When Bei Yao was discharged from the hospital, it was already midsummer.
Pei Chuan's fingers had also healed well. They learned from the police that Huo Xu had died, and surprisingly, Shao Yue had confessed to intentional homicide, which left many people astonished.
Pei Chuan said, "She had no choice but to confess. While she could still argue her case in court, falling into Jiang Huaqiong's hands meant there was no way out."
For Shao Yue, this was a terrifying situation—either spend the rest of her life in prison or fall into Jiang Huaqiong's grasp. Neither choice offered any favorable outcome.
On the day Pei Chuan and Bei Yao returned home, they encountered Doctor Ding downstairs.
Doctor Ding was the current partner of Pei Chuan's mother, Jiang Wenjuan.
The middle-aged man wore glasses and had a scholarly, refined appearance.
Doctor Ding smiled and asked Pei Chuan, "Can we talk alone?"
Pei Chuan didn't refuse. "Sure." He patted Bei Yao's head and said, "Go home first. I'll be back soon."
Bei Yao nodded and walked away.
The midsummer sun was scorching, and the August sky was filled with brilliant sunlight everywhere.
Doctor Ding and Pei Chuan sat in front of a stone pavilion. Doctor Ding pulled out a thick stack of papers from his folder and said, "This is your mother's medical records from all these years."
Pei Chuan lowered his gaze. The sun hung high in the sky, and there was no breeze—only the distant chirping of cicadas.
The medical records revealed that Jiang Wenjuan suffered from severe psychological illness.
Doctor Ding explained, "When I started treating her that year, her condition was already quite poor. She couldn't psychologically accept what happened to you back then. On one hand, she had to care for a young child, and on the other, Pei Haobin offered her no comfort. Eventually, she had an emotional breakdown. Even after we got together, she still needed regular treatment. We have no children together—Wenjuan underwent sterilization. You are her only child in this lifetime. She couldn't escape those memories. I'm sorry she didn't have the courage to watch you grow up."
Pei Chuan pushed the medical records back. "Go back. I don't blame anyone anymore."
Pei Chuan's expression was calm. The countless resentments and pains of the past were slowly fading away. He had once desperately yearned for love but had nothing at that time. All the missed opportunities in this world could never be made up for. Yet now he understood that a silly young girl had clumsily accompanied him for many years.
All this time, his growth had not been lonely.
As Doctor Ding walked far away, Pei Chuan called out, "Take good care of her." After getting married, his heart had softened, and he understood the struggles a woman could face.
Doctor Ding turned back in surprise. Pei Chuan's gaze was steady, and Doctor Ding nodded firmly, suddenly realizing that Pei Chuan had truly let go of the past.
That August, the evening primroses beneath the apartment bloomed.
Zhao Zhilan brought news of Pei Haobin's resignation. She sighed as she spoke about it: "Not only did he resign, but he also donated most of his money. That woman Cao Li usually seemed virtuous, but who would have thought she'd end up fighting with Pei Haobin? These past few days, she's been clamoring for a divorce. Look at how obedient she used to be to Captain Pei—it really seemed like she'd found true love in middle age, but now they're even coming to blows."
Bei Yao was utterly astonished.
That evening, she quietly brought up the matter with Pei Chuan, wanting to see his reaction.
Her eyes were wide and round. Pei Chuan looked at her amusedly and said, "There's no need to meddle in other people's affairs."
She whispered, "But he's your dad."
Pei Chuan patted her head. "He's Pei Jiadong's dad."Although back then, even for the sake of his plans, Pei Haobin would have chosen Pei Jiadong, Pei Chuan understood clearly that if such a situation truly arose, Pei Haobin would still choose Pei Jiadong. This was because Pei Chuan’s cold and rebellious nature made Pei Haobin unwilling to alienate his other son as well.
Human nature is complex, yet simple in its own way.
Bei Yao asked, "You’re not bothered by it anymore?"
Pei Chuan smiled lightly. "Mm."
He gently smoothed her hair with his fingers. "I don’t have parents. Love me a little more from now on, okay?"
A sense of mission welled up in Bei Yao, and she nodded firmly.
Unexpectedly, there was more to the story. While Bei Yao was recuperating, Zhao Zhilan developed a newfound passion for gossip and making soup.
"Heh, Yao Yao, you have no idea. That couple actually got divorced. Cao Li is really something else—her daughter Bai Yutong started working this year, and she even tried to take Pei Jiadong with her. Probably thinking of finding another man already. I saw Captain Pei the other day—he used to be such a sturdy man, but now he’s so thin he’s barely recognizable. I’d say he’s not thinking straight either. He donated all his money, thinking Cao Li would stick by him out of admiration, but he should’ve known what kind of person she is. How could she tolerate that?"
Pei Haobin had been pampered by Cao Li for most of his life, never expecting that once he lost his money, she would change completely.
The marriage he had once sacrificed Pei Chuan for had completely fallen apart within a year.
Pei Haobin was probably beginning to question the meaning of his entire life. He had grown old, yet he had nothing left.
Bei Yao felt a bit sorry for Pei Jiadong. The child had to grow up in a broken family, and Cao Li would most likely remarry.
Pei Haobin had worked hard all his life, only to end up with none of his sons by his side.
Zhao Zhilan thought for a moment and, seeing that her son-in-law had stepped out, quietly asked Bei Yao, "How’s your married life? Still harmonious, I hope?"
It took Bei Yao a good while to realize what "married life harmony" meant. Her face flushed red, and she stammered an affirmative response.
In truth, they had only been intimate once, and she had been half-drunk at the time, barely remembering how it felt. But such an embarrassing matter was not something she could share with Zhao Zhilan.
Later, Bei Yao fell ill and got injured, so naturally, they couldn’t revisit the subject.
Zhao Zhilan had come to accept Pei Chuan as her son-in-law and rather liked him. After all, he was capable, made good money, and doted on her daughter. She said cheerfully, "You’ll be graduating soon. Make sure you use contraception—it wouldn’t be good to be pregnant on campus."
It was only then that Bei Yao realized how open-minded her mother was. Afraid that Zhao Zhilan would say more, she quickly agreed.
Fortunately, it was summer break. By September, Bei Yao would have to return to school.
She had only one year left in her university program and would graduate the following June.
Now, everyone knew she was Pei Chuan’s wife, especially after Professor Pei’s high-profile announcement.
The students, innocent and unaware of the Huo family’s troubles, only knew that a prominent family had fallen from grace. When Bei Yao returned to campus, her roommates were delighted to see her and asked with smiles how her honeymoon had been.
How had it been? Utterly embarrassing.
Pei Chuan probably still saw her as a fragile porcelain doll.
Researcher Pei’s career had to continue as well. When he returned to the research institute, all his senior colleagues breathed a sigh of relief, inexplicably moved. When Pei Chuan had been around, research projects had progressed at lightning speed. After he left, everyone struggled to adapt to the snail-like pace.Pei Chuan developed an electronic sensor chip, which officially entered the experimental phase in the drizzly September.
The equipment was not yet mature. Back when he was "Satan," he had begun researching brain-implanted chip technology. However, after he turned himself in, the technology regained national attention, and he shifted his focus to developing limb sensor chips.
The principle involved implanting the chip into the human body, enabling patients with cerebral palsy or those in vegetative states to perceive the external world and produce corresponding stress responses.
That day, Pei Chuan wore a white lab coat and observed the final results with his research institute colleagues.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the child volunteer with cerebral palsy and motor impairments slowly curled his fingers and grasped a pen.
His parents covered their mouths, tears streaming down their faces.
The young volunteer gazed at Pei Chuan with admiration. Though his brain development was delayed and he could only hold the pen for a brief minute, he seemed to understand what hope meant.
Pei Chuan’s eyes flickered, and he pressed his lips together.
Everyone at the institute was exhilarated that day. What did this mean? It meant that once this groundbreaking technology matured, it could be applied in medicine—potentially awakening patients in vegetative states! Children born with cerebral palsy could also experience the world more fully.
Pei Chuan left work quite late. On his way home, swallows flew past as the sky gradually darkened.
With his hands in his pockets, Pei Chuan thought for the first time about the year he had taken Bei Yao on a plane to City B. She had painted a beautiful vision of the world, and now, years later, he was striving to build a better one.
For the first time, he felt so tangibly the value and meaning of one’s existence.
Pei Chuan pushed open the door to his home. Outside the September window, a light rain had begun to fall. Near the entrance, a blue-and-white porcelain vase held a fresh bouquet of jasmine flowers that day.
Tiny white blossoms filled the room with their delicate fragrance.
Bei Yao, wearing a small pink apron, was leaning over the table, studying a medical textbook.
The lingering summer warmth persisted, and her bare legs were visible under the dress he had bought for her a couple of days earlier.
In the kitchen, congee was kept warm. Bei Yao, nearing graduation, had been particularly free lately.
Hearing his footsteps, she turned around.
This year, she was 22, blooming like a flower on a branch, bathed in the warm, gentle glow of the dining table light.
For the first time, Pei Chuan felt so genuinely that the world was embracing him, and he had a home once more.
"You’re still cooking? Does your wound not hurt anymore?"
Bei Yao said, "It’s been fine for a while—you’re the one who’s overly worried. When you’re not home, I get bored."
He initially thought of suggesting she go out with her classmates, but instead, he said gently, "I’m sorry. I’ll come home earlier tomorrow."
She nodded with a smile, a touch of sweet innocence in her expression. "Okay."
If Zhao Zhilan were there, she might have tapped her daughter’s forehead and remarked, "How can a man’s career be interrupted?"
Yet, speaking one’s desires without restraint was the essence of youth.
He smiled and had dinner with her.
Bei Yao was cramming her professional courses every day, afraid she might fall behind later. After her shower, she padded around the bedroom in slippers, reading.
Pei Chuan chuckled softly, suddenly recalling Zhao Zhilan’s words: her daughter wasn’t particularly clever and always needed more time than others to accomplish things.
This little fool was really putting in the effort.
She had marked the parts she didn’t understand with red annotations. Pei Chuan glanced at them and offered a couple of pointers.
Bei Yao looked at him in surprise. "How do you know this?"
Pei Chuan replied, "I know a bit. I’ve read a lot." In research, having broad knowledge is always beneficial.Bei Yao found it amusing and asked him a few more questions. After thinking for a moment, Pei Chuan actually managed to answer all of them.
Bei Yao blinked and teased, "Professor Pei, then teach me."
"..." He paused briefly, "Come here."
Bei Yao hugged her books and went over. Pei Chuan took the books from her arms: "Aren't you better now? I don't know much about your field of study, but I'll teach you something else."
Later, when Pei Chuan leaned over her, Bei Yao finally understood what "something else" meant.
The September drizzle pattered outside as the textbook lay pitifully on the floor beneath the bed.
This time she was fully conscious, her misty eyes reflecting the man's handsome features.
Pei Chuan pressed his lips together, baring himself before her for the first time.
His prosthetic leg had been removed, his severed limb exposed to the air. She could hear the man's frantic heartbeat, pounding one after another, his body taut like steel.
The severed limb was indeed unsightly.
With the rain falling, the air was stiflingly hot. The man's sweat dripped onto her pale collarbone.
Her almond-shaped eyes were hazy as she looked up at him, panting softly and whispering, "Be gentle."
Like summer flowers blooming in wild profusion, she trembled as she clung to his shoulders.
Her small hands didn't know where to rest.
Pei Chuan suppressed a muffled groan as her delicate whimpers scratched at him several times.
Suddenly remembering something, Bei Yao reminded him in a melting tone, "We... we need contraception."
Only now did she recall this. Pei Chuan gritted his teeth and responded vaguely, "Mm, next time."
His body grew even tenser, though no longer due to that pitiful sense of inferiority.
Outside the window, the gentle rain continued as the night breeze of late summer and early autumn blew, unexpectedly tender.
After a night of intense passion, Pei Chuan woke earlier than her in the morning.
He held the small hand resting on his chest, half-clenched into a little fist, and kissed it with a smile.
This stubborn girl had been fixated on one thing last night - contraception.
Whose precious gem was this, still insisting even through tearful pleas?
He found it both amusing and heartwarming.
Pei Chuan had work in the morning, yet for the first time he felt reluctant to leave.
When Bei Yao woke up, she wasn't preoccupied with how he'd brushed her off with "next time." Instead, she buried her head under the covers, still feeling ashamed by "Professor Pei's" hands-on teaching.
Pei Chuan picked up the book from under the bed and said with a hoarse laugh, "Take your book and go to school."
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