When Bei Yao returned to school, the campus broadcast was just playing the apology to Pei Chuan.

Chen Feifei listened in stunned silence. “No way, he really tested into it himself?”

Chen Feifei wasn’t the only one surprised—Wu Mo was too. A young man from Third High with a less-than-stellar reputation could actually score first place in the entire city!

Sixth High’s apology was very sincere, stating that the honor roll would be replaced, though since vacation started tomorrow, there was no way to replace it now.

Who was first in the grade made no difference to Chen Feifei. She was more looking forward to the upcoming break.

“Yao Yao, will your mom come pick you up tomorrow?”

Bei Yao said, “No, I moved some of my things back last month. There’s not much left—I can bring it back myself. My little brother is in preschool now, so my mom has to pick him up.”

Chen Feifei asked curiously, “Does your family favor sons over daughters? Let me tell you, my grandmother really favors sons over daughters. Every time I go home for New Year, she never gives me red envelopes, then quietly slips them to my cousin. And my cousin turns around and comes to show off to me—you don’t know how infuriating it is!”

Bei Yao thought of Bei Jun’s “women’s clothing” and wanted to laugh a little. She shook her head. “My family doesn’t have that phenomenon.”

Even if Grandma favored sons over daughters, they didn’t live together anyway, so the impact wasn’t major.

Just as Bei Yao said, Zhao Zhilan went to pick up Bei Jun. After all, a five-year-old child had to be picked up by parents. Bei Yao went home by herself. Once she got her final exam results, winter break officially began.

Soon it was almost Spring Festival. The residential complex was quieter this year than ever before.

Zhao Zhilan rubbed her hands for warmth and sighed. “The complex gets less lively every year. First Zhao Xiu’s family moved away, then Officer Pei’s family. Chen Hu’s family also seems to have intentions of buying a house somewhere else. I think in the future during New Year, the complex will be even quieter.”

Bei Licai liked peace and quiet and didn’t think much of it. “You can go visiting.”

Zhao Zhilan sighed. This year she couldn’t go back to see her maiden family. With what happened with Zhao Xing, if Bei Yao’s grandmother couldn’t let go of her son, then Zhao Zhilan no longer had that maiden family.

Zhao Xing was spending this year in a drug rehabilitation center. His wife had also divorced him. The couple’s child went with the mother.

Having lived to his thirties or forties, Zhao Xing could be said to have lost everything in an instant.

Watching the anti-drug public service announcement on TV, Zhao Zhilan thought drugs were truly harmful. The historic opium destruction at Humen—that national humiliation must never be forgotten. Drugs absolutely must not be touched!

Just look at Zhao Xing’s fate.

Without her maiden family, Zhao Zhilan couldn’t get into the spirit of celebrating the New Year no matter what.

Bei Yao happened to be there when they were making dumplings. Zhao Zhilan talked with her daughter. “I heard from Zhao Xiu that she’s planning to have Minmin go on blind dates this New Year.”

Bei Yao was extremely surprised. She pinched the edge of a dumpling. “Blind dates? Minmin is only seventeen.”

Zhao Zhilan also found it ridiculous. “Yes, Zhao Xiu’s brain—it’s really hard to put into words. But it’s no wonder she has that idea. The first college graduate from our village later became a doctor and went abroad. He came back this New Year. He has a nineteen-year-old son. That college graduate had a good relationship with Zhao Xiu back then, which is why Zhao Xiu has the idea of arranging a marriage connection.”

Zhao Zhilan had originally just been gossiping out of boredom, but thinking that her daughter was also at the age of first awakening love, it wasn’t good to discuss these things with her. Zhao Zhilan immediately shut her mouth.

Bei Yao didn’t take it to heart. She said, “Minmin is very independent-minded now, not like when she was little and listened to Auntie Xiu about everything. Her grades are also very good—she scored several places ahead of me on this exam.”

Zhao Zhilan affectionately tapped her daughter’s forehead. “She’s already surpassed you, and you have no sense of pressure.”

Bei Yao just smiled, her eyes gentle.

Mother and daughter had too much time on their hands and made too many dumplings. There was also extra dough, which Bei Jun took to play with like modeling clay.

Before the New Year, Bei Licai pasted couplets on the door. The residential complex hung up red lanterns in a lively manner—now it had some New Year atmosphere.

The Chen Hu family came to pay New Year’s respects first. Bei Yao took out the prepared New Year goods to host Uncle Chen and Chen Hu.

Chen Hu coughed. “Auntie Zhao, Bei Yao, I changed my name last week.”

Chen Hu’s father explained, “This stinky kid thinks his name is too common. Back in our day, we had names like Doggie and Smelly Egg, and we didn’t complain.”

“Dad, what era was yours, what era is ours? Giving cheap names for easy raising isn’t in fashion anymore.”

Everyone laughed heartily.

Bei Yao said, “What’s your name now?”

Chen Hu was a bit embarrassed but also expectant. “Chen Yingqi. How is it? Sounds pretty good, right?”

Bei Yao thought seriously and gave him face. “It sounds good.”

Chen Hu—no, Chen Yingqi—was delighted. He liked Bei Yao’s personality—she never disappointed people.

Chen Yingqi’s father smacked the back of his head. “Instead of dwelling on these things all day, why don’t you lose that weight?”

Chen Yingqi had never been one to hold back. “You’re talking about me, but you haven’t lost weight in decades either! Bad genes—is that my fault?”

So Chen Yingqi’s head got smacked again.

When the father and son were leaving, Chen Yingqi quietly turned back. “Bei Yao, come here for a second.”

Bei Yao walked over. Chen Yingqi quickly glanced around, then said quietly, “Will Fang Mingjun come back this New Year?”

Bei Yao answered honestly, “I don’t know.”

Chen Yingqi’s eyes showed some dejection. Bei Yao comforted him. “If you miss Minmin, you can go see her. From the complex entrance, it only takes just over thirty minutes by bus.”

Chen Yingqi exploded immediately, his face bright red. “Who misses her! Don’t talk nonsense.”

Bei Yao: “Oh… okay.”

“I was just asking, nothing else. I’m leaving.”

His chubby body ran away quickly. For the first time, Bei Yao felt curious. Chen Yingqi clearly missed Fang Mingjun very much, so why would he say he didn’t?

Did boys all say the opposite of what they meant like this?

She thought of her Pei Chuan “gege.”

Bei Yao went back inside and asked Zhao Zhilan, “Mom, will Uncle Pei come back to the complex this year to visit?”

“Why are you asking that? They just moved there. They need to build good relationships with the neighbors there. They probably won’t come back, right?”

“We made too many dumplings.” Bei Yao’s cheeks were a bit red. “Mom, Pei Chuan didn’t move with Uncle Pei and them. He can only spend New Year alone. Let’s invite him to our house for New Year.”

Zhao Zhilan instinctively refused. “No, what would that look like? His parents are still around. He has two homes. What would it mean to bring him to our house?”

Two homes? But he clearly didn’t have even one home.

Zhao Zhilan wasn’t someone without compassion, but she glanced at her daughter’s delicate face and thought that no matter how soft-hearted she was, she absolutely couldn’t let Pei Chuan develop any ideas about Bei Yao.

As playmates when they were little was fine, but she couldn’t let her daughter give up her whole life, could she?

Bei Yao was very disappointed, but after all she was only in her second year of high school. The person in charge at home was still Zhao Zhilan. If Zhao Zhilan didn’t agree, there was nothing she could do.

After staying up on New Year’s Eve, Zhao Zhilan and Bei Licai were incredibly sleepy.

The family stood up from the living room. The Spring Festival Gala was still replaying on TV.

Even Bei Jun had memorized this year’s classic comedy sketch lines. This year life moved at a slower pace, there weren’t many entertainment options, and the Spring Festival Gala was exceptionally wonderful.

The songs were pleasant and could stay popular for a year. The sketches were entertaining and always made people laugh.

Bei Yao took the extra uncooked dumplings from the refrigerator and packed them in a box. “I’m going out for a bit.”

Bei Licai asked casually, “What for?”

Bei Yao said quietly, “I’m going to see Minmin and bring some dumplings to her family.” The phrase “saying the opposite of what one means” suddenly popped into her mind, and her cheeks turned bright red.

“Go ahead, come back early for lunch.”

Young people had such good energy. He and Zhao Zhilan needed to catch up on sleep. Bei Jun couldn’t last through staying up and had gone to sleep long ago.

Bei Yao pushed the door open. The bitter winter wind scraped her face, carrying a severe chill that dispelled the drowsy sleepiness.

She walked to the now-completed park and sat down. When she was in middle school it was still under construction, and she’d felt such regret that they hadn’t built it earlier. Now so many people had left, yet buildings kept being constructed one after another.

Bei Yao made a phone call. After a long wait, the young man’s low, hoarse voice came through. “What’s wrong?”

“Pei Chuan, where’s your home? I… my mom asked me to bring you a New Year’s gift.”

Pei Chuan frowned.

Auntie Zhao’s meaning—wasn’t it to keep him from contact with Bei Yao? Of course he wouldn’t be as naive as Bei Yao, thinking Auntie Zhao would let Bei Yao come over out of sympathy or gratitude.

The only possibility was that this precious girl felt sorry for him herself and wanted to come.

He lowered his head, phone in one hand, the other hand fastening his belt buckle.

“Thank Auntie Zhao for me. You…” Don’t come.

These four words circled his tongue several times. Wanting to say them was incredibly difficult. He gritted his teeth. “Where are you?”

“The park outside my family’s complex.”

The other end was silent for a long time, then finally the young man’s voice came through.

He said, “I’ll come get you.”

Even if he was a prisoner, let him have a last supper on New Year’s.

~

Pei Chuan hadn’t stayed up for New Year’s Eve. He didn’t believe in any customs. The young man moved quickly—he was out the door in just a few minutes.

Pei Chuan had originally wanted to drive, but then thought about it. In her eyes, he was destitute and pitiful.

He left the car keys at home and took a taxi to pick her up.

When he arrived, Bei Yao was indeed sitting on a stone bench in the park waiting for him.

Because of the cold New Year weather, everyone was inside their homes. She wore snow boots, so cold she kept breathing on her hands.

Pei Chuan instantly regretted his decision to make her wait.

But Bei Yao was very happy. “You came so fast. Is your home very close?”

“Mm.”

His home was very close to hers.

On the twenty-fifth floor, in a place where he could overlook the city.

Her small hands were frozen red, and she was still holding that box. Pei Chuan took it from her and led her to hail a taxi. New Year taxis weren’t easy to catch—sometimes it was purely a matter of luck.

Bei Yao thought of Chen Yingqi and Chen Hu, wanting to laugh a little.

Bei Yao was curious about what Pei Chuan was really thinking. She stood properly by his side and said softly, “Pei Chuan.”

He kept his eyes straight ahead. “Mm.”

“My hands are so cold.”

Pei Chuan felt a wave of helplessness.

He wasn’t afraid of the cold. Even in winter he didn’t wear down jackets or cotton clothes—a simple black coat was enough. His body temperature was also higher than most people’s. Young men at this age weren’t afraid of the cold anyway.

However, girls were much more delicate. The young girl’s constitution was different from his. After waiting in the wind for twenty minutes, she was frozen.

His fingers hanging at his side tightened.

Bei Yao said, “Can I warm them in your coat pocket?”

He suddenly lowered his eyes, looking at her watery almond eyes.

She didn’t find it dirty?

Bei Yao met his pitch-black pupils, felt a bit shy, and looked away.

He didn’t make a sound but suddenly pulled down the zipper and took off his coat, draping it over her.

With the coat off, he had only a thin layer underneath—so thin you could vaguely see the young man’s firm physique. In C City where it was snowing, he was simply the coolest person with a one hundred percent head-turning rate.

Bei Yao stood there dazed in his coat. Well, now she could warm her hands however she wanted.

His clothes carried his body temperature and scent—surprisingly warm.

Such a cold person, yet his body temperature was so high.

Bei Yao wore thick winter clothes, yet his coat could still wrap around her.

Snow fell on his broad shoulders. He put his hands in his pockets and fell silent and quiet again.