Chapter 29: Love Never Lies

After the incident with Sun Man, Li Heng temporarily lost his appetite for going to the barbershop.

Unconsciously, he walked slowly, retracing every corner of the campus he hadn’t seen in decades.

He found it unchanged: the dried-up pond, the motionless windmill, the playground blanketed in fallen leaves.

Yet even so, No. 1 High School was still the place where he could become a child again.

The plane trees along the school gate stretched endlessly; behind the campus wall, classmates peered through windows at the dim sky. Teenagers often favored the wobbly, golden sunset, unaware that what they held then was the brightest dawn of their lives.

The hated yet nostalgic cafeteria still stood, and the woman who served the food—twenty years ago, she must have been a beautiful girl.

He looked up at the girls’ dormitory for senior three and thought: In this life, I will definitely take you back to my hometown and promise you again—forever and ever!

Because my love for you never lies.

…

Just as he stood frozen at the crossroad, staring at the third floor of the girls’ dorm, Xiao Feng came down with a friend, holding a lunchbox and a spoon.

Xiao Feng hesitated for a few seconds, then walked over and asked: “Li Heng, are you looking for Xiao Han? Should I call her for you?”

Xiao Feng had watched every odd moment between Li Heng and Xiao Han on the bus yesterday—she just kept her cold, reclusive nature and pretended not to notice.

When the bus broke down, her excuse to leave for the restroom was the clearest proof she gave them space.

Li Heng smiled and waved his hand: “No need. I’m just passing through. I’m heading to the barbershop to get a haircut.”

He offered no explanation or defense about Xiao Han. They were all smart people; extra words would insult their intelligence.

Xiao Feng asked: “Did you pay and pick up your books?”

Li Heng said: “Yes. Finished it this morning.”

Xiao Feng nodded and walked off with her friend.

To her, initiating conversation was purely out of hometown kinship—this much was already her limit; anything more would feel like a burden.

This girl!

Hey! She’s such a top student, yet she hates socializing—how’s she ever going to find love or get married? I’m genuinely worried for her.

The barbershop wasn’t far—cross a small rock garden, walk twenty meters more, and you’re there.

The shop was small, with no signboard.

When Li Heng walked in, the owner was bending over to trim a girl’s bangs.

To his utter dismay, he’d specifically chosen lunchtime—yet there was still a line waiting inside.

Even more surprising: Xiao Han was there, sitting beside two familiar girls.

He recognized them, but couldn’t recall their names—he’d never asked Xiao Han.

Hearing the door, the owner turned and asked: “Haircut or hot water?”

The shop did both haircuts and sold hot water.

Hot water wasn’t cheap or expensive—eight fen a bucket.

Li Heng replied casually: “Haircut. How long do I have to wait?”

The owner listed them off: “Two people ahead of you. Why not sit down for a bit?”

She didn’t tell him exactly how long—he’d have to wait—but her tone was neutral, with no hint of trying to keep him.

No need for money? That’s her confidence.

Li Heng glanced around the shop and counted nine others besides the barber.

One sat alone near the door, occasionally chatting with the girl getting her bangs trimmed—clearly they were together.

Two men and two women sat on the bamboo bench to the left; from their conversation, they were from the same small town.

The last three women were Xiao Han and her friends—roommates, sitting side by side on an old sofa.

Before he entered, Xiao Han, flipping through a magazine, was the center of attention.

Girls subtly sized her up; boys kept stealing glances—though constrained by the era’s norms, their glances were hushed and cautious, afraid of being caught, yet their restless hearts couldn’t be contained.

Was this fate? They’d parted yesterday, and today, after all this circling, they met again. Xiao Han smiled wryly, instinctively glancing at the door—he was alone. A quiet joy bloomed in her chest.

But she was a girl who loved to put on airs—her persona was aloof elegance, calm and composed.

She wouldn’t stare at Li Heng like the others did.

Xiao Han merely glanced at him briefly, then lowered her head and returned to reading Youth Digest.

Yet her ears had subtly perked up; her peripheral vision precisely landed on his shoes, wondering where he’d sit.

She amused herself inwardly: Oh dear! You came to see this great beauty, and you didn’t even change your shoes? I know you’ve got a handsome face, but if you dressed a little better, wouldn’t I look better too?

His gaze settled on the empty seat to Xiao Han’s left. After a brief pause, Li Heng walked straight over and sat down, drawing everyone’s attention.

When he sat beside her, Xiao Han felt a moment of tension—then she instantly lowered her head, took a deep breath, and pretended to be utterly absorbed in the magazine story, forcing herself to calm down.

Sure, she’d initiated contact yesterday—but that had drained every ounce of courage she’d saved in eighteen years. Now, facing him, all she felt was panic and helplessness.

Yet she kept reminding herself: Stay calm! He’s Li Heng. Don’t panic. Don’t let him see you flustered.

Glancing at the story she was reading, Li Heng suddenly asked: “When did you get here? Also here for a haircut?”

The sofa was narrow; they sat nearly shoulder to shoulder, close enough for her to feel the warmth near her ear.

She brushed back a few stray strands with her right hand, not looking up: “Just trimming my bangs—they’re blocking my eyes.”

“Did you eat lunch?”

“No. I had fruit this morning. Not hungry yet. Planning to eat outside later.”

“Then after your haircut, let’s eat together. You treat me.”

Xiao Han raised her eyebrows in surprise, lifting her head with a small, pursed-lip smile: “So now you’re brazen enough to beg meals?”

Li Heng shrugged calmly: “You know my pockets are as empty as a dog’s tongue. I can’t afford fancy meals.”

And you’re so beautiful—I can’t bear to take you to a street stall.”

After thinking it over, I figured you should treat me.”

Then, before the stunned expressions of Xiao Han’s two friends, he added slowly:

“But don’t worry—I won’t eat for free. When I’m rich someday, I’ll treat you back.”

Hearing “treat you back,” Xiao Han froze, staring into his bright eyes. The thread of fate hadn’t broken—sweet joy surged from her heart.

Who doesn’t hope the Matchmaker God stands on their side? She was a girl in her prime—she was no different.

Ever since she’d developed feelings for him, every word and gesture of his had taken on an indescribable, sacred meaning.

Xiao Han’s dimples appeared as she chirped: “Then I wish Mr. Li great wealth and fortune—earn big money, and come back to treat me.”

Li Heng frowned: “Huh? Aren’t you treating me today?”

They locked eyes for a moment; Xiao Han laughed and rolled her eyes, flipping both pockets inside out with swift, clean motions.

Empty?

No money in her pockets—Li Heng’s gaze dropped to her pants pockets.

Sensing his look, this time Xiao Han didn’t indulge him. She looked away, lowering her head back to her book.

She grumbled inwardly: Don’t you know how ungraceful it is for a beauty like me to flip her pants in public? Chen Zijin’s husband!!!

Hey! That’s the familiar vibe—mid-conversation, she suddenly cuts you off and ignores you.

Li Heng had long been used to her temperament in his past life—he didn’t find it odd at all.

He whispered, just loud enough for her to hear: “Xiao Han, are you playing hard to get? Deliberately stringing me along?”

After speaking, Li Heng sat up straight and shifted his gaze elsewhere.

He looked as if he hadn’t just said something utterly outrageous.

Given their current relationship, such words were inappropriate—but he carried the weight of his past-life feelings, and couldn’t resist teasing her.

True enough, Xiao Han nearly dropped her book—her hands trembled slightly.

Fortunately, she had exceptional mental strength. After a brief shake, she forced herself back to composure.

The owner’s hands were skilled; she finished one haircut quickly. As she turned to the next,

the girl with curly hair on the bamboo chair said: “My hair takes a long time to straighten, Auntie—cut his first.”

The owner glanced quickly at Li Heng: “Know him?”

The girl’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded.

Li Heng stared at the girl—faceless, like a random passerby—and suddenly remembered: she was his classmate from senior one, but they’d never spoken.

The owner, efficiency-minded, immediately told Li Heng: “Go wash your hair in the back.”

Li Heng sincerely thanked the girl and stood to follow her to the back.

The room fell quiet. Everyone, including Xiao Han, instinctively glanced at the girl—but she remained calm, and moments later resumed laughing and chatting with her friend.

A carefree girl, kind-hearted, no threat—Xiao Han judged her, then relaxed the tension in her shoulders.

Two minutes later, the owner and Li Heng returned together from the back.

The owner draped a cloth around his neck, gripped his hair, and asked: “You haven’t cut your hair in three months, right?”

Xiao Han looked up, silently answered: Two months and eighteen days.

She kept a thick notebook—only one subject: everything about him.

She recorded his daily attire.

She noted the exact dates when he and Chen Zijin showed affection in front of her.

She wrote down every time Chen Zijin came to argue with her because of him.

…

Over the years, she’d written much—but the most frequent entry was his back.

He was another woman’s man. Bound by social morality, afraid of being discovered, Xiao Han could only secretly watch him from empty corners.

Whenever only then…

Only when admiring him from afar, out of sight, could she drop all her pretenses and freely wonder if he’d grown thinner again.

Or taller?

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(End of chapter)