Chapter 652

Saying they would get rid of Chen Xiaoyu as an outsider, they immediately took action.

Zhou Shihe was a highly decisive person; she immediately analyzed the limited environmental factors, found the most plausible excuse, and asked Chen Xiaoyu: “What’s your name, classmate?”

Chen Xiaoyu had just seen Zhou Shihe casually stab her best friend Song Yu with a knife; now she was cautious. “I’m Chen Xiaoyu.”

Zhou Shihe asked: “Are you also studying at Peking University?”

Chen Xiaoyu nodded, wondering why this woman was probing her—what was she really up to?

But the next second, Chen Xiaoyu wanted to curse.

Zhou Shihe spoke gently: “The girl you just pushed over is Bai Wanying, a very close friend of Li Heng. It might rain outside—could you go check on her?”

Chen Xiaoyu’s eyes widened. She thought: You want me to take care of her? Are you serious? I’m an outsider! I’m a guest! How can you even say that? Don’t you see I’ve barely drunk half my tea?

Chen Xiaoyu wasn’t stupid—she knew this frail-looking woman had a ruthless heart and was trying to get her out of the way so she could be alone with Song Yu.

Thinking this, Chen Xiaoyu glanced worriedly at Song Yu, fearing Song Yu’s kindness might make her an easy target.

At the same time, she rolled up her sleeves, as if asking her best friend: Song Yu, wanna punch? We’re two against one—we can hit her anytime, no mercy!

She thought: If I can’t outtalk Zhou, then I’ll just hit her—no more words, no delays, or I’ll die of rage before the day’s over.

Song Yu clearly understood the other woman’s intent; she told Chen Xiaoyu: “Bai Wanying isn’t well—go help her. I’ll come down soon.”

Well, since Song Yu said that, Chen Xiaoyu had to give up her plan to beat Zhou Shihe senseless and reluctantly went downstairs.

Hearing the footsteps fade away, Zhou Shihe calmly said to Song Yu: “Our home is a bit plain—please sit anywhere. It’s about to rain; I’ll go collect Maisui’s clothes first.”

Zhou Shihe spoke and acted like the true mistress of the house, casually, as if this were her own home.

Song Yu didn’t bother with politeness—she walked over and sat on the sofa, watching Zhou Shihe collect Maisui’s clothes, then enter the secondary bedroom, then the main bedroom to close the windows, and finally open the study door and shut its windows too.

Song Yu carefully observed and realized Zhou Shihe’s actions weren’t performative—she genuinely knew this house well.

Thinking this, Song Yu felt a stir inside—her suspicion was correct: Li Heng must be hopelessly in love with Zhou Shihe, and their relationship was far more complex than she’d imagined; otherwise, proud Zhou Shihe wouldn’t treat Li Heng this way.

Otherwise, Zhou Shihe wouldn’t have shown off these everyday routines right in front of her.

Song Yu understood: the other woman deliberately wanted her to see these moments—to make her give up.

Even heaven was cooperating with Zhou Shihe—the rain had truly begun.

It wasn’t heavy, just a fine drizzle, thick and sticky, clinging to the sky like strands of dragon’s beard candy.

After finishing, Zhou Shihe returned to the living room and sat across from the sofa. “Sorry—I’m the host, yet left you sitting alone so long.”

Song Yu smiled beautifully. “It’s fine. You’re thoughtful—I thank you on behalf of Li Heng and Maisui.”

You say “guests are welcome.”

I reply with “on behalf of.”

Neither of us is a soft target.

Their words were calm, yet fiercely tense—each treated this place as her own territory.

Or rather, treated Li Heng as her own.

Or rather, from this moment, both women had declared a firm resolve to each other: Li Heng would be hers—and only hers.

The two women locked eyes, the atmosphere suddenly becoming delicate.

At this moment, the air seemed to freeze.

The world seemed to stop.

Neither spoke.

They remained locked in stalemate for an unknown length of time, when suddenly, a voice came from outside—the voice of Zhou’s mother.

Zhou’s mother greeted: “Teacher Yu, you’re back.”

Yu Shuheng, holding a pile of mundane household items, smiled and nodded at Zhou’s mother by the gate of Building 27: “Come to celebrate Shihe’s birthday?”

Zhou’s mother laughed and invited: “Teacher Yu, are you free today? The food’s almost ready—stay for lunch.”

Yu Shuheng said: “Sure, I’ll put these down and come right away.”

Bai Wanying suddenly interjected: “Teacher, why did you bring all the office stuff home?”

It wasn’t strange for Bai Wanying to ask—she’d been to the English teacher’s office before and recognized Yu’s pen holder and desk lamp.

Yu Shuheng looked down at the cardboard boxes in her arms and smiled: “I quit my job, so I brought them back.”

Zhou’s mother was surprised: “Quit? You quit being a university teacher?”

Yu Shuheng nodded again: “I have too many things on my plate—I couldn’t manage both, so I resigned.”

Because this was the end of the alley, the corner was especially quiet—every word outside drifted clearly into the house.

It drifted into Song Yu and Zhou Shihe’s ears.

Hearing Yu Shuheng had quit her university job, Zhou Shihe instinctively pouted slightly, subconsciously thinking the woman might truly be pulling back from this relationship—time for others was running out.

Song Yu thought the same.

When the outside conversation ended, the atmosphere in the living room shifted again. Zhou Shihe finally broke the silence: “You and Li Heng were high school classmates too?”

Song Yu nodded lightly. “Yes.”

Zhou Shihe asked: “Manning and Maisui were in your class too?”

Song Yu replied: “We were all in the same class since freshman year—we never split up after choosing liberal arts or science.”

Finally confirmed: Maisui and Maning had been hiding this from her. Zhou Shihe thought this, then asked gently: “How was his high school performance?”

The “he” naturally referred to Li Heng.

Song Yu said: “Li Heng did very well in high school—usually ranked among the top few in the whole school.”

Zhou Shihe asked: “I heard he had a chance to go to Peking University, but came to Shanghai instead?”

Song Yu said: “That’s right. But he missed the Peking University cutoff by one point.”

Zhou Shihe asked sweetly: “Could you tell me about his high school days?”

Song Yu asked: “Which part?”

Zhou Shihe thought for a moment, then quietly said: “Love.”

Song Yu was slightly surprised—but not really. She replied with deep meaning: “His romantic history is rich—possibly richer than you imagine.”

Zhou Shihe asked: “Rich?”

Song Yu smiled faintly.

Zhou Shihe asked: “You and him—who pursued whom?”

Song Yu smiled. “I don’t pursue men.”

Hearing this, Zhou Shihe smiled lightly. “Me neither.”

After a rare moment of calm, these two lines—“I don’t pursue men” and “Me neither”—instantly turned the atmosphere tense again.

Song Yu’s words implied: He pursued me.

Zhou Shihe responded just as defiantly: He’s pursuing me too.

The two women stared at each other, each sensing the other was not to be trifled with—and each sensing their own special status in Li Heng’s life.

After all, countless outstanding women surrounded Li Heng—but only these two were the ones he actively pursued.