“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…”

A Christmas tree had been set up in front of No. 6 High School’s convenience store, and Christmas carols were playing inside. Colorful lights twinkled on the Christmas tree, along with Santa Claus stockings. Li Fangqun said disapprovingly, “Chinese people—why are we celebrating Western holidays? Making everything so gaudy and flashy everywhere—what does that look like? Back in my generation, this would be called worshipping foreign things, you know?”

The classroom erupted in laughter.

Li Fangqun also laughed. “However, maybe I really am just old-fashioned. I’m getting old and don’t understand you young people. Your English teacher is young and trendy—she probably really likes holidays like this.”

The English teacher, whose class had been taken over, indicated she felt very wronged.

During the break after the first evening self-study session, Chen Feifei looked at Bei Yao’s desk drawer in amazement. “Oh my goodness, Yaoyao, how many cards did you receive?”

Her voice wasn’t small. Many classmates in the class looked over and covered their mouths laughing.

Bei Yao said awkwardly, “Feifei, keep your voice down.”

The thin Christmas cards, because there were too many, were stacked as high as ten books. From Grade 10 to Grade 12, from boys to girls in their own class—everyone liked Bei Yao very much. So much so that on this holiday when cards could be given openly, Bei Yao’s desk had been stuffed full.

Some cards were made very elaborately—reportedly over ten yuan each. When opened they could even play music, and some were three-dimensional.

Wu Mo glanced over slantwise and tucked the three cards she had received into her book, feeling uncomfortable inside. Her three cards, compared to those, were like a drop in the ocean.

Chen Feifei was both amazed and envious. “I wish I could also receive this many cards.”

Bei Yao bent her head writing return gifts.

Reciprocity was fundamental—she couldn’t possibly receive other people’s cards with no response. After buying clothes for Bei Jun last time, all her pocket money had been used to buy cards. They weren’t expensive—all one yuan each. Bei Yao had written cards back to every lovely girl.

Although her cards weren’t expensive, the messages were very thoughtful. Each person’s blessing was unique.

As for the boys’ cards, she definitely couldn’t send them back. If she did, it would be terrible—no matter who she sent to, tomorrow the campus would be flying with rumors about the school beauty having an early romance.

Among the cards was one from Fang Mingjun.

Fang Mingjun was in Class 8 with pretty good grades.

This year, without Chang Xue’s halo, Fang Mingjun lived her own peaceful life and was actually much more genuinely happy. The youthful friction had all melted away in a heavy snowfall.

Bei Yao finished writing the cards one by one, but kept one back—it was the one she was preparing to write to Pei Chuan.

But that kiss last time had made the young girl’s heart shy, so much so that this card, after writing everyone else’s, was still blank.

Tonight’s evening self-study was the English teacher’s. Because the English teacher had something at home, homeroom teacher Li Fangqun took over one period, and the physics teacher came to take over another. During the third evening self-study period, the English class representative quietly announced, “The English teacher isn’t coming tonight. Everyone have a happy Christmas!”

There was a suppressed cheer in the classroom. Class 6’s luck was really good.

Qingshi also seized the opportunity to make money and specially held a Christmas themed party.

Unlike No. 6 High School convenience store’s modest little Christmas tree, Qingshi had somehow obtained a large pine tree. Countless stars were adorned all over it, like stars fallen to the mortal world—very luxurious and beautiful.

It was already Saturday night and tomorrow was a day off. Students either snuck out secretly or were openly let out on break.

Bei Yao and Chen Feifei and the others also came outside Qingshi to watch the excitement.

In her school uniform pocket, she clutched that card without a single word on it.

Chen Feifei said, “Oh my goodness, this tree must be worth so much money. The gifts and gift boxes hanging on it are all real, right?”

Bei Yao then also raised her eyes to look.

Colorful lights glimmered. Large fake snowflakes hung in the sky. Real snowflakes danced all over in the lamplight, beautiful as a painting.

Pei Chuan was looking at her in the painting.

Bei Yao’s roommate held her arm. The young girl’s vivacity and loveliness made the world come alive.

Pei Chuan lit a cigarette. Jin Ziyang and the others were picking gifts from the tree.

This was something only reckless rich people dared to do—if you picked them, you had to take them away at triple the price.

A girl who had taken off her school uniform walked over. “Pei Chuan.”

Pei Chuan’s gaze moved away from Bei Yao. He leaned against the tree, his eyes cool and clear. Being close to him carried the cold chill of a winter night.

Wu Mo said, “What a coincidence running into you here. Merry Christmas. Can you accept my card?”

Pei Chuan’s dark pupils were pitch black, showing no joy or anger.

Wu Mo gathered her courage. Her voice got slightly louder as she said, “I—I don’t mind your previous rumors, or your family background. Not—not having money doesn’t matter. I’m truly very grateful to you.”

Pei Chuan let out a light derisive laugh.

Wu Mo didn’t understand his meaning. Last time the whole school was spreading that Pei Chuan wasn’t actually some particularly wealthy rich person. His family was just an ordinary middle-class family, and he even had a stepsister. When Wu Mo first heard this news, she was very shocked. Her heart felt a bit awkward and disappointed—so he wasn’t a rich second-generation after all.

But in a flash she thought again—right now Pei Chuan must really need someone’s company. If she showed she didn’t mind the rumors, would he be very moved?

Wu Mo thought this way. She happened to see Pei Chuan alone smoking in a corner where the lights didn’t reach, so she came over.

Pei Chuan said, “You like me?”

Wu Mo’s face turned red all at once. She knew Pei Chuan spoke directly, but this… was also very awkward. She nodded. “I’m sincere.”

Pei Chuan’s smile immediately faded. “So, last time you were playing me?”

Deliberately provoking him to care about Han Zhen’s matter, revealing false information, making Bei Yao moved by Han Zhen’s intentions.

Wu Mo hadn’t expected that one casual sentence would let Pei Chuan guess the key point. Her face went pale. “No—no, Bei Yao, she really does kind of like Han Zhen. She told me so herself. Today’s Christmas, right? She even received a gift from Han Zhen. I didn’t lie to you.”

Pei Chuan’s eyes turned dark. “Shut up. Who she likes, who likes her—what does it have to do with me?”

Wu Mo couldn’t figure out what he meant.

However, Pei Chuan was extremely disgusted with this woman. Such a base creature who liked to play petty tricks—only someone like Ding Wenxiang would take a liking to her.

“Hold out your hand.”

Wu Mo’s heart thumped as she extended her hand.

Pei Chuan’s index finger flicked lightly. The cigarette ash with sparks fell on her palm, burning Wu Mo so she cried out.

“You! You…”

Pei Chuan said, “Get lost. Don’t bother me.”

Wu Mo was somewhat afraid of him, yet also felt this man was different from Ding Wenxiang’s affected elegance. His temperament was especially masculine, with a unique allure. She said with reddened eyes, “I’m sincere.”

Pei Chuan was extremely impatient. “Fine then, eat the cigarette butt and I’ll believe you.”

The flame flickered. The young man’s pupils were indifferent. Wu Mo said, “Even if you truly like someone, how could anyone be willing to swallow it?”

Pei Chuan said nothing, not a trace of smile in his eyes.

How could there not be—how could there not be someone willing?

At least if a different person made even more excessive demands, he would comply.

Wu Mo saw his mood was very poor and didn’t dare provoke him. She ran off in a flash.

Not far away, Bei Yao pressed her lips together. She unhappily puffed out her cheeks. Zheng Hang said, “This is for you. You’re called Bei Yao, right?”

Bei Yao sat on the stone steps, watching Wu Mo leave Pei Chuan’s side.

She couldn’t hear what they had said, but it inexplicably made her heart feel stuffy.

Hearing Zheng Hang speak, she turned her head.

Her porcelain-white small face was plain and clean, carrying a young girl’s pure and touching innocence. She lowered her eyes—it was a twinkling star light, just picked from the Christmas tree.

Bei Yao shook her head. “Thank you, but I don’t want this.”

Chen Feifei actually quite liked the star light, but since Bei Yao had already refused, and it wasn’t being given to her, though her eyes showed longing, she didn’t speak up.

Zheng Hang saw Bei Yao’s classmate’s expression and was quite generous. “Do you like this light? I’ll give it to you.”

Chen Feifei was extremely happy. “Thank you!” After all, having received someone’s thing, she felt a bit embarrassed.

Zheng Hang said, “You’re welcome. Meeting is fate. Is there any other light you like?”

Chen Feifei turned her head only to discover that Bei Yao beside her had disappeared.

~

Bei Yao went around under the colored lights and patted the snow off her head. Her hands were tucked in her pockets. That card was burning hot.

Bei Yao was unhappy about the scene she had just seen. She didn’t even know what this emotion was.

It was like suddenly discovering that a person you didn’t quite like always walked very close to someone you cared about. It made your heart feel very stuffy, yet you felt bewildered, unable to vent.

She walked toward the corner, her nose catching a very faint smell of smoke.

She walked inward, away from the noisy crowd. It was very dark here, but raising her eyes she could vaguely see the young man’s stern features.

Pei Chuan lowered his eyes, meeting her bright eyes in the night.

In such a dim place, her pair of almond eyes still shone bright as morning stars, like water grapes.

Since that kiss on the cheek last time, this was the first time the two had met.

He was this close to her. His left hand holding the cigarette dropped down.

Bright spots would be especially obvious in the dark. His hand tightened as he silently extinguished that cigarette with his fingertip.

The two were wordless for a moment.

Bei Yao was because of shyness and annoyance. Pei Chuan was… a myriad of flavors, intertwined and hard to express.

She was delicate and small, yet happened to be standing at the exit of the large tree in the corner.

Pei Chuan knew he reeked of smoke and felt somewhat uncomfortable. He frowned. “Move aside.”

Listen to that! What an annoying tone!

The little hand in her pocket squeezed the card. She didn’t want to give it to him anymore.

She stood without moving, aggrieved and bewildered.

Pei Chuan looked at her, and ripples inevitably spread in his heart circle after circle. Bitterness and sweetness repeatedly intertwined, as if they would make a person die in such extreme emotions.

His voice was slightly hoarse, yet he didn’t realize his speech had unconsciously lowered several tones. “What’s wrong with you? Is something the matter?”

Bei Yao’s cheeks slowly turned red.

Ah… she seemed to really not have anything in particular. She had originally thought that if she came out and happened to run into Pei Chuan, she would give him the card in passing. If she didn’t run into Pei Chuan, then forget it.

But seeing Wu Mo, the stuffiness from the autumn marathon surged up again.

Hadn’t she already told Pei Chuan that Wu Mo was no good?

Bei Yao was actually also curious—that day at the hospital when I kissed you, what did you feel? Is what it said online true? With a light kiss, hormones explode and you feel excited enough to almost die?

Pei Chuan couldn’t see her slightly red cheeks, only her pretty profile and those clear, moist eyes in the darkness—exceptionally heartbreaking.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Bei Yao said in a small voice, “I don’t feel well…”

He instinctively frowned. “Where don’t you feel well?”

In her heart—it felt strange.

However, she instinctively knew this seemed not quite right to say out loud.

If she really did kind of, kind of like Pei Chuan, then did he like her? Would he really hate that impulsive stupid thing she did that day?

She said, “Um… I’m dizzy.”

Pei Chuan pressed his lips together. His heart held an indescribable bitterness. This was someone else’s precious one. Just yesterday he had agreed to her parents to stay away from her, not to let their precious one get dirty. But seeing her walk over today, his heart couldn’t help but rise with a tiny hope.

He just wanted to talk with her a bit, not hoping for anything else.

Bei Yao summoned up the courage to break the cauldrons and sink the boats, saying softly, “Can I lean on you?”

She drew inferences from one instance. She took a step forward, very nervously testing by lightly resting her small head against his chest.

Only this tall—there was no other way.

The night was very quiet. Heavy snow fell on the lush branches and leaves of the evergreen trees. Under the tree, the young girl’s forehead lightly rested against his chest.

The young man’s muscles tensed almost instantly, as if someone had cast a paralyzing spell on him, unable to move.

The place where she leaned—beneath it were his ribs, was his heart.

His two hands—one still wrapped in bandages, the other hiding the cigarette butt—stiffly let her lean against him.

She must have heard his violently beating heart, right?

The young man’s chest was warm. How strange—he had such a bad temper and was so cold, yet his body temperature was always very high. The young girl rested her head in his embrace, quietly feeling his heartbeat.

But beyond her expectations, his heartbeat could no longer be described by frequency—rather it intensified bit by bit, powerful to the point of trembling.

It’s over, it’s over. Bei Yao felt somewhat at a loss. It was really shaking her head dizzy.

His muscles were rock hard. The belated shyness made even her ear tips turn red.

Pei Chuan gritted his teeth hard, at least still remembering what he had promised Aunt Zhao yesterday. People had disregarded over ten years of friendship to clearly give him almost their entire family assets, just begging him to let their daughter go.

He said, “Are you feeling better?”

The young girl said timidly, “No, it seems… still dizzy.”

Pei Chuan had a moment of collapse.

How did Aunt Zhao teach her family’s precious one!