Chapter 126: Writing Letters to Show Off (Requesting Subscriptions!)

Dinner was eaten in silence, without candles or bright lights.

On the table were only shredded potatoes, chili stir-fried pork, and leek river shrimp—simple, yet abundantly satisfying.

After setting the dishes down, Wang Runwen asked, “Will you write tonight?”

Li Heng shook his head: “No, I’ve been busy long enough—I need to relax, read some books, clear my mind.”

Hearing this, Wang Runwen got up and brought over a bottle of Erguotou. “I can’t stand beer—this liquor has real flavor.”

She poured half a glass for Li Heng and filled her own to the brim:

“Drink as much as you can—don’t force yourself.”

Li Heng asked curiously, “Teacher, how much do you usually drink?”

Wang Runwen turned her glass slowly: “This cup holds about two taels. I usually don’t drink at all; if I do, it’s one cup. In special cases, I might have a bit more.”

After a long silence, the two finally resumed talking. Li Heng didn’t want the silence to return, so he pressed on: “What’s the most you’ve ever drunk?”

Wang Runwen paused, recalling, then spoke softly: “A jin. That noon, they got into a loud fight and divorced. I cooked myself a meal, drank a whole bottle, passed out cold, and didn’t wake up until the next evening.”

She added, “That was my first time drinking.”

Li Heng felt a lump in his throat. He raised his glass to hers: “The past is smoke—let it go. Here, to thank you for your care these past three years—I drink to you.”

Hearing this, Wang Runwen grew even more downcast. She understood: no feast lasts forever. After this drink, they would part ways.

She would remain in Shaodong, at the No. 1 High School.

He was young, full of vigor and knowledge—his stage lay beyond, in the vast world outside.

Suddenly, the inevitable arrived. Faced with parting, the two fell silent once more.

After downing four gulps of liquor, Wang Runwen finally steadied herself: “I told Shuheng—if you run into trouble in Shanghai, you can seek her help.”

“She’s a bit aloof, but for my sake, if you truly need it, she’ll help.”

Li Heng said yes, thanked her.

Wang Runwen asked, “How many days will you stay home this time?”

Li Heng calculated: “Hard to say—probably around a week. My schedule after is tight.”

“Of course, if something comes up at home, I might stay longer.”

He then asked, “What about you, Teacher? The summer break still has nearly a month—what are your plans?”

Wang Runwen replied, “I’m going back to my hometown. My grandparents are old—I’ll keep them company.”

Though she disliked her parents, she was deeply grateful to her grandparents—this trip had long been planned.

Hearing this, he said no more, picked up his glass again, and sipped slowly with his English teacher until the half-glass was finished.

After finishing, he stared fixedly at the bottle beside her right hand: “Don’t be stingy—pour me some more.”

“No more. This liquor hits hard—you’re drinking it for the first time. You’ll get a headache.” With that, the English teacher refused outright, clutching the bottle tightly.

Li Heng laughed helplessly. Even a little liquor was hard to come by—his fleeting mood had already died.

After drinking and eating, Li Heng washed up briefly, sat cross-legged on the sofa, and opened a book. He was reading Zhao Auntie’s documents—he had a preliminary plan to finish all 140+ books within four months.

Don’t ask why.

Because he read extensively and had developed a habit of rapid reading.

Of course, if he encountered a truly great book, he would slow down, savor it carefully, mark passages, and later reread it—second, third, even more times.

Seeing him sink into deep immersion with every book, the English teacher felt a quiet pride. This, she thought, was talent. She didn’t linger in the living room; after clearing the dishes, she went straight to her bedroom.

After lounging on the couch for a while, Wang Runwen sat at her desk, turned on the lamp, pulled out pen and paper, and began writing another letter to her friend:

Shuheng, hope this letter finds you well!

This is the seventh letter of this summer—I’ve written more than all of last year. Meeting him always brings something new, and I want to share it with you.

Last night he wrote “Liu Hou Shrine”—the prose was exceptionally beautiful. A friend, Li Ran, recorded the writing process on camera. I’ll send you a copy—consider it silencing your doubts, so you won’t question me next time.

That night, Li Heng read in the living room until two in the morning before returning to his room.

That night, the English teacher stayed in her bedroom from early on and never came out again.

That night, Li Heng had another dream.

Again, the woman’s face was blurred, her back skin as smooth and pale as milk, the beauty mark on her lower abdomen still strikingly visible.

But this time, the woman was far more skilled—her technique had reached perfection; her lips and breath were intoxicatingly alluring, leaving Li Heng in a haze where dream and reality blurred.

Waking to emptiness, he felt a sharp sense of loss.

Damn it, who the hell are you?

Have you even read books? Do you understand the law? Even in dreams, you violate me?

Fuming at the white ceiling, Li Heng finally dragged himself out of bed and trudged into the shower.

As he opened the door, the English teacher woke up. She turned, staring at her bedroom door. Soon, footsteps passed by, then the sound of running water came from the bathroom.

He’s showering?

Didn’t he shower before bed? Why shower in the middle of the night?

The English teacher instantly realized the possibility—and couldn’t help smiling. But as she smiled, her laughter faded into silence.

The night passed.

The next day, when Li Heng woke, the English teacher was gone. A note lay on the table.

It read: I know you love rice noodles, so I didn’t make breakfast. I’ve returned home early—keys are on the coffee table. Take them. Bring them back next time.

Next time? That’ll be winter break.

Fine, winter break then.

So stingy—even a farewell wasn’t worth it.

Thinking this, Li Heng picked up the keys, glanced around the living room, then slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped out.

He didn’t head straight home, nor did he immediately seek out Li Ran, Zhao Jing, or Daixinyan.

Instead, he took a bus to Shaodong Normal College.

But sadly, the Song family gate was still shut. After lingering a while, he turned and went to the No. 1 High School.

From afar, he saw four banners hanging at the school gate: Congratulations to Yang Yingwen, Song Yu, Xiao Feng, and Zhao Gang on being admitted to Tsinghua and Peking University.

Yang Yingwen’s banner was the most flamboyant—the words “Top Science Student in the Province” stole all the spotlight.

He paused to watch for a moment. Just as he was about to pass through the gatehouse and enter the school, a flurry of footsteps came from behind, and someone tapped his right shoulder.

Then his left shoulder was tapped.

Li Heng didn’t need to turn around: “Sun Manning, long time no see.”

“Hehe, how’d you guess it was me?” Sun Manning leaned forward to ask.

Li Heng smiled: “Not hard. Among people I know, you’re the only one bold enough to treat me like this.”

Sun Manning asked, “What are you here for? Looking for Song Yu?”

Li Heng pressed: “Where is she? Didn’t she come back after the results?”

Sun Manning replied, “She came back once, stayed two days, then left—went to her father’s hometown, Dongting Lake.”

Li Heng felt gloomy.

Sun Manning asked, “Have you had breakfast?”

Li Heng shook his head.

Sun Manning cheerfully said, “Come on, I’ll treat you.”

They crossed the street to a beef noodle shop. Sun Manning waved: “Boss, two bowls of beef noodles—with fried eggs and extra spice!”

The boss asked, “Manning, didn’t you just have breakfast?”

Sun Manning blinked: “Didn’t fill me up—need another bowl.”

Who wouldn’t take money? The boss’s face lit up.

While waiting, Sun Manning asked, “Why so down? Because of the Gaokao? Or because you didn’t see Song Yu?”

Li Heng said, “I’m thinking of going to Dongting Lake.”

“What? Chasing love across a thousand miles?” Sun Manning gasped, then covered her mouth, laughing.

Li Heng glanced at her: “Why do I feel you’re secretly pleased I didn’t do well? Did someone cheer you up?”

“No way!” Sun Manning clamped her hands over her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Li Heng asked, “Have you seen Mai Sui?”

Sun Manning answered, “Yes, I hung out with her yesterday.”

Li Heng asked, “How is she?”

Sun Manning said, “At first she was down, locked in her room, even thought about retaking the year. But now she’s slowly adjusting.”

Li Heng smiled: “If she ever feels hopeless again, use me as an example—she missed by two points, I missed by one. We’re both fallen comrades.”

Sun Manning blushed: “I already used you to comfort her—don’t be mad. It worked pretty well. It’d be nice if we three ended up at the same school—I could invite you both to meals anytime.”

Li Heng teased her: “What if I don’t get into Fudan?”

Sun Manning crossed her arms: “I talked to the English teacher on the phone—you and Mai Sui are both fine.”

At that moment, the beef noodles arrived. Sun Manning asked, “I can’t finish this—before I eat, want half?”

Li Heng didn’t refuse. Half a bowl? A few chopsticks—no effort at all.

After eating, Sun Manning insisted on paying, then asked, “All this luggage—you just got back from somewhere? Going home?”

“Mm.”

“When are you leaving?”

“To catch the 11 a.m. bus.”

“Seriously? So soon? I was going to ask you—and Mai Sui—to go hiking together. I’ve been alone all summer—I really wanted company.”

“No, go find Mai Sui—I have medicine in my bag and need to get back.”

“For your dad?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t hold you back. The bus is here—hurry up and get on. See you at school.”

“See you at school.”

After leaving No. 1 High School, Li Heng did not head straight for the bus station; first he met Que Xinyan, then went to Zhao Jing’s house across from the Education Bureau.

As soon as they met, Li Ran secretly told Li Heng: “See? To meet your dad, my mom has been dressing up since morning.”

Li Heng glanced at Zhao Jing, who was fixing her hair in front of the mirror, and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

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(End of chapter)