Chapter 101

During evening self-study, Li Heng opened Chen Zijin's letter amidst the silence of the classroom.

In his past life, he had waited a long time for this letter, and because of that, he had mailed countless letters to Jingcheng, but unfortunately, they all vanished like stones into the sea, with no news at all.

But in this life, following the successful publication of the novel *To Live*, his connection with Chen Zijin had finally come alive, just like the title of the novel.

The letter was not thin; it had three pages of stationery.

In the text, Chen Zijin mainly recorded fragments of her life and a series of trivial matters regarding her studies. Throughout the entire letter, she did not mention the feelings between the two of them, nor was there any ambiguous language, yet every sentence and every gap between paragraphs was filled with longing, revealing her love for him everywhere.

At the end of the letter, she asked Li Heng if he would go to Jingcheng.

Would he take the entrance exam for Peking University?

At the same time, Chen Zijin told him: her family hoped she would attend the Renmin University Law School.

It seemed the Chen family had already paved the way for her future.

Renmin University Law School, huh? That was the same as in his past life.

It seemed Chen Zijin's path forward had not been affected by the butterfly effect from his last phone call; the heart he had been holding in his throat finally settled.

The letter was neither short nor long; Li Heng silently savored it twice.

Taking in his actions, Song Yu hesitated for a moment before writing on her draft notebook: Zijin sent me photos last month. Do you want to see them?

Li Heng: Ah?

Song Yu replied: If you want to see them, I can bring them over this weekend.

Li Heng wrote: No need.

Song Yu looked at him, pondered for two seconds, and replied: Judging from the photos, she is prettier than before, her features have opened up more, her style of dress is more tasteful, and she has more charm.

This was within expectations.

After all, it was Jingcheng; could a mountain nest like Shaoshi compare?

Li Heng wrote: Thank you.

Seeing him intentionally avoiding the topic of Zijin in front of her, and with her plans falling through, Song Yu did not continue and went back to her own business.

Spending 20 minutes, Li Heng wrote a reply to Chen Zijin.

In the letter, he told her about his filled-out volunteer report and also told her about the novel *The Troubleshooters*.

As for Song Yu and Xiao Han, heh, feeling guilty, he didn't mention a single word.

Just as he was folding the letter paper, Song Yu suddenly took an envelope and two stamps out of her schoolbag and placed them gently on his desk.

Li Heng was a bit surprised and asked in a low voice, "You had them prepared for me long ago?"

Song Yu smiled and nodded.

Her smile was radiant, her words unsaid, her aura like a secluded orchid, graceful and elegant, light and ethereal.

Feeling her smile that was like a spring breeze at such close range, Li Heng, who had already given his heart away, was momentarily dazed.

Seeing him staring fixedly at her, Song Yu paused, then gradually retracted her smile, picked up her pen, and stared blankly at the brand-new blank draft paper in front of her.

The fountain pen tip hovered over the paper, the cap left aside for a long time. Within a short five minutes, she didn't know how many times she had wanted to clarify the relationship between the two, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to write.

Finally, the pen tip poked weakly at the white paper, leaving a blue ink stain with a halo, as well as an indentation that was incredibly difficult for her to make.

She had put down the pen for too long.

She didn't expect that after Li Heng put the envelope away, he would directly open his lunchbox, take out a spoon from his desk, and eat the chicken just like that, openly and honestly.

The chicken was a free-range black-bone chicken, stewed with gastrodia; it was very fragrant. Once the lunchbox was opened, the scent permeated the air and lingered for a long time.

Song Yu stared blankly at the dots and lines on the white draft paper; the fragrance of the chicken became even more pungent. At one moment, just as she couldn't help but turn her head to look, a note suddenly appeared in her line of sight, with about ten lines of text on it.

Without looking at her eyes or expression, Li Heng placed the note in front of her and continued to lower his head and eat in large mouthfuls.

Song Yu took a calm breath, moved her gaze to the paper, and read it silently.

The content was as follows:

It may be immoral,

It may not be aboveboard,

I just loved someone I felt was worth it,

Even if we can't be together, I will continue to love,

That is the direction of the heart, what does it matter if I bet my remaining life,

Love has nothing to do with worth,

Only with willingness,

I just want to give all my goodness to you,

Willingness is the best answer.

The text was not long, but Song Yu read it three times in a row without realizing it. After reading it, she fell into silence.

The first two sentences seemed to be him labeling his own behavior objectively; due to Chen Zijin's existence, this love was not moral, nor was it that aboveboard.

But he didn't care; he only felt he had loved someone worth it.

As for the content that followed, "bet my remaining life" and "willingness" made Song Yu feel it even more strongly. For a time, her heart was stirred, and it remained unsettled for a long time.

Throughout the whole piece, Li Heng advanced by retreating; he was both defining his own behavior and laying out his intentions, as if loosening the bonds for Song Yu, but while loosening them, he had invisibly bound Song Yu even deeper and tighter.

Reading it silently again, Song Yu's stiff pen tip finally came alive on the paper, writing: From Lin Huiyin?

Li Heng replied mischievously: Yes, it's not a famous person's hand, I was afraid you'd hit me, and it wouldn't be convincing.

Song Yu smiled and wrote: You are a famous person now too.

Li Heng replied: Do famous people have a pass?

What pass?

Naturally, a pass where love comes first.

A pass that allows me to love her.

Lin Huiyin's love life had always been a subject of discussion; Li Heng was shamelessly using her as an analogy for himself.

He was not hypocritical, nor was he avoiding or tabooing it; he admitted that he had fallen in love with her before completely cutting ties with Chen Zijin.

Actually, there was no other way. Whether he admitted it or not, in Song Yu's eyes, and even in the eyes of Mai Sui, Sun Manning, Chen Lijun, and Zhang Zhiyong, he was someone who had changed his affections.

Rather than covering it up, it was better to be open and aboveboard.

The three words "pass" made the smile that Song Yu had finally revealed retract. She deliberated for a long time and wrote again: Why?

Why?

Why would you like me?

She had asked once before; she was persistent in asking again this time. Li Heng thought for a moment and stopped being evasive.

He wrote:

Only what cannot be restrained is love; love has never been normal.

The remaining life is short,

You must love someone.

Someone who smiles the moment they see you;

Someone you smile at the moment you see them.

The most romantic encounter is probably when you just happen to turn your head, and I just happen to look up.

These words were still from Lin Huiyin, but they answered Song Yu's question well, forming a perfect closed loop.

Sometimes it's just like this; the same words are more convincing when they come from a famous author. After reading them, Song Yu's heart fluctuated even more.

But the effect was immediate and good; she didn't reply again, nor did she dwell on why Li Heng would fall in love with her.

Smelling the chicken from far away, Zou Aiming from the first group asked Li Heng from the third group with dissatisfaction:

"Old Heng, such good food, aren't you going to share?"

Li Heng didn't even raise his head and replied, "It's Song Yu's."

"Oh! Master Heng, keep eating, treat it as if I just let out a fart." Zou Aiming replied sourly.

Li Heng replied, "It's fine, let's be more refined next time."

The evening self-study was very quiet; the whole class could hear the two of them asking and answering, and suddenly there was an explosion of laughter.

Sun Manning in the front row turned around and stared straight at Song Yu. After a long while, she asked awkwardly:

"You are Song Yu, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in this life, and you were conquered just like that?"

Song Yu wanted to open her mouth to explain, but Li Heng had already snatched the words: "Comrade Sun Manning, I don't like hearing that."

"I!" Sun Manning was speechless.

The head teacher Wang Qi was startled by the laughter in the class, walked into the classroom from the office, and asked seriously:

"What are you doing? Not having class anymore? Have you all been admitted to university?"

Liu Yejiang snitched: "Song Yu brought chicken from home for Li Heng, and Li Heng has been showing it off during evening self-study."

Don't say it, villains have the joys of villains; with this, the whole class heard it and everyone hid behind their books and grinned.

Song Yu?

Song Yu had always been synonymous with "pure and noble" in the teachers' minds, and she actually brought food for Li Heng? Teacher Wang Qi, like everyone else, appeared very surprised.

The "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old" immediately shouted at the two: "Song Yu, Li Heng, you two come out for a moment."

Well, about to be interviewed again.

Li Heng got up, glanced at Liu Yejiang, and then walked toward the classroom door.

Song Yu calmed down in her seat, and finally left the classroom too.

Entering the office, Wang Qi closed the door and frowned at Li Heng: "What's going on? Didn't you promise me to restrain yourself in high school and date Song Yu in university?"

Look at how that was said; Song Yu felt it was strange.

Li Heng said: "Teacher, you misunderstood, I was just a bit greedy, Song Yu gave me chicken, and I couldn't help but eat a few pieces."

Teacher Wang Qi sat on the chair and said happily: "Greedy? Is a few pieces of chicken worth it? I think you kid aren't greedy for chicken, you're greedy for Song Yu, right?"

This was even more outrageous; Song Yu didn't know whether to stand or leave for a moment, her right hand couldn't help but smooth the fine hair by her ear, her eyes drifted out the window, her face slightly flushed.

It was the first time Li Heng and Teacher Wang Qi saw Song Yu looking shy, faintly, although not very obvious.

But she was beautiful, and it had a different flavor.

Staying on Song Yu's face for two seconds, Teacher Wang Qi sighed secretly, suddenly understanding why Li Heng, who was in the prime of his youth, couldn't restrain himself.

After weighing it, Teacher Wang Qi said to Li Heng: "You go back to the classroom and change seats with Sun Manning."

Li Heng felt dizzy, "Don't, don't, teacher, you ask Song Yu first, did I harass her?"

Teacher Wang Qi lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and said: "There are only ten days left, you endure it, go."

Being given an eviction order, Li Heng returned to the classroom helplessly, but he was a dead pig not afraid of boiling water; he didn't mention changing seats at all.

After Li Heng left, Teacher Wang Qi asked Song Yu in as calm a voice as possible:

"Did you really bring chicken for that brat?"

Song Yu wanted to say truthfully "It was Chen Zijin who asked her to bring it," but reacted later: if she said it like that, wouldn't the relationship between the three appear more complicated and messy?

Song Yu pondered for a moment and replied: "I brought it."

Then she told a small lie, adding: "I brought some for Mai Sui and the others too."

These words made Teacher Wang Qi feel relieved, and even the cigarette in his mouth felt relaxed. Then he asked the question he cared about most:

"Then did Li Heng harass you?"

Li Heng's affection for Song Yu was almost an open secret; both parties knew it, so the head teacher's conversation this time was simply open, without the previous covering up and beating around the bush.

Song Yu shook her head.

Wang Qi asked again: "Sitting at the same desk as him, do you have any psychological burden?"

Song Yu still shook her head and said calmly: "It's okay."

Wang Qi nodded upon hearing this; obviously, compared to Li Heng, he trusted Song Yu's words more.

Next, the two chatted for about ten minutes, mainly the head teacher guiding her.

Whether in life, study, or male-female relationships, he taught her how to handle them correctly based on his experience as someone who had been there.

Honestly, because Song Yu and Mai Sui's conditions were too outstanding, he had worried a lot these years, fearing that their grades would be affected by other boys.

This conversation was quite pleasant, and Wang Qi smiled and said: "There are 15 days left until the college entrance exam, this might be the last time the teacher talks to you alone. In a few months, you will be a university student at a prestigious school, a pillar of the country.

At that time, the teacher will have to talk to you in a different capacity. Go, study hard, stabilize your mentality, Peking University is out of reach for others, but for you, it is not a dream, but a new beginning, the school and the teachers all believe in you."

"Thank you, teacher."

Song Yu expressed her gratitude politely and got up to return to the classroom.

After a while, Wang Qi also came to the classroom, turned his gaze on Li Heng twice, then turned on Sun Manning and Mai Sui in the front row twice, and finally stood directly beside Li Heng's desk, staring straight at him as he did a set of math problems before leaving.

When leaving, Wang Qi didn't mention Li Heng changing seats again, but called Mai Sui to the office, obviously to do the last ideological mobilization work for her before the exam.

As the countdown number in the upper right corner of the blackboard got smaller day by day, head teacher Wang Qi's control over Class 204 became looser and looser, and his tolerance greatly increased.

Whether boys or girls, almost all behaviors that were considered to have crossed the red line in the past were self-comforted by the "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old" as "releasing college entrance exam pressure."

So during this period, as long as it wasn't too outrageous, even if boys and girls changed seats privately for a class or two, he pretended not to see it, didn't investigate, and didn't force them to sit back.

It was rare to have such a relaxed environment in three years of high school, and sure enough, a small number of people took advantage of the loopholes and took risks.

July 3rd.

When eating in the cafeteria at noon, Liu Li said proudly and annoyedly to Li Heng, Zhang Zhiyong, and Zou Aiming: "Have you three noticed, Chen Dan has been liking to change seats with my desk mate for no reason lately.

During class breaks too, she often comes over to sit. At first, it made me very nervous. Do you think she has a crush on me?"

Zou Aiming asked: "Did she chat with you?"

Liu Li recalled: "Occasionally, but not much."

Zou Aiming asked again: "Then did she pass you a note?"

Liu Li said: "No."

At this time, Sun Manning, who had finished getting her food, sat over, "Maybe she's shy."

Seeing Sun Manning, Liu Li instinctively looked back at her back, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Mai Sui and Song Yu, but didn't see Chen Lijun.

Sun Manning guessed his thoughts, raised the lunchbox in her hand, and said with a giggle: "What are you afraid of? Lijun didn't come, she's taking a shower, I helped her get the food."

Liu Li complained listlessly: "Don't sneak over next time, it scares people to death."

Sun Manning didn't care, and ridiculed: "Not sneak over? How would I know that Liu Li, who is usually afraid of talking to girls alone, is also a flirt.

Look at how proud you were just now, it completely overturned my perception of you over the past three years."

These words made Liu Li's face flush red, he buried his head in his food, smiled awkwardly, and didn't speak.

Next, several people were studying how Liu Li, who looked like a bitter melon, attracted Chen Dan?

Maybe it was said too much, maybe it was being roasted by Sun Manning and Zhang Zhiyong, later Liu Li couldn't help but defend himself:

"The day doesn't understand the darkness of the night, this is called fate, you know? You guys are too shallow."

Seeing Li Heng, who was usually the most active in the circle, silent today, Mai Sui asked with concern: "Li Heng, are you feeling uncomfortable?"

As soon as these words came out, Song Yu looked over.

Sun Manning, Zhang Zhiyong, and Liu Li, who had been arguing fiercely just now, also stopped talking and looked at Li Heng in unison.

Li Heng chewed slowly, swallowed the rice in his mouth, raised his head, and said: "Not uncomfortable, I just don't know if I should speak?"

Mai Sui asked curiously: "Why?"

Li Heng looked at Liu Li, wondering with bad taste whether to reveal the cruel truth, when suddenly a bottle of soda descended from the sky behind his back, accompanied by the voice of class monitor Liu Hui:

"Old Heng, treat you to a soda."

Next, the class monitor distributed the pile of sodas he was holding one by one, as if he had come prepared, just one bottle per person.

After distributing them, Liu Hui still had one bottle in his hand, "Eh, where did Chen Lijun go? Why didn't she come with you today?"

Sun Manning said: "She's on her period, she's in the dormitory."

"Then you help me bring this bottle of soda to her."

Saying this, Liu Hui handed the soda to Sun Manning, then sat down next to Li Heng.

Zhang Zhiyong asked the class monitor: "Yo! Rare guest, you don't usually come to the cafeteria to sit and eat, why did you come today?"

Liu Hui said unnaturally, "I came to find Old Heng."

Upon hearing this, everyone cast their gazes at Li Heng.

Sure enough, the historical trajectory hasn't changed, what should come has come, Li Heng said to himself.

In his past life, in the entire Class 204, besides Li Heng and Song Yu having a romantic relationship, Liu Hui and Chen Dan became husband and wife.

Don't look at the fact that they became husband and wife, don't look at the fact that they were harmonious and loving after marriage, actually Liu Hui was quite miserable in the early stages, because his appearance was relatively simple, he chased Chen Dan for 14 years before moving his goddess's heart.

And during these 14 years, Chen Dan met three boys who made her heart beat, and Li Heng was one of them.

Don't ask Li Heng how he knew?

Because when the two got married, he went to drink the wedding wine, and Liu Hui didn't avoid talking about his wife's past affairs, and even talked about it vigorously while drinking.

Gathering his past memories, Li Heng, who knew exactly why the other party came to find him, asked: "Do you want to go outside to eat?"

Liu Hui said gratefully: "Okay, Old Heng, you understand me best."

Under the gossiping eyes of everyone, Li Heng picked up his lunchbox and left the cafeteria first.

Liu Hui followed.

Arriving at a deserted corner outside, Li Heng stopped and waited for the other party to speak first.

Liu Hui seemed a bit nervous, and also seemed unable to speak, and it took a long time before he opened his mouth to ask:

"Old Heng, do you really like Song Yu? Or is it just everyone's rumors?"

The reason he asked this was mainly because he knew Li Heng had once dated Chen Zijin, so rumors were rumors, and he wasn't sure?

Li Heng said: "I really like her."

Hearing this, Liu Hui seemed to have gained strength, and his tone relaxed a lot, "Did, did Chen Dan write you a love letter?"

Li Heng nodded, "Mm."

This love letter was secretly handed to him by Chen Dan during the lunch break, and it was one of the few that escaped the head teacher's clutches.

It was probably because this girl figured out that Wang Qi would search the desks, so she avoided it efficiently.

Liu Hui's face collapsed instantly, squeezing out a smile uglier than crying, "Then, then what about you and Chen Dan?"

Li Heng said: "Rest assured, I didn't open the letter."

Seeing the other party unable to speak due to anxiety, he added, "I know you have a crush on her, you pursue her well, I'll destroy that letter later."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hui put his lunchbox aside and excitedly grabbed Li Heng's right hand: "Thank you so much! Thank you so much!

I know my behavior is very presumptuous and might cause your disgust, but I can't control it!

My grades in junior high school were not outstanding, but for her, I reviewed all the textbooks from elementary school to junior high school during the summer vacation of the second year of junior high, and worked hard day and night in the third year of junior high to follow her footsteps to be admitted to No. 1 High School and Class 204, I hope you can understand my bitterness."

Understand.

How could he not understand?

To be honest, he was quite surprised by Liu Hui's perseverance, and joked half-truthfully: "You are still the best, you liked girls in junior high school, and not only did you like them, but you were so perseverant."

"Hehe, we are half a catty to eight taels, I also know you dated Chen Zijin in junior high school, but I don't have your looks, so I can only be a follower." Liu Hui had a profound understanding of himself and said this without any affectation.

Li Heng asked casually: "Does Chen Dan know you like her?"

Liu Hui puffed out his cheeks and said: "So many years, how could she not know? She's not stupid, she knows, but she always laughs it off.

She told me she liked you, didn't she try to sit at the same desk as you? Fortunately, Sun Manning drove her away. Otherwise, my sky would have collapsed."

Li Heng liked this guy's honesty, but this was the sky collapsing?

It would collapse once more in university later.

It would collapse once more after entering society.

You just wait, you have suffering ahead of you.

Actually, Chen Dan was just a passerby in his life, if Liu Hui hadn't come to him in his past life, he wouldn't have noticed this girl at all.

Of course, the reason Liu Hui came to him was because he was afraid that Li Heng would take a bite, and directly make Chen Dan fall for him.

Returning to the cafeteria, Sun Manning couldn't help but ask the two, "Two big men being so mysterious, is it something shameful?"

Liu Hui didn't answer Sun Manning's words, but picked up the soda and said to Song Yu: "Song Yu, I'll toast you with soda instead of wine, thank you."

Song Yu was a bit confused, looked at Li Heng, and didn't move out of reserve.

Anyway, there were only four classes this afternoon, and anyway, Li Heng knew about Chen Dan, so Liu Hui said very generously:

"If it weren't for the fact that you are Song Yu, if it weren't for the fact that you are Old Heng's desk mate, Chen Dan would probably have asked to change seats with you these days."

The first half of the sentence meant Chen Dan was wary of Song Yu.

The middle half was to rejoice that Li Heng liked Song Yu, not an ordinary girl.

The latter half was to clear up the confusion for everyone.

After listening, everyone was a smart person and immediately understood what was going on.

Sun Manning first glanced at Li Heng, then turned her head to look at Liu Li, and suddenly burst into laughter, covering her mouth: "Liu Li, you are so shameless!"

Liu Li was socially dead, his face flushed red, and he said: "If you know, keep it in your heart, don't say it out, we are so familiar, can't you give Old Liu some face, I rarely feel proud of my charm in my life. Really, really..."

As he spoke, Liu Li couldn't go on, and lay directly on the table, sigh! It was really shameful to the grandmother's house.

Everyone couldn't help laughing, and followed the laughter for a long time.

Finally, Song Yu picked up the soda, touched it gently with Liu Hui, and said: "I wish you success in the exam and everything you wish for."

"Thank you, thank you!" Liu Hui was very grateful and drank more than half a bottle of soda in one breath.

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(End of chapter)