Chapter 425

Catching up, they walked side by side for a while.

Li Heng asked, "Did you often do needlework at home?"

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe countered, "Aren't these things that women have to learn?"

Li Heng shook his head, "I thought that people from your family background wouldn't touch these kinds of things."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe said, "My grandmother said that simple housework is something a woman should learn if she can; it's more convenient."

Li Heng agreed with this, "That's true. Hey, whoever marries you in the future will be truly blessed."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe smiled warmly and didn't engage with him on this topic.

After walking a bit further, they unknowingly arrived at the intersection where he used to buy gifts.

Li Heng pointed to the street on the left, "Let's go browse over here; I need to buy some things."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe naturally had no objections and followed behind him.

Based on the preferences of Mr. Ba and Sister Xiao Lin, Li Heng picked two gifts for each of them. Fearing there might be children at the teacher's house, he also bought some relatively high-end candies.

All in all, it cost him over 170 yuan.

At first glance, this money didn't seem like much, but given the prices these days, it was definitely a heavy gift.

Li Heng handed the two lighter items to her, "I can't carry them all by myself; you help me carry two as well."

"Okay." Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe took the gifts, and the two continued walking along Wukang Road.

Before long, they arrived at 113 Wukang Road, a three-story European-style villa with a tile roof.

This was Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe's first time here, and she looked up and asked, "Does Mr. Ba live here?"

"Yes." As he spoke, Li Heng pressed the doorbell.

Before long, Sister Xiao Lin came out from the first floor to look. Seeing it was him, she immediately trotted over and asked with joy, "Junior brother, why are you here today? Didn't you go home for the summer vacation?"

Sister Xiao Lin wasn't an outsider. Li Heng simply explained that he was recording a pure music album here and took the opportunity to introduce Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, "This is Master Wu Wu Wu Yili's closing disciple, Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe. She helped me for a month, and today I brought her out to get some fresh air."

Seeing Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, Sister Xiao Lin was momentarily stunned by her beauty. It took a while before she came back to her senses and said enthusiastically, "Miss Zhou Zhou Shihe, it's a bit hot outside, come inside with me quickly."

She was a shrewd person. Seeing Li Heng introduce Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe so solemnly, and adding that she was Master Wu Wu Wu Yili's closing disciple, combined with Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe's temperament as a young lady of a prominent family, Sister Xiao Lin could basically judge that this young lady's family background shouldn't be ordinary.

The first floor was the living room, with two large and four small sofas arranged in a "mouth" shape. As soon as Li Heng entered, he saw the "Mandarin Duck Painting" on the wall; it was a work by Mr. Ba's good friend, Lin Fengmian.

After he had given him the "Galloping Horse Painting" last time, he hadn't expected the teacher to have changed the painting.

Seeing him standing under the painting admiring it, Sister Xiao Lin asked, "How is this painting? Do you like it?"

Fearing she would misunderstand, Li Heng smiled and changed the subject, "The painting is a good painting, but where is the teacher?"

"He's taking a nap upstairs. You wait a moment, I'll go call him." As she spoke, Sister Xiao Lin started to go upstairs.

Li Heng stopped her, "Don't. The old gentleman is getting on in years, it's not easy for him to get some sleep. No need to rush; wait until the teacher wakes up."

Sister Xiao Lin asked, "Then you came today, isn't it for something?"

Li Heng patted his backpack, "I'm here to deliver a manuscript."

Sister Xiao Lin asked happily, "Is 'Bai Luyuan' finished?"

"It's finished," he said.

Seeing this, Sister Xiao Lin was overjoyed and sat on the sofa, put on her glasses, and reached out to him quickly, "Take it out and let me see. I've finished reading the previous parts; I've been waiting for your last 10 chapters."

"Eh."

Li Heng responded and took the manuscript of the last 10 chapters out of his bag and placed it on the coffee table, "Senior sister, these are chapters 37 to 40; you read these first."

Sister Xiao Lin took the manuscript and said, "You call your Senior Brother Sister Sister Liao and tell him to come over for dinner," and then she couldn't wait to start reading.

Li Heng scanned the landline on the coffee table and handed the last two chapters to Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, "I know you've been craving it but have been holding back from asking. Here, since you have time now, you can just pass the time."

"Okay."

His words hit the mark; Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe was indeed looking forward to it, so she didn't stand on ceremony and took the manuscript.

If it had been in the past, after he finished the ending last night, she would have asked him for it immediately.

But she didn't do that yesterday, and the reason lay with Professor Yu.

Professor Yu was already wary of her. If it wasn't necessary, she didn't want to rashly touch Professor Yu's "reverse scale."

These days, she had been spending the night at the No. 26 small building, and Professor Yu was probably already feeling a bit blocked in her heart.

Plus, when practicing in the piano room, someone's gaze was on her far more than on Professor Yu. If she and Li Heng didn't maintain a certain distance, once Professor Yu's jealousy flared up, the subsequent album collaboration could easily run into variables.

Although she felt that with Professor Yu's status and cultivation, she wouldn't do anything out of line, human love was the most complex, changeable, and unfathomable human emotion in the world. Many times, it couldn't be measured by common sense.

Therefore, in terms of passively attracting Li Heng's attention, Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe didn't choose to "suppress" the other party in all aspects, choosing instead to leave a window for Professor Yu.

The two women were soon immersed in the world of the book, both very forgetful of themselves.

Li Heng, having nothing to do, sat at the other end of the sofa, took the landline phone from the coffee table, and made a call in a low voice.

The call went through quickly, and the voice of Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao came from the other side, "Hello, who is this?"

Fearing to disturb the two women, Li Heng said concisely, "Senior brother, it's Li Heng. 'Bai Luyuan' is finished, and I'm at the teacher's house. Sister Xiao Lin asked if you have time to come over for dinner?"

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao had no arrangements for the afternoon, so he immediately indicated, "I'll be there right away."

The *Harvest* magazine office and Mr. Ba were both in Jing'an, so the distance wasn't too far. By the time Li Heng finished reading two newspapers, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao had already rushed over in a flurry.

Li Heng opened the door.

Upon meeting, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao asked happily, "Where is the manuscript? Let me see."

Li Heng pointed to the sofa in the living room, "Sister Xiao Lin is reading it, but she might have already finished several chapters; it shouldn't affect you."

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao's arrival interrupted Sister Xiao Lin's reading. She looked at the wall clock and closed the manuscript, saying with lingering interest, "The further it goes, the more exciting it gets; it's written really well."

Facing the praise, Li Heng just smiled and didn't respond.

After Sister Xiao Lin sat down and caught her breath, she stood up and said, "Time is about up, I'll go prepare the food, you guys chat."

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao nodded, and then his gaze gathered on Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe. He was very surprised; he hadn't expected to run into her here.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe was very absorbed and forgetful of herself at this moment, not noticing that a new person had arrived at all, even when Mr. Ba came down from upstairs, she still didn't notice.

Shifting his gaze to Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe for a moment, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao then started chatting with Mr. Ba.

But after only a few sentences, Mr. Ba chased him and Li Heng away, only to see the old gentleman take the manuscript of Chapter 37 and wave his hand, "You two go chat elsewhere, don't affect my reading."

The more familiar they were, the closer the relationship, the less Mr. Ba stood on ceremony. This wasn't the first time; there was no foreplay, he just started chasing away the two eyesores.

Li Heng and Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao looked at each other and left the living room dejectedly, going to the courtyard outside.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao was frustrated and itching with impatience; the manuscript for Chapter 37 had just reached his hands, but before it was even warm, it had been snatched away by the teacher. It was truly heartbreaking.

Lighting a cigarette, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao asked, "Junior brother, want one?"

"I'm not addicted to this stuff, and I can't tell the good from the bad. It's a waste to give it to me. Forget it, senior brother, you keep it for yourself." Li Heng loved the smell of smoke when riding in a car, but usually felt nothing for it.

Since their relationship had reached this point, there was no need to be pretentious. Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao immediately put the cigarette case into his pocket, "'Bai Luyuan' is finished, so relax properly; leave the rest to the magazine."

Li Heng said okay.

Sitting on the grass without any image, the two chatted about "Bai Luyuan" for about 20 minutes. Afterward, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao changed the subject and asked with concern, "Has the Huang family looked for you recently?"

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao was referring to the Huang Huang Huang Xuqing matter.

Li Heng shook his head, "No."

"That's right, that's in line with the Huang family's style. Although they had doubts about you, they wouldn't be that petty," Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao said with a sigh of relief. It was really difficult for him to be caught in the middle.

Li Heng asked, "What has Huang Huang Huang Zhaoyi been busy with lately?"

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao took a puff of his cigarette, "Haven't been in touch for a while, but I heard recently that she seems to have gone to Beijing; there should be a performance."

Hearing this, Li Heng nodded, thinking it was good he hadn't wasted time looking for her these past two days. Otherwise, calling her back from Beijing just for that bed matter would be quite something.

Speaking of the Huang and Liu families, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao leaked a bit of information to him, "You remember Liu Yue, right?"

"Mm, I remember. Didn't she go to the United States?" Li Heng said.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao said, "This young lady is very capable; she made a piece of software herself, and it's said she earned 100,000 US dollars in Silicon Valley."

Li Heng was stunned, "That girl also has talent in computer science?"

At the mention of "that girl," Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao pinched the cigarette butt and grinned, "You haven't been to the Huang family to see. Huang Huang Xuqing said that her bedroom has hundreds of books and journals about computers, all brought back from the United States by people she asked."

Li Heng realized, "This was preparation, accumulation before bursting forth."

"Exactly. Little Liu Yue gave up Fudan and ran to Stanford to study abroad, all for the computer industry. Without interest and talent, an ordinary person couldn't do this." Mentioning Liu Yue, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao was full of praise.

Thinking about it, it had only been a few months since she arrived in the United States, and Liu Yue could stir up such a big commotion; it was truly awesome. This reminded Li Heng of Lei Jun, who was said to have earned a full million from an antivirus software during his college years.

Damn it!

Could Liu Yue be the female version of Lei Jun?

He had written books with his heart and blood and only earned a little over a million, and a woman who talked nonsense ran to the United States and actually found her first pot of gold. Who the hell could he reason with about this?

August weather is like a woman's face, changing at any moment. Just a moment ago, the sky was clear for ten thousand miles, but in the time it took to chat, the sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds, lightning, and thunder, and the two had no choice but to run back into the house.

At this time, Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe had already finished reading the last two chapters. She hadn't returned from the world of the book, and her eyes were bright as she looked at Li Heng. Although this glimmer was very subtle, it was enough to show the shock that "Bai Luyuan" had brought her.

After finishing the book, she didn't disturb Mr. Ba, but gently placed the manuscript on the coffee table, then stood up and sat next to Li Heng, listening peacefully to the two men bragging and chatting.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao looked at Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, then at Li Heng. Seeing that his junior brother and Miss Zhou seemed accustomed to this way of getting along, he immediately pretended not to notice and continued sharing the big and small events happening in the literary world.

In the middle, the tea was gone, and after drinking it, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao greeted the two and took the empty pot to the kitchen.

Sister Xiao Lin, who was busy chopping vegetables, seemed to have guessed why he came, "Senior brother, the tea is already boiled and cooling there; you pour it yourself."

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao poured the tea as instructed.

Suddenly thinking of something, Sister Xiao Lin scanned the kitchen door and asked in a low voice, "What is the relationship between this Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe and the junior brother?"

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao found it funny, "Since when did you become so gossipy?"

Sister Xiao Lin sighed with emotion, "This young lady truly stunned me. Why didn't I see her when I went to Lushan Village last time?"

"How long did you stay in Lushan Village last time? Less than two hours; it's normal not to have seen her," Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao said.

Rarely seeing Sister Xiao Lin like this, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao couldn't help but ask curiously, "What kind of feeling does she give you?"

Sister Xiao Lin pondered for a moment and spat out four words: "A celestial couple."

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao realized, "You mean these two outside are a very good match?"

Sister Xiao Lin countered, "Don't you think so? They look very harmonious walking together."

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao nodded and shook his head, "It's not like you haven't seen Xiao Han; the junior brother and Xiao Han also look like a married couple when they walk together."

Sister Xiao Lin recalled Xiao Han's appearance and couldn't say anything more. Although she personally preferred Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe's delicate type, Xiao Han's appearance was already excellent enough, not to mention she was the junior brother's official partner. If she went around gossiping, it would be her own fault.

In the evening, having spent most of the day finishing the remaining 10 chapters of "Bai Luyuan," Mr. Ba rubbed the manuscript with his right hand and remained silent for a long time.

Li Heng, who had been very confident in the book, was also made a bit uneasy by the teacher's appearance, sitting on the side waiting quietly for the teacher to speak.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao and Sister Xiao Lin were the same.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe sat gracefully on Li Heng's right side, her gaze shifting around unobtrusively, taking in everyone's expressions, and finally focusing on Li Heng. She hadn't expected that he, who had already achieved fame and success in the eyes of others, would also have a nervous side.

This surprised her a bit, but considering Mr. Ba's status and position, she felt relieved a moment later.

After a long while, Mr. Ba slowly raised his head and said slowly, "This book is an epic of the Chinese nation, magnificent and grand, presenting the national secrets of China over the past hundred years. From the perspective of connotation and pattern, so far, no contemporary novel can surpass it."

This evaluation could not be higher!

It was enough to show Mr. Ba's love for "Bai Luyuan" and his deep affection for Li Heng.

Once these words were spoken, Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao fell silent, both happy and shocked! He hadn't read the last 10 chapters yet, but for the teacher, who was always steady, to break out these words already explained everything.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao couldn't imagine what a sensation it would cause if these words were thrown into the literary world exactly as they were!

So would he do it?

He was the editor-in-chief of *Harvest* magazine and Li Heng's senior brother; why wouldn't he do it? Why shouldn't he do it?

In Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao's view, after being wronged for so long, it was time to clear the name for the junior brother and "Bai Luyuan," and time to slap the faces of those clowns.

And the teacher had always been low-key and hadn't expressed his position in the past; now, these words were enough to strike a fatal blow to most of the instigators.

Sister Xiao Lin felt happy for Li Heng and personally refilled the tea for everyone.

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, like a delicate bamboo, was the most gentle and quiet. After hearing Mr. Ba's evaluation, her eyes fell on Li Heng's profile and didn't move for a long time.

She also felt that this book was very, very good. If it could really secure the title of the number one contemporary novel, he would probably be remembered in history, right?

Thinking of the heavy weight of the four words "remembered in history," the look in Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe's eyes toward him changed slightly. Although the change was very subtle and not very obvious, it added a trace of reverence and envy.

Born as a human, one only lives for a few decades, and if one can be passed down through the ages, isn't that a great stroke of luck? If there were an opportunity, who wouldn't want it?

But she knew that the masses were just ants, and only someone as talented as him could stand out and be remembered by history.

Mr. Ba didn't say much, but the living room was solemn, and Li Heng, whose status was already very high, had his status in everyone's hearts raised even higher.

Finally, Sister Xiao Lin laughed and said, "Let's eat first; it's already 7 o'clock, time for the second meal."

Hearing this, the atmosphere, which had just been extremely rigorous, suddenly loosened. Mr. Ba stood up first, patted Li Heng on the shoulder, smiled kindly at Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, and walked toward the dining table.

Li Heng turned his head and said to Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, "Let's go, let's eat; after we eat, it'll be time for us to go back."

"Okay," Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe responded, her tone particularly soft and gentle.

Hearing their conversation, Sister Xiao Lin immediately tried to persuade them to stay, "It'll be dark after dinner, still going back? Don't go back; stay tonight and keep the teacher company, and I'll send you back to Lushan Village tomorrow morning."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe didn't say anything, looking at him, letting him decide.

Li Heng was tempted, but said helplessly, "Senior sister, forget it. It's midsummer, and I can't sleep without a shower; we didn't bring any change of clothes."

Sister Xiao Lin had wanted to say that they had some at home and that they could wear hers and the teacher's, but looking at the extraordinary Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. This young lady might not be used to wearing old clothes.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao thought the same as Sister Xiao Lin and stood up, "Junior brother is right. After dinner, I'll drive them back; it just so happens I have two bags of reader letters in the car to bring to him."

Li Heng was speechless, "Sending me reader letters again? My storage room is almost full."

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao laughed, "Don't try to fool me because I'm old; you have plenty of empty rooms in that small building, you can fit as many letters as you want. On the contrary, *Harvest* magazine is almost filled up by your reader letters; there's almost no place to stand."

Mr. Ba was in a very good mood today and specially opened a bottle of wine, laughing and naming Li Heng to have a few drinks with him, and wouldn't allow him to back out.

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao was itching with envy; he had been with Mr. Ba for so many years and hadn't received such treatment yet. Unfortunately, he had to drive tonight and didn't dare to drink too much.

This meal was like a slow grind; the conversation was intense, and it lasted a long time. Mr. Ba asked about many trivial matters. When he learned that he was recording a pure music album, he was very happy, saying that he was old and liked this kind of music that was close to nature, and said that when the album came out, he must be the first to listen to it.

After dinner, Li Heng checked the time; it was already 8:13.

It wasn't early, so he took Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe to say goodbye to the teacher and Sister Xiao Lin.

Seeing them to the courtyard, Mr. Ba finally looked at Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe carefully. In the end, he patted Li Heng on the shoulder again earnestly and instructed him, "Come over and sit more often when you have time."

"Eh, okay." Since the elder had a request, Li Heng naturally agreed readily.

Xu Hui wasn't close to Yang Pu, and it was nearly 10 o'clock when the van carried the three of them to Fudan University.

Putting the two large bags of reader letters on the ground, Li Heng invited Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao, "Senior brother, want to go up and sit for a while?"

Chief Editor Sister Sister Liao waved his hand quickly, "Come again when you have time; it's this late, I have to go home and rest, I have to go to Beijing for a meeting tomorrow morning."

Hearing he had things to do, Li Heng immediately let go, "Okay, then I won't keep you, take care on the road."

"Alright."

Watching the van drive away, Li Heng shouldered the two bags of reader letters and said to Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, "Let's go, let's go back too."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe said, "Can you carry them? Why don't you leave one bag here, and I'll guard it."

Li Heng said, "No need, it's only a few dozen jin, it's a piece of cake."

Walking to the end of the alley, the small buildings at 25, 26, and 27 were pitch black, and only the small building at 24 had lights on.

The fake Daoist priest, who was cooling off on the attic, saw the two and asked, "Where did you two go? Why are you back so late? Professor Yu came looking for you earlier."

Li Heng looked up and asked, "When did she look for me?"

Chen Chen Chen Siya, who was beside him, said, "In the evening, around 6 o'clock."

Li Heng asked, "Sister Chen, where is Professor Yu now?"

Chen Chen Chen Siya touched her big belly, "I don't know. She didn't find you, so she ate dinner at my place and left."

Li Heng and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe looked at each other and took out their keys, preparing to open the door and enter the house.

Just then, the fake Daoist priest shouted, "Li Heng, I heard from Professor Yu that you have time tomorrow?"

Li Heng responded, "Yes."

The fake Daoist priest said, "Going fishing tomorrow, want to go?"

Li Heng asked, "Where are we going to fish?"

The fake Daoist priest said, "Don't ask; you wouldn't know even if I told you. Go to sleep early, I'll come call you tomorrow morning. By the way, Chen Chen Siya is going too; you bring Miss Zhou Zhou Shihe along."

Li Heng was confused, "Is it convenient for Sister Chen to go? Not afraid of the big sun?"

The fake Daoist priest grinned, "Going out to relax, that place is cool; we'll be back by noon."

Having agreed to set off at 5:30 tomorrow morning, Li Heng entered the house and asked Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe, "Need to get up early, are you going?"

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe didn't refuse and said okay.

Putting the two bags of reader letters on the ground, Li Heng requested, "You go take a shower first, I'll come after I rest for a bit."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe looked at him quietly.

Li Heng's mouth twitched, "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue! Hey, stop standing there, hurry up and go; you're making me feel creeped out looking at me like that."

Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe smiled knowingly, "I won't hog yours; I'll go wash at my own place to save time."

"Mm, that works too."

Li Heng couldn't be bothered to be polite with her, found his change of clothes, and went into the shower room.

After spending a few minutes showering, Li Heng specially took a flashlight to check on the ginkgo tree outside. Sure enough, it was dead, even more thoroughly than a few days ago, and his last glimmer of hope was shattered.

PS: Posted first, edited later.

(End of chapter)