fingertips gently cupping his cheek: “Then does it hurt?”

He instinctively gripped the hand on his cheek.

The young girl’s hand was very soft, boneless and tender. But in autumn, having walked through rain, it carried some coolness.

His palm was scalding hot. A moment later, as if electrocuted, he removed her small hand.

“It doesn’t hurt.” He said in a hoarse voice.

He told himself she was just like petting an injured stray cat or dog. No other meaning. Can’t think about it, mustn’t think about it.

Bei Yao was extremely troubled: “But I skipped class. It seems like I can’t have come out for nothing.”

His dark eyes froze.

The young girl’s almond eyes curved, slowly blooming with a smile: “Pei Chuan, treat me to dinner.”

At least, don’t smoke alone in such a gloomy place.

Pei Chuan lowered his eyes, saying with difficulty: “You go by yourself.”

He took out his wallet from his pocket and handed it to her.

She didn’t take it: “Your personality is so bad. It makes me so angry.”

He pressed his lips together, very shallow disappointment and displeasure in his eyes. She said his personality was so bad. He knew it—he couldn’t say nice things, hadn’t been likable since childhood.

She smiled: “Forget it, forget it. But who told me I don’t get angry easily? Then I’ll treat you to a meal, okay?”

He said nothing.

She reached out to pull him: “There’s a very delicious shop outside your school. Have you eaten there? Last time I was rushing back for evening self-study and took out a portion. My roommates all said it was delicious.”

That cat-scratch amount of strength—yet he couldn’t help following her to stand up.

Walking out of the gray basketball court with its canopy, she opened the pale yellow umbrella. On the umbrella, a comical big-headed duck opened its mouth, looking extremely silly.

She stood on tiptoe, bringing him under the umbrella: “My umbrella is small. Don’t get wet.”

He took the umbrella and held it for her.

The young girl was petite. Being this close, her body carried a faint fragrance. Though the sky was raining, there wasn’t a trace of gloom. The place with rain was actually several degrees brighter than the basketball court that could shelter from rain.

She led him forward: “Turn right, right right, I remember… um… what was it called? It’s that one, ‘Happy Tangyuan.'”

His tall form—half his shoulder was soaked through. She was protected very well, her tone extremely light under the umbrella.

He followed where she pointed. It was a shop selling tangyuan—very small, cramped.

In over a year at Third Middle, he never knew such a place existed outside school.

The proprietress had seen Bei Yao once and remembered very clearly—such a beautiful young girl, she’d never seen one like her in her life.

Bei Yao pulled him to sit down. His whole body was stiff. The proprietress said: “Little miss came again, bringing your older brother?”

Bei Yao smiled and nodded.

Pei Chuan lowered his eyes, lashes dropping. He put away her umbrella, silently placing it back beside her.

Bei Yao felt his mood suddenly wasn’t too good.

The proprietress wiped her hands on her apron: “What will you eat?”

Bei Yao said: “I want fruit tangyuan. He, he wants the signature Happy Tangyuan.”

He looked up. Her almond eyes were like crushed lake surface, brimming with watery light and smile, about to squeeze his heart to pieces. His anger was forcibly stopped, soundless and silent.

Pei Chuan pressed his lips: “I didn’t say I wanted that.”

She leaned on the table laughing, unable to contain herself: “Just try it. It’s really delicious.” The young girl’s trailing tone was extremely soft. He couldn’t refute a single word. Pei Chuan’s fingers trembled, somewhat annoyed and embarrassed.

Tangyuan cooked very quickly. Two bowls of tangyuan—one bowl with fruit was very ordinary.

The more expensive one was Happy Tangyuan, with colorful tangyuan arranged on top in a smiley face.

Bei Yao said: “Doesn’t it look good?”

He lowered his eyes: “Mm.”

“Happy Tangyuan has sesame filling, um, those black dotted ones. If you don’t like really sweet things, give them to me. Don’t waste food.” She pushed her own bowl over.

His heart felt like it was gently scratched. He said in a low voice: “I’m not picky.”

The young girl smiled with pressed lips: “Oh oh, Pei Chuan is really good.”

He gripped his spoon tightly, even forgetting why he was angry today. Almost randomly scooping one into his mouth.

Her eating manner was refined and elegant. In her heart, she sighed softly. Pei Unhappy had grown up, but still wasn’t very happy.

Being slapped by his father—it hurt and was sad, right? Who in the world would get used to pain?

The tangyuan carried scalding temperature, dispelling autumn’s coolness.

After eating, Pei Chuan naturally couldn’t let her go pay. He frowned, telling her to sit properly, and went inside the small shop to find the proprietress.

The proprietress smiled and said: “How was it, student? Our signature tangyuan was pretty good, right?”

He didn’t make a sound, fumbling out a hundred-yuan bill to hand over.

The proprietress asked: “No small change?”

Seeing the young man still not speaking, the proprietress knew he didn’t like talking to people. The proprietress could only lower her head to make change.

After a while, she heard the young man speak.

“I’m not her older brother.” After saying this sentence, he didn’t want the change either. Carrying unspeakable embarrassment, he walked out of the shop.