Chapter 541: Wei Shiman vs. Li Heng, Xiao Han Joins the Fight (Request Subscription)

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows of the girls' dormitory, casting dappled patterns across the frame and light; the narrow lobby suddenly felt wider than the ocean.

It felt like a century had passed.

With the solemn, windswept air of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the Qin king, and under her mother's gaze, Xiao Han forced her trembling legs forward until she stood before Honey.

She rallied herself internally: Xiao Han! Stay calm! Even if Mom kills me, I must maintain my cool, aloof girl's poise.

She stood firm, steadied herself, tilted her head slightly, and forced the sweetest smile onto her face as she chirped: "Mr. Li, you've come."

Same familiar flavor.

Same familiar address.

The oppressive aura Li Heng had felt from Wei Shiman instantly dissipated; he flashed a bright, clean row of white teeth and grinned warmly.

"Yeah, missed my wife!"

Hearing the word "wife," Xiao Han's face twitched; her peripheral vision desperately twisted to check behind her for the great demon.

Where had the great demon reached?

Had the great demon heard that word—"wife"?

Dear Honey, do you really want to die faster?

Do you want to die more miserably?

If you're determined to die, don't drag this beauty down with you—I haven't even given you a child to carry on the Li family line yet.

In that instant, the girl's thoughts turned to a sigh, as dull and dusty as the street scene.

In that instant, Xiao Han's exquisitely beautiful face twisted into a knot, yet she forced herself to stay calm, then reached out to take the bags he held in both hands:

"Which ones are for me? Which ones are for my roommates?"

Don't blame her for asking—she'd always received two sets of gifts before.

Of course, she asked mainly to distract herself.

Because her legs felt weak, and she feared she'd collapse onto the floor with a thud any second.

Wei Shiman walked over, eyebrows furrowed, arms crossed, standing before Li Heng with stern scrutiny.

Clearly, Wei Shiman had heard Li Heng call her daughter "wife" just now.

Xiao Qing stood behind her mother, studying Li Heng with an odd expression—she too had heard those earth-shattering three words.

She wondered: How could Li Heng have such nerve?

He hasn't even broken up with Chen Zijin yet, yet he's whispering sweet nothings to his sister so openly—doesn't he fear he won't be able to recover?

Doesn't he fear Mom will beat him?

Xiao Qing had no doubt: if Li Heng angered Mom, no matter his status, Mom would strike without hesitation.

Wei Shiman's eyes were half-lidded now, small but piercing, radiating intense suffocation that made others feel uneasy.

Meeting the gaze of his future mother-in-law, Li Heng's lips moved, then he let out a voice that shook heaven and moved ghosts: "Mom, you're here too."

"Clatter! Clatter! Clatter! "

Hearing this outrageous remark, Xiao Han didn't just feel weak in the legs—her hands trembled violently.

Half the bags she'd just taken slipped from her grip and tumbled to the floor.

She stared at her beloved, frozen like a stone statue, utterly stunned.

Dear Mr. Li, how dare you?

Dear Honey, how adorable you are.

Couldn't you wait a few seconds until I've carried the gifts upstairs before calling "Mom"?

At least pick a better place—calling her "Mom" at the hospital might still allow for timely rescue.

Not only was Xiao Han stunned—Xiao Qing was no different; her mouth gaped wide enough to swallow a goose egg.

Wei Shiman was also thrown into confusion by that single "Mom"—she lost her composure instantly.

When she came downstairs, she'd imagined countless possibilities, even guessing what her daughter's boyfriend looked like.

What qualities had won over her precious daughter?

She'd considered every scenario—but never imagined the man below would be Li Heng!

The same man she'd teased about during Spring Festival, the same boy she'd joked about with her husband during summer, the "remarried man" she'd dismissed with contempt, the Li Heng her daughter had never even deigned to look at.

That sudden "Mom" shattered the momentum Wei Shiman had painstakingly built; she locked eyes on Li Heng, her mind blank, frozen in place, unsure how to respond.

Looking at the boy before her, Wei Shiman felt her ancestors were playing a cruel joke on her.

Two years ago, he was the disgraced boy at the center of the town's biggest scandal—now he stood before her calling her "Mom"?

When rumors of his scandal with Chen's noble daughter spread through the countryside two years ago, she'd sat with a bowl of sunflower seeds, enjoying gossip with neighbors for hours.

The memory of those days surfaced vividly—she'd felt immense emotional satisfaction chatting about the scandal with relatives and friends.

That summer, the only topic in town was Li Heng and Chen Zijin's affair.

That summer, lurid versions of Li Heng and Chen Zijin sleeping together circulated endlessly; her ears were worn out from hearing them—but she still listened with rapt delight.

She clearly remembered one evening, after drinking a bit of sorghum liquor with her husband, she'd joked:

"If that Li Heng ever dares to sweet-talk our Han like that, I'll chop his three legs into pieces and feed them to the dogs."

Now, barely two years later, the man she'd thought she'd never meet again stood before her—and called her "Mom."

Why had this happened?

Why did fate toy with her so cruelly?

If I go back now, how can I possibly introduce Li Heng to relatives and friends?

After all, I've laughed at him with them more than once.

That "Mom" felt bitterly ironic—yet undeniably real.

Many female college students passed by, slowing their steps as they neared Li Heng, whispering among themselves:

One girl murmured: "Still so handsome. Haven't seen him in a while—his aura's even better."

Another said: "Of course. He's been cultivating his culture day and night—how could his aura not improve?"

Another sighed enviously: "I envy Xiao Han so much. If I had a boyfriend this dazzling, I'd do anything he asked."

Another girl added: "I wonder if he needs a mistress? I'd be willing to be his mistress."

"Oh! Xiao Yuan, shut up! Saying that in public? So shameless! If you're going to say it, say it back in the dorm… hehe…"

"…."

A group of girls giggled and walked away. Another group giggled and arrived.

Hearing these remarks, Wei Shiman frowned, wondering: had societal norms changed too fast? Or was it just that Shanghai's culture was more open? Even the word "mistress" was being spoken aloud.

She didn't know that since Li Heng became nationally famous, every university had a small group of female students passionately debating how likely it was to become his mistress—and what qualifications were needed.

For example, even the usually conservative Dai Qing had once fantasized: if Li Heng asked her to be his mistress, she'd endure a prolonged, intense psychological battle—but in the end, she'd weakly surrender, lying helplessly on his bed, at his mercy.

If Xiao Qing had been shocked by "wife," she was now utterly speechless at hearing Li Heng call "Mom"—her mind was in complete disarray.

She didn't know what to do anymore.

But Xiao Qing realized: this reckless behavior had disrupted Mom's rhythm far better than a polite "Auntie" ever could.

The truth was, it worked.

Li Heng's "Mom" wasn't random—he'd learned it from past experience.

In his previous life, when he first met Wei Shiman as Xiao Han's boyfriend, he'd called her "Auntie."

What was the result?

Wei Shiman ignored him completely—never acknowledged him, never even looked at him properly. Every meal, she only talked to Xiao Han, then left, refusing to speak to him for a long time.

Until one day, Li Heng suddenly switched to calling her "Mom." Wei Shiman froze for a long moment, then slowly softened her attitude.

Plainly put, the tactic for dealing with Wei Shiman was the same as for dealing with a sly wife: don't follow convention, don't act according to routine. These two women were too alike.

If you play by the rules, it won't work—it'll only make her think you're annoying.

In this life, she'd handled Xiao Han by going all-out: calling her "wife" constantly, hugging and kissing her without hesitation, ignoring Xiao Han's expectations—and quickly won her over.

The same approach worked for the mother-in-law.

But these tactics were individual. If it were Jiang Yue, he'd have to stick to "Auntie"—calling her "Mom" right away would collapse everything.

Because Jiang Yue, like Song Yu, was conservative, traditional-minded, and preferred steady, composed men.

In short: for Xiao Han and her mother, wild punches beat the master.

True enough—Li Heng's "Mom" shattered Wei Shiman's rhythm. She'd planned to pressure him, then scold him—but now she was stuck, neither advancing nor retreating, standing there dazed.

The floor was littered with snacks and fruit. Li Heng subtly winked at Xiao Han, then crouched down to pick them up.

"Mmm~" Xiao Han's expression softened; she chirped happily, snapped out of her shock, and bent down to help collect the items.

While picking up fruit, Xiao Han shot him a look: Mr. Li, you scared me to death! Who knew you'd pull out your ultimate move so brazenly.

Could it not be an ultimate move?

Do you think "Mom" is just any word you can shout?

The meaning behind "Mom"—even a fool understands it—so Xiao Han was overjoyed; her earlier anxiety vanished instantly.

That "Mom" represented Li Heng's seriousness.

It meant he took this relationship seriously.

It meant he treated this bond differently.

Watching her daughter and Li Heng exchange glances over the scattered snacks, Wei Shiman felt as if brainwashed—her mind filled only with that single "Mom."

Soon, the two had gathered every snack and fruit from the floor.

Xiao Han stood up, and right under her mother's eyes, reached out to smooth Li Heng's collar, forcing a sweet smile: "Husband, take Mom and Big Sister outside to wait—I'll bring the gifts upstairs and be right back."

Hearing his wife so willingly call him "husband," Li Heng beamed in delight.

【101】 Wei Shiman was furious inside, her eyes nearly slits—this pair of shameless ones: one calls "Mom," the other calls "husband."

As the saying goes, no one knows a daughter better than her mother.

As her mother, how could she not see that her youngest daughter deliberately called him "husband"—just to show it to her, clearly sending the message: This is my man, he's no ordinary man, Mom, you must give him some face in public.

Xiao Han knew her mother's character all too well; just like her elder sister Xiao Qing, she feared her mother might lash out physically, so she decided to fully defend him.

After all, she'd already been publicly hugged and kissed by Honey, had slept with him, and everyone at Shanghai Medical University knew she was his woman—she had no way back, so Xiao Han naturally had to fight with all she had.

After telling Li Heng something, she gave her elder sister a subtle glance, then turned and carried the bags upstairs.

Seeing the crowd growing larger at the entrance to the female dormitory, Li Heng quickly said, "Mom, Elder Sister, let's go wait for Hanhan somewhere else."

Wei Shiman clenched her fists, desperately wanting to land two solid punches on that face—more beautiful than any woman's—and smash it to pieces.

She used to love gossiping about the Chen family's noble daughter, never imagining the gossip would eventually land on her own doorstep—how could she not be furious?

She would never return to Qianzhen again; she had no face to show herself outside.

She could already imagine how the townsfolk would whisper behind her back: "Oh! Wei Shiman used to mock Li Heng's scandals and laugh loudly—never thought she'd end up losing her own daughter to him. This is karma, haha…"

With others, Wei Shiman was witty, sharp-tongued, and carried the demeanor of a town magistrate's wife.

But faced with Li Heng, all she felt was rage and simmering fury—her fists clenched tightly inside her long sleeves several times, yet each time she bit her lip and held back, finally leaving the female dormitory area only after her elder daughter Xiao Qing whispered soothing words, following Li Heng into a small grove.

The small grove was quiet, nearly empty.

Xiao Qing glanced around, then asked, "Li Heng, can your little sister find this place? Or is this somewhere you two often come?"

Li Heng replied, "This is somewhere we often come."

Hearing their conversation, Wei Shiman grew even more agitated—coming to a place like this, her precious daughter was bound to be taken advantage of.

She didn't know how far things had gone—probably already been hugged.

Thinking of how Li Heng had once slept with Chen Zijin, and now might be hugging her little daughter here, Wei Shiman could no longer hold back—her temper flared instantly.

She narrowed her eyes and asked her first words since meeting him: "A few days ago, I ran into your elder sister selling rice at the market. Someone asked her about your relationship with the Chen family's noble daughter. She said it was going very well—that Chen Zijin is now living with your parents in Jingcheng and will marry you after graduation. Is that true?"

Li Heng felt numb, wanted to die—no matter how hard he'd guarded against it, he hadn't guarded against his own elder sister.

With his elder sister's blunt, straightforward nature, if someone asked her about things, she wouldn't lie or beat around the bush. Anybody who even slightly twisted the question could easily extract all her secrets.

And now he was a local celebrity—of course people would casually ask his sister about him.

He didn't dare entertain any Jiaoxing —didn't question the truth of her words.

Because it was exactly the kind of thing his elder sister would do.

He couldn't easily respond to such a question.

If he said yes, it would only make things worse.

If he said no—he couldn't do that, because Zijin was his woman.

He could never deny one woman for the sake of another; it contradicted his principles.

Seeing his silence—effectively an admission—Wei Shiman, consumed by rage, could no longer hide her right hand beneath her sleeve. She struck like lightning, punching Li Heng squarely in the face.

Faced with the sudden punch, Li Heng instinctively wanted to dodge—but his feet rooted to the ground.

But the angry fist didn't land.

Xiao Qing had anticipated it and grabbed her mother's right wrist, holding it tightly: "Mom, calm down. This is a university—don't make a scene."

Wei Shiman ignored her, glaring at Li Heng like a venomous snake. In her fury, she didn't care if he was a famous writer or legendary musician—she just wanted to beat him, wished she could swallow him whole.

She had only one biological daughter—her heart's treasure, cherished beyond measure, more important to her than her own life—and now this man had insulted her without cause.

It was an unforgivable humiliation!

She couldn't think straight, couldn't swallow this anger.

If!

If he broke up with the Chen girl and then pursued Hanhan, she might still be angry—but she wouldn't hit him. But what did this bastard do?

He's dangling one woman at home, yet dares to come out and court my only biological daughter? Does he think the whole world owes him? Does he think everyone must sing his praises because he's a famous writer?

I don't care!

Wei Shiman truly didn't care anymore—his red line had been crossed.

If not for that one "Mom" throwing her off balance, she would've hit him back at the dormitory—why wait until now?

Wei Shiman raised her fist again, but Xiao Qing's next words doused her like ice water.

Xiao Qing held her mother's wrist with both hands and said: "Hanhan is Li Heng's woman—everyone at the medical university knows it. If you hit him now, how will Hanhan ever stay at school?"

Her little daughter was her entire world. Hearing this, Wei Shiman froze—then her raised right hand lost its force, allowing her elder daughter to pull it down.

Wei Shiman turned aside, urgently demanding: "What did you just mean? Hanhan is Li Heng's woman? Everyone at the medical university knows?"

The implications of that statement were overwhelming!

Wei Shiman felt dizzy, as if the sky were collapsing.

In her panic, Xiao Qing realized she'd said too much—but there was no turning back. She pressed on: "Mom, don't get angry yet. The situation between Li Heng and Hanhan isn't as simple as you think—it can't be explained in a few words."

Saying this, Xiao Qing glanced at Li Heng, leaned close to her mother's ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Mom, Hanhan cares deeply for Li Heng. For her sake, don't act on impulse. If you hit him now, you'll destroy any chance of her marrying him."

Wei Shiman was confused.

Her little daughter cared deeply for Li Heng?

Her little daughter would marry Li Heng?

For the past six years, her daughter had shown Li Heng nothing but coldness—now, after coming to Shanghai, she'd changed so drastically? Wasn't she just being tricked? How could she possibly care deeply?

And marriage? What was this about marriage?

Earlier, Wei Shiman had been furious because she'd assumed the Chen and Li families had already agreed to a marriage alliance—that Li Heng was deceiving her daughter for amusement. That's why she'd wanted to hit him.

She absolutely wouldn't allow her daughter to become his mistress.

Don't blame Wei Shiman for thinking this way—her husband was the town magistrate, and she herself had once led the Qianzhen Post Office. She understood the cruelty of the system better than most.

She understood the terror of power more clearly than ordinary people.

Especially since Li Jianguo had once been part of the system himself—he knew the rules inside out. So regarding her children's marriages, she never believed the Li family would abandon the powerful Chen family.

And Chen Zijin was a stunning beauty, famously gorgeous even at a young age. The Chen and Li families were close—she'd heard Chen's daughter even spent the New Year's holiday at the Li household. Everyone in Shangwan Village knew it; the rumor had even reached town.

And now Chen Zijin was living with the Li family in Jingcheng—she was already being treated like a daughter-in-law.

If the Li family treated Chen Zijin as their daughter-in-law, then what did they think of my daughter? What did they think of me?

That's why, in her fury, Wei Shiman had struck out.

Wei Shiman was held back by her elder daughter, staring fixedly at Li Heng. Though still furious, she said nothing.

She was stunned by her elder daughter's words—realizing many things were off-kilter. She needed to understand the truth first—then she'd hit him if needed, and kick him out if needed. She wouldn't hesitate.

Sigh. This situation was exactly as he'd imagined, Li Heng thought.

In his past life, he'd had three mothers-in-law, each with different personalities.

Zhong Lan had never spoken to him, and he'd never spoken to her—they'd lived in complete estrangement.

Wei Shiman's attitude toward him had changed gradually. At first, she disliked him for being promiscuous, constantly giving him cold looks and sarcastic remarks. But after he and Xiao Han had a son and a daughter, and after he began calling her "Mom," time and family affection softened her—later on, she treated him decently.

Of course, Wei Shiman's change in attitude toward him had one basic condition: her daughter was the only one who had officially married Li Heng.

Song Yu, Chen Zijin—neither had a marriage certificate. In her eyes, they were just concubines, unworthy of public recognition. She held a psychological advantage.

If her daughter hadn't obtained a marriage certificate either, Wei Shiman would've never accepted him.

As for Jiang Yue, she had strongly opposed him before he was with Song Yu.

But after he became involved with Song Yu, Jiang Yue never openly opposed him again—she simply moved with her husband to a place where no one knew them, escaping the gossip.

The grove remained tense. Li Heng wanted to say something to ease the atmosphere—but when he met Wei Shiman's glare—"Don't talk to me, you want a beating?"—he fell silent.

Having lived with her for a lifetime, he knew her too well. Right now, her emotions were at their peak—nothing he said would help.

Only his cunning wife could break through the wall in her heart. Others—even Xiao Qing—would be useless. So he wasn't in a hurry.

After calming her mother, Xiao Qing feared further conflict and awkwardness, so she took the initiative to speak to Li Heng, offering him a way out:

"Li Heng, wasn't the newspaper reporting you went to Aba for fieldwork? When did you get back?"

Li Heng glanced gratefully at Xiao Qing: "I got back last night."

Xiao Qing watched her mother's expression from the corner of her eye and followed up: "Last night?"

"Yes, around eight p. .," Li Heng answered.

Xiao Qing smiled: "So late? Then you came straight here to see Hanhan—she's lucky."

Li Heng knew his elder sister-in-law was giving him a stage, helping him make a good impression: "I meant to come this morning, but I had to report back to school first."

"That's only right."

Xiao Qing then asked: "By the way, I have a question—did Hanhan meet your parents during the summer vacation?"

Hearing this, Wei Shiman's ears perked up.

Li Heng nodded: "Yes. My parents really liked her."

Wei Shiman frowned.

Xiao Qing asked: "I noticed Hanhan is wearing a jade bracelet on her right wrist—it looks very valuable. Was it a gift from your parents?"

Li Heng nodded again—it was no longer time to hide: "That was my mother's gift to Hanhan upon meeting her."

By mentioning Li's parents and the jade bracelet, Xiao Qing was silently conveying to her mother: Chen Zijin isn't guaranteed to win—Hanhan still has a real chance.

While Li Heng and Xiao Qing chatted to ease the tension, Xiao Han rushed back from delivering her things to the dorm.

Xiao Han ran over, immediately checking Li Heng's face—left side, then right side—then sighed in relief: Good, he hadn't been hit.

On her way here, she'd worried: If Mom had smashed Honey's face, she'd be heartbroken for a long time.

After checking Li Heng's face, Xiao Han turned to her mother and said brightly: "Mom, let me formally introduce you—your 'second-husband' from before is now my man. You can't hit him, or he'll instantly become a third-husband. Lots of women are waiting in line for us to break up. Calm down—don't help the enemy."

Xiao Qing almost laughed. What had been a serious matter now sounded like a comedy in her little sister's mouth.

No wonder she's my wife—only she can match wits with this mother-in-law. But what's with this "second-husband" nonsense? Li Heng thought.

Wei Shiman was in a foul mood and had no patience for her daughter's banter. She turned and walked coldly toward the campus gate.

She wanted to leave her daughter's school first. Even if things got messy, she wouldn't bring shame upon her daughter.

Seeing this, Xiao Han blinked her sparkling eyes and voluntarily extended her right hand toward Li Heng, pouting: "Oh, Mom doesn't want me anymore. Husband, hold me."

Ahead, Wei Shiman's body trembled slightly, but she forced herself not to turn around.

Xiao Qing couldn't help laughing and hurried forward to link arms with her mother.

Li Heng and Xiao Han walked in the back row, beginning to chatter away.

Xiao Han tilted her head and asked: "Just now, did my dear mom want to hit you?"

Li Heng replied: "No."

Xiao Han wrinkled her nose and whined: "Don't lie—I know my mom's temper pretty well. She's not good at big things, only good at dragging her daughter down."

Hearing this, Wei Shiman wanted to turn and scold, but Xiao Qing gripped her arm tightly, preventing her from turning.

Behind them, Xiao Han linked her arm through Li Heng's and whispered as if secretively: "See? Terrible temper—like a powder keg. One spark and it explodes."

"Husband, I'll tell you a secret—if she ever slaps you in the face, just hit me instead. Hey, a daughter pays for her mother's debts—it's only natural. Who else but me has a mother who's a liability?"

Wei Shiman suddenly stopped walking. Her chest heaved over a dozen times before her eldest daughter pushed her forward again.

Watching the scene ahead, Xiao Han's eyes crinkled into a smile, forming little dimples. Seeing the shaded path was empty, she suddenly rose on her toes and kissed Li Heng's cheek, her tiny dimple glowing: "Husband, are you over it now?"

Hearing her little daughter call him "husband" over and over, Wei Shiman felt the sky collapse—her beliefs shattered.

She couldn't imagine: where had the daughter who once ignored Li Heng gone? How had she become like this? Was Li Heng some kind of magician?

First Chen Zijin, now her own daughter—both turned into completely different people the moment they met Li Heng. So different she no longer recognized them.

Li Heng affectionately squeezed his scheming daughter-in-law's palm. With a wife like this, what more could a man ask for?

Even if he suffered unbearable frustration from Wei Shiman, just thinking of this scheming wife made him endure it—and his anger vanished.

Leaving the grove, the more they neared the school gate, the more alumni and teachers filled the path. To spare her mother's face, Xiao Han restrained herself in public and asked:

"How's your new book going? Have you started writing? Was it smooth in Aba?"

Li Heng answered honestly: "So far, it's going well, but I haven't started writing yet—I'm still researching related materials."

He paused, then added: "Once I've sorted out all the threads, I'll begin writing."

Xiao Han softly pursed her lips: "I want to be the first to read your new book."

This reminded him of Teacher Yu.

Teacher Yu had said the exact same thing when he was in Aba.

He sighed inwardly. He didn't want to lie, but telling the truth now would invite a knife to the throat.

Li Heng said: "I'll publish the book only after finishing it. Then I'll give you the first copy."

He thought: Teacher Yu and Mai Sui and the others would read it chapter by chapter—or a few chapters at a time. But his scheming wife would be the first to read the complete manuscript.

That wouldn't conflict, would it?

Would it even count as lying?

He asked: "How have you been lately?"

Xiao Han pouted slightly: "Don't even ask—I'm exhausted. Professor Wen Yan has so many major surgeries; every weekend I'm running after her nonstop."

"At school, it's chaos too. Besides keeping up with classwork, I have to squeeze in time to accelerate my progress and keep pace with the teachers, and self-study the books Professor Wen recommends. Every time I'm tired, I think: Come back soon, save me. Let me just stay home and take care of husband and kids."

As she spoke, Xiao Han gazed up at him, her eyes curled into sweet crescents, charming and lovely.

Forced to swallow another helping of dog food, Wei Shiman's heart churned with mixed emotions. She understood perfectly—her daughter was saying this deliberately for her to hear.

Everything her little daughter did today expressed one demand: she cares deeply for Li Heng, and won't let anyone touch him.

This matched what her eldest daughter had said earlier.

But Wei Shiman still couldn't understand: what had Li Heng done to transform her daughter so completely?

Was this even the daughter she knew?

Li Heng asked tenderly: "Do you have plans this weekend?"

Xiao Han replied coolly: "I did have some. I was supposed to leave this afternoon. But if I leave now, you'll definitely kill me, Mom. I dare not go."

Li Heng: "..."

Xiao Qing was stifling laughter.

Wei Shiman turned and shot her youngest daughter a furious glare. Every word was a dagger aimed at her. She'd raised a thankless child.

Xiao Han pretended not to notice her mother's displeasure. After crossing the school gate, she asked: "Did you eat lunch here?"

Li Heng nodded: "Yes. What about you?"

"Not yet. We were just about to."

Xiao Han continued: "Come on, join us for a bite."

Li Heng agreed: "Alright."

It was still the same Hunanese restaurant, run by a man from Chenzhou.

The four found a corner table by the window.

Xiao Han handed the menu to her mother first. Wei Shiman turned her head away, ignoring it.

Undeterred, Xiao Han pouted and consulted Xiao Qing briefly, then ordered five meat dishes, one vegetable, and one soup. Finally, she asked Li Heng: "Husband, anything you especially want to eat?"

Hearing her daughter still call him "husband," Wei Shiman's eyebrows twitched.

Li Heng thought for a moment, considering his future mother-in-law's tastes, and ordered spicy Kung Pao chicken.

They say: don't judge the monk by his robe. His scheming wife had shown him her whole heart. As a mature man, he couldn't hold a grudge over her wanting to hit him—he must prioritize pleasing his wife.

After all, he was in the wrong.

True enough, upon hearing "spicy Kung Pao chicken," Wei Shiman glanced at him. Xiao Han beamed.

Though this was Wei Shiman's first meal with Li Heng, she now disliked him intensely. As soon as she sat down, she sat coldly, refusing to speak no matter how hard her two daughters tried to coax her—let alone reconcile with Li Heng.

Seeing her mother was unmoved, Xiao Qing pondered her mother's thoughts, then took the initiative to ask Li Heng questions on her behalf.

Xiao Qing asked: "Li Heng, I heard your father is unwell and receiving treatment in Jingcheng. How is he now? Has he recovered?"

Li Heng replied: "After a year of treatment, his condition is currently stable."

Xiao Qing asked: "Did you buy a house in Jingcheng?"

Li Heng nodded: "We bought a sihe academy."

Xiao Qing said: "I have a close college classmate from Jingcheng—I've been there several times. Where exactly did you buy your sihe academy?"

Li Heng said: "Near Gulou. Have you been there, Sister Qing?"

Xiao Qing replied: "Gulou? I heard houses there are expensive."

Li Heng said: "They are indeed pricey. I got mine through connections."

Xiao Qing glanced at her mother, then hesitated before asking: "Through the Chen family?"

It was indeed the Chen family—but he absolutely couldn't mention them now, or today's situation would be impossible to resolve.

Li Heng answered instantly: "No, through my teacher."

Xiao Qing asked: "Master Ba?"

Li Heng said: "Yes. He has many friends there. He just made a phone call and got it done for me."

Xiao Qing asked: "Will you return to your hometown? Are you settling permanently in Jingcheng?"

Asking so many questions about the sihe academy, this was the real core issue.

If the Li family settled in Jingcheng, it meant Xiao Mei's marriage to Li Heng was off. After this question, Xiao Qing would ask no more.

And from then on, Xiao Qing would no longer defend him—she'd side with her mother to break them apart.

Xiao Mei was the pride of the Xiao family—beautiful as a flower, graceful as the moon. Since childhood, she'd been praised as: "Nine out of ten charms of the small town reside in Xiao Mei."

Even if she missed Li Heng, Xiao Mei could still marry well—thanks to her extraordinary beauty and high education. There was no need for her to become Li Heng's concubine.

Making Xiao Mei Li Heng's mistress wasn't just shameful to Wei Shiman—it was equally despised by Xiao Qing.

On this point, mother and daughter shared high standards and great expectations for Xiao Han's future. They would never allow Xiao Han to degrade herself.

As if sensing her sister's hidden meaning, Xiao Han looked at Li Heng with a heavy heart. She too wanted to know the answer.

She wanted to know: had she already been eliminated before graduation? Was honey determined to marry Song Yu?

Unlike Wei Shiman and Xiao Qing, Xiao Han believed her two biggest rivals were Song Yu and Yu Shuheng.

If the Li family settled in Jingcheng, it would greatly benefit Song Yu.

Amid the anxious glances of the two Xiao sisters, Li Heng answered: "My parents are currently staying in Jingcheng because my second sister's pastry shop is doing so well and needs help. Once they hire enough staff, they'll likely return home."

Xiao Qing wasn't easily fooled: "Likely?"

Li Heng didn't lie on this matter: "We haven't discussed where to live yet—we have no concrete plans. But my grandmother is old; she can't live alone. Someone must stay with her to care for her."

Xiao Qing sensed he was telling the truth, so she pressed further: "And you? The newspapers say you have a new training school in Jingcheng and a shoe factory in Hushi. Where do you plan to settle?"

Li Heng said: "I'll probably shuttle between both places. But running factories is just a side business. My main career is always writing—I'll spend more time in Hushi."

Hearing this, Xiao Han exhaled inwardly in relief. Under the table, she squeezed her left hand with her right, as if saying: Chen Zijin, you're out.

As the conversation turned to career, Xiao Qing naturally asked a question she was deeply curious about: "Many newspapers report your pure music album earned 850, 00 pounds overseas. Is that true?"

Li Heng nodded: "It's true."

Xiao Qing hesitated, then decided to provoke her mother, and asked a private question she shouldn't have: "How much of that money can you claim?"

Li Heng said: "Nine million five hundred thousand yuan."

Xiao Qing leaned forward slightly: "Has the money been deposited?"

Li Heng nodded: "It's been deposited."

Xiao Qing involuntarily took two deep breaths, her eyes gleaming. She lowered her voice: "So you're a genuine millionaire now?"

Her voice was low, and since it was past mealtime, all surrounding tables were empty—no one could hear.

Li Heng smiled faintly, tacitly confirming.

"Whoa, a real millionaire." Xiao Qing couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath, murmuring to herself, clearly shaken to her core.

Nowadays, many families who think they're well-off are racing to become ten-thousand-yuan households, yet here was this young man already a millionaire.

It really is enough to make a person die of envy.

Xiao Qing wondered how much money she had in her bank passbook.

She'd been working for years, and even with some side income, her three passbooks combined held barely over five thousand yuan.

If she'd just stuck to her salary and saved regularly, she'd still be waiting years and years.

After digesting the news for a long while, Xiao Qing asked again: "This morning on the train, I read a Shanghai Xinmin Evening News article saying Anta's total sales have surpassed seventy-three million yuan. How much of that's true?"

Newspapers often exaggerate, so when she saw this news, she'd been half-skeptical.

Li Heng said: "It's genuine."

Hearing this, Xiao Qing fell silent, stunned into speechlessness, needing more time to process this shocking revelation.

First a ten-million-yuan bank deposit, now seventy-three million in sales—this was simply unbelievable.

It was unheard of.

It had surpassed Xiao Qing's wildest imagination.

Wei Shiman remained silent, but after hearing these two figures, her scattered gaze along the street gradually focused, finally settling on the glass, observing her daughter and Li Heng through its reflection.

Clearly, Wei Shiman wasn't as calm as she appeared—Li Heng's wealth had shocked her.

But shock or not, when it came to her daughter, she had principles, she had standards.

The dishes arrived.

Xiao Han smiled faintly at Li Heng: "Shall I have a drink with you?"

How could she not smile faintly?

Her own honey was too impressive—her mother was even secretly watching him through the glass, as if she thought she was hiding it well. But before this beauty, she was still too naive.

Li Heng asked: "Aren't you supposed to be heading to the hospital for your internship later?"

Xiao Han blinked, gasped: "Oh, nothing's more important than keeping my husband company—I'll just drop by the hospital to report in and then leave."

This was the fifth time she'd called him "husband" today. At home, she'd never said "Xiao Hai" this often. That little devil, always trying to drive me crazy, Wei Shiman fumed.

And that little devil Xiao Qing too—intentionally hitting me with ten million and seventy-three million, Wei Shiman mentally scolded her eldest daughter as well.

The beer arrived.

Xiao Han poured four glasses, then placed one into Li Heng's palm, her voice bright and clear: "Let's toast to my dear mother together. She's been angry all the way, probably even thought about hitting someone—she may not have earned credit, but she's earned her suffering."

They say when husband and wife are united, their strength can cut through metal. As juniors, we should give her a way out—after all, we'll need her to help us raise our children later."

Xiao Qing covered her mouth with her right hand, tilting her head toward the aisle, stifling her laughter, struggling to hold it in.

Li Heng pinched his own thigh under the table, using the pain to stay composed—he felt this wife of his was too good at provoking him, too cunning.

Under Xiao Han's lead, the two raised their glasses to toast Wei Shiman.

But Wei Shiman didn't move, didn't acknowledge them at all.

Xiao Han pleaded with a beseeching look: "Mom, please give us some face and have a drink with us."

Wei Shiman didn't even glance at them. She picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of Kung Pao chicken, and put it in her mouth, treating them like air.

Seeing this, Xiao Han beamed sweetly at Li Heng, nodded twice: "Mm-hmm, the ritual of respecting elders is over. Honey, let's drink the wedding cup. Afterward, I'll go with you to the hotel for a nap."

Hearing the word "nap," Wei Shiman, who'd been picking up food, angrily tapped her chopsticks against the bottom of her bowl—clink, clink—clearly expressing her maternal fury.

Watching her mother's gesture, Xiao Han's lips curved into a crescent. She said nothing, slid her right arm through his, and drank the wedding cup, muttering under her breath: "Tapping the bowl won't help—I'm already Mr. Li's woman now."

PS: Posted first, revised later.

After posting this chapter, the total word count of this book reached 2. 1 million. This month's updates total 300, 00 words, fulfilling my promise at the start of the month. Who said I'd never make it? Is that big shot who bet a spicy strip still around? Hehe… I want a spicy strip—please send a picture here.

Also: Remember, early May had double vote rewards. On the first day alone, we got over ten thousand votes. Back then, the big shots truly respected San Yue—I was overjoyed for days.

Here's the deal: Tomorrow is June 1st. Even though there's no double vote event anymore, if we get over five thousand votes on the first day, I'll update 320, 00 words in June—that means the final total will reach 2. 3 million words. Please keep supporting San Yue. Bowing deeply in thanks.

(End of chapter)