Chapter 82

When he returned to the school gate, Li Heng saw Zhang Zhiyong, looking dejected, waiting by the pool table watching Sun Manning sink a shot.

He walked over and asked, “Old Yong, what’s going on? You never beat Sun Manning?”

Seeing him approach, Zhang Zhiyong, who looked as if he’d just lost a family member, instantly grabbed him like a savior and shoved the cue stick into his hands:

“I gotta pee, damn it! I can’t hold it anymore—Heng Da, you take two shots for me.”

Before Li Heng could react, the idiot had already bolted.

Watching his hasty, disheveled figure disappear, Sun Manning straightened up, muttered “pathetic,” then turned her attention to the umbrella in his right hand:

“Oh! This is Song Yu’s umbrella.”

Li Heng glanced down at it. “You can recognize this?”

Sun Manning snorted. “Ask any guy secretly in love with Song Yu—how many wouldn’t know it?”

So it was even more precious then. Li Heng placed the umbrella on a clean spot and asked, “Want me to play a few rounds with you?”

Sun Manning beckoned him over. “Come on! I haven’t eaten yet, and neither have you, right? Best two out of three—loser buys dinner.”

“Fine.” Li Heng wasn’t short on cash now, so he agreed readily.

Sun Manning lived on campus and had been playing pool since she was young—her skill was formidable, far surpassing that of the boastful idiot. Li Heng struggled to keep up, no wonder the guy had just run off.

“Tsk tsk, I never saw you play much before—didn’t expect you’d be this good.” A true expert could tell instantly—Sun Manning looked genuinely surprised.

Li Heng smiled. “Pool’s expensive—I don’t get to play often. Guess it’s just talent.”

Sun Manning nodded solemnly. “True. Just like your face—it’s downright enviable. Most people’s feelings are calculated, but you seem born with the ability to be loved. What a gift. Don’t waste it.”

Li Heng shot her two quick glances. “If you keep talking like that, I’m not playing with you.”

Sun Manning covered her mouth and laughed. “Then I’ll ask straight: if Song Yu gets into Peking University and Chen Zijin is also in Beijing, what will you do? Will you really juggle both?”

Li Heng didn’t want to answer. He lined up a large ball and struck the cue ball. “Where are you planning to apply?”

Seeing he wouldn’t answer, she wisely dropped it. “Two schools I like: Fudan and Sun Yat-sen University.

Still waiting—I’ll decide after my three mock exams.”

Li Heng asked, “I get Fudan—but why Sun Yat-sen?”

Sun Manning didn’t hide it. “My dad has connections there—he can make a call.”

She turned it back on him. “What about you? Top choice—Tsinghua or Peking?”

Li Heng said, “Peking’s tempting, but I also like those two schools you mentioned.”

In his past life, Xiao Han went to Guangzhou’s First Military Medical University. So in this life, his college choice was either with Song Yu or with Xiao Han.

For either of them, grabbing one first made no real difference—they were equally hard to handle.

Song Yu’s reserve and discipline held him back. Xiao Han was just full of complications—easy to mess up.

Sun Manning asked again: “I get Fudan—but why Sun Yat-sen? There are so many better schools in China.”

Li Heng said, “Reform and opening-up—more opportunities there.”

Sun Manning teased him. “I bet you just want to see the bright lights.”

Li Heng chuckled. “Who doesn’t want to see the bright lights?”

Both played well. The three games ended quickly. Li Heng barely won the third game by sinking the black ball—but he paid for dinner anyway.

Sun Manning didn’t argue. She circled him and asked, “Why are you so generous now?”

“I’ve always been generous—just didn’t have money before.”

Sun Manning tilted her head, thinking hard. “Huh… you’re right.”

After dinner, dusk had fallen. As they neared the school gate, Sun Manning asked, “You were dropping Song Yu off at home?”

“Mm.”

“Did her parents see you?”

“No. I stayed at the gate—didn’t go into the courtyard.”

Sun Manning warned, “Good. They know you’re dating Chen Zijin—don’t give it away too soon.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Don’t mention it. I must be crazy—helping someone as morally bankrupt as you. The world’s gone to hell.”

With that, Sun Manning turned and walked toward the faculty housing, not even saying goodbye.

Li Heng rolled his eyes at the empty air and headed toward the adjacent teaching building.

The light in Classroom 206 was on—maybe he’d run into Xiao Han and Yang Yingwen.

As luck would have it, before he even reached the stairs, he spotted two girls beneath the Honor Wall.

Beside them was Xiao Feng.

“Hey! Li Heng, where the hell have you been? I looked in your classroom and couldn’t find you!” Yang Yingwen spotted him from afar and waved wildly.

Li Heng jogged over, grinning. “Good evening, ladies. Just had egg fried rice with a classmate.”

Yang Yingwen immediately triggered her combat mode. “You look happy—was it a girl?”

Many familiar faces had seen him eating earlier—he didn’t bother lying.

“Yeah, it was a girl. And she’s prettier than you, taller than you, better built than you, and richer than you—so tell me, aren’t you furious?”

Yang Yingwen glared. “Why would I be furious? Even if you were eating with Song Yu, the one who’d be furious is Xiao Han.”

That instantly killed him.

Xiao Feng stepped back, smiling, clearly choosing to watch but not join.

Li Heng wanted to strangle this old rag right then. Where was the rule about verbal sparring being harmless? Where were the standard insults?

You just dropped an atomic bomb—how the hell am I supposed to play now?

Li Heng instinctively glanced at Xiao Han. She pretended not to have heard, lifting her gaze to the photo of Song Yu and himself.

Li Heng’s heart skipped. But his face stayed calm. “Have you eaten?”

Yang Yingwen realized she’d ruined the mood. She nodded.

“We ate. You want ice cream? If you do, Xiao Feng and I will suffer through running errands for you.”

Damn it!

If you know you messed up, just leave already! Li Heng scowled. Yang Yingwen giggled and pulled Xiao Feng away, clearly sensing the tension.

Once the two girls were gone, Xiao Han, who had been feigning ignorance, slowly turned her head. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at him.

“Mr. Li, you like Song Yu—so why are you nervous around me?”

He knew this girl wasn’t easy to handle.

Though neither had broken the silence, their feelings were clear after their previous encounters.

Li Heng hadn’t spoken up because he enjoyed the slow unfolding of their connection.

Xiao Han hadn’t spoken up because she still had reservations—she didn’t think it was the right time.

Meeting her gaze, Li Heng felt a wave of unease, then admitted honestly: “I think you’re great too.”

Xiao Han smiled sweetly. “I know I’m great—great enough to make you nervous.”

Before he could reply, she added: “But not great enough to keep you nervous forever.”

The atmosphere between people was the most fragile thing in the world—she tugged it lightly, and it twisted out of shape.

Even Li Heng, battle-hardened as he was, found this blunt question unexpectedly difficult.

Xiao Han stepped forward slightly, leaning in with a grin. “You seem a little tense?”

Li Heng said, “You’re bold today. Last time you ran away.”

At the mention of last time, a blush flashed across Xiao Han’s face. She pulled back her foot.

“Times have changed. You’re a big name now—I’d never dare face you without courage.”

Hearing that, Li Heng’s gloom vanished. He asked, smiling: “So you’ve been keeping tabs on me?”

Xiao Han lowered her head, silent. Then, pitifully: “Yes. But your first gift to me after your success? A whole basket of false hope.”

Li Heng suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. “It’s crowded here—walk with me around campus?”

Xiao Han glanced at the umbrella in his hand. “It’s drizzling again. Are you asking me to walk with you under this umbrella?”

Li Heng looked again at the blue umbrella, puzzled. Is it really that recognizable?

His gaze lingered on the umbrella. Suddenly, Xiao Han lost all interest. “I’m going back to the dorm. Where are you going, Mr. Li?”

Li Heng said, “I’ll walk you.”

Xiao Han said nothing. She turned and walked toward the girls’ dorm.

As they passed the rock garden near the dorm building, she suddenly smiled. “The photo looks nice—very photogenic.”

She didn’t say whose photo—his? Song Yu’s?

Li Heng thanked her, then said: “Since middle school, I’ve always paid attention to you. But every time we meet, you shut me down. Watch out—I might get tired of it one day and settle old scores.” Sorry.

Who apologizes like this? She laughed and cried inside, but kept her face cold as she walked straight into the dorm corridor.

Editor Zou Ping had arrived.

The next morning, after packing his things, Li Heng had just stepped out of Dorm 215 with Zhang Zhiyong, ready to meet Yang Yingwen, Xiao Han, and Xiao Feng, when their English teacher appeared with the news.

Li Heng stopped. “Where is he?”

The English teacher glanced at Zhang Zhiyong, saying nothing.

Li Heng smiled awkwardly. “One of us.”

The teacher nodded. “Just got his call—he got off the train. Should be here in half an hour.”

Li Heng turned to Zhang Zhiyong. “Old Yong, go back with Yang Yingwen and the girls. I won’t be able to leave.”

To his surprise, Zhang Zhiyong turned right back into the dorm. “Hell no! I’m a guy—three girls? I’ll get eaten alive.”

Seeing this, Li Heng pulled out ten yuan and shoved it into the idiot’s pocket, then followed the English teacher out of the dorm area.

"You're quite generous—ten yuan is several days' wages! You just hand it out like a real man!" Wang Run said with a smile.

Li Heng replied humbly, "Teacher, you don't know—I've eaten and drunk more at his expense."

Wang Run sized him up from head to toe. "Now that you have money, it's time to buy a few good sets of clothes."

Li Heng said, "Let's not rush this—wait until after the college entrance exam."

PS: This is the fourth day in a row I've posted ten thousand characters. March has been hard work, haha.

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(End of chapter)