[“Come with me.” —Pei Chuan]

Before dawn broke, Pei Chuan sent Bei Yao back.

Meanwhile, Gao Jun, who should have been recuperating in the hospital, appeared on the experimental table. This year Pei Chuan had already come of age. He was in his senior year, his mouth and face covered with cuts from Gao Jun’s beer bottle.

Pei Chuan and the medical researcher both wore white lab coats. When Gao Jun woke up, the medical researcher was holding a needle.

Gao Jun immediately saw Pei Chuan in the wheelchair. Though he didn’t understand what was happening, the coldness on Pei Chuan’s face made Gao Jun realize the danger.

He struggled: “What are you tying me up for? Let me go! Let me go! Don’t come closer… Brother Chuan, ahhh Brother Chuan, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have…”

That sedative was pushed into Gao Jun’s vein. Pei Chuan just quietly watched it all.

Let him go? Had Gao Jun thought about Bei Yao’s terror when she woke up?

Then came the chip implantation.

The instruments displayed Gao Jun’s heart rate. Outside, the sky was pale white.

Pei Chuan gripped his wheelchair tightly, watching Gao Jun gradually lose consciousness.

Pei Chuan’s body was tense. When Gao Jun woke up, he was delirious—the experiment had failed.

Despite the failure, K was very pleased.

The clown on the video screen laughed exaggeratedly: “Satan, I’m so happy you have preliminary research results.”

His so-called “research results” meant Gao Jun might never regain clarity in this lifetime.

Pei Chuan turned off the computer and touched his chest. His heartbeat was very calm, proving he didn’t care about Gao Jun’s life or death.

This world was truly cold. Standing in the abyss, there wasn’t a trace of warmth.

—

Gao Jun’s sudden disappearance was like throwing a grain of sand into the ocean—it didn’t cause any ripples.

The only small ripple was Gao Jun’s brother, Yu Yinfan.

Yu Yinfan grabbed Pei Chuan’s collar: “You definitely know Gao Jun’s whereabouts, right? The people at Little Imperial Court said he disappeared right after fighting with you that day. I asked his sister—he hasn’t been home for a long time.”

Pei Chuan’s expression was bland as he brushed off his hand: “Show some respect.”

His tone was calm, yet inexplicably sent a chill through people. Yu Yinfan gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to drink his blood and eat his flesh.

Pei Chuan found it utterly boring.

After being sworn brothers for so long, they were the real brothers—he was ultimately just an outsider.

Yu Yinfan asked: “Is it related to you or not?”

Pei Chuan methodically straightened his collar, lips curving slightly: “Even if it is, what can you do to me?”

Yu Yinfan’s eyes reddened.

The law of the jungle—Pei Chuan had understood this principle many years ago. Yu Yinfan couldn’t do anything to him. He just returned to a solitary life. Occasionally when he called people out to gather, they were cautious, not daring to say an extra word, afraid of following in Gao Jun’s footsteps.

After senior year started, Pei Chuan rarely went to school. He also didn’t like hearing about school matters.

He feared that one day inadvertently, he’d hear news that Sixth High School’s campus beauty Bei Yao was spoken for. She hadn’t wronged him in any way—before, she’d even been very good to him. Not disturbing her was the last thing he could give her.

After that day, Pei Chuan thoroughly drew two parallel lines between himself and Bei Yao.

When C City had heavy snow during New Year’s, a female figure stood outside Pei Chuan’s door.

When he vaguely saw her, his heartbeat couldn’t help but quicken. He pushed his wheelchair and opened the door.

However, upon getting close, Pei Chuan’s heart slowly cooled. It wasn’t Bei Yao, but a tall-statured girl.

The girl turned around, revealing a very ordinary face.

Thick lips, a flat nose bridge. She wore ripped jeans, standing with her arms crossed.

The woman’s hair was wine-red—clearly a delinquent who mixed in society.

Her build was very tall compared to other girls. Seeing Pei Chuan, she looked at him with interest, her gaze sweeping over his wheelchair, her eyes brightening somewhat.

“I’m Gao Jun’s sister. My name is Gao Qiong.”

Pei Chuan’s expression was blank as he moved to close the door. Gao Qiong said: “I’m not here for revenge. Gao Jun and I have no feelings for each other. He’s just like my dad—both cowards who beat women.”

Gao Qiong said: “I just wanted to see what kind of person could make him disappear without a trace. You look really good. I like you a lot. Let’s be together.”

Pei Chuan felt he’d heard a joke and unhesitatingly closed the door.

Gao Qiong didn’t mind. She whistled. This youth was pretty cool and had quite a temper. He was much better than her previous boyfriends.

On the night of the Spring Festival, heavy snow covered the ground, tree branches accumulated a thick layer of snow. The earth was wrapped in silver, and Pei Chuan fell ill.

He had a strong constitution and rarely got sick these years. Perhaps being alone for too long, fearing being sick with no one to care for him, his body simply didn’t allow problems.

Outside, firecrackers exploded. In the lively world, his surroundings were desolate without a trace of warmth.

Perhaps delirious from fever, Pei Chuan finally pushed his wheelchair to the entrance of his old neighborhood, face pale.

Though the neighborhood was old and worn, it was decorated with lanterns and colored lights. Two red lanterns hung at the entrance, very lively. Winter plum blossoms bloomed, the air carrying a faint plum fragrance.

Fireworks exploded in the sky. Pei Chuan sat in the darkness, quietly gazing.

A four or five-year-old boy ran over and was startled seeing the figure in the shadows. Pei Chuan looked at the child—his features somewhat resembled Bei Yao’s, and he felt a bit dazed.

Little Bei Jun panicked and threw a firecracker at the bad person. Mom said when it got dark, bad people would snatch children.

The firecracker Bei Jun threw landed on Pei Chuan’s leg, with a pungent smell of gunpowder smoke.

He frowned, just picking it up when that firecracker exploded dully in his hand, shaking his tiger’s mouth painfully.

Pei Chuan looked up. Behind the bewildered boy, a young girl came running from afar.

Bei Yao was also stunned. Bei Jun was at his mischievous age. She’d only looked away for a moment and her brother had thrown a firecracker at someone.

Bei Yao was scared out of her wits. Not bothering to interrogate her brother about where he got the firecracker and lighter, she hurried forward to check Pei Chuan’s wound.

“Are you alright? You’re bleeding.” She reflexively pressed the blood vessel near his tiger’s mouth.

Pei Chuan froze.

He had a fever, his body temperature burning. Small snow fell from the sky. A soft, slightly cool small hand gripped his hand. Not exactly gripping—just that bit of the young girl’s delicate gentleness made his senses infinitely magnify.

This was the first time he’d been this close to her. Like a hallucination from burning with fever, it made his breathing rapid.

Pei Chuan didn’t know if his hand hurt. All his body’s senses gathered on this bit of coolness. Pei Chuan reflexively gripped that hand tightly in return.

Bei Yao looked up in surprise.

Seeing her gaze, Pei Chuan, as if electrocuted, abruptly flung away her hand.

The air was quiet for a moment. Snowflakes fell on the young girl’s dark hair.

Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, silent.

He didn’t know how to explain his forward behavior just now. However, Bei Yao was more embarrassed than him.

She didn’t think deeply about the meaning behind Pei Chuan’s firm grip. What embarrassed her was that her brother had injured her former neighbor, and after not seeing each other for so long, he still didn’t seem to like her.

Bei Yao pulled her brother over: “Apologize to gege.”

Bei Jun also realized he’d caused trouble. Dejected, he said: “Gege, I’m sorry.”

Bei Yao’s clear black and white eyes looked at Pei Chuan, saying sincerely: “I’m sorry. My brother doesn’t understand. Your hand is injured. I’ll take you to the hospital to get it treated. We’ll compensate you.”

Pei Chuan said coldly: “No need.”

His tone was extremely cold, like ice that was difficult to melt.

Bei Yao felt uneasy, truly not knowing what to do.

The siblings stood before him, both looking at a loss, waiting to be scolded.

Pei Chuan remained silent: “You can go back.”

Bei Yao carefully glanced at his hand. The wound was deep—it must be an unexploded firecracker Bei Jun had picked from someone else’s fireworks.

Guilt and unease prevented her from leaving with peace of mind.

Others’ magnanimity wasn’t a reason for her to absolve herself. She bowed anxiously: “Then wait a moment.”

She pulled her brother and hurried home. Before long, little Bei Jun was brought home, and she returned alone.

Bei Yao held a pink little box in her arms.

Seeing Pei Chuan still there, she breathed a sigh of relief: “Do you mind if I clean your wound?”

Heavy snow fell on Pei Chuan’s lashes. After a long time, he extended his hand.

Bei Yao seemed to find it difficult to interact with him. Getting this reprieve now, joy rippled in her eyes as she crouched before him.

Where Pei Chuan was positioned was rather dark, only an old streetlamp overhead.

The youth opened his palm. His palm was rough, like pine bark eroded by wind and frost. His knuckles were large, fingers slender. The hand was covered in wounds large and small.

Without lower legs, many things usually had to rely on hands to complete.

This hand wasn’t beautiful. Pei Chuan reflexively wanted to withdraw it, but her light, warm breath brushed his hand. He was like someone had cast a paralysis spell on him—unable to move at all.

“Alcohol disinfection will hurt a bit.” Bei Yao looked at his bloody tiger’s mouth, her scalp tingling. She could only try to be as gentle as possible, softening her tone, like coaxing her brother, speaking softly to him: “If it hurts, tell me.”

He pressed his lips together.

Yet during the alcohol cleaning process, that large hand didn’t tremble even once.

She sighed inwardly, yet felt even more awe.

Pei Chuan was just watching her.

Bei Yao crouched before him, eyes lowered, a few snowflakes on her long lashes. After cleaning with alcohol, she took out white gauze to bandage him.

The young girl had grown up, her features gentle and beautiful, her cheeks looking soft. He watched for a while then slightly looked away—Pei Chuan feared if he kept watching he wouldn’t be able to resist touching her cheek.

In truth, Pei Chuan didn’t feel pain, nor did he blame little Bei Jun. He understood that without this incident, he wouldn’t have this opportunity to spend time with Bei Yao.

However, everything must end. Bei Yao was very careful, trying not to touch him. After bandaging, she closed the home “medical kit.” Bei Yao took out a red envelope from herself. “Sorry for injuring you. This is a blessing from the hundred-year-old granny in the small alley. Happy New Year. I hope you’ll be safe and sound.”

“I already said, no need.” His expression was icy as he pushed his wheelchair away.

Bei Yao watched his figure disappear into the wind and snow, murmuring softly: “All grown up and still the same temper.”

—

After the New Year came spring. By rights, this year Pei Chuan should take the college entrance exam.

But in May, he was awakened by K’s subordinates splashing a basin of water on him.

Pei Chuan opened his eyes. In his pitch-black eyes, there wasn’t a trace of surprise or fear.

A man with crossed legs said in an exaggerated tone: “Look, look at our genius youth—really not panicked at all. How can you treat him like this? A’Zuo, quickly help our researcher up.”

The man in gray clothes grabbed Pei Chuan’s collar, forcing him to raise his head.

Pei Chuan’s gaze was utterly calm, peacefully meeting K’s eyes.

K whistled, saying leisurely: “You’re not some kind person either. Why refuse to use living people for experiments? That previous test subject—didn’t you do very well?”

Pei Chuan opened his mouth mockingly: “Don’t want to do it, so I’m not doing it.”

“After so many years, you still haven’t learned one principle? People must know when to yield. I know you’re stubborn, but let me think—you must care about something, right?”

“How about stripping you naked and tying you up outdoors?”

The youth’s black pupils rippled slightly, then became like stagnant water again.

K clicked his tongue. That won’t work either?

“Some of my subordinates have a taste for you. How about you play with them?”

Pei Chuan sneered: “Fine.”

Dragging a few down with him wouldn’t be bad.

His indifferent attitude angered K. K laughed sinisterly: “Though it surprises me, your half-dead appearance really kills my appetite. Why did you fall out with Gao Jun again? Oh right, your neighbor has a cute, pretty little girl. How about letting her play with the brothers?”

Pei Chuan clenched his fist: “She and I aren’t close.”

K said: “The files say that too, but the human heart—how can a few sheets of paper explain it?” K tapped Pei Chuan’s chest. “Why that expression? Does it hurt your heart?”

Pei Chuan closed his eyes: “Half a month. Give me half a month. Bring those people over.”

“That’s right.” K raised an eyebrow. “However, you’re really disobedient. You don’t think dying now would make you clean and innocent, do you? Let me tell you, once you’re Satan, you’re Satan for life.”

A’Zuo pressed Pei Chuan’s face to the ground. K lifted his foot and ground it down.

“Do something wrong and you must accept punishment. Your body better hold up, otherwise if you die, I’ll only have that little beauty to play with. With her delicate appearance—she’ll cry, won’t she?”

Pei Chuan’s cheek pressed against the ice-cold, filthy ground, emotions surging in his eyes that others couldn’t understand.

—

This year for the college entrance exam, Pei Chuan was absent.

He woke up in a foul-smelling garbage heap, the letter “S” tattooed on his right cheek.

The tattoo was somewhat inflamed. Half his face was a miserable sight.

There was no wheelchair around, no means of transportation. K threw him in this kind of place to crush his pride, to make him understand that without their organization, he was trash, a废person like garbage.

The sky was raining. The sour, rotting smell of garbage was strong.

He dug his fingers into the mud, gasping for breath as he crawled.

This was when Gao Qiong found him. She brought Pei Chuan back.

“How did you end up like this? Aren’t you rich? Unlucky. So smelly. Wash up quickly.”

She reached to help Pei Chuan remove his clothes but was pushed away. Gao Qiong’s temper also flared: “I saved you. What’s with this attitude?”

Pei Chuan: “You didn’t have to save me. You can throw me back.”

Gao Qiong laughed in anger. Really had quite a temper.

In the end, Gao Qiong crossed her arms and coldly watched him crawl into the bathroom to wash himself.

Hot water poured down. The tattoo on his face stung. Pei Chuan tilted his head back, his eyes blood-red. No one could threaten him. When this organization bore the surname Pei, he would chop K into pieces and feed him to dogs.

—

The year Bei Yao went to college, Pei Chuan’s experiments had yielded results.

These two years, Gao Qiong had been helping him do things. At first with a playful attitude, later she genuinely liked him somewhat. This man was ruthless and vicious behind the scenes, decisive in thought. Gao Qiong almost witnessed how he grew step by step.

She even personally witnessed the scene of Pei Chuan executing K.

Pei Chuan smiled nonchalantly: “Didn’t you really want this experiment to succeed? Experience it yourself.”

His smile was clearly faint, yet Gao Qiong inexplicably felt goosebumps on her arms.

After the chip was implanted, K fell into a coma.

Gao Qiong looked at Pei Chuan with complex eyes: “Was my brother like this before too?”

Pei Chuan spoke: “Yeah. Angry?”

Gao Qiong shook her head: “I said before, I don’t care about him. I just like you and want to follow you.”

Pei Chuan smiled: “I don’t like you. You can get lost. A’Zuo, come push me.”

The big lug pushed the wheelchair over. Gao Qiong called out: “Why? I’ve done so much for you. You don’t have any other women around you. Is it because I’m not pretty? Or not feminine enough?”

Pei Chuan said with interest: “If you say so.”

Gao Qiong was infuriated to the point of collapse.

“Pei Chuan, someone like you who tramples on others’ sincerity deserves to die alone and lonely.”

Pei Chuan replied indifferently: “I accept your blessing.”

—

The following year, Gao Qiong also began to change. She got plastic surgery, even breast implants, learned makeup—looking like a seductive vixen.

She thrust out her half-exposed chest, yet Pei Chuan still didn’t give her a glance.

A’Zuo’s gaze went blank: “Sister Qiong, why does your chest look like pineapples?” They were clearly small strawberries before.

Gao Qiong looked at him smugly.

Pei Chuan’s fingers tapped the keyboard. Outside the window, snow began to fall.

The chip began to be put into use. He didn’t take an English name—just called it “Rebirth.” “Rebirth” brought endless wealth.

Sometimes Pei Chuan didn’t understand how life had turned out this way. These two years he rarely went out.

In the winter of 2013, C City had heavy snow and prepared a lantern festival.

Gao Qiong persuaded: “Have A’Zuo push you out to get some fresh air. It’ll definitely be lively tonight. I heard the lantern festival is not far from your old neighborhood. Consider it nostalgic—go take a look.”

Gao Qiong hadn’t held much hope, but somehow that sentence touched Pei Chuan’s nerve. He agreed to go out for a walk.

A thick blanket covered his knees. Before going out, Pei Chuan put on a fallen angel mask on his face, covering the “S” tattoo. This tattoo could be removed, but he knew there was no need. What was dirty wasn’t the face, but the soul.

Having a Satan mark was quite good too. As long as it was there, his heart would die completely clean, and he wouldn’t yearn for a life that didn’t belong to him.

Pei Chuan was going out—Gao Qiong was extremely happy. She dressed herself up beautifully, swaying in front of Pei Chuan the whole way.

Pei Chuan just watched the snow in the sky, seemingly preoccupied.

Gao Qiong thought his cold and icy demeanor showed no appreciation for romance. Fortunately, having been around this long, she’d seen his vicious and sinister side and didn’t think much of it. If Pei Chuan were gentle, that would be seeing a ghost.

However, tonight, they really did see a ghost.

C City’s lantern festival was extremely lively, with lantern riddles hanging everywhere. This year the riddles were all thought up by older-generation teachers themselves—the answers couldn’t be found online either. Their group moved through the dim yellow light. Because their bearing and presence were different, people kept their distance.

Then they saw a young girl at the end of the road.

She wore a white cashmere sweater, two little pompoms hanging from her hat.

She was with a seven or eight-year-old boy, gesturing to the lantern vendor about something.

Following where her finger pointed, it was an exquisite wish lotus lantern.

The older generation had a legend—make a wish on a lotus lantern, then let it drift downstream, and it would bless important people with peace and health.

Gao Qiong saw the young girl’s appearance clearly and was somewhat amazed. However, her amazement was normal—Pei Chuan beside her staring fixedly was not normal.

Gao Qiong said: “Leaving?”

Pei Chuan didn’t acknowledge her.

After that young girl left with the boy, Pei Chuan gazed at her retreating figure, then after a moment of silence spoke: “Shangxian, go ask.”

Shangxian had high intelligence. Before long he returned smiling with a lotus lantern: “Boss, he said this isn’t for sale. I threatened him a bit. Is that okay?”

Pei Chuan took the lotus lantern. He lowered his gaze—as expected, it was for blessing health.

This winter wasn’t too cold. The river water nearby hadn’t frozen. Pei Chuan said: “Give this to that young lady just now. Don’t say anything else.”

Shangxian smiled ambiguously and left with his orders.

Gao Qiong witnessed the entire process. She was about to go crazy.

Was this really Pei Chuan? Was he kidding her!

The Pei Chuan she knew would never actively be good to anyone—men or women were all the same, only divided by whether tasks were completed well or not.

Not only did he just stare at her intently, now he was even sending a lantern!

Gao Qiong had worked with him for so many years. Forget lotus lanterns that girls like—this man wouldn’t even send a piece of paper.

Gao Qiong said indignantly: “You like that type?”

Pei Chuan said coldly: “You talk too much.”

“!” He really did like her.

Gao Qiong had a heart attack. Fine, she admitted that woman was very beautiful, but she herself wasn’t bad now either. Maybe that woman also got plastic surgery.

However, Gao Qiong didn’t dare be presumptuous. Pei Chuan was truly ruthless. He didn’t care who followed him for how long. Accustomed to licking blood from knife edges, he didn’t even have basic human compassion anymore.

Gao Qiong thought Pei Chuan, having taken a liking, would go meet her. However, nothing happened that night.

Pei Chuan rubbed his tiger’s mouth, spacing out for longer than usual.

—

After Gao Qiong investigated clearly, she felt somewhat gleeful.

That girl was already married, to a wealthy man from B City at that. Recently she’d been praying for her father’s blessing—the girl’s father had an accident and became a vegetable.

Falling for a married woman—wonder if the cold-hearted Satan felt any shame?

However, what Gao Qiong knew, Pei Chuan naturally knew as well.

After years of separation, everything had changed.

That night Pei Chuan drank a lot of alcohol.

A crescent moon hung in the sky. When Gao Qiong came to make her report, she ultimately felt somewhat unwilling.

Gao Qiong felt she’d done quite a few things for Pei Chuan. That woman hadn’t done anything for Pei Chuan. Why could she effortlessly obtain Pei Chuan’s heart?

She ultimately couldn’t hold back and asked.

The man was silent for a moment. Gao Qiong would forever remember his answer.

He was somewhat drunk, laughing quietly as he said: “She doesn’t need to do anything. Just standing there, I’ll love her.”

Not long after, a woman named Zhao Zhilan came to the door seeking help.

This pitiful middle-aged woman, face covered in tears, hoped Pei Chuan could help her.

These two years their influence had been continuously expanding, but this kind of messy situation wasn’t easy to handle at all.

After Zhao Zhilan left, Shangxian said: “Boss, I think we still shouldn’t get involved. The Huo family’s affairs are too complex, involving both military and business—not something money and power can solve. Grievances and grudges cost lives. We’re currently developing—making too many enemies isn’t good.”

Pei Chuan said: “I know what I’m doing.”

Gao Qiong, who’d been silent for a long time, couldn’t hold back: “You know what you’re doing? She’s already married. What good does bringing her over do? Will she like you? Will she be grateful for your protection and be with you? She won’t! Even if you killed me today I have to say it—she doesn’t think highly of you. Didn’t before, won’t in the future either. Wake up…”

Pei Chuan pointed his gun at her: “Speak. Why’d you stop? Didn’t you say you’d speak even if I killed you?”

Gao Qiong’s lips twitched.

Pei Chuan said: “I’m very clear-headed. Never been this clear-headed.”

He remembered his heartbeat facing Bei Yao, knew that humbleness, also understood there was no possibility between them.

But having loved, he loved. Who would truly calculate gains and losses?

He opened the door. Outside was spring with grass growing and orioles flying.

No one could understand—Pei Chuan’s heart was full of anticipation. Like a treasure he couldn’t afford in youth, after many years, forced to fall into his embrace again.

That year in the heavy rain, the little girl stumbling behind him holding an umbrella. And that snowy winter when he firmly gripped that small hand, the temperature in his heart burning hot.

She always thought he hated her. Pei Chuan never spoke it aloud—countless times he only wanted to recklessly follow her home.

The early spring wind carried a hint of chill.

When the door was broken open, Pei Chuan saw Bei Yao again.

These years, he’d walked alone through the darkest roads, tasted many flavors of loneliness, harboring in his heart someone he’d loved for many years but dared not speak of.

Now in spring with dawn’s first light, in Bei Yao’s astonished eyes reflected the image of the man sitting in the wheelchair.

He slowly extended his hand toward her.

“Come with me.”