Chapter 454: , an unforgettable night

Because her heart was too sad, Chen Zijin was pulled into the van by her aunt with almost no consciousness.

In the driver's seat, Chen Xiaomi endured for a long time, but finally couldn't help asking: "Since you knew he was so fickle, why didn't you propose to break up earlier? Why did you foolishly give your body to him?"

This question from Chen Xiaomi was about the time before the two had a relationship.

After all, Xiao Han was in junior high school.

Song Yu had signs in the first year of high school.

The two slept together in the summer vacation the year before last.

Hearing this, Chen Zijin, who had just controlled her tears, started to gush again, turning her head to look at the street outside the car window, staring blankly without a sound.

Seeing her eldest niece like this, Chen Xiaomi knew she had asked in vain.

Think about it, with Li Heng's looks and talent, it's really hard for a woman to control herself after being with him for a long time. Not to mention he is also a person whose mouth is very good at coaxing, Zijin couldn't handle it even more.

However, since it has already happened, Chen Xiaomi didn't dwell on the past. At the same time, she knew very well that her niece had no way back now.

Because the way back was blocked by her sister-in-law!

With Zijin's personality, she would rather die than admit her mistake to her sister-in-law. And she didn't see that Zijin had any intention of turning back. Pain is pain, but she was clearly deeply poisoned by Li Heng. She had endured it for so many years, so it was impossible to give up just like that.

Thinking of this, the idea of "persuading her niece to break up" in Chen Xiaomi's mind was completely extinguished.

Put yourself in her shoes. If it were her, the heart was given, the body was given, the harm was endured, everything was given and experienced. How could she let go of so many years of feelings all at once?

Chen Xiaomi felt that even if it were her, she wouldn't let go of Li Heng, and wouldn't let go just to benefit other women.

If you want to blame someone, blame her sister-in-law and her three sisters for having no vision, for mocking and scolding Li Heng and Tian Rune at the beginning, which led to the current situation. Chen Xiaomi blamed herself in her heart like this.

Did Li Heng really forget the hatred?

Did Li Heng really reach a reconciliation with the Chen family?

Actually, he didn't. She knew very well that Li Heng had come to the capital so many times and still hadn't entered the Chen family's door. What does this represent?

Everything is self-evident.

Li Heng still remembers it in his heart, this threshold hasn't been crossed yet.

Chen Xiaomi looked at her eldest niece sideways, and a thought suddenly arose in her heart: If her sister-in-law's dream came true and Li Heng finally married another woman, then all the causes and effects might come from this.

It came from the attitude of her three sisters and sister-in-law toward Li Heng and his mother at the beginning, which was too arrogant and bad, causing Zijin to lose her originally great advantage.

Thinking and thinking, Chen Xiaomi sighed for a long time. Things are different, this is truly retribution, it's just that the retribution was wrong, and it fell on Zijin.

She was thinking, if it were possible, if time could flow back, would their Chen family naturally accept the Li family in that situation?

Not necessarily.

It wouldn't necessarily change, maybe it would just be a re-enactment.

Chen Xiaomi understood a truth: as a political family, influenced by the social environment, the concept of "matching family status" had long been deeply rooted in people's hearts, solidified, and hard to change.

She didn't think there was anything wrong with a family wanting to find a family of equal strength for marriage. The families in the small circle around them all chose spouses like this.

The mistake was that their vision was short, and they didn't see Li Heng's huge growth potential.

The mistake was that Li Heng was too excellent, excellent beyond everyone's expectations, and their brain reaction couldn't keep up with his growth speed, which led to the situation getting out of control.

The mistake was that heaven is unfair, and the evil consequences didn't fall on her three sisters and sister-in-law, but let the innocent Zijin pay for it.

Actually, when she saw "To Live," Chen Xiaomi vaguely predicted that there would be such a day, but she didn't expect it to come so fast, so fast that she hadn't completely eased the relationship with the Li family before it happened.

Chen Xiaomi sighed again, asking negatively: "In the current situation, Aunt is also wrong, will you hate me?"

Chen Zijin was still looking outside, and after a long while, she said in a low voice: "I don't blame you, this is my fate."

Chen Xiaomi was speechless for a long time, and then asked: "What to do in the future?"

Chen Zijin was lost: "What to do?"

Chen Xiaomi said: "What are you thinking? Continue with him? Or temporarily..."

Before her aunt finished speaking, Chen Zijin had already closed her eyes and said: "I told my family in the second year of high school that I am his person in this life, and I will be his ghost when I die."

Chen Xiaomi felt miserable in her heart.

She remembered this scene: after that incident in the summer vacation, her sister-in-law and her three sisters persuaded her to leave Li Heng every day. Zijin was forced to have no way out, and cried and swore under the shrine in the Chen family: Don't force me, I will never look back. I tell you, I am his person in this life, and I will be his ghost when I die. Even if I follow him to beg for food, I will not leave him.

Don't look at Zijin as very sensible on the surface, but her temperament is very stubborn. Once she decides on something, even nine cows can't pull her back.

There is no way back, and the ashamed Chen Xiaomi changed the topic: "How much confidence do you have in competing with Xiao Han and Song Yu?"

This question had always been a question Chen Zijin thought about. She said bitterly: "If I hadn't come to the capital in the third year of high school, they wouldn't have been able to compete with me. Aunt, now, now I don't know either."

Although she had a good relationship with her future parents-in-law, Xiao Han and Song Yu were not vegetarians, and their looks were naturally pleasing.

And he followed Xiao Han to Shanghai after the college entrance examination, which was a very dangerous signal. She had been worried about this for a long time.

Facts proved that her worry was correct. Xiao Han was also relying on this to have the courage to compete with herself.

In addition, the three scarves at the Spring Festival Gala were undoubtedly another signal. The three of them, he couldn't let go of any of them.

Chen Xiaomi thought of that Yu Laoshi in Shanghai, but stopped talking, swallowing the words back to her mouth.

Drum Tower, alley Li family.

After hanging up the phone with Yu Laoshi, Li Heng sat on the sofa in a daze, pondering the word "husband."

He was depressed now. Aunt Shen Xin, how could you do this?

How could you use this method to stimulate Zijin?

This is sowing discord, it's really bad conscience...

Grandmother's bear, fortunately, Yu Laoshi is quite reliable and helped him at a critical moment, otherwise he wouldn't be able to wash it off even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

Okay, actually, with his current relationship with Yu Laoshi, it's also a bit unclear.

After thinking about it again and again, he glanced at the master bedroom and decided to go to the entrance of the alley to call the Chen family.

"Dad, I'm going out to get some air and buy something."

Li Heng said, standing up.

Li Jianguo was already bewildered by the series of events tonight, which had exceeded his conservative cognition. His son actually played so wildly. Zijin, Xiao Han, and Song Yu, plus a Yu Laoshi, which one wasn't a good woman?

After this incident, Li Jianguo, whose brain was blank, couldn't see through his son, didn't know how to get along with the full-cub for a short time, and was confused, not fully recovered yet.

Huang Zhaoyi looked at Li Heng, then at Li Jianguo, stood up with her bag, and said to Li Jianguo: "Uncle, I remembered I have something to do, I'll go first."

Li Jianguo stood up, wanting to keep her, but didn't know whether to keep her? The house was messy now, and it would be shameful if it spread out, making outsiders laugh.

After a while, Li Jianguo said tentatively: "Zhaoyi, tonight's matter..."

Huang Zhaoyi had good judgment, smiling: "Uncle, I didn't hear anything tonight."

Li Jianguo smiled reluctantly, "Sigh..."

"Dad, you stop sighing. Huang sister, you stay and finish the late-night snack before leaving." Li Heng interrupted their conversation and made a decision.

Fearing to make him unhappy, Huang Zhaoyi hesitated and didn't dare to leave immediately, but didn't sit back down well either.

Fortunately, Second Sister Li Lan brought out some dishes at this time. After hearing this, she enthusiastically persuaded Huang Zhaoyi, making her sit back down.

Li Lan thought: You want to leave after hearing so many of my brother's secrets? That won't do! No matter what, I have to block your mouth before you leave?

In the second sister's heart, her brother was a great writer and a celebrity now. Reputation was more important than anything. How could she let such a scandal spread?

She even thought wickedly in the kitchen just now: Should I get Huang Zhaoyi drunk tonight and let my brother sleep with her? Only family members wouldn't leak the news.

That Yu Shuheng is very arrogant, right? Pull this Huang Zhaoyi into the water, just to compete. People are just bored, things no one competes for are unpopular, but once someone competes for them, my brother will be completely liberated, and he won't have to worry about being influenced by the Yu family.

It's just a pity that this Huang Zhaoyi is 14 years older than her brother, it's really hard to make a move.

Of course, the most important thing is that the Huang family is too powerful. If you get drunk and sleep with her, if they settle accounts afterward, none of them will run away. Calculating, it's not worth it. Forget it, forget it, our brother doesn't lack such a woman.

After pacifying Huang Zhaoyi, Li Heng gave his second sister a look and turned to walk outside.

Li Lan understood and followed.

Walking into the courtyard, she asked: "Brother, what's the matter, acting sneakily?"

Li Heng said his worries: "I'm worried about Zijin."

Li Lan asked: "You mean that 'husband' from Yu Laoshi's mother?"

Li Heng nodded and shook his head, "Yes! But not entirely, there's also Xiao Han."

Li Lan tilted her head and thought for a while: "Do you think Zijin might have guessed that you went to find Xiao Han?"

Li Heng nodded: "I separated from Song Yu at the airport, separated in a hurry, and forgot to call Zijin before coming."

Li Lan didn't believe it: "You forgot? You did it on purpose, thinking about sending Xiao Han away before calling, right? You really treat me as a fool."

Li Heng didn't deny it: "The plan was perfect, but I didn't expect Zijin to call Shanghai. Now everything is in a mess."

Li Lan asked: "Then what are you going to do now?"

Li Heng said: "I'm going to the alley entrance to call Zijin."

Li Lan agreed: "Go, this is a good woman, it's really tiring to follow you."

Li Heng called her, "Wait, there's one more thing to discuss with you."

"You say." Li Lan responded.

Li Heng opened his mouth and said: "Help me get Xiao Han drunk tonight."

Li Lan thought for a while, "Are you going to see Zijin tonight?"

Li Heng sighed: "I have to go. Since she guessed it, if I don't go, she will have insomnia tonight."

Li Lan circled him and patted him on the shoulder: "If you don't have diamond drills, don't take on porcelain work. Don't do it again. How much alcohol can Xiao Han drink?"

Li Heng said: "Half a cup of white liquor, at most two bottles of beer, she'll be drunk after drinking."

Li Lan clapped her hands, "Okay, leave it to me. Are you coming back tonight?"

Li Heng said: "Yes, but the time is uncertain."

"Is that so? Then I'll persuade her to drink a few more cups in the name of sister-in-law, ensuring she sleeps until dawn. I think she'll be embarrassed to refuse." Li Lan said, entering the house.

Walking out of the courtyard and coming to the alley entrance, Li Heng walked familiarly to a grocery store.

The boss was about to close the shop. Seeing business coming, he paused and waited for the customer to finish the call while smoking on the side.

In this era, phone bills are the big head, more profitable than selling groceries. The boss generally wouldn't miss such business.

Dialing, waiting.

"Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling..."

The phone was connected after two rings. It was Chen Zitong who answered.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Zitong, it's me."

"Brother-in-law?"

"Yes."

"Brother-in-law, where are you? You finally called. Mom said you didn't come to see my sister for a whole summer vacation, you must have played too wildly outside." Chen Zitong wrinkled her nose, deliberately speaking loudly for someone at the dining table to hear.

Zhong Lan's heart was angry to the point of explosion, and she wanted to beat someone again, but was stopped by Chen Gaoyuan.

Li Heng was sweating, "Is your sister there? Let her answer the phone."

Chen Zitong said: "My sister was angered away by my mom, she didn't even eat."

Li Heng felt tight in his heart, and hurriedly asked: "Where did she go?"

Chen Zitong said: "She went to my aunt's house, right? My aunt went with her. Every time we sisters have a fight with someone, we go to my aunt's house to stay overnight."

Li Heng asked: "Are you sure she went to Aunt's house?"

"Yes, I'll tell you the address, just go there to find her." Chen Zitong rattled off the address.

Li Heng actually knew this address, just rarely went there. Because he couldn't talk to Chen Xiaomi, he was too lazy to go and be scolded.

After confirming again and again that Zijin went to Chen Xiaomi's house, Li Heng ended the call.

It seems that because of him, Zhong Lan gave Zijin a hard time again. He frowned, wanting to go there right now, but thinking that his black-bellied wife was at home, he had to temporarily dispel this thought.

Returning to the courtyard, Xiao Han and Tian Rune had already come out and were sitting around chatting with the second sister, Huang Zhaoyi, and Liao Jianguo.

Seeing him come back, Li Lan immediately shouted: "Wash your hands quickly, it's time for late-night snack."

"Good."

Simply washing his hands, Li Heng sat beside Xiao Han and whispered: "What did you talk about? Why did you talk in the bedroom for so long? I thought you didn't even want your husband anymore."

Xiao Han smiled sweetly and didn't answer, but the look in her eyes indicated that this visit was very fruitful.

"Oh, brother, move aside. It's fine if you pester the younger sister-in-law usually, but you're pestering her while eating too? What does that look like? Are you bullying me for being single?" Seeing the two whispering, Li Lan pulled Li Heng away, sat over, and smiled at Xiao Han: "Younger sister-in-law, the house is humble, and I didn't prepare anything good to entertain you in a hurry. Please don't dislike it. I'll definitely prepare carefully next time. Come, Second Sister toasts you." 【

Calling her "sister-in-law" with every breath and beaming with smiles, Li Lan's glib tongue was just as bewildering as Li Heng's.

Xiao Han picked up her wine glass, revealing two shallow little dimples: "Thank you, Second Sister."

Tian Run'e, sitting nearby, was confused. Seeing her second daughter constantly pestering Xiao Han to drink, she prepared to intervene, but was stopped by a wink from Li Heng.

Although the second sister was often unreliable, she was very dependable at critical moments. Since he had already disclosed Xiao Han's alcohol tolerance to her, she would definitely not let her drink too much.

Keeping an eye on Xiao Han and the second sister for a moment, Li Heng picked up his glass and said to Huang Zhao on his right: "Sister Huang, let's have a drink too. Thank you for taking care of my parents."

At the address of "Sister Huang," Huang Zhao felt a bit strange, but she still smiled and clinked her glass against his.

The moment the glasses touched, Li Heng said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Accompany me to handle something tonight."

Due to the inappropriate occasion, he didn't say more.

The situation was already messy enough; it wasn't the time to expose the Great Qingyi yet.

Huang Zhao trusted him implicitly; she didn't ask for the reason and nodded imperceptibly.

Wherever Li Lan was, the atmosphere never turned cold. Amidst the clinking of glasses, the main room was very lively.

Just at this moment, two women arrived in the alley outside.

Looking at the leader, wasn't it the aunt and niece, Chen Zijin and Chen Xiaomi?

Standing in the middle of the alley, Chen Zijin appeared hesitant.

Seeing this, Chen Xiaomi asked: "What's wrong?"

Chen Zijin regained her senses slightly: "Aunt, let's go back."

"Go back?"

Chen Xiaomi peered through a crack in the courtyard gate and pointed toward the main room inside: "The lights are still on; Li Lan and the others haven't slept yet."

Chen Zijin leaned in to take a look and fell silent.

Chen Xiaomi was puzzled: "What is it again? If you feel embarrassed, I'll call out at the gate."

Chen Zijin was still somewhat hesitant.

"Huh, it's quite lively inside. I think I even heard Li Lan's voice. Are they hosting guests for drinks?" The night was quiet, and Chen Xiaomi could faintly hear Li Lan's shouting.

However, Xiao Han's voice did not come through. Because Xiao Han was naturally a soft-spoken person, and furthermore, it was her first time at the Li family home; in front of her future parents-in-law, she was as reserved as could be, so how could she speak loudly?

Chen Zijin suddenly had an ominous premonition. Eating so late—could they really be entertaining guests?

The Chen family also ate late from time to time, but that was because they sometimes had to wait for her grandfather or father to return from late meetings.

But the Li family—she had stayed there for a long time, and they basically finished dinner before 7 o'clock.

Guests?

She was familiar with almost all of the Li family's connections in Jingcheng; who could the guest be?

Could it be Xiao Han?

Did he bring Xiao Han back?

Unaccountably, the figure of her mortal enemy, Xiao Han, popped into her mind.

Seeing her niece lost in thought, Chen Xiaomi reached out to knock on the gate, but unexpectedly, as soon as her hand touched it, the gate opened.

It didn't open wide, but with a "creak," it opened a crack inward.

Chen Xiaomi looked at the crack: "Eh? It's this late, and the courtyard gate isn't even locked?"

The courtyard gate was indeed unlocked. Because Li Heng had been distracted by thoughts of Zijin being driven out of the house by Zhong Lan after returning from his phone call at the alley entrance, he had subconsciously pulled the gate shut without checking if the bolt was engaged.

Actually, the Li family had a landline phone, so he didn't have to go out.

But Xiao Han was at home, and after so long, the food was ready. Calculating the time, she could come out at any moment, and it would be quite awkward if she ran into him calling Zijin.

And that was indeed the case; when he returned after the call, Xiao Han had already come out of the bedroom. He had secretly sighed in relief at the time.

Under her aunt's repeated urging, Chen Zijin didn't say anything more and walked into the courtyard first, saying as she walked: "Aunt, wait for me here. I'll look through the window. If they really are entertaining guests, let's just go back."

Chen Xiaomi thought this was reasonable. If the Li family was hosting, Zijin might not care, but it would be very awkward for her to show up uninvited: "Alright."

With a trembling heart, Chen Zijin felt as if her feet were filled with lead, each step heavier than the last, but she still slowly approached the window.

10 steps away.

5 steps away.

3 steps away.

2 steps away.

When she arduously finished the last step, Chen Zijin heard a familiar voice and saw a figure through the corner of the window that made her grit her teeth in hatred. She trembled all over, her body swaying in the wind.

The next instant, she covered her mouth tightly with her right hand, tears streaming down, and turned to jog back the way she came.

Seeing her niece seemingly terrified, seeing her niece's tears bubbling out as if they were free, and in just a moment, her face and neck were completely soaked, Chen Xiaomi caught her and asked worriedly: "Zijin, what's wrong?"

"Aunt, let's go back." It was the third time tonight; Chen Zijin still didn't dare to cry out loud, but sorrow welled up from her heart.

"Go? What did you see? Tell me."

Chen Xiaomi had never seen her niece in such a state; this painful expression was simply heart-wrenching. She hadn't even cried this sadly in the Chen family.

"Let's go, let's just go, don't ask." Chen Zijin sobbed silently and walked straight toward the gate. Before leaving, she even wanted to pull the gate shut.

But Chen Xiaomi was clearly not so easily fooled. She reached her hand into the crack of the gate and said: "Wait for me here, Aunt will be right back."

"Aunt!" Chen Zijin's eyes revealed a look of pleading.

Chen Xiaomi looked at her with sympathy and confusion.

In a short while, Chen Zijin's face had turned pale, her eyes were listless, her lips were purple, and her body was trembling slightly as if she had suddenly fallen ill. But her hand held onto Chen Xiaomi's, preventing the latter from entering the courtyard.

Chen Xiaomi took two deep breaths and said kindly: "Tell Aunt, what exactly did you hear? What did you see? I just saw you run back in low spirits after only one glance through the window."

What did Chen Zijin hear?

She heard Xiao Han's happy laughter.

She heard the second sister calling out "sister-in-law."

She also heard Tian Run'e inviting Huang Zhao to eat.

As for what she saw?

She saw her love rival's sweet smile.

She saw the second sister clinking glasses with Xiao Han.

She saw Li Heng picking up food for Xiao Han.

The greatest love rival of the past was now in her favorite home; the "sister-in-law" once spoken of by the second sister belonged exclusively to her, but now everything had changed because of Xiao Han's arrival.

How could she not be heartbroken?

Yet she had no way to fight back; she could only crush her bitterness and swallow it along with her teeth.

For a moment, she thought about rushing in regardless, but what if she did? Make a scene?

Make him lose face?

Make her uncle and aunt lose face?

After all, there was an outsider, Huang Zhao, present; if word got out, where would their dignity be?

She could fight Xiao Han without regard for anything, but she couldn't fight Xiao Han like a shrew in front of him and her uncle and aunt.

Because she loved this man, couldn't bear to part with him, and had never thought of leaving him.

Facing Xiao Han and Song Yu, she had always reminded herself to remain rational. Because she knew clearly that if she made a public scene, she would definitely lose points in his heart, and then she wouldn't be able to return to the Chen family, nor could she go to her man—she would have nothing.

Seeing her niece's firm attitude, Chen Xiaomi had to take a step back: "Tell Aunt what you heard, I won't go in."

Chen Zijin's gaze was helpless, her lips moved slightly, she hesitated several times, and finally lowered her head, saying in a voice as weak as a mosquito: "Xiao Han is inside."

Hearing this sensitive name, Chen Xiaomi's voice subconsciously rose several decibels: "Xiao Han?"

Chen Zijin was so frightened that she hurriedly covered her aunt's hand with her own, sobbing again: "Aunt, can we go back?"

Chen Xiaomi asked angrily: "Why?"

Chen Zijin shook her head irregularly, said nothing, and finally hugged her aunt, burying her head in her arms and weeping uncontrollably.

Chen Xiaomi raised her right hand, slowly stroking her niece's long black hair, and finally sighed: "Alright, let's go back. Don't worry, I won't go in."

As she spoke, to put her at ease, Chen Xiaomi freed one hand to slowly close the courtyard gate, then gently patted her niece's shoulder: "Let's go, let's go home."

"Mm." Chen Zijin had come with hope, treating this place as a safe harbor, but now she was returning with tears streaming down her face.

Chen Xiaomi supported her body, walked out of the alley, opened the car door, helped her into the passenger seat, and then leaned over to ask: "Are you sure? Just leaving like this?"

Chen Zijin looked back at the pitch-black alley with complex eyes for a few seconds, then reached out to close the car door.

Seeing this, Chen Xiaomi sighed again, walked around the front of the car, and climbed into the driver's seat.

Then she started the engine, and the car shot forward like an arrow from a bow.

Chen Xiaomi had suddenly become so easy to talk to because she completely understood her niece's thoughts and realized that her niece was now completely poisoned by Li Heng and simply couldn't leave him.

And since she couldn't leave, going to the Li family tonight to express anger would have no meaning. It would only increase sorrow and become a joke.

It would only gladden the enemy and pain the loved ones, letting Xiao Han benefit.

Not knowing how much time had passed, Chen Xiaomi gripped the steering wheel and apologized: "Zijin, Aunt is sorry. If it weren't for that scene the summer before last, you two would be fine, and no Xiao Han or Song Yu could have come between you."

Chen Xiaomi was the first to discover the bed incident the summer before last. Later, her sister-in-law, the eldest sister, and the second sister also walked in.

Originally, this was a private matter for the Chen and Li families, but it was overheard by Aunt Fatty, who was passing by and hiding under the window. Then, that very day, it spread like a plague throughout the entire Shangwan Village, and subsequently throughout the surrounding ten miles and eight villages.

In the end, Chen Xiaomi felt that she had ruined her niece's happy life.

She regretted it very much now, incomparably so.

If she had known it would evolve into today's situation, she should have pretended to see nothing and quietly exited the room. If she had let Li Heng and her niece finish and put on their clothes before coming out, none of these heart-wrenching things would have happened today.

Chen Zijin slowly closed her eyes, letting the tears slide down her neck and collarbone into her clothes. After a long while, she bit her lower lip and said: "Aunt, it's all in the past. I only hate that I don't have enough charm."

How much charm is enough? Like Song Yu's? Chen Xiaomi had always believed that her niece was already beautiful enough; even if she couldn't compare to Song Yu, she was still a proper great beauty.

But what was the meaning of this? Time cannot flow backward, history cannot repeat itself, and things have changed. Chen Xiaomi sighed secretly. It was the fourth sigh tonight.

She had sighed more in one night than in the past half year.

Xiao Han was drunk.

After the second sister's "kill a thousand enemies and lose eight hundred" drinking method, Xiao Han finally passed out from drunkenness.

Li Heng felt like a real jerk; this was unfair to both Xiao Han and Zijin, but there was no other way—after all, they were both his wives.

Feeling sorry for either one, or wronging either one, was a pain in his heart.

Tian Run'e was puzzled and questioned her second daughter: "It's her first time visiting, and you got her drunk?"

Li Lan curled her lips: "Wasn't I doing this to help your precious son?"

Tian Run'e and Li Jianguo looked at Li Heng.

Li Heng didn't have time to pay attention; he picked up Xiao Han, carried her into the room, bent down to personally take off her shoes, and covered her up to her lower abdomen with a thin quilt.

Afterward, he stood up, went outside, and said to the second sister: "Take care of her for me."

"Got it, go ahead, sigh." Looking at her fickle younger brother, Li Lan was speechless. If he weren't her own brother, and if she didn't only have one brother, she would have slapped him across the face long ago; he was just too worrying.

Returning to the main room, he found that Huang Zhao was already gone. Li Heng pretended to ask: "Mom, where's Sister Huang?"

Tian Run'e said: "She left, just now."

Li Lan asked: "Did Huang Zhao drink a lot today? Will there be an accident if she drives?"

Tian Run'e shook her head: "She didn't drink much, just one beer with Manzai and half a glass with me. Knowing she had to drive, she was quite disciplined."

As she spoke, Tian Run'e remembered something and asked him: "Manzai, did you forget to lock the courtyard gate when you came back earlier?"

Li Heng recalled and found he couldn't quite remember: "It's possible I didn't lock it; my mind was on other things. Mom, is the courtyard gate wide open?"

"Not wide open, just not bolted," Li Jianguo interjected.

Li Lan waved her hand: "That's fine, we're all in the main room, and there's nothing valuable in the courtyard."

Seeing Li Heng about to go out, the uninformed Tian Run'e immediately asked: "Manzai, it's so late, where are you going?"

Li Heng replied: "I'm going out to handle something."

Tian Run'e asked with concern: "Going out to handle something? You brought Xiao Han back, and now you're just going to ignore her?"

Li Lan stopped her mother: "Mom, let him go, I'll tell you later."

Li Jianguo wanted to follow: "It's late at night and it's not safe for you to go out alone. Dad will go with you."

Li Heng gave Li Lan a wink, and she understood instantly, stopping both parents with one hand each.

Li Jianguo frowned and said to his second daughter: "Why are you stopping us? It's late at night; what if your brother gets into trouble?"

Li Lan ignored him and only said one thing: "Just rest well. My brother and I are much smarter than you two. Don't worry about some things; just enjoy your life."

After speaking, Li Lan took the keys with her right hand, stepped out the door in one stride, turned back to close the door, and locked it from the outside so the old couple couldn't follow and get in the way.

Li Jianguo and Tian Run'e were furious but had no choice; they could only watch helplessly as their second daughter secretly followed Manzai.

When they could no longer see them, Tian Run'e stomped her feet and asked angrily: "What kind of nonsense is this girl up to?"

Unable to get out and locked in, Li Jianguo became calm instead. He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took two puffs, and said: "Run'e, you don't have to believe Manzai, but Lanlan has a method to her actions. She's never confused about big things; she has her reasons for doing this. Since both siblings are gone, go take care of the Xiao family girl."

"Got it, you're the only one who acts generous." Hearing her husband say this, Tian Run'e's anxious heart eased quite a bit, but she was still worried about Manzai's safety.

Sneaking to the alley entrance, Li Lan hid behind a tree trunk, quietly poked out half her head, and stared fixedly at Li Heng.

Li Heng waited by the roadside, and before long, a private car stopped beside him.

Li Lan had sharp eyes; by the dim streetlamp light, she recognized at a glance that it was Huang Zhao's car.

Watching her younger brother open the passenger door and sit in, her eyes almost popped out. She was so surprised! So shocked! It was as if her ancestors for eighteen generations had crawled out of their graves.

I knew it!

I knew it, this bastard is definitely not a good person. He's bold, lustful, and I knew he wouldn't miss out on a peerless beauty like Huang Zhao!

He even said he didn't know her before!

Hah! Could it be that they just met after eating a late-night snack and having a beer together? Familiar to this extent?

Bullshit!

This little bastard must have had something going on with her for a long time, yet he pretended to be holy in front of others.

And this Huang Zhao, you're a dignified young lady of a great family, a nationally famous Great Qingyi, yet you come to join in this fun—do you want to be slept with by my brother? Or have you been slept with by my brother until you're satisfied?

Li Lan muttered to herself, her brain completely crashed, completely stunned by her brother's awesome ability. She had to admit, this kid was lustful, but he really had the ability; he could subdue any kind of woman.

It was even quite admirable!

Finally, there was an explanation. No wonder Huang Zhao had been taking the initiative to show goodwill to the Li family since last year; it seems there were signs of this last year.

But with your little tricks, you think you can hide it from others? Can you escape my sharp eyes?

When it comes to being cunning, who has more than me? Li Lan boasted to herself and returned to the alley, back to the courtyard house. The two old folks were still locked inside; she would have to do some talking later.

Inside the car.

Huang Zhao looked at him, waiting for instructions.

Li Heng gave an address and asked: "Do you know this place?"

Huang Zhao nodded: "I know, I have to pass by there on my way back."

Li Heng was surprised: "You live over there too."

Huang Zhao said: "Yes, it's not particularly far, just about one or two li away."

After speaking, Huang Zhao looked at him again.

Sensing her abnormality, Li Heng asked: "Is something wrong?"

Huang Zhao phrased her words: "I'm not sure either, I don't know if I should tell you?"

Li Heng said: "Speak."

Huang Zhao thought for a moment, her red lips parted slightly: "It might be an illusion, but when I was drinking with your aunt, I think I saw Chen Zijin."

Tonight, she was sitting facing the window, and since she was close, she could naturally detect any movement outside the window immediately.

Li Heng's eyes narrowed, his face as calm as water. After a long while, he confirmed: "Really?"

Huang Zhao was more mature and didn't insist, saying ambiguously: "I'm not very sure. That face in the corner of the window flashed by, and before I could look carefully, it disappeared. I only saw a general outline. It might just be an illusion."

Li Heng asked: "How many times have you seen Zijin before?"

Huang Zhao knew this by heart: "Six times, at the theater. She was always with your aunt each time."

Having seen her six times, and since Zijin was his woman in the public eye, Huang Zhao would definitely be attentive and wouldn't misremember her face.

Then it seems it wasn't an illusion tonight; Zijin might have really been there.

Remembering his mother saying he forgot to lock the courtyard gate when he called home tonight, he secretly regretted it and wanted to slap himself.

At this critical juncture, at this crucial moment, how could he have been so foolish?

But later, he felt that perhaps forgetting to lock the courtyard gate was heaven's will.

Perhaps it was a good thing.

Why good?

If he had locked the courtyard gate, Zijin would have had to call out at the gate.

If he heard the calling, should he go open the gate or not?

If he opened the gate, Zijin and Xiao Han would definitely run into each other head-on, and there would be nowhere to hide. He couldn't ask Xiao Han to hide, nor could he stop Zijin from entering her own home, right?

Both palms and backs of the hands are flesh; he really couldn't bring himself to deliberately wrong anyone.

But this way, with the courtyard gate unlocked, Zijin saw Xiao Han and left without a formal encounter, saving a lot of trouble and sparing his parents from worry.

It's just, it's just hard on Zijin.

Without seeing the scene, he could imagine Zijin's breakdown, the scene of her leaving in tears.

Zijin was not a person who would compromise, but to save his face and consider the feelings of Comrade Li Jianguo and Comrade Tian Run'e, she must have suffered and left.

If it were elsewhere, if it were a different occasion, Zijin would definitely have collided head-on with Xiao Han.

Thinking of this, Li Heng pinched his thigh three times, sucking in cold air from the pain before he slightly regained his senses. For a long time afterward, the car fell into silence.

Not knowing how much time had passed, he asked abruptly: "Why drive a Santana in Jingcheng? With your status, shouldn't you drive a better car?"

Huang Zhao looked ahead, pondered for a moment, and said: "Although this car is not the one from Shanghai, the Santana holds beautiful memories for me."

She said this very tactfully, yet very directly.

She loved him, so she loved everything associated with him, and grew to like the Santana where they had their first relationship.

Li Heng wasn't a fool; he naturally understood the meaning behind her words, and then asked expressionlessly: "Tonight, I showed my true colors, and even the second sister had to cover for me. I've wronged Xiao Han, and even more so Zijin. I'm such a greedy ghost—do you still dare to be with me?"

On the surface, he was asking: Was she scared? Was she surprised? Did she regret it?

But his deeper meaning was: I've revealed my true colors, giving you a chance to regret. If you don't want to be with me, let's part on good terms, and I won't blame you; if you don't leave even after this, then I won't give you another chance to regret in the future. Whether it's bitter or sweet, you'll have to endure it, be my woman for a lifetime.

He was very honest now, not hypocritical, not pretentious, presenting the most real and tragic side of being his woman to her. Letting her consider it carefully again.

Hearing this, Huang Zhao looked ahead, looked in the rearview mirror, and seeing no one in the streets and alleys, she slowly parked the car under a tree, unbuckled her seatbelt, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned over.

Half of her full figure pressed against him without any hesitation.

She kissed him.

This kiss was very affectionate, very forceful, very proactive; she used all eighteen martial arts, kissing for a full 5 minutes.

Even that wasn't enough; she kissed down along his chin, her red tongue wrapping around his Adam's apple, teasing left and right, bringing her sexiness and technique to the extreme.

Li Heng closed his eyes, raised his chin, and let her kiss him forcefully, saying nothing.

At this moment, she seemed to have found the man's pulse: he liked her kissing his neck, liked her kissing his Adam's apple, and he enjoyed it very much.

Another 3 minutes passed before Huang Zhao withdrew her rosy lips from his neck and said solemnly: "I finally came to your side with such difficulty; how could I bear to leave?"

Li Heng opened his eyes and stared at her; Huang Zhao avoided his gaze in a panic, not meeting his eyes.

After a long while, he ordered: "It's late, let's go."

Huang Zhao didn't move, but took a thermos and some tissues from her bag, first wetting the tissues with water, then carefully helping him wipe his lips, chin, and neck: "I wore lipstick and perfume today."

Her movements were very considerate and gentle, like a wife.

Li Heng was stunned and didn't interrupt her.

After wiping off the lipstick, she sniffed his chest with the tip of her nose, and after a while asked: "Do you want to go to my place and take a shower?"

Li Heng asked: "Is there a scent of perfume?"

"Not much, but better safe than sorry; it wouldn't be good if she smelled it," Huang Zhao suggested.

Li Heng pointed his right index finger at her, who was close at hand, and tapped her forehead lightly: "At this juncture, you're still causing trouble for me."

Huang Zhao was surprised; she didn't expect him to have such an intimate gesture, and she enjoyed it very much: "Go to my place and take a shower; I've prepared clothes for you."

"Clothes?" Li Heng asked subconsciously.

"Yes, at every place I stay, I've prepared new clothes, shoes, and socks for you." When she said this, her face was a bit uncomfortable, and then under his gaze, she retreated to the driver's seat.

Li Heng looked at her for a while and sighed: "With a person like me, you'll often have to spend your nights alone; I can't always take care of you."

Huang Zhao's expression didn't change, and she said calmly: "It doesn't matter. Before I met you, I lived alone like this. Since I'm with you, I have sufficient psychological preparation. I'm already content if you have time to come see me. I won't be a burden to you."

Li Heng didn't say anything more after hearing this, signaling to go to her place first to take a shower.

Just as she said, her address and Chen Xiaomi's home were really only about 2 li away. For driving, this distance was just a blink of an eye.

Entering the door, Li Heng headed straight for the shower room.

Huang Zhao didn't need to be told; she hurriedly picked out a well-fitting set of clothes and pants from the wardrobe in the master bedroom and sent them into the shower room.

Looking at the well-proportioned and powerful body under the shower, Huang Zhao was inexplicably obsessed! Moved! Her body had a reaction.

However, she knew it wasn't the time, so she stood in a corner and watched him quietly, observing him, memorizing him. She didn't disturb him.

A few minutes later, Li Heng turned off the spray.

Huang Zhao immediately stepped forward, first using a bath towel to help him wipe his body, then helping him put on his clothes and pants, busy back and forth.

Li Heng asked: "You've prepared so many of my clothes in your place; aren't you afraid your family will find out?"

Huang Zhao said: "They rarely come to Jingcheng. As for Shanghai, I didn't put any in the houses in Jing'an and Hongkou without your consent. The houses in other places are very discreet; they are all new ones I bought in the last half year, and my family doesn't know about them."

"In the last half year?"

"Yes."

"Any reason?"

"I've purchased different types of villas in the main areas of Shanghai—old-fashioned ones, new-fashioned ones—to make it convenient for you to rest in the future," she said.

Li Heng fell silent.

After a long while, when she had helped him dress, Li Heng walked out of the shower room and out of the small building.

Huang Zhao followed behind, closed the door, got into the car with him, and drove him over.

In a moment, the car seemed to have just started before it stopped again.

Li Heng looked up and found that the lights on the second floor of Chen Xiaomi's small building were still on.

It seems he hadn't guessed wrong; Zijin hadn't returned to the Chen family to lick her wounds, but had come here.

He sat quietly looking up, and after calming his mood, he said to her: "I'm leaving, take care on your way back."

Huang Zhao asked: "What time are you going back to Gulou?"

Li Heng turned his head and looked at her with deep meaning for a few times: "I don't know either, rest well."

Huang Zhao nodded, and after watching him climb over the wall into the courtyard, she didn't dare to stay long and drove away from the area in time.

PS: Published first, edited later.

11,500 words updated.

(End of chapter)