Chapter 292: Her Temptation, 'A Bitter Journey Through Culture' Goes Viral (Subscription Requested)

After waiting in line for half an hour, it was finally their turn.

Ye Ning glanced at the sign for new book sales at the entrance and called out: "Five copies of 'A Bitter Journey Through Culture.'"

The staff said nothing, picked up five copies, and handed them to her.

Ye Ning started, and Sun Man, Mai Sui, and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe followed suit, each ordering five copies.

When it came to Li Heng, the staff assumed he'd want five too and volunteered: "There are only two left."

Li Heng was stunned. "Sold out?"

The staff took down the new book sales sign from the wall, pulled out the two remaining copies of 'A Bitter Journey Through Culture,' and asked him: "Do you want them?"

Before Li Heng could answer, the girl behind him tugged his sleeve in urgency: "Li Heng, give me one. I'm also from Fudan University—I've seen you play the erhu and the ceramic flute."

Li Heng turned and glanced at her—he didn't recognize her—but since she'd said that, how could he refuse?

After all, she was here to support him.

He took one, and the girl behind him took the other.

With the last two copies sold, the staff picked up a small loudspeaker and shouted: "Sold out! 'A Bitter Journey Through Culture' is sold out! No need to wait in line anymore—you can check other Xinhua Bookstores."

Hearing this, the crowd erupted. Someone shouted: "When will more books arrive?"

The staff explained: "We've already requested restocking, but it'll take at least another hour."

Since they were all in Shanghai, the distance was short—even if sold out, they could immediately go buy more with cash.

In other cities? Wow! You'd just have to wait until the next batch arrived.

Neither of the two dorm social groups got books, but since they'd come, they decided to keep waiting.

After chatting briefly with the Student Union president, Li Heng returned with the four girls to Lushan Village.

On the way, the four girls were relieved—if they'd arrived just a little later this morning, they'd have had to wait another hour.

Just as they reached the alley and hadn't yet entered the house, Yu Shu saw the courtyard gate open and said to Li Heng: "You have a phone call."

Ah! She actually spoke today?

In the past, she'd shoot him a cold glance like lightning, then turn and walk inside without a pause—never lingering more than a second.

Li Heng asked: "Teacher, who's calling?"

Yu Shu spoke sparingly: "Sister Sister Liao, the chief editor."

Hearing this, Li Heng already guessed why the call was for him.

He handed the books to Mai Sui: "Take them inside first. I'll make a call."

Mai Sui said okay.

One after the other, they entered the house and went upstairs to the second floor. Yu Shu asked: "You went to Xinhua Bookstore?"

Li Heng answered: "Yes."

Yu Shu turned and studied him, then asked: "Coffee or tea?"

Li Heng was surprised—his teacher was in a good mood today? After so many visits, this was the first time she'd ever asked what he wanted to drink.

After nearly a semester of coldness, this sudden care left him both flattered and suspicious—was she up to something again?

Honestly, he found it exhausting dealing with this teacher who switched between ice and fire.

He quickly weighed his options and, thinking he might as well take advantage, said: "Coffee with sugar, thank you."

He sat down on the sofa, ignored her, picked up the receiver, and dialed.

Ding ling ling.

Ding ling ling.

Soon, the phone connected, and Sister Sister Liao's voice came through.

"Li Heng?"

"Uncle Sister Sister Liao, it's me. Did you call for something?"

Sister Sister Liao's voice was full of joy: "Yes, good news. 'A Bitter Journey Through Culture' sold 200,000 copies in just two hours—unprecedented! Congratulations!"

He added: "By the way, after hearing the first batch sold out completely, Old Ba was delighted and asked me to pass on a message: he said you're extraordinary."

Li Heng thanked him twice, beaming.

Yu Shu stood behind him, holding a cup of coffee, watching his profile as he chatted happily with Sister Sister Liao. A strange, unusual calm settled in her heart.

After a while, she placed the coffee in front of him—and for the first time ever, added three sugar cubes.

Not more, not less—exactly three, the same number he'd taken last time.

Then she brewed herself a cup, sat elegantly across from him, and quietly watched him as he talked on the phone.

Sister Sister Liao said over the line: "Sales today were excellent—the market response was far hotter than we imagined.

Just now, we received reports from all over the country: completely sold out. In Beijing and Yangcheng, stocks were gone before 9 a. m. According to local Xinhua Bookstores, people are still lining up."

"Li Heng, your fame is at its peak. TV stations nationwide are covering this. It's a phenomenon—an extraordinary achievement! You've created a miracle!"

Sister Sister Liao sounded like he'd returned to his youth, to age thirty—full of boldness and excitement.

Miracle my ass!

Weren't we supposed to have enough stock?

Damn it, sold out already—even Xinhua Bookstores in Shanghai are out of stock! That's money!

Big money!

If this keeps up, pirated editions will steal the market.

Li Heng was frantic—desperate—and couldn't help asking: "Uncle Sister Sister Liao, didn't you say we had enough stock? How did it sell out so fast?"

Sister Sister Liao chuckled apologetically: "We didn't expect it to be this popular!

But don't worry—we've already printed another 500,000 copies. They've been shipped nationwide and should reach all bookstores by noon."

Li Heng asked: "Only 500,000? Any more planned?"

Sister Sister Liao seemed to read his mind: "Printing more! Based on new orders from Xinhua Bookstores nationwide, we're planning a second print run—another 500,000 copies.

And just now, while you were calling, 43,000 copies of the second print run were bought outright in cash by Shanghai's major Xinhua stores."

500,000 plus 500,000 plus the initial 200,000 sold—that's 1.2 million copies total!

Li Heng's panic eased slightly, but he still pressed on:

"I'm a famous author now, Uncle Sister Sister Liao—you've got to believe in me! Have the guts to print two million copies. They'll all sell."

Sister Sister Liao covered the receiver and said to Old Ba: "Teacher, did you hear that? This kid's already getting swollen-headed."

Old Ba nodded and smiled: "He's just worried about the money."

Sister Sister Liao had dealt with Li Heng many times—he agreed completely: "Of course it's about money. Otherwise, you'd need a stick to move him."

Sister Sister Liao explained: "Li Heng, haste makes waste. Based on current trends, two million might not be a dream.

But you probably don't understand this industry—publishing distribution channels are still extremely limited, limited to Xinhua Bookstores alone. Any printing decision must be based on nationwide demand, or we'll be stuck with unsold stock."

Afraid Li Heng would be upset, Sister Sister Liao patiently explained the entire logistics behind book sales. Li Heng listened and had no complaints.

There was nothing he could do—the system was rigid, bound by countless rules, with power concentrated in a single institution. There was no way to replicate the flexible, multi-channel sales of the future.

The call lasted a long time. Though Li Heng felt helpless, overall he was satisfied.

After all, 'A Bitter Journey Through Culture' was selling like wildfire!

Every minute, every second was earning him money, fame, and prestige!

How could he not be content?

He hung up the phone and lifted the coffee like water, gulping it down. Hmm—tasted good. Sweet with a faint bitterness, layered and rich.

Watching him drink for a moment, Yu Shu then pulled two plane tickets from her bag and handed them to him:

"Flight tomorrow at 8:30 a. m. We need to leave before dawn. You and Zhou Zhou Shihe, wake up early."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher."

Li Heng took the tickets, studied them, and asked: "How much?"

Yu Shu didn't mention money. After a pause, she said: "Leave me one of your spare rooms. And make sure you cook something good—I'll expect to be called."

Li Heng was speechless. Why did he feel like he'd acquired a problem he couldn't shake off?

Seeing his silence, she asked: "What? You don't want to?"

Li Heng tried: "Teacher, a man and a woman sharing a room isn't appropriate—it'll cause misunderstandings. I'm happy to pay."

She stared at him, then extended her hand: "Give me the tickets back. I won't go."

Li Heng's eyelid twitched. "No, don't! That'll ruin your image in my eyes!"

Yu Shu asked: "What image do I have in your eyes?"

Li Heng said: "Radiant, beautiful, intellectual, elegant, steeped in scholarly grace—immediately exuding nobility."

"Oh."

Yu Shu said "Oh," and for the first time ever, crossed her legs: "I thought you'd say: 'By day, an ice mountain; by night, a seductress.'"

Li Heng thought: That's exactly right.

After a moment of silence, Yu Shu relented: "You're afraid Xiao Han will misunderstand, right? I won't come this weekend."

Li Heng asked: "Why?"

Yu Shu said: "Nightmare demon."

Li Heng asked: "Can you pick another reason?"

Yu Shu said: "Nightmare demon."

Li Heng frowned: "I'm tired of hearing that."

Yu Shu tilted her chin slightly: "Then sleep in my room tonight."

He was a little scared of that too—he didn't want to provoke it.

Li Heng asked, "Really?"

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng didn't answer, just stared straight at him.

After a moment of awkward silence, Li Heng asked again, "What does it mean when something delicious calls you? What's the standard for 'delicious'?"

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng said, "No standard. It depends on your mood."

That was reasonable enough. Li Heng nodded. "Deal."

He sighed heavily afterward: "I feel cheated, but I can't figure out why."

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng's lips curled slightly, her eyes glimmered like silver stars; she seemed like a graceful ancient poem—intellectual, profound, intoxicating.

Seeing him fixated on her, she took a small sip of coffee, let her hair fall loose, unbuttoned her coat, and continued drinking with a faint, ambiguous smile.

Li Heng's face twitched; he quickly looked away, drained the rest of his coffee in one gulp, and stood up. "Teacher, thank you for the coffee. I'll be going now."

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng tilted her head back, grinning slyly.

Li Heng felt a knife at his back, like thorns pricking his skin, as if any moment it would sever his head.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

At the twelfth or thirteenth step, she spoke lightly: "There are twenty copies of *A Bitter Journey Through Culture* on the first-floor sofa. They were delivered by Editor Sister Sister Liao. Leave one for the teacher, and sign your name on it."

Li Heng said nothing, hurried down to the first floor, and only breathed a sigh of relief once he was out of her sight.

Damn it!

He finally understood: seduction wasn't only about allure—intellect could be just as tempting.

Quietly, invisibly, impossible to guard against.

Yu Laoshi seemed an expert at this, especially skilled at leveraging her own advantages. If he hadn't been reborn, at eighteen he might've fallen for it right then.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and looked toward the sofa.

As expected!

Indeed, a stack of books lay there; a quick glance suggested roughly twenty copies.

He patted his pocket—no pen. As he searched, a pen suddenly appeared behind him.

Li Heng spun around, startled, and tapped his forehead three times. "Teacher, how do you walk so silently?"

"Silently?"

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng studied him from head to toe, then stepped closer, leaning near his ear, her lips moving softly:

"Little boy, were you daydreaming just now? Isn't it more beautiful through clothing?"

She stepped back, then stepped back again, stretched lazily, and left the living room for the courtyard outside.

Her figure was graceful, her delicate steps exuding calm dignity—as if those devilish words hadn't come from her mouth.

As if they had never been spoken.

If not for the faint, pleasant scent of a woman still clinging to his nose, Li Heng might've thought he'd imagined it.

Yet he wasn't bewitched by her words.

Something felt off. It wasn't so much seduction as a reminder—more beautiful through clothing?

What the hell does "more beautiful through clothing" even mean?

As he pondered, suddenly, Li Heng shuddered—could it have been that night…

Heaven! He immediately cut off the thought.

He uncapped his pen, flipped open a book's title page, and signed his name in bold: December.

Below it, he added the date.

At that moment, a lazy voice came from outside: "Write your real name."

Li Heng glanced at the door, thought for a moment, then added "Li Heng" beneath it.

The nineteen new books were heavy; cradling them felt heavier than a drunk Yu Yu Yu Shuheng.

Pfft! Why compare her to that? He'd been led astray again.

Yu Yu Yu Shuheng was watering flowers in the courtyard. Li Heng glanced over and hurried away.

"Ah! Li Heng, why are you carrying so many books? Did Yu Laoshi buy them?" Sun Man asked the moment he stepped inside.

"No, they were delivered by Editor Sister Sister Liao," Li Heng briefly explained the whole story.

He pulled out two plane tickets and said to Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe: "Comrade Zhou Zhou Shihe, our flight is tomorrow at 8:30. We leave school at 6. Can you wake up?"

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, reading a book, peeked over the top of it and replied softly, "Of course."

Ye Ning asked, "Li Heng, what are you planning to do with all these books?"

Li Heng said, "Gift them. Collector's edition."

Seeing the four girls look at him, he explained: "I'll write a personal message in each of these nineteen books—unique, one-time only."

Then he waved his hand. "Don't stare at me like that. Each of you four gets one."

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Already posted 10,200 characters. Will continue tomorrow.

(End of chapter)