Chapter 651

Song Yu looked up at the second-floor loft and balcony, then smiled faintly and asked, “Hello, is this Li Heng’s home?”

At this moment, the only person in front of Song Yu was Zhou Shihe.

Undoubtedly, this question was directed at her.

Zhou Shihe asked gently, “This is Li Heng’s home. Who are you?”

Song Yu introduced herself: “I’m Song Yu. I came specially to celebrate Li Heng’s birthday.”

The word “specially” sent an uneasy premonition through Zhou Shihe’s heart—she feared this visitor was not friendly.

At that moment, Zhou’s mother appeared, stepping out from the door of No. 27’s small house.

Before she even arrived, her voice reached them: “Shihe, did you get the pot?”

As she spoke, Zhou’s mother reached the courtyard gate and happened to see her daughter facing off with a young woman.

After sizing up Song Yu, Zhou’s mother was stunned—she had never imagined there could be a girl with such poise, standing beside her own daughter and matching her in both appearance and demeanor.

This was extremely rare.

Or rather, Zhou’s mother had never seen, nor even imagined, such a situation occurring.

If Zhou’s mother had one greatest pride in life, it was giving birth to a daughter of both talent and beauty.

Zhou’s mother couldn’t help but glance at Song Yu several more times, momentarily forgetting to ask her daughter about the pot.

Zhou Shihe, however, turned to her mother and said, “Li Heng’s friend has come—I’ll entertain him. Mom, could you cook two more dishes?”

At these words, Song Yu regarded Zhou Shihe with a knowing look.

Chen Xiaoyu seethed inwardly—she was an insider who knew Zhou Shihe favored Li Heng, who harbored designs on stealing her best friend’s man.

But lacking evidence and sensing the setting was inappropriate, Chen Xiaoyu could not strike Zhou Shihe down.

Bai Wanying, seated in her wheelchair, wore a complex expression, then sighed softly: it seemed her earlier suspicions were not entirely baseless—Zhou Shihe and Li Heng’s relationship was far from simple.

Hearing her daughter’s words, Zhou’s mother was surprised—she hadn’t realized her daughter was so close to Li Heng—but she didn’t dwell on it, reached out, took the iron pot, and agreed.

Just as Zhou’s mother turned to leave, she suddenly asked, “By the way, isn’t Teacher Yu home today?”

Clearly, Zhou’s mother wanted to personally invite Teacher Yu to dinner.

Zhou Shihe shook her head: “When I woke up, Teacher Yu was already gone. I don’t know when he’ll return.”

Zhou’s mother had intended to ask whether her daughter had called Teacher Yu, but sensing too many outsiders present, she swallowed the question and stepped inside.

Once her mother was gone, Zhou Shihe reopened the courtyard gate of No. 26 and said to Song Yu, “Come in.”

Saying this, Zhou Shihe stepped into the courtyard first.

Song Yu watched Zhou Shihe’s back in silence for a moment, then called out to Chen Xiaoyu and Bai Wanying to follow.

Bai Wanying smiled and waved her hand: “I have something to discuss with a classmate—I’ll join you later.”

The “classmate” Bai Wanying mentioned didn’t exist—or rather, hadn’t arrived yet: Wei Xiaozhu and Dai Qing.

Hearing this, Song Yu gave Bai Wanying a friendly smile and entered No. 26 with Chen Xiaoyu.

As soon as they stepped inside, Chen Xiaoyu glanced around, then blurted: “Song Yu, your boyfriend’s place is pretty shabby—this renovation doesn’t even compare to the sihe courtyard he bought you in Jingcheng.”

A simple sentence, yet packed with immense information.

It was a roundabout way of telling Zhou Shihe that Song Yu was Li Heng’s girlfriend.

It also informed Zhou Shihe: Li Heng had purchased property for Song Yu in Jingcheng—a sihe courtyard.

What kind of relationship would lead a man to buy his girlfriend a sihe courtyard?

The answer was obvious.

Song Yu glanced at her friend, understanding her intent, but made no move to stop her—she had already sensed Zhou Shihe was no innocent party, or else she wouldn’t have taken it upon herself to entertain Song Yu.

Zhou Shihe, who was pouring tea for them, stiffened—her right hand holding the teapot trembled slightly, nearly dropping it onto the floor.

Fortunately, Zhou Shihe had been immersed since childhood in power struggles, cultivating an unshakable composure; she quickly suppressed the storm within, turned, and calmly handed them each a cup of tea, asking gently, “Song Yu, are you studying in Jingcheng?”

Song Yu took the tea, thanked her, and replied: “Yes, at Peking University.”

Zhou Shihe sat down calmly on the sofa and said: “I’m Zhou Shihe. I assume you’ve seen some rumors about me and Li Heng on TV and in the papers—we’re close friends.”

“Pfft! Pretending! Still pretending! Do you think we haven’t been to Jing’an Temple? You scheming bitch—you’re after my Song’s man, hoping to monopolize him? Pah!” Chen Xiaoyu seethed inwardly.

Song Yu sat across from Zhou Shihe, cradling her teacup and sipping twice before saying: “Yes, I’ve heard of you. Li Heng has praised you more than once—he said your piano playing is at an international master’s level.”

Zhou Shihe asked curiously: “You came to Hushi without telling Li Heng ahead of time?”