Chapter 439

After he finished the hangover soup, Li Heng said to Song Yu: "I ate a bit too much; accompany me for a walk."

Song Yu said okay.

Passing the table at the entrance, she asked Sun Manning: "Manning, want to go for a walk together?"

Sun Manning was having a lively time with Song's two cousins. Hearing this, she waved her hand, curled her lips, and said: "You two go; I'm not going to be a lightbulb."

The two looked at each other and left the courtyard.

It was already close to 8:00 PM, and in half an hour it would be dark. The two walked side by side along the shore, neither speaking at first.

After walking about 200 meters, Li Heng stopped in front of a cluster of red roses, and suddenly, emotions welled up within him.

This cluster of roses had witnessed the affection between him and Song Yu. In their past life, the two would sit here every year, almost every single year. He hadn't expected that after his rebirth, they would still be here.

Seeing him standing still and feeling his emotional fluctuation, Song Yu asked softly: "What's wrong?"

Li Heng sat down on a large stone nearby and muttered: "I like these roses; I don't want to move anymore."

Seeing him acting like a child, Song Yu smiled, thought for a moment, and sat down beside him with reserve.

Li Heng asked: "What do you think of these roses?"

Song Yu turned her attention to the bright red roses, and after a long while, said: "They're beautiful."

Hearing this, Li Heng reached out to pick one, then skillfully tucked it into her hair, and sighed.

Song Yu asked with concern: "Why are you sighing again?"

Li Heng moved his head back to admire her, shook his head, and said: "The flower is good, but it's not as beautiful as you; it's not worthy of you. It's a pity."

Song Yu stared into his eyes with a composed temperament, and after a long while, asked pleasantly: "How many other girls have you said this to?"

Li Heng felt ashamed: "Just you."

Song Yu looked at him for a while longer, then pointed to the lakeside not far away and asked softly: "Last year, over there, it was about this time too. Do you remember?"

"I remember. We sat there to cool off, and I even played 'Yesterday Once More' for you on the flute." Every minute and every second with her was beautiful. Even though a year had passed, it was as if it had happened just yesterday—vivid and fresh. How could he forget?

Song Yu asked: "Anything else?"

"And, and I said I would play it for you again this year," Li Heng recalled.

The evening lake breeze was a bit strong, blowing her hair into disarray. Song Yu used her right hand to tuck the fine strands of hair on her face and asked softly: "Didn't bring the flute?"

Li Heng felt ashamed: "I was busy and forgot. I'll go to the county town tomorrow to buy one."

Song Yu smiled faintly: "I bought a flute and an erhu; they are both in my room."

Li Heng stood up immediately: "I'll go get them right now."

Song Yu shook her head slowly: "Tomorrow. Play for me tomorrow night."

Their eyes met. Li Heng didn't listen; saying "Wait for me," he ran back on a whim.

Seeing Li Heng return, and seeing him run off again without stopping, holding the flute and erhu, the people chatting on the threshing floor stopped. A while later, a melodious flute sound indeed drifted from the lakeside—it was exactly "Yesterday Once More."

Listening intently to the whole piece, the aunt-in-law praised: "It's played so beautifully; Li Heng is truly talented."

Everyone present nodded in agreement, highly approving of this statement.

Even Jiang Yue, who was a university music teacher, was convinced in this regard. If Li Heng's erhu and flute performance during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year had left a deep impression on her, then "The Scenery of My Hometown" at the Spring Festival Gala had made her feel even more respect.

This respect was not for Li Heng as a person, but for his musical talent.

Once the piece finished, not long after, the sound of an erhu drifted from the riverside. This time, it was a completely unfamiliar tune.

Only Sun Manning, who had heard it a few times, knew its name—it was the fitting "Dongtinghu Fairyland."

Jiang Yue was a bit surprised. Why hadn't she heard this piece before? But it was very beautiful. As she listened, she became completely immersed in it.

A few minutes passed, and the flute sound stopped. Jiang Yue slowly came back to her senses. After pondering for a long time, she suddenly asked Sun Manning out of the blue: "Manning, is this piece newly composed?"

It was no wonder she thought so. As a university music teacher, she wouldn't say she was familiar with every piece in the world, but she had heard of most famous ones. This piece was very impressive, very remarkable. As the saying goes, one knows if an expert is good as soon as they make a move; Jiang Yue could understand its extraordinary nature better than ordinary people after hearing it just once.

Moreover, Li Heng had a history of composing his own music, which was why Jiang Yue asked.

Her question made everyone present look at Sun Manning in unison.

Sun Manning didn't want to brag for that philanderer, but the next second, she said with high spirits: "That's right, Auntie. This piece was composed by Li Heng. He has composed 10 in total and is planning to release an instrumental music album."

"Ah? My cousin-in-law is releasing a music album?" The uncle's daughter, who was about to enter her third year of high school, exclaimed.

The term "cousin-in-law" made Jiang Yue glance at her niece, and then she asked Sun Manning in disbelief: "10 pieces?"

When she said this, her tone had unconsciously risen, sounding very shocked.

Sun Manning felt honored and proudly rolled up her sleeves: "That's right. Li Heng spent most of his time in Shanghai this summer vacation recording this album."

The younger aunt, Song Song Song Shuyu, suddenly thought of something and interjected: "Is he recording it in partnership with others?"

Sun Manning replied: "Yes."

Song Song Song Shuyu asked further: "The Yu Laoshi who was on the Spring Festival Gala with him, and Zhou, Zhou... what's her name..."

Song Song Song Shuyu got stuck, and Sun Manning took over: "Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe."

Song Song Song Shuyu clapped her hands: "Yes, that's the name. Is he recording with those two?"

Sun Manning wasn't a fool; she reacted a bit. This younger aunt was probably feeling nervous.

Come to think of it, in every aspect, Zhou Zhou Shihe was no weaker than Song Yu. The two girls each had their own merits, and they were evenly matched, unable to distinguish who was better. No wonder Song Yu's younger aunt would care.

Sun Manning had guessed correctly; Song Song Song Shuyu did indeed think so.

It is said that people who engage in artistic creation are most likely to develop feelings when their music resonates. Her niece here had been slow to agree to Li Heng's pursuit, while Li Heng had been spending long periods with the equally beautiful Yu Laoshi and Zhou Zhou Zhou Shihe. She feared something might go wrong.

Song Song Song Shuyu was anxious to death, more anxious than anyone, but it wasn't easy to say it out loud.

Sun Manning replied: "Yes, they started preparing last semester, and they have been recording all summer vacation. Li Heng just returned from Shanghai this morning. He hasn't even returned to his own home yet and ran here to see Song Yu."

Saying this, Sun Manning's original intention was to add points for Li Heng in front of the Song family. Look, how much that philanderer values Song Yu! He didn't even go back to his hometown and ran to Dongtinghu first. Just ask yourselves, aren't you moved?

Moved my foot! Jiang Yue frowned secretly as she listened. It would have been fine if she hadn't asked someone to inquire, but having inquired, how could she not know that Li Heng had already gone back in July?

She even knew that Li Heng had gone to Shaodong with Sun Manning in July and visited Mai Sui's home.

Don't ask how Jiang Yue knew.

If you ask, it was Sun Manning's mother who told her.

One was a high school principal's wife, the other a university teacher; there was no generation gap in their status, and they lived close to each other. Their daughters had become best friends and frequently visited each other's homes. Jiang Yue was naturally very good friends with Sun Manning's mother.

Since she only had one daughter, and she possessed a beauty that could topple cities, even if Jiang Yue was relatively enlightened on the surface, how could she dare to truly relax in private? She didn't fear ten thousand, she feared the one; she feared her daughter would be targeted by bad people.

She had been cautiously guarding her for nearly 20 years. All these years, her daughter had almost never left her sight; she and her husband picked her up and dropped her off for school. In the end, she had guarded against bad people, but she had miscalculated and missed Li Heng.

Originally, at the beginning of high school, Jiang Yue had also inquired about Li Heng, who was close to her daughter. The news she got was: Li Heng had a partner, and he was dating Chen Chen Chen Zijin, whom she was familiar with.

Thinking that Chen Chen Chen Zijin had a good family background, was very beautiful, and was Li Heng's childhood sweetheart, Jiang Yue immediately relaxed her vigilance toward Li Heng. Being conservative herself, she naturally assumed Li Heng was also a conservative person, subconsciously believing he wouldn't have any entanglements with her daughter.

In fact, it was understandable for her to think this way; Chen Chen Chen Zijin was beautiful enough and treated Li Heng well enough. From any angle, Li Heng had no reason to be two-faced.

As a result!

But as a result, wow! In the short time she relaxed her vigilance, Li Heng didn't know what means he used, but he had stirred up half of her daughter's heart.

The reason it was only half was because her daughter hadn't agreed to be his girlfriend yet.

It was precisely because Sun Manning's mother was there that Jiang Yue had a rough understanding of Li Heng's movements every time he returned to Shaoshi. She could even deduce that Li Heng had spent a few nights at the home of his English teacher, Wang Wang Wang Runwen, by asking around.

Of course, up to now, Jiang Yue hadn't thought much about Wang Wang Wang Runwen and Mai Sui; she just wanted to grasp Li Heng's dynamics and the progress of her daughter.

And deep in her heart, she really hoped to hear one piece of news: that Li Heng had broken up with the Chen family's daughter, but she had been waiting in vain.

Sun Manning knew nothing about these things; she had never thought that the biggest "traitor" would be her own mother.

After chatting about the instrumental music album for a while, the eldest aunt couldn't wait to ask: "Will this album really come out at the end of August?"

Sun Manning hesitated for a moment: "It's hard to say, but according to Li Heng and Yu Laoshi, it will definitely come out either at the end of August or the beginning of September."

Hearing this, the eldest aunt happily said to her younger sister, Song Song Song Shuyu: "You are in Changsha, where information flows quickly. If the album comes out, let me know. It would be best if you could help me buy a copy."

Song Song Song Shuyu agreed: "Leave it to me."

Song Yu's grandmother, who hadn't said much, spoke up at this time: "Remember to buy one for me too. These pieces remind this old woman of many past events. Sigh, they are truly excellent. This boy Li Heng is also truly excellent."

Song Yu's grandmother had also worked for the state in the past, but after retiring, she and her husband returned to Junshan Island to become tea farmers, doing some work to pass the time while cultivating their minds on the island. In the end, she was also a cultured person with insight; otherwise, she wouldn't have raised one son and two daughters so well.

Song Song Song Shuyu looked at her sister-in-law: "Okay, Mom. As soon as the album is released, I will send it to you immediately."

Just as everyone was chatting, melodious music drifted from the lakeside again. This time it wasn't the erhu; it had changed back to the flute.

PS: Posted first, edited later. Posting another short chapter.

(More to come)

(End of chapter)