Yet Wang Qiankun, for some inexplicable reason, had gone mad—the "C" gesture morphed into a grabbing motion, and he chuckled to himself with a "heh heh."
For a moment, the entire room fell silent.
Pei Chuan lowered his gaze, pressed his lips together, and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
As soon as Pei Chuan disappeared from sight, Qin Dongni hurried over to cover Wang Qiankun's mouth. Wang Qiankun was extremely displeased, but fortunately, he still recognized her and didn’t slap her in retaliation.
Qin Dongni pleaded, "Grandpa Wang, I beg you, please just eat your meal quietly! Can you stop talking?"
Bei Yao quickly swapped Wang Qiankun’s cup and poured him some juice.
Not long after, Pei Chuan returned, and the girls spent the rest of the meal feeling awkward and on edge.
Shan Xiaomai mustered the courage to glance at Professor Pei’s expression. Professor Pei kept his eyes lowered as he opened a bottle of warm soy milk for Bei Yao, his face unreadable.
During his trip to the restroom, Pei Chuan had also asked a waiter to buy several gifts.
When the meal ended, he handed each of them a gift bag.
Qin Dongni and the others felt too embarrassed to accept, but Pei Chuan glanced at his watch and said calmly, "Keep them. I have to go to class."
Seeing the small bags, Qin Dongni and the others assumed they contained small accessories for girls and stopped refusing.
Bei Yao and her roommates still had a required class in the afternoon. Pei Chuan knew she couldn’t skip to attend his lecture—cutting class too often wasn’t good. He said to Bei Yao, "I’m heading to class. I’ll pick you up tonight to go home, alright?"
Bei Yao nodded.
He went to get the car, while Bei Yao sat with her roommates. The girls exchanged uneasy glances.
The drunk "Grandpa Wang" boldly tore open her gift bag and pulled out a gold bracelet. "Wow! This is real gold!" Even in her drunken state, she could recognize gold.
Qin Dongni checked her own bag and found a gold bracelet inside as well, complete with an appraisal certificate. Stunned, she stammered, "Yao Yao, your man is seriously rich."
Who in the world casually hands out gold bracelets as small gifts like they’re wholesale items?
Shan Xiaomai was also shocked and immediately pushed the bracelet back toward Bei Yao. No one dared to accept such an expensive gift.
Bei Yao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She said, "It’s fine. Since Pei Chuan gave them to you, just keep them." Suddenly, she remembered back in middle school when she had told Pei Chuan how happy she was about her soon-to-be-born brother. Pei Chuan had remained silent at the time but later gifted a small gold bracelet, casually mentioning it was for her brother.
Back then, he was just an ordinary middle school student—that bracelet had probably cost him over a decade’s worth of savings.
Bei Yao said, "You all go ahead to school and ask for leave for Qiankun. She’s in no state to go to class this afternoon. I’ll catch up later."
Bei Yao hurried toward the parking lot.
The restaurant wasn’t far from the school, but Pei Chuan had to drive the car to the underground garage on campus. Bei Yao hadn’t dared to look at Pei Chuan’s expression when Wang Qiankun was speaking—after all, the two of them still hadn’t truly been intimate. Her roommates didn’t know, but she and Pei Chuan were well aware.
It was a bit awkward, to be honest. She was afraid Pei Chuan might misunderstand their girls’ banter as something inappropriate.
In the prime of her youth, wearing clothes borrowed from Xiao Cang’s cousin, she had never cared about how others saw her. But now that she had someone special in her heart, for the first time, she understood the desire to be seen as good in his eyes. She wanted him to know how much he meant to her.If anyone else had heard those words, Bei Yao wouldn't have been this nervous. But her Pei Chuan was sensitive, keeping everything buried deep inside. She felt terribly guilty about last night's menstrual cycle incident.
Pei Chuan had finally mustered enough psychological preparation, likely requiring immense determination and courage, only for her body to not cooperate.
When Bei Yao found the parking lot, Pei Chuan was just about to drive the car out.
Seeing her, he rolled down the window: "What's wrong? Didn't go back to the classroom with them?"
Bei Yao opened the passenger door and sat beside him, secretly glancing up at him. The man's expression was calm, showing no displeasure or other emotions. He was looking at her too, casually smoothing the stray hairs sticking to her face.
Remembering the incident with Wang Qiankun earlier, Bei Yao coughed lightly: "I need to explain something to you."
Pei Chuan lowered his gaze to look at her, his pupils dark as ink. When not smiling, they resembled a placid, undisturbed lake.
"Mm, go ahead."
Bei Yao: "..." Ah, this is so awkward.
Like a little quail, she lowered her head and prepared to say everything in one breath: "Wang Qiankun was just joking, she had too much to drink and couldn't control her words. We usually shower separately."
The car was quiet, filled with the stifling heat of May.
Bei Yao felt both embarrassed and annoyed: "She... she also never... touched." Remembering the mischief Wang Qiankun had caused with those two lewd gestures made her cheeks burn with shame.
Someone nearby started their car and drove past.
Bei Yao's ears turned completely red. Not daring to look at him, she finished her last sentence: "It's just that most girls can basically tell the... size. She was drunk, please don't take it to heart."
Ah, this is so humiliating.
Why did she have to explain something this embarrassing!
Pei Chuan remained silent the entire time.
Gathering her courage, she looked up at him. If she saw laughter in his eyes, she'd probably want to dig a hole and hide. Fortunately, Professor Pei was just quietly watching her. Bei Yao asked: "Are you angry?"
She expected him to say no.
Instead, he leaned over and gently touched her cheek: "A little."
Bei Yao was stunned, not knowing how to respond.
After a long pause, she whispered: "If you're angry, why did you still give them gifts?" Probably if she hadn't come to explain, Pei Chuan wouldn't have said anything either.
Pei Chuan kissed her pink, flushed cheek and quietly taught her: "Gifts obligate the receiver."
Bei Yao didn't quite understand.
Pei Chuan didn't explain further.
The principle of "gifts obligate the receiver" could be fully observed from Bei Yao's mother, Mrs. Zhao. By giving gifts to each of her roommates, they would at least understand over the next year of living together that she had a man, that jokes shouldn't be made carelessly, and that boundaries should be maintained.
Everyone has their own social circle. He couldn't deprive her of her life, only quietly integrate into it.
Bei Yao thought for a moment, then couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile.
She poked his chest: "Back when you told me to be with someone else, did it make you feel awful? What were you thinking?" Clearly not generous at all, with such strong possessiveness, so petty! He even had the nerve to get jealous over interactions between girls!
Professor Pei knew she could be quite curious at times.
However, the man's past agony—like cutting out his own heart—wasn't something he could easily share with her. He fastened her seatbelt, preparing to drive and take his girl to school along the way.Bei Yao thought to herself that she had just made a fool of herself, while Pei Chuan rarely spoke his mind, like a sealed gourd. Her embarrassment faded, replaced by curiosity as she wrapped her arms around the man's arm. "Don't start the car yet. You have to tell me first."
Pei Chuan said, "Yao Yao, don't mess around."
Bei Yao pleaded, "Just answer me, okay?" She really wanted to know. Before junior high, she had thought Pei Chuan didn't like her much, and after entering high school, there were several times when she felt he was truly capable of being ruthless and letting go.
He said, "Let go. You're going to be late. I can't drive with you holding onto me."
Bei Yao shook her head. "I'm already going to be late, so hurry up and tell me."
"..." He paused, then said helplessly, "Yao Yao, don't act spoiled every time."
The more he resisted, the more Bei Yao wanted to know. "Did you really not like me before junior high?" She had once thought he liked that senior Shang Mengxian, only to find out later it wasn't true.
Pei Chuan pursed his lips. "No." He had liked her from very, very early on.
Outside, the summer heat lingered faintly, but inside the car, he had turned on the air conditioning in advance. The parking lot was quiet. He lowered his gaze to the girl's eyes—clear and pure, reflecting his own image.
Pei Chuan told her, "Some things are hard to explain. Let the past stay in the past, okay?"
That year when he turned himself in, he had truly prepared to die with those people, ready to be executed. He had also made arrangements for the billions in assets. If she ever married someone else and didn't live well, those assets would eventually find their way to her.
If she lived happily, there was no need for him to use material things to remind her of him.
For the Pei Chuan of the past, love was too bitter.
The bitterness spread from his tongue to his heart. He had only loved one person in his life and had experienced unparalleled suffering, so he didn't want her to feel the same. Her being able to live happily without any burden was a good thing for him.
But people can't help but hope. When the lawyer told him he still had a chance to see her, he chose to strive to return to her side. In the end, he donated all the money to the country.
If the world's reward to him was Yao Yao, he would strive to be a good person who contributed to the world.
Bei Yao blinked. "Alright."
She had thought she would hear Pei Chuan analyze how reluctant he had been to let her go back then. Feeling deflated, she hugged him tightly, somewhat disappointed that she hadn't heard him say any sweet nothings.
As her soft form pressed against his sturdy arm, Pei Chuan couldn't help but recall Wang Qiankun's earlier words.
Back in high school, when he hung out with Jin Ziyang and the others, it was the most restless age. Jin Ziyang never minced words, and Pei Chuan naturally knew how well-proportioned his delicate little wife was.
His throat felt dry as he kissed her cheek. "Be good, sit up straight."
Bei Yao sat up properly, and only then did Pei Chuan start the car and drive to the school.
Bei Yao barely made it to the classroom in the nick of time. When she arrived, Qin Dongni whispered, "I asked for leave for Wang Qiankun. She's sleeping in the dorm."
Pei Chuan stayed in the underground parking lot for a while longer, cooling off in the chilly air, before locking the car and heading toward the Computer Science building.
The computer science students noticed that their always-punctual Professor Pei was late. Pei Chuan showed no expression as he began writing on the blackboard, teaching them some software development techniques.
His shirt was made of fine fabric, now slightly wrinkled from Bei Yao's clinging.
Unbeknownst to him, the students below were quite excited.A girl whispered, "Did you hear that someone saw our 'emotionally detached' Professor Pei Chuan pinning a girl against the fence and kissing her on the playground last night? Zhao Xinxin said it was really intense. Right there by the railings! They didn't even bother hiding—looked completely carried away."
The girl listening to the gossip replied, "No way, he doesn't seem like the type to be so unrestrained."
Despite his youth, the man was exceptionally stern and mature. Even Duan You, the department beauty, had taken the initiative before, but Professor Pei didn't even glance her way.
The gossip-spreader insisted, "It's true, why would I lie? Remember when Bei Yao came to our class yesterday? We left early, but I heard from Zhao Xinxin that after class, the professor went over to ask Bei Yao to have dinner with him."
"Wait, so last night's..."
"Everyone's guessing it was our campus belle."
The girl finally seemed convinced. If it was Bei Yao, it did seem plausible. That girl from the medical school was exceptionally beautiful.
However...
"Doesn't Bei Yao have a boyfriend?" she asked. For that notorious ex-convict boyfriend, she'd even turned down Chu Xun's advances. The whole school knew about it back then, and everyone said Bei Yao had no taste.
"Exactly! Look at Duan You's expression—we were just discussing that. Although Bei Yao is well-liked in the medical school, who knows what she's really like? What if Professor Pei is just fooled by her innocent appearance and doesn't know she has a boyfriend?"
The chatter grew incessant—such explosive news was impossible to contain.
Not only were the girls discussing it, but the boys also refused to believe it, especially the one who'd asked for Bei Yao's number. His heart was practically shattered! Could it be that Professor Pei had taken a liking to Bei Yao himself and was upset about the note-passing?
Though everyone spoke in hushed tones, the collective murmuring eventually created a noisy commotion.
Pei Chuan set down the chalk and spoke coldly, "If there's anything you don't understand, ask directly. Do not hold private discussions during class."
His voice was clear and notably deep.
The classroom immediately fell silent.
Duan You simmered with resentment. Sure, Bei Yao was pretty, but was she herself so lacking? Why did men prefer someone with a boyfriend over even speaking to her?
Convinced that Professor Pei was unaware of Bei Yao's relationship status, she stood up and asked, "Professor Pei, do you have someone you love?"
Pei Chuan glanced at her indifferently. "Yes."
The classroom erupted with surprised "wows" at the professor's unexpected admission of personal matters.
Duan You pressed, "Is that person Bei Yao?"
"Correct."
Duan You declared loudly, "Then do you know she has a boyfriend? It was a huge scandal that the whole school knew about."
Pei Chuan replied calmly, "I have always been her boyfriend, and now I am her lawful husband. Is there a problem? Do you have any other questions?"
The students stared wide-eyed. Duan You stammered, "B-but that's impossible. Her boyfriend clearly..." He'd clearly been to prison—how could he be the promising young research prodigy from the institute?
Pei Chuan said, "My past is less than ideal. I'm grateful my wife never looked down on me and has stayed with me all this time."
After his candid response, Duan You felt awkward and sat back down.
The classroom fell silent for a moment. Deep down, everyone understood: a man who could emerge from prison and become a scientist was nothing short of an extraordinary national talent.The students' eyes held no contempt, only curiosity and admiration.
Someone in the class raised their hand: "Professor Pei, may I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"When did you two get together?"
The classroom erupted in cheerful commotion, clearly more interested in this topic than their specialized courses. Pei Chuan paused, glanced at them, and said: "Five years old." From the very beginning until now, she had always belonged to him.
The class nearly exploded with excitement!
Another person raised their hand: "Did you come to teach at our university because of Bei Yao too?"
Summer sunlight streamed into the classroom. Unlike the year Pei Chuan attended middle school with old fans constantly whirring, university classrooms were now equipped with air conditioning.
Yet what remained unchanged was the warmth of summer.
What he never dared to admit publicly before, he could finally declare to everyone this year.
"Yes, we just got married. I miss her very much."
A faint smile appeared in the eyes of the usually aloof man, and this time everyone saw it clearly.
The early summer breeze drifted into the classroom, exceptionally gentle.
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