[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-1987-my-era":3,"chapter-1987-my-era-1987-my-era-chapter-93":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},2259253,4409,"Chapter 93: Are We in Love? (Please Subscribe!)","1987-my-era-chapter-93",93,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As dawn broke, Li Heng left school with Zhang Zhiyong, first heading to the city center for a bowl of beef noodles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoa! With money in hand, this was the first time since his rebirth he’d felt so extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just noodles—he added beef.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generous red oil, fiery chili—both devoured until their tongues curled, finishing every last drop of broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, they rushed straight to the postal savings branch, waiting outside until 8 a.m. sharp, when Li Heng dashed in as the first customer and handed over his passbook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, I’d like to withdraw money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the teller handed him 3,800 yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, three more people entered—two men and one woman—all with long flowing hair, looking distinctly dangerous. They fixed their stares on Li Heng, making both him and Zhang Zhiyong tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong even slipped his right hand into the chest pocket of his backpack, where he kept a steel bar left over from middle school fights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was rebar, about thirty centimeters long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng had trained in boxing in his past life and wasn’t afraid of these three—but he worried they weren’t alone, that they belonged to a gang. If he provoked them, trouble would never end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stuffed the cash into his backpack, exchanged a glance with Zhang Zhiyong, and both surged forward in unison, sprinting out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the long-haired men followed them outside, peering around, then hurriedly asked the older man behind him: “Bro, should we follow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The older man hesitated a few seconds, then shook his head. “Forget it. These two are tough. They’re probably carrying knives. Not worth it—if one of us gets stabbed, we might not make it out alive today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were seasoned pickpockets; direct confrontation wasn’t their strength. Li Heng’s 178-centimeter frame was already tall for southern China in this era, intimidating enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zhang Zhiyong, standing around 170 with a pronounced V-shaped hairline, looked every bit the ruthless, fearless type—likely even more dangerous than the tall one if pushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three were veteran thieves, with an instinct for sizing people up: who to avoid, who to target—they could read a person’s danger level in a glance, with near-perfect accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ran two or three li without stopping, reaching the riverbank, where Li Heng climbed onto a large rock and looked back. Seeing no one following along the straight riverside path, he finally exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, having money is troublesome too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learned my lesson—never withdraw money in Shaodong again. This place is too dangerous, too terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned down the riverside path back to school, rested for an hour, then grabbed their luggage and headed to the school gate to meet Yang Yingwen and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived just in time: as Li Heng and Zhang Zhiyong reached the gate, Xiao Han, Xiao Feng, and Yang Yingwen approached from the opposite direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng immediately asked Xiao Feng, “Yang Cheng isn’t going back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Cheng and Xiao Feng were from the same place—the gold mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng replied, “The college entrance exam is in a month. Yang Cheng said he’s staying at school to study.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng nodded. Seeing the bus arrive, he waved his hand decisively. “Then let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably because of the holiday, the bus, just leaving its starting point, was nearly empty. The group boarded smoothly and reached the bus station without delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far off, they spotted the minibus heading to Qian Town. Seeing the front seats taken, Li Heng chose a window seat at the very back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chose it deliberately: pickpockets and thugs rarely bothered the rear, it offered full visibility of the bus, and if things turned bad, he could jump out the window—it was the safest spot on the bus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! Li Heng, are you crazy? Sitting in the back? Wanting to get carsick?” Only Lao Mubu would dare shout at him like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng ignored him, his gaze fixed expectantly on Xiao Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han, sensing some hormonal signal, lowered her head and stared at the floor for a long moment, then walked toward Li Heng, right under Yang Yingwen’s wide, astonished eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong quickly vacated his seat and moved to the front aisle to guard his brother’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen was about to lose her mind. She turned to Xiao Han, who had just sat beside Li Heng: “You—you really don’t know what to say about you anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han smiled softly, lips curled, silent. She patted the seat beside her, signaling her two friends to join her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng seemed utterly unsurprised. She walked over with a smile and sat beside Xiao Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing all four had clustered at the back, Yang Yingwen—who’d planned to sit in the middle—fumed and sulked, then reluctantly gave in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Mubu sat down and immediately started talking: “Li Heng, next time don’t come back with us. If you keep this up, Xiao Han’s parents will come looking for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Li Heng didn’t want to argue. He simply reached out his right hand—and, in the stunned silence of Yang Yingwen, Xiao Feng, and Zhang Zhiyong—grabbed Xiao Han’s left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand was suddenly covered in warmth. Xiao Han trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d never experienced such bold intimacy before. She wanted to pull away—but that damn sweetness flooded her mind, drowning her reason instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his fingers intertwined with hers, Xiao Han screamed inside: Xiao Han, you idiot! Fight back! Just pretend to struggle a little—for them to see! Don’t keep letting yourself down!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, her face flushed red, and against her better judgment, her hand slipped into his, fingers locking tightly together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, truly, fingers entwined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no way out, Xiao Han closed her eyes, too shy to meet his gaze—or even look at her two friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhang Zhiyong in front had turned around, staring dumbfounded at their clasped hands. After a long silence, he finally blurted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Boss Heng! Damn! You’re awesome! When we get back, I’m building you a monument and writing your biography!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiyong wasn’t the only one stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xiao Feng, usually the calmest, was thrown into shock. The sight of their linked hands in the sunlight hit her too hard—she just stared, frozen, unable to process it for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yingwen found it utterly unbelievable. Her mouth hung open, eyes nearly bulging out of her head—but she couldn’t utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was murder without a weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another wave of passengers boarded. The bus lurched forward. Yang Yingwen’s soul, nearly ejected from her body, finally returned. Unconsciously leaning over Xiao Feng, she pressed her mouth to Xiao Han’s ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you sure? Do you know what this means? Aren’t you scared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng strained to listen, her eyes fixed on her friend. If it were her—if she had Xiao Han’s beauty and grace—she wouldn’t agree to date Li Heng. After all, he was still tangled up with Song Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han wasn’t afraid. She was only happy, and a little embarrassed—the guilt of breaking her own vow from yesterday was impossible to express.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a dream?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it too fast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought flashed through her mind—then she comforted herself: Who cares? I can’t publicly humiliate him. I’m just saving his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are so many people watching—he has pride too, doesn’t he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her eighteen years, every happy moment she’d ever had combined couldn’t match this single instant. Her heart felt soft, light, and utterly at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the minibus took a sharp turn and she was flung against Li Heng, her heart settled. She felt herself floating in an indescribable bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Happy moments always feel too short—even after six hours, Xiao Han remained lost in the sweet haze of “happiness,” unwilling to wake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she finally understood why Chen Zijin had once clung to him like she was drugged. This kind of love was truly addictive—even though yesterday she’d written in her diary: “I must keep my distance from him. Think again! Think again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should she think again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Heng opened a bottle of soda and offered it to her lips, Xiao Han’s reason dissolved again. She grinned like an idiot, opening her mouth to sip slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several sips, she blushed like a red rose and whispered, “Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng nodded, then, under the stares of Xiao Han, Xiao Feng, Yang Yingwen, and Zhang Zhiyong, unhesitatingly pressed the bottle’s mouth to his own lips and drank deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two are unbelievable!” Yang Yingwen fumed, her face flushed. She’d been force-fed dog food all trip—and miraculously hadn’t gotten carsick—but now she couldn’t speak a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Shaodong to Qian Town, morning had turned to evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A golden sunset streamed through the window, bathing Li Heng’s face in radiant light, as if haloed by divine radiance. Xiao Feng, gazing at his clear profile, had to admit—he was undeniably attractive. No wonder Xiao Han had fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Feng suddenly thought of Chen Zijin. She hoped Xiao Han wouldn’t become the next Chen Zijin. She hoped she’d be okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Li Heng’s obsession with Song Yu was an open secret in their circle—and Song Yu’s charm was undeniable. Xiao Feng wondered: if she were a man, which would she choose—Xiao Han or Song Yu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, Xiao Han had always wished the bus would hurry up, just to escape the stench. Today, she prayed the road stretched ten thousand miles further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But prayers were just prayers. After passing the county seat, Huamen, Liudouzhai, Jianhua, Qijiang, and Yanggu’ao, Qian Town arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng gently brushed the stray hairs from behind Xiao Han’s ear, softly saying: “I’m very happy today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his hand released hers, her courage vanished—but she still managed a quiet “Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng asked: “We’re all going to Shimen Station for noodles before heading home. Want to come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d just held his hand for the first time—of course she wanted to go. But she knew she couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qian Town bus station sat directly across from the post office. To reach Shimen Station, they’d pass the post office—where Wei Shiman worked. She’d probably be there right now, waiting for her daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if in sync, both looked out the window—and there she was: Wei Shiman, elegant and striking, striding toward them from the post office entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering her mother knew about his rumors with Chen Zijin, Xiao Han instinctively shrank back. If her mother saw this now, tonight every pot, pan, and bowl in the Xiao household would be shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng noticed her reaction, amused. “You’re scared of your mom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han smiled, dimples deepening. “Of course I am—I still use her money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Heng said: “You can use mine from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han narrowed her eyes in a playful smile, not answering, but teasing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Mr. Li, I should get off. Otherwise, either your leg gets broken—or mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I’ll pick you up the day after tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then goodbye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. Goodbye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han stepped off the bus—and ran straight into her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Shiman waved to the others through the window, then led her daughter across the street. Only then did she speak:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, why did that remarried man come back? Finally saving on bus fare?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han feigned indifference. “Dunno. Didn’t ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Shiman affectionately draped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Good. Don’t ask. Next time you ride, keep your distance from Li Heng. I heard people from his village won’t let their daughters even talk to him alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han feigned surprise. “Why? Is he full of thorns?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Shiman chuckled. “Not thorns. But they say that remarried man’s got a smooth tongue—really good at wooing women.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Han, aware that her mother was giving her a subtle warning, smiled sweetly and said, “Don’t worry—your daughter is the prettiest flower in town, and my father’s the town mayor. How dare that second-husband guy have the audacity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Shiman nodded with relief, “Come on, Mom made a whole table of your favorite dishes—let’s go home and eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Please vote for monthly tickets! Please subscribe!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2022,"2026-06-19T15:27:33.982Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","367ade489e76d7fb171b7a6352ca313fc5b97e79eaf983e9c53ab49275ddc1dc","1987-my-era-chapter-94","1987-my-era-chapter-92",713,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002F1987-my-era-cover.jpg"]