Chapter 510: Freaked Out! The Legendary Writer Is at Fudan University!

Coming down from the second floor, Li Heng stood for a moment in the first-floor living room, not rushing to leave.

To be honest, Teacher Yu's kindness toward him in this life was utterly selfless.

In fact, to some extent, she had reached the point of indulging herself!

Though she occasionally grew jealous or acted on emotion, that was real human nature—human, flawed, and understandable.

If she remained coldly rational all the time, that would be terrifying, horrifying. No one would want to stay long with such a person.

Sometimes she acted on her own impulses, but in the end, she almost always yielded to him—Li Heng knew this well.

Forget the distant past; take Big Blue Robe as an example.

According to Huang Zhaoyi's account: Teacher Yu had once sent Liu Bei to investigate her.

But where had he stayed last night? Teacher Yu didn't know—she'd had to rely on Shitan and bluffing just to get information.

What did this indicate?

It showed that after realizing her behavior had become extreme, she changed course midstream and withdrew the investigation into Big Blue Robe.

The old saying goes: judge by deeds, not intentions; judge by intentions, no one is perfect.

No one is perfect! For Teacher Yu to overcome her emotions and ultimately let reason prevail—that was incredibly difficult for her.

After all, her personal conditions were undeniable; calling her one in a hundred thousand was still an understatement.

Moreover, behind her stood the Yú family, whose influence was unimaginable.

For her to treat him this way, in a way, showed she still kept a pure heart.

She had countless chances to take him, to force him into submission—but she held back, yielded again and again, never once using force—Li Heng knew every detail.

Li Heng looked up at the ceiling, as if his gaze could pierce through it to see Teacher Yu on the sofa upstairs.

Hmm…!

In the end, it was still his own greed that had wronged her.

Alright, come to think of it, which woman beside him wasn't good? He owed every single one of them a mountain of debt.

After thinking it over, Li Heng abandoned the idea of going upstairs to comfort her. He couldn't give her what she wanted now; going up would do no good—better to let her be alone and calm down.

The rain outside finally stopped.

Li Heng crossed the courtyard and reached the center of the alley; before he could enter the gate, he spotted Mai Sui stepping out, locking the door behind her.

With her was Zhou Shihe.

He stopped and asked: "Where are you going?"

Mai Sui smiled softly: "Shihe and I are taking a walk, then heading back to our dorm. Are you busy? Want to come with us?"

Remembering he hadn't been to Room 325 in a while, Li Heng nodded: "Alright."

The three walked together, chatting easily, the atmosphere pleasant.

On the way, he suddenly changed the subject: "How are your grandparents?"

Mai Sui replied: "I called home today—they're doing fine."

Li Heng asked: "What about your parents?"

Thinking of that dream, Mai Sui felt a pang inside but showed nothing on her face: "They're the same—busy with business."

Li Heng smiled: "Looks like business is good. In this society, money is king—they've worked hard."

Then he asked: "Have they gone north to do business?"

Mai Sui shook her head, not wanting him to worry: "No, I told them not to go north, and they promised me."

Hearing this, Zhou Shihe glanced subtly at her friend, then quietly observed Li Heng's reaction, staying silent beside them.

Unconsciously, they reached the entrance of No. 9 Girls' Dormitory. Li Heng stopped and asked the two girls: "Are you going back to Lushan Village tonight?"

Mai Sui looked at Zhou Shihe.

Li Heng followed her gaze.

Meeting their eyes, Zhou Shihe spoke gently: "Yes, I need to prep a few dishes tonight."

The "dishes" she meant were for tomorrow.

Li Heng asked with concern: "Have you bought the ingredients? Should I go buy them now?"

Zhou Shihe said: "No need. Someone will deliver them around seven tonight."

Li Heng understood: "Ah! You called someone? That's too much trouble—I'm taking advantage of you again."

Zhou Shihe smiled playfully, rare for her: "Just pay me back."

Li Heng grinned: "No problem—I've got more money than I know what to do with."

The two girls climbed the steps and entered the girls' dormitory.

Watching them vanish into the lobby, Li Heng didn't linger—he turned and headed for No. 4 Boys' Dormitory.

But halfway there, someone stopped him.

It was Li Xian, half-crazy, half-cute, flanked by her best friend Li Fenfen and Zhou Min.

Seeing him, Li Xian's eyes lit up. She handed her rice bowl to Zhou Min, then lunged forward, clinging tightly to his arm, shaking and swaying it, her Mandarin still imperfect but sweetly pleading: "Master! My dear Master! Where have you been lately? I've missed you so much—I couldn't sleep!"

Li Fenfen and Zhou Min exchanged glances, then burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs.

Passersby stared at the two, amused—clearly, everyone knew Li Heng, the campus celebrity, and knew he had someone else. So Li Xian's clingy behavior was oddly entertaining.

Damn! This crazy girl's body has gotten fuller!

Her soft body pressed against his arm as she shook it, Li Heng shivered instantly and yanked his arm free: "I went to Jingcheng. Just got back today. Not bad—your Mandarin's still improving."

"Really? Yay! You don't know how hard I worked—I practiced Mandarin by singing twenty Chinese songs every day! Now the girls in No. 9 Dorm say I'm Chen Huiyan from Hong Kong—I'm a singing god! When I sing, they lock their doors! So I go door-to-door singing outside their rooms—I've driven them all crazy…" Li Xian ranted about herself like a lunatic.

Li Heng laughed heartily and gave her two thumbs up.

Li Xian whispered conspiratorially: "By the way, Master, a new freshman came to our dorm—so beautiful! Want me to introduce you?"

Li Heng, distracted from campus life, didn't know anything about the new students, so he asked casually: "Who? Who deserves such praise from Princess Xian?"

Li Xian blurted: "Her name is Huang Ziyue. Lots of guys in our sophomore class are secretly writing her love letters."

Li Heng asked: "Didn't she go to military training?"

Li Xian said: "She did—it's not far, behind the Blue Sky Hotel on Wu Jiao Square. But the guys still wrote her letters."

Fine—he couldn't understand this phenomenon.

After chatting with the three girls, Li Heng asked Zhou Min before leaving: "I heard everyone's saying you're going abroad—when are you leaving?"

Zhou Min smiled: "Mid-month."

Li Heng asked: "Which country?"

Zhou Min said: "England."

Li Xian chimed in: "Minmin's school is awesome—she's going to Jianqiao University!"

Li Heng was surprised—he hadn't expected quiet Zhou Min to be this impressive. But then he relaxed—where was this? This was Fudan University!

In this era, admission rates for top universities in the provinces were pitifully low. Anyone who got in by merit had to be exceptional.

To be blunt, pick any student off campus—they're all academic prodigies back home, each with their own pride.

But Fudan is a melting pot—here, tigers and dragons hide, so many seem ordinary. But they're not truly ordinary—someone like Zhou Min might explode at any moment.

Li Heng offered his congratulations: "Congratulations!"

Zhou Min replied thanks, then tentatively asked: "I'm throwing a farewell dinner—will you come, Great Talent?"

Their relationship was still good. After Liu Yue left, Zhou Min handled all his mail—she delivered letters almost every day.

Li Heng asked: "What day?"

Zhou Min said: "The 17th, at noon."

Li Heng calculated: "So the day after tomorrow?"

Zhou Min said: "Yes—at Lao Li Restaurant outside campus."

Li Heng agreed readily: "Alright, I'll be there."

After he left, Li Fenfen, the quietest of the three, said: "You actually invited him? I was terrified he'd say no."

This farewell dinner hadn't invited many—just a few roommates and close classmates. Zhou Min had once considered inviting Li Heng, but he was always elusive; she doubted she had the clout to get him, so she gave up.

Zhou Min patted her chest: "You were right—I was nervous too. I feared he'd refuse. Thank goodness, he gave me face."

Li Xian grumbled: "I told you—my Master isn't like that. He's kind-hearted."

Zhou Min replied: "Where's he kind? You've proposed five times—failed every time."

Li Xian flushed with anger, hands on hips: "Don't bring that up, or we're still friends. Say it again, and I'll wreck the dinner the day after tomorrow!"

…

Just after President Sun left Lushan Village, a rumor exploded across Fudan University like a storm.

"Did you hear? Our school hides an incredible person!"

"What incredible person? Are you making this up?"

"Making it up? You're totally out of touch! Have you heard of the writer Shiyue?"

"The guy who wrote 'To Live' and 'White Deer Plain'?"

"Yes! That genius!"

"You're not telling me Shiyue is from Fudan, are you?"

"Hey! I'm telling you—he is! Shiyue is from Fudan!"

"??? Are you sure you didn't get a fever? Only someone with a brain fried beyond repair would say that."

"Get lost! Take your hand off me—I'm telling you the truth and you don't believe me? The whole campus is buzzing—only you're clueless."

"Impossible! I'm a loyal reader of Shiyue—I've followed every issue of 'Shouhuo' since 'To Live.' I know more than you! He's from Shaoshi in Xiangnan—how could he be at Fudan? He'd be more plausible at Shaoshi No. 1 High! Come on, next time you lie, make it believable!"

At that moment, another roommate burst in, shouting excitedly: "Wow! The hottest legendary writer is from Fudan! I'm crazy! Everyone's talking about it—have you heard?"

The person who had just refused to believe asked, "Where did you get this news?"

"Where did I get it? Everyone's talking about it. My girlfriend told me. Let me tell you, so many girls in the dorms were crying with excitement—my girlfriend's whole room can recite A Bitter Journey Through Culture from memory. Now their spiritual idol is about to appear, and everyone's rushing to spread the word!"

Someone teased: "Watch out for your girlfriend— if this writer Shiyue really is from our school, be careful not to sneak off and throw yourself at him."

"Pfft! You're overthinking it. Someone who wrote three such incredible books must be an old man by now—how could he even do that?"

"…"

"…"

Pinghu raised a mountain, stirring up waves—similar scenes unfolded in dorms across campus.

Dorm 107.

Liu Yanling rushed in, holding a newspaper, and shouted to everyone in the room:

"You're all here? Perfect! Sisters! All turn and look at me! I've got a massive revelation to tell you!"

Everyone in Dorm 107 was present. Though confused by her loud voice, they all turned to look.

Cai Yuanyuan pointed at the door. "Close the door fast—what's got you so worked up? Your 36D's about to jump out. Watch out, Zhou Zhangming might get jealous."

Liu Yanling glanced down, then pushed them aside. "Pfft! Let him get jealous—I'll take them straight to seduce Li Heng later."

Sun Ye, changing clothes, scoffed: "Why are you still fixated on Li Heng? Qingqing's given up—don't tell me you're still holding on even though you've got a boyfriend?"

Liu Yanling looked at Dai Qing and saw her face flushed red—clearly drunk. She grinned and launched into a lewd joke:

"Qingqing, stop being sad. How about we team up? I'll contribute my 36D, you contribute your face—we'll take down Li Heng together. Battle him for seven days and seven nights."

The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in roaring laughter. Everyone scolded Yanling for being shameless, trying to seduce Fudan's godlike male idol.

Though drunk, Dai Qing's mind was clear. She asked curiously: "Yanling, what's this earth-shattering news you've got?"

Cai Yuanyuan chimed in: "Yeah, Yanling, weren't you and Zhou Zhangming going to the movies? Why did you rush back? What's the big deal?"

All eyes fixed on Liu Yanling, waiting for her announcement.

Even Wei Xiaozhu, who had fallen asleep after drinking, woke up and rolled over to look.

Meeting their gazes, Liu Yanling raised the newspaper and shouted loudly: "Listen up, sisters! I just got word—your most idolized writer, Shiyue, is at Fudan University!"

"What?! Really? Shiyue's at Fudan? Is he going to make a public appearance? Where? Where?! Take me there right now!" Hearing this, Wei Sisi—who had just climbed into bed—leapt out without hesitation, grabbed Liu Yanling's hand, and her excitement matched Yanling's exactly.

People in later generations might not understand just how high the status of writers was in this era.

Just put it this way: back then, even factory gatekeepers with barely any education could sleep with countless female workers thanks to a mildly famous doggerel poem—and the women came to them willingly. Some married women even dared to defy public opinion and became pregnant for them.

And that was just for semi-literate scribblers!

Someone like Li Heng, whose literary status was towering, was a crushing blow to the youth—especially college students.

In short: wildly popular. Blindly adored.

"What? He's at Fudan? He's already a Fudan student!" Liu Yanling spat out, correcting them with beaming pride—as if Fudan itself had just won a great honor.

Le Yao chimed in: "No way. The paper says he's from Shaoshi. Where'd you get this info?"

"Yeah, I thought he was from Shaoshi too. How'd he suddenly become ours?" Sun Ye was equally puzzled.

Liu Yanling spread her hands. "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Believe me or not—I was just about to go to Wujiao Square with Zhou to see a movie when he got called away by the Student Union. They said they needed to make banners because the legendary writer is one of our own, and that Jin Yong himself is coming to Fudan tomorrow to visit Writer Shiyue…"

Liu Yanling spilled out everything she'd just heard, word for word.

After listening, the girls in Dorm 107 fell silent.

But the next instant, they all erupted in excitement!

Some scrambled into shoes, others into clothes, some leapt from beds, all shouting to rush to the campus gate to see if it was true!

Liu Yanling warned: "Sisters, I know you're crazy, but don't go *that* crazy! Banners take time to make—it won't be ready yet."

Wei Sisi waved her hand dismissively: "No problem! I've got time! I'm going to witness this miracle—Writer Shiyue is my spiritual pillar! I've memorized A Bitter Journey Through Culture and To Live word for word!"

ps: First draft, will revise later.

(More to come)

(End of chapter)