Pei Chuan hung up the phone after speaking. After a moment of silence, he said to the taxi driver, "Go to Sanzhong High School."
The first autumn rain of September arrived without warning, pattering noisily against the car roof in a way that grated on the nerves. He didn't look back to see her expression. In fact, this was the first time in over a decade that Pei Chuan had spoken to her like this.
Bei Yao, standing by the bus stop, was momentarily stunned.
She stared at her new pink phone, feeling that the Pei Chuan who had just spoken to her was both familiar and strange. In places she couldn't see, he had grown up in another, crueler way.
Bei Yao watched the rain hitting the ground with disappointment. Though her thoughts moved slightly slower than most people's, she wasn't foolish. He had lied to her - he wasn't going to Liuzhong High School after all. She had been the only one who thought they would both attend Liuzhong all along.
Bus 522 arrived quickly. This time, she couldn't wait for him anymore and had to board the bus, letting it carry her toward Liuzhong High School.
An hour and a half later, the bus stopped at the entrance of Liuzhong High School.
Bei Yao looked up at the school gate - everything was just as she remembered. The Silver Gate Railings stood with dignified grandeur, with a banner for the new semester hanging at the top: "Warmly Welcome New Students!"
Inside the gate was a large Electronic Screen that regularly displayed important school news or announcements, placed in the most prominent position so students could see it when they arrived at school.
Beyond the gate stood two rows of willow trees swaying in the wind.
Her former teacher had said that willow trees symbolized "staying," hoping that years later, students would deeply cherish their alma mater.
Bei Yao held an umbrella with one hand, carried a backpack, and held heavy clothing with her other hand.
Originally, Zhao Zhilan was home watching the children while Bei Licai planned to accompany Bei Yao to school. But Bei Yao had refused: "I've registered by myself every year, it's fine. Besides, Pei Chuan is coming with me. If you come, Dad, he'll feel uncomfortable."
So Bei Licai had relented. Yet now, in this year of high school, she had ended up coming alone after all.
She had heard that Fang Minjun also got into Liuzhong, though Bei Yao hadn't run into her. Hua Ting was admitted to Yizhong High School, while Chen Hu had already gone to vocational school back in ninth grade. Growth could be cruel sometimes - the first thing it taught children was separation.
Bei Yao struggled with her heavy clothing as she registered. She would have to board at school this year since it was too far from home. Fortunately, Liuzhong had the most humane management among the three high schools, with no restrictions on boarding students leaving campus.
Her new homeroom teacher was named Li Fangqun. Around thirty years old with her long hair tied up high and her shirt sleeves rolled to her elbows, she appeared very capable.
When Bei Yao came to register, Li Fangqun was first struck by this new student's beauty, thinking to herself that Liuzhong hadn't divided students into experimental and regular classes this year, implementing the country's first year of free education with random student assignment. This pure, moving girl was the most beautiful freshman Li Fangqun had ever seen. Based on Teacher Li's experience, students like this usually ranked at the bottom academically.
Teacher Li took out the roster: "What's your name?"
"Bei Yao."
"..." Teacher Li looked at Bei Yao, who ranked second in the class, and sighed inwardly - it seemed experience couldn't always be trusted.
Teacher Li said: "Nice to meet you, Bei Yao. Will you be boarding or commuting?"After completing all the procedures, Bei Yao had broken into a light sweat by the time she reached Dormitory 615. This year's freshmen were particularly unlucky, being assigned to the sixth floor. In Bei Yao's memory, the next year's students would live on the third floor.
The school's most notorious trick was creating a "basement level" to circumvent the regulation requiring elevators for buildings over seven floors, making the nominal sixth floor actually the seventh. Bei Yao didn't mind this much, as she normally exercised regularly anyway.
Coming from far away, she arrived late. Upon entering the dorm, she found her three roommates had already settled in.
A girl on the upper bunk complained, "What's going on? Weren't we supposed to get new apartments this year? Not only are we still in the old ones, but we're stuck on the seventh floor too."
Chen Feifei, a slightly plump girl on the lower bunk, said, "Yang Jia, stop complaining. I've been listening to you all morning."
"What? Can't I even vent a little?"
The third girl, Wu Mo, shot Chen Feifei a look, signaling her not to argue with Yang Jia. Chen Feifei puffed her cheeks indignantly, unwilling to back down. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Bei Yao at the door.
The fifteen-year-old girl, with a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead, smiled at her: "Hello, I'm Bei Yao."
Chen Feifei was momentarily dazzled, forgetting what she had intended to say to Yang Jia. Her eyes sparkled: "Hello!"
The other two girls in the dorm also turned their surprised gazes toward Bei Yao.
Wu Mo almost blurted out: "You're really beautiful." Like gardenias blooming after rain, like a fairy emerging from the forest.
The little fairy curved her almond-shaped eyes: "Thank you, you're very pretty too."
Though Wu Mo was already quite good-looking herself, for some reason, Bei Yao's compliment made her blush unexpectedly.
Surprisingly, Bei Yao's arrival diffused a conflict that hadn't even properly begun.
Only one upper bunk remained, where Bei Yao eventually settled in.
High school life proved busier than expected. Because of the competitive relationship between No.1, No.3, and No.6 High Schools, even though No.6 was relatively relaxed, students only got one two-day break per month. Other Sundays were single-day breaks when students typically stayed on campus rather than going home, though they could explore the surroundings.
This was the first year Bei Yao and Pei Chuan had been apart.
At first, she found it somewhat unsettling. That perpetually stern-faced youth had exited her life in a way that felt almost resentful. Now surrounded by chattering, cheerful girls, no one would suddenly become upset and require her careful coaxing.
Bei Yao thought, Future me, I'm sorry. I might not be able to fulfill your wish. Pei Chuan has grown up, and she has no right to dictate another young person's life.
Moreover, since starting high school, while her body continued to mature, the additional memories that used to arrive yearly had failed to appear.
Bei Yao had a bold suspicion: her memories might only extend until senior year of high school, with everything beyond representing a completely new life.
During the first month of school, a popular post remained pinned at the top of the campus forum with countless replies.
The post was titled 【Shocking Beauty: This Year's Freshman Girl】
Inside were photos of Bei Yao doing morning exercises.The morning light spilled from the sky, though it wasn't fully bright yet. Bei Yao wasn't fully awake either as she followed the morning exercise routine, stretching her limbs languidly. Her sleepy lotus-like face was indescribably beautiful.
Almost as soon as the post appeared, Bei Yao became famous.
She replaced the previous senior school belle and became the new campus belle of Sixth High School.
The original school belle of Sixth High was Wan Qianai, who had been jokingly called "the femme fatale." After being praised for over a year, Wan Qianai was furious but helpless when a newcomer replaced her with just a bare-faced photo.
That photo was too ethereal. Wan Qianai refused to believe anyone could possess such grace and looks. She thought to herself, this new girl must be clever—definitely photoshopped, right?
However, the following month, when she accidentally saw this junior in the Yifu Teaching Building, Wan Qianai's face turned pale.
She could no longer comfort herself that it was a fake photo because Bei Yao in person was far more beautiful than in the picture. The photo appeared too otherworldly, while Bei Yao herself radiated youthful warmth.
Pursing her lips, Wan Qianai quickened her pace and left. Out of pride as the former school belle, she didn't want to be around Bei Yao.
During her first year of high school, Bei Yao was exceptionally popular.
Though not particularly outgoing or lively, her gentle personality and excellent grades made everyone enjoy asking her for help with questions.
Bei Yao never kept her knowledge to herself, patiently explaining things to her classmates. Not only did the boys in class like her, but most girls did too.
The top student in Class 5 of first year was a somewhat short but good-looking boy. Bei Yao had entered school with the second-highest admission score.
High school life was busy. When the first year ended, Bei Yao still felt somewhat unreal.
She returned home every month but never saw Pei Chuan.
Everyone said Pei Chuan no longer came home.
The once lively neighborhood had become quiet and deserted. Uncle Pei had married a new wife named Cao Li. Bei Yao had actually seen Pei Chuan's stepsister—a delicate-looking girl with a very thin, fragile figure named Bai Yutong.
The first time she saw Bai Yutong in the neighborhood during winter break, Bai Yutong was holding her mother's arm, laughing and playing. Both mother and daughter paused when they saw Bei Yao and Zhao Zhilan approaching, their eyes lingering on Bei Yao.
They never expected such a beautiful, captivating young girl to exist in this old neighborhood.
It was Zhao Zhilan who greeted them first: "Hello Cao Li, hello Xiaotong. This is my daughter Bei Yao."
Cao Li quickly responded: "So this is Yaoyao! I've heard about you—so beautiful and with such excellent grades too." She pretended to tap Bai Yutong's forehead. "If you were as outstanding as Yaoyao, your mother would have nothing to worry about."
Though uncomfortable inside, Bai Yutong still smiled and greeted Bei Yao.
Bei Yao nodded at her: "Hello." She knew she was being rather cold, but whenever she thought about Pei Chuan losing his home in his teens, she found it difficult to be warm toward this mother and daughter.
Even though Pei Chuan had been mean too, they had ultimately grown up together.
The anger she felt when Pei Chuan had played that trick on her at the beginning of high school had gradually faded with time.
As the second semester of first year approached, Bei Yao still hadn't seen Pei Chuan.
She didn't know what he looked like now, whether he was going hungry, how tall he had grown, or if he was still unhappy.
~
During the second semester of first year, there was a city-wide joint examination, meaning the rankings would be unified across First, Third, and Sixth High Schools.
When results were released, the school posted the Honor Roll.Bei Yao remembered something and dashed downstairs. Chen Feifei was astonished: "Wait for me, Yao Yao!"
The Honor Roll list was very long. Bei Yao immediately looked at the first name.
"Zhang Jierui," she murmured softly. "How is that possible?"
Bei Yao patiently scanned further down, but even after checking the top 200 in the entire city, she couldn't find the name Pei Chuan.
Chen Feifei asked, "What are you looking for, Yao Yao?"
"I had a friend who used to be exceptionally good at studies. Later, he transferred to No. 3 High School. I wanted to see if his name was here."
"Then tell me his name, and I'll help you look."
Bei Yao paused for a moment, then said softly, "Pei Chuan."
The two girls searched through the list again and again, but Pei Chuan's name was nowhere to be found.
Chen Feifei said, "Could it be that your friend was good in junior high but couldn't adjust to high school, so his grades dropped?"
"That's not possible," Bei Yao said firmly. "He's extremely smart. He could solve high school-level problems perfectly even in junior high."
"That impressive..." Chen Feifei instinctively exclaimed, then suddenly frowned with a strange expression. "What did you say your friend's name was? And which high school did you say he goes to?"
"Pei Chuan, No. 3 High School."
Chen Feifei: "..." She pulled Bei Yao to a corner, her expression complicated as she took out her phone. It was a touchscreen model, and after tapping a few times, she showed it to Bei Yao. "Prepare yourself mentally. The Pei Chuan you're talking about couldn't be this guy, could it?"
Bei Yao looked down and froze.
The photo was taken not long ago, earlier this summer. Pei Chuan was leaning against a basketball hoop, wearing a bright red jersey with a black number "5" printed on the chest.
He had grown taller and completely changed.
While the other boys around him wore shorts, he alone was in full-length athletic pants.
Under the July sunlight, his once delicate and handsome features had turned sharp. A lazy, dismissive smile played on his lips, and between his slender fingers, he held a cigarette.
Everything had changed.
He never used to smile before; when he got angry, he needed to be coaxed to cheer up. But this sharp, smiling young man was almost unrecognizable to Bei Yao.
Holding the phone, Bei Yao was lost in thought for a long time.
Chen Feifei said, "No way! Your friend is really him? Then do you know who he is? He's the untouchable big shot at No. 3 High. He hardly ever attends classes and spends all his time hanging out with the worst students in his class. Rumor has it he's involved with society—smoking, fighting, all that. In short, he's terrifying."
Bei Yao was stunned.
Chen Feifei continued, "He's also incredibly rich. Last month, he drove a Mercedes S350 worth over a million. People on the forum are speculating where he got the money, wondering if it's from crime..." Remembering that this person was, after all, Bei Yao's friend, and noticing Bei Yao's pale expression, Chen Feifei didn't elaborate further with more explosive details.
Bei Yao pressed her lips together. "Can you send me the link to this post?"
"I can, but you'd better save it quickly. I'm afraid it might get deleted."
"Okay, thank you, Feifei."
"Don't mention it. Friends don't need to say such things."
However, that evening, after Bei Yao finished washing up and got into bed to rest, she took out her phone—still the flip phone Zhao Zhilan had bought for her last year.This phone was gradually falling behind the times, and the signal in the school dormitory was poor. Bei Yao finally managed to connect to the internet and clicked on the QQ message link sent by Chen Feifei. The little loading circle spun and spun until finally, the screen displayed—
"Sorry, the post you are browsing has been deleted."
Chen Feifei's urgent reminder to save it quickly still seemed to echo in her ears. Curled up under the covers, Bei Yao gently curved her lips. One thing hadn't changed since childhood—no one could afford to provoke him.
A pang of guilt tugged at her heart, and she even felt the urge to apologize to her younger self who had written in that little notebook. At sixteen, Pei Chuan had still turned bad.
She had worked hard to become a warm, kind girl, while he had grown wild and fierce, becoming the big bad guy everyone trembled to mention.
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