Just before the winter break ended, Bei Yao, Zhao Zhilan, and Bei Jun went to visit Fang Minjun's home.
Teacher Fang had sent some gifts to their family, so Zhao Zhilan reciprocated by giving the Fang family some homemade sausages.
Zhao Zhilan chatted with Zhao Xiu in the living room while Bei Jun played by himself.
Fang Minjun had turned seventeen after the New Year. She now appeared serene and steady, as if reborn—shedding her former pretentious arrogance and becoming much more likable.
Fang Minjun brought out diced apples for them to share with Bei Yao. She remarked, "People are so strange. Our mothers have been competing with each other for half their lives, probably despising one another deep down, yet they still visit during holidays after moving away."
Bei Yao couldn't help but chuckle.
Fang Minjun sighed, "That bottle of wine from our family was my mom's idea—my dad would never have thought of it. My mom... she might have a sharp tongue, but Aunt Lan might be the only friend she's had all these years."
Bei Yao nodded, "My mom mentioned this year that with your family gone, the New Year feels much quieter."
Fang Minjun asked, "Did Uncle Pei's family also move away?"
"Yes."
Both Fang Minjun and Bei Yao attended No. 6 High School but rarely saw each other there since they were in different classes. However, Fang Minjun was naturally aware of the major "cheating" incident that had occurred before the New Year.
"When Uncle Pei moved, did Pei Chuan not go with them?"
Bei Yao replied softly, "No."
Both girls fell silent. After all, all the old neighbors were well aware of the Pei family's circumstances over the years.
After a moment, Fang Minjun wondered, "What about Pei Chuan's mother? How come we've never heard about how Aunt Jiang has been all these years?"
Bei Yao gazed out the window at the white, misty haze blurring the glass. "I don't know either. She remarried and probably has a new family now."
Only Pei Chuan was left without a home.
Fang Minjun turned and rummaged in her cabinet, pulling out a piggy bank. She emptied it, revealing a pile of bills and coins. "I give my New Year's money to my mom every year, so this is all I have left. I'm not very close to him, but could you give this to him?"
Bei Yao pushed the money back. "Minmin, keep it for yourself. Pei Chuan wouldn't accept it."
Fang Minjun thought about Pei Chuan's stubborn and prideful nature. "You're right."
After chatting for a while, Fang Minjun suddenly said, "A while ago, my mom said she was taking me to meet someone, but it was actually a matchmaking setup."
Bei Yao was surprised she brought it up so openly. Fang Minjun didn't seem bothered. "I went because I didn't want to upset my mom. She's... not a bad person at heart. I met him—the guy is two years older than me, named Huo Dinglin. I didn't like him. He clearly looked down on our family's social climbing but still wore a fake smile." She said "social climbing" frankly, showing how much broader-minded she'd become with age.
Fang Minjun frowned. "It's not even the era for arranged meetings anymore. I agreed to go just to make friends, as my mom said, but she's very pleased with Huo Dinglin. She says the Huo family has 'pure roots and strong sprouts' and insists I visit them more."
Bei Yao was puzzled. "'Pure roots and strong sprouts'?"
Fang Minjun explained, "The Huo family is quite influential in City B. Their main branch produced many outstanding military officers in the past, and later they went into business smoothly, becoming very wealthy. Huo Dinglin's family are distant relatives of the Huos, but because of that connection, they became highly sought-after when they returned to City C."Bei Yao couldn't quite explain it either. Hearing these things always felt strange to her, but since her memories had stopped at senior year of high school and so much had changed, she no longer relied on past recollections as reference.
Bei Yao could only tell Fang Minjun: "If you don't like it, don't force yourself. Have a good talk with Aunt Zhao Xiu—she'll understand."
"I will."
When Bei Yao returned to the residential complex, she ran into Chen Yingqi. He was a bit older than them and was currently attending vocational school.
"Aunt Zhao, Bei Yao."
"It's Chen Hu. Have you eaten?"
Chen Yingqi nodded, emphasizing: "My name is Chen Yingqi now."
"Oh, oh, Aunt Zhao's memory isn't good, I forgot."
Seeing his awkward expression, Bei Yao said to her mother: "I'll talk with Chen Yingqi for a while."
Zhao Zhilan carried Bei Jun upstairs.
Chen Yingqi's eyes darted around nervously before he finally stammered: "When you went to Fang Minjun's house, what did you talk about?"
Bei Yao didn't lie to him: "Her mother set her up on a blind date, and she was telling me about it."
"What!"
The chubby teenager nearly jumped three feet high: "Blind date! How old is she to be going on blind dates!"
His voice was deep and carried well. Bei Yao said helplessly: "We all think that way, but Aunt Zhao doesn't see it like that. She thinks that boy is excellent and it's good to get to know him early."
Chen Yingqi was stunned, frozen in place.
After a long moment, he lowered his head dejectedly.
He looked at his hands—broad and large, covered with excess flesh. His body, stomach, neck, and cheeks all carried extra weight. Besides loving food, there was also congenital family inheritance. His family circumstances were ordinary—Father Chen was a regular salaried worker, and he himself wasn't particularly clever. This year he was attending an ordinary vocational school learning auto repair.
For the first time at eighteen years old, the young man realized he couldn't see his own future.
He didn't like it when people covered their mouths and whispered about his figure as he passed by. But he could pretend to be cheerful, acting as if nothing bothered him.
In this life, there are many things we have no choice about.
Chen Yingqi handed Bei Yao the sweet potato snacks he was carrying: "Thank you for telling me this, Bei Yao. You and Bei Jun can have these."
How could Bei Yao take his things for nothing? She shook her head: "Thank you, but we still have lots of New Year treats at home that we haven't finished eating. If you like, I can bring you some later."
Chen Yingqi didn't speak. He stubbornly threw the snacks he'd just bought into the complex's trash bin.
He didn't want to be so greedy either. He didn't want to be this fat either.
Bei Yao watched him with puzzled confusion. The sixteen-year-old girl stood in the snow like a beautiful porcelain doll.
Chen Yingqi suddenly said: "Bei Yao, suppose, I'm just saying suppose, that Pei Chuan liked you. Would you accept him?"
Bei Yao's face instantly turned red: "Wh-what are you asking that for?"
"Tell me, would you look down on him?"
Chen Yingqi heard her ask: "Why would I look down on him?" Her eyes were clear, like melted snow water, without any impurities.
Chen Yingqi gritted his teeth: "He has no legs!"
Don't you understand that's a lifelong disability?
The smile on Bei Yao's face faded considerably. She lowered her long eyelashes and said: "Many people have healthy legs, but they're not Pei Chuan."
Pei Chuan wasn't a monster—he'd just been more unfortunate than many children when he was young. There were so many healthy people in this world, but she had no reason to like them. They weren't Pei Chuan.
Chen Yingqi looked at her in shock.
"You..."Bei Yao finally realized what she had said. Chen Yingqi wasn't a fool—with her defending Pei Chuan like this, even if he wasn't certain before, he now understood she would never look down on Pei Chuan.
Bei Yao was about to head home.
Just as she reached the stairs, Chen Yingqi suddenly called out, "Bei Yao."
She turned back.
"You're really good," he said sincerely. "Maybe too good. Pei Chuan probably wouldn't dare to like you."
Bei Yao was somewhat shocked, not quite understanding the boy's meaning.
Chen Yingqi clenched his fists. "People with flaws... even if they act like they don't care on the surface, deep down they feel very... inferior. What I said earlier was just hypothetical, don't take it to heart. I grew up with him, and though I was annoying as a kid, I know his personality—he would never bother you. If possible, please be kind to him. For people like us... no, for him, every step forward is incredibly difficult."
After saying this, regardless of Bei Yao's reaction, he turned and ran home. As he grew older, he had come to understand Pei Chuan better, making it impossible for him to dislike that aloof boy.
Standing in the snow on the eighth day of the new year, Bei Yao gently lifted her gaze. The winter plum in the residential area had once been blown down by strong winds but was later replanted and carefully nurtured by residents.
Now it bloomed fragrant flowers amidst the ice and snow.
Certain things that had been unclear before—Pei Chuan's reactions that made her angry, him calling himself her brother—all of it became clear, like breathing on a frosted windowpane and wiping away the mist with a finger.
"Pei Chuan probably wouldn't dare to like you."
~
After the heavy snow melted, Bei Yao entered her second year of high school.
By March, spring had returned to the land, but the melting snow brought the coldest temperatures. Because second-year students had make-up classes, the school started early.
Studies suddenly seemed to intensify. Rumor had it that summer vacation wouldn't be long this year either, at most just a "heat vacation."
At night, Chen Feifei lit up her phone under the covers to read novels in the dorm. Afraid of being caught by the dorm matron, she buried her head under the quilt, nearly suffocating herself, yet she couldn't stop reading until two or three in the morning.
During this critical second year of high school, becoming addicted to novels was truly disastrous.
Chen Feifei felt miserable about it too, but she couldn't control her hands from opening the phone's browser.
In 2008, military romance novels swept through the campus like a storm. In their youthful days, girls loved weaving beautiful dreams for themselves, and those who enjoyed military romance novels this year all dreamed of growing up to marry soldiers who protected the nation, becoming military wives.
During a break, Chen Feifei chatted with Bei Yao: "Do you want to marry an officer someday? Tall, handsome, and cool?"
Bei Yao shook her head.
Chen Feifei: "Then what profession do you like? Doctors? Scientists? Or teachers! Teacher-student stories are pretty exciting too!"
Bei Yao said with a serious face: "Chen Feifei, you shouldn't read erotic novels."
"..." Chen Feifei wanted to pinch that stern yet adorable face.
Bei Yao's almond-shaped eyes couldn't help but curve into smiles.
Chen Feifei said: "Oh, Yao Yao, you're actually teasing me! Take this—my Nine Yin White Bone Claw!"
After the playfighting ended, Bei Yao remembered that small notebook.
Huo Xu—a completely unfamiliar name. He didn't exist in her life, yet he had remained in the diary for over ten years. Because of this, she genuinely had no interest in military romance novels.
The person she liked was sensitive yet cold, proud yet insecure.Bei Yao was still thinking about Pei Chuan's scarf and gloves that she hadn't returned yet. She had washed and dried them, but the hectic pace of the new semester caught everyone off guard.
Bei Yao wasn't particularly brilliant; she had to put in extra effort just to maintain her good grades.
By early May, spring had fully arrived on campus, and summer was almost upon C City. The school had even added an extra evening self-study session, though afternoon naps would be permitted after Labor Day.
May marked Pei Chuan's coming-of-age ceremony—a significant milestone in everyone's life. These days, Bei Yao found herself wondering during spare moments: what would be the perfect gift?
Pei Chuan lived such an uninteresting life. She knew what he disliked—harsh lights and loud noises, tomatoes and ham sausages—but what he actually liked was nearly nonexistent.
As a child, Bei Yao had grown accustomed to giving him small toys, though she never saw him use them. Besides, she didn't have much money left and couldn't afford anything particularly nice. Remembering what Chen Feifei had mentioned last time—that she also had a childhood friend—Bei Yao decided to seek her advice.
Chen Feifei asked, "A boy's eighteenth birthday?"
She thought for a moment, then grinned mischievously. "Ha! Bei Yao, give him your first kiss!"
Bei Yao was stunned for a second: "..."
Chen Feifei cheerfully chanted, "Little white rabbit, white and fair, give a kiss, oh so dear."
Bei Yao's cheeks flushed red: "I'm asking you seriously."
Chen Feifei said, "Don't try to fool me! Everyone knows Han Zhen's birthday is in May. Liu Xiaoling and the others in our class are already preparing gifts. Let me tell you, that's what all the novels say—give your first kiss for a coming-of-age ceremony, and you'll be in love forever."
Bei Yao was shocked: "Which novel says that?"
Chen Feifei pulled out her phone: "My novel! See? The School Bully's Sweet Wife."
Bei Yao was at a loss for words—Chen Feifei, are you even planning to go to college?!
Chen Feifei insisted, "Trust me, if you like Han Zhen, just cup his face and kiss him. Oh, but you're Bei Yao! The school's dream girl—one kiss from you, and anyone would be yours. Han Zhen already has a crush on you anyway; this is a sure thing. But keep it quiet—no one can know. Our school doesn't allow early dating."
Bei Yao didn't even know Han Zhen's birthday was in May.
Yet she couldn't explain who she was actually preparing a gift for.
Burrowing her face into her arms, Bei Yao recalled Chen Yingqi's words—Pei Chuan didn't even dare to like her.
As for the first kiss... it all sounded so unreliable.
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