The May Day holiday had just ended, coinciding with early summer. This year, City B's summer was particularly rainy, and a continuous drizzle had been falling since morning.
Bei Yao opened her eyes to find the bedside empty. She reached out her hand and felt the lingering warmth from the man. Pei Chuan must have just gotten up. Today, Bei Yao needed to return to school for classes.
After getting dressed, she went out and heard noises from the kitchen—Pei Chuan was cooking.
Her clear, dark eyes settled on the man.
In the morning light, his broad shoulders and back were visible as he prepared breakfast.
Hearing the sound, Pei Chuan turned around. Bei Yao said, "Let me cook."
Pei Chuan shook his head. "Go wash your hands. You still have to go to school after eating."
She pursed her lips and smiled. "Pei Chuan, you're acting like you're raising a child."
His expression remained indifferent, but he froze almost imperceptibly.
After saying this, Bei Yao went to the bathroom to wash her hands. She noticed water droplets still on the washing machine—the clothes had already been washed. Thinking she could help hang them to dry, she lifted the lid and saw the man's pajama pants from last night. A doubt crossed her mind—had Pei Chuan gotten up early just to wash one pair of pants?
Bei Yao froze for a moment, then blushed deeply as she realized the reason.
She had heard that men had physiological needs in the morning.
Should she hang them to dry now?
After a moment's thought, Bei Yao picked up the pants and headed to the balcony.
She was still wearing the rabbit slippers Pei Chuan had bought for her—small and delicate. She picked up the clothes hanger and began hanging the pants outside. Pei Chuan came out with the warm milk he had prepared for her and saw her hanging the pants. His expression slowly stiffened.
She turned around, suppressing a laugh, and walked over to eat with a serious expression, as if she hadn't guessed anything.
After the two finished eating, Bei Yao asked him, "Are you going to work?"
Pei Chuan nodded.
Bei Yao bit her straw and mumbled vaguely, "Then I'm off to school."
Pei Chuan said, "I'll take you."
She shook her head. "Isn't the Research Institute in the opposite direction of our school? I can go by myself."
He lowered his eyes and hummed in agreement.
Bei Yao was different from him. She lived on campus during school, and even now in university, studying medicine kept her quite busy. Perhaps... she wouldn't come home either. After all, living on campus was more convenient, while staying here would require commuting back and forth.
He might only see her once a week.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her leave happily.
Bei Yao reached the door and saw Pei Chuan watching her from the dining table. She slung her backpack over her shoulder, waved at him while changing her shoes, and said, "Come here for a moment."
Pei Chuan stood up and walked over to her.
In the early May morning light, being close to her carried a sweet fragrance. Outside, a gentle drizzle fell, and the air was fresh.
One of her feet was still in rabbit slippers, while the other was in her sky-blue lace-up sneakers.
Unsteady while changing her shoes, Bei Yao supported herself with one hand on Pei Chuan's chest.
As soon as she had both shoes on, before she could even tie the laces, she suddenly looked up, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek. "Work hard, hubby!"
After saying this, her face flushed, and she dashed off without caring whether her shoes were properly on.
Pei Chuan stood frozen in place for a long time, then gently touched his cheek. What had she called him...?
He looked outside. Through the open window in the hallway, the gentle drizzle continued, but Bei Yao had already slipped into the elevator and disappeared from sight.
He gently touched the spot she had kissed, which still carried the sweet, soft fragrance of the milk the girl had drunk. The silent ache in his heart vanished. Even if he could only see her once a week, it no longer seemed so disappointing.
Pei Chuan left home later than Bei Yao. His newly modified car was parked in the garage, and the Research Institute was indeed in the opposite direction of Bei Yao's school.As Jin Ziyang had anticipated, the price paid to marry Bei Yao was undeniably steep.
At the very least, without her knowledge, he would begin targeting Huo Xu comprehensively from today onward.
A man who covetously sought to steal his beloved wife—Pei Chuan’s gaze deepened as he turned the car around.
Huo Xu was no fool; by now, he ought to know that Bei Yao was already married. Having spent yesterday at home with Bei Yao, Pei Chuan had lost the initiative, making every minute now crucial.
In a street-side café in 2013, a middle-aged woman in stockings sipped her coffee.
Rain fell outside as Pei Chuan entered, droplets clinging to his black trench coat.
The elegantly poised woman turned, her eyes icy: "Who are you? Sending me those photos."
At the thought of the images she had seen that morning, Jiang Huaqiong’s composure finally shattered, replaced by a twisted ferocity, as if she could strangle Pei Chuan if his answer failed to satisfy her.
Pei Chuan studied her calmly for a moment. Indeed, Huo Nanshan was Jiang Huaqiong’s Achilles' heel. A mother, once reminded of her deceased son, could turn into a madwoman.
Before leaving home that morning, he had sent Jiang Huaqiong the police photos taken at Huo Nanshan’s death—the only way to secure this meeting.
Nodding, Pei Chuan sat opposite her: "Ms. Jiang, no offense intended. This was simply the fastest way to see you. I deeply regret the death of Eldest Young Master Huo. Knowing you’ve long investigated his cause of death, I’m here today to assist you."
Veins bulged on Jiang Huaqiong’s hands as she sneered, "Assist me? How? Do you know who killed my son? Do you have evidence?"
Her tone was frantic; clearly, provoking her with her son’s death photos was unbearable.
Pei Chuan replied evenly, "I don’t know either. After all, all evidence was destroyed. You’ve searched for years without results—I can’t produce what no longer exists."
Enraged, Jiang Huaqiong slammed the table and stood: "You dare send me those photos without knowing?"
Pei Chuan said, "You’ve long suspected Huo Xu but lacked proof. You’re not afraid of accusing the wrong person—you fear the real murderer escaping justice."
He ordered a light tea, taking a sip: "As an outsider, I shouldn’t interfere in your family affairs, but this threatens my wife’s safety. I must step forward. Ms. Jiang, you likely received news recently of Huo Xu pursuing a university student."
Jiang Huaqiong, no fool, stared in shock: "You’re saying Bei Yao is your wife?"
Pei Chuan retrieved the marriage certificate from his briefcase: "Over sixty percent of the Huo family’s assets are in your hands. Huo Xu is anxious—he loves a woman named Shao Yue but fears you discovering they were both in City C six years ago. To avoid appearing together before you, he targeted my wife."
After reviewing the documents, Jiang Huaqiong’s expression turned inscrutable: "But why should I believe you?"
Pei Chuan said, "Some things become clear upon closer investigation. Evidence of Huo Xu and Shao Yue’s life together surely exists abroad. As for domestically..."Pei Chuan remained extremely calm as he took out the bottom document: "On February 16th this year, Huo Xu and Shao Yue checked into a suite at the Hengtai Grand Hotel. Both used fake names, but the hallway surveillance captured them. Even though Huo Xu was wearing a hat and mask, I'm sure you'd recognize him."
His expression stayed composed while discussing others' intimate affairs.
"The woman wearing a mask in the document isn't my wife."
Pei Chuan covered the lower half of Bei Yao's face on their marriage certificate, revealing only her clear, gentle almond-shaped eyes. His gaze softened: "My wife's eyes are pure and beautiful."
Jiang Huaqiong glanced between the document photo and the marriage certificate, already somewhat convinced.
"Ms. Jiang, only those with a guilty conscience would cover their tracks and desperately seek scapegoats. I don't care what you ultimately decide, but you cannot harm my wife. Because I'm just like you." Pei Chuan paused before adding coldly, "You would kill for someone important to you, and so would I."
A light drizzle fell outside the teaching building, washing the paulownia trees beyond the window into tender green. Wang Qiankun asked: "Yaoyao, where have you been taking time off recently? You only came to school today - do you know how fast the curriculum has been progressing these days?"
"Well." Before the lecturer entered the classroom, Bei Yao gently pushed up her long sleeve to reveal the ring on her ring finger. "I went to get married."
"..."
After a long silence, Qin Dongni burst into laughter: "Yaoyao, when did you learn to joke like this? Married? You even bought a fake ring to trick us? We won't fall for it. The diamond looks quite real and beautiful, though it's so big it seems unrealistic."
Everyone knew Bei Yao had a boyfriend she'd waited for many years, who had only recently been released from prison. How could he afford such an obviously expensive ring?
Bei Yao said: "It's real, I'm not lying."
"Alright, alright, I believe you."
Bei Yao: "..." Why did nobody ever believe her when she told the truth about Pei Chuan?
Even the most honest Shan Xiaomai was covering her mouth to laugh.
Seeing no other option, Bei Yao stopped arguing and borrowed her roommates' notes to catch up on the knowledge she'd missed. Medical studies required learning extensive material, and having been absent for so long, she needed to find time to make up for it.
When classes ended in the afternoon, Bei Yao began packing some daily essentials from her dorm.
Qin Dongni asked: "Yaoyao, what are you doing?"
Bei Yao said: "I'm moving out."
"Ah? Moving out?"
Folding her underwear, Bei Yao nodded: "Yes, married people can't keep living on campus. I need to go home, otherwise he'd be alone."
"..." After another long silence in the dorm, Qin Dongni swallowed hard: "Holy shit, you're serious? You really got married?"
Bei Yao nodded.
Qin Dongni exclaimed: "Damn, so the ring is real too? Holy shit!" She was too shocked to form coherent words!
Yet Bei Yao simply finished packing and actually went home.
Qin Dongni finally murmured long after she'd left: "If people at school found out Bei Yao got married, I can't imagine how explosive the reaction would be!"
Bei Yao opened the door to an empty home - Pei Chuan still hadn't returned.
Remembering how busy the research institute kept him, she decided not to call him.Pei Chuan was indeed very busy. When he went to work at the research institute, he thought about how Bei Yao had already returned to school. Without her, that home became less endearing. He worked with intense focus and was the last to leave.
It had drizzled all day. He needed to closely monitor Jiang Huaqiong’s movements. If she failed to take action against Huo Xu, Huo Xu might become desperate and lash out.
By the time he returned home, it was already half past ten. Pei Chuan opened the door and found the living room light on.
His heartbeat quickened involuntarily. He looked up and saw Bei Yao sitting at the small coffee table in the living room, copying notes.
"You're back!" Bei Yao put down her pen. "Have you eaten?"
Pei Chuan shook his head.
A faint, indescribable joy welled up in his heart. He suddenly fell in love with this home.
Bei Yao said, "There's food in the kitchen. I kept it warm. Wait a moment, I'll get it for you."
She eagerly brought the food to the dining table. Pei Chuan washed his hands and walked over. His Adam's apple bobbed as he asked, "Did you make this?"
Bei Yao nodded. "Eat up."
"What about you?"
"I’ve already eaten." She felt a little embarrassed. After all, she had initially planned to wait for Pei Chuan to eat together, but later assumed he wouldn’t be coming back. She usually went to bed early and had almost decided to sleep, but a voice in her heart told her to wait a little longer—and so she waited until he came home.
That wasn’t what Pei Chuan meant. He paused and asked, "While I eat, where will you go?"
Bei Yao said, "I’ll just write my notes beside you. I haven’t attended classes in a while and need to catch up."
With that, she brought her textbook and notebook over and sat beside him, starting to copy her notes.
She wrote very seriously, her dark eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings as they rested quietly.
He ate while watching her. The book was filled with medical knowledge, something he had occasionally studied in prison.
Outside, the rain continued to fall. The crystal lamp overhead cast a warm glow. He finished his meal in a few minutes.
Bei Yao put down her pen. "I’ll wash the dishes."
He pressed her hand down. "I’ll do it. You keep writing."
After washing the dishes, he came out and asked, "Yao Yao, will you... live here from now on?"
She blinked. "Of course. This is our home. I’ll definitely live here."
He pressed his lips together, afraid to reveal his joy. The word "home," spoken from her lips, sounded exceptionally beautiful. It had been a long time since he had a home.
He simply sat beside her and watched her write medical notes.
Bei Yao thought for a moment, then looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Pei Chuan, shouldn’t you massage your legs every day?"
He was slightly taken aback.
Bei Yao said, "I study medicine. I’m a professional."
He remained silent for a moment. "Don’t joke around. Finish writing and go to bed early."
He stood up to leave, but hearing her bring this up, his warmed heart instinctively cooled by half.
Bei Yao wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to let him go. "I really studied this seriously! Let me try, okay?"
He gently touched her face. "Be good, let go."
She bit her lip and shook her head. She had to let Pei Chuan gradually get used to having her in his life. Otherwise, he would wake up early and sleep late, always changing and removing his prosthetic leg while she was asleep.
Worried that she might find it disgusting or frightening, he always made sure to do it when she wasn’t around.
Pei Chuan’s lips turned pale, and she noticed it keenly, sighing softly in her heart.
This stubborn man was still so sensitive about it. She remembered Pei Chuan waking up in the early hours to wash his pants and felt both heartbroken and amused.
She stopped writing her notes and leaned into his embrace.
Her voice was sweet and soft as she pleaded, "Let me try, okay? Hubby."
He froze.
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