Chapter 55: A Little Disappointed

The next day was Saturday.

After morning self-study, Li Heng and Liu Li hurried toward the science building behind the classroom block, since all the exam rooms were there.

Only the top 120 students in arts and top 120 in science were eligible for the scholarship exam.

Zhang Zhiyong, of all people, ranked over 200th in the entire arts stream—he had no chance to take it.

The arts stream had four exam rooms, thirty students each, arranged by ranking.

Li Heng had ranked fifth overall in the last semester’s final exam, so he was assigned to the first room on the third floor.

Liu Li was also in the first room, but he was seat number 17; as they neared the third floor, he patted Li Heng’s shoulder and said:

“Buddy, do your best, don’t get careless—don’t give guys like Liu Yejiang any opening.”

Li Heng gave him a steady look: “Don’t worry—he won’t stir up trouble.”

The exam rooms hadn’t opened yet; the hallway was packed.

To the right of the corridor was the first arts exam room; to the left, the first science exam room.

As soon as Li Heng stepped onto the floor, he spotted Song Yu, Mai Sui, and Sun Manning gathered together on the right side.

Xiao Han, Yang Yingwen, and Xiao Feng were chatting on the left.

He glanced right, then left—damn it, he was suddenly stuck.

Song Yu and Xiao Han—both were precious to him. Which side should he join?

His instinct pulled him toward Song Yu, but his gut told him Xiao Han was secretly watching him.

Logically, his relationship with Xiao Han in this life hadn’t deepened yet—it was still just friendship. But he carried the weight of their past-life bond, so he naturally considered her feelings.

Besides, compared to Song Yu, Xiao Han was far more cunning, full of schemes and tricks—no less difficult to handle than the aloof and proud Song Yu.

“Hey! Li Heng, what are you standing there for? Come over and drink some soda!”

Just as he decided to head left under the pretense of greeting Yang Yingwen, Sun Manning waved her bottled soda, tempting him over.

That shout drew every eye in the hallway; everyone turned to stare at him.

Well, no choice now.

Li Heng reluctantly retracted his step toward the left, turned halfway, and walked toward Sun Manning.

“No wonder you’re beautiful and kind—you’re rich enough to buy soda. Seriously.”

He took the soda, twisted open the cap, took a sip, then immediately offered praise.

Sun Manning beamed, grabbed Mai Sui—who was standing next to Song Yu—and shoved Li Heng toward her:

“Hey hey… don’t crowd me next time. Know who you’re supposed to crowd.”

The girl had surprising strength; she nearly bumped into Song Yu. Li Heng joked:

“Milk makes the mother—Song Yu’s got two tangerines and didn’t offer me one, so of course I come to you.”

Song Yu looked at him with a faint smile, thought for two seconds, then, amid the envious, jealous stares of the others, handed him her other tangerine.

She asked calmly: “Did Zijin’s aunt come to see you yesterday?”

Li Heng was surprised, yet not really: “You saw her?”

Song Yu nodded slightly, murmured “Mm.”

Then she looked into his eyes, offering no further explanation of how she knew.

After a moment of eye contact, Li Heng instantly understood—this girl must have heard rumors from Chen Zijin, worried that Chen Xiaomi had come to cause trouble.

But there were too many people around; Li Heng told her: “It’s too complicated to explain now. I’ll tell you later.”

Song Yu said okay.

“Tsk tsk! Mai Sui, Lijun, Liu Li—look at them! They haven’t even gotten together yet and they’re already playing cryptic games, shutting everyone out.”

Sun Manning, who had been eagerly listening, suddenly found the conversation cut off—she was furious.

Mai Sui smiled softly, sipped her soda, and said nothing.

Chen Lijun, a little afraid of Li Heng’s tongue, pretended not to hear.

Liu Li was even more straightforward—he just turned away.

Unfazed by the lack of response, her gossip instincts flaring, Sun Manning leaned close and whispered to Li Heng: “Zijin settled in Beijing—will you apply to a university there?”

The small group turned to look at Li Heng, including Song Yu—she was curious too.

Meeting their gazes, Li Heng paused, then said: “We’ll see. I need to wait until after the next three mock exams to decide my application based on my scores.”

Hearing this, Mai Sui, Chen Lijun, and Sun Manning all turned their eyes to Song Yu. Women’s instincts were sharp—they sensed something unusual.

Logically, since Chen Zijin was in Beijing, Li Heng, as her boyfriend, should have shown determination—even if his scores weren’t good enough, his attitude should’ve been unwavering.

But Li Heng hesitated.

What was the source of his hesitation?

The girls didn’t understand his two-life thoughts—they assumed it was because of Song Yu.

Under their stares, Song Yu remained calm on the surface, but she was still only eighteen, still a little shy, and quietly avoided Li Heng’s gaze.

…

The right side of the corridor was lively and crowded.

The girls on the left side seemed quiet and distant.

As they chatted while reviewing their Chinese lesson, Xiao Han subtly steered the topic toward Li Heng, asking Yang Yingwen:

“Yingwen, did you have another fight with Li Heng and Zhang Zhiyong? Just now, he seemed hesitant, almost afraid of you.”

Hearing this, Yang Yingwen involuntarily glanced at Li Heng: “No, we didn’t fight.

But lately he’s been acting mysterious, always disappearing—I wonder what he’s up to?”

Xiao Feng glanced at Xiao Han, who had just steered the topic to Li Heng and now pretended nothing had happened, then chuckled: “I heard from girls in Class 204 that Li Heng might be chasing Song Yu.”

“Huh?”

Yang Yingwen was stunned, gasped, then pressed: “Really? Where did he get the nerve? Didn’t he just…?”

Yang Yingwen didn’t finish, but all three girls came from the old town—they understood.

Xiao Han’s eyes remained fixed on her Chinese textbook, but her ears were sharply tuned.

Xiao Feng said: “I don’t know the details—I just heard. They say Li Heng made Mai Sui and Sun Manning switch seats so he could sit next to Song Yu.

Because of this, the homeroom teacher of Class 204 even called him to the office for a talk.”

Just then, Yang Yingwen happened to see Sun Manning shoving Li Heng toward Song Yu—and she believed it a little more:

“Ugh, that Sun Manning… really! He’s being so inappropriate! If Zijin found out, she’d be heartbroken!”

Xiao Feng wasn’t close to Chen Zijin and didn’t care.

Seeing Yang Yingwen’s sudden reaction, Xiao Han smiled sweetly and turned with Xiao Feng to look—just in time to see Song Yu handing an orange to someone.

She suddenly felt a little disappointed.

No—not just a little. Very disappointed.

Why did it have to be this way?

Why chase Song Yu, and not me?

Was my past expression of feeling too subtle?

In this moment, the girl’s emotions turned melancholy, sorrowful, and heavy.

(End of chapter)