Chapter 32: Working Overtime

“Really? Is it really the magazine ‘Harvest’?”

“Absolutely true!”

Upon receiving a definite reply, Li Heng nearly hugged his English teacher in delight, quickly asking: “What did they say?”

Wang Runwen leaned against the desk, crossing his legs: “They’re looking for you, so I didn’t ask for details.”

They’ve arranged to call tomorrow at 12:30 noon—go to my house to talk with them directly.”

Li Heng thanked him: “Great! Thank you, Teacher.”

Wang Runwen flicked his long hair and teased: “If you really want to thank me, study English hard, score higher on exams, and don’t waste all your attention on pretty classmates.”

Li Heng retorted: “Teacher, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not how you imagine—I simply admire Song Yu’s beauty.”

Wang Runwen asked: “Then what about Chen Zijin? I saw you two holding hands secretly in the eastern grove during sophomore year—don’t tell me that was also a misunderstanding?”

Li Heng answered instantly: “It really was a misunderstanding. Chen Zijin said her hands were cold, so I warmed them for her.”

Wang Runwen sneered: “It was summer, 37 degrees Celsius—cold?”

Was that true?

Was it really summer?

He’d done too many naughty things in that little grove—damn it! He couldn’t even tell truth from fiction anymore.

But he’d never admit it: “She had a low fever, shivering all over.”

“Teacher, you’ve seen so much—surely you’ve heard of low fever?”

Wang Runwen laughed bitterly: “Low fever? Let me tell you, a few years ago, this would’ve been outright lewd conduct—report you once, and you’re done.”

“That’s not something I care to hear. Look around—our villages have all divided land and mountains among households. How can you still cling to such rigid thinking?”

Li Heng fired back, then asked with a look of bewildered fear: “Teacher, why are you so interested in my private life? Could it be…”

Wang Runwen stared at him fiercely, her chest heaving ten times over, then pointed to the door, each word forced through clenched teeth:

“Get out! Get out right now! Get far away from me!”

For the first time in this life, he saw her furious—Li Heng left, thoroughly satisfied.

Thought you’d meddle! Thought you’d gossip! After this lesson, you’ll finally learn to mind your own business, right?

…

In just a short while, when he returned to the classroom, several others had already arrived.

Boys and girls alike were bent over their books, diligently solving problems.

Utterly quiet.

One couldn’t help but marvel: this experimental class, gathering the city’s top students, truly had a powerful learning atmosphere—not a single mediocre student among them, all highly self-disciplined, needing almost no supervision.

Occasionally, when a student performed poorly, before the teacher could even offer comfort, they’d already reflected deeply and drafted a stricter study plan.

In short: chase your dreams! Rush forward without hesitation!

All were children of fortune—none would yield to another.

Even if there were vast differences in intelligence, they’d be the slow birds flying early, doubling their effort to make up the gap.

Mai Sui arrived, and the seat beside Song Yu was taken—Li Heng temporarily quelled his urge to sit with her.

When he returned to his own seat, Sun Manning tore off a slip of paper.

Wrote: I’ve already spoken to Mai Sui about switching seats.

Li Heng stared at the note for two seconds, felt no embarrassment, and wrote back: Did she agree?

Sun Manning replied: I’ve known her since we were five—of course she agreed.

Li Heng wrote: Thank you!

He didn’t ask whether Mai Sui was curious.

In truth, anyone who wasn’t an idiot could guess the reason.

And was Mai Sui, who had long alternated with Song Yu for first place in class, an idiot?

The answer was obvious.

After sitting quietly for a while, seeing Sun Manning put away the note and resume her math problems, he too got busy—pulled out a new notebook and opened it.

Ready to write “To Live.”

After months of relentless writing, “To Live” had reached eighty thousand characters—more than half done.

Just fifty thousand more to finish.

The call from “Harvest” magazine today gave him a boost—but also a warning.

Damn it, time was running out—he had to finish this novel as fast as possible.

Four days!

He planned to work overtime for the next four days to complete the novel.

Once a person had hope and urgency, boundless motivation arose.

Indeed, once in the zone, Li Heng’s inspiration exploded—his fountain pen danced across the white paper, writing for hours without pause.

In one go, he filled five pages—nearly four thousand five hundred characters.

Damn it! His fingers were branded with deep indentations from the pen, throbbing faintly.

“Li Heng, what are you writing? The cafeteria’s almost out of food—aren’t you going to eat?”

Earlier, seeing him buried in work, Sun Manning assumed he was studying and didn’t disturb him.

But now, after she’d returned with Song Yu and Mai Sui from dinner, her desk partner still hadn’t moved—she leaned in close.

Seeing her head nearly brushing his chin, he instinctively leaned back.

Asked: “Boss, what time is it?”

Sun Manning’s nickname “Boss” came from being one of the few students wearing an electronic watch.

She glanced at her wrist: “Six twenty-eight. It’s almost dark. Headmaster will rearrange seats at seven—go eat now.”

“Oh, okay.”

He nodded, capped his fountain pen, tucked his manuscript into his bag, and headed to the cafeteria.

Sun Manning watched his manuscript and bag, wondering why he was so secretive—why carry such a worn-out bag everywhere? Curiosity stirred in her.

Li Heng didn’t care what she thought—his manuscript was precious, tied to his fate—he dared not leave it in the drawer. Carrying it with him was safer.

He scanned the classroom—no sign of Liu Li or Zhang Zhiyong. Those two must’ve stayed in the dorm.

Whatever. No time. He didn’t bother calling them—ran straight to the cafeteria.

The student cafeteria wasn’t far from the teaching building—just a small artificial hill between them, less than three hundred meters straight.

He arrived quickly.

As Sun Manning said, the usually bustling cafeteria was nearly empty at this hour—him included, only a few lazy cats remained lining up for food.

“Auntie, what’s left?”

“Just carrots.”

“What else?”

“You’re late. Everything’s gone.”

Li Heng leaned his head through the serving window—his heart sank. His favorite steamed egg was sold out; the delicious spicy chicken innards had only two pieces of spicy chicken left at the bottom of the bowl.

Seeing his gloomy expression, the cafeteria lady lifted the last dribble of broth and carrot with her spoon.

Asked him: “Want it? If not, I’m done for the day.”

He hated carrots—but reluctantly extended his bowl.

“Auntie, how much?”

“Forget it. I won’t charge you—it’s trash anyway. I’d just dump it in the slop bucket.”

Li Heng felt a quiet sadness—more depressed than ever.

PS: In the last chapter, “Song Yu,” the scene where Li Heng met Song Yu felt off—I’ve made slight revisions. Those interested can go back and check. Also, due to edits, some comments were automatically swallowed by Qidian—not deleted by the author.

(End of chapter)