Chapter 289: The Temptation of Yu Laoshi, Out of Control (Request Subscription!)

193,789 copies!

According to Editor Sister Sister Liao's figures, each book is priced at 4 yuan, and after taxes, I'll net over 60,000 yuan.

Phew! 60,000 yuan in this day and age—especially from the first batch of pre-orders.

Li Heng was genuinely excited; if nothing went wrong, his pocket would gain hundreds of thousands.

In 1987, hundreds of thousands could stun anyone into silence—this was just too incredible!

Just as he was basking in triumph, Li Heng suddenly shivered, sensing that Yu Laoshi's gaze at him felt strange.

How to put it?

Her eyes fixed on him, devoid of joy, sorrow, or any emotion—black and white, like peeling off a tombstone.

Hmm, even tombstone didn't quite fit; he'd read so many books, yet couldn't find the right word to describe this absurd feeling.

Their gazes met, and Li Heng's earlier joy instantly faded. He cautiously asked, "Teacher, what's wrong?"

Hearing him speak, Yu Yu Yu Shuheng snapped back slightly, but her gaze remained locked on him, silent.

Li Heng was baffled—until he glanced at the two coffee cups in front of him and thought, Oh my god!

He glanced at Yu Laoshi's side—her coffee cup was gone, completely empty!

Did I drink it? Seems I got so excited I downed two cups back-to-back.

Her cup… did she drink from it?

At that thought, he cut it off sharply—no need to torment himself. He stood up and said to Yu Yu Yu Shuheng, "Teacher, it's almost 8:30. I'm heading back."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yu Yu Shuheng stood up too.

He walked toward the stairwell.

She followed, stepping right behind him.

Li Heng froze, turned back to look—then kept walking, descended the stairs, opened the door, stepped into the courtyard.

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng was still behind him.

Li Heng's whole body went cold. It was late at night; he felt like a ghost was trailing him—black-clad, silent, utterly chilling.

In the alley, he stopped, turned, and asked, "Teacher, what's this about?"

Seeing his flickering gaze, the expressionless Yu Yu Yu Shuheng finally smiled faintly—then without explanation, walked past him straight to the door of No. 26.

Since the door wasn't open yet, she stood at the threshold—but the meaning was crystal clear: she planned to sleep here tonight.

He stared at her tall figure for two seconds, then sighed, pulled out his keys, unlocked the door, and let her in.

While changing shoes, she said, "Your call lasted fourteen minutes. That's enough to pay for several nights at a guesthouse."

Li Heng blinked. "I'm a millionaire now—I can afford this. Want me to reimburse you for the call?"

The word "you" ( Nin ) made Yu Yu Yu Shuheng react sharply—she turned and stared at him.

She locked eyes with him, dead serious.

After a long silence, she stepped closer, leaned in, and whispered, "Little boy, this isn't about money between us. Think back to that night."

Her voice was cool yet melodious; her warm breath brushed his earlobe, her distinctive feminine scent filled the air, and her full chest and inner thigh pressed against him—within moments, his body reacted.

Body! Clarify this: it's his body, not his mind!

Damn it! At eighteen or nineteen, you burn too easily.

Seeing him fall silent, Yu Yu Yu Shuheng swept her strange gaze over him, smirked faintly, then walked off on her own, ascending the second floor without asking his permission.

That night?

That night I was drunk—I remember nothing!

But then guilt crept in—he remembered Chen Chen Chen Zijin had told him more than once that he liked to clutch something while sleeping. Xiao Han had confirmed it too.

Li Heng stood frozen at the door for a moment, then went upstairs to bathe and wash up.

When he stepped out of the shower, Yu Laoshi was still reading on the sofa. He walked over, sat across from her, and joked:

"Teacher, you're not trying to blackmail me with some false accusation, are you?"

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng gave him a cold stare that made him flinch.

Downstairs she was fiery, like molten lava ready to melt him—now upstairs she's switched to Antarctic ice mode. Are you doing Sichuan opera face-changing? Man, the shift's too fast!

After a tense minute and a half, her face carved with "Strangers Keep Out," she asked: "Little boy, how much do you have in the bank?"

Li Heng thought, then said, "Just over 130,000."

He didn't hide it.

Because you couldn't hide it—anyone following the news could guess his background.

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng asked: "Do you know how much I have?"

Li Heng shook his head.

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng narrowed her eyes: "You've got less than a fraction of my overseas assets."

Li Heng's lips moved—he wanted to speak but stayed silent. He believed her.

Because her Mercedes couldn't be faked.

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng returned her gaze to the newspaper: "Little brother, I teach to pass time, for fun, for pocket money. How could you possibly afford me?"

Her implication: Why would I possibly blackmail you?

Li Heng wasn't angry—he relaxed, slapped his thigh, and laughed: "Good! A strong man fears persistent women—I hate that the most."

After speaking, he didn't look at her, whistled a tune, and left the living room for the study.

Closed the door, read, recharged—who cares who's who?

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng lifted her head, staring straight at his back until the study door shut—her gaze never wavered.

Around 10 p. m., Mai Sui returned.

With her were Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe and Ye Ning.

Upstairs, Ye Ning was surprised—why was this beautiful teacher at Li Heng's place?

But Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe weren't fazed—they were used to it.

Mai Sui poured hot tea for everyone, sat down, and asked gently, "Teacher, did you have another nightmare?"

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng cradled her teacup: "I did last night."

Then she glanced at the books on the coffee table. "Just back from the library?"

Mai Sui replied: "Yes, we borrowed some books."

After a short chat, Yu Yu Yu Shuheng pulled a set of spare keys from her bag and handed them to Mai Sui: "In a few days, the three of us are heading to Jingcheng for rehearsal.

Could you watch over the flowers on the balcony? Especially the Fortune Tree—move it inside if it rains hard."

"Okay."

Mai Sui had visited Yu Laoshi's home many times—she knew exactly which potted plant was the Fortune Tree.

Half an hour later, Yu Yu Yu Shuheng left—her friend Chen Chen Chen Siya returned and called up from downstairs.

Chen Chen Chen Siya's voice shattered Li Heng's reading focus. Hearing muffled laughter from the living room, he sat stunned, then put down his book and stepped out of the study.

He walked to the three girls and asked: "Why are only you three here? Sun Sun Manning?"

Mai Sui shifted to the far end of the sofa, making room for him: "Sun Sun Manning's dorm has a birthday party tonight—she went to the dinner."

Mentioning birthdays, Mai Sui's was late October. Li Heng asked Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe and Ye Ning: "When are your birthdays?"

Seeing him look over, Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe replied softly: "I was born on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month."

"Ah?"

Li Heng blinked in surprise: "Dragon Boat Festival?"

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe nodded with a smile.

Li Heng and Mai Sui exchanged glances, both stunned, then said together: "What a coincidence!!!"

Ye Ning asked: "What's so coincidental? Why are you two reacting like that?"

Mai Sui said: "He was born on the same day—Dragon Boat Festival too."

Li Heng asked Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe: "You're '69?"

"Mm." Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe nodded.

Li Heng stood, extended his hand: "Come on, Comrade Zhou Zhou Shihe—what a coincidence! Let's shake hands. I'm '69 too."

"Whoa! Really?! You two were born on the same day, same month, same year!" Ye Ning jumped up in excitement.

Even the usually calm Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe looked startled, put down her book, and politely shook his hand.

Li Heng said: "Born in the same year—that's fate. We'll have to look out for each other."

"Mm, mm." Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe smiled warmly—rarely using two tone particles.

Curious, Li Heng almost asked about her birth hour—but decided against it.

Because birth hour and eight characters were sacred secrets—not shared lightly.

He turned to Ye Ning: "What about you?"

Ye Ning said: "First day of the first lunar month."

Li Heng raised an eyebrow: "So official? You're at a disadvantage—when I was little, I looked forward to birthdays for a good meal. You get food every day on New Year's Day—you're the one getting shortchanged!"

Ye Ning asked curiously: "What did you usually eat on your birthday? Roast chicken? A big feast?"

"Nah, too extravagant. Just two red-skinned eggs."

Li Heng said: "Boiled eggs wrapped in red paper—symbolizing good fortune. Don't give me that look—back then, two eggs on your birthday was a huge blessing."

"Pfft! I thought it was something special—I've been eating eggs since I was a kid."

Ye Ning grumbled, then paused: "Wait a minute—if your family was that poor, how could you afford to rent this place for college?"

Clearly, Ye Ning hadn't researched the history or prestige of Lushan Village—she didn't yet grasp what it meant to live here.

Seeing their best friend finally notice something was off, Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe both turned their gazes toward Li Heng, waiting to see how he'd twist his way out of this.

Li Heng smirked. "Just because your family was poor when you were a kid doesn't mean it's still poor now. Girl, what century are you living in? Reform and opening-up have been going on for years—do you still think like that?"

Haven't you heard that girls change dramatically after eighteen? Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Shihe definitely played in mud when they were little. Look at them now—they're prettier than flowers. My family's not much different."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe: "."

Mai Sui: "."

Ye Ning asked: "Is your family rich?"

Li Heng replied: "Not rich by any means, but basic expenses are covered."

He'd just been mocked by Yu Laoshi over money a moment ago—now, in front of Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe and Mai Sui, how could he possibly brag? He'd die of embarrassment.

Ye Ning glanced around, muttering: "Then why do you need to rent a place just to study?"

Li Heng nodded toward Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe. "I'm not the only one—Zhou Zhou Shihe rents too."

Ye Ning looked between them. "You two aren't the same. Zhou Zhou Shihe practices piano and plans to enter international competitions. Renting isn't a waste for her—but for you? It's pure extravagance."

"Who says it's wasteful? I rent for three reasons: first, for my own comfort; second, for dating; third, to meet people—like you." Li Heng spoke with perfect seriousness, spinning pure nonsense.

After a long stretch of nonsense, Ye Ning realized she couldn't out-argue him and changed the subject: "What are you doing in the study?"

"That's a dumb question. What else would you do in a study? Read books, of course." Li Heng answered.

"But you don't need to read all day, every day." Ye Ning remained skeptical.

Li Heng leaned back on the sofa. "You don't get it. Books hold golden houses and beautiful women. In real life, staring at beauties too much gets you beaten up. In books, I can look however I want, whenever I want."

Ye Ning gasped. "So you lock yourself in to read porn?"

"I—!" Li Heng nearly choked on his own breath.

Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe exchanged glances and burst into quiet laughter.

"Li Heng! Old Li!"

As the four chatted, a shout came from downstairs—clearly Editor Zou Ping.

Li Heng checked his watch. It was past ten. What was he doing here now?

Curious, he hurried downstairs and opened the door.

The moment he opened it—wow! Bundles of books were piled at the threshold. A quick glance showed at least a few hundred.

Zou Ping immediately pulled out a list. "Old Li, these are all the books you listed. One hundred percent complete. Four hundred and twelve in total."

Li Heng asked: "How did you get them here?"

Zou Ping pointed to the alley entrance. "My bread van's parked outside. I carried them all myself."

Li Heng felt guilty. "So many books—you should've called me earlier. I could've helped."

Zou Ping chuckled, saying nothing. Clearly, he thought Li Heng was too bookish for manual labor.

"Editor Zou, you've worked hard. Have some hot tea," Mai Sui said, rushing down and pouring a cup.

Editor Zou? Editor? Ye Ning eyed Zou Ping suspiciously, her mind flooding with questions.

"Thank you, thank you!" Zou Ping was indeed thirsty. He thanked her twice, then lifted the cup and drained it in one gulp.

Mai Sui said: "I'll pour you another."

"No, later. I'll move the books first." Zou Ping waved her off, bent down, and started hauling.

Li Heng joined him.

Ye Ning, raised in the countryside, rolled up her sleeves without being asked and began moving books—no less than the two men.

Seeing Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe move to help, Li Heng stopped them. "Oh no, no—ladies, your hands look too delicate. You've never done heavy work."

"Leave the moving to us. You two go upstairs and sort and stack the books in the study."

Ye Ning wholeheartedly agreed. "Exactly! You two don't even have calluses. Look at me—I've got six or seven. I'm a real country woman."

Mai Sui wasn't actually weak—she could handle heavy work. But she knew her best friend's hands were precious—she played piano—so she didn't argue. She pulled Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe toward the study.

Over four hundred books. Up and down stairs, the three of them made many trips before finishing.

Finally, Li Heng asked: "Old Zou, something happened? Why deliver them now?"

He was right.

Zou Ping said: "Something's happened at home. I need to go back for a while. I leave tomorrow morning. These books were just bought today, so I thought I'd bring them to you right away."

Hearing of trouble, Li Heng asked: "Need help?"

Zou Ping declined gently, then explained: "My mother is gravely ill. She may not last much longer. I need to go home and be with her until the end—to fulfill my final filial duty."

"I don't know when I'll return. No exact date."

"After I got the call last night, I rushed to get these books to you. I know they're for your next book—you can't afford delays."

Next book? Writing? Another full row of question marks filled Ye Ning's mind.

Li Heng nodded. "Alright, thanks, Old Zou. You've gone out of your way late at night."

"No problem, no problem—we're family. No need for formalities." Zou Ping, a man in his thirties, spoke and acted very differently from Editor Sister Sister Liao and the others.

After another cup of tea, Zou Ping hesitated before asking: "When do you plan to start your next book?"

At this, Mai Sui looked at Li Heng.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe looked at him too.

Ye Ning blinked rapidly, following suit.

Facing four pairs of eyes, Li Heng said: "I have some ideas, but I'm still gathering materials. I'd need at least three months."

Three months? Zou Ping exhaled in relief, pleased, and left.

Ye Ning's mind stirred. She called after him: "Editor Zou, which magazine do you work for?"

Zou Ping blurted: "Harvest Magazine."

As soon as he said it, he froze, turning to Li Heng.

Li Heng smiled. "It's fine, Old Zou. Go. It's late. Watch your step."

"Alright, I'm off." Zou Ping truly left.

The moment Zou Ping was gone, Ye Ning clung to Li Heng. Wherever he went, she followed—upstairs, downstairs, everywhere.

Li Heng sighed. "Just ask your question."

"Hmph. Looks like Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Shihe both know you write books—but I don't. Fine. I won't ask. I'll just follow you. You kept this from me—so I'm not your friend, right?"

She was only two centimeters shorter than him—and now, with her chin raised, she was nearly eye-to-eye.

Li Heng turned to the two women watching. "Hey, you two, talk some sense into her! A woman trailing a man late at night—what does that look like? Someone might think she's trying to seduce him."

Mai Sui smiled sweetly and pulled Ye Ning aside. "Come on. Let's go to the study. I know most of his story."

"Of course you know—he's practically your husband!" Ye Ning, still angry, spoke without thinking.

Then she turned on Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe: "And you—stop smiling! Why are you smiling? Mai Sui's known Li Heng for years—fine, I get it. But you? You've only known him a short time. Why do you know this and I don't? Am I not your friend?"

Then she swung her anger at Li Heng: "Li Heng, are you one of those guys who values beauty over friendship? You tell Zhou Zhou Shihe everything because she's a goddess—but I'm plain-looking, so you look down on me?"

Ye Ning wasn't truly angry—just deeply hurt. She felt excluded, abandoned.

Her outburst left all three speechless.

None of them had ever seen Ye Ning so sharp-tongued. In the past, she always lost arguments. Today, she'd slaughtered them all.

Li Heng exchanged glances with Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, then said: "I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd beat me up."

Ye Ning stretched her neck. "You write books—and I'd beat you up? Why? What logic is that?"

Li Heng pulled Mai Sui forward. Still not sure, he pulled Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe forward too. "Prepare yourselves. I'm going to tell you."

Ye Ning declared boldly: "Go ahead. I want to hear what nonsense you'll spin."

Li Heng said: "Promise me—you won't curse. And you won't hit me."

"I'm not crazy. If I hit you, I'm a dog. If I curse you, I'm a pig." Ye Ning raised her right hand solemnly—so excited, spittle flew.

"I'm not crazy—I'd be a dog if I hit someone, a pig if I cursed someone." Ye Ning raised his right hand high and swore right there, so worked up that spittle flew from his mouth.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe: "."

Li Heng was satisfied. He spoke clearly: "We're good friends. We see each other every day. So I won't hide it anymore. I wrote 'To Live' and 'The Bitter Journey of Culture.'"

"'To Live'? 'The Bitter Journey of Culture'? Hahaha!"

Ye Ning burst into laughter, pointing at Li Heng. "Did you hear that? Did you hear that? This idiot's gone mad for fame! He's barely grown hair and dares to pretend he's the hottest writer in the literary world!"

Ye Ning burst out laughing and pointed at Li Heng to his two girlfriends: "Did you hear that? Did you hear that? This fool's gone mad for fame—what a ridiculous joke! He hasn't even grown a single hair and dares to boldly pretend he's the hottest writer in the literary world!"

She realized something was wrong.

Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe weren't laughing at Li Heng—they were barely holding back laughter at her.

Ye Ning asked: "What's with your expressions?"

Mai Sui couldn't bear to say it. "He's telling the truth."

"Huh? Huh?" Ye Ning turned to Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, seeking confirmation.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe nodded gently. "He's the writer you always talk about—December."

As Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe spoke, the air froze. The scene halted.

Long silence.

Then Ye Ning, dazed, whispered: "Why?"

Mai Sui said: "There are many reader letters in the study corner. You'll see for yourself."

Ye Ning dashed into the study to verify.

Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe exchanged glances and followed.

Li Heng exhaled, ready to drink his tea.

He'd barely poured it when a scream erupted from the study—then Ye Ning came sprinting out: "What the hell?! You're December?! You're the man my cousin fell for?! You bastard! What tricks did you use to bewitch her?! Tell me now!"

Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, trailing behind, could only laugh and sigh, quickly grabbing Ye Ning, who was thrashing like an ox.

Li Heng was speechless: "Didn't you just say you wouldn't curse me or hit me?"

Ye Ning lifted her head: "Did I say that?"

Li Heng stepped back: "Worse than a pig or dog."

Ye Ning, furious, squeezed out two words through clenched teeth: "I fucking!"

Seeing her silly, endearing look—wanting to strike but holding back—Li Heng, Mai Sui, and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe all burst out laughing.

For the next half hour, the living room fell quiet, the atmosphere bewilderingly strange.

Ye Ning kept staring at Li Heng, unblinking, fixed, slowly processing the earth-shattering news that had shaken her cerebral cortex!

It truly was an earth-shattering news!

She remembered joking that she'd freely spend two nights sleeping with the writer in December.

She remembered her cousin had left home far away.

She felt a deep, unrelenting ache, sighing endlessly.

Mai Sui and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe hadn't slept either; they stayed awake, their eyes occasionally lingering on Li Heng, then on Ye Ning, afraid the two might clash at any moment.

Well, a fight was impossible—but clearly, Li Heng's identity as a writer had delivered a massive shock to Ye Ning.

After finishing a half-pound of sunflower seeds, Li Heng clapped his hands and said, "Comrade Ye Ning, have you thought it through? If you're done being angry, go to sleep. It's late; you have class tomorrow."

Ye Ning muttered, "Why are you so talented?"

Li Heng replied, "Didn't you see all the books in my study? I've always been like this since I was a kid."

The books in his study now numbered nearly a thousand; just imagining it made Ye Ning's scalp tingle. After a long silence, she sighed and said:

"On Saturday, I'm buying Cultural Bitter Journey. You have to sign the first copy for me."

Li Heng hesitated. "That… that's too late. Someone already reserved it."

Ye Ning asked, "Xiao Han?"

Li Heng nodded.

Ye Ning said, "Then give me the second one. Mark it 'no2'."

Li Heng shook his head. "The next five are all reserved. I promised them to others."

Ye Ning turned to Mai Sui: "Is she in there?"

Li Heng nodded: "Yes."

Ye Ning asked, "What about Zhou Zhou Shihe?"

Li Heng smiled. "No, she never asked. I wouldn't dare beg for a favor like that—don't you think?"

Ye Ning instantly felt better. "Then give me the sixth. Make sure you mark 'no6' after the signature."

Li Heng agreed readily. "No problem."

When the two reached their agreement, Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe softly spoke up: "Could you save the seventh for me?"

"Alright," Li Heng agreed.

PS: Please subscribe! Please vote for monthly tickets!

I have a fever. While writing this chapter, my head was foggy. Posting now, editing later.

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(There's more, but it'll come later.)

(End of Chapter)