Chapter 166: Past Years, Unexpected (Request Subscription!)

November 1, 1981.

That year she had just entered seventh grade, and the weather was already cold. Early in the morning, Xiao Han dressed herself beautifully, putting on the family's newest winter coat.

While waiting by the roadside, she met a childhood friend from her village.

The friend asked: "Who are you waiting for?"

Xiao Han said: "I'm waiting for Yang Ying."

Just as the friend was about to say more, she suddenly stared at Xiao Han's back and whispered in her ear: "Look, Li Heng from your class is coming—he's so handsome!"

At that moment, Xiao Han didn't want to turn around and look at Li Heng, because she knew that if he appeared, Chen Chen Chen Zijin would be with him—and that made her feel an inexplicable discomfort.

But Li Heng was too striking; she couldn't pretend too hard in front of her friend, so she eventually turned around too, and at just one glance, her gaze couldn't tear away.

Back then, Li Heng wasn't dressed well—he wore an old Zhongshan suit, his pants were wrinkled, and he had on cloth shoes—but he was tall and clean, and the winter sun softly glowed around him, making him look as beautiful as Pan An from a novel. She found herself at a loss for words, unable to describe the powerful impact he had made in her heart.

If life could be regretted, she wished it were those early days of seventh grade, that very day—whether he'd argued with her twice or already had a girlfriend, nothing could stop him from bewitching her heart.

He came, and sure enough, he was with Chen Chen Chen Zijin.

When he reached her, Chen Chen Chen Zijin handed her a banana; Xiao Han politely thanked her. But instantly, Chen Chen Chen Zijin fed him a banana she'd already bitten into twice—and in that instant, Xiao Han felt her own banana was utterly repulsive.

That day, Xiao Han, Yang Ying, Xiao Feng, Chen Chen Chen Zijin, and Li Heng agreed to climb the hill behind their middle school together.

Along the way, everyone laughed and chatted. But Li Heng and Chen Chen Chen Zijin were especially intimate—they held hands in front of the three others, and when crossing a small stream, he carried Chen Chen Chen Zijin across, his hands gripping her right at her chest.

In that moment, Xiao Han's heart surged with emotion, tinged with inexplicable sadness and anger—she wanted to pick up a stone and smash them both down, go on! go on! Let the stream carry you far away, drown you in the sea and feed the fish!

Later, when they reached the mountaintop, Li Heng picked some wild kiwifruit and deliberately gave her one. The moment she took it, Xiao Han didn't know why she felt flustered—her ears turned red, her face burned, and she quickly hid behind a rock on the other side, clutching the kiwifruit, afraid anyone would notice her reaction.

Why wasn't he a real delinquent? Someone who didn't study, didn't care about learning? Or why couldn't he be hideously ugly, as crude as Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhiyong, dirty and smelly, greasy hair, dandruff everywhere?

If he were like that, everything would be so much simpler.

After the kiwifruit, he continued to be inseparable from Chen Chen Chen Zijin. Xiao Han watched and remembered it all; when forced to sit together, she had to pretend to chat casually with the couple, though the conversation was light—yet inside, her emptiness and loneliness that day swelled endlessly, magnified beyond measure!

After that day, she realized she thought of him involuntarily every day—his face as he handed her the kiwifruit, growing clearer in her heart with each passing day.

Sometimes, in the deep quiet of night, she would unconsciously whisper his name—Li Heng.

She had fallen in love with him.

Helplessly, but with absolute certainty.

Every time she met him alone in the hallway or on the playground, she grew inexplicably nervous; after passing him, she'd secretly smile and gloat. When he fought someone at the school gate and won, she felt happy for him; when he lost, she ached worse than he did. When he scored full marks in math and received an award, she quietly rejoiced; when he couldn't answer the English teacher's question, she grew anxious—she desperately wanted to tell that fool how to answer, how to do it right.

This love was her first in life.

So when, in eighth grade, Yang Ying refused to answer Li Heng's English question, mocked him, and the classmates laughed loudly, she felt heartbroken—heartbroken, with a trace of resentment toward Yang Ying: Why pick on him? Why look down on him? He's the one I love.

Afraid his pride would be hurt, she ignored the strange glances around her and stubbornly helped him understand—repeatedly explaining how to use "dicedeto," how to construct sentences, patiently giving examples and guiding him until he finally understood.

Afterwards, Yang Ying asked him: "What's wrong with you today? Why help a delinquent like him?"

She wanted to scream at her friend: "He's not a delinquent! He's not! Don't you dare call him that!"

This love made her pay special attention to Li Heng, gradually changing her heart—she began to provoke Chen Chen Chen Zijin over trivial matters, grew jealous of her, deliberately took opposite positions to her.

Sometimes, it was just petty things—but she and Chen Chen Chen Zijin stubbornly refused to back down; whenever Li Heng sided with Chen Chen Chen Zijin and scolded her, she felt heartache so intense she wanted to cry—she'd pinch her inner thigh hard through her clothes, leaving red marks and dents.

Why? Why had she fallen for him? How pitiful.

This tireless love, once begun, had no end—it turned into six years, transforming her from a lively girl into someone calculating and silent, her soul no longer colorful, only wind and snow, and loneliness.

But later, she never expected—never expected that in high school, Chen Chen Chen Zijin would leave Shaoshi…

She never expected that at the start of this semester, Li Heng suddenly began caring for her, speaking gently to her more times than in the past five years combined.

She never expected he wouldn't go to Beijing for university, but came to Shanghai with her.

Oh heavens! Do you know how much she wanted to cry when she heard Li Heng had been accepted by Fudan? How happy she was?

Did she cry because he didn't get into Peking University? Or because he didn't get into Peking University? One cry was for his sorrow, the other for her excitement. Look—how contradictory, yet that was her true heart.

At this moment, she felt she was a flesh-and-blood little schemer.

And even less expected—he began pursuing her. After the college entrance exam, his advances grew urgent, accelerating rapidly—so fast that when he boldly hugged and kissed her today, she still felt it wasn't real, still felt like a dream!

Matchmaker, have you finally opened your eyes? Have you tied the red thread to me?

I so want to climb a ladder to the clouds and thank you—even though my heart is still pounding wildly!

…

"Xiao Han."

As Xiao Han was lost in memories of past pain and today's sweetness, a voice came from afar. She turned and saw her high school classmate Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan.

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan walked over with a thermos. "Xiao Han, what's wrong? Are you secretly crying?"

Xiao Han forced a bittersweet smile: "I'm not crying. I just remembered something—it made me emotional."

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan stepped closer, concerned: "Did something happen? Are you sure you're not crying?"

Xiao Han smiled faintly and shook her head, then looked toward the path.

Sensing something odd, Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan turned to follow her gaze—and gasped: "Ah! Li Heng?"

Li Heng strode over. "Comrade Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan, long time no see."

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan asked happily: "You remember my name?"

"What kind of question is that? We took three exams together in the same room in first year—how could I forget?" Li Heng replied.

"You have such a good memory! You still remember things from so long ago." Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan asked cheerfully: "You're here to find Xiao Han, right?"

Li Heng grabbed Xiao Han's hand and secretly drew a heart in her palm. "She's my girlfriend."

"Ah?"

Although she'd heard rumors that the goddess Xiao Han had a boyfriend, Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan had never imagined it was Li Heng—after all, she'd heard whispers about the secret relationship between Chen Chen Chen Zijin and Li Heng in high school:

"How… how did you two get together?"

Xiao Han looked up at him, wondering how he'd answer.

Li Heng gazed deeply into her eyes. "I pursued her. It was hard."

Hearing this, the last shadow of Xiao Han's earlier sadness vanished—her eyes sparkled with tears as she smiled sweetly at him, then changed the subject to Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan: "Zhang Zhang Haiyan, it's mealtime—have you eaten? He says he wants to treat you."

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan looked between them, unsure whether to believe this—she hadn't known Li Heng well before.

Li Heng spoke up: "Classmate, hurry and put your thermos in the dorm. We'll wait for you downstairs."

"Oh, alright." Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan, unfamiliar with the area and growing close to Xiao Han, saw her friend nod and naturally didn't refuse.

Once she was gone, Li Heng brushed the stray hairs from Xiao Han's face. "You cried just now?"

Xiao Han felt awkward. "Was it that obvious? Both you and Zhang Zhang Haiyan noticed."

Li Heng said: "Your eyes are red."

Xiao Han lowered her head, gently twisting her toe on the ground. "I'm not sad. Don't worry."

Li Heng crouched half a step lower, looking up hopefully. "Was your first kiss that happy?"

Xiao Han bit her lower lip, then smiled with crinkled eyes. "Mr. Li, I really doubt your intelligence. How did you dare to pursue me? Are you trying to cast a spell on me?"

"Even a spell is fine—as long as you never leave me for the rest of your life, my goal is achieved," Li Heng said shamelessly.

Hearing this most direct, most empty-hearted confession, Xiao Han stared at him, momentarily stunned.

After a long while, she showed the shy demeanor of a young girl. "Don't push too hard. Give me a little more time."

Compared to last time, she had softened again. Li Heng stopped there, satisfied—he didn't expect to swallow a whole fatty in one bite; as long as there was progress each time, it was enough.

In truth, both knew each other's hearts, understood each other's feelings—by now, they had long passed the boundaries of friendship; only one step remained.

She hadn't readily agreed because she still wrestled with Song Yu and Chen Chen Chen Zijin—but she also faintly understood a truth: a dyke collapses from ant holes.

Under his slow, persistent efforts, her surrender was drawing near.

They had already embraced, already kissed; he had already confessed multiple times. What was she waiting for? Perhaps a ceremony. Perhaps his lack of solemnity. Perhaps she still harbored unwillingness—wanting to fully possess this man, body and soul. His body. His heart.

Less than five minutes later, Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan returned. "I ran all the way—didn't keep you waiting too long?"

Li Heng and Xiao Han answered in unison: "No."

After speaking, they exchanged a smile.

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan teased: "No wonder you're a couple—your hearts are perfectly in sync."

In front of outsiders, Xiao Han didn't deny this identity.

More precisely, she couldn't deny it—nor dared to. After all, there was still Song Yu as a roadblock, Chen Chen Chen Zijin as a rival—war could erupt at any moment. She couldn't be careless, couldn't grow complacent.

Back at the same small restaurant near the school gate, Li Heng treated them—ordered four dishes and one soup, then reached to order more.

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan felt embarrassed and quickly stopped him: "Too much—we can't finish it. Don't order more."

Li Heng smiled. "Classmate, don't be modest. This meal is our wedding feast—I'm glad you're our witness. Order one more. Six dishes—six is lucky."

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan leaned forward slightly. "Am I the first to know?"

Li Heng thought for a moment. "Not quite the first—but you're the first."

Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan glanced at her blushing friend and suddenly understood. "I get it—I get it. Someone else witnessed your beginnings, but I witnessed your public declaration."

Li Heng gave a thumbs-up. "Sharp!"

Fellow townspeople meeting fellow townspeople—eyes welling with tears. In this distant place, Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan had so much to say.

Once she started talking, the three of them couldn't stop—chatting over dinner, then on the grass after leaving the restaurant, then walking around town until sunset, when Zhang Zhang Zhang Haiyan suddenly realized the time and quickly made an excuse to rush back to her dorm, leaving the two alone.

Li Heng said: "Comrade Zhang Zhang Haiyan is a chatterbox."

Xiao Han smiled faintly.

Li Heng said: "But having a chatterbox friend is good—you won't be bored in your studies or daily life here."

Xiao Han hummed in agreement.

Unconsciously, they were near the dorm. Xiao Han glanced at her wristwatch. "It's still a few minutes before seven. It's late—you should head back to school."

It really wasn't early anymore—the sky had grown dark. If he left now, he'd get back to school no earlier than 8:30.

He said: "Alright."

"Then, goodbye."

"Goodbye."

After saying farewell, Xiao Han sprinted into the dormitory building.

But once inside, she stopped. A minute later, she turned back, looked up, and asked brightly: "Mr. Li, may I ask you a question?"

Li Heng said, "What question?"

Xiao Han's expression was grave. "Were you serious today?"

Li Heng nodded, his face solemn. "Of course."

Hearing this, Xiao Han's cheeks dimpled with two faint, happy dimples. Suddenly she rose on her toes, cupped his face in both hands, and pressed her red lips to his in a light, swift kiss—then said, "Mr. Li, goodbye," and lowered her head, fleeing like a startled deer.

She dared not breathe, as if she'd committed a crime, and hurried back to the girls' dormitory.

This time, she truly didn't return. Goodbye.

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(End of chapter)