[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-518":6},{"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},2259678,4409,"Chapter 518: The Thrilling Press Conference","1987-my-era-chapter-518",518,"\u003Cp>September 16, 1988.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was Li Heng’s first public appearance before the media since his rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky was clear, the air crisp, the sun bright—omens of a perfect beginning and a satisfying end to this joyous day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this hour, the campus paths were even quieter than in the morning; not a single person was seen along the way, the vast campus eerily silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng couldn’t help muttering to Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe beside him: “Could it be that all the faculty and students have gone to Xianghui Hall, waiting like farmers hoping for a rabbit to run into their stump?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui smiled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe smiled too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the two girls shared the same thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Where are Man Ning and Ye Ning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui said: “They’ve joined Ye Jiejie and should be at Xianghui Hall too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng nodded and added: “I won’t be watching over you two after this—find your own seats.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-sentence, he chuckled at himself: “Today’s my official debut—might not even have seats left. Ah, being this popular is just unavoidable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls laughed but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Heng, Jin Yong, Old Ba, Editor Liao, Xiao Lin, Mai Sui, Zhou Shihe, and the secretary arrived at Xianghui Hall, everyone was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many people—so densely packed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d expected crowds, but not this many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sea of black heads stretched before them, far more than at the campus gate that morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast Xianghui Hall was packed to bursting—no seats remained, not even in the aisles or the back; tall and short, young and old, men and women stood everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no helping it—after over two hours of buzz, every sleepy Fudan student had learned who “December the Writer” was, and out of curiosity, they’d all come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Fudan students came—students from nearby universities also flooded in, creating this packed scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, it had been noisy and lively: students chatted with roommates while waiting for the main event, some even snacked, cracked sunflower seeds, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering, they met Lin Shusen, Zhao Menglong, and other student union members, clearly waiting to greet and guide Li Heng’s group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them, Lin Shusen immediately stepped forward, exchanged polite pleasantries, then led them straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Menglong’s gaze never left Li Heng; his expression conflicted, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng felt it, paused, then stepped closer and asked: “Senior, are you looking for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Menglong hurriedly waved his hands: “No, no, you go ahead—I’ll find you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added: “Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe, come with me—the student union saved seats for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe exchanged a glance with Li Heng, then thanked him and followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “I’ll go ahead—meet me for lunch later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, someone shouted from the back: “Look, Li Heng’s here!”—and a strange silence fell over the rear section.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier chaos vanished instantly; the hall became deathly quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every single person turned their head in unison, as if prearranged, eyes fixed on Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conversations stopped, snacks froze mid-bite, several girls had sunflower seeds half-stuffed in their mouths, frozen like time had halted—the scene stood still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds, thousands of eyes locked onto Li Heng, giving him a collective stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, a few girls whispered to their companions:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s Li Heng from your school? I’ve heard so much about him—finally seeing him in person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s he look? Better than on Spring Festival Gala?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better? You’re shallow! Even if he were ugly, I’d still want to bear his child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disgusting—you just want his fame and money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’m disgusting. But if he suddenly came up to you and said he wanted to date you, would you have the guts to refuse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion in the back soon reached the other sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, an unforgettable scene unfolded across the entire hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of heads turned backward in unison, every face tilted, every eye glancing sideways, as if countless beams of light pierced Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene resembled a horror movie—chilling, raising goosebumps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These gazes were relentless, penetrating, varied—like they wanted to devour him, to carve him up and feast on his flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who was Li Heng? A seasoned veteran. For a man who’d lived two lives, this was nothing—barely a drop of rain. He wasn’t fazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The university leaders and reporters up front also noticed the shift; they stopped chatting and sprang into action—some took photos, others rushed to greet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today wasn’t just about Li Heng—Jin Yong and Old Ba were here too. These were giants who couldn’t be ignored; President Sun himself came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group moved swiftly down the aisle, like lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previously jammed corridor suddenly cleared—students on both sides automatically stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was surprised by how many unexpected faces were here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Aunt Shen Xin, beside whom stood a middle-aged woman dressed impeccably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Huang Zhi, like Wei Quan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Li Wang and Li Xi, the two sisters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Que Xinyan and Yang Cheng—part of a small group; a quick glance revealed eight or nine people—all from No. 1 High School in Shaoshan, class of ’87, studying in Shanghai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—Xiao Han and Zhang Haiyan were here too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng paused, then, under the gaze of the entire hall, stepped aside slightly to approach Xiao Han and ask:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wife, when did you get here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word “wife” made Xiao Han’s usually sly face bloom with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this setting, Xiao Han felt oddly shy, smiling sweetly: “Just arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng looked at her, half-skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Haiyan confirmed: “Big Writer, we really just got here—we had no time today. Professor Wen Yan invited us to observe a surgery at the hospital, but when we heard about your event, she arranged for us to be brought over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Why didn’t you go to Lushan Village to find me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han cleared her throat, voice clear and bright: “We didn’t have time—we came straight here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it; the moment wasn’t right, and time was running out—he gave her a careful reminder and moved on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng left, but many eyes remained fixed on Xiao Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These gazes scanned her up and down like infrared beams, as if trying to strip away every secret she carried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Student Union area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ning, unaware of the full context, complained to Mai Sui: “Suisui, you can’t just sit back like this—you’ve got to push harder, or Li Heng and Xiao Han will be permanently paired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though far away, she couldn’t hear what Li Heng and Xiao Han had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in front of so many people, at such a major event, with Li Heng himself late, he still went straight to Xiao Han to greet her—this treatment was too heavy, too special, too enviable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even outsider Ye Ning felt jealous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Man Ning felt the same but said nothing—she knew that even if she displaced Xiao Han, Mai Sui still couldn’t be first in line. She could only stare helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui smiled, taking it all in stride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe looked from Xiao Han to Yu Laoshi walking beside Li Heng, then lowered her gaze, her expression calm—but suddenly, vivid memories flashed in her mind: the two of them sharing a room in Beijing, him calling her name in his sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was clever enough to know what it meant when a man called your name in his sleep—no need for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she thought, Zhou Shihe’s delicate lips pouted slightly. She looked at Li Heng once more, then lowered her eyelids, closed her eyes, and quietly rested, clearing all distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Mai Sui noticed her state and asked gently: “Shihe, are you feeling unwell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe replied quietly: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui asked: “Did cooking tire you out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d risen early that morning, cooking nonstop for hours—Mai Sui herself felt her legs aching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe answered softly, smiling as she changed the subject: “After lunch, come with me to Jing’an.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was quietly giving Mai Sui an out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han had suddenly appeared; with Mai Sui’s passive nature, she’d naturally yield space to the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People are flesh and blood—how can anyone remain utterly unmoved in matters of love?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most selfless, seeing their beloved with another woman, cannot avoid emotional ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe feared her friend would suffer, so she deliberately diverted her attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui understood her kindness and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xiao Han, Shen Xin subtly frowned; but when she saw her daughter walking with Li Heng, her brow relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike her mother, Yu Shuheng was thinking: I must stop these reporters from leaking photos of Li Heng and Xiao Han’s encounter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their conversation had been normal, and she believed the reporters hadn’t heard the word “wife,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s not stupid—they’ll imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many people present, Li Heng ignored everyone else and spoke only to Xiao Han—especially since she was so exquisitely beautiful—it would be irresistible to speculate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yu Shuheng wanted to suppress the photos for his reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Li Heng and Song Yu were already publicly recognized as a couple at Peking University; if news broke now that he was dating Xiao Han, it would humiliate him, Song Yu, and Xiao Han alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Song family of Dongting Lake would be humiliated too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, it cannot be denied that Yu Shuheng also had personal motives—this man was the one she intended to marry. Due to certain unavoidable special circumstances, she could turn a blind eye to his current flirtatiousness, but she couldn’t publicly reveal his romantic affairs too soon, as it would harm her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhiyun stared at Xiao Han for a long while. Though she had known of Xiao Han’s existence and seen her photos before, she had to admit: the real person was even more beautiful and feminine than any picture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Huang Mu has now escaped life-threatening danger and regained consciousness, she remains in her hospital bed, awaiting further observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zhiyun came today hoping to find an opportunity to speak with Li Heng, to have an open and honest conversation about her younger sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can a turning point emerge?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, her younger sister is stubborn and refuses to cause Li Heng any trouble. So she must find another path—start from Li Heng himself, and try to uncover a solution acceptable to the Huang family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, many male and female students in Xianghui Hall were glancing at Xiao Han. Especially the girls, nearly envious to death, their jealousy impossible to conceal, all thinking: there are so many women in the world—why is Xiao Han the one with such luck?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grabbed such a high-quality man before even entering campus? Not leaving anyone else a chance—do you even care if people can live?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls with average conditions might just feel a twinge of envy inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those with superior conditions? They’re utterly miserable—wishing they could replace Xiao Han and have Li Heng as their perfect partner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the surrounding stares, Zhang Haiyan reached down and tugged Xiao Han’s sleeve: “Hanhuan, have you noticed? You’re practically become the public enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In public, Xiao Han always maintained an aloof, composed, and haughty demeanor, but inwardly she was quietly delighted—thank goodness my Mr. Li didn’t disappoint this beauty today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t go to Lushan Village precisely because she wanted to test him by appearing suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probe his depths!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See how much he still remembers her after she’s no longer at Fudan University? Has he been completely corrupted by Mai Shuhe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Li Heng’s performance just now was perfect—she couldn’t find a single flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing that annoyed her was that Yu Shuheng was clinging to him like a shadow—wherever he went, she followed. Hey! You’re so shamelessly clinging to my man—are you really that devoid of dignity? Does your father even know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t mention Yu Shuheng’s mother, because that old hag was even more shameless—the Eight Rules for Chasing a Husband from Jane Eyre were right there in her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes Xiao Han felt quite discouraged: after all, he was her man, yet she lacked the Yu family’s background and couldn’t offer him much professional support—that was her weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So were Chen Fu Ren and Song Fu Ren’s weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under thousands of eyes, Li Heng walked like a celebrity on a red carpet—the aisle seemed unusually long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it was short—he reached the front row in just over two minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When passing Class 2, Li Heng didn’t act aloof; he smiled and greeted his classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing two Lianyi  dorms, thankfully, the thing he feared did not occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guys in Room 325 were still laughing heartily; Li Guoyi still had no shame, giving him a flying kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter erupted around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it, it made sense. Though his status had changed and there was now a gap between him and his dorm mates, how many professors at Fudan University these days were mediocre? Many were nationally renowned experts—they’d long seen extraordinary people; what difference did one more make?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he was one of their own. They’d be lucky to cling to his leg—only fools would deliberately avoid him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, they were all top students of Fudan University, once top scholars from their hometowns, each with their own pride. Life was long; true talents would shine after graduation. They deeply admired Li Heng, yet also possessed a fierce competitive spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng’s immense achievements would momentarily confuse and discourage them, but once they adjusted, they’d only work harder, determined not to become the worst among them in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the true value of university students today—they’d all grown up enduring hardship, poor, cold, hungry, sick, beaten by their parents, looked down upon, yet their will remained unshaken; they never once considered running away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, how could China have experienced a technological explosion and a national revival? It was this generation’s tenacious, enterprising spirit—they were indestructible cockroaches when facing adversity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yanling’s gaze toward him was unusual. Li Heng, who had spent years navigating romantic entanglements, sensed it. But he pretended ignorance, smiled at the girls in Dorm 107, and walked on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Siyao had also sneaked in. When she saw Xiao Han, she didn’t feel down—instead, she felt a sudden, exhilarating clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tiptoed to glance at Zhou Shihe, then at Xiao Han—just as her inquiries had indicated: Zhou Shihe was not his girlfriend; that woman was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That woman was said to be far away at Shanghai Medical University, distant from Fudan, while Tongji University was very close—did that mean she had a chance? Could she actively try to steal him away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Siyao thought so. She decided that from now on, she wouldn’t sneak around waiting for him at bus stops—she’d pursue him openly at Fudan University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hurrying and rushing, Li Heng’s group finally reached the very front of Xianghui Hall, stepping onto the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the left of the stage, facing the audience, sat a row of seats—roughly eight in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng was today’s main character; this press conference was held specifically for him—he naturally sat in the center, occupying the prime position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d wanted to be humble—offer the seat to Master Jin Yong, or Old Master Ba, or Editor Liao, or President Sun—or even to someone from within the system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everyone here were seasoned veterans of society—they had enough sense to know: Li Heng’s humility was social etiquette, a way to show respect to everyone—but no one would actually take the seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, whoever sat there would be an idiot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Heng sat down, Jin Yong, President Sun, Old Master Ba, Editor Liao, Yu Shuheng, and the two insiders from the system each took a seat in a row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wow! What an illustrious lineup!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing stood out: Yu Shuheng looked conspicuously out of place. Yet those in the know understood—she had every right to be there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why? On what grounds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because her surname is Yu—enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because for a long time, Teacher Yu has, in a sense, been Li Heng’s official spokesperson—enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host today was not a student, but a young female leader from the Youth League Committee—elegant and warm in demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the tight schedule and Li Heng’s group being half an hour late, fearing resentment from journalists and students, the host wisely kept the opening remarks brief, simply outlining the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she shifted the entire audience’s focus to Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host invited Li Heng to the center of the stage, handed him a microphone, and smiled: “December? May I formally address you as December now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, don’t call me ‘you’—you’re embarrassing me! I’m still young—Teacher, just call me by my name.” Li Heng first apologized to the audience and journalists for his lateness, then responded humbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female host laughed heartily: “Alright, let’s be straightforward—skip the ‘you.’ I’ll just call you December.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll follow your lead,” Li Heng readily agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host turned to the audience: “Everyone heard that? This man beside me is extraordinary—he’s the legendary writer December, who wrote ‘To Live,’ ‘The Great Playboy,’ ‘The Cultural Odyssey,’ and ‘Bai Luyuan’ over the past two years…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she listed them, just as expected, thunderous applause erupted from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the applause, the host noticed Li Heng’s expression was odd and asked cautiously: “December, your expression seems strange—was there something wrong with the introduction?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: “‘The Great Playboy’? I wrote it under a pseudonym—how did you know? Who betrayed me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter erupted again from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host glanced at Editor Liao in sync.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng turned to Editor Liao, feigning irritation, firing off rapidly: “My most beloved senior brother—is it you? You stab me in the back like this? Where’s your promise? Did your honor get eaten by dogs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience roared with laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each seat had a microphone; Editor Liao picked his up and said: “Last night, Fudan University specifically asked me about you—I accidentally slipped up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To lighten the mood, Li Heng had no intention of letting him off—he seized the moment and said in a sly tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t I reach an agreement with your publishing house? ‘The Great Playboy’ must never reveal my identity—not even under threat of death. Tell me, my dear senior brother, did we ever make such an agreement?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned to Editor Liao, waiting for his explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Editor Liao looked troubled: “My fault. How about I punish myself with three drinks at lunch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng waved his hand: “How could that be? Are three drinks free? Am I supposed to drink them for free? Wait for a court summons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Editor Liao’s face instantly turned into a bitter gourd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the entire Xianghui Hall wasn’t just laughing—it was in hysterics!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leaders on stage laughed, and the teachers and students below were doubled over with mirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few moments, Li Heng’s image became vividly clear—he no longer seemed cold or unapproachable. Not only did they forgive his half-hour delay, but their fondness for him increased dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the laughter subsided, the topic returned to the host.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host asked curiously: “Honestly, if Editor Liao hadn’t mentioned ‘The Great Playboy,’ we wouldn’t have known about this book at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I read it last night—it’s quite compelling. Why are you unwilling to admit you wrote it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the room was curious about this question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Since you’ve read it, you must know how ‘The Great Playboy’ differs from my other three books?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host replied: “Yes—the vocabulary, tone, and writing style are completely different. Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng lowered his head and sighed: “It’s an unglamorous past—I’d rather not bring it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host urged: “Go ahead—we all want to hear it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “Do you remember this saying: ‘If the barbarians can go there, so can I’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host nodded: “That’s what Emperor Wu of Han said during his wars against the Xiongnu. What does that have to do with this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “When I first wrote ‘To Live,’ someone kept criticizing me in the newspapers—saying this, saying that, claiming I couldn’t capture the atmosphere of Beijing life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew—he was just trying to ride my coattails, to extort me, to suck me dry. At the time, my high school principal even came to comfort me, telling me not to care, to keep writing, to keep reading and preparing for exams. Originally…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, teasingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host hurriedly asked: “You’ve got me hooked—don’t tease! Tell me what happened next!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng continued: “I’d already let it go, didn’t care anymore. But then—my principal, who’d just told me to let it go, suddenly changed his tune. Fiercely protective, he immediately clashed with that old Beijing Wang on the newspapers, launching a heated war of words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The battle was brutal, lasting over twenty days. My principal lost. So he recruited two teachers to write articles to help him—still lost…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished, laughter erupted on and off stage—everyone was rolling, imagining the scene like three heroes battling Lü Bu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They laughed for a long time—nearly half a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When laughter subsided, under the host’s prompting, Li Heng continued: “When I learned this, I thought: this can’t go on. I couldn’t let my three beloved elders suffer this humiliation. So I decided to write a down-to-earth novel under a pseudonym to slap that old Beijing Wang’s face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host nodded: “So this was the writer’s unique way of communication—to avenge his teacher’s honor, thus creating ‘The Great Playboy’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host asked the question everyone wanted to know: “What happened next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: “What happened? Didn’t I just say? ‘If the barbarians can go there, so can I’—the roles reversed. After I published ‘The Great Playboy’ under a pseudonym, that old Beijing Wang kept praising me in the newspapers—called it the real man’s novel, said it perfectly captured Beijing’s street life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Funny thing—he even compared ‘The Great Playboy’ to ‘To Live’ in the newspaper, lavishing praise on the former while relentlessly trashing the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even shouted across the distance, telling me to learn from the author of “The Great Rebellious One”—that’s real literature.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clap, clap, clap…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience burst into applause, laughing heartily and clapping wildly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clapped for Li Heng’s indomitable spirit, for Li Heng avenging the three teachers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They also clapped for that old man from Jingcheng—he was too funny; no one expected him to be so publicly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was easy to imagine that after today’s press conference made the news, the old man from Jingcheng’s face would be utterly crimson—he’d have no face left to show anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is wisdom? This—this is wisdom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I won’t brawl with you like a shrew; hey—I’ll just write a book that makes you turn around and praise me, makes you scold yourself, makes you slap your own face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han smiled sweetly as she gazed at her honey, thinking he was utterly adorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Man quietly whispered to Mai Sui: “Your man’s full of lies—but I like listening to them. I’ll call home later and tell my dad not to slip up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words “your man” made Mai Sui’s ears burn; she glanced unconsciously at Xiao Han, seated one large group over to her left, and blushed silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe slightly lowered her eyelids, her clear, pure eyes shimmering with a faint, elusive smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xin in the audience grew fonder of Li Heng with every passing moment—this son-in-law suited her perfectly; not only was he brilliant, but his conduct radiated sharp intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host asked: “Why call him ‘the old man from Jingcheng’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: “He lives in Jingcheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Post first, revise later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Still more)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3970,"2026-06-19T15:27:37.100Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8c5c143ed556e37dae9a855ceb16886ae73f19ea14530a5dddb8d3def83b7384","1987-my-era-chapter-519","1987-my-era-chapter-517",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]