Chapter 509: The Author

It was just after four in the afternoon.

Lushan Village welcomed two guests: Sun Xiaozhang and Lin Shusen.

The two nearly arrived at the alley's end right behind Yu Shuheng.

Yu Shuheng noticed the two behind her, paused deliberately, and waited until Sun Xiaozhang drew near before asking: "Uncle Sun, you're here to see Li Heng?"

Sun Xiaozhang smiled and nodded: "You can't hide anything from you. I came to discuss something with him."

Yu Shuheng gave a refined smile, looked up at the second floor of No. 26, pulled out her keys, and led the way: "He's probably upstairs. I'll take you in."

Watching her open the door and step into the courtyard with ease, Sun Xiaozhang and Lin Shusen exchanged a quick glance, their eyes filled with unspoken meaning.

Inside No. 26, Sun Xiaozhang glanced around and teased: "The interior's cozy. Yu Shuheng, this is your doing, right?"

Since they were on familiar terms, Sun Xiaozhang spoke without restraint, in a casual, familial tone.

Yu Shuheng shook her head: "Li Heng and some classmates decorated it themselves."

They climbed the stairs to the second floor; the living room was empty, but the study stirred with movement.

Yu Shuheng said: "He's in the study."

Sun Xiaozhang had known Li Heng for over a year but had never seen his study—now he grew curious and headed straight for it.

Hearing footsteps in the living room, Li Heng turned from wiping books and met Sun Xiaozhang's gaze: "Principal Sun, you've come."

He quickly set down his book and rose to greet him.

Then he greeted Lin Shusen: "Teacher Lin, you're here too. Please sit."

Li Heng warmly ushered them to chairs, and Yu Shuheng had already brought over two cups of tea.

Sun Xiaozhang took a sip, set the cup down, and praised: "Excellent! It's been a while—I sense even more literary grace in you now. You've got the air of a master."

Li Heng grinned: "All thanks to you. Fudan University nurtures people."

Sun Xiaozhang chuckled, pointed at him playfully, and asked: "Are you planning to take leave this fall? I've been waiting for rumors of your leave."

Leave was just a cover—Sun Xiaozhang's real intent was to ask about his new book.

Was he thinking of his next one?

Li Heng replied carefully: "I'm considering it, but not until after National Day. The leave might be longer, so I hope the school will be understanding."

Sun Xiaozhang nodded approvingly: "No problem. You can leave and return this gate anytime. Fudan is proud of you."

After chatting briefly about the new book, Sun Xiaozhang shifted topics: "Jin Yong is coming to visit you tomorrow?"

Li Heng had been home all day: "Even you've heard?"

Sun Xiaozhang beamed: "Not just heard—the school gate already has a banner up. I came to ask: should we hang your author name on top too?"

This revealed Sun Xiaozhang's indulgence and high regard for Li Heng.

Both knew: after tomorrow, his identity as an author couldn't be hidden from those watching. So Sun Xiaozhang's suggestion was to announce it openly.

To proudly tell the world: the famed literary giant is ours—our Fudan man!

Hearing this, Li Heng instinctively glanced at Yu Shuheng; she gave a subtle nod.

They were in agreement. Li Heng understood and said: "Fine, but Teacher, keep it a mystery—just write 'Author' on the banner. Don't reveal my identity yet."

He was playing suspense, cultivating mystery—to draw more influential reporters tomorrow, to create greater buzz, greater publicity.

Everything he did was for profit—for advertising tomorrow for Anta Shoe Factory.

Sun Xiaozhang clapped his hands, smiling as if he saw through him, and immediately agreed.

The four chatted awhile; then Lin Shusen left. Li Heng tried to invite him to dinner but couldn't stop him.

There was no choice: the banner had to be hung, Jin Yong was coming, Li Heng's author identity would be revealed tomorrow, and Fudan would be abuzz. To avoid mishaps, Lin Shusen needed to prepare in advance.

Sun Xiaozhang showed no intention to leave—he chatted easily with Li Heng and Yu Shuheng, the atmosphere warm throughout.

At dusk, Mai Sui came upstairs, pushed open the study door, and called: "Dinner's ready."

Sun Xiaozhang knew Mai Sui well—over the past year, she'd hosted nearly every campus event. Many events had school leaders in attendance; they'd met over ten times.

So Mai Sui felt no great restraint before Sun Xiaozhang.

Yet Sun Xiaozhang was surprised—not because he saw Mai Sui—he knew she was close friends with Li Heng, even arrived together on the train last freshman year.

What surprised him was Mai Sui's ease inside No. 26—as if she were the mistress of the house.

As a seasoned man, sixty years old, most of his life spent with students, Sun Xiaozhang had sharp eyes—he instantly sensed something unusual.

But he showed no sign. He glanced at Li Heng, then Yu Shuheng, then fixed his gaze on Mai Sui—this was the first time he truly studied her.

Dinner was lavish—a full table of dishes. When he learned Zhou Shihe had cooked them himself, Sun Xiaozhang sighed in awe.

Didn't others know the Zhou family's status?

Didn't he know?

What was Zhou Shihe's position in the Zhou family?

She was their only daughter! Sun Xiaozhang usually treated her with caution—he never imagined he'd eat her cooking today.

After tasting a few dishes, Sun Xiaozhang praised: "Delicious! Absolutely delicious! This skill is extraordinary—it perfectly inherits the essence of Huaiyang cuisine."

Zhou Shihe smiled gently, composed and poised, never showing a flicker of emotion.

The food was exquisite, but three top-tier beauties sat at the same table—Sun Xiaozhang's eyes grew dizzy. When he rose to leave, he gave Li Heng's shoulder a meaningful pat.

To show respect, Li Heng personally saw him to the alley's mouth.

A few steps away, Sun Xiaozhang remembered something and turned back: "Do you know Jin Yong has other roles besides being a writer?"

Li Heng understood the warning: "Yes. He's active in Hong Kong politics and holds great influence across the straits."

Sun Xiaozhang nodded, still wary of his youth, and added gently: "In recent years, Jin Yong has met leaders on the mainland I've never even had the chance to meet."

What level was Fudan University?

Even Sun Xiaozhang felt inferior—imagine the treatment Jin Yong received on the mainland.

Both were men of status; some things need only be hinted at. Sun Xiaozhang said no more, gave a few final reminders, and walked off under his umbrella.

Compared to the afternoon's heavy rain, the drizzle now was nearly negligible. Li Heng stood in the rain awhile, then turned back into the alley.

"Teacher Yu, aren't you staying?"

Back at the alley's end, Li Heng met Teacher Yu stepping out of No. 26.

Yu Shuheng glanced at him: "Come with me."

"Ah!"

Li Heng replied, turned, and followed her into No. 25.

Inside, he changed shoes, climbed to the second floor. Yu Shuheng asked: "Want coffee?"

Li Heng politely declined: "The dinner was delicious—I'm full. Can't drink now."

Yu Shuheng glanced back at him, said nothing, and made herself a cup of coffee.

Li Heng kept his eyes down, his expression calm, unaffected by his earlier praise of the food.

Holding her coffee cup, Yu Shuheng sat across from him: "After National Day, where are you planning to go?"

He understood her meaning at once—she wanted to come with him.

Or rather, she didn't want to leave the chance to anyone else.

He didn't mind—in fact, he welcomed it.

After all, she'd accompanied him to Bai Luyuan last time, helped greatly, letting him focus on writing.

Thinking this, he replied: "Westward—to Sichuan's Aba region."

"Isn't that where many ethnic minorities live?"

"Yes."

Yu Shuheng grew curious; her coffee paused mid-sip: "Why such a remote place?"

Li Heng answered smoothly: "A whim. I want to write a novel about ethnic minorities—only a rough outline so far. Need to research details and flesh it out."

Seeing his confidence, Yu Shuheng didn't press further—she offered full support: "I'll handle travel, lodging, food. I'll send people ahead tomorrow to prepare."

"Thank you, Teacher."

"What did you call me?" Perhaps thinking of another private trip with him, Yu Shuheng's mood brightened instantly. She fixed her gaze on him, her tone playful.

Li Heng said: "Teacher."

They locked eyes for a moment. Yu Shuheng set down her cup, turned away, picked up a pen, scribbled on paper, tore it into three equal pieces, then crumpled them into balls.

She placed the balls in her palms, clasped her hands, shook them ten times, then scattered them on the coffee table. Her red lips parted softly: "New place, new start. Little boy, pick one."

Li Heng asked: "Can I not pick?"

Yu Shuheng lowered her eyelids, expression blank: "Then I'll go talk to Huang Zhaoyi."

Li Heng was stunned, speechless, flooded with mixed emotions—he felt hollow.

The living room fell silent. Neither spoke. One stared into her coffee, the other at her. They waited, the tension thickening with every passing second.

After about ten minutes, he took a deep breath and asked slowly: "Are you forcing me?"

Yu Shuheng's deep, dark eyes narrowed into slits. She slowly lifted her gaze: "If I wanted to force you, I'd already be your second Shen Xin. The moment you climbed onto my bed, you never imagined you'd leave easily."

They stared at each other—another ten minutes passed. Li Heng finally lost patience and probed: "Did you send someone to follow me?"

Yu Shuheng replied coldly: "You arrived in Yangpu at 11: 0. You spent the whole night outside Lushan Village. Do you think I need to follow you?"

Oh—he'd guessed. He'd bluffed.

Li Heng now knew his ground. He didn't argue further.

As a seasoned man, he understood: Yu Teacher was quietly jealous—but restrained by her position, by her pride, she couldn't say it outright.

So he gave her an out, reached out, and casually grabbed one paper ball.

As she watched, he opened it—the paper bore a single character:

Empty!!!

Yu Shuheng's eyes sharpened, fixing on the character for three seconds, then coldly dismissing him: "Leave now. The teacher needs to rest."

Li Heng: "....."

Feeling her icy aura could freeze a man into a statue, Li Heng stood up and left swiftly, without a single hesitation.

Watching him descend the stairs, Yu Shuheng leaned sharply back against the sofa, her whole body deflating like a punctured balloon, drained and listless.

Did he go to Huang Zhaoyi's place last night?

Did he spend the night at Huang Zhaoyi's?

She desperately wanted to send someone to investigate, but after holding back again and again, she finally held her tongue.

PS: Posted first, then revised.

Updated 10, 00 characters. The previous chapter was slightly deleted by the website; I have no revision permissions this month—the permission is locked. Let me tell the seniors: don't scold me for not making up the missing part. If I could fix it, the moderators wouldn't have deleted it in the first place.

(End of chapter)