In the twilight, Bei Yao leaned against his shoulder, breathing softly.
The dim lights of the playground obscured her flushed cheeks. Tree shadows swayed gently in the breeze as Professor Pei braced himself on either side of her, gritting his teeth before making up his mind. His voice was low: "Let's not go to a hotel. We're going home."
The bedsheets and wedding quilts in their marital home still hadn't been changed to the traditional bright red color.
She whispered, "O-okay."
The university wasn't far from home. When Pei Chuan bought the house, he had specifically chosen the location considering Bei Yao's schooling. He went to the garage to get the car while Bei Yao waited outside. The May night breeze was gentle. When Chu Xun drove into the parking garage, he spotted Bei Yao standing outside.
She wore a pale cherry blossom-colored short-sleeved shirt with flared cuffs that made her arms appear fair and slender, giving off a delicate impression.
Chu Xun recalled certain matters, feeling both ironic and irritated.
When he had pursued Bei Yao, she hadn't accepted him. Later, because of her, he had been scolded by that young master of the Huo family, losing face. He had thought this woman had impossibly high standards and looked down on everyone, only to hear shortly after that she had a boyfriend who had been to prison.
He couldn't swallow his resentment. Honking his horn, he drove toward her. Hearing the car, Bei Yao instinctively stepped back.
Chu Xun leaned out the window: "Get in, I'll give you a ride home!"
He drove a BMW worth over a million. His father was wealthy and he was the only son—few college students could afford a BMW these days.
Bei Yao retreated to the edge of the flower bed, frowning: "No need, I'm waiting for someone."
Chu Xun grew more provoked. He had heard from his father that Huo Xu seemed to be facing some pressure lately. No one could stop him from pursuing Bei Yao now, and driven by male pride, he said: "Waiting for who? That ex-con boyfriend of yours? Waiting for him to pick you up on a tricycle?"
Mentioning the tricycle amused Chu Xun himself.
He thought, regret it, go on and regret it. What's so good about being with a poor guy who can't even support a woman? Some girls are just naive, thinking love is everything. But after suffering hardships, they realize love is fucking worthless.
Just as Young Master Chu finished speaking, a silver-gray car emerged from the garage.
It charged recklessly toward his vehicle.
Without even honking.
For a moment, Chu Xun's mind went blank. Only when the car slammed its brakes inches away did he curse: "Are you blind!"
He leaned out, ready to swear more, but then he saw the car's emblem.
The color was understated, but damn, it was a Lamborghini. Several times more expensive than what he drove.
Chu Xun still remembered the lesson Huo Xu had taught him—in this city, you could accidentally offend nobility as easily as stumbling upon ancient royalty.
Moreover, the driver had come out of the garage and driven like a madman to ram his car. Clearly, this was not someone to mess with.
Chu Xun swallowed his curses.
He saw a cold-faced man in a white shirt through the front window. Pei Chuan opened the passenger door: "Yao Yao, let's go home."
Bei Yao had also been startled by the earlier scene. When she got in the car, Chu Xun's face looked as if he had eaten something vile.
Where the hell did this man come from! Wasn't Bei Yao's boyfriend supposed to be an ex-con?
Pei Chuan drove off. His car had been modified—the exterior changes were subtle, but the interior revealed the differences.
Pei Chuan had sharp hearing. When he drove out, he had caught every word Chu Xun said.He gazed gloomily ahead, turning the car out of the school grounds.
It was only now that Pei Chuan realized the pressure and ridicule Bei Yao had endured while he was imprisoned. Everyone would think she had poor judgment.
Bei Yao found it somewhat amusing. "Why bother competing with him? What if you get hurt?"
He shook his head and said seriously for the first time, "Let's go public."
Bei Yao was taken aback.
She still remembered the two conditions Pei Chuan had proposed back in high school when they got together. First, no intimate gestures, and second, no public disclosure.
Now that he was taking the initiative to suggest going public, Bei Yao smiled brightly. "Why?" She wanted to hear him say it, to hear his true feelings, to hear him admit his possessiveness.
He pressed his lips together and remained silent.
After driving for a while, they arrived home.
Bei Yao also had a key. She took it out to unlock the door.
Pei Chuan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and closed the door with one hand. "We'll go public tomorrow, okay?"
Bei Yao was laughing inwardly.
Yet after all these years, he had indeed changed. Back in their senior year of high school, when he thought it was impossible for them to be together forever, he would rather die than admit in front of everyone that he liked her.
Suppressing her laughter, she put on a serious face and nodded.
Pei Chuan said softly, "We're home."
It was a seemingly nonsensical remark, but she instantly understood his meaning. Blushing, Bei Yao turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his chest. "Mm-hmm."
He paused for a moment, then held her and kissed her gently.
Bei Yao closed her eyes, her fingers tangling in his tie.
He grasped her hand. For the first time, the man's surging, vigorous hormones overpowered his inner insecurities. In the occasional dreams of his youth, he had envisioned such scenes. There was even a fleeting illusion that she wouldn't look down on him.
Pei Chuan whispered, "This time, could you not look?"
His words carried a devout, cautious humility.
Buried in his embrace, Bei Yao was finally infected by his mood, feeling intensely shy. She nodded lightly.
The large bed in the bedroom was exceptionally soft. When her eyes were covered, she felt a nervous unease. The sounds of the world seemed amplified. Bei Yao sensed him removing his prosthetic leg, his strong arms braced on either side of her.
She raised her hand to touch the tie over her eyes, but he caught her wrist, pinning it above her head, and whispered reassuringly, "We agreed."
Fine, they had agreed.
But the moment he buried his face in Bei Yao's neck—
Bei Yao stiffened and pushed against his chest. "W-Wait a minute."
He pulled back, his eyes dimming for a moment.
A look of confusion crossed Bei Yao's face, followed by a deep blush. She said awkwardly, "I think... I got my period."
That night, Bei Yao felt utterly embarrassed. Her period was usually regular, and it was due around this time. But when in love, she sometimes felt like a fish with a seven-second memory, completely forgetting certain things.
She pulled the covers over her head, listening to the sound of running water in the bathroom. It lasted quite a while before he turned off the light and came out.
When he emerged, droplets of water still clung to his face.
Pei Chuan went to the kitchen. She peeked out from under the covers, watching his retreating figure.
Soon, he returned with a bowl of brown sugar and eggs he had cooked. "Eat this before you sleep."
She blinked. "Brown sugar water?"
Pei Chuan said, "Mm-hmm."
Bei Yao, having forgotten her earlier embarrassment, grew curious. "Where did the brown sugar come from?" Why hadn't she seen it in the kitchen a few days ago?
He patted her head. "I bought it a few days ago."Bei Yao buried her head as she drank water, mumbling indistinctly, "Thank you, Pei Chuan."
He paused for a second. "Yaoyao, no need to thank me. I'm still new at being a husband, and there are many things I might not do well. If you need anything, you can always tell me."
For instance, her menstrual cycle—these were things he ought to remember.
She secretly glanced up at him, finding his gaze fixed on her. Bei Yao said softly, "Then I'll just drink water and skip the eggs."
A faint smile flickered in his eyes. "Alright."
He finished what she hadn't eaten.
After both had freshened up again and lay in bed, she suddenly turned over, propping herself on his chest.
She pressed a soft kiss to his lips and cooed sweetly, "Pei Chuan is so good."
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Mm, time to sleep."
No more stirring him up like this.
Otherwise, if this kept happening a few more times, neither of them would be able to handle it.
Her delicate chin rested on his chest as she whispered gently, "I'm also new at being someone's wife, Pei Chuan. If there's anything I don't do well, you have to tell me too."
It felt as if a part of his heart had softened. He murmured quietly, "You're perfect in every way."
Since he didn't have to go to the research institute in the morning but instead had classes at the university, Pei Chuan happened to leave home at the same time as Bei Yao.
The morning air in the residential complex was fresh, and an elderly woman was selling gardenias she had grown herself.
Most residents here were quite well-off; the elderly woman simply wanted something to do.
Pei Chuan paused mid-step, bought a freshly picked gardenia, and pinned it to her collar.
The elderly woman watched them with a warm smile.
Bei Yao suddenly looked at the man who was lowering his gaze and recalled their senior year of high school, when several schools had learned about Pei Chuan's disability.
She had rushed breathlessly to his home, afraid he would be upset, only to find him opening his hand to reveal a flower he had bought on the way.
Some people's love seemed enduring and everlasting, never changing throughout a lifetime.
Bei Yao had two specialized courses in the morning, while Pei Chuan's classes were in the afternoon. He only needed to be there after noon, but he carried his laptop with him. After seeing Bei Yao off, Pei Chuan found a quiet teahouse to review materials.
Teaching at the university was much more flexible than working at the research institute.
However, being a diligent person by nature, whenever he had free time, he would either write code continuously or check on the progress regarding the Huo family.
His mind was calm and sharp, and he always felt that a person wouldn't be brought down so easily.
Jiang Huaqiong was formidable, but Huo Ran was also a cunning old fox who had left Huo Xu with considerable resources. Until Pei Chuan saw Huo Xu dead with his own eyes, he remained extremely vigilant.
Besides, he needed to earn money—and he did so rapidly. He had given Bei Yao a bank card and deposited money into it every month.
However, she never used it herself nor checked how much was inside.
Pei Chuan's ability to earn money was evident from the 300 million he had handed over back in the early 2000s.
Pei Chuan browsed the recent Huo Corporation stock prices, which were indeed continuously falling. Jiang Huaqiong, consumed by thoughts of her deceased son, was pursuing revenge in a mutually destructive manner.
Yet, it was precisely this extremism that made Pei Chuan frown. If he were in Jiang Huaqiong's position, he wouldn't adopt such methods, as it could easily push Huo Xu to desperate measures. Pei Chuan would choose to boil the frog slowly—by the time Huo Xu realized what was happening, he would already have nothing left.
A crazed woman was terrifying; Jiang Huaqiong couldn't be unaware of this, but she was only concerned with her own satisfaction now.
Pei Chuan closed his laptop and made a call to Zhao Zhilan.
"Aunt Zhao, are you settling in well over there?"Zhao Zhilan was living in someone else's seaside house, and feeling indebted, she coughed awkwardly: "Still calling me Aunt Zhao?"
Pei Chuan paused: "Mom."
Zhao Zhilan snorted. Though the big house was comfortable, she missed her small home: "When can your dad and I go back? The cost of living here is so high, you wouldn't believe how expensive the leeks are! Back in our old neighborhood, we could just grow a few bunches in the vegetable patch."
Pei Chuan said: "For your safety, wait a bit longer. It won't be long now."
Zhao Zhilan thought for a moment, then remembered to ask about her daughter: "Has my girl been causing you any trouble?"
"Not at all."
Zhao Zhilan sighed: "She's young and doesn't understand many things. Please be patient with her."
Zhao Zhilan was well aware of how much Pei Chuan had done. No matter how stubborn she was, no matter how dissatisfied she had been with her son-in-law's disability, a heart made of flesh could hardly remain unmoved. After Pei Chuan had knelt before them and done so much for them since, Zhao Zhilan found it difficult to keep putting on airs.
Gradually, she had come to understand Bei Yao's choice.
Back when she married the penniless Bei Licai, when they crossed the mountain pass to visit her parents, Bei Licai hadn't even been willing to carry her on his back. Yet Pei Chuan would have gladly torn out his heart for her daughter, loving her as if his life depended on it. What more could she possibly want?
Pei Chuan said: "Yao Yao is wonderful."
Zhao Zhilan suddenly felt her question was unnecessary. Who loved Bei Yao more these days was anyone's guess.
She said: "You go ahead with your work. I'm doing just fine here, no need to worry. Pei Chuan, if you're still too busy during summer break, bring Yao Yao back for Chinese New Year. I'll make sausages and cured meat for you both. Alright, I'm hanging up now."
Pei Chuan responded: "Mm."
After marriage, Pei Chuan once again experienced the feeling of having a family.
No matter how far he wandered, there would always be someone thinking of him.
Pei Chuan closed his laptop and went to pick up Bei Yao for lunch.
Four young girls stood in a neat row watching him.
Pei Chuan looked at Bei Yao.
Bei Yao introduced: "These are my roommates. The one in yellow is Qin Dongni, in black is Wang Qiankun, and this is Shan Xiaomai."
Qin Dongni still carried the fear of "no passing notes in class." Though she had just been cheering about how amazing Bei Yao was, upon seeing Pei Chuan she stammered: "P-Professor Pei."
Shan Xiaomai also felt the nervousness of facing a superior officer. Only Wang Qiankun was more at ease, curiously examining Yao Yao's husband.
This guy was seriously impressive!
Pei Chuan nodded politely: "Hello, thank you for taking care of Yao Yao. If it's convenient, I'd like to treat everyone to a meal."
They went to a Chinese restaurant Bei Yao had chosen. Wang Qiankun boldly ordered alcohol.
The other girls didn't drink, and Pei Chuan had classes in the afternoon so he didn't drink either. That left Wang Qiankun drinking alone.
Everyone assumed Wang Qiankun could hold her liquor well, but after just three glasses, she started giggling and gossiping. Two red patches appeared on her cheeks as she smacked her lips with dazed eyes.
"Professor Pei, let me tell you, that idiot Chu Xun chased your Yao Yao during freshman year. He released hydrogen balloons all over the sky, only to get rejected in front of the entire school."
Pei Chuan listened quietly.
Wang Qiankun began detailing all the people who had pursued Bei Yao since freshman year.
There were many, many of them... Pei Chuan lowered his gaze.
Bei Yao was utterly mortified, wishing she could cover her roommate's mouth.We can't let Wang Qiankun drink anymore. After drinking, she turns into a chattier version of Qin Dongni! Moreover, Wang Qiankun is like a stubborn bull—the more you try to stop her, the more fired up she gets. The girls couldn't hold her back, and out of courtesy, Pei Chuan naturally didn't try to stop her from talking.
Wang Qiankun: "Let me tell you, buddy, you've hit the jackpot with our Yaoyao!" she said proudly. "She's beautiful, with a slim waist, long legs, and a big chest, right...?" She lewdly gestured a "C" shape with her hands.
Bei Yao felt like crying but had no tears, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. Wang Qiankun had gone mad! Actually, this was just a throwback to how sharp-eyed Qin Dongni was back in their freshman year—they always showered separately in their dorm.
Who else had to endure such embarrassment when treating their roommates to a meal? Bei Yao didn't even want to lift her head. The other two girls were also stunned by Wang's boldness, frozen like wooden chickens, their faces quickly turning bright red.
Pei Chuan fell silent and didn't say a word. For the first time, he felt somewhat annoyed by the intimacy between girls. So far... he had only unbuttoned a few of her buttons.
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