After the October holiday break, Bei Yao found a love letter in her desk drawer after evening self-study.
The pink envelope, sprinkled with gold dust, looked both beautiful and thoughtfully prepared. Although No. 6 High School wasn't as strict as No. 3 High School, puppy love was still prohibited. Teenage boys and girls rarely confessed their feelings openly, and even writing a love letter required considerable courage.
Bei Yao glanced at the envelope, which bore a boy's name—Han Zhen.
The handwriting was bold and unrestrained, exceptionally beautiful.
Bei Yao knew Han Zhen—a tall boy from Class 1, Grade 11. In the last unified exam, his ranking was a few places ahead of hers; Bei Yao was seventh in the grade, while Han Zhen was third, ranking first in his class.
She tucked the letter into her backpack. Wu Mo, who was doing homework beside her, paused her writing and looked up teasingly, "Bei Yao, it's a love letter from Han Zhen! Aren't you going to read it?"
Bei Yao turned to look at her. Under the bright fluorescent lights of the classroom, her clear eyes seemed to sparkle with scattered starlight, creating a startlingly beautiful effect. Wu Mo tightened her grip on the pen. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
With a serious expression, Bei Yao replied, "Wu Mo, I respect your privacy, and I ask that you respect mine."
Wu Mo felt embarrassed. Almost everyone in Grade 11 knew that the school belle, Bei Yao, had a gentle temperament. She excelled academically and never hesitated to help classmates with their studies. Her almond-shaped eyes were clear and lovely, her long lashes soft, and her smile sweet enough to warm anyone's heart.
Because of this, she rarely spoke harshly, and everyone liked her. But her reaction today clearly indicated she was reproaching Wu Mo for invading her privacy.
Wu Mo put down her pen. "It's not like I meant to see it! His name was written right on the envelope—how is that my fault? I was just joking. Do you have to be like this?"
In truth, the love letter had been secretly placed deep inside Bei Yao's desk. If Wu Mo hadn't intentionally looked, she wouldn't have seen it.
Bei Yao didn't know whether the letter had been opened, but as Chen Feifei had said, Wu Mo had changed a lot. Growing up had tempered many people's personalities—like Fang Minjun and Chen Hu, who were improving—but Wu Mo had clearly taken a turn for the worse.
Bei Yao didn't argue with Wu Mo. As soon as Chen Feifei arrived, she left with her.
During evening self-study, students were gradually packing up to leave. Wu Mo felt extremely upset, as if something were weighing on her.
She knew that since the previous "online romance" incident, the other three girls in the dormitory had been deliberately distancing themselves from her. Wu Mo wondered, why were they avoiding her? Did they look down on her, thinking she was greedy and easily fooled? Or, even worse, did they think she was "tainted"?
Wu Mo felt both ashamed and wronged. Why? She was a victim too—how could they treat her like this? She didn't trust her roommates, always fearing that one day they would spread rumors and ruin her reputation.
Among the four roommates, Wu Mo envied Bei Yao the most. Even though Bei Yao came from the poorest family, she was well-liked and had a face everyone admired. As roommates, they were all well aware of how perfect Bei Yao's figure was. Bei Yao possessed every external quality Wu Mo coveted most. She couldn't understand why Chen Feifei and Yang Jia could stand beside Bei Yao without any reservations and still adore her so much. Didn't they feel inferior?
After the classroom lights were turned off, Wu Mo had intended to return to the dormitory, but the more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt.While she was "notorious," Bei Yao remained "pure and unsullied." And the ones who liked Bei Yao were all such good people.
She turned and headed toward the camphor tree grove on campus.
She had read that love letter.
Under the camphor tree, a tall, slender young man was waiting anxiously.
Wu Mo said, "Han Zhen?"
The young man turned around, revealing a youthful and handsome face. He was quite good-looking, fitting the aesthetic preferences of schoolgirls at the time—clean-cut, gentle, and warm when he smiled.
Han Zhen found her somewhat familiar: "May I ask who you are?"
"My name is Wu Mo. I'm Bei Yao's roommate."
Han Zhen blushed. He had imagined many possibilities—whether Bei Yao would come or not—but he never expected her roommate to show up. He politely replied, "Hello."
Wu Mo said with slight embarrassment, "Bei Yao read your... She didn’t come. Bei Yao is very focused on her studies. Maybe you shouldn’t disturb her."
Han Zhen replied dejectedly, "Yeah, I understand. Studies come first."
Wu Mo said, "Actually, it’s not just that. You know, quite a few people like Bei Yao."
Han Zhen looked up, listening intently.
"But Bei Yao feels that most people’s affection is shallow, based only on appearance. Would you really dare to confess to her openly? Without fear, in a way that lets everyone know?"
Han Zhen came from a good family and had been raised with proper manners. He made up his mind, cleared his throat, and said, "Okay." Then he pressed Wu Mo further, "Will she agree if I do that?"
Wu Mo’s heart raced: "Definitely. She told me she likes brave and determined people."
Han Zhen said, "I understand. The autumn marathon is in three days. Could you pass on a message for me? Please ask her to wait for me at the finish line."
When she returned to the dormitory, the other roommates had already finished washing up.
Chen Feifei said, "Wu Mo, why are you back so late? The dorm auntie almost locked the doors."
Feeling guilty, Wu Mo avoided looking at Bei Yao. "I had a stomachache and used the restroom in the teaching building."
The other girls didn’t suspect anything. Before long, the dormitory lights were turned off as per the usual schedule.
In the darkness, Wu Mo could vaguely make out the graceful silhouette across the room and bit her lip lightly. It was her first time doing something like this, and her heart pounded with nervousness, mixed with envy that someone was willing to go all out for Bei Yao.
Even though—even though Han Zhen knew he could face disciplinary action.
~
The autumn marathon was a tradition in C City’s high schools. Apart from Schools No. 1, 3, and 6, other high schools also participated. Because it was such a grand and lively event, schools would give students a day off.
October was probably the month with the most holidays aside from winter and summer breaks.
In Class 9 of the second year at School No. 3, when the sports committee member brought over the sign-up sheet, Jin Ziyang said, "I’ll sign you all up."
Pei Chuan, who had been working on test papers, looked up and said, "I’m not going."
Jin Ziyang asked, "Why not? It’s so much fun. Even if you can’t finish the race, having pretty girls hand you water and cheer you on makes you look cool."
Besides, Brother Chuan’s arm muscles were really well-defined. He looked incredibly manly when exercising.
Pei Chuan didn’t explain. He lowered his head and continued writing his chemistry test.
Jin Ziyang and the others didn’t know that Pei Chuan had no lower legs. His athletic pants always concealed his disability. From the moment they met Pei Chuan, they only knew that this young man was wealthy, lived alone, and enjoyed a lot of freedom. But they knew nothing about his past.
Pei Chuan seemed like someone without a family. Whenever Jin Ziyang and the others accidentally asked about his past, he would turn particularly cold.
Over time, everyone learned that family and the past were his sore spots, and they wisely stopped bringing it up.Zheng Hang said, "I want to go, sign me up."
Jin Ziyang responded, "Got it!" Then he poked Ji Wei in front of him, "Wei Ge, you going or not?"
Ji Wei shrugged his shoulders, adjusted his glasses, and resisted, "How many times have I told you not to call me 'Wei Ge'? It sounds like... I'm not going. I need to preview Chapter Three of English. I'm determined to do well on this test."
Jin Ziyang burst into laughter and patted his shoulder. Knowing that the frail Ji Wei didn't enjoy these sports activities, he didn't cause trouble this time and didn't write his name down.
Pei Chuan stared at the chemical equations on the paper. Beside him, Jin Ziyang and Zheng Hang were heatedly discussing the autumn sports meet. He fell silent, unable to focus on the content before him.
Yet he knew he couldn't participate in sports like a normal person. During the last basketball game, he had skipped three days of classes. His severed limb had swollen and turned red, leaving him barely able to get out of bed.
His body simply didn't allow him to do many things; he could only listen to others talk about them.
~
In the autumn hues of October, the ginkgo trees at Third High School began to turn yellow. A young girl wore a crimson inner shirt with two straps tied behind her neck, layered under Sixth High's uniform jacket. The red of her inner shirt accentuated the fairness of her cheeks.
Bei Yao, panting slightly, peered into Third High's campus.
Her class had P.E. as their last period on Tuesdays, so Bei Yao had taken the bus to Third High, which hadn't dismissed yet.
She sighed in relief and walked along the yellowing ginkgo trees into the campus.
The ringing of the school bell echoed, and students poured out. Bei Yao had no choice but to step aside to avoid them. Third High also required uniforms—one set in purple and white, another in blue and white—though she had never seen Pei Chuan wear either.
Her shoulder bore the print of a blue-and-white dolphin. Further ahead stood a quiet teaching building. Worried that Pei Chuan might have already left, Bei Yao quickly pulled out her phone and called him.
He answered promptly, his youthful voice deep and carrying a hint of coolness: "Bei Yao."
"Yeah, it's me. I'm near the ginkgo trees at your school. Can you come meet me?"
"Okay."
Pei Chuan hung up and said to Jin Ziyang and the others, "You guys go ahead and eat. I have something to do."
Without waiting for their reactions, he headed toward the school's ginkgo grove.
Naturally, Jin Ziyang and his friends had no intention of eating at the cafeteria. They slung their arms around each other's shoulders: "How about going to 'Allure World' to eat? Haven't been there in a while."
"Let's go. We'll call Brother Chuan later. Old Shen's evening self-study? We're skipping." Old Shen, with his gentle and slow-paced nature, was a prime target for mischievous students. The group chuckled and headed out.
Pei Chuan arrived at the ginkgo grove.
The ginkgo leaves were half-yellow, half-green, drifting down from the branches. She sat on a large rock, a backpack slung over her shoulders. Perhaps exhausted, she rested her hands on her knees, catching her breath.
The girl wore her school uniform pants, which were too long, so she had rolled up the cuffs, revealing unusually slender ankles when seated.
Her legs dangled in the air, her bangs swaying gently in the breeze. Ginkgo leaves clung affectionately around her.
On the basketball court, a few boys had stopped playing and were stealing glances at her. Unaware, she remained seated, backpack and all, utterly spent.
Pei Chuan lowered his gaze.
"Pei Chuan!" Bei Yao called out with a smile. Her tone was soft, almost coquettish in the eyes of some, yet her voice was genuinely gentle, reminiscent of the delicate dialect of Jiangnan.
Pei Chuan walked over. She didn't jump down, and even seated on the large rock, she still didn't reach his height.Bei Yao took a simple lunchbox from her backpack. Pei Chuan glanced over, and her cheeks flushed. "My mom made dumplings and five-color rice cakes. It's the Double Ninth Festival today."
Sure enough, the metal lunchbox was evenly divided between steamed dumplings and five-color rice cakes.
They didn't look particularly appealing and had gone cold.
She motioned for him to take it. Pei Chuan accepted it and asked, "Did you run here?"
"No, I took the bus," she said with a smile, though she had run from her school to the bus stop and then from the bus stop to his school.
Pei Chuan looked at the contents of the lunchbox—things that someone like Jin Ziyang would undoubtedly scorn—and felt an absurd speculation arise in his heart. Bei Yao had no idea about his current life, so she was treating him the same way she had when they were children.
She might have heard others mention "Pei Chuan from Third High," but to Bei Yao, it was just an abstract concept. In her heart, he was still the Pei Chuan who had never left.
She didn't know that he had once nearly stepped into the abyss.
He tightened his grip on the lunchbox, his gaze falling on the little panda attached to her backpack.
Bei Yao noticed it too and asked him, "Did you give this to me?"
Pei Chuan didn't deny it. "Mm."
Bei Yao was utterly puzzled. "Did you know my old panda broke?"
Meeting her clear, bright eyes, he could only lie. "The old one broke? I happened to see this one and thought it looked like yours, so I bought it on a whim."
His tone was calm, and Bei Yao didn't suspect a thing.
In the mind of a sixteen-year-old, surveillance was something far removed from reality.
Her voice was sweet and filled with affection. "Thank you. I really like it. I won't break it this time."
A part of his heart beat uncontrollably, as if the madness of that night had found its solace in her smile. He took a slight step back, afraid she might hear the pounding of his heart.
In her presence, he rarely smiled, yet his eyes softened involuntarily—more awkward than any exaggerated or frivolous grin, yet far more genuine.
Bei Yao soon had to leave; she still had evening self-study.
Pei Chuan didn't walk her to the school gate. He watched her walk away, feeling for the first time that lying to her over a year ago was the biggest mistake he had ever made.
Third High and Sixth High weren't far apart, yet they couldn't see each other from their respective schools. There would never be another girl who would go through such trouble to bring him food.
She had grown up so beautifully. Had she been even slightly prideful, she would have known that being kind to someone like him—a cripple—was a humiliation to herself.
Yet as she walked through the ginkgo forest, her back looked innocent and joyful, as if she felt no shame at all.
After she had gone, Pei Chuan returned to the classroom and finished every last dumpling and five-color rice cake she had brought.
~
At night, in the KTV on the fourth floor of Allure World, Pei Chuan leaned by the window, smoking.
None of them had attended evening self-study that day. From Allure World, they could see the lights of Sixth High's teaching building turning on one by one.
A sudden impulse seized him—to see what her life was like now. Just a distant glance would suffice.
Jin Ziyang said, "Damn, if only Allure World had a dance hall. Hey, Chuan, wanna come have a drink?"
Pei Chuan turned around. The KTV was a chaotic scene, while Sixth High in the distance was bathed in serene, quiet light.
Pei Chuan said, "I'm going for a walk."
He walked from the darkness toward Sixth High and, at the school gate, encountered Wu Mo.
Pei Chuan paid her no mind, but Wu Mo's heart raced for a moment. "Pei Chuan!" She jogged over. "Wh-what are you doing at Sixth High?"
Only then did Pei Chuan stop. Thanks to his sharp memory, he recognized her as Bei Yao's roommate.He had a rather aloof temperament, and for some reason, Wu Mo felt much more nervous facing him than Han Zhen. Under the boy’s dark-eyed gaze, her face slowly flushed, and her tone softened. "Last time, thank you for helping me."
She bit her lip, stealing glances at him.
Pei Chuan replied indifferently, "Mm." After a moment of silence, he asked her, "Have your classes started?"
Of course, classes had started. As the biology class representative, she had only left the classroom to help the teacher fetch something. But the boy’s gaze drifted toward their teaching building, and Wu Mo’s heart sank.
She tentatively asked, "Are you here to see Bei Yao?"
It was Bei Yao who had brought the news last time about Ding Wenxiang being a fraud.
Pei Chuan neither admitted nor denied it. He disliked people who answered questions with irrelevant remarks and had no patience for Wu Mo. He simply stepped around her and walked past.
Wu Mo felt deeply upset.
She had been dreaming these past few nights, and in her dreams, it was Pei Chuan’s image from Allure World. His casual tone alone had frightened Ding Wenxiang into fleeing. Perhaps, for everyone in high school, this kind of cold, aloof, and powerful boy was the one who lingered in their memories.
Wu Mo’s heart had already awakened to love, and her understanding of affection was far clearer than the oblivious Bei Yao. The bitterness in her heart almost felt like it was turning into venom. Why, why was it Bei Yao again?
A surge of anger spurred Wu Mo to run a few steps forward. "We’re in class right now. Bei Yao is helping the teacher grade papers."
His footsteps halted.
Wu Mo said cheerfully, "You’re Bei Yao’s friend, right? Let me tell you a secret—there’s a surprise the day after tomorrow."
"During the autumn marathon the day after tomorrow, Han Zhen, the class heartthrob of Class One, is going to confess to our Yaoyao. Yaoyao accepted his love letter, but not many people know about it yet."
The boy turned back, and in the pitch-black night, his eyes seemed even more inscrutable than the darkness.
Pei Chuan asked, "She accepted it?"
Wu Mo clenched her fingers inside her school uniform and said, "Yes. Have you seen Han Zhen? They’re quite a match. He genuinely likes Yaoyao. He knows full well that such a confession could get him disciplined, and how many people even finish the marathon each year? Just this gesture alone must have moved Yaoyao quite a bit."
The boy remained silent as a mountain. After a long while, he didn’t head to the teaching building but turned and left the school gate.
This was the second time Wu Mo had lied about this matter, but she no longer felt the panic she had the first time.
Watching the boy’s tall, slender figure recede into the distance, she felt an indescribable longing. If he believed her, he would either withdraw voluntarily or fight for her fiercely, and the only ones hurt would be Bei Yao or Han Zhen.
Wu Mo returned to the classroom and looked at her deskmate, Bei Yao, who was quietly studying with her head bowed. For the first time, she felt a flicker of anticipation.
At the autumn sports day the day after tomorrow, whether Bei Yao rejected Han Zhen’s confession or not, rumors would spread. Let’s see if you’ll humiliate Han Zhen in front of the entire school or agree to be disciplined alongside him.
~
The autumn marathon was exceptionally lively.
Banners were hung up, and most students who weren’t participating went to help. Volunteers, dressed in their school uniforms and wearing school badges, boarded buses heading up the mountain.
Evergreen Mountain was lush, with a man-made track carved out and later reinforced with sturdy railings. Since the mountain was often used for hiking, it was eventually repurposed for the autumn marathon.
The route from the foot to the summit embodied the marathon’s spirit of perseverance.
Anyone who participated and reached the finish line would receive a reward from the organizers, which was why the triennial autumn marathon was always so bustling. However, since the Third and Sixth High Schools were nearby, most participants came from these two schools, while other schools, being farther away, had fewer attendees.Student Council President Shi Tian walked at the forefront, calling out to the first and second-year volunteer students to board the bus—third-year students wouldn’t participate in such events.
Shi Tian was exhausted, muttering to herself, “Why am I, a third-year student, still doing this? There are so few volunteers this year that I had to draft people, and now I’ve lost everyone’s goodwill.”
In Bei Yao’s dormitory, she happened to be on her period and could only opt to be a volunteer. Though usually quiet, she enjoyed the lively atmosphere too.
Yang Jia and Chen Feifei had signed up for the marathon, planning to complete the course and get a medal as a souvenir. Chen Feifei had a water bottle hanging around her neck, which Bei Yao took off for her: “You won’t need this; it’ll just weigh you down. The volunteers will have glucose water prepared at regular intervals. If you’re thirsty, remember to stop and drink.”
“Okay, Yao Yao, you have to cheer for me!”
Before boarding the bus, Wu Mo approached Shi Tian and pleaded, “President, could you assign Bei Yao and me to the mountaintop? We really want to go up and see the view. Please!”
Shi Tian, being straightforward, remembered how Bei Yao had helped her greatly last time. Switching volunteer positions wasn’t a big deal: “Alright, but stay alert. Those who manage to run up there have it tough, so be ready to lend a hand.”
Wu Mo quickly agreed, “Of course, of course!”
The bus transported the students to the foot of the mountain.
The volunteers boarded another vehicle and rode up the mountain in advance, while the remaining participants gathered.
A voice over the loudspeaker announced, “Attention, students! Listen to the race details: There are six checkpoints along the route. At each checkpoint, collect a ribbon. Your score will be based on the number of ribbons and your completion time.”
Jin Ziyang and Zheng Hang, who had originally planned to sneak a bicycle ride up the mountain, exchanged glances: “...”
The race was packed with people.
In truth, Changqing Mountain wasn’t steep. On the contrary, as a marathon route, it was relatively low and flat, though the distance was long, testing endurance—no different from other marathons.
Zheng Hang turned his head in surprise, “Brother Chuan?”
Pei Chuan nodded at them.
“Are you running too? But you didn’t sign up—even if you win, there’s no reward.” No reward, no honor—what was the point?
Pei Chuan lifted his gaze toward the mountaintop, “Just running casually.”
The volunteers took their positions, setting up supply stations with thermoses and paper cups.
The mountain breeze in October mornings was chilly.
A whistle blew, and the students cheered as they dashed off.
At the start of any race, enthusiasm runs high, but no one knows what kind of long and lonely journey awaits them.
Pei Chuan slowed his pace.
The October wind brushed through his short hair and over his exposed arms. The crowd scattered; initially, there were many people around, but after collecting the second ribbon, the numbers gradually thinned.
He panted, the severed limb where his prosthetic leg attached beginning to ache faintly, urging him to quit.
But whether it was stubbornness or something else, he maintained his pace and pressed on.
Han Zhen was able-bodied and undoubtedly faster. Accepting this, Pei Chuan chose not to stop for water.
Third checkpoint, fourth checkpoint…
Four colored ribbons wrapped around his arm. Gradually, the path became a solitary journey. He wasn’t in the lead, but the marathon had stretched the distance, leaving few in sight. Sweat soaked his black hair and eyelashes, and a groan escaped him as the severed limb throbbed with pain.
The stump was probably close to being rubbed raw.Gasping for breath, he stared toward the mountaintop and continued without a word.
At the fifth checkpoint, he took the ribbon and casually wrapped it around his arm.
A volunteer noticed his sweat-soaked clothes and said, "Have some water, classmate. No need to rush."
He didn't respond, running toward the mountaintop.
A person with a prosthetic leg could play basketball, run, and box. But when the pain nearly made him lose his footing, he finally understood that incompleteness would always remain incompleteness.
This path was lonely—a solitude without companions, without any witnesses. Only the mountain breeze occasionally brushed past his temples as sweat streamed down. Unlike the exhaustion others felt, his was predominantly pain.
Yet Pei Chuan thought to himself: though his life and body might be insignificant, his feelings were not.
When only a hundred meters remained to the final checkpoint, he saw her.
Bei Yao sat at the volunteer station, a volunteer badge pinned to her shoulder, wearing the uniform of Sixth High School. Beside her were several other student volunteers from different schools, both boys and girls.
Many people were gathered at the finish line, eagerly watching. She lowered her gaze, carefully mixing glucose powder with water, while others stepped forward to offer drinks to the students who had completed the run.
As Bei Yao lifted her eyes, she saw Pei Chuan.
Fifty meters away, his steps were slow and laborious, like the childhood nursery rhyme about a snail inching its way upward under a heavy burden.
He was no snail, yet he ran with the same arduous effort.
By then, his gait had already become unsteady.
His staggering movements were unsettling; the only thing sustaining him was sheer willpower. Among all the runners reaching the finish line, none struggled as intensely as he did. Sweat drenched his arms as if he had been pulled from water.
Even Wu Mo at the volunteer station widened her eyes in disbelief. Wh-what? How could Pei Chuan be this exhausted?
With twenty meters left, he could no longer run, forcing himself to walk step by step, gritting his teeth.
He walked toward her.
Pei Chuan didn't ask for much—just a cup of water from her would suffice. Yet it seemed even that short distance was beyond his reach.
Just as Shi Tian turned her head, she saw Bei Yao duck under the manually strung barrier line. Shi Tian was startled: "Bei Yao! What are you doing? Don't go over there!"
But Bei Yao had already stepped onto the track. She didn't answer Shi Tian.
Nineteen meters, eighteen meters...
She ran toward Pei Chuan.
It was unprecedented for a volunteer to cross the boundary and enter the track. Shi Tian never expected that person to be the obedient and well-behaved Bei Yao.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, the slightly curled ends lifted by the wind. She ran along the track—two meters, one meter—like a drifting butterfly, light and carrying the fragrance of summer.
She stretched out her arms and caught the young man just as he was about to collapse.
It was their first embrace in twelve years.
The girl's slender, soft arms wrapped around the young man's lean waist. Her hair carried a delicate scent, like gardenias or lilacs. His legs throbbed with excruciating pain, his lips were chapped, and holding onto her kept him from falling.
The curve of her waist beneath his palm was soft—unlike his own—so tender it seemed almost fragile, delicate and pitiable. It was his first time touching a girl's body.
The young man's palms were burning hot. He remained silent, drenched from head to toe.
"Pei Chuan," Bei Yao said, her voice a mix of heartache and frustration, "why did you participate in this?"
Leaning against the girl's embrace, his voice was hoarse and barely recognizable: "I like it." Because I like you so much.
But Bei Yao thought he meant he liked the sport. Furious, tears nearly welling in her eyes, she scolded, "If you don't take care of yourself, you deserve the pain!"
He didn't argue or get angry, merely replying in a low voice, "Mm."
He closed his eyes slightly. The October mountain breeze was cool and refreshing.
On the mountain path, only he and Bei Yao remained. Seventeen meters ahead lay the finish line, and behind her, countless people watched with bated breath.She slipped through the security line and gave him the first embrace of his life.
In the girl's arms was fragrance, softness, tenderness—a scent he would never forget for the rest of his days.
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