Chapter 542: Accidents Are All Pre-Marked by Heaven (Requesting Monthly Votes!)

"Scooping the bottom of the bowl won't do—I'm already Mr. Li's woman."

Hearing her daughter's words, Wei Shiman snapped her head up, staring at the two like a wolf or wild beast.

Xiao Han felt a bit weak, but soon acted as if nothing had happened and drank the wedding cup wine with Li Heng.

It was real wedding cup wine.

Li Heng had hesitated at first, afraid of further angering his future mother-in-law, but he couldn't resist his cunning bride's eyes that seemed to speak volumes—he ended up half-forcing himself through it.

Wei Shiman, furious, scooped the bottom of the bowl again.

The sound was much louder than before; the bowl holding tiny fish and shrimp nearly got punctured, almost split in two.

Seeing this, Xiao Han looked utterly distressed and asked Li Heng: "Husband, did you bring enough money today?"

Li Heng, confused, thought she meant the meal bill: "Enough."

At once, Xiao Han's expression turned cheerful, enthusiastically urging: "My dearest mama, scoop away—break as many bowls as you like, your son-in-law can pay for them. If this restaurant's bowls aren't enough, we'll go buy more outside."

Li Heng: "..."

Xiao Qing's stomach ached from laughing; she'd held back her laughter how many times today? She hadn't laughed this much in a whole year.

Wei Shiman lifted her chopsticks to hit her, but lowered them again, picked up a tiny fish, and chewed it fiercely.

It felt as if she weren't chewing fish at all, but her daughter and Li Heng.

Xiao Han smiled, quietly picked up her chopsticks, and added several pieces of the best Kung Pao chicken to her mother's bowl: "Mama, eat more, eat more so you'll have strength to get angry."

Wei Shiman, a woman with a temper, tossed all the Kung Pao chicken Xiao Han had given her onto the table, then snapped angrily: "Go attend to your husband, don't bother me!"

"Yes, Mama."

Xiao Han cleared her throat obediently, turned back, and kept piling food onto Li Heng's plate, pleading pitifully: "Parents can't be relied on—they only raise me until eighteen. Mr. Li, you must support me till I'm old."

Under the table, Li Heng reached out and squeezed her palm to comfort her.

The meal was fairly lively. To avoid silence, the two sisters kept chatting, and Li Heng chimed in occasionally.

But Wei Shiman never joined in; after finishing her bowl of rice, she left midway and returned alone to the guesthouse. Her expression was icy, her aura imposing—she completely ignored Li Heng.

Xiao Qing stood up too and said to them: "I'll go keep Mama company. Li Heng, later, take Little Sister to the hospital to request leave."

"Yeah, sure," Li Heng readily agreed.

Once their mother and older sister left, Xiao Han transformed—she stared blankly at the food in her bowl, a glistening tear glinting at the corner of her eye.

But she blinked hard, wiped away the tear without a trace using her sleeve, and as she turned her head, her lips instantly curved into a crescent moon as she chirped: "Mr. Li, let's go too."

Leaving the restaurant, the two headed straight for the affiliated Zhongshan Hospital.

As they passed a deserted corner, Li Heng suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug, gazing tenderly: "Thank you today."

Xiao Han tilted her head up slightly in his arms, pouting: "How do you thank me? You didn't even use my name."

Li Heng leaned in and kissed her: "Wife."

Xiao Han said: "You know how hard I worked for love, right?"

Li Heng nodded: "I know."

Xiao Han's dimple appeared; she gripped his hands tightly and sweetly said: "Then I entrust my entire future to you. Be good to me—don't let Comrade Wei Shiman laugh at me."

Li Heng solemnly promised: "Yes!"

Hearing that "yes," Xiao Han half-closed her eyes; her long eyelashes shimmered translucent in the sunlight, utterly delighted.

"The weather's nice today—I'll allow Mr. Li to kiss me once. Remember, don't go over five minutes," she said after a pause, glancing left and right, then whispered like a thief.

Li Heng found it amusing, lowered his head, and without hesitation sealed his lips over her cherry lips.

This was the first time she had ever actively asked for a kiss.

She kissed him carefully—shy, yet trying to be passionate.

Unfortunately, her nature could never manage anything too bold or seductive; she remained caught between ladylike grace and sensual allure.

But even so, after the kiss, her mood lifted slightly—her heart no longer felt so ignored by her mother.

"Cough! Cough!"

Suddenly, a cough came from behind.

The cough sounded like an elderly woman's.

Startled, the two broke apart in panic, staring dumbfounded at each other, then immediately grabbed hands and sprinted wildly.

Ran like the wind!

Like a tornado racing toward the corner.

Watching the two flee in panic, the woman behind smiled warmly, thinking: Who would've thought the most beautiful flower of the medical university could be so romantic? That young man must be the famous writer Li Heng.

The woman was a professor at Shanghai Medical University, also a doctor, and happened to be heading to the hospital along this route today. She, like nearly every student and faculty member, knew Xiao Han's stunning beauty.

Even without seeing her full face, she recognized her instantly from the side profile.

After sprinting out of the narrow path, the two, still holding hands, gasped for breath in an open area, then suddenly burst into laughter together.

Li Heng squeezed her small hand tightly, emotionally saying: "Wife, having you is wonderful."

"Mm-hmm," Xiao Han feigned modesty, lifting her chin proudly, maintaining her aloof, pretentious maidenly poise.

The affiliated Zhongshan Hospital is at 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui.

Before entering the hospital, Li Heng bought gifts according to Professor Wen Yan's preferences, then hurried straight to the clinic room.

Perhaps the timing was bad—Professor Wen Yan was busy today. Seeing Xiao Han arrive, she immediately ordered without preamble:

"Hanhann, are you free? Your senior sister has an urgent family matter to handle and won't be back for another half hour—cover her shift."

Xiao Han shot Li Heng an apologetic glance, then went to help.

With too many patients, Li Heng exchanged a few pleasantries with Professor Wen Yan and left the office to stroll outside for some air.

He wasn't unfamiliar with this hospital—it felt like home, he could find his way even with his eyes closed, having come here so many times in his past life.

As he wandered, he grew thirsty and headed to the convenience store near the entrance to buy soda. Just as he reached for his wallet, he ran straight into someone.

"Li Heng."

"Oh, what are you doing here?"

Yes, it was a bit of a coincidence that I ran into Wei Xiaozhu.

They stared at each other, then fell into awkward silence.

More precisely, Wei Xiaozhu felt awkward. She'd promised to get off at Jing'an, yet ended up in Xuhui.

Fine, sneaking to Xuhui was one thing—but why did she have to bump into Li Heng? The odds were like meeting a ghost on a dark road.

Seeing her frozen in place, Li Heng smiled understandingly: "Xiaozhu, close your eyes, pretend you didn't see me. When you open them again, I'll be gone."

His playful banter made Wei Xiaozhu laugh; the awkwardness vanished.

She pulled out money and joked authoritatively: "I'll buy you this soda—never mention today again."

Li Heng blinked: "Fine. I'm not a man of strong will—I'm happy to accept bribes."

Walking out of the store side by side, he glanced at her: "I haven't seen you wear that yellow plaid in ages—it looks beautiful."

"Really?" She glanced sideways at him. Li Heng nodded.

Wei Xiaozhu said: "Then you should've complimented me at Fudan's gate—it's been half a day now."

Li Heng countered: "Beauty doesn't expire—you're just as beautiful now. Besides, back then there were three girls together; I couldn't praise one without praising the others, would've been rude."

Wei Xiaozhu smiled: "You've got a point."

Entering the hospital, she asked: "Are you here alone, or looking for Xiao Han?"

Li Heng pointed to an office on the third floor, right side: "She's helping her mentor; it's too crowded inside, so I came out to walk. Where are the others? Why are you alone?"

Wei Xiaozhu hesitated: "Should I tell you?"

Li Heng said: "Then don't."

Wei Xiaozhu looked up at the sky: "Even if I don't tell you, your intelligence should've guessed already."

Li Heng probed: "Le Yao is pregnant?"

Wei Xiaozhu chuckled at him: "See? I knew you'd think that."

Li Heng said: "Le Yao's been gloomy and silent all day, and you all came to the hospital lying about something—the answer isn't hard to guess."

Wei Xiaozhu glanced around, then whispered: "She's having a miscarriage."

Li Heng wasn't surprised: "Li's?"

Wei Xiaozhu nodded.

Li Heng puzzled: "Didn't they break up over summer? It's been two months already—still…?"

Wei Xiaozhu sighed sadly: "Before dating, Le Yao was a naive, optimistic girl who deeply longed for love and clung to it. Meeting Li Guoyi was… a tragedy."

Li Heng understood: "They never fully cut ties, then got abandoned again?"

Wei Xiaozhu sighed: "Exactly."

At this, silence fell between them; neither spoke further.

After a long while, Li Heng glanced at his watch and asked: "Should you go up first?"

Wei Xiaozhu shook her head: "Waiting by the door was unbearable—I came out alone. I'll rejoin them later."

She asked: "What about you? Are you going up?"

Li Heng said: "I'll wait another ten minutes—upstairs is packed, no room to stand, exhausting."

Wei Xiaozhu pointed right: "Let's sit on the grass for a bit."

Li Heng didn't pretend to be delicate—he agreed.

After walking thirty meters, they sat cross-legged on the grass. She teased: "When Xiao Han comes, will she get jealous?"

In public, Li Heng automatically switched to wife-protection mode: "No, she's not the jealous type."

Wei Xiaozhu clearly doubted this, but added: "Still, you've got several gorgeous women around you—if she really were jealous, she'd have no chance to keep up."

Then she said, "Sometimes I get a certain illusion."

Li Heng asked, "What illusion?"

Wei Xiaozhu phrased it carefully: "I feel your love for Mai Sui is no less than your love for Xiao Han."

Li Heng paused, stunned, and after a long while asked, "Really?"

Wei Xiaozhu said, "Yes. I'm not the only one who feels this way—Shihe and Dai Qing feel the same."

Their eyes met, and Li Heng understood: "You're worried they'll break up?"

To his surprise, Wei Xiaozhu shook her head: "No. Mai Sui's feelings for you run deeper than the sea—she'd rather suffer herself than make you uneasy."

Li Heng fell silent, growing ever fonder of Mai Sui.

But the more he loved her, the more guilty he felt, because he couldn't give her everything she wanted.

Wei Xiaozhu opened her soda, took two sips, and asked, "Li Heng, can I ask you a question?"

Li Heng lifted his eyelids: "If it's too hard to answer, spare me."

Wei Xiaozhu smiled, thought for a moment, then said, "It is indeed difficult—so let me rephrase: how will you handle that girl today?"

Li Heng didn't immediately react: "Girl? Which one? I met many girls today."

Indeed, many—like Li Xian, Huang Ziyue, and others.

Wei Xiaozhu said, "The one on the bus?"

"Oh, you mean her," Li Heng said.

She asked, "Is her name Wu Siyao?"

Li Heng was surprised: "You know her?"

Wei Xiaozhu said, "At Tongji University, I have three high school classmates, and Wu Siyao is well-known there. When we took the train back to Lianyungang together, they mentioned her name."

That explained it. Li Heng answered casually: "We're old friends—I'm sure you won't think me arrogant if I say this outright."

In a way, you and I are the same type—always popular with the opposite sex since childhood. Love is selfish; it's about mutual consent. You can't cater to everyone's feelings."

"The same goes for me."

Wei Xiaozhu tilted her head slightly: "Even someone as beautiful as Wu Siyao doesn't get special treatment from you?"

Li Heng countered: "Hu Ping is handsome too—didn't you ignore him?"

Wei Xiaozhu fell silent. "Hu Ping isn't my type."

Li Heng nodded: "I have limited energy."

Wei Xiaozhu stared at him, then suddenly understood: "So Wu Siyao just isn't beautiful enough—if it were Shihe, you'd never say this."

Li Heng narrowed his eyes: "You were really asking about Zhou Shihe all along, weren't you?"

Wei Xiaozhu looked up at the sky, smiling broadly: "I went all around in circles, and you still saw through me."

Li Heng waved his hand: "I don't want to answer that question."

Wei Xiaozhu glanced at him, her eyes bright: "But I already have my answer—what should I do?"

"Forget it," Li Heng said, glancing again at his watch, then stood and left.

Watching his figure vanish into the clinic building's entrance, Wei Xiaozhu slowly softened her expression, stared at the soda in her hand for a long while, then picked up the cap and the unfinished soda from the grass, tossed them both into the trash, and walked away.

Twenty minutes later, Li Heng and Xiao Han left the hospital.

Xiao Han clasped her hands over her abdomen and asked sweetly, "Mr. Li, it's past four now—where will you stay tonight?"

The meaning was clear: his cunning wife had been busy these past two days helping her mother and older sister—she had no time for him.

And given his current relationship with Wei Shiman, he shouldn't get too close—not yet, or their conflicts would only pile up.

PS: Posted first, revised later.

On the first day of June, I humbly beg the masters to cast your base monthly votes—help me surge in March, thank you all for your support.

(More during the day)

(End of chapter)