Chapter 647: The Dragon Boat Festival Is Coming

Returned to Building 26.

Li Heng first groped his way up to the attic to gaze at the night sky; he thought of nothing, merely leaning on the railing, listening to the rain to calm his mind.

After nearly half an hour like this, he went into the study and began reading and writing.

Zhou Shihe had deeply moved him today, especially those two trails of tears, revealing the girl’s inner grievance and confusion.

Li Heng knew why she felt grievance.

He also knew why she was confused.

He spread open his notebook, uncapped his fountain pen, opened the ink bottle, paused briefly, then skipped all preliminaries of reading and studying materials, and began writing steadily on the white paper: Chapter 59.

The white Han contingent had marched away.

They left in the dead of night, assembling and departing without even saying goodbye.

When I woke up, I only saw the man they left behind—the officer trapped on the execution post, a short sword from his own side sticking from his chest.

….

I don’t know if it was that slap, but after days of blockage, tonight his inspiration surged like a spring, overflowing.

He wrote without pause, Yikouqi wrote over 7,600 characters before stopping.

When the final character was finished, Li Heng felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

A thousand thoughts converged into a golden path, a path to fulfillment, filling him with pure joy!

Damn, it just left him with a full bladder.

Before he could fully relieve himself, a sudden urge to urinate struck, forcing him to rise and leave the study.

To his surprise, as he stepped out, he saw Sun Manning sitting alone on the sofa, cracking sunflower seeds.

The TV was on, but no program was airing—only static flickered across the screen.

Li Heng asked: “It’s almost two in the morning. Why are you sitting here alone?”

Sun Manning asked: “Can’t I be here?”

Li Heng gestured: “No, how did you get in? I’m sure I locked the courtyard gate.”

Sun Manning puffed out her chest: “Are you sure you locked it?”

His gaze drifted unconsciously over her chest, and Li Heng suddenly felt uncertain—had he really forgotten to lock it?

With suspicion, he hurried straight toward the bathroom.

After urinating, Li Heng washed his hands and reappeared in the living room, walking over to ask: “Has something happened? Why are you here alone? Where are Ye Ning and Shihe?”

Sun Manning grinned: “Come on, tell me—of the three of us, who are you most focused on? My big tits? Or Ye Ning’s flat chest? Or Shihe?”

Listen, listen!

Could a virgin say something like that?

To an outsider, you’d think you’d stumbled upon a female hooligan.

Li Heng rolled his eyes: “Stop joking around. Your behavior tonight is extremely odd.”

Hearing this, Sun Manning set down the sunflower seeds in her palm, clapped her hands, and said: “Then let’s get something normal—have you slept with Teacher Yu?”

Li Heng: “….”

Staring directly into her eyes, Li Heng asked: “Why are you asking this?”

Sun Manning stretched, deliberately exposing her full chest to him, teasing: “Curiosity! I’ve got such big breasts—can’t I be curious?”

Li Heng raised an eyebrow: “If you keep flirting like this, I’ll twist them off and use them as filling for tomorrow’s buns.”

“Hahaha!”

Sun Manning burst into laughter, then, under his displeased expression, lowered her hands, leaned forward, and said: “Don’t misunderstand my good intentions—I’m here guarding your house. You didn’t lock the door, and I don’t have your key, so I just sat here waiting.”

Looking at this crazy girl, Li Heng’s instinct told him it wasn’t that simple—but no matter how he probed, he got nothing.

She was simply too tight-lipped, revealing not a single clue.

Had she sensed his relationship with Miss Zhou?

For a fleeting moment, Li Heng suspected as much.

After pressing her repeatedly without results, Li Heng stood up listlessly, heading toward the study as he said: “Sleep in Mai Sui’s room tonight. Good night.”

Sun Manning called from behind: “Aren’t you sleeping?”

“I’m wide awake. I’ll revise a bit longer.” Li Heng waved dismissively.

That night, Li Heng stayed up all night—not only polishing Chapter 59 three times, but also beginning Chapter 60, the final chapter.

The next day, at noon.

Mai Sui returned.

First, she checked the master bedroom—the bed was cold, empty.

She turned and pushed open the study door; unlike before, she didn’t tiptoe—she walked straight up to him and asked with concern: “Manning said you wrote all night. Aren’t you going to sleep yet?”

“I’m fine. I’m wide awake,” he replied.

Mai Sui worried: “Your eyes are red.”

Li Heng rubbed his eyes, looked up: “How’s Grandpa doing?”

At the mention of Grandpa’s health, Mai Sui fell silent.

Li Heng put down his pen and pulled her close: “It’s not good?”

“Yes. He can’t get out of bed anymore. He needs help with everything—eating, drinking, toileting. The doctors say he won’t last much longer,” Mai Sui choked out.

Li Heng fell silent, then asked after a while: “Should we transfer him to a hospital in Shanghai or Beijing?”

Mai Sui shook her head: “My father took him to Xiangya Hospital. The doctors there said treatment is pointless. Better to spend his remaining time at home, eating what he wants—foods he always craved but couldn’t have.”

One sentence said it all: he was beyond cure, no dietary restrictions anymore—in his final days, let him eat whatever he pleases.

Li Heng held her close in comfort, silent for a long time.

Soon, footsteps echoed from the hallway; the two glanced at each other and quickly let go.

Mai Sui stepped out of the study first.

Li Heng tidied his manuscript and pen, then followed her out.

It was Yu Shuheng.

Mai Sui knew she was here for Li Heng; she called out, “Teacher,” then left, carrying her books toward the classroom.

“You look exhausted. Didn’t sleep last night?” Yu Shuheng observed carefully.

“Yeah. I was fine until I put down my pen—then I suddenly felt sleepy,” Li Heng yawned.

He asked: “What did you go to Shaodong for?”

Yu Shuheng smiled faintly: “I’m looking for your concubine.”

Li Heng: “….”

Who’d believe that?

Seeing Yu Shuheng had no intention of explaining, Li Heng wisely dropped the subject.

Yu Shuheng pulled out two bank drafts: “The total earnings from your pure music album over the past five months is 3.2 million pounds. I and Shihe each get 320,000 pounds; you get 2.56 million pounds.”

Li Heng was stunned: “That much?”

Yu Shuheng nodded: “It’s a large sum—this will likely be the last big payout. Future earnings will be scattered.”

Li Heng took the two drafts—one converted to RMB was 30.72 million yuan, the other 3.84 million yuan.

Li Heng swung the drafts, delighted: “One album has fully fed me.”

Yu Shuheng said with a knowing look: “Little brother, you’re speaking too soon. With so many women and children to support later, this money won’t go far.”

Li Heng: “….”

He pretended not to hear and didn’t respond.

Yu Shuheng brought up another matter: “Yesterday afternoon I spoke with Old Fu. Hengyuan Capital’s earnings on the Tokyo stock market have surpassed one hundred million U.S. dollars.”

Hearing such a massive sum, Li Heng’s eyes lit up: “This calls for celebration. Tonight I’ll cook a feast—we’ll drink to it.”

Yu Shuheng smiled and agreed: “Good. Has your new book finished?”

Li Heng said: “Almost. Just the last half-chapter left.”

Yu Shuheng circled him, leaned in, sniffed: “Good. You haven’t touched any women lately.”

Li Heng: “….”

Yu Shuheng said: “Shen Xin asked me to invite you to dinner on Dragon Boat Festival. Do you have time?”

Li Heng thought, then hesitated: “I can’t give you a definite answer yet.”

At being refused such a major invitation, Yu Shuheng’s eyes narrowed. She stopped and asked: “Where are you going?”

Li Heng hurried to clarify: “It’s not me going anywhere—it’s someone who might come.”

Yu Shuheng studied his eyes, then said nothing more.

That night, to celebrate Hengyuan Capital’s earnings surpassing one hundred million U.S. dollars, Li Heng cooked a full banquet himself.

Since returning from the Netherlands, this was the first time Yu Shuheng and Zhou Shihe sat at the same table. The two women sat at opposite ends, neither speaking.

The scene left Mai Sui, Sun Manning, and Ye Ning bewildered—surely musical differences couldn’t justify such bitter hostility? Clearly, beautiful women had no logic when they turned cold.

Li Heng pretended not to notice. After all, both Yu Shuheng and Miss Zhou were proud, strong-willed individuals—without the right opportunity, any attempt by him to mediate would be wasted breath.

After dinner, Li Heng privately handed Zhou Shihe one of the bank drafts: “This is your share from the pure music album over the past five months. Yu Shuheng said future earnings will be small and scattered.”

Zhou Shihe took the draft, glanced at it, and said: “Thank you. Please thank Yu Shuheng for me too.”

Li Heng teased: “No need to thank me—it’s yours. If you want to thank Yu Shuheng, say it to her face.”

Zhou Shihe smiled lightly and walked away quietly.

In the days that followed, Li Heng shuttled constantly between classroom and study; when he finished the final chapter of “Dust Settles,” he gave himself three days off.

Three days later, he immediately took out all the manuscripts and began reviewing and revising them from the start, striving for perfection.

On May 23rd at exactly 2 p.m., Li Heng walked out of his study carrying the latest stack of manuscripts.

Mai Sui, who had been waiting in the living room, stood up to greet him: “Is your new book finally finished?”

“Yeah, all revisions are done. It’s finalized.” With The Dust Settled finally completed, he felt a sudden lightness on his shoulders.

Mai Sui smiled softly and offered her congratulations: “Congratulations!”

Li Heng flashed a bright, clean smile and extended both arms toward her.

Mai Sui understood, stepped forward two paces, and walked into his arms, embracing him.

After embracing for a while, she tilted her head slightly: “Are you going to Xuhui?”

“Yes, since the book’s finished, I need to take it to my teacher.”

Li Heng patted his backpack and added, “Do you want to come with me for a walk?”

Mai Sui was tempted, but remembering that Xuhui was Xiao Han’s territory, she politely declined: “I’ve already made plans with Shihe and Xiaozhu to go to the library.”

“Alright.” Li Heng nodded, not pressing further.

After all, his new home with Xiao Han was on Wukang Road, right next to Old Ba’s place—bringing Mai Sui there carried a real risk of running into Xiao Han.

The reason he’d invited her was simply that he adored this capable, homely woman so much he felt an urge to take her everywhere.

Li Heng left, boarding a bus bound for Xuhui.

By coincidence, he ran into Li Guoyi and Dai Qing—though neither had planned it; they’d simply happened to be waiting for the same bus.

The bus arrived, and the three sat together on the rear window seats.

Li Guoyi pulled out two cigarettes with a grin, slipped one into Li Heng’s mouth, and lit it with his lighter. “Heng Ge, where you headed?”

Li Heng glanced at Dai Qing beside him, then at the dozen or so middle-aged men smoking on the bus, and kept the cigarette lit out of politeness. “I’m going to Xuhui—to my teacher’s place.”

He then asked, “And you, Guoyi? Where are you going? Don’t you have class soon?”

Li Guoyi clasped his hands together. “This monk is heading to Jing’an Temple to offer incense to the Buddha.”

Dai Qing interjected: “Is today some special day? Why are you skipping class to go offer incense?”

Li Guoyi tilted his head at Dai Qing: “Qing Meiren, do you believe in Buddhism?”

Over the past two years, Li Guoyi had occasionally called Dai Qing “Qing Meiren”; Dai Qing was used to it by now.

Dai Qing shook his head. “I don’t believe in that. I only believe in myself.”

These words made Li Heng involuntarily think of his own wife—she, too, didn’t believe in fate.

Li Guoyi clasped his hands again. “Seeking the Buddha’s path above, guiding all beings below. The Buddha is a good thing—it can liberate souls from rebirth, ensuring you don’t descend into hell after death. Amitabha!”

Li Heng and Dai Qing exchanged glances, utterly baffled by what this kid was up to.

If he believed in Buddhism, why was he always cracking jokes?

If he didn’t believe, why did he skip class to go to Jing’an Temple?

Wasn’t that contradictory?

Dai Qing couldn’t help asking: “So, do you think you’ll go to heaven or hell after you die?”

“Shh!”

Li Guoyi raised a finger to his lips, shushing her, then opened his backpack—inside were piles of spirit money and incense, and also two paper cutouts of beautiful women.

Those two paper women completely stunned Li Heng and Dai Qing.

Dai Qing leaned in for a closer look and asked: “The Buddhist temple is a pure place—do you plan to burn these for them?”

Li Guoyi winked and grinned. “You’re a woman—you wouldn’t understand. This is bribery. Any man loves money and beauty. If I give them these gifts, I’ll surely go to heaven after death.”

Dai Qing couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re desecrating it.”

Li Guoyi clasped his hands again, speaking in a slick, flippant tone: “Qing Meiren, you’re still too naive. Once you graduate and enter society, you’ll understand the true meaning of money and beauty.”

Li Guoyi got off the bus midway, leaving Li Heng and Dai Qing utterly confused.

After a moment’s thought, Dai Qing asked: “Li Heng, what do you make of Li Guoyi’s sudden behavior today?”

Li Heng shook his head. “According to Li Guang and Bing Ge, after studying criminal law and Water Margin, Li Guoyi’s been practicing Buddhism lately—reading Buddhist texts in the dorm and frequently visiting Jing’an Temple to burn incense.”

Dai Qing pondered: “Could he have changed his mind? Is he letting go of his grudges and seeking enlightenment through Buddhism?”

This question stumped Li Heng. No one in Room 325 could ever figure out Li Guoyi’s game—he spouted righteousness, but who knew what he truly thought?

After chatting a while, Dai Qing shifted to a professional topic: “Are you going to see Xiao Han?”

Li Heng nodded, then shook his head. “Sort of—but first I have to visit my teacher.”