Pei Chuan’s case finally went to trial in January, but no one on the outside knew what the final verdict was.

Autumn at B University was very beautiful. The lake surface shimmered with light, and all things were dyed the warm yellow of a bountiful harvest.

Only upon stepping into the university campus did one recall Li Fangqun’s words from back then: In the future, you won’t know which city in this country you’ll go to. Some will go to the distant northern lands to see snow, while others will live by the water in southern towns.

The last time she came to B University, Pei Chuan had carried her on his back for part of the way. It was snowing that winter. At that time, Bei Yao didn’t understand why the young man insisted on walking that entire stretch of road, but now she understood.

The university registration process wasn’t as complicated as high school. Bei Yao ultimately chose to live on campus. Her dormitory was on the fifth floor. After the senior student leading new students brought her downstairs to the dormitory building, she teased: “Junior, you’re really beautiful. When I led you away just now, I don’t know how many people felt regretful and resentful.”

Bei Yao smiled: “Senior, you’re also very beautiful.”

The senior was overjoyed. After all, girls all liked to hear compliments.

Bei Yao carried her large and small pieces of luggage up to the fifth floor. After catching her breath for quite a while, she pushed open the door.

Wang Qiankun was changing out of pants that had been splashed with muddy water. As soon as she saw Bei Yao, her eyes lit up: “Holy crap, new roommate?” Wang Qiankun couldn’t help but whistle.

Student Wang Qiankun had very short hair, as short as a boy’s. She was flat-chested with clear and handsome features—a complete tomboy.

Bei Yao was stunned, a bit uncertain whether she had entered a girls’ dormitory or a boys’ dormitory.

A girl who had been getting water inside the room came over with a smile: “Has the new roommate arrived? Hello, I’m Qin Dongni. She’s Wang Qiankun. We’re both girls… ahem, girls.”

Bei Yao hurriedly said: “Hello, I’m Bei Yao.”

Bei Yao still couldn’t help but take another look at Wang Qiankun.

This roommate’s name was also special, like a boy’s name. Wang Qiankun said: “Do you think my name is especially ridiculous? Don’t mention it. My dad chose it. He’s crazy about studying feng shui and the five elements. I’m grateful the old man didn’t name me ‘Bagua,’ otherwise when people called me it would be like, hey, that Wang Bagua—sounds like ‘Wang the turtle died.'”

Bei Yao couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud. Qin Dongni also laughed heartily.

The unfamiliar atmosphere eased just like that.

Before long, the dormitory’s last girl also arrived, named Shan Xiaomai.

Shan Xiaomai spoke very quietly, forming a stark contrast with Wang Qiankun—like a mosquito humming. Wang Qiankun wanted nothing more than to install a voice amplifier on her waist.

After spending time together, everyone’s personalities became clear at a glance.

Wang Qiankun was the dormitory’s source of humor and provider of boyfriend-like strength. When carrying mineral water normally, two people from other dorms would carry it together, but Wang Qiankun alone could carry bottled mineral water up to the fifth floor without even resting.

Shan Xiaomai was timid and studying medicine despite fainting at the sight of blood. Once during class, she fainted right in the middle of it, startling everyone.

Later, Wang Qiankun asked: “Why study medicine if you faint at blood, Maimai?”

Shan Xiaomai said quietly: “My mom made me study it.”

“…” Everyone was speechless.

Qin Dongni was a local from the capital. She had a lively personality, looked pretty good, and knew how to act cute. In the second month, she got a boyfriend.

One evening, when Bei Yao was returning from evening self-study, she accidentally saw Qin Dongni and her boyfriend kissing under a tree, reluctant to part.

The boy’s hand involuntarily moved upward. October had already brought thicker autumn clothing, and his hand burrowed in from the hem of her clothes.

Bei Yao’s cheeks flushed red all at once. She hadn’t meant to see this scene. Not daring to look anymore, she quickened her pace to leave. Shan Xiaomai’s face was also completely red.

Wang Qiankun watched with relish, pulling Bei Yao back and saying: “What’s the rush, what’s the rush? Let’s watch. Qin Dongni doesn’t mind.”

Qin Dongni truly didn’t mind. After finishing the kiss, she wiped her mouth and called out cheerfully: “Yao Yao! Qiankun, Maimai.”

This girl didn’t care about her boyfriend anymore and rushed over to go back together with her roommates.

Qin Dongni blinked and said to her roommates: “You all go ahead first. I’ll walk a couple laps with Yao Yao.”

Bei Yao was pulled along by her to stroll around the track.

The lights at night were somewhat dim. Qin Dongni said quietly: “I saw you reject Chu Xun a couple days ago. Why? He’s handsome and quite wealthy too.”

Beauties looked even more beautiful under the lights. Qin Dongni examined her roommate’s face, thinking the title of campus beauty was well-deserved.

Last month during the campus beauty selection, Chu Xun had been incredibly active helping Bei Yao gather votes. Of course, Bei Yao herself was truly very beautiful and ultimately won with the highest number of votes.

However, what puzzled Qin Dongni was that even though she herself already had a boyfriend, Bei Yao still didn’t have one.

Bei Yao was stunned. She didn’t know Qin Dongni had seen that. She said with a smile: “Because I have a boyfriend.”

Qin Dongni was shocked: “What… who? Where is he?”

Bei Yao said softly: “I don’t know which prison he’s staying in, but I’m waiting for him.”

“…”

The air fell silent for two seconds, then Qin Dongni burst out laughing.

Hahahaha, Campus Beauty Bei was really humorous. Had she been with Wang Qiankun so long that she could tell jokes now too? Hahahahaha, don’t know which prison he’s staying in!

Bei Yao didn’t know what was so funny, so she could only wait for her to finish laughing.

Her almond eyes were clear, which made Qin Dongni feel embarrassed.

Qin Dongni stopped laughing, and only then did Bei Yao quietly ask: “Can I ask you a question?”

Qin Dongni said: “What?”

Bei Yao was a bit embarrassed. Her voice was low, but it sounded very comfortable in the late autumn: “When you’re with your boyfriend, do you always… kiss like that?”

So intense.

Qin Dongni looked at her roommate’s somewhat shy face and laughed with a puff.

“Yes, you probably also saw him touch me. When dating, there’s inevitably some inability to control oneself. When someone really likes you, although they’ll restrain themselves, there are also some things that can’t be held back.”

Bei Yao looked at the figures jogging in the distance. University nights were also very lively. Pei Chuan should have been on a university campus too.

But for that very short time of being together with her, he had almost given up his entire life.

Pei Chuan had never kissed her like that. When he kissed her, his heartbeat was very fast and he would gasp, but he was always especially restrained and cherishing.

Bei Yao understood—he had always felt he was dirty.

Just like the two conditions Pei Chuan had wanted to establish at the beginning: no intimate contact, don’t publicize the relationship. He must have thought very early on that this day would come, leaving her alone to grow up in the future.

However, Qin Dongni was right. Some things cannot be held back.

If she could still find Pei Chuan, if she could still see Pei Chuan.

She must tell him—long overdue—just how much she liked him.

~

However, the days still passed unhurriedly. Everyone knew that campus beauty from the medical department liked to go to the law school, making the hearts of male law students flutter endlessly.

However, from the first autumn to the second autumn, Bei Yao never sought out any student. She sought out law school professors, consulting them about various criminal cases and their final sentences.

She visited all the teachers at the school.

The law department once rumored that the campus beauty girl wanted to change majors. After all, she wasn’t there to date any particular male student. But later, when the time for changing majors passed and Bei Yao remained in the medical department, everyone didn’t know what exactly she was trying to do.

Whenever Bei Yao had free time, she would also go to nearby law firms to consult. Later, a teacher told her: “Cases that aren’t tried publicly are either juvenile cases or… cases involving state secrets. Since the person you’re asking about is already an adult, then it’s very likely the latter.”

Bei Yao thought of the “devil” designation in the notebook and the software mentioned.

She changed her question: “What if it’s high-intelligence crime? It might be relatively serious. Where would he ultimately be detained?”

The teacher thought for a moment: “If even visitation isn’t allowed, it must have gone through the highest review. Juvenile crime, high-intelligence talent—I don’t know if you’ve heard of a case like this.”

The teacher continued: “More than ten years ago, X Country once had a female spy. She stole secrets from multiple countries, entering the organization from age ten, then causing several upheavals. Later, when she was captured by G Country, she was only eighteen. They originally wanted to execute her by firing squad, but after extensive deliberation, this female spy was released and given another chance. She compiled the intelligence reports from her time as a spy, which instead prevented many wars.”

The teacher concluded: “The country is very tolerant toward talented people whose hearts turn toward justice. Bei Yao, if it’s really as you say, then he’s very likely undergoing more confidential reformation. The country will absorb such talented people.”

The teacher saw the young woman before him—whose eyes were as gentle as moonlight—light up with tiny fragments of light.

“Teacher, then where would he be?”

The teacher shook his head. This, she was powerless to help with.

Bei Yao bowed deeply: “Thank you.”

This year, in the winter of her sophomore year, Bei Yao returned to C City for New Year. The treetops of C City were hung with big red lanterns. After Bei Yao finished the reunion dinner, Fang Mingjun came to visit.

Fang Mingjun had grown up. Starting from her clothing, everything had gradually taken on a mature appearance.

She had permed her hair into big waves and dyed it chestnut.

The two girls talked in the room.

Fang Mingjun didn’t look particularly happy. She self-deprecatingly ran her fingers through her hair: “The way I look now—is it very unfamiliar?”

She didn’t like being this way. She liked being with Bei Yao and the others in her youth, having snowball fights in winter with her long black hair freely flowing. Back then, she was beautiful without makeup or dressing up.

But Huo Dinglin liked Fang Mingjun’s current appearance. After all, she did have the features of the former Hong Kong star Chang Xue. When Fang Mingjun grew up and dressed up, she was quite striking.

Bei Yao said with a smile: “Minmin has always been beautiful. I really envied you when I was little.”

Bei Yao’s tone was gentle, and her eyes were very sincere. Fang Mingjun’s heart felt sour, and her eyes nearly reddened. The Huo family had developed very well in C City. As an important branch of the Huo family, they had established a firm foothold in a new city within two years. The Huo family had produced a marshal in earlier years and still had great influence to this day, with connections in the military as well.

Fang Mingjun leaned close to Bei Yao’s ear: “Yao Yao, I asked Huo Dinglin and Uncle Huo where the country detains high-intelligence criminals.”

She said a few words quietly. Bei Yao’s eyes widened.

The Huo family had produced quite a few military officers everywhere in the past. Fang Mingjun said: “Although he might not be there, there’s also half a chance. Thank you for your help before. What I can do for you isn’t much—just this.”

When Fang Mingjun and Zhao Xiu were leaving, Bei Yao looked at her retreating figure: “Minmin!”

Fang Mingjun turned around.

“Thank you.”

Fang Mingjun smiled: “You’re welcome.” Her cool features softened. It turned out that some people, when they grow up, really do become more and more wonderful.

~

Before the Spring Festival even arrived, Bei Yao said she had to return to B City again.

Zhao Zhilan said urgently: “Child, it’s almost New Year. Why do you suddenly have to go back to school? Can’t whatever it is wait until after New Year?”

However, Bei Yao still went back in the end. Tickets weren’t easy to buy—many forms of transportation had stopped running.

When Bei Yao stumbled back to B City, B City was in the midst of heavy snow.

Goose-feather snowflakes filled the sky, turning people’s heads white in an instant.

Before going to “Seventh Prison,” Bei Yao prepared herself for not being able to see Pei Chuan. Even Fang Mingjun had said it was only possible that Pei Chuan was here—perhaps he wasn’t here at all.

However, Bei Yao still came.

“Seventh Prison” was built very remotely, already in the suburbs.

There was no direct transportation. Bei Yao rented a bicycle and rode there. She wrapped a scarf around her face to block the wind and snow. By the time she reached the outside of Seventh Prison, it was already dinner time.

While other places celebrated New Year, the prison had a somewhat desolate air.

What was somewhat different about “Seventh Prison” was that it detained only reformable talent.

In other words, atoning for crimes through merit.

For New Year, the prison would strengthen security deployment and also organize some activities for the prisoners to participate in.

Bei Yao’s hands were nearly frozen stiff. She looked at the building before her, her eyes stinging.

Seventh Prison didn’t forbid visitation, but very few people could find this place. When Pei Chuan first entered, he had written that he had no close relatives, so they hadn’t notified his family where he was being detained.

As for Bei Yao.

What right did he have to delay such a good girl?

When the prison guard came to notify him, Pei Chuan was eating dinner. A circle of people around him were all high-intelligence big shots—biochemistry geniuses and mechanical talents. The country was very tolerant. Their New Year wasn’t desolate. They had heard there would be two activities after dinner.

After all, everyone here had signed agreements. They weren’t really “serving time in prison” but secretly working for the country.

In the past, when prison guards came to say whose family members were visiting, Pei Chuan never felt anything.

He had no family left, and no one knew he was here. However, this time when the guard spoke, he said: “Pei Chuan, someone’s here to see you.”

The air instantly fell silent. His “prison mates” looked at Pei Chuan with either surprise or teasing.

Pei Chuan’s expression was calm, originally quietly eating his meal. At that moment, the chopsticks in his hand suddenly slipped and fell to the ground.