Chapter 47: Enemies Meet, Blood Boils

After a brief introduction, Wang Runwen led Chen Xiaomi upstairs to her home on the third floor.

She did not publicize it, as Li Heng had instructed her to keep things low-key.

She poured the guest a cup of tea and said, “Xiao Shiyue is in class right now—have a seat, I’ll go call him over.”

“Alright, thank you for your trouble.”

Class?

So she really is a teacher?

Chen Xiaomi had originally wanted to follow and take a look, but seeing Wang Runwen leave with swift determination, she abandoned the idea.

She had met many writers before, but this time she felt more nervous than ever, gripping her cup tightly as she imagined every possible scenario of the upcoming meeting.

She realized she had become overly attached, unconsciously fixated.

Yet even so, she couldn’t control herself.

…

On the other side.

Under the gaze of the entire class, Li Heng stepped out of the classroom and asked, “Teacher, who’s looking for me?”

Wang Runwen glanced at the students inside, then turned and headed toward the stairwell. “Let’s go downstairs first—I’ll tell you later.”

Li Heng understood. He already had an answer: it must be the editor from the magazine, though he didn’t know who it was.

From the third floor down to the first-floor courtyard, the area was empty. Wang Runwen said, “The editor from People’s Literature, Chen Xiaomi, is here.”

Oh boy, so this bitch is the first to show up?

Li Heng’s mind shifted, and he asked, “Teacher, did you tell her anything about me?”

The English teacher shook her head. “She didn’t ask, so I didn’t volunteer anything. I assume she wants to speak with you face to face.”

So that’s how it is…

Good thing you didn’t say anything.

Li Heng spoke up: “Teacher, I’ve got a favor to ask. When we go inside, don’t interfere, don’t introduce me, and don’t say a word to me.”

The English teacher, just reaching the first-floor hallway, stopped and turned around. “What do you mean? Betray me after I helped you? Think I’m in the way?”

Li Heng was speechless. He looked straight into her eyes and said, “Her name is Chen Xiaomi. Her surname is Chen. She’s from Shaoyang.”

Wang Runwen’s eyelids lifted, and she immediately understood: “She looks somewhat like Chen Zijin. I was wondering earlier—so she’s from the Chen family?”

Li Heng nodded. “Yes. But the key point is—I have a grudge against her.”

Wang Runwen’s full red lips parted slightly. “What a coincidence?”

Li Heng nodded again.

Wang Runwen crossed her arms, intrigued. “Why do you have a grudge? She looks like a refined lady—should be easy to get along with. Did you sleep with Chen Zijin?”

Fuck me!

How did you guess so accurately?

Li Heng felt frustrated but couldn’t admit it: “They say big boobs mean no brains. Teacher, you need to lose weight. I’m this young—don’t falsely accuse me.”

Hearing this, Wang Runwen tensed like a startled leopard, her eyes narrowing, radiating an aura of lethal danger.

Li Heng quickly whispered, “Teacher, the two teaching buildings across the way can see this spot. There are people all along the corridor—don’t lose your temper. Control yourself.”

Wang Runwen laughed bitterly, flicked her hair, and gritted her teeth: “I’ll let those filthy eyes of yours stay where they are—for now. Don’t let me catch you again. If you dare peek at me again, I’ll rip them out!”

Teacher, you’re delusional!

You’ve got that kind of figure, that kind of allure—half the school sneaks glances. I’m the most well-behaved one. Why target the purest, most honest guy?

Li Heng instinctively stepped back, then sidestepped her and headed upstairs.

“Wait.”

Wang Runwen called from behind, pulling out a key from her pocket and handing it to him. “Since you have a grudge with her, deal with it first.

By now, the editors from Shouhuo Magazine should be arriving soon—I’ll go check the school gate.”

The school gate was noisy, as if another fight had broken out. Li Heng said okay, took the key, and went upstairs to the third floor.

The fourth door on the third floor.

When Chen Xiaomi heard the key turning in the lock, she stirred from her thoughts on the sofa.

She set down her teacup, rose politely, and turned toward the door with curiosity and anticipation.

The lock today seemed to hate Li Heng—it took several turns before it finally opened.

This damn lock must be ancient. Needs replacing.

Li Heng muttered to himself, then pressed his right hand against the door and slowly pushed it open.

The moment the door opened, blinding sunlight flooded in.

Then, in the glare, a figure appeared.

Seeing that figure, Chen Xiaomi, who had just been maintaining elegance, narrowed her pupils.

Her eyes filled with confusion, disbelief…

How small is this world?

Why did I run into him here?

Her mind went blank—she even wondered how this little bastard had a key to a female teacher’s home.

Had Zijing gone to Beijing, grown lonely, and seduced a teacher?

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to think this.

Though she despised Li Heng and thought him morally bankrupt,

she couldn’t deny that despite having met countless men, his face—like his mother’s—was undeniably exceptional.

If he could trick the gentle, well-behaved Zijing into bed, why couldn’t he charm a female teacher?

In truth, her fury stemmed mostly from what she’d seen last summer.

That scene, that monstrous organ, had shattered her worldview with a brutal visual impact.

It’s said that enemies meet with blood boiling.

After a moment of silent gaze, Chen Xiaomi’s earlier curiosity, warmth, and anticipation vanished.

In their place came icy eyes and utter indifference.

For an instant, she wondered if Li Heng might be the writer “Shiyue.”

But the moment the thought arose, she dismissed it outright.

What nonsense!

If he, at this age, could write a masterpiece like Life—with its themes of life within death and death within life—what would other writers be?

What would she be?

She’d be a joke.

The world’s entire perception would collapse.

As she pondered this, Chen Xiaomi discarded the last shred of doubt and sat back down on the sofa with a soft thud.

She said nothing, staring straight ahead, yet her peripheral vision coldly tracked his every movement.

Since this bitch wasn’t speaking, Li Heng certainly wouldn’t either.

After all, she’d already heard his voice on the phone two days ago—speaking now would expose him.

He’d gone through so much trouble to lure her from Beijing—he hadn’t even had his fun yet. He’d better vent his anger first.

Having lived two lives, he’d thought he could forget this feud. But now, as history replayed, every humiliation from past and present rose in his heart—he understood: a grudge is a grudge. Time doesn’t heal it.

So now, after finally being reborn, after returning to his youth,

why should he care anymore?

One word: don’t back down. Fight. Do what a young man should do—repay kindness, repay hatred.

Seeing her, Li Heng pretended to step back outside, inspected the surroundings, confirmed he hadn’t made a mistake, then stepped back in.

With a loud bang, he slammed the door shut.

The sudden noise made Chen Xiaomi’s head ring.

But she kept her composure, not moving a muscle, her peripheral vision still tracking his every motion.

Inside, Li Heng placed the key on the coffee table, then acted as if he owned the place—he poured himself a cup of hot water, grabbed a pinch of tea leaves, and dropped them in.

Then he went to the bathroom for a piss—long and loud. The sound of his urine hitting the bowl echoed faintly into the living room, so quiet was the house.

Chen Xiaomi frowned, then frowned again, silently confirming her suspicion: this Li guy was definitely no good.

Only half a year since splitting with Zijing, and he’s already cozying up to another woman.

She couldn’t help suspecting—his actions were too casual, too familiar, too much like he’d lived here a thousand times.

After coming out of the bathroom, Li Heng dried his wet hands, turned on the TV, sat on the sofa, sipped tea slowly, and ate an apple from the coffee table.

To provoke her, he deliberately sat on the same sofa, his body pressed close.

Chen Xiaomi instinctively wanted to move to the separate sofa beside her.

But then she thought: why should I give way to this brat? That would mean I’m afraid of him.

She sat down with a huff, watching him wolf down the apple, and suddenly realized her hunger—once tolerable—had exploded into gnawing emptiness.

“Gurgle… gurgle…”

A strange sound suddenly echoed through the living room.

Chen Xiaomi frowned—she could hold it, but her stomach was protesting, betraying her.

Li Heng turned his head at the right moment, scanned her up and down, then shifted his weight to the separate sofa.

His expression? Utter disgust. Disgusted to the core.

This bastard doesn’t think I’m just blowing smoke, does he? Chen Xiaomi thought, growing frantic.

PS: 5400 words, poor performance—please give me a monthly vote at the start of the month!

(End of Chapter)