Chapter 644

Back at Lushan Village, Building 26 was already lit up brightly.

When Li Heng pushed open the door, he saw Mai Sui crouching on the floor, her back to him, wiping the table legs with a cloth.

She wiped with intense focus, completely unaware someone stood at the door.

Li Heng watched quietly for a moment, then softly shut the door and tiptoed over, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

Mai Sui startled, turned her head, and whispered, “Shihe and Ningning are upstairs.”

Li Heng ignored her, seized the moment, leaned in, and kissed her red lips.

Mai Sui froze for a moment, her eyes flicking rapidly toward the staircase, then as his crimson tongue delved deeper, her body slowly softened, leaning fully against him.

Her lips parted and closed, responding to him nervously.

Laughter and playfulness echoed from upstairs, but the two below were lost in oblivion, kissing harder, feeling more intense, their breathing growing heavier.

Li Heng’s right hand stroked her lower abdomen repeatedly, pressing their already intimate bodies tightly together.

Unlike Li Heng’s passion, Mai Sui remained half-alert, keeping watch toward the hallway and the door.

Crimson and vermilion intertwined, lips lingering with fragrance.

After about ten minutes, the two, nearly suffocated, finally pulled apart.

After calming their ragged breaths, Mai Sui softly asked, “Did you drink a lot tonight?”

“Mm, we had a dorm dinner tonight, just a little.” Li Heng held her, unwilling to let go.

Seeing him gazing at her dreamily, Mai Sui felt stirred, yet kept her reason: “There are too many people at home. Go wash up first. Tonight… tonight I’ll give you something good, okay?”

Li Heng didn’t listen—he kissed her again.

Mai Sui sighed helplessly and obediently cooperated.

Their crimson tongues entwined, until suddenly she heard footsteps descending—she quickly pulled away from his mouth and stepped out of his embrace.

But as she instinctively glanced down, she saw his dragon’s whip towering high—her face flushed crimson, and she shoved him into the nearest room, slamming the door shut.

She knew well: once his physical reaction stirred, it wouldn’t subside quickly—she had no choice but to hide him for now.

By the time she finished, Zhou Shihe appeared at the hallway entrance.

Mai Sui asked, “Shihe, why did you come down? Did you finish reading your manuscript?”

Zhou Shihe replied gently, “No, I had an urgent matter and needed to call home.”

As she spoke, Zhou Shihe suddenly noticed her friend’s odd state—Mai Sui’s cheeks were flushed, and a hint of desire lingered in her eyes.

Seeing Mai Sui’s condition, Zhou Shihe instantly recalled her own experience in the library reading room after Li Heng’s long kiss—her body had burned just the same, not identical, but nearly so.

Zhou Shihe glanced at the door behind Mai Sui, then casually scanned the entrance, where a pair of men’s shoes—just taken off, not yet placed on the rack—lay there.

The shoes were unmistakably familiar—they were Li Heng’s.

She realized she shouldn’t have come down now; she’d interrupted Suisui’s moment. A strange heaviness settled in her chest, but she suppressed it, smiled warmly at her friend, and left Building 26.

The wind had picked up outside—weather was changing. Zhou Shihe stepped out the gate, looked up at the sky: dark clouds loomed, and rain seemed ready to fall at any moment.

Since childhood, she’d sailed through life effortlessly—whatever she wanted, she got; often, before she even spoke, thoughtful elders had already prepared everything for her.

For over a decade, surrounded by material and spiritual abundance, she’d believed herself desireless—until she met him, and now she, too, knew the ache of fear and longing.

Was she really not good enough?

Not good enough to make him abandon other women and devote himself entirely to her?

In that moment, she suddenly doubted her own charm, her lifelong, unshakable confidence.

But Zhou Shihe was Zhou Shihe—after brief self-doubt, she quickly regained her composure, returning to the stillness of an ancient well.

She understood: it wasn’t that she wasn’t good enough—it was that humans were born greedy and selfish.

The wind tugged at her hair; Zhou Shihe raised her pale, slender hand, brushed a stray strand behind her ear, and walked calmly home.

A few minutes later, Li Heng stepped out of the room and said to Mai Sui, “I’m going to shower. Don’t bother cleaning—rest early.”

“Mm, I’ll be done soon,” Mai Sui replied dutifully, continuing to clean.

Time slipped away—an hour passed.

Li Heng had already gone to the study.

Mai Sui checked her watch, thought for a moment, then told Sun Manning and Ye Ning, who were bickering, that she was going downstairs to the neighboring house with an umbrella.

“Dong dong dong…”

“Dong dong dong…”

“Shihe, open the door.”

In the pouring rain, Mai Sui knocked on the gate of Building 27.

Soon, Zhou Shihe appeared and opened the gate.

Mai Sui asked anxiously, “Why did your call take so long? It’s late, you’re alone at home—I was terrified.”

Zhou Shihe smiled faintly, “I was doing laundry.”

“How much longer?” Mai Sui asked.

Zhou Shihe said, “One more item left.”

Mai Sui stepped into the courtyard, “I’ll keep you company. Next time, call someone—don’t stay alone at home.”

Zhou Shihe found the words strangely familiar—wasn’t that exactly what Li Heng often said?

Zhou Shihe’s clothes were mostly expensive, unsuitable for washing machines—she always washed them by hand. When the last garment was done, the two women went to the balcony to hang them out.

Suddenly, Zhou Shihe spoke: “Suisui, can I ask you a question?”

Mai Sui said, “Go ahead.”

Zhou Shihe paused, then asked, “When he comes home after being intimate with another woman, and then comes to you—do you really not mind at all?”

The question left Mai Sui speechless.

She fell silent for a long while, then said, “I haven’t thought that far….”

And after that, Mai Sui remained quiet.

Zhou Shihe waited, but no further words came—so she asked, “What else?”

Mai Sui hung up a coat for her, speaking softly: “I’m not his legal wife—I have no right to demand these things, no right to ask him for them.”

Zhou Shihe frowned slightly, then gently reassured her: “Don’t belittle yourself. Your qualities are more than enough. He isn’t married yet—there’s no such thing as a ‘legal wife.’ You just met him a little later. If you fight for him, your chances are still great.”

Thinking of Song Yu in Beijing, and Chen Zijin, who had been with him first, Mai Sui shook her head.

Unaware, Zhou Shihe asked, “Are you worried about Professor Yu?”

Mai Sui followed her friend’s lead: “His current career can’t do without Professor Yu.”

At these words, Zhou Shihe glanced toward the opposite Building 25 and fell into thought.

In the coming days, Li Heng attended classes during the day and occasionally spent time in the library reading room—to clear his mind.

In his free time and at night, he focused on writing, pushing through to Chapter 58.

According to the original plan, “Dust Settles” had only two chapters left.

But his mind hit a dead end—he sat before a blank page, pen in hand, unable to write a single word.

Just as he set down his pen and closed his eyes to calm himself, Mai Sui opened the door and walked in.

She gently reminded him, “It’s almost nine at night—time for dinner.”

Li Heng slowly opened his eyes, looked up at her, looked at her again, then suddenly pulled her into his arms, pressing his head against her lower abdomen, silent for a long while.

Mai Sui asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Li Heng didn’t answer.

Mai Sui worriedly asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Li Heng shook his head: “My writing is blocked.”

So that was it—Mai Sui had thought he was sick or something had happened. She exhaled in relief and asked, “Maybe you’re too anxious. Tomorrow is May Day—Manning and the others are planning a boat trip on West Lake. Want to go relax?”

Li Heng asked, “West Lake?”

“Mm. Shihe’s mother and her aunt came over this afternoon—they’re staying next door, leaving for Hangcheng tomorrow morning.” Mai Sui said.

Li Heng asked, “Will you go?”

Mai Sui replied, “If you go, I go. If you don’t, I’ll stay home with you.”

At that moment, voices came from the second-floor hallway—the two pulled apart and turned together toward the study door.

Soon, Yu Shuheng appeared at the threshold.