In the summer of 2007, the students of No. 6 High School were miserable.
This year's summer in City C was exceptionally hot, drawing worldwide attention to global climate change. TV screens scrolled with breaking news: "Massive blue-green algae outbreak in Lake T basin at the end of May, leaving nearly a million residents without drinkable tap water."
After years of rapid economic growth, environmental issues had finally captured national concern.
Some even joked that with global warming, City C had transformed from a once peaceful city into a blazing furnace.
Chen Feifei, slightly chubby, dreaded the heat even more in summer. She stuck out her tongue and said, "Yao Yao, do you really think this little dog trick can cool us down?"
Bei Yao, who had been doing homework in the classroom, turned her head and couldn't help but chuckle at Chen Feifei's antics.
Chen Feifei complained, "The school is so stingy. These half-old, half-new electric fans—there are only three in the whole classroom, and the one above my head is broken. I'm practically dying of heat."
Even though weekends were off, the dormitory didn't turn on the fans during the day. No. 6 High School claimed it was to help students "build resilience and endurance" early on.
Suddenly remembering something, Chen Feifei's eyes lit up as she pulled a promotional poster from her desk drawer.
It featured gilded letters announcing: "Allure World Grand Opening—Free Prize Draw, Chance to Win Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream."
The exquisite ice cream images on the poster were so enticing in the sweltering heat that one glance could almost steal your soul.
Chen Feifei glanced at Bei Yao and softened her voice, "Yao Yao, let's go check out 'Allure World.' It's not far from school, and the prize draw is free. I've never had Häagen-Dazs in my life—they say it costs dozens per serving. What if we win?"
Bei Yao thought for a moment. "It seems like a fifteen-minute walk from school."
Chen Feifei checked the flyer and gritted her teeth. "No problem!"
Bei Yao held up an umbrella, and they set off together.
Driven by her obsession with Häagen-Dazs, Chen Feifei struggled through the intense heat for a full fifteen minutes until they finally reached the entrance of "Allure World." However, at the sight of the staggering queue, Chen Feifei was utterly dismayed.
The line stretched from the first-floor entrance of "Allure World" all the way to the roadside.
In 2007, daily necessities weren't as abundant as in later years. At least for high school students, a chance to win Häagen-Dazs for free was a big deal.
Even Bei Yao, who wasn't particularly bothered by the heat, felt a twinge of dread at the intimidating queue.
But seeing Chen Feifei's disappointed expression, she comforted her, "It's okay, we brought an umbrella. We'll get our turn quickly if we queue up."
Chen Feifei perked up.
The two girls joined the back of the crowd, and the line inched forward at a snail's pace.
Bei Yao looked up at the newly built, impressive "Allure World." It wasn't just an ice cream shop but a large entertainment complex: the first floor sold pastries, cakes, and cold drinks; the second floor was a restaurant; the third floor, an internet café; and the fourth floor, a KTV.
Looking higher, the fifth floor housed a billiards room, and the sixth floor, a chess and card lounge.
From the seventh floor up were hotel rooms.
Allure World was situated between No. 3 High School and No. 6 High School, slightly closer to the latter.
For high school students, it was a venue that encompassed all luxurious entertainment options, but the prices were exorbitant—evident from the Häagen-Dazs ice cream sold on the first floor.
Dizzy but yearning, Chen Feifei looked up and said, "Someday, I wish I could eat freely on the first and second floors and play around on the third to sixth floors as I please."Bei Yao encouraged, "You'll be able to when you grow up."
Chen Feifei laughed uncontrollably, "I was just saying it casually. This kind of place that burns money is either for the rich or the prodigal. As a pauper like me, I'd better not think about it. Yao Yao, you're so sweet, seriously encouraging me."
Chen Feifei took the umbrella and held it over both of their heads.
High up in the building, the glass reflected a dazzling glare under the sunlight.
~
On the sixth floor of "Allure World," in the chess and card room, a group of teenagers were playing cards.
Wei Wan leaned against the armrest of her chair, holding a cup of iced drink. She wore a rose-red mini skirt that barely reached her thighs, her appearance stunningly beautiful. Wei Wan idly bit her straw, watching the "rich kids" in her class.
Their Class 9 of Grade 10 was considered a class where the wealthy gathered, and Wei Wan was the class belle.
After playing a pair of 2s, Jin Ziyang grinned and glanced at Wei Wan, "Is the great beauty Wei Wan bored? Come, come, let big brother teach you how to play cards."
His cheeky, suggestive remark made all the boys and girls laugh.
Deng Hang said, "With your lousy card skills, forget it."
"Hey, what kind of talk is that? Do you have to ruin the moment like that?"
"Tell me yourself, when did you ever win? Last round we were about to win, but you actually took my cards! I was your teammate, you idiot!" The more he spoke, the angrier he got.
"..." Jin Ziyang felt guilty. If he hadn't taken that hand, Deng Hang would have finished his cards, but he had gotten too excited and didn't calculate properly. As a result, after he took the cards, both of them lost.
Jin Ziyang coughed and looked at the boy sitting with his back to the window, "Brother Chuan, why don't you go easy on us? We're all friends here. Do you really get any thrill out of winning a few hundred bucks?"
The boy lazily lifted his head at last. Bathed in the blazing July sun, he didn't feel hot because the air conditioning was on indoors.
Pei Chuan crossed his legs and threw down his last four 9s, replying indifferently, "You're just bad. I've already been holding back."
Jin Ziyang felt as if an arrow had struck his chest: "..."
As the boys joked around, Wei Wan couldn't help but let her gaze fall on Pei Chuan.
The boys in their class were all from wealthy families. Jin Ziyang and Deng Hang's families owned companies, so their wealth was understandable, but no one knew about Pei Chuan's background. The boys also kept tight-lipped about Pei Chuan's family situation.
Yet, this very boy was the most extravagant spender among them.
At the very least, Jin Ziyang and Deng Hang wouldn't dare to buy a luxury car worth over a million yuan in high school. If they really did, their fathers would hang them up and beat them.
Jin Ziyang changed the subject, "If I'm not good at playing, someone else is!" He grinned at Wei Wan, "Quick, go sit next to Brother Chuan. Let the God of Gambling teach you some card skills."
Wei Wan blushed, glanced at Pei Chuan, and saw a smile hanging on the boy's lips. He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no either.
Wei Wan's heart raced a little faster. Amid the teasing, she sat down beside Pei Chuan.
The boy's slender fingers were quite attractive. This round, he was dealing.
He shuffled the cards smoothly and dealt them quickly.
Jin Ziyang raised an eyebrow at Wei Wan, "Class belle, how about we change the stakes this round? If I win, you give me a kiss, okay?"
Wei Wan was open-minded and just laughed at his words.
Deng Hang said, "Why should it be you? What if I win?"
Jin Ziyang suddenly suggested, "Then how about this: whoever finishes their cards first gets a kiss from Wei Wan, and that person pays the bill today. So, Wei Wan, dare to take the challenge?"Wei Wan glanced at Pei Chuan’s carefree and unrestrained expression beside her, smiling as she said, “What’s there to be afraid of?”
“Kissing, no backing out.”
Wei Wan then turned her face away as if suddenly feeling shy. Sipping her iced drink, she gazed out the glass window at the crowd waiting in line below, sweltering under the scorching sun. Many young girls were growing impatient.
Wei Wan sneered inwardly.
Look at this—the difference between people. She had also heard about the lottery event at "Allure World," where the prize was just a Häagen-Dazs. Many endured the blazing sun only to end up empty-handed. Perhaps when they were in their teens, they never had the chance to be this carefree.
As for Wei Wan, the drinks these boys had bought for her cost more than that prize.
At the card table, the boys were locked in a fierce battle.
Jin Ziyang’s face was scrunched up in frustration: “Damn, what kind of hand is this? 3, 4, 5, 6, but no 7!”
Pei Chuan was still the landlord. He glanced at the Joker bomb and four 7s in his hand and fell silent for a moment.
Deng Hang froze briefly upon hearing his foolish teammate say there was no 7, because he didn’t have one either. Then, Deng Hang subtly glanced at Pei Chuan and sighed inwardly.
After one round, only the Joker bomb remained in Pei Chuan’s hand.
He casually tossed his cards aside.
Jin Ziyang wasn’t upset about losing. Instead, he waggled his eyebrows suggestively and said, “Wei Wan, beautiful, it’s your turn to perform.”
At his words, all the boys and girls playing along erupted into cheers, except for Deng Hang, who frowned slightly.
Amid the lively atmosphere, Wei Wan turned to look at Pei Chuan. He was leaning against the window and lifted his gaze to meet hers.
No one in Class 9, Grade 10 knew that Pei Chuan had a disability.
Because even in the hottest summers, he always wore long pants. After all these years, he had learned to walk slowly, not only avoiding any suspicion but even exuding an indescribable air of lazy nonchalance.
Wei Wan was genuinely curious about him and liked him.
He was wealthy, good-looking, skilled at cards and sports, and she had heard he had been practicing boxing since childhood.
With these thoughts in mind, she leaned in, half-closing her eyes as she drew closer to him.
Jin Ziyang’s cheering reached its peak at that moment.
Pei Chuan curved his lips slightly, watching her move in for the kiss.
He found it amusing. If she knew who he really was, she’d probably be so frightened she’d jump from this building.
Pei Chuan didn’t care. A brief touch of lips wouldn’t hurt or itch. Compared to betrayal, abandonment, and deception, this was just child’s play. He was no saint anyway, so why bother?
His slender fingers still held a diamond K. Wei Wan’s perfume was a bit too strong.
Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, looking utterly languid.
But in that moment, a girl in a bean-green short-sleeved shirt looked up from below.
Bei Yao moved her umbrella aside, tilting her small face to glance at the clear sky. Her voice was crisp and sweet: “Feifei, the clouds are covering the sun.”
So they didn’t need their umbrellas anymore.
The glass windows high above were one-way mirrors. Bei Yao couldn’t see who was inside or what they were doing. But Pei Chuan’s gaze collided with her.
Wei Wan leaned in to kiss him.
Almost instinctively, he turned his head away. Her lips brushed against his cold, firm jaw.
Everyone in the game room was stunned.
In their memories, Pei Chuan was never one to shy away from a game. Wei Wan bit her lip, humiliated that he had dodged the kiss. Her eyes filled with shame and resentment, but she remained silent, simply staring at Pei Chuan.Pei Chuan remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the scene downstairs.
Jin Ziyang quickly tried to ease the tension: "Hey, Brother Chuan, that's not fair of you! Just to get our beautiful Wei Wan to kiss you again, you’d resort to such a trick?"
Wei Wan’s expression softened slightly, assuming Pei Chuan was deliberately teasing her.
But the next moment, Pei Chuan abruptly stood up.
He glanced at his bewildered friends, pulled two cards from his pocket, and tossed one to Jin Ziyang: "Settle the bill."
He threw the other to Wei Wan: "An apology. Let’s call it a day."
Wei Wan looked down and saw it was a gold card for the first and second floors of "Allure World," granting unlimited spending privileges.
The girls present watched with envy, and Wei Wan’s remaining irritation vanished entirely.
She said understandingly, "Since Pei Chuan has something to attend to, let’s not continue today."
Pei Chuan slipped on a black wrist guard beside his chair. His exposed arm was sturdy and powerful, the lazy smile gone from his face as he fell silent and walked out alone.
Jin Ziyang muttered in confusion, "What’s up with him?"
Deng Hang shrugged. "No idea."
They had never seen him like this before.
~
Pei Chuan went downstairs and stopped by the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor.
His eyes fell on Bei Yao, who couldn’t see him. For the first time in over a year, he was watching her this closely.
She was truly beautiful—so beautiful that for more than three hundred days, he hadn’t dared to open the Sixth High School forum.
Bei Yao wore a pea-green short-sleeved top with a little cat licking its fur printed on it. In the July heat, she gently wiped the thin sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Her friend in front of her said something to her, and Bei Yao’s clear, almond-shaped eyes crinkled with laughter.
Pei Chuan pressed his lips together and lit a cigarette.
A boy in a gray shirt came out, passed by Bei Yao, and handed her two Häagen-Dazs ice creams he had bought. The boy’s face was flushed, and Pei Chuan clearly read his lips: "For you."
Pei Chuan’s expression remained indifferent as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Bei Yao smiled and shook her head. "Thank you."
The boy walked away, disappointed.
Chen Feifei watched his retreating figure longingly but said nothing.
About five minutes later, it was finally Chen Feifei and Bei Yao’s turn. Both girls reached into a box and drew a number.
Pei Chuan saw Bei Yao first glance at her own number, then at Chen Feifei’s careless one. She gently winked at the server and subtly pointed at Chen Feifei.
Pei Chuan stubbed out his cigarette, instantly guessing: Bei Yao had won the prize, but Chen Feifei hadn’t. She had quietly asked the server to pretend Chen Feifei’s number was the winning one.
The server, softened by the lovely girl’s plea, agreed.
When the server handed the Häagen-Dazs to Chen Feifei, she cheered, jumped up, and hugged Bei Yao. "Yaoyao, this is amazing! I won!"
Bei Yao smiled along with her.
As they walked away, several steps out, Pei Chuan saw the girl named Chen Feifei carefully scoop a spoonful of ice cream and feed it to Bei Yao first.
Bei Yao ate it with a smile.
Pei Chuan touched his lighter, cold and devoid of any warmth.
He realized he shouldn’t have left the group just to watch her. He didn’t even dare to appear before her. She had once carefully protected him, hoping he would remain a pure little boy, but now he had grown up tainted.
He knew he didn’t deserve even a glance at her, yet he still couldn’t resist.She still possessed a beautiful youth, while Pei Chuan had become a filthy, decaying bone trapped in hell, unable to climb out.
Perhaps the July heat was too intense, for his heart began to beat with an uncontrollable, wild restlessness.
Someone like Wei Wan could enjoy herself in an air-conditioned mahjong parlor, yet a lovely girl like Bei Yao had to obediently stand under the scorching sun.
His dark pupils remained calm.
~
Bei Yao and Chen Feifei had already walked quite a distance when a male server caught up with them.
He politely said, "Classmates, is this voucher yours?"
Bei Yao glanced at it—it was her "non-winning" ticket.
The server smiled with relief, "That’s right. We made a mistake earlier because the shop was too busy. This is today’s grand prize ticket. 'Allure World' has prepared a gift package for you."
He handed over a beautifully wrapped box and left after giving it to Bei Yao.
Bei Yao: "..."
Urged by Chen Feifei, Bei Yao opened the box.
Inside, accompanied by an ice pack, was an exquisite cake topped with a cute little princess made of cream.
The box also contained two cold drinks and four servings of Häagen-Dazs.
No wonder it felt so heavy.
Chen Feifei’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Damn, Yao Yao, you’re so lucky!"
Bei Yao frowned; she didn’t recall "Allure World" having any daily grand prize.
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