Wei Qingyue lived in a very large villa.

A security guard with a serious expression stood at the entrance, keeping unauthorized people out, but the occupancy rate of the residential complex was relatively low. Firstly, the location was a bit remote, and secondly, the price was steep. The east side was adjacent to a river, and some people liked to sit and fish along the bank for half a day, taking the subway in the early morning to grab a spot. As a result, one year, an early-rising fisherman discovered a female corpse in the river, bloated to the point of being misshapen, which thoroughly disgusted everyone. The number of people there dropped significantly.

Wei Qingyue's house happened to be on the east side. Pushing open the window, one could see the lush vegetation wildly displaying its clusters of green, its life force frighteningly vigorous. When the female corpse case broke out, people were in a state of panic. That year, Wei Qingyue was in his first year of junior high, living alone in the villa, and he didn't know what fear was.

In the third week of school, it was time for the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Wei Qingyue called over the hourly cleaning lady to clean the house. He was spending the Mid-Autumn Festival alone.

But Wei Zhendong called, asking him to come over for a meal.

Wei Qingyue expressionlessly agreed over the phone.

Actually, it wasn't the Mid-Autumn Festival yet; Wei Zhendong had called him over in advance.

It was a twenty-minute taxi ride to another district.

His stepmother was a young, beautiful woman, twenty-eight years old, who had been with Wei Zhendong for ten years. Wei Qingyue wasn't sure which number woman of his she was, but she could barely be considered his current final stop. After all, they had a son, eight years old, chubby from overeating, with a terrible temper and abysmal grades. His teacher was constantly calling them. The private elementary school cost tens of thousands a year, a lot of money was spent, but it was just a pity that Wei Zhendong ended up with an idiot for a son.

Wei Qingyue really didn't want to be so vicious towards a child, but when the door opened and the little fatty arrogantly demanded to know if he had come to their house to beg for food, the intense sense of shame was like having his bones scraped for a proud young man like him.

He really wanted to kick this damn kid away.

The stepmother showed a kind of reserved enthusiasm, calling him "Qingyue," and lightly reprimanded the little fatty with a few words.

"I know everything. You came to ask for money. You're just a beggar. If Dad doesn't give you money, you'll have to be a beggar." The little fatty didn't forget to jump onto the sofa and viciously give him the middle finger.

Who knows where he learned such a bad habit.

Wei Qingyue gave him a cold glance.

Just then, Wei Zhendong's car slowly pulled into the courtyard. The stepmother quickly called out, "Sweetheart." With a look from her, the little fatty shot up, dashed to the door, and shouted, "Dad."

Wei Qingyue had to get up. He walked out and stood on the steps, watching the woman's smile, the child's smile, the briefcase being handed over, the hem of her skirt fluttering in the wind, and the man's action of scooping the child up. All the sounds, expressions, and even the faint fragrance wafting from the garden seemed like a barrier that completely separated him from another world.

This feeling was no longer loneliness or solitude, but more like a kind of indifference. The boy watched everything unfold so emotionlessly, and as Wei Zhendong walked over, he called out, "Dad."

Wei Zhendong had a slender build and was extremely well-maintained, with just the right amount of muscle. Beating him up would be effortless for him.

'He will get old one day,' the boy thought coldly.

Wei Qingyue had a meal with the others that was harmonious in appearance but divided in spirit. At the dinner table, Wei Zhendong asked him a few questions about his studies. In the recent physics quiz, Wei Qingyue had placed first.

To Wei Zhendong, this first-place finish's only significance was that he could receive a few polite compliments when others occasionally mentioned it at business dinners. No matter how much he loathed Wei Qingyue, the hateful thing was that Wei Qingyue was too much like his mother—highly intelligent, for whom studying was a breeze.

And the little fatty's lack of promise made something like placing first become a thorn that pricked his heart.

"I heard that the school asked you to give a speech at the opening ceremony, and you spouted nonsense, putting the school leaders and teachers in an awkward position. Did that happen?" Wei Zhendong began, speaking slowly and deliberately.

He was very neat and particular. His leather shoes were shiny all year round, as if untouched by dust, and all his formal suits were ironed without a single crease. Wei Zhendong's persona was that of a successful, elite, middle-aged man.

Wei Qingyue didn't know how much others understood of this man's hypocrisy, but he knew all of it.

The calmer the opening, the more it hinted at the violent storm to follow.

The chopsticks in his hand paused. He answered Wei Zhendong, "The script was too long, and the students had been standing in the sun for a long time. I didn't want to be cursed out by people behind my back."

"It seems you think you were in the right."

Wei Qingyue said nothing.

"If it weren't for your old man having some ability, and people giving me some face, do you think you could be so arrogant?" Wei Zhendong looked at him with a cold smile, his gaze bearing down like poisonous needles piercing his pores. Only then did Wei Qingyue understand that today was a Hongmen Banquet. Wei Zhendong was just looking for an opportunity to lash out. Was there any point to it? Did he have to be enemies with his own son? Wei Qingyue no longer wanted to understand it. He only knew that he couldn't talk back right now. He had to endure, to restrain himself. He was still spending Wei Zhendong's money and living in Wei Zhendong's house.

After only a few seconds of him thinking, Wei Zhendong had already interpreted his silence as a silent protest. He picked up his wine glass, and Wei Qingyue had a faceful of red wine thrown at him.

"Speak. I'm asking you a question. What kind of attitude is this silence of yours?" Wei Zhendong's face suddenly turned stern.

Wei Qingyue's chest heaved slightly as he let the wine trickle down his face and neck. Its red color looked a lot like blood.

Beside them, the stepmother and the little fatty quietly watched the father and son at daggers drawn. The little fatty was very perceptive. When Wei Zhendong was scolding Wei Qingyue, he kept his mouth tightly shut, his cunning little eyes darting around.

Wei Qingyue just stared at Wei Zhendong, still not making a sound. His gaze was like that of a tiger cub, unwilling to submit to humiliation, as if at any moment, he could reveal his not-yet-sharp fangs and pounce.

"What's with that look? Let me tell you, the only person you can rely on now is me. Your mother is busy sleeping with foreigners in America," Wei Zhendong's words about his ex-wife were crude, completely disregarding that Wei Qingyue was still a minor. "If she was willing to take care of you, she would have fought for your custody back then. But she didn't want you. I've raised you all these years, how much money have I spent? What, you're unhappy because I said a few words to you?" Wei Zhendong questioned sharply.

"No, Dad is right to teach me a lesson." Wei Qingyue lowered his eyes.

"I'm warning you, cause less trouble for me at school. If I get another call saying a parent needs to show up somewhere, I'll break your legs." Wei Zhendong's words were forceful, maintaining his absolute authority.

The dinner table was silent for a few seconds.

Only then did the stepmother smile faintly and advise Wei Zhendong not to be angry. Beside them, the little fatty acted cute, putting food into Wei Zhendong's bowl.

This meal was destined to be as tasteless as chewing wax. Later, Wei Zhendong chatted with the stepmother about houses and stocks. He was very good at making money and was proud of it. Wei Qingyue had to admit that in material terms, Wei Zhendong had not wronged him. His food, clothing, and expenses were far above the average for his classmates, which was why he had been targeted by the young hooligans from the vocational high school.

But all of this came at a price.

Wei Qingyue once thought that as long as he studied and got good grades, Wei Zhendong wouldn't hit him. He was wrong. Towards him, Wei Zhendong always harbored an inexplicable rage.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets were crowded. All sorts of discount promotions attracted many people.

Jiang Du went to the Municipal Library early in the morning to save a seat, bringing her materials with her. Her schedule was very clear: math practice tests in the morning, English practice tests in the afternoon, and using any extra time to read her favorite magazines.

She arrived early, so the library wasn't crowded. The autumn heat was still quite fierce, but the air conditioning was cool. Jiang Du put her schoolbag in a locker, got some hot water, and when she came back to find a seat, she froze. A familiar figure had suddenly appeared in her line of sight without any warning.

Wei Qingyue had also come early. He was alone by a window, and the light coming through it outlined the handsome contours of the young man in a gentle gold. This scene felt like some recurring detail.

Jiang Du's breathing instantly became cautious. She watched him silently for a few seconds, then chose a spot where she could see the boy just by looking up, but could also hide among the crowd unnoticed.

The melancholy of not being able to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival at home immediately vanished.

Meeting Wei Qingyue made for a very, very beautiful day.

The feeling of happiness struck her chest intensely, but amidst her secret joy, there was also a trace of indescribable shame.

But Jiang Du was afraid Wei Qingyue would see her. She tiptoed, deliberately taking a detour, and went to the bookshelf to look for Book City magazine.

After checking several times, Jiang Du finally believed it: the library no longer had the latest issue of Book City. In the months before the high school entrance exam, Jiang Du had given up all extracurricular books and magazines. After the exam, she was taken on a trip by Wang Jingjing's mother, and she had spent the summer vacation studying high school material. If she calculated carefully, it had been almost a year since she had read Book City.

The newest issue was the December 2005 one, but that was from last year.

Jiang Du stared blankly at the shelf. She pulled out the December issue, and a thin gap opened up on the shelf. Caught completely off guard, she met a pair of eyes on the other side: Wei Qingyue was also looking for a magazine.

The library was very quiet, but in Jiang Du's heart, waves were crashing against the shore.

The girl's eyes were dark and bright. In her panic, it was as if she were possessed; she forgot to look away, staring at Wei Qingyue without blinking.

At school, Wei Qingyue was always the center of attention. During the flag-raising ceremony every Monday, he was the focus of everyone's attention as the flag-bearer. All eyes would be on him.

Only at this moment did Jiang Du clearly realize that Wei Qingyue belonged to her alone. In this cramped space, only she saw Wei Qingyue; there was no one else.

The two of them looked at each other quietly for a moment.

Wei Qingyue thought the girl he had run into had something to say, but she didn't. She just looked at him silently.

"Is something the matter?" the boy asked, his voice very low.

Jiang Du snapped back to her senses, her face instantly flushing red. It was the first time Wei Qingyue had seen someone have such a strong physical reaction. Her face, originally fair, was in an instant burning red all over.

"Um, do you know why Book City magazine only goes up to '05?" In her haste, she desperately grabbed onto a question and blurted it out.

Jiang Du didn't actually expect him to know; it was just too awkward, and any question to save the situation would do.

"It ceased publication," Wei Qingyue told her lightly.

For a moment, astonishment and disappointment intertwined in the girl's eyes. Wei Qingyue looked at her and said, "The decline of print media is inevitable. Of course, if the magazine changes its strategy, maybe it could resume publication in half a year."

The decline of print media... But the newsstand at the school gate was always crowded with students buying teen girl magazines, so how could that be? These were things Jiang Du rarely thought about at her age. She even found the boy's words unfamiliar.

Wei Qingyue undoubtedly revealed his precocious side. Jiang Du's demeanor seemed very childish to him; clearly, the girl hadn't quite digested his words.

"How did you know it ceased publication?" Jiang Du's voice was almost inaudible. Her heart was beating fast. She was very scared of talking to Wei Qingyue, but not saying anything would be too much of a pity—a pity that would leave her with regrets.

Seeing her less-than-bright expression, Wei Qingyue suddenly smiled. "I flip through it sometimes."

He walked directly over to Jiang Du's side. As he got closer, a dry, orchid-like scent came from him. As the scent washed over her, Jiang Du's heart fluttered like the pages of an old magazine in the wind. The boy's arm passed over her head, pulled out the December issue, opened it, and showed her the editor's note.

Jiang Du was too nervous to read a single word. Even though the page was full of text, her mind was a complete blank.

"All good things must come to an end. My condolences." Wei Qingyue sometimes had a bit of a dry wit. The first phrase was sentimental, but the last two words were comical. He said it unexpectedly, without a trace of trying to be funny.

Jiang Du suddenly lifted her head to look at him.

She couldn't help but hug the magazine, covering half her face as the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

Wei Qingyue said disapprovingly, "Are all you girls so affected? If you want to laugh, just laugh. Why do you have to cover your face with a book?"

Jiang Du's smile slowly stiffened. She lowered the magazine, revealing a completely red face, and said nothing.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were so shy." Wei Qingyue looked at her flushed face, feeling quite helpless. "I'll head back to my seat."

Only after he had walked away did Jiang Du let out a soft "Mm."

Just then, her vision returned to normal, and she noticed the foreword announced a six-month suspension of publication.

She let out a soft sigh and took this final, and newest, issue back to her seat.

Occasionally, when she looked up, she could see Wei Qingyue's focused face. The sunlight had shifted, having long since moved past him, but her whole world was still angled toward his profile.

She didn't know which time it was when she looked up again, but his seat was empty. In an instant, Jiang Du felt her own heart sink. She looked around and saw that many other seats were now empty too.