Pei Chuan’s birthday happened to fall on a Tuesday. He rarely came to the classroom this early.

At that time, the sky hadn’t fully brightened yet. Only one shadow could be seen in the classroom, writing furiously.

“Ji Wei.”

Ji Wei, who was doing homework in the classroom, pushed up his glasses and turned around: “Brother Chuan? You’re here so early.”

“Mm.”

Ji Wei appeared in the classroom punctually at six o’clock every day to write the previous day’s homework. After finishing, he’d copy it three times, preparing homework for all four of them. But ever since Brother Chuan got first place, Ji Wei no longer needed to copy that one portion, so now he only copied two sets every day—for Jin Ziyang and Zheng Hang.

This habit had been maintained for a year. Initially, Pei Chuan didn’t have Ji Wei write his portion, but Ji Wei said: “I’m already writing two copies anyway. Writing one more doesn’t matter. Brother Chuan, if you don’t turn in homework, it gives the teachers a bad impression.” Pei Chuan naturally didn’t care—Ji Wei could do as he pleased. He never expected this would continue for nearly two years.

Ji Wei was the most hardworking student in class. However, because he sat together with Pei Chuan, Jin Ziyang, and the others, he became the worst student in the teachers’ eyes.

Ji Wei conscientiously did his homework, afraid that not turning it in would give teachers a bad impression of him. But in most teachers’ eyes, him sitting in this position from the start was already a mistake. So no matter how hard he worked, because his grades never improved, he couldn’t gain others’ recognition.

Because he learned slowly, doing homework slowed down too. The next day he was always making up the previous day’s work. Ji Wei had been trapped in this vicious cycle for a long time.

Pei Chuan sat at his desk and glanced at Ji Wei.

Two years.

For the first time, he clearly recognized that he wasn’t like Jin Ziyang and Zheng Hang—he was like Ji Wei.

Ji Wei liked studying. In others’ eyes, this was laughable. He was constantly mocked for rarely passing. To others, Ji Wei liking to study was a defilement of learning itself. Yet for over ten years, Ji Wei had never thought of giving up.

And Pei Chuan… he liked Bei Yao.

Even more clumsily and earnestly than Ji Wei liked studying—he liked Bei Yao.

But once people found out, wouldn’t it also be a kind of defilement to Bei Yao and everyone else?

“Ji Wei, which university do you want to attend?”

Ji Wei never expected Brother Chuan would ask him about this topic one day. He turned around, his eyes shining: “I want to go to Cambridge.”

If an outsider were present, they would surely have laughed out loud. But Pei Chuan wouldn’t laugh at him, because the girl he liked… was also someone he’d have difficulty reaching in a lifetime.

“Why Cambridge?”

“I once studied Xu Zhimo’s ‘Farewell to Cambridge.’ ‘Quietly is the parting music; even the summer insects are silent for me, silence is Cambridge tonight!’ I feel that one day I must study at Cambridge. I want to get in through my own efforts.”

“What if you don’t pass the exam next year?”

Ji Wei said: “If I don’t pass in one year, then two years. If not in two years, then I’ll use ten years. One day, I will stand on that land as a Cambridge University student!”

After speaking, Ji Wei felt a bit embarrassed. After all, he knew the hope was very slim, like a one-in-ten-thousand probability. He couldn’t help but look at Pei Chuan’s expression.

But he saw Brother Chuan silent for a moment. Pei Chuan said: “Mm.”

He would love her for one year, two years, ten years, a lifetime.

Even if she didn’t like him, it didn’t matter at all.

Ji Wei said: “Brother Chuan, you can definitely get into Cambridge. I checked—you absolutely can!” He was eager to promote Cambridge University’s advantages to Pei Chuan.

Pei Chuan said: “Shut up. You’re noisy.”

Ji Wei: “…”

Pei Chuan wasn’t going to any Cambridge. He wanted to stay by his little crescent moon.

Jin Ziyang and the others arrived when the sun was high. As soon as they arrived, they ran into the math class representative collecting homework. Ji Wei skillfully handed over several copies. As usual, he hadn’t written Pei Chuan’s. The class representative asked Pei Chuan for his.

Pei Chuan said: “Didn’t write it.”

How could he have had the mind to do homework the past couple days?

The math class representative quietly registered Pei Chuan’s name and scurried away.

Pei Chuan ignored it.

Jin Ziyang said: “Brother Chuan, it’s your birthday today. Why don’t we just skip class and go to Qingshi to have fun? Oh right, what gift do you want? I’ll go buy it.”

Pei Chuan said: “Behave yourself.”

Jin Ziyang knew then that skipping was impossible. He really didn’t like listening to teachers lecture. Only Ji Wei listened with great interest. The teacher’s mouth went blah blah blah—who knew what gibberish they were spouting. Sitting here bored, playing with his phone that might get confiscated—how annoying.

Zheng Hang, however, observed Pei Chuan’s expression. He seemed pretty normal—he hadn’t been stimulated to the point of madness, right?

Yet that afternoon, when everyone dutifully came to class, they discovered that Pei Chuan hadn’t shown up.

Jin Ziyang: “…”

~

The gossip about the school beauty’s献吻 献吻 献吻 kiss collapsed on its own yesterday. Han Zhen’s friends revealed that Bei Yao hadn’t gone to find him. Everyone was inevitably disappointed at missing out on this shocking melon.

Another matter made Bei Yao very embarrassed—Han Zhen’s friend Gong Can was seriously injured.

They went to the infirmary, but the staff told them to take him to the hospital. The school doctor said: “I don’t dare treat this injury. You youngsters fighting and roughhousing—how can you have no sense of restraint? It’s like an injury from a professional boxer. Take him away quickly!”

The group of boys hurriedly transferred to the hospital.

Bei Yao felt very guilty. Yesterday had originally been Han Zhen’s eighteenth birthday. He was truly unlucky—because of the rumors, his birthday party had been ruined.

Bei Yao’s leave had been approved long ago, but now she couldn’t go find Pei Chuan. Instead, she went to visit the patient.

The mess Pei Chuan caused—someone had to resolve it, right?

After all, she was visiting an injured person. Bei Yao bought fruit and flowers. She contacted Han Zhen first. Han Zhen gave her the hospital and room number, and Bei Yao went to see Gong Can.

Han Zhen had also come to the hospital early in the morning. Although his relationship with Gong Can was just so-so, the incident had happened when they were together, so he felt uneasy and came early to visit.

When Bei Yao arrived, Han Zhen said: “Don’t take it to heart. This matter… was also caused by Gong Can’s foul mouth.”

Seeing Bei Yao’s puzzlement, Han Zhen realized she hadn’t heard what they said yesterday.

The young girl’s features were clear and elegant, quietly beautiful under the May afternoon sunlight.

Han Zhen felt somewhat bitter inside. He smiled and asked: “The one who hit someone yesterday—is he the person you like?”

Bei Yao hadn’t expected people nowadays to be so direct. She placed the fruit on the hospital stool. Her cheeks flushed slightly and she didn’t speak. After all, she and Han Zhen weren’t close enough for her to tell him who she liked.

Bei Yao said: “Gong Can’s injury is so serious, I should at least apologize to him. Let me go apologize.”

Han Zhen nodded. He couldn’t make decisions for Gong Can either.

Bei Yao hadn’t yet entered the ward when she saw a black-haired youth emerge from the stairwell.

He wore a white shirt with buttons fastened up to his Adam’s apple.

As soon as Han Zhen saw this person, he instinctively recalled his viciousness when fighting last night. Han Zhen frowned.

Bei Yao was still angry at Pei Chuan and didn’t really want to talk to him.

Pei Chuan guessed she’d come here. He walked over and said in a low voice: “I’ll go apologize. Wait for me.”

Bei Yao looked up at Pei Chuan.

Han Zhen couldn’t help but look over too. This person didn’t seem like the type who would bow his head to anyone. This youth was the kind who, even if beaten nearly to death, could spit out bloody teeth in defiance.

Pei Chuan opened the door and went in. Gong Can was no longer napping. His face was already swollen high. Pei Chuan took out the medical expenses he’d prepared for the apology: “I’m sorry.”

Both inside and outside the ward were somewhat quiet.

This was the first time Bei Yao had seen Pei Chuan apologize to someone.

Gong Can was also scared. Seeing this person, he instinctively felt he would hit him again. Pei Chuan said: “Hitting you was wrong. But if… you say that kind of thing again, I’ll do it again, even more severely.”

Gong Can: “…” He didn’t even dare take the medical expenses.

Pei Chuan placed the money by his bedside. When he came out, he said to Bei Yao: “Alright, let’s go.”

Bei Yao now thought of last night’s lingering kiss whenever she saw him. Clearly he was the one who… fine, she’d forget about it.

She still left the fruit behind and quickly walked out of the hospital.

The air outside the hospital was much fresher. The street was very lively. The early summer sunlight wasn’t scorching—it warmed people lazily and comfortably.

She still remembered Pei Chuan saying to forget it, which was very infuriating. Even though today was his birthday, it couldn’t offset the frustration in her heart.

That was her… first kiss.

Bei Yao gritted her teeth and ran toward the bus stop. She still had an afternoon of approved leave—going home would be better than sulking here.

Pei Chuan didn’t like running. Running hurt his prosthetic leg, and moreover, his running posture might not look so natural. Yet he’d run twice—once for a marathon, once because she was angry.

He caught up to her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder.

“Bei Yao.”

She looked up. After all, she wasn’t that old yet—full of youthful spirit. She reached out to pry his hand away.

Pei Chuan obediently lowered his hand.

“Listen to me.” The youth’s voice was gentle: “It was my fault. I made you angry.”

Her grievance seemed to spread with this apology, yet also dissipate silently.

Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, his eyes reflecting only her image: “The average human lifespan in the twenty-first century is about seventy years. You’re only seventeen this year—you haven’t even completed a quarter of your life. You’ll go to university in the future and meet many wonderful people. There will also be… many good members of the opposite sex. Your horizons will broaden, the world will be wider, your preferences will change.”

The bus stop was not far away. The roadside trees cast summer-scented shadows in the sunlight.

He smiled, looking at her very gently: “Yaoyao, you’re still very young. You don’t know just how bad my situation really is.”

Bei Yao had originally been very angry at him, but he had never… so gently and frankly spoken to her about his flaws like this. This was clearly what he cared about most. Her eyes suddenly reddened.

He said, you don’t know just how bad he really is.

In a person’s life, they’ll meet countless people. Perhaps in the next moment, you’ll discover that many people are better than him.

Her eyes reddened. Pei Chuan sighed and gently touched her eye corner with his fingertip.

“Don’t cry.” If you cry, my heart will break.

Bei Yao sniffled softly and choked out: “No, I won’t meet anyone better than you. Anyway, I just know.”

Truly the most foolish words in the world.

What could he bring her?

Yet Pei Chuan was ultimately afraid of her sadness and tears, coaxing her: “Alright, whatever Yaoyao says is right.”

He asked in a low voice: “Did you regret last night?”

If she regretted it, he would go confess to Aunt Zhao. No matter what punishment, he would accept it calmly and force himself to forget about this matter.

Bei Yao glared at him, on the verge of tears. She still felt that kiss was so frustrating. Yet her voice was as soft as a kitten’s: “No regrets.”

He couldn’t help but smile.

That smile was very genuine, as if after all these years, he’d shed all pretentious and cold masks. His eyes carried gentle, fragmented smile.

He said: “If you don’t regret it, then promise me two conditions. Then whatever you want to do, I’ll agree.”

Bei Yao saw his genuinely real smile for the first time and blinked: “You speak first.”

Pei Chuan said: “First, if you’re curious and want to date, I’ll be your boyfriend. But don’t let anyone know.”

“Second, we won’t have any intimate physical contact. Beyond these two conditions… I’ll do anything for you.”

She was stunned for a moment.

What kind of absurd requirements were these?

Her face flushed red as she glared at him indignantly. Forget dating—who wants to date you? Sixth Middle doesn’t even allow early relationships!

She said: “I refuse. I’m going home!”

Pei Chuan watched the young girl’s indignant back.

She was still angry, but at least not so sad anymore. She stepped on the tree shadows, becoming scenery herself under the gentle early summer sunlight.

Pei Chuan just watched, his heart full of tenderness, brimming with gentleness, yet helpless.

He couldn’t chase after her. This was the only shackle he must wear to get close to her.

He couldn’t let people know. If one day everyone found out he was disabled, she would at least still be the school beauty who’d once amazed First, Third, and Sixth Middle Schools. She wouldn’t be criticized.

The second matter—no physical contact. This way, when she met better people in the future, she wouldn’t think of him and feel disgusted, nor would she have too many regrets.

This was the shackle he gave himself, and also the armor that allowed her to change her mind and regret at any time.

When she was no longer naive and fell in love with someone else, at least she’d have the right to easily change her mind and leave with peace of mind.