When Wu Mo entered, Chen Feifei immediately shut her mouth.
Wu Mo sneered inwardly and glanced at Bei Yao. Had she overheard their conversation? So Bei Yao had accepted Han Zhen's love letter but stood him up, and now she was going to offer up her first kiss? The thought made Wu Mo's chest tighten—her own first kiss had been stolen by that scoundrel Ding Wenxiang.
At the start of the second semester of tenth grade, Wu Mo could feel the chill from her dormmates. Yang Jia, who occasionally ate with her last semester, now avoided even sharing meals. Wu Mo suspected Chen Feifei had been badmouthing her behind her back.
Wu Mo remained calm on the surface. Why did some get to live vibrant, innocent youth while others were left anxious after being deceived? For Wu Mo, only Pei Chuan—who'd once saved her—could make her feel secure. But Pei Chuan... he only had eyes for Bei Yao.
The irony struck her: Did that aloof boy know his goddess was about to kiss someone else?
Chen Feifei wasn't sure if Wu Mo had overheard, but she thought simply—after all, they were just sixteen-year-old girls. Though Wu Mo had an unpleasant personality, how bad could she really be? Chen Feifei was more interested in the gossip about Han Zhen's birthday.
Han Zhen had an excellent reputation at Sixth High: top grades, driven, polite, and principled. Crucially, despite his qualities, he maintained boundaries with girls. So far, Bei Yao was the only one he'd shown interest in.
To Chen Feifei, the aspiring writer, Han Zhen was textbook male lead material. She strongly approved of him. He was the secret crush of many girls.
But turning eighteen seemed like a signal—a chance for the brave. As Chen Feifei said, countless girls were preparing gifts for Han Zhen. His birthday fell on May 16th, early summer warmth without scorching heat.
Bei Yao found it coincidental: Pei Chuan's birthday was May 17th. Yet though born in the same lovely season, their fates and family backgrounds were worlds apart. Even without knowing Han Zhen well, Bei Yao could tell he came from a happy home—his manners and speech were always appropriate and pleasant.
Then on May 14th, Sixth High was rocked by explosive gossip—"Heard? School belle Bei Yao's giving Han Zhen a birthday kiss!"
Most found it unbelievable. Both Han Zhen and Bei Yao had "early dating" looks but zero romantic history. How could this be!
Then came another revelation: Han Zhen had written Bei Yao a love letter. Han Zhen's best friend immediately believed it—he knew Han Zhen had planned to confess during the marathon.
When Han Zhen heard the rumor, he froze, then flushed crimson. His friend teased, "Excited?" Han Zhen's heart raced, but he frowned, "Stop spreading this. It'll damage her reputation."
Even at lenient Sixth High, student relationships weren't tolerated. That Han Zhen blushed at the rumor only cemented belief in the "birthday kiss" story.
As the saying goes: Bad news travels fast.To be honest, Han Zhen felt somewhat hopeful, but his reason told him it was impossible. If Bei Yao truly liked him, she wouldn't have sent Wu Mo over that night, nor would she have been absent from the marathon later. This was most likely just a rumor.
Yet even if it was just a rumor, it had already spread like wildfire.
Chen Feifei was right about one thing: Bei Yao was a girl whom nearly half the school openly or secretly admired. This rumor spread like wings, and everyone was eagerly awaiting May 16th, almost itching with anticipation.
Several troublemakers had also started threads about it on the school forum.
When Bei Yao found out, her face changed color.
Chen Feifei was also stunned. She had only meant it as a joke, and both she and Bei Yao knew it was just that. But when everyone believed something, the false seemed more convincing than the truth.
Chen Feifei knew her careless words had caused trouble. "I'm sorry, Yao Yao. I'll go back to the forum and clarify. It's all my fault. If the teachers find out, I'll testify for you."
She was on the verge of tears. Bei Yao said, "Don't worry. It's just a rumor, and rumors always collapse on their own. Besides, I won't be going anyway. Everyone will understand then."
Chen Feifei did go back to the forum to clarify, but no one believed her.
That evening, Chen Feifei and Wu Mo almost got into a fight. Chen Feifei was convinced Wu Mo had spread the rumor, but Wu Mo retorted, "You have no proof! How can you accuse me like this?"
"You were the only one nearby. If it wasn't you, then who?"
"Hah, you were the one talking nonsense. Maybe you're the one who spread it!"
Chen Feifei's eyes reddened with anger. No one knew how much she cherished Bei Yao as a friend, and being misunderstood as malicious made her furious enough to hit someone. Yang Jia quickly stepped in to stop her.
Bei Yao walked in with a thermos of hot water, calmer than Chen Feifei. "Wu Mo, I know it was you too."
"Hmph, you two just love ganging up on me, don't you?"
Bei Yao said, "I won't argue with you. It's pointless. You're right—we have no proof. After all, once words spread, they take on a life of their own."
A faint smirk had just appeared in Wu Mo's eyes when Bei Yao, bending to pour hot water, added, "The same goes for what happened between you and Ding Wenxiang."
Wu Mo's face turned incredulous. "What did you say?" She finally grew anxious. "Bei Yao, it wasn't me, really it wasn't! You promised you wouldn't tell anyone!"
"When you do something wrong, do you ever think about how others might feel?" Bei Yao said. "Should Han Zhen and I just endure your rumors forever?"
Wu Mo grabbed Bei Yao's arm. "I know you're the kindest. You won't say anything, right?"
Bei Yao told her, "Kindness is armor to keep one's conscience clear, not a reason to endure bullying."
This time, Bei Yao was truly angry. Not only had she been affected, but Han Zhen had also been dragged into it. She felt sorry for him.
Neither the law nor school regulations could punish someone like Wu Mo, which made her fearless, but they could.
After getting Yang Jia and Chen Feifei's consent, the matter about Ding Wenxiang was also spread.
Wu Mo was furious. Now, whenever she went out, she felt people giving her strange looks.
Chen Feifei said, "It's good that it's out there. At least it warns everyone to be cautious of people like Ding Wenxiang."
Wu Mo didn't dare report Ding Wenxiang's matter to the authorities, as it might reveal more victims. It was better to alert everyone.Bei Yao thought the same way.
They had kept their mouths shut before because Wu Mo was the victim, and victims deserved protection—even though Wu Mo had given up the chance to punish the wrongdoer.
However, being a victim was no excuse for harming others.
After handling this matter, Bei Yao hurried home over the weekend to retrieve the gift she had prepared for Pei Chuan, along with his scarf and gloves, and brought them to school. She planned to take leave this Tuesday, the seventeenth, to go out and celebrate his birthday.
~
Jin Ziyang stumbled upon a sensational post while browsing the forum.
"Holy shit, no way! The Six High school belle offering a kiss? That's insane! Why not to me? Even though my birthday has long passed, I could totally pretend to turn eighteen tomorrow," he exclaimed in amazement. The post even included a casual photo of Bei Yao—a stunning side profile of her crouching in the sunlight to adjust her school uniform trousers.
Below, someone had also posted a photo of Han Zhen, who carried the aura of a male lead from a campus drama.
Hearing the words "Six High school belle," Pei Chuan, who had been solving problems, looked up.
His voice was low: "What did you say?"
Ji Wei, immersed in his studies, turned around and whispered with a look of admiration, "Brother Chuan, could you explain this function problem to me?"
Although Pei Chuan had a solitary nature, he was actually very generous. His explanations were clear and insightful, leaving others greatly benefited.
But when Ji Wei turned back, he saw Pei Chuan's face had darkened.
Pei Chuan stared at the post on his phone, his eyes lowered and unmoving for a long time. Only his knuckles turned white, and his lips were pressed tightly together.
It was still self-study period during biology class.
Pei Chuan suddenly stood up, his chair and desk scraping loudly. The teacher preparing lessons at the podium and all the students turned to look.
As if he could no longer contain himself, he pushed open the back door of the classroom and was about to leave.
The biology teacher was startled, then snapped to attention: "Pei Chuan, where are you going? Class is still in session!"
Pei Chuan pushed the door open and left without looking back.
The classroom fell into an eerie silence, the atmosphere awkward. Jin Ziyang chuckled nervously, "Teacher, Brother Chuan really had to pee urgently, couldn't wait to explain. Haha, don't mind him."
The teacher's face turned ashen.
Zheng Hang stood up: "Reporting, teacher, I also have to pee urgently." He too exited through the back door.
Jin Ziyang: "Reporting, teacher, I also—"
The teacher slammed the podium, furious. Jin Ziyang rubbed his nose: "Alright, never mind, I'm fine."
Zheng Hang ran out: "Brother Chuan!"
Pei Chuan's dark eyes met his. On the surface, Pei Chuan seemed no different, but only he himself knew how painfully tense every muscle in his body was.
Zheng Hang said, "You can't go now. You like her, don't you?"
Pei Chuan gritted his teeth without a word.
Zheng Hang smiled bitterly inwardly. Back then, on the second floor of the restaurant, when the paper airplane landed in Bei Yao's arms and the girl looked up, he too had felt a moment of awe and attraction. But later, realizing it was impossible, he had let go of those thoughts. Even he felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing that post today, let alone Pei Chuan.
Zheng Hang said, "They're in class right now. It's Monday, and the principal and teachers are making rounds."
So, things couldn't escalate any further.
Pei Chuan said hoarsely, "I know."
After a long pause, he added, "I just... needed to step out and calm down."
He should have thought about what he had been doing all this time. Why did he dare to hope for Bei Yao's affection? Why didn't he listen to Aunt Zhao and keep his distance from their daughter? He had abandoned his principles, shed his defenses, only to return to the prophecy of the very beginning—Watching her love someone else, utterly helpless.
He leaned against the ginkgo tree, lowering his gaze to his white sneakers. In summer, the ginkgo tree had sprouted tender green leaves again. Sometimes, silent plants were like people who spoke little, always quietly waiting for time to change.
Zheng Hang said, "Want a cigarette?"
Pei Chuan took it, clamping it between his lips as if to vent his despair. Yet just as Zheng Hang flicked the lighter, he turned his head away and removed the cigarette.
She had said, "Don’t smoke, it smells bad."
Was he damned to remember her words for a lifetime?
Pei Chuan’s eyes held restrained pain. He took the lighter, lit the cigarette, then brought it to his lips before violently throwing it to the ground and stamping it out.
Zheng Hang’s lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
Luckily, no one saw during class, or he’d have looked like a madman.
Zheng Hang stayed with him to cool off.
They cooled off for who knows how many classes—anyway, it was dismissal by afternoon.
Zheng Hang said, "In life, there’s no hurdle that can’t be overcome. Brother Chuan, take it easy."
Pei Chuan murmured softly, "Mm."
He spent the entire day of May 16th calming down, forcing himself not to think about what had happened or what would happen. The marathon race was already his own despicable act; he had no right to deprive her of her affections and happiness. If he hadn’t interfered, perhaps she would have already...
On the evening of May 16th, Pei Chuan went drinking with Zheng Hang and the others.
Midway through, Jin Ziyang said, "Brother Chuan, your birthday is tomorrow, right?"
Pei Chuan only then remembered. He curved his lips into a smile devoid of joy. "Is that so?"
See, even a carefree friend like Jin Ziyang knew tomorrow was a special day for him. Why did she have to choose today? Just... why like this.
Pei Chuan suddenly stood up. Zheng Hang exclaimed, "Brother Chuan!"
Pei Chuan gasped for breath, like a drowning man suddenly reaching air, inhaling deeply. He said hoarsely, "I’ll just watch from afar, one glance."
Ji Wei couldn’t focus on his homework anymore; he thought Brother Chuan was quite pitiful.
He whispered, "There really are hurdles that can’t be overcome."
Pei Chuan left, and no one stopped him.
Jin Ziyang and the others exchanged glances, softly clicking their tongues.
No one believed he’d only take one look. His heart was probably breaking.
~
The night at No. 6 High School still carried a slight chill.
Han Zhen had waited all day but never received the so-called "school belle’s kiss." Well, he smiled wryly; as the person who should be debunking the rumor, he ought to have taken the initiative. What was he expecting?
It was just that the rumored "gift" was too tempting.
If it could come true, even if punished or disciplined, the air would seem sweet.
But the "little gift" seemed very rule-abiding, seriously debunking the rumor.
As evening self-study ended at No. 6 High School, Han Zhen sighed in disappointment, knowing the time limit had passed—the rumor was utterly false. He had no choice but to go out with his buddies for a meal and cut the cake.
On her way back to the dorm after evening self-study, Bei Yao was quite excited, calculating that in just over an hour, it would be Pei Chuan’s birthday.
Pei Chuan’s parents weren’t with him for his eighteenth birthday—how pitiful. Her prepared gift was an air plant, a type of tillandsia that could survive on just air, incredibly easy to care for.
Pei Chuan’s home was so cold and quiet; adding a little vitality would be good.
What could she do? As a poor student, she could only afford a small gift.
Yet, on her way back to the dorm, she spotted a familiar figure.Pei Chuan? Why is he here?
Bei Yao told her roommates, "Feifei, Yang Jia, you two head back first. I have something to attend to."
Chen Feifei thought, Oh my god! Could it be that Yaoyao is really going to Han Zhen...
She shuddered and said seriously, "Go ahead, go ahead! If the dorm auntie checks in, we’ll say you’re in the restroom. We’ll definitely keep it a secret."
"..." Thank you so much.
Bei Yao walked toward the shadowy figure. She felt a bit troubled—he had come too early. It wasn’t even tomorrow yet, and she hadn’t brought her gift.
The faint fragrance of camphor trees filled the air, and the campus path was dimly lit by yellowish lights. Bei Yao’s eyes immediately met his.
Pei Chuan averted his gaze.
Bei Yao caught a faint whiff of alcohol in the air. She sniffed and asked, "Have you been drinking? Pei Chuan, what’s wrong?" Why aren’t you happy when your birthday is almost here?
Pei Chuan clenched his fists and closed his eyes briefly.
What was wrong with him? He didn’t know either. He clearly shouldn’t have come, clearly... didn’t deserve to come.
But just as Ji Wei had said, there was a hurdle he couldn’t overcome—something he hated enough to wish for life, yet loved enough to wish for death.
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