"Pei Chuan, the top scorer in the science division of the college entrance examination, has turned himself in."
"Yesterday's victim, today's twisted soul."
"Behind the fall of the top scorer"
...
Throughout July and August, City C was inundated with such news.
Elders often admonished their younger generations: "See this person? Smart and academically excellent, but he didn't follow the right path, so he ended up in prison." Once someone is imprisoned, no matter how glorious their past achievements, they seem to instantly fade into obscurity, years of hard work vanishing in an instant.
Soon, all the students from Class 136 learned about this.
Jin Ziyang was initially shocked when he heard the news, but later became furious upon hearing such remarks: "What nonsense are you spouting! Do you even know him? Do you know what kind of person he is? Keep talking crap and I'll punch you!"
This time, Zheng Hang didn't stop him.
Several young men gathered together, wanting to find Pei Chuan. However, society taught them the most vivid lesson - when you're not fully grown up yet, you don't have the power to overturn everything.
Jin Ziyang covered his face and squatted on the ground, realizing for the first time that when a friend is in trouble, he could do nothing.
They had been brothers for three years.
Pei Chuan had turned himself in.
Perhaps he had planned this long ago, which was why during the graduation banquet, he had pointed out future directions for each of them.
When they first met Pei Chuan, he was an aloof and silent young man. He had few interests and hobbies, and sometimes had quite a temper. But later on, no one could dislike that Pei Chuan.
Ji Wei was extremely sad, even more so than when he failed his own college entrance exam.
Jin Ziyang clenched his fists: "I'll study hard with my dad from now on, make lots of money, find Brother Chuan and get him out."
Zheng Hang patted his shoulder: "Yeah!"
Pei Chuan had too few friends in his life. If he lost even them, what would he have left?
When Ji Wei went to the retake class in August, he waved goodbye to everyone: "I don't know which year I'll get into university, but when you find Brother Chuan, you must notify me immediately. No matter where he is, I want to see him."
When Pei Haobin learned about this, he immediately went around asking people for information.
Despite being a captain for so many years, this was the first time he had swallowed his pride to ask for personal favors. But after searching everywhere, he was finally told: This is an important national case, no further information can be disclosed.
Media coverage gradually subsided by August, by which time Pei Haobin had seen numerous news analyses about Pei Chuan's upbringing.
These reports tore open his family background and past for him to see, making Pei Haobin understand who was truly responsible for Pei Chuan's later transformation. He was wrong; he hadn't been a good father.
Pei Chuan had been standing at the edge of the abyss all along, but when he needed help, Pei Haobin, as his father, had never reached out to pull him back.
By the time he realized his mistake, he could no longer find his son.
That day, Pei Haobin amended his will. His determination was particularly firm this time, and he invited lawyers to witness it. Cao Li was there holding their newborn son, with Bai Yutong standing nearby.
Pei Haobin said: "After I die, aside from the child support for the second child, all the money goes to Pei Chuan.As he spoke these words, his face showed traces of the passage of time. He was no longer in his prime years. No longer the father who could ride his motorcycle to take Pei Chuan to school."No matter which year Pei Chuan is released from prison, regardless of the final verdict, even if he never gets out in this lifetime, this money belongs to him. If it cannot be delivered to him personally, then let it remain with the state."
After Pei Haobin completed these arrangements, Cao Li's expression turned extremely unpleasant. Yet this time, nothing could shake Pei Haobin's resolve—neither Cao Li's tears nor the infant in swaddling clothes.
The honors they had gained by stepping over Pei Chuan's broken legs should have been returned long ago.
Though Pei Haobin's courage came over a decade too late, it was the last thing this father could do for his eldest son, wherever he might be.
~
In the chilly early autumn of September, Bei Yao left for university in the capital. Zhao Zhilan was particularly uneasy about her daughter being away. The matter of Pei Chuan had been like a stone suddenly tossed into water—sending ripples far and wide before settling into silent calm.
On the day Bei Yao departed for the capital, Bei Licai specifically requested time off to accompany his daughter during registration, but Bei Yao declined.
The entire summer had felt exceptionally long, giving her ample time to steady her emotions.
Before leaving, Bei Yao once again retrieved the notebook that had been with her since childhood.
Though her memories weren't complete, Bei Yao understood that the course of two lifetimes had diverged completely.
The notebook read:
"That man named Pei Chuan was considered evil in the eyes of the world. Taciturn and reserved, he protected Bei Yao for two years. On the day she died, Pei Chuan told her, 'She was the treasure of his heart he never dared to love.'"
Yet in this lifetime, Pei Chuan hadn't become that kind of villain—he had turned himself in.
Across both lifetimes, Bei Yao's arrival was the only variable.
She had ultimately become the cage that imprisoned Pei Chuan.
Pei Chuan had long known the consequences that would follow their fleeting moments of joy, yet he still accompanied her through those youthful years.
Before Bei Yao left for university, the young people still living in their neighborhood came to see her off.
Everyone envied her opportunity to attend university and showered her with gifts.
Later, on the way to the train station, Chen Yingqi said, "Bei Yao, let me walk with you!"
The two walked side by side along the road.
Chen Yingqi's face was scrunched in hesitation before he finally stammered, "Have you found Pei Chuan?"
Bei Yao said, "No."
Chen Yingqi took a deep breath. "Bei Yao, do you truly like him?"
Overhead in the old neighborhood, occasional wires crisscrossed against the sky. Autumn swallows that hadn't yet migrated south tilted their small heads, watching them from above.
Bei Yao gazed quietly at Chen Yingqi.
Chen Yingqi gathered his courage and pressed on: "Not out of sympathy, nor pity—but admiration. The kind of liking where you want to be together for a lifetime."
Moisture shimmered in Bei Yao's eyes before she finally nodded.
It was the first time she had confessed her feelings so openly to anyone.
Chen Yingqi seemed to exhale in relief, yet his melancholy deepened. He said, "You like him, but he loves you. Bei Yao, you'll never fully understand how much he loves you."
The chubby youth pulled a card from his pocket. "This is the money he saved over the years. The night before your college entrance exams, he suddenly came to me and asked me to look after you and Aunt Zhao going forward. He said men understand men best—he was afraid you might be bullied or deceived, so he wanted me to help vet anyone you meet. In case..."
The young man's eyes reddened. "In case you end up with someone in the future who treats you poorly, he said we should spend whatever it takes to teach that person a lesson."
Bei Yao pressed her lips together, tears welling in her eyes.Chen Yingqi said, "He had already decided to turn himself in back then. Even he didn't know how many years he would be sentenced or what the final outcome would be. It doesn't matter who you like, just stop thinking about him."
Actually, Pei Chuan had said so much more—that Bei Yao loved to laugh but sometimes cried too, that when screening her future partner, they must find a man with a milder temper, since why should a girl have to coax a man?
Bei Yao finally understood that phrase.
—"She was the darling of his heart he never dared to love."
~
In early September, during the early autumn, Pei Chuan was giving his statement for the record.
According to legal provisions, anyone facing possible death penalty would be provided a lawyer by the state even if they didn't hire one themselves.
That day, after giving his statement, the lawyer was also present.
Pei Chuan looked at the white ceiling: "Is it September already?"
Inside felt no different from outside, yet time stretched endlessly long.
The lawyer said: "It's September 6th."
Pei Chuan nodded. Then she should already be on B University's campus.
The lawyer frowned: "I just asked around—you didn't say what I taught you to say, Pei Chuan. Are you really not afraid of being sentenced? In your situation, with good cooperation, the sentence could be very light."
Pei Chuan said: "Thank you, but I don't need it."
When the young man said "don't need it," he was exceptionally calm. Lawyer Zhen, throughout his years of practice, had never seen anyone so indifferent.
Sometimes the exact same matter, when phrased differently, could produce completely different outcomes. Yet Pei Chuan understood this principle perfectly but recounted everything with extraordinary calmness, all in ways unfavorable to himself.
"I was 16 at the time. Yes, I knew they were using it to infiltrate financial institutions."
"Drug trafficking? I knew about part of it."
"I was the one who breached the 2007 security system."
"The final project was developing a mind-control chip. Once completed, anyone would become a puppet. I didn't finish it—I completed half before permanently deleting everything. They had doctors and PhDs assisting with this. I was responsible for the chip component, while specialists handled implantation."
"I knew they would capture living subjects for chip testing once completed. No one told me—I figured it out myself."
The officer across from Pei Chuan couldn't help asking: "Do you hate this world?"
The young man's pupils were pitch black. After a long silence, he smiled: "No, officer. I love this world."
This answer surprised everyone.
Back then, to assess Pei Chuan's mental state, a psychologist had also been consulted.
The psychologist stood with hands in pockets, frowning: "His case is quite special. Perhaps due to poor upbringing and experiencing such traumatic events in childhood, he once exhibited antisocial tendencies in his personality, but those have completely disappeared now. When he says he loves this world, he's telling the truth. He stopped himself from becoming a creator of social chaos. He's highly intelligent—had he continued down that path, he might have even become their leader."
Indeed, not only did he not become the true Satan, he also rounded up the very people who would have become his "subordinates" years later.
The group exchanged glances, ultimately finding it both absurd and amusing.
Could this be considered a genius's version of "I kill myself"? Eliminating one's own entire faction.
But jokes aside, when January of the following year arrived, Pei Chuan's case was tried in a closed court session.Before the trial, the lawyer was frantic. "Pei Chuan! This is my final warning—if you want to live, you can’t afford to be indifferent. Think about it! How old are you? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life in prison? This is no trivial matter. You were sixteen when you committed the crime, old enough to bear serious criminal liability. And it was high-intelligence crime—the kind the state fears most!"
Pei Chuan remained silent.
Lawyer Zhen raised his voice, "Pei Chuan! Why aren’t you fighting for an early release?"
Pei Chuan didn’t turn around. He said, "Lawyer Zhen, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. But even if I get out, it’s no different from being in here."
A person who has been to prison isn’t even worthy of standing before her.
At least this place could confine his body, preventing him from losing control and tainting her again.
Recalling what he had uncovered during his recent investigations, Lawyer Zhen spoke up, "Pei Chuan, don’t you want to see her again? Promise me you’ll behave, and I’ll show you a photo of her from a few days ago."
The young man’s steps halted abruptly.
Seeing his reaction, Lawyer Zhen couldn’t help adding, "Don’t you want to take a look? She’s eighteen this year. Trust me, I’ll find a way to bring it in!"
Pei Chuan gritted his teeth. "I’ll... cooperate today."
Lawyer Zhen smiled inwardly. Stubborn kid.
True to his word, the young man was much more composed that day. He finally began making statements in his own favor. Toward the end, Pei Chuan even provided an account number. "I haven’t touched a single cent of the money they transferred. The funds I used were from developing software for my boss earlier. The money they sent is all in this account. The password is 190815. I’ll surrender it all to the state."
When the police checked the account, they were stunned—it contained a whopping 300 million yuan!
Lawyer Zhen was equally shocked. The young man looked at him, his pale lips pressed tightly. "You promised me."
"...Right, of course."
Two days later, keeping his word and after obtaining numerous approvals, Lawyer Zhen brought Pei Chuan a color-printed screenshot from an online forum.
"Sorry, it was hard to bring in an actual photo," Lawyer Zhen apologized. "The paper’s a bit rough. Hope you don’t mind."
Pei Chuan shook his head and took the printed page.
She was eighteen now.
The girl had her long hair tied into a ponytail, the ends slightly curled, with soft wispy bangs framing her face. She was reading in a lakeside pavilion—a photo taken in December. Dressed in a white down jacket, she sat as snow fell outside the pavilion, the lake not yet frozen.
Pei Chuan’s fingertips gently brushed over her face in the picture, his dark eyes calm.
Lawyer Zhen sighed inwardly and patted his shoulder. "Xiao Pei, she’s beautiful and lovely. This image was downloaded from her school’s forum—she ranked first in the campus beauty poll! She’s an outstanding girl. If you behave well, maybe one day you can see her again, even if it’s just from afar."
Pei Chuan asked softly, "Can I keep this paper?"
In the end, the paper was confiscated. For a "high-risk individual" like Pei Chuan, not even a blade of grass was left in his possession.
He watched as Lawyer Zhen took the "photo" away. When he stood up, he was forced back into his seat.
That year, his prosthetic leg wasn’t the most advanced model, and bending his knee sent sharp pains through him.
Lawyer Zhen said, "If you want to see her, do it properly someday in the future. What’s the point of just looking at a photo?"
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