[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-498":6,"glossary-terms-4409":23},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","1987: My Era",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2259658,4409,"Chapter 498: Discovery (Part 2), Request Monthly Votes! Request Subscriptions!","1987-my-era-chapter-498",498,"\u003Cp>Hearing him praise her for the second time tonight, Huang Zhaoyi’s heart felt especially bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In over thirty years of life, her body had never felt this light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be praised by the man she loved felt so wonderful—those words made her feel all her efforts had not been in vain, that every sacrifice was worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afraid he might be thirsty, Huang Zhaoyi kindly poured him a glass of water, then brought out incense and lit it—one tray in the living room, another in the bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing the faint fragrance, Li Heng turned and asked, “You still like using incense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi asked anxiously, “Is it unpleasant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sniffed again, then said with meaning, “It’s quite pleasant—I smell rosemary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gazes met in the air, and her heart fluttered like a startled deer. The incense she’d used tonight was a blend of rosemary, chosen not only for its calming effect but also for its aphrodisiac properties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she lived alone before, she favored rose and night-blooming jasmine incense, occasionally switching to sandalwood or jasmine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since becoming physically intimate with him, she’d kept rosemary incense at home—not just to soothe his mind and help him relax, but also with a subtle, flirtatious intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now her hidden motives had been exposed right before his eyes; her face flushed crimson, she felt embarrassed, afraid he might misunderstand her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That she was immodest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was starving—he had no time to overthink. He bent his head and ate several bites of noodles, then picked up a slice of beef and put it in his mouth, only then noticing she stood frozen in place. He immediately patted the seat beside him. “Come sit with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing he had no intention of pressing the matter, Huang Zhaoyi quietly exhaled in relief, smoothed her posture, and sat calmly to his left, keeping him company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After swallowing half the bowl in one go and feeling her stomach settle, he finally spoke: “When did you return to Shanghai? I thought you were still in Changsha not long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he cared about her, Huang Zhaoyi’s earlier unease vanished almost entirely. “I came back this morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afraid of awkward silence or her overthinking, Li Heng began making small talk: “Didn’t you visit your parents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi replied, “I had lunch at my parents’ place, then came here around two in the afternoon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng nodded, then asked, “With your status, why don’t I ever see you with bodyguards?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi said, “My secretary is my bodyguard. But I only take her with me when working; otherwise, I prefer living alone—I’m not used to having someone follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her secretary’s name was Zhang Ying, a woman in her late twenties. Li Heng had seen her several times in Beijing but never interacted with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked, “Where’s she from originally?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi asked, “You mean Zhang Ying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said, “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi replied, “She’s from the countryside in Pudong. After returning from Changsha today, I sent her back home to visit family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng changed topics abruptly: “How’s Liu Yue doing in the U.S.?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi answered with a proverb: “Like a fish in water. The environment there suits her free-spirited nature better. Little Liu Yue wrote me a letter saying she’s thoroughly enjoying her current life and studies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, cautiously, she asked: “Do you hate her very much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng glanced at her, then glanced again: “I was thoroughly annoyed by her. But heaven unexpectedly sent you to me—I’m content.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words “I’m content” nearly brought tears to Huang Zhaoyi’s eyes. Afraid of breaking down and losing face, she stood and went to the bedroom to find him clothes for his bath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the mirror, she studied her reflection and felt as if she’d become someone entirely new—exquisitely beautiful, beyond words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old saying goes: A scholar dies for one who understands him; a woman adorns herself for one who delights her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d never truly understood that saying before, but since meeting this man, she believed it—she sensed herself changing daily, growing younger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just in spirit, but in body too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, she’d sometimes lazily skipped exercise. Now, to maintain her figure and health, to keep her body continually attractive to him, she dared not slack off for a moment. She had full sets of imported gym equipment on the first floor, and every day she weighed herself and recorded the changes in a notebook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She imposed strict demands on herself, tightly controlling her physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, she practiced health preservation, taking tonics to slow aging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her goal was to extend her bloom. Beautiful women feared most the decay of age and beauty; she was terrified that one day he might suddenly lose interest and stop visiting her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that happened, she would suffer more than death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she did everything possible to preserve herself—at least before turning forty, she wanted to maintain his desire for her body, to delay his boredom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After forty, she felt pessimistic—she no longer dared to hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the women around him were all stunningly beautiful; by forty, she might have no place left. Then, she only hoped he’d still keep some lingering affection, that he’d remember her devotion and not cast her entirely into the cold palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of this moment, she quickly applied light makeup, then gathered fresh clothes and went to the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, she returned to the dining area and asked him: “Will you bathe soon? Shall I draw your bath now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Heng had just sucked up the last strand of noodles, and said contentedly: “Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi looked at the bowl, cleaner than a dog’s lick, and asked gently: “Are you full? Shall I cook you more noodles?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng waved his hand: “No need, I’m nearly done. Go draw my bath—I’ll go up to the pavilion outside for some fresh air.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him head out to the pavilion, Huang Zhaoyi entered the bathroom and began filling the tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night was pitch black, the moon hidden behind clouds. Li Heng gazed upward at the star-strewn sky, and an unexpected calm settled over his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his meeting with Da Qingyi had been accidental, he felt no resentment now—on the contrary, his mood here was remarkably relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when with Song Yu and Mai Sui had he felt this way before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this alone, this new nest held a different weight in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he half-reclined on the wicker chair, lost in thought, a pair of pale, slender hands silently rested on his shoulders and began to massage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew who it was. He didn’t turn, instead resting his head against her abdomen, enjoying it all with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Working nonstop every day—aren’t you exhausted?” she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad,” Li Heng replied lazily. “Quite fulfilling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi followed his gaze upward to the horizon, then lowered her eyes to fix on his face. As time passed, her heart melted in the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts followed her heart—her fingers grew more delicate, softer. She treasured this moment, treasured their shared presence on the pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, like a lord, gazed at the stars and moon; she, like a wife, attended to him. Around them, summer insects chirped. The scene was exquisitely beautiful—exactly what she had dreamed of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi understood: during the day, they could never appear together on the pavilion like this, never be seen in public in this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, within half a day, their affair would spread through Fudan University, through Yangpu, and like a virus, engulf all of Shanghai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they were both public figures—their exposure would be unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relaxed in body, Li Heng broke the silence: “Have you studied massage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi said, “When I was close to my family, I often massaged my parents. Is the pressure right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said, “Perfect. I like it very much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he asked: “When did you fall out with your family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi thought back, then answered: “Around after I turned twenty-seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Pressure to marry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi said yes, then quickly clarified, afraid he’d misunderstand: “I’ve never gone on blind dates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng heard the urgency in her voice and chuckled: “Men marry when they’re ready, women marry when they’re ready. At the right age, it’s natural. You needn’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi said, “I strongly resisted arranged dates—I argued with my mother many times over it, so I eventually moved out and lived alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked casually: “Are you just too picky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhaoyi leaned down to look at his face. “In matters of the heart, I’d rather have nothing than settle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Heng tore his gaze from the night sky and looked up at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met—like magnets, they clashed and sparked, unable to part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brows like autumn water, her skin like jade kissed by breeze, her fingers like peeled scallion roots, her lips like red cinnabar—this was the truest portrait of Da Qingyi at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old saying goes: When full and warm, lust arises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with Da Qingyi at her most radiant, and having just eaten his fill, Li Heng’s desire surged instantly. They gazed at each other, and an indescribable atmosphere bloomed between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first day of May, the big shots have thrown their monthly votes—help San Yue climb the monthly vote rankings!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Two more chapters left)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1569,"2026-06-19T15:27:37.100Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","cb7732aae69377e0190fe13f5872d817090f50b3b93045607c58a9db9ed6bb08","1987-my-era-chapter-499","1987-my-era-chapter-497",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg",{"terms":24,"userReplacements":190},[25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,65,70,75,80,85,90,95,100,105,110,115,120,125,130,135,140,145,150,155,160,165,170,175,180,185],{"id":26,"raw_term":27,"original_term":28,"translations":29},1802890,"Li Heng","李恆",[],{"id":31,"raw_term":32,"original_term":33,"translations":34},1802891,"Xiao Han","肖涵",[],{"id":36,"raw_term":37,"original_term":38,"translations":39},1802892,"Yang Yingwen","楊應文",[],{"id":41,"raw_term":42,"original_term":43,"translations":44},1802893,"Editor Liao","廖主編",[],{"id":46,"raw_term":47,"original_term":48,"translations":49},1802894,"Zou Ping","鄒平",[],{"id":51,"raw_term":52,"original_term":53,"translations":54},1802895,"Old Master Ba","巴老爺子",[],{"id":56,"raw_term":57,"original_term":58,"translations":59},1802896,"Song Yu","宋妤",[],{"id":61,"raw_term":62,"original_term":63,"translations":64},1802897,"Chen Zijin","陳子衿",[],{"id":66,"raw_term":67,"original_term":68,"translations":69},1802898,"Xiao Feng","肖鳳",[],{"id":71,"raw_term":72,"original_term":73,"translations":74},1802899,"Chen Xiaomi","陳小米",[],{"id":76,"raw_term":77,"original_term":78,"translations":79},1802900,"Chen Siya","陳思雅",[],{"id":81,"raw_term":82,"original_term":83,"translations":84},1802901,"Fu Yanjie","付岩傑",[],{"id":86,"raw_term":87,"original_term":88,"translations":89},1802902,"Mai Sui","麥穗",[],{"id":91,"raw_term":92,"original_term":93,"translations":94},1802903,"Tun Run'e","田潤娥",[],{"id":96,"raw_term":97,"original_term":98,"translations":99},1802904,"Su Daji","蘇妲己",[],{"id":101,"raw_term":102,"original_term":103,"translations":104},1802905,"Liu Yue","柳月",[],{"id":106,"raw_term":107,"original_term":108,"translations":109},1802906,"Liu Jia","劉佳",[],{"id":111,"raw_term":112,"original_term":113,"translations":114},1802907,"Li Jianguo","李建國",[],{"id":116,"raw_term":117,"original_term":118,"translations":119},1802908,"Teacher Yu","余老師",[],{"id":121,"raw_term":122,"original_term":123,"translations":124},1802909,"Yu Shuheng","余淑恆",[],{"id":126,"raw_term":127,"original_term":128,"translations":129},1802910,"Li Lan","李蘭",[],{"id":131,"raw_term":132,"original_term":133,"translations":134},1802911,"Zhou Shihe","周詩禾",[],{"id":136,"raw_term":137,"original_term":138,"translations":139},1802912,"Sun Manning","孫曼寧",[],{"id":141,"raw_term":142,"original_term":143,"translations":144},1802913,"Ye Ning","葉寧",[],{"id":146,"raw_term":147,"original_term":148,"translations":149},1802914,"Liu Yanling","劉艷玲",[],{"id":151,"raw_term":152,"original_term":153,"translations":154},1802915,"Wei Xiaozhu","魏曉竹",[],{"id":156,"raw_term":157,"original_term":158,"translations":159},1802916,"Fake Daoist","假道士",[],{"id":161,"raw_term":162,"original_term":163,"translations":164},1802917,"Zhang Zhiyong","張志勇",[],{"id":166,"raw_term":167,"original_term":168,"translations":169},1802918,"Yang Cheng","陽成",[],{"id":171,"raw_term":172,"original_term":173,"translations":174},1802919,"Huang Zhaoyi","黃昭儀",[],{"id":176,"raw_term":177,"original_term":178,"translations":179},1802920,"Huang Ziyue","黃子悅",[],{"id":181,"raw_term":182,"original_term":183,"translations":184},1802921,"Principal Sun","孫校長",[],{"id":186,"raw_term":187,"original_term":188,"translations":189},1802922,"Dai Qing","戴清",[],{}]