[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-711":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},2259871,4409,"Chapter 711","1987-my-era-chapter-711",711,"\u003Cp>It was raining outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain wasn’t heavy, but it was dense, hanging like threads across the entire sky, cooling the stifling heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two straight nights of late-night labor, Li Heng slept deeply, only slowly opening his eyes around 3:30 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the ceiling for a while, thinking: Did Zhou Gu niang fully understand Li Ji’s words?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically speaking, with Shihe’s intelligence, she should have grasped it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, this was a test he’d given Zhou Gu niang—the answer lay in whether she would cook dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she cooked dinner, it proved she wasn’t just his one-sided fantasy; her heart still leaned toward him, meaning she fully understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she refused to cook dinner, then his words today might have been too much—he’d need to consider his next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in these thoughts, he rolled over, put on his shoes, and walked around the first and second floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house was utterly quiet, not even a ghost to be seen, let alone any aroma of food from the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he misunderstood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was it too early—had Zhou Gu niang not arrived yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, at this very moment, Zhou Shihe was at the library gathering wheat stalks, preparing to go to the outside market. Li Heng stood at the kitchen door, pondering for a long while, then went to the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, he returned to the second-floor study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long, restorative nap, he felt refreshed, sat calmly in his chair, spread out ink and brush, and prepared to continue writing “The Book of the End.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, inspiration surged—he wrote with fluid grace, the steel pen tip scratching continuously across the white paper without pause, writing over four thousand characters in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he finished the first chapter and began the second, the study door quietly cracked open, and Mai Sui’s head peeked in silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him lost in his writing, Mai Sui slipped back quietly and gently closed the study door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the sofa, Mai Sui told her best friend: “He’s writing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhou Shihe picked up a newspaper from the coffee table and began browsing idly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui sat down, thought for a moment, and asked: “Shihe, can I ask you something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.” Zhou Shihe gave a soft hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui asked: “Has your mom guessed about you and Li Heng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “mom” referred to Zhou’s mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe nodded and hummed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui asked: “Then why didn’t your mom stop you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked this because during the Dragon Boat Festival, Xiao Han, Yu Laoshi, and Song Yu were all there—even a fool could have seen the signs, that Li Heng was juggling multiple women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what Mai Sui found curious and worrying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe fell silent, then lifted her gaze to meet her friend’s, speaking calmly: “The only condition is that he marries me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” This answer surprised Mai Sui—and yet didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was surprised because Zhou’s mom hadn’t stopped Shihe from being with Li Heng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t surprised because, given the Zhou family’s background, they would never let Shihe become Li Heng’s mistress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui said understandingly: “Then you need to decide soon—time might run out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui spoke vaguely, without naming anyone, but the two girls understood each other perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe said okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Zhou Shihe suddenly spoke: “How’s your relationship with his parents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui shook her head: “Don’t you already know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Mai Sui realized, lowering her voice: “You want me to get closer to his parents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe glanced toward the study, hesitated, then said: “My instinct tells me his parents don’t like me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui exclaimed: “No way? The last two times they came to Lushan Village, they treated you well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe said: “That was just politeness, the courtesy of elders. But deep down, they probably resent me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui blurted out: “You’re so perfect—why? Why would they resent you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe remained silent, but her expressive eyes seemed to say it all: precisely because she was too perfect, the elders felt she was too elusive, lacking in security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words: the elders were slightly wary of her, felt uneasy around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui read her friend’s eyes and understood her heart: she wanted Mai Sui to build a good relationship with Li Heng’s parents, and in doing so, create more opportunities for Shihe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In dealing with Li Heng’s parents, Shihe was far behind Song Yu, Xiao Han, and Yu Laoshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she needed to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the breakthrough lay with Mai Sui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui sighed: “I don’t know how to get along with his parents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe smiled gently: “Don’t rush—Li Heng will arrange it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said only half—she didn’t say the full truth: now that you’ve become intimate, Li Heng will naturally find a way to introduce you to his parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui took a deep breath: “You saying that makes me suddenly nervous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ling ling…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding ling ling…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two were sharing heartfelt words, the landline on the coffee table rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe exchanged glances—the phone had been installed that morning, and hardly anyone even knew the number; why was someone calling now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the ringing reached the fourth ring, Mai Sui asked: “Should we answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shihe said nothing, looking toward the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the next second, the study door opened—Li Heng emerged, interrupted by the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two women on the sofa, Li Heng blinked in confusion: “You’re here? Then why didn’t you answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui said: “We didn’t know who it was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng paused, understood, then hurried over, plopping down beside Zhou Shihe and picking up the white receiver: “Hello, who’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manzai, have you had dinner yet?” Tian Rune’s voice came through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid worrying his mother, Li Heng replied instantly: “Yes, Mom. How did you find out I installed the phone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune chuckled warmly: “Yu Laoshi told me. I just spoke with her—she’s in Tokyo now, says she wants to buy me clothes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made sense—the landline had been installed by Yu Laoshi’s people, so of course she knew the number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear Tian Rune was in an excellent mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since Yu Laoshi had voluntarily asked for her measurements and wanted to buy her clothes and gifts—it made the old lady feel slightly giddy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The living room was utterly quiet, no noise at all; Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe had heard every word of their conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, they’d been discussing how well others got along with Li Heng’s parents—and now they were proven wrong. Mai Sui reached over and clasped Shihe’s arm, quietly worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing her friend’s heavy heart, Zhou Shihe gave Mai Sui a gentle smile, signaling it was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough cough.” Mentioning another woman in front of one was a major taboo—Li Heng feared bad luck and quickly coughed twice to interrupt his mother’s monologue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Rune immediately stopped boasting and asked with concern: “Manzai, what’s wrong? Is your throat sore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng replied: “No, just a sudden itch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned to Mai Sui: “Mai Sui, could you bring me a cup of tea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Sui gave him a meaningful look, smiled softly, and got up to pour him tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Mai Sui was beside his son, Tian Rune instantly snapped back to reality, dropped the subject of Yu Laoshi, and asked instead: “How far have you and Mai Sui gone? Have you… slept together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could finish the question, she heard her son’s voice again—only now he wasn’t speaking to her, but to Zhou Shihe.\u003C\u002Fp>",1273,"2026-06-19T15:27:37.732Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","abc66b5029a631d2be0111073c9db82847cf6c7fd2f9d592f0138b2ee6fcd3b5","1987-my-era-chapter-712","1987-my-era-chapter-710",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]