Chapter 685: The Understanding Flower

It had been more than half a year since he last returned to Shangwan Village; relatives and neighbors were warm and enthusiastic, and the father and son chatted with them until around 10:30 p.m. before parting.

Back home, Li Heng took a shower and went upstairs.

He wandered into his own bedroom for a moment, then came to the door of Yu Shuheng’s room and reached out to turn the doorknob.

The door wasn’t locked—it opened at once.

Yu Shuheng was wearing a blue-and-white pajama set, leaning back against the headboard reading. Seeing him enter, she shifted position naturally, moving closer to the wall.

He shut the door, bolted it, walked to the bed, kicked off his shoes, and climbed in. “Teacher,” Li Heng asked, “it’s nearly eleven—why aren’t you asleep?”

Yu Shuheng asked with a knowing smile, “Still calling me teacher?”

Li Heng grinned, crossing his hands behind his head and leaning back against the headboard. “I’m just not used to calling you by name.”

Yu Shuheng said, “If you’re not used to it, call me Sister Yu—or Wife Yu?”

“You’re giving me a multiple-choice question—do I even have a choice?” Li Heng rolled his eyes, then called out, “Shuheng wife, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Yu Shuheng laughed at him. “I’m thinking.”

Li Heng asked, “About something troubling you?”

Yu Shuheng hummed in agreement.

Li Heng tilted his head slightly. “What’s on your mind? Can you tell me?”

Yu Shuheng closed her book. “Tonight, Mom came to see me.”

Li Heng asked, “Your mother-in-law?”

Yu Shuheng smiled warmly. “Yes, her.”

Li Heng looked at her.

Yu Shuheng told him, “Mom hopes I’ll have a child soon…”

She then recounted word for word the entire conversation she’d had with her on the balcony that evening—no embellishment, no omission.

She was being completely sincere.

She had thought long and hard before speaking—two reasons drove her:

First, her mother-in-law’s suggestion had moved her. She was nearly twenty-seven; it was truly time to marry and have children.

But she understood: marriage and childbirth weren’t something she could simply decide on her own.

The key lay with Li Heng.

So she spoke—treating it as an opportunity.

Whether the opportunity was large or small? She couldn’t control it—only fate could decide.

Second, this was the first time her mother-in-law had opened her heart to her. She had to listen—she couldn’t brush it off or pretend ignorance.

But she had a gentleman’s agreement with Song Yu, so she couldn’t openly defy it. She could only hand the choice to Li Heng.

If Li Heng was willing to give her a child, then her gentleman’s agreement with Song Yu would no longer matter. After all, a mother gains status through her child—she could leap straight into becoming part of the Li family.

If Li Heng wasn’t interested, then saying nothing would cost her nothing—it would simply be a way to give her mother-in-law a reply.

She had also considered: perhaps Tian Rune’s mention of children tonight, urging her to control Li Heng, was itself a test.

A test of whether she had the courage, the skill, the ability to be the principal wife?

A test of whether she could manage this household?

A test of whether she could block the Zhou family and Zhou Shihe?

If she failed this time, perhaps her mother-in-law would find someone else—maybe Song Yu, or even directly Zhou Shihe.

The probability of choosing Song Yu was high; the possibility of choosing Zhou Shihe was also significant.

After all, if you sifted through all his romantic interests, only the two of them had the potential.

She knew: Tian Rune had once approached her in Lushan Village, but back then, she hadn’t been this explicit. Now was the final chance—she didn’t want to miss it without doing anything.

After careful consideration, she directly confessed to Li Heng.

When she finished, the bedroom fell silent—so quiet a pin could be heard dropping.

The pressure now rested with Li Heng; the choice lay in his hands.

On the left were Zijin and Song Yu; on the right was Yu Shuheng. Both sides were flesh of his flesh—hurting any one would pain him. For a moment, he was truly stuck.

Seeing him lost in thought, Yu Shuheng didn’t press him. She reopened her book and resumed reading, calming herself.

Long, long moments passed.

Li Heng lifted his head and apologized, “About the child… it’s still too early.”

Yu Shuheng’s body stiffened slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on the page.

Li Heng stared at the ceiling, speaking to himself: “Zijin has been with me since middle school. Time flies—eight years have passed. Last Dragon Boat Festival, she didn’t come with Song Yu. Do you know why?”

Yu Shuheng said nothing.

Li Heng continued: “You’re so intelligent—you must know why Zijin didn’t come to Lushan Village, and why I’ve never gone to the Chen family in Beijing.”

“But the Chen family is the Chen family, and Zijin is Zijin. I want to give her our first child—that’s my promise to her, her lifelong reliance and security, and also Song Yu’s demand of me. Shuheng, can you understand me?”

Hearing him reveal words buried deepest in his heart, Yu Shuheng was moved. Her thumb and forefinger unconsciously pinched the book’s page, then softly said, “Little man, you’re a man of deep feeling and loyalty—that’s your greatest quality.

Though your choice saddens me, it also reassures me—I don’t have to fear being cast aside when I grow old and lose my beauty. As your woman, I can’t make things hard for you.”

Hearing this, Li Heng felt ashamed. Gently, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. “I’ve wronged you—I’ve tainted your nobility and purity. I’m ashamed. And I’m deeply moved.”

Rarely had she heard his voice so rich and warm. Yu Shuheng set the book aside, rested her head and body against his shoulder, and said, “Little man, I want to be your jieyu hua.”

What was a jieyu hua?

Of course—a woman eternally wise, considerate, and understanding.

In Yu Shuheng’s view: Li Heng was arrogant, talented, outwardly smooth and feigning ignorance, but inwardly fiercely decisive—and naturally amorous.

She understood: such a man didn’t want a wife who constantly argued with him—a “troublemaker”—nor a scheming, venomous “poisonous woman.” He wanted a jieyu hua—one who let him relax, brought him joy, and trusted him completely.

Having lived two lives, Li Heng instantly grasped the profound meaning behind her simple words. He said nothing. He made no promise.

He simply bent down and kissed her—passionately, without restraint.

This time, Yu Shuheng’s lips parted willingly, kissing him back without resistance. She even opened the gates she had long kept shut.

Because at this moment, she clearly sensed: the man before her was different—his attitude toward her had changed.

If before, their compatibility had been 80%, this heartfelt exchange now pushed it straight to 90%.

It was an unexpected gain—filling her with joy and stirring her emotions.

The two crimson tongues entwined for a long time, nearly suffocating, before finally parting. Yu Shuheng placed her hand over his face, slowly caressing it, her deep eyes glowing with unprecedented brightness: “Little man, I love you.”

It was a phrase she had long held in her heart—and now, with passionate fervor, she spoke it aloud.