Chapter 35: , Wits and Courage

"Tell me?"

The teacher and student, one sitting and one standing, after a long confrontation, head teacher Wang Qi finally couldn't hold back and spoke first to break the silence.

If one were to talk about patience, Li Heng, who had lived two lives, was simply a cheat; damn it, who was he afraid of?

During those 7 years in the system, even a daughter-in-law would have become a mother-in-law; now, damn it, he could endure more than anyone.

As for telling?

Tell what?

Li Heng had a number in his heart and knew what the teacher was asking, but he wasn't stupid enough to take the initiative to confess.

In this day and age, what was the difference between taking the initiative to confess that you had fallen in love with a girl and courting death?

Seeing his clear and confused eyes, Wang Qi took a cigarette and a lighter out of the drawer, lowered his head to light one, and took three deep breaths in a row to suppress his temper that was about to explode.

The head teacher exhaled two smoke rings and asked, "You've been sitting with Sun Manning well for these years; why change people suddenly?"

Li Heng directly shifted the blame, "Sun Manning said she was tired of eating sea cucumber and bird's nest every day and wanted to change to a new flavor."

"Cough, cough, cough...!"

Suddenly, Wang Qi was choked by these boastful words and coughed for a long time.

The smoke was poured into his throat.

He was an old monster who had lived for decades; he had seen shameless people, but he had never seen anyone so shameless as to compare himself to sea cucumber and bird's nest?

You have to know that the meaning of the four words "sea cucumber and bird's nest" in this day and age was no less than in later generations; it was the synonym for the highest level, and its gold content was extremely heavy.

Looking at Li Heng's face, which was better than a woman's skin, Wang Qi asked, "Then why choose Song Yu as your desk-mate?"

Li Heng replied, "Her foreign language is good; I want to learn foreign language from her."

It was a fact that Song Yu's English was good, but the experienced Wang Qi always felt that this kid's answer wasn't very reliable.

Wang Qi asked again, "Mai Sui's English is just as good; why not Mai Sui?"

Li Heng put on an innocent expression, "Teacher, if I chose Mai Sui, wouldn't I be invited to the dark room?"

There is always such a kind of person in this world; for ordinary people who are mediocre, their existence is simply a satire.

For example, Song Yu.

For example, Xiao Han.

The two girls were the recognized peerless beauties of Shaoshi No. 1 Middle School.

Whether it was from appearance, temperament, or talent, Song Yu and Xiao Han were both existences that left others far behind, making people unable to look up to them.

The huge gap made the vast majority of male compatriots collectively despair and collectively give up.

It truly lived up to the phrase in *Ode to the Lotus*: "One can only view it from a distance and not play with it."

This was also why Class 204 clearly had a ceiling like Song Yu, but Liu Li and others didn't dare to get close, instead tying their hearts to Chen Lijun.

Because they weren't worthy!

When facing Song Yu, everyone would invisibly develop a sense of inferiority, feeling that they weren't people from the same country.

Li Heng in his previous life had the same psychology.

This was also the reason why he didn't dare to contact and pursue Song Yu excessively for a period of time after graduating from high school.

And aside from the two bugs Song Yu and Xiao Han, there were also a considerable number of boys who ate up Mai Sui's "innate charm" attribute. They faintly honored her as the third golden flower after the two beauties.

Honestly, before knowing Mai Sui, whenever Li Heng thought of "innate charm," he would associate it with maturity and age.

But after seeing Mai Sui, he discovered that innate charm wasn't a synonym, but a feeling.

Li Heng used Mai Sui to successfully counter-attack the head teacher; the effect was very wow, directly stumping Wang Qi.

To be fair, if this kid had chosen Mai Sui as his desk-mate today, Wang Qi would also have called him for a talk.

There was no way; judging from his teaching experience of decades: if a boy's face was born well, the girl was naturally beautiful, and their grades were top-notch, the probability of mutual attraction after sitting together for a long time was far greater than that of two people who were uneven.

At this critical juncture of the college entrance exam, how could he, as the head teacher, relax?

How dared he relax?

Seeing Li Heng was impervious to oil and salt and wouldn't admit it no matter what, Wang Qi couldn't force him too much; this was the preferential treatment for top students.

If it were any other boy, even if it were Zou Aiming, whose grades were also in the top ten of the class, Wang Qi would have changed his position if he said so, giving a direct order without even saying hello.

After confronting each other for a long time, Wang Qi flicked the ash with his finger, pointed to the stool in front of him, and said:

"Sit for a while and chat with the teacher."

Li Heng didn't know what politeness was and sat down as told.

Wang Qi put away his high-and-mighty momentum, exhaled, switched to the posture of a kind elder, and asked, "According to the English teacher, you used to be in a relationship with Chen Zi Jin, is that right?"

Huh?

English teacher Wang Runwen?

You are so plump, yet you betrayed me?

I thought you had ulterior motives toward me; you really failed to live up to expectations, it's so disappointing.

Things were just like that, but Li Heng of course couldn't admit it entirely, but he didn't close the door on it either.

Because since the teacher had spoken, it meant that the other person had a certain number in their heart.

Don't treat others as fools.

Therefore, completely denying it was equivalent to affirming it, which was a bad strategy and couldn't be used.

He timely showed a shy expression, "Teacher, we haven't reached that stage yet; it's just a hazy feeling."

Wang Qi asked, "Chen Zi Jin went to the capital; do you still have contact?"

Li Heng replied, "The gap is too big; I have to get into a good university first."

He said this vaguely, but the head teacher understood it immediately; this gap referred to the family.

This statement of his was great; admitting his feelings for Chen Zi Jin was equivalent to indirectly clarifying his relationship with Song Yu.

Thinking of this, Wang Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In the eyes of their teachers, Song Yu and Chen Zi Jin were once inseparable classmates and friends; Li Heng's feelings for Song Yu should be innocent.

Had he really misunderstood the other person?

However, Wang Qi had been a teacher for more than 20 years; what kind of tricks hadn't he seen from students?

Naturally, he wouldn't easily believe Li Heng's one-sided words.

Whether it was true or false, he would know after calling Song Yu to ask in a while.

After chatting for twenty minutes, the office changed from the previous wind and clouds to a clear sky, with laughter and talk. What a harmonious picture of teacher and student.

Wang Qi patted him on the shoulder and instructed earnestly, "There are still a few months before the college entrance exam; you must put aside your children's love for now and make a final sprint in your studies, striving to get into Tsinghua or Peking University.

In the future, several years later, if you and Chen Zi Jin have a good outcome, the teacher will definitely send his blessings and come to drink your wedding wine."

Anyway, Chen Zi Jin wasn't a No. 1 Middle School student anymore; Wang Qi's move was stable.

While stabilizing Li Heng, he also provoked him. After all, this was a good seedling; if the measures were appropriate, maybe he could achieve something big.

And this big thing naturally referred to Tsinghua or Peking University.

In the eyes of teachers at their level, only Tsinghua or Peking University could add to their resumes and glory.

"Thank you, Teacher, for your encouragement; I will work hard." This Old Wang was fierce, but he had nothing to say to him; Li Heng said this thank you sincerely.

Seeing him return to the classroom safe and sound, many classmates looked at each other, feeling very unhappy in their hearts; was this Nine-Thousand-Year-Old too discriminatory?

Although everyone knew that they would likely become passersby with Song Yu after graduation, Li Heng was so close to Song Yu under their noses, so it was inevitable that they would feel a bit jealous.

Seeing him bury his head in study as soon as he sat down, Song Yu thought for a while and tore off a sticky note.

She wrote with concern: *The teacher didn't make things difficult for you, did he? *

Then she handed it to him.

After reading it, Li Heng replied: *Yes, he asked me why I didn't choose Mai Sui? But chose you as my desk-mate? *

Song Yu was quiet for a while and didn't say anything.

Li Heng knew that with her reserved nature, she couldn't ask, so he took the initiative to write: *I said I like you. *

Staring at the slip of paper for five or six seconds, Song Yu silently put the slip into the drawer.

Li Heng tore off a slip of paper again and wrote: *I counter-attacked the head teacher, saying that choosing you or Mai Sui made no difference, and the result was being invited to the dark room... *

After understanding the whole process of his wits and courage with the head teacher, a faint, imperceptible smile appeared in Song Yu's eyes, and then she tidied up her mood and went to do problems again.

After a while, the head teacher appeared at the door and shouted, "Song Yu, come out for a moment."

The classroom was silent; the head teacher's shout didn't disturb Li Heng, who continued to write *To Live*.

Because he believed that with Song Yu's IQ, she wouldn't be easily tricked by the head teacher.

What's more, he had just told her everything that happened in the office.

Office.

Wang Qi let Song Yu sit down and started to ask about her well-being, "Do you have any pressure in your studies recently?"

Song Yu sat upright and replied calmly, "It's okay."

Wang Qi nodded and asked again, "How is your relationship with Li Heng?"

Song Yu knew this was the question the head teacher was really concerned about, "It's passable; he and I are both good friends of Chen Zi Jin."

If Li Heng hadn't mentioned Chen Zi Jin, she wouldn't have mentioned it either, as that would have caused him trouble.

And her current answer was based on the information points Li Heng told her to deal with the teacher's questioning.

Wang Qi understood the meaning behind her words and said happily, "You and Mai Sui, as well as Xiao Feng and Luo Zhijie from the class next door, are all the top seeds for Tsinghua and Peking University in the arts this year, and the school and I have high hopes for you.

You have studied hard for so many years; at this time, you must not slack off, and don't be distracted by things outside of study, otherwise, it's easy to lose big things because of small ones."

A good drum doesn't need a heavy hammer; facing a top student like Song Yu, Wang Qi had another attitude, with less preaching and more earnestness and human touch.

What was meant by things outside of study?

Naturally, it referred to falling in love and dating.

How could such a smart person as Song Yu not understand? "Hmm, thank you, Teacher."

"Good, you go; study hard. If you encounter things you are struggling with and don't know how to handle, remember to come to the teacher in time." For the sake of stability, Wang Qi instructed carefully again.

Song Yu nodded lightly and returned to the classroom.

Seeing her return so quickly, Li Heng was a bit surprised, but he didn't ask much. After looking at each other, he threw himself into the writing of *To Live* again.

This night, Li Heng, writing furiously, didn't stop until 10 o'clock.

It was about 3,000 words.

If it weren't for the classroom closing and turning off the lights, and if it weren't for Sun Manning, who was in charge of the classroom keys, urging him to leave, he would still be unfinished and could still write.

Tightening the pen cap and closing the ink bottle, Li Heng lowered his head to blow dry the fountain pen words he had just written, and then put them into his schoolbag.

After doing all this, he had time to look up and observe the classroom.

It would have been better not to look.

Once he looked, whoa! The people in the classroom were almost gone.

Even Zhang Zhiyong and Liu Li were gone; these two must have seen him immersed in study and didn't come over to disturb him.

Now, the only ones left in the classroom were Sun Manning in the front row, and Song Yu and Mai Sui who were waiting for her.

Sun Manning stretched the electronic watch on her right wrist in front of him, "Classmate Li Heng, you can read a watch, right? Look at what time it is now; the three of us have waited for you for a full 20 minutes."

It was indeed him who delayed others; Li Heng's attitude was very good, and he said apologetically, "My fault, how about I treat you three to soda?"

Being able to drink soda in this day and age was definitely a happy thing; that stuff wasn't cheap, and could even be said to be dead expensive.

Sun Manning looked him up and down in surprise and asked suddenly, "How much is your living expenses this month?"

Facing the gazes of the three girls, Li Heng replied frankly, "Less than seven yuan."

Sun Manning's face twitched, mocking him, "Then you're being poor and generous, daring to brag about treating the three of us to soda; aren't you afraid that you won't even be able to afford buns later?"

Li Heng stood up without blushing or panting, "Comrade Rich Girl, you're overthinking it; I didn't say bottled, I meant the kind that costs a dime a bag."

Sun Manning was speechless, pointed at Song Yu, then pointed at Mai Sui, firing on all cylinders:

"You don't even look at who is standing in front of you? This is Song Yu and Mai Sui! The fairies that countless boys drool over behind their backs; how are you embarrassed to treat them to a dime???"

Li Heng stretched, and said calmly, "A mountain doesn't have to be high; if there's a fairy, it's famous. Water doesn't have to be deep; if there's a dragon, it's spiritual.

You're still a reader, yet so vulgar.

I treat them with my heart; I believe that with our relationship, even if I treat them to boiled water, they can taste the sweetness."

"Yes, yes, yes, we are vulgar; we're leaving, let Song Yu taste this bowl of your boiled water." Saying that, Sun Manning directly pulled Mai Sui, who was watching the show, and left.

With two people leaving abruptly, the classroom instantly became silent.

Song Yu's nature was quiet and steady, and she wasn't influenced by Sun Manning's verbal provocation, but pondered for a while and asked:

"I see you writing things outside of the textbook all night; what is that? Is it writing for *Storytelling*?"

Li Heng asked casually, "You saw it?"

Song Yu shook her head lightly, "I didn't pay attention to look closely, just noticed that your textbook wasn't even opened, so I glanced."

Actually, in a class like theirs where top students from the whole city gathered, the learning atmosphere was very intense, and ordinary people were too busy with their own things; who had the leisure to care about others?

This was also the reason why Zhang Zhiyong and Liu Li didn't come to call him when they saw Li Heng buried in writing; they all thought he was grinding through problems and were afraid of distracting him.

Li Heng said, "It's not *Storytelling*, it's a novel; I suddenly had a whim to earn some manuscript fees, and I don't know if there's a chance?"

Song Yu knew his family situation and could understand his urgent desire to earn money, but still advised:

"There's a scholarship exam in 5 days; with your grades, I think you can temporarily put your heart into this."

Li Heng understood that the other person didn't take his novel writing seriously.

Indeed, changing positions, he wouldn't take it seriously either.

Li Heng said, "Eh, I know, thank you for your concern."

Song Yu looked at him seriously, knowing that he didn't listen at all, but due to their relationship, she couldn't say anything more.

Li Heng's dormitory number was 215, located at the far right of the second floor of the boys' dormitory building.

When he reached near the door, he felt a bit abnormal; it was too quiet inside, which didn't fit the temperament of their 215.

In his memory, when was it not noisy for a long time?

They were often criticized by the school broadcast, were famous for being fearless, and had poor discipline.

The door was ajar; Li Heng poked his head in and bumped into the gazes of head teacher Wang Qi and the school's vice principal.

Damn it, in an instant of eye contact, he already understood; it wasn't that 215 wasn't noisy, but that this bunch of grandsons had likely already been disciplined for making mistakes.

But it wasn't time to turn off the lights yet, so why the early greeting?

With doubts, Li Heng walked into the heavy atmosphere of the dormitory, "Teacher, Principal."

Wang Qi looked at his watch, "Lights out soon, hurry up and wash and sleep."

Li Heng responded, hurriedly ran to the public washroom to brush his teeth and wash his face, and then obediently climbed onto the bed.

The two leaders stayed for a long time before leaving. Later, he secretly asked Liu Li in the bed next to him, "What's going on?"

Liu Li told him, "Liu Yejiang and Zou Aiming fell out and had a fight; they fought very fiercely and attracted the principal on duty. I don't know why?"

"Oh, so that's what happened." Li Heng understood in seconds.

Liu Li was confused, turned over, and asked, "You know the reason?"

Li Heng spat out three words, "Chen Lijun."

Liu Li was stunned on the spot, and after a while, said very depressed, "I want to fight too."

Suddenly, a head appeared between the two, "Fight, the teacher supports you with a pig-killing knife!"

Li Heng and Liu Li turned their heads together, their eyes very horrified.

Teacher Wang Qi, why are you so dog-like?!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 36 =====