Chapter 369

After breakfast, Mai Sui left Lushan Village. There was a speech contest at Xianghui Hall tomorrow night, and as the host of the contest, she naturally had to go rehearse in advance.

Ever since Liu Yue was inspired to go abroad, Mai Sui no longer had a decent competitor, and almost all the hosts for large-scale school activities fell to her.

According to Sun Man's joke: Our Mai Sui is now in full swing at Fudan, and her popularity is even higher than Li Heng's.

This was something that couldn't be helped. She hosted activities every few days, appeared often, had a strong presence, and was also the very prestigious "Little King" of the school; her fame was truly solid!

Li Heng, who didn't show his face for a long time, really couldn't compare to her.

Seeing Zhou Shihe also pack up and follow her out, Li Heng asked: "No, Comrade Shihe, you're going too? So I'm a lonely man again?"

Zhou Shihe said gently, "It's useless for me to stay; I can't help you. We will be back at noon."

Li Heng teased: "If the manuscript were at home, would you change your tune?"

Zhou Shihe thought for a moment, lowered her head and laughed softly, but still followed Mai Sui away.

Watching the two leave together, Li Heng stood still for a while, then didn't waste any more time and went into the study to get busy with writing.

Damn it, now people outside are starting to badmouth him again. Damn it! If this can be tolerated, what cannot? He had to fight for himself, slap those two idiots in the face, and reclaim his ground.

Today he was writing chapter 35.

Lu Zilin's daughter-in-law had gone crazy. The villagers had no idea why she went crazy. One noon in late autumn and early winter, she, who rarely showed her face in the village alley, suddenly hopped from the courtyard to the village alley and laughed non-stop, immediately attracting a crowd of idlers to watch.

Perhaps it was the rumors outside that kept Li Heng holding back his energy. Today's writing was extremely smooth. From morning to noon, and then to the afternoon, he didn't step out of the house, writing ten thousand words in one go before his wrists finally felt sore and he stopped.

Past 3 p. m.

Mai Sui quietly pushed open the study door and poked half her head in to observe for a while. When she saw him turn his head, she couldn't help but ask: "Did I disturb you?"

"No, I'm just a bit hungry." Li Heng put down his pen and stood up.

Mai Sui smiled charmingly and pushed the study door wide open. "Shihe made food and helped you keep it warm in the steamer. Hurry up and eat."

"Eh."

Li Heng responded and followed her downstairs toward the small building at No. 27 next door.

Just as he relaxed, he heard the pleasant sound of a piano. "Does Shihe practice at this time every day?"

"Most of the time. But if she has class that day, the time varies." Mai Sui told him as such.

Sun Man and Ye Ning, the two noisy women, weren't there today, and the two didn't go upstairs to disturb Miss Zhou's piano practice. Then one ate, and the other kept him company.

Seeing him so hungry that he began to wolf down his food, Mai Sui hurriedly poured him a glass of warm water and smiled: "Eat slowly, all these dishes are yours, no one is going to snatch them from you."

Li Heng drank the water and continued to shovel several mouthfuls before stopping. He asked: "Did Chief Editor Liao come by today? I think I heard his voice."

"Mm, he came to deliver your manuscript, and there was a woman with him. But after learning you were writing, he didn't let me disturb you. They sat for a while, drank a cup of tea, and left again." Mai Sui said.

Li Heng asked: "A woman? Was she wearing a ponytail? With a mole on her left cheek?"

"Yes, that's her." Mai Sui said.

Li Heng said: "That's my teacher's daughter, named Li Xiaolin. I usually call her Sister Xiaolin."

Mai Sui said: "Chief Editor Liao asked me to pass a message to you."

Li Heng raised his head: "What message?"

Mai Sui said: "Chief Editor Liao's exact words were: Teacher asked me to tell you, write with peace of mind, a scholar speaks through his works."

Teacher naturally referred to Mr. Ba.

The meaning of this sentence was to tell him not to be influenced by the wave of criticism from the outside world, just write with peace of mind, and Teacher would handle everything.

Chief Editor Liao and Li Xiaolin chose to come over at this juncture, actually fearing that he, being young, wouldn't be able to hold his ground. He was only 19 years old this year, after all; he was a young man, and if things went wrong, he might get hot-headed and start fighting with people.

This was what they were most worried about.

As a result, ha! Li Heng was writing in the study, and he wrote for a whole day, not caring about the life or death outside at all. Now Chief Editor Liao and Li Xiaolin were instantly relieved, so they didn't waste time waiting here, drank a cup of tea, and left.

After eating, Li Heng locked the manuscript in the study, then said to her: "I'm going to mail a letter, want to go to Wujiaochang for a stroll together?"

Mai Sui said okay, got on her bicycle, and prepared to set off.

Seeing her riding one alone, Li Heng rolled his eyes, locked his own bicycle, and sat on her back seat.

Facing her suspicious eyes, Li Heng argued for himself: "Riding together not only saves effort but also saves the wear and tear of the other bicycle. Plus, I can smell your hair fragrance—three birds with one stone, right? There's nothing better in the world than this."

Mai Sui's face felt hot, and she smiled, letting him be lazy. She pushed the pedals hard and headed forward.

On the way, her long hair was whipped onto Li Heng's face by the wind.

Noticing this, she asked: "Do you want me to tie my hair up?"

Li Heng shouted teasingly: "No! I like this feeling. The monsoon, long hair, a beauty—don't you think it's very romantic?"

His voice was too loud, causing passersby to cast their gazes over. Mai Sui was so embarrassed that she couldn't laugh or cry, pedaling hard to accelerate and escape the scene.

Seeing her embarrassed look, Li Heng teased: "Don't worry, I checked, we don't know any of the people on the road."

Mai Sui reminded: "You've been on the Spring Festival Gala."

Li Heng said: "I know, how about this, I'll press my face against your back, then they won't be able to discover me."

Saying and doing, Li Heng immediately reached out to wrap his arms around her waist and pressed his face tightly against her back.

Mai Sui's body was burning hot. She wanted to say something several times but stopped. Not knowing how to stop him, she had no choice but to give up.

Li Heng said happily: "Don't be so nervous. If you see an acquaintance from far away, just tell me in advance, and I'll let go."

Mai Sui smiled helplessly and didn't make a sound. The bicycle handlebars turned, directly abandoning the main road and taking a detour through a side path to Wujiao Square, focusing on safety with fewer people.

And don't say, there really weren't many people on the small road, and if there were, they were just a few farmers carrying vegetables. He sang one song after another, and no one cheered. But the smile on Mai Sui's face never stopped.

She said: "I really didn't expect you to have this side."

Li Heng shouted at the top of his lungs: "Is it very naughty?"

Mai Sui smiled and said: "Yes!"

Li Heng said: "This is just the beginning, I often fought with people in junior high."

Mai Sui said: "I heard Zijin talk about it."

Li Heng asked: "Is that so? Then what song do you want to hear, I'll sing it for you."

Mai Sui said: "Anything is fine."

Li Heng immediately started: "Sweet honey... you smile so sweetly, like flowers blooming in the spring breeze..."

Hearing his suggestive singing, Mai Sui's heart instantly accelerated and jumped wildly. She demanded in great embarrassment: "Change to another one."

Li Heng ignored her and sang to himself: "Blooming in the spring breeze, where, where have I seen you before? Your smile is so familiar, I can't remember for a moment..."

At first, Mai Sui, who had conservative thoughts, was extremely uncomfortable, her face redder than the peach blossoms in March. But as she listened, she became fascinated, to the point that later on, she pricked up her ears and listened intently.

Fudan University wasn't far from Wujiao Square, and they arrived soon.

Li Heng first mailed the letters to Song Yu, Yang Yingwen, and the Li Xi and Li Wang sisters respectively. Later, he went to the bank to deposit the 466,000 yuan money order he had on hand.

This time he went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank, not the Bank of China.

The Bank of China already had 770,000 in deposits. If he deposited another 460,000+, it would directly break a million, which was definitely attracting too much attention.

Although his money came from a legitimate source and could withstand questioning, one shouldn't fear ten thousand, but rather the "what if," right?

After finishing the two important tasks, Li Heng asked her: "Is there anything you want to buy?"

Mai Sui thought for a moment and said: "The laundry detergent at home is almost out, let's go buy a bag."

"Alrighty, no problem." Li Heng, in a pleasant mood, snapped his fingers and took her toward the department store.

Looking at the man who was more cheerful than a lark today, Mai Sui was happy from the bottom of her heart. For so many years, she had never felt as relaxed as she did today.

After buying a bag of laundry detergent, he then picked out a dark chocolate.

Mai Sui said: "There's still some left from the last time you gave me some."

Li Heng turned his head in surprise: "It's been so long, and you still haven't finished it?"

"Mm, you weren't home, so I rarely eat it." Mai Sui accidentally let slip her inner thoughts.

After saying this, she froze for a moment, then moved her gaze away calmly, not daring to look into his eyes.

Lingering on her profile for a while, Li Heng asked the clerk a moment later: "It hasn't been paid for yet, can I open it now?"

The clerk looked at him, then looked at Mai Sui, and surprisingly didn't refuse. "Sir, you can."

Upon receiving permission, Li Heng immediately tore open the packaging, took out a piece of chocolate, removed the foil wrapper, and with a great sense of ceremony, held it to her lips, whispering, "The first bite is for you; help me save a bite."

In front of the clerk, Mai Sui felt ashamed, but she couldn't resist him. In the end, she opened her cherry-red lips and took a small bite.

After biting, the charm in her eyes was almost flowing out, and her mood felt like it had jumped from the bottom of a well to a new century, incomparably open.

Li Heng stuffed the remaining large half into his own mouth, then hurried to pay the bill and took her, whose ears were burning, to escape the place.

Leaving the department store, Mai Sui suddenly asked with worry: "Are you really not afraid of others recognizing you?"

Li Heng wanted to say he wasn't afraid, but seeing her serious expression, he changed his words:

"I observed, the clerk didn't recognize me at all. Maybe she doesn't have a TV at home and didn't watch the Spring Festival Gala."

Although this was Shanghai, the economic center, not every household had a TV in this era, and there were plenty of people who didn't have the conditions to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Mai Sui recalled the clerk's reaction, accepted this, and quietly let out a huge sigh of relief. She wasn't actually worried about herself, but cared about his reputation and didn't want to drag him down.

Li Heng seemed to see through her thoughts, restrained his smile, and said: "It's okay, you don't have to worry for me. Even if that day really comes, I have no fear."

Mai Sui was stunned, looking ahead, silent for a long time.

After some tossing and turning, it was already 5:40 when they returned to school.

Putting the things at home, Li Heng checked his watch and said: "Don't worry about me for dinner, you guys eat by yourselves. I'm going to see off a classmate."

At this time, Ye Ning, who heard the sound and came over from the small building at No. 27, asked: "Seeing off who? Is it that Liu Yue?"

Seeing the two riding bicycles back from outside, Zhou Shihe, Sun Man, and Ye Ning on the attic all came downstairs one after another.

Li Heng was slightly surprised: "Yeah, how did you know?"

Ye Ning pouted and said: "This isn't hard to guess. The news about Liu Yue going abroad to study has long spread in the Student Union. I even know she's on the 10 a. m. flight tomorrow."

Facing four pairs of eyes, Li Heng nodded: "I agreed to meet her at the school gate at 6 o'clock. I won't chat with you guys, I'm leaving first."

"Hey! Li Heng, be careful tonight." Just as he walked a few steps and reached the alley, Sun Man, on a whim, suddenly said such a thing.

She understood that saying such things was a bit rude. But considering that this person's charm was truly too great—beauties like Song Yu, Xiao Han, Chen Zijin, and Mai Sui had all fallen into his hands—although she wasn't very familiar with that Liu Yue, it didn't stop her from giving a preventive shot.

Li Heng stopped and looked at her: "Don't worry, I won't drink much alcohol tonight."

Ye Ning found the two's exchange inexplicable.

Mai Sui understood a little, vaguely guessing something, but couldn't find the source for a moment.

Among the four women, only Zhou Shihe's gaze toward him flashed with a hint of difference.

She knew of Huang Zhaoyi's existence, knew the relationship between the other party and Liu Yue, and even more knew that this "Great Qingyi" (opera star) had a special fondness for Li Heng.

During the Spring Festival Gala rehearsals in Jingcheng last year, Huang Zhaoyi had shown favor to Li Heng several times, and Zhou Shihe had secretly seen it all.

As soon as Li Heng left, Sun Man immediately asked Mai Sui: "Sui Sui, you are both in the Management School, close to each other. Have Liu Yue and Li Heng had any rumors?"

Before Mai Sui could answer, Ye Ning had already snatched the words: "I know this, I know this!

There were some during the start of school last year, but later it slowly disappeared. I heard from those seniors who pursued her that Liu Yue had a clear goal, aiming for abroad early on, and had no intention of falling in love at school."

Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe looked at each other, and both women had clearly heard these rumors.

Just as the four women were whispering at the door, Yu Shuheng walked out of the small building at No. 25 opposite. She walked straight through the alley to the front and asked Mai Sui: "Mai Sui, where did Li Heng go? When will he be back tonight?"

Mai Sui asked: "Teacher, do you have something for him?"

Yu Shuheng nodded with a smile.

Mai Sui told her about him going to see off Liu Yue.

Zhou Shihe observed Yu Laoshi from the side, and her intuition told her: Yu Laoshi should have vaguely heard the news of Li Heng going to see Liu Yue in the courtyard just now, but she probably didn't hear it clearly, so she specifically came out to ask in a roundabout way.

Just as Zhou Shihe expected, after listening to Mai Sui's words, Yu Shuheng fell into deep thought, and a face instantly appeared in her mind: the Great Qingyi, Huang Zhaoyi.

After ten seconds or so, Yu Shuheng raised her head and asked again: "Is the manuscript for *Bai Luyuan* back?"

Mai Sui hummed: "Mm, Chief Editor Liao sent it back this afternoon."

At this point, the two women didn't talk anymore.

Yu Shuheng didn't ask for the study key, and Mai Sui didn't take the initiative to mention it, because Li Heng wasn't home.

No matter how eager they were, no matter how urgently they wanted to read the follow-up of *Bai Luyuan*, they would force themselves to suppress their thoughts. This was respect for him.

After chatting for a few sentences, Yu Shuheng left Lushan Village.

Looking at the tall figure disappearing at the end of the alley, Zhou Shihe was lost in thought.

"Hey!"

Sun Man suddenly sighed: "Such a man is too terrifying. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't dare to get involved."

Ye Ning asked: "Why did you say that so abruptly?"

Sun Man cast a disdainful look: "You haven't fully developed yet, you don't understand."

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Published first, edited later.

10,400 words published.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 370 =====