[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-685":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},2259845,4409,"Chapter 685: The Understanding Flower","1987-my-era-chapter-685",685,"\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, Li Heng took a shower and went upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door wasn’t locked—it opened at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng asked with a knowing smile, “Still calling me teacher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng said, “If you’re not used to it, call me Sister Yu—or Wife Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng laughed at him. “I’m thinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked, “About something troubling you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng hummed in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng tilted his head slightly. “What’s on your mind? Can you tell me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng closed her book. “Tonight, Mom came to see me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked, “Your mother-in-law?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng smiled warmly. “Yes, her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng told him, “Mom hopes I’ll have a child soon…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then recounted word for word the entire conversation she’d had with her on the balcony that evening—no embellishment, no omission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was being completely sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had thought long and hard before speaking—two reasons drove her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, her mother-in-law’s suggestion had moved her. She was nearly twenty-seven; it was truly time to marry and have children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she understood: marriage and childbirth weren’t something she could simply decide on her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key lay with Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she spoke—treating it as an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the opportunity was large or small? She couldn’t control it—only fate could decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had also considered: perhaps Tian Rune’s mention of children tonight, urging her to control Li Heng, was itself a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A test of whether she had the courage, the skill, the ability to be the principal wife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A test of whether she could manage this household?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A test of whether she could block the Zhou family and Zhou Shihe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she failed this time, perhaps her mother-in-law would find someone else—maybe Song Yu, or even directly Zhou Shihe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The probability of choosing Song Yu was high; the possibility of choosing Zhou Shihe was also significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if you sifted through all his romantic interests, only the two of them had the potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful consideration, she directly confessed to Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she finished, the bedroom fell silent—so quiet a pin could be heard dropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure now rested with Li Heng; the choice lay in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him lost in thought, Yu Shuheng didn’t press him. She reopened her book and resumed reading, calming herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long, long moments passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng lifted his head and apologized, “About the child… it’s still too early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng’s body stiffened slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on the page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shuheng said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was a jieyu hua?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—a woman eternally wise, considerate, and understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yu Shuheng’s view: Li Heng was arrogant, talented, outwardly smooth and feigning ignorance, but inwardly fiercely decisive—and naturally amorous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lived two lives, Li Heng instantly grasped the profound meaning behind her simple words. He said nothing. He made no promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply bent down and kissed her—passionately, without restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Yu Shuheng’s lips parted willingly, kissing him back without resistance. She even opened the gates she had long kept shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at this moment, she clearly sensed: the man before her was different—his attitude toward her had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If before, their compatibility had been 80%, this heartfelt exchange now pushed it straight to 90%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unexpected gain—filling her with joy and stirring her emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a phrase she had long held in her heart—and now, with passionate fervor, she spoke it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>",1222,"2026-06-19T15:27:37.732Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7c0101ba92a9b960886948e5a29d62617ba380c766891b509bacf82be156789f","1987-my-era-chapter-686","1987-my-era-chapter-684",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]