[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-67":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","1987: My Era",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2259227,4409,"Chapter 67: Patience Is a Form of Wisdom","1987-my-era-chapter-67",67,"\u003Cp>Sun Manning turned around, leaned on his desk, and whispered: “Li Heng, congratulations—you’ve finally fulfilled your dream, getting one step closer to your goddess Song Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yu’s eyes held a faint smile, as if she hadn’t heard a word; she brushed a strand of fine hair behind her ear, rose quietly, and left the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui didn’t offer any congratulations; she gave Li Heng a soft, alluring smile, then walked with Song Yu toward the classroom door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong, standing outside in the hallway as punishment, pried open the classroom window and shouted loudly: “Bro, you’re insane! You’ve hit the stratosphere!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look on his face was like he’d won the top scholarship himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the usually stern homeroom teacher, Wang Qi, merely smiled at this remark and didn’t reprimand Zhang Zhiyong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng signaled to the idiot with a gesture: miming drinking a bottled soda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong gave back the same gesture with a sly, sneaky look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui won the first prize scholarship; Luo Zhijie did too. Behind them came a boy from Class 205 named Sun Wei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final spot for the arts first prize scholarship went unexpectedly to Chen Lijun’s family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unexpected because this last spot had almost always been Liu Yejiang’s. But this time, that idiot didn’t get a single prize—not even the third prize of fifty yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academic affairs office was a bit far, located in the building next to the school gate, requiring a walk across the large playground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, Li Heng encountered many familiar faces also receiving scholarships; no matter how well they knew him, whenever he glanced their way, those boys and girls would spontaneously smile at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smiles might have been small, but they proved his social standing had changed dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when he looked at them, they’d merely glance back—never offering any sign at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because such privileges were usually the exclusive honor of the top four academic geniuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academic affairs office was too small to hold forty people, so one teacher led all the students to the larger conference room next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, Li Heng met some acquaintances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Yang Yingwen. Like Xiao Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And also Xiao Han—this girl had won the science first prize scholarship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Li Heng had learned his lesson: before Sun Manning could wave to call him, he walked straight toward the group where Yang Yingwen and the girls stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! A rare guest! The top arts student has arrived.” The moment they met, Yang Yingwen automatically activated her duel mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng might have considered being kind to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with this crude girl? No need at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled his eyes and said: “You know I’m the top arts student? Then why aren’t you more polite?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen shot back with a glare: “Polite? I’m the top science student. If we hadn’t been split into streams, I’d beat you to the ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true—but damn, it hurt his pride!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng immediately dragged Xiao Han and Xiao Feng into the fray: “Comrade Yang Yingwen, can you think before you speak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think you’re only targeting me? You’ve ignored them both.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng took a symbolic step back and waved her hands frantically, signaling she was just a bystander, not getting involved in their feud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Failing to get support, Li Heng turned to Xiao Han, after a long pause asking: “Comrade Xiao Han, who are you siding with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Xiao Han could answer, Yang Yingwen cut in: “What a stupid question? Is she close to you? Of course she’s on my side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xiao Feng’s face revealed a faint, unreadable expression. She had a vague intuition: Li Heng’s apparent target was Yang Yingwen, but his real target was Xiao Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng didn’t know why this thought had popped into her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But recalling the bus ride last time, she felt strongly that Li Heng and Xiao Han shared some ambiguous romantic connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Heng stare directly at her, Xiao Han felt a flicker of delight—and a flush of heat. She smiled happily and scolded: “Mr. Li, you can’t just stare so openly at a beautiful girl like that…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, today he hadn’t rushed straight to Song Yu—he’d come to her side. That was progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han knew thinking this way was shameless, but what could she do? Her heart was a fiery girl’s heart, and she couldn’t hide it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Song Yu, Xiao Han swept her gaze around and quickly pinpointed her target. Though she desperately wished the girl looked like a gorilla, she had to acknowledge this potential rival—she was stunningly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That girl beside her, Mai Sui, and Sun Manning—oh, Song Yu was looking over too…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To preserve her composed, aloof persona, Xiao Han had planned to hide behind Yang Yingwen, playing the good girl and avoiding the drama between her friend and her honey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Song Yu’s gaze landed on her, Xiao Han’s chest rose sharply—suddenly, courage surged within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pressed her lips into a sweet smile, stepped away from Yang Yingwen, and moved to Li Heng’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen’s mouth dropped open, her face stunned; she raised her right hand, speechless:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Han, you—you—you’re really…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han forcibly suppressed her pounding heart, forced out two charming dimples, and explained: “Yingwen, I owe him a favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen glanced between Li Heng and Xiao Han, sensing something hidden in the air—but couldn’t quite grasp it, too shocking to believe, so she turned to mock him instead:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Heng, how does it feel to be the top student in the whole school for the first time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng smirked: “Regretful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng chimed in: “Why regretful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “Since that person in junior high refused to teach me English, I’ve always wanted to defeat him properly—too bad. I’ll never get the chance now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen was furious: “You’re still holding a grudge? It was such a tiny thing—you’ve remembered it this long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng ignored her, deliberately addressing Xiao Han: “I’ll treat you to dinner this weekend. Consider it repayment for your kindness back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll follow your lead,” Xiao Han said, her eyes crinkling with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng glanced sideways at Yang Yingwen and added: “Don’t bring anyone. I want to have dinner alone with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blush crept quietly over her heart; Xiao Han’s right toe traced a small circle on the floor. Her smile remained, but inside she screamed: Girl, stay calm! Stay calm! Endure this sweet assault!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The school leaders arrived and announced three things:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They congratulated everyone present for winning scholarships, having already pulled far ahead of others on the road to the college entrance exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second: at month’s end, there would be a scholarship award ceremony, along with a college entrance exam pledge rally; the leaders informed everyone about dress code and ceremony protocols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third was group photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The photographer was the school’s music teacher, who was also the deputy headmaster’s wife; she set up her camera in the front row and began directing the students’ positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the three school leaders stood center stage in the front row, while the six recipients of the top scholarships stood on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other scholarship winners stood in the second and third rows behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, this lineup was a clear hierarchy—Li Heng had long envied the front row, and now he was finally standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six top scholarship winners were exactly three boys and three girls. Li Heng saw the photographer placing Song Yu, Yang Yingwen, and Xiao Feng together, so he quietly walked over and said to Xiao Feng:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Comrade Xiao Feng, how about a soda as a bribe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen, hearing this, instinctively glanced back at Xiao Han behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the seed of suspicion was planted, it took root deep in the bone, sprouted, and became nearly impossible to remove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who was Xiao Han?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the girl who maintained a lofty, composed, aloof demeanor in public—facing her friend’s probing gaze, she stood still as a still-life sketch, enduring silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, silently enduring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han didn’t believe in fate. She feared that believing in natural disasters would make her forget human-caused suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because human suffering could be resisted and reversed; fate could not. If she believed she and Chen Zijin were destined to be together, what hope remained for her life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, for years, in love, Xiao Han had been at a severe disadvantage—and she constantly reminded herself: stay focused. Patience is great wisdom. The wise know how to wait. Hibernation is life’s bitter cultivation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she could outlast Chen Zijin, she could outlast Song Yu too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han was confident—she was Li Heng’s ultimate destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1466,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fc2e97595e28dca0fab35143e58977a928649bf4217f7541551aa99492bbcb42","1987-my-era-chapter-68","1987-my-era-chapter-66",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]