This story is about another naive dreamer, named Semyon, who set off to conquer the "capital" in hopes of forgetting and leaving behind his grey youth and continuing his life with a clean slate for the sake of new goals. Alas, the acquired habits and prejudices turn out to be stronger than our protagonist and, in a couple of years of living in an alien environment, from a simple but ambitious fool, he turns into a complicated outsider nostalgic for the good old days.
In the end, fed up with everyday life, melancholy and loneliness, finally disappointed in himself and his venture, battered by life, Semyon draws a bold line under his failed aspirations and gets ready to go back home. However, instead of a line, suddenly, there is a dot, and not just one, but three...
And, once again, the "brave new world" whose accidental guest our protagonist became, awaits him, and, unlike the university, it wasn't too happy about the unexpected visit of such a strange-looking alien. This time, though, he intends to make a little more effort so that the gray past is finally left behind.