Chapter 521

Zhou Shihe had a small appetite; after eating half a bowl of rice, she put down her chopsticks.

Then she sat silently, her simple black-and-white attire reflecting someone's shadow as she watched him eat, watched him pick at his dishes, in quiet stillness.

She watched quietly as he drank the tomato and egg soup.

Midway, Li Heng reached out to grab the icy drink, only to find it already gone—he'd finished it all himself.

Seeing this, Zhou Shihe hesitated for several seconds, then finally rose from her seat.

Not long after, she returned, holding a freshly squeezed icy fruit juice, placing it gently before him.

Li Heng lifted his head and, with greasy lips, murmured, "Thank you."

Then he asked, "It tastes good—won't you have another cup?"

Zhou Shihe sat back down and said calmly, "My body is weak; if I drink something cold, I need a long time to recover."

Hearing this, Li Heng's gaze involuntarily drifted over her.

But just that one glance left them both frozen; the atmosphere turned suddenly delicate.

Both recalled the scene by the bathroom door earlier.

Back then, his mind had been foggy; he'd stood dazed at the door for a long while, nearly seeing her entire body.

And how little time had passed since then—now, at such a sensitive moment, he'd foolishly looked at her again.

Even if it was through clothing, it was still her he'd seen.

And between men and women, sometimes clothing only adds flavor, stirs the imagination more.

After a moment of eye contact, Zhou Shihe subtly averted her gaze, looking out the window. Her expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened.

Yet beneath the table, unseen, her hands instinctively gripped the fabric of her pants.

Li Heng steadied himself, forcing his gaze away from her, and lowered his head to continue eating.

His every movement was captured in her peripheral vision; as his gaze moved away, she exhaled softly, her grip on her pants slowly loosening.

After a long silence, she pressed her lips together and suddenly spoke: "Can I ask you a question?"

Li Heng didn't look up, began filling his third bowl of rice—but only filled it halfway—"No."

Zhou Shihe waited a moment, then asked: "I heard there's a girl in high school prettier than Xiao Han?"

Li Heng lifted his head to glance at her, noticing she still had her face turned away, eyes fixed on the window.

His gaze lingered on her profile for a moment, then he said in surprise, "Why are you asking this? It's not like you."

Zhou Shihe countered: "Do you really know me?"

Her tone was gentle, not unpleasant, yet sharp beneath the surface.

He was stumped. After a long pause, Li Heng said: "I thought I understood you fairly well—but now that you ask, I'm no longer sure."

Zhou Shihe pouted slightly, then smiled lightly: "I just heard it from someone."

Li Heng picked up: "And now you're suspicious?"

Zhou Shihe turned her head, gazing at him quietly.

Li Heng continued, speaking to himself: "You think someone like me—a fickle turnip—would throw himself at a girl that beautiful, right?"

Zhou Shihe smiled faintly, lowering her head, and with her right hand, lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Li Heng leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice: "So what do you think—am I fickle or not?"

Zhou Shihe lifted her eyebrows slightly, then let them fall again, offering no answer.

Li Heng stared at the strand of hair by her ear for a moment, then said with quiet meaning: "This year in Bai Luyuan, I met a very beautiful girl."

Hearing this, Zhou Shihe wisely said nothing more.

For the rest of the half-bowl of rice, neither spoke again. When he finished, they exchanged a silent glance, then rose together in unspoken agreement.

At the counter, Li Heng said: "Table 16, please."

The server inside replied: "Sir, the young lady at table 16 has already paid."

Li Heng glanced at her as he walked toward the door: "Four dishes, most of which I ate, yet you paid? Don't you feel cheated?"

Zhou Shihe glanced at his back and said gently: "If your conscience troubles you, you can give me the money."

Li Heng stopped dead, turned around, and stared unblinkingly at her: "So stingy? I was just being polite—wanted to eat without feeling guilty."

Zhou Shihe smiled, her expression warm as spring breeze, stepped past him, and continued forward.

After she'd walked ten or so steps, Li Heng called from behind: "Hey! We need to stop by the department store."

Hearing this, Zhou Shihe paused, then changed direction toward the department store.

Entering one after the other, Li Heng first bought a lock and a lock-replacement tool; then, with practiced ease, bought a box of dark chocolate.

Zhou Shihe walked beside him and immediately understood—the lock was for the shower room, the chocolate for Sui Sui.

After purchasing both items, Li Heng asked: "Is there anything you want to eat or buy?"

Zhou Shihe thought a moment and said: "We'll stop by the bakery and get some bread later."

"Fine."

Leaving the department store, they went to a bakery, each buying a bag of bread to keep on hand for when they got hungry.

When they returned to Lushan Village, dusk had fallen; but before they could enter the alley, someone blocked their path. It was none other than Student Union President Zhao Menglong.

Seeing Zhao Menglong ahead, Zhou Shihe slowed her steps, finally stopping by the roadside.

Li Heng walked over and asked: "Senior, you're looking for me?"

Zhao Menglong hurriedly waved his hand: "Don't call me senior—just call me by my name."

Li Heng smiled: "No one visits unless they have a purpose—you're here for a reason."

Zhao Menglong had indeed come specifically for him, but before entering Lushan Village, he'd hesitated, paced back and forth, wondering whether to approach Li Heng at all—would he disturb him? Would he be unwelcome?

Before he could decide, he saw Li Heng and Zhou Shihe walking toward him from the school gate.

Zhao Menglong quickly glanced at Zhou Shihe nearby, then pulled Li Heng's sleeve aside: "You're smart—you know why I'm here, right?"

Li Heng thought a moment and said: "I heard Ye Xuejie is back at school?"

Zhao Menglong's secret crush on Ye Zhanyan had spread through the Student Union; many now knew. He felt awkward but pressed on: "Do you have time? Let's have dinner together."

Li Heng asked: "When?"

Since they both understood, Zhao Menglong no longer hid it: "Tonight? Tomorrow, Zhanyan leaves."

Li Heng paused, unwilling to refuse outright: "I need to visit Teacher Yu's house now."

He raised his left wrist to check the time: "It's almost eight. How about this—I'll try to be there by nine. If I don't make it, something's come up."

Knowing this junior couldn't be judged by ordinary standards—his responsibilities were many, his obligations layered—Zhao Menglong couldn't possibly complain. For him to even give this much consideration was already a great favor.

They agreed to meet at Lao Li Restaurant at nine, then parted ways.

As they entered the alley, Li Heng suddenly said: "Ye Zhanyan's back."

Zhou Shihe asked thoughtfully: "Are you afraid she'll bother you?"

Li Heng replied: "Yes and no. Would you mind coming with me later?"

Zhou Shihe glanced at his back and said casually: "Sui Sui would be better—she can drink."

Got it—she was refusing.

Understanding her meaning, Li Heng fell silent, quickened his pace, walked straight to the end of the alley, then turned and slipped through the slightly ajar gate of No. 25, vanishing inside.

No one downstairs.

He headed straight upstairs.

He climbed the stairs quickly; at the landing, he saw Teacher Yu, who was currently talking with Liu Bei on the sofa.

Probably business matters.

Li Heng didn't want to interrupt their conversation, so he didn't approach. Instead, he made himself a cup of coffee and walked into Teacher Yu's study.

Seeing this, Liu Bei wasn't surprised. She'd already seen Mr. Li and Miss Yu embracing in Bai Luyuan; this was nothing compared to that.

Yu Shuheng, however, smiled faintly, feeling a quiet triumph—her slow-boiling-frog tactic had worked. The young man had grown accustomed to her presence, to this home; he was no longer so stiff or formal as before.

Twenty minutes later, Liu Bei gathered her signed documents and left quickly.

Yu Shuheng stretched, then brought two cups of coffee into the study.

As she entered, she asked Li Heng, who was dozing in his chair: "Tired?"

Li Heng half-opened his eyes: "Drank too much baijiu at lunch—head's pounding."

"Where exactly?"

"Around my temples."

Yu Shuheng placed one cup before him, scanned his body with her eyes, then set the other cup on the table. She stepped behind him and began massaging his temples.

When her pale fingers touched his skin, Li Heng was startled, instinctively leaning back to look at her.

But as he leaned back, his head accidentally pressed against her full chest—his skull instantly enveloped in softness, the sensation unmistakable, damn, it felt amazing!

It was wonderful—but when he realized who was behind him, he tried to pull away. Yet the next second, her hands held him firmly in place.

Looking down at him, Yu Shuheng smiled faintly: "We've touched before—today you're acting strange?"

Li Heng's lip twitched: "Teacher, don't tease me—I'm starving, and I can't guarantee I'll behave like a gentleman today."

Hearing this, Yu Shuheng bent down, leaned close to his ear, and gently bit his earlobe with her even white teeth: "Is that how it is?"

Breathing in her feminine scent, feeling the warmth at his ear, Li Heng lost his composure.

As the saying goes: when full and warm, lust arises. That was him right now.

Damn it, she teases me every day—thinks I'm a sick cat she can't handle?

Without hesitation, Li Heng reached back.

Unexpectedly, Yu Shuheng had anticipated this; she smiled, wrapping her arms tightly around him from behind, pinning him in place.

Li Heng struggled once—couldn't break free—and asked: "Teacher, where did you get this strength?"

Yu Guang smiled and said, "I'm exactly 174 cm tall—only slightly shorter than you."

Before he could reply, she continued, "I called you here today to tell you two things."

PS: Post first, then revise.

Already updated 11, 00 characters.

(End of chapter)