[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981":3,"chapter-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-60":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year, the Flowers Bloomed in 1981",{"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},2294478,4489,"Chapter 60: That","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-60",60,"\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao, driven by a sense of justice, asked Xia Yue to fetch Wen Leyu, but Xia Yue hesitantly refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I’m afraid to go. I’m scared of Li Ye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao found Xia Yue’s demeanor extremely odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her best friend had once been a junior officer and served three years as class monitor—back then, she’d been far more formidable than Lu Jingyao herself, and had never once shown any “fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Yue lowered her head and whined, “I had a conflict with Li Ye over studies…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know how he talked to the teacher, but the teacher forced me to call my parents, and only then did he let me off… I just want to pass the college entrance exam…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undeniably, experienced Xia Yue spoke with skill—just a few sentences had already cemented Li Ye’s image as a “great bully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… how could it be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao could hardly believe it. Though Li Ye had once had a temper and occasionally gotten into fights, how could he possibly have done something so tyrannical?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, Zhou Chenggong from Class One hurried over to begin his lament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What Xia Yue said is true. I just accidentally called him by his nickname, and he dragged me out in front of the whole class—when my family came, they nearly knelt before him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Lu Jingyao,” added the study committee member Jin Shengli, pushing forward with righteous indignation, “since you left, Li Ye has become a different person—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>cold and heartless toward classmates. We just wanted to ask him a few questions… and now the whole class is in chaos…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, Lu Jingyao, you’ve got to control Li Ye! He uses his writer status to look down on everyone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft, writer? He’s clearly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「..........」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several classmates came one after another to complain to Lu Jingyao, showing her a scene of collective outrage—and instilling in her a strange sense of responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want to see Li Ye, but now, judging by everyone’s expressions, they’d all been suffering under Li Ye’s rule and were waiting for her to restore justice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, Xia Yue, lead me there. I’ll talk to Li Ye.” Lu Jingyao finally made her decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xia Yue shook her head vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was wicked, but not stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several confrontations, she had come to understand that in the face of absolute power, her status as class monitor meant nothing—her grandfather’s position as a bureau chief was what kept Li Ye untouchable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xia Yue couldn’t bear it. For over a month, the class had appeared calm, but her desire for revenge had never faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a woman goes mad, she becomes utterly irrational—Xia Yue was like a stinging wasp, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Lu Jingyao had suddenly returned, it was a perfect opportunity delivered straight to her door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Yue knew Lu Jingyao intimately—she was Li Ye’s natural enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lu Jingyao was fiercely proud and self-reliant; even if she clashed with Li Ye, she’d take full responsibility herself and never drag Xia Yue into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu had a special relationship with Lu Jingyao and played a crucial role in Li Ye’s novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lu Jingyao was reckless enough, she might just confirm Li Ye’s “plagiarism,” destroying him utterly—even dragging his grandfather down with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xia Yue, don’t be afraid. Take me there—I’ll take full responsibility,” Lu Jingyao assured her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xia Yue still refused. Lu Jingyao turned to Jin Shengli and Zhou Chenggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both stepped back in fear, leaving Lu Jingyao stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet finally, someone stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take you. I know where Li Ye is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao looked—and it was He Weiguo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Weiguo had once pursued her in first year, so she disliked him—but now, no one else dared accompany her, so she had no choice but to agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s off-campus study room was behind the Second Grain Store—no secret at all—and they arrived quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon arrival, He Weiguo exclaimed, “It wasn’t like this before!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard behind the Second Grain Store had just been renovated, and a guardhouse had been built at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the guardhouse sat a scar-faced man in his forties or fifties, who growled at Lu Jingyao and He Weiguo as they approached: “Who are you looking for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao remained calm: “I’m looking for Wen Leyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-faced man replied: “There’s no Wen Leyu here. Leave now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao finally lost her temper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of place was this? A tiny grain store now had a guard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this a prison?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao had come to find Li Ye with some trepidation—but now, she felt a surge of confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m looking for Li Ye!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-faced man tossed her a registration book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye isn’t here. Write your name, workplace, home address, and contact info. We’ll notify him when he returns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao clenched her fury and snapped: “I’m Lu Jingyao. I know Li Ye is inside. Notify him right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「..........」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the scar-faced man notified Li Ye, he and Hu Man and others were just about to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s expression turned strange. “Lu Jingyao? What does she want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-faced man said: “I don’t know, but I feel… she’s not here for good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye chuckled and shook his head. “Gu Shu, you’ve listened to too many storytelling tales. There’s no such thing as ‘ill intent.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-faced man shook his head. “Li Ye, don’t dismiss it. That woman came here with firecrackers in her pocket. Let me chase her off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. Let her in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye dismissed Gu Shu’s concern with indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, when Li Dayong told Li Zhongfa about the final exam results, the bureau chief acted overnight—designating the Second Grain Store as a key protected unit, building the guardhouse, and assigning Gu Jinqiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jinqiang was a retired firefighter injured in a rescue mission, highly disciplined—if he barred entry, no one could get in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that Li Ye didn’t care, Gu Jinqiang couldn’t stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao finally entered the small courtyard behind the Second Grain Store—but He Weiguo was barred at the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big yellow dog barked furiously at Lu Jingyao, giving her a chilling “No. 72” vibe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she lifted the curtain and stepped into the small storage room, her feeling reversed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was warm and fragrant with the scent of steamed rice and a dish she couldn’t name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the stove stood Jiang Xiao, gripping her spatula tightly, glaring at Lu Jingyao as if ready to swing it at her any second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man, Han Xia, Fu Yingjie, and others—whom Li Ye had “lured” out—stared at her in unison, their gazes scrutinizing and wary, as if Lu Jingyao were the criminal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tall, straight-backed figure stepped in front of Lu Jingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long time no see~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar voice reached Lu Jingyao’s ears—but felt utterly alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s tone was cold, his voice detached, nothing like the voice she remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the face still being so beautiful… Lu Jingyao might have thought she’d mistaken someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【No, he seems… even better-looking.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of dizziness washed over Lu Jingyao. Her earlier confidence suddenly drained away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the next words Li Ye spoke snapped her fully awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【What do you mean, “what do you want”? Wasn’t it you who used to chase after me nonstop?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, whenever Li Ye saw Lu Jingyao, he was always delighted—how could he possibly ask her “what do you want”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, his icy words drifted toward her, as if pushing her away a thousand miles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do have something to discuss with you,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao forced herself to calm down, silently repeating: “I’m a college student. I’m a college student.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard that you, Li Ye, used your family’s wealth to lure classmates away from campus for studying, causing their grades to drop…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao’s sentence had barely begun when it was cut off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t Li Ye who spoke—it was Hu Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao stared at Hu Man in shock, unable to understand how she’d sunk so low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Hu Man’s academic record—last year she barely failed to get into college, and now, after this final exam, she’d regressed even further—and yet she was saying “what’s that to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she snapped sharply: “Hu Man, eating cabbage with pork every day may taste good, but compared to your grades, it’s insignificant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey hey, Lu Jingyao, don’t say that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong pulled the angry Hu Man aside, grinning. “We don’t really eat cabbage with pork—it’s not that tasty. We usually have pork knuckle with soybeans, sour cabbage fish, twice-cooked pork…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「..........」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao was dumbfounded. These classmates she knew so well—what had they become?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiao lifted the lid of the pot. “Today we’re having beef with radish. Li Ye says it’s nutritious and delicious—best with steamed rice. Want a bowl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao: “……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xiaoyan slammed the lid back on the pot and said coldly, “Sorry, I forgot there aren’t any extra bowls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【He’s still the same, still loves to corrupt people’s hearts with material things.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao’s body swayed twice, memories of her unwilling past flashing before her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Lu Jingyao thought Li Ye was too naive, but his family’s material conditions were too good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned foolishly again and again, bribing her family with scarce goods until they all agreed he was the perfect son-in-law, never once considering Lu Jingyao’s feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Fortunately, I escaped fate—and now I control it.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao felt her strength return. She looked at Li Ye with a blank expression and said, “Li Ye, I can’t and won’t interfere in your affairs anymore, but I’m taking Wen Leyu with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lu Jingyao spoke, not just Li Ye, but Hu Man, Li Dayong, and others all found it unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Who the hell do you think you are?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye’s face grew even colder as he asked Lu Jingyao in a low voice, “What gave you the right to say something like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao lifted her chin and said seriously, “I met Teacher Ke in Jingcheng. He entrusted me to take care of Wen Leyu. I won’t let her stay with you and go astray.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, who’s going astray?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, spell it out clearly, or we’ll tear your mouth open today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man and Han Xia immediately flew into a rage; if not for Li Dayong and the others holding them back, they would’ve attacked Lu Jingyao on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 1980s, people still placed great value on marital fidelity; some might call Lu Jingyao’s behavior self-reliant, but many thought she had no shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man was one of those people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye gently silenced the furious Hu Man and others, then stared coldly at Lu Jingyao and asked, “Are you certain Teacher Ke entrusted you to take care of Lu Jingyao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao nodded heavily. “I’m certain. In Jingcheng, I personally escorted Teacher Ke to his hotel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye smiled faintly, turned, and pulled a telegram from his backpack, handing it to Lu Jingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao glanced at Li Ye in surprise, then looked down at the telegram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I’ve arrived in Jingcheng. Don’t worry. Please look after Xiao Yu. Thank you!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The telegram contained only a few words—after all, it was charged by the character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those few words shattered Lu Jingyao’s mind into a buzzing chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clearly saw the recipient’s name on the telegram: Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the “someone else” Teacher Ke had mentioned in Jingcheng—“I’ve already entrusted someone else to look after Xiao Yu”—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That “someone else” was Li Ye?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【No wonder I always felt Teacher Ke was off. So even he looked down on me?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small warehouse fell completely silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man and the others had been furious, but seeing Lu Jingyao’s face turn pale, her hands trembling as she held the telegram, they exchanged uncertain glances, unsure whether to throw her out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Leyu stepped out from behind and walked to Lu Jingyao’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come. Come outside—I’ll talk to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2032,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4f148859c3f8a39cf9471298ab37e659691c3d6f3278709651f1562024b8569a","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-61","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-59",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]