Chapter 120: The Conquest Journey (Requesting Subscriptions!)

Chen Gaoyuan returned, and Chen Xiaomi went with him.

Watching her father and aunt depart, Chen Zijin finally let out a genuine sigh of relief.

Today was the turning point in her relationship with Li Heng; the weight of a year’s struggle against her family lifted, replaced by joy, and she couldn’t help but cling to his arm.

Only then did Zhang Zhiyong raise a thumb, “Big Boss Heng! You’re incredible—I’m convinced!”

Zhang Zhiyong meant every word.

How could you not be convinced?

Chen Xiaomi’s fierceness rivals Li Lan’s, and with her family’s far superior status, her standards are even higher, her pride even greater.

But what was the result?

Didn’t she still have to come forward and show goodwill to Big Boss Heng?

The scene at the dinner table had left Zhang Zhiyong utterly stunned, mouth agape.

With his own fiancée present, Li Heng ignored Zhang Zhiyong’s remark and asked the English teacher, “Teacher, do you have any plans for sightseeing today?”

The English teacher glanced at Chen Zijin and smiled, shaking her head: “My greatest wish coming to Jingcheng was to visit my alma mater, Renmin University. I went yesterday—no regrets. Now, anywhere is fine.”

The four of them discussed briefly and headed to the famed Summer Palace. After touring the entire grounds, all of them were a bit tired.

When they returned to the hotel in the afternoon, Chen Zijin stayed with Li Heng, enjoying a long, tender moment before parting.

After their long separation and in the midst of their passionate romance, Chen Zijin didn’t want to go home at all—she was deeply reluctant.

But she understood: though her father and aunt no longer opposed her relationship with Li Heng, there were still others in the family. She couldn’t—and shouldn’t—stay out overnight.

On the third morning, the four of them went early to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony.

As she gazed up at the national flag slowly rising, Chen Zijin suddenly remembered something and said to Li Heng, “When I got home last night, I called Maisui. She and her family visited the Palace Museum yesterday. She’s free today—should we have dinner together?”

Li Heng asked, “Is Maisui’s place far from us?”

Chen Zijin replied, “Not far—she lives near Peking University.”

Li Heng asked, “Near Peking University? Did Maisui visit the campus early?”

Chen Zijin answered, “Maisui said her grandfather’s old comrade lives nearby—it’s more convenient for food and lodging, saves a lot of trouble.”

That makes sense.

These days, you needed an introduction letter just to stay at a hotel. Fortunately, the English teacher had prepared in advance, and Li Heng and the others traveled smoothly.

Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land always stirs emotion. Li Heng didn’t refuse; the English teacher and Zhang Zhiyong were delighted. That noon, they went to Peking University and met Maisui.

“Maisui, I finally see you! I’ve heard your voice on the phone for so long, but I never expected that after just a year, you’ve become even more beautiful—and even more alluring.” Chen Zijin embraced her warmly, sincerely complimenting her.

Maisui’s allure was different from the kind created by heavy makeup and forced seduction.

Her charm was etched into her bones—refined, sophisticated, subtly revealed in the flicker of her gaze, making outsiders feel an undeniable, irresistible comfort from her body language.

Especially her soft, seductive eyes—you couldn’t stare too long, or you’d sink into enchantment from the very first glance.

“You too—you’ve become far more stylish and elegant than before.” Maisui studied Chen Zijin from head to toe; both women sensed profound changes in each other.

“Teacher, you’re here too!” The two women chatted excitedly but didn’t forget the English teacher beside them. The three of them chattered nonstop, filling the air with lively energy.

Several minutes later, Maisui seemed to remember Li Heng and Zhang Zhiyong and hurriedly greeted them.

Zhang Zhiyong smirked, biting hard into his ice pop: “Forget it—I’m used to being invisible. Ignore me. You girls keep talking.”

Maisui smiled sweetly at Li Heng: “Congratulations. The clouds have parted and the moon appeared—you and Zijin make a perfect couple.”

Hearing this, the English teacher and Zhang Zhiyong glanced at Chen Zijin’s happy face, then at Maisui, then at Li Heng. Some things were better left unsaid—they all tactfully avoided mentioning Li Heng’s earlier obsession with Song Yu during their final high school years.

Facing Maisui, Li Heng’s thick skin held firm—he thanked her.

Lunch was at a small roadside eatery. The food was mediocre at best, but the five of them, buzzing with excitement, didn’t care—they happily shared stories of their experiences in Jingcheng.

After lunch, with the day overcast, the lively group of five went for a stroll along the Weiming Lake at Peking University.

Watching Li Heng and Chen Zijin’s closeness, Maisui seized a private moment to quietly ask:

“Between Zijin and Song Yu—you still chose Zijin?”

Knowing Maisui’s close bond with Song Yu, Li Heng found the question hard to answer. He stared silently at the Boya Pagoda in the distance.

Maisui followed his gaze to the Boya Pagoda, then asked curiously, “Did you go to the Chen household?”

Li Heng shook his head: “No.”

This was his indirect answer to the question of whom he chose between Chen Zijin and Song Yu.

Maisui was surprised.

She hadn’t expected Li Heng to come to Jingcheng and not immediately visit the Chen home.

Even more surprising: under these circumstances, Chen Zijin was still with him. The complexity of the situation was making her dizzy.

Fortunately, Maisui wasn’t the type to press for every detail. Sensing Li Heng still harbored feelings for Song Yu, she changed the subject:

“When I talked to Song Yu the day before yesterday, she mentioned you.”

Li Heng turned his head eagerly: “Really?”

Maisui nodded.

Li Heng asked, “What did she say?”

Maisui smiled wryly: “She heard you were in Jingcheng and said we should get together if we get the chance.”

Li Heng froze, instantly thinking of many things, then asked, “Was it Sun Manning who told her?”

Maisui replied, “Probably.”

Li Heng sighed, looking up at the sky—the earlier joy vanished: “It’s harder now.”

He spoke only three words—“It’s harder now”—but Maisui understood instantly: he meant pursuing Song Yu had become even more difficult.

Gazing closely at his profile, Maisui sensed something indescribable in him. She dropped the subject and said instead:

“Li Heng, last night I dreamed I didn’t get into Peking University—I missed by two points.”

Li Heng turned to face her and said calmly, “Dreams are the opposite of reality. You’re just overthinking.”

Maisui didn’t argue: “Maybe I’ve been too idle lately. I keep imagining—if all of you came to Jingcheng but I didn’t, I’d feel so disappointed.”

Li Heng replied, “Peking University is great, but it’s not the only option. If I hadn’t gotten in, Sun Yat-sen University would’ve been fine too.”

“Huh? Song Yu is certain to get into Peking University—don’t you want to go with her?” Maisui said.

Li Heng thought: Peking University has Song Yu, but the south has Xiao Han. Wherever I go, I won’t lose out.

He glanced at Chen Zijin and the English teacher walking back from the restroom and said meaningfully: “The Chen family is also in Jingcheng.”

Maisui fell silent, looking at Chen Zijin. She now understood his concern: Jingcheng was the Chen family’s territory, and Chen Zijin was here. Pursuing Song Yu here would be unimaginably difficult.

In short, for Li Heng, Peking University had its advantages, the south had its charms—each had pros and cons.

But relatively speaking, the south might be less likely to trap him.

Of course, Li Heng only thought about it—he was fine with either Peking University or Sun Yat-sen University. Whatever fate decided, he’d accept it gladly.

For three straight days, Chen Zijin accompanied him out during the day and returned home every evening. This rigid routine of leaving and returning was watched closely by Zhong Lan—but, surprisingly, she held her tongue.

Two reasons kept her silent:

Chen Xiaomi told her: “The old man asked me to personally hand Li Heng the ‘Family Instructions of Zeng Guofan.’”

What did that mean?

Zhong Lan, raised in a bureaucratic family, understood perfectly.

She even wondered: was the old man using his sister-in-law as an example, sending a signal to her, Xiao Yun, and Xiao Hong?

If this gesture made her, as his daughter-in-law, reconsider her behavior, then Chen Xiaomi’s news that “Li Heng leaves on the 21st morning” made her fully suppress her thoughts.

It was only four days. She didn’t believe that little brat could cause chaos in that short time.

But she worried about one thing—she privately asked Chen Xiaomi: “Have they slept together again?”

It was an obvious truth: her beautiful niece wasn’t a virgin anymore, and she didn’t believe Li Heng, a young man full of vigor, could resist. Chen Xiaomi just ate an apple.

Zhong Lan watched the apple in her hand shrink piece by piece and said, “It’s already bad enough—don’t make it worse.”

Chen Xiaomi agreed. That night, she found Chen Zijin and gave her a bottle of medicine.

Chen Zijin took it, glanced at it, blushed, and said, “Auntie, I’ve taken precautions.”

Chen Xiaomi warned seriously: “Don’t rely on pills too often—they’re bad for your health.”

Then she pulled several beautifully packaged condoms from her bag: “Got these from a friend. Use these.”

Chen Zijin could no longer hold back—she collapsed onto the bed, buried her face under the covers, and stayed silent for a long time.

On the evening of the 20th, Chen Xiaomi kept her promise and treated Li Heng, the English teacher, and Zhang Zhiyong to dinner. As she left, she handed Li Heng a package of ointment:

“This is a one-month supply—one full course. Have your father try it first. If there’s improvement, he should come to Jingcheng for further treatment.”

Concerned for his father’s health, Li Heng didn’t refuse—he accepted it and thanked her.

Ten or so meters away, Chen Xiaomi hesitated, then turned back and said:

“Li Heng, tell Run’e that when I was young and foolish, I acted improperly. Please tell her not to take it to heart. When I come to Jingcheng, I’ll personally apologize and drink with her.”

Li Heng fell silent. He hadn’t expected Chen Xiaomi to be so composed—so capable of both taking and letting go.

On the way back, Chen Zijin took Chen Xiaomi’s hand and stared at the stone pavement: “Auntie, thank you. You’re the best to me.”

Chen Xiaomi gently patted her hand: “It’s not all for you—he really is talented.”

PS: I got back from my hometown just before 11 last night. Here’s one chapter as a token. Two more today.

(End of Chapter)