Chapter 340: , fate

It really was just a pretense of being relaxed.

The moment she turned around, Mai Sui only felt her whole body burning, her limbs weak, and her legs nearly unable to hold her up.

The kiss just now was thorough, romantic, suffocating, and heart-fluttering.

She had never imagined she would have such a deep-level kiss with him.

Nor had she imagined that kissing him would be so wonderful.

And she never imagined he would have so many tricks; in just half a minute, she had fallen completely under his teasing.

Song Yu, I'm sorry.

Mai Sui felt deeply guilty inside, like a mouse that had stolen honey; the sweeter and more indulgent it had been just now, the more fearful and self-reproachful she felt now.

She didn't blame Li Heng, though; she was tolerant of this man, and even if he were to commit some heinous crime against her one day, she would have no complaints or regrets.

Taking a few deep breaths to force herself to calm down, she then gripped the doorknob, turned it with a little force, and the study door opened from the inside.

At this moment, Yu Shuheng had just walked to the entrance of the washroom, intending to freshen up since it was getting late. Seeing Mai Sui come out, she stopped and looked over.

With just one glance, Yu Shuheng's heart gave a sudden jolt, and an indescribable emotion erupted.

Mai Sui, having just been nourished by a man, was currently at the peak of her natural inner-allure attribute; no matter how much she tried to restrain herself, her brows and the corners of her eyes were still filled with charm and overflowing with spring.

Looking at Mai Sui in this state, even Yu Shuheng, as a woman, felt a sense of heart palpitations. As their eyes met, she immediately understood that something unknown had happened between Mai Sui and him in the study.

She had overestimated him after all, and underestimated Mai Sui's bewitchment of men.

If she hadn't come back tonight, would the two of them have...?

At this thought, Yu Shuheng forcibly interrupted the train of thought.

"Teacher, you're back."

"Mm."

Yu Shuheng hummed in acknowledgment and said with a smile, "Just finished my business and got back. Have you freshened up? Shall we go together?"

"Teacher, you go first. I'm going downstairs to boil a pot of water," Mai Sui replied.

"Alright." Yu Shuheng didn't insist. After sweeping her gaze over her, she entered the washroom.

Yu Laoshi guessed that Mai Sui probably hadn't recovered from some kind of strangeness yet, which was why she chose to find an excuse to go downstairs.

The fact was indeed so; Mai Sui, with her natural inner-allure attribute fully saturated, had a body more sensitive than the average woman, and during the kiss just now, she had also been somewhat stirred.

It could even be said that if the kiss had lasted longer, she might not have had the strength to remind him that "Yu Laoshi is here."

Or rather, facing his fierce offensive, Mai Sui was willing but unable; her resistance seemed so pale, her heart and body unable to align.

In short, her heart was clear, but her body was confused.

After tidying up the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and locking the manuscript in the drawer, Li Heng did not appear in the living room immediately, but sat in his chair to calm his mind.

He didn't think about anything; he didn't think about Mai Sui, nor did he think about Song Yu. He cast aside all distracting thoughts and emotions, letting himself return to tranquility.

Mai Sui was very beautiful, and also very bewitching. Just now, when his sub-total pressed against her, he had never been so excited. Having lived two lifetimes, his body had never been so stimulated.

He thought of the mother and daughter, Zhao Jing and Li Ran. This pair was naturally energetic, loved men, and also "ate people."

If one were to say that this mother and daughter were low-level, needing to use their bodies as a medium in bed to fully display their allure...

... then Mai Sui was undoubtedly the highest level.

As long as there was close contact, as long as they were in an enclosed space, she constantly exuded a kind of aura, permeating like an aphrodisiac, leaving Li Heng unable to defend against it, making him restless and unable to stop.

Just like in a novel, Zhao Jing and Li Ran were low-level martial artists, not yet formally initiated, still in the stage of practicing Qi, their every move just amateur tricks.

But Mai Sui was like a natural saint, practicing divine-level techniques, killing invisibly with a single thought. Unknowingly, Li Heng had fallen into her trap, unable to help himself from hugging her and giving her a French kiss.

A few minutes later, Yu Shuheng, having finished washing, walked into the study.

Upon entering, she quickly scanned the study and sniffed slightly with the tip of her nose. Finding nothing unusual, she asked, "How much of Chapter 8 have you written?"

Li Heng replied, "A little less than half."

Yu Shuheng raised her right wrist to check her watch. "It's getting late. We have to go out tomorrow, so get some rest early."

"Alright."

Li Heng's body had mostly recovered by now. Hearing this, he stood up: "Teacher, you should also rest early."

Yu Shuheng nodded, turned around, and returned to the guest bedroom next door.

Not long after, Mai Sui came up from downstairs carrying a thermos. Sensing that Yu Laoshi had already entered her room, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

However, she didn't dare to go to the washroom at this time, fearing it would further stimulate someone, fearing that some desire of his would be rekindled. So, she put the thermos away, entered the other guest bedroom, and closed the door.

Well, Li Heng, sensing something was wrong, muttered to himself. In the past, before going to bed, the few of them would gather to chat for a while, but tonight everyone was minding their own business, ignoring each other; it was quite peaceful.

A night passed.

The next day, around 8:40 AM, Chief Editor Liao arrived at Lushan Village in a van.

Upon meeting, Li Heng asked enthusiastically, "Senior Brother, have you had breakfast?"

Chief Editor Liao greeted Yu Laoshi and Mai Sui, who were beside him. "I have. I ate noodles before driving. How about you all?"

"We just finished eating too. Let's go now, then. The sooner we go, the sooner we return," Li Heng said.

Chief Editor Liao smiled and agreed.

Yu Shuheng drove her own car, with Mai Sui sitting in the Mercedes passenger seat.

Li Heng squeezed into Chief Editor Liao's van, and they drove off toward the southwest.

He asked, "Senior Brother, where are we going today? Is it far?"

Chief Editor Liao replied, "It's over in Jiading. We have to pass through Hongkou, Jing'an, and Putuo. It's a bit far."

Li Heng asked, "So that counts as the suburbs?"

"Yes, that area is considered the countryside," Chief Editor Liao said.

Li Heng asked, "Is your hometown over there too?"

Chief Editor Liao said, "No, my hometown is in Changning, but it's relatively close to Jiading."

Li Heng nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, "Will she appear today?"

This "she" referred to Huang Zhaoyi.

Chief Editor Liao shook his head. "No. Zhaoyi has to perform on stage this morning; she doesn't have time."

Hearing this, he felt relieved.

Otherwise, he always felt something was strange, always feeling that Yu Laoshi had come specifically for Huang Zhaoyi.

They set off at 8:40, and after many twists and turns on the road, they didn't arrive until after 10:00.

Chief Editor Liao was experienced in handling matters; he had even prepared the gifts for their visit. Li Heng, Yu Shuheng, and Mai Sui each carried a gift, following behind him along a small path. They crossed a bridge and a small stream, and climbed a large slope before arriving.

The house wasn't as bad as imagined; it was a two-story red brick house with a wooden tile structure, which was quite outstanding in this surrounding area.

Chief Editor Liao's teacher was surnamed Zou, over 80 years old, very healthy, but a disabled person; not only was he blind in both eyes, but his left hand was also severed cleanly from the elbow.

According to Chief Editor Liao's account on the way, Master Zou used to be a healthy person, but when he was young, he once made a mistake while fishing with explosives in a river and injured himself. Not only did he go completely blind, but his left hand was also blown off. At that time, the villagers thought he wouldn't make it, but he miraculously survived, and it seemed he had even connected with the ancestors of fortune-telling. His skills advanced by leaps and bounds, and he became famous in Shanghai.

Walking up about 30 stone steps, the group of four finally arrived at the grain-drying ground.

Li Heng was a bit stunned. He had thought that since it was already the 11th day of the first lunar month, there wouldn't be many people, but reality slapped him in the face—the grain-drying ground was actually packed with people.

Well, "packed" might be an exaggeration, but a rough glance showed there were definitely no fewer than 40 people.

Seeing the three of them surprised, Chief Editor Liao helped clarify: "These are all my teacher's disciples and grand-disciples, here to pay New Year's greetings."

Li Heng asked, "Why pick such a day? Why not come earlier?"

Chief Editor Liao explained, "The old master has a rule: no visitors before the 10th. There should have been even more people yesterday, and those people probably had greater skills."

"Whoa, there's a hierarchy?" Li Heng joked.

Chief Editor Liao smiled and nodded in agreement.

There were many acquaintances in the crowd. Chief Editor Liao greeted them while leading the three toward the house.

Master Zou had two sons and one daughter. For someone with status like Chief Editor Liao, the eldest son received them personally and served tea personally.

Chief Editor Liao held his teacup and asked, "Where is the old master?"

The eldest son whispered, "Inside, fortune-telling for someone. They're from the capital."

Hearing this, Chief Editor Liao seemed to understand and didn't ask further.

Seeing this, Li Heng, Yu Shuheng, and Mai Sui didn't say much either, sitting to the side and listening to Chief Editor Liao chat with the eldest and second sons.

About half an hour later, there was movement in the inner room. A person walked out. That person ignored Chief Editor Liao, Li Heng, and Mai Sui, but paused when seeing Yu Shuheng. Afterward, he gave her a warm smile, didn't say much, and just walked away like that.

At this moment, Yu Shuheng didn't put on airs; she stood up and smiled in return.

This scene was caught by the eldest and second sons, who immediately looked at each other in dismay. A moment later, the eldest son looked at Chief Editor Liao.

Chief Editor Liao nodded imperceptibly.

The eldest son understood and got up to enter the inner room.

Not long after, the eldest son walked out and said to the four, "It's okay now."

The reason for this was that there were many people today, and everyone was queuing in order of arrival, so they were truly cutting in line.

Following the eldest son into the inner room, Li Heng quickly scanned the room's condition. The light was relatively dim, and the space wasn't large, but there was a rich scent of Zen incense, which smelled very good.

There were two people in the room; besides Master Zou, his daughter was also there, taking care of his daily life.

"Teacher, I've come to visit you," Chief Editor Liao walked over and said with a smile.

"Good, it's good that you've come. Sit." Master Zou reached out and touched his daughter's shoulder. The latter and the eldest son tactfully walked out and closed the door.

Once the door was closed, only five people remained in the room.

Because time was tight, after Chief Editor Liao chatted with the other party for a few minutes, he brought up the main business: "This is my Junior Brother, the closing disciple of Old Master Ba."

"A writer?" Master Zou tilted his head. His eyes were blind, but he accurately found the position where Li Heng was sitting.

Chief Editor Liao said, "December."

Hearing this, Master Zou hooked his finger at Li Heng through the air. "Come a little closer."

Li Heng sat over as instructed.

Just as he sat steady, he saw Master Zou's right hand already touching his face.

Chief Editor Liao, fearing he would be uncomfortable, explained from the side, "This is bone-reading."

Li Heng wasn't having his fortune told for the first time, so he understood. He straightened his body and sat motionless.

Touching his forehead, touching his skull, all the way down, touching his mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and cheeks—after a long time, Master Zou finally spoke his first sentence: "Born in the Year of the Horse, born at the hour of the Horse."

PS: Posting a short chapter first; there's more tonight.

(End of chapter)